//------------------------------//
// Behind Enemy Lines 
// Story: Night Patrol 2: Awakening 
// by Foxgear 
//------------------------------//

Night Patrol 2 Chapter 34
By Foxgear



Shining Armor peered around the corner of their little hovel watching the lines of black-clad soldier’s march pass toward the southern end of the city. He ducked back slipping under the broken fence and down into the basement where the others were hiding. They found this little hiding spot in what looked like the slums of the city. He covered the hole with some broken boards and trotted to the half rotten door of the other room, Sweet Dreams let him into the cramped room. 
“How does it look?” Cadence asked mushed between Fluttershy and Applejack, the remainder of their troops surrounding them. 
“Not good,” He replied. “The entire city changed, and the streets are flooded with soldiers.”
After fleeing from Scath, the bright and colorful crystal city changed to a dark and bleak one. Not just methodically either. Black clouds covered the city making it as dark as night. All the bright colors from before were drained and replaced with black, gray and dashes of red. The scant crowd of Crystal ponies had vanished, replaced with legions of enemy troops. Shining wondered if they had been real or just illusions. Thinking of Commander Fury’s comments, the latter seemed likely. They had been duped. 
“Is there any way out of here?” Fluttershy stuttered, her entire body trembling in fear. 
Shining didn’t answer, because he didn’t have an answer. Their options were limited, their numbers, while reduced from their light skirmish, were still too large for proper stealth. They’d have to split up and hope everypony made it out alive. That being said, how to split up the groups? 
“If we split up, we could increase our chances of getting out of here.” He suggested looking directly at Cadence. He didn’t want to throw such a choice on his wife, but she was a Princess unless she conceded command, she was still in charge. “What do you want to do, your highness?”
“We aren’t abandoning ponies to die.” Cadence replied sternly. 
Shining sighed, biting down his retort less he says something foolish. “I… understand, but the situation will… may not allow for that. Dividing into smaller groups would increase the chance that most of us escape. Pairs or groups of three would be best any larger, and it becomes more difficult to move unnoticed.” 
Cadence too bit back a hot-blooded retort, glowering at him, before snorting in a huff. “I am aware.” She conceded. 
“We can’t stay here forever,” Applejack voiced. Each of them knowing she was right. Scath probably had ponies looking for them, they’d sniff around every rock to find them. It was only a matter of time before they were discovered. 
“Then let’s fight!” Rainbow Dash declared, several hooves quickly covered the brash Pegasus’s mouth. “Sorry,” She muttered. 
“That’s…” Shining was about to say pure foolishness, but as he thought about it more, there was maybe something there. They were already inside the city. Gloves is besieging the southern border trying to get to them. The second and third waves were on their way. This could be an opportune time to cause havoc behind enemy lines. Too bad they didn’t have twelve Commando ponies or Night hunters with them. Their current group wasn’t what he’d call special ops. 
“Shining do you have an idea?” Cadence prodded. 
“It’s risky,” He admitted. “But Rainbow Dash may have a point. Fighting or sabotaging maybe in our best interest. The quicker our allies can break the enemy lines, the sooner they can get to us. The only problem is we lack ponies with the proper skills and training.” 
“I can go out alone, I have the training, skills, and natural sleuthing talents for this.” Sweet Dreams proclaimed all eyes turning to the thestral. She shrunk back from all the stares, but then puffed her chest and stood up straight. “I can do this, Princess.” 
“What can you do alone?” Rainbow Dash argued. 
The bat mare’s eyes narrowed, “More than a loud mouth like you can.” 
“What!” Several ponies slapped their hooves over Rainbow Dash’s mouth. 
Shining breathed through his nostrils, looking from Cadence to Sweet Dreams. His wife’s face was a hurricane of worry as she stared at the brave thestral. He wondered if his wife was steeled enough to send the thestral out on her own to an unknown fate.
“Cadence…”
“You have my permission to go,” Cadence interrupted quickly. “But you won’t be going alone. I will be going with you.”
