Chapter 10

Twilight was not sure how long she had been unconscious; she remembered what Tyranny had said to her before she was teleported elsewhere. She vaguely remembered a voice calling her name in concern, but the exhaustion had drained her and she collapsed. When she came to, she was in a damp, musty cell lying on a straw cot. A plate of bread and a bowl of water laying nearby. Applejack was dozing on a similar cot on the other side of their cell. Twilight sat up slowly, shaking the grogginess from her head, and the sounds of her moving woke Applejack from her doze.

"Twilight! Thank goodness yer alright. Ya had me worried, sugarcube." Applejack got to her hooves. "How ya feeling?"

"Thirsty," Twilight said, her tongue flicking at the dryness of her mouth.

Applejack gathered the bowl of water and helped her drink.

"Thanks, Applejack." Twilight looked around their cell. "Where are the others? Are they alright?"

"They're in cells like ours. Tyranny put us all together in the same hall at least." She nodded towards the bars of their cell.

Twilight nodded but furrowed her brow as she spotted her Element of Harmony on a stool nearby. She looked to Applejack quickly and saw she was wearing her own Element.

"Tyranny didn't take our elements?" She retrieved her Element and set it back on her head.

Applejack shook her head. "Nuh uh. He left all our elements behind. It doesn't make a lick of sense why he left 'em. Pinkie did say that he told her even if he removed 'em, they'd still protect us. Maybe that's why."

"Maybe," Twilight said quietly. She rolled off of the cot and looked through the bars of her cell. The dungeon was a cool, damp chamber of stone. She looked curiously at a few crystals that were set in the stones above the cells. Across from her were Rainbow Dash and Rarity in one cell, and next to them were Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie. The four chatted excitedly when they saw her.

"Twilight! You're alright!" Rainbow Dash yelled in excitement.

"Girls, I'm so glad you're all okay." Twilight wiped away a relieved tear that threatened to spill over. "How did Tyranny catch you all?"

They each shared their tales of their private encounters with Tyranny. When they finished, Twilight shook her head in frustration. Tyranny had obviously planned it all. Despite all of their careful planning, he had seen through it. Now they were all his prisoners.

Twilight nodded firmly. "Alright girls, we need to get out of here. Find Princess Cadence and Shining Armor and get back to Princess Celestia."

"You don't have to look for us, Twily," said a familiar male's voice.

"We're here with you," she heard a second voice say.

"Shining, Cadence, you're both alright!" Her voice cracked in relief at hearing their voices. She tried to see into the cell next to hers, but it was impossible.

"Us too, Twily. He didn't hurt you, did he?" Shining asked.

"No, he just stood by as his shadows did all the dirty work. I'm tired, but I'm not hurt. How long have you been down here?"

"A little over a week. It's been a few days since you were all brought here."

"Days?" Twilight's head snapped back in shock.

"Three of them," Pinkie Pie clarified.

Twilight couldn't believe they had been incarcerated for three days; it only seemed like one had passed since she had fought Tyranny. "It doesn't matter. Now that we're all together, we can all get out of here."

"If this little reunion gets any more cozy, I think I might get sick," said another voice, feminine yet sinister. It was a voice Twilight hadn't ever thought she would hear again.

"Chrysalis!" Twilight growled. The voice had come from the cell on the other side of Rainbow Dash and Rarity's cell. The darkened cell made spotting the changeling almost impossible.

"So good to see you again, Twilight Sparkle, you certainly have been a busy little girl since you imprisoned me," the queen said as she stepped into view.

"We've had to share this ghastly prison with her uncouth presence since we've been here." Rarity turned her nose up indignantly.

"I'm not fond of the company either." The queen snarled.

"How did you escape, Chrysalis?" Twilight demanded.

"My hive and I were released by our gracious host. Tyranny thought to use us, and when I objected, he imprisoned me in a little bubble until he put me in here with the love ponies." She glared at the royal couple across from her.

"We haven't enjoyed your presence either. I haven't forgotten what you did to us at our wedding." Cadence didn't back down from the glare, only returning it in spades.

Chrysalis hissed at her, but Twilight interrupted. "Ignore her. We have to get out of here." She studied her cell bars for a moment. "Hold on, Applejack, I'm going to teleport us out of here." She began to collect her magic in her horn.

