Chapter 4

The Call Goes Out

Luna concentrated in her bed chambers, pacing back and forth before the ink well, quill and scroll as they hovered before her, dozens of questions running through her mind. She had been in her room now for an hour now and still couldn’t think of anything to write besides ‘Dear Twilight Sparkle, I humbly request the help of the Elements of Harmony for a very important task.’

“Come on, Luna. You’re a princess, so just make it sound official. They’re used to helping out my sister. They’ll help you out, too. Just ask!” she thought, shaking her head in frustration. This was taking so long, mostly because of her own doubt that they would give her the time of day.

“I could just say it’s an order from the palace. That way, if they don’t comply, I could throw them in the dungeon.” Luna thought, scratching her chin with her hoof before shaking the acidic thought from her head. “NO! What am I THINKING?! I can’t make this about me, throwing my power around. But why would they help me? They had to fight me! I tried to kill them! Forget it, Luna, just forget it.”

She turned away from her message and was about to stomp off to ask the guards for this task. They would do ANYTHING she asked, no matter what.

“No, Luna. The guards have their own important duties to handle. Defending all of Equestria is a higher priority than even the whims of a princess. It’s bad enough I drug that poor Sky Shield into this. He seemed so nervous to talk to. I hope I didn’t burden him to much with the task of helping Midnight.”

She sat back down in front of the scroll, dipping the quill in the ink well.

“Your sister thinks the world of them. She goes on and on for hours about how amazing they are, how kind and generous and sweet and nice and… forgiving they are.” she sighed. They had to help her. They just had to. She had promised Midnight that he would learn to use magic and use his wings. They just had to help. She took a deep breath and said a silent wish that they could find it in their hearts to forgive her.

===

At late-morning, the town of Ponyville was just now beginning to slow down, half way through another busy and productive day. Pastries were baked, young colts and fillies were learning their lessons at the school house, the skies were kept clear of dark clouds by weather pegasi and bright, red apples were bucked and ready for market. Most of the town was winding down and preparing for lunch, but in the Carousal Boutique, a group of friends had already met to spend their lunch with each other, resting as they discussed the events of the night before.

“Ouch, Rarity! You wanna be more careful with those things? How long is this gonna take?” a cyan blue pegasus said, a sewing needle poking her in the flank just above her cutie mark. This was the third time she had been poked, and Rainbow Dash was becoming more and more impatient. She had been here, trying to stand still for all of TWELVE minutes, and was now  seriously thinking about tossing this torn party dress she was wearing in the trash. She flicked her rainbow colored tail, unknowingly giving Rarity a quick swipe across the muzzle.

“Rainbow Dash, if you don’t hold still, you’re going to be here all day getting this dress repaired! Oh, how I wish I hadn’t put away all my display pon-equins in the basement for the season. THEY know how to hold still.” Rarity, the white unicorn with a curled purple mane finished sewing the piece of fabric over Rainbow’s flank and signed. Her horn glowed purple, and the thread, needles, fabric and measuring tape floated back over to the desk just to the side of the display platform.

“Yeah, you need to calm down a bit and let the artist practice her craft. She’s at least nice enough to repair the dresses she made for everypony, considering they would all still be in good shape if you had all listened to me and hung out together instead of trying to live out some crazy fantasies at the Gala.” Spike said, looking up from behind Rarity as she worked. The young purple dragon stood dutifully by, waiting for a chance to help his unicorn crush with anything she could possible need in the course of repairing her friend’s dresses.

“Now, here already. This seam is finished. If I let you go for a few minutes, do you think you could hold still long enough for me to finish the rest?” Rarity said, sitting down to rest her legs next to the small platform where Rainbow Dash stood.

“Wow, Rarity. I can’t even tell where the rip was anymore. That’s amazing!” Rainbow inspected the work. She wiggles her rump back and forth, letting the material shine in the bright lights of the boutique. She turned to the three other mares seated against the wall on several plush cushions, noticing a very annoyed orange coated, blond earth pony. She nickered as she stood up and stretched, her own dress hanging off her in various spots up and down her frame.

