The Blue Paradigm 2 - (MLP (EAW AU), Blueblood!SI)
It's been a week since I spoke with Celestia, and a week since the Equestria Games allowed for a more peaceful reapproach with Stalliongrad.
As expected, Chrysalis had ignored the silly invitation that had been forwarded by Celestia. I knew that my Aunty wasn't trying to truly get the wretched bug within Equestria without some shackles on her, but that didn't mean that the PR campaign of such a move went unnoticed by some papers.
Kindness and forgiveness was the substance that kept the governance of Equestria afloat, but it was not what made the military a reasonable force.
As of now, I had heard that Celestia had made some serious efforts to dislodge the council from its pro-peace attitude, but the process was, as predictable, going at a most sluggish pace.
And seeing how Chrysalis was starting to build her 'Tower of the Queen' to cement her power over the rest of the hives, I decided that such an infuriating matter required a most unorthodox reaction - Instead of hoping for any government funds to sustain the military research, I decided it was high time to put a solid dent on my own bank account.
The 'pocket money' or 'royal allowance' was a considerable amount of bits that I received as a member of the royal family. I had hardly used it and spent a handful of the monthly income whenever there was a big party to make my face known to other ponies.
These efforts led me to meet other 'like-minded' individuals that I was quick to ask for a 'private meeting' on the matters of international concern.
The first one to come was Filthy Rich - the businessman may have a solid base in Ponyville with his Zap Apples, but he was also known as a stallion that started to put his hooves at work from a very abysmal position of power. He got a small loan of 100 bits and he made a tiny empire out of his food-related business.
Next up was Fancy Pants. He was a socialite known in Canterlot as 'the best thing after the princesses'. It was a bit of a gutpunch if I truly cared for the royal title I bore, but the pony was a smart guy - he came from old money, but he was savvy in budgeting both his time and resources to avoid drying up his bank account. The stallion had a reputation as a rational pony with a keen eye for the 'common good', which made him beloved by both the common ponies and those of the high classes.
Finally, the third addition to this 'council' was a friend to Fancy Pants, Ms. Fleur de Lis. A model known for her 'alicorn-like beauty', the mare was someone I was quite acquainted to due to her inner interest to expand her group of friends beyond the 'same old circle of creeps and yes-men'.
"I wish to start this meeting by thanking you all for making it and... for helping me keep this quiet as much as possible."
Paparazzi were a nightmare, especially when it came to pegasi. Still, the place that was chosen was behind a large amount of guards and a lack of nearby windows from which some reporter could come from. It wasn't a 'shady place meant for devious plans', but a restaurant that was known by many as the best place for rich folk to speak up and share their thoughts.
"None of that, young Blueblood. I think I speak for everypony here by saying we know you are aware that time is money."
"And jobs," Fleur added to Filthy Rich's response. "Alas, you're not a time-waster. So, speak up."
Always the uppity girl, uh?
"I will be blunt and honest: a week ago, during the Equestria Games, I had the opportunity to speak with Princess Celestia over a matter of national concern. One that the Royal Council has no interest in truly tackling."
A suave yellow glow manifested from my horn as three folders were soon presented to the trio, with each pausing to glance over the content of it. Frowns appeared, then scowls.
The content of those folders were files regarding reports of rescued victims from border clashes with the Changelings.
There were also details over their military build-up from aerial scouts crossing the borders at random occasions and... a picture taken by a member of the Thoraxian Rebellion showing Chrysalis grinning madly as she proclaimed something to a crowd of Changeling Queens.
"I thought we kicked the bugs nicely last time," Filthy Rich snorted. "What's this all about?"
"...there's more of them," Fancy Pants finally spoke, the stallion fixing his glasses as he kept on staring at Chrysalis. "What we faced during the Canterlot Invasion- it was just Chrysalis."
"Back then we had to face just Chrysalis and parts of her lesser hive. Ever since our last skirmish, she has rallied more of her 'children' and subdued the rest of the hives in the Badlands," I confirmed with a serious tone. "They are currently expanding their military and will have a formidable force to face us in a few years from now."
"How much is 'a few', young Blueblood? We can't exactly worry if-"
"Less than three years."
And Filthy Rich went quiet, eyes going back to the folder with renewed dread.
"And what would you like for us to do, Prince Blueblood?" Fancy Pants offered, sounding quite driven by the situation. "I can organize a few donations for the Royal Guards but-"
"I am already going to rely on my money alone, Fancy Pants. I appreciate the gesture, but I need things that are more attuned to your talents."
"Such as?" Fleur prodded and I had a list on the table. "Hm?"
"Miss de Lis, while this situation may not seem fitting for your skills, I understand you have connections with the world of fashion with major producers in Manehattan. If it's possible I would ask you to facilitate a deal for the military for mass-productions of new uniform with any clothes-makers."
The pink-maned model offered a surprised look and then a smile. "It shouldn't be too much of a trouble."
I nodded, then turned to Fancy Pants. "In regard to any assistance you could provide us, Fancy Pants, it is more about any advice you can extend in the matters of good PR. Right now, the military recruitment drive is based on voluntary law. Which means-"
"You need young ponies to join the army," Fancy Pants hummed, the unicorn sighing. "As much as it sounds risky, I understand that there has been a lack of progress in filling up the lines."
"We can hardly match their disorganized army if we go to war. The more time passes, the more Chrysalis' army will have a chance to break us."
Fancy Pants offered a tired nod. "I'll have to contact a good friend of mine who is best suited for such hurdle. He should be at your service by the end of the week."
That was good and-
"What about me, young lad?" Filthy Rich interrupted. "Fancy is good at publicity, and Miss de Lis is experienced in the fashion business, but I doubt you are looking at my apples to support the military."
"I am not," I agreed, then smiled. "I have heard you had issues finding a company to expand your ventures too."
