The group of ponies and one dragon spent the next day at the castle. The princesses wanted Lightning Jolt and her two new friends close and under the watch of her most trusted guards. Lightning Jolt was obvious the intended target and Ember Light and Valentine would likely have also been added to this list since they were witnesses. The search for the suspects and interrogation of the guards so far had turned up nothing more than the missing armor. They had already interviewed all of the guards in and around Canterlot and were spreading out to remote posts.
Twilight and the others had no need to stay but stayed anyway. Twilight took Lightning Jolt, Valentine and Ember Light on a tour of the castle with their guard escort following along. Where ever the trio went the guards were always there with them for the princesses were going to take no chances. Twilight had wanted to show them Canterlot but Princess Celestia didn't want them to go out in public where they would be an easy target. The thing about crowds is that your assassin could be right nearby and you would never know it. Twilight and the trio decided that this was probably the wisest course of action though Lightning Jolt like Ember Light and Valentine hoped that this would not last long. The castle was nice but they didn't want to be trapped in it.
Twilight ended up showing them Canterlot from high windows and balcony views. The trio found that they could point their hoof to just about any building in sight and Twilight could name them as well as go on about their history. Apparently she had read the entire history of Canterlot from the important stories to the foot notes. It was beyond Lightning Jolt's comprehension just how she could remember it all.
From one of the windows they spotted members of the New Wave group that Valentine and Ember Light had mentioned. They were on one of the squares holding their rallies. Twilight grumbled in disgust when she saw them. Valentine and Ember Light tried explaining them to Lightning Jolt but Twilight kept interrupting.
"Come on Twilight, so a few of them don't like the idea of a monarchy. It doesn't make them all bad. I mean their main intent is to make thins better for all ponies." Valentine tried to placate her but Twilight simply went into a rant again. The trio let it drop and continued on the tour on the other side of the castle.
Lightning Jolt made a mental note to check these ponies out when she got the chance. They sounded quite interesting.
Aside from the tours there wasn’t much to do at the castle except wait. It wasn’t bad though being able to hang out with all of one's friends and dining at the royal castle was quite a treat. Two of the meals were even with the royal sisters. They talked about everything except the issues at hand. In the atmosphere one could almost forget why they were here and for a while they did.
* * *
In the early morning, a couple hours before dawn Lightning Jolt was shifting in her sleep as her mind played out a dream. As transitions from places and events faded into one another as they never would in reality her dreaming mind never took note. Somehow she had gotten from flying practice with Rainbow Dash to trotting around the castle. She could hear her friends muttering nonsensical phrases but she couldn’t find them. As she searched the castle trying to follow the sound of their voices she began to feel a heavy weight pressing down on her. As she walked into the empty dining room it finally pressed her flat to the floor. She twisted her head back to look and saw the problem. No wonder she couldn’t get up. Princess Celestia was sitting on her instead of a chair. Why couldn't she tell the difference?
Lightning Jolt squirmed but she couldn’t get out from under the much larger pony. She tried saying something but her voice came out garbled and her mouth would just not work right. No matter what she did Princess Celestia never took notice and just keep on eating her meal as Lightning Jolt's friends whom she still could not see continued to mutter nonsense and....growled?
She finally woke herself up with her kicking legs. She blinked in the dim light as it took her a few moments for her waking mind to realize reality. She was laying on the floor of her room with her friends all around her. Some were muttering in their sleep or snoring, the growling from the dream. Twilight and Pinkie Pie was laying across her back and pinning her to the floor. She chuckled at her dream then started wiggling her way out from under them. It took some work getting free without waking them but she finally did it. She stretched and popped her back to get out the stiffness one gets from having two ponies sleeping on top of you most of the night. She walked to the window and cracked a shutter to peer out. The night would be over soon but it was still way too early to be up. The problem was that Lightning Jolt was quite awake and she also had to go to the little filly's room. She headed to the door and pushed it open. Just as she expected there were four guards standing outside. Their heads turned to the door as it swung open.
