The Tale of Night Filly Moon

Back in town the following morning, families gathered around Ponyville, questions concerning the lost children traveling quickly. Some looking at the older siblings for any cause, but to no avail. They were left confused, and quite very afraid. Coming through to the middle of the crowd came Princess Twilight. Her eyes wide with curiosity, but quickly changing to that of worry as she caught word of what was going on. "Don't worry everypony..." She said, "We'll find them, and whoever had taken them, as well. " She called out after the crowd had went quiet for her to speak. "We will find them. Whatever happens I'm sure they are all okay. " She had rubbed her tired eyes with a hoof. "We will split up into groups. Pegasi, see if any of the other parts of Equestria have lost anyone... Unicorns, I want you to search the town and even the forest. Earthponies, make sure that they aren't in any houses... " She then said. "I will tell Celestia of what has happened."

As if on cue, Celestia had flown next to her, taking a moment to catch her breath. "It... Seems it's happened here too... " Celestia's voice full of worry. "Twilight, we must talk in peace. This is of great emergence." And with that they were surrounded by a pink orb, and in a flash they disappeared and back in the castle. "Twilight, we must not let them investigate. We believe this is the work of another alicorn, but we cannot find who..." She said and then turned her head to the corner. "Luna, please tell her what you told me. "

And with that, Princess Luna stepped from the shadows with a grave face. "It seems, Princess Twilight, that someone else knows of my magic to travel through dreams... The children... They left their homes willingly, but without knowing there was no harm in the safety of their homes... " She took a moment before continuing. "They were coerced into leaving, but within their own dreams. I believe I know where they went, however I fear we have little knowledge of our enemy... "

Twilight Sparkle, shocked by this message, held her mouth open in awe. It took her some minutes to collect her thoughts, and to speak. "Alicorn... And you don't know them? Are you sure there wasn't anything else involved? Like.... " She took a few moments to recollect such possible abilities before exclaiming, "The Alicorn Amulet!" The sisters looked to each other.

"It's a possibility that they may be using something that increases their own power..." Said Luna. "However we can't tell... If it were the amulet, most likely they wouldn't plan on taking just foals..." She gave a heavy sigh, and brought a hoof to her head. "We are in trouble, but we must keep this to ourselves... Princess Twilight, you must tell them to stop their search. It is too dangerous for anyone else but us and Discord... But you must go. Stop them from searching and come back to us when you can. We've planning to do."

With that, the sisters left the crystal castle, and flew back to their own. Once they were gone Twilight looked worriedly at those that had started searching already, but started her mission nonetheless. It went with much success, despite the majority giving her a suspicious look.

After some time talking to her friends and others with questions, she made her way to the castle. Once there, and walking up the steps she found the guards with their heads held low, worried expressions written upon all their faces. Twilight went up the stairs and down to the throne where she met Princesses Luna and Celestia once more. "What do we do?" She asked.

"We still don't know, Twilight... We're doing everything in our power to get the information we need but... All we know is about where they are..." Said Celestia. "If any more of these dreams occur, however, I'm sure we can find out more of what's going on."

"Well, where are they? Can't we get them back?" The sisters looked to each other once more, then back to Twilight, and Celestia shook her head.

"We don't know what to do as of this moment, Twilight... " Celestia then said. "We can't risk our citizen's nor our own lives looking for our youth who'd been taken from by a newfound enemy... "

Then Luna stepped in. "For now, Princess Twilight, tell families to leave some blankets and memorables in front of the doors.... This may let the children know it is safe to return home... " Celestia nodded to her sister and looked to Twilight once more.

"Go home and tell them, Twilight. If we find anything more, we will let you know."

She bowed to them "Thank you." Twilight had said. She made her way back home, only to find a large crowd having returned to the square. In the middle, a tall figure stood. An alicorn.

She was a dark grey but wore a tattered cloak. It hid her cutie marks but her wings could easily be seen. Her mane and tail were both frizzled and dirt covered. Her eyes were purple, and her horn apparently broken off, leaving the base of it still obvious, but utterly useless. She was dirty with mud spots, her cloak ridden with holes and surly not the same color it once was. She looked up to find Twilight, and tried to push everyone to the side. "E-Excuse me..." she said and repeated, before going to Twilight. "Hel... Hello, sister of wings and horn.... " She said after she met Twilight on the ground. "My name is Silver Lining... I... I come from a far away land by the name of... " she paused and gave an irritated look, shaking her head. "I... I can't remember..." In a whine. "But, I've come to warn you of the coming danger.... " And then looked back to the ponies whom had surrounded them both. "But... I... I fear it's already come."

In the cover of leaves from bushes just at the edge of Everfree, a pair of eyes stared out, white and glowing a bluish tint, watching the plan unfold.