Growing Darkness

The guards went down into the basement, and split up to search the new area. Illumination spells were cast into the corners of the room to provide a healthy amount of light to aid their search. This magic light gave away hints the basement was larger than it seemed. They began to work on tearing down the artificial division while some flew over. The pegasi that went ahead had to strain their eyes a little at the less than ideal light level while they searched the bathroom and around the living area. There was obviously a secret here, would they find a dead pony, or one assigned a crueler punishment than their strict princess could provide? They looked into the turned over box, not wanting to know what they might find.

What they found in the box was a pony, very alive, and very scared. Her coat was dark grey, her mane black and curly, and her eyes violet. And she was an alicorn. She was clearly looked after: her coat, mane, and feathers were clean and neat, and she appeared to be a healthy weight.

For a moment, she just stared. Then she charged her horn and fired at the ponies, making a run for it at the same time: she'd try to get around the guards, fly over the storage wall, get out of the basement, and... well, just get as far away from Hollow Shades, and the Princesses, as possible.

The guards were initially surprised by their very active finding. The shock and impression the small and surprisingly fierce mare. They quickly recovered, forcing the filly to take the longest route out that she was possible by blocking her with their bodies or other obstructions. She still made it out of the basement.

The alicorn made it no further however. Celestia was quick to head towards the noise, and stood over the exit to the basement. She was at full height and peered down with full intensity before softening. “Where is a filly like you going in a hurry? You're most interesting, I won't hurt you. Can we talk and be friends?” She tilted her head and tried to look innocent, hoping to win over the sheltered child.

Nox didn't see Celestia until it was too late, and she didn't hear her words over the commotion in the basement. With a shriek of surprise she rammed into Celestia at full speed.

Celestia had planted herself firmly to the ground, she did not move from the impact into her. While the child was recoiling, she pulled her onto her hooves again with magic. Such an Ignorant filly! They had a lot to learn. “Excuse me young lady! I was trying to talk to you. Where is a filly like you going in a hurry?”

The air was frozen in Nox's lungs as she looked upon the alicorn, remembering every detail about the Sun Princess described to her by her pseudo-parents: the burning white coat, the coldly-regal regalia, the flowing ethereal mane, and impatient, proud eyes, like a cat's: claiming everything they saw as their own without a question.

The poor filly was scared stiff. The Princess would surely kill her where she stood, there could be no contenders for power over their ponies and their land. H-how would she ever run fast enough to escape her wrath?

"NOX!"

Nox's head whipped in the direction of the voice. It was Sweet Heart!

"NOX, RUN!" Sweet Heart ran into the room, then launched herself into the air to intercept Princess Celestia any way she could, though her planned method was not ingenious or elegant: she planned to latch onto her head like a Facehugger Moth. She knew this would get her executed, but she'd be executed anyway: she'd hidden an alicorn foal from the Princesses, it was blatant treason.

Nox snapped out of her shock quickly. She made to run from the room, the orphanage, and the town. She had to lose the Princess.

The audacity of the mare to throw herself at royal prevented Celestia from leveling her full might at the pony right away. Once they attached she stumbled back, off balance. Now she could not risk her own beautiful face getting any backblast. Still aware of where the desk was, Celestia reared herself backward before hitting the mare against the desk’s edge. A hard impact which caused splinters to fly. The guards made sure to keep the thestral on the ground, not caring about the damage done to her or that needed to be done to keep it that way. Celestia would have loved to have killed her, but it would cause an awful lot of fuss with her sister, so she decided Luna could be the one to hand out the sentence.

This ‘Nox’ was much more interesting, and a matter she wouldn't want to leave to anyone but herself. Celestia was unused to having to run, but she did move with a hasty gait that did not compromise her royal appearance. The filly was energetic, but the princess’ long legs carried her further than the child each time. She gave chase knowing it would be easy to spot the surprised faces of her subjects Nox left on her path.

Sweet Heart's spine was snapped by the impact, immediately numbing everything below her wings. She made no effort to resist; she knew she could do no more.

Nox took to the air as soon as she was out of the orphanage. She flew as high as she could, while flying towards the surrounding dark woods. However, given her sheltered life in the orphanage basement, she was a weak flier with poor stamina, and would tire quickly.

Celestia could not risk damage to the filly. She could not find out their lineage if they were dead after all. There was a thought of how she was so benevolent to let such a danger live long enough to know the joy of being useful. She personally took flight after the filly. She didn’t expect her guards to be good for much in such a surprise situation. They were disciplined, but they rarely produced initiative. Menial work for the simple ponies, the important things left to their rulers. The princess lit her horn, and in the flight path of Nox a magical net formed, ready for the hasty filly to hit. She would be under her to catch the fall. If they escaped here she would probably have to burn the woods down to find her again.

Nox gasped, and was not agile enough nor quick-thinking enough to stop mid-flight or pull up or down to avoid the net. She flew right into it, and dropped straight down upon impact.

Celestia was uncharacteristically gentle about catching the net and pulling it towards her. She couldn't do much with a dead child, not as though most of the children here would be worth much more. She hung the child so that they could see face to face. She waited to see if they would calm and remember who owned the land they were on, and the day she must not have seen enough of in this accursed place. “Being what you are is a crime I am willing to pardon for my own curiosity.” Saying she was safe would be a lie, but Celestia didn't seem particularly murderous at that moment.