//------------------------------// // Prolog : Paperwork // Story: Captains, Queens, and Princesses // by protopony //------------------------------// Princess Twilight's quill ceased transferring words to parchment as it was placed back in its ink well.  She tilted her head side to side and rolled her shoulders, her stiff neck protested the movement. She took a deep breath and gathered her soreness, frustration, and fatigue held it all for a count of five and cast it all aside in a short crisp breath.   Six hours! Six long hours locked away in Canterlot Castle.  Going over tax law, property deeds, funding requests, anything and everything that had been shelved or set aside in the many, many open court requests that had been brought before Princess Celestia in the last year.  As good at governing as Celestia was Twilight had suspected that her back log of items to be completed would have been much shorter. Celestia's attention to detail coupled with her remarkable memory contributed greatly to the efficiency of the Equestrian government.  Not to mention her sincere desire for all of her subjects to be happy, Twilight suspected that was what really drove her mentor to keep the cogs of government well greased, freely accessible and as fair as possible to everypony. Honestly, that’s what Twilight wanted as well.  An Equestria where everycreature could find their own special talent and be happy.  A land where friends could gather at the end of the week and just be whatever they wanted to be, or do what ever they wanted.  Movie night, game night, club night, or study night. She frowned, okay that last wasn’t always as popular as she would have hopped but there was hope for some group of friends out there, wasn’t there? Her frown caught the attention of the mare sitting on the opposite side of the large oak table the four princesses were seated at.  Papers and ledgers covered nearly every inch of the grand table. It had only been in the last hour that Celsetia had requested that the last remaining table leaf be inserted into it, bringing it from comfortable dinner table size to almost grand ball room proportions.   “If even dear Twilight has had enough, then I have decided it is time for a break!” Princess Luna brought her hoof down with finality on the table top, shifting papers and blowing the top off a nearby stack to flutter lazily to down to the floor. She had obviously noticed the frown on Twilight's face and in typical Luna fashion jumped on the chance to bring some levity to the room. “Oops.” She noted. Princess Celestia looked up from the tax book she was currently referencing but her quill remained writing notes at a furious pace filling several lines in a blur, her golden aura surrounding the quill and paper flashed briefly red as she heated the ink drying it in an instant so it didn’t run down the suspended page.  Her eyes glanced briefly to Twilight but settled on the younger Princess of the Night. “Luna please, I’d rather not have to work on the rest of this room all alone.” Celestia’s plea was as good-natured as it was sincere.  “While not terribly important these papers do represent the cares and wishes of many ponies who took time and effort to attend Day Court.”  Her smile deepened. “You might even say they represent the dreams of the populace.” It was Luna’s turn to frown. “As the defender of the dream realm this job should, by rights, be yours alone.”  Celestia winked. “Actually,” began Twilight missing the glares and winks going on across the table, “Most of these documents only require a signature or stamp after a certain date.  In fact, today is the optimal date for almost 90% of everything I’ve personally looked at. Those are remarkably unlikely odds.” She actually began sniffing the Parks and Rec request she had just been looking at.  “Amazing how anything fishy smells like Discord considering he doesn’t have any fish parts.” Her muzzle scrunched up. “Nope just parchment and fresh ink.” Luna looked scandalized “So the trickster was not responsible, then it was you alone that conspired to lock us all in here to do YOUR paperwork!?” Celestia’s smile began to falter. “I conspired to cram us all into this room together to take care of some minor issues together.  So we could counsel together. Then maybe have a nice dinner together.” Luna’s indignation melted away as Celestia's voice grew lower and lower. “Day Court takes so much of my week. Cadence governing the empire so far away and she's a new mother.  And Twilight being Headmistress of her own school…I..I just…” “You usually handle this so well.”  Luna remarked quietly. “I have never know you to admit so easily to your own hardship.”   Twilight nodded.  “You saved all this work for this particular day so we could spend time together?” The warmth and brightness began to return to Celestia's face until she was smiling again. “Most of this just had to go through comity or wait for the surveys or results to come back before they could be finalized.  