Twilight's Command

The night was beautiful and fresh. The gust of wind was very much audible from every direction of the grand city of Canterlot. The high altitude, giving a marvellous and stunning view of the night’s sky as well as the fluffy white clouds blending with the moon’s colour, gave a wonderful vista to the city. A vista that everypony was contemplating. Well, everypony except the princesses.

The princesses were hard at work in the meeting room as all three of them sat around a table taking notes and having discussions. All of them were extremely focussed as they emptied the quill’s ink pots and stacking up papers.

“Okay,” Celestia sighed. “We need multiple squads positioned on the Vanguard of the city. Variations of Earth Ponies and Unicorns if possible.”

Luna nodded. “Our soldiers shall bring conservation and reconnaissance on the west and east walls. We suggest thy soldiers to proceed to north and south gates as well.”

The princesses were working hard for hours, this hardly ever happened. Being protectors of a nation of peace and tranquillity, they hardly had anything to be preoccupied about. But, after the news of the prison break, they had to take extra precautions for the protection of their subjects. Including themselves.

This problem brought up a few issues: One is in fact an issue they were discussing right now. But there was a graver one to be attended to, Twilight’s guards, or better said, the lack of it. Until now, they all had equal and balanced guard formations for the upgraded safety of everypony but Twilight’s current residence lacked in guards and security. They needed to fix this.

Celestia remembered something. She hovered her quill back down to the table and looked at Twilight. “Twilight, have you received notice of the new project we started yesterday?”

Twilight thought for a split second right before remembering. “Yes, actually. Captain Solar told me about it,” she stopped and looked at Luna who was still hard at work. “The Afterglow Guard program.”

Celestia nodded. “Surely, you have no objections to this project?”

Twilight looked away. “Well, no…” she said doubtfully. “I just… well I just think it isn’t very necessary.”

Twilight didn’t seem comfortable having ponies serving all day and night for her protection. Also, having ponies risking their lives to save her is something she really didn’t want.

“Twilight, we need to do this even though it isn’t necessary. I want to ensure maximum security on you,” Celestia said in a calm as always tone.

“Yes… of course… you’re right,” Twilight said, confidently.

Celestia smiled. She turned to Luna who had just finished writing the Vanguard squad formations.

Luna turned to Twilight. “Me and my sister hath commenced and finalized the Afterglow Guard armour design and weaponry last night,” Twilight was surprised at the amount of work the princesses did the night before. “We only need to finalize the recruits training exercises and then we shall let the head of the Royal Guard handle the recruitments.”

Twilight suddenly remembered her friends. Do they need safety too? Do they also need personal guards? Being the Elements of Harmony, they would also likely be a target, right? Twilight decided to find this out.

“How about my friends? Do they also need security?”

Celestia turned to her. “No, they do not.”

Twilight was shocked at what Celestia just said. “But they’re-“

“Yes,” Celestia interrupted. “I know they are the Elements of Harmony but we were sure to make it an inside thing. Nopony knows how special your friends are hence, they’re safe. Overloading them with guards will only make them a bigger target.”

Twilight looked down. She wasn’t liking this conversation one bit. Wasn’t Celestia being a bit too overprotective? Sure, there was that prison break but that didn’t mean all of those inmates are heading all the way to Canterlot and Ponyville. And if they were, what’s the worst that can happen?

“I’m sorry, princess,” Twilight said. “I just don’t understand what the problem is. I don’t see a reason to why the inmates might end up here.”

Before Celestia was able to answer, Luna stepped forward. “The reason of them coming here are various. Canterlot is a city of riches, ranked top ten of the wealthiest cities in the world. Which may be the cause of attempts of burglary.”

That was a good enough reason to satisfy Twilight’s curiosity. However, she still had one more doubt in her mind.

“But, that’s just burglary. We have had that in the past and I’m pretty sure we don’t need an entire brigade of guards to prevent that. What’s the worst they could do apart from burglary?”

“You mean, what’s the worst they already did,” Celestia said.

Twilight was confused. “Huh? What do you mean?”

Celestia didn’t want to mention this, but, for the cause of Twilight’s unceasing curiosity, it’s best that she is advised.

Celestia took a deep breath. She turned to one of the guards guarding the door. “Guard,” She saw the guard clenching in position upon hearing Celestia summoning him.

“Yes, ma’am?” The guard asked.

“Please give us a report on civilian casualties.”

The guard saluted and stepped forward. Twilight looked a bit anxious.

He then said without hesitating. “Canterlot’s population is over three hundred thousand. One week after the Gleam Prison break, the population has dropped point one per cent. We have searched for the missing ponies only to find deceased bodies hidden inside the Palace Labyrinth,” The guard stopped for a second. “Burglary has also increased three fold,” He finished then headed back to his post.

Twilight, mouth agape and filled with shock, was a bit teary eyed. “How could somepony do this?”

Celestia put a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder. “We do not know. Some agencies are already on the case. Feel free to ask them if you want any more information.”

Twilight didn’t feel like wanting anymore details. Living in a world of peace up until now, she hardly ever knew there were ponies capable of taking somebody’s life away. She turned to Luna, who felt sorry for Twilight.

Luna approached. “Twilight Sparkle,” she said calmly. “I and my sister… hath lived for thousands of years. We hath observed and experienced events nopony could ever imagine in this world we reside in. This is why precautions must be taken.”

“Un-understood,” Twilight said, still shocked at the news. “If you don’t mind… I’ll go to my chambers early.”

“Of course,” Celestia said with a small smile as Twilight walked away.

Luna became suddenly distressed. She just remembered something. As much as she wanted to avoid it, she still needed to know. She turned to Celestia.

“Sister, shall we tell her?”

It didn’t take Celestia a split second to find out what Luna was referring to. They had spoken of this before in private.

After giving a worried look, she briefly closed her eyes before opening them again. “No. Give her a little time, we can’t.”

Luna agreed with a simple nod.

In Celestia’s mind, thoughts ran. She shouldn’t know. Not yet.