"You can't begin to imagine how much fun I'm going to have with you," Gilda spat, getting very close to Forte's face, her rancid breath making Forte scrunch his face and feel sick to his stomach. Even if he wasn't tied up he was too struck with fear to try and move, and was visibly shaking much to Gilda's perverse delight.

"You're right to be scared. Feel free to piss yourself though, you're covered in that department. Literally."

Forte wasn't sure what she meant, but the implied threat of violence was his major concern. He tried to speak, but the large ball gag permitted barely a grunt.

"What's that, freak? Are you admitting you're a little wimp with extremely queer tastes in fashion?"

A more forceful grunt and stern face gave Gilda an idea of what Forte tried to say.

"Fuck me, you are such a snowflake. So thin-skinned and easy to offend. No wonder you're friends with those stupid bitches."

Forte tried to launch himself forward to attack Gilda, but was held firmly in place by the ropes.

"Tsk tsk, trying to attack me?" Gilda said, before getting nose to nose with Forte, "You shouldn't have done that."

Without further warning, Gilda karate kicked Forte in the stomach, the steel heeled boots causing him to groan in great pain.

"I am a picciotto of the Storm King crime syndicate!" Gilda snarled, aggressively removing his gag, "Far more than you will ever be!"

"A picciotto?" Forte queried with a sly smile, still seething from the pain, "Even a soldato ranks higher than you. You're just too stupid to realise you're just disposable baggage to them."

"SHUT UP!" Gilda screamed, smacking Forte across the face again, "YOU WILL NOT DISRESPECT ME!"

"And syndicate? That's a big word for you, isn't it?"

Tempest almost burst out into laughter. She may have found Forte to be a bit of a wimp, but she had to concede that was a good one. As well as being factually true. Gilda was just a loud mouth thug who was too stupid to realise she's easily replaceable by equally loud mouthed thugs.

Gilda though, ever the hot head, launched herself at Forte, screaming like a banshee. He, and the chair he was tied to, went straight backwards landing on the floor resulting in Forte's head hitting the floor. Gilda meanwhile launched a flurry of slaps and hits at Forte whilst Tempest watched on. Even closer to bursting out into laughter as Gilda's reaction.

What a stupid little girl.

Her attention was soon brought back to the situation as she heard the blood curdling screams of Forte.

Gilda was trying, very hard, to pull off Forte's pony ears that were super-glued to his head. If it weren't for his legs being tied to the chair legs, he'd be kicking them furiously up and down in a vain attempt to throw Gilda off of him.

"That's enough!" Tempest commanded firmly.

Gilda took no notice and continued to pull hard at the ears, ignoring his blood curdling screams of anguish.

"I said ENOUGH!" Tempest bellowed, walking over and grabbing Gilda by the hair and throwing her across the room like a rag doll, causing her to slam into the wall and collapse into a heap on the floor.

"What the fuck's your problem you stupid fucking bitch?!" Gilda snarled, getting to her feet and launching herself close to Tempest's face.

*SLAP*

Gilda was sent flying across the room, again, barely holding her balance. She held a hand to her stinging cheek and looked up at Tempest in anger but with a small amount of fear.

"You dare speak to me like that?!" Tempest spat, "Remember your place, picciotto."

Tempest had ignored her behaviour before, knowing that Gilda had fast become a little darling of the Storm King, but she would only allow so much insubordination before she had to act. Otherwise, other subordinates may see her as weak and see to it that her employment is 'terminated'. Gilda growled at the emphasis on her inferior rank, not liking at all how Tempest saw her as beneath her. Tempest moved closer and grabbed Gilda by the scruff of the neck and pulled her up to her much taller self.

"I am the Underboss and you will NEVER speak to me in that tone again, lest you wish to have a room of your own too!" Tempest spat, throwing Gilda back.

Gilda growled, looked between Forte and Tempest before walking out, "You'll regret this."

Gilda left the room, slamming the door behind her, leaving Tempest alone. Walking over to Forte, she pulled him, and the chair he was still tied to, back onto their feet.

"Please let me go," Forte whimpered, tears falling down his face, "I want to go home."

