Far within the interior of Canterlot Caste, in one of its many hallways, laid a room bigger than any other section in the building. It had enormous windows that looked to be made from the shiniest and most beautiful of crystals, all of which having art pictures and paintings dating back to ancient times. A large row of pillars lined both sides of the hallways, with the ceiling having beautiful ancient fabric cloths hanging from above.

At the far end of the room, stood an enormous chair with a small stairway leading to it, the lower parts of the chair having little waterfalls and pots of purple flowers on either side. Behind the throne, were two large blue clothes, one having the picture of the land, while the other had that of the air and the sea, with a large glass symbol of the sun hanging from above. This room was known as the Royal Throne Room, the largest room known to be located inside the Royal Castle of Canterlot City. It also belonged to that of the Sun Goddess Queen Celestia Daybringer herself.

The Throne Room wasn’t like any of the other rooms in the Castle; this was a room where everypony would get to see the Queen herself whenever she had the time to. It was for just about anything, be it business, discussing things like trade, peace treaties or alliances. Or it could even simply be for some one on one time with Celestia, something that very few ponies had the luxury of doing.

Or course, that wasn’t to say that there weren’t any guards here, like the countless others set up around the castle. Although, there were usually one or two lined up at the doors, with a long line of them set up down the hallway. There were rarely times where Celestia had the guards all lined up in the exact same place, ready to obey their Queen’s every command. The only times that this happened was during times of a major crisis or when danger was lurking just around the corner. Those time was where every ounce of their strength would be needed to face a deadly foe threating their beloved land. This, much to a certain Sun Goddesses’ dismay, was one of those times.

Queen Celestia loomed over her throne like a bald eagle perched over a treetop as each of the gathered guards looked back up at her. All of them were split into groups that allowed them to be told apart, with their armor helping a great deal. The first of them were the Solar Guards each set in what looked to be the heaviest set of armor and. All of them were sported with swords and spears that looked to be made from the sharpest of metal. Those that were stallions looked buff and muscular, while the mares, looked to be more lithe, slender and feminine. Even so, they looked to be just as strong and intimidating as the stallions, looking as deadly as they were elegant. A fearsome combination of strength and speed that would only be expected from the most elite forces of Equestria.

The second group of guards looked to be even scarier, than the ones on the left, and for very good reason, given that they were bat ponies. Their armor was a darker shade of black and purple, looking to be sharp and pointy, especially on the heads, which had what looked to be fins, while the horseshoes had blades. Some of their coats were a shade or two darker, and cat-like slitted eyes that seemed to shine in the darkness like a firefly buzzing in the night. Their wings were twice as big as their pegasi brethren, looking to be leathery, yet very muscular and sharp. Fluffy looking tufts of fur could be seen on the tips of their ears, adding some semblance of cuteness to their rather frightening appearances. Poking out from the corners of their mouths, looking to be sharper than kitchen knives, were a set of curved fangs. All of them looked to be more than capable of piercing into and ripping out the throat of any living being, eve that of a pony, should they be provoked.

Celestia stared down at all them all with an unreadable expression, while they all stood to attention, lookin directly back at her. Despite their still postures, their curiosity, confusion as to why they were called here could be sense by the Solar Queen. She could understand why, for this was something that she would not normally do unless it was an emergency, and after what happened at the Town Square, this was the case for one. Despite their nervousness, Celestia knew that she didn’t have any other choice on the matter, and that it needed to be done. This was a matter of the utmost importance, and she could only hope that they would not lose their nerve.

‘Not just them either.’ Celestia thought to herself, looking down at two particular ponies in both groups. Her frown deepened slightly when she saw the armored forms of Bardock and Gene standing in front of both of their armies. Their postures were a perfect as the day they were both listed as captain of their guards, their faces as stern and serious as could be, awaiting their orders. Despite how intimidating they both looked despite having once retired from the guard, Celestia could see the worry flashing within their eyes. A type of worry that could be only found in a parent concerned for their children’s safety. ‘I can see that what I told them is still weighing heavily on their minds…not that I blame them.’

