I am Night Runner. I am a pegasus pony that lives in the royal palace with the princesses. I am a retired Night Guard for Princess Luna. I used to be the personal bodyguard of the princess, as I had been for a few years. I had orders to follow her everywhere she went, except in her room. To us, their rooms were considered automatic expulsion from the royal guardian order. I was brought to the Night Guard order by the princess herself. She found me abandoned near the entrance to the royal castle. Princess Luna and her sister took very good care of me, however, I always had, and still have, this serious tone in my voice. Everyone took my word very seriously. Another reason was I would not talk unless I was asked to or given permission to talk. I was like this since I was a little filly. That was, till Princess Luna was asked to go on an “adventure” that our dear advisor has set up for the princess himself. She liked having fun and was usually seen walking around the palace at night, with me of course. As I walked around with her, she would put a spell on some objects in different rooms. I knew that she was just pulling more pranks. I never stopped her, why would have I stop her? She brought to where I was. Back to the “adventure”, her advisor one day comes up to us and tells the princess about some trouble in the Everfree forest. Princess Luna’s sister, Princess Celestia was not probably with that one purple unicorn that showed up every once in a while. They usually are together talking about something. Well, the advisor warned her that it might be dangerous. He then pulled me off to the side. He told me specifically what was happening. He mentioned a zebra or some type of horse and how everyone who went to see her would vanish before even getting to her house. The first thing that came to mind, was that she had been kidnapping by those ponies and lied about ever having seen them. When he finished, he bowed to the princess, as customary, and left the throne room.

I turned to Princess Luna and asked her, “Are you going to go to the Everfree Forest to investigate the disappearances?”
She sat in her seat pondering the thought. “I guess I should since this problem has been brought to the royal court.” She got off of her seat and landed on her hooves. “Come Night, you and the captain will accompany me to investigate this disturbance.”

The two of us walked out of the court and headed for the captain’s room. My captain was a unicorn and was taught by both of the princesses themselves. He choose to become a Night Guard and rose up the ranks in no time at all. The princess proceeded to knock on his door.

He opened the door saying “Night I know it’s you. What is it that you have to interrupt me now?” He was surprised to find the princess standing in front of him. I expected that he thought it was probably a new report on the princess. “Princess Luna! I am sorry for anything I have said. What is it that you need for me to?”

As customary, when he talked to the princess, he kept his pose bowing in front of the princess. However, Princess Luna stated herself that I did not have to bow to greet the princess. I always felt like I was being treated as the most liked guard out of all. The thing was that my facial expression was always so serious that no one even mentioned anything about it.
The princess stepped back and motioned for me to tell him what we had heard, “Captain, there has been a disturbance discovered in the Everfree Forest. The head advisor told us that about a zebra horse that lives there and that anypony who went to visit her had mysteriously disappeared.” I stopped there because the advisor asked for me not to say something else that he had whispered to me. I continued after pushing off the thought, “The princess has asked for just us two to accompany her to the forest to investigate the disappearances ourselves.”

He tilted his head, “Why just us, why not send the investigation team? Isn’t that what they were trained for?”
“I will have to tell you about that in private, as asked by the head advisor. However, we should leave as soon as possible.” I was about to continue…

…but Princess Luna joined in, “I agree; captain, please get suited in your armor. I shall have a chariot waiting for you and me while Night flies next to the chariot. We will stop at Ponyville to ask around about the disappearances.” She was very stern when she said this, very unlike her normal self.

“Yes princess, I will meet you at the chariot when I am suited up.” The unicorn turned into his room and closed the door leaving me and Princess Luna right outside.

We both had already started walking away from the captain’s room. We headed for the entrance to the palace. Princess Luna had said nothing at all the whole time we were walking. That was, until we arrived at the entrance.
She put her hoof around my neck and pulled my head closer to her mouth, which was about level with my ear. “Listen, I know something doesn’t seem right that the head advisor would come to us himself and tell me about this. I think there is some scheme within the palace. I would like to ask you to do me a favor and if I tell you to, please just fly away. It doesn’t matter if they kidnap me or anything; I just want you to get away as fast as possible.”

I stood there frozen as a statue. Princess Luna was already walking toward the chariot to wait for the captain. I was standing like that for a few moments until one of the other guards asked me what I was doing. I snapped out of it and told him that it was nothing. Similar thoughts kept running through my head about what the princess had told me. She asked me to abandon her when she told me to. Something about her seemed different. She was…acting differently, to me specifically. How in the world of Equestria could she ask me to abandon her? Just the thought of that made me shutter a little. Lost in my train of thought, I accidentally walked into the carriage. I could hear Princess Luna giggle to herself. I did not pay attention still. I just sat there looking at the ground. Thoughts and images of me flying away from the princess filled my mind. The clarity that I always had, even in the worst of situations, was gone just like that. Although the princess may have taken my frozen stature as an agreement, I was that she knew I couldn’t abandon her. I had made the oath to protect her till death and I planned to keep that oath. That was my determination that kicked in. I was determined to uphold the oath. The only problem with that was it also dictated that all guards must obey the princess even in times of utter disaster. This was my most changing life decision ever.

“Do I abandon the princess on her orders or do I stick with her till the end? What do I do…?” Those thoughts sped through my mind every second.

Even though I sat there, the captain was calling my name, “Night…Night!”

I snapped out of my confusion. “Sorry captain, I was lost in thought,” I said to him as I stood up.

He was already sitting in the carriage with Princess Luna. We both took a good long look at each other, the princess and I. Finally, she gave me a small, unnoticeable nod and then I knew what she meant. She wanted me to choose. She was testing to see my loyalty to her or the Royal Guard Order. The same question was still engraved into my mind, “Do I abandon or stay with the princess?” I brushed it off for only a short time. All of us took off and we headed for Ponyville where we would ask around for any information on the disappearances. My orders were to question a yellow pegasus who lives near the edge of the forest and an orange earth pony who owns an apple orchard which is near the forest as well. On the way to the town, Princess Luna was probably using her magic to talk to me. I could hear her words in my head.

“Night, I know what you are thinking. About the thing I said back at the palace. Do not dwell on the choice for now.”

“How can I not think about it? My oath dictates…”

“Please Night, for this specific question can only be answered by one thing. You will find out after you talk to the yellow and orange ponies. They will have answers for you.”

I asked her about this, but she had already ended the contact between us. “So these two ponies have answers for me? Then I must know, I must ask them about their answer for the question…”

A few moments after the conversation with the princess, we arrived at Ponyville. As we landed on the ground, all the ponies around us bowed towards the princess, as customary. The only difference, were two ponies in the crowd. One was the purple pony that I saw in the palace with Celestia often. She stepped forward to greet Princess Luna herself.

“Princess Luna, why are you here in Ponyville? You haven’t come down since that one Nightmare Night.”

“This is a matter of utmost importance, Miss Twilight Sparkle. It was brought before me to in the royal court by our advisors that some ponies have been disappearing after heading into the Everfree Forest.”

As soon as she said that out loud, the ponies around us began to murmur about it. I could faintly hear one conversation to my right. I even saw a white unicorn fleeing from the area as well.

“Is she talking about those few ponies that went to go see that zebra?”

“Probably, I always knew something was different about that horse. I always thought she was trouble from the beginning.”

Of course now, that zebra most likely kidnapped those missing ponies. I had to be ready to meet with this zebra in case if she tries to do something to the princess. I looked around again and turned to Princess Luna. Instead of seeing the princess however, there was this pink pony standing right in front of me. I stared at her with wide eyes while she stood there just staring back with a large smile on her face.

“Hi there, I know I have already said hello to Luna and the other guard pony, but you seem a bit different than those two. So I came to say hi to you myself!” The pink pony started bouncing up and down on her hooves which seemed a bit odd.

“Excuse me miss, but…”

“Please, call me Pinkie Pie. It’s always great to meet a new pony, even if she is only here for a little while. Oh, you come and meet my friends. This is Twilight; she is one of my special best friends in Ponyville. Come with me and I will take you to my other best friends.” The pink pony named Pinkie Pie took my hoof and dragged me along the ground. I managed to hold back a little to get a quick glance at the princess. She nodded towards me and I nodded back knowing what she meant. I turned around and the pink pony was giving me this stern look. “You know, if you wanted to say something to the princess you could have told me.”

“It’s ok; I’ll be fine walking on my own too.”

“Okie dokie loki, let’s go meet my favorite best friend ever. Her name is Rainbow Dash and she lives up in a cloud house.”
A pegasus? I remember that I was supposed to meet a pegasus. “Can we see a yellow pony? She lives near the Everfree forest and…”

“Are you talking about Fluttershy? She was going to be our last stop. I guess we can see her after I let you meet Dashie.”

Dashie, that’s an interesting nickname for the pegasus. The pink pony was still bouncing up and down as she moved. Was she hyper or something, I didn’t know. “Excuse me, Pinkie Pie, why are you bouncing so much? Don’t your hooves hurt?”

She kept bouncing but, she turned around bouncing backwards, “Of course not silly! I am just really happy I get to introduce a new friend to my best friends!”

Soon enough however, we arrived underneath a house made out of clouds. I stood still staring at how big the house was. It was the half the size of an actual manor in Canterlot. I heard the pink pony call for the pegasus, “Daaaashie! Rainbow Daaaaaaaaash! Come down here and meet a new pony!”

We waited a few moments of silence. It was broken by a yell coming from a cloud next to the house. “Pinkie Pie, what did I tell you about…” She stopped there. I was guessing that the pegasus saw me next to Pinkie Pie. “Who is your new friend?”

“Oh well, I didn’t exactly get her name yet, but she felt like she could be a great friend!” Pinkie never seemed to change her attitude on anything apparently. She was this happy, pink pony who was very energetic. She finally stopped bouncing and turned to me, “By the way, what is your name?”

“My name is Night Runner. I am the personal bodyguard of Princess Luna.”

“Hey, guard pony, since you stick with Princess Luna a lot, have you seen the Wonderbolts at all?!”

I wondered why she would ask about the Wonderbolts. “Well, we have been going to their performances since two years ago. Sometimes, Princess Celestia would schedule a performance for just the royal family in Canterlot. I am required to go because I am the bodyguard of Princess Luna. We would even talk to them after their shows to congratulate them on another spectacular performance.”

“So you do know the Wonderbolts?”

“Yes, I do.”

The blue pony flew down in an instant. I finally got a clear view of her. She was a blue pegasus with a…rainbow colored mane? The only pony I have ever seen with a multi-colored mane was Princess Celestia. “Oh my gosh, you have to take me to one of the shows. I have wanted to try out for the Wonderbolts for so long now.”

“So why haven’t you yet, Dashie?” The pink pony seemed to get under her coat when she said that.

“It’s because…because…my stunts weren’t ready for them yet. I um…still need to practice more.” I could tell she was uneasy. She doesn’t want to try out for the Wonderbolts because she doubted herself.

“Listen Miss Rainbow Dash, if you want to I can ask the Princess to setup a session for them to meet with you. It’s the best I can come up with.”

“No, don’t do that! I am sure that um…that I would make it, but I want to perfect my moves before I start showing off.”

“If you say so, excuse um miss pink pony? Can we go to see the yellow pegasus now?”

“Sure thing and after that, I’ll take you to meet Rarity!”

“Pinkie, you do remember that Rarity isn’t in town, right? She left for some special arrangement with some fancy pony up in Canterlot.”

So that made the “tour”, as I called it, shorter which was better for me. All that I needed to do was to meet with the yellow pegasus called Fluttershy and the orange earth pony. While I was still thinking about this however, the two of them were staring at me while I stared down at the floor.

“Hey, are you feeling alright? You don’t seem too uptight as I expected from the royal guards.”

“No, it’s nothing to worry about. I need to talk to the one you call Fluttershy and an orange earth pony who owns a farm. I understood from Princess Luna that you were going to take me to them.” I hoped that they would understand and take me to them, but the pink one seemed to act differently now. She started to walk off in the direction of a small house I could see near the forest.

“Wow, let’s not end the introduction now. Let’s get you caught up with the other two that are still in town. Fluttershy and Applejack are the most trustworthy ponies I have ever met, next to Dashie here of course. Bye Rainbow Dash, I’ll see you later!”

“Pinkie, don’t wake me up unless a disaster happens or something, got it?”

“Sure thing Dashie! Well, how did you like meeting my favorite of my best friends?”

“She seemed uneasy about the whole Wonderbolt conversation. Does she really want to try out for the Wonderbolts?”

Pinkie seemed to think about this for a second. “She always been going on and on about wanting to join the Wonderbolts. One of her reasons she doesn’t actually do it was that one that you just heard. Another is when she says “Oh you guys might get into trouble without me so I would rather stay here.””

“She said that? I can see now why she is your best friend.”

“Well, onto Fluttershy’s place. Ooo, I have an idea, let’s race there. Ready, set…”

“Miss Pinkie Pie, I don’t think it is a good idea to…”

“Go!” And with that last word, she sped off at a fast rate. I was surprised an earth pony could run that fast. I just flew over to the house that I saw her run towards. “You are such a slow poke. Anyway, give me a second to get her out here. Fluttershy, it’s me and a new friend! Come on out and meet her, she is such a friendly person!”

There was a bit of silence just like last time with the rainbow colored pony. From inside the house however, I could hear some talking. It was really soft, very hard to pick up. Then we heard the pegasus call from inside, “Give me a moment to help Angel with his medicine. Once he takes it, which I hope he does, I will open the door for you.”

I barely even heard her. The way she spoke seemed calming though. It was a soft, and gentle type of voice, one that is very rare to find compared to my life time. While dwelling on the past, the door opened and there stood a yellow pegasus with a long, pink curled mane and tail. I saw her staring at me with this frightened look. I pulled up my hoof and said hello to her. The reaction I got was a door slamming in my face and a bit of really loud screaming. “Pinkie, why would you bring one of the knights of Nightmare Moon here?! You know that she is the evil princess that tried to cover Equestria in darkness?”

“Oh come on now, the pony here isn’t like that at all. I could tell from the first time I met her. What was your name again?”

“It is…”

“Night something, I don’t remember, Princess Luna told me your name, but I forgot it already.”

“My name is Night Runner, personal guard to the princess herself.”

“Are you sure she won’t do anything?” At that point, I thought she was overly cautious. I didn’t pay attention to how softly she was talking.

“Twilight already explained everything to us remember? Don’t you worry Flutters, she’s perfectly fine.” I turned to see the pink pony doing some weird chant or something. “Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” What in Equestria did I just see or hear? What kind of a pony says something like that? Either way, I had to push on with my investigation.

“Excuse me, Miss Fluttershy, I was actually sent here by orders of the princess to speak with you. I just need to ask you a few things at that’s all.” Trying to sounds as calmly as possible, I have to convince her to let me speak in private. “Miss Pinkie Pie…”

“Please just call me Pinkie!” She started singing a little with that last sentence. I could have sworn something was wrong with this pony. She doesn’t act like I expected the ponies here in Ponyville to act like.

I needed a way to dismiss her from here, in a nice way though. So how to put it nicely, “Do you mind if me and Fluttershy talk in private? This is a matter of an investigation that is going on.”

“Sure thing, if you want to continue meeting the rest of my friends, just head to Sugarcube Corner! I will be there waiting for you to show up and I can’t wait!” Like usual now, she turned around bouncing off towards the town. She was definitely one of the creepiest ponies I have ever met. It made me wonder if the other friends that she mentioned were like that. I shivered when I thought how the questioning would go with that orange earth pony.

“Are you going to come in? You said that we needed to talk in private about something.”

“Yes, thank you.” I still had that thought of what the second pony would act like. I shook my head slightly and walked inside. Looking around, I saw multiple animals in there. Birds were perched on their small houses on the walls, mice were moving about here and there, and there was one animal that caught my eye, it was a pure white rabbit who was laying on the couch with a blanket over it. I felt nervous around here, like all the animals were watching me. I hadn’t noticed it yet, but a bird was already perched on top of my head.

“I think she likes you.” The yellow pony was pointing on top of my head where the bird was. I didn’t mind it sitting there, but just had to focus on the interrogation.

“Listen, Miss Fluttershy, I wanted to ask you about the disappearances inside the Everfree Forest. I was told that you and another would be able to answer my questions.”

“If you mean those few ponies that went to go see Zecora and didn’t come back, I’ll answer to the best of my abilities.”

“I just need to know a few things. When was the last time you saw the ponies that headed in?”

She placed her hoof on her chin. “I think the last I saw them was when they stopped by here to ask where Zecora was. After that, I have never seen them since.”

“Can you describe them for please?”

“Um, I think one was a hot pink colored pony with a yellow mane. The second was colored a darker yellow than my coat and she had an odd colored mane. It was three colors; green, blue, and turquoise. I couldn’t tell what the last one looked like. That pony was wearing a robe and covered her face with the hood. I only saw her mouth and I think her coat color was white. I could tell she was a unicorn though. She used magic to open and close the door when they entered and left.”

“Thank you, but I still have one last question now, which came up when you mentioned a white unicorn. I remember seeing one fleeing the arrival of the princess. Could you tell me who that could be?”

“I am sorry, but the only unicorn I know that has a white coat is my friend Rarity. She left for Canterlot however. She said something about making a delivery to a customer.”

