‘It’s about midnight now.’ Twilight thought, ‘He’s probably on his way back.’ She pulled her knees close. She put her still bound hands around them. ‘What’s he going to do to me?’ She thought She closed her eyes, tears about to burst, ‘Please don’t hurt me.’ She thought.

She pulled the red cloak around her body, her stomach grumbled, she was starving. ‘I haven’t had a proper meal in at least a month.’ She thought, ‘I hope he at least feeds me.’ The warmth produced by her body was heating her up. She closed her eyes and took several deep breathes. She smelled a familiar scent. ‘This cloak smells like him.’ She thought, ‘Well duh,’ She reminded herself, ‘It’s his.’

Twilight was, for the first time in forever, comfortable. She recalled the way that King Sombra had brought her to his bedroom to rest. ‘Why does he make me feel so… safe?’ She questioned, ‘I feel so anxious around him like something is going to happen to me.’ Her thoughts paused, ‘Why?’

Despite her rapid thoughts in her mind, she didn’t move in the bed. SHe was far too weak from the relentless weeks of punishment given to her. She was still in extreme pain from the injuries, they ached at any movement. Her mind still refused to imagine what the guard would do to her if Sombra didn’t intervene and that in itself, is another problem. ‘Sombra saved me, an Alicorn, an enemy. Why would he do that?’ She questioned herself, ‘What does he want from me?’

The thoughts of the walk from the dungeon were still in her mind. The stares were what bothered her the most. ‘What will the ponies think of me? Holding my worst enemy as if…’ She cut off the thought before it was finished. She looked at the window, only now realizing it was nighttime. ‘How long have I been here?’ She went back to questioning herself, sounding repetitive. She curled up in the fetal position, ‘How long was I… tortured for?’

She heard the door begin to open.

Earlier

Twilight was barely keeping herself upright, still using Sombra for support. ‘This is so wrong’, she thought. ‘He should at least be talking.’ Twilight looked up to Sombra’s face to at least make some sort of small talk. Only to find him staring at her, right in the eyes. She immediately moved her eyes and head back down. ‘How long has he been looking at me?’

She quickly looked up again only to find him looking at her. ‘Never going to do that again.’ Her left leg buckled under her, Twilight lost grip of Sombra’s shoulder and she began to fall toward the ground. She felt a strange warmness take hold of her and find herself stop moving. She was brought back up to Sombra and released. This time she fell into Sombra as her legs gave out.

She found herself looking at his armor on his chest, slowly being aroused by his features. The way it glistened in the sunlight made it feel magical, it gave her a good image of what his chest most probably looks like. She suddenly snapped out of her own mind ‘I’m staring at his chest.’ She told herself followed by her immediately looking up to his face. He was smirking at her. Her cheeks went 2 shades purpler.

“Let’s just keep moving.” He said. She nodded and they began walking. ‘That was…’ She tried to actively repress the memory but kept finding herself coming back to it. ‘Just stay out.’ She was so distracted with herself that she didn’t realize Sombra had stopped. She nearly fell off of him. She stumbled a bit and then looked up at him with an annoyed expression on her face. He looked at her and said, “You will stay in my room, for the time being, I will be back at midnight.” He said while unlocking the door. He led her to the bed and sat her down. Her legs felt better with no weight being on them. She immediately laid down on the bed. ‘It’s comfortable… I guess.’

When Sombra turned to leave Twilight had gotten the courage to ask something that’s been on her mind. “Sombra?”She timidly asked, “How do the sun and moon move?” She instantly regretted asking it, ‘I should’ve just kept my mouth shut.’ She cursed internally.

He turned to her, “The sun and moon now move by themselves, They must’ve put them on auto or something.” He said while walking out the door, “It would do you well to get some rest. You must be exhausted.”

He walked out the door, closing and locking it behind her. She contemplated just going to sleep right after he left, but her body stopped her, she looked down at her hands. ‘Maybe I could…”

Twilight immediately began to attempt to take the bindings off her hands. The adrenaline from the walking, however small, had given her enough energy to at least try.

She was skeptical at first, ‘What if he put a spell on it? What if he didn’t do anything and the enchantment is still there?’ Her studious mind calculated the chances, ‘It’s worth a try.’ She reached down with her teeth to begin to pull at the ropes. She had just pulled hard on the end, pulling the rope out, she could feel the knot undoing. ‘Finally.’ She dropped the rope to change her position on the rope. And it just slithered back into place, immediately making it tighter than before. Her hopes had evaporated just as fast as her the losslessness from the bindings.

