//------------------------------// // Problems Arise // Story: Princess of Peace // by Day Shine //------------------------------// Chapter 4: Problems arise Trixie exited the stage with her head held high after the performance. “Wow!” the yellow unicorn with red and gold striped hair said. “You sure know how to work a crowd.” Trixie acted coy, polishing her hoof on her coat “just something I cooked up during rehearsal” she darted an eye toward twilight with an obviously unsuccessful telepathic thank you. She focuses back on sunset “oh, before I forget, thank you for fetching me.” “My pleasure” Sunset said, smiling. Trixie smirked as she walked by her “oh but you have no idea how much of a travesty it would have been for these ponies to miss my show.” Sunset looked at her cock-eyed “hmm. Twilight did say you were full of yourself.” Trixie’s mouth dropped as her head wiped around to meet sunsets face “although, she did also say you were one of the most determined ponies she’s ever meet.” Trixie was taken aback by how well twilight thought of her despite their past. She quickly she quickly put on an artful smile, “okay! I get it. Hide your praise behind a diminishing critique. Such tactfulness in the statement, she is a genies.” As guest mingle celestia and luna again find themselves speaking with seppogaar “It is good to see you again my friend,” Celestia exclaims with a smile. “Yes, thou must have had a very important matter to have left in such a quicken state.” Luna added “what was this task that required such hast?” she inquired “Trust me, it is better I keep such things to myself.” He put bluntly but respectfully “Of course, you’ll find that though your absence; it is a gracious day that you return to equestria.” Celestia stated happily “Actually I won’t be staying. I must leave tonight after I …acquire something” Luna sighed “enough with thy’n insufferable bleakness. If this matter be so intrusive we must know of it.” she said nearly breaking into her cantorlot voice. Seppogaar chuckled “calm down woona” he smiles deviously “or I’ll go after your spot.” Luna backed up “tho-thou wouldn’t dare” Celestia spoke with a mix of joking and playful tone “oooh! That’s right. Where was it again?” luna looked at her sister in shock as she pondered “between your 5th and 6th vertebrae?” “6th and 7th” he corrected “thou’s is still the curve of thy jaw correct?” “Let’s test it.” seppogaar said, as he reached up suddenly, lightly scratching at curve of celestias jaw. The quick gentle scratching caused her to fall into a relaxed smile and brought her to a slumped sitting position with a slight thud. Luna laughed as she watched her sister fall prey to the power of the spot before seppogaar pulled away placing both hands behind his back. Seppogaar looked to the windows and a nearby clock. ‘Time is upon us’ he thought to himself. Spike walked up to twilight tapping her on the shoulder as she finished a conversation with derpy. “One moment spike” She said waving a hoof Derpy looked at twilight and spike with her two oppose trailed eyes “oh, it can wait till later.” she said her usual raspy tone as she turns and walks off. “What is it Spike?” twilight asked noticing his expression. Spike leaned down “discords eating all the hors d’oeuvres again.” Twilight sighed as she walked off to deal with discord. She passed several ponies along the way politely asking each to re-address her later as she was dealing with an important matter. Along the way applejack walked up to her asking if she could talk a moment, twilight saw the insistence in her eyes and stepped away with her for the moment. “Applejack, what seems to be the problem?” She looks over toward the crowd with the nága towering over them “I don’t much trust him.” She looks at twilight’s confused face “He told my sis that he knew where she lived, where I live. Said he told her where every pony in ponyville lived.” Twilight looked away in thought. She asked Applejack to wait and continued toward the lord of chaos. Discord picked up another of the many tooth pick skewered foods as twilight approached “Hello twilight, cheese and broccoli?” “Discord, what are you doing?” she asked “Hmm, since Mr. and Mrs. Party pooper won’t let star out of her seat and everything else is a complete bore, I’m stuffing my face with food to pass the time.” Twilight gave an irritated grimaced look “Okay. Now if I may ask, have you spoken to seppoggar this evening.” “No.” he states tossing another small treat in his mouth. “Then I can only assume you shapeshifted into him and made those comments about knowing