//------------------------------//
// The Premonition—Chapter 1 
// Story: Foundation's Dawn 
// by Spatial Observer 
//------------------------------//


1


===





Encyclopedia Equestria V 8.1


STABLEDON, STARSWIRL —  
… pony from the world of Helicolt (1). Born in late 10029 E.E., died in 10103 E.E. (3 A.P.). Although the first stages of his life remain a mystery, Stabledon is rumored to have earned his “cutie (2)” mark at a young age, when he first displayed his proficiency in mathematics to Helicoltian instructors. He accomplished much within his lifetime, but he is most widely known for his part in the development of psychohistory, the science of…
… commenced his plan after his final trial on the capital world of Canterlot. As a result of the ordeal, the Empresses of the First Galactic Equestrian Empire (6) sent all those involved to…

1. Current coordinates from center: (32 degrees N, ~23,400 light years). See “Helicolt”  for more.
2. An old Helicoltian name for talent marks. The origin of the term is under debate.
…
6. See sections titled “Empress Celestia” and “Empress Luna” for elaboration.



The unicorn walked on the terra-path, shifting out of the crowd that had gathered outside of the spaceport. She had disembarked at a busy hour, when every equine was huddled in lines, focused on catching their flight while the flood of new arrivals glided past. Like everyone in the throng, she wore Canterlotian-styled attire: a violet, loose-fitting suit, and white, magnetically-latched shoes. Her white-and-violet mane was brushed straight, her bangs hovering above her eyes, acting as a shield from the blaze of the sun.
All atmospheres have their own distinct qualities: scent, stuffiness, warmth and pollution. Even without the extended senses of a unicorn, an equine could tell just how clean a world was from smell alone. Any native could identify the altered, purified air of Canterlot; it being one of the most artificial.
More than a millennium before, millions of equines—mostly unicorns—had worked to change the atmosphere of the planet completely. The spells used were estimated in the hundred millions, the energy output in the billions. Their priority: crafting the capital into its striking image, and letting it serve as the Empire’s cradle, the heart of society at the near-center of the galaxy. In their efforts, those millions of forgotten workers had succeeded.
The unicorn levitated her luggage, keeping it in close proximity as the crowd condensed again. Ahead was a local transport hub, a wide, rectangular structure with a domed ceiling. Cylindrical buses funneled through the center road of the structure while enabled machines whirred endlessly under a variety of light sources and sunroofs. On the sides of the hub were empty spots, with more than a dozen tall kiosks mounted equidistant from each other on the pavement.
She trotted to one terminal and pressed the hoof-sized button. There she waited until a pointed, narrow vehicle descended onto the allotted space nearby. Once the hover-mechanics ceased and the flow of energy dissipated, she approached. The tinted window slid back to reveal the driver, a pegasus wearing a black work uniform that stretched around his wings, forming two long bulges on the sides of his body.
“Identification, Miss?” he asked. As she stared absentmindedly at him, he added, “There is no need to feel afraid. The Canterlot Transportation Service is often evaluated and inspected to ensure we follow ethicality guidelines. Trust me when I say that when you are within this cabin, you are in safe hooves.”
“Oh, I know already,” she replied. “This isn’t the first time I’ve taken a private transport. I’m just focusing on finding my Canterlot ID tag. And—ah, nevermind. I found it.” A card flew up from her saddlebag and slid through the outer scanner. The chauffeur looked again as the card floated in mid-air beside the unicorn, whose white horn radiated faintly. He nodded, then focused on the side monitor within the vehicle.
“Nova Sparkle, age thirty, unicorn,” he said, glancing between her and the blinking monitor. “No criminal record, a public approval rating of nine-point-five, and sufficient funds to bring you to the edge of the city; if you wish. Everything checks out on this end.” The passenger door clicked. “You may board now, Ms. Sparkle.”
Nova nodded graciously and waited for the vehicle latch to rise, the aged inner mechanisms scraping against each other. Once she and her belongings were inside the constricting taxi, the wide door shut softly. The engine hummed to life as she buckled herself in, and the vehicle lifted off the ground by a meter, the magi-tech pulling the area’s surrounding energy and using it for propulsion.
