Note from me: This has been a chapter long time coming truthfully told finished months ago, but not proofread until yesterday. Then I took the time to go through it once more looking for errors, and while this chapter lacks my normal amount of detail I hope you all like it as we are reaching the end. Leave a review! All that fun jazz! ~Jester~

A Locked Jewel

Chapter 11: Shadow of Memories

"Welcome home~"

"That voice…" Jasper whispered, it was him. The bastard who sent him to prison 5 years ago, 5 years of suffering and Tartarus filled years. Emerald Comet, the advisor of Celestia for the last 40 years. And one of her most trusted subjects, and the unicorn responsible for everything.

Glaring into the darkness ahead he moved the glowing dark light in front of him closer so to see the path ahead better. Dashing ahead into the dark, he had no idea where he was going he just knew he had to find the source of the voice. Turning left and right in the caves; dead ends and pitfalls.

The mines were far larger then he predicted, he could see pieces of the pasts all over. Old broken tools, mining helmets, even some bones, it wasn't until he reached one dead end he found a pickaxe embedded in a large crystal. Reaching for the old pickaxe he grasped the old handle, it was made of metal which meant it wasn't as damaged from time as a wooden pickaxe might have been.

Pulling it free from the crystal he swung it a few times, the weight was slightly off from the rust that had collected on the pickaxe, but it was still strong. Looking at the crystal before him he noticed a small shard that was close to coming off, glancing at the pickaxe for a moment then back at the crystal shard. Raising the pick above his head he swung down hard, the metal came into contact with the shard effortlessly breaking it off.

The shard flew off the large crystal and collided with the wall of the mine. Falling to the floor, the echo of the dings from it falling sounded throughout the tunnels; until finally the sound died out once again allowing silence to consume the tunnels. Setting the pickaxe down he moved to the shard. Picking it up he looked it over, it was the size of a kitchen knife.

"Perfect" He said to himself, his words sounded throughout the caves till it finally ceased. By which time he had wrapped one end of the shard in one of the wraps he brought with him making a makeshift handle for the shard. Now turning it into an improvised knife, he slipped it into one of the pockets of his tactical pants. Grabbing the pickaxe, now armed with two weapons he followed the path back.

As he reached the fork in path he came too in his running he took the second path, taking his time as running didn't seem to yield results. So, he took it one moment at a time, each step echoing down the silent caves. No breathing, no voices, not even the drops of water could be heard in the old mines.

Course the silence was better than the screams he was hearing in the prison, wait… why did the prison suddenly come to mind? Freezing on the spot he turned around, spotting an elevator door that wasn't there before. The door slightly opened, eyeing the open door for a moment in confusion.

Taking a step to the door placing a single hand on it, his other set the pickaxe down before grabbing the other door. Pushing outwards the doors opened up slowly till he could fit through, he stepped into the elevator or at least he thought he did.

"Ah shit!" He fell straight downwards, lashing out his hand he grasped the edge of the elevator edge. Or at least that's what should have been there, instead he was holding onto the edge of a rock. Blinking once in confusion he looked down, the elevator shaft that once existed was now a deep ravine. He could faintly make out the sound of rushing water below, not that he was prepared to go for a swim…

Looking back up he placed his other hand on the rocks edge pulling himself up, his pickaxe laid there right where he put it. Throwing one leg over the edge he rolled onto his side till he was completely on his back.

"What just happened?" He whispered, he could have sworn there was an elevator there. Turning his head to the right he saw nothing but a sheer drop, where he could have been at the bottom had he not caught himself in time. Sitting up he rested his hand on his knee before pushing himself to his feet, reaching for his pickaxe but it was gone.

"Hm?.." Jasper hummed lightly, he looked around the area for his pickaxe. But it was nowhere to be seen, in fact he wasn't even in the mines anymore. He was on a balcony, whipping around in confusion he could see the sunrise in the distance. He reached for his glasses to try and remove them to rub his eyes to make sure he wasn't going crazy, only to grab air.

"Where are my…" His voice was drowned out as a pair of hooves were heard behind him, whipping around in a defensive stance he froze. "My my Jasper, you're up early." A cheerful tone reached his ears, before him was a tall Alicorn princess with a cerulean, turquoise, cobalt blue and a light pink mane stood. Her tail matched the mane, wings coaled nicely around her tall frame, a crown on her head. Golden slippers on her hooves, and a golden necklace around her neck, her smile peaceful.

