Saving Alicorn

“Kzzchht....come in...... Core.... kchhhhht.... code....... run”

What?

“Fzzchht.... unable...... radio...khhhcht...............................”

What the hell was that? I’ve never heard a pony with a voice like that before.

Wait. Blood? That’s not good.

My blood.

“Come on, be careful not to wake her up... And clean her up a bit will you, we need to prepare her for transport anyway.”

Aw, hell. Please no. I need to do something... anything... I knew something would go wrong, but we had no choice. There was no telling when  or where we would have

appeared, and if we had gotten hurt! Who knows what could have happened to

Spitfire!?

They mentioned a she. Spitfire. How long had I been there, frozen in this state, floating in and out of consciousness? I need to help her. Anything!

Those were my last thoughts before I slipped once again into unconsciousness.

My ears were ringing and my head was pounding.

The cold floor forced me to regain my bearings. Opening my eyes, I could see little in the room. No, not a room. A cell, populated only a water bucket, and a bed with no sheets. They, whoever they were, hadn’t even bothered to put me on the bed.

My headache shuddered violently as I tried to sit up. Touching my head with my hoof, I discovered a multitude of bandages covering it. At least my captures had the decency to patch up whatever had happened to my head.

Standing up, I wobbled on my hooves. Slowly and carefully I hobbled over to the door peering through the slot. I spotted a guard and was about to get their attention, but they had noticed me first.

As the guard trotted over, I could barely see his fur under his heavy armor. I opened my mouth to speak, only to be interrupted by his rumbling voice.

“Miss, yer coming with me. The Director wishes to see you.”

“What do you-”

My voice was a LOT more feminine all of the sudden. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that somethings wrong with me.

“Ok.” I replied in a more quiet tone.

He pressed something just out of view on the wall beside my cell, and with a loud buzz, the cell slid open.

After he put cuffs on me, he gestured for me to follow behind him, and cautiously I obliged. Causing trouble would not be too advisable at this time.

The word struck me like an anvil to the head. Miss, he had called me, but I wasn’t a mare. Looking back at myself I noticed for the first time that my body had changed. I was less muscular, and my coat was a slightly lighter shade than before. I noticed my mane had started growing a fair bit out of the bandages, which worried me to no end. How long had I been out, if my mane was already a few inches longer?

As we walked, I scanned the cells for Spitfire. The prison was a great deal larger than I had thought, and we ended up walking now for a lot longer than I had expected.

At the end of another corridor, we finally entered a room. It was fairly large compared to my cell, but just as bleak. A table stood in the middle, with a single light illuminating the room above it. A pitch black window was on the left. A clock displayed the time, 11 PM.

“Sit.”

I did as I was told, and sat down on one side of the table. Trying to distract myself, I checked the functions of my horn. I could still feel it on my head, but as expected, it was still worn out from the spell. In fact, I couldn't feel my horn At all. Concentrating a bit harder, I tried again.

“Miss, yer horn there has got a dampener on it. Try any harder and yer head might blow off.”

That would explain it. Nothing to do but wait and see, then.

Damn headache.

I didn’t need to wait long, as soon the Director came to see me. The well-built colt entered with two more guards, who took their respective places at the corners behind where the Director was sitting.

“So. Let’s begin, shall we?”

All I could do is nod.

“Let’s start with the basics. Our database came up with nothing at all, so let’s start with your name.”

As I opened my mouth to speak, he interrupted me.

“And do tell the truth, I don’t take insolence from mares.” He said that last word with hate in his voice.

“S--Spark Plug” I tried to answer as calmly as possible.

“Good. Was that so hard? Next question. That spell you popped out of? What was it?”

“Broken.”

I heard a snort from the guard to my right as I tried to hide a slight grin, and we both got a glare from the Director.

“Now Miss.” I was never going to get used to that. “Do you know what we do to ponies who don’t cooperate around here?” He asked, as he pulled out some kind of contraption and put in on the table.

