Author's Note

This one's a bit smaller, mostly because it was originally part of another chapter that I split in two. So, the next one is going to have a lot happening.

Chapter Sixteen: Loyalty

Starlight’s body shook uncontrollably as she pulled herself back into consciousness. She had been trapped in this dreadful machine for what felt like hours. She bit down on the ball gag in her mouth as the pain levels increased steadily. Her limbs were stretched outwards, bound to metal bars that would extend away from her body, slowly pulling her limbs out of their sockets. Occasionally the machine would twist her limbs around sideways, but never enough to actually break any bones, instead just ripping her muscles apart, slowly. Screaming seemed pointless, but, as usual, was inevitable. Starlight had eventually given up and let the pain overwhelm her, her mind going blank, fainting. Now she was awake again, and felt a great sense of dread as she saw she was still tied to the machine, and worse, could no longer feel her limbs. She peeked down at her legs, twisted and coiled about, grotesquely deformed. Her skin was creased and gummy with blood, staining her mane and dripping down across her whole body. She groaned in agony as she hung there. Somewhere, deep inside her heart, there was still a fighting spirit. A need to resist. She couldn’t be beaten by Chrysalis of all ponies, even though it already seemed like she had been. She wanted to believe she was strong, and after having survived all of these tortures, she knew she could survive a few more. Even if help wasn’t coming, she would still be alive. And that’s all that matters-staying alive.

Not that they would come for me anyway.

Emotionally, Starlight was still grappling with Twilight’s seeming betrayal. All she did was send a few soldier ponies? That’s it? Was that all she was worth?

‘Twilight only wanted me as a pupil to have proof of her own success. And now that she’s got it, there wasn’t any need to keep me around…’ she thought, holding back tears. ‘I was just a tool for them...and now that I’m not needed anymore...they don’t want me anymore.’

At this point, Starlight was more angry than depressed. There was no point in being sad, the best thing she could do was use her anger constructively-like fighting the pain of this machine. Starlight and pain had become well-acquainted after these past weeks after all, so, to her thinking, she might as well embrace it.

“Hear, drink this.”

Sunflower handed a canteen of water over to Rarity, who picked it up with her magic. Sunflower gazed into the blue aura, amazed.

“I don’t get to see many unicorns where I’m from.”

“Well, you’re in luck, it looks as though we’ll be spending a lot of time together,” Rarity responded, tired and in no mood for conversation. The ponies were sitting in an oval, resting their legs after a long day of travelling.

“It just doesn’t make sense,” muttered Rainbow bitterly.

“What?” asked Applejack, always eager to get in an argument with her.

“How could Twilight have been beaten?”

Applejack didn’t answer, as she herself had been wondering the same thing. Rarity, however, took the opportunity to interject.

“Chrysalis is weak by herself. Without an army, she has to resort to more creative tactics to get what she wants. Twilight told me they had the chance to attack her, but Chrysalis was able to resist it. Shining Armor said he meant to kill her, but...she lived. Twilight thinks she’s using some sort of artifact to give her extra strength, but...who knows. It doesn’t matter, does it? She doesn’t like to fight. She likes to manipulate, to entrap. She’s a coward. Twilight never lost to her. Chrysalis threatened to kill us unless Twilight gave up, and Twilight, naturally, had to give in.”

“She’s dangerous, I get it. But how are we supposed to do what an alicorn and a team of soldiers couldn’t?” said Hickory, cynically.

Rarity glanced at Hickory, annoyed.

“This time...we know what to expect. I’ve been thinking of it all myself, actually. Chrysalis gets what she wants by using leverage. If we remove that leverage, she’s powerless to stop us.”

“What does that mean?” Hickory asked.

“It means,” said Rarity, “that we must rescue Twilight and the others first! Before we try and attack Chrysalis!”

“What about your friend? The one we actually came here for?” asked Hickory again.

“Starlight is...different...I’m not sure we should even try and save her at this point.”

“What kind of talk is that? We almost died to get there and save the poor mare, and now you want to leave her behind?” said Sunflower.

“Three of us did die to get there. We’ve got to make a decision. Applejack? Fluttershy?”
Fluttershy at first avoided all eye contact, not wanting to risk dooming them all with a reckless decision. Until she found everypony else staring at her, waiting for her opinion.

“I….I think we should help Twilight first. Then Starlight,” she said, practically whispering.

“And Chrysalis?” asked Applejack.

“She’s not why we came,” Fluttershy said. “We should focus on saving the others.”

“I disagree! She’s a murderer,” Rarity said with extra emphasis on the last word.

“Would you all quit it?” Rainbow yelled above the others, rising to her hooves.

“We came here to save Starlight, and we are saving Starlight. So what if Twilight couldn’t do it? We’ll save them too. Whatever it takes. We’ve got an obligation, and we’re not leaving anypony behind.”

Rarity scoffed.

“That’s rich, coming from you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” said Rainbow through gritted teeth.

