Blue

"They did WHAT?"

Celestia repeated her previous statement.

"Someone has killed Discord."

"Now wait juss' a minute! How in tarnation is that even possible?!" Applejack shouted. The four remaining Elements were called to a private meeting by none other but the sun princess herself. Twilight took an expectant stance, facing the Princess. Even so, her expression was horrified, and doubting. Fluttershy looked at nopony in particular; her eyes were red from crying; the others weren't sure if she even heard what just had been said. Pinkie Pie was heartfelt, her usual bouncy attitude nowhere to be seen, her mane looking less puffy than normal.

Applejack was missing her trademark hat; instead, she sported a blood-red headband, and donned a black uniform. A silvery badge hung on her chest, the initials 'C.C.F.' engraved upon them. She was giving Celestia a suspicious look. The Princess continued on.

"This morning, when I proceeded to raise the sun, I had a terrible premonition. I went to the garden, and there I saw... the beast's statue shattered to pieces."

"Intah pieces? Good riddance, ah reckon."

Celestia shook her head.

"No, I'm afraid it is not that simple. They only destroyed Discord's body, not his soul."

"That meaning exactly....?" Twilight asked with a worried expression.

"Meaning his spirit is free to roam Equestria, until he finds a new host; to whom he can bestow his powers upon. Considering this happened before... I have a pretty good grasp of the situation."

"Happened... before?" the lavender unicorn asked in disbelief.

"Yes, my faithful student." The alicorn's expression was as stern as it could be. "The rise and reign of Discord was so sudden, because... we never expected chaos to appear again. His predecessor, Anarchy, has fallen to our hoof; we thought Equestria would be free of chaos. Never have we been so wrong. In truth, Anarchy seeked a successor actively after his spirit was separated from his body;he simply refused to give in to us. Finally, he gave his powers to the draconequus, and passed away. You know what we did to Discord."

Celestia paused, looking out the great windows, directly at the sun.

"However," she continued. "he only managed to estabilish his legacy after several hundred years. I think it was partly because he was the type to consider every possibility, but mostly because only by that point in time has he gathered himself enough as a spirit to enact his plan. But! I believe that Discord, as a being that enjoyed living much more than Anarchy, will have a hard time coping with the thought of leaving this place for the Underworld. That is why I want you to focus on more pressing tasks."

"M-more pressing?" Fluttershy asked, her voice barely audible.

"Yes. I will now assign tasks to each of you, of great importance. Twilight Sparkle, my most faithful student, I wish for you to become my right hoof pony; attend to council meetings, gather intelligence reports from our spies, and manage our funds. You will present all your decisions to me, for further approval. Can you handle it?"

"Yes, I think I can, Princess. I'll do my best."

"Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, I need you two to keep things together in Ponyville; reassure the citizens, and help them any way you can. Is that clear?"

"Y-yes." the two pink-maned mares muttered.

"Applejack, you have two major tasks ahead of you. One, you must continue your work as head of the Changeling Containment Force; however, there has been an aplicant for the position of vice-captain. I will send them to you, and you will accept them, as they will represent me. Two, you will have to temporarily act as Chief Warden of Canterlot Prison; you must ensure the previous director is locked up tight, investigate his misdeeds and cruelty. You are responsible for making sure nopony escapes again; but also that they are not mistreated. Their punishment has been decided, and wardens shall not have the authority to change it on a whim. You can appoint an appropiate director after you took care of these problems, whom you'll be responsible for. Do you understand?"

"Yeah, Ah do Princess." the farmpony answered with a grim look. "I have one question, though: who's after the escaped convicts?"

"That is none of your business. Dismissed."

Hoofsteps echoed in the room, finally dying down as they left the room. All, but one.

"Princess," the lavender unicorn began, "Whose responsibility is it to catch the escaped prisoners? And what exactly is your intention with blue ponies?"

Celestia did not move, her face would have made a statue pale in comparison.

"Have you not heard me? You are dismissed."

"But..."

"TWILIGHT SPARKLE! WE HATH ORDERED THOU TO LEAVE! OBEY AT ONCE, LEST THOU INCUR OUR WRATH!"

The Element of Magic gasped upon hearing her mentor using the Royal Canterlot Voice, and finally ran out of the room at full speed.

Celestia stared at the horizon, and let out a displeased sigh.

"What am I doing? Keeping this country from eating itself."