Equipoise: Celestia on Trial

by February Write Off

Rating: teen
Tags: Other, Adventure, Princess Celestia, Main 6, Princess Luna, Gore, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 15311

To most, the Wedding was a success. To others, it was a weakness... and Celestia's to blame.

The future of Equestria never looked brighter... or darker after the Wedding between Princess Cadence and Shining Armor. While the ponies celebrate the after-party and the victory over the Changeling attack, Celestia has been called into question by the Royal Court.

Over the course of the next week, the history of Equestria will change forever.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2012-10-26 14:04:33 UTC

Chapter 00

Author's note: I'd like to thank a number of people who pushed my lazy bum to write. Guys from FimFiction, Ponygoons, and even Mitch Larson. I hope you enjoy the story I've been working on since May (mainly ideas. Started really writing in October) and feel free to critique the story. There's more of this story on the way.

The sound of steel wheels against the metallic rails sent rumbles along the compartments. The compartments were either internally dimly lit or not even lit at all. Anyone in them would've experienced an ominous feel of dread and voidness.

It was a train to Canterlot, the grand capital city of the Equestrian Kingdom. But it was no ordinary train schedule today. No ordinary citizen boarded the train, leaving a numberof the cabooses unoccupied. The windows on the cabooses were all shut, save for one.

"Ugh... nothing but open fields and towns in the distance. I can barely take another hour of this ride." He languished. It was an attempt to strike up a conversation with what could sadly be called 'company' in the same compartment. Deep down he knew it was a futile effort to start a conversation since his better half wasn't much of a talker who preferred just lingering silent in the shadowy corner.

After that failed attempt, he retreated from the window to the center of the compartment. He sunk his head inwards, finding it unbearably jaded. Five hours have gone by and Canterlot’s famed mountain ranges were still nowhere to be seen. The lack of any indoor light but the scant sunlight entering the compartment windows didn’t help much either to brighten the atmosphere. For him, an arduous journey were the long and lonesome ones. For a pony such as himself, to be apart from others was as good as digging your own grave. After some time, he decided to try striking up another conversation, this time something that might interest his better half enough to converse from the shadows.

"Sir? With all due respect, I'm not sure if this'll work."

He immediately noticed an eyebrow raising across the room, even in the darkness.

"I- Uhh... what I meant to say was that we're walking into the Heartland of this country. The Hornet's Nest." He explained, recovering from the hesitant stumble he had earlier.

“Everything has been meticulously planned out," he said, replying from the shadows, "I know the dangers involved. That's why I'm well assured to risk everything on this. Besides, the city's defenceless. No one will stop us."

“Yes Sir...” He replied skeptically. Despite knowing that they still haven't reached Canterlot, he took a few steps toward the window again, this time looking at the sun setting. “A lot of troops from the Kingdom will converge onto Canterlot. Royal Guards, Frontiersmares, and Legionnaires. We're outnumbered.”

“Are you done grieving like a filly?" His voice teemed with annoyance. "What we have is just enough. Most importantly, we have the element of surprise. And from what I’ve been hearing, the politics happening behind closed doors is turning in our favor.”

Suddenly, mountain ranges came into view. “Well well well, the infamous colossal mountains covered by snow, and the waterfall trickling down its side," he said, looking out the window. "I'd say you should come see this but, I know how often you visit Canterlot."

“Have you ever gone to Canterlot?”

“No, sir. I was born in the Southeastern reaches of the Kingdom. Baltimare. Nothing like Canterlot, really. Small, fairly contemporary. It lacks the old world charms of Canterlot, for better or worse.”

“And how’d you know that if you haven’t even been to Canterlot?”

“Oh, the colts and mares talk about it at meal time. The grand mountains, towering spires, the unique beautiful sun rays that illuminate the Canterlot skies, the fine dining, the endless stream of night events, and everything else that’s glamorous. Well hay, some were even from Canterlot, which I could tell by their... pretentious mannerisms, if I must say. Not just their way of speaking but by their level of smugness as well."

He withdrew from the windows and set himself by the center of the compartment, again. Something uneasy crossed his mind.

“And what about them?"

"Yes?"

"The six girls. They've singlehandedly or collaborated in the defeat of Nightmare Moon, Discord, the Changeling Queen and other monsters, including dragons. All of these larger-than-life menaces have brought Equestria, in one way or the other, down to its knees. All we have is a couple of soldiers and a suicidal plan."

"You seem to forget that these six defeated Nightmare Moon and Discord through the use of the Elements of Harmony. Don't assume that I've forgotten about these things. And as for all your other concerns. Just remember what I'm about to say, now and after all of this..." He slowly emerged from the shadows, coming closer and closer, finally showing his face.

"It doesn't take the unbelievable powers of the few to start a far-reaching fire. Just the Will of a certain few... with a plan."

Chapter 01

"Bye girls!" Twilight called out, waving at them as they parted ways at the train station. They waved back enthusiastically, each going in different directions to their respective homes. Twilight turned tail and began walking back home at the library which the citizens of Ponyville gladly offered to her upon her arrival to the town nearly a year ago. Unfortunately, she couldn't stop thinking of her assistant, Spike. It's kinda sad Spike left early. Then again, he is a baby dragon and he does need his sleep, instead of- *yawning* staying up late for a week in Canterlot.

It had been a long week, a long and exhausting one to say the least. The trip to Canterlot, worrying about her brother who was to be married to her former foal-sitter, followed by failing to convince her friends and everypony around her that Princess Cadence was not who they believed it was to be, fighting off a Changeling invasion, the Wedding sendoff party, and finally a very lively two days’ stay at Canterlot with her friends. However, when they tried leaving, instead of returning to Ponyville, the train they took by mistake actually took them to all the way to Baltimare with no stop.

It was the last time Twilight would lead herself and her friends onto a departing train, especially when there were two trains departing at the same time. She was under stress from figuring out which line to take and they had little to no time to find out just because Rarity had to buy the newest line of glamorous fashion pieces the last minute. Then again, however, Rarity wasn't entirely at fault since upon arriving at the Canterlot train station, the six girls were caught off guard seeing what looked like Royal Guards pouring out of recently arriving trains. Distracted, they got on the wrong train, a train to Baltimare.

Thankfully, upon arriving in Baltimare two days later, they finally got on the right train there and now they actually have arrived in Ponyville, which took another two days to accomplish. As much as it was a massive waste of time, four days’ worth of time wasted wasn’t as bad as the unfortunate attack by the Changelings nor was it as bad and awkward for Twilight to unfortunately send Spike home.

"Sorry Spike," she told herself. She was glad that Mayor Mare offered to safely get Spike home the day after the Wedding sendoff. The Mayor was about to leave the same time anyway like Spike since she didn't want to overburden the deputy mayor back in Ponyville and she couldn't stand being distant from her quiet and community-focused hometown of Ponyville.

She then heard the sound of somepony trotting behind her, getting louder and louder. She turned to see Rarity trotting towards her, away from Pinkie. I thought she was going with Pinkie to Sugarcube Corner.

"You mind if I accompany you back home, Twilight?" Rarity asked. "Pinkie just remembered the Cakes telling her that they decided to unexpectedly travel to the Sunny Sands beach by Horseshoe Bay. Give a little sunshine and beach time to the little Cake fillies, I suppose. They... probably won't be back until next week. Which sad to say, means I can't get some sweet cake for poor widdle Spike."

"Can't Pinkie get the cake for you? She is an employee at Sugarcubes Corner after all."

"Pinkie... forgot the keys," Rarity said lukewarmly, "or lost it." Her face turned somber. "The same keys to the building that not only serves as her place of employment but also her home," Rarity ended in a much harsher tone.

Twilight saw how Rarity's face reflected the tone of that statement. Displeased? Yes. Angry? No. Rarity may easily become upset or troubled by even small and sometimes trivial matters but being a sister, a bigger sister to one of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, no less, she has learnt to keep control and keep calm... most of the times.

"She must've used the key as munitions for her Party Cannon along with the rest of the clothes, souvenirs, left over food and what not when she ran out of confetti for her cannon. Thank Celestia she wasn't able to aim, let alone fire that 'Party' cannon of hers at anypony. It's dreadful, just dreadful what a couple of hard drinks can do to you," Rarity said.

Twilight thought back to the last night before leaving Canterlot. Before retiring to their rooms one last time in Canterlot, everypony partied the night away. Applejack and Rainbow Dash, even Rarity were pie-eyed after hitting shots and later bottles of hard beverages to which Applejack and Rainbow Dash got competitive... again which, not surprisingly, resulted in an some verbal exchanges between the two (luckily, nothing physical). Pinkie was like a loose cannon, literally, using anything as munitions to fire her Party cannon. As for Rarity, she bumped into an old friend, Fancy Pants and some other pony that she talked to all night, but Rarity asked her and the others earlier to never to mention anything from that night to everypony, especially Spike. Twilight herself got a bit pie-eyed, dancing wildly and embarrassingly, in retrospect, in front of everypony on the dance floor. Hopefully nopony remembers that night. Fluttershy for better or worse, was left out while everypony was partying. Maybe it was for the best. But definitely it was a good reason why Spike was sent home,she honestly thought.

"Well that explains why she has nothing on her," Twilight said, looking at Pinkie, how bare she looked without any bags or just anything on her.

"Best we never mention that night again?"

"It's probably for the best," Twilight agreed, chuckling a bit. "Where's Pinkie going to stay then?"

"She's staying with the Apples for now. Living in that, filthy barn house with all that hay and dus-" Rarity cut short of finishing her sentence, realizing how swept up she got, "Uhh, not that I mind living in a barn house... with some filth."

