VI

I hadn't had one of my mother's home cooked meals in a long time. Spending the afternoon with my mother and brother lifted my spirits. Orion's team was also interesting, Cloudfire in particular. To be honest I was a little terrified of what my brother might be planning when it comes to Cloudfire, Orion had said nothing during dinner to indicate his plans. Anyway I was In the town hall now. I was waiting for the ceremony to start. Celestia had arrived from one of the upper balconies to avoid being seen until the ceremony. I was guarding the inside of the main entrance watching everypony come in.

This town was rowdy, everypony had a lot of energy to burn. Especially a loud smiling pink pony that was bouncing around the hall. The Pegasi made room for the Earth and Unicorn ponies on the ground by hovering above among the the banners and decorations that decorated the hall. I wasn't excited about the ponies having a straight shot at the Princess. Specialist Blast was standing guard on the opposite side of the door from me. Sergeant Skyquake, was toward the front of the room to be closer to the Princess. We were the only guards on this side of the show.

The room was filling up now. On one of the balconies above, a nervous looking yellow and pink haired Pegasus mare was bringing in some birds on a T-stand. On the balcony that Celestia was to be on a White and Purple maned unicorn mare stood there waiting to reveal the Princess. Taking the hint that things were about to get started Blast and I closed the doors in a halfway manner, so if there were any latecomers they could still get in.

Everything quieted down, and the fanfare from the birds started. Everypony quieted down, and a stage light focused on the Mayor of Ponyville.

"Fillies and Gentlecolts." The Mayor started, "As Mayor of Ponyville, it is my great pleasure to announce the beginning of the Summer Sun Celebration!"

There was polite and excited cheering from the crowd. Once it quieted down, the Mayor resumed.

"In just a few moments, our town will witness the magic of the sunrise, and celebrate this, The Longest Day of The Year! And now, It is my great honor to introduce to you the ruler of our land, the very pony who gives us the sun and the moon each and every day, the good, the wise, the bringer of harmony to all of Equestria... Princess Celestia." She gestured a hoof above her.

The fanfare sounded and the white Unicorn pulled back the curtains to reveal Celestia, only that she wasn't there. The crowd reacted with gasps and murmurs. I stole a glance over to Sergeant Skyquake who was confused. The white unicorn went back to look for Celestia while we waited.

"Remain calm everypony. There must be a reasonable explanation." The mayor said trying to reassure everypony.

That loud pink pony piped up, "Ooh, ooh, I love guessing games! Is she hiding?"

As if on cue with the pink pony's question, the white unicorn mare came back out. "She's Gone."

The crowd gave a collective gasp. It was weird. Then I could hear the pink pony again, "Ooh, She's good." Then a singular quick scream came from the same direction.

I scanned the room to see what was worthy of screaming at. It didn't take me long to find the mist of purple and blue smoke appearing where Celestia was supposed to be. The miasma swirled and churned with, stars? No stars were in the sky, not in smoke. Then the smoke parted in a fit, and revealed the solid form of a pony. Not just any pony either, an Alicorn regal but dark. An opposite to our beloved and missing Princess Celestia. Then she began to speak.

"Oh, my beloved subjects." She started, "It's been so long since I've seen your precious, little sun loving faces." She said in a bitter tone.

"What did you do with our Princess?" A blue and rainbow maned Pegasus asked just before trying to fly toward the pretender. She was stopped from doing anything rash by a Orange earth pony, that held the Pegasus' tail.

The Dark Alicorn chuckled, "Why? Am I not royal enough for you? Don't you know who I am?" she asked.

Once again the pink pony opened her mouth, "Ooh, ooh, more guessing games! Um, Hokey Smokes! How about... Queen Meanie! No! Black Snooty, Black Snooty!" She was then silenced by the orange earth pony via cupcake gag. I had to stifle a laugh at the name "Black Snooty".

