-----Night Watch-----
Silky Dark and I were facing the Princesses from the heads of the large table we were seated in along with the other commanding officers and generals of the Royal Guard and Military. Where once there were four Princesses and fifty members of the military, there was now only three and a couple hoof-fulls left to sit at this rather empty table. We have spent the last hour talking about what towns to evacuate first out of the thirteen remaining and how long we roughly have to try and get them before the attack on Canterlot happens.
"From the records of reported attacks that match the descriptions of the dead we have analyzed, we can only regret to inform your Highness' that only three days is all we can allow before Canterlot must be evacuated to the Human Dimension. We will not be able to reach more than six towns at most before we have too few unicorn mages left to Jump the city's inhabitants," one of the generals said with a frown on his face and a grey mane that looked before its time. I sighed and looked over to my wife as I thought about Night. Her expression revealed she was as well.
"So sudden? We believed there would be more time, at least a week-" the Princess of the Night started before being cut off by her sister.
"What Luna is trying to say is that this is unprecedented. If you knew that time was short then why not tell us sooner?"
"That would be my fault Princess," I found myself saying. "I was aware of the rush on the clock when Manehatten was nearly wiped out before we managed to evacuate it. I had given instructions to not mention this to any of you but increase the rate of Dimension Jumps to try and compensate for it. I failed in doing so, losing many good young unicorns and pegusi trying, and now we are also down three more villages and towns. I recommend we get the towns closest to us, and thus farthest away from the threat. This way we can hopefully save more towns and ponies before its too late."
"How many can you guarantee will make it?" Princess Mi Amore Cadenza asked me.
"No more than about eighty-five percent of ponies. In a Census, about eighty-five thousand ponies in a grand total from our start to our finish," I said in confidence as I looked at each of the Princesses in turn, starting with Celestia, and ending with Cadenza.
"I am sad that so many of my little ponies must fall victim to this...thing, but if it is the best we can hope for then there's no time to lose." With that her shiny-shod hoof came down on the table. "Begin moving to the towns at once, all of you! We have subjects to save!"
-----Silky Dark-----
My platoon and Princess Mi Amore Cadenza arrived at Hayloft about two hours after the meeting. Night Watch was with Princess Luna and should have already started their spell by now. But for my group we were to gather and transport these subjects to Canterlot since they were so close. Why the Princess was here instead of with Luna or at another town with a group that could perform the Dimension Jump spell was beyond me. But I have my orders and I wasn't going to deny the fact that her presence kept the towns-ponies calm as we filed them out of the town.
"Do you believe Night Watch's claims Lieutenant?" the Princess asked, startling me as I hastily turn to her and bow. "Sorry, didn't mean to startle you...Silky was it?"
"Yes Princess, I do believe in my husband. And yes, that is my name," I say, slowly standing up as I struggle to keep my cool. This is the first time I have been directly spoken to by one of the Royalty. Well, there was Prince Blueblood but that was because he thought me a servant and wanted his way with me. Gross pig.
"Oh? He's your husband? Well that is surprising because-" She cut herself off with a dismissive hoof and a faint blush. "Never mind!"
I was curious. "What is it Princess Mi Amore Cadenza? What's so shocking?"
"Oh, please call me Cadence, its a lot faster, and I just didn't think a mare like you would go for such a rugged Stallion is all. It is quite the shock since I should be able to tell being the Princess of Love and everything don't you think?" She gave a nervous laugh before quickly clearing her throat. I wonder how Night Watch is doing with Luna?
-----Princess Luna-----
I sit in the town hall and watch the soldiers run this way and that, making sure everything is in place for the spell. The Captain of the group, Night Watch, was also helping where needed but mostly just shouted at his Stallions and Mares to hurry when moving things but to take care when placing them into the correct position. He is efficient, and his soldiers follow his every order to the letter. I am amazed by how quick he was to get everything moving since arriving at the town. We've been here for fifteen minutes and he's already halfway through preparations. Most of the groups I have traveled with were just getting everything unpacked by now.
I close my eyes and look at him from the dream realm. His dream fire is a dark crimson, revealing nightmares and death have been plaguing his sleep and is frequently awoken from them. If he can still be this calm and collected, as well as stern and commanding, without revealing the extensive fatigue these nightmares have caused him. Then he is a strong stallion indeed. I open my eyes when I noticed his dream fire getting closer to me. He had a sad look on his face and I could only think of why.
"Princess Luna, you have control over the dream realm correct?" he asked me, not even bothering to bow. Just talking to me like any other pony.
"In a manner of speaking yes we do. Doth-...Do you have dreams that bother you?" I ask, getting into the more easily understood modern tongue that this age uses over my, as my sister so pleasantly put it, old and outdated speech.
"Yes, Princess. I have been plagued with nightmares since the notice was given that all members of the unicorn mages and Royal Military were remaining on Equus to fight and die against the threat. I fear for my wife, Silky Dark, the Lieutenant that is currently with Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, and for our son, Night Darkshroud, as he is but a young colt and will soon be orphaned once he leaves this world. I want these dreams to leave, I can't hold my sanity anymore! My mask, an heirloom of my family can't keep the bad things away anymore and I fear for my family. Can you do this for me?"
He was pleading for peace of mind at the expense of losing some deep connections to protect his family. I am surprised by his request and can only give him one answer.
"No, Captain. I will not, for doing so you will lose a deep tie to your family that might turn you into somepony you really don't want to be. I cannot grant your request, but you will thank me later," I said giving him a soft smile as he looks at me in shock, then stoic silence before marching out of the building and continues shouting orders. I'm sorry Night Watch, but I believe you'll manage to keep it together for it to count since you still have something to fight for, your son and wife.