I wasn't here when they reformed the Equestria government. However, I have to imagine it being quite the ordeal. From what Sparky told me, the princesses knew it was coming for a while, but Celestia wanted to wait and see what would happen before trying to muscle her way through the situation. Luna was uncharacteristically blunt, though. She let slip that the princesses knew about the "secret" meetings that the nobility was holding. Knowing Luna as I do now, I doubt this was a mistake, and in the end, it forced Celestia to acknowledge the situation and do one of two things. Either charge the ones responsible with treason, or work with them. Obviously, she chose the latter. The former being completely beyond anything Celestia would even consider.

The resulting talks helping a peaceful transition of power. I do know, though, that the restrictions placed on the princesses irritated the two sisters immensely in the beginning. However, over time they came to accept them as necessary. Without them, I doubt many of the technological advancements that have come about would have happened if they still had absolute power.

Suddenly the ponies of Equestria found themselves without two of their most staunch defenders. This was solved in various ways, and Celestia has even admitted that forcing her ponies to step up like they did was one of the best things she could ever have done for them.

With this new power, many found themselves in a position to abuse it, or their choices many have seemed wrong to more experienced ponies, like the sisters. But in order for this new government to work, they would have to accept this and work with these people. Even if it meant letting their ponies commit mistakes they knew they would not have, or commit to decisions they would never have considered.

-Daus Skarr

*******

I looked around at the mountain of books that still needed to be shelved and sighed. Working at a library had sounded like an easy job. Working at Twilight's library was anything but an easy job. If I wasn't rotating the books in and out of storage, I was checking returns or restocking the front desk or completely reorganizing whole sections for whatever reason.

Today, my only comfort was that Hedge was taking me out to lunch when the library reopened. Twilight had relented under the accusation that I hadn't had a good meal in at least three days, and she wasn't willing to take me for dinner.

I checked the list of pulls again. There was no way I could fit all these books on shelves without pulling more, but the list was iron clad. Twilight told me that once it was made there was no changing it. She had never had to revise it even once, and while I was confident that her memory of the library was absolute, I still couldn't find enough room for all the new books.

I picked up a stack of books and started walking over to the section in question. About half way there I heard a knock on the door. I didn't even stop to check who it was. Twilight could just teleport in, and anyone who could somehow miss the sign on the door saying "closed for lunch" wouldn't want to stay outside once I opened the door.

There was more knocking then I heard someone yell, "Anyone home?"

I ignored them and keep walking.

There was banging this time followed by the same person yelling, "This is the Equestrian military! Open up! We have a warrant!"

I tripped and fell mere feet away from my destination, but I could care less. All thoughts of my assignment vanished as the banging continued.

I got up quickly and looked over the banister to the first floor.

I could see the door frame shake as whoever continued their assault on the door. The foyer was wide open, but I doubted I could get down the stairs and force the basement door before they came through the front. I crept to the top of the stairs and crouched behind a bookshelf.

"This is your last warning! Open the door!"

Breifly, I thought about how Twilight would feel if the people outside broke her door, and I almost felt like getting up to let them in. Then I remembered how hard they had been hitting the door and figured better it than me.

I frantically looked around. Twi wouldn't let anything sharp into the library after I had tried to bury myself in the snow a while ago. She even locked up the kitchen knives in a drawer that only she could get into. I had no intention of fighting off anyone, but if I could cut into my left hand, Twilight might get the message.

Of course, if Spike were here, I could just have him go get help, but he had insisted on going with Twilight for lunch. I'm pretty sure the guy was getting a little jealous of all the attention Twi was giving me. Although, I'd gladly let it shift to him if I could.

My thoughts were interrupted by a loud bang and the wrenching of wood as the front door was blasted inward. I felt it collide with the wall below me. The amount of force needed to throw it across the room like that was unsettling to think about. Twilight had told me that the new Equestrian military discouraged the direct use of magic. Instead, employing an increasingly complex and powerful system of sigils and wards.

I'm sure the door appreciated their ingenuity.

"Mal, take Haze and search this floor. Flail, check upstairs. I'll try the basement."

The voice spoke with precise authority. Yet it also had the practiced ease of repetition. I heard "Flail" start up the stairs and moved into the aisles of books behind me.

I waited for the pony to pass. Its heavy plate armor constantly giving away its wears position. Once gone, I quietly walked to the nearest window and tried to open it, but it wouldn't budge. I cured Twilight's thoroughness. Bracing myself, I placed my shoulder against the glass and pushed with everything I had.

