Hellfire

Celestia paced around the throne room, her golden hoof boots echoing in the empty space. She looked normal at first glance; calm, benevolent, her magic hair billowing in an unreal breeze. However, her light purple eyes were bloodshot and a few stray strands of hair were separated from her mane and tail. Her crown was bent at a slight angle, too.

She was waiting patiently for the day to begin; for her sister to sync with the night and go to bed with her beloved moon. Both sisters have an internal clock within them that woke them up when it was time to raise their astronomical objects and to paint their canvases a bright blue to awaken the citizens of their planet or a sleepy shade of purple to lull them all to sleep.

Today marked the Lunar Eclipse, when Luna's moon would fall into the planet's umbra and turn a 'blood red'. Most creatures refer to it as a blood moon; the name was very fitting.

However, this was not the topic that was on her mind as if right now; in fact, she was currently interrupted in her pacing by somepony else.

Celestia.

Solar Flare?

Yes, its me. What will we do about this gypsy unicorn mare? She will clearly attempt to stop us.

...I will do whatever I can, but for now I must remain patient. Only Blueblood and I know what went on in the meetinghouse last night, and neither of us want to raise suspicions of our little ponies.

Do not refer to them as your little ponies, Celestia. Remember what they do to your sun? They mock it and praise the night instead! They are our enemies.

Yes, Solar Flare.

Solar went silent after the small talk they had, and Celestia turned to hear the tall wooden doors open.

"Princess Celestia?" A young maid stepped into the throne room, and brushed her hooves self-consciously.

"Yes?" She straightened her crown via magic, and brushed down her mane with an armored hoof.

"The Sun Court will begin in twenty minutes in the Royal Court, Your Highness," the maid replied politely, slightly bowing.

"Of course. Tell them I will appear soon enough."

"Yes, Your Highness. Good day," and the maid stepped back out and closed the door quietly.

Celestia turned to the stained glass windows, deep in thought. She then looked through a clear window to watch the city of Canterlot in a neat line waiting outside the Royal Court for her appearance.

***

Luna fought the urge to lie down and rest. Instead, she prepared a magic spell that would change her voice, appearance, and cutiemark. She clamped a bootless hoof over her muzzle when she yawned, and then her horn began to glow blue. After tinkering with her cutiemark and the color of her mane, she settled on being a dusty gray pegasus mare with a long dark brown braid named Meteor Crater, her cutiemark of a moon rock.

Once she met with the Selenic Council on the outskirts of Canterlot, she told everyone their codeword would be 'Regolith' when they meet up, to avoid any spies/changeling incidents. Luna cupped her mouth again when she yawned.

Lunar Maria was not convinced. "How will we find her? Canterlot is huge!"

Daedalus showed her the sketch of the gypsy's cutiemark that his son described. "I'm sure knowing what her cutiemark is will most certainly help!"

'Meteor' shook her head. "This is no time for bickering, my council. Time is running out, and we must complete this prophecy soon. If we do this during the daytime, we will not be noticed as much."

Amici nodded. "Of course, your Highness. There is no time to waste."

Icarus spread his bat pony wings. "One question, your Highness. How will us thestrals not be seen?"

'Meteor' mused on it. "If anypony spots you and questions you, tell them you need to round up any other batpony guards from last night's drinking festival."

Icarus stifled a chuckle, and instead saluted. "Of course, Princess Luna."

She turned from Icarus to look at everypony. "One more thing; refer to me as Meteor Crater, not Your Highness, Your Majesty, Princess Luna, etcetera. That will most certainly give away who I am, and we do not want that happening."

Lunar nodded. "Of course Your Hi- I mean, Meteor."

***

The streets of Canterlot were busy and loud; it wasn't for the faint of heart, the claustrophobic, or the paranoid. The cobblestone paths were covered in all kinds of characters; mostly of nobles, workers, a few griffons, crystal ponies, zebras, mules, buffalos, even a solar guard or two roamed Canterlot freely, with it being one of the most largest and richest areas of Equestria.

However, the Selenic Council successfully went unnoticed as they were released into the streets, searching for a familiar cutiemark in the crowd.

Icarus and Lunar looked through every window, attempting to search the insides of every building without being spotted from inside by anypony. A couple of times, ponies came out of their homes, waving them away not so politely. They were forced to run from aggressive house owners and guards.

Meanwhile, 'Meteor' asked Amici to use a detection spell to see if the gypsy was using any concealment or shifting spells.

Amici's horn glowed a brilliant golden as he waved his horn amongst the throng of creatures on the cobblestone paths. He briefly stopped, his eyes widening for a split second.

'Meteor' noticed this reaction, and glanced up at the unicorn, her eyes flashing with concern. "Did you find her?"

He shook his head scarcely, as if trying to stay secretive in a silent room. "No; I just detected a Solar Guard watching us. You best leave before he notices anything. I'll continue to walk around."

The disguised Princess Luna nodded once and then trotted off casually, disappearing down a branching road.

Amici's walked over to the hidden Solar Guard, his hoofbeats clicking against the cobblestone. "How is Princess Celestia?"

"Fine," The guard muttered quietly, looking down at the path. He didn't seem talkative.

"We haven't found the gypsy yet. Keep following me."

"Of course. Blueblood is getting impatient; he's serving out punishments for the guards frivolously," the Solar Guard turned his head up at him, slightly smug.

Amici's tail twitched. Was that a threat? "I'll be leaving now. They'll be wondering where I've gone," and he walked away, looking as casual as 'Meteor' down the path she went.

However, one pony heard the entire conversation. He took to the sky on his batwings, trying to find Princess Luna.

***

"Yes sir!" The solar guards saluted in perfect sync, their gaze focused in front of them dutifully.

"Battle Array!" A radiant white unicorn with a flowing golden mane decked out in silver armor hissed, his eyes narrowed.

The named pegasus guard stopped saluting and simply stood neatly, trying to look humble. A drop of sweat glistened on his temple as the general marched to him. "Sir?"

"Your salute was a few seconds late. Twenty wing pushups!" He commanded boldly.

Battle Array weakly nodded. "Yes, General Blueblood.." And dropped down on his wings, counting under his breath.

The general stalked off haughtily, but he snorted out of impatience. When were they going to execute the mission?

***

Meteor Crater stopped at the front of a store, pretending to do some window shopping. Her eyes were scanning the clothing behind the glass, however she looked side to side to make sure nopony was trying to do anything that could jeopardize the operation. She suddenly heard a flap of wings, and a bellow. "Meteor Crater!"

A few passerbies raised eyebrows as they watch him land next to her. However, none of their gazes seemed suspicious, so Meteor disregarded the looks. "Icarus?" In fact, some of the passerbies turned their looks to a rickety carriage.

The young thestral pony landed next to her, panting for breath. "We..we have.."

She began to become impatient. "Spit it out, soldier."

He glanced up at her. "We have a traitor among our ranks, your Highness," he whispered slowly.

Meteor Crater stomped a hoof. "What?!"

At that moment, Amici turned around the corner, hearing the blare of music and flinching. Meteor and Icarus also stopped to look at the performance on the other side of the street.

A young lavender unicorn mare sporting a colorful dress stepped out from the carriage and landed on the cobblestone path.