>It took you less time then you thought it would to get the tub of water and soap.
>There were a few eyebrows raised at you carrying around a tub of water, though.
>That was solved when you “borrowed” a food cart from the kitchen.
>Along with some very nice looking pastries and some lettuce.
>Horses love lettuce... right?
>You covered up the cart with a large piece of black cloth.
>You pass it off as “supplies” for your “job.”
>Technically true, you figure.
>The wooden pieces were easy enough to find, too.
>You overheard some guards talking about an increase in security while you pilfered a store room.
>You couldn't help but smile at the irony.
>Apparently there was some sort of resistance force making their way to the castle.
>If “that sick bastard” didn't work faster, they would overtake us in a few days.
>You assume that sick bastard is you.
>Food, cleaning supplies, and some wooden wedges.
>And you have a better idea of where shit is.
>Now you just have to get past the guards in front of the room.
>Pokerface engaged.
>The guards salute.
“At ease, gentlemen”
>The talkative guard steps forward.
>”Sir Anonymous! The king stopped by just a moment ago!”
“And what did our majesty require?”
>The guard looks at you oddly as you say that.
>”He, uh... he wanted to know how the progress was going with the prisoners.”
“If he stops by again, tell him that I am about to crush them completely.”
>”Yes sir!”
>You try to move forward, but the guards block your path.
>”Sir, it's protocol to inspect all incoming goods.”
“These are very delicate supplies that I need to continue operations!  Why is this necessary?!”
>You fix him with your best glare.
>He looks like he wants to melt.
>He also looks thoroughly confused.
>”S-sir, it's your orders. I-in case of mind alteration, we check all incoming and outgoing goods.”
>Mind alteration?
“Of course.  I was just seeing if you would follow orders.”
>The soldier looks somewhat relieved.
“I thought the prisoners were secured.”
>The guards looks at you quizzically for a moment.
>The a look of understanding passes over him as he quickly nods his head.
>”They are, sir. The princesses have anti magic bindings around them.  The other two unicorns have >been afflicted with extract from a local plant called “poison joke.” In small doses, it eliminates >magical abilities.
>He looks quite pleased with himself.
>So this was just a precaution.
>The other you was quite thorough, you'll give him that.
>Even if he was a bastard.
“Very good.  I'm glad that you were paying attention. It seems you are not as incompetent as I was led to believe. Now, if you'll excuse me.”
>You try to walk forward, but you cannot.
>”Sir, we still need to check the cart.”
“Right, of course. Check away.”
>They lift up the black cloth and find your washtub and foodstuffs.
>”Uh, sir, is that... lettuce?”
“Soldier, have you ever broken someone...or... something before? Really destroyed their mind?”
>”W-well, no sir, but-”
“First you take everything away.  Then, when they are without everything – food, comfort, sanity, everything – you give them something.”
>You lean in to the soldier as he leans backward from you, eyes fixed on yours.”
>You whisper:
“And when you give them something, you become their angel.  Their savior. They'll give you anything they want.”
>You then stand back up straight.
>You raise your voice slightly at the next part.
“So are you going to let me pass, or are you going to make me rescind my previous statement?”
>The guard jumps a bit.
>”Yes sir!”
>The guards get out of the way as you pass into the room.
>The doors shut behind you as you move forward.
>Someone's been in here.
>They shut the rainbow mane'd one back in her box.
>There is some fresh blood on the white one.
>The pink one stares at you while the purple one's eyes still dart about to and fro.
>The orange one is bruised and unconscious.
>Yellow pegasus is the same, though.
>The filthy one is actually up and staring at you, too.
>There is a confidence in those eyes.
>It's a different kind of confidence than the pink one's.
>She looks at you with an air of...
>Higher authority.
>Sort of like the Ms. White, but on a lesser scale.
>Ms. White has been re-gagged.
>Time to get to work.
“Alright, I'm back. Sorry I lefty in such a hurry, but I had to get a few things.”
>All eyes on you.
>You move towards the box levers and push them all the way up.
>You see a familiar cyan horse with a rainbow mane.
>Shaking.
“I'm sorry that you got put back in.
>”I...I w-want to go back in.”
>What?
“...What?”
>”I'm n-not going to -g-g-give into you”
>She's shaking so hard that she can hardly talk without stuttering.
>She looks like she is going to burst into tars at any moment.
“I am not going to put you back in that box.”
>”I w-won't t-t-tell you any-”
“You don't have to.  I am not here to hurt you. I'm here to h-”
>”Stop lying!”
>The pink one pipes up.
>”You'll say anything to get us to talk.  We won't!”
>She sounds angry.
>It's terrifying, but oddly cute in a way.
>You put your hands up.
“I'm not here to hurt anyone or get anyone to talk!  Well, I mean, I do want your names and a “where the hell am I” explanation, but-”
>”You're just toying with us! Trying to act friendly when all you really want is to crush Equestria!”
>Equestria?  What hell kind of name is-
><”Equestrians.  Horse riders and tamers.”
>>”So it's a play on words.  Cute.”
“Look, before you said that, I didn't know where I was. I'm just-
>”Pinkie's right!  We won't give in!”
