Late-morning
Somewhere south of Ponyville
Aboard the ‘Solar Express’

Twilight Sparkle sat in the comfortable seat of the luxurious rail car as the scenery flew by at incredible speed. She had seen the view before on previous train journeys south of Ponyville, but this train was moving far faster than the regular trains she had taken in the past. Normally, Ponyville would be another three hours of travel from Canterlot. But aboard this train they had left Ponyville behind a full hour ago.

As she mused over the speed of the train she reached for the cup of tea the train steward had left for her and in doing so brushed her hoof across the woven metal of the silver and gold peytral around her neck. It’s texture reminded her of the solemn ceremony in which she had acquired it the previous night and unbidden, her mind replayed those events.

Flashback
The previous evening
Canterlot
Royal Throne Room

Twilight stood alone before the entire assembled court. Celestia and Luna were upon their thrones, torches burning brightly upon the walls of the throne room.

“Fillies and Gentlecolts,” said Celestia in a loud, clear voice standing before the assembly, “a grave crisis has arisen. The details of which I shall present to the entire kingdom in an address come the morning.” The assembled nobles began muttering to each other. Some showing surprise, some interest, others calculation. Their voices creating a buzzing background to the words of the solar princess.

“Tonight however,” she continued, “I have asked you here as witnesses.” Celestia was joined by her sister as the lunar alicorn stood as well.

“Twilight Sparkle,” began Luna, “your deeds are known to all. Your valor is proven. Your integrity unquestioned. The devotion of you and your family to the Crowns shines as the Moon. We can think of none more suited to act as Our hand and Our voice in Our stead. We thus ask if you are willing to once again take up the mantle of perilous duty?”

“I am,” replied Twilight, standing tall before the assembly.

“Twilight Sparkle,” continued Celestia, “you have always been my faithful student. You have proven your worth time and time again. Your friendship warms my heart like the Sun. We can think of no one more suited to act as Our hand and Our voice in the places where We cannot go. You need not take up the burden of duty again. But We ask if you are willing to once again take up that mantle in service to Equestria?”

“Princesses,” replied Twilight, internally thrilling to the measured cadence of the ancient call to duty and response, “I am your servant. Command me, that Your will be done.”

“We accept thee and thy service, with thanks,” answered Luna who then sent her gaze out among the assembled nobles. Their murmuring silenced by the powerful gaze of the Princess of the Night. “Bear witness, nobles of Equestria. For as of this hour we name Our Servant, Twilight Sparkle, as Our Ambassador Plenipotentiary. Her words are Our words, her actions are Our actions. All shall render unto her any and all aid she requests without hindrance or fault with the gratitude of the Crowns.”

“Ambassador Sparkle,” said Celestia, “step forward that you may receive your badge of office.” Twilight moved forward, stepping onto the center of the large Seal of Equestria laid in the design of the throne room floor. It’s twin alicorns chasing each other in an endless circle. Celestia then raised her power and a wide ring of gold rose from the floor some four feet across, surrounding Twilight within it’s circle.

Luna, flanking her royal sister, then raised her own power, and a second ring rose from the borders of the seal. This one of silver and of the same dimensions as the golden one. The two rings angled themselves to each other and then slowly, but with increasing speed, began to revolve like great wheels with Twilight as their axis. The royal sisters poured even more power into the rings, causing them to heat and become malleable. Then rearing onto their hind legs they wove their fore hooves in intricate motions and as they did the two rings began to mirror the motions. Undulating and weaving until the two bands became one woven braid.

A braid that began to rapidly shrink and cool as it closed itself upon the neck of the lavender alicorn. As the metal snugged itself to Twilight’s neck she felt the last few tugs of magic pull the metal into the shape of a peytral similar to that worn by Celestia. Narrow at the back of her neck and widening out into a protective plate over her lower throat and upper breast. Celestia and Luna lowered themselves from their reared position, and together let loose a final blast of magic full at Twilight’s breast.

Twilight looked down as the peytral absorbed the coruscating blaze of power and saw the symbol of the Two Sisters become emblazoned upon the surface of the peytral. The dark and the light alicorns chasing each other in an endless circle in the symbolism of the cycle of night and day as a match to the seal upon which she stood. As the magics faded the room was utterly silent.

