Radiant Dawn and Lightning Dust were standing in a corridor near the throne room.
"So how'd it go, Lightning?" asked Radiant.
"I got a promotion!" said Lightning. "Now I'm a 2nd Lieutenant. Now I can train and find new recruits for the Shadowbolts."
"Well, that's great!" said Radiant. "So what're you gonna do now?"
"Well, there's a new training exercise later tonight." said Lightning. "I think I'm gonna get ready for it, when I start training everypony."
"Good luck, Lightning." said Radiant Dawn.
Lightning Dust hovered into the air, and licked Radiant affectionately on the cheek.
"See ya later, my Saddle Arabian dreamboat!" she said slyly, before flying around the corner.
Radiant blushed for a moment, then turned around. He wound up bumping into Shining Armor.
"Oops, sorry!" Radiant said as soon as he recognized who he collided with.
"It's okay, Radiant." said Shining Armor. "I was a little distracted myself."
"Why, is something on your mind?" asked Radiant.
"Yeah, the Equestria Games are what's on my mind." said Shining Armor. "I just got back from supervising the Vanhoover relay team. Boy, were they a lot to deal with. Then again, an all-gryphon team is gonna be a lot for anypony to work with."
"Shame that we don't have too many pegasi living in that town." agreed Radiant Dawn. "I have a feeling they'd be a lot easier...by the way, you didn't have any trouble with a certain gryphon named...Gilda...did you?"
"Well, they was this one female gryphon watching the exercises that complained to me that a gryphon should've been the one supervising the relay team."
"Yeah, that does seem like something she'd do." commented Radiant.
"Why, do you know her?" asked Shining Armor.
"Yeah, I used to date her for a few days." said Radiant. "I'd rather not talk about it, though. You understand, right?"
"No problem, Radiant." said Shining Armor. "By the way, I just got a letter from my sister telling me she made friends with your sister!"
"That's pretty good to know, huh?" asked Radiant.
"It sure is!" said Shining Armor. "And you and Sunset finally found both of your parents, right?"
"That's right." confirmed Radiant.
"My and Twilight's parents live here in town." said Shining Armor. "I was wondering if maybe they'd like to...you know...meet each other?"
"I think it would be great." said Radiant. "By the way, I haven't seen Flash Sentry around lately..."
"That's because I sent him back to the Crystal Empire to help supervise the preparations for the Equestria Games." said Shining Armor.
"Excuse me, gentlecolts?" said a rough voice.
"Ah, Captain Star Shield!" said Radiant, turning around.
"I trust that you two are having a pleasant afternoon?" asked Star Shield, looking as grim as usual.
"A very pleasant afternoon, sir." said Radiant, with a salute.
"At ease, lieutenant." said Star Shield.
"We were just talking about your son." said Shining Armor.
"Is that so?" asked Star Shield. "And what makes Flash the object of interest for today?"
"Wait a minute..." said Radiant Dawn. "Flash Sentry's your son?"
"That's right." said Star Shield.
"That's...interesting." said Radiant. "How come I didn't know that until just now?"
"Well, it's because I prefer to keep things on a professional level." explained Star Shield. "I must treat my guards as potential equals. If I were to acknowledge that my own son was a guard, that would inspire favoritism."
"Yeah, Flash would keep requesting more and more promotions." agreed Shining Armor, talking to Radiant. "He only made lieutenant because he earned the rank, and not because he happens to be the former captain's kid."
"Okay, I guess that's a good point." said Radiant. "But how come I got to be a lieutenant so quickly? It's not because I happen to be the brother of Sunset Shimmer, is it?"
"Because I could tell you had much untapped potential in you, lieutenant." said Star Shield. "Though I'm going to be honest and reveal something: I initially only intended for you to be a lieutenant for the duration of the Fillydelphia crisis. After that, you only would have been a sergeant again."
"So what changed your mind?" asked Radiant, curiously.
"Because I had a feeling that I wouldn't be alive for long and I wanted a worthy successor to be at the ready if I were to....expire." said Star Shield.
"Wow, I never thought of it that way." said Radiant. "So I guess you're expecting me to fill your horseshoes if for whatever reason, you were...unable to continue?"
"More or less." said Star Shield. "Well, I think I'd better get myself ready for the night shift. See you two later tonight."
And then he turned and left. Radiant stood there, puzzled.
"Well, I sure feel bad for slacking off now." said Radiant. "I mean, if he was expecting so much of me, I would've really taken my job seriously."
"Don't feel bad about it, Radiant." said Shining Armor. "He pretty much did the same routine with me."
"Doesn't really make me feel better about it." said Radiant.
"Just do things as you usually do." said Shining Armor. "Star Shield's not expecting you to be an eleven out of ten or anything like that. He didn't expect it with me when I was his lieutenant, and I don't expect Flash Sentry to be like that, either."
"Good point, Shiny." said Radiant.
Sunset Shimmer was walking down one of the streets of Canterlot, whistling a song. Suddenly, a very tall stallion rushed past her, causing her to spin dizzily in place.
