Luna reeled back from the sheer force of the attack. She had lost her magical grip on the sun, sending of a large magical discharge. She flew through the air, but used her wings to land on her feet. She ached all over, the battle with the hydra had been hard enough and she hadn't had any rest for nearly two days. The sudden attack certainly didn't help. She turned to face Eastern Spark, grimacing. "S-spark?" she asked, her voice shaking, hoping she wouldn't hear what she thought she might, "what...what are you doing?"

Spark approached the moon princess, slowly, letting a small laugh escape," I am truly sorry Princess, but it is simply something that must be done," Spark said, his horn glowing luminously. He sent a magical lightning bolt at the princess; as she jumped and flew out of the way, a figure bolted out from the corner, clipping Luna in the air and sending her into the ground, she was hit by a bolt from Spark, and doubled over, getting up as quickly as she could. She looked up at the Pegasus flying above, Gyro, he had a look of lightning in his eyes.

"W-why are you two doing this," Luna asked, nervously, a pit in her stomach, face stricken with panic and fear. Gyro snickered as he took flight, streaking towards Luna. She created a magical barrier to block it, but Gyro shot straight through the barrier, sending Luna off balance. She recovered as quickly as she could, firing a bolt of arcane energy at Gyro, missing the mark, but causing Gyro to change his course, slowing him down. Her focus turned to Spark, his horn glowing, as he approached, ready to strike. He fired a bolt of lightning from his horn and Luna countered in similar manner. The two spells locked and the pushed at each other. Spark was much stronger than Luna had expected, but she thought that she should be able to beat him one on one. The princess kept on eye on Gyro, making sure not to get blindsided. She was just about to overpower Spark's spell when something barreled into her. Spark's bolt rushed forward, and hit the stairs leading up to throne behind Luna, causing a small explosion, sending the princess hurdling through the air. She slid to a stop around the center of the throne room.

Luna got up slowly, pain shot through her body. She looked up and faced her attackers; Sterling Moon looked back along side Gyro and Spark. She couldn't believe what was happening, her and sister's most trusted advisors were, attacking her. She only uttered the phrase, "why...?"

The three began another series of attacks, Gyro swept in aiming for her side, she barely moved out of the way as Sterling attacked from the flank. Luna got up on her hind legs, and pushed Sterling away. Eastern fired a fountain of sparks from his horn, singeing Luna. As Luna went back on all four, she mare-slapped him.

Luna could hardly breathe at this point, she was exhausted. She knew she couldn't do this for much longer. The three came around again, Sterling got by her left flank and bucked her left hind leg from under her. Gyro looped around above her and drove himself into Luna's chest, sending her flying almost straight up into the air . Spark stepped forward, horn glowing, he launched a large, dark purple ball of magic at Luna. The princess braced herself, expecting this to be the blow that would finish her.

The princess was hit by the magical orb, it wrapped her in pure magical energy. She crashed to the ground. 'This is the end,' she thought. But, oddly, she felt very little pain from the spell. However, her muscles tightened and she couldn't move. She opened her eyes, as she looked at her body. She was tethered to magical chains. Glowing a deep purple, similar to the spell Spark had cast. She struggled to move, and break free with her magic, but it was to no avail.

"Do with me what you will, Spark, I will gladly die for Equestria," Luna said with obvious fear in her voice.

"How noble princess. I suppose you should hope your sister feels the same way," Spark said grinning as he conjured a magical dagger.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Rainbow Dash had heard the boom from her cloud home above Ponyville. She had woken up much earlier than she normally did, and she was intent on seeing what had caused the fuss. She soared through the air, through the thick clouds that still covered much of Equestria. She was rather annoyed by this - it made it hard for her to practice some of her new tricks. The day before, she had crashed more than once thanks to the clouds.

She heard blasts in the distance. Rainbow sped up, and dropped beneath the clouds to get a better look. She saw flashes in the distance. Rainbow began to really worry.

What was going on?

She had just begun to go full speed when, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Pinkie Pie bouncing away from a small group of armed ponies. Rainbow Dash sped to her friend's aid. Pinkie had gotten herself surrounded by the ponies. They wore armor similar to the Equestria Royal Guard, but it was a light blue instead of the usual gold. They weren't all pegasi either, they had been a mix of earth ponies, unicorns, and pegasi. They surrounded Pinkie Pie and began to close in. They approached surprisingly slow, which was good reason to believe that Pinkie Pie had escaped them more than once. Rainbow Dash focused focused on getting to Pinkie Pie before they could. Rainbow streaked past the ponies, crashing into Pinkie, sending them and about three of Pinkie's attackers flying.

Dash felt a sharp pain in her wing as she tried to get up. She had landed on it awkwardly, she could barely move it with sending a shooting pain through her body.

