Brisk Wind has been talking to Princess Celestia in the palace courtroom for the past few hours after her conversation with Shining Armor. As suspected, Celestia did not take the news of Roar Shock’s survival lightly, nor did she like the fact that Brisk Wind had brought that to her attention rather than Shining Armor. With such terrible news, and the method of how it was delivered, the Princess of the Sun's attitude has effectively been soiled, leaving her regal appearance covered in the manure of anger, disappointment, fear and possibly depression. However, despite seeing the alicorn fighting to keep herself calm, Brisk Wind cannot help but smile on the inside.

“Your Majesty, I know the Royal Guard has failed for the most part,” starts Brisk Wind, “but there is still a way out of this mess. We can capture Roar Shock if you put more funding in the EIB and CDA.”

“The Royal Guard has not failed for the most part, Director,” says Celestia. “They eradicated most of the League of Justice's fighting forces with a single operation.”

“Yes, with the aide of the EIB and information gathered from the operations of our Civilian Defense Agency sector.”

“Which Shining Armor is questioning how you obtained such information so swiftly.”

“Is he accusing me of foul play? Because if he is, I assure you, Your Majesty, that I am loyal to Harmony and the future of this nation, and every act I take, I take to protect others from discord. How can I be loyal to Harmony if I am... uncouth?”

Celestia sighs and presses her back against her throne. “Brisk Wind, being a guardian is just as dangerous as being a villain. You could very easily become the monster you are fighting if you feel your cause is just enough. I have seen it too many times, with one being a very close friend of mine and another my own sister many centuries ago.”

Brisk Wind swallows and bows her head slightly. “I promise you, Celestia, I am not as bad as Shining Armor says I am.”

“For your sake, I hope you're honest. Now if you'll please exit the throne room. I am about to have yet another important meeting.”

“But what about more funding for the EIB and the CDA?”

Celestia merely stares at Brisk Wind silently with an unimpressed frown, and the pegasus steps back and nervously clears her throat.

“Right. Wait and see. I'll get going, now.”

Around thirty minutes later, Brisk Wind pushes open a set of double doors and marches furiously through a long, rectangular room filled with ponies sitting at oak desks, filling out boring paperwork. No one notices her crabby mood, however. They are all too busy working at their desks, complete with their own private light and ceiling fan to keep them cool.

As Brisk Wind heads to her office, she takes a look at the seal of the EIB that has been painted on the wall. She designed it herself, choosing to keep it simple with a hexagon that has orbs on the corners colored as the Element Bearer's coat colors with an olive branch on either side. Unfortunately for her, though, as she marvels at her design, she runs right into her door, which gets everyone to stop and look at her. However, a sharp glare from her gets everyone working again, and when the sounds of scribbling and shuffling papers fill the silence, she grits her teeth and hastily unlocks her door.

“Figures,” mutters Brisk Wind.

Brisk Wind slips inside her office, slams her door shut and goes to her almost totally bare, imported desk. She sits on her fluffy, spinning chair and stares at a black and white photo on her desk in silence. The photo is of her and three dozen other pegasi sitting in front of a simple cloud building that has a Cloudsdale Orphanage sign hanging behind them, with the staff next to the group on either side. Everyone is smiling, including Brisk Wind, but she still remembers how painful it was to act like Hell was Heaven when the picture was taken.

“Still mad about how nopony took you in?” asks Lock.

Brisk Wind glances up from the picture and sees Agent Lock N. Key standing in the doorway, carrying a stuffed saddle with his EIB badge hanging around his neck on the outside of his suit.

Brisk Wind pushes the picture down and rests her head on her hoof, staring at the blank white wall next to her. “Who wouldn’t be, Lock?”

“You should burn that picture so you aren’t constantly torturing yourself.”

Brisk Wind scowls at Lock. “Then you burn it.”

“Not my past to burn.”

Brisk Wind rolls her eyes, and Lock closes the door and approaches her desk as he levitates a folder out of his saddle.

“In regards to burnings, the mission was a success,” says Lock.

