The "wondrous" city of Avalon
"Avalon, a fantastic city where all races live together peacefully. Or at least that's what the news would say. In reality, it's hell. Especially for a changeling. But then again being a griffon isn't much better; the only difference is that you are expected to hate changelings too. I've never really understood why changelings are hated, I mean, sure, they can change how they look but any semi decent unicorn can do the same and, if I'm correct and I usually am when it comes to changelings, it's a hell of a lot easier to maintain. But then when has anybody ever been swayed by logic. I've seen undeniable proof that the sun rotates by itself and only needs a slight push every year but people insist that the unicorns struggle to do it daily. I'm getting off topic here though. Griffons are hated for a more understandable reason. This is because they have the strength of an earth pony and yet are still faster than most pegasi. Doesn't mean that people can keep abusing them. I swear to god, if a war isn't looming on the horizon it will be a bloody miracle. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get out of town before anypony read this. Although griffons and changelings should be defended, I would rather avoid being beaten to death." Dusty Tome, one of the top librarians and head of the changeling information department, explained to an up-and-coming "fair" newspaper reporter. Dusty Tome was of average build for a unicorn of his age, with dark grey fur and a very pale blue, oiled back mane that would often have a few wisps of hair poking out in front of his face. His cutie mark was the same as his name which often made him wonder which came first.
the reporter nodded and motioned to the door. "Feel free. You did this purely by your own choice and I doubt I could ever stop a unicorn such as yourself," He sighed. "I guess it's time to see which editor will horribly disfigure your views." They both smiled slightly.
"So you actually agree with me? There's a first. Never caught your name by the way. What was it?" Dusty Tome asked.
"Before I came here, there is a pub I would often go to called The Hoof And Talon. It was a great place and it was run by a friendly Griffon. New people avoided it like the plague but the locals and him were great friends. Only time he ever sent anyone to the hospital was with a poorly aimed, drunken hi-five. Despite the witness statements and his spotless past, he lost his home and his job to the law and was run out of town. I heard about this place and, well, it seemed too good to be true, so I decided to check it out and I was right. Thing is, I didn't expect to be this right. I mean sure a little hostility to other races is to be almost expected and maybe a biased law system could come from that but people just going out with sticks and picking random creatures to attack is just wrong. Not to mention the fact that nobody will help them after. Name's Quiltip by the way." He offered out his hoof in a handshake and Dusty Tome accepted.
"Well if you ever need a place to stay I'm more than happy to welcome someone as open minded as yourself."
They talked for a while longer until it began to get dark and if there is one thing either of them had learnt is that nobody ever goes out after dark. They said there farewells and Dusty Tome began the walk home.
He was nearing his home when he saw it. The whole street was a mass of technicolour carnage and in the centre were a pegasus and a griffon. At first, he just assumed it was another fight until the griffon hugged the pegasus. If he was perhaps forty years younger and more proficient in combat magic he would let off a few bolts and tell the two to run, then do the same but at this age all he could do was avoid the street, hope for them to get a swift death, and ignore the screams. He hated it here. If someone even refused to help attack someone else they would be called a "sympathizer" and beaten half to death.
There was only one other way to his house. The alleys. They weren't strictly alleyways as they were underground tunnels wide enough to fit two or three griffons side by side and tall enough so that they just don't scrape their head. During the day, the alleys worked wonders for the old stallion, softening the ground with moss for his tired, old, legs and nearly cutting his travel time in half but at night they were the worst place in all of Equestria for a person to be and, being a librarian, he knew some horrible places.
A voice shook him out of his half sympathetic, half grateful, thoughts.
"Oi," A group of pegasi behind him shouted. Dusty Tome turned around but kept moving. "We saw you back there just walk on. Why Di'n't you help us fuck up those bastards?" A green stallion with a blue mohican, who was obviously the leader of the mob, shouted. The statement was backed up by cheers of agreement from the rest of the group.
"I'm an old unicorn. My legs aren't strong and I know next to no offensive magic." Dusty Tome said, trying to keep the fear out of his voice.
"Know what I think? I think we got us a sympathizer on our hands." The crowd cheered
"I can assure you, gentlemen, that's not the case." His mind was screaming for him to bolt but his legs just wouldn't obey.
A cry burst out from the back of the crowd "Please! Just kill me already!" The pegasus mare he saw earlier was roughly pushed down in front of him.
"Prove it." Dusty just stood there in shock until he saw a glimmer of hope. There were no long term injuries. In fact, she was physically no worse for wear than if she had just got a cramp mid-flight at low altitude. To top it all off her legs looked relatively unharmed, they had mainly focused on her face. A plan began to form in his head. It was crazy, sure, but what were the alternatives. Either maim or even kill an innocent mare and go against everything he stood for or run halfway to Canterlot and find a nice ditch to live in.
"RUN" He shouted as he telekentically pulled the roof of the alley downwards above them and pulled the mare to her feet.
Narrowly avoiding the collapse of nearly the whole segment of the tunnels, they both made it out alive. Dusty Tome pulled a cloak out of his saddlebag and handed it to her.
