//------------------------------// // Chapter 4- Complications // Story: MLP-Originals // by MLP-Originals //------------------------------// Chapter 4- Complications ____________________________________ Sakura bought the pots and she was told that the larger pots are going to get mailed to the palace under her name. “Ok, then. Do you need help designing your float at all,” asked Abby. “I have Treble helping me. Thank you, though.” Sakura reached for her pots, but Abby stopped her. “Wait! Come on. I can help Treble, and maybe help Sunset.” Sakura started to walk away. “Thanks, but no thanks. I have Treble but if she needs help, she can call you.” Abby nodded in disappointment. The tip of her mane turned black, then back to yellow . Sakura walked out of the store and Evil followed her. “So, how was the purchasing of the flowers,” asked Evil. “Oh, don’t even say anything. This mare, Abby Paintbrush, was pestering me about Sunset. They were together for as long as Sunset lived there.” “I know. I remember that.” “Yeah, so you get what I’m talking about. And then their work was ruined, I think, or they just didn’t get their work done and then the breakup was bad or something.” Evil laughed a bit. “Yeah. I remember. I heard Abby run off crying. Hopefully no stallion can do that to you.” Sakura looked at him. “You know what? Let’s have something to eat. My treat. It’s getting late.” “Oh, no. You don’t have to do that, Link.” “Who calls me that? No one does. Call me Evil.” Sakura sighed. “Ok, fine, Evil. Thank you.” “Oh, anything for the princess’ guest gardener.” They walked inside a restaurant nearby the floral nursery. The hostess led them to their seats. Evil sat across from Sakura. They took a glance at the menu. “Whoa,” she exclaimed. “This is awesome! I love the selections here!” Evil gave her a look. “You’ve never eaten in restaurants a lot, huh?” Sakura shook her head. “I make my own food. Sushi, remember?” “I haven’t eaten at a lot of restaurants either. I’ll agree with you. I eat in the castle. I rarely eat in restaurants, so, yeah.” Sakura jumped a bit. “What touched me?” “Oh, sorry, that’s my hoof,” Evil said. “Oh, I’m sorry,” Sakura replied. “No need to be sorry.” He reached for her front hoof that was in front of her. Sakura pulled back. The waiter came with a pen and paper floating next to him. “Hello, welcome to Mother Nature. I am Napkin, and I will be your waiter tonight. What would you like for this evening?” “We’ll start with the appetizer,” Evil said. _________________________________ Ping skipped with joy. She was so happy with her rocks. Cirta just finished her lemonade. Ping stopped skipping from the sound of the last sip and turned around. “Does it really take you that long to drink the lemonade,” she asked. “Well, the sugar is fake. I can taste it. And the lemons taste like they’re processed and not fresh,” Citra complained. Ping rolled her eyes and sat down. “Oh, yeah. I forgot that you harvest citrus fruit.” “Now girls! We have to meet Sakura at the flower shop. Remember I said we'd meet there.” Sunny Shores yipped. “Oh yeah,” Cirta said. “I forgot!” Ping just nodded and mumbled. “Sure, yeah, whatever. You lead the way,” she said. Sunny’s horn flicked a orange layer of magic and lifted Pingwinka’s hooves. Her legs rose and continued to walk with Citra at her side. “Come on! I don’t want to be pulled,” said Ping. After she yelled, her legs dropped hard on the ground. “Dude,” she exclaimed. “Sorry,” said Sunny. “But Sakura should be here. I don’t see her.” Everybody looked around, but instead of finding Sakura, Scarlet arrived, with Treble trailing along. “We’re here,” Scarlet sang. “Where’s Sakura,” Treble asked. “That’s what we’re trying to figure out,” Sunny replied. “And I thought you were with your brother.” “She was,” Scarlet said. “But then Sunset said that he had to do something so she had to leave.” “But I didn’t know that I would find Scarlet, so I came to her, and we’re here now.” Citra surprised the group with an abrupt gasp. After the mares screamed, Sunny asked, “What’s wrong?” “I found her!” ________________________________ Sakura walked out of the restaurant with Evil. “The food was amazing,” Sakura yelled. They were seen close together. The girls gathered behind a bush next to the flower shop. “What’s Evil doing with her!,” Sunny asked. “Well, it was great dining with you,” Evil said back as they stopped in front of the building. He put his hoof to Sakura’s face. “It was great being with you in general.” He leaned toward her and stopped at lip’s distance. Sakura pulled away. “We should get back. The