//------------------------------//
// Chapter 6. Dew goes exploring. 
// Story: The tyrant of fear and hate 
// by Askre 
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Chapter 6

Nobody spoke yet, even if it had been a while now since King Sombra left the room. Foxy had laid down on the floor where she had knelt, staring at the ground looking uncharacteristically grim. Dew had put her legs around Private and clung to him. The unicorn just stared forward, scowling. Rubinstein had already picked himself up and in a hurried whisper excused himself as he stumbled out, leaving the three ponies behind.

“Who wants to bet he was just waiting for one of us to be asking around?” Foxy finally broke the silence. She slowly looked up at her friends. “Seriously, Rubinstein hadn’t even said anything of use and I had barely started asking questions.”

“Actually he did say something,” Private pointed out. “He said that something prevents him from remembering the time before the king came to power.”

“You think we were on to something by hearing that?” Dew asked. She let go of the stallion and sat up more properly.

“I wouldn’t doubt it, keep in mind that shortly after Rubinstein said that, Sombra appeared. Whatever spell that’s was on him probably alerted the bastard to what was going on,” the unicorn said, his scowl changing a bit more into a thoughtful frown.

I need to get into the throne room, preferably when the king isn’t there. I wonder if this Amber can tell us something, Dew Doe thought and glanced towards the doors of the room.

“I think we need to be a little more practical on this one, what we need to do is find a way into the dungeon, free the Doctor and get the heck out of here,” Private grunted. “As fascinating it would be to find more out about this place, I don’t think it’s beneficial for our health to stay here too long.”

That actually makes more sense. Dew brow rose a bit. She had figured they would need information about the empire and the king before proceeding, but now that she reconsidered, that was probably secondary to freeing the Doctor. 

“So anypony know where the dungeon is?” Foxy asked with a skeptical tone and expression.

“Sort of, the entrance is at the bottom of the castle, the dungeon itself is on a sublevel,” Private told her, causing both mares to look at him mildly surprised. “What? I asked Rubinstein where the dungeon is, he told me.”

“Aren’t you usually the silent one?” Foxy teased and just grinned at the glare she received. 

“Knowing where the dungeon is located is one thing, going there is a whole another matter,” Dew Doe said and climbed down from the bed. “I think we need to put it to the test how limited out travel is here.”

Foxy and Private looked at her shocked. Even though the mood had lifted slightly, the memory of what happened to Rubinstein was still very fresh on their mind. 

“Dew, we just watched the guy torture a slave right in front of us. He forced me to beg for his life, can you imagine what he will do if he thinks you’re trying to escape or go somewhere you’re not supposed to?” Foxy said sharply.

“Well we aren’t going to get anywhere if we don’t know the limits of our travel, now do we? Look, at most the guards will stop me from leaving the hallway, I mean that’s what they are here for,” Dew pointed out.

“Wait, you’re going alone?” her sister exclaimed and quickly rose to her feet, even Private was rising up.

“If all three of us try and go it will look that more obvious that we are trying to get to the dungeon. If just one of us is walking around, it at least makes it look like it’s just out of curiosity. ‘I wandered out because I was bored sitting in my chamber,’ that kind of thing,” the blue pegasus explained and started to walk to the doors.

“This is insane,” Foxy protested and really just wanted to follow. Dew Doe changed her direction up on hearing that and walked over to her sister and gave her a hug.

“I’ll just see if I can get past the guards,” she assured her.

“No you won’t,” the maroon pony grunted. “If they do let you past, you’ll see how far you can go.”

“I will return shortly,” Dew Doe just said as she let go, it was then that Foxy grabbed her in a brief hug before allowing her sister to head out.

“Dew,” Private spoke up, he had climbed down from the bed and looked at the blue mare that was almost at the doors, she looked back him. The unicorn sighed, there were so many words he wanted to say right now, just none came up to the mouth part which was required for them to come out.

“Be careful,” he finally said with a sigh.

“I will.” Dew smiled before slipping out of the chamber.

Once again the blue pegasus found herself in the dimly lit hallway. The guards were still at all exits and again the ones that were closest kept an eye on her. Dew arched her brow as she considered which way to go. She tried to think back when she was pulled out of the throne room, she had been so scared and bewildered that the mare hadn’t really paid that much attention to the directions.

