I slowly swirled my right forehoof in small circles and watched the bluish grass ripple like water, giggling at the sight.

“Hello again Dawn,” Luna (Nightmare Moon) tried sneaking up behind me but I had seen the ripples from her hooves and was currently very mellow.

“Oh hey Loonie Moonie, what are you doing in this field. Shouldn’t you be on the moon?” I asked and laughed at my own joke while rolling on my back.

“Pray tell, what is wrong with you foal?” She snarled in my face but it just made me laugh harder before I booped her nose. Nightmare Moon scrunched up her muzzle and scanned me with a spell from her horn. “We see, you are suffering from magical exhaustion. How did you enter such a state.”

“Pst, come closer and I’ll tell you.” I whispered then booped her again once she got close.

“Enough!” She touched her horn to mine and my mind instantly cleared. “Better young Balanced Dawn?”

“Yeah, thanks Lu-Nightmare Moon.” I shook my head, That was worse than being drunk.

“Now that you’re faculties are restored I believe it is time I help you begin your escape.” Nightmare sat before me with lidded eyes.

“Great I could really do with some combat magic or,” I started before she cut me off.

“Nay, you would stand no chance in combat against four, possibly more, grown adults in the time I have to teach you.” She waved off the thought with a wing. “We will be teaching you to shadow walk, so you may escape.”

“Isn’t that dark magic? Is that why you want to help me, so I turn to the dark side like you?” I ask while scooting back, unable to resist the reference.

“Not at all. While shadow walking may be dark magic it is not evil, it is all about intent.” She lifted her nose high.

After watching her for a moment, “I still don’t understand why you are helping me, don’t you want 'The Night to Last Forever' and all that leading to everypony's death?” I rubbed the back of my neck.

She huffed and closed her eyes, “we would never kill our subjects! We just want them to enjoy our nights, like the thestrals do! Also if we can sway you to our side this may lead to the downfall of our sister. ” She turned her head away from me.

Thinking about it I still haven’t met a bat pony, wait what was that last part?

“But… wouldn’t eternal night prevent crops or other plants from growing?” I huffed back.

“Nay, the magic from our moonlight can sustain them. Now do you wish for our help or not, we grow impatient young one.” She looked my way out of the corner of one open eye.

“Sure, so shadow walking. What do I do?” Ignoring her strangeness she wasn’t so bad.

“First things first, the spell.” A parchment popped into existence, “typically I would have you read this and memorize it over a week, but you don't have the time.” She tapped her horn against mine again and the memory of the spell was suddenly implanted, causing me to writhe on the floor with a massive headache.

How is getting a headache possible in a dream. I slowly sat back up and rubbed my forehead, “ow.”

“Good you survived that,” my eyes widened at her statement, “now summarize what you just learned.”

I scowled at her then took a deep breath, “Well I first have to find a shadow then step into it while covering myself in magic. Uh, I then have to circulate that magic while I travel through the darkness or I’ll either be spit out or trapped in the shadows.” Which does not sound pleasant.

“Good enough, now you just have to try it when you wake.” She shrugged and began to walk off.

“Wait that’s it?! No practice with your help or anything?” I threw my forelegs up.

“Dawn,” she deadpanned, “we art in a dream, how can we help you practice.”

“Oh,” I sheepishly replied while she continued walking away, ending the dream.

Once awake the headache persisted yet I was feeling somewhat better about my predicament. Checking the room I spotted the same maid waiting quietly in the corner as always. Now I’ll just need some time alone.

Exiting the bedroom I made my way down the hall to the bathroom. Once inside, maid waiting at the door, I finished my business, flushed with the hoof pedal, then found a shadow near the sink. Better try this quick.

While washing my hooves I cycled some magic through them then pressed one into the shadow. To my delight it passed straight through into the darkness before I pulled it back out. One step down now to find Lyra.

"Dewy are you alright, you are scaring the other passengers." Breeze asked her wife. They had boarded the first morning train out of Ponyville going the general direction Morning Dew felt the pulse. After waiting all night at the station and finally boarding she had not stopped tapping her hoof on the seat.

"No I am not alright! Our baby is with those monsters being brainwashed and I am stuck on the slowest train in all of Equis! Not to mention he is going to be hard to find without another pulse." She huffed and crossed her forelegs while the passengers that were left in their car nervously left.

