"Tomorrow," Acropolis stood before the Lunar Guard in the barracks in his new armor, It shimmered in the candle light. Everypony in full armor, prepared for their leaders orders. The last two weeks had been tough for the Lunar guards. Luna's transformation and Acropolis' and Rune's swift reclamation of their senses had strained relations with the common pony. But Acropolis had bigger issues than public opinion. "Tomorrow, Hannibal will kill again. Somewhere, somepony, in Canterlot will die. Violently." He paused and looked over at Rune. She stood beside him in her armor. Beside her stood Coco, across next to Acropolis stood Gumshoe. "I give one order, when you find Hannibal. Kill him on the spot. Give him no mercy, for he will give you none in return. None shall stand before the Lunar Guard!"

"NONE SHALL STAND!" All the guards shouted at once.

"That went well." Gumshoe commented as the captain and company sat down around the captains table. Reports were strewn about the table. Acropolis was back and so was his relaxed filing system.

"Quite well, Sir." Coco chuckled slightly as she spoke.

"Really? I thought that was terrible. One good thing about being mad, I gave better speeches." Acropolis chuckled as he stretched his wings, they cracked and popped loudly as he did.  

"Honestly, I never did like your speeches while you were mad." Coco bopped Acro on his shoulder casting him a sly grin.

"Regardless of the quality of your speeches," Rune put down her book and readjusted her glasses while bumping Acropolis slightly with her hips. "Hannibal will kill again if we don't find him first."

"Agreed, but we have no clues, Rune." Gumshoe fidgeted, "Nothing substantial, all we have to go on is hearsay. Not that I dont trust your account, sir."

"No, its fine Gumshoe." Acropolis sighed. Gumshoe had not been the first to question his accounts or loyalties. Acting Captain Flash Sentry had made a point of cornering him after Luna's display and interrogating him thoroughly, stopping just short of tying him to a chair. In all honesty Acropolis like having Sentry constantly at his throat, kept him on his toes. "Me and Rune were compromised, and because of that we must earn everyponies trust back. And one of the first steps is to catch Hannibal."

Hannibal let out a hearty laugh, it echoed in the cold nights air adding to its chill. Grand Agora stood before him, his top hat tipped to one side and his eyes glowing a soft red. The pair met in one of Canterlots many gardens as the moon lilies illuminated them with a soft blue glow.

"What is so funny? Your master gave you an order." Agora's tone was harsh and gravely.

"Hehe, You've never given me a target before." Hannibal cast Agora a sly glance. "Why this pony? Why her?"

"You need to keep Acropolis' attention away from me." Agora began to circle Hannibal. "I do not like you dilly dallying on your task but I do need you to keep the good captain chasing you. The more he focuses on you the less attention him and his guard will pay me."

"I think I will pay this mare a visit." Hannibal's smile betrayed his glee at the thought. "Acropolis will chase me to the gates of Tartarus."

"Spinneret!" Rune called out down the hall. Spinneret had began to reclaim her skills as a seamstress, and was delivering some of her work to one of the Lunar librarians. She had quickly became the Lunar Guards go to seamstress for all sewing or textile needs.

"Ah, Rune Shift!" Spinneret quickly excused herself from her client and trotted over to speak with Rune. "How have you been? I've been worried, you and Captain Acropolis went through quiet the ordeal."

"We've been okay," Rune thought back to the last few weeks, "Honestly, I'm just glad we can get back to work. Research waits for no mare" She gave a chuckle. She knew Spinneret had a hard time with her brothers disappearance, and was glad to see her in good spirits and practicing her craft once more.

"Yes, well, that is good, I was quite worried that you two were dead or worse, traitors." Spinneret's soft smile gave Rune some comfort. The word traitor echoed in Rune's mind, like church bells in the distance. For a moment she could hear static, and as quickly as it came it left.

"Being dead certainly beats being crazy at this point." Rune smiled.

"Agreed, I would be beside myself if anything would happen to you or Acropolis. You and the Captain have become like family to me." Her mind wandered to their helping her deal with her brothers disappearance. "I will never forget your kindness."

"Think nothing of it." Acropolis called out as he rounded the corner.

"Acropolis!" Spinneret lit up at the sight of the captain.

"Glad to see you in spirits and in Canterlot Spini, but in all seriousness. You should leave town." Acropolis' tone became serious. "Hannibal, the pony who was trapped in the helmet your brother stole, is in Canterlot. And he's not here for the garden parties."

"I'll be careful, as always. You forget, Acropolis, I grew up in Ponyville. Dangerville, Equestria." She chuckled.

"Right, right. Anyways I must go. I have to prepare to catch Hannibal." Acropolis bowed his head slightly and left the girls alone in the hall.

"Hes terrified." Spini broke the silence.

"To his core." Rune spoke softly.

Brigade sat alone on his balcony, the moon shinning down on him. Luna's moon, now ordained with Luna's visage, he once loved the sight of the silver orb but now it seemed to taunt him. He looked up at it, clenching his drink in his magic. His mind wandered from his reuniting with Acropolis at the train station to Glint and her power hungry mother to Celestia and the relationship between the Celestial Sisters. He was perplexed by all of it, he couldn't understand the madness that would drive his friend to attempt the thing she had. Of course he couldn't, he wasn't damaged like Acropolis or Rune. He could hear faint clanging of sword on carapace and orders being shouted. He shook the sounds from his ears as his eyes wandered to the spear and shield that sat on his armor rack. The dark metals seemed to suck what little light was in the room out of it. He had sworn himself to Celestia, to the light, to protecting Canterlots citizens. But, the light lacked the power to defend against true threats to Canterlot and her citizens. He saw as much during the changelings invasion. A sliver of light ran up the blade of the spear as if asking him to pick it up. He glared at the spearhead, remembering Luna's proposal. A single word spoken in Luna's voice echoed in his ears, Panzer. His massive form cut the silhouette of his balcony as he downed another drink and gave a heavy sigh.

