I awoke on my back feeling pain in every limb, but mostly my stomach. I groaned as I sat up and looked down. There’s a painful scorch mark there, but it’s not too bad. I gingerly poke and prod, but I can no longer feel that implant. I’m still examining the place where it was when everything came flooding back: Twilight’s beam hitting my stomach, the arc of electricity coming out and covering the both of us, the pain. I’d shut my eyes and the next thing I knew I was here.
I stared around me. The light is dim, but I can see I’m in a bare metal room and I can feel a hum coming from the floor. There are no windows, but there’s one door that looks like it belongs on a submarine. This has to be the aliens’ ship, but where are we? Are we still on the planet? If we’re not, what’s going to happen to Fluttershy? I have to find a way out!
I experienced déjà vu as I continued to ponder my circumstances. The waking in a strange place, the pain, the disorientation. It’s all like my first night in Equestria. I tried the door. As expected it’s locked, so I started yelling and banging on it.
“Hey! Let me out of here!” I kept this up for several minutes then stopped. My hands are sore and there’s no answer.
I tried to think. The arc of electricity came from the device, so Twilight’s magic must have triggered it. All I remembered was shutting my eyes and screaming, but as I concentrated I could recall another voice doing so as well. Was it Twilight? And if so, is she here as well? I had been instructed to go before Celestia, but she’d been nowhere near. Only the ponies and Luna were there, so Luna might be here. I put my ear to the wall, stilled my breathing and focused my awareness on hearing. I couldn’t hear anyone, so I then tried tapping all around.
“Twilight? Princess Luna? You there?” No reply.
Just then there was a movement of the door’s handle. I jumped back and waited. The door opened and there stood the two beings I’d come to hate. One entered while the other stood outside as I got my first good look at them. They were both taller than me, encased in what appeared to be some sort of armored suits. They each walked on four legs, with two other upper limbs that ended in wicked looking claws. Their faces could be seen behind the glass front of their helmets, and I tried not to look at them too closely, as in doing so I felt my bile rising. Their pupils were slits and their mouths were full of teeth like a shark’s. They grinned at me, and then one in the room spoke.
“Thank you, human. We wanted the elder of the two creatures, but this will work out just fine.”
“What…what do you mean?”
“It doesn’t matter. We got what we came for. Which means we’re done with you.” It pulled out a weapon and fired as I twisted to one side. I moved faster than I normally could have done and smashed against the wall. Not fast enough. The beam lay a scorching trail across my shoulder.
“Ahhh!! ______ you!” I screamed and fell to my knees. The alien paused as it lowered the weapon.
“What did you say to me?”
I curled up and held my wound, but I clenched my teeth and screamed again, “You heard me! _______! You!” Then I shut my eyes tight and waited. After a moment of inactivity, I opened my eyes and stared at them.
“What are you waiting for?! Get it over with!”
It had completely lowered the weapon as it stared back at me. Finally, it spoke.
“This was going to be an easy death, human,” it spat, “but now you’ve earned a much more painful one.” It smiled coldly as it turned to leave the cell.
“Wait!” I cried, “what about Fluttershy?” It stopped mid stride.
“What about it?”
“You have to save her! Whatever you did to her, she’ll die if you don’t help!” Another throb of pain hit me, and I bit down on my sleeve to keep from crying out.
It laughed at me. “You do not give the orders, human. That creature is as good as dead.”
Just then its partner spoke to it in their language. As it turned to reply, its attention was drawn away from me. I am no hero, but fear made me desperate. With a grimace, I lunged forward and actually got my hand on the weapon before the alien turned and casually batted me aside. I hit the back wall as a tooth went flying. They looked down on me as I struggled to a sitting position.
“You have some fight in you, human, so we’ll make you a deal: if you survive the Pit, we’ll save that creature.” It smiled. “You won’t.”
