//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: LEMON ARMS! The rider is here // Story: The Lockseed's curse // by Equestriasservant //------------------------------// Twilight Sparkle, though normally a pony of incredible patience was now finding it incredibly hard to restrain her need to tell her friend, Rainbow dash to put a sock in her snout, to stop her from continuously talking. The Violet furred unicorn was sitting next to the impatient cyan colored Pegasus on one of the many round tables in the throne room of Canterlot that had been spread about the hall. Twilight and her main group of friends, five other ponies, each with their own...uniqueness had been invited to Canterlot by Princess Celestia for a special gathering. Though the letter Celestia had sent to Twilight had not been very informative about what the gathering was actually going to be about. The only thing that the letter had said was that it was a "social gathering to celebrate the continued peace." Though according to several of the Nobles that she had talked to, Twilight had discovered that no-pony actually knew what peace the princess actually meant. There had been no conflict with the other countries, nor had there been any sort of fighting or troubles that warranted a celebration on this scale. "Why the Hay do we have to spend so long waiting like this?" Rainbow Dash complained, banging her head against the side of the table, so that her scruffy, rainbow colored mane flopped about in a even worse mess than it usually was. "It's sooooooo booooooring!" Twilight frowned at the Pegasus. She supposed that Rainbow's complaints weren't entirely unjustified. About half an hour ago, a guard had called out to the whole hall, yelling that the Princesses would be descending from their towers very soon. Rainbow wasn't exactly the most patient Pony and wasn't known for being able to hold still for more than five minutes. Even then, that would be considered five minutes wasted, not spending them on training for her dream to become a flyer for the wonder-bolts, Equestria's most talented flying group. But Twilight was starting to get rather irritated with the lack of patience on their table. She shook her head lightly before tapping her friends head. The Pegasus looked up, giving the Unicorn an indignant glare, her violet eyes alight with annoyance. "What?" she demanded hotly. "Patience is a virtue Rainbow." Twilight said soothingly. Dash snorted in disdain. "Well it is Rainbow. Anyway, once the others get back and the princess's arrive then we'll be able to get something to eat." Dash perked up then at the mention of food. Despite being a star athlete, Twilight knew that if a pony was hungry, it could make them more miserable than ever. Just then, the conversation was interrupted by the arrival of another of their friends. Rarity was an Alabaster white Unicorn with an elaborately styled purple mane, eyelashes expertly styled and deep blue eyes. Her cutie mark was a group of 3 diamonds. Rarity gave a small wave as she took her seat on the opposite side of the table. She was smiling softly. "Hello there Darlings." Rarity said. As per usual, the mare's voice sounded as though she had spent several years in elocution lessons. "I have just seen Fancy Pants. I certainly hope he sends me along the designs of his newest suits. I'd love to add them into my own pieces." Rarity owned a fancy clothes making shop in their home town of Ponyville. Dash just gave a soft nod, whilst Twilight lent slightly towards the white Unicorn and asked: "You haven't seen the Princess's anywhere have Rarity?" The other Unicorn shook her head softly so that the curls of her expertly styled mane bounced slightly up and down. Though right at that moment, further conversation was once again interrupted by a flash of Pink zooming past Twilight and hitting the seat next to Dash. "Hello Pinkie." Rarity said with a slight tinge of annoyance. Pinkie Pie was a pink colored earth pony with a poofy pink mane and tail, with several balloons as her cutie mark. The pink pony was now sitting next to Rainbow with a wide goofy grin on her face. Her body was practically vibrating in place with how excited she was. Though the Pink pony was normally always excitable. "Oh-my-gosh-twilight-dash-rarity-I'm-so-excited-for-this-I-haven't-seen-the-princess's-since-the-discord-celebration-it's-gonna-be-so-awesome!" Pinkie said in her traditional mad rush. Twilight shook her head, feeling a smirk growing on her snout, despite the irritation that had plagued her for the past half an hour. "Oh-look-here-comes-AJ-and-fluttershy-I-hope-they-enjoy-this-party-as-much-as-me-because..." Rainbow waved other the other two members of their group while Twilight used her magic to shut Pinkie's mouth. As Applejack and Fluttershy approached the table. AppleJack was an orange Earth Pony, with a small group of freckles on either side of her face. Her cutie was a group of three red apples. Green eyes stared out from under the brim of a patched stetson hat. Meanwhile Fluttershy, a creamy yellow Pegasus with a long mane and tail of light pink. Her cutie mark was a group of pink butterflies. However, in contrast to the orange earth pony, who was standing straight with a confident smirk plastered across her snout, Fluttershy was standing with her head down with her face marginally covered by her mane. As the other two mares took their seats, Applejack grinned wider at the party pony who was struggling to move the magenta strip of magic covering her mouth. "Ya'll really need to calm down Pinkie." Pinkie waved frantically at Twilight and made the motion of zipping her lips shut. Twilight shook her head slightly before releasing the magic. Pinkie's mouth snapped open and she