//------------------------------// // Held Hostage // Story: To Be Truly Happy // by KiaraKovu123 //------------------------------// Tyranny danced around the cave, a smug smile of victory on his face. “Now, with Discord’s power I can take over Ponyville…and those weakling little princesses won’t be able to stop me. Cadence?” he stepped into the wall and gazed down at a pink Alicorn who lay in a corner, she glared at him. He walked over to her and snickered. “Don’t you agree?” “Give it a rest, Tyranny.” She growled. “Let me go. Please, just release me.” She begged. Tyranny cackled and smirked at her. “I’m not the softy you think I am, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.” He pretended to bow. Cadence bit her lip and looked away from him. “In fact, I’m wondering if I have any use for you at this moment. I’ve already drained your power when you were in that cute little crystal palace of yours…and I brought you here.” Cadence sniffed at him and scowled. “If I still had my powers, so help me…” she said in an angry voice. Tyranny rolled his eyes. “What would you do? Turn me into a butterfly with pretty little wings?” he chuckled. “Your powers could not vanquish Sombra, it was the Crystal Heart, not you. Now, I’m wondering if I should toss you into the ‘flaming’ part in this ‘Flaming Caves’…” Cadence jumped to her hooves and shook her head rapidly, “Just leave me alone! And who else have you captured and made miserable?” “Oh, only a devious little draconiques.” Tyranny chuckled. Cadence’s eyes widened. “Discord? How did you do that? He’s been trapped a year, now.” “Gee, you need to get out more! Sitting on that throne all day can really lower a pony’s IQ level, don’t you agree?” he flicked his blue tail in her face and she sighed. “He was again released six months ago. Then after he was put back, he was released again just a few days ago by a cute little mare named Pinkie Pie.” “Pinkie Pie!?” Cadence snapped, “She’s Twilight’s friend!” “No kidding.” “B-but you’ve got to let her go!” Tyranny cackled and pounded his hoof to the ground, making the rock chip. “Let her GO? No way, she’s fine with the one whom she calls ‘Dissy’!” he pretended to be in love with the name. “I don’t understand…” Cadence said, shaking her head. Tyranny scoffed, “For a love Princess, you certainly are dense.” He glared at her, and then smiled. “She’s in love with that chaotic thing.” He turned his head away and waited for Cadence to respond. A smile lit up her face. “I knew it all along. Aunt Celestia told me that Pinkie had taken a strong liking to Discord a year ago. Now, I see she was right. And who would have thought…” she giggled and smiled fondly. “Oh, cut with the diagnosis, Miss ‘Love Doctor’! I don’t need your unnecessary shenanigans now.” Cadence frowned. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must decide what to do with this power of yours…did I mention Discord’s, also?” “You took his power?” Cadence’s eyes widened, “That’s impossible!” “Well, at least he didn’t turn me into a rubber duck…” Tyranny chuckled, “Now, off to use this power of mine in the best way…” he walked through the wall, leaving Cadence alone. She sighed and looked around. “I hope that Unicorn doesn’t destroy Equestria. Discord’s power is too strong to try to harness. It will backfire and that will result in…consequences.” She bit her lip. “I hope everything ends well.” She lay her head down on the ground and closed her eyes. --- Tyranny smirked and walked through yet another wall into a flaming pit of lava. “Cadence is too good to waste.” He said, bending over the lava and sniffing it. “Ah, just the right temperature. Now’s the time.” He tapped the burning pit of flames with his hoof and flinched, ripples spread across the lava and it glowed curiously. Tyranny smiled and took his hoof out, placing the other in. The lava did the same thing, Tyranny sat down and put both front hooves into the lava, he smiled. The pain was unbearable, but it was necessary to his plan. The lava suddenly turned white, it glowed and started to make air currents here and there. Tyranny called out, “Great pit of flames! I command you to grant me the power of darkness! I want