The Twisted Music Box

' Ooh.. My head..' Running Stream thought, her body still numb from the dart.' Damn Zebra's, and their damn darts.. Why can't they see the Everfree forest is like a plaque, devouring what land it can?' Her body felt warm slightly, like she was resting in a bed. It wasn't uncomfortable, resting in a bed. Wait, she was captured, wasn't she? Why was she in a bed? Did her troop come back to save her? Where there other ponies who were more lenient? Did the Skirmishers just pull back after stunning them?

So many questions, and Stream was just willing to try and forget all that mess and sleep in the bed. Still, she knew she had to try and wake and figure out where she was, so she grudgingly tried to move her body. Her body was a bit sluggish from the paralysis dart, but she was able to effectively move her body.

' Got all four limbs, my tail and my head.. Flank stings a bit though.' Running Stream thought, slowly opening her eyes. From what she could see, she was in a dim lit room. It had a sink, counter, restroom in a corner, the bed she was in, and bars? Opening her eyes a bit more, she took in the sights easier. She was in a jail cell, but it was made a little differently, the bars only on one wall, the other walls made of a kinda polished marble. Even more disrupting was the fact that it didn't feel like it was near the plains of her home. A worried look appeared on her face, Stream looking around a bit before spotting a bowl on the counter. It was filled with the familiar cooking of her people, yet how did it get here? She blushed as she felt her stomach rumble. Gingerly testing her feet, she slowly got onto the edge of the bed and stood on her legs.

She was still a bit wobbly, but she could stand. Considering how hungry she was, she wagered that it had been at least a day since she had eaten. An entire twenty-four hours since she had eaten, and she was feeling it. Stomach grumbling, she slowly made her way to the counter, sniffing the bowl. Still she was suspicious, prodding the soup with her hoof. It was fresh, and seemed to be made of the same ingredients of back home. Leaning close, she sniffed it testingly. It didn't smell poisoned, and her stomach was increasingly bothering her. Tentatively, she took a lick. Her eyes widened, a smile coming to her face. It was just as good as her family's brew. Eagerly, she took to eating and swallowing the delicious food. Barely she registered a glass of water beside her, only drinking from it when she needed to. Her stomach quickly thanked her as she burped, licking her lips of the tasty meal.

A scream from some distance away made her jump, reminding her of the situation she was in. She quickly examined the room again to see if she missed anything, before looking at the bars. They were sturdy, made with a special lock. Pressing her hoof against the bar, Running Stream tested the bars before looking around. She was in a single cell, at the end of a small hallway. All around her had other cells, but strangely she couldn't see or hear anypony else in the other cells. She could sense someone else, but couldn't see or hear them.

' The cells must have been enchanted.' Running Stream surmised, sighing.' Probably from some unicorn..' Shaking her head, she sat on her haunches as she tried to determine where she was. The stone and metal that her room was made of didn't seem to be made of any familiar clay or rock, meaning she was probably far from her home. Thinking on the magics enchanting the cells, she shivered at the thought of being in the territory of that insane alicorn. Twilight was a monster; a cruel and merciless monster for the deeds she had done. It was also proven that she thought all non-unicorns were nothing more then slaves, so if she really was held by Moon and Star forces then she was in trouble. The sound of her cage lock being fiddled with made Stream jump up, getting low to the ground and facing the door. She was intending to make a break for it, to bum rush past whoever was opening the door. As the door opened up, Running Stream rushed towards it, bursting through the other side. Already in a full gallop, she raced down the corridor before turning her head back to see.. Nopony?

Pressing her hooves down to stop herself, Stream turned to the opening to her door to see nopony was around. Who opened her cage door? Did they forget to lock it properly?

Not one to look a gift pony in the mouth, Running Stream continued her quick gait through the hallway, passing by even more cages. It didn't take long to reach the end of the hallway. It was a simple door, yet Running Stream froze. The wind coming from the door smelt strange. A mixture of blood, and sexual fluids? Stream crinkled her nose, a slight blush coming to her face as she peeked through the keyhole. From her position, she could see it led out into a big circular area with several doors of different sizes. Taking the knob of the door, she opened it slowly, stepping into the big room. It was built like a coliseum, the main part of it halfway sunken into the floor while the top was covered in a tough looking cage. On the other sides of the cage was several seats and benches, as well as several bars and food stands. But what surprised Running Stream most of all was all the ponies in the stands, drinking and watching her in the arena.

" Ladies and Gentlecolts! The next match will commence shortly! A testament to our buffalo brethren, a three way match!" came a loud voice over the crowd, spoken through a megaphone by a pony in an announcers box. Running Stream jumped, glancing around worriedly.