As it all piled up it looked more and more daunting for a single princess to do alone.” Twilight caught on. “How much sense it makes then to get all four of us working to finish all of Equestiras paper work. Especially since my school year is over! Night Court is still on break because of Nightmare Night. And Cadence is… drooling?” The nods From Celestia and Luna abruptly stopped as they both looked over to the pink Alicorn of Love.  Indeed sitting at her side of the table The Crystal Princess had a very un-princess like puddle of drool forming on the cover sheet of one stack of paper. Celestia smiled, “Perhaps it IS time for a break.” “Oh, there’s no need to stop.  I could go for another hour or two just like this.”  Cadence slurred. Though it was clear she was physically sitting at the same table, it was equally clear that Princess Cadence of the Crystal Empire was a million miles away. The proclamation she was currently rewriting for Celestia lay on the table in its fourth version.  Her quill elegantly copying the words from the third draft into the flowing formal script that would be given to the palace archives after being read. Her content smile faltered just a bit as the pink aura around her shoulders found another stubborn grouping of sore muscles.  She grimaced for just a second as Shining Armor manipulated his aura just enough to bring the right amount of pressure and heat to chase the cramp away. Cadence’s contented sigh was this close to being inappropriate for the setting. “Not all of us have the luxuries you currently are hording Princess.” Celestia’s voice was playful but was that just a touch of envy that Twilight could hear?  Shining Armor just smiled and shrugged form his place at attention against the wall with his two counter parts. The Prince/Captain of the Crystal Empire/Guard stood at parade rest dressed in his leather barding which had been painted a light metallic purple both to complement Cadences colors and to offer him the freedom he desired of light armor, there we perks, after all, to being the Prince/Captain and not just the Captain.  He supposed that the other castle guards, his former squad no less, might have thought less of him for not being completely armed and armored during these meetings but he mentally shrugged the thought away, he was in a room with the most powerful ponies in Equestria. If anything threatened the four of them it wouldn’t matter what he was wearing. “Captain Flash!” Luna called.  The captain immediately snapped to attention.   Shining’s casual approach to the meeting was in direct contrast to the pegasus to his side.  Captain Flash Sentry of the Canterlot Guard was strict, no-nonsense, and by the book. Shinning suspected that in another life he and Twilight would have hit it off and been a wonderfully boring couple.  Reading books about dating and courtship. Proper guides on when and how to get married. It was clear that becoming a Princess and having her life turned upside down was the best thing for Twilight. Flash was a good pony, it was true, but the speed with which he entered then left Twilight's life was just a little too convenient.    “You’re Highness?” He asked. “Come, massage my shoulders.  If I must continue to work then I will do so like the heathens of the north.” Lunas voice was harsh but the smile on her lips and the twinkle in her eyes gave her away. Not really use to or comfortable with the banter Captain Flash fell back on  good old reliable protocol. “I apologize Princess Luna but I don’t think that would be appropriate.” He saluted smartly.  Luna sighed. Shining Armor rolled his eyes. “Perhaps our newest Captain would be more accommodating?”  Luna continued, not bothered or surprised by Flash's response. “Come and ease my tension that I may continue to drudge through this accursed paper work.” Shining watched carefully.  Captain Fizzelpop Berrytwist sat at his other side and made no indication that the Princess of the Night had even addressed her.  Her eyes remained closed and her posture relaxed. Her dark armor bore Twilight's six pointed star proudly on the chest piece but any other indication of friendliness in the pony was absent. “My magic is not that precise.” Fizzelpop said, hardly even moving her lips. Luna's eyes narrowed.  “You have hooves, do you not?”   Fizzelpop’s eyes opened and met those of the Alicorn of Dreams.  “If Princess Twilight wills it.” she said, again evenly with no excess movement beside her lips.  Luna looked pointedly to the smallest Princess and waited. Princess Celestia raised an eyebrow. Outwardly Luna supported Twilight in her decision to add the newly pardoned lieutenant of the Storm King to her ranks.  Luna herself knew of the power of forgiveness for misdeeds and her gratitude for the younger Princess of Friendship in that regard gave her the will to trust Twilight. Still, it never hurt to be wary, this pony did beat three princesses in less than ninety seconds when the Storm King had sent her.  True it was by surprise, but isn’t that the BEST time to attack somepony? Twilight smiled, “I don’t mind continuing.”  