While the entirety of Ponyville residents plus princess Celestia were busy searching for the mysterious pony who attacked the school, injuring five foals, ponynapping other three and presumably the host of the nightmare, while Luna was reading herself for the meeting with the creature responsible of her banishment, the cutie mark crusaders were marching towards Canterlot, moving incredibly fast for a trio of fillies wearing plate armors (which they had previously recovered from Sweetie's room).
"Sweetie, Ah was thinkin', isn't it a bit too optimistic to think that we can beat Celestia AND her army alone?" asked Apple Bloom while they marched through a small thicket.
"Yes, it is."
"Then shouldn’t we, I don't know, get an army too?" asked Scootaloo who was flying little above their heads "Oh, and a catapult too!"
"You're right girls, but I'm a step ahead and I already know of a place where we can get our army," calmly revealed Sweetie Belle.
"Where?" asked Apple Bloom looking around as if expecting to spot said army peeking at them from behind the trees.
"You'll see..." was the unicorn enigmatic response.
---
Infiltrating Canterlot proved easier than expected thanks to a group of foals their age coming back from a school trip, in which they hid themselves (thanks to Sweetie's magic that made their armors invisible and their eyes normal-looking).
Once inside the mighty walls, the small unicorn led them towards the southern part of the city and to a pretty large building. It had two long wings extending from the central body, which was a tall circular tower with a bell on top.
There was something in the structure that didn't sit well with Scootaloo, and probably it had to do with the bars at the windows.
"What is this place? A prison?" she asked as Sweetie started walking down the path that led through a beautifully tended garden towards the looming building.
"No, it's an orphanage," explained the unicorn stopping to wait for her friends.
"To me, it looks kinda like a madhouse..." commented Apple Bloom.
"I'm not sure, but if I remember correctly it was originally a madhouse," said Sweetie tapping her chin with a forehoof "It was converted years ago..."
"That's really fascinating, but why are we here?" asked Scootloo, decided to keep the greatest distance possible between her and the building.
"We're here to get our army, of course!" explained the unicorn "Star Shimmer, a colt I always meet when I accompany my sister shopping, lives here and will be more than eager to help us."
"Wait, are ya implyin' that our army will be made of foals? Are ya kiddnin' us?" asked Apple Bloom wearing an angry frown.
"I'm not kidding anypony, Bloom," replied Sweetie "Think about it: do you really think that the guards will go all out on foals? Now let's go."
---
Despite ponykind's tendency to kindness and generosity, the Royal Refuge for Less Fortunate Foals held around a hundred little ponies of various races, and all of them had heeded Star Shimmer's call to hear out his friend speech.
"Hey there, Sweets, your audience is here and ready to hear you out," said Star Shimmer approaching the three crusaders.
He had a bluish coat with his mane and tail kept long, both of the same hue of blue of his coat but with white dots. He had a liking for the unicorn filly but he kept it for himself.
"Perfect, thank you Star, you've helped a lot by gathering them together," answered Sweetie with a smile.
The little unicorn approached the edge of the stage still wearing the same smile and looked at the small crowd of foals.
"Colts and fillies, hear me out," she asked to gather their attention "Are you satisfied with what you have?"
Murmurs spred through the audience.
"Would ya like to have more?" asked Apple Bloom joining her friend.
"Would you like to get whatever you desire?" asked Scootaloo flying over the crowd.
"Would you like to live in the royal palace?" asked Sweetie "Then there's only one thing to do: help us getting in, keep the guards occupied while we take care of princess Celestia and snatch the throne from her!"
Cheers of approval had raised at each promise the fillies had made, but going against the princess didn't sit well with some of the foals.
"Great speech, it didn't work though," said Scootaloo landing next to her friends "What do we do now?"
"The only possible thing," answered Sweetie solemnly "When I say to look, close your eyes, ok?"
When the other two nodded, she addressed the crowd once again: "It seems some of you are not convinced of our good intentions, then I'll show you something that will make you change your mind; now, look intently at my horn."
As soon as she finished speaking, a bright green flash erupted from her horn. When it faded, she overlooked the result with a sly smile.
"Wow, did you hypnotize everypony?" asked the pegasus waving a hoof in front of Star Shimmer's empty gaze.
"Yeah, something like that, but this spell won't last long, we've gotta hurry."
"Then let's not waste any more time: to the castle!" exclaimed Apple Bloom pointing a hoof towards the large building.
---
It was a slow day for the two guards stationed at the palace entrance, even more than usual since the princess left and the day court was cancelled, yet the two earth ponies stood there bearing an identical severe expression. Yet, they silently thanked Celestia when a little pink filly trotted in their direction asking for help in finding her parents with puppy eyes.
So, Sweetie Belle watched from afar the first guard follow one of her 'soldiers' into a trap and signaled the other bait to take action.
This time it was a brown colt with a baseball hat who trotted towards the last guard to ask for direction. And just when the stallion looked away, a kick propelled brick (courtesy of Apple Bloom) connected violently with the back of his head, sending him in the realm of dreams. Sweetie and Apple Bloom then motioned their impromptu army towards the entrance, where the colt was pushing the stallion in a bush (with little results) and where they were joined by Scootaloo, the pink filly and the ambush team.
"Good job everypony," complimented Sweetie Belle "Phase one is complete, now go inside and wreak havoc!"
---
Luna was an heavy sleeper, and only a small number of sounds could wake her, especially if it was early afternoon, but the sound of giggles was one of those.
Her survival instinct kicked in as she jumped awake and scanned her room for any trace of her prank loving sister, yet she could only see a purple unicorn filly sitting on her bed, giggling like a mad.
"Uhm, hello?" tentatively saluted the alicorn.
"Excuse me princess for waking you up," said the giggling filly "But you were making those funny noises... And you were sleep talking too."
In that moment the doors of the chamber burst open, letting in Shining Armor.
"Your Majesty, foals have invaded the palace and are now causing all sort of trouble," declared the captain of the guards.
"Thou think?" retorted Luna causing another fit of giggles to the filly "What do thou need me for? Round them up and accompany those little ones to their families."
"Ehm, yes, I was just..." tried saying Shining, but the alicorn's stern gaze made him change his mind "Yes your Majesty, right away."
With that he levitated the filly on his back and exited with a salute, leaving Luna behind.
The princess only sighed.