Rarity tried smiling after that awkward statement about the Apples' home, only to come off with a awkward and guilty smile. Twilight returned the same awkward look, not sure how to verbally respond to that.

"...you still don't mind if I still accompany you back, Twilight?" Rarity asked, trying to get back to the subject of the matter.

"Not at all, Rarity. I don't mind somepony coming along with. Besides, it's nice to have company." Twilight smiled as the two began walking away from the train station.

As the two walked in the town, they noticed a few familiar faces from the Wedding who returned early. Mainly the adults and children of Ponyville. Most ponies of her age haven't arrived yet, either spending their last moments enjoying Canterlot or waiting for the next train.

The two conversed with one another for the rest of the journey, reminiscing the times they've had at Canterlot, save for that night of course.

The two eventually arrived at the Library, residence of Twilight Sparkle and Spike.

"Thanks for the escort, Twilight. I simply loved getting to know more about your brother. Why, as much as I would love to have a relationship with a pony of royal blood, Princess Cadence deserves him infinitely more than me... and it would be oh-so outlandish to have you as a step-sister. No offense intended of course." Rarity gracefully apologising, placing a front hoof by her chest as a sign of a true-to-heart sincere apology, typical of her high-class nature.

"Uhh... Not a problem, Rarity," Twilight eased, her head was slightly tilted at the thought of Rarity as her step sister... and Sweetie Belle.

"And Twilight, I'm terribly sorry for making us take the wrong train."

"Again, Rarity. It's no big problem."

"But it is. Six days away from Ponyville? Big Mac and Granny Smith must've worked themselves to death without Applejack, Spike probably starved without anypony to cook for him, and ponies coming by the Carousel Boutique will be disappointed to see that I'm not there AND THEY WON'T COME BACK TO EVER SHOP THER-"

"Rarity!" Twilight snapped. Rarity stopped short of finishing her sentence and realized how zealous she got. "It's not Applebucking season, I'm definitely sure Spike has a hidden stash of gems and rubies to feed himself, and I'm sure a few days being away won't scare off customers because I know how much work you put into them." Twilight enthusiastically said.

Rarity calmed down upon hearing that, but was far more pleased hearing Twilight appreciate the work she puts into dressmaking. "Thank you, Twilight." Rarity broadly smiled. At that point, Rarity thought she revolved around herself far too much and thought to other important topics. "It was a dreadful shame that Princess Celestia wasn't around after the Wedding Day," she lamented, showing a small hint of having a frown. "The day after the party, no pony saw her."

"The guards told me that she was at some important meeting with senators or something. I guess she had no choice but to tend to more important obligations," Twilight replied, trying to give reason to why Celestia couldn't be around, "She is the Princess and ruler of all of Equestria, you know. Maybe she had to find a temporary replacement for my brother since he's off with Cadence on their honeymoon, or maybe Celestia wasn't feeling well after being defeated by the Changeling Queen's magic- Oh, I hope she's okay. because who’sgoingtoreadmylettersifshe’sfeelingillorunableto-"

"Twilie, dear. Calm yourself," Rarity insisted. Rarity knew how Twilight can have her... mental breakdowns when something routine doesn't go as planned in certain situations. It can be very... freakish. "I'm sure Princess Celestia is fine and whatever befell to her to miss the after party is all fine and good," Rarity assured, making Twilight feel more at ease.

"Thanks, Rarity. I just can't imagine Princess Celestia, my mentor, being in deep water without me knowing about it."

"Don't worry yourself over these things, Twilight," Rarity grinned, "And if something did happen to Princess Celestia, say, she needs me to create a new line of warm dresses for Winter, she would've sent an urgent letter either by Spike or through the Royal Guards or messenger birds by now. That said, you should get in your home, see Spike and surprise him with the swanky new gift we got him."

Twilight nodded to Rarity's suggestion, trying to forget about her concern over Celestia.

Rarity then placed her head close to Twilight's, and whispered, "Don't tell him that I helped you find it. I wanted to get the gem encrusted cake for him from the Sugar Cube Corner too along with this gift. Once they get back, it'll be my special gift to him." She then turned herself to the right, where her home was and began walking off in that direction.

"Oh, Twilight? Can you also not tell Spikey-Wikey about the cake. I don't want the poor little dear to feel any worse, him knowing that we couldn't get cake and all. Besides, I know he loves surprises."

Twilight nodded, giving Rarity a sense of ease. "Got it!" Twilight said. "Bye, Rarity!" Twilight ended, waving at her.

Twilight turned to the door.I never thought I'd be this glad to be home... oh who am I kidding, I've been dying to read some books since forever while at Canterlot, she thought, excruciatingly excited to get back to her everyday life.

She pushed open the door and walked up the stairs. Ahh... the smell of books.

"Spike? Guess who's back!" she called, anticipating an enthusiastic 'TWILIGHT!' or 'I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE BACK!' from Spike.

"I know how much you like to look like a gentlecolt so I got you a cool new bowler hat- *GASP*"

She saw Spike's lifeless body on the ground in the middle of the library room, his face laying on the floor.

“SPIKE!!!” she cried out, fearing he may be hurt.

She dropped the bowler hat she was levitating and raced towards Spike. She turned him over so he can properly breath.

Is that drool running down his cheek? Ugh... typical.

She could hear him still breathing through his mouth when she pressed her ear closer towards his mouth. This was dangerous when it comes to dragons, especially Spike who more than one occasion, unintentionally seared her mane with green flames in similar situations like this. It was faint but Spike was still able to breathe in and breathe out air safely now.

“Thank goodness he's okay... now how do I wake him up?”

She tried waking him up by talking to him, repeating his name and telling him to snap out of it. A minute passed by, Spike still was motionless. Huh, words won't wake him up, but maybe jolting him a bit maybe. She picked him up with her magic and began shaking his body repeatedly, rattling his small body violently but again, to no avail.

"Hmmm... I can't seem to wake him up physically or by soun- Wait!" Twilight's eyes widened at this sudden revelation. "An awakening spell, that's it!"

"Don't worry, Spike," she began charging up her horn, "I'll have you up in no time," she said, convinced. She then began amounting a flow of magic in her horn, charging it up to cast the spell Like most of her spells, it requires full concentration and that she had to close her eyes. Only until the spell is casted that she’ll be able to see the outcome.

“Can.You.Hear.Me?”

“Whu-I ah-hoo nao...”

“SPIKE!!!” Twilight exclaimed with glee, upon seeing Spike come around.

“Tw- Twilig-”

He was cut off as he was magically thrusted into her arms. His mind still muddled.

“Oh I’m sosososo glad you’re okay!” she hugged him even tighter. She then held Spike at arms-length. “Spike, what did I tell you about eating a lot of ice cream?”

“...what?”

“You were laying on the ground right in the middle of the room. You know what ice cream does to you, and yet you still continue eating it until you drop and pass out. And look at the mess you made.” Both panned around the room, seeing the big mess. "There’s books on the ground, tipped over ink bottles that are leaking on my documents, and papers scattered EVERYWHERE!!!”

“But Twilight, I didn-”

“I trusted you to look after our home for just a week, and you promised you’d handled it.” she scorned. “But... it’s my fault this happened,” she admitted, in an empathetic manner, “I shouldn’t have sent you back home alone and well, you are a baby dragon and you’re my responsibility. AND best of all, Spike... my number one assistant and friend,” she ended, going back to hugging him tightly.

“Now, Spike, let’s clean this mess up together. But before that... I got you a nice new hat.” She levitated the hat towards Spike, who still seemed speechless. “I know Spike, I’m sure you’re lost for words on how dashing it would loo-”

“Twilight... I have to tell you... something”

“yeeeeeEESSS, Spike?” Twilight beamed, waiting for his appreciative remark.

“It wasn’t me who wrecked the... library. I was just- ummm... making sure the books were all in order before you arrived.”

Twilight listened on, intently. Actually letting him finish, for once.

“I then heard the door open like as if somepony kicked it open. I was on the ladder, trying to fit a book in one of the shelves and I thought it was Rainbow Dash or some impatient pony in the town so I took my time and then suddenly- OW!”

Spike reached for the backside of his head. Twilight noticed a bruise on the back of his head that she previously missed.

“Spike?”

“Just let me finish- OW!!!... Be- Before I can see who entered the room, I heard a loud sound like a hoof against the floor but if it was by a dragon, which created such a strong shockwave that the whole room- well, looks like this and I was thrown off my ladder. And that's the last thing I can remember of.”

Twilight was lost for words. First she finds the library in shambles and Spike unconscious, then finds out that somepony invaded her home, wrecking it and causing Spike to fall off the ladder.

"Who in the hoof would do that?"

Spike noticed a beam of light behind Twilight get brighter and brighter.

"TWILIGHT! LOOK OUT!!!"

Chapter 02

"ALRIGHT! ALRIGHT!!! Ah'm sorry about what I said about ya, you hear?" Applejack admitted with a strident tone. “For Pete’s sake, Dash!”

"Oh, you are, huh? 'Cause if you are, you'd be saying that to my face and not at the empty road ahead." Rainbow Dash snapped, glaring at Applejack from behind as she kept walking ahead. Her arms were crossed as she was hovering off the ground with her wings instead of walking.

Applejack came to a full sudden stop, with Rainbow Dash following en suite, hovering in place. For a moment, there was a pause of silence, followed by a sigh from Applejack. She turned her head to Rainbow Dash and said, "Look 'ere Rainbow. You know how I am: ‘Stubborn as a mule’ and well, both honest and uhh... and a bad liar. What happened that night be best forgotten. The things I said about you and your dreams were said and done because I was juiced up on the drinks. Ah wasn't myself, to put it simply."