Tempest fastened the ball gag back in place, ignoring his pleas as she began to leave the room.

"I already do regret this."

"He's still not answering his phone," Fio said, looking perplexed.

"Maybe he's slept in?" Travertine said.

"But where would he be? His car's in the driveway, he's not with any of his friends or with Sunset, so where is he?"

A few seconds of silence passed as the pair looked between them, dreading the prospect.

"You don't suppose-" Fio started, her voice breaking.

"I'll ring the police," Travertine finished, "Try to see if they've heard anything."

*A FEW HOURS LATER*

"Wakey wakey dweeby dweeby."

If the mocking name didn't arouse his attention, the slaps to the face did, soon followed by the weight of GIlda straddling him on the chair.

"Look what I've got for you."

Forte wearily looked at the item in front of him, the familiar and pleasant smell filling his nose.

"I know you like it," Gilda teased, removing the gag with her other hand, "And you can have it."

Forte looked from the banana milkshake and up very suspiciously at Gilda.

"What's the catch?" Forte asked.

"No catch."

"I don't believe you."

"Are you calling me a liar?" Gilda snarled.

"Yes."

Expecting a beating, Forte was greatly surprised when none came.

"You're right, I am a liar. There is a catch to having your favourite drink," she replied, putting the milkshake on the floor.

Without warning, Gilda kissed Forte full on the mouth. Forte, repulsed by the very act, tried to move his head away, however, being tied up severely restricted his movements and with a firm hand at the back of his head, Gilda simply forced his head back to her. The odious smell of cigarettes and alcohol reviled him, seeping its way up his nose.

Just the mere thought of ever being close to Gilda made Forte feel sick.

Actually having her violate him in this manner horrified him.

After several minutes of Gilda forcing her tongue down his throat and biting his tongue, while her guard watched on, she finally stopped.

Much to Forte's relief.

"That was fun," Gilda slurred, "Maybe next time I'll go down below."

All Forte wanted to do was vomit his guts up.

Unfortunately, he didn't get a chance to before Gilda picked up the milkshake.

"Seeing as you were a good little pony, you get your treat."

"I don't-"

Forte did not get chance to finish speaking before the straw was forced into his mouth. He spat it out, only for Gilda to force it back in, hold the cup and straw in place and have her guard pinch his nose tightly. Unable to spit it out, Forte was left with no choice but to drink it. Drinking the entire cup in one go, the full litre of it, Gilda and her guard finally let go of him.

Forte, hated that he enjoyed the drink.

"Good little pony," Gilda said, patting Forte on the head, "You sleep tight now. I'll be back to see you tomorrow for some more chit-chat. I know how much you love that. Nighty night."

Once more, Gilda gave Forte a full mouth on mouth kiss that lasted several seconds. before he could vomit however, Gilda fastened the gag back in place and left the room, along with her guard. Hearing the door lock and the lights switched off, Forte could only wonder just what had happened.

It had been several days since Forte had disappeared, and despite her best efforts, Sunset could not take her mind off of the matter. So much so her school work was suffering and was given a leave of absence from Principal Celestia until Forte was found. Now though, she was with the rest of her friends at a local pizza joint, school being over for the day.

Sunset though, could barely eat anything.

"It's not the same without Forte."

"We know dear," Rarity replied consolingly, taking hold of Sunset's hand, "We'll find him. PC Armour has assured us that the police are looking 24/7 for him. I even heard a rumour that the Justicars are also involved."

Sunset sighed sadly, "I just hope they find him. I miss him."

A tear fell down Sunset's cheek as she semi-collapsed into Rarity's embrace.

"We all do dear."

"I'm going to head back to my apartment," Sunset said, "I'm tired."

"Of course, we understand."

"Do you want us to call you a taxi?" asked Rainbow.

"No thanks. I'll walk."

Sunset grabbed her bag, said her goodbyes and left. Her apartment a fifteen minute walk away through the busy city centre, resisting the urge to window shop as she so often did with Forte. Especially indulging their sweet toothed cravings by splashing out on cookies, cakes and doughnuts at various bakeries and binge watching Netflix.