Lock uses his magic to flip open the folder and turn it so Brisk Wind will not have to look at it upside down, and she smiles when she sees the picture of a familiar mare, dead in an alley from three gashes in her neck. Next to the gruesome picture is a profile of the nurse that injected Trixie with the toxin during her interrogation.

“Nurse Goldheart was fatally robbed in an alley by a narco-user,” states Lock, his tone implying that it was anything but that.

Brisk Wind tuts. “Poor, poor, Goldheart. I kinda liked her. She was such a pushover... Please tell me that her damage has been contained.”

“Her apartment was searched and everything she had against the EIB was shredded and burned.”

“Excellent.”

“So, what do we do now?”

Brisk Wind slides under her desk to put the folder in a safe built into the floor, and she speaks again when she is back in her seat. “Keep finding out who’s been talking to Captain Armor and take care of them. And do try to keep the fatalities to a minimum. It’s suspicious enough that a whistle blower suddenly died.”

“As much as I am flattered in your confidence of my abilities, I will still need help in this matter.”

“Get our friends to help you. Equestria's survival depends on the EIB and CDA, and we cannot let it be hindered in any way.”

Lock nods. “Of course. But Captain Sparkle did witness what you did to Trixie in Singsong. How will we handle that? We cannot just kill him or bully him into not talking.”

“Just keep Shining Armor's witnesses quiet. As for the Captain, himself? Well, we've got our mutual friend that'll help me handle him.”

Lock stiffens and his disciplined demeanor breaks into nervousness. "You better not be talking about who I think you are talking about."

Brisk Wind smirks. "I am."

Lock frowns and places his hooves on her desk, looking deep into her eyes with fear and anger infecting every part of him. "Brisk Wind, I told you he was bad news!"

Brisk Wind frowns. "He wants Equestria saved as much as we do, Lock."

"No he doesn't! He-" Lock stops himself, sighs, then slides his hoofs off of the desk and runs his hoof through his mane. "This pony that contacted us is not who he says he is and does not want what he told us. He's dangerous, and you just put everything we are working for in jeopardy."

"Your paranoia is dully noted. Now leave and let me work. I got Harmony to perfect."

Lock stares at Brisk Wind, and she stares back, unwavering and eyes getting colder by the second. When the seconds seem to crawl to minutes, Lock sighs submissively and heads to the door, stopping when he has it opened and he looks at Brisk Wind from over his shoulder.

"For your sake, as well as mine, I hope you get rid of him before he gets rid of us," says Lock.

Brisk Wind waves. "Bye, Lock."

Lock snorts and slams the door shut behind him, and Brisk Wind sighs, reclines in her seat and rubs her eyes.

"Oh, why does everything have to be so dramatic these days?"

Trixie and Minty Sprinkles approach the throne room with brisk steps from down the decorated hall, with Minty carrying a bag of chocolate and caramel candies. Trixie is certain that Minty would not be so much in a rush had they not been interrogated at the security booth at the entrance because of her lack of ID and the fact that she looks like she has been in a fight or two. To make it worse, after Minty quite literally spelled out that Trixie does not have an ID, they and their mode of transportation was searched, found to be clean and then let go. Unfortunately because they were searched, all the good spots were taken and they had to park at the very top of a parking garage and speed walk. Now, here they are, half galloping-half trotting down the royal hallway, passing Royal Guards in their improved armor, royal accountants, politicians and interns in their fancy suits, and royal janitors in their grungy jumpsuits. All of which are giving them royally confusing looks.

Trixie is thankful that they are not stopped because Minty has been spewing about running behind the whole time and she is fairly certain that the mare will flip out if they are stopped again. When they round the corner, Minty sighs with relief upon seeing that there is no line, but Trixie's steps slow considerably and she groans loudly.

“Oh, no.”

“What?” says Minty.

Trixie points ahead at a group of three stallions in armor at the throne entrance. “Its my ex.”

Minty looks at the stallions, one of each race and each wearing golden armor, and she specifically looks at the unicorn. “Him? I thought you said your ex wasn't ugly.”

