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 36
The rapid knocking of the door surprised all of the girls and the glanced at each other wondering who it could be.
"It can't be a royal guard. They don't knock like that," Pinkie stated.
"Actually, they don't knock at all," Rainbow Dash chimed in.
"Well, let's find out," said Applejack rising to open the door. When she opened it she nearly fell backwards in shock and disbelief.
Standing before her was Twilight and Shining Armor. Both of them were covered in dirt and muck but Applejack could recognize anypony under dirt and she knew what her Twilight looked like.
"Twilight, what are ya' doing here?" she asked completely astonished, capturing the complete attention of everypony in the room who raised their heads and bodies in disbelief at the two captives before them.
"It's a long story," Twilight responded, still panting. "Can we…come in?"
"Of course," she gestured them quickly inside and locked the door.
If Applejack was astonished the rest of the girls were completely shocked. What had happened to their Twilight? How did she find her brother? What was going on?
There were so many questions that needed answering, but the girls were speechless by their sudden presence. Fluttershy covered her gaping mouth. Rainbow Dash fell over backwards while Pinkie sprang to her hooves and inspected Twilight and Shining Armor, making sure they were in fact them.
"Quick, what is my pet alligator's name?"
"Gummy," she answered.
"Where did I grow up?"
"On a rock farm."
"What causes my Pinkie Sense?"
"I don't know."
"Hmm…Yup. It's our Twilight," she stated confidentially.
"Ah don't think any of us are doubtin' that," said Applejack as she helped her Dashie up.
"Twilight…what…uh…happened to you?" Fluttershy asked.
"A lot. There's a lot you need to know about Magicon."
"We know already," Rainbow stated. "Captain, good to see you…err…alive." She saluted for good measure.
"Thank you, Lieutenant," he answered with his own meager salute.
"Oh, I'm...no longer lieutenant," she lamented.
"Oh, I'm sorry. What happened?"
"Magicon removed me from the guard. He almost tortured me. I barely managed to escape."
"Oh my! Rainbow Dash, are you alright?" Twilight asked shockingly.
"I will be," she answered coldly.
Shining took the information in with quiet indifference. To him, it wasn't going to change his plans for justice.
"I'm sorry you were hurt, Rainbow," he said.
"Don't be, Shining."
"I feel, though, this is all my fault."
"Oh no, Shining, it's not," comforted Twilight.
"Yeah, we know everything," stated Pinkie.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"Well, we know about Red-Blood, Magicon, the real deaths of the princesses, and what happened to you."
Shining's mouth dropped to the floor and he managed to ask, "How do you know all of this?"
"I told them," answered Rainbow. "Your guard certainly isn't the quietest bunch of ponies around."
"I see that," he stated.
"We also had help from…err…Cadance," added Applejack.
"Cadance? Where is she?" he quickly asked.
"Relax, Shining, she's with Rarity in the bathroom. She's cleanin' up from the same filth you're in."
"How did she escape?"
"I rescued her and we flew out of those dungeons. We came here afterwards," answered Rainbow.
"I guess great minds think alike," commented Twilight towards her brother.
"Yeah, at least we don't have to go back down to those dungeons. She's safe," he added as he proceeded to the bathroom to see his wife.
"I wouldn't do that," advised Fluttershy.
"Why not? She's my wife."
"Yes, but umm…she's very emotional. She…well…err…"
"What do you mean?"
"Ah think ya' know what Ah mean," she winked. Shining immediately felt the surge of guilt course through him. Cadance knew. Somehow she had discovered the truth, most likely through Magicon or Twilight's friends. Would she even speak to him again? Would she even meet his compassionate and apologizing eyes? He was suddenly too scared to face her.
He slowly walked back to the girls, dragging his hooves as he went.
"You girls told her?" he asked.
"We had no choice," answered Rainbow. "She kept pressing us."
