"Well, sister?"

"I'm afraid, 'Tia. The Changelings haven't all left, I fear."

"Well, we at least knew before most of them made it in."

"You never did tell me how you knew that..."

"Oh, yes you weren't here..." Celestia stepped back from her window, looking at her sister. "You see, Luna, after your little... ahem, tantrum, I decided that my honor guard was simply not enough. I assembled four ponies, the best in their field, to protect Canterlot, and in turn, Equestria. They found the Changeling hives before they attacked."

"Who are they?"

"Well, I can show you."

It had taken a long time to get this far below Canterlot. The hallway was still brightly lit, the stone ceiling marked by rectangular, glowing lights. The three metal doors had been disguised, in order, as a run-down shack, a rusty basement door, and a brick wall. The stone was vanishing quickly now, becoming refined, reflective steel.

Celestia stopped in front of another door, this one quite plain compared to the others. She held Luna back with a wing, as if waiting for something.

A small camera slid out of the wall, focusing on Celestia, and afterwards, Luna.

"State your name."

"Princess Solis Celestia, and Princess Stellis Luna."

"State your business."

"Routine check-up on my secret service." She said with a smile.

"State password."

"For the Solar Empire." Celestia said clearly, adding quietly, "sorry, Luna. It's old."

"No matter. I'll just change it later."

"What?"

"Enter."

The door slid away into the wall, letting the two Alicorns enter.

"Hey, Celly! Long time no see!" A red unicorn stallion waved from a set of computers. "You brought Luna too? Welcome to your sister's spies, hun!"

Another pony, this one a white pegasus mare, landed in front of them. "Sorry, Princess Luna. Ignore Net Link over there. My name's Rocket Shot. Over there with the weights," a heavy-set lime-green earth stallion nodded, a giant weight balanced on his shoulders, "is Strong Shoulder. Bullet Bash is home with the mare and foals, and out on a mission right now are a unicorn mare named Midnight Mask and her accomplice in crime, a male pegasus named Lucky Hit." She paused, tapping her chin. "They should be back by now."

A door in the ceiling opened up, startling Luna. A blue pegasus fell through, barely managing to slow down before he hit the ground. The other members quickly left what they were doing to run to his side.

Luna found herself quickly alone as her sister joined them, and trotted behind awkwardly.

"Lucky! Lucky, what happened?!"

"Oh my goddess," Rocket Shot whispered, gently rolling him over. "Wings aren't supposed to bend that way. Wrap Up? Wrap Up! Get out here!"

Luna shoved closer to the injured pegasus, briefly seeing a runty white unicorn mare come galloping out of another room, her cutie mark an IV drip.

"L-Lucky? Are you okay?"

He coughed, a dribble of blood sliding out of his mouth. "I'm dying." He whispered. "But Midnight... Midnight was captured..." His eyes started drifting closed.

"Midnight... who has her?" Celestia asked, looking over her sister's shoulder. "Lucky, hang on."

The little mare pushed the Royal Sisters away, planting a set of AED pads on the pegasus' chest. There was a brief yell of 'clear' before Lucky jolted. He didn't move.

"Goddess, Lucky, wake up!" Rocket raced past Wrap, almost tipping the leggy mare over, and put her ear to Lucky's chest. "Damn it! Wake up! We... I can't lose you..."

"He will be missed." Celestia read, the words branded into her mind from reading them so many times. "Lucky Hit, the youngest stallion in my service, has now been laid to rest. Let his spirit meet Sol in heaven."

The few mourners dipped their heads before walking away, Rocket Shot held up by one of Strong's sides. Luna looked up at her sister. "What about Midnight?"

"If whatever force it was manged to capture her and kill Lucky, there's no chance she's alive."

"You're going to leave her?"

"She gone too, Luna. You don't understand."

"I do so understand! You know what, you can go back and do whatever the heck your fancy rooms do. I'm going to find her."

"I'm not letting you go alone." Celestia growled. "Now go inside."

"Princess, I'll go with her."

Both ponies turned, seeing a tan pegasus shading casually nearby. Unlike the fighting Alicorns, he seemed to have an air of calmness about him, bordering detachment.

"What?" Celestia whispered.

"I, Bullet Bash, transfer the contract of my life and service from Princess Solis Celestia to Princess Stellis Luna, to aid her in the retrieval of special agent Midnight Mask."