~~~~~~~Canterlot Castle~~~~~~~

"Winterlight." Princess Luna pressed a silver clad hoof to her forehead and sighed gently. "I had feared this would be so." Celestia's calm look from across the room did not falter one bit, as Luna rallied her thoughts before speaking again. "My memories of my banishment are incredibly vivid, as I believe I have told you before. Yet even I was certain I had been imagining one small detail."

Luna gently lowered her head, speaking in a hushed voice. "When you summoned the Elements of Harmony and cast the banishment spell, I saw the Captain flinging herself in front of me just before the spell hit. Likely in an attempt to intercept it." The night princess shook her head slowly. "I was more than certain she'd simply been obliterated by the spell, her body destroyed by the sheer mass of energy." Her eyes narrowed as her head came up, the sound of weary resolve in her voice. "My apologies, Sister. I should have told you."

Celestia shook her head slowly, "We could not have known she would survive, Lulu." Celestia spoke gently, "Neither of us could have foreseen this. Still, I find it distinctly odd that she did not immediately rejoin you upon your awakening." Celestia frowned, her hooves gently tapping at the arms of her chair. "We are missing something here, I think."

Luna nodded slowly. "I would agree. There is some other force or circumstance at work." Luna frowned. "I only escaped the moon by virtue of the aid of the stars themselves. Winterlight would not have had such aid." Silence fell upon the room for a few minutes, as the two sisters contemplated over what they had learned. Luna then scoffed and facehoofed. "The answer is of course, obvious. Blindingly so." She hissed out the next word, anger redolent in her tone. "Tantalus."

Celestia looked miserable for a moment. "We are going to be discovering machinations of his for some time, I fear." She grumbled sullenly. "That would explain why she has sworn herself to Twilight's service. She too has been taken by this Shadow." Celestia was starting to develop a headache, she gently rubbed at her head with a wince.

Luna glared off to one side and muttered something very impolite before speaking again. "This is not good, sister. Winterlight was a terrifyingly effective agent." An ancient anger smoldered in Luna's eyes. "She is fully capable of rebuilding the Shadowbolts from nothing into an effective force. We must be very wary about any action we take against her, Sister. She has likely had the last four years to prepare for us. I have no doubt that even as we speak, she is preparing to move against us."

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

"Ahhhn~!!! M-mistress, please, no!"

The violet whip of energy shot out again and scored against the captains dark blue wings, leaving a long mark of scorched feathers behind it. Captain Winterlight gave out another scream of pain, her back arching away from Twilight as she hung in midair, suspended by thick chains wrapped around her neck and body. Her wings forcibly flared out by tight leather straps wrapped around the joints. For a moment, there was rest as the captain's sweat dripped onto the lush red carpet that covered the floor of the room.

Twilight slowly dragged the whip of shadow energy along the carpet beneath the captain's hooves, a look of stern anger on her face. "Tell me, Captain. Do you serve me?" She swayed slowly across the room, the thick tendril of magic reaching up to stroke almost lovingly across the Captain's cheek. The Shadowbolt swallowed and nodded hurriedly. Twilight's look transformed into a soft, wicked smile. "Truly? Because I have begun to suspect you serve other masters." The tendril of energy moved to Twilight's will, lifting off of the ground and wrapping lightly around Winterlight's throat.

The Captain's eyes went suddenly wide, her body trembling slightly - not showing fear though. She simply looked... worried. "No Mistress. I only serve you." She whispered softly, as Twilight's horn glowed brighter and the tendril wrapped a little tighter around Winterlight's throat. - startling a gasp of pain out of her.

