6 Months Before the return of Nightmare Moon

It was a cold December night in Canterlot that day. It was that time of the year again when they celebrated one of the most beloved holiday of the year, Heaths Warming eve. Foals were dashing through the snow, carols were sung and plans that were weeks in the making began to unfold. But beneath the castle dungeon, an entirely different plan was unfolding.

"Twilight are you sure this will work?" Came a voice in the dark hallways of the Canterlot Castle Dungeon.

"It will work Twinkleshine, learn to have a little more faith, it might get you somewhere." Another voice answered.

The two trotted quietly until they stopped in front of a large oaken door. They checked their gear and put on their masks as they waited for their que.

"But… this is Celestia's castle, it has th-"

"I know that this is her castle." Twilight answered with a hint of anger at her tone. "I also know that their security measures are obsolete. Hell, I bet an army of bugs will be able to tear this place down if it had the chance."

"But still-"

"Why did you take on this job?" Twilight asked.

"Because I want to earn some bits." The doubtful mare answered.

"Do you know the risks?"

"Yes?"

"Then why did you come with us."

"…"

"Answer me."

"All right, fine I'm a bit tense okay, you win and I'm gonna shut u-."

"I can't blame you, I am a bit as well." Twilight answered. She looked up at the ceiling and began to think about the 'job' she was about to do. If they pull this off, they're going to be rich but they will never be able to go back to Equestria ever again. The stakes are high and so is the price.

The silence was broken when all of the sudden two quick sharp knocks and one hard knock came from the other side of the wall. Twilight stood up and gave three hard knocks. After a while the ponies on the other side opened the door which was the entrance to the dungeon.

"Everything's ready Twi." said a blue mare disguised as one of the palace maid. Celestia's Hearths Warming party is at full swing and the good princess is already too drunk to speak straight.

"The cannisters are set, Bolt and her crew are 'gliding' by in the sky, and we have about thirty minutes before our train arrives." Said another mare who was wearing the same disguise, she had a yellow coat and a light blue mane. She handed a detonator to Twilight and the two mares began took off their disguises and wore their gear. "Oh, and Comet Tail has taken the security room."

"Moondancer are we set?" Twilight asked through her earpiece as she took the detonator with her magic.

"Yes, just give the signal and this entire city will go blind." Moondancer answered as she took a sip from her coffee. She was outside the castle in a van filled with electronic equipment and is now waiting for the team leader to give the green light. "Fillies the heist of the millennium is a go; I repeat the heist is a go."

"Twinkleshine, Lemon Hearts, Minuette and Moondancer." Twilight called out.

"Yes Twilight?" her crew replied as they wore their heavy duty saddlebags and gas masks.

"Happy Hearths Warming." She answered as she wore her own gas mask and pushed the big red button of the detonator.

Popping sounds that can be perceived as gunfire erupted along the halls of the castle. Green colored gas began to crawl through the hallways. The guests who were mostly nobility began to shriek and scream as the guards scrambled to get the situation under control, but within two minutes everyone was silent.

Meanwhile outside the city outside the castles gates fell into similar panic as the entire electric grid was shut down. Few of the ponies outside were aware of the attack that was currently underway in the castle, so they went ignored the lack of electricity, lighted up some candles and took to the streets to sing songs.

"Twilight the city's power grid is shut down and the castles security cameras now under our control." Moondancer talked through her earpiece as she took another sip of her coffee. "From what I see, we have about ten minutes before the authorities outside the castle get a hint at what we're doing here."

"Alright we're in the server room." Twilight shouted as they reached their destination.

They have the motherload standing before them. This heist was not about Gold or Bits, it was about data and the Canterlot server room had it all. It was a large archive that stored, state secrets, military documents, top secret weapon programs, lists of undercover agents overseas and other pieces of information that would catch them a pretty penny if sold to the right… organizations. All of these are stored in fifty advance hard drives that store a huge amount of data.

"Grab everything now!" Twilight commanded as she began to rip off the hard drives. "The gas may have silenced the hornets' nest but we have wolves prowling about the forest. Moondancer how the rest of the team?"

"The gas is harmless right?" Twinkleshine asked.

"Of course it is." Lemon Hearts answered.

"Hold on." Moondancer replied as she switched on all three radio channels. "Report in team."

"Security room clear. The boys here are tied up and have no chance of slipping away." Comet Tail their inside pony in the security room answered. "Taking this room would've been easier if we carried guns though." He added as he wiped of the blood from his cheek.

"We've broken into Celestia's quarters and have found several important documents and objects of interest." Lightning Bolt the leader of the four-mare pegasi team answered. "I even got the hard drive of Celestia's computer."

"Copy that." Moondancer replied. "Sorry Comet but you know Twilight's opinion with carrying guns on heists."

"It's highly ineffective." They both said in a mocking tone causing a giggle to come from both of them. "Everything's going to plan."

"All right we're heading towards the garage." Twilight said as she and her three associates ran through A hallway littered with unconscious ponies both civilian and guard.