"Please don't be mad, Shining. We didn't want to tell her but she kept asking and, like what Rainbow said, we had no choice," added Pinkie.
"I'm not…mad. I just…can't…believe it," he mumbled as he collapsed on the carpet next to the girls. He lowered his head in his hooves where small whimpers could be heard between his hooves and Twilight rushed over to comfort him.
"There, there, Shining. I know it hurts, it will. But look what happened down in prison. She's suffered just as much as you have, if not more. She may not bear the physical scars but she has the emotional ones from Magicon's lies and spells. She loves you, Shining. Nothing will ever change that."
"Somehow…I think…he did."
"Shining, it's not good to keep holding it over your head. Yes, it was a bad thing and you messed up. You have to face the consequences for your actions. But you have to understand that you love Cadance with all of your heart. She loves you too. If you two didn't truly love each other, then you would never have been able to defeat the Changelings. Your love is truly unmatched."
"Somehow, I think…she'll still be mad at me."
Twilight paused, "I'll be frank, yes, she will be. You broke your vow. She's going to be mad and upset with you. But once you get past the anger you must see that it'll never happen again. You have to show her you're sorry and you truly love her."
"How do I do that?"
"Well, I can't really say. I've never had a coltfriend, much less a husband. I've never read romance novels or anything like that but I guess being honest would be a step in the right direction. Answer all of her questions and start by understanding. If she understands the context of what happened and how it happened, she'll be better able to make a judgment and more likely to forgive you."
She glanced back at her friends who nodded or simply attempted meek smiles to comfort her and her advice towards Shining.
"Th…thanks, Twilight."
"You're welcome, BBBFF." Though she offered what advice she could, Twilight wasn't sure if it helped her brother at all. His heart was seriously broken and so was Cadance's. She could only imagine how Cadance reacted when her friends told her the truth. She was even more amazed that Rainbow had rescued Cadance. She would have to hear that story.
While the two siblings talked and thought, the other girls huddled together.
"What happened to our Twilight?" asked Fluttershy in a whisper.
"From the looks of it, she was in prison," answered Rainbow.
"How'd she end up there?" asked Applejack.
"Probably she did something that Magicon didn't like and he threw her down there."
"But what did she do?"
"Could be anything, really. Knowing Magicon, he would throw her in prison for asking the wrong question."
"Now, Rainbow, don't you think you're being a little…harsh?" Fluttershy suggested.
"Me, harsh? You don't know the meaning of the word harsh, Fluttershy."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
"Now, both of ya'll, stop it right now!" scolded Applejack. "Ya'll been through a lot and are both tired and grumpy. This ain't about us; it's about Twilight and her brother. Let's keep it that way."
"I wonder how long she's been down there," wondered Pinkie.
"Not more than a day," answered Fluttershy. "Rarity and I saw her earlier. Shining, on the other hoof, has been down there for many months."
"Yeah, he looks awful," commented Applejack.
"Well, what did you expect, AJ? He's been starving in prison for months. He's going to look terrible," Rainbow stated.
"So, what now?" asked Pinkie. "Rarity and Cadance will be done soon and if Cadance sees Shining here, who knows what'll happen?"
"I'll go tell Rarity," Fluttershy stated.
"Don't tell Cadance. She's already upset," warned Applejack.
Fluttershy nodded and quietly snuck into the bathroom.
"Well, now what?" Rainbow asked.
"Let's see what happened to our Twilight and figure out just what is goin' on," suggested Applejack.
"I concur," added Pinkie.
"Fine with me," finished Rainbow. The girls broke formation and turned toward the two siblings. Shining still had his face buried in his hooves while Twilight gently stroked his mane, removing chunks of dirt and Celestia knows what else from the blue hairs.
"So, how are ya' feeling, sugarcube?" asked Applejack.
"Alright."
"Is there anything we can do for you?" Pinkie asked.
"No, but thank you."
"You sure?"
She nodded.