“We don’t like to deal with bullcrap around here. Now, I’m going to ask again, what was that spell?” I thought I could see the surprise in his eyes, when I didn’t seem fazed by what he put on the table.

“Well... It was supposed to be a time spell... But as I told you, it ended up... Broken. I was hoping you could fill me in on where and when I am.”

“That’s got to be the sorriest attempt to gather intelligence I've ever heard.”

“I guess you could say it was un-intel-igent” Once again, I tried my best to stifle my laugh as the Director glared at the guard to my right again. At least someone's enjoying my amazing jokes.

“Miss Spark- are you going to be like this the entire time? We can arrange something... a lot more fun for the rest of us.”

“Y'know, if you were just a tad better looking, I might actually agree to that.” The look on his face? Priceless.  Even the guards thought it was funny.

“Look. I’ve had enough of this. Are you aware of what happened to your companion yesterday?”

Spitfire. They have Spitfire. Oh please no. Stay calm spark. Keep her safe.

“No.” I replied, trying my hardest not to show my anxiety for the news. “Which one?”

“Oh, so there where were more of you? Do tell.” He fell for the bluff quite easily then I had expected.

“Yeah, all five of us. I bet they're out looking for me now.” How I longed for that to actually be true.

“Well, they won’t be looking for you any longer now that you’re with us. This is the Empires biggest prison, if they had any sanity they would be long gone.”

But not the most secure. I bet I could break out of here easy.

“We did, however, manage to catch one other one.”

Crap. So much for stalling. All I got is from that is that I’m in some kind of empire.

As hard as I tried to dodge it, there was no avoiding what was coming next. I think my discomfort showed.

“The yellow one with the orange mane. Quite the fighter, that one. We were forced to resort to more... harsh methods.”

Oh no. “I’m afraid I don’t know the mare.” Thank god I was good at keeping a straight face.

“Then how did you know she was a mare?”

Crap.

“Your body language gave it away anyway.. the sweating, the becoming tense, I can smell it.”

“Pervert. What did you do to her?”

“Nothing much, just broke her wings, and a leg. That and a few ‘minor’ burns and lacerations. Personally, I think red looks good on her.”

Dammit. All because I messed up. I’m so sorry, Spitfire…

“That, and a few of my boys might have had their way with her.” He stated nonchalantly

That crossed the line. I care not of my own life, but for this they will pay. I will go to the ends of the earth to kill every last one of these bastards.

“So, Miss Spark. Are you willing to cooperate now?” He even had the classic ‘Evil villain’ smirk. What a bastard.

“I would have talked without you hurting her. Not like I have anything to say.”

“That wasn’t an option at the time. Besides, your cooperation is now assured

A thump could be heard from the other room. I hoped that wasn’t Spitfire with all my heart.

“What do you want to know?”

Half an hour later, he stopped asking questions.

“And here I thought we were done with the bullcrap.  Quite a thorough cover story, but it's way too farfetched.”

“There’s just no pleasing you is there?”

“Not yet, there isn’t. That will come, I promise you.”

“I was right about you, you are a pervert.” I tried to hold a half smirk on my face.

“Enough. Take her back to the cell.” Famous last words, jackass.

I needed to escape.

The guard that let me in earlier ushered me out. Back to walking, back to thinking.

Spitfire.

If I wanted to get out, now would be a good time. Only one guard in front of me, and I could try and take him out. I just needed to find a weakness in that damned armor. Preferably one near a vital.

“Fer what its worth, I think yer jokes where funny.”

Is he... talking to me?

“Although I’m suppressed th’ director didn’t just have ya beat right then and there fer insultin’ him. “

“Thanks... I guess?”

“We normally don’t get many mares like yerself in the jail, with them being confined to their houses n’ all, on order of th’ Emporer.”

Not a guy I wanted to meet. Ever.  Personally, I think the title might be compensating for something.

“Then we get two in one night! I think th’ director’s getting a bit soft. He even let yer friend live fer spitting in his face.”

Oh yeah, definitely glad for his generous brutality.

