Luna kicked the door open. She could have used her magic, but it felt proper to smash her metal-clad hoof through the door, splintering wood alongside her scream, "Stop what you are doing!"

Sure, such demands were not always followed, but there was a proper order. The open door allowed her to see ponies in cowls and capes, concealing their faces and some of their forms. They were gathered around a circle of runes, performing some terrible magic. "Step away from the circle," roared Luna. "You're all under arrest, but if you cooperate, that will make your punishments lighter."

She adjusted her tiara with a smirk. "Or we can do this the hard way."

The cowled ponies startled at the sudden interruption but quickly regained their composure. One stepped forward, likely the leader, and said in a low mocking voice, "Princess Luna. You're too late to stop us."

The circle of runes began glowing more intensely as the ritual progressed. Strange whispers and unnatural wind swirled around the warehouse. The leader continued, "You are powerless here at the height of the dark moon. Soon our summoning will be complete!"

Luna's eyes narrowed. These villains clearly had darkness on their side, but she was not without power. Her horn glowed as she began weaving a containment spell to block their magic. "Your ritual ends now!" Luna declared.

The ponies cried out as their spellwork collided with Luna's magic. For a moment it seemed they may overpower her, but Luna dug deep, thinking of the need to protect Equestria. With a blast of energy she disrupted their ritual, scattering the runes.

The leader howled, not with anguish, but mocking triumph. "You were too late! It worked!" The others were backing away with wide eyes. "Behold, our warrior. What will win us all of Equestria!"

Luna frowned as the magical haze faded slowly, allowing her to see what the magic had brought. They were standing tall, even in height with her, maybe a bit taller, which was an impressive task. It had two legs, two arms. Its pelt was... lacking. She could see bare skin across much of the thing. "This is your weapon? It's... scrawny."

"The... hell?" The creature, strange as it was, seemed to be getting a grip of its sorroundings. "Luna? What? Where?"

Luna inclined an ear at the creature. "That is me. You know me? Stand back then. I have justice to deliver."

"Not without me!" The creature balled up their hands into fists. "These guys bothering you?"

The cultists fled, except their leader. They ran for the door, trying to push past Luna, but she grabbed them in her magic easily, lifting each into the air. Several jumped out the window, shattering glass as they made their escape into the darkness of the city.

The leader didn't move, scowling. "I summoned you. I can control you." He raised a scepter with a brilliant purple jewel as it glowed with his horn's magic. "Obey!"

The creature winced as the scepter's magic washed over them, freezing in place a moment.

Luna worked her magic to form bonds on the ponies she had captured, freeing up her magic for other tasks. "You stopped them, but they still aren't fighting me. Are you certain you control them?"

The leader waved the floating scepter at the creature. "Obey!" He took slow steps, coming far too close to the creature. The thing then laughed. "Nice try, but your magic doesn't work on me." In a blur of speed, the creature rushed forward the one step and snatched the scepter from the lead cultist's arcane grasp, snapping it over their knee. It exploded in a shower of magical sparkles.

The lead cultist stumbled back, stunned that their control had failed. Luna seized the opening to wrap the villain in bands of magical energy, immobilizing them.

"We'll see what my sister has to say about your misdeeds," Luna said severely. She turned her attention to the strange creature. "I thank you for the assistance. But first, who and what are you?"

The creature gave an awkward smile. "It's me, Bright. I know this is really weird, but I'm actually a human from another world. I think that ritual pulled me here." They flexed their hands experimentally. "Not sure how I wound up here, but it feels good to help you kick flank!"

Luna's eyes widened. "A human...most intriguing. Perhaps the workings of fate, then, that brought you here in time. Equestria may have need of you and your unique skills. But first, we have much to discuss." She perked her ears. "Human! Yes... Twilight mentioned them."

"From the mirror world?" asked Bright as he nudged the tipped over leader of the cultist with the tip of his shoe. "That wasn't very smart."

"You... were supposed... to listen." The cultist struggled, but Luna's bands held him tightly, all hooves forced close together. "We were supposed--"

"Shut up." Bright slapped the pony with the back of a hand, a light rebuff really, not even painful, but it was enough to startle the cultist into quiet. "You messed up." Bright stood up with a bright smile. "But you did bring me to Pony Land, so thanks for that."

Luna used her magic to levitate the bound cultist leader as she gestured for Bright to follow her out of the warehouse. "Come, we should leave this place and find somewhere we can talk safely."

As they stepped outside into the cool night air, Bright looked around in wonder. The moon shone brightly over an unfamiliar skyline and old-fashioned buildings. Definitely not the city he knew. But still a city. A city filled with ponies going about their night lives.

"So I'm really in Equestria? With actual ponies?" he asked. He paused to poke curiously at Luna's flowing ethereal mane.

Luna nodded patiently. "Indeed you are. I know not how, but the ritual summoned you here from your world." Her expression grew serious. "Those cultists meant harm for Equestria. Now that their plan has failed, they may try again. I must consult with my sister on how to prevent this."

Bright nodded eagerly. "No problem, just take me to Princess Celestia and let's team up to kick more butt!" He hiked a thumb back where they had come from. "What about the other cultists, and the ones that ran away?"

