P.O.V. Entropy: Everfree Manor:

I could not remember the last time I had this much fun. Celestia and I were talking and laughing as if we were old friends. I suddenly felt the presence of a large number of intruders on my manor grounds. I felt several dozen standard ponies auras, as well as six more magically charged pony auras, and a single alicorn aura.

"Well Celly, your sister has certainly proved her loyalty. What say we have a little fun with her and the elements?" Celestia just grinned and nodded her head.

"Ok here's what I need you to do. I need you to really ham up how much fun you're having, I'll even act like we're new best friends and we'll royally screw with their heads. okay?"

"Deal. But we'll have to start the joke now. I suspect luna is already trying to siege your beautiful home, Entropy." Taking her with me out on the balcony that overlooked the entrance of my manor, I drew the attention of the besieging forces attention with me laughing boisterously.

"Oh, Celestia, you're a riot! I swear you must be the life of the party." Celestia simply chuckles and moves her hoof as if wiping a tear from her eye.

"I just told the duke, that if he wanted to dance with me he had to grow a few feet first... Oh! Hello, sister! How are you doing?" Luna just stared, slack-jawed, as I just stood on the balcony laughing with Celestia. I Cleared my throat.

"Hello princess Luna, I see you found my hideaway. Then the game can truly begin now, I have taken two things from you, one of which was your sister, the second; well I'll leave you to figure out what it is. Your first challenge is to get through my gates, all you have to do is solve the puzzle and then you can enter. Until then, farewell." Walking off the balcony with Celestia following me, I left the rescue forces to their devices.

P.O.V. shift: Princess Luna: Everfree manor:

"That bastard, he obviously has afflicted our sister's mind; why else would she be so amicable with her captor, yes that is the only thing that makes sense." Princess Luna was disturbed by the warm relations between her sister and the demon that held her captive. As she pondered on this, confused whispers spread like wildfire throughout the ranks of guards as well as among the elements of harmony. In an attempt to get answers, Twilight walked towards the princess.

"Uhm, Princess Luna? What are we going to do now? The Princess seems to be enjoying herself, is it possible that the being who took her isn't evil? And what did he mean when he said he took TWO things from us?" Twilight shuffled nervously while Princess Luna stared at the features of the home of their target, looking over the strange architecture, iron gates, and walls made of purple marble. She shook her head.

"Nay Twilight, my sister must be under powerful magical control, it's the only logical reason why my sister would be acting as such. And I know not what that beast meant when he said he took two things from us, but I do not plan on giving that monster one more minute of control over our sister as we figure it out. All forces, form up, myself and the elements of harmony will solve this 'puzzle' and open the gates! Come, girls, my sister needs our help." At the princess' order, the royal guard formed a tried and true formation, the phalanx, a wall of bronze and spears surrounded the princess and the elements as they approached the first gate. As they approach they see a statue unlike any they have ever seen, it is a representation of a strange animal, looking somewhere between a cat and a dog, made from polished amber with spots of obsidian and ruby eyes.

"what the buck is that thing? It looks like a freaky hybrid of a cat and a dog" Asks Rainbow Dash. Before Twilight could hazard a guess Fluttershy responded. "That animal is called a spotted hyena, Rainbow, it's a predator from Zebrica, they're members of the Hyaenidae family, along with the striped hyena, the brown hyena, and the aardwolf." As Fluttershy finished her educational spiel the statue moved.

"That is correct, I am known as Hyrin and I am the guardian of this gate, to get through this portal into my master's sanctum, you must solve my puzzle." The group stood dumbfounded, but twilight recovered quickly.

"What is your puzzle... Hyrin?" The statue lets a giggle escape its stone lips.

"You must simply solve my riddles. Do you accept?" Twilight looked at the ponies around her before nodding. The hyena statue cleared its throat before speaking.

"Two sisters are born to the same mother on the same day, of the same month of the same year, but are not twins, how is this possible?" All the assorted ponies were confused, suddenly Luna beamed, before speaking.

"They are triplets, or perhaps a pair of members of a larger group of children. It is the only logical answer." The statue pleasantly smiled; then spoke.

"That is correct, they are triplets. are you ready for the second riddle? I warn you it is slightly more difficult" Twilight smirked arrogantly before nodding.

"Very well, here is the second riddle: a farmer crosses a river, then calls his dog across, the dog comes immediately, without getting wet, using a boat or crossing a bridge, how did the dog do it?" Twilight turns to the group of ponies. the guards had been growing increasingly anxious. One of them, a night guard, approached Princess Luna.

