The New Moon Rises

by Kit Wolfkat

Shining

Aughh, I can't believe those guys. I thought they were joking when they said that my platoon is the worst bunch of recruits. Faust, it was a nightmare!

With exhaustion weighing him down, Shining Armor stumbled into his office. Ever since he graduated from his service academy a couple of weeks ago, this wasn't quite what he had in mind, or more or less, expected.

The door closed behind him as he let out a sigh, holding the reports of his platoon. He set them down on the table and walked behind his desk, pulling out his office chair and sinking into it with a mix of weary and comfortableness.

The day had been long and demanding, leaving him sweaty and overheated in his service uniform. Without thinking, he unbuttoned it and threw it off, enjoying the relief of the cool air on his exposed coat.

Well, I wonder if I should take my time for a nap first…. ugh, unless she comes in.

Another yawn escaped from him, and he stretched his hooves in an attempt to wake himself up. He rubbed his eyes with his hoof and took a swig of cold coffee from his table flask before setting it down, its condensation slowly dripping onto the table.

He opened the table drawer to find his pen to sign the reports and write the accompanying notes. However, as he rummaged through the drawer, it wasn’t there. Instead, there were only crumpled old notes he had written for command earlier that day, but no pen in sight.

“Goddamnit, where in Tartarus did I put that pen? I could’ve sworn that I left it in there.” he grumbled, growing increasingly agitated as he continued to search, pulling out each drawer of the table and leaving it open.

He took a look around his office, it was a mess both - figuratively and literally. The trash bin was full of discarded paper balls, clusters of scattered paperwork on his desk, and even his uniform wasn’t properly hung; Shining had absent-mindedly thrown it next to the empty coat stand earlier.

I hate this place.

Feeling frustrated and defeated, he slumped back into his chair, rubbing his temples with his hooves. He massaged his head for a moment before taking his flask again to drink his coffee, only to find that he’d just drunk the last drop.

“Seriously?” he grumbled angrily to himself, throwing the flask to the wall in front of him in frustration, leaving a small indentation on it.

“I swear, someone’s out to get me. Can’t even enjoy a nice drink.”

With a sigh, he slumped to his office table and rested his head on it. With another yawn escaping his mouth and his eyes becoming more tired than ever, he felt utterly drained of his energy. For a moment, he closed his eyes and waited for something happen or anything really. Maybe he can get Cadance to help him again, it's not like it's the first time he asked something from her.

Knock-knock-knock-knock!

Shining woke up with a jump from the knocking of the door. Startled, he found a report stuck to his face, its pages slightly damp from his own saliva causing it to stick. Quickly pulling it off, he took a glance at his watch.

Before he could however, someone bursted through the door causing him to stumble backwards with a yelp. In front of him stood a female changeling wearing navy blue military apparel, her badge gleaming with three stars.

“General Vladya! I-I didn’t expect you to-to come back from the palace this early!” Shining’s stammers were cut off as she quickly closed the door and locked it before turning to him with unhidden anger.

Her eyes narrowed venomously at him, “Officer Armor, why am I not surprised?” she said venomously at him.

Shining’s heart pounded in his chest as he tried to gather his thoughts. He straightened up, trying to maintain some composure despite his dishevelled appearance and the presence of an obviously angry general, a female changeling general at that.

“Maam, I-” he tried to speak, but the general cut him off sharply.

“Shut it, Armor!” she lambasted him angrily. “Let me tell you a little secret that everybeing knows, except for the likes of you: I don’t accept YOUR idiocy and incompetency.” She walked around him, surveying his exposed coat and eyes, much to his confusion and nervousness. Her eyes narrowed behind her glasses and approached his form until both of their faces were inches from each other.

“Where is your uniform?” she said, poking a holed hoof to his chest and her tone was a sudden and uneasy growl.

Shining’s fur went on end as he stuttered over his words, “Uh… I-I’ve put it at the corner?” he responded nervously, his eyes glancing at the discarded uniform at the corner, the attire itself is a crumpled mess.

Vladya’s eyes narrowed even further as her attention went towards a dented indentation at a wall and a half open flask below it. Her gaze returned to Shining Armor, and he could feel the weight of her scrutiny.

He knew he was screwed and closed his ears, preparing and expecting to get shouted at at any moment.

