Equestria was a new nation when Duchess Celestia of the unicorn tribe accepted her next mission: prevent a rogue group of hostile earth ponies from attacking the San Palomino stronghold. She must protect her friends and her country, especially now that she has a sibling waiting in the future.

Unfortunately, the politics of unicornian life are full of deadly pitfalls, and not just of the physical kind. The deeper Celestia gets into the game, the more she risks forgetting what exactly is at stake.

Originally Intended as a Contestant of FanOfMostEverything's Imposing Sovereigns challenge. Personal Prompt: "Celestia the Schemer".