>With a deep sigh, you rub your forehead, gathering your thoughts.
>It would be SO easy to just lie and say Hope came out of nowhere and surprised you. 
>But it would also go against everything you’ve done, when working with these ponies.
>...This is going to be tricky.
>There's nothing you can really say that won't fall apart the minute she talks to anyone else.
>Letting your hand drop, you look back at Cadance once again, the caged alicorn still just as terrified as before.
“Okay. I was kind of hoping you were awake when I came in here, because I wanted to discuss what happened last night. Then I was going to let you sleep, so…I’m sorry for waking you up.”
>She's still not looking at you.
>”Why did you…?”
>Right. 
>Apparently she's hung up on the shackle.
>Like being locked in a cage is better than an unweighted iron hobble.
“What do you want me to say? That I'm using it to decorate the room? You're definitely on the shortlist of candidates for it.”
>The energy fueling her vanishes as you confirm her fears.
>She deflates as you go on, a growing despair consuming her.
“If nothing else, it’d be the closest thing I can get to tying a little bell around your neck, so I know when you’ve decided to wander off again.”
>You don’t REALLY want to use it on her…
>It’d be a waste, when Celestia and Hope are THAT much more dangerous than her.
>But you aren’t about to throw away a good bargaining chip.
>Her eyes drop, her voice barely above a whisper, “So..there’s no more pretense...I’ve always been your prisoner, too…”
>Maybe it’s the lack of sleep, but something about the way she said that, is more than you’re willing to deal with.
“Oh, fuck off with the pity party.”

>She tenses up in the cage, no doubt readying to deploy some argument she’s spent the last several hours preparing.
>Without giving her a chance to start debating you, you jab your finger at her like it was your forlorn spear
“Don’t you dare try to play the victim here Every single time I’ve shown you an ounce of compassion, you’ve gone out of your way to screw me. You've earned this more than anyone else here!”
>Shaking her head, she tries to get a word in, “One time, maybe! You can’t compare what I’ve done to what that...THING you brought home!”
“”Really? You really want to go through every single time you’ve spat in my face?”
>...Well, it would make you feel better.
“You know what? I think we will. We're going to go through every one of those, so maybe you understand just how badly you fucked up. “
>Taking a deep breath, Cadance closes her eyes, “Master, I didn’t think Celestia was going to-”
“Oh, it's MASTER now, is it? I was thinking we'd go in the order they happened, but that's a damn good starting spot. Because you were calling me something else a couple minutes ago.”
>As you speak, you struggle to climb to your feet.
>Soon enough, you're towering over your cowering captive.
“What makes you think you have any right to call me Anon?”
>As she matches your gaze, her ears sink down, a sign of her confidence wavering..
>She really didn't realize that was forbidden, didn't she? 
>”I-I…heard Discord call you that…isn't it your name?”
“Nope! Would you like to know what my real name is?”
>It's obvious that something about the predatory tone of your voice has set alarm bells off in her head.
>With wide eyes, Cadance shakes her head, breathing out, “No...”
>Wrong answer. 
“Really? Well I sure would! Because I've been “the human” for so long that I don't know it anymore!”

>Grabbing hold of the bars of her cage, you squeeze them.
>Picking at this old wound is proving more painful than you’d like to admit.
>After it's clear you aren’t going to continue on your own, Cadance cautiously speaks, each word carefully chosen, “I’m sorry, Master….I had no idea. How could that happen?”
>Squeezing your lips together, you flaunt the idea of just ignoring her, and going right to listing the rest of her faults.
>But…
“I have so many ancient names bouncing around my head. Human ones. From family, friends…people I might have known. But I can't remember which one belonged to me.”
>Steadying your voice, you move back into familiar territory. 
“So, Discord gave me a nickname! It's short for Anonymous. I only let my FRIENDS call me that, Cadance.”
>Leaning down, you get your face as close to hers as you can and hiss out, 
“Do you think we’re friends right now, Cadance?”
>Her pupils grow as it hits her, “...No…”
“I wanted us to be! When you walked in on the very first time I was dealing with your aunts, I could have turned around on YOU. Dragged you into it, throw you out of the house. But noo, thought you'd understand if I showed you WHY I was doing it.“
>Letting go of her cage, you turn away to pace back and forth.
“So I risk getting eaten alive and sacrifice the best weapon I have in doing so. Something I can’t replace. And how do you repay me for doing that? You slink around behind my back to see Luna! After I forbade it!”
>Master...” Cadance’s voice is small. wavering, “I just...needed to talk to somepony. I didn’t...I still...I still see the gryphon when I close my eyes…”
>You pause, resting your hand on the top of a stalagmite.
“I know, Cadance. I heard what you said to Luna. That was why I let it slide. You needed someone you thought you could trust, you just...picked the wrong person.”

>”I could understand Luna doing this, if it happened when she was Nightmare Moon...but for Aunt Celestia to allow this? It goes against everything I’ve ever known…”
>She chokes back a sob, “I don’t...I don’t even know the gryphon’s name…”
“I don’t either. As bad as that was, there’s worse out there. I’ve seen a dragon melt her hoard around people to turn them into living statues. An Ifrit’s pit is the stuff of nightmares, and then there are the parasit--”
>”Stop, stop, please!” She cries out, clearly on the verge of tears, “I know! I know this place is horrifying, Master!”
>Ooh, you’re tempted to keep going.
>But you’re quickly getting off track by just talking about what could be going on out there.
>With a deep breath, you turn back to face her, your expression grave.
“Then why did you run away?”
>Cadance slinks down as her both hopes and ears plummet.
>She knows where this is going.
>”I was scared, I...panicked…”
“So I’m worse than Tartarus?”
>She freezes.
“I comforted you when you needed it. I fed you! When Tirek and Discord offered to send me anything I needed, I could have asked for anything. A weapon, some instrument of torture to use on your aunts. But I was worried about you. So I made sure you’d be fed.”
>You approach her, slowly, your contempt igniting into full blown anger.
“I did all that, and THEN I became worse than Tartarus?! I wasn’t before, when I was ready to stick your aunts like squealing piglets, was I? It’s only AFTER I showed you kindness, that I became a bigger threat than Tartarus?!”
>Her wings bang against the side of the cage again as she struggles to cover herself with them, cowering in the cage as you approach.
>”You said I could leave anytime I wanted!”
“Bullshit! If that was the case, you’d have had the common fucking decency to talk to me when I met you on the mountain, Cadance! So which is it?! Were you scared, or were you just leaving?!”

>Reaching the cage, you grab the bars and press your face to them once more, before yelling out,
“Which one?!”
>”I don’t knoo-ooh-ooh-ow!” She bursts out into tears, covering her face with her wings as she begins to sob into her feathers.
>”I was-n’t-I wasn’t thin-king. I’m soo-oor-y!”
>Standing there, you let her crying wash over you as you seeth.
“You really screwed up my ability to keep you safe, Cadance.”
>That does nothing to slow her tears, but it certainly does make you feel better.
>As you wait for her to get ahold of herself, the flames of your anger die down, twisting into something far uglier.
>You recall the rest of her family giving you these same crocodile tears.
>Once she reaches a hoof up to wipe off her snout, you go right back to pushing her.
“What about when you let Celestia out of her cage? Were you thinking then? After I bandaged you, let you oversee Hope, what could have POSSIBLY been going through your mind to then go and break Celestia out?”
>She shakes her head behind her wings, her long horn giving it away.
>”She wasn’t-sniff-supposed to fight…”
“I don’t care what she was supposed to do. She wasn’t the one I told to stay put. YOU were. Now, if I have to repeat myself, I’ll have Hope do it for me.”
>She throws her wings back, slapping them against the cage in her haste to stop you from calling down to the bug, “No! Wait, Master! I just...I need a minute. Please.”
>A big hiccup stops her from begging further.
“Take your time.”
>It’s not like you have any other pressing matters right now.
>Finding a stalagmite to lean on, you wait for Cadance to get control over herself again.
>With a voice more than a little shaky, she pushes herself, her speech punctuated with a sniff here, a hiccup there.

