A Meeting of the Night [Open to Dusk]

[Princess Luna]

The night alicorn had debated, and thought, and pondered, and any other word a pony could think of to describe thinking, all about this 'Eclipse' situation. She wanted to do it right, and the only way to do that... So, the Princess had asked herself the same question, over and over again. 'What would Celestia do?' She'd turned to tactical books for advice, exhausting the expansive library of the Castle, and had one solution for her first move.

"Send for Dusk Reins. I must see him about my Stars." The Princess had whirled into the throne room, demanding the action from the guard. He had quickly bowed out, nodding and was probably now skittering through the palace. The mare sat on the throne, haunches touching the plush, low seat, preparing her conversation with the elite flier. This was important. It would not wait.

[dusk]

Dusk laid out on his bed, enjoying a mid day nap. He didn't often get full sleep because he was busy every night and everypony else was only around during the days, so he tried to take naps whenever possible. Just before he was completely asleep a royal guard entered his room and startled him awake. "I'm sorry to disturb you sir, but Princess Luna has requested to see you." Only responding with a moan of annoyance, he drags himself out of the room.

As he enters the throne room he has managed to compose himself to be presentable enough. With a short bow, "Good afternoon Princess. You sent for me?"

[Princess Luna]

Princess Luna clambered to her hooves in a regal fashion, stately and slow like her sister had taught her. "Ah yes." Trotting towards a window, where the sun came glaring in- the reminder that Celestia was still out there, helping Luna- the alicorn stared out. "We have a little business to discuss, something I can only trust your Stars with." Swishing her tail and spreading her wings, soaking the warmth into her feathers, her eyes focused on the distance.

With a forehoof, she beckoned the pegasus without looking at him, getting him to join her at the window, preparing herself for this. Whilst Celestia may have done this with finesse, Luna was lacking 1000 years of social skills, and so could only do this part bluntly. No matter how hard she tried to do this with finesse. "There is a threat to Equestria coming. I need someone to scout out where this threat is." She turned her head to look Dusk straight in the eyes. "Would your team be willing to do this?" Her gaze met Dusk's, and she kept it. This was not truly something she would allow him to opt out of, the alicorn requiring a trustworthy set of pegasi to serve her.

[dusk]

Dusk stood there next to her, looking her straight in the eyes now. Trying not to let his confusion get the better of him, "Of course Princess. My team is at your command and more than willing to aid you." Dusk had to squint his eyes as Luna stood in front of the window and the sun, giving her a golden aurora around her figure, only making her look more regal than normal.

He asked one simple question next, "What will you have us do?"

[Princess Luna]

Lifting her muzzle, the mare turned back to the sun. Her tail flicked as she thought of her pre-planned strategy over this, and her ears skewed back. "I will need you to fly overhead the more forbidden parts of Equestria. Trouble will be hiding there. I am certain of it." Nodding lightly towards the window, as if to demonstrate, Princess Luna let out a small sigh and started again. "I am certain it will be a central area, Celestia would not have taken the Elements of Harmony to the fringes of our lands if it was not."

Of course, her logic was infallible, right? Nothing bad could have happened to her sister, after all, she was Princess Celestia! The mare turned quickly to the pegasus. "Go now and sleep. At sunset, your crew looks for a camp." Her tone was tinged with urgency and desperation. She couldn't let down her sister! As it was, her misted eyes held frustration, and her mouth was set into a harsh line. Though her dismissal was a suggestion, it was a harsh suggestion.

Suddenly softening the alicorn shook her head at herself. "I almost forgot. Any questions about your assignment?" Her wings folded into her sides, and she stepped away from the window, losing the golden touch of the sunlight, head inclining to present herself as open and ready for the flier's inquiries.

[dusk]

Dusk stood there at attention as Luna explained his new assignment to him. Even after just being woken up, he could already feel himself getting anxious. As she finished he was about to turn to leave and begin preparations, but stopped as she asked her question. He had been caught off guard by her sudden change in tone. Trying to put on an air of confidence, "I understand, look out for trouble and deal with it as necessary. You haven't any need to worry Princess." He wasn't sure if he was more trying to reassure himself or Luna, both of whom were now seemed at unease with the ideas of trouble brewing in their homelands.

As he began to walk to the door, he turned back and addressed her once more, but in a similar tone to the friendly one she had offered her question in, "Please don't worry to much Luna. You have so much on your plate as it is, I'm sure I don't need to tell you that worrying on top of it just makes it that much worse." This time he finally did walk out of the room and began his walk back to his room. One last nap before things take an ugly turn he guessed.

[Princess Luna]

The Princess nodded her approval, but before he left... "Dusk, if it's too big a threat, don't fight it. Report back to me, and I'll gather the troops." Her voice was soft but still firm in tone. "I will not have you risking anything." the closer the pegasus got to the door, the more the princess relaxed.

However, at her name, used so casually, she startled. Not often did ponies use her name, not like that anyway. Not so relaxed, well meaning. And she thought of the one who nearly always called her as such. Her sister.

Her head drooped to her hooves and she gave a great exhale. How did her sister manage?