“But it doesn't make any sense!” Spark screams to an ignorant Celestia. “Of all ponies, why would Reaper attack Princess Cadance?!” Spark bellows to the Princess before her.

“I do not know Spark.” Celestia huffs in annoyance. “He refuses to speak which doesn't bode well for his innocence.” Celestia says, pacing back and forth.

“Your highness if you know Reaper at all like I do, then you know he wouldn't have done it without reason. Something about this feels wrong.” Spark begs.

“I'm not sure if I know him at all anymore Spark.” Celestia grimaces. “Ever since Cadance's readmission, Reaper has been on a slow decline and maybe the final straw has been cut.”

“How are so quick to judge him, throw him to fire, when you're not even thinking twice about questioning Cadance!” Spark retorts.

“Spark! You will hold your tongue!” Celestia bellows in the royal Canterlot voice, causing Spark to flinch.

“No! I will state my opinion!” Spark holds strong. “Reaper! A pony who has never once betrayed you, never once, given you a reason to doubt him, never once, done anything to waver your trust in him. Does something and you're rushing to lock the cage and throw away the key. But Princess Cadance, who appears to have completely recovered from her depression and anxiety in just a week, that, for some reason gets a pass!” Spark begins crying. Celestia just stares down at her, nostrils flaring.

“You have to understand Spark. Cadance is recovering. I don't want to see her like that ever again, do you understand me? This will all be thoroughly investigated, but you must leave Cadance alone. I can't risk losing her again.” Celestia holds back tears.

“But you'd risk Reaper? You'd risk me?” Spark questions, her ears falling in hurt.

“It's not as simple as that Spark.” Celestia rubs her head in annoyance.

“Is it? Because what I'm hearing is that we're expendable.” She blinks her eyes trying to dislodge the tears.

“Spark!” Celestia yells, tears clinging to the corners of her eyes. “I will not stand for this disobedience. Cease, or I will have your badge!” Celestia threatens, pain pouring from her voice. Spark just shakes her head, racked with sobs, shivering at the coldness filling her heart.

“Do you remember when Reaper stripped those foals of their magic all those years ago.” She chokes through tears, staring off to side of the room.

“Remember how Reaper just waited? Waited for his punishment like the honourable pony he is? Waited to pay for his crimes? I guess he got his wish, because you're so focused on hoping that Cadance has gotten better that you're grasping at straws Celestia! You refuse to think that maybe she's the problem!” Spark screams, looking towards Celestia betrayal evident on her face.

“Enough Spark, you are on probation. Return to your quarters and await further instructions. Now!” Celestia screams, the tears falling freely now.

“I told you, I would defend him, just like I would defend you Princess, but I'm not sure I can defend somepony who thinks so little of the ponies that have given their lives for this kingdom.” Spark says as she turns around, walking towards the door to follow her orders.

“I thought we meant more to you than mere guards Celestia. Many ponies are capable of many things, and I guess betrayal is one of yours.” Spark turns her head back offering a hateful glance towards Celestia, before leaving and slamming the doors behind her.

Celestia watches with pain and anger in her eyes as Spark leaves, before lowering her head to the ground, and crying silently to the room.

….......................................................................................................

Spark walks down the castle hallways, eyes clenched shut is pain, hooves feeling heavy with every step. She barley registers bumping into somepony. She stumbles back, opening her eyes, ready to mutter out an apology. She looks up and her eyes go wide.

“Oops, sorry Spark.” The voice rings out, belonging to none other that Princess Cadance herself. Spark looks up in disbelief, staring at the smiling princess.

“I should reallllllly watch were I'm going.” She closes her eyes, tilting her head in a cute way.

'How?!' Spark stares dumbfounded. 'How can you be happy!?' Sparks mind screams. She opens her mouth to say something, but words fail her.

“Sorry Spark, but I should get going. It was nice to see you!” Candance chirps offering Spark a wave before continuing to walk past her.

Sparks gaze just follows, not believing for one second that any of this is real. She stares down towards the floor, mouth agape. Trying make any sense out of this madness. She'd broken from her thoughts by Cadance yelling from down the hallway. She lifts her head, staring off towards her direction.

“I'm sorry about Reaper, but I hope he's learned his lesson.” Cadance's eyes flash green for a split second. Sparks eyes fly wide open as her mouth hangs in horror “See ya later!” Cadance smiles before continuing around the corner out of sight.

Spark just stares emptily ahead. Before coming to her senses and releasing a repressed growl. She quickly breaks out into a run, bolting down the hallway with a fierce look in her eyes. As she heads towards the dungeon.

