Chapter 2:
Plans unfold
Black Paladin snuck into the garden, seeing two guards posted in the doorway and no other defenses as far as he could tell. Near the center of the royal garden he saw an alabaster Alicorn with a pink, green, blue, and purple mane waving in a cosmic wind. With her was a unicorn stallion wearing the regalia of captain, lacking his helmet. Next to the stallion sat another Alicorn that was smaller than the first but was an unknown to Paladin. He crept closer spotting six other ponies with the Princess.
One mare was lavender and wore her mane in a traditional fashion. She was a unicorn of some power as Black Paladin tasted the magic in the air. Beside her sat another unicorn mare, white with a beautiful mane and dressed up in a gown that almost made Paladin lose focus. He quickly recovered unsure of what to think of the unicorn.
Another pony, a pink one with cotton candy for a mane, or a mane that looked like cotton candy, Black Paladin couldn’t be sure, was hopping up and down in glee. She was doing it on her hind legs which confused him, seeing as how she wasn’t a unicorn. A cyan pegasus was rolling around on the ground next to her, laughing, her mane a rainbow of colors that seemed dyed but Black Paladin wondered how anypony could make it so neat.
An orange earth pony grabbed the pink pony by the tail, bringing her back down to earth. The orange pony wore a strange hat and seemed really strong, especially her hind legs. Black Paladin noted that he should not sneak up behind her or risk getting bucked into next week. The last pony he saw was a yellow pegasus who hid behind the lavender unicorn. She was pretty but seemed timid. She was also staring straight at Black Paladin.
“Twilight…” She said, poking her friend.
“Yes Fluttershy?” Twilight asked looking at the yellow pegasus. All the ponies stopped talking to see what the pegasus said. “What is it?”
“Eyes,” She shrieked hiding behind Twilight. Black Paladin had no idea how she could have spotted his eyes, or even noticed he was there.
“What do you mean eyes dear?” The white unicorn asked confused, glancing toward Paladin’s position. He knew he shouldn’t be hiding. He had intended to reveal himself soon anyways before the night grew old.
“I believe she means my eyes, unicorn,” Black Paladin said, dropping down from his tree into the group. “I believe introductions are in order.”
“I would say so,” Celestia said standing up. The unicorn in armour seemed to be on alert, though it was for a good reason. “Who exactly are you, and why are you wearing the rank of general armour?”
“Wait, this is a general’s armour set?” Paladin asked, looking down at his armour. “Luna never told me what type of armour I was wearing. I just reinforce it with magic to keep it in such pristine condition.” He noticed he was going off a bit and straightened up. “I am sorry for that. My name is Black Paladin, a shade employed by Princess Luna. I am also 1015 years old I believe.”
“What?” Every pony asked him. They all had confused looks on their faces, even Princess Celestia.
“Black Paladin, do you have knowledge of the black magics?” Celestia asked hesitantly. Paladin realized that his knowledge and dabbling in dark magic may cause him some problems in this time period.
“Is that going to cause some problems?” Black Paladin asked as the two guards entered the clearing weapons drawn. Paladin would have preferred not to draw his own hidden sword on them, but he would need to think of something if all went south.
“Twilight, I think you and everypony else should leave.” Celestia told every pony in the clearing.
“Yes Princess.” Twilight blinked. “Come on girls, let’s leave these two alone.” The six ponies left leaving the guards, the captain, the second Alicorn, and Celestia alone with Black Paladin.
“Now, you will answer the question or I shall flay you, Black Paladin,” The princess growled, her eyes flashing green in anger.
“Changeling.” Black Paladin jumped back grabbing his sword in his magic, finding his magic had gained some energy back. He launched a magical blast to revert the changelings to their normal form. All of them were changelings, even the guards.
“Well, well, well,” The largest changeling, the one who had impersonated Celestia, chuckled. She had a mane that was silver and looked more like a torn piece of silk that anypony could look through. She stood taller than Celestia, by about two hoofs taller. Her carapace stretched around her neck, making it look like she also wore the royal regalia of the princesses. Entirely, she was quite menacing and seemed very dangerous. “It seems you are more capable with normal magic as well. Only that lavender mare that just left has been able to use that magic effectively. Well done.”
“Sister stop toying with him,” Another large female changeling told her. Black Paladin had encountered the changelings before, and knew they feasted on love, but he was surprised to see the Queen Chrysalis still lived. She had been impersonating the other Alicorn.
“Who are you then?” Black Paladin asked the changeling Celestia. “If that is Chrysalis over there then you are some pony who ranks higher than even her.”
“You draw that conclusion yourself?” The changeling chuckled. “You are smarter than I believed for one so old. If you must know, I am Queen Sycaris and I am the older sister to Queen Chrysalis. I rule the changelings while my sister acts as commander of our forces.”
“Sister, just do it,” Chrysalis sighed to Sycaris. Sycaris looked over at her sister before blasting Paladin with a green energy bolt that froze his body. He struggled to move but none of his muscles seemed to work, and whatever she had done had also caused his magic to drain. He was helpless.
“You, go retrieve those six back here,” Sycaris snapped at the one of the changeling guards who bowed before changing back into a pony in a flash of green fire. He galloped off while the other changeling drew a rope from his belt and quickly tied up Black Paladin before putting an inhibitor ring on his horn in case he had a magical discharge.
“Drag him to the dungeon,” Chrysalis snapped at the changeling who had just tied up Paladin. “We will keep him comfortable.”
“Now where would Lulu be?” Sycaris looked around the garden. Little did she notice, though Paladin had, a dark blue shadow floating above the trees watching the entire exchange.
