Descending, Tartarus' long tunnels wormed their way deeper into darkness, almost bathing those who wandered into it in the complete dimness. Twisted and rocky, the walls that confined their freedom were flawed, imperfect from the rest of Equestria's beauty. Miniature, loose stones cluttered the broken, cracked and gothic ground of the prison, it seemed inevitable for someone to trip or at least stumble. Along the ancient, cracked walls were torches, yellow flames dancing and flickering through the darkness, sparking light towards their destination.
Though her eyes opened, Twilight couldn't grasp what was going on around her. Everything was a blur, her vision failed to restore the world she was in. Constantly, the routes of her ears shuddered; shaking and quivering to the sound of an unknown screech that played and lazed in her imagination. However, the bothersome screech was quick to fade and finally, her sight building up. Her back was slumped against the tunnel's wall, her spine feeling irked by the prison's irregular surface. Finally, Twilight took notice of the dark shade of pale-white idling in her vision. As each second passed, the drained alicorn fluttered her eyes, her sight improving swiftly with each blink.
"Cel... Celestia?" She mumbled, feeling discomfort.
"No..." The deep, tight voice denied.
By the time Twilight's eyesight fully restored, her brain was overwhelmed with great consternation. Despite that she had just unpleasantly woke up, her eyes snapped open wide as she found herself staring into the drab, dark eyes of The Hunter.
"...Dead wrong."
With Twilight slouching against the tunnel's wall, The Hunter had lowered himself down; crouching by the princess' side. In a desperate attempt to try and escape, Twilight's wings spread from her side. Catching onto her sudden spark in consciousness, he took action. The Hunter quickly rose from his crouched position, his foot slamming down against her chest, preventing her from escaping. Like daggers, the claw parts of his foot tightly dug into her. Wailing in pain as she felt the whole of her body being pushed back against the tunnel's wall, she tried to fight the soreness that was inflicted upon her.
"Aah!" Twilight wailed, her eyes sealed shut as pain took its course.
Feeling the great weight of his foot press down against her chest, Twilight's eyes darted up at The Hunter's mask, eye to eye they faced each other. In another attempt to escape, she tried to teleport, however, it was hopeless. Her ability and spells were being blocked. On her horn, dark crystals swarmed like locusts, this was the source interfering with her magic.
"That's not going to work," The Hunter informed, sounding disappointed in her effort to try and escape.
"Where are my friends?!" Twilight growled through the pain that flowed through her.
"No harm will come to them unless they do anything foolish..." The Hunter's blade-like fingers brushed against Twilight's face. "For now."
"If they're hurt-"
Just before Twilight could warn him or even speak, she was cut off by his growling, the spikes around his mask rattling as a sign of annoyance.
"Watch your mouth!" The Hunter interjected. "Not that you're already under my skin, you don't want to push deeper, do you? Not in the position you and your friends are in."
Giving in to his intimidation, he did have a point. She was captured as were her friends, doing something foolish would bring her and her friends' harm. Dropping the brave face, Twilight blinked slowly and sighed, fear enthralling her. She didn't know what to do.
Sounding frail, Twilight spoke, "What do you want from me?" She asked, knowing that his answer wasn't going to be pleasant.
"Many things." He answered. "I want you to suffer, to see you helpless and scared. I want you wiped from this world and have you remembered as the worthless coward you really are... But for now, I want to talk."
"I have nothing to say to you!" She growled, her eyes narrowed in anger, trying to look past his endless, deep eyes.
"Then just listen." He told in a calm tone, bring himself a little closer towards the distressed alicorn. "I don't know if it was valour or fear that brought you to this place, but coming here was a mistake. You're better than this, I know that. But I guess Fright's right, fear does change you. Take it from me."
"You don't know a thing about me," Twilight growled, growing tired.
"Oh, I know a lot about you and your friends." He countered. "I know how that mind of yours works, I know how you think and how you function. Given the circumstances you've been under, you've always found a way to miraculously squirm your way out of tough situations, but not this time. If you try anything, escaping or fighting back, I will break that horn from your head and make one of your friends swallow it." He threatened.
With his clawed-like foot holding her down, gripping her neck tightly, The Hunter lowered himself towards Twilight, eye to eye with each other. The alicorn simply showed an expression of anger, grinding her teeth in annoyance.
"Do you understand?" The Hunter asked calmly.
In response, Twilight remained silent. With the way The Hunter was acting, she felt like she was gambling with death.
"Do not make me repeat myself." His voice harshened.
"I understand," Twilight acknowledged in an anguished tone.
After making her squeak, the grip from The Hunter's clawed foot loosened and he lifted it from her chest. "You are awfully predictable. Always thinking of your friends, well, some of them, anyway."
She locked a look of grimace upon The Hunter, scowling at him.