Nova shuddered, straining her eyes,
“Is something the matter, Ms. Sparkle?” the driver asked, staring at her. “If you feel sick, I could bring you to the closest health center. I personally know a doctor who can fix just about any physiological issue you may have.”
“No, it’s fine,” she said, straightening her back and ceasing any shaky movement. “Energy collectors like this taxi’s engine bother me slightly, because of my horn.” She gestured towards the appendage in question. “I feel magic moving, and I get strange sensations throughout my body when energy flows elsewhere.”
The driver scratched the side of his head with a hoof. “I may be a non-unicorn, but isn’t the magical density highest on Canterlot? There should still be plenty for you to use, even with the engine’s consumption.”
“Well, yes. But, mechanical magical flow is still a strange sensation regardless.” Nova smiled, and the driver shrugged. “Anyway, now that we’re moving, please take me to—”
“—Actually,” he said abruptly, “give me a moment.” He swiveled around and fit his forehooves into two slots on the steering wheel. “I realize that we’ve been chatting too long. We should move out of the private transportation lane before I inconvenience other taxis.”
Crossing her forelegs, Nova waited as the cabin rumbled, sending gentle vibrations through her backbone. The hovercraft then rose from the empty street, passing idle, suspended vehicles before gliding through the checkpoint and heading to the nearest inter-flight system. She peered out the small window as white towers and the gleam of other transports’ metal exteriors skidded past.
“So where to, miss?” asked the driver, his tone calmer and less hasty.
“Take me to the outer southeast region—specifically, this address.” Nova held out a piece of paper, which the pegasus merely glimpsed towards. “Or is it too far?”
“I operate strictly within the city limits,” he replied, staring straight ahead. “If it is anywhere outside, I will drop you by the closest station to your destination.”
“That’s nice, but could you take a look at the address?”
The driver shook his head. “I have to keep an eye on incoming traffic, miss. Even with automatic control, I have to be aware of things the computer isn’t. Please input the location into the monitor behind my seat; the information will then feed into my eyepiece. It’s an accurate way to find directions, and saves me the hassle of inputting it myself.”
Nova let her eye wander onto the sleek screen. Judging by polish alone, the machine was recently installed. “Did they add this to all taxis?” she asked. When the driver nodded, she said, “It seems like a waste of money. Addresses can be given through cheaper means.”
“I’m not complaining,” he replied with a smirk. “Driving this hovercraft through traffic daily is already hard enough as it is. That monitor helps to ease the task by just a tiny margin.”
“I… guess that makes sense.” Still, Nova grumbled quietly as she spent a dozen seconds lightly tapping the interface. “There.”
The pilot glanced towards the side monitor as it flickered and changed colors with emerging text. “Sector three?” he asked, sitting upright partially. “What business does a unicorn like you have there?”
“Oh, I’m seeing a friend—a pony,” added Nova hastily. “It’s been a very long time, and we’re looking to catch up on some old times.”
“Ah, just a visit.” He nodded slightly. “That makes sense.”
Nova shot him a puzzled look. “It wouldn’t make sense otherwise?”
The stallion gulped and put on a forced smile. “I didn’t mean to offend you, Miss. Please don’t take me for one of those supremacists we all hear about on the news. It’s just that I haven’t met or transported a unicorn who actually lives in sector three. Well, this sector three, I should say. The other cities on Canterlot I’m not sure about.”
Nova sighed. “It’s because a lot of Canterlotians nowadays feel more comfortable grouping with their own kind. That’s why some sectors are distinct.” She looked out the window, at the passing white towers. “It’s a mentality I think does more harm than good.”
The driver opened his mouth, but he quickly shut it, looking away. His eyepiece flickered a few times, displaying minuscule letters that could only be read and understood by the wearer.
Upon turning back, he said, “Ms. Sparkle, I have been updated on your registered activities of the past hour, which I am obligated to verify. Could you answer some questions?”
“It shouldn’t be too much of a problem,” she said.
“Did you arrive at the spaceport this morning, or later on? There’s a small discrepancy in times between ship arrival and leaving the hangar.”
Nova looked to him, brushing back her mane. “If this relates to the delay, I can explain. It took me two whole hours to go through clearance, and to have all of my identification cards scanned and triple-checked. It’s a common procedure for all equines when they come planetside.”
