Deep within the planet that held the Equestrian continent; there was a room. Within that darkened room; there was a brown, round table that was illuminated by a sickly green/yellow-hued bulb – a bulb that swung by a single cable over the brown table. Upon that scarred and dented table – an ancient table made from an equally unrecognized and ancient wood source - poker cards with undecipherable markings were set for six celestial beings: a draconequus, a swanequine, a dragon, an alicorn, a dregasus (dragon-pegasus) and an Ursa-main (a bear-shaped form made up of milky space and swirling constellations). Those six players sat just outside the bulb's range of weak light.
"My move; and I play the Depression Element card against Reliability Element." A familiar voice chuckled loudly as a yellow-golden lion's paw slapped down a card – a red-print dragon wing – onto the center pile of cards. The red-wing suit sat over a teal-colored suit of a jeweled triangle. "I believe I win that pile, eh, Harmony?"
"You vile monster, Discord." The melodic, wispy voice hissed from the right of the lion-paw's owner. "Why are you still obsessed with that poor soul?" The face of the feminine voice leaned into the meager light – a goldenrod black-tipped, swan beak barely visible in the light's circle.
"Oh come now, my dear Harmony." The gleeful chaotic voice pinged off the walls, seeming to come from everywhere, yet nowhere. "Your friend, Miss Alicorn-head, there managed to save your precious Magic Element from my Despair Element, you can't possibly save ALL the Elements of Harmony."
"Discord." A dark, gravel-ish voice interrupted the first two. A black, four-fingered appendage snaked out onto the poker table and halted the lion's paw from drawing the six or so oddly-suited cards back into the shadows. The black, draconic scales glittered brilliantly in the lame light, and the claws glowed white. The hand belonged to a black dragon. "The round is still in play; you shall not claim those cards just yet."
"Tut-tut. Draguus." Discord brushed off the malicious intent of the black-dragon. "We all know that Reliability will fall to My hand. It cannot withstand Depression for long."
"I refuse to take part in this absurd parody of poker." The regal voice of Celestia's mother, Apolla, hissed; her golden hoof-full of cards being brought into the light and shown to the four other players. The alicorn's card hand showed the suits of Magic, Honesty, Laughter, Loyalty, Kindness, Generosity, Trust, Happiness and Faith.
"I do not know who has the Suits of Friendship, Hope or Trust, but playing Depression capturing Reliability is a cruel joke." The sunrise-colored alicorn turned to the fifth card-play and narrowed her eyes in annoyance. The card she spoke about was poking out slightly under the red-wing and teal triangle cards.
"I merely thought playing the unsuited Card would enact its ability to create its suit; and it did: the suit is a Triangle." The mutely glowing constellation-made bear rumbled. Ursa-Main had laid the teal colored card down on top of the Crystal Card; allowing the draconequus to take his turn. "In fact I withdraw; I care not what happens in the movements of your children, Apolla."
"Ursa-main, I dare to digress." A sixth voice entered the fray, and the table expanded to include the seventh. A brown unicorn horn, made solely of dirt and rocks, poked into the green light. "How dare you play the unknown Element-owner's Mark Card. That was hardly fair and far from sporting."
"You have the nerve to show your face here, Uniuus?" the stony voice of the black dragon hissed, a tiny jet of smoke being blown out and into the light's circle. "You are the one who didn't care when, if or how that unicorn got her Flank-Mark."
"HOW DARE YOU TALK to me like that Draguus." The unicorn, a male stallion who was built strong and sturdy, pounded a stony grey hoof onto the worn wooden table. "I shall have you impounded."
"That's it, I'm out." Ursa-Main threw the three cards on the table and withdrew. A Silver-Star suit, a Black-Wing Despair card and another grey Crystal card was all that was left of the Ursa-Main's card hand.
"HA! You are too funny." The eighth voice flowed in, taking Ursa-Main's place. The table contracted before expanding again, making adjustments for the departure and arrival of new players. "I would pay to see your horny rump take on Draguus."
"Buck, you griffon-face." The angry voice of Uniuus the Unicorn hit the new-comer, Gryphuus the Gryphon.
"You can only keep dreaming." An elegant and large eagle's claw placed its hand of three cards face up on the table. All three cards had the tawny gold Gryphon suit of talon, beak and lion tail. "I believe that my hand just might save the Element of Reliability."
"That remains to be seen, my dear Gryphuus." Discord's joyful voice interrupted the Unicorn and Gryphon's fight. "I believe it is your turn, Dregasuus."
"Indeed." The last remaining voice finally spoke up, and the rest of the players winced at the sound. Dregasuus' voice sounded like rocks being drawn across a chalkboard. "I play the Army Card on your Depression Card, Discord."
"NO!" Apolla gasped in horror. "You cannot do that!"
"I believe I just did." Dregasuus laid a card – a Black Dagger suit with the letter K-Army printed – on the Red-Wing Depression card. "I believe that Witchlight was wise enough to bind time to move her Army across the distance."
"That traitor." Apolla hissed.
