Twilight stood there for what seemed like an eternity. Her body became stiff, every small movement creaking and taxing her bones as if they were made of rusty metal. Really, the only things that she could and preferred to move were her eyes. Never meeting Celestia’s, and constantly hungry for any type of distraction. She only moved from her statue-like position when Celestia beckoned her, calling her to join at the table. All of the nervousness and fear and excitement had diluted out of Twilight and was replaced with the unbearable stench of guilt. It made her squirm all over. She didn't like it.

“Have you become shy in the little time you've been here?” asked Celestia as if she came to visit her at the hospital. “Come now. I won't bite.”

Twilight awkwardly stumbled forward and gripped the back of the chair. She slid into it and kept her eyes down. Once she was firmly in her chair, she forced herself to look up and instantly regretted it. Celestia’s eyes burned into her like a hot iron through the eye.

“How are you holding up?” asked Celestia. Twilight gripped her pants legs and looked to her left.

“Fine,” she said abruptly. Celestia sighed.

“You… must hate me, right?” said Celestia suddenly. All the guilt that had festered in her lower stomach riled up, pushing from the back of her skull now. “I couldn’t help you. I tried. I really did, you know? I’m a justice of the supreme court, and yet I couldn’t help a friend.”

“No, I—” Her voice died in her throat as she saw her friend’s dejected face. She knew she was about to cry, and people both visiting and prisoners were staring now. Twilight reached over and put her palm on Celestia’s cheek. “Don’t worry about me. I mean, how bad can 27 years be, right?” Fortunately, Celestia calmed down and wiped whatever tears were about to fall away.

Unfortunately, a guard came around and slapped Twilight’s hand away. She pointed to a sign that said “No Physical Contact”. The two shared a glance and giggled. It was the best Twilight had felt since she’d gotten to this place. A genuine laugh from her belly.

“Ooh, Twilight,” said Celestia playfully. “Such a rule breaker.”

“Shut up,” said Twilight with a smile.

The two continued their chat, exchanging small talk and what happened outside of the walls. Twilight was happy to find out that her other friends were still missing her in their daily lives. Moondancer, the baby of the group, had become devoted to her final year of high school and changed her study interest to law. Lyra was apparently working harder at work, trying to make more of herself. Her absence had caused a change in her friends, and she wasn’t sure whether to be proud or upset.

“And…” Celestia stopped in the middle of her rant, coming to an uncomfortable pause. Twilight was still riding on the momentum, a big smile on her face.

“And…?” she asked. “Don’t leave me hanging!”

“Your mother is still… shaken…” Twilight’s smile faded slowly and died.

“Oh...I-I understand,” said Twilight, still saddened. “When I think about it, I still can’t believe dad’s gone. It’s a little jarring for me to just blot him out. Mom’s strong, though, so I have faith that she’ll—”

“She still says it was you,” said Celestia smashing the jovial mood they had earlier into pieces. “I can’t believe her. To want to indict her own daughter for murder—”

“S-She's just shaken, probably,” said Twilight, trying to cover for her mom. True, the last time they met face to face was in the courtroom where they’d exchanged harsh words, but Twilight didn’t mean any of them. They were just spurred from anger. “She’s still my mom and even though we’re not on the best of terms right now, we’ll get over it.” That seemed to be enough for Celestia who sighed and smiled again.

“You’re right. That was stupid of me.” A large buzz rang out — the end of the period. Twilight’s heart sank. She wanted to leave with Celestia into the open world, but she knew that was a lifetime away. “Looks like our time’s is up. It was nice talking to you.”

“Visit more often,” said Twilight. “It gets lonely in here, sometimes.”

“Of course.” Celestia nodded to a pair of people in suits from across the room. They spoke into a small radio and left with the rest. “Have a good day, Twilight.”

“You as well.” Twilight watched as she walked to the door with the rest. The prisoners were also returning, so she followed them. She stole one last glance at Celestia before turning around and entering the prison once more.

She bumped shoulders with someone and looked over to apologize. Sunset looked down at Twilight.

“Oh, Sunset,” said Twilight. “How is everything?”

“Fine, I guess.”

“Was someone visiting you?” Sunset nodded. ‘Who?”

“Family,” was all she offered. “You?”

“Remember Celestia?” asked Twilight. Then swiped at the air. “Stupid question. Of course you do. She came to visit me today!” Sunset looked stunned for a few seconds, then smiled herself.

“Is that so?”

The fights started happening just a few weeks after Twilight’s meeting with the judge. They were small things, normal in prison, thought Twilight. Twilight decided to eat snacks instead of going to the cafeteria. She was concerned for Sunset and Chrys, but Sunset only smiled and said not to worry.

“I know a thing or two about fist fighting,” said Chrys as she handed Twilight a bag of cookies. “I’m fine. What you should worry about is your weight. Cookies aren’t exactly the most healthy food.”

