Nebula's War

The next morning, Azure Night and his fellow soldiers were summoned to The War Room for an important meeting. However, when they arrived, they were shocked to find…

"Blueblood?" Azure cried. "What are you doing here?"

"Welcome to The War Council, gentlemen." Blueblood announced, and they were surprised to see that he was crying. "We are here today to discuss how we might locate the missing Princesses of Equestria."

"What are you doing here, Blueblood?" Azure repeated, but Prince Blueblood did not answer.

"It is imperative that we find the identity and location of the kidnapper, not just for the safety of the princesses but for the safety of our entire-!"

"BLUEBLOOD!!" Azure barked, and this time Prince Blueblood did not ignore him. Though his muzzle was stained with tears, he looked upon Azure with unmistakable frustration.

"That's PRINCE Blueblood to you, soldier." Blueblood said, and then added, "Soon to be King Blueblood."

"What are you talking about?" Azure asked. "You can't just promote yourself the moment Princess Celestia disappears!" Prince Blueblood narrowed his eyes.

"You had best mind your temper, soldier, or I'll have you court martialed for insubordination."

“Well then, I’ll get to the point.” Azure growled. "I am the Head of Night Security, and I want to know why you promoted-!"

"I didn't promote myself, I was promoted by the law." Blueblood announced. "Princess Celestia was my aunt, which makes me the heir to the throne. Now that she has disappeared, it falls to me to lead and protect the nation." He looked around the room, inviting somepony else to interrupt, but there was no reply.

"Very well." said Blueblood. "Now then-oh good, you're back." The soldiers turned and saw a team of armor-clad pegasi marching into the room. "What news from The Crystal Empire?" An orange pegasus with blue hair stepped forward. His sorrowful face did not convey good news.

"I'm sorry, sir." He announced. "But Princess Cadence, Prince Shining Armor and their daughter Flurry Heart are… gone." Prince Blueblood sighed and shook his head.

"Just as I feared. And what of the other citizens of The Crystal Empire?"

"They were not harmed physically, sir, but they are mourning the loss of their ruler regardless."

"Of course. I will visit The Crystal Empire this afternoon and offer my assistance to the citizens. Thank you, Flash Sentry, you are dismissed."

"Yes sir." Flash bowed and left the room, as did the pegasi accompanying him.

"As I was saying, Azure, I understand that you and your men were patrolling the castle last night, when the princesses were kidnapped."

"Are you suggesting that I'm the culprit?" Azure asked.

"No, of course not!" Blueblood insisted. "I'm just curious as to weather you saw any suspicious characters in the castle last night."

"No, we didn't see any suspicious characters,” said Azure. "There were no signs of forced entry, either. All we found were several strange transformations, and these hairs." Azure showed the hairs to Prince Blueblood, who was visibly confused.

"What do these hairs have to do with the investigation?" Prince Blueblood inquired.

"Pick them up." Azure insisted. Prince Blueblood lifted the hairs in his magical aura, and almost instantly dropped them back on the table.

"What in Equestria was that?" He cried. “I felt a sharp pain surge through my horn!”

"I found those hairs on each site that the princesses were kidnapped in." Azure explained. "I'm almost certain that these hairs came from our mysterious kidnapper, and that said kidnapper is in possession of powerful dark magic."

"A powerful dark creature with brown fur capable of overwhelming and kidnapping three alicorns?" Blueblood pondered. "That can only mean one thing: Discord." There was a collective gasp of surprise from every soldier in the room.

"Are you certain, sir?" Inquired a soldier with white fur and a bright orange mane. "I thought Discord had turned over a new leaf! Didn't Princess Twilight confirm that she and her friends had convinced him to use his reality-warping magic for good instead of evil?"

"Yes, Grand Valor," Blueblood confirmed. "But the evidence proves otherwise. Aside from the hairs, Discord's record is far from spotless. Twice in the past, Discord has turned our nation into his own personal playground, and that's not to mention last year's incident, when he willingly assisted Public Enemy #1 Tirek in stealing all of the magic in Equestria!" Several of the guards nodded in agreement; all of the evidence suggested that Discord had kidnapped the princesses. Azure, however was skeptical.

"But it doesn't make sense, Blueblood!" He argued. "Discord wouldn’t-!"

"PRINCE Blueblood, if you please."

"… Discord doesn't work like that. Sure, he plays tricks and humiliates ponies, but he would never kidnap them. Where's the fun in that?"