Dew Doe took a deep breath and proceeded to the nearest exit. The guards didn’t make any movements even as the mare approached them. She stopped in front of them and took a moment to regard the two armored ponies, these were crystal ponies as well, just sturdier looking. But like the slaves, what was visible of their coats looked drab and drained. Their eyes had a faint tint of green.

Wonder if they are under some sort of mind control, she thought. Well here goes nothing.

The pegasus walked past them and out of the hallway. She half expected to be stopped at any moment, but there wasn’t even a peep of protest. Dew looked back rather surprised before taking in this new section of the castle. She soon spotted other guards standing around.

Ah, that would probably explain it. Dew figured that the other guards knew that the next pair would stop her if she went somewhere the mare wasn’t meant to go.

Dew Doe glanced back again, now that she knew they weren’t stuck in the guest chambers she really did want to see how far she could go. Foxy had been too right, knowing her older sister well. Figuring that she might as well since the opportunity was there the mare continued onwards, she soon found herself in another long hallway.

This one was a bit more decorated with flags that carried dark crystal emblems. There were also pillars made of black crystals and if a flag didn’t hang on a wall there were tapestries that looked rather finely woven. Torches lit up the whole way and as Dew Doe walked through she realized this lead to the throne room.

Dew stopped short when seeing the dark throne, the memories of the spell Sombra put on her while there came back. The mare cringed a little and halted her approach. The only relief she felt was that the king wasn’t sitting on it, but who knew how far away he was.

Well I wanted to go to the throne room, the mare thought and started to slowly approach again.

When she reached the entrance, the pegasus carefully peeked inside. There was no sign of Sombra anywhere. Amber, the pony on the platform, was however still there. She looked just as downcast and empty as when Dew had first seen her. 

The poor girl. Dew looked at her with pity, she shuddered at the thought what Sombra had been doing to her and for how long.

Steeling herself, Dew Doe entered the throne room and walked straight for the platform. She did have to walk partly up towards the throne before reaching it, but once there the mare stopped in front of Amber. The crystal pony became aware of her and slowly looked up.

“Hi,” Dew greeted her with a smile and sat down. “I’m Dew Doe.”

There was no response from Amber, she just stared at the blue mare with eyes that were empty of hope and any joy. Dew Doe had to fight back an urge to reach out and hug her, there was no telling what kind of reaction Amber would have.

“I was told your name is Amber, Amber Waves.” Dew figured that for now it was best just to talk and see how it went from there.

The mention of her name did seem to stir Amber a bit, a tiny spark of life seemed to return to her eyes and she looked more nervous. The crystal pony looked down, opened her mouth as if to say something but then closed it again. Dew couldn’t help but wonder when the slave had last heard her name spoken.

“W-who… are…you?” Amber whispered and hesitantly glanced up at Dew Doe. It was as if speaking her name had woken the crystal pony up from stupor.

“As I said I’m Dew Doe, I came here earlier with three friends. We were captured and brought in here. I come from Equestria,” Dew told her gently.

“Why… are…” Amber looked down again. “Why… are you here?”

“That’s a good question, it wasn’t the plan to come here, however one of my friend has this traveling machine we use and it got us stuck here,” the pegasus shrugged.

“No… I mean.” The crystal pony closed her eyes. “Why have you… come to me… speaking my name… I had… forgotten my name.”

“I like helping ponies, it’s my talent, it’s what my cutie mark stands for. Helping ponies in need. I just can’t stand seeing somepony in a bad situation. I want to help you as much as I possibly can,” Dew Doe explained to her.

“I’m… I’m beyond help.” Amber shook her head. “I’m… His… He owns me… I’m his pet.”

Pet? Dew Doe felt sick hearing that. This just filled the pegasus with even more determination.

“No, you’re not beyond help and you’re noponies pet. I know he’s made you think that and right now it’s difficult not to think otherwise.” She started telling her and intended to continue but then noticed that Amber was stiffening up in fear, her eyes widening.

“He’s coming.” The crystal pony whispered.

Oh pony feathers. Dew quickly stood up and looked around. Not wanting to take the chance, remembering what happened to Rubinstein, the pegasus quickly walked down the steps away from the platform. She would have to try and talk with Amber later.

Dew had barely reached the bottom when King Sombra walked casually into the throne room. The mare stood straight and tried not to look as if she had just been talking with Amber at all but instead had just been looking around.