"C-Celestia?" Jasper choked out, the royal Alicorn nodded once at the human. "Who else would I be?" She teased, Jasper's guard dropped as he ran at the tall Alicorn wrapping his arms around her neck. Celestia laughed lightly at his small tackle, putting one hoof around him she opened her wings and closed them around his figure.

"Well hello to you too." She said in his ear, tears started to well up in his eyes as he closed them trying to control his emotions. Celestia smiled as she whispered in his ear "You should just die Jasper~" She said in a cheerful tone, his eyes snapped open as he turned his head to look at Celestia. Only to see a rock…

"W-What the fuck!?" He released the rock tripping backward, slamming his head on the ground he could feeling darkness overtaking him. Though sitting up quickly rubbing his head as he fought back against it, taking a few minutes to rub the pain away he looked at what he tripped on. It was his pickaxe, reaching for it he picked up the rusted metal tool. Looking it over once to confirm it was real, he slid the handle into his satchel. The axe part stuck out, but it was easy to retrieve should he need it.

Forcing himself to his feet he looked to the rock that was once Celestia seeing indeed it was just a rock, he then looked into the darkness of the path ahead he spoke aloud. "Enough of your illusions Comet." He said, only to hear a dark laugh in the pitch black ahead. "Now now dear Jasper why would I want to stop~" The voice teased, glaring at the darkness he took a cautious step forward.

The world remained the same, so continuing down the dark path his eyes constantly scanning the walls. Yet nothing changed, no Celestia, no elevator, no Emerald Comet. But even without any of these things around him, he couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. Though knowing Comet, the unicorn's eyes were anywhere and everywhere.

As Jasper reached the end of the path before him laid a door, it was just a simple wooden door. A rusty handle, no locks, old wood that seemed to barely be standing. Glancing behind himself for a moment he saw only the darkness that the light above him didn't reveal. Returning his attention back to the door before him he took a deep breath, preparing for any illusion that might lay on the other side.

With a small amount of effort, he pulled the door open, nothing but darkness. The light moved forward into the dark before extinguishing, cursing lightly he lifted the ring up. 'Light' he thought, but nothing happened. With little choice, he pushed forward into the darkness, his hands in front just in case.

Feeling around in the darkness his fingertips grazed something, but it moved away just as quickly as he touched it. Freezing on the spot his right hand moved to the pickaxe grasping the axe part, with a small slide the tool became a weapon in his hand. Now armed his left hand searched the blackness for whatever it was he touched, once again his hand grazed the object.

"Got you!" He said, as he was about to swing the weapon a bright light took over the darkness. Recoiling back as his eyes suddenly were filled with the light, he swung the weapon blindly missing whatever it was before him. His free hand covered his eyes as he took several steps back trying to get some distance in case whatever it was in the light was coming for him.

"G-Get away!" A voice cried out causing Jasper to freeze, rubbing his eyes several times to try and grow accustom to the blinding light. As he peered through the slit his eyes aloud he could make out a small object in the light, and it was charging at him slowly. Raising the weapon once again preparing to take down whatever it was coming he swung down, freezing just inches from the object.

"H-Help me mama!" The voice cried out, Jasper stood there frozen as he looked at what was before him. It was a small child with amber colored hair, the child had its back to Jasper. It was backing up to him, looking up to see whatever it was the child was fleeing from he could see two Canterlot guards approaching.

They had black eyes, clad in golden armor. One an earth pony sword in his mouth, the other a unicorn. Its magic held a spear, the tip pointing at the small child. "Jasper Abbott for crimes against Equestria, you are sentenced to imprisonment!" The unicorn shouted at the Jasper, but he was looking down at the child.

The child raised his hand in defense "N-No it w-wasn't me, it's was Professor Comet!" The child screamed, only for the unicorn guard to slam the handle of the spear into the side of its face. The child flew to the side crashing into the ground, Jasper was about to run to the child's aid but he couldn't move.

"….." He tried speaking but nothing came out, his whole body was frozen solid. He couldn't even blink as the burning in his eyes became evident, only his eyeballs could move as they looked to the two guard then the small child. Who was now sitting up, Jasper eyes started to shake as he got a good look at the child.

