//------------------------------// // New Arrangements, Old Laws (Edite By RB, CC And GT4) // Story: The Humble Prince // by Lighting Ace //------------------------------// "Thanks for helping me send all those letters, Spike," Thorax thanked him, as they both approached the castle, while Spike munched happily on a ruby. "No problem, Thorax. I’d imagine it was much easier than mailing them the normal way," Spike replied as he finished off his snack. "Plus, for how crazy everything has gone recently, I’d also imagine that it’s best to contact all those noble changelings as soon as possible." Thorax nodded as they reached the door. "I just hope we can still pull off the plan. All of them really want to have a chance at being nobles again," he said with some worry. "Some even told me that they found their cutie marks while pretending to be nobles..." "Wow, seriously?" Thorax nodded again as they entered the castle. "Seriously, so I'm hoping with Blueblood’s help that this could be their big chance. I’d hate to think that all of this would be for nothing in the end." "Don't worry, I'm sure everything will work out just fine," Spike assured him as he opened the door. But before they could enter, somepony behind them called for their attention. "Ah, excuse me…?" Looking behind them, Spike and Thorax turned and saw two tall, slender unicorn mares. The one on the left, who had called them with a smile, had a short, spiky mane and tail in two shades of red that made it look like they were made of fire. Her fur was a light yellow color, and she was wearing a golden necklace with a sun insignia on it. Her cutie mark was a lance inside a sun. Her companion, on the other hoof, remained stoic as she looked at them. Her mane and tail were both long and dark purple with a celestial stream going through both, with her fur being dark blue. She was also wearing a silver necklace with a moon insignia on it and had some makeup on her face. Her cutie mark being a sword with a piece of a starry night contained inside the steel of the blade. Both mares looked particularly attractive, and at first glance, one could think they had come from a modeling agency. "Is this Princess Twilight’s castle?" the yellow pony asked them, looking at the building. "Well, yeah. Why? Do you need to talk to her?" Spike asked with a raised eye ridge. "Not exactly..." the yellow unicorn answered. "We are here under the orders of Princess Celestia." She glanced to the side and noticed the large golden chariot Celestia usually traveled in. "And that is clearly her chariot, so do you mind if we come in? If not, can you please tell her that Amber Lance and Stellar Cut have arrived? Please?" she asked, putting her hooves together and looking at them with puppy dog eyes. Thorax and Spike could only blink a couple of times before looking at one another. "Ah well, why don't you come in and wait in the hallway while I go tell the princess?" Spike suggested to them, making Amber smile and clap her hooves in happiness. "That would be great, thank you!" she exclaimed as they both followed the two friends inside, Stellar remaining as stoic as ever the entire time. Once they reached the dining room, both mares waited patiently at the entrance while the dragon and changeling went inside. There, they saw everypony sharing stories and laughing while enjoying some of the tea on the table in the middle of the room. Particularly Blueblood, who was happily chatting with his cousin Twilight, while she was hard at work writing everything he was telling her on a scroll. The scene was enough to make the dragon chuckle as they approached the group. "Looks like the intervention went better than I thought." "Oh hi Spike, hi Thorax." Pinkie called out as she walked toward them. "Did you manage to do that secret business you told us about?" she asked with some intrigue, making the king chuckle. "There was nothing secret about it, Pinkie. I just needed to send some letters to some of my subjects pretty quick, and Spike helped me out," Thorax explained. Pinkie raised an eyebrow. "Wait, wouldn't that have sent them to Princess Celestia instead?" "Normally, yeah, but I’ve been training with my flames for the last couple of months," Spike declared with pride in his voice. "So now if I eat some gems and know the address, I can send the letter anywhere without a problem!" He paused and looked around. "By the way, have you seen Princess Celestia?" "Oh yeah, she’s over there talking with Starlight," Pinkie replied, pointing to one of the groups of chairs where Celestia, Luna, and Starlight were talking. "Thanks!" Spike said, waving a claw at Pinkie before approaching the princess. "Princess Celestia?" "Oh, Spike, glad to see you again," Celestia spoke up, facing him with a smile. "How