>” I...I heard you ta-alking to Discord...that Twilight was getting stronger. That she might...I thought...I wasn’t going to leave, Master! I meant what I said before! I want to try and help you be better!”
>Burying her face in her hooves, you see a few tears run down her cheeks as she just barely stops herself from sobbing again.
>On the one hand, you certainly want to believe her.
>She’s already showing more remorse than the rest of her family combined.
>On the other…
>If you hadn’t given her the benefit of the doubt before, and kept her from running to Celestia, your arm wouldn’t be broken right now.
“Go on.”
>Taking a deep breath, she continues, her head staying firmly behind her hooves.
>”Celestia’s...the only one who’s supposed to know where Twilight is. I thought...if you had to chase her...it would buy Twilight more time.”
>Oh look.
>She’s emulating her aunts again by trying to play hero.
“And what, did you think I would just pat you on the head if I saw Celestia run by, and you in here alone? Please tell me you aren’t that stupid.”
>She winces behind her hooves.
>”Nooo...you hadn’t checked up on her. If she was gone by the time you finished talking, and I was...was back in my roo-oom...you’d think she had-had escaped when you were ooouu-oouut!”
>She flops onto her belly sobbing again.
>Her words have driven home to HER just how badly she fucked up.
>Almost, at least.
>There’s one bit of information she’s missing.
>Getting right up against the cage, you crouch down, making sure she’ll hear you over the sounds of her misery.
“If you had bothered to keep listening, you’d know they aren’t going to check back in until tomorrow night. Even IF your plan worked perfectly, you wouldn’t have bought any time at all.”
>She moans out something along the lines of sorry, but it’s hard to tell given how heavily she’s crying.
>You should really stop…

>You should…
“All you’ve managed to do with this stupid stunt is hurt everyone close to you. I would have left Celestia alone last night, hell, I might have even brought YOU with me when I interrogated her. Instead, I gave her to Hope.”
>Your words take a bit to work their way through the miasma of Cadance’s despair, but once they do, her sobbing takes a much harsher, defeated tone.
>...If this were Celestia or Luna, you’d be riding high right now.
>Instead…
>There’s a bitter twinge of disgust at the back of your throat.
>Towards her, yes, but also towards you.
>It was obvious she was going to pull something, and you still let her try anyway, to crush any last gasp of rebellion in her.
>You were an absolute idiot for allowing that-the same logic that lets you blame her for Celestia attacking you, dictates that you’re to blame for her letting the crazed alicorn out in the first place.
>You’re going to have to start making things right.
>And the first step in doing so, is shortening Cadance’s leash.
>The involuntary guest thing has only resulted in pain for you both.
>But...it would still probably be a bad idea to use the shackle on her.
>And you CERTAINLY don’t want to keep her locked in the cage.
>You sift through her words, hoping to find the solution within something she’s said.
>Before you arrive at a solution, Cadance pulls you back to reality.
>”She’s a-a-alive? What did...it...do to he-er?”

>You push her words out of your mind, focusing instead on something much more important.
>Exactly what you're going to do with her.
>”Mast-er?! Please! Is she-okay?” The desperation in her voice hammers at your mind.
>She's going to start screaming soon. 
“That’s something I’d tell a guest. Not a prisoner.”
>”No, Master, please!” She thrashes to get to her hooves, her horn poking through the bars of her cage.
>”I’ve learned not to fight you anymore, I won’t disobe-”
“If you don’t shut up, I’m going to go get the muzzle. I’ve already made my decision, it’s not changing.”
>”I...but…” she mouths a few more words before sliding backwards, collapsing once again.
>Her tears are still flowing, but she’s not sobbing anymore.
>She’s just staring ahead blankly, horror etched into every detail of her face.
>The reality of her change in status must finally be starting to sink in.
>...She’s back to thinking you’re going to rape her, isn’t she?
>Well…
>Maybe if she wasn't married.
“If it makes you feel any better, I wouldn’t put three days of idiocy anywhere near the same level of crime as creating an interdimensional prison for the sake of torturing people for all eternity.”
>You tap a finger against a stalagmite, still thinking.
“What's the sentence in the Crystal Empire for breaking someone out of prison?”
>You didn't think it was possible for her to look any more terrified, but she certainly pulls it off.
>With pupils the size of pinpricks, Cadance looks up at you, her voice just as small, “The law hasn't been updated since Sombra…nopony’s tried…I haven't needed to-”
“How bad?”
>She fights with her tongue as her voice loses her for a second. 
>”F…fifty lashes…”
>You cringe.
>There’s no way Cadance would be able to handle a full fifty lashes.
>Luna was screaming after barely a dozen.
>And you don't even have a proper whip!

“I’m trying to be fair here, Cadance. I can’t think of anything better than what you expect your own citizens to deal with.”
>”I’d commute it! I wouldn’t...whip a pony…”
>She’s shaking as she speaks. 
>As though you're going to break out the bullwhip any second.
>A presumption that you have no plans on changing.
“Your ponies don’t know that. All they know is that you kept that law on the books, which means that’s what you’d be willing to do to-”
>”I’ve only been princess for two years!” She sounds on the verge of breaking down again.
>”That madpony had so many insane laws...I can only change things so fast! And I’ve been too busy dealing with those stupid Equestrian Games Shining wanted…”
>You...have no idea what she’s talking about, now.
“You're a living, breathing deity, and you're trying to pass the blame to a dead guy, and your husband! Take some fucking responsibility, would you? What's next, are you going to blame your maid next because you weren't able to outrun me?”
>With a heavy, shaking sniff, she cries out, “Jewel has nothing to do with this!”
“...That's the point, Cadance.”
>”I knoooow!” She sobs out, “I just.. you have to be-lieve me, I wouldn’t let that happen to a pony!”
>With a sigh, you rub your forehead.
“Are judges given discretion when it comes to what crime to charge a criminal with?”
>Cadance snatches the lifeline you've offered.
>”Of course, master. Most criminals can plead down to a lesser sentence.”
>Nodding to acknowledge her, you dig deep within your memories, searching for something applicable, some ancient human law that sounds round.
>Vaguely, you see a wave of relief wash over Cadance as she believes the danger of being whipped has past.
>She believes, anyway...
>You could...no...that one probably only counts for children...there aren’t any...there you gooo.
“What about reckless endangerment? What’s the sentence for that?”

>A hoof clangs against the bars of her cage as she shoots right back to being on the verge of panic.
>”No, no, you can't do that! Nothing I’ve done meri-”
“This isn’t up for debate, Cadance. Sentence. Now.”
>Her ears sink down once more, her belly soon pressing to the metal floor of her cage, ”Th-three to seven years in prison…”
>With a snort, you roll your eyes.
“Does THAT seem more lenient than fifty lashes?”
>”That...that’s not the right criiiime!” With her face scrunched up, she looks like she’s about ready to cry again.
>These fuckign ponies.
>Rubbing your temples, you take a deep breath.
“Then what IS?”
>If she says something like jaywalking, you're going to leave her in that cage for a good day.
>”Accessory to a Crime. It…would be two and a half years…”
>That...doesn’t sound right.
>But it works for your purposes, so you’ll let it slide.
>Besides, maybe pony law just works weird.
>With a shrug, you turn to start collecting everything you dropped earlier.
“Have it your way then. Cadance, you're hereby guilty of being an accessory to a crime, blah blah blah. I’ll make sure Hope or Luna gets you food and water, but uuh...I guess I’ll be back to let you out in two and a half years.”
>Picking up the fallen shackle key, you look over it to make sure it’s intact, when you hear Cadance slam against the side of her cage.
>”No! Wait! You can’t just...just leave me in here for years! Please, Master!”
>Turning the key over in your hand, you spare Cadance the barest of glances.
“You chose the sentence according to your own laws. Live with it.”
>”But…” Her voice falters, growing meeker with every word, “but...the cage...It...it’s inequine…”

