Yeah I know that I've changed the background picture a lot but... hey... this time it sticks. Like... I am feeling this picture. Green hair. Green clothes. I'm going all Zelda on you guys.

~Hey Dustin.~
{Yeah?}
~Why did say free cake in the last chapter name?~
{I... uh... well all I could think about was cake.}

"Hey... check it." said Niko pointing to the two armored ponies. They had become relatively close and now there going to fight for our amusement? Awesome!

"Come on! Let's see some blood!" I yelled cheering on the crowd. We watched as Night and Break slowly made their way to each other.

"Face me Break." said Night. "One of us is going to die."

"Don't make me do this..."

"Just hurry it up." They both drew pipes.

"Ready?" said the announcer. They both stood there stances and began fighting. Instantly Break knocked the pipe from his hoof and kicked his small body down. He's not built for fighting like her. Poor kid doesn't stand a chance. Then out of nowhere he got this strength. He threw her shield away and pushed her back getting the upper hand. That's one of my moves...
[Was Night one of our trainees?]
{No.}
~You trained some soldiers?~
<Yeah. Why do you think they were so unbeatable?>
~I thought because they were built like ox.~
{Are you calling me small?}
~Yes.~
{Aw...}

Break and Night kept up there little wrestle until he gave her a clean right hoof to the nose. Now the blood was starting. She got pissed and threw him against the wall going all out on his stomach. When she was done he was left in a coughing fit.

"Who said this isn't fun?" Niko whispered in my ear. "What? What do you mean everyone?"

"Do it." said Night. Break threw away her armor and picked him up. She obviously didn't want to kill her friend. I don't blame her either. They really must have bonded.

"Never." She gave him a kiss and escorted him away. I'm sorry... but did she just kiss him? I thought she and Iron... oh... Oh! She's a whore!

"Aw... is that it?" I asked the announcer.

"Don't worry. They'll be back in... 3.. 2.. 1..." Than both of them came flying back in. "Sorry... but one of you has to die."
[This is what we pay for!]
~America!~
<You know what? Your alright Eden.>
~Thank you sweetie.~
[Hey Alpha. Is that a blush or is your hair standing down.]
{I just thought of something.}
<S-Shut up!>
{I wonder how David is holding up.}
[...]
~...~
<...Oh god we have to get out.>

Celestia's POV

I was with Luna peeping around the door. David's been acting... different.

"Yeah... that's right guys." said David to himself. His hair was messy and his eyes were twitching. He had two little fake dolls resembling his friends.

"But David your not strong enough." he made the fake Niko say.

"Yeah he is! Your the best David!" he said trying to mimic Dustin's accent.

"I love you guys!" he gave them both a hug and we closed the door.

"I've seen enough." I told Luna.

"We need to get his friends back."

"True younger sister. First let's go to court."

That night...

I was laying in the bottom cot and the officer was walking around cutting off lights. I didn't know that Night's neck could turn that way. It was brilliant!

"All right people. Sleep." They left us in our dark comforts to rest. Yes. The dark is actually quite comfortable.
~I can't sleep. Dustin can you read a book to us?~ She flew in front of me and she was giving me the cute stare. Did I tell you guys that Eden isn't a unicorn? She has these little cute bat wings that make you just want to mass produce them and make an entire marketing business based off of it.

"Oh... jeez... Can't resist..." I reached under the bed. "Good thing I took all of these from the prison library." Alpha and Beta both flew down. The 3 chibi ponies all got under my arms like kids and I opened the book about the knight.

"*ahem* A long time ago there was a knight by the name of Sir Lancelot. This is the story of how he created Canterlot. Hey that's not true... that was Arthur and all the other knights wasn't it?"
[I don't know.]
<That's earth history.>
~Keep reading!~

"Okay. Anyways..."

20 minutes later

"What? No! Get out of there!"
<Your taking this book to seriously.>
[Don't give up Lancelot!]
<Not you too.>
~It's okay for men to like a story Alpha. You don't always have to be strong. Just look at Dustin.~

"And then she... NO! That's horrible!" I had to wipe a tear away. "So after her death Lancelot used the last of his magic to imprison the monster in a town. He chose this mountain and built a town over it. The town's happiness and love keep the monster asleep. So it shall be that way for the rest of time."

~That didn't help me sleep.~
[Another!]
<You are such a kid.>
{Ooh! Let's do this one! The Slenderpony.}
~Yay! I like horror!~
<Assholes.>
The morning after...

I didn't move after I read that book. Neither did Beta. We both just talked with our thoughts.
[Well... if that story was true... than that's what Lancelot hid under Canterlot?]
{It must be... that would be the stupidest thing ever if we let him out.}
[Agreed. Let's never speak of this to anyone.]
<Why did you read it if you knew this would impact you deeply?>
{Don't say deep. They said no one would ever check it out so I wanted to be first!}
~*yawn* Good morning!~

"Hey... inmate 42." said one of the cops. "You have a guest." I got up and followed him to the phone booth.