Before long she found herself walking alone through one of the city's many parks, the path dimly lit by the street lights.

As she exited the park and began to cross the street, she heard footsteps rapidly approaching.

"SUNSET!"

Before she could react, she felt herself being forcibly turned around.

"SUNSET, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!"

"LET GO OF ME YOU BITCH!" Sunset screamed, freeing herself from the strangers grip and giving her a hard slap across the face, "YOU EVER FUCKING TOUCH ME AGAIN AND-"

Sunset stopped talking, and her face softened from a fierce snarl to one of disbelief.

That almost looks like-

"Sun Dawn!"

'Sun Dawn' looked up to an approaching man, "Shadow Dusk, it's Sunset."

'Shadow Dusk' visibly breathed a sigh of relief as he looked over from the woman to Sunset, "Praise the Sun. Sunset, where-"

"I'm not your daughter," Sunset said quickly and firmly, "And I think-"

"I think you should get yourself home right now young lady," Shadow Dusk said firmly, having noticed the bruise on Sun Dawn's face, "You're grounded."

"You can't ground me, I'm not your daughter. I'm going back to my apartment, so if you'll excuse me."

Sunset began to walk away only to feel her arm be grabbed. On reflex, she turned around and planted a fist into whoever was stupid enough to grab her. She watched as Shadow Dusk staggered back, clutching his jaw.

"What is your problem?"

"Maybe two people are trying to abduct me and I don't want to be abducted?"

"Abduct? We're taking you home. You disappear for several days, ignore our calls and messages and then just strut along without a care in the world!"

"We know you were nervous about starting at CHS but don't you think this is a bit extreme?" Sun Dawn asked, standing next to her husband, "Running away?"

"I'm not your daughter," Sunset repeated firmly, "I just look like her."

"Really?" Shadow Dusk replied unconvinced, "A lookalike who not only is a spitting image of our daughter, but has the same voice, same hair colours, same eye colour, same style of walk, same-"

"I'm actually a Sunset Shimmer from an alternate magical pony world where I myself am actually a magical unicorn pony."

Shadow Dusk grunted furiously, "I don't know what's gotten into you madam, but it's stopping. Now! Get your arse in the car! We're going home!"

"No. I'm going back to my apartment where I can get proof of-"

Sunset was cut off when Shadow Dusk grabbed her arm and began to pull her forcefully away.

"Let go of me you bastard! I'll call the cops!"

"You're not going to call-"

Just then several black vehicles came around the corner at some speed, stopping quickly in front of the trio. Sunset again wrestled her arm free and distanced herself from her 'parents', and began running away as fast as her legs would carry her.

"Hey!" she heard a male voice shout, "Stop!"

Sunset ignored the voice and continued running down the street, fearing for her life, only to be cut off by one of the black vehicles. With more vehicles approaching from behind, she was cut off from any escape route. Suddenly the door opened, and a lone figure got out of the driver's seat.

"There is no need to run, Sunset Shimmer. You are amongst friends."

"Who are you?" she shrieked, walking slowly backwards.

"I am Crown Justicar Thorax," he replied, taking out his ID, "Vice Supreme Justicar of Canterlot."

"Justicar?"

"Yes. If you would come with us, for your own safety."

"Why? Where's-"

"Forte is in grave danger. If you will come with me I will explain. But for your own safety I implore you to come with me. The other two too."

"They're not my-"

"We know they're not your parents. They're those of your doppelganger."

"I-I don't know-"

"We know of the portal to Equestria, Miss Shimmer."

Forte shifted uncomfortably as much as his tight bindings allowed. To make matters worse, nature had once again taken its course, and despite his best attempts, his body once more gave in. Along with the intense pains in his joints and muscles, and a throbbing headache from the beatings, he never thought he'd be in a worse situation than the last time Gilda kept him captive.

Yet, here I am. I wonder when that psycho returns.

He didn't have much longer to wonder as the door thundered open, slightly startling Forte.

"And how is my horse-fucking freak today?"

Forte didn't answer, resulting in a smack across the face.

"Answer me! Freak!"

Forte answered as best as could with a ball gag in his mouth.