“Do you know where she is? My friend, I mean.”

“Probably solitary, after they patched up her wounds. The gal’s got a lot of fight in her.”

Not much, but its something. Now I just need a way to get out of these chains... What's something mares are even good at?

Seduction. Colts all fall to their holy power of being hot.

“Just a bit further, Miss.”

I can’t believe I’m actually going to try this.

Here goes nothing!

“Hey. Why don’t you join me in my cell?”

“W-What? Fer... us to rut or something?” he asked in a hushed tone.

“A woman has needs too, you know” I said winking seductively as he turned his head to look at me.

“Looks like yer the real pervert here.”

I was right. It was nothing!

Blushing hard, I scrambled for a response. “Y-you’re the one who brought up rutting me.”

“You implied it!”

Second attempt, go! “Come on, I’m sure a big strong colt like you would enjoy it.”

Ugh. This is going against how my brain’s built, trying to seduce men. I’m not homosexual after all. Although, in my current predicament, I guess I would be, seeing as I’m a mare now. I’m going to need to run some extensive tests on myself later.

Coming to a stop next to my cell and flicking the buttons to open it, he tried to avoid the situation again.

“Miss, I am a guard of this here prison and ain’t discussing this with you!”

“Fiiine, just undo my cuffs.” I told him, pushing the lock to my rear as I entered the cell.

Trying to make my new flank look presentable, he bent down to undo the lock with his snout. I made sure to spread my legs as far as the lock would allow.

Looking back, I saw him take a glimpse, right before I bucked him in the head.

Never, EVER, doing that again! So not worth it! And that’s besides the metal helmet I just kicked!

At least it worked. Keys? Check. Saddlebag filled with random crap? Check. Too bad the armor doesn't fit me. It wouldn't do me any good except slow me down, seeing as I can’t hide my face with the helmet due to my horn.

I quickly undid the dampener surrounding my horn, and felt my magic come back to me. Still worn out from the burnout, I doubt I would be casting anything harder than levitation any time soon.

Now all I need to do is get to solitary. Avoid all the guards, and bypass all the security. Piece of cake!

“Hey you there! Stop!”

Just kidding. Run!

And so I ran. Dodging projectiles I slid around corners. It felt amazing to move with such speed in this female body. I realized in this moment that this was exactly what Spitfire felt while flying. It was amazingly relieving and made me feel as free as the wind.

This was a massive boost to my confidence. Knowing I could… no, would succeed, I Moved with a speed I never thought possible. The halls were barren, minus the few guards I could easily outrun.  There was no sign of how I could get to solitary, this prison was immensely huge. Hearing my pursuers behind me, I ran a corner and ducked into the closest looking thing to an office I could see. It took all of my might to hold back my laugh as the guards sped by me.

Huh. Are all females this overconfident?

Turning around, I searched the small office for anything useful. I soon realised that the office was filled with mostly gibberish files that I couldn't care less about, and the room only contained one truly useful thing. Some fire escape diagrams.

Analyzing the useful ones then stuffing them all into my saddlebag, I peered out of the hallway. The coast was clear. I took my first few steps into it.

Then the alarm rang. Oh, come on! I’m never going to catch a break...

I immediately made a beeline towards the nearest staircase leading towards solitary. Peering down it before I went, I saw two guards turn the corner and run up the stairs.

“She was last spotted over here! I hear there’s a nice bonus in it for catching the bitch!

I scrambled for a place to hide. Not enough time to run. Too open to hide.

Aww, no.

Two more guards rounded the corner, and saw me immediately.

“There she is! Fire!” At that exact moment, the other guards reached the top of the staircase. I jumped to position myself between the two groups.

Whoa. The group furthest away had shot directly at the other two. Using their slumping body from the tranquilizers as temporary cover, I shot down the stairs.

By now, the entire prison was awake. Somewhere cheering as I past, while others where just watching.