Her gaze was unyielding as she seemed to bore into his soul, before letting out a sigh. “I can’t believe you actually got here, as a lieutenant in the Queen’s Armed Forces… ugh. For all the times I’ve been training you, you’re still a sorry excuse. ”

She took off her glasses and wiped it off, her look changing to annoyance after her spouts of anger. “Remember Shining Armor, you may think that your beloved princess may keep you in here despite your LACK of qualifications, doesn’t mean that you-”

“I wasn’t slacking off, ma'am! I was-” Shining interrupted only to be silenced by Vladya placing her forehead to Shining’s, her horn merely centimetres away from touching each other.

“DOESN’T mean that you won’t get away with your mistakes, remember. One day, when you’ll lose your pretty princess protection, I’ll be more than happy to remove you.” she threatened, her gossamer wings flaring up, adding an extra air of intimidation.

Shining could only gulp in fear.

Before either of them could say anything else, the sounds of what seemed like a stampede and shouts echoed outside the office's door. Both of them exchanged a puzzled look before General Vladya opened the door, revealing a chaotic scene. Many staff and soldiers, some still in their military attire were running to the right in the wide hallways of The Hexagon.

“WHAT IN THE WORLD’S GOING ON?” Vladya shouted out. They watched as the soldiers and staff darted hurriedly in one general direction—the cafeteria.

They didn’t waste any time, following them until they reached the cafeteria. Most of the soldiers in the building were there, watching the cafeteria’s coloured television hoisted up in front of all of the soldiers and staff. The screen showed the NNN broadcast live, and Colter Hoofkite holding various lengths of telegraph messages and reports.

“We’ve received reports that Princess Luna has been attacked by.. uh many of our reporters earlier at the town saying its Daybreaker, the long banished sister of Princess Luna to be behind this. We are-are not sure but the recent live broadcast has showed to you all that-”

“We got another one, sir! Miss Written just wired this to us earlier!”

“We-we received another one, the Queen’s Armed Forces I mean- the state militia has contained the entire town of Ponyville, barring anyone from leaving or entering the town, citing Solarian aggression and attacks, contradicting our live broadcast by our reporter...”

Wait, did I hear that correctly. Daybreaker? Contained? Wait, Twilight’s there! Oh shit.

Before he could fully process the situation, he was pushed aside, and General Vladya took charge, making her way towards the front of the television and unplugging it. The sudden silence in the room amplified the tension, and all eyes were on her.

“WHAT’RE YOU ALL STILL DOING HERE! GET BACK TO YOUR POSTS NOW! AND DON’T ANY SINGLE ONE OF YOU JACKASSES GO TO PONYVILLE, THE MILITIA HAS GOT IT COVERED, DO YOU HEAR ME!”

Shining Armor watched as the everybeing quickly dispersed out of the room and went back to their respective duties while the kitchen staff went back to the kitchens, albeit in nervousness. A few of them stayed in the cafeteria to monitor it, their faces wearing a wary expression.

He turned to the general and went up to her with a concerned look, “General, what should I-” he tried to say before Vladyia turned around and glared at him with ferocity.

“And YOU, don’t ever think of leaving this building. I don’t want to see you end up somewhere where you don’t belong.” she pointed a hoof to him with the veiled threat. She walked towards the door and opened it, turning to him again. “I’m keeping a close eye on you Armor. One wrong move, and you’re toast.” she said, before leaving, the door leaving a loud sound as it closed.

Shining sighed in disappointment, feeling the weight of the situation settling on his shoulders. He sat down on a canteen bench, trying to collect his thoughts.

What can I do? My sister’s there, and Faust knows what’s gonna happen to her. She can’t handle those kinds of stuff, let alone an ancient alicorn back from the dead or Sun or something. I need- I need.. A PLAN!

His eyes lit up in realisation, an idea shining in his head. He smiled to himself and walked towards the cafeteria doors. He has a phone call to make, a favour to ask that might just help him. Of course, that favour had to be a bit, well. On the other side of his line of work.

Shining fidgeted around in the cramped space of his current predicament with a frown and letting out consistent sighs. Cursing to himself, he tried to make himself comfortable amidst the ride and favour he took.

Ugh, I should have just gotten permission. Might actually be more simple and comfortable than being stuck in here. Maybe the other genera;s could give a slip or something, instead my mind thinks of-of this! Ugh, what do I even think about sometimes.

The carriage jolted to a stop, and Shining could feel himself being moved around as the barrel he was hidden in was placed on the ground. The cover opened, revealing an earth pony looking straight at him.

“Buddy-buddy Shining! How’s my favourite lil-colleague from The Hexagon feeling?” the earth pony said with a grin.

Shining managed a weak smile, despite the discomfort and the situation he was in. “Hey Cliff. We’re here right, in Ponyville? You wanna get me out?” he asked, his hooves already starting to ache in confinement.

