Hello Again, Princess!

As it turned out, Ironhoof and his squad were being rotated to the castle. They jumped out at the guard shack that blocked the road leading to the Castle of Two Sisters. Ironhoof, being the last one out, quietly wished Dave, Tom and Duskrider luck in their endeavour.

The wagon clattered to a halt beside of the main doors of the castle. Dave was mildly surprised. The castle, which had been decrepit and crumbling, had been repaired, and then some. The Everfree forest had been razed around the castle, and it was at least three times as big as it once was. The wagon driver hopped out and helped drag Dusk out of the back. Four soldiers came over to them.

"Where are the soldiers that were supposed to be guarding the prisoner?" One asked, again in the slight monotone of all Night soldiers.

"We were told to relieve them." Dave responded.

"On whose orders?"

"We were told by the messenger that the orders were from Commander Nightmare." At that, all ponies glanced at the ground for a moment.

"We were not aware of such a change. We are on high alert for spies, especially after finding him." The soldier jabbed Dusk in the side. "Whatever the case for the discrepancy, we'll figure it out." The soldier studied at Dave for a moment, then turned to the others. "Clasps."
A heavy iron clasp was placed around Dusk's middle, trapping his wings to his side. A chain was wrapped around the clasp, and was connected to four other clasps that had been placed on Dusk's legs. The chains were short enough to restrict Dusk's movement to a extremely slow shuffle. It didn't stop the soldiers from jabbing him in the back to get him to hurry up. As Dusk was led through the doors, the wagon driver drove away, leaving Dave and Tom standing alone, save for a pair of guards near the doors. The changeling pair moved out of their earshot.

"What do we do now?" Tom asked.

"We get in there." Dave replied. "And we bring the Princess out."

As Dusk was pushed through the castle, he was distinctly aware of the silence. The only noise was his chains rattling. His guard's and his own hoofsteps were silent. Dusk pondered the ramifications of this until he was led down a flight of steep stairs. Unable to proceed due to his chains, the guards dumped him down the stairs. Dusk did his best to tuck his limbs in as he tumbled. He slammed hard into the concrete floor with a yelp, and lay still for a moment, letting the pain fade. He stood, shakily, and looked around. The room was quite large, but empty except for large doors on the opposite end. Duskrider decided to start shuffling over. He made it about halfway when he heard a *pop* behind him. He turned to see the two guards that threw him down the stairs standing just behind him. Without a word, the two shoved him towards the doors.

Meanwhile, the two Changelings had finalized their plans.

"Hey, can you give us a hoof down here?" Dave yelled from around the corner mimicking Ironhoof's voice. The two guards at the door looked at each other, puzzled, before going down the steps and towards Dave's voice. They were almost at the corner when Tom and Dave pounced. The first guard was knocked unconscious by Tom's hoof. The other found himself being smacked with the flat of Dave's sword. The Changelings dumped the pair into the bushes, then donned their image and armour. The two then slipped through the doors, determined to find Duskrider.

Dusk stumbled, and the guard shoved him again. The slight incline of the hallway, and his chains, was causing him great difficulties. He'd been given a sip of water and a piece of black bread, and that was the only food he'd been given since the wagon. Sweat dripped off his muzzle.

"How much fu-"

"Shut up." The guard in front smacked him across the face. "No talking." Dusk fell silent again. He wanted to take a sword and go after the guards with it, but he knew it was a futile thought. He could barely walk, let along fight three guards. He shuffled on for a few more minutes. The guard in front suddenly stopped, then turned and started hitting Dusk in the face. One of the other guards managed to restrain him.

"Cool it! Do you want the Commander to hear about this?" The second guard hissed.

"Equestrian scum! You will burn! You don't deserve to live!" The first guard yelled.

"What the buck's gotten into him?" The second guard asked. The third guard stayed silent.

"Something must be wrong with his obedience spell." The third finally said. "Take him to the infirmary. Find another pair of guards and get them down here. Quickly! The Commander hates waiting!"
The second guard practically dragged the first back down the winding hall. Dusk spat out one of his teeth.

'Obedience spell?' He thought. 'Why would soldiers and guards need an obedience spell?'
The remaining guard saw Dusk's thoughtful gaze.

