Revenge of the Shadow Pony

Opening the gates, the trio moved deeper into the prison block to search for Apple Bloom. But it was so dark that Starlight had to glow her horn in order to see. When she did however, she saw several imprisoned ponies in a zombie-like state, moaning with pain and dying from the inside out with the ooze dripping out of their bodies.

“What has happened here…?” Starlight asked, trying to keep herself from vomiting.

“Terrible things. Lots of terrible things.” Sunset answered.

“The ooze was dangerous before, but we never had an idea how bad it would affect the other ponies. It is something far worse than any nightmare we ever dreamt. I met the king while I was trying to find the Elements of Harmony.” Tempest explained.

“What…? How? You should have been dead if he made eye contact on first notice.” Starlight said in disbelief.

“I know. I should have died. But I didn’t.” Sunset said.

“Surely, he couldn’t have spared you without a reason. I mean, he was the one who unleashed this upon us. Do you know who he is?” Tempest asked, feeling suspicious of Sunset’s survival.

“No. I don’t…” Sunset said, starting to feel melancholic.

“Even so, could this be what Twilight was planning to do with the ooze…? She was already insane since the beginning of this madness… but she wouldn’t be this insane to unleash it all over the Crystal Empire. Could she…?” Starlight asked, starting to feel a cold chill run down her spine.

“I don’t know, but that will be the least of our worries if we can’t find our friends.” Sunset said as she looked ahead in the darkness.

They looked all over the prison block for Apple Bloom, but they didn’t hear a sound other than the constant dripping from the water pipe and the squeaking of several rats from different areas. It was awfully quiet for the trio as they walked through the black hallways. But when they kept going deeper, they started to feel a cold chill run all over their bodies. They heard wheezing all over the hallway, but it sounded more like pained laughter than wheezing. It was a form of evil that Starlight has never felt before, but was all too familiar to Sunset and Tempest.

“What is that noise?” Starlight asked, starting to get creeped out.

“Just don’t turn your head in any direction, Starlight. We’ll be out of here soon.” Sunset said, starting to feel the sweat drip on her forehead.

“But swallow your fear and keep facing forward. We shouldn’t have much longer to go.” Tempest said while remaining vigilant.

They kept moving forward throughout the entire prison until they were eventually startled by coughing. Starlight moved forward to see who was coughing. Glowing her horn even brighter, she started to make who was coughing. It was Apple Bloom.

“Apple Bloom…?” Starlight asked, looking closely at the frail foal.

“S-Star… light…?” Apple Bloom asked as she weakly turned her head.

“We’re here, Apple Bloom. Just hold on.” Starlight said as she silently blew the the lock off the cell door.

The trio rushed inside the cell over to Apple Bloom’s side. Sunset placed her hoof on young Apple pony’s forehead. It was burning up.

“Starlight, get me some water and something to feed Apple Bloom.” Sunset ordered.

Starlight immediately went into her bag and pulled out a water canister along with a few rations before handing them over to Sunset. As soon as they were given to Apple Bloom, she immediately chugged the water and gorged herself on the rations. They were horrified by not only the mistreatment of prisoners, but to go so far as to starve a helpless foal was the most unforgivable act they could ever hope to witness. After Apple Bloom was finished eating and drinking, the trio sat her down. Sunset said,

“Apple Bloom, I know that you must have a lot on your mind. The Crystal Empire is destroyed and everypony you knew and loved was entirely wiped out by the Anomaly, but we need some ideas if we’re gonna find Twilight’s friends. So please, do you know where they are?”

Apple Bloom remained silent after hearing her question.

“Apple Bloom, we know that you don’t have much to say and you have lost so much, but we can’t help you or anypony else if we don’t have answers.” Starlight said, trying to help the poor foal.

“They’re gone…” Apple Bloom said in a silent voice.

“What…?” Starlight asked.

“Scootaloo… Sweetie Belle… they’re gone. I listened to one of the guards as they were taking me hear to this awful place. He said that Fluttershy killed them." Apple Bloom explained.

"Fluttershy…? Her…? She couldn't bring herself to harm a mosquito." Starlight said.

"That's not it. I learned much more. They… they…" Apple Bloom said as tears started to well up in her eyes.

"What happened…?" Sunset asked.

"Look over there…" Apple Bloom said as she slowly started to cry.

The trio turned to the right where the flies were buzzing and moved closer to see what it was. But then the terrifying realization kicks in as they figure out what the flies were buzzing over. They looked closer and saw that it was a couple of rotting, decapitated heads in the corner. But they weren't just any decapitated heads. Those heads belonged to Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo.

"Sweet Celestia…" Starlight said in horror of their realization.

At that moment, Apple Bloom started to wail over the demise of her friends. Tempest immediately shielded her eyes from the CMC's heads.

"They were the only two friends I ever had. The only ones who were Blanks Flanks with me…" Apple Bloom blubbered while being hugged by Tempest.

"How could it all come to this…?" Sunset asked, feeling sad and disgusted by their deaths.

"Do you know the monster who made Fluttershy do it…?" Tempest asked while continuing to hug Apple Bloom.

Starlight and Sunset turned around to hear the little Crusader's answer. After calming down for a little bit, Apple Bloom said,

"It was Spike…"

The trio were so far beyond shocked that they could barely speak. Especially Starlight, after how long it has been since she left Ponyville with her now former friend.

***

Outside the prison, Midnight Sparkle was waiting for the trio.

"I am going to have so much fun catching up when I see those three again…" Midnight said with a devilish grin before teleporting back to the Crystal Empire.