Twilight munched on cookies and thought about what Chrys said. She wasn’t always the slimmest girl, but she wouldn’t call herself fat. She pinched at her belly awkwardly.

“I guess I’m just being a girl,” she said. She popped another cookie into her mouth and continued walking.

“This is bigger than just you and me, Dash,” said a hushed voice. Twilight froze in her tracks. The hushed voice belonged to Sunset, but it was different. Aggravated and strained. “If you insist on this petty bullshit, I’ll make sure that you won’t see sunlight again.” Twilight covered her mouth. She sounded threatening. She didn’t dare poke her head out, so she slid her shoulder against the wall and listened.

“There isn’t anything I can do, and you know that,” said Dash. She was weak, and her normal happiness was gone. “Spitfire doesn’t give a damn about me. He ain’t gonna let me up in her shit anymore.”

“That sounds like your problem,” said Sunset.“Listen to me Dash, I like you. You’ve been loyal and all that shit, but you know what happens when you step outta line. So just do this for me and we both walk free.” Sunset started walking away, her footsteps getting quieter and quieter.

“Yeah,” said Dash quieter and fiercer. “I fuckin’ get it.” She started walking too, but this time, she walked right at me. I didn’t know what to too, so I just stood still as she rounded the corner. She stopped and we met eyes for a second. Then she walked away.

“W-Wait,” called Twilight. She didn’t stop, so Twilight called louder. “Wait a second, Dash! What just happened?”

“Still sticking your nose in other people’s shit, huh?” asked Dash, shaking her head. She turned and showed her face. “What?”

“I-I’m sorry for what happened,” said Twilight. “But I’ll help. Anything I can do to help, I can. You helped me out when I first came here, but I never repaid you, so…” Rainbow Dash was silent for a minute, then she smiled, then broke into laughter.

“You want to help me?” She continued laughing like she’d just been told the funniest joke she’d ever heard. “You want to help? Fine then. Go die.”

“What?”

“Cause that’s what I’m being told to do,” she said. “Just throwing away my own freedom just for some fucked plan. Some stupid shit I’ve been told to go along with! I hate it, I really fucking do! And I got no say, alright? I don’t have a voice!” Rainbow breathed in heavily.

“I’m sorry,” was all Twilight could offer.

“Here’s my last piece of advice,” said Rainbow. “Rule of prison number four: Don’t ever fuck with Sunset Shimmer. She eats goody-two-shoes’ like you for lunch. She’ll shred you to bits.” She turned away shaking her head and walked off. Twilight wanted to call her back and do something to make her feel better. As she walked away, Twilight felt wrong. Like with every step Rainbow took away from her, she was getting further and further away from being the old Rainbow.

Twilight realized she was gripping the bag in her hand intensely. Her heartbeat was fast and uneven, and her face and hands were covered in icy sweat. She felt nauseous. It was as if she was just hit with a realization strike to the face.

This was a prison. There was no silver lining, no single ray of hope. Just infinitely crushing despair.

And it was only the next day that all manners of hell broke loose.

It started with a little arguing in the corner of the cafeteria. Twilight had been calmly enjoying her solitude in the morning when shouts from a far side of the room echoed around. Twilight couldn’t properly make out the words they were saying, but it was obvious they were agitated. Twilight, having a spot by the door, heard the guard’s conversation perfectly.

“Go check it out,” the woman guard said to the male. He nodded and started jogging over to the table. He was a bit too late, though, as the fight had broken out before he could get close. There were hollers and whooping noises that filled the cafeteria space. Even people on the breakfast line abandoned their spots. Twilight watched as the male officer, who was taller than the rest, waded through the crowd.

“This is getting out of hand,” said Chrys as she put her plate down on the table. “These girls are taking offense at shadows crossing each other. I wonder what’s gotten'm so antsy.” Twilight didn’t answer but remembered the conversation between Sunset and Dash.

In her thoughts, there was quiet, but Twilight couldn’t help but notice that it was also quiet outside again. She looked over at the people who were fighting and saw a crowd. They were all silent as if something speech rendering had happened. Then, she realized something weird.

The guard. She couldn’t see him anymore. There was something like a primal roar, and the noise kicked up to a dangerous eleven.

“Holy shit,” said Chrys getting out of her chair. “We need to get out.” Twilight was about to ask why when a sickening crack echoed through the air. Even above the screaming, the noise was clear. Twilight’s blood turned to ice. She abandoned the tray on the table and looked to make for the door. Twilight followed Chrys outside to the small hallway leading to the blocks. Twilight expected the sounds of fighting to die out, but it seemed all around her. It swallowed her and refused to let her out.

When she burst into the blocks, the fighting only got worse. People were fighting here and there, with different things as weapons. Blunt and sharp objects both legal and illegal were being used. Twilight couldn’t think. Why was this happening? She glanced over at B-Block and saw the entrance cluttered with her neighbors all in a heated conflict. Chrys had to shove her to get Twilight to listen.

