The Mare of the Night vs the Nightmare

Chapters

Part 1 - Apprehension
Part 2 - Frustration
Part 3 - Revelation
Part 4 - Distress

Part 1 - Apprehension

“Did you really expect me to sit idly by while they all basked in your precious light? There can only be one princess in Equestria, and that princess will be ME!”

With a one wrathful stomp of her forehooves Princess Luna demolished the podium she was standing on, the podium she and her sister used to share, with such force the wall behind her cracked and a sinister shadow filled the room before the window above exploded. The Princess then ascended into the air, raising the moon alongside her, until it eclipsed the evening sun. Then as darkness descended upon Equestria; a dark, evil force invaded the throne room of the two celestial monarchs.

With the shadows surrounding her, Luna had only a moment to realise what a terrible mistake she had made. As the darkness began to envelop her, all the anger and jealousy she had harboured toward her sister was replaced with another feeling. Something she had not felt so strongly even during the reign of the tyrant, Discord. Fear.

At first she felt nothing. Nothing, but a vast cold, lonely, emptiness that threatened to go on forever and the utter insignificance of her existence compared to it. Then she felt everything. Everything! All of her envy, all of her anger, all of her resentment, guilt, shame, remorse, bitterness, despair, grief, spite, loathing, fear and pain. Every negative emotion she had ever felt, every shameful thought she ever had, every dark part of her that was buried deep down inside herself. And it all came rushing out, all at once, in a typhoon of agony.

It was the single most excruciating thing Luna had ever experienced. All her malice, all her pain, suffocated her as it permeated throughout every part of her being. Crushing her very soul under its immeasurable weight. Luna could do nothing as the darkness infected her. Tearing away all of the happiness and love she still might have still had for her sister and the ponies of Equestria, and filling it with hatred. She screamed out in a voice only she could hear as the once noble alicorn was transformed into a twisted mockery of everything she once stood for. Into something that could only know hatred, suffering and loneliness.

Nightmare Moon.

*****

“Why couldn’t I have been stronger?” Luna quietly muttered to herself. Her head buried within the tear stained pillow that she clenched tightly, as she once again recalled the memory she wanted nothing more than to forget.

It had been some time since Celestia had brought Luna back to her bedchamber, after the moon princess sensed a powerful dark force in Canterlot. The same one that caused her so much suffering all those years ago. A Pokemon known only as Darkrai.

Luna trembled just thinking about that name as she lay in her bed, covered head to hoof in blankets. Although the alicorn could no longer sense the Pitch-Black Pokémons presence she could still tell something was amiss. Normally Celestia would have returned to comfort her by now, or Twilight, or one of her guards… or Flare. The fact that she had heard neither hide-nor-hair of anypony filled her with worry.

“What if Darkrai did something? What if Equestria is in trouble? What if Celestia can’t handle it on her own and now everyone is doomed because I was stuck here! Like this…”

Luna cringed at the distressing thoughts as a fresh set of tears ran down her face. There she was, the princess of the night, and she was cowering under her blankets like a foal hiding from a thunderstorm. Though no pony who understood what she had experienced would blame Luna for her reaction, she still cursed the fact that she had been reduced to such a pitiable state. All she could do for now was trust in her elder sister and hope that her concerns would turn out to be nothing more than exaggerated fantasies.

“Why couldn’t I have been stronger?”

*****

Outside of the doors to Luna’s room stood two stallions of princess’s Night guard.

“What do you think is going on out there?” anxiously asked Lestat, the younger of the two Night Guard, as he tried to peer out a nearby window.

“Don’t concern yourself with what’s happening out that window and worry more about what could happen right in front of you,” lectured Alucard, the Night Guards’ captain and a personal friend to the Princess of the Night.

The veteran sounded notably on edge, even more so than usual, and with good reason. It was bad enough that earlier in the day something happened that had left their beloved princess absolutely distraught, but before they had a chance to learn what had happened, Canterlot had come under attack from some mysterious force of crystal golems. That was an hour ago, and neither of them had heard anything about the state of the conflict.

It wasn’t just that which had Alucard gritting his teeth in anxiety either. Usually during an emergency all available members of the Night Guard were sent in to reinforce the castle defenses, including extra security for Princess Luna’s chambers. They should have been here by now. Where in Tartarus were they?

“I know,” Lestat eventually replied, “but we can’t stand just be standing around while there’s action going on,” the unseasoned trooper said, more out of concern than eagerness. “Don’t you think we’d be doing a better job out there than back here?”

“NO!” Alucard snapped. “Our job is to protect the princess, no matter the cost! This room is one of the most secure locations in all of Equestria, and the Night Guard will not see that security breached while we still hold breath. Understood Trooper?”

However instead of backing down as expected, Lestat shouted back defiantly, “And how are we supposed to protect the princess properly if we don’t know what we’re up against?” He paused for a moment before shrinking back upon realizing what he had said and who he had said it to. “I mean… with all due respect sir,” he quickly apologized.

Alucard, sighed as he looked away from the idealistic rookie. The pony’s heart was in the right place, but with only the two of them at the moment. Neither of them could risk meandering around if it meant leaving the princess slightly more vulnerable for even a second. Nothing was more imperative to the Night Guard than Princess Luna’s safety, and Lestat knew that just as well as anypony.

'And it is more important now than ever,' Alucard thought to himself remembering a very important conversation he had had. Before she left to lead the defense of Canterlot, Princess Celestia herself called on Alucard and the rest of the Night Guard in order to do one very important favor for her.

“Please, no matter what happens, keep my sister safe.”

“Do not fear Celestia, no harm will come upon our princess. I swear it!” The stalwart defender assured himself.

Still Alucard could see the rookie’s point. It wouldn’t hurt to know more details about the enemy. Besides keeping morale up at this point was essential. Alucard took a deep breath before addressing the fervent youngster again.

“Perhaps Lestat,” he spoke in a less aggressive tone “Once Deshwitat and the others arrive, I’ll have you run reconnaissance to learn what the enemy forces are like. Maybe also check to see how the castle defenses are holding up.”

Lestat’s head perked up at the sound of his commanders’ unique form of encouragement, restoring him to his usual exuberant self.
“Until then,” Alucard continued, “we should leave the protection of Canterlot to the Royal Guard. I’m sure they can handle it.”

“Yeah, just like the way they handled the Changeling invasion of Canterlot during Princess Cadance’s wedding,” Lestat replied sarcastically, "I’m sure they have the enemy begging for mercy as we speak.”

Alucard could only groan in response. He wanted to lecture the rookie about causing dissent among the other military branches, but he found it hard to disagree with Lestat’s assessment. The Royal Guard performed abysmally in that battle. Most of them fell in the first five minutes of the initial skirmish. The ones who weren’t taken down almost immediately could only offer up a token resistance, while the Changelings were given almost free reign over the city. For crying out loud the Element Bearers lasted longer and fought harder than most of them, and they were all civilians!

The Changelings absolutely ravaged the castle as well. That is until they came upon Princess Luna's chambers. The six soldiers of the Night Guard stationed on duty that day managed to fend off the Changeling onslaught. Alucard, Deshwitat, Valvatorez, Carmilla, Bethory and Markov. They fought back, tooth and nail, against the changeling hoard with nothing more than ferocity and determination. Until the Changeling queen was defeated by the powers Princess Cadance and Sir Shining Armour. Well six Guardsmen and one impulsive, determined young squire who simply refused to listen to orders; Alucard glanced at Lestat with a small grin. And they did it all without once disturbing Princess Luna’s bedrest. Alucard was particularly proud of that fact.

However Alucard’s reminiscence was quickly brought to an end by the sound of rushing hoof-steps. As if on cue a pony emerged from around the corner of a nearby hallway, racing towards the princess’ chamber. It was not Deshwitat, as Alucard had hoped, but a white coated unicorn wearing the armor of the Canterlot Royal Guard.

“Urgent news from the princess!” Exclaimed the white stallion, as he came to a halt in front of the two sentries of the night. Exhausted, the messenger took a few deep breaths before continuing, “I have an urgent message from her majesty,” he panted, “Princess Celestia has ordered for the two of you to assemble in the main hall.”

The two guards were stunned by the announcement. “Why? What’s going on?” inquired the bewildered Alucard.

The unicorn took one last deep breath before answering. “I’m afraid the battle is not going well for us, I think her Highness means to call in the Night Guard for reinforcements. Honestly we could use all the help we can get.”

“I knew it!” a displeased Lestat shouted, stomping his hoof in frustration. Alucard however reacted to the news with uneasy apprehension.

“I’m sorry,” the night captain replied, as if he were the most uptight, obstinate, uncompromising pony in the world, “but, we have orders from Princess Celestia, not to leave our post under any circumstance. You’ll just have to win this battle without us”

“What?” the unicorn questioned with an anxious tone “You have to go! I know Princess Luna’s protection is important, but Celestia’s orders are… well Celestia’s orders!”

Alucard wasn’t surprised by the trooper’s reaction. To most of the ponies of Equestria, Princess Celestia’s word was law. A law they would be happy to follow as their wise and caring ruler wanted nothing more than the peace and well-being of her subjects. The Night Guard however were not most ponies. For them, there was but one who they would refer to as “Princess”, only one who held their absolute loyalty and devotion. Only one whose commands they would follow unquestionably, and if ordered to, would march into Tartarus itself with a stalwart, “Yes m’lady, when would you like to have us back m’lady?”

Luna. The mare in the moon and princess of the night. For them she was their true and only monarch and no authority, not even Celestia’s was higher than hers.

To her credit, Celestia knew full well of the Night Guard’s one-sided allegiance, and seemed perfectly fine with it. In fact she actively encouraged it and did as little as she could to disrupt it. Perhaps it was a sign of faith and trust in her sister, or maybe she was just happy with having one less thing in the kingdom that she had to manage. Regardless if ever a situation did arise that the Sun Princess needed the aid of the Night Guard for, she would either ask Luna if she could “borrow” them, or if their Lady of the Night was unavailable, ask them politely as a favor rather than give them direct orders. So having Celestia supersede her sister’s authority, and attempt to command Luna’s Night Guard in such a way… Then things must indeed be servery dire.

