//------------------------------// // Friendly Fiend // Story: Hope's Elements // by NeonVibeBrony //------------------------------// She awoke again, out of her deep sleep. She recapped what had happened, The Mørke, The information she now possessed about her situation, and the things she still needed to know. where she was, what the creation is, And why she was called a hero. she began to tap the wall, thinking intently about what to do, and how to do it. This was all her fault, she thought. She caused this for Fluttershy, wherever she was. she caused this for herself. She was angry, at herself, and kicked her back left hoof against the cold stone. it sent pain throughout her body, but she didn't care. she kicked it again, and again. each time a burst of pain climbing up her spine, and through her limbs. "Hey, kid. don't want to hurt yourself to bad now, do ya?" Said a guard pony, holding a tray of food. the mare was standing right behind the bars, out of Rainbows reach. "Shut up.." Spoke Rainbow Dash in a whimper. She was definitely not looking forward to talking to these people again. "Sit up and grab your grub, pest." Spoke the Mørke grunt. Rainbowdash sat up, the effort to do so excruciating, even more so than kicking the wall. as she did so, her necklace was revealed to the pony with the tray. oddly, Rainbow Dash could tell that the pony was eyeing the necklace. "w...where did you get that?" The pony spoke in awe. Rainbow Dash was taken back by her sudden change of voice tone. "Somewhere you shouldn't of been!" Spat Rainbowdash, in reply. They became silent for a moment. The Grunt slid the trey under the bars and pulled out something from a pocket in her armor, A piece of cloth with a picture of the necklace on it. Rainbowdash didn't know what to make of this. The pony was holding it out to her, as to show her something "What the heck is that!?" Rainbow Dash spoke in annoyance. The pony was quick to stuff the cloth back into her pocket as for no one else to see it. "Don't be so loud, Hero." whispered the pony. "just remember, your not alone. you have people on your side." This struck Rainbow Dash in an unfathomable way. there it was again, the word hero being introduced to her title. and what side was she on, to have people on it? it made no sense. Rainbow dash was breathing heavily, a mixture of confusion and pain that ended in anger and sadness. just then one of the guards approached the grunt. " 'ey! whats going on here?" The stallion said behind his helmet. "Oh, uh, nothing sir! just delivering the food to the pests." spoke the grunt. "Well, there's a meeting tonight on the throne floor parlor." began the guard. "You better be there, remember. now scram!" A meeting? Rainbow Dash thought about that. maybe she could get some information! but then she remembered the bars that would keep her from that... she was out of ideas. the grunt hurried out of the room, and the guard returned to his place at the door. how will i get out of these bars, thought Rainbow Dash. i could use leverage perhaps, snap the door off its hinges. but then she remembered the guards outside, and even if the guard was gone, how would she find something in a cell to use leverage on the door? it was useless. She had time to look over her food now, some rotten celery stocks. A pile of.....something, she couldn't tell. it smelled like strawberry's but tasted like something Fluttershy would clean out of her animal pens... not that she has ever tried it. a box of what she could only assume was apple juice, due to it being an unlabeled container with the letter A on a piece of tape draped crossed it. Rainbow Dash sat there, thinking on the cold slab that was her bed. Suddenly, though. she heard a door open, and a familiar voice. she listened in. "What are you doing back here? i told you to scram!" the guard would spit this at the grunt who was walking through the door. "Oh really? because lord Desistir told me to come down. but, if you want me to tell him that you refused to let me deliver this to the rats, then that's your choice." said the grunt with a smirk. then spat the next word sarcastically. "sir." The guard groaned with eyes of deep anger, but then let her through. she was carrying more food? Rainbow Dash had no idea what to think of this. "hello again" spoke the grunt as she approached rainbow Dash. "What do you want with me? why are you not trying to insult me? or are you trying to insult me in a way i don't even know? whats going on!" rambled Rainbow Dash. "Take it easy, i'm only here to deliver you food by order of Lord Desistir." he would say this loudly so as the guard pony could hear. Rainbow Dash just started to go along with it, what else could she do? "Right, food, what is it?" Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. "Oh, its delicious, the best slop in the north." replied the pony. this gave her a clue as to where she was, the north. but north of where? "I suggest the peas." he would say this oddly seriously, winking one eye. Rainbow Dash was too tired now to make anything out of whats going on. The grunt walked out of the room, without saying a single thing more. rainbowdash now had two trays, one half finished, and one with a mountain of peas, corn, celery that was not rotten, hey fries and a dandilion sandwitch. "Now we're talking!" Rainbowdash spoke, and began to gobble it down, starting with the corn. then the sandwich, and then she stumbled upon the peas. She chewed a few bights, and swallowed. they where good, really good. just like the mare had said. "Ack!" Rainbowdash coughed, She was choking on something. she quickly hit her back, and spat out a shiny metal object, across the room, hitting the stone wall with a clanging sound, then hitting the floor. it had teeth, and a small loop at one end. "the key..." Rainbow Dash whispered to herself. she could get out of here, now. she looked closer at her tray of food stuffs to find a note hidden under the celery. she whispered it to herself. Hero, looks like you have found a key. i wonder who put that there, but anyway. there's something you should keep in mind, Guards have to sleep to. She looked out the door to find the guard pony dazed and half asleep at the door out of the dungeon chambers. all she had to do was wait for him to fall asleep, then she could escape.