Rudely, he grabbed one of Twilight's wing, his cold, rough fingers gripping them tightly, dragging the poor alicorn along the cold, rugged ground. Through the tunnels, the dark, crafty hunter took the lead, walking swiftly satisfied with his most recent capture. His clawed feet crushed the loose stones that scattered the prison's ground, causing the small stones to crumble and multiply. He remained latched onto Twilight's wing, dragging her body along the cracked floor. At the end of the darkened tunnel, a gloomy light barely clouded away the darkness.
Dark and hellish, Tartarus' pit was beyond anything nice, the sun, moon, sky, stars, they were all absent, only darkness with a few dull lights dancing to their song of loneliness. The only positive thing about this place was that it detained the vicious and sadistic creatures that hungered to create pain and misery. Through the twisted, cave-like corridor, the prison's levels somehow descended deeper. The many levels there were was sickening and what was frightening was that the prisoners were soon to be released.
Just outside of the main pit where the breakout was being orchestrated, a small, gloomy, damp room contained a few holding cells that would confine Twilight's friends. The room was small and constructed of stone. Grey, tough and cold, not any different from the rest of the prison. Furthermore, the floor was made from cobble, jagged and uneven, as if it was made without much of a care. Hammered into the walls, chains and shackles laid present, cementing depression and intense fear into anyone who was unlucky enough to be a prisoner. Burrowed into the walls were holes, holding cells that were rotten, but now full of life containing their new, scared prisoners.
Orders from Queen Chrysalis, the changelings had thrown Twilight's friends into the empty cells and took Celestia to another section of the prison, but leaving behind two changelings to guard the room. As for Twilight, she remained with The Hunter. Through the darkness, the sound of banging echoed constantly.
Determined and angered, Rainbow Dash threw herself at the iron bars that restricted her from leaving the cell. With great speed and might, she continued to throw herself at the bars with little success of escaping. They were all behind bars, including Fluttershy who remained senseless after trailing the hallucinogenic fog.
Traumatised and powerless, it was needless to say that they were all scared after travelling through the fear-inducing fog. What made it worse is that they were captured, however, it would appear that they would rather sit behind bars rather than travelling through Fright's fog.
Almost developing a rhythmic beat, Rainbow Dash continued to try and loosen the bars that trapped her. With no success, she grew irked, fearing the worse was soon to come.
Applejack simply watched the pegasus through her own cell, maintaining a perfect grip on reality. She was fine, however, the images of her fears projected over and over in her mind, the fact that she was helpless and chased.
Rarity held herself together, trembling. Now and then, she'd check herself if she wasn't falling apart, worried that she'd wither away like the fog made her believe.
Still, almost lifeless, Pinkie Pie didn't bother moving. Her head remained still, her eyes focusing on the floor. It wasn't like Pinkie Pie to be silent for this long, she was afraid.
"Come on! Break!" Rainbow Dash shouted, tiring herself out.
Opposite of Rainbow Dash's cell, Applejack watched and grew tired of the noise the resilient pegasus produced.
"Give it up, Rainbow," Applejack advised, sounding concerned. "You're only gonna hurt yourself."
"Give up?! No way!" She refused. "I haven't come all this way just to get thrown in a cell." She finished her sentence with another leap towards her bars, failing to break free.
In between Rainbow Dash and Applejack, Rarity stared lifelessly at the bars that restricted her freedom, however, she was aware of what her friends were talking about. Every now and then, she held her mouth in fear that her teeth would fall out. She couldn't tell if she was still in the fog.
"It's hopeless, Rainbow," Rarity joined the conversation, sounding defeated. "This prison is a nightmare... If those dreaded monsters couldn't escape these cells, what makes you think we will?"
"There has to be a way out!" Rainbow Dash told, tiring herself out. "Giving up isn't an option, not for us! I didn't go through that freak's fog just to call all this a loss. We're getting out of here." She continued, "Besides... If it's anything Daring Do has taught me, there's always a way out." Quickly, Rainbow took notice of her unicorn friend. "Rarity, can't you use your magic to phase through the bars or teleport yourself out of there?"
Rarity turned to Rainbow, shaking a little, but still answered.
"I... I can't." She stated. "Whatever that hunter did to my horn has blocked me from using any sort of magic." She answered, gently lifting her hooves to feel the dark crystals still intact.
Quickly, a shiver took Rarity by surprise and tightly she held herself in fear, hoping that she would not break or fall apart again like she did while venturing through the mind-sickening fog.
"Argh!" The frustrated pegasus leaned against her own bars in aggravation. "We were so close! We survived all of those stupid illusions just to get caught! The Hunter... Who does he think he is?"
"Someone who clearly doesn't like us," Applejack commented with a low sigh.
"This is getting ridiculous!" Rainbow Dash shouted. "The breakout could happen at any moment, Fluttershy's out cold, the changelings have taken Princess Celestia and that demon of a Hunter could be hurting Twilight as we speak."
