You go downstairs without picking up the dagger.

"That's a terrible idea," the narrator says.

"You're a terrible idea," you say.

"You're going to regret this," the narrator says.

"I'd regret killing an innocent more," you say.

"I have made a terrible mistake," the narrator sighs.

You wind your way down a tight staircase until you arrive at its base and see at the end of a surprisingly well-lit room a... pony who is wearing a tiara. Flames flicker from torches, illuminating a purple pony wearing a tiara: a purple princess pony wearing a tiara?

"Have you come to set me free?" the pony princess asks, her voice echoing in the nearly-empty room.

"Are you a princess?" you ask, although the answer should be obvious.

"Yes! I am Princess Twilight Sparkle." She shakes her prominent ruffled horn, ruffles her wings and, when she moves, you hear the scraping of a chain that secures one of her forelegs. She strains against the chain, but it grows taut since it's bolted into the stone wall.

"You're a pegasus?" you ask. "A unicorn?"

"An alicorn. I have the strength of an earth pony, the flight of a pegasus, and the proactive magic of a unicorn."

She pauses and turns her head, evaluating you. "Do you have a key?"

"Nope."

She sighs, "No trouble. I am sure I will find some way to get out of these chains." Her voice hardens. "One way or another."

"I was told," you say, "that if you get free, you'll end the world."

She laughs a tittering cacophony. Then, she stops. "Oh, you were serious."

"Yes."

"But why would you think that?"

"Some disembodied voice told me you'd end the world."

"I see," her eyes narrow.

"Anything to say about that?"

"It sounds crazy."

"Yes."

"But you're going to free me?"

"You're a pony... a magical pony."

"Yes."

"That's pretty freaky."

"I think it's pretty freaky that you're not a pony."

You shrug. "Ponies don't talk where I'm from. At least, where I think I'm from."

"Having memory troubles?"

"I guess."

"I... don't know. Why would you think that?"

"Your scaly hide... your claw..." she starts. Then, she shakes her head. "Doesn't matter. This chain is really painful and I haven't eaten in quite a while."

You note the lack of a refuse bucket... or any refuse on the ground.

"And Equestria needs me! Without me, it might devolve into a squabbling bunch of fearful tribalist groups--that would be apocalyptic!"

"How long have you been here?"

"I dunno. Days. Weeks?"

"Really?" You scour the room again, trying to find evidence of refuse. "What have you been drinking? Eating?"

"I dunno. Does it matter?"

"It doesn't matter," the narrator says.

"Did you just imprison her recently?" you ask.

"I didn't do anything," the narrator says.

"Really..."

"Essentially... specifically..." the narrator dissembles.

"What are you talking about?" The princess asks.

"You don't hear that voice?"

"I hear your voice," the princess says, scowling.

"Um... Maybe don't worry about it."

"But, I do worry about you... and that strange violent voice you said you've heard," she says, although you shouldn't believe her sincerity.

"Stop it!" you tell the narrator.

"Stop what?" she asks.

"Never mind. One more question... How did you get here--in this basement?"

"I... don't know. Starlight Glimmer was casting a spell and then I woke up here."

"Who?"

"My former student. She's quite brilliant."

"Sure she wasn't trying to take over by sending you here?"

"It isn't her voice in your head?"

"No. It's some older gent's voice."

"She wouldn't change her voice.... She's too vain and cisnormative.... despite the company she keeps."

"What?"

"Did the voice say he was Discord? Did he speak with quirky insane tones? Or maybe it was Tirek--deep, domineering, and like an upset stomach?"

"No, that doesn't sound right."

"Hmm...," she cogitates. "Regardless, I've got to get out of here. Can you help me ease out of these chains?"

After some exertion, you fail to help her slip out. Her appendages are daintly, but they're not dainty enough to slip through.

"Maybe your magic might work?" you suggest. "You said something about your horn--it's magic?"

"I suppose..." she muses.

"Perhaps... would you kindly try that?" you ask.

"...It couldn't hurt," she purses her lips, then shoots a burst of sparkling magic from her horn. The chain crumbles to nothing--not even soot. It disappears as though it never existed. "Strange. That spell didn't work before you thought about it."

You shrug, "Maybe the failure before was just a fluke. Your magic's pretty powerful."

"Indeed," she says, her voice suddenly cold. A moment later, it warms. "I suppose we can't dwell on those sort of thoughts for too long. Let's get out of here."

Together, you ascend the staircase but you find the exit closed.

"Maybe your magic can get the door open?" you ask.

"I don't know..." she shifts from leg to leg.

"Would you kindly give it a try?"

"Of course," she concentrates and, magically, the door opens.

"Blast!" The narrator's voice resounds in your head. "But look! You still have a chance to turn things around and do the right thing. On this table, there's a dagger." Indeed, there still is.

"We don't want this being any trouble..." The Princess, eyes darting to the danger, picks up the blade with her magic, then tosses it past you, down the stairs. It clatters for quite a while before coming to a stop.

The Princess shuts the door leading to the basement, then she nods toward the cabin's exit. "Thank you for your friendship. Without it, I might never have escaped!"

"All I did was suggest you use your magic."

"But so kindly a suggestion. You did it so nicely."

"Oh," you blush.

"You are a good friend."

"Blaarrrgh," the narrator says. "She's going to end the world if you open that door."

"Then I won't. Princess, would you kindly?"

The princess tugs at the door, but it fails to open.

"Ha!" the narrator laughs.

"If, would you kindly, try your magic?" you suggest.

"The magic of friendship!" She winks at you, then activates her horn and tries the door. The knob twists.

"That isn't supposed to happen!" the narrator objects. "You can open the door and you can do it together but she can't do it herse--"

"Isn't this wonderful!" She cracks open the door and looks back at you and smiles and behind her there is a vast void of explosions and sound and fury signifying... something.

And the world ends.

And you die.

GoTo:
A. You're on a path in the woods... again?

Author's Note

It isn't over...

Would you kindly click the red link in the story above?