>be you
>living the brony dream
>you were magically transported to Equestria a few months ago
>shit was awesome at first; the ponies were all super nice and accommodating
>that was, until, Twilight wrote Celestia about you
>you were abducted in the night by armed guards, who escorted you back to Canterlot and locked you in a sterile white room
>you've been treated as a hostile invading alien ever since
>your friends all know what happened and constantly plead for your release, but to no avail
>you're a matter of national security
>after living in your cell for a few weeks, Luna comes in looking sad
>she's an awesome sort; super kind and a great conversationalist
>she informs you that Celestia authorized your live vivisection
>your body has secrets that she cannot risk rivaling countries getting a hold of, thus you must die for the sake of the nation of Equestria
>how do you handle this information?
>do you attempt to escape?
>do you plead for your life?
>do you accept your fate?
>wat do?
>>
 
>You slowly collapse against the bars.
>You start to tear up like crazy.
>"B-but it's not fair! I've never done anything wrong! "My body has secrets"? W...what does she even mean?!?!"
>Your heart and body go cold and full of panic at the mere idea of what is to happen in a couple hours.
>Rational thinking is going out like a spark.
>"I'm don't fully know myself, my dear immigrant. I attempted to reason with my sister on the matter, but her orders were final. She was rather stubborn about it"
>You shake your head with a deep sob.
>"No... sh-she HAS to understand! I thought she was a kind princess! A GREAT princess! She wouldn't do this..."
>"Alas, immigrant, she would. Has Twilight not supplied you with books informing you of our, erm, violent history?"
>You remember back to only reading a few books on cooking, Equine Communications 101 and some comics.
>You tried to read more out of kindness to your new friend, but GOD were they boring.
>You almost chuckle, but the trembling fear in your gut is too much for it.
>"PLEASE LUNA... Please, isn't there ANYTHING else we can do? There has to be..."
>She closes her eyes and shaker her head, a deep sadness clearly visible on her face.
>"I'm so, so sorry, immigrant."
>You plead "No, no no no..." as your sobbing begins transitioning into crying.
>"I've done all I could immigrant. I wished it didn't have to come to this either. I... I enjoyed your company like all the others."
>She looks on with a further-growing sadness.
>Using her own powers, she fazes through the bars as though she was air whilst your head was down crying.
>She puts a gentle hoof on your back, stroking it up and down in hopes of comforting your shattered emotions.
 
>You look up a little, your crying only softening a inch.
>Luna continues patting you, looking down at your wrecked figure, terrified figure with some of the most innocent eyes a Princess of the Night can offer.
>You want to smile, but your thoughts are still as chaotic as they are sporadic and fearful. You're still at a loss for words.
>No amount of comfort can take that away.
>"Please, my young subject. I'm horrified that there isn't any more I can do to alter your fate..."
>She tries to sit you up against the wall, her own pose nearly as tall as yours.
>"...as I have been told whenever I encountered these scenarios myself. I've felt the deepest fears anypony can suffer, the darkest horrors, the bleakest of emptiness..."
>"...but when a pony, erm, or person in your case, stares into the void, they see their true character. Unfiltered by any external feelings."
>You only tear up more at trying to come to terms with her words.
>You want to live up to them. You want to be strong. For her. For your new friends.
>"Think of the other ponies. Think of their own adventures and troubles, even if in the smallest of matters. Of how when all else failed, they wished to preserve what they could in their own dignity. In their friends and family."
>I-is she trying to convince you to accept your fate?
>You now slowly become a bit angry at her attempted "comforting".
>"NO! They never had to face imminent death like this! And if they did, it was usually problems THEY started in the first place! I didn't do anything!"
>Luna puts her patting-hoof on your front.
>Immigrant, listen. I wasn't finished. Those aren't the extents of my message. I'm merely saying to maintain composure. To keep clear thoughts, just in case..."
>You perk up.
>"In case of what?"
>She frowns a little more.
>"...nothing. Just another one of my countless, pointless ideas getting ahead of me. What I really meant was... well..."
>You continue listening, you crying somehow dying back down into a sob.
 
