I followed behind Applejack as we crested the stairs to the living room. I spotted Twilight sitting on her couch with Derpy wrapped in her fore legs, Dinky and Sparkler were sitting together on the large chair near by.

As I walked forward Dinky looked up and immediately ran to me jumping into my arms, she nuzzled my chin as she started to cry. I held Dinky tight and returned her nuzzle with a cheek rub to her head. I walked to the couch and sat beside Derpy.

“I just heard. I'm so sorry Derpy, how long has he been missing?”

Derpy pulls away from Twilight and looks to me with red puffy eyes.

“Since...last...night.” Derpy says between sobs. “He never..came back.”

Dinky slides out of my arms and returns to Sparkler.

“Did he say anything? Was he going anywhere?” I ask, patting Derpy on the back.

Derpy shakes her head. “No, he said he was going home to grab something, he just never returned.”

I stand up from the couch and head for the stairs.

“Where are ya going?” Applejack asks, moving to follow me. I reach out and stop her with a hand.

“It seems the place to start my search is Time Turners home, then find out if any pony has seen him since last night.” I reply.

“Then ah'm coming too.”

“No, you need to stay here and comfort Derpy, she needs you more than me.” I give Applejack a smile. “Besides, I need all the practice I can get before my guard training.”

“You told me this wasn't going to happen! Easy in, easy out! That's what you said!”

“Will you calm down! We took him because he's working for that imposter! If he carried on the commander would be hers by now!”

Two hooded figures argue in a cave outside Ponyville, the gagged and tied form of Time Turner lies nearby, a soft whimper coming from him. A figure turns and points at him.

“You have nothing to say! You willingly helped the imposter! We should have killed you but our mission has changed, you get to live...for now.” The figure turns back to his companion. “Heatstroke, we must inform the griffon of our change of plans. Though I suspect she won't like it.”

“I guess your right Nightstar, the princess would want that.” The figure drops his head.

“Have they found anything yet?”

“Nothing, it's like she has vanished, It's....disconcerting.”

One of the ponies turns to Time Turner. “Now it's time for you to go to sleep again, we have some work to do.” The pony zaps Time Turner with a spell and his eyes close. “Good, get him to the fortress and tell the keeper he is not to be harmed.”

“At once, what are you going to do?” The other pony asks.

“I'm going to bring in the commander.”

“I understand, what will you tell him?”

“Only what he needs to know.”

I made my way through town with Derpy's condition on my mind. I never really knew Time Turner but I did know Derpy loved him with all her heart.

I however did know one thing about him, where he lived. It didn't take me long to reach Time Turner's house as it was only a few streets away from Derpy's. I walked up the front path and stood at the front door. I let out a sigh and knocked, as I did however the door swung open.

I walked forward and poked my head in.

“Hello? Mr Turner? It's John here, Derpy's friend. Are you home?”

I got no response to my calls but my gut told me something wasn't right. I push the door open wider and my gut feeling was confirmed, just inside the front door was evidence of some sort of struggle. Paper from a table in the front hallway lay strewn across the floor. That wasn't what I noticed as the big sign of an attack, it was the small blood stains on the hallway wall arranged like somepony got pushed or slammed against it.

I didn't have my sword but I had my ring on, so I activated my armour. When my body was safely enclosed I continued into the house, I walked into several rooms but only the front hallway and main living room showed any signs of activity. I sighed as I returned to the front hallway and put a finger across the blood on the wall and frowned as the blood was dry. I was about to deactivate my armour when I heard something smash coming from the kitchen area.

I slowly made my way to the kitchen door and pressed my left hand against the door, in one swift motion I flung the door open and tackled a pony to the ground. I roll the pony over and brought up my glowing right hand to the pony's face.

“No! Don't! It's me!” The pony shouts putting her hooves up to her face.

“Sparkler? What in the hell are you doing here?” I ask Derpy's daughter as I help her to her hooves.

“I came to help, I need to know why he lied to my mother.” Sparkler says, looking up at me. “And why he was spying on you.”

I sigh and nod. “Ok fine, just don't wonder off. It looks like a struggle took place here, I found blood on the hallway wall.” Sparkler starts to look horrified but I hold up a hand. “Don't worry who ever took him is long gone.”

“I don't really know what to do John, how do you handle something like this?”

I shake my head. “Actually at this point I'm just winging it, though I have seen enough cop shows on T.V to fill in the blanks.” I place my hand over Sparklers mouth as she goes to say something. “Did you hear that?” There was a slight bump from up stairs. “Ok, I heard that.”

Me and Sparkler quietly head upstairs as the sounds of movement continue. I look back to Sparkler and she gives me a nod, though I see the slight fear she was trying to hold back.

“Maybe you should wait downstairs?” I whisper.

“The safest place is by your side, everypony knows that.” Sparkler whispers back. “Besides, you have a nice butt.”

My eyes go wide. “Uh.”

“Ugh, Rainbow Dash has set me up hasn't she? Humans don't see it as a compliment, do they?”

“Actually, we do. Just mainly from our special someponies.” I say, giving her a smile.

“Oh, it's that kind of compliment.” Sparkler replies, her face going bright red.