Still, Alucard couldn’t help think that something was off. Considering how important Luna’s protections seemed to Celestia, it was odd that she didn’t give the order herself with a telepathic message, or send another member of the Night Guard inform them, or the Captain of the Guard or Prince Blueblood or anypony other than some random trooper of the Royal Guard?

Alucard had no time to contemplate his uneasy thoughts as they was distracted by Lestat’s brash, resolute voice. “Alucard, we’ve got to go and help them!”

“What?” The captain was flabbergasted “Lestat do you understand what it is you’re saying? Are you seriously suggesting we should abandon Princess Luna?”

“No… I mean...” Stumbling over his words, Lestat paused for a moment to gather his thoughts before turning towards his commander with bold, determination in his voice. “You know I don’t want to see the princess hurt any more than you do, but what do you think she’s going to say to us if she finds out other ponies got seriously hurt while we stood around and did nothing!” Alucard had no response, and while he didn’t show it, that question really struck a nerve with him.

Lestat continued. “Besides that, what if by not helping, the enemy becomes so powerful we’re not able to fight them off if they come for Luna?” he said adamantly. “We’re still protecting her, just more proactively. Fight the enemy while we don’t have to, so we can protect the princess when we need to.”

Alucard simply glared at the upstart rookie. “Proactive protection, he’s been hanging around Valvatorez too much lately. That’s the kind of thing he would say,” The veteran thought in irritation.

He thought of scolding Lestat again for his impertinence, but it was quite clear that Lestat had made his choice on the matter and he knew nothing that he said we going to change it. “If you want to go fine,” he shouted at the rookie, “but I am not leaving the princess behind undefended.”

“Um… excuse me,” the messenger, who had remained quiet till now, suddenly spoke up with a hoof raised in the air. “I could stay behind and guard the princess’s chambers.” The unicorn said earnestly.

The two sentries simply stared blankly at the messenger. Alucard in particular seemed to be in utter bewilderment, as if his brain was unable to properly process what he had just heard. His brain needed to confirm that the sequence of words emerging from that pony’s month was physically possible, and so bluntly answered with the only words his still reeling mind was able to piece together at the time. “Pardon me, but… what?”

“Well, yeah” the unicorn continued as earnestly as before, if slightly more nervously. “I’m mean it’s just to make sure the enemy can’t get to Princess Luna through the front doors without being spotted, and I can do that no problem,” he said in a matter of fact tone, “and I’ll be honest with you guys, I think they could use you two out there more than they could me.”

“Well there you go Alucard,” Lestat burst out assuredly. “This guy here can watch the door while you and I check out what the situation is.”

Alucard didn’t know how to react. He wasn’t quite sure whether to feel merely offended by the Royal Guard’s proposition or absolutely insulted. “You expect me to leave the safety of our princess in his hands?” He slowly responded, still trying to decide on exactly how outraged he should be.

“You said is yourself Alucard,” the young soldier wasted no time in rebutting his senior, “This room is one of the most heavily protected spots in all Equestria. Besides don’t forget, we’re talking about Princess - hey, let’s challenge that Red Dragon to a wrestling match, I could use a good warm-up before tonight’s dream-walking - Luna! Come on Alucard, Pony’s lives could be at stake. What would the princess do in this situation?”

Alucard turned away from the young Night Guard, towards the window Lestat tried to peer through earlier. Because there was no question in his mind. He knew exactly what Luna would do.

“Alright soldiers, listen up” Alucard sprang to life, commanding an authoritative voice, fitting for one of the Night Guards commander. “Lestat, you and I will head to the Great Hall and discover why it is that Celestia has called us and if there are any foes that require vanquishing.”

Lestat smiled as he gave his salute to his superior with an enthusiastic, “Yes sir!”

“As for you-” Alucard gestured towards the unicorn guard, but was interrupted by the stallion before saying anything else.

“If an enemy approaches I’ll fire off a signal-flare spell to alert you. I know some barrier spells too, so I should be able to hold them off until you guys come back.”

“Yes you do that,” the senior soldier coldly affirmed before turning back to his compatriot. “Let’s go, Lestat. We shall find our enemies, crush them utterly, and be back in time to serve the princess her evening coffee. Now wings of the night, let us fly.”

And with that the two bat-pegasi unfurled their black, leathery wings and leapt into the air, flying towards Canterlot’s Great Hall with speed and purpose. And as the two speed towards their destination Alucard, gave a decree to any they may face, “Enemies of Equestria tremble, for today the night has come for you!”

*****

As the two night warriors took flight, the unicorn messenger left behind shouted “Don’t worry guys, I’ll take care of the princess” waving towards the two as they speed away.

As soon as they were out of sight his earnest demeanor changed, and a slick smirk crossed the soldier’s face. Suddenly, his body was engulfed in emerald flames, erupting from hoof to mane, and after the flames dissipated their stood in the unicorn’s place a bat-winged pegasus in the spitting image of Lestat.

“Yeah, I’ll take real good care of the princess alright.”

Part 2 - Frustration

All was quiet inside of Luna’s room as the princess of the night lay on her bed, concealed by her bedspread and pillows. Time had passed and she no longer found herself a quivering ball of tears, however while her sorrow had subsided it was not gone.

As the princess continued to lie in dejection, she was suddenly startled by the feeling of something pressing on her hide. Instantly alarmed, Luna leapt up, throwing off her bedspread as her eyes darted around the room in a panic, until they came across a grey-furred animal standing on her bed staring at her. “Oh, it’s you Tiberius,” the alicorn murmured, calming down at the sight of her pet opossum. “That’s right,” she downheartedly muttered, “I forgot to feed you, didn’t I?” the princess said as she lifted the small marsupial into her chest for a firm hug, “I truly have been negligent haven’t I?”

“What am I to do Tiberius?” Luna sobbed, as she confided with her pet, “I’m supposed to be a princess, a leader. It’s my duty to protect my subjects. I should be standing alongside my sister, but instead here I am hiding away in my room.” Luna’s voice was full of anguish as she turned her head towards the ceiling, gazing at the several small magical clouds floating serenely above her that had become a fixture of her room, “Equestria deserves a better princess than that… It deserves a better princess than me.”

One could almost hear the sound of her heart breaking as the azure alicorn plunged her head downward in despair. Failing to hold back tears full of heartache as she clutched Tiberius even tighter. “Why did I even become a princess in the first place?” Luna cried “I’ve done nothing but cause pain and suffering to those around me.” Luna’s thoughts turned towards her sister. As she wondered what it must have been like for her, seeing her only sister being consumed by such malevolent evil, and having no choice but to banish her cherished sibling to the cold, lonely isolation of the moon. The grief and remorse it must have left with her to do so...

“It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t given into my jealousy, then that Pokémon’s influence would never have been able to take a hold of me. And now he’s out there somewhere, I can feel it, and there’s nothing I can do about it.” More tears began to well up as she spoke. “I should have been stronger...”

Luna sobbed in silence. All she could think of was how much of a failure she was as she sank further down into a spiral of shame. She had worked so hard to regain the admiration from the ponies of Equestria. The thought of losing it yet again to another of her failings was almost too much for her. However, when it seemed her despair had reached its peak, the princess was surprised by the small bundle of fur nestled in her arms that rose up and licked away the teardrops from her face before nuzzling his small furry head against the princess’ chin affectionately. “Thank you Tiberius” Luna whispered and squeezed tightly on the animal in a heartfelt embrace.

*****

The silence of Luna’s room was suddenly disrupted by loud knocking echoing from the chamber’s large main door. Startling both the alicorn and opossum. Tiberius abruptly leapt from the princess hooves, and scampered to the foot of the bed towards the commotion, while Luna cautiously removed herself from her bedspread.

The princess was rather confused, as she wondered who it was that could be hammering on her door. The obvious answer of course was that it was Alucard or another member of her Night Guard, but they would normally refrain themselves from disturbing her unless absolutely necessary. Maybe they had received news from Celestia? Could Tia and the others have defeated Darkrai? No. Even with all the magic seals and wards surrounding her room, Luna could still sense the evil air of the Pitch-Black Pokémon’s presence. She just couldn’t tell where.

Another series of knocks rung from the main door.'Maybe it’s a trap' she thought to herself, her mind conjuring up an image of her opening the door to find Darkrai’s shadowy frame on the other side. However Luna quickly dismissed the idea with a shake of her head.
“Get it together Luna,” the princess scolded herself. It wasn’t like her to be so paranoid, and she certainly wasn’t going to let her fear prevent her from something as simple as opening a door. “Whatever is behind that door,” she reassured herself “I’m sure we can handle it.”
It was then Luna caught a glimpse of herself in the full length mirror that stood by her dresser. Turning her head in order get a proper look at her reflection, in order to make sure the image she saw was indeed of her. “Although, not looking like that we won’t,” she sighed.

Luna was a mess. Her eyes were red and sore with large bags beneath them. Her mane and tail appeared wild and unkempt. Her wings were all ruffled. Even her normally pristine midnight blue coat was in shambles. There wasn’t any way she would be addressing anypony looking like this.

True, it did irritate her somewhat that she had to fuss over her appearance to such a degree, but she was royalty, an inspiration to her subjects. It was a point of pride for her to present herself with the composure and grace her station required of her, regardless of the circumstance. Besides it wasn’t anything a little magic couldn’t fix.

Luna’s horn glowed a cool blue light, causing as set of brushes that lay nearby on her vanity to levitate towards her. The magical light then extended to the rest of Luna’s body, enveloping her in its soft glow. Refreshing and rejuvenating Luna’s worn physique while the brushes began to comb the alicorn’s mane and tail, seemingly of their own accord. As that was all happening the princess raised her foreleg, took a deep breath, and began practicing the breathing exercises she had seen Cadance perform, in an attempt to regain her royal composure.
Within a few minutes Luna had been restored to her regal stature. Outwardly at least, if not inwardly. The magical light surrounding her body slowly dissipated, while the brushes were returned to their rightful place. Just after another round of knocks were heard, this time more frantically. Luna made a quick check in the mirror to make sure nothing was missed, before taking a glance toward Tiberius who was still sitting on the bed. The scruffy opossum simply gave Luna a quick look over, before nodding his head seemingly in approval.