did everything go?" "Without a hitch, Your Highness. The letters were sent," he replied. He then looked back to the entrance. "But something happened on our way back here." "Really?" she asked with a raised eyebrow. "And what was it?" "Well, two mares asked if they could come in, and said that you asked for them. I told them to wait in the hallway. They told me their names were Amber Lance and Stellar Cut; do you know them?" Celestia clapped her hooves together in happiness. "Oh, wonderful, they’re here! Yes Spike, I know them both, but please, bring them here." "Understood." Spike nodded and went to fetch both mares. Luna, in the meanwhile, looked at her sister with a curious gaze. "You asked for those two? Aren't you going a bit overboard, dear sister?" "Oh nonsense, Luna. Amber and Stellar could use a vacation from their regular jobs. The fact that they are more than capable of taking care of Blueblood is just a very nice bonus," Celestia replied with a wry smile. "Plus, they are the only two recruits available right now that fit…" She sighed in exasperation and rolled her eyes. "…that law." "Ah..." Luna nodded in understanding. "Now I understand." Soon the mares entered the room and bowed to the princesses, and Celestia started the introductions. "Everypony, I would like you all to meet Amber Lance and Stellar Cut. They are two of our best soldiers in the Royal Guard," the princess announced with pride. "And starting today, Blueblood’s personal bodyguards." "It’s an honor to protect the crown," Amber said as she and Stellar bowed to the prince. "Wait, what?!" Blueblood blurted in surprise as he approached his aunt. "You thought I was joking when I said that I would place extra security on you?" she teased back, a smug smile on her muzzle. "Oh my Celestia! Is this for real?!" Shining Armor cried, getting excited as he approached the two guards. "You…you really are Amber, the Sun, and Stellar, the Moon?!" he stammered, his mind going into fanboy mode. Amber merely chuckled and looked away with a blush, much to the surprise (and annoyance) of Shining’s wife. "Oh boy, it has been a while since somepony called us that..." she said with embarrassment. "You know them, BBBFF?" Twilight asked with a raised eyebrow. "Are you kidding, Twilight?! Those two are legends among the Royal Guard," Shining proclaimed while pointing at them. "I have never been able to meet them in person, but their reputation speaks volumes. They form part of one of the greatest units of all of Canterlot! One that made me want to enlist in the Guard in the first place!" "The Celestial Centurions," Amber supplied, pride in her voice. "The best special forces the Crown has ever had." She sent a wink Shining’s way, causing Cadence’s wings to stiffen and ruffle instinctively in a threatening manner. "Would you like an autograph, captain?" she asked, finally breaking Stellar’s stoic expression, who looked back at her companion in worry. Shining gasped. "Would I?!" He then paused and started to think for a second. "Stay there for just a second, I’ll be right back!" he said before teleporting away. Stellar then poked Amber in irritation, much to her annoyance. "Oh, just let it go, Stellar, he's a fan. Would it kill you to give him one autograph?" Amber asked. Stellar stopped and thought about this, and then pointed at the prince. "He’s in the Princess of Friendship’s castle, surrounded by four alicorns, plus the Elements of Harmony, the student of Princess Twilight, the king of the changelings, and a dragon. Please tell me, who could be so stupid as to attack him now?" Stellar sighed in defeat and crossed her forelegs. "Well…ok," Twilight looked at the display, confused, before approaching Stellar. "So, if I may ask, what exactly does a Celestial Centurion do?" Stellar remained quiet, much to Twilight’s dismay. "Uh, hello? "Oh, don't mind Stellar, she is a mare of action rather than words," said Amber. "But to answer your question, we are a unit dedicated to ensuring peace in Equestria, and are in charge of solving more delicate problems that involve other nations." Ah, so they are like the equivalent of the secret service…or the CIA? Blueblood pondered as he glanced at them. "Basically, missions that are too dangerous or require a lot of tact to avoid a war between nations is our specialty," Amber finished. "Hey, wait a minute!