Celestia’s mind briefly wandered back to roughly an hour ago after she had left Twilight, Zephyr and the rest of the girls to their treacherous journey. She made it to Canterlot in record time thanks to a teleportation spell she perfected to help travel vast distances. It gave her ample time to call every single guard in her castle, for something that would require them all, and not a single guard less. Gene and Bardock were the first ones that Celestia went to, and wasted no time in letting them know of what had transpired in Ponyville.

Bardock and gene were firm believers in the legend of the Mare on the Moon, and so it didn’t take much effort in getting them to believe that Nightmare Moon had returned at last. The hard part of that was telling them of the fate of their three daughters and one son, something that Celestia dreaded having to tell them. As much as she didn’t want to, she knew keeping it from them would only make it worse. So, with a heavy heart, she recounted everything that Goku had told her that happened with Sheton. From her discovery of him, to their converse, up to the sin black alicorn foalnapping him and the tan thestral’s friends’ sisters.

Celestia never saw or heard Gene cry and scream so loud and so hard in the time she knew her, or Bardock look so scared in his life.

It took the efforts of both her and Bardock to keep the thestral mare from passing out from horror and fear, and even then, Gene still continued weeping in sorrow. Celestia gave them sometime to collect themselves, but told them that it was crucial that they get to the throne room as quickly as possible. The sound of Gene’s crying and Bardock’s cursing rung in her ears even as they left them in their room. Even no she could still hear it coursing through her head, the sounds that could only come from ponies that had children. That combined with how they looked like they were going to break down on the floor…Celestia could not imagine what they were thinking now.

‘To think that just hours ago they were feasting together without a care in the world…and now to have what I told them thrust upon them. I would not wish such a thing on even the worst of my enemies…’ Celestia thought sadly, watching as the couple glanced at one another every few minutes. ‘I can only hope that they can forgive me once they find out just who I sent to retrieve their son before them...it did seem like a plausible option at the time. Not to mention the other season that I sent their youngest daughter and her friends into the Everfree.’ She shook her head to clear those thoughts, knowing now wasn’t the time to. ‘No time to dwell on that…for now, just focus on the now…and what you’re soon going to do.’

With a soft sigh, Celestia raised a hoof, ceasing any murmuring from down below. Once she was sure they were all quiet, she finally began to speak. “Thank you all for coming my little ponies. I must admit, I did call you all on such short notice, and I apologize if I was interrupting anything that you were doing. To be honest, I wish that I could’ve called you all here on less than urgent circumstances.” She lowered her head as her ears pinned back against her head. “Alas, it seems that fate has other plans for us today…”

At these words, another chorus or murmuring broke through the crowd, all of them wondering just what all the fuss was about. This lasted for a few more minutes before one Solar Guard, this being a Unicorn with greenish brown fur and a silvery mane and tail raised a hoof.

“Um, your Highness…if I may ask, with your permission of course?” The stallion said, earning a nod from the Sun Goddess. “Why is it that you have called all of us here today here today? You normally don’t do this unless it’s something of that much of a magnitude.”

“I have called each and every one of you here for a matter that is of the greatest and utmost importance. One that is possibly greater than any other time that I have called you here.” Celestia replied her lavender eyes scanning each Guard inside the Throne Room. “Before I get into that, I must ask you that you keep as calm and composed as you possibly can. What I am about to tell you may get you all a bit…anxious, if not fearful for your very lives.”

The swan white Alicorn paused, taking a moment to let everypony voice their confusion at these words to one another, before she spoke again. “Not too long ago, while I was in Ponyville, I was just about to begin the annual Summer Sun Celebration and celebrate with my little ponies. Unfortunately, I was not able to, for somepony invaded the Town Square, and attacked me without warning, nearly eliminating me.”

As soon as those words left the mare’s lips, the group of Solar Guards let out loud gasps as they stared at up their Queen. Their eyes widened, and their jaws unhinged, unable to believe what they had just heard her say. The Lunar Guards on the left looked just as taken aback, having obviously not expected to hear this, but they were much more composed than the Solar Guards. The Shadowbolts looked to be the most shocked even though didn’t look like in their goggled and masked faces, though their captain looked a bit more composed.

