The four fugitive ponies rested in the wilderness outside of the city, in a forest clearing. Long Tail, and Fizzlespark were lost in thought. Sugar Scoop was penning her account of the day's activities, sure she'd earn a Mule-itzer prize for this one. Sunnyside flew up to perch lightly in a tree and gaze at the horizon.

"I'm free," he said, to no one in particular. "No one in Canterlot ever wants to see me again. They think I'm a traitor. So I can just... go." He gained a little more altitude to peer westward. He knew that Princess Celestia had been hurt stopping the ritual, but surely she'd be okay. Nothing could really hurt the Princess, right?

Sunny noticed Long Tail watching him. She seemed about to say something when a scroll fluttered into the clearing and hovered in mid-air. Sunny had a bad feeling.

Sugar Scoop spoke: "It's addressed to you, Sunnyside."

A very bad feeling.

"Oh no... no..."

"It's not from Explosive Runes, is it?" Fizzlespark asked.

"That poor pony," Long Tail said. No one ever read letters from Explosive Runes, even party invitations. Her only talent was writing letters that explode.

"It's from my stupid sister," Sugar said. She wrote to Sunnyside instead of me?

"What does it say?" Sunny asked with trepidation, not really wanting to know.

"It says 'blah blah I'm a stupid foal overreacting blah blah stupid family meddled in idiotic things and finally going to get what they deserve, Princess Luna's missing, etcetera.'"

Sunnyside perked up and took the letter. Sprinklebelle had written to say that Princess Luna hadn't been seen since the magic fair, and she was worried that Luna and the Scoops might be in trouble with Princess Celestia, who was being very severe all of a sudden. Since Sunnyside seemed to know what was going on Sprinklebelle was hoping he'd clue her in.

Sugar Scoop grumbled to herself "'Sunnyside knows what's going on'? Of course you wouldn't ask your sister, the investigative reporter..." She angrily finished her article as the others discussed the matter.

"Princess Luna – missing since the fair?" Sunnyside mused. "Say, when's the last time anypony saw Glitterdust?"

Long Tail and Fizzlespark looked at each other and shrugged. Long Tail spoke "Not since we all split up to investigate the fair."

The ponies resolved to return to Canterlot to try and help Glitterdust and Sprinklebelle. There was going to be a masquerade ball in Canterlot the next night. It would be the perfect opportunity to mingle incognito.

For his part, Fizzlespark would travel to the Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters in the Everfree Forest in hopes of finding Luna. Long Tail put the odds of her being there at only 40%, but it was worth a try.

Sugar scoop insisted on sneaking into the city as soon as possible, so she could submit her article to Equestria Daily. She'd bring the Scoop Family Ninja outfit she had acquired, while Sunnyside and Long Tail worked on costumes for the masquerade. Fizzlespark stayed to devise a contraption to wind up Long Tail's tail so it wouldn't be so conspicuous, then headed out. By the end of the process, Long Tail had a metal pack that would unfold into a Mechanical Pony costume for the masquerade. Sunnyside met up with his rural friend Moon Pie, who helped him dress up like a pie stand and gave him an evening's supply of moon pies, which he intended to use to pass secret messages at the party.

***

Sugar Scoop was the first to slip into Canterlot. As she dropped her article into the submission slot at Equestria Daily, she realized she wasn't alone. She spun around and came face to face with Officer Bobtail.

"There's a bulletin out about you, Sugar Scoop," he said.

"Is it my Mule-itzer prize?" she asked, grinning innocently.

The police pony cuffed her to himself. "... no."

***

Glitterdust nervously approached the royal chambers. As she reached to open the door, she was surprised that it started to glow and open. She yelped and jumped back, only then realizing her own, new horn was responsible. She crossed her eyes to stare up at it, unhappily, then sighed and entered the royal chamber.

Princess Celestia was standing on her balcony once again, gazing out over the city. She spoke without turning.

"Agent Cloudkill, you are to serve as head of security for this year's masquerade party."

Glitterdust bowed as low as she could and remained silent. Princess Celestia turned and fixed her with one red eye.

"It will no doubt be a hotbed of treason and deceit. You and your postal inspectors are to locate any such traitors and take them into custody. Understood?"

