Sunset Shimmer and her friends were eating sandwiches in the ranch house's kitchen, and talking to each other about the attacks on Fillydelphia. Trixie and Sunset both listened closely to what Lightning Dust had to say about the matter.
"I tell ya, these attacks are getting worse, and worse!" said Lighting. "It's like we're fighting half the Everfree Forest. It's just crazy!"
"Lightning, when did the attacks begin?" asked Sunset, after finishing her second sandwich.
"I think about two or three weeks ago." answered Lightning Dust. "I think it started when somepony delivered a carton of eggs to the farmer's market, and it turned out that there were two cockatrices inside. A whole bunch of ponies were turned to stone, and we had to send them off to Manehatten to be revived."
"What did this pony, or whatever it was, look like?" asked Trixie. "The one that delivered the eggs."
"No clue." said Lightning, uneasily. "All I know was that they could fly, since they apparently took off into the air once the cockatrices made themselves known. And it just got worse from there. The day after that, the city hall became infested with giant spiders. And it took eight days and a small army of royal guards to get them all out of there, when some manticores turned up to ransack the marketplace. And just two days ago, some donkeys came into town, rambling on about a large creature with an armored body destroying their wagons."
"That must've been the creature we encountered on the way here." Sunset said to Trixie.
"Wait, so that thing's for real?" asked Lightning Dust. "I thought that was some kind of exaggeration."
"Yes, it's real." Trixie verified. "And we've ran into it twice: Once on the road to Fillydelphia, and again in town, just before that Ursa Major attacked."
"Lightning, why hasn't the mayor sent word to Princess Celestia about these attacks?" asked Sunset Shimmer.
"Because everypony we try to send to Canterlot ends up disappearing on us, getting lost, or being mauled by the creatures. I've never seen so many ponies being placed into one hospital." explained Lightning Dust, who was frowning. "And we're pretty short on magic, since there are only a few unicorns in town, and most of them aren't as experienced as you two are."
"Don't worry." assured Sunset Shimmer. "I have an idea as to how I could get a message through to Canterlot. In case it doesn't work, I say that we start training ourselves tomorrow. Or should I say, that I will be training you two."
"What did you have in mind?" asked Lightning Dust.
"You'll see in the morning." answered Sunset. "Now good night to you both."
Sunset Shimmer went to sleep on the sofa in the living room, while Trixie laid down on a sleeping bag upstairs, and Lightning Dust went into her bedroom. In spite of the sound of raindrops loudly hitting the roof of the farmhouse, she fell quickly into a surprisingly pleasant dream. She was back in the human world, in her humanized body, and was sitting on a couch...with Craw on the other end. She gasped frightfully when she saw him. But Craw looked back at her with a concerned expression on his face.
"Hey, Sunny?" he asked, confused. "What's the matter?"
Then Sunset realized that this dream was some kind of emulation of one of her memories of Craw, from when they were still friends. Craw didn't look angry to see her. In fact, he had the same care-free look he had in his eyes when she first met him at Canterlot High. Craw looked just she remembered him: Tall, buff, a grayish complexion, reddish-brown eyes, and shaggy brown hair with a greenish tint. He was wearing a mustard yellow t-shirt, black tennis shoes, and brown cargo pants.
"Um...nothing." she told him, trying to avoid seeming stir-crazy.
"Well, I'll admit: This is a pretty violent movie." he said, pointing to the TV, which was playing one of the many war films that the two would watch together. "If you don't wanna watch it anymore, I'll understand."
"No, it's...not that." said Sunset. "I'm just so...troubled right now."
"Baby, what's wrong?" Craw asked, gently putting a hand on Sunset's shoulder. "Come on, I'm your friend. You can tell me anything stupid or crazy, and it wouldn't make a difference."
If only. If only.
"I'm so sorry." she said simply, leaning forward to tearfully kiss him on the lips.
Craw just sat still for a second, then slowly got up.
"Um, okay then." he said, blankly. "I think you're a little delirious, Sunset. I'll tell you what. How about I go get you another glass of lemonade? That should calm your nerves."
Craw picked up the remote to pause the movie, and walked out of the room. Sunset got up to stretch, and sat down in front of the television set. She was shaking all over, wondering why the real Craw tried to have her killed just a few nights before. Suddenly, the TV screen began to glow brightly. Sunset felt the need to touch it, and her hand passed through the glass. She thrust her entire body through it, and found herself in a darkly-lit room, and realized she was a unicorn once again.
"Sunset Shimmer, we never thought our paths would cross again so quickly." said a familiar voice. "Turn around, if you would please."
Sunset turned her head, and saw Princess Luna standing over her. Sunset couldn't help but smile.
"Oh, Princess Luna!" she said. "It's so good to see you again!"
"Indeed it is, my pupil." said Luna. "We trust that you have fared well on your journey?"
"Oh, definitely!" said Sunset Shimmer. "I've already made two friends, including the like-minded mare."
"That is most excellent, student." said Princess Luna. "If thou dost wish to return to Canterlot, you may do so. I am certain that Celestia would be glad to review your mission with me."
