Daring Do and the Wrath of the Elders

Spitfire stood upon the highest balcony of the ancient and tradition-steeped Halls of the Bouleterion. Seat of the city government since the days of the legendary Commander Hurricane. She was facing the east horizon. A stiff breeze ruffled her fiery orange mane and rushed in her ears. She never would admit it - but it was rather cold, only wearing her official uniform. She really would have preferred her flight suit.

Anyway - she drew one last deep breath and let her eyes wander over the cityscape, the blue sky and the edge where it met the rolling hills and woods of the central Equestrian plains.
Cloudsdale. Proud home of the Pegasi. Hustling and bustling metropolis in the sky. An archipelago made of clouds.
Vast colonnades, astonishing palaces, bridges, gates and grand staircases, paying respect to the proud history of the Pegasi.
More than a few statues and even whole buildings weren't made of clouds. These marvels of marble gold and silver were held up by strong magic - gifts of friendship made by Earth Ponies and Unicorns, strengthening the bond between the three tribes.

In between: Hundreds of Pegasi swarming in all shapes and colors. Everypony was hard at work, decorate, treat the cloud-surface with this intriguing magic stuff, that allowed non-pegasi to walk on them. Crates were transported, carriages raced over the sky. Clouds were smoothed and reshaped. In short - the whole city reminded a hyperactive bee-hive.
The most curious thing however, was the strange impression of the lands below slowly creeping closer to the city... which obviously was a stupid thought, because...

"Captain Spitfire, Ma'am?", a young stallions voice jolted her out of her daydreaming.

"Yes, Airpony?" she turned her head around fixated the pale blue colt, wearing the Wonderbolts blue and yellow suit, with her dark ember eyes.

"Report from the navigation crew. We'll arrive at the outskirts of Canterlot in about an hour," he hooved her a stack of papers. "Err.. and the city board members wish for you to come back to the meeting."
The stallion blushed lightly. He felt obvious uneasy in her presence.

"It's OK. I'll be back in a minute.", then with the faintest smile she added "I just cannot bear those bureaucrats for too long at a time."

"Yes, Ma'am," the young Wonderbolt smirked, blushed again, turned around and trotted of. Now she allowed herself more of a smile.

Straightening herself she headed towards the door leading to the sticky warmth
of the conference room.
The times the city officials met in the old amphitheater down in the main-hall, were long gone.

"Well then...", while letting the city travel was quite the logistical challenge - she knew, the real work would only begin, once the arrived at the Capital.

A dozen Pegasi sat around an oval table in a modern light room, wooden paneling and grey carpet, turning their faces towards her. Some seemed annoyed, some envy of her daring to take this walk in the fresh air.

"Captain. We were talking about the traffic guidance for the coming days, during your ... break.", the mayor on the desk's head exclaimed in his typical bland voice. Matching his bland expression and his bland reddish coat.

'Ugh. How... exciting, ' Spitfire didn't say, but "Well. Then everything is in order, I assume? My Wonderbolts secure the museum and the arts gallery while the Guard keeps the non-flying ponies on the roads. And the non-prepared areas will be restricted."

"Yes. Sure. But We've decided to open more parts of the Weather Factory and of course of your training-grounds for the public too. The city has to shine!", He didn't even rise his voice. But the words hit Spitfire like a hammer.

"You... what? What, this..," she jolted up from the seat, she just had sunken into. "Mayor... This is plain impossible! I just don't have the personnel to secure this whole area... I mean - the museum takes ten Pegasi alone. Then the gallery and the festival sites... And we are supposed to do shows each day for the next two weeks....Even if we don't count in potential criminals. Earth ponies and Unicorns just could fall from the prepared areas..."

"Ah.", the mayor leaned back in his chair and waved his hooves in objection. "You heard yourself from this ugly rumors regarding the Factory. We have to show everypony that they are plain ridiculous."

"Mister Mayor - no sane pony even belief's this idiotic stories... The Factory isn't...", Spitfire huffed in despise, ready to rant but...

"If you don't feel up to the task with your glorious Wonderbolts,... Captain... then my City-Guard will gladly take the responsibility for the museums, too. Maybe you stick to your flight-shows and let regular troops handle the situation.", the Chief of the Guard, raised his voice subtle, keeping a neutral demeanor.
If gazes could kill, Spitfire would have committed an outright act of first degree murder.

"My Wonderbolts are up to any orders given. So if the board decides to open more locations - we'll do our best to guard them too, Chief Tin Batch" she spoke slowly, focusing her fiery stare at the mint green stallion. Not this time, pal!

"Uhm... Mister Hurricane," some accountant type mare, with business suit and thick glasses raised her voice towards the mayor. "May we talk about the security at the fair?"

Spitfire didn't listen anymore. Accountants. Business mares, politicians and bureaucrats. Idiotic ideas, disregarding any common sense, just to make the city 'shine'... Gosh Darn it!

And on top the mayor. Known as 'The Hurricane' - a more or less official title for every leader of the city. But this mayor wasn't worthy of that title. He was a Low Breeze at best. Trying to make anypony happy. Not noticing what chaos he created. But this was - plain ridiculous...

And then Tin Batch. Colonel of the Guard. Highest police-officer. Hadn't left his desk since his promotions a decade ago. But he was everything but harmless. Spitfire knew him as machinating politician. With a keen eye for opportunities and next to no qualms when it came to budged-plans. Of all enemies she had to face in the past, he was the worst one.
Just running out on the balcony. Spreading my wings and jump. Gosh nopony in this town would even have a close chance to follow me. Leaving all this bullshit behind... Again she sighed and cracked a faint smile about this nice daydream.

"... Captain?", aaand it was gone. disgruntled she looked up.

"Excuse me, I pondered about what to do about your plans.", Spitfire straightened up herself.

"What is about, if you cut the guards at the museums. Those are complete enchanted - so nopony would be in danger.", a faceless bureaucrat - even his appearance refused to stick on her mind - asked.

"It's a grandiose idea.", she smiled. Smiling was surely better, than strangling this idiot for his idiotic suggestion.
Yes - the next days promised to become fun, indeed.