"It's just after five in the morning, go bother some other princess!" Sapphire shouted as she wrapped her pillow over her head prior to checking a clock to see what time it is. After waking Fluttershy up, Sapphire decided it was a good time to just head home and practice some cooking. Her dinner ended up being partially burnt, but the real reason was she wanted to be able to knock out Moonlit with a frying pan that she had on the counter instead of the stove. Sadly, there were no signs of her stalker, thus Sapphire turned in for the night only to be woken up by somepony pounding on her door.
“Princess Sapphire, this is urgent!” cried a voice that sounded like Foggy Skies to Sapphire. Groaning in annoyance, Sapphire tossed the pillow aside as she crawled out of the bed, falling onto the floor face first.
“This better be important and not some dumb task that Celestia decides to dump on me,” Sapphire grumbled to herself as she stood up and shook her body a bit to help wake herself up. Walking down the stairs and to the door at a sedated pace, Sapphire opened the door to see that it was indeed Foggy, who looked to be out of breath. "Foggy... why are you here instead of being at Vanhoover?"
Saluting, Foggy answered, “Princess Sapphire, There has been a diplomatic incident with the Dragonlands that both the royal sisters are needed for attendance. With Princess Cadance handling the day to day affairs of Canterlot, you would be needed back in Vanhoover to oversee the construction of your castle as well as the affairs of the transition of the local government to your control.”
Blinking in surprise, Sapphire said, “Wait, just what kind of diplomatic incident would require both Celestia and Luna to be present? And couldn’t they sent me a letter instead of forcing you to travel halfway across Equestria just to get me?”
“I’m afraid that it is classified, but I can assure you that the nature of the incident requires my presence, along with a portion of your guard along with troops from the Royal Guard. We even have a personal train prepared for your departure,” Foggy Skies stated with another salute that Sapphire found to be a bit stiff.
Frowning, Sapphire replied, "But what about my friends? Can I at least say goodbye?"
Shaking her head, Foggy said, "We don't have time. Vanhoover, and through it Equestria, needs you. We'll leave a note for them explaining things, but right now we need to get to the train now. The more time we waste, the more risk we put on Ponyville, and thus danger to your friends."
Sighing as she came out of her home, Sapphire said, "Then I better hope that Celestia will give me another break then sometime soon. Lead the way then, Foggy." Receiving a stiff nod as she closed the door, Sapphire followed Foggy to the train station, as she wondered, 'Just once, I wish Celestia didn't have to meddle in my affairs in some way..."
"It is five fifteen in the morning, proceeding with the next examination of subjects sleeping patterns," Moonlit stated as she stifled a yawn before readying herself to jump out of the tree she was napping in. Until she saw the sight of Sapphire leaving her home with a guard in blue armor, causing her to pause for a moment before grabbing her pad and pencil. “Subject is leaving her current environment with an authority figure. A potential royal affair may be occurring. Proceeding with the observation of subject under new conditions,” Moonlit muttered to herself as she wrote down her words before following the pair at a distance.
“Subject appears to know the pony she is traveling with, though the newcomer is making only short responses," Moonlit whispered to herself as she followed the pair until they came upon the train station, with a train waiting for them that had more guards surrounding it. Ducking behind a bush, Moonlit muttered, "It appears that the subject is leaving the settlement by train. Time to hitch a ride, as some ponies would say," before she scanned the train for any openings in the guard.
Frowning at seeing that the guard had a full visual of the area around the train, Moonlit watched as Sapphire and the guard boarded the train, with the rest following suit. "Train boarding exercise number five will com—and the train is already getting started without a warning whistle," Moonlit said before hopping out of the bushing and galloping to the departing train. Lighting her horn up, Moonlit pulled out a hook and rope with her map, swinging it around before throwing the hook at the end of the train, hooking onto the last car's rail. Grabbing into the rope with her forehooves, Moonlit was pulled off her rear hooves, her diminutive size allowing the growing speed of the train to keep her airborne as she pulled herself along the rope.
Reaching the rear door of the car, Moonlit used her magic to yank the door open before climbing into the train. Turning around, Moonlit grabbed the hook and pulled in the rope, putting it in her saddlebags as she heard a voice said, "What are you doing here pony?" Turning around, Moonlit saw two pegasi guards scowling at her, their spears pointing at her.
Cocking an eyebrow, Moonlit replied, "Pony? Normal guard reactions would either be citizen or intruder," before she closed the door behind her. "Guards are trained to be uniform in responses to the everyday citizen. Based on your armor coloration, you appear to be Sapphire's own guard, but you would still follow the same standards as the Royal Guard. that can mean only one conclusion."
