"Are you sure about this Mel?" a gruff voice spoke up, shrouded in shadows.
"Of course I am. This has to be the place, we've hit every outpost and everything points to here." the unicorn replied, lowering the hood of her brown cloak. It was her most prized possession, given to her by her brother so long ago.
"I don't want you getting your hopes up for nothing, it hurts seein you upset Mel." a bright yellow pegasus colt spoke up from the unicorn's other side. The unicorn sighed, giving the colt a small smile. It was forced, but it was for his sake.
"Don't worry so much. I know he's here. I can feel it." A cloud slowly took shape in front of them, taking the form of a young alicorn filly. She seemed a bit out of breath but wore a smile on her face.
"He's there!" she said excitedly, stumbling a bit. The shrouded figure caught her before she could fall, letting her lean against it.
"Take it easy Nox." the figure mumbled. She nodded, sitting down and resting her head against him.
"He's in bad shape, but he's in there. Spike is in there too. I got to talk to him a bit but I had to leave before I was noticed. He's not looking too good and the guards are talking about having him executed."
"Then we'll just have to get them both out in one go." The unicorn spoke up.
"Mel, I know you wanna see him again but...You know they can't kill him. We've gotta save Spike while we can and then come back for hi..."
"NO! I won't abandon him again. He's suffered for too long. They took my parents just to make him suffer! They killed my parents to make us both suffer!" the unicorn yelled, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Melody, I saw them...your parents...their alive." Nox said with a small smile.
"They've kept them alive, just to hurt him. Its their favorite way of torturing him. But they are there." The Alicorn said weakly, the shadows from her brother surrounding her, lending her some of his magic.
"They're...alive?" Melody sat down, putting a hoof against her head. For so long she had thought her parents dead. Now she had a chance to save them. She lowered her head.
"Please forgive me...Piper..." she whispered. She took in a slow breath and stood, once again the commander, once again the leader.
"Alright, we'll go in Flares cover, Nox you'll open the cells and teleport Spike to the rendezvous while we grab my parents and meet up with you. We'll regroup at base and come up with another plan. We'll need to change to a separate base and we'll need a new tactic on our second entry, they will most likely be expecting us with three of their prized prisoners escaping, understood?" She asked them. They all looked back with faces of concern, even Shadowflare.
"Am I understood?!" she barked. All three nodded.
"Good, lets move out."
A bit of light shone in through the tiny cage window, waking the wounded drake within. He sat up slowly, forcing himself not to smile. It had been years of torture, years of enduring being the Gryphons little toy and now they were coming for him. He didn't know when, but he knew they would come for him. It worried him though, they were still just kids, this war had taken so much from them. He lowered his head and sighed. This war had taken much from him as well. He calmed himself and watched as a guard unlocked the bars of his cell, tossing a bowl of mush at him.
"Eat up freak." the Gryphon said with a chuckle. Spike would have loved to set the Gryphon aflame, but the collar around his neck barely allowed him to breath, let alone create flames. The framework of his cell had been carefully crafted to block out any attempt at Draconic Magic. Spike scooped up the bowl of mush, turning his back to the Gryphon. It was only a matter of time now, he would be free and he would have his revenge.
Nothing. Thats all there was. For seven long years thats all there had been in between the never ending days and constant torture. Harmony had abandoned him.Piper was dragged from his empty sleep as a claw dug into his side, reopening a wound just as it closed.
"This is getting boring, bring out the torch!" the Gryphon called out. Piper slowly opened his eyes, watching as a massive torch was dragged by several Gryphons. Oh how he hated that stupid thing. They loved hanging him above it and letting him catch on fire.
The first time they had left him like that for an entire day, only for him to heal the next day and have it done again. It had become old and while he had become accustomed to pain, his body still reacted in a way that pleased the Gryphons. The one thing he hated the most about the torch, was its source of fire. A single unicorn horn tied to the edge with an orange feather wrapped around the bottom. A reminder of how badly he had failed.
"Time for another barbecue already?" Piper joked weakly as he was lifted in the air by the chains tied to his forehooves.
"Don't you ever get tired of this?" he asked, exhausted as he hung his head, already feeling the flames licking at his body.
"Nope, it got boring tossing away all the burnt bodies, but you, heh heh. You're a real treat." the lowered the chains and Piper screamed.
Sweetie Belle felt her heart shatter once more as Pipers screams filled the air.
"The torch again..." she mumbled, tears trying to form, though none came. She had used up all of her tears long ago.
"He'll tough it out Belle." A raspy voice said, trying to cheer her up. It had been ages since Scootaloo had been given anything worthy of being called water and it was starting to show. The two were kept apart by their chains. Scootaloo's wings nailed to the wall. The sight made Belle sick every time she saw it. Though Scootaloo didn't care when she saw the cracked stump that was the remains of Sweetie belle's horn.