>Satisfied with the key, you bend down to gather up the chain.
“You know, after the first couple months, you kinda get used to it. I would know. I had to live in it for a good year, thanks to Hope’s mom. Two won’t be much worse, especially since YOU won’t have a good dozen eggs growing inside you.”
>Out of the corner of your eye, you see Cadance slump down, her head in her hooves, her eyes far away.
>”No…Nooo, no, no, no, no, I can’t...I can’t do this!”
>She scrambles to shove her face against the bars, her horn poking through.
>Her eyes are wild, a primal fear having taken ahold of her.
>”Master! I’ll take the lashes! I-I’ll lift my tail, I’ll do anything, just please, don’t leave me hee-ee-ere!”
>You have to fight to keep the corners of your mouth from sneaking up.
>As guilty as she’s managing to make you feel...your satisfaction in finally, truly KNOWING that she’ll obey outweighs any guilt.
>Hefting the chain over your shoulder, you stand up, looking down at the wild, pleading pony.
“ Too late, Cadance. I didn't get to beg after your aunts sentenced me, either”
>With that, you turn and start walking out of the room
>You’ve barely made it two steps when Cadance screams out, “I’ll tell you where Twilight is!”
>...What.
>”Just plee-ea-ease, don’t go-ooooh…”
>Your heart leaps into your throat.
>You were absolutely sure she would offer to be your servant or something, not…
>This means you’ve won, you just need to…
>Not get ahead of yourself.
>She might just be telling you what she thinks you want to hear.
>Wrestling to keep your face a stony, dispassionate expression, you turn back towards her.
“You said only Celestia knows where Twilight is.”
>She peeks a red, tear filled eye out from behind a hoof, as though she can’t believe you’re listening to her.
>Seeing that you aren’t moving, she lets her hooves drop and shakes her head no, her horn clanging against the bars of the cage.

>”I wuh-wasn’t su-pos-ed to. But I-”
>She pauses to wipe a bit of snot off her nose, “I over-heard Twilight ta-alking with her fri-iends. They’re in...our safehouse, in Fillydelphia. Thirteen...Harmony plaza, Filly...dephiaaaa!”
>Wailing out, Cadance curls up with her head between her hooves again, sobbing as she brings her wings around to cover herself.
>The shame and self washes over her. 
>She knows exactly what this confession means…and she can't stand it.
>She's either the best actress in both Tartarus and Equestria, or she's really just given up Twilight's location.
>Crouching down, you rest your hand on her horn, the only part of her that's still sticking through the bars. 
“I think that deserves a reduction in sentence, don't you?”
>She nods wordlessly, too busy crying to even attempt to speak.
>You're not going to make any progress with her like this…and she just willingly gave you more than you had dared hope for.
>You grab hold of the latch and pull it back, unlocking her cage.
>The ancient spring squeels, its protests join Cadance's loud sobbing. 
>Soon enough, the cage door swings open. 
>Her hooves slide from her face and clatter against the metal of the cage as she drags herself towards freedom, still crying too hard to even pretend to try and lift her belly off the floor.
>As she crosses the threshold, it isn't freedom she finds, but instead your warm embrace.
>Wrapping your good arm around her, catching her wing in your elbow, you press her tearful face against your chest.
>...If it worked with Luna, there's no reason it shouldn't work with her.
>Sure enough, with you as her only source of comfort, she throws her wings and forelegs around you, the closest thing to a death grip a pony can manage.
>You simply hold her there, stroking your thumb over the wet fur of her cheek as she cries herself out.

>Once her sobs have been reduced to hiccups, you sneak your fingers down to her chin and, with a feather's touch, guide her gaze upwards.
“Look at me, Cadance.”
>Slowly but surely, she cranes her head upwards, a bloodshot eye looking up at you. 
>Letting her snout go, you brush her mane out of the way to uncover her other eye.
“You’re not going back in the cage. But we're not done yet.”
>Her tear-filled eyes grow wide as fear begins to seep back in, “W-we’re not? But…but I…told-tooold you where…”
>Her voice shakes as she threatens to start crying again.
>You squeeze her, quieting her down.
“I know, I know Cadance. You did a wonderful job. You were more helpful than I ever expected. But I'm still tied by your laws. So you need to tell me what kind of plea deal you would give a prisoner as cooperative as you are. ”
>She starts to avert her gaze, most likely to think. 
>It's doubtful she's in any shape to try anything funny, but just in case…
>You tap her cheek twice. 
“Up here.”
>Her eyes slowly return to meet yours, wavering before she opens her mouth, a small voice eeking out. 
>"F-free to go... ?"
>...
>Well, you can't really blame her for trying.
>You shoot her the same look you give Hope.
"That's not a sentence Cadance, you can do better than that."
>She winces, but returns her gaze before you have to remind her.
>"Com...munity service?"
>You can work with that.
>With a smile, you squeeze her against you again.
"That sounds good to me. Just one last thing, then."
>Now to see if your earlier suspicions were correct…
“Where was Twilight located? I need to hear it again.”
>Her ears slam back against her head as tears begin to well up once more.
>”Do you…really nee-eed to…?”
“Yes, I do. You were barely coherent before, I need to make sure I understood you correctly.”

>Her mouth hangs open for a moment, just long enough for you to wonder if she's seriously thinking of refusing, before she answers.
>”Thirteen, Harmony Plaza, Fillydelphia…Master.”
>...It's what she said earlier, but was she hesitating because she was trying to remember it, or because she can't believe she told you?
>There's an easy way to verify that, but not while you're in this room.
“Fantastic. Thank you, Cadance.”
>Giving a gentle scratch to her ear, you start to untangle yourself from her. 
“I'm officially sentencing you to one week of community service. Now I need you to let me up.”
>She doesn't let you up. 
>”A-a week? But you said th-they’d be back in two days!”
>You boop her nose, scrunching her snout up and keeping her impending panic from taking hold.
“If there's a chance to get you back to your husband sooner, I’ll see about suspending the rest of your sentence.”
>She collapses against you, her wings and forelegs sliding free as she instead nuzzles against you.
>”Thank you, master….thank you so much…”
>Taking the opportunity, you climb to your feet, prompting Cadance to do the same. 
>Properly towering over the chest-high princess once again, you place your hand on her withers. 
“That doesn't mean you're off the hook. Not by a long shot. I'm putting you to work.”
>Avoiding your gaze, she nods, “Okay…I can do that.”
“And. This is important. If I even THINK you're going to ignore a direct command, or wander off again without permission, there won't be any more games. I will shut you down and if we need to, we'll be right back here. Understand?”
>She withers under your harsh tone, her head sinking down. 
>”I…understand, Master…”
“Good. I don't want to be so harsh, Cadance, but you’ve put us all in danger one too many times. The next time could bring down something even I can’t fix.”
>With her eyes at your feet, she mumbles out, “Okay…”
>Hmm.

>While it’s doubtful she really understands the new reality of her situation, yelling at her and berating her isn’t going to help.
>She needs a practical lesson, and time for it to sink in.
“Now…I don't know about you, but I'm hungry. Let's go get some food.”
>She looks up at you wearily, her head still low, “Okay-ay.”
>With your hand still on her back, you guide her, this time taking great pains to avoid any arm snatching stalagmites.
>Her hoof falls are heavy. 
>She doesn't share the uncertainty Luna had when you were guiding her earlier.
>As the two of you make your way through the cave, you notice a distinct lack of Hope.
>While it means you don’t need to worry about Cadance and Hope getting into it, It could be a nightmare to fix whatever damage the little bug might have caused.
>...
>You’re going to have roast changeling if she’s gotten into Luna’s room.
>As the two of you pass the point where Celestia’s great journey had come to an end, Cadance scrunches her muzzle up. 
>No doubt she's just been hit by the smell.
>She seems like she’s about to say something for a moment, but she instead squeezes her eyes shut, staying silent.
>It almost makes you feel bad about what you’re planning to have her do.
>...After you eat.
>You aren’t getting distracted again.
>One you enter your storage tunnel, you let Cadance go, pointing over her head.
“Ok, I put your food over there. Eat up, I bet you're hungry after missing dinner last night.”
>With that, you drop off the manacle and make a beeline for your breakfast. 
>Once you reach the long awaited food, you unceremoniously start shoveling in whatever you can get your hands on, barely bothering to taste it let alone ration it out. 
>And why would you? 
>There's probably no reason to ration anything, after Cadance told you where Twilight is.
>...Look, just because you're used to being hungry doesn't mean you HAVE to.

