A Withering Fleur

Drip...

Drip...

Drip...

Tksh. The drop of water splashed atop my head, much to my annoyance. The water had been dripping for quite some time now, in random locations around the room. Every time it impacted against the stone floor the noise echoed against the walls, causing one solitary drop of water to announce it's presence at least three more times. It was almost maddening, especially when one would land on me and send a cold shiver up my spine. Last cycle I asked the master about it, but he never gave so much as a hint of care. Breeze and I called them cycles now - night and day was largely irrelevant down here even if we could tell when each occured.

I had feeling in my wings now. Not a lot, but it was there. Enough to make me yelp in pain whenever I accidentally stepped on the limp limbs in the darkness. Breeze helped me with remembering how to move them properly - as little as I could - after several cycles of her crying about me having not had wings before. She came around eventually, but I never could understand why she didn't believe me at first. Must have been a really bad nightmare.

Another memorable moment was when she felt the cut that the master had made along my cheek. That one I knew wasn't there before, but I accepted was a lesson the master was forced to teach me due to my disobedience. I was thankful he didn't go further than that - and that he stopped me from bleeding too much - but Breeze didn't see it that way. She saw it as mutilation, torture, and how she knew those words was beyond me. I never taught them to her, at least I don't remember doing so. Memories are a fleeting experience for me, so I have to hold on to the precious ones as much as possible - even if they aren't that pleasant.

I had been having nightmares as well, on top of the difficulty to sleep I already had on the uncomfortable floor. Shadowy tendrils wrapping themselves around my body, threatening to enter my body wherever possible and tear out my insides. Even in a dream, having your stomach ripped out through your mouth is an extremely painful experience and one I would not recommend trying at home. I had been strangled with my intestines, forced to eat a lung, dismembered - six limbs and all and my eyes were stabbed out with... my horn? I reached up over my muzzle and sure enough a horn was poking up out of my skull. How long had that been there? When was the last time I used magic?

How do I use magic?

I couldn't remember - just another thing in the large, brown, stinking and steaming pile of things. Only this particular thing was a massive, shiny gold thing with a few small flecks of the surrounding brown things scuffing the surface. It felt like it should be simple, like moving a leg or speaking, but I couldn't quite muster the control I needed. Just as I felt that I was beginning to wipe the brown off that golden memory there was a loud banging on the door, followed by the slither of light that signified the master's desire for my presence. He hadn't needed to say a word - I was a good girl - and my sudden presence in the dim light brought a smile to his face.

"Eager are we, my toy?"

"Oui master, anything to get away from the dripping noise."

"Hm. Follow me." He turned away before pausing. "And your daughter can come too if she so desires." I looked back to Breeze and saw the light reflect off her eyes, giving them a subtle sparkle that went with the grin she wore. She hadn't left the room since... well, ever. When she stepped into the light I finally saw her colours - steel grey mane and a coat that was probably snow white at some point but instead carried the grime and filth of the room. Honestly I wasn't much better - maybe the master was going to wash us. I couldn't contain my excitement as a smile forced it's way onto my face, albeit lopsided thanks to my scar, and the master seemed to pick up on this.

"Why are you so happy, puppet?" On his words my smile dropped and almost panicked. It would be wrong to suggest to him something I'd like, so I had to quickly think of something else.

"I... uh, have never... seen Breeze in the light? She'll grow up to be a pretty mare." He seemed to consider it for a moment before shrugging and moving off down the hallway. Breeze and I quickly followed, not wanting to disappoint, as we made our way down to the room where he'd fixed my wings.

"How do you find your food, my toy?" Food... I never really thought about it. At first it was almost impossible, both to eat and to digest, but after... countless cycles, I had learned the trick. Of course I still couldn't chew it, and my stomach really didn't enjoy it, but I no longer vomited after eating. I suppose that could be called a win.

"It's hard to chew..." I said quietly, almost ashamed.

"Then good news - I'm going to fix that for you!" He did a playful little dance, the smile on his face instantly turning to a scowl when I didn't react as he'd hoped. His horn flared as he tossed me roughly on to the table and strapped me down, a new brace installed underneath my chin. Breeze screamed my name at the sudden switch in attitude and was promptly thrown against a wall before dropping down onto a chair.