“Do you think that the white unicorn could have been your friend Rarity?”

“That was Rarity?! Oh no, why did she go into the Everfree Forest. I always warned my friends about the dangers that lurk in there. The cockatrice, manticores, timber wolves…”

“Please Miss Fluttershy, calm down. I am only asking if you thought that might have been your friend, I never said that she was.”

“Well, the magic color was very similar. I wouldn’t be able to tell; only other unicorns can tell who others are by their magic.”

“Ok then, thank you Miss Fluttershy for letting me talk to you.” I gave a royal bow, like I was taught to, to Fluttershy.

She nodded, “Anytime you want to talk again just stop by. I can see that this little on has taken a liking towards you.” She reached up with her hoof and the bird from my head hopped onto it. I was still surprised that it was still there. I think it was sleeping on my head. It was such a small creature at that too.

I looked up at the pegasus. “Could I ask you which way to go find an orange pony who runs a farm?”

“Do you mean Applejack? She is just over there,” she said pointing out the window towards a barn that I could see next to and whole bunch of apple trees. I walked towards the door after nodding to her.

Before I closed it, I looked at her again, “Do take care of that bird. It looks like such a nice little creature.” Upon finishing, I closed the door. I took off into the air heading towards the red barn Fluttershy pointed to. I also saw what was happening in the town square. I could see the mayor giving a big introduction to Princess Luna. That question from before came to mind. Do I follow my oath or do I follow orders? That question was just as hard to answer as it was the first time I thought about it. Brushing off the thought again, I flew directly towards the barn door. Even though it was kind of late at night, this interrogation was very important. Even if she says no, I had to insist that she answer my question really quickly. Upon my arrival, the lights were off. I knocked on the door waiting for a light to turn on. No lights came up, so I had to knock again. Finally one light came on and the window in the room above opened.

An orange pony popped her head out of the open window, “Who in tarnation is knockin’ on the door at this time of night?”

“I am very sorry for the intrusion, but this is a matter is of royal orders by Princess Luna.”

“Oh my, very sorry for the rude introduction, sugarcube…I just needed to get some sleep for tomorrow’s harvest. Be down there faster than a racing jackrabbit.”

I could tell just then that she was a sort of, southern type of pony. The light in the main room flipped on and the orange earth pony opened the door. “Whoa, now that I got a good look at ya, you look like one of them royal guards. Except you don’ have the same color armor from what I saw before.”

“Again, sorry for the intrusion of your sleep, but I just have a couple of questions to ask you.”

“Oh sure thing, come on in and take a seat right over there. You need anything to eat or drink? We here at Sweet Apple Acres have the best apples in all of Equestria.”

Did she say “all of Equestria”? That must be pretty big since Equestria is such a big country. “Well, I once had an apple pie that was from here. Princess Celestia had some ordered for a celebration of the guards once. I will say that was an excellent apple pie. Too bad some other pony eat a little more than we expected.”

“So that’s why there was such a big order for apple pies then. Well thank ya kindly for the nice comment on the pies.” She left into the kitchen. I was there thinking about this new pony. She seemed somewhat different than the others I have met. A straight-forward type, the type I can get along with. She came back out with two pieces of apple pie. “Her ya are, this is one of the fresh apple pies that we just made.”

“It’s ok; you don’t need to bring me anything.”

“Nah, don’ worry none about that. It’s on the house for any new pony I meet. You did say that you had some questions for me?”

A nice and straight-forward pony, that’s a hard combination to find, especially in Canterlot. I usually see ponies who, to be honest act a little like snobs. “Thank you anyway and yes, I need to ask you about the recent incident involving the disappearance of a few ponies that went into the Everfree Forest.”

“Oh, you mean that thing again. Ya well, a few of you royal guards came here earlier this morning. Them guards are really hard to talk to. Always ‘bout those rules and not sharing a joke or two.”

“That’s how we were trained to be. Those guards for Princess Celestia are trained harder than us Night Guards. Princess Luna attends about half of our training sessions.”

“Well, I’m just glad to have an actual conversation with one you guard ponies. So whatever you wanted to ask me, ask away.”

“Ok, did you get to meet the ponies that went into the Everfree Forest?”

“Maybe, I think they stopped by to buy some of our apples. The white one said it was for a long trip that was through that creepy place.”

“Did you see what the white pony looked like?”

“You bet I did. She had a looked just like my friend Rarity come to think of it. Only difference was her hair style. It was a blown back sort of style, you know like those Wonderbolts have.”

“Do you think that maybe that could have been Rarity?”

“Nah, she couldn’t be. Trust me, if Rarity was going somewhere, she would be wearing one of her fancy capes or dresses and I don’t think she would ever go into the forest, she probably thinks it’s to ugly for her tastes, hehehe.”

“By the way, did your friend Rarity tell you where she was heading when she left?”

“Said something ‘bout going to Canterlot to deliver some order for clothes. If ya need to know though, she left a couple of days ago. Them other ponies showed up just yesterday.”

“Hmm, that story checks out then. Thank you Applejack, it was a pleasure for you to share your hospitality.”

“Don’t think none of it. Are you gonna eat that pie I got for ya?”

“No thank you, you can eat it yourself. I just came here to ask you some questions and then head back to the princess.”

“So the princess is in town? Usually Princess Celestia only comes during the day…”

“I came with Princess Luna, not her sister.”

“Princess Luna is here? I should head out there and go meet her.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m sure she will be fine.”

“Well, if you say so. It was great to talk to ya.”

After the long conversation, she walked me out. We said our goodbyes and I departed flying for Ponyville to give the princess the information I gathered. While flying through the air, I noticed multiple ponies still gathered in the town square. I didn’t see Princess Luna though. Something was different, where could she be? I flew down to the crowd to get a closer look. I still couldn’t find her anywhere. I did see the Pinkie Pie and Twilight in the front of the crowd. I landed next to them and Pinkie gave me an angry look.

“I thought you were going to come back here for me to take you to meet Applejack. How come you went straight there instead of coming back here first?”

“Well, I had questions to…”

“Doesn’t matter now, you should listen to Mayor Mare. She said she was waiting on somepony to arrive back here for something.”

“Thank you for gathering here everypony. We have a big problem and I have no idea how to say it lightly…”
She paused for a moment. I wondered what she was thinking. That was when she looked directly at me. “Oh hold on for just a minute, I need to tell somepony something before I continue.” She stepped down from the podium and walked towards me.

“Excuse me, are you Night Runner?”

“Yes, I came here to find Princess Luna. Do you know where she is?”

“Follow me this way for a minute.” The two of us walked away from the crowd behind the building that she was announcing from. She stopped and looked around to make sure that nopony would notice us. “The “problem” that I mentioned before, was that Princess Luna disappeared…”

“What do you mean she disappeared?!”

“Please, keep your voice down. I know you may not like this, but we have been unable to find her. The few search parties I gathered returned with no information about her whereabouts. The only I found, was this note nailed to my door.”
She handed me the note and I took it from her hoof. I quickly read the letter.

Miss Mayor Mare,

I will not be around Ponyville for much longer. I would like for you to tell my guard, Night Runner, about this as soon as she comes back from her interrogations. I cannot say where I will be going because I know that this letter will end up being read by Night. All I can say is to please not let her chase after me. This is the choice that I made for her after I asked her a question back in Canterlot. I only want you to tell her…

“You cannot go looking for the princess, Night.”

“No…this can’t be happening now…why does it have to happen now? I have to go get her, I just have to.”

“I cannot let you leave this town. Further in the letter, she asked me to lock you in a house if need be, but you cannot leave Ponyville until tomorrow.”

“I don’t care what the letter says, I am going to get her this instant! If your search parties could not find her, I will find her even if I have to die trying!”

Clouded with emotion, I flew off. I began to cry for the first time in my life. I have been through so many tough times and rarely have I shed a tear. I felt as the watery substance dripped down my cheek. Not knowing where I was going at first, I just flew up to one of the first clouds I saw. I landed on top of it and began to stomp on it with my hooves, yelling at the top of my lungs. “No! Why did you make the choice yourself?! You told me it was for me to decide, not you! Princess Luna!” I could bet that when I yelled her name, anypony in Ponyville or in Canterlot could have heard me, probably even Princess Celestia. I kept beating at the cloud until I finally broke it in half. I fell through not caring what happened. I fell, not saving myself with my wings, I just fell. I was falling head first towards the crowd of ponies. I could hear them yelling as they probably saw me falling from the cloud. I could hear other pegasi taking off to come and save me. I didn’t care what happened, but the last thought in my mind said, 'You have failed your duty to protect the princess. Therefore, you are no longer a guard.' Finally, it all just went black. I couldn’t feel anything; my legs, my body, I couldn’t feel a thing. I was dead, or so I thought.

I awoke to find myself in a hospital. I looked around seeing that I was alone in the room. I also noticed my back right hoof was in a cast. I still don’t remember what happened other than falling from a cloud. I laid my head back down against the pillow. I heard some ponies outside the door to my room. The voices were faint so I couldn’t tell who was talking at first.

“Are you sure she will be okay?”

“Yea I hope so. I don’t want her to miss my party that I’m throwing just for her!”

I knew that one…that was Pinkie Pie. She’s throwing a party for me, why would she do that? Who was she talking to though?

“Yea Pinks, no one ever misses your parties.”

“Don’t you be talkin’ like that to Pinkie Pie, I’m sure it was a good thing that she is throwing one just fer her.”

That accent sounds like Applejack. Who was that other pony that spoke just before her?

“Listen Applejack, that wasn't sarcasm, no one ever misses her parties, literally!”

Now I know who that was, it was Rainbow Dash. But what are they all doing here? Are they here just for me? No, that can’t be it, it must be something else. It just has to be for some other reason. Why would anyone care about someone who almost killed herself?

“Quiet down you three, you might as well just start yelling and wake her up.”

Who in Equestria was that? It sounded like something only Princess Celestia would say; everything except that last part. Come to think of it, whoever that was, she sounded like her. Did she actually come down to meet me?

The intercom noise sounded followed by an announcement, “Nurse Redheart, please report to room four. I repeat, Nurse Redheart, please report to room four.”

I wonder who could be in room four. I turned my head around to see a white board on the wall.

Patient: Night Runner

Doctor: Nurse Redheart

Diagnosis: Fractured right hind leg, fractured right shoulder blade

Room: #4

So I was in room number four. Just at that moment, that doctor opened to door. “Good morning Night Runner, how are you feeling today?”

“I think I am good. What is happened yesterday? Last I remember I was falling from a cloud.”

“Your friends here can explain that. They brought you here during the announcement from Mayor Mare.”

The pink pony burst into the room and dashed straight to the side of the bed. “Oh my gosh are you ok? I was wondering why you were falling from the cloud! It was a good thing that Twilight slowed you down with her magic! If she hadn’t been there, who knows what would have happened!” She spoke so fast I could barely make out anything she said. A violet colored pony walked into the room next to the pink pony.

“Hello there, I believe we have already met. My name is Twilight Sparkle. I remember seeing you in the Canterlot palace before. How are your leg and your shoulder?”

“You’re Lady Twilight Sparkle? I was expecting a more regal mare, most likely somepony from another royal family since I usually see you with Princess Celestia.”

“Oh no no no, I am just a simple unicorn. I was her student in magic school, which is probably why you see us two talking together. Still, how are your leg and shoulder?”

She kept referring to my shoulder, but I didn’t see a bandage there. “I feel just fine. This is the worst position for me to be in now. I’m supposed to be looking for her and now I’m stuck in a hospital bed. I need to find a way out of here to go look for her.” I knew they probably wouldn’t know who I was talking about, but I said it anyway. I still needed to go find Princess Luna before anything drastic happens.

“Who are you looking for?”

I sighed before saying “Princess Luna” in an inaudible voice.

“I didn’t catch what you…”

“I need to go searching for the missing Princess Luna!” It came out louder that I had thought it would. I had my head turned away from the two ponies standing there. I knew they would be surprised and shocked at the same time. When is that last time you heard a guard say that a princess was missing?

“None of us were expecting to hear that…” The orange earth pony, followed by the rainbow colored pegasus and the yellow pegasus came in, all with shocked faces.

“Yes, Lady Twilight, do you remember when Mayor Mare escorted me away from the crowd last night?”

“I do recall that happening.”

“She brought me behind the building and told me that Princess Luna had gone missing. From what she said, the search parties that she sent out had no success in finding any clues that could lead to her current actions.” My voice was shaky explaining all this to them. “Listen, I need your help to get out of this hospital. I am required by my promise to find and protect the princess. So can you any of you help me get out of this bed?” I sat up in bed only to have my shoulder burst into pain. I fell backwards onto the bed, grasping my shoulder with my left hoof.

“Nurse! Nurse! Come in quickly!” I heard the orange pony yell.

“What seems to be…oh no, did she tried to sit up in bed? Give me a moment. Listen Miss Night Runner, I need you to calm down. Please take your hoof away from you shoulder. I need a needle filled with anesthetic stat!”

Another nurse came in holding a tray in her mouth. Nurse Redheart took the needle and carefully injected my shoulder with it. I felt the pain slowly go away, along with my consciousness. Soon enough, I was back asleep.

I woke up later to see that it was night time now. My head sideways on the pillow and I was lying down on my stomach. My right hind leg was hanging in a cloth that was elevated above the bed. I saw a couple of tails from the corner of my eye. One was pink and the other was purple with a pink stripe through it. I tried to move my head, but it was very difficult for me.

“Twilight, she’s awake again.”

“Oh, hey Night, are you feeling any better?”

“Of course I’m not feeling better. I won’t be able to feel better unless I am standing next to Princess Luna again.”

“Can you put that off for just a minute and pay attention to yourself? Geez you guard ponies are stubborn.”

“Who said that? To you information, we have to be. It is the only way for us to be good enough guards for the princess. She may not want it, but it is for her own interests.”

The rainbow colored pony stepped in front of my line of sight blocking all the others. “Listen to yourself, you sound more stubborn then Trixie. Can’t you see that you have to take care of yourself or else you won’t be able to leave the hospital to go search for the princess, can’t you see what is happening now?”

She was right, I had to get heal so I could go searching for the princess. But of course, my stubbornness got the best of me. “I don’t care about myself! All I care about is Princess Luna’s safety! She saved my life already and this is was the only way I could think of to repay my debt to her! So I must get out of this bed this instant to go looking for her!” When I finished my rant, my shoulder began to hurt again. It wasn’t as serious as before, but bad enough.

“Listen to this mare; she can’t even take good advice when it is thrown on the ground in front of her. Fluttershy, can you talk some sense into her? Not that you’re better at talking to ponies like I am, but you just have a quieter tone than I do.” She stepped out of my sight and pushed the yellow pegasus into view.

She was shaking a bit. I could tell she was nervous. Did my yelling make her scared? I am supposed to care for the well-being of fellow ponies. I just gave a big sigh again. “Listen, I am sorry for yelling before. It’s just that I owe her my life for taking me in. Even though I was raised by the night guards, she always seemed to find a way to make time to talk to me, even if she was “banished” again.”

““Banished”, what do you mean by that?”

“She somehow pulls some pranks or jokes on the residents in the palace and Princess Celestia banishes her to her room. Every guard knows this cause it happens quite often.”

“Oh, well um…I hope you don’t mind me saying it but, you really should stay here until your leg and shoulder heal. I know you may not want it to be like this, but it is the only way for you to get better.” The way the pegasus said that made it seem more calming than the rainbow pony put it. I felt more relaxed talking to her. It was almost like I was talking to Princess Luna again. Soon as that thought came to mind, I turned it away from the other ponies. I heard a little gasp from the yellow pegasus. “Well, I hope you do get better soon. If you ever need someone to talk to, I guess you could have Nurse Redheart send me a letter for you.”

“Thank you all for being here. Is it alright if I ask to be alone for the rest of the night?”

“Sure, no problem. Come on girls; let’s let her have some time alone.”

I turned my head again and saw the pink pony pushing the others outside of the room. She had a lot of strength for such a small mare. At last, I was alone in the room. I still felt weird after talking with the pegasus, Fluttershy. Her tone was just like Princess Luna’s. It reminded me of my life with her before I became a Night Guard. It was relaxing to me, having her to talk to. She would bring me into her room just so we could talk about anything that came to mind. She even told me about a few of her pranks that she had thought up for the next day. All these thoughts of the past came to me then.

I remembered the first time I saw somepony die for the sake of the princess. I was brought along on a casual stroll to Ponyville one day. We walked around the shops, after having a greeting line which last like half an hour. Our main idea was to go to Sweet Apple Acres and Sugarcube Corner to buy some food a celebration that was coming up. It was a birthday for one of the Wonderbolts. He asked me to talk to the princesses about having it setup there. Then, there was the first kiss. It was from that same Wonderbolt who asked me about the celebration. Near the end of the party, he brought me out to the garden from the party room. He began to thank me for setting up the party for him. That was when he hugged and kissed me. My first kiss was something I would never forget. I was standing out there blushing for a while when Princess Luna came out and snapped me out of it. She saw what had happened and congratulated me.

