Admiral Mythic Wing’s Personal Log, November 7th, 3382 AD.
It’s been well over a month since I had the ‘honour’ of declaring Princess Twilight Sparkle and the ES Harmony lost with all hooves. To say the least, Equestria is still feeling the effects, even beyond Equestria really…
The castle in Ponyville has remained as empty as that throne, Princess Celestia has all but sealed the place off. Well, except for the guards and staff working there, they still roam the halls as dutifully as ever. I am glad to report that the anti-alien protests have died down, the princesses didn’t take too kindly to them. Glad to know possible first contact won’t be spoiled by some fanatic bombing a diplomatic shuttle and starting an intergalactic war. That’s the last thing I need.
In brighter news, we’ve launched two new Celestial Class starships, both fitted with FTL drives. Three of the other five Celestials in our home system have also received the upgrade, the other two soon to follow. After that, I expect the freighters will get the same treatment. Once out home fleet is finished upgrading, I’m going to have one of the freighter under escort from one of the Celestials make a trip to our three colonies. They can deposit crew and supplies needed to upgrade their own Celestials. The advent of FTL will make things easier, freighters can travel between colonies and we can better support said colonies in their development. The ESP is expanding, taking some real strides into the black void.
Too bad it cost us so much.
The ES Shining Armor is also coming along nicely, it should be finished in another few months or so. The second of the Harmony Class, and the one that shall hopefully discover the ES Harmony’s final fate.
Canterlot
“The injectors are being installed now, some of the aft hull plating is being reinforced and the computer matrix will be installed next week,” a pony in a labcoat reported to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. "Admiral Mythic Wing is satisfied with the progression of construction."
The three were in what would normally serve as the war room, but today the holographic display atop the table was showing the image of the incomplete ES Shining Armor. The bridge module was in place, though there were gaps in the surrounding hull that exposed the incomplete corridors to space. One of the unlit nacelles was in place while the second had several small tugs latched onto it until they were ready to attach the massive engine to the strut it would eventually sit on.
“What about weapons?” Luna enquired.
“Some basic power relays have been installed,” the scientist stated. “Though we’ve delayed any further work until the new design is tested. They should have an extra power output of 4.56%.”
“Let’s hope we don’t have to use them for more than to be rid of a stray asteroid,” Celestia commented.
Luna shook her head. “It’s good to be prepared. Especially after…”
Celestia didn’t even spare her sister a glance. “You need not remind me.”
The scientist awkwardly coughed into a hoof. “Well, we’ll continue to keep you updated on the ship’s progress. We should also begin work on the third ship just before this one’s launch.”
“And what have you decided to name her?” Celestia asked. “Or have you yet to decide on one?”
“We were thinking the ES Griffonstone. Since, you know, we have so many Equestria themed names.”
“I’m sure the griffons would appreciate it,” Luna mused. “If there is nothing else?”
The scientist bowed, picked up his equipment and notes and then left the room. He left the flickering hologram activated, which the princesses continued to study.
“It looks just like the Harmony,” Celestia noted.
“It is of the same class,” Luna pointed out to her elder sister. “But it does have a few non-cosmetic improvement, remember?”
“I know,” she replied. “I wonder what Shining Armor would think of having a ship named after him.”
“He’d be flattered,” Luna stated. “And then the ES Griffonstone, I still remember the dump it was on my return from the moon.”
“Time changes many thing. I wonder what other names they had, and what they will name the other ship on the drawing board.”
“Only time will tell, sister,” Luna said, before sighing. “You know, they were initially going to call the fourth ship Griffinstone.”
Celestia raised an eyebrow. “Oh? So you already knew the name? And why did they change it?”
“Yes, I knew the name. I checked up on their progress at one point. And they changed it because I suggested they change it.”
The alabaster alicorn tilted her head slightly. “Luna? Why would you make them do that, pray tell?”
“They wanted to call it the ES Twilight Sparkle.”