“There, much better,” said Luna to her reflection, “though I think a little air might help as well.” ‘or provide a convenient escape route…’ the alicorn skittishly thought as she used her magic to open up a set of ornate glass windows, which lead to a balcony overlooking the castle.

“Alright then, let’s see what all the fuss is about, shall we,” the princess stated as she made her way to the entrance. Her horn, glowing once again as she proceed to magically undo the various locks and seals of her door.

*****

The halls of Canterlot castle were eerily empty. Alucard and Lestat couldn’t help feel a sense of foreboding as they landed before one of the entrances to the castle’s Great Hall.

“This is creepy” a troubled Lestat murmured. “I know we’re supposed to be neck deep in a battle here, but I thought I’d see at least one pony running around.”

“I know, it is rather unsettling,” agreed an equally uneasy Alucard, “but we can’t concern ourselves with that right now. Let’s hope Celestia has an explanation for all this.”

Tensions only rose as the two sentinels of the night entered to find the normally bustling hall silent. It looked as if the place had been utterly abandoned. There was no hair nor hide of anypony to be found. The curtains had been drawn over the windows and the lights had been dimmed.

Despite the bleak environment the two shadow sentries still trotted - albeit with some trepidation - up to the landing of the hall’s grand stairwell. Darkness was a comfort to them after all.

“Sir Lestat and Sir Alucard of the Night Guard reporting,” Alucard announced, while glancing around the surprisingly vacant room, “We were informed of some sort of threat?”

“There is a threat,” echoed what sounded like a dozen voices speaking at once, “and it’s right here.”

The pair turned towards the source of the voices to find countless menacing blue eyes glaring down at them. Changelings, dozens of them, crawled atop the ceiling, the walls and above the entrance they had used, staring at the two with wicked intensity. Alucard and Lestat instinctively entered defensive positions as more of the black insectoid-like creatures began dropping down around them, and emerging from various other hiding places. Before long the two bat-ponies were completely surrounded.

“Pig-slop,” Lestat cursed loudly, “It’s a trap.”

“Yes Lestat, it would appear that way,” Alucard dryly replied, in response to the blindingly obvious. “At least we know why the castle is so deserted.”

“Seriously though, changelings again?” the younger soldier questioned, “You’d think they would have learnt their lesson from last time?”
The two where clearly not intimidated, even as changelings started cautiously circling the pair. Alucard’s experienced eyes scanning the room, mentally calculating the number of enemies that confronted them.

“So how many is it?” Lestat asked.

“About 50 or so. 60 at most.” Alucard calmly answered.

“Is that all?” Lestat snicked in response.

“Look on the bright side,” Alucard unflinchingly replied in the same stalwart tone he usually possessed, right as one of the changelings managed to gather some courage and charge at him. The attack was futile however as Alucard effortlessly evaded the assault and counted with a series of lightning fast strikes that launched the attacker back into the mob, bowling over a few other changelings along the way. “At least this isn’t going to take very long.”

*****

“What is taking so long?” grumbled the irritated Lestat impersonator, “I heard the Moon Princess was a heavy sleeper, but this is ridiculous.”
The changeling paced in front of the ornate door to Luna’s chamber, anxiously waiting for the princesses to answer. With every step the camouflaged Changeling felt his heart pound against the chitin that covered his chest.

“Come on, you have to calm down” the imposter Lestat reminded himself, “You could blow the whole thing if you don’t keep calm.”
The changeling was upset that he found himself so tense. He had not been this nervous since his very first assignment, but it was a frustrating situation for the seasoned infiltrator. Everything had been going well until this point, but now things had suddenly ground to a halt. All because of a door and a lazy, narcoleptic princess who refused to open it!

The changeling turned and hammered on the door, more vigorously than he had done previously. “Come on already, this is ridiculous” he muttered to himself.

The changeling tried his best to maintain his composure, but with every second that ticked away his mounting frustration grew. If he were to fail because he was unable to awaken a sleeping pony he would be the laughing stock of the hive. Worse however, he would have to endure the harsh disappointment of his queen, and after she had given him this most important of assignments.

No.

He could do this. After all he was not like the simple minded drones of the swarm. Ones who could only imitate and mock those around them, without any agency behind their actions. He was his own changeling, with his own feelings, talents and personality. He even had his own name. Scarab. A name bestowed to him by Queen Chrysalis on behalf of the hive, in recognition of his individuality. A name that was earned through years of dedication to the hive. A name that his queen could take pride in, and a name that would continue to do so. Scarab, one of the hives’ best infiltrators. The changeling who had seduced the baroness of Hoofenshire. Scarab who had fought a basilisk and lived. Scarab who had stolen the prized jewel of the great wyvern Smog, just to see if he could. And he would not be defeated by a sleeping pony and her overcompensating door!

Scarab reared up to once again knock upon the door, this time with all the force he could muster. But before he could strike his inanimate advisory something miraculous happened. The door came to life with the sounds of locks and seals unlocking, emanating from the portals massive frame. Relief flowed through Scarab’s insectoid body as one large click reverberated down the castle’s halls and the great door began to open.

“Finally” the changeling whispered to himself, “OK Scarab, it’s showtime.”

*****

Luna readied herself with a few deep breaths as the door to her chamber slowly lurched open. Prepared to accept whatever awaited her at the other side… Or whoever awaited her. It was an immense relief to her then to be greeted by the failure face of one of her guards.

“Lestat?” the princess sighed in relief, “what is it?”

The changeling imposter found himself at a loss. He knew he had to say, something, but was unable to piece together any words. All thought seemed to have escaped him as Scarab stood in awe of the maiden in front of him.

She was breathtaking. Everything from her flowing star-light mane that reminded him of the night sky, to her soothing blue eyes, to even the way she stood was sublime. This was not the imposing, imperial monarch of Princess Celestia, or his own Queen Chrysalis, that Scarab had been expecting.

Sure he had seen plenty pictures of Luna before in preparation of the mission, even if she wasn't the second most famous pony in all of Equestria. However seeing Luna in person like this, up close. The changeling’s heart pounded with even more ferocity than it had earlier, as he gazed in adoration at Luna’s presence.

She was stunning, majestic, beautiful… Well for a pony…

“Lestat?” a baffled Luna once again asked, not quite sure how to react to the awkward silence. The princess couldn’t help, but feel a little uncomfortable at seeing the normally energetic Lestat stand there motionless like that. And not helping at all was Tiberius.
The opossum’s hair bristled and he gave an aggressive hiss towards the visitor the moment Lestat came into view. “Tiberius? Calm down,” Luna turned to address her pet, “It is only Lestat. You know him.”

‘What is wrong with everypony?’ Luna worriedly questioned herself, with increasing concern at the strange behavior on display. “Lestat, your Princess demands an answer?” Luna commanded, hoping that she would receive a response this time.

“Heh?’ stammered Scarab, completely flummoxed as to what had happened. The last few moments time seemed to have slowed to a crawl, with every second that passed feeling more like an eternity. A dreamlike experience where all that existed was him and the mare in front of him. But suddenly Scarab found himself snapping back to reality at the sound of Luna’s voice. Her, beautiful voice…

‘What is wrong with you Scarab?’ the changing mentally scolded himself, ‘Get your head in the game. Who cares what she looks like, you have a job to do... What? Did she say Lestat?’

‘Chrysalis dammit!’ Scarab cursed at the revelation ‘I thought I transformed into the other guy? It’s not my fault those stupid ponies all look alike! How is she able to tell the difference anyway when all of her guards look exactly the same!’

The changeling was quick to reassure himself however. After all he was a professional. ‘It’s OK Scarab, you can salvage this. Now what did that numskull sound like again?’

“Oh, I’m sorry Princess,” the now lucid importer apologized, “I was a little distracted.”

“I see” Luna replied with a hint of skepticism. While the princess was relieved to finally see Lestat acting normally again, his answer felt unsatisfying to her. It didn’t take an Alicorn to tell something was amiss. Maybe Alucard had an answer for this sudden strange behavior… Wait?

It was then the princess realized the absence of a certain Night Guard. “Lestat, where is Alucard?”

“Alucard?” the imposter echoed. Yes he would have to think of an excuse for the sentries’ absence wouldn’t he? But Scarab was already one step ahead. The changeling had studied up on the princess and her entourage in preparation for this task. This was going to be the easy part. “He went on ahead, Princess,” the changeling answered without pause. “Actually that’s what I need to talk to you about. I’m sorry to tell you this princess, but the city is under attack.”

Luna’s heart skipped a beat at the news. It seemed her dread all this time merit after all. “Is this true Lestat?” asked Luna in a futile hope that this was all some sort of cruel prank.

“Unfortunately, it is Princess,” replied the impostor.

“Why didn’t you not inform me of this sooner?’ the alicorn roared, in equal amounts of anger and frustration.

“I’m sorry princess,” Scarab answered, “but we thought it was best not disturb you unless we had to.”

Luna dropped her head, disheartened by the news. ‘That figures,’ the princess silently lamented. This wouldn’t be the first time Luna found herself absent during a conflict thanks to the misguided intentions of her guards. It was the changeling invasion all over again. It still irritated her that she didn’t hear a thing about the battle until well within Cadance’s wedding reception. At least everything worked out in the end, and all that was really lost was an opportunity to face-off against the Changeling Queen personally - Any foe that was able to best her sister in combat would have made an for an excellent opponent.

But now was not the time to dwell on the past, Luna had done enough of that already. And now that she was aware of what was going on sitting around feeling sorry for herself was no longer an option. “Well Lestat, since I am indeed disturbed,” said Luna authoritatively “you can take me to my sister so I can address this threat firsthoof. I am not going to let my home down again.”

Lestat’s response however was not what Luna expected, “I’m sorry princess,” he stated, “but I can’t let you do that.”

“Why not?” demanded Luna.