"Hold on we have a car entering the main gate." Comet tail said as he took a closer look. "It looks suspicious, Moondancer I su-"

Moondancer heard several gunshots interrupt Comet Tail. "Comet, Comet come in do you read me…. Comet speak to me." Moondancer shouted frantically and that was she heard it.

"Security Room secure, hostile is down." A voice said. "We have four unarmed unicorns with gas masks in the east wing hallway headed towards the guard armory. RBI reinforcements and SWAT will be here ETA five minutes."

Moondancer was shattered. The security room has been retaken, their inside pony and the driver of the escape vehicle is gone and to make matters worse the Royal Bureau of Investigation is on to them.

"Twilight, Bolt, you need to get out of there Comet Tail is down."

"What!" Twilight replied in surprise. "Fuck, alright looks like I'll be driving then."

"This is Bolt we're flying out of the city and we have visual on the train." Bolt Answered "We're going to the port and I'd say you have fifteen before it arrives in Canterlot."

"Well done Agent Sentry, I'll be taking over from here." A voice came from outside Moondancers van causing her to sit still. A few meters away from her vehicle in the parking lot was a stallion wearing a suit and tie walking towards the castle holding a gun and a gas mask. "I want you to keep me updated on their position."

"Twilight." Moondancer whispered. "You need to go… now!" She continued. "We have an RBI agent heading towards the armory. He knows you're there."

"Hold on we're at the armory." Twilight replied. "The SUV should be at the garage."

Moondancer looked towards where the agent was. He was gone. "Twilight I'll meet you at the station." Moon dancer said as she turned on her van and drove away.

"Roger that." Twilight answered.

"So when's Comet going to show up Twilight?" Minuette asked as she took entered the back seat.

Twilight entered the driver seat and sat silently gripping the steering wheel. "Lemon Hearts you ride shotgun."

"Oh…" Minuette replied. "Damn it." She mumbled.

Moondancer on the other hand was driving through the packed streets of Canterlot occasionally honking her horn at foals standing in the middle of the street. She felt heavy in her chest knowing that one of their longtime crew member and friend is now gone.

"You fucked up hard little mare." A familiar voice came from her earpiece; it was the same voice that belonged to the agent in the security room.

"SHIT!" Moondancer shouted. "Bolt you better be ready with that blizzard."

"I'm working on it!" Bolt replied.

"Sir their lookout is headed towards the station and a team of pegasi working with them have already flown away." RBI Agent Flash Sentry said through his radio as he smashed the earpiece he was holding. "The main group should be exiting the garage any moment now sir."

"Roger that, we'll take care of the lookout later I want you to get in the sky and keep an eye on the train. I'll handle these fillies." The senior agent replied as he revved up his car outside the guard armory garage door. It was an old Model 968 Dodge Charger with a large turbo charger mounted on its hood. "These fillies won't know what hit him."

"Yeah you have fun old man." The young agent jokingly said as he inspected the body of the stallion he shot. "Good luck Sir Night Light."

"I make my own luck."

Just then the doors of the garage opened and the SUV went rolling out. Night Light stomped his hind hoof at the gas and soon he was chasing them through the busy streets. Ponies were jumping and running away from the streets. Twilight's driving skills were no match against the seasoned veteran that was chasing them and the howling beast he was riding.

"Twilight he's gaining on us!" Shouted Twinkleshine as the SUV entered the town square.

"Hold on I got an idea." Twilight said as she opened her car window and fired a blast of magic towards one of the large decorated fir tree at the center of the square.

Night Light saw a little filly trip while running away from the falling tree. The sight of a poor defenseless filly about to get crushed made the old man's paternal instinct kick in. He drove towards the filly at full speed opened the door of the car and at the very last moment, snatched the little filly before she was crushed. He then stepped out of the car and returned the little filly to her mother. He knows that the heartless bitch is far away and mocking him for his foolishness, but he's going to catch up to them. He entered his car and turned it on and gripped the steering wheel hard.

"You just made this personal kid." Night Light said as he looked at a picture of him and his daughter, a daughter he loved and lost.

-\[T]/-

"Wow, what a dumbass." Lemon Hearts said as she leaned back on her seat.

"You could've killed someone Twilight!" Twinkleshine shouted.

"We're alive, WERE ALIVE!" Minuette shouted with joy.

Twilight on the other hand was silent. She knew what she did was wrong but she isn't the type of pony who would throw away everything for a little morality. But her action still weighed heavily on her chest.

"There's the train!" Lemon Hearts pointed at the train that was already affair distance away from them. "Shit we're screwed."

"Don't worry I know a shortcut." Twilight said as she drove to the side of the mountain.

"Twilight NO!" Minuette shouted in despair from the backseat.

"Twilight YES!" Lemon Hearts shouted knowing that they're fucked either way.

Twinkleshine on the other hand just screamed as Twilight drove down the mountain side in order to catch up to the train. They made it down to the base of the mountain in one piece but their car is now a piece of rolling scrap.