“Oh suuuuuure. I’ll get ya out. Watch your head!”

Shining suddenly dropped out of the barrel unceremoniously as Cliff tipped the barrel from the cart. He rubbed the side of his head from the impact and as he looked up, the first thing he sees is that he’s behind a large alleyway of shops. There were trash cans and a few light apertures hung on the walls of the shops., shining dimly against the New Moon night.

Shining quickly got up from the ground, stretching his legs and shaking off the discomfort from being confined in the barrel. He glanced around, taking in his surroundings as Cliff cackled in amusement. Behind him, the cart was filled with crates of fruits and foods, and a hideaway under the crates apparition.

“Thanks Cliff, I guess.” he said, dusting himself off and trying to ignore the lingering discomfort from the barrel. “Maybe, a simple rug thing would do the work better, I smell like a moonshine at 30% here.”

Cliff grinned and slapped Shining on the back. “Pfft, no worries. It’s just a little bit of insobriety!” he waved a hoof dismissively at the officer. “Plus, I made a sale today after giving those moonshine to the soldiers. Who knew they make enough money to last them years?”

“After the National Wage Act?” the junior officer responded, raising an eyebrow. “It’s been like, a decade after it passed?”

Cliff rolled his eyes, “Eh, whatever. Just remember that you owe me one, cause next time you call I’m getting ya on this moonshining business!”

Yeah, no. Cadence will kill me before Vladya does.

“I guess?” he responded with a nervous smile. “Maybe If I do, uh… I think I’ll call ya? When there’s no work left or, I have nothing to do? Just, maybe?”

The moonshiner immediately gave him a quick hug before starting to place the barrel back in the cart. He opened a crate and pulled out a bottle of moonshine before starting to fasten the cart to himself.

Before he took a swig, Cliff turned to Shining Armor with a grin, “Want one?” he asked, smiling drunkenly at his friend.

“Thanks heh, but I’ll pass. I’ve got some important things to take care of.”

Cliff shrugged and took a hearty swig. “Your loss. See ya mate! Don’t get’cha self killed, I get a few left in my storage to sell off to more of your guys!” his friend said cheerily, as he left the alleyway and headed towards the streets, seamlessly blending in as any legal supplier to the state militia.

Cliff Side was a very good friend he hung out with ever since high school, and Shining appreciated his help. However, the last thing he needed was to get drunk while trying to find his sister. Even if it meant turning a blind eye to his fellow soldiers getting drunk on the job, especially during a time like this . That was liable to get him fired and probably court martialled.

He rubbed his eyes, he lost track of his time when he was in the barrel. He saw a cloak on a trash can near him and took it. He decided to wear it around himself to conceal what he looked like, the last thing he needed is for another officer or soldier to recognise who he is.

He looked around, deciding to raise his hoof to look at his watch:

Almost midnight. Great. And I don’t even know where to go or who to go to. Crap, I still need to go out there, and I’m afraid someone from my academy might actually recognise me. Wait, maybe I can find the mayor. She knows everything!

He took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. With an attempted self-confidence that he wasn't entirely feeling, he stepped out of the alleyway and into the dimly lit streets of Ponyville. There weren’t many walking around, only the few who ventured outside, the state militia patrolling by and the food suppliers for the containment.

As he walked, his thoughts shifted to Twilight. The last he'd seen of her was when she hastily said goodbye to him before leaving. She seemed almost unemotional, and apathetic as she said it, and Shining tried to recall if he’d actually said anything to her.

“So, you’re gonna be alright there, Twi?” Shining had asked her, concern etched on his face as they stood outside her tower. It was night, and she was preparing to leave for Ponyville for the celebrations. Twilight furrowed her eyebrows before stepping onto the carriage, looking annoyed at him. Spike was at the seat, waiting for her to join him.

“Ughh, Shining. I’m perfectly capable of doing things on my own. I’m not a filly anymore.” she groaned. “I swear, everyday you’re trying to protect me from some sort of danger. But guess what, I’m heading towards some town in the south, so probably nothing’s gonna happen unless some inescapable demon somehow arrives.”

Shining shook his head in adamn“I’m just saying that it could still be dange-”

Twilight groaned in displeasure at the massive mouthful her brother is giving her, and quickly cut him off. “Shining, it’s a few days and that’s it.”

“But Twi, what about the insane rabbits when you were a filly, that mugger that tried to rob you a month ago, or what about that-” he tried to reply, but his sister turned around and sat on the carriage seat, looking away at him. “You know what? Fine, still, you want me to at least send your goodbyes to mom ? You still haven’t told her anything yet.”