“What about the interval before that?” inquired the driver, furrowing his brow. “It says that you have been gone for three years. Your Canterlot ID was only updated this morning—during the clearance checkpoint, I suppose. Where were you prior to landing on Canterlot?”
“I’ve been staying with my sister and my parents on a different world. Have you heard of the planet called Fillyan?”
The driver paused, glancing at a vehicle that sped by them. “There are millions of planets to remember, but yes, I believe I’ve heard of Fillyan before—or maybe it was Fillyis, or Fillyoma. There are at least a couple hundred worlds with ‘Filly’ in their names. What is this one like?”
Nova raised an eyebrow at him, but her expression quickly reset, and her lips curved into a smile.
“It’s a very nice planet,” she began, “with clear skies and low, single-level buildings. You would like it there; the pegasus population outnumbers that of the unicorns and ponies.” The two bulges poorly concealed by the driver’s uniform moved by a fraction of an inch, and the driver blushed while using his hoof to press them down. Nova smiled warmly. “Sure, magic isn’t as dense there as it is here, but it isn’t too bad. The transition in lifestyle isn’t rough, since Canterlot and Fillyan share the same geographic features. The voyage averages out to about a week. The costs are high, because more than a dozen jumps are involved, which is why I took an extended vacation.”
The driver, whose gaze had been lost ever since she mentioned ‘pegasus’, quickly looked back to her. “But if Canterlot and Fillyan are so similar, why did your family leave?”
He raised his eyebrow, and Nova’s smile dropped as she hesitated. “They never really told me the reason,” she responded. “I assumed it was because it feels much more diverse on Fillyan. Weather follows a three-month cycle—a ‘seasonal’ pattern, as it’s called.” Her eyes darted to the window, as if there was something of interest outside. “While here on Canterlot it’s a bit more bland, since so many equines prefer sunshine on a daily basis, and rain occasionally. Fillyans aren’t too fond of weather control, while Canterlotians are the opposite.”
The stallion peered back at her, raising an eyelid, but he instantly looked away when a hovercraft shot past their vehicle’s outer hull, nearly scraping against it. While the driver was not looking, Nova exhaled the breath she had been holding.
“Interesting,” said the driver finally. He opened his mouth, as if to continue the discussion, but his eyepiece flashed a few times. Once again, Nova quietly exhaled. He said, “Say no more, Miss, I understand. I… might actually look up that planet, Fillyan, if so many pegasi live there.” He smiled, but the expression vanished almost as soon as it arrived. “Anyway, it will take us a few more minutes to reach your destination, and you must be tired after going through customs.”


* * *


The driver was wrong. Minutes became a half-hour due to a traffic jam within the inter-flight system. Nova spent the time looking out of the tiny compartment, and being falsely reassured by the driver that they would be back on track shortly.
Nova's gaze followed the buses slowly accelerated past her fixed position in mid-air. “Maybe I should have gone with public transportation after all,” she thought aloud.
“What was that?” the driver asked.
“Nothing, nothing. Just commenting on something that’s changed in the past few years.”
“Okay.” He turned his attention back to the traffic. “Would you mind if I took a few aggressive maneuvers?” Nova shook her head, and the driver smirked. Trailing behind one vehicle, the driver cut off an intruding aircraft and descended into an exit path, finally clearing away from the traffic. The swift motion sent Nova’s mane into a fray. When the driver glanced over again, she proffered a worried grin.
“Sorry for the inconvenience, Miss Sparkle,” said the driver confidently. “We’ll be reaching your destination shortly.”
Soon enough the taxi plunged into the residential district of Sector Three. White hemispheres, dotted with windows and skylights, protruded from the ground. From sight alone the environment seemed peaceful, but through sound it seemed the opposite. Sirens echoed in the distance, growing louder as the taxi continued its descent. The sounds leaked through the sealed doors of the airtight cabin. When the vehicle finally came to a halt, hovering inches above the ground, the repetitive blaring was at its loudest.
The pegasus chauffeur was unusually silent as the latch opened, and Nova Sparkle quickly saw why. The closest hemispherical building had more commotion than all the other similar buildings in the district. The siren echoed from a large transport as it rose from the dome’s outer landing pad. Heavy-hooved equines garbed in gray uniforms trotted in and out of the home. A small crowd of ponies had gathered along the sidewalk, but most of the spectators shuffled onwards seconds later.