"You. Will. Not. Scream." He said, right up against Breeze. She squeaked and nodded. "If you do, this will happen." A scalpel floated up behind him, dancing from side to side to get Breeze's attention before it moved down to my neck, the tip pressing into my skin slightly. My heart began to race - what was going to happen? The blade dug deeper into my throat before-

A scalpel is an effective tool. It's lightweight and small - making it easy to conceal - yet also carries the sharpness and precision that can allow a pony to do considerable damage without completely butchering their victim. In that sense it's like a razor blade, though depending on the pony it might raise less questions. Today however, it was not being used for constructive purposes - if the warm fluid dripping down my neck and splashing on the floor was any sign. I gasped for air, the once simple task not coming easily as the blood bubbled out of my wound. As quickly as the cut was made it was sealed again, a sudden spell from the master dulling the sharp pain with a more consistent, burning pain. My heart was still pounding against my chest as the heat died away and I coughed up the small amount of blood that had gone inwards instead of out. My eyes flicked to the right, to Breeze, who looked like a stunned mullet. She was frozen - almost statuesque - eyes wide with fear as she clutched at her own throat to the amusement of the master.

I tried to tell her it would be alright, that I would die before he hurt her, but when I tried to speak the only noise that came out was... nothing. I tried, and tried again, right to the point where I was screaming in silence, tears running down my cheeks only to splash in the puddle of blood and prevent it from drying quickly.

"W-What d-did you d-do?" Breeze asked timidly, and the master grinned malevolently.

"I cut her vocal cords." I tried to scream 'WHAT!?', but there was no sound besides his incessant chuckling. "I very well can't have her screaming in my face during this operation. But don't you worry your pretty little tail, filly, because vocal cords grow back." He turned to me and leaned close to my left ear. "No they don't." He added in a whisper.

"I-I..." Breeze started, but was swiftly cut off.

"You what!? Are you going to tell on me!? Run off to Cloudsdale to tell everypony what a big bad meanie I am!? News flash filly: you can't escape - and if you did, you would get lost in the dark catacombs!" Breeze was openly crying now, crying for her mother... for me. "Now sit down and shut up, I have a procedure to complete!"

He turned to me, sorely pissed off as he pulled a pair of pliers out of somewhere. Using his magic he forced my mouth open and pulled one of my front teeth out with the tools, eliciting a pained gasp from me. It seemed about all I could manage anymore, and that, combined with my silent screams for help kept my mouth open on their own to the point where he had stopped using magic. About six teeth later he grunted, and with a flash of magic pulled all of my remaining teeth out at once. The taste of blood filled my mouth quickly, and I spat it out on the floor, some of it splashing on the master's hooves.

"You... you ungrateful whelp!" My head whipped to the side at his outburst and the scalpel came back out of it's home, cutting across my left cheek much as it did my right before cauterizing. It was... almost painless. Almost. It paled in comparison to having teeth pulled out for sure, and I realised that - with a bit of makeup - I could pose as a really cool villain of the comic book charactet Batmare. I giggled a little at the thought before something else hit me. I laughed at... at my own mutilation. Was I so far down the rabbit hole that I no longer felt... innocent? I couldn't stop laughing, either, I must have been quite a sight. Every time I pictured a little foal running away in the kind of fear that was fun, I laughed harder. This kind of humour would have disgusted me about... seven weeks, 4 days, 6 hours, 29 minutes and 13 seconds ago - a time provided to me by a pink mare in my mind who laughed alongside me - but now it's all I seem able to laugh at. The floodgate to my memories was shattered now. I knew I never used to have wings. I knew Breeze wasn't actually my daughter. I knew the master was called Doctor Fetlockstein, and right now I didn't even care. It was my life, and all I could do was laugh at my failings. Laugh at how I didn't heed Luna's warning, and how I got into the situation in the first place. My mind was a cloud of happiness - a sense of freedom that managed to exist within the stone walls of the catacombs beneath Canterlot. I didn't even notice the master replace my now removed teeth with something else entirely, I just assumed he took advantage of the state I was in while he could.