After I had managed to shake my pursuers, Briefly checking my maps, I snuck as quietly as I could down to the gate that led to solitary. It wasn't hard sneaking past the lumbering guards with their tunnel vision visors and clanking armour, as I could easily hear them coming.

Solitary was blocked by an impending grate. A security station was next to it, and the guard inside seemed to be distracted by his blaring music, which would explain why he couldn't hear the alarm.

As I trotted over to his glass window, I pondered how I would get through. Checking my surroundings for anything useful, I spotted a row of equipment lockers probably used by the office.

I tried them periodically, and to my luck, one of them opened. Inside was standard guard gear, and a note attached with a magnet hung on the locker door.

‘Until you memorize your new password, I suggest you keep the door unlocked, you dunce. 5-45-43’

Smirking at the note, I grabbed a helmet off the top shelf. I knew it didn’t fit, being made for earth ponies, but I might be able to trick the guard with it.

I knew it was risky, but I needed to get into solitary. Putting the helmet over my horn, so that it barely covered it, I ducked under the glass window, making it so just the helmet was visible to the guard.

Banging on the window, I hoped for the best. I then realized how stupid that was. He was never going to fall for it! I must have banged my head harder than I thought.

Then the extremely improbable happened. I am officially the luckiest pony alive.

He turned his head just slightly to glance at the empty helmet, and with a practiced hoof, hit the ‘open’ button. A buzzer buzzed, and a light turned green as I ran through.

She needs to be in one of these cells, I thought to myself, dropping the helmet as I ran.

“Well, look who we have here, Ain’t you a slippery one to catch.”

I recognized the accent immediately, the colt that I had bucked in the face quite gloriously earlier.

“I knew you’d come down here. Yer not escaping this time, and then I can really have some fun.”

He started advancing, and I in return started backing up. I knew I was going to run out of space soon.

“Nothing to say, cunt? You were so chatty earlier.”

“You wouldn’t actually..” How I hoped I was right,

“I’m probably gonna get fired because of yer fanatics. I couldn't care less.” Good to know my only option is to fight. Always could use a bit more adrenaline.

“Well then, come and get me.” I could feel myself being pressed into a corner with each step he took.

“With pleasure.” As I felt my rump press against the wall, I knew I had to do something.

The shame caused by what i would do next would haunt me forever. Seeing no other way out… I grabbed his crotch with my telekinesis and… and… squeezed. Despite him being a complete ass, I still felt some remorse for him. I knew how much that could hurt...

His body crumpled as he fell to the floor. Thinking quickly, I delivered another swift kick to his head to knock him out fully, putting not enough power behind the kick to kill him, but enough to do the job.

Now for Spitfire.

I rushed past cell after cell peering into the tiny holes in the doors to the tiny rooms, until finally I found the one pony I was looking for. There in the corner of a tiny cell was Spitfire.

She lay in a small pool of blood, her wings clasped tightly against her side in fear. Her fur was no longer the painstakingly groomed coat it once was, but now a matted damaged, stained, and destroyed lump of fur. Cuts lined her body from the horrible abuse bestowed upon her by the guards and the director.

The bastard lied to me. She had barely received any treatment.

Fiddling with the latch I threw the door open, gallantly marching into the dark room. I bent down near Spitfire and uttered three words into her ear.

“Can you walk?”

Her eyes shot open and her head spun fast towards me, the faintest of smiles appearing on her face as she saw me.

She looked down as she solemnly shook her head.

I knew there was only one thing I could do. Reaching down I carefully lifted Spitfire, setting her on my back. Running out of the cell I turned a sharp left seeing guards chasing coming around the corner. I turn and ran the other way.

I couldn't keep running forever. Not with Spitfire on my back. The first chance I got, I dove into an office of some sort. After I carefully put spitfire on the desk, I shoved a file cabinet in front of the door.

Trapped. I always suspected my luck, after all, this definitely was the most incompetent prison ever. I took the few short moments I had to do my best to help Spitfire. I gave her some analgesic with a weird brand plastered over the bottle, in hope to ease her pain.

THUMP THUMP THUMP

“Come on out, mare, I know you’re in there!”