Sombra didn’t stop walking until he was right in front of the pegasus, he regarded her critically. For once he wasn’t smirking or grinning. His expression was strangely neutral, Dew wondered if this meant he hadn’t guessed why she was here.

“I hope I do not need to educate you as I had to educate your sister,” the king said and his eyes narrowed a bit. “Then again I recall showing you twice now what I am willing and capable of doing.”

“Nope, just taking a little stroll.” Dew tried her best innocent grin. He’s not buying it.

“Let’s not forget, Dew Doe, I’m familiar with the Doctor, I’ve met him before and his previous companions,” the king snorted, not too impressed by Dew’s excuse.

“Swift Mane and Trinity… they have been here?” the mare blinked then recalled Sombra mentioning them to the Doctor.

“They came here before I took power.” The tyrant rolled his eyes. “They of course tried to prevent me from taking it. They failed.”

Yeah, that one is obvious. Dew Doe frowned a little in concern. Foxy and her knew Swift Mane, he was their supervisor at the Social Service office in Fillydelphia. Trinity worked there as well. They had been just as surprised to learn they had known the Doctor as well in the past.

“The Doctor also looked different, he was a unicorn then,” Sombra mused and raised an eyebrow when seeing the confusion on Dew Doe. “You didn’t know? Time ponies regenerate when they are dying, they change forms.”

“No I knew that… I just thought he had been in his current form longer,” the pegasus said and didn’t like the smile that came on the king.

“His current form, he’s in it thanks to me,” the King said and his smile turned to a grin when seeing Dew Doe cringe. “When he confronted me, I killed him. Or at least I thought I did.”

“Weakened from his regeneration and knowing they had no defense against my magic, they fled like cowards. But I knew he would be back, so I prepared myself for his eventual return. I knew he wouldn’t rest knowing what I had done.” Sombra snorted and rolled his eyes again.

Dew Doe would have liked to correct Sombra on this one, the Doctor had in fact been in quite a hurry to leave once he realized where he was. She didn’t however and figured it wouldn’t matter to the king, the Doctor was here and that was all he was concerned about.

Figuring that Sombra wasn’t going to do or say much more, Dew decided to try and go back to the chambers. She had been gone long enough, the mare excused herself and started to try and go past the large unicorn. An ironclad hoof was put right in front of her, preventing her from leaving.

“Going so soon? I wouldn’t mind your company a little longer,” the king said and stepped in front of Dew again.

Oh no, the mare restrained herself from gulping or showing any sign of nervousness. Foxy’s remark about royal privileges suddenly came back to her mind. The king was again regarding her, smiling slyly

“You are a lovely looking mare, Dew Doe, it’s almost worth it to have the Doctor to deal with again to have you here in my presence,” Sombra murmured and took a step closer.

“Oh I’m sure, but I should remind you that you said you wouldn’t harm us and I would consider anything inappropriate happening right now, as harming me,” Dew Doe pointed out, not overly impressed by the admiration she was receiving.

“Oh I wouldn’t dream of it,” King Sombra claimed as he removed one of his hoof guards, revealing his black hoof. He reached with it and gently caressed Dew’s cheek, she narrowed her eyes but said nothing for now.

“I could of course, it’s well within my power. What could you do to resist me? Nothing, your wings are restrained and there is nopony around that could get you away from me. I could do it, right here, right now if I so wished,” the dark unicorn smirked as he moved his hoof to Dew’s mane. 

The mare tried not to show any reaction, she was repulsed that he was touching her, but so far it had just been her cheek and now her mane. The King wasn’t wrong, if he wanted to he could do whatever he pleased with her right now. However, she was not going to give him the satisfaction of looking afraid or intimidated by this, she had dealt with leery stallions before. The only difference, she couldn’t slap this one in the face and demand he didn’t touch her.

“But no, I do not think I will, I wouldn’t sully you with such depravity. I think you worth the wait.” He then said and pulled his hoof away and put the armor back on it.

Oh, he thinks we are going to be staying that long, well joke’s on you buster. Besides, my heart belongs to Private, whenever I can get it into his head that it does, Dew thought allowing herself to feel bit relieved that nothing was actually going to happen. Suddenly the restraints on her wings dropped down with a clank, Sombra’s horn was glowing, indicating he had released them.

“Show me those wings of yours,” he requested and stepped back a bit.