took a great gulp of air. Applejack chuckled. "Ya'll do know ya can breathe through yer nose Pinkie?" she asked with a wider smirk. Rainbow chuckled lightly, even fluttershy gave a small chuckle at the sight of pinkie trying to inhale and laugh at the same time. Though further conversation was drowned out by a loud fanfare from several ponies dressed in fine suits, carrying trumpets. Princess Celestia and Luna had finally appeared at the opening of the throne room. Both of them had long dresses covering their bodies. Celestia's dress was a silvery white with a golden broach in the shape of the sun. Luna's dress was of the deepest midnight blue with a silver broach in the shape of the moon. Both of them smiled and waved as the whole room erupted with loud clapping. The two princesses waved especially hard when they saw Twilight and her friends. Twilight waved back with a wide grin. As the two princesses made their way to the largest table in front of their thrones, Applejack lent across the table and whispered "Is it jest me or do the princess look a bit tired, or...?" Twilight frowned. Now that she looked a little harder at the two princess, she could see that both Celestia and Luna looked a little drawn. She could see, though only just, though the white fur of Celestia's body, the darkened skin underneath the princess's eyes. Twilight leaned back across the table and nodded at AppleJack. "I'll go talk to her after the speech and the feast AJ, don't worry." AppleJack nodded, apparently satisfied. Twilight and AppleJack both looked back at the two princess'es finally made it to their table. Sitting down didn't do much to reduce the size of the two princess's who were taller than most of the tallest ponies in Equestria. Even Luna who was the younger sister was now slightly taller than Twilight and her friends. Almost immediately, there was a lull in the conversation and clapping as Celestia stood up again and looked around, regarding the assembled ponies with a soft, caring smile on her face. "My little Ponies," she said with another wide smile. "I have gathered you all to celebrate something that has been years in the making." She turned her head to smile at Twilight and her group of friends. "I know that many of you have had question about them mysterious nature of our invitation. But now I will divulge..." Her voice trailed away. The assembled Ponies stared at her in confusion. Celestia was staring past the group, with her mouth wide open in a round O. Luna had also frozen. Slowly, Twilight turned to look at the door. She, along with several other ponies in the room gasped. Something was standing in the entrance to the hall. It was tall, about as tall as Celestia herself. It had long, lanky limbs, with the legs ending in flat feet. Muscled arms ended in what appeared to be Monkey Paws, except with less hair. A flat face stared into the hall, with red broken lips and dark green eyes. A greasy mop of what could've been hair was atop its head. A pair of Black trousers covered its legs whilst the top half was covered in a black shirt, with several tears and rips showing pale grayish skin. Surrounding the creatures feet was a half circle of weakly stirring guards. "Give me it Celestia." The creature said. Its' voice was soft but definitely male. Several of the ponies jumped. The guards nearest Celestia and Luna, who had been staring at the intrude, suddenly jumped in front of the two Princesses, forming a protective circle around them. Rainbow Dash, suddenly jumped out of her seat and flew straight into the creatures face. "What are you, you creep. Show some respect for the princess's." The creature didn't seem to like that. It reached behind it and pulled something from behind its back. It was a rectangular device made of black metal. On the front of the object was an octagonal imprint. Right next to it was an attachment in the shape of a knife blade. On the left side of the black object was an image. It showed a mask, almost like one that ponies attending an opera would wear. The creature, ignoring the surprised gasps of the Princesses, pressed the object against its stomach. A silver belt snaked around the creature's stomach before clipping onto the other side of the object. Reaching into its pocket, the creature pulled out a moderately sized object in the shape of a padlock. Embossed on the front was what looked like a yellow pod. The creature held up the object before saying: "Henshin." He pressed a small button on the side of the Lock. It clicked open. To every-ponies surprise a very loud, cheerful voice yelled: "LEMON!" There was a flash of light before a massive object, shaped almost like a lemon appeared over the creatures head. It pressed the lock into the object around its chest before shutting the lock again. Once again the cheerful voice shouted out. "LOCK ON!" almost immediately, a loud fanfare blared out. Twilight glanced round at the trumpeters. None of them had moved to play their instruments. She watched as the creature gripped the blade on the object before pushing it down. The Lock suddenly split in half, with one piece locking into the bottom of the object. The Large lemon shaped object descended onto the creature's head before unfolding onto the creatures arms and chest. The cheerful voice called out once more. "LEMON ARMS! IN-CRED-IBLE RYOMA!" The creature smiled as the mask that was inscribed on the object around its stomach appeared over its eyes. The dark green was replaced by white. Even the black of the pupils turned white. The creature pulled the long thin sword, similar to a rapier, that had appeared when the armor had unfolded, from its' belt. It pointed the sword at Celestia. "I have come to far Celestia. GIVE ME THE GOLDEN FRUIT!"