Back on Duty

There was a knock at Celestia's door.

"Enter," she called out.

A guard poked his head into her office and cleared his throat. "Um, excuse me, Princess. Ms. Twinkleshine is here to see you."

"I don't remember... Show her in, please."

The pegasus stepped aside and a very cross-looking mare walked in. It took a moment for Celestia to place her. She was a unicorn with a grayish coat and a pink mane and tail. Not a Canterlot native, but she had married into one of the wealthy families.

"Ms... Twinkleshine?"

"Yes."

No honorific, Celestia noted. Her visitor seemed a little wary, but not afraid and certainly not reverential towards the Princess.

"What may I do for you?"

The mare worked her mouth for a moment, as if chewing something absolutely foul, but her resolve stiffened and she replied: "You asked me to come here. Well, here I am."

Celestia drew a blank and smiled apologetically. "Please excuse me for one minute."

She walked past the annoyed-looking unicorn and out of her office, where she leaned closer to the guard who had announced the visitor. She spoke in near whisper: "Excuse me, Bright Beam, do you perhaps know why Ms. Twinkleshine is here?"

"Uh, C-Captain Fire Fly sent for her on Gregory's behalf, but the Ms. refused to speak with a- uh, with a human." When Celestia didn't reply immediately, the guard lowered his gaze. "She, um, asked to see you instead."

Fire Fly and Gregory in the same sentence reminded Celestia. "Oh, she is the one who was speaking out against Gregory in the plaza?"

"Y-Yes, ma'am."

And her day had been going so well until now...

"Thank you," Celestia said curtly and returned to her office.

She gently closed the door shut with her magic and walked back to her seat. The other mare hadn't moved a single inch, but she was looking around at some of the nicer paintings on the far wall.

"You probably know why we asked you to come here, Ms. Twinkleshine."

"Not a clue," the mare lied. Her expression was composed now, even the slight hint of distaste from earlier wiped away so completely that Celestia nearly doubted her own memory. The only emotion Twinkleshine exuded was boredom.

"You had quite an impressive speach in the Plaza the other day, Ms. Twinkleshine."

Twinkeshine humphed dismissively. "So? It's a free country, isn't it?"

"Quite."

The two mares stared at each other and neither blinked. In the end, Celestia sighed again and decided to try the direct approach: "Why do you dislike the humans living in the Castle so, Ms. Twinkleshine?"

"Who says I dislike them?"

It took an incredible effort of will for Celestia not to outright growl. Her expression hardened and the air in the room felt several degrees cooler. Even Twinkleshine realized she might have gone too far and shuffled her hooves before she could catch herself.

"An honest answer, if you please?"

Her mouth pressed together again and Twinkleshine took a deep breath. "Fine. I think what you're doing is a disgrace! You've given Equestria to humans in all but name. It's a- a- an invasion!"

This was getting somewhere, even if Celestia didn't much like the direction. "What makes you say that? I do not take orders from the ambassador, nor his aide. Aside from them, there is just Gregory. That is hardly an invasion, Ms. Twinkleshine."

"Well, they are all in your bed!" the mare burst out. She seemed surprised at her own statement, but only for a second before rallied and started to glare once more. "It's not right! We won't stand for this!"

"Who is 'we'?"

Twinkleshine didn't answer the question. She shifted her weight from one hoof to the other, but kept her muzzle firmly shut.

Celestia had had enough. She stood up and came around the desk so she could look at the mare from up close. "Whom I do or do not take to my bed is not any business of yours, Ms. Twinkleshine, nor of your associates, whoever they are. If, however, you really are concerned with how Equestria is being run, you may bring your grievance to Court and present it there, in front of everypony."

The mare harrumphed, scrunching her muzzle up in severe distaste. "Yeah, like that isn't a complete farce! A bunch of hooflickers and yes-colts!"

"I am warning you, Ms. Twinkleshine!"

"What are you going to do, Princess," the insolent mare asked, putting a derisive little twist on the title. "Toss me in jail? I'm sure that'll look real good in a newspaper!"

It would probably cause an uproar among the Canterlot nobility, Celestia knew. Twinkleshine wasn't high-born, but she'd married into the Ritz family and had taken to the high society like a fish to water. The mare had ambitions and enough cunning to act on them. With the backing of her husband, Sapphire Ritz, she would have to be reckoned with.