“Ambassador Twilight, we must now discuss thy duties in private,” said Princess Luna. She then continued, again sweeping her gaze over the assemblage, “Nobles, the court is dismissed until an hour after dawn. At which time my sister shall inform the kingdom as to the reasons why we require the services of Ambassador Twilight. For my part, at that time, I shall attend you personally in order to answer what I am sure will be a great many questions.” Her eyes narrowed, “Be aware that I shall not answer the same question twice and your questions had best be good ones.”

“Good night, my ponies,” said Celestia in a kinder farewell, “I thank you for your patience. We shall see each other in the morning.” With that, the three alicorns left the throne room and the buzz of conversation from the nobles grew in volume as they tried to puzzle out the mystery their leaders had placed before them.

As the trio walked away from the throne room Luna spoke, “Twilight, your mission is to first, determine if the Diamond Dogs indeed have Rarity. Second, if they do, negotiate her release. You have full access to the royal purse or any other resource to accomplish that. Third, learn what you can of any other ponies that may have run afoul of them. Fourth, see if dogs will put a stop to their actions in exchange for help with their problems. Fifth, if possible, discover why the dogs have been having their problems.

Celestia, flanking Twilight on the other side then added, “To help you in your mission I am placing our personal train, the Solar Express, at your disposal. They have orders to get you as close as possible to the Badlands as swiftly as possible. I’ve already had your things placed on board and they are ready to leave as soon as we get you to the train station. Also, I know you have only had it for a few minutes, but have you had a chance to notice anything about your peytral?”

“Well,” said Twilight in with a moments reflection, “it is rather snug.” She poked at the peytral with a hoof. “Um, is there a particular reason why I can’t get it off?”

“Three reasons, Twilight,” Celestia began to explain. “First, it is a symbolic collar. You are an official servant of the Crowns now, and an extension of the royal will. Second, it will magically record everything you see and hear while you wear it. That way your decisions and actions can be accurately implemented into general policy. Third, it has to be irremovable to preserve it’s link to your life force. Should you die or be injured, Luna and I will know it instantly.”

Celestia’s face darkened. It was like a storm cloud had suddenly passed in front of the sun. “I want you to know that...,” Celestia’s muzzle worked for a moment, but then she continued in a voice of hammered iron, “if somehow they kill you. You will be avenged.”

“What my sister means to say,” interjected Luna, “is that should you fall, your killers will not long survive you. Nor anyone who had anything to do with it. She would leave not a stone standing upon a stone. Rarely does my sister give herself to rage. But for you...” She let the words hang, “Just don’t die Twilight. For you are also very dear to me.”

The three alicorns shared a hug, wrapping wings and hooves around each other, as two alicorns sent a third into danger.

End Flashback

Twilight’s memories had eaten up many more miles as the Solar Express rushed onward. Celestia had explained that the train was a special courier train for times when it was important that she or Luna arrive somewhere fresh and not tired from a long flight or teleport. The train was the fastest thing on rails and had absolute priority over any other rail traffic. A fact the two train masters, Master Scoot and Master Forge, used ruthlessly to get the train where it needed to be as fast as possible.

The train had few cars in order to keep weight down but among the cars was a sleeping car, a combined dining and conference car and a car that doubled as baggage car and armory. Twilight was currently sitting in the dining car. She had various books and scrolls around her with everything currently known about the Diamond Dogs. Their history, their culture, their military. Everything. Twilight was particularly interested in the current Alpha who led the High Pack. He had come to power only a few years ago, rising from relative obscurity as a finder of artifacts from the Crystal Empire War. He had challenged for leadership in the ancient method of personal combat.

After winning he proved to be incredibly charismatic among the dogs and spearheaded the use of artifacts from the war to improve the welfare of his people. Despite their antiquity. Besides that there was little else on him. Celestia had promised to send by teleport whatever could be found in the archives later. With nothing else on the Alpha, Twilight began to go through data on the High Pack. After three hours of further research, Steady Ride, the train’s steward, forcibly lifted the books out of Twilight’s lap and placed in front of her a bowl of wild mushroom soup with a side of cucumber sandwiches.

