"Item one," Twilight read, "'meet with the mayor.'" She pulled out a quill to check it off. "Done."
"And it was boring!" Luna whined. "It felt like we were in there forever."
"It was only five minutes," Twilight retorted.
"'sides," Applejack added, "you should probably get used to it. When you become a full princess, you'll have to sit through all sorts of boring meetings."
"No I won't, no I won't," Luna replied. "When I become princess, I'm going to travel across Equestria, eating candy and fighting monsters. Tia can have the stupid boring meetings."
"That wouldn't be very fair to Celestia though, now would it?" Fluttershy asked.
"No," Luna admitted. "But if I had to sit through stuff like that all the time I would... I would..." She shrugged. "Okay, so I don't know what I would do, but it would be amazing and super scary."
"Anyway," Twilight said, "next is to meet with the town guard about celebrations security."
"Another meeting?" Luna groaned, slumping down. "Please, can we go do something else?"
"Hey, Twilight?" Applejack asked. "Can I see that list a moment?"
Twilight looked at Applejack, then back at the list. One of her ears gave a flick as she chewed on her lip for a moment. Closing her eyes and letting out a deep sigh, she passed the scroll over.
"For crying out loud," Applejack grumbled as she took the list. "I just want to take a look at what y'all need to do. Not like it's some long lost scroll and I'm gonna toss it in a pig pen or somethin'." She let out a huff as she started looking at the small number of items tasked to the group.
"Here we go. 'Check on refreshments at Sugarcube Corner.'" She returned the list to the twitchy looking unicorn. "I can take Luna there while you to meet the guards. How's that sound?"
"I like the sound of that," Luna said. "Can I Fluttershy? Please?"
"Alright," Fluttershy conceded, "but you have to promise to behave and listen to Applejack."
"Yes," Luna shouted, wings fluttering as she hopped. "I promise I promise." She ran over to Applejack and grabbed her hoof. "Come on Applejack, come on. Let's go, let's go."
"Alright alright." Applejack let out a laugh as she allowed herself to be pulled toward the doors. "Y're a hyper little thing, ain't ya?"
The remaining two watched the cybernetic earth pony and the alicorn filly leave.
"Is she always like this?" Twilight asked.
"No," Fluttershy replied, "but to be fair, she has never left the castle -- to say nothing of Canterlot -- since I've taken care of her. So all this is probably very new and exciting for her.
"Okay. Well let's go meet with the town guard then." Twilight carefully put the scroll away and started walking.
There was no need for a guide since the guard command was based in the town hall as well, just in a different part. Twilight had noticed it when she had studied the board in the lobby. All they had to do was head back down to the ground floor and around to the back.
Soon the two reached an open door with Ponyville Town Guard written on it and Capt. L Heartstrings underneath it in smaller lettering. They could see a large wooden desk inside, and a chair that had its back turned toward them. Floating above the desk in an aura of orange magic was a lyre. Gentle music reached the pair as the strings were plucked by the mystical energy.
Fluttershy knocked on the door.
"Hello?"
The music stopped. Silently, the chair spun around, revealing a mint green unicorn dressed in a military uniform. The aura of her magic faded from her horn as she set the lyre down. Her golden eyes narrowed as she looked at the pair of ponies standing before her.
"Can I help you?"
Fluttershy and Twilight both shifted, neither feeling comfortable making eye contact.
"Uhm... Captain Heartstrings?" Fluttershy finally managed to ask, getting a nod in return. "We're from Canterlot and are her to check on security for The Spring Equinox Celebration."
"Well your timing is fortuitous then," Captain Heartstrings stated. "I am currently waiting for a status report on the matter myself."
"Excuse me," a scratchy voice, feminine voice called out from behind Fluttershy and Twilight Sparkle. Before either could respond, they were pushed aside by a pale blue pegasus in silver colored armor. A rainbow colored tail gave a flick as she reached the desk, setting down a set of papers.
"The security report, as requested," the pegasus said, giving a salute.
Captain Heartstrings glanced down at the report, picked it up, and held it as she looked back up at the guard before her. Heartstrings lips pursed as her eyes narrowed. She held the report toward the guard like it was a weapon.
"I expected you with this a few minutes ago, Sergeant."
"Sorry Captain," the guard said. "There was..." She stopped, bringing a hoof to her chin. "What's the word? Alter... Alter..."
"Altercation?" Twilight suggested.
"Yeah. There was one of those on the way-"
"You got in another fight?" Heartstrings asked.
"I wouldn't say that....ma'am." The guard shifted. "I came across some ponies fighting and decided to break it up. Technically I was only doing my job."
The captain dropped the report and slumped forward. She closed her eyes as she rubbed a hoof against her forehead.
"Why is it," she growled out, "that you seem to see nearly three times the action of any other town guard when you are 'doing your job?'"
The guard's magenta eyes gleamed with mischief as she smirked.
"Just dedication and a bit of luck... Captain."
"Well," the captain snapped, "you better watch it before your luck runs out. Understand me, Corporal?"
The guard opened her mouth, stopped, closed it, swallowed as her eyes went wide, and nodded.
"Ma'am, yes ma'am," she replied with a salute.
"Good." The captain smirked this time. "Dismissed."
The guard gave one more salute and turned to leave.
"Rainbow Dash?" Fluttershy asked, causing the guard to stop. Tilting her head, the blue pegasus looked at the yellow batpony.
"I've met you before, haven't I?"
"I'm Fluttershy. We met one summer at flight camp when we were both fillies."
Rainbow Dash let out a small gasp as her eyes went wide with recognition.
"Fluttershy!" she called out, grinning. "Wow I haven't seen you since then. I'm surprised you even remember me."
"Well," Fluttershy shifted, looking at her hooves. "You were kind of the only pony that was willing to be my friend, me being the only batpony there and all..."
Before the conversation could go any further, Captain Heartstrings cleared her throat.
"With all due respect: while I understand you two have not seen each other since foalhood, I would appreciate it if the reunion did not continue in my office. As for the report, it seems that everything is in order and and should be ready for Princess Temporal's arrival tomorrow. Would you care to hear more detail?"
"No thank you," Fluttershy replied. "We trust your competency and can take your word on it. Although I do have a small favor to ask. See, our guide is currently occupied elsewhere, and we need to get to Sugarcube Corner. Would it be alright if we borrowed Sergeant Rainbow Dash as an escort?"
"You heard them Sergeant," the captain stated. "You are to escort the Princess's representatives to Sugarcube Corner. Understood?"
"Yes, Captain," Rainbow Dash replied with a salute.
"Dismissed."
"Follow me, please."
Rainbow Dash left the office and headed down along the hallway. Fluttershy and Twilight Sparkle quickly fell into step behind her. As they walked, the pegasus looked over her shoulder at the batpony.
"So... you work for the princess now, huh?"