Luna stomped through the mud, her royal guards following behind her. She stopped and surveyed the area. The Ponyville streets were dark and damp from the storm that had ravaged it an hour earlier.
 
“Have your regiment split into battalions and search the town. Make sure at least one unicorn is in each group and have them send out a flare if they find anything.” Luna instructed with a low voice.
 
“Yes my queen.” A dark batpony bowed his head and commanded his soldiers to split up.
 
Every door was knocked on, every pony questioned. It took hours, the dawn sun eventually rising on the horizon. Five of the six elements of harmony were interrogated before they joined the search themselves. They found nothing.
 
“Where is she? It’s not like her to leave Ponyville without telling anyone.” Rainbow Dash huffed as she hovered above Fluttershy.
 
“Nothin’ about what we been told sounds like her.” Applejack grumbled, her eyes heavy.
 
“I trust my daughter.” Luna spoke calmly. “I don’t believe she would lie to me.”
 
“But it was just a dream!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, exasperated.
 
“Dreams reflect our daytime experiences and inner thoughts. There should be no reason for Eclipse to fear Twilight unless she witnessed something that disturbed her.” Luna explained.
 
“What do you think she took out of you Queen Luna?” Fluttershy asked.
 
“I don’t know dear Fluttershy, but if what I theorize is true, then we and all of Equestria are in danger.” Luna responded solemnly.
 
“But what exactly did you see my queen? Please tell us, we need to know if we’re going to be of any use to you. All this searching is doing nothing for us.” Rarity prodded. Luna’s frown deepened.
 
“In the dream, Twilight’s eyes looked just the same as King Sombra’s used to. She looked as if overcome by dark magic.” Luna explained in a low voice.
 
“Dark magic?” Fluttershy gasped. “But how? And when?”
 
“I don’t know Fluttershy, but the sooner we find out the safer we will all be.” Luna responded, opening her wings. “For now, it is time for me to retire to bed. The sun’s up and the daylight is not my domain. I will be alerting Celestia to the situation and she’ll continue the search with her guards.”
 
“So that’s it? You’re just gonna go to bed?” Rainbow put her hooves on her hips and frowned.
 
“Even queens need their sleep Dashy!” Pinkie Pie spoke cheerfully. Luna smiled at the pink pony. Rainbow Dash sighed.
 
“Fine. We’ll just keep searching.” Spoke Rainbow.
 
“Yall can keep searchin’ if ya want. I got kids to feed. I’m sure this is all just one big misunderstandin’ and Twilight will turn up eventually. Spike too, where ever he is.” Applejack tipped her hat in the queen’s direction and began trotting off to her farm.
 
“I should feed my babies too.” Pinkie put a hoof to her chin. “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day after all!” She smiled brightly. “I’ll keep searching for Twilight after breakfast!” With that she bowed politely and began hopping off to her home. Rainbow Dash lowered herself to the ground and pouted.
 
“What about you two?” She asked her two remaining friends in an accusing tone.
 
“Oh, well, I have to feed Filet and the animals, but I’ll keep looking after I’m done, I promise.” Fluttershy smiled and kicked her hoof in the dirt softly. “I uh, I’ll go now.” She bowed to Luna and walked off in the direction of her home.
 
“And let me guess, you have to go home to eat, right?” Rainbow asked Rarity, eyeing her muddy legs.
 
“Eat?” Rarity asked, looking confused.
 
“Uh, yeah?” Rainbow shrugged. Rarity smiled awkwardly.
 
“Actually I have a thing in Manehattan. A fashion thing, you know?” Rarity fluttered her eyelashes and smiled.
 
“Ugh, fine, I’ll look for Twilight by myself. If you need me I’ll be in the Everfree forest.” Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and began flying off.
 
“Have fun Rainbow Dash!” Rarity waved cheerfully. “And good day to you my Queen.” Rarity bowed like the others and walked off to her home to prepare for her trip. Luna turned to her guards and flew off just as the sun fully rose from behind the horizon.
 
 
“What are we going to do? The entire royal guard is after us, we don’t stand a chance!” Twilight sat back on her haunches and ran her hooves through her mane.
 
“Calm yourself, child!” The darkness beside her commanded. “Midnight Dare will be here soon. You instructed him to leave Ponyville, didn’t you?”
 
“Yes, I told him to tell the others that he was going to Manehattan.” Twilight nodded and sniffed, her eyes watering. “But what if it doesn’t work? The baby hasn’t had enough time to grow, it’ll be useless to you!”
 
“I have a spell that will accelerate its growth, don’t worry about that.” The shadow spoke, floating around the purple mare.
 
“But age spells are dangerous, and they never work how they should. The baby will grow but It’ll still have the mind of an infant.” Twilight explained worriedly, stroking her tail.
 
“That does not matter!” Shouted the shadow. “When I inhabit its body I will take over its consciousness. The creature is no more than a vessel!” It growled. Twilight groaned.
 
“Why don’t you tell me these things in advance? I hate worrying!” Twilight whined.
 
“Because it wasn’t important then!” The shadow shouted. Twilight flinched and huddled on the ground.
 
“I’m sorry master, please forgive me!” The mare spoke as she cowered. The shadow growled and floated beside her.
 
“Don’t you want to free my people, Princess? Don’t you want their suffering to end?” It spoke softly in Twilight’s ear. The alicorn looked up at the darkness around her.
 
“Yes master.” Twilight answered meekly.
 
“Then do as you’re told, and don’t ask questions.” The shadow commanded. A loud roar echoed through the cavern, spooking Twilight.
 
“Go feed the brat.” Twilight’s master spoke before disappearing into her shadow.