//------------------------------// // Round two // Story: Aftermath: A Changeling's Punishment // by Kastrinn //------------------------------// In my opinion, being chained to a wall sucked ass, but what sucked more was having chains run through the holes in my legs, connected to the ceiling. These royal dimwits decided to change the way of their slow "torture", making me hang upside down. Surprisingly, it was the same two guards that were posted in front of my cell. Smirking, I was about to make a snarky comment at them until I heard footsteps and some echoing voices down the hall, making me curious. "Show us to the Changeling!" An all too familiar voice called out from the dungeon, making his stomach churn. As hoof steps got closer, I remembered back to the day of the battle, it wasn't much, but one moment stood out the most. The hoof steps got louder as they neared my cell, the guard's reacting to somepony of royalty, for I saw them bow. The pony, or alicorn, finally came into my view. Even though my sight was inverted, I could immediately tell who it was. It appeared that the mare soon came to realize who I was, for she veered her head back, her eyes fixated on me, narrowing in anger. "Why hello there..." I stated, staring directly into the lunar princess's eyes. "If it isn't the great princess of the night." I snorted after finishing my sentence, attempting to spit at the princess, but it didn't go very far. I gave a frown, letting out a sigh at the failed assault. "Your name, Changling...." Luna asked coldly, not wanting to get off track with her current objective. "What is it?" "I'd assume you'd already know, Princess Luna." I scoffed. "But just for you, I'll tell anyways. The name's Bellose....General Bellose." I let it sink in, watching her recall back to her memories, smiling when she finally got confirmation. "Guards, you may leave your post for the day." She stated, still staring at me as the guards left their post. Once they were gone, Luna spoke up again. "I have to commend you for lasting as long as you did against me. Many others hadn't made that far in combat against me." I was taken aback, noticing she wasn't speaking in third pony, but I kept my composure. "What, gonna give me a cookie for doing a good job?" I snickered at my own joke, expecting her to keep an annoyed look, but I didn't expect what I got. "Would you like one?" Luna gave off a small smile, sitting down as she does so, magically teleporting a cookie just outside my cell. I must've stayed awed for a while, for she snapped me back to reality by throwing a pebble at me, waving the cookie in front of me. I weighed my options, either die slowly without food, or die slowly with food. "Yes.........?" It sounded more like a question as I said it out loud, but the cookie was rested upon my chest. I craned my neck to get it, but I wasn't that flexible. I was some what pissed, hearing an audible snicker from the princess, tilting my head in confusion as I looked at her. "Why are you........What are your motives?" I asked firmly, wanting answers. "You have intrigued me, your fighting capabilities almost surpassed my own, almost." She replied, but not finished. "But if I do recall, our fight was interrupted....." I realized what she wanted, giving out a laugh, the cookie falling of my chest, breaking into multiple pieces. "You want to continue our fight? That's hilarious." I stated, my laughing coming to an end as she gave me a cold stare, her expression changed. "Then lets make a deal......" The princess's words shocked me, a deal, what kind, but I stayed silent, looking at her with a blank stare. "A sparring match, weapons of your choice, no magic of course...." Luna started off, smirking at what she'll say next. "If I win, you'll tell us everything you know, if you win......You will be set free." My ears perked, her words repeating like a broken record inside my mind. "Set free" She had placed my freedom as a bargaining chip. I looked up at my chains, seeing them vine around my legs, going through the holes in them. Pondering, I questioned the chances of winning and getting out, assuming she's lying. "You promise, no pony will interfere?" I asked, making sure of her words. Watching her confirm with a nod. "You drive a hard bargain I can't refuse....." I finally said, letting my head hang down, closing my eyes. "I'll do it......" I finished slowly, sighing. She stood up, starting to trot away. "Preparations shall begin tomorrow, prepare to fight for your freedom, General." She said, looking back at me before she left, leaving me alone with my thoughts and memories. "The hell did I get myself into......" I mused silently, the torch flickering being the only sound to be heard as I awaited my only chance of escape. Tomorrow was going to be a long day, and I could feel it. THE NEXT DAY Metal clanging of keys hitting iron bars awoke me, letting out groans of tired discomfort. Watching around five guards surround me, I snap at one of them, just missing their foreleg as he leaped back. I got a punch to the face as a result. As they freed me from the ceiling, I dropped to the ground with a thud, letting out a grunt of pain. Soon dragging me out of my cell, I slid along the floor by my chains, musing at the fact. But my thoughts were interrupted by stairs. "Ow....ow.....ow.....ow....ow." I exclaimed, bumping my head on each step while dragged up them to the outside. To my surprise, it was night outside, expecting to be blinded by the sun the "celestial highness" had control over. Finally they stopped dragging me, thank Chrysalis, and I was jabbed by one of the guards, forcing me to stand up on my hooves. I retorted with an aggressive snap at his spear, breaking the handle in two with my jaws, causing him to back off. "That's right, watch yourself, prick." I thought to myself, glaring into the guard's eyes. But my attention was soon brought to Princess Luna as she coughed, loudly. "Be prepared to lose, General." She exclaimed with haughty pride in her tone. She then pointed to the small armory, being guarded by ponies wearing dark blue armor, which I've never seen. I walked over, the chains still entangled within my legs, but I didn't bother to remove them because I couldn't for they were padlocked as well. My eyes traveled along the table of weapons, musing over the amount they actually had. But something was missing, I could feel it. "Do you happen to have a scythe?" I asked, looking to the guards and the princess, watching her give a nod to one of the guards. The guard had left, and came back with a familiar sight. I whistle in pleasure, taking it my hooves. For some reason, I was actually able to levitate it, surprised. But I soon gave up wondering how, and walked over into a fighting position, the scythe spinning in the air with my magic, splitting it into two, now having two scythes. I smirked at all of their expressions, but Luna didn't have the same, she just had a smile, levitating two swords at her sides. "The match shall begin on my mark." One of the guards said, but both Luna's and my attention were fixated on each other, ready to battle. "BEGIN!" He shouted immediately backing out of the courtyard, watching us begin our fight. Luna was the first to charge, swinging her swords at me, quickly countering her with my scythe, twirling it in the air, blocking her attack. Jumping at her, the scythe's spun around me, cutting the ground in front of me like a lawn mower. Walking slowly towards her, the scythe's begin to spin faster, affecting the air, creating the sound of a breeze. Suddenly, a sword came down upon me, I quickly dodge, but the sword locks one of the chain links into the ground, limiting my movement. With a quick slash at the chains, I cut through it, the blade of the scythe swishing through the air. I soon bring the scythes back together, swinging them into a figure eight, creating a defensive stance. Countering each attempted slash made at me, knocking her swords out of the way. As if time jumped, Luna appeared right in front of me, I dodged her, rolling under her, ending up behind her. She quickly spun around, slashing at my hooves. I jumped, but the chains dragged me to the ground as she hit them, falling down with a thud. "Yield, if you know what's best for you." Luna firmly said, holding a sword to my neck. Quickly looking around, I spotted the table, using my magic to levitate the swords and knives, flying towards her with speed. "Princess watch out!" One of the guards yelled to her, but to slow, they struck her spine, legs, cutting her ear. She fell to her knees, cut up badly. I looked at her with no remorse, hearing her screams of pain as I stood up again. But I was immediately tackled by the guards. But everypony suddenly froze in time, like a magical spell. But not, cause I turned my head to look at what the guards were looking at, my eyes widening. "What is going on here!" Princess Celestia yelled loudly, almost making my ears bleed. She was standing upon a balcony, obviously looking angered at her loss of sleep. She looked down at Princess Luna, then me, her eyes narrowing at me. I could tell I was screwed.