Project Midnight Book One-Awakening

At her sisters command. Luna went to the royal spa for a full day of relaxation while Celestia handled the baby. Upon arrival the entire staff greeted her at the entrance. They had tied up her mane and dressed her in their finest robes before escorting her to the massage center where a small handful began to work their magic on her rather stiff muscles.

"Goodness your highness! you're so tense." One of the ponies said in shock as he popped a section of her spine, the sensation was very soothing for Luna.

"Well what do you expect? She is a full time mother now but I bet it's worth it when you get to see the little guys face just light up whenever he sees you. Isn't that right Luna?" Another masseuse addressed the princess by her first name while working on her legs. The others seemed shock by that, the princess didn't mind however.

"It is. Just the sight of him so happy makes it so worth it." Luna said with a smile as she felt the wing joints on her back pop, making her sigh with relief. The moment however was cut short as a news report flashed onto the tv hanging above, the news was horrifying.

Ten foals found murdered

"We are coming to you live from Manehattan square where the bodies of ten unicorn foals have been found. The bodies have been identified as the group of children who went missing two weeks ago but the identity of the killer remains a mystery. This has been but one of many child killings within the past month and as always the mysterious figure known only as "Deacon" left this message."

The news feed cut to a shadowy figure sitting in a chair, behind him a pentagram which appeared to be drawn in blood. He had a southern accent and began acting like a priest in church.

"Citizens of Manehattan. Weep not tears of sadness but tears of joy! These children were impure; not of TRUE Unicorn blood! They were but the first step in cleansing ALL of Equestria of those who would defile the noble bloodline of the Unicorn! Join me; Join us! and together we will bring about a new age! the age of The Pure Ones!"

"Just who are these "Pure Ones" anyway?" Asked the pony massaging Lunas feet.

"They are a cultist group descended from the Unicorn monarchy that once governed Equestria. Before me and my sister took over." Luna answered surprising them all before going for a soak in the hot tub.

Back at the castle. Celestia had been carrying Midnight with her all day while attending to her duties with a few minor hiccups including the occasional diaper change and feeding time. Celestia headed back to the throne room for some alone time when her other nephew; Blueblood trotted up behind her, carrying a scroll with the royal seal.

"Aunt Celestia. It's the report you wanted." He said in a casual tone as she took the scroll while handing Midnight over.

"Hold him for a second please?"

"But I uh...oh dear." Blueblood was nervous. He never handled children before much less held one and while Celestia read the report the two simply looked at one another before Midnight broke into a giggle, reaching out for his cousin.

"Aww he likes you!" Celestia smiled as Midnight tugged at Bluebloods mane and face.

"Rrr! So I see! ow ow!" The prince struggled for a bit before his cousin finally settled down. Blueblood saw the innocent look in his eyes despite being born a bat pony and a warm smile crept on his face as he allowed his baby cousin to grip one of his fingers.

"You don't suppose I could watch him when he's older do you?"

"You'll have to ask Luna about that." Celestia didn't want to give an honest answer, knowing Bluebloods reputation of being a snobby, stuck up selfish, self-centered jerkface. (I'm getting off track)

Meanwhile. Luna had finally finished her spa treatment and was feeling like a brand new mare "Ahh. Celestia was right, this is JUST what I needed. Thank you everypony!" The princess proclaimed out loud as she waved goodbye before taking off to the castle and though her relaxation day was nice she was eager to hold her little prince back in her arms.

That night, as the entire castle slept. Luna was lulling Midnight to sleep with the same lullaby she sang to him every night and thanks to Celestia she could get a good nights rest knowing her little one was in capable hands.

"Goodnight my little prince."

"Ma ma..." The little foal yawned widely as his mother kissed his cheek. Luna then laid him down and tucked him in before putting his favorite teddy bear next to him.

"Mommy will visit you in your dreams tonight."

Luna smiled as she saw her little one sound asleep before quietly closing the door and this time she would only leave two guards to watch him but as the princess left for her bed chambers a sinister plot was beginning to unfold.