>"...what I meant was, I just believe you could be spending this time doing something more."
>You look down. Your hopes of what she could've meant dying back down.
>"Oh... I see."
>She can hear the lack of care in your voice. She attempts to lighten her own.
>"You don't need to hide your displeasure for my words, young immigrant. I've seen enough disappointment in my long, long li-"
>She stops, seeing those last words piercing your soul.
>"...oh. My deepest apologies, immigrant."
>About thirty seconds of silence ensue.
>Somehow, all the thoughts of horrible things to come slowly, slowly distance themselves from you.
>You get a feeling of "emptying" in you mind and emotions. As though you were letting it all go. A somewhat robotic feel.
>"...Princess Luna, I-"
>"Please, young immigrant, just call me Luna. I'm in no royal position in a friend's presence."
>You look towards the dark-blue alicorn to your right, having adjusted your sitting position to match hers more neatly
>"...o-ok... Luna. Sorry about that... Uh, well..."
>You fumble your words, trying to find the right thing to say in this window of detachment from the thoughts of your fate.
>"...what exactly did you have in mind by "something more"?"
>She quickly puts on a light smile. It's the most charming thing you've seen since your conviction.
>"Well, in the time we have left... why don't you talk to me about some happier moments you've had here. Or back in your world across our ocean? Or what it was you did yesterday. You know, with Twilight and her friends?" I'd be most interested."
>Her smile slowly becomes more reassuring, her hoof now over you left shoulder. Never have you seen her look so sincere and caring until this moment.
>The thoughts of, oh what was it again, are seemingly nonexistent in your mind at this point.
 
>You don't know where to start. So many, many topics. Many experiences you'd want to share. So much you'd like for her to hear, and furthermore, her own thoughts on them.
>"Well... how about... ok, I guess we could talk about yesterday. It was... a very strange day."
>Luna cocks her head a little. Her heartwarming smile still as present as ever.
>"Oh, do tell please, my young immigrant. Twilight's adventures have always supplied me with pleasure and joy."
>Heh, adventure indeed.
>At least compared to what you'd normally do back in your native country.
>You clear out your voice.
>"Alright then... the good stuff started sometime in the afternoon, after I was finished helping Applejack separate the figs and other fruit from her apples, out at her farm."
>GOD was that some serious work.
>"I was just thanking AJ for her being nice about all my screw-ups, and she just replied with a nudge and thanked me for all the help, when suddenly, Fluttershy came rushing in, literally crashing through the door behind us. She nearly ran poor Apple Bloom over."
>A subtle boom in your voice upon saying that last line had Luna raise an eyebrow. "Oh my... go on."
>You continue, "Okay, yeah, so she ran in, screaming "Apple-jaaack! Big maaac! Erm... New guuuy! Please please oh please oh please please HEEELP!""
>"We ran up to her, telling her to calm down, even gave her some water. She just kept on panting for a bit, then after a minute, she explained the problem."
>"She said "Oh please, New Guy, um, if that's ok to call you that... We need you for something urgent. We can't wait. It's, it's DIRE!"
>"We asked her to just spit it out already, and she replied "It's Trixie again! She's come back.!
>"We didn't think that was too bad at first, since she and Twilight became good friends a while after her little 'episode' with the Alicorn Amulet. Unfortunately not this time."
 
>"She then said "Nononono, you don't understand, she wasn't at ALL friendly. She was bad. REALLY bad. Worse than how she used to be! She came into Ponyville all angry and steaming, ran up to Twilight, and started yelling at her for some reason!""
>"We assumed it was because of her new wings. Trixie had a major inferiority complex."
>""She wouldn't stop until we told the local officers about it, and even then Trixie wouldn't leave without putting up a fight. She even tried using her magic on them!""
>"Luckily, Trixie hardly know the first thing about Unicorn magic. But Fluttershy continued, "But that's not all. We don't think she stopped there. Twilight just got back from market-shopping, and... and...""
>"We had to calm her down a bit, again."
>""...and, her house had been broken into! The windows were shattered, books were thrown everywhere, the scrolls were torn up, and... *sobs*."
>"Another glass of water later."
>""...AND SPIKE WAS GONE!"
>Luna cocked her head again. This time, her smile instantly turned back into a concerned frown.
>She spoke up, "Wait, what? That's simply preposterous! Nopony or even Spike himself ever brought this up with either of us! Why, he even mentioned yesterday being a fun day of sporting activities!"
>You look down again, and try to chuckle.
>"Yeah... we kinda lied to avoid trouble on any of our ends. You'll see why in a bit, too, since it doesn't matter anymore now that I'm..."
>Your chest goes cold again. Oops.
>"Immigrant! Do you not understand we Equestrians are of a tolerable race! Did you not know of the dangers of lying to your superiors.?"
>Her face grows more serious.
>"I sure hope you didn't do such a misdeed during your conviction! Why, I ought to remind y-"
>She pauses to see you looking down. She knows why.
>Her innocent face reappears again, her eyes again filled with sadness.
>"I apologize... again." She says, "It appears my own issues have yet to, erm, dissapate. Please, continue..."
>She keeps patting you.
 
