Prisoner's Keys to Insanity

Her vision was blurred, and her head was pained more than she could remember it ever being. She tried to move, but her limbs felt caught against a cold metal. As feeling came back to her, she cringed at wounds she felt among her legs. The air was cold, damp even. Her vision slowly got better and she cried softly at what she saw. Her best friends, held in chains like prisoners. They were prisoners of the empire's   civil war, presumed dead by its people.

Twilight looked around, checking the room for anypony else, but all she could see were the dreary brick walls. Applejack raised her head slightly and scoffed at Twilight's appearance.

"Twi...your horn, and...your wings...sweet Celestia...".

Twilight looked over at Applejack, admiring the strong earth pony standing against her mortal wounds. The ground under Applejack was coated in a thick layer of blood, growing larger from her wounds.

"Applejack, what...what's the problem with my horn? My wings?".

"Their gone Twi, your wings are...on the floor. Your horn is shattered...", she then let out a few tears, unable to comprehend why anypony would do such cruel things to the peacekeepers.

Twilight glanced over at the rest of her friends, each of them sleeping as peacefully as they could in this situation. Were they awake before, Twilight did not know. She surveyed her options, though there weren't many. She broke down, realizing that she could not use magic with a broken horn. As suddenly as she had been woken up, she had drifted into another slumber.

She was asleep for what felt like days maybe was, but that was inconsequential. She dreamed of better days, when harmony ruled without interference. She dreamed of her friends and their warm smiles bringing her joy, but her friends did not have the same unconscious luck. Her friends dreamed of being killed, beaten by whomever their captor was. They didn't understand why they were held captive, but hey felt as though they should be prepared for the worst. Twilight, however, prepared for the best. Her face held an everlasting smile, only to be broken by her awakening.

When she finally came to she noticed there were small tables set out with rations on them. Everypony had at least a carrot and what seemed to be an eighth of a potato. Glasses half full of water (she was trying to be optimistic) sat on every table. Twilight felt uneasy as she ate, noticing her friends were all awoken, looking to her for guidance. Twilight was speechless and turned away from her friends, tears welling in her eyes.

"I'm sorry girls, I...I don't know {sniff} what to do....We are trapped i suppose...". She closed her eyes hoping it was just a dream, a reoccurring dream.

But this was no dream, it was worse than her worst nightmare.

Everypony else had then lost hope in escape, and they ate their portions in silence. Over the next few hours they talked of a better day, one they would never see the end of if they made it. Their wounds were fresh every single time they awoke, as they were being heavily watched by the enemy. Over the next few days they lost Pinkie and Fluttershy to the supple blood loss. Then Rarity, and then Rainbow.

Twilight lay in her chains lazily, sobbing loudly to herself as she watched Applejack begin to give in to the pain. The mare of honesty was about to deliver the news that would break any leader in this situation.

"Let go Twi, it isn't worth it. We've done our part and now it's time for somepony else to rise to the plate. Hold on if you wish, but the way things are going, I'd be happier to join Zecora and wait for my family in the heavens...", and with that Applejack gave in, not allowing herself to speak again, focusing on her wounds, pushing them against the chains, deeply cutting them. After she succeeded in opening her wounds, she soon bled out right in front of Twilight.

Twilight sat their, weeping as heavily as she had ever wept. The sound of a creaking door opened behind her, and Twilight shot her head up and pleader,"Please, i'll do anything! Just bring them back! Please....Celestia?!?!?".

The princess walked over to Twilight and motioned for her to stop. She looked Twilight dead in the eye and spoke thus,"Hush my student, there is one last thing I must teach you.," She motioned for somepony to enter the chamber,"To achieve victory we must go through sacrifice, no matter how large. I am the great ruler of the land, am i not? (not wanting an answer she spoke quickly) I have created peace with your help, and now that there are no more threats to face me, I broke your peace. I have broke your friends.". While Celestia spoke two guards entered with princess Luna, chaining her to an empty chain next to the corpse of Applejack. Then they started to remove her friends bodies from their chains. After letting the bodies drop to the floor, the guards returned to their position at the door.

"I have brought disharmony back to the land, assisted only by my royal army. All whom stood against me are now dead or dying, such as yourself. My dearest Twilight, don't let go yet, i have more to show you. Now, shall i wake my sister?".

Twilight was too weak to answer, barley able to comprehend the situation. She looked over Luna, noticing her horn was shattered like her own. Twilight did nothing but weep, watching Celestia walk over to her sister. Celestia quickly drew a knife from her belt and hacked off Luna's right wing. As soon as she began Luna awoke and tried to break free. Celestia moved on to her sister's left wing as she let the other detached limb fall to the floor. Luna cried out more and tears flowed out of her eyes seeking an end. As the jagged blade cut through the last muscle and vein, the wing drifted to the floor, meeting in a pool of blood.

Celestia began to walk out, but she leaned close to twilight's ear and spoke softly,"And anyways, what is the princess of friendship without her friends?", and she laughed loudly as she slammed the door behind her. Twilight was left in tears looking at Luna's broken body, then to her friend's vandalized bodies that lay astray across the floor. Luna dared not speak, only wishing to wait for Twilight's sobbing to end, seeking a revelation in her new found predicament. They had the same limitations and there seemed to be no way out...