Twilight spoke softly. "Then explain to me why you did not tell me that Celestia knew you." Anger reeked from her tone, her voice tight. "And do not try and claim ignorance, Captain. You knew her too." Winterlight looked shocked, perhaps a little too much so. Twilight's smile twisted into an arrogant smirk. "Did you think I summoned Silent Moon because I find her to be appealing?"

The Captain's head shook softly, her own mind reeling from the combination of pain and shock. Winterlight licked her lips, tasting the salt of her sweat and spoke softly. "I did not think you would believe me, Mistress." Her breathing was still heavy, restricted by the tight whip. "It is a fantastical tale." She practically whispered, feeling the heat of the shadow-whip pulsing lightly against her coat.

Twilight smirked again, drawing up very close to the bound captain and purred out in a light tone. "Why don't you let me be the judge of that, Captain. " Twilight's magic pulsed, and the whip loosened its grip on her neck. "But if you dare to lie to me again, Captain - you will not like the results." The whip suddenly burned a bright and piercing pain into the neck, then vanished, the Captain barely having time to cry out in pain before it was gone.

Winterlight panted heavily, mind suddenly brought into focus by the pain. By the shadow, she is a natural at this. She thought with a thrill of pleasure, her lips turning up in a light smile. "Of course, Mistress." she whispered worshipfully, feeling her heart swell in her chest. "I once served Nightmare Moon long ago, when she rose up against the Ty- " Winterlight swallowed the word, remembering Twilight's earlier words. "Celestia. At the final battle, when Celestia sought to banish our beloved Queen to the moon - I attempted to take the final blow upon myself."

Winterlight winced a little, the painful memory still seared into her mind. "I failed, but not completely. I was able to survive, and hid myself in the shadow of the moon, where the gaze of the Sun could not find me." Twilight's face was unreadable, so Winterlight continued, hoping that a lack of action meant she was getting through to her Mistress. "There I slept for a thousand years, waiting for the day that I would serve my Queen again. But when the stars aligned, and she escaped - I could not follow her."

There was fear in her eyes now, remembering those moments of panic and terror. "It was then that the Shadow spoke to me, for it had long watched me over the centuries. It offered me a chance to return to the surface, and serve my Queen once again." A sad smile came to her face. "But by the time the Shadow could rescue me, you had already proven victorious. With no Queen to command me, I retreated into hiding - not daring to face Celestia alone."

Twilight easily put together the rest of the story. "You rebuilt the Shadowbolts at Tantalus' command." She spoke softly, stroking her chin slowly. "Humph. It is a fantastical tale Captain." She paused and smiled softly. "But what do you think, Moon?" Winterlight stared as the stark white pegasus slowly emerged from behind her, her milky eyes soft and unreadable.

Silent Moon smiled at Winterlight, before speaking softly. "She speaks the truth, M'lady. Incredible as it may seem." There was a mischievous look to Moon as she spoke, and her words ran a chill of fear through Winterlight. "Though I do not think that excuses her misdeed. Why do you not tell our Queen the punishment a Shadowbolt receives for lying to their commander, Captain?"

Twilight looked curiously at Winterlight, and the Captain felt a cold spike of fear before she spoke tonelessly. "Twenty Lashes." Winterlight glared at Silent Moon, who smiled serenely back at her.

Twilight chuckled. "I appreciate your honesty, Captain." she cooed softly. "I think once we're done here, we'll soothe those aches of yours a little bit..." Winterlight felt the lips of Twilight gently tug on her ear, trailing down to her wing joint with feather soft kisses. Each touch sending little shocks of pleasure into the Captain's body.

Twilight laughed softly and slowly crossed the room again, taking up her position some fifteen feet away. "Count for me, Captain." She Commanded, with a capital C.

The whip snaked back and cracked forward, delivering a hot, blistering blow across her chest. Winterlight's mind tumbled with pain and pleasure alike, and her lips whispered out in reverence, "One."

