Celestia looked worried and focused – the news of discord at some point in the future breaking free was a huge threat; but neither of us knew exactly when this was to happen she ended the silence " I would like you to keep this knowledge secret… it will cause panic and without knowing exactly when I cannot put my ponies into that fear for just simply knowing it will happen, I will place the Elements in my rumble room for safeguard" I shot a quizzed eyebrow as she said 'Rumble room' she answered almost right away "simply one of the few objects in reality that can even withstand Discord's magic even for a short time that is the best place to keep the elements of harmony."
I nodded "so we act as if I know nothing of the future?" I worried how was a secret this large and long supposed to be kept?
"Indeed, I ask you to do this and to only inform myself or Luna about future events; also if you become aware of how long it is between events and now please tell us it may save lives." Celestia looked concerned I believe my original theory was correct whatever child friendly universe Lauren Faust created it was only the brightest and best of this reality.
The silence prolonged as we were in thought till it became an obvious awkwardness "would you like some tea Tia?" she nodded still in thought only to surprise me by getting up with me "to lighten the mood; I hear you and Luna are preparing to build bases on our moon?" I was slightly shocked, we hadn't yet said we were going to do so. However it was true we had discussed it.
"well we had started to discuss it, I didn't think Luna had pushed it to certainty," Tia began to explain "Luna last night in court asked the diplomatic and government bodies to give her a budget for space exploration and colonization of her moon, it was accepted and passed today by me. It will be good to see my sister taking her leadership role and having some…one to spend time with – she has a lot to learn about friendship since being on the moon alone for so long."
We talked a little about rockets and the materials needed to protect an individual from the harmful environment of space. Tia took mental note and asked me if I knew the chemical formula for each material, thankfully I had a good material science textbook – my family and I seem to have a factual library and very few fiction books between us. Although a good collection of Shakespeare for my mother and some of the Sci Fi classics were indeed within our collection.
We talked about the invisible threat of radiation and how even with lead and reflective foils this would only reduce the amount of radiation we absorbed; but a thought sprouted "so essentially we need to make a suit or rubber Kevlar and a material that we can view through all while defending from radiation, micro debris heat and cold etc." I finished as Tia nodded "so I believe the best thing would be to use glass and the rubber you have… and then enchant it with protection and strength spells" I blinked a few times nodding I started to sketch on some spare paper what the suits had to have in ways of air to breathe too – Tia even joked about saplings in bags over our backs.
Luna walked into a scene of a chunky human laughing and more interestingly an Alicorn producing a visual spell and laughing almost as much as the human at the sight of a unicorn in space with a tree tied to its back; almost immediately as she walked in the laughter stopped and a more serious tone took myself and Tia "sss… yes that was a good idea but not practical at all" I commentated " if thou art foolish shall I cast ye into magic kindergarten dear sister and Dex?" Luna must have been in a less than amused mood or a lack of sleep to ignore the atmosphere of laughter surrounding the room.
"Oh Luna we were just having a quick giggle, we were discussing the fact you've gone ahead with pushing this idea in the royal courts – does this mean you'll be announcing I arrived from the stars and I'm helping you?" I asked if she wanted to go to the moon I was coming one of my dreams and goals on earth was to help colonize or at least land on the moon. "we cannot yet" this time Tia looked less vibrant "yes we cannot until we have seen how those with lesser security clearance react to you I think we could introduce you to more ponies now though – it would help us understand how the general population would react," I rubbed my eyebrows – so I'm slowly… very slowly being allowed to leave but each level of security first before announcing a sentient creature has arrived on Equestria it was probably a wise move.