"Thanks for remindin' us just how dire the situation is, Rainbow," Applejack replied with a frown. "We can't do much while we're in these cells."
"What's wrong with you all?!" The pegasus blared. "Why are you all so eager to give up?"
"Look around, Rainbow!" Rarity told, even she had to double take to realise that she was in a cell. "We're trapped, captured. What can we do in an awful mess like this?"
"We can at least try!" She told, trying to pull down the bars, struggling, but still trying to grasp her freedom. "Unlike all of you, I'm the only one that seems to be making an effort on trying to escape and help Twilight because right now, it seems like I'm the only one that's her friend."
"What's that suppose to mean?" Applejack barked with a glare.
"Stop it! Stop it!" A scream of anguish erupted from below Rarity's cell, revealing Pinkie Pie, completely frightened.
At that moment, the argument between Rainbow Dash and Applejack came to a sudden stop, no longer did they feel anger consume them. Instead, they just fell disappointed in themselves when they lowered their eyes below Rarity's holding cell. They witnessed Pinkie Pie tilting her head down against the bars, sniffling.
It was hard for Rarity to see the pink mare due to the fact that her cell was below her. She couldn't lay her eyes upon her grieving friend. However, Rainbow Dash and Applejack picked on their scared, aching friend.
As her eyelids clenched together, the tears still found a way to force through her sealed eyes. Pinkie Pie couldn't help but feel worried, stressed and scared. In her mind, the thought of her friends and those horrible faces laughing at her, screeching and screaming continued to haunt her while she was trapped in the fog. It didn't help that her friends were arguing, it didn't help her feel any better knowing all options were hopeless. Now that Twilight was alone with this Hunter, she feared the worse.
Silence danced in the air, caressing them lightly. Slowly, the lack of sound began to gnaw away at them, poisoning their bodies until they felt paralyzed. They had been bickering like children in a situation like this. Finally, the sound of sniffling broke the silence.
"I... I just want to go home..." Pinkie Pie sniffled.
Applejack swallowed down her guilt and spoke, "Hey... Pinkie, it's okay."
"Yeah," Rainbow Dash backed up. "We'll find a way out of this."
Not knowing how to add any comfort to the pink mare, Rarity silenced herself, fear wiped her thoughts of amenity. She was scared, they all were.
"We're all scared, Pinkie," Applejack assured. "But we'll get through this, we always have."
Through the comfort, the pink mare began to wipe her tears away.
"Yeah!" The pegasus approved to Applejack's words. "Applejack's right. We've been through worse than this, nothing gets by us, we always find a way." Despite her words of encouragement, her friends along with herself didn't feel too better, fear remained seated in their system. "We haven't lost just yet. Twilight's still out there, she could have escaped from that Hunter, she's gotta have a solution sorted, I'm sure she's planning something right now."
"How do you know?" Pinkie Pie asked, trying to fight her sadness, almost as if all sign of hope had vanquished from her.
"She doesn't."
As if their hearts had been punctured, their heads turned to the room's entrance where the two changelings where stationed. However, the two guards didn't speak a word. The voice that answered Pinkie's question sounded cold, corrupt and rough. Emerging from the darkness and into the room, The Hunter came into sight, dragging Twilight by the wing, scraping her along the rough ground, not giving her a chance to stand, he continued to just drag her. Desperately, she tried to stand, but it just ended with her struggling.
Worried, Rarity clamoured, "Twilight!"
Applejack simply growled at the figure while Pinkie Pie watched, worriment evident in her eyes as she watched The Hunter drag her friend without a care.
"Hey... Hey!" Rainbow Dah yelled in enmity, her eyes narrowing down at The Hunter. "Let her go!"
Ignoring the pegasus' foolish shouting, he continued. Not allowing the alicorn to barely stand, The Hunter's claw remained tightly locked onto her wing, allowing her helpless friends to watch him drag the Princess of Friendship roughly. Harshly, he heaved her just in front of him, in the centre of the room.
Before she could even stand up straight, The Hunter forcefully kicked her in the stomach. An anguished cry escaped her mouth as she felt the full force of his foot jolt to her stomach. In pain, she fell back down to the ground, winded and damaged.
All around, Twilight's friends took different reactions to this act. Like before, Rainbow Dash continued to yell at The Hunter, trying to pick a fight with him, desperately trying to break her prison bars to prevent him from hurting her. Shocked and scared, Pinkie Pie looked away, not wanting to see where this monster would go next with his attack. Applejack and Rarity felt a mix of anger and sickness. Much like Rainbow Dash, they were shouting at him to stop, pleading.
"Hey, freak!" Rainbow Dash growled. "Leave her alone! You wanna pick a fight, open this cage and I'll show you what happens when you mess with my friends.”
Bored of the pegasus' antics, The Hunter responded, "I won't entertain your foolishness." He remarked.
"Foolishness?!"
While Rainbow argued, Applejack spoke, averting her need and attention to Twilight. There was not much she could do due to the fact that her prison bars confined her.