Celestia’s smile suddenly seemed very forced.
“I told them it was too soon,” Luna continued. “Maybe in a decade or two, but not mere months after the fact. The timing seemed in poor taste.”
“You seldom name ships after the living,” Celestia stated factually.
Luna gave her sister a concerned look, but didn’t dispute her words, knowing it would be an uphill battle in the middle of a gigantic hurricane. She’d had that discussion with her older sister many times, but she was still as stubborn as she remembered from back when they were foals. Combined with serious emotional baggage, she was worried her sister simply didn’t know how to let go.
“But anyway,” Luna moved to change the subject. “They also had names like the ‘ES Tree of Harmony’, the ‘ES Canterlot’, the ‘ES Enterprise’ and the ‘ES Fluffle Puff’.
Celestia snorted. “Fluffle Puff?”
“No idea,” Luna responded with a bemused shake of her head.
“Well, they’re certainly getting creative,” Princess Celestia remarked. “We should have them name one after our mother, she’d like that.”
“I’ll make sure they add it to the list,” Luna stated. “But alas I must leave your presence, I have something I need to take care of.”
“Oh? Might you tell your nosy elder sister what that might be?”
Luna rolled her eyes. “If you must know, I need to speak to Princess Flurry Heart. I believe she is with her mother right now in the dining hall, if they haven’t left.”
“Ah. Well, I won’t pry further, I cannot delay the opening of court,” Celestia said. “Good day to you, Lulu.”
“And you sister,” Luna stated, turning off the holographic display and then exiting the war room with her sister. They parted a little ways down the corridor, heading to different locations.
Luna sighed as she continued to walk, she knew her sister would not approve about what she was to discuss with Flurry Heart, but only because Celestia had become too emotional. Luna couldn’t blame her, and was confident time would heal her, but she couldn’t wait until then. The Equestrain Tetrarchy had an opening since Twilight’s death, and Flurry Heart had proven herself over the past two millennia. She could do far better than being a princess in little more than name, not just because of her nature as an alicorn but also for her diplomatic skills and overall kindness when dealing with what the nobility would describe as ‘lesser ponies’. Maybe the nobility could see reality in the next millennia or so, or die out. Either would suffice for the lunar alicorn.
Putting her personal musing aside for a moment, Princess Luna arrived at the vast double doors leading into the dining room. Grabbing them with her magic she cast them open and strode confidently inside. Indeed, Flurry Heart and Mi Amore Cadenza were lightly chatting over a recently finished lunch.
“The audacity of some ponies,” Flurry Heart moaned. “I still have to practice that diplomatic smile in front of a mirror every morning and night. How does Auntie Celestia do it?”
“Probably the same way you do,” Cadance stated with a smirk. “Or maybe deeply buried imaginations of burning them on the surface of the sun. It’s what I do.”
Flurry Heart snorted. “Seriously? For one thing mother, you don’t control the sun.”
“I can be very determined when provoked,” Cadance jokingly retorted, only then noticing the new arrival. “Luna! Have a seat, we just finished lunch but we can afford to stick around to keep you company.”
“Thank you for the offer Cadance, but I’m not hungry,” Luna politely declined. “I’m actually here to speak with your daughter, in private.”
“Oh?” Cadance plastered a mischievous smirk onto her face that Flurry Heart was sadly all too familiar with. “If you want to date my daughter surely you must ask the parent for permission?”
Flurry Heart’s eye twitched, being the daughter of the Princess of Love could be hell at times. Luna, on her part, just gave Cadance a deadpan glare.
“Familial relations aside, not interested.”
“Oh the relation isn’t biological,” Cadance dismissed, her smirk only widening. “You have to fall for somepony sometime.”
“And I won’t tell you if I do,” Luna assured. “Lest I go insane. You know that isn’t a pretty sight.”
“Your future lover might like Nightmare Moon for a bit of roleplay…”
“This conversation is done,” Luna commanded sternly.