“Because the enemy is apparently after you,” the sentry began to explain, “that’s what I was about to tell you. In fact Princess Celestia has asked us to move you to a safe zone she’s prepared. Alucard went ahead to secure the path while I escort you there.”

Of all the things that could be happening, this was the worst possible thing. Being unable to fight was one thing, but being a target was a different matter. Especially when it came with the knowledge that every terrible events that had been happening, all the lives put at risk, all the pain and suffering, it was her fault.

It was all like some sort of bad dream had come to life. Except if this was a dream Luna could just blast the monster away and make everything better. This was worse, this was reality, and the reality was there was one monster out there that would seek out Luna like this, the one that Luna dreaded the most. “It’s Darkrai isn’t it?” she asked.

“I can’t say Princess,” Lestat replied, to no comfort to the princess, “But I do know your safety is our number one priority right now, and the longer we stay here the more dangerous it is for you Princess.”

Luna sighed in resignation. She didn’t want to leave, to abandon her people, but if it really was Darkrai fighting was out of the question. She wasn’t ready for that. She wasn’t strong enough.

It was far from ideal, but with a storm of thoughts and emotions going through Luna’s head, it was probably for the best to leave things in the hands of her subordinates and her sister. At least until she had a chance to clear her head. Besides she knew there would be no arguing with her Night Guard one they had set their minds on something. “I understand. Please give me a moment.”

The alicorn princess made her way back to her bedside where Tiberius sat, still glaring warily at NotLestat. “Come Tiberius, I know you’re still upset, but we have to go.”

The opossum broke its stern vigil, gazing up and giving a puzzled look to his beloved caretaker. “I do not like this any more than you do,” consoled the princess, “but it is for the best.”

Luna reached her hoof towards her pet in a gesture of comfort. Tiberius in turn shot one quick menacing glare towards the impostor, before leaping onto Luna’s back and settling in the alicorn’s mane.

With Tiberius’ head now poking out from the top of her mane, Luna stepped out of the threshold of her room and into the large hall. The disguised Scarab standing just outside doorway to make room for the princess. Luna’s horn glowed as she focused her magic; the massive door began to creak and move behind her, steadily moving into place until the portal was sealed with the sound of locks and seals once again echoing down the palace halls.

“OK, Lestat let us go,” the princess meekly requested.

“Right this way princess,” replied Scarab, absolutely thrilled that things had worked out so well, as the princess and the changeling infiltrator made their way down the empty hall.

Part 3 - Revelation

“Not much further now Princess,” spoke the changeling facsimile of the bat-winged pegasus known as Lestat. His voice echoing down the walls of the cavern in which he walked. Behind him followed Princess Luna, who found herself absently gazing at the various crystalline structures the pair passed. Despite the otherwise bleak conditions the caverns were relatively well lit as light from the surface was reflected and redirected by the gemstones, allowing for just enough illumination that a torch or light spell would not be required to navigate the otherwise dim caverns. Not that any of the party needed them to begin with.

Luna had heard of the abandoned caves bellow Canterlot. How the unicorns of ages past forced the diamond dogs and other species, to mine the gems that lay within to feed their voracious greed. A practice that was only stopped when Celestia herself put an end to it. It wouldn’t surprise Luna at all if part of the reason her sister chose to build her new castle on this spot, after Luna’s banishment, was to make sure such endeavors would not be carried out again.

Luna had also heard that these gems had peculiar properties that interfered with Equestrian magics; probably the reason the unicorns coveted them so. And with such a large quantity of those gems, at this depth, any form of magical communication, detection, and teleportation either into or out of these caves would be - while not impossible – very, very difficult. Indeed such a location would be a perfect place for a pony to hide… Or to lay an ambush.

Yes, the trek into the caverns had given Luna time to clear her head and think, and the more she thought the less things seemed to make sense. For starters why was it Lestat and not Alucard who was escorting her? Yes, Lestat had said that Alucard had gone on ahead, but with knowing how cautions and committed Alucard was, one would think it would be the opposite. For that matter why was it only Lestat? With Luna under a threat of this magnitude, one would expect the princess to be surrounded at least half a dozen members of her Night Guard. In fact why even move her to begin with? Alucard was always adamant of Luna’s security, and that her room was one the most protected places in all of Equestria.

And then there was Tiberius. The opossum that was currently riding along within Luna’s mane, had been incredibly tense and agitated ever since they had left Luna’s bedchambers. Which seemed to be directed solely towards Lestat, who the small mammal had been constantly keeping his eyes on with great apprehension since their march began.

But even with all that aside, there was just something off about how Lestat had been behaving.

“Are you OK Princess?” asked Lestat, who had suddenly come to a stop, bringing Luna out of her quiet contemplation.

“Oh, I am quite alright Lestat,” Luna responded, “Given the circumstances at least.”

“You just look worried, that’s all,” the Night Guard stated.

“Of course I’m worried!” exclaimed an aggravated Luna in retaliation, “Canterlot is in danger, Darkrai is out there doing Faust know what, and I’m down here figuratively and literally in the dark about all of it.”

“I know Princess,” Lestat whimpered in apology, “But we’ll soon be at the sanctum. Once we meet up with the others, everything will be taken care of after that. Trust us Princess, this will all be over soon.”

“I suppose you are right,” sighed Luna with a deep breath, “There isn’t anything I can do about it now anyway.” Luna paused to catch her breath before continuing, “Besides, this is not the worst situation you and I have ever been in. Remember when we were stranded in the deserts of Saddle Arabia after I broke my wing in the battle against that horrid floating eye creature. The self-proclaimed Eye Tyrant of New Behodopalis I believe it called itself.”

“Or, right. That one was a doozy wasn’t it?” answered Lestat, “I still can’t believe we got out of that one,” he said turning away to continue his march down the gem lined cavern.

Luna however did not move. If anything she dug her hoofs into the ground harder in steadfast defiance. The one thing that did change however was Luna’s expression. Far from being engrossed in thought as she was a few moments ago, the princess now sported an intimating glare of indignation. Even Tiberius took notice, ceasing his agitation and looking towards the face of his custodian in equal amounts of bewilderment and concern.

“Er, princess…?” a nervous sounding Lestat began once he noticed Luna’s frightful demeanour “Is there a problem?”

“Quite a few actually,” the princess replied in a very adverse tone. “For one I have never actually been to Saddle Arabia before. At least not in the last 1,000 years or so.”

The changeling froze. For the first time in a long time Scarab found himself in utter panic. For once he didn’t know how to react. So as if by reflex he began to talk, even if he had no clue what it was he was saying. “Er.. well you see-“ nervously gulped the changeling, but the princess was not yet finished.

“In addition,” Luna continued, ignoring the panicking pony’s plight, “while I did indeed do battle with that Eye Tyrant, the conflict was in Baltimare, and I was assisted by Carmilla and Markov. In fact I don’t believe you were even a member of the Night Guard at the time Lestat. So I am very curious to know how you seem to profess knowledge for an event that never happened.”

Scarab tried to think of a satisfactory reply for the princess, but it was no use. The jig was up; no fanciful story that Scarab could come up with was going to bail him out of this one. There was only one thing that could be done now. “Ah, pig slop,” cursed the changeling before launching himself into the air towards Luna.

The Princess was surprised by the sudden assault, but her reflexes kicked in, allowing her to just narrowly avoid the changeling’s flying tackle. “Well that proves you are not Lestat,” Luna sarcastically pronounced, “His attack would have been far more effective than that ramshackle, whatever it was you did there.”

“Ramshackle this!” yelled Scarab, as he hurled himself towards Luna again.

The princes was ready this time though. As the changeling flew towards her, Luna stood up on her hind legs and caught her assailant in mid-air, with one of her forehooves. A single mighty push was all that was required to send the Lestat impersonator hurtling back several feet before landing on the ground. Tiberius kept clinging to the princess’s ethereal mane all the while.

“This game is over,” Luna announced to the assailant as he straightened himself off from the ground, while Luna’s horn began to glow in shimmering blue light, ‘Now reveal thy true-self impostor!”

The cave was filed by a blinding flash of blue light while Luna’s words echoed down the cavern walls. A moment later the light had dissipated and the cave returned to its normal appearance. As did Scarab who found himself back in his true black, insectoid, hole-legged form. “A changeling.” groaned Luna “I should have suspected as much.”

“What the...” blurted Scarab, who had not intended to revert to his changeling self, “How, did you…?”

“Your kind is not the only ones who know how to alter ones appearance,” answered Luna rather openly, “And such guises are easy to dispel if you know how they work. Kudos to you though, you almost had me completely fooled there for a minute.” Luna applaud the changeling, without any hint of condescension, “Your queen is fortunate to have a retainer of your talents.”

“You bet she is,” confidently proclaimed Scarab, “And I’m going to prove it!” Scarab readied himself into another attack stance. However rather than charging at Luna again the changeling instead lowered his head while an emerald green flame ignited atop the chitin horn upon his forehead.

Luna however remained unfazed. “No, we have had quite enough of that” she calmly stated, while her own horn began glowing. In a show of Luna’s continued magical prowess, no sooner had she said those words then Scarab was enveloped by an aura of familiar blue light, and he began levitating off the ground.

“Hey, what are you doing?” spluttered Scarab as he rose into the air - losing his concentration on whatever spell he was planning on casting. “Put me down!” the changeling barked, his limbs flailing in the air as he struggled in vain against his weightlessness.

“So Darkrai has allied himself with the changelings. Unless you intend to tell me that his presence, this invasion and your little intrusion are all purely coincidental?” surmised a somewhat derisive princess of the night, as she walked up to the helplessly floating Scarab. “You went through quite the effort orchestrating that ruse to lead me down here, and I somehow doubt it was to invite me to enjoy some coffee and scones. So tell me shapeshifter, what is it you and Darkrai are planning?”

“Bite me,” Scarab defiantly snarled towards the princess menacingly. Well as menacing as he could be, hanging upside-down in mid-air. “I’m not telling you anything. Go ahead and do whatever you want to me. I’m not saying a word. You can torture me, whip me, rack me over hot coals, strap me down and pour hot wax all over my body… Wait…”

“Please,” Luna scoffed, “I am appalled you would suggest that I debase myself with such distasteful methods of interrogation. Besides I don’t have the time,” the princess continued, “We have far more effective methods of obtaining the information we seek. I dislike having to do this, but you leave me little choice.”

