Celestia stares out from the balcony, towards the dark horizon. It is not time yet to raise the sun; they would have to do it after setting out, given that they are off to get an early start. As if I didn't have enough to worry about in Canterlot. Celestia ponders to themself irritably, taking off into the early morning air and drifting towards the barracks. The sooner they could leave the better; they would have left st night, but if there were dark circles under their eyes it may have diminished the intimidating presence the alicorn could impose.

  "Everypony, at attention! The Princess is with us!" Captain Silent Serpent instructs in their typical soft yet commanding tone, as Celestia floats down into the courtyard. Perhaps a dozen ponies are present, though as Celestia scans the crowd they quickly realize the entourage is not entirely what they had expected. Raising a brow, Celestia appraises the captain.

  "What is this? Where are Morning Vigil and Diamond Lance?" There were more missing than just that, but listing them all would have seemed pointless; all told, about half of the guardsponies present were swapped from what they'd expected.

  "We were not able to locate several guard members on such short notice, they seem to be on long patrol. As for the others, it seems that a sickness has swept through the barracks, and they were not fit for duty." Silent Serpent reports, impassively.

  Celestia frowns. Canterlot was already going to be deprived of several of its best soldiers to accompany them, now this? Still, a full escort was necessary; Where they are headed, they would want to dispy as much royal authority as possible. So, reluctantly, Celestia nods. "Very well. Bring me the up to date guard schedules, I'll want to review them while we fly. I presume the chariots are ready?"

  Silent Serpent nods. "Of course, your majesty. I shall return with them momentarily. The chariots are out in the nding zone." The batwinged pony wheels around and marches off.

  Celestia does a quick recap of those who are present. Silent Serpent had seemingly arranged for other guardsponies to fill in for the entourage, bringing the total back up to twelve. Most are pegasi, to pull the chariots, but as there are two chariots to fill, a handful of unicorns and earth ponies are present as well.

  After the sun has been raised and Silent Serpent has returned with the requested documentation, the entourage sets off just past sunrise. Mooncrescent and Starbze sit opposite from Celestia, obviously struggling to maintain their formal dispositions from their excitement to actually get to perform their duty of accompanying Celestia in the field for once, even if the princess seems rather preoccupied checking over documentation regarding personnel records and patrol schedules.

  "Excuse me, Princess?" Starbze asks, raising a hoof to keep the wind out of his face.

  Celestia looks up to the unicorn, barely noting his presence. "Mhm?"

  "Forgive my intrusion, but may I ask... Why are we heading to the outskirts? The captain didn't say, he just got us out of bed early this morning and told us we were needed to fill in for your entourage." Starbze asks, cautiously, hoping he wasn't overstepping his bounds.

  The kind of question Father would want us asking... Mooncrescent makes a face at the thought, looking off the side of the carriage. Flying is a rare pleasure, though he too would like to know why they were traveling on such short notice.

  Celestia sighs in apparent irritation, though it is not directed at the brothers. "House Ivy in the eastern forest is causing trouble. Apparently, they've cimed that they received no word of the new tax codes, and multiple royal messengers have gone missing in the vicinity. Not to mention, all manner of interference and insubordination in regards to my test royal decrees. They've clearly gotten overconfident in my absence, so I felt that a surprise visit in the flesh was necessary to set them straight. Or, if absolutely necessary... Repce them." Celestia's voice is level, but there is a dark undercurrent that betrays their inner feelings. Such a move would invite considerable political fallout, and would not be taken lightly.

  "Does that mean there's a chance there'll be fighting?" Mooncrescent asks, his tone altogether far too chipper for that question. Celestia frowns pointedly at the unicorn colt; They trusted in his good nature and doubly in his talent in combat, but that sense of bloodlust he dispyed was more than a little concerning.

  "You should not be so eager. All of the ponies in Equestria are precious to me, and the thought of battle between them is a somber one indeed. Your purpose here is simply a show of force. See if you can't enjoy the trip and put this from your mind." Celestia's tone takes on a slight degree of mirth with the st part, before regaining its seriousness. "Just be ready for anything. I hope it will not come to that, but the possibility is always there."

