Chapters I opened my eyes in the darkness, my hooves and mane covered in the dirt inside the tiny cell.
"Hello?" I whispered, sitting up and looking around. A tiny slot opened in the wall ahead of me and an apple slid through, landing in front of me.
"Umm... thanks... can you tell me where I am?" I picked up the apple in my mouth, but trotted over to the little slot that had just closed.
"Hello? Where am I?" The slot quickly slid open and a face appeared. The face of a Changeling.
"What do you want?" It's voice sounded a little raspy, but other than that it sounded almost like any other pony's voice. I stuttered, seeing his large fangs.
"W-w-where am-am I?" My voice squeaked. The Changeling almost looked piteous of me, but then he sighed.
"You're in the Changeling Queens Castle prison. I'm Gaskin, the warden." He looked around for a moment, then looked back at me.
"I'm sorry." The slot slammed closed and I was surrounded again by darkness.
I played with the apple for a moment before eating it. I couldn't see it in the dark, but the slightly stale apple was definitely a gala apple.
Maybe they snuck it from that pony Applejacks farm... the Earth pony that had the Element of Honesty. As I ate it, I imagined how delicious the castle's food was.
Celestia almost always made sure I ate something before I went back to my room. She was kind that way. I would get so busy I'd forget about eating and then have to make a midnight run to the kitchen and steal some apples.
Sometimes I would find her there too, and we'd eat together, as if out titles and jobs didn't mean anything in that dirty old kitchen.
I hope the Princess got out in time. How much guilt would I feel if I found out that I didn't protect her enough? I sighed, drawing in the dirt of my cell.
Maybe she will send someone to save me?
I highly doubt it. Even if someone did, I think it would just get us both killed. Even so, why would the Princess send some guards to save ME, her hoofmaid? I'm nothing compared to the Princess or any of her guards.
I should just lay here to rot. At least my Princess would be safe.
Author's Note
Cover photo: Empath by 1n33d4hug Deiviantart
P.S. Inspired by Invasion by TAPS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w02cs0IuKE
That morning I woke up to a tapping at the door. I stood and blinked in the sudden light.
"Good morning?" Another apple through the slot was my reply. My face fell and I frowned with annoyance. I bent down and ate the apple in two quick chomps. I then walked back to the door and knocked on it with my hoof.
"Oi! Gaskin! Open up I wanna talk to ya!" I said angrily. I was tired of being cooped up in here. I needed to run, stretch out my legs, something! The slot opened and his eyes peered in at me.
"Yes?" He said, obviously annoyed with me. I waved at him.
"Can I please go for a walk or something? I'm feeling cramped in here." He looked me up and down.
"If you're thirsty I'll let you walk over to the watering trough here. But any funny business, I'll shoot you on the spot." I nodded excitedly and he opened the door. I walked outside and took a fresh gulp of air, but then choked on the fumes coming from the other cells.
"Oh dear Celestia! What is that stench?!" Gaskin laughed, leading me to the trough. The water wasn't very clean, but it was better than nothing. I gulped down the water and then stretched, Gaskin looking at me the whole time.
"So... how's life treating ya?" I asked, taking another drink. He laughed quietly.
"As it would to any warden of a prison. Crappy food, threats of banishment, horrid stenches and awful hatred coming from everypony here..." I nodded.
"I understand. Must be hard. But why would somepony hate such a kind warden?" He smiled and I swore I saw him blush a little. He nodded back to the cell.
"Thanks for the talk, but I must ask you to come back into the cell. If Queen Chrysalis finds out I let you out she'd freak." I nodded, walking back into the cell.
"Thanks Gaskin. Oh I almost forgot!" I held out my hoof, smiling. He looked confused, but put his hoof out too.
"The names Pastern. Nice to meet you!" I said, closing the door to my cell happily. Gaskin tilted his head, but then quickly shook it and fluttered away.
"PRINCESS CELESTIA!" I screamed, galloping through the halls, my back uniform trailing behind me. My mane came undone out of my braid and rippled through the air. The guards immediately opened the doors to the Throne Room and I collapsed in front of the Princess.
"Princess, I am so sorry to disturb you but..." I sucked in a huge gulp of air and she turned to me, seriously, away from her sister.
"The Changelings are attacking again. We need the Elements." The Princess sighed, walking past me and talking to one of the guards.
"Send a few carriages to Ponyville immediately and gather Twilight and her friends here as soon as possible." The guard saluted her and then galloped off. The Princess walked back to her throne and sat down, rubbing her forelock.
"That's the third raid this week. When will they stop? My people are in danger and there is nothing I can really do, especially with Shining Armor and Princess Cadence in the Crystal Empire, the castle is almost defenseless." I poured her a glass of cider and offered it to her. She used her magic and daintily held it to her lips.
"At least you have Twilight to come and help you!" She shook her head sadly.
"Not really. If this were to keep up, we'd have to have all six of them move to Canterlot and be ready for an attack day after day. I don't want to separate them from Ponyville, but if this get's any worse we are going to need them. Maybe-"
"PRINCESS CELESTIA!!! RUN!!!" The doors slammed open and we glimpsed the killing of a guard by a horde of Changelings. They snickered and I stood in front of my Marestress, ready to fight.
"Go, Princess. I'll hold them off for as long as I can." I took a deep breath and turned, bucking the first set of Changelings off and out of a stained glass window. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the Princess fly out of the open window and land in a flying carriage below. I turned back to the Changelings and stood between them and the open window, giving the Princess more time to escape.
"Anyone else want a hoof sandwich? Or maybe a buck eye?" I chuckled, ready to attack. But before I could do anything. I felt something hard hit my head and I fell onto the floor. I heard a changeling's voice speak.
"Let's take her to the Queen. We might not have the Princess, but her hoofmaid might be enough. Come on! Move out!"
I fell into blackness.
