Apprentices

It had been two months since Spike, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, and Bunny last saw the Mane Six. Things haven’t been going well. Applebloom and Babs Seed have just been living at the farm Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Bunny had moved in with Spike. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle had just been living there in Twilight’s Castle, just waiting for their sisters. Bunny just kept looking at the path which Fluttershy took since she left, waiting for any signs of her Mistress returning. Spike watched over the two fillies and the alien, also waiting for Twilight. The Cakes, Big Macintosh, Granny Smith, and sometimes even Mr. and Mrs. Shy would drop by every now and then to check on them.

One day, when all of them were in Twilight’s Castle, Spike had enough of waiting. Even though with Twilight gone, he was free to do as he wanted; it wasn’t the same without Twilight. He remembered that since Bunny was able to sniff Fluttershy’s scent, they could use that to find her and the others. Bunny agreed to do so, although she had a bad feeling of something ahead.

Bunny caught Fluttershy’s scent after taking a whiff from her pillow. The Crusaders and Spike followed her as she went. It was a pretty strange path about where they went. First, they headed to Town Square, then to a road that lead out of Ponyville, then down the Everfree Forest, down a small rabbit hole, until they finally came across some sort of hidden subway. Bunny was about to go further, Spike stopped her before she went down the path.

Bunny was about to speak, but Spike stopped her with a whisper. “Trust me”

“So, what do you think?” a voice rang out. “We need more apprentices?”

Spike and the others huddled together in a corner to keep hidden. Spike looked outside to see what was going on. The first thing he found was two earth ponies: a mare and a stallion. He couldn’t really make out how they looked because they were wearing armor. What was surprising though was their eyes. The irises were black, and they appeared to be crying blood.

“We have to just in case the Alpha orders us” the mare said.

“Still, where are we gonna get enough candidates before we leave for the train?” the stallion asked.

“Well, we could always get any blank flanks in the nearby neighborhood. You know how desperate they are”

“Or probably some other younger foals since there are those who already have a cutie mark. Let’s not forget: when they turn into their Apprentice form, their cutie marks change”

Bunny sent Spike a mental message: We have to get out of here!

Sweetie Belle was trying her best not to sneeze since Scootaloo’s wings were by her nose. But, as the group tried to get out of the corner quietly, Sweetie Belle couldn’t take it anymore.

“AACHOO!”

“Bless you” the mare and stallion said together. The moment they noticed it wasn’t from either of them, they turned around to Spike’s direction.

“Who’s there?” the stallion called out.

Spike and the others tried to huddle again in an attempt to hide. The mare and stallion walked towards their direction. The group prayed that they wouldn’t be found as the mare came closer. All efforts proved futile when the mare found them.

“Thorn, I found spies!” she called out.

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Things happened really fast for Spike, Bunny, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders. The mare and stallion found them, captured them, and made them go on a strange train along with a few other foals after locking them all in a cage. Bunny didn’t want them to find out what she really was so she acted with her cover. Scootaloo kept blaming Sweetie Belle for giving them away, but Sweetie kept arguing that Scootaloo’s wings were up her nose. Applebloom and Babs Seed just kept thinking about what Applejack would do if she was here. Spike just tried his best to keep them all calm.

“Our Queen, you must see what we found down here before we left” the mare’s voice rang out.

The mare and stallion entered the booth again, this time with another mare with them. At first sight, the group already recognized her. Black skin, long horn, bat-like wings, mist-like mane and tail, cat-like eyes, sharp teeth. She looked like Nightmare Moon, save for a few slight changes. Her mane was blood red rather than deep blue; her eyes were red while her pupils became black.

“Well, look what we have here” she said as she approached Spike and Bunny. “The baby dragon of Twilight Sparkle and the rabbit of Fluttershy”

“How are you alive?” Spike demanded as Bunny whimpered.

“My apologies, I haven’t introduced myself” she said sarcastically. “My name is Nightmare, Queen Alpha of Murderers and Apprentices and the new Leader of the Organization”

“Organization?” Bunny asked, fear in her voice.

“Yes, the Organization where we keep all Murderers and Apprentices in training. It’s pretty much where you all are going”

“You’re gonna use us as training practices, aren’t you?” Babs Seed spoke up.

Nightmare shook her head. “I’d rather have you all alive than dead. Besides, we need more Apprentices”

“You’re gonna make us kill?!” Spike fumed.

Nightmare turned about face. “Put their Tracking Collars on”

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Tracking Collars were a type of collar that, when strapped on, it will track down everything the wearer does. It can’t be removed by the wearer, and it can give electric shocks whenever the one with the remote wants to. It was easy to strap them on to Spike, the Crusaders, and the other foals that were captured. The moment they were collared, when they tried to attack Nightmare, the collar gave them a shock.

It was surprising about what Bunny did when she was about to be collared. Rather than waiting, she stopped them and said, “Please! Allow me!” before she grabbed the collar and strapped it on herself.

Nightmare was confused for a moment, but smirked. “You’re putting the collar on voluntarily rather than waiting for me to do so, I like that”

Bunny hopped immediately to Spike and the rest of the group. They were confused at why she did that.

“Alright, listen up!” Nightmare called out as the last foal ran to meet with the others. “I’m Nightmare, your Alpha and Queen. You’re all here because you were captured to make into Apprentices for our Murderers. But to make sure that you’re worthy enough, you’re all gonna go through your training. If any of you try to escape this Organization and tell on us, I’ll make sure you die a slow and painful death. We will show you around the Organization, including where you will be sleeping, and the rooms with your punishments”

“What punishments?” a filly asked from the crowd.

“Like the Hall of Whispers, it’s one of the worst. It will make you tormented like you were being killed by our best Murderers ten times”

Whimpers were heard from the crowd.

“Anyway, you will also be given each a small vile of what we call Victim’s Blood. This will turn you into a full Apprentice and make you like us. But, for now, don’t take it as it will probably overwhelm you and maybe even kill you at the first drop. You also have to get yourselves a codename like all of us. If you get hurt, we have a clinic since you’re better off alive than dead. But you must learn to ignore pain while in training. If you ask questions, I will give you direct answers. If you need a shoulder to cry on, use a pillow!”

Everypony giggled.

“I’M NOT JOKING!” Nightmare’s yell scared them all into cringing. "And lastly, if you hurt your colleagues, it’s the Hall of Whispers! AM I CLEAR?!”

Everypony saluted in fear. “Ma’am, yes, ma’am!”