At Canterlot castle...
Shadow Night had teleported to his office. He shook his head to the sides trying to forget those words of that strange creature. 'How did he know?' he said, 'That was years ago, that was long, long ago. How can he know the events that happen during that time?'.
Shadow Night used his magic to open his office door, noticing that was becoming dark he decided to trot towards Luna bedroom.
After a few seconds walking towards her bedroom, he meets up with her in the middle of one of the adjacent hall. He raised his hoof and bowed himself.
"Goodnight, my dear," he said, "How are you tonight?" he asked.
Luna smiled and used her magic to grab his chin. He gasps in surprise and looked at her eyes.
"I'm good," she answered. "How many times did I've to tell you that you don't have to greet me that way anymore?" she asked.
He felt her magic disappeared from her chin, raising a hoof and stroking his back head he answered. "It's a costume of me." he laughed. "So... Let's head to the main hall then. There's something I need to discuss with you."
They turned themselves around and trotted towards the main hall, in their way to it, Luna remembered something important she needed to discuss with him.
"I almost forgot," she said. "There's something I was tasked to tell you. Tempest is waiting for you in her office. She needs to discuss something with you."
"She told you what was it in general?" he asked.
"No. She just told me to warn you and let you know that she is waiting for you in her office."
"Are you sure I can go?" he asked, "I don't have any guard assigned to patrol the castle right now. You will be alone for a while."
"Yes, I'll be fine don't worry. And besides, there's still guards around, if something happens I will call for their help," she said.
"Well then, I think I should be going," he said. "See you soon," he said while waving his hoof at her
Luna waved her hoof back at him, igniting his horn he teleported himself to Tempest's office. Luna resumed her night duties and trotted towards the main hall.
In the Friendship Castle (aka Twilight's castle)...
Shadow Night has teleported near the entrance of Tempest office, raising his hoof he knocked at the door and waited for an answer.
Tempest who was writing some letters flinched and asked. "YES?"
"General Tempest, I was told to come here to discuss something with me," he replies.
"Name yourself?" she asked.
"I'm General Shadow Night. May I come in?" he asked.
She breathed deeply and answered. "Of course, we should begin our discussions."
Shadow Night opened the door and stepped inside of her office, moving towards her desk he picked up a chair and sat in front of her.
Tempest brought a little map and a notepad to her table. "I've been discussing this with Twilight and the other Princesses that. My troops will reinforce both Celestial and Night guard."
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"Well, since Luna is living alone in Canterlot and Celestia moved to live with Sombra in his castle near the Crystal Empire I suggested this to Twilight and she told me to discuss this with every Captain/General of the corresponding armies," she explained
"So what you're saying is, you will give us your troops to reinforce our ranks. Am I right?" he asked.
"It's not like that, General Shadow Night."
"Please just Shadow Night," he said. "There's no need to be formal now."
"Ok. Like I was saying. Your guards sleep at day because they cover the castle during the night." she said.
"Yes, but I scheduled some guards to patrol during the day," he replied.
"But they aren't enough, right," she said.
He nodded. "I can't let the night to be unprotected since it's the time of the 'day', she is moving around," he said.
"So, what I am proposing is? I'll reinforce your morning guards with my troop, since here in Ponyville is the main point of Equestria, there's no need so many guards in here. If we need we will be reinforced by Night, Celestia and the Crystal guards." she said. "So can I send some guards tomorrow?" she asked.
He nodded. "Just be sure that you have enough guards to cover Ponyville too."
"I kept that in mind well I came up with this idea," she said. "It was a pleasure to discuss this with you, Shadow Night. See you later."
Shadow Night bowed and got up from his chair, opening her office door he teleported himself away.
Tempest let ou a deep breath. 'This guy gives me chills, our first meeting wasn't so nice' she said to herself.
After some moments, she heard the staff door opening and a small creature stepped in.
"It's you Grubber?" she asked.
"Yes," he answered. "I'm here to report a mysterious disappearing. Luna is missing, not even her guards know where she went."
Her eyes widened and screamed. "Send this to Shadow Night. NOW."
Grubber nodded and ordered his guards to deliver the report to Shadow Night as fast as they could.
The guards bowed themselves and stormed out of the castle.
"I can't believe that she had forgiven all of us," Tempest said while holding a picture of her and Twilight after she had convinced her to stay. "I can't find a way to repay her."
Grubber walked towards her and patted her shoulder. "You're already doing it. You are the Captain of the Sparkling guard. You came up with this idea that will probably help us all."
"Yes but I can't forget that face," she said. "How he seemed so, fearsome. That was a pony or something that we already know. I don't even what that was. I shouldn't have touched Luna."
At Canterlot castle...
Shadow Night teleported near his office, noticing a loud noise coming from behind of him, he turned his head around and saw the Sparkling guards running towards him.
"Rowar, Rowar." one of them said.
Noticing a letter in her hand, he used his magic to grab it. He opened it and took a little read at it. His eyes widened and he asked.
"Who send you this?" he asked while shaking the letter near them.
"Roaw? Guh. Kjio," he said.
"You don't know, but you saying that you have proofs of who might've ponynapping her?" he asked.
"Roa. Roa," he said while moving his head up and down. "Jijogo. Luiosy,"
"Stallions and mares without cutie marks," he said.
The guards shook their heads up and down."Thanks for the info, you might go now."
He growls and teleports himself away.
'I know who is behind all of this. I might need to visit that stupid guy again.'
At Zecora cottage...
"So, huh. Are you a zebra?" he asked.
"Yes," she answered.
He took a long look at her cottage and asked.
"Are you some kind of sorcerer?" he asked.
"Shaman, to be precise." she corrected him.
"Ok," he said.
"Just sit there for a second. I'll get something for you to eat. Do you eat vegetables? Because I don't have any meat here." she asked.
