Shadows in the dark

Chapter 20

The castle gave off a foreboding sense of dread the closer both Rarity and Trixie got. Both unicorns only fixing their eyes on the ancient black structure embedded into the mountain face. The steps leading up to the main entrance, a pair of large double doors with vinelike patterns carved into it, seemed to go on forever. The night went on like normal. By now the moon was midway in the starry sky. Obscured by clouds as they tore away from the large white sphere in the sky.

Rarity wanted to go home. She really missed her friends. Her family. Spike...

She couldn't help but wonder how the baby dragon was holding up. She didn't regret telling him about her secret mission before she went off for training. It was enough to ease the little dragon into knowing why she would be gone for a while. She honestly didn't know how long she would've been gone if she wasn't in this situation right now. The white unicorn suddenly heard huffing beside her and turned to notice that Trixie was slowing down. Huffing and panting as though she had just finished a marathon.

"Trixie..." she whispered low enough for the blue unicorn to hear.

The blue unicorn raised one ear up slightly before turning her entire head to look at Rarity with droopy eyes. "What?" she whispered back. Sounding as though she could drop any minute from exhaustion.

"Don't give in..." Rarity said. "You must stay strong. You have to find a way to endure whatever Sombra has in store for us.

"Easy for you to say..." Trixie grumbled as she struggled to stay awake.

"Hey! Hurry it up you two!" Braeburn snapped at them. Clearly looking impatient. Rarity shot the stallion a glare, but wisely said nothing in retaliation.

"R-Rarity..." Trixie gasped. Her legs beginning to wobble. The chains not helping one bit. Rarity immediately got to her side to stable her walking. A hint of a smile appeared on Trixie's lips. For once showing gratitude towards something.

They soon arrived to the castle. The double doors opened with a loud groan. Both unicorns suddenly cried out in surprise when sacks were suddenly placed over their heads. Both of them screamed, only to be told to shut up by Braeburn. Rarity felt herself being torn away from Trixie's side and started to struggle in her chains.

"Rarity? Rarity?" Trixie cried frantically as the guards led her in the opposite direction.

"Trixie!" Rarity cried back, "TRIXIE!"

Trixie's voice suddenly seemed very distant. Rarity was panicking so much that she couldn't concentrate hard enough to use her magic. She was clueless as to where the guards were leading her. Everything was dark; mixed in with the blurred glows of what she believed to be candles. She couldn't make out the moonlight that shone through the large arched windows to their right. Rarity gasped frightfully when she heard a door open and she found herself walking down a spiral staircase. She squeaked in fear when she heard the door slam close and it echoed eerily around her.

She nearly fell forward once they reached the bottom. Having not noticed the last step. Luckily she managed to catch herself in time before one of the guards barked at her to keep walking. She hadn't known how long she'd been walking until she heard what sounded like another door open. She cried out when she was suddenly shoved in and fell to the cold floor. Panic started to fill her when she suddenly heard the door close behind her and frantically tried to get on her hooves.

"W-wait! Aren't you going to remove the sack? Come back!" she cried. It didn't even take Rarity a second to realize that she was now alone. She couldn't help but think about Trixie. She wondered where the blue unicorn was. She didn't expect them to separate them. The white unicorn then swallowed nervously. She has a feeling that this is something far more then just an interrogation.