girls are probably waiting for me.” “We gotta go back now, girls! Go back, go back, go back!” yelled Sunny. The mares ran back to the flower shop and sat on the sidewalk. “Girls. I’m so sorry I was so late.” “Oh no, that’s fine,” Sunny said. “My apologies, mares,” said Evil. “I took her to dinner nearby but we weren’t too far.” “Yeah, we saw you.” “What,” Sakura asked. “Nothing,” Sunny said. “I didn’t say anything. Now let’s go back. I’ll call the carriage.” _______________________________ As soon as they hopped on the carriage and got to the castle, they all got off and followed Sunny. She walked around for a minute, poking her head in rooms. “AH! Here,” Sunny yipped. Two glass doors opened to a huge library. Four banners with a symbol on each hung on a bookcase. In the middle of the room, Bubbledust and a green unicorn sat. The green unicorn had book and was reading it to Bubbledust. “I played with a little ball during the summer. There was a coach tournament up at City College that I did get into, but my growing depression was affecting my game. I didn't believe in myself anymore,” the unicorn said. “Oh, Brony Mag. Sorry but my guests are back.” the princess said. The green unicorn stopped reading and she closed the book and said, “I’ll read the rest of chapter form ‘Bad Boy by Walter Dean Myers’ later,” She smiled and left the room. She stopped at Sunny and said, “How was your day, sister?” Sunny nodded and the green unicorn left the room. “Welcome back!” said the princess. “Thanks. Who was that?” Sakura asked. “Oh, just my librarian. You guys look tired, so you should go to sleep. I need you guys up by 3:00pm, however, to talk about the floats. Obviously, you can wake up earlier, but that’s when I need you to be here in the library.” Everyone nodded and headed to their rooms. Everypony got to sleep except for Sakura. She hasn’t been sleeping well, lately. She kept on tossing and turning for hours but she couldn’t fall asleep. She saw the telephone on her bedside table and picked it up. She dialed Evil’s number and he answered. “Hello, Evil Link speaking.” “Hi, it’s Sakura. Can you come here? I cannot sleep at all.” “Alright. I’ll be there.” He hung up the phone. She waited for a minute until Evil walked inside. “Hello,” he started. “You said you needed me?” “Yeah, I just need company. Like I said, I can’t sleep.” “It’s like that with me sometimes. I have to stay up most nights to help Flash, the princess’ husband, guard her in case anything bad happens. But then I also help assist whomever needs me. And I’m helping you, keeping you company.” “Thanks, Evil. And thank you for the dinner.” “You’re very welcome my dear. It was nice being with you.” “Yeah, it was.” “I remember the time when I moved here. Flash introduced me to Princess Bubbledust when I was a little younger. They got married around five or six years ago, I don’t remember, but I was pretty homesick. Flash was the only family I had along with the princess as my cousin. Did you know that they both trained me, not just Flash?” She stared in awe. “Really? What did the princess do?” “Princess Bubbledust was actually one of my training combat opponent. Let me tell you, she’s very great with her skills. And to think that she enrolled in the army, yet she never did. I was the only pony she trained. She didn’t go to anypony else, which made me feel a bit special. She told me that I was a fast learner and she can leave the rest to Flash because her work was done with training young colts.” “That’s awesome, Evil,” Sakura exclaimed. She started to yawn. “Are you tired now?” Sakura nodded. “Alright, well, I’ll be off,” Evil said. He gave her a hug good night. “Thank you for being here, Evil. It’s very helpful.” “You’re welcome. Well, good night, Sakura.” “Good night,” she replied. Evil was about to leave the bedroom. Sakura sprinted out from the bed and gave him a peck on the cheek. Evil blushed and exited the room. When the door closed, Sakura plopped on her bed. “Whoa, I just did that,” she said. She turned to her back and let out a big sigh. “Score,” she whispered. Everypony got up and walked to the library. “I’m glad you’re here,” Princess Bubbledust said. “Did you just wake up?” Everypony nodded. “Huh, you must be extremely tired from the shopping. Well, I need you to stay awake here, because this is extremely important. Sakura, we just got the pots delivered earlier this morning. Thank you for purchasing them.” “You’re welcome, princess,” Sakura replied. “Now Treble,” the princess started. “Have you designed the float yet?” Treble slowly shook her head. “Well, Treble, you gotta