‘Go Gale, warn Luna.’ Black Paladin thought to himself seeing Gale fly off. He would not get to know what happened next as the butt of a spear connected with the back of his head, blacking him out.
...
“By the moon,” Galeful Knight whispered as he hung low over the trees flying back to meet Princess Luna and Night Blade in a designated area. They had wanted him to scope out the area because Celestia was known to be a prankster and Luna didn’t want to walk into a trap. What Gale had just seen was far beyond any practical joke he had known of.
“Princess Luna, it is good to see you again,” Galeful Knight heard an unknown mare voice. “Are you going to the moonlight picnic tonight? It is going to be a lot of fun.”
Galeful Knight waited in a tree to see who the other ponies were and what had happened to Night Blade. He was given an answer when a cyan pegasus landed right in front of him. Both of them jumped at the other falling from the tree into the group.
“Who are you? Why are you creeping on us? Are you a spy?!” The pegasus asked from on top of him. Galeful Knight couldn’t seem to force her off, which was surprising. He had been pinned by a mare that had no training like he had.
“Rainbow Dash, please remove yourself from my friend,” Luna told the pegasus.
“Wait, your friend?” Rainbow Dash looked confused from Luna to Gale.
“Yes, his name is Galeful Knight, and he does have weapons similar to Night Blades’. It would be for the best that you let him up before he gets angered.”
“I am not angered, just irritated.” Gale retorted to Luna’s comment. He felt Rainbow Dash float off him and he jumped up into the air after her. He felt a mouth clench his tail as his blades flashed out at the pegasus. He glanced back to see Night Blade keeping him from doing something stupid. Rainbow Dash was in a similar state as an orange pony had her tail and was holding her back.
“My word!” Rarity gasped as the blades flashed closest to her.
“Rainbow Dash, apologize.” Applejack commanded through the rainbow tail.
“Why?! He started it!”
“Did not! You landed in my tree.” Gale snapped at her. Gale saw her glare coldly at him and try to lunge again. Both Night Blade and Applejack moved a few inches closer as the two gunned at each other.
“Rainbow, this is unnecessary. Galeful Knight seems quite civilized.” Rarity pointed out to the pegasus.
“We will settle this later,” Rainbow Dash huffed landing.
“Gale, stand down,” Luna commanded him, keeping her voice stern yet fair. “That is not proper behavior for this time.
Do you not remember what I told you?”
Galeful Knight thought back to an hour ago when Luna had revealed the events that had happened. About her being imprisoned on the moon for the exact amount of time they had spent in that chamber. The two had quickly forgiven the Princess of the Night when she had explained everything. They had no reason to blame her for actions that she had no control over.
“Yes princess. I understand.” Galeful Knight said, floating onto Night Blade’s back, his normal haunt. Night Blade barely noticed he was there, and once commented that he was little more than a fly. Gale believed that Blade used him for exercise because he never actually snapped when he kept doing it.
“You six, Princess Celestia would like you to return to dinner.” A guard stated as he entered the clearing. “You are also expected Princess Luna.”
“You!” Gale shouted launching himself at the guard. “Changeling!”
“Gale, you need to calm down,” Night Blade commanded dragging him off the guard. “Excuse us sir.”
“Galeful Knight, what are you talking about? He is just an average guard. How could he be a changeling?” Twilight asked him. Galeful Knight launched back at the guard, knocking him off balance sending him spiraling through the air. The guard snapped into a hover, insect like wings keeping him afloat. He looked back, losing focus and reverting to his base form. The changeling let out a hiss of frustration.
“What?” Luna gasped walking over to the changeling. “Where is my sister?”
“That’s just it. All the ponies not including these six in the clearing ahead are changelings. They have Black Paladin!”
“But we beat the changelings a month ago,” Twilight exclaimed. “How could they be here now?”
“You need to spill the beans,” Rainbow Dash rushed the changeling.
“He has beans? I want some!” A pink pony chuckled.
“Pinkie, I thought you already had an entire cake?” Rarity sighed to the pony.
“Maybe we should make a bean cake!” Pinkie exclaimed smiling widely. “How would that taste though? We could have hot sauce on it also. Oh it sounds so yummy!” Galeful Knight cast her a questioning look though he caught sight of Twilight who seemed to make it out that this was normal for Pinkie.
“I believe we should get out of here first. Most likely the others are getting suspicious of us at the moment,” Luna explained. To prove her right, Celestia herself walked around the bend to find them standing around the changeling.
“Well, this is unfortunate,” Celestia-Sycaris exclaimed. “But it can be easily reconciled. Guards, capture them now.”
“Night Blade, Galeful Knight. We should get out of here now,” Luna said as the halls around them filled with guards. “Take the girls and get out of here. I’ll hold off my sister.”
“I cannot allow that, Princess Luna,” Night Blade said as he galloped past, grabbing her. “We are all getting out of here now. We need at least one princess to keep the day and night in balance.” The six other mares seemed to be divided, half following Night Blade, while the rest followed Gale down the hallway. Only a yellow pegasus was left and they all noticed.
“Come on Fluttershy! Move those wings!” Rainbow shouted at her. Galeful Knight spun in flight, leaving Night Blade dragging Luna and rushed back to Fluttershy. He landed in the mix of guards, causing them to scatter. He snatched Fluttershy up causing her to squeal as he flew towards a lavender unicorn.
“Get them!” Celestia shouted, losing her concentration, revealing her true form.
“It isn’t even midnight, and we have to save pony kind again,” Gale chuckled to himself. “Never a dull moment.”