He unstrapped me and I jumped to the floor, wings dropping beside me as they always did. They had changed colour from their original brown to match the white of my coat. I laughed at that too. Luna said that only a spell can make a true alicorn, but the master had certainly gotten close. He locked us back in our room, a larger-than-normal piece of meat by the door revealed only by the light sneaking through the slider. He mentioned something about being gone for several days, but I was too focused on the meat to care. I was hungry, and after tearing off a sizable piece for Breeze I devoured the remaining steak. It was easier than normal - probably because whatever he had replaced my teeth with were much sharper than pony teeth. I wasn't satisfied however. Nothing I could do about that, so I slept to the once-maddening-now-calming sound of water dripping.

________________________________________

I stood alone in the field, the one that signified Luna's presence in my dream. I knew what I had become - I tested that by making my dream self look like my actual self for a few seconds before reverting.

"Oh Luuuunaaaa~" I called out into the open air. It was great to hear my voice, even if it wasn't real. Something I was going to miss sorely. The dream princess appeared out of thin air to meet my wide grin.

"You seem... happy?" She said, confused.

"Because I am... because I remember." I said with a wide grin.

"Remember what exactly?"

"Nothing in particular... just remember."

"Anything you'd like to share?"

"The catacombs." I said, making Luna freeze much to my delight. "Fetlockstein and the catacooombs~" I broke out into a giggle.

"I... I will send guards to arrest Fetlockstein and to retrieve you. Would you testify against him in Canterlot court?"

"Who? The master? Sure! I don't need him anymore anyway."

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, nothing." She glared at me before sighing defeatedly.

"Be safe, Fleur."

"I would tell your guards to do the saaaame~"

"What?" And the world vanished.

________________________________________

I woke with a start and deliciously mad look on my face. I would go out with a bang, and I had it all planned out. All I had to do now was wait. I rested against Breeze - just behind where the door would open. If - no, when - it did, we would be concealed unless somepony decides to look further.

We spent hours waiting. Silence - mostly on my part - aside from the weak drops of water. They had slowed down now, almost unnoticable if you weren't paying attention. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I heard the sweetest sound. Success.

"Ugh, smells like shit down here. Gotta be close." A young-ish stallion's voice echoed down the hall. It didn't smell that bad, did it?

"I told you to bring a nosepeg Sonar but no, you said you wouldn't need it. Interferes with your hearing." The second voice was that of a mare. She sounded slightly nasal, which I assumed was thanks to a nosepeg.

"Your voice is interfering with my hearing Hawk Eye, so shut up."

"Will the both of you quit your bickering and get these doors open?" That stallion was in charge. His voice was deep, raspy and sounded as though he had nothing to cover up the smells either, though he showed no signs of disgust.

"Sir, yes sir." They both said at once, and the sounds of shattering locks and clattering metal filled the catacombs. The other doors were poorly maintained, creaking loudly as they edged open. If I had to guess, they were two doors down, so I pressed Breeze up against the wall and put a hoof over her muzzle.

The next room over's door fell off it's hinges at the intrusion of the guard - the sound deafening as it reverberated off the walls.

"Fuck me, Hawk! Be more careful next time!"

"You'd enjoy that, wouldn't you?"

"Shut up..." The lock to my door broke and the door cracked open. It was the stallion who poked his head in, but instead of looking around he used his ears. They twitched slightly on our faint breaths, but he disappeared without noticing us, the sound of him vomiting outside suggesting that he wouldn't be back soon.

"Fuck that room stinks... She must've been moved, cause that shit's fresh and ain't nopony in there."

"Keep moving." The leader said. He was a unicorn - I knew by the light that could only come from a spell. Sonar was probably a pegasus, and I could only guess as to what Hawk was. When they were a couple more doors down, I started my plan. I tapped a hoof on the ground a couple of times lightly, eliciting a "huh?" from the young stallion. Two sets of hoofsteps kept distancing themselves while one returned to my room, stopping outside. I tapped once more to coax him in and he took the bait, stepping inside. He covered his muzzle with his left hoof to block out the smell, and as his neck passed by the edge of the door I lashed out and grabbed it with my teeth, pulling him in by his throat. I clenched my teeth together, meeting half-way through his neck before pulling back and tearing a large chunk of flesh off. Something the master indirectly taught me - they can't scream without vocal cords.

