Styx’s POV:
I wake up, still groggy from being knocked out yesterday. I crawl out of the rickety, barracks type bed and crawl towards the food he has left me. Funny of him to think a Changeling can survive off of just food. I just wish that he could at least try to talk to me, since I am going to be here awhile. Instead he shuns me and since he figured out how to inhibit my magic I am left with nothing to do but sleep and count the days, hoping Sombra will find a way to find me.
Sombra's POV:
I have tried over and over again to track her, but to no avail. It has been three days since she has gone missing, the girls are starting to get worried. Orla is taking it the hardest, although Mystel is starting to break. Mystel is trying to look strong for Orla, but the facade can only hold so long. Orla comes up to me in my room with Mystel trailing behind her. "Dad, where is Mom? Is she coming back? Did she not want us anymore?"
I pick Orla and Mystel up, "No, she will come back, even if it takes me years to find her. I will bring her back to us. She will always want you. Now should we get you off to school? Wouldn't want Mom to find out you've been slacking in your studies while she has been gone, would you?"
"No, we wouldn't. Orla, why don't you go get changed. I need to talk to Dad about something." Orla gets down and wanders off before Mystel turns back to me, "Where did Mom go? Is there something awful that you don't want to tell us?"
I don't speak for a second, fearing what will happen if I tell her what I fear the most. I open my mouth and tell her anyway, "Mystel, my sweet girl, Mom might have been kidnapped."
"Kidnapped!"
"Shhh! Yes, kidnapped, by a pony known as Starswirl the Bearded. He was a great sorcerer, one intent on making sure neither I nor my Changelings ever made it to victory in the War of Crystal."
"Was Mom one of your Changelings?"
"Yes, one of the bravest, little soldiers ever. She was about your age when she did most of her operations in the field. Mainly stealing food from Celestia's camps. However, I was soon imprisoned in Limbo. For 1000 years I stayed in Limbo, your mother set me free. However, at the same time, Twilight set Starswirl and a bunch of other very important ponies free. Starswirl did not like your mother or I at all. So I believe that he has figured out a way to trap your mother in a place I can not track her. So I don't know how long it will be before I can find her." I hear a sharp intake of air come from the door, I whip my head up to see Orla standing in the doorway. I float her over to me and kiss her forehead. She calms down immediately and we all walk downstairs to get their lunches ready.
When lunches are packed I open the door to let them go on their way, but Orla motions for me to walk them to school. I guess it is sort of for security purposes now. I do as I am told and walk with them. I drop them off and begin my walk back home. As I reach the house I see that Filthy Rich is trying once again to look at the house. I am large, but also quite quiet, so I sneak up behind him. I look over him and clear my throat. He turns around and screams, "Get away from me you fiend! You and that Changeling can leave me well enough alone!"
With that said, he takes off running. I yell after him, "You will never get in this house as long as me and her are still alive." I go inside, shutting the door gently, as it has seen enough slamming for its lifetime. I make my way up into my room, and sit down to try tracking her again. Hoping at some point it will ping her location. So I can bring Mystel and Orla's mother back to them.
Styx's POV:
Day Five is here, but still no closer to figuring out how to make the necklace ding. Starswirl refuses to talk to me about anything, including how long he plans to keep me here. I can only survive off of prison food for so long until I starve. He tries to pretend that he doesn't know I can't live off of just food alone, but he knows I need emotion.
Day Eight comes, I roll out of bed to see if Starswirl has dropped off my meal yet. No, good, it means I might be able to talk to him about the War. I hear hoofsteps approaching and turn to face the door. "Starswirl, what was it like to imprison my kind?"
"Surprisingly, uneventful, your kind never went down fighting like others. Griffins, seaponies, even regular ponies fight back more than your kind ever did. However, I always wondered why that is. What is it about your kind that makes you so docile when imprisoned?"
"Honestly, we know that we will starve from lack of positive emotion, so we try to conserve that energy as long as possible. While we can share the emotion between us, eventually we need to recharge from a normal pony. Which is why the current hive makes sure to have ponies dedicated to going out and collecting that emotion. Also, we never saw the point, fighting back was just a useless waste of time and energy."
"You know why I am keeping you here don't you?"
"Yes, you are following out the order you were given so long ago. Instead of trying to get to know me, and trying to make friends with me."
"I know I should, but just the memories that Sombra and you bring back are just too much for me to forget. I'm sorry."
"I know." He runs off, which I am fine with. Knowing that he doesn't want to relive that war anymore than I do. I eat, crawl back to my bed and sleep.
It is Day Ten of my imprisonment, and Starswirl has just brought me my meal for the day. I take the tray, but stop as I hear an anguished scream come echoing from somewhere far away. "How is he still able to project his voice across Equestria? I have accounted for every type of magic I know. ARGH!"
Starswirl stomps off, leaving me grinning evilly and wide enough to send a small filly running home. I quickly eat to give myself more strength before I take the necklace off, and touch my horn to it. Using the last bit of energy I have, I call forth pure dark magic, sending it pulsing into the crystal. Allowing it to send a signal to Sombra, showing him my location. I put the necklace back on before collapsing out of exhaustion.