The Blue Paradigm 5 - (MLP (EAW AU), Blueblood!SI)

1007 had been a most intense year.

While the production of a suitable Heavy Tank was far from seeing any pleasant results for another year, the efforts made in airplanes were yielding some new advances in components for the new aircrafts. Nothing that could truly produce any advancements just yet, but the promising efforts were offering some hopeful wishing for the upcoming year.

1008 would see a few changes. And it was going to be crucial for our 'soft power' to be upheld in the next challenges. Starting with the Kingdom of Olenia being in shaky ground and offering Chrysalis a chance to acquire more resources.

I already planned to have a conversation with Princess Velvet and, with all prayers aimed at it, I wished for her to entertain the creation of a voluntary army to be ready to reclaim her throne rather than expect the people to just welcome her back.

Legitimacy or not, she needed an army because the Equestrian Military could not deal with that extra border- we were already struggling with our own, the last thing we need is to overextend the army's capacity to defend good ground.

There was a similar situation going on for the Northern regions since the Crystal Empire was undergoing a bit of a campaign to suppress a strange cult trying to bring back Sombra.

The silliest bit about this last news was that it was mostly led by non-Crystal Ponies since none of the locals wanted Sombra back, which made the work of the local guards easier in containing the threat exerted by those cultists, yet it limited our capacity to defend the Polar Bears.

In terms of Real World, the Polar Bears were Scandinavian in nature, and their terrain held the riches of minerals that could fuel the Changeling Industry into producing a formidable military in the next few years.

I could contain the Changelings in Olenia, but there was no chance for us to do the same with the Northern lands. Luckily for the Crystal Empire, the Yaks were stuck in a civil war and their mountainous lands lacked any known resources that would endear our foes from trying to strike at us from the North.

Still, the business was hardly limited to 'external threats'. Not when I was personally visited by the second younger Alicorn in Equestria to discuss over the recent diplomatic endeavor with the Buffalo. Twilight Sparkle was... a friend. Sorta. I had met her once when we were very young, and she had forgotten about me ever since then.

I met her at the palace when she got lost after a lesson, and I gave her a map so she wouldn't lose herself anymore. I made an effort to avoid her until she was out for Ponyville. That move was a good one since it guaranteed Twilight could handle all the shit her and her friends went through without somehow pulling me into it.

The only time I got to 'see' her was during that one Grand Galloping Gala, and I was quite relived she forgot about me.

And now she 'knew' me since she visited the place I lived at a lot as of a few years now.

"Field Marshal Blueblood, thank you for accepting my invitation. I hope I am not claiming much time from you."

"The work is busy on a steady basis, but I can make time for one of the Princesses."

"I told you Twilight is fine," The former unicorn remarked, a tiny smile on her snout. I welcomed her to my office and soon we were taking our seats one in front of the other. "And I want to start by saying that my friends and I are grateful for the army's support in keeping a reserve force around when Pinkie Pie went to speak with the Buffalos. I understand it is not a cheap effort."

"It is not, but we are trying to shake things up as of late, so a few 'exercises' can only do well to these troops."

Her smile twitched as she digested my response.

"Why so? I thought that the Equestrian Army was not needed as the Royal Guard could handle such an internal matter just fine."

That was a peculiar response considering that I was aware Cadance and Luna knew of my conversations with Celestia but... did Twilight have that same amount of intel?

"Well, Princess, the Equestrian Army, together with the Air Force and the Navy, has been working on a reorganization following some recent events involving the Changelings."

That answer further confused the Princess of Friendship. "Changelings? Chrysalis was defeated a while ago, why would it become so prominent now to reinforce... the military of all departments?"

I drew a lengthy sigh a this. "Princess, I have to remind you right now before I say more that you are of the same rank as Princess Luna and Princess Celestia when it comes to important matters, top-secret matters. I would ask you if you so wish to go ahead and see some reports that are currently restricted to high-level individuals such as yourself."

A frown appeared on Twilight's face, but the mare nodded. "If it's important for Equestria, then I- I should be at least aware of it."

I nodded, my horn glowing faintly as a few folders were retrieved off the shelves behind me. All of those landed on the desk, turned to Twilight and each bearing the same writing: 'Warning! Top-Secret! Princess-Tier Rank only'.

Twilight said nothing as she carefully used one of her front hooves to pull open the first folder, and she started to read in peace. For twenty lengthy minutes, the Princess of Friendship was busy reading, thinking, and reading some more.

By the time she was done, the mare gave me a perplexed look.

"If Celestia is aware of this, then why wasn't the military improved as requested many times?"

"...Nobles."

And her eyes narrowed. "Of course. Still, this is very bad."

"Indeed, which is why I had to legally, but subtly approach the high society of Equestria to try and get cheaper good deals to start improving things on our own."

"The budget is the same-"

"Legally-speaking yes."

...

"What? What is that even supposed to mean?"

"It means that, as the Field Marshal, since there is no law forbidding me to tap into my own money to sustain the military, I am doing so."

Twilight's eyes widened again, but instead of shock, there was... awe. "Y-You are using your own bits for this?"

"That's correct."

"B-but you-"

"It's not necessarily a pleasant thought, but I am focusing more on those 'short-term' improvements with my money, waiting for an opportunity to raise the military budget before doing something more... complex."

Twilight nodded, looking down to the reports and once more thinking about it. Then, she seemed to consider something as she turned to me with a bigger smile.

"If the nobles are stopping your efforts, how about you use a different excuse, Field Marshal?"

I blinked, then leaned back. "Hm?"

"The Changelings are scary, yes, but the nobles are truly frightened by those ponies that scare them: and those are-"

"The communists," I interrupted, picking up what she was suggesting. "But we had no report on any build-up that could be used."

I had thought of this too but-

"But it doesn't have to be a military report. What if a commission of the very bureaucracy is tasked to gauge the effectiveness of the Royal Guard against a potential revolution staged by the Red Army from Stalliongrad."

I leaned back on my chair, hoof scratching under my chin. "Go on."

"If the commission was to report this, and then Princess Celestia brought it up to the council, then they would feel genuinely concerned and raise the budget. I could find those people that really dislike Stalliongrad a lot and paint the situation as dreadful and..."

"And that would work, yes," I nodded in agreement, frowning at her current expression. Maybe I was risking it, but... Twilight wasn't necessarily trying to hit on me, and she had the brains if she was directed in the right direction so- "Tell you what, Twilight. How about we organize some meetings to discuss some planning in the future? I assume you would be interested in the few dozens of plans we have for contingencies."

Her eyes widened a bit. "H-How many?"

"Should be roughly 38..."

"R-Really? That many~?" She squeaked, her 'giddiness' showing a bit too much now.

Oh Faust, she is indeed horni on planning.

"Yes... Would you be willing to find some time so we can see if those are still viable under your supervision."

She beamed. "Sure thing, Blueblood~!"

I think I sold my soul to Satan, but if she can smooth out any mistake I left in those plans, then I may as well go to hell for it to save others - I just didn't see that the situation was... more complex than that.

And more cunning on Twilight's part.

AN

Next time, a change of POV as it is Twilight's turn to say 'hello'!