A boy with amber colored hair, amber colored eyes. A purple tee shirt with a symbol of the sun on the front, white fabric pants, no shoes. It was him, or a younger version of him. The young Jasper tried to get up to flee only for the earth guard to leap at him, he slammed his large head into the boys back sending him flying into a nearby wall.

'T-This is….' Jasper thought, that's right this was a flashback of the day he was arrested. The boy curled up in a ball, tears pouring out of his eyes. "I-It w-wasn't me…." The boy whimpered only for the unicorn guard to stab the spear into the boys' leg. Which the real Jasper collapsed to his knees as a burning feeling surged through his left calf muscle, he tried to look but his body still refused to move.

His eyes were locked on the screaming child before him, the screaming only increased as the earth guard began to brutally beat the boy. The unicorn guard stepped forward blocking the view but Jasper knew what was coming next. A burning feeling surged through his gut, the spear stabbed there next he remembered.

Then the right hand started to burn as he knew that was when the younger version of him tried to crawl away. Only to be cut off from the earth guard plugging the sword into his hand to pin it down. This time the next pain to hit the real Jasper was a dull burning, the beating was next he remembered till finally….

Darkness, he had passed out after that only the real Jasper wasn't so lucky. He was still forced to watch as the child was kicked away to the hooves of another unicorn. Jasper's eyes looked up slowly a light gray maned stallion stood there, dull emerald eyes stared down at the child. There wasn't any pity for the beaten boy in those eyes, but the real Jasper's eyes widen as movement finally came back to him.

"Here he is Professor." The earth pony said, the old unicorn looked to the guard. 'E-Emerald Comet!' Jasper thought, a cold fear ran through him as he watched Comet roll the boy onto his back. Blood covered the small boys head, the once clear tear trails that used to exist were replaced with what looked like drops of red paint. A broken nose, black and blue marks started to form on the child face and what areas of skin that could be seen.

A green aura engulfed the boys hand as it raised a bit to see a clear hole through and through, Comet sighed lightly earning a few questioning looks from the guards. "Si-" The earth pony began to speak only to be silence by the sword that was once his, the blade embedded itself into the guards skull piercing through the golden helmet. And the one holding the blade?

It was the child, the green aura that once engulfed the boys hand moved to his whole body. The now puppet grabbed the sword in a half a second, the other half killed the guard with his own weapon. The boy's head was slummed over still knocked out, the other guard didn't have a chance to react as his throat was slit by the puppet.

All during few second two elite guards were now lying dead on the stone floor of the castle, the puppet once it's purpose fulfilled fell once again to the ground. Comet just stared at the two dead bodies on the ground for a moment, as the real Jasper looked from the bodies to the unicorn who now had a sick smile on his face.

"There, now for the next step~" He said in a dark sinister tone, the green aura appeared around the young Jasper once again. As it did the wounds on the child began to slowly heal up, all the while Comet kept that sick smile till finally all the wounds closed. A rope then appeared in a small pop before the unicorn, it snaked its way around the child. It formed a knot as it finished its work, almost like a gift wrapped present.

As Comet's task finished itself up he brought a hoof to his mouth clearing his throat almost like an actor would. He whipped around a panicked look in his eyes "He killed them! Over here! I've captured the traitor!" Comet screamed out in terror, as he did several guards could be seen running down the hall towards them. "Hehe…" Comet snickered, the last thing Jasper saw before the memory faded was that sick smirk.

Jasper closed his eyes in disgust, as he did he could feel a warmth escaping his eyes. It moved down the side of his face before dropping to the cave floor, opening his eyes slowly only to see a chair in the middle of the cave. Blinking once to make sure he wasn't imagining it, the chair now had a light above it. The cave walls were replaced with metal walls, covering in new and old blood.

"No…" Jasper whispered, as he did he could see a prison guard dragging in a child. Handcuffs around his wrists as he was helpless to the strong stallion, it was him again. The young Jasper was covered in small cuts, bruises, his nose crooked, tears pouring down his eyes. His screams echoing in the small room as he tried to get away, it made the older Jasper sick. He could feel his own stomach turning as he watched helplessly…

"Get him in the chair!" The guard behind the first guard screamed, the guard in front was a Pegasus. The handcuffs chained to his belt, the second was an earth pony. The Pegasus pulled the struggling child to the chair, getting behind it. He reached around to unclip the handcuffs, he then whipped his head sharply. The struggling child slammed into his side crying out in pain, this caused the earth guard to snicker.