Once they left me alone I immediately regretted my outburst as I spit blood onto the floor. Whatever this “pit” is, my friend’s fate is now tied into my success or failure. But then I remembered I couldn’t trust those things. They’d lied to me once already, so I couldn’t take them at their word. Even so, the alien had said, “she’s as good as dead,” so I seized onto the hope Fluttershy is still alive. Somehow, I’d have to win if she’s to stay that way. God help us both.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Twilight was jolted awake as pain shot through her. She clutched at her neck as her hooves came in contact with a hard, metal collar. The pain stopped almost immediately as she frantically looked around.
“I…I am sorry, Twilight Sparkle. I did not know what would happen when I used my magic,” said Luna.
“What happened? What are we doing in these cages?” she panted.
Luna painfully got to her hooves. Twilight saw she was wearing a collar as well. Looking further, she could see a gryphon and a manticore in the near cages, slowly getting back to their feet.
“Who are they?” she asked.
Luna indicated the gryphon. “This is Belinda Windrider. I have learned much from her, but neither of us knew the effect my magic would have on our restraints. I cannot communicate with the manticore.” She stepped aside. “Here is one other I think you may know.” Down by the gryphon’s feet stood a small white rabbit.
“Angel?! What’s he doing here?”
“He was here with that pony Fluttershy,” said Belinda as she rubbed her own neck. “Protecting him was all I could do for her.” Then her features grew dark. “Those monsters used him to get Fluttershy to fight.”
“Fight?! Fight who?”
Luna stared across the room at the other cages. “Those creatures.” As Twilight followed her gaze, Luna continued.
“It is the same as I discovered in Fluttershy’s dreams. Our assailants have placed us in this area for the purpose of fighting those other beings.” She paused, and a scowl crossed her features. “For sport.”
Twilight could see other cages across the dimly lit room, but she didn’t recognize any of the creatures in them.
“Where’s Char-Elles? Is he alive?”
“I do not know. The gryphon tells me she has not seen any such being matching his description.” She laid a hoof on her own collar. “But we have a more pressing situation. These devices are keyed into our magic, and it would appear if you or I try to use our own spells they are all activated. So we cannot use magic without causing severe pain to all.” She grimly nodded. “Clever. Despite their questionable motives, we are dealing with intelligent beings.” She turned and stared at Twilight. “We simply have to be smarter.”
“Whatever you ponies want to do, count me in.” Belinda flexed her talons. “I only need one chance to gut those two.” Twilight looked shocked, but Luna merely gazed at her.
“I think we can accomplish this without further bloodshed,” she finally said.
“Then you must not have been listening when I told you what happened!” snapped Belinda. “These things are utterly without mercy. After what they did to Manx and Fluttershy and me, I’m getting some payback.”
“Who is Manx?” asked Twilight.
“He…he was a minotaur and a hero. He died saving Fluttershy.”
Twilight put a hoof to her mouth. “I’m so sorry.”
Belinda shrugged. “He went down fighting. That’s all I want as well.” She quickly wiped at an eye, then cleared her throat. “Shall I tell you about him, and that glorious battle?”
“Yes, it is best that you tell us that and everything you told me about this situation, Belinda Windrider,” said Luna. “Twilight must know.”
So Belinda began her tale anew, growing more animated as she went along. Even Angel appeared to be listening. When she finished, Twilight let out the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. Then her expression hardened.
“Those beings hurt Fluttershy and Manx…for their own amusement?!”
Luna shook her head. “Not just for their amusement. Consider: they used Angel to get Fluttershy to fight. They then used Fluttershy to involve Charles. Something reached out from him and affected you and I, so now we are here. If this is a game to them, then we are the prizes.”
Belinda scoffed. “This…Chars-elles sounds like a real jerk if he is working with these monsters.”
Twilight began to pace. “I don’t think he is working with them. From his reaction to that which brought us here, I’d say he was in just as much pain if not more than we were. I only hope he’s still alive.”
__________________________________________________________________________________________
The others stared in shock at the place where Twilight, Luna, and the alien once stood.