Seconds passed when Rainbow Dash finally uncrosses her arms. She was glad to hear these words with Applejack's full attention this time, but she still couldn't help but poke a little bit more fun at Applejack. "Riiiiiggght... you do know that when you're pie-eyed, you are telling the truth. So you probably were yourself."

Applejack couldn't tell whether Rainbow Dash was just toying with her or still dubious and unsatisfied after her heart felt apology, but she felt compelled nonetheless to speak her mind. She gulped, feeling embarrassed, "Umm, yeah. Sure I guess," she said in reply to Rainbow Dash’s accusation, "but like I said; Ah'm darn mighty sorry that I made fun of you and your dreams about becoming a Wonderbolt. I only said it 'cause ya were blowing your own horn about it in my face, telling me that's you'll be flyin' with the best across the skies while Ah'm doing humdrum boring work like apple buckin' for the rest of my life!"

Rainbow Dash was in shock, not just by Applejack's strident tone but also by the returning memories from that night of what she actually said to Applejack. She couldn't believe that she forgot what she herself said to Applejack. She was in bigger disbelief that she managed to say something extremely hurtful to Applejack. Sure, she made fun of Applejack's hokey country behavior and taunted her time and time again over athletics to see who is the better pony, but this... this was too far.

As much as it wasn't her style, she took in a big gulp, bit her lips, and uncomfortably uttered, "And I'm... *sigh* I'm sorry that I was bragging about it in your face during that whole night. And I'm SoSoSoSoSoSoSoSo sorry that I made fun of you, saying you'd be doing ‘boring stuff’ like applebucking for the rest of your life."

Rainbow Dash then became surprised when she noticed Applejack still looking upset, most definitely over the ‘boring stuff like applebucking in your life’ part. "Wait, Ididn’tmeanitlikethat! I was just repeating what I said.” Rainbow Dash tried to justify herself but Applejack looked unmoved.

“Look,” Rainbow Dash started, scratching the back of her head, “You've got something amazing here in Ponyville that I don't."

"Yeah? An' what's that?" she answered, gloomily.

"You've got an amazing family, AJ. A great big brother, a kooky but quirky granny and an inspiring young filly who looks up to you. Heck, the ponies here love you for all the work you’ve done for the town. You got a trophy and all those ribborns for crying outloud.”

Rainbow Dash wrapped her arm around Applejack’s neck. “I don’t think you’re boring, Applejack.” She said upliftingly. “We cool?”

“Oh, alright, Rainbow.” A small honest smile surfaced on Applejack’s face. She then looked past Rainbow Dash. “Alright everypony, you didn’t have to hide while we were discussin’ with one another.”

The pink and golden-coated ponies emerged from hiding behind the corner of the building. They looked a bit nervous owing to the fact that Applejack and Rainbow Dash earlier almost seemed ready to get much more intense, past the verbal exchanges.

“You girls sure you’re not going to argue again?” Pinkie Pie asked, raising her eyebrow.

“Or talk about that night, again?” Fluttershy added softly, half of her face still behind the corner.

“It’s all right between us, you two.” Rainbow Dash said.

"Okie dokie lokie!" Pinkie joyously skipped away from the corner while Fluttershy simply walked towards them, relieved that the everything's been resolved. Rainbow Dash pulled her arm off Applejack, “Now come on,” Rainbow Dash bolted into the air, hovering a couple meters in the air, “I wanna get drop you off as soon as possible ‘cause I really want to take off this saddle bag at home. It’s just messing with my flying skills.” Rainbow Dash dropped to the ground. “You wanna race to your barn, Applejack?”

“Sure as sugar, sugarcube.” Applejack declared, adjusting her hat. “And Rainbow Dash.”

“Yeah?”

“I’ll be honest with you.” Applejack looked away for a second and bit her lips, before resetting her eyes on Rainbow Dash. “You have yer wings, you have yer own fan club, and you're one of the best if not the best fliers in all of Equestria. I… I guess I was a tad bit... jeal-“

“HELLPPPPPP!!!!!!”

“Spike?” They said altogether.

Two towering blurred figures appeared in front of her.

“Great, she’s waking up. I thought you spent two weeks learning that spell.”

“We’re talking about Twilight here. Sleeping magic on her probably is more like her taking a nap. She’s strong with magic.”

“No doubt about that.”

She made out that it was a voice of a mare and a colt. She tried moving her hooves but she couldn’t. It was as if something held them together. She shook her head to snap out of the daze. Two ponies, cladded in golden armor, stared at her.

“Wait? You’re the Royal Guards?”

Both remained silent, looking hesitant to respond.

“What are you doing here?” she realized she was on a chair and placed in the middle of the library floor. “Why in Celestia are you- ungh,” she struggled to move her hooves again, and saw that her hooves were tied to the chair by rope, “doing this?”

No answer.

Twilight began to understand that they wouldn’t listen to her sniveling. She knew she had to change her approach. She wiped her anxiety away and gathered strength. The two then noticed an overconfident smirk come across her face.

“I don’t know if you two actually realize this, but you’re messing with the wrong unicorn, here. Not only did you attack my assistant, barged in my home, and attacked me,” the Royal Guards looked unnerved, “but I’ll have you know that you that Celestia won’t like it one bit when she finds out that you just assaulted her student.” She ended boldly, waiting to see them start squeamishly react to that.

“Twilight,” the mare Guard began, “we know who you are. The sleeping spell may have prematurely lasted but please, don’t take us for thugs. The moment I catch you trying to untie yourself with your glowing horn, you’ll regret it.” She warned, giving a deathly glare for good measure. Twilight had thought she stopped, but she continued. “If you must know, your little assistant panicked and ran off. He was not harmed.”

“Not like last time, huh?”

The guard brushed it away. “Twilight, there are things… things far more important happening in this nation that could as well change the history of Equestria forever. All of which is occurring is Canterlot as we speak.”

Twilight raised an eyebrow. ‘Canterlot? Is it the Changelings again?’

The male Guard stepped in, “We’ve been ordered to keep you here. And as much as we want to explain, and believe us, we want you to know. We have taken our oath of silence for your protection.”

“Who?”

“…”

“Who ordered you here?”

“…”

Twilight’s demand impacted little. She knew that it was the end of the conversation and she got nothing out of it but some danger in Equestria. The two withdrew themselves from further conversation and returned to their duties.

“What on earth is going on,” she whispered to herself.

The mare Guard, who Twilight now realized was a pegasus, stood guard by her while the colt guard, a unicorn, headed Twilight’s bed.

“I’m going up,” he told the other guard, walking up the stairs. Twilight was relieved that only one Guard remained but as long as she was there, Twilight couldn’t pull off anything with her magic. If only somepony or Spike were here to help.

“Sorry about the mess we’ve made.” She said, looking guilty on her face. She looked at a book lying on the floor, ‘So, You Want to Impress Others with Magic?’ “If he actually read probably as much as you, he’d be able to maybe levitate something as small as a quill so I don’t have to use a drooled-on quill when I write.” She said lightheartedly.

Twilight took it as a jest, but not when she’s tied up and doesn’t know what in Celestia is happening.

He arrived by Twilight’s bed. “I’m going to head toward the window, maybe see what’s coming our wa-”

The sound of shattering glass caught Twilight and the guard’s attention, but even before they can turn their heads upwards toward the bed, they caught a short glimpse of a Rainbow-like streak bolting right past their eyes. In that same split second, they saw the male Guard at the tip of the bolt, being propelled to a bookshelf. The impact of his body smashing into the bookshelf, at that speed, sent the whole room shaking, causing the remaining books to fall off their shelves. The impact also created a shroud of dust that temporarily hid the Captain and the attacker.

It was only after a while that Twilight was then able to see the silhouettes of the two as the smoke cleared. One of which had a smaller build and raised her hoof, feeling her forehead.

"Ugghhh..." pony said in the cloud of dust. "Remind me to never do that again, okay? Owww..."

“Rainbow Dash!” Twilight hollered in joy, recognizing her voice.

A second later, the sound of a door being kicked in came to her attention. Out of the stairwells emerged Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy.

“Heh, and Ah thought that magical barrier on that door was gonna be tougher to kick down.” Applejack said overconfidently.

“What? It was thanks to me.” Rainbow Dash corrected, she got up and hovered above the ground. “If I hadn’t taken this guy out, maybe you wouldn’t have been able to break down the door. With him out cold, his magic like that magical barrier probably weakened.”

“Yeah, ‘probably.’” Applejack retified.

“I didn’t see you fly in and…”

This was Twilight’s chance as Rainbow Dash and Applejack quarrelled amongst one another, distracting the female guard. A guard was knocked out, while the other watched Rainbow Dash and Applejack argue. For once the two arguing was of some help. Twilight carefully untied herself and in a few seconds, broke free. The guard under the pile of books yelled out to the other. “Don't take your eyes off Twilight!”

As soon as she turned away to Twilight, her horn was already emitting magic but it looked bright red. A beam of energy shot off directly at her head and she laid on the ground next to Twilight, grabbing her head with her right hoof to ease the pain.

Her friends’ jaws were wide open when Twilight lifted her head. It was one thing to rarely see Twilight use harmful magic, but another to see her use it against a pony like all of them and not a Changeling.

Twilight’s stomach twisted when seeing her friends’ reactions but now it wasn’t the time. “Thanks for getting me out of that situation, girls.”

“You- you just used magic on a Guard.” Rarity uttered, mortified like the rest.

“I didn’t mean to!” She then looked at her body lying on the ground. “Look, she’s still moving.”

“Yeah, but that up close?” Pinkie added.

“She barged in my home, went through my stuff, hurt Spike, and threatened to hurt me!”

