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// Abductions and Sudden Road trips 
// Story: On Wings of White 
// by Princess OtakuGeek 
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The Star manor was by no means as big or fancy as other noble manors. Compared to some, one might call it plain. But it was still a manor and it still held it's own brand of regality. In the light of the moon, the white stone of the outer walls seemed to glow like a small star.

This night, everything was quiet as the members of the house slept. Nopony saw the strange dark figure roaming the halls. It's huge and imposing figure seemed to be covered in the blackest shadows known to ponykind. It's imposing figure and odd gait made one believe that this odd figure wasn't a pony. And as it walked, the manor itself seemed to hold it's breath in dread.

In one particular bedroom a white unicorn mare with a lavender and sky blue swirled mane shifted in her bed and blinked bleary dark blue eyes which found themselves staring up at bright red eyes with stared down at her from a massive imposing dark figure at her bedside. A piercing shriek echoed through the manor, rousing a few of the inhabitants before it was swiftly cut off.

Alarm rang through the manor and the few who'd been roused instantly rushed to the young unicorn's room. The bed was empty, the blankets and sheets yanked across the room. The balcony doors were wide open, blasting cool air into the room. And a mix of white and black feathers were settling to the ground. The only evidence that anything had been in this room.

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Normally when such an occurrence happens amongst the nobility, be they they major or minor, the Royal Guard is called to investigate. But this time was very different. Which was why Princess Luna herself found herself staring at the empty room. Untouched since it's owner disappeared last night. The sight was painfully familiar to her.

"I see somethings have not changed. Even though a thousand years have passed." Luna spoke to her sister at her side. Celestia nodded sadly.

"They haven't struck since your return." She said. "Hasn't taken any nobility in the last century. I had hoped that this would stop."

"Fate is rarely that kind, sister." Luna said. "The only way to stop all this is to find this thing and personally put a stop to it."

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The Everfree forest is considered the wildest most dangerous place in all of Equestria. It teems with strange flora and fauna that would very much enjoy cursing or taking a generous chunk out of you. So it should come as no surprise that nopony knew that in the deepest, farthest reaches of the Everfree, shielded by thick trees and powerful spells that would make Starswirl the Bearded, Clover the Clever and Twilight Sparkle sqeal like schoolfillies, was a small valley. And I use the term loosely.

This dip in terrain was dominated by a large lake. To one side was a miniature apple forest and a large crag that over looked the lake. As the sun rose, there were no signs of pony life. Only thousands of white swans. Some were nestled in huge nests on the lakeshore or further. Others were wandering out to the lake for a swim. When a great black beast suddenly appeared, many of the swans flinched. As it flew over the lake, a flurry of white feathers dropped from it's grasp into the lake and began floundering around. Instantly the swans began to swim towards the flurry of white. Even the swans in their nests made their to the lake's edge.

The only swan that didn't move was one that sat in a nest at the lake's edge, just shy of the water. She was slightly bigger than the other swans and had a certain air of respect and authority. Like a mother. She sat watching sadly as the flurry of feathers was rightened to reveal a young swan radiating terror and confusion. As the others comforted their new flock member, the elder swan turned her gaze to the great rock outcropping where the great black beast had settled down.

She shot the beast the worst glare she could before finally pushing herself from her seat and entered the water. Though the others were doing their best to calm her, it still did nothing to sooth her mounting terror. Once the larger swan entered the lake however, everything went still and they parted to give her a path to the newcomer. Even the young new swan quieted as she was approached, some part of her telling her this was someone of importance. For a moment she stared up at the taller swan who returned the stare with a warm look. Then the older swan reached out and placed her neck across the younger in a calming gesture. The younger sat there as the larger swan gently stroked her then she buried her head in her breast and let her tears pour into the mother figure.

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"You want us to solve an abduction?" Princess Twilight asked in surprise. Her friends mirrored her surprise. Of all the possible reason why the Princesses would call them to Canterlot, this one was so far a left field it wasn't even there.

"Oh! Detective work!" Pinkie Pie clapped her hooves in delight as her detective hat and pipe suddenly appeared. "Rainbow Dash can be Watson this time!" Before Pinkie could drag the surprised pegasus however, Luna cleared her throat, bringing everything to a halt.