“No, not him.” Trixie points to the pegasus, who has a gamboge coat and a blue mane. “Him.”

Minty looks at the pegasus, who is busy talking to the earth pony guard about what has to be a work related subject. “Him? Ooh, he's eye candy.”

Trixie glares at Minty. “Really? You're eyeballing my ex?”

Minty looks at Trixie. “What, he's good looking. Plus, I can totally eyeball him since there's a six month rule with exes, and its been how long?”

“Twelve years.”

“Even better... Wait, have you been single for twelve years?”

Trixie's eye twitches, but before Minty can say anything, a stallion calls Trixie, and the two mares turn and realize just how close they are to the entrance when the pegasus approaches them with an uneasy smile. The pieces of his gold plated armor clank together and gleam in the light, like the turquoise star on his vest. The armor looks thicker, however, and he is wearing a slender battle saddle with a radio pack, and when he is close enough, Trixie notices that “Sentry” and his blue shield and yellow lightning bolt cutie mark has been printed on his armor, just above his heart.

“Wow, it's been a while. How have you been?” asks the stallion.

“My day was getting better until I saw you, Flash,” says Trixie, beating the stallion's smile down to a frown.

“Wow, you've changed for the worst.”

The air immediately turns to stone as the two ponies stare at each, linked by pure hatred and their thoughts suffocating from the loathing of fate bringing them together. Their eyes narrow and Trixie feels her muscles twitching and her fur bristling while Flash ruffles his feathers.

Minty and the two guards exchange looks, and the colorful mare forces herself between the two. Specifically close to Flash with her hoof extending to touch his equipment.

“Trixie's just had a bad day, is all. This is some cool gear, by the way,” says Minty in a feeble attempt to lighten the mood.

Flash holds up a hoof, effectively blocking Minty's advance. “Don't touch the gear. And I'll need to see some identification, please.”

Minty retreats a couple of steps. “Look, I'm running late to see the Princess, so can you move outta the way and-”

“No. I need to see some ID from both of you.”

“You know who I am,” sneers Trixie.

“Rules are rules.”

“You're just being an ass.”

“You should talk.”

Minty and the two guards exchange looks, and the parole officer slides between the two ponies to act as a fleshy barrier. “Trixie does not have an ID at the moment.”

“Why not?” says Flash.

“Because-”

“Don't tell him!” blurts Trixie.

Minty huffs. “Because reasons.” She then holds up her badge. “But look at this. See, I'm Minty Sprinkles, candy associate of Princess Celestia here to bring Trixie Lulamoon to see her as per royal request, and we kinda got a little behind so you need to scoot out of the way and let us in, pronto!”

Trixie raises a brow at Minty, and Flash studies the badge, then looks at the unicorn guard, who is flipping through a levitated log book. When he finds what he is looking for, he closes the book and nods to Flash.

“She's in here, as well as a Trixie Lulamoon, sir,” says the unicorn.

Flash goes over and double checks, then he sighs and looks at the mares, apparently really loathing his day, now. “So it seems.”

“So, how's Miss Ketchup and Mustard doing? Does she still have poor taste?” asks Trixie.

Flash frowns. “Sunset Shimmer was unfaithful, so she's gone, now.”

“Ha! Serves you right, you butt-wipe!”

Flash rolls his eyes and opens the door. “Whatever. Just get in there and see what Celestia wants.”

Trixie sticks her nose in the air and walks forward with Minty. “I will.”

“Fine.”

“Fine.”

“Fine!”

“FINE!” The door slams shut behind the two mares and Trixie scoffs, flicks her mane and trots towards the throne. “Dick.”

“That went downhill fast. Was he seriously that bad?” asks Minty.

Trixie frowns. “Between his ROTC stuff, band practice, math club, racing, calligraphy courses, tutoring, working at the library, community service, being a teacher's assistant, geek stuff and learning Spanish and Nieghponese, he did not have enough time for me.”

“Wow.”

“But he sure found plenty of time to rut Sunset Bitchface behind my back. So, I took his guitar, smashed it over his head and then I lit all of his stuff on fire.”

