"How much more walking, Twilight? My legs hurt." Fluttershy asked as she, Twilight, and the rest of their friends trudged through the deep snow towards the crash site of Celestia's helicopter.

"Not much further. According to the map, we've only got about 20 minutes more walking. We can stop and take a break if you'd all like." Twilight responded.

"Yes, please!"
"That would be nice."
"Can we?"
The group complained.

"Alright then, we stop."

Twilight could understand why her 5 friends would be fairly exhausted; not only had they been walking for a whole hour, but for three days they had been on the move constantly. After boarding a train from Ponyville to Canterlot, then a train from Canterlot to Manehatten, and finally Manehatten to Fillydelphia where the group had stayed at a nice Inn overnight and then continued on first by cart and then by hoof to their current location.

It had been an arduous journey, but Twilight was sure that she would discover something be investigating the crash for herself. Twilight had noticed an odd thing about her attitude towards the whole situation; one of her best friends had been killed, yet she had barely felt any sorrow or shed many tears. She felt the reason was that, deep down, she did not feel Celestia was truly gone, it felt like she was still out there somewhere; the thing Twilight was trying to find out was if her feelings were denial or a true feeling to look for the truth behind the incident.

"I don't really know if I want to see the crash." Pinkie Pie spoke quietly, her attitude the polar opposite of her usual happy demeanor.

"It'll be good for you. A bit of closure is always something ponies seek after something like this happens." Rainbow Dash inserted, trying her best to reassure her friend.

Pinkie's response was a short 'hm'.

"Well, are we ready to move on?" Twilight asked.

"I guess."
"Yeah."
"Might as well."
"Mhm."

"Cool, let's keep moving, then!" Twilight exclaimed, anxious to finally reach the crash site.

An almost perfect 20 minutes later, the crash site finally came into view as the group exited from the nearby tree-line, the six pausing as a horrible feeling came to each of their hearts.

"So, this is where it happened," Twilight spoke softly.

"It looks much worse than I imagined," Fluttershy added.

A few moments of silence passed before the group finally continued on to the helicopter itself. Twilight had forgotten she had been the only one that had seen the photographs of the crash, the sights that would unfold for her friends would certainly be more shocking to them than to Twilight. Finally, the six came to the helicopter, Twilight looking over to see Pinkie Pie's eyes wet with tears as she gazed at the wreckage, her mouth hanging open slightly.

"You alright, Pinkie?" Rainbow Dash asked, noticing her friend's anguish as well.

"N-no..."

"This is probably the worst thing I've ever laid eyes on." Rarity spoke.

"I'm gonna agree with you on that one, sister," Applejack added.

Silence fell over the group as they looked upon the wreckage, a feeling of sorrow held in each of their hearts and minds. There was an indescribable sense of awe looking at the still, peaceful wreckage; a feeling of 'I am standing where an unforgettable calamity happened'.

"You really think it was shot down?" Pinkie asked softly, her eyes bloodshot from her previous tears.

"I do, and if I find what I saw in those pictures; I'll be right."

With that, Twilight stepped aside from the group and began towards the front of the wreckage, Pinkie Pie following.

"What were you looking for again?" She inquired.

"There was a puncture hole in the bottom of the nose, and in the pictures, it looked like the hole went all the way through the nose and through the roof." Explained Twilight as she searched for the mentioned puncture.

A loud clunk caused Twilight to look up and see that Rainbow Dash had made her way atop the wreckage and was attempting to climb into what was left of the cabin. The explosion caused by the helicopter's internal load of fuel had not been kind to the structure.

"Do you really want to see what the inside of that thing looks like?" Asked Twilight.

"I figured I could look for things from the inside."

"Alright, be careful. I'm sure there's a lot of broken glass and sharp metal inside there."

Rainbow Dash carefully dropped from the side of the aircraft down into what was left of the charred cabin, snow, and ice covering most of the things inside. The fabric of the seats was completely burnt away, and what parts of the cabin weren't caked with ice and snow were coated in a black soot. Looking past the seats and towards the rear of the helicopter Rainbow saw what appeared to be a suitcase; specifically Celestia's suitcase. It was a little singed, but it had fared better than the rest of the aircraft.

