//------------------------------// // Additional Chapter: Phantom's deal // Story: Fluttershy helps the writer // by Crystalbreeze //------------------------------// Everything was dark and cold in the Tartarus, water mists were dropping down from the giant cave’s ceiling. In the black depths,  shiny red lava was simmering everything. There were hundreds of cages beside one another, inside innocent ponies were sleeping and crying with chains on their back and hooves. Princess Celestia, Luna and Cadence were sitting in their place in silence, next to them was the cage where Twilight and her friends were suffering. Fortunately not all of them were in there. Fluttershy was coming for them with the writer and the Rebellion. This was the time, when Twilight was losing the remaining hope she had. No magic, no energy to fly, just weakness. Even she hadn’t got power to stand up. Celestia and Luna were awake, but near them, Cadence was unconscious. “Sister?” Celestia asked Luna, “Are you... alright?” “W-We are. I.. I mean y-yes I am, but I don’t know if she is-” Luna pointed at Twilight. “Twilight? Are you okay?” “Yes, princess.” She answered Celestia. “We all are. This suffering never ends.” “Ya hav’ to keep it up, Twilight. We all have to.” Said Applejack while she was laying on the ground while her hooves and hip were all chained. “Oh gosh, my magic is gone!” Rarity looked in her small portable mirror. “Also I’m looking soooo terrible! What happened to my fluffy fur? And I can’t fix it! This is a nightmare!” “Ya don’ say, suga’cube.” “What happened to my Pinkie-Laughter?” Pinkie asked. “I’m so moody.” “Me too.” Dash answered. “Our colors are almost gone.” Said Luna. “The dark energy is draining us,” “I can’t imagine what will happen next.” Twilight said. “We can’t be here forever, can we?” “Yes we can, Pinkie. We are captured. I hope Fluttershy will help. I gave her my magical book. If we’re lucky, the writer is holding it now in his hands.” “What is a hand?” “N-Nevermind.” “Did you see the writer himself, Twilight?” Asked Dash. “How could you know he is real?” “Fluttershy told me she met him in another parallel world. This must be true.” “I really want to meet him.” Told the princess of the sun. “He is part of an unknown species beyond our world. He has a superpower too.” “Just like the Power-Ponies in Spike’s comics.” Said Dash. “I… I don’t think we’ll get help from anyone, the writer is just a joke..” “Think about your other friends!” Said Luna. “You all have hundreds of friends in Equestria. I’m sure they will fight Phantom and the other evil-doers.” Rainbow Dash asked: “Do you believe the writer is real, Luna?” “He can be. Nothing is impossible. Your friend, the cute yellow pony saw him for sure.” “We were inside his story when we were fighting against the evil Savage Vine.” Dash’s and Pinkie’s eyes widened. “W-What?... Is this true?... ” Twilight answered. “It is. He and Fluttershy wrote that story together. The writer IS real and has incredible power, however he didn’t realize it yet. This is the first time he’s in Equestria.” “He’ll fight with Phantom for sure.” Said Celestia. “The hooman will be our savior.” An unknown voice said from the distance: “I don’t think so...” From the near stone stairs a shadow was walking up. It vore a dark hood and the ponies couldn’t see his face. However a red circle was glowing  under the hood. The unknown pony was laughing. Every trapped slave was watching him from their cages. “That half-god hooman scum won’t help you, innocent little naives. He will try, of course, but he will fail. Don’t expect much from him. He’ll soon die.” He laughed again. Twilight muttered with anger: “Phantom...” “That’s right, princess. I am your prison guard here, the most powerful pony in Equestria!” “Why are you here?” “Can’t I just hang around Tartarus and visit you? After all this place is my property.” “And what do you want?” “I want a little chat with you, princess of friendship, if I may. It won’t take so long. You have plenty of time to spend here, in your new home.” “Show yourself, Phantom.” Said Luna. “Let us see who you really are!” The other ponies in the cages started being curious. “Gladly.” Told the villain and with his hoof he showed his face to the public. It was horrible to see a face like this. His face was old, wrinkled and burned. His left eye was replaced with a robot eye, which was glowing in red. Phantom took off his sallow clothes too. His body was as burned as his head. There were scratch marks on his cutie mark, which was pale. On his hooves he wore some kind of metal gloves that were sparkling. Phantom smiled as the ponies were shocked at his appearance. “You’re broken.” Said Twilight. “Indeed I am. I envy you so much! All of you! I cannot be as perfect as you.” “Who are you exactly?” Asked Dash. “My real name does not matter anymore. I never used it, my nickname is Phantom. I am a scientist, a mad one, to be honest. These devices on my hooves are made by myself. The’re called electrivices. You know, combination of electricity and device. They gave me so much power that I could do anything I want. Finishing with four princesses at once, cause an earthquake by jumping, steal every mare’s heart with one wink. So now you know, I’m god damn mad!” “What about your eye and cutie mark?” “Good question! When I was a filly, I got a cutie mark that I hated in my life! I still hate it! So I decided to disown it. I scratched it as hard as I could, but disowning your purpose in life has a big price. The price was my left eye and my fluffy fur. I became a monster. I joined the crew of villains to meet my kind. Now I AM the definition of a villain! Every bad pony in this world serves me!” “Be content with this power, Phantom! Don’t be so insatiable!” “It’s too late Celestia. I am insatiable, I was insatiable in my whole life. I want more and more power, I want to be the absolute ruler! The alpha and omega!” “This is why you need the writer’s special ability.” Phantom let out an evil laugh. “Exactly. Imagine a power like that! My writings will become reality, all the worlds in the universe can be mine!” “You can dream, Phantom.” Said Twilight. “But don’t forget one thing: you’re still in Equestria and the writer’s power is not yours yet! He’ll do everything to write a happy end and finish you!” “I know that, this is why I’m making a little trap for him. It will be a good welcome.” “He will free us and you will fail!” Said Dash. Instead of answering, Phantom looked and pointed at the unconscious princess Cadence. “Look at her! She is dying, she has a small chance to survive. If your savior won’t arrive soon, you’ll be like her. All your life energy will drain, and after that you will...” He laughed again. “But there’s another chance. If you want to survive in the world of villains, then come and serve me!” “Never.” Twilight answered. Celestia and Luna continued: “We’ll never serve you!” "Same here, Phantom!" Said Applejack. "Ya and yur villains will get screwed!" "Yeah!" Said Dash. The other slaves blinked with a smile. "They're right!" Said a griffon. “Really? Because if you’ll serve, you’ll get your magic back. I can offer you a better life. You all can go home, get your colors back and live your life peacefully, while I and my villain friends will control Equestria.” Nopony answered. Phantom walked close to Twilight Sparkle. “What about you, princess of friendship? You’re weak, all your friends are weak. The magic of friendship can’t save you, only I can. Do you want me to share the writer’s power with you, maybe? Don’t you want more power? You can be as powerful as me!” She shook her head, tears came out of her eyes. “No, Phantom. I’m not like you, I’m not hungry for the power of a being, who is much bigger than us. If you’re wise, you gave up your evil plan and stop this madness.” Phantom walked away from her. He was heading to the stairs where he came from. He looked back for a second and said: “I was right about you, princess. You are weak. Enjoy your time here, in your new home!” With that being said, Phantom was gone.