Originally, this was gonna be released at Thursday. But I decided to make an early release. Enjoy!

Hoove-steps echoed through the crystal cavern. The sound echoed off the walls, slightly disturbing some sleeping bats that darted out of hiding to find a new perch. They flew high up in the air, screeching and flapping their wings as they did so. The sound was like a warning signal for the inhabitants of the cavern to move on.

Starting down the tunnels was a light pink coat alicorn mare sat with their back facing the visitor. Their candy mane traced down to her hooves, barely touching the ground and another tracing over her wings. She wore a small golden crown atop her head with purple gems encrusted around its rim. Her neck wrapped with a golden necklace, and wears golden hoof shoes. Her flank plastered with the crystal heart as a cutie mark, and her purple eyes glowed like embers while her face seemed impassive, unmoved by the sounds around her. A slight smirk curved upon her lips at the sight.

She turned her gaze towards a steel door, painted with red runes along its surface. The door looked worn and dull from the amount of time it had seen use. It was slightly chipped with one corner coming loose, a sign of how long it’s been here. As she walked towards the large keyhole that covered one of the sides of the door, her horn lights up with a faint green. The light emitted a faint misty aura. A small, yet heavy set of iron keys jingled in her magic as she pushed them against the lock, causing it to slide to the right. With a quick flick she removed the keys from the lock and tossed them to the side before pressing down firmly on the lever. An audible click filled the room as the door opened.

She entered and closed the door behind her, locking it once again. Her hooves clomped lightly against the ground, mane swaying gently as her footsteps reverberated throughout the chamber. She smirked again, this time a little wider, a bit devilish. It brought an eerie sense of satisfaction within the being.

“Good afternoon, cotton ball.”

There, sat with their back facing the visitor was a light pink coat alicorn mare. Their candy mane was wild and unkempt, the fur was dirty and her tail drooped sadly in front of them, and her flank plastered with the crystal heart as a cutie mark. The alicorn mare turned to see who entered, their purple eyes meeting the identical ones before them. Immediately they narrowed their eyes, scowling at the intruder.

“I must say though I’m impressed. After all the torture I’ve put you through I’m surprised your mind hasn’t brake by now.” The intruder teased. A snort left the mare’s nose as her ears flattened against her skull. Despite not having spoken she could read the mare's thoughts. She had no interest in talking with the creature in front of her.

“Oh? You got nothing to say? Come now, I expected more from the Princess of the crystal empire.” The figure jeered as she moved closer to the mare, a sickening grin growing onto her face. “Or, is it that you’re still mad at the fact that I have your dear future husband in my clutches? He does seem quite fond of me, don't you think?”

The alicorn mare didn’t respond, instead continuing to stare at the other in silence.

“Come now, I would think he'd be grateful at least. You can be a very generous pony after all! Why else would I need to go through all that trouble to kidnap him and keep him as the perfect tool for my next phase of conquest.” The figure chuckled, reaching out to stroke the mare’s cheek. The mare slapped her hoof away, glaring angrily to the ground.

“But that’s not why you’re here isn’t it, Chrysalis?” The alicorn prisoner said in a well composed tone.

“Well, aren’t you a smart cookie.” The imposter known as Chrysalis chuckled. “I can see why he likes you, Cadance.”

The prisoner revealed as Cadance sighed. “Well, why are you here?” She inquired turning away from the tyrant.

“Alright, I’ll push aside my games.” Chrysalis’s eyes narrowed. “Where are the hidden elements?”

Cadance closed her eyes. “Even if I knew, what makes you think I’m gonna tell you?”

Chrysalis let out a chuckle. “You think I’m a fool? You may be clever, but that doesn’t mean anything to someone like me. Don’t play dumb with me, Cadance. We both know that you know their whereabouts. Give it up already.”

Cadance scoffed. “And betray my aunts, and doom all of Equestria? No, I will not. I would rather perish then let other ponies suffer under the heel of the false ruler you call yourself queen!”

“Don’t make me laugh!” Chrysalis shouted, taking a step towards the other. “I am far superior to you, you worthless lump of flesh and blood! I am your worst nightmare, a nightmare that haunts every single one of your nightmares.”

The two glared at each other in silence. A tension hung in the air between them, as heavy as a stone in the riverbed. Finally, Cadance broke the silent spell. “Then go ahead and execute me, if you think you could get anything done anyways.”

Chrysalis slowly smirked. “No, I won’t kill you. Not today anyway. I still need you after all, you’re a second tool for the next phase.” She backs away from Cadance. “But until that time is ripe you’ll remain here. With no hope of anypony coming to rescue you.”

Cadance watched the proud imposter starting their way down the door. The alicorn’s lips slightly smirked with confidence. “You know, I bet you'd be a lot shorter than me without all that seaweed you call a mane.”

Chrysalis stopped dead, going completely silent. She stayed like that for what felt like eternities before Cadance added insult to injury.

“Oh, I’m sorry, did I struck a nerv—“ Her sentence was cut short when a beam of eerie green magic fled out from the imposter’s horn, engulfing Cadance.

Pain exploded through her whole body as she began convulsing and shrieking out in agony. Tears sprung from her eyes as every inch of her ached in pain and her mind was filled with screams of agony. It felt like hours before the pain finally abated, falling to the ground breathing heavily.

Every breath burned in her lungs like fire. She could barely make out her captor laughing at her as she laid panting in front of her. She tried to force herself to her feet but collapsed again, unable to even take a single step. She stared into the other’s eyes, glaring at Cadance with sheer contempt.

“Let me make this clear to you, princess,” Chrysalis said, her tone unsettling while slowly creeping towards the stunned alicorn, “if I wanted to escort you six feet under I could; but I brought you here as my prisoner, and the only reason that you’re still alive is because you are the last piece of the puzzle so if I were you I hold your tongue!”

Cadance let out a groan as she slowly lifted herself up off the ground.

“Say what you want, it won't work.” Cadance turned at the tyrant changeling with determination. “Evil can never win, especially evil ponies like you. I still have hope. Hope that somepony will come and stop you.”

Chrysalis smirked at the determined mare.

“Ha, alright humor me who is this mare you speak of?” Chrysalis asked, looking at Cadance curiously.

“Her name is Twilight Sparkle.”

“You mean that little slag bookworm that spends all her time reading books twenty-four seven?” Chrysalis was disappointed. “She couldn’t even best against Nightmare Moon on her own and yet you think she could best me?”

“That’s where you’re wrong, my source says she wasn’t alone. She made friends that helped her along the way and together they were able to defeat Nightmare Moon; and it’s because of their aid that when united they make the impossible possible.” Cadance answered confidently. Do not underestimate them.” She narrowed her eyes at the tyrant imposter. “But most of all, do not underestimate her.”

Chrysalis remained quiet, staring intently at the prisoner, before nodding curtly. “I suppose I shouldn’t waste anymore time talking to you. Your hope for your friend is futile, and your hope for a happy ending …is meaningless. All that matters right now is the end result. If the outcome of victory pleases me then there is nothing you can do about it. And I am the one who has power over destiny?” Chrysalis clicked her tongue. “What a naïve notion, you worthless cotton sop. You should be smart enough to know how pointless your wishes are.”

Chrysalis rolls her body around, walking towards the steel door . She placed her hooves on either side of the entrance. She raised her head to look back at Cadance.
“Oh, and as for Twilight Sparkle, well, we shall see if she is as you claimed her to be.”

With that she pressed against the door, the large metal slab slowly sliding back into place sealing the prisoner inside once more, leaving her lying helplessly on the cold floor.