"Well, it's good to see you again, Twilight," said Rainbow.
"It's good to see you too. I'm sorry about your demotion and torture."
"Please, I handled it better than my fear of a Sonic Rainboom. But you, what happened?"
"I better start at the beginning."
She explained her story to the group. Fluttershy emerged from the bathroom as she began recanting her narrative and took a seat amongst the girls. Twilight explained everything. Her desire to find her friends. No contacts from them or Magicon. The changes in Ponyville. How Magicon had offered to teach her dark magic. How she had looked into his ancient book and he caught her and threw her in jail. She finished with her tale of escapement with her brother.
The girls sat in silence, some nodding their heads while others just watched Twilight. None of it surprised them anymore. None of it changed their opinions of Magicon. All of it confirmed what they already thought about him in their minds and what had to be done next.
"Quite a story," commented Applejack when Twilight finished.
"I'm not surprised he would do this to somepony," said Rainbow.
"But our Twilight. Oh, that's so horrible," said Pinkie who quickly appeared at Twilight's side and gave her a big hug.
"Uhh…Pinkie…can't….breathe," she stammered through her small breaths.
"Oh, sorry, Twilight," she apologized and released the purple unicorn from her grasp.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that, Twilight," Fluttershy lamented.
"It hurt, but I'm really not. If I had never gone through that book I would've never known who Magicon truly was and I would've never found my brother. So, in a weird way, I'm actually thankful that I did get in trouble."
"Our Twilight bein' thankful for gettin' in trouble? What did ya' do to our Twilight?" teased Applejack.
"Very funny, Applejack."
"So sorry I'm late, everypony. What did I miss?" Rarity asked as she emerged from the bathroom.
"Rarity! It's so good to see you!" Twilight exclaimed with a smile on her face as she approached the pristine unicorn.
"Twilight! What in Equestria happened to you?"
"I've been in prison."
"Prison? For what?"
"For discovering the truth about Magicon."
"Oh, that. Well, let's see…I would give you a big hug if you weren't so…umm…dirty. Come now, let's get you cleaned up."
"Rarity, are you sure that's a good idea?" warned Pinkie.
"She's calm right now and she'll be happy to see Twilight. Come on, Twilight."
"Well, alright." Truning back to her brother she noticed Applejack sitting beside him.
"Ya'll go on. Ah'll take care oh him."
"Thanks Applejack."
The two mares then proceeded into the bathroom for a cleaning and a heart-warming meeting while the rest of the girls remained in Rarity's bedroom, while Shining Armor kept his face buried in his hooves.
"I hope Rarity knows what she's doing," Rainbow said.
"Ah think she does."
"Quite a day we've been having," commented Pinkie.
"Yeah," added Fluttershy.
"Ah just can't believe one pony did all of this," Applejack said.
"There's still something fishy going on," said Pinkie.
"What's that?" Fluttershy asked.
"Why did Magicon want us to help him and in places where we would have little contact with each other and Twilight?"
The girls thought for a moment before Rainbow asked a question, "Do you think he knew about the power of our friendship?"
"You mean the Elements of Harmony?" Pinkie asked,
"Yeah."
"Well, it's possible he discovered them, though he never mentioned it to me."
"He wouldn't, but assuming he does know about our friendship and the Elements, he would know the power they have. With that knowledge he might've wanted to weaken their power separating us."
"That would be something he would do," Shining Armor said, surprising all the girls.
"Shining, how are you feeling?" Fluttershy asked as she quickly flew over to him and held him.
"Alright. I'll feel better when Magicon pays for his crimes."
"You're not going to umm…hurt him are you?"
"I am."
"Oh my."
"Fluttershy, you need to stop being such a pacifist," said Rainbow. "It's clear that Magicon is a terrible pony. Look at everything he's done. You're not immune from it. He even tried to keep you away form all of us."
"He has to be held responsible for his crimes," added Shining.