" All bets are in!" continued the announcer." In one corner, Running Stream!" The crowd cheered, though some booed as well. Stream didn't know what to make of this." Running Stream has been a strong leader of her Buffalo Raiders, using her extreme speed to raid and attack without fear! She is well known to attack caravans delivering from Whitetail Peak! Let us see how she uses her speed to outmatch two fellow buffaloes!"

Running Stream gulped. The caravans from Whitetail Peak; she was in Whitegold territory! They intended her to fight two fellow buffalo? Not on her life!

" I don't intend to give any of you cowards sport!" Running Stream yelled, met with boos from the crowd.

" Silly buffalo, you got no choice." The announcer retorted, before resuming his thundering voice." In this corner, Stone Crusher from the Galloping Giants tribe!"

One of the medium doors to the left of Running Stream opened up, Stream gasping as a Buffalo Juggernaut stormed in through the door. He seemed furious, glancing left and right in a frenzy, before cooling off enough to notice her. The crowd was ecstatic again, their cheers only seeming to agitate Stone Crusher. She had heard of the Galloping Giants tribe, how they donned their heavy armor and became forces of devastation. But this was the first time she had seen one in person. The way his armor was scratched and chipped, plus his temperament made Running Stream take a step back from him.

" Finally, our reigning champion in the Buffalo division! From the plains of Appleloosa! The Buffalo Warrior, Thundering Stream!" The crowd went wild, but Running Stream didn't hear them. Her gaze was focused on the door opening across from her, her eyes wide and hopeful. Stepping out from the doorway, dignified and powerful looking, was her father. Running Stream had heard that her father Thundering had gone missing during an attack made by House Whitegold. She was so worried that he was dead, but now. She rushed forward, Thundering Stream gasping as he saw his daughter racing towards him. He seemed shocked, and worried, but Running didn't care. She leapt at his side, putting her hooves around his arm.

" Daddy!" she said, her eyes getting watery." I-I thought you were gone. I am so happy to see you again!" Running Stream clung to his arm, holding on hard as if scared to lose him again. Tears were now streaming down her cheeks, Thundering Stream slowly smiling as he nuzzled his daughter. But slowly, his smile changed to one of worry.

" No.. No, you can't be here.." He said, Running Stream looking up at him with tears in her eyes." You shouldn't have been captured!"

At hearing Thundering exclaim this loudly, Running Stream jumped back, hurt from his tone. He seemed terrified of her, scared to death that she was there by his side. But what the announcer spoke next made her blood run cold.

" What's this?! Two of the buffalo that will soon be fighting to the death are related! What's more, the father is Thundering Stream, who has single-hoffidly ended the lives of countless buffalo brethren in this very arena!" The crowd was going nuts, stomping and cheering as Running Stream looked at her father in horror. He had killed other buffalo? In this sick game for the ponies? No, there had to be an explanation. Maybe it was to defend himself! But.. He would have to face her?! And she him! No, she wouldn't! But as Thundering began to cry, she felt her heart waver and unease coming to her.

" Running Stream.. I am sorry.." he spoke, Running Stream backing a bit from her father. It was then she heard a strange noise, turning her head to it. Anywhere away from her father. Her eyes landed on a strange music box coming from inside the floor, protected by a powerful shield. As she saw it, her pupils shrank in horror. Fresh memories of the twisted Cultists using this contraption to enslave the minds of others streamed through her mind, her brain sending warnings up wildly. Then, in a moment of clarity and cold understanding, she got it. Her father didn't kill anypony of his own free will.. They made him do it, like they were going to make him do to her.

The music box began to play, Running Stream immediately getting low to the ground and covering her ears. Strangely, she didn't hear the tune, or any music or sound at all except for the crowd. Opening her eyes, she saw the music box going back into the floor. Tilting her head curiously, she jumped as she heard hoof-beats rushing her way. She wasn't the target of the music... Stone and Thundering were.

She barely leapt out of the way as Stone slammed his horns into where she just was, shattering some of the rock of the floor. Before he could pull back, Thundering slammed his own horns into Stone's side, his horns scraping along Stone's armor. Skidding along the ground, Running Stream watched as her father leapt back from Stone, only to rush into his side again. The crowd oohed and cheered at this sick show, making Running feel ill. Stone lashed back with his horns, Thundering Stream using his agility to leap back away from Stone Crusher, now rushing to his side. Running Stream could only watch as Thundering ran around Stone, making him a bit dizzy before slamming his horns into Stone's back. Several ponies cheered at this feat of acrobatics, but Stone was infuriated, his armor holding on well. The sound of horn scraping armor echoed in the arena, Stone bucking Thundering in his mouth. Running Stream screamed as her father lurched back from the buck, his jaw seeming broken and bleeding profoundly. Several teeth were knocked out, Stone using this moment to whirl around. Running Stream noticed a tomahawk among the field, probably left from another fight. Rushing to it, she picked it up into her mouth and rushed towards Stone as he began to hoof at the ground, preparing a charge.