It didn't move an inch.

I sighed and turned to find a heavily armored pony crouching a few feet away. We both froze and stared at one another for a moment.

The pony raised a hand to stop me but I had already turned and started to run. I heard and felt it crash to the floor behind me, and, for a moment, it fumbled with my legs before I broke free.

"He's up here running for the stairs!"

I heard a crash downstairs as the pony's companions reacted. I doubted I could make it, but if I could get outside maybe someone could help me.

Sure enough, I had to quickly change directions at the top of the stairs to avoid the two ponies coming up. These were similarly dress, but one was shorter. I could tell from the cut of her armor that she was a mare, and, like Mead, had a crossbow slung across her back. Though, from what I could see, it looked normal enough.

I pushed off the banister and ran down the hallway into the living quarters of the library. Blasting past my room, I barreled into Twilight's and slammed the door shut behind me. Just after it closed, I heard a satisfyingly loud thud as one of the ponies crashed into the door. Despite this, it remained unmoving in its frame.

I frantically looked around. There was a window above Twilight's bed, but I doubted it was unsecured. I crossed the room anyway and tried it. Sure enough, it was locked tight.

"Move."

I heard the voice again. As soon as he spoke, the banging on the door stopped. There was silence for a few seconds. Realizing what was about to happen, I dove to the side just as a deafening bang shook the door. Splinters flew, but the door stuck fast.

Relief washed over me. I laughed and yelled through the door, "Who is it!?"

The voice responded, "Open the door, Abdominis."

I didn't ask anything. I doubt anything would convince the group outside to leave. Looking around, I noticed a particularly large splinter of wood on the ground. I picked it up and poked the tip. It was pretty dull, but it would probably break the skin.

I thought about it for a few more seconds, then another impact rocked the door.

I took a deep breath. Despite what Twilight might still think, I didn't like the idea of hurting myself. However, I was sure that this would be much better than letting whoever was outside get ahold of me.

I raised the splinter up, and, trying not to imagine how much pain I would be in, brought the sharp edge of the shard of wood down on my hand.

The moment I broke skin several things happened. First, there was a bright flash of purple light, followed closely by the sound of splintering wood as the door finally gave way. Unlike the front door, Twilight's door buckled in its frame with a hole in the middle.

"What-ARGH!!?"

Twilght had appeared next to me with a mildly alarmed look on her face, but her attention quickly shifted from me to the door as it exploded inward. Bits and pieces of wood flew across the room, but Twi deflected them easily. More concerning to me was the small metal sphere rolling across the floor. Guessing at what it was, I grabbed Twilight and dove over the bed. She tried to twist away but was too surprised to break loose.

We crashed to the floor on the other side of the bed just as a loud band and flash of light resonated from the opposite end of the room. My ears rang, but at least I could still see.

I peeked over the edge of the bed. Across the room, I could see the intruders doing the same with the doorway. I locked eyes with one of them briefly before ducking back down. One look at Twi told me the flashbang had affected her much more than it had affected me. She couldn't even seem to find her balance enough to sit up.

Anger welled up in me. This was, after all, her home. I stood and yelled to the attackers, "Hey! What the hell are you doing! Take that shit outside-"

I was cut short as a pony in full armor plowed into me. He hit me so hard my feet left the floor. For a moment I was weightless, then I collided with the wall behind me. The pony in armor had me pinned against the wall, and for a moment, I thought he was going to crush the breath from my chest. However, just as quickly he was gone.

"AAAAAAUUGHHHH!"

I caught a glimpse of an armored figure rag dolling out the door. The sound of his scream surprised me so much I almost overlooked Twilight, who had risen to her feet. I took half a step forward, intending to tell her to stay down, but before I could, she changed.

Her eyes burst into bright purple flames, and her hands and horn pulsed with power. I had never felt her aura like this. The normally soothing presence instead felt like a bonfire sustained by jet fuel. I had been on Equus for about a year, and had heard a lot about Alicorns but never actually seen one let loose. It was hard just to stand behind her!

Twilight's aura got brighter, and I started to feel a pressure in my ears.

"STOP!"

A voice rang out. Like thunder, it cut through my train of thought. Even Twilight was caught off guard. She lowered her hands, but her aura still burned.

