I considered the unconscious, blue unicorn I had tied to the table. That had been unnecessarily frustrating… She'd almost gotten away, too. When I'd left my house, not only was the dome gone and Trixie defeated, but the Tyrant was also there for some dignitary pandering. I was forced to hide until she left and not start tracking the amulet thief.

If she hadn't stayed around the area, I wouldn't have been able to intercept her as she randomly fled. Why on earth would she arbitrarily flee after staying nearby that long? Never mind, that wasn't what I had her here to discover, and she was waking up.

"W-what is this!? Where am I!?" She struggled against the ropes. "The Great and Powerful Trixie did not agree to this!"

"Silence, mare. You are here to answer questions, not make demands."

"I do not need to answer anything! Now release me! Celestia herself will hear of this!"

I involuntarily snarled, and I flicked the wheel on the table, pulling the already taut ropes, making her exposed body strain. "Silence. That amulet you were wearing- the Alicorn Amulet. Where did you get it?"

"I swear, I didn't mean to be so horrid! I just- aaaa!"

I turned the crank again. "That wasn't even close to what I asked. Now answer me!"

"Ahhh! Please, the Great and Powerful Trixie is sorry! Please stop!"

"I said stop dodging! Answer me now, or this will get far worse for you!"

"And just what do you think you are doing, Lantra?"

I jumped, spinning. "Ayana!"

"Miss, help!"

"Go ahead, your turn to answer the question, Lantra."

"I am finding out something that needs to be understood and dealt with."

"Nothing is so important that it calls for whatever your methods are."

"She has become involved with an amulet of great power that has claimed the lives of hundreds of ponies."

"H-hundreds!?"

I ignored Trixie's spluttering exclamation. "I need to track it back to whomever removed it from its hiding place, to make sure no other similar artifacts have been disturbed."

"But I don't know anything!"

"I can see this is serious, but why does this allow you to be so inequinane?"

"Inequinane!? She removed Pinkie's mouth! And what are you doing in my house again!?"

"So one wrong-doing deserves another?"

"Helloooo! Still on a table here!"

"No, no you're dodging! Why are you always here, and how did you find my secret basement?"

"I don't need to answer you on anything. Somepony who would torture another isn't deserving of answers, let along the caring that you have been shown. You disappoint me, Lantra." She turned away from me in seeming disgust. It felt like she might as well have struck me!

"Disappoint!? How in the hay do you expect me to get what I need otherwise!? Or would you rather just not find out, and live in the knowledge thousands of other ponies could be in pain or dying right now because you didn't do what it took to save them!?"

"Yes, but there are other ways to get the information you need! How could you not consider those!?"

I have. But rape is less effective, except as a follow-up."

"EXCUSE ME!?" She stepped between us, her fury literally lighting up the room. "I have never heard anything as sickening as what you are saying! Have you even considered just asking!?"

I glared at her incredulously. "No. Have you considered how stupid you sound!? I can ask her anything I want, but what do I do if she lies or refuses to answer? We need this information and cannot risk a negative operative feeding us false information freely!"

"Negative operative!? She is just a helpless, scared mare! Treat her kindly, and she would tell you what you need to know!"

"Have you dealt with interrogations? No, but I have. Treat an enemy kindly, and they will use it to their advantage."

"No they won't. They will join you in peace and understanding!"

"That sounds nice and all, but it doesn't work. Luna tried it once. We all almost died. I would love it if there was another way, believe me. I know how horrible it is to be tortured, FAR worse than this. But unless the foe is going to magically be perfectly honest and open, I need a way to enforce that honestly."

"But she's not an enemy, or a foe, or anything else! She's just a scared mare in a bad situation!"

"Fine, then prove me wrong."

"What?"

"If you're so smart, you get the information I need with your magical kindness." I turned, storming out of the room. Frustrating mares everywhere! …And why did I keep being the one who was leaving in my own house?! Gah! Did she not realize what this was doing to me! Would it be great to not have to torture anypony? Of course! I'd always been on Luna's side where it came to this issue… Celestia had been so quick to torture… Just like Cepheus… I shuddered, remembering his torturing me himself to get the location of Father's book… Thank the void I was so strong…

But as much as I hated torture and felt guilty for it, I really didn't see another option… I had to get the truth. After all, what could she possibly get out of-

"I have your damned answers."

I turned incredulously to stare at Ayana. She glared back, holding Trixie protectively with a wing. …"And?"

"She knows nothing. She heard of the amulet in a splinter cult, and traced it to a small artifacts shop. Other than that, she knows nothing of any other amulet."