Luna relaxed her posture and with a slight wiggle forced a space between myself and Tia – I didn't expect royalty to be so informal then again if everyon… pony treated them so highly perhaps they enjoyed time off 'the pedestal' "so when and how will we let me spend more time with lower security clearance Ponies?" I spoke perhaps a little too quickly showing my impatience. "We could get them by the end of this week and it would be a fairly large crowd of them level 2 perhaps dear sister?" ending the statement with a question to perhaps see if Tia disagreed with how quickly she was thinking of jumping me through the security 'hoops' as it were, much to both of our surprises Tia nodded before speaking "we'll get them in the day after tomorrow, we'll need a crew for going to the moon and building the first and possibly one of the most important parts as Luna explains," Tia had just announced un-officially the moon landing project will begin within the week… I opened my mouth to speak only for Luna beat me to the punch "so you passed that through today then? – will I be in charge or will you dictate this project too?" I and anyone else could feel the emotion it was charged perhaps Luna had been given most of her power back but still felt out of control? "I believe it would be best for you to Lead this Endeavor my Sister, you may have complete control, but do not be afraid to ask for my assistance," Tia smiled and nuzzled her sister knowing this would give her a chance to prove to all of her subjects she had as much power and control as herself – Tia herself knew she was ready but she was no naïve Pony she could hear rumors of dread among the nobles and talks of whether Luna would revert to Nightmare Moon. She needed to give her a large and important task to control freely in order to prove to them she was indeed her match and important co-ruler.
By the end of the day Tia had left me and Luna as she needed to get her rest as we began to design and think of the best ways to send at least 5 unicorns, one human and an Alicorn to the moon and return them safely to Equestria; we had many ideas I drew out a sketch of the glider designs that were prototypes in our world and the basic Saturn V rocket. We eventually finished with what looked like a cross between the shuttle, a flying wing and the generic shape of a UFO.
The design had three major parts from each vehicle, the grand opening bays from the shuttle the majority of the fuselage was a flying wing for reentry and the fact it had very little (and few) rocket motor exhausts made it look very… alien. Stifling a yawn Luna gave me an odd look before looking like she just mentally facepalm…hoofed. "I guess it is late, perhaps we should continue tomorrow?" Luna looked slightly deflated as she spoke I rolled my eyes and got up "Luna give me a second and I'll be back I need a wake up drink would you like to try some?" she looked much better after that and simply nodded, I walked into my kitchen below a table with tiles on top I had perhaps 32 cans of my favorite drink, Coke. I picked 2 cans and poured them into two glasses taking them in hand and putting mine on the table, good job too as Luna's magic encompassed my hand it sent a shiver from my hand it was almost too difficult to describe like the softest touch of a lover and thick mist combined… but strong good thing as she took the glass out of my grip before I spilt it everywhere "pff… hahaha sorry We didn't know you reacted so strangely to magical touch!"
I have to admit even when being tickled my hands didn't react like that… "Well cheers this drink is a little like fizzy sarsaparilla, give it a try tell me if you like it or not… but don't give Pinkie Pie any I have no idea of the consequences…" Luna shot me an odd look at mentioning Pinkie Pie but grinned shortly after and pulled a small ball of liquid with her magic out letting it glide into her mouth; upon closing and releasing the ball of fluid she opened her eyes wide in shock – I panicked a little but soon she giggled and took a sip more "Tis enjoyable if not shocking in taste – very sweet and its very fizzy,"
We both chuckled as I took a long swig of the fizzy coke, "right… where were we?" we continued to sketch and design the base, the requirements and how to power it all, slowly it became clear a lot of testing would need to be done – we knew from my fridges and other equipment the electrical pendants could power my technology however it was yet to be seen if my technology could power or even be used for magic. Luna was using what I keep thinking must be telepathy with Tia, "yes we will test your 'solar panels' tomorrow morning Nuck will be helping us test it's power and transformation from one energy to the other etc I do hope it works it sounds like the best way to power our bases," I nodded, looking to my watch it was now 03:22AM I stifled a yawn "you need your rest, you are not yet adjusted for being up at the same time as I; but I thank you for your company…" her voice soft perhaps even in their reality she was still alone and finding it difficult to make friends I grinned and before explaining myself gave her a huge hug wrapping my arms around her wings body and pulling her close, "Luna you don't need to thank me for being company – I like spending time with you; we've shed tears together you're my friend." I think I shocked her but then slowly hooves and wings wrapped around me hugging me back gently, she quickly got up releasing me "I'll be back tomorrow eve for more designs you should get some rest…" with a pop she disappeared from my home, I shrugged went upstairs to the top floor where my bed was before throwing off my clothing and falling into a dreamless sleep – coke really did nothing but keep me up as long as I wanted anymore.