How the Tables Turn

The Underground has been White Phoenix's life, terrible as it is. He was born there, he was raised there, and he will probably die there. No one has ever had the luck to escape.

White Phoenix wants to change that, though. All these ponies need is a reason to fight back, a spark to make them realize how great freedom would be, what it would mean to spit in the face of Mistress.

White Phoenix was just itching to be that spark.

Today was White Phoenix's 34th session. Mistress herself watched. She saw him scream, saw his life flash behind his hollow eyes. She watched him look at himself in horror, reflected in the blood on the floor. Phoenix knew that Mistress was disappointed by his reaction. He wouldn't shudder like he used to. He was becoming less sensitive over the years, and the young stallion was beginning to lose his grip.

Just like every other pony in the Underground.

But she knew it wouldn't last. He had looked like this before, and he always pulled through. He fought for strength and control, and losing control of his sanity would be to lose everything, and he wouldn't have that.

Still, only Phoenix and Ashes knew what it was that kept Phoenix going. At the end of every day, he would get to look into his neighbor's eyes. Only Ashes ever got to bear witness to the fire behind his eyes, the glimmer of courage, hope, and bravery that only Ashes could ever bring out.

Phoenix and Ashes were the first two of all the 547 ponies to find love in the Underground. As secret as it was kept, they would visit each other constantly, comforting each other after their sessions, helping each other through tough times, as well as being together for the joy that their better ones brought. Phoenix needed her today, as he walked through the hallways. He couldnt wait to see his marefriend's shining face and beautiful, golden eyes - the ones that always filled him with warmth when he gazed into them. Just a few more doors and he would be there.

He walked through the door and was greeted by Ashes immediately.

"PHOENIX!" She blared happily as she galloped across the room. She stopped herself before she hugged him, checking for a spot where a hug was safe. It was a difficult feat - the guards had really been ruthless this time - but she managed, bringing a smile to Phoenix's face as he felt her warm embrace. "Do you need to talk about it?"

"Nah. I've been through worse from them, and besides, being here is enough." Phoenix spoke with a dismissal wave of his hoof, ensuring her that he was fine, at least in an emotional sense. He brought her into a tighter embrace, not caring about the pain he felt in his cuts and bruises.

"You know your secrets are safe with me, Phoenix."

"I'm fine, Ashes. I'll always be fine, as long as you're here waiting for me when I get back."

"Do you want me to stay the night?"

"Of course. What kind of a night would it be if you weren't here?"

Ashes giggled. "A pretty sucky one, if you ask me. I'm always the life of the party."

"And what would I know about parties? It's not like they exist down here."

Ashes wasn't exactly from the Underground. Well, she was, but not the same way Phoenix was. Ashes had been born there, but she had her family with her. She got to hear stories from the Surface. Stories about parties and friendship and how beautiful the sun is. Stories of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, and the skies they controlled with such elegance and grandeur. Stories of animals and plants, and rivers and streams, of the peace and serene beauty that nature held within its core.

But Phoenix had no family. He was an experiment. The moment he was born, his whole family had been killed. Mistress wanted to see how well a foal would fare in the Underground with no family, no one to look after it. That was how he came to love Ashes in the first place. They were about the same age, only four days apart, and Ashes' family found him, alone and scared. They took him in without question.