"Well, here's the thing." Sunset told her. "I'm currently sleeping in Fillydelphia, and the city's been attacked by monsters for some time now. The townsponies have been mostly unable to help themselves, and the attacks are getting worse by the day. They need help from the Canterlot Royal Guard."
Princess Luna had a puzzled look on her face.
"I've wondered why we haven't heard from them recently." she said. "Very well. In the morning, I will tell my sister about this crisis. But now, we must part ways again. But before we do, we ought to talk for a while about your exploits in the human world."
Sunset Shimmer shuddered at the idea, but nodded anyway. Princess Luna informed her of all that Vice Principal Luna had told her when she visited her dream, and Sunset offered her own details.
"So, the Chrysalis Syndicate was the group responsible for making my life on the human side of the portal as miserable as possible?" Sunset concluded.
"I can't say for sure." said Luna. "It was all very vague. There were a number of different parties that might have been responsible. Were you and this...Craw...close at all?"
"Definitely close." said Sunset. "In fact, I think that he had feelings for me, and that I was about to return them just before our falling-out. He was just so sweet to me, when everyone else became too distant from me. I never met anyone as nice to me as he was, except for Flash Sentry. The human, that is. Not the pegasus guard."
"I'm sorry, Sunset." said Princess Luna. "It must truly hurt a lot."
"It truly, truly does." Sunset confirmed. "But I'm not going to give up now. Once the sun rises, I'm going to be doing what I can to help Fillydelphia against the monsters, and my friends will help me. I'm sure I'll be able to do more here than I ever could in the human world. At least I can use magic here in Equestria."
"Sunset Shimmer, I'm proud of you." said the princess of the night. "Take care. I suspect that a certain somepony wishes to speak to me, right now. Good luck, my student."
Sunset Shimmer hugged one of Princess Luna's front legs.
"Thank you, princess." she said, happily. "I'm so happy that I chose to be your student. You're the greatest."
"Likewise, Sunset." said Luna. "I do not think I could have found a better unicorn to take under my wing."
Princess Luna faded from Sunset's dream. She snapped out of her trance on the high balcony of the castle in Canterlot. The night sky was clear, and filled with shining white stars. She heard hooves moving slowly up the stairs. The pony ascending them cast a very large shadow. It was Radiant Dawn.
"Radiant, is something troubling you?" Princess Luna asked him.
"Yeah, princess." He answered, once he reached the top. "I couldn't sleep at all."
Radiant Dawn looked up at the sky.
"Wow, the night is so beautiful....and quiet." he said. "You do a great job, your highness."
"Thank thee, Radiant." Luna told him, grateful that somepony was able to compliment her work. "Even in recent times, the night has not been as appreciated as the day. Though I see that it does have its...admirers."
"Do ponies with insomnia count?" Radiant asked. "Because that's why I'm up."
"Radiant, how was your meeting with Celestia?" asked Luna.
"The only day shifts available to me are twelve hours long." said Red. "But I was wondering if, perhaps, I could join your Night Guard."
"Do you really mean that?"
"Yeah, I mean it! My name might suggest otherwise, but I actually like the night a lot more than the day."
"Well, I do admire how you were capable of intimidating my bat-guards." said the alicorn princess. "Very well, Radiant. You may begin training tomorrow morning."
"Thanks, princess." said Radiant Dawn. "But forget the training. I actually finished mine. I just never signed in for the royal guard. The armor they wear is rather...uncomfortable."
"Then fret not." assured Luna. "The Night Guard is not as restrictive with uniform selection as the rest of the Royal Guard. Each member is given a set of armor to wear, but they may choose to wear their own."
"But...I don't have any armor at all."
"But there is a unicorn in Ponyville, who I believe could provide you a uniform. Her name is Rarity. I could have her arrive here tomorrow morning, to make for you the outfit you desire."
"I'd like that very much." said Radiant. "The ponies in that town were so nice to me earlier today. I'm sure we'll get along just fine."
He let out a long yawn, and turned around to trot back down the staircase.
"Well, I'm going back to bed now." he said, even as he left. "I'll see you in the morning...maybe. However your sleeping schedule works, that is. At least the skies are clear tonight."
Then he halted for a brief moment. He lifted his head up, as if to listen to something.
"By the way...did you know that there's a thunderstorm over Fillydelphia?" he turned his head to ask Princess Luna.
"How do you know that, Radiant Dawn?" asked Luna.
Radiant turned to show his cutie mark to the Princess.
"It's my thing." he said. "I can sense weather patterns for miles and miles."
"That is...very interesting." stated Luna. "But is there something about Fillydelphia that concerns you?"
"Well, that's where my sister went, right?" said Radiant Dawn. "It just made me worry about her. I hope she's okay."
"Sunset Shimmer is just fine, Radiant." assured Luna. "I was just speaking to her through one of my journeys through the dream world. She is currently sleeping peacefully, and among friends."
"Did she ask about me?"
"Unfortunately, no."
Radiant scoffed.
"I am certain that she has not yet forgotten about you." Luna said. "But good night to thee, Radiant. Rest well, for you shall meet with the rest of the Night Guard in the early morning."
"Yes, your majesty." Radiant said, proceeding further down the staircase.