"Well, the princesses did turn him into a statue for several thousand years." Grand Valor said. "Maybe he just wanted revenge. I mean, wouldn't you be upset if you were unable to move or think for centuries?"

"So why make peace with Princess Twilight and her friends in the first place?" Azure inquired. "He could've kidnapped the princesses years ago and saved a lot of time."

"Yeah, but Discord is immortal, he can waste all the time he wants." Another soldier noted. "Besides, by tricking us into thinking he was tame, he got us to let our guard down, making it that much easier for him to kidnap the princesses."

"But-!" Azure began, but Prince Blueblood raised his hoof.

"That's enough, Azure." Blueblood announced. "You pose an interesting theory, but you have no evidence to prove Discord's innocence. You have, however provided these hairs, proof that Discord was at the scene of the crime, and as we have already clarified, Discord is the only being with sufficient motives and magical power to overwhelm The Princesses of Equestria."

"But what about-!" Azure began, but Prince Blueblood overrode him.

"However, if Discord wishes to prove his innocence, he is welcome to make a formal appearance and prove that he was not involved." Blueblood turned to address the rest of the soldiers. "Until then, the draconequus known as 'Discord' is to be considered Public Enemy #1, and we shall use any and all resources at our disposal to bring him to justice." The soldiers cheered, but Azure scoffed.

"Yeah, good luck with that." He mumbled as he approached the door.

"Where are you going, Azure?" Prince Blueblood inquired.

"I'm going to find the real culprit and rescue the princesses on my own." Azure replied.

"But we're all working together to find Discord-!"

"I said 'the REAL culprit'." Azure insisted. "Somepony else has it in for the princesses, and I'm going to find out who. In fact," He added, “These disappearances seem pretty convenient for you, don’t they?”

“I beg your pardon?” choked Blueblood.

“Well, I’m just saying that you’ve wanted to rule Equestria since you were a little colt, and all of a sudden the princesses have disappeared, leaving you in charge.” Blueblood’s cheeks flushed and his eyes narrowed.

“Are you suggesting that I am responsible for the Princesses disappearance?” He said through gritted teeth.

“Maybe, maybe not.” Azure said with a shrug. “But unlike you, I’m going to find the truth before I confirm my suspicions.”

"No, you're not." Prince Blueblood insisted. "You're one of my best soldiers, Azure, and I can't have you running off on a wild goose chase, looking for a culprit who may or may not exist. You and the others are going to track down Discord and demand that he either release the princesses or prove his innocence. I am your commander, and you will do as I say." Azure glared at Blueblood, and Blueblood glared back, neither of them speaking or even blinking.

"I only have one commander," Azure growled. "And her name is Princess Luna." Azure stormed out of The Council Room and into The Royal Barracks, where he began packing his personal effects into a set of saddlebags. As he threw his blanket into the bag, something bright and grey fell from Azure’s breastplate: Princess Luna’s moonstone necklace. Visions of her dark blue fur, her twinkling, ethereal mane and soft blue eyes swam through Azure's mind like a torrent.

"I don't care what it takes." He whispered. "I'm going to find you." He lifted the necklace in his magical aura and fastened the chain around his neck. He was just about to leave when three soldiers entered the room and stood between Azure and the exit.

"Eclipse? Night Shade? Nox?" Azure gasped. "What are you doing here?"

"We're going with you." Nox insisted.

"I don't know if you're right or wrong," Night Shade admitted. "But I trust your judgment. If you say somepony else kidnapped the princesses, we're going to help you find them."

"Sure, we might get arrested, but we ponies of the night need to stick together!" Eclipse concluded. Azure looked from one to the other, but could not think of anything that would convince the trio to reconsider.

"Okay, fine, you can join me." Azure sighed. "But we move at my pace, understand? I intend to find Princess Luna and the other princesses, so you’d best keep up."

"You got it, boss." Nox chuckled.

"Well then, empty your lockers and follow me." Azure ordered, with the trace of a smile playing across his muzzle.

"Sir, yes sir!" The bat ponies said in unison, and in a matter of minutes they were ready to go. They charged out of The Royal Barracks and toward the castle's main gate, where they found their path blocked by four tall, armor-clad stallions.

"Azure Night, Prince Blueblood formally requests that you return to The Council Room at once." Grand Valor announced.

"Get out of the way, Valor." Azure demanded. "We don't want to hurt you."

"There is no need for violence." Grand Valor replied. "Please, accompany us back to The Council Room. Prince Blueblood is expecting you."