Minty's eyes bulge. “Were you arrested for that?”

“Nope. My father somehow got the situation solved without bringing the courts in. It was the only good thing he d-ehhhh-d... Whoa~”

Trixie’s jaw drops when she actually registers the grandeur of the throne room. The chamber can easily fit hundreds of ponies; the large, decorative, storytelling stained glass color the rays of sunlight in cheerful colors; and a good portion of the polished tiles on the floor are blocked by the thick, velvety rug that stretches from the base of the throne all the way to the double doors. Trixie cannot see the details of the throne just yet, but she does marvel at the white pillars and their golden bases that line the walls.

Celestia chuckles. “Like what you see?”

“Uh huh,” says Trixie dumbly.

“Oh, she loves it!” says Minty enthusiastically. “Just look at her face! I mean it’s exactly like everypony else that walked in here for the first time!”

Trixie’s eyes glide towards Celestia and is once again stunned by beauty. The slender alicorn is easily the tallest pony in Equestria. Her almost white, pale pink coat has a small glow to it and her light, multi-colored mane and tail flutter freely from raw magical power. Even her posture is majestic! The way she sits and the way her magenta eyes stare at them show a loving mother waiting to hear from a visiting child. However, the thing Trixie finds the most astonishing about Celestia is the armor she’s wearing. The golden armor is laced with gorgeous leafy patterns that surround a lavender gem, adding to her shine and making her figure look all the more beautiful. Only when Celestia awkwardly clears her throat does Trixie avert her eyes and offer a sharp bow. Minty doe the same, but her bowing is more graceful than Trixie's swift, robotic motions.

“You may rise,” says Celestia.

The two ponies stand, and Celestia smiles apologetically down at them from her vantage point.

“I'm sorry, normally I will put more time into talking with invited guests, but seeing as how you two are late and that I do not have much time, I will have to make this quick,” says the Princess. “Minty Sprinkles, are you up to the task of being Trixie Beatrix Lulamoon's parole officer for the needed duration of the Rehabilitation Program?”

“Of course I am,” replies Minty.

“Do you swear to uphold the law and guide Trixie to become a better citizen of Equestria for one full year?”

“Yep.”

“Very good.” Celestia turns to Trixie. “And Trixie Beatrix Lulamoon, do you swear to obey all of Officer Minty Sprinkles’ orders within reason for the duration of your one full year in the Rehabilitation Program?”

Trixie nods. “I do.”

“Do you swear to write me a letter every day chronicling what you did?”

“...I... do? Yes, yes I do.”

“Very good. You two are now dismissed.”

Trixie’s jaw goes slack and she stares at the Princess with a mixed bag of annoyance and confusion. She turns to Minty in hopes of getting an answer, only to find her parole officer casually strolling to the exit of the courtroom. Trixie looks back and forth between the Princess and Minty, making odd sounds as she struggles to form a coherent sentence, causing the other two to look at her curiously. When the released convict is able to piece together some words, she glares at Celestia.

“That’s it?” asks Trixie.

“Yes,” replies Celestia. “Like I said, normally these events would be longer, but, unfortunately I do not have time to make this occasion 'cool'.”

“Bullshit!”

Trixie marches towards the throne with a fire in her eyes, and Celestia simply sighs and reclines in her seat, patiently waiting out the storm.

“I want answers about what's going on and I want them now!” demands Trixie furiously, her voice echoes in the empty courtroom.

Minty gallops to Trixie’s side and tries to push her towards the door. “Okay, that’s enough, Trixie. It’s time to go.”

Trixie shrugs Minty away and starts up the steps with even more determination for answers. “No, this whole thing is stupid! I want to know what's going on and nopony is telling me anything!”

Celestia sighs and calmly points to the throne room doors. “Minty Sprinkles, could you please leave the throne room so I may have a word with Trixie in private?”

Minty reluctantly nods, drops off the bag of candy she brought in, and leans close to Trixie's ear. “You done goofed, girl.”