Black Snooty then moved in close to the nervous yellow Pegasus with the birds, "Does my crown no longer count now that I have been imprisoned for a thousand years? Did you not recall the legend? Did you not see the signs?"

Another voice chimed in, this time from Celestia's student. "I did, and I know who you are. You're The Mare In The Moon. Nightmare Moon."

"Well, well, well. Somepony who remembers me. Then you also know why I'm here." Nightmare said mildly pleased.

"You're here to...to..." She must have lost her nerves because she didn't finish.

Nightmare laughed, "Remember this day, little ponies. For it was your last. From this moment forth, the night will last FOREVER!" I'm assuming to emphasize her point, she started to laugh evilly, her smoke-like hair swirled upward and she conjured up lighting indoors.

"Seize Her!" The Mayor commanded. Blast and I rushed to the Sergeant's side as we flew toward the villain. "Only she knows where the Princess is."

"Stand back you foals!" She demanded as her eyes glowed.

Lightning came down from the ceiling and knocked the three of us down to the ground. Nightmare Moon turned herself into a miasma and disappeared out the door before we could get back up to challenge her a second time. Not that I wanted to. Lightning hurt, a lot.

As we steadied ourselves, Skyquake decided to comment. "Well, that happened."

Before Blast could respond, Celestia's Student cut in. "Somepony needs to go inform my brother Shining Armor." She said before running off.

Getting back on track, "She's right. Strider, fly back to Canterlot and inform Captain Armor of what has transpired here. We will stay behind and see of we can help the civilians and figure anything out about the Princess' whereabouts."

"Yes Sergeant." I said as I gave him a quick nod and ran out and leaped into the night sky. It was supposed to be morning, this just seemed wrong.

☼

I was flying over Canterlot now headed toward the Palace Guard. Below I could see the confused ponies that were still waiting on the sun to rise. Even the city guard looked lost at the absence of the sun. Flying to the Palace Guard building I could see Captain Armor returning to the Palace. I hurried and landed behind him.

"Captain!" I shouted getting his attention. "I have news."

"I assume it has to due with the sun not coming up when planned."

"Yes, sir. Princess Celestia was taken by another Alicorn. She is the Mare in the Moon, Nightmare Moon. That is what your sister said." I told him.

""Anything else?" Captain Armor asked.

"Nightmare Moon said that she was going to ensure Equestria remained in an eternal night."

"Alright you go to the Commander of the City guard and tell him: Mike-Lima, Four-Papa-Alfa. You got that?"

"Yes Sir!"

"Once your done with that, help the city guard where you can, until your Squad returns, or I send for you. Now go." Shining Armor went into the Palace Guard building.

I went to do as ordered. Finding and Informing the Commander of the City guard was easy enough, he was outside the Precinct talking with his guards. After repeating the phrase the Captain gave me, he got to work keeping everypony calm and moving about their business. The current excuse was that Celestia had gotten sick and was unable to raise the sun for the moment (I thought that excuse was a little funny). It seemed that the guard was being under utilized to find Celestia and bring her back to stop Nightmare Moon. I continued to watch from atop a roof to see how the city guard handled the situation. The City Commander didn't need my help, he had things well in hoof. Out of the corner of my eye I saw movement.

It was a rolling trashcan, and I heard small hooves running down a alleyway below me. I glided down to investigate. It was a dead-end alleyway. Stacked trashcans, garbage, and dumpsters were lining the sides. I was studying the environment looking for something that looked out of the ordinary. I found the out-of-ordinary thing I was looking for. A tri-colored tail and hushed whispers coming from behind a stack of weathered boxes. It had to be a filly or colt.

"Hello? Little pony?" I asked in my attempt at a calm voice, all I did was succeed at scaring them further. I removed my helmet setting it on the ground and tried again. "Hello? My name is Flame Strider of Celestia's Personal Guard. It's safe I promise."

That earned some hushed whispers. I waited patently, for quite some time. When I was about to give up and leave, a face slowly poked it's head out of the box in front of the pony's tail. Definitely a filly.

