Applejack hated all this secrecy. It just clashed with her instincts. Her parents and Granny Smith had raised her that telling the truth was always the best and only option. Applejack could just hear her momma now, "I raised ya better than that!" and conking her lightly on the head with her hoof.

But she could also hear her daddy's voice while she worked with him as a filly in the orchard, "Don't go looking for a fight, but always stand up for what's right and for those who can't." She had been younger than Applebloom when she heard those words, but they had always stuck with her. Especially since it had been them living by those words that Applejack was still here, and her parents were not.

And here she was, walking quietly through the still streets of Ponyville just as the moon was reaching its full height, keeping secrets from even some of her closest friends. Especially Twilight. It was painful for Applejack to not just tell how she felt about all of what was going on, but she couldn't bring herself to do that. They had become such good friends, and the last thing she wanted was to crush that little filly's spirit.

That, and because she knew if Twilight found out, so would a certain Rainbow-colored pegasus would too, and Applejack shuddered to think what might happen between them.

Applejack tightened the cloak she had on, hoping to blend better with the shadows than her orange coat would. True she was a lifelong resident of Ponyville, and it was unlikely anypony would actually make anything of seeing her out and about, but with the way things were going she didn't want to take any chances.

Words like 'traitors' were already being thrown around by some. Especially with the news coming out of Cloudsdale that ponies are actually fighting each other.

Applejack finally reached her destination: the Carousel Boutique. She knocked lightly and was quickly let inside by Rarity, who glanced around nervously before shutting the door.

"Howdy, Rarity," said Applejack quietly. "Everypony here yet?"

"Almost," she replied. "We're still waiting on a couple more to show. I do hope they are on time. It is rude to be late."

Applejack just smiled and rolled her eyes a little as she walked into the room. The lights were dimmer that she was used to seeing here. Rarity always showed as much light as possible to show off her fancy dresses and the gems she loved to use. The place looked very strange like this.

As she glanced around at the handful of ponies gathered around and having hushed conversations, Applejack noticed one who shouldn't have been there. A certain little, yellow filly with a big red bow who was hiding under a table. Applejack quietly circled the group until she came up behind her and the white unicorn filly with her.

"When does the meetin' start already?"

"Should be soon. I heard Rarity tell Cloudchaser midnight so it's gotta be soon."

"Which is way past your bedtime, Applebloom," said Applejack evenly. Both little fillies jumped, bumping their heads on the table and nearly knocking off the vase of flowers, which Applejack quickly steadied without taking her eyes of her sister.

"What are you doin' here?" asked Applejack sternly. The two fillies looked at each other, then both started talking at the same time.

"Sweetie Bell spied -"

"Overheard."

"Whatever - Rarity say that"

"There was a secret meeting-"

"and that you would be there-"

"with a bunch of ponies"

"to talk about how to find and help Luna!" they both finished in unison.

Applejack shot a sideways glare at Rarity, who had ambled over when she heard her little sister's voice. Rarity looked acutely embarrassed that she had been so careless, so Applejack didn't push it with her.

"Well, sorry fillies, but the 'secret meetin' part is just what it sounds like. Secret, and no place for fillies. Ya'll just go upstairs and get to bed, and if I catch either of you down here again, you'll both be mucking out all the stalls tomorrow," said Applejack. The fillies got the warning, and bolted up the stairs. Though Applejack suspected that they wouldn't be going to sleep anytime soon.

There was a light knock on the door and everybody held their breath. Applejack idly wondered if that happened everytime tonight as Rarity answered the door and let in two more ponies: Bon Bon and Carrot Top. Rarity nodded at Applejack as they came in signaling to her that everypony was present.

"Alright ya'll, let's get started," said Applejack. The hushed conversations ceased immediately as the ponies turned and gathered around the orange earth pony. It had been a surprise to Applejack when everypony at their first gathering asked her to organize them, and she was still getting used to be looked at as a leader of sorts.

"Let's get go it. Anypony seen or heard anythin' about Princess Luna?"

An awkward silence persisted at first as they waited for somepony to speak first. Two or three looked like they were about to talk, and they all stopped simultaneously seeing the others. This went on and off for about twenty seconds before Applejack finally said pointing, "Stop. You go first."

The unicorn Vinyl Scratch stepped up, pushing her ever-present sunglasses up to her forehead so that she could see better in the dimly-lit boutique.