"Is this everything you know, Trixie?"

"Yes…"

I sensed no malice in her, and saw no signs of a lie. …I'd have to go with it. "Where can I find this cult then?"

"I… can't…"

"Go on, Trixie. Don't worry, I'll protect you. But we need to know."

She curled up, whimpering. "I didn't…"

"Didn't what, dear?"

"Didn't mean to kill them." Both mares stared at me. "That's what you're trying to say, isn't it?"

Trixie nodded once, and then burst into tears. Ayana stared, slack jawed. "How… how did you…?"

"Simple. Having analyzed her magic, she's a show pony with a limited repertoire, living in disgrace. Her income is nonexistent. She had to have stolen the absurd amount of coin needed to buy the amulet. She then clams up about the cult and says she can't discuss them or where they are."

Ayana blinked in surprise, and then tried to comfort Trixie. "Shhh… It's ok… It's not your fault."

I paced up to the mares' sides. "There is far more to me than even you know, Ayana. I know you will need time to think everything that has occurred over. If you insist on believing I am evil for believing in what I thought it would take to save others, I understand. But you might want to look into Celestia's practices. I am completely loving in comparison to her. Now, please go. This is something only another killer can understand… No torture, I promise. Let me do this your way. …My preferred way."

Ayana watched me silently for a few moments, and then stood, leaving without a word. Would I ever see her again? I sighed, settling in next to Trixie. "What happened?"

"I… I needed the gold…" she started brokenly. She probably hadn't told anyone else until now… "I stole it… But they knew and were chasing me… So I set off fireworks to blind them, and… …and… we were in a cave, and they…" She swallowed deeply, and I didn't need to ask what happened. "That's why I knew, more than ever, I needed that amulet… Twilight is so strong that she's never killed somepony…"

"Only because she's gotten very lucky. But you've seen that, haven't you? Power solves nothing."

"I have… But what am I missing then!?"

"Understanding. And your pride still blinds you."

"…Oh…" we sat in silence for several long minutes, as she stopped crying. "… Will you teach me?"

"Me? You should hate me."

"No… I understand why you were… That amulet… But, you said you've killed ponies."

"Many. But how does that engender confidence?"

Trixie stared at the floor. "It means you're stronger than me… Stronger than Twilight. You have power and control… Enough control to do that, and not break down like me…"

"Breaking down is not a bad thing… Really, being like me might be the bad thing… That can't be the only reason."

"…Your level of control over the Great and Mystified Trixie also… intrigued her. …me."

"…I see. I have a… spare room not… not being used…" Keep it together, Lantra… "You can stay there for now… I'll think about it overnight. And don't disturb anything you find." I added as she started upstairs. …Another hopeful pupil… Were the others having these sorts of problems?

Vaetr's Location:

"All hail the king!"

"Guys, I told you! I'm not a king!"

"All hail the redeemer!"

"You guys!"

Vaetr swirled, trying to find an escape from the other wingingos who surrounded him. "Look, I think you have me confused for somepony else."

"No, Savior!" intoned the oldest of the ice-ponies. "Prophecy has foretold your coming! The long-lost windingo with flesh who will ride in our charge back to glory against the flesh-beings!"

"Whoa, back up. Glory?"

"Yes! Conquest! Death to the fleshed ones!"

"Ok, I don't know what prophecies you've been listening to, but I'm not here to-"

"Tie up the flesh-dingo for the blood sacrifice to release the Spirit of the Savior!"

"Blood…? AHHHH!" Vaetr took off at full speed, trailing his entire race. "Sky! Seth! Luna! Anypony! HELP!"

"Do not run from destiny, our Savior!"

"Keep away from me, you crazy fanatics!"

Cappelan's location:

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Is it dead?

No, sleeping

You said that last week. Nothing stays asleep that long outside winter.

Maybe it hibernates in summer!

….

Ok, fine. But it's still alive! It's breathing.

But then, what is it?

It's a pony. Duh.

With scales?

Why not? They get nice and warm in the sun!"

…Really.

Come on! Settle down and try it! He doesn't even notice anyways.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

So, now we've gotten to see what Vaetr and Cappelan are up to, and the Great and Slightly Annoying Trixie has set herself up in Lantra's home. (at least for now.) Any thoughts? Which side of the torture argument is right? Unfortunately, the chapter's posting speed will have to slow down again... It's the week before finals, so I have to buckle down and pay attention. Wish me luck! ...I'll need it...

Once again, feel free to leave any positive or negative comments, and I don't own MLPFIM

Ayana still belongs to Amaya_chan