//------------------------------// // Chapter 10: To use and abuse (warning) // Story: What a wonderful world // by a touch of sparkles //------------------------------// They didn’t believe it was long until they were dragged out the cell again. There was no carriage to pull, they were led by Amore’s magic. They were led out the castle and down different streets. The different crystal structures lined them, Sombra believed they were homes. He could see ponies entering and leaving after all. They reached a large grand house, not as dramatic as the spire. But it still loomed over him. The princess gave a nock to the heavy door, which after a moment or two a stallion with a slick mane opened the door. “Ah Princess. A little late, but it’s better than what others do” “Well a bunch of new paperwork came in and I got distracted by rearranging horns. It was my assistant who reminded me” “Better late than never” “Exactly” They were yanked by the chain as they were pulled inside, the crystal walls nearly out shone the ponies. Through the large entrance room they were taken down to this building’s cells. There weren’t nearly as many yet they were all empty, except one. A lone stallion. “The others?” Amore asked, raising an eyebrow. “All cleaning. Dust really takes the shine out of the house” he replied while unlocking the cage door. The stallion was in similar conditions to them, his white eyes had turned grey. “So the foal. That from before?” “Yes well, she’s a stubborn one. Took a guards head of, I don’t wish to write anymore letters home” she laughed half-heartedly as she pulled his dam forward towards the stallion. The stallion looked at her shamefully, she only stuck her nose up at him while also glaring down at the princess. “Let’s get this done with shall we” the princess stated as she pulled on his dam’s tail, pulling her around. Sombra shuffled between her legs as she refused and turned back. “I have something that might encourage them, let me go get it” the pony made his way back leaving the three umbrum with Amore. Still she attempted to get his dams back end in front of the stallion, who was avoiding it at all costs. Sombra didn’t understand what was happening, but he knew neither was happy about it. The pony returned and there was a yelp from the larger stallion. Sombra watched as a liquid was injected into his flank. “Is that your encouragement?” the princess asked while struggling with the feisty mare. “Well, let’s just say its…happy juice at so high a dose it should wipe out this guy’s morals” “Was this your creation?” she asked while trying to restrain the stallion as he started to groan and wobble on his legs. “Well, my daughter’s creation more. She’s got a set of mares and the stallions were just as reluctant. So she went around trying to find a way to get it in their system considering they seem smart enough to not eat it. ended up with this” His dam forced his head down with a hoof, she forced him on his side where his ears were folded. Her hoof obscured his vision and his hearing was almost fully blocked. He could very faintly here the stallion say… “I’m…sorry” “ggrrrraaaa…bloody…glaciers…sorry” Rabia growled as a contraction wrecked her. The unwanted foal had nearly sucked her dry of any nutrients she had left. Her body had long since turned to its natural blubber for food. Sombra didn’t exactly know what was happening, so he held her forelegs tight as a form of comfort. He watched as she winced and her teeth bared through the contractions. Sombra didn’t know how to help her, that was until there was a wet squelch. “Do me a favour...get back there and-ngg- and pull it out would you” she told him as Sombra wearily got up and went to her backside. The white sack hung out of her, inside two spindly hooves. They slid back and forth with every push his dam made. He however, still had no clue what to do. “Pull gently ok. Not too hard or fast” he heard a nearby mare say to him. She was pushed right up the corner of her cell, forelegs through the bars. Sombra, as much as his young mind could understand, attempted to grab the wet foal. “Time it. pull when she pushes” she told him. His hooves slipped as he helped his dam, eventually after an hour of her crying in pain the foal was born. However, Sombra didn’t see much maternal love in his dam’s eye. She didn’t look at her new foal with love like she did when Sombra was born. The heavy door unlocked, guards had been waiting outside. Listening for when the birth was done. There hooves landed uncertainly as they made their way over. A pale purple one with wings and a golden one “why do we have to do this” the pegasus asked. “we can’t risk the princess anymore” stated the other. “this one crushed my mate’s skull in” “the princess wants the foal. let’s just get it and leave” His dam looked at Sombra and the new foal back and forth. He could see her choosing whether to defend it or not. But rather quickly her forelegs wrapped around him, she tuned her rump to the premature foal that was just breathing. The cage was unlocked and she didn’t budge, she let them take away the foal. However Sombra was still kept tight in her grasp. The guards dragged the foal away, yet both were equally shocked at the ease of removal, the pony slung it over his back. “I thought that would be harder” the gold one said. “perhaps she loves the other one more” “are you stupid? These things don’t show love” “then why does she sacrifice her own sight for them”