~~~~~~~~~~

Silent Moon slipped away in what followed - her form leaping from shadow and into the evening sky. Her wings spread gloriously, and for just a few moments, she pretended that she could fly like all other pegasus could. She felt the swift wind beneath her, and glided and tilted, knowing as she did every inch of the palace grounds. The world around her was as it always was - a symphony of sounds and smells, of stiff breezes against her white coat and the misting of water from the fountains.

Her hooves touched the solid stone outside of one of those fountains, the fresh smell of water burbling up through the mechanism was like fine ambrosia to her. She gently strode to the edge of the fountain and very carefully placed her hooves on the edge. There she stood for a time, drinking in the sweet smells of the night. Her ears perking and turning to track the sounds of the many animals that roamed the grounds, and picking up snippets of conversation from the Shadowbolts as they patrolled from tree to tree.

Then she heard the sound of wing beats - familiar wing beats. "Good evening, Shadow Dancer." She spoke calmly, her head still gazing straight ahead. Around her oldest friend, she did not need to pretend that she could see. "How does this glorious night find you?" The sound of hooves striking the ground, and that distinctive chuckle. She's in a very good mood tonight. Must be because of the Queen.

"Evening, Moony." Shadow Dancer drawled. Silent Moon might've been angry at anyone else using that name - but not Dancer. There was simply no repressing that girl. "Feelin' Fabulous, actually." Moon smiled slightly in satisfaction, and she could feel the vibration of hooves joining hers on the fountain. "We're actually a little ahead of schedule now. I didn't expect her Majesty to take a piece out of Winterlight's hide for another couple of weeks."

Silent moon allowed herself a little laugh. Dancer smelled like cinnamon and fried dough tonight - she must have been at that new donut shop all of the Shadowbolts could not stop raving about. "The arrival of the Sun Lady was the catalyst. Winterlight has been keeping secrets, it seems." But it would be the duty of her monarch to decide who should know about such things, so Moon shifted the conversation. "So, we are prepared to move on to the next target?" She queried, and a shifting sound - plus a soft thump - told her Dancer had taken a seat on the fountain.

"Yep!" proclaimed the thestral, her voice brimming with pride. "Got everything already set up. She'll be coming by the castle tomorrow evening with a 'special' order." She chuckled again, obviously satisfied with her work. "Our friend the sweets maker will be adding her 'candies' to the confections before delivery. The rest should happen naturally." She clapped her hooves together rapidly, signaling her glee. "Of course, I've made sure to order us a few treats."

Silent moon could feel Dancer's gentle lips on her neck, and her hot breath flowing over her skin. "Been a long time since you and I just relaxed for a night. Given how the Queen won't need us tomorrow, what do you say we take a little time for ourselves, lover?" Moon blushed, her cheeks going a rosy pink and she shifted from hoof to hoof. "We're gonna have Sundrops..." Whispered Dancer enticingly.

Moon felt her eyes widen and her body went a little stiff, remembering the last time she'd shared the potent little recreational drug with Dancer. Her blush deepened to a more crimson shade, and Moon found her legs rubbing against one another a little bit. "Um...T-that sounds delightful, D-Dancer..." She whispered, Dancer still nibbling and teasing up her neck, and towards her too-sensitive ears.