to rule Equestria! And defeat Luna and Celestia. Please, give me that power!” the lava churned and seemed to make an echoing roar. Tyranny smirked and his dark blue eyes became a nasty bright red. He cackled. “Now is the time for rightful king of Equestria to rule!” he took his hooves out of the lava and smiled, they dripped with the white liquid but Tyranny felt no more pain. He stood up and exited the room, leaving the lava pit to make constant roaring noises. --- Pinkie awakened from a deep sleep, she yawned and gazed around. “Dissy?” she tapped him softly and his yellow eyes opened, he peered down at her. “Hey, sleepy head.” She said with a cocky smile. He smiled back at her and then they both heard a loud noise. “What was that!?” Pinkie looked around and hugged Discord tighter. “I don’t know.” He answered her. “It sounded like a Manticore…” Pinkie giggled nervously, “W-why would there be a Manticore in here? Silly filly!” she pretended to smile but sweat dripped down her face. “Is it getting hot in here or is that just me?” she rubbed her forehead with her hoof. Discord sniffed the air. “Now that you mention it…” he looked around and grimaced. “Something’s fishy…” Pinkie nodded her head in agreement and stood up, her legs shook. “Uh…what’s going on?” she shook a little more and Discord pricked up his ears. “Are you ok?” he asked her, she shook her head. He leaned back against the wall, it was trembling. He sat straight up and looked at the roof of the cave. A rock tumbled down across the room. Pinkie screamed and backed up against the draconiques, shaking with fear. “Dissy! We’ve got to get out of here!” she breathed quickly and then looked around for a way to escape. He nodded and stood up on his back legs, then got on all fours. “Stay low,” he instructed her, “This could get ugly.” She nodded and bent down, then snuck around the cave. She stood on top of the rock that had fallen moments ago and then leaped off it, sniffing along the floor. She smiled and stood on her hind legs. Discord looked at her quizzically, “What are you doing?” Pinkie shrugged. “Dashie read me a Daring Doo book one day, and it said that there might just be a button to press on a wall that opens a door! Maybe we can find one that’s an exit!” Discord shrugged. “Ok, we’ll try.” He searched along the walls, and so did Pinkie. --- Twilight darted out of the library followed by Luna, who carried the Crusaders on her back. She spread her wings and flew next to Twilight. Random ponies stared at the two ponies, some blinked in astonishment, some whispered to one another. The two ignored them and Celestia, who was directly behind them, flew next to Fluttershy, who was clinging tightly to Angel. She could fly fast when she wanted to. Scoots smiled and giggled. “Hey, this is fun!” Luna turned her head slightly and looked Scootaloo in the eye. “It is not supposed to be. We are on a mission, remember!” she turned back and Scootaloo nodded slowly. Sweetie Belle clung tight to Apple Bloom and whimpered. AB rolled her eyes and hung on to Scootaloo. Twilight ran as fast as she could to keep up with Luna. Spike rode on her back and occasionally shouted “HIYA!” Twilight rolled her eyes and held back a smile. Celestia flew up above Luna and looked at the sky, it was cloudy and thunder could be heard. “It may just rain.” She shouted to everypony. Luna groaned. “We do not remember rain being on the schedule. Why did the Pegasai have to pick today for a surprise downpour?” she sighed and looked to Twilight, who was panting heavily and had slowed down a bit. “Need a lift?” she asked with a smile. Twilight looked up at her, “I…I could sure use it!” she smiled and Spike grimaced. “Some noble rescue steed you make.” He crossed his arms and Twilight rolled her eyes. Luna smiled and her horn glowed blue, Twilight and Spike lifted off the ground and flew a little ways above the ground. “Much better! I like flying!” Spike grinned and looked around. “This is so cool!” Luna giggled and flew on, Sweetie gulped and looked at the rushing ground beneath her. She suddenly didn’t feel so well. “Sweetie Belle? Are you ok?” Apple Bloom turned her head to look at her, Sweetie gulped, “Y-yeah, can