where she lived as a joke.” She shot back Discord drops his tray and stares daggers into twilights eyes, she quickly ducks so as that they miss striking the ground “I never. I’m the lord of chaos, not the lord of creepy twilight sparkle. Even I wouldn’t go that far for a joke.” With that he disappears with a puff. The clock struck nine; the crowd grew quiet as a chef rolled out a cart with a large cake sitting atop of it. The cake its self holds five candles lining the length of the cake, a border of violet-blue frosting lined the top, bottom and corners respectfully connecting everything together. The yellow frosting covering the cake glowed in the light of the room as it made its way to the birthday girl. Star shines eyes widen with anticipation as she watches the cake grows closer and closer still. The crowd watched as the chef walks the cake barring cart as star shine’s eyes glimmered as the cake continued her way, she rose up in her seat as she readied to blow out her candles and dig in to a nice big piece of cake. When finally the large yellow treat is before her, her excitement is over flowed as she hops in her seat with the upmost of enthusiasm. “Ohh, let’s see the cake shall we.” Discord said poofing up beside her He snaps his fingers causing her throne to gain legs in a sitting position that suddenly start to raise up lifting her up above the wall of yellow icing to the image design and candles so as to make her wish and dig in to the delicious cake. The chair lift to its full height giving her a perfect view of cakes surface, however the excitement that had once engulfed her face with an endless smile was gone. Her poster relaxed to a simple sitting position as she stared down at the image on her cake. What she had hoped for is images of a pony rearing back proudly, a butterfly with beautiful rainbow wings, maybe aunt celestia and luna or even an image of aunt twilight in a magic laser blast fight with an evil centaur. None of that graced her cake however, no, instead with an ever present disappointed frown she looked down at an image of a large blue shield with a purple star emblem as a crystal heart lay over top of it with five swirled pink candles. Cadence leans over smiling greatly as star shine had been moments ago “what do you think?” she asked enthusiastically “Oh, don’t you just love it dear? Your father and I were just awe struck when we thought of It.” she looks to her royal guard husband who smirked back at her. Star Shine undeniably unenthusiastically blows out the candles. The crowd cheers and yells out happy birthday. The doors to the ball room open fluttershy and daisy maze reenter the room. Daisy maze eyeing shining armor sneaks back to his post covered by a few dozen cooks march in to the nearby table where they place multiple, slightly smaller cakes identical to the one star shine received. Pinkie couldn’t help but scratch her head at the design on the cakes. “Isn’t it just beautiful, I can’t wait to have a bit.” Twilight stated joyfully Pinkie glared at the cake a moment pulling out a piece of paper tucked in her mane, “This doesn’t look like any of the design choices star shine asked for.” She looks between the paper and cake, “Well they’ve done it again.” Twilight puzzled looks to pinkie pie as if she were speaking gibberish. Sure Cadence and Shining were careful with her when it came to safety. Changelings, Sombra, Tirek, these were three very dangerous reasons for their ‘paranoia’. Making these things worse is in each case they were specifically after them or their magic. They weren’t the only foes they faced, but they definitely topped the chart in the danger category. Twilight even pondered the concern that her and her friends posed a danger, not only for Star Shine, the entirety of equestrias’ safety came to curiosity in her thoughts. Her thoughts would have to wait for now though as she caught a glimpse of white coming up beside her. “A birthday party, I could have sworn this were a gala.” The nága remarked. “Good evening Twilight.” He greets with a small bow. “I know, I decorate for a birthday party, cater for a gala.” Pinkie replied. “Hello.” Twilight greeted in return. Patrons of the party were enjoying their cake along with minor small talk; most allowing the yellow treat go stale in the name of business talk. Across the room near the catering table applejack keep close eye on the large serpent guest. Rainbow along with Spit Fire and Lightning Dust headed toward the door for their performance. The three of them were stopped periodically for autographs or photos. “Get that camera