Dark Clouds Over Yonder

''I hope Princess Celestia is alright. Her letter just told us to come to Canterlot quickly. Hopefully the Changelings have not returned.'' Twilight muttered while she nervously paced back and forth in the train car.
''Relax Twilight. Most likely she just wants us to find some old artifact that she left somewhere ages ago and just now remembered.'' Rainbow Dash said to the nervous princess.
''I don't think the Princess would have sent for us all if it was just some old item that she wanted to find. There has to be some greater peril looming in the horizon.'' Twilight replied.
She then took Celestia's letter from her saddlepack and read it out loud: ''Dear Twilight Sparkle. I require the presence of you and your friends in Canterlot without delay. I have a task I need you to carry out. It is an emergency. Princess Celestia.''

''A task can be interpreted in many ways darling. Maybe she needs us to make a new royal dress for her and Princess Luna. Or maybe a new look for the Royal Guards. Or new curtains for the castle.'' Rarity listed with glee.
''Ah doubt the Princess would need all of us if all she wanted was some new designs.'' Applejack reminded.
''Yes, I guess that was just wishful thinking on my part. Canterlot is on the forefront of fashion anyways with ponies such as Sapphire Shores living there.'' Rarity sighed. ''And I don't think she meant planning a party either.'' She continued just as Pinkie was about to speak.

The train started slowing down, and the ponies realized that they had arrived in Canterlot. As they exited a group of Royal Guards greeted them.
''Princess Twilight and companions. We were told to escort you to the castle as soon as you arrived.''
''What has happened? Are Celestia and Luna okay?'' Twilight inquired.
''They are well Princess. But they are worried.''
''Worried about what?''
''I can't say. I was only told to get you to the castle as soon as you arrived. You will have to ask the Princess' themselves for the details. Now then, shall we go?''
Twilight nodded and started following the guards with her friends right behind her.

The guards escorted the ponies all the way to the throne room.
''The Princess' are inside.''
''Thank you.'' Twilight replied and opened the door. Inside Princess Celestia was sitting on her throne with Princess Luna right by her side.
''Twilight! I'm glad that you could come with such a short notice.'' Celestia said and walked over to meet her student.
''It was no trouble at all. I'm just glad to see that you and Princess Luna are okay. For a moment I had feared that Queen Chrysalis had returned, or something else had happened to the two of you.''
''I am sorry for not telling you the details of this emergency in the letter, but I felt that it was best to tell you face to face.''
''So what exactly is this emergency about?'' Applejack inquired.

''Earlier today Luna and I received a message from Baltimare informing us that one of Equestria's trading partners had cut off all trade with us and set up a trade block prohibiting goods to be transported to or from their land.'' Celestia explained to the ponies.
''And who is this trading partner? Saddle-Arabia? The Griffons?'' Rainbow Dash wondered.
''Neither of them.'' Luna replied. ''It is Coltalla, a rather small island kingdom in the north past the sea.''

''Maybe they just had a change of leadership, and the new king wants to change the terms of the trading arrangement?''
''That would be unlikely. Equestria and Coltalla have been trading partners for many years and all the kings who have been in power during those years have been more then satisfied with the trading. Coltalla's current monarch, King Ironheart, has actually been interested in expanding the trade, so it is more then alarming for something like this to happen.''

''Do you suspect that someone has usurped the throne from King Ironheart?''
''That is unfortunately very likely. We have heard some news from Coltalla that have been rather worrying. There have been numerous incidents that have happened all over Coltalla under very shady circumstances. And the local peacekeepers have been unable to find the culprits behind these incidents which has been very aggravating to the locals. And since the king is the their highest-ranking commander, we would not put it past them to storm King Ironheart's castle and take the throne from him in the event that they felt like he was lacking the power to keep his land safe.'' Celestia explained.

''So if I understand the situation, you need us to travel to Coltalla and investigate what is happening over there and, after we have found out the cause, try to fix whatever has happened?'' Twilight asked.
''You are correct.''
''But why can't you or Luna go and sort this out? Why do you need us?'' Rainbow inquired.
''Unfortunately we have business here in Equestria that keeps us from leaving. Several ambassadors are scheduled to visit us and after all of them we have meetings and public appearances all around the land. Cancelling everything would be both troublesome and worrying.''
''Don't worry Princess Celestia. We shall go and find out what is happening.'' Twilight reassured her mentor.
''Thank you. I knew I could count on you.''

Celestia asked a guard to bring her an inkwell, a quill and parchment. When brought to her she wrote something onto the parchment before handing it to Twilight.
''Take this letter and give it to a captain in the port of Baltimare. It decrees that you are to be taken to Coltalla without delay by any means necessary.''
Celestia also gave Twilight a pouch full of bits. ''This should cover any costs that should incur from the journey. Those costs include the possibility that you may need to convince a captain that it is worth their time and effort to bring you to Coltalla, but I hope you find someone who will take you there without asking too many questions.''
Twilight took the parchment and the bits, thanked Celestia and headed out with her friends. Their first destination was Baltimare Harbor and securing a ship for the journey. As Twilight and the others headed out, Celestia and Luna looked outside towards Coltalla. Much to their displeasure, dark clouds were forming in the distance. They both knew that something malevolent was happening in the island kingdom.