The cry of a lone rooster could be heard echoing through the hills outside Ponyville as the sun peaked above the horizon. At Sweet Apple Acres, the Apple family all slipped out of bed and prepared for a long day of work. Owning and running an Apple Orchard was no easy task, let alone the rest of the farm.

The rooster was perched on a small fence near a cottage not far from Sweet Apple Acres, taking a moment to preen his feathers before bellowing his ritual call once again. If the rooster had been trying extra hard to wake Fluttershy, it had no reason to. She was already wide awake and in full-form worry like it was mid-day.

Inside the cottage, dozens of animals of every kind cried for her attention, filling the small home with a cacophony of animal sounds. Fluttershy tried desperately to calm them down, to figure out what the matter was, but it was to no avail. She fearfully peaked outside, wondering if the Everfree Forest was invading again, but seeing nothing retreated back.

"Please, tell me what's the matter!" she pleaded, but the calamitous chorus of animals voices made it impossible to hear any one of them. Fluttershy sighed in desperation and made her way to the kitchen to try and find food that might calm them. She may have not been able to figure out why, but she knew what every one of those animals was feeling just from looking at them.

They were scared of something. And it was something very bad.

-----

"But how could Luna just up and leave?" Twilight asked as she walked beside Princess Celestia. "I was so sure she had changed for good!"

"As did I," said Celestia in a deep tone of regret. "But it has become apparent that whatever dark forces overtook her the last time may have found a way to influence her again."

Twilight still found herself having a hard time believing it. She had just sat and talked with Luna the day before! Sure, she had been a little aloof but she was ALWAYS aloof. Luna didn't give any sign that she would turn her back on Celestia that very night.

"But, why did she leave? It doesn't make sense at all!" Twilight protested.

"Well, to be honest I don't think I know everything behind it," said Celestia, pausing for a moment and breathing deeply. "But Luna has been lately telling me that she believes I have been ruling unfairly, and that she could do it better than I."

Twilight's brain first stopped out of sheer shock, then raced faster than a Wonderbolt after drinking copious amounts of caffeine as she tried to comprehend what had just been said. Luna thought Celestia was ruling unfairly and wanted to take charge? That was so ridiculously out of character that it was just insane. There had to be something else at play. Luna wouldn't just do that.

"We must find Luna and bring her back before it is too late, and before she forces me to do something that I cannot bear to do again," said Celestia authoritatively. Twilight knew exactly what she was talking about. Celestia had suffered for a millennium over banishing her sister to the moon, and Twilight shuddered to think what would happen to her former teacher should that happen again.

"You're right, Princess, we need to bring her back right away," affirmed Twilight, trying to stand just a little taller and more resolved. She wanted to comfort Celestia, but she did not know exactly how. Twilight's wings opened without her noticing as her mind went over places that she might look for the Princess of the Night.

"There's no need to go out yourself, Princess Twilight," said Celestia, smiling a little. Twilight realized with embarrassment what her wings had done and quickly folded them back to her side. "Luna has not gone far."

"How do you know?"

Celestia beckoned as they walked past a window at the sky, pointing with one of her fore-hoofs. Twilight stared out the window for a moment, trying to see what she was pointing at without looking directly at the bright, morning sun. Then she saw it.

"She lowered the moon!" exclaimed Twilight. "But that...."

"Yes," interrupted Celestia. "It means that whatever Luna is planning, she at least has not given into the idea of an eternal night. That may mean we have some time. "

"Of course, Princess. What should we do?"

"I have sent out the Royal Guards on a search in every direction, and don't worry, I have ordered them not to harm my sister in any way," said Celestia, adding the latter part when she saw a look of worry flit across Twilight's face. "I shall go out and join them in the search."

"What should I do here?" asked Twilight nervously. She felt her heart begin to beat fast fearfully at the idea that Celestia may be leaving her in charge of Canterlot. She definitely wasn't ready for something like that. She felt her cheeks glow hot as she looked at the Princess' slightly amused expression and realized that Celestia could tell what she had been thinking.