Closing her eyes Luna began to enter a seemingly trance like state. When she opened her eyes moments later her eyes glowed with the same blue as her magic aura. Scarab stared in bewilderment at the sight for a few short seconds before suddenly he found himself in a trance as well, the same blue-glow in his eyes.

*****

It all came rapidly. Flashes of memories, glints of emotion, fragments of thoughts and fears. There was a lot to sift through, enough to easily overwhelm a pony. Luna however knew what she was doing, and within the raging torrent of memories she found what she was looking for.

She could see it as if she was there herself. Before her stood Queen Chrysalis facing the sinister silhouette of an all too familiar Pokémon.

“Do not worry,” buzzed the changeling matriarch towards the ghastly figure, “I’ll make sure to have one of my finest infiltrators on the job. I have every confidence that he will succeed with this little plan of yours.” Chrysalis turned her head to look back at were Luna was. Only it wasn’t Luna she was looking at. “Isn’t that right Scarab?”

Luna could feel the sudden burst of confusion, then realisation, then excitement as a familiar voice sounded from her viewpoint, “Oh, yes your majesty. Absolutely no problem whatsoever. You have my word.”

“Very well,” echoed the deep menacing voice of the Pitch-Black Pokémon, just before the figure vanished in a cloud of darkness.

The Pokémon gone Chrysalis turned her full attention towards Luna’s direction with a look that gave equal amounts of trust and intimidation, “Now then Scarab, you understand what you need to do, don’t you…?”

*****

Luna shook her head a few times as she awoke from the trance, her eyes returning to normal. Same with Scarab who followed suit. Luna had gotten what she came for after all, and don’t want to spend any more time there than she had to.

“I see. So the plan was to lead me down these caves into an ambush to attempt to capture me before handing me over to Darkrai. I suspected as much,” surmised Luna.

“What? But... How did?” stuttered an absolutely stunned Scarab, still hovering in the air.

“I read your mind” began explaining Luna, “It’s similar to the magic that allows me to walk dreams. Albeit a more intrusive variation of it.”

“You did what?” snapped Scarab, who found the experience disconcerting to say the least. Having the private, inner-most depths of his psyche, probed by an alien force that coursed through his brain like a flood. “So what? Do you know everything I know now?"

“I know enough,” Luna responded, “Such as the fact that this invasion you’ve conjured up is merely a diversion so you can attempt to isolate me. As such, I see no further reason to remain down here.”

As Luna spoke, Scarab found himself being gently lowered back to earth. The changeling’s legs buckled as his feet made contact with the ground, as the weight of gravity fell upon him again for the first time in what felt like forever. The glow of Luna’s magic quietly dissipating from his body, leaving him no different than before.

“Now as interesting as this little escapade has been,” Luna dryly remarked, “if you’ll excuse me, I must go and find my sister. There is much for us to discuss. Come Tiberius.” And with that Luna began making her way back towards the exit to the caves. Tiberius poking his head out from the princess’ mane to stick his tongue out towards the changeling. Leaving behind a rather confused Scarab.

“Wait? That’s it? You’re just going to walk away?” He questioned.

“Well I can’t exactly fly away can I?” the princess sharply retorted, without as much as breaking a step.

“And you’re just going to leave me here?” implored the changeling with bewilderment. “You’re not going to beat me up or anything?”

“Why would I?” Luna responded, stopping momentarily to provide a sideways glance toward Scarab, “Your plan has well and truly been foiled. You have been robbed of your guises, and hoaxes. Without such deceptions in your arsenal any threat you and your cohorts would possess now, is effectively non-existent. And as cathartic as it may be, I see no point in wasting time and energy on such a meager opponent when there are actual threats that need to be addressed.”

Scarab’s eye twitched, his face twisted in some sort of puzzled, half-snarl, with one eye wide open and the other squinting tightly, both in disbelief to what he had heard. Was she for real? Maybe the princess’ mind intrusion did more damage than he thought, because what she said was utter nonsense. Not the part where she called Scarab weak - While it was unsavoury, there was no doubting the vastly significant disparity in power, both physically and magically, between the two of them. Scarab was very much aware of that fact; not that it wouldn’t stop him from trying – No the madness came from the complete disregard she displayed towards Scarab as any sort of danger. What kind of idiot leaves an enemy free to run amok, to relay new intelligence, to leave them the opportunity to attack again with more power and numbers? Chrysalis certainly wouldn’t have made such a mistake. She would have assured that any foe, no matter how beaten or helpless they remained, would have been well and truly…. dealt with.

Yet here was this pony, a princess, seemingly ignorant to what you think would be common sense. She was either a complete dunce who only managed to trick Scarab into revealing his identity with sheer luck, or she was so arrogant, so certain of her own invulnerability, that she simply didn’t care.

“Are you serious?” Scarab exclaimed, “You know I can just go tell the others what’s going on right? What’s to stop me and my hive-mates from coming back and attacking you again?”

Luna sighed softly before turning around to face her detractor, speaking with commanding confidence. “Your dedication is commendable shapeshifter, but misguided. Despite all you have done I am doing my best at attempting to show you mercy. Yet you somehow insist on wearing at my patience, and unlike my sister, my patience is not unlimited. So I will provide you with one last opportunity to accept my leniency, and all you have to do is one thing. Leave. I assure you this conflict with me, that you so zealously insist on, is not something you or your ‘hive-mates’ want anything to do with. So I suggest you take this chance for you and your companions to escape these mines, and hope you manage to make it out before I send in my Night Guard.”

*****

Mercy? That was a concept Scarab was unfamiliar with. Oh, he knew what mercy was… theoretically, but the idea of actually showing it was ludicrous. It made sense though that the soft-hearted ponies would recognize such idealistic nonsense. After all what would they, who live with an abundance of love and friendship, know of hardship and discomfort?

Changelings had no home, no lands to call their own. They were nomads, wonderers, always moving, always in a constant search for emotional energy, especially that most substantial emotion of all. Love. Every now and again the Hive would come upon a place filled with love, where they would settle momentarily after subduing the local inhabitants, and enjoy a rare feast of emotions. But soon the love would dry out and they would be forced to seek out more, and there was only so much love to go around.

To survive a changeling had to be strong, they had to be ruthless. Mercy, forgiveness, compassion, there were luxuries they could not afford. That was because the hive demanded strength. Weakness would not be tolerated. After all it wasn’t just the life of a single changeling that was at stake. For if a changeling failed in their duty, if they were unable to acquire enough love, it would not be they alone who suffered. And they needed that love, they needed to stay strong, through cunning, through guile, through whatever it took. Because if you were not a changeling you were the enemy, and there were a lot of enemies out there.

Scarab had learned to always be on guard, always keep an enemy second guessing and if an opponent exposed any form of weakness, and mercy was a weakness, to do his best to exploit it. So what do you do then when the opponent in question was an alicorn?

Scarab knew the night princess was powerful, but it was only now dawning on him exactly what it was he was up against. It seemed the rumors he had heard of ‘Nightmare Moon’s’ escapades into the night to fight the most ferocious beast she could find looked to be true after all. But that didn’t matter anymore, no matter how powerful she was someway, somehow Scarab was going to find a way to defeat her. And he was going to make sure she knew it was him that was responsible for it. That’s what you get for showing compassion to the enemy.

“Fine I’ll leave,” the indignant Scarab scornfully answered the princess “But you’re the one who should be trying to escape from here.”
“You mean what I was attempting to do before I was interrupted by you?” Luna sassily retorted.

“Joke all you want princess,” Scarab bitterly replied, “But I’ll be having the last laugh. This won’t stop anything, Darkrai’s still coming after you.”

Luna had no reply. She tried her best to hide it, but that name alone caused the previously unflappable princess to freeze. Each and every one of her muscles clenched into a tightly wound ball of nerves. Her face that had been formally apathetic to the changeling's words, had contorted into a look of quiet apprehension and anxiety.

“Ha, I knew it!” shouted Scarab, unquestionably pleased with himself for managing to get a reaction out of the princess other than indifference. “I don’t know what exactly that thing is, but you are scared of him aren’t you?”

Luna didn’t respond, just continued to sit there staring intently at the changeling, who was brimming with sudden newfound confidence.

“Well you should be scared, because he’s coming for you. I don’t know why he’s after you, but I know he’s not going to stop. He’s going to hunt you down and nothing’s going to stop him. So run while you can Princess, because Darkrai’s coming for you, and I’m going to be there with him. And then you will be reminded of the humiliation you gave me today, and you will weep for you know you had it coming. You will rule the day that you messed around with Sca-“

*****

Scarab’s limp body hit the cavern wall with a thud, the full force of Luna’s concussive blast easily knocking him from his feet, leaving the unconscious changeling tumbling to the ground.

“It appears I was wrong, I do have the time and energy after all,” the princess of the night grumbled to herself as she turned away from her fallen foe, “That’s what I get for trying to act like my sister. I don’t know how she does it.”

With the latest cause of her aggravation dispatched, and the flick of her mane, Luna seemed to momentarily return to her usual confident, bombastic, regal self, “Now than Tiberius, let us finally make our leave of this place, we’ve dawdled in this cave for far too long, it is high time we returned to my sister and then…”

‘And then what? Run away again? Hide in our room waiting for Darkrai to come after us?’

Luna lowered her head, downcast, her enthusiasm leaving her just as quickly as it came. The changeling, despite his hostile intentions was right. Darkrai wasn’t going to stop. Even if his plans were foiled today, all that meant was that he would hatch a new scheme tomorrow. And how many innocents would suffer because of it? Ponies, changelings, it didn’t matter to Darkrai, they were all just tools to him. To be used and exploited for his relentless ambition. He would not stop hunting after Luna, and all she could do in response was hide under blankets and hope the monster went away.

“No. Once was enough. I can’t let this keep happening.’

