This can't be happening, it just can't be. The two princesses were supposed to be the guardians and protectors of Equestria. What were they doing here? This must be a dream. It has to be.

"Welcome to your new home," Celestia said. "I'm happy to see you all, despite the circumstances."

Bright blinked. Maybe if he tried to wake up, he would escape from this place. Bright blinked again, harder this time. He was still in the arena. He was still standing in front of the two princesses. He was wrong; this wasn't a dream, it was a nightmare.

"I'm sure you're all wondering why you're here," Celestia continued. "Well allow me to tell you. You're here, because unlike most of the population of Equestria, you don't know how to control yourselves. You're here because in one way or another, you've broken the laws of this great country. It is because of this, that you have been sent here."

Bright wanted to speak up. He wanted to protest him being here. Yes he was a thief, but he only did it to help his family. The princess would surely understand why he had to do it if he explained to her why he did it. Surely she would see it to be a just cause and understand his reasoning. Wouldn't she?

"I know what it is you've all done, and let me tell you, I'm disappointed in each and every one of you. Treachery, assault, conspiracy, murder, and thievery." She seemed to look almost directly at Bright when she said the last charge, but only for a brief moment. "These are all serious crimes, and must be dealt with accordingly. This is why you have been brought here. To pay for all of your crimes."

"That's bullshit!" yelled a voice from somewhere in the back of the crowd. "I'm innocent! It was a setup!"

The voice was silenced by the guards, violently.

"I can see the journey here was stressful," Celestia said. "I'm sure you all need to rest, so I'll leave you all with this. When you have paid back what you owe to Equestria, you will no longer have to worry about your families." She then closed her eyes, and a bright light started spreading first from her horn, then to all of the surrounding area, until Bright could no longer see.

But could see darkness. He could feel the darkness, actually. He wasn't sure how, but he could. It was like the air, only it felt like water. He stood there, no sure as to what was going on. But then he heard a voice. A familiar voice.

"Welcome, Bright Sky."

Bright looked around, but he couldn't see anyone around him. "Hello?"

"By now, I'm sure you are wondering where you are."

Bright was confused, but the voice was right. "Uh, yeah, I am."

"Well, allow us to show you," the voice said, as a figure walked out of pure nothingness right in front of him.

Bright Sky's mouth dropped as the princess of the night, Luna, walked out of thin air and strode right up to him. He was so surprised, that he almost forgot to speak. "P- princess Luna! How are- why- are we..."

"Be silent, Bright Sky, for you must listen carefully now."

Bright closed his mouth and nodded, listening intently to what the princess was saying.

"As you know, we are the princess of the night," Luna started. "And as such, I have certain powers that allow me to help you."

Bright didn't know what to say, so instead, he just kept on listening to the princess.

"Our sister has put you under a powerful sleeping spell for easy transport. But I don't agree with your being here, Bright Sky. We think that it is unjust, and we wish that we could help you more than we already are."

"How are you helping me?" Bright asked Luna.

"We can influence dreams, Bright Sky," Luna told him. "So while we are unable to release you from this place, we can still let you see your family, one last time."

Bright couldn't believe his ears. This news was crazy. He wasn't sure weather to be devastated over not being able to leave, or overjoyed about seeing his wife and daughter. "Can... Can I see them now?" Bright asked.

Luna nodded. "Yes, you can see them. But just know that this is the last time you will ever see them again. So if you wish to tell them something, do it now."

As Luna finished he sentence, everything started to fade into color. Buildings took shape, clouds formed in the sky, and there were two blurry forms fading into being in front of Bright. One adult sized, and one filly sized. Everything was blurry for only a few seconds longer, then they took shape, and Bright could see his family sitting on a hill in the park, smiling and waving at him.

Bright smiled back and galloped over to them as quick as he could. The closer he got to them, the bigger his smile got, until he finally reached them and wrapped them both in a hug. "Oh, I've missed you both so much."

"What are you talking about?" his wife asked him through the hug.

Bright broke the hug and looked to her. "I've been through hell baby. I'm so scared baby, and I don't know what to do."

"What's wrong daddy?" Bright's daughter asked him.

"Oh baby girl, I'm in trouble. I'm in trouble big time. Daddy broke the law, and now he's gotta pay."

Bright's wife put one of her hooves on his face and made him look at her. "Bright, baby, don't worry about that right now.

You're safe with us, right here and now, and that's all that matters."

Bright looked his wife in the eyes. "Baby, I love you so much. I love you both so, so much. So if this is the last time we can see each other again, let's not waste it." He kissed his wife deeply, then looked to his daughter. "So Crystal, what's the number one thing you want to do most in the whole, wide world?"

Crystal thought for a moment, then smiled at her father. "I want to stand on top of the train all the way to Canterlot!"

"Well then," Bright said, rubbing his daughter's mane, "it looks like we'll need a couple of tickets for the train."

Crystal's eyes grew huge when he said that. "You really mean it?! We can ride on top of the train?!"

Bright nodded at his daughter. "If you really want to do it, then we can."

"Awesome!" his daughter cheered. "Can we eat a bunch of pies and cakes and candy too?"

Bright looked up at his wife.

"Yes baby, we can if that's what you really want," she said, smiling.

"Yay! Best day ever!" Crystal yelled as she trotted away towards the train station.

Bright smiled at his wife and kissed her one last time before they caught up to their daughter to go on an adventure to Canterlot. And Bright Sky, his wife Mystique, and their daughter Crystal smiled and cheered the whole time they were on the train, and laughed the all the while when they bought a huge load of candies, pies and cakes. And through this, Luna was smiling down on Bright, feeling happy for him, but saddened at the same time. Because when this dream ends, and it will end, Bright Sky will wake up soon, and today very well may be his last. Because when he wakes up, he will be put to work, and no one survives The Pit.

Author's Note

Sorry there hasn't been any type of gore yet, but the next chapter will have plenty in it. I just didn't want to start off all blood and guts. But like I said, there will most definitely be a pony massacre next chapter.