“Maybe we could’ve talked her out of fighting.” Fluttershy suggested, though it was too late already.

“I…”

Applejack quickly stepped in, breaking the argument standoff. “Whaddya think we ought to do now, Twilight?” Applejack uneasily asked, looking at the guard under the books and the other since they weren’t exactly knocked out cold. They could get back on their hooves and prove a problem soon. Worst was that all the fighting could attract unwanted attention, especially since they just took out two Royal Guards. If the Mayor or anypony found out that they were involved with the Guards, then they’d all probably be in big trouble. With sketchy details at best, it would be hard to justify attacking those who normally protect their ruler. More importantly though, the female guard mentioned Canterlot being the place where something important is going on.

Her friends watched Twilight brainstorming before the light bulb moment was expressed in her face. “Girls, we have to get out of Ponyville.”

All of her friends were taken back by that suggestion. Pinkie Pie spoke out, “Leave? Why? And whe-”

“JUST GET ON THE HOT AIR BALLOON!” Twilight firmly demanded.

Rainbow instantaneous complied and bulleted to the roof where the air balloon was, with Fluttershy flying towards it at a lower speed.

“C’mon, Fluttershy. Get strapped in!” Rainbow Dash ordered, handing her makeshift reins from rope which are used to pull the hot air balloon.

Fluttershy gulped once she received the reins. She started remembering how desperate and exhausting it was the last time she had these on, chasing Rainbow Dash across the skies.

Meanwhile, Applejack led the others up the stairs and met up with Twilight halfway. “I hope you know what yer doin’, Twilight.” Applejack said with a hopeful but also an uncertain tone whilst running up the stairs.

“We have to get to the bottom of this. Something is happening in Canterlot and I need you and the girls on this one. Please.”

“Say no more, Twilight.” Applejack reassured hearteningly, both exchanging smiles to one another.

They reached the top floor and jumped into the carriage. It was cramped but it managed to fit four ponies anyway. Twilight activated the switch with her magic to open the doors for the hot air balloon to rise out of the building. The doors would usually open slowly, giving Spike who would’ve done pulled the lever to quickly get in the carriage with her.

"Uh... Twilight. One of them is getting up." Pinkie alerted worryingly. Everypony in the carriage looked downwards to see the mare trying to get back on her hooves. Wings extended side to side as if she's trying to get a grip of her body and preparing to pursue their air balloon.

The doors finally opened. "Let's go Fluttershy."

"Okay... just not so faaAAAASSSSSTTTT!!!"

Rainbow Dash singlehandedly pulled the air balloon right through the doors at a great speed. Fluttershy struggled to keep up at first but she did her best and eventually managed to keep herself within acceptable distance from Rainbow Dash. The ponies in the carriage grabbed onto the edges with both of their front hooves, their manes flying against the wind. Applejack carelessly kept on hoof on the edge while the other to keep her hat on.

When Rainbow Dash eventually looked back, they were well away from Ponyville and the Guards. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash could now take a breather, but they like the rest had questions for Twilight.

Twilight felt the eyes of everypony focusing on her. Stuck in a carriage with Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity, with Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy hovering around the carriage was tense enough but worse was that she she trapped in the corner, being hundreds of feet above ground that is.

"Twilight?" They all said simultaneously.

"What's happening?" Fluttershy asked.

As confused she was about the whole thing, she probably knew the most and sadly, it was ambiguous at best. "I- I honestly don't know, Fluttershy. They knocked me out with a sleeping spell but when I woke up, I tried asking them questions."

Everypony instinctively listened in on Twilight. All they knew was that they just creamed two Royal Guards. And Rainbow Dash didn't intend to knock out the guard through the window. The fact that they knocked out one Royal Guard for no good reason and Twilight used her magic against the other instead of maybe peacefully resolving the situation is definitely not good if they're caught by the authorities, let alone by the everyday ponies of Ponyville.

"And what did they say, Twilight?" Applejack asked.

"I couldn't get much out of them. They were thin on the details but from what they've said, there's something happening in Canterlot that might change Equestria."

"The... Changelings?" Fluttershy suggested, moving onto biting her hooves in anxiety.

"I- I honestly don't know, Fluttershy. It could be, but then why hasn't Spike delivered a message from Celestia. Unless she's hurt..."

Looked away from her friends and stared at Canterlot in the far distance. It looked peaceful but Twilight felt something ominous about the capital. "We may as well be walking into a trap when we get to Canterlot, for all I know." Her heart sank even lower, worrying about her mentor, Princess Celestia. Whether something ill-fated happened to her or not. She sat her head on the edge of the carriage, focusing her eyes on Canterlot.

Her friends all looked at each other. They all wanted to cheer Twilight up but they couldn't help but watch Twilight be consumed by sorrow.

"Something's wrong, girls. Very wrong. Like... there's lack of harmony there."

EquinePoise

Celestia on Trial

By Samut-Kun

Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy flew towards Canterlot at a moderate speed. "Fly Casual," Rarity suggested earlier. “As if she didn't trust my flying abilities.” Rainbow Dash muttered to herself. They originally planned to get off at the City Plaza, which offered a good enough landing zone. The only problem: the Guards.

Rainbow Dash already tried avoiding the question since things already were tense enough for Twilight, but the safety of her friends was more important. "Hey, Twilight! What's the plan in case the Guards are like the ones in Ponyville and they all notice this bright pink balloon trying to land in a wide, clear area?"

"She’s right, Twilight,” Rarity was just behind Twilight, who instead was looking at the approaching city, “I don't plan on running away from a whole platoon of Guards." Rarity professed, rather annoyed by Twilight’s seemingly lack of attention.

"I'm all for exercise but I'd rather play regular tag than Cops and Robbers." Pinkie stated further.

Twilight turned her head to face the three ponies in the carriage. That is true about what Rainbow Dash said. What if the Guards respond violently like at the library? She let out a sigh. "Look, the plan is that as soon as we get off the air balloon, we get ourselves into Celestia's tower." Twilight paused, thinking about the alternative. "And if we find trouble, the best we can do is give ourselves up."

"What? Give ourselves up?" Rainbow Dash responded in shock. Fluttershy found it quite remarkable that Rainbow Dash managed to maintain her flight pattern and continued to fly ‘casual.’

Rainbow Dash crossed her shoulders, but understood that fighting the Royal Guards was definitely not a good idea and her friends, like Fluttershy may get hurt.

"We can get to Celestia without getting them or us hurt, Dash." Twilight said. "We'll try to do it peacefully, this time."

“And how do we know she’d even be in her tower?” Applejack put across.

A small compartment in the carriage opened thanks to Twilight’s magic and a pair of binoculars floated toward Applejack’s hooves. She observed the city but the towers by the City Walls caught her attention.

"Hoo' Nelly, Twilight. I think you should take a look."

Applejack passed her binoculars to Twilight and pointed at the Guard Towers.

The towers were garrisoned to the teeth but something was not normal. They did not look like Royal Guards. The guards wore golden armour that was attached to a golden cape. Mail armour was visible on the lower neck and chest. They also wore a different helmet with a visor. Then something else emerged from the corner of the tower. Another guard but this one looked awfully different. At first glance, the best comparison to what he was wearing would be a hockey player. His armor looked more like a thick tan-colored vest, not made of steel or metal. Under his vest he wore red. His tan helmet looked modern, more modern than the helmets the six once wore when observing the dragon migration. But striking of all, he covered his mouth with a red mask. Immediately upon looking at his features, he looked directly into Twilight's eyes.

"Fluttershy, Dash!" The two turned their heads toward Twilight's voice. "Land us there, quickly!"

They picked up the pace and flew past the Canterlot Walls, and saw the entire city deserted, and instead, occupied by a never-before seen force that outnumbered the Royal Guards during the Canterlot Wedding. More and more of them were reacting to the sight of the Air balloon right above the city.

As they descended down into the empty plaza, so too did the soldiers converge toward the plaza.

Her hopes of getting to Celestia quickly faded and they touched down on the ground. As much as a fifty or more soldiers totally surrounded them on all sides.

"Step away from the carriage, girls." A soldier ordered.

Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy unshackled themselves from the reins while the rest slowly got off the carriage. Twilight was the last to get off. They saw that the majority of the soldiers surrounding them were in gold while a small handful of them were in red. They then noticed a bunch of soldiers making way for somepony. A colt emerged from the crowd, wearing the attire of the soldiers in red but with several decorations. Grey coat, black mane, amber eyes, he was an earth pony. He looked at the six, and snickered a bit.

"Well, this isn't something you see everyday." He started off, "Applejack, Pinkemena, Fluttershy, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Twilight Sparkle. We expected you to arrive here by some other conventional means. Train for example, but this pink hot air balloon? Mares and colts, these are the ponies who saved Equestria.” He was mocking the six girls in front of the soldiers. Some of them were even quietly laughing to themselves.

Twilight quickly became tired of this pony's melodrama. "What's happened here? Where is everypony? And who are you all?"

"Huh…” He raised an eyebrow. “If Celestia sent for you, then she really forgot to mention the 'small' details regarding the situation in Canterlot." He further mocked.

"Celestia didn't send for us. Now tell us, what's going on!" Twilight demanded, stomping her right hoof onto the ground

"Hmph, if you must know, Martial law has been put in place. Civilians have been advised to stay indoors while the matters of the state are being resolved."

Twilight and her friends looked around at the buildings. They noticed a few ponies watching the whole fiasco behind their windows.

"We can talk more when we escort you to camp." He recommended.

"Um... That sorta sounds like fun..." Pinkie uneasily thought aloud.