"You're gonna have to speak more clearly," Gilda mocked, "I can't understand you."

Gilda approached Forte and deliberately and noisily sniffed the air.

"Fucking hell!" she said, wafting a hand in front of her nose, "Did you shit yourself?"

Forte turned his head away, his cheeks beet red. Gilda reacted as expected with someone of her maturity.

"Oh that's brilliant!" she laughed, clutching her sides, "Those laxatives actually worked!"

*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*

Fio and Travertine looked nervously at one another.

"I don't like the sound of that knock," Fio said quietly.

Travertine stood up from the table, giving his wife a kiss on the cheek as he passed, and went to open the door. He visibly flinched in surprise at who was one his doorstep.

"Travertine Heldentenor?"

"Yes?"

"I am Senior Crown Justicar Pharynx of Canterlot," he replied, holding up his ID, "I must ask you and your wife to come with me immediately."

"Why?"

"For your own safety."

"That doesn't answer-"

"Forte has been abducted."

"What?" Travertine replied, feeling fear for the first time in years.

"The criminal crime syndicate run by Storm King, had him abducted by a new associate known as Gi-"

"Gilda."

An uneasy look between the pair passed before Travertine turned his attention to his wife whom he heard approaching, "Darling, put your coat on. We need to leave, now!"

Fio, although wondering why, knew her husband well enough to know when he was being serious.

"OK, just let me grab my handbag."

*ONE HOUR LATER AT A JUSTICAR SAFEHOUSE*

"So," Shadow Dusk began, "You're a pony?"

Sunset nodded, putting her phone away, "Yes."

"And all that crazy shit you showed us actually happened?"

"Yep."

"And this Gilda, kidnapped you and your boyfriend, tortured you and left you for dead?"

"Pretty much."

"And now the crazy bitch has escaped, and has had your boyfriend and my daughter kidnapped and from the sounds of it will do fuck knows what to her?"

"Yes, unfortunately."

Meanwhile, on the adjacent sofa, Fio sobbed quietly into Travertine's chest as she held a photo of Forte close to her, "I want my baby back."

"We'll get him back, love. I promise it."

Gilda, still seething from her earlier encounters with Tempest, stormed into Shimmer's cell with bold determination. The loud bang of the door opening startled both Shimmer and the guard on duty. They both saw Gilda walk in with her hands behind her back.

"Hello, Sunbitch," she said with a cheery smile, "How are you feeling?"

Shimmer shot her a dirty look.

"Don't look at me like that you disrespectful bitch."

"Mmrph mmph mhf!"

"That almost sounded like you were telling me to go fuck myself."

Shimmer didn't respond and looked away.

Gilda grinned maliciously and moved closer to Shimmer, sending a chill of fear down Shimmer's spine. From behind her back, Gilda revealed what she had brought and held them right in front of Shimmer's face.

*SNIP SNIP*

Come on, come one, Forte thought, Just a little more.

A few more seconds, despite the intense pain, had managed to, only just, get hold of a part of the knot binding his hands. Moving very slowly but carefully, he ever so slightly loosened the knots, enough to give his wrists more movements than he had had for several days. More wriggling about and soon enough he was able to painfully force his hand through the loops wrapped around one of his wrists.

Moving ever more quickly, he soon freed his hands and began working on untying the rest of his body.

He had freed his legs and was just about to free the ropes from his torso when the door to his cell opened.

"Snip snip snip little bitch," Gilda singed joyfully, continuing to cut away at Shimmer's hair.

"And there we are," Gilda said, throwing the scissors on the floor before turning back to Shimmer, "Well, that's a much better look for you."

"Well?" Gilda snapped, "Aren't you going to thank me?"

Tears streaked down Shimmer's face as Gilda continued to stare at her, prompting the latter to scoff in disgust, "I take time out of my busy day to give you a haircut, and all you can do is cry like a little baby?"

Gilda shook her head and gave Shimmer's braced legs a kick, forcing another cry of agony from Shimmer. Bored once more of her guest, Gilda left the room. Shimmer could only continue to sob uncontrollably as the door slammed shut, her once beautiful, radiant locks of red and golden yellow hair, lay on the floor around her. Her hair now reduced to very short, haphazard patches.

