Disclaimer: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic and all associated characters, settings and stories are the rightful subjects of Hasbro, the HUB, Studio B, and Lauren Faust.
Chapter 28
"You wished to see me, Magicon?" asked Cadance monotonously as she poked her head around Magicon's door into his office.
"Yes, Cadance. Please come in and have a seat."
She did as instructed while Magicon rose from behind his desk and sat directly across from her. Once they were seated Magicon spoke plainly.
"Now, Princess, it seems our little plan isn't really working. Rarity is beginning to notice and we can't have that now, can we?"
Cadance remained silent as he teased her.
"So, since Rarity notices, that means our little old hex might just be working a little too well. If she can sense not only your behavioral changes but also the magical aurora of the hex, then we have a very strong spell and a subject trying to break free on our hooves. Isn't that right Cadance?"
He could see a tiny part of her wince at the pain of the hex as she struggled to break free. Yet it was too powerful and she gave up, succumbing to a simple "yes" from her.
"That's right, Cadance. Oh, what a good answer from an obedient pony."
He saw her continue to struggle; trying to break the spell that was controlling her.
"I see you struggling for freedom, well why don't we have just a little freedom. After all, who ever got hurt from being free?"
His horn charged up and a small, but intense white light flew directly at Cadance impaling her body, causing to fall off the couch. She rose and put a hoof to her head and looked back at Magicon shock, confusion, and anger in her once again colorful eyes.
"Magicon! You lying, controlling, manipulative-"
She was cut off by the intense pain that flooded her ears and mind.
"No, no, no, Cadance," teased Magicon. "I said you could have a little freedom, not complete freedom. Enjoy it before I take it away."
Once the pain subsided after a few moments Cadance pulled her hoofs away from her head and looked at Magicon with confused eyes.
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why do you feel it's necessary to hex me?"
"Well, because you weren't obeying my orders. Everypony obeys my orders. I'm the Prince of Equestria after all."
"I can't believe you would do something like this."
"It was the only way to get you to stay and do your duty for Equestria."
"Duty, eh? It seems more than duty to me." She could feel the pain creeping up on her but she resisted. She was determined to know the truth.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean I think something else is at work here."
"What could possibly be at work here?"
"Perhaps the real reason why five, but not six, of the Elements of Harmony are here."
"I told you, Equestria needs them."
"Magicon, Equestria does not need five more ponies with administrative jobs."
"That's not for you to decide."
"But what about Twilight?"
"What about her?"
"Why hasn't she come to Canterlot?"
"I offered her the opportunity to be my apprentice in the near future but we both agreed that, at the time, it was just too soon. She needed to heal those wounds. Once that is complete I will gladly instruct her."
Cadance was silent for a few moments, resting from the growing pain and preparing for the next one that would come with her next question, "Magicon?"
"Yes?"
"Where is my husband?" The pain seared through her mind and she screamed from it. It was worse than any migraine; it was something beyond that. It was like her skull was slowly splitting in two and she had to live through every single second of its slow and merciless pain.
All while she screamed under the unyielding and agonizing pain, Magicon sat there impassively, taking in every moment and allowing Cadance to learn from her mistake of a question. Months ago, he would have cringed at this scene but now he sat impassively. It meant nothing; she meant nothing. She would've been dead a long time ago if it wasn't for Red-Blood's plan.
When the pain finally released its grip on Cadance she sat there as she quietly sobbed.
"I assume you understand the consequences for asking that sort of question," he said unemotionally.
She continued to sit in her pool of tears. She couldn't break free. She was defeated. She was his slave. She would never see her husband again. She would never know what happened to him. She would always be at the mercy of a cruel and merciless tyrant.
"Oh, stop your crying, dammit! I can't take it anymore! You've always been a whiny, cry-pony, always bitching and sobbing over the most useless of things!"
The insults only continued the sobbing, upsetting Magicon even more. Sick of it, he took the matter into his own hooves and smacked her right across the face. Cadance reeled backwards and put her hooves to her face. It stung to the touch and she dared not cry anymore, lest another smack or even worse came from Magicon. She simply sat in shock at what had just transpired.
"I have nothing further to say to you," Magicon stated flatly. "Now, I'm going to restore the hex to its fullest extent and you will resume your servitude to me."
His horn began charging once again but something ignited in Cadance. That slap had not only hurt her, both physically and emotionally; it made her stronger.
"You're hiding something, Magicon," she managed to say.
"What are you talking about?" His horn still glowed but remained at a constant brightness. Magicon was not yet casting the spell.