There was only one way Luna could be free from the Pitch-Black Pokémon’s looming shadow over Equestria, and that was if he was defeated here and now. Yes Darkrai was a terribly powerful creature, but not as much as Luna’s fear made him out to be. Celestia, Discord, the elements of harmony, these were forces far greater than his. That was why he worked in the shadows to begin with, because he could be beaten.

‘He may be a legendary Pokémon, but even legendries have weaknesses’

Oh course this reassurance did little to quell Luna’s anxiety. Darkrai would not be fool enough to just drop down in front of Celestia. No, if Darkrai was to be defeated they would need a better understanding of his plans, and for that she needed… bait.

*****

With a heavy sigh Luna reached with her forehoof to collect a wary Tiberius from her back, lifting him off and placing the loyal opossum to the ground next to her.

“Tiberius, I have a special assignment for you,” Luna addressed her furry companion, who looked back worryingly at his mistress, “I need you to return to the castle and find Alucard for me.”

The small mammal titled his head to the side as if not sure what Luna had said. The princess meanwhile closed her eyes and began chanting some form of incantation. Magicks spiralled around her horn until it condensed into a small, solid, orb it it’s tip, that Luna was able to remove with her hoof and pass on the small glowing sphere onto Tiberius, that was just small enough to fit the opossums paws. “Give this to Alucard, it will explain to him what I need him to do.”

Tiberius stared at the warm orb that glowed with a failure blue light in his paws before turning his attentions back to the princess. He knew what it was, a messaging spell. Luna had often used such magic containing orders and requests for Tiberius to deliver when the princess was too busy or too lazy to do herself. That did not at all comfort the opossum.

“Do not worry about me Tiberius,” trying her best to sound like the princess she was, “I can handle a few changelings.”

Tiberius cast his head down and away from the orb toward the ground in concern. Luna couldn’t blame him, she could tell Tiberius understood was she was planning to do. It wasn’t as if she liked the idea either.

Luna drew in as close as she could to the little animal, bringing in her forehoof to coddle her furry friend’s head, “Please Tiberius, I need you to do this.” The princess explained to her pet, “I understand your reservations, but Alucard and the others need to know what’s happening. Please, I’m counting on you.”

After a moment’s hesitation the opossum gazed up, eyes filled with determination, stood as straight as its body would allow and gave his princess a hearty salute, before scurrying off towards the exit to the caverns as fast as his little legs could carry him. Clutching onto the message orb as tight as he could.

Luna watched as her loyal pet scampered off toward the surface, a faint smile of respect towards the brave mammal, “Thank you Tiberius, I have every confidence in your success,” she proudly muttered to herself for a moment, before taking a deep breath and beginning her march further within the unknown deaths of the crystal caves and whatever perils awaited her. She sighed, “I hope Alucard and the others are doing alright.”

*****

“So how many changelings is that?” Lestat asked confidently, as he struck down yet another of the black insect-like creatures. “I lost count after 25.”

“It’s not a competition.” replied Alucard sternly, “But for the record it’s 29 - 36 me” the stallion declared just before one last changing lunged at him from the rear, and was promptly bucked into a nearby wall. “Make that 37.”

“I think that’s the last of them anyway” Lestat said disappointedly, as he looked around the room now full of unconscious and semi-conscious changelings. “You know,” the young stallion continued, “I almost thought we might be in trouble there for a second. Like the time the princess took us out to fight that Ursa Major.”

“You think that was a challenge?” Alucard scoffed in reply “You should have been there when the princess wanted to know how many times you can cut off a Hydra’s heads before they stop re-sprouting. That was a battle of Legend.”

“So, I think maybe we should tell someone about all this?” suggested Lestat, sitting his hindquarters atop of fallen changeling, who gave out a gasp of discomfort, “or you know, find someone who might know why there are changelings running around the royal palace again?”

“Agreed,” the veteran officer concurred, “Lestat, you remain and secure the area. Make sure there aren’t any more changelings lurking about.”

“No problem chief,” affirmed the young soldier as the changeling he was sitting upon tried its best to rise up and move the bat-pony above him. Only to have her efforts quickly fail as Lestat responded by rising up his rump to then bring his weight crashing back down again, incapacitating the poor changeling. “What about you?”

Alucard’s response was simple, “I must return to check on Princess Luna and inform her of what’s happening,”

“Yeah, good idea,” agreed Lestat, “I’m sure she’s fine, she is the princess after all, but this is definitely the sort of thing she would want to know about. Especially after that tongue-lashing she gave you for letting her sleep through the last invasion.”

Alucard let out a small groan, not happy to be reminded of that event, “that aside, with changelings running about and still no contact with the others, it would be beyond irresponsible to leave the princess in the dark about all this.”

His mission confirmed, Alucard stretched out his dark leathery wings and gave out another command “You have your orders soldier, I expect you to carry them out well. And remember the changeling protocol.”

Lestat finally lifted himself off from his changeling cushion to give his reply “If we see anyone, we hit them in the face.”

“Good work soldier,” the veteran quickly acknowledged, before launching himself into the air and flying down the hall back towards Luna’s chamber.

Lestat gazed upon the mess of defeated changelings. There was no relish of the victory as was to be expected. Instead the rookie guardsman gave a sigh before mumbling something to himself, “I’m sure the princess is fine.”

*****

The trek through the caverns took longer than she thought, with numerous branching passages and dead ends it would have been easy to get lost down here. Fortunately thanks to the memories she recovered from Scarab, Luna was able to navigate her way through the twisting tunnels and passages to her destination fairly easily.

It was a large open cavern. From her position at the entrance Luna could see how the ground to her right sloped down gently towards a large pool of water that was positioned two dozen or so meters from her. A strange, soft green glow seemed to emanate from the pool, possibly due to a reaction to the crystals that lay within. For that matter many of the numerous crystal deposits seemed to be glowing, or at the very least reflecting a lot of light. As such the cavern was fully illuminated, at least as much as a well-lit house with a lot of candles.
To her left a was tall ridge of stone, the height of which reached a few metres short of the cavern roof, while its length hugged the cavern wall, curling around with the contours of the stone, all the way along the wall on the opposite side of Luna until it came to an abrupt end just before the glowing pool.

“Let’s see, only a single entrance, excellent vantage points, and just the right amount of illumination to take advantage of both.” Luna softly surmised to herself as she steadily trotted into the, more-or-less, centre of the cavern, “a good place for an ambush.”

No sooner had she said those words than two screeching black shapes flew at her from the top of the ridge. Luna managed to leap out of the way of the two changeling attackers, but before she could take a moment to catch her breath she was caught off-guard by a bolt of emerald flame that just managed to miss her. She quickly looked up towards the spell’s probable origin point amongst the ridges to see another jet of flame heading straight towards her. Luna leapt into the air twisting her body to in an attempt avoid the flaming missile. The attack still managed to graze her rear leg, though it left no visible sign of damage.

Pressing their advantage, the first set of attackers became airborne, the buzz of their insectoid wings echoing throughout the cavern, with one charging at the princess. Luna ascended further to evade the assault, souring up to the cavern’s ceiling. The two changeling attackers hovering some space below her, while two more Insectoid assailants flew up behind her to join in the assault.

“Let’s see, that’s four so far, possibly six. From what I learned from that infiltrator there should be around twelve. Still rather lacklustre for an ambush I would say. They must be counting on that secret weapon of theirs.”

The changelings from below swooped in for another offensive. Luna flew to the side, easily evading the assault. However the attack didn’t seemed to be directed at her, and on top of that was slow and wide granting her plenty of room to maneuverer. Another attack from the side forcing Luna back again. It was a half-hearted offensive that didn’t seem interested in doing any actual damage. That clinched it for her. The changelings weren’t attacking her, they were corralling her, trying to force her into a specific position.

Unfortunately she realised it too late, as more changelings moved in to surround her. One gathered up what little magic power the shapeshifter held to fire a jet of green flame towards the princess. Luna dove out of the way of the incendiary attack, but that was when there trap was sprung. A sudden surge of dark, foreboding, light come from below her as a magical rune came to life the moment she moved over it. Luna had only a moment to realise what it was before as set of massive, black, shadowy chains erupted from the ground. The princess attempted to evade them, but the chains followed her and moved too quickly, latching onto her hind-legs. Luna tried to shake them off as best she could, but one grabbed her by the waist, wrapping around her and binding her wings. Soon her whole body was shackled by the fiendish chains that not so peacefully, pulled her to the ground.

Luna struggled as best she could, but the ebon chains were too think and too heavy. She was all but helpless, barely able to move at all, as the changelings descended around their captured prize.

‘I recognise this spell,’ Luna thought with frustration, ‘This is dark magic. Not the type the changelings would be able to use either. This magic is ancient. Primal. Only one pony I know that would dare to harness such malignant power…’

Suddenly the cave was filled with that roar of deep, diabolical laughter that seemed to emanate from everywhere at once, and from the cracks, crevasses and shadows of the cavern emerged a thick, black smoke. The black miasma crawled along the floor converging into a cloud of evil in front of the princess. The cloud begin to shape itself into a familiar looking from, then from the darkness a being began to materialize. Smoke and shadow made way for fur and hoof and where the cloud once was now stood a pony.

A unicorn to be precise, a grey coated stallion, with a huge, black, wild mane, wearing an elaborate suit of steal armor, with a red velvet cape sown into it. But his most striking features was his massive, daunting red horn and his sinister, malevolent green eyes.

Luna’s eyes narrowed, partly out of alarm, but mostly out of scorn. Before her stood a creature of pure evil. A malicious tyrant, filled with nothing, but spite and malice that lived only to bring pain and suffering to others. A pathetic creature who discarded his heart in exchange for power.

“Sombra,” Luna sneered.

The umbral unicorn chuckled to himself, a wide malicious smile flashed upon his face. “In the flesh, Princess.”

Part 4 - Distress

The threshing beat of wings echoed down the deserted halls of Canterlot Castle. A grizzled grey pony of the night guard raced past countless empty rooms and stained glass windows, flying with all the speed his black leathery wings could give him. For Alucard, time was of the essence. Changelings had somehow invaded the castle. Celestia and her Royal Guard were nowhere to be found, and there was still an unknown force of aggressors rampaging in the town outside.