“Chrysalis showed Starlight and us some...interesting information. Involving you and Applejack...discussing how little you cared for Twilight’s decision to take Starlight on in the first place.”

Rainbow was dumbfounded, barely even remembering what she was talking about.

“That was in the past. And you’re no better, remember all the things you told me?”

“Yes, but I’m saying that our priorities are on Twilight, not Starlight. Those ponies wouldn’t be dead if she hadn’t been captured,” Rarity said with her nose pointed up in the air.

“You’re not thinking straight, Rarity. Listen to yourself,” said Rainbow.
Rarity eyed her down and immediately felt shame, turning away. Rainbow nodded solemnly.

“We’ll rest here for the night, then move out in the morning. And it’s like I said. Nopony gets left behind.”

Starlight sprang to attention upon hearing the creaking of the door ahead. It was Chrysalis, trotting in carelessly, as if she had no consideration for the Starlight’s plight. Starlight moaned through the ball gag eagerly, desperate for release as her limbs burned with pain.

“What’s that? You want me to release you?”

She moaned again, this time more politely. Chrysalis flipped a switch, and the locks opened, letting Starlight fall straight on her face, her limbs unable to support her weight. Chrysalis sighed and zapped her, healing her legs back to their normal state, the burning pain reduced to only a light ache.

“I’ve worked on you a lot today, haven’t I? It’s all for a good purpose, you know. You have commitments later today, remember?”

Starlight moaned in affirmation, the gag still in her mouth.

“I’m leaving you in your cell until then, got it?” Chrysalis asked, removing the ball gag, letting her take a few deep breaths, fully exhausted from that awful experience.

“Yes….My queen.”

“Good. You have yet to disappoint me today, Starlight, let’s keep it that way.”

Chrysalis led Starlight out the door into the Main Hall, the pony-filled chandelier shining down from above. Starlight had trained herself to ignore it, unwilling to look the ponies she’s doomed to a lifelong prison sentence in the eyes.
Chrysalis levitated Starlight up into the air, and then teleported her behind the bars, dumping her on the cold floor of the prison cell. Without any goodbye, Chrysalis went back to her room to get busy finalizing the plans for that night. Starlight still wasn’t sure what was happening. All she knew was that some ponies will be coming here, and she’ll probably have to kill some more dogs. But why were the ponies coming here? She decided it wasn’t any of her business and to just focus on the prison. The isolation had really begun to get to her. She had befriended each small pebble in her cell, organizing them in different patterns to try and find just a little bit of joy and entertainment in this cold dark place. She remembered her old life, where she was free to make her own decisions. That all seemed like a fantasy now. Nothing could ever be as real as this.

While the others were fast asleep, Rarity was sitting upright, eyes open, wide awake. Sunflower, lying on the ground and using her satchel as a pillow, noticed this, and stood up, walking towards her.

“Can’t sleep?”

Rarity paused for a second while staring into space, unaware anypony else was still awake.

“Oh, um...yes...I just can’t stop thinking I suppose.”

Sunflower, with nothing better to do, got herself comfortable nearby.

“Is it about tomorrow? Are you scared to go back?” she asked plainly, irritating Rarity with her lack of restraint. They hardly even knew each other.

“I...I’m not scared, I’m just not foolish. I’ll go back only if I have to, and I have to save Twilight...and Pinkie, and Shining Armor…”

“And the other one...Starlight?”

“Yes...her too.”

“I don’t get what the big fuss is. There’s no way we would leave anypony behind anyway, right?”

Rarity took a moment, recognizing Sunflower’s blissful naivety.

“Sometimes...in life...you have to make a choice. We cannot save everypony, we just can’t. In trying to do so, we lose sight of why we even bothered.”

“But...the reason we even bothered was for Starlight.”

“That’s….that’s not Starlight...anymore.”

“Well, I don’t know what you saw...but...we’ve got to try.”

“I want to save her, I do. That’s all I’ve wanted this whole time. To save her and get out of this madness, and feel the sunlight again. But I don’t think it was meant to be so easy. I don’t think Starlight is meant to return with us. She’s changed down here, you wouldn’t understand, you’ve never known her. She’s always been so...persistent. But that pony, the one I saw yesterday...she had no motivation. If we brought her back with us, she would be just as much of a risk as she was befo-”

Rarity trailed off, as she noticed Applejack, lying on the ground nearby, awake, listening in. She quickly closed her eyes upon being noticed, though it was too late. Rarity sighed.

“You should sleep while you can. I’ll be fine.”

Sunflower cautiously agreed and cuddled up against her satchel, as Rarity continued sitting still, deep in thought.

It was about another hour before Chrysalis strolled into the throne room, standing right in front of the invisible prison cell where Twilight, Pinkie, and Shining Armor were still lounging around in. Chrysalis stood there, waiting until Twilight would acknowledge her presence.

“What are you staring at? This isn’t much of a view.”