….............................................................................................................................

Cadance shivers as the feeling of the caves cold wind rushes through her. Her body aching from sleeping on the floor for past nine days. She couldn't do anything but lay there, waiting, hoping that somepont would show up.

“Well, well, well, I must admit. Some of your friends are little more clever than I gave them credit for.” A voice cackles. Cadance's head shoots up as her heart begins to beat wildly. She turns around, watching as Queen Chrysalis teleports in and proceeds to shift back to her true form.

“What have you done?” Cadance begs, voice weak from all of her cries for help gone in vain.

“It was that black and grey stallion I believe? The one with the scars?” Chrysalis chides.

“Reaper! What have you done to him!” Cadance begs, lifting herself into a sitting position.

“Oh nothing, yet. After all, what's the point in causing a scene, when your beloved Celestia is being so helpful.” Chrysalis laughs, circling Cadance with an evil smile. “She'd been so helpful, all I had to do was scream, oh no, anypony, help me!” Chrysalis puts on a fake voice. “And she was more than happy to drag Reaper off towards the dungeon.” Chrysalis taunts.

“She-She wouldn't, not Reaper.” Cadance's eyes go wide in fear.

“Oh! But she did!” Chrysalis laughs. “In fact, she was more than willing to throw him in there without even a trial!” Chrysalis stops in front of Cadance, placing a hoof under chin and lifting her head to meet her gaze.

“And it's all because of you.” She smirks down as Cadance's eyes fill with regret and fear.

“But don't worry, my dear. I'm sure Celestia won't kill the poor fool, and I've no intention of making anypony go missing just yet.” She chuckles. “But I had to make sure he stayed quiet, although he didn't seem like the kind of pony that talked much before, so I doubt he's missing his voice.”

Cadance jerks her head up, growling in anger. Chrysalis just laughs.

“Oh don't look so upset. It's a simple mute spell, nothing too harmful, however I must say that's it's playing it's part in an ironic way.” She grins, as Cadance stares up in confusion. “I placed it on him just before he was locked away and a magic restricting ring was placed on his horn. So he can't remove the spell.” Crhysalis raises both of her hoofs, weighing out her points.

“No magic, no voice. No voice, stuck in dungeon, Stuck in dungeon, no magic. It's rather funny really.” She laughs, Cadance just growls, attempting to charge up her horn to fire a spell at chrysalis, teleport, anything. But nothing worked, she sighed in defeat.

“Oh stop pouting, really this is all Celestia's fault to be honest. If she wasn't so focused trying to keep, the happy bubbly mare you've returned to being here. Then this wouldn't be happening.” Chrysalis sighs, before turning around walked towards end of the cave.

“And Shining?” Cadance pleads fearfully.

“Oh him.” Chrysalis rolls her eyes. “He's far too deep wallowing in his own self pity like you are, that he's oblivious to anything, but don't worry. I'll convince him to see things my way.” She smirks before teleporting out the cave.

Leaving Cadance in the darkness once again.

…......................................................................................................................

The sound of light snoring can be heard echoing through the dungeons as a guard sits sound asleep on a chair near the end of the hall.

A small dash of blue can be seen hovering in the air, wings making barely any noise.

“Reaper?” The voice asks in a hushed whisper. “It's me, Spark, are you in here?” She tries to remain as quiet as possible so as too not alert the guard.

The faint sound of tapping can be heard coming from near the end of the hall, two cells away from the sleeping guard. Spark moves quietly down the dimly lit hallway. She stops just in front of the cell where she can Reaper hoof.

“Reaper!” Spark whisper yells. “Are you okay?!” She asks worriedly, stealing glances at the sleeping guard. He nods, despite wincing, one eye appeared closed in pain.

“What happened?” She asks. “Why haven't you spoken to Celestia? She says you're refusing to speak?” She glances worriedly between Reaper and the sleeping guard. Reaper just taps his throat with his hoof.

“What? You can't speak?” She question in fear.

He simply nods his head letting out a huff of exhaustion. “Was it Cadance?” She prods, he just nods hid head. Spark takes one last glance towards towards the guard before settling her gaze firmly on Reaper.

“Look I don't know what happened, but I know that you're innocent. I think something is wrong with Cadance. Celestia's so blinded she refuses to see reason.” Spark turns towards the sleeping guard and proceeds to sneak near him, slowly and carefully, she manages to steal his keys with her wingtip and returns to the cell holding Reaper.

