//------------------------------//
// 1: Monster Mine 
// Story: Memoria 
// by Li Cruz 
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	"Your father would be ashamed to see you work with such evil."
The bars bent as hooves slammed into them.
"Shut the buck up." Uzumaki howled, magic aura spilling out his eyes. "You know nothing!"
Luna stepped back, the deceptive chains rattling. The belled hat fell to the stallion's heaving shoulders. Cold amber narrowed from behind the pale tresses. Luna's ears pinned back as Uzumaki's head began to rise.
"Stop." A gravelly voice rasped.
Out of the shadow, Nue pulled itself out of the shadows. The dark gray draconequus grasped the back of Uzumaki's collar with the good claw and pulled. Luna watched as Uzumaki allowed the magic to disapt.
"You shouldn't be out of bed!" Uzumaki's mood flipped. "Somber will kill you!"
"No, just you." Sombra also stepped out of the shadows in the opposite direction of hall.
Luna scowled at the Shadow Pony dressed in muted green robes. Sombra only gave a passing glance before he clopped a hoof over Uzumaki's crown. The hornless magic user yelped as he rubbed the spot. Sombra spoke in a mild tone.
"You're lucky you didn't bring the tower down on our heads." The pale pony's ears pulled back and tail became tucked. "Lucky for you, our resident empaths had added in those braces."
Nue released Uzumaki. Uzumaki grunted as he used magic to fix his hat. Luna skittered away when the Nue's dark eyes looked at her. The beast's mouth formed a frown for a second before melting into the stony facade.
"And what about..." Uzumaki punctured the air with his hoof in Nue's direction.
Somber glanced at Luna for a second. "Nue-sama refused to stay in bed with the amount of discharge in the air."
Luna's muzzle scrunched up. Somber was saying something without having to actually say it. Luna's fear gave away to irritation.
Uzumaki sighed, sitting on his hunches as he rubbed a hoof over his muzzle. "I should have insisted someone else take the meals to her majesty."
"Indeed."
Nue chuffed. Uzumaki gave a wan smile. Sombra inclined his head and both the beast and Uzumaki disappeared with a puff of smoke. Sombra meet Luna's eyes impassive.
"What are you planning, Sombra!?" Luna demanded. "Allying yourself with these monsters?"
Sombra chuckled. "Ah, you're under the impression that I'm your Sombra."
Luna was jerked against the bowed bars by his aura. He whispered in her ear.
"Foolish alicorn, the only monster here is ... you." Luna could see the dark glint in his red eyes. "Open your eyes, princess, and see what is real."
He paused. "And the name is not Sombra, it's Somber Hope."
Luna stumbled back as he released her. When she recovered, the Shadow Pony was long gone. A tray of food sat right inside the cell. Luna stared for a long time, Sombra's words echoing in her mind.
Hours later, two griffin toms appeared, flanking Uzumaki. In his icy blue aura, he held a few items that made Luna want to run. The obisidian ring and collar clinked together. The inkbottle and brushed confused her.
The two toms wrestled her to the floor with ease. Hurling obsentites, she struggled hard, but the runes flashed. Her strength drained out of her, leaving her feeling gray. Uzumaki painted a symbol or two on the collar.
"The inhibitor might itch for a while." Uzumaki's voice remained even and toneless. "You'll be able to use your kinesis but don't try anything stupid. Like attack any one."
The horn inhibitor indeed itched when it was put on. Luna jerked her head. The collar clicked on and weighed her down. The toms released her and the trio left her.
Luna cried like a young filly and broke down. She became aware of a warm body and a humming noise next to her. A large one. Luna cringed before peeking. Bundled in a cloth coat, the Nue laid stretched out. The hum had the cadance of a lullaby.
Luna stared blearily at the draconequus before sleep rose and claimed her. She felt a thick blanket being pulled over her. The last thing she heard was the clip-clop-tic and the humming lullaby.