The bigger problem (Patreon)

Princess stared out the windows located behind her desk in my Equestria dreamscape. The beautiful late spring morning did not match her mood.

    She sighed and levitated an envelope from her desk; she stared at it for a moment then deposited it in the waste bin next to her desk. Turning around she looked the Watch Officer in the eyes.

    “I understand and appreciate your desire to take responsibility for this whole debacle, but I must refuse your resignation Gleaming Shield. I know this event occurred technically under your command, but having you resign now wouldn't help solve this incident and would create even more turmoil in the ranks. We have a bigger problem than just this break out.”

    The Captain who had remained motionless and silent through all this nodded his head. “Very well your Highness I will remain at my post, but I felt that my resignation might deflect any blame away from you and on to me.”

    Celestia smiled. “That is very honorable of you Gleaming Shield, but once again I state having you resign would only make matters worse, not better. Besides I have faced far more serious criticism from the general populace. Some was even deserved, for mistakes I've made over the centuries. That is not what's bothering me.”

    “What is getting me upset is how this chain of events could've occurred in the first place? First the break-in to this very office; then a few days later the suspect appears to have walked out his cell. Actually he apparently flew from our best estimates. He had a broken left wing, how is that even possible?”

    “The only way we can explain it is that somepony smuggled a healing potion into Rakorno cell along with copy of his cell door key and the key to the window that he made his escape by. I figure the potion would've been given to him less than 24 hours ago, and he may have gotten the keys at the same time.” Said Gleaming Shield.

    “What brings you to that conclusion Watch Officer?” Asked the Co-Ruler of Equestria.

    “Because Rakorno underwent a medical examination late the day before, and at that time his wing was still broken. However he only had contact with a small number ponies during that time period .”

    The old stallion paused for a moment. “However he did have two meetings with Kessandra. One was her regularly planned lunches the day before. However she apparently arrived late yesterday as the day shift was being dismissed. Said she was traveling out of town today, and she didn't want to lose the momentum and trust that was being built between her and Rakorno. They had around of drinks and some snacks together, then she left.”

    Celestia frowned. “I was not aware of this meeting yesterday, and it is not like Kessandra to not brief me after something like this.”

    Celestia paused and rummaged through a couple days of the Canterlot Courier. She looked through several editions until she found the article she was looking for.

     “Besides she was scheduled to give a speech at the Canterlot Historical Society's Annual Banquet tonight. She was going to not only speak but to see if she could secure some funding from the society? Has anyone spoken the faculty at the university?”

    “Yes.” Said the Watch Officer. “And they are just as confused as we are about these travel plans. In fact one of her graduate students is teaching her undergraduate classes today. We've sent guards to the train station immediately when the escape was discovered in case the suspect tried using ground transportation to make their escape. They haven't seen Rakorno board any trains, but a station porter did remember assisting a griffin that looked like Kessandra board the 5am train for Manehatten.”

    Gleaming Shield sighed. “We've wired the station in Manehatten to intercept her when she arrives there, and we've started sending telegraphs to the stations along the route in case she disembarks somewhere along the line.”

    “What about Canterlot itself?” Asked Celestia as she poured herself and the Watch Officer each a small glass of brandy. She passed one the unicorn and took sip from hers. She stared at the sniffer and swirled its contents several times before speaking again.

    “I assume that the city watch and city garrison has been notified?” She swallowed some of amber-colored liquid and closed her eyes.

    “Yes they have been inform.” Said the Watch Officer. “ However at this time we haven't notified the press. I didn't know if you wished to pursued that avenue or not?”

    “Yes. Notify the press. One way or another they will find out eventually. If we are the ones who make the announcement we can better control the tempo of things, and we appear to be taking a proactive role in the matter.” Celestia sipped some more brandy.

    “Phoenix has received further information concerning the suspect Broken Beaker's location in Fillydelphia. I have already dispatched Blood Feather to scout out the location. Phoenix and Quick Silver will follow in a couple of days.”

    The white alicorn finished her sniffer of brandy and stared at the empty glass. “Unfortunately we are still no closer to the answers we need, and next week Luna and I have to depart for our meeting to finalize details for the dragon migration.” She poured herself another glass.

    “We're still reacting and not acting. We need to get ahead of the curve and gain some initiative. From now on that is our objective. Gold Scryer has apparently made some progress in determining the possible origins of those wards. Talk to her to see if she has any ideas surrounding this escape. Understood?”

    The stallion nodded his head. “Yes your Highness.”

To be continued.