Then she gallops out of the room, but Trixie does not turn to watch her go. Instead she keeps her eyes on the goddess, only flinching slightly when the doors open and slam shut. Celestia keeps staring at Trixie, and barely moves her focus when she summons a day planner and pen and scribbles something down.

“Well, Kibitz is not going to be happy that I'm late for a meeting with Mr. Shimsham. And it is all because you-” Celestia closes and teleports her book away “-could not accept that you were released from prison. Why is that?”

“Hey, I'm the one asking questions around here!” shouts Trixie defiantly.

Trixie is suddenly blasted off of the stairs by a pulse of golden energy, and she lands on her back on the floor, wincing and groaning as her ears ring and a pain ripples all over her back. When her eyes open, her vision is blurry, but she sees just enough to see Celestia making her way down the steps. Slow and steady. Wings spread and a fire smoldering in her eyes.

“Last I checked, I am the one who rules this nation and commands the sun,” says Celestia.

Trixie whimpers and tries backing up, but golden chains wrap around her body and squeeze her tight, forcing the air out of her to where her lungs are squished and her throat is aching from failed cries of help.

“And last I checked, you have been charged with terrorism and the murder of Pinkie Pie, whom was a close friend of mine,” continues Celestia.

She then drags Trixie all the way to her so that she is looking down on the unicorn, and she places her armored hoof on the unicorn's chest. Even though she is barely touching, Trixie can still feel the weight on her, like a one ton anvil being held up by a string of thread, and she looks up at Celestia's burning eyes, whimpering and shaking with tears snaking down her cheeks.

“So what makes you think you are in charge?” finishes Celestia with cracks appearing in the purple gem on her breastplate.

When Trixie's only response is a terrified sniffle, Celestia slowly steps away and releases the chains holding her.

“Your silence says plenty, so now that our roles are officially established, we can have a decent conversation,” says Celestia while returning to her throne. After she sits, she continues. “Now, what is that you wanted to ask before your poor attitude set us back?”

Trixie hesitantly rolls on her stomach and looks up at the Sun Goddess with drooped ears and beady eyes. “Why me?”

Celestia raises her brow. “Why you?”

“Of all the murderers, rapists, thieves, and other lowlives in Singsong you picked me to be released. You picked me to be reintroduced into society even though my actions are horrible. Some might say I am beyond saving... And I think you and I are some of them. So, why did you let me out of Singsong?”

Celestia hesitates. “Trixie, you were chosen because of potential. Nothing more, nothing less. Now wait outside while I have a private word with Minty Sprinkles.”

“But I-I killed one of the Elements of Harmony, and now you're just letting me go. I don’t see how that makes any sense!”

Celestia’s eyes narrow. “It does not have to make sense to you. It does not even make sense to me, because I wanted to put on a remote island in the middle of the ocean, but a pony whom I trust very much sees something in you and has begged me to release you. I released you under the Rehabilitation Program as a favor for her, not for you, so take this opportunity with a grain of salt and do not make us regret this.”

“But I just don’t understand why you would even consider letting somepony like me have a second chance. I mean I killed the Element of Laughter and-”

Celestia holds up her hoof. “Trixie, stop right there. I know what you did and like I said, my original decision was much more severe than what you faced in Singsong. But one thing you must understand is that you did not kill the Element of Laughter. You merely killed its host.”

Trixie cocks her head quizzically, more confused than ever, now. She knows she killed the Element of Laughter. She remembers watching Pinkie Pie fall to her death. She remembers how lifeless she looked when she checked on her. And if Pinkie Pie was the host then how can the Element of Laughter still be alive if it has no host?

Seeing the confusion plastered on Trixie’s face, Celestia continues. “The Elements of Harmony are beyond the comprehension of a normal pony, but for the sake of simplicity we are going to go with ‘symbols’. The Elements are symbols for the pieces of Harmony and they chose a being to act as their host so they may walk amongst us. But they do not abolish free will, for that would destroy Harmony. Instead, they let the goodness inside direct the lives of the host while giving them some benefits, even though, like all things flesh and blood, it can be corrupted and killed. Corruption can be fixed, but when its host dies, the Elements leave and wait for more worthy hosts, for they cannot operate alone, only as a team. So, when you murdered Pinkie Pie, you killed the physical host of Laughter and broke the bond the Elements had with the physical world, but you did not kill the Element of Laughter, itself. Laughter will always be around, even in the darkest of times, for it is a symbol and symbols do not die. Now, my question for you, Trixie, is are you willing to change for the better?”