"Hi. Why are you here alone in this ally?" I asked.

"I'm not alone." She said quietly, but loud enough for me to hear.

Another filly poked her head out from the top of the stack of boxes. Two? "Okay what are you both doing here?"

"Hiding." The second told me.

"Well stop hiding. Come out here so I can know who I'm talking to. I promise whatever your hiding from will not harm you while I'm around."

They seemed to think about it for a second. The first filly stepped out, and the second hopped down from her perch. Now that I could see them I knew exactly what they were. Thestral Pegasi (Bat Ponies).

"What are your names?" I asked.

"I'm Moon Shadow." Her coat was Grey. Her mane and tail colors, pastel midnight blue, streaks of violet and pale purple going through it. Her mane was styled, in the back a short wolf's tail with short braids coming from it. In the front her mane fell to one side showing of a coat pattern of a silvery Crescent moon that highlighted her right eye. She had a few freckles on her nose the same color of the moon.

"I'm Nightlight." Her coat was a dusty aqua blue. Her mane and tail colors, looked like a darker shade blue, with sky blue and pale yellow streaks. Her mane was styled in a simple upper-ponytail in a way that showed off her face and eyes. She also had face marks, two golden stars beneath her left eye. Similar freckles on her nose as Moon Shadow, only gold like her stars.

I studied them. Other than their racial features, Fluffy ears and chest, bat-like wings, and glow-gold eyes. They looked like siblings.

"Are you two friends or family?"

They looked hesitant to answer, "We're twins." Nightlight told me.

"Interesting. Can you tell me what your hiding from?"

They looked to the ground, "The Guards." They spoke in unison.

"Like me?" I asked. They just nodded in response. Now I was seriously curious, "Why?"

"We ran." Moon said.

"Ran from where?" They stayed silent, "Can you tell me how long ago you ran away from wherever you came from?"

"A week." Moon said.

Okay it was time to decide what to do with them. If they'd been missing for a week surely somepony was looking for them, but I don't remember seeing anything regarding missing fillies. I had to get them to trust me a bit more so I could figure out how to get them home.

*Grumble*

Moon Shadow looked at her sister and giggled at her rumbling stomach. Nightlight blushed and glared at her sister.

I gave a humorous laugh, "How about I get you two some breakfast? It should be about that time." I put on my helmet and stood, "Follow me little ones."

It didn't take me long to find a place I had wanted to try out while passing it on an old patrol route. The Ursa Minor Cafe. They served anything from Hay Burgers to French Toasted Waffles and more. The Twins sat across from me. When the waitress gave me a questioning look at the three of us I just told her "...their my cousin's kids visiting for the week." She bought the lie and took our order.

Moon Shadow and Nightlight both acted like they hadn't eaten since they ran they both asked for blueberry pancake stacks with more blueberries on top of them. I just had a waffle with apple-butter and orange juice. i watched them quietly as they ate their smiles getting wider with every bite. I felt a sense of happiness at their momentary joy. I was finished when they were about halfway through their stacks. I decided this was a good time to interrupt.

"Girls?" I said getting there attention, "I realize that you don't trust me, with good reason. I'm a stranger to you still. But I wan't to help you, I really do. Is there anything you can tell me that can help me to help you?"

Nightlight looked at Moon, "He seems trustworthy, he hasn't taken us to the city guard yet like the others did."

"If we tell you why were here, will you allow us to stay?" Moon Shadow asked.

I thought on the request. Where would they stay if I said yes? I had to keep them busy while I was on duty. I thought back on a few months ago. The metal pony who almost blew me and my brothers up. He lived here in Canterlot. I knew he lived in the warehouse district. He hardly knew me, but maybe he could do me a favor.

"I can do my best." I said.

"We need a promise." Nightlight said.

I put my hoof over my heart and sat up straight, "I promise on my honor as a Royal Guard: I will do everything within the limitations of the law and my abilities that I will help you both as best I can." I sat normally, "Satisfied?"

