//------------------------------// // No Freedom // Story: Cleansed of Darkness // by SilverStar7 //------------------------------// Starlight had not slept particularly well that night, but she would not allow herself to wait any longer. The moment she awoke, she made up her mind. Today was going to be different. Today she would finally let go of her past. No matter how wobbly she took the steps. No matter how many times she yawned. She did not stop until she stood at the door to the meditation chamber. Twilight's meditation chamber. It had been generous of Twilight to give Starlight her own room for this, but a part of Starlight wondered if there was something special about Twilight's chamber. The mare always came out so much more relaxed, as if all of her troubles were a thousand miles away. Perhaps the room was enchanted to play soothing music, or held an artifact that exuded calming waves, or the tapestries displayed realistic fields and lakes to produce a serene environment. Or maybe it was just like her room, and this expedition would accomplish nothing. In either case, surely her progress could not get any worse from this experience. With a sigh, Starlight pushed her hoof against the door. It did not budge. In hindsight, this detail should not have surprised Starlight. It was clear that Twilight wanted her privacy in this room. But to lock it when it was not even in use? Starlight brought her hoof back and rubbed at her eye. Her first thought was to use a basic lock picking spell. The fact that this was her initial instinct bothered Starlight. I really do need help. But that was why she was here. And if anything in the room was really that private, Twilight would put all sorts of enchantments on the door to keep ponies out, right? Right. Starlight pointed her horn at the door and both it and the lock lit up with turquoise magic. There was a soft click, and the door gently swung inward a couple centimeters. With a light nod to herself, Starlight pushed open the door further as she began to enter, but stopped. She heard a voice coming from the room. "No. Not today." The mood of the voice startled Starlight the most. It was defeated desperation. Sadness soaked every syllable. The voice knew its plea was hollow. It was a tone that froze Starlight's hooves to the floor. After several moments of silence, the voice returned. "You said you wouldn't be back for a while. You said the trip would help." Anguish and distress rested upon the surface of the words. But both phrases were now long enough that Starlight could identify the speaker. "Twilight?" The voice gasped. "Who is that?!" Definitely Twilight. Not waiting another instant, Starlight threw the door open the rest of the way and ran into the room. What she saw was both clear and unbelievable. The chamber looked much like the rest of the castle. Its walls and columns were made from blue and purple crystals. However the only window to the room was draped, so the light came from torches along the walls, giving the room a warm glow not present in most of Twilight's castle. Toward the far end of the room stood Twilight. A chain bound each of her hooves. Her coat and mane were in disarray, torchlight glinting off of the grease. One side was matted down from sleeping. The other bristled with all manner of cowlick and stray hairs. The whites of her eyes burned red. Dark streaks sat prominently on each side of her muzzle. A black ring rested upon the base of her horn. And upon her back, there were no wings. Twilight squinted as she tried to see through the light cascading in from the hall. But then her jaw dropped, her eyes went wide, and she screamed. She tried to gallop closer to the far wall, but the effort merely tripped her legs with her chains, causing her to drop to the floor. She writhed, trying to stand back up, only further entangling herself. Starlight gaped at the scene for several seconds, doing nothing until a part of her mind yelled Help her! Charging forward, her horn ignited, holding the flailing Twilight in place with her magic as she began to examine the chains around her. "No! Please! Don't take my cutie mark again!" The cry made Starlight involuntarily glance at Twilight's flank. Her blank flank. Looking at Twilight's face, and seeing the abject horror, Starlight said, "Just relax. I'll have you untangled in a minute." She gently lifted Twilight up a few inches and, one by one, unscrambled the chains with her magic. Thankfully, none had been knotted so badly that she needed to move Twilight during the process. She simply and diligently worked each chain free. All the while, Twilight's expression slowly shifted from terror to confusion. When her work was done, Starlight lifted Twilight back onto her hooves facing back at her. "Are you okay?" Starlight asked. Twilight screamed. "No! What do you want from me?" "I... I don't want anything from you..." "Then go away!" shouted Twilight. Fresh tears beginning to spout as she clenched shut her eyes and shook her head, falling into a small puddle on the floor. "Leave me alone! Go away! Go away! Go away!" Again and again, Twilight shouted the command. Now scared herself, Starlight shouted back, "Alright!" and abruptly fled the room. The moment she was in the hall, she slammed shut the door and re-locked it. She then backed away until she bumped into the far wall, sitting on the floor and leaning back against it. Her breathing was heavy and erratic. Her mind focused only on the immediate past of what she had just witnessed. What in Celestia's name was that?