"Twilight, are you alright?" She asked.
Struggling greatly, Twilight breathed, catching her breath, "I'm... I'm fine."
Before Applejack could respond, she was cut off.
"Of course you are," The Hunter interjected, all eyes on him. "You didn't think I was going to kill you there and then, did you?" He asked. "Oh no, not yet. First, the world is going to watch you suffer."
The Hunter grabbed Twilight's infected horn as she was overcome with pain. Nearby Applejack, he threw the distressed alicorn into an empty cell, containing her. Twilight didn't do much to retaliate, she simply battled the pain The Hunter induced upon her.
Regaining her strength, she looked back up and quickly tried to lunge free from the prison hole, however, he slammed the cage door shut, the banging sound exploding her ears. Captured and now helpless, Twilight's thoughts struggled.
"You can't do this..." She stammered. "If this breakout happens, lives will be ruined and-"
Connecting, The Hunter's eyes matched with Twilight, her tongue tied the moment he brought himself closer to the prison bars. Deep down, he could see the fears within her. She was frightened.
"Do you still think you're brave?" He challenged. "You're not brave, you're ignorant. You think magic, friendship and harmony are going to solve every single problem that occurs, but it won't! Not this time," The Hunter told, walking away from Twilight.
Desperate, Twilight ran out of options, "Wait!" She pleaded. "Why are you doing this? This breakout will only cause misery and terror. What you're doing is sick... And twisted!"
Stopping dead in his tracks, The Hunter remained silent for a few moments, almost as if the whole of his body went into shutdown. Clearly, they saw one of his claws curl up into a fist in what could only be described as anger.
"When it comes to being sick and twisted, you're no different," The Hunter asserted. "You all belong in this hellhole of a prison."
"Who are you to judge us?!" Rainbow Dash questioned.
"Does it scare you? Not knowing what's behind this mask?" He said, near the exit. "I am going to enjoy watching your fears turn you inside out... Slowly and painfully..." And with that The Hunter left the room, vanishing into the darkness.
After leaving, their souls filled with silence. Their blood began to chill and curl due to The Hunter's words, not only that, but the disgusting and tainted memories of battling Fright's fog began to flood back into their minds. Trapped, outnumbered, scared, no one knew what to say. Silence had always been comfortable, but not now. It was eerie and unpleasant, sickeningly screaming down their ears.
Trying to maintain her strength, Twilight felt infected by silence. Slowly, her confidence began to fall apart, she didn't know what to do. The silence continued to poison the air until Rainbow Dash spoke, breaking the quietness.
"He's pleasant." She grumbled sarcastically.
"What were you thinking, calling him a freak like that?!" Rarity snapped at Rainbow Dash. "Were you trying to get yourself crushed?!"
"Well, I'm sorry!" She argued. "But that... Monster has a lot of nerve throwing us around like that."
"And you could have got more of a beaten' if you provoked him!" Applejack interjected.
"Look, I'm sorry, okay!" Rainbow Dash forced out. "But can we please discuss our escape! If we stay here any longer then they win. Not only that, Fluttershy is in serious need of help, she hasn't snapped out the state that she's in."
"Whatever that vile fog did must have shocked the poor dear to the core. I hope she wakes up soon," Rarity aspired, sounding scared for her friend.
"She can't wake up in a place like this, no one wants to be here," Rainbow Dash told. "The faster we get out of these cells, the better."
Overcome with anxiety, her mind flowing crazy with every picture of defeat that was soon to come, Twilight snapped from her scared, lifeless state as she realised someone was missing.
"Wait." She started. "Where's Princess Celestia?"
With worriment beginning to act up in her system, Twilight looked to her friends for answers, however, they too shared the worriment brewing within.
"The changelings took her," Rarity informed.
"What?!" Twilight panicked. "What are they going to do with her?"
From the entrance, unpleasant to their ears, two mischevious cackles were produced by the changelings guarding the room.
"Maybe Fright's going to give her a dose of that poison he has." The first changeling snickered.
"Better yet: What if our Queen will brainwash her to our side." The second changeling laughed. "Wouldn't that be a sight?"
It was only nauseating for the captured ponies to think and hear about what was going to happen to their princess. The horrid suggestions and assumptions the changelings came up with sickened Rarity's mind, nauseating Pinkie Pie, fueling Rainbow Dash with anger and feeding Applejack with worriment.
As for Twilight, the weight of the world was pushing her down, scared and anxious, she didn't know what to do. Her mentor was in trouble, her enemies were winning and continuing to scratch her mind, she couldn't let go of the fog's sickening illusions.
Right now, in the position that they were in, they could only hope that Celestia was alright.
