Chapter 10: Following Footsteps

Luna had been having too much fun and it all had to end sooner or later. It was time to get back to business, and today, Luna had to dress up in her Captain’s uniform again in order to meet Royal Guard and Army officials. Needless to say, when she got up and read her memo for the day, she was less than excited, especially after a nice lot of fun. Adjusting her cap, she disembarked from the armored chariot and into the castle halls, strolling along nicely and admiring all architecture… she didn’t really know why she was admiring the architecture; she hated architecture. Her thoughts were interrupted when a connection was made:

“Luna, you’re in the castle, right?” Celestia asked.

“Yeah I’m here. Need something?” Luna replied in good spirits.

“Yes I do. Meet me in my study right now, I need to talk to you about something,” she said seriously. Luna was slightly put off by this but she shrugged it off as Celestia being professional and walked to her study. She took a seat in front of her desk as Celestia slammed a few papers down in front of her.

“Yes?” Luna asked, raising her eyebrow at the gesture.

“So, get this: I received a report that the Army detected a series of explosives detonated around Ponyville’s outskirts, including but not limited to the firing of artillery grade munitions. Care to explain?” Celestia asked incredulously. Luna only shrugged innocently.

“Luna I know you have a nice little stash of weapons at your safe house to hone your military skills, but answer me one thing… where the hell did you get a howitzer?” Celestia rephrased her question.

“Marshal Contrail gifted it to me for Hearth’s Warming,” Luna answered. Celestia could not believe what she was hearing.

“Really now?”

“Eeyup.”

“Marshal Contrail gifted you an EQ-109 ‘Warhorse’ Field Howitzer… for Hearth’s Warming?” Celestia repeated with enormous incredulity. Luna nodded vehemently with a smile on her face. Celestia just hardened her glare at her sister.

“Oh alright fine! I was in the castle armory about a month ago and they were decommissioning the howitzer and replacing it with another due to its service life being used up. It would have been taken apart so I… kind of… sort of… took it,” Luna explained a bit meekly.

“You stole a worn-out cannon from the armory… and no one saw you?” Celestia asked, still disbelieving her ears; not really at Luna’s acquisition but the fact that no one questioned her when she walked out with it.

“I wouldn’t say ‘stole’ as much as I would say… ‘recycled,’” Luna said with a smile. Celestia just facepalmed.

“Oh come on, Tia! I took it back to my place in Ponyville, I fixed it up and got it working again! If you want it back just say so!”

“You repaired the thing?” Celestia asked curiously.

“In case you don’t remember, ever since I returned I’ve familiarized myself with all our equipment, civilian and military. I have done work on several guns, cannons, APC’s, and even tanks… even made modifications to existing blueprints and vehicles. You know the heads up display on the Equestrian Assault Rifle? That was all my idea,” Luna explained.

“You created that? And modified and tested said modified weapons?” Celestia still asked.

“I am a licensed military gunsmith, in case you, once again, forgot!” Luna reassured. Celestia really had nothing else to say to argue.

“Well, just… keep explosives usage to a minimum, please? I don’t need the Army thinking there’s an insurrection.” Celestia said, mustering a small grin which said that ‘we’re cool, don’t worry.’

“I’ll do my best, Tia. Need anything else?” Luna asked.

“Yes, your memo that you received has been altered by me. You don’t have to meet Army officials, I’ll have someone else take care of that. I will, however, relay to you what they wanted to tell you,” Celestia began to say while fidgeting with something she picked up, making Luna all the more curious.

“What might that be?” Luna asked inquisitively.

“Your work with the royal guard and various groups of marine and army personnel have not gone unnoticed, Luna. Your methods, albeit unorthodox, have proven very valuable in training regiments and ultimately helping make this country safer. So, the military wanted to reward you for your efforts... and they're skipping you up quite a bit!” Celestia explained as she slid a metallic object over to Luna’s side of the desk. Instinctually, she picked it up and examined it: a Silver plated Full Moon, whose shine reflected off of Luna’s eyes. She looked to Celestia for confirmation.

