Equestria Aflame.

     A large group of guards barreled into the hallway where Celestia and Luna's duel took place. And they were wondering just what in Equestria was going on.

     Celestia shot her head towards them, "Luna has betrayed Equestria, she is somewhere in the forests below the city."

     The guards paused and gave each other uncertain looks. The guards that were there happened to be Luna's personal guard: the Lunar Elites. They were hoof-picked by Luna herself and given spells to darken their coats and given darker shades of armor to distinguish them.

     Celestia turned towards the guards, "Go and find Luna. Bring her to me." Her stone expression gave the guards chills.

     "Yes, Your Majesty." One of the guards answered and they turned and left to fulfill their task.

     Luna's eyes slowly opened and the pain that was kept at bay rushed through her broken body. She moaned and tried to move, it was incredibly painful to do so. Her chest heaved as oxygen rushed through her lungs in some very heavy and deep breaths. Luna tried to look around and assess the situation but her leg was in unbearable pain. She saw the pool of blood she was laying in and knew that she lost a lot of it.  She shut her eyes tight and gritted her teeth. She powered her horn and sent a deep blue wave of healing magic throughout her body. This was very taxing to her magical ability which was almost drained from her battle with her sister. The magic seeped into her skin and the effects were immediate, her cuts sealed and her broken bones fused. Luna held her breath throughout the healing process as feeling her bones move wasn't the most pleasant experience. She grimaced at the pain of healing until it was finally finished. She let out her breath and quickly tried to replace all the oxygen she lost in holding her breath.

    Luna slowly arose, her body still aching. 'How long?' ,she thought to herself. 'What happens now?' she knew that things had officially gotten out-of-hoof and Celestia needed to be stopped, but how?

    She staggered forward through the dark forest. The darkness was most welcome to the lunar princess, she felt the most comfortable in her own element. She finally stumbled into a clearing of tall grass and a few flowers. She gazed up at the silver brilliance of the moon which was in it's half phase. 'I don't remember raising the moon.' Luna thought with a frown, 'Had Celestia already taken that responsibility again?'

     Luna's train of thought was broken by the grass rustling, she looked at the noise and soon found herself surrounded by twenty five of her elites. They all encircled her and closed in.

     Luna held her chin up and, with a face of resolve, choked out, "Come to finish what Celestia started?"

     Then, as if choreographed, all the elites bowed down before Luna. The guard nearest her, who had the silver striped, jet black crest of the captain, said in the most respectful tone , "My princess." he rose his head to face Luna and asked, "Our loyalty is yours and yours alone. What are your orders?"

     Luna turned and scanned her guards, they looked at her eagerly awaiting her command. "Celestia will plunge Equestria into chaos! My duty is to Equestria and her people. My sister must be stopped." She looked at the dirt at her feet. "I must stop her."

     "How will we help you, Your Majesty?" The captain asked.

     "Return to Canterlot." Luna scanned her guards again, "Gather the rest of the elites. And very discreetly, gather all of your weapons and gear from the royal armory. Does Celestia know you've defected?" She turned towards the captain, who was a dark brown coated earth pony, his defining helmet glowing in the moonlight.

     "No, Your Majesty. She sent us to find you and bring you to her. But she is not our princess." The captain said very solemnly.

     "Good. That should make your job a lot easier, we need a rally point. Suggestions?" She asked the captain again.

     "There is a good vantage point on a hill a few miles south, that would be good place to set up a camp and defensive positions. No, doubt when Princess Celestia learns of our defection, she'll bring the might of Equestria down upon us." The captain answered in a confident tone.

     "No bloodshed." Luna shook her head, "At least, as little as possible."

     "Your Majesty, I'm afraid- Celestia will bleed Equestria dry before she gives up the throne. Bloodshed might be inevitable.

     "I know." Luna lowered her head, dreading what the future might bring. "Just go, I'll set up a beacon. Meet me at the hill when your task is complete."

