Now that they know what has happened to Starlight, they now have to deal with two problems: Stop Nocturne from destroying Equestria and save Starlight and bring her back to normal. They didn’t waste time, they all sat down and started their research. There were a lot of books with spells and knowledge that will help them through their journey. While they were reading they heard the library door opening and from there came Shining armor. He rushed to them and reported what had happened.

"Oh…I am glad I found you. You won’t believe what has happened."

"Wow slow down, what has happened?" Twilight asked.

"Did somepony get hurt?" Cadence asked.

"Was it Nocturne?" Luna said.

"Slow down my friends. Shining armor, relax your mind and tell us everything from the beginning." Celestia said calmly.

"Well, I was at Flurry heart’s room and I was taking care of her when a guard came up to the room and said that a small group of ponies came here to the Crystal Empire." He said.

"Is there something special about these ponies?" Luna asked.

"Yes, they came straight from Canterlot!" He said with a high tone.

When they heard these words their minds were filled with curiosity and some questions about these ponies. How did they escape the chaos up there? Did Nocturne let them go? And if there are more survivors out there that need to be rescued.

"From Canterlot you say?" Celestia asked.

"Yes, they haven’t said a word since they arrived. They look….terrified." He said.

"We have to check on them, we have to know if they managed to escape all by themselves" Luna said.

"But why is it so important to know how they escpaed?" Twilight asked.

"Because this could very well be a trap, who knows if Nocturne already turned them into his soldier's and now they are just hidding their true form?" Luna said with an angry gaze.

"That....maybe true....but if that's the case then why Starlight isn't turned already?"

"Because the effect of this disease can be instant or the can have a time limit till they devoure the minds of the pony. It depends how Nocturne wants it to act." Luna said.

"I....guess that makes sence.....but we can't just accept that this is true before even having a look at them."
Cadence said.

"Luna is right, Nocturne decides if the disease is instant or if it progresses over time, i suggest we be careful until we come to a conclusion." Celestia said.

"Very well" Twilight said with a sad and low tone.

She didn't expect Celestia to be so paranoid, will she treat Starlight that way though? This thought was slowly devouring her sanity because she doesn't want her friends to suffer or die, especialy Starlight.
They left their books at the library and got out on the street. There were guards who were escorting the survivors inside the castle. They looked pale and some of them were badly wounded. But the thing that they all found disturbing was the look on their faces. They weren’t smiling even if they were in a friendly territory, they had their heads down with no sign of hope in their eyes.

"What happened to them?" Twilight asked.

"They look terrible." Cadence said.

"Of course they do. This is Nocturne’s doing." Luna said.

"Maybe, but don’t worry we will talk with some of them once they are rested. We need every bit of information we find." Celestia said.

"I agree, we don’t know what they have been through." Luna said.

The survivors were escorted to the castle. They were sent to the dining room to eat something to keep their strength. They could hardly pick up the spoon to eat their soup. One of the ponies got up and went to talk to the guard. It was BlueBlood. He then faced a guard with two axes up his back, he had a beard, a scar on his left eye with no mane, brown skin and a tattoo resembling a big red line across his body.

"Guard I demand to talk to the Princesses! Do you know who i am?" He said with a demanding tone.

"I am sorry my prince but I have order to keep you all here."

"Exactly, you have orders to keep THEM here, not an important pony like me!"

"I suggest returning back to your sit, the princesses will be here any minute now."

"So you are asking me to wait? Who am i to wait, if not the greatest noble of all Equestria?!" He almost shouted.

The guard then immediately looked at him with an angry gaze and said.

"If you don't return back to your sit i swear i am gonna make you regret talking to me in the first place! Now sit yo ass back to that chair with the others!"

He gasped out of disgrace.

"HOW DARE YOU! No wonder why savages like you become guards these days!"

The princesses and Shining armor got there just in time before something violent could happen.

"Calm down Ensis, i am here along with the princesses." Shining armor said.

"Oh captain glad to see you. You came right on time i was about to punch this blonde's face right in!" Ensis said.

"Who did you call a blonde!" BlueBlood said with an angry gaze.

"We will take control now Ensis, you may go." Shining armor said.

"As you wish." And he left.

"That's it? No punishment or anything?" BlueBlood said with a confused tone.

"Of course what did you expect?" Shining armor asked.

"That savage right there dared to raise his tone against me. ME!"

"BlueBlood relax for a second, we are only here to ask you questions about how you got out from Canterlot"
Celestia said.

"Hmm, It was simple! There was just a pony who freed us!"

"Who was it?" Luna asked.

"I don't know he was covering himself with a cloak. But he was as tall as you Celestia and he was a unicorn from what i saw"
He said.

"But wht about the other prisoners?" Celestia asked.

"Why would i care? The place in which we were traped was dark and gloomy anyways we didn't have time to get the others!"

"Wait a second, so you are telling me Nocturne didn't notice you?" Luna asked.

"You mean that black thing with bat wings? EWW THAT THING WAS DISGUSTING I SWEAR I WILL NEVER FORGET IT'S UGLYNESS, only thinking about it gives me the chills!"

"If Nocturne were here i am sure he would tear you appart nephew." Luna said.

"If that thing ever touched me i swear i would still be taking baths just to get it's smell out of my body and....Nocturne you said? EWWW WHAT AN UGLY NAME!" He said.

"Alright....please stop...so what happend to your rescuer?" Celestia asked.

"Well he disappeared after he got us out, but the worst part is is that he had to return here on hoof! And the fact that i was walking in the dirty nature along with all these pesants makes me super angry!" He said.

"Now that i think about it the main reason why Nocturne let you go was the fact that even he can stand your whining" Twilight said.

"WHATEVER! Now move aside a prince needs his beauty sleep!"

And he left hastly for a bedroom probably.

"So, now we have a mysterious pony helping us and we don’t even know who he is!" Cadence said.

"That’s right and when we found who he is, he is gonna be a great help to defeat Nocturne." Twilight said.

"I agree with all of you. But for now we have nowhere to start. I suggest relaxing for now." Celestia said.

Just when they were about to leave the room Shining armor came in with his sword and his armor.

"Shining what happened? Why are you all are geared up?" Cadence asked.

Shining armor sighted. He pulled out his helmet and said.

"I am going out with my team to search for any survivors!"

"WHAT" Twilight and Cadence shouted.

"Don’t worry, I will have the most elite guards at my side. Along with me will be Flash Sentry. We will be fine." He said.

Cadence run and hugged him.

"Please come back safe!"

She cried a little.

"I promise you, I will. Not only to maintain our love, but that little life you brought to me a few months ago" He was referring to Flurry Heart.

He then kissed her with passion and left the room.