Tears flooded down Forte's cheeks as the guard broke his last finger, having had the other nine done separately, one after the other. That was after the guard who caught him, along with another associate, laid several blows into Forte to almost unconsciousness. He was violently forced back into his chair and tied back up, with more rope and even more tightly than before.

"You pathetic little boy," the associate said, getting right into Forte's face, "Did you really think you would have escaped? Even if you succeeded in freeing yourself from the chair, that door can only be unlocked and opened from the outside. Whether you like it or not, you're staying here. Forever."

The associate and the guard left Forte, even more battered and bruised, switching the lights off leaving Forte in darkness. The sound of rats only further added to his discomfort as he felt nature once again take its course.

This time, he didn't even try to fight it.

"How much longer must this continue?" asked the woman, holding a mobile phone, "If we delay any longer those children will die!"

"I understand your concerns, but if we move too early we could lose our chance to finally apprehend the Storm King."

"And if those children should die? What then? Could you live with that on your conscience?"

Amicus Lex sighed deeply, the full weight of such circumstances hitting him immediately, "Very well. I will see if I can speed things up our end, and you have my authority to remove the children from further harm."

"And how do we explain to those children, and their parents, that we permitted them to come to harm when we could have removed them earlier?"

"That, is my burden to bear...and I will answer for it."

"And what of Sunset Shimmer?"

"Then, as hollow as it sounds, I can only promise that those who committed these atrocities are punished severely."

"You're right. They're hollow words. What that poor girl has been subjected to.....I wouldn't be surprised if she attempted to take her own life."

Tempest watched on in surprise as a blindfolded Forte, still tied to his chair and also wearing ear plugs, was being dragged backwards along the bunker corridor by two burly soldiers, accompanied by a smug looking Gilda.

"Why is he being moved?" Tempest asked.

"I got bored of kicking and punching him so I wanted to see his reaction when he sees his whore of a girlfriend beaten up too."

"And when he does?"

"Laugh my arse off then leave them for a while. They may spill a few things."

"What are they to spill? It is my understanding they are innocent of what you accuse them of."

"THEY ARE GUILTY BECAUSE I SAY THEY ARE!"

Tempest remained stoic as she watched the psychotic teenager yet again lose her temper.

"I will keep beating the crap out of them until they tell me what I want to hear!"

"And when they do...then what?"

"Well, I can't exactly let them go, they'd rat me out to the stupid pigs, or those stupid fucking Justicars."

Tempest's right eye twitched.

"So I suppose," Gilda continued, "I'll kill them. But if I did that then I'd lose two good horsey toys to play with. Maybe I will keep them around, get my kicks out of torturing them."

Tempest resisted the urge to vomit.

Opening the door to Shimmer's cell, Forte was dragged inside and positioned to be facing Shimmer, who was similarly blindfolded and ear plugged. Feeling a hard smack to his cheek, Forte soon felt his ear plugs being forcefully removed.

"So sorry about that little pony," Gilda mocked, "But we couldn't have you listening in on top secret family business now, could we?"

Forte didn't move. A decision which resulted in another hard smack across his face.

"COULD WE?!"

Forte vigorously shook his head.

"I bet you're wondering why I brought you here?"

Forte nodded.

"Well, because I'm a kind abductor, I thought it wouldn't be fair if you received our hospitality all on your own."

W-w-what?

Without warning, Forte felt his blindfold being removed, revealing to his horror who was sitting in front of him. Sunset, severely battered and bruised, most of her hair cut away and her legs obviously broken. And like him, a Wondercolt pony ears headband glued onto her head.

Forte began thrashing around as much as his bindings allowed, which was very little, all the while screaming unintelligible obscenities through his gag. Tempest watched in growing disgust, whereas Gilda could only feel joy and elation.

"This is hilarious!" she laughed as she walked over to Shimmer, removing her blindfold and ear plugs too, "Come on Sunbitch, say hello to your boyfriend."

Shimmer, all life and willpower sapped from her, tiredly looked up to see another prisoner thrashing around.

