Night Gale's New Problem

   It was early the next morning, Night Gale was standing next to the bed, looking out a nearby window. Luna was still sound asleep, silence had engulfed the room. Night looked from the window and over to the sleeping Luna, he let out a small smile and tucked her in further. Luna only shifted a bit in her sleep as he tucked her in. Night made his way out of the room quietly only leaving a simple note. All he hoped for was that he would return, but he also had two other stops to make along the way. Night descened down the steps to the hall. He passed the dining room and made his way to the front of the castle. Night found Celestia waiting for him near the doors with two of her guards.

    Night stopped before Celestia and bowed.

"Princess." Was the only word he spoke as he bowed before her.

"Night, are you sure you want to do this alone?" Celestia asked the bowing Night.

"Quite certain, Celestia." Night stood up up from the bow, "And nopony will stop we.

"Very well, I've had something tailored for you from a firend of my student's." Celestia nodded towards one of the guards. A saddle bag and brought down round Night's back, one side had the bag, the other side had a strap.

"What's this strap for?" Night observed the postioned slot.

"For this." Celestia slid the sword from Night's disappearance in to the strap. The sword slid in quite nicely, te cold metal rubbing against Night's coat.

Beware the Lurkers Night Gale. The Shadow Pony's voice called out from inside his head as he cotinued down the steps to the outside. Night was confused by the warning. Lurkers are nasty little buggers, Night. The voice rang again in his head. Night took off in flight towards Ponyville, hoping this won't be his last. He found it rather relaxing to be flying high above the landscape, clear some thoughts to make himself comfortable. It didn't take too long to reach Ponyville, just slightly shorter than the train ride to and from. When Night landed, he made sure it was in front of Lunar Dawn's home. He brought a hoof up a tapped on the door three times, no answer. Night tapped the door three more times, still no answer. He brought his hoof back and hit the door, this time it swung open. There sttod not what he though was his friend, but a different pony. The pony just glared at Night, Night stared back blankly and trotted off.

   He checked the mailbox as he passed, it was the right house for sure, but why was there a different pony. Night continued on to his next stop in town, Dinky. He tapped on the door only twice before he was cut off by the filly opening the door.

"Night!" Dinky yelled out, jumping on to Night.

"Careful Dinky, I'm carrying something sharp." Night stated, catching the filly that jumped for him.

"What for?" Dinky asked, looking up at the stallion. Night sighed as he put Dinky down and knelt to make eye contact with her.

"Dinky.... I'm going on a journey. I don't know how long it'll take or if I'll ever come back. But this is very important that I go away on this." Night started to have tears in his eyes. "Promise me you won't cry if I don't come back."

"Then why won't you take me with you?" Dinky asked, a worried look on her face.

"I'm going it alone, if I do come back, you'll be the first one to see me. I'm doing this for your protection just like anypony else." Night hugged Dinky and stood up.

   As Night was walking away, Dinky retreated back inside and started crying. He only shed one tear and started galloping. Night was well on his way to head back to a place that history can't find. He spread his wings and took off again, something didm't seem right though. Night ws trying to figure out why there was a different pony at Lunar's house than his friend. But he pushed on, on to the Citadel, where this can all end and he doesn't have to worry anymore. He landed after a few hours in front of rocks, the pile was in a wide circle.

   "Let's do this." Night said to himself, blowing a giant hole in the pile to reveal a pair of rails. Night jumped into the hole and a loud metallic sound emitnated from the impact. They're watching you Night Gale. Shadow's voice called out again.

"Why are you choosing now to talk to me in my head? Seems more like a dickish move." Night whispered to te voice in frustration. I've had some complications trying to, ignore other voices, watch out for Lurkers. As soon as Night heard that, a noise was made from behind.

"Other voices?" Night said, looking behind him. He produced a light to see down the tunnel to what led to the Citadel, an began walking in that direction.

   The tunnel was still intact somehow as Night walked down it. He thought it shouldn't take him long to reach the Citadel. He heard scratching along the walls behind him, but when looked at, there was nothing. Night pushed on further, trying to ignore the scrathing. He could see the door to the Citadel, but was ambushed by creatures nopony has ever seen before, and they weren't native to the Everfree Forest either. Lurkers found you, in the droves as it seems too. Shadow's voice was heard again. Night kicked one off of him and drew the sword. Dismembering as may as he could before he was tackled by the dozen. The strange goo that was spread on the sword didn't seem normal either. Lurkers kept piling on Night, trying the best they could to get to him. There was another in the tunnel that followed Night all the way to his destination, and lended a hand to Night by blasting the lot on Night.

   "Yet, you started the fun without me." A familiar voice called out. Night looked up to see Luna's glowing horn. He hopped up on all fours, the sword still drawn, Lurkers crawling all over the ceiling.

