Chapter 1: Messenger
The moon shone bright in the sky. The crickets sang their slow song. The birds all slept soundly in their nests. The night was calm. Mostly.
A pony streaked across the sky, a silhouette against the moon. White lines pierced the air from the tips of his webbed, bat wings. His teal eyes glowed with the silvery light in a panicked manner. He brought news from across the Everfree Forest. And it wasn't good.
The river that ran through the forest floor reflected his shadow as he flew, fast as lightning. He was almost to his destination, and as soon as he got there, everything would be okay.
The wavering wall broke the treetops.
Almost there, he thought. Just get to the balcony, and Silver Wind will take your news to her. As soon as she knows, she will tell everypony, and the responsibility won't be on your shoulders, anymore.
As he rounded the last bend of the river, he felt the magical wall pass through him, and he was at the castle. It towered high above the ground, the stone walls a perfect shade of silver.
Home, he thought. I made it back alright.
He slowed his flight and began to circle the castle. The minor swarms of guards noticed him immediately. Murmuring spread throughout them; wonders of what the news was that their spy guard returned with.
The spy guard landed gingerly on long branch of the tree that reached up to the balcony, and swung upside-down. Another guard flew up and hung next to him.
"Hurricane Whisper," she greeted him. "What news do you bring?" Her slitted eyes became wider as she realized his hard breathing and frantic expression.
"Silver Wind," he panted. "I bring urgent news. From Canterlot."
Silver Wind looked at him intently, a look of worry crossing her gaze.
"The Solar Empire…" Hurricane trailed off.
Silver Wind put a hoof on his back.
"Catch your breath." she said. "Then speak."
Hurricane nodded and paused for a moment. When his breathing became normal again, he took a breath to speak.
"The Solar Empire." he began again. "I overheard a conversation from their meeting room in the palace. They are planning something."
Silver Wind raised her eyebrows.
"Did you catch what it was?" she asked urgently.
Hurricane nodded.
"Yes, I did. They were planning to attack the castle."
Silver Wind gasped.
"Oh no!" she yelped. "That truly is not good! We must tell the princess right away!"
She turned on the branch and spread her wings to fly, then stopped.
"Were you seen while you were spying on their meeting?" she asked.
Hurricane shook his head.
"Not that I know of."
Silver Wind let out a breath.
"Good." she sighed as she turned back toward the balcony opening. "Follow me, let's go tell the princess. This is an urgent matter."
She unlatched her hind legs from the branch, and dropped down into the air. Hurricane followed her, both of them swooping down over the balcony. They soared down the stone hallways, avoiding other guards in their way. A few caught the intensity in their eyes, and followed on their tails, wondering what was so urgent to make Silver Wind fly so fast. They knew it was normal for Hurricane, but Silver Wind was known as one of the slower guards, even with her larger wings. But this must be extremely important for her to be pacing with Hurricane.
As they reached the end of the halls, the guards opened their wings like parachutes to slow down quickly. Hurricane, Silver Wind, and a few other guards landed on the hard floor. The room was large, with a tall curved ceiling and a long blue and a silver carpet was rolled along the middle of the floor. At the end of the room, stairs lead up to a short platform. On it sat a throne, and a window on the wall behind it showed the moon, the only light source, which lit up most of the room.
"Princess!" shouted Silver Wind. "There is an urgent matter that I think you should know about!"
From beside the throne, a tall figure came. The moonlight from the window made it so that she was only a shadow. Her long mane flowed beautifully in the air. A long horn rose from her head, and elegant wings spread from her back.
"Silver Wind," she addressed her servant. "What is this news you bring me?"
Silver Wind, Hurricane, and the rest of the guards bowed.
"Princess," said Silver Wind. "Hurricane overheard a serious conversation in the meeting room of the Solar Empire."
The princess nodded slowly.
"What was this conversation about? Does Hurricane know?"
The princess and the other guards looked at Hurricane, who glanced around them before answering.
"Y-yes, Majesty." he stammered. Never being talked to by the princess personally, he was a little nervous. "T-they were planning an attack on the castle."
Gasps spread amongst the guards.
"WHAT!?" roared the princess. "How could she? My own sister! After we made peace with them!"
Silver Wind shook her head sadly.
"We always knew they would do this. We should never have trusted them." she muttered under her breath.
"Yes, but… my own sister…" said the princess, sadness entering her voice. "How could she?"
Then it began to intensify with rage.
"HOW COULD SHE DO THIS TO ME?!"
Her eyes glowed through the dark room.
"Hurricane Whisper," she said, trying to contain her anger. "When did they say they would attack our castle?"
Hurricane hesitated.
"Tonight, Majesty." he half-whispered.
She growled furiously as she galloped over to the opening of the room. The guards outside looked at her in confusion and worry.
"Princess Luna," one of them said.
In the torch-lit halls, the princess's dark blue body and hair were revealed. Her teal eyes wavered as she scowled.
"ALL ROYAL GUARDS OF THE NIGHT!" she boomed in her royal voice. "READY YOUR WEAPONS! GET ALL YOUNG PONIES TO THE BACK CHAMBERS! WE ARE ABOUT TO BE IN WAR!"
Everypony in the crowd went flying. Some ran into each other, while others found partners and flew off to the weaponry chamber.
Luna followed a different hall, and entered a smaller chamber. This one was lit by torches, and its back wall was home to many pieces of silver armor. The princess of the night made her way to the wall, and levitated a helmet onto her head.
"You have picked the wrong army to attack, sister." she said. "You ponies of the Solar Empire may think you are the best, but the New Lunar Republic shall win this battle!"