"Hi Dahsie!" Pinkie Pie squeaked," these Chasey McChasertons would have gotten me if you hadn't shown up!" The pink pony looked at Dash's gimped wing. "Are you okay Dashie?" she asked concerned, the attackers closing in once again.

"Yeah... I'll be fine," Dash said clearly in a lot of pain," just say the word...and I'll be outta here...ten seconds flat."

"The word! The word!" Pinkie exclaimed noticing that the blue-armored ponies were moving in on them. "Run!" Pinkie yelped as she started quickly bouncing away. Dash tried to take to the air, but couldn't more than a foot or so off the ground before crashing right back into it. Pinkie hopped back to help Rainbow Dash.

"We gotta get away somehow," Pinkie said pointing out the very obvious.

"We won't be able to like this...leave me," Dash said wincing. The pursuers were getting closer and closer.

"You silly filly!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, showing a little frustration with Dash's request," I would never leave a friend a behind! If we can't run away from these Meanie McMeanie Heads, we just have to hide from them, and I know just the place..." Pinkie Pie assured Dash as she helped her injured friend along.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Twilight rushed to wake up Rarity, Fluttershy, and Spike. "Wake up everypony! Wake up! Wake up!" Twilight was nearly screaming.

"Good heavens Twilight, what is all the commotion about.?" Rarity asked groggily. Fluttershy shot straight up and clung to the hanging ceiling light. "Oh, Fluttershy, get down form there you look positively ridiculous," Rarity said sharply, still breaking out of her peaceful slumber.

"Geez, Twi', ever hear of manners?" Spike complained, still with his head beneath his blanket. Twilight pulled him out from his bed.

Fluttershy, finally coming down from the ceiling asked nervously,"What's the matter Twilight? Is...is something wrong?"

"I... can't even explain," Twilight said in a low, panic-stricken voice."J-just look outside." the three ponies and dragon opened the front door. They all gasped as they looked onto the terrifying scene. Ponies where being wrapped in dark, magical chains and pulled into small nexus of some kind, and then disappearing into thin air. It was like a horrifying scene from an Alfred Hitchcolt movie.

"We've got to do something," Twilight said, seeming to regain some of her confidence."Spike, get inside and take a letter to Princess Celestia, let her know what's going on and that we need help right away."

"Yes ma'am," Spike dashed into the library.

"You two, try to help anypony in any way you can," Twilight ordered. The three ponies went into action. Fluttershy desperately tried to pull the ponies who were being yanked into the portals by the magical chains, but it was to no avail. Twilight tried every spell she could think of., but she couldn't break the chains or free anypony. The magic of the chains was just too strong. Rarity even tried a few spells, but much like the other two ponies efforts, they were useless. The group continued feverishly, attempting to save the ponies they could, but manged to help only a very few get away.

A sudden shout came from behind them. Spike. "Rarity, NOOO!" The small purple dragon yelled as he dove in the way of two magical chains coming at the white unicorn from her flank. The chains hit Spike, wrapping him up, and starting to drag him away.

"Spike!" Twilight dove towards the dragon and reached out for his arms, she barely managed to grab on. "It's gonna be okay, Spike, I promise," Twilight assured him. The two lost their grip on each other and Spike was pulled away into the portal.

"Twiliiiight!" Spike yelled as he was pulled in.

"Spike!" Twilight screamed as the portal closed and Spike vanished.

"Oh, Spike..." Twilight whispered, a few tears falling from her eyes. Fluttershy put her hoof gently on Twilight's back; Rarity looked straight at the spot Spike had disappeared in, only looking away to see about a dozen of the blue-armored ponies moving in on them. Fluttershy noticed it too.

"Umm... Tw-Twilight..." Fluttershy nearly whispered. It was a miracle Twilight heard her, the purple pony looked up. Her horn began to glow a brilliant white and the three ponies teleported away.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Princess Celestia arrived in Canterlot, much later than she had hoped thanks to the clouds that covered the sky. She looked through the streets as she flew towards the palace. It was pure chaos - portals opening, fights between the guard and these mysterious blue-armored ponies. The princess frowned at the sight, but she could not stop for anything. She had to find Luna.

She arrived at the castle doors, only to be met by about three dozen of the blue-armored ponies. The princess made quick work of them and soared through the halls of the palace. She knew if Luna was anywhere, she would be in the throne room.

Celestia arrived at the throne room doors, she was terrified of what she might find on the other side. She pushed through her fear and flung the doors open. Spark was waiting, with Luna chained next to him, Sterling and Gyro behind him. The blue unicorn held the magical dagger to Luna's throat, a sinister grin on his face.

"Spark... how could you," Celestia muttered as she walked slowly towards the trio.

"Ah, not so fast Princess," Spark said, bringing the knife closer to her sister's throat.

'Let him do it sister," Luna insisted, "for Equestria..."