>You take a minute to regain the "detatched" feeling you had a moment ago. Luna's endearing presence aids you in doing so.
>"Ok then", you say, "Anyways, after Fluttershy said that, we asked her all sorts of specific questions relating to what happened with Trixie and Twilight."
>"She didn't know much other than Trixie apparently wanting to re-challenge Twilight to some stupid duel. Again, possibly out of feeling betrayed by her recent ascension."
>"We then asked more about Spike on our way to Twilight's library. Big Mac and Apple Bloom continued AJ and I's apple-related work, thank god."
>Luna lets out a quiet "Hm?" at that last word. You shrug it off.
>"Yeah, well getting there was a hassle itself. The monthly Ponyville-Parade was in full motion. Whistles blowing, marching bands blaring, ponies singing, giant floats, confetti everywhere, and SO many ponies everywhere."
>"It was fun-looking, and I wanted to watch more of it, but with Spike missing and Twilight likely in another OCD panic, it might as well have been Discord himself throwing chaos eve-"
>Luna puts her hoof to your mouth. Her face grows bold again, the night fury visible in her waningly-endearing eyes.
>"Never, ever, EVER mention that fiend around me, no matter HOW conformed he may now be, no matter HOW apologetic for his crimes, no matter HOW in love he and-"
>You stare in a frightened, though more worrisome, pose as she again calms down. As do you.
>"I... I understand. It keeps happening. Now you know why I am of little social importance or participance with our fellow ponies."
>You nod.
>"Okay, as I was saying, we got through the parade, thinking Spike may have just got caught up in it all. Of course, thought, each time I thought of the break-in timed with all the commotion, it seemed less and less likely. Trixie indeed had to have used it to her advantage."
>"The three of us arrived at Twilight's home, and instantly saw three more familiar ponies. However, we didn't see Twilight."
 
>"The first pony I noticed was a certain blue pegasus flying around the tree's second story, repairing the windows and framework. Her every movements reflected her determined attitude, no matter how mundane the actions were."
>"But she was too busy with all that to talk. The ponies we were looking for happened to conversing right outside Twilight's open door: Rarity and Pinkie Pie... the latter of whom had her mane down as a sign of sadness. Uh-oh."
>"I was the first to walk forward and ask, which probably ticked AJ off a bit. She looked like she wanted the reigns of the conversation."
>""Rarity! Pinkie! I got the news... is everything else ok?""
>The fashionable one was about to speak, only to get cut off by Pinkie.
>""Ok? OK!? I spent all morning, all of last NIGHT, all of yesterday's morning, another morning, and FIVE MORE MORNINGS preparing my super-ultra-party-palooza-extravaganza package of PURE PARTY CONFETTI for my Party Cannon, and whadda we get!?"
>"I was speechless."
>"Do ya? Do ya? I'll tell ya: some JEALOUS PONY decides to hurt poor Twilight's feelings over something she DESERVED! She even turned down all of my friendly cheer-hugs! Nopony turns down a Pinkie Cheer-Hug! Nodonkey even! AND THEN THIS HA-"
>"A pillow covered in blue pulsating magic then floated against Pinkie's mouth. Rarity's magic did what needed be done."
>""Mmmmhmmm hmmm mmmmMMMHMmm MMMHmm...!?"
>"AJ phewed a sigh of relief. "Ah'm sure glad we still have your magic to help, Rarity.""
>""Oh, I'm so sorry my dear! Pinkie here has been blowing off her steam ever since I told her to put that darn cannon away and help us."
>"I knew that as much as Pinkie loved her friends, breaking her from anticipated events is about as advisable as breaking a Pinkie-Promise"
>""Ok... I see. Rarity, what's going on then? Where's Twilight at? Is she ok? Do we have any idea where Spike might be?"
>""Please, darlings. Come inside. I'll explain more over some tea. You three look famished."
 
>"Making sure not to get in Rainbow Dash's way, the three of us walked inside."
>"The inside of the tree-library was indeed a disaster... though less than we thought it'd be. Rarity and Pinkie must have been busy with the internal repairs."
>"Fluttershy walked around with a sad vibe to her face, the house's tarnished appearance undoubtedly fueling it. AJ and I sat down on some stools after turning them back up."
>"After a minute, Rarity came in with the tea. It was a light, natural Green Tea, and was pretty good. AJ didn't exactly like it, however."
>""So Rarity, as I was asking, do we, uh, have any leads to Spike? And where's Twilight? Is she ok too?""
>"She sipped her own tea. She was... surprisingly relaxed. At least until the tea burnt her lip"
>""Eek! Oh how I just hate being a second too soon with drinking my own beverages. I do believe I should wa-"
>""Uhm, Rarity, can y'all please just get on with it? If you're gonna get us worried sick o'er this, at least dont'cha blow it off."
>"She made a snobby face at her, then continued."
>""*sighs* Well, Twilight, I'm afraid... just moments before you all came here... she sorta left on her own to find Spike."
>"We set our drinks down immediately."
>""Wait, what!? All by herself? Why?""
>"Rarity adjusted herself."
>""Well... *she twirls her mane around* she had asserted me that she had a good idea where Trixie would be, and anywhere else Spike himself would go to should he have gone alone. I demanded for her to wait and think rationally, but...""
>"She sipped some more tea."
>""She seemed to just be impatient. I don't fully know myself. Maybe she really does know what she's doing, and waiting for you would've only slowed her down. Maybe Spikey mattered enough to her to go for it. Oh, I just don't know. I wanted to follow her."
>"I spoke up, "And you just didn't? Why didn't you at least follow her? I don't mean to be rude, but she's your friend too..."
>"She set her tea down. Hard."
>""Because... I...""
 