  The carriage ride descends into silence, while Celestia returns to focusing on the documentation before them. Something just doesn't add up. When did Ruby Hooves get assigned to patrol? I distinctly recall them being on guard duty. Celestia's brow furrows, as they flip through more and more pages. The differences are subtle; An extended leave there, a different route here. but Celestia had spent long hours pnning out Canterlots defenses, and the further they read the more certain they are; somepony had tampered with the schedules. But how? and more importantly, for what purpose?

  Celestia closes their eyes, envisioning a mental map of Canterlot. Considering where the guards schedules would bring them, what parts of the pace are guarded when. Did the altered schedules leave the treasury unguarded? No, none of the guards there had been moved. So what could...

  Celestia's eyes snap open again in sudden arm as they stand bolt upright, every muscle tense. "Turn the carriage around! Now!" The princess barks out in the royal canterlot voice. "And pray that we're not too te!"

  Earlier that morning, at Canterlot Pace...

  Rainbow Dash groans and sits up in bed. She'd thought that, given the ck of the normal morning tutoring lessons that Celestia usually gave her, she'd get a chance to sleep in a bit. Her schedule didn't give them morning csses, since the morning was usually given over to tutoring, and so she had several hours before csses.

  Yet despite that fact, the steady rapping of a hoof knocking at her door does not dissipate. Scowling, Rainbow Dash stalks over to the door and throws it open, to be met with a bright-eyed and energetic looking Twilight, Spike in tow. "Whaddya want?" Rainbow Dash slurs out groggily.

  "Last night, you mentioned that you haven't been around Canterlot. Correct?" Twilight starts, in a cadence and tone that makes it clear she had rehearsed this speech. Rainbow Dash just stares at her, waiting for her to get on with it, and the unicorn filly eventually clears her throat awkwardly. "Well, um, that seemed like a real shame. And since the Princess is out now, there's time to explore! So, I made a list of things you had to see in the city while you are here." Twilight expins, unfurling a scroll which goes down to the ground, and then some.

  Rainbow Dash heavily considers smming the door in her cssmates face and going straight back to bed, but reluctantly sighs. Now that she was up already, it isn't like she was going to be getting back to sleep- not with dawn's light just starting to stream in through the window.

  So, reluctantly, Rainbow Dash just sighs. "I thought you'd be studying." She states, dryly. That was the one thing this filly seemed to do whenever she could, after all.

  "And I would dearly like to be!" Twilight procims. "You should be grateful I'm willing to take a break." She self consciously rubs the back of her neck, gncing backwards.

  Rainbow Dash narrows her eyes. There was something else going on here, for sure; this was entirely uncharacteristic of the bookworm before her. As if taking a break from studying wasn't weird enough, she was actively making an effort to spend time with her. That almost never happened. "Are you feeling alright?" Rainbow Dash asks, cocking her head to the side. "If you have a fever, I'm sure Celestia wouldn't mind if you took a day off..."

  Twilight stares bnkly at Rainbow Dash for a moment before slumping and groaning. "Ugh, why does this have to be so hard... Dealing with other ponies is such a pain..." Rainbow Dash just crosses her hooves in response. Twilight was not exactly doing a great job selling her on this pn, so far. After a moment, Twilight adopts a more serious posture and looks Rainbow Dash in the eye.

  "Alright, look, here's the deal. My brother's been insisting I spend more time with other ponies." Twilight eventually admits. "And he also mentioned having met you. And just..." Twilight sighs. "Look, you haven't gotten to see any of Canterlot, and both Celestia and Shining have been on my case to spend more time with other ponies. It'd be two birds with one stone. What do you say? Then once we're done I can go back to studying, and you can go back to doing... Whatever it is you do."

  Well, you're not doing much to sell me on the matter. But, I guess I do owe you for helping me out st night. Rainbow Dash shrugs. "Alright, I guess I owe it to ya for your help with the letters." A twinge of curiosity settles into her brain, and she cocks her head to the side. "Are you going to bring Spike along?"

  Twilight looks modestly surprised at the question, but nods her head. "Well, I don't see why not. The little fel could stand to get some fresh air and see the sights, too, I think." Rainbow Dash nods, feeling satisfied despite herself. She didn't quite understand her interest in the dragon, which seemed to go past the 'coolness' factor of having a dragon around, but she felt happy to know they were going to be along for the ride.

