Equestria Aflame.

    A messenger sprinted through Canterlot. He had been pounding his hooves for miles, for the message he carried was of vital importance. He was almost there. The guards recognized him and let him pass into the princess's court. He almost knocked the doors down in his attempt to get to the princess and deliver his message. "Your Majesty!" the messengerpony yelled then continued to pant heavily.

      Celestia's attention was immediatly drawn to him, driving her from her work of managing a kingdom. "What is it?" the sun princess called in her calming voice slowly making her way towards him.

     "A message, highness." He panted. And almost collapsed walking towards the princess to hand her the paper with the important news, his adreniline was wearing off and fatigue was gripping him.

     Celestia took the note using her magic and nodded a dismissal to the messenger. He walked out and Celestia was reading the message. Her convoy to Baltimare about a "disturbance" was...ambushed. "What?" Celestia thought to herself, "I sent 20 soldiers! Who would do this?" She took that piece of paper from view to reveal the paper behind it. A casualty report. Six ponies dead the captain among them, ten more wounded. One of the four unharmed ones made the report describing what happened as he remembered it.

     "We were marching down a road, on our way to Baltimare, on a public disturbance call. I guess it was large enough to warrant the use of military personnel. We had marched for a day already from Fort Mane, we had about half a day left before Baltimare. We marched down into a valley. We weren't really expecting anything and we weren't paying attention to much accept the dirt beneath our hooves as we marched. We weren't marching in enemy territory, so there wasn't any reason to be keeping watch on the march." Celestia shook her head, noticing the soldier's excuses and continued to read. "We were just nearing the floor when I heard a thud. I looked to my right and noticed, what looked like, a spear jutting out of the ground. then another one came down and soon we were rained upon. Our captain yelled 'Incoming! Find cover!' before a spear found its way in between the plates of his crivet and his neck was gored. We scrambled, two of my comrades were run through with the spears and I felt one bounce off of my flanchard, I almost panicked at the sight of my captain bleeding out on the ground. I looked around and saw a group of four masked unicorns using their magic to levitate spears and barrage us with them from the top of the valley at the treeline of a forest. They were waiting for us. They killed six of us and hurt many more. I was lucky. The unicorns ran off after their spear supply was drained"

     Celestia didn't read the rest of the report and rolled up the paper and placed it elsewhere. She sighed and slowly paced, her magical mane flowing. These unicorns were going to be found and punished, of that she was certain. The audacity of them to attack a royal convoy and take the lives of six soldiers, was almost impossible to believe. There have been public protests and even riots but they were always quickly dispersed by the appearance of soldiers. They were becoming more bold.

     The protests started when Celestia instituted a new set of laws. The laws didn't effect much but restrict, ever so slightly, the basic freedoms the ponies had. Celestia's explanation was to "Maintain harmony and order in Equestria" The people demanded that the laws be repealed, even Luna sided with the people, but the solar princess refused. And with every new riot, another law was made, another freedom taken away. The government of Equestria wasn't totalitarian but the final say was Celestia's. Even though the two sisters were to rule "equally". A cabinet of councillors  and representatives made up the lower government. Celestia had complete legislative powers. She could make and repeal laws as she pleased without the consent of the lower government or even her sister.

      "More soldiers." Celestia whispered to herself, she would send more soldiers to Baltimare, for that riot could only have grown since then. She would send 50, no 100. Any amount to restore order. The princess quickly arranged the movement of troops to the city and sent a small contingent of the royal air force to comb the forests surrounding the city. Hopefully the pegisi can find them. These terrorists will be brought to justice.

     Celestia turned toward the door of her throne room to see another messenger come in. "Another riot, your majesty!"

      Another beautiful day in Ponyville, the sun was shining, but a strong negative overtone engulfed the town. Everypony was gathering at the town square. Twilight Sparkle woke up from a great night's sleep and took a look outside the window. She noticed Everypony herding towards the center of town, but what alarmed her most was the grim expressions on most of their faces, some even showed anger. She quickly woke spike up and dashed downstairs and out the door of her library. She paused and looked around. Still the same setting. Something was definitely wrong. Spike soon staggered out the door still half asleep.

     "Why'd you wake me up like that Twilight?" moaned Spike, and the small dragon clasped his hands together and said, "I was in the most awesome dream with rar-.." he paused and darted his eyes at Twilight with an embarrassed look on his face and quickly spurted "rare jewels! Th-there were so many! I couldn't eat all of them!" *squee*

      Twilight just gazed at spike with a weirded out, half disgusted expression that she held ever since Spike paused. She held it for a few seconds later then quickly turned her head back to the gathering crowd. "We have bigger problems Spike! Something is definitely wrong here, and I think we'll find the answers at wherever it is the ponies are gathering to!" Twilight said with a determined grin.

     "Which is where?" Spike asked, confused, but thankful that Twilight forgot his embarrassing spout.

     "I have no idea." Twilight replied, then took off down the road towards the town square, which was her first guess.

     Spike went running after her yelling "Hey! Wait up!"