“B’out time you stopped your hee-hawin’ and let somepony else get her turn. I was just about to hog-tie you down so Rarity could finish.” Applejack said, passing under Rainbow as she leapt into the air with a single pump off her wings. Applejack took her place on the slightly raised platform and waited for Rarity to begin. Levitated all around her were the materials needed by Rarity to repair her disheveled dress. Applejack closed her eyes and stood perfectly still, allowing the fashionista to do her work.

“I can’t help it I’m awesome, Applejack. When this filly’s gotta fly, she’s GOTTA fly!” Rainbow said, doing some quick circles around the ceiling, barely missing light and hanging displays, causing Rarity to gasp at every near miss.

“Rainbow, darling? If you rip that dress anymore, I’m not sewing it up for you! Now, PLEASE, let me get these done so we could all have lunch, hmm?” Rarity huffed, adjusting her red work glasses. Rainbow Dash crossed her front legs and hovered in midair a moment before diving down next to Twilight and Fluttershy, sharing a book on a cushion against the wall. She plopped down with a “harrumph,” and drew her wings back to her sides.

“I can’t help it I’m naturally energetic.” she said, brushing a piece of rainbow colored mane from her face.

“Natural energy, or is it perhaps those dozen sugar-glazed donuts you bought from Pony Joe’s donut shop last night?” Twilight said, giving her a sly look, causing Fluttershy to giggle.

“Ha! I don’t NEED sugary treats to keep my energy up, Twilight.” Dash said, proudly raising her head and placing a hoof to her chest.

The door to the boutique burst open with a loud BANG! In walked a bouncy, pink earth with a magenta mane and tail, up on her back legs, holding in her front hooves a large box with a pink ribbon, still wearing her torn party dress from the night before.

“Never fear, Pinkie Pie is here, with sugary treats!!” she announces, closing the door with one rear leg, resulting in another loud BANG.

“Cupcakes?” Dash said, her ears perking up as she prepared to fly at Pinkie.

“CUPCAKES!” yelled Pinkie, spinning on one hind leg, holding the box between her two front hooves as she performed a perfect pirouette across the floor, taking a seat next to Rainbow Dash. She sat down on her haunches and popped the lid off the box, holding it up to offer some to Twilight, why promptly levitated three cupcakes out of the box for her, Fluttershy and Spike. Rarity did the same, levitating two out for herself and Applejack. Rainbow Dash, however, grabbed the box and shoved her face into it, quickly devouring the last cupcake.

I swear, Pinkie, my dear” Rarity sighed, shaking her head. “I have no idea how you can spring around so nimbly on your hind legs. I’d break an ankle if I tried half of the stunts you pull.” She levitated the one cupcake within reaching distance away from Applejacks face and continued her work on the dress, her own cupcake joining the collection of items she had floating in orbit around her as she worked.

“Sorry I’m a little late, girls! I couldn’t decide what kinda of cupcake I should bring to our ‘Pre-Lunch Cupcake Brunch,’ so I just went with…” Pinkie paused and took a chomp out of a cupcake, showing the insides to the group. “… Rainbow striped cupcakes!”

Applejack went to take a bite of her cupcake, still being hovered in the air before her by Rarity, but paused, a mischievous grin on her face.

“Now, Pinkie Pie,” Applejack said. “these here cupcakes wouldn’t be rainbow flavored, now, would they, sugarcube?” Pinkie’s eyes went wide as she swallowed the last bite of her cupcake, making a face of disgust.

“Ew, NO! No WAY I’d never make RAINBOW flavored cupcakes! Mr. and Ms.  Cake would throw me out of the Sugarcube, head first!”

The mares and their baby dragon friend laughed as Pinkie Pie continued making faces, mimicking the many she made upon tasting the rainbow formula in Cloudsdale. She started laughing herself, falling back on her floor cushion upon seeing her friend’s reaction.