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed as she flew towards them. "If you deal with international missions, where were you during Tirek’s attack? Or the changeling invasion? Or Storm King's invasion?" She pointed an accusatory hoof at them. "In that order, we were dealing with Tirek, but we didn't have the means to stop him, and it was too risky for him to absorb our magic. Plus, Discord just kept teleporting him here and there so we couldn't react fast enough. Chrysalis had already infiltrated, and sent orders to keep us away during the wedding, disguising herself as Princess Mia Amore." "Just Princess Cadence, please," Cadence interrupted, lifting her hoof with some annoyance. "My apologies, Princess Cadence,” Amber replied, granting her a small bow. “And while the Storm King was attacking Canterlot, we had to deal with his special monsters that he had sent after us. Golems made of crystal that turned even alicorns into stone. Do you remember those crystal balls? They produced it in their stomachs and then spat them out. So just imagine that kind of beast rampaging throughout Equestria without control. They normally turned their prey into rocks before eating them." Amber paused and gave Rainbow a look. "See Rainbow Dash? Perhaps you’ve had awesome adventures, but the world is just too big for you to have ALL of them. We just do the same you do, but on a more global scale." "Fascinating..." Twilight murmured. "And other nations are okay with that?" Amber let out a laugh. "Other nations have their own version of us, princess." "What?!" Twilight cried. The other Elements surrounded the mares, each having their own questions, while Blueblood took the opportunity to approach his aunts. "Uh, Aunt Celly?" "Yes, Blueblood?" "It's not that I don't appreciate the gesture and all, but...if they’re so incredible, why are you ordering them to protect me?" "I believe that protecting a prince is well within their job description," Celestia answered, "Besides, they fit another…" She looked away in irritation "…condition that is required by law." "Huh?" The prince turns his head in confusion, making both princesses sigh. "Royal Decree Forty-Seven: any member attached by bloodline to the royal family must be protected and escorted by a minimum of two guards…of the opposite sex," Luna recited, facehoofing at the end. "Who's qualities include: being in top physical health and beauty, while at the same time not being in any kind of romantic relationship." Celestia finished, mirroring Luna’s gesture. "...That has to be some of the dumbest conditions I have ever heard. Who wrote that, a horny teenager?" "Exactly," Luna nodded before pointing at the prince. "YOUR horny past self, to be precise." "Oh, please tell me, I didn't?!" Blueblood cried, holding his head with both hooves. "I'm sorry, nephew," said Luna, placing her hoof on his shoulder. "It was your first time weaseling a law into reality." Luna turned, glaring at Celestia. "And of course, your aunt Celestia was too gullible at the time to see it until it was already too late." "He was still pretty innocent! And I thought it was a joke. I really thought the paper he gave me was a fake..." Celestia countered lamely. "Is there any way to revoke that stupid law?" The prince asked, hope in his eyes, but to his dismay, the princesses just shook their heads. "It’s a royal decree, so it escapes even our power. The only way to abolish it is with a unanimous vote from us, the Canterlot royal court, and…" Luna's eyes widened in realization as a smile slowly spread across her face. "…you." "Wait, so all I need to do is go and vote 'no' and we can change this weird law?" "Yes, we can do that Celestia," Luna answered with a smile, her sister soon copying her expression. "Perhaps Luna. Blueblood, so far, was the biggest reason that law was still in effect. We will have to change it as soon as we return to Canterlot." "Why not now?" the prince asked with a raised eyebrow. "The waiting period for a law to be erased or modified is three months, and during that time it can't be implemented." "All the more reason we should do it now, don't you think? The longer we put it off, the longer we will have to wait!" Princess Celestia moved closer to his face with a sly grin. "Nice try." "Aww…." the prince sighed in defeat and looked down. Soon, Shining Armor returned, this time carrying with him in no particular order: posters, comics, a sword with Amber’s and Stellar’s cutie marks on it, as well as an ink bottle and a quill, all the while sending the mares a hopeful smile. A sly grin spread across Amber’s face and she pushed Stellar forward, before giving her the lead. Stellar glared at her friend before shaking her head, proceeding to sign all of the papers Shining kept giving her. His wife put herself next to him, keeping an eye on both mares while subconsciously placing one of her wings on her husband’s back. "It will only be until you recover, nephew, and it could be good for them as well," Celestia continued. "Those two are workaholics, and no matter how much I insist, they refuse to take some time off. To that end, I believe that guarding you in a small town near Canterlot