"Commander or no, if you try to run, I will dispose of you." Dusk remained silent, only nodding in what he hoped was abject fear.

Dave and Tom marched through the halls of the castle. They'd found the armoury, the washrooms, the mess hall, everything except a detention area or a dungeon.

"Hey! You two!" A voice called from the end of the hall. The pair stiffened. Had they been found out already?
"Hey! You guys gotta go to the Commander's Star Chamber, right away. Muck's guarding the spy." The soldier yelled, dragged another soldier who was doing his darnedest to break free.

"Star chamber?" Dave asked.

"Buck. You on rotation? Look for a door that looks like a closet near the mess. There should be a load of steps." The soldier paused to smack the other in the face. "For bucks sake, be calm! Go down those steps and there'll be a set of double doors. Go through those, and keep going up." The soldier gave a half-salute and began to drag the other away. Dave looked at Tom.

"Do you believe in magic?" Tom grinned.

Duskrider had managed to count to 500 when he saw two soldiers appear around the curve of the hallway. They hauled him to his hooves without a word, but Dusk noticed that one winked at him. The hallway became steeper, it's curves sharper. Dusk found himself almost unable to continue due to the chains, and one of the guards noticed. They conversed for a moment while Dusk caught his breath, then pulled the clasps off his hooves. The one around his midsection remained. Finally, the hallway plateaued with a heavy iron door. Suddenly, two of the guards attacked the other. They quickly beat the guard unconscious.

"What the..!" Dusk shrank back, as if these guards were also about to attack him. Then one was engulfed in green flame, changing into a familiar pony.

"Miss us?"

"Dave!"

"Shh!" The other, who sounded a lot like Tom, hissed. "That door may be iron, but it probably isn't soundproof."

"Right. Sorry." Dusk whispered back.

"S'alright." Tom grinned. "It's good to see you in... mostly one piece." Dusk became aware of the blood that had covered his upper lip.

"In my defence, he surprised me, and I couldn't exactly fight in those."

Tom smirked. "Likely story." Dusk grinned. Dave coughed.

"We've still got to get Princess Luna back." He said.

"Do you still have the bag?" Dusk asked anxiously. If the bag was lost, so was the plan.

"Right here." In Tom's pocket, the brown fabric of the candy's bag was visible.

"Alright. Let's bring back the sun." Dusk said. Dave used the knocker on the door. It echoed down the hall, a deep, ominous BOOM BOOM BOOM. The door slid open without a sound. It was pitch black on the other side.

"Bring him to me." A voice commanded. Tom and Dave, transformed again into the guards, shoved Dusk roughly forwards. A strange, eerie light began to shine, and Dusk realized that it was the moon, hanging overhead like a fallen star, the roof of the room removed. It's light bathed everything in an odd white colour. That's when Dusk saw Nightmare Moon.

She lay upon her throne, gazing at Dusk as he was brought in.

"You may leave." She said to Tom and Dave. They bowed and walked towards the exit.

"So... you are the Duskrider..." She muttered to herself. "You've cause us a lot of trouble, you know. Since you... left our territory, I've had to... punish, shall we say, your parents." Nightmare Moon licked her lips. "But now! Now you have returned, and you shall be punished in their place!"
Dusk said nothing. He just stood, staring at Nightmare Moon.

"Well? Aren't you going to cower in fear and plead for your life?" Nightmare Moon laughed. Somewhere, an unseen storm launched a lightning bolt, lighting up the sky. Dusk stood his ground, and finally spoke.

"I would like to speak to Princess Luna."

"Luna? Luna!?" Nightmare Moon cackled. More lightning. "I got rid of that weakling a long time ago! Now it's only I, NIGHTMARE MOON!"
But Dusk didn't flinch.

"I will only speak to Princess Luna."

"What part of 'Luna no longer exists' do you understand, insolent wretch! I should have gotten rid of you a long time ago!" Nightmare Moon's horn began to glow. At that moment, Dusk ripped off the body clamp, which had been loosened by Dave and Tom, and rocketed towards the open sky. He was immediately stopped by Nightmare Moon. Enveloped in her magical aura, he was dragged back down to face her. Dusk began to struggle.

"Luna! Luna, help!"

"Shut up! Luna is GONE!" Nightmare Moon roared. Her horn shone with power.