The Pegasus pulled the cuffs back causing the boy to forcibly be pulled into the chair, as he did a painfully loud pop could be heard. The cries of pain turned into shrieks of agony as more tears poured down his face from torment. "Oh, I think you dislocated his shoulder." The earth guard said, as the words left his lips the boy slumped over.

"Ah Tartarus he passed out" The Pegasus said as he latched the cuffs to the chair locking them, he then went around the side where the popping was heard. "Best fix that" He said before turning around and bucking the boys shoulder in, an ear-splitting crack echoed in the room as the boys' shoulder popped back into place.

Though he didn't wake up even as the chair toppled over like a domino, his head collided with the floor. And soon enough a small puddle of red began to form growing larger below the child's head, the earth guard walked casually over looking down. The boy moved a bit but remained unconscious, making the guard sigh in relaxation.

"Good he isn't dead" He said before turning to the guard that knocked the young Jasper out. "Relax as much as I want him dead too, he's the only one who knows where the virus is." The earth pony said, the Pegasus guard snorted once not seeming to care. He then pulled the chair back up in swift jerking motion, the chair returning now to its upright position.

The child slipped half way off, only remaining on the chair because of the cuffs attached to the back. The earth guard moved to a nearby sink with a bucket under it, picking it up he put it under the faucet attached. Turning the water on he left the bucket to fill up before going to grab a cloth rag.

Tossing it on the child's face, it stuck to him. He then moved back to the bucket seeing it was almost getting ready to overfill, turning the sink off he pulled the bucket to the child. "Hole it" he mumbled into the bucket handle, the Pegasus smirked lightly.

"Hole it?" He repeated making fun of the other guard's lack of the letter D making it sound like 'hole'. But he moved to the child's side, his wing covered the rag to keep it in place. He tilted the boys head back so his face was pointing straight up, allowing the guard with the bucket to pour it straight on.

The shock of water going down the young Jasper's throat caused the boy's body to convulse back to life. His legs kicking wildly as he lost control for a moment, not sure what happened. Some of the water flew back at the guard holding him down cause of the boys coughing, it splashed the Pegasus in the face.

"Gross!" The guard protested, he then slammed the boys head against the chair seat releasing him. The boy groaned into the rag, he started to flail his head around trying to get the rag off. Though he failed miserably as the Pegasus pinned his head down again, and another bucket soon joined the first.

The boy struggled even more, his legs kicking all over trying to get his footing. One of his kicked smacked into the guard with the bucket hitting him in the shin, the guard winced in pain. But he didn't move away for another bucket instead slamming his hoof into the child's stomach, who grunted in pain unable to speak.

"Enough." A new voice said entering the room, the two guards whipped around saluting the new figure. It was a guard with crimson red armor, he had a single gold bar on the side of the armor. "Lieutenant!" The two said in unison to the crimson armored earth pony, his black eyes focused on the boy.

"Uncover." He ordered, the Pegasus guard nodded dropping the salute. Grabbing the rag with his teeth he threw it aside, the boy's face could finally be seen. His amber eyes darting around the room in fear till finally resting on the crimson armored pony. The two had a stare down for a moment before the Lieutenant walked slowly up to the boy.

"Scared?" He asked, the boy slowly nodded once. "Good…" He said, there was no emotion in his tone. No joy, sadness, anger, fear, nothing. Like a lifeless machine, he walked slowly away to a table in the corner. Just out of sight of the boy, though the real Jasper could see what was on the table.

'Torture tools…' He thought, though he knew the younger him would figure that out in a few minutes anyway. The Lieutenant could be heard moving metal items around; no other sounds could be heard as the other two just stood by watching. It took a few minutes before the Lieutenant returned, a drill bit in his teeth.

"Leave." He ordered, the two guards saluted before leaving the room. He waited till the door was closed to speak again, his emotionless eyes stared into the fearful child eyes. "Do you know why my armor is red?" He asked, no hints of curiosity were in his words. He didn't care either way if the child didn't know or if he did, but the boy shook his head still terrified to speak.