"I mean why else would you want to control me if I was going to look for something?" She could feel the pain coming back but she ignored it, pushing it to the back of her mind. She had a plan and she knew how to win.
"I have no idea what you're talking about. I have nothing to hide."
"Oh, then I'll ask you again, where is that pony?"
The pain flushed back, but less agonizing this time. It was like the hex only responded in fullest to 'husband' and 'Shining Armor'.
"I don't have to tell you," Magicon growled.
"But that means you know!"
"No, it doesn't."
"Yes, it does. If you didn't know then you would tell me, so since you refuse to tell me I can safely assume that you know where he is and are hiding it from me." The pain was growing but she kept fighting it; she had to bide her time.
"You're logic is flawed."
"And yours isn't? Face it, Magicon, whatever you've planned; it's over. Ah." She let out a small cry of pain. It was growing but she had to remain focused, just keep going.
"Oh no; it's not over. It'll never be over."
"And why…do you say that?"
"Because I can't be stopped. I am the Prince of Equestria and will reign for many years to come. I am beholden to nopony!"
It was working, she could see his arrogance rising.
"What about…Celestia?"
"No!" he shouted. "Not even your beloved dead princess will stop me! She's dead! Cold and Dead!"
"She'll never be dead! Not…as long…as everypony…loves her."
"No! She will fade into nothing more than a storybook character! She was nothing! I am everything! I am the Lord of Darkness!"
That was it! Mustering up everything she had in her, Cadance pushed past the darkness that held her and cast her signature spell. The pain seared inside her, worse than ever before but she pulled more magic. She wasn't going to lose. She was going to win. She was going to free herself and find her husband! With her last magic the pink heart popped out of her horn and swiftly collided with Magicon who desperately tried to cast a shield, only to have the heart pass through it and land right in-between his eyes.
He fell to the floor instantly, unconscious. Cadance also fell backwards, but from pure exhaustion, not pain. Slowly putting her hoof to her head she felt no pain. She felt calm and tired, but calm. There was no pain. The hex was gone! She had freed herself! She was her old self again!
Rising, she stretched her hooves and her body, allowing her free will to course through every part of her body. When she had finished she gazed over at the unconscious unicorn before her.
He had fallen on his back with his hooves at his sides. He looked so calm and peaceful in this stance, yet the pony inside was anything but those two traits.
Slowly standing on her hooves Cadance walked over and looked at Magicon. Checking to see if he was still breathing, she was relieved to know that he was.
"I'm sorry, Magicon. I didn't think my spell was that strong. But I had to free myself and find my husband. I can't be your slave; I just can't."
Just then the door was forced open and the two guard ponies rushed in. Cadance jumped back at their sudden appearance.
"Gu…guards…arrest Magicon at once."
The guards refused to obey her.
"Do as I say, please. You see the scene before you, it's obvious what happened."
"Quite the contrary, Princess," replied one of the guards.
"But…Magicon hexed me. I was under his complete control. You must believe me!"
"Then why is he on the floor unconscious?" asked the other guard.
"Because I used a spell to free myself from him."
"You mean you attacked the Prince of Equestria."
"In self-defense."
The two guards looked at each other, uneasy glances on their faces.
"I'm sorry, Princess, but we have a sworn allegiance to the Prince. You're under arrest."
"Me?! For what?"
"For assaulting the Prince of Equestria," stated the other guard.
"If you would kindly come with us-"
"No! You have to believe me! Magicon did this! It was Magicon's fault! Magicon!"
Her words fell on deaf ears as the two guards approached her and promptly clasped her in hoofcuffs.
"I'm sorry, Princess. But it's the law."
"No! Please, I beg you. Don't do this." She was on the verge of tears of desperation as the guards took her out of the room. She didn't struggle, only protesting and begging for her freedom. She had been free for less than a minute and now she was going into the dark and damp cells of the old dungeons. She cried as they walked her through the palace to them.
"Send for a doctor and Minister Fluttershy immediately," stated one of the guards to a passing servant. "Tell them that they are needed in Magicon's Office right away."
"Yes, sir."
"I…can't believe this," she sobbed as they opened the doors to the dungeons and carefully escorted her down to the cells.
"Princess, I'm sure this is a whole misunderstanding. We're just doing our job and from what we say in the room it looked like you attacked Magicon. We have to protect him at all costs, including arresting anypony who hurts him. I'm sure when he gains consciousness he'll have you released immediately."
