With a thundering racket, a battered and filthy Alicorn came tumbling out the trash chute and into the heap. ‘Okay, not one of my most graceful landings, but I guess it worked.’ She shook the filth out of her mane and looked back up towards the way she came. ‘Okay, they’re sure to know something’s up now. I didn't have enough time to hide the unconscious guards well enough, so somepony’s bound to stumble upon them. I've just gotta be quick.’

There seemed to be only one exit, so that was her best bet. It’s not like she has another choice. Twilight couldn't hear anypony else around, which was a small relief. Now all she had to do was figure out which way the dungeon was, which she had cleverly deduced was probably further down. Twilight followed the stone hallway till she came across the stairwell which lead down into the catacombs. ‘I hate catacombs.’ was her last thought as she descended into the darkness.

The faint glow of torchlight began to creep into Twilight's vision, she was getting close. She had reached the bottom, down the hallway had to be the dungeon. It had been years since it has seen any use, the stonework crumbling away around her. One thing still didn't sit right; all Twilight could hear was her won hoof steps, nothing else to be heard. Drawing closer to the dungeon it only confirmed her fears; they were nowhere to be seen.

‘Damn it’ Twilight kicked at the nearest wall, doing little damage to the stonework. ‘If they’re not here, then there’s only one other place they can be.  But how do I even get there?’ The lavender mare took a deep breath, calming her senses and easing her heartbeat. ‘Remember Twilight, Celestia and the others are all counting on you. She knew something like this would happen and she was counting on you to save them.’ Her little internal pep talk was doing her a small amount of good at least. She turned and began to trace her way back towards the stairwell, moving slowly down the hallway. ‘I just hope they all got through alright.’

New morning rises even if it takes all her strength. Celestia remained locked up within her chambers under constant watch and held away from her subjects and far away from any rescue, but she had a duty to fulfill none the less. Azzal had subjected her to continuous beatings throughout the night in some hope that she would divulge the information he wanted to forward his campaign. She just bore through it and grinned at him in defiance, only serving to anger him further and bring on more punishment.

“I have tried everything with you Celestia, and yet you won’t answer the simplest question or follow the easiest order. Must I begin executing your subjects one by one, or do you wish me to rob you of your horn, plunging this land into an eternal night? Oh I’m sure we can find a way around this.”

Celestia continued to show no sign of giving in, even if it broke her spirit she could not give in yet. But the tyrant would have none of that, another hoof aimed straight at the Princesses muzzle. “Answer me!”

Another sharp crack had wring through her face, causing her muscles to flinch and lock up. She could tell he was at his weakest mentally, now she had a chance. “You have yet to ask me what you want to know most. Ask me and I shall tell you what I know.”

There was a sickly silence that followed, only penetrated by the breeze blowing through the shattered windows. Azzal leaned in closer and let muffled words escape his hidden mouth. “What am I then? You seem to know everything there is, so you must know there’s something wrong with me?”

“I don’t know...    Maybe you’re just insane.”

Azzal was not the least bit satisfied by this answer, turning to leave the room once more in a huff. She knew nothing and only served to taunt him. “This is pointless. You have nothing to say that is of any worth, and you are no longer of any use to me.” While questions still lingered in the back of his head he pushed them back till they were barley visible. There would be a time to find out, to try and decipher his past. Someday he would figure out who he was.

“What is your name?”

This question however caught Azzal off guard, looking back to Celestia while attempting to hide his surprise. “My name is Azzal Khan, Lord of the Eastern lands and successor to Lord Sil Ran.”

“That is a title, nothing more. What was the name your parents gave you, what did colts call you when you grew up? Do you even remember?”

He had to have moment to think, delve back into his memories. And yet he came up fruitless. “My name was given to me and I do not question it. By whom I no longer know, but from that day I knew what I had to do. So here I am…   finishing what I set out to do all those years ago; burn your precious lands.” He leaned in closer, his eyes holding some sway over the tension. “And now there is no force to stop me. Equestria will be mine…   just as I once dreamed it.”

Horns, the sound of horns was echoing from the horizon. Azzal stood up and looked towards the balcony in a stark shock, his pupils dilating and his breathing picking up volume thanks to his mask. Celestia felt a smile creeping up onto her battered face, the warmth of her sun shining through the broken windows. The Crystal Empire had come.

“You've made a huge mistake Azzal; and it seems you’re about to pay for it dearly. Try and talk your way out of this one.”

While the caves origins are unknown it has served many a purpose over the years. But for the most part it remained untouched, left to the slow grind of time. But when war had come to their lands Celestia found use for them once again, after all they needed to keep their subjects safe from harm. So the great underground caverns were turned into a refugee camp which housed hundreds upon hundreds of citizens.

Once Azzal Khan had discovered this he had decided to make use of this space, herding the prisoners of war into the caves to keep them out of trouble. The great doors of solid stone were sealed shut, locking them within the mountain. Guards were put on constant watch, there would be no chance escape. Twilight looked around the corner at the hopeless situation and felt her plan slowly begin to crumble.

‘Okay, so they have about… twenty or so guards stationed at the entrance. On the plus side that means I've found where they’re holding everypony. On the downside I have no chance of getting past them. I can’t teleport in especially when I can’t see where I’m going, and there is no way I can just talk them into letting me past.’ Twilight ducked down behind the corner, slumping up against the stone wall as she began to think hard. ‘Right now a good idea would be appreciated.’

But as the sound of echoing horns shook the very foundations of the mountain, the guards were nearly thrown off their hooves in surprise and confusion. Twilight recognized the, even after nearly a year she recognized the sounds, and it gave her hope. Of the guards the largest and most heavily armored stood forth.

“Alright, that sounds like trouble lads. You lot with me to the courtyard you two stay here and raise the alarm in case anypony decides to be brave.” With a swift and unfamiliar salute they departed, leaving to if the unicorn soldiers to hold the position. Twilight couldn't have asked for a better opportunity.

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