"Yes, miss Lightning Jolt?" One inquired.
"Just in need of the washroom. She replied. They nodded and two followed as she headed down the hall while the others stayed guarding the door.
The castle was grand and large which made it impressive but also created a problem. When one wanted to go anywhere like the little filly’s room it was always a bit of a walk. She soon fell into a quicker trot to get there before she felt like exploding. When she came out the two guard were standing outside and fell into step behind her. Perhaps it was because of her first experience but she found it creepy to have two guards following her where ever she went. Did the princesses ever feel that way? Though, while they did have guards all around the castle and going places with them most of the time they hardly needed them for protection. What could defeat fifty guards the princesses could easily take out. They probably only escorted them for appearances. Other than that their purpose was probably more for the fact that the princesses could only be in one place at one time. the two of them couldn't guard or police every portion of the castle and Equestria at one time so the guards had to fill in.
"What are you doing out so late...or early?" A voice that she had heard before interrupted. It was Shining Armor, Twilight's brother. She had introduced him to her. He was normally with his wife at the Crystal Empire but had come at the princess’s request since he was their most trusted guard.
"Just..you know, going to the little filly’s room." She replied.
"Alright I was just coming to check on things and join the guard for a few hours." He said falling into step beside her.
"Is something wrong?" Lightning Jolt asked worried that the would be assassins had shown up.
"No, it's just that I've learned that if somepony wants to make a sneak attack or slip into a guarded place that these hours are the best time." He responded. "Often with the close approach of morning ponies tend to believe that the danger of the night is over and just look forward to dawn. It's very hard not to do. That gives a pony a window of opportunity to slip in wile the guards are more relaxed and still have the cover of darkness. I came last night to help keep watch as well."
“So, still no clue just why their after me?” Lightning Jolt asked.
"No, nopony has been able to figure out who or why but we are still looking. I think that either somepony has something against you or more likely they don't want to remember something."
Lightning Jolt shrugged. "We could just tell them that it doesn’t look like I ever will."
Shining Armor laughed. "I don't think that would work. Don't give up hope though. You just may get it back yet."
Lightning Jolt was about to reply that it was not such a big deal to her when one of the guards gave a shout and Shining Armor tackled her. As they hit the floor light flashed though the corridor and she her heard magic crackling in the air. Shining Armor leapt up and he and the guard raced past her at some opponent.
Lighting Jolt sat up and saw nine ponies battling in the dark corridor. Light flashed as spells were cast and metal clanged as hoofs struck armor. She yelped and jerked back as a spear was flung out of the chaos and landed inches from her.
There were two other ponies standing so still that they might have been statues. They were on either side of the door so they had to be the other guards. That meant Shining Armor and the other two guards were outnumbered badly. That only lasted a few seconds though. The door to the room was flung open and her friends tumbled out with a mix of confused shouts and war cries. They managed to quickly take stock of the situation and rush in, except for Fluttershy who huddled in the doorway trying to muster up courage.
The invading ponies who appeared to be powerful unicorns still fought back but only for a moment. A window at the end of the hall was smashed in and Princess Luna flew inside. "Who dares attack ponies inside my castle?" She roared in an enraged voice and charged down the hall with her horn lighting up.
Knowing that they had met impossible odds the unicorns vanished in a quick flash of light. Luna skidded to a stop and stomped her hoof on the floor. "Cowards! Next time I will make sure that you do not escape!" She snapped. Then her horn flashed and all the torches along the walls lit up. "Is everypony alright?"
Shining Armor and his two guards had taken a few hits but nothing serious. The two guards at the door were still trapped in a freezing spell which Luna undid.
"I believe that we hast become too confident in this castle." Luna said and turned to Lightning Jolt. "I wish now that thou had not made such a public return for then we could pretend that thou hast never been found. That would have made thee much safer. It's too late now and everypony knows that we are safe keeping thee at the castle. That is a problem but we shalt turn it into an advantage. We have an idea."