Chapter 3: The Plans of a King and a Prisoner

"Twilight, are you feeling alright?" Sombra asked, faking the worrying tone he was making. Twilight looked at him, her harsh and angry features having disappeared slightly, not a lot, but enough for Sombra to worry. If Twilight managed to break free of her hatred and fear then his plan was ruined, and she would get away from him. He watched as she looked back sadly at the stairs that led to her friend's cells, making a small movement towards them before Sombra grabbed her hoof.

"What do you think you're doing?" Sombra asked sternly, making Twilight gasp.

"I was just, uh..." Twilight trailed off, trying and failing to find an excuse that would make Sombra let her go. Now that Cadance had reminded her off their chant from when she was a tiny foal, a small spark of harmony and joy was lit in Twilight's chest, making her rethink everything she has done since taking over the Empire. Her hatred and fear were starting to break away, her old self making a strong attempt to resurface and take over, which would mean the end of Sombra's second rule.

"Please Twilight, come with me, I have had a wondrous lunch prepared for us" Sombra said sweetly, slowly pulling Twilight away towards the exit from the dungeon, eager to arrive in his dining hall before Twilight was lost to him. As they made their way towards the castle small cries could be heard coming from Twilight as a pony was whipped down below in the mines, a drastic change from how she had been acting before. When the pair finally reached the dining hall Twilight stopped resisting Sombra's pulling, even making it to the door before him. The door opened silently, revealing a massive table covered with each of Twilight's favourite foods, even the ones that were hard to make in the Crystal Empire.

"Is this all for me?" Twilight asked, her jaw hanging open slightly as her eyes caught sight of some of the dishes she could die for.

"Why yes of course, now dig in, you can't think on an empty belly" Sombra said mockingly, but Twilight didn't notice, as she had already started to dig in when he said yes. Some of these foods were specialties of high class chefs from Canterlot, and to have them here? She felt as though she could die right then and there, and still be happy now that she's able to eat all of her favorite dishes all at once. Sombra laughed quietly to himself as she struggled to carry entire platters of food to her chair, nearly dropping three of them on the way.

"Yes, yes, keep eating you foolish Unicorn, for tonight, you will be mine..." Sombra said menacingly as he trotted away to set his plans in motion, starting with disposing of a certain dragon...

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"Rainbow, you awake in there?" Applejack asked quietly, just loud enough for her voice to carry over to the cell beside her.

"Yeah what is it?" Rainbow groaned as she moved, her head was killing her from hitting the door so much.

"I think I know how to break out of here now" Applejack said, a hint of confidence in her voice.

"How? You going to bribe the guards with apples?" Rainbow snapped back, having been down this road with Applejack before. Every single day since they were locked up Applejack would come up with some weird idea that might get them out so they could warn Celestia and Luna of what happened, and what was coming for them. One time their plans almost worked, but then Rarity started to whine about leaving Spike behind and a guard caught them, hauling them back to the cells instantly.

"No, but haven't you noticed that Spike has been stopping by more often?" Applejack asked, making Rainbow think to herself, "Isn't that a bit odd for a big fearsome dragon?"

"Yeah, you're right..." Rainbow said quietly to herself before shoving her snout up to the slot in the door, "Rarity!"

"Yes, what is it now?" Rarity asked angrily. The musty and damp cell that they had put Rarity in has been wearing down her resolve, slowly but surely making her irate and angry with everything. After they blamed their failed escape attempt on her she only got worse, becoming almost impossible for anypony to talk to her, except for Spike.

"Has Spike mentioned anything odd to you, like maybe escaping and getting out of here, or...?" Rainbow led on, making Rarity gasp in surprise.

"Have you been listening to us Rainbow Dash?!" Rarity exclaimed, moving her own snout towards the slot in the door, "How rude!"

"No, no, just, has he said anything?" Rainbow asked angrily, annoyed at how Rarity was acting.

"Well he has mentioned that he is starting to dislike being a slave to Twilight and Sombra, and that he would love to get me out of here, but I don-" Rarity explained flatly, about to turn it against Rainbow when Applejack spoke up.

"See, told you he could help us" Applejack said triumphantly, her voice letting Rainbow know that she was smirking inside her cell.

"Well, we still have to get him to agree to it" Rainbow said angrily, not happy that Applejack was right about Spike, "Do you even know what'll happen if he gets caught trying to get us out of here?"

"Who are you guys talking about?" a gruff voice asked from outside their cells, a telltale sign that Spike was here to see Rarity.

"Spike!" Rarity said happily, her voice cracking as she thought about seeing her Spikey Wikey.

"Hey Rarity, uh, what's going on?" Spike asked, looking towards Rainbow and Applejack's door in confusion.

"Oh, they just have another escape plan, like usual" Rarity said nonchalantly, acting as though it was no big deal.

"So, who is this "he" you're talking about?" Spike asked, moving closer to Applejack's cell knowing full well that she was the idea mare.

"Why, you of course" Applejack said happily, "Interested?"

"I'm all ears" Spike said, his interesting showing in his voice.

"Okay, so this is the plan..."