“Are they…dead?” asked Spike.
“They can’t be,” whispered Rarity.
Applejack walked up to the spot and peered closely at it. After a few moments, she turned to the others.
“There’s nothing here that looks like it could have been a body: no ash, no smell…they’re just gone.”
“Well then, we gotta find them!” cried Rainbow.
“I’m all for that, but first, we haveta let Princess Celestia know what happened,” said Applejack. “Spike, send her a letter. Tell her we’ll be waitin’ here for her.”
“You got it!” he said. He ran to the front desk and asked for some paper and a quill. After the nurse gave him the items, he quickly scribbled out the letter, rolled it up and sent it by dragonfire. He turned to Applejack.
“Now what?”
“Now we wait. This shouldn’t take too long.”
“We can’t just wait around!” said Rainbow. She whirled upon Rarity. “Didn’t you and Twilight do something with your horn so we can find those creeps?”
Rarity took a step back. “Yes, but what we found was very faint. I’m not sure it can help, as Twilight was scanning Char-Elles for a greater sample before they disappeared.”
“Try!”
Rarity closed her eyes. “Alright, give me a moment.” Her horn glowed as she concentrated. She began to sweat as she poured more of her magic into the spell. Finally after a few moments, as all were staring at her, she stopped and opened her eyes. She couldn’t look at any of them.
“I’m sorry, there’s just not enough for me to detect,” she quietly said. There was a collective groan, which made Rarity shrink into herself. Applejack noticed.
“Don’t blame yourself, sugarcube. It ain’t your fault.” Then Pinkie gasped, and started jumping up and down.
“I know! I know! You can’t find those aliens, but can you find the alien?”
Rainbow scowled. “Pinkie, what in Equestria are you talking about?”
“The alien! Char-Elles! He’s been all over the place, so he should be easy to detect!”
Rarity stared at her, and then her eyes grew wide. “Pinkie…that’s genius!”
Pinkie stuck out her bottom lip. “You don’t have to sound so surprised.”
“That’s not what I meant, dear!”
Applejack interrupted. “We don’t have time for this! Can you find the hue-mon, Rarity?”
“I…I don’t know. I’m not good at spellcraft, and mine would have to be slightly modified to detect him.” Then she squared her shoulders. “But I must! I need that book Twilight used!”
“Go on an’ get it, the rest of us will wait here for Celestia,” said Applejack.
“Oh no we won’t! I’ll go with you, Rarity. I gotta do something!” said Rainbow.
“I’ll be happy to have you, Rainbow. Let us be off!” cried Rarity. They burst through the doors, through the crowd and galloped away.
“Hey! What’s going on?” asked an earth pony as they ran past. Neither stopped to answer but sped on their way. The Night Guards crossed their heavy lances to block the doorway after Rarity and Rainbow left.
“Sorry,” said one of the Guards, “but nopony gets in without direct permission from the Princess.”
“Can you at least tell us what’s happening? We saw a brilliant flash earlier, and then those two ponies ran out. Is there trouble?” asked a pegasus.
The Guard didn’t know but decided to fall back on his training and wing it.
“I’m sure the Princess will let you all know when Her Majesty deems it prudent. Please be patient.”
The crowd started to grumble.
“We’re always the last to know whenever anything happens around here. I hope they all know what they’re doing,” said one.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Several light years away:
The bridge of the Hkari battle cruiser Diligence was a sea of activity. For twenty cycles the humanoid crew had been attempting to track the intermittent trail of a rogue ship that had thus far eluded them. That ship’s cloaking technology had made them difficult to detect, but now their quarry had made a critical error. The Science Officer checked her findings one last time, then submitted them to her captain.
“Confirmed, Sir: a vessel with Antashi identification codes made an unauthorized landing on the planet Equus six cycles ago.
The Captain studied the report transmitted to his command chair’s screens and then scowled. “Why wasn’t I informed of this earlier, Lieutenant?”
Lieutenant Chapel stood at attention and looked her Captain in the eyes.