“Princess you can’t…”
“Are you disobeying an order Sweet Dreams?” Cadence accused.
Sweet Dreams stuttered fumbling over her words, “No, but I must protest if I must have a partner it should be somepony…” She gulped and whispered, “Somepony expendable.”
“I see no ponies like that here,” Cadence rebuked walking over to her. “Besides I am the only pony with a horn here besides Shining Armor, I can fly, and I’m the third strongest magic user in all of Equestria. And I am no wilting flower, Aunt Luna has been teaching me in the ways of combat since before my wedding.”
Sweet Dreams shuttered under the Princess’s blazing smile and in desperation turned to Shining Armor, “Captain...”
“I’m only a Private now, you outrank me Sweet Dreams, I have no say professionally in this decision. Though I have many personal options that I cannot express right now.” Shining took a deep breath, his face scrunched from his inner conflict of being a soldier and a husband. He relented against his feeling, remembering the disaster that ensued when his love blinded him. “Still Princess Cadence, even with your… stats it wouldn’t be the wisest to send you out. My rank may be meager, but I am still in the top ten of mages in just raw power alone, never mind my specialization. Please send me with Lieutenant Sweet Dreams. My shield magic would greatly increase her chances of survival if she were to find herself in a pinch.”  
“That is a fair point Private Shining, I will debate it, now what other talents do we have here? Any pony here specialized in explosives?”
“I know the basics,” One pony said raising his hoof and stepped to the front of the group. “Name’s Amatex.” 
Cadence smiled and nodded, “Good, we’ll bring you along as well if you volunteer that is.”
“Of course, ma’am.” 
“Is there any other skill set we’ll need, Sweet Dreams?” Cadence asked the bat commando who looked over the group with a concentrated frown. 
“A sharpshooter, somepony that can accurately hit over at least one hundred fifty yards.” 
A pony with a skull pierced by an arrow on his armor stepped forth. “I’m Far Reach, I can manage one hundred eleven yards with one of these things.” He indicated his hoof blaster. “I’ll step down if there’s a better shot among us.” 
No pony stepped forward.
“We’ll take you. Before we head out, we’ll need to make some preparation. Amatex take whatever explosives the others can spare. Far Reach and Princess Cadence come with me. I need to apply some makeup.”
“Makeup?” Cadence asked as Sweet Dreams rummaged through her saddlebags. Producing a black jar. Untwisting the cap Sweet Dreams showed the Princess the contents, a blackish blue substance, almost matching the tone of Sweet Dreams coat.
“I’m going to dye your mane and coat, at least what your armor doesn’t cover. Pink… pink is one of the worse colors for stealth. That is unless you're sneaking through a field of pink flowers of course.” Sweet Dreams joked earning a brief smile as the Princess stroked her mane with a nervous grin. “Don’t worry it washes out… eventually.”
Cadence hung head, “Right, let’s proceed then.” She shivered as Sweet Dreams smeared the cold goo onto her face, rubbing the thick gray gel into her coat and mane. Cadence eeped as Sweet Dreams worked her way under her belly and privates, blushing up a storm as everypony adverted their eyes. A hard tug on her tail signaled the end of Sweet Dreams makeover. 
“Alright, which one you boys want to go first?” Sweet Dreams asked looking at the two volunteer stallions. 



The boards covering the hole to the Equestrian’s hiding spot lifted, a narrow gaze peered out from underneath before the makeshift cover was entirely lifted and four ponies quickly and quietly scrambled out of the basement. Sealing the entrance once again. They didn’t linger. Quickly clambering over the ruined walls and trotted on light hooves through the next building. The lead pony gestured for them to follow as she led them upstairs to the second floor. Hugging the walls as she made her way to the corner of the building taking quick and hurried glances out the windows facing northwest. Spotting a patrol, she ducked down and raised her hoof for her companions to stop, and they froze on the stairs crouching down. Counting to thirty Sweet Dreams peaked out the window again and found the patrol gone. She told her teammates to stay as she hugged the wall and crawled to the northeast side of the room peeking out the corner window that overlooked where the others hid. Checking the surrounding buildings to see if there were any enemy that could spot the hideout. 