step it up. What did you even do yesterday?” “I was here the whole time, but then you! You, Sunset! You told me to leave you alone! You know I can’t be without my own brother! You need to come back!” “Treble,” Sakura yelled, holding her back. “You gotta stop! Can I bring her outside real quick?” “You may,” said the princess. Sakura and Treble stepped outside the castle and entered the back garden. They found the nearest bench and sat down. “Treble, you need to calm down. I know you haven’t seen your brother in a long time, but can you please cooperate with us? I wanted to bring you here because I wanted you to have fun and also help me with the float, and we can’t succeed without your help.” “You’re just trying to cheer me up, well you know what? It’s not working.” She shot up and ran inside. “Treble! What are you doing?” “I’m going home,” she yelled and slammed the doors. “I don’t wanna be here anymore!” Sakura got out of the bench and ran after her. “Treble,” she yelled. She started to slow down from running. “Treble,” she yelled faintly. She tried to keep up but couldn’t. She kneeled to the ground, panting. Her heart rate slowing. She couldn’t move. “Treble…” she continued in a whisper. She can’t yell. She saw a silhouette of a tall creature, but she couldn’t make out what it is. As she was lifted in the air, she closed her eyes. Treble ran to her room with tears coming out of her eyes. She started to pack up angrily, throwing and smushing her clothes and art equipment in the suitcases. Sunset came in, trying to stop her. “Treble! Treble Streak! Listen to me! What’s the matter with you?” “At the fact that you won’t come home from this whole mess! So I’m done here! I’m going back to Ponyville and I’m not stepping foot in this death trap again.” “Death trap,” Sunset questioned. “Treble you need to snap out of it. Sakura must be really upset with you. Put your stuff down and go apologize to her.” Treble stared at him angrily. “Fine. I will, but I’m still leaving.” She ran out, but bumped into Evil. “So sorry, Treble.” “It’s fine. Sorry about that.” “No no, it’s ok. Have you seen Sakura around?” “That’s what I’m looking for. We can go find her together.” “Yeah, that’s fine. Come on.” The two ponies walked around the whole castle, yelling her name. Then they hear an alarm go off. “Attention to all ponies in the castle,” Flash’s voice said over the intercom. “This is not a drill, all ponies report to dining room at once. I repeat! This is not a drill!” Everypony ran as quickly as they could. They all entered the dining room with the princess pacing inside. “How did he get access here,” she muttered. The ponies waited for her as she continued to pace. “What’s going on,” asked Scarlet. “Is there something wrong,” Pingwinka asked. Well, we just looked at the surveillance and you’ll see for yourself. Flash!” “Yes, honey.” “Bring out the security screens.” He nodded and pulled out a TV remote. He clicked on the television and changed the channel to the surveillance cameras. He rewound the video to when Sakura and Treble had their conversation. As Treble ran away, Sakura tried to keep up but slowed down. She kneeled and then passed out. A big dark shadow casted over her and picked her up. “Now, Flash, rewind to 3:42:16 and pause there.” He did so and paused. “Now focus on the face.” He did so, and the image revealed Discord. Everypony gasped. “Discord,” asked Citra. “Yes,” said the princess. I have no idea how he got access here. We specifically made a shield of Cadence’s power around the castle and it didn’t work, supposedly.” The ponies all stared at each other. “So now what do we do,” asked Treble. “Well, looks like we have to fight. All of us in here is enough. Flash, Evil, and I will train you to fight in combat. Mind you, his minions are very dangerous and very strategic. But we can do better. Flash! Evil! Set up the training gym and field.” “Yes, Princess,” they said simultaneously and ran off. Sakura woke up in a dark room. She hears bouncing in every angle around her. She’s hung in chains limb by limb. She struggled to get out but couldn’t be free. She looked down and noticed that she has a different kimono on and her hair is down, curled. Her lucky comb was sitting on the side table. The bouncing came closer and closer to her, and a pink shadow came in the room. “Well, look what we have here,” the pink pony said. She had fishnets on and black heels. She’s also wearing a black corset. “An Asian pony. This is different for Ponyville and she happened to be with Princess Bubbledust.” She started to stroke Sakura’s face. “And she looks very