But the solders main concern lay with Princess Luna. In an effort to discern the situation firsthand Alucard had left his post at the door to the princess chambers, which he rashly left to what he was now certain was a changeling spy. The Nightguard, remained calm however; panic was the great enemy. Panic lead to mistakes and Alucard could ill afford mistakes at the moment.

In his forethought's was the hope that he would return to find the princess safely, sleeping away in her room. After all, no one changing could hope breach the wards and spells that guarded the princess’s chambers. And even if it did somehow discover a way, Princess Luna herself was powerful sorcerer and cunning warrior, more than capable of handling herself.

But in the back of the veterans mind lingered doubt and a fear that gnawed at his confidence driving him forward with even greater momentum. But it was only as he finally drew near to the princess’s chambers did his eyes widen with panic. For there before him stood the great doors to Luna’s room lay open and abandoned. A symbol of his greatest fears come to life.

Alucard landed before the grand portal, his eyes looked on the open entrance, rapidly breathing in and out. As much out of distress as exhaustion.

‘This can’t be,’ rung the most audible and coherent out of the millions of thoughts storming though the Nightguard’s head.

‘No, I mustn’t panic, panic is the enemy,’ he reminded himself. He griped the floor as tightly as his hooves would allow him, lowering is head to the floor as he attempting to regain control of his breathing with deep heavy breaths.

‘Maybe it’s nothing? Maybe the princess left to get some air?’ thought Alucard, trying his best to stay positive, even though deep down he knew it was a pipe dream if anything. But he had to try, for if he was to give into his fears now, it would both the end to him and the princess.

And it was in that state, while the tug-of-war between hope and despair battled inside him, that Alucard herd something that drew him out of his intermission. Sounds, coming from the Princess room.

*****

“This decor is atrocious,” resound the voice of a disapproving changeling. The creature let out a huff as it glanced at the furnishings of Luna’s bedchamber.

Nothing matched! Instead of a series of ornate furnishings, it was a rudimentary hodgepodge of various designs. At one end laid a round luxurious bed, light blue sheets were tossed against one of the decorative wooden posts that helped form the canopy which had fine lace veils hanging from it. It was the one object that presented a form of majesty. Although the changeling couldn’t help but think that the small thunderclouds that magically circled above would be anything other than distracting.

Nearby stood an elegant, dresser and a full length mirror, with the frame and legs looking like hooves and wings and other disembodied limbs. A bit tacky, but still suitable.

The other end however housed a drab, oversized desk, covered with papers and odd shaped dice. In the centre of the room meanwhile held a large table, unremarkable save for its elliptical shape and rather large size. It was surrounded by a set of cushioned chairs, which wouldn’t be fit for a retirement home let alone a castle, and was definitely not part of the same set.

There was a shoddy wardrobe with clashing carvings and decals, a white vanity with gaudy gold trimmings. But worst of all, tucked away in an alcove at the far end of the room, sat a tired, old lounge that looked like it was taken strait off the street. It faced towards some sort of large black rectangle, stacked on top of a rudimentary shelf against the wall. A tangled number of cables all leading from the object to an assortment of strange devices scatted underneath.

The changeling’s eyelids twitched at the horrid eyesore that assaulted his sight. His eyes had a much greener hew in them than most other of his kind. Not that many who were unfamiliar with changelings would have noticed. “What creature in the right frame of mind would possibly think this is an appealing aesthetic?” the green eyed changeling sneered. “Aren’t alicorns supposed to have exceptional talent in everything?”

“No, just incredible magic, physical strength and the ability to fly.”

The reply came from a second changeling, who was rummaging through the contents of a large chest. A ghastly grey trunk adorned by large steel spikes that protruded from the steal brackets along its lid. “Oh, and immortality,” added the pilferer, pulling his head out from his forage to address his colleague.

Like his ally he also appeared as most other changelings, save for his horn that was noticeably crooked. Twisted back at a sharp, painful looking angle near the base. An injury received from the changelings’ previous attack on Canterlot. “Although the Queen says it’s some sort of old magic that keeps them from aging, or something like that.” he added, before returning his attention back to the chest.

The green-eyed changing let out a huff of contempt, “Well apparently an endless life-time just isn’t long enough for some creatures to develop a proper sense of style.”

“I don’t see what you’re so upset about?” Broken-horn wondered, while digging out a small notebook from within the chest. “This place looks fine to me,” he spoke, as he began skimming through the books pages.

“Of course that’s what you would think,” Green-eyes condescendingly replied, “You don’t possess the acumen and refinement in interior design as I do; and clearly nether does this so called princess.”

Green-eye started glaring angrily around, at everything he conceded infrared upon his highly tuned sense of style, “Look at it! The clashing styles. The garish fixtures and fittings. The mismatched colours. How could any creature with eyes do something like this on purpose! Where’s the style, where’s the cohesion. Where’s the love!”

“No seriously where is the love?” Green-eye suddenly asked. The question coming out in stark contrast to the diatribe he was just engaged in, “because I’m not sensing any love energy anywhere in this room.”

“Well I didn’t find any love, per-say,” Broken-horn, replied with a bit of a smirk, “but I did find a little story the princess seems to be writing. It’s about her and some guy called Flare, alone on an island together, and… Well, Nightmare Moon’s got quite the imagination, if you know what I mean.”

“I don’t believe you,” Green-eye, responded quite caustically, as he made his way towards their companion.

“No seriously, it’s all right here,” assured Broken-horn, “and she is very, very vivid in her descriptions.”

Any accompanying sentence Broken-horn could have made was abruptly called off as green-eyes fervently slapped the netbook form his hooves. “No I don’t believe you!” scolded green-eyes, “invading a ladies privacy and defaming her integrity with such salacious accusations. You should be ashamed of yourself.”

“Sorry,” Broken clumsily apologized, kneading his hoof after his companions sudden outburst “when did that sort of thing become a big deal for you anyway?”

The ever refined changeling haughtily replied “It’s always been a big deal for me. The privacy of us ladies is something that should be respected. And it would be beyond crass if I allowed such contemptible acts to occur in my presence.”

Broken horn couldn’t help but raise his eyelid upon hearing the explanation, “Us girls?” the curious changeling derisively replied, “I thought you said you identified as a guy?”

Unfazed Green-eye brought his hoof to his chest and said, “I’m a changeling. I identify as everything.”

*****

The pair’s conversation was dramatically cut short by a massive slam. They looked toward the sound to see an enraged Alucard standing within the large frame of the rooms entrance. His eyes transfixed on the two with blinding anger, his breath deep with seething rage.
Before the two changelings had a chance to move he was upon them. The Night Guard flying into them with incredible speed and ferocity. He plowed into the invaders with such force it lunched them clear off the ground. Before they even had a chance to acknowledge the pain, the two changelings found themselves on their backs, pinned on the floor near the far wall. Each of their bodies held by the strong hooves of Alucard pressing down on their chests.

“Where is the princess?”

“What princess,” Broken-horn tried to answer, beneath the guard pony’s body. Still processing what exactly had just happened. Him and Green-eyes both wincing in pain.

“Princess Luna! Where is she?” roared Alucard, his head and body looming menacingly over his captives.

“Oh, that princess,” the changeling nervously laughed back.

“We don’t know!” Green-eyes answered, struggling against the furious pony’s weight, “The room was empty when we got here,”

“Lies!” Alucard roared. He hammered his for-legs down onto the changelings with ferocious strength, the sound of the impact reverberating through the camber, “Where is the Princess? Where did you take her?”

The changelings yelped in pain against the onslaught. Green-eyes spluttering a response as best he could, “We didn’t take her anywhere. I swear,”

“Well not us personally,” Broken-horn candidly blurted out, much to the bewildered irritation of his colleague, who flashed him an exasperated gaze.

“Then talk!” shouted Alucard.

“OK,” Broken-horn began to explain, in an attempt to quell the best holding them, “I heard something from the queen about Nightmare Moon being important for some sort of plan, but that is literally all I know.”

The answer however did not satisfy Alucard’s wrath the way the changeling had hoped, “You expect me to believe that?” Barked the guard captain.

“It’s true!” green-eyes shouted back anxiously, “We’re drones. We’re not sent to perform the big jobs,”

“That’s right” Broken-horn added, “Besides the Queen never tells us anything about her plan outside our part in it, just in case we get captured. So we can’t tell anyone what that plan is.”

The Night Guard bent his head down, his intimidating gaze transfixed on his hostages, “Really?” he scoffed.

The two changelings nodded in confirmation, “Yes,” Green-eyes pleaded, “All she ordered us to do was to gather love energy and not die. Now would you kindly unhand us?”

Alucard snarled with resentment. The changelings didn’t seem to be lying to him, and he had seen enough interrogations to know when somepony was genuine in their pleas. Frustrated he let out an irritated snort as his heart and mind struggled against one another. He rage wanted nothing more than to crush the two invaders into the gory paste with his bare hooves, like the insects they resemble, for daring to defile the princesses’ sanctum. But his honor reminded him of who he was. He was the captain of Princess Lunas Night Guard, and it was his duty to follow and uphold the princess’s ideals. And Luna would never do such a thing to such a helpless creature, regardless of what they had done. Besides he didn’t want Luna’s room to be sullied with the mess of splattered changeling.

Alucard breathed deeply in order to get his breathing under control, and with it rampage of his raging emotions. He looked down towards the changeling intruders, still angry, but that anger was controlled, focused. Focuses on getting any information they did know out of them. Starting with the obvious.

“Alright, let’s say I believe you,” the guard captain began speaking. A little less viciously than before, but still with authority and dominance, “If that’s true, what are you doing in the Princesses room?”

The two changelings looked at each other in mutual awkwardness, as neither was sure how to answer, “Um… we flew in?” Green-eyes cautiously muttered, wincing a little in readiness of the expected assault.

Alucard had to blink for a moment at the simplicity of their answer, “How?” he demanded.

Once again the two changelings awkwardly glanced at one another, as if to see which one would be brave enough to answer. This time it was Broken-horn who sheepishly responded, “Through the window?”