“Are you sure this is the right address, Miss?” asked the driver. “If I’m not mistaken, those are Global Security uniforms, and it looks like they are conducting a search.”
Nova froze in her seat, looking out the window. “Yes, this is the place,” she said finally, blinking. “Could you wait here, please? This shouldn’t take very long, and I may need transportation once it is finished.”
He stared at her with a bewildered expression, but it faded and he shrugged his shoulders. “Fine, Miss, but please remember that there is an extra charge for waiting.” The driver brought his gaze around to the Global Security officers. He added, “I’m sure you know this already, but please watch what you say around them.”
She nodded, giving him an appreciative smile, then crawled out onto the pavement. She pushed and apologized her way through the small crowd of onlookers before hesitantly walking up the pavement.
Nova cleared her throat as an officer came closer. “Excuse me,” she said, “may I ask what you are doing?”
The closest unicorn strode past her, not even paying her a glance. Nova then repeated the question to another equine. The next uniformed equine did falter, but he swerved, jogging to the vehicles. The third made it a point to arc around her, as if she were filth from the planet Manera. Nova groaned audibly, huffing through her nose.
“Oh, come on,” she said towards the group of three as they hung back, glancing towards her. “Could you at least give me a yes or no?” Each of them refused to respond, failing to pretend that there was something of interest nearby other than her.
Nova swivelled to face the entrance and banged her head. Rubbing her head with a hoof, she looked up and made eye contact with two tall, muscular stallions. Armored plates covered the front and sides of their body, and visors shielded their eyes. She cowered back, her gaze wandering every emotionless feature of their stern faces.
The first guard said, “This house is under investigation. Return to your home immediately.”
“How come?” she replied softly. She bit her lower lip, and stood up straight. “This is the home of Starswirl Stabledon, isn’t it?”
“Return to your home, Miss.” The guard inched forward with one powerful hoof-step. The tip of his horn glowed, fluctuating in intensity. Nova shrank back, a fresh bead of sweat running down her forehead.
“Ease yourselves, you two.” The voice broke the silence, and the faint glow of the guard’s horn faded as if on cue. A smaller stallion—only a few centimeters taller than Nova—walked out the entrance, levitating a tablet. A badge and various medals decorated the front of his uniform. “I will take it from here.”
Without any protest, the two grunts walked right past Nova and stood at attention a couple of meters away.
“And who are you?” asked Nova, assuming her standard posture, peering towards decorated officer. “Pardon me if I am wrong, but none of you seem to be friends of Mr. Stabledon.”
The higher-ranked officer shook his head. “My name is not important, and is allowed to be withheld under Global Security jurisdiction.”
“Then what is your role here, sir? Am I allowed to know that much?”
He shrugged. “I am simply leading this part of the investigation, ma’am. But, now that I have answered your question, perhaps you would be willing to answer mine.” He briefly glanced at her through his tinted visor before returning to his tablet. “From your previous question, is it safe to assume that you are you an associate of Mr. Stabledon?”
“He’s a close friend of  mine, though we haven’t kept contact recently.”
The officer finally pulled his eyes off his tablet for more than a second. “Oh, really? Perhaps you could elaborate on your relation to him.”
Nova’s friendly smile faltered as the authoritative gaze of the officer beared down upon her. She coughed, glancing at the muscular grunts and all other armed officers nearby. “Of course I can,” she said sheepishly. “I’m sorry if there are any discrepancies, since I’ve been off-world for a few years and—“
“—What is going on here?!” The new voice came from behind Nova, and it drew her gaze away from the officer in charge. The unicorn possessing the voice—a blue-coated stallion—sprinted up the pathway, eyes set on her and the officer. He did not, however, notice the two bulky guards who had sprung onto the path. Nova cringed moments before he slammed into them, momentum knocking him the ground but barely moving the grunts. The two statues made the motion to leap onto the dazed intruder, but a swift, silent gesture from the higher-ranked officer stopped them in their tracks like a failsafe switch to a piece of machinery.
Rising to his hooves, the blue unicorn eyed the two guards and gulped. “Sorry, sorry. I meant no harm or aggression of any sort.” Turning around, he set his yellow eyes on the higher-ranked officer. “But, I still demand an explanation for your presence here!”