“Congrats, Captain Luna… or should I now say Lieutenant Colonel,” Celestia winked. Luna’s eyes lit up and she formed the biggest smile since Seafire asked her out. Celestia was sure she even heard a ‘squee.’ Celestia could only smile at her younger sister.

“Dad would be so proud of you, Lulu. You remind me so much of him…” she said in a state of remembrance.  

Luna only mustered an appreciative smile.

“Now, get that new insignia on and I have something for you to do. We’ve got a new batch of recruits, go ahead and address them and set them on their path to success. Show me just how you earned that promotion. Sound good?” Tia asked. Luna only nodded as she replaced the insignia on her cap, leaving for the meeting grounds, Celestia seeing her out the door before embracing her. As Luna entered the hall, she spotted Windfire and Helmuth waiting for her as her personal guard. Windfire walked over to Celestia and the two shared in a really nice kiss before she urged the three of them off, smiling at Windfire. Celestia then called out after them:

“Oh Luna! By the way, Twilight is going to contact you later about something I’ve been working out that involves you and our friends. She’ll fill you on the details then, just be prepared!” she said. Luna nodded in acknowledgement.

Luna walked out onto the grounds, flanked on both sides by Helmuth and Windfire, being welcomed by the sight of over two thousand new recruits for Royal Guard and Army positions. Her earlier excitement was skillfully stowed away and she made room for her professional, traditional, stoic, and stern demeanor to surface. This was how everyone knew the Princess of the Night.

“Officer on Deck!” an NCO yelled out, and the recruits snapped to attention as best as they could without formal training. Luna merely looked upon the rows of potential soldiers with little emotion on her face. Now was not the time to be chummy with people… they needed to know their place.

“So… you made it. You’ve passed basic inspection and are ready to ship out to basic training. Congratulations, you have all accomplished absolutely nothing!” Luna shouted, much to the chagrin of everyone, save for Helmuth and Windfire who chuckled. This brought back memories. Many murmurs were present in the crowd.

“I bet I know some of you too… the ones from Canterlot. Who here is from Canterlot?!” Luna demanded. Many recruits raised their hands meekly. She turned to the closest one.

“You… You’re from Canterlot, yes?” Luna addressed him softly, her teal blue orbs just boring into him.  

“Yes… Yes I am…” the very nervous recruit responded, fumbling for his words.

“YOU WILL ADRESS ME AS PRINCESS OR LIEUTENANT COLONEL, DO WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT?!” Luna completely shouted at him through her amplified voice… point blank.

“Y-Yes!... Yes Ma’am-Yes Princess Luna!” He fumbled again, almost looking like he was about to break down crying.  Luna smirked just a bit. Their resolve wasn't going to harden itself.

“I bet I know you… You’re probably one of the privileged Canterlot pampered boys who went to private school and got handed everything from a golden platter. One of the most spoiled little shits in this country… thinking that glory awaits you instantly because your parents have wealth and a pitiful excuse for what you might call ‘power.’ So tell me, recruit. Am I correct? Do I know you?” Luna ranted in his face, testing his spirit. He didn’t respond, still in shock and partially from fear.

“I ASKED IF I WAS CORRECT, AM I CORRECT IN MY ASSUMPTION, FUCKWIT?!” Luna demanded yet again in her amplified voice. Helmuth and Windfire looked like they were going to lose it, having to stifle their laughter.

“Y-Yes –NO! No Princess Luna!” he corrected himself quickly. “I may have grown up more privileged than most but enlisting was purely my choice! I want to serve Equestria and protect it with my life… to give me a purpose, Princess Luna!” The recruit shouted back. Luna listened and stared him down intently for a good thirty seconds, studying his resolve and sensing his intentions. She then grinned at him.

