Quill stared out into the darkness, head turning back and forth as he tried to get a bearing on the voice. That voice. Fear clutched at every fibre of his being, a single thought running through his mind. "We're all going to die..." It was a fact that had to be faced, if what he thought was in front of him truly was what was in front of him.
"You fucking cunt!" Silverwings voice shouted out in the darkness. Clearly, he wasn't so stricken by the voice. "Whatever you are, give back Octavia!"
The laugh he got in response made Quill's spine tingle. "Oh, now, now. my little pony... Is that any way to speak to your princess?"The voice asked, as something in the cave illuminated. It reminded Quill of the Glows, only this had to be far larger, given the cave was lit up enough to see somewhat clearly.
Standing before them, was Celestia. The sight of her made Quill's legs buckle, dropping him to his knees. "No..." He whispered, stricken by what he saw. It was Celestia, but it was nothing more than a hollow shell of the Alicorn. Vines coiled around her body, and in places where the coruler's flesh gave way, he could see vines shifting. It was the most convincing, yet sickening marionette display he had ever witnessed.
The vines from her body coiled down a ledge as she stared at them, leading Quill to try and look over what ledge he had available to him. Celestia was blocking the path forward, but she far from dominated the entire platue they stood on. Below them was an utterly massive plant. It was huge, and in the middle of it was a giant blue bulb that was the source of the light.
Silver didn't even bother looking away from the puppet that was now Celestia. "You aren't Celestia! All you are is a fucking weed that needs to be exterminated!" He snarled, taking a step forward. "Now give us back Octavia, or I swear to the gods that be I will fucking end you!"
Celestia seemed to grimace, a testament to how well coordinated this plant was, brow furrowing over empty sockets. Then she tilted her head. The grace and naturality of each movement sickened quill to his very core. "Oh... You mean this one?" She asked, lifting her hand. From out of a knot of vines, Octavia was pulled. The trailing plants were wrapped around her limbs and torso as if it were some sick display of bondage, several vines wrapped around her muzzle to keep her from talking. Despite this, she still squirmed, trying to get out of the grip.
Celestia regarded her for a moment, before turning back to the group. "I thought she was pretty... I wanted to make her a voice of mine as well. Living voices are always the best, the dead never truly getting the right look," Celestia continued with a smile.
"Oh no you don't!" Quill growled, lifting the shotgun up. They were all going to die. He knew it, but he wasn't about to let one of his friends suffer this monstrosities sick and twisted forms of amusement. He took aim, but Silver snatched the gun away from him.
"No! There is still a chance!" He shouted, looking back at Celestia.
"Are you mad?! It's over Silver! Put her out of her misery or she'll just be turned into a puppet!" Quill shot back.
"Hmm... Silverwing... I know that name," Celestia sneered in false kindness. "I remember what happened too you. Tell me, as I am sure your friends have asked. Why is it, that you call yourself Silverwing? Entertain me, and perhaps I will let this one go. If you don't... Well... Maybe I'll leave that a surprise," Celestia teased, waving the grey mare side to side.
Quill could see Octavia shaking her head. He could see tears running down her face as the vines manipulated her, spinning her upside down and right side up. Letting her dangle over the edge.
"Or... You could walk away." Celestia added as the vines started to form a bridge. "Let her watch as you give up on her. You will all survive this encounter, and I get to keep my pretty voice.
This was when Octavia managed to bite through the vines. "GO! JUST G-AHK!" She started to scream, just as one of the vines shot down her throat, gagging her once again. She struggled, but the vines just wrapped around her even more.
"My... She's good at that. Have you two been helping her practice," Celestia asked, laughing darkly as she watched Octavia struggle. Quill watching as the mare slowly started to lose the ability to fight, eyes rolling back as she was robbed of oxygen.
"They were ripped off alright!" Silverwing shouted, pulling Celestia's attention back to the group. Sweetie Belle was firmly attached to Quill's leg, and Quill was staring at Silverwing. "There was a border conflict, I engaged a griffon, and he ripped my wings off! There! Are you happy?!"
Celestia thought about the question, tilting her head from side to side in consideration. Then she sighed. "It was a short story. I suppose really all the details needed. One thing would have made the story so much better though..." She continued. "Your screams of agony..."