He responded by rolling his eyes. "Not that kind of camp. It's a camp where we put dissidents and ponies of interest like you six, in. Like a modern dungeon.” He took note of Fluttershy wincing at the sound of dungeon. “There, we can talk.” He ended sinisterly. “Now,” he looked to his left and right, and pointed at the six, “arrest them.”

"STAND DOWN!" A booming voice erupted from above.

Everypony; the soldiers, the ponies under house arrest, and the six ponies looked up.

"Princess Luna!" Twilight exclaimed in happiness.

Chapter 03

The soldiers in yellow bowed down simultaneously at the sight of the co-ruler of Equestria. Her booming voice alone could break their willpower. The red soldiers however remained still.

Luna tilted her head at the commanding officer, who stood defiant.

“LIEUTENANT?”

He looked around himself. Only a small handful were loyal to him, and this was Celestia’s sister he was challenging. “Yes… your highness.” He said in a disgruntled tone. “Lower your arms.” He commanded to his soldiers in red. The sight of the spears being dropped onto the ground was followed by them kneeling down to Princess Luna’s presence. The six ponies were the only ones left standing, all of which were speechless.

Princess Luna landed by the girls, gracefully. She looked at the girls who just moments ago, were terrified to the core by these soldiers. She looked back at him. “Lieutenant, what is the meaning of all of this?”

The lieutenant rudely sighed loudly, showing little respect to the sister of Celestia. “This city is under martial law, your highness. When one of my soldier spotted them in the skies, I instinctively ordered the Frontiermares and my soldiers to react naturally.”

"To capture and imprison the six who saved Equestria and redeemed me a year ago?”

He didn’t give an answer, and the Princess didn't even want one from him.

“We’re taking the six to the Royal Court, lieutenant.” She boldly explained, giving him a threatening look before turning back to the six. “Follow Us, my little ponies.” She whispered gently. She began walking in the direction of the Royal Courthouse and the soldiers naturally made way for her, carving up a narrow pathway for her and the six girls.

“I’ll never get use to Luna calling herself ‘we’ instead of ‘I’.” Rainbow Dash complained.

“Let’s just follow her.” Twilight reminded.

As they walked past the soldiers, the soldiers they passed by all stared at them intently. Fluttershy had it rough. Most of the yellow guards just stared blankly at them she couldn’t stand being looked at by many, and now, it was soldiers armed with spears and cladded in armor who moments ago, were going to arrest them and throw them in a scary dungeon. The worst were the soldiers in red. The fact that their masks covered their mouths made them look even more terrifying. Masks have always scared her since they altered their facial appearance, making them look strange and different to the point they looked less like normal ponies.

The unicorns guarding the Royal Courthouse entrance opened the doors upon seeing Princess Luna. For once, they actually resembled the Royal Guards the girls often recognized accompanying Celestia and formerly the main guard force in Canterlot. While it was nice to see guards who weren't in red or with yellow capes who earlier outnumbered them and came close to sending them to prison, the imagery of the Royal Guards quickly sent them back to the time they faced against the two supposedly from the Royal Guards at Twilight's home. They looked away at the guards as they walked right in the entrance.

The six girls have never been in the Courthouse and like many of Canterlot’s buildings; they looked grand from the outside and beautifully decorated from the inside. Retaining the regal look from the Medieval Ages was what set Canterlot apart from its neighboring city-states across Equestria. As soon as the doors closed behind them, Luna paused.

“How are you girls?”

Upon asking that, she saw the restless looks on their faces. She began to continue walking. “We’ll tell you the short version. Last week, Our sister was called up to answer to the Royal Court for the incident with the Changelings. As soon as you six left, soldiers from all over the Kingdom marched in Canterlot when they heard about what happened last week.”

“That’s rather coincidental.” Applejack thought. “The moment we leave and they just move in the Capital?”

“Yes it does seem coincidental, Applejack. Regardless, We didn’t think you’d come here, Twilight. We didn’t want you to come here, even.”

“Sorry princess, but why didn’t you want us to come here?” Twilight inquired.

“By ‘we’, I meant myself and Princess Celestia.”

Celestia? Why would she not want us here? Twilight asked herself.

“Canterlot is occupied and Celestia is in danger.” Luna notified in a grave tone.

“Danger?” Twilight let out anxiously.

“Not physically, no. We can’t say more but you must enter the courtroom yourselves.” She stopped by the Courtroom entrance. “Inside, you will be brought up to date on the whole situation.”

Luna’s magic opened the doors rather slowly, but the first pony in the far end of the room they see as the doors were opening was none other than Princess Celestia herself.

“PRINCES-“

“SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!” A guard inside the room hissed into Twilight's ear.

Silence spread across the courtroom and they all got unnecessary attention from the Court ponies. Twilight and her friends all gave an awkward and embarrassing smile as the court all looked at them. Twilight noticed Celestia looking awfully downcast to see her. Twilight felt even worse from seeing that.

The speaker on the floor, annoyed for being interrupted, continued nevertheless. “Asssssss I was saying before I was rudely interrupted by these six ponies, I do agree that this whole occupation by our forces is all very unnecessary, and I believe …”

The room was quite large, the jurymare stood as they listened to the speaker at the end of the room, standing but a few meters away from the princess. They noticed that Princess Luna hadn’t followed them in for some reason. Regardless, the six girls quietly found space amongst the jury. Some of the jurymares gave a look as the six girls slightly bumped against them, but quickly turned back to the speaker. They couldn’t say much but listen on to the speaker.

“… the lack of security cannot solely be at fault on her Majesty, Princess Celestia’s part. We’ve already talked at length how there’s a need for a stronger military to increase security over the entire Kingdom. Because we don’t even have a standing army but a small number of Royal Guards. Our auxiliary border guards or officially called the Frontiermares and the mercenaries known as the Crimson Legionnaires have marched in our city to provide security in these dire times.”

“And downright mean laws.” Pinkie whispered quietly to her friends.

“While we can safely say that the Changelings won’t be coming back any time soon, the Generals on both sides have made it clear that the presence of the Frontiermares and Crimson Legion will remain indefinitely until the issues regarding Princess Celestia is resolved. And am I the only one in this courtroom who thinks it’s embarrassing that our Royal Guards can’t even provide protection? As I said, we cannot lay total blame on her for the fall in quality of our security. She has at least created the Frontiermares to patrol our borders and for better or worse, sanctioned the Crimson Legion to undertake the dangerous task of guarding and patrolling the Badlands. Nevertheless, you cannot forgive the Royal Guards for their total failure to uphold their responsibilities. The responsibility in maintaining security fell into the hooves of the Royal Captain of the Guard, Shining Armor.”

“That's not true!!!”

The whole room fell silent, and all attention fell on Twilight. It felt like a knife just pierced through Twilight’s heart upon hearing these accusations. She couldn’t have kept it in, how could she?

“My brother and Princess Celestia aren’t to blame for the Changeling attack. Who are you to accuse them of this… THING?”

“Senator Rhubarb, Miss Sparkle,” introducing himself, “You’ve come in this session rather late, a week late to be precise. We’re just recapping on the debates we had this week and presenting the consensus on our views.”

“Would you mind telling us?”

Senator Rhubarb looked across the jury. They looked annoyed, tired of hearing the debates they’ve had days ago and probably would rather ignore Twilight and get on with it. When he glanced at Princess Celestia, he couldn’t help but concede to Twilight’s wishes.

“I’m obviously paraphrasing here, since I do not wish to waste the jury’s time, but allow me to begin. Last week, the Changelings successfully infiltrated our Capital city. They came close to taking over the capital, and in all likelihood, Equestria soon after. Our Kingdom's defence is led by ineffective commanders and a rabble of broken mares. In fact, you six girls, who Princess Celestia depended solely upon and not some capable military force, failed to get to the Elements of Harmony. Equestria’s be all, end all solution to every problem we have, no?”

Rainbow Dash pushed a jurymare out of her way to get a good look of the senator. “Hey! We fought off a huge swarm of Changelings! And Twilight here freed Princess Cadence. If she wasn’t saved, she and Shining Armor wouldn’t have saved Equestria!”

“But that’s really the point of everything here, no? The courtship between Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Captain Shining Armor is why we almost lost everything. It’s almost parallel to why we almost lost everything about a thousand years ago with Luna.”

The whole courtroom erupted into an exchange of flabbergasted comments. Senator Rhubarb was caught off guard and felt much worse when he realized he was next to Princess Celestia.

“I’m- I’m- I’m terribly sorry, your highness. I- I didn’t intend to-“

“Just get to your conclusion, Senator.” Celestia said unsmilingly.

The senator wiped off the sweat off his face before continuing. “Ahem… I apologize for that remark,” he said to the juries before returning to Celestia “Truly I am.”

“Do you know what he’s talking about, Twilight?” Fluttershy asked.

“No I don’t but we have to be focused,” she reminded, “Senator?"

Everypony in the room were drawn towards Twilight who technically still did not have the authority to speak. "You blame Celestia for not having a strong enough military and my brother-”

“And Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.” He added.

Twilight was flabbergasted by his rude interruption but shook it off. “What do you possibly hope to gain from blaming my family and Princess Celestia?”

“Well, the most important task at hoof now is that we ask Princess Celestia to authorize the creation of a larger and effective standing army. Not that we don’t appreciate the many times you've saved and beneficially contributed to Ponyville but you have saved Equestria. And you have our gratitude but we certainly cannot let something like the Canterlot Wedding Incident ever happen again.”

“And is that it?” Twilight further inquired.

“Unfortunately not, Twilight,” Senator Rhubarb’s reply made Twilight’s heart sink, “The defense of our nation is our top priority but that’ll be take time to develop over a long period of time. What we want now, or in short term is that we demand that Shining Armor and Princess Cadenza answer for their crimes against this Kingdom and its subjects.”

