Chapter XV: Lost in the Darkness

Scootaloo

"It feels like we're going in circles," Dani said as we went up another staircase. I assured her I know where we are going. I've been in this castle a dozen times with Twilight. Dani looked up at the vast walls. "This place gives Vlad's castle a run for its money." She said in awe.

"I don't know about Vlad but this place is…," I began to say when I notice that Dani is not behind me. I turn around and saw my friend standing there with her feet sunk into the stone. "Dani are you all right?" I ask her. She looks at me terrified as she tried to pull herself free.

I tried to push her from behind, "I'm stuck, " her eyes are wide with terror. I tell her to stay calm. She tearfully pleads for me to help her. I assure her I am going to find somepony to help her. "Please…please…,"

I take a stone and mark the wall so I know where to come back to and zoom off hoping to run into a palace guard or even better Rainbow Dash. She will know how to help my friend.

Tucker

"How far is your friend's house?" Luna asked as we walked down an alley. "It seems like we are sneaking around." I tell her that we're not far from Danny's and we're going the back way to avoid Vlad's spy cams. "This Vlad spies on his subjects."

"Yeah, it's like 1984. There is nothing that get pasts the Fruit Loop's eyes." I say as I look at the map on the smart phone. "There's a street nearby with a blind spot." I look up at the two horses. "You might want to think about a disguise. Talking horses might give us away."

"You are right," Celestia says as they close their eyes. Energy surrounds them forcing me to shield my eyes. When the light died down the two alicorns were gone and in their place were two college age girls. "How is this, do you think we'll blend in?" the princess asked but my mouth was dry.

"Speak Tucker," Luna commanded as I snapped out of it. "Why do you think your friend can help us?" I explain to them that Danny's parents are scientists and they might have something that will help you get home. "Well you best be quick we can't hold this form long."

"We'll be there soon," I assure them leading them through the street.

Spike

"What if I do a Sonic Rainboom? That should shatter the door to pieces," Rainbow says as she takes to the skies but Twilight stopped her. She said that such a force would shatter the mountain and might set off any alarms that Vlad had placed.

Danny takes out a pocket knife, "maybe I can…" at the moment the door began to glow and vanished revealing the opening. "I don't like this," he searched the area for any one waiting to ambush us. "Vlad is tricky so we better keep our eyes open. " He activated a flashlight on his knife and slowly walked inside.

"What is this place?" I asked as entered what looked like an old gem mine. Twilight says these are the mines below Canterlot. The town's wealth came from these gems. However the unicorns became greedy and sabotaged one another trapping their rivals down here. "How do you know all this?" I ask Twilight as she swallows hard. She said this is where Chrysalis trapped her and Cadence so she could marry Shining Armor and take over Canterlot.

"You said the unicorns trapped their rivals down here?" Sam asked Twilight curious. "They must have a system of markings so they could get out of here without getting lost." Twilight smiles at the idea but there is one problem they used magic to make them. "If they are anything like greedy humans, they had other ponies do the dirty work."

"I did recall reading a tale of a unicorn that had earth ponies make a fake passage way to trick those who would attempt to take his treasure," Twilight remembers, "but it was just a story, there is no evidence that such project was done."

"It's worth a try as Mr. Lancer said 'all legends contain some truth'" Danny replies, "Look for anything that looks artificial on the wall," he says shining the light down a hallway.

Trixie

"Why did I agree to do that," I asked myself massaging my temples. That Vlad is insane. Where does he even get the idea of stealing another pony's magic and…"I need to rest," I remind myself as I arrive at the bedroom suites. "I hear the mattresses are to die for."

I climb on to one of the beds and cast a music spell. "There is nothing like classical music to unwind", I feel my eyes start to close my eyes letting the music take me away.

"There you are Ms. Lulamoon," a voice snapped out me out of my sleep. I was face to face with Plasmius as he pulled me out of bed. "Ms. Sparkle and her friends are in the castle and I want to make sure they will never escape." I told him they will get lost by themselves and has nothing to worry about. "However I have some insurance."

He says wants me to cast a teleport that will scatter them. "You have the most powerful of the ancient charms. A teleport spell is a piece of cake for you." He takes a scroll from his pocket and shows it to me. "You're crazy, not even the greatest wizards could do that spell." Vlad laughs and says that has never stopped him before. "What do you mean?" I ask nervously.

"You are going to use the amulet to focus your magic. Combined with the power I have harvested from the guards it will make sure that those ponies never come back." Vlad's eyes shined with lust. I thought back to when I had the amulet and wondered if I had the same look. "Now Trixie," he orders as I turn away.

"No, I am tired of being your magical pincushion. Twice you have used magic that could have killed me. I am not going along with this plan," I can see Vlad seethe with anger. He uses the amulet to throw me across the room.

"You miserable little nobody!" he sneers, "How dare you refuse me. I am the ruler of Equestria. You will do as I say." I try to get on my hooves. "If you will not do it willing then you will do it by force," he says casting a spell on me.

"What…are…you…doing," I ask him as I my legs give way and fell down. He walks up to me and says something but his voice is distant and soon I plunge into blackness.

Dani

"You always were weak," a voice said as I found myself back in my 'room.' Vlad's eyes shine in the dark as he tells me that I am nothing. "You can't even move your legs," he said about to hit me.

I closed my eyes and tried to focus, "this…isn't…real," I keep saying to myself. The Fruit loop tells me that it is very real. "NO! This is an illusion and Sensei Tommy says illusions can't harm us." My 'father' laughed saying that no one can help me.

"You do know what happens when you disobey me," he said as I looked down and saw myself sinking deeper. I pleaded him to help me and I wouldn't disobey him. "It's too…," suddenly the room fills with light.

"Leave her alone!" a female voice shouts as Vlad and my cell disappear. I find myself now in a beautiful bedroom. "You are very strong Danielle," my savior says. I ask her who she is and why she helped me. "I am a friend of Twilight Sparkle and I sensed you were in danger."

I try to see if I can catch glimpse of her but the light is too bright. She says I can rest here for the time as I regain my strength. "Where are we?" I ask her trying to figure out what happened. She says we are in the space in my mind what my teacher would call 'the inner sanctuary.'

"He would be very proud of you," she said as I crawled into the bed and to my delight it was a waterbed. "If you need anything I won't be far," she says as I nestle myself in the sheets and close my eyes.

Fluttershy

"We should be close…," I heard Twilight say but her voice began to fade. I ask her if she is okay but there is no answer. I turn around and find myself alone in a room with a green glow.

"Twilight? Danny?" I call out but all I here is my echo. Okay this isn't so bad it's not like there is anything. …" I feel something in front of me. "Is that a...changeling….cocoon?" I touched it with my hoof it was cold and slimy. "Calm down Fluttershy it's not that bad…" What am I saying I am stuck in a room with changeling cocoons.

Inside I could see a royal guard but before I can do anything a couple changelings enter. "I could have sworn I heard something in here," he said as they looked at the pods. "I don't think Chrysalis would mind if we have a little snack." He walked up to one of the pods.

I can't let them harm the guards. I pick up a stone on the ground and throw it. "What was that!" the other one says looking around. "It must have been a bug. Come on we have work to do." They leave the room.

"Please Twilight come quick," I slunk into a corner hoping not to run into anything else.