Stuck

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Prologue

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I am trotting along the long, dark and cold corridor of my fairly new castle, as I am hearing a strange and very unfamiliar noise I had not expected. (I think nothing of it, but maybe I should have?)

The castle is empty, or it should have been. (Spike is away in Canterlot, on a task I had sent him on.)

I still here the cold noises of my hooves, as I trot along the hall: “Clip clop, clip clop..”

There is a Specter in the far distance, at the other end of the hall; or, I think it is one. (Is there?)

In the end, the Specter, I think I had seen; is but a distraction, from what I should have been noticing. (A single, lone changeling had entered my castle; hiding, sneaking around.)

A moment later, I see the hint of a green glowing light from behind. I think nothing of it, of course. (While I certainly should have, but too late.)

Something is gracing my left hind hoof, just before it hits the hard stone of the floor; as I am trotting down the hall. The next moment, the hoof is pulled down onto the floor.

There it is again, the green glowing light. Something is gracing the right hind hoof, this time. I barely notice it, but why should I? I am alone, and there is nothing here I need to be worried about. (Is there?)

Just as I am setting down my right fore hoof, it is graced by the green, glowing light. (Almost there, almost there; just one more hit, and I will be stuck where I stand.)

There is another hit, just at the right moment. Each hoof had been hit; now stuck on the floor under me.

As I try to lift a hoof, the green glowing substance is stretching; only to pull the hoof back down, with a distinctly sucking noise. As the hoof is hitting the floor, I feel the hard surface as expected; just softer, cushioned by the substance holding it in place.

Before I manage to stop myself, I had tried to lift each of my hooves: once, twice and thrice.

There it is again; the pull and the sucking noise, just stronger and more distinct with each failed attempt. (I am stuck; or at least, it would appear that I am!)

The more I try to resist, the harder I try to lift a hoof; the more the substance is spreading up my leg, and the tighter the substance is clinging to the leg. (This green, glowing substance had already reached halfway up my legs; now holding me securely in place.)

I try to relax, focusing; thinking of the perfect spell to cast, in order to free myself. (Too late; before I can focus on the intended spell, the tip of my horn has already been hit and thus preventing me to cast the intended spell. {Even if it had been effective, it is too late!})

The substance is slowly flowing down the length of my horn, like slowly melting Cheese. (What an oddly disturbing image, and quite distracting as well!)

While the substance is contracting around my legs; I am still finding the muscles of my legs relaxed, maybe just a bit too relaxed. (Every attempt to lift a hoof, failing; and I find it harder and harder to lift the hoof, or even will the muscles to lift the hoof off of the floor.)

“Squeak squeak, squeak squeak, squeak squeak!” is heard, as I am trying to lift my hooves, one hoof at the time.

As I bend my neck, in order to investigate my situation; to examine the substance holding my hooves firmly on the floor, I am met with a squishy and rubbery surface. (Rubber? But, it is smooth and slippery; rather than sticky, as should have been expected.)

I may try to move a few more times, before the substance had claimed my legs completely; now holding me in place, with a vice-like grip like nothing I could even have imagined or dreamed up. (Not even discord would have subjected me to anything the likes of this.. would he? Why??)

While the substance is semi-transparent, with a glow eerily reminiscent of that of a Changeling; but it had formed what appears to be the boots Applejack had worn that one time, when she saved a wagon full of Ponies from falling over the cliff.

“I really am stuck?” I ponder.

“Squeak!” is heard, the next time I try to rub my muzzle along the rubbery substance covering my legs. (The noise is highly distinct and quite loud, much louder than I would have imagined it could have been.)

“Good thing, it isn’t sticky..” I ponder.

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After an undetermined time, I can see a hint of a glow from behind me.

“What is it?” I ponder, turning my head in order to see what it is. (What in Celestia’s name could it possibly be?)

The light glows brighter, the longer I wait, the closer to me it is coming.

“Whatever it is, I can’t do much; in order to escape, or even try to defend myself!” I realize, as I had accepted my situation. (I am indeed stuck, firmly; the more I try to resist, the stronger it becomes.)

The glowing light grows stronger, stronger and stronger still.

After a moment, I can see a book held within the field of the green glow. The green glow is a magical field, levitating an object towards me. (Or, so it would appear.)

“How curious..” I ponder; “did Somepony apply all this effort; just to present me with a book?” I question, now breathing hard.

Somehow; I realize I am finding myself growing excited, by the sight of the book I am being presented with. (If Somepony is putting this much of an effort, in making sure I am seeing the book; it has to be something more, something really spectacular.. or, so my mind is reasoning)

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“The Book”.

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Pass: "Faux Pas" Confirmed..

The Book

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Choo Choo Choo - Ray..!!!