"We made it!" Shouted Minuette as he hugged Twinkleshine.

"Holy shit how is this car still running?!" Lemon Hearts asked in surprise as she rubbed her bruised head.

"Supperior Germane engineering." Answered Twilight. "Hey I see our train." Twilight pointed to the train that was only a short drive from where they are. She saw Moondancer waving frantically at one of the open cargo caboose

They drove towards and soon Twilight was driving beside the open cargo caboose of the train. Twilight's passenger jumped on board one by one along with their take from the heist until only Twilight was lest on the car.

"Come on Twilight, you can do it!" Moondancer shouted as she reached a hoof out to Twilight.

Twilight opened the door and was about to jump when a bullet hit one of the front tires of the car causing it to drive away from the train and it made Twilight loose balance and tumble in the snow.

"Twilight!" Moondancer shouted as she was about to jump from the train but was held back by her three companions.

"She's gone Moondancer." Said Lemon Hearts as she held her friend back.

"I just lost Comet, I'm not gonna loose her as well." Moondancer shouted but to no avail. Eventually she stopped and collapsed in the floor crying and grieving at the loss of her close friends.

-\[T]/-

"Bullseye!" Agent Sentry shouted from one of the clouds as he pulled back the bolt of his sniper rifle. "Wait! Damn I missed." As he pointed his scope to Twilight's unconscious body. He turned his scope s little further to his left and saw Night Lights car roaring through the snow only to stop about 10 meters away from Twilight. "This is going to be interesting."

"Uhh, my head." Twilight mumbled as she slowly stood up.

"It's been eight whole years Twilight."

Twilight stopped. She knew that voice. "D-dad?" Twilight mumbled as she opened her eyes.

"I always thought the day you ran away was the worst day of my life. But this day… this reunion… this is the worst for me as a father." Night Light threw a pair of hoofcuffs in the snow in front of Twilight. "Now put those on… before I decide to do it myself."

Twilight didn't reply. Instead she drew her combat knife and assumed an aggressive stance. "I never once thought in my career that it would come down to this."

"The same goes for me." Night Light said as he took his shock baton. "What am I going to say to your mother?" Night Light asked as a single tear flowed down his cheek.

"Tell her I'm sorry for how I left, and that I was never sorry for the path I took." Twilight said as he pointed the tip of her knife to her father as they moved in a circle.

"I have failed you Twilight, I never knew where I went wrong." Night Light apologized as he lowered his weapon. "Please just stop, come back to us. I'm sure we can fix this; we can fix you."

"It was never your fault dad." Twilight replied. "This entire shit-show was rigged from the very start." Twilight said as she charged towards her father.

Night Light dodged the aggressive charge by dashing to his right. And when he was facing Twilight's undefended side he swung his baton. And with that single decisive hit the fight was over.

Twilight laid unconscious on the ground as Night Light cuffed her. He then carried her gently towards his car. It took him a lot of effort to hold back his tears but in the end he wasn't able to stop it. He sat on the driver seat as he sobbed like a little foal for two whole minutes. He spent the past eight years frantically searching for her, hoping that he will find his beloved daughter only to curse the day he was reunited with her.

"I gotta say…" Night Light said as he looked up to the heavens. "This is one hell of a fucking holiday." He wiped his tears and cleared his throat.

After a while, a voice from the radio on the cars dashboard called out. "Sir this is Agent Tracker we have lost visual of the train. We lost them in a blizzard."

"Keep searching, they shouldn't be far." Night Light answered.

"Yes sir!"

He sighed as he took a cigar from his chest pocked and put it in his mouth only to realize that he didn't have any matches. "Fuck me." He muttered.

"Need a light sir?" Agent Sentry asked as he held out a box of matches in his hoof from the window of the car.

"Yeah… thanks." Night Light answered as he took a match and lit it.

"Do you know her sir?" The young agent asked as he looked at the mare peacefully sleeping in the seat beside Night Light.

"She is my daughter." Night Light answered.

"Must've been one hell of a reunion then?" Agent Sentry asked.

"I don't want to talk about it." Night Light replied with a sigh. "Anyway you did one hell of a job Sentry, I'll be sure to commend you when this is all wrapped up. Hell, I might even get you a promotion."

"Will you turn her in sir." The yellow Pegasus stallion asked. Night Light can clearly see that his right wing was resting over his saddles holster.

"I will." Night Light answered.

"A wise choice sir." Agent Sentry replied with a sincere smile. "You do know what's going to happen to her right?"

"I do." Night Light replied as he inserted his car key. "And I'll be sure to interrogate her myself."

"See you at Canterlot then." Flash said as he flew towards the city in the mountain.

Night Light began driving but his mind was still trying to wrap itself over what happened. Why did her daughter turn to a life of crime? Was it her destiny, a twist of fate perhaps, or was it something else entirely. Whatever it was Night Light will never know, what he did know is that he will turn Twilight in even if it pains him to do so.

End of Prologue