"Don't worry, I have already instructed my counselors on what to do to run things here for the day." Twilight breathed a small sigh of relief. "I need you and Spike to attend to another matter. I want you to write a letter to the mayors of the cities around Equestria and send them off as soon as you can. You don't need to explain why Princess Luna has gone missing, but ask them to watch for her. Perhaps if we have more then just Canterlot watching we may find her sooner."

"But how will I know what I write is the right thing?" asked Twilight in her typical display of worry over getting everything exactly right.

"I'm sure you'll do fine, Twilight. I trust you," said Celestia. With that, Celestia turned down a different hallway and out a set of double doors, leaving Twilight alone in the castle. She stood there for a moment, still trying to really take in what was happening. She considered singing about it, but then thought differently of that when she recalled the Princess' last words before she left. Celestia trusted her, and Twilight was not going to let her down!

Twilight's face hardened with determination as she turned and headed back towards her room to find Spike, whom she fully expected to be probably still shaking nervously, wrapped up in the heavy comforter on the bed. They had a lot of letters to write, and having an extra hoof (or claw) would definitely be needed.

-----

It was six hours, 17 minutes, seven paper cuts, and three major cramps later that Twilight sealed the last envelope and once again called for the Attendant. She instructed the dapper, young stallion that this last letter was to go to Seaddle, and closed the door behind him with a loud breath of relief, slumping her back against the door. Many times that day she had wished that she actually could pull off a replication spell, like the one she had tricked Trixie with several months before, but each time she just took a bite of a doughnut and kept writing the same letter. The letter itself was not especially long, but it hadn't really struck Twilight how many cities, towns, and settlements there were in Equestria. Manehatten, Fillydelphia, San Flanksisco, and what seemed like dozens of towns that were even smaller than Ponyville like Appaloosa and Rainbow Falls. Spike had fainted once again when he saw the list of towns that Twilight had requested to be brought to them.

At any rate, they were finally done. Spike was laying on the bed, holding his right wrist and moaning. Twilight levitated a small bag of ice from the desk to the baby dragon languishing on the bed, placing it on his swollen writing claw, before levitating him to his own small bed on the floor. As Twilight headed towards the side of the bed, wanting nothing more than to collapse into it, she glanced out the window. She stopped short as she realized that Celestia was returning. Twilight's heart sank as she saw that Luna was not with her.

She went closer to the window to watch as Celestia turned and began lowering the sun. As the sun finally dipped below the horizon, Twilight watched with rapt attention, looking to see if...

Yes! The moon rose right on schedule. Luna was indeed still fulfilling her duties somewhere, wherever she was. For some reason that was comforting to Twilight as she wiggled under the covers, trying to find a comfortable position with her wings for a few moments. It was only moments before she was asleep

-----

In Ponyville, Fluttershy was busy getting her overfull house of animals to sleep, and fortunately was succeeding much to her relief.

-----

Applejack sat up at the desk in her bedroom, rubbing her face with her front hooves with both fatigue and frustration. In front of her was the annual tax sheet, and Applejack had spent all day trying to figure out how to get it all done, and it looked like she might be up a while longer.

-----

Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie were both at a birthday party for Thunderlane's little brother Rumble, at which the majority of the Ponyville Weather Team was enjoying themselves, singing and playing games late into the night.

-----

Rarity was sound asleep. Like Applejack she had spent all day getting her expenses together and sending in the tax form. She deplored tax day as it always kept her from creating beautiful ensemble.

-----

All were blissfully unaware of what was going on outside. Elsewhere in Ponyville, a mysterious figure slunk through the shadows. Make that several figures. They dart from door to door, post to post, and tree to tree, quietly sticking a special piece of paper to each one. All over the region from Cloudsdale to Manehatten hundreds of them sprint through the night doing the same. Just about an hour after the first flyer was posted, the shadowy figures disappeared into the night, their work complete.