The thestral gave a joyful little laugh, and then turned Moon's head with her hooves. Moon knew what was coming next, and gently parted her lips for the kiss that was to come, reveling in the warmth of Dancer's body pressed against hers. Truly, a beautiful night. Her mind whispered, as they continued to touch one another under the stars.

~~~~~~~~

Celestia and Luna sat at the small, intimate dinner table they shared during times of difficulty - especially when their work overlapped with one another’s duties. "So. We have no choice. We will need to wait for Cadence and Shining Armor to arrive at the end of the week." Celestia spoke softly, then punctuated it with a sigh. "We cannot risk leaving Twilight unprotected against Winterlight's machinations."

Luna nodded, and gently touched Celestia's shoulder. "For what it is worth sister, we will have more time. I myself shall enter the Sealed Archive this evening, before the keepers lock it up again. Perhaps there are things there I can glean that you could not." She smiled slightly. "There are secrets, after all - that only the moon can reveal." She waggled her eyebrows in a mysterious manner, and Celestia couldn't help but laugh at her.

"Oh?" asked her Sister with an arched eyebrow. "Now whatever sorts of secrets might those be? Surely you aren't still watching the wet dreams of my subjects from afar, now are you?" Luna's cheeks instantly went red, and she began to stammer out disclaimers and denials. Celestia covered her mouth with her hooves, giggling madly. "Or perhaps even joining in them yourself, Mm? I might even be interested in knowing what sort of fun you've been getting up to in the dreams of my student. And do not attempt to deny it! I have seen the way you look at her." Celestia teased and needled at her sister, causing Luna's remonstrations to become even louder by the minute.

Celestia laughed joyfully, and after a moment Luna ruefully chuckled in response. "Hah. A well scored set of barbs, sister." Luna grumbled, poking her hoof into her sister’s side. "And what do the busybody good ponies call you these days? Princess Molestia?" Celestia's eyes widened, and a blush came to her own cheeks - but Luna had the bit in her teeth now, and was grinning as she spoke. "I have heard the maids hesitate enter your rooms some mornings, for fear that you will seduce them into your bed and ravish them senseless." Celestia began to stammer herself, trying to stop the tide of salaciousness. "And let us not forget the Sun's Kiss, your yearly reward to the finest of our Guards. Is it true that you now give that kiss somewhere other than their foreheads?"

Celestia burst into laughter at that one, and the two sisters fell all over each other - embracing tightly in the equal need for comfort and reassurance. "We will save her, big sister." Whispered Luna. "You need fret not. Together, there is no foe we cannot conquer." Celestia nodded soundlessly, just tightly hugging her sister. For many long minutes, they simply held one another as they had so often in the past. The roads might be rough, the journey long - but Celestia was certain Luna was right. Together, they could do anything.

~~~~~~~

Hours passed, and once Luna was certain Celestia was tucked away in her bed and sleeping soundly, she turned towards her goal. "Commander Blade, to me." She spoke calmly as she passed an open window, and within moments a thestral had slipped into the hallway and marched calmly alongside her. "Assemble two squadrons of your very finest. I have a special assignment for you. Go." The Thestral bowed wordlessly, and a moment later was gone out of the next open window.

Luna breezed past the doors to her room, divesting herself of her royal jewels and crown. This was not to be a night for such things, as she would need her total attention on the task before her. It took her nearly no time to assemble her materials. Parchment, ink, quills, and a thick walled obsidian box. Within less than a minute, she was out into the halls again - the box holding her writing materials as she walked. As she passed another open window along the outer walls of the castle, the thestral returned. He looked as much like any of her other Night Guard when they wore their enchanted armor. She wondered what he looked like out of it.

"Your majesty." He growled in a soft voice. "My soldiers are assembling. What is your will?" the Night Guard took their duties very seriously, even after a thousand years of quiet dishonor. Better to say, a thousand years of waiting for a chance to reclaim their honor. Luna knew that whatever mission she gave them, it would be carried out in full.

Luna spoke softly, quickly. "You will send one squadron of them to Ponyville, with orders to watch over the Elements of Harmony. If they believe, even for a moment, that the Elements are in danger of falling into the wrong hooves - they are to be seized and immediately brought to my sister." They passed into an inner hallway, the Night Guard nodding his understanding. "You are to lead the second squadron. There is a secret place, just north of Hollow Shades. Deep within the forest, you will find a cave with a carved moon over the entranceway. Within that cave, behind many traps, will be an iron chest sealed with magic." She opened up the obsidian box and passed over a blue crystal, dangling from a golden chain to the guard. "Wear this when approaching it. Press the crystal against the chest, and then return to me every single scrap of paper and other item within it. Do not read anything you find within. Store it, and return it to me. Understood?"

