The minutes and seconds felt like forever, but finally the time came.

"Sapphire" I spoke up, notifying her we were to leave.

"Okay" She hopped up and closed the book she was reading.

We started back through the castle, then the gardens. Next was the cave where the paralyzed creature disappeared. We walked back through the Everfree to the front of the old orphanage.

"Look, Onyx! It's your old home!" Sapphire enthusiastically stated.

"If it weren't for Gloom, I would've burned that place to the ground"

"It was a good memory for me"

"How's that?"

"This is my birthplace"

I turned and we continued to casually stroll to the main walkway, leading to the castle. The doors on the castle were wide open. No guards were posted outside of the castle doors.

"It couldn't be this easy. Come on Celestia, I know you have more than that up your metaphorical sleeve."

But it was that simple, we walked through, nopony seemed to notice us entering the castle. It almost seemed to be deserted, there were too few guards patrolling.

"Sapphire, I don't like this."

"Didn't Rayne say something about having spies on the inside?"

"I guess this could be their doing, but I don't trust this place. We need to get down to the cells and get the other Children out so we can get out of here."

"Well that looks like a good place for the cells, hold on I'll ask for directions"

I was worried that she would do something stupid, now I had my proof. I hid behind a pillar as Sapphire walked off. I saw her change herself to look like another guard. I watched to see what would happen.

"Excuse me. It's my first night on the shift. Where would I find the cells?"

"Not another newcomer, *sigh* through the archway, downstairs, then take a right."

"Thanks" the 'new' guard turned towards me and walked out of sight of the other guards. Sapphire reappeared from the image of the stallion before me.

"That's still weird"

"It got the job done, didn't it?"

"Eh, I guess"

We continued to the lower level of the new castle, there was one corridor lined with cells. It had to be at least two-hundred meters to the wall on the other end. Inside the cells were ponies that were filthy and gruff. They all looked miserable. Each one we walked past, we checked for a group.

"Hey guards! You gonna' let us out now?" somepony called from afar.

Sapphire sped ahead and I followed.

"You jerks must be new recruits, huh?"

"No" I engaged "Who are you? Why are you in here?"

"I don't like Celestia! So they threw me in here"

"Are you sure that's all?"

"I was with some friends when we all got caught. We were going to take as many of her army down as possible before we died, but instead of killing us, she threw us in jail for the rest of our lives"

"How long have you been in here?"

"It's only been three days, but I don't like being cooped up in a small cage with no food"

"Are you with the Children?"

"Who's asking?"

"You don't have any leverage over me in that cell. I have the key and you want out. We can benefit each other as long as you come back with me and do as I say"

"What makes you think that me or my siblings will listen to you?"

"I want to remove Celestia from her throne and Rayne told me you could help"

"Rayne? That asshole is the one who got us caught! I'm not working for him again!"

"Then work for me, but pretend to be under Rayne's command"

"How can I trust you?"

"I have the key"

"Fine, I hope you have a sanctuary we can go"

"Yes, and bring your friends. We'll all go"

I removed the cell door key from my pocket and inserted it into the key slot. I turned the key and heard something snap. I pulled the key out and looked at it.

"The key's teeth were made of hardened wax! I'll have Atlas' head on a platter once we return!"

"It's okay, just superheat the door and bend the metal. It should be malleable." Sapphire helped heat the metal cage door.

"Everypony stand back!" I warned.

Sapphire bucked the door off the hinges into the wall. It embedded itself into the wall, red hot and steaming. One by one the prisoners exited the cell.

"Onyx, that made a loud noise. We should find another way around, just in case the guards come looking this way."

"Maybe…no. We'll just run through them. They won't be able to comprehend what happened in time"

We ran across the corridor and up the stairs. There were two guards standing at the top, about to go down. We rushed by and knocked them to the ground. I turned to look and they sat confused. One got up and yelled "Guards! Guards! The prisoners are escaping!"

We ran and ran to the sanctuary castle. After minutes of sprinting, we arrived, exhausted. I closed the door behind everypony after they entered. Inside stood the seven hooded Children, Rayne in front of the rest.

"How did you get them out without the key?"

"You ignorant foal! You gave me a fake one!"

"I did no such thing, how dare you accuse me of such a petty deed!"

"Yeah? Well then where the Tartarus did Atlas get the key he gave me?"

"Atlas? Would you like to say something?" Atlas stood in fear and eyed me nervously.

"I gave you the right key"

"Oh yeah? How come the teeth were made of freakin' wax!?" I felt adrenaline coursing through my veins. I felt hatred and power like before. "You nearly got me and Sapphire killed!"

"It was a fragile key…"

"Oh is that all? I'm going to kill you!" I screamed.

"Onyx! Calm down, you're getting too upset!" Sapphire said, trying to cool me down.

"Move back Sapphire! We are going to end this foal's treachery!" My eyes started emitting the green and black smoke again. My teeth were again, sharp. I acquired a double voice like back in the orphanage. "We are not enthused by your failure to do your duties as a Child!" I started taking on the form of mother as I continued. The suit changed my form completely, now I looked just like mother and spoke like her too. "We feel banishment isn't good enough! I shant let thine traitor live amongst us. Be gone to Tartarus!" I felt power going to my horn as Atlas rose into the air. He was shrouded in a black and red globe. The globe minimized into nothingness. I slowly changed back into normal me. Rayne looked at me, his jaw quivering, and spoke up.

"The Maiden…I…she sent my brother away. Why?" Still shaking form the adrenaline rush, I responded.

"He is no longer a threat to us, Sapphire"