//------------------------------// // Chapter 7 // Story: The Magic Paint Brushes // by Ugly-Duckling123 //------------------------------// After Sarah was on the other side she took a look at the castle in front of her. "Wonder where my knight is then..." she said out loud smiling. "Why in the dungeon of course...." an unknown voice behind her said making her jump. "Who... Who's there?" Sarah said looking around trying to show she wasn't afraid. "I'm not afraid of you." "Well Princess Sarah," Nightmare Moon said coming out of the shadows "You should be..." "You're this Nightmare Moon then? What have you done with my friend?" "Like I said," Nightmare Moon answered fangs showing "He's in the dungeon. But since you're a princess...." A bright flash came from Nightmare's horn blinding Sarah for a few seconds. "You get to stay in the tower. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got some meddling ponies to take care of." she said turning into smoke and vanishing into the shadows. Back at the bridge, every-pony had just finished crossing it and were looking around for Sarah. "She probably went on ahead," Twilight said walking to the doors. "So why are the doors shut then Twilight?" Spike said on her back looking up at the castle. "Er..." Suddenly there was midnight blue smoke swirling all around them then Nightmare Moon's voice was heard. "Ah if it isn't the Elements of Harmony," it said. Then seeing Spike and Zecora added "And some friends I see." Every-pony was looking around trying to find Nightmare Moon. When she was not found however Twilight just called out... "What have you done with our friends Nightmare Moon?" "Friends? Friends?" the voice spoke out. "My dear Twilight it didn't look like you were friends with that 'Princess'. And her Knight has been here since they trespassed into my land." All at once the smoke stopped and in front of the ponies stood a very solid looking Nightmare Moon wings spread, her eyes on the Element of Magic. "So how could you possibly be friends with him?" Spike, being baby dragon, who got scared of things like this, was clinging tightly to Twilight's legs again eyes on Nightmare Moon, as the main six took up their fighting poses all eyes on the dark Alicorn in front of them. "Just because we haven't met, does not mean we are not friends, Nightmare Moon." Twilight said trying to ignore the pain Spike's claws were giving her. "So tell us... What have you done to them?" "Is that any way to talk to your Princess?" Nightmare Moon said looking Twilight straight in the eye. "You never were, nor shall ever be our Princess." Twilight said back, getting nods of agreement from the others. "Apologize, at once" Nightmare Moon said looking at the group. "All of you." "No." the main six said - Spike being too scared, Zecora knowing this wasn't her fight. "I'll give you all, to the count of Three." Nightmare Moon said standing up to her full height looking down on these ponies. "One..." the still stood firm. "Two..." Nightmare Moon continued closing her eyes and the winds picked up and the blue smoke spun around the ponies again in a tighter circle. "Three." Nightmare Moon screamed opening her now completely white eyes her smoke cloud spinning so fast it looked like a blue Cathrine-wheel keeping the ponies from moving and activating the Elements. Suddenly they all felt themselves leave the ground and fall onto cold cell room flooring rubbing bruises and seeing Nightmare Moon on the other side of the door looking at them her fangs bared. "You may come out, when you learn to be loving subjects." she said before slinking back into the shadows. "That could have gone better." Rainbow Dash said looking around to see where they were. "It could also of been worse," Zecora said picking up her staff. "So lets thank her for giving us a blessing and not a curse" "Guess you're right Zecora," Applejack said placing her hat back on her head turning to Twilight. "So Twi... Where are we?" "You're in the dungeons Orange," a boy's voice said from the cell across from them making everyone spin around. "Would of thought that was obvious." "First off you lazy son of a Timber-wolf, I'm an Apple." Applejack said getting as close as she could to the boy. "The Oranges are my stuck-up aunt and uncle who live in Manehattan. Second I wasn't talking to you." "So," the boy said playing with a paper ball lying on the stone bed and throwing it up only to catch it again. "Haven't you or anyone else in that little group answer to a question that was not theirs?" "Who in Tartars are you Buster?" Rainbow Dash asked standing next to her frozen in thought friend. "Humph... Is that any way to say hello to someone Cloud-butt?" he said smiling at how this annoyed the pony in question, getting up and walking to his cell door, seeing the two toned pink pony had a box of popcorn in her hoof, while the others, apart from the Zebra, were all starring shocked at him. "Is that, Weirdo?" Rainbow returned flaring her wings in annoyance. "Hey, I'm only trying to buy time before Nightmare Moon comes and destroys us." the boy said holding up his hands and smirking a little. "By insulting us?" Twilight asked raising an eye brow. "Hey that's how I say 'hello'." the boy said turning his back on the ponies (and Dragon) and returning back to his 'bed'. "Especially if I'm upset or worried about things." he said looking up at the ceiling sighing. "Erm... Are you Eric then... Sir" a small timid voice asked sounding loud against the quiet and stillness of the dungeon. Not even caring or turning to check which on is was, the boy answered the voice. "Yes. Yes I am."