I was then back to the hospital. Nurse Redheart was in dropping off a food plate. “Listen dear, if you have trouble eating your food because of your shoulder just press the red button on the other side of the bed. Also you should listen to your friends. They usually know what is best for another friend in need.” With that said, she walked out. Again, I was alone in the room, lying on the bed. I just had to wait till after my leg and shoulder healed then I could go back out and search for Princess Luna, how long could that take? I was in for a surprise. I called the medical pony back into my room with the button.

“Are you having trouble eating your food?”

“Can you tell me something Nurse Redheart…how long do you think I will be in the hospital?”

“We are not sure about that. Seeing as how bad your shoulder and leg are, I would say about a week or so, nothing serious.”

My eyes widened. Oh, was I in for a surprise. A week, I had to stay in this bed for a week or so? This sent my thoughts into terror. I kept it inside, but I knew it would come out eventually. “Thank you, also, can you help me with the food, it does seem like a problem not being able to use my right hoof.”

“Of course, anything for patient of this hospital.”

I took the final bites from my dinner and Nurse Redheart left me after wishing a good night. Before the door closed however, the yellow pegasus came walking in thanking the nurse. She turned to me to see me giving a stern expression. “I hope you don’t mind, but I came to visit you, just to check on how you were doing.”

“I don’t mind it at all. You know, you remind me of how Princess Luna used to talk to me. She always had this soft tone. Lately she has been speaking with a more professional tone. Is it okay if I tell you something? You cannot tell anypony else about it ok?”

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone.”

“Do you promise not to tell anyone?”

“Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” The same gesture from the pink pony; I was starting to understand what it meant now.

“A while ago before Princess Luna brought me and the Night Guard captain to Ponyville, she asked me a favor. She asked me to abandon her when she got into trouble during the investigation.” I paused for a moment to look at the pegasus. Her pupils shrank to small circles. She had her hoof covering her mouth and she was trembling a little. “I didn’t know what to say to her when she asked me this. The oath that we Night Guards swear to states that we cannot leave the princess’s side during any time of danger. It also says that we cannot disobey anything told to us from the princess herself. It was a complete contradiction. To this moment, I still have no idea what I am supposed to do. Should I go save her and follow the first part of the oath or should I follow her orders and abandon the princess at her time of need? Can you help me answer this question?”

The yellow pony was sitting in front of me with a blank expression. She stared at me which made me feel a little awkward. She shook her head a little and gave me a calm look that I only saw Princess Luna give me whenever she saw that I was stressed or troubled by something. "I'm sorry, but I don't know what to say. However, this sounds like a personal problem. I think that the best way to answer it is follow what you want to do."

I dwelled on her answer for a minute before looking up to her eyes. She does have Luna's eyes, which gave a sincere and calming atmosphere every time I looked into them. She reminded too much of Luna and the whole "disappearance" thing was getting to me again. "Miss Fluttershy, can I ask a favor of you?"

She looked at me in confusion. "What kind of favor are you talking about?"

I peered down to the floor for a second. I thought about whether I should ask her to or not, but it subsided by the look from her eyes. "Can you delivery a message to Princess Celestia?"

"I guess I can. I will have one sent right away and..."

"No, I want you to go there yourself, for me. I want you to delivery the letter by your hoof to Princess Celestia's hoof. Even if the guards tell you to stop, just keep walking to her. I am sure that the princess will understand who sent you."

"Well um...I will have to make sure that my animals are taken care of. But, isn't the trip there scary? I-I'm not sure if I c-can do it..."

"Don't worry Miss Fluttershy, I am positive that you will have enough courage to go there."

"W-why not ask Rainbow Dash to do it? I'm sure that she is way faster than I am."

"That's another reason to send you. I don't want Miss Rainbow to go there because she will give the guards the wrong idea. Just give Princess Celestia the same look as you gave me when you answered my question. That is how I know that she will know who sent you. After all, only us two ever got that look from Princess Luna..." My eyes began to drift away. Back into memories of the princess and I pulling pranks on some of the guards-stallions that were watching the halls during the day. When we got caught, she always gave a sad look to the guard or whoever caught us. But when she turned to me, she gave me that same look with her eyes. So sincere, so calming, made me feel like nothing could go wrong. Until she was then banished to her room by her sister. I shook my head to brush off those memories for a bit longer. "Miss Fluttershy, you must do what I told you. I want Princess Celestia to hear it from me instead of somepony else. Write this down...

Dear Princess Celestia,

Miss Fluttershy has been sent to you by me to explain that Princess Luna has gone missing. Please do not take this information too seriously. I would ask of you to remain calm for the time being. I also wish for you to send for me and have a few guards take me to Canterlot for a quick treatment for my injuries. The rest of the information will given to you by me. Also I will have a favor to ask of you when I am fully recovered. It must be discussed in private.

Guards-mare,

Night Runner of the Royal Night Guards

...did you get all of that down?"

"I think so, can you read it and see if I missed anything?"

She held the paper in front of me so that I could read it. As I skimmed through, I did not see anything left out. "Yes, you got everything written down. Please head off either tonight or tomorrow morning to delivery this message to Princess Celestia. And about your animals, go ask Twilight if she can help tend to your animal friends." After saying that, a bird popped its head out her mane.

"Oh um, yes she wanted to say hello to you as well. Go on little Snowball, go say hello to Night Runner."

The bird flew out of her hair and landed on my cheek. This bird did seem to love me. I wondered why she gave it the name Snowball. When I looked at it, it was scrunched up into a white ball, it did look like a snowball. I stared as it just sat there and looked at me. It shook its whole body and then fell asleep.

"I guess she wanted to be with you after all. I think she may want to be your pet. It's always common for anypony to have a pet. I just never saw you guards with one. Also, when I had any animal with me, they usually hid behind my mane when they saw you guards. You must be different than the others. Animals have a way of telling that."

I laughed a little to myself. "Thank you Miss Fluttershy. Can you please make sure that the letter gets to Princess Celestia by tomorrow. It is imperative that she receive this message from you."

"Don't worry, I will deliver it." She nodded her head a little and walked to the door.

Before she could walk out, I called to her. "Miss Fluttershy!"

"What is it Night?"

"If anypony asks where you are going, tell them that you have a letter to delivery to nopony special. No one must know of this letter unless the princess says so." My eyes had that determined look that I usually have. It was the look that usually makes the other guards back away from me. Miss Fluttershy didn't even move when she looked back at me. There was something about her that kept reminding me of Princess Luna.

"Don't worry Night Runner, I will deliver the letter right away."

Miss Fluttershy walked out the door and closed it. I turned my eyes to the bird that sat on my cheek. It was fast asleep. All I could do was smile and hope that she delivers the letter as quick as possible to Princess Celestia.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I do hope that I can delivery this letter to the princess... she thought as she left the hospital entrance. Yes, I will deliver this letter. If it's for one of my friends, no matter how new she is, I must deliver this letter. I just hope that I don't get scared and fly back home. Fluttershy began to take off with the letter in mouth when a familiar voice called to her.

"Hey Fluttershy! Where are you going?" It was Rainbow Dash who flew right next to her. She stayed hovering there waiting for an answer.

"Well um..." She had no idea what to do now. The one thing she knew was that she couldn't tell Rainbow about what the letter said. "I am just going to deliver this letter to a friend of mine." her voice grew softer as she began to hide behind her mane.

"Oh okay. Do you want me to go with you? I am sure that your friend would be happy to see the fastest flyer in all of Equestria." Rainbow did a pose like she usually did when talking about herself. Fluttershy never minded the way she would do that. In fact, she was always interested in how Rainbow could do all the tricks that she showed her. "So hows about I go with you to meet your friend." Rainbow put her hoof around Fluttershy's neck and began to fly forward.

"Listen um..."

"I can't wait to meet your new friend. Does your she know the Wonderbolts? Oh that would be awesome if that pony did. I could ask her if she could get a meeting setup with them."

"But..."

"Although I haven't quite perfected my moves yet so maybe that will have to wait till later."

"But Rainbow I..."

"I guess I can still impress them with my awesome looks too."

"Rainbow Dash!" Fluttershy finally got the rainbow pony's attention, only to shy away a little once again.

"What is it Flutters?"

She didn't know how to say what she was thinking without it seeming insulting to Rainbow. "Um...it was a letter from Night Runner. I have to go deliver it by myself. She said that nopony is supposed to go with me."

"Well, now your taking orders from her?! No one gives Fluttershy orders, not while I say so! Wait here for me."

"Wait Rainbow Dash..." But she was already inside the hospital. "Oh Fluttershy, you are such a loudmouth. I guess I better deliver the letter for now. Don't want to keep her waiting. I'm so sorry Rainbow Dash." she said as she flew off towards Canterlot castle.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After a moment, I was just falling asleep with the bird on my cheek. At that moment, the rainbow colored pony came barging in. She had an angry or a similar type face.

"So, you're giving orders to Fluttershy just because you think you're better than her, huh?!"

I raised an eyebrow to her question. "What do you mean? I never gave orders to the yellow pegasus..."

"Then why is she delivering a letter for you and why does she have to do it "alone"?"

"I thought I asked her not to tell anypony about that...doesn't matter."

The rainbow pegasus flew up next to me. I could feel wind blowing on my face from her wings. I also saw the little bird fly up and land in my mane. It began to crawl into it. I knew it was a bit scared. "You're scaring the bird..." I said with a straight face.

"The bird isn't part of the conversation. What is in that letter that you gave to Fluttershy that is so private that she has to deliver it by herself."

"That is for the two of us to know and for you not to know. If you don't mind now, I need to get some sleep and so does little Snowball here."

"Don't try to change the argument!"

"I'm not trying to change it, I was trying to end it so I can sleep. You should head back home too. You should get some sleep after racing here just to talk to me."

I watched as she got angrier with me. Her frustration was building up as she tensed her entire body. These types of interrogations are things I trained myself for. 'Do not ever give information about any promises that you kept.' Those words that me and Princess Luna said to each other echo in my head. I closed my eyes and saw her. My mind created an image of her to remind me of what happened yesterday. I opened my eyes to a sharp pain in my right shoulder. The rainbow pegasus grasped my body picking me up forward. "Listen here you...you...I don't even know what to call you. You do not tell Fluttershy what to do and send her off alone. Didn't you think that something might happen to her?!"

"Ahhhhhh!" All I could do was yell my heart out from the pain. Nurse Redheart came in and yelled at Rainbow Dash to let go of me. I opened my eyes for a quick look at hers. I saw that anger change to confusion and then to sorrow. She let go of me and I was lying on the bed again. As the other nurses began to do the needle thing again, Nurse Redheart was asking for Rainbow to leave. Before she could finish, I got a few words out. "Don't leave Rainbow Dash, I need to-to-to..."

When I came to again, it was already day time, probably early in the day. I stared out the window for a few moments to take in the sunlight hitting my face. I felt the bird, Snowball, move around a little in my mane. My eyes turned forward again to see Rainbow Dash sitting in a chair asleep. She was covered with a blanket and she was snoring a tiny bit. I giggled a little from hearing this. Snowball woke up too giving a small chirp, which I guessed was a yawn. I heard Rainbow yawn right after. I turned my eyes and watched as she stretched her body and flapped her wings a couple of times. She turned to see that I was awake. Her eyes had a glare that couldn't understand.

"Listen um, about yesterday. I'm sorry about the whole thing. I'm always so worried about Flutters and she might get hurt or something..."

Just then, the yellow pegasus walked in, but didn't say a word.

"...and I just wanted to tell you that I care a lot about her. That was why I came into here all angry-like. She is one of my oldest and closest friends. If something were to happen to her, I don't know what I would do."

"I guess you won't have to be telling her that same thing again."

She gave me a confused look with one eye half closed. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh, Rainbow Dash," She flew over and hugged her, lifting Rainbow up into the air. "I didn't know that you care so much about me. Well, I guess you may have hinted at it before, but now that I heard it all, I am so happy that you care so much about me." Even when she was excited and happy, her voice still sounded like Princess Luna's. I began to think that she was the princess, just that she used a spell to make herself look like Fluttershy.

"Whoa, when did you...how did...huh?"

"It's OK Rainbow, I know that you do care a lot about your friends, even if you don't show it that often."

"Hey Fluttershy, were you able to deliver the letter to her?"

"It took a bit longer than I thought. Sorry but, I am easily scared when outside at night. So many shadows from the moonlight really scared me, but yes, I did give her the letter."

"At least now I can rest easier. If something happened to you, I would have to go looking for you too. I am just glad to see that you're safe."

"Wait, hold on just one minute. Fluttershy, why were you delivering a letter? What was written on it?"

"That is what I wanted to tell you before I passed out. Fluttershy, you can head back home if you want to. I just going to explain what the letter was about to Rainbow."

She shook her head gently. "It's OK, I want to stay here and make sure that you get better."

I nodded to her in return. "The letter she was carrying was from me to Princess Celestia. It said that I wanted her not to be alarmed at the current situation and that I needed to be brought to the Canterlot Medical Facility. I had to be healed quickly so that I can head off to go look for Princess Luna. I couldn't tell you before because Fluttershy and I made a promise not to tell anypony about who it was for or what was in the letter."

"Why wouldn't you let her best friend know what was in it?"

"Nopony could know what was in the letter or who it was for. That literally meant nopony, including you and the other four." I was hoping that she would understand everything and just move on, but it seems that she still cared a lot about the yellow pegasus.

"So what? If it concerns her well-being, her best friends should know what was going on. What if the something were to happen to her? What would you have done then?"

I thought about that for a moment. My eyes wandered around to Snowball. She was sitting on my cheek again. I smiled and looked at Rainbow. "I would have gotten out of this bed and gotten her myself."

She watched my face closely as it stay in its usual stern expression. She smiled and nodded at me. "I believe you. You guards don't leave any friend hanging. That is why I like you guys, you remind me of...me."

My eyes wandered around a bit again. They came to rest on the sleeping Fluttershy. Rainbow was going on about herself and how the guards were basically just copies of herself. I was feeling tired again, but I didn't want to be insulting to Rainbow about asking her to leave. "Listen Miss Rainbow Dash, I appreciate your concern for your friend, but I think you should take her to her house. She fell asleep, probably because she was up all night."

The rainbow pegasus looked over and saw the sleeping pony. "Yea, you're probably right. Hey um, I guess I'll come by later and talk to you. Not about the letter, but you know, just talk. I'll fill you in on some of the news that's going on about Ponyville. You won't believe these crazy stories that I hear." She picked up the other pegasus and placed Fluttershy on her back.

A moment later, I was alone in the room, well, except for the bird, Snowball. I looked at the bird for a while. She did nothing but sit on my cheek while I lay down on the bed. "Snowball, can you understand me?" The bird looked at me and nodded her head. I was surprised to see that she was actually reacting to me. "Can you do me a favor and fly off to Princess Celestia. I would like for you to lead her to me. If possible, make her follow you. I am sure that she is on her way right now, but you and those other ponies know where I am. Can you lead her directly to me?" Again she nodded her head and flew out the open window. I couldn't wait for her to return with the princess so that I can explain everything in person. For the moment, I closed my eyes and fell asleep, awaiting the arrival of Snowball and Princess Celestia.

A few minutes later (or a few hours later), I felt a small fluffy ball land on my cheek again. My eyes opened slowly to the sight of the beautiful Princess Celestia, with a couple of guards as well.

"So this is where you were this whole time. I was beginning to think that you disappeared along with my sister." I couldn't tell if she was joking or if she was being serious. "Anyway, thank you for your letter. Miss Fluttershy delivered it with some resemblance to Luna. Did you tell her to act that way when she delivered your letter?"

"Yes princess."

She gave a long sigh. "At least I now know what is currently happening. Thank you for informing me. You did say that you had something to ask of me however, what is it that you needed?"

"As mentioned in the letter, I will ask you when I am completely healed. As for now, can you please take me to the Canterlot Medical Facility?"

"Of course my dear, just make sure you tell me everything that you know what happened two nights ago."

"I shall, Princess Celestia."

"Captain Aquilinus, please have your guard carefully take Night to the chariot for transport." At that moment, the captain of Celestia's royal guard walked in. He seemed a bit more muscular than the captain of the night guards.

"As you wish princess. You two come in here!" Immediately, two other guards-stallions hurried right inside. "Take Miss Night Runner to the chariot and prepare to depart for Canterlot!"

The two of them responded in unison, "Yes sir!" They gave their salute and with Nurse Redheart behind them, they carefully placed me on top of one of them. I turned my head to Nurse Redheart.

"Nurse, do you know where my armor may be?"

"If I remember correctly, I believe the pony known as Twilight Sparkle should have it."

"Do not worry about your armor, she had it delivered the day after you arrived at Ponyville. The only thing she mentioned in her letter, was how you fell from a cloud and didn't use your wings to save yourself. Was it because of what had happened?"

"I am so sorry for letting her disappear like that. I had no idea what was going on. The pink pony took me and Luna had asked me to go with her..."

"There is no need to continue. I am sure that we will find some trace of her and be able to track her down."

"Actually, can I ask you that favor now?"

"Of course my dear, what is your favor?"

The sentence was to soft for her to hear. The only audible words were "...search...myself."

"Can you repeat that please, you were speaking a little to softly."

"I would like to search for Princess Luna by myself."

