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 After a longer than planned delay let us get back to my Equestria dreamscape. In the last posting The Letter Celestia had called Phoenix, Quick Silver, and Bloodfeather into her office to have them explain their actions from the night before. 

   
  Phoenix was the first to address Celestia's question. Even though the princess had raised her since she'd been a little filly the mare now addressed her now in a formal fashion. 

  "Your Highness! On the evening of 14th at 23:00 myself along with Quick Silver and Bloodfeather were returning to our quarters when we encountered Corporal Trotter. As we passed him I  detected something about the corporal that seemed out of place about him. At that point I stopped him and proceeded to ask him a series of questions."

 
  Celestia took a sip of her coffee. "Phoenix, you often describe yourself as being a hunter. Your instincts and situational awareness are more refined than almost anypony I've known. When you say something seemed out of place about him what do mean exactly? 

  "That the corporal is not what he appears to be. That he is hiding something. Also that he was a threat and a danger to me."

 
  The alicorn raised an eyebrow. Phoenix's reputation of being an almost indestructible combat monster was legendary in the ranks. Some even speculated that only the ponies who could truly take her out were Last Thing and the Royal Sisters themselves.

   
  "You perceived the corporal as threat and a danger?" The princess cocked her head to one side. "That's an interesting statement from you. Did you believe that the corporal was going to or would attack you in the future?" 

  Phoenix shook her head. "I did not feel that he would physically attack me, but that he was threat to this." The unicorn tapped a front hoof on the floor. "To this kingdom and the ponies I've sworn to protect. I suddenly felt that he'd endanger all I've vowed to defend." 

  "At that point I stopped him and initiated a series of standard and extended spell sweeps of the corporal with my goggles." 

  "And the results these sweeps?" Celestia took another sip of her coffee but her eyes focused on the mare-in-waiting. 

  The bone white mare sighed. "Inconclusive. However the more observed the corporal the more the feeling grew, so I proceeded to ask a series of questions of the corporal to see if I could determine what was causing my concern about him." 

  "And his answers?" Celestia's face was neutral.

 
  "His answers did nothing to confirm or dispel my instincts. He was obviously agitated and his answers were consistent with what knew of him, but I can not shake the feeling he's hiding something." 

  The princess topped off her coffee from a french press sitting on her desk. With this task completed she addressed the mares. "Phoenix I trust your judgement, but what bothers me is that I was not informed of this incident when it happened. Especially concerning one of my guard who according to all accounts is a model soldier."

 
  Bloodfeather spoke up. "Your Highness. Because Phoenix's encounter produced nothing conclusive, and in light of everything you and your sister are dealing with we didn't think you needed to be bothered by this."

 
  Celestia's locked a rather cold stare onto the pegasus mare. "While I appreciate you being aware of my workload, it is not your place to decide what information I should or should not know. If Phoenix felt it was important enough to start an informal inquiry of the corporal in the palace hallways I should've been informed. If it wasn't important enough to inform me why was the stop initiated in the first place?" 

  The crimson mare blanched a little and then bowed her head. "Sorry m'am. You're correct. You should've been informed." 

  Celestia stare soften some. "Apology accepted. Ladies." She looked at Phoenix. "Understand I am not questioning the pretense for stopping and questioning the corporal in the Palace. However this event combined with this incident at the Red Ladle last night creates an awkward situation for me and rest of my staff." 

  Celestia rose from her desk and slowly began to pacing around her office. "With all your field assignments and work tempo you may have lost track of the palace schedule, but today is an open court day. This will be a public assembly and undoubtedly the press will be present. Through other sources I have learned that this incident in the palace has suddenly begun to appear in some of the other morning papers in Canterlot and beyond. Had I been informed immediately, myself and my staff could've planned and prepared a statement to counter it."

 
  The white alicorn approached the three mares who had remained standing at attention. "Now myself and my staff have been caught broadside and will most likely waste most of this court, and next few days stomping out this fire in the press. Ladies please understand, for the most part the subjects of the realm have been both understanding and supportive of the operation that Luna and I organized in Manehattan. They have accepted the court's explanation for the necessity of it. Trust is a fragile thing that can be easily trampled if one is careless."

 
  "However this incident combined with last night's performance at the Red Ladle will undoubtedly give the gossip mongers and muckrakers plenty of fodder to spin. Especially since you decided to drag Purple Marten into this." 

  Quick Silver spoke. "Your Highness you realize this has all the makings of a setup and smear campaign?"

 
  The princess nodded her head. "It does, and unfortunately the actions of you three last night has given it further momentum." 

  "So just ignore it your Highness!" Growled Phoenix in frustration.

 
  Celestia scowled at the mare. "I would like to, but Purple Marten has become something of a darling in the certain parts of the press recently. So I don't want to alienate them too much." 

  Bloodfeather scrunched her face up as she racked her brain. "I'm trying to think of where I've heard of her before. I know she was at the Service to the Crown Banquet and she obviously is a pony of wealth and status, but beyond that I'm drawing a blank." 

  "She comes from an old unicorn family that has amassed quite a bit of wealth over the generations." Said the princess. "However the family has generally been very withdrawn and secretive. In fact over the last of couple generations the family has shrunk substantially. In fact Purple Marten is the only foal of the most recent generation, and some feared the family was on the brink of withering away." 

  
  "Then two years ago while the she and her parents were on a sailing cruise the yacht they were on capsized during a squall at sea. The only survivor of the sinking were Purple Marten and couple of the deck crew. They were all rescued by a passing steamer." 

  Celestia sauntered over and refilled her coffee. "Purple naturally was devastated by the loss of her parents, but it also changed her outlook on the world. After the prescribed period of mourning she became very involved in public life and the community. She's become quite the philanthropist, investing in various public works and the arts." 

  "Then about year and half ago she moved from around the Manehattan area to Canterlot. I've met her off and on at several social events. I don't know her well, but she's supported several causes to raise money for public works. Like the new Canterlot Public Library. So in many social circles she's has some clout with ponies I need to have on my side."      

        Phoenix clenched her lower jaw and then spoke. "She might be an important pony your Highness, but I'll tell you something. That vibe I got from Corporal Trotter was far more intense from her. She maybe passing herself off as a good pony, but she's trouble! Most ponies instinctively display some kind of fear or uneasiness being around me. She displayed none of that in my presence. She acted like she was at least my equal or perhaps my superior!" Who would you three be? 

 
  Celestia raised an eyebrow at this last statement. "Interesting but still not grounds for bringing her in for questioning or putting her into custody, and if you three were to do it and it was found out by the press they would have a field day with it. So I will have to assign some other operatives to watch her. As of now I don't want you three investigating her anymore. Understood?"

 
  Phoenix started to protest but the princess cut her off. "That's an order Phoenix. Not only that but I've been looking at work logs. You three have been in the field far more than is good. As of today you three are to stand down and take some downtime. For the next 96 hours you are off the clock! Understood?" 

  
  The alicorn came to a stop in front of the three mares. "Ladies I have faith in you, and now I want you to have faith in me. Take the next few days and relax so you can come back to work with a clear head. Understood?" 

  "Yes m'am!" They said in unison. 

 To be continued.