"What am I to do? I am torn between Princesses, and," He paused and looked around, "sworn protector of a changeling." He took another swig. "I fear my efforts may be in vain. Celestia may be the shield, but Luna is the sword. I am beginning to realize our enemies care not for shields." He pondered his glass before he took a slow sip. A chuckle slowly escaped him. "luckily for me, I carry both."

"Princess." Chrysalis bowed deeply before Princess Luna. Glint bowed down next to her mother. Princess Luna sat upon her newly created throne and much like the throne pedestal the throne room had been redecorated to reflect the new duality in leadership. On the right side was golds, white marbles, and bright yarns, on the left were silvers, dark granite, and purple satin. During the day the room was warm and bright and at night the room sparkled in the cool light. Many had taken Luna's transformation hard, especially those who were present at Nightmare Moons return. And as expected even more of her beloved ponies feared her. Luna knew she couldn't waver in her resolve to protect Canterlot and her citizens, after all she was mad, not stupid.      

"Chrysalis, Glint, it is good to see you." Luna's voice was soft, her size may have changed but her demeanor and kindness hadn't. "I feared you had left Canterlot during the bedlam."

"Never my queen," Chrysalis' quip made Luna smile. "Canterlot is quickly becoming our home."

"I am glad to hear that, I feared I had lost your council." Luna's smile was warm. She had indeed liked Chrysalis' advice, even if it was against her better judgement. In Luna's mind Chrysalis represented how she could have gone, and liked having her around if nothing more than as a reminder. That and her changeling workforce she was promised was still but talk. "But I doubt you came here for pleasantries, we all know you are not shy about approaching me in my quarters."

"Indeed," Chrysalis stood tall, her crown magically reappears on her head, "I am not sure how to say this delicately."

"Then out with it my queen." Luna returned the quip.

"I require a mate." Her words fell on the throne room and drove it to silence. The moment held slightly to long before before Luna started to chuckle. "I am quite serious Luna, I am starting to begin my cycle and I will require a mate to brood." Glint began snickering at the sight of the imposing Luna holding in her laughter. "Despite my daughters and yours snickering this is a very serious matter."

"Oh, yes it." Luna spoke between chuckles, "The queen is in dire need of a good rutting." Glint could no longer keep in her laughter.

"Enjoyments aside, I will need a mate." Chrysalis' serious tone brought the laughter to halt. "If I do not mate, the cycle will break. And I will become, barren."

"I see, do you require another changeling male or will a pony suitor do?"

"If there were any changeling males." Glint spoke under her voice.

"Understand my meaning, Princess. I merely ask your permission for me and my daughter to travel about in Canterlot. We will find a suitor." Chrysalis bowed deeply.

"Ah, yes. I will allow it. Shall I inform Brigade?"

"No." Glint spoke quickly. "That wont be necessary."

"Glint, he is sworn to protect you and your mother." Luna explained.

"I know," Glint stepped forward, "Its just, I don't want him to see this side of changelings. He is fearful of us enough. For him to see my mothers magic, to see her literally farming mates. I-I cannot let him see that." Luna sat in silence for several minutes as she pondered her answer.

"Alright." Luna's command was relaxed and calculated. "But."

"But?"

"Brigade will be briefed, and you will check in with him regularly." The stars in Luna's mane began to shimmer brighter. "You are guests of Canterlot, but changelings are still considered to be enemies. Stay hidden, please."

"Thank you princess." Chrysalis bowed again and quickly began to leave with Glint.

"Glint, would you stay for a moment?" Luna's request was met with a glance and nod. Chrysalis left and slowly closed the door behind her.

"Princess." Glint bowed her head and did not see Luna come down off her throne. Luna reached out and lifted Glints chin to look into her eyes.

"Glint, you care deeply for Brigade. I can feel it."

"Princess I-"

"You forget as many do," The princess leaned in and whispered, "I can see your dreams."

"I-he-we-I-I-I-I." Glint clammed up, her hearts quivered, her cheeks reddened.

"Relax child. What is between you two is yours to do as you please. But I do give one piece of advice. Do not harvest off him. Brigade is honorable, but he does not take betrayal lightly. If you treat him as food, he will kill you. Regardless of his feelings for you."

"I know Princess, thank you." Glint bowed and quietly left the throne room. After a moment of silence Luna slowly walked over to the windows and looked up at her moon. How it shone tonight.

"Oh, Glint. If you could see his dreams." Luna grinned a wide and toothy grin.

"Sir!" A Lunar Guard stood before Acropolis and Rune Shift. They had been discussing patrol routes and search patterns to try and locate Hannibal.

"Yes, what is it?" Acropolis' tone was harsh, he didn't appreciate being interrupted.

"This was left for you just a moment ago with the barracks guard, sir." The guard produced a blood soaked spindle of white yarn.

"A spindle?" Rune was perplexed by this.

"And who handed this to the guard?" Acropolis took the spindle with his wing as he asked.

"They wore a hood, they said this would help you solve a murder." The guard explained. Acro and Rune examined the spindle for a moment before handing it off to Gumshoe.

"What do you make of it?" Acro barley had the sentence out when Gumshoe spoke.  

"Used, regularly, this isn't the yarn usually on this spindle, usually has purple, black almost. Blood was placed, not at a scene of an attack, deliberate, this is a message." Gumshoe's analysis had silenced everypony except Acropolis.

"Agreed, but what is the message Gumshoe?"

"I believe tomorrow, at this time," Gumshoe looked around the room, "Spinneret will die."