The whole room had become pitch black. Twilight and Rarity huddled togther for comfort.
"Oh Twilight, where are we? Why is this happening to us?" Rarity cried.
"I think this is Tambelon. I recognise the surroundings and some of these uniorns from that newspaper cutting in the book." Twilight replied.
Gusty spoke. "That was no joke, Twilight." Her voice sounded full of fear, "We have been here twenty-six years. They keep testing us and our magic, but found nothing. They said they would let us go this Summer once they found and captured the true heir to the throne."
"Well, although I am very flattered to become royalty, this is hardly what I had in mind!" Rarity huffed.
Twilight smiled, in spite of everything. THAT was the Rarity she knew and loved!
The pink unicorn, who turned out to be called Galaxy, walked towards them.
"So why were you winking out, Twilight?" She asked, confused. "Winking out is an old spell now, so we heard."
"Forgive me, but how did you hear that if you've been in here all this time?" Twilight questioned.
"All of us escaped through a tunnel in the nineties." a green unicorn named Fizzy answered, lighting up the dark dungeon with her glowing horn. "Some of our friends escaped completely, some were captured and killed when they resisted, and we were brought back here. We were out for two days when they told us of the new, safe spells. Unfortunately, we never got to learn them."
"So, wait...We can use magic in here?" Twilight asked. She was met with nods from the older unicorns.
"And you've been in here this entire time?" She raised an eyebrow.
"We can use magic, just not wink out." Ribbon, the blue unicorn explained. Her daughter stirred and got to her feet, shyly staying by her mother's side.
"I can teach you to teleport!" Twilight whispered loudly.
"Oh Twilight, I almost forgot! You life saver!" Rarity grinned excitedly.
"Everypony gather around me." Twilight instructed. The others did as she said, and a purple-pink glow emitted from her horn and engulfed them all. Within seconds, they found themselves on Ponyville Green, where Twilight and Rarity had been earlier.
The other unicorns looked around astonished.
"We-we're out! That must be a new spell? Oh THANK YOU!" Ribbon cried, wrapping Twilight up in a tight hug. "We're free!"
They all cheered loudly and cried tears of joy.
"Here's a question: Where are we?" Fizzy asked, taking in the surroundings of busy Ponyville.
"This is Ponyville. I'm guessing this isn't where you're from?" Rarity answered.
"No, we are from Dream Valley." Gusty answered.
"Where in the wide world of Equestria is that?" Twilight puzzled.
"It's a valley about ten miles away from the other side of Canterlot...Or at least it was..." Buttons, another pink unicorn responded; "Grogar ordered it to be demolished and completely wiped out when everypony escaped. Some of the escapees fled into the safety of Canterlot, and still live there today!"
"Maybe we should go to Canterlot and check it out. Gather around me again please." Twilight said. Within seconds, they had all teleported into Canterlot.
"Who goes there!" A guard shouted out, upon arrival.
"Oh! I'm sorry sir, it's me, Twilight Sparkle. I come here with friends."
"Ah, Twilight! Welcome back. Please come through." The guard let down his weapon and moved aside.
Twilight bowed her head gratefully as she and the other unicorns trotted past and into the city centre, which was busy and bustling with Canterlot ponyfolk.
"Oh my, it's so busy here!" Baby Ribbon muttered.
"Don't worry. We're safe here." Rarity reassured her.
They trotted for some minutes until they came down a side alley, which contained one big building. The alleyway was totally quiet; not a soul ventured down it.
"Equestria Mental Asylum." Twilight read. Then she paused... Why had she come here?
"Why are we here, Twilight?" Rarity whispered.
"I'm not sure," Twilight admitted, "I just had this sudden thought to come here, and a name came to mind too. The name Quillius ring any bells?" She turned to the other unicorns.
"Yes. He escaped in the nineties and fled to Canterlot. Why?" Buttons frowned.
"I have a brainwave." Twilight said, pushing open the door.
"Can I help you?" One of the psychiatric nurses approached them.
"Oh um yes. We are looking for a Mr Quillius...Is he...Does he...?"
"Hello. You were looking for me?" A male voice came from behind them.
"Quillius?" Gusty asked.
The stallion nodded. He didn't look troubled at all. Twilight's brow wrinkled in confusion, as the newly-escaped unicorns all took turns hugging him.
"How can I help?" Quillius asked.
"Well, I had this sudden vision. And to cut a long story short, what do you know about Tambelon?" Twilight asked.
At that moment, the entire ward fell silent.
"Um...Come into my office everypony." Quillius said hurriedly, ushering them into a side room. He shut the door firmly.
"So...Has the prophecy come true? Is that how you all re-escaped?" He whispered.
Everypony nodded.
"Good. I knew I could count on you, Twilight Sparkle." Quillius smiled.
"Wait, how do you know who I am? How did I get these visions? What's going on?" Twilight burbled.
"Shhh, my dear pony. I sent you those visions myself. I am a skilled unicorn, if I do say so myself. I made it my life goal to study new and old magic. I was the one who sent you to Tambelon. Your skills and talent are known all over Equestria. I knew you could rescue my old friends."
Twilight blushed at the older stallion's words of praise.
He looked at the old unicorns. "I see the anti-ageing spell is still in effect over there?"
They all nodded.
With a glow of his horn, Quillius transformed all of the unicorns into the older versions of themselves.
"No way!" The unicorn who was previously Baby Ribbon cried, "I'm like...Older!" She grinned in delight. "But now I'm gonna need a new name..."
"How about Rosette?" Her mother suggested.
"Love it! Only problem is, now we look identical. How is anypony gonna tell us apart?" Newly-named Rosette pondered.
"I'm sure you have waited long enough for a make-over." Quillius chuckled, "Not to worry; Our resident beauticians, Cocoa and Shea will help you with that. He pressed a button on his intercom.
Shortly after, twin mares (A cream mare with a brown and white mane, and a brown mare with cream and white mane,) entered the office. "Yes Mr Quillius?" The cream mare asked.
"Please take Rosette here along to the parlour, and give her an entirely new look. Dye her mane and tail...Everything. Charge it to my office." Quillius answered.
The mares nodded and led Rosette out into the corridor but Quillius spoke up again. "Hang on...These unicorns have had a very difficult few years. They need a wash and a make-over too. Could you help them out? They're old friends of mine."
The other unicorns left the room, leaving Twilight and Rarity with Quillius.
"Sorry about that, where were we?" He blinked.
"Oh, well I was going to ask why you sent me to Tambelon, and sent me all these visions?" Twilight questioned.
"Ah, yes. Well, as I said, your abilities and talent are famous across Equestria. You're Princess Celestia's own special student are you not?"
Twilight nodded.
"This quest was just for you, Twilight. You see, I sent you to Tambelon to rescue my friends. But do you recall a sudden recolletion of your teleportation spell whilst in the dungeon?" Quillius continued.
"Yes, I do actually. Why?"
"I sent that to you Twilight, because Grogar, the ruler of Tambelon was approaching the dungeon. You see, he has been searching for the heir for many years, as he cannot go on much longer."
"The...heir?" Twilight stammered.
Quillius nodded solemnly. "Yes Twilight. Grogar has heard of your powers and wanted to test your magic to see if it was you so you could take his place. There is another heir, but she is much harder to capture, so Grogar thought it best to capture you instead. I had to rescue you."
"And, who is that other heir?" Rarity asked, gulping.
Quillius got to his feet and wandered over to the window. It was moments before he spoke.
"Princess Celestia."