"BASS!" said David on the other side of the glass.

"Jesus crackers! You scared the shit out of me..."

"You look... well... male again."

"You don't like green?"

"It's cool but I'm used to red. Who's this?" I said pointing to the mare on my head.

"Eden. She's my new conscious. Long story. Don't ask."

"Move..." said Vinyl trying to see me. "Bass! Your normal again!"

"You know it. How's it going?"

"Lonely."

"Sorry. I got thrown in for nothing."

"Right. Celestia got a paper and the guards said they will release you and Niko in 5 days."

"Alright Sweet!"

"Bass... do you like being in trouble? Is that all you do!"

"Uh..."

"You know what? Don't even answer that. Sorry. Shouldn't have even bothered coming..." she walked out angrily

"What just happened?" I asked David.

"Sorry. Can't tell you." He got up and left.

"What do you mean you can't tell me!" I yelled at him. He didn't hear me and left. "Dammit..." The guards allowed me to walk back to my cell. "Come on you stupid ball and chain! Move!" I tried to lift it up on this step. I never have troubles except this one little step you have to take between the cells and the phones.. I pulled it up and began the three minute slow walk back to my cell.

{Steve walks warily down the street.
With his brim pulled down low.
Ain't no sound but the sound of his feet.
Machine guns ready to go.}

[Are you ready.
Are you ready for this
Are you hanging on the edge of your seat
Out of the doorway the bullets rip
To the sound of the beat.]

<Dun. Dun. Dun.
Another one bites the dust.
Dun. Dun. Dun.
Another one bites the dust.>

~And another one gone
And another one gone
Another bites the dust.~

[{Hey, I'm gonna get you, too
Another one bites the dust!}]

<Man we rock...>
{I love you guys... and girl.}

I finally made it back to my cell but Niko was not inside it.

{I wonder why Vinyl is so PO'd.}
<Did we do something wrong?>
[I bet it involved the mare body.]
~I know! Vinyl wanted to have sex with you as a mare.~
{Uh... how do you know exactly?}
~...intuition.~
{Really? I mean she was pissed about something. Why would she be mad about not having sex?}
[We'll ask in 5 days.]

"Hey." said Niko walking in.

"Hey Big Red. You get a call too?"

"Yea! Octavia's worried."

"That just means she cares."

"You really think so?"

A few minutes ago...

"What do you mean you can't tell me!" I yelled at David as he left. I sighed and looked to my right. I saw Octavia putting her flank against the glass to Niko.

~Dustin don't look.~
{But... I can't help it...}
[I wonder what the plot is here?]
<Arr... the plot hole... it is strong here.>
~Just go!~ Eden took control of my legs and made me start walking.

Current time...

"Time for lunch yet?" I asked.

"Yeah. Let's go before the line gets big." We got there pretty early. The cafeteria was emptier than usual. Not that many griffons...

'Can I have your attention please?' said the intercom. 'All Nightmare prisoners have been transferred. Repeat... all...' I stopped listening. I know what their doing. They're going to execute them. All of those people... and no one's going to care. That's the worst way to go. When you have no one to die with...

"Next!" said the lunch lady. I moved up and allowed her to put her food on my tray. Let's see... we got... grass, and hay, and potatoes, Oh! And a cookie! Just my day.

~Cookie!~
[Try some grass.]
<Do the hay.>
[Like I said. Grass.]
<Hay isn't grass.>
[But... just shut up.]

I put the potatoes in my mouth. Did I ever tell you that I was born and raised on a potato farm? I was. Yep. Born right in the middle of the field. My mom couldn't move so they had to do the c-section right there.

"Hey Bass." said Niko getting my attention. "What happens when they transfer the prisoners?"

"They get executed."

"They can't do that!"

"They can as long as I'm locked away. I can't stop them."

"We can try!"

"It's too late. The bus has left. All of those people will die so let's not bloody our hands anymore shall we?"

"I-I.. we... *sigh* okay."

"Sorry..." We both stopped eating and looked at each other. "I'm so sorry. I would do anything to stop it."

"Bass I know..."

"And they think they can just get away with this... I don't care who these prisoners are but no one... not even the Devil... deserves to die in a way such as execution. To die in front of an audience as people cheer... no one deserves that."

"Let's stop talking about it."

"Let's."

Then the awkward silence continued. The hay tasted like shit and the grass tasted like dirt. The cookie was stale and the potatoes weren't washed or properly cooked. Trust me... I make THE best mashed potatoes ever. Niko didn't mind. He ate. I of course ate mine because from what I've learned being a mercenary... don't waste things.

"Hey Bass. Why was Vinyl so mad at you?"

"I don't know. David knows but he won't tell me."

"So just... 5 more days."

"That's right. Let's hope for the best."