Trixie takes a moment to ponder the speech, and a few seconds later she nods and lowers her eyes. “I will change, Your Majesty.”

“You may rise, my little pony,” says Celestia with a wave of her hoof.

Trixie quietly stands up, but still keeps her head down to avoid eye contact with the deity.

“Trixie, I have lived a very long time, and I have seen good ponies do terrible things and terrible ponies do good things. Free will gives us the ability to condemn or redeem ourselves, and if you truly want to redeem yourself, then I advise you follow Minty Sprinkles faithfully. If not, I still have my eye on that remote island, are we clear?”

Trixie nods her head again, quietly saying: “Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Good. You are dismissed, but bring Minty Sprinkles in. I'm already running late as it is, but I might as well have a word with her before I go.”

Trixie nods and quietly leaves the courtroom with her head down. When she enters the hallway, she notices that Flash Sentry is still there, as well as Minty Sprinkles, but now he has a ring of unicorn guardponies with him and they are all keeping an eye on her while Minty is reading a phone book.

Trixie opens her mouth to say something, but when Minty turns the page, she gives off a vibe that says she is in deep concentration. Trixie opens her mouth again, and closes it again a second later. When Trixie opens her mouth to speak for the third time, Minty suddenly slams the phone book shut and hops to her feet, making Trixie jump and miss a heartbeat.

“Did you and Celestia have a nice talk?” says Minty.

“Not really. She wants to talk to you, by the way,” says Trixie.

“Really? I guess I better do a stretch, then.”

Minty then stretches herself out like a cat, and a small series of pops that comes from the colorful mare’s back echo in the hall, making Trixie grimace, and she sighs blissfully while her eyes roll to the back of her head and her tongue rolls out. After that, her whole body relaxes a little too much for a couple of seconds, giving off the appearance that she had just killed herself with a stretch.

“Oh that felt good,” moans Minty, then she meets Trixie's repulsed expression with a reassuring smile. “My back’s been killing me lately, so I gotta stretch it out every now and then.”

“Why don't you see a chiropractor?” asks Trixie.

“I will in six months.”

“Why not get it sooner?”

“You know how the system works, silly.”

“Actually I don't...”

“Sucks for you, then. I’ll be right back.” Minty trots forward, stops, then turns over dramatically to Trixie with her hoof raised. “Oh, and, um, don’t mind the number of guards watching you. It's just some safety stuff.”

Minty walks away, humming a happy tune to herself, and Trixie looks around at the unicorn Royal Guards watching her with piercing eyes and stone cold expressions.

Trixie sighs and looks at the phone book Minty was reading earlier with the intent of finding Bon Bon’s address. The book is enormous to say the least, and when she runs her hoof over the page, she instantly hates the rough feeling it has, so she decides to use magic. As soon as her horn is covered in the grayish magenta aura, the guardponies light up their horns and aim their battle saddles at her. Trixie glares at them as the pages of the phone book gradually turn, filling the silent hallway with the sound of crackling paper. Trixie silently flips through it and gets more and more agitated as the guards continue to stare at her.

A few seconds later, she slams her hooves down and shouts: “Stop looking at me!”

“No,” says Flash bluntly.

Trixie groans and slams her head on the book.

Celestia stares at the throne room entrance, trying to be patient, but finding herself losing said patience rapidly. With the schedule going out of whack, Roar Shock's escape, Shining Armor's accusations against the EIB and Trixie being difficult, it is all a big headache for her that she knows she should be able to handle with ease, but cannot at the moment.

Celestia's chest tightens suddenly, bringing her hoof up swiftly to bring comfort to the sore spot. Along the way she brushes her purple gem, which sends a flash of pain through her chest and head that leaves them feeling swollen and hot. Celestia closes her eyes and bows her head, seething and pressing her hoof against the gem as her ears fold down. She hears cracking and opens her eyes to see a green glow from underneath her hoof.