out of my face!” barked a very unhappy Spit Fire. Rainbow catches the exchange over the praise of fans, “Hey, don’t yell at him. He didn’t do anything.” “Whatever.” The golden mare spat. While dash dealt with Spit Fire, lightning dust stepped back to wait out yet another argument, the third on today, seventh this week. Seppoggar passes by her with a gestor of apology for getting in her way. He glances over to the clock as time escapes, precious time not to be so wasted. Applejack followed a few ponies behind as he made way up to the three ponies sitting, watching the events of the evening, her pursuit is halted when spike steps in front of her expressing his relief to see her before the end of the evening. While spike halted applejacks obvious pursuit seppoggar found now to be the best and necessary opportunity to do what he had really come to do, what he needed to do. Cadence sees his approach, she greets him upon reaching the thrones “Oh, hello again. Are you enjoying the evening?” He bows, “I have, though unfortunately, I must take my leave.” “Well, thank you for such pleasant company. I know my family would agree when I say that we do hope to see you again.” Seppoggar frowns looking down to the little pink filly with remorse, he took his staff in hand, “I’m sorry to do this to you, but your daughter, star shine, she has to come with me.” Cadance chuckles nervously waiting for the punch line of what had to be a joke. Shining armor glared, his expression told the serpent that he had better be joking, for his sake. Seppoggar raises the staff slightly before slamming the end on the ground. The resulting shockwave sends the two grown ponies flying from their sea. Shining Armor lifts his head as he desperately attempts to move his body, “I…uhh…can’t move.” “Me… Ugh!...either” rebutted Cadance. Seppoggar gave a quick glance at the couple before turning to the filly in her seat fearful of what may happen next. Ears down and back against the back board of her seat she’s cornered. She’s safe; discord floats her into the air over seppoggars head toward the bottom of the small set of stairs. Discord pops up beside the nága who turns his upper body to the draconequus as his lower body coils making him raise higher. “Star shine will be coming with me.” The nága growled Discord snaked around him as though lacking bones, “Do you know who I am,” he asked rhetorically. “I’m discord. You know, the lord of chaos.” He introduced poofing away and reappearing directly beside him. “You won’t be taking anyone anywhere so long as I’m around.” Seppoggar switches the staff from his right hand to his left before removing the crystal orb from its perch. “I beg to differ.” He says, he lifts the orb to discords face. Before he can so much as blink the crowd and star shine with a front row seat watch as discords magic is sucked from his body into the orb. He’s paralyzed by the force of his magic draining from his body, the feeling is somewhat similar to how Tirek stole his magic, however this felt gentler. Star shine watched as her friend was drained of his magic and fell to the ground unconscious. Seppoggar swops down taking up the filly in his arm. Rainbow dash dropped low before launching into the air, Spit fire hot on her tail, “I got him,” she yells. Dash looks back “wait, we should work together, you fla-.” Before she could finish Spit Fire flies past. “Wait!” she yells. Spit Fire ignores her in her action, as she reaches the great white serpent he larches to one side, she flies past slamming into the wall. Rainbow dash sees her opportunity charging the snake, aiming to swiftly steal star shine from his grip; the only swift thing is seppoggar turning to strike her with the head of his staff sending her soring into the crowd. Applejack acts fast roping her with a lasso and pinkie throwing herself under the falling Pegasus to catch her. Spit Fire shakes off the crash, kicking off the wall she charges her target, instead of success she found herself pined to the ground, the arms of his staff that hold the orb in place around her neck holding her down. Seppoggar leans down as his back contorts as though he had no spine, his hand sliding against the staff. Spit Fire stared up at his upside- down face as he spoke, “Keep in mind that your job is to protect, not to seek approval.” He leaches back up using his staff to slide her toward the crowd. Spit fire slides straight for twilight, without a beat she grabs her with her magic brining her to a stop. “It seems you’ve forgotten something.” She boasted, readying her horn. She prepared a teleport