The Guard nodded, then bowed over his hoof and flew off back towards the windows at top speed. There was no need for proclamations of success or guarantees of victory. The Night Guard had no need for such prattle. There was a mission to be accomplished, and accomplish it they would. For now, Luna had more pressing concerns. Four Royal Guards and a sleepy looking battle mage stood outside of a lone iron door. Their eyes widened at her approach, all five of them bowing deeply to her. Luna's voice was calm and imperious. "I am here at the will of Sun's Glory. Stand aside."

~~~~~~~

Rainbow Dash stirred in her slumber - slowly coming to consciousness. She felt sweaty and sore, but it was the good kind of soreness. The kind that came after a long day of hard flying and practicing tricks. Dash stretched out slowly, languorously. She could feel every muscle that she'd abused stiffen up, then slowly relax. She was definitely going to need to do more exercise before she could sleep tonight. Then her eyes shot open, and she began to remember the hours previous.

She felt like... something had filled a hole in her she hadn't even known was there. Like some warm fire burned inside of her chest merrily, and made the whole world seem a little more wonderful. The sheets she was resting on were a mess - tossed to and fro, and still damp with sexual fluids. She inhaled the scent deeply, and it seemed to touch off another wave of arousal deep in her body. She knew, without knowing how she knew, that some of that arousal belonged to Mistress Shadow.

Like a train running into a wall, Dash's thoughts immediately derailed. She sat in confusion for a few long moments, licking suddenly dry lips. "Mistress Shadow." She spoke softly, when what she had intended to say was 'Twilight Sparkle'. She fixed her jaw, and growled out. "Mistress Twilight Shadow." The words came out with a fierce effort, leaving her panting for breath for a moment. She felt baffled and confused, and then she inhaled deeply through her nose again.

The smell seemed to calm her nerves, and she rubbed fitfully at her hooves. What had she been thinking? Of course that was her name. It had always been that way. She was just tired, hungry, and in need of a little more exercise. That explained why she was feeling so confused. Rainbow Dash pushed her way off the bed and flexed her wings as she trotted quietly over to the door. She wasn't entirely sure where the kitchen was, but she had a sixth sense when it came to free grub.

The door opened at a nudge, and then closed to the same amount of effort. Dash hummed her favorite tune, one of Pinkie Pie's random songs she'd put together not all that long ago. It was an awfully catchy one, she hadn't been able to get it out of her head for months. Dash was just turning a corner when a dark winged batpony seemed to materialize out of nowhere. "Wah!" was about the only word Dash could get out as she stumbled backwards in surprise. "Holy Shadow, where'd you come from!?" Wait. 'Holy shadow'? Where the buck had that come from?

The dark coated thestral smiled slightly - she was actually pretty cute, even with those intimidating golden dragon-eyes. Her color was like the night sky, just after sunset - and when she smiled she showed off a pair of little fangs that were more cute than scary. She had a silver ribbon tied into a complex looking bow for a cutie mark, and she was laughing at Dash. "Apologies, Miss Dash. I did not intend to startle you." Her voice was pretty, Dash decided - pretty enough that she'd ignore the being-laughed-at-part. "Is there something I can help you with?"

Well, that was as good an invitation as any. "Yeah, I'm looking to scare up some eats." Proclaimed Dash, pushing herself back up to her hooves and dusting herself off in her best cool-mare manner. "Can ya help me find the kitchen?" Thestrals had always been a little bit creepy to Dash, but this one was... Oh admit it, Dashie - she's hot. Dash felt a silly grin crossing her face, wondering where that traitorous little thought had come from.

The thestral mare giggled - it was an odd sound, but a nice one. "Of course. Come with me." She turned, lifting into the air with a few flaps of her wings and a smile. "I'm Ribbon Bound. And you're Rainbow Dash." She actually blushed, Her hooves squeezing her cheeks. "I've heard all about you. They tell me you're the best flyer in Equestria."

Rainbow Dash felt a swell of pride bursting out of her chest. Ha! And they said I'd never be famous! "Yep! That's me!" She grinned, lifting into the air to buzz up alongside her. "So come on! I'm starving! And then maybe you can show me around the place?"

Ribbon Bound smiled coyly at Dash. There was something about her eyes - something that called to that new, warm feeling inside of Dash's chest. She instantly knew somehow that the next words were one hundred percent serious. "Oh, I think I can show you a bit more than that, Miss Dash." The thestral smiled, her little fangs glinting in the light.