Her eyes grow, her heart beats quicker and her mouth becomes dry as she pulls her hoof away from her chest to see large cracks on her stone, revealing more of the green underlayer. Celestia's heart and eyes nearly explode from panic and she quickly casts a spell on the gem that covers it in a golden haze. When the haze disappears, the gem is back in its full purple and Celestia sighs with relief and relaxes in her chair.

Then the door opens and Celestia snaps into the proper royal position, burying her anxiety with regal discipline as Minty trots towards her with a cool smile. Once the earth pony is a respectable distance away, she stops and offers a dramatic bow.

“Good evening, Princess. What can Minty do for you, today?” she says brightly.

“You can be Pinkie Pie around me. There are no prodding eyes or ears,” says Celestia, masking her uneasiness with a well practiced smile.

Minty Sprinkles, a.k.a. Pinkie Pie, stands straight and removes the pink wig to reveal a cropped, dark pink mane underneath. “Then I hope you don't mind me taking this wig off. It's been itching like crazy!”

“Pinkie Pie, we don’t have much time. I'm already running late with an important meeting with Mister Shimsham, but I wanted to have a word with you about Trixie."

Pinkie Pie sits on her haunches and scratches behind her ear with her hind hoof. “Whatcha need to know, Princess?”

“How are you going to keep Trixie under control? She is not exactly the most stable of ponies.”

Pinkie Pie dismisses Celestia’s worry with a wave of her hoof. “Oh please, Princess. I've read her file on top of spending some time with her, so got a good idea of how I'm going to handle her. Besides, I’ve got everything planned down to the dot at the end of her thought, so Trixie won't be a problem.”

“Pinkie, plans don't always work.”

“Give me some credit, I'm smarter than I look or act. I didn’t plan five moves because that’s too little. I didn’t do ten because that’s normal. I planned twenty moves! There’s no way anything is slipping by Auntie Pinkie. Maybe that’s why Twilight never wanted to play chess with me. Either that, or she thought I was too much of an mush brain to be a challenge, which is odd because the Manehatten Institute of Technology begged me to join their institution. Which proves I am not a mush brain. I wonder why everypony forgets about that letter?”

“Maybe you should have shown them the letter in the first place rather than pretending it did not exist.”

Pinkie Pie tenses and averts her eyes. “Good point.”

“But enough about that. How are your Pinkie Senses?”

Pinkie Pie's solemn look is replaced with a proud grin. “A whole lot better! It’s far from being perfect since its only general predictions that are based on things I spot when I pretend not to care. Stuff that happens soon, like instant to twenty minutes, is when I get the really good twitches. Kinda like when you get injected with pure caffeine at a rave party.”

Celestia smiles thinly. “Good. I know its hard for you, but I urge you to keep with your meditations to further hone in on your gift.”

“That's what afternoon naps are for,” says Pinkie Pie with a wink. “But nopony knows I'm alive right? I mean, if anypony finds out about me then the League might go after my family to get to me, and that can't happen.”

“Your secret is well contained, Pinkie Pie, but even then, the League of Justice is weak and depleted. Their threat to Equestria and to you has been brought down to the bare minimum, and with every level of the military and EIB hunting them there will soon be nothing left of them.”

Pinkie Pie shakes her head. “You may have made them homeless, but every bone, muscle, nerve, cartilage, and hair in my body is saying that this war is not over. They will be back and this is something that we cannot handle conventionally.”

Celestia opens her mouth to counter Pinkie Pie, but the formerly pink pony continues.

“But Trixie has been with them, she knows the ins and outs of their group,” says Pinkie Pie confidently. “Plus, she has seen some real crap over the years, so she'll be like a rabid dog that'll rip them apart once I let her loose! All we gotta do is make her think we're her friends and-”

Celestia holds up her hoof. “Stop right there. Are you telling me that you are going to use Trixie to combat the League?”

