Since the battle between Luna and Nightmare Moon, Celestias search for her sister had intensified. There were now royal guards roaming the streets of every major city in Equestria, including Ponyville. You could hardly go two steps without running into one. They stopped ponies at random for questioning, not caring if they had someplace to be or somepony to meet.

However, they were not the only ones growing in numbers. Many ponies had begun to doubt their princess of the sun. The sought out Luna. Meetings were held regularly, discussing the situation. It was not revealed in its entirety, nopony would believe in anything a outlandish as a Vexion, but enough was told to convince the citizens of Equestria. Soon there were riots in the streets. Protests against the guards and the unfair treatment of Luna. Sometimes it got violent, but mostly the protesters were peaceful, outspoken ponies sharing a piece of their mind.

Not everypony rallied behind Luna, though. As her loyalties grew stronger, those who supported Celestia and did not believe Luna rallied as well. Soon neither side was large enough to dominate the other. Luna had enough supporters to come out of hiding

Let's not get ahead of ourselves though.

Many ponies joined with the lunar side, and many deserve their own chapter. Some of the first ponies to seek out Luna were three pegasi, siblings, whose interest in the princess stretched long before, to a previous encounter with the Vexion.

Their names were Nightshade, Stratus and Tempest.

Years before, the night of the summer sun celebration, the sun had not risen. Ponies across Equestria panicked. A few went searching for answers. These three went to what seemed to be the most obvious place to figure out what was going on, Ponyville. It was well known that Ponyville was hosting the celebration that year and the princess would have to know what was going on. Of course, to get to Ponyville they had to fly over the Everfree forest.

Their quest began uneventfully, for they did not have to actually enter the forest, but a mist caught their attention. Or at least, it appeared to be a mist. It was indigo in color and full of specks of light, like the night sky, but crept through the trees below. No mist they had seen had ever acted this strangely before. When the trio spotted it they stopped for a moment. Then, so did the mist. It turned towards them and waited, as if looking at them with invisible eyes. The mist rose a bit, as if to get a better look, then quickly darted back into the brush.

Some ponies may have run away from such a thing. Some may have ignored it and continued on their way. However these three were curious ponies, as well as being brave and headstrong, and they decided very quickly to follow the mist. Flying just above the treetops they tracked it to a castle. It was a very old and crumbling castle. Nightshade gazed in awe at the structure.

"What is this place?"

"I dunno but it gives more the creeps." Stratus replied.

"Yeah, besides weren't we supposed to be going to Ponyville?" Asked his twin.

The twins were curious, but not fools. The crumbling castle was obviously dangerous and at the moment the missing sun was a much more pressing matter.

"Yeah, yeah, just gimme a minute, I've never been anywhere like this before."

Nightshade wandered off towards the ruins, stopping to look at anything strange or creepy. Stratus and Tempest followed, knowing Nightshade's tendency to find trouble wherever she went. Once she looked back to see if her brothers were still with her but saw something much more interesting behind them.

"Hey! It's that mist thing!" She cried, racing back the way they had come.

It floated near a gorge. A rope bridge spanned the chasm, but the mist quickly severed the ropes holding it in place and turned to see the three ponies. It slithered towards them and as it got closer more mist flooded in, of the usual sort. It continued towards them at full speed until it nearly ran into them and even Nightshade had to take a cautious step back. The mist hovered and swirled in front of them, appearing malicious even without a face or form to express itself with, though that was soon fixed. The mist surged, pulling itself into three parts and quickly transforming until it's appearance mirrored that of the ponies in front of it.

It is one of the basic rules of shapeshifting that no pony is able to transform into any other form which they have never before seen, whether in a picture or face to face.

The the pegasi stood petrified, starting at themselves. The only differences between them and their copies were the costumes worn by the imposters, not unlike the Wonderbolts, and the vicious smiles on their faces.

"How..." began Nightshade, but she trailed off and the fake Nightshade began to speak instead.

"We are glad you have come by, it has become necessary to borrow your forms. However, we have no further need of you. Goodbye." The clone said in Nightshades voice. It's eyes glowed beneath the goggles and everything went black.

When they regained consciousness the sun was shining and they were laying at the edge of the forest.

"What just... that monster! She cast a spell on us!" Nightshade was furious, though her brothers did their best to calm her. They soon heard the story of the previous night's events.

Years later, in our present, they finally sought out the princess of the night, though she was not as they had seen her before. At first all they heard were rumours, whispers among the shadows and corners, but by and by the rumors grew into something much more substantial. When Luna was spotted battling Nightmare moon they quickly went to investigate. The princess was long gone, but somepony had caught a glimpse of her flying off in the direction of Ponyville.