Dreary, dark and dreadful, her surroundings was the same as any other part of the prison. Regaining her senses, the white alicorn flickered her eyes open, trying to recollect and absorb what was going on. The princess remained slumped against the cold, strong, but fractured wall. Torn away from her allies, her friends, Celestia found herself captured, defeated. She was forced to leave Twilight alone with the ruthless brute that was The Hunter. Now, she was forced to leave behind Rainbow Dash, Applejack and the others in their cells. Then she felt herself succumb to some sort of spell... Something that made her go limp and cold.
Not like Twilight and the others, Celestia wasn't trapped in a cell, she was gifted with her own space in a withered dungeon that looked like it hadn't had life in it for years. From left to right, she observed the room. No one was there, but herself. Her eyes darted over the room to where she located a heavy door that stood there. As Celestia rose from the ground, she began to walk towards her only escape, however, something began to tug on both of her wings as she progressed, stopping her dead in her tracks.
Looking back, in search of the barricade that denied her freedom, she took notice of the chains that shackled her wings, latching onto the wall she tried to walk away from. Due to The Hunter's power, the dark crystals that swarmed over her horn made her lose contact with magic. Over and over, the princess began to initiate at least one spell, but no matter how hard she tried, her magic refused to work. Exhausted, she was left with a headache and rotten stomach contaminated by worriment for Twilight and the others.
Once again, Celestia tried to walk to her exit, her hooves dragging along the floor, pulling the chains that latched onto her wings, however, it would only impair her, pulling the alicorn back. Growling in desperation and frustration, the alicorn would try once more, however, her focus on freedom was interrupted by a cackle... A sadistic and devilish cackle that Celestia instantly recognised and feared.
Emerging from the darkness, presenting herself to the eyes of her enemy, Chrysalis bestowed a smile, one that took satisfaction towards the position Celestia was trapped in. Her sharp teeth complimented her vicious appearance as she slithered closer towards her prey.
"My, my," Chrysalis began to jeer. "This is quite the sight, is it not?
Not in the mood for her mockery, Celestia could only lock a frown onto the queen.
"Chrysalis..."
"Aw, what's wrong?" Chrysalis' voice sweetened in a mocking tone. "Are you still struck by Manehatten's destruction?" She questioned, her sickening hoof that was riddled with holes gently brushing under alicorn's chin. "Pity you weren't there to stop by and witness the chaos my changelings and I managed to cause."
Celestia winced back from Chrysalis' contact, narrowing her eyes down in frustration, but remaining silent.
The insect-like queen couldn't help but sigh in gratification, "It has been a while hasn't it?" She paused, but not receiving a response. "I was expecting Twilight and her pathetic friends to try and prevent our plan, but you? I thought you'd be in that undeserved castle of yours. Waiting for your little pets to do your bidding like you always have."
There was something about her cruel grin that just showed her unpleasant joy, she smiled right in front of her.
Knocking aside the bravado, Celestia came to reason rather than retaliating, "Chrysalis, you need to listen to me." She ordered. "If you continue to aid Fright in making this breakout a success, you will be responsible for so much misery, so much destruction. You can still back down and do what's right. You're playing a game that will cause Equestria's destruction, helping Fright will only-"
"Are you seriously trying to persuade me to help you?!" Chrysalis asked in disgust, growling at the captured princess.
Celestia winced back the moment the queen presented her barrage of sharp teeth clenching against each other. Like thorns, her eyes darted into her's.
"You truly are desperate," Chrysalis continued. "So weak, so pathetic, so scared." She howled a disgusting laugh. "We've won. I've won, and it. Feels. Good." Using her magic, she grabbed Celestia's head, forcing her to look into her eyes. "To see you captured and defeated, it just fills me with satisfaction. I've long waited to seek my vengeance and who'd think it would have taken a few threats and deals just to stop you in your tracks." She spat, cackling in Celestia's face.
"It will take more than that to stop us, especially when our home is on the brink of carnage. You haven't won yet..." Celestia argued. "...And you're not going to."
"Hm, you're right..." Chrysalis giggled. "Maybe it will take more to stop you."
With her grin extending from cheek to cheek, her teeth bare and sharp, the queen's eyes grew hungry for vengeance. Celestia's eyes darted up at the queen's horn that began to glow green, charging, ready to unleash some pain upon the princess.
"I am going to enjoy this..."
With the horrific melody of Chrysalis' magic playing, screams of pain and agony began to echo through the prison's tunnels, sounding just like another broken prisoner desperate for freedom.
Buried in darkness, sealed behind the cold, iron bars, Twilight along with her friends succumbed to defeat. Rainbow Dash had grown tired of the constant banging and bashing against her cell. Her resistance was getting nowhere. As for the rest, they remained silent, the fears that they encountered would play back in their minds, looping the constant terrors over and over... Now and then, manic laughter, cheering and abrupt screaming would interrupt the flow of their thoughts. In the pit, the monsters that were imprisoned sounded happy about their freedom.
"How many are there?" Rarity asked, trembling at the thought.