>Vaguely, you register Cadance mumbling...well, something.
>Swallowing the too large bite of…whatever an “oatcake” is, you look up at the pink pony.
“What was that?”
>She looks up at you, playing with a barely touched...you think she called it a hayburger, between her hooves, a far away look on her face.
>”You...why did you leave my food separate...? I thought...”
>Huh?
“Why wouldn’t I? You picked it out, it’s yours.”
>With a shrug you take another bite of your oatcake.
>”I thought, I...don’t..know…”
>While your explanation doesn’t exactly satisfy her, she casts her gaze back down to her hayburger.
>She’s still more playing with it than she is eating it.
>Maybe she DID get dinner before she betrayed you.
>Either way, her loss.
>Once you've finished your meal, you clamber to your feet. 
>She's still barely touched her food. 
>Instead, she's chosen to just stare at it, as though it will unveil the mysteries of the universe if she waits long enough.
>Walking around her, you go digging through your much less edible supplies.
>Let's see…
>You thought you left it right…here!
>Nope, nothing. 
>Maybe you had put it…no, you used THAT for the splint.
>Which means it should be…THERE'S the last of your rope! 
>Your net’s final sacrifice. 
>...You just hope you have enough to properly bind her. 
>Looking back, you see she's continued to be wasteful. 
“Cadance, you barely touched your food. Are you alright?”
>She looks between you and her burger before pushing it away with her hoof.
>”I'm just not hungry right now…”
>You fight the urge to roll your eyes.
>No master, I'm so guilty and ashamed over betraying both you and my sister-in-law, and now that nobody I know can trust me, enjoying a meal is straight out of the question.
>Why is it SO hard for these ponies to just tell you the truth?

>Whatever.
>If she doesn't want to be honest with her feelings, you aren't going to give her the comfort she needs right now.
>Not until you’ve verified things. 
“Alright, well…it's your food, you can do with it what you want. Stand up, I need one of your hind legs.”
>Fear creeps into her voice as she looks back, eyeing the rope in your grasp. 
>“Why…do you need that? Master?”
“I need some reassurance that you aren't going to run off again. You're not getting the chain, so come on.”
>Wordlessly, with her gaze falling to the floor, she climbs to all fours, lifting up her left leg. 
>With an…only slightly sarcastic ‘thank you,’ you get to work tying the rope around her fetlock.
>”Wait! Stop, you don’t need to do this.”
>She tenses up under the rope, the creeping fear taking hold.
>...Crap, why did you have to do this right behind her?
>Pinning the rope with your foot, you grab her cannon with your only good hand.
“If you kick me, you're going to be waking up in the cage.”
>She jerks, ready to do either that or bolt, one of the two.
>...You're probably not helping things by escalating it.
>Shut it down, now.
>”B-bu, but you said I wasn't-”
“Yes! Which is why we're going with something that you can rip off in an emergency! Now calm the hell down.”
>Taking a few gulping breaths, she obeys, her muscles gradually relaxing in your hand.
>With that little…fit out of the way, you're free to properly tie the rope around her leg, soon catching her other leg as you create a rope hobble.
>Once you're satisfied your improvised bindings are neither going to fall off nor end up injuring her, you give the rope a tug, getting her attention.
“Ok. This, Cadance, is a way for you to really regain my trust. I meant what I said about putting you to work, but uh…I doubt you want me staring at you the whole time, right?”
>She blinks twice as your casual tone evidently managed to confuse her, “R… right…”

“Then this should keep me from having to worry about you wandering around. And, if you're still wearing it when you're done, I'll know I can trust you to be on your own again.”
>”...You want me to shuffle around with two of my legs tied?” The disbelief pours out of her voice.
>“That’s ridiculous! And humiliating!”
>You shove your splinted arm in her face.
“What’s humiliating is I have to take care of the four of you with one arm, thanks to you! At least you won’t have to deal with anyone else.”
>She flinches back at the sudden outburst, her ears sinking down.
>”I’m sorry!”
>You’re not helping.
>Slamming your jaw shut, you close your eyes and take a deep, steadying breath, standing up straight.
“It’s fine, Cadance. It’s fine.”
>It’s most certainly not fine.
>But screaming at her isn’t going to be productive in the slightest.
>Especially since she’s shown that she wants to be better.
>When you open your eyes again, you see her ears are still back, but she’s not bracing for you to start swinging.
“Ok. I’m putting you to work. I’m sure you smelled the mess that a certain SOMEONE made out in the main hall.” 
>Hall, tunnel, close enough.
“Someone’s gotta clean it up, and I can’t think of anything better to start you off.”
>Her cheeks turn bright red under her fur.
>It’s probably the first time she’s had to clean ANYTHING in her life...and she probably could smell exactly what it is she’s starting with.
>If she thought she was humiliated before…
>”I-I don’t have anything to clean with!”
>Aaand she’s already trying to weasel out of it.
>At least she isn’t accusing you of raping her aunt again.
>She might think Hope was the source of the fluids back there.
>You can’t stop a small smile from creeping onto your face.
“Got ya covered. There’s a few, uh...well, I wouldn’t call them sponges, but they’re things you can use to scrub with, down in the water room. Aaaaand…”

>As an idea pops in your head, you turn around and go digging through the various odds and ends you have.
>Where is it, you had it yesterday, you couldn’t have...there!
>You pull out the clay bowl you had given Cadance on her first day here.
>...Yes, the same one that you somehow managed to entirely forget it existed.
>Holding it up for her to see, you continue as though you hadn’t just stopped talking for a minute.
“You’re probably going to want this, so you don’t have to run back and forth. Closest thing we have to a bucket.”
>She eyes the bowl in your hands wearily, “Is that the same bowl I was drinking out of the other day?”
>You roll your eyes.
“Yes, the same one. I cleaned it out as best I could-”
>”You had me drinking out of the mop bucket?!” She recoils, disgust plain on her face.
>She's just trying to bait you into an argument to avoid getting to work. 
>...It's bait that you cannot ignore.
“Oh, yes, I maliciously tricked you into drinking out of the mop bucket so I could laugh at you. I have the wine glasses buried under the straw!”
>Squeezing her eyes shut, she slaps a hoof against the ground as she gets all into the argument. 
>”I would have been happy just to drink out of the stream!”
>You throw your good hand up.
“I was afraid you'd fall in and drown!”
>Her jaw drops ”You what?!”
>Woops.
“I knew nothing about you at the time. All I knew was that you were a prissy princess who was used to being waited on by a team of servants. I didn't know how capable you were, and I was TRYING to make you feel at home.”
> “Who in the world would feel more at home by drinking out of the mop bucket?!”
>That's it.
>You hold the “mop bucket” up high.
“This can be a lot of different things, Cadance. Sometimes it's a mop bucket, sometimes it's a water bowl, but right now…”
>You flip the bowl upside down and plop it on her head. 
“It’s your hat.”

>She scrunches her snout and uses a hoof to lift it up, “Seriously?! Are you a child?”
“Yes. Now shut up and go clean! That's an order!”
>You jab your finger, pointing out to the main hall.
>She opens her mouth, ready to continue arguing, before you give her the look normally reserved for Hope.
>The only sound she makes is a frustrated huff, before twisting around and stomping her way out, dragging her bound hooves behind her.
>Wait, right. 
>Leaning forward, you shout to be heard over her heavy, irregular clomping.
“Stay out of Luna’s room! And take a damn bath when you're done!”
>Stupid pink pony. 
>It's your house, you can be a child in it if you want.
>You re-arrange your stuff as you wait for the angry horse noises from Cadance to fade.
>Once you're satisfied, you admire the haphazard piles in your storage room
>Perfect.
>...One last thing, then you can rest.
>Something to write with, something to…
>Your eyes fall upon a jelly donut.
>Looks like you're going to be finger painting.
>Scooping it up, you wander around in search of a certain bug.
>No sign of her in the main hall…
>Heading down the side path, you poke your head into Cadance’s room. 
“Hope? Are you hiding in here?”
>Nothing. 
>She didn't go back to bed, did she? 
>You really hope you won't need to deal with Celestia while doing this…
>Wait. 
>The door!
>Running the events of yesterday through your head, you skid into your “grand foyer,” almost colliding with Hope.
>”Hello fath-aah!”
>She dives out of the way, landing on her belly.
>You twist your head around, taking stock of the situation.
>Door’s closed, good, skins are still drying, fire’s…roaring? 
“Hope, what are you doing out here?”
>She pauses, half standing to point a hoof. 
>”You forgot to put wood on the fire so I thought I'd do it for you cause S’lestia won't let me go back to bed.”
>...The fucking bug read your mind to learn about the fire.