Who is he?

"Now," Gilda said, walking over to a solid oak cabinet and opening a compartment, "Let's have another chat, shall we?"

Forte, still thrashing around and screaming as much as his gag allowed, suddenly felt the wind taken out of him as he felt a hard impact on his belly, causing him to groan in pain.

"Shut up!" Gilda screamed, "I can't hear myself think!"

Forte still groaned.

"I SAID SHUT UP!" she screamed, laying in another blow.

Rather than silence Forte, it only caused him to scream louder, once again breaking down into tears.

"For fuck's sake! Do you ever stop crying?! You like a little baby! But then again, you are shitting yourself like one and we're having to feed you since you're too lazy to do it yourself. The same goes for Sunbitch."

Gilda walked over to Forte and got too close to him, "Do you like what I did with her hair?"

Forte tried to headbutt Gilda, but the abundance of tight ropes held him firmly in place.

"Tut tut. You're quite violent. Trying to assault me. You'll pay for that."

Without another word, Gilda stood up, walked over to Shimmer and planted the metal baseball bat right in the centre of her stomach.

Forte quickly lost all will to fight back. After being beaten into unconsciousness earlier by Gilda, he found himself back in his cell; hungry, cold, messy and wet. He had since lost track of how long he had been held captive, but assumed he had been held for several days. He was barely conscious when he heard the door unlock, revealing the one who brought him to this place, accompanied by a guard carrying food.

"Guard, leave the food on the table, I will feed our guest."

"Yes ma'am," the guard replied, doing as instructed.

The guard left the room and shut the door, leaving Tempest alone with Forte.

The tall, formidable woman stood tall with her arms folded, looking down at her prisoner with apparent disdain.

"Are all children so weak these days?"

Forte didn't answer. He didn't even look up.

Tempest grabbed Forte by the hair and pulled his head up harshly, causing him once more to groan through the gag.

"You were too easy to capture. You are so set in your routine it made your abduction insultingly easy."

Tempest let go of Forte, removed his gag and walked over to the table at the side of the room. She picked up the bowl of vegetable soup and walked back over to Forte.

"Open your mouth."

Forte did as instructed for fear or further beatings if he refused, and for the next five minutes endured yet more humiliation as Tempest spoon fed him.

"Now," Tempest said, putting the bowl back on the table, "Time to get down to business."

"Fuck you," Forte spat, "Fuck you and every sewer rat you work with."

Forte closed his eyes for the smack to his face, but to his surprise, there was no response.

He opened his eyes and instead saw Tempest looking sorrowfully at him.

"What?" he croaked, "Aren't you going to hit me?"

Tempest shook her head, "No."

"Then what are you going to do?" he asked with increasing fear, "Kill me?"

Tempest shook her head again, and instead walked behind Forte where to his surprise, he felt the ropes around his body and wrists loosen.

"What are you doing?"

"Freeing you."

"Why? You're the one that brought me here!"

"Something....I regret having to do."

Forte scoffed, "Sure you do."

"I do," Tempest replied, untying his legs, "I regret it deeply, but it was...necessary as part of my cover."

"Cover?" he asked, staggering to his legs.

"Tempest Shadow isn't my real name. It's my cover name. I am in fact, a Crown Justicar."

Forte stared at Tempest for several seconds, his face expressionless.

"Bullshit."

"Look!" Tempest spat, "Whether you believe me or not is irrelevant! You have to trust me if you want to get out of this place alive, your girlfriend too."

"She's not my girlfriend."

"She is Sunset Shimmer, a girl you have been dating for several weeks."

"That's not my Sunset. The Sunset Shimmer in that room is the Sunset of this world."

"Of this world?" Tempest repeated, sounding sceptical.

"It's a long story."

There was a short silence as Tempest looked at Forte, her expression unreadable.

"One I believe."

"You do?" Forte replied, surprised.

"We knew of the other Sunset, your Sunset, years ago. It was us who made the necessary...'adjustments' to the nations records so both could live freely and legally as separate individuals."

"People never questioned it?"

"People know to stop inquiring further when they realise the Justicars made the changes."