"Hey! Buddy!" Sunset yelled after him, once she got a hold of herself.
She galloped after him. She noticed that the stallion was wearing a billowy tan cloak and a few pieces of armor here and there.
"Slow down, what's the rush?!" she shouted.
The stallion stopped, and turned around. He had a dark brown coat with matching eyes, and a short curly black mane.
"I must get to Princess Celestia as soon as possible!" said the stallion. "Can you take me to Canterlot Castle?"
"Sure, just follow me!" said Sunset.
Sunset lead the stallion to the palace, and they went into the throne room together.
"Princess Celestia, this stallion's been looking for you!" Sunset said in advance.
"Thank you, Sunset Shimmer." said Princess Celestia. "Very well, stranger. You may tell me what you wish."
"I am a paladin from Saddle Arabia." said the stallion. "Our capital city of Mareusalem has been seized by a tyrant known as King Nelphyn."
Princess Celestia's eyes widened.
"Then it is as I feared." she said. "Thank you for informing me of this."
"Can anything be done for my people?" asked the paladin.
"If the timing and circumstances were right, I would have flown there myself with the Elements of Harmony in tow to once again defeat Nelphyn. But unfortunately, the Elements of Harmony are no more."
"But you are an alicorn!" said the paladin, confused. "Surely, your own magic could be able to defeat King Nelphyn!"
"On his own, I certainly could." said Celestia. "But King Nelphyn has access to the Alicorn Amulet, one of the most dangerous magical charms known to ponykind. With its magical properties, he could potentially rival even my own powers."
"Are you sure about this, princess? I never heard of anyone that could take on an alicorn princess!"
"I'm afraid I'm not as unbeatable as many make me out to be." said Celestia. "Even I know my limitations."
"Is there anything that can be done, though?" asked the paladin. "Alicorn Amulet or not, King Nelphyn must be stopped before all of Saddle Arabia is engulfed in turmoil!"
"Indeed, there is something I can do." said Celestia. "I will send an elite brigade of royal guards with you back to Saddle Arabia. Even if Mareusalem cannot be saved, I can still ensure that the other cities of your land won't share its fate."
"Wait a minute." said Sunset finally. "Nelphyn's in the right position to take over an entire nation, and you're just gonna send a few guards?"
"I'm afraid that's all that can be done at this point." said Celestia. "Equestria may be King Nelphyn's next target, and it will need its own guards and princesses to defend it from any threat Nelphyn presents to its citizens. Me and Luna must stay to maintain order in Canterlot, and continue to raise the sun and moon. Princess Cadence and Shining Armor will need to stay in the Crystal Empire. Most of the world leaders are already there for the Equestria Games, including the delegates of Saddle Arabia. And King Nelphyn could seize this opportunity to sabotage the games and put them all in danger."
"What about Princess Twilight and her friends?" asked Sunset, curiously. "By the sound of things, they've saved Ponyville alone from certain disaster at least a dozen times! And that's not getting into Nightmare Moon, Discord, King Sombra, the Plunderseeds, and...me."
"I don't doubt Twilight Sparkle's abilities as a princess, but I'm afraid that even she will be out of her league against a tyrant of King Nelphyn's magnitude."
"But she's dealt with the Alicorn Amulet before!" said Sunset.
"Yes, but she was not able to remove the amulet herself when Miss Lulamoon wore it." said Celestia. "And King Nelphyn will have many decades of experience where it, while Trixie only had it on her for a couple of days."
"But still, couldn't you try sending...I don't know...somepony that has experience with magical artifacts like the Alicorn Amulet?"
"You wouldn't be referring to yourself, would you?" asked Celestia.
"Well, not necessarily..." hesitated Sunset.
"Sunset..."
"Look, even if I was referring to myself, I'd probably be one of the most qualified--non-royalty--magic users in Equestria today that could deal with the Alicorn Amulet." said Sunset quickly. "I've faced King Nelphyn before!"
"And barely escaped him--and back to Equestria--with your life." said Celestia.
"But that was in the human world!" said Sunset. "You know I couldn't use my magic there! Or I could, if I had some magical artifact to channel it out. I bet that in this world, I could hoof-to-hoof with this guy with my own magical skills!"
"Sunset, I don't doubt you at all." said Celestia. "But I'm just not sure that this would be a good idea. Like I said, I needed the Elements of Harmony the last time I battled King Nelphyn, and all they managed to do was remove the Alicorn Amulet from his neck. They didn't even do a thing to alter his personality."
"Well, then we'll have to find a way to beat him without the Elements of Harmony." said Sunset. "And I think I might be able to do just that."
Celestia sighed.
"We will have to discuss this later." said Celestia. "I will talk about what should be done for Saddle Arabia with my sister tonight. I'm sure she could help me devise a solution. In the mean-time, Sunset Shimmer, you're dismissed. Now I have to find our guest a place to sleep."
"Okay, princess." said Sunset, reluctantly. "See ya tonight, then?"
"See you tonight." said Celestia.