“Seriously? You’re still on about that? ZFine, just tell her I’ll be at the town’s library, waiting, until after the celebrations are over. Okay? I’m not even going anywhere after that. Not like I’m getting lost in the Everfree or something.”

“Okay, if anything happens. Call me, I’ll be at the office doing something I guess.”

Shining’s gaze lifted, the cogs of his mind turning slowly, each thought sparking like a mechanical motor. He bit his lips in mild uneasiness.

Wait, she’s at the library. But-but, where’s the library? This town’s small, but I doubt there's a lot of signs here.

Shining looked up from his thoughts, noticing guards patrolling the town hall. Most of the beings entering were changelings and ponies seeking safety and refuge. He could even see a few groups of townsbeings entering the town.

A spark of an idea struck him, and he immediately delved back into his thoughts.

I got it! If I can get the mayor to give me a map of the town, I’ll be able to find the library. And then I- wait, she’ll need to ask who I am if I want anything. I can’t lie about that! She’s way too important here, even if I lie she’ll remember me and might report me off!

As his thoughts jumbled in his brain, there’s only one solution he could do. And he didn’t like it.

Entering the hall almost relatively unrecognised, he was shocked from what he could see that almost everybeing was here. From the hooffull of reporters from news stations to the families huddled together, and even some outside merchants from the celebrations’ stalls had sought shelter here.

As he watched the controlled chaos around him. he turned to a passing soldier carrying a rifle in hopes of finding the office.

“Hey, uh where’s the mayor’s office?” he asked, fidgeting with the cloak around his body and making sure his identity remained concealed. “I- uh, have a couple of questions for her.”

The soldier looked at him warily, and Shining figured that the soldier wasn’t fully trusting hi-

“Stairs, at the end of the building next to the red carpet, right down the hall.” he replied, pointing towards the stairway.

Well that was easy.

“I gotta warn you though the mayor’s-” the soldier tried to warn him but Shining immediately muttered a thanks and speed walked towards the stairs, leaving only a confused soldier.

As he reached the floor however, he could hear screams coming from the office itself. There were no other beings nor staff members in the hallways itself and from the looks of it, it has been recently vacated, with papers on the floor and doors opened ajar with tables and chairs strewn about. He could see the mayor’s door and went towards it. But as he did, he could hear screams, and loud sounds from the inside.

“Colonel Tardlestorm! This is a national emergency! Why aren’t you calling the army to shoot her? To-to get rid of her, Daybreaker has just-

“Mayor Mare, we are doing everything we can, but the direct orders from the princess tells that I’m not allowed to have anything upon her sister.

“What, Don’t you think that's a bit too late? She was almost murdered in my town, by the Daybreaker freak? The entire world was watching those broadcasts! And I have the entire town under lockdown by your-your military!”

“We have been containing the town under her orders, we-we also have located a couple of Solarian cells around the town in the past and the commanders already have started to begin their operations against-”

“Does the queen know?”

“We-we haven’t notified her..”

“WHAT! ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT THE ARMY IS KEEPING SECRETS FROM THE QUEEN? FROM THE HIGHEST AUTHORITY? FROM THE GENERATIONS OF CHANGELINGS QUEENS WHO HAD RULED WITH THE PRINCESS SINCE MILLENIA?”

“The princess’ orders. Explicit and direct. I’m sorry but we can’t do anything about it and- wait MAYOR MARE!”

Shining could hear sobs approaching the door, and he was suddenly thrown back as the doors swung open, hitting him square in the face and pushing him against the wall. Mayor Mare burst out of the office, her eyes red and puffy as she sobbed, followed by Colonel Tardlestorm and her secretaries. The colonel was comforting her back with a wing while her secretaries were giving her a pat and some cold drinks of lemon tea to soothe herself, amidst the sobbing mess.

Shining stood back up and rubbed his head, he quietly watched the supposed mayor of the town sit herself on the floor near the other rooms and cry herself into a quivering mess. Them all being unaware of his presence, he saw an opportunity.

Now’s my time.

He silently entered the mayor’s office and slowly closed the door behind him. Inside the cluttered space, he immediately went to work, searching for a map of the town. His gaze landed on the desk drawers; surely that's where the town maps would be kept. Why wouldn’t it be kept close? He looked around the mayor’s office, and grinned to himself.

At least this office is worse than mine, can’t imagine what it means to manage a town.

He quickly rummaged through the contents of the drawer, folders and papers sliding under his hooves as he searched for the map.

