Twilight
“Are you sure about this?” Adagio asked worriedly as we stared out at the large crowd of ponies. Aria and the other Guards stood in front of the makeshift stage in front of the ponies in surprisingly clean and shiny purple armor.
I personally hated having a personal guard. I’m the Princess of Friendship after all. Having armed guards doesn’t really scream “Hey, I’m come talk to me. I’m super friendly!”
“Yeah I’m sure,” I said firmly as I locked eyes with Spitfire in the crowd with the other few Wonderbolts she had brought with. Spitfire gave me a subtle nod as I stepped out into the view of the ponies. “Hello everypony.”
The ponies looked at each other and shrugged. I vaguely identified Lyra, Twinkleshine and the rest of my friends and elements in the front row. Rainbow gave me an encouraging nod as Lyra waved before Bon Bon yanked her hoof down.
“I’m here to discuss all the changes to Ponyville and the changelings integration into Equestria. We aren’t changing the town at all. The guards all stay in my castle so we are reverting the taxes back to how they used to be,” I announced as the ponies cheered, especially the farmers. “As for the changelings, they are living breathing creatures just like us. They deserve equality and to be treated fairly.”
“They tried to conquer Equestria twice!” A stallion shouted as he stood up.
“What’s your name?” I asked curiously as I smiled warmly.
“Pepper Comet. The changelings tried to invade Equestria, ponynapped me and my daughter during the Canterlot invasion and kidnapped you and the rest of the princesses. The changelings should all be arrested, drove back to their land or killed!” He slammed a hoof on the ground as I flinched in disgust.
“I understand how you feel about your daughter being ponynapped but-” I began till he growled.
“You don’t understand anything. My daughter had nightmares for months. And now you want us to treat the changelings as equals. Buck that!” Pepper Comet shouted. “And not only, you’re sexist!”
“Sexist?” Rainbow echoed in shock as she stood up and glared. Aria and Glimmer Shine both tensed up as Wallflower watched nervously. “She’s the opposite of sexist!”
“Then why does she have no stallions in her guard? Only mares?” Pepper challenged as the two glared at each other.
“We didn’t know if mares would be comfortable with sharing a bunk area with stallions,” I announced as the crowd started shouting at the stallion and each other.
“The Wonderbolts do,” Caramel called out with a nod. He and Applejack made eye contact as he shrugged. “Not agreeing with him of course. Just pointing out.” Applejack visibly relaxed and nodded.
“We will discuss it,” I said loudly as the crowd quieted down. Pepper Comet got closer to Aria as I strained to make out what they were saying. He gave her a quick tap to her cheek with a hoof and she stumbled backwards before slamming her nightstick into his back as he cried out and fell.
The crowd gasped as Spitfire and Fleetfoot shoved their way to him and pulled him away as Blitz helped Aria get her helmet.
“Let’s get you out of here,” Indigo said as she and Lemon Zest started pulling me along. “Things are about to go down I think. I don’t think that guy is going to have fun with Aria.”
“What were you thinking?” Adagio shouted as Lyra, Twinkleshine, Minuette, Lemon Hearts and Moondancer winced. Aria rolled her eyes as Berry Blast knelt in front her and examined her eye.
“He hit me first!” Aria shouted back. “I defended myself. So sorry that I ruined your night, sister!”
“Can we please stop?” Sonata asked quietly as Fluttershy hugged her. “I don’t like when you two argue.”
“Hold still please,” Berry Blast ordered with a surprisingly stern tone. “I can’t fix you up if you’re squirming.”
I glanced over at the unicorn. Her armor was slightly different, having a red cross on the armor over her flanks to display her role as medic.
“I don’t care if he hit you first! You assaulted someone!” Adagio continued her shouting as Fluttershy hastily left with Sonata.
“He assaulted her first!” Indigo shouted as she pressed her muzzle against Adagio’s. “We can go right here, right now if you want. Thought you would support your sister more.”
“Enough!” I shouted as everypony froze. “She supports her sisters. Neither of you should have hit each other. Now please calm down. Berry Blast, is Aria alright?”
“She’s gonna have a bruise. No damage to the eye or anywhere else. The stallion is going to be fine too. I treated him myself. He did have a rock in his saddlebag. Presumably to throw it at you before he hit Aria. He’s spending the night or two in the jail cell,” Berry Blast answered as she rubbed some cream on Aria’s cheek with her hoof before placing a band on it. “She will be fine Princess. I recommend she takes a few days off at least.”
“Agreed,” I nodded as Aria shoved Adagio out of the way. Aria disappeared out of sight, presumably to the guard room.
“Spitfire sided with Aria. She did her job,” Glimmer Shine said coolly. The normally stoic guard had a hint of anger in her eyes as she stood at the door way.
“We’re letting him go. Give him a summons to appear. We can’t arrest everypony who doesn’t like us,” I announced. Glimmer Shine nodded and narrowed her eyes before she walked out with Sunbeam. I still needed to get to know her and Wallflower. I make it a point to know all my guards personally. “You guys don’t hate me for trying to get the changelings accepted do you?”
“I don’t like them,” Lyra admitted quietly. “I was in the hospital for months after her mind control. I had nightmares along with Twinkleshine and Minuette. But it’s important to you and I’m your friend so I support it. Just keep them away from me.”
“Same here,” Minuette agreed. “It’s good what you’re doing Twilight. I may hate Chrysalis but the others might be nice. Thorax was nice.”
“I didn’t like that Comet guy,” Twinkleshine grunted as she rolled her eyes. “What a jerk.”
“You guys wouldn’t have nightmares if I didn’t suggest you talk to Princess Cadence,” Lemon Hearts muttered as her ears flattened against her head. “You guys wouldn’t have been mind controlled either.”
We all groaned as I slammed a hoof against my face. Here we go again with her guilt complex again.