The Darkest Star

***Introduction: Many Years Ago***

"Blackstar, you are up early." Celestia says as she enters her office.

The slave looks up from the files on the desk. His eyes were baggy and full of weariness. Celestia makes her way over to the desk, and Blackstar moves out of her way.

"Up... early?" He asks. "H-How early is it?"

"It is almost five." The princess answers. "I am about to raise the sun in an hour."

"Ah... Well... You see... I didn't actually get up early, because I never went to sleep..."

Celestia spits out her coffee.

"You... WHAT?"

Blackstar shrinks with fear as the ruler of Equestria stands over him. Her eyes were filled with something he didn't recognize. It was pure concern. Before he knew it, Celestia was her majestic wings around him.

"Why would you stay up all night and work into the small hours of the day?" She asks softly as she holds him tightly.

"I... I wanted to get as much work done as I could so you would not have to..." He admits. "Y-You work to much, and a... a beautiful princess shouldn't have to work so much..."

Celestia pulls away, her heart fluttering, and looks into the young man's eyes. Before her mind could tell her to stop, she leans forward and plants a gentle kiss on his cheek.

"Oh, Blackstar..." She moans. "That is the sweetest thing I have ever heard..."

Celestia leans forward again, but this time, she kisses him on the lips.

"Now, go get some sleep. You have the entire day off. You deserve it."

Blackstar was still stunned from the kiss. He couldn't respond. He could only nod and shuffle out of the office.

***Part 1: Mystery Man***

The arrival of the royal family was unexpected for the Diamond Dinning Hall, but not unwelcome. The mares, human, and dragon were quickly ushered to an elite table. As Fives nears the table, he bumps into another patron, a human.

"Oh, pardon me..." The patron says before walking away quickly.

Before Fives could say anything, the man was gone. He shrugs the weird feeling away as everyone is seated.

"Good afternoon, your majesties." The waitress says sweetly. "I am Tulip Blossom, and I will be your server today. Would you like to start with something to drink?"

"We will need a few minutes alone to decide." Celestia says.

"Of course, your majesty." The waitress says, giving them a quick bow before leaving.

When Tulip is out of earshot, Celestia turns her attention to her son and student.

"Now, you two have some explaining to do." She says coldly.

"Sister!" Luna scolds. "Do not take your frustration out on them. It is not Twilight's fault if she is unable to carry a foal."

Twilight looks down at the table cloth. Fives was sure he heard her beginning to sob. Sure enough, small drops of tears were sliding down her cheeks and falling onto the table cloth. His eyes narrow, and he glares at Celestia.

"Mother, if you make her cry, we will leave right now and return to Ponyville." Fives threatens. "We have tried many times. Each time, she has gotten violently ill, and the doctors told us there was no foal. That is it."

Celestia's glare softens. She looks around the table. Luna had her eyes trained on her sister.

"I... I am sorry, Fives... I am sorry, Twilight. I shouldn't have been upset with you. I was blinded by my own desire to have a grandfoal that I did not take your own feelings and struggles into account."

Luna gives a sad smile.

"There... Is everyone happy, now? I am quite hungry." She says, quickly trying to change the subject.

"Me, too." Spike agrees.

Luna waves over to the waitress, and she returns with a pen and paper in the cloud of her magic. Fives rubs Twilight's back to comfort her.

"What will you have, sir?" Tulip asks.

Fives opens his mouth to speak, but no words come out. He was lost as he gazed across the room. At the far end, in the corner, sat the patron he had accidentally bumped into earlier. The man was looking right at them. The man was looking right at him. When the patron notices that Fives is looking back at him, he quickly glances away.

"Sir?" The unicorn waitress asks.

"I... I'll have... whatever special you have..." Fives says, bringing his attention back to the world around him.

"And you, Princess Luna?" She asks.

Fives looks back at the table the other man was sitting at. He was gone. He scans the room, searching for the missing patron, but he was no where to be seen.

***Part 2: Diamond Dinner Firefight***

Several long, silent, and awkward minutes later, their food had arrived. Fives looks at the tray, then at the person holding it. It wasn't their waitress. It was a bearded man.

"Heeeeere you are, Princess Celestia, your vegetarian platter. Princess Luna, your... moon cake..."

"Where is Tulip?" Fives asks.

The new waiter looks down at Fives, confused.

"Tulip Blossom, our waitress?" He asks again.

"Ah, yes..." The new waiter says. "There was a... small accident in the kitchen. She will no longer be serving you, today."

Fives looks back at the door leading to the kitchen. Through the window, he could see other humans looking in their direction. He leans over to Twilight.

"Hey, something isn't right..."

The purple mare cocks her head.

"What do you mean?"

The waiter's eyes narrow as he retreats to the kitchen. Fives watches him until the kitchen door closes. Then, he looks at Celestia and Luna.

"Mother, we need to go, now." He says, his voice growing more urgent.

Celestia turns her gaze to the kitchen door. Her eyes widen with fear. She only has enough time to usher one word.

"MOVE!" Celestia booms.

The kitchen door bursts open, and three men step out. All were wielding side arms. Three pistols were trained on Celestia, Luna, and Fives. Celestia spreads her massive wings, blowing the table on its side. The musket balls glance off of the thick, wooden table.

"Who are they?!" Twilight shouts.

Ponies were screaming in terror as they frantically bolted for the exits. Fives grabs a plate. He was about stand and throw it at the attackers when an aggressive hand shoved him to the floor.

"Keep your fucking heads down!" The owner of the aggressive hand says.

Fives looks up and gasps. It was the man, the one he had bumped into earlier. He was wielding two pistols. He opens fire, and he hits two of the attackers. Both of the attackers go down. Celestia charges a bolt of magic and fires it at the remaining attacker. The attacker dives out of the way as the bolt explodes and makes a beeline for the nearest exit, a window.