“You need to keep nourished, Ma’am,” said the steward. Twilight sighed, nodded and gave into the inevitable. The soup smelled wonderful anyway. As she ate she realized how hungry she actually was and didn’t stop eating until every drop and crumb were consumed.

“Thank you, Steady Ride,” said Twilight, “I guess I didn’t realize how hungry I was.”

“Not a problem Ambassador,” said the steward, “I’m used to taking care of ponies who forget to eat and sleep. Is there anything else I can get you?”

“Something to drink would be nice and,” Twilight stopped as a chime sounded through the car. “What was that?” she asked.

“Teleport alert from the baggage car. I’ll go see what it is,” said Steady Ride as he turned toward the baggage car taking the wreckage of Twilight’s meal with him.

A few minutes later the steward returned, carefully balancing a tray holding an iced tea and a scroll bearing the royal seal. “There were several trunks containing supplies as well as books and scrolls from the archives. Also, this scroll came addressed to you. I thought you might want to read it before anything else.” he said as he set down the tray beside Twilight.

“Thank you, Steady,” said Twilight.

“Just ring if you need anything, Ambassador,” Steady Ride said as he left Twilight to read the scroll in private.

Dearest Twilight,

You have not been gone even twenty-four hours yet but so many things have happened since you left. I will try to touch them all to bring you up to speed. First off, my address went about as well as you could expect. The nobles don’t know which way to jump. Some calling me incompetent for letting things get to this state. Some demanding a formal declaration of war immediately. Nearly all of them maneuvering for position. At least the common ponies are a rock of stability. For the most part they are waiting to see what Luna and I decide to do and are resolved to help us in whatever we decide to do.

On that note. I have to inform you that I have had to place Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Fluttershy and Spike into protective custody. They came to the palace this morning, demanding that they be sent to your side to assist you in retrieving Rarity. I cannot allow any more of the Elements to go into danger. Even sending you is a calculated risk. When I refused to send them, they decided to go on their own. When I forbade that, things became difficult. I’m afraid everyone became rather heated at that point. You should know that Rainbow Dash has a very good right cross. I can only hope that one day she will forgive me.

Which takes me to the next item of business. Twilight. They have her. After you left I sent a diplomatic note to the Diamond Dog embassy informing them that we were formally repudiating their interpretation of the treaty and demanding that they release any Equestrian citizens that they may have into our custody. I received a response an hour ago. All it contained was a notification that we were invited to participate in an auction in ten days time at their capital of Doge City for one “white unicorn, former Equestrian property and Element of Harmony”.

Just before I wrote this letter to you I sent a formal message to the Diamond Dogs that unless Rarity is released to our custody within seven days we will consider their holding her a casus belli and that a state of war exists between our nations. We have already closed the border as of midnight last night with the Badlands. We have earth pony ground forces and pegasi in the air all along the border. No one is passing in or out. So far, they report no hostility from Diamond Dogs in the area but they have noticed that teleportation seems to be blocked as far out as a league from the border due to some sort of interference.

Last night, Luna went around and spoke to the other embassies to ask what they knew of the Diamond Dogs situation and if they could provide any insights. She even visited the Changelings. Considering that she wasn’t directly involved against them during their failed invasion, they tend to get along better with her than myself. The good news is that they have three ponies that the dogs gave them as part of a debt payoff. Archaeologist Gentle Sweep, her husband Deep Delve, and Side Slip’s partner, High Ranger. Apparently, they are feeding a hive somewhere.

Luna, light bless her, had the presence of mind to ask why payments by the dogs were in bits and not emotions. The changelings told her that they had, indeed, wanted payment in emotions but the dogs insisted on paying in bits whenever they could. In fact, the changelings said, the dogs appeared almost eager to pay any amount asked for and seemed to be trying to find things to spend even more money on. Speaking of which, the changelings indicated they are willing to negotiate the release of the three ponies they have, to us, in exchange for ‘future considerations’.