Before anyone could do anything, the Vines imprisoning Octavia tightened, and she was allowed to breathe. This wasn't what they were expecting, as the second Octavia took in a gasp, she let out an ear-splitting shriek. The vines were all pulling away from each other, and whatever Octavia was trying to say was killed by the force of her agony. Gunfire raged as Silverwing shot at Celestia, bullets ripping through her body but doing little to change anything.
Octavia's scream died in her throat just in time for the sick sound of bones popping and flesh ripping to be heard through the cavern. Quill couldn't register what he had witnessed, even as Octavia was dropped onto the path. Both her legs were gone, as well as an arm. Her other fumbling about uselessly as she gurgled, eyes wide and frozen from the torment she just faced. Silver rushed to her, but her arm dropped before he could reach her. She was gone, and Silverwing screamed while Celestia just laughed.
In his rage, Silver pulled something from his belt and threw it at the Puppet. A metal cylinder that she caught and looked at with annoyance. "You threw a pip-"
BOOM!
Celestia was ripped to shreds by the following explosion and the entire cavern shook from the force. Quills ears rang, but not enough for him to miss the dull, distant screaming coming from the pit below. He didn't even notice he was knocked to the ground, bringing Sweetie Belle down with him. The thing that brought him out of his disorientation was Silver grabbing him by the collar and picking pulling him harshly off the ground, followed by Sweetie Belle. He was talking but Quill couldn't hear what he was saying.
"-TO THE BOTTOM! THERE IS A PASSAGE HALFWAY DOWN!" Silver's voice finally came through, pushing him and Sweetie Belle along, getting their legs moving. The plant and the vines were in a frenzy after the explosion, and what remained of Celestia's destroyed body was plastered against the cavern wall. It didn't phase them as they ran past, but Silver stopped short.
"Come on Silver! This isn't the time to stop running Quill shouted, skidding to a halt.
"Go! I'm not letting this fucking this stay alive!" Silver shouted back, looking down the Cavern. It was easily a hundred yards down.
It only took a moment to figure out what Silver was about to do. Quill backtracked up the path, watching as Silver undid the straps to his Vest. "I'm gonna need to be light to get far enough! Go!" Silver ordered, but Quill just grabbed the Vest, reaching over to grab Silver in turn, but he pulled out of the way.
"Go! I'll make sure the girls keep the beer cold for what we next meet. You and Sweetie get out," Silver said, looking down at the cavern. He pulled to grenades from his belt. It was pointless. He could just throw it! Then Quill clicked. Obviously Silver was aware of that. Silver knew more about all this equipment than everyone else. He didn't want to throw it.
"Quill!"
Sweetie Belle's scream pulled Quill from his thoughts. "Fine! But I swear to the gods you don't save me one!" He shouted back, fighting hard to keep his voice from cracking. He turned and ran, scooping up Sweetie Belle as he ran past, being able to move faster without her trying to keep up. Vines were everywhere, thrashing in anger, trying to get a hold of them, and Quill could hear the screams and shrieks of the infected from the top of the Cavern. This thing was calling to them.
He didn't dare look back, but the small girl in his arms screaming at him to run faster. He kicked the last of his energy into making it the last stretch, getting to the door just as another explosion went off. This one, was so much bigger than the grenade. The shockwave threw him into the passage, and all he could hear was the sound of rocks falling, before everything went black.
"Quill? Quill! You have to wake up Quill!"
Sweetie Belle's voice filtered through the darkness, stirring Quill awake. The passage they were in was lit only by the magic of Sweetie Belle's horn. Other than their breathing, it was silent. "How long has it been?" Quill asked, trying to get his bearings.
"Since I woke up, about ten minutes. In total? I have no idea... I just woke up under you," Sweetie Belle stated, looking around the cave.
Quill stood up and sighed, shaking his head. They almost had everything. He put on Silvers vest, only to find... Octavia's rifle under it. "What?" He asked, picking the rifle up. "Hey Sweetie, did you at some point grab Tavi's rifle?" He asked, tuning to the tiny mare.
Sweetie Belle looked at it, tilting her head. "No, I thought you grabbed it? Maybe you didn't realize in the rush?"
"Maybe? I don't know, doesn't seem to have any ammo, but maybe we will find some later? Hopefully we won't need it, but you never know right?"
"Right. Come on," Sweetie said, nodding her head as she started walking. Quill followed behind, smiling at Sweetie.
"Don't worry Sweetie Belle, I'll get you home safe..."