“Long range scanners just now detected their decaying heat signature entering the planet’s atmosphere. The ship has been cloaked, but anomalies within the planet’s magnetic field exposed their vessel for a brief window of time. The signal is faint, so I doubt they themselves were aware of it.” She examined her instruments. “I have double checked my findings.”
The Captain sat back in his chair and sighed. “Very good, Lieutenant. Navigator, plot a course to Equus. Hopefully the damage those fool Antashi must have done can be corrected.” He clicked a toggle on his panel and his voice resounded throughout the ship.
“This is the Captain. We are in pursuit of a criminal crew that has violated Stellar Authority protocols and landed upon a forbidden planet. The planet its inhabitants call Equus is unique in that they have control over their own star and satellite. This process is unknown, but it has been assumed beings that powerful could possibly be a threat to neighboring star systems. Hence it was decided the planet should be avoided. We have no way of knowing the rogue ship’s intentions, but from what little we know about the indigenous beings there this may turn into a rescue mission for the Antashi. Captain out.” He addressed his bridge crew.
“Go to General Quarters, activate cloak and prepare all long range scanners. I want that ship found within one cycle. Helmsman, Level Ten power to engines. Navigator, ETA to Equus?”
“One-eighth cycle, Sir!”
“Initiate pursuit.”
“As ordered, Sir!”
_________________________________________________________________________________________
At Twilight’s castle:
Rarity had no trouble finding the book Twilight had used, but her face fell once she saw the complicated text.
“How does Twilight sort through subjects like this so quickly?” she asked.
“She’s an egghead, how else?” said Rainbow as she tried to read over her shoulder. “Can you make the spell?”
Rarity glanced at Rainbow, then back to the tome. “I suppose I have to, don’t I? Give me a minute.” She silently read to herself as Rainbow paced the room. Rarity quickly realized trying to take it all in at once was a mistake: there were too many variables. Then inspiration struck her. She read the spell again, but this time approached it as if it were a dress pattern, and mentally divided it into sections. She then saw she was missing a vital ingredient.
“Alright, Rainbow, I think I understand, but I need something of Char-Elles’. Can you go to his room and find something of his?”
“What, you mean something that smells like him?”
Rarity’s face grew red. “I’m not a bloodhound! The spell detects the essence of the individual, not their scent!”
“Okay, okay I didn’t mean anything by it! I just need to know what you want.”
“Just grab anything he’s handled.”
Rainbow nodded. “I’m on it!” She flew out and quickly found Char-Elles’ bedroom.
Rainbow looked, and then grabbed the first thing she saw: a book lying on his nightstand. She flipped it open and glanced through it. He’d written in what had to be his own language, so this must be very personal. She flew back to Rarity.
“Will this do?”
Rarity quickly scanned it with her magic, then smiled. “Excellent work, Rainbow! This will do indeed. Now stand back.” She concentrated, and again, took the spell one section at a time. This took several minutes, and she was drenched in sweat by the time she was done. Finally, she let out a breath.
“Is it over? Did it work?” asked Rainbow.
Rarity fired up her horn once more and swept out with her former gem finding spell. The smile she then gave was weary, but satisfied.
“Yes. I can detect him.”
“Awww yeah!!” cheered Rainbow. “Good job, Rarity! Let’s go find them!”
“Just…just a second. We first need to meet back up with the others,” she panted.
“Are you okay?”
Rarity waved the question off. “I’m fine, just a little winded. I’ve never performed magic like that before.”
“I can fly you back to the hospital. We need to hurry!”
Rarity stiffened at the thought of being carried like a foal, but she saw the wisdom in her request. “Very well. Fluttershy needs us, so I shall suffer this indignity!”
“It’ll be awesome! Let’s go!” They both ran to the front door of the castle, then Rarity allowed Rainbow to hold her beneath her forelegs as Rainbow quickly took off.
“Whoa!” said Rainbow as she shifted her grip.