The princess gave me her stern look that she would give her sister after she had been caught for one of her pranks. Before she could say anything, the pink pony appeared right in between us. "Hi there, where ya going Night? Are you going back to Canterlot?"

I was too scared to answer at first. When I focused more, she was doing her usual bouncing thing. "Yes I am heading back to Canterlot. Are you sure that bouncing doesn't hurt your hooves?"

"Don't worry about me silly, worry about yourself! I mean look at you, you are being carried by another guard with a broken shoulder and a broken hind leg! You should be worrying about yourself instead of me!" Finally somepony, other than Princess Luna, was telling me to take care of myself instead of helping others. I couldn't respond to her with anything. The two ponies, Pinkie and Fluttershy, reminding me too much of Luna. Then there was the rainbow one. She stood up against me. The only one to have ever stand up against a decision I made were the princesses. The three of them brought back tons of memories of Luna and I. As I relived those memories in my mind, my eyes closed and began to tear up. A few second later, tears were streaming down my face. There was also a comforting type of smile as well. I felt like I was with Luna every time I got close to those three ponies. By the time I opened my eyes and returned to the world around me for a moment, we were on the chariot flying back to Canterlot. I was still on the back of the royal guard. I flipped my head around to see the pink pony and Princess Celestia beside me. I said nothing except wondered why she was coming with us. I just closed my eyes and returned to the memories of Luna and me. We were flying around the castle giggling at one another. We arrived at the garden just before the sunset. We sat there staring at the sky as it turned from orange to a deep, deep blue. The moon began to rise and Luna decided to fill the night sky with stars.Her horn was glowing and suddenly, these white spots appeared in the sky forming some sort of picture. She described it as a constellation just for the two of us. It showed both of of cutie marks next to one another. I was hugging her out of joy when Princess Celestia came to us. She saw the constellation that Luna had created and smiled, at it and the both of us. Every night since then, I have always gone to the garden to look at the constellation.

After being lost in those memories for a while, I opened my eyes and found myself in the Canterlot Medical Facility. There were a couple of unicorns around me using magic to heal my wounds. I looked at the third unicorn who was writing on a notepad held up by her magic. "Excuse me, do you know where a pink pony might be that came in with me?"

She turned to me with a smiling expression. "I believe she is with her highness at the moment. She said that she would come back later and have a celebration for waiting for you after we were doing healing your injuries."

I looked down at my body. My leg was out of the cast and it looked just fine. The unicorn that was healing shoulder was done and told the doctor. She turned and asked me to move my shoulder. I did and it felt like it was brand new. The other unicorn used her magic to heal my leg. "Excuse me nurse, when will my leg be healed? I have an important task ahead of me."

She stopped the healing process, probably to take a break. "We will be finished healing it by tomorrow. Until then, you must stay in bed and get a good night's sleep. Your task will have to wait until then." All of the nurses walked out of the large room. I laid my head back against the pillow and stared up at the roof. My shoulder was now healed while my leg remain unusable until tomorrow. That was the probably the worst news to tell me. I looked around the room and saw a couple of other guards in two other beds. I recognized one of them. He was one of the recruits that I taught. The stallion there was a pegasus, like myself. He was staring at the roof. The other one was probably one of Princess Celestia's guards. He was fast asleep. I looked at the other one who was still awake. "Are you a Night Guard by any chance?"

He looked over at the other guard, then at me. As soon as he saw me, he sat up. His eyes were peering at me awkwardly. "Yes ma'am, I recognize you to be my mentor when I was a new recruit." So my memory was right, he was that same pony. "Is there something you need?"

"No, just asking a question." It was just then that I noticed he had a sling for his right front leg. "What happened to you to get that?"

He looked down at his hoof in the sling. "Oh this...I had problems with one of the other guards. We were doing a practice run and he tripped me during one of the turns. I flew off the course and landed right against a tree. My shoulder was dislocated so I came here to have it fixed. Might I ask why you are here ma'am?"

I peered down at my leg. "I was sent to investigate the disappearances in Ponyville. I left the palace with Princess Luna and the captain. I was separated by one of the locals and when I got back to the town square, I learned of horrible news. After that, I don't remember what happened other than waking up in the town's hospital." Even though that was a lie, it was also the truth. I did learn of horrible news, but I do remember what happened during the time in between.

"I am sorry to hear that. Permission to ask you another question?"

"Go ahead."

"Do you know where Princess Luna and the Night Guard captain are? I haven't seen them around for a couple of days and the other guards are getting worried and confused."

I wish he hadn't asked that question. What lie should I make up to answer back? Should I lie or tell him the truth? I was never one for hard decisions like that. Since he was a fellow Night Guard, he deserved to know what was happening. "Well, what I said before was partially a lie. I do remember what the horrible news was and how I really got my leg and shoulder broken. When i arrived at the town square, the mayor of the town called me off to the side. She told me of how Princess Luna had "disappeared"." I looked up at the guard to see his reaction. of course his eyes were dilated and his mouth was hanging open. "Can I tell you something?"

He shook his head, probably to clear his thoughts and snap from his confusion. "Anything you want ma'am."

"My past with Princess Luna is long so I will tell you in a short version. I am here in this palace because of her. I was abandoned at the doorstep of this place and she brought me in. I have lived here with her and her sister. Heh, she was always fun to be with. So from that you can tell that we had a close connection. When I learned of her disappearance, I went on an emotional rampage. The only thing I did was tear a cloud in half, but I got my anger out. I fell from the cloud and straight to the ground. According to some, I was almost saved by a unicorn who slowed down my fall. My leg still broke and my shoulder was fractured." Finally getting that off my chest, I felt more relieved. I looked at the guard on the other bed and he was staring at his arm.

"Is it alright if I speak freely ma'am?"

"Anything is permitted when not in public, almost anything."

"I don't know what to make of this. Just seeing you in here had me worried enough as it was. I thought you were attacked and beaten in battle. When you told me about Princess Luna's disappearance, I just don't know what else to do anymore. Are you going to go search for the princess when tomorrow? I heard the nurses say that you were going to be released then."

"Yes, I will be. I am heading to Ponyville tomorrow to go find clues to find her. I will ask Princess Celestia if she can spare a few guards, but once we find where she went, I was going to send them back. I plan on doing this alone. It is my responsibility to protect her at all times. If I mess up, then I make us look bad. Do not offer to help me in anyway, I will not accept. Thank you for letting me talk to you. I must get some sleep for tomorrow, lot of important things to do."

"Good night ma'am." He laid back down on his bed.

I placed my head back down on the pillow, looking up at the ceiling. Why did I tell him everything I knew? That's not normal of me. What changed? What made me change? Those questions now left in my thoughts to ponder on. Without any further hesitation, I closed my eyes and was asleep.

I opened my eyes to the sun shining in through the window. I lifted my head to see that the nurses had already begun to work again. Two were beside me; one was healing my hind leg again while the other was writing on her clipboard using her magic. She took notice to me waking up. "I see you are awake Miss, Night. How is your shoulder?"

I rolled my right shoulder around a bit. "It's doing just fine."

"Great, we will be finished with you leg in about an hour. Until then, please stay still so we may continue working." She went back to her clipboard reading and writing a few things here and there. I looked over at the other night guard. A nurse was using her magic to heal his shoulder. Everything was quiet, other than the sound of magic being used. I just laid my head back down on the pillow. I was closing my eyes when I heard a noise; one ear twitched. I popped my head back up looking around for where the sound was coming from. No one else noticed it seemed. They were still doing their own thing. I heard it again, this time it sounded like a chirp. Seconds later, I felt something land on my head. I looked up to see Snowball. The nurse with the clipboard turned and saw the bird. "That bird always seems to fly to you. We have a policy against animals being in here. Your bird keeps getting in somehow. Since it only seems to stay on your head, I just let it be."

Staring at the bird on my head, I could hear it chirping. "Nurse, do you hear her chirping?"

"Is that bird chirping? I don't hear anything, sorry. It has been so quiet every time I saw it."

"Nevermind then, I guess it was my imagination." I knew Snowball was chirping. I was witnessing it. It's beak moved and I heard the sound. Why wasn't anyone else hearing it? I just ignored it. I laid my head back down and Snowball jumped onto the pillow next to me. I closed my eyes and fell asleep once again.

I was woken up by the nurse. "Excuse me miss? Excuse me Miss Night?"

"Yes, what is the problem?"

"We have finished our treatment. You are free to leave at any time. However, you must take it easy. Your leg may be healed, but it is still a bit more fragile than your others."

"Don't worry about me, I will be sure not to do anything rash." I got off the bed and onto my hooves. My leg felt brand new, just like my shoulder. "May I test how strong my leg is still?"

"What is you method of testing? It cannot be serious enough to break somepony's leg. Bucking a tree is fine, but you cannot do anything with a lot of risks."

"Don't worry, my tests are not as hard as many think they are." I was giving her that smile I always gave my new recruits when they were assigned to me for training.

"Yes it is! It was definitely worth it in the end though. Without your training, I probably would have had my whole arm broken." I turned and looked at the guard and gave him that straight-faced look I always have. "Oh come on, you know it is that hard."

"Like I said, nothing I can't handle myself." I turned back to the nurse who was giving me a glare. "I promise that nothing will happen to my leg. I won't do anything bad enough to break it again."

"That's more I like it. You may leave whenever your ready, we have more patients coming in soon." She turned and walked out of the room. I walked over to the guard who was having his shoulder healed.

"Did you really think it was that hard of a course?" I didn't have my normal straight-faced look. It was an expression of confusion and question. He raised his eyebrow at me which signaled that he never saw me like this before.

"Well of course. Comparing what we went through to what the other guards did, their tasks are like a walk in the park. You kept pushing us to our limits and over them. That is what we benefited from. Me and my fellow recruits are always having an easy time beating all the other guards." He was blushing a bit. He seemed embarrassed and also nervous. Apparently I was the worst teacher, but also the best. "Personally, ma'am, I wish you would train us more. Your course was really hard yes, but at least we get assigned to more missions every so often. It's like being trained by you was an automatic recommendation for any mission no matter how difficult."

"I guess I'll take that as a compliment. I never got your name recruit, care to share what it is?"

"My name? Oh right, my name is Private Silver Stars ma'am." He gave me a salute with his hoof that wasn't in a sling.

"Thank you for actually telling me what the others thought of my course. I always asked, they kept telling me it was fine and that they could handle it, which was why I always made it harder each time. I will see you later on the training grounds. Maybe I could go through the course with you." I turned around and walked towards the door.

"Ma'am?" I stopped and turned my head a bit so that I could see him out of the corner of my eye. "Does that mean you are going to train us again?" I just gave him a smirk and a single chuckle. "Then we will see each other on the training grounds again." I just turned forward again and walked out.

I headed for my room, which was somewhere down the hall. I was relocated twice because something never went the way I planned and usually got hurt somehow. I built a tolerance for injury thanks to all those times I got sent back to the medical ward. Thank Celestia that I never actually got killed at any of my attempts to "practice", as they would call it. I called it "hard training", they probably just thought I was suicidal or something similar. I arrived at the door to my room.

Night Runner's Room

Room 6

I always liked that number. It has been my lucky number for most of my life. I remember how I would only get about six recruits every time I wanted to train some. It was just the way I liked things, done in sixes. I walked into my room and immediately spotted my armor on its stand. I closed the door behind me and walked over to it. I was surprised there wasn't a dent or a scratch in the armor. I placed all of my armor on except the helmet. I sat on my bed looking at my helmet. Something clicked for me then. I could see Nightmare Moon's face in my helmet. Why I did, I had no idea. I just planned on find Luna and that was it. But like a disease, the question that Princess Luna asked me came up again. Are you going to follow your oath and help the princess, or are you going to leave her by her orders? This question will never escape my thoughts until I answered it myself. The newest question was, which answer do I pick? I let that question drift away into my memory. I put my helmet on. It felt different. Something didn't fit right? Was my helmet accidentally switched with someone else's? No, it was mine. The way it fit around my head began to feel familiar. I realized that maybe the bird was still in my mane. I quickly pulled my helmet off and flew over to the mirror. I search around my mane, but couldn't find her. Where could she be? I heard another chirp from behind me. Turning around, I saw Snowball perched on my armor stand. I sighed of relief and put my helmet back on. She flew over and land on my back this time. Again, I smiled at the bird and walked towards the door.

Before I could get close, it slammed open. Next thing I knew, there were all the recruits I had trained last time standing there. "Sorry for intruding on you like this, but we got worried about you. All of us came to check up on how you were."

"Don't worry about me, I am doing just fine. By the way, when I asked you before how my training course was, what were you really thinking?" They weren't looking at me anymore. They were actually looking at the bird on my back. I turned sideways putting my side towards the recruits. "Oh, this is Snowball. For some reason this bird keeps following me. The good thing is, it always listens to what I say. I kinda like her, she is persistent like I am." I giggled a little after saying that. The others just stared at me awkwardly. "Is something wrong?"

"Nothing at all ma'am. We just..."

"We have never seen you laugh before." He came straight out with his answer. I like that about a few others. They were straight-forward, no beating around the hay.

"Don't say it out loud like that, she may get mad at us or something."

Again, I giggled again. "You have a big imagination. I was always waiting for one of you to be candid with me. Why do you think I always asked how each of my courses were? Thanks to your other friend, Silver Stars, I guess I should make them a bit lighter than I used to." They were muttering to themselves. It would annoy me when they did that. "Attention!" Immediately they stopped and stood straight up. "You five, are going to help me with something. Have you heard the news of what happened in Ponyville?"

"No ma'am!" Speaking in unison. It would be funny if they jinxed each other.

"Then I will get you caught up. When Princess Luna, the captain, and I arrived at Ponyville, I was separated from them by one of the locals who lead me to the ponies I was to interrogate. Upon my arrival to the town square, I was given horrible news. Our beloved princess has gone missing." I instantly heard all of the gasp. They lost their posture which was kind of important for a guard pony. "I was going to search for her, but the mayor gave me a letter from the princess. It asked the mayor not to let me chase after her. I don't know the reason to why she would send this letter. All I can say for now, is that you will return with me to Ponyville and collect clues to search for our princess. Is everything I said clear?"

"Yes ma'am!" They had regained their posture and were back to normal, straight-up positions.

"Go get yourselves ready for the search. Ponyville is only a half an hours travel from the palace. When you are ready, meet me right outside the entrance of the palace. Dismissed." Upon saying that last word, they left. I sat down and sighed. "How will I explain the situation later on? They will listen anyway, at least I hope they do. Ugh, now isn't the time to worry about anything, I'll just go wait at the entrance." I walked out of my room closing the door. I thought of the guard who was still in the medical ward. I thought of it to be a good idea to go and visit him. I walked up to the door and greeted one of the nurses. "Good afternoon nurse, may I visit Silver Stars?"

"Go right in Miss Night. He was telling some of us about his times during his training. You really shouldn't put them in those tough positions. It would make anypony go crazy. However, he seemed to enjoy talking about it. Oh hehehe, sorry for keeping you here long enough. Go right in." I held open the door for me to go in.

"Thank you." I said with a nod. I walked past all the empty beds focusing on Silver. As I approached, I started with a greeting. "Good afternoon Private Silver. How is your shoulder doing?"

"I wish it would heal faster. The nurses are doing all they can, but they say I won't be out of here for another week. I wish I could somehow heal faster."

"Don't worry, it's better to take your time than to hurry and have something bad happen again. My new friends taught me a few things while I was away. Appreciate that you didn't hit you head on the tree. Who knows what would have happened."

"Yea, I guess you're right, like usual. Permission to ask a question?"

"I said yesterday that you could speak freely anytime."

"Again, sorry, I forgot. My memory isn't a great as other stallions. May I ask how a big change in your attitude came from?"

"What are you talking about?"

"You were always a little, serious, for lack of a better word. Never showed a smile, never laughed, never wanted to talk, and now you are willing to speak freely with one of your recruits. What made you change so much?"

I had to think for a moment. I didn't realize that I had change at all. When he mentioned it, I realized I wasn't acting like my old, serious self. I was more open to others. "Well, I guess I learned more than I thought from my new friends in Ponyville."

He rose his eyebrow again. "In Ponyville, ma'am?"

I giggled at that a little of course. "Not all pony folk are like we thought. The ones I have met in Ponyville were much nicer and not snobbish like the ones here in Canterlot. I just wish all ponies acted like that. Do you know who the owner's of the Elements of Harmony are?"

"According to the stain-glass windows, six ponies are the owners. One was a purple unicorn, one was a pink earth pony, one was a orange earth pony, another was a white unicorn, one was a light blue pegasus, and the last was a yellow pegasus. I only know that the purple one represents the Element of Magic, but they all look just like regular ponies. I heard a rumor that they were all from Ponyville and the purple unicorn was Princess Celestia's protege in the magic school.

"Did you say Princess Celestia's student was the Element of Magic? I know who that is, do you know a pony by the name of Miss Twilight Sparkle?"

"She is the Element of Magic? I never knew, she would usually talk just like every other pony I met."

I scratched my head a little. "Well, I really came in here to inform you that I was going to be heading to search for Princess Luna with the other five recruits. But thank you for telling me who the Element of Magic is, I'll be sure to keep that in mind when I meet her next time." He looked at me with wide eyes for a few seconds, then turned his head a sighed. "Something a matter?"