"Yes, your Highness."

Princess Celestia nodded and turned back to her overwatch of the city. Glitterdust crawled backwards out of the chamber and shut the door before trotting off and quickly as she could without drawing attention. She wondered if the stress of this job was what had gotten to Derpy...

***

Once Glitterdust had left, Princess Celestia's eyes glowed and glazed over. She was watching events unfold from the perspective of the horn she had taken from Fizzy Wizard and bestowed upon Glitterdust. Her own magic had infused the horn, and it was hers to command, should she so choose. You can never be too careful when your own sister may be plotting against you.

***

That evening, Glitterdust fully expected the other ponies to try and enter the city. She had to find some way to contact them, to help them. With this in mind, she camped out near the lowest point in the wall, a spot she had used herself to sneak into the city if she'd been out after curfew. Delivering mail, of course, not out doing anything fun. It was hard for an Earth Pony to make the expected rounds. But she'd never given up, and now she was Postmare General!

Damn.

Sure enough, Glitterdust heard Sunnyside and Long Tail crossing the wall during the night. They each carried saddlebags (containing their costumes), and Sunny had lowered a rope to help Long Tail get up. After they hopped down into the city interior, Glitterdust emerged from the shadows, one hoof to her lips.

"Shh!"

Sunnyside and Long Tail turned, startled, but Sunny quickly smiled and flew closer. "Glitterdust! I'm so glad you're alright!"

"What are you doing here?" Glitterdust whispered. "It's crazy, coming back into Canterlot."

"No, no, we have a plan," Sunnyside said confidently. "We-" he looked back to Long Tail, who was mouthing "No" while shaking her head and gesturing for him to keep quiet. Sunnyside turned back to Glitterdust "We, uh... hey, your new horn looks lovely." He smiled unconvincingly.

Long Tail spoke "No, it doesn't. It's terrifying. I-" Sunny turned to shake his head and mouth "No" at Long Tail.

"I'm just telling the truth," Long Tail said, looking a little guiltily at Glitterdust, who seemed none too happy at the moment.

"Oh, Long Tail, don't you see?" Sunny flew back to her. "This is just what I've been talking to you about." She nodded and the two broke into song.

To the tune of Giggle at the Ghosties:

When I was (you were) in the army and the general was a doooooolt,
I (You) called him on his errors in front of all the other cooooolts.
He ignored my (your) good advice
And he set me (you) up for a fall
That's why Sunnyside says that isn't the way to deal with fools at allllllllll.

Glitterdust: Then what is?

He says (I say): Long Tail, you've gotta shut your mouth.
Learn diplomacy.
You'll see, things go better
If you don't make them all angryyyyy.

Sooooo

Curtsey at the clueless.
Nod nicely at the numbnut.
Smile at the sillies.
Bro-hoof with the bumblers.

And if it looks like they're getting upset and you can't convince them it's just a big misunderstanding then you can always run away because the most important thing to remember is...

Taaaaaaaaaaaaaaaact!

Sunnyside and Long Tail were left breathing hard, forelegs outstretched in a dramatic pose to accompany the conclusion of their song.

Applause broke out all around them, where a ring of Postal Inspectors had gathered while they were singing.

"Oh, we were sneaking, weren't we?" Sunny said, blushing with embarrassment.

"We were," Long Tail said, with more regret than blame.

The two shared a look. "Remember what I said about running?" Sunny asked. Long Tail nodded. "Let's do that."

As Sunnyside and Long Tail bolted, Inspectors in pursuit, Glitterdust cried out. "Wait! I can protect you! Trust me!"

But as she did so, her horn lit up, and a window shutter flew open right into Sunnyside's path. Fortunately, Long Tail caught him on her back was he was falling towards the ground, and the two made good their escape, leaving Glitterdust sitting on her haunches, cursing her own horn.

***

Sugar Scoop was cooling her hooves in the Police Stable when Officer Snapdragon came to her cell and brought her to another room for questioning. He didn't speak during the short walk, and Sugar Scoop didn't either.

In the next room, Officer Bobtail was waiting in front of a small pile of paperwork. Bobtail nodded politely to the other two as they entered. Snapdragon spoke at last after he shut the door.