"Yeah…I guess. But couldn't we expose him to all of Equestria?"
"Ah don't think that would work. Ah mean Dashie, Shinin', and Twilight are criminals and we're helpin' 'em. Sides, Magicon is too popular that anythin' we say will just be ignored," stated Applejack.
"I worked with him the most and I never suspected he had done what he actually has," said Pinkie. "I mean my Pinkie Sense kept telling me something was wrong but I figured it wasn't due to him. I guess it was."
"Why don't we figure out a plan once Rarity comes back?" said Fluttershy. "After all…I mean…uhh…she knows ponies that might help."
"Hmm…that's not a bad idea," said Applejack.
"If we're going to stop Magicon we're going to have to do it subtly and slowly. Three of us have directly confronted him and lost. He's just too powerful," said Rainbow.
"I hate to say it but Rainbow's right," remarked Shining.
"Good, so now we need to figure out a plan," said Pinkie.
"If you're planning anything then I want in," said Rarity behind them as she emerged from the bathroom. "Twilight's fine, Shining. She just wants some alone time. It's been a rough few days for her."
Shining slowly nodded.
"And everythin' else is fine?" Applejack asked,
"Everything's fine, Applejack."
"Listen though, when I was in the bathroom I saw guards searching all over the place. My guess tells me that everypony has been alerted to your and Twilight's escape. It won't be long before they start searching our rooms. We can't stay here."
"Well, where are we supposed to go?" asked Pinkie.
"I think I have a place not far from here where we will be safe," suggested Rainbow with a smirk, half-believing she was suggesting the place.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
"What?!" roared Magicon. "You're lying!"
"We're not, sir, the two of them are escaped criminals," answered the guardspony. He seemed slightly nervous by Magicon's voice and his new image.
"Find them! I don't care if you have to search every nook and cranny of Equestria! Find them! Show no mercy! If they run, kill! If they don't, bring them to me alive! And don't fail me!" he ordered as the guard hurriedly saluted and ran off.
Magicon slammed his door shut, fuming.
"This isn't possible! Those dungeons were impenetrable! How did they get out and how did she find him down there? It's not possible! Somepony is going to pay!"
He already knew who, though, and was set on administering the punishment himself. He opened his door, glared at the two guardsponies guarding it and rushed towards the dungeons.
Servants and advisors in the hallways rushed to the walls as he ran past them. Something told them not to interfere with the Prince. All of them did a double-take when he passed making sure that that pony was indeed their Magicon. He looked so different. What look was he trying to pull off? They didn't know and they didn't ask. Something had changed in him and they all felt it and saw it. They were suddenly slightly fearful of him, making silent pacts to stay away from him as much as possible.
Magicon didn't bother with the servants as he approached the broken down door to the dungeon. Two Night Guards were busy working to fix it when he approached.
"Cease your work!" he yelled, causing the guards to jump and scramble to salute him properly.
"Assemble the rest of the Night Guard in the break room! If they're not all there in five minutes they are immediately dismissed from the guard! Am I understood?"
"Sir, yes, sir!" they responded and flew down the stairs towards the dungeons.
Magicon slowly followed them, taking his time as he descended the stairs, preparing his magic for what was to come. This failure was inexcusable and they must be punished. Shining and Twilight knew too much. If they managed to convince ponies about him, he would be ruined. That must not happen. He was too young to have his rule end. He would not let his hold on Equestria slip so easily. They would pay and so would everypony who failed to capture them.
He reached the bottom of the stairs to find the area completely deserted. But the evidence of a recent fight could not be mistaken. Chunks of stone were lying about and pieces were missing from the ceiling and walls. The wooden door was in a heap of ash and some of the stone was still smoldering.
He continued down the hall examining the damage from the battle. He saw the fight the guards had put up with and saw the power the two of them had. He reached the collapsed ceiling, only being held up by a few wooden supports. One buck and the whole ceiling would cave in. He made a mental note to remember that.