"I never thought that the princess would go missing. No matter how many times I thought that maybe once she would, but I always doubted it. Now I know not to doubt everything I think of."

"Well, I know you may have more to say, but I must get to the palace entrance. The others should be waiting there by now. I will tell you the whole story when I get back, you have my word on it." I held out my left hoof to shake his. He shook mine and I left for the entrance.

As I walked, I felt like Princess Luna was walking right beside me. The only thing I knew that was with me at the moment, was Snowball who sat on my back. Why could I feel Luna walking right beside me? Then, as I reached the entrance, I stopped. I felt her presence come next to my ear. I could hear those words from days ago. The one's Luna had told me before we left for Ponyville. This time, I didn't let it get to my head. I focused on the current situation and went outside to greet the rest of the team. "Are you ready to head out?"

"Yes ma'am, we are all ready."

"Then let's get to Ponyville and search before nightfall."

Author's Note:

I know this may seem way different than what I had before (for any who read it before I changed), but this fits the story more. I just hope that all of you are able to give helpful criticism or anything that I may have missed. If not, just say anything you want. I will be posting Chapter 4....meh, I don't know when I will. I will update you all later with a comment stating when I will post it. Thank you all for at least reading this story. It has taken me a while to get it done and done right.

I motioned my head for the guards to head off. I stayed for a bit to think of how I would tell them that I was going to search for Princess Luna alone. I noticed a pony out of the corner of my eye. I turned and saw Princess Celestia standing at the entrance to the palace. I thought that she was busy because she always is. Without any change in expression, she walked over and wrapped her muzzle around my neck. She brought her mouth close to my ear to whisper something. "Please, Miss Night Runner, find my sister so that we may have harmony again." Then came the few words I never expected to hear from her. "Do it for me..." She pulled away and gave me that affectionate smile she gives everypony.

I knew better, I could usually tell what they felt just by looking into their eyes. Yea, I was always the one they all came to to find out what either princess truly felt. I remember how the magistrate came to me once after a meeting with Princess Luna that I attended. I always kept a close watch on her, which decisions she made and how she responded to another decision made by one of the magistrate. When the meeting ended, they called me over to talk to them. Those ponies only asked me what the princess really wanted to say. I never told them everything, only that she was on agreement with their terms. The same thing happened with Princess Celestia once. I was reassigned to be a royal guard only once for her. So I got no sleep that day. I attended her meeting, by request of the magistrate and I knew what they wanted me to do. I watched the princess closely. Her eyes always told me something that the others couldn't see. Maybe it was because they were too afraid to look them in the eye. I told them what the princess thought of their decisions. I think she noticed it and I haven't attended a meeting since. Back to the present, I could see in her eyes that she worried for me. There was this one sparkle in her eye that added to it. It was a gleam of hope. She was expecting me to bring back Princess Luna.

"Don't worry princess, we will find your sister and bring her back, I promise." I wanted ti imitate that thing from the pink pony, but it would seem too informal.

"Thank you..."

I did the formal bow and took off to catch up with the others. A good couple minute of flying, and I was already flying beside them. I took the lead, heading straight for Ponyville square. By the time we had arrived, it was bustling with ponies. When we touched the ground, everything almost stopped. It was clear that they weren't used to having guards arrive in their town without either of the princesses. "Alright spread out and search for any clues leading to the princess's location." With that, the others left my side. I walked off to one of the ponies I remember seeing a few days ago when we first came here. The red stallion looked much bigger than the others I had seen, even most of the guards. "Excuse me sir, do you remember what happened a few days ago when Princess Luna first arrived here?"

"Eeyup, she showed up and then left heading to mah family's farm after one of her guards was taken by Pinkie Pie." He must have known what happened after. I just had to hold in that one urge to force him to tell me what happened after.

"Did you see where she went after she arrived at your farm?"

"Nope, when I got back home, she was gone by then. Mah sister, Applejack, told me that she arrived for some apples and then left. I do remember seeing one of you royal guard being let into our house though. She looked a bit like you." He was pointing his hoof at me. I just nodded in return. "Sorry for Applejack, she can be a might stubborn at times."

"No worries, thank you for your time." I began to walk away when he stopped me.

"Any time you want to visit the farm again, just stop by and ask for me or mah sister. We'll be sure to help you with anything you need."

Again, I nodded and finally walked off. I had a couple others that I wanted to talk to as well, especially Mayor Mare. She told me about that letter from Princess Luna. She must have known where she went. I went searching for her and found her in the town hall. She was watching the other ponies from the second floor. "Pardon me, Mayor Mare, may I have a word?"

She looked around unknowingly and then saw me. "Oh Miss Night Runner, please come right in." She turned back inside. The door opened and I was greeted by her. She closed the door and locked it. "So what is you needed to ask me? Does it have to do with the missing ponies?"

"Sort of, I was mostly here to ask about Princess Luna's whereabouts. Who gave you that letter that you showed me a few nights ago?"

"It was a night guard if I am not mistaken. He just walked over to me and told me to read the letter. Then he just flew off to who knows where."

Seemed that she didn't know where she was. "Do you know which direction he was flying in, like where he was going? Also adding to the description, did he have a scar on his right eye?"

She stood there rubbing her muzzle. "If I do recall, he was heading for the apple orchard that is run by the apple family. Yes, he did have a mark or scar on his right eye. He seemed a bit creepy with it."

"No need to worry, that was the captain of the Night Guard. He would hurt another pony, unless he was ordered to. Either way, did you see which way Princess Luna went when we first arrived?"

"No, but I did talk to her before she left town square. She told me that she had a problem that was coming up. Then she wandered off. I would say that she was heading for the Everfree Forest. I caught up with her to warn her about going in there, but she went onward." Mayor Mare lowered her head at the last sentence. She probably thought that the disappearance of the princess was her fault.

"I am sure she had her reasons. It's not your fault the princess went missing. I guess she wandered off on her own accord. I just hope that this "problem" you spoke of doesn't involve her doing any drastic things."

"I do hope that she is alright. I expected to have a small celebration for her arrival. That was the point of the ponies gathering in the square when you showed up. That was also when I received the letter. When I saw all of their happy faces ready to see the princess, I just didn't know how to tell them. When I saw you, that gave me an excuse to buy some time. I thought it would be better to tell you first than to have the entire town go into chaos." Mayor Mare was becoming frantic. She was looking around, at the door, at the window, at almost any entrance. She probably didn't tell the ponies that the princess had disappeared.

I placed my hoof on her shoulder. It startled her a bit, but realized it was only me. "Mayor Mare, did you tell them that she was missing?"

"Oh, I just couldn't. If I saw my whole town go into chaos that would ruin us. I came up with the excuse that the princess was called back to Canterlot for an important meeting and would be back soon to join us in the celebration. That was when some of them started to scream and were pointing at you falling from the sky. Why didn't you save yourself then?" Now the questions were turned towards me.

I removed my hoof from her shoulder. I looked down at the floor. I just came out with it, no holding back what I had in mind. I let out a big sigh before I started. "Princess Luna was basically the only friend I had when I grew up in Canterlot. We had always been together throughout the years. I became a Night Guard so that I could stay close to her. My idea had worked, until a few nights ago. When I heard you tell me that she was missing, I basically broke down. All that time I spent with her, was now gone. I flew off so that my rising anger wouldn't be taken out on you. Instead, I just lashed out on one of the many clouds. After that, the cloud broke in two and I had no energy to fly. All I remember was falling from the cloud and then waking up in the hospital."

"I am so sorry to hear that dear. Well then, if there is anything else you need, I will be glad to assist you on behalf of Ponyville." Her words were sincere, as well as her eyes. There was still one thing that bothered me. Something that did not feel right, like I was forgetting to ask something, or maybe she was not telling me something. As quickly as the feeling came, it went away.

"Thank you Mayor Mare for answering my questions. I have no other need of assistance. I will come to you if I need your help." I walked out the door and closed it. My head was hanging low, close to the ground. I felt the eyes of multiple ponies staring at me.

I sat down and looked up to the sky, which I have been doing more often now. I remembered that Snowball was still with me. "Snowball..." I turned to see her looking straight at me. "Can you go and find Fluttershy? I need to speak with her again." With a chirp, she flew off over one of the buildings. While still staring at the sky, I saw a rainbow colored streak spawn in the sky. That was when I saw that one other pegasus. She definitely must have seen where the princess went. I flew up and landed on one of the clouds ahead of her. I guessed that she saw me because she stopped right next to me.

"Hey, I remember you. Your that one guard pony from the hospital, what's up?"

"Um, the clouds?" The pegasus looked up confused, then back at me realizing what I meant.

"Huh, oh no. I meant like what's up: how are you doing, what's going on, stuff like that."

"I am here to ask about the missing Princess Luna. Did you see where she might have gone off to that night a few days ago?"

"Yea I saw her. I followed her to the Everfree Forest. If you wondering after that, I have no clue. She landed next to the entrance with one of your guards and then just walked right in."

"So my theory was correct. Can you show me where she went in?"

"Sure, I can show you. Follow me." I kicked off the cloud and we both flew over towards the forest.

We arrived and I saw a house there. I knew who's house it was, it belonged to Fluttershy. The door swung open. Snowball came out and flew over to me, landing on my head as usual. Fluttershy came out seconds after. She was surprised to see, I could tell. "Why hello there Night, how are you doing?"

"I am searching for the princess right now, can I ask if you saw her at all that night?"

"Um, I think I saw her go into the forest. I did put up danger signs over there to warn others about the animals that live in there, but I guess she must have walked past them."

I had to think about this for a minute. If Princess Luna went inside the forest, then she was probably captured by that zebra who was said to have caused the disappearance of those other ponies from a while ago. Since these two probably know more about the forest than I do, maybe it would be better if they helped me. "If it isn't too much trouble to ask, may I ask if you two can assist me? I will need your knowledge of the forest so you can guide me to this zebra I heard about."

"Oh no no no, I cannot go in there. Not with all those scary monsters..."

"Oh don't be so a 'fraidy cat Fluttershy, come on, we are just going to be heading to Zecora's place. I am sure that she can explain everything that has happened."

"So you are going to help me find this "Zecora" that you mentioned?"

"I-I-I...."

"Of course we will!"

"Did I hear something about going to Zecora's place?!" Just then, Pinkie Pie appeared right behind Fluttershy, scaring her. "Oh, sorry Fluttershy, I didn't mean to scare you that much. I was here to do the same thing, Zecora had asked me to deliver a bag of flour for some reason. The letter also had the bits that paid for it, so here I am!"

I just stood there staring at her. How does she appear everywhere? What kind of magic is this? Pushing that off for later investigation, "Then you will also assist in locating Princess Luna?"

""Locating Princess Luna?" Oh I know what you mean, of course I will, I did see her go to Zecora's place a few days ago. After that, I haven't seen her leave."

"Pinkie, why did you say anything before?"

"Well, nopony ever asked me about her, so I didn't have to say anything. Plus, she had this weird feeling about her. My head started to hurt anytime I got too close to her."

"What does she mean by her headache?"

"It's my Pinkie Sense. It predicts things that happen in the immediate future."

"I hardly believe that. The only pony I know that can do that is Princess Celestia and sometimes Princess Luna."

"Don't believe me then! Oh wait, we have to head to Zecora's place, come on everypony, let's go." There she went heading off into the forest only to poke her head out from behind a tree. "Aren't you three coming?"

I couldn't tell what to think about her. There one second, here the next. What is it with this one? "Of course we are, Fluttershy, Rainbow, let's go." I walked in behind Pinkie Pie. I turned around and saw Rainbow Dash pushing Fluttershy into the forest. I stopped and walked over to her. "Listen Miss Fluttershy, you don't have to be scared about anything. I will protect you if something comes to harm us." I held one of her hooves in between both of mine. I could feel her shaking, but it began to lessen.

"O-okay..." She stood up and was ready to go forward.

We heard a voice yell from up ahead. "Hey, are you three going to keep holding back or what?!" We looked at each other and then headed off again. The three of us caught up with the impatient Pinkie Pie and now all of us were traveling further into the forest. The forest was getting darker the further we went in. Us Night Guards had our eyes change to be able to see in the dark better than others. We traveled for five or ten minutes before we arrived at a tree that was converted into a home. The first thing I noticed, was a moon mark right above the door. I knew that was Princess Luna's mark. I marched up to the door and knocked on it. "Excuse me, Miss Zecora, are you in there?"

After a few seconds, the door opened and a Zebra came out. "Why hello there dear, why is it that you that you come here?"

I turned to the others who were behind me. "What did she say?"

"Ugh, she is asking what you are doing here..."

I turned back to the zebra. "Well, I am here looking for Princess Luna. I was also told that you were a suspect in the investigation of the recent pony disappearances. So I have come to question you myself."

"If it is answers you want, answer I shall. Won't you come for a nice spell." I don't know exactly what she said, but I was starting to understand what she was saying now. I walked in suspicious of what may happen. The others had come in as well. "So what is you wanted to ask of me? I will answer you with any answer you can plainly see."

"Okay? Well, I wanted to ask you mainly about Princess Luna. Do you know where she is right now?"

She was over at her cauldron mixing something. "If it is Princess Luna you seek, please come and take a peek." I guess that she wanted me to look in her cauldron for some reason. I was still suspicious as any other pony would be, but I did anyway. "Lean in for a close look, then you will find that you have been mistook."

As I leaned in, I started to see something. It was Princess Luna. She was in a destroyed castle. I think it was called the Castle of the Ancients. Something was scaring her because she was in the corner of a large room. The only thing I could make out, was a large column in the middle of the room. Next thing I knew, the worst thing happened. It was her, the one from so long ago. That one mare never seemed to fade away. It was like she was an immortal like the princesses. But from what I remember, the legend said that Princess Luna's jealousy turned her into an evil that would have ruined all of Equestria. She was transformed back into her normal self by the Elements of Harmony. Even after, she was still the same pony. How did the two separate? What is going on? Before it could continue, a beam of darkness shoot out from the other mare. I felt a recoil as I fell onto my back.

"What the hay was that?!"

"Oh my gosh, are you okay Night?" Fluttershy was already next to me helping me sit up.

"Hey Zecora, what happened to her? Every other time you showed us something, we weren't thrown back."

"It must have been of a powerful spell I am quite sure. I would take a look, but my vision is usually obscure."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"I think she said that she can't see what the cauldron showed me. Anyway, we need to head to the Castle of the Ancients. She was in there with another mare, one who I would rather not mention. You three wait outside, I will be out in a minute." After they left, I looked at Zecora again. "I know you are innocent, but how did you do that with your cauldron. How were you able to show me where Luna was?"

"That is something I have learned back in my homeland. This type of "magic" is what we practice at grand."

I will never get over the weird way she speaks. "Anyway, thank you very much. Can I ask you to send a file of innocence to the royal court on my behalf. It would clear all suspicions of you so that way you don't have any guards coming here to arrest you."

"That I shall get done with haste, for time is not a precious thing to waste."

I opened the door and walked out. "Goodbye Miss Zecora, pleasure speaking with you." I closed the door after I finished. "Although I probably won't understand what you say."

"Hey, Night Runner! I see that castle you were talking about." I looked up in the air to see Rainbow Dash flying above the rest of us. "I think it's the same castle that we first beat Nightmare Moon! We can get there quick if we fly! So who is up for carrying Pinkie Pie there?"

Fluttershy and I looked at each other, then at Pinkie Pie. "Oh this will be so great! I can't wait to go flying again! Hey Rainbow Dash, why don't you and Night take me? After all, you two are the stronger ponies of our group!"

"Sounds like a great idea, Miss Rainbow Dash would you come down and help me carry Pinkie Pie to the castle?"

"Well uh, you see..."

Fluttershy flew up and hugged Rainbow Dash. "How nice of you to carry Pinkie Pie. You really are nice."

"Oh yea sure, no prob." I could see it in her face, she didn't want to.

"Well, since that's settled, we need to get there as quick as possible. I don't know how long Princess Luna can stand her ground against the other mare."

Rainbow flew down and helped me lift Pinkie Pie up in the air. As soon as we were all in the air, we began flying straight towards the castle. Rainbow Dash called me when we were about half way there. "Hey Night, who is this "other mare" that you keep talking about?"

I wish she hadn't asked that question. It was the one name I would never say, not even if I was forced to. "I won't say name, but you three should know her from the legend. That evil mare cannot be real, but I saw her through the cauldron. If she and Luna somehow got separated, that would mean that we have a bigger problem than I thought. I just hope that we get there in time..." I completely ignored any other questions she was asking. My only thoughts were getting to Princess Luna before she could do any harm to our beloved princess.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Okay, this is my shortest chapter. I will ask for you guys to read and say ANYTHING you want about it. To me, I think it turned out good (sort of). I wanted you all to finally get to the part where we finally find Luna. The next chapter, will probably make me change the story from "Everyone" to "Teen". Depends on how I write it. You will definitely be surprised when you read it.

Hint: If you haven't noticed, basically the whole thing was written in the past tense. You will find out in Chapter 5 (Meeting of the Princesses of the Night) why I did that.