"It doesn't matter," Rainbow Dash interjected with a sigh. "They're not escaping, they won't." Her attention turned away from Rarity and to Twilight's holding cell. "Come on, Twilight, there has to be some way we can escape."
With a defeated sigh, Twilight responded, "Rainbow... I... I want to put a stop to this madness, I really do, but we're out of options."
"What... What are we going to do then?" Pinkie Pie whispered, trembling as well.
"Right now... Nothing," Twilight dolefully answered.
"Wh-What?" Rarity replied, almost sounding betrayed.
Just like the white unicorn, Applejack and Pinkie Pie looked at the alicorn in shock and confusion. Before Rainbow Dash could even speak, Twilight continued.
"Right now we can't do anything. We're trapped, surrounded. Any attempt to fight or even resist would lead to one or all of us down a path of pain. I don't want to see anyone else hurt." Recollecting the ones who suffered only brought a sniffle and wave of emotional pain. "Spike... Discord, Shining Armour... Fluttershy," Twilight's head turned to see the poor, shy pegasus knocked out in her cell, overcome by her fears. "The only thing we can do is wait until Shining Armour fights back with what remains of his team..."
"We don't have time for that!" Rainbow Dash barked, pointing to Fluttershy's cell. "Whatever's happened to her, it could get worse!"
"Even if we were to escape, changelings are roaming around here like it's their nest and then there's that... Hunter..." Applejack mentioned, feeling a shiver crawl up her spine.
"His abilities are somewhat the same Sombra possessed. Hiding in the shadows and teleporting," Twilight recollected.
"You don't think..." Rarity interjected, worried about who The Hunter was.
"Sombra couldn't be The Hunter," Applejack commented. "He's gone."
"The last time I remember, wasn't he a unicorn and not some... Uh... Umm..." Pinkie Pie's sentence trailed off, failing to compare Sombra to whatever The Hunter was.
"Applejack's right," Twilight told. "The treacherous king is gone, banished where darkness isn't his ally."
"Whoever he is, he'll be the one in this cell soon!" Rainbow Dash growled.
"He said he knew how I think. He's been observant," Twilight informed, looking afraid. "He's been watching us for a while, he saw us enter Manehatten when this whole mess began. Who knows how long he's been spying on us."
"Creep," Rainbow Dash scoffed.
The fact that they were being watched all this time had put them on edge, it scared them even further that it was by this ruthless, cunning hunter. Why and how he observed them without them knowing baffled their minds.
There was nothing peaceful about the silence that lingered, it's almost as if life had just died. If Twilight had a solution to escape then she would have done it by now. Maybe she did have a plan that would succeed in her and everyone's escape, but maybe she let The Hunter's threat get to her. Another enemy to fear... And this one appeared to hate her more than anything.
Once again, another abrupt, crazed laugh clawed their ears, but it was singular, it was close and it sounded familiar. From the darkness, entering the wretched, cold cell block, the two changeling guards cleared a path, standing at attention. From the darkness, coming into light and sight, Queen Chrysalis walked with glee, containing her exhilaration upon meeting her captured enemies. Forming like daggers, her eyes pinning down Twilight along with the rest of her friends.
"Do my eyes deceive me? Not one, but two princesses are here. That and you brought your pets along, ooh!" The queen beamed a smile while expressing her delight. "How noble."
It was easier to feel hate rather than fear when Twilight was faced with Chrysalis. Glaring, her eyes flash with indignance and her mouth remained sealed, but her teeth clenched together.
Quickly, the changeling queen shot a glance at Twilight's captured friends and immediately turned her focus back to the alicorn. It would appear she digested a need for mockery.
Right now, Twilight didn't need this. She wasn't in the mood for whatever Chrysalis had planned.
Applejack and Rainbow Dash glowered at the queen's presence, finding her to be just as hated as Fright. While Pinkie Pie and Rarity shared those feelings, they couldn't help but feel intimidated.
"Chrysalis..." Twilight responded in an angered tone.
"Oh, I am delighted that you remember me, Twilight." She blithely cheered. "With all this terror that's been going on, I was actually afraid that you might have forgotten who your real foe was," Chrysalis smirked.
"What do you want?" The alicorn sternly asked, maintaining her anger.
"Tsk, tsk, Twilight," Chrysalis disapproved of Twilight's tone with a smile. "That's no way for a princess to speak to a queen."
"You're no queen!" Rainbow Dash interjected. "You're a tyrant!" She barked while Applejack gave a disapproving glare towards her for seeking trouble.
It was odd, they were expecting Chrysalis to go off and roar at her, but she simply responded to Dash with a giggle. Her snicker didn't last long and it certainly wasn't pleasant to listen to either.
"Maybe I am a tyrant..." She openly agreed with the frustrated pegasus. "...But you have to admit I'm not the one who's doomed you here, no. Your precious Princess Celestia has, foolishly bringing you here to face her mistakes, locking away the poor creatures that have no idea what the sky looks like."
