//------------------------------//
// Prisoners and Opportunities 
// Story: Equestria Divided 
// by Nightmare Darkness 
//------------------------------//

Scootaloo  Summer 12,14 ASD

A bucket of water hit her face causing her to jerk awake.

“Gah!” She yelled as she blinked through her blurry vision along with furious coughing. Scootaloo was strapped into a chair with her wings bound and covered in facial bruises. Lightning Dust looked at her as a blue coated earth pony lowered the now empty bucket. 

“Now Scootaloo, I have some questions for you.” Lightning Dust said calmly and in full control of the situation. Scootaloo glared at her.

“Go fly into a volcano you traitor.” She said venomously. Lightning Dust looked at the earth pony and nodded. The earth pony approached her as Scootaloo couldn't help but feel fear build up in her as the pony stepped on a lever causing the back of the chair to fall back and her legs to come up forming a table under her. A second pony appeared holding another pale and suddenly a cloth was placed over her face forcefully and water was slowly poured over her. Scootaloo held her breath for as long as she could and after a few moments her lungs burned and she gasped for air and took in water mixed with air. Her body instinctively convulsed against the restraints as she coughed and spat inhaling air or sometimes water. The cloth came off and her body felt completely drained and suddenly her body was forced back into the sitting position thanks to the lever being pressed her head hung forward as Lightning Dust pushed her head back and Scootaloo's eyes were half open unfocused but then looked at her. 

“What are the locations of the your house spies in our territory?” She asked with a smile. Scootaloo gave a weak smile.

“Ok...they are next to your second place medals you bucking bitch.” She said and Lightning Dust hit Scootaloo's head against the chair and looked at the earth ponies who started the waterboarding procedure again. 

“I have all the time in the world Scootaloo, you on the other hoof is very limited.” She said with a malicious smile.

The water poured as she struggled hard before slowing and stopping. The earth ponies stopped and removed the cloth and one put his ear close to her mouth and didn't feel any breath. He looked at his friend and nodded. Covering her nose he pressed his lips to hers and blew into her mouth causing her chest to rise and the second earth pony began chest compressions and after a few more breaths her body expelled the water and she coughed violently before being brought upright to Lightning Dust's smiling face. 

“You won't die till I say so. Again where are your agents.” she said cruelly.

“You know I've had worse kissers…” she said with a weak smile. The earth pony looked at the other with a small smile and Lightning Dust did not find that amusing before she nodded again and the process began again. 

The process repeated itself for what seemed like forever, her mind had become blank and a few more times she needed to be resuscitated. She soon felt herself lifted up and carried to her cell and dropped unceremoniously onto the ground and the door was left open. After several minutes the other cells were opened for physical allotted time. Several male stallion prisoners approached the cell looking at the weakened Scootaloo hungrily before three of them entered her cell. Scootaloo looked up at them and her eyes widened in fear, her body did not move how she wanted and one stallion pushed her head down and felt his breath on her neck her tears began as her whimper began. 

A loud scream of pain followed by a scream of rage and the stallion who was over her pulled back and the sound of a scuffle could be heard, it was soon over and hoofsteps could be heard and looking up she could see Silver Spoon with a bloody muzzle and makeshift shank in her mouth. She spat it out and helped her up with assistance from a bloodied Sour Lime. 

“Well that was entertaining.” Silver Spook said with heavy breathing. Two more ponies walked in also bloody. 

“Everything is ready. It's now or never.” A stallion said. A loud explosion an alarm was raised Sour Lime with help from Silver Spoon put Scootaloo onto his back.

“We can't take her she's dead on her hooves.” The faceless mare said to which Silver Spoon glared.

“I would do the same for you.” She said and soon they made their way quickly through the crowd of ponies. A riot had broken out and quickly they approached the door that was usually barred but stood open. The same blue stallion who was in charge of her torturer appeared by the door and Sour Lime slowed obviously scared that they had been caught. Scootaloo managed to look at him and he looked around quickly. 

“Silver, hurry up we need to get the hell out of here. The group hurried past and Silver stopped with him giving him a kiss. He closed the bars behind them locking it and running to catch up. The reached the gates that lead outside the compound and then several cracks of hoofcannons could be heard and bits of dirt were kicked up all around them. The gate began to close.

“Go! Go!” Sour Lime was slower than everyone else and the gate had almost finished closing and Scootaloo began to feel despair again as the exit was almost there. Suddenly she felt her body get flung and she tumbled under the gate as Sour Lime had gotten her out by sacrificing himself. He looked up as several earth pony guards swarmed him tackling him to the ground with brutal force. 

The blue stallion with Silver Spoons help lifted her up and began to run to a waiting wagon. Where the two unknown ponies began to hitch themselves.

“Sour!” Scootaloo cried out before seeing Lightning Dust appear before Sour Lime with a look of rage on her face. She hefted a hoofcannon from a guard that was beside her and unloaded a shot into Sours face killing him instantly. 

“Shit it's Lightning!” Silver Spoon said.

“Nopony can fly in that area, it's covered by magic totems that remove pony magical properties. Flight is impossible right now we need to go!” The blue stallion guard said as the two had finished hitching themselves and the wagon began to move Scootaloo looked at Sour Limes body and then Lightning Dust and her body couldn't process everything that had happened so quickly. But two thing were prevalent in her mind as she passed out. Sadness...and Revenge.