They reached the town before nightfall and set out early the next day to search for the princess. Rumor after rumor was found but it all led to nothing. Nopony could tell them anything of consequence. Word of their search spread and soon enough a certain pink pony heard about it. She found them as the sun was setting and they were traveling dejectedly home.

"Hello! I'm Pinkie Pie, are you new around here? You must be because I've never seen you before and I know just about everypony in Ponyville. That must mean you're the ponies looking for the princess! I'm so excited! Everypony gets very excited when new ponies join the princess!" The pony looked as though she could have gone on but Nightshade quickly cut in.

"So you know where Luna is?" She started eagerly at the pink mare. Perhaps their search had not been in vain. If this mare could tell them where Luna was they could finally get some answers.

"Yes-lndeedy! I'll take you to her, she should be seeing ponies about now."

Off they went, following the bouncing pink pony towards the moon rise.

"She's right through there, but I'd better get back to Ponyville now, bye!" Pinkie Pie bounded off, much to the relief of her three companions. Pinkie was nice and all, but she could be a little much if you were unused to her antics. She had left them outside the castle of the two pony sisters by two large doors set in the side of the palace. The location was somewhat familiar to the ponies, though they thought it was curious the princess would choose this place to stay. Slowly the doors swung open. There was hardly a moment's hesitation in Nightshades eyes before she trotted boldly in. Her brothers followed after a nervous glance around.

They had expected it to be dark inside the castle without the full moons light, but there was a strange glow about the place. There was light, but nopony could discern its source. Only the very end of the room seemed plunged in darkness.

"Speak and we will hear you. Why have you come?" Called a voice from the dark end of the room.

As the pegasi drew closer they were able make out two figures. The first stood in the middle. It soon became clear that this was the pony who had spoken. The other took much longer to see, she sat on the edge, cloaked, fading into the shadows.

"We come seeking the princess Luna and the answers she may give us."

"I am Luna, what answers do you seek?"

There was no hesitation from Nightshade, she had already guessed who she was talking to. The princesses formal tone was also rubbing off on her, it is very hard not to talk formally when the pony you are speaking to is.

"Answers of the past, and of the future. First off, why is princess Celestia searching for you?"

Luna sighed.

"That is a long story of treachery and dark magic. Though if you must know, it was due to no actions of mine, nor of her own. Ponies, what are your names, you seem familiar, have we meet?"

"Yes, that is what really brought us here. We have met, perhaps, by this very castle." Luna still seemed unsure, so she continued. "It was many years ago, I don't expect you'd remember. Nopony remembered you before that day." Something clicked in Lunas memory.

"Ah, yes, my Shadowbolts." Nopony else knew what she meant by that, but Nightshade took it to mean the princess recognized them.

"We came to find out the truth of what is going on, princess Celestia is not seeing anypony at the moment."

"Then you shall have the truth, but first you must have my trust."

Immediately a circle appeared on the floor between the two groups. It glowed intensely blue and caused the pegasi to take a step back.

"This is a ring of truth, nopony may lie or break a promise made while within its ring. Enter." Cautiously the three stepped into the circle and, as they did, more lines appeared, snaking around them. A similar circle appeared around the princess and in its light they could finally see her clearly. "You seek the truth, I will give it to you, but you must reveal what I say to nopony unless I give permission, do you consent?"

"Of course," answered Nightshade, but the princess shook her head.

"Each must speak for themselves."

"We agree." Say the twins in perfect unison. They were scared of what they might find out, but hey were pretty sure Luna wouldn't harm them and their curiosity won out.

"Will you help us, so long as you know it is right? Will you agree not to do harm to us or hinder our plans so long as you help in our side?"

"That's kind of intense." Noted Stratus.

"Well yeah, but she's only asking us to help her if we agree with what she has to do after she tells us why. That seems fair. I agree"

"Me too." Said Tempest.

"Alright, I guess I agree too."

"Very well then. Welcome." The circles disappeared and the princess turned from them. Get some sleep and return here tomorrow, we will tell all then." With that, the princess strode out. She was followed by the shadowy pony whom the siblings had all but forgotten about.

Remembering something the princess had said, Nightshade called to her brothers.

"Well then, you heard the princess. Let's go, Shadowbolts."

Hi everypony, I'm back! Thanks for being so patient with me. As always, I love to hear from you, tell me which chapters are your favorites and what you want to see more of in future chapters.