For the rest of the day and most of the next, Shiva sat in that cage; waiting for the chance to escape. She kept her ears open and her nose ready, trying to gather as much information as she could, tracking the wagon’s process as it made its way along a large stone mountain path.

From the limited conversations she could pick up, she figured out the names of her captors: the red unicorn was called Beast Breaker, the brown stallion was Stone Walker, and the mare was Summer Rain. They also kept talking about someone they just referred to as ‘Boss,’ who Shiva supposed was their master, along with repeated mentions of a ‘Celestia.’

Shiva wasn’t sure what this Celestia was. While the three talked about her with a certain reverence in their voices, there was also a bit of resentment. Like she had done something they didn’t like. And it seemed to revolve primarily around Shiva and her companion.

But what did we do? Shiva wondered. Why are they doing this to us?

They didn’t seem to want them dead: Summer always came by with food or to ensure the cage didn’t stink. But every time they came by, it was with Breaker and that insufferable whip. He fitted some sort of odd shackle around Shiva’s neck, which pulsed with an odd power. He would force them out of the cage so Summer and Walker could clean it and put them through a process of kicking them to their knees and shackling them with chains. And no matter how fast Shiva moved or how obedient she tried to be, that unicorn always found a reason to crack that whip at her. He thankfully never hit her again, but every time she started to feel the hum of lightning, there was an odd glow from the collar, and nothing came forward. Nothing but the snapping crack of the whip, which left an incessant ringing buzz in her right ear.

Needless to say, Shiva was more than elated when the ponies reached what appeared to be their destination: a large stone cavern at the top of the mountain, big enough to hold all of Master’s old territory. The stone ceiling stretched above them as they entered, and Shiva got the feeling of being swallowed as shadows fell over the caravan.

As they drove deeper into the cave, Shiva’s ears picked up noises; roars and hisses and cries. Her nose also picked up a cavalcade of scents: something reptilian, like a lizard. Something smooth like wax, yet irritating like pollen, almost like an insect. And a particularly delicious combination scent of bird and cat.

Then the caravan turned, and Shiva saw the source:

Some kind of arena had been built into the cave. A massive square had been carved into the ground, blockaded by wooden posts. On the far side, Shiva made out some kind of balcony or throne, with a smattering of other ponies there. All unicorns, with their horns proudly jutting into the air as they talked snobbishly with each other. Closer to where Shiva was, cages lined the pathway leading up to the arena, each containing a different type of animal. Shiva saw a winged lizard, about the size of her master. She saw some kind of bird with the back half of a cat. And she saw some kind of weird pony-bug hybrid. There was even a creature that looked almost like a male version of Master, though the thick hooves that served as legs and the bull head ruined the image. All of them looked beaten down. Scars like the ones likely forming on Shiva’s back crisscrossed their bodies. The lizard’s wing was bent at a bad angle, the bug-pony’s legs were chipped and had holes in them, the bird-cat was shedding feathers like crazy, and one of the bull-man’s horns were broken.

The worst part, though, was the look in their eyes. A thousand-yard stare, a bare spark of curiosity as they saw Shiva and Luke getting wheeled in.

Shiva knew right then and there: these beasts had been broken by these ponies.

And Shiva was next.

Breaker stepped into view, his ever-present whip by his side.

“We’ll start with the sparky one, since she’s so confident,” he declared, opening the door. He flicked his whip. “Out.”

Resigned to the routine, Shiva and Luke complied. They didn’t resist as Breaker forced them to the ground with a kick to their legs and held still as Walker shackled them. Thankfully, no further punishment came their way. At least for now.

Walker led Luke over to one of the few empty cages. The dog shared a terrified look with Shiva, but she tried to give him an assuring nod, despite her heart hammering in her chest

It’s gonna be okay, she tried to convey through her expression. I’ll figure something out.

Even if I have no idea what to do.

Breaker gave a sharp yank, and Shiva quickly fell in line behind him. He led her past the other beasts, who gazed at her forlornly.

But Shiva tried to keep her head high and her tail untucked, even as Breaker led her into the arena, and she found the unicorns from above looking down their noses at her. Walker and Summer flanked the exit, while Shiva spotted other earth ponies and even a few winged ponies marching up and down the line of cages, ensuring no trouble was unfolding.

One of the bigger unicorns on top strode forward. His blue eyes regarded Shiva like she was a particularly interesting bit of trash before turning to her handler.

“Beast Breaker,” he declared in a grand voice. He gestured at Shiva. “Care to explain?”

