Lingering

She'd surrendered herself.

She didn't know why. She was driven by an invisible force. Her legs had carried her towards the castle, towards her doom. She had walked with purpose, head held high.

But that didn't mean she wasn't panicking inside.

Her heart had pushed against her ribcage with every beat, and every breath was painful. She so desperately wanted to stop walking. Her mind writhed and screamed, stop!

But she didn't. The demon who was handling her wouldn't let up. He laughed with maniacal glee as she approached the steps. She strode up the steps, towards those doors, the gargantuan doors that towered over her.

Stay brave, the voice told her. This was your decision.

No it wasn't, she tried to argue, but the demon still wouldn't let her go. She was trapped. She was in a fight for control--for her own life. As she ascended the steps, her breathing became quick, shallow.

Then it stopped when the castle doors flew open.

She walked. Fixed her stare straight ahead. She approached the guards with not malice, not an intent to destroy, but with...what? She questioned her sanity. She struggled again, but her body did not turn around and flee. She could only watch as the guards' alarmed faces came closer.

She stopped right before one alert guard, towering over his small stature, and found herself breathing again. And before she could register that such a thing could happen, her mouth had opened and out came the words:

"I wish to surrender myself."

The guards glanced at each other. All the while they seemed to be...afraid.

Look, the voice said, they're afraid.

No.

Yes.

No?

Nos and yesses flowed through her mind, and she winced against it. The voice scolded her. STAY STILL.

Why? What do you want from me?

The voice did not answer. The voice was...gone. But the demon was still there, she just knew it...

Why? Why?

She hadn't realized that one of the guards had been talking to her. Oh, she had been so spaced out...disappointed. The demon was disappointed. The guard opened his mouth again, and she turned her attention to him.

"Are you absolutely sure?"

The question stunned her--he was asking if Equestria's biggest enemy was sure of admitting herself. And then...she could say no. She would opt out and then...

No.

Why?

They will catch you.

She ignored the tears that started to burn the edges of her eyes. She nodded curtly. The guard's brow shot up, but he got over it and ordered his companions to escort her to...

She spaced out again. Why. Why. Why. Why. Why...did she do this? No answer. Come on. Give me an answer! Voice! Demon!

Her breathing returned shallow. Still, she traveled with the group of guards towards her demise.

_____

Celestia leaned back on her bedroom door, eyes closed, letting it sink in. She had returned. She was here, and she was...surrendering herself. Beside her was her sister Luna, and, having a connection with her, Luna was shocked and disgusted.

Colonel Hurricane, who had delivered the controversial news, gauged their reactions. He shifted nervously. He was tough, but...what had just happened had shaken him. He couldn't stop thinking about it. What...what had driven that madmare to give herself up? Where was her logic? What...and then there was her blanking out, seemingly consumed by thoughts of her own. And the twitching. Should he mention that?

Luna interrupted his thought flow. "You're telling us that...she's alive and...?"

Colonel Hurricane nodded. His heart raced.

Celestia opened her eyes. "Can you tell me a bit about her disposition?" Luna shot her an inquiring look, and Celestia explained, "I wanted to know why she..."

Colonel Hurricane briefly closed his eyes as well. The information he was about to give would change things possibly for the worse.

Eyes still shut, he spoke.
_____

Time was nonexistent in the dungeon, but a couple voices gave her the time: "Yes, she came a few hours ago...the princess said that she should immediately be placed in..." The voice went quiet.

She looked up from her corner in the cell and saw one of the guards, flanked by two others, at the bars. She stood up and composed herself. "Yes?"

"There is...a change of plans. We will be escorting you somewhere new." He said this with more confidence than his shakiness before, although he was still very wary.

"Where to?" she asked.

"It's...confidential." He seemed hesitant to give her this information.

He used the keys he was using to unlock the cell door. She tentatively took a step. The voice returned to mock her. Scared.

No.

You fear me. You fear them.

No.

"Please." The guard was impatient.

She regulated her breathing and made her way out of the cell.

As she walked the halls of the castle worth the guards on either side of her, she began to notice changes. The dripping sound faded. The walls did not glisten with dew. As they exited the depths of the dungeon, she took note of how many prisoners were within the castle walls. None.

SHE IS NOT--

I wasn't thinking that.

YES YOU WERE. YOU MUST--

No.

DO NOT DEFY ME.

"Move." She gathered her angry thoughts at the guard's word and followed.

The color of the walls changed; so did their texture. They were no longer deep brown, but painted tan. They were no longer rough and rocky, but smooth. She remembered from being taken to the dungeon that the walls looked still a little better than this. They were high and had grand windows. These were two feet above her head and there was no outside view.

They took rights. They took the occasional left. It was a long walk, and she felt herself beginning to tire. On the way they passed a couple doors, and she heard it, a steady thump, thump, thump...

Where was she?

They took another left and there she was: Princess Celestia herself.

As the guards pushed the mare towards the princess whom she feared, the mare tried to collect herself and wait for whatever punishment the princess would lay on her.

This is your chance.

No.

THIS IS YOUR CHANCE.

No. First you want me to surrender, then you want revenge.

DON'T QUESTION ME.

What do you want?

DON'T YOU DARE QUESTION ME. YOU MUST...

She lifted her front hoof, teetered slightly, and balanced. She faced the princess. She prepared.

The princess started. "I have decided your fate."

You are going to die. ALL YOUR FAULT.

From somewhere by the princess came at least four doctors, dressed in their garbs and poised and professional. She had never seen them before, but their stature reminded her of medieval doctors. She made the connection.

Celestia continued. "One of my most trusted guards told me about your...behavior when you surrendered yourself. Me and my sister decided..."

Celestia stopped, letting that word sister invade her mind. It tortured her. It writhed and screamed in agony, and she flinched. Her eye twitched.

The doctor approached her carefully.

And then she knew.

"It's for the best," Celestia said softly.

NO.

nonononono

Panic. Panic.

Run.

She turned, but the guards blocked her way. One of the doctors grabbed her shoulder.

"Come on, Nightmare Moon," the doctor said.

Her eyes widened. Nightmare Moon? Was that...

No. NO. NO! You are not...they are psychopaths! They are killers! They will torture you! Do you not understand? They will kill youkillyoukillyou no no NO and

She squirmed in their grasp. They had latched onto her the moment she started panting. Their hold was firm. Tight.

"Settle down," one of the doctors whispered in her ear.

She was whimpering on the ground. She couldn't blink. Couldn't function.

No no NO MURDERERS DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE

Screaming, she tried to escape from their clutches. Tears flowed like a crashing river.

She saw Celestia's alarmed expression as she was dragged away. Then something stabbed her in the back. Crying out, she wriggled once more, then went limp. Her last thoughts before she completely blacked out was they're killing me.

And then her world was darkness.