“Twilight, it sure was nice of Princess Celestia to come all the way here from Canterlot last night, just to spend some time with us.” Fluttershy said, taking a small bite off her cupcake, balanced daintily on the end of her wing. Twilight grinned at the mention of her mentor’s name and straightened herself up a bit on her cushion.

“Yeah, that WAS pretty nice of her, but I really wasn’t that surprised. I mean, I AM her personal, prized student, after all.” She said, with more than a little pride in her voice. “But hey, she seems to be very interested in all of you girls just as much.” She said, waving a hoof from one side of the room to the next.

“I know, right? She was TOTALLY interested in how I pulled off the Sonic Rainboom! I told her someday, I’d come to the palace and preform it for her, first hoof.” Dash said, looking up from the now empty box that held the cupcakes, frosting smeared on her muzzle.

“And she told me that the Apple family has been the sole providers of apples to Canterlot since she introduced ma great-granddaddy and his family to this valley almost one hundred years ago. Why, with Granny Smith and Filthy Rich takin’ care of the distribution side of the farm, I really had no idea!” Applejack said, ducking a spool of thread as it levitated by.

“Yes, and she just couldn’t apologize enough for her uncouth nephew, Prince Blueblood. I felt so horrible last night after I explained my outburst. Why, I was simply mortified by my actions, but she said she had to hold back laughter as he whined to her about being covered in chunks of cake!” Rarity added, breaking into laughter and causing another round of laughter from the group.

“I know she’s royalty, a-and I know that she has a lot to do, what with raising and setting the sun every day and all, and I don’t mean to make it sound like we’re being a bother, but…” Fluttershy said, rambling as she tried to get to the point.

“We should totally hang out with Princess Celestia more often! She’s almost like, just another one of our friends! After a while, I called her just ‘Celestia’ like, twice by mistake, and she didn’t even seem to mind.” Pinkie admitted.

“Yeah, she’s pretty great. But girls, I was wondering a bit last night at the Gala, did anypony see Princess Luna around? I mean, she should have been down with Princess Celestia welcoming the guests, but she wasn’t there.” asked Twilight. The friends looked at each other, waiting a moment for one of the others to answer, before Rainbow Dash responded.

“Nope, didn’t see her at all. And I probably would have, considering I was hanging in the COOL section of the Gala with the Wonderbolts last night.”

“Yeah, I was selling my apple treats near the entrance all night, and I ain’t seen hide nor hair of her.” added Applejack.

“She was probably preparing another EVIL PLOT to take over Equestria as the nasty-nastypants, Nightmare Moon again! Quick, where’s my Element of Laughter necklace?” Pinkie said, hopping up and looking around the room, before grabbing a long, loose piece of dark blue fabric off a table and draping it over her head.

“Curse you, Elements of Harmony!” Pinkie said, looming over Fluttershy, causing her to hide under her long, pink bangs and shiver. Pinkie then rolled across the floor to Rainbow Dash and stood on her hind legs again, forelegs extended straight up.

“My Shadowbolts and booby-traps will stop you, you little foals!” Pinkie said in a gruff voice. Rainbow only laughed and stood up on her hind legs, playfully throwing punches at the Pinkie Pie before falling back down on her forelegs. She then hopped up in the air, wings flaring as Pinkie took off, starting a playful chase around the Carousal Boutique, quickly annoying Rarity as she tried to continue work on Applejack’s dress.

“Girls, I said settle down, or I’m wrapping you two up in a spool of fabric and putting you on the shelf!” she said, as she lost concentration and poked Applejack in the rump with a pin.

“Ow! And if she don’t calm you calm you two wild fillies down, you’re gonna have to deal with this filly, y’all hear?” Applejack snorted.

Pinkie and Rainbow settled back to their cushions, but continued giggling to themselves, making faces and poking at each other.