we just get there soon?” she smiled nervously and shuddered. Fluttershy flew right next to Twilight. Luna smiled at her, “Fluttershy, your wings must be getting tired.” She said. Fluttershy laughed nervously, “Heh, heh, h-how’d you guess?” Luna’s magic aura grew brighter and she levitated Fluttershy along next to Twilight, the girls smiled at each other and flew on. -- Pinkie slumped against the wall and sighed shakily. They’d searched everywhere but couldn’t find an exit. Discord walked around, seemingly in circles, but he was still looking. Pinkie bit her lip and frowned, “Dissy?” he looked up at her with his faded golden eyes. Pinkie gasped. “Dissy!? Are you ok?” she rushed over to him. “Yes, why? Is there something wrong?” he looked all over himself for any abnormalities. Pinkie nodded and looked into his eyes. “You don’t look good at all! You…” she scowled, “You look almost different…” “I do?” his voice was more frantic now, but then he softened. “I think you’re just worried. Don’t be…” he nuzzled her and forced a smile but she pulled away, leaving him slightly stunned. Pinkie stood up straight, glaring at him as if he had just got on her last nerve. Discord was slightly perplexed by her expression. “Worried? Me? No!” she suddenly seemed a bit darker in her expression, “Why would I be worried about a silly little thing like this?” she suddenly smiled creepily and snickered. “I like this, actually.” Discord gaped in astonishment, “You LIKE it? What do you-?” “Why are you surprised, Dissy? I thought you LOVED darkness…chaos…dismay…I thought it was your thing.” Discord blinked and turned around momentarily only to see the pink mare standing right in front of him, still grinning weirdly. “Pinkie? Do you feel alright?” “PERFECT!” her eyes suddenly flashed red and her voice became a little mutilated. “Why wouldn’t I be? I’m enjoying myself…” she smirked. Discord stared at her and lowered his eyebrows. “Tyranny. Stop this.” He stared right into Pinkie’s eyes. “Aw, but, Dissy! You just spoiled my fun!” Pinkie’s eyes became normal in an instant and she gasped, leaning against the wall. “D-Dissy? What happened!?” she looked dizzy and stumbled a little. Discord blinked and reached out and took her hoof in his paw. “It’s ok.” He lowered his eyebrows, “It’s just Tyranny being…Tyranny.” Pinkie looked worried momentarily but then looked to her right, Discord looked, too. A burst of red came and then faded, Tyranny stood smirking at the two with dark crimson eyes. Pinkie scowled. “You need to see an eye doctor…that doesn’t look healthy.” Discord smiled slightly and held back a laugh. He then became serious and looked at Tyranny, who brushed off Pinkie’s remark like a flea. He grinned and pranced around, a smug look of triumph on his face. Discord rolled his eyes. “Tyranny, you better not do that to Pinkie again. What do you want?” Tyranny frowned over at him and then scoffed. “How rude! Ok, I’ll tell you, anyway!” he smirked and looked at Pinkie. “You, come with me.” With a quick motion of his head he had levitated Pinkie and she looked quite shocked. Discord gasped and then glared at Tyranny. “What do you want with her?” “I want her to come see something. But you must stay!” he winked, “It’s a surprise!” Discord wanted to swipe him with his paw, but he would just be restrained, anyway. There was no use in wasting the energy. But he had to get Pinkie free somehow, whatever she was saying. Or, it looked like she was practically screaming at this point, was cut off. Tyranny had a force field so strong that not even words could escape it. Discord nodded at Pinkie with sad eyes, signaling her to remain calm. She immediately ceased her silent crying and tried to put on a brave face. Tyranny smirked, “Aw, you’re cute when you’re sad!” Pinkie seemed to growl and she glared at him. Apparently she could hear from inside, but her words wouldn’t make it outside. She glanced at Discord and he looked to the left, then nodded, then looked back to her. Tyranny was confused momentarily and he just stared blankly. Discord laughed and leaped up on the force field, making Tyranny flinch. Pinkie held on tightly as Discord returned her to the