Author's Notes:

Hey there,

I know it's the second chapter and all but I will say that this is my first story to be written and I would love some positive feedback and possibly some suggestions. Aside from that there will be times where characters will act a little OOC. As such I have added the AU tag. I apologize for this but I will try and stick to cannon behavior as much as possible or give reason/background for OOC and cannon behavior blending. You should expect a couple crossovers to occur with other authors.

See ya' in the next chapter.

Two days till her return, two days. I hope you are right about this, old friend. I thought to myself. I walked over to my balcony and readied myself to lower the moon and raise the sun marking the next day for my ponies. The ‘old mare’s tale’ was actually a prediction of one of my closest friends. My sister, albeit still under the control of Nightmare, would return and a chance of saving her tortured soul would rest upon the shoulders of six brave souls. As I got myself ready for the morning I couldn’t keep my mind off of what happened a thousand years ago.

It was one of the worst days for her to lose herself. The signs were there that she was struggling with something. I just don’t know why I didn’t react before she was lost to Nightmare Moon. Yes, I did ask her if anything was wrong. Every time I asked her she would tell me that 'nothing was wrong' or a 'don't worry about me, I'm fine'. Unfortunately, every time I tried to push the subject she would either dismiss it as something for a later time or she would try to dodge it completely.

Morning court was the exact same as any other day. Greet my little ponies, give a blessing to couples here and there who were preparing for their unity with their loved one, deny certain requests of nobles that would bolster themselves at the expense of the economy.

Then there was one stallion, his face obscured by the hood of his cloak. As he approached I serenely requested of him, “Please, my little pony, would you remove your hood so I can see you properly.”

At this he just scoffed, “I am naught but a messenger of great news.” As the cloaked stallion said this, an eerie chill swept through the entirety of the throne room. I looked around and noticed that everything, including the clouds and the sun itself were at a near standstill. A time distortion spell. I turned back to the stallion only to notice that his very own soul was extracted from his body, eyes glossed over as if he was nothing but a marionette with strings attached. Hovering over the lifeless body was an imp, a low level demon, but a demon none the less. "A good friend of…my colleagues’…is coming back, and he WILL claim his PRIZE." The imp implied to me, posture indicating that he knew full well the meaning of his statement.

My mind went racing trying to figure out who the fiend was trying to reference as returning. As for his colleagues, I knew full well whom he was talking about, Mahlaan Zeymahmaar. I then remembered one whose face that I wished I would never have to see again. A thousand and seven years ago! My mind glancing back to the time I last heard that statement. "YOU MAY HAVE DEFEATED ME THIS TIME, BUT I WILL RETURN AND CLAIM MY PRIZE. TILL THEN, SWEET DREAMS DEAR LUNA."

"Oh. And, by the way, I have a little present for you dear princess." The imp cackled, bringing me back to the present. He reached his hand out and touched the head of the lifeless stallion. I was startled by the stallion screaming and clutching his head. "Toodles!" the imp had vanished. Once the imp was gone time seemed to return to normal. The guards were already running up to the screaming stallion as others were backing away in shock. "Please! Somepony! Make it stop!" The once possessed stallion screamed in agony. When the first guard reached the stallion, the stallions head exploded. Many of the guards and a few of the civilians were covered in brain matter and blood. Many of my ponies screamed in shock or fainted from what just transpired. The guardstallion closest to him, however wasn't so lucky.

"HOW WAS THAT GREAT NEWS?! THAT was anything BUT great news!" My nephew, prince Blueblood had seemed to recollect himself quickly enough to blurt out in confusion what was on his mind, and probably every other pony currently in the throne room.

"WE HAVE A GUARD DOWN!" One of my guardsponies went up to the downed guard and checked on him. The guardsmare sighed and softly said, "he's gone. Send regards to the Sentry family. As of ten thirty two, on the nineteenth of June, of the thousandth year after Banishment of Nightmare Moon, Sergeant Stalwart Sentry of the Solar Guard has been confirmed KIA. One of you carry away the headless body, we'll try to identify him later."

I spoke up to try and diffuse the situation at hoof, "My little ponies, please calm down. Day court is adjourned for today. I urge you to return to your homes for the time being."

Shortly afterwards my ponies had left the throne room leaving it empty as it was in the morning, sans the royal guard. Immediately after the throne room was vacated I retired to my room to get a grasp of the situation. It is impossible for that demon to return. I saw Bladesong slay him and send him back to Tartarus. If that lesser demon was implying that there was a way for Night Terror to return...

*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*

"Auntie, are you alright? Is there anything I can do?" Blueblood asked from behind my door. I sigh and allow him in my room, stoic mask put on to hide my true feelings from him. No need to make him worry any more than he already is. "There's no need to hide it from me auntie. I have a pretty good idea as to whom we are up against."

I sat up in my desk and turned to him with an eye brow raised. "Who do you think that we are up against, dear nephew?"

At that moment he looked at me and calmly implied, "that Mahlaan organization that has been around before Nightmare Moon. You know we could always send in the royal guard in to handle the cultists inside their hideouts, but that's not the issue. Is it?" His demeanor softened and looked at me as if he knew what was going on. "I have a feeling that Bladesong will heed your call."

"What makes you think that, dear nephew?" I got out from behind my desk and walked over to my balcony to lower the sun and bring out the moon. I heard him open the door to my room and began to walk out. I look at him and without hesitation he stated, "you're not the only one who talks to him." I hear my door close as he left me to my thoughts.

I went out on a stroll to visit the royal gardens, with one destination in mind. As I looked up at the memorial of Atlas I remember many fond memories with him. The statue is large, even if it is a third his size. The position the statue is in shows him standing tall with his signature XOTBR-16 Chaingun, as he called it, held in his right hand with the barrel of it resting on his right shoulder. His optics looking off into the distance. If that posture doesn't scream heroic, I don't know what will. Protection...He was always there by our side, always ready to charge in at a moments notice. He was, and still is a good friend of mine and Luna's...Luna. I swallowed, forcing down a knot that was forming at the back of my throat and held back my tears. He never got over the fact of what Night Terror did to her. It's not your fault Bladesong, never will be. I looked away to recompose myself. I took a deep breath and spoke.

"Bladesong, if you can hear me, I need to speak with you."

I wait for the mechanized chime of a voice, His voice.

Yes, Princess Celestia? What is it?

I look up to meet the gaze of the optics of the memorial statue, still trying to hold back the tears. “I apologize for waking you, but I am in need of your service once more, Bladesong.”

I am always awake princess...

I chuckled a little bit at his quip. Still has a sense of humor I see.

...but your apology is accepted. What is it you need operation of Titanfall?

I wished I never had to say this, but it is no longer deniable. “Atlas…Night Terror is returning.”

…Understood

“Atlas C. Titan, responding to request…Initiating Titanfall.”