“We’ve got extra trouble with the Diamond Dogs, Boss,” Breaker replied. The end of his whip handle rested under Shiva’s chin. She found herself rising to her hind legs to keep it away from her skin. “This one’s unlike anything I’ve seen before.”

The ‘boss’ unicorn regarded Shiva again, and she wished for her lightning power so she could blast that superior expression off his face.

“So, it’s a slightly more appealing color,” he replied. “They still got beaten by a pretender with a shrill voice.”

“Maybe once,” Breaker admitted. “But have you ever seen them do this?”

The collar fell away. Shiva rubbed at her neck, finally bare for the first time in almost two days. In her elation, she didn’t realize what Breaker was doing until it already happened.

The crack of the whip sounded. The familiar white hot pain seared into her back, and Shiva jumped away, shrieking as her lightning finally answered her call. Golden streaks of light zigzagged over her form, surging into a protective shield that formed far too late.

A gasp of horror rose up from the unicorns. Shiva snarled up at them. Lightning gathered around her claws, but she paused, wondering who to attack: Breaker or the unicorns.

Her hesitation was her undoing, and something slammed into the back of her neck, throwing her once again into the dirt. This time, Shiva felt something wrap around her throat. When she grabbed at her neck, she found the collar back, sucking away her power until even the glow of her fur was gone.

Shiva looked down in disbelief. That’s what the collar had been? Some sort of method for controlling the only weapon she had? The rage boiled so deeply in her, she almost missed what the stallions were saying to each other.

“Where did it learn to do that?!” the boss unicorn was demanding. “Who did it steal that magic from?”

Breaker just gave an impassive shrug. Shiva glared up at him, before noticing the cold gaze bearing down on her, which had grown twice as cold.

“Mutt!” he demanded. “What unicorn did you steal that magic from?”

Shiva snarled. Sadly, snarling did nothing but cause the ponies to laugh, while the boss unicorn snorted. He turned back to Breaker.

“Laborer,” he declared. “That mutt does not leave this arena unbroken. You understand? If the Diamond Dogs knew they had this ability…?”

Breaker smirked wickedly, coiling his whip. “Understood,” he replied.

Shiva fought at first. Despite lightning being denied her, she had a slight advantage from her earlier situation; she wasn’t behind a cage. No bars to separate her from the monster this time. And while the whip was effective at medium range, it wasn’t as good at close range.

Shiva caught his whip strike and yanked him close, ready to rend his head from his body like she had the timber wolves. But as he fell closer, his horn glowed, and a burst of magic struck Shiva in the face.

Shiva pitched backward, losing her grip on the whip. He brought it up and cracked it across her shoulder. Shiva screamed, but didn’t let the pain bring her down. Knowing her magic wouldn’t come to her aid, she stomped the whip as it tried to curl back to its master and lunged again. His horn glowed, but Shiva’s paw lashed out, trying to grab it. Not fast enough, as the magic exploded against her palm, nearly breaking her wrist and sending her stumbling.

She clutched her wrist to her chest, shrieking as another lash carved into her back. But with every hit, there was another feeling. Some sort of… gathering feeling, like all the blood was forming up in her heart. Her wrist stung with agony, but the pain lessened by a fraction, like it was already healing itself.

Shiva’s ears perked, and she connected the dots: their magic was fueling her. As long as they kept hitting her, she could keep going. With that on her mind, she rolled away from another lash and got in close again. She lunged, accepting Breaker’s blast to her chest.

She rolled with the blast, regaining her feet and charging again. Breaker’s smirk started to fade. He began to back up, his eyes shrinking to pinpricks as she bounced back from his attacks.

But the stallion wasn’t just a brute. When he glanced up at his horn, Shiva realized he was connecting the dots as well. She made another quick lunge for his face, but rather than hit her with another spell, he let his horn darken, and rolled to his back.

His hooves slammed into her gut, propelling her over him and towards the outside of the arena. An idea briefly flashed through her mind of letting herself fall over the barrier and just booking it out of the arena.

But before she could wonder about the other animals, more of the unicorns appeared. Spells crashed into her body, numbing her nerves but also increasing that feeling of power in her heart. However, they also threw her back into the arena.

“No spells!” Breaker barked. “That’s how she’s getting the magic. She’s absorbing it!” His eyes briefly widened as Shiva turned her bloodshot gaze on him, before he turned to the side. “Argh, Walker!”

