//------------------------------// // It's About Time to Escape // Story: From Oaths to Vows // by Partizanne //------------------------------// Fifteen hundred years of imprisonment can take it's toll on the body and the mind. Asmund, with only Tirek for company, had festered in his hate. Now at the age of sixteen hundred seventy-six, he was much more aggressive than the meek and lanky centaur that had first been cast into Tartarus, and his body grew to be taller with a slightly muscular build. Such growth required him to be transferred to a bigger cage, the same size as Tirek's. His new cage was not as close as his old one, but he could still speak with Tirek without having to raise his now deeper voice. His once dusty blue and grey fur now replaced by a vibrant light blue and a deep black. Tirek on the other hand had not fared so well. While he still long for Equestria's down fall, he no longer had the strength he once possessed. When he was imprisoned, he managed to hang on to much of the magic he stole before hand. However, the magic which flowed through Tartarus drained the stolen magic from Tirek through the years to return it to Equestria. Without the magic he stole, his body returned to it's natural state, revealing his true age. After fifteen hundred years, Tirek was probably about eighteen hundred years old or so. His once deep red fur was now much more dusty from age and lack of washing, his once black fur now grey in color, his ribs visible through his hide. "Why don't we go over the plan again?" Asmund said as he paced the perimeter of his new cage, hands tucked behind his back. "We already looked over it last week, and the week before that, and the week before that." Tirek said. The two having spent so much time together had made Asmund numb to Tirek's presence, having matured and gained confidence over the years. "We might have missed something. If we want revenge, we need to make sure that this is fool proof." "Alright," Tirek approached Asmund's cage before the bars of his own stopped his advance. "So we operate under the radar for as long as we can, try to get some powerful ally like Sombra or Discord and use him to get to the princesses, steal their magic, and trow them into Tartarus for what they did to you. Then you'll leave me to do what ever while I steal all the magic of Equestria, stab my ally in the back, and make Equestria my new home." "I still don't think you're plan will work out." Asmund said. "It's far to vague and has far to many holes." "Alright 'Mr. Master Mind,' why don't you present your plan so I may pick away at it." "Well if your plan fails, then-" A howl pierces the air as Cerberus runs through Tartarus like a mad man. The canines sheer size caused the ground to shake as it ran out of control, causing the two centaurs to look away from each other and towards the rabid dog. Cerberus ran rampant through Tartarus, knocking over cages and causing mayhem. He seemed to be possessed, his movement unnatural and twitchy, but as he barreled towards the door, Asmund knew that their wait was finally over. Cerberus crashed through the gates, stone falling from the doorway as he ran away towards a small village where a magical disturbance in the form of a time spell was present. "Now! This is our chance!" Asmund said as he turned back towards Tirek. "What? I'm out of practice! You can't ju-" "You're the one who constantly speaks of revenge! This is our chance, and we may not ever get another!" Asmund shouted, not that it scared the older centaur. Tirek knew he was right, if they wanted to get out, they had to do it now before it was to late. Tirek's maw opened as an orb of green magic appeared between the tips of Asmund's horns. Small sparks flew from the orb into Tirek's mouth before a steady stream of magic formed. Tirek's dusty red and grey fur returned to it's bright red and deep black as his strength and muscular build were reclaimed. His horns grew once again, reaching upwards and scraping the top of his cage. Asmund's strength left him, his body becoming slim as his hide became more monotone. His horns shrank down to nubs on his head as his legs began to fail him. As the last of the orb dissipated, Asmund fell to the ground. His vision became blurry as he tried to stand up again. Tirek gazed at his body, the younger centaur held more magic than he thought. He could feel the magic coursing through him, fueling his now massive physique. He reached out and grasped the bars of his cage, the metal groaning and squealing from the force. The bars bent and broke from their positions, creating an opening. Tirek stepped out and began to run for the exit when something stopped him in his tracks. His eyes glowed green briefly, as he turned around. He saw Asmund still disorientated from having so much magic drained and attempting to stand up. Tirek raised his hand to his face, the mark of their oath still there. His hands clenched as he growled under his breath, running back to Asmund's cage. He bent the bars before reaching in an grabbing Asmund by his barrel and throwing him across his back, causing Asmund to groan as he made impact. Again Tirek ran for the exit, Asmund weak and bouncing slightly on his back. Keeping under the dense greenery of the trees outside the cave in which the entrance was hidden. Asmund and Tirek both hide away from the world as Tirek regained his dark powers. While he had already proved that he didn't need to wait when he took Asmund's magic, they both decided it would be best to wait and practice. They didn't need to be caught while Tirek was failing to drain someones magic. Slowly but surely, Tirek regained his powers, and Asmund finally revealed his plans. Tirek couldn't be more impressed, never had he heard of such an ingenious idea, but time would keep ticking by. Soon enough, Tirek regained his powers and began to set their plans in motion. One by one, unicorns lost their magic. In spite of Asmund's weakened state, Tirek found use in him in the form of an advisor. Asmund provided a unique perspective on his plans, suggesting solutions to problems Tirek hadn't even thought about. However, this had also cause discourse between the two. For example, currently in a cave below Mineighapolis... "NO!!!" Tirek slammed his fist into the wall of the cave, rocks falling from the impact. "I will not give you my magic! We made an oath and I will not let you trick me!" "Tirek, listen to me, if you go out at the size you're at now, Celestia and Luna will be here so fast, it'll make your head spin. We need to be cautious or we'll both be sent back." Asmund laid on the ground as he tried to reason with the older centaur. "And how do I know you won't just get rid of me after you have all my magic?" Tirek crossed his arms. "Because we made and oath." Asmund presented his palm as he stood up, the scar upon it a mark of the trust they shared with each other. Asmund's other had grasped Tirek's own scarred hand, bringing it up so that both damaged limbs interlocked with the others. He raised both hands in front of Tirek's face, shaking them slightly for emphasis. "These scars are what remain of a sacred gesture. Something that no centaur has ever broken. That is a trend I do not intend to break." Tirek gazed at their interlocked hands. It gave him a strange feeling, one he wasn't so sure he liked, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. He pulled his hand free from Asmund's, jabbing a finger accusingly at the younger one's chest. "If you aren't here when I return-" "You don't need to give me all your magic, just enough so that you can go out without drawing to much attention." Asmund clasped his hands together. "Please Tirek, I have spent too long in the darkness, I don't want to be sent back so soon." Tirek face-palmed, in spite of the time he spent down in Tartarus, Asmund still showed signs of the kind centaur he used to be. Tirek thought he might now know what that feeling in his chest was. Affection. The very notion sickened him. He rationalized it as merely a by product of having only Asmund for company for so long. "Fine, you will stay here and hold my magic while I go out to harvest more. Do you remember the arrangement?" Tirek questioned. "If you are not back in six hours, I go to the next place and wait for 3 days. If you still aren't back then that means you've been captured and I can exact my plan." Asmund relayed. Tirek nodded as his maw opened. Magic poured out, collecting in a green orb between the small horns on Asmund's head. Slowly Tirek lost his build and color while the opposite happened to Asmund. As Tirek's lower half reached the same size as a ponies torso, he stopped the magical transfer. Asmund grabbed and hourglass and cloak, passing the latter to Tirek as he exited. Asmund laid down again and flipped the hourglass, the sand pouring into the lower chamber as Asmund thought to himself. Six hours... Then I need to leave...