"Yeah. You looked funny while saying that." Nightlight was laughing.

"Alright. We came to Canterlot to find out what happened to our parents five years ago. All we know is that they disappeared while investigating something for the Guard." Moon admited.

"Were they in they in the guard or something similar?" I asked.

"It was the Equestrian guard."

"It's the Equestrian Army now." I told them, "I can't directly look into their affairs."

They both looked disappointed.

"But; I have two brothers who may be able to, and I'm friends with the Princess, so surely I can find something out. It may take some time though. Can you be patient?"

Their faces lit up with hope, "So dose this mean were staying with you?"

"No. I live in the palace in a small room with my partner. However I might have someone who can watch you when I'm absent. Finish your meal, I'm gonna go pay the bill, then we'll head to the warehouse district.

After I paid the bill, we walked down to the Warehouses. Most were storage units for businesses further into the city. Some businesses worked out of these buildings. Few actually live here, like our Metal Pony. I was looking for Warehouse 14.

"Why would somepony live down here? It's creepy here." Nightlight commented.

"I'm sure its safe here." I wasn't sure. I continued to look for the number 14 on one of the warehouses, soon enough I spotted it. There was a small observatory on top of it.

We walked to the warehouse door, and I knocked. "Try to be polite. He's different than the rest of us ponyfolk." I told the girls. They looked at me confused.

I heard falling metal and clanging tools getting closer to the other side of the door. When it opened the metal pony was looking at me through copper colored goggles.

"I did my community service." He blurted.

"I'm not here about that. Your not in trouble. May we come in?" I lifted a wing to show the fillies behind me.

"Well since I'm not in trouble. Please come in. Mind what you touch, some items I have here can do bodily harm. Follow me to my living area, It's much safer." He trotted through the piles of metal contraptions.

We followed closely avoiding touching anything. We came to what had to be the living area. There was a bed in one corner, a cooking station along a wall and some furniture in the center of the room.

"Well before I get to why i'm here perhaps it's time to introduce myself. My name is Private First Class Flame Strider, these are my  Cousin's kids Moon Shadow, and Nightlight." The 'Cousin' lie was working so far, no need to change it now.

"A pleasure to meet you all. My name is Gadget I'm an inventor as you can see. My latest project is coming up with a way to provide personal flight to ponies without wings."

"Don't we have airships for that?" I asked kinda confused.

"We do but; with those your just standing on a floating platform, not really flying." Gadget pointed out. "So anyway, what brings you by my workshop?"

"I've been hit with a dilemma. Moon, and Nightlight, their Staying in Canterlot for a short while while their parents are on a little vacation. But since I don't have room at my room in the Barracks I was hopping you could let them stay in a spare room or something. Their my responsibility but I don't exactly have anywhere else to put them for the time being." I explained.

Gadget seemed to think for a minute. Reading is facial expressions were somewhat difficult with his face being made of metal and all. "Well I suppose I do still owe you for almost blowing you up. I could also definitely use some help around here getting it organized." Something fell out on the warehouse floor as if to prove is point.

I turned to look at the twins who had found a spot on the couch, "Are you two willing to help Gadget here in his home, until I can find better accommodations?" I asked them.

"Will he teach us stuff?" Nightlight asked.

"I certainly can little one. The best way to learn something is to teach it." Said cheerfully.

"So I guess It's settled?" I asked.

"Yes, they may stay here." Gadget looked to the ceiling, "Oh good it looks like the sun is finally up. I can't imagine what took so long."

The sun was up!? I looked to the window Gadget was looking at and sure enough there was sunlight, "That's my queue to get moving. I'll come by later to see how thing are going."

I shook Gadget's hoof and thanked him, as I left the twins waved "Bye Strider!". As I exited the warehouse I heard Gadget, "Have either of you played a game called Oubliettes & Ogres?"