As we neared the deserted, almost destroyed castle, I felt something change. It felt like a presence of evil. The closer that we got, the worse it became. I had no idea about the others, but I knew I could feel it. It was a lure for those who live for the night. That points to the Night Guards, our lives are dedicated to the nights of Equestria, more specifically, Princess Luna. I heard a voice call in my head, 'Come and join me to rise against your tyrant.' It was a rally call for us. Something wanted to remove this so called 'tyrant'. I knew who was saying all this, I just didn't know how the other three would understand it.

"Hey, let's fly in from that hole in the roof. We could use the element of surprise to get the upper hoof." Before we even go past the entrance, I seized up and fell to the ground. My fall was broken by a tree branch that broke upon impact. Luckily, It slowed me down enough so that nothing bad happened. There was this horrible feeling, it kept wanting me to kill anypony I saw. It's voice was all to recognizable. The more I fought against it, the more pain I was in. I had to push through, not for me, not for Celestia, not even for Equestria, I had to do it for Princess Luna. I stood on my hooves and marched forward. Fluttershy was walking next to me.

"Are you okay Night? I hope you're not hurt, would like some help?" The kindness of her voice was soothing, but it felt like pain to me. When she put her hoof out in front of me, that was when it happened. I slapped her hoof away and pinned her to the ground. I had a maniacal expression spread across my face. "Rainbow...help!"

I was pulled off her by Rainbow Dash. "Calm down Night, what's gotten into you?" I struggled violently and broke free of her grasp. I flapped my wings a few times to stop myself from falling onto the stone ground and was standing at the doorway to the castle. "Night, what's going on with you, you're acting crazy. What's happening to you?"

The pain went away for a while when I looked at the closed doors to the castle. I was able to think clearly, the voice was gone, the urge to kill was gone. I turned to my friends looking at them with sadness. "I am sorry that you saw me act like that. The reason I was acting like this is because of who is in there with Princess Luna. She was always trying to convince us to stand up to Princess Celestia and overthrow her. I was the one who barely knew a thing about it. Not until I became a Night Guard years ago, back when I was a small filly with Princess Luna...

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We were in the royal dining hall for lunch. A lot of the guards were already leaving.The captain of the Night Guards walked up to me directly. "Good afternoon Miss Night Runner, may I have a word with you?"

"Sure, what is it you need guard captain?" I could see his face clearly, even with the helmet on. His eyes had this sad and worried feeling. "Did something happen to another one of the guards?"

"No no, that's not what I am here for. I am here for you specifically." Princess Luna casually walked in with Princess Celestia behind her. Both of the them looked so regal, even if they were acting casual.

"Luna!" I yelled as I galloped over and hugged her. "I was looking for you earlier today, where were you?"

She had the same expression that the captain had. "Listen Night, I don't know how to explain this lightly."

"Would you like for me to tell her sister?" Princess Celestia walked up to us. She was so tall, I was basically looking up at the sky just to see her face. "I think she would be better off if I told her." I looked at Princess Luna with my confusion.

"Luna, what is your sister talking about? Is it a surprise? I love surprises!" I gleefully hopped behind Princess Celestia who was walking into the hallway. We went further down without a word. I had stopped hopping and was now confused. I could see in her eyes this tone of worriment. "Hey Celestia, why are you three so worried? You, Luna, and the Night Guard captain looked worried about something." All she did was give me a smile. She had stopped moving and sat down facing the window to our left.

"Listen to me little Night, this was a very tough decision for her to make. Did you ever realize that you and my sister have been separated for a couple of days now?"

"Yes, why is that? Was Luna not feeling well?" I tilted my head when she gave s single chuckle.

"No my little pony, she was in her room all day yesterday and today. She was thinking of a way to tell you the news that has been spreading around the palace." I did remember a few of the other guards talking about how the Night Guards were getting a new recruit. They never mentioned who it was. "She was so worried about how you would react to her choice."

"Well, what did she say? Is there going to be a celebration for the moon and she is having trouble planning it?"

"Not at all. Actually, she was making a decision for you." A decision for me? What could she possibly choose for me? The princess gave out a soft sigh. "She was thinking of having you join her Night Guard." Me be a Night Guard, that could never work. I just stared at her confusingly.

"What are you talking about Tia? What do you mean by "join her Night Guard"?"

"She was always thinking of a way for you to always be by her side. Before, she felt like she was drifting away from you. She didn't know what to do if you two may have been separated completely. So she had filled out a form and signed in your name as a candidate to become a guard of the Royal Order."

Since then, I was meeting with the Night Guard captain every night. He trained me to become as strict as he was. I quickly learned that expressionless face. The only time I ever showed any other form of expression was when I was with Luna. We would talk about anything and smile and laugh. It was like nothing bad could go wrong. I happened to be wrong.

One night I was with Luna and we were taking a stroll through the royal garden.

"My dear friend, is something troubling you?"

"No, it's nothing Luna. It's just that lately, I have been getting this headache every so often. It feels weird. Whenever I go to sleep, I keep getting this nightmare. I was surrounded by total darkness, no light anywhere. I dared not to move from the spot I was in. I could hear a voice calling my name, but that was all I could hear. Do you know what this dream means?"

"There is no need to fret over such a nightmare. Just always realize that whenever you feel alone, remember that I am always here with you." We turned to each other a smiled. Almost immediately, I felt this rush of pain fill my head. I was on the grass rolling around holding my head. The pain just wouldn't stop. Luna was standing next to me, scared at what was happening. The guards that were behind us were also scared. Again, I could hear a voice in my head. It was telling me that the Luna I saw in front of me wasn't real. It was saying that the real Luna was imprisoned inside of the one that I saw in front of me. I looked up at her with my eyes filled with tears. I began to hear laughing inside my head, an evil laugh. Luna had placed her hoof on my chest. "Night, what's wrong? Are you feeling alright?"

Then everything snapped. I couldn't see, I couldn't feel my entire body. My consciousness was gone. When it came back, I found myself, standing over Luna. I had her pinned against the floor. The guards were knocked out. Luna was screaming every now and then. The only other sound, was the evil laugh that came from my own mouth. I stopped realizing what had happened. My eyes began to tear up again. I looked at the guards and then back at Luna's fearful eyes.

"Luna, what...what happened?" Just then, I was slapped in the face by somepony. I fell of of Luna and looked up at the captain standing over me.

"Princess Luna, I think we need to separate you two for a while. I will keep a close eye on her." He picked me up and was carrying me on his back. "I will be sure that she gets through this like we have before."

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I remember how a later, when I was still a Night Guard in training, Princess Luna would show up to a lot of the sessions. Occasionally, I listened as her and the captain talked about me.

"Do you think she will do fine in the next session?"

"Of course your majesty, I will see to it that she does not get harmed."

All I could do was listen. This feeling of just bursting into their conversation was boiling inside. I wanted to just blurt out a few words. 'Please treat me as you would the next recruit. I want to live just like they are. I don't want any special privileges. All I want is to be the best I can at being a guard for Princess Luna.' Those words were like comfort to me. Being able to think that I can do my best no matter what challenge I came across. I had to be that way. During one of the training sessions, our captain called for a short break.

"Alright recruits, take a quick break. We will return for the harder portion of your training. Private Night Runner!"

I ran as fast as I could and sat right in front of the captain, leaving skid marks behind me when my hooves slid on the dirt to stop from going to far. "Yes sir?"

"You were asked to visit Princess Celestia this night. I would like for you to head to the court room when time comes. We never like to keep either princess waiting. Alright, line up! We will now begin the tougher portion of this exercise!"

A few hours had past and everyone was exhausted. It was night time and the guards already switched shifts. My lungs felt like they had shriveled up and it was hard to breathe. "That concludes out session for today. Night, it's about time for you to go."

"Yes sir!" I saluted him and began to walked off. I was panting heavily, I needed to regulate my breathing so I can calm down. Finally my breaths slowed a bit, becoming more regulated. I stood straight up and marched to the court room. I arrived at front of the doors moments later. I could hear a bit of chatter inside. It was very soft though, so I tried to put my ear on the door to listen to what was being said. I could barely hear a thing. The only other option, go inside. I opened the door quietly and found Princess Celestia and Princess Luna talking with one of the magistrate.

"Are you sure that she will accept the responsibility? We still don't even know if she will make it to a high rank in the guards."

"I am sure that she would be a perfect fit to be my sister's personal guard."

"I would very much like for her to be my personal guard. I know that she would be the best..." She must have saw me out of the corner of her eye. "Night, you're here!"

"Welcome Miss Night, how did your training go today?"

"It went well princess." I was told to always give the royal bow to the princess when answering a question.

"We would like to discuss something regarding your position among the Night Guards. My sister would like for you to accept the role of being her personal guard, are you willing to accept this?"

Of course I was stunned at the moment, not knowing what to do. I was stuck between excitement and being dumb-founded. I wanted to be Luna's personal guard, but then how would it work out? I needed to be a high enough rank to become her personal guard. Then I will make it there. "I-I-I-I would love to be your personal guard Princess Luna."

She came up and hugged me like she used to. "Oh thank you Night! I just knew you would accept it!"

Of course she loved that I had accepted to be her personal guard. Since then, I made two vows. One, I would get to the rank needed to become Princess Luna's guard. Two, I would protect her, even if it meant giving up my life. It has been that way since then.

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A couple years later, I have fulfilled my first vow. I rose high enough in the guard to become Luna's personal guard. I was always by her side. We were basically an inseparable pair. Then, came the one time when the pain came back. It was a month after I started as her guard. It was night time and we were walking down the hallway to Luna's room. We were talking about seeing a couple of guards fighting over the last cupcake. It was funny to watch because Luna used her magic to bring it over to me. We were laughing quietly as not to disturb anypony. We had arrived at her bedroom around seven minutes later.

"Thank you for accepting the request so long ago. If you had declined, I don't know what I would have done after."

"Don't worry Luna, you know that I wouldn't have declined that. I owe my life to you, so it is fitting that I protect you with it." Me and my vows, never have I broken one. But, it was that one night that everything changed.

"I will retreat into my quarters Night. If you ever feel lonely outside my door, just knock." I nodded to her and she walked in closing the door.

So there I was, alone outside her bedroom door. Nopony was around except me. The voice from the year I first became a night guard started to speak in my min again. 'Night...Night...Night...' All it was saying was my name. Then I heard a muffled sentence. It sounded like gibberish to me. I closed my eyes and concentrated on the voice. I was beginning to hear it now.

'Night, leave this puny pony's side. Come to the old castle of the royal sisters. I will be waiting for your arrival Night Runner.' That was all it said.

"Who are you? What do you want with me?" I was looking around the hallway. There was literally nopony there. I looked behind the columns and around the corners of the perpendicular hallway. Nothing, I saw nopony at all. Ignoring what I had heard, I returned to my post. It came back. It started to seem like a fly attracted to a light, and I was that light.

'Night, come soon. I wish to meet you in person. This is a royal call. I am rallying other ponies to rise up against the tyrant of this land. I will be the replacement and make Equestria better than she has.' Again I looked around, nothing still.

"What sort of magic spell are you using? If this is joke, I will find that you will be punished for this."

'This is no spell, I am merely talking to you right now. Close your eyes and I will show myself to you.' This had to be a prank. Probably Luna was playing another prank on me. If not then, I would make sure that whoever was doing this was punished. The best decision was to close my eyes. I felt myself floating in the air. My wings were still down at my sides. That was when I saw that deep blue mane of hers. It was like flowing water. Then the rest of her slowly appeared. She was giving me a smile, but the look in her eyes showed only deception. I knew that she was trying to do something.

"What do you want with me? Why are you calling me to the old castle of the royal sister?"

'I just wish to ask for you help. If not, rest assured that I can convince you otherwise.'

"Who are you first of all?"

She gave me a short, but evil chuckle. 'I am your true princess of the night. I am Nightmare Moon.'

All the guards are aware of Nightmare Moon. I knew the legend, how she is the evil jealousy of Luna. She was an evil that controlled Luna to fight against Princess Celestia. "You are not MY true princess and you will never be. You are the evil that threatened to rule this world in eternal night. I will never associate myself with somepony as evil as you." I just opened my eyes. I was back to standing in front of Luna's door again.

'Since you do not accept my request, I will make you accept it.' The room began to darken. I could see the moon out the window. It was lowering below the horizon. Luna told me about this before. She warned me about how she was being controlled by Nightmare Moon. The one thing mentioned was one not to forget.

She will only toy with your mind, do not believe what you see. Remember that whatever you witness, is her trying to break you.

Those words were my safety now. I heard something slam against Princess Luna's bedroom door. I did not pay attention to it. However, the one thing that made me change my mind, was when everything turned normal again. I turned and knocked on the door.

"Princess Luna, is it alright if I come in?" There was silence. "Princess Luna? Are you alright?"

"Yes Night, you may come in." I opened the door and peered inside. "Don't you worry about me, I am just fine." Heh, the one thing that caught me off guard, was that she was wearing socks. Something I have never seen her do. I just looked at them, they were adorned with a moon symbol stitched into each one. "Were you feeling lonely out there?"

"I wanted to check if you were alright. May I talk to you about something?"

"Anything that you need, I will be there for you." She trotted over and sat on her large bed. The bed was a blueish, purple color. The drapes that hung from each bed post were the same color, and had a moon print on them. Luna patted her hoof next to her on the bed. I walked over and sat next to her. Luna used her magic to close the door that I accidentally left open. "So what plagues your mind?"

"I heard voices outside. I fear that Nightmare Moon may be trying to use me again. I need your help to overcome her influence." My head was looking down at the floor. I felt a soft material wrap around my neck and shoulders. I brought my head up and saw the pink socks that Luna wore. They felt so comfortable, like I was laying on a cloud again.

"I will guide you through this. Remember what I have told you before when she took control of me?"

"I will never forget it."

"Please use that to your advantage."

"Yes princess." We sat there quietly for a moment. "Do you think there is a way to stop her forever?"

"I do not know for sure Night. She is a part of me, destroying her would be like destroying me too."

"I hope I never have to." Again we sat there. No sound were made at all. Except that soft, evil laugh again. I looked up at Luna and she was just staring down at the floor. I looked around the room again. The laughing got louder. It kept growing and growing. Next thing I knew, something had hit my head. I fell off the bed and onto the floor. It didn't knock me unconscious, so I was able to see what had happened. I saw Luna standing, her horn was glowing with magic. I saw an object floating next to her. "Luna, why would you do that?"

"Hehehe, to think that you would believe me to be that nice pony you always knew? "Oh don't worry dear Night, I will always be there for you". You are such a gullible little insect in my eyes." Now that threw me off the edge. Although something didn't feel right, I still felt anger pulse through me. Luna began to make that evil laugh that I heard outside her room. Last thing I remember about that time, was seeing the world fade into black.

Who knows how long later, I was beginning to see again. I looked at my mouth, a razor sharp blade was in it. I peered up from the blade and found it inches above Luna's neck. My hooves were holding down her legs to keep her from moving. Her wings lay flat against the floor, unable to move. It was so quiet I could hear the wind blowing past my ears. Then I heard her voice again. 'Do it, Night, be a good puppet and kill her.' I jumped off of Luna, throwing the blade to my right. It impaled itself in the wall. I couldn't take the voice anymore. I ran as fast as possible into another part of the wall. The pressure from the impact broke a hole in the wall and I fell onto my haunches dazed. I felt the pain in my head, but at least the voices were gone. All I did was fall back and fainted.

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...I had almost killed Luna back then, all because of her. She was the reason I kept fighting. I wanted revenge and I wanted to protect Luna."

I was staring at the stone blocks below me. My eyes moved up and saw the three just staring at me. They said nothing and just sat there, staring. "Wow, that was one unexpected thing to hear..."

"Shush Dashie, maybe she has another story for story time." Pinkie reached into her bag and pulled out a cupcake. Why she put it in there, I had no idea.

"Sorry Pinkie, but I don't have another "story" to tell you. Those were life changing memories I had. I just felt this comfort sitting here that I began to express my emotional memories to you three. I am sorry if I have delayed us. With that off my chest now, we must go inside and stop her, before she harms the princess." I stood up and faced the door.

The others stood up as well, except Fluttershy. She was still expressionless. I could still tell that she was nervous and scared. "Come on Fluttershy, we have to get moving." Rainbow flew around behind her and started to push her forward. I just leaned against the large doors and pushed. They opened slowly to the large room. It was in ruins. None of that caught my eye. My eyes were fixated on who was standing at the other end of the room with Luna and three other ponies on the floor. Her jet black coat, her water like mane flowing in the wind, she was definitely the evilest pony I have seen in person.

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Author's Note:

Hiya all who read these stories. As far as I know, these stories are a bit less.....descriptive because of the time lapses between my breaks and when I write. Usually I would sit down and keep writing when I start, but that wasn't the case for the other four stories here. That is why for you guys, I decided to do just that. This is probably the story that seems best in my mind.

I am still trying to get my friend to proof read the story. If anything, I will definitely update them when she tells me what I can do. After all, writers don't make perfect stories. Anyways, I do hope that you all enjoy my entire story so far. It has taken me quiet a bit of thinking to actually go through all this.