“Come on, you two. You know that’s not fair. Princess Luna hasn’t caused any trouble since she returned from the moon, and if Princess Celestia says that she forgave her sister and trusts her again, than I trust Luna, too. I mean, everypony makes mistakes and deserves a second chance, right?” Twilight said, looking under Fluttershy’s bangs to coax her back out. She did have a point. Princess Celestia publically forgave Luna, and apologized for their fight one thousand years ago, asking that everypony in Equestria forgive her and treat her with the same respect that they show her.

“I don’t know, Twilight.” Spike said, his head popping up from behind Rarity, his cupcake still magically floating in front of him. “Why would she be so quiet for all this time, then? I wouldn’t put another crazy plot behind her just ye-URP!”

Spike stopped mid-sentence, his cheeks puffing up as a plume of green fire burst from his mouth, scorching his cupcake to ash before swirling and solidifying into a scroll sealed with the royal emblem of the Princesses.

“Wow, a message from the Princess, already? We’ve only seen her last night. What could this be?” Twilight said, quickly hopping up from her floor cushion and breaking the seal with her magic, hovering it in front of her. She inspected the message, her eyes darting from side to side as her friends waited patiently for any word about the contents. Twilights eyes widened, a small gasp escaping her mouth as she blinked in disbelief.

“Well, don’t hold us all in suspense, darling.” Rarity said, slowly dropping her sewing items to the table behind her. “What does it say?”

“Not bad news is it, Twi?” asked Applejack.

“It’s not from Celestia. It’s… from Princess Luna.”

The entire room was in shock; A letter from Princess Luna? They haven’t seen her since her defeat at their hooves in the ancient castle of the Royal Pony Sisters. They haven’t even heard one law, one announcement, one single word about her since she appeared with her sister at the Summer Sun Celebration after the battle. Twilight read the letter aloud to her friends;

“Dear Twilight Sparkle,

I humbly request the help of the Elements of Harmony for a very important task. Last night, a visitor arrived at the palace under very unique circumstances, and is in dire need of special assistance. My sister is currently researching ways to assist him in his journey, and cannot help in the manner he needs at the moment. And even though I have already helped him in many ways, due to my long absence from Equestria, I find that I am lacking in some of the basic tools our new friend needs. That is why I am asking your help; all of you have a wide variety of skills and life experiences that I feel will help him to realize his full potential. I feel this will most likely take a few days to accomplish, so a prompt response to this letter is of the utmost importance. Also, I realize that I may be springing this on all of you suddenly, and, thought I would like it to be so, if any number of you cannot attend, I will understand. I patiently await your response.

Sincerely yours,

Princess Luna

P.S.

On a personal note, I realize that I might not be any of your favorite pony. My past actions may forever hold a dark cloud over my head, and I will have to live with that for the rest of my immortal life. But I beg you; please put aside any negative feelings you may have for me. This is about helping a new friend in need. Please let me know as soon as possible when you are ready, and I will have you brought to the palace right away.”

===

A puff of smoke and the scroll was gone, leaving a very worried author behind. Luna placed the quill in the inkwell and let out a deep sigh.

“Oh, what if they don’t respond? What if they think it’s a trap or something? I knew I should have gone in person! I could have explained it better. Tia is always so much better at writing letters than I.” she thought, trotting away from the desk, shaking her head.

“No, don’t think like that Luna. Celestia always talks about how reliable and helpful they are. They will respond. I just hope they can help Midnight…”

===

The mares stared at Twilight, mouths open in shock as she read. Luna had never sent Twilight a letter before. As far as they all knew, she had stayed out of sight since she returned to Equestria. The fact that this was the first word they had heard from her, addressing them directly was quite a shock. For a few moments, the friends just looked at each other in stunned disbelief, before Spike finally broke the silence.

“What are you going to do, Twilight? You can’t ignore an order from the princess.”

“I know, Spike. I’ll go, if she feels I could somehow be of assistance. But what could we possibly have to offer this lost traveler?” Twilight said, magically rolling the scroll up and sending it back over to Spike.

