//------------------------------//
// Day V 
// Story: Celestia of Equestria's tonic experiment 
// by Acologic 
//------------------------------//

Celestia wiped her snout on a softer hankie before plunging into T-Kam. Her cold had worsened, but at least it could be only up from here. She materialised. Tirek took a step forward, watching her closely.

‘Well?’ he asked.

Celestia ignored him. ‘How was the day?’

‘Dismal, of course. What have you brought me?’

Celestia adjusted her neck and said, ‘Does it look as though I’m carrying anything?’

‘Then what the heck’s going to keep me occupied over the coming weeks?’

‘Manual labour,’ said Celestia without hesitation. ‘You’re going to be doing some polishing – some DAG polishing. They’re getting rusty in places. I want you to fix that.’

‘What?’ Tirek glowered at the DAGs in his cell, who remained silent. ‘For real? Help out my metal-hearted jailers? I don’t think so!’

‘Bring up a cloth,’ sighed Celestia, and seconds later a DAG had expelled one from storage. It flew high into the air and landed on Tirek’s face, who stumbled and cursed.

‘And some product.’

Tirek just about managed to catch the tin.

‘Now,’ said Celestia wearily. ‘Get busy.’

‘Chores build character!’ said Luna once she’d plunged into T-Kam and noticed Tirek was scrubbing. ‘It’s all part of your rehabilitation package. And if you’re lucky, you might get let out early for good behaviour!’

‘That won’t ever happen,’ said Celestia, and Tirek groaned. Cadence’s likeness wrestled itself into being.

‘Tirek’s working?’ said the latter, her brow raised.

Celestia nodded. ‘He asked for something to do, and I gave him something. I did say it would be something useful.’

‘You’re a cruel woman,’ grunted Tirek as he plastered his DAG with polish.

‘Don’t waste that!’ said Celestia. ‘It’s expensive!’

‘OK, OK!’

Celestia waved at another of the DAGs, and it hurled up a bottle of tonic. Tirek watched it pour, then place his tankard on his FoodRock.

‘Drink,’ said Celestia, and when Tirek did not respond, she screamed, ‘Drink!’

There was a pause. Cadence raised her hooves. ‘Uh . . . don’t you think you’re being – well, a bit harsh?’

‘Harsh? Harsh?’ Celestia stared disbelievingly at her. ‘He’s our prisoner! He’s our enemy!’

‘Bright ray of sunshine, you are,’ said Luna. ‘Wrong side of the bed today, it seems. Ignore her, Tirek, she’s just stressed. We love you, really.’

Tirek grinned, and Luna laughed.

‘Don’t look so pleased,’ she said, yet she winked.

‘All right.’ Celestia closed her eyes and dragged a hoof down her face. ‘All right. Drink it, Tirek. Please.’

‘Please always helps.’ Still grinning, he downed his tankard and smacked his lips.

‘Still nothing,’ remarked Luna happily. ‘Five days in, and he’s fit as a fiddle! Keep up the good work, and you’ll soon see yours truly in the big chair! Well, when I say soon . . .’

Celestia opened her mouth, then decided it wasn’t worth the bother.

‘We’ve a long way to go,’ she said. ‘Right, let’s move. Tirek? I want those DAGs sparkling . . . please.’

Tirek bowed mockingly. ‘What lovely manners – I do admire a princess who says please.’

‘Oh, I’ve had enough,’ said Celestia, and she pulled out of T-Kam.