First time I'm signing this lol,

Chris G. (lunablue17)

We stepped forward through the large doorway. I could hear the soft sound of multiple hooves hit the stone blocks below us. I kept my eyes fixated on the mare standing with her back to us. She was standing over three ponies who were lying on the floor. I looked at all three of them and they matched the description that we were told before. One was yellow-orange with a brownish mane, the second was blue with a white mane, and the third was white with a purple mane. "Rarity!" Fluttershy was about to fly forward at full speed when that dreaded mare turned around grinning at us.

"I see you have come to witness the final ritual of my resurrection. Behold little foals, I will now claim my rightful place as Princess of the Night, and then it is onward to overthrow this tyrant you call Celestia and rule the land in eternal night!" Her loud laugh was bellowing through the area. Her mane swirled around in the air making a spiral with a navy blue color.

I stepped forward taking about four hoof steps closer to her. "I won't let you touch the princess or do any more harm to these other ponies! As my duty as a Night Guard, I will cease your current actions and apprehend you! You are no more than a legend who will be made into another!" I knew the others couldn't tell what I was actually feeling, but Nightmare Moon had this grin on her evil face as she looked at me. She knew that I was scared of her. If I showed it, my friends behind me would not have the courage to help me. "Step away from them now or you will have to answer to me instead of Princess Celestia!"

"Hahaha, you little foal, you couldn't possibly hope to defeat me! I am the true princess of the night, if you stand against me, you will perish along with the others!" She stood up on her hind legs and then slammed her hooves on the ground. I felt the ruins shake from the stomp. She was way stronger than I had thought. Still I had to confront her. If anything, I would have to use my final option to stop her.

"Nightmare Moon, your actions have been judged by themselves! Either step away from Princess Luna and the other ponies or you will face consequences worse than what Princess Celestia can give!" Of course she laughed again. She knew I was just threatening her. How could I harm an alicorn? I had to try my best to stop her anyway.

"Hey Night, I don't think she is listening. Shouldn't we just go get them and get out of here? We should bring them to Princess Celestia so she can protect them." Rainbow was flying right next to me, whispering in my ear. I turned my head a little and my face was that of my determination. It basically told her that we were the only ones who could save them and we had to do this. "Okay, okay, I was just putting out an idea. Stubborn guard..."

"You should listen to her, but who says that Celestia can stop me! She is no longer in control of the elements and cannot protect anypony from me!" Those eyes of her were scary to the bone. I couldn't help but flinch a little as she stepped closer. "If you think that anypony can protect you, your wrong! You mentioned that I was just a myth, well I am standing right here before you real as I can be! So tell me now, am I a myth or or you going to keep spouting those foolish lies?"

What was I to do? What could I possibly do? She had the magic of Luna, the only pony with that much magic is Princess Celestia. How was I supposed to defeat the alicorn before me if I couldn't even come close to matching her power. "Hey Night, don't worry, we will help you. After all, we're friends right?" Rainbow Dash was standing next to me, her wings up like she was about to take off. Pinkie was doing an awkward scowl. Fluttershy...where was Fluttershy? I looked over and she was already at the other ponies. She was going to each one and checking to see if they were OK. "Fluttershy, what are you doing?"

"Oh, I just hope they are alright. Come on Rarity, get up. We need your help." She was now nudging the white unicorn. "Please Rarity, please oh please wake up."

"Silly foal, she is probably dead by now. If you to see your friend, you will just have to join her." Nightmare Moon's horn started to glow. Fluttershy was glowing as well as she floated up into the air. I knew what she was going to do. Before I was actually thinking of how to attack her, I was already crouching beside her. I lunged and slammed into her side. Her magic dissipated and she was sent skidding on the floor. She stopped and stood up again. "Curse you you filthy mule! How dare you touch me!" Her horn began to glow brightly. I have seen this magic used before. It was the same that was used during target practice for unicorns. They shot lightning bolts from their horns in attempt to hit their target. I kicked off of the ground as soon as I saw a bolt begin to appear from her horn. I was lucky that I could react so fast. Looking back at the ground were she hit, I could see a black spot of burnt stone spread for about a ten hooves. "Stop moving, avoiding my attacks only prolongs your inevitable death!" The way she talked was beginning to annoy me now. I charged at her going full flying speed. Three lightning bolts zipped by me. I barely dodged them they moved so fast. As I got right in front of her, I hit the floor next to her, standing on my hooves. I jumped forward slamming into her chest sending her into the air. Nightmare Moon used her wings and steadied herself. Now she was flying above me. "You continue this hopeless battle. Why do you...what is this?" A rainbow bubble appeared around her. A closer looked showed that it was multiple rainbow streaks surrounding her in circle. Rainbow Dash was flying around Nightmare Moon at a speed that my eyes could not keep up with. Nightmare Moon covered herself with her mane and the it expanded very quickly, hitting Rainbow. She was knocked back and landed on the floor next to me. Rainbow stood up and faced Nightmare Moon.

"Don't think that you're the only one who has to do this. If she wants to hurt the princess, then she will have to answer to all of us." I looked over at Nightmare Moon who looked really angry at us right now. She had a scowl on her face and she was showing her razor-bladed teeth. Next, I saw Pinkie Pie right behind her. What could she possibly do to Nightmare that could help? She pulled a cannon out in front of her. "Pinkie why did you bring your party cannon?"

She gave Rainbow a quick smile. "Don't worry Dashie, this thing isn't always meant for parties!" She turned a knob on the cannon and pulled the string. Last thing I heard was a large bang and a blinding flash. I was dazed for quite a while. I was unable to see for a good minute or so. My vision was returning to me. As my eyes began to see, I witnessed something I thought to be impossible. Nightmare Moon was actually bleeding. I saw a long claw like gash along her back. She was having a hard time standing straight. "Gotcha you meany!"

Nightmare Moon began to growl at Pinkie. "How did you cut past my coat? Nopony in Equestria has that ability other than that wretched foal Luna!" I turned to see that Luna was actually standing. Then I heard everyone gasp. Her eyes were pure white, her horn glowed with that purplish blue color. She was awake finally. "Y-you cannot be alive. I took your life from you, how is it that you live?" Nightmare Moon was backing away now. She had fear in hear voice. Princess Luna didn't reply to anything. She just stood there. A barrier was surrounding her. I couldn't see it. I was just glad to see that Luna was standing.

"Princess Luna, you're alright!" I yelled as I flew towards her. Before I could actually get close to her, I hit something and was thrown back. I landed on my back. Pain was sent flowing through my entire body. It felt like I got shocked by a lightning bolt. I sat up and looked at Luna. "Luna, what's going on? What just happened?"

Nightmare Moon was studying Luna. She had this look in her eye. It told me that she saw Luna like this before. Once she realized it, she began to laugh again. "Hahaha, I remember this now. This is a spell that she cast upon herself. The foal sealed away most of her magic and when she is either almost dead or when a close friend of hers is about to die, the magic is released destroying everything she deems a threat. Witnessing you being attacked by her barrier proves that she sees you as a threat." Her mouth widen with this terrible grin. Her razor teeth showed from inside her mouth. Nightmare Moon began to laugh again. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Luna move her head. It was turned to Nightmare Moon. Nightmare had stopped laughing when she noticed that Luna was now facing her. "Oh please, what do you possibly think you can do to me?"

Upon finishing her question, Luna disappeared. She teleported right in front of Nightmare Moon. The large mare didn't move. Her eyes dilated almost immediately. Luna horn glowed brighter and another bright flash blinded me. When my sight returned, Luna was still standing, but in a crater. The stone floor around her was pushed downwards into the ground. I looked around to find Nightmare Moon. She was trying to stand up after being hit against the wall of the ruins. I looked at her body; she had cuts all over her legs, her back had two more gashes on it, and her chest had one more gash that was bleeding profusely.

Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie were standing next to me. "Hey Night, are you alright?"

"Oh my gosh Night, are you seeing this?!"

"Ugh, I'm alright, and yes I am watching this Pinkie. This is a side of Luna not one pony has ever seen in history. Even though me and Luna are very close, she has never told me about this." Luna walked over to Nightmare Moon. She placed her hoof on Nightmare's side. "Luna..." She stood up on her hind legs. "Luna, no!" She stopped moving. Her head turned towards me. I realized that she could understand what I was saying. "You are not the Luna I remember, the old Luna would never hurt anypony. Whoever you've become, you're not my friend anymore..."

Her mouth twitched. As I looked at her, the magic around her was dying away. Her eyes began to reform. The pupils appeared and the purple, blue iris was slowly forming around them. Nightmare Moon was standing now. She shot a magic bolt and it hit Luna's magical barrier. Her eyes went pure white again. She turned to Nightmare Moon again. Nightmare flinched back again. Luna's horn began to glow with bright magic. A lightning bolt shot out from the tip of her horn. It was a direct hit on Nightmare Moon. The electricity surged around her. Her black coat had a few spots where smoke came from. Her yell of pain was deafening. It was like a piercing shriek that would scare anypony to death, literally. When Luna had stopped, Nightmare fell to the floor. Was she dead? Did Luna really kill her?

I flew over to Nightmare Moon. I placed my hoof on the base of her neck. I felt no pulse. Then one. Every fifteen seconds, I felt a pulse. Her breathing was very heavy and shallow. I looked up at Luna, she was back to normal. The magic barrier was gone, her eyes were back to normal too. She was trembling, her eyes shaking and a hoof held in front of her mouth. "Hehehe...you think...I would leave...without...a gift?" Before I could look at her, a felt something hit my chest. I felt no pain, I felt nothing. All I heard and saw, was Luna and the others gasping and screaming. I looked down to my chest. I saw a hole in the left side. I turned my head around and saw another one in my back. I looked back at the first hole again. That was when the pain hit me. My eyes teared up. I just tipped to the right and then began to fall.

It felt like time slowed down. My eyes closed as the good memories I had with Luna flashed through my head. Luna and I pulling a prank on her sister, the memory of the cupcake came back, and one last memory. It was when I first saw Luna. I was almost half a year old. My eyes opened up to see her standing over me, the night sky behind her. She was staring at me with a straight face. She looked down for a moment. She was reading the letter than was in the basket I was in. She looked up at me again, a smile was on her face. Luna picked me up and brought me inside the palace. She brought me in front of Princess Celestia. I was still too young to understand what they were talking about. I could only see their mouths moving a little. Celestia stayed quite for a moment, and then nodded her head. I saw Luna started to squeal with happiness. I just laughed along with her. She embraced me in a hug. I closed my eyes. Her body faded and I couldn't feel her anymore. My eyes opened back to the ruins. Then reality came back, time resumed to normal and I hit the ground with a thud. My sight was fading into black again.

Before my eyes closed, I hoof stepped right in front of me. It was too blurry to make out. What happened next, frightened me. A pulse was sent through me body. My eyes opened wide and I took in a large gasp of air. I saw Luna standing in front of me. Then I felt something being wrapped around my body. Fluttershy was wrapping a bandage around both of the holes. Luna had her horn on my side. It was glowing with magic. Another pulse was sent through my body. I sat up only to have pain take over my senses. I fell back gritting my teeth. I coughed a little. I covered it with one hoof and saw that the hoof was covered with blood. My eyes were drooping closed.

Again, a pulse was sent through my body. My eyes widened again. I was in the air now. I was surrounded by purple, blue magic. My body was placed on top of somepony. Out of the top of my eyes, I saw white hooves. "Don't worry deary, we will find somepony to help you. Rainbow, fly straight towards Ponyville. Warn Twilight, Applejack, and Mayor Mare. They must know what's going on."

"Roger."

"Fluttershy, you and Pinkie absolutely must accompany us to Ponyville."

We turned a half circle, and started to move forward. We were at the castle entrance and I turned my head to look back. Nightmare Moon's body was on floor with a smile. It then dissipated into a murky blue mist. My eyes felt heavy. They had closed. I no longer felt myself moving. I couldn't feel anything.

My slowly opened to sunshine. I was lying on the ground, a small breeze was blowing every now and then. I sat up and looked up at the blue sky. "Where am I?"

"Welcome, you are at the Gate to Paradise. Your an early arrival, you aren't do for quite a few years to come."

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Offside chat:

Good day, or night, to all the readers here. This is Night Runner speaking to you. The writer wanted me to talk to you instead of talking himself. I have talked with the writer about his feelings on this story. I personally think he could have made my death a little...better. He told me that the chapter doesn't fit his expectations. I just wish that the whole 'sealed magic' part didn't happen. It was scary to picture myself in that moment. Ugh, I got to stop doing that. Anyway, lunablue17 told me about how he at least liked the ending. He told me that this one other writer inspired him to add this next chapter. Hey lunablue17, what was the pony's name again?

His name was Ravenwood11. He wrote the story I AM DEATH.

Right, well, ahem. lunablue17 told me that he would do something later on. He also told me that he was going to start writing a new story. He won't tell me the name of it so you will have to wait for that. Don't worry, I will try to convince him to tell me.

I'm sitting right here Night...

So? I will get you to tell me the name of it. I already have the idea that it's about me. Anyway, it had better not be anything too serious.

You never know what I may write next.

Ugh, you are such a weird human. Back to informing you readers, the writer told me that he will be posting the next chapter at least by next Saturday, whatever day that is. By the way, between us, his birthday is coming up so I think he is just being lazy and doesn't feel like writing.

I can still hear you!

So, please be patient and wait for the next chapter to be written. I still can't get that other story out of my head, what is the name of it?

I'll tell you later. That's it for now readers, I hope you liked my whole story so far. Just be careful and don't think too much when reading it. You get more pleasure from the story that way. Thank you for reading.

I turned to see the one who talked. He was black stallion. He had white eyes and a black coat. He wore a black cape as well. His mane and tail were blown back and was also black with an outline of grey. "Says here you were not due for quite a few years..."

"Where am I? This place is not Equestria." I was looking around, staring at the blue sky and then down at the ground. I was on a dirt path which lead to the gate behind the stallion. To the sides of the path, there were fields of flowers. Multiple types and of all different colors. I looked back at the black stallion ahead of me. "Who are you?"

"I'm Death. This place is the Path to Paradise. You are dead and have arrived here earlier than you were expected to." No expression in his eyes. His face was serious as far as I could tell. He was looking at a clipboard that held up with his hoof. "It seems that you have died with a magic bolt shot through your chest and out your back." He looked up at me again. "I will escort you to the gate now. Do be aware of the trial to see whether you will be let in or sent back." He put the clipboard under his cape. The black stallion turned around and began to walk to the gate in the distance. Since he said he was going to escort me there, I just followed, looking at the surroundings.

We were about half way to the gate when I saw somepony in the field to the left. She was asleep. The unicorn looked just like one of the ones from the ruins were Luna may have killed Nightmare Moon. I sped up to walk beside the black stallion. "Pardon me, but if this is where we go when we die, is Nightmare Moon here?" The stallion stopped moving. His grayish blank eyes looked up. He brought a hoof around and pulled out the clipboard again. He looked through all the pages he had attached to it.

"No, I do not recall seeing a pony named Nightmare Moon." He put the clipboard back under his cape and started walking again. I followed again.

"One more question..." He stopped and turned his head sideways to look at me. "Is there any possible way to go back?"

He stood silent for a moment. He did not move. He was like a statue now. His eye focused on me. It was really creepy how he didn't even move. "I don't know of anyway to go back once anypony has died. There were a few that tried, but they ended up wandering in the fields. I believe there was an alicorn who had the power to be revived, but that was about a thousand years ago." He turned his head back and we were walking again.

We neared the gate. I was getting a good look at it now. It was a tall gold gate. There was a white pony next to it behind a podium. The white pony was reading something that was placed on the podium. I looked to each side of the gold fence. It was about as tall as the gate, but it stretched on for miles. I couldn't see an end to it. The black pony was still walking, not even looking at the other ponies that were scattered throughout the fields. I saw a few little fillies playing with each other. I thought they were playing tag or something. I also saw a pegasus flying in the air. She was doing some spins and a few loops. She was pretty fast too. Rainbow was still faster than that. "What's with all the ponies in the fields? Why aren't they inside the gate?"

The black stallion stopped again and walked over to where the path met with the left field. He picked up a hoof and moved it to the field. It touched something, some sort of barrier. I walked over and felt the barrier, it was glass. "The ponies you see are actually ones who have already died. They have yet to wake up on the path. I bring them from your world here and they wait in the fields. I try not to look at them as they bring back bad memories." His head tilted down and his eyes closed. "All those times I took away family members, best friends, other relatives, seeing all of them bring back the looks on the faces of those watched them die. I cannot be like that, I must do my job, it is what I was created for."

"What you were created for? If you were created then who created you?"

"The 'Creators'. They make everypony from their obvious details down to the deep specifics. Even the ones you see everyday in your world of Equestria, all of us were created by them. When they die, we are sent to the gates over there to be let in. I was created to be the mediator between this world and yours. I bring the ponies who die there to be let into the gate. You are still a special case, you were listed to die by sacrificing your life for your princess years from now." How does he know this stuff? Why did he call himself "Death"? Wait, what about the hole in my chest. It was gone, so was the one in my back. I looked back up at the black stallion shrugging off the notice of them. I put my hoof back on the glass again, looking back out to the ponies who were in the fields. I looked at the four little fillies who were playing tag. It reminded me of when Luna and I used to play together. It was always fun, even if her sister yelled at us and told us to act behaved. We never actually payed attention to her lectures. I wanted to relive those memories now, all that happiness during those times, they could never be matched. The battle played in my head now. I saw as how Luna used her magic to kill Nightmare Moon. Then how Nightmare shot me in the chest with a magic bolt. I brushed off my recollecting of what happened and look at the stallion.

