Author's Note

This Interlude does not have any Twilight in it and focuses on Shining Armor and Celestia. You won't miss out on any information about the main story if you skip this one; the next chapter will have a short summary of the events.

Interlude: Attack on Canterlot

Celestia sat in her study, the same room Twilight decided to join the guard, looking over a report of an attack on one of the recruits in Fort Everfree. The fort's commander had sent it personally, asking for the perpetrator to be harshly punished for attacking the most promising recruit he had seen in a long time. She knew Shield Strike had a protective streak larger than anypony out there. It always surprised her to what lengths he would go to protect his recruits.

Reading over the report, her blood started to boil, small flickers of fire spreading through her mane. Somepony had dared to attack her student, and to make matters worse; the attacker was the daughter of Lady Harsh Weather. With the upcoming proposal for new laws that would allow her sister to return as a Princess of Equestria and change that dreadful celebration of Nightmare Night, the timing couldn't be worse.

A knock on the door startled her from her thoughts, and a white unicorn mare with a dark grey mane and tail entered the room. "What can I do for you, Raven?" Celestia asked her assistant.

Adjusting her glasses and floating a clipboard in front of her, she spoke up, "Your Highness, Duke Evergreen is requesting an audience with you. He says it's important. He is already waiting in the throne room."

Another flicker of fire shimmered through Celestias ever-moving mane. Taking the report, she floated it over to Raven. "Take this to Agent Secret Note and tell him to look into who is behind this. I have another little foal that is crying for attention to see." She couldn't keep her disappointment out of her voice. Ever since Twilight joined the guard, the nobles seemed to be plotting something, and with all her focus on getting her sister back, it went unnoticed for far too long. After giving a quick bow, Raven vanished out of the door, and Celestia followed, turning towards the throne room.

Stepping into the grand room through a side door, she could already see a small gathering of nobles, all wearing more and more gaudy dresses and suits to show off their ill-earned wealth. 'All that money, and they waste it for selfish reasons,' she thought. It was hard to hold her diplomatic facade; all she wanted to do right now was listen to that tiny voice in her head and lash out, incinerating the foals in front of her. Slowly moving towards her throne, she stood tall and spread her wings. "Duke Evergreen, what is so important that you must call for an audience on such short notice?"

The brown unicorn with his red slick-back mane did not bow or react to her question. He held his head up defiantly as if asking to be struck down by the immortal Sun Princess. "Your Highness, ever since you took on that student of yours, we have seen a decline in the prosperity of Equestria. We fear that you're not as sharp as you once were and that that commoner is poisoning your mind with harmful thoughts. I came here with a few council members to ask you to banish that unicorn you call your faithful student or step down from the throne and leave Equestria in the capable hoofs of the council."

Celestia could simply shoot him down and ignore their foalish scrabbles, but they might go after Twilight again. She didn't like it, but without the nobility, a lack of investors would stagnate the Equestrian economy or, in the worst-case scenario, cause it to crash. They knew full well that Celestia could not dismiss them out of hoof. "A change in power would need to be put to a vote. I cannot transfer power to the counsel and expect the population to accept that without getting a say."

That seemed to be something the Duke did not want to hear, and a sneer formed on his muzzle. Popularity was not something the nobles were known for across the lands. "Very well, I withdraw our demands, but mark my word; we will not rest until Equestria is saved from those lesser creatures roaming around our lands and dragging down our beloved country." He made no move to bow again, simply turning around and leaving the throne room.

Celestia contemplated sending guards to watch over Twilight for the time being. The nobility was clearly up to something, but without solid proof, even her hoofs were tied. She could only hope Secret Note would find something she could use to bring the nobility back in line.

A week had passed since the sudden declaration of Duke Evergreen. Shining Armor was on his usual patrol through the city when something caught his eye. The Royal Guard was never outside the palace in such force; by his estimate, half of them had gathered. Even though this could be a simple ceremony of sorts, his instincts told him something was up. Casting a scrying spell into an obscured corner, he concentrated on the lead pony. "Minister Quick Bit is distracting Celestia with a report on finances; the rest of the royal guard is in position. The Duke wants us to secure the palace and let no pony escape. After..." Shining Armor stopped listening at this point and broke into a gallop.

