//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: Gone // Story: A Lost Soul in a Dark World // by TasteTheSun //------------------------------// Celestia stood outside the door of Twilight's parent's house. She needed to tell them the bad news, although she didn't have the heart to do it, but she figured it was best for them to hear it from her instead of the front page of any newspaper. She lifted a hoof and knocked it on the door. A moment later, the door opened, revealing Shining Armor behind it. "Shining Armor, what brings you here?" Celestia asked. "Afternoon your highness," Shining Armor said, bowing and then getting back up. "I just came here to pick up a few possessions, why? Is there something wrong?" he asked. "I'm afraid so, are your parents home?" "Why yes, please come in," When Shining's parents came to see who it was, they stopped dead in their tracks when they saw Princess Celestia in their living room. They quickly knelt down until the princess told them to rise. "Good afternoon Princess, what brings you to our home?" Twilight Velvet asked. "I am here to bring you some devastating news," Celestia told them. Twilight's parents gave each other worried looks before sitting down, pressing Celestia to continue. "It has come to my attention that..." she stopped, trying to clear the knot that had formed in her throat. "...Princess Twilight has been ponynapped." Twilight's mother nearly collapsed fainted when she heard that, only to be held together by her loving husband. "What!" Shining Armor exclaimed with his eyes wide and his jaw dropped. "Is it true?" Cresent Moon asked. Celestia couldn't respond from all the guilt and sorrow she felt inside. "Is it true!?" He asked again with more force in his voice. Using every little bit of strength she had, she managed to say one word. "Yes." Shining Armor got up and headed towards the door. "Shining Armor, where are you going?" Celestia asked. "I'm going to look for my sister, and then kill the heartless monsters who done this," Shining said stopping in front of the door. "Violence won't solve anything Shining, I've already dispatched the Royal Guard to search for her and those who abducted her. "Then let us join the search for her," Twilight Velvet said as she began to come out of her slump. "I suppose I can let you help with the search," "Please your highness, if anyone is going to search for her, then it has to be us," Shining Armor said, with a hint of pride in his voice. "Very we'll then, Shining Armor, I'm putting you in charge of the search for your sister in The Crystal Empire. Have the castle guard there search the surrounding area as well." Celestia instructed. "Yes your Highness," Shining bowed and then trotted out the door. "What about us?" Cresent Moon asked. "You may help with the search for Twilight here in Canterlot." Celestia instructed. "Very well your highness," Twilight's father said as they both followed the princess out the door. ••• "Hey Maxspell, look at this," Longspear said, dropping a newspaper in front of her. Maxspell bent down to read what it said. "Princess Twilight Missing!" "According to what the princesses confirmed, Princess Twilight Sparkle has been reported ponynapped! The Royal Sisters have already dispatched the Royal Guard to search for her and her captors. If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of Princess Twilight, Please report to the nearest guard you see." "Wow, it took them two days to find out she disappeared," Maxspell said when she finished reading the headline on the newspaper. "Didn't you read that paper correctly? There going to arrest Princess Twilight's nappers, in this case, US!!!" Longspear said worriedly. He didn't know what they might do to him if the princesses found out they were the ones who captured her. "Not if they don't find out," Maxspell reassured him. "They're searching for her in all parts of Equestria, which means there's no doubt they will search here," Longspear protested. "Which is why I'm going to hide her in here," Maxspell said as she used her magic to remove a mat from the floor. Then she opened a small door on the floor. There was a small room underneath filled with rusted scrap metal. She turned towards the the preservation chamber Twilight was in and levitated it up. She moved it to the opening in the floor and slid it down through it, into the small secret storage room. Finally, she closed the door and covered it up with the mat. "There, see, know there's nothing to worry about," suddenly, there was a knock on the door. "You were saying?" Longspear told Maxspell with a sarcastic tone and look on his face. Maxspell gave him an annoyed look in return before trotting towards the door. Before she could open it however, the door burst open, revealing two guards on the other side. "Sorry to intrude, but we are searching for Princess Twilight Sparkle," one of the guards said while entering the building. "We'll just do a quick search and... wait a minute, I thought this old blacksmith workshop was abandoned a long time ago? And last I checked, no one was allowed to trespass here. What are you two doing trespassing on private property?" the other guard asked suspiciously. Longspear bit his lip. He knew they were going to find out. He just did. Maxspell however, smiled and walked up to the guards. "Princess Celestia has granted us access to this place so that we may get some research done for the experiment we are conducting, and we are on a major breakthrough right now. I don't want to have to tell the princess that we couldn't continue with our research because some lowlife guards kicked us out for trespassing now would we?" Maxspell lied. "Uh... well... I uh... Sorry to disturb you ma'am. Lets get out of here private," the guard said to his companion before quickly leaving out the door. Maxspell quickly closed the door shut behind them. Longspear was dumbstruck at what he had just witnessed. "Well that was easy." Maxspell smirked as she trotted past Longspear. He just remained where he was standing. "Ok, what just happened?" "Are you just going to stand there all day or are going to help me with this furnace," Maxspell demanded. Longspear rolled his eyes before going over to where Maxspell was. ••• Celestia was on her balcony in her private chambers by herself. She watched as she was setting the sun, making way for Luna to raise the Moon. The sky was cascaded with orange and reddish light. It looked simply amazing. Normally, such a sight would fill her heart with warmth and joy, but over the past few months, it wasn't enough to fill the dark an empty hole in her heart. She was in a deep depression. The door to the balcony opened behind her. Turning to see who it was, and to tell them she doesn't want to be disturbed, she was staring face to face with Luna. "Oh, evening Luna, any news?" "Afraid not my sister," Luna said as her horn began to glow. Over on the eastern horizon, the moon began peeking out. "Celestia, you've been like this for several weeks now," Luna said beside Celestia, not tearing her gaze away from her. "What do you mean?" Celestia asked, staring at the Equestrian landscape. "Well, you've been in your private chambers for quite a while now, and from the looks of it, you haven't been getting enough sleep. Is there something you would like to talk to me about." "What is there to talk about? She's gone and we are yet to find her." "Is that what this is about?" "You don't understand, do you know what it's like to have something you love snatched away from you?" "Actually, I do, it was when I was banished to the moon. You will not believe how I felt being trapped with not only the anger and jealousy I once had, but being forced to be trapped with the guilt and sorrow of what I've done to you. I'm sure you felt the same way." "You may be right about that. I just miss her so much, and it's tearing me apart." "I know, I miss her too." "I have been doing some thinking lately, and I have decided I'm going to end the search." "What! You're giving up?" "What's the point in moving on? We have been searching for nearly six months now. Most of the guards have already stopped searching, and the only ones who are searching is Twilight's friends and family. It's over." "So that's it, you're going to give up hope on her that she is still alive somewhere out there." "Hope, I don't know what that means anymore." Celestia said with a tear drop in her eye. Luna was struck back at what her sister had said. "I apologize if I hurt you in any way, but my mind's made up, now if you will excuse me, I have pressing matters to attend to," Celestia said this as she entered her chambers, leaving Luna alone on the balcony. "Oh Celestia," she said worriedly. ••• Questions, comments, complements, Any errors are accepted, Always room for improvement! Be sure to like and follow both here and twitter (@Pony3T)