"And you're gonna release them to cause havoc upon Equestria," Applejack strictly replied.
"Princess Celestia was trying to keep us safe from those beasts," Rarity added.
"Oh, I'm afraid you're wrong Miss Generosity," Chrysalis disagreed, almost singing. "She's trying to keep herself safe. But once again, it looks like her mistake is going to cause Equestria and it's inhabitants trouble, and from the ruins, an empire shall rise under my rule."
"Enough of this, Chrysalis!" Twilight refused her mockery to go any further. "Why are you here?"
With a grin that was easy enough to intimidate the alicorn, Chrysalis spoke, "For so long I have been waiting to see you like this Twilight, to see you captured, behind bars. With this pathetic alliance I'm trying to hold together with that fear-obsessed freak, I've been waiting for a moment like this to arise."
"How... How did Fright manage to convince you to work for him?!" Twilight demanded.
Insulted by her statement, Chrysalis began to snicker. Through her malicious, sadistic stare, her eyes invited the alicorn into intimidation.
"Work for? Oh no, no, no." She denied. "The way I see it, he's working for me. Right now, we are acquaintances, I provide him with my army and he makes you suffer from his fear-based spells. We want you scared, broken too, and I'll leave that to Fright, but after that, you and the rest of your pathetic friends will be mine to deal with! I will have the last laugh, not him! My alliance towards that demented scientist is only temporary as with the rest of the fools he bargained with."
"But why?!" Twilight shouted. "Can't you wrap your mind around the situation we're all in! If this breakout does succeed then you'll be endangering yourself as well. Have you seen the beasts here?"
"I, Queen Chrysalis and the servants that belong to me are no weaklings, Twilight!" Chrysalis snapped. "Unlike the miserable, feeble soldiers you carry, all it will take is a few threats and hits and then they're gone, scattered like mice while mine are willing to die for me."
"Stop this endless quest for vengeance now!" The alicorn instructed, trying to pass the queen's arrogance. "This won't end well for any of us, you'll regret helping him."
Through her frenzied laugh, Chrysalis' tone was immediately cut back into a tone of seriousness.
"The only thing I regret is not targeting your friends sooner, it's obvious that they're your weakness. How I could end your miserable life right now, Twilight Sparkle. It would be cruel and barbaric, but when I saw what Fright's fear spells could do, that was when I was sold on what he had planned. Death would be an easy way out for you, I want to watch you suffer, then I will grant you death, or better yet: You may live to be my servant; a slave... Just like that dragon you forgot about."
Bringing up Spike felt like a dagger to the heart after witnessing what he went through. Angered, Twilight remained silent, only presenting a scowl towards the queen.
"Stop it," Applejack interjected, sounding irked.
Simply, Chrysalis turned to Applejack, showing her a repulsive smile, "But I don't want to."
Once again, Chrysalis shot back to Twilight, trying her best to not look at the queen. It was no mystery that she was going to continue annoying her.
"My apologies, dear Twilight," Chrysalis continued in a smug tone. "Let me carry on before I was rudely interrupted." Her eyes gave a quick turn to Applejack in frustration. "Anyway, the dragon. I have to say I am rather astonished by his faith, his confidence was so spiritually elevating. He told Fright how many adventures you went on and how many times you've saved Equestria. After all you have been through, all the battles, the journeys that defined you as the Princess of Friendship, he was certain that you'd find him. Well, he was certain... That was until Fright showed him your new assistant."
Dominated by intense sadness, Twilight couldn't help but feel dejected by the queen's words. Shamed by the fact that Spike was so quickly replaced only made her heartache. Badly, someone wanted to protest against the queen's mockery, but they were powerless and aware of Chrysalis' magic. It was a reminder to not interrupt the queen once more.
"You've already seen the tapes that revolved around his suffering," Chrysalis reminded. "But aren't you curious about what happened behind the scenes?"
"I... I don't want to know..." Twilight said, her voice crumbling in her own sadness.
"Well tough!" Chrysalis spat. "I'm telling you anyway!" Her sudden shout ended with a quiet cough, regaining her complacent tone. "After seeing how you replaced him, he just fell apart, breaking in his own misery. Who would have thought you were so eager to just replace him after a few months?"
"It wasn't like that!" Twilight growled.
"Wasn't it?" Chrysalis smiled. "How many times was he left out? Forgotten? Hurt? Used?"
"It wasn't my intention to hurt him!" Twilight yelled at the queen, only feeding her satisfaction.
"Don't get upset over this, Twilight," Chrysalis beamed a smile. "If it makes you feel any better, I was there to comfort him."
"You?!" Rarity scoffed. "He'd feel more threatened than comfort from a monster like you!"
"Well, not me, of course," Chrysalis revealed a devilish grin.
In a sudden green flash, Chrysalis' whole body quickly zapped in green flames, revealing a new form.