The small official sighed, then looked up. “And just who are you to make such a demand? Not the homeowner, that is for sure.”
“Crescent Moon, Canterlot-born,” he replied sternly, trotting up to them at a brisk, not-so-threatening pace. “Acquaintance of Starswirl Stabledon, the pony who lives here.”
The officer’s eyes lit up, his gaze directed solely upon Crescent Moon. “I see,” he said. “So we have two friends of the suspect here? That is very fortunate for us.”
Crescent briefly locked gazes with Nova, but he looked back at the officer again. “And what about the explanation?”
“Ah, yes,” said the officer, tucking his tablet away. “To put it simply: the residence of the pony Starswirl Stabledon has been cordoned. Unless either of you have authorization, you may not enter.”
“Cordoned?” Crescent glanced at the other officers. “Does that include invading his home, taking all of his personal, possibly fragile items?”
“Under the circumstances, we must confiscate any belongings deemed ‘related’ to his crime.”
“And,” interjected Nova quietly, “what crime is that, exactly?”
The officer shot her a peculiar look, but he sighed. Using a low tone of authority, he said, “The foreign-born known as Starswirl Stabledon has been arrested under charges of treason towards the Equestrian Empire.”
Nova gasped, but Crescent Moon remained silent.
“This relates to the trial, then?” Crescent asked. “Why, it isn’t for another week!”
Nova’s eyes widened and her already-open jaw dropped further. “What are you talking about?” She gazed between them. “Do you mean a court trial?”
Turning away from her, the officer brought up a tissue to his eyepiece. “Ah, you know about it,” he said. “Well, there is much to do prior to the event. The paperwork is immense: so many signatures, allocations, and reservations need to be coordinated by our hooves. We must keep Mr. Stabledon under our eye while our attention is elsewhere.”
“Then may I see a copy of your warrant?” inquired Crescent. “Just as a final confirmation.”
“Certainly,” replied the officer. “I guarantee you will find everything in order and our jurisdiction unquestioned. That is how Global Security operates, after all.” He tapped one of the medals—the traditional star and moon symbol of the Empire—on the front side of his uniform, sending out a white holographic image.
The officer angled the hologram to Crescent, who started skimming through the text. Nova attempted to lean her head over to Crescent’s position, but Crescent made no room for her nor noticed her movement at all. She shuffled her hooves awkwardly up until Crescent’s expression fluctuated. “I guess this an approved operation…” he said silently, “from the Empresses themselves.”
Nova gasped again, but before she could quickly skim the document for herself, the officer tapped his star-and-moon medal, tucking the holographic image away. “Of course it is approved,” he scoffed. “Now, the content of the warrant is all I am allowed to divulge, meaning that you have no other reason to be here. Both of you will leave the premises willingly, or these two highly-trained spell-casters”—he pointed to his armored guards—“will escort you.”
“But—!” Nova quickly brought up her foreleg, only for it to be forcefully lowered back to the ground by Crescent.
“Let’s do what they say, Miss,” whispered Crescent quickly. “I believe we’ve troubled them enough.” Nova glared at him, yet Crescent was already looking back to the officer. “Thank you, sir. I apologize for my entrance earlier.”
“It is no problem,” he growled in reply. “We gladly inform those who are curious—so long as the number remains small and controllable. Please, have a wonderful afternoon.”
With a slight nudge from Crescent, Nova Sparkle walked silently, glancing back at the officers, who remained by the entrance of the white dome. The decorated official gazed back suspiciously, aiming his annoyed gaze towards Crescent.
“I’ve weeded out as much information as I could,” Crescent whispered halfway down the path, his muzzle inches away from her ear, “but now they’re in a bad mood. Continuing the argument at this point won’t help either of us. If anything, it will only hurt Mr. Stabledon.”
When they reached the roadside, Nova sat on the sidewalk, her head angled towards the floor. All of the onlookers had moved on, leaving her and Crescent as the only equines near the road. She watched as Global Security brought out possessions that belonged to Starswirl. There were portraits, desk utilities, holo-tablets and a digital combination safe. However, her eyes naturally followed the objects of interest or uncommon household items; like the black, opaque orb no larger than her hoof. A Global Security unicorn levitated the sphere, carefully placing it inside the nearby armored vehicle.
