Twilight woke up
the purple alicorn lay in a dark room. the only light coming from a tiny window.
she lay there, chains binding her limbs.
how long has it been ? days ? weeks ? more ?
she couldn't tell. her mind wasn't clear. she had been drugged.
something moved in the darkness. sompony ?
"is anypony here ?"
"T-Twilight ?"
"Ra-Rainbow ?"
finally ! her friends were here. soon she would be free. chains rustled.
"th-they got you too ?" asked a concerned Rainbow dash.
no. please no.
dash walks into the feeble light. her mane and tail shaved. a collar and a chain. she tried to reach Twilight but the chain was too short. stopping her few inches away. try as she might, Twilight couldn't make the missing distance, her own chains preventing her.
"what happened ?"
"i-i don't know... been here for a few weeks"
"y-your mane ?"
"i guess they didn't like it..."
"they ?"
"i don't know. never saw anypony. just... they..."
"a-are the others..."
"... not that i know... you're the first pony i saw... i..."
"I've been here for a while too..."
"oh..."
"..."
"can we escape ?"
"how ?"
"i don't know ? teleport ? blast everything ?"
Twilight sighted "can't. magic suppressing ring. can't even light my horn right now..."
"oh... can't you remove it ?"
Twi sadly shook her head "keep hope. I'm sure somepony will come to rescue us..."
"...did they do things to you ?"
"... i... i don't think... I've been drugged I'm pretty sure..." she noticed dash wings were missing more than a few feathers. "you ?"
"... no." that's a obviously a lie. but can't really push it.
Twilight woke up. alone. where was dash ? they were talking, then nothing...
was it all just a dream ? she wanted it to be a dream. it would mean that dash was safe. not here.
Twi looked at the ground. in front of her laid a ring. a ring ? the magic suppressor !
Twi charged her horn.
Twilight woke up. alone. where was dash ? they were talking, then nothing...
was it all just a dream ? she wanted it to be a dream. it would mean that dash was safe. not here.
Twi looked at the ground. in front of her laid a horn. a purple horn...
Twilight wept...
Twilight woke up. it was nice. soft.
she opened her eye. her head was resting on Rainbow's lap. the mare crying and cradling her.
then she remembered and cried. Rainbow held her. comforting her.
Twilight woke up.
something was different. fresh her ! sunlight !
was it over ? just a dream ?
the chains told her no...
she looked around. Rainbow was laying here.
she approached carefully.
her mane was beginning to grow back. the mesh of color made her want to smile
her wings however, were almost bare...
they're taking us away...
she extended a hoof to wake her friend.
Twilight woke up.
she was still in dash cell. an open air cell. that was cruel.
she looked at her friend. her mane had been shaved.
she approached her and gasped in horror.
she wasn't shaved. she was burnt.
her breaths were ragged.
she noticed a bucket of water and a sponge. that wasn't here earlier.
at least they let me care for her
she took the sponge in her hoof and carefully applied on dash burnt neck.
dash let out a bloodcurdling scream.
Twilight cried. she lost her horn but at least it had been mostly painless...
she had let go of the sponge in her surprise. grabbed it with her mouth and froze.
alcohol. not water. alcohol. she just rubbed alcohol on her friend burn. how can somepony be so cruel ?
she looked around for water. real water. none of course. but Twilight was nothing if not knowledgeable.
saliva. sure that was far from the best, but that was available.
she carefully began to lick dash burnt neck and skull. beginning by the area she put the sponge on, trying to wash the alcohol.
the taste of the burnt skin made her want to puck.
she had to resist. for her friend sake.
after it was done she turned to her friend tail but couldn't hold it anymore.
they hadn't burnt just her tail...
after a few days of caring for an unconscious Rainbow, Twilight woke up back in her own cell.
was she okay ? scratch that. was she alive ? okay was not something they could be.
the worry ate her.
Twilight woke up. she was weak.
they hadn't given food for days.
was it finally over ?
Twilight woke up. smell... food.
she barely made it to the bowl.
Twilight woke up.
she heard somepony breath. she saw some clue fur. she cried.
Rainbow was alive ! she approached. she cried.
her wings were gone. instead, grossly cut nubs. the bone protruding from one. the wounds hastily sewn.
she wanted to die. there was only one thing she could do. like Rainbow did for a few weeks back, she carefully took her on her lap and wept, trying to comfort her still unconscious friend.
Twilight woke up.
Rainbow was still unconscious in her lap.
she gently put her back and weakly walked to her bowl.
it wasn't until she found a bone that she understood.
of course they could. of course they did.
Twilight cursed.
Twilight woke up.
today, Rainbow did too.
it was a bad day.
Twilight woke up.
Rainbow was gone.
Twilight woke up.
in front of her lay a book.
"no. please, no !"
Twilight woke up.
she howled in the darkness.
Twilight woke up.
the air was fresh.
she could tell there was light around her. that was it.
"r-Rainbow ?"
"Twi ? Twi ! you're free !"
"i-i am ?"
"fly ! go now !"
"i-i cant..."
"don't worry about me, just go!"
"i can't!"
"..."
"i can't see..."
"no... no !!!"
silence reigned for a few minutes.
Rainbow whimpered. "okay, we're getting out..."
for a few minutes, the only sound was Rainbow heady breathing.
then that sound. that horrible sound...
"r-Rainbow ?"
Rainbow gasped trough clenched teeth. "I'm fine!"
the sound of two hooves approached Twilight. two hooves...
Twilight felt her friend next to her. behind her. wrapping her forelegs around her neck. just her forelegs.
"fly up."
"Rainbow, wha-"
"fly up ! I'll guide you."
she felt her back getting wet.
"are you..."
"Twi, that's our chance. there won't be another."
Twilight nodded and followed Rainbow directions.
flying as fast as she could. wanting to get away from that place to the west, Rainbow had told her.
"Twi..."
"yes ?"
"just so you know... i... i love you..."
Twilight froze for a second then smiled.