Pinkie Pie cocks her head and stares at Celestia, dumbfounded. “Uh, yeah. What else did you think I meant when I wrote in my letter that I wanted to guide Trixie to become a better mare so she can save Equestria from an impending doom?”

Celestia shakes her head. “Pinkie Pie, this can go wrong in so many ways. Just seeing Trixie's eyes is enough to see the turmoil in her, and you pretending to be he friend will only make it worse. She is emotionally unstable as it is, and I know she will react viciously if she finds out you played her.”

“Well, I can't fight the League. My back and hoof's all jacked up. Jackie won't leave her farm, Flutters won't leave her room, Rarity is Rarity and Twilight is Twilight, so we don't have a lot of choices here.”

“You don't have much faith in your friends.”

“They killed my faith in them.”

There is a pregnant pause between Celestia and Pinkie Pie, and the two stare at each other, with the alicorn expressing pity and the earth pony looking grim from unpleasant memories. Seconds later, Celestia sighs and lowers her eyes.

“I am disappointed in my Most Faithful Student and her friends for how they treated you, but I cannot apologize for them, no matter how much I want to,” says Celestia. “And as much I hate to admit it, you are right, with their actions against you, my trust in your friends has been shaken and I fear just as much as you that they will not be able to handle the viciousness of the League's remnants. However, we still have the EIB and the Royal Guard to handle them. All you need to do is rehabilitate Trixie and let us finish the fight.”

Pinkie Pie pops up next to Celestia, making the alicorn flinch. “Princess, you're going to need all the help you can get, and I'm giving you a golden opportunity on a gem platter, here. Trixie was a part of the League and she is a fighter. Heck, she tore apart a building trying to kill me and Twilight. She won't quit or hide from some jerks. She will go right up to them and punch them right in the mouth.”

“And what if she determines we are the enemy?”

Pinkie Pie slithers in front of Celestia and sits directly in front of her throne with her hooves in an uncomfortable spot on the cushion between the alicorn's legs. With her position, Celestia scrunches back and swallows as she fights to keep an embarrassed flush from forming on her cheeks while wondering if Pinkie Pie even realizes where she just placed herself.

“She won't,” claims Pinkie Pie, apparently oblivious to her position and uncaring that she has to crane her head back father than usual to see Celestia's face. “She'll think of us as friends, realize the League is filled with jerks, save Equestria, and then have a happy ending. Probably find a stud and get a cute baby and all that other happy ending stuff.”

As gently as she can, Celestia pushes Pinkie Pie off of her throne to reclaim her personal space. “How can you be sure that your manipulation will work?”

Pinkie Pie pouts and sits in front of the floor. “That is a mean word. I'm not manipulating. I'm retraining.”

Celestia frowns. “The question remains the same.”

“Trust me, my Pinkie Sense is telling me that it'll all be sunshine and rainbows in the end.”

“I’m going to need you to do better than that.”

“You ask ponies to have faith in you and now I ask that you have faith in me. It’s only fair.”

The two stare at each other in total silence. Celestia’s mind is completely blank due to Pinkie Pie’s insane plan and her assurance of its success, and Pinkie Pie’s unwavering stare is not helping her brain get back on track, either.

“Just think. When have I ever failed you?” asks Pinkie Pie seconds later.

“There's a time when everypony fails somepony,” replies Celestia hesitantly. “But even though this plan of yours is ridiculous, I’ll trust you to reform and keep Trixie under control. However, I will not cease any operations against the League or any other threats against Equestria, and I will adjust operations as I see fit.”

Pinkie Pie puts on her wig. “Gotcha.”

“And if Trixie proves to be too dangerous to be with civilians I will not hesitate to take the appropriate measures.”

Pinkie Pie grins. “Don't worry, I got this. Anything else?”

“No. You are dismissed.”

“Cool, I’ll see you around!”

Pinkie Pie does an about-face, then trots out of the room, and after the doors slam shut, Celestia sighs and sulks in her seat. After that, she rubs her gem and hopes that she has made the right choice.

Author's Notes:

Edited on 07 Sep 2015