“Yeah,” added Rainbow Dash. “and what if it’s a trap, or something? She IS Nightmare Moon, after all. This could be, like, some plot to get us out of the way before she strikes again, or something.”

“Stop now, Rainbow. Just because it’s from ‘Princess Luna’ doesn’t mean it has to be something sinister.” Rarity said, emphasizing her name to Rainbow.

“I don’t know, Rarity. I just don’t trust it, that’s all.” She said, hovering in place as she crossed her forelegs. Rarity tossed her hair to one side and levitated her work glasses to the desk with her other materials.

“Well, then, you’ll just have to come with me when I go to the palace, to make sure it’s all on the up and up.”

“You’re going to respond, too?” Twilight asked, smiling as her worries started to slip away.

“Of course, dearie!” she said, already trotting over to the back room. In a moment she returned with a large suitcase hovering behind her. “Any reason to visit Canterlot again!”

Twilight’s ears slumped as she rolled her eyes. “Glad to see you have your priorities in order.”

“Aw, shoot,hun. Go ahead and count me in, too. The farm’s gonna be quiet now for a couple weeks till the apples start getting ready for bucking, again.” Applejack said as she hopped down from the platform.

“Me, too.” came a quiet voice from the floor cushion against the wall. Fluttershy stood up with a smile and walked over to her friends. “The little woodland creatures have been in particularly good health lately, so I have lots of time on my hooves right now.”

“Woo-HOO! This is gonna be GREAT!!! Field trip to the Royal Palace!!!” Pinkie Pie yelled as she hopped up behind the group and pulled everypony into a tight group hug. She released enough for her friends to catch their breath, and then turned her attention to Rainbow Dash, still hovering over them.

“Well, Dashie? Whataya say? You coming, too?” Pinkie said with a wide smile.

“It won’t be the same without ya, fly-girl.” said Applejack.

She stayed in the air, looking over a forehoof as she pondered.

“I don’t know… I might have to think about it some more…”

“Maybe now BOTH princesses will put in a good word for you with the Wonderbolts, if you come.” Fluttershy said, giving Twilight a smile and wink. Rainbow’s eyes went wide as her ears perked up, the idea of both princesses endorsing her sounding too tempting to pass up.

“You think she would really do that?! REALLY?!” Fluttershy giggled behind her long, pink bangs.

“There’s only one way to find out, Rainbow Dash.” Rainbow looped in place once, and dropped down with her friends.

“Well, then let’s get this show on the road! There’s a pony that needs the help of the Elements of Harmony!” she said, hopping in place before joining Pinkie in the group hug. The friends grunted from the tight grip of the hug and laughed the moment they were able to breathe normal again, all of them liking the idea of visiting the royal palace again more by the minute.

“I could get Sweetie Belle to run the Carousel on a compressed schedule while I’m gone.” Rarity said.

“Some ponies on the weather crew owe me some favors. I totally could get some time off.” Rainbow said.

“Great! I KNOW the Cakes will let me have some time off! They’re ALWAYS telling me to get out of the shop! They might even pack for me!” Pinkie Pie said with a large grin, prompting several nervous looks from her friends. The girls took off their tattered dresses and tossed them to Spike, who placed them in Rarity’s storage closet to be repaired another day. One by one, they went outside the shop, all going over their plans for taking at least a week off of all their usual routines.

“Alright, girls,” Twilight said. “Get yourselves to the library at sundown, and we’ll be on our way. Spike and I will notify Princess Luna now to send our ride there, so don’t be late. See you all, soon.”

They each took off for home, excited by prospect of doing another favor, for the first time, for Luna. Pinkie watched as her friends trotted and flew off, then started bouncing down the street towards Sugar Cube Corner, giddy at the sudden thought of maybe throwing a party for a new friend they would soon meet. She never noticed the two ponies in front of her until she bounced down between them, almost knocking both over.