>"Rarity was definitely unsure of what words to use. I didn't want to be rude, so I stayed silent."
>""...because I was... I-I was afraid. Afraid. Okay? I couldn't do it. I knew where she was going. I couldn't do it. I just simply couldn't!"
>"I got up when I heard "I knew where". AJ almost did as well, but I thought only one of us was needed."
>""Rarity! You 'know'? What do you mean? How would you?""
>"Around here is where she started fumbling her words. She also twirled her mane harder."
>""Um, yeah... see, she ran off towards the Everfree Forest."
>"So that was why."
>""Oh.""
>""Oh," said AJ as well."
>""Oh my," repeated Fluttershy."
>Luna cocked an eyebrow again. Even she knew the dangers of the Everfree.
>"Rarity sighed a little, "Hehehehe... yeah. Aaand that's about it. Yep.""
>"She sipped her tea again. This time, until it was empty."
>""So, with that said, I was simply waiting for you dears to show up and, erm, perhaps watch over me as I follow where I THINK she might have gone."
>"AJ got up again, this time shooing away my hand."
>""Well then, what the hay are we waiting for? If ya' know which direction she ran off into, don't ya' think it's time we get to followin' her? Every darn second counts!""
>"Fluttershy jumped back into our little circle-talk."
>""Um... I don't think that's such a wise idea. I mean, just a direction? She could've easily changed course and gone anywhere now. She may have even, I don't know, crossed the forest."
>"We were silent for a couple minutes."
>""WAIT!" Bursted in AJ, "I think I got me an idea. C'mon ponies... and whatever you are again.""
>"AJ ran out the front door in literally a second's notice. Even Dash would have to be impressed."
>"I spoke up, "Well guys, are you all coming?""
>"Fluttershy nodded. Rarity, on the other hand, started her nervous tremble again."
>""Um, on second thought, I'm not so sure you need TOO many ponies. Maybe I uh... should stay and help Rainbow here? Yes, that's it! I should do that!""
 
>"I was pretty sure that at that point, Rarity was just finding excuses to to avoid the inevitable... or at least I thought."
>""OH come on, I know you're just afEverfree can't be THAT bad, can it?""
>"Rarity let out a nervous-sounding "Hmph"."
>""Dear, as overtly concerned as I am for Twilight, I'm certain that, um..."
>"She used her back hoof to kick the leg out from under a table. I rolled my eyes."
>""...oh my, this dear old house REALLY is in a bad shape. Surely Dash could use some help around these parts.""
>"I sighed, and was about to give in, when suddenly Fluttershy peeped back up."
>""Um, actually, I already sent little Angel to go get the other animals at my cottage. They can get the work done.""
>"Rarity put on a blush."
>""OH, uh... well, I can help give them orders! I'm sure they're a rowdy bunch, especially that bear of y-"
>""Sorry, but I'm afraid they only listen to me Rarity...""
>"She had blushed a little more"
>""OH! Well, um... oh, look at the time! My dresses I had dry-cleaned MUST be arriving on my doorstep any minute now! Don't want to keep the deliverycolt waiting, now do I?""
>""RARITY!"
>""...OH! Why, erm, uh... *sighs* fine. I guess...""
>"Rarity looked up at me, looking upset and defeated. I asked myself 'was she really that afraid?' "
>""...I guess I'll go with you and AJ."
>""Aaaand ME!""
>"Pinkie's head suddenly popped in between ours, the pillow ambiguously missing."
>""...oh, right. *sighs*"
>"And with that, we quit wasting our time and headed out the door. Fluttershy continued picking up litter off the floor (and angrily, the table Rarity broke). Rarity's slow hoof-dragging providing a stark contrast to Pinkie's usual skip-hopping."
>"Of course, as soon as we got outside, what we saw took all of our full attention by surpri-"
>*BANG BANG BANG"
>Your story gets interrupted by the clank-banging of your cell's metal bars.
>You and Luna look up to see a Royal Guard pegasus, as white as the clouds, looking down.