"Oh this is too good!" Discord trumpeted in glee, his eagle-taloned hand pounding the poker table. The poker chips and cards on the table were jolted into the air. "I cannot wait to see the looks on their faces when that dreary old Canterlot is overrun with dregesi!"
"I add insult to injury by playing the Confusion card on Ursa-Main's Crystal card." Draguus chuckled maliciously. "Let's see how your precious Child handles that, Uniuus."
"This is an outrage!" the Alicorn hissed; overriding the Unicorn stallion's words. "I'm not going to let you do this!"
"Oho, my dearest Apolla, it has already happened." Dregasuus chuckled. "How your children react is something even you cannot control. It is amusing how Discord managed to slip a wild card in the ranks. The Elemental bearer of Reliability is something quite unique."
"I'd say, a human in the form of a unicorn?" Gryphuus clacked her beak in amusement. "Does the pony race even know that unicorn is a world-jumper? That she'll never come back after she leaves?"
"That's the chaos about it, my dear Gryphuus." Discord finally thrust his face into the light. Its ugly glory was gleaming with malicious mischievousness. "They do not know!"
XXX
"Glittermind!" a young voice interrupted the unicorn's R.E.M. sleep. "GLITTERMIND!"
"Huh?" The teal unicorn twitched twice and opened her eyes.
"Oh thank Celestia, she's awake." Another young, coltish voice joined the first. "Now the bad guys will take her potential instead of ours!"
"Say what?" Glittermind yawned and found herself on a cold, grey stone floor. Lying on her side like she did when she was sleeping, the teal unicorn bucked once to get herself on her legs. "Scootaloo?"
"I'm right here, Glittermind." The orange filly answered. A warm body pressed up against the unicorn's flank. "And I'm really scared."
"Scared? What for?" the sleep-hazed mind of the turquoise unicorn wasn't as full speed. "Is it morning yet, why is it so dark?"
"Figures: she's stupid. She doesn't remember." The colt's voice was cold and insulting.
Glittermind turned her pale purple eyes to the black and red colt which stood at the bars of the room they were in. Whatever light was outside those bars was strong enough to filter into the room. The illumination revealed that the room was carved out of slate-black rock. More bodies moved, registering color against the bland rocky walls and Glittermind saw more young fillies and colts.
"What's going on here? Scootaloo? Cloud Color? Dinky-Doo?" the unicorn shook her head in surprise. She was in a rocky-walled room with three unlikely fillies and colts. Since when in Equestria was there a cave with bars blocking the way?
"^&***$$#." Another filly voice cursed, searing the air with its strength. "Glittermind, you are absolutely the stupidest unicorn I have ever met."
"That would be Foal-Mouth, younger sister of Dung Red." Glittermind rolled her eyes and turned to the source of the nasty, angry voice. The unicorn's mind was now running at ninety-nine percent sharpness.
"That's Sh*t Red you dumb-a$$." The mud-red pegasus filly stepped into the meager light, and gave Glittermind a nasty scowl. "You are such an idiot. It's a wonder how my older sister can be friends with a sh*t-for-brains creature."
"Hay, how are you able to say that stuff?" The humanistic brain of Glittermind had long gotten used to the biological tameness of Equestrian words. To hear such bold and raw speech from a filly was shocking.
"It's obviously my talent, since I got it when those %$^%*& dregasi captured me." The red-pegasister trotted up to the barred entrance and used her sweet smile to push aside the colt who was standing there. "See."
The taller-than-Scootaloo/shorter-than-Glittermind pegasister maneuvered her rump into the light, showing off her Cutie-mark: a mark that wasn't all that cute. Foal-Mouth's red flank gleamed dully in the light, showing off the black-inked tattoos of her Cutie-Mark. Glittermind's eyes went wide at the sight. The images depicted on the youth's flank were letters and symbols representing censored foul-words.
"Oh, wow. That is something new." The teal unicorn canted her head sideways.
"You're telling me, you sh*thead." Foal-Mouth turned up her nose at Glittermind.
"Miss-Glitter-mind-mam?" A soft, tentative voice interrupted the cursing red pegasus.
"Hum?" Glittermind turned away from the entrance and looked down at a cowering grey unicorn filly. "Oh, you're…Dinky-Do Hooves, aren't you?"
"Yes, and I want my mommy." The butter-yellow haired unicorn filly was in a tight ball, shivering with fear.
"Oh dear…Dinky-Doo." Glittermind smiled softly and moved to curl around the shivering foal. "It's ok, I'm here right now, so we all can figure things out."
"Abso-f*cking-lovely. My hero." Foal-Mouth snorted.
"Shut up, you big meanie!" Scootaloo finally spoke up and stood between the cursing pegasus and Glittermind, who was curling around the shivering daughter of Derpy Hooves. "What is your problem, huh? Are you scare, Foal-Mouth, because I know I am. Pegasus or not, we are only mortal."
The fierce little outburst from the Rainbow Dash-obsessed pegasus was unexpected, and the taller red pegasus blinked.
"I'm…sorry, Scootaloo. I am scared." Foal-Mouth lowered her head and drooped her growing red wings. "You're right. We're all stuck in this cell and no amount of cursing will get us out. I guess my talent isn't all that useful, is it?"