At first, they believed that she was pulling a humorous prank on them, since, to them at least, it was virtually impossible for somepony as powerful as Celestia to fall so easily at the hooves of somepony else. Upon seeing her solemn expression however, they could see that what their Queen had said was anything but a joke, but something told them that that wasn’t the only shock they were going to get.

“Y-your Majesty…is this true?” Another Solar Guard, this one being a mare, asked tentatively, a disbelieving look on her face. “W-were you really attacked by somepony?”

“Yes, I’m afraid that you all heard me correctly. I was attacked without any provocation at the Town Square in Ponyville.” Celestia said sadly as she put a hoof to her chest. The memories of being stabbed through the chest, electrocuted, flew through her mind, but she cleared it form her head. “As much as I’m ashamed to admit it, I wasn’t able to do anything to stop it, or the destruction that she unleashed afterwards. Believe me when I say this, she left quite a bit of it in her wake, more than I can probably even count. I assume that you are all wondering just who it was that attacked me, are you not?”

None of the guards responded, though many of them did give small nods. Celestia closed her eyes, letting out another sigh as she opened her eyes and addressed everypony once more.

“I will tell you, but before I do, let me just say that the pony who attacked me is the reason why I have the Lunar Guards here. For I feel that they will all be much needed for what is to come, and where we will be going.” The Queen replied. “First off, how many of you are aware of the event that took place over one thousand years ago? The day of the of the fall of my sister and the rise of the Blood Moon War?”

Visible flinches came from each of the guards, the Lunar Division as well, as they all started to shift uncomfortably. Celestia could tell that they knew all too well what Blood Moon War was, and what it meant. It was the day that Queen Luna, the Moon Goddess and the leader of the Lunar Division had given into her pain and surrendered to the demon that plagued her mind. Thus, leading her to become one of the most terrifying villains ever to be known to pony kind. Along with the fight between her and Celestia that became legend along with Nightmare Moon herself.

It was also the day that both forces were divided, be it under Nightmare Moon’s will or their own accord, and forced to fight one another and instead of alongside the other. A day that was considered the most destructive, brutal and bloody battle ever to be known in Equestrian history, one that would forever scar the face of Equis. The day the Goddess of the Moon was imprisoned onto the very orb that gave the mare her name. The very same one that she had now escaped and was planning to control once more.

“Yes your Majesty, we do...many of my fellow thestral brothers and sisters know all too well of the terror that Scarlet Moon war had brought.” Another pony, a thestral stallion, said softly. “It was the day that our dear beloved Queen of the Night was taken from us by that…blasted nightmare monster. Who had turned our Queen into that monster known as Nightmare Moon Nocturnis, the Goddess of the Red Moon.” After taking a moment to collect himself, he looked back up at Celestia curiously. “Why is it that you ask? Is there something about it that we don’t know?”

Celestia gave a slight pause, before eventually replying. “Yes, as a matter of a fact there is. I’m sure you all have heard how I had defeated Nightmare Moon Nocturnis with the Elements of Harmony. Of how I had banished both her to the Moon for all eternity, correct?” She watched as many of the ponies, excluding Gene and Bardock nodded. “Well, that’s not entirely true my little ponies. There is actually an old saying involving Nightmare Moon; that ponies believe is only a myth. It is said that one the thousandth day of the thousandth year, Nightmare Moon’s time on the Moon will come to an abrupt end. The stars scattered all about the cosmos would gather together and aid her in her escape from the Moon. They will take her all across the fragments of outer space, and back to Equis. Where she will extract her revenge and try to take over the land once more.” She looked down at her front hooves. “I am here to tell you all, with the deepest of regrets, that prophecy has come true.”

The moment those last words left her mouth, each of the guards went as still as the very castle they were in. For a minute that seemed to stretch on forever, they stared at their Queen as if she had said the world was about to end. That Lunar Guards looked even more flabbergasted, and they wondered if they had heard Celestia right. The alicorn said nothing, just looking down at her guards with a composed expression, showing them that she was not exaggerating in what she was saying. Eventually, a Lunar Guard mare spoke, sounding like she had seen the one thing she feared in her nightmares.

