Return of the Lost

Inside the throne room, Lux and Stein were surrounded by twelve ponies, Lux was in shock and panic, in front of him, two unmistakable magic signatures, Celestia and Luna, near his sisters was another alicorn Lux didn't recognize and behind him blocking the door there were six mares blocking the only exit from the room.

"What did I say Celly?, thirty minutes, or it's free," said Discord, delivering a pizza to Celestia,

Lux was paralyzed, looking for the right moment to teleport out of that place, just as Discord began to deliver a receipt to Celestia for the 'pizza', Lux tried to teleport out of the castle, failing completely, some weird magic was blocking him, he was sure that he could overpower the source in his Alicorn form but he didn't want to expose himself.

"Nice try!, but I can't let you get away, I need a new story to tell Fluttershy tomorrow is our weekly tea party," exclaimed Discord looking at Fluttershy, while Fluttershy was thinking 'But I'm right here, I'll know in advance...'

Stein, seeing the panic in Lux's face, decided to take the initiative, seeing Lux suffer, it was like receiving a sword in the heart for him.

"Excuse me your Majesties, My name is Stein," Stein said getting on his knees, "You see my friend here, he has nothing to do here, I met him recently, he was just giving me a tour of the city,"

"A lie? so soon ? to spare you the embarrassment, this room has a spell that notifies us when someone lies, so try again," Celestia said in a serious tone staring at Stein,

"My name is Stein, the only crime we have committed in Canterlot is stealing, Discord has the money," said Stein, staring at the floor, since the death of the cultists was outside Canterlot, technically he was not lying.

"Very well," Celestia said sighing with a disappointed expression on her face, signaling Discord to approach her, "Discord, who of these two ponies is the one we are looking for?"

"That would be, the pony with the panic attack behind his maid," replied Discord, pointing to Lux,

"What's your name?" Celestia asked.

Lux, hearing Celestia's voice raised his head, seeing her sister after so long, Lux could not help the feelings overwhelming him, without even him noticing he started to cry, tears of joy and agony.

"Hey, when the princess asks you something, you answer it! Do not think that those crocodile tears will save you from your punishment!" exclaimed the Rainbow colored mare, approaching Lux, being stopped by Stein,

"I'll say this just once you multi-colored whore, Touch him and you'll regret that decision immediately.!" exclaimed Stein, with killing intent, making Rainbow shiver.

"You dare to threaten, our subjects!?, in front of us!" exclaimed Luna, sounding insulted by Stein actions.

Luna's voice, was like a dagger for Lux's heart, noticing both of his sisters in front of him, Lux was starting to lose control over the spells that kept him as a unicorn, the emotions were too much for him, so it the heat of the moment the spell keeping his magic sealed broke, the spell keeping his appearance was still on, but not for long.

The magic was overwhelming and the pure release of it made Discord experience fear for the first time on his life.

"I would do anything for my master!" exclaimed Stein with anger and regret in his voice, he never imagined that he would have to defend Lux against his sisters, but that didn't matter, he would burn the world for him! family or not, Lux was the utmost priority in any situation.

While the others were in shock by the sudden change of the unknown 'unicorn', Discord was shaking with pure fear, for the first time in his life Discord felt overwhelmed by someone else, so much that he was starting sweat out of stress, Discord teleported Fluttershy to his side, and was deciding between leaving or begging for forgiveness, Discord has always been the strongest, while it was true that he had been defeated more than once it was never a single individual capable of such feat, but know he was completely sure this guy was bad news.

"Discord what are you doing,?" asked Fluttershy, making Celestia, Luna and the girls turn their attention to Discord.

"We shouldn't have mess with this guy... don't tell me you can't feel it, Celestia...he's a monster.."Discord said with a serious tone, Celestia and Luna decided to check Discord claims, and as soon as she did she was stunned by the power the unicorn in front of her had, but for some reason, the sisters didn't felt threatened by the unknown stallion.

Stein was planning their escape, he knew Lux wasn't in any condition to help, but without Discord's magic blocking their way out of the castle, all Stein needed was time, to accumulate the mana necessary to teleport out the castle, perhaps back to the ruins.

The other Alicorn decided to take the lead and ask some questions.

"My name is Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, I'm the Alicorn of love, and this is my husband Shining Armor," Cadence said while Shining was getting closer to Lux, "If you just answer our questions I promise you'll be treated fairly."

"Show your face!, and stop hiding!," Shining said in a commanding tone trying to removing Lux tog, but before he was able to do it, Shining was flying across the room crashing in a wall.

"Didn't I warn you guys?... Unfortunately, I don't have the time to kill you..." Stein said, Discord was shaking and wondering how Shining was able to hold such stupidity, didn't he felt the massive power in front of him, but in took Discord a couple of seconds to realize two things one, only him and the royal sisters felt the magic power emanating of him, two the pony in front of him wasn't a unicorn, it was something greater which made sense, there was no way a simple unicorn could overpower him.

The sisters, on the other hoof, were in shock, not only they were processing how to react to such powerful magic but also the pony in front of them was an Alicorn, while the other in the room had their jaw hanging, Stein took this chance to teleport.

"Next time I won't be so lenient!!." Stein shouted disappearing out of sight with Lux.

"We have a huge problem now Celestia, I'm pretty sure the elements of harmony won't do anything against him, this is bad really bad..." said Discord in a worried tone, to which Celestia and Luna simply responded with nods, while wondering why his magic felt some familiar.

Stein had teleported Lux and himself to the cave they were sealed in, Lux was having a hard processing everything.

"Are you ok, master?" Stein asked.

"No....I'm not!" Lux said between tears, "I can't be with my family, because the darkness is still inside of me, and nothing can stop it..."

"Master..."Stein said with a sad expression on his face.

"It hurts Stein... it hurts a lot..." Lux said closing his eyes, "Having them so close, and yet so far away."