1.2

Early the next morning Rhyme awoke to the sun shining in her eyes. She squinted as soon as she opened them, the sun blaring through the window. She noticed a letter hanging in mid-air. The princess already was awake and sending her letter. Obviously, because she is the sun princess after all.

She brought it closer and opened it. It was an assignment from the Princess to go to Trottingham as her diplomat and make sure that the naval support was procured. Rhyme knew that she was already going to be sent there, but the letter was for sake of professionalism.

“Harps?” Rhyme called out through her suite.

“Yes milady?” answered a white unicorn with a golden mane who entered the room.  

“Take a note.”

Harps quickly levitated a quill and parchment.

“Dear Princess Celestia. Your judgment is sound and your mercy, legendary, I will go to Trottingham as an instrument of your will, your diplomat, Lady Rhyme,” Rhyme dictated

Quickly finishing the letter, Harps flashed her horn and instantly the letter had vanished.

“Anything else milady?” Harps asked.

“Hmm, I think that you’ve now known me long enough that you could probably call me Rhyme and get away with it,” Rhyme answered smiling.

“Oh umm, I don’t know,” Harps replied gingerly.

“Well try it!”

“Ok… Rhyme, can I do anything else for you?” Harps asked even more estranged by the new idea.

“Hmm, maybe you’re right. I still need to know you for about two months longer. Call me Ms. Rhyme instead,” Rhyme observed wearily.

“Ok Ms. Rhyme.”

“Well let’s go, we’re off to Trottingham, Harps.”

Rhyme and Harps left their suite and opened the door to the busy Canterlot street. Business ponies and nobility populated the walkways. Carriages flooded the streets and pegasi, the skyways. Rhyme joined dutifully in to the shifting masses.

“No carriage today, Ms. Rhyme?” Harps inquired, she was levitating most of their luggage and traveling supplies.

“No, don’t be ridiculous, it’s such a lovely day and I’d hate to miss it,” Rhyme replied cheerfully.

Harps moaned and trudged through the crowd after her. Rhyme informed Harps of the Princess’s intentions and their assignment as they trotted on towards the station.

“Ms. Rhyme, how are you so sure this is the best decision for Equestria?” Harps asked, weaving clumsily through the oncoming crowd.

“I not sure, it’s the Princess’s call. I’m just delivering the message,” Rhyme replied.

A group of soldiers zoomed in front of them, their spears only barely missing Rhyme’s nose. She could actually smell the cold steel as it passed in front of her. Rhyme didn’t like being almost eviscerated so early in the morning. Flustered, she quickly caught up with them.

“Watch where you’re going! You soldier, what’s your name?!” demanded Rhyme.

The group turned around. There were five pegasus guards in total. Upon seeing Rhyme, the one furthest away from her stood at attention and saluted. He the one leading the squad through the station and was dressed more officially. However the one that Rhyme questioned walked up to her with a big stupid grin on his face. He sized up the mare in front of him and returned the question.

“Heh, how about you tell me your names first?” replied the guard smoothly.

“I beg your pardon?!” Rhyme blurted taken back.

Despite his discipline the furthest guard had a look of horror on his face, and bellowed out in a commanding voice.

“Royal Diplomat, Lady Rhyme. Sergeant Feather Flight of the 2nd,” said the pony with more of an aim to alert his comrades than to salute Rhyme.

Immediately the other four guards stood at attention nervously. A bead of sweat fell down the sly guard’s face. Rhyme was annoyed by them but happy that she had been given the respect she deserved. She began to pace back and forth in front of them.

“Well Sergeant Feather Flight, as part of the 2nd you should be aware of your new assignment and are heading towards Trottingham as am I. Since your squad seems to have taken a liking to me and my assistant, I’m sure you’ll make excellent personal guards,” explained Rhyme.

The captain nervously looked from side to side, desperately thinking for a response.

“I apologize milady, General Typhoon requires that all of us report to his station. I cannot disobey the orders of my commanding officer,” he returned confidently.

Rhyme glared at him. Nopony treats Lady Rhyme like that. Feather Flight smiled back victoriously, meeting her eyes. Rhyme ignored him putting a hint of worry in his expression.

“Harps, you know what to do,” Rhyme dictated.

“Yes, Ms. Rhyme,” she replied

Harps quickly jolted down a letter and flashed it away.

“Well that’s too bad, I would have enjoyed the extra protection from your experienced squad, oh what ever shall I do?!” Rhyme announced dramatically, “I suppose I will be weak and defenseless as I carry out the Princess’s orders.”

One of the other guards shuffled his hoof and looked down.

“Maybe Lady Rhyme is above the General in the chain of command and her orders supersede Typhoon’s,” he said to the captain.

“You idiot, Lady Rhyme isn’t even of military rank, she can’t order Typhoon around.”

“Hey don’t call me an idiot. I just don’t want to get in trouble!

Quickly then began to argue and squabble. Butting heads and shoving, they bullied each other around, attempting to get the others to agree with them. One of the guards stood to the side and took a pass at Rhyme.

“Let me be the first to apologize for my comrades’ boorish behaviour. I’d never behave such a way in front of a mare such as yourself,” he said, inching closer to Rhyme.

“Save it kid,” she snapped quickly.

While they were busy fighting, a letter flashed out of the air.

“Finally!” Rhyme exclaimed happily, “Read it Harps.”

Harps opened the letter and clearly read aloud to the guards. They briefly paused to listen.

“Dear Lady Rhyme. I am assigning to you the squad of Captain Feather Flight of the 2nd Royal Air Wing as a personal body guard. Their commanding officers will be notified of their reassignment and they will meet you at the station before you depart. Please forgive me for not assigning body guards to you sooner, sincerely, Princess Celestia.”

The squabbling guards froze in position and looked up at Rhyme humiliated.

“Well boys, let’s go. We have a train to catch and please, get my things from Harps. She is most exhausted from all that heavy lifting.”

Harps dropped all their things on the unsuspecting soldiers, burying them underneath the luggage. They waltzed off towards the train.

“Hurry up! It’s not polite to keep a Royal Diplomat waiting!” Next Chapter: 1.3 Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 2 Minutes