"So I still look presentable when we're done." He said, the boy's eyes widen in terror as he tried to pull away from the earth pony. The drill bit getting close to his eyes, though the room started to fade away as screams of terror starting to fill the older Jasper's mind.

His frozen body now freed as he grasped his head in pain, his fingers digging into his skull as if to try clawing the sounds out. But they didn't go away even as he covered his ears, his whole body shook in terror at the memory. As the screams only grew louder trying to overpower all other senses Jasper began to roll till he was on his side.

While one hand continued to try clawing the screams out of his head, the other moved to the side pocket grasping the makeshift knife. "ONLY ONE WAY OUT!" He screaming into the empty cave, his voice carried through the tunnels. As he pulled the knife out, he removed his hand from the slightly bleeding claw marks on his forehead.

Without pausing he plunged the sharp blade into his palm, without piercing anything important. The crystal edged weapon effortlessly sliced in effectively silencing the screams in his head, how replaced with panting breaths from the young man. His eyes closed in pain as he tried to focus his mind on what happened.

'That.. was no illusion, he forcibly pulled my memories from my mind. Forcing me to relive that nightmare…' He thought, he lifted his wounded hand up to look at it. The blade had slipped free of his hand as he lifted it, clanging to the floor. His eyes examined the wound for a moment, before letting it fall to his side.

'Pain… real pain. Was the only thing I could use to dispel the magic…' He remembers, one of the books Celestia let him read was about magic involving illusion. When stuck in a memory, you need a focus point or someone to help you escape the memory. When none were available the only other choice was to use pain as an escape as the brain fully focuses on the wound and how to respond to the nervous sending pain signals.

Sighing as he tried to dismiss the pain in his hand he sat up taking his bag off, he then set to work fixing his bleeding hand…

…

…Deeper in the Cave…

…

"Using pain as a focus point? Primitive but effective"

Mumbled an old unicorn, he stood top of a large crystal in the deepest point of the old mine. His green aura around his horn faded as he let the magical illusion disappear, his dull emerald eyes looked to the crystal below him. A smirk pulled at his old lips.

"Almost time" He chuckled, he leaped from the crystal as it began to glow brightly. The light inside began to warp as bubbles inside the crystal could be seen raising from the bottom to the top, small popping echoed in the chamber. The pink crystals color started to fade away almost like it was melting inside, until finally a black gas began to swirl around inside the crystal.

Landing with little effort the unicorn looked up at the crystal with a smirk. "Come finish what you started Jasper~" The old unicorn said before turn his head to something large in the shadows, with a small tilt of his head the mass began to move towards the caves leading to Jasper. As the old stallion followed the mass his horn lighting in a green aura preparing for the next step…

"Let's go say hello"

…

…..

…

"Done"

Jasper said to himself as he tightens the bandage wraps, securing the fabric firmly. His good hand reached for the makeshift knife grabbing it, he looked over the pink crystals now dyed red. Seeing the blade hadn't dulled at all he wiped the blood away on his black pants cleaning it off and returning it to his pocket.

"Sorry love…" Jasper apologized to the darkness, though he knew she couldn't hear him. He still felt guilty for ruining his Rarity's hard work, that small guilt began to chew at his heart. He couldn't help but feel like he should have told her the truth, or at least left a note for her. Though if she knew the truth, he knows she would follow him here to this dark, dirt, ugly…

"Maybe not" He chuckled lightly, the guilt in his heart replaced with a warmth. Even in this darkness she was with him, placing his good hand on his knee he forced himself to his feet. His eyes began to scan the ground once again for his pickaxe, as he spotted it he noticed somepony stand next to it.

His dull amber eyes slowly drifted up a light grey flawless coat, only to pause for a moment at a trio of diamonds on the flank of the pony before him. It couldn't have been her, tearing his eyes from the flank he noticed a violet colored tail that ended in a large springy curl. The very same curl, his special somepony has. His eyes moved to the next noticeable thing being the mare's beautiful azure eyes, that looked up at him with a sense of relief in them. A matching violet mane to go with her tail, before he could even speak she beat him to it…

"There you are darling~"