Prologue

The silence in the night sky made Luna uncomfortable. She was used to the quiet back in Canterlot, when she raises the moon as the sun sets. But in Canterlot, there were at least still sounds of life below her tower: The insects buzzing about, the low chatter of ponies, and the blowing of the night wind.

But out here, in the sky far away from Canterlot, it was deadly silent. Only the flapping of her wings and her guards behind her made any noise. As she flew about the cloudless sky, she spotted the outpost in the distance, behind some hills. She gestured to the outpost and she dove downwards, followed by her guards.

They landed near the wooden gate of the outpost, the torches on both side still lit. Luna entered cautiously, her eyes darting around the seemingly empty and quiet outpost. There wasn't anypony around. The place was quiet like the grave, silent and foreboding.

General Coldmount trotted up next to her. "I do not like this, Princess." he said, his voice cold and icy. He gave a gesture with his hoof, and the guards behind them moved forward past them, each heading into different directions of the outpost. "It is to quiet. Not even the insects are making a noise. Is as if this place is dead." He glanced at Luna. "What is it that we are looking for?"

Luna made no reply. Her eyes still scanning the area. She saw one of the guards heading into the barracks, while another flew above her, circling. Luna thought back to the talk she had with Celestia, moments before leaving.

"Something's been troubling me, Luna." Celestia said, staring out into the city below them from their tower. "I have yet to receive any news from the last two outposts that were attacked."

"Attacked? By who?" Luna asked, standing next to her sister, following her gaze of the city.

"I do not know. The scout I'd sent have not returned. And it has nearly been two days."

"What would you have me do, dear sister?" Luna asked, eager to help.

"One of my guards had just inform me of another attack on yet another outpost, to the far east." Celestia said, her voice was grim. "I'd send my scouts to investigate. However I fear their returned might be delayed." She turned to face Luna. "I'm sending you over there instead. I need you to help me find out who or what is causing this."

Luna nodded. "I shall leave at once, dear sister." Luna spread her wings and prepared to take off, but Celestia held out her hoof in front of Luna.

"Be careful Luna," Celestia said, "We have no clue as to what we are up against with. And I do not wish to see you harmed." She rubbed her horn against Luna's gently.

"Worry not dear sister, the night's guard and I will return here safely with news." Luna took to the sky, and turned to face Celestia. "But all these attacks," she asked. "What do you suppose it means?"

"It means, my little sister, that dark times are approaching Equestria."

Luna shivered when a sudden gust of cold wind blew. The torches flickered, but remained lit. There was something terribly wrong with the outpost. She could feel it. Armed soldiers do not simply vanish into the night without reason. She looked at the soft ground beneath her. The only hoofmarks that was visible was hers and her guards. Her horn glowed dimly as she carefully studied the hoofmarks around her, when a sudden loud bang startled her.

The guard that had entered the barracks came rushing out, his eyes opened wide and full of shock. He stumbled to the ground as he approached Luna and Coldmount. "G-general!" he gasped, trying to stand up. "I've f-found the missing soldiers!"

"Steady now lad, catch your breath." Coldmount said, stepping forward. "What did you find in there?"

"T-t-the outpost soldiers, general!" The guard found his footing and pointed a shaking hoof towards the barracks. "B-b-but the place..." his voice trailed off and he started to tremble violently.

General Couldmount let out a sharp but loud whistle, and the remaining guards all returned. They gave questioning stares at the shaken guard as they arrived. Coldmount gave several quiet orders and two of the guards help carried the shaking one to the wooden gate behind them. The rest and Coldmount made their way towards the barracks, Luna following closely behind them.

The barracks was dark. The fire in the fireplace was out, and the lamps that hung from the ceiling was void of light. A foul stench pierced Luna's nostrils as she entered the barracks. She quickly covered her nose with a hoof, unable to bear the smell. It was hard to see anything inside, but she could tell the barracks was in a ruin state. It was as if a vicious fight had taken place here.

"Light." Coldmount's voice echoed in front of her. One of the guards turned to head out towards the entrance, but Luna stopped him.

"Allow me, general." Luna stepped forward into the dark. Her horn glowed dimly for a second, and suddenly the room was bathed in white light. Luna shielded her eyes as she allowed her sight to slowly adjust. What she saw before her shocked her. Several of the guards gasped in horror, and Coldmount swore.

Mangled bodies of dead ponies littered the barracks floor. Blood was splattered everywhere from the walls, to broken tables and chairs. Weapons stained in deep red lay next to their lifeless masters. The faces of the dead soldiers were horrifying. All showed expressions of fear. Luna tasted bile in her mouth, she frantically stepped back and turned away from the scene. Coldmount approached her. "We shall handle this, Princess." he said gently. Luna nodded, and quickly stepped outside.

Coldmount returned his gaze into the slowly darkening room as Luna left. "Light. Now." A guard quickly ran out and returned with a burning torch. Coldmount gestured to the lamps. As the barracks slowly got brighter, he carefully observed the place. He counted twenty, maybe twenty-five bodies. And those were the one with their limbs still attached. He slowly approached one of the dead, and began prodding the body.

"Everypony, search the barracks. Find if there are any survivors." he barked, still poking the lifeless pony. He turned around when he noticed none of them have moved. "Have you all gone deaf?" he asked, glaring at them.