Until he reached a familiar documentation that looked like a map, his eyes lit up. He quickly pulled it out and spread it open on the cluttered desk to take a closer look:

“Bingo!” he exclaimed under his breath, unable to contain his excitement. He rolled the map and tied it with a ribbon that he took from the desk. However, his excitement led to the door opening abruptly as Colonel Tardlestorm entered the room, before stopping in shock at the stallion rummaging through the mayor’s desk.

Both of them looked at each other in awkward silence, with mostly Shining looking shocked and with goosebumps while the colonel himself just looked surprised at the familiar lieutenant in front of him. Shining held his breath, and with the ensuing silence he could almost count the amount of heartbeats he could almost hear; it’s definitely way above the average.

“Wait a minute, I know you.. Second Lieutenant Armor? From Canterlot?” Fairswith asked, observing the nervous officer in front of him. He walked forward, his eyes glaring at the young officer. “What’re you doing here, more importantly with my map and in this town? You’re supposed to be serving your duties in The Hexagon.”

“I-I–I-I-”

“You know full well that the crown has ordered this town under quarantine, yet here you are! What are you doing here? Intelligence gathering for the Solarians? Or from the griffons themselves?” he continued, closing in on him as the young officer leaned against the office’s window.

I’M DEAD.

“I was-was, I wanna find my sister!” he quickly blurted out, before immediately silencing his mouth afterward, as if trying to physically prevent any more words from escaping. Shining nervously watched as the colonel looked at him in silence, an unbearable silence stood between them.

“Oh.”

I’M DEAD

The colonel continued to glare at him, his brows narrowed to the thinnest it can be. Shining gulped in fear, and could feel goosebumps in his coat.

I’M DEAD.

“I could have you court martialled, you know? For taking my map and entering without permission,.” he said, the expression showing no change and his voice, turning to an unsettling cold tone.

I’M FUCKING DEAD!

“But I’m not gonna do that, cause you know why?”

Wha-Wait, what?

His face lit up in confusion; he certainly didn’t expect that response. From the colonel of all things, and the princess’ consort. “Wha-why?” he asked him, still nervous about Fairswith’s intention.

“Because I need you," Fairswith sighed, “And I can’t trust any of my own soldiers around me, who were supposed to be guarding the northern entrance to the town, were drunk as a factory feathered from Cloudsdale! And the ones from the outposts near here aren’t much better, faust damned those state training centres!” he delivered a hard smack on the table with his hooves.

BANG

Shining stood back and his face lit up in nervous confusion; he certainly didn’t expect that response. Cliff must’ve been working overtime here, with the amount of alcohol somehow getting through to the soldiers. Shining looked at him again, the colonel was fuming mad.

“But-.”

“If I get my hooves on whosoever is selling these moonshines to my soldiers, the first of my orders is beat that bastard to a pulp!” Fairswith yelled angrily. Fairswith took a deep breath and calmed down, looking back at the officer. “Look. I need help, I'm short of capable officers here. If you accept, your superiors at Canterlot won’t know of… well, your minor insubordination here. I’ll even deliver a wording of praise to the princess about your service here!”

Shining’s eyes lit up, and a siege of relief ignited inside his body. “Sure! I mean, I'll be glad to help, sir!” he nodded, a little too eager at the colonel’s request. “Just tell me what to do, and I’ll do it!”

“Good,” Fairswith said, pulling out a thick file from his apparel and giving it to him. “Take this file, and give it to Lieutenant Colonel Straticus. He should be near the east bridge of the town with his troops. If you see the warehouse you’re on the right track.”

Shining took a closer look at the file. Thick, heavy and above all obvious that this is an extremely confidential file. The file had a large red wording written on it:

“Uh, what does it-”

Fairswith gave him a glare, “I said, TAKE THIS FILE!” he yelled at the junior, causing Shining to recoil hard against the window, leaving a large crack on the glass itself. Shining quickly took the file with his magic before smiling in a stuttering mess at the colonel.

"Ye-yes sir!" Shining stuttered, quickly leaving the room in nervous fear, with the doors closing and finding himself quickly running past the crying Mayor Mare, and down the stairs. With a thick file in his magic, he hurried his hooves and ran out of the town hall. He cursed himself, as he continued running along the Ponyville road.

Oh by the princess and queens, what did I got myself into.. I’m just trying to look for my sister for Faust’s sa-

He stopped himself in the middle of the street, and gasped to himself. He quickly pulled out the map and scanned through it, until he found what he was looking for before folding the map back. He took a deep breath, and started running the opposite direction.

Hold on Twi.. I’m coming for you.