She muffled a "yes" through her tears, knowing that it was a fools chance to hope for freedom anytime soon from that pony. As they arrived in the dark, cold, and damp dungeon she wondered how long she would have to live to suffer through this before her death. She was certain she would die here and would never know what happened to her husband or anything else that surrounded her and Magicon. It was all over for her.
As they finished their descent the were greeted by the dimply lit torches of a small entrance room and a Night Guard sitting near the steel door leading to the dungeons.
"Another prisoner?" he asked.
"A special one," replied the Royal Guard as they dragged her into the torchlight.
The Night Guard blinked a few times at the sight before him.
"What charge?"
"Assaulting the Prince of Equestria."
He sighed. "Very well, Princess. Come with me."
He rose, unlocked the steel door, and the three entered the endless hallway lined with cells, mostly empty until they turned two corners and found the section for crimes of her nature. Opening the door to the nearest cell, they escorted Princess Cadance inside. Unlike Shining Armor's cell, this one had no steel door, just steel bars that allowed her to see into the hallway. There were no chains on the walls, allowing her to roam about the cell, and a small bed was propped up against the wall, allowing her minimal comfort. She made no resistance and hung her head low as she entered her prison.
"We'll notify the guard of what occurred and what can be done for you," said the Royal Guard.
"In the meantime, welcome to your new home," added the Night Guard as he closed the cell and left Cadance in the dark, the only light illuminating from the torches down the hall.
All she could do was cry to herself and for herself. A victory turned sour. Freedom turned into imprisonment. A Princess and now a prisoner.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
"You're going to Tartarus," she stated.
"Just like you," he replied.
"You honestly think I'm still like that?"
"Old sins can never be forgiven."
"Old sins are always forgiven if the sinner is truly sorry for committing them."
"You're not sorry."
"I am sorry, but you're not."
"What does it matter to you? You're dead."
"Oh, no, Magicon. I'll never be dead. I'll always be here, watching you."
"Just leave me alone."
"Why? So you can kill Princess Cadance?"
"That's not my job."
"Oh, right. That's the job for your apprentice that you'll never have."
"Stop it."
"You can't have her as an apprentice."
"And why not?"
"Because she can sense your dark energies and wants no part of it. You think I don't know my student? Please, I trained her to stay far away from ponies like you."
"You have no influence on her."
"You underestimate my impact I had on her. I've taught her, trained her, and molded her to what she is today. My influence will always be on her."
Magicon glared at her. He knew she was right, but there had to be some way to break Celestia's hold on Twilight. She was dead; her influence dying, and becoming a memory and pony of legends.
"You will never destroy me, Magicon. You think you can take over my throne, repeal my laws, and dishonor me, but you will fail."
"You can't see the future. You don't control fate."
"I'm older than you and know where this will end."
"And where will that be?"
"With your ultimate destruction."
"You're crazy."
"Oh, am I now? I'm not the one talking to myself in my dreams."
"Just shut up."
"You're losing your sanity, Magicon."
"Shut up."
"You can stop now before it's too late."
"I told you to SHUT UP!" An uncontrollable killing curse erupted out of Magicon's body and hit Celestia square in the face. She fell instantly as the spell bounced over her dead corpse and flew right back at Magicon. He gasped and with widened eyes, tried to do something, anything, before it crashed against him. But he was powerless. He spell was too powerful and too fast. Magicon's fate would end here. Just as it was about to hit him, Magicon awoke.
He jumped up and wildly threw his head and hooves around, making sure that he was still alive. The sound of a sweet and quiet voice convinced him of where he was.
"Relax, Magicon," comforted Fluttershy. "It was just a bad dream. You're safe."
Taking deep breaths, Magicon looked around. He was sill in his office, albeit on one of the couches with the new gas lamps hissing and giving the room more light than any candle would do.
Looking over at Fluttershy, he asked, "How long have I been out?"
"For a few hours. You were unconscious when I saw you and I immediately checked your health. You seem fine, though I suggest you get some more rest."
"Can I have some water?"
"Here you are, sir," emerged Rainbow Dash with a glass of water that Magicon quickly drowned.
"Thank you, Lieutenant."
"The guards informed me of what occurred."
"Oh, they did?"
"Yes, sir. I do hope that it was some misunderstanding between you and Princess Cadance and I ask you that you release her immediately."
"Rainbow!" exclaimed Fluttershy. "Magicon is tired and in no position to make those kind of decisions right now."
"Don't call me Rainbow, Madame Secretary," the lieutenant hissed.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Fluttershy apologized meekly.