  "Alright, well, let me get ready, then." Rainbow Dash responds. "I'll meet you back out here in fifteen."

  Twilight nods. "Sounds like a pn!" She announces, levitating a scroll out of her bag and scribbling something down in it. Rainbow Dash watches with a sinking feeling, remembering how punctual this pony was; She would really have to make sure those fifteen minutes were exactly fifteen, wouldn't she? Well, best get started. Rainbow Dash thinks, turning her back to Twilight. She had some washing to do and saddlebags to grab.

  True to her word, Rainbow Dash is standing out on the nding outside her quarters right on time. Well, actually she had gotten out there two minutes ago; She couldn't let it be said that she was slow, after all, and being right on time was too close to being slow. Right on cue, the exact second the clock hit 6:30, Twilight's door opens.

  Rainbow Dash stares at her nonplussed. Was she just waiting behind the door to come out at the exact right time? She ponders. ...Why not just come out when you were ready? Still, that thought gets promptly buried, as Twilight is closely followed by Spike right behind, walking on all fours like a pony despite their proportions not being particurly well suited for it. At least the dragon was less likely to fall over this way; they were still getting the hang of walking, seemingly.

  "R...Ray-nbuw!" Spike squeals out upon seeing the pegasus. Rainbow Dash chuckles and runs a hoof down over the scales on the dragons head.

  "Heya, squirt. Ready for a day on the town?" Rainbow Dash asks, and the dragon nods their head. Seemingly, although still struggling to put words together, they could understand the two fillies remarkably well. Rainbow Dash gnces back up at Twilight. "Smart little guy, aren't they?"

  Twilight beams at the mention. "I know, right?" The filly gushes, as the three of them begin their way down the tower. "You can really tell they understand more than they're able to say. They even try to help tidy up the pce, sometimes." She gives a pleasant, doting smile as she gnces back at Spike scampering after them, seeming to get more confident on his cws as he goes. "Though, I think they usually cause more of a mess than they clean in the process." The unicorn remarks with a giggle.

  Rainbow Dash nods in response, though something else had taken her attention as she looks around, frowning. "Isn't it awfully quiet around here? Where are all the guards?"

  Twilight shrugs. "I guess the Princess must have taken alot of them wherever they went. Does make the pce feel kinda lonely though, doesn't it?"

  Rainbow Dash nods in response, feeling self-conscious about the echoing sound of hoofsteps on the pace tile. She'd gotten used to how the environment differed from Cloudsdale, but the empty halls of the pace made it feel more grand, somehow, bringing her awareness back to its splendor as her eyes leave the ground and search the towering arches as she and Twilight make their way towards the pace gates. To some degree of relief, Rainbow Dash hears the chatter of voices outside, somewhat alleviating the feeling of loneliness.

  The two of them take a side passage out of the pace hoping to avoid crowds, given how camera shy Twilight is; Although, Rainbow Dash privately thinks that a bit of press attention would hardly be the worst thing in the world. "So, where are we off to, major egghead?" Rainbow Dash asks. "I assume some dusty old museum or boring historical site?" Rainbow Dash's voice is tinged with dread at the mention.

  "Although that does sound positively delightful, there's a pce much closer to the pace I'd like to visit first." Twilight states, prompting Rainbow Dash to raise a brow curiously. "If you've never been to Donut Joe's then I gotta tell you, you're in for a treat."

  Rainbow Dash blinks in surprise. That... Was not what she had expected to hear. But the thought of donuts good enough to get even this bookworm out of the pace was enough incentive for her, as she races after Twilight, the pace picking up. "I assume you brought the bits?" She asks, hesitantly. She did have some herself; Celestia had given her an allowance, which she had not yet had time to make use of. But she hadn't expected to be going to a restaurant, either.

  "Huh? Oh, yeah, of course." Twilight levitated a stack of bits out of her saddlebag. "I never leave home without them."

  Rainbow Dash gawks at the amount she was carrying; that was as much as her own life savings, she is pretty sure, possibly considerably more. Looking around hurriedly, she hisses to Twilight "Put that away! What if somepony sees how much your carrying and decides to rob us?"

