When Dusk awoke, he couldn't see. Wherever he was, it was pitch-black. He panicked, and tried to run, only to end up smacking into the side wall. Then he noticed some features in the room, and realized that there was some light. The light coming in the room was from a tiny crack in the wall that Dusk had unknowingly been blocking with his body.

The room was barren. A skeleton of a metal bed lay against the wall, and a moth-eaten blanket and pillow were the only sheets on it. There was no way out, as far as Dusk could see, except for the crack. A clatter across the room startled him. Before he could do anything, a black bag was thrown over his head, and something hard hit the side of his head. Dusk spiralled into unconsciousness.

"What are we gonna do?" Tom hissed. The two Changelings were inside of the Wall, thanks to their shape-shifting abilities. They'd followed the party of Night Soldiers, disguised as one of them, as they brought Duskrider back through the Wall. The two had found a supply closet, and put on armour and a standard Night Soldier sword. Their abilities allowed them to have a fake helmet and armour, but it wouldn't ward away any sword or hold up under intense scrutiny. The swords they had, genuine Equestrian steel, stood out as well. Now fully kitted up, they had free range of the Night sector.

"We're going to get Dusk, that's what we're gonna do." Dave answered.

"How are we going to do that?" Tom wheedled. "We've got no idea wh-"

"Excuse me, sir." Dave said to an approaching Night Soldier. "We've been assigned guard duty to prisoners, but we're not sure where to go."

"Town centre, then down the steps of the guard house." The soldier answered in a flat voice before continuing on his march.

"Thank you, sir." Dave waited until the guard was out of sight before flashing a grin at Tom. "See? Town centre. Let's move."

The pair hustled quickly to the town centre. Before Tom could enter the guard house, Dave slammed a foreleg into his chest and pushed him around the corner.

"Shut up." He hissed. "Look."

A group of soldiers that were walking through the door were dragging a limp pony towards a large wagon. Even though there was a hood over the pony's head, Dave knew it was Dusk from the cutie mark.

"C'mon." Dave stepped out from behind the wall and approached the group, who had tossed Dusk into the back of the wagon. He saluted.

"You stand relieved, soldiers." Dave said, copying the earlier guard's voice.

"Our relief isn't until 0300." One soldier said, and Dave noticed the bright stripe on his shoulders. This stallion was in charge.

"New orders. From the top. Fresh eyes at all times." Dave's explanation didn't seem to sway the guard captain, but he waved at his troops anyway.

"Breaktime's early, boys."

The guards dispersed, eerily quiet, back to the guardhouse. The captain stopped at the door as Dave and Tom scrambled into the wagon's back. As it began to rumble away, Dave saw him turn and look at the departing wagon. Almost as if he was staring right at Dave.

Dusk woke up to the pitching, rolling motion of the wagon. He blinked. He couldn't see anything, but that wasn't his main concern. His head felt like it was swollen, and somepony was inside ringing a massive school-bell. He groaned.

"Hey." He heard a voice, and the darkness lifted. He saw the concerned face of a Night Soldier.

"Wher... Who?"

"Relax." The rough British accent of Tom was music to Dusk's ears. "We snuck in to bust you out."

"Yeah." Now Dusk recognized Dave's voice. "Not sure how we're going to do that at this point."

"What happened to all the gear?" Dusk mumbled.

"We left most of it in what's left of the train. We kept the sweets, though." Tom grinned. "Very uncomfortable in this armour though."

"Well, I'm real-"

"Shh!" Dave's ears perked up. "We're stopping."

The wagon eventually clattered to a stop. Dave put the bag back over Dusk's head. The trio heard muffled conversation outside, and then six Night Soldiers climbed into the back of the wagon. One nodded to Dave and Tom. He had two shiny silver bars on his shoulders. Dave and Tom saluted.

"At ease." The stallion grunted as he sat. "Acon, who's our guest here?"

"A stallion, sir. He was caught near Sector Seven. Commander Nightmare," the soldier looked down and paused, "has requested a personal audience with him, for unknown reasons, Ironhoof, sir."

"Ah." They rode in silence for a few moments before Ironhoof cleared his throat.

"Acon, isn't it time for some PT?"

"Yessir. Troops, disemBARK!" The wagon stopped moving, and the soldiers inside jumped out and began to gallop alongside as it began to move again. While the soldiers marched, Acon yelled cadence.

"He's good, isn't he?" Ironhoof smiled. "Wanted to be a singer. Then Nightmare Moon got to him. Shame, really."

"Y-yeah." Dave said. Ironhoof looked at the black bag over Dusk's head.

"Take that thing off."

"Sir?" Dave stiffened. "We've been ordered to leave that ba-"

"Son, I outrank whomever gave you that asinine order. Take it off."

Dave relented, and took the bag off Duskrider's head. Ironhoof took a look at his head.

"Well, you've got a gash the size of Manehatten on the side of your head, but you'll be fine." He grinned, then turned to Dave.

"Changelings, right?" Tom stiffened, and slowly moved towards his sword. Ironhoof chuckled.

"Relax! That was just a guess. I was told that two changelings would be accompanying Duskrider here."

"You were... told?" Dusk asked.

"Yep." Ironhoof leaned back slightly. "Way back when, before the Night, I was a Royal Guard. Trained my whole life to serve for Princess Celestia and Princess Luna." He snorted, then spat out the back of the wagon. "Then the Night fell, and I was stuck on this side of the tracks when Chrysalis' children drove Nightmare Moon out of Canterlot, and the Wall was built. Nightmare captured me, but instead of brainwashing me like she did to these poor kids, she let me keep my brain, for the things I knew about Celestia."

"But... I thought that Luna was Nightmare Moon?" Dusk said.

"She is. Or, she was. The first time, she might have willingly given herself to Nightmare Moon, but this time, she was forced. Perhaps she hasn't given up her memories. Remember, Nightmare Moon had a small glance at our world when she returned from the moon the first time. A lot of things have changed."

"So, she uses you as an insider?" Dave asked, passing a cup of water to Dusk.

"Yeah, yet I'm used as a spy by the 'Resistance', as they call themselves. Should just be the Equestrians." Ironhoof sighed. "I just want to be a Royal Guard again. All this spy mumbo jumbo is too confusing." He coughed, then looked at Dusk. "So you're the one she asked to get her sister back... What makes you special?"

"Uh... my parents were friends with Princess Luna. She visited about once a month as I was growing up. Celestia said that they were just grasping at hay at this point."

"They're betting a lot on this hay." Ironhoof mused. "And there might be better options. Me, for instance. As a sleeper to take out Nightmare Moon."

"Take out? As in..." Dave's voice trailed off.

"Take out. End. Remove the threat." Ironhoof's voice was hard.

"But... that would mean Luna would be gone too." Dusk said.

"That's why she doesn't want to do it." Ironhoof sighed. "After all these years, she's still hoping non-violence will save the day?" He was about to continue when the soldiers outside stopped singing, and the wagon slowly ground to a halt. "Aw, shoot." With surprising swiftness, Ironhoof jammed the hood back on Duskrider, took the cup of water and drank it, then leaned back, as if nothing happened.

They continued the trip in relative silence.

Author's Note

Yay, new chapter! I seriously need to stop procrastinating.