"I didn't hear anything while I was playing in Manehatten or Fillydelphia the last couple of days," she said, frowning slightly. " And neither did my friends in Baltimare or Paint Louis. From what I saw, all those cities are following after Celestia."

"Dern it," said Applejack among other muttered disappointments throughout the small group.

"But I did hear rumors about Seaddle and Maneapolis, so I set up gigs there over the next couple a days," added Vinyl Scratch.

"Ahright, Thunderlane, what do ya got?" asked Applejack, turning to the black pegasus.

"There's been no way to even get close to Cloudsdale right now," said Thunderlane. Applejack saw him glance away for a moment and figured that fear of accidentally running into Rainbow Dash was part of it. "But I did get some news from a cousin in Rainbow Falls that most of the town there is on our side, and they're looking for her too. She said she'd let us know if Luna showed up."

"Well that's encouraging," chimed in Rarity. "With Appleoosa, Dodge City, and Hoofington all looking too it should only be a matter of time before somepony finds her."

"Yeah, but let's hope it's not somepony with Celestia," said Vinyl darkly.

"Anyways," Applejack cut in. "Anypony else hear anythin?"

"Oh! I did Applejack!" said a loopy voice from above.

"Uh-huh, Derpy. What is it?" said Applejack, watching the clumsy, gray pegasus struggle to fly and talk at the same time.

"Well, uh, I was flying some mail to, uh, Fluttershy and I got lost in the forest," Derpy began.

"Again," Applejack heard Thunderlane mutter in Bon Bon's ear, who chuckled. Derpy didn't hear or at least didn't react.

"And I, uh, was wondering around trying to see where I was, when I, uh, saw Princess Luna," Derpy said happily.

"WHAT!??" said everypony at once. They immediately hushed, remembering that it was supposed to be a secret meeting, but no pony took their eyes off the wall-eyed mare.

"Why in tarnation did ya not say that before?" asked Applejack, mouth slightly open with surprise.

"It wasn't my turn," said Derpy, looping lazily in the air.

"Honey, will you please come down?" asked Mr. Hooves, beckoning to the floor beside him. His wife happily, but clumsily, landed on the floor. "Now will you elaborate for them?"

"Okay. I saw the Princess and I, uh, remembered that we were looking for her so I, uh, walked up and said Hi Princess!," said Derpy, waving her hoof in reenactment. "She looked happy to see me, so I wasn't scared at all. And she said to tell all of you that she would come by later."

"Ya didn't tell anypony not here, did ya?" asked Applejack worriedly. Why of all ponies did Derpy have to be the one to find Luna first? Well it could have been worse. It might of been Twilight or somepony of the like.

"Nope. She told me only to tell her friends," she said. Then she furrowed her brow with scrutiny, which still looked a little funny with her crossed eyes. "You are her friends, right?"

"Yes, of course they are, honey," said Mr. Hooves, who put one leg gently around her neck as she said, "oh that's good."

Applejack breathed a sigh of relief of her own, adjusting her hat.

"Mrs. Hooves, did the Princess specify when?" asked Rarity in her courteous manner.

"Uh....no," said Derpy Hooves disappointingly.

"In any case, at least we know now that the Princess is nearby," drawled Applejack. "Everypony keep a sharp lookout, and we'll meet again just like normal unless somethin' changes. For now, everypony be careful what you say 'round town."

The group began to break up, with low excited whispers at the news the Princess had finally been found, especially so close by. They began leaving in small groups apart from each other, trying not to attract unwanted attention, by which they mostly meant Twilight. While they weren't entirely sure yet, it seemed that almost all of Ponyville's residents at least secretly supported Luna, or were indifferent. Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy fit into that last group. Pinkie Pie was never one to choose sides, and ditto for Fluttershy, so Applejack and Rarity and mutually decided to spare them the choice all together, and it appeared Twilight was having the same thoughts because she was not bringing up any of it around those two either.

Soon, the Hooves shuffled quietly out the door. They were an odd couple to say the least, but it was apparent to everypony that they embodied the term of a match made in heaven. Their departure left Applejack and Rarity alone in the dark boutique, the latter pony tidying up some of the mess.

Applejack went up stairs towards Sweetie Bell's room. She heard the scuffle of hooves on the hardwood floor, which wasn't surprising to Applejack. They had certainly heard the whole thing, so she wouldn't pretend that they didn't. Before she knocked on the door, she wondered for just a moment why Scootaloo wasn't with them when she stopped that thought short. Of course Scootaloo wasn't there, not with her idol off literally fighting for the other side. Applejack felt sympathy for her little sister. She knew exactly what that was like.