Seeing none she crawled to the room beside the stairs and motioned for the others to follow, they crept low matching her height and pace as she led them up another flight of stairs which led to the loft above. The attic was a half story, the ceiling low and the windows small and narrow. They would be hard to see through and vice versa. 
“We should be good here.” Sweet Dreams whispered breaking the silence. Her three teammates lined up in front of her waiting for her to lay out the plan. “You did well following my lead, this just might work, so now we need to sneak out of here without drawing the enemy’s attention, so they don’t find the others. We’ll sneak it to the neighboring building and keep climbing to a higher vantage point to find enemy targets. Remember to stay quiet.”
They nodded. 
Leading the way Sweet Dreams opened the window facing the neighboring building, quickly passing through the small opening. Couching in the shadows she watched for patrols, counting to thirty again when none came, she tapped her hoof against the tiled roof, and Princess Cadence came through the window. The alicorn looked around before finding her and scurrying over to Sweat Dreams position. The bat mare gestured for the Princess to slow down and move quieter. The Princess complied easing into the shadows next to her. Sweet Dreams took a moment to observe her make up work on the formerly pink pony, who was now a mix of grays and dark blues. Cadence blended perfectly into the darkness, just as well as any bat pony. 
Hearing voices, Sweet Dreams pressed Cadence against the roof tiles spotting a patrol of four passing by on the street below. Counting to thirty again, she waited before double tapping the roof, Far Reach and Amatex quickly coming through the window. She leaped to the other roof gesturing for everypony to follow her. Leading the three of them from shadow to shadow. Sweet Dreams called for a halt as a group of flyers flew overhead. Each of them hiding in a roof valley. She counted again watching the skies for more flyers. 
“There’s a tower over there.” Far Reach reported. 
Sweet Dreams shushed him and repositioned herself for a better view of where the sharpshooter was pointing. There was indeed a tower a few blocks over. A clock tower to exact. It was nearly halfway to the castle, almost in the center of the city. She nodded and pointed to the tower. It would be the perfect overlook. Checking the skies and ground once more Sweet Dreams gestured to Cadence who snuck over to her. 
“Grab Amatex, I’ll grab Far Reach. We’ll fly over the street to that stretch of buildings and move to that tower. Be quick when you fly.” 
“Ok.” The Princess whispered, sneaking over to Amatex, grabbing the stallion with her forelegs and mouthed “Ready.” 
Sweet Dreams hugged Far Reach, searching the skies one more time before taking off, Cadence following her lead. They zoomed across the street, landing on the adjacent building and quickly snuck into the shadows all of them sitting completely still listening for any shouts of being spotted. 
“We did it,” Cadence said, her chest heaving heavily with excitement. The tension almost making her heart explode! 
“We’re just getting started, keep on my lead.” Sweet Dreams reminded her checking the skies and jumping to the next shadow. Giving the all clear, they followed her. Slowly they moved from shadow to shadow, ducking patrols, hiding from flyers that flew overhead, slowly inching their way to their objective. Sweet Dreams checked the time, over an hour and a half had passed, and they were barely over a block and half away from their starting point.  The urge to move faster rose, but she quickly squashed it, Fury’s angry voice rebuking her for even having the thought. 
(Stealth over speed when infiltrating the enemy, better to go unnoticed then save a minute.) Fury’s disembodied voice lectured. 
Steeling herself, Sweet Dreams made a final push gathering some speed she jumped over the alleyway, spreading her wings to gently glide over the three-story drop. Her booted hooves made a little sound when she landed. Cadence landed beside her making a fair bit more nose that made her cringe and look around for enemy ponies. Next, the two stallions jumped, and Sweet Dreams hair stood up as one of them tripped and skidded down the slanted the roof. Quickly she grabbed the fallen stud by the neck and dragged him into the shadows of the chimney. Cadence and Amatex disappeared over the other side. She kept her hoof over the mouth of Far Reach his heart racing a mile a minute as voices spoke above. 