"Hey Twi, I found Celestia's suitcase! Think I should pull it out?"

"Leave it. I don't want to disturb anything here, and besides, I doubt we'll find anything useful inside of it." Twilight's voice echoed in.

Rainbow complied, ignoring the suitcase as she took a step to the front of the cabin. The elevated cockpit was in better condition than the cabin as well; every instrument on the control panel had survived, and the fabric of the seats hadn't been burnt. After a moment of looking around the cockpit, Rainbow's eyes fell upon a blood stain in the left seat, which lead to her discovering dried blood down the back of the seat, on the floor beneath the chair, and on the inside of the window to the left of where the pilot would have sat. She diverted her eyes away and began searching for anything else, a dreadful feeling coming to her emotions.

"I found it!" Twilight spoke loudly, moments later a light tap was audible from the nose.

"What did you find, exactly?" Rainbow responded.

"The hole! I was right, it goes cleanly through the entire engine! Look on the inside and see if you can find the hole!" An excited Twilight explained.

The search was resumed, Rainbow now looking for something specific. Her eyes browsed across everything in the cockpit as she tried to find this hole Twilight had been speaking of. Finally, she found what she had been looking for; in between two gauges on the instrument was a sizable, clean hole, and after a short search she was able to identify where the hole had continued on through the roof.

"I got it! You were right, Twilight; this helicopter was shot down, no doubt about it."

"Of course, I'm right!"

"Well... this is all fine and dandy, but what do you think it means, Twi?" Spoke Applejack, her voice audible to Rainbow Dash from inside the cabin.

"I don't know, honestly. It means one thing for sure; something larger is at play here, this was more than an accident."

"I honestly think we should tell her. Her not knowing is only doing us and her harm." Cloud Drop explained to Star Yield.

"So you tell me that she said that she had never wished for any harm to come to her Sister, and that she's utterly devastated that her Sister is gone, and you want me to tell her 'we faked your Sister's death and have been conspiring to return you to the throne and bring Nightmare Moon back into this world.'?"

"Yes. I've spoken with her in private, and she has said that she wishes to continue what she started a thousand years ago. I agree, she'll be upset when we tell her what we've done without her knowledge or approval, but once we tell her what we've accomplished, I'm sure we'll be able to convince her that this is, indeed, the right thing to do."

Star directed his gaze to the large wooden table of Canterlot Castle's War Room as he contemplated Cloud's words. The two had been discussing various things for almost a half hour; the conversation had begun with Star Yield wishing to be filled in on the plan for searching and recovering Princess Celestia, but over the course of this half hour the conversation evolved into separate issues, the current one involving Princess Luna.

"I suppose you're right. In hindsight, I think we as an organization had poor judgment to keep our actions a secret from our True Leader. Well... how do you suggest we approach Princess Luna with this?"

"Mew!"

Both Cloud's and Star's gazes were directed to the Cloud's white kitten, who was sitting upon a swiveling desk chair some distance away from the two.

"Ask him if he's got any ideas." Star spoke, motioning to the kitten.

Cloud gave a light chuckle.

"I doubt he'll be too helpful. Hard to convey an idea when all you can do is say 'meow'."

In response, the kitten meowed louder than before.

"Oh, great, you've made him angry. Oh, by the way, do you finally have a name for your companion?" Asked Star Yield.

"Yes, I do. His name is Doorbell."

Star Yield peered at Cloud blankly.

"Doorbell? Why would you name the cat Doorbell?"

"Because every time you touch him or address him he makes noise," Cloud explained.

"Don't mind me saying this, Admiral, but this whole situation is basically the sweetest thing I've ever seen."

"Yeah... I get that a lot. I honestly don't care all that much, I figured I would, but I suppose I was wrong about myself."

Star Yield cleared his throat briefly.

"Anyway, kitten aside, we should resume our discussion. I had asked how to approach Princess Luna with this whole thing."

"Oh. Right. Ah, well... I'd say directly. Don't dance around the point; I know from experience that her Majesty becomes irritable when someone doesn't just come out with what they'd like to say."

Star Yield nodded.

"Should we tell her about the torture, and tell her that Celestia was the one that killed our three Brothers?"