“We need to get out of here. I have a feeling that we're all gonna be in danger if we stay. If we want to protect everypony we need to gets this ring off you and somehow convince Celestia to see reason. I've tried talking to her but she'd not budging. I think our best option is to run and figure out a plan from there, okay?” She puts the keys in her mouth and begins fumbling with the lock.

She feels a hoof on her shoulder as she manages to get the key into the lock. She looks up to notice Reaper looking at her with a warm smile, nodding in gratitude. She nods back before the sound of a lock clicking resonates throughout the empty dungeon.

The sudden noise causes the guard sleeping to jerk awake.

“Wha-huh- Who goes there?!” The guard yells groggily before brandishing his spear, eyes rapidly searching for intruders. His eyes widen at the the sight of lieutenant Reapers currently empty cell. He rushes to door, making note of the keys inside the lock before quickly looking around inside.

“Prisoner escape!” The guard yells before disappearing up the stairs to inform the rest of the castle.

…..................................................................................................................................

“I want them found!” Celestia's voice echo's through the throne room, filled with anger.

“We've searched everywhere your highness, but it appears that Sergeant Spark and Lieutenant Reaper have vanished.” Three royals guards, shuffle around angrily, worried expressions etched onto their faces, watching the monarch grow ever angrier.

“They will not have gotten far, Reaper still has his initiator ring on and only a unicorn can remove it! They will be on hoof! Search the grounds, now!” Celestia screams in fury.

“Yes, your highness!” The guards salute before running off to carry out their task.

“Lieutenant Reaper and Sergeant Spark are hereby classed as traitors! Capture them at all cost.” Celestia seethes, a small flame erupting her eyes.

“Yes, your highness.” The three guards repeat, just as they make it past the door.

…............................................................................................................................

“My, my, what ever is going on?” Chrysalis ponders as she stares out towards the castle ground, watching several guards running around in panic. She stops mid thought as a knock it heard coming from Cadance's chamber doors.

“Enter.” She says flatly. She watches as the door opens and two hoof-maidens step into her chambers, shutting the door behind her.

“Status update.” She smirks as the maids slowly morph into the form of two small changeling's.

“It appears that the unicorn and pegasus have escaped.” One of them hisses.

“Then we must find them before Celestia does. Even if the unicorn cannot remove his ring, the other could pose a threat to us. Capture them before that happens.” She commands.

“Yes, my queen.” They both hisses, bowing before turning back into their respected facades and exiting the room to inform the rest of the hive.

Chrysalis simply smirks looking down towards the garden, revelling in the chaos.

...................................................................................................................................................

“What?” Cadance panics. “What do you mean you remember everything? How? I thought-” She trails off lost in the painful memories that begin to surface.

…............................................................................................................................

The sweet sounds of humming can be heard throughout the royal gardens.

“La la la la.......La la la.” Cadance sing merrily as she continued to pour water over the freshly bloomed flowers in the garden.

“Sound like somepony's having fun.” A deep chuckle can be heard, causing Cadance to spin around sickly sweet smile plastered on her face.

“Well, I might as well have fun while I'm watering the plants shouldn't I?” She gives a small pout, lowering her ears in mock hurt.

“I guess so.” The face of Shining Armour is revealed as he removes his helmet.

“Don't they look beautiful?” Cadance beams, turning back to continue watering the blooming roses. She sighs at the feeling of muzzle nudging into her neck.

“They do, but not as beautiful as you.” Shining grins, eyes closed taking in Cadance's scent.

“Oh Shining, ya big softy.” She places the can down, turning to look at him fully. He just hums in agreement. “How did training go?” She asks brushing his mane away from his eyes.

“Like it always goes, long and tiring.” They both chuckle.

“Well, hopefully you won't feel too tired. I was hoping you'd come to my chambers tonight so we could, spend time together.” Cadance flutters her eyes seductively.

Shining's eyes squint a little, becoming seemingly unfocused, before watching as Cadance's horn flares up in a light green aura and her eyes turn bright green, locking him in. Shining's mind goes blank as he feel the dizzying green toxins enter his body, stripping away any kind of rational thought. He shakes his head clear, eyes refocusing on the pink mare in front of him.

“Whatever you want sweetheart.” He hums. Not noticing the fanged smile of the mare before him. Cadance just chuckles. Shoving him away.

“Great, I'll see you tonight.” She gives him a seductive smile, before picked up the watering can and continuing with her gardening. Shining just hums and proceeds to walk away. Cadance watches with an amused expression.

“All according to plan.” She smiles evilly to herself.

Author's Note

Another chapter for you fine flilles and gentlecolts.

Regards

OnTheTrot