“So,” said Crescent, breaking the silence, “what is your relation to Starswirl?”
Nova shut her eyes and said, “He’s an old friend.”
“Well, he is an old friend of mine, too, but that’s because he is at a late stage in his life. Still, something tells me you’re using ‘old’ in the other way.”
“I’ve known him since I was a foal.” Nova ground her teeth. “That’s what I meant.” She looked to the ground and took a couple of deep breaths.
“Then,” Crescent said, “I guess seeing and hearing all of this must be a real shock to you.”
Nova nodded slowly. “It’s a lot more than that. He’s been like an uncle to me, and he’s just a harmless old stallion. What trouble could he have gotten into?”
“That’s a bit of a lie, isn’t it? Regarding the ‘harmless old stallion’ bit. Starswirl’s always encountered problems with the government, or so he tells me.”
Nova’s head shot upright, and she glared at Crescent. He backed up again, lifting a hoof up defensively. “And just how do you know so much?” she snapped.
Crescent coughed, adjusted his uneven mane with a hoof and looked back to her with an uneasy smile. With a tone of authority, he said, “I am the lead coordinator of his project: the Stabledon project. We were going to discuss its fate today, because of the upcoming trial, but”—he brought his gaze back to the distant Global Security officers—“it looks like my discussion with him will have to wait.”
“What trial?!” she said impatiently. “That’s the second time I’ve heard of it.”
One of Crescent’s ears flopped. “You really don’t know?” he asked. “I assumed that all of Stabledon’s friends and acquaintances knew of it.”
Nova took yet another deep breath. “I’ve been off-world for three years,” she stated, her anger no longer present. “Not all news of Canterlot reached me, and I’ve barely communicated with Starswirl.”
Crescent tapped his muzzle with a fore-hoof, glancing between her, the ground and Stabledon’s violated home. “If that’s the case, you’re more confused than I had thought. Let’s talk this over elsewhere. Miss…”
“Nova… Nova Sparkle.”
Crescent’s eyes lit up, and his mouth opened partially. “Oh, I knew you looked familiar—I must have glanced over one of Starswirl’s pictures that has you in it at least a hundred times. Starswirl’s spoken very highly of you before.” He held out his hoof. “Like I said, my name is Crescent Moon. Even though we haven’t met in an ideal situation, it’s still a pleasure to meet you.”
Nova cautiously examined the outstretched hoof, then shook it firmly. For the first time, she met Crescent’s smile with her own.
“Let’s go elsewhere,” he repeated. “If we wait for too long near cordoned areas, they will suspect us of misconduct. And after that encounter, we shouldn’t test them any further.” He looked around, his gaze landing on the semi-occupied, unmoving hovercraft. “Is this taxi waiting on you?”
Nova nodded. “It is. The driver has been waiting for a while now, so he may be irritated for wasting so much time.”
“Strange… taxi drivers would usually leave by now.” He peered at the car, but shook his head. “Oh, well. It doesn’t matter. Would he mind one more passenger?” Crescent asked, turning to her again. “I walked here from sector four, but I doubt I can walk back so easily at this time of day.” He gestured to the distant inter-flight system, which was still clogged with various transports.
“I don’t think so if we’re heading to the same place, but he will probably charge more—”
“—I’ll pay for my own fare, so don’t worry.” Immediately, Crescent trotted to the taxi, waved his own ID through the outer scanner and boarded.
The moment Nova entered the passenger cabin, the vehicle door slammed. She yelped, retracting her tail while pressing against an equally surprised Crescent. Blushing heavily, Nova scrambled to an upright position. A thick piece of glass rose to cover the space between both vehicle cabins, separating the driver from the passengers.
“What is this about?” asked Crescent, pressing his forehooves against the glass.
“I have received orders to contain you two,” said the pegasus over a speaker, looking ahead.  He flicked a switch, starting the engine. Nova blinked and shuddered, each of her hooves trembling against each surface
Crescent peered at her shaking limbs. “Is something wrong, Nova?”
“No, no... it’s just the shift from the magi-collector. It bothers me when it starts up.” She glared at the driver. “He’s put on a much higher setting than before, though. The mechanical flow of magic is much faster, and... it gets to me more easily.”
Crescent quietly cursed. “He’s preventing us from casting any spells.” He returned his attention to the window and demanded, “On what grounds do you do this?”
