The radiant white alicorn stood infront of two of her most loyal subjects. The earthpony and pegasus bowed their head before her almost touching the ground with their muzzles. At this moment the world might as well not exist because all that mattered what the princess in front of them that started to speak in a concerned tone as if the fate of the nation was in danger:
"My ladies I wished I had not to send after you. There has occurred a problem that I need your aid with. I hope you forgive me the disturbance in your new lives."
Unisono the two mares replied: "My life is yours my liege. Dispose of me as you like." It made Celestia sad to see these ponies are still fully committed to her after all this years, that mean so much to their short lives. She almost wished they would have refused to appear before her.
"We received messages of the western border beyond the smokey mountains about a rampaging manticore. As the royal guards arrived the manticore was already handled with. A citizen of Equestria had single hoovendly saved the village."
Sweetie Drops and Daring Do had lifted asked their heads. The pegasus asked: "Why is that a problem?"
Celestias horn lit up in a golden magic aura as her face darkend a little.
"Because of the method!"
A giant boulder levitate in their sight. In the light of the aura examine the rock. Half of the face of a ferocious lion, the mane wild and vivid. Way to fine for even the skillest of all sculptor. This was not a statue but the remains of the manticore. Daring Do gasped:
"Petrifying...?"
"No, Miss Do. For ponykind, the petrification Magic is impossible to achive without the Elements of Harmony and only the magic of the Tree of Harmony can reverse its victims. Characteristically cockatrices avoid contact with ponykind this one had lost this trait. We are dealing with a domestic cockatrice."
The agents looked at the broken head of the manticore. They would not be here if this was an accident.
Your majesty,..." Sweetie Drops had run the situation in her mind and had started to wonder -"if that pony is that dangerous and only the magic of the Tree of Harmony can resist it. Why don´t you activate the Bearer of the Elements of Harmony?" Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends have been the go to solution for the most dangerous of situation for the last years.
"The master of the cocktrice is the earthpony Maudlin Latoya Pie. She is the beloved sister of Pinkamena Diane Pie, the Bearer of the Element of Optimism or Laughter as it is known today. If she is forced to fight her, to banish her or worse to kill her own sister. The element of Laughter could be silenced.-" Celestia took a deep breath before she continued, the following words seem to be a lot heavier to speak out even now more than a thousand years later -"When I banished Princess Luna, me and my sister lost the connection to the elements. We can not risk it happen again. Since the magic has become part of their bodies... Who knows if there will ever be another group that can wield this magic."
Celestia watched the room with sad eyes. The Anti Monster Agency for many centuries this had been the replacement for the Elements of Harmony. Hundrets of ponies willing to die for the nation. How much Celestia hated this place with all the sad memories. How much she hated the thought that she might have to re establish it. She had hoped to be able to close this chapter of her life, but once again her past followed her into the present.
Agent Sweetie Drop face entered a state of absolute disbelief: "Let me get this straight! We have to capture a cockatrice that is not afraid of ponies?"
Daring Do shaked her head: "Stealing a pet from an earthpony? Is the royal guard really not capable of that? Princess this looks small compared to Ahuizotl."
"You are not the first one to underestimate this task. This is what Maudlin Latoya Pie did to the last group that tried to take her pet away."
Pieces of stones, disembodied limbs, hooves and heads, flew alongside of pictures of the victims towards them.
"Is that...? Is that Cratos the Ancient Beast Dealer?"
Sweetie Drops and Daring Do looked at eachother in shock. He had been part of the agency. After the disbandment he had made monsterhunting his business and now he was nomore.
"I know I am asking the impossible of you, but if it is possible then Maudlin Latoya Pie has to survive this. You get anything you need to accomplish your task. Including theses."
Celestias horn lit up again and bringing forth some pieces of jewelry. Amulettes formed after the appearance of an alicorn and a red ruby in the center. Sweetie Drops backed off and shouted: "No! Not the Alicorn Amulett. I have seen what they do to ponies. The unicorn, Trixie has gone mad with their power."
Celestia smiled kindly and explained to her: "The Alicorn Amuletts were never designed to be used by unicorns. Their access to magic is too direct. Why do you think the Agency never had a single unicorn in their ranks but I have a School for gifted unicorns."