>The blue one is getting more confident.
>She's tougher than she looked at first.
><”Actions speak louder than words, Anon.”
>>”Right.”
>You go to the orange one's cage and start working the pulleys.
>You try to let her down gently as you put the wedges in place.
>You give her enough slack that she is actually lying down completely.
>She looks slightly more comfortable.
>The pink one is still talking at you.
>You get the water, soap, and brushes, and bring them over to the filthy cage.
“Here.  Use these.”
>”Why, so you can just dirty me up again, you ruffian?”
>Another female?
>City accent.
>A horse with class?
>Talking horses...
>Right.
“Look, I don't know what you think I did, but-
>”Save your lies, you uncouth monster. I will not fall for your tricks.”
>”You tell 'em, Rarity!”
>The cyan one seems to be gaining steam.
>You get the feeling that these ponies know each other well.
><”They draw on each others' strength, it seems.”
>>”So why not get them separately?”
><”More of a challenge?  Or maybe more of a complete victory...”
>You sigh.
“I don't know how make you believe me, but-
>”We'll never believe your lies!  NEVER!”
>”Pinkie” is still going strong.
>She's a talker, it seems.
“Listen, Ms. Rarity, I am not giving you these things with strings attached.  I just want to help you.”
>”You'll have to do worse than this to break me, scoundrel!”
><”I never said this would be easy.
>>”I told you it was useless.”
><”Give it time. Help the yellow one.”
>You move over to the yellow one's cage.
>She is still in the same place she was, eyes still closed.
>It's adorable and sad.  
>You then remember what is surrounding her cage and decide it's more sad.
>You start unhooking the meat and moving it to the corner.
“I'm sorry that you all were tortured like this, but I'm telling you that it wasn't me!”
>”Y'all haven't been tellin' nothin but lies so far!”
>The orange one is a female with a southern accent.
>Okay...
>You toss another dead carcass onto the pile.
“How?! I'm already trying to help you!”
>”Let us go!”
>”Yeah!”
>”That'd be a start...”
“If I do, alarms will go off all over the place.  My cover would be blown.”
>The yellow one still hasn't opened her eyes or spoken.
>She's shaking like a leaf.
>You take the black cloth and throw it over the carcasses, trying to ignore the chatter behind you.
>”Let us go, you... you barbarian!
>”If you wanna show us yer tellin' the truth, let us out!”
“I just told you about the alarms. I'm doing the best I can!”
><”Why would they believe you about that? You've apparently had a history of lying.”
>>”Because it's true!”
><”Okay, inter dimensional hopping Anonymous.”
>>”Grrrrr...”
“ENOUGH!”
>You shout, and it makes all the horses cower.
>Except the pink one, and the middle two.
>But it still shuts Pinkie up.
“Listen.  I know you have no reason to trust me, or like me, or even hear me out. But I am going to do my best to help you.  But you have to let me help you.  Please.”
>Silence.
>Better than the alternative, at the moment.
“Ms., it's safe to open your eyes.  The bad things are gone now.”
>The yellow one stops shaking.
“I know you think I am a bad man.  But I swear to you, that if you open your eyes, you will find that I am telling the truth.”
>The yellow one tries to say something, but it's very faint.
“I'm sorry, what?”
>”I don't bel..”
“I'm sorry, I can't hear you.”
>”I don't believe you, Mr. Anonymous.  I'm sorry, but you've been mean to my friends, and I don't want >to see you hurt them anymore.”
>Another female.
>Softspoken, and adorable.
>You wish you could reach in and hug her, but she would probably freak out.
>”I-i'm sorry.”
“There is nothing to be sorry about, Ms. Whatever it is that the other Anonymous did, it is going to take time to make right. You have every right in the world to not trust me.”
><”There's one cage you missed.”
>>”Good call.”
>You walk over to the purple one's cage.
“What happened to you?”
>The horse's eyes still dart to and fro, then they focus above you.
>The eyes become fixed as her toothy grin diminishes into frown.
“What? What's wrong?”
>The horse starts shaking here head.
>”No.  Please, no no no no no...”
>She keeps saying no over and over, shaking her head.
>You follow the eyes to a clock.
>The clock reads 11:59 PM.
“Well, that solves the time issue, but why are you-”
>That's when you notice the other horses.
>They are all facing away.
>Some turn their heads as much as they can.
>Others completely turn around.
>No one has said anything for the past few minutes as you tried to talk to this purple female pony.
>They are all females, apparently.
>Well, the black one might not be, but-
>DING!
>A small bell rings.
>DING!
>Must be midnight.
>DING!
>The purple horse starts shaking uncontrollably.
>DING!
>”PLEASE NO NO NO NO!”
>DING!
“I can help you.”
>DING!
“Just tell me what's wrong!”
>DING!
>The purple horse starts scrambling away from the cage door.
>DING!
>”NO NO NO NO”
>DING!
“Someone tell me what the fuck is happening here!”
>DING!
“What's going to happen?!”
>DING!
>You start sweating profusely.
”What the fuck is going on?!”
>DING!
>There is a small moment of silence.
>Then the doors burst open.