"You're really that stupid?" A voice called from Dusk's left. "That's not even the real Duskrider!" Both Nightmare Moon and Dusk turned to see... another Duskrider! With a growl, Nightmare launched Dusk to the side, and blasted magic at the other Dusk. He nimbly avoided the attack.

"Psst!" The real Dusk turned and saw yet another Duskrider grinning at him. "Plan's working like a charm, mate." Tom slipped Dusk the bag of candy. Just as Tom was about to say something else, a scream drew their attention across the room. Dave had finally been hit, and he slumped to the floor in his Changeling form.

"Buck!" Dusk yelled involuntarily. Nightmare's head snapped around. She used her magic to pick Dusk up again, and he floated in front of her.

"I was going to disintegrate you quickly," she hissed, "but now I want to watch you squirm." Dusk felt a tightness in his throat, and tried to take a breath. He found that he couldn't! He gaped, trying to get some air in. Dusk's head began to pound, and his vision started growing blurry.

"Hey, ugly! Yeah, you with the horrible mane!" Dusk's voice echoed around the chamber. "You've got the wrong pony! AGAIN! You really are that stupid, ain't ya?" Tom's shouting distracted Nightmare Moon enough that she loosened her grip in Dusk's throat. If he could just turn and grab the bag..!

"Pppphh!" Tom brew a raspberry at Nightmare. She fired a beam at Tom, and it glanced off of him. His image flicked for a moment between Dusk's and his regular Changeling form. Nightmare scoffed, and turned her attention back to Dusk. She gasped.

"Do you want a candy Pwincess Wuna?" Dusk's eyes were wide and innocent. The bag of Yakistani sweets was clutched in his mouth. Nightmare Moon shook her head, and tried to choke Dusk again, but her magic faltered. She shook her head again.

"What? No... You can't still be here! You're gone! I erased you!" Nightmare Moon began yelling, wrenching her head from side to side. Dusk was released from her grip and fell to the floor. He looked up in time to see Nightmare Moon explode into light, and in her place lay a triumphant Princess Luna.

"Lu-!" Dusk's yell of victory was interrupted when he noticed an ominous blue cloud of smoke floating above them. It moved back and forth frantically, as if searching for something. It dove towards the still-unconscious Dave, then twisted towards Tom, then finally slammed into Dusk. His vision faded out.

Dusk was floating in a featureless void. A grey fog surrounded him. He felt a presence behind him. When he turned, he saw himself.

"Hello." The other him said, with a twisted grin on it's face. "Do you know what I am?"

"No." Dusk answered.

"I am Nightmare force. I am a being of extraordinary power. I can give you my power." The other Dusk transformed. It's mane flowed like Nightmare Moon's, black and white with glittering white spots imbedded inside. It's eyes glowed blue. It's teeth were pointed, and it wore black armour. "I can make you the most powerful pony in all of Equestria, but only if you join me."

"No thanks." Dusk replied. The other him said nothing, only snarling and launching itself at Dusk.

Dusk's vision suddenly switched back to the real world, and he saw the blue cloud yet again, this time trying to flee out the open roof. Luna laughed.

"For years, I punished myself. I hated Nightmare Moon, and by extension myself. Now, I learned I was never in control!" To Dusk's amazement, the moon overhead began to fall back down over the horizon. The sun, for the first time in many years peeking out. The glare was incredible, but Dusk managed to see the cloud burst apart. A piece of the shattered Nightmare hit him in the chest, but he didn't care. The warmth of the sun ran over his body like a river of fire. He felt powered, emboldened. Luna, in the glare of the returning sun, embraced Dusk.

"Thank you, Duskrider. You allowed me the chance to escape the Nightmare's grasp!"

As the sun reappeared, Sombra looked at the sky in the Crystal Empire. A sadistic grin spread across his face.

"So, the Day has returned."

"Yes." The figure behind him said. "You know what this means."

"Yes. Oh, yes." Sombra's eyes glittered. He turned, and faced the western edge of the platform. His soldiers, his SUBJECTS, no longer slaves, stood before him. He raised his foreleg, his hoof facing towards the heavens.

"My Imperial Crystal Army! TO WAR!"
His cry was echoed by thousands.