CoRoNa

CoRoNa
05
...

“You are lucky Pierce.” Blood Rain glared at the heavily bandaged form of a pony. “Had I not been watching, I couldn't have saved you. Again” She snarled angrily. “Such powerful magic in one so young. You are also lucky that I mislead them into thinking that it was some sort of magic puppet that had been 'destroyed' by the young Princess, which also made her easier to manipulate, and thus, capture.”

“I am thankful you saved me Lady Blood Rain.” The 'mummified' pony spoke, his voice raspy. “Next time, I won't be taken by surprise.”

“Make sure you are not. You're rather important to this operation.” Rain smiled momentarily before her face became emotionless again. “Rest up and be thankful you're still alive.”

With that. Blood Rain left the room, leaving the pony behind. Her hooves made little sound on the stone floors

(Such power. Soon, it will all belong to our God, the Tyrant King.) She laughed as she vanished into the shadows.
...

“Corona?”

“Ten more minutes Mom...”

“I'm not Princess Celestia. It's me, Elusive.”

“Elusive?” Corona cracked an eye open. She was stiff and sore, and could feel a hard, cold and damp surface under her. Her eyes snapped open and she lifted her head. “What happened?” She looked around at the stone room, and at the heavy bars that made up one of the walls.

In another such room across the hall, the young Princess could see Elusive. “Where are we?”

“Locked up in some damp, dank, dingy dungeon.” Honey Crisp's voice came from Corona's right, through the wall.

“Honey Crisp?”

“Yea, Ah'm here too...” The smaller filly fumed.

“Are both of you alright?” Corona asked.

“I am unharmed.” Elusive answered.

“Yea, just ah little ruffled up is all... and missing mah hat.”

Corona sighed a little. “At least we are unharmed... What happened? The last thing I recall was that we were in the carriage.”

“Ah dunno Princess. All Ah recall was we was flyin' along then suddenly the whole thing shook. Ah ain't never been too fond ah heights an Ah think Ah bumped mah head and blacked out.”

“I believe we were attacked.” Elusive spoke up. “Most likely by the Cult.” He tapped his hoof against the bars of his cell and received a small jolt. “Ah... That stung.”

Corona examined her bars. “I can hear a faint hum coming from them, but I can't sense any magic.”

“That, my dear little sacrifice, is because you are in a zone of null-magic, and those bars are powered by lightening.” A new voice sounded from the shadows.

Stepping into view, a cloaked mare appeared.

“Who are you?”

“I am Blood Rain. Priestess of the Cult of the Tyrant King.” She stepped up too Corona's cell, her face hidden within her hood. Her voice was cold, emotionless. “Soon, once the final Element of Harmony has been found, we can begin the final restoration of the TRUE master of all Equestria.”

“The final...” Corona gasped.

“Hold on just a sec there.” Apple gasped. “Ya'll tellin us ya got us three, an two others of th' Elements ah Harmony?”

“As a matter of fact, yes. Laughter, and Loyalty.” The mare chuckled. “Don't worry too much. When the time eventually comes, I will be merciful and try to minimize your suffering.” A glint of her white teeth was the last thing they saw of her as she backed into the shadows again and vanished.

Corona reared up and slammed a hoof against the bars, but all she got was a wicked jolt of electricity that knocked her back.

“Careful Princess.” Honey Crisp warned. “Lucy dun told ya them bars'll zap ya.”

Elusive concentrated, but his magic refused to work. “I cannot teleport out of here.”

“Well duh.” A new voice came from the shadows. Emerging from them was a young colt. His coat was a light blue, and his mane a light pink. His playful eyes sparkled like silvery-blue stars. “Blood Rain said that you were in a no no magic area.” His wings fluttered and folded at his sides, revealing he was a Pegasus.

“Who are you?” Corona asked, well, more like demanded.

“Oh, me? I'm Wish Star. I was asked by Dad to keep an eye on the three of you.” He smiled, not a cruel smile, but a playful one. “Gotta keep these bars charged after all.” He pointed a hoof at something just out of their sight. “Gotta make sure that the storm cloud in that machine keeps these bars charged.”

Elusive frowned. “Wish Star, why are you doing this? You're about the same age we are.”

