After a tense standoff and a few questions Supreme Commander Shinning Armor decided to invite us to his camp. What had she called him? Uncle? That would make her who's kid? Twilight Sparkle? As far as she knew the princess of friendship never had a kid. She had grown up in friendship city seen the stained glass windows in canterlot. Twilight was a legend to every filly and foal but the textbooks never said anything about a kid.

The whole time Shinning kept looking back at me. I couldn't tell but it looked like he was scowling. The Cloaked pony stayed silent until we reached the camp. "How did they infiltrate your ranks?" She asked.

Shinning shook his head. "That's what we are trying to find out. Good thing you kept them alive, we can interrogate them for more information. I'm sorry you had to go through that, It cant be easy keeping yourself safe out here alone."

"She's not alone." The armored stallion who had been her bodyguard steped up to the supreme commander. Shinning smiled and reached out a hoof. "Lieutenant Praetor its good to see you up in your old age." Praetor promptly took his hoof and shook. "Likewise kid, you've grown into your crown i see."

Shinning motioned for one of his men. "Please prepare a feast in my guest's honor"

When we were seated I became very aware of how out of my comfort zone I was when we were sat down and there was four more spoons then I am comfortable with at the placemate. Is this really how Canterlot ponies ate? Apparently because my companions seemed to have no problem even Praetor. The Cloaked pony and Celestia I was getting tired of refering to her as that but nopony had offered her name so I just asked. "I never got your name." I said to her. The table went silent and it seemed I had asked something very questionable. "What?"

Shinning spoke first. "Forgive us for not being completely honest, but two of my men just tried to kill her. We dont believe you had anything to do with it. But its up to her how much she tells you."

"My name is Midnight Harmony." She said. "Twilight Sparkle is my mother which you probably found out already." She said staring at her plate. "I'm not ashamed of that, in fact i'm very proud to be her daughter. Or at least proud of what she stood for."

Shining took a sip of his mugg and sighed. "Well glad thats out of the bag. Any other national secrets we should be discussing?"

"How about the War? How goes the fight in the north?" Praetor asked.

"Officially we aren't at war according to the Council of Friendship. Its a 'peacekeeping mission' The senate wont mobilize the army. Most of these ponies are the Loyalists that stuck with me and Cadence when.." He looked off a thousand miles away. "When Flurry took over."

"She calls herself Queen BlackHeart now sir."

"Oh that's so ridiculous. It would almost be funny. Whatever she calls herself I know my daughter. She couldn't have done this alone." Shining said almost to himself. "Whatever darkness controls her we will destroy it and take back the Empire."

"With all due respect Commander, the news I hear is not promising. I hear the line has moved back almost to cloudsdale. There is talk about the Yaks joining the Empire. "

" Officially Cloudsdale are staying neutral. Which makes things more difficult if they are attacked. Unofficially we believe that members of the Pegasi Council are receiving payoffs to create inclimate weather every time our forces mobilize to go on the the offensive." Shining Armor rubbed his head in his hooves. "We're operating alone out here, no back up from Canterlot."

The table went silent for a few pregnant moments. Then Midnight Spoke up. "Have you heard anything from Mother?"

Shining looked at the Ivory mare. "Sadly no."

"What happened to The Princess?" I piped.

"Twilight was really effected by Flurry's betrayal. After she teleport ed me and Candace away from the Empire, she left Equestria." Shining said his tone turning grim.

"So.. the rumors were true." Praetor said, taking a long swig of his mug and then sighing . "No wonder the world is going crazy. The Princesses aren't in control anymore are they?"

Shining armor looked away uncomfortably. "I shouldn't say.. but perhaps you can help." He said turning to midnight. Praetor gave Shining a hard look and the two alphas had a silent exchange that only they understood. In a moment it seamed to pass and they both stood up.

"Praetor You have my thanks for taking care of my niece. But She shouldn't be out here. What in the wide world of Equestria are you doing this close to the line?" Shining demanded.

"You sure you want this one knowing every little secret your family has?" Praetor said while motioning at me.

"I want her to know." Midnight said. "Please, I trust her."

"You barley know her." Praetor

"Are you sure You know her any better then I do?" I pointed out thinking about seeing Midnight throw herself off the Lighthouse. This angered the Stallion but he said no more. Shining Armor motioned a guard over and whispered something in his ear, the guard nodded and strolled away to a nearbye tent. He returned a moment later with a crystal ball held in his magic.

"What is that?" I asked.

"This is a memory orb, an enchanted object that can record memory. Or erase them." He added an emphasis to the last part as if to imply something greater. "I dont know you Scarlett Rain, and I think you've heard enough here tonight that I would consider using this on you." Shining said approaching me slowly.

I almost jumped out of my chair and back trying to fly away. But there were guards everywhere. Two pegasi flanked me with spears. And a half dozen Unicorns horns glew with magic aimed at me. Suddenly Midnight hoped in front of Shining.

"No! Stop Uncle! I trust her please don't make her forget" She pleaded.

"Why?" He asked. "What makes you so sure, I cant even be sure my own men wont try to hurt you. Why trust a stranger if you cant trust your family?"

Midnights eyes tightened in anger. "You're the ones who dont trust me."

Shining put the orb down on the table. "You know thats not true."

"Save it Uncle. You want to know why everything fell apart? Mother gave up, Cadence gave up, Even Celestia gave up but you're still fighting! Did you ever think there wouldn't be a war if you didn't rally the citizens to fight for you?" She said. "And whats you're plan? What are you gonna do assuming you even could get to the empire? Kill your daughter? Put her in Tartarus? No wonder Cadence left you."

I expected Shinning to look angry, but he didn't. Instead he just looked sad. "Why are you here?" he repeated the original question.

Midnight tuned around to look at me. "The other day, at the light house.. I wasn't going to catch myself. I felt so alone knowing what I had to do. I didn't think I could do it. But now.. You saved me. Genuinely cared about my well being and not just what you could get from me. I knew that for whatever reason when you're around it doesn't seam like everything is so impossible. Tomorrow, we're leaving Sunny Shores by ship. Were leaving all of Equestria behind, to save it." As she finished Midnight pulled down the cloak that had so far obscured her form. As it hit the floor my jaw nearly joined it as two dark wings a pony across spread from the unicorn's, no. From the Alicorn's back.

She smiled for the first time since I had known her. "Scarlet I want you to come with me."

Author's Note

Well a lot of exposition in this one. Trying to set some things up for later.