     "Aye, my princess." The captain bowed his head and the elites rushed off back to Canterlot.

     The group neared the castle, with Pinkie taking the lead, followed by Applejack, Big Mac, Rarity and Fluttershy with the CMC. They were weary from the events that perspired that day. They crossed the old bridge very cautiously. The creaking and straining of the ropes and wood caused some uneasiness amongst the group. They neared the steps when a thud was heard and a spear was seen jutting out of the ground. It was still rattling from the impact.

     "Halt!" a masked, navy blue unicorn was seen at the top step, with a spear on either side of him in light blue levitation fields. Three more masked unicorns appeared beside him, also levitating spears.

     Pinkie Pie yelled up, "It's ok Bronzy! They're friends!"

     "Pinkie Pie? What in the name of-?" The masked unicorn stammered and lowered his spears, "Jus-just get in!"

     A few minutes later, everyone was rushed into the castle and brought to the inner rooms where Bronze Buckler and his revolutionaries had set up there camp.

     "What did I tell you about bringing others Pinkie?" Bronze wasn't happy.

     "But they're my bestest friends!" Pinkie whined, "Can't they stay? Maybe they can help us?"

     "That depends," Bronze said, removing his mask and eyeing the rest of the group, "How do you feel about the current form of government? About Celestia?"

     Applejack and Big Mac looked at each other, their faces stern and confident. Applejack looked at Bronze and said, "Let's just say we got an ax to grind with Celestia."

     "Beautiful!" Bronze interjected with a smile. "It just so happens, we've been needing a few individuals like yourselves." Bronze walked over to a map on a table and stared down at it. The room they were in was trashed. Garbage, empty bottles, and old furniture were scatterd about, and dust caked everything.

     "Can't we get some sleep first?" Applejack asked.

     "Oh yes, of course. What was I thinking? You've had a long trip" Bronze said with a chuckle and a hoof to his forehead. "But first let me introduce you. I'm Bronze Buckler, those guys over there are my brothers." He pointed his hoof back at the other three unicorns who still had their masks on, "That's Glowing Shield, Barricade, and Spearhead." They all nodded in acknowledgement. "Our father was a soldier, one of the best. He wanted us to follow in his footsteps, but then..." He trailed off and paused. "Anyway! You folks are tired." He perked back up and said, "Hey guys, show these folks to some suitable sleeping conditions!"

     The three unicorns led the group to another part of the castle, to what they guessed was the barracks. It was still as broken down and dusty as the rest of the place. They all got comfortable where they were and Spearhead walked in levitating some bed mats, they were dirty and old. These mats have seen one too many camping trips.

     "Divide them amongst yourselves, we don't have one for all of you. We weren't expecting guests." he said in a quiet, raspy voice and the unicorn trio left the barracks.

     There were only five mats. Applejack looked at Rarity and said, "The foals will each get one and you and Flutteshy get one. Me and my brother can go without." she smiled and nudged Big Mac. "Besides, I wanna keep watch for a little bit. I don't exactly trust these ponies."

     "Well they treated Pinkie Pie well enough." Rarity said laying out the bed mats in a grid with her magic, doing her best to make them look nice.

     "I guess you're right." Applejack yawned. "Speaking of her. Where'd she go?"

     Just then Pinkie Pie came bouncing in with her own dirty mat. She threw it down and shouted, "This is just like slumber party! Only without the cake -yawn- I miss cake." She walked around her mat three times and curled up in a ball on it.

     Applejack wanted to ask her where she had been this whole time, but answers could wait. 'I am awfully tired." she thought. She looked at the rest of the group and The CMC huddled together with Fluttershy. They were still scared, and Fluttershy did her best to make them feel safe. Rarity was getting comfortable and Big Mac was making his spot in the corner of the room. He did feel a little awkward being the only guy in the room. He wasn't used to this.

     Applejack went and plopped down next to her brother. 'Everything will work out.' she thought, 'It always has.'