Just below the royal nursery two shadowy figures with green eyes slithered their way through the castle halls, undetected. They had made their way to the entrance where Lunas night guards had been keeping watch over the prince and were preparing to make their move.

"Objective in sight." One of the figures whispered over a radio as he peeked around the corner.

"Proceed."

The two figures instantly took out the guards with little noise as they quickly entered the nursery. Little midnight was smiling in his sleep, having a pleasant dream. He was dreaming of flying in the night sky with his mother, the two flew around with Luna making sure he stayed afloat as they played around before landing softly on a bed of flowers.

"Ma ma!" Even in his dreams, little midnight was happy to see his mother just as she was happy to see him.

"My little one." Lunas voice was warm and gentle like any mothers would be towards their child. She snuggled her baby close and was prepared to lay down with him when suddenly. The wind began to howl violently, tearing the sky and ground apart.

"Ma ma?" Midnight was becoming frightened as he clinged to his mothers chest, Luna began to look around for the source of the disturbance. Her horn flaring with magic.

"It's alright sweetie. Just stay close." The princess tried to comfort her child when a giant black hole ripped open in the night sky and from it came two sinister claws that snatched the baby from her grasp.

"NO!!" Luna grabbed the babies hands as he cried out in fear, desperately wanting his mother to save him but try as she might Luna lost her grip, falling forward as the baby was sucked into the black hole still reaching out for her.

"MA MAAAAA!!!!!"

"AHH!!!" Luna sprang from her sleep, dripping in sweat when she realized something was wrong.

"Midnight...GUARDS!!" The princess quickly darted out the door and straight for the nursery where she saw the two guards knocked out.

"No..." Fear was in her voice. She knew that what she experienced was no mere nightmare and quickly burst into the room to find the crib empty with only the teddy bear and a strange note with the letter "D" marked on it.

"NOOOOO!!!!" Luna's cries could be heard throughout the whole castle. Celestia soon became aware of the situation and demanded that all the guards begin searching the city at once.

"Please Celestia! Please find him!" Luna begged as she clinged to her sister.

"We'll find him Luna. I promise, no matter what it takes we WILL find him!" Her voice was filled with sorrow but her eyes burned with anger. Whoever took Midnight had broken her sisters heart, she would find them and she would make them pay.

The Next Day

The guards had searched into the night but there was no trace of the prince or the ones that took him. Luna had become distraught, thinking that this was somehow her fault, that she should've known something was wrong and there was nothing Celestia or the castle staff could do but comfort her as best they could. They sat in the guest room hoping the guards had found any clues.

"I'm sorry you majesties. We've looked everywhere around the castle, there was no trace of the prince or the foal nappers." That was the news Luna did NOT want to hear.

"Then search the city! Search EVERY part of Canterlot! FIND MY SON!!!" Luna's voice thundered with fury as it echoed in the castle halls and it looked like she was ready to kill him.

"Y-Yes your highness!!" The guard frantically made his way towards the exit as Celestia placed a hand on Lunas shoulder, giving a scolding look.

"I'm sorry sister." Luna apologized knowing she was out of line despite the given situation.

"Something will turn up Luna. They couldn't of gotten far."

"AUNT CELESTIA!!" Blueblood came rushing into the throne room completely out of breath. Some of the guards tried to help him stand but they were shoved off as he rushed to turn on the guest rooms tv. It was Deacon.

"To the princesses living in Canterlot. We have come to purify this once great city of the filth that contaminates it, already the first to join the cleansing has joined us." Deacon snapped his fingers as one of his followers brought forth Midnight who had been crying for some time.

"Princess Luna. You allowed yourself to be tainted with the seed of a commoner and sired this bastard foal into our noble society! But fear not! We will correct your mistake and send this vile creature back to the pit from whence he came. Then and ONLY then can the royal blood line be saved! there is no need to thank us we-KABLAAM!!"

Luna had heard enough.

"Deacon...."

End of Part 3