It was a dark and stormy night. Lightning flashed across a cloud-covered sky; the momentary illumination revealing a small dark boat, its heavy build and large steam-powered propellers allowing it to carve its way through the choppy sea.

Inside the tank-like interior, a broad-shouldered pegasus with a dark blue coat dressed in the khaki coveralls and rain jacket of an Equestrian Navy sailor descended into the lowest level of the ship. The dank-smelling cabin, lit by a slowly-swaying lantern dangling from a chain on the ceiling, contained three ponies. One was another sailor, a chiseled earth pony with a granite coat and dark brown buzzcut, sitting at a desk upon which was a sheathed short sword and a newspaper with the headline, "CRIMINAL MASTERMIND TO BE MOVED TO CLOVENWORTH PRISON." One was a unicorn with a groomed tan coat and a walnut brown mane. He sat, smiling pleasantly, in a cage in the corner of the room, dressed in a plain gray coverall, shackles locked around his hooves and a restraint ring on his horn. The third, a dark brown earth pony with graying black hair dressed in a green pocketed vest and a gray trilby, sat outside of the cage, glaring coldly at the prisoner. He did not look up when the sailor approached him.

"We're almost to the island, sir," he said to his passenger. "We'll be arriving in a couple of minutes."

Phillip Finder did not react, continuing to stare at Zugzwang through the bars of his cell. Zugzwang, on the other hoof, looked pleased at this news. "Wunderbar. I've been looking forward to a warm cell." The messenger stared at him for a moment, then headed back up to the bridge.

After being captured four days ago attempting to flee on a train, Zugzwang had been placed in Canterlot Jail for holding awaiting trial for his numerous crimes. The next morning, his cellmate and accomplice had been found dead, seemingly untouched, fatally poisoned. After that, a decision had been quickly made to transport him to more secure quarters. Upon hearing of this, Phillip had managed to secure permission to accompany his transport for extra security. So far, Zugzwang had not attempted anything, allowing himself to be carried into the prisoner transport ship without protest, saying little during the journey.

But after a break-in at Manehattan Bank, a riot at Manehattan Jail, and three murders, if there was one thing that everypony had learned about Zugzwang, it was never to underestimate him.

The chessmaster maintained his idyllic smile, closing his eyes and humming a little tune. Neither Phillip nor the other sailor said anything, nor did they take their eyes off the prisoner.

A couple minutes later, the boat's progress came to a halt and there was a thumping as it knocked into a dock. "We're here!" Zugzwang declared with delight, although his two fellow passengers did not react. There was the sound of hoofsteps on the deck above them and a second later, a pair of ponies came down the stairs, wearing the hornet black-and-yellow armor of the Corrective Guard. Their chestpieces closely hugged their torsos and their sleek, plume-less helmets were equipped with cage-like face shields, which concealed everything but their eyes. With hardly a glance at Phillip or the saluting sailor, the two Guards moved to the cage. Unlocking the door, one of them proceeded inside, roughly grabbing Zugzwang by the shoulder.

"Easy, mein freund, I'm coming," the Gerwhin scholar protested, shaking off his grasp and walking calmly up the stairs, both of the Guards at his side. Phillip followed behind, emerging up onto the rain-streaked deck to behold the sight before them.

The ship was docked at a pier attached a rocky island. A small guardhouse was on the end of the dock. Waves pounded against the craggy rocks that stretched upwards for hundreds of feet. Atop the island sat a huge fortress, high concrete walls topped with barbed wire reaching for the dark, stormy sky. A single, slowly spinning light, hovered above the fortress. Two watchtowers on the wall closest to the pier aimed down spotlights upon them, washing the pier in light. Standing upon the dock was two more Guards, stoically standing astride a shivering slim unicorn holding an umbrella over his head. He had a yellow coat, dusty brown mane and blue eyes behind a pair of thick glasses, and was wearing a well-pressed suit and tie. His cutie mark was of a manila folder with a lock.

"Who are you?" the unicorn asked Phillip.

"Phillip Finder, escorting prisoner Zugzwang by permission of Princess Twilight," Phillip replied, pulling a sealed scroll out of the inside of his vest and handing it to the unicorn. "You are Deputy Warden Closed File?"

"Yes," File replied, examining the letter briefly before closing it. "All right, I'll take you both up to the warden."