Cloud paused as he thought deeply.

"Yes. We tell her everything; without doing so, we'll never be able to make it further than this point with the plan of the New Order. It's ridiculous for our only hindrance to be the single person we're helping."

"Agreed."

With that, Cloud Drop and Star Yield made for the door of the War Room with their new goal in mind.

"Mew!"

The two paused and directed their attention to Doorbell.

"I guess we can't leave him in here." Cloud spoke, walking back into the War Room as he gently took Doorbell under his wing, and with his package in toe he continued on with Star Yield.

Upon arriving at the door to Princess Luna's personal quarters, Cloud Drop paused before one of the Guardsmen at the door and off-loaded his cargo.

"Watch this thing for a moment, please. We've got business to attend to, and I'd like to not have him in our company." Cloud informed the Guardsman.

"Oh... Yes, Sir!" The Guardsman saluted.

With that, Cloud Drop followed by Star Yield entered the Princess' quarters.

"Congratulations, your morning just became more interesting than mine." The Guardsman adjacent to the one who had received the kitten spoke.

"Mh, good morning, Admiral... and Star Yield. What brings you two by at such an hour?" Princess Luna spoke tiredly, it was clear that she had been getting ready for sleep as she had a sleeping mask resting around her neck by its straps.

"Well, Your Highness, the Admiral and I have some news for you." Star Yield answered, his eyes shifting from their normal appearance to the azure, slit pupil look that signified his possession of the Aura.

His action seemed to snap Luna from her tired state, her posture becoming straighter and her eyes widening as she looked into Star's eyes.

"You... you have it. There is no possible way for you to have it! Where did you get it, tell me!" Luna exclaimed in a panicked tone.

"Please, your highness, there is no need to be so worried, I assure you that myself, the Admiral, and the rest of our Brothers and Sisters only wish you well."

Princess Luna continued to stare with a mixture of bewilderment, fear, and shock, her mind trying to comprehend how the two before her, along with many others according to Star Yield, had acquired a spell she had last cast upon someone a full thousand years ago.

"There... there is no way for you to have it." She repeated, her head shaking side to side.

"As I said, you shouldn't be so concerned with this. I do feel bad that we kept the existence of the New Order from your knowledge for so long, but the Admiral finally convinced me to tell you about this whole thing. I know, it's shocking, and very sudden, but from this point on we'll be able to accomplish the goals you have held for the past thousand years, your Majesty."

The Princess continued to stand with a look of bewilderment as she tried to piece things together in her mind.

"You and this New Order killed my sister, didn't you?" Luna asked darkly, taking a step closer to Star Yield.

"Actually, Princess Celestia is still alive, your Highness. I am truly sorry for how much grief we put you through." Cloud Drop spoke, bringing both Luna's and Star Yield's attention to him.

"Tell me that you do not lie, Admiral!" Princess Luna exclaimed, taking Cloud Drop by his shoulders with her hooves.

"I'm not lying. She lived through the helicopter crash, we captured her and held her in a small house deep in the Black Forest of Stalliongrad, and faked her death." Cloud spoke calmly, his words bringing a smile and tears to Luna's face.

"S-she's alive! I... I cannot believe it! My sister isn't dead!!" Cried Luna, her words and breaths shuddering from her tears.

"I told you she'd be happy." Cloud said to Star with a smile.

"I am far from happy with you two. I-I am extremely close to punching you both... b-but I... Celestia is alive, I don't... I don't believe it!"

No response was offered from either Cloud nor Star.

"But... I don't understand. W-why fake her death and put me through so much pain in order to help me?" Luna asked, her tears slowed but not gone completely.

"Our plan was to capture Celestia and hold her until the Lunar Eclipse, weaken her mental and physical state in the time between capturing her and the Eclipse enough to allow Nightmare Moon to manifest herself into Celestia's body... but she escaped a few days ago, that would be this whole thing of Stalliongradian and Equestrian Troops searching for someone that broke into a Magic Research Facility. That story is merely a cover-up."

"You want to release Nightmare Moon upon this land once more? Have you not seen what eternal night does to the land and those who occupy it?"