"Twilight, wait!" She heard her brother say a second too late. She cast her spell, and both she and Applejack smacked heavily against the bars. They both had to shake away the stars that were darting around in their vision.

"Well that didn't work," Applejack muttered as she readjusted her Stetson.

Chrysalis snickered, but Shining Armor spoke up. "These cells are designed to keep unicorns in by limiting their magic." He motioned to the crystals above the cells.

"A cell's no good if you can't keep nopony in it," Rainbow muttered dryly.

"Otherwise, I would have blasted out and left a long time ago." Chrysalis snorted.

Twilight growled in frustration. "We have to get out somehow."

"Why don't we use the key?" Pinkie Pie suggested.

"What key?" Twilight asked in confusion.

"The key to the cell, duh." Pinkie reached into her curled mane and produced a dark key made of iron.

"Where did you get that?" Applejack asked, her jaw dropping at the sight of the key.

"I've had it since Tyranny picked me up to look at my element. I saw the key on him and snatched it up before he dropped me."

"You tell us this now?" Rarity asked in exasperation.

"And miss this fun time we've spent together?" Pinkie grinned wide.

The collective silence was tangible.

"Besides, it doesn't go to mine and Fluttershy's cell," she said before any protests could start.

"It doesn't?" Fluttershy asked.

"Nope."

"Do you know whose cell it goes to?" Cadence asked.

"Nope."

"I guess we'll have to figure out which cell it belongs to," Twilight said.

"And how do you plan to do that? None of us can reach the other cells," Chrysalis said.

Twilight glared at her. "I think I can still use my magic to move the key and find the right one."

"Let's just hope it ain't hers," Applejack said acidly, looking to the changeling queen. "She'd just run out and leave us all high and dry."

The changeling scowled but didn't deny the accusation.

"Let's see if this works." Twilight collected her magic again, focusing on the key. Normally, telekinesis was a simple thing for unicorns to perform, but in the magic-suppressing jail cell, it was like trying to move a large boulder.

The key shakingly lifted from Pinkie's hoof and floated to Twilight's cell, but it didn't open their cell. Nor did it turn for Shining and Cadence's nor Chrysalis's, much to the later's chagrin.

Twilight strained under the magical suppression of the cell and sweat ran down her face as the key floated to Rainbow Dash and Rarity's cell. With a gasp, Twilight lost her focus and the key fell lifeless to the stone floor.

"Sorry girls," she said between pants, gladly accepting the bowl of water from Applejack.

"Don't worry, Twilight. I think I can reach the key." Rainbow stretched as far as she could and managed to bump the key close enough for her to grab it. "Let's hope this works." With a loud click the lock turned and the door swung open.

"Yeah! Finally out of that cell," Rainbow Dash said, stretching her wings wide.

"Indeed, Rainbow Dash. I'm going to need to bathe for a day or more when we get home. Three days without one is just horrid." Rarity grimaced at the collected grime on her normally-pristine coat.

"Now we need to get the rest of you guys out of your cells too." Rainbow tried to force open Twilight's cell to no avail.

"There should be a guard room down the hall, Rainbow Dash," Shining told her. "I haven't seen any guards here, except the one shadow that brings us the food. In the room there should be a key ring with all the keys to this level."

"On it! Come on, Rarity." The two hurried down the hall.

The others waited with bated breath, hoping that the two were safe. They sighed with relief as the two returned with a ring of keys in hoof. Soon enough, everyone but Chrysalis was free.

Twilight looked to the others. "Alright everypony, we need to get out of here before he finds out we have escaped. Hopefully Princess Luna is still waiting for us on the borders of the Crystal Empire."

"How are we to escape unnoticed?" Cadence looked down the hallway with a worried gaze.

Shining was watching the same hallway "With this many of us, it will be hard not to be spotted."

Twilight rubbed at her chin in thought. With everypony together, stealth would be impossible. They could fight their way out, but that was something they wanted to avoid, especially if Tyranny arrived in force. If they were caught again, there likely wouldn't be a second escape. It only left one option.