Abandoning his patrol was risky and could get him into deep trouble, but he needed to act. Storming into the barracks, he startled several guards enjoying their free time or getting ready for their own patrols. "Alert every guard you can; something is up, and I need every available pony with me," he ordered. "Where is Captain Wall Breaker? I need to inform him." He had no illusion that the Captain would actually be in his office. More likely, he was getting drunk at one of the noble's parties again. So it fell to him to get every pony organised.

Half an hour later, fifty fully equipped guards stood to attention, and Shining Armor watched over them. All looked ready to uphold their oaths to protect the innocent and helpless. "We are moving into the palace as soon as the briefing is over. With the nobles acting up, we were already on high alert, but the royal guard is up to something. I have sent a scroll to the Princess but have not received any answer. It is likely they are holding her down with overly long reports to distract her. We do not know their motives, but if they lock down the palace, many innocent ponies could be in danger, something we can not allow to happen. Our objective is to get access into the palace, secure an exit or a safer room, and evacuate as many ponies as possible before confronting the royal guard. Non-lethal takedowns only, unless you are attacked with lethal force first."

Getting no questions, Shining Armor got ready, and minutes later, the formation moved towards the palace. It was already clear something was going on. A lot more guards were placed at the gates, and every visitor was sent away. He would have trouble breaking any fortification with only fifty guards until his backup arrived; a decisive first strike would be needed. Approaching, their march was stopped by crossing spears. "Lieutenant Armor, what is the meaning of this?" One of them asked, looking warily over the gathered guards.

"Why are you sending away visitors, and what is up with the increased security? Why wasn't I informed of this?"

"Shining Armor, with all due respect, you're not in charge of the guard. This is above your payroll. Now turn around and leave before we have you arrested for high treason."

A scream for help from one of the windows took everyponie's attention. By the look of it, a maid tried to flee through the window but was dragged back by two ponies in golden armour. It took only a few confused looks and seconds of silence before the first spells started flying. Shining had put up his shield in an instant, blocking any attacks against him or his fellow guards. The quick exchange only lasted a minute before every royal guard was subdued, allowing them to enter the palace grounds. This was not how he planned this to happen, but they were inside the palace.

"Alpha squad with me; we need to find the Princess. The rest of you fan out and subdue as many of them as possible; do not hesitate." he got a quick "Yes, Sir," and they split up. Their first stop was the throne room. It was unlikely the Princess was there; she would have heard the commotion, but he needed to be thorough. The few royal guards they encountered were quickly dealt with, most of them surrendering as soon as they saw the guard, not interested in getting themselves thrown into the dungeons or worse for their parents scheming. The ones that did fight were efficiently dealt with. A quick stun spell was all it took in most cases.

Sweeping through the caste, they arrived at the large conference room the Princess used for important meetings with her ministers. The fights around here were a lot more intense. In the end, two royal guards died during the short encounter; only one of Shining's guards sustained any severe injuries and was quickly rushed to a medic.

The commotion, however, must have gotten Celestia's attention. A massive jet of flame burst through the door, taking with it the minister of finance. Shining Armor didn't know his name but remembered seeing him at some of the high society events where he was often seen with some of the nobles. Slowly peeking inside the room showed pure chaos. The large table that used to sit inside was smashed against the wall, the royal guards that were present lay motionless around the room, and some of the other ministers cowered in fear from something Shining noticed a moment later. How it wasn't the first thing he saw, he would never know. At the far wall stood Princess Celestia; he thought it was her, at least. Her mane was an inferno of billowing flames; her regalia, usually a brilliant gold, was glowing red from the heat she was emitting as her pink eyes, burning with rage, scanned the room for any more threats.

Shining Armor froze when her eyes looked into his own. He swiftly bowed, "Your Highness, we came to secure the palace and evacuate all the servants."

Moments passed before she asked, "Are my little ponies safe?" Her concern was in stark contrast to her usually calm expression.

"Yes, princess, by now, the rest of the guard should have arrived and freed everypony."

Celestia let out a breath of hot air, her mane and tail slowly returning to her normal state. When she opened her eyes, her expression returned to her usual calm facade. "Every royal guard is to be captured, every noble with ties to the council thrown into the dungeons, and get Minister Quick Bit into the infirmary." She ordered, getting a crisp salute from the gathered guards. "I will be in the throne room sorting out this mess."