The stallion bucked and kicked at the air around me, hitting me awkwardly every once in a while as I stood to his side and waited for him to bleed out. I still had a good portion of his neck in my mouth which I chewed at slowly while he entertained me. Dinner AND a show. Breeze had backed away, wary of a stray swinging hoof, and watched Sonar intently. After a few moments of kicking and wheezing, he stopped moving - and I swallowed my snack - which meant I had to deal with two more ponies. They had noticed he was gone... only a matter of time.

"Sonar? Sonar! Where are you? I don't like this sir..."

"He shouldn't wander off unannounced. Let's keep moving."

"No! I'm not leaving my brother in this... place! Check that room." I flicked the ring off my horn - magically locked, he said? - and held it in my own field of magic, flipping it around in the air a few times. A light crept up to my doorway and I readied it for when the unicorn's horn was in view. An orb of light flew into the room, dazing me for a few moment as Night Light entered and cast his gaze around the room before stopping on Breeze. She was much more in the open than I was.

"I found the fill-"

Crck- BOOM!

Everything went dark for a split second before a blinding flash lit both the room and hallway, launching the guard into the wall by the door of the opposite room. He hit slid to the ground with a thud, and Hawk Eye ran up to his barely conscious body.

"Night Light! Are you alright?"

"In that room..."

"No! You need to rest!"

I poked my head out from behind the door to get a look at him, and his eyes widened as he pointed at me.

"There! Look!" I disappeared behind the door again as the mare turned around.

"There's nothing there, sir."

"Behind... the door. Go, look."

"But sir, I can't leave yo-"

"That's an... order." The mare sighed and got up, heading over to my room. Timidly she poked her head in, glancing around the room until her eyes met mine. She froze for a moment, eyes darting around the area - To Sonar's body, me, my smile, teeth, wings, horn, Sonar, teeth, eyes. She clenched her eyes shut and shook her head a few times before reopening them, once again meeting my gaze, this time closer. Her head pulled back but I moved forwards to match, keeping our noses a hair's breadth away. Finally I kissed her - a quick peck on the lips - and the taste of the blood that lined my mouth must have been the final straw. She pulled away and turned out the door before sprinting off down the hallway screaming at a pitch that could shatter glass if there was any to break down here, leaving me alone with the unicorn guard and leader of the trio. I meandered up to him casually, Breeze staying in the recluse of the room and poking her head out to watch.

"What do you want?" He said with a hint of anger in his voice. I said nothing (obviously) and stood over him with my permanent smile. "Say something!" I held his hooves down with my magic and lowered my head to his belly. "By the order of the Night Guard, I command you to speak!" I bit into his soft hide - not deeply, but enough to draw blood. He struggled against his magical restraints, but since he was still weak from the explosion of the feedback ring he couldn't fight back as well as he'd hoped. I took another bite, this time removing a small patch of flesh to reveal his inner workings. Fear finally settled into his mind as he tried everything to break out of my hold before using his last resort. He stared me in the eyes (I decided to humour him) before his horn started to glow.

BOOM!

I backed off slightly but not before the feedback ring kicked in, the force of the explosion slingshotting his head back and into the wall to knock him out. I realised at that point that the ring was designed to keep the user safe from the wearer, so any reaction it caused would only affect the pony who triggered it. I giggled silently over the still body before going back to being a can opener, tearing away all of the flesh around his gut. I contemplated taking a snack from the meat-fridge, but I decided to let him have a waking up present. Breeze came back over once she heard the explosion, so I ushered her onto my back as I began to traverse my way through the catacombs.

It was a long walk back, mainly because I had no actual idea as to where to go. Every time there was a crossing I stopped to see if I could hear anything out of the ordinary, and if I couldn't I turned left, then right at the next time. Eventually I managed to hear the faintest sounds of... music? I followed my ears as the music grew louder and louder until finally I found myself at a wooden door. Shrugging, I pushed it open and ended up on a street in Old Canterlot - if the prostitutes were any indication. It was nighttime, but the life had not died down out here. I was almost jealous, having spent my life in the snooty Upper Canterlot, night times were more of a time to sleep or be at a function - never anything fun.

Opposite me was a club that was obviously really popular as there was a large line of ponies queuing to get in, blocked off by a rather threatening bouncer. They all chatted amongst themselves or attempted to flirt with the burly stallion at the door to get in, paying me no mind. I didn't feel like causing trouble with that stallion around, so I turned left and headed through the streets towards Lower Canterlot. As I walked, any pony that might have crossed my path seemed to notice me beforehand and get out of the way without question. I guess Old Canterlot was just that dangerous at times.