Cadance rolled her eyes. “You know I’m kidding. Light teasing never hurt anypony.”
“You’re the worst,” Flurry Heart deadpanned.
“Just because you’re two thousand doesn’t mean I can’t ground you,” Cadance teased once again.
Flurry Heart rolled her eyes, and turned her attention towards Princess Luna. “So, you wish to talk to me about something?”
“In private, yes.”
“I’ll make myself scarce then,” Cadance stated, getting up and looking toward her daughter. “I’ll see you in a little while sweetie, alright?”
“I’m sure I’ll live,” Flurry Heart responded snarkily.
Cadance shook her head in amusement, and then left the dining room and its remaining two alicorn occupants behind. Luna couldn’t help but roll her eyes at the pink love fanatic, before casting Cadance from her mind and turning to face Flurry Heart. She closed the dining room doors as she did and cast a sound suppressing charm.
“Sound suppressing?” Flurry Heart noted the spell coming into effect. “OK, what’s this about?”
“You aunt,” Luna stated. “Your biological aunt.”
“Aunt Twilight? Is there news.”
“Nothing new. And I doubt there will be until the ES Shining Armor’s launch.”
“Leaving it to Dad to find her, huh?”
“In a manner of speaking,” Luna confirmed. “But it doesn’t change the fact that the Equestrian throne has an empty chair.”
Flurry Heart’s smile faded, and her eyes narrowed. “Luna, what exactly are you asking me?”
“You are more than capable,” Luna continued. “Capable of taking Twilight’s place among us.”
“You’re kidding right?” Flurry Heart scoffed. “No way am I doing that!”
“You’re more than capable of fulfilling the role,” Luna stated. “You’ve been ready for a long time.”
“It’s not whether I’m capable or not that’s in question!” Flurry Heart snapped. “That throne belongs to my aunt, not me.”
“She’s dead, Flurry Heart,” Luna sternly responded. “We don’t need somepony to take the fourth throne, but I’d prefer to have it filled again.”
“You have so little faith in her, don’t you?”
“It’s not matter of faith,” Luna rebutted. “Space is the most dangerous frontier any of us has ever faced and it is very easy to be lost out there, especially with our early steps. No communications, no signs of any kind for months, not here or at any of the other colonies? Flurry Heart, we have to face facts. They’re gone. She, and eight hundred other souls are lost to us.”
“No.”
“No?”
“Celestia still has faith. And so do I.”
“And what of your mother?”
“She wants to.”
“AND YOU THINK THAT I DON'T!?” Luna shouted out in her Royal Canterlot Voice, outraged. Good thing that she cast the sound suppressing charm. “She was my friend, and more than that she was my saviour! But I’m practical if nothing else, and I see little chance of her survival.”
“Little chance is still a chance,” Flurry retorted. “Let the ES Shining Armor search. If they find a corpse, or some other irrefutable proof of her death then, and ONLY then, will I consider your offer. And even then only after I have mourned, because I refuse to until I know in my heart she is gone.”
“And there’s nothing I can do to change your mind?”
“No.”
Luna sighed. “Very well, I knew it was a long shot. Twilight has been your role model since you were but a filly, after all.”
“Yeah.”
“Right, well then…” Luna turned to leave, preparing to disengage the sound suppressing spell.
“Luna?”
The Princess turned around. “Yes?”
“Why do you have so little faith in her?”
“As I said, I’m practical,” Luna replied. “No matter how much my heart rebels.”
“You should listen to your heart a little more,” Flurry Heart gently stated. “It knows what you want.”
“What I want, may not be what I get,” Luna retorted.
“Maybe,” Flurry conceded. “But hope is always worth it.”
Luna sighed again. “Perhaps… Perhaps you are right.”
“Oh, and Luna?”
“Hm?”
“I won’t tell Aunt Celestia about this ‘chat’ of ours, I promise.”
Princess Luna smiled.