//*//
Diamond Peaches
Peaches rolled her eyes at the princess's back. How cliche of an introduction... she was glad she didn't go to this school. She loved her brother. However, having magical abilities was so thrilling, she couldn't help but to also love being the one with the unicorn gene.
She followed behind her brother and mother, her mind wandering, as she half listened to the princess go on about what Gypsy would learn here. Her mind went to the last book she read. "The Legend of the Frozen North."
The book said that some pony named ... Somba? S-sim..ba.. whatever. His name could have been kachoobra for all she cared... her main focus was on the powers he used.
She knew she could levitate things like her mother but he could also blow things up and control other living things. She found that intriguing.
He could make anypony do whatever he wanted. Anything at all. She wanted that power. Peaches wanted to be able to obtain whatever she wanted, and easily. This mind control stuff sounded like the power she was looking for.
I wonder how I can find this dark pony.... There's gotta be a way to gain the power I desire.
Diamond continued to follow her brother, mother, and Mayor Mare. They were half way through the tour when the building started filling with noise... screams to be exact. Peaches turned to see what the commotion was and had been met with ponies, mostly foals, running in their direction.
"He's back! Sombra has returned! Run!! Run and hide before he catches you!"
None of their group ran. They just watched the others move swiftly past them and out of sight.
Following the students' panic was a line of Shadow Soldiers. They marched toward Diamond and then stopped a few feet away. One stepped forward to speak
"We seek the twins that arrived yesterday. King Sombra wishes an audience with them."
Celestia's brow furrowed as she stepped forward, in-between Glam and her family and the Shadowcolts.
"Your king has no business requesting anything from us! He should count his lucky stars we have not tried to run him farther into the north. As it is, he is still technically in Equestria..."
The Shadowcolt replied "This request is not up for debate, princess. We will be taking the twins."
"I think not. Be gone!" Celestia's horn began to glow as she unfolded her wings and reared.
//*//
Gypsy Daydreamer
Daydreamer's jaw dropped as he watched the magnificent display that was Celestia's anger... he was shocked that she could maintain her beauty yet seem so intimidating.
He fell back farther behind his mother and his sister, who was now in a defensive stance. He ping-ponged his gaze from Celestia to the shadowcolts, to his sister, and back to Celestia.
Who was going to make the first move? He didn't want to be held captive in King Sombrero's castle... that was his name right?
He shook himself. Who cared what that evil pony's name was? He wasn't going to let them take his sister. Or himself if he could help it.
Gypsy moved to stand closer to Celestia but still behind her, getting into his own defensive pose.
//*//
Diamond Peaches
"You're kidding right? You think you're just going to waltz in here and take us hostage? Do you not know who I am?"
Diamond scoffed at the shadowcolts, making the one grimace in offense. She stepped out in front of everyone and addressed the three shadow ponies with an air of authority.
"Here's how its going to go. You all won't lay a finger on my mother or my father. You will allow me and my brother to be free whilst visiting this.... King Kachoobra.. and you will leave the rest of Equestria in peace."
She could hear Celestia and her mother protest behind her but he didn't acknowledge them. She kept her eye on the leader of the small group of henchman. He seemed to contemplate what she said and after a long pause decided to answer.
"Very well then. You will come with us, freely, and we will not harm anypony else."
The smile he gave her was almost enough to make her reconsider but she shook off the feeling. Better to have everypony else free to make a plan then have everypony held captive. She nodded in agreement, then turned to face her family and Celestia.
//*//
Glam Star
"Peaches?! You can't be serious?! I won't le-" Diamond cut her off,
"Mother. I know what I am doing. Just go home. We will be just fine."
"But"
"Trust me..."
Glam's eyes began to fill with tears as she watched Gypsy reluctantly join his sister. He nodded at her, leaning in to kiss away a tear.
"It will be OK, Mom. We will be back in time for the first day of school."
He offered her a smile which she only half returned. Diamond spoke now.
"I will find a way to contact you. Don't worry."
With that, her children turned to follow the shadowcolts. She let more tears fall as she watched them walk off, and then turned on the princess.
"Why did you not stop them?!!"
The princess lowered her head a bit in shame and then gave her an answer.
"There is nothing I could do. Your children have a plan in place, I'm sure, and having us all captured would not have helped. There is a reason they decided it best to go without a struggle. We are to make a plan in their absence."
Glam stared at the other mare and then blurted, "Are you insane?!" She started pacing. "What plan?! How do you know this?!"
The princess patiently answered all her questions; "No I am not insane. The plan that Diamond has. I could feel her thoughts... "
Star stopped pacing to again stare at Celestia. She opened her mouth than shut it again. Peaches had a plan that the princess felt? Strange... then again she had no doubt the capabilities of her daughter.
That was half the reason she didn't protest much. The other half was a lapse of sanity. She was sure of that. None of that mattered though. What mattered now was putting whatever plan Diamond had in motion. She needed to pick the princess's brain.
//*//
Princess Celestia
Celestia stood there reeling. This was not the way things should have gone but she was powerless to stop it. She had been feeling more and more powerless as the days went by, but she didn't want to admit it. To admit that, would be to confirm it into reality. She wasn't ready for that.
She tried to console the frazzled mother, slightly amused at the tiny mare's ferocity. Now she knew where Diamond got her attitude. Speaking of..
"She knows what she is doing, Miss Star. I assure you we will get your children back."
The other mare stared deep into her eyes, as if searching for confirmation that it truly would be OK, within their depths. Celestia tilted her head back as if praying and then started walking toward the nearest exit.
"Where are you going?" Glam asked, following behind at a trot. That mare was so short...
"First to gather my sister and then to the library. We need to search for a way to seal away this evil for good."
Celestia walked out of the school into the warm day. It would soon be cold.