"No, it's quite alright," said Magicon. "Thank you both for coming and taking care of me."
"You're very welcome."
"Now then, Lieutenant, you want me to release Princess Cadance?"
"Yes, sir."
He paused a moment to think, even though he already knew the answer. "I'm sorry, Lieutenant Dash. I can't release her."
"Permission to ask why sir?"
"Granted. I do hope the guards told you what they had to say for it is the truth. Cadance attacked me and was planning on ending me."
"Oh my," gasped Fluttershy.
"She did something with her love spell that knocked me out. I don't know what she planned to do with me afterwards but I can say it wouldn't have been good."
"I just…can't believe that," said Rainbow.
"I'm sorry, Lieutenant. It's the truth. Cadance will face justice for her crime against me."
"You would put Cadance on trial?" asked Fluttershy.
Magicon nodded. "I have to make her understand her mistakes and learn from them. The only way I can do that is put her on the stand. She has the right to a fair trial, it's in the Constitution, and I do hope that she learns from her mistake."
Rainbow shook her head. "I must protest, sir. Princess Cadance is a good pony. Pardon her. You have that power and can use it at anytime."
"As much as it would do her and me good, a lesson must be learned here."
"But, sir-"
"No, Lieutenant. My mind is set and I'm not yielding to your opinions. Return to your post. You are dismissed."
Grudgingly, Rainbow Dash saluted and left the office in annoyance leaving Magicon and Fluttershy alone.
"So…um…how are you feeling?" she asked.
"Better."
"What hurts?"
"My head throbs."
"You need to lie down and get some more rest. Sunrise isn't for a few hours so you can sleep."
Magicon slowly nodded, but was reluctant to go to sleep. "Fluttershy?"
"Yes, sir?"
"Do you think I'm a…bad pony?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I've been having dreams lately, nightmares really, where I keep getting accused of doing terrible things to Equestria and ruining everything Celestia and Luna built."
"Oh…are the nobles getting to you, sir?"
"No, it's not them. Just tell me, am I a bad pony?"
"No, of course not, sir. You're doing great things for Equestria. I mean, the things you've done are different from what the princesses did but they're still good things."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Thank you, Fluttershy. That just makes me feel better."
"I'm glad to hear it. Anything else I can do for you?"
"Can you escort me back to my room?"
"Of course."
He slowly put a hoof around her as she gently struggled to pull him up off the couch. Though Magicon was trying, he felt weak in his hooves and his head felt heavy. He put a hoof around Fluttershy as they slowly walked out of his office and down the hall towards his room.
As they walked, Magicon asked, "Have you seen your friends lately?"
"Well…I've seen them, but I haven't really talked with them. We're all just so busy."
"But what about the weekends?"
Fluttershy shook her head. "For Lieutenant Dash, there's never a break from duty. She's always worried about her guard. Rarity uses all of her time to spend it with the nobility and Pinkie Pie is often in the kitchens baking. I don't know where Applejack goes and I either stay here or go on hikes and take care of woodland creatures."
Magicon nodded, whether from understanding of Fluttershy's words or satisfaction of his own plan was unknown to her.
They passed only the Royal Guards who, Magicon swore, kept giving him glares or annoyed looks at him. Each time they passed a guardspony Magicon quickly turned his head to see if they were glaring at him. He knew they were whispering things about him in the barracks. They knew the truth about their captain and where Princess Cadance lay. Even Lieutenant Dash and Fluttershy knew about Princess Cadance. That secret would fly and Magicon would either have to release her or find a legitimate reason to hold her.
She would face trial but perhaps he could pardon her. Then an idea popped into his head: scare her into silence. He had done it with Shining Armor and he could do it with Princess Cadance. Not only would it dispel the rumors it would only look like a misunderstanding to the public. He could easily solve that. Questions about Shining Armor would be raised but he could handle that. He had fought Shining Armor hoof to hoof and won. He could easily control the questions and interests about his wife.
When the two arrived at Magicon's room, Fluttershy assisted Magicon into his comfortable bed and left him with a single "good night". Once she left Magicon rose out of bed and went over to his desk. Telekinetically picking up his quill he began slowly writing a small note in the same style as a former captain and now prisoner. This note would dispel all rumors, silence the guard, and allow Magicon to take the matter into his own hooves. Princess Cadance would be pardoned in exchange for her silence; that was guaranteed. Shining Armor, on the other hoof, would have a very different fate, a much darker and deadly one.