"How'd you even get here?" Night asked Luna, staring up at the ceiling of the tunnel for any advancements.

"What makes you think I'd actually let yo do something alone? I followed you shortly after you left the castle." Luna replied to Night, joining his side whilst eyeing the ceiling with him. "What are those things anyway, it's like they lived here for a while."

"Lurkers, by the looks of them, nasty little pricks." Night explained. One of them made a move only to be impaled by the sword Night had. The next attack was doubled in numbers and both were blasted away by Luna.

   Night made a move for the bulkhead door while the number of attacks were increased. He looked back at the door after he cut into a lurker.

"Dammit to Tartarus! The door is protected by a puzzled spell lock! The manual override for the door!" Night yelled out.

"Can't you open it?" Luna yelled back, blasting a small group back

"I'll need time! These were the hardest locks ever made in Equestria." Night said, starting to get to work on the lock. Luna galloped over and casted a shield spell over them so the lurkers couldn't disturb Night while he worked.

"What exactly was the purpose of this Citadel?" Luna asked, looking back towards Night.

"It's was a refuge center just incase the city should have ever come to seige. Residents from within the Great City could come down here and save their families and themselves. It was never used, even during the Shadow Pony Conflict." Night replied to Luna, getting nearly half-way done with the lock.

"Theses things are disgusting." Luna blurted out, one of the lurkers jumped onto the shield casted.

   "Got it!" Night cheered as the lock ticked and whirred. The bulkheads opened for just enought space for both ponies to slip through and quickly shut itself again. Night started up a light from his horn again. Drips were heard, from a leaking pipe at the bottom of the cylinder-like area. You must go down, my book lies at the bottom. You might want to keep an eye out for anything unwanted. Shadow's voice echoed within Night's head again.

"We must go down." Night said blankly, jumping on top of the railing.

"Night, are you insane?" Luna asked Night with confusion.

"Nope, just doing what I do best. Going out on a hunch." Nigh stated before jumping off the railing like a fool The instinct to spread his wings hit as Night was soaring down. He didn't pay much attention to how the doors looked the first few times until he slowed down and took a closer look at one. The door consisted of metal, a tiny barred window, wheel, and a serial number engraved on the front.

   Night Gale was shocked at his finding. He never oversaw the construction of Citadel, so he never knew what went on while it was being built. Now, he knew what is was going to be used for instead of his intended purpose for it, a prision. I'm sorry Night, but you had to find out. Another pony took reigns of construction, but this wanted the power you had. Night shook his head a shot straight down again.

"I'm going to see this place buiried." Night whispered to himself. He stoppped mid-flight and landed on the bottom of Citadel, water rippled at his hooves. Night stared straight ahead, making small steps in the puddle.

"This book better be up ahead...." Night started, stopping whn he found the only door that was around, reading the name on the door, no number.

   The door read 'Night Gale.' Night slowly approached the door and peered inside tosee a simple pedestal. A book was lying on the pedestal, Shadow's spell book. It was obvious the Shadow Pony knew this discovery would be important to Night. Ever since he wanted to hide his spell book, he found Citadel like this. Night turned the wheel to the door nd opened it with a loud creaking noise from the hinges. Night took a deep breath and walked in, picked up the book, and stepped out. He placed the book carefully in the saddle bag and secured it within. Night shook his head clear once more, spread his wings and sprayed water on  the rounded wall when he flew back up to Luna.

   "Did you find it?" Was the first thing Luna asked when she saw Night

"It's right here." Night simply replied to her, looking at the ground.

"Are you all right Night?" Was Luna's second question to the grim stallion.

"No, Citadel's purpose was changed, I didn't know." Night turned to observe the ceiling. "But I'm not going to let the hellish place stand any longer."

"What are you talking about?" Luna was beginning to get worried about Night.

"Get the door open when I shoot." Night ordered, charging up his horn. Luna nodded, trusting the stallion, she only had a second to react to the shot. Night shot a burst of magic towards the roof and it hit, Luna opened the door to lurkers.

   The two ran out to the lurker army, Luna shot them back while Night blew a hole in the tunnel to make a quick escape. The first to fly out after the blast was Luna, Night followed shortly after her. A nightmare ws laid to rest down there, a nightmare that could've come true in the past.

"Night Gale, what was down there that made you bury Citadel?" Luna flew over to Night.

"Ciadel was repurposed as a prision, to hide those that could've spoken out against a tyrant. I had no idea it was being turned into a prision during its construction." Night said softly, closing his eyes to the thought of him being in there with two foals that would've had no idea what was going on.

"Who was leading the constuction of Citadel?" Luna tried to ask Night, if he knew.

"Let's just go back to the castle and end this. Once and for all." Night turned and flew towards Canterlot, accompanied by a very worried Luna.