‘I CAN’T GET A BREAK, CAN I?!’ She internally screamed. Her eyes began to grow heavy, ‘The adrenaline's wearing off.’ She noted before collapsing on the bed. She curled up in the cloak. ‘So comfy.’ She thought as she passed out.

Twilight’s eyes fluttered open. She felt groggy as if she was covered in several layers of grim and dust. She only then realized her condition, her clothes, which were supposed to be pristine and white, were tattered and brown. She wanted to take them off and take a twelve-hour bath, ‘But my hands are tied.’ She looked down at her hands, ‘Quite literally.’ She thought, ‘And Sombra would s-’ She shut down that line of reasoning. ‘Why am I thinking like that?’ She thought. She just sighed.

When she looked out the window she was able to see the sunset, ‘It was late-morning or noon when Sombra left me here.’ She thought, ‘So I still have a few hours before he gets back.’ She breathed a sigh of relief. ‘I don’t want to deal with him right now.’

She just sat there for the next few minutes contemplating her choices, life and anything else that she has done. Eventually, her mind lingered on her friends, ‘What are they doing right now?’ She thought, ‘Were they captured, killed… or…’ “No.” She said aloud, ‘I’m sure they’ve kept their heads down, maybe if I can get out of here, we can still save Equestria.’ She reassured herself several times, ‘They’re fine.’

She sighed again, this time more audible, ‘Stop worrying Twilight. They’re fine.’ She thought. She wrapped herself back up in the cloak and laid back down. She was trying to think of something else, ‘FOOD!’ She internally shouted, slightly rejoicing for finding a new topic for her thoughts. ‘I haven’t eaten in a month, jeez I’d kill for an apple right now.’

Sombra

“Well I feel it would be more advantageous to kill her.” Royal Wit, a Unicorn Stallion, and Sombra’s head advisor told him. “Ponies will gather around her like moths to a flame. We must snuff out that flame.” Sombra sat at the head of the council table. His other councilors were silent on the issue. All except for Fly Away, a pegasus mare, the head of relations, she had an entirely different view.

She was flabbergasted, ‘How could Wit want to throw away such an advantageous mare, Twilight could easily help unite the two nations.’ She turned to the Dark King, “Your Highness, I would advise against it.” Royal and Sombra turned to her.

Royal looked at the blue pegasus, he recognized her,she was chosen for her prowess as a “diplomatic general” who was able to get the ponies of Canterlot to surrender in exchange for their lives and livelihood. “Now now, the grown-ups are talking.” He turned to Sombra, his head was still faced toward Fly.

“What do you have to offer ms.... ?” Sombra asked.

“Fly Away, your majesty. I believe her living would benefit the nation.” Sombra studied the mare, she was undoubtedly an oddity. A blue pegasus mare, who was barely a mare, in a room full of unicorns. “Explain.” He said sternly, ‘This should be fun.’ He thought.

Fly Away began, “If you were to keep Twilight alive, she could be used as a hostage to keep Equestria in check. She could also help us find the Elements of Harmony.” She said, smiling. ‘I think I can convince him.’ She thought.

“By keeping her alive, you could easily find ponies who would attempt to rescue her Fly.” Royal Wit replied.

“Not if she stays willingly. Currently, she was, from what I just heard, tortured under the hands of an insane guard.” Sombra slightly flinched at the remark. Fly continued unabated. “Currently you, your majesty, are the only thing she’s seen in a month that resembles a nice treatment. If you continued on this path, she might just accept a deal with you that would keep somepony she loves safe in exchange for an oath or something else. She might see you as fair and kind.” She paused, Sombra raised an eyebrow, She quickly tried to fix her mistake. “W-which I’m not saying your not your majesty, in her point of view, is what I mean.” She smiled at her speech, ‘I just hope that works’.

The brown vestige of Royal Wit descended on the mare, “What an excellent display of TREASON. Everypony she loves is dead, we found her parents at the ceremony with her brother.” Fly Away’s smile made like her namesake. He turned to the King, “Your Highness, I ask your permission to arrest this traitorous mare.”

Sombra Stood up from his seat. “While I see your points, I must agree with Royal Wit that she is dangerous,” Royal smirked and looked at Fly Away. “However,” His smile disappeared, “She is an asset, one that I do not intend to waste.”