Glancing at one another, the guard to Moonlit's right just shrugged before returning his attention to Moonlit as he said, "What's your point?"
"The conclusion I have arrived to is this, that neither of you are ponies," Moonlit answered as she used her magic to pull out a quill and notepad. Both guards took a step back and narrowed their eyes, as they readied their spears to skewer the intruder, only for Moonlit to go on as she said, "Thus, you two are aliens from beyond the sky that had taken out the organs out of the guards that you are now using as skin suits to hide among us ponies. Or perhaps some unknown native lifeform that has adapted to taking on pony skins to hide among the masses, either case is a possibility."
Lowering their spears, the guard on the left said, "Are... are you joking?"
"Jokes are a waste of time... why do I feel a sense of dread?" Moonlit stated as she looked at the back window, causing both guards to look as well out of curiosity.
"Rubber duckie... cupcake surprise... jokes aren't a waste of time!" Pinkie cried out, waking from her slumber as her head shifted about, her eyes narrowed as if there was some intruder in her room. "Oh... I got some pony that needs a lesson from Auntie Pinkie."
Shrugging, Moonlit said, "Just a passing feeling," as she returned her attention to the two guards who were giving her flat looks.
"Look, pony, regardless if you think we're aliens or not, you're under arrest for boarding a train without a ticket. So either surrender yourself or things will ge—stop pulling stuff out of your saddlebags!" the guard on the left roared before blinking in surprise as Moonlit pulled out two tubes along with a pair of vials. "What are you doing with those?"
"The presence of alien life or a newly discovered species is unprecedented, thus I must collect samples. Let's start with some feces samples," Moonlit stated as she approached the two.
"So, since we're finally on board, can you finally tell me what's going on in the Dragonlands?" Sapphire asked as she was seated in one of the train car's seats with a pair of guards, a unicorn stallion flanking her on the right with a pegasi mare on her left, while Foggy was sitting across from her.
Shaking her head, Foggy answered, "Sorry princess, that information is not to be divulged to you. This is a delicate affair, and if any diplomats were to visit you and you accidentally let slip any tidbits about the matter, they could use it as an opportunity to destabilize the meeting and worsen relations between ponykind and dragons."
Sighing, Sapphire said, "Even when I'm supposed to be equal to those two, I'm still kept in the dark about things like this? At the very least, you did provide some kind of note to my friends to explain my disappearance?"
Nodding, Foggy replied, "Yes princess, a note has been provided to your friend Twilight explaining your sudden absence." Turning to look out the window, Foggy then continued, "Though, there is something else that we should attend to, princess."
Tilting her head, Sapphire asked, "And what would th—what the buck are you doing!" as both guards on her sides turned towards her and bit her on the neck.
With a smirk on her face, Foggy answered, "Oh, they're just incapacitating you. Don't you feel those fangs piercing your hide? The venom th—buck!" before ducking as Sapphire grabbed the pegasi guard and threw her at Foggy.
"You're going to pay for this!" Sapphire roared as her horn lit up, only for it to fizzle out. "Wait... what the?" Sapphire croaked out as the other guard tackled her down, pinning her legs against the seat as he bit down on her neck again.
Laughing, Foggy said, "Hello, didn't you hear me talking about the venom before you rudely interrupt me?" Going up to Sapphire's face, Foggy placed a hoof on her cheek as Sapphire struggled to escape the grasp of the guard, only to find herself feeling weaker and weaker as she found it harder to stay awake. "I'll admit, I did underestimate you due to your size comparison to the royal sisters, but you'll be good practice for the main event."
"What... what are you talking about?" Sapphire asked as she felt her eyelids getting heavier and heavier with each passing second as the guard finally withdrew his muzzle from her neck.
"Oh, you'll see in time, princess. Once you're no longer a threat," Foggy stated with a grin. "Though, it was so kind of you to simply go along with everything I say. I can't believe you were so gullible to believe me without even a letter from the royal sisters."
"I... they're going to find out about this... and when they do..." Sapphire groaned out, only for Foggy to throw her head back as she let out a laugh.
"Please, they won't know a thing since 'you' will be at Ponyville still, living your life as normal until you vacation naturally ends. And the best part, since you're an amnesiac, imitating you would be a breeze for even an idiot," Foggy stated with a feral grin as she got close to Sapphire to where Sapphire could see her eyes flash green for a brief moment. "Face it, you're all mine."