MLP FIM Fan-Fiction: Starting from Scratch

Chapter 20

It was well into the afternoon when Aaron, AppleJack, Discord, Pinkie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Sunburst arrived at the entrance to a cave. Aaron activated his Infra-red filter and uncoiled a line of thin rope, "Hang onto this; I'll be able to guide us through the cave system ahead." The group followed Aaron as he made his way through a series of tunnels, past a few squads of changeling guards, and to a modified cave with barred off sections, indicating a prison room.

Thankfully the place had some light, and there were two occupied cells; one held Fluttershy, who Aaron scanned and deemed safe, and the other contained Starlight, who wasn't a changeling. Sunburst picked the locks on the cell doors with his magic to release the imprisoned mares while Aaron kept watch, and quiet squeals of joy and sobs of relief sounded from Fluttershy and Starlight.

"Thank goodness you're alright, Fluttershy," Discord smiled, "Are you all right?"

"Yeah, I'm a bit hungry, but we were treated surprisingly well for prisoners," Fluttershy admitted.

Starlight nodded in agreement, "Though it was nowhere near pleasant, we didn't really suffer, which is really strange." The Elements of Kindness and Compassion attached around Fluttershy, completing the Mane Five.

"How's Twilight doin'?" AppleJack asked.

"Twilight's not with you?" Fluttershy asked, "I thought she'd be with you all."

"She's further ahead," Aaron explained, pointing the ring upward to generate the guiding beam. Everyone held onto the rope as the team of nine entered a new series of tunnels.

* * *

The group passed a set of four prison cells, each with a basic carving: a circle, a curved mark, a crude heart, and an asterisk.

Three ponies lay in the cells, and looked up at the sound of hoofsteps. They sighed in relief at the sight of The Mane Five, Aaron, Discord, Starlight, and Sunburst. "I've checked all three, Aaron," Discord informed, "They're the real deal." Since these cells were made from iron, Aaron and AppleJack bent the bars on the left two cells open while Sunburst and Starlight picked the lock on the occupied cell on the right.

"You all made it; we weren't doing too well in there," Cadence sighed.

"I've got your ride out covered," Aaron replied as he swiped his normal ring twice, creating a transportation bolt that sent Cadence to the Crystal Empire, "Where's Twilight?"

Luna stood to help her sister as she spoke, "Celestia needs medical attention, but I can show you the way to where Chrysalis and Tirek are interrogating her."

"Thank you, Princess Luna," Aaron nodded, "Since you're not looking at your best either, I'll send you back once we're near our destination."

Luna led the group to a hallway with changeling guards, "The doors on the left hand side is where Twilight is being questioned. Be careful everyone." She and Celestia were collected by electricity and returned to Canterlot as Aaron turned to look at the group.

"I'm not forcing any of you to tag along," Aaron whispered, "If you want to leave, this is the last opportunity I have."

"We're not leaving you, Aaron," Sunburst responded quietly.

Aaron nodded appreciatively, "Thanks to all of you; now, let's clean house! Move 'em out!"

The squad of nine charged in yelling, Discord unleashing chaotic mayhem, the ponies blasting, kicking, and slamming into changelings, and Aaron hitting any changeling in sight with his fists in righteous rage. Sunburst, Discord, and Aaron were the first three to get into the room and saw Twilight chained in place with her wings bound, gagged, and looking worse for wear than the other princesses. When she heard the footsteps of Aaron, she shook around, trying to tell them something.