"My princess, why do we not simply destroy the statue, and blast open the gates, it's not like the statue could stop us." Princess Luna pondered this idea for but a moment before Hyrin spoke, startling them all.

"I assure you, you WILL NOT get through this gate, or any other, without the consent of myself or one of the other gate guardians. We are all capable fighters, and we will defend our master and creator until the moment of our destruction. Now either attempt to solve the riddle or concede and try another gate. My patience withers by the minute." Hyrin said with a snarl baring his razor-sharp teeth.

"Does anyone have an idea of what the answer could be?" Asked Twilight, glancing between the group of ponies and Hyrin nervously. Twilight looked around, as the assorted equines shook their heads, all except Applejack.

"I have an idea Twilight. When I first got Winona I was about ten." Rainbow Dash interrupted quickly.

"What's the point AJ?" Said the prismatic flyer. Applejack rolled her eyes before she continued.

"That winter I was taking her on a walk, as we crossed the stream in town Winona stayed on the other side, And when I called her, That dang dog ran across the ice to get to me."

Twilight turned to Hyrin and coughed before speaking. "The river was frozen and he ran across the ice." Hyrin looked at the ponies.

"Correct, you now may enter the gate, enjoy your stay." The great iron gate opened, revealing an inner courtyard filled with beauty, there were statues, gardens, and even a pond, luna ignored all these things as she charged through the gates, the royal guards hot on her hooves.

P.O.V. shift: Entropy

"seems like Hyrin let them through, very well, Celestia, prepare for the end of our time together for now; your sister has gotten through the gate." 'I must be losing my mind, I don't want Celestia to leave.' Shaking my head, as the sound of hoofsteps echoed loudly through the atrium connecting my manor to the courtyard. As I summoned my cane, I heard an explosive shout. 'Any moment now, the separation ward will kick in. Then the anti-magic ward. Then their rules go out the window and the mind games begin.' hearing a warbling noise and seeing a bright light I smirked and set my cane on the rack next to my throne and sat down before feeling eyes on me. I turned to find Celestia looking at me confused. I just smirked, "the opening moves of the second phase of the game."

P.O.V. shift: Princess Luna: Entropy's manor

"PREPARE THYSELF DEMON, WE WILL DESTROY YOU AND MOUNT THINE HEAD ON THE WALLS OF CANTERLOT!!!!" I shouted with the royal canterlot voice as I ran through the halls of this fortress of evil, with the best and brightest of the guards of Equestria at my hooves or so I thought. Suddenly there was a bright light and a warbling noise then silence. Hearing no hoofsteps besides my own I turned to see my self alone in a hallway that extended farther than I had been running indoors. This was obviously the magic machinations of the resident of this home. I was now faced with a choice continue to search for my sister alone or play it safe and look for the others thus gaining the numbers advantage in case my foe was stronger than I anticipated. Setting out to find my guards and the elements of harmony I took some steps down the hall. As I looked around I noticed tapestries depicting strange stars with eight arrows emanating from a central point. some were silver, others were green, quite a few were red, but the majority were purple and black. seeing a light at the end of the hallway I was in, I trotted down the corridor before entering what appeared to be a throne room as evidenced by the massive throne sitting at the far side of the room

P.O.V. shift: Asmodeus: pits of Tartarus

"This is an interesting development. Apparently, Entropy has stolen one of the elements of harmony and ponynapped Princess Celestia. Could this mean he is hostile to Equestria? I need more information before I make any moves. Where is Drogar?"

"Here my lord, how may I serve you?" Asmodeus turned to see his best spy bowing humbly before him, his clawed hand placed over his chest and his eyes respectfully lowered.

Asmodeus spent another moment regarding his spymaster before speaking. "I wish for you to take your four of your best spies and spy on this new god of chaos, Entropy, and monitor his relations with the Equestrians and to regularly report back to me. And Drogar, infiltrate, monitor and report. Do not take any other actions without my express order to do so is that clear?" Drogar bowed even deeper before replying, his mind already running wild with potential spies to use, methods to employ and potential backup and escape plans.

"yes my lord, I will take my four best infiltrators and monitor this Entropy for you. now, my lord, by your leave, I will start preparations immediately.

P.O.V. shift: Twilight Sparkle: entropy's manor

waking up in a dark hallway, I looked around and saw nopony else. Confused, I tried to light my horn to provide some light only for some unknown power to smother my magic as I attempted to cast it. Growing more and more panicked, I called out. "Princess Luna? Girls? Where are you? Hello? anyone there?"

Author's Note

sorry about the wait, college was kicking my butt, but I am now happy to report I am now on a three-month break so that means more work on more chapters which means more updates.