Recognizing that the meeting was going to deteriorate Twilight played along.  “Go ahead Fizzle.” There was no hesitation, the dark captain stood up from her seated position and stalked around the table to stand behind Princess Luna.  Six pairs of eyes followed her every move. Flash shifted his weight to his right back leg just in case he needed to spring forward.  Text book move, Shining thought to himself, but you told the whole world you did it.  He followed the unicorn captain with his eyes only studying her movements as she stalked around the table.  Most guards thudded, mostly earth ponies, a few pegasi seem to glide as they walked along the ground but more of them simply flew, feeling more comfortable with their weight on their wings.  Shining was told he strutted but that was usually from Cadence. Fizzle on the other hoof, truly stalked. Shining was reminded of a great hunting cat he had seen on an early deployment to the Zebra tribal lands.   Though mostly covered by her barding Fizzle's muscles we easily noticeable.  Larger than most unicorns, her bare neck was corded and tight, with no extra skin there.  Her forelegs rippled as she walked, her hoof beats were too light to tell if her shoes were weighted but Shining didn’t doubt they were, probably even sharpened on the outside edge too. Her rump and flanks told a different story.  One he was sure that Flash was not reading. Glancing quickly at the yellow pegasus confirmed his suspicions. Flash's eyes hadn’t left Fizzles fore legs.  Shining winced internally either Flash was an idiot and didn’t know that the most dangerous part of any pony was the hind quarters, which was unlikely, or Flash felt self-conscious about staring at a mares rump for more than a few seconds, childish.  Most earth bound ponies would walk with their weight on the off fore leg, leaving the dominant hoof free to grab or punch if necessary. This also left the pony free to spin and buck extremely fast. Fizzle carried her weight in the middle of her barrel.  Shining suspected that the dark captain like to get in close and probably had a mean jab-hook combo. “Sit on your haunches.” Fizzlepop neither commanded nor asked, she just spoke as she stepped out of her shoes.  None the less, Luna complied with a smirk. “Spread your forelegs out, tuck your wings in tight.” Fizzle continued. Luna did so looking over to Celestia then Twilight with amusement in her eyes. Slowly the dark unicorn moved up behind the Princess and moved her own forelegs under Luna's and rested her hooves gently on the back of Luna’s neck.  There the Captain of the Twilight Guard stood holding the Princess of the Night in a full nelson. Five seconds passed. The other five ponies in the room watched as the seconds ticked by nopony saying anything or even daring to move. Five more seconds passed. Luna had tensed up the moment Fizzles strong hooves touched her, but as she stood there and time marched on confusion replaced apprehension.  Just as her body relaxed and she was about to ask if the new captain was enjoying herself Fizzlepop flowed into movement. A powerful twitch of her hind legs and a quick movement of her forelegs brought Luna up then down in less than half a second.  Her wings exploded outward from her sides as a series of pops raced up her spine and neck stopping at the base of her skull. A strangled yelp escaped the patron of the night then, silence. Her taunt wings drooped to her sides and she fell forward onto the table her eyes wide, forelegs spread, barrel, neck and head cushioned by the paper gathered upon it.  For a few agonizing seconds nopony moved. As if held by some magic all present watched as the muscles in Luna's hind legs relaxed. The princess of the night began to slide backward off the table, her chest and fore legs pulling piles of parchment along with her. She fell to her haunches and, carried by the momentum on to her back. “Poomphf” went her wings and they flopped onto the marble floor.  Her wide eyes starred sightless at the ceiling. Pieces of parchment drifted down off the table settling around the fallen princess until all was still. ****** Far to the north in the Crystal Empire, hidden in the shadow of the Crystal Palace sat the crystal guard barracks.  The home away from home for the one hundred on duty palace guards and their fifty support staff. The mood at the barracks was jovial, the royal family was away and most government functions had been suspended. It was the perfect time to put the barracks back in order without the worry of the Princess or Prince making a surprise inspection.  Doors and windows were propped open as the barracks became a hive of activity. Guard ponies emptied weapon and armor lockers. The maintenance teams inspecting walls and roofs for cracks and leaks. Grounds keepers began trimming trees, mowing lawns, and replanting any plant or flower that had been trampled or had wilted. The small army were of one mind and worked happily together to look good for their leaders. Blue Berry was no exception, as assistant to the garrison cook her job today was to inventory and resupply the larder in the basement of the barracks.  