" It seems that Running Stream is now on the offensive! What will happen!" roared the announcer, the crowd cheering in anticipation. Thundering quickly leapt back as Stone lunged with his horns, Stone lurching back to hoof the ground. As Stone began his charge, Running Stream leapt at his side, striking her tomahawk against his side. He lurched in pain, her small tomahawk striking between the plates of his shoulder armor. Stone lashed at Running Stream, but she had already leapt away from him. Directing his charge at her, Running Stream feinted to the right, before leaping to the left to avoid Stone's rush. Her joy was short lived however as Thundering followed Stone's charge, instead aimed for Running. Running Stream ducked and rolled to the side, letting out a yell as one of Thundering's feet kicked at her flank. She winced, feeling his hoof kick her side hard, sending her spinning on the ground. Trying to regain her focus, Running Stream got up from her rolled position, gasping as pain lanced her flank. Seeing Thundering turn around to continue his charge however made her ignore the pain.

Thundering lurched his horns towards her, intending to gore her, but Running Stream leapt onto his head, running along his back. Running Stream leapt off his back as he rolled onto his back to get her off from him, gasping as Stone used this distraction to slam his horns and armor tusks into Thundering's side. Her let out a loud bellow as the metal and horn pierced his side, his blood spurting onto Stone's face from the impact. Stone pulled his face back, only to slam it into Thundering's side again. Thundering rolled to the side, trying not to flinch as blood poured down his left side.

Running Stream screamed, rushing at Stone with her tomahawk at the ready. Stone turned to see her, slamming his head towards her as he braced himself. His head slammed into Running's front, knocking the wind from her lungs, but not before she swung her tomahawk down. Flailing in the air, Running Stream landed on her side from the headbutt as Stone shouted in pain. Regaining her footing, Running saw what she had done. Her tomahawk was wedged in his eye, one of the few parts not covered by armor. Stone was flailing and bucking like crazy, trying to remove the tomahawk from his eye. He tried to grasp at it, his own blood now copiously spurting over his face plate and into his mouth. Now blind in one eye, Stone turned his furious gaze to Running Stream, snorting in anger before charging.

Running Stream was still catching her breath from the headbutt, trying to stagger to her feet. Falling back as Stone rushed close, she gasped as Thundering slammed his shoulder into Stone to knock him off course. Stone ended up ramming into the wall beside Running, his horns getting stuck in the wall. Thundering used this distraction to repeatedly slam and gore his horns into Stone's side, his horns digging into the armor and chain mail. Forcing his horns against the underside of Stone, Thundering forced Stone onto his side. Stone kicked and struggled to regain his footing, his head still stuck, but Thundering rammed his horns into the defenseless underside of Stone's body. The arena was filled with ripping and squishing sounds as Thundering gored Stone with his horns, ripping away at his stomach and chest. The crowd went wild, cheering at the sight while a few poor betters cursed their bad luck.

Running Stream could only stare in horror as her father pierced Stone's belly, using his horns to rip and tear his flesh and to pull out his internal organs. She gagged, watching as he used one horn to scoop up Stone's intestine, ripping it from the Buffalo Juggernaut's torn belly. Still Thundering did not stop, plunging his horns into Stone's stomach even as Stone stopped struggling, his breathing becoming ragged as life escaped from him. Tears stream down Running's eyes as she turned her gaze from the horrible sight. True, she had taken her own fair share of lives in this war, but seeing her own father brutally mutilating what was a fellow buffalo made her sick. Coughing, Running Stream lost her lunch there, her stomach unwilling to hold its contents anymore at the sight. The acrid taste stung her throat and nose, Running Stream vomiting. Soon however, she began to cough and pant, her stomach expelling all its contents. It was then she noticed that she couldn't hear the sound of goring anymore.

" Only two combatants left! The father daughter team! Both are damaged, but who will come out on top?!" yelled the announcer, the crowd going wild and stomping their hooves. Running Stream looked up at Thundering Stream, her eyes watery as she watched her father lower his head and rush her. Using her natural speed, Running Stream leapt to the side to avoid her father's rush, barely avoiding as he tilted his head at the last second. She rolled from the jump, landing near Stone's corpse. As she turned to look at Stone, she noticed his head was free. But not only that, but her tomahawk was still lodged in his eye. Turning her gaze towards Thundering, she saw him beginning to charge her again. Taking a ditch dodge, Running Stream leapt at the tomahawk as Thundering leapt at her.