It took a second for Phillip to comprehend the meaning of his words. Turning, he realized that he hadn't noticed that the boat had been carrying another passenger.

Descending down the gangplank was none other than Prince Shining Armor, his face set and grim, framed by his sopping mane. His polished purple armor glimmered in the light. Phillip instinctively saluted as File kneeled.

Shining nodded briefly to Phillip before turning to File. "Good evening, Warden. I'm here for an inspection of the base."

"Of course. The warden has been expecting you. Please follow me." File led the way up the carved stone stairs on the cliff, Phillip, Shining, Zugzwang and two Guards following. Phillip noticed that the Deputy Warden had a rather distinctive limp on his right hind leg. The spotlights in the watchtowers followed their every move; a sniper stood sentinel in each watchtower, the scopes of their rifles trained on Zugzwang.

Reaching the huge concrete walls, Closed File signaled to the guardhouse next to the iron gates. A lever was pulled and the gates slowly opened, revealing the courtyard. "Welcome to Clovenworth Prison," Deputy Warden File said to his guests.

The tall, wide circle of concrete walls, spaced with watchtowers at regular intervals, provided a rather claustrophobic effect, even with the huge area that it enclosed. Every inch of the courtyard was lit as bright as day. A single, paved pathway led through three layers of electrified chain-link fences, topped with barbed wire and monitored by patrolling Guards. The path ended at a wide, flat building with barred windows, the main cell block of the prison. There was an enclosed recreation yard behind the penitentiary. There were three other buildings within the enclosed courtyard: an administrative building to the right, a hospital/medical wing to the left, and a lighthouse behind them, stretching above the walls and sending a slowly spinning beam of light out into the sky.

File led the way down the pathway, the saluting Guards letting them through each of the three gates one by one. Finally, they reached the doors to the penitentiary, which swung open to greet them.

The stark interior of the lobby countered the ponies relief at being inside. Several Guards were inside, batons drawn and eyes on Zugzwang, who acknowledged their attention with a courteous nod. Sitting in the center of the room was a unicorn with a dark gray coat, a ring of silver hair around the back of his head, and cold blue eyes glaring from behind thick glasses. He was wearing a black suit and tie and had a cutie mark of a silver lock and two crossed golden keys.

"Warden Tight Lockup," Shining Armor said, extending his hoof. "Good to see you again."

"And you, Your Highness," the warden replied, shaking Shining's hoof. He then turned to Zugzwang, eyes narrow with disgust. "Is this him?"

"Yes, sir," one of the Guards said, tightening his grip on Zugzwang's leg.

"Guten Abend, warden," Zugzwang said pleasantly.

Ignoring him, Lockup turned to Phillip. "Who are you?"

"Phillip Finder, escorting the prisoner by permission of Princess Twilight," Phil replied, giving Lockup the letter. The Warden read it quickly, scowling.

"All right, hurry up," he said impatiently.

The ponies were guided, one by one, through a metal gate that scanned them for any hidden items. Shining, File and Zugzwang passed through with no problem, but when Phillip tried to cross, the gate's lights turned red and an alarm went off. Sighing, he took off his vest and passed it around the gate. One of the Guards examined the vest's contents, turning out every pocket and scrutinizing every object, from his baton to his loupe glasses, with suspicion. Phillip glared at him impatiently, occasionally glancing at Zugzwang, who seemed amused by this turn of events.

"All right, fine," the Guard finally said, giving Phillip his vest back. "You can go through."

"Come on," Lockup said, opening the door on the other side of the room. Two Guards took hold of Zugzwang's forelegs and guided him through another gate, which was enchanted with a Disruptor spell that disabled his magic. The troupe then marched through the door and into the cellblock proper.

Almost immediately, a storm of voices greeted them, accompanied by a blast of compounded body odor. Rows of cells with iron bars flanked the troupe, separating them from the worst scum Equestria had to offer. The ponies inside, all of them dressed in the same gray coveralls, pounded on the doors to their cells, shouting taunts and insults at the ponies marching past.

"You stink, Warden!"

"I'll pluck your eyes out, File!"

"How's your wife, Captain Wimp? Maybe I should give her a visit! I think she'd like that!"

"I'll break every bone in your body, Finder! You're gonna pay for putting me in here!"

"Charming group," Zugzwang commented.

"File, make sure that the prisoner is booked," Warden Lockup said.