I got to Lower Canterlot with relative ease - only four hookers ran away screaming and ponies must have thought they were on some kind of new drug as they blabbered through tears to whoever would listen. The streets here were much, MUCH quieter - not a soul in sight. I had only been here a couple of times in my life, but I knew the general direction to Upper Canterlot and so I made my way there swiftly. Ponies would take more note of me here, and even though it was quiet I still stuck to the shadows just in case.

The transition to Upper Canterlot was guarded as usual, making it impossible for me to sneak past without drawing alarm. Two guards were at the gate, while other patrolled the area. I hid in an alcove near the gate while I thought of a way through, my mind being cut off by Breeze calling out.

"Hey! Over here!" She shouted at the guards, who quickly searched for the source of the noise. One found me quickly before nudging his partner, and they ran over.

"Princess Ca-" He cut off when I got close to me, the smell and my coat colour making him realise I wasn't who he thought. His stare hardened. "Who are you, imposter!?" I looked around, I didn't know how to continue. This was Breeze's plan, and with a lack of speech I couldn't play along.

"She's foreign. Can't speak Equestrian. Understands it well enough." Well, that's one plan. I nodded, to emphasise her point.

"We were not aware of any foreign alicorns aside from Cadance. Where are you from?"

"Uh..." She was stumped for a moment, but then leaned down to be closer to me. "Birri birri?" What!? I shook my head from side to side at her terrible backup, but I think she planned for me to do that. "She does not think it to be any of your concern. We travelled far to seek an audience with your princesses, as you can smell."

"Why did you not fly, being an alicorn and pegasus?"

"Have you seen her wings!? Why do you think we're here!?" The guards looked at my sides and flinched slightly. They must have looked severely broken they way they dragged beside me, feather tips dirty and ragged. They shared a glance at each other before nodding and letting us through the gate. They followed us as we moved on.

"You two shouldn't abandon your post!" Breeze snapped. She enjoyed pretending to be a foreign dignitary's voice, and all the power that came with it.

"Don't tell us our job, filly. Escorting an injured alicorn is a higher priority than a simple guard post."

"Why doesn't one of you stay, then?"

"Protocol. Always work in pairs, for backup." Breeze groaned.

"Fine, whatever." She resigned her efforts as we trotted through the streets. I knew where I was going, but I also knew I didn't want to go there originally. At least not at first, but now I have no choice. I intended to go home, have a shower and a nice rest to make myself presentable before my audience with the princesses. However, Breeze's plan did have it's benefits - the guard escort being a nice touch instead of having to explain our way past all the posts. Also it was night, so any pony that might possibly recognise me through the dirt, grime, unkempt fur/mane/tail and wings would be asleep.

The trip to the castle was short, the first guard post to pass being set at the entrance. They looked at me, then the escorts who simply nodded before raising their blockade and allowing us to pass. The entrance to the throne room was fairly direct as well, a couple of turns until we were in front of the large golden doors. I never hoped to be back here - not after how I had left - but I couldn't back away now. At least no guards recognised me, although I feared that Luna would instantly, and she would be the one awake right now. I gulped as the doors opened, a large line of ponies between myself and the throne all here to appeal to the princess for some reason or another.

I took a place at the end of the line, and made sure Breeze made no comment on the matter as the guards left for their post. My smell seemed to offend the pony in front of me - he had a hoof over his muzzle to no avail when he turned to scold me.

"Excuse me, why is somepony of yo-" He stopped when he saw me. It was Hoity Toity, a friend of Fancy Pants and by default my own back when I was... me. He didn't recognise me, but an alicorn in line was definitely unusual. "I-I'm sorry, princess. Please, take my place in line as an apology." He moved to the side and I stepped forwards, however his mention of a princess turned several more heads. They all stepped aside as I kept walking through, hushed mutterings flickering along the crowd travelling up faster than I could walk comfortably. I didn't want to speed up the waiting process because I still needed to think of a plan, but Canterlot always manages to work against you at the worst of times. Worse still, my parting of the multicoloured sea (Well, they moved either side and formed a wall) attracted the princess' attention, eyes going wide as she realised that my colouring was familiar.

"Fleur..."