The following day had come to light with quite a few clouds in the sky. Even on the horizon, one could barely see the sun poking a few rays through the thick cloud line. The rain, although being just a little more than a slight drizzle, was coming down softly all over Canterlot. In the city below the castle, very few ponies were out and running around like they would do every day. A few unicorns were out, their horns lit up with magic, placing a shield over them to avoid having any of the rain to fall onto them.

As the morning pressed on, the cloud cover began to disperse slightly, making the rain spread out further and start to slow. A dark Alicorn watching silently from just inside the balcony as the sky began to slowly clear.

“Rainy days are so irritating.” He sighed as he watched a few pegasi clearing up some of the clouds above the castle, the bright blue sky slowly starting to show through the vacant spots that the clouds had been removed from.

“Daddy?” Came the soft voice of Marina as she trotted up to his side within Celestia’s chambers, taking a seat next to him. “Is everything ok? You’ve been sitting here all morning.” She asked as she looked up to him. He opened a wing, gently wrapping it around her, pulling her into a sideways hug.

“I’m fine baby, it’s just that... rainy days tend to ruin my mood at times. I just can’t think of why the rain does this to me though. It’s like a bad premonition to something to come, plus things always just seem to go downhill when this weather comes around.” He sighed slightly as he let his ears droop, his vision falling to the floor in front of him before he slowly looked over to his adopted daughter.

“Well, if you want, you can come and play with me and Star, he has been itching to play lately. With you and momma always running around the castle and doing stuff, you don’t really have time to play with us.” She stated with a meek smile.

“I’m sorry baby, I know I’ve been busy lately with everything. Even today I had some plans to do a few things...” He trailed off as he placed a hoof onto his chin, giving a thoughtful look before smiling. “You know what? Get your brother. Today we’re going to the amusement park.” He said with a smirk, causing Marina to beam brightly.

“YEAAAAaaaaaahhhhhh!” She shouted as she bolted from the room to find her brother, passing Celestia as she rounded the corner of the door and into the hallway.

“Well now, it seems that our daughter is in rather high spirits. I take it that you made a promise to her without my consideration first?” The white Alicorn stated as she cocked a brow in question.

“You know I always do that.” Midnight chuckled softly as he nodded to his side, the Sun Goddess making her way to his side and taking a seat onto the floor next to him. “Besides, rainy days make me feel sluggish. I honestly would rather spend some time with the kids than to be cooped up in the castle when it’s raining.” He smiled sheepishly toward her; she smiled back softly in return.

“Understandable my dear, but what do you plan on doing?” She asked, just before Starlight and Marina burst into the room squealing loudly to one another as they bounded over to their father.

“Are you really going to take us to the amusement park father?” Starlight asked as his little wings flared out giving a couple happy flaps. Marina being so excited that she dropped her guise, her little bug wings buzzing quite loudly behind her.

“You bet, just as long as yer mom says it’s ok.” He smirked over to the Sun Goddess as he watched the two foals put on their saddest faces they could muster and stare at her pleadingly.

“Not the face! Anything but the face!” Celestia cried as she attempted to cover her eyes to block out the cuteness overload that was slowly melting her.

After a few seconds she pulled her hoof away, taking a peek at the two foals who had somehow gotten even cuter and more pleading within that short time frame. Celestia gave a loud groan as she dropped her hoof to the floor, staring at it for a moment before giving a sigh.

“Fine.” She began, causing the foals to squeal loudly. “But!” She began once more causing them to come to a halt and stare at her. “You two need to stay with your father at all times, and never run off away from him for any reason. If you want to do something, ask first, and then have your father take you to whatever it is you wanted to do. Is that understood?” She asked in an authoritative manner. The two foals nodding with a determined smile each.

“We understand momma.” Marina said with a happy squeal.

“Alright then you two, go and get ready while your father and I talk for a minute.” Celestia smiled to the two before they bolted out of the room.

Midnight watched them in silence for a moment as they left the room, the door slowly coming to a close to block out any noise that may interrupt him as he began.

“Tia, you sound troubled. Is it because I’m taking them to the park?” He asked as he wrapped a wing around her gently.

“Night, we have word from one of our spy groups that were in the Griffon kingdom not too long ago. We’ve relocated the Twilight Princess.” She stated only to cause his face to turn to slight anger.

“Fill me in on what you have.” He stated without hesitation as his ear perked up and trained toward her.

Celestia gave a soft sigh as she began. “It appears that she has boarded a dirigible in the Griffon Kingdom, and is on her way to us as we speak. She should arrive in only a few days time. I have advised the captain, piloting the vehicle, to head into one of the abandoned air docks on the outskirts of Horseshoe Bay. There, we will have quite a few of the Elite guard waiting to pounce, once she has left the dirigible.”

Midnight sat there for a moment as he rubbed his chin in thought. His tactile senses moving into overdrive as he began to think up several strategic moves that could be fallback plans should Celestia’s not work. After several minutes he finally spoke up.

“Tia, I want to aid in the defensive maneuvers in Horseshoe Bay. I’ll send a few clones so that I can stay behind here to help in preparations for the main event, should we not be able to take her down there.” He stated as he slowly stood and headed toward the door.

“In the meantime, I believe that I’ve promised our children a trip to the park. You’re welcome to join us if you’d like.” He smirked slightly seeing her roll her eyes.

“In due time my dear, for the moment however, I believe that I have several appointments to attend to within the castle. I am meeting with the Minotaur nation’s leaders so that we may discuss another thing that has come to our attention.” she stated with a slight pang of nervousness in her voice.

“And that would be?” Midnight asked, pausing in his movements just before he was about to go through the door of the room and into the hall.

“Our spies have found a small group of travelers that aided the Twilight Princess in her movements for a short time. We currently do not have much information, but we are going to be working in conjunction with the Minotaur Kingdom in capturing them before interrogations will commence.”

“Understood. Once I return from the park with the children, you can fill me in on everything.” He stated as he left the room. Celestia sitting quietly at the balcony door as her vision turn back to the now slightly cloudy sky outside.

“I do hope that everything is going to turn out alright, this world does not need to see any more death.” She sighed softly just before a rainbow began to show through the clouds.

Author's Notes:

Edited by ReFro