“Window? What window...” the bat-pony started asking, but he realized he knew the answer before he even started specking.

He looked up and there it was, sunlight gleaming off the crystalline glass, its wooden warming sawing gently in the breeze. The door to Luna’s balcony. Left wide open. One of the most heavily protected buildings in all of Eqestria, undermined because the princess forgot to close the balcony door before she left.

Alucard might have facehooved if he wasn’t focused on holding the changelings in place. It might not have been so bad if Luna hadn’t done the same thing twelve times previously.

As the Night Guard stood in stunned silence, Green-eyes whispered to his comrade, “That bum horn of your still causes that thing to happen when you try to use magic correct?”

“It’s not bum” Broken-horn sharply grumbled, “but, yeah, it does.”

“Then why haven’t you done so to get us out of this mess already?” the genteel changeling mutated between gritted teeth.

“I can’t exactly do it with him watching us like this,” his brusque friend murmured, “I’m going to need some sort of distraction before we can escape.”

“I heard that,” smirked Alucard. The pair winced again, wondering exactly how much the pony had overheard. “You two aren’t going anywhere” The grizzled officer maintained, “Not until you two tell me what information you do know. Starting with any details of this invasion you’ve conjured up.” Alucard, applied some more pressure on the changelings’ chests, to make sure the changelings knew he was serious, “Otherwise the only ‘love’ you’re going to find is the ‘love’ I have for beating the chitin out of changelings, until you have even more holes in your body than you already do.”

The changelings looked back in panic, the green-eyed one gulping down a lump of fear that got caught in his throat. Neither knew what to say this time. They did know about the golems - that they were magical constructs created by some magician that Chrysalis had decided to work with – but they didn’t know why or for what purpose. Other than to help take over Canterlot so they could feed off the ponies’ immense love energy. And anyone could have discerned that out by looking out a window. There was no way the two were going to be able to come up with a suitable answer that the Night Guard was going to accept without tossing them into a wall. Not with him looming over them like that, with his fierce, piercing slit eyes and menacing snarl.

Turns out, they didn’t have to.

As soon as Alucard had finished with is threat, the intense atmosphere was punctured by raspy squeaks coming from behind him. The already normally high-strung soldier imminently twitched his head back, but in the corner of his eye he saw, not the attempted surprise assault that he was expecting, but rather an exasperated, familiar, grey, opossum.

“Tiberius?” the soldier gasped, turning to face what he recognized as the princess loyal pet, the first inking of good fortune since he left with Lestat.

However this minor laps of attention was exactly what the changelings had been waiting for.

“Now?” the green-eye changeling urged.

“Yeah, now,” Broken-horn readily concurred. The injured changeling closed his eyes and focused all the limited magical energy he had and focused. It didn’t matter what effect the magic was supposed to have had, with his horn damaged there was no way proper conduit for the magic to flow. So when the build-up of magic quickly reached its limit spell ruptured in an explosive shockwave of green energy.

Alucard did not move far, and landed on his feet without hassle, but the brilliant flash and roar of the explosion serried his sensitive eyes and ears. Leaving the bat-pony lurching in pain, random flashes of colour flicked before him, his ears ringing with a high pinched hum.
Even Tiberius, who had the explosion mostly obscured by Alucard, was still left reeling. Eyes and ears that had adapted to darkness did not take sudden loud flashes of light well.

The bodies of the changeling meanwhile, skid across the floor, colliding with the wall behind them. But they recovered rapidly - their senses weren’t as developed as that of bat-ponies – and were pretty good at adapting to sudden sensory overloads. Even broken-horn, drained and fatigued by the sudden expulsion of so much energy, managed to climb to his feet fairly quickly.

“Ha,” the green-eyed patrician decried, waving his hoof towards Alucard with relish, “that’s what you get for manhandling us you uncouth brute!”

“Dude, shut up,” reprehended broken-horn, bring himself up on his shaking legs, “We got to bail!”

The weary changeling unfurled his insectoid wings with a whiff of emerald flames transformed into an unassuming, ginger pegasus – he still had enough in him for that at least - his green-eyed ally doing the same, taking on the appearance of a teal pegasus, with an amber mane.
Still disoriented, Alucard was left shaking his head, trying to restore his sight. With his vision slowly returning he managed to spy two black splotches erupt into blurs of colour before flying off through the opening to the outside.

“No! Get back here” shouted Alucard as he dashed to stop the two fugitives, but he was too late.

He stood at the balcony of Luna’s room, overseeing the surrounding area. Well attempting to oversee at any rate. He knew the two couldn’t have gone far, but with his vision still blurred and his ears still ringing he was in no condition to chase after them. Besides two escaped changelings were hardly a concern when there were far more important matters at hand.

*****

Luna’s guard captain made his way back to Tiberius, who had endured an awful time after the blast, by rubbing his head against Luna’s hanging bedsheets.

“Tiberius!” the bat-pony called, sounding more like the solder he was and less like the growling beast he had been. He was still angry for allowing the changelings escape, but he had a duty to perform. He could not afford to let his emotions get the best of him until he knew the princess was safe and sound.

“Tell me do you know where the princess is? Is Luna OK?” Alucard asked his matriarch’s pet, forgetting his protocol for the moment.
Not that was sure how the opossum was going be able to reply to him. So he was as surprised as anyone when Tiberius ran up to him and held out blue, glowing, bead that Alucard just noticed he had been carrying in his paws.

“A messaging orb?” Alucard uttered. While his knowledge on magic was rather limited this was a spell he was quite familiar with. “That’s from the princess isn’t it?” he implored, recognizing the unique azure glow of Luna’s magical aura, and the furry courier nodded in confirmation. “Show me.”

The furry mammal clutched the orb between his paws and started shaking the glowing bead vigorously. The orb’s light became more intense as the spell activated, pulling itself from Tiberius’s grasp and rising into the air. It hovered above Alucard’s eye level before suddenly exploding in size, forming a floating clear sphere slightly larger than the bat-ponies’ head, coated with a shivery-blue film. And in it contained a transparent, but otherwise accurate image of Princess Luna.

“From the night we come.’ The projection stated, sounding like the princess of the night herself, albeit with some slight distortion. It was part of the Night Guards motto, and in times of emergency used as code phrase to signal that the proceeding message or order was genuine. A usually unnecessary precaution most of the time, but then again the Night Guard had always been overly cautious. Maybe if that was a trait shared by the rest of the Royal Guard, none of this mess would have happened. At least that’s what Alucard believed.

The projection began speaking, with a clam, reassuring voice, “Alucard, clearly if you are hearing this Tiberius has successfully delivered you my message. Remind me to reward him with extra num-nums for dinner.”

The opossum’s ears picked up upon hearing that. Alucard meanwhile maintained his usual stoic expression, as he focused intensely on Luna’s message.

“No doubt you are worried about my condition. Well you’ll be happy to hear that I am currently within in the old crystal mines beneath the castle, and I assure you I am perfectly fine.” With those words it felt like a great weight had lifted from Alucard’s chest, and while his expression didn’t change the sigh of relief he gave was unmistakable.

The message went on, “I’m sure by now you have become aware of the changeling infiltration of Canterlot. If not, there has been a changeling infiltration of Canterlot,” the grizzled sentry smirked a little, in such as way you could almost mistake it as a chuckle. “As such I have orders for you.”

The projection became more stern and authoritative as it began delegating Luna’s commands, “The Night Guard, if they are not doing so already, are to aid the rest of the Royal Guard in the protection of the city, and are to differ to either the Captain Sterling Shield, or my sister until this crises has been resolved.”

“Once this is done you and Valvatorez and are to rondevu with me in the caverns. I have uncovered a cabal of changelings plotting something within the caves and I intend to precede ahead and engage this group directly.”

Alucard grunted. Diving headlong into battle alone, wasn’t like her. She should knew better than that. What was she thinking?
“I should be able to handle everything,” the projection continued, “Hopefully all that will be left for you is a routine clean-up mission.”

‘Hopefully?’ Now Alucard was worried again. There was defiantly something more to this than just changelings.

“Tiberius can lead you the way to my location. I know you will not disappoint me Alucard. Luna out.” The message concluded the magic image slowly faded into the either, leaving behind nothing as if the whole thing never happened.

“I understand princess,” the loyal solder quietly said to himself. “But unfortunately I might have to disappoint you just a little.”

It felt awful to admit it, but this was one order Alucard would not be able to fulfill.

The problem lay with one simple fact, that despite all the time that had passed he still hadn’t come into any contact from the rest of the Night Guard, and their lack of presence filled him with more dread than he cared to admit.

It wasn’t just that he hadn’t seen of it’s personal in the castle – in fact he hadn’t seen any castle personnel, but that was another matter entirely – but he hadn’t received any contact with any of them in all this time. He was sure by now that some would have come to see how the princess was doing, or inform him on the situation. But there was nothing. No messages, no signs or spells from Markov. Nothing!
Maybe it was as the princess had speculated, that the reason everyone was unavailable was because soldiers of the Night Guard were already engaged with the defense of the city. He hoped so at least. Alucard however could not act with speculations, he had to act on what he knew, and as far as Alucard knew, he and Lestat were the Night Guard.

“Thank you Tiberius,” the hardened veratrin praised the brave animal “I know you must be tired, but I’m afraid you cannot rest just yet. I must find Princess Luna and I will need your assistance to locate her.”

Tiberius nodded in agreement, he too knew it wasn’t over yet. He gave a salute to the stalwart soldier, then scampered up the bat-ponies’ leg, climbing his way onto Alucard’s back.

“Good,” affirmed the sentinel, “First, I must inform Lestat on this latest development. Then we shall had to the caves and find out exactly what the princess has gotten herself into this time.”

Tiberius let out a cheerful squeak of understanding.

“Hold on tight Tiberius,” advised Alucard. Tiberius latched on the back of the back of Alucard’s helmet as tight as he could, as the bat-winged pegasus ran full speed towards the entrance. Then stopped, looked back, and noticed that the balcony door still remain closed.

“After we make sure the room is properly secured of course."