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// Chapter 3:  Second Segment 
// Story: Twelfth Equestriad Interview 
// by Jordan179 
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"And we're going back on three, two one ... now!"

Cutting Question turned to face his audience in closeup.

"This is Cutting Question.  I'm here with our two most distinguished guests Their  Royal Highnesses the Ruling Princess Luna Selena Nyx and the Princess Consort Twilight Sparkle, and welcome back to Canterlot Comments." 

The shot switched to show the whole center of the set, revealing the two alicorns sitting side-by-side on their big settee.  Luna and Twilight smiled and nodded at the audience.

"Your Highnesses," Cutting said, "You have emphasized the great progress made by Equestria over the years since the Return.  But with all due respect, there are those in the Earth Federation who argue that it has been progress made only by Equestria, for the benefit only of Ponies, while the Earth is inhabited by many intelligent species.  How would you respond to those critics?"

"Technological progress benefits all," said Princess Luna.  "The Information Revolution, just like the Industrial Revolution before it, began first in Equestria, so it is but in the way of things that Equestria has gained from it first, and hence most.  But it has spread and is continuing to spread worldwide.  When Equestrian artisans can craft more cheaply, this is to the gain of beings all over the world who can get those goods, not only the Ponies who own the factories.  And as the arts spread worldwide, more and more they can be practiced by other races -- by Dragons, Griffons, even Minotaurs."

Princess Twilight's eye twitched almost imperceptibly at that formulation, but of course she said nothing to embarrass her consort.

"Equestria is powerful and peaceful," Luna continued, oblivious to her error, "and we want all the peoples of the world to prosper.  When we put down pirates and keep the air and sea lanes open, when we build railroads and highways, airports and spaceports, we help the trade of all nations.  Famine is a thing of the past, diseases that once ravaged whole continents are now rapidly contained and cured.  Even the pollution of the early industrial days is abating, as power comes from clean atomic energy, and more advanced machines make less waste.  Eventually, we will move heavy industries offworld, and the Earth will become a garden, as beautiful in its own more energetic way as is Paradise."  She nodded at Cutting.

"Do you have anything to add, Princess Twilight?" Cutting asked.

"Only that Equestria is friendly and respectful to all the sapients with whom we have contact," Twilight quickly added, "including those who are presently underdeveloped, whom we take great pains to assist in every manner.  Scientists believe that as the Information Revolution continues, the easy availability of cheap nuclear batteries and programmable fabricators will make all those in the Earth Federation, regardless of their current economic status, wealthy beyond anything that has been known before.  Through peaceful trade and enlightened cooperation, we may all benefit.  A rising tide lifts all boats, as they say."

"Very well put," commented Cutting, "by both Your Highnesses."  He put his hooves gently together.  "My next question comes from other critics, who argue that Equestria is wasting too much of her tax bits on the space program.  They say that ... and this is with all due respect ... these funds could be better spent back here on Earth, to help solve mundane problems such as poverty or drug addiction."  He looked inquiringly at Princess Luna.

"Some ponies," Luna replied with an edge in her voice, "do not grasp what my beloved Consort said earlier, that the Earth is but one little planet in a far greater Universe.  Or, perhaps, they do not understand the deeper meaning of this.  There is not 'the Earth' on the one side and 'the Heavens' on the other, with the former for Ponies and the latter only for Cosmic forces.  There is one continuous Universe, in which the Earth is a tiny part, and now that Ponies have the machines and magic to go beyond that planet, it is plain that in the future Ponies shall spread forth to inhabit many worlds.

"One day, the Ponies of Earth will be but one tiny portion of the Ponies of the Universe.  And though I hope that the Earth remains special to Ponykind, as the planet of their original evolution and the cradle of their oldest civilizations, still it will only remain one planet.  I have lived longer in this incarnation than any Pony now alive, and I tell you that though the future be distant, it will be real, and that it is important to build now the institutions that will secure for us a bright one."

Luna stopped, and nodded to Twilight.

"My consort is completely correct," Twilight said, "and besides it is easy to demonstrate that even Ponies here on Earth and alive today benefit economically from the Equestrian space program.  The costs of the program are quite low, compared to defense or social welfare spending, and we get a lot for our money.  Thanks to the assistance of the Pie Sisters, we can conduct crewed exploration of other planets, even in other star systems, at very little cost, and the scientific knowledge we bring back often has direct applications in dealing with Earthly environmental problems.  

"We've also opened permanent Gates to the Moon and Mars, which enables large-scale colonization of those planets quite cheaply, as Ponies can simply walk through them.  Imagine if we were limited to rocketships, as were the Ponies of the First Age of Wonders!  Asteroidal colonization is eased by the extensive terraforming already accomplished by Princess Fluttershy and her family.  If it weren't for them, we would have to colonize much more slowly.  Since we've run railroads through the Gates, we can import considerable quantities of minerals from these new colonies, including resources rare on our Earth.

"I urge everypony who is interested in the issue to go to www.easa.gov and type 'Riches From Space' into the search window.  I especially advise educators to include this information in their lesson plans.   It is important that the generations growing up today be aware of that the space program helps them in some very material ways."

"Let's get that address and name up on the screen, Princess Twilight," said Cutting Question, "so that the audience at home can write it down."  There was a brief pause, and then the information appeared, courtesy of someone sitting in the control booth typing on a keyboard.

"Now, getting back to Earth," continued Cutting, a question that I'm sure is very much on everypony's mind.  "What is your position on the developing crisis in Myzeqa, and in particular, does Equestria have any plans to do anything about it?"

Luna blinked.  "As I am sure you are aware, Cutting, if we had any immediate plans to intervene we would not announce them on your show and endanger our forces in the region.  However, I can tell you that it is my belief that the Myzeqan crisis is the responsibility of the Old Worlds Union, and if they wish to do anything about it, Equestria does not mean to oppose them in whatever course they take -- or choose not to take.  At the same time, other Powers should also remain clear of this crisis, as it is purely an OWU internal matter."

"What do you say, Princess Luna, to those who would argue that Equestria should intervene to prevent a potential loss of sapient life?" Cutting persisted.  "Perhaps as a peacekeeping mission?"

"If we jump into the Myzequan War, on either side, then we will have to fight the other side, and that will mean a loss of sapient life.  And this is neither our territory nor our responsibility.  It is up to the Old Worlds Union," Luna replied, speaking slowly and with a slightly-irritated tone.  "Death is in the nature of war."

"I think what my Consort is emphasizing," Twilight added, "is that no matter our motives for landing troops in Myzequa, it's going to get us involved in the war.  There's no way to avoid that, and we don't want to get into a war in which no Equestrian interests are at stake.  At the same time, we will not let outside Powers interfere either, because we do not want this war widening."  She looked at the elder Alicorn for confirmation.

Luna nodded.  "Equestria is strong," she said, "but we are still just one Power within the Earth Defense Federation.  We do not want or pretend to rule the whole planet.  Other nations are free to run their own affairs."

Cutting nodded.  "And we have to break for another commercial.  Stay tuned for the concluding segment of our interview."