" OH MY CELESTIA!" screamed the announcer as the crowd roared.

A dull, throbbing pain. The sounds of screaming and cheering. Dots popping in front of her eyes. Running Stream lurched back from the impact, slamming directly into the wall as she head the sound of a large body hitting the ground. Her eyes rung and her body shook, Running Stream clenching her eyes from the pain while spitting up some blood. She could barely hear the announcer and the ponies anymore, her bruised body just wanting to rest or black out to escape the pain. But she had to look...

Opening her eyes, Running Stream felt tears coming to them as she viewed Thundering, her father, dead in front of her. Her tomahawk was firmly lodged in his skull, deep into his head as his blood coated his face. She had swung out of instinct, her weapon hitting right on target. Even though her blow was a killing one, his momentum made his corpse slam into her. Running Stream gagged, feeling his blood on her body as the thoughts of what she did began to swirl in her mind. Looking up into the stands, her body paralyzed with the disbelief of what she just did, Running Stream looked up at a prominent figure in the stands. A unicorn, with a green coat and fiery red hair, was staring at her with a large, twisted grin.

Looking into his different colored eyes, eyes that screamed that this was only the beginning, Running Stream couldn't hold onto her consciousness anymore. Her eyes shut, her body being taken by sleep while the echoes of the crowd filled her ears.

She didn't know how long she was out, only that she was surrounded once again by the soft covers of a bed. Stirring softly, Running Stream began to awaken from her uneasy sleep, her dreams scarred by the images of her father dead before her. Hearing a cough, Running Stream's eyes immediately popped open, Running leaping up in the bed. Being that she was wrapped up snugly in the covers, her leaping had tied her more efficiently in the covers and sent her tumbling onto the floor.

" Ow.." Running growled, before opening her eyes and beholding the one who had coughed. It was that same unicorn, the dark grey coated one with the disturbing eyes. He was sitting in a chair across from her bed, with an earth pony in a white medical coat. The earth pony was just done sealing up his bag, looking at Running.

" I don't recommend moving around to much. I just closed those wounds of yours, and healed you to the best of my abilities. Still, don't horseplay too much, and they will heal fine." said the earth pony as he referred to her bandaged body, but Running's eyes were directly on the unicorn. The way he gazed at her frightened her, filling her with dread. Seeing her looking at him, the unicorn smiled. This sent a shiver down her spine.

" Quite a show out there Running Stream, the patrons enjoyed it greatly." said the unicorn. Shockingly, his voice was soothing to Running, and something else... Running felt his silky words sinking into her mind, even though the topic wasn't that desirable." I, am Regal Charmer. I am the owner of this estate, as well as the games being held here."

Running's attention was snapped out of her reverie as she heard Regal saying he owned these games. So HE was responsible for all this?! Gazing around the room, Running began to look for anything that she might use as a weapon to mutilate this, this, twisted unicorn! Regal didn't seem perturbed. Rather, he seemed excited as Running glared at him while trying to stand up.

Struggling in the covers, she gasped as the earth pony grabbed the covers and pulled her back into the bed. She fought as well as she could, the doctor telling her to not stress herself too much.

" I will kill you! You monster! Wait till I get free!" Running Stream growled, fighting in her bonds. It wasn't until the doctor held up a needle threateningly.

" Now don't make me sedate you. I am trying to help you heal." said the doctor, looking concerned.

" Why? You are just going to keep me locked her for your sick games!" Shouted Running, Regal still smiling. That smile pissed her off.

" While I do intend on keeping you here, I also intend to keep you healthy. If you are undamaged then you will do better in the games. That, and I can't bear to see such a beauty so hurt." Regal Charmer said, Running Stream beginning to blush angrily.

" I will end you.." Running said, before getting ready to spit at Regal. A sudden swishing through the air and one of Regal's blades was inches away from Running's face, Running freezing up as her eyes widened in fear.

" I wouldn't do that if I were you. I have a bit of a temper for certain things, and I would hate to do something we would both regret." Regal said, before moving his blade back into his scabbard with his magic." Now, I would like to give you a choice. Either you can continue in the Fighting Arena, like you did today. Or, you can participate in the arena's other games?"

Running Stream was uneasily staring at Regal Charmer. When he talked about the arena's other games, she felt a strange unease in her body. Especially as he gazed at her body. While she didn't want to go back into that horrid arena, she didn't know what the arena's OTHER games were like. Or.. Why she felt uncomfortable at the mention of them.

" What.. Other games?" Running asked, looking into Regal's eyes. Her stomach clenched as he began to smile.