"I do not toss ponies in prison without good reason, Ms. Twinkleshine. Please do not give me one today," Celestia replied smoothly. This back and forth was getting them nowhere and Celestia didn't want to spend any more time verbally jousting with an irate noblemare. She remembered another thing Gregory had told her. "In fact, I might just go and take a personal look into your family's records. After all, if Equestria is to be governed fairly, then it is vitally important that ponies are taxed fairly, don't you think?"

Celestia smiled and even her closest friends would not be able to find any malice in her open, hopeful expression. Suddenly Twinkleshine was extremely nervous. She obviously hadn't expected the Princess to know about her visit the previous week.

"Fine!" she spat. "I'll stop speaking out against this human abomination."

Even though Celestia did not like the word Twinkleshine had chosen, it was perhaps the best outcome she could have hoped for. It was a shame the mare wouldn't be reasoned with and had to be threatened, but at this point Celestia would take what she could get.

"Splendid," she said, letting her smile widen.

"But watch yourself! I'm not the only one who doesn't appreciate what's going on!"

"And what is going on, Ms. Twinkleshine? If there is danger to Equestria, do you not think I should know about it?"

The mare slumped a little. She'd lost her edge and she knew it. Her goal had rapidly changed from threatening the Princess to getting out of the room with her dignity. "Not everypony appreciates the way you-" the unicorn began, but took a breath and changed it: "-the way Equestria is bowing and scraping to Earth. Not everypony loves humans like yourself."

"Noted. You have my solemn vow that Equestria will remain independent."

Twinkleshine obviously didn't believe that, but before she could offer a scathing reply, Celestia continued.

"Meanwhile, we can benefit from human knowledge and ingenuity. You are aware of Morning Breeze, correct?"

This was her fist major success story and everypony in Equestria knew that name by now. Twinkleshine lowered her gaze and nodded.

"Then there was Silver Song, undoubtedly you've heard of her? Neither her mother nor the filly would be among us were it not for human surgery."

Again, Twinkleshine had no choice but to nod.

"And then there was Aura, right here from Canterlot, need I remind you?"

The unicorn said nothing.

"Ms. Twinkleshine, please understand this. We can learn a lot from humans. They are a powerful nation with advanced knowledge, which they are willing to trade. Even now our ponies are studying in human schools. They are learning medicine and astronomy and mathematics and engineering."

Celestia began to walk around the room, inspecting her paintings and the shelves of books she kept in her office just for something to do with her eyes.

"Soon, I hope, we will accept human students in some of our universities. Think of it as 'trade', Ms. Twinkleshine. We trade with the griffins and the yaks and even the dragons. All nations benefit from open trade." It took the Princess only seconds to recall something which would be close to Twinkleshine's own heart. "In fact, does not your husband, Sapphire Ritz, still maintain his father's trade agreements with Griffinstone? Velvet, was it not? Equestrian velvet in exchange for griffin gold."

"Yes," the mare said quietly, not quite meeting the Princess' gaze anymore.

Celestia knew she had won, at least for now. She allowed herself to smile for real this time. "Well, instead of attempting to drive humans out of Equestria, why do you not think of ways you and Sapphire may benefit from trading with them? The Ritz family have always been successful merchants."

There was no reply.

"And, please, do not hesitate to come to me again if ever you have concerns about humans. I will be only too happy to lay your worries to rest, Ms. Twinkleshine, without the need for public speeches. Now if you would excuse me, I am quite busy double-checking Gregory' work."

It was a dismissal for the unicorn and a way for her to keep at least some semblance of dignity. Celestia could almost read the mare's thoughts. If she pretended to accept the answers she had been given, it would appear that she had been no more than a concerned citizen, rather than a rabble-rouser. Perhaps Twinkleshine, or her husband, or perhaps some other noblepony would try to cause more problems, but it wouldn't be right away. Hopefully it would take long enough for Celestia to sort out the recent subterfuge and slavery problems before she had to deal with this other unrest.

It really was like juggling spinning plates, the Princess thought.

"Yeah. Okay," Twinkleshine mumbled and let herself out of the office. Bright Beam poked his head in as the mare was leaving.

"Please see Ms. Twinkleshine to the Castle gates, Sergeant."