Her clipboard floated under her nose as she exited the kitchens and made her way to the supply gate. The crystal ponies attached to the many carts just outside the gate were merrily conversing among themselves.   Blue Berry sighed.  Civilians. Loud, undisciplined, un-groomed.  She opened the gate and began directing the various wagons around the loading area. Crystal berries, potatoes, carrots to the freezers.  Flower, rice, cornmeal to the above ground storage. Blue Berry directed for more than an hour until there were more wagons leaving than arriving. She had filled her clipboard with signatures and was about to add her own to it when a final pony stopped before her. “I’m sorry.” she began “But I can’t sign you out if you had nothing to bring in, my list is al-” “Her Highness,” a deep voice interrupted, “has some special instructions for her dinner.”  Blue Berry’s magic winked out and as she dropped her clip board and locked eyes with the speaker.  The white Pegasus with muted grey hair that stood before her didn’t seem to care enough to hear her.  “Her dinner, desert and snack are going to spoil if somepony doesn’t get it out of the oven. Use all the pepper you have, it must be out of the oven tonight so I may have it tomorrow.”  His message delivered he spun on his hooves took a running start and flew away. Blue Berry didn’t notice. Her Clipboard forgotten Blue Berry walked through the loading doors into the kitchens.  Cooks and assistants were busy storing the newly delivered food. She passed a maintenance team inspecting the ovens, filling wood boxes, and ponies washing dishes.  She passed through the dining room doors and out onto the main floor. Ponies polishing tables and buffing floors jumped out of her way as she strode with singular purpose to the front door.   She nearly bowled over the gardening team that were working on the front lawn of the main mess hall.  She stood for a moment and scanned the workers until she found who she was looking for. Once located her determined walk continued until she came to an older earth pony stallion slowly pruning a hedge, his orange body was racked with age and his hind legs twitched and shook as they supported his full weight and the heavy pruning shears in his forehoofs. “Oh! Blue it’s good to see you.”  He slowly brought the sheers down to lean against them, resting his worn body.  “You decided what to make this hedge yet? I’ve been squaring it for you for almost a year now.” Blue nodded, “Yes Mended I think I do.  I’d like Canterlot Castle.” Mending Fences nodded, “Well it’s been a awhile since I’ve seen that place.  I think it’s a bit to large to carve out of this bush. Maybe I could take some liberties with it?”  Mending took a wet stone form the small cart next the hedge and began running it over the cutting edge of his shears. “As long as it has the four main towers on it that’ll be fine, Mending.”  Mending tossed the wet stone back into his cart and stared up at the bush planning his first few cuts.  Without another word Blue Berry retraced her steps form the hedge row back through the mess hall and kitchen through the loading dock and right to where she had previously dropped her clip board.  Her green aura surrounded it and she glanced at it to make sure all was in order. A deep ‘GONG’ caught her attention and she looked up at the rod iron fence separating the barracks from the city access road. More ponies and more carts were waiting on the other side, impatiently. Blue Berry frowned.  Civilians. Four hours later Blue Berry walked along an old train access road heading out of the city.  The road was little know and even less used. It would eventually leave the Crystal Basin and head south.  Blue Berry broke into a run as she saw a small maintenance shack come into view. As she got closer and her hoof beats became louder the door opened and Mending Fences stepped out followed by two Crystal guard ponies in full barding carrying spears. They moved to flank Blue as she ran by.  She passed the trio and they began to run alongside her. The guards were slower at first as their armor slowed them down but they gained speed as spears were tossed aside and barding removed.  Soon the four were running together down the access road their equipment and cloths cast aside. One would think it odd to see the quartet tearing up the earth as they ran past considering two were pegasi and one of them was old enough to be their grandfather. One would be further shocked when as one the four burst into bright green flames and crystal coats and fur were replaced with smooth dark chitin.  Feathered wings became ragged and insectine. One spiraled horn became twisted and bent. The furious sound of hoof beats was replaced by an equally furious buzzing.  The four changelings took flight and followed the road as it wound through the mountains. South out of the rocky basin that marked the natural borders of the Crystal Empire.  South toward warmer climates. Toward Canterlot.