"Of course, we are bringing Nightmare Moon back into a physical form. That is what she wishes; you shall rule Equestria with Nightmare Moon at your side, and the glory of the Night shall reign upon Equestria as it should! The reason you are so opposed to the idea is because Celestia along with her group of 'friends' poisoned your mind by tearing Nightmare Moon from your conscious and filling your head with the idea that you do not deserve to be the sole ruler of these lands!" Star Yield explained with conviction, his tone changing from his previous calm demeanor.

"My sister did not 'poison my mind'! She has loved me since the dawn of our existence, and I assure you that Nightmare Moon's return would benefit no one! Trying to replace Celestia's mind with Nightmare Moon's so that she may use her body as a vessel is a ridiculous idea, one that would require weakening someone's health to levels... close to death," Luna paused as she had a sort of epiphany, a truth revealing itself to her as she spoke, "You have been hurting her, haven't you?" Luna asked, her face contorting with anger.

"That was something Star Yield didn't mention to you as I assume he feared your response. Celestia was being tortured, we don't exactly know how horribly they injured her, but I do know that it was bad enough for Celestia to kill the three Stallions we had stationed at the house to make sure that she didn't escape and make sure she was beaten on a daily basis." Cloud spoke from the sidelines, his words bringing fresh tears of pure anger to Princess Luna's eyes.

"You had my sister tortured!? What in the name of Equestria is wrong with you!!?" She barked at Star Yield, rage flaming in her voice.

"Princess, I do not understand how you can be angry after all of the pain she caused you over all of these years. Your thousand year banishment, the prosecution of your friends and followers all those years ago, and how she completely erased your existence from the knowledge of the people. Cloud Drop informed me that in a private talk you said that you wished to return the favor to Celestia, so why has your mind changed so much?"

"Because she is alive!! When I said those things to the Admiral I was still under the knowledge that she only pony who has ever truly loved me and cared for me was dead! Now, you stand here telling me that I should kill her in order for Nightmare Moon to be reborn? There is the fatal flaw in your ridiculous plan, Star Yield; I do not want any of my old plans to go into effect, I do not want to rule over Equestria with Nightmare Moon at my side; I-I want Celestia to rule Equestria so that I may be the one at her side... just as things used to be!!"
Princess Luna howled in response, tears beginning to roll down her cheeks as she finished her statement; the emotions she had been repressing coming to the surface.

"This isn't about what you want, Princess, this is about what is good for the New Order and Nightmare Moon. She doesn't care if you don't want things to change for the better. This is larger than what you want, and if you wish to stand in the way of the goals our Brothers and Sisters have worked too hard to accomplish, that is your mistake to make." Star Yield finished angrily as he turned for the door to Princess Luna's personal quarters.

"Admiral, come with me."
Star spoke once more as he paused at the exit.

"You've done something you'll regret, Star. Making her into an enemy would have been my last choice." Cloud explained, his words causing Luna to look up from the floor, her cheeks still moist with tears.

"It was her choice, not mine. I will not have the will of Nightmare Moon impeded, no matter how 'important' they may be." Star Yield snarled in response, his gaze moving from Cloud Drop to Princess Luna as he spoke.

"You may leave my quarters, sir; you have made your point clear." Luna half-whimpered.

With those words, Star Yield complied as he exited the room.

After a moment Luna's gaze moved to the Admiral, who had not moved since he had arrived.

"Your Majesty... I don't know where this whole idea of leaving you behind came from. This wasn't supposed to happen." He spoke, making a relatively futile attempt at making things better.

"I... I don't know what to think. W-what do I do?" Princess Luna spoke quietly.

"You get Celestia before he can."

Luna was taken aback by Cloud's comment.

"B-but, you have the Aura... why wou..."

"Because, your Highness, when I was indoctrinated into the New Order, the goal given to me was to help you rise to power, Nightmare Moon has been a second objective to me from the start. If getting Celestia back will make things the way you want them to be, I'm inclined to help."

The look upon Luna's face went from a disheartened frown to a most determined scowl.

"Then get Celestia back, we will."

Author's Notes:

I've spent more time than I'd like to admit trying to fix any grammar and spelling errors in this long story... but I know there still are some. If you spot one, please notify me