Chapter Text
Soft hooves paced on the pristine wooden floorboards, the crowd outside roared cheers and excitement for the show as it was about to begin. Gilded Crown took in a breath, calming himself for the show that he was about to perform.
His golden yellow coat and blonde highlighted mane was rather matted as sleeping in that tour bus bed wasn't very soft when your rolling from the movement of the bus. Attendants rushed around him from where he paced, brushing his mane with a comb and polishing his hooves with items held by their unicorn magic. It was difficult with his moving and finally one spoke up.
"Gilded, dear can you stop moving, you preform in 10 and we need to get you ready."
"Oh, Celestia! I'm sorry"
He slowed his pace, pausing in the middle of the room.
With his pacing paused the Attendants hurried to finish, doing so in record time as some creature called out from the stage area.
" 5 to show! Send Gilded out to the stage!"
Rushing the yellow Pegasus grabbed the ear mic from his desk and headed out to the stage. Standing behind the red curtain as two body guards joined him. He could hear the screams of the crowd even louder now as the announcer called out his name.
"Welcome to Gilded Crowns sixth tour show, placing in the great city of Manehatten. I hope you are all ready for a wonderful time at this concert!" Echoed the voice of the announcer.
It was true this was his sixth concert on tour but this was the largest crowd he had ever seen, it was a large surprise to him when the tickets sold out in less than a week. His wings fluttered at the thought before pressing back down to his golden sides. Gilded wings of course, where much smaller than the normal Pegasus, small to the point where he could not fly and never would. He never minded much anyways.
The announcer had said something pulling Gilded from his own thoughts as he looked at the red curtains in confusion.
" I hope you all enjoy the show!" The announcer bellowed from a mic.
Gilded Crown turned quickly watching a griffon covered in white and grey feathers dip behind the curtains. They winked, a hooked beak opening to address Gilded.
"Your fans are ready to watch you preform, I think this ones going to be the best yet!"
Flashing a grin to the kind griffon announcer, he adjusted the mic connected and wrapped around his ear before pushing the curtain away with a tender hoof. Lights flooded his vision as he stepped out onto the stage, almost blinding him. It took a moment for the yellow Pegasus to get his bearings as the crowd drowned out his own thoughts. Creatures of every type filled the concert area, some of which he had never even known to exist until now.
Taking it all in he adjusted his mic once more before the spoke to the screaming crowd just a few feet Infront of him.
"Wow, I have to say I'm surprised with how many creatures have shown up today! Thank you all for coming to see my show."
His cheerful and soft voice filled the area of the concert, pouring from the speakers as Gilded stepped forward walking further out onto the stage. The spot lights followed after him, lighting his golden coat and making it seem to sparkle.
" Now why don't we get on with this show!"
As he spoke, a large grin on his face as he looked down at the mass amount of fans, a thud echoed from backstage. The spotlights and all other lights nearby flicker for a moment before the lights shut off completely. Leaving Gilded and all creatures in the crowd blind in the darkness.
" Oh dear.... We must have had a Power-outage. I'm sure it will be fixed in a few moments, don't worry everyone this show will not be cancelled."
Letting out a nervous chuckle, He took a few steps away from the edge of the stage. His eyes scanning for his body guard's which only one could be seen in sight, as he turned to look the body guard gave a nod. His eyes unable to be seen under his dark sunglasses.
It wasn't soon after that the first set of red curtains began to close, cutting the singer off from his dear fans that stood looking up at the stage with confusion on their faces.
" I'm sure Its fine everyone... I suppose I'll be back once they fix these technical issues!"
Finished his words the curtains closed fully, leaving him now in darkness worse than before as the Pegasus began to call out.
" What's going on back there? I need to start this show!"
No one answered his calls as Gilded spun around to look at the Body Guard now towering over him with eyes almost full green besides white pupil's.
"Your not my security?"
" No, I'm not" Said the looming figure, its voice sounding as if twenty or more voices spoke at once.
Gilded was grabbed by this large creature, his mic clattering to the ground despite still broadcasting the voices out to the crowd beyond the curtain. Rather quickly a heavy hoof was slammed over his mouth, not unlike being struck by a small bundle of bricks. The hoof muffled Gilded's panic screaming as he started to kick and thrash in the unknown hooves.
Words spoken from the figure started to become intelligible as Gilded could feel and see bright green magic from the figures horn wrap around him luring him into a drowsy state. He could now see from the corner of his left eye, a second figure. They were talking, he didn't know what and he still didn't know when the world faded from his vision.
Falling into a dark magic induced slumber.
Voices.
Voices talking, one annoyed but silverly and deep. A second voice, brash and Raucous.
" Do you think he's going to wake up soon?" The second voice spoke, a red stallion now coming into the blurry view of Gilded Crown.
" I do not know, My magic isn't exactly controlled. You know this."
" Yeah yeah, I know."
" I do have a single question. Why is he not tied up?"
The words got Gilded interest as he was now almost fully awake and noticed that the words were correct, he wasn't tied up. He was instead slumped against a wooden wall.
Gilded took a good look around the room and the ponies in it. The room itself was not too big but was connected to a hallway and two other rooms that he could see Infront of him. The room was messy, papers and books thrown around on tables and sometimes on the floor. Then his gaze came to the figures, his kidnappers it seemed. The first was a reformed changeling, scared with a purple face that faded down into teal. Tucked beetle like wings and a horn but unlike a unicorns as it was curved, it rested Infront of a small see-through mane. He had never seen a changeling look so interesting yet terrifying.
The next pony was more pony like carrying a red coat and a blonde mane that stuck out in places. His tail was unlike any that Gilded has seen before, long and pointed into a spade at the end with darker red stripes. His eyes were a bright purple and captivated Gilded's gaze. A gaze which was now meet.
" Look at him, That little Pegasus isn't going anywhere and you know it."
The changeling turned to look at Gilded, sighing at the red pony.
" I suppose not... just don't let him escape alright?"
The red purpled eyed stallion ignored the changeling stepping over to Gilded and grabbed his face with a hoof. Gilded tensed up as purple eyes meet his and he watched a tonge pass over sharp fangs. A snicker escaped from the stallion as he started to address the singer.
" You seem jumpy, calm down. We didn't kidnap you to murder you or ransom."
"Then why did you kidnap me?" Gilded's voice wavered and his breath grew shaky as he was face to face with one of his kidnappers.
The changeling spoke from the back. " Actually, We need your help."
The red stallion let go of Gilded stepping away as the teal changeling joined him. His horn lit a green glow as he started to move books and papers around seemingly looking for something as he spoke.
" I am The Collector, My partner here is Star Killer"
Pulling a map of equestria and the lands beyond, it was rather tattered. Red pen scribbled over and circling some places on the map other places crossed out in what seemed to be a pink sparkle gel pen.
" We need you to help us, Find something."