"Yes, sir," File said, following the Guards as they carried Zugzwang away down another hallway. Phillip made to follow them, but Lockup held him back.

"I need to go with him," Phillip protested.

"No, you need to speak with me," Lockup said. "Let the professionals take care of him."

Danger flashed in Phillip's eyes like a lightning bolt. "That letter tells you that you are to aid me in any and every way," Phillip replied coldly, glaring at the Warden. "And the best way you can aid me is by letting me follow him."

"That's against protocol," Lockup answered. "Besides, you are worrying too much. Nopony has ever escaped from Clovenworth Prison."

"Listen, you piker. The last time Zugzwang was put in an inescapable prison, he started a riot and personally murdered a Guard with a wife and two foals, all through simple blackmail," Phillip snapped back. "You'll forgive me if I'm a bit skeptical."

"I know you're here because of Princess Twilight's orders, but that does not give you the right to treat me this way!" Warden Lockup shouted. "You—"

"All right, calm down, both of you," Shining Armor said, standing between the fighting stallions. "Warden, if my sister says this pony needs help, then I'm sure you will be up to the task of helping him." Lockup looked like he might protest, but shut his mouth. "Mr. Finder, I have urgent business with the warden, but I'll make it quick, and when I'm done, he'll be happy to help you out." Phillip glared at Shining for a moment, then relaxed into his normal taciturn expression.

"Now, come on and I'll take you to the administrative building. You can wait there while I get ready," Lockup said, guiding them down the hallway. Phillip followed, but hesitatingly, glancing back down the hallway that Zugzwang had disappeared down. He felt like he had just allowed a dangerous manticore off its leash...and not had the sense to run away.

Meanwhile, Closed File led the trio of ponies down a narrow, empty hallway towards the booking room. Behind him, Zugzwang glanced around, then raised a hoof to his mouth and coughed quietly. "May I have some water?" he asked.

"Not now," the Guard to his left said.

Sighing, Zugzwang fell silent, continuing to walk forward, the shackles rattling with every movement. After a moment, he glanced around conspicuously. "Can you two ponies keep a secret?" he whispered to the Guards at his sides. Neither of them looked around.

"You're both going to die soon," Zugzwang whispered, a smile on his face. "Have you ever thought about dying? Do you wonder if it'll hurt? If it'll happen quickly? Or will you lie gasping for breath, pain spreading across your body? And what of your poor family? Who will care for them when you're gone? Will they even remember you?"

"Stop it," one of the Guards muttered.

"Oh, don't worry," Zugzwang said, continuing to smile pleasantly, as if they were simply having a normal conversation over drinks. "I'll make it quick and relatively painless. Besides, it's not like anything will happen to you after you die; it'll be like going to sleep, forever, after a long, pointless, tiring day. But if it makes you feel better, you can pray now, settle your minds and make peace with whatever god you worship—"

"Stop it," the Guard repeated, halting and turning to face Zugzwang. "There's nothing you can do. You're shackled."

"Oh, you mean these?" Zugzwang said, holding up the unlocked shackles, the small pick he'd used to unlock them still dangling from the keyhole. For a moment, the Guards could only stare in utter disbelief. Then both of them went for their batons. Zugzwang swung the shackles, striking one Guard over the head and stunning him as he kicked backwards, breaking the other Guard's elbow. Turning, he seized the crippled Guard around the head and twisted hard. There was a distinctive crack like a dead tree branch breaking and the pony dropped to the floor. Ducking to avoid the other Guard's baton, Zugzwang turned, grabbed and twisted once more. The second Guard hit the ground half a second after his comrade, dead and broken.

Hearing the scuffle, Closed File turned around and froze at what he saw: both of his Guards dead, and Zugzwang removing his restraint ring from his horn. Impossibly, the escapee's horn lit up with a golden glow. Zugzwang picked up the shackles and sprinted at the Deputy Warden, who was too shocked to make any attempt to fight back or escape. Wrapping the shackles around his neck, Zugzwang pulled him close, tightening the chains to choke him.

"Come now, mein freund," he hissed through his smile, guiding his hostage back down the hallway.

Author's Notes:

Well, here we go. It's the first chapter to my new Phillip Finder story, picking up a little after we left off in the previous story.

It's not normal for me to hit the ground running like this. What do you think?

Also, be forewarned: this is going to be easily my darkest story yet, so be prepared for things to get worse.