"I..." Celestia looked around, Spark's forces began piling into the room,"Spark, why are you..." Celestia knew she had been beat, they knew she wouldn't let her sister be killed.

"Quite simply Celestia, sometimes things need to fall apart, to make way for better things..." Spark said calmly. Celestia found herself being hit by spells, tethering her down with magic chains. The surrounding unicorns fired magical attacks at the princess, ensuring she wouldn't have the power to escape.

Spark approached Celestia, in that moment, a scroll appeared before the princess. The unicorn levitated it in front of his face and read "Dear Princess Celestia..." he snickered as his horn glowed and he set the scroll aflame

"It looks like this is one letter you won't be responding to my dear Princess.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = =

The Elite Guard rushed out of the barracks and into the streets of Canterlot. It was utter madness in the streets. The guards around them fought a losing battle, being pulled into the portals left and right. Most of the Elites stepped forward prepared to go out and help with the fight.

"Negative," Dauphin said calmly, "we need to ensure that Celestia and Luna are safe; Leo, Firefly, Vinh, Gates, you four get to the throne room, make sure Luna is safe, the rest of you, you're with me, we need to find a Celestia." The team acknowledged and went off.

Leo's squad made it to the castle courtyard with relative ease. The chaos in the streets made it easy for them to move quickly without drawing too much attention. The tough part would be getting from the courtyard to the throne room. The courtyard itself was crawling with enemy ponies, but it was the quickest route to the their goal. Leo gave a hoof-signal to the other three ponies. He and Vinh, a white unicorn with short, forest green hair turned around the courtyard's outer wall and let off a great flash with their magic, much like Leo had done wit the hydra back in Manehattan. Gates and Firefly rushed forward, firing their weapons rapidly, connecting with nearly shot. The squad split up into to two groups of two, with Vinh and Gates together, and Firefly and Leo together, moving in opposite directions around the inside walls, going cover to cover with a flash and shoot strategy.

The plan had worked almost flawlessly until they neared the entrance into the castle. Four earth ponies got the jump on Vinh before she could flash. Gates hit one deftly with his staff and bucked another with his hind legs into a low wall. Vihn hit one with an arcane lightning bolt and went back on her legs to buffet the earth pony with her front hooves. As she did, the earth pony’s light-blue chest plate began to glow a dark purple, and set a small ball of magic energy at Vinh, wrapping her in the chains.

"Horse feathers!" Gates yelled as he fired a magic bolt with his staff at the earth pony, sending it tumbling away. Gates saw a motion from Leo signaling him over. He looked at Vinh, still trapped in the magical chains.

''Go rookie, I'll be fine," Vinh assured him as she was pulled into the dark portal.

Gates reluctantly ran over to Leo and Firefly as they entered the castle.

"How in the hay did they use magic?!" Gates half-yelled as they entered the castle."I thought only unicorns could use magic like that?"

"I don't know," Leo said puzzled," but it doesn't matter how or why right now, it matters that they did. We might be in way over our heads on this one, stay focused."

"Might be?" Firefly said wryly rounding a corner," I think that-" the pink pegasus went silent as she saw, dozens of pegasi flying through the halls of the castle, wielding the same weapon she and Gates had.

The team ducked behind a corner, Firefly said confidently,"sir, there's no way we're going to make it through here with all of them here like this."

"Looks like it," Leo responded in a whisper," you have any suggestions?"

"I suggest you let me occupy them," Firefly said unwavering. Leo started to ask if she was sure, but the expression on the pegasus's face said it all.

"Go ahead, good luck," Leo said.

"Likewise, I have a feeling you two need it more than me," she said with a smirk. She took off, drawing the enemies attention long enough for Gates and Leo to pass.

The two had slipped by a few small patrols of the enemy soldiers. They had scarcely been this deep into the palace, a fact that made Leo feel uneasy. They had come close to the throne room doors. It was were already open, there was a good deal of noise coming from inside the door. The two looked in and saw Spark next to Celestia and Gyro, with Celestia chained, Sterling had just been leaving the room, when she spotted the two ponies looking in at them. She called to Spark. He only shook his head slightly, before barking out an order.

"Gyro, take care of them, Sterling, you need to leave as soon as possible, we don't to waste any time," he said with almost no emotion in his voice.

Leo turned to Gates, "Spark?! Those traitors!" He looked at Gyro and his guards coming towards the throne room door. "Rookie, you need to get out of here, tell somebody what's happened here today, I can't buy you much time," he said facing the oncoming ponies completely. "RUN!" Leo yelled as he slammed the throne room door shut.

Gates did as he was told, going into a full gallop. He didn't know where to go, or what to do when he got there the only thing he did know was he had to get out of Canterlot.

Next Chapter: Chapter Five - Turn Tail Estimated time remaining: 3 Hours, 7 Minutes