A New Lord of Chaos

Twilight and the guards were making slow progress circling the grounds seeking the answer to what had happened to them. It was a long drawn out process. Trying to find the one thing that held the enchantments together in unfamiliar territory.

A turquoise night guard ran up to Twilight and snapped a hasty salute. “Princess, we believe we found the source of the enchantment blocking our magic.”

Twilights eyes lit up. “Show me.”

The guard and Twilight took off at a brisk trot. Quickly moving to the far side of the compound. Upon one of the gatehouses was inscribed this.

We are programmed to receive.
You can check out any time you like,
But you can never leave.

Twilight took one look at this before she started muttering. “Not good. Star Swirl only… it was supposed to just be theories. How could he? ” This went on for three minutes before she gasped. “ Oh buck.”

The guards around her gave her worried looks before one of the ask. “What is it ma’am?”

Twilight gave them an anxious look. “This is one of those times I really wish I might be wrong. Watch the wall for a second and tell me what you see.”

The guards watched the wall wondering what the princess meant. Then they noticed the wall was slowly pulsing darkening and lightening. They would never have noticed had it not been for the cloudless night failing to cast any shadows across the grounds.

“The wall seems to shimmer, ma’am.” One mare finally put forward.

Twilight groaned. “He has set up what the best mages over the last couple of centuries thought was only a theory. He found a way to enchant barriers with enforced rules.”

A day guard now a peachy tan, looked at her and questioned. “Theory? I thought captain Armor shield spell had those qualities.”

“They are similar. Shining’s spell is a one-way physical barrier. You can see it, you can sense it, and most importantly it can be set-up and taken down quickly.” She sighs before continuing. “What is set up here is completely passive until enforced.”

One of the guards interrupted her. “Then what about that dome that appeared that your chariot hit?”

Twilight shuddered. “He wants to play a game. He needed his players to arrive intact.”

The guards all looked confused, before that same peach mare asked. “Intact?”

Twilight swallowed. “What would have happened had we crossed on to the grounds in the air?”

All of the guards within earshot visibly shuddered at the implication of all of their magic cutting out in midair.

Twilight started speaking again. “However he did it I am willing to bet he has at least three such spells on the grounds. One allows mares to enter but not leave, another seems to strip away all magic, and the third we saw when Luna and Fluttershy vanished.”

“What can we do then?” A teal bat pony asked.

“Play the game.”

Right after she said this, a voice echoed through the grounds. “Luna has completed the game players two still playing. Player three has entered the game.”

Twilight jerked at this announcement. “If Luna is done and Fluttershy is player two. Who is player three?”

The guards all looked at each other before the senior most bat mare a deep forest green, began bellowing in a voice that no doubt carried across the entirety of the grounds. “Form up! I want everypony back in front of the gate five minutes ago! MOVE IT!”

With that, the guards fell into ranks and began sprinting back around to the gate they had entered. Twilight caught up in the rush began trying to keep pace with the guards.

When they arrived back at the gate the guards seemed short of breath but Twilight, well the poor dear was more likely to exercise her mind then her body and looked like death warmed over.

Twilight watched trying to catch her breath as the guards began sounding off in attendance. None seemed to be missing. The highest-ranking mare a deep navy blue unicorn called for a count of the guards on the other side of the barrier.

It did not take even a minute her male counterpart was of a similar mind. No sooner had the runner she dispatched to the stallions reached the line when she promptly turned around and came back at a brisk trot.

She saluted and waited for her commander to give permission to proceed with her report.

“That was quick corporal. What is the count on the other side?”

“That’s just it ma’am they were wondering who we lost. Apparently with the exception of the two flyers the princess dispatched when we landed every male guard is accounted for.”

They both turned to the still winded Twilight and the unicorn asked. “Any thoughts or insights on this matter princess, who could be this player three?”

Twilight took a moment to collect her thoughts. “Maybe it’s princess Celestia or Rainbow Dash.”

Turning to Luna. “Would you mind terribly if I invited your guards in? They are trampling my lawn.”

Applejack and Pinkie merely sat there watching Twilight and the royal guards debating what was going on.

“Well Pinkie care to toss your two bits into the pot?” Applejack mussed.

Pinkie stuck her tongue out of the side of her mouth and rubbed her chin with a hoof. A minute later, she started speaking. “We are clearly dealing with a being that sees the whole world as a game. While we may not understand which game he believes we are playing to overcome him we must play the game and add our own rules.”

Applejack blinked. “Come again?”

Pinkie just smiled and started bouncing away like she normally did.

Applejack just watched as her friend moved off before turning to try to find another pony to speak to. Spotting Rarity, she moved towards the fashion driven pony when the guards began panic. She quickly snapped her head that way just in time to see a guard vanish.

Like an oncoming shadow, a line could be seen moving across the lawn. Each time it out paced the guards now rushing to the barrier wall that trapped them inside, they vanished without a sound.

All of them turned and began sprinting trying to stay ahead of the line. As quick as it started it stopped. Looking around only four mares remanded on the inner side of the gender line. Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Twilight all shared a spooked look as the same thought seemed to haunt their eyes, ears, and in Pinkie’s case mane. ‘He just took all of the guards. He could take us at any time.’

Back in the throne room.

A group of guards was stunned to find themselves in a large hall. Lavishly appointed in the finest marble and hard woods. Under their hooves, a soft almost velvety carpet cushioned each step they took as the turned looking about the room. Somehow, like Luna they all appeared facing away from the throne. That changed in an instant.

“Awe, Luna they’re adorable.”