Changeling 3678 Summer 13, 14 ASD

Another boring day at the border. The changeling looked at his compatriot who stood there with resolution of a newly born drone. Individuality was frowned upon usually unless you were given a personality by the queen. Well not was much known about ponies besides them being food. A steady food supply was being manufactured by new means that was beyond him really something to do with a factory cooked up by some other Changelings with more porpoise then he had. He had been an odd one for sure during his education, if you could call it that, it was more like indoctrination than education. Questions were answered but mostly with if you need to know you will be told. Absolute obedience to the matriarch. 

“Guard switch.” A voice said behind him and he realized he was leaning against the wall. 

“4 hours already?” He said jokingly but the changeling looked at him puzzled. 

“Yes, that is why I am here.” He said matter of factly. 

“Nothing to report. All quiet on the front.” He said turning over the responsibility to the oncoming guard. He made his way down the stairs and found his cot with a foot locker that held all of his worldly possessions consisting of one armor set he was currently wearing and a blanket. He quickly removed his armor and went to the mess hall. He was given a bag full of blue liquid that was produced by the foundry. Liquid love in a way but truth be told he had never had real love before. After eating he left and took flight to get away from the monotony of the camp. 

He flew for an hour mindlessly when the sound of hooves and trampling and the crack of hoofcannons made him blink. Earthborn troops this far in?! He thought surprised and charged towards the sounds and saw three pegasus chasing after a wagon full of ponies. Most likely criminals he summed up but still. He lit up his horn and fired a green burst up into the air which detonated in a green flair. The pegasus stopped instantly and zeroed in on him. He smiled and then was surprised as a Pegasus bolted at him with speed that left a slight yellow trail. 

“Shit….” He said and stopped flying instantly and dropped like a stone just missing the blades on the wings of his yellow pegasus attacker. He opened his wings again and found refuge in the trees as he weaved between the trees and saw the wagon zoom past a pegasus was gaining on it. Making a decision he aimed for the pegasus. He covered himself in his green shielding and body slammed into the pegasus breaking ribs and puncturing its side with his horn. The pegasus dropped dead after striking a tree. The yellow one, of two pegasus was about to pursue but was stopped by the remaining teammate. The two left angrily but quickly. Flying up he saw why, a group of his companions were on their way. He quickly looked at the wagon which was finding a spot to hide behind a large rock and bushes. His companions approached. 

“Changeling, was it you that fired the flare.” The head changeling asked. He nodded.

“A small group was ch….checking out the forest for openings but I engaged them. I got one but the others retreated that direction.” He said pointing in the direction after them. The head changeling nodded and the groups took off with a quick pace. Soon they were far enough and he flew and landed in front of the wagon and all eyes were on him in surprise and unease. It's not like him to want to disobey his superiors but for some reason he just….hated how his life was and for better or worse an opportunity had presented itself and he was taking it. 

“So what are ponies like you doing in a Changeling infested territory like this?” he asked with a fanged smile The group all looked at one another before a grey mare with a silver mane matted with dry blood giving her a savage appearance. 

“I am Silver Spoon. Who are you and why did you help us?” She asked flatly. He placed a hoof on his chin in thought.

“Why indeed...if I were anydrone else I would have you arrested and taken to the Foundry to work at however they produce love these days but….i'm not just a drone. Lucky for you I'm in the market for new employment.” He said putting his hoof down. The blue stallion in a uniform looked him over clearly apprehensive at this sudden development.

“We do need a guide.” He said and Silver Spoon frowned. The changeling smiled as she looked over the opportunity, she couldn't have asked for a better guide. It was just too good to be true.

“Best make up your mind. The patrol will be back soon.” He said with a shrug.

“What is your name?” Silver Spoon asked. The changeling thought a moment. 

“Officially my name is Changeling 3678 but i didnt take to it, i chose the name Thorax.” he said with a neutral expression. The mare that was hitched alongside another stallion looked at him and laughed. He didn't understand why she was laughing. 

“I like that...Thorax.” She said with a smile. Silver Spoon looked at her brown coated, grey maned companion.

“Who said we were going to let him come Rose Soil.” she interjected.

“Like your guardsmen squeeze said Spoony. We need a guide.” The dark red coated, white maned stallion pointed out.

“Not you too Powder Keg.” She said frustrated. Thorax looked at her expectantly knowing full well the outcome.

“Fine you're in but for the record I do not trust you. This is Rose Soil, Powder Keg.” She said formally introducing the two earth ponies. She turned to the blue stallion wearing the guards uniform. 

“This is Cargo. I am Silver Spoon, and the one here is Scootaloo.” She finished pointing down at the limp looking Scootaloo who was on her side breathing but weakly.

“Ok first let's get off the road. What happened to her?” Thorax asked. Cargo looked hard at him.

“Alot has happened to her. Let's go.” He said in a gravely voice. Thorax smiled and shrugged.

“Sure thing, Where do you want to go?” he asked. Silver Spoon thought a moment.

“South. I hope we can get sea transport. We need to get away from Earthborn territory.” She said resolutely. Thorax chuckled. 

“Out of the frying pan and into the fire as they say….” He said offhoofedly.

“What do you mean by that?” Rose Soil asked as they began to follow after him.

“The further south we go the more populated the areas. We're in the boons here. We will have to get by the Foundry unless you want to take the long way round.” He said.

“Better to be safe right?” Cargo said as Silver Spoon was about to say Thorax laughed.

“Who said anything about being safe? Fastest way is past Foundry city.” He said. Trotting along the path leading them.

“Ok then we go sneak past the Foundry.” Silver Spoon decided. Thorax chuckled nervously thinking well he wanted something different but this might be a bit much but then again he had reserved himself to go against everything he was supposed to be.

“Whatever you say.” he said with a nervous smile to accompany his internal nervousness.