An enemy patrol.
“I heard something over here!” One of the black crystal ponies said. Two more gliding in behind him.
The appearance of the trio varied Sweet Dreams couldn’t quite comprehend their species. The one claiming to have heard Far Reach’s blunder had insectoid wings, while one of his companions had regular pegasi wings and the other had what looked like bat pony wings. Each of them sported a crystal horn, a vicious spike as long as Cadence’s horn. She wondered if they could use magic or if it was for stabbing only. Right now, she didn’t want to find out and slowed her breathing and kept completely still. 
“Some tiles are loose, look there,” The one with pegasi wings pointed out. 
“Could some pony be up here?” The bat-winged one questioned landing on the roof. The other two followed his lead, and all three stood at the top of the duel sided slope looking in both directions. 
(Don’t do anything, don’t do anything.) Sweet Dreams prayed, hoping Cadence and Amatex wouldn’t get skittish. There would be no telling how many of these things would show up if they had to engage them. 
“I do not see anything,” The pegasi winged one said. 
“Let’s check the valleys by the windows just to be sure damn clouds make it as dark as night.” 
Suddenly a series of explosions when off in the distance and the trio turned to the south. Horns blared, and the three quickly set off, losing all interest in their search. Sweet Dreams didn’t come out of hiding though and counted for a full minute as several others flyer groups zoomed by. When none flew past for a full minute, she finally released Far Reach and climbed out of the shadows. Walking to the top of the roof she tapped her hoof and Cadence, and Amatex peeked out from the shadows. 
“Let’s move, we’re almost there.” She broke off in a rush. Leaping to the next building and landing on the flat roof connected to the clock tower. The four of them raced to the door at the opposite end of the roof, Cadence opening it with her magic, and they all rushed in. Quietly shutting it as several flyer groups zoomed through the narrowing view of the door. When it was completely closed, they all took a deep sigh of relief. 
“Thank Celestia we made it,” Far Reach praised looking apologetically at her. “I’m sorry Lieutenant, I messed up.” 
“It happens,” She said encouragingly. “Landing on an A-frame roof for the first time without wings isn’t easy. You’ll know to watch your footing better next time.”
“Yes, I will.”
“I know you will,” She smiled turning to Cadence and Amatex. “Good job keeping hidden.” 
“Thank you,” Cadence nodded. “So, what now?”
“Now,” Sweet Dreams said looking up the stairwell running to the top of the tower. “Now we climb. Be quick, but be quiet.” She reminded them, trotting up the stone stairs. 
The trip up to the top of the clock tower was the most relaxed they felt since starting this mission. They were making some noise, the metal of their boots clicked against the stone stairs produced a musical melody as they trotted in unison. This would be more concerning if not for the thick stone walls of the clock tower and the machinal turning of the gears that covered whatever noise they made. After circling up another three flights of stairs, Sweet Dreams and company stood in the brain of the giant clock. 
“Let’s see if we can find a spot to look out over the city.” Sweet Dreams shouted over the noise of the clock. With the gears as a mask, they trotted looking for a window or something to spy through. 
“Will up there work? It looks like an observatory.” Following Cadence’s pointed hoof, Sweet Dreams saw what looked like a loft surrounded by windows. 
“That’ll be perfect, grab Amatex, I’ll take Far Reach.” Grabbing the stallion, the two mares flew up to the loft and set the two down. All of them gazing out over the black city in awe and dread. They could see nearly everything from here. 
To the south, they saw the massive army of black ponies barring Sombra’s banner, the grassy field where they had walked through earlier was trampled and marred with signs of fire and fighting. Smoke rose from east covering their view of their base. Cannon shots flew out of the smoke bombarding the enemy lines. Many shells fell short of their targets. The smoke mostly likely hindering their aim. 