Luna shook her head. "The ones I have bound are here." Her horn glowed a bit brighter as a window popped open above them, a heap of grumbling ponies popping out of the building in an ungainly pile. "We'll get them all somewhere safer."She couldn't help but smile at the human's enthusiasm. She supposed she would have to start from the beginning to explain matters properly to him. "Very well. Let us be off to Canterlot." Luna spread her wings, magic swirling around her and the captive cultists. "Hold on tight, Bright! I will fly us there swiftly."

Bright put up his hands quickly. "Woah woah woah. Hold your horses." He did not look sorry for the pun. "Canterlot is how far away?" He waved over the city. "Not near here, I know that. You want to carry all of us that far?"

Luna frowned at this new human. "You aren't... entirely wrong." She brought one of the lesser cultists before her. "You are a small fish."

"I'm a little pony," complained the dangling mare.

"You're under arrest, if we're being technical." Luna strode down the street with Bright aside her. "We will take them to the police first."

Luna led the way down the street, levitating the bound cultists behind her as they floated helplessly through the air. Bright walked alongside, looking around with interest at the unicorn police officers and pegasus guards that occupied the Equestrian city at night.

They arrived at the local police station and Luna sternly presented the cultists to the sergeant on duty. "These villains were caught engaging in illegal ritual magic," she declared. "See that they are securely imprisoned for their crimes."

The police ponies quickly took custody of the prisoners. The sergeant saluted Luna respectfully. "You've done a great service for our city, Princess. We will handle things from here."

Luna nodded in satisfaction then turned to Bright. "But this one." She brought their scowling leader forward. "This one I am keeping. I have questions for him."

Bright considered the bound pony. "What about his friends?"

"Small fish, as I had said. Their capture would be good, but far lower priority than questioning this one, I think." She prodded the floating pony. "Will you speak willingly?" The nasty glare was the only answer she got. "As I thought. Bright." She tucked the leader down flopped on the ground, glowing with her magic. "You must be confused, and possibly tired. Shall we see to your rest first?"

Bright looked ready to argue that, but wobbled. "Woah..." The adrenaline of things was wearing off. "That... did take something out of me. A break may be a good idea. Hey, idea."

"Hm?" She squeaked, spreading her windows wide as Bright climbed up onto her back and mounted her as one would a horse that was missing a saddle. "What are you doing?"

"I'm tired, carry me?" Bright gave his best smile.

Luna glared at the impertinent creature riding her. "Ask before you do that... Very well... Just this once." She lifted into the air, Bright on her back and her captive held in her magic. "To home."

Luna flew through the night sky back to Canterlot castle with Bright clinging enthusiastically to her back. She touched down gracefully in a courtyard of the castle and helped slide a tired but grinning Bright off.

Servants came to take the bound cultist leader to a secure cell. Luna instructed them to make sure he was given no chance to use magic or contact his accomplices.

She then led Bright inside the castle. "I will have a room prepared for you to rest in comfort and safety." She noticed him yawning widely again. "But first, let us find you some food. Humans require regular meals, correct?"

"Three a day," laughed out Bright as they stepped into a smaller room. "Oh, shit, wow..." He almost skipped to the table, grinning so widely. "Look at it." He grabbed a cookie from the tray and crunched it happily. "Tastier than I would have even guessed."

"Refresh yourself." Luna curled, turning around. "Ask a passing servant and a room will be provided. Sleep. Tomorrow, we can continue." She saw herself out, unsure of much Bright was paying attention.

He was not. The sweet treats and various drinks were far too distracting. "Equestria," he sighed out, chewing on some goopy cake, savoring each bite. "Here I am."

"Here you are."

Bright started, looking to a pony that was sitting across from him at the table. "Bon Bon?"

Bon Bon raised a brow. "She wasn't kidding."

"Who wasn't?" He popped the last of the cake in his mouth and got to wiping the mess clean.

"Luna." Bon Bon leaned forward, resting a chin on an upturned hoof. "You know about us, uncanny. What else do you know about me?"

"You're Secret Agent--" Bright stopped. Bon Bon's hoof shoved in his mouth. That was cute in the cartoon, but actually kind of hurt, having it pressed in there so fast and roughly. He pulled her hoof and arm away. "We're alone."

Bon Bon tucked the dangerous hoof away. "Sorry, force of habit... That's a secret..." She glanced towards the doors, but they were all closed. "I am a hunter of monster. That's what S.M.I.L.E. does, and I bet you know that... You, I should point out, technically count as a monster. You're my business."

Bright smiled at her with a slightly lecherous hint. "You married to Lyra yet?"

Bon Bon colored, ears pinning down. "Yes! Yet? What makes you think this is a 'yet' thing?" She squinted at the human suspiciously. "You can see the future?"

"Guess not." It was as if he had just checked that, instead of knowing it already. "Nice to meet you, Bon Bon."

"A pleasure." She sat up, brushing the cookies away. "You've been enlisted. You'll help Luna combat other monsters. In return, we won't treat you like one yourself. A fair trade, hm?"

Kick ass with Luna? "Sounds fun... I still want to be paid though."

Bon Bon huffed softly. "Lucky for you, not my choice. You can take that up with another pony." She inclined her head towards one of the doors leading out of that sitting room. "For now, get some rest."

Author's Note

Welcome to the team, Bright. I plan on this being a somewhat episodic monster hunting series as they engage in all kinds of problems across Equestria. There are many things that bump in the night.

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