"He's getting away!" Luna shouts.

"Not if I have anything to say about it..."

The man throws his pistols to the floor and bolts after the escaping assassin. The assassin frantically dodges through ponies and humans, turning over tables to separate himself from his pursuer. Then, he dives through the window, shattering the glass into a thousand pieces, and he disappears. The aggressive hand growls with frustration.

"Damn!"

He spins around to find two very angry Alicorns, a unicorn, a human, and a dragon glaring at him.

"Uh..."

"Explain yourself!" Celestia orders.

The aggressive hand holds his arms up in surrender. He then gives them a polite bow.

"The name is Colonel Felix Rogers of the Equestrian Special Forces, at your service."

***Part 3: Roger Rogers***

"And you're sure?" Celestia asks with great worry in her voice.

Colonel Felix nods, heaving a deep sigh.

"Simco is planing something very big, and it will happen at the Grand Galloping Gala. We aren't entirely sure of what it is, but other E.S.F. sources have been monitoring the transportation of a lot of explosive gear, and I mean a lot. Whatever it is, it won't be gift basket."

"What is the E.S.F.?" Fives asks. "I've never heard of it."

"The E.S.F. is a special task force Commander Andre and I conceived after the battle at the old castle." Celestia explains. "We needed a way of getting jobs done behind Simco's lines."

"Well spoken, your highness." Felix says with a gracious bow. "Now, I'm afraid I have to go. You know how it is, places to go, things to do. Plus, my boss will want to know about an assassination attempt on the royal family."

Luna taps Celestia's hoof with her own.

"Sister, I have been telling you for weeks that we should increase defense initiatives. A breach like this is unacceptable-"

"Not now, Luna." Celestia hisses. "Thank you, Colonel. I fear to imagine where we might have been without your aid."

Felix gives her a salute and a warm smile.

"I'm just doing what you ponies pay me for."

With that being said, he picks up an overturned table, sets it upright, and makes his way towards the exit.

***Part 4: Deceived***

Felix strolled the blocked off streets of Canterlot. He was following a trail, a trail of blood. He found the 'would be' assassin in an alleyway a few blocks down the street. He was holding his arms, which were cut in a thousand places from the broken glass.

"And the trail runs cold..." Felix growls. "You have guts to try a stunt like that. You tell Simco that I have everything under control. I don't need little... surprises like that."

"Go... to... hell..." Toby breathes heavily.

Felix smiles.

"Oh, I will, and I'll be sure to see you there, soon. Fashionably late, of course." He says as he gives the man a big kick in the rear. "Now, get going, and report back to Simco. You can tell him why two of your men are dead."

***Part 5: Sweet Lips***

"Hey, Rainbow, come take a look at this..." Appleton says as he holds up a letter. "It says here that there was an attack on Canterlot this morning."

Rainbow Dash's eyes widen. She rushes over to her companion's side.

"Twilight and Fives are there." She says.

"There were no casualties. Well, on our side, anyway. Two of the three assassins were killed, and the last one got away."

Rainbow looks down at the table.

"This is such a stupid war..." She says with a heaving sigh.

Appleton puts a hand on his marefriend's back and rubs it comfortingly.

"I know, Rainbow... The guy who started it is a real asshole. I would know. I used to take orders from him."

This makes Rainbow Dash smile. She plants a big kiss on Appleton's lips, and the Commander happily kisses her in return.

"I love you..." Rainbow whispers.

"I love you, more..." Appleton replies, real cheesy like. "Now, come on. I know we aren't supposed to arrive at the gala for a while, but let's got ahead and see if we can do anything to help."

Rainbow gives him a sly grin.

"And that's why I love you. I'll race ya."

***Part 6: Oh General, My General***

"You're late. What happened to the rest of your team?" Simco asks.

The assassin breathes heavily.

"I'm fine, thanks for asking..." He mutters. "I barely made it out of Canterlot with my life!"

"What happened?" Simco asks again.

"Your damn protege! That's what happened!"

Simco rolls his eyes.

"What did Rogers do, this time?"

"He killed my mates!" Toby shouts.

Simco waves his hand dismissively. The assassin clinches his fists angrily.

"How dare you... You sent me and my team to die, just so Felix could gain their trust?!"

"Felix Rogers is a very important asset to me. He is my eyes and ears in Canterlot, preparing for my... arrival at the Grand Galloping Gala. This war will be remembered for many generations, and I will be remembered as the victor. Have you ever heard the old saying, 'History is written by the victor'?"

Still clenching his fists, the assassin shakes his head.

"Well, I will make my victory into truth, and my truth shall become history. The truth and history of the princesses shall die with them."

***Part 7: Party Planner***

The guard shakes his head.

"I'm sorry, sir, but this area is under martial lock down. Only military personnel are allowed in."

"But I am a damned military person!" Felix protests. "I'm the one who saved the damned royal family during the attack!"

Shining Armor approaches the guard at the barrier.

"Let him through, private. He is clear." Shining says.

Felix throws up his finger, the middle one, at the guard as he strolls through the barrier.

"Did you lose your tag again?" Shining asks with a heaving sigh.

"Yeah..." Felix admits. "I'll need a new one."

"That's the third tag you have lost this week, Felix."

They make their way over to the diner. Black smoke was still pouring out of the windows from the explosions made during the attack.

"The gala is still on?" Felix asks.

Shining nods, extracting a sigh of relief from the special operative.

"That's great. My boss would hate to miss the gala."

"Who, Sub-Commander Jet?" Shining asks. "I didn't think he was the 'gala' type."

"Oh, yeah. My boss is gonna have a blast at the gala." Felix says, chuckling to himself.

***TO BE CONTINUED***