>And worse, she thinks she's being subtle.
>Making a mental note to think about her mother the next time you make eye contact with her, you start playing with the donut. 
“Noted. Remember last night, when I had you looking into Celestia's memories to find Twilight?”
>”Mmhmm! Was that part of the Dreamworld, father?” You catch her nodding her head.
“It is. Now this is important. Do you remember the symbols that I wanted to know about? It's ok if you don't.”
>Right now, honesty is more important than pleasing you.
>She bites her lip, “Umm…I think so?”
>Good enough. 
>You crack the donut open and scoop out its gooey innards.
“If I draw them out on the wall, would you be able to tell me if they match the ones you saw?”
>”I don't know how similar they can be…” Doubt pours out with her words.
“Just try.”
>With an “Okay Father,” from Hope, you turn to face the wall.
>Using the jelly, you write out the address Cadance gave you on the wall, making it as large as you can.
>You're a naked caveman, and now you're making cave paintings.
>...If this whole scheme works, some pony archeologist is going to have some interesting questions to ask you.
>Once you finish the last ‘a’ in plaza, you step to the side and look back at Hope.
“Ok. Does that look ANYTHING like what you saw last night?”
>Hope gets up and paces back and forth, carefully inspecting your shoddy handwriting. 
>”Um…kinda, Father? I think I can make it look like what I saw!”
>Oohh, this ought to be good.
“Go ahead.”
>Hope sticks out her tongue before her horn lights up, followed by the jelly on the wall glowing a bright green.
>While the letters and numbers become much fancier, they ultimately stay the same.
>Cadance was telling the truth.
>You've done it.
>You know where Twilight is!
>Grinning like a madman, you fight the urge to cackle.
>Now all you have to do is tell Tirek and Discord, wait for them to do their thing and then…
>...You'll be free.
>And mortal.

>”Father? This means I’ve done good, right?” Hope rubs a hoof against her foreleg, looking up at you.
>Grinning from ear to ear, you can't keep the laughter out of your voice. 
“Oooh, yes you did Hope. You did better than I ever imagined.”
>You’re so happy you’re actually feeling a bit sappy.
>Kneeling down, you wrap your arm around her neck before pulling her against you.
>”N’aahh!”
>She stumbles, her hooves clacking ash she struggles to keep her footing before you smoosh her face against your chest.
>”I’m confyoosed…”
>She seems to have forgotten the ‘seen and not heard’ lesson.
“Just...shut up and give your dad a hug.”
>As though expecting a trap, Hope slowly, tentatively wraps a foreleg around you.
>”Does this mean you’re gonna leave for the Dreamworld now, Father?”
>Her description of Equestria is starting to feel fairly apt. 
>The last time you had gotten this close to escape was…
>Well, it was the ball incident.
>But even then, right up until you were staring down Cerberus, with your friends bickering in your ears, you felt like you were in a dream.
>...Of course, that whole thing can fall apart if you get ahead of yourself.
>For all you know, Celetia’s managed to be a better puppetmaster than Tirek could dream of, and both what Hope saw and what Cadance overheard were intentional red herrings.
“Maybe, Hope…”
>You drag your fingernails down over Hope’s dark green coat as you think, feeling her fur stiffen under your touch.
>”That feels gooood... “
>Gambling is never out of the question for you, but in this case, you probably shouldn’t count your changelings before they hatch.
>You can’t just call Tirek and Discord down early, and have them check.
>By the time they come back, you need to be one hundred percent sure this information is correct.
>But you’ve already checked, double checked, and verified with another source.

>Your fingernails begin to clack as you reach Hope’s chitinous abdomen.
>What you need is another source you could use to verify, one which is independant from Celestia’s influ…
>Luna.
>She’s proven that not only is she running independently of Celestia, she’s also really, really bad at the whole puppetmaster thing.
>But she presents her own challenges.
>Mainly, how do you get verification out of her, when you aren't allowing her to speak?
>Your fingers hit fur again.
>”Father? What are you doooing?”
>Dragged out of your thoughts, you realize your hand is positioned perfectly on Hope’s rear.
>...Right.
>You have a buggo to deal with before you can get to Luna.
>A buggo who damn near gave you a heart attack when you thought she had gotten out.
>A buggo who you absolutely cannot leave unencumbered, lest she fly out and get Nymph before you have a chance to talk to Tirek and Discord.
>A buggo who, despite how badly you’ve treated her, despite wanting to keep you in Tartarus, was still happy to give you the keys to your freedom, and really does need to be rewarded before you slap any chains on her.
>You squeeze her rump, burying your fingers in her soft, squishy rear.
>Fatheeerr!” She squirms, her free foreleg pushing against you. “What are you doing?!”
>Pausing, freezing with your fingers squeezing her rear, you look down at her.
“That’s...actually a good question.”
>You WERE planning on cuddling her just like you would have her mother, but…
>Maybe that isn’t so appropriate when she’s also your kid.
>...
>Now that you think of it, you have absolutely no idea how you “should” comfort a kid.
>Loosening your grip on her rear, you allow her to push away from your chest, before wrapping your arm around her abdomen, securing her in a mix between a choke hold and a one armed hug.
“No you don’t.”

>She thrashes in your arm, both forelegs pushing against your chest before her good wing starts buzzing, “No! Father, stop it, I don’t wanna!”
“You don’t wanna what?”
>Your smile’s sneaking back onto your face.
>Hope slows down as your amusement washes over her, her wing flicking but no longer beating.
>Scooting yourself forward, you secure her against your side.
“What did you think I was doing, you silly girl?”
>She stops, her sides still heaving from the adrenaline coursing through her.
>Working her mouth, it takes her a moment to speak, “I...I dunnooooo.”
>You slide your hand up her side, over her shoulders and up to her head, where you then start to pet over that fin on her head.
“Come on Hope, I wouldn’t accept that answer from anyone else, I’m not accepting it from you, either. What did you think I was going to do?”
>She shifts against you, hiding her face while conveniently making it easier to reach her fin.
>”I...I didn’t think of anything specific…”
>You start flicking your fingers one at a time against her fin, the membrane snapping back after each one.
>She tenses up a bit and slinks her head down, obviously not enjoying it.
>Not enough for her to stop you, evidently.
“Buuut?”
>”I dunno!” She grabs her wing, the one you had abused the other day, in her hooves.
>”You keep going from happy to mad, back to happy really quick. I never know when I’m messing up!”
>What is she talking about?
>You’ve been completely consistent…
>Wait.
>Pausing, you think back on everything that’s happened since you’ve picked her up…
>She’s the one you’ve consistently thrown under the bus.
>Giving her a squeeze, you sigh heavily.
>That’s entirely your fault.
>Ever since you’ve dragged her here, you’ve treated her like she was one bad move away from being “put to sleep.”
>It...probably didn’t help that the first thing you did was rip one of her wings apart, to keep Cadance under control.

>But every other time you've tried to use Hope, it’s backfired!
>...
>There’s still no one to blame for her confusion but yourself.
>Carefully, ever so carefully, you inch your bad arm over to her and stroke down the short fur of her cheek.
“I'm sorry, Hope.”
>Her ears perk up, just the slightest bit.
“You have a really nasty habit of saying exactly the wrong thing at the worst possible moment. But I should have given you a bit more leeway.”
>”Mm-hmm,” Hope nods her head against you.
>You start stroking up her abnormally long fin, starting at the back of her head and working up to her horn.
>Most changelings’ fins don't go nearly that far up.
>But given that they're a race of shape shifters, you shouldn't be surprised that they’d vary.
“I suppose I've been getting a bit worried about finding Twilight. And I took it out on you. I shouldn't have done that, it was completely unfair of me.”
>”Maybe a little…” She mumbles out, her voice soft.
>Not with fear this time.
>She's just enjoying the attention you're giving her.
>As you reach the end of her fin you slip two fingers down and rub them around the base of her horn.
>”Nn-nn-nnuh-huh-huh…” Hope squirms in a much different way this time.
>You recall her earlier reaction to you playing with her horn.
>Letting it go, you start petting up her fin again.
“But you know...every time I tried to get you to help, it backfired. That didn’t exactly help my frustration.”
>As you speak, you go right back to rubbing against the base of her horn.
>”I kno-ooh-ooh...father…” She pushes back against your hand, her eyes squeezed shut.
“Really? You can smell emotions, why didn’t that tip you off that I uuh...might be a bit short with you?”
>One last time, you let go of her horn to stroke up her fin.
>She shivers, knowing exactly what you’re going to do when you reach the top.