"Yes, ma'am!" the guard said and saluted with a wing. He closed the door gently behind him while Celestia returned to her seat and resumed reading the document. She had lied a little to the unicorn. It wasn't a proposal for immigration laws from Gregory, but staff files. She was double-checking out every single guard working in the Canterlot Castle while Luna was organizing an interview room and schedule. Rainbow Dash had been unsuccessful, although exactly how two earth ponies could have avoided her on hoof was a story Celestia would really like to hear. She'd have to ask Luna about it when she was done with the pegasus. Not to mention that the attackers had been able to sneak right into the Castle, dressed all in black and carrying weapons. They had to have had help from the guards!

As they'd suspected, Lemon Slice was still missing, but Celestia was sure there had to be more than one double agent among her staff. After the guard she would interview all her clerks and after that she would go for the maids. An attack on another pony's life in her own Castle! Unthinkable.

She would purge this darkness from their midst, no matter what it took!

"Look, I already explained all of this," Rainbow Dash was saying irritably. "They escaped through the kitchen entrance and into the alleyways."

"That was why you couldn't track them on wing?" Luna asked.

"Exactly! I had to go on hoof, but they had a lead! Excuuse me for checking if Blossom was alright before going after the guys!"

Luna inclined her head. "No need to apologize for that, Rainbow Dash. You have done exactly the right thing. I just wish we could have interrogated the attackers."

"Well, you can start by asking everypony who lives between the Castle and the Elite Equine Spa if they saw anything. They must have hidden in one of those houses! Somepony is probably helping them!"

"That is probably not a very good idea." Shaking her head even before Rainbow had finished speaking, Luna lowered her ears in disappointment. "Most of that area are the wealthier houses and manors. If they ran along the back alleys, they could have gone into any one of them."

Rainbow Dash looked triumphant. "Well, there's your answer then! One of the nobleponies must be in league with these guys! Send the guards, I dunno!"

Luna bit her lip in worry. She shook her head again and couldn't meet the pegasus' gaze. "Perhaps it would be best if Sister decides what to do. We can't simply accuse ponies, especially nobleponies, without more proof. Are you sure you do not have their description?"

The Wonderbolt looked thoughtful as she scanned through her memory again. "I think one of them had a purple coat. I saw his leg when he stumbled. The other one, I dunno. Maybe yellow mane? I know it's not much to go on."

"Nevertheless, I will instruct the guards to watch out for that combination. They were both stallions?"

"Yeah, definitely. Both were earth pony stallions. I'm sure about that part."

"Well, the important thing is that Blossom is alright. Had you not moved as quickly, Sargeant Glory Tail assures me, she might not have been so lucky."

Rainbow Dash allowed herself a touch of pride. "Well, I am the fastest pony in the world!" she boasted. She gave this some thought and corrected: "Actually, make that two worlds."

Luna couldn't help but laugh at her confidence. "I don't doubt it."

"Anything else? I told all of this to Captain Fire Fly as soon as I was back, you know? He wrote a report!"

The Princess inclined her head and flattened her ears in silent apology. "Thank you for telling me also. I am taking over the investigation into this attack personally."

Rainbow just inclined her head in acknowledgment and slid from her chair. They were in the hastily-appropriated guest room antechamber. There was a writing desk, which Luna was using as her temporary office while she conducted her investigation. She didn't want to go far from Blossom, who was with Gregory and Fluttershy in the other room. Rainbow Dash paused for a few more moments to see if Luna thought up any other questions, then joined the three in the bedroom.

If she listened carefully, Luna could hear the sound of the movie they were watching. She'd seen it before, but judging by Fluttershy and Blossom's quiet squeaks and gasps of surprise, they had not. In Blossom's case, that was understandable. She'd been stuck at the bottom of a mine and hadn't seen all these human marvels, which were slowly making their way into Canterlot. Movies which didn't need a projector and a huge room. And such movies! Eli Grant had shown her a few of what he called their 'war films'. Somewhat... gruesome at times, but oh what heroism and chivalry! In fact, Celestia was meeting with some of the human businesses who made these devices to arrange permissions to sell them in Equestria. Indeed, there were quite interesting times ahead.

Luna shook her head clear of irrelevant thoughts and focused back on her task. She opened the outside door with her magic and raised her voice: "Please fetch Captain Fire Fly!"

She bent down to study the roster he'd given her while she waited.