“Hey! Watch it, gumball!” the unicorn mare said angrily.

“Oops! Sorry there, you two!”

“You’re lucky we’re in a hurry, you little ball of frizz!” the large pegasus stallion said with a sneer.

They continued along, leaving Pinkie Pie wondering what could have put them in such a bad mood. She continued bouncing home, but slowly bounced to a stop.

“Wait, I don’t know those two. A unicorn mare with a white coat and black mane, and a pegasus stallion with a black coat and a white mane… they must be new in town! Oh, but I think their welcoming party is gonna have to wait. I gotta get ready to go!” She continued bouncing home. “I’ll just have to throw them one when I get back.  As soon as possible, too. They both seem grumpy-wumpy from an obviously long day of moving.”

===

Two ponies made their way out of town; far from Rarity’s Carousel Boutique, far from the library, father still from Sweet Apple Acres, out to the very edge of the Everfree Forest. The two ponies felt a lot more at home in the darker, more foreboding surroundings they now rested in than the bright, sunny comfort of Ponyville. They’re matching colors somehow giving off a sense of something darker, making the usually aggressive wildlife of the forest shy away. The unicorn mare and pegasus stallion entered a small clearing behind a large bush, not far off the barely noticeable path. They both lay down in front of a large puddle of rain water, their forelegs out in front of them, towards it.

“Let’s make the report.” the pegasus said, waving his mane to one side. The unicorn’s horn began to glow with an eerie black light. She pointed it at the puddle, causing it to hiss and bubble. In a moment, the puddle began to boil, the water evaporating out of it and collecting in a ball of hot steam before them, held in place by her magic. She stopped her spell when the puddle was dry, both gazing deep into the swirling ball of steam in front of them. Slowly, an image appeared in the haze. A dark silhouette of a creature’s face appeared before them, formed out of the fog. Both ponies bowed their heads as their master’s image appeared before them.

“Ah, my lovely terror twins, how you been? Crash, looking menacing as ever, I see.” The creature said, his dark voice coming through as an eerie hiss through the steam.

“Thank you, master.” The large pegasus answered, bowing his head.

“And Burn. Doing something different lately with your mane, my dear?” the creature inquired.

“Letting it grow out a bit, master.” The unicorn said with a grin.

“Very nice. Well, what have you two discovered?”

“You were right, master. The palace sent for the Elements of Harmony.” Crash said.

“We arrived just in time to find them already making plans to leave. They are to be transported there tonight.” The unicorn added.

“Ah, yes. No doubt to talk things out with the princesses’ new little ‘pet project.’ His showing up was not expected, and definitely not wanted, but we are not entirely unprepared. I know of a few ways we can show him some real Equestrian hospitality. Right, my warriors?”

The two ponies chuckled a bit, wicked smiles playing across their faces.

“Very soon, we will acquire the princess, and then nothing will stand in our way. I’ve waited more than 3,000 years to finally have this plan come together. I will succeed where my brother failed, and soon, Celestia’s sun and Luna’s moon will set on this world for the last time.” The creature grinned at his two servants, letting out a growl.

“You two are to watch those six silly little fillies until they leave. I’ll send for you to come to Canterlot as soon as they get there. I want you nearby when things start getting out of control. Understand?”

“Yes, master.” The two said in unison. The creatures eyes glowed a dark red as the last of the steam disappeared into the open air, leaving them laying on the forest floor, ready to go carry out their new orders.

===

The creature shifted its body back away from the viewing mirror after talking with his soldiers, confident that they would not fail in their tasks. A heavy, taloned paw reached down to a plate of severed unicorn horns and picked one up. The creatures tossed the horn into its mouth. It crunched and chewed, sparks flashing from the horn as it broke to pieces as it disappeared down his throat.

“Oh, I do grow tired of this world of happy, sunny perfection and joyful, pastel-colored creatures.”

The creature arched its back and curled up in the dark, pondering its next move.

“I will so enjoy… bringing it all to an end.”

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