-----

When Twilight awoke she felt very refreshed from a good night's sleep, yawning widely as she stretched her legs. She says good morning to Spike who responds my mumbling incoherently and rolling over in his blankets. Good to know he's not worried thought Twilight. The day Spike woke up early of his own volition would be the day that Twilight worried about him. After a glance at the mirror to make sure that she had no bed-head, Twilight stepped out into the warm, morning sunshine and down the balcony stairs towards the main castle hall.

She hardly noticed the unusual number of guards running around the city that morning.

But she did notice the blue poster that somepony had slapped onto the wall of the staircase. Twilight actually walked right past it at first, but backpedaled up the steps. Using her magic she ripped it off the wall and levitated it in front of her. The poster was titled "The Lies of Celestia," and was decorated with a white moon symbol in the corner along the letters NLR.

Twilight sped read the whole poster which claimed to list everything that Celestia had done to deceive or otherwise burden the citizens of Equestria, which to Twilight ranged from juvenile to just plain outlandish. At the bottom of the page it had in bold letters the words, "Rise Up and Resist the Solar Empire! Join the New Lunar Republic!"

What in the hay is the Solar Empire? thought Twilight. Has Luna just gone mad? How could she expect anypony to take any of this seriously? But more than anything it confirmed that Luna wanted to take control of Equestria for herself.

Twilight flew down the steps and through the doors to the castle, then landing and galloping through the unusually hectic hallways, trying to find the Princess. Guards and advisors of all kinds ran to and fro, and frankly the only reason Twilight was even able to spot her mentor was that fact that Celestia was nearly twice as tall as anyone around her. Twilight galloped over to the small knot of ponies surrounding her, calling for her attention.

"Princess Twilight! I need you to return to Ponyville immediately," said the Princess, not wasting an instant. "I'm worried that the ponies will be frightened, so go. Calm them and let them know that they are safe."

"Of course Princess," responded Twilight Sparkle, and not one to waste any time, she bolted back up the steps to gather her things and the sleepy dragon. 30 minutes later she was on the train to Ponyville.

-----

When Twilight arrived in Ponyville, she was met at the station by Rainbow Dash. That's not entirely accurate. She was nearly hit by a meteorite that turned out to be Rainbow Dash.

"Rainbow!" exclaimed Twilight irritably, shaking off the dust from the impact of Rainbow Dash landing in front of her. She had managed to shatter the wooden platform....again.

"What's all this about?" demanded Rainbow Dash, flying in zig-zag with every question. "Why is Luna threatening the Princess? What the heck is the Solar Empire? Or the Lunar Repub-whatever? WHAT IS GOING ON?!"

"RAINBOW!" yelled Twilight finally, freezing her in place with her magic. Rainbow looked on, quiet now but still obviously angry.

"The Princess sent me here to explain that. Now if you'll let me get to the town hall, I'll be able to explain it once to everypony," she explained evenly. Twilight released Rainbow Dash, who dropped a foot or two before pulling back up into her low hover, then following Twilight into town, with Spike waddling behind both of them. As they walked, other ponies noticed the Princess Twilight, and immediately began following her. Everypony was curious.

When she arrived at town hall she saw that word must have spread, because it was packed with the residents of the small village. Twilight was able to quickly spot her friends in the gathering crowd. Applejack and the rest of the Apple family stood together with Fluttershy and Rarity nearby looking on. Pinkie Pie was bouncing in place towards the other side of the crowd, obviously too excited to hear what was happening, and probably hoping it would be a reason to throw a party. Rainbow Dash circled in air before settling on a low cloud with Blossomforth and Thunderlane.

Twilight went up to the front porch of the Town Hall, where Mayor Mare was already waiting, looking on in concern. As Twilight approached the gray mare she said, "Does this have anything to do with why Luna is missing?"

She had obviously gotten the letter Twilight had sent the day before. She assured the Mayor that she would explain, and stepped up to the ever present podium. Glancing around Twilight could see that there were dozens of the blue posters still hanging on posts and trees around the square, and even some ponies in the crowd were holding them.