"I'm afraid that this will be unlike anything you've ever seen." Luna pushed open a file with the picture of a young unicorn with a beautiful flowing mane of blue and lavender. "This is Diamond Star. Daughter of Midnight Star, a minor noble. After the loss of his wife when she was very young, Midnight dotes on his daughter. Six months ago one night, she suddenly vanished without a trace. Midnight Star has no major connections that any pony would want to take advantage of, nor is he exorbitantly wealthy. And, since her disappearance there has been no ransom. On the night in question there were no signs of forced entry. Nothing else has been taken, and witnesses claim that they heard her scream before she was cut off. Her sheets had been dragged from the bed, the balcony door was thrown open and several black and white feathers littered the floor."

Luna then closed the file and floated it to Twilight as Celestia took it from there. "Unfortunately, Diamond Star is not the only case of the nature. Over the course of several centuries, many nobles and common ponies have vanished under the exact same circumstances. This is simply the first time this has happened since my sister's return. And the first time in a century since it was a noble. Roughly more than a thousand mysterious disappearances dating back more than thousand years."

Jaws dropped. "Seriously?" Applejack asked. Celestia nodded.

"The first recorded disappearance of a noble family was Star Song, head of the House of Platinum and eldest grand daughter to Princess Platinum herself. Star Song became the head of House Platinum at a young age following the death of her parents. She was a warm motherly unicorn. Especially to her younger sister, in the absence of their parents." Applejack nodded her head in understanding. "She was a well respected leader. With a good head on her shoulders and wisdom to spare. Luna and I learned many a thing from her."

Luna smiled nostalgically briefly before frowning. "Then one night, she vanished under the same circumstances. At the time, there were rumors of ponies disappearing under these circumstances, but up until then they'd been brushed off as just that. Rumors and gossip. Moonstone, Star Song's little sister, was much too young to assume command over House Platinum and had we not stepped in, it would've collapsed." Celestia nodded.

"In those days there were three major noble houses, founded by the three leaders that had founded Equestria. House Hurricane, House Puddinghead and House Platinum. For the head of House Platinum to disappear so suddenly and completely, the other houses almost turned on each other in suspicion. It didn't help when the elder grandchildren of those houses also disappeared shortly after under the same circumstances. Before the House Platinum could collapse completely and in order to calm the nobles fears, Moonstone became Luna's ward till the day she was old enough to assume command and it was declared that we would do everything in our power to find the missing ponies. Even when she took command over House Platinum, Moonstone maintained those connections to Luna. Since then the descendents of Platinum have been referred as my neices or nephews."

Rarity automatically thought of Prince Blueblood and almost gagged. Celestia continued. "Unfortunately we were never able to find them and only more ponies disappeared. Diamond Star is but the latest." Luna stepped forward.

"Princess Twilight, we tire of this odd game of cat and mouse and wish only a resolution. And so we ask for you and your friends help in ending this creature's reign of terror."

Twilight gave this request a minute of thought. After deliberating with her friends she turned to Celestia and Luna and smiled at them.

"Your highnesses, we would be honored."

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Her friends blinked at the small burn spot on the floor, a thin whisp of smoke snaked upwards. After days of pushing their buttons, Prince Blueblood finally pushed Twilight's last button and she had reacted explosively. Finally Rarity spoke.

"Was that...?"

"An advanced teleportation spell?" Twilight interrupted between breathes as she attempted to calm herself. "Why yes. Yes it was."

Silence reigned for a moment and Fluttershy breathed a sigh of relief that her friend hadn't obliterated the obnoxious Prince.

"So, where'd ya send him to?" Applejack asked. Twilight waved at her casually, having finally calmed down.

"I just picked some random, uncharted place deep in the Everfree." Rainbow grinned almost evilly.

"Nice job there."

Twilight spared a small smile of her own. "I thought so too. Now, where were we?"

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Bloodblood screamed like a filly as he found himself suddenly fifty feet above a small forest. He barely registered the late hour as he found himself crashing through trees ladened with apples. As if being pummeled by multiple branches wasn't enough, they were all armed with round red heavy fruits which battered him mercilessly like a hundred clubs.

He hit the ground head first and was instantly hit with a splitting headache like some pony had jabbed a red hot knife into his head and twisted as slowly a painfully as possible. In his pain he barely registered the incredible pain in one of his ankles or the startled scream of a young mare. It could've been his imagination, but he could swear he heard something like a bird squawk in that scream. As darkness creeped around his vision, he saw a form approaching him and before he passed out he saw what he could only describe as the most beautiful, deep blue eyes.