"Belle..."
"I'm sorry Scoots...I just can't do it anymore..." she said, lowering her head.
"I understand..." Scootaloo said softly, closing her eyes and licking her lips. If the unicorn wouldn't sing, then she would have to, dry throat and all. She began quietly, shaking with silent sobs that soon turned into loud wailing. Sweetie Belle reached out a hoof to her wife, wishing she could hold her, just for a moment. Scootaloo hung her head for a moment and started to shake, screaming as she thrashed against her bonds, though she only succeeded in ripping her wings apart with the nails keeping them against the wall.
"STOP IT SCOOTS! JUST STOP!" Belle yelled. The unicorn began to sing softly and slowly but surely the pegasus began to calm down.
"I promise Belle...I swear on my life...we'll get out of this somehow..." Scootaloo said weakly before passing out from blood-loss. A gryphon sighed and came into their cell to dress the wounds. After all, they couldn't have their best torture tools die on them.
From almost anywhere in the camp the horrifying torture Piper experienced could at the very least be heard if not seen. It broke Nox's heart, but she didn't have time to mourn. She had to move or all was lost. She quickly made her way back to Spike's prison, a thin tendril of smoke slipping in between the cracks of his collar and prying it open.
Slowly she lowered the collar to the ground so as to keep quiet, more tendrils working on the cuffs around his wrists.
"Is it time?" Spike asked softly. Nox gave a small nod before realizing he could not see her in this form. She tapped his claws gently and he smiled, stretching and taking in a slow breath.
"Good, stand back kid, I'm busting out." Nox quickly placed her hooves over his mouth, shaking her head as she took form. Her horn began to glow, surrounding both of them and causing them to vanish. Spike looked around and roared, throwing his head back and letting a jet of flame fill the air.
"WHY NOX?! WHY?!" he screamed at her.
"Because these were my orders. I'm sorry Spike but Mel's parents are in there and they still have Piper."
"Belle is alive?" he asked softly, seeming to calm slightly.
"Yes, Flare and the others are getting her and Scootaloo out and then we'll go back for Piper."
"No, you can't just leave him there, we have to go back now!"
"Spike I understand you are angry, I understand you want revenge, but please restrain yourself." She spoke softly, placing a hoof on his shoulder. The drake looked into the young Alicorns' eyes, seeing just how tired she was. He closed his eyes, smoke drifting from his nostrils as he slowly calmed himself.
He had already lost too much by acting recklessly. He needed to think things through, he needed to be rational. He took a long slow breath, just as Twilight had taught him when he was just a baby dragon. The memory of his old friend brought tears to his eyes.
"H-How are they Nox?" he asked quietly, his eyes still closed. The Alicorn hugged him gently.
"They are resting now...But they want to see you again."
Shadowflare. That was the name given to him upon his birth and it was a name he took to heart. His father had constantly beaten himself over the fact that his only son had inherited his powers of darkness, but the Alicorn had made good use of such abilities and thanks to the love and care he received from his sister, he remained unaffected by the darkness.
He did have occasional episodes, but as long as he had Nox he had nothing to fear. Now though, he was without her, on a dangerous mission that would require all of his power. His 'cloak of shadow' kept the others hidden from the eyes of the Gryphons as they made their way toward the cell of Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo.
He didn't know the couple all that well, but they had been some of the very few who accepted what he was without question. He credited this to who their son was, but all the same it made him...happy. He had to force down the spike of warmth that filled his heart as that thought struck him.
He needed to focus on the darkness, keeping hold of the reins and keeping his friends safely hidden. He grinned slightly as they reached the cells and opened his mouth, darkness drifting from it and wrapping around the two mares inside. They both opened their mouths to scream as they were swallowed by darkness, their screams muffled as it completely consumed them.
Melody's horn began to glow and together they vanished, a passing guard watching in shock as the two prisoners were simply gone. He rushed into the cell, thinking it to be a trick and found they that were truly gone. Outside the camp the sound of the tower bell could be heard, alerting all of the escape.
He couldn't help but smile as the sound of the bell met his ears. He chuckled a little, knowing that they weren't here for him. They wouldn't come for him, he hoped they wouldn't. It would be suicide. No, when the time was right he would find a way out, he always did. If it were Melody, she would go for their parents. They would be safe. Which meant he no longer had to keep quiet. No longer had to be the domestic pet. They had nothing to force him to stay here.
So now, it was time to escape. Piper threw his head back and roared, howling in pain as the heartless symbol slowly etched itself into his chest, hidden by the flames still licking at his coat. The Gryphons failed to notice as darkness crept its way around his waist and began to cling to his wings, changing their shape and swallowing his body.
Only when the chains holding him snapped did they realize what was happening. But by then, it was too late. The torch toppled over, a blur zipping past it and snatching up its source of power as well as snatching up a gryphon by its throat. The guard found himself pinned to a wall by a nightmare. A large black beast with dark goop dripping from its maw.
