The Perilous Quest to Save Vinyl From Certain Demise

After gawking at the entrance hall for a while, you figure that while you're here in this strange castle, you might as well try to find the highest point in this castle, and use it to get your bearings. You weren't quite sure where in the forest you are, nor where anything interesting within might be, so at the very least, you hoped you could get a good look at the area, if this castle had a high watchtower of sorts.

looking around the entrance hall, you spot a small doorway on one side which leads to a spiraling staircase. Supposing it might be a tower, you decide it would be as good a place to start your search for Vinyl as any.

As you climb the stone stairway, you can't help but feel as if you're being watched....

Quickly, you shake off the feeling. There was nopony on the staircase with you, and if there were somepony else nearby, you'd be able to hear them. The only lighting here comes from odd sets of candles, adorning the walls of the passage like torches, but you have no lack of visibility...

Finally, after climbing so many steps that your legs ached from exertion, you arrive at the top of a tower. Strangely enough, there was no balcony here, nor even a hint of a window. Instead, you're greeted by a dark room with a single hole in the ceiling, where a small beam of light falls to the hard stone floor. Barred cells, likely made for prisoners, take up all of the space in the dreary place.

Realizing that there's no way you can take advantage of the height, you let out a long sigh of exasperation.

Almost immediately after you finish voicing your frustration, you hear a voice you never expected to hear.

"Tavi?"

It was Vinyl's voice! You rush into the room, suddenly spotting her white figure in one of the cells.

"Vinyl! What happened here?" You cry out, running to her, though the bars of the cell separate you. Vinyl looks absolutely horrible, dirt clinging to patches of her fur, and her mane looking like it hadn't been washed in weeks. looking closely, you notice that her hind legs are chained to the wall behind her, making sure she couldn't escape. A strange magical ring was placed on her horn as well, likely working to nullify her magic.

Vinyl's eyes widen upon seeing you, surprised you found her here, but behind that, you sense a panic uncharacteristic of your marefriend.

No matter how you look at this, it doesn't look good.

"Wait here, I'll see if I can find a way to get you out of here." You say, trying to show Vinyl a calm face.

"No, Tavi! You have to get out of here!" She says back to you.

"Why? What happened?" You ask, only more curious now.

"There's no time!" Vinyl practically shouts at you. "Run! Don't come back!"

"Not without you, Vinyl!"

Before you can respond, you suddenly hear a loud noise behind you, as a low, rough voice speaks.

"Another one? What are you doing here?"

You turn about, and see that a dark figure standing at the top of the staircase you had just ascended. A tattered cloak is all you can make out in the dark, but you can tell that the new arrival isn't even close to equine. The small amount of light filtering about the room reflects lightly off long, sharp claws, and you begin to realize that neither you nor Vinyl should truly be here.

"Who's there?" you ask in a meek voice. "What are you?"

"I'm the master of this castle. You shouldn't be here!"

Gathering up your courage, you narrow your eyes at this "master." Was he the one who put Vinyl here?

"I'm here for my friend." you say, despite Vinyl's protests from behind the bars of her cell. "I need to take her back home."

The figure before you lets out a growl, and the white form of many fangs enters your vision.

"She trespassed in my castle, and tried to ruin my possessions," the menacing voice comes again. "I can't let you take her when she still has a price to pay for her insolence!"

A lump forms in your throat as the monstrous shadow roars, sending a shiver down your spine and coating your thoughts with layers of terror.

"She's coming with me, and I won't take no for an answer!"

"Please! You can have me instead, but let Vinyl go!"

Scream like a little filly and panic!