“I will answer that,” said a voice originating from the cabin speaker. Nova and Crescent looked back at each other, glanced at the stationary driver, then attended to what was outside the passenger windows. The higher-ranked officer was trotting down the lawn, his mouth opening and closing in sync with the words. “Forgive us for taking this sudden action, Crescent Moon, but you are a leader of Starswirl Stabledon’s project, which Canterlot Global Security has been investigating for some years now under firm suspicions of treason. Nova Sparkle, we have verbal evidence—gathered from your confession to me, and outside the taxi through its reliable outer microphones—that you are a good friend of Stabledon. For security purposes, you are both under arrest until further notice.”
“This is insane!” gasped Crescent, glaring out the window. The officer did not react.
“All participants—ranging from small involvement to large—are being contacted and/or collected as we speak, Crescent Moon. They have played a part in Stabledon’s project, which is the very subject that leads us to suspect him of treasonable actions.”
“What about me?” asked Nova. “I know Starswirl, but that doesn’t make me a participant.”
“Yet you are a good acquaintance, which means you could be called in for questioning on Stabledon’s character if it is deemed necessary. For security purposes, we must ensure that you will be readily available.”
Nova’s eyes narrowed through the glass. “Then what are we supposed to do?”
“Both of you have two choices: you could be brought to the outer palace grounds, where you will be placed under our supervision; or, if you wish to have personal comfort, you will be led to your homes and kept under a form of house arrest.”
“And Mr. Stabledon had no choice in this matter?” asked Crescent, pushing his muzzle to the transparent surface.
The officer stepped away as both Nova and Crescent glared at him. He continued, calmly, “He is being brought to the Palace for monitoring and pre-trial questioning. As I have said, there is much prior work to be done. But we will take the utmost care of him, considering his age and likely deteriorating mental state.”
“But I no longer have a home on Canterlot!” Nova interrupted. The officer’s eyes shut abruptly, and he brought a hoof to his ears as he cringed. His mouth spat out what seemed to be a swear that had not gone through the microphone, but he stood up again.
“You have the right to remain silent,” he said, “so please try to refrain from yelling—especially in a confined space such as that taxi.” He frowned while gesturing at his earbud.
Nova quickly covered her mouth. “Sorry,” she said, lowering her voice. “But, I… I mean, you probably have my records at this point. I’ve been on Fillyan for three years, and I moved out of my old home to save money while I was away. Mr. Stabledon had offered that I stay with him until I find a new place.”
“Then you will have to live on the Palace Grounds. Would that really be an issue?”
Nova hesitated, her eyes widening. She gulped and began to say, “It wouldn’t be—”
“—No, she doesn’t have to.” Nova glanced over to Crescent, who had backed up and was no longer invading her personal space by pressing up against her window. He continued, “She can stay with me in my home. It is large enough for two, and I will accommodate her as best as I can.”  
“That doesn’t violate any known regulations.” The officer brought his malicious eyes away from Crescent and back to Nova. “What is your choice, Ms. Sparkle?”
Nova glanced between the officer, who wore a baleful expression while rubbing his damaged ear, and Crescent Moon, who looked at her in a reassuring way. Without taking another second to look between the faces, she said, “I will stay with Crescent in his home.”
The officer muttered something under his breath, but it went unheard. “Then it is decided,” he said formally. “Crescent Moon, once you input your home address into the monitor in front of you, your driver will return you to your dwelling. Officers will be stationed along the perimeter, all of whom are capable of naturally wielding magic. Some privileges, such as communication with the outside, will be taken away as part of House Arrest Clause Thirteen. Any attempts to escape confinement—whether they be through magical or non-magical means—will bring harsh repercussions for the both of you and will be recorded. We thank you in advance for your cooperation with Canterlot Global Security.”
The voice cut off, and—except for the sound of the magi-collector and various electronics—the vehicle was cast into relative silence. The tinted window went pitch black, impairing Nova’s and Crescent’s abilities to perceive the outside world. Still, their bodies swayed normally as the vehicle ascended and moved.
Nova and Crescent looked at each other, but neither said anything. Mouthing a quick ‘thank you’, Nova gazed out the window and reflected on the turn of events that led her—a unicorn with a near-perfect approval rating—to be arrested and treated like a criminal.