They already found me. That was rather quick. Perhaps I was overestimating this prisons incompetence.

That, or I’m the luckiest colt- no, mare alive. I’m never going to get used to that.

CRACK.

He had begun hammering down the door with the butt of his rifle/

“Kchht... oi! You there!”

What? Where the hell is that coming from?

“Over here! In the radio!” The voice came from a box sitting on the desk, right next to Spitfire, which I assumed was the radio,

“Hello?”

“Back of the room, there’s a vent. Get in it if you value your life!”

“I can’t leave Spitfire. There’s no way. And why should I trust you?”

“Because I’m currently the only one here who doesn't want to torture and rape you. Just give her some more painkiller and place her in the vent, I’ll turn on the pneumatics.”

CRACK.

I briefly turned around, seeing the guard stick his hoof through his newly created whole. He began fumbling with the lock, but soon realized I had barricaded the door. Popping another pill into her mouth, I began using my drained magic to turn the screws on the vent cover.

“I’m holding you responsible if anything happens to her!”

“Yeah yeah. Just go already!”

As if just to remind me I was there, the guard started shoving the cabinet out of the doors way bit by bit.

Using as little magic I could, I hoisted Spitfire up into the vent. As I gathered the little amount of medical supplies I had left, I heard a whoosh in the vent. Spitfire had gone. I hoisted myself up into the vent, closing the grate behind me, just as I saw the guard break through the door.

Bastard.

Suddenly, the pneumatic system shop up again. I heard a fwoosh, and suddenly I was being catapulted through the maze of vents.

Hitting every bump along the way, I grimaced as I slowly regret the decision. No wonder he made me give more painkiller to Spitfire. Those bumps hurt.

After about a minute of being blasted through vents sporadically, I saw a light in the distance as I shot towards. I slowed down just as I was nearing the end, and saw Spitfire just before me.

“ATTENTION ALL GUARDS, THE ESCAPEE HAS BEEN SEEN LEAVING THE PRISON ON THE EAST SIDE. ALL AVAILABLE PERSONNEL ARE TO LOOK FOR HER.”

That sounded remarkably like the guy on the radio.

I could hear a pair of guards talking just outside of the grate, which appeared to be some kind of shipping area.

“Come on, they are all clear. She was just sighted near the east side.”

“I just wanted to make sure. Sorry for wasting your time. Sheesh.” his friend replied

As they both left through the door, I started unscrewing the grate. I squeezed by Spitfire, getting out myself before assisting her down. Taking a better look at the room, I saw that it mostly was filled with new fabric in assorted containers, most likely a product of the prisons regular inhabitants’ labor.

I gently put spitfire into one labeled ‘Exports’, buried her under the sheets and climbed in myself.

After a while, I could hear spitfire rouse beside me.

“Why’d you save me?” I could hear her whisper ever so slightly.

“Uhh… it was the right thing to do?”

I doubt she would buy it.

“We both know that’s not the reason you came. I heard your conversation with the guard outside.”

At least it was pitch black, or she would have seen me blushing.

All I could manage to fumble out was my name. “Spark Plug.”

“He’s alive? But... the wound in his head...” Her hushed voice brightened exponentially. “We need to do something!”

“No you don’t understand-”

“He is alive, right?”

“Yes but-”

“Then we need to get him out of that horrible place, as soon as possible!”

“Firstly, you’re in no condition to do anything-”

“We can’t just leave him with those-”

“Spitfire, please. Let me speak.” Finally. “I’m..... I’m Spark Plug. Always have been. Always will be.”

“You’re a mare.”

*Sigh*. “I botched the spell tremendously, and something changed my gender. It could have been some kind of discharge when I hugged you, it probably molded my DNA to yours when I wrapped my arm around you...”

“Then tell me something only Spark Plug would know.”

“You’re ticklish just under your wing.”

In the dark, even I could see the smile spreading across her face. “Good to see you, Sparks.”

“Likewise. Welcome back.”