“The…the prophecy has…c-come true? M-my Queen, are you meaning to tell is that N-Nightmare Moon Nocturnis has…r-returned from her imprisonment?” She with a weak voice and a tremor in her hooves. “By Faust...if that’s true…then that means…!”

“Yes; the Dark Queen has returned.” Celestia said as she raised her head and spread her vast wings, already knowing what the guard was about to ask before he even asked it. “And she is planning on concluding what she had started so many centuries ago.”

Complete and utter silence was all that could be heard throughout the room as the guards exchanged various looks, speaking in hushed tones and quiet whispers. Only their leaders looking be in control, yet even they looked to be scared, Bardock and Gene being only a couple of them. Celestia took in all their terrified expressions as she lifted her head and folding her wing, taking a second to breath before speaking again.

“I know you’re very terrified of this, since it’s been over a thousand years since it had last happened. I do not blame any of you in the least for feeling what you are feeling now. Anypony would, especially when the one pony who took my sister had threatened to shroud all the land in Eternal Darkness.” Celestia said understandingly. “As scared as you all must be, I am afraid that I must ask you all to bury that fear away deep inside your hearts. It is not just your lives that are at stake her, but also the lives of your supposed families, me, and just about every other pony here.”

The Solar Queen slowly rose form her throne and walked down the stairs, her mane and tail skirt flowing behind her like curtains in the wind. “Are you all prepared to contain whatever fear you have, and rise up together? To be prepared to protect not only yourselves, or the ones you love, but this very land itself? So that you may all live to see and fight another day, and right to free my sister from the darkness that plagued her and bring her back into the light?”

As she made her way to the bottom of the stairs, Celestia flared her majestic wings taking regal, and rather intimidating, posture. “Are you prepared to face what may be the most powerful, dangerous, and deadliest foe that has ever come to pass? So that they can all live to see the day awaken once more, even at the potential cost of our own lives?”

None of the guards said anything, apprehensive expressions on their faces as they fidgeted on the spot. Celestia could practically feel it radiating off of them, along with what she thought was a small sense of hope, as she waited for their response. A small part of her expecting them to decline the offer, to back out of what she was assigning them to do, instead of agreeing to fight. It was the same thing she asked Goku and her friends to do back at the Golden Oaks Library when she offered them the choice to becoming the next bearers of the Elements of Harmony. This theory was proven wrong, Bardock suddenly spoke, his words helping to alleviate any fear the other guards had.

“Queen Celestia, we’d be more than happy to assist you into bringing down the monster that took your sister. We’re also more than prepared to fight by your side if that’s what it takes.” He said with sharp salute. “That is what you trained us for after all.”

“I believe you mean, what her and her sister have trained both divisions for?” Gene asked dryly, looking over at the Solar Guard. “All misinterpretations aside, I do have to agree with you. As loyal as my fellow thestral brethren are to our beloved Queen Luna, that does not mean that we’re not prepared to fight alongside her sister should the moment call for it. Isn’t there a rule stating in the Royal Guard Rule Book that no group of soldiers should obey the other Queen unless one of them is out of commission or unable to take charge?”

“You’ve got that right, big sis Gene!” The slightly raspy, masculine voice from a young bat pony stallion said as he hovered in the air. “It doesn’t matter which one we’re following! Anypony who messes with either of the Queen’s, is going to have to answer to us! Nopony messes with the Queens when we’re around! Am I right guys?!”

“Yes Star Chaser, you are right.” A calmer, smoother sounding mare as the guards all gave nods of agreement. “Now please get down from there.”

Celestia looked over at all the ponies in front of her, a small, relieved smile plastered on her face. She slowly folded her majestic wings back to her sides as her lavender eyes shone with gratitude.