"Well, shall we head to the urk..." Something began to pain me in my chest. The hole from before appeared. 'What in Equestria?"

"Hmm, seems that you are still alive, in a way. The wound you have there is the way you died. Since it is still there, it seems you are still attached to your world. That, or somepony is trying to bring you back."

"Then what is happening to me? Why did it appear now?"

"Like I just mentioned somepony must be bring you back to life, or your soul is still attached to your body in Equestria. Seeing as how it affect you as it does, I assume that you are still alive. I am pretty sure that you will disappear from this world soon and wake up back in yours. Even though my job is to take the souls of the departed here and escort them to the gate, I am glad that I was able to meet with one who is still alive. I doubt that you will remember this meeting however." His head hanged down a bit more.

I was feeling pity for him. It seemed like his life is boring and filled with too many bad memories. "Hey listen, I will try to hold onto this memory of our talk. You are the second nicest pony I have met, also probably the most depressed from what I can see in your eyes. Listen, don't let these bad memories harm you psychologically. If you feel depressed all the time, what's the point of continuing your job? You must show compassion to those that you bring here with you. Don't look so gloomy, I am sure that you will be able to meet another pony that you can talk to like this." I just gave him a small smirk. He didn't move his face. He brought his head up and turned to me.

"Looks like your time here is up. You are heading back to your world again. Please give my regards to Princess Luna and Princess Celestia, it must have been hard for them to loose their parents. Tell them I am sorry for doing that, but it is my job. When we meet again, I will be able to clear my conscious for a little. Thank you, for at least talking to me. Goodbye Night." He faded away. The area around me faded away. The darkness surrounded me. I could see a small light not to far ahead of me. I began to walk towards it, the light it emanated was alluring. It grew larger as I got closer. Finally the light gave off a bight flash which blinded me. My eyes opened widely and I awoke gasping a large amount of air.

My breathing slowed down back to normal. I looked around and saw a deep blue curtain surrounding me. Again I could hear beeping. I saw a machine attached to my arm by a long tube. I guessed it was one of those pulse sensors. I looked at my body that lay on the bed motionless. Two bandages cover both of the holes in my body. I could feel a little bit of pain every time I expanded my chest when breathing in. It was nothing to worry about though. I looked up again at the blue curtain. Why was there a curtain and why was it completely closed? A white unicorn walked in and looked up at me. her eyes shrank a bit and rushed back out the curtain.

"Princess Luna, she is awake!" I heard her calling for Princess Luna on the other side of the curtain. Just a few seconds later, the curtain opened up completely. I found myself in Princess Luna personal medical room. Both of the princesses had one. They were separate rooms from the main medical area. Standing in front of me, was Princess Luna. She frowning at first, then her frown turned into a gleeful smile. She walked over to the side of the bed and nuzzled my cheek.

"I am so glad that you are still alive. When we first got here, the nurses and doctors thought you were dead, then you came back. You were still asleep, I tried to wake you up, but you just wouldn't wake up. Right now, I am just glad to see that you are finally awake and alive." She was crying and her tears were rolling down her face from her eyes onto my neck. "Please Night, never do that again. You had me so worried and I felt like I was going to die just to be with you." She lifted her head and looked me in the eyes.

"Princess, I would gladly give myself to protect you from any harm. Remember the promise I made with you that long ago when I first became Night Guard?" She dwelled on that thought for a moment.

"Of course I do. You promised to protect me."

"There was more, I promised to protect you, even if I have to sacrifice my own life to do so for you to live on." She nuzzled me on my cheek again. Not saying a word, we just stay there for a while.

A nurse walked over to Princess Luna. She spoke very softly, she probably thought I was asleep still. "Excuse me princess, you are being summoned by your sister to an important conference with..." She saw that Luna was still hugging me and still crying. "I will tell your sister that you are busy tending to personal matters." The nurse left and the curtains closed.

The area around us became lit up with the deep blue color. Luna's mane looked even more beautiful than it did in the moonlight. She pulled away from me and brought a chair right next to me. She sat in it. "Listen Night, I want you to take a break from all this guard business. I want to be able to spend more time with you having fun, not "guarding" me. After going through this experience, I don't want to lose the old you yet. I still want my best friend to play with me every so often. Also, maybe we you can help me with a new hobby of mine."

I looked at her confused. "What is this new hobby of yours?"

"Drawing pictures..." She blushed as if she was ashamed to mention it. "I started drawing a few weeks ago. I have made plenty of pictures, but I want you to see them."

"Sure princess, I would love to see your pictures. Just remember, I am still the same pony I was when I first showed up at the entrance to the palace. Always know that I will not change from the small filly you found at the palace entrance."

Luna smiled at me, her eyes closed as if remembering the time when she first found me. "Thank you Night, I knew I was right to pick you to have as friend." She stood up, walked over to me, and hugged me. I felt a little sting from the wounds on my back and my chest, but it wasn't enough to actually hurt me. Luna and I embraced each other for the time being. The curtains opened again. Luna pulled back and we both saw Princess Celestia standing in front of us.

"Oh, I am sorry if I am intruding on a personal moment. I do insist that you come to the meeting today, little sister. It concerns the recent incident with Nightmare Moon returning by taking over the body of a unicorn. The magistrate has suggestions and theories about her return. Please follow me to the conference room when you are done here." Celestia smiled liked usual and walked away.

Luna turned to me with worried eyes. "I guess I have to go to this meeting. I will come right back here once it is vover Night, I promise."

"You don't need to promise anything to me Luna. Come any time you want, I will still be here, after all, I'm not allowed to get up for a while." I chuckled a little. Luna giggled a little with me. We embraced each other one last time and she left me alone in the room.

The only thing that came to mind, was to get some rest now. I had died and come back to life. It was definitely not something that I would ever forget. I noticed a faint memory of a chat I had with somepony. I couldn't remember it exactly, but I do remember one thing about it, I will definitely be seeing that colt again one day. When that day comes, I will greet him like I did when I left that world. A smile formed on my face. I leaned back against the bed and closed my eyes. 'Thank you for at least talking to me. Goodbye Night.' Those were the only words I could actually remember clearly from that chat. "Heh, it was great to talk with you too." Then my mind drifted off into a dream that would keep me smiling for a lifetime.

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Out of Story, Side Chat:

Hey readers, Night Runner here again to talk to you about the story again. The writer is here with me, but again he is too lazy to talk to you all. You know, people might get the wrong idea about you.

Don't worry about me Night, also it's not that I am too lazy to talk to them, I just have a bad headache now. I'm still surprised I could even finish writing this chapter.

Yea well, he wanted me to tell you all about this chapter basically and if anyone has any questions, just post it in the comments below. I will be sure to answer them for you if he can't. You really don't look to well, you should go get some sleep, maybe you will feel better tomorrow.

Like I said before, don't worry about me. You are right that I should feel better in the morning. Anyway, right now I need to find my memory book. Can you come over here and help me find it?

Do you seriously still use that thing? Ugh, you need to practice remembering things, Chris. Then you won't have to go looking for that book every time you need to remember something. Fine, I'll help you find it. Readers, apparently I have to go help him find his book. I will still be sure to answer any questions about the story when I read them. Also, he thanks the writer Ravenwood11 for inspiring him to include a Death character into this chapter.

Why are you worried about me when you got shot in the chest by a magic bolt anyway Night? You died and miraculously came back to life. Everyone should be more worried about you than me.

I told you before, I am perfectly fine. It healed completely and I am perfectly capable of doing anything I used to do. Besides, I am only here until Luna comes back from her trip.

Oh don't be like that, you enjoy staying here with me. You even said it before.

You tricked me into saying that! Great, now I forgot what I was going to tell the readers. Anyway, I will answer any questions you post in the comments. As for now, I am going to help Chris find his little book. Oh now I remember, this story is a probability story. It may be changed completely due to a message that we may receive from another writer that Chris likes to read from. We will be waiting his response. Goodbye until then, dear readers.

As I feel asleep, I pictured myself back on that path. I was dreaming of how it would have turned out if I didn't come back to life. It started from the beginning and happened almost the same way it did when we met. We talked about the whole incident of me not having to die then and went up to the glass wall between us and the fields. However, the wound from the fight didn't appear. The dream was if I had actually died. Me and Death walking to down the path to the door. Neither of them saying a word. Upon arriving at the gate, there was the white stallion behind the podium. He looked down at her and at Death. They nodded to each other and the white one searched through a book on the stand. Tapping on it twice, he motioned his hoof to the gate and it opened. I couldn't see inside because it was too bright, but I walked forward anyway.

My eyes opened back to the covered area that was shaded blue because of the curtain. I peered around and saw that Luna was leaning on the bed. Her head lay upon the sheet and she was sleeping. 'She must have slept the whole night here.' I thought about waking her up, but it would have been better if I let her sleep. I just laid in the bed, thinking of what to do next.

Minutes later, I heard a light groan come from Luna. she brought her head up in the air and gave a big yawn, stretching her arms out. She finished and was looking forward with half open eyes. They turned to me and burst open widely. Her entire body perked up as saw that I was awake. "Night, your awake!" Her canterlot voice coming out, almost deafening me. She jumped up and hug me tightly. Surprisingly, the wound on my chest didn't hurt like last time she hugged me.

"Princess Luna, why were you asleep in here, especially like that? Shouldn't you be sleeping in your room?" One eyebrow was cocked up and my tone was light. Why was she there, I think I already knew the answer.

She pulled back, her eyes glistening with a few tears in them. "I was just so worried about you that I just had to stay here with you." Just the answer I thought of. She did care that much about me, probably just as much as she cared about her own sister, Celestia. She pulled me back into the embrace and seemed like she just wouldn't want to let go. I just wrapped my hooves around her to show that I cared them same about her, and it was completely true.

"Listen Luna, you should be out with Princess Celestia. Aren't you still learning about the current problems that Equestria is facing right now?"

"My only problem right now, is you being here. I want you to be released so we can go back to how it was before."

Before long, I started to hear a few ponies running past the room yelling. I could barely hear what they wear yelling about, but I made out something, somepony was not doing so well. Princes Luna got up and walked out of the curtain. I myself wondered if I could stand. I pushed the sheet off of me and brought myself up to a sitting position. I slowly climbed off of the bed and was standing with four hooves on the floor. I proceeded to walk out of the curtain and followed the yelling coming from the next room over.

I looked in and immediately saw a could who doctors and nurses who surrounded the dying pony. I felt a weird sensation. It was coming from the down the hallway. I back out of the doorway and looked down both sides of the hall. I saw nothing, but I still felt this cold sensation. The fast beeping from the room flat-lined. I turned back and walked into the door. All the other ponies in the room were looking down at the floor as they turned off the machine. The sensation now growing. It was like a sorrowful and depressed presence was entering the room. Without notice, the black stallion from the fields walked in through the wall. I saw him pass through it like nothing. I turned to the doctors, but they just ignored him. I stared as he floated above all of the doctors and placed his hoof on the body that lay on the bed. Some transparent form of him flew out of the body. He turned and saw the black stallion who motioned for the pony to follow him. The two turned to me and walked right past me. I watched as they did and followed them out into the hallway.

I was now walking beside them. I had an urge to say something, but held it back. It built up to the point where I couldn't hold it in. I moved close to his ear. "Is it you again, from the fields?"

He stopped and his eyes opened wide. He looked around and saw me standing next to him. His face returned back to what it was before. "So you can see me?"

"Yes, I can see the other pony with you too. So you are real. I wondered if I was just dreaming the whole thing, but I guess that was a wrong assumption. Who are you?" I tilted my head to the right a little.

"I'm Death. I have a job to do right now. We won't talk again for a long time, but we can talk then." He walked forward again with the other pony following him. They faded away from existence right in front of me.

I had meet the stallion again. So he was the the one the stories all talked about. Death was a real figure, and he escorts the souls of the departed to the fields that I visited yesterday. But why didn't anypony else see him? Why didn't they react to his presence? While dwelling on that thought, I was paying attention to Celestia who walked up behind me. "Night, what are you doing out in the hall? You should be in bed resting up until your ready to resume your work."

I was caught off guard by her voice. If it was Luna, I wouldn't have been surprised as I was. I jumped around and stood straight up. I brought my hoof up to my head in a salute to the princess who stood in front of me. I saw hat Luna was behind her as well. "Hello Night, I let it slip that you had awoken and my sister wanted to come and visit you. We didn't find you in the room, so we left and saw you talking to yourself. Are you feeling alright?"

'What is going on here? What does she mean I was talking to myself?' I felt really awkward just thinking about it. "I was um...thinking out loud, yes that's it, thinking out loud." My voice wavered when saying that. I was sure that Celestia knew I was lying, but her expression never changed from that smile.

"It's alright Night, I am sure that you are just fine. You should get back to your bed now, you need all the rest you can so you can get better." Her voice sounded soothing as always. It was just her normal voice to me. "Let's go to your room and we can have our discussion there." The three of us walked back to the room I stayed in. Celestia closed the door behind us. "OK Miss Night, I only need you to tell me a few things and then you will be done."

"Yes, princess." I bowed before getting back into the bed.

"Can you please explain to me what happened last night? Why were you hurt so badly?"

"From what I recall, three of the elements of harmony were with me. One was Fluttershy, another was Rainbow Dash and the last was that energetic pink pony. The four of us walking into the castle and found Nightmare Moon with Princess Luna, who was unconscious. We fought with Nightmare until Luna awoke and used her magic to almost destroy the evil mare. I, myself, went to check if she was still alive. She was, then I remember getting hit by a magic bolt here." I pointed my hoof at the entrance of the bolt.

She rubbed her chin with her hoof for a few seconds. "What happened after the magic bolt had hit you?"

It would be hard to describe what had happened since I barely remember any of it. All I could remember was seeing that black stallion called Death and that was it. "Well, it felt like I had died. I opened my eyes and found myself in a field with a path down the middle. I was greeted by a black stallion who wore a cape. I don't remember anything after that other than waking up here. I am sorry your majesty." I bowed my head down while my hair covered only one of my eyes.

"That is alright Miss Night, you have explain enough. Luna wanted to stay here for a while with you while the doctors go over your medical reports. They say that you should be able to return to your duties by tomorrow. I am needed elsewhere at the moment, if you will excuse me." I sat up and bowed the entire top part of my body. Looking up from the bow, I saw that she was smiling again. The princess turned around and walked out of the room closing the door behind her.

Luna and I were left in the room alone again. There was nothing to do until tomorrow. "Princess, can I talk to you about something?"

She perked up and looked at me with a grin. "Yes Night, what is it?"

I looked away from her. "Is it possible to see the soul of dead ponies?" It was silent. Not a sound came from her. My eyes moved to see Luna looking down at the floor. She said nothing, just sat there and stared at the floor. "Princess Luna?"

She shook her head and looked back up at me. "What? Oh no, I don't think it is possible. I would have to ask my sister, see if she knows."

"It's alright, even if neither of us know, I don't want to find out." I leaned back down against the bed and was now looking at the ceiling. "I just had this strange feeling before, that's all."

"What did it feel like?"

I pulled the sheets up and covered myself. My head leaning into the pillow, like I was about to fall asleep. Except my eyes were wide open. "It felt cold. The air around me just felt cold."

Again there was silence. I peered over at Luna. Again she was staring at the floor except she was dragging her hoof as if writing or drawing something. She nodded her head at the invisible writing and then looked up at me. She took in a deep breath and let out a sigh. She made sure the door was closed, locking it with her magic. "Listen Night, my sister and I have had this situation before. We promised each other that we wouldn't say a word about it since. When our parents died, we felt the same way you did. The room felt cold. Then, a black pony flew in through the ceiling. Towards our parents. He stood tall next to them and made their souls come out of their bodies. My sister and I watched as they flew off and faded away..."

That was exactly how it happened for me. The black pony, the soul leaving the body, and then both of them fading away from existence. "Is it alright if I tell you something?"

"Yes, you can tell me anything."

"That black pony you saw, I saw him too. When I was struck down by Nightmare Moon's magic, I had actually died." She let out a quick gasp before I continued. "I awoke on a dirt path with flower fields on both sides. I first met him there. Then when the doctors were in a hurry to keep a patient alive, the patient died. That was when I felt the cold sensation. He took the pony's soul out of his body and then walked away. I was able to talk to him for a short time. He told me he was called Death." Of course I remembered everything now. The conversation I had with him, the explanation of where I was, everything. Luna was gawking now. Her mouth open slightly with a surprised expression. "He told me back in the fields that he gives his deepest regrets for your parents."

Luna gasped when I said that. Her eyes teared up. She fell against the bed and started sobbing. I sat up and placed my hoof on her shoulder. She jumped up and hugged me again. Luna was still crying her heart out. "I sorry princess if I upset you. I didn't mean to..." What else was there to say? I couldn't tell her that he did it because it was his job, she would cry even more. "I am sorry if I said something wrong. Please don't cry." I hugged her tightly back hoping that this would all end with her smiling, after all, my job is to make sure she is alive and happy.