I open my mouth to reply but a loud thump is heard and I snap my head to it, I turn my gaze back to Sparkler and put a finger to my lips. Sparkler nods and we continue our slow ascent upstairs.

We both reach the top stair and stop, listening for any sound of intrusion. The thump is heard again coming from a door to my right, I flick my right arm and change it into a glowing green blade. I slowly approach the door and give it a slight push, it was shut. I reach for the door handle and slowly turn it, the door clicks as the latch comes away from the door frame. My heart was pounding heavily in my chest as I fought the urge to smash the door in.

I turn my gaze to sparkler and was happy to see she was still at the top step of the stairs. I look back at the door and with one movement I fling it open. What greeted me was very unexpected.

A pony was sitting in a chair in the middle of the bedroom, the pony had a black clock on but the hood was down.

“Ah, we finally meet.” The pony says. “ My name is Nightstar and I know who you are commander.”

I frown and raise my green blade up.

“Where's Time Turner?” I ask.

“He is with us, along with several of your close friends.” The pony replies.

“You've taken other too!?” I shout.

“Commander please calm your-”

The pony doesn't finish as I rush forward and grab his throat.

“Tell where they are!” I shout in the pony's face.

“I...can't!”

“Why not!”

“I can take you to them but I need to tell you something!” The pony says.

I loosen my grip and the pony coughs a few times.

“Tell me! Or I kill you here and now!”

The pony sighs. “Ok, three months ago we received information that Princess Luna wasn't who she says she is.”

“And who's we?” I ask.

“I can't tell you, not yet.”

“I'm getting sick of this! You either tell me everything or I'm leaving and trust me you don't want me to do that!” I says, swiping my right hand through the air. “Now spill!”

“Ok! Ok!...One thousand years ago Princess Luna created a spy network that encompassed all of Equestria, however it was done without her sisters consent. This spy network was telepathically linked to Luna herself, she would know of something as we discover it. When Nightmare Moon was banished this network was broken, but we endured because we had several fall back plans that allowed us to continue to function. After a while we had the network running smooth again and being semi controlled by Luna's personal sages.” The pony pauses and I gesture for him to continue, I also notice Sparkler has arrived by my side. “This small victory however didn't last, when the mortal sages started to die of old age we were left with a huge problem. We had to choose, crumble to nothing or pull in all assets and remain in Equestria. We chose the latter.” The pony stands up and heads to the nearest window, staring out the pony continues. “For ten centuries we have kept to the shadows, helping Equestria in the only way we can, but now it's not enough. The network is failing again, we have no new members join and because of our nature we cannot simply just recruit from the general population.”

“This is fine and all but who are you exactly?” I ask, crossing my arms.

“The name of our organisation is...The moon guards.”

“Wait. The moon guards? Like my new army is-”

“Yes, the Crescent Guards.” The pony cuts me off. “Which is why we had to secure your friends, they are in great danger. Only we can make sure they survive this ordeal. We need your help commander, we cannot save the princess on our own anymore, please help us.” The pony turns and waits for my answer.

I sigh and look to Sparkler. “What do you think?”

Sparkler pulls a face as she thinks. “I don't think he's lying but then I don't know to believe all this.”

I nod. “I want to see my friends, then I'll decide.”

The pony lowers his head. “Ok, just give me a second.”

I watch as the pony pulls out a gem and tosses it to the floor, with one hoof he prods the gem and it lights up. The gem flashes a few time before a ponies head appears above the gem.

“Nightstar? What's happened? Has he said yes yet?”

“I have not.” I say, walking forward so the pony could see me.

“C-Commander! Nightstar what have you done!” The pony shrieks.

“He wanted the truth, he knows everything.”

“Everything!?” The image shouts.

I let out a faint growl of annoyance and step in front of Nightstar.

“Listen hear you ignorant little shit! I had your pony here contact you because I want proof that my friends are all safe! I want to talk to one right now or I swear I'll hunt you down and personally rip your head off!” I wasn't really going to rip the ponies head off but he didn't need to know that.

The pony goes through three things during my tirade. One, he shit himself. Two, he lost all ability to speak and four, he actually did as he was told. Several seconds later a pony mare appears in the gem image.

“Hi John.”

“Roseluck! Thank Luna your alright.”

“I'm fine, so are the others. However, they brought in Mr Turner a few minutes ago and he didn't look good. I'm worried John, we all are.”

“Don't worry Roseluck, if they do anything to you they wont live another day.” I say, turning my head to glance at Nightstar who squirms. “You just keep everyone calm and I'll have this all sorted out.”

“Thanks John and be careful, please.”

I nod. “You know me.”

“Yeah I do and that is what worries me.” Roseluck waves and I return it.

The pony from before steps back into the image. “Was that good enough?”

“Yes, for now.” I turn to Nightstar. “So? What's your plan?”

“P-Plan?” Nightstar asks in shock.

“Yes, you wanted me and now you got me. So you must have some plan.” I say.

“I do.” The image says, raising a hoof. “It's tricky but it might work.”

“Fine tell me, but I swear if it involves me screwing a fake Luna ,you guys can forget it.”

“No it will be nothing like that, though you might get to kill some changelings.”

I grin. “Now that sounds like fun!”