“Thank you all… I figured that you would be discouraged when I told you just what we’d be up against. It seems I underestimated just how dedicated and loyal you all are. Who knows? If things go according to plan, my sister will be saved, and many of you will get the chance to meet her for the first time.”. Taking another deep breath, her expression became serious once more as she gave her first order. “Solar Division Captain Bardock White Fang Shenron and Lunar Division Gene Nightstalker, please step forward!”

Once those words were spoken, the two ponies from both divisions stepped forward, their second in commands following behind them. All four of them stood within a few hooves’ length of the Queen, giving brief bows to her, before holding their heads held high, waiting for her orders.

“How may we be of service, your Highness?” Bardock asked, his voice filled with respect despite how anxious it sounded.

“As the two of you are already aware by now, you are by far the two strongest of both your divisions. More than capable of handling even the toughest of foes. Because of that, I have chosen you two to be the ones to lead your fellow soldiers and have them help you follow the task that I am going to assign you with.” Celestia replied, looking at the duo intently. “I want you both to have your second in commands have half of your troops to head to Ponyville and keep the ponies there safe from any harm coming to them by Nightmare Moon. If there are any that are wounded and in need of help, feel free to have your best medics assist those that needed. You two and the other half of the Solar Division will come with me into the Everfree forest to assist another group that I have sent after Nightmare Moon.”

Bardock nodded curtly. “As you command, your highness.”

“As you wish, your Majesty.” Gene said softly. “We will see to it immediately.

“Does everypony understand what they are now supposed to do as well?” Celestia asked, looking around the room. She was given a chorus of nods, leading her to let out an exhale of breath. “Good. You are to leave immediately, for there is no time to waste. The sooner we get to my old, the better, now go!”

Not needing to be told twice, the Guards, led by Bardock and Gene, all filed out, leaving Celestia to stand in the giant room. After another few minutes, she let out a sigh as she looked out the window at the moon floating in the night sky. She stared at it for a time, as she was if trying to see the black blotch that used to be there, before making her way towards the exit.

'I hope the letter that I sent to Captain Violet Fire will be able to get to her in time before the girls get in too much danger when they finally do leave. If only Spike was here to help me do it, it'd get there in no time. It looks like I'll have to do it with my own magic instead.' Celestia thought, frowning in worry as she thought back to the letter she rote one of the two Ariel Flight Teams she knew. ‘So…it’s finally happened, hasn’t it, Luna? The day that you would return and try to take over the land once again…and extract your revenge against me.’ The swan white Alicorn thought as she closed her eyes for a few moments in reminiscence, before it morphed into one of determination. ‘Fear not sister, I may have failed to save you a millennium ago, but that doesn’t mean that I will fail a second time! I’ve taken all the necessary precautions I needed to ensure that history does not repeat itself.’

She looked up at the ceiling at the many symbols of the sun and the moon made for her, feeling a small stab of pain go through her chest. ‘It won’t be long before Elements are reawakened, and new wielders are found, including for that one. When that comes, you will finally be freed from the Nightmare’s grasp at last. After that, I’ll finally have you back by my side once more.’

With that goal set in mind, Celestia exited out of the throne room, encasing the giant entrance doors in an aura of golden yellow magic. With a loud resounding slam, she shut the doors behind her, leaving the Royal Throne Room in complete silence.

Eh, this chapter hardly went through any editing, other than changing just who was going to be leading the Solar and Lunar Divisions, these being Bardock and Gene instead of Shining Armor and Moon Blade Although Moon Blade and Shining Armor will be the Second in Commands...well, at least for now, from where I'm standing. One of the first major things that I changed was the fact that the Shadowbolts would not be joining the Solar and Lunar Guards, and Queen Celestia, in their plan to go into the Everfree Forest. That, and I also had a little summary of Celestia talking with Goku's parent about what happened at the Town Square and what had happened to their only son. You can only imagine how scared and terrified they both were when that happened, and you all know damn well they'll do all they can to get their little Sheton back. Oh, and as for that last part with Violet Fire being sent a letter, that will fill in some part in the next chapter that is already partially done when I get back to it, and I know that some of you may be pretty surprised as to where they live.

Next time: Reinforcements are called for the girls...in the last place that they ever expected it to come!