Chapter 20: At the Mercy of the Enemy
Morning, December 5, 1948
A solitary confinement cell, Bakoe Camp, Azerbaijan SSR, USSR

Rainbow Dash spastically shivered, the cold air in her unheated cell penetrating her body. Her cheeks were chaffing from the dried up tears that she had been shedding ever since she had been transferred over to her cell. Her uncontrollable sobbing had been the product of not only the excruciating physical pain she felt in her head, sides, and shoulder but also the emotional pain that she felt over the fact that she would never fly again.
While this wasn’t her first time getting captured by an enemy (she and her friends had been held by Tirek, Starlight Glimmer, and Chrysalis on various occasions), this was the first time that she had been subjected to physical torture. Her previous captors had at least shown a basic modicum of chivalry towards her and her friends during their internment.
Rainbow Dash wasn’t an easily frightened pony. However, she was genuinely terrified of the prospect of not returning home alive. The thought of never seeing Scootaloo or her friends again filled her with dread.
However, Rainbow Dash realized that if she confessed and named the head of the elite Equestrian espionage unit that had briefly trained her, or signed a confession to the crimes that she was accused of (i.e. assisting in the destruction of Soviet territorial integrity) she knew that she would be betraying the security and honor of Equestria. As the Element of Loyalty, she had an obligation first and foremost to her country.
Suddenly, her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her windowless cell door creaking open. Walking in after the guards was a human dressed in a doctor’s coat. In his hand was a clipboard with sheets of paper on it.
“How is our patient?” asked the man, an artificial warmth radiating from his voice.
“Patient?” asked Rainbow Dash, confused.
“Yes, patient,” he said, pointing to the stubby remains of her left wing.
“You did this to me!” said Rainbow Dash jumping to her hooves, ready to pounce.
The entrance of a baton wielding guard caused her to return to a less aggressive position.
“You mean to tell me that no one told you about why your wing is missing?”
Rainbow Dash silently shook her head, confused.
The doctor said, “When you were brought into my office you were unconscious and bleeding profusely from your wing. I was told that it ad been blown clean off when you were shot trying to evade our soldiers.”
Rainbow Dash thought back to the events surrounding her capture. She struggled to recall many of the details surrounding it. However, the one thing that she did remember before striking her head on the cave floor was experiencing a sudden pain in her left wing. Was that truly caused by a gunshot wound? It seemed like a plausible explanation. But she still had nagging doubts. Why should she trust the word of an enemy doctor?
“Why should I trust you… Mr. ... “
“Filipov Tikhon Borisovich is the name. You have no reason to believe me, especially after the rude introduction that my friends have made with you. However, it is the plain and simple truth. You can choose to accept it or not. It ultimately isn’t my problem. The only thing that I’m concerned about is seeing that you are alive and in relatively good condition. After all, a dead spy can’t talk.”
“You’ll never get me to talk! You hear me! I’m no coward!” shrieked Rainbow Dash.
“A friendly piece of advice Ms. Dash. The camp interrogators will inevitably get the information that they want out of you. If you want to live to someday be reunited with those you love, then I advise that you confess to everything and tell them what they want to hear.”