He snorted, shaking his head. "Don't remind me. I swear, some people in Manehattan can get so prudish when 'threatened'. So, I suppose you have one of those 'a stone for two birds' solution."
"I do. It is about a few newfound companies in Las Pegasus."
The oldest of the trio appeared intrigued. "That's a place I heard about. A bit of a 'competitor' for Manehattan, but not as big as the City that Never Sleeps."
"Mustang Developments and Sirius Metal Works are competing with the Stallion Company. They wish to produce a few interesting designs for tanks the military is eyeing with interest."
"Only tanks?"
"Star Energy-"
"And artillery. Never missing our for the blast-givers," Filthy Rich offered a tiny smile. "If there's some assistance in the matters of paperwork-"
"I will aid you to not find any nosy pony to trouble your efforts."
"Good enough, I guess. And I suppose Diamond Tiara wouldn't mind if we switch out to Las Pegasus for a few holiday stays rather than Vanhoover."
The city wasn't exactly by the Changeling border, but it was close enough to it to be a threatened location in the eventuality of an invasion.
"I suppose so too, yes."
The rest of the meeting devolved in handling the details, but my attempts had yielded what I needed. The assistance of those that could directly make the difference to Equestria's industrial and economical matters. And those that were also most important in handling such affairs without shaking the administration too much.
After the meeting ended on such positive note, I teleported back to Canterlot and-
"How was it?"
I jumped in surprise since 1) I had teleported to my room and 2) Aunty Luna was suddenly quite close to me and had a knack to pull this sort of shit.
"A-Aunty, we talked about frights."
She giggled, the alicorn's blue eyes glowing with mirth. "Silly, nephew. As your aunt, I would never stop teasing you~."
If Celestia was a 'mother to all', Luna was a 'cool aunty for one'. And that one was 'me' since I was a common fixture in the castle and someone that spared a cordial amount of time with her. Also, the whole Nightmare Night fiasco was fixed by yours truly so... I guess I 'deserved' this.
Still, I owed Luna some stuff for helping me get into the military and also voice support on what modern steps were needed to improve the military. She was quite outdated in the matters of the military, but she could see, as plain as possible, that Chrysalis was not going to play nice the next time we faced her and...
"It's a matter of principle, sister! The bug harlot kidnapped our niece, almost seduced our nephew-in-law, and almost took over the capital of our ponies! We need to kill this threat before she does worse!"
Luna had a hatebone for Chrysalis.
In her mind, the Changeling Queen had done the equivalent of breaking into her room, pissing on her bed, flaunting a fat shit on her diary, and then ran away with plans to do worse the next time. The Alicorn of the Moon was far from pleased with the Royal Council, especially when they tried to object the restoration of the Diarchy and then tried to pull the same with the Triarcy.
"It was... a good meeting. Plans are in motions."
"Good, good. I am also bearer of good news, nephew."
That sounded like positive thing but... Luna was trying to do something I was myself unsure on how to tackle. The letter she showed me was a response from the 'Chiefs of the Thestrals Community'. Thestrals, commonly known as 'Batponies', was labeled by a few historians as the 'fourth tribe' of Equestria. They had been an active part after Luna made an effort to bring them to the fold back when her shared reign with Celestia started.
Even back then there was something of an unease from other ponies over the slim minority of Batponies known to suck on blood - most of them focused on wild cattle animals, but the few murderous thestrals that came up in the history tomes still stained the reputation of the large majority of fruit-lovers.
Then things went to apeshit when Nightmare Moon happened, some of those thestrals (mostly the murderous ones) joined her fold, and then they bailed from the resistance as they all left Equus in 'search of a better place to raise their grand kingdom'.
The end result is that Pony SS troops are now enforcing some Burgundian Order shit in Zebrika and they treated all locals as slaves to either overwork or use for insane experiments. When Luna learned of this centuries-old issue, she was absolutely ready to go out and blast those bastards to hell and beyond.
Sadly for her, without a navy to support an invasion, no plans went through in seeing the nation known as Chiropterra annihilated for good.
So, for her to show me papers that offered some interest to see batponies recruited was both good and bad. Good because it was ponypower to be employed, and bad because Celestia was going to lament this 'hasty' move just now.
Sadly for Aunty Tia, however, I had given her all chances to see this shit solved at a fashionable timing and... it was time to play bold for once.
"This may work, yes. But understand I will have to vet them thoroughly to avoid any infiltrations."
Luna rolled her eyes at the paranoia, but she still appeared giddy over my positive response.
"Thank you, beloved nephew. If it wasn't for you, I would have really- Well, I would have been cross."
"It's Aunty Tia still shelving away your proposals?"
Luna froze up at my guess, and then... sighed loudly.
"Some of those yes," the Alicorn admitted. "But she is trying-"
"It's just there's a bunch of morons slowing down the process. I am aware of that."
Luna offered a smile, and then appeared ready to leave with the promise that I would get this situation handled somehow. I was soon alone to lie in my bed for a much-needed nap and...
...
"Aunty?"
"Yes, Blueblood?"
"I thought you were leaving."
"I was on my way, but I noticed you were tired," Luna argued, the troublesome alicorn currently giving me unplanned cuddles. "And thus I decided it was fair for me to thank you with the best nap experience. Cuddles from your beloved Aunty."
Ah yes, Aunty Lulu may be competing with Aunty Tia on 'whos the best aunty'. Right now, much to Celestia's chagrin despite Luna's own shortcomings due to her social ineptitude, Lulu was winning.
And thus the night claimed her cuddles. Just this once.
AN
War-thirsty Luna is the tag as... 'games don't exist yet'. Well videogames, but Wargames are a thing.
Next time, Blueblood is going to get a surprise visit as he is busy at work.