The Royal Foalsitter

Cadance air chariot landed in Cloudsdale air port. Young Princess not the first time in her life admired the beauty of ancient Cloudsdale city. She read somewhere that it was truly oldest city in Equestria. According to some historian ( whose name she couldn’t remember) when pegasi settled for good in Equestria, General Hurricane himself ordered that the grate cloud city will be relocated from their old home to newly found Equestria. Thanks to that decision Cloudsdale is only city that  has unique character. You can feel the millennia looking upon you from somewhat ancient architecture.

Cadance took her saddlebags from chariot and thanked, with a smile, two Royal Guards that pulled the vehicle during the way from Canterlot. It was nice from Aunt Celestia to give her the few hours of secure travel which she used to catch up with reading reports and documents about the events following the mysterious Rainboom.

There weren’t many due to the fact that the incident took place less than a day ago. Few that managed to travel to Royal Intelligence Agency went straight to Celestia and then to Cadance. And all of them pointed to Cloudsdale as the source of the problem.

Most important report was from Storm Chaser the head of Royal Intelligence hub in Cloudsdale.

…I was indoors when the incident happened.  I admit I was caught out of guard when I heard that explosion. We had training in cases of bombing attack but I never experienced it outside secure training zone. I flew out the window of my office to see what happened. I was expecting building collapsing and panic all around the city but to my great surprise every pony was looking up the sky above the city where a rainbow was painted. I use the word painted with all the premeditation, because it wasn’t a normal way a rainbow appears. I worked in Cloudsdale weather factory long enough to know how we make rainbows through water and proper light dispersion. That wasn’t a normal rainbow. First of all it was much more intense as if somepony was using paint on the blue sky not just disperse the light. Secondly the rainbow was being created as I looked at it. Somepony was at the ‘front’ of the rainbow and his/hers wake was ‘painting’ the sky. The view was breath taking and I have to admit that it took me a few minutes to wake up from awe and gain clearance in my head. When I did, the consequences of what happened dawned onto me. I ordered emergency briefing with all my agents. I send my best pegasi flyers after the culprit but when they returned empty hoof I ordered all city and surrounding area search for whoever was able to pull this off.

I received first reports an hour after the incident. According to eye witness the incident originated very low beneath Cloudsdale on area designated to junior flight camp. Further reports indicated that the explosion was followed by sound and shockwave. Faust blessing upon us, that the nature of the ‘Rainbow Explosion’ was very specific. The sound wave spread in all directions just like a normal wave, luckily the shockwave did not and its effect was only horizontal. I received a report indicating that the shockwave was strong enough to crack open few rocks in nearby hills. If the explosion would occurred on Cloudsdale height … there would be no Cloudsdale.

In light of those information’s I ordered close invigilation of all ponies working and attending the junior flight camp. Whenever I will come with new information about the incident I will report immediately.

Cadance read that report yesterday before going to sleep ( btw long after midnight). She hoped that in the morning, before she begin her journey to Cloudsdale, new report will come with more knowledge about the mysterious pony behind the Rainboom. Unfortunately it didn’t and to Cadance surprise the rapport she had was the last one that arrived from Royal Intelligence Agency hub in Cloudsdale.

Cadance decided that her first steps in pegasi city will be reporting in the RIA hub and come up to date with recent events. She adjusted her saddlebags comfortably and waved, the guard pegasi farewell as they took off back to Canterlot.

In that moment somepony gently poked her flank.  The touch was so unexpected that it startled young princess. When she turned her head she saw a white unicorn stallion in a dress-coat, protruding bust, and an exceptionally large horn.

“Princess Mi Amore Cadenza?” he asked with deep but mild tone.

“Yes.”

“A pleasure to meet you in person. My name is Fancypants. I have been asked to… “the unicorn seemed to look for good phrase.”  … accompany you during your … visit in Cloudsdale.”

With those words he levitated a letter towards Cadance. Letter had royal seal on it. “I have been asked to give you this as a letter of recommendation of my … service.”

Cadance took the letter in her hooves and looked with shocked at the newly meet unicorn.

“How … how is it possible for a unicorn to be here! We are in Cloudsdale! City in clouds!”

To further extend her shock at this situation she noticed that a big chariot or rather a buss, landed in the opposite side of the large flat cloud which worked as Cloudsdale Air Port. The ‘buss’ thing was carried by eight pegasi, four in front and four the back, floating the vehicle like a lectica. What made Cadance stare at the sight with awe was the fact that, out from the buss like wagon, come a group of unicorns and even few earth ponies. It seemed that neither unicorns nor earth ponies were aware that they were trotting on clouds not solid land.

Cadance attention went back at Fancypants.

“If you don’t mind me asking how is it possible that you are not … you know falling to your death right now?”

Fancypants looked at Cadance with shocked expression and then at his hooves steadily positioned on the cloud.

“Aah… that.” He smiled back at Cadance.” It’s a enchantment that allows non-Pegasi ponies to walk on clouds. It works for 24 hours and it become routine to cast it each morning and before sleep, just like brushing your teeth. I have been in Cloudsdale for  a month and I already forgot about that minor detail. If you want to make business with pegasi you have to learn few tricks. ”

“And earth ponies?”

“Well they buy the enchantment each day. As I said pegasi are large community. For centuries pegasi traders had monopoly on earth and unicorn goods market in Cloudsdale, but we live in times of progress. Every major company has its hub in Cloudsdale nowadays. If you don’t mind I would prefer  to continue  out little chat in some other place. We have some things to discus and I for one wouldn’t like to be eavesdropped. I know nice little place nearby where we could talk in private. Shall we?” Fancypants said with a innocent smile on his face.

“Of course but I have…”

“I’m sure you have lots of questions. I hope that the letter you are holding will answer some of them but probably it will just give you more. I will be glad to answer them in near future, but …” Fancypants lowered his voice to a whisper. “…I wouldn’t like to discuss matters of national security in a public place.”

Cadance shuddered and nervously looked around for anypony who would be watching or listening  to their conversation.

Fancypants shock his head with disapproval and murmured “Newbie’s”.

Cadance opened and read the letter.

Dear Niece

The unicorn that gave you this letter is  Fancypants. He is a spy.

I’m aware that you have basic Royal Foalsitter training but I’m afraid that the mission I presented you with might be difficult and you will soon need a helping hoof of a professional. I send him to you as a bodyguard and trainer. Listen to him and learn from him as much as you can, but remember that his mission is not Your mission. Furthermore you have to know he is not hired gun nor is he forced to do your bidding in any way so I urge you to treat him friendly. If he start to play dumb remind him he owes me.

Princess Celestia.

Cadance read the short letter twice, after she finally looked at her new ‘friend’.