pretty with her hair down. Any weapons you have on yourself?” She started to search her body. “Um, miss,” Sakura started. “I don’t have any weapons. Stop! Stop touching me!” She spit on the pony. The pony shot back, wiped her face, and slapped Sakura. “How dare you spit on Pinkie!” She slapped her once again. “Playing hard-to-get, huh? Didn’t have to do that.” “Pinkie,” a deep voice yelled. “Step back! That’s enough!” Pinkie did so. A mysterious creature came in laughing. “Well, it’s Sakura Blossom. Famous in the Four Nations for her artwork, huh?” “Well, I wouldn’t consider famous.” “Oh, that’s ok. Well, allow me to introduce myself. I am Discord. This young mare here, is my right hand general, Pinkie Pie.” “Nice meeting you.” “Yeah right. You were the one feeling victims. Does she do this often?” “Only to mares,” Pinkie said. Sakura looked at Discord angrily, shooting herself forward but couldn’t. “What do you want with me?” “Oh well, help is wanted in the underworld of Discord. My past servant got on strike but got killed. Have you heard of Twilight Sparkle?” “She’s dead?” “Well, all I wanted is for her to work here, but she didn’t want to. She just stormed out but then got struck by lightning and slashed. Show her, Pinkie.” Pinkie pulled out a necklace and a coat full of horns and wings. Twilight’s bright purple wings and horn covered in blood were hanging on the coat and jewelry. “My right hand mare did the job right, huh Pinkie?” “Always here to serve Discord,” she cooed. Sakura looked at herself with the different outfit. “Why am I dressed in a different kimono and my hair is done?” “Well, Rarity, my designer made your dress and did your hair. I wanted you to look healthy and beautiful before you start to work. Dress to impress, you know?” “THEN WHERE ARE THE OTHER ELEMENTS!” Sakura yelled. “Applejack is my chef, Rainbow`s my guard. And,...Fluttershy well she was just to kind so I locked her up..” Discord told her. His face looked upset. Sakura remembered Discord and Fluttershy became friends. The dream became foggy. “You're waking up! ” ___________________________________ Bubbledust paced in her room. She cursed under her breath. She keeps on pacing. Memories of her as a filly and those shadow ponies watching her. She never told Flash they were the real reason she could become evil. The shadow princess' cackle echoed her head. She hit the floor, and the room became dark. She was a filly and her wings were tied up. "Where am I? I'M THE PRINCESS OF THE ELEMENTS LET ME GO!!!" She yelled. A dark alicorn, made of shadows came up to her. " Don't fret dear, you're safe with me. You're my pawn. We will destroy this light filled land and make one with darkens!" She told her. A yell a happies echoed through the room. Lucky Flash shook her and she was back in reality. “Are you ok," he asked. “You passed out. She lied”, “I'm fine, how are the others". Flash looked upset. “Sakura won't wake up. Evil is trying to wake her up.” ____________________________________ Soon Sakura was awake, Evil and Flash stood there. The princess was shaking the heck of of her. “What happened?” Sakura asked. Evil explained everything. Sakura looked throws the door a shadow appeared, Discord`s. Sakura didn't want to upset the princess anymore she camp her mouth shut. Soon after Sakura was up sitting in the dining hall. Her friends crowded around her as she told them what happened. “You stay here, I need to rest. This discord problem is taking at lot out of me. When I wake we'll do training.” Bubbledust said. She walked out of the room to her`s. She fell asleep… She was a filly, at the park with her mom. She ran around a couple of times then fell. Her mom looked up and came over. She pulled out a tooth brush. “SMILE” She said, so Bubbledust did. Her teeth were brown with mud. Her mom cleaned it out. The image shifted, she was with her Dad and sister. Her sister sang as her dad played the drums. Bubbledust sat there listening to them. Again it shifted. She was in a dark space. Discord apreeded. “Hello princess,...” This time she wasn't a filly, her normal self. "Discord,what do you want!" Shed yelled. He smiled and ran his tail around her. " Princess ill make bargain, i'll use you or Sakura." Bubbledust felt she was shot with a bulte. He knew too much, she thought. Fillany she spoke, "Give me a week to decide." Discord snapped his fingers and she woke up. She got and walked to dining hall, she had sleep too long. Flash sat their. "You were out long" he told her "Sorry" she responded .Bubbledust sat, she go the feeling that Discord was behind her. She cape glancing back.