Outbreak

Chapter III

Summons from Canterlot

"...Huummmm..." Twilight Sparkle sighed, reclining upon a velvet-lined seat aboard the Ponyville express to Canterlot. Her mind still hummed with the disheartening events which had taken place earlier in the day. Now, well into late afternoon, Twilight gazed out from the window of her private boxcar at the land, colors of fresh evergreen trees mixing with the whit, snowy blanket covering the earth. She still couldn't believe what she had just done- she had just pushed away one of the only few stallions who had ever shown her a deep, true level of caring and friendship, and Celestia knew she felt just awful about it. She never meant to cause poor Flash Sentry so much heartache, but she knew deep down that his rejection was for the best.

Something else was on her mind at the present moment- the letter she had received from Flash urgently summoning her to Canterlot for  a meeting with Equestria's Department of National Security. Opening her saddlebag with a wing, Twilight levitated the parchment which had been brought to her earlier, beginning to read once more to ensure she knew what her summons were for.

Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle

Your presence is requested immediately in Canterlot's Headquarters for National Security and International Affairs. Something has happened in the capitol city of Chitin on the southeastern coast of the Changeling Kingdom. Our diplomats report that the population is suffering a trading disruption due to the development of a large wall of black material around the city. The situation is sensitive, and we fear that another changeling crisis may be immanent.

Please report to Canterlot for a more detailed briefing. My sister and I will be present.

-With Love

Celestia

"Hey, watch where you're going!" a black stallion barked at Twilight Sparkle, causing her to lift her face from the letter she once again pulled out to read. "This ain't a library, toots!"

"S-Sorry...!" Twilight called out, noticing the stallion had his face buried in an open folder, which might have explained his rudeness to a figure of royalty.

"Dumb bitch..." the stallion muttered still nose deep in his likely confidential files.

The Equestrian Department of National Security buzzed with activity- ponies from every race and creed bustled about carrying odds and ends ranging from folder-bound documents to simple pitchers of coffee for the night shift. Twilight Sparkle had passed through these rapidly shifting ponies, dodging agent after agent to finally reached her destination- a large, steel door marked with the symbol of Celestia's sun. Two royal guards armed with some odd weaponry that Twilight had never seen in her life stood at each side of the door. Gathering her nerves once more, the alicorn stood to face the two guards, whom immediately accepted her inside on sight.

"Princess Sparkle, please step through." Greeted one guard- a white pegasus with a blue mane.

"Thank you." Twilight spoke as the door magically slid open, revealing a large, circular room with a silver table seated in the center.

By this point, Twilight was no stranger to hidden, sealed-off rooms located in the bowels of Equestrian government property. She'd attended many meetings to discuss everything from financial matters to relations with foreign countries. She had, after all, been nominated as a lead ambassador to the Changeling Kingdom after the fall of Tirek, working day and night in order to foster peaceful relations with the formerly violent country. There was, however, one member of the changeling race she did not fully trust- and most of Equestria knew why by now.

"Well, hello Twilight!" Greeted the gentle and motherly voice of her lifelong mentor, hero, and ruler- Princess Celestia. Standing with her sister in both of their starry-maned glory, the two ushered Twilight over to an empty chair seated in front of a red table cloth, a small sign with her name on it standing up just beside it. "Thank you for coming to speak with us on such short notice."

"Princess Celestia!" Twilight beamed, running to nuzzle both sisters. "Princess Luna!"

"Yes, we welcome thee, Princess Twilight." Luna greeted with a gentle smile. "Always our pleasure to have thy presence in our midst."

"Oh, thank goodness, some friendly faces..." Twilight continued.

The trio of princesses soon took their seats at the large, silver table. Once seated, two unnamed agents from the facility wearing golden badges walked in, carrying with them a projector and film reel. As they set up a large, white canvas to view the film, Princess Celestia began to make small talk with her former pupil.

"I take it you haven't been having the best of days, Twilight?" Celestia questioned, a caring smile on her face. "Care to share?"

"...Where do I begin..." Twilight panned. "First, my family lunch turned out to be a disaster filled with embarrassment and my grandchild-pushing mother."

"I understand that..." Celestia consoled, just out of her sister's range of hearing. "Sometimes I have that problem with Little Lulu over there..."

"Hehe... you?" Twilight giggled. "Come on... you're Princess Celestia- you can handle anything."

"Oh, you would be surprised Twilight." Celestia replied, donning a concerned expression once again. "But I can sense that there is something even more bothersome floating around up there... is there not?"

Twilight Sparkle dipped her head and sighed.

"...My friend Flash Sentry... he's done so much for my friends and I... he's an incredible stallion and an amazing friend."

"The other world?" Celestia questioned, knowing the answer in her head.

"Mmm..." Twilight affirmed, nodding her head. "...But why should I, of all ponies, have to be the one to break his heart? He didn't do anything wrong by having a crush on me... I just wish I could have made the confession a bit less painful for him. But now I'm afraid I'll never see him again... I just feel like a demon inside, you know?"

"Er-hem..." grumbled one of the projector technicians. "We're ready to start here, your highnesses."

"Oh, my apologies." Princess Celestia replied. "Sorry, Twilight, but we'll continue this conversation after our business here... okay?"

"N-No problem, princess."