The chains rattled as Darkmoon tried to shake free of his bindings. “You. You my friend, have a way with words.” He grumbled.

Condemned hung on the wall opposite of Dark within the small cell. “Well, I only had a second to throw something together. And it could’ve been worse you know.”

“Your idea was just brilliant, let’s just walk up to the guards and ask to see the queen! Oh, and maybe throw in a couple trips to the spa for free, would you? Oh that would be wonderful.” The guardian continued to fidget as he threw condescending insults towards the author. A weak smile plastered across his face.

“Oh, come on. Like you’d do any better than I did. And stop shaking those chains! You’re giving me a headache.”

“Am I?” He asked. “You mean.. When I shake the chains like this?” In a hurried manner, Dark began shaking the chains as fast as he could, all in an attempt to aggravate Condemned further.

“Stop it!” The author yelled as he tried brushing off the pain. “You’re such an ass!” He cried.

“Am I? I’ve known you for the past.. what was it, day and a half and instead of getting a treaty signed and going home, I wind up in a dungeon cell with you!”

“Just stop being an idiot and let me think! I can get us out of here, just.. stop being.. you!”

“Oh, and you expect me to believe that you’ll manage to think of a way out of here? You’re the one who got us in here in the first place!”

“Just. Stop.” Condemned retreated to his thoughts for a moment, scanning his surroundings and trying to piece together an escape route. ‘Alright.’ He looked around the room and found a couple of beds hung to the wall on the far left of the room, a chair of sorts within the right corner of the room, and a bucket. ‘Please tell me that’s not the toilet.’ He thought to himself. ‘Ah! Stay focused!’ He continued to search the room until he managed to catch sight of Dark’s gauntlets. “Hey! There’s our key to freedom!”

“What are you talking about?” Asked the guardian.

“They didn’t take your gear, and you can use your magic to set us free.” Condemned smiled as he came up with a flawless plan.

“Huh. How stupid can they be? Wait.. I can still use magic..” Dark trailed off as he got a thought in his mind. With a bit of concentration and a quick flick of his fingers, Condemned’s boot caught on fire.

“Holy sh. ahah!!” Condemned cried as he tried to stomp out the fire. Once he had finally managed to and turned his attention up to the guardian, he shot him a glare that was more than cold. “What the hell?! I promise you freedom and you light me on fire?” Dark was in no place to listen to the angered author being lost within a fit of laughter.

“Ah.. that was a good one!” Dark smiled. “Anyways, let’s get out of here before they...”

Condemned grew confused by the lack of Dark’s unfinished sentence. “What?” He asked. But he soon grew to understand as to why Dark didn’t speak. The sound of a metallic door chimed open and two changling guards entered the room, standing on either side of the door. Soon followed the one they had first set out to find. Queen Chrysalis.

The ebony queen strode into the holds of the cell and stared between the two prisoners. “So, you wished to speak with me and now I’m here. Why have you come here and what is it you want?” She asked in a rather cold tone.

Dark looked to Condemned and looked for some form of answer, unsure of what to say. The author rolled his eyes and looked to the changling queen. “Well, you see. Me and my friend..”

“Acquaintance.” Stated Dark.

“Alright, Me and my ‘Acquaintance’ Darkmoon have come here to have a treaty signed between the changlings and the equines of Equestria. Celestia wishes to stop these fights and disputes between your two races, and seeks a mutual bonding. In return of peace and security, Celestia and Luna are willing to let you feed.” Condemned turned his attention over to the guardian. “Off him to be exact.”

“What?” Dark asked with a worried expression.

“The princess’ know that you are only looking to feed your children and continue through life like the rest of us but that isn’t possible without having to feed off another’s emotions. My ‘Acquaintance’ is more than willing to help one such as yourself with this minor problem, seeing as how the human body is just full of emotions and more than plenty to feed your kingdom.”

The queen looked over to the hanging guardian and looked him over. As he hung there helplessly, awaiting his future to unfold, he gave her a light wave and a small grin. “And what say you? Do you agree to these terms? Are you willing to accept his offer?” She asked.

“Well. I..” He stopped speaking as he looked over to the author, who gave his a facial gesture to accept. “I.. do? Yeah.. I mean, I do. It shouldn’t be so bad, right?”

“You, the guardian, why is it you look to your lesser for advice? Should I speak to him rather than you?” She asked.

Before Dark could speak, Condemned jumped in to finish for him. “Well, we’re partners of a sort. He’s the adventurous, barrel chested hero. A little on the thoughtless side thought. Me, I’m the brains. I’m a bit of a writer and words come to me a little easier to me rather than him. So when it come to negotiations such as these, it’s mainly me talking rather than him, for safe reasons of course. One wouldn’t want to upset the Queen of Changlings, would we Darkmoon?”

The guardian looked to Condemned and tried to pinch the bridge of his nose in irritation but with the chains in place, his efforts were fruitless. “Right..”

“If this is the case, then maybe it be best that I speak with you for now, until Sir Darkmoon collects his own thoughts. And you, of what race are you?” She asked as she tried to look past the shade of Condemned’s hood.

“Oh, I forgot they left it on. I’m just more used to the dark than anything. Here.” The author flipped his head back and his hood fell to his shoulders. He looked to the queen and gave her a smile,“Human. Just like him.”

“Wait a second.” Chrysalis said with a bit of wonder. She walked over to Darkmoon and removed his hood as well, then began looking between the two. “You look strikingly similar, almost like twins.” She said with a bit of fashionation.

“Well, changlings are plenty alike, so the sight isn’t too uncommon.” Condemned said with a small chuckle.

“This I know, but most changlings have their slight differences. But the only differences I can see on the two of you is the age.” She turned towards Dark and asked him,“How old are you, Sir Dark?”

He looked to his feet for a moment and then looked to her with a cheeky smile. “Twenty eight years, madam.”

She turned to Condemned and asked the same question, to which he responded,“Eighteen.”

“Huh.” The queen seemed to be interested with the two twins. “Well, let’s get you two out of this dirty cell and get you two something to eat. You both look starved. But you both should get cleaned up before dinner is made.”

Author's Note

Another chapter in the story, in one day I might add.

Thanks to AHugeAcidTree for proofreading and I'll see you guys in the next chapter.

Keep it cool, Condemned.