Forte was about to ask another question, but was cut off by Tempest.

"There's no time for more questions, we have to act now!"

"Act?"

"We must retrieve the girl, then make our escape."

"How? This place is swarming with guards and my fingers are broken."

"GRUBBER!"

The door opened quickly, and in walked the same guard from before with Shimmer over his shoulder, battered, bloodied and bruised and her legs still in braces.

"But-" Forte began.

"He is on our side. Now, we need to get moving before we are discovered, there is a car waiting for us. Follow me and keep up."

Tempest immediately walked out of the room and Forte followed, desperate to leave the pit of terror he found himself in.

Forte, Tempest, and Grubber still carrying Shimmer, walked slowly and quietly through the bunker. Forte took note of the guards that had already rendered unconscious and was slowly coming to the conclusion that she was really on his side.

"One moment," Tempest said, "The exit is up ahead, let me check it's still clear."

Forte nodded and in the meantime took a look at Shimmer.

Looking at the girl in the guard's arms, he was still both shocked and amazed at how similar she was to Sunset. He made a mental note to ask her where she comes from when all this is over, and introduce her to his friends.

I hope she comes to CHS, he thought.

*MEANWHILE, AT A JUSTICAR SAFEHOUSE*

"This is for yer own good Sunset," Applejack said, "For yer own safety and ours."

"Let me go or so help me I will become a mean girl again!" Sunset screamed as she thrashed against the chair she was tied too.

"No can do partner," Applejack replied, "The Justicars said to sit tight until they said it was safe for us to leave."

"It was nice for them to give us a different safehouse," Fluttershy said.

"The same with our families," Sparkle replied, "Putting us all together was too dangerous."

"SOMEONE JUST UNTIE ME!"

"We did that before and you tried to sneak away and save Forte all on your own, putting yourself and others in danger," Rarity replied, "As un-tasteful as this may be, it's for the better."

"Besides," said Aria, smirking at Sunset, "I thought you liked being tied up."

Sunset's cheeks burned as red as her hair, "SHUT UP!"

"Can someone tie me up too?" Sonata asked with a large, excited grin, "It sounds like fun!"

"Keep up," Tempest whispered harshly as the rounded a corner of the main car garage, "We're almost-"

Tempest froze in absolute fear, her eyes reducing to pinpricks.

"-there."

A chill ran up her spine as she watched the silhouette of a dark figure approach, one that was all too familiar.

"Hello there," the Storm King said, a sinister smile crossing his lips, "Fizzlepop Berrytwist."

*BACK AT THE SAFEHOUSE*

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

"Calm down Sonata," Aria said as she tightened the ropes around her sister.

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

"Sonata calm down or I'll untie you."

Sonata quickly complied as Aria finished tying the knots.

"There," Aria said, satisfied with her knot work, "Satisfied?"

"Thank you!" Sonata beamed happily, "I love you, Aria!"

Aria blew a kiss to Sonata and began to walk to the bedroom door.

"Hey!" Sunset yelled, "If you wouldn't mind?"

"Of course," Aria replied, walking over to Sunset.

After a few moments of doing something to the ropes, Aria walked away.

"Hey hey hey! I meant untie me! Not make them tighter!" Sunset screamed, tugging at the ropes in a vain attempt to free herself.

"Oh, you never said that, so I had to guess. And knowing how kinky you are...well," Aria said smirking, giving Sunset a teasing boop on the nose, "Try not to soak your panties. We don't exactly have clean pairs with us."

Sunset glared fiery daggers at Aria.

"Toodles children," Aria continued, walking towards the bedroom door, "We're having a takeaway in the lounge."

"Oooh," Sonata gleefully replied, "Pizza?"

"And Tacos. It is Tuesday, remember?" Aria, with twisted delight, smirked at her sister, "Pleasant night children."

The door shut, leaving the two girls alone in almost total darkness.

But not silence.

"GET BACK HERE, ARIA! UNTIE ME NOW! I WANT TACOS!!!"

"You foolish little girl," the Storm King said, "Did you really think that we didn't know who you really are?"