“What was that?!” cried Rarity.
“Nothing!”
She flew on. Fortunately for them both, they did not have to fly far. As they approached the clearing before the hospital, they were met by Princess Celestia and her Guards. Rainbow almost dropped Rarity when she saw the expression on Celestia’s face. Her eyes were blazing white, and her horn crackled with discharges of energy. As she set Rarity down before her, Rainbow looked and saw the rest of her friends were there as well. Rainbow and Rarity both bowed at once, but Celestia was the first to speak.
“Rarity. You can find my sister, correct?” It wasn’t the Canterlot Voice, but it was close.
“Yes…yes, Your Highness.” Rarity trembled despite herself. She’d never seen the Princess so angry. And I hope I never see it again. “I can locate the hue-mun, and we think he’s with those that took Princess Luna and Twilight.”
“Get into my chariot. Guards, follow her directions.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
“Wait!” cried Applejack. “Beggin’ your pardon Princess, but we’re coming too!”
Celestia turned and stared at her, and for a moment it looked like she would deny the request.
“You are about to see a side of me nopony has seen for many centuries, Applejack. I would spare you all such a sight.”
“Our friends need us, Your Majesty,” said Pinkie. “We have to help them!”
Celestia nodded. “Very well, my little ponies. Join Rarity in the chariot. Let us be off!”
Applejack and Pinkie climbed in beside Rarity, while Rainbow and Celestia hovered above. Rarity fired up her horn. The beam became visible as it shone towards the Everfree Forest.
“That way!” cried Rarity. The Pegasus charioteers reared up and gave a battle cry, and then shot into the air.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
As I waited for the aliens to come back and subject me to whatever they had in mind, I went over my options. There weren’t many. The chances are I’m about to die a horrible death. I thought about it, and realized that wasn’t what truly troubled me. I don’t want to die, but what most troubled me was the knowledge that I’d failed at the end: failed to help Fluttershy, failed to beat those monsters, failed to get home. But what could I do? I’d been out of my element from the moment I’d been brought here to Equestria. The only thing I had going for me is my physical strength is increased on this planet. That, and as a result, I am also slightly faster. But would it be enough to face the upcoming ordeal? I'd already been hurt again, even though the pain was already bearable. Would my new wound make me slower? I couldn't afford that to happen.
My heart gave a leap and started jackhammering as the latch shifted. I got to my feet and faced them as the door swung open. They both spoke not a word, but beckoned me out of the room. I had no choice but to follow them. As we walked, I began to furiously consider a way out. I saw that they both gripped their weapons, so there was no chance I’d be able to grab one, nor was there any guarantee the outcome wouldn’t be the same as the last time I’d tried. So I followed them silently and took in as many details of the place as I could.
I could easily get lost in here, as there were corridors branching off at every turn. Most of the doors we passed were shut, but a few had enough glass on them I was able to see into the rooms, if only briefly. Most of them held little interest for me, but one caused me to actually stop and stare. The door to this one was wide and looked like some sort of laboratory. It held rows upon rows of … human sized containers, all covered in frosted glass and standing upright, connected to a central hub. I felt new horror seize me as I actually took a step into the room, trying to see what I only suspected. I didn’t get far as one of the aliens came back, grabbed me and threw me forward along the corridor. Just as we passed the room, out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw movement in one of the containers. But I didn’t get the chance to confirm it, as one of the aliens now walked behind me to keep me on our way.
If I survive, I’m coming back to see what’s in that room.
Finally we stopped at an unusually large door, and then the lead alien pressed a button on the side. The door swung open to reveal a vast, circular room. An animal smell hit me as soon as I walked inside, and looked around. The room was huge, and I could see cages set against the walls. The near cages held creatures the likes of which I’d never seen before, but as I looked at each one I could feel a palpable sense of menace coming from them. Then I heard my name being called! The far cages were a blur, but I could just make out the shape of a purple pony. It was Twilight! In the cage next to her was a larger, dark pony, which I guessed had to be Luna.