"Applebloom, time to go home," said Applejack as she walked in the room. She didn't know whether to laugh or scold them when she found them both lying the the bed and obviously pretending to sleep. So she walked up and "woke them."

"Hey, let's go sleepyhead," said Applejack, adding a sarcastic accent. Applebloom still tried to pretend that she was just waking up, but suffice it to say that neither Applebloom or Sweetie Bell were going to earn acting cutie marks any time soon. Applejack decided not to wait for the charade to end and swept Applebloom up and tossed her precisely onto her own back like a saddlebag.

"Hey! What was that fer?" complained Applebloom indignantly.

"Sneakin around, that's what," teased Applejack as she carried her down the stairs and out the door, saying goodnight to Rarity on the way out. Ponyville was just as dark and still as before, the only light coming from the moon. Applebloom at first wriggled as if to get off, but then must of realized she actually was pretty tired and decided to take the free ride home. Applejack smiled at her little sister as she yawned a little and went a little limp with the day's fatigue.

Applejack peered around a corner carefully, pulling her cloak a little tighter as she made sure that all the lights were off in the library. Twilight liked to stay up late studying, but it appeared tonight that she had gone to bed already. The windows were shut and nothing appeared to move in the tree. The night was totally still, making it possible to see something like that. Satisfied it was clear, Applejack trotted briskly forward through the town and onto the dirt road leading to Sweet Apple Acres.

It wasn't long at all before they reached the edge of the familiar orchards, though Applejack knew from just muscle memory they still had a little ways to go before home. It was Equestria's largest private orchard after all. It was actually the orchard that had driven Applejack to what she was doing now.

Lately, Celestia had been putting in all sorts of crazy laws. They seemed fine on the surface, as they all were angled towards helping ponies in need and trying to stabilize the sometimes wild economy, which Applejack had been all fine and dandy with. But what they really did was bite the business owners for taxes. Sweet Apple Acres had a bumper crop that year, one of the largest they had ever had. The whole family had been so excited, looking forward to extra money for barn repairs, necessary upgrades, and maybe even a real family vacation. But it all went up in smoke. On top of the sudden tax increase, Celestia had suddenly put in a crop requisition to the farmers of Equestria, which forced them to give up close to a quarter of their crops. The Apple family was hit the hardest, seeing as most of them worked orchards. With the new rules, they practically did not even make money. In fact, they almost did worse than the year before.

Rarity had experienced something similar with the Carousel Boutique, and obviously, they weren't the only ones in town.

And that was just not fair. So when Luna seemed to offer an alternative, Applejack, her family, and Rarity took it. While she still wasn't thrilled at the idea, she was ready to help Luna get to a place where she could help them. What had surprised Applejack was just how many of the ponies in her hometown had willingly joined in. Celestia had been so good up until these times, that even they were surprised that so many were ready to answer Luna's call.

Applejack crested the last hill, their home finally coming in view. Applebloom was actually asleep now, snoring softly on her back. She was almost to the front fence, when she felt somepony, or something, watching her. Had somepony seen them and then followed.

"Who's there?" called Applejack to the shaded orchards around her. She scanned the trees, looking for anything out of place. She thought about backing slowly, but decided that she needed to stand her ground. That was the best way to intimidate a predator, and she guessed it would work on ponies too.

Then she saw a shadow, make that several shadows, moving through the apple trees. Applejack knew it would dangerous to run now, especially with Applebloom out like a light and helpless.

Applejack felt her heart skip when she suddenly recognized the shadowy figure.

Luna.

Applejack nearly bowed out of habit, but refrained to keep from spilling Applebloom onto the ground. Instead she stammered a greeting to the Princess, who reacted by smiling.

"Do not fear, dear Applejack," she said, trotting up to the earth pony. She was shorter than Celestia, but she still towered over Applejack. "I have come to request your help. I have been watching for several nights, and I believe you and your friends can help us end this conflict sooner rather than later."

Applejack glanced uncertainly for a moment, not sure what to expect. What the Princess explained to her, was one of the last things she would have ever expected to hear.

And perhaps even less so that she found herself saying, "I'll do it."

Next Chapter: The Night Raiders Estimated time remaining: 3 Hours, 9 Minutes