A figure stepped through the ruined door. Fully armored and sword extended, it stopped just inside the room. It raised a hand slowly. After it was sure Twilight wouldn't send him back through the door like the previous pony, it removed its helmet.

Twilight's aura faltered and died. She tried to speak, but it took her a moment to form the word.

"Arbiter."

His coat was pure white. That was the first thing I noticed about him. Then his eyes caught mine, and I look away. They were commanding, absolute. His gaze was too powerful for me to hold. When he spoke, his voice rang with authority.

"I have come for the Abdominis, the human," he said. Then, without turning away, he reached into his pocket and took out a piece of paper.

"This," he said, tossing the paper across the room, "is a warrant for his arrest. Under the newly revised Civil Contract, he is in violation of several laws."

Twilight caught the paper with her magic and held it up to read. I stepped up behind her to see what the paper said.

By order of the Equestrian Senate, the human know as "Daus" is hereby ordered to appear before the Committee of Foreign Integration. As of this notice, three previous notices have been dispatched to the offender's last known residence and no response has been given. Due to the lack of compliance, the human known as "Daus" is now considered it violation of Equestrian law, and is to be placed under arrest pending his hearing with the Committee of Foreign Integration.

At the bottom of the letter was an official looking seal with the words EQUESTRIAN SENATE emblazoned around it in a circle.

"Well Twi," I said, "I guess they found me. I'll write, though."

"You be quiet," Twilight pointed a finger at me. Then she turned to the Arbiter and said, "We never received anything before this here. I know the new laws in and out." Twilight tossed the paper to the ground. She seemed confident, but I thought I heard her voice waver for a moment.

The Arbiter shrugged and said, "The human has no official place of residence, so the notices were sent to the place he most frequents." He reached into his pocket again and took out a sealed letter. Holding it up, he read the address, "The address reads: 4675 Addage Ln 05-"

I laughed. Despite the situation, I couldn't help myself. Twilight looked back at me in confusion. Then it started to dawn on her.

With great effort, I stopped my laughing and said, "You sent those letters to Maze's bar?!"

The blank look the Arbiter gave me had me laughing again. Let it not be said that the new Equestrian senate wasn't clever.

While I was laughing, one of the Arbiter's people came in and whispered something in his ear. The Arbiters seemed to straighten up a little, and his gaze honed in on me.

He pointed his sword toward me and gestured with his other hand for me to step forward, saying, "Where ever the senate sent those notices is irrelevant. They were sent and no reply was given. Thus, I am here. Please, do not resist and you will be given a fair chance to defend yourself."

I looked at Twilight, but she only shrugged.

"The seal is real, and, technically, they followed the process perfectly," she said dejectedly.

I started to feel the reality of the situation, but Twilight spoke up when she noticed my look of growing alarm.

"It's not over," she reassured me, "You will have a chance to defend yourself, and I'll be there to walk you through the process."

I looked between the two again. Twilight nodded and gestured in the direction of the Arbiter. She wouldn't turn to look at him, though. To his credit, the Arbiter seem to be all business. After almost a year of trying to corner me with litigation, I'd have thought he would be smugger than this.

I hesitated then stepped forward. Once, I did. The Arbiter sheathed his sword and barked an order to one of his soldiers. I was cuffed and taken downstairs. When we exited the library, I saw a crowd had gathered in the street. Among them were the elements. Dash was yelling something, but it was lost in the chatter of the crowd.

"Hey, Salt!"

I turned and saw the Arbiter do the same. Hedge was walking around the corner of the tree house. I thought I saw something flash in his hand, but one of the Arbiters people got in the way before I could see what it was. Unfortunately for the soldier, Hedge was more than he could take. Without stopping, Hedge shoved the stallion aside. Then he drew back and threw something our way.

The Arbiter caught whatever it was, but it moved too fast for me to see. The soldiers with the Arbiter moved to help their fallen ally, but a short order from their leader stopped them. Hedge nodded to me, turned, and walked away.

I looked over at the Arbiter to try and see what he had caught, but he was already putting whatever it was in his pocket. For the first time, though, I saw a look cross his face, and, for a moment, I thought I saw sadness in his eyes.

But then whatever it was had gone. I was loaded into a coach, and we drove away.

Author's Note

Not Christmas themed, but I couldn't get that far this year. It'll be worth the wait. I hope people are still reading. It doesn't really matter to me. I do this for myself. Still, comments are always appreciated. Good or bad, I'll take what I can get.