  Twilight just blinks at her, innocently. "You really think somepony would do that? Just rob us in broad daylight?" She asks, almost shocked. Rainbow Dash just stares at her incredulously.

  "I mean bullies back home used to jump me and Fluttershy as soon as we got out of css. I'm sure that actual criminals aren't less daring than that." Rainbow Dash retorts, and now it was Twilight's turn to stare at the pegasus incredulously. Just what kind of environment had she grown up in?

  That was neither here nor there, though, as the duo had finished the walk to the donut shop. It really was shockingly close to the pace, considering. They must be really successful to be able to afford rent around here... Twilight ponders internally. Swinging open the door with her magic, the bell inside chimes.

  "It feels awfully empty in here too, doesn't it?" Twilight whispers in a hushed tone to Rainbow Dash as the two fillies strut up towards the counter. Rainbow Dash raises a brow looking at her.

  "Does it? Its probably just not a busy day." Rainbow Dash replies.

  Twilight frowns. "It would normally be full of off-duty guards, though. It's a great pce for them to get snacks between shifts since the wait isn't as long as the restaurants you can normally find around here. Just how many did Celestia take with them to the border?"

  Rainbow Dash just shrugs, gncing backwards. The path the duo had taken was a less traveled one, so it isn't surprising that they'd only run into a few ponies. The pza outside is mostly empty save for a single Royal Guard standing underneath a terrace, standing watch with spear and shield in hand, and a hooffull of other ponies; some tourists, one pony whom Rainbow Dash can't get a good look at underneath their cloak, and a couple aristocrats galloping through on their way to some meeting or another. Kind of overdressed for the weather, aren't they?

  "Rainbow Dash! Equestria to Rainbow Dash!" Twilight was saying, and Rainbow Dash turns back around, startled, realizing she had spaced out. Twilight sighs. "Finally. C'mon, what kind of donuts do you want? Joe is waiting on ya."

  Rainbow Dash blinks. "O-oh, uh, maple bars sounds good." She reports, unceremoniously. She can't help it, something is bugging her today.

  Distracted as she is, the rest of the short visit to the donut shop passes without leaving much of a mark on Rainbow Dash, as the filly is lost in her thoughts. Still, though she is not focusing deeply on it, the alert mind of an active flyer is never still, and as she follows Twilight out into the pza with treats in hoof, snippets of conversation around her find their way into her consciousness.

  "...So I told him he was being ridiculous...""...I don't care what the new going interest rate is, our deal was already settled!""...Target acquired. Requesting permission to engage, over."

  Rainbow Dash blinks. Wait, what? Faster than her conscious mind even catches up with her perception, the training she'd gotten so far rushes to the forefront of her mind, and the filly dives to the ground, just in time for the bde hurtling through the air to whoosh through her mane, chopping a lock of prismatic hair to the ground instead of killing her outright.

  The filly wants to freeze up in shock, but a commanding voice inside her mind takes over. Don't move too suddenly, dodge unpredictably! Springing from the crouched position into a full jump, Rainbow Dash jolts into the air as the unknown assaint lunges through the space she was a moment ago. A scream pierces the air as the ponies around notice what is happening. For a moment, Rainbow Dash considers simply flying up and away, but a gnce at Twilight's terrified face quickly silences that thought. Dorky nerd or not, she was not about to leave Celestia's other student in the hooves of... Whoever their assaints were.

  For just a brief moment, Rainbow Dash has an opportunity to catch her breathe and let her conscious mind catch up with what her subconscious had already reacted to. The pony in the cloak, long lightly curved dagger held tightly in the space behind their teeth, was charging towards her. In that moment, she gets a brief look at her assaint; Underneath the pin but finely made cloak, she is clearly an earth pony, with a scar over one eye and strangely impassive expression for somepony currently attempting murder.

  Rainbow Dash tumbles over in midair before nding on her hooves in some kind of deyed, wing-assisted frontal summersalt. Feinting to the left, she immediately jolts to the right, watching the attacker stab into where she had projected going. Despite the terror she should be feeling, the emotion hasn't seemed to catch up with Rainbow dash yet, instead leaving her with a cocky sense of satisfaction at applying her training. Only after whirling around to face the cloaked pony, does she feel the warm wetness on her fnk, and realize that she had not been totally successful in her evasive maneuvers.

