Shining Armor's Log Day 390
Spike and I have met some difficulties in trying to find my sister and her friends. Without an accurate area of where exactly they all went, it is near impossible to send a search party to one location. That is why I was forced to meet with Princess Celestia earlier today.
I walked into the main throne room. The only ponies in the room were the guards and the Princess herself.
"Hello, Shining Armor," she greeted me. "I thought you were supposed to be gone for a few more weeks."
"Yes, that is correct, Princess," I responded. "However, circumstances have forced me to meet with you for aid."
"What do you need, my loyal Captain?"
"I need a force of 20 or so ponies to use as a search party for my sister and her friends," I said. After I said this I saw that a few of the royal guards looked at each other. More likely than not, there would be three times that number trying to escape the boredom of Canterlot through this mission.
Princess Celestia thought about it for a few seconds. "Do you know where she will likely be?"
This was the one question I had hoped would not come up. "Not exactly..." I said hesitantly.
"What do you mean not exactly?" she inquired while raising her eyebrow.
"I know she is most likely somewhere in north eastern Equestria."
"That is a very large area to search. I'm afraid I cannot give you those 20 ponies."
I looked down in defeat. If Princess Celestia would not give me aid, then Princess Luna couldn't give me support either.
"As you wish," I said as I turned away. "Good bye. I will return in a month or---"
"Where are you going?" Princess Celestia asked, cutting me off. Her tone implied that she was angry that I was walking away.
"I was going to go looking for Twilight on my own."
"Why would you do that?" she asked, a slight smile on her face.
"You said you wouldn't give me any help, so I thought..." I trailed off under her gaze.
"I said I wouldn't give you a force of 20 ponies. I will be giving you 50 ponies to help you search," she finished with a familiar smile on her lips and a glint in her eye. This was better than I could ever have expected.
"I will also," she continued, "be giving you full authority to the supplies depot. Feel free to take some food from the granaries as well, though don't touch the cake."
"Of course not. Thank you, my Princess." I bowed to her before turning away. 50 ponies. I'd have to find out who to bring... perhaps a quick competition to see who should come... I'll have to decide later. I have to get everything ready. For once, I am actually enjoying doing paperwork.
Starlight Glimmer's Diary Day 390
Another domino in the line has fallen. Half have fallen already, and three remain. At some point, the Princess will see our ideas as the truth. Maybe after that, phase two of the plan can begin. But better not count your eggs before they hatch. Today was a day of redemption.
I was just coming from a meeting with some friends as I saw Sugar Belle running towards me.
"Hello Sugar Belle, how are---" I began to say.
"Starlight Glimmer! You have to help me," she cried out as she galloped to me.
"What is it?"
"It's Pinkie Pie. She keeps throwing away the muffins," Sugar Belle cried out. I couldn't stop a gasp come out of my mouth. Wasting food was frowned upon in every level of Equestrian society.
"Let's go, fast," I ordered. We maneuvered through the crowd until we reached the bakery. I trotted inside, and saw that Pinkie was indeed baking muffins and throwing them out.
"Pinkie Pie, what are you doing?" I asked her as I approached.
"Hiya Starly," she greeted. "I was just trying to get these muffins to taste good, but nothing I'm trying is working."
"Pinkie... the muffins are an acquired taste. Like most food here, it is made with ingredients grown in this... arid climate. As such, we cannot grow some of the plants, and have to substitute our regional ones."
Pinkie Pie just looked at me with a tilted head. "Are you saying that the ingredients are bad?"
"No, that's not what I am saying. I am just saying that you'll have to get used to the food, that's all."
"Okie dokie loki," she shouted. "Oh, and tell Sugar Belle that I will pay for all the wasted ingredients. I didn't mean to make her sad or worried."
"You can tell her yourself, if you want. She's just outside."
"Yeah! That will do it!" she shouted before turning back to the kitchen. The muffins aren't that bad, are they? I enjoy eating them. Why shouldn't other ponies?
I walked outside to see Party Favor and Night Glider counseling Sugar Belle. After telling her that Pinkie understood what the problem was, and assuring Sugar Belle that she would not be held responsible, I left. There was one more order of business for the day; the equalization process.
As the prisoners were lined up, I asked once more if anypony would like to join our community. Today we had one of the two pegasi speak up. It was the first to speak up before, Fluttershy.
"I'd like to rejoin the village," Fluttershy said. "For real this time." There was not cheering at this request, nor was there any encouragement. Most ponies were still angry with her for having tried to break our village apart and corrupt my philosophy.
"Everypony, it is rude to judge a friend off of a past mistake," I scolded the crowd. Many ponies heard what I said and looked guilty.
"Each of us were mistaken before, thinking cutie marks were a good thing. We saw through those lies, but this pony did not before. Now she has, and we should not judge her for her past mistakes," I finished while putting my hoof around Fluttershy's neck.
Upon finishing my short speech, everypony dropped their distrusting looks.
"Now," I continued, "how do we greet a new friend?" At that point, everypony began to cheer.
"Let's go get you to your cottage," I said as I took Fluttershy away. "It's already been made."
Before we could get to her new home, however, Rarity and Pinkie Pie were there welcoming Fluttershy to the village personally. Fluttershy went immediately to bed after getting to her house. With all the regular business done, I had one final task I needed to see to. I went to Double Diamond's cottage just before sunset and knocked on the door.
"Hello, Starlight Glimmer," Double Diamond greeted me as he opened the door.
"Hello, Double Diamond. May I come in?" I asked.
"Of course." His house was like most other ponies' homes, but with a few extra pieces of furniture. Double Diamond locked the door once again before turning back to me. "What is it you wish to speak to me about?"
"I want to know why the Council was made and who made it," I asked bluntly.
"The Council was made to keep you on track, and avoid any mass hysteria. It has no true power, but it gives the other ponies security, especially the fillies and colts. But Forest Embers, Fire Hammer, and I want to make it into an easier way to approach you with the problems other ponies have."
"Then who made it?"
"All of us did. It was a large meeting and we all agreed that we needed some ponies in a position to counteract you if you were to do something we did not like." I paused at this. All of the friends I had created harmony for all believed I couldn't be trusted. It still hurts.
"Thank you for your honesty, Double Diamond," I said after a long silence. "Have a good night."
"Good night, Starlight Glimmer," he replied before closing the door.