“Gotta do what my Dad says. He has a bit of a temper after all. Should have seen what he did to the little filly when she tried to escape. He took her wings off.” Wish Star clamped his wings too his side. “Too bad really. She was fun to talk too and play with before that.”

“T... Took...” Corona backed away from Wish Star. “How can you be so calm about a Pegasus having her wings taken from her? What is wrong with you?”

“Like I said, I gotta do what Dad tells me too. I don't want too be punished.”

“Wish Star...” Elusive spoke up. “Who is this Pegasus that lost her wings?”

“Oh, that's Flicker Bolt. She's a feisty one. Blood Rain has been keeping her locked up and making her help make some new magical items for the followers of the True King.” Wish Star tapped a hoof too her chin. “You're not going to try too escape too are you? I never have anypony my own age too talk too. I'm never allowed too leave here.”

“Never allowed too leave?” Corona frowned. “If you are a prisoner like us, then why help our captives?”

“Well duh. My Dad is the leader of the whole thing. Like I said, he has a terrible temper, like a violent lightening storm, and Blood Rain can be really cruel when she's punishing other ponies.” Wish Star sat down before Corona's cell. “Oh yea, I told you my name. What are your names?”

“Ah'm Honey Crisp. Ah really wanna get the hay outta here an' kick some flank.”

“Call me Elusive.” Elusive sighed. “You seem different from Blood Rain, and the other pony who tried too capture us before. Certainly your father being the leader of this Cult cannot be the only reason you do as you are told.”

“Well, if I disobey, I get my wings taken away. It hurts a lot. Blood Rain gives them back eventually though.”

Corona gasped. “This Blood Rain is powerful enough to remove and restore a Pegasai's wings?” She shuddered. “If she can do something like that... then how are we supposed to get out of here and get back too our families?”

Wish Star looked at Corona. “You're Princess Corona Twilight, aren't you?”

“Yes, I am. When Mother finds out where we are, she will come here and I don't want to think about what will happen.” She looked away. “There might even be a lot of ponies getting hurt...”

Wish Star frowned. “That wouldn't be any fun. Does your Mom have a temper too?”

“She is kind, gentle, loving.” Corona started. “But she is also Princess Celestia, the regent of the Sun itself. Her wrath would be like the flames of the sun coming down to burn away all evil that appears before her.” Corona's bright red eyes locked onto Wish Star's eyes. “Listen to me Pinkie Pie, the last thing I'd want is too see you get hurt.”

Silence suddenly fell through the room.

“What did you call me?” Wish Star leaned close to Corona's bell.

“I... I'm sorry. I don't know where that came from?”

“You silly filly. How could you know that name? I've only ever dreamed I was a pony named Pinkie Pie. Oddly, in those dreams I was a mare.”

“No... way...” Honey Crisp gasped. “Ya'll can't be. Say Wish. Ya'll ever dream ah some ponies names Applejack, Rarity an' Twilight Sparkle?”

“Wow. Can you read minds?” Wish Star stepped into clear view of Honey Crisp. “Those are ponies I've dreamed about all my life.”

“No... way...” Honey Crisp smiled. “Ya'll really were her. Ah was Applejack. Them ain't dreams ya know. They're memories.”

“How can they be memories if I don't even remember doing the things I did in my dreams?”

Elusive sat and started speaking. “Those are memories from a past life of yours, one that you shared with our past lives. Something horrible happened and we all died, but we have all been reborn. You are like us, one of the Elements of Harmony.”

“Hey, those are the things Dad need to bring the King back.” His grin suddenly faltered. “Wait... He said that the Elements of Harmony would have to be sacrificed to bring him back. Sacrificed means...” Wish Star frowned. “If he's going too do that, then that means he's going too do that to me too.”

Corona stepped up close too the bars, but didn't touch them. “Wish Star, so you really want to be sacrificed? Just because he's your father, that doesn't mean you have to agree with his ways. He wants to hurt other ponies, and his own colt too.” She looked toward Elusive. “I don't want to loose my best friend.” Then toward Honey Crisp's cell. “Or my newest friend either.”

She turned back to Wish Star. “You have friends, right? You wouldn't want too ever loose them.”