  That'll smart ter... Assuming she got out of this alive, that was. Adrenaline coursing through her veins, she can't feel the pain, nor the deep fear that really should have been at the forefront of her mind. Meanwhile, the world around her is catching up as well, as the guard manages to recover from his shock and lever his spear at the assaint. "Step away from the filly, now! This is your only warning!" He stamps his hoof on the ground as if preparing to charge.

  The earth pony assaint spits on the ground, flicking a dismissive gnce over towards the guard as a dark figure materializes from the shadows behind him. Rainbow Dash's eyes widen in arm. "Look out!"

  The warning comes to te, and to the fillies visceral sense of horror, a keen silvery bde matching the other attackers' erupts from the guards throat as his eyes bulge from his skull in shock, and another pair of cloaked ponies emerge from the alleys behind him, knives in hoof with more besides strapped to belts going around their barrels. The distraction to Rainbow Dash leaves her vulnerable, and the first assaint jerks with her neck, the long knife hurtling towards Rainbow Dash's throat.

  Rainbow Dash tenses up in fear and anticipation of swiftly approaching death, before a brick held in a purple aura sms into the attackers head from the side before the attack can be carried home. The scar-eyed pony staggers in pce, not letting out a sound but still clearly dazed as blood drips from a rupture formed from the impact. In surprise, Rainbow Dash turns her head to see Twilight, standing up on trembling legs with her horn lit up.

  "Stay away from her!" Twilight screams out hoarsely, eyes wide and voice trembling. Rainbow Dash doesn't have time to process the emotions coursing through her... In that moment, all she knows is she needs to get her and her friends out of there. Whirling around, she pnts a kick on the assaints face before she can fully recover from the telekinetically thrown brick, and without looking if it worked, bolts for Twilight and Spike before the other cloaked ponies can get any closer.

  Throwing both legs around the other fillies barrel and crushing Spike between the two of them to keep them safely in pce as the baby dragon begins filling the air with an earsplitting wail, Rainbow Dash surges across the ground, fpping her wings as hard as she can trying to take off while Twilight's hooves race to keep up with the half-aloft pegasi's movements until she manages to leave the ground.

  "Woah!" Is all Rainbow Dash manages to say as she swoops up into the air in a half-loop before snapping back as quickly as she can at the sight of yet another attacker, a pegasus swooping down right after her. She does not quite move fast enough to completely avoid injury- the very tip of her ear is clipped by the attackers wing-bde, slicing it clean off with a thin trail of blood. But far worse than that is in store for her as she watches the other wing of the pony arcing up and around, aiming straight down the length of her torso.

  In desperation, Rainbow Dash folds her wings shut and drops like a rock, hurtling to the ground as quickly as she can, colliding with the stone as she does her best to cushion Twilight and Spike from the impact. A burst of pain surges through her, even the haze of adrenaline unable to blot out the visceral crack of her ribs snapping against stone.

  I can't... breathe! Rainbow Dash's mind races, as she struggles and fails to stand, agony surging through her as she tries to lift her head to see what's going on. Desperation begins pouring through her; While she could still act to try and save herself, that fear had been suppressed. But now, her body no longer able to keep up with her, the panic rises within her. C-Celestia, I'm going to die! I'm really going to die!

  Rainbow Dash frantically cws at the stones, trying to pull herself up to her hooves. But just as she has almost managed it, getting her wobbling front legs under her, another assaint reaches her, and with one simple blow knocks her over onto the ground and onto her back. Her vision goes blurry as the back of her head hits the stone, unable to breathe with a hoof pressing down against her throat.

  Rainbow Dash lets out a thin whimper, the only sound that could make it through her crushed windpipe, tears leaking from the edges of her eyes. Despite the circumstance, she can't help but think an utterly ridiculous thought; Is this really how you want to die? Crying like a foal? She would have ughed at the surreality of it, if she could breathe. But instead, all she can do is barely make out the gleaming edge of a bde, lifted skywards in preparation to end her far-too-short life.