>”You already tricked me once with that. I dunno how muu...uuhh-muh-uuh-uuh...…”
>This time, when you reach her horn, you don’t let it go.
>”Faa-ther-her? Wha-wha are you..?”
>Enticed by her adorable reaction, you trace little circles on either side of her horn with your thumb and forefinger, slowly working your way up it.
>Her eyes are half lidded, and she’s barely able to speak, ”Doo-oo-ooiiing?”
“I’m being nice to my daughter, who was so helpful. How does this feel?”
>You pause as you reach her horntip-pinching and tugging at it instead, while Hope tries to answer.
>She paws at the air with a hoof.
>”It fe-els...really...really-weird, Father…”
>You stop teasing her horn for a moment.
>Instead you gingerly wrap the rest of your fingers around it, holding for a moment.
“Good weird or bad weird?”
>She arches her neck in an attempt to shove her horn into the palm of your hand, “Keep going…”
>Biting back a laugh, you happily oblige her, slowly sliding your hand up and down her horn, watching her reaction.
>Her jaw drops as she shudders.
>Establishing a steady rhythm, you continue rubbing her horn in the same manner, squishing her fin under your fingers with every stroke.
>If it bothers her this time, she doesn’t show.
>Instead, after a couple minutes of this, she throws her forelegs around you, wrapping them around your back in a hug.
>That just brings a smile to your face, as you keep stroking up and down her horn.
>It isn’t too long before her breathing, already heavy from the way you teased her earlier, starts speeding up.
>Hope tenses up against you, her embrace tightening into a proper squeeze.
>She’s definitely building up towards…something.
>Are “horngasms” a thing?
>You were never able to get Nymph THIS hot and bothered before...but she also didn’t have magic.
>...You aren’t too sure if you want to find out...especially with her horn pointed at you.

>Besides, THAT is something you’re going to save as a special reward.
>Her mouth swings shut and she clenches her teeth, her lips pulling back into a grimace.
>You let go of her horn.
>”Nnn!”
>She throws her head back, her eyes shut tight.
>”More! Mooore!” Crying out, she pulls her forelegs from you, evidently focusing on trying to get off without you.
>Oh no she doesn’t.
>Wrapping your arm around her back, you catch her forelegs and pin them to her side.
>”Nnnn!” She thrashes back and forth in your grip like a fish, her hind legs kicking.
>”I-I nee-I-I-Hhhhhhsssss!”
>Now THAT’S a sound you remember!
>With her big, blue eyes opened wide, her forked tongue sticking out, she involuntarily hisses again and again in your grasp.
>Occasionally she tries to speak, but she’s never able to get more than a syllable or two out before her instincts hijack her mouth again.
>Eventually, her hissing stops.
>She still squirms in your grasp, her forelegs fidgeting, but her muscles relax.
>”Fatheeeerr…whhyyy…?” Is all she manages to say, still panting.
“Why what? Didn’t you enjoy that?”
>”Nnn!” She whines, giving a weak, half hearted wiggle, “I want moooore!”
“I know you do, but you’d want more no matter how long we spent doing this. You’ve had enough.”
>”But…” Her voice  threatens to crack, “Just a little biiiit…”
>You give her a squeeze.
“No, Hope. If you don’t want me to be mean, then I don’t want to hear complaining when I’m nice.”
>She squeezes her eyes shut, and lets out a long, wordless whine.
>You let one of her forelegs go so you can rub her cheek.
“Come on now. Did that feel good?”
>She nods her head, keeping her eyes screwed shut.
“Do you want me to do it again sometime?”
>She nods again, her tight voice leaking out “Mm-hmm…”
“Then you’re going to have to do something for me, ok?”
>She peeks an eye out, ”Ohkay…“
>You eye the shackle looped around your shoulder.

>...It’s a good thing you remembered to grab that with the donut, and don’t need to run all the way back to get it.
“I’m going to attach the chain to you, Hope. Now, I know that you know you could probably figure out how to unlock it with your magic. But I want you to be a good girl, and not even try. Ok?”
>She nods her head over and over again, “Nn-hnn. Nn-hnn!”
>You let go of her legs, and slowly untangle your arm from her.
“Then stand up.”
>With weak, shaky legs she does so, her snout pointed straight at the ground.
>You waste no time in looping the chain around one leg, up, over her back to pin her wings to her back.
>Wiggling the manacle itself through one of her legholes, you pull the other end of the chain to it, ready to lock the shackle.
“There we go...how does that feel, Hope? Does it hurt?”
>”N-noo, Father…” Hope mumbles out, still preoccupied with her horn.
“Good.”
>With that, you lock the shackle, securing the chain to her.
>It’s nowhere near as restrictive as Cadance’s hobble is...but it completely negates flight, and should make running awkward enough that you’ll have no trouble outpacing the little bug, should you have to.
>You clasp a hand on the back of her neck.
“Look at me Hope.”
>As though weighed down, she pulls her head upwards, her blank eyes meeting yours.
>Remembering an earlier promise you made to yourself, you conjure up the memory of a particularly fun night with her mother.
>If she’s reading your mind, she makes no reaction to getting THAT shoved in her face.
>...Well, that was a disappointment.
“There’s something I need to take care of. I want you to go back in the bedroom and try to get some rest.“
>”But...the white pony won’t let me sleeeeeep...”
>You resist the urge to roll your eyes.

“If she won’t let you sleep, then just get comfortable. But, I don’t want to hear that you’ve been sitting there playing with your horn. I’ll be checking with Celestia.”
>”I don’t think I can use it right now anyway…” she mumbles out, starting to look away.
>You rub her neck a bit.
>That’s...good to know that you can evidently short out her magic for a bit doing this.
“Duly noted. I’ll be back, Hope. Get some rest.”
>With that, you get up and...
>Wait!
>As Hope leaves, the chain clinking with every step, you make DAMN sure to find and tie both of your knives to your legs.
>Hopefully you won’t need them but…
>That is one mistake you are NOT making again.
>Properly armed again, and with Hope having a decent head start to get to bed, you finally set out towards Luna.
>On the way there, you get to work on your little conundrum.
>How do you get information out of someone who can’t speak?

>You suppose you could just ask her and she could nod.
>But man, that would take all the fun out of it! 
>With a good…day or so, before Tirek and Discord get back to you, you'll need to find SOMETHING to occupy yourself with.
>What better than having fun with the ones who sent you here? 
>Let's see…you promised Luna you'd be back ‘tonight,’ but it's only been…well, if you had to guess, an hour?
>It's a good thing she won't know that.
>Given her rather tenuous grasp on reality, it's doubtful she has ANY sense of time right now.
>And given that her first meal in three days was a bowl of fruit, she'll still be hungry.
>Time to make her sense of reality even worse.
>Swinging into the side passage, you take a quick detour to pick up a proper meals worth of food, with a few extras.
>A little bit of this, some of that, and soon enough, you're setting out into the depths of your cave.
>You can barely hold everything with one arm-you’ve kinda had to smoosh most of it against your chest.
>Soon, the sound of irregular hoofbeats meets your ears.
>...Right.
>Cadance.
>This is going to be awkward.
>Great, you couldn’t have waited until she was done, you just HAD to-
>Pinkponybutt!
>You scoot to the side, hoping to hide behind her ridiculously large mane so you can sneak by without any awkwardness.
>No such luck, she stops and turns to look at you, clutching the bowl filled with water in her teeth.
>...Well, you can’t just walk by without saying anything.
>Then she’ll be tempted to chase after you, you won’t get your hallway cleaned, and you’ll have to do something you REALLY don't want to, right now.
“Hey Cadance. Everything going alright?”

