//------------------------------// // Chapter 44 // Story: Normal Life // by Hiver //------------------------------// “Stop! Thief!” It took me a couple of seconds to realize that the yelling was coming from outside my rather nice dream. “Muzzit?” I mumbled, raising my head. The meaning of the words slowly filtered through my thick sleep addled skull, before it became clear to me and my horn lit up from my magic a golden shield forming over the bed. This was the royal palace in the Crystal Kingdom. Thief here might just as easily mean Assassin. “Page, lower the shield.” Luna ordered as she got up. Dropping the shield, I followed her as she jumped off the bed, heading for the door. “Skitter.” I said as we walked outside before I felt like facehoofing. For once she was not outside the door because I ordered her to take the room across the hall. Her door quickly opened, however, and she rushed outside almost tackling me back inside Luna and mine's quarters. “Damn it! Get of me!” “Stay down, sir!” “Skitter! Get off!” I finally managed to push her off, guards were already rushing around and Luna was looking on, seeming way too amused at the entire situation. Skitter on the other hand seemed prepared to force the issue of keeping me inside the quarters but I shot her a glare as I rolled onto my hooves to trot over to Luna, “Any ideas?” “Someone stole Twilight's Element of Harmony.” She answered, turning away from the guard, “My sister is already on the way to the scene, I'll go join her. I want you to stay here.” Stole the Element of Harmony? The same Element of Harmony that keeps motherfucking Discord in check? Double plus ungood. “Fuck that. I'm going.” Skitter was buzzing in annoyance behind me, but Luna nodded, “Very well. Let's go.” We made our way through the palace, a couple of floors down from where Twilight and her friends had taken up residence. The castle was in uproar, guards at every intersection. Even so Skitter was rather jumpy and was hovering above us, looking like she was trying to look in every direction at once. I think it bothered her badly that she had been unable to react instantly when there was a disturbance. I suspect that I'll find her outside my door tomorrow, no matter what I tell her. But that's a problem for a later date. Following the directions of the guard leading us, we entered what seemed to be a kind of storage room. Technically it wasn't that small, but with four alicorns, a bunch of mares, me and a changeling, it was kind of crowded. “What is that thing?” Rainbow Dash asked and pointed at a mirror by the wall. Luna hesitated and then walked up to it, “This is no ordinary mirror. It is a gateway to another world. A gateway that opens once every thirty moons.” I flicked my ears at that. Seriously? You leave a stargate laying around in a storage room? Luna, you and your sister may be older and more experienced than pretty much everyone else other than possibly Discord, but your security absolutely sucked. Pinkie Pie trotted up and stuck her hoof through it, “Sparkly!” ...Case. In. Fucking. Point... Luna continued as she pushed her away, “It had always been kept in the throneroom at Canterlot Castle, but when Princess Cadence took over the Crystal Empire, we sent it here for her to watch over.” That's it. Luna. Celestia. When this is over, I'm personally demanding to go over every single potential doomsday device you have laying around and making sure it's secure. Because this is the third time something like this has happened. That I know off, during my short stay in Equestria. Celestia sighed, “I always hoped that Sunset Shimmer would someday use it to return to Equestria seeking my guidance. Obviously, this is not what happened.” Who? “Twilight. You must use the mirror to go into this other world and retrieve your crown. Without it, the other elements of harmony are left incomplete and Equestria is left without one of it's main defenses.” Luna nodded, “Your crown does not belong in the place Sunset Shimmer now calls home. And in her possession it can without doubt cause great harm to the inhabitants of this other realm. They will be unable to defend themselves.” So send the fucking guards! Celestia nodded and settled a pair of satchels on Twilight's back. “So you understand the importance of this task?” “Of course.” Twilight answered with a grave nod. “We will however not send you alone, this task is too important to risk.” Celestia continued meeting Luna's eyes, “You will require somepony with experience in these matters. Blank Page, If you would assist Twilight in her quest, we would all be grateful.” I don't get paid enough for this shit. Wait, I don't get paid. ...Double shit. “There is no way...” “I have to strongly protest...” Luna and Skitter yelled over each other to protest, but I nodded. This was just too important. We had to get the Element back before Discord found out that his leash was... well, in another castle. “Yes, Princess.” I said and stepped forward, “Just let me get my gear.”