“Is that a sail?” Far Reach asked looking through a spyglass. 
“Where?” Sweet Dreams demanded, looking fruitlessly through the smoke. 
“There,” He pointed. “Above the base.”
A gust of wind blew revealing there was indeed something floating over the base. Sweet Dreams smiled feeling hope as three airships come into view. “The second wave is here.” 
“I thought the airships were going to hold back and come in with the third wave. That is unless they were needed.” Cadence stated, unintendedly sapping the hope from Sweet Dreams heart, but the Princess was right.  
“The enemy is putting up some major resistance then. Give me that spyglass,” Sweet Dreams demanded, Far Reach hoofing it over. She looked through the spy tool trying to get a read on the battlefield. The enemy was really close to their base. “We need to find some targets, supply depots, weapons cache, medical supplies, food stores anything to help.” She listed off looking through the city for any obvious signs of her intended targets. “Ok, I see what look like enemy supply bases, but I can’t tell what they are, the symbols are all foreign to me.”
“Let me see,” Cadence requested, Sweet Dreams giving up the telescope. “Is that one of the places you were talking about? The tent with the bull head on it?”
“That one yes.”
Cadence chewed her lip, deep in thought. “I think and don’t take this as solid proof, but I think that’s a weapon cache. If my ancient Maredor history was right. Suddenly Aunt Celestia’s lessons on a former kingdom make sense.” 
“What about over there,” Sweet Dreams pushed the spyglass toward another camp on the east side of the city. “The one with the three plus signs intersecting?”
“Medical station, I think.”
Sweet Dreams pulled Cadence away from the edge and led her to the north side of the loft. A gathering of soldiers mingled to the northwest were plumes of smoke rose into the sky, a banner with a fork on it fluttered in the wind. “I’m guessing that’s probably food?”
“Correct,” Cadence confirmed.
Sweet Dreams took the spyglass from Cadence and began looking over the city again, softly counting off how many of each supply base she found. “Two dozen medical stations, three dozen weapon cache, four mess halls, and over five dozen unmarked other locations, probably barracks for resting soldiers.” 
“They marked everything else why leave the barracks blank?” Amatex asked as they all crouched below the railing. 
Cadence explained, “It’s a standard tactic. At least it was a thousand years ago, in the olden days, to counteract pegasi spies they’d leave some bases blank to avoid them from being targeted. More often then not the marked bases were sometimes actually something else or empty.” 
“Wouldn’t that be confusing for the soldiers?” Far Reach inquired. 
“Not if you were given a map or told before hoof about it, they’ve probably been planning and drilling for this day longer then we have.” Sweet Dreams sighed it dawning on her just how half-assed their invasion plan was. “Actually, scratch that they have been and for who knows how long too.”  
Cadence chimed in with “Long enough for Sombra to have at least two sons, Scath was his name, right? He looked to be in his twenties and he for sure has an older brother.”
“He said he was the second son wouldn’t that imply he has sisters as well?” 
The pink Alicorn looked stumped for a moment and then nodded, “Your right Sweet Dreams, that’s probably true. We could be in some real trouble.”
Amatex and Far Reach look beside themselves, trying to decipher their superiors worries. “What does it matter if that sword-wielding bastard has seven sisters or none?” Amatex asked. 
“It matters because magic is genetic,” Cadence clarified to the two. “In the first crystal war Sombra had the might to match up to Celestia and Luna in single combat, and could even hold his own against the both of them, and he was only a unicorn. Imagine now if he had children with another pony who also was gifted in magic, imagine how powerful they could be by themselves and then factor in brothers and sisters. That’s not including what other artificial methods he used to make them even stronger.”
“That is rather worrying then, huh,” Amatex shivered nervously. 
“As daunting as that is, and we’ll have to face Scath and his brethren sooner or later, right now that is not our concern.” Sweet Dreams stated drawing all eyes to her. “Our mission to weaken the enemy supply lines so our forces and get into the city. To do that we need to attack the enemy’s rear. Cause some chaos and put them in disarray. Amatex can you make a time bomb?”