"That was very wise and interesting, Scootaloo." Glittermind looked at the two pegasi and smiled. "Nice way to handle the situation."
"Awh, thanks. It was what Rainbow Dash would have done." The orange flier blushed and toed the floor. "I was being brave in the face of fear."
"Indeed, you are doing an awesome job."
"Thanks, Glittermind."
"Awh, isn't that the sweetest?" the colt now spoke up. "I'm going to bang my head against the wall if you don't stop."
All eyes moved from the fillies to the colt; and Glittermind sighed. The colt, black enough to be hidden by the dank room's shadowy interior, was Cloud-Color. Cloud-Color was another pegasus who had yet to find his 'Talent-Mark' and he was the younger brother of Color Jam.
"Oh? Is that so, mister Cloud Color?" Glittermind again rolled her eyes. "What's wrong with giving compliments?"
"Compliments won't get us out of here." The colt was obviously upset and scared, but since he was a colt, Glittermind had to handle this differently.
"Ok. I agree with you; compliments will not get us out of here. Where ever 'Here' is."
"You don't remember anything do you, Glittermind?" Scootaloo asked.
"Not really. Care to explain?" Glittermind asked softly. "If I am going to get us out of here, I need information."
"Swell, that's about all we have left to give." Foal-Mouth had toned down her cursing and continued to huff. "Those dumb dregasi didn't even give us bread or water."
"Dregasi?" Glittermind inquired.
"Yea, Dregasi, plural for Dregasus." Cloud Color snorted.
"And what is a Dregasus?" the teal unicorn prodded further.
"Geez, how dumb are you? Everypony knows what dregasi are." Cloud Color stomped around the small rocky space.
"Well, I'm not 'Everypony' now, am I?" Glittermind toned lightly.
"Uh…" Cloud Color looked at the unicorn, his face blank. "You…really don't know?"
"Nope."
"Oh." The colt now looked confused. "Dregasi are bad things; they are evil pegasi joined with dark dragons. My mommy said that Princess Celestia banished all dregasi from Equestria when she defeated Discord the first time."
"Hm, so they are bad ponies?" Glittermind pushed on.
"Yes."
"Are they the ones that captured use and stuck us in here?"
"Yea, and they flew for a long, long time." Scootaloo added her two bits. "The sun rose twice while they were flying. They didn't drop anypony while they flew."
"Ok, so, the dregasi swooped down, picked us up and flew away?" The teal unicorn summarized her thoughts.
"Yes!" Scootaloo nodded. "But Applebloom and Sweetie-Belle got away because the Wonderbolts came and fought off some of the dregasi."
"Well, I got kidnapped too." Foal-Mouth spoke up again. "I was minding my own business when a really big ugly dregasus come out of nowhere and tackled me. That brute broke a few of my feathers!"
"Miss Glitter-mind-mam?" Dinky-Doo's shaking had lessened as the ponies talked more.
"Yes?"
"I was working with my mommy outside when those bad things came out of the sky and ran into us. I was really scared because they were so ugly. They hurt my mommy before grabbing me and flying away."
Glittermind looked down at the shy grey filly and smiled. Dinky-Doo was such an innocent filly, and should have never witnessed those things that she had just said. "I'm sure your mother is fine. In fact, I've met your mother more than once."
"You have?" Dinky-Doo's ears perked up.
"Yup. Derpy Hooves is a strong pegasus. She is strong because she delivers mail to Ponyville, Cloudsdale AND Canterlot. That's a lot of flight time, and flying all the time can tone your muscles and make you stronger!"
"My mommy is so strong!" Dinky-Doo lifted her head and stopped shaking. "She loves me very much. She tells me so."
"I believe she does." Glittermind smiled brightly at the young unicorn. "I'm betting she's searching for you right now. Those stupid dregasi can't keep your mother down."
"Hay! What about my mother?" Cloud Color chimed in. "She's probably looking for me right now too!"
"And my sister!" Foal-Mouth brightened at the thought. "Dung-Red must be leading an army to get me back!"
"Indeed."
"Rainbow Dash would look for me!" Scootaloo said. "I just know she is! The Mane 9 where there when you and I got caught."
"They were?" Glittermind's eyes widened.
"Yes, they were."
"Well then, you see? We don't have to worry much if the Mane 9 are all looking for us. Friends stick together and they are my friends." The teal unicorn grinned. "Since you four are here with me, that means we're friends too, and the Mane 9 do not let their friends down."
"They don't?" The four younglings asked, hope entering their eyes.
"Nope, they don't. Never Ever." Glittermind smirked. "If anything, they must be putting all their energy into looking for us to rescue us. Also, since you mother is my friend…" Glittermind turned to Dinky-Doo. "She must be helping the Mane 9 also."
"What about my mother? Would she be helping look too?" Cloud Color asked.
"Yes. She must, because you sister, Color Jam, is my friend. Your mother is probably flying around looking right now."
"YAY!"
"But even the Mane 9 need our help." The unicorn finally stood up, allowing Dinky-Doo to stand also. "Since friends help friends, we need to help them too. Here is my idea…"