Dear Jade Ring

Do not think I'm ungrateful for my new position as Governor of Las Pegasus. Quite the opposite. I'm thrilled that her Majesty saw my record of exemplary military service and saw fit to place me in such a position of authority.

My concern is that I never requested this appointment. My request, that I filed through you personally I should add, was for a position in the Shadowbolts. How that request transfigured itself into my current position is quite baffling to me. I would hope that you could shed some light on that particular situation.

Oh well. Her Majesty works in mysterious ways, I suppose.

I saw your last communique requesting weekly reports of possible New Dawn activity in the area. In that regard, I regret to inform you that rebel activity has spiked since the execution of Twilight Sparkle. Several recruiting stations have been bombed and new graffiti appears on an hourly basis.

Of greatest concern, I would think, is something that you yourself might not have heard about. The rebels are calling it the False Sun Spell. We discovered the spell's existence upon the arrest of a rather notorious pair of con-artist unicorns known as the Flim Flam Brothers. Under...intense interrogation, we discovered that the brother known as Flim was himself a low ranking member of the New Dawn. This spell, which Flim would only tell us about but flatly refused to cast for us, is apparently being spread across Equestria from unicorn to unicorn. As enthusiastic as our interrogations became, he still refused to cast the spell for us or even tell us what it was capable of.

His resistance is quite strong. It's a shame he isn't a loyal member of the Republic as his brother was. He simply would not reveal anything about the spell... even when I personally slit his brother's throat in front of him. He's been inconsolable since, weeping and senseless in his cell. Poor fool. His brother would still be alive if he'd simply told us what he'd known.

I presume that her Majesty will want this sorted out quickly. Please assure her there will be no issues in that regard. I have scheduled the traitor's execution already for the next full moon in a fort-night's time.

Please assure Princess Luna that Las Pegasus is safe and in capable hooves.

Luna Nobis Providet,

Lightning Dust,

Governor of Las Pegasus

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Governor Dust,

Your enthusiasm is appreciated, believe me. I do question your brashness and willingness to act rashly. You executed a loyal member of our Republic for... no reason then? I had hoped a bureaucratic position would curb your rash behavior. Apparently I was wrong. In any case, you've proven me correct for not sending you to the Shadowbolts. I daresay you don't have the right temperament.

You are, however, correct in that we have no intelligence at all when it comes to this False Sun Spell you mentioned. As it happens, I am visiting our Zebrican allies and have recently made the acquaintance of a rather skilled medicine zebra. He's given me an experimental truth serum he's been working on, and now it seems that you have the perfect test subject in your cells.

I am leaving for Las Pegasus immediately. Do not, under any circumstances, execute the prisoner until I have a chance to speak with him.

Sincerely,

Jade Ring,

Court Reporter and Adviser to Her Majesty

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The transport carrying Jade Ring's letter to Las Pegasus was intercepted and looted by New Dawn forces. Governor Lightning Dust carried out the execution... five minutes before Jade Ring's arrival.

Within the hour, Lightning Dust had been relieved of her position and sent to Canterlot to speak with Princess Luna directly. She never returned to Las Pegasus.

Jade Ring was ordered to assume control of Las Pegasus until an appropriate new governor could be named. He ended up remaining there for the entire duration of the war.