“Yes, ma’am I can. When I was going through retraining, the instructors showed us how. I have a few timers on me, and a few more I took from the others. The bombs won’t be anything impressive, just five gem grenades duck taped together with an analog time pin. But in the right spot, they can do some damage. I have enough to make five FYI.” 
“Ok here’s the plan…”
“LET ME GO!” A voice screamed below. Both Sweet Dreams and Cadence’s ears twitched their eyes shrinking in horror. Slowly they stood, edging to the railing to peek out on the street below. Down on the road with a collar around her neck and an anti-magic ring around her horn was Twilight Sparkle. Escorted by over two dozen enemy soldiers. She struggled against her bonds, digging her hooves into the ground making the ponies pulling her drag her across the cobblestone road. Her leg hit a loose cobble tripping her, and she fell to the ground. Her escorts pounced on her binding her legs and slipping a spear through the ropes to hoist her up like a freshly caught piece of game meat. 
“Twi…mmmpoh!” Sweet Dreams covered the princess’s mouth and dragged her back out of sight. 
“Quiet, be quiet! There’s too many! We can’t take them! We can’t save her right now! But we will!” Sweet Dreams whispered harshly, Cadence’s thrashing coming to a stop. She let the princess go, Cadence doing a quick breathing exercise before sitting back down this the others. Before Sweet Dreams could detail her plan, another cry came from below. She held up for the other to stay while she looked to see what was going on. What she saw made her heart sink and her stomach churn. 
“Please no! I don’t want to! Don’t take me! Please!” A mare, an actual crystal mare cried in a panic, and she wasn’t alone either. Another company of troops escorted what looked like three dozen or more mares, all them ranging from teenagers to what the maybe early forties. Two distinct features were separating the group. One part of the group was made up dull looking ponies, their bellies bulging with foul their faces canvases of defeat and hopelessness. The other were mares that still had some shine to them and weren’t with child, but what hope they held was quickly fading as they were dragged to the gates of the castle. 
Slowly Sweet Dreams turned around and slid down the side of the railing wall. The others looked at her, wondering what was going on. 
“Sweet Dreams?” Cadence prodded. 
“Don’t ask, don’t look,” Was her reply. They sat there listening to the screams and cries for help, doing nothing to answer the prayers of those who desperately needed them answered. When the doors to the dark castle closed, they were blessed with silence. 
Heart racing and eyes burning with rage Sweet Dreams looked up to face the three before her. “This is what we’re going to do.”



Inside the castle, Twilight was roughly dropped inside of a beautiful room. Not the prison cell she had been expecting. Her bonds were cut, but something else was clamped to her legs, by the time she rolled and righted herself the soldiers that brought her here were gone. Inspecting her legs, she saw some sort of leg bands had been placed on them. She broke off into a gallop to escape, only for pink lightning to shoot out of the cuffs and pull her legs together leaving her helpless on the floor again. 
“No, the smartest mare, are you? As if we’d capture you just let you run free. Must be a lowborn.” A hotly voice said Twilight craned her neck up to see a black coated mare with a curved lavender horn lording over her. “What’s your name?” 
“Twilight Sparkle,” Twilight answered with shock. She hadn’t intended to speak!
“The truth ring is working, good.” The mare smirked circling around her and tapping the black ring that now adorned the base of Twilight’s tail. “Don’t go lying out of your ass now, Twilight Sparkle.” She laughed, though it wasn’t that funny of a joke in Twilight’s mind. The mare seemed to think so too as her face turned sour once again. “Stand up.” 
Upon hearing the command Twilight’s bonds disappeared, and her body moved without her commanding it to. She began to hyperventilate as it sunk in, she was utterly at the enemy’s mercy. No magic, no friends and Celestia knew how many enchantments and magical items placed on her body to keep her check. 
The mare seemed delighted by her panic as she jumped onto the large bed laying down in the black satin sheets with a devious smile. “So which brother am I training you to be a bride for?”
