Twilight let out a cry of pain as a pale, blue hoof came across her muzzle.
Blood dripped from the nostril closest to the point of contact, and tears sprung in Twilight's eyes as a wave of heat traveled from her nose to her forehead. The chain connected to her neck rattled softly, though the magic-disabling loops of metal around her wings and horn stayed still, to tightly attached to move. Twilight's head turned slightly to face her abuser, whose magenta eyes were narrowed in anger. Her wings, encased in a sheath similar to the shape of an enlarged bat wing, were raised into the air, her rainbow mane cut short and stiff.
"I am a loyal guard of her Majesty, Princess Nightmare Moon!" shouted a rather gravely voice. "I am not your friend! You are a fool to speak in such a way!"
"R-rainbow Dash, I'm telling the tru-" Twilight was interrupted as a sharp blow came across her neck and then her back, throwing her against the cold, stone floor beneath her. A sharp pain hit her elbow as her foreleg crashed into the floor beneath her at an odd angle. Her jaw hit rather hard as well, forcing her teeth to come together, despite her tongue being in the way. Twilight picked up the taste of salt.
"Her Majesty was merciful enough to send you to the dungeons instead of the torture chamber, but she will change her mind if you continue like this. Understand?"
Twilight nodded feebly before forcing herself upright under the hate filled watch of Rainbow Dash. Once Twilight was standing, the Pegasus quickly checked her over for any damage regarding her restraints. Unable to find any problems, she tugged on Twilight's chain, forcing her to follow. The pair passed multiple cells, and at least half were filled with cowering ponies, who shook violently when Rainbow Dash passed. The Pegasus spotted two ponies who hadn't yet noticed her presence, as they were farther up ahead. Their heads were pressed against the bars in front of them, and they looked to be talking to each other. Rainbow Dash's eyes furrowed, and she removed the opal from her chest plate, which had been crafted to look like the eye of a cat or snake. She then threw it at the head of one of the ponies, an orange mare. Twilight was barely able to control herself from shouting out Applejack's name.
The Earth Pony crumpled to the floor, a hoof to her bleeding head. The stallion who she was talking to quickly retreated to the back of his cell as Rainbow Dash went over to Applejack's and retrieved her weapon. She fixed it back on before smacking Applejack across her side through the bars. The blonde mare yelped, a few tears of fear running from her eyes, before managing to scoot away. Rainbow snorted, continuing to lead Twilight past. However, they didn't get much farther before there was a flash of teal light as Nightmare Moon appeared. Rainbow Dash immediately bent to the floor, though Twilight managed to stay standing.
"Do not quiver, Rainbow Dash, I am here to talk to her . . ." Despite reassurance, terror came flooding through Rainbow Dash's veins, her body tightening. "You, therefore, as dismissed back to you chambers. Be ready if I'm in need of your assistance once again."
"Y-yes Princess."
Rainbow Dash stood up, still bowing her head, before giving Twilight's chain to Nightmare Moon, turning, and cantering off. Nightmare Moon watched as she disappeared before flaring her wings and stepping towards Twilight. A fanged grin flashed at her prisoner, and Nightmare Moon sliced Twilight's leg with her horn. Twilight manged not to yell, only to suck her teeth.
"As you can see, I have denied you the privilege to a trial, as I've witnessed your disobedience with my very own eyes." Nightmare Moon began to pace around Twilight, beads of sweat forming on the purple pony's forehead. "You had powerful magic at your disposal, time magic, and against your better judgement, destroyed it, despite my request instructing you to give it to me. I did believe you when you said that another pony had used the spell and sent you into another timeline, one containing my rightful rule. I know that because of this, you will be unable to recreate the correct spell, and as you are of no use to me, I have sentenced you to a life in my dungeons!"
Nightmare Moon looked at Twilight closely, expecting a reaction to enjoy, but the purple pony made sure to hide an sign of emotion. The black Alicorn snorted.
"Lest you think I didn't know, your disobedience is not the only reason I'm locking you away. I also know you've used the spell of magicae rerum appendices, the spell that allowed you to split the magic in your horn, using half to create wings. You also must've transferred the magic of another to yourself, making your wings much bigger than they should be. I'm not sure if you were planning to grow enough magic to fight me, but you are still in wrong doing for preforming the spell without my permission! For this, I will remove all of your Pegasus magic!"
Twilight almost cried of happiness; Nightmare Moon didn't know that she was a true Alicorn. Her body, even if it had slightly grown in height, was too immature, and she'd not yet gained the signature figure of other Alicorns. Sh hadn't even noticed Twilights horn, which was slightly longer than the average Unicorn's.
Then Twilight began to take in Nightmare's last statement. Twilight stood in shock, trying to process it. Her breathing became quick as she started to panic.
"W-wait! All of my-" Twilight was stopped short by a beam of magic as it struck her chest. She screamed in agony as her wings became stiff and a stabbing pain easily entered the joint connecting them to her body, like a hot knife through butter. Wisps of pink bled from her feathers as her wings began to shrivel up, crushing in on themselves. She could feel the fragile bones contained in each snap easily, the muscles inside collapse and flatten. They eventually disappeared all together, leaving a thick mist of fuchsia in the air. It hovered for a moment before Nightmare Moon drew it into a bottle. Horrified gasps came from nearby prisoners.
"If I set this free, it would return to whoever you took the rest of your magic from. Instead I will destroy it, and I hope you like the show," She said, smiling, a cackle echoing throughout the dungeon.
Nightmare Moon lit up her horn before blasting the bottle, spreading shards of glass in all directions before directing them at Twilight's skin. She screamed as the glass cut into her, blood pouring from the wounds caused by the biggest pieces. A shower of white hot sparks sprayed from her Pegasus magic as it became smaller and smaller. With a final flash of aqua light, the magic vanished altogether.
"How d-did you destroy my magic?" Twilight croaked. "Magic can't be destroyed. It can only tr-transformed . . . or c-contained . . ."
Nightmare Moon picked up Twilight in her glowing aura and threw her body into a nearby cell, the glass positioned beneath her digging even deeper into her back.
"I am the most powerful being in Equestria," she hissed. "I can do anything."
Nightmare smiled as she watched Twilight's eyes go out of focus, her blood loss finally catching up to her. She grew weak, slowly sinking to the floor as her vision blurred, dimming slightly. She managed to look down at her beaten body, which was bleeding steadily, and Twilight knew that the glint of either bone was visible at the spot where her wings should be placed. Without access to the help of others or her own magic, Twilight knew she would die. The last of her energy began to fade as she spoke in a feeble whisper.
"This isn't . . . just a punishment . . ." Twilight started, the tears in her eyes no longer of pain, " . . . it's an execution . . ."
Nightmare Moon chuckled, amused. "No, that penalty is to be saved for your little dragon."
Twilight's eyes widened.
"Please . . . when I acted . . . he can't be held responsible for what I did . . . All I was thinking of in that moment . . . was that I needed to stop you . . . I can't believe he left my mind . . . I'm so sorry Spike . . . all my fault . . ."
"The retched creature gave up his life when he spoke of my sister! He'll die in The Room!"
"What is . . . what is that?"
"Once you're behind bars, I'm sure that Pinkamena will explain everything . . ."
Unable to stay awake any longer, Twilight went completely limp, unconscious.
