The armor weighed heavily on him, more than usual. He couldn’t figure out quite what for. A long day’s sleep and his usual routes had all been followed. He even had had an extra half hour of sleep.

The restlessness caused him to pace back and forth in front of the door. Luna was louder than usual in her studies. From the occasional word he picked up, he could make out something about Nightmare Moon. She had been obsessed with that topic since the day she had returned. He couldn’t do anything but assume that she wanted answers for something.

An unexpected sound came from the room she was in; the shattering of glass and a cry of pain. His instincts forced his body into action long before his mind caught up to the situation, bursting in the door with his horn lit. A figure, winged, was about to fly out of the window. Luna laid on the bed, not moving.

“Halt!” he shouted on instinct, erecting a barrier, preventing the attacker from escaping. “You’re no-”

Just as he grabbed the attacker by the arm, a purple beam of light sent him flying into the wall. His own barrier disappeared as he felt he lost consciousness. How could she?

The last thing he heard before it went black was a familiar voice, one of the other guards of the castle, shouting for medical attention for Luna.

**

“You’re absolutely sure about this?”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” he sat on his knees, in the throne room. Whomever of the court in the castle had been assembled for this hearing. “I got a good look at the would-be assassin. It was Princess Twilight Sparkle.”

He dared a glance up at the Sun Princess. Her otherwise regal expression was twisted into a scold.

“You do understand that I cannot accept such an allegation against the Crown without more than one man’s, however honorable, word? As of now, you are, until further notice stripped of your rank and are to make yourself subject to an investigation while the Royal Guard looks into the matter. If you were merely mistaken, or fate should have it that you are telling the truth, you will be reinstated with all your benefits and privileges intact. If you are found guilty of attempted perjury, you will spend the rest of your life in exile.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Princess!” someone ran into the room, shouting. “I just received word from the gates that the Princess was seen leaving town. They tried to apprehend her for questioning, but she overpowered them.”

Celestia’s expression went from a scold to disbelief. For the first time in his years as a guard, he saw her speechless. Everyone were quiet.

“Very well,” the Sun Princess regained her posture. “Rise, Knight-Sergeant Hen Runner, your station is from this moment reinstated. And further I decree that the fugitive, Twilight Sparkle, is hereby stripped of her royal duties and privileges. Spread the word to the law-enforcers of Equestria that should she be spotted, she is to be arrested on sight. If she will not come willingly, I authorize the use of whatever non-lethal force necessary to subdue her, or to stall her long enough for the Royal Guard to arrive. As the crime requires a full investigation, she is not, under any circumstances, to be killed before she can stand trial here in Canterlot.”

“Your Majesty!” another interruption came. “Your- your sister, her conditioned worsened. We discovered too late that her wound was poisoned. She- she didn’t make it.”

The Sun Princess disappeared before Hen Runner’s eyes. He knew that she would never accept the news of Luna’s death without making absolutely sure they were right. He got to his feet and started to head for the exit. Spoken or not, his orders were clear: Capture Twilight Sparkle, whatever the cost.