“Ombre,” Twilight answered readily. She tried to say more, but her mouth wouldn’t move!
“Speak freely,” The mare commanded, Twilight regained control of her mouth at the very least. 
“Who are you?” 
The mare rolled her eyes. “That’s your first question? For all you know that was the only one you get, and that’s what you waste it on? I suppose it’s a natural one to ask, but I was hoping for a less cliché response. Very well through, I am the second daughter of King Sombra, Cien Blask, in Equestrian that would be Shadow Sparkle.”
“Shadow Sparkle…” Twilight gasped. “But that’s… it can’t be!”
Cien looked amused and stretched on the bed her wild purple and black mane spilling over her body, it was so long that it nearly reached her tail. “What? Do you think we’re related? Wouldn’t that be funny? If I had actually known my mother, I could tell you for sure, but daddy didn't keep them around once we got weened off their teats. Didn't want them softening us, had to be daddy’s tough little fillies, not that he would ever let us fight on the frontlines. My sisters and I. Such an old, softly isn’t he?” Cien chuckled climbing off the bed and trotted over to the closet. Soon dresses began to fly out and land on the mattress. 
“What are you going to do to me?” 
Cien sighed dramatically, “Seriously? What hick town did you come from? I already told you. Your Ombre’s new war bride, it’s my job to doll you up, teach some table manners, present you to daddy and then sit back and watch you bare my next niece or nephew.” 
“What!” 
“Relax, be lucky daddy’s too old to be rutting anymore. My oldest brother kind of took over that job. I guess thinking about it you might not end up as Ombre’s bride, I mean you look stupid, but I feel the magic fighting against that ring from here. You got some pop to you, don’t you?”
“I’m Princess Celestia’s student! My talent is magic, of course, I would have a lot of magic!” Twilight barked only to immediately regret her outburst as Cien let the dress she was inspecting fall to the floor. 
“Princess Celestia’s personal student?” Cien sputtered getting right up in Twilight’s face. “Now that makes things a lot more interesting! Forget the dress, I’m taking you to daddy right now! Come with me, Twily!” She sang, Twilight unwillingly and stiffy following the black unicorn mare into the hall. Wondering what fate, she had brought on herself. 



Trifecta groaned his body arched against the cold floor, drops of water annoyingly dripped from the ceiling. He cracked his eyes open seeing only half of what he should. The left side of his face blazed with pain and throbbed like hell. It was probably swollen shut. Rolling to his hooves Trifecta let out a yelp and fell on his right side. Hissing as he brought his left foreleg into view, his claws were twisted and broken, a bloody mess of bones and cracked scales. 
“That’s going to suck to heal.” Folding his leg against his body Trifecta hopped back onto the remaining three, swaying slightly as he tried to find his balance. Slowly he got the hang of walking on three legs and finally got around to observing his surroundings. He was in a prison cell. 
“Finally awake,” A voice said from outside, it was one of the enemy soldiers, the crystal shadow pony bug things. Which was too long of a title. 
“What are you?” Trifecta demanded walking up to the front of the cell. 
“We are called the Equinox, Lord Sombra created us to be a countermeasure to you Rinin. Though the young Lords had already dealt with the two of you before we had our chance. You got off a lot easier than your friend over there.” The guard moved out of the way to show Fierce Fury’s broken and mangled corpse, a mess of flesh, feathers, and ash. “Lord Scath can’t wait to make a trophy of him, I’m sure lord Schatten will want to do the same to you. But not before Lord Sombra interrogates you for everything you know.” 
“Fuck off, before the end of this war all the heads of Sombra’s sons and Sombra himself will be on a stick!” Trifecta barked, the guard laughing arrogantly as he trotted away. Once he was sure the guard was out of earshot and no one else was around Trifecta stuck his head through the bars and whispered, “So did you actually die this time?”
No movement came from Fury’s ceil. Trifecta slumped the against the bars and sighed. “Well if you got a plan to get out of here let me know.”