Dew raised an eyebrow but then slowly and gingerly spread out her wings, it really felt good to stretch them finally. The pegasus cringed a little when seeing the state her feathers were in, the wings clearly needed a good preening.

“Very lovely.” The King nodded in approval and came closer again. “Fold them.”

Make up your mind. Dew grunted and did as told, but then she realized why he had ordered that as the wing restraints returned.

“Wouldn’t want you to try and fly away now would we?” Sombra said with a chuckle. 

“I suppose not,” the pegasus muttered, without knowing why she glanced back towards where Amber lay. “Why not just chain us up? Why give us so much freedom?”

“Careful now Dew Doe.” King Sombra walked past her and towards the throne. He stopped at the first step and glanced at the mare. “As I asked you earlier, would you prefer an alternative treatment? I can more than provide the chains and the walls to link you to them.”

“No… never mind.” Dew looked away and started to walk towards the exist of the throne room. She hadn’t expected a straight answer anyway. Suddenly the chains on her collars were pulled and the mare was forced back to the steps of the throne.

“I don’t think I dismissed you yet,” King Sombra said, he was now seated on his throne, his horn was glowing and it was his magic that held the chains.

“No… no you didn’t,” Dew grunted.

“Now tell me the truth, Dew Doe. Were you trying to talk to my pet over here?” Sombra gestured to Amber.

“Her name is Amber, Amber Waves just so you know,” the blue pegasus snorted and then realized she had pretty much answered ‘yes, yes I did.’ “Please don’t hurt her, I just wanted to talk with her, not asking any questions.”

“Oh I wouldn’t hurt my little pet over there,” the king said softly and looked at Amber, the crystal pony said nothing, just remained motionless. “Who told you her name?”

Dew hesitated. He was probably aware that he had broken Amber, that she was just a shell of her former self. The pegagus suddenly realized that this was a trap for her, seeing if she had been asking questions like Foxy had. She had questioned the servants that groomed her, and the oldest had told her Amber’s name. Would she be punished for that?

“I-I did…” much to the surprise of both Sombra and Dew, Amber spoke. Then the pegasus noticed that the tiny spark of life was still in her eyes.

“P-Please forgive me… my lord… she was just being kind… I told her nothing else…” the crystal pony whispered and kept her head bowed.

Sombra scowled a bit. He wasn’t inclined to believe her, it sounded a little too convenient for him. However, whoever had told Dew the name hadn’t really said any big secret. He had found it mildly amusing that Dew felt she needed to remind him of Amber’s name, oh he knew her name, he just chose not to address her by it.

“Fine then, Dew you can go now,” Sombra said and waved the blue mare off dismissively. Dew Doe hesitated, glanced at Amber before leaving the throne room.

The king meanwhile continued to stare at his pet slave. He could definitely see some small difference now, Dew’s brief talking with her must have done just enough to lift her spirit a fraction.

Interesting, a magically pathetic unicorn, a pegasus mare with deep rooted desire to assist others and another who has a habit of talking before thinking, Doctor, you choose the strangest friends. The unicorn rose from his throne and stepped towards the platform.

“Well, Amber,” the king spoke her name in a mocking tone. “Rise.”

Hesitantly Amber rose up to stand but her head was still downcast. Sombra put a hoof under her muzzle and forced her to look at him. Yes, he could see it, the crystal pony was actually clinging to it that someone had spoken her name and been kindly towards her.

“You didn’t tell her your name at all did you. I bet it was your mother who did, I know she is working here in the castle as a servant. That is why you submitted to me was it not? The payment so that your family be spared the mines, could at least live decently,” he snorted and held her in his gaze.

“Y-yes my lord,” Amber whispered, unable to look away even if she wanted to.

“Your sisters, your brother, your mother, they now all work here in the castle. I’ve allowed your mother to retain her memories of you, the others however not as much, they do not even remember each other. You best remember who you serve and keep serving if you wish me to change that.” The king lowered his head closer to hers, dropping down his hoof in the process.

“I-I won’t my lord.” The crystal pony didn’t dare to move now.

“Good, I’ve already punished your brother for his loose tongue.” King Sombra started nuzzling at her cheek. “I would hate to have to hurt you as well.”

Rubinstein… Amber closed her eyes and held back the tears. She tried to cling to the thought of her family as her tyrant worked his mouth down to her neck.

End Chapter 6