“Come on girl,” said Chrys. “I’m leavin’ your ass in about five seconds if you don’t come the hell on!” Twilight blinked twice and looked at Chrys. She was beckoning to go back the way they’d come. Twilight ran after her. “We can hide in the rec room. Nobody should be in there.” Twilight was too hopped up on adrenaline to ask any questions. The two ran through a maze of halls that all seemed the same. Everything was bland and empty, and Twilight felt that the only thing keeping her sane was the constant sounds of terror and fighting within herself and around the prison. She was almost happy as she ran around. She was smiling like a madman.

But when she turned a corner and ran into it, she saw something different. A pale blue figure in the gray hallway. She trudged along almost mechanically through the halls. Chrys spared her a glance but kept running. Twilight didn’t think to stop and barrelled on. Rainbow Dash looked up at the two and showed them her face.

“Rainbow…?” Her face was dry and devoid of any emotion but surprise. She looked like she’d just been hit with an uppercut. Time seemed to slow down when Twilight passed ran past. She turned her head to her friend's face and took a good, hard look.

She could’ve sworn that she was crying right then.

Twilight ran right along, right on Chrys heels into the game room. It wasn’t locked and was deserted just like she said. They both sat down to catch their breath, and to realize the gravity of the situation around them.

“What the hell?” said Chrys. She seemed actually scared. She looked pale, just like Rainbow Dash. Twilight looked out of the window, but she was already gone. She wondered what she was doing all the way out here, and why she looked like that.

“You paying attention?” asked Chrys. Twilight snapped out of it and paid Chrys attention. “Ever since this morning you’ve been in some kind of daze. Like you’ve seen some kinda ghost. What happened?” Twilight sighed.

“It’s nothing.” Chrys looked at her in disbelief but gave up when Twilight didn’t talk. She got up and headed to the door.

“We’re probably not moving anywhere till noon,” said Chrys, looking out of the window. “So it’s probably best that you get comfortable. There’s nothing to eat or drink, but you needed a diet anyway, right?” Chrys chuckled, but Twilight stayed quiet. “Not up for convo? That’s cool.”

“I’m just a little disoriented is all,” said Twilight. “I just need a nap or something.”

“Oh,” said Chrys. “Well, there ain’t really a bed in here, but you can make yourself comfortable on the couch.” Twilight nodded and sat down on the couch. She got comfortable and laid her head back. “Don’t worry. I won’t do anything sexual. Probably.” Twilight didn’t think about what she’d said before slowly dozing off into an uncomfortable sleep.

It felt appropriate to Twilight that the loudspeaker was the thing to wake her up. She blinked her eyes for a few seconds before remembering her situation. She yawned and looked around. Chrys was nowhere to be seen. She looked frantically around but it was true that she’d gone. Probably left due to the announcement that played.

“Attention all prisoners and staff.” It was the warden’s voice. “Once again, all prisoners are to report to their cells immediately for counting. This is your final warning. All staff members are to report to the Block Hub. That is all.” She sounded aggravated, which Twilight expected. A riot was no laughing matter.

Twilight got up and stretched. She walked across the room to the windowed door and looked out. The hallway was empty and she couldn’t hear anything like before. She breathed easy and walked outside.

“Hey, you!” yelled a guard. Twilight looked to her left where another hallway stretched out. She’d come out at a bad time. “Get to your cell. Now!”

“Y-Yes sir,” said Twilight. She jogged along and let the guards pass her. She was just glad that the whole thing was over. No more problems to face. Everything would go back to normal. She didn’t have to feel sad after this. Today was pretty bad, and Twilight was happy she’d experienced it, to some degree. Nothing could get much worse than this.

Twilight walked into the Block Hub and immediately became as white as the walls.

The guards gave it away. If they weren’t swarming around her body, maybe Twilight wouldn’t have noticed it. Maybe she would have gone and never thought about here again. Maybe…

But she did notice it. The bloody tufts of rainbow colored hair, the ugly purple clots all over her body showing that she was beaten to death. Her face was no more than a pile of reddish flesh by now, caved in by something. Her arms were straight out like they were accepting a hug.

“You want to help me? You want to help? Fine then. Go die.”

No.

“Cause that’s what I’m being told to do. Just throwing away my own freedom just for some fucked plan.”

It’s not fair.

The Warden couldn’t help but look at the woman who was gawking at the corpse and shake her head.

“Poor girl.” She wasn't sure if she was talking about Rainbow, Twilight, or herself. “A real fucking shame.”

And on that day, Rainbow Dash, prisoner number 13229919, was added to the list of deceased prisoners.

Author's Note

Ah, the first one has bit the dust.

I wrote this around 6 AM, so if you could point out how ~~retarded I am~~ many mistakes I made in my sleep-deprived stupor, that would be greatly appreciated.