Tempest could only stand still in fear, unable to do anything. She could only watch on in misery as the Storm King's soldiers held Forte and Shimmer firmly in their grip. The unconscious latter's legs still broken, though still in their braces.

The Storm King turned to his soldiers, "Take her to her own room. See to it that she answers our questions."

"Yes sir," they echoed.

"Oh, and," the Storm King continued, "Break her legs."

Tempests eyes widened.

Then the Storm King turned to Forte, "His too."

Forte tried in vain to free himself but the soldier's grip was too strong. Tempest attempted to fight back but before she could do anything she was thrown to the floor and held in place by other soldiers. Struggling in vain to free herself as she was held in place, another soldier slammed his boot down onto both of Tempest's legs, her blood curdling screams echoing throughout the underground bunker.

Throwing her to the floor, the soldiers then turned to Forte.

"No, please, don't!" he pleaded, tears falling from his eyes.

The soldiers paid no attention to his pleas as they held him in place.

"He's all yours," one of the soldiers said, turning to Gilda.

With a feral grin, Gilda cracked her knuckles and walked up to the still resisting Forte.

"PLEASE! DON'T!"

She lifted her boot up high, and slammed it down with great force.

Forte had never screamed so much in his life.

There was a rapid, panicking knock on the door. Before he could even respond, the door burst open.

Before Amicus Lex could even ask what was going on, the other man immediately began speaking.

"Sir, we have an Alpha Zero One."

"Who?"

"Tempest. According to an anonymous phone call, her cover has been blown and is now being held captive by the Storm King. Also, according to the tipster, she has had both her legs broken and is being tortured for information as we speak."

"Fucking hell!" Amicus muttered to himself, before turning back to his subordinate, "Do we know her location?"

"The Sarcanas Estate. And according to the source, the Storm King himself is there right now."

"So it's now or never," he replied, barely hiding the venom in his voice.

He picked up the handset of a red phone and soon began speaking, "Get me Field Marshal Lord Wellington, Alpha Zero One priority."

A few seconds past as Amicus waited for a response.

"Supreme Justicar, I've been informed you have an Alpha Zero One?"

"Affirmative. One of my agents has had her cover blown and is now being held captive in the Sarcanas Estate by the Storm King."

"We'll strike at night, under cover of darkness," the Field Marshal replied, knowing full well what an Alpha Zero One required.

"Understood. In the meantime I will contact the Commissioner of Police of Canterlot Metropolis and close off the entire area from the public, and contact the Minister for Energy to arrange a power cut to the area. What kind of firepower do you plan to take?"

"The same kind you plan to take."

Amicus couldn't help but let out a small laugh, "That bastard won't know what hit him."

"Save me a seat at his execution."

"Gladly. Amicus Lex out."

Amicus put the phone back down and immediately grabbed his jacket and fedora, and from his desk drawer grabbed some extra clips for his service issue pistol.

"And I promised my wife I'd be home on time today."

"Please don't do this to me," a still tied up Sonata pleaded as Aria dangled a still hot taco in front of her. So close yet out of her reach.

"Oh but it's so much fun," Aria replied, relishing in teasing her sister, "And don't pretend you're not enjoying it either."

"Give it to me, you big meanie!"

"You're too cute when you're all tied up and flustered," Aria said, taking a bite out of the taco, "I should tie you up and tease you with Taco's more often."

"You wouldn't dare!"

"Wouldn't I?" Aria teased, taking another bite from the taco.

Meanwhile, back in the lounge, a now freed Sunset under the power of a Pinkie Promise, sat grumpily in an armchair.

"Don't be mad Sunset," Fluttershy said softly, "It might have been extreme, but necessary."

As much as she wanted to disagree, Sunset knew that her friends were right. She didn't even know where Forte was being held, and if she was caught by Gilda or her associates, she would be captured by them and no doubt tortured into revealing her friend's whereabouts, putting them and their families at risk.

Now in a clearer state of mind, she was content with remaining in the safe house.

"I know. At least you fed me some pizza."

"Of course we would," Rainbow replied, "What kind of friends would we be if we tied you up and didn't at least feed you pizza?"

"YOU MURDERED MY TACO!"