Black Sun

Celestia made her way down to the dungeons, her mind stirring with questions. The guards she passed by bowed their heads in respect, and she returned such a gesture with a small nod of her own. After the small information Luna gave her in the throne room, she decided the best course of action would be to have him brought to her castle. Cadence and Shining Armor had a child now, and after the recent battle against Sombra, and with Chrysalis; it seemed the safest bet. Luna had long since went to attend with her own duties, as Celestia took over responsibility with the new prisoner. She would've given him a guest room, but not knowing what he was, or how he would react; it wasn't very wise. Dungeons were a last resort with her, she didn't quite like the idea of locking up ponies, or any other creature.

Striding down the staircase to the entrance of the dungeon chambers, she already began thinking of things to ask him. The most obvious one would be, where he came from? Who he was? And more would come to mind she assumed, he was probably just lost. Or perhaps an escapee from Tartarus. Whatever the case, she'd get to the bottom of it. Her gold jewelry glimmered in the dull light of the chambers. I really must do something about this depressing interior.

Approaching the cell, she gave the guards the o.k, stepping aside and opening the door hesitantly. She entered with her head held high, not feeling any fear whatsoever, whatever he was she was sure she could handle it. Upon entry, the door closed and clicked behind her; with the worrisome guards keeping a watchful eye on them both from the outside. All she saw was a dark room, with the only light coming from a lantern, which was far from the prisoner. There, in the corner, her eyes fell on a dark silhouette. He wasn't moving much, besides the rise and fall of his shoulders. At least he was breathing, she thought.

Before making any advance towards him to talk or introduce herself, she used her horn as a torch of sorts. Giving more light to the enclosed space. Finally, getting a good look at him. He was a dark grey stallion, with black markings and what looked to be - scales? Intrigued by her discovery, she began examining him further. He surely wasn't a dragon, but he wasn't truly an equine either. She saw no wings, no horn in the center of his head. He had no articles of clothing or jewelry on him anywhere; but the fresh wound on his chest was visible. Looking over him more, she saw something that was truly astonishing; two stubs where some form of horns once were. Before she was able to make any further evaluations, he awoke.

His eyes opened, revealing two blue eyes; with scaly brows. When he saw her, he almost jumped with shock; making her back away slightly as he stood up abruptly. Standing so fast, with such a fresh wound, might have been a mistake. As he quickly fell back to the floor, the only thing keeping him at a safe distance from her was a chain and shackle. He snarled at her as he created a larger distance, flashing white fangs.

"There is no need to behave in such a manner, I've only come to speak with you. "She assured the stallion, he wasn't convinced that was all she was here for. Beginning to grow even more irritated he hissed, flicking his long, lion tail at her. Which she only had to move a leg back to dodge.

"I demand to know where I am? "He barked, yet it was more regal than aggressive or rude.

"You are in the castle dungeons, "she replied, keeping information small.

"No, really? I thought I was in a hotel! "He remarked in a sarcastic tone, giving her a deadpan look. "What country am I in? "He asked, beginning to sound more and more condescending by the minute.

"You are in no position to ask questions. I will ask you what I want to know, and you will answer. If you cooperate, then you will have your answers "her voice was stern, and her stature regal and powerful. She wasn't going to obey a prisoners orders, a prisoner who was by far the rudest horse she'd ever met. If only he knew that she had accepted him here, had his wounds tended too, and was now trying to figure out what had happened to him. All she wanted was to help him.

"Then I'm afraid, you'll be disappointed. I'm not talking to you...."he snorted, turning his head away, refusing to even give her a glance. Closing his eyes, sticking his nose in the air.

"Fine. If you prefer staying here in the dungeons, by all means you're welcome to. "She turned tail and walked back to the door, tapping it with a hoof to signal the guards. The door opened, letting a stream of light in, blinding the Kirin momentarily. "I'll be back tomorrow to see if you've changed your mind. "With that, she left, the door slamming and locking back behind her. Leaving the injuries and confused stallions to his own solitude.

She was angry, but not overly so. Before her trip to the dungeons she was optimistic and happy to help this creature. But now, now after seeing the way he treated someone, she was figuring he'd be a tougher one to handle. Sighing out her irritation she decided to take a stroll, she had scrolls and other documents to look over, but a half-hour walk wouldn't do any harm.

"Sister! "Called Luna from the throne room doors, she was exiting them as Celestia passed by. "How did it go with the prisoner? "She asked, after seeing her elder sisters face, she understood the reply to her question.

"He's stubborn, I can already tell. And he's going to be far more troublesome when it comes to getting anything out of him, he is completely unwilling to cooperate. I don't think I came off as rude...."she sighed, looking towards the gardens.

"Give it time...."

"What if there is no time to waste? "She asked.

"He was out there in the north for at least two days before he was found, covered in snow and unconscious. Everypony get's lonely sister, the next time you go back to question him; I'm sure he'll comply. "She assured her, with a soft smile exchanged between the two royal sisters they headed to the gardens.

Hakan was furious, he amused himself by chewing on the chains. Hoping perhaps he'd be able to break them apart, but after a struggle with the metal, it was no use. Damn! He thought to himself as he paused to listen to the chattering guards outside the door; scowling at their puny forms he went back to his plan of escape. If he could just find a way to get the chains off, he'd be able to get out. The second the door opens, he'd run for it.

"No that's stupid...."he mumbled as he inspected the cell, the veins of cracks in the walls were not deep enough to break the rock apart, and there was no other entry or exit besides the door. Which was constantly guarded. His fire powers were washed up, after the time spent in that northern wasteland, he awoke with no powers. He didn't know how long he'd been out for, all he remembered was waking up to complete white surroundings, then he woke again in this cell.

The door clicked, at first he suspected it was the white mare, but it was only a guard. Sliding two bowls to him; one with food - the other with water. The stallion left as quick as he had come in, obviously terrified of whatever Hakan was. "Honestly, it's like they've never seen a Kirin before...."he growled as he lowered his head to take a sip, sniffing the liquid first. If it were poisoned it wouldn't be the first time he caught it. Assassination attempts were a normality in his homeland, especially with his family. That was how his father died, the one assassination that actually succeeded.

As he started to take a drink he noticed something in the reflection, his antlers. They were gone! In horror he brought his neck back, looking again to be sure he actually saw what he thought he saw. "No, no this can't be? How? Kirin antlers are nearly indestructible.....how could they have shattered? "He asked himself, almost losing his composure as he dealt with the fact that a Kirin's most praised trait were their antlers; and now he had none. Upon looking further into his reflection he also noted that his once black sclera was now white. "What in the hell happened to me!? "He nearly yelled.

"You hear him in there? "One of the guards asked to the other, as they listened to Hakan.

"Yeah, looks like he's cracked...."

"Wow, I know right? That's the quickest it's ever happened...."

"Yup. He's already talking to himself, next thing you know, he'll be seeing things that aren't there "

"Pity "