“Your Highness, I must pro-” Sombra stopped him with the wave of his hand. “I put it to the council to decide.” The vote began Royal wit and his cronies, 8 in total raised their hands for killing the princess. The assorted opposition, another 8 raised their hands.

Sombra spoke up, “A tie,” He said, “I will take some time to think, Until then, this meeting is dismissed.” The advisors all got up to leave.

Sombra walked to his bedroom. There was a lot on his mind right now. ‘An 8-8 tie? I never would’ve thought that would’ve happened.’ He protested his own stupid decisions. ‘I never should’ve even put it to a vote, I should’ve made it final.’ He mentally facepalmed. He reached the door and walked inside. With a wave of his hoof, he told his guards to wait outside.

He saw Twilight, still in her bonds, sitting on the bed. She was wrapped up in his coat, attempting to look asleep. He could feel her awareness. “Well, I guess I can’t cut off those ropes now.” He said out loud. She shot up, he smirked, ‘gotcha.’ “Wow, who would’ve guessed. You’re up.” He dispelled the rope around her wrists and took a knife and cut the rope. She felt her wrists with the opposite hands. “I’m guessing I am not going to get my magic or wings back anytime soon?” He raised his eyebrow “...your highness.” She finished. He merely huffed.

He walked up to Twilight and sternly said, “Do not make me regret my decision.” She quickly nodded. “Follow me.” He commanded. The pair walked out of the room. ‘At least her legs are better.’ He internally remarked. ‘I would’ve hated to have to carry her.’ They walked across the hall, he took a key from out of his pocket and unlocked the door. ‘Perfect place to keep an eye on her.’

‘The room had been prepared with all the necessary enchantments an hour earlier.’ The room looked just like his, but instead, there was a bookshelf where there had been a dresser in this room. “There is a washroom over there.” He gestured with his hands to the door to the left. “Your possessions were confiscated and are currently under lock and key, so you get the room along with basic amenities.” He walked up to her. “I am being very generous Princess.” He said, “Do not test me, if you attempt to escape, I will know of it, I am always within reach; I will personally lead you to the dungeons and this time, nopony will come to the rescue. If you attempt in any way to undermine me there will be severe punishments. I’m sure you’ve already felt some pain, that was but a mere fraction of what I am capable of.” He paused, “Do you Understand?” He asked.

She could only nod. ‘That’s not good enough.’ Sombra thought. “I want to hear you say you understand.” ‘She needs to know I mean it.’

“I-i-i understand…” She said.

“That’s not good enough, princess.” He replied with malice in his voice.

“...y-your majesty.” She croaked out. ‘She must’ve grown complacent of being a princess.’

“Go wash up.” He said sternly. He took off his cloak from her and saw the dreadful state her clothes were in, ‘They’re practically rags.’ He continued with a hand gesture to a side door. “There is a robe in there that you can wear until clothes are brought to you.”

Her stomach growled. She slightly blushed at the display, “May I-i h-have s-s-something to eat and drink?” She stuttered out. She was still looking off to the side for fear of her muzzle touching his chest. She finally included “... your Highness?” ‘At least she can take a hint.’ Sombra thought.

Sombra took two steps back; giving the mare some room. “I will have food sent up to you Twilight, in the meantime, go wash up, your clothes smell disgusting,” Sombra replied. “I’ve heard you like books?”

‘That came out of nowhere.’ Twilight thought. She nodded. “Then some will also be brought up.” Her mind began churning, ‘I haven’t seen a book for nearly a month.’ She thought, slightly putting a depressing mood, ‘It would be great to read again.’

“Thank you… your highness.” She said. He turned to leave, but she asked, “What is my fate going to be King Sombra?” He turned back to her, she was looking at the ground. ‘She probably said that to herself.’

‘Well, she should at least know what’s going to happen to her, I’ll have someone else, maybe Fly Away, talk to her about it.’ He thought. He then replied to her question, “The pony that came up with your fate will tell you personally.”

After some hesitation, she said, “Thank you, your highness.” He only nodded, walked out the door and closed and locked it. Two guards were already at the side of the door. “She is to not leave the room unless I am here, Understand?”

“Yes, your majesty.” They both replied.

Author's Note

NEW CHAPTER

If there any mistakes in continuity or questions in general, I'll try to address them in the next chapter.