“Friends?” Wish Star shook his head. “Other than Flicker, I've never been around another pony my own age. I never knew how nice it was till she was brought here.” He then hung his head. “But sense her wings were removed, she's been locked up in Blood Rain's private lab.”

“What is Blood Rain doing too Flicker Bolt?” Elusive asked. “You said she's being forced to help make magical items, but she's not a Unicorn. How is that possible?”

“Oh, Flicker's special talent is odd for a Pegasus, but really neat. She can actually channel Unicorn magic into objects.” Wish Star replied. “But like I said, she's locked up.”

“We can't let your father sacrifice us, or hurt any other ponies.” Corona looked in the direction of the electricity device. “Please Wish Star, you have to help us escape and rescue Flicker Bolt.”

“But...” Wish hung his head. “Dad would punish me. He'd rip my wings off again... or worse.”

“What the hay is worse than gettin' killed so yer sire can bring back some long dead monster?” Crisp yelled. “Ya'll just gonna accept this an' let him kill ya? An' us too? An what 'bout yer friend Flicker Bolt? Ya'll wanna see 'er end up dead too?”

Wish Star shook his head. “No... But what can I do?”

Corona smiled gently, just as her mother often would to help calm others nervousness and fears. “For starters, let us out. Together we are stronger than alone. We can escape and even free Flicker. What do you say Wish Star?”

“I...” His head hung low, his mane hiding his face. “I just don't know what too do...”

“Wish Star.” Elusive sounded stern. “Are you going to just accept DEATH? We're so young. We have our whole lives ahead of us. I want to discover my special talent, just like Corona and Honey Crisp have. I can see you're like me, full of potential. Don't you want to see what your talent is too?” He glanced at Wish Star's blank flank.

“Of course I do, but...”

“No buts about it Wish Star. If we are all sacrificed, then we'll never know.” His tone softened. “Come on. I would love to know what your talent is as well. We can get out of here together, as friends.”

“F-friends?” Wish Star looked up into Elusive's brilliant sapphire blue eyes. “You'd want to be friends with me?”

Corona nodded in agreement with Elusive. “Why not? You know what your father is doing is wrong. I feel you deserve the chance to learn what friendship is about. I'd like to help you with that, and be your friend.”

Wish Star lifted his head and smiled brightly. “I'd like that. Give me a second.” He stepped out of view and kicked the small lightening cloud away from the device. He then returned with the keys and unlocked the cells.

“I know where Flicker is being held.” The young Pegasus said as the three emerged from their cells. “We have to be careful not too be seen.”

“I can teleport in and get her out.” Elusive grinned.

“But Elusive.” Corona stepped up and nuzzled him gently. “You need to know where Flicker is, and if you teleport into something...”

“Oh... yea...” Elusive shuddered. “Did that once... never again.”

“Come on Starry. Take us to yer marefriend.” Crisp smirked.

“M-marefriend? It's not like that.” Wish blushed a bright pink, looking quite abashed.

“She's a mare, an' she's yer best friend. Right?”

“Well, if you put it that way.” Wish chuckled. “Let's go. There's a lot of passages in these dungeons, and traps too. I best warn you about the Cockatrice that Dad has down here too. If he discovers you've escaped, he'll use them and petrify you, then just keep you like that till the time for the sacrifice. Dad petrified me a few times because I was getting out of hoof. It really hurts.”

“Then let's not get caught.” Corona looked serious. “Do you know any secret passages that can help?”

“There's tons of them in this place.” Wish lead the trio of his new friends through some passages and stopped in the middle off a long hallway. “This hallway is filled with deadly traps that can hurt or even kill a pony. There's a secret passage around it though.” He pressed his hoof against the wall and it swung inward.

“Golly, Ah didn't even notice any passage there.” Crisp was impressed. “Starry, Ah bet ya'll know every passage there is 'ere, right?”

“I know a lot, but not all.” Star stepped in and led the three past the trapped hallway. “And of course, Dad has lots of secret passages that are filled with traps, as well as secret passages within secret passages, and even some with secret passages in those passages. Some halls are clear, but look trapped, and the 'secret passage' around them is the one filled with traps.”