He continued slowly walking through the halls as he caught a few glimpses of Night Guards running to their meeting room. As he examined the halls, he noticed that it wasn't just that escape that had caused damage, their was evidence of Rainbow Dash's and Cadance's escape as well. Pieces of her tail and mane were on the floor alongside a few strands of pink.
Magicon guessed that Rainbow and Cadance flew out of the corridors with less of a fight than Shining and Twilight.
Finally turning a corner, he saw the large steel door of the Night Guards home. The torches continued to flicker as he walked past. Nopony was present as he slowly opened the door.
Inside, the entire Night Guard was inside, some seated others standing against the wall. It was dark, just like the rest of the dungeons with various doors and corridors leading off the main room. As he entered every guardspony rose and saluted him as he made his way to the front of the group.
He could tell they were slightly worried, confused, and even a little fearful of him. His look was scaring ponies; that was good sign. Once he reached the front of the group, he turned around and faced them.
"You may cease the salutes, but remain standing. I will be brief. I know this wasn't foreseeable. I know you were caught off-guard by their strength and their skill. But that does not excuse you for their escape. These dungeons were designed with confusion in mind. You could've led them down a wrong corridor, in circles, and any number of possibilities. But instead you led them directly to the exit and they escaped. It's even worse considering that not only two but three prisoners escaped, and one aided by a former lieutenant.
"I don't know how Rainbow got in nor do I care. What matters is that she managed to rescue Cadance and get out. The same is true for Shining Armor and Twilight Sparkle. You have failed me and failed Equestria. You have let them get away and threaten the lives of the ponies above. I cannot tolerate dissention or prison escapes. You will all be reprimanded for this. Right now!"
In seconds a dark wave of magic washed over the guard forcing all of them crashing against the wall behind them. The sound of hooves and armor meeting stone echoed around the room. From his horn Magicon conjured a whip of fire and began cracking it against the guard left in right. The room was illuminated by orange and red flame, exposing black silhouettes of guards writhing in pain from the heat against their bodies.
The speed of his attack and the accuracy shocked the guard and the yelled and screamed in pain as the fire pierced their armor, searing their coats and manes. Magicon showed no mercy as he continued to whip them.
When he was finished with one group he turned on to the next one, only to go back to the original. Their screaming and yelling was what they deserved, but Magicon wanted them to truly suffer from their mistake. Physical pain wasn't enough; mental had to happen as well.
From his horn, he triggered a massive migraine in everypony except him. Their screaming and yelling only increased as the pressure inside their heads increased ten-fold. Some managed to from words begging Magicon to stop.
But he was ignorant of their pleas, only listening to the yells and screams as he continued to punish them.
Deciding that it was time to try something else, Magicon dispersed his fire whip and conjured an ice one. The crystal glow filled the room in a light blue before meeting the manes, coats, and flesh of the guardsponies.
The sudden coldness made it even more painful to them. Some were already beyond the point of screaming, scratching against the walls to get out. Yet the pain did not cease as the whip continued. The cold was worse than the fire. It stung harder and longer than the fire and its cold coursed through every point in their bodies.
The screams continued until Magicon, satisfied with his punishment, dispersed the whip. He left one final reminder of the error of their ways by conjuring another black wave that crashed against them. The sound of bones breaking filled the air and a few were heavily bleeding, but Magicon didn't care.
He spoke with no remorse and no compassion. "You have endured the wrath of the Prince of Equestria. Fail me again and the consequences will be even greater."
He walked out slamming the door shut as the guards slowly regained themselves and helped each other.
Magicon bore his evil smile as he walked down the corridors toward the exit. When he reached the partially collapsed ceiling, he bucked one of the wooden supports causing the ceiling to collapse behind him. The sound of falling stones filled the air as smoke and dust rose behind him. Amongst those sounds an evil laugh could be heard as one pony left his own mark in those dungeons.