“You can dispense with the attempt at humor, Highness. I’ve decided, on this fateful day where your former pupil is finalized into becoming the perfect weapon, that I owe it to you to give you something of one last formal goodbye...Before the Starlight you know is gone forever.”

“What are you talking about?” said Twilight, quickly becoming concerned.

“I knew that would get you interested. She’s nearly past the past the edge, Twilight. Soon, her mind can be corrupted...fully, and permanently. She practically wants it already. Just wait, you’ll see. Seeming as there’s little you can do to interfere with what I have planned, I’ve considered this as one reasonable gesture. Do you disagree?”

Twilight glared at her with a fiery hatred.

“No. Take me to her.”

“As you wish, Highness,” Chrysalis replied, taking a small sarcastic bow before teleporting Twilight outside the prison, dragging her along in the air as Chrysalis exited the throne room.

Starlight heard the sinister laughing of Chrysalis resonate through the cavernous hallways of the lair.

What’s going on?

“Starlight.”

In a flash, Chrysalis had teleported herself right in front of the bars of the cell, flying in the air. Starlight jumped back, startled.

“Calm down, you pitiful rat. I’ve come to give you a surprise...A new, temporary cellmate.”

Starlight couldn’t contain her shock.

“What?!”

‘A cellmate? What does she mean?’

Chrysalis grinned, eager to see the look on Starlight's face.

“Yes...I entrust you to be a hospitable host...In other words, get along. Or don’t. There is much to say, of course.”

Chrysalis teleported Twilight inside the cell behind Starlight, who hadn’t noticed until Chrysalis began buzzing away, chuckling to herself.

Twilight got a hold of her surroundings and realized Starlight was only a few feet in front of her. All this heartache, death, and pain, and there she was. She seemed...sadder. Her shoulders hung lower than normal, and her breath was slow and worn out. Starlight slowly turned around, and then froze, unable to speak.

“St-Starlight? It’s me…”

Starlight gave no reply, she just kept staring. If this was real, it had to be a joke. Why was she here?

“We...we came to rescue you...But, we……”

“You never came….You...left me here.”

“No, Starlight, look at me! I’m here! We traveled a very long way to find you! Three ponies died!”

“That’s...You never came.”

“Starlight….Please...Listen to me. I’m your friend. You remember me?”

“I remember you…”

Starlight’s disgusted scowl turned to a deranged grin.

“You...you were the pony that took everything I built away from me. You ruined me. I could’ve been so much greater. My power. I nearly killed you! And destroyed all of Equestria! That’s more than Chrysalis can ever dream of! All of that fortune and power...Stolen! By you! And your friends! All under the...the guise of trying to help me. You never cared. Nopony...ever cared. Why should they? What good am I? Nothing. I’m not good. That’s how I was when you found me, right? I was a problem. Well, you were right. I never fit in from the start, did I? You...you all found me, and made me into your...some kind of project!”

Twilight was shaking her head, desperate for her friend to calm down.

“No, Starlight, please, that’s not true! You’ve been lied to! Chrysalis is trying to get in your head! How can’t you see that?”

Starlight began laughing now, almost hysterically, wiping tears away from her one working eye.

“I don’t need Chrysalis to tell me anything. She’s just as awful as the rest of you. Everypony is the same. They all think of me like I’m an animal!”

“Starlight! You’re my friend! I love you! And I need you to calm down, and just listen, okay?”

Starlight’s psychotic giggles died down, as a deep-seeded rage boiled inside her.

“I’m done listening to you, Twilight. You’re not my friend. You don’t really care about me, and you never have. None of you have! I’ve spent so much of my life listening to other ponies, who tell me what’s best for me to live my life. Well, I’m done listening, Twilight. And I’m done with you.”

“Starlight, st-”

In a puff of smoke, Twilight disappeared, vanishing from the prison cell. Starlight stared on at the empty walls of the cell, happy she could finally speak her mind, but deeply worried on her own behalf. Had she really just said that? Was Twilight really there? Starlight’s legs gave out, collapsing to the ground as she began sobbing, pulling at her mane, tormented.

“Stop!”

Twilight finished her sentence in the invisible prison cell, Shining Armor and Pinkie Pie jumping back in shock.

“Twilight?”

“That didn’t go well, in my opinion,” said Chrysalis from the other side of the cell, smirking. Twilight was breathing heavily, regretful and scared.

“Take me back! I need to talk with her!”

Chrysalis laughed viciously.

“I think you’ve said enough. That right there, was her final test. If she could resist you, her hero, then nopony can stop her. You’ve proved it to me, Twilight. She belongs to me now.”

Twilight was radiating anger as she approached the glass of the cell.

“I swear to you, Chrysalis. You are going to suffer for what you’ve done here.”

Chrysalis’s smile only grew wider.

“Maybe…”

She spread her wings and took flight, heading towards the throne room doors.

“But my work is already finished.”

She smugly exited, as Twilight crumbled back down to the ground, her companions comforting her. Twilight held back tears, a new resolve setting in.

“We need a new plan.”