ground. “Hey, no fair!” the black Unicorn levitated Discord, this time and smiled. “Maybe I should show you the surprise instead…” he said with a smirk. “Come with me.” He pranced through the wall, and Dissy floated after him. Pinkie, who was still dizzy, squeaked and ran after them. “NO! DON’T TAKE DISSY!” she cried. Discord mouthed a few comforting words and smiled. To her, it looked like. “Be back soon.” Pinkie sniffed and gulped, “Mmm, ok…” she said without a trace of a smile at first. Then she grinned softly and curled up on the floor and sniffled. Discord floated through the wall. Then another, then another. Until he saw Tyranny standing next to the white lava, grinning widely. “Ok, I’ll let you go.” He then dropped Discord with his magic and smiled. “See this?” he motioned to the lava. “Clear as day.” Discord then looked at Tyranny. “Why is it white?” “You may have heard those explosions earlier, did you not?” “We did.” “Ah, alright. Are you wondering something?” Discord shook his head, “Just what the hay you did. I know you did something.” He stepped closer to Tyranny and stared at him, “Didn’t you?” Tyranny just smiled innocently and held his hoof to his chest. “Who? Moi?” he batted his eyes and then snickered. “Lighten up, Discord. Or I’ll have to make you…” he smiled. Discord glowered, “If I had my powers, you’d be to the moon already, and turned into an eternal smore.” Tyranny let out a laugh. “Oh, I doubt that. So, I’m just going to enlighten you myself.” He smirked and his horn glowed a scarlet red, Discord took a step back. He knew he wouldn’t be himself anymore, just a weapon of war. But all of a sudden, from behind Tyranny, came a loud shout and he was picked up by a turquoise magic aura and suddenly sweet music played. He smiled and rocked his head to the beat, and soon began snoring. Discord smiled and looked to see who had been responsible. Light purple eyes smiled at him. “Who are you?” he asked the pink Alicorn. “First, I must ask, are you Discord?” said the mare in a melodic voice. Discord nodded. “Aha, I thought so.” She looked at Tyranny and shook her head, then turned back to Discord. “My name is Princess Cadence.” “Wait, Celestia’s niece?” “Yes, that’s me!” she winked and giggled. “Oh, wow, uh. I never met you before…” “I never met you! But, who cares! Let’s just go get Pinkie and get outta here!” she smiled weakly and Discord nodded and the two ran down the halls of the cave, “I was trapped in here just like you. But my powers were restored by…” she whistled and out of the shadows appeared Luna and Celestia. They smiled and flew along next to the two. Discord’s eyes widened when he saw them. “Do not worry! All is forgiven, we shall explain later.” Luna smiled and flew on. “Tyranny told me that the farther you go down this cave, the weaker you become.” Cadence smirked. “I know a spell that counters that effect.” Discord smiled and ran on. Cadence sighed and she seemed to slow down a little. “Now we can rescue Pinkie!” They suddenly stopped and Discord pointed to the wall. “In there.” He said. Celestia, Luna, and Cadence nodded and the wall suddenly disappeared. “But the spell should run out…now” as soon as she said it, Celestia and Luna landed on the ground and they glanced at each other. Discord looked at Pinkie, who sat curled up in the middle of the floor, she didn’t seem to notice that she could escape now. Discord smiled sadly and walked up to her. The Princesses watched. “Pinkie.” He said. Pinkie sniffed and then lifted her head, she turned around slowly. Her mind seemed to process what she was seeing, before she grinned. “Are you sure this isn’t a dream? I’m not imagining you and the Princesses standing here?” Discord chuckled, “No, it’s quite real, Pinkie.” Pinkie squealed and glomped him with a big hug. “I’M SO HAPPY! NOW WE CAN GET OUTTA HERE!!!” Cadence smiled and Discord turned to her. “Thank you, Cadence. Celestia, Luna. I owe you one.” He winked. “This isn’t the time for celebrating quite yet, you two.” Celestia said with a frown. “These walls will soon collapse from the force of the lava. We have to get out of here now. And we can’t escape through the walls, so we’ll have to run. Run fast.”