“I like you, recruit. You’re a damn good man. Hell… you’re probably three times more of a man than any of these salty fucks out here on the field right now! And the women on the field now… don’t even deserve to be in your presence…” Luna state right back to him in a slightly condescending manner. She then turned to the rest of the would-be troops.

“And that assumption stands firm until you all prove to me otherwise! Am I clear?!” Luna yelled out.

“YES, MA’AM!” Everyone shouted back. Luna nodded in return.

“You all have it easy too. Back when my father commanded the military, we didn’t have any of these ‘Assault Rifles’ and ‘APCs.’ Every soldier was issued a bolt action rifle… if you were lucky. If not, you got a smoothbore musket… and if you were even worse off, you got a sword. A SWORD. AND YOU WERE GODDAMN THANKFUL FOR THAT SWORD. You were also given a few crystals to look at and pleasure yourselves to because they would be the most beautiful things you would see in months… and you had to share the crystals!” Luna continued to rant. Helmuth and Windfire were dying.

“With that being said, you better damn well show me just how good you all can be, even if it kills you. You will be molded into Equestria’s finest soldiers, and the world’s envy. AM I CORRECT, RECRUITS?!”

“YES, MA’AM!” They all shouted out even louder than before, rivaling Luna’s own amplified voice in force. She was impressed, and the recruits themselves were aiming to impress, so it seemed.

“You bet your tits and lady-cocks I’m right.” Luna turned to the recruit she ‘introduced herself to’ moments ago.

“Lead them on tour around the grounds. The other commanding officers will take it from here. You’re dismissed,” Luna commanded. The recruit saluted her and all the others began to form in behind him, other officers barking orders at all of them to go on tour around the training grounds. Luna watched with a grin, her hands tucked behind her back and standing in between Windfire and Helmuth.

“Fucking hell, Luna… a bit harsh, much?” Windfire asked humorously. Luna couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Tough love, my good friends. Tough love. They’ll use it to their advantage, I’m sure. They can hate me now as much as they want, I’m used to it anyways. The important thing is that they’re successful and Equestria can depend on them.”

“Yeah, I suppose you’re right. I still remember when you tore both of us a new one, way back when,” Helmuth mused out loud. Luna started laughing.

“Oh lord I remember that day. It was funny because I was half-way messing with you two. I knew we would get along just fine,” Luna said with a smile, looking up at her two friends and guards. She then turned to Helmuth:

“You need to get a girl. Windfire and I are with someone, so that automatically makes you the most pathetic of our group,” Luna joked, getting Windfire to laugh. Helmuth looked at Luna disbelievingly.

“Hey, just leaves me more free time in the end!” Helmuth reasoned.

“Please, free time to do what?”

Helmuth opened his mouth with a sly smile.

“Actually, don’t answer that…” Luna quickly corrected, knowing Helmuth’s sense of humor. He could sometimes be shy and quiet but his sense of humor was probably the worst out of them all. The three of them began to snicker again. She then had an idea.

“Say… I could actually help with that matter, if you’re interested…” Luna spoke up.

“What do you mean?” Helmuth asked curiously.

“Must I spell it out for you? Come with me next time I’m able to have guests in Ponyville and there’s some people, and more specifically someone I’d like to introduce you to,” Luna said whilst thinking to herself of the possibilities of the pairing she had in her head. Helmuth shrugged.

“If you say so, Luna. Just let me know!”

“Oh believe me… I will,” she said with a sly smile and a hint of conviction. Just then, a scroll materialized itself in front of her. She held out her hand and let it drop into it before rolling it out and reading:

Hey Luna,

Celestia informed me that there’s some business that needs taking care of (with your direction of course) in Las Pegasus and has expressed concern that the group, including myself are in need of a little break. She was thinking that we accompany you and we would all get to have some fun before and after your work is complete.

So how about it? Road Trip?

Twilight

Luna only silently lowered the scroll from her face, revealing an enormous smile, clearly excited for the coming days.

Now this was gonna be good...