"B-but general, sir." One of the guards spoke, timidly stepping forward. "What k-kind of--"

"I did not order you to question me, lieutenant." Coldmount said, his voice like an icy whip. "I ordered you to search for survivors. Now." All of the guards quickly saluted, and scattered across the barracks.

"What in Equestria is going on, Coldmount?" a voice said behind him. Coldmount turned around to find his lieutenant-general approaching him.

"What do you think is going on?" Coldmount snapped back as he carefully stepped pass the bodies, "We flew all this way here to find dead ponies inside a barracks. You tell me, Blaze."

Lieutenant-general Rainbow Blaze covered his nose with a hoof, making his way next to Coldmount. "I'd never seen anything like this. Who would do such a thing?"

"Or what, Blaze." Coldmount picked up a blood-soaked sword. "These weapons are marked with the Equestrian symbol. These are our weapons. Do you see any foreign steel lying about?"

Blaze looked around him. "You mean to say... that theses soldiers were attacked by our own?" he asked Coldmount, his eyes widening.

"Or, was used against them by the enemy." Coldmount threw the sword back to the floor. "I had my doubts when the Princess asked me to bring my best stallions for a scouting mission. Now, I'm grateful that I did."

"What makes you thing we can take whatever it is that took these poor souls out?" Blaze asked, an eyebrow raising.

Coldmount was about to answer. But a cry caught their attention from across the barracks.

"General! We found somepony!"

Coldmount and Blaze headed for the shouting guard. Lying before them was a white-coloured pegasus with short silver mane hair and tail. His eyes was closed, his body covered in blood, a sword in his hoof.

"Found him here fainted, sir." The guard told Coldmount and Blaze as they approached. "I tried waking him, but he seems to be hurt."

"Take him outside. Now." The guard saluted and called for assistance from another. Together, the two managed to bring the fainted pegasus outside. Coldmount took a deep breath as he and Blaze stepped out away from the carnage behind them. He found Luna standing near the fainted pegasus, her horn glowing as her magic aura covered him.

"He is terribly injured." Coldmount heard Luna telling one of the guards as he made his towards her. "We must treat his wounds immediately."

"Princess Luna, we do not have anypony here right now who is capable of treating such an injury. He needs medical attention from a hospital." the guard replied, bowing.

Luna nodded and motioned at Coldmount to her. "Yes, Princess Luna?" Coldmount asked, as he and Blaze approached her.

"What have you discovered inside the barracks general?" she asked, her voice grim.

"I shall let you know the details once we have thoroughly search the outpost, Princess. However, I believe this calls for more immediate action." and he pointed at the pegasus.

"Yes, you are right. I...I am still...a bit shaken from before." Luna glanced at the pegasus. "Which is the closest town from our location?"

"Ponyville, your highness." Blaze said, bowing his head a little.

Luna pondered to herself for a moment. "Ponyville... yes. I know what must be done." She faced Coldmount. "General, summon your three fastest flyers."

"By your orders, Princess." Coldmount shouted out three names.

Luna nodded at each of the three as they arrived, standing in a straight line. "General, first, I need you to send one to the Crystal Empire, and tell Princess Cadence that she is needed in Canterlot at soon as possible." Coldmount nodded and pointed his hoof at the guard on the left. He saluted at them and took off.

"Next," Luna continued. "Send another back to Canterlot, and have him inform my sister of the events that took place here."

The guard in the middle blasted off into the night sky. "Lastly," Luna said, glancing at the remaining flyer. "I need you to fly to Ponyville. Search for Princess Twilight, and let her know of our arrival. And that we need somepony with medical expertise." The last guard saluted at Luna, and zoomed into the sky.

"General, I will be headed for Ponyville with our injured pegasus." Luna lifted the white pony with her magic, carefully placing him on her back. "I want you to finish your investigation of this outpost and report to me as quickly as you can."

"I shall leave Blaze here to do that, Princess." Coldmount motioned at Blaze. "Me and two others will accompany you to Ponyville."

Luna nodded. "Are you sure you won't be needed here, general?" she asked.

"Princess Luna, we, the night's guard are sworn to protect you. I simply cannot allow you to travel to Ponyville alone." Coldmount replied. "Blaze is more than capable of handling the situation here."

"Very well then." Luna spread her wings and gently took off into the sky. Her magic holding on to the pegasus. Coldmount flew next to her. 'Princess, I have a question, if you allow me."

"General, you have served me long enough to know that you need not ask for my permission for wanting to ask a question. Speak your concern."

Coldmount cleared his throat. He glanced back at the outpost below them. "This is something I have never seen before. Nor have I ever heard of such a thing. After what we have seen here tonight, Princess. I simply must ask... What in Celestia's name is happening?"

Luna stared at the moon, uncertain of what to tell her general. Even Celestia have not fully briefed her of the situation. She too, was also left in the dark. But she trusted her sister with all her life. And had never doubted Celestia's choices and decisions. There was only one answer Luna can think of giving to Coldmount.

"Dark times, general." She said, as they took off towards Ponyville. "Dark times are approaching us."

Author's Note

Yeah, here you go. Wanted to try writing something different. So here it is! Hope you folks enjoy reading this. Updates coming soon!