"Citizens of Ponyville. No doubt you have seen the notices that have been put up all over, not just Ponyville, but it appears most of Equestria as well. Princess Celestia herself has sent me to tell you what is going on. It has become apparent that Princess Luna, or possibly somepony controlling or impersonating her, is attempting to take control of Equestria."

The crowd of ponies below began to whisper among themselves at this. Twilight guessed many of them had already figured that out from the posters.

"Princess Celestia has promised that the Royal Guards are already searching for Princess Luna, and she wants to assure you that you are not in any danger. She, and I, also ask for your help in finding Luna and also those who may have helped put these signs all over the place. Thank you."

The whispers escalated in volume in the crowd as Twilight left the stage and sauntered over to her friends. Pinkie Pie bounced into to step next to her, but was oddly quiet. Perhaps she was disappointed. Somepony trying to start a revolution was not exactly something to throw a party for, putting it on a very short list in Pinkie's book.

Applejack and Rarity stepped forward to meet Twilight and Pinkie part-way, while Rainbow Dash circled slowly down to the ground next to them.

"Do ya really reckon that Princess Luna is bein' controlled by somepony?" asked Applejack with a furrowed expression.

"That's just it. We don't know," admitted Twilight, frowning as she looked down and poked at the ground with a hoof.

"Well, whoever or whatever it is, we'll give 'em a royal flank-whoopin!" said Rainbow Dash confidently, then looking around as if daring somepony to challenge her right then and there.

"Hopefully it doesn't come to that, Dash," said Twilight

"Yeah, because if everypony was busy fighting, they'd be too busy for parties! And if they're too busy for parties they'd be too busy to have cupcakes or play party games! And if they're too busy for cupcakes and party games then how will anypony have fun? If if nopony can have fun, then that would be the worst, most stupendously, sad thing that has ever happened!"

Pinkie Pie inhaled her first breath since the beginning of that paragraph, and it converted into a long sigh and a small frown.

"Oh, don't worry Pinkie, I'm sure everypony will calm down soon, and we'll be able to throw lots of parties," comforted Fluttershy soothingly, coming up beside her friend and putting a hoof around her in a hug. "Maybe you can throw one today for Angel's birthday."

"OHMYGOSH! It's Angel's birthday!? Why did nopony tell me?" exclaimed Pinkie Pie, back to her hyper self. "Quick! I gotta go get everything ready!"

Twilight couldn't help but chuckle a little as Pinkie Pie sped off into town to gather party supplies. Fluttershy was smiling as well as she took off to follow Pinkie, happy that she had helped her friend feel better. Twilight was happy that she could always count on her friends to help her cheer up when she needed it.

"So what do we do now?" asked Rainbow Dash, who was back to hovering a few feet off the ground, and was slightly more relaxed.

"Exactly what the Princess said, Rainbow. We just watch and wait," replied Twilight.

"Figures," muttered Rainbow Dash.

"Well, I really need to get back to the boutique. I will have to catch up later girls. I am way behind on my work," said Rarity, before trotting off in the direction of the Carousel Boutique.

"I reckon I need to as well," said Applejack. "Applebloom! Big Mac! Let's get goin'! We got plenty of work to do"

"Eeyup."

The rest of the townsfolk had already begun slipping off to continue their daily routines. Twilight noticed many of them ripping off the posters as they went, at the sight of which Rainbow Dash happily volunteered her services by speeding around the square and grabbing all the remaining ones before unceremoniously dumping them in the trash.

Twilight decided she should get home herself. She called to Spike who clambered onto her back once more as they made the short trip to the library. Upon entering she found it in disarray, and a scribbled note on the table showed that the Cutie Mark Crusaders had been in there searching for books on ideas for them to get cutie marks, but they hadn't found anything. Or put anything away. Twilight set to the task of re-shelving the books with Spike, something that, between her research, Rainbow Dash's stunts gone wrong, and the frequency of miniature crisis, was becoming almost a weekly chore.