Twilight's eyes widened as she stared into her own eyes as if she was staring into a mirror. Chrysalis grinned in her new form, taking the appearance of Twilight. The ability to shape-shift had always been a threatening and deceiving trick the changelings possessed.
Horrified and stunned, Twilight's eyes remained glued to Chrysalis', seeing that she had now taken her form.
"But you?" Chrysalis resumed, sounding exactly like Twilight. "Oh, it was easy to pry information from him while wearing your face!" She informed with delight. "He was delighted to see that you had found him. It wasn't long before we started to chat, he told me how he deeply missed you and the rest of your pathetic friends. That was when I could taste his love for you all, the taste was everlasting and so, so sweet!"
Twilight's anger consumed her eyes, she shot a glare at the queen, clenching her teeth as fury boiled within her heart.
"You fed off him!" Rainbow Dash furiously shouted, giving Pinkie Pie a scare in her sudden change in voice.
"Relax," Chrysalis cooed. "I didn't hurt him physically or mentally, but emotionally?" She ended her sentence with a small demonic laugh, transforming back to her true self. "Once Fright wanted to continue with his experiments, I had to give up the charade and tell him the truth."
She leaned closer towards Twilight, whispering, "He was devastated... He knew you weren't coming... And I laughed!"
Quickly, Chrysalis pulled away from the now moping Twilight, allowing her head to sink into depression while the queen laughed historically.
"You... You monster..." Pinkie Pie quietly affronted the queen.
"You're lucky these bars are here, otherwise you'd be-" Rainbow Dash was cut off, but her anger was still present.
"Oh, stop, just stop." The queen spat. "What were you expecting? That I gave him a hug? That I'd show him the door and let him go? Consider it vengeance for all the trouble you've caused me!"
Badly, Twilight wanted to cry, she wanted to drain her sadness by sobbing, but it felt like she ran out of her own tears. All she could do was look at Chrysalis, shocked and upset. All defiance had vanished, she didn't bother to protest, she just stared at the queen.
With a jeering voice, Chrysalis mocked, "Oh, Twilight..." Her eyes took notice of the miserable alicorn that appeared to be in disbelief. "Brilliant Twilight. Smart Twilight. Heroic Twilight. How it satisfies me to see you scared, miserable, defeated. You deserve to be behind those bars after leaving the one you loved to suffer in the dark... All alone... And they say I'm evil."
"Leave her alone!" Rarity interjected.
"Twilight's no tyrant, the only one evil here is you!" Pinkie Pie shouted.
Taking no notice towards the others, Chrysalis was too invested in Twilight's emotions, wanting to see her break down.
Finally succumbing to misery, almost drowning in it, Twilight cried, "Please... Just let him go... Put me in his place, just please let him go!"
"With an offer like that, I'd have to take it... But you need to chew on what's to come when this breakout happens. Besides... The dragon is safer with us than he is with you."
"Shut up!" Twilight finally screamed, on the brink of tears.
"That's right!" Chrysalis motivated her sadness. "Cry! I want to see the Princess of Friendship sob like the filly she is!" She laughed, her trident teeth showing off to her. "He's in this position because of you and he's hurt because of you."
Distressed, Twilight simply held her head down in shame, not trying to escape from the queen's words.
"It's been fun," Chrysalis unpleasantly beamed. "But I have more important matters to attend to... Like giving your precious Princess Celestia another visit."
Slowly, sudden shock took over, her bones quaking as her glossy eyes widened in horror. Nausea began to swirl in Twilight's stomach, swarming a sickness that would form her with panic. Lost for words, not wanting to know what Chrysalis did to the princess, one of her friends took action.
"What have you done to her!" Applejack demanded to know, her voice bold and striking.
"I could tell you," Chrysalis chirped. "Or I could keep you guessing?" She shot an uncomfortable grin at Applejack.
"Do you think this some sort of game?" Rainbow Dash interjected. "Our home is gonna be ruined if those freaks get out of their cages!"
"That's the idea." She laughed. "It has been fun catching up, but I'll let you drench yourself in panic before I return. That's when the real fun begins, then you can all watch the demons break free from this prison."
Chrysalis was aware of the scowls she received but still presented a smile, leaving the room along with her two guards. "Don't worry about your assistant, Twilight... He's in good care."
Wounded, as if a whole world filled with misery crashed down onto her, mixed with the unwanted stress of the breakout and finding Spike, Twilight couldn't take it anymore. None of them could. Here they were, being tormented yet again. No one could say anything, they felt a mixture of sadness as well as annoyance.
"I'm sorry she made you feel like that, Twi," Applejack spoke up, trying to ease the alicorn.
"She's going to be sorry." A familiar voice called from the dark.
Twilight along with her friends' lifted their ears to hear the valiant voice emerge from the murky corridor, one that brightened the alicorn's hope. Even after all the torment, and the threats she had to put up with, she couldn't help but break a small smile to see her brother.