Canterlot Academy Trials

Later that day…

Professor Cayenne Anise was tasked with finding a group of students that would be willing to accept a mission to head out to the Far East. The unicorn mare was at her desk levitating various files of the soldiers she and the other teachers had molded over time here.

“Alright. The Emperor is on his way now. We’ll have to be ready to see who he’d like to accompany Lee out there,” she muttered to herself as she looked over some of the student’s dossiers.

Suddenly, one of the faculty members, an intern earth pony stallion, rushed into her office. “Ma’am! The Emperor is already here!”

Cayenne nearly fell out of her chair, “What?! How?! I thought he wasn’t meant to arrive for another hour!”

“No idea,” the intern squealed as he ran over to the mare’s desk, “But we need to have our team ready to go as soon as possible!”

“Spark my flank,” Cayenne grumbled as she leaned upon the desk, “Alright. Let me just--” she slammed her face upon the desk and waved her hoof to shoo the intern away. “Gimme a moment, would you?”

The intern would leave the room, and give Cayenne some time to think. At the same time, the Emperor of Wukong--Lord Chang himself, had arrived on the scene and had already met up with Lee to speak to her.

“Alright…” he muttered as he walked down the hallway to Lee’s dormitory, “This should be where…”

As if on cue, Lee emerged from her room and took one glance at her emperor before kneeling to him. “Lord Chang…”

“None of that, please,” he requested her to rise and continued speaking, “Long story short, I need you to return home as soon as possible. I am…sorry to say this, but it would appear that your absence as caused your parents to--”

“Do some utterly foolish things that could disrupt the balance of our home and our relationship with the Holy Realm?” Lee summarized with a narrowed pair of eyes as she idly grabbed ahold of her left arm with her right hand.

“...Yes,” Chang added with a sigh, “...that essentially sums it up. I fear Ne Zha is already going to smite us if things get any worse from here.”

Lee flicked her tail and suddenly changed to a more determined expression. “Well I won’t let that happen. Let’s head back as soon as we can.”

“Hold on, young lady,” Chang warned her, “I think at least some of your friends from the academy should join us on this mission.”

“...why?” the monkey woman tilted her head.

“Because they won’t suspect outsiders as quickly,” Chang continued as he adjusted his glasses, “It could be a great way to make this operation go over more easily. Long story short: We’re removing your parents from power.”

The worried expression on Lee’s face told all. “I see--but who will take their place, my lord?”

Chang shook his head. “No one. I’m going to effectively create a temporary power vacuum so that you will be free from your position as Third Rank. In short, your family will lose everything they’ve ever earned--”

Lee cut him off. “...No. My lord, I want to inherit my place among the nobility and repair the damage they have caused.”

“Very well,” Chang sighed, “You’ll have to see what Ne Zha says on the subject. But considering that it’s you, it’ll go over more smoothly than if it were anyone else. With that being said,” he looked around, “Is there an authority figure that I may speak to?”

SPARK!

Suddenly, Professor Cayenne teleported into the hallway where the two primates were. “Emperor Chang! I-I didn’t realize you’d be here so soon!” she squealed as she knelt down towards the monkey man.

“It’s quite alright, madam,” Chang replied, “Please rise--none of that is necessary. What’s more important to me right now is requesting the assistance of some of your mercenaries to aid us on a mission to stomp out corruption along--”

“The Serpent City?” Cayenne interjected.

“Why is everyone so jumpy today--”

“I’ve already discussed it at length with Princess Twilight’s royal guard,” Cayenne went on as she nervously shuffled her hoof on the floor, “We know the impact that the Serpent City will cause if left unchecked so this is an international issue. I’ve already got a team prepared to join you and Lee on this mission.”

“Alright. Who will it be, then?”