Preparations for the Storm

Baltimare barracks was a mess, guards were trotting and running from side to side without knowing what to do in such an emergency, and the captain of the station, Gravel Wings, was hospitalized in critical condition with a real risk of losing her wings.

Inside the office of the injured captain, around her working table, three ponies were discussing the current situation. Sitting on Gravel Wings chair was Night Light, and facing him was the chief of the guard forces of Baltmare, Lady Saphire; both of them were locked in a fiery argument. By the door stood Violet Alloy holding her spear, trying not to look bothered by the fact that he wanted to be in a certain library.

• Saphire, are you DUMB? - Night Light yelled and slammed the table with his hands, pointing at the map recovered in the warehouse - Do you REALLY think he was working alone?
  "Look, there are markings here in Baltmare, in Fillydelphia and even in Manehatan!
  All places that suffered attacks yesterday!"

• And what you want to say with this, Mister Night Light? - Replied the earth pony mare with a posh accent - Do you really believe in this conspiracy? This is but a coincidence, nothing more.

• A COINCIDENCE? - Night light was almost screaming, sparks flying from his horn as his anger grew - How many ponies DIED because of this 'COINCIDENCE'?
  "SAPPHIRE, BY THE LIGHT OF CELESTIA SUN, LISTEN TO ME, THE ENTIRE MARINE FLEET OF EQUESTRIA WAS DESTROYED IN ONE NIGHT! THIS IS NOT A COINCIDENCE!"

Sapphire was taken aback by Night Light's reaction.

She knew very well that Night Light was known for his patience, something that he wasn't showing, but even so, it seemed too convenient for some ponies to do an elaborate plan like this. And even if it was true, was that really about it? What if she, following Night Light's hint, caused more damage than help? She could destroy her chances of winning the election for mayor!

• Er... Miss Sapphire - spoke the unicorn at the door, Sapphire had barely noticed her before - Did you know exactly what happened yesterday?

• Some guards told me, why?

• Because yesterday I was there fighting by Night Light side, with captain Gravel... - The Mare guard sadly spoke - I tried to send the signal to the back-up team and... no one came. Later we discovered that something knocked all of them...

• And? - Sapphire asked, raising her eyebrow.

• What she is trying to say is that Callaghan was not alone - Night Light interjected - And to do something this big, they must have some strong allies in their side.

• And what would you suggest to me to do? Evacuate the entire city? - Sapphire answered in a condescending tone.

• Yes - Night Light spoke firmly - we also have the need to send letters to the other cities to warn them, some letters to request back up and even to the princess herself to inform the situation. The cities of Fillydelphia and Manehatan didn't find the culprit of the attacks, so they must be professionals. It can get worse... much worse.

The audacity of this unicorn was getting on the nerves of Sapphire, a pony from out of town that had come to HER town and even defied her authority. She was going to let him know a piece of her mind when he spoke again with a low voice.

• It seems we will get nowhere with this conversation; I didn't want to do this, but you forced my hand - Night Light rose up from the chair while searching for something inside his armor, trowing his badge in the table - By the authority of princess Celestia and the CTSA, I, Night Light, am assuming your position temporary on the chain of command and declaring state of emergency. Do you have any objection, Miss sapphire?"

• What? - Sapphire was incredulous - You CAN'T DO THAT!

• Yes, I CAN, and I am DOING IT. - Light's voice was deliberated as his eyes focused on the head of the guard forces - we don't have time to waste with some stupid conversations; we must act.
  "You didn't see it, but I saw how all the other captains had some strange problems in the last days, and I also read all of their reports. The indication of some kind of sabotage is obvious. All the signs align... That's why I will prepare this city for the worse."

Night light started searching into Gravel's drawer, finally finding some blank scrolls and ink; and without losing a beat, he started writing a letter.

• You can't just ignore me! - Sapphire's face was red with anger, and she looked like a prey stuck in a corner - DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM? I AM THE HEAD OF SECURITY OF THIS CITY! I WILL ARREST YOU AND YOU WILL NEVER GET A JOB AGAIN AND...-

Night Light rose a hand to her, silencing her rant and, after writing a sentence in the scroll, rose his head to meet Sapphire's eyes. The difference was that Night Light face lacked any emotion.

• Miss Alloy, please put this mare in the jail for a while, she's getting too tense, and I believe she needs to cool off a little; besides, I really need peace to do this work - Night Light then returned his attention to the letter he was writing

Sapphire almost screamed, but when the tip of Alloy's spear touched her back, she stopped. Because she was in such a shock, she couldn't see the smile in the guard mare's face.

As Alloy was returning to her post after locking the mad mare into the jail, her mind wandered. She was worried by many things at the moment, primary by the state of her friend Gravel Wings and, of course, with Far Reach. Ever since yesterday, she couldn't meet him because of the troubles with all the operation to catch Callaghan, and now it seemed that it would take even longer for her to go to the library since Night Light declared a state of emergency.