“Char-Elles! Are you hurt?!” called Twilight. It was so good to hear her voice!
“I okay! You…hu-rt?” I shouted.
“No, I’m fine!”
Then I squinted. “Is…Lu-neh…there?”
“Yes, Charles. I’m here,” she said. Then I was shoved in the back.
“Get moving, human. Your friends get to watch this.”
I hissed as one of their hands made contact with my shoulder, but I manage to stifle the cry of pain as I stumbled forward. I heard the door slide shut behind me, and then as I turned and looked my two assailants floated up to a raised platform overlooking the floor. This had to be the “Pit” they spoke of earlier. Then one of the cages opened, and a nightmare creature shambled out. It was almost as tall as me, covered in black fur with six legs, with some kind of metal collar. From the way it reared its head and sniffed, I thought it might be blind. That, and I couldn’t make out anything that might be eyes on it. Then I heard my captors taunting me.
“Meet the Blinn, human. It was the companion to the creature your pony friend killed. Let’s see how well you do against it!”
I wildly looked around for anything I could use as a weapon, but all I had were my fists. The cowards couldn’t even provide me with means to protect myself. And that’s when I got angry.
I ran forward to meet it and threw everything I had into one punch to the side of its head. I was actually able to knock it back a few feet, and if the howl it gave was any indication, I also must have hurt it. But my victory was short-lived, as it now whipped out a paw and pinned me to the floor. I managed to get my hands around its collar just as those jaws came down and snapped within inches of my face. I felt its claws dig into me as it forced its head down, trying to bite me. I held that maw away only by sheer force of will, but if I couldn’t get to my feet and get away, I wouldn’t make it.
It can’t end like this!
______________________________________________________________________________________
Twilight watched in horror as the hue-mun struggled with the creature.
“We have to help him!” she cried.
“Yes,” said Luna. Her voice had a strange inflection to it that made Twilight turn and stare at her.
Luna slowly turned and stared back. “I am sorry, Twilight Sparkle and Belinda Windrider. And to you, manticore, though you cannot understand me.”
Then her eyes went white and she charged up her horn. Immediately the agony shot through them all, causing the three to fall to the floor and scream. But Luna did not stop, though it was plain she suffered as well.
Now the power she channeled lifted her off her feet, and the entire vessel began to shake. Then a force beam arced through her horn, and briefly touched first Twilight’s collar, then the other collars in turn. As it did so, there was a spark as each restraint fizzled out and fell off them all. Lastly, she destroyed her own as the bars of her cage melted into slag. As she floated out, she cast one more beam from her horn towards the creature attacking the hue-mun. The impact knocked it across the room and it slammed into the wall below the raised platform, then lay still. As she approached the injured hue-mun, she looked up at the platform. It was empty.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Once the ship had started shaking, the aliens lost no time. They quickly jumped down, unlatched the door and ran as fast as their suits could carry them. It was time to leave this planet, but not before one final act.
Within a hold in the bowels of their ship they kept dozens of creatures from various worlds, all picked for their viciousness and fighting ability. Now one of the aliens hit a series of controls that released each of the enclosures and at the same time opened the main cargo bay doors, while the other made ready to lift off from the surface. Let these “Princesses” deal with the most dangerous creatures from a hundred worlds! They’d be long gone in the meantime. But before they could go, they’d have to take care of the immediate threat, and that was the one in the Pit. Hitting another series of controls, they released every cage there. With any luck, she wouldn’t be able to fight them all. Even if she could, they had only to leave orbit, depressurize the Pit and then blow them all out into space. Problem solved.
As one pushed the levers forward that controlled the ship’s engines, they could actually hear them straining. But they weren’t moving. They tried again, but nothing. Where they should have reached the outer atmosphere by now, they were somehow being held in place. One ran a quick check of the instruments and then activated the front view panel. Its suit’s mechanical arms fell away from the control panels in shock as it stared out the portal.
Celestia had arrived.