“Yer pa's head just ain't screwed on right, ya know that Starry?” Crisp scowled. “Ya'll can get us outta here without us fallin' in any traps, right?”

“Of course. I've been coming down here and playing ever since I could walk. I know most of these passages and where the traps are, and how to get around them. I even know where Dad's secret vault is where he keeps all his most special treasures.”

“A vault?” Elusive raised an eye. “Could you take us there? We might be able to find something that can help with our escape.”

“I don't know. The Guardian of the Vault is really dangerous, and mean. But then, Basilisk are always mean and dangerous.”

“What's a Basilisk?” Crisp asked.

Elusive tapped his chin. “Monster Lore, good class.” He concentrated and created an illusion of a long, serpentine creature with a total of 8 legs, a snake's head on a long neck with a cobra's fan. “This is a Basilisk. Too look into their eyes can turn you too stone. Their poison paralyses, and they are fast and sneaky.”

“Oh, scary.” Crisp hid behind 'Lucy'. “Ah dun wanna run into that.”

“Me either.” Corona added. “So, Wish Star, let's just get out of here.”

Wish nodded and continued leading his new friends through the passages, using secret pathways to avoid guard patrols, and wondering Cockatrice.

Finally they came too a stairway that ended in a heavy looking stone trap door.

“Up there is Blood Rain's workshop where she keeps Flicker locked up at all times. I warn you, it's really scary in there and I never go in if I don't have too... But I have too, to save Flicker.” He pressed a hoof against a hidden button and the passage slid open.

The four poked their heads out and looked around the room. It was filled with tables that had bottles and tubes and strange glowing liquids. There were skulls of all sorts hanging from the walls. The shelves were covered in many books and jars with strange things in them.

And chained too a thick steel pole in the center if the room was a rather skinny looking Pony, with horrid scars on the sides of her sun yellow coat. Her face was partially hidden under her unkempt black mane.

A single, wary green eye peeked out from under that dark mane. “Wish? Why are you here? Who are they?” Her voice was level, emotionless.

“We're here to get you out of here... We're all escaping.” Wish Star grinned.

“You think so, don't you my dear Wish Star?” Blood Rain's voice emerged from the shadows, along with the dark cloaked Unicorn. “For your betrayal, I will take more than your wings this time. Perhaps I will burn your eyes out.”

From a small forge she levitated a white hot iron. Her cruel grin could bee seen through the flickering lamplight of the room.
...

Canterlot.

Princess Celestia paced back and forth through her office. She was so worried for her daughter, and it showed.

“Tia?” Luna entered the room and frowned. “It's too soon to start worrying. If this cult needs them, then they're most certainly still alive.”

“Oh Luna...” Celestia turned and rested her neck across Luna's withers. “Even my magic can't locate my own daughter... What will I do if I loose her? My dear Corona Twilight...”

“Corona is with Elusive. They're both very smart and both have near unmatched talent with magic, especially the little Princess.” Luna tried to be comforting.

“I know... but... Also, my friend and those loyal guards... all killed.”

Luna pulled a scroll from under her wing. “Actually... about them.” She held up the scroll.

Celestia took the scroll and opened it, reading it over. The more she read, the wider her eyes became.

“How... How is this possible?” Celestia's eyes went from wide with shock, to narrow and angry. “Betrayal... My own 'friend' and 'Guards'...”

“Calm down Tia.” Luna nuzzled her big sister. “We don't know if they did betray us. Those ponies we found dead, sure they were not them, but perhaps the Cult place those bodies there and disposed of the real ones, just too place doubt and distrust into us.”

Celestia sighed, her eyes and face softening. “You are right Luna. But I still feel we should check out these guards private belongings, as well as Ruby's private quarters here in Canterlot.”

“I will take care of it. You just keep doing what you have to too keep this from leaking out to the public.” Luna turned toward the door. “We will find them sister. And when we do, they will learn the true power of the Regents of the Sun and the Night.”

With that said, Luna left the room, closing the door behind her.

Celestia looked over the report again.

“If the mare at the site of the attack was not you Ruby, then who was she? Where are you now my dear friend?” A tear fell from her eye and stained the paper.
...

To Be Continued...