For a moment, she questioned his decision. She didn't even know if a member of the CTSA could do it, but it didn't matter. She saw all the evidence that something was deeply wrong, and was certain that Night Light was the one to make things right... many ponies could get injured because of inaction, and that mare, who was a civilian appointed by the mayor, would not stand in the way of doing what is right.

As Alloy was arriving at the office door, an unusual figure brought her back to reality. A slender bat-pony stallion wearing the dark-blue armor of the private army of the count of Hollow Shades awaited by the door. As she stopped to look at him, he saw her and smiled.

• Good day, miss, the stallion spoke in a hard accent, he was clearly bothered by the sun's light - Is the head of the barracks here?

• Oh, yes, he's inside - Alloy was confused - did you knock?

• Yes, miss, but no one answered.

• A moment, please, I will see what I can do.

Night Light was bent over the table, a big frown in his forehead to indicate the level of his concentration while writing the letters that, in his mind, were essential.

• Excuse, Night Light.

Night Light raised his head and seeing Violet Alloy, alone, let a wiak smiled and let himself fall into the chair.

• Alloy... I think I messed up...

• What do you mean?

• Taking over the duty of the head of the guard and locking her into a cell is almost an act of treason... - Night Light shook his head, sighing - It is a gamble I am willing to do, but even so... I am kind of afraid.

• Night Light, I am with you in this, so don't worry. Everything will be alright – Violet Alloy gave Night Light a comforting smile, but it didn't seem to work – by the way, there's a bat pony at the door. He wants to talk to you.

• Send him in.

The Bat pony entered the office with confidence that only those who have fought the whole life could archive. His slitter eyes locked on Night Light, who didn't even budge.

• Alloy spoke that you wanted to meet me - Night Light started as soon as the bat pony entered the office, it seemed that he was anxious to return to his other duties - So, how can I help you?

• I came here to report an incident that happened not too long after the attack on the dock - the bat pony declared - I wished to come earlier, but I had a problem in doing that.

• And what problem was this? - Alloy asked from behind the pony, returning to her station by the door, the bat pony only glanced at her before answering.

• I overslept. My kind is not good with the daylight - Night light sighed, and the bat pony returned his attention to him - As I was saying, there was an attack on a library by an unknown assailant. The pony inside, a Pegasus, got injured during the process.

• WHAT! - Alloy yelled, her heart pounding faster, and her eyes widened in fear. A library with a Pegasus inside. It was no error, it was Far Reach - HOW IS HE? WHERE IS HE?

Night Light wanted to make her stop, but he knew that if the same thing happened with Twilight Velvet, he would act in the same way. With this, he signed to the bat-pony to answer.

• He got some injuries in the wings and muzzle, and because of some information we got, our count decided to send us to take him to Hollow Shades, for his own protection.

• Information? - Night Light asked, he felt as if the bat pony knew more than he was letting on.

• Let's just say to your people to prepare for war. Something big is coming.

• War... - Night Light muttered to himself

• Anyway, with an injured Pegasus, my battalion must reach Hollow Shades in two days, despite what our captain wants - The Bat pony then turned to the door and started walking - Our count will send a letter to you with details of everything that he has in some days.

Violet Alloy’s mind was confused, sad and afraid. If a war is coming, Far Reach could be in danger if he stayed in Baltmare and the safest place for him would be in Hollow Shades, the place full of guards and under the protection of the count. Even so, her heart was heavy, and a cloud of sadness was almost taking over her mind. Even she, who had training, would be in danger, and no pony could tell when they would meet again, or even if they would do so.

• You said war and... - Violet Alloy was tripping over her words, but, shaking her head, she made her mind up- can you take a letter of mine to Far Reach?

• The Pegasus?

Alloy nodded.

• Yes, I can.

After Alloy wrote her letter and the bat pony left, only Violet Alloy and Night Light remained at the office. He sighed, took all the letter he wrote and threw it at the ground.

• It seems that the situation is more dire than we thought – Light looked at alloy, apprehension on his face – What I wouldn't do for some kind of direct line to the princess...

Author's Note

Hello, everypony!
I have an announcement and two questions for you all.

First, the announcement.
I will be changing the name of the story in the next few days because... well, while Far Reach is an important character in the tale, but we have many other "protagonist" that will have the spotlight like: Night Light, Violet Alloy, some members of the Dark Claw, the princess and a certain Doctor.

Second, the question (s)
1- in my research, it looks like MLP G4 was released in October 2010, is it true?
2 - What do you think about the story in general, what do you think I could get better? This is something I always ask my friends when we play D&D, and I think feedback here would be awesome!

And yes, there will be a chapter tomorrow.