The Captain knocked on the wooden frame, even though the door was already open in invitation. Luna looked up and smiled at the unicorn. "Come in. Close the door."

He obeyed and approached her desk. Despite the chair, the pony just stood there, as was proper for a soldier on duty.

"Sister will be finished with all the guards' dossiers shortly after dinner," Luna said, "and then we will begin the interviews."

"Yes, ma'am," the stallion said, keeping his gaze firmly on the wall behind Luna.

"I would like you to be present at all of them. We do not want accusations of illegal interrogation."

The stallion inclined his head and closed his eyes briefly in acknowledgment. "Of course, Princess."

"Good. I think we will go alphabetically, in reverse order. Please adjust the rosters as you think neccessary and have the first four waiting after dinner."

This time the unicorn blinked in surprise. "Um- may I ask, ma'am, why reverse order?"

Luna gave him a bright smile. It had been Greg's idea, but she had liked it a whole lot. "Because everypony will expect us to go alphabetically. If this surprises you, then hopefully it will also surprise them. We wish them to worry."

The Captain smiled as he understood. "Oh. Of course! Very smart, Princess."

Luna just gave the guard a slow nod before standing up and going to check on Blossom. She poked her head into the bedroom and was pleased to see that Rainbow Dash looked up at her intrusion, even if the other three didn't. At least somepony was on watch. Fluttershy and Blossom were watching the movie with rapt attention and Gregory seemed to be asleep. Luna couldn't blame him. It did look very comfortable. The man was lying on his back, propped up against several pillows and holding the human device - an "eye pad" Celestia had called it - upright on his belly. The mares were pressed up against him from either side. Fluttershy was sitting, more or less, and her muzzle rested on Greg's shoulder so she could see better. Rainbow Dash was lounging against her, using Fluttershy as a pillow, but the latter didn't seem to mind at all. On Greg's other side there was Blossom, lying on her back, tucked into the crook of his arm, which encircled her so that his hand rested on her belly.

He was probably scratching or stroking the soft fur there, but Luna couldn't see because Blossom had curled her tail up and was hugging it with her forelegs as she watched. It didn't seem that she was even blinking and neither was Fluttershy. It really was a beautiful story and she made a mental note to ask Gregory to loan her the 'eye pad' later on, so she could see it again. For now she didn't want to disturb them. She inclined her head to Rainbow Dash, who just flashed her a quick smile, and retreated out of the room.

Seeing that reminded her that she missed Eli Grant. As soon as this trouble around Equestrian slavery was over she would borrow the eye-pad on a more permanent basis and have Eli show her more of his favorite movies. Smiling faintly to herself, the Princess went back to the table and glanced over her documents again. It all seemed in order and Celestia still wasn't free, apparently.

Luna went to the outer door and stepped into the hall. There were three guards stationed outside the guest room and they all bowed their heads in greeting.

"At ease," Luna said and they relaxed. She looked both ways along the corridor, then addressed the highest-ranking guard. "Corporal, anything to report?"

The pegasus shook his head and gave a quick salute. "Nothing, ma'am. It's been quiet."

"I don't like it. The would-be assassins have escaped and I worry. Stay vigilant. I will send others to relieve you in an hour so your squad can have dinner."

"Yes, ma'am!" Silverwing replied and this time all three of them saluted.

Luna made sure to match the gesture before heading off, but she only walked a few steps before she remembered and turned back. The guards looked at her questioningly, but didn't comment. The Princess focused and her horn sprang to life. She felt the wards her Sister had left on the balcony door and the outside window and found them to be intact. Nopony had attempted to gain entry that way. Luna's lips pressed together in slight worry. It really did seem too quiet. Surely if somepony was so worried about Blossom revealing a damning secret they would try to get at her again. It was hard to believe there would only be one attempt.

"Do not let your guard down!" the Princess repeated.

Again, the three ponies saluted.

They seemed watchful enough and there were Gregory, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash in the room with Blossom. Luna trusted them completely. She suppressed the slight feeling of unease and headed off to get some dinner and look for Celestia. Perhaps, after they questioned all the guards in the Castle, they would know more. In the meantime, Fluttershy had promised to try and learn, before the day was over, the secret which was proving to be so dangerous. They had to find out whatever it was that Blossom could tell them and that the assassins didn't want them to know!