>It’s a good thing looks are about the only thing that CAN’T kill you in Tartarus, but Cadance is sure trying.
>”I ‘aff ‘oo gar’ry dis in my mouf!”
>You look down at the pile you’re barely managing to hold.
“You’re not getting any sympathy from me. If I drop anything, I’m going to be in the same boat. And I don’t think Luna would appreciate her meal being pre-chewed.”
>”’Oo arm-pf gweaminguff ghum!”
>It’s a good thing she hasn’t thought to put the bowl of water down.
>It gives you an easy way to end this before it turns into a full-on conversation.
“Tell you what. When I’M the one who puts everyone in mortal danger, then it’ll be my turn to clean up the cum. Until then, have fun.”
>You start walking before the words have finished leaving your mouth.
>Cadance flings a wordless growl of frustration at the back of your head before you duck around a bend in the cave.
>With that out of the way, you’re free to continue your journey.
>You take one last detour before heading to Luna’s, having picked up the broken muzzle from the cage room.
>Finally you’re free to…
>Awkwardly wedge Luna’s door into the walls of the cave, after trying to push it to the side with your rear.
>...Well, it seemed like it’d be easier than putting everything down!
>So much for that.
>Cursing to yourself, you kick the bottom corner repeatedly, trying to knock an edge free.
>The wood scrapes against the stone walls, but only wedges in further.
>Why, does EVERYTHING have to be so fucking difficult lately?!
>Your frustration mounting, you let out a cry of rage and kick the door dead in the center.
>There’s a large crack as the wood splits and the whole thing comes crashing down, the banging ecchoing throughout the cave.
>...Door’s open.
>Fuck it.
>You’ll make a new one later.

>Hefting the load you have in your arms, you head towards Luna’s room.
>Is it technically lying to come back so soon and act like it's already nighttime?
>You suppose you could technically weasel out of it, if confronted.
>Tartarus doesn't ACTUALLY have a day/night cycle. 
>...The only sign you've had that you're even CLOSE to keeping the same hours as Equestria are what you've seen through your friends portals.
>But that doesn't mean a day out there corresponds to when you go to sleep, does it? 
>...Sleep would sound real good right about now...
>Luna doesn't make any indication she knows you're there, as you enter her room proper.
>She's curled up like a cat, her face buried in the ‘doll’ you made her, occasionally squeezing or nuzzling it as though it were…well, hopefully, you.
>Carefully, you deposit the pile of foodstuffs in the corner.
>You look over Luna one more time.
>Does she have any idea of her situation right now?
>Or is she so lost in her own mind, her own fantasies, that she genuinely doesn’t know she’s chained up right now?
>...Time to get to work.
------
>”HHRRRMM!” Luna screams.
>To your astonishment, she claws her hooves against her bare, blood covered lips.
>Here you had thought she’d be in waayy too much pain to try and rip the stitches out right away..
>Maybe it’s just shock.
“Go ahead and get it all out while you still can, Luna, because you’re not gonna get another chance for a looooong time.”
>She can’t hear you.
>YOU can barely hear you, over her continued screaming.
>Doing your best to ignore her keening, you look over the contraption you made, and then over your handywork.
>It was so simple, why didn’t you think of doing this sooner?
>With her mouth sewn shut, you’ve freed up the other muzzle.

>Once she dies of dehydration, you can perform a little amature surgery, install your newest tool, and she SHOULD regenerate without vocal cords, leaving her completely mute.
>Then you can feed her and let her roam around without worry!
>The look on Celestia’s face when her sister “refuses” to talk to her…oohh, that’ll be priceless!
>This was always something you wanted to try with Nymph, but by the time you thought of it, she was already listening to you, so you never got a chance...
>You grab her muzzle, eliciting a sharp, muffled howl of agony.
>Ignoring it, you twist her head from side to side, giving your work one final inspection.
>It looks like it should hold-
>Movement.
>You drop her snout and whirl around, looking for whatever you just saw out of the corner of your eye.
>Too fast to be Hope or Celestia.
>But you don’t see...there!
>The blue whispy thing from the other day is floating just above you.
>Now that it isn’t hiding at the bottom of a pond, you can get a good look at it.
>It's more of a wisp, or a cloud, the center of which is so dark it's almost black, while little bright spots, almost like stars, float around it.
>It's hypnotic…like nothing you've ever seen in Tartarus.
>You pull your knife out. 
>There's only one appropriate response to a new creature.
>Especially when it's in your home.
>Swinging your knife at it, the blob splits in two, your knife passing harmlessly through thin air.
>Just as quickly, the two halves press back together.
>As if mocking you, the blob takes shape, twisting into an eyeless head of a pony.
>...Ok, fuck this thing.
>You swing at it over and over again, the disembodied pony-head effortlessly dodging your blade.
>The thing leads you around the room, mocking you.
>Just as you're reaching for your spear, tendrils shoot out from the head.
>You dive behind a stalagmite before the creature can hit you with whatever it’s doing, but it wasn’t aiming for you.
>The tendrils hit Luna, instead.


>As the tendrils retract towards the cloud, her shackles fall away.
>She begins to grow larger, her coat darkening, turning as black as the splotch on her butt.
>...What in the hell?
>You stare, horrified, as her blindfold rips, now too small for her, revealing her eyes have changed, looking more like a cat’s.
>Or a dragon’s.
>As her wings begin to change shape, growing a much sleeker form, her mane and tail lose all definition, looking like…
>Just like the cloud monster that you were just chasing.
>Oh shit.
>It INFECTED her?!
>Tearing your eyes from the scene, you glance around the room, looking for where that thing went.
>There’s no sign of it.
>Shit, shit, shit, it must have gone to infect the oth-
>”HrrrrmmmmmmrrrraaAAAAAH!”
>Looking back, you see Luna with her head down, forcing her jaw open.
>She’s screaming from the pain and exertion, blood’s pouring down her snout, but one by one, her stitches are popping.
>Deal with Luna or go to help the others, deal with Luna or-
>With one final scream, she destroys the last of your handwork, her mouth opening wide, revealing a maw full of fangs.
>...Deal with Luna.
>Climbing to your feet, you squeeze the knife in your hands.
“Luna. Look at me, Luna.”
>She does not look at you.
>Instead, she keeps her head down, her sides heaving as blood continues to drip from her muzzle down to the floor.
“Luna!”
>She jerks her head up high, and her horn scrapes against the ceiling.
>WIth eyes burning with hate, she screams at you, her voice shaking the cave, “Be! SILENT! Human!”
>Ooohh no.
>She’s not the one who gets to make the rules.
“Luna, you do-”
>”We are NOT Luna!” She snarls, taking slow, heavy steps towards you. 
>”She was weak. A most impotent mare, who allowed such atrocities to befall her. But We will not! We will succeed where she has failed!”
>You fall back, clutching your small, insufficient knife with white knuckles.

“Ok Not-Luna, just think for a moment. If you’re not Luna, then I’ve done nothing to you. So how about we calm down, and maybe you can tell me what that blue thing-”
>”Neigh. Talk is what led to Luna’s downfall. We will not allow it! We are Nightmare Moon! And We will not make the same mistakes as her,” She growls out, her gaze expectant, almost demanding you challenge her.
>...Why does that name sound familiar?
>Nightmare Moon, Nightmare…
>Wait! 
>That was the thing Cadance and Celestia were worried Luna would…turn…into…
>Well shit.
>You might be in trouble.
>Especially since she didn't bare witness to you taking down her sister and might actually try something.
>Even though you're armed now, you are still down an arm. 
>A stalactite is engulfed by the cloud that replaced her mane.
“I gotta admit, this was not what I was picturing from the name ‘Nightmare Moon.’ What uh…what mistakes were that?”
>As you speak, the rock dissolves away, leaving behind a stump clinging to the ceiling, without Luna giving any indication she even noticed.
>Shit.
>Ok, plan B: Get the bug.
>”We shall demonstrate...”
>She spreads her wings wide.
>You throw your knife at her before she can do anything, and spin around to sprint towards the exit.
>As you turn, you see her standing right in front of you, your knife dissolving in her mane.
>How the fuck did she get over there?! 
>She ducks her head and lunges forward.
>There’s a cold, dull pain as you're impaled on her long, black horn. 
>...Ok, don't panic, you've been here before.
>The horn pierced your lung but missed your heart, it'll be hard to breathe, but you can take a lot more punishment before you go down.
>You need to do enough damage to keep her from putting your body in the cage before you wake up.
>With that as your goal, you grab ahold of both of her wings and twist them down and out.