spell, seppoggar takes notice and with the crystal orb back in place again hits the ground with his staff. Twilights spell should have worked by now. Something drips from her horn. “What the?” From across the room rarity cries out in horror. “EWW! Wha-what is this stuff? ” She asked, looking up at a glob of brownish liquid slowly seeping down her horn. “Wait. Is this-molasses, ugh its cold.” With one strike of his staff seppoggar had coated not just twilight and rarity’s horns, but every unicorn horn in the room with thick, cold molasses. A second look reviled that he’d also glued every Pegasus’s wings to their sides with honey. Furious, twilight charges the serpent coming to a halt when she comes mussel to mussel with her reflection in his crystal orb. She takes a cautious step back as he raises the staff, twilight ready’s to run, but is caught by the glow of the orb. Seppoggar swings it down pointing to her with a cold look in his eye. Twilight tenses up as she’s too scared to move. Not that it’d matter anyway; he could easily reach her with his spell anywhere in the crowded room. Seppoggars cold expression softens as she’s devoured by an intense light. “Twilight!” the filly screamed as she disappeared into the light. Star Shine covers her eyes from its painful glow; when it’s gone her, twilight and everypony else look to see what he’s done. Twilight is fine, she’s left befuddled a bit, but when she looks down she finds her hooves in chains bound to the floor. She lifts her foreleg in vain as the chain won’t allow it less than in inch off the ground. Spike bolts up to Twilight to make sure she’s alright. She reassures him she’s fine and the young drake sets his sights on the nága. “You have three seconds to let her go!” he bellowed. “One!” seppoggars only action is to transfer his staff to his tail. “Two!” No movement. “Three!” immediately spike produces a large wall of flame aimed straight at seppoggars head. Seppoggar snaps his fingers just as the flames devour his shoulders and head. The crowd looks in disbelief at what they see; though many know of spikes ability to use fire to send scrolls to princess celestia, the flames he currently, relentlessly unleashes are completely transparent. Twilights face is rot with worry as not only are the flame transparent, spike is as well and he’s fading rather quickly. “Ahhh!” the scream was deafening to anyone who heard it. “What’s happening!” apple bloom cried, looking over her vanishing body. Rarity looked across the room to her sister and in a panic bolted for her, she didn’t stop passing through her sister as if she were a ghost, she collided with the desert table behind sweetie belle with such force she toppled over with it. Covered in cakes and cookie crumbs she leaped over the table to her sisters’ side as she begged her to help her. Applebloom similarly shrieked for assistance. Infuriated Luna looked to her sister for a plan, Celestia was stone faced, but Luna couldn’t tell if it was in fear, confusion, and anger. Then she noticed something else, something far more significant and worrying, Celestias horn and wings were left untouched. Luna finds herself too confused to form the words necessary to ask why this was so, she could only stare and hope her sister could read the concern on her face, she did not even glance in Lunas direction. “What’s happening? Twilight, you have to help us, PLEASE!” spiked begged. Twilight and the others watched in horror as spike and the CMC’s gradually vanished from sight. The only thing any of them could do is watch. Sunset tried to clean off her horn, however the molasses was so thick she couldn’t get enough of it off before it was too late. Tears flooding her face apple bloom did the only thing she could as she faced the inevitable, “Applejack, I love ya’ sis. You’re the best sister I could have ever had. Tell granny I’m sorry I ain’t come to see her and-” As the sight of sister fades away to nothing, AppleJack falls back on her haunches. She sat there quiet, as if she couldn’t believe what just happened. Her little sister, who she had helped raise and cherished all these years, is gone. Her little sister who once cried over something as silly as not having a cutie mark, who loved to play and argue with her sister and would always be there with a smile on her face and an idea in her head. Applejack sat there as the realization sat in that her sister was gone, No, stolen away without any knowing of where she was, was too much for her. A sniffle turned to two which turned to eyes filled with tears, her tears poured down her checks like a river