Side Slip continues to heal mentally. His memories and personality are returning, albeit slowly. He has managed to remember roughly where the Diamond Dogs hold the ponies they capture. Among the papers that I have sent with this letter, is a map based on his recollections and what details of their base he can remember. He has finally stopped addressing Luna and myself as ‘Mistress’, thank goodness. But he still refers to you as his ‘Beloved Twilight’.

With it being confirmed that the dogs have Rarity I am altering your orders a bit. Your first priority is to get her out. Period. Negotiate her out, buy her freedom, grab her and run. Whatever it takes. But get Rarity out. That is your overriding goal.

Twilight. Be careful. There is something about all of this that doesn’t feel right. There are too many explanations and actions that seem right and justifiable at first look but become flimsier and less plausible the harder you look at them. You’ve dealt with the Flim Flam brothers in the past. I’m getting the same feeling now that I’ve had in the past dealing with them. I just cannot shake the feeling that all of us, ponies and dogs alike, are being manipulated somehow. That events have been arranged to get us all moving toward a goal that is inimical to both species. Perhaps it is the paranoia of an old mare. But my instincts are warning me that, to quote Shakespony, “Something wicked this way comes.”

In Harmony,
Princess Celestia

Twilight read and reread the letter three times and then headed to the baggage car where she went through the boxes of books and scrolls from the archive until she found the map mentioned in the letter. She returned back to the dining car which had become her defacto study with the map and some choice picks from the archive material that had been sent. She spent a few hours reviewing the map and committing it to memory along with an overall map of the Badlands and reading over her picks from the archive pile. She finished just as Steady Ride came in with a very late afternoon snack. Daffodil sandwiches with dill pickle on the side. As she began to tuck into the snack the teleport alert chime sounded again from the baggage car.

“Sit and eat Madam Ambassador, I’ll find out what it is,” said the steward. A minute or so later he came back with a scroll. “This was all that came through,” he said as he passed the scroll to Twilight.

Twilight opened the scroll and read a message which made her heart suddenly race.

Twilight,

We just received a message from one of our guard posts on the border of the Badlands. They were approached by a dog who passed them a note and then ran away. The note said:

Please be prepared to take delivery of a parcel of rare, blue diamonds in 3 days. The carriers may require lodging after delivery.

The only way I can think of to interpret the message is that one or more diamond dogs are going to try to bring Rarity to us in three days and they are going to need asylum once they do. We all may have just gotten a bit of luck.

Celestia

Setting down the scroll Twilight looked up to Steady Ride and said, “Could you please ask Master Scoot to come here for a few minutes, if he isn’t too busy?”

“Of course ma’am”, said the steward, who promptly left toward the head of the train. About ten minutes later the somewhat grubby train master entered the dining car.

“Ye wanted to see me lass?” asked Master Scoot with the odd burr in his voice that his whole family had.

“Yes, Master Scoot,” said Twilight, “I need to know how long it will be until you can get us to the railhead near the Badlands?”

“Och, well lassie, me and Master Forge are running the engine pretty hard,” he said as he scratched his head for a moment. “Probably four days, maybe a little less.”

“I’ve just received a dispatch from Princess Celestia. I need you to get me there in three,” said Twilight levelly. Her face and posture carried the seriousness of the situation. The urgency that Twilight get to the right place at the right time.

“Well lass, you cannae break the laws of physics. If we try she’ll blow for sure,” Scoot said, and then smiled. “So, it’s a good thing we have magic. We’ll get you there before the sun rises three times.”

“Thank you, Master Scoot,” said Twilight in relief. “The life of one of my best friends may depend on your speed.” The train master nodded, then turned and left the car. Ten minutes later there was a surge as the train accelerated to an even higher speed than before.

“Hold on, Rarity. We’re coming.”

Author's Note

Events and powers are moving into collision courses now as things begin to come to a head. Twilight may be a princess in her own right but she will likely always regard Celestia and Luna as her sovereigns and be more than willing to come when they call.

Regarding the story overall, there are 2-4 chapters left to go. Plus, perhaps, an epilogue. It all depends on how detailed I decided to make the settings and events. I'd like to thank you all for reading this far into my very first story. From this point on though I'm not going to reply to comments except via PMs for fear of spoilers. I will however, be reading them all and taking them very much to heart.

With thanks for your attention,
Penalt