“Senator Rhubarb!” Celestia cut in, “As I’ve said, don’t drag them into this trial.”

“My fellow colts and mares have to, your highness. It’s one thing to put the Kingdom in jeopardy but it’s another to go on a honeymoon without a proper apology or investigation. We still don’t know how the Queen of the Changelings exactly switched places with Cadenza, how did Cadenza end up in the Canterlot caves, and how did the 300-strong Royal Guards under Shining Armor’s leadership over the years blunder the way they did?”

“It was me who let them enjoy their victory, Senator. I could’ve kept them at least a day here to gather more about the Changelings, but I didn’t. They deserved to celebrate after all the misfortunes and overcoming everything in the end. They deserved to revel in enjoying their victory just as much as we all did.” She ended her argument by panning across the room, looking at each of them.

It took a while before Senator Rhubarb to reclaim his position.

“I would like to leave the floor to General Marestrom, who has done a great job in assisting Commander Blowback in maintaining control of Canterlot during all this political upheaval and I would also thank him for bringing in some the legionnaires who have taught a thing or two to the Royal Guards and Frontiermares about control and authority for once. Would you mind coming down here, General?”

The six girls turned their attention to the left where the jurymares were looking at. The girls had to push some of the taller jurymares to get a visible look at this general. He was quite tall, he looked like a stallion that demanded authority without question. What struck out the most was the fact that he had the build of a stallion but was a unicorn. It's not often one would see that strong of a build for a unicorn. He seemed rather uninterested in talking, let alone uttering a word.

“Thank you, Senator.” He started in a dull tone, neglecting the senator’s wishes for him to walk up to the speaking floor and instead, spoke from his very spot. “I don’t wish to drag this discussion any further but I, General Marestrom of the 13th Legionnaire Regiment, fully endorse the court’s belief in a stronger Kingdom and some form of punishment towards the two responsible for the incident. I will admit that upon the Legionnaires’ arrival earlier this week, we have been more austere and demanding of the public to remain calm. No violent incident has stirred up thankfully, but it does occur to me that the citizens of Canterlot may fear us. I promise you that as the court makes their decision by tomorrow, we shall pack up and return to watching over the Badlands. No doubt Blowback- who sadly couldn't make it to this session, and his Frontiermares will do the same and leave tomorrow.”

Rhubarb assumed Marestrom was all well and done. "Well, if General Marestrom is done, I guess this court is adjourned." Senator Rhubarb concluded. The jurymares and guests began chattering and anticipating to leave the room. "We will begin voting in favor or against these demands put forth by some of us. And we hope that the Princess will adhere to them. Until tomorrow." He added as a reminder even though most knew the procedures so they walked out as he was saying it.

Whilst the room was being cleared of the jurymares, Twilight began conjuring up what she's about to do soon. She locked her eyes in the direction of where Celestia, past the blocking jurymares and as soon as Celestia came into her sight, she'd dash right into her arms.

As the crowd was clearing up, Twilight couldn't see Celestia. She was nowhere to be seen. The devastating realisation that Celestia exited through some door at the end of the room. There was a exit on each side of the room and she could've entered any one of them.

At this point, Twilight hopelessly thought to herself: What's the point of looking for her?

The Mane Six walked out the Royal Courtroom, lost for words from what they just heard. It was unheard of to hear slanderous remarks toward to Princess since there was never something to blame her for. Until now.

"Oh, that was just... awful." Fluttershy muttered.

"Indeed it was." Rarity agreed in a miserable tone.

"Yeah, golly... I never thought about her that way," Applejack added. "Twilight? You okay, sugar?"

Of the six, the court affected Twilight the most. All of them could tell.

"You six done with your little drama, yet?" A pony said in the background.

Twilight's heart stopped. She recognized that voice. The pony was leaning against the wall by a window, looking amused and nonchalant with another pony who sat on the window sill. The two were the same guards who they fought against. Both had removed their armor, which while it took away their prestigious look, they even looked more... approachable.

"Why, the nerve of you two. Showing up right after the session like that." Rarity's hostile approach intimidated them a bit as they hadn't expected a pony as graceful and refined as her to come off as such.

The female guard rolled her eyes. "We want to help, you foal."

"Why would you help, let alone us wanting your help?" Twilight asked, suspicious of their motives, "You tried keeping me in house arrest, you wrecked my library, AND you put my friends at risk."

"Forgive my sister and I. Before we begin, let us introduce ourselves." He said, leaning off the wall and resting his two front hooves on the grounds, "My name is Lavender, Royal Guard of Canterlot and Upholder of Light," he boastfully announced while feeling his hoof against his chest. He then pointed towards the other guard, "And this is my lovely and ever caring sister, twin sister actually. Pryde, also Royal Guard of Canterlot and Upholder of Light."

"Charmed." Pryde said, raising her hoof as a unenthusiastic sign of saying 'hello'.

"And you six need no introduction. Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Twilight Sparkle," he said, calling out their names from left to right. "The protectors of the Elements of Harmony, thus the protectors of all of Equestria. You'd be surprised how unsung heroes you are."

It was quite true, really. It's happened in the past where not many Equestrians seem to either acknowledge or realize who these six were and their accomplishments. It never really bothered the six nor did it ever really cross their minds until now.

"You're not that much different from us, really."

"If you think acting nice now would make us nicer to you in return, I think your heads are still banged up from the fight, earlier." Rainbow Dash said, not bought over by the two's new change in attitude.

"Would it make you feel any better if we said you six fillies put up one heck of a fight and whooped our tails humiliatingly?" Pryde jested.

Rainbow Dash felt a smile trying to form when she heard that, but tried repressing it even though she genuinely thought that was a funny compliment.

"Lavender?" Twilight said, getting his attention. "The offer of help is most appreciated, and it is nice to finally get to know you two but how are you going to help us, and why are you even trying to help us?" Twilight asked nicely.

"Why? Why, it's because we love our Princess. The majority love and still respect Princess Celestia. It's just a few in the Royal Court who may be a bit more, 'critical' with her," Lavender tried explaining. "You have met Senator Rhubarb... right?"

"Yeah, why is he so cranky?" Pinkie asked.

"You have to go ask him, I don't really know the detai-"

"It's because he rarely gets his way with Celestia." Pryde interrupted. "Then again, ponies in the Royal Court barely have any real power aside from complaining, whining, and begging. Very rarely does the Princess ever approve their reforms or ideas. And I'm no pencil pushing politician but I know how painstakingly long it takes to get through paperwork and having it disapproved probably doesn't bode well for their respect for the Princess."

"It must feel awful to feel useless and having no pony listen to you." Fluttershy expressed, knowing first hand of that feeling.

"My sister and I don't share the same exact sentiment as Senator Rhubarb, but he does have a point with security. During the Changeling attack, most Royal Guards were assigned to evacuating the citizens, leaving a little to fight off the Changelings. If only we were better prepared or had more colts and mares on our side. But what matters is that we can't let Rhubarb get away with his demands. There's been... rumours flying about between the guards; Legionnaires, Frontiermares, and Royal Guards."

He looked nervous trying to tell the girls this information.

"There's talk of a planned takeover by the senator." He whispered.

"Once he gets his way with Celestia, he'll have already stripped Celestia of significant power." Pryde added.

"Wait. Strip her of power?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Didn't he- no." Pryde quickly realised what happened. "I knew he was a snake. He must've left out the detail about giving more power to the Royal Court, basically stripping Celestia of a lot of power."

"Oh, what kind of power?" Fluttershy inquired.

"It was vague in description but when you remember that Rhubarb's trying to give the court more power and then we hearing rumours of a violent takeover, you can't just let it slide without being suspicious about it." Her brother explained.

"And have you told others about this like Celestia?" Twilight hoped Celestia knew.

"No. We haven't told anypony but you girls, really. We did tell the Royal Guards to be on high alert, though." Lavender clarified, swaying his head left to right, noticing nopony in the hall stil. "Making these claims without real evidence of the Senator's rumoured intentions would only make things worse in the city than it already is."

"What do you suppose me and the girls do then?"

"We're glad you asked, Twilight. Because my sister and I are busy with Guard duty and Princess Luna would go all enraged if we're late to inspection, I suggest you girls talk to General Marestrom, Commander Blowback, and Senator Rhubarb. Marestrom's the head of the Legionnaires, they're a small force but they're definitely a force to be reckoned with. Blowback's head of the Frontiermares, the largest force currently in the city. I'd asked you to talk to Rhubarb but... just don't make him suspicious of

"You want us to convince Marestrom and Blowback to..." Twilight awaited the answer.

"Make sure they're still loyal to the Princess. If Rhubarb does anything stupid, then we'll have the Legionnaires and Frontiermares on our side."

"We'll divide up and meet with them." Twilight proudly reaffirmed to the two. "Applejack, you're coming with me to go see Marestrom. Rainbow and Fluttershy, you're up for Blowback. Pinkie and Rarity, the Senator."

"Good, 'till then, good luck to you all." Pryde remarked. The two started walking off, hopeful that the girls will be successful.

As they disappeared around the corner, Applejack felt suspicious. "You thinkin' we can trust them, Twilight? After what they did back in Ponyville?"

"Whatever gets us closer to resolving this conflict and getting answers around here, let's just play along."

Pryde nudged her head against Lavender. "I can't believe we didn't tell them."

"After she came out of the Court like that? It'd break her heart to find out who it was."

Pryde swayed her head in regret. "Let's just hope they're up for the task, brother."

Chapter 04

The girls began walking to the entrance of the building to talk to the three powerful individuals. As they turned around the corner, a dark figure appeared right in their faces.