Two massive yellow orbs filled its head where eyes should be, and in its claws it held a unicorns horn. It snarled and flung the gryphon away, spreading its massive wings and taking to the air. Gryphon after Gryphon attempted to attack the beast, only to be devoured by the darkness, a heartless taking the place of the gryphon and joining the beast as it flew away.
Inside the darkness, Piper could feel the power of their hearts filling his form. For a moment he regretted using this power, but the feeling was quickly forgotten as he vanished into the clouds, the heartless surrounding him. They bowed their heads and Piper held his high, his voice holding a terrible echo as he spoke.
"Never again will they harm them, never again will they have them, never again will they breath so long as I stand." He chuckled, the heartless roaring around him. This time he would not fail.
Melody watched in horror as a large black beast tore through the air, any living thing that touched it joining its ranks as another beast.
"No..." Flare said quietly, his deep red eyes wide as he watched.
"Has he..." Nox asked softly. Flare shook his head.
"Not entirely. We'll need to find Strawberry Swirl if we have any hope of preventing a full change." Spike sat down, Sweetie Belle leaning against him as she rested, all of them hidden by Shadowflares' cloak.
"That's Piper isn't it?" Spike asked. Flare nodded, turning away as the 'pegasus' vanished into the clouds.
"He's forming an army...I can feel it. He is going to take them on alone as the Beast."
"He can't! What about what Oracle said?!" Melody yelled.
"I'm sorry Mel, but from what mother has told me, he has never been wrong." Nox spoke up. Melody shook her head, turning her gaze back to the clouds as the Alicorns words filled her mind.
'The beast will rise and darkness shall fall over Equestria. Driven by betrayal and anger, all will fall to the beasts wrath. None shall survive...The girl...is the key' He had fainted and couldn't recall anything but a few things he had seen. He hadn't spoken much since then. She turned back to the swirling cloud, a look of determination in her eyes.
"Well its time we break his record."
The group appeared with an almost silent pop. Nyx throwing her hooves around her children and holding them close as tears streamed down her face. They both nuzzled her in silence. Melody finally letting herself go, throwing herself at her parents and letting the tears flow.
"I'm so sorry...I'm so sorry..." the young unicorn repeated again and again.
"Shhh, Melody. none of this is your fault, you saved us." Sweetie said quietly, holding her daughter close.
"But your horn...and moms wings..."
"Kiddo, your mom and I, we've been through a lot. We can go without these old things."
"You won't have to. Applebloom is here. Once you are well rested we can restore the three of you." Flare spoke up, the darkness still drifting around him.
"The three of us? What happened to Bloom?" Scootaloo asked. The ponies gathered there lowered their heads, none of them knowing how to break the news to the recently rescued pegasus.
"She...she tried to go after you alone." Nyx spoke up, shocking everyone. It was the first time she had spoken aloud in seven years. Scootaloo turned to Nyx.
"What happened?"
"Scootaloo...this wasn't your fault, please believe me when I say that." Nyx tried to assure her friend.
"JUST TELL ME!" The pegasus yelled.
"They broke her. Slowly. Literally. There's not much left of her." Shadowflare declared in a cold tone of voice.
"And that's why we need you to recover as quickly as possible. We have a war to finish and we have to stop the Beast before it takes its full form." He slid past them silently, pulling a curtain aside to reveal Applebloom, merely a body with stumps for legs, her eyes sealed shut and one of her ears missing. Sweetie Belle gagged at the sight, Spike holding her tightly as she turned away. Scootaloo lowered her head, her Keyblade appearing with a quiet CHINK.
"We do this now."
"Mom..." Melody stood in front of her.
"You're still weak and injured. Please rest a bit." Melody argued gently.
Applebloom began to stir, coughing loudly.
"Scoots? Belle? i-is that...really you?" She wondered, looking around the room blindly. The two rushed to their friends side, nuzzling her gently.
"Its us Bloom, its us." the wounded mare smiled, resting her head against her pillow.
"Ah'm so glad you're okay...w-was Pip with you?" she asked softly. Scootaloo felt tears sting her eyes.
"N-No Bloom...They took him somewhere else. We haven't seen him since Canterlot."
"I know where he is." Spike spoke up, everyone turning to face the drake.
"When we were captured they talked about one of their camps and were about to take me there. But they decided it would be better to keep me away from Pip and lessen the chances of us escaping."
"Where is he?" Applebloom asked, slowly sitting up.
"Applebloom you shouldn't be moving" Nox began, trying to lay her back down. Applebloom merely brushed her away with a shrug of her shoulder
"WHERE?!" she demanded.
"Damarescus." a voice spoke up, stepping out of the shadows.
"Dinky...you're alive!?"