"I've looked the other way for you sometimes, Sugar Scoop, but plotting against the Princess is way over the line!"

"Now now, Snapdragon," Bobtail put in. "Perhaps she can explain herself. Can you explain, Sugar Scoop?"

Sugar held up under the officers' grilling, until another police pony knocked on the door.

"Sirs, Agent C-c-cloudkill is here," the nervous pony quickly stepped aside. A bank of mist rolled into the room, and Glitterdust emerged, a glowing horn gracing her brow.

Snapdragon coughed as the mist reached him. "Did you leave the fog machine on, Benny?"

The nervous pony reappeared. "Oh yeah! S-s-sorry sirs!" There was a click, and the mist began to dissipate.

"Much better," Snapdragon said. "No, Agent Cloudkill-"

Glitterdust interrupted, her voice low and ominous. "You are dismissed, officers."

Bobtail and Snapdragon gulped and glanced quickly at one another before bowing their heads and leaving the room, closing the door behind them.

"Is that your masquerade costume?" Sugar Scoop asked, pointing at the horn.

"No," Glitterdust said, miserably, before sinking into a chair.

"Hey, do you want my hat then, to cover it up?"

"Sure," Glitterdust said. (Back on her balcony, Princess Celestia scowled as her view of the room was completely obscured and she could no longer read Sugar Scoop's lips.)

"What happened to you at the fair?"

"Remember those trap doors I found?"

"Sure."

"They were a trap."

Sugar Scoop cradled her face in her hooves. "You don't say."

"Fizzy Wizard was behind the whole scheme at the fair."

"So tell Celestia!"

"She knows! I even brought him in, and for that she gave me his horn!"

Sugar Scoop shuddered and shook her head.

"Why are you here, anyway?" Glitterdust asked.

"Oh, I had to turn in my article!"

It was Glitterdust's turn to bring a hoof to her face in exasperation. "Of course you did."

"Also, we have a plan to contact allies inside the city..." Sugar Scoop quickly filled Glitterdust in on the plan for the masquerade ball.

"...but those officers confiscated my Ninja outfit. Say, do you have a spare Postal Inspector uniform?"

Glitterdust nodded. "Sure. Let's get out of here." She opened the door and announced to the police: "This one's going to have to come with me." The police looked unhappy about it, but didn't say anything.

As Glitterdust led Sugar Scoop away, two Postal Inspector pegasi watched from the shadows, grinning evilly at one another as they saw how chummy Glitterdust and Sugar Scoop were when they thought no pony was watching. Chummy like Peaches and Cream.

***

Everypony convened at the masquerade. Glitterdust wore no costume, just her official Postmare General uniform. Sugar Scoop and a dozen other ponies in Postal Inspector uniforms accompanied her. Sunnyside was dressed like a walking Moon Pie stand, passing out crème filled chocolate pies and not-so-subtly invoking thoughts of the absent Princess Luna. Long Tail was encased in a mechanical sheath, her tail carefully wound around a drill component re-used from a prior contraption. Fizzlespark still hadn't returned from his own trek.

Sunnyside made sure to deliver his 'special' Moon Pies, each containing a secret note. He almost handed Sugar Scoop's off to a Scoop Family Ninja, since that had been her planned costume, but the real Sugar Scoop bumped the ninja out of line as the last moment and grabbed the pie.

Long Tail encountered a pony dressed as an Ursa Minor, talking at length about the Elements of Harmony in a lecturing cadence that could only belong to Twilight Sparkle. Long Tail took studious notes, and the other pony was happy to go on at length about her friends and confronting Nightmare Moon.

Glitterdust passed through the party like a specter of death, with few approaching her willingly. Peaches and Cream followed behind, trying to catch some evidence of treason or slacking.

Later in the evening, somepony passed Sunnyside a cupcake. He unwrapped it, finding that it was Red Velvet cake. Did that mean he was forgiven? He munched on the cupcake, then noticed writing in the paper wrap that had been around the base.

Princess Celestia has something terrible planned for the Grand Galloping Gala!