>This always breaks a gryphon’s wings it should work on a-
>She throws her wings out, killing any leverage you have and yanks her head back.
“Guuh..”
>That horn steals your breath as it leaves, a sucking, gurgling sound coming from your side, letting everyone hear the trouble you’re in.
>With your hands still occupied with her wings and left gasping for air, you're wide open.
>An advantage she doesn't squander as she slams her forehoof into your jaw.
>Her wings slip out of your grasp as you stumble backwards reeling.
>Other knife, other knife, where's your other knife?! 
>Wheezing and gasping for air, you grope at your thigh, trying to re-arm yourself.
>That's when she bucks you with both hind legs.
>You crumple at of the kick, cracking your skull against the floor as gravity decides to add insult to your broken arm, now broken collarbone, broken lung, broken rib and whatever other injury you're forgetting. 
>Luna’s hoof comes to rest on the side of your head.
>Nope.
>THAT'S definitely the insult being added to injuries.
>”How simple it would be, to kill you. With a bit of weight, your skull would crack, your brain nothing more than a stain upon Our hoof guard.”
>It takes a bit to process what she’s saying through all the pain, but the important part clicks.
>She still doesn't get how Tartarus’s immortality works?! 
>”But alas, slaying you in a dream, no matter how cathartic, would only cause you to awaken.”
>After carefully processing that information, you develop a wise and witty retort.
“Whaaaaht…?”
>She cackles and lets up the pressure on your head...just enough to stop the throbbing pain, but not enough to let you get up.
>”Surely you did not think this was the waking world?! Tell Us. Do you recall sewing Luna’s mouth closed? Or is it the first event of the night?”
>The agony consuming you keeps you from being able to think properly.
>But...you don’t...remember?

>Her breath tickles your ear as she leans in close, “Why do you think We were standing right there when you turned around?”
>Ok, now that one-
>She lets go of you, the sound of her hooves echoing as she walks away.
>”Come, let us continue this outside.”
>In a moment, the two of you are standing outside your cave, you with one hand over your sucking chest wound, the other holding your trusty spear.
>Like hell you’re going to let her get away.
>Luna lounges on a pair of rocks, completely unphased by you as you drag yourself closer to her.
>”An instantaneous change of scenery, was it not? You’ve even acquired a weapon! But do you REMEMBER picking it up, human? Where did you grab it?”
“Luna...you’re not gonna-”
>That’s when it hits you.
>Pausing, you look down at the obsidian-tipped spear in your hand.
>The same spear you lost when fighting the Siren with Cadance, the other day.
>The same spear you have yet to retrieve or replace.
“Ok, how did you do that?”
>Luna cackles away.
>”A simple suggestion, and your dream responded. Even without Our magic, We are still the ruler of dreams!”
>...Great.
>So not only have your dreams taken on a new, equine twist, your subconsciousness is now taunting you over it.
>Fuck it.
>Hefting your spear, you wrap your arm around it to bring it to bear.
>If this is a dream, then you have nothing to fear from the spooky vaporizing cloud of hers.
>You’re going to do to her what she did to you.
>Luna’s reptilian eye opens wide.
>She whistles out three earsplitting notes  and the rock under her rips open, blinding you as a brilliant white light pours out.
>Squinting, you begin to charge towards her, that spear held steady.
>You make it about two steps before a blue blob slithers in from the hole Luna created-the SAME blue blob from earlier!
>Just as it did to Luna, it shoots out a tendril, hitting your spear.

>Taking a life of its own, your spear twists around YOUR arm, writhing in your grasp.
>The spearhead turns back towards you, before a fanged mouth opens, hissing at you.
>Snake!
>Get it off, getitoff!
“Gah!”
>You stumble, letting go of your chest to try and pry the constricting serpent off of your arm.
>Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck!
>Luna starts laughing again as she watches your struggles.
>You’re going to fucking kill her for this, just as soon as you can...
>”We must thank you, human! As much as We hate you for what you’ve done to Luna, the atrocities you’ve committed have caused the Tantabus to grow so powerful, it has escaped into the dreams of others!”
>As you keep fighting with that snake, Luna hops off her rock.
>Her slow hoofbeats get louder and louder as she approaches.
>Stealing a glance, you see her grinning from ear to ear as that blue cloud-the Tantabus, she called it?- floats along next to her.
>”With its escape, We have once again become more than just the parts of Luna she reviles. Thanks to you, human, We are free once again!”
>With a hiss, the snake launches itself at your neck and bites down.
------
>Your eyes snap open, your heart pounding as though trying to escape your chest.
>There’s a pair of hooves clutching you.
>You flail your good arm and scramble to get your legs under you.
>”Hrrrm?!” With a muffled, fear filled cry, those hooves let you go.
>Squirming free, you twist around to see Luna, still muzzled, blindfolded and deafened.
>REAL Luna, with her blue fur, and limp mane plastered to her side.
>She’s laying down and quaking, her ears pressed back against her head in fear.
>You look around.
>You’re still in your cave, her room, to be exact.
>By your feet lies the half-finished bridle you were working on before you evidently fell asleep.
>That was...that was one hell of a dream.
>As you catch your breath, it uncharacteristically fogs up in front of your face.
>You need to make a mental note.

>It’s safe to assume you’re dreaming whenever you see that blue thing.
>Because that’s twice in as many dreams you’ve seen that thing.
>...Tantabus, you think it was called?
>Why does that name sound familiar…?
>You know you’ve heard it before…
>It was recent, it was from…
>Luna.
>She said something about it to Cadance.
>Reaching over, you rip her earmuffs off and grab her face, your fingers smooshing into her cheeks.
>”Mrrrf! Rrr-m!” She cries out in fear, thrashing as you twist her head upwards to ‘look’ at you.
>Her chains rattle as she desperately tries to grab at your hands.
“Luna. Look at me, Luna.”
>Maybe you’re being a bit too rough with her.
>Or maybe she needs to lean to stop squirming.
>And squirm she does, too terrified to hold still, she pulls her head this way and that, trying to free it from your grip.
>You yank it forward, eliciting another cry from her, but her struggles stall momentarily.
“The Tantabus, Luna. The other day you said it was a failsafe of some kind. What EXACTLY is it?”
>She stops, seemingly dumbfounded.
>...Right.
>You did it again.
>With a deep breath, you try to get a good mental picture of that cloud thing from your dream, the details already fading in your mind.
“A blue cloud that changes things when you dream. For the worse. Is that the Tantabus?”
>She freezes up at your description, before slowly going limp in your grasp.
>Shock or not, you asked for an answer.
>You jerk her head to the side to get her attention.
“Yes or no, Luna?!”
>Weakly, she nods yes in your grasp.
>You squeezes her cheeks, your fingers pushing hard into her skull as your blood begins to boil.
>If she planned this, you’re going to feed her to the bug.
“What was it a failsafe for, Luna? Was it a failsafe for ME?!”
>”Nnn-nn! Nnn-nn!” She shakes her head furiously in your grasp, her terror evident.
>Frankly, you aren't sure you believe her.

>She’s so scared, there’s no way she’d admit to it, right now.
>Which makes her useless for getting any information; all she'll do is tell you what she thinks you want to hear.
>Letting her go, you turn away and take a deep, frustrated sigh.
>Your neck and shoulders hurt from sleeping weird against Luna, you’re cold for some reason, you’re frustrated, there’s something going on that you can’t figure out, and worse yet, you don’t even remember why you came in here!
>This is not shaping up to be a good morning.
>You look over the small meal you’ve assembled for Luna, the half finished bridle, and then Luna herself.
>...Screw it, you’re already here…