"I'll have to distract Tyranny. While I have him distracted, you all can get past his shadows with little trouble."

"But, Twilight, if you face him, how will you escape?" Cadence asked with obvious concern, mirroring the concerns of her friends.

"Don't worry. I've seen what he is able to do, and I think I know how to get past his tricks. He won't catch me a second time." She spoke confidently, though she privately questioned her plan.

"Ah don't like it, Twi. We might get away, but what if ya don't? We ain't going to leave ya behind."

"It's the best way we can get everypony out. I won't let him capture me. I need you to get Princess Cadence to Princess Celestia so we can come up with a plan to stop Tyranny once and for all."

Their worried frowns didn't let up in the slightest.

"Don't worry girls, this will work," she assured them.

They all reluctantly nodded and turned to leave.

"Wait! You can't leave me here!" Chrysalis shook the bars to her cell door desperately.

"And why not? You'll likely help Tyranny just to save your own flank," Rainbow said hotly.

"You can't leave me here. If he finds all of you gone but I'm still here, who knows what he might do."

"Good." Rainbow started climbing the stairs.

Twilight looked to the changeling queen with a hard expression.

Chrysalis looked at her in turn, and Twilight could actually see fear in her eyes.

"If he wins, there will be no place for my kind. He is as much as my enemy as he is yours. Don't leave me here," she pleaded.

Twilight looked at her for a long moment, and the keys to the cells opened her door.

"This changes nothing, Chrysalis. When Tyranny is defeated, I don't ever want to see you or your changelings in Equestria again." Her tone left no room for debate.

The two locked stares before the queen looked away. "Fine."

Applejack whispered to Twilight as the group ascended the stairs. "Ya sure that was a good idea, Twi? Ya can't trust her for all the apples in Equestria."

"I'm not sure, no, but I won't leave anypony at Tyranny's mercy," she said distractedly as she stared ahead.

As they made it to the ground floor, they looked around quietly and saw that the coast was clear. The crystal ceiling above was dim without the light of the sun to brighten them.

"Alright everypony, wait five minutes after I am gone, then get out of the Crystal Empire as fast as you can. Once I've distracted him long enough, I will join you. Head to the outskirts, Princess Luna should still be waiting for us."

"Be careful, Twilight," Cadence said, a sentiment that was echoed by all save Chrysalis.

Twilight shared a quick hug with her family and friends. "Don't worry, we'll meet again soon." She turned and ran down the hall towards the throne room. Her friends watched her go with worried looks.

-0-

Tyranny reclined upon the throne in the crystal tower. The throne room was dimly lit by the few torches along the walls, causing the shadows to dance across the crystalline room. He rested his head on his right hoof, his scepter held idly in his left, and appeared bored out of his wits. In truth, he was concentrating on his shadow minions. They were his ears and eyes throughout the city; whatever they saw or heard, he knew. The creatures not only made for perfect, loyal soldiers, but they also made for the perfect spies.

The sound of running hooves brought his focus back to the throne room. He smiled inwardly; the princess was on her way, just as he knew she would be.

"So predictable," he thought. All he had to do was make sure that a single key was stolen, and the rest fell into place. He silently shook his head at the futility of it all; creatures of flesh were truly pathetic.

"Lady Twilight Sparkle, to what do I owe this unexpected visit?" he asked in a detached manner once she made her way into the throne room.

She took a moment to catch her breath. "I've come to stop you, Tyranny. I want you to release everypony you've imprisoned and stop this now!"

He scoffed. "You've come to stop me? By yourself? It seems a foolish move on your part."

She readied herself to fight, her horn glowing. "I won't let you hurt anypony else."

He remained seated on the throne, showing no reaction to her stance. "It was never my intention that any come to harm. All everypony needs to do is bow to me and accept my rule. The choice to fight and the continued strife is your own doing."

"Nopony would ever willingly follow you. We believe in Princess Celestia."

"Ah yes, Princess Celestia, the loving patron of the ponies of Equestria." He sneered. "Tell me, child, is your faith in her really so absolute?" He leaned forward, resting his chin on both front hooves.

She scowled. "I won't let you deceive me with your lies."