“Let him.” Azure scoffed. “As a disappointment himself, he should get used to feeling how others view him for a change.” Azure tried to walk past Grand Valor, who moved aside to block Azure's path.

"This is your final warning, soldier." Grand Valor said in a cold, severe tone. "Return to The Council Room, or you and your men will be court martialled for insubordination."

"GET OUT OF OUR WAY!" Azure shouted, and in one swift motion unsheathed his swords and brought them down upon Grand Valor's neck. Unfortunately, their path was deflected by a silver long sword, whose cross guard was set with a gleaming opal.

"Bad move, Azure." Grand Valor growled as his three soldiers pointed three long and very sharp spears at Azure. "Attempted murder is punishable by five years in prison." Azure snorted and pawed the ground while Eclipse, Night Shade and Nox each produced a dagger of pure onyx.

"Come and get us." Nox growled, and they charged. The air was rent with the sound of metal against metal as Azure and Grand's swords collided in midair, then pulled back for another strike. At the same time, Grand Valor's soldiers charged at Eclipse, Night Shade and Nox, wondering why the bat ponies had their eyes closed.

"Ha! This'll be easier than I thought." Strong Arm chuckled, and jabbed his spear at Nox. To his amazement, the bat pony leapt over his head and jabbed his onyx dagger between the plates of Strong Arm's armor.

"OW!" Strong Arm yelped, and turned around to face Nox. "Why you little-!" He jabbed his spear again and again, but Nox kept dodging around him. “How can you dodge me when your eyes are closed?”

"They’re bat ponies!" Grand Valor shouted as he jabbed at Azure's leg. "Their eyes are weak to bright light, but they have very keen ears! They’re listening to your movements and dodging your attacks!"

"So what do I do?" Strong Arm panted as yet another spear thrust missed its mark. Grand Valor hit Azure with the pommel of his sword, which dazed Azure long enough for Grand to reflect a beam of sunlight into Nox's face. Nox let out a screech of pain, tripped over his hooves and fell over.

"Now!" Grand Valor shouted. "Hit him while he's stunned!" Strong Arm raised his spear for a killing blow, but all of a sudden a sharp, stabbing pain shot up his leg, and a hoof collided with his cheek, knocking him to the ground. Nox didn't know what had happened, but he could hear somepony running toward him.

"Are you okay?" Eclipse asked as he helped Nox stand up.

"I’ve been better." Nox replied. "What happened?"

"Well, I heard you fall over, so I threw my dagger at the grunt attacking you. Judging by his scream, I'm pretty sure I hit him." Eclipse removed his dagger from Strong Arm's leg, wiped off the blood and returned it to its sheath. "Now come on, we need to get out of here."

"But we can't leave without Azure!" Nox cried.

"I didn't say we would." said Eclipse. "Now come on, let's show these jerks what bat ponies can REALLY do." Eclipse and Nox spread their large, leathery wings and soared toward Grand Valor, who they were amazed to find lying unconscious on the ground.

“It’s okay, guys, I had it all under control.” Azure chuckled. “I hit him between the eyes with my pommel and he crumpled.”

"Oh. Okay.” Said Nox. "Now let’s get out of here before these bozos wake up!"

"But where will we go?" Eclipse asked. "We can't exactly stay in Canterlot, now that we've defied our commander's orders and assaulted our fellow guards." Azure stroked his beard in thought.

"We'll go to The Everfree Forest." Azure decided. "The trees are dense enough to provide sufficient cover, and even if they follow us, they'll likely get lost or scared away by the monsters. Somepony get Night Shade, and we'll-!" But at that moment, Night Shade galloped over to them.

"Sorry I'm late, guys. That guy is tougher than he looks." He said, motioning to the unconscious stallion that he had been fighting. "So, what's the plan?"

"We're going to The Everfree Forest." Azure explained.

"Perfect! Let's fly there, it'll make us more difficult to track."

"Sounds good to me!" Eclipse remarked.

"And bad for me." said Azure. "I'm a unicorn, remember? I can't fly."

"No problem! We'll carry you." Night Shade amended as he pulled a large blanket from his saddlebag. "Eclipse, you take the other end." Azure figured out their plan an instant too late.

"Now wait a minute, I'm not-!" But Azure got no further, because he was swept off his feet and lifted into the air. The citizens of Canterlot had rarely seen something as strange as a unicorn in a makeshift hammock being carried over the city by three bat ponies, but as they flew into the distance, everypony returned to their daily tasks.

"Let me make one thing perfectly clear." Azure grumbled as they descended upon The Everfree Forest. "We will never speak of this again."