>In strides an eight foot tall man and two guards you've never seen before.
>This guy is big.
>Pure fucking muscle.
>Built like a fucking truck.
>The two guards are smaller than average.
>No guns or anything.
>They are all smiling and laughing.
>”Hey there, Anon!  We're here for the nightly session!”
>You are confused as fuck right now.
>”NO NO NO NO”
>”SHUTUP, BITCH!”
>The big guy pulls off his belt and starts walking towards the cage.
“The nightly session, eh?  That... time again already?”
>”Look forward to it every day, Anon! Thanks for letting me do this.  There's a lack of... participants >around that have the... parts I need, willing or unwilling.”
><”Oh hell no.”
>It starts to dawn on you as he passes you.
>The purple one's voice is barely a whimper now.”
>”no no please no...”
>”What did I say about talking back, Twilight?”
>The two guards laugh.
>”Get er, boss!”
>”We love a good show!”
>You are still stunned.
>You manage to sputter something out.
“B-but the cages are alarmed! They'll come in-”
>”Relax, Anon, I disable the alarms for two hours.  No false alarms are gonna happen. 'Sides, if they did come... Well, I do love an audience!”
>His back is to you as he unbolts the first bolt slowly.”
>”Isn't that right, Twilight? We love an audience!”
>You can feel his grin from here.
><”You've got to do something!!”
>You get up and stumble backwards.
>>”Do what? Die to the fucking hulk?!
>He unbolts the second bolt.
>Twilight is in tears.
>”You'd better save your tears, sweetheart.  By the time I'm done, you won't have any left.”
>You manage to stand up inbetween the two guards.
><”If you don't do anything, you'll regret it for the rest of your life.”
>>”I'm not a fighter! I've never been in any real fights! He'll crush me!”
>He starts unbolting the third bolt.
>The two guards are grinning maniacally.
>”Boss always loves to make a show of it.”
>”Heh.  The real show's gonna start soon, eh Anon?”
><”You need to be brave, Anon.”
>>”I know.”
>Rage begins to course through your veins.
>Your eyes start seeing red.
>You check the doors.
>They are shut tight.
>He starts the fourth bolt.
>”I spy with my little eye something that's in desperate need of another lesson.”
><”Do it for her.”
>Go time.
>You take a step back and assess the situation.
>Two guards, with their backs turned to you.
>One of the biggest guys you have ever seen is bent over, opening a cage door.
>And then there's you.
>Just you.
>With a bloody apron filled with the right tools for the job.
>You grab two knives from the apron.
>With one motion, you stab both of them through each of the guards necks.
>They barely make a sound as they slump to the ground, blood spurting from their open wounds.
>Looks of shock implanted on their faces.
>You keep walking forward as time slows down.
>He's reaching in for Twilight.
>”Come here, Twilight.  I've got something for ya!”
>He's got her legs.
>You reach for a hammer.
>You tap him on the shoulder.
“Hey, buddy.”
>He turns around.
>You crack him in the temple.
>He slumps over like a sack of potatoes.
>You hit him again, just to make sure.
>You hear a satisfying splorch as you see gray matter and blood leak out of his head.
>You kick his body.
>He completely slumps to the ground.
>You look up at Twilight.
>She's shaking hard.
>Staring ahead.
>Unsure of what just happened.
>Your vision clears.
>You get inside the cage, kneeling to be on eye level with her.
>She backs away into the corner, afraid.
“Your name is Twilight? That's a nice name. My name is Anonymous P. Mitchell. No one here is going to hurt you anymore. You are safe now.”
>You had to come up with a last name to differentiate yourself from... him.
>She stares at you, breathing rapidly.
>She is in shock.
“Listen to me, okay? I know that the other Anonymous did bad things to you.  And that he let bad things happen to you and your friends. And I am not going to lie and say that I can make that go away.”
>She is staring at you.
>She looks less scared.
>She is still shaking hard.
“I know you're scared.  But I'm here now. I am not the same person you think I am. I am not a monster.  I am here to help you.”
>She looks like she is about to cry.
>Your heart breaks.
“I know this is hard. I know what you have been through, and it is terrible.  And it hurts. But I swear to you upon my life, and upon everything that I hold holy, that I will not let any more harm come to you. Or your friends.”
>Silence.
>It doesn't seem like anyone in the room is breathing as you sit there in that cage with Twilight.
>No one moves.
>Then, after what seems like an eternity, Twilight moves forward shakily.
>She warps her front hooves around your your neck, and down your back.
>She embraces you, sobbing as she puts her head over our shoulder.
>You gently run your hand through her disheveled mane.
“It's okay.  You're safe now.  No one is going to hurt you anymore.”
>She sobs.
>”Th-th-thank y-y-you...
“It's okay. Just let it all out.  You're safe now.  I promise.”
>You sit there for awhile, just listening to her sob as you try to comfort her.
>You close your eyes as tears start forming.
>You start crying to as the memories flood back in.
“It's going to be okay, Twilight.”
>Tears start forming in the other horse's eyes as you both sit there.
>You all cry as you sit there.
>Time stands still.
“It's going to be okay.”