"Lies? I do not need to lie or make false promises to do what needs to be done, child. I merely wish to enlighten you with truths that you should be aware of, as they pertain to you in particular."

It was her turn to scoff. "Truth? From you? You're not capable of telling the truth, Tyranny."

He narrowed his eyes at her impudence. "Who was it that informed you that I would attempt deceive you? Celestia?" He snorted disgustedly. "She would say such things, all the more reason to protect herself and make sure her faithful tools would not dare to think of betraying her."

Twilight's hackles rose in her outrage. "Princess Celestia is an honest and truthful ruler. She is more than you could ever dream to be, Tyranny!"

He stared at her for an uncomfortable moment. "Tell me something, child. It is my understanding your beloved Princess Celestia is responsible for your… transcendence into an alicorn. Is this true?"

She stood proudly. "She was. I earned the honor."

"And has she told you of all the blessings that come with such an honor? Or about its curse?" He looked at her intently.

"Curse?" She frowned softly. "What are you talking about?"

A pitying smile crossed his face. "She hasn't told you. You poor child. It is like Celestia to hide the awful truth from her subjects, even the ones she favors."

"What curse?!" she demanded.

"I have seen the passing of generations of ponies in my long existence, child. Centuries have been but days to me, and there are but few others who can claim that as well as I. Among them is your beloved Celestia and her sister. Have you ever wondered how that is possible?"

Twilight considered the question. There were many tales on the subject, but she knew the widely accepted one. "She and Princess Luna were born as alicorns."

His laughter mocked her. "Is that the lie she tells? No matter, the fact is that she has transcended above the pony folk she rules over in being an alicorn. It has granted her power—" he leaned forward looking to her intently. "—and the ability to see her country through many, many years of her reign."

"What are you—?" She started, her voice cracking with doubt.

"If it is not obvious yet, child, alicorns are long-lived creatures. It is a gift of the transcendence into something above the common pony." He paused. "Think of the implications of this, for your sake in particular."

Her voice softened and her eyes slowly widened as realization struck her. "You don't mean?"

"Indeed." His sneer made its way into his tone. "You, young Twilight Sparkle, will also see the birth and death of generations of ponies, including those of your dear friends whom you rely upon for the majority of your power. No doubt as your beloved princess had planned for you since she first took you under her wing."

The revelation echoed within her mind. Was it true? Was she destined to see centuries come and go as Celestia and Luna has? What did that mean for her friends? Was she doomed to see them age before her and worse, see them pass on while she remained to grieve? Did becoming a princess also mean she would have to sacrifice everything she ever cared about? Did Celestia know from the start? So many more questions swam through her mind in that awful moment.

The tears came unbidden, and she could do nothing to stop them. She tried to remember anything Celestia ever spoke of what it meant to be an alicorn, but the princess had told her it would all become clear in time. What was it that she didn't want her to know? Why didn't she tell her? What was so horrible that she could not tell her? Was she hiding something from her? Why?!

He continued mercilessly. "You shall helplessly watch your friends age and die, as well as their children and theirs after them. The feeling of their loss will not lessen with the passage of time, and it will continue until you feel nothing but a void in your heart where friendship had once resided. Why Celestia chose to allow you to learn the magic of an element so easily lost is beyond my comprehension."

He let her stew in misery, her barely choked back sobs echoing through the throne room. He glanced to the side as images of the element bearers and the royals on the outskirts of the city fought with his creatures. The images did not last long, as the last thing he saw was magical bolts obscuring his vision. "Clever," he thought to himself before looking back to the grieving princess.

"Tell me now, child, do you still believe that the gift you received from your beloved princess to be a blessing?"

She didn't respond. The tightening of her throat kept her from speaking.

He chuckled at her misery and calmly stood, walking towards her. "It seems you need time to think, my lady. It is time that we part ways."

Twilight made no effort to stop or challenge him. "…Our fight is not over, Tyranny." She spoke past her grief as he stepped past her. There was a budding anger in her tone, underlining the grief.

Tyranny knew that anger was not directed at him alone. "No, it is not," he agreed. "But the next time you dare challenge me, you had best do so with all of your might, for I will not be so merciful again. Now begone!" His eyes flashed an evil color, and Twilight was teleported away.