could help them relax for a change." "So you're telling me that you’re also using my situation as an excuse for those two to get away from their regular jobs?" Celestia nodded and glanced at him. "Two cakes in one bite, so to speak. Do you think you could do this for me? Please?" she asked, using her own puppy dog eyes on him. With a sigh, Blueblood nodded. "Okay, Auntie. For you." "I knew I could count on you." Celestia smiled as she hugged him with one of her wings. "Uh, excuse me..." Thorax, having stayed silent for a long time, called for their attention. "Not that I want to interrupt this moment or anything, but we still need to finish our plan." "Oh, that’s right," Blueblood said, ending the hug and approaching the king. "I’ve already sent the letters, and soon we’ll get a reply. Do you still want us to address the meeting in Manehattan?" asked Thorax. The prince nodded. "We would need witnesses to corroborate my injuries," he said, looking at his hooves in deep thought. "Maybe some makeup for some small burn marks here and there..." "What do you have in store, nephew?" Luna asked in wonder, and the prince was about to answer when he paused, seeming worried about Amber and Stellar listening in. Luna noticed his hesitation and winked at him. "There is no need for you to worry, nephew. You can trust them. They already know about your condition." That helped him relax a little, and he nodded. "Okay, in that case, here’s the plan. The first thing we need to do is…" Blueblood stopped and he looked at Celestia, who gazed back at him with a playful smirk. "Uh, Aunty, I don't know if you…" "Please Blueblood, give us a chance. I can do this, and contrary to what others think…Luna," she said, glaring daggers at her sister. "Performing on a stage is far different than giving a public speech, something I have more than enough experience in." Luna sighed and shook her head. "Might as well let her try, nephew. She is telling the truth. Plus, I have seen her take some extra drama classes, so I believe she has earned the right to try, at the very least." "Well, okay then," Blueblood nodded and started again. "Then here is what I have in mind. During the meeting, a very bad accident will occur, and from it, a hero emerges..." He tells them with a smile. "Here’s how it’ll play out..." Later that day After exchanging goodbyes and promising another visit in the future, all of the Royals went to the golden chariot and headed back to Canterlot, while the prince waved goodbye to all of them. Stellar and Amber were now on either side of him, doing the same. The moment he was out of their sight, all of the Royals looked at their destination with serious expressions. "Starting an investigation will not be an easy task..." Luna commented. "Indeed, just filing a report would force us to expose Blueblood’s condition," Shining Armor agreed with a resigned sigh. "If we wish to catch the killer, there is no choice but to make this investigation top secret." "We can't just stop there, Shiny." Cadence noted with worry. "Whoever did this was a professional, and had planned for everything so as not to leave a trace. If they were aiming to just kill Blueblood, that leaves almost half of Canterlot as suspects. If the goal was the royal family, any of us could be next." "Remain calm, everypony," Celestia said with determination. "Panic won’t help us. For now, we need to stay focused and act like everything is okay." She then looked at Shining Armor. "Captain Armor, can I trust you to search for clues in our nephew’s room?" "You can count on me, Your Highness," he replied with a salute. "Thank you." She then looked at Cadence. "While that happens, we would have to discreetly interview all of Blueblood’s inner circles, and that is a long list. I can plan meetings with them, but we will have to split the efforts between all of us." "You can count on me, aunty," Cadence replied, bringing her hoof to her chest. "I have soldiers already spying on them, so it would just be a matter of changing the order." Luna stated. "We’ll keep an eye on those shady nobles..." "Thank you, Luna.” Finally, Celestia glanced at Thorax. "King Thorax, I really appreciate all that you have been doing for us so far, but I'm afraid that there is yet another favor we need to ask of you." "Say no more, princess," Thorax declared, lifting his hoof with a knowing smile. "We’re talking about a case of regicide here, and that is a serious matter. Just say the word and I will dispatch some of my best changelings to impersonate any of you while this mess is resolved. It’s the least we can do for all your help with our hive." Celestia smiled at him gratefully as the wind rushed past her mane. "Thank you, Thorax. I give you my word that we will not forget this kindness."