“Ahh... girls!" Princess Luna noticed. "How was it while We were overlooking the perimeter guards?"

"Um... not the way we expected it, Princess." Twilight had trouble expressing her honest opinion.

"We see." Luna said skeptically, knowing there was more to it but refrained from pushing it. "We've informed the guards from every branch to give you all, unlimited access. And if they harm you, they'll have to answer to me. And... Excuse me if We still speaketh in the Royal Canterlot tongue, Twilight Sparkle.” Luna acknowledged. Since her redemption, she has had a hard time conforming to one thousands years worth of cultural and lingual development. “We- I have had to use this way of traditional speaking to demand respect and gain authority over the Frontiermares and Legionnaires. It is admittedly, hard to switch between the two, We thin- I mean, I think.”

Twilight smiled. “Princess Luna, some of us may have trouble with the way you speak but it’s really not that big of a problem to worry about."

“Hmm, thank you, Twilight... and I prefer just Luna.” She smiled back, her voice returning to her more gentle tone. “Now, did I miss anything in the court?”

Before any of the six could talk about the Senator’s demands, Luna interjected first.

“Did they talk behind my back about me?”

The girls all paused, speechless. They all thought back to the remark by the Senator in which involved Luna and some incident almost dooming the Kingdom.

“They thought I was being too gentle on the Legionnaires, no?”

“Uh- but of course, your highness!” Rarity confirmed, falsely.

“Yeah, totally.” Rainbow Dash continued. “They- uh, they totally think you’re being too soft on them.”

“Hmm, I have suspected as much.” Luna said, rubbing her hoof against her chin and pondering. “It would be nice if the Court actually told me about the things about me, directly.”

The girls gulped. They couldn’t imagine Princess Luna reacting upon ever hearing what was said in the room. Whatever it was, what happened must’ve been so dreadful, very few know about it or care to even talk about it.

"Uh... Luna, we're kinda in a hurry to go meet people." Twilight informed.

Without posing any more questions, Luna let them go. "Take care then, girls. I'll be watching over the city since my sister is confined to her chambers."

"You're still feeling bad for not telling Luna?" Rainbow Dash asked, having long noticed Fluttershy's gloomy attitude on their way to Commander Blowback in the parliament building.

"I wish we told her the truth... but she can be scary even when she's not mad."

"Yeah. You never did warm up to her since you met her at Nightmare Night."

"But she's trying though. Maybe if we met her again in better times- Oh, we're here."

Rainbow Dash looked ahead to see the camp. It was originally a wide open park but now was converted into a fortified camp for the Frontiermares. The camp was relatively occupied by soldiers but most only took a small glance at the two girls but didn't really pay much attention to them, most likely thanks to Luna's assistance. "Let's just find this commander."

"Do you know what he looks like?"

"Please, Fluttershy. Commanders always have a ton of shiny medals over their uniforms." She proudly said, rubbing her own chest to mimic the polishing of medals.

It didn't take long to be directed to Marestrom's headquarters in the former post-office turned base. Moments ago before they entered the building complex, the first thing they noticed was how the perimeter was fortified. Sandbags, crates, and thin metal barricades surrounded the building. It got even more nerve racking as they got closer and closer to Marestrom's base as nearby legionnaires kept their eyes glued to the Twilight and Applejack.

The two didn't talk much even as they were walking up the stairs, closing in on this Marestrom. Applejack worried about Twilight's health and judgement. She felt torn whether to bring up open wounds or let them heal themselves.d

"Applejack?"

"Yes, Twilight?"

"I just want you to know that I really appreciate you and the girls for going this far. I mean, after what I did to Pry-"

"Don't you worry 'bout that, sugar. Anypony in your situation would've done the same to protect her friends."

"I don't feel that happy about what happened but thanks. And I'd like to thank you for keeping the team together."

Applejack tilted her head a bit in confusion after that remark.

"Come on, Applejack," she said smiling, "you not only saved me from falling off a cliff but really protected and kept us together through all those adventures we had. Heck, you just led the girls when no pony trusted me at the Wedding. I think you'd make a great leader if I wasn't in char-"

"Aw schucks, Twilight. I'm mighty thankful for what you just said, but I could never replace you."

"The girls look up to you, or at least follow you because they know you'll care for them. You're pretty much as grounded and down to earth like me. If I were to-"

"Twilight!" She snapped harshly. "Nothing wrong will happen to you and I promise you that!" But as Applejack turned her head back ahead, a pony at the top of the stairs looked down at them.

"Oh... it's you two." He said unenthusiastically.

The girls' reactions couldn't more different. It was the same lieutenant who earlier tried to arrest them but foiled by Luna's intervention.

"Follow me through this door... The general's been waiting."

The room they followed him into looked like any office room. Cabinets along the walls, some drawers opened and others not. To their left, was a work desk littered with reports and maps. Sitting behind the desk was none other than the General. He didn't seem to notice them entering his room as he had his head lowered onto the papers in front of him.

"Miss Sparkle and her friend, sir." He announced at the door as the girls walked past him.

"...Take a seat, girls." Marestrom said, having yet to take even a small glance at them. "What is it you want?" He began when he heard the girls resting themselves onto the chairs, again still focused on the papers in front of him.

"Oh- um, we just wanted to- uhh..." Twilight found it painfully difficult to communicate with him when he seemed to pay no attention to them.

"...Yes?" Marestrom finally broke off his attention to the reports on the desk.

"We just wanted to know more about you... and your career serving in... um..."

"The Badlands. Or 'Tartarus' to some." He enlightened. Marestrom leaned back towards his chair, making himself more comfortable. "I come from a long line of fighters. Every single member of my family and descendents have been defending Equestria since its founding, predating even the succession of Celestia and Luna."

Twilight was astonished. "Over a millenium, then."

"Indeed. It was only expected of me to follow in their footsteps. Of course, though, leading an entire regiment was never to be anticipated but it's a career I don't regret at the slightest. I'm sue we get more action and suspense in the Badlands than the Frontiermares and no doubt, the Royal Guards."

"And you were a Royal Guard before, right?"

"No. The Royal Guards are nothing but a politically elite military unit. They're there to create the sense of security and protect those of the Royal Blood. Against threats such as the Buffaloes, the Diamond Dogs, and the Changelings, they're militarily inept for that challenge, as shown by your brother and the Garrison of Canterlot during the wedding."

Twilight shrugged off that remark. She had to remain focused.

"And so what do you and your 'Crimson Legionnaires' do then?"

"Ahh... I thought you'd ask." A grin formed on his face. "We, like the Frontiermares, protect the Kingdom of anything that may pose a major threat. We however, take up the momentous challenge of monitoring and patrolling the Badlands. Home to the many monsters and nightmares. Much of us, like to think of ourselves as the forgotten heroes since barely any Equestrian knows of our efforts, let alone know the Legion itself."

"Ooooh! What kind of plans do you have there?"

Blowback blocked Rainbow Dash's view by moving his body to the side, shielding whatever documents and maps he had on the table. Rainbow Dash crossed her arms, giving a snarling look.Fluttershy was on the opposite side of the large table. She gave an embarrassed look when the officers around the table looked at her after what Rainbow Dash just did. It was basically collective punishment.

"You barge into my headquarters, just found out who I was, and think just because Princess Luna gives you the permission to walk around freely around this city that you think you can fly behind me to see what I've been going over with the other officers?" Commander Blowback demanded.

"Um, Rainbow Dash." Fluttershy tried reaching Rainbow Dash but she was unsure if she heard her or ignored her.

"Is there something to hide?" Rainbow Dash asked Blowback.

"And before you ask, I couldn't be at the courtroom because I'm busy maintaining the garrison in the capital.

"He's a good friend. He and I share the same beliefs in a stronger Equestria," Blowback explained, "in fact, we go back decades ago during the last Smokey Mountains insurrection."

"The Smokey Mountains?" Rainbow Dash was puzzled. She wasn't into history at flight school so she wasn't surprised if she missed it.

"I wouldn't blame you if you didn't know." Blowback suddenly appeared somewhat remorseful. "Celestia's done much to erase Equestria's violent past. It was... a cold winter forty years ago. A cold, cold winter. We were a disorganized bunch. Celestia led an army of too few Royal Guards and militia mares. The Legionnaires weren't plentiful enough like they are now back then so it was just us against King Gunter and his griffon flocks."

"Gri-Griffons?" Fluttershy repeated. She remembered the last and first griffon she met, Gilda, an old friend of Rainbow Dash, who treated her with little respect and even scared her away.

"Yes, a threatening bunch. They revolted after they thought we didn't treat them with enough respect and really, we weren't strong enough so they thought they can push us around."

"Wait, there's a ton of griffons living in the Smokey Mountain?" Rainbow Dash asked further. She actually never asked where Gilda came from. Granted, she knew Gilda wasn't born here but she could've been staying at the Smokey Mountain just before she met Rainbow Dash again.

"Centuries ago, some griffons left their nation to come here. They claimed that they were refugees and that their lands were in a period of decade-long turmoil and clan-infighting. We, obviously welcomed their presence and allowed them to live besides us. As their community grew in individual cities, they resorted back to their clan system, electing a leader of theirs and- long story short, they got in trouble, we put them in the Smokey Mountains where they couldn't bother us, they decide to strike us from time to time, and we have to constantly stop them because we were foolish enough to let them here in the first place. Our problem, our responsibility, our lives."

Rainbow Dash felt somewhat guilty. She probably brought back bad memories of him years ago.