"Vegetables are ok, I guess. It can be uncomfortable for you to see me eating meat, right," he said.
She brought up a hoof to her mouth to cover her laugh. "You're gentle to me. I don't know why he sees you as a threat," she said while entering the kitchen.
"Who? Shadow Night?" he asked. "Give him some time to know me better."
"Yes, he needs time to know you. Everyone needs time to know you," she said.
After a few moments, Zecora got back to the living room carrying his food. She didn't notice the slab level between the two rooms and ended up tripping on it. She gasped and brought her hoofs to protect her muzzle, then she felt a soft thing grabbing her and raising her on the air.
"Careful," he said. "I don't want to explain to your friends how this happened,"
She raised her muzzle and meet up with his head. "Hehe, I know. Sorry I need to start to see where I put my hooves."
He raised one of his hands and started to stroke her mane. "Soft.Stuff. Incredible."
Zecora eyes widened as his fingers started to move around her mane, humming at his recent actions she said. "So that's what you call to pet. Right?"
He nodded. "I can stop if this is uncomfortable. I know it can be uncomfortable because we Humans feel uncomfortable while we 'pet' each other."
"I don't mind at all. It feels so good," she said.
He kept stroking her mane and moving his fingers around her mane when a shining light appeared behind of them.
Shadow Night appeared behind them and notice what he was doing, judging this was some kind of an attack he jumped forward and pushed him away, making Zecora hit the floor on her belly.
"HEY." he protested. "What's the idea?" he asked while turning his head around.
His eyes widened when he noticed who had pushed him.
"What's the idea? What's the idea?" Shadow Night repeated. "Oh look at me I came in peace, blablabla." he said. "That doesn't seem 'to come in peace' to me." he continued. "And you? You felt to his tricks didn't you?" he asked Zecora.
"His tricks? what are you talking about? He was just showing me some affection." she answered.
"Affection you say. So what was that thing he was doing with his fingers."
"Stroking my mane," she said. "I've asked for it."
He looked at him and sighed. "Alright, sorry for pushing you over."
The human looked back at him and said. "It's ok. Just don't do that again without warning me, please. It scared me like hell."
"Now, I need you to answer me something," he said.
He nodded.
"Luna had disappeared. There're reports that she was being accompanied by ponies that looked like you."
"No, that's impossible. I stopped the portal from opening during two weeks," he said
"Then how you can explain that their cutie mark is missing?" he asked.
"Well, there's a portal not far from here, but they would take more than three days to get here," he answered. "I know where they're might taking her."
"Tell me where they're taking her." Shadow Night said.
"The same spot where I came from. They'll try to push her through that portal," he said.
Shadow Night stormed out of Zecora house and walked towards his destination based on the instructions that were given to him.
Near the portal location...
Luna was scared and afraid of these strange ponies, they told her that her help was needed and now they're acting strange.
'These guys don't have cutie marks. Strange.' she said to herself.
After a few minutes of waiting, the portal finally reopened and they started to push her towards it, until...
A magical blast interfered with the electrical waves issued by the portal that made him disappear.
"HALT! STAY WHERE YOU ARE." Shadow Night ordered. "I found one of your friends, and he told me everything about you and your plan. Now, please I ask you to gently give me back the Princess and not messed up yourselves more than you're right now."
The ponies looked at each other confused by his words and reply. "We are sure that we're might not be the same guys you looking for."
He laughed and immediately replies. "So how can you explain to me that you don't have any cutie mark at this age."
The ponies looked at each other and gulped together.
"And I had another proof, your... talisman. Your NECKLACE. The same thing I spotted days ago." he said. "Now, give me back the Princess and I will brush myself with a clean rag and forget all about this. Clear?"
The ponies looked at each other and nodded in unison.
"Get him." one of the ponies ordered.
'Finally... Some amusement.' he said to himself.
The ponies were closing distance, until...
A magical explosion sent the ponies flying away, spreading they along the woods.
The leader looked around to see if there're any casualties, seeing his comrades getting back up on his hooves.
Looking to the pony again he asked. "Who the hell are you?"
"Your worst nightmare, if you touch her again," he replied while using his body to cover Luna.
"Boss, we need to go," one of them said. "There're might be some of them hiding in the bushes, these guys never attack alone."
"Maybe, but this. This will do it alone. I can feel it." the boss said while he kept following his comrades. "Remember this pony. I will be back again and that day I will crush you."
"I will wait for that day." Shadow Night replied.
Seeing the ponies running in the horizon, he turned himself around and meet Luna's gaze. "Are you alright? Did they hurt you?"
Luna shook her head to the sides and replied. "They asked for my help, there was a pony that was stuck but they were afraid to ask the guards because they didn't have cutie marks."
"And they decided to ask the princess without having cutie marks... You have to be more careful Luna. I know you want to help everypony that needs it, but sometimes these ponies might not be what they seemed to be."
Luna raised her muzzle and pointed her ears right up and said. "There's one that was left alone."
"What are you talking about?" he asked.
"One of them stood behind, he's in there," she said while pointing towards a bramble plant.
Shadow Night signals Luna to stand down and keep quiet.
Slowly stepping forward he finally reaches the bramble plant and uses his magic to search for the pony. After a few tries, he found the pony that probably was unconscious. He lifted him using his magic and lead him towards Luna.
"You were right. This was left behind," he said. "Luna there's something you need to know but you've to follow me and promise me that you wouldn't get mad at me or at the others."
"That's not a problem at all so. Go ahead, lead the way," she said.
"Alright, we need to get to Zecora cottage is not far from here. Follow me," he said.
They trotted towards Zecora cottage while Shadow Night was carrying the unconscious body. They discussed the possibility of using teleportation but since they're carrying a non-magical pony it was better not to.