Luckily she was also getting much faster at it, and it wasn't much more that 90 minutes before the Library was straightened as perfectly as before.

"Anything else, Twilight?" asked Spike, as he finished dusting off a shelf.

"Nope. Thank you, my number one assistant," said Twilight cheerfully. "I think I just need to pick up Owlicious from Fluttershy's cottage and then I think we could call it a night."

Spike seemed about to cheer, when instead he doubled over, clutched his gut, and belched. The green flames materialized a scroll that fell to the library floor.

"A letter from the Princess!" cried Twilight excitedly, picking it up with her magic. "I wonder if they found-"

Twilight stopped short when she realized that the letter was not for her. There on the outside was a small scribbled note that said, "Twilight, please deliver this to Rainbow Dash as soon as possible" and was signed Princess Celestia.

"For Rainbow Dash? Well that must be important if she sent it this way," remarked Spike, scratching his head scales.

"Well, then we better get it to her."

-----

It wasn't too hard to find her. She was still zooming around town finding any of the leftover posters and tossing them. Twilight found her taking off what appeared to be the last one that was stuck to the back of a park bench. Twilight quickly gave her the letter explaining how the Princess had just sent it.

Rainbow Dash looked a little skeptical as she opened the scroll at first, still hovering off the ground. After a few moments, her expression changed to outright shock, and then to something between determination and anger.

"I gotta go," she announced, trying to control her emotions. "Cloudsdale is in trouble."

Rainbow Dash then sped off towards her cloud home, dropping the letter which fell open on the ground. Twilight trotted over and glanced at the letter, picking it up. It read:

Dear Rainbow Dash,

I have just received word from Cloudsdale. It seems that Luna has gained followers there, and they are currently causing fits for the city. I sent the Wonderbolts and some of the Royal Guard to help, but they appear overwhelmed or at the very least evenly matched, and I cannot leave to help myself. I request that you please go and assist, taking any pegasi you can that will volunteer to help bring balance to the city. Please hurry.

Sincerely,

Princess Celestia.

Twilight stared off in the direction that Rainbow Dash headed, too stunned to really form cognizant thoughts. It was actually happening. Luna was trying to take over, and what's more, she had gotten ponies to follow her. Rainbow Dash was loyal almost to a fault, and Twilight knew Dash would go without question. As she folded up the letter, she hoped that whatever happened in Cloudsdale, that Rainbow would be safe, and that it would all end there without spreading any farther. Even then she had a feeling that that hope was already slim.

-----

In a large but dark room, several ponies were gathered. It was late, but the circumstances required it. There were ponies of all three types in the room, quietly whispering one to another, and they were all residents of Ponyville.

"Well, I don't buy the whole 'crazy' thing that Celestia is trying to sell about Luna. I bet she's trying to cover her own tracks," said one white unicorn with wild, blue hair.

"I have to agree with Vinyl. Celestia has made some rather dreadful decisions lately that have made it hard on all of us," said another unicorn.

"But what do we do about it?" asked a light purple pegasus. This open question was at first met with hushed conversation.

"I'll tell ya what I think. I think Luna might have been spot on with some a these here accusations," said an earth pony near the front. "And I think we should join her."

"You mean fight?" asked a gray pegasus hovering near the rafters.

"I sure hope not. But I reckon that if it does come to that, we need to stand up for ourselves, and Luna will help us do just that."

"Then what do we do?" asked the other white unicorn.

"We find a way to talk to Luna and find out the plan she has. 'Til then, we lay low and just do our business."

Mutters of agreement sifted through the crowd of ponies, which in size easily represented half of the village.

The earth pony near the front looked around, and seeing the general agreement, stepped forward more into the light.

"Alright then, we need something to help tell us who's in and who ain't," she said, adjusting her old, brown hat to fit a little better over her light yellow mane. Next Chapter: The Cloudsdale Insurrection Estimated time remaining: 3 Hours, 28 Minutes