Pear looked between the two and asked Breeze, "I'm not sure I understand what's going on still."

"It's my 'parents'," Morning Dew said through clenched teeth and you could hear the air quotes. "They are a bunch of raciest bigots who never liked that I fell in love with and married a pegasus. They believe in unicorn supremacy and tried to convince me of the same." She sighed and splayed her ears back, "I almost fell for their lies and probably would have if not for Breeze."

Forest hugged her and stroked her mane and continued the story, "It's why we moved out of Canterlot, they kept making raciest comments to me or trying to get her to divorce me, Etc..."

Pear covered her moth and gasped, "That's horrible. Why would they foalnap their own grandson though?"

Morning Dew sighed looking guilty, "Because our family is a noble house that was cursed and dying out. The mares in our bloodline typically only gave birth, with much difficulty, to one or two fillies. If two happened one of them would always be sterile." She shook her head, "The curse would even affect the stallions, studding always failed so they had to find a husband and whoever they married also became sterile eventually. My Sire, Onyx star, only managed to have my older sister since neither him or her mother were part of our bloodline." She took a breath.

"Somehow the family curse also affected them both as well, so now neither can have any more children. When Dawn was born he became their hope to bring back the bloodline. He is the first colt born in the family for generations and isn't affected by the curse." She slammed her hoof down, "I refused to have him become like them though and never let them meet him, hence another major reason we moved."

Pear was shocked, "That. That, is quite a family story and I thought mine was rough. Breezy do you have a crazy family story too?" She looked at her other marefriend.

"Nah, my family is chill. Honestly you are taking this much better than when she told me after finding out she was pregnant with Dawn." Forest Breeze awkwardly chuckled earning a glare from her wife.

Luckily none of them had to endure the awkwardness much longer as a lunch trolley came through and they all decided a meal was better than silence.

Cadence was anxiously awaiting her aunt and coltfriend by one of the carriages in storage.

"Auntie," She exclaimed when they both entered the warehouse. "Do you really think it is such a good Idea to leave today, what about day court and everything else?"

"Cadence, I trust you to handle things for a few days. Blueblood will also be helping you out and I reminded him to drop his buffoon act while I am away even if the nobles do get a bit suspicious of his change." Celestia gave a warm smile and wing hugged her. "Investigating an unknown magical surge is much more important unfortunately."

"I know Auntie, Just be safe. You too Shiny." She hugged her stallion and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

"I will Candy, I'm just glad I finally have a chance to prove myself." He puffed out his chest.

"Don't worry Cadence, I will make sure to bring your stallion back in one piece. It wouldn't do me good to lose such a promising guard." Celestia tittered as the two blushed.

Lyra was bored. She thought being a captive would be much worse and yet it was actually much calmer than her parents house. She was still worried about Dawn but not as much if he was getting the same treatment. She was currently more worried about her best friend Bonnie who got beat up as well. "I hope they found her."

So far, meals were brought three times a day and aside from being locked in an empty room with a Null ring on her horn, nothing else had happened. "Why even bother with me at all," She huffed and began to do the one thing she could, nap.

"To answer your question child, it's quite simple." A voice whispered in her ear, "They are using you to keep your friend from running away, as well as other, less savory plans." The voice finished smoothly.

Lyra scrunched up her muzzle, "Who's there?"

"A friend with a message. Dawn is planning an escape so be ready when he retrieves you." The voice said before Lyra awoke with a snort.

"Ms. Bon Bon, please you need to stay in your bed." The nurse pleaded while her charge tried again to escape her restraints.

"I can't just lay around while my best friend and that colt are who knows where." She spat back.

"I understand but you need to rest, with those injuries you were lucky to be found alive." The nurse easily pushed the young mare back down onto the bed.

Bon Bon huffed only just noticing a mass of pink sitting in the corner chair.

"Don't worry bonnie, I know they will be ok." A deflated Pinkie gave her a sad smile and passed the confused Bon Bon a cupcake. "They both still have parties I need to throw them." You both better be okay.

Author's Note

So I am still debating on where Dawn and Lyra should be held captive. Either In a no name small town on family lands or the outskirts of a major city.

Would love opinions.