Ace got a hero's welcome when he got back to Ponyville, but that's not all he got. Apparently, the Royal Guard didn't like the fact that private citizens could have their own secret military. Which is why Twilight's brother was currently chewing him out in the Golden Oaks Library.
"If you're implying that I did anything illegal..." Ace said, tapping a small case in his hands. "Then I'm sorry to say, you're wrong. I've studied Equestrian law, and I haven't broken any ordinances. No one died, I've freed citizens of Equestria, and the Diamond Dog threat in this area is gone. I fail to see how I did anything bad."
"What you did was violate the trust of Equestria! Her government, and Her rulers!" Shining Armor spat. "Do you have any idea how this looks?! A borderline insane scientist building up his own army for the sake of doing a job reserved for the Equestrian Royal Army! To the outside observer, it looks like a power play, to get the people on your side so that you can install a new regime!"
"Do I really come off as that ambitious?!" Ace asked indignantly. "I'll have you know that if there were a Royal Garrison in this area, I wouldn't have a combat function in my bots! Ponyville's been attacked before! And if the citizens of Ponyville can't rely on their own government to protect them, then they should at least rely on me!"
"Don't act so high and mighty." Shining Armor told Ace, knowingly. "You didn't free those slaves out of the goodness of your heart. I know your type, and I see through your ploy. You saw a good opportunity to make yourself look better than the Princesses! That would've gotten you Ponyville's support! And with a whole town supporting you, you could've gotten a position of power from which you could plot a scheme to overthrow Celestia!"
Ace cocked an eyebrow. "If you truly believe that..." He held out his wrists. "Then arrest me now. I'm obviously a threat to your pride and your regime, but that doesn't matter. What matters to me is that the ponies out there are safe, and happily reunited with their friends and family after God knows how long. If I have to sacrifice my own freedom in order to ensure that others get theirs, then I will gladly make that sacrifice. Y'know why? Because they deserve it. And I will go to any length to protect them."
For the longest time, all Shining Armor did was stare at Ace. Then, he smiled. "Did you hear that, Princess?" He called up the stairs.
"I did." The angelic voice of Princess Celestia responded. Coming from Twilight's room, the Princess glided down into the main area of the library. Out of respect, Ace kneeled. Suffice to say, he was confused. What was the Princess doing here, he wondered. And why was she listening to this conversation? "Dr. Sorou, please rise." She ordered. To which, Ace did. "Your actions today have shown great honor, mercy, bravery, and vigilance. Qualities I've come to expect within the officers of the Equestrian Royal Army. You have proven yourself worthy of joining the ranks of some of Equestria's most valiant protectors. And thus, I, Princess Celestia, offer you a place among them."
Ace blinked, slowly turning to Shining Armor, who was still smiling. "This was...a test?" He asked.
Shining nodded. "Yes, it was. One that you passed with flying colors."
"There are many who volunteer for the Royal Army, but few have the tenacity to stick to it's tenants the way that you do." Princess Celestia said. "You are worthy of the respect of any Royal officer."
Ace looked at Celestia, and smiled. "Princess, it would be my honor to accept this station."
"Then by the power vested in me through my own divinity, I, Princess Celestia, grant you the title of Lieutenant in the Equestrian Royal Army. You are hereby sworn to guard all of Equestria against all threats, foreign and domestic. Your assigned garrison is Ponyville."
Ace laughed in joy. "Thank you, Princess."
The Princess nodded. "You are dismissed."
Ace saluted, and left the library, eager to tell his friends the news, who were waiting right outside. Everyone was happy for him, and no one more so than Pinkie Pie, who was talking a mile a minute about the congrats-on-your-promotion-and-thank-you-for saving-me-and-my-family party. Ths day was almost perfect. Looking down at the case in his hand, Ace could think of only one thing to make it perfection. "Pinks..." He said, catching the attention of the partier. He waved her over with a smile. As soon as she was in front of him, he knelt down, taking one of her hooves. He opened up the case, and Pinkie gasped. "Would you make me the happiest man in Equestria?"
Pinkie inhaled, the looked down at her hoof passively, shining it on her coat. "Well, since you're asking..." Suddenly, Pinkie tackled Ace, and began showering him with kisses. "OF COURSE I'M GONNA SAY YES!" She shouted, pecking him all over his face.
NOW today was perfect.
*****
“…And then you know what he did?! He busted down the door to our meeting when I was chewing out the Diamond Dog’s leader!” A Unicorn with an Orange coat bawled out her blue eyes. Her poufy blonde mane was styled to look just as frou-frou as the rich garb she wore. “Now I’ll never get any more gems! Isn’t that awful, Slinky?” She asked the Earth pony beside her.
The pony beside her touched a hoof to the Unicorn’s head. “This world is so unfair, Ignobility.” The pony said, gloomily, a solemn look in her purple eyes. She had a black coat, and a flat purple mane. A teardrop adorned her flank. “All we can do is pick ourselves up, and channel our outrage into it.”
“Aww, poor baby.” Came a Pegasus sitting atop a cloud above them, sounding as regal as Ignobility looked. “Listen, dearie. No one gives a hoof.” The Pegasus polished her hoof on her lime-colored coat, flicking back her green hair. “It’s your fault you lost your precious Diamond Dog mines. If you hadn’t gotten them to ponynap that foalish pink mare, that human meddler would never have shown his face.”
“Hey! Show a little sympathy for once, Gloomy Glob!” Ignobility shouted. “I’ve had one of my most profitable ventures ripped away from me! Now, I’ll only be twice as rich next year! That means less money for us to work with!”
“Your point being?” Gloomy Glob cocked an eyebrow. “Once the master is free again, money will hardly matter. We’re all going to be treated as queens should. Slinky Sigh, dear.” She said, not paying any attention to the pony she was addressing, instead focusing her emerald eyes on her hoof. “A word of advice. Don’t feed Ignobility any more sympathy. It’s beneath you.”
“Hey!” Ignobility yelped. “I deserve that sympathy! It’s mine! I always get what’s mine!”
“You didn’t get Sweet Apple Acres!” Another Pegasus said, swooping down from the sky. This pony had pink fur, and a tangled red mane, her blue eyes seemed to perpetually burn with anger. “Those two stupid foals managed to fumble the plan with their hair-brained machine! Which is why you don’t trust a Unicorn to do a Pegasus’ job!”
“It’s not like your plan was much better, Brazen Spite!” Ignobility shot back. “That Minotaur was supposed to drive the Element of Kindness away from her friends! But nooooo! Her bond with them grew stronger! All because you couldn’t keep on the attack!”
“All of you, shut up!” A fifth voice called out. “We’re not going to free the master by standing around arguing.” The purple Unicorn thought for a second, her fiery orange mane sprawled out down her blue coat.
“Alright, Midnight Glow!” Brazen said. “What’s your plan?”
The Unicorn thought for a moment, as anger smoldered in her red eyes. “They’re starting to take the offensive. We don’t know whether or not they’re on to us, but we shouldn’t take that chance. We’re going to have to step up our game, and go after them directly. No more puppeteering. The six of us have to take matters into our own hooves. When Sour Apples gets back, we'll plan our next step.”