"Rhubarb, if you would've guessed it, was actualy a fellow officer alongside with me." Blowback clarified. "Yes, that pencil pushing politician and I, including others, formed the Frontiermares in the midst of the insurrection. The Royal Guards were too little in numbers and the militia.. well, they just made it look like we had a larger army. A mix of veteran Royal Guards and militia leaders came together to create an effective and large enough fighting force. And in the end, we forced King Gunter to back down. And while I still don't know why they're still here and not deported back to their war-ridden nation so they can revel in all the fighting and system of respect and hierarchy, my Frontiermares have the Smokey Mountains monitored and under control."

"So you're not mad at Princess Celestia?" Fluttershy naively asked, resulting in Rainbow Dash slapping her own head in response to that question.

"Outside things of late, she has little respect for the many who perished years ago. There's a memorial to the ones who gave more than others at the Smokey Mountain. But it's nothing more than a grave. No structure, statue, or anything honorable to the soldiers who fought to protect Equestria. In fact, the griffons have their own memorial, a war memorial that treats their loss with dignity and respect. Now please," Blowback lowered his head at the table, "I don't wish to talk any more about this. Officers... you're dismissed as well."

Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy looked at each other, feeling deeply guilty for not just botching up their investigation, but hurting his feelings as well.

"Right, and if you want, perhaps your history with Princess Celestia... if you don't mind." It came off awkwardly, both to Applejack and even Twilight herself. Marestrom's eyes widened at first but soon eased easily enough.

"The Princess? You may believe that I and that pencil pushing Senator Rhubarb wish to... undermine her..."

Both Twilight and Applejack's heart began racing. They could feel their sweat coming out any moment.

"But I personally bear no pointless grudge against her. While I find her incompetent at protecting the Kingdom and relies on six girls, it's not my business to lower myself to one of those politicians who finds a scapegoat for everything wrong they're responsible for. And while I rarely see her, with annual trips to the Hearth Warming Eve's ceremonies held in Canterlot which are mandatory for me, I don't speak much to her. I don't hate her but she and the others must be held accountable for what's happened and act upon it."

"Until then, however," the girls turned around to the Lieutenant, "the general and the rest of us Legionnaires are bound to defend Equestria from external threats."

"Thank you, lieutenant. Have you introduced yourself to the girls?" Marestrom asked.

The lieutenant shook his head.

"I know this is your first time in Canterlot but at least try to act somewhat formal, for Celestia's sake." Marestrom said, returning his attention to the documents in front of him, "Come introduce yourself to the girls." Marestrom ordered.

He walked up slowly to the girls and reached out with his hoof. "Lieutenant Dogma of the 13th Legionnaire Regiment." The girls shook his hoof.

"Please to meet ya, bub." Applejack uttered lukewarmly as she shaked hooves with him.

"Yes, please to meet you, lieutenant." Twilight said in a livelier tone.

"Likewise," he replied stoically, "I seem to recall your name. A couple of Royal Guards mentioned a young mare by the name of Twilight when they handed over Cerberus back to us."

"Wait, what?" Applejack uttered in shock.

"Cerberus belongs to you?" Twilight asked, being as shocked as Applejack.

"Yes... I was leading a patrol deep into the Badlands but... he ran off ahead of us and we believe something spooked him." Dogma's explanation kind of made sense why Cerberus escaped out of the Badlands, but what was it that scared him, Twilight wondered.

"It was a relief that the Royal Guards handed him over to us, owing greatly to you and your..." Marestrom was having trouble find that word," ...'unorthodox method' from what we've heard from the Royal Guards."

When Twilight lured Cerberus out of Ponyville, she came upon a couple Royal Guards who took over the situation instead of her going all the way to the Badlands.

"And what must've spooked the doggie?" Applejack asked.

"We've... encountered a handful of monstrous terrors frequently the deeper we get into the Badlands." Dogma said, turning his head away from the girls. His expression on his face looked gravely troubled. "Cerberus isn't one to be afraid of beasts such as hydras or even packs of dragon younglings. If anything, whatever it was, it must've been dark magic. And we have no recollections of any monsters there being able to cast magic. The only species that can cast dark magic, let alone any magic are-"

"Ponykind." Marestrom said.

"...The Changelings!" Twilight answered.

"Let's not jump into any conclusions, just yet. A swarm that size couldn't have gone unnoticed for decades while the Crimson Legion's been watching over the lands." Dogma tried justifying.

"Then yer doin' a poor job, to tell ya the truth." Applejack insinuated, regardless of it coming off as an insult. Applejack felt an elbow striking her ribs from Twilight. She looked into Twilight's eye and replied. "What? Why is everyone blaming Celestia and yer brother if it's these guys who aren't doing their jobs right and let loose a humongous swarm of Changelings?"

"We don't know that for sure, Applejack." Twilight remarked sternly. The two broke eye contact with each other and looked at Marestrom who looked unamused.

"Listen, girls," Marestrom grabbed their attention away from Dogma. "I know you like the rest want to help Princess Celestia. But if I were you, I'd just let this whole thing slide. Celestia's not going anywhere and that stiff neck senator, Rhubarb, will only achieve a temporary ego trip for possibly succeeding in gaining enough votes for his reforms. Besides, he and his lap dog, Blowback, aren't dumb enough to challenge Celestia again, especially since the two wouldn't have the opportunity to heckle at Celestia without the embarrassing incident at the wedding again in the future."

"...I guess there's nothing else to discuss." Twilight assumed.

"Quite, Twilight." Marestrom replied. The two girls got off the chairs and walked towards the door. Marestrom closed the door by magic once they left.

Chapter 05

"Must you shove your face against his, Pinkie?"

"Heh heh heh... sorry, Rarity." She happily apologised with a smile. She took the whole incident earlier rather well, Rarity didn't unfortunately. While Pinkie didn't seem that sincere about her apology and more embarassed, Rarity knew Pinkie was like that. She'll generally come off as optimistic in the worst of situations and cheer up others around her. "You gotta admit, that senator was reeeaaaaal stubborn and wasn't happy to see us when he opened his door."

"You think he has something to hide?"

"He looked more cranky than hiding something."

"Maybe because we barged in the courtroom and are a threat to his plans, perhaps?" Rarity suggested, trying to piece together what they know. Senator Rhubarb wants to strengthen the military,

"Well, now we can't talk to the Senator. Hopefully the other girls are faring better." Rarity said with hope. They were walking back to the Royal Court, ashamed to have failed to properly meet with the Senator. Earlier, once they were told to leave the Senator's quarters, they had to take a different route as a narrow road they were taking earlier was being used by a column of marching Frontiermares.

Instead, they decided to take a route through a part of the city that was damaged in the Changelng attack. The signs at the entrance said the part of the city was under reconstruction, but so far, no construction workers were found. The atmosphere was eerie and uncomfortable. Charred wood and broken glass were some of the many things that felt haunting of the place.

Rarity led the way and constantly looked from one side to the other, afraid of the littlest things. "Be careful Pinkie," she said as they continued the path, "The buildings around us don't look to saf-"

"Oh don't be so spooked, Rarity." Pinkie gleefully said, happily skipping behind Rarity with her eyes closed. "And if you are scared, then all you need is a good lau-" Pinkie felt Rarity's hoof in her mouth and Pinkie stopped dead in her tracks.

"Shhhh." Rarity warned quietly. They went against the side corner of a building.

"Welcome to the crew then... rookie." Somepony said around the corner.

"Thanks, guys." The exchange was between two ponies from what Rarity and Pinkie could hear, though there may be more around the corner which they can't see. "You- uh... sure no one's watching us?"

"Positive," a third one said, "all the others are on routine marches. No one's going to come through this damaged part of the city. Hmph, Changelings really did a number on this neighbourhood."

Rarity and Pinkie remained frozen behind the corner of the building. Rarity carefully peeked around the corner and saw that it was a Frontiermare, conversing with others. She looked away and wanted to get out of there as shefelt uncomfortable being in a destroyed section of the city with only a couple guards from the Frontiermares. The same guards who almost threw them into the dungeons with help from the Legionnaires. But their plans were cancelled when they heard the following statement.

"How much did he pay you, rookie?"

"500 bits, and another 800 if the operation's successful."

"He paid you that much? He paid me 800 upfront and triple if this works."

"Wait, you're getting more than me?"

"Corporal, remember? Obviously he's paying more to the ones higher up the food chain."

"Huh... whatever if I were paying soldiers for an operation like this, I'd do the same, I guess. Can you imagine if some soldier he approached didn't accept the offer."

"Ha... hopefully no one will ever miss him, rookie." The girls could hear a faint pat, probably on the rookie's back by the corporal. Who were these soldiers, the girls thought. Legionnaires? Worse, they felt something malevolent was in the works, but what?

"I have a name y'know. It's Vigil."

"Corporal Piers. And the less I know about you, the likelier I'm not going to cry over you when it happens. Sorry Vigi- rookie."

Pinkie whispered closely into Rarity's ear. "The senator must've paid these guys...the senator really is going to take over."

"...You guys really think we stand a chance?" Vigil asked.

"C'mon, rookie, when was it the last time Celestia stopped anthing dangerous to the Kingdom." Piers replied in a courageous manner.

"I was talking about Luna."

There was a silence after what Vigil meant.

"You two! Stop being idle weather vanes and help set up the artillery." A third pony ordered, probably an officer the girls assumed.

The girls then heard the soldiers' footsteps getting quieter and quieter, farther and farther away, hinting that they were leaving the area.

"We have to warn the others." Rarity proposed as it sounded safe enough. Pinkie nodded in response. Rarity didn't know what exactly is to be done about these soldiers but she and Pinkie had proof of the Senator's plans to takeover. "We should go back to the main road, the soldiers are probably gone from that street anyway. We have to stop Rhubarb."