Shiva spun, but not fast enough. Walker threw some sort of wire collar over her neck. It clashed against the magic suppressor, but yanked her back against the wall, keeping her from charging again. Breaker whipped her, but her claws were still free, and she lunged for his weapon, trying to pull him closer. They briefly fought over the whip, Walker cutting her air off as he yanked her back against the wall, before Shiva lashed out with her claws and snapped the whip in two. She grinned maliciously at Breaker as he stomped his ruined whip into the dirt, his golden eyes burning as they tried to bore into her.

“Don’t tell me you can’t break this thing, Beast Breaker,” the unicorn snapped from the balcony. “Princess Celestia can’t be counted on to control these animals. I paid you because you said you could do what she couldn’t! Now prove it!”

Breaker’s eyes narrowed, and he ground his teeth at the pompous unicorn. Shiva clutched her collar. Confusion briefly overtook her; that gathering feeling was still present. It was weaker – way weaker – but it was still there. She glanced back; Walker was holding onto the wire with his teeth. But… he wasn’t a unicorn. He wasn’t using magic spells.

Unless the magic is in all of us, Shiva wondered. She quickly remembered Breaker was watching her and spun her head back around.

But he had followed her gaze. His eyes were scanning past her. For a scary moment, he grinned at her, and she wondered if he was following her train of thought.

But what he said was even worse.

“Bring the male out here,” he said. “And chain this one up. Make sure she can watch.”

Shiva was suspended above the arena. The magic suppressor was around her neck, along with a thick metal shackle that would choke her if she didn’t hang onto the brass ring that had been hung above her. And there, she was forced to watch as Luke was beaten senseless by Breaker.

“STOP!” Shiva screamed. “LEAVE HIM ALONE!”

But the unicorns simply grinned darkly up at her, and goaded Breaker to continue. Luke wasn’t a fighter like her, and he already knew he couldn't win. He slunk along the length of the arena, his cries long and loud as the whip carved into his side, legs and head.

“Good Diamond Dog,” he was screaming. “Luke be good! Luke promise! Just stop!”

“STOP!” Shiva screamed, her throat tearing as Luke finally gave up and curled into a fetal position, his side cut to ribbons and only getting worse as Breaker continued to lash him.

Finally, Breaker glanced up at her, and then at the other animals.

“You know what?” he said. “Fine. We’ll stop.” He kicked Luke towards the entrance.

Shiva sobbed in relief, but the relief didn’t last long.

“Bring out the changeling,” Breaker then said, eyeing Shiva evilly. “If our precious magic Diamond Dog doesn’t want her boyfriend beaten, we’ll just make do.”

Shiva’s tail tucked, and she looked down in horror as the bug-pony was brought in. The bug-pony looked up at her with horror and a bit of anger.

“No!” Shiva screamed, kicking as guilt flooded her body. “No, that’s not what I meant!”

But Breaker was already bearing down on the changeling. With a burst of fire, it suddenly changed into a quivering foal.

“Y-You wouldn’t hurt a little filly, would you?” the changeling whimpered.

Breaker’s answer came with a lash of the whip.

Shiva's memory began to spiral. She faintly made out Luna, staring down at her with horror etched across her face. But, like a drowning wolf at sea, Shiva sunk back into the memories one final time.

Shiva begged; pleading that she’d obey as long as they stopped hurting the others. And yet, the second they brought her down, and she tried to stand, Breaker shook his head.

“Standing without permission?” he tsked. “Some mutt’s not learning.”

Back up she went, and back they went for Luke’s cage.

The memories finally ceased. Luna stepped back, shaking her head and covering her eyes.

"P-Princess?" Twilight asked.

"It... can't be," Luna insisted. "What was done to her, I..." She pressed her hooves into her head, like she could draw the images from her mind.

“She’s not lying,” a voice said.

Twilight and Luna froze, looking towards the door. Shiva looked up as well, and her ears perked in hope.

Standing in the doorway was a familiar tiny purple dragon, his green eyes narrowed at Twilight.

“Spike,” Twilight stammered. “How did you get in…?”

“I couldn’t stand by,” Spike said. “Not for this.”

“Spike?” Shiva asked, lifting her head. “Spike, are you okay?”

“Dragon," Luna said, her voice weary. "You need to leave."

Twilight nodded and tried to herd Spike out. But the dragon stood his ground.

“No. I can’t let you hurt the wolf who saved me.”

Again, you might be wondering; how does Shiva know Spike and Twilight?

The answer will be revealed in Chapter 4, which I hope to have out by this Friday.

Thank you guys again for reading, and please let me know what you think.