breaking through a dam. Celestia and her sister could hear applejack cries; they could feel the pain in every tearful howl and scream. Applejack is a strong pony, she’s been through a lot in her years, but it doesn’t matter how strong you are, everypony has there breaking point. Spike grins as he looks at twilight, “Well, I guess I should-” Twilight cuts him off, desperately attempting to think of a plan. “No! Don’t you dare give up, well figure something out.” “Twilight!” he barks. “If not now, then never.” He breathes deeply before speaking again, “Thank you for everything. You’ve been like a mom to me since I hatched; I can’t thank you or the others enough. I-” his voice goes silent as his body finally vanishes. Twilight hung her head as tears began dotting the floor. Her faithful assistant was gone, the girls were gone and she could have stopped it, she knows she could have reversed the spell, she knew the spell. Though seppoggar was at fault, she couldn’t help blaming herself. “Why?” she spoke silently. “Tell mom and dad, I love ém.” Sweetie asks. Raritys face floods with tears, “I will.” She says, near balling. “I love you to Rarity, Bestest sisters forever?” “Bestest sisters forever” She repeats. Scootaloo holds her head down in similar tears. “I don’t want go, It’s not fair” she whales. Sweetie Belle wraps her friend in a huge, the only thing she’s left able to touch. With a few more sniffs and eye rubs she returns the huge. Rarity is forced, by circumstance and her own will to watch as her sister and her best friend silently vanish in a huge that only the best of friends can accomplish, a quiet, tender huge with eyes closed, and only the feeling of each other’s hooves around one another as they finally vanish. Rarity, stands in place as the last moments of her sisters being there lingered. Her muscles tensed and she her heart wept. As she mourned a moment of change occurred in her heart, what started as hopeless sadness morphed into a hateful anger. Peering through the crowd she spied the target of her aggression and walked forward. The ponies making up the crowd stepped out the way as she passed, they knew now wasn’t the time to be in her path. Star Shine who’d been silent up till know looked up at seppoggar noticing his lack of attention toward her, she leans her head down, with quick and decisive action she bites down hard onto his hand. He roars in pain as the small filly drops to the ground, she jumps up sprinting toward her mom when she sees white. Seppoggars long white tail wraps around her lifting her up and away from her mother. “What did you do?” Rarity demands in a mannerly tone. Seppoggar bring the struggling filly up close as he answers “Nothing malicious, I simply, sent them away for a while.” “Where?” twilight bellowed, through her tears “We don’t have time for this.” Seppoggar rebuked. Seppoggar looked as shining and cadances hold started to let up, he peeked toward discord as he began to regain consciousness. “Bring. Her. Back.” She ordered as though she were going to attack. “No.” he answered Rarity stared as she lowered her head and her molasses drenched horn began to glow. Her breathing grew harsher as the molasses on her horn stretched and contorted. “You will bring back our sisters, release Star Shine, and return discords stolen magic and you will do it NOW.” She spat, fury rang in her voice like a bell toll as it swung to and fro. “That isn’t going to happen; I’m not deviating from the plan any more than I already have.” Rarity’s angered expression became one of absolute fury in an instant as the magical build up inside the sticky substance over flowed and caused it to explode. Molasses flies through-out the room hitting everything and one, one particular white stallion with a blond mane running from the room as a single drop hits his tux. Rarity readies a second blast aimed directly for the monster that sent away her sister and fired. “I’m sorry, don’t try to find us.” With a snap of his fingers, he’s gone. Cadence watches as her daughter flounders around in the nágas tail, as rarity blast away the molasses on her horn a attacks the would be kidnapper. As seppoggar along with her daughter disappear and the magical blast from rarity’s horn flies past the spot they once were in scorching the edge of the throne and wall star shine had been sitting at. The last thing echoing through her mind was the look on her daughters’ faces begging her and her father to help her just before she was gone; in a blink she was gone. “STAR SHINE!” she whaled, tears assault her face as they rained form her eyes.