Sunny scanned the crowd for the costumed pony who had given him the treat, but she was no where to be seen. A short while later, another pony passed him an ice cream cone – with sprinkles! – with a bit of paper wrapped around the cone. When he finished the cone, he read the paper.

Prince Blueblood has something terrible planned for the Grand Galloping Gala!

The news weighed heavily upon him, like a cold lump in his stomach. No, actually, that was the ice cream. Tasty. But the news was troubling, to be sure.

As Sunny was considering what to do, Long Tail was walking and talking with the pony in the Ursa Minor costume. She didn't realize that her tail had gotten snagged on something and was slowly unwinding as the walked. Not until somepony tripped on it: a grey pegasus with a yellow tail, bubbles on her flank, and a brown paper bag completely covering her head.

"You might want to work on that costume before the next party," Glitterdust advised the bag-headed pony.

But everyone else's attention was on Long Tail. The tug had dislodged a key component of her costume, which clattered to the ballroom floor in a thousand pieces. The Ursa Minor pony gasped and opened the bear's jaws wide, revealing that it was indeed Twilight Sparkle. "Long Tail! You were trying to trick me into telling you the secrets of the Elements of Harmony!" Twilight glared and her horn lit up brightly.

"No, Twilight!" Long Tail said. "We're trying to help..."

The other ponies started clamoring loudly for someone to seize the traitor. Sunnyside started towards Long Tail, but found himself held from both sides. Red Velvet and Sprinklebelle had raised their masks slightly and each held him with one hoof.

"Don't go," Sprinklebelle said. "I'll hide you at Scoop Manor."

"No," Red Velvet said, glaring at Sprinklebelle. "I'll hide him."

Sunnyside looked at each of them, then gritted his teeth and burst out of their grip, his Moon Pie Stand costume tearing off in the process. He streaked gold across the ballroom to hover near Long Tail and Twilight.

"Listen, everypony," he said. "Canterlot is in danger." The crowd murmured at this, but his dramatic appearance was enough to command their attention for now. He continued.

"Nightmare Moon wasn't just the product of Princess Luna's jealousy. Somepony corrupted her on purpose. Those same ponies are at large today, trying to undermine our society."

As Sunnyside gave the high-level overview, Long Tail took the opportunity to fill Twilight in on the details. She told her about the transformation circles, how the Star Ponies had tried to make Luna into Nightmare Moon again, how they had created the ritual that had disrupted the magic fair. She stopped short of sharing their conviction that Princess Celestia had been corrupted by absorbing the energy of that ritual. Sharing that Twilight's mentor and role model had succumbed didn't seem very... tactful.

"Something doesn't quite add up," Twilight said, still suspicious. Long Tail hoped Twilight would figure it out. She wasn't sure she could restrain herself from blurting out the truth.

A masked pony in the crowd shouted at Sunnyside. "Why should we believe you, who fled from the scene of the crime?" Long Tail recognized the voice. Scrambler.

Sunnyside didn't let it show if he recognized the voice of his brother calling him a criminal. "You can't afford not to..." Sunny hesitated before going further, then glanced at Long Tail. She understood, and nodded. Sunny continued.

"Because the magic that created Nightmare Moon has now turned Princess Celestia into a tyrannical mare of flame: Daystar Nova."

Long Tail quickly turned back to Twilight and saw understanding dawn in her eyes. Twilight regarded Long Tail with trust for the first time.

"I don't think I can wield the Elements against my mentor," she said. "But I'll try to help you. The Elements reside in the hearts of everypony."

"Could you be more specific?" Long Tail asked, impatient to escape the party.

"Honesty, Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, Loyalty. When these five elements are united, a spark will cause the sixth element to appear. The element of Magic."

A group of postal inspectors approached. Twilight hurriedly levitated Long Tail's tail off of the obstruction it was caught on and closed her bear costume. "You'd better go, now," she said.

The overall mood of the gathering was sympathetic, though. Sunnyside in particular had spent the evening sewing the seeds for this revelation through judicious sharing of moon pies with secret messages, and over half the ponies began speaking of the need to oppose Daystar's tyranny. Behind the safety of their masks, they planned their next moves, spoke of the need to recruit Princess Luna to their side, and then scattered before the royal guard arrived to arrest everypony.

The Lunar Resistance began that night.