"I wouldn't be surprised if many more of those people lived around here so put this on. If anyone asks say you crashed. I'm dusty tome by the way." He smiled and helped her put on the cloak. While he was helping her he had a look to see if he recognized her. She was very beautiful with purpley red fur, a deep red mane swept over the right side of her face, and a cutie mark of a rose in a vase. This made him question what would have happened to her had he not intervened. Dusty tome shuddered and tried to push those thoughts out of his mind.
"Why'd you help me?" The tone and suddenness frightened Dusty Tome. "I said why did you help me? I'm just an artist and we have never met each other. For all I know, this could be all a fake rescue for part of some sick game."
Dusty Tome had to think for a few seconds before answering.
"Because all the other options went against all I stand for as a pony. Look, I won't be staying in this town much longer and if you want you can join me in getting the hell out of here but even if you don't want my help at least let me take a look at those injuries." He said nodding towards a rather small house on the hill.
When they got inside Dusty Tome motioned toward the couch as he went in to the kitchen. "You never did tell me your name, by the way," Dusty Tome shouted.
"It's Rosebed. I'm sorry but I can't join you in getting out of here. I wish I could do something like that but..." She trailed off and sighed.
"It's Alright. Never really expected you to join me anyway, being a stranger and all. But if you don't mind me asking, why not?"
"You seem like a decent person, either that or you are one of the best spies ever, in which case not telling you won't help much. But I'm part of a group that is trying to peacefully unite all races. We even have an ambassador for the dragons, he's only a young one but that's the only way he'll fit in the base. This probably goes without saying but please don't tell anybody"
"If it's okay with you I would like to do one better. I'd like to join you. I know I'm not the most useful of creature but I'll do my best. I just hate how everybody treats each other." Dusty Tome got out some cider and began pouring it on Rosebed's open wounds. She hissed and winced. "Sorry, I should have asked or at least warned you." Time went by in silence apart from the occasional moan of pain and apology.
"I must say, you are taking the death of your partner well." After saying this, Dusty Tome instantly regretted it and the silence only made it worse.
"We knew what would most likely happen from the start and we agreed that if one of us dies at the hands of another pony then the other should live on and keep mourning to a minimum. The only way we can save this city is by helping the rebellion and we won't help much if we're moping about the place doing nothing." Dusty Tome was both amazed and a little disturbed at this but decided against asking further. Rosebed glanced at a clock "there is a meeting in about half an hour, I wasn't really planning on attending but I better tell them what went down and show you the way." They both grabbed a cloak and headed back into the alleys.
The tunnels were deathly silent, being occasionally broken by the drip of water, shuffling of dirt, and the two ponies hooves hitting parts of the ground that weren't covered in moss.
"We're going to have to go above ground because you caved in the only underground way to the area," Rosebed's voice echoed around in the silence. "Not that I'm ungrateful for you saving me of course." She hastily added.
"No, no. In hindsight there were probably easier ways to get you out but I panicked." Dusty tome reassured her.
"Well I'd rather you did too much than too little." The tunnels returned to near silence.
"Well, we head up here." Rosebed nodded toward the gentle slope. "You really did a number on that poor tunnel. I must have been a couple o' hundred meters away from this exit when you found me and you nearly took that down too," she said flying up and taking a closer look at the roof.
Dusty Tome, however, was distracted by the pile of rubble. There was a distinct mint green object amongst the dirt and debris. It looked too bright to be anything that naturally grows in the tunnels or even in the town. He blinked a few times and rubbed his eyes to make sure that his eyes weren't playing tricks on him (as they often tried to). As he neared the pile he could make it out a little clearer. It had fur. The realization hit him like a runaway carriage. He had killed another pony. More than that; he had killed about twenty of them. Dusty Tome lurched to the side as his stomach threatened to empty itself.
"Don't be so hard on yourself. That guy was a bastard and deserved everything he got. So were the others." Rosebud half-heartedly replied while she glanced over to what could now be recognized as a hoof.
Her eyed widened as the dirt began to twitch.
"H-hello?" A young filly's voice called out.
"Is someone still alive in there?" Rosebed and Dusty Tome asked at the same time.
"Yeah, I can't find my mum. She told me to run when the roof started coming down. Could you help me get out?"
The pair began digging with Dusty tome moving the large chunks and Rosebed shoveling soil. After a small while she stopped and motioned for him to do the same.
"Wait, how do we know you won't try to hurt us?" Rosebed questioned accusingly.
"This filly sounds thirteen at most. Even if there was the slightest possibility that she wants to harm us, I don't think she would be able to."
"I've seen a foal fight off a manticore. A small vocal alteration spell would be no trouble for a unicorn that has just started magic training as long as they know how sound waves work. And anyway, she must have been in the middle and there is no way a young filly could run that far so quickly." Dusty tome frowned. Rosebed raised a fair point. The two of them had only just made it out. In fact, most of the faster ponies he knew would never be able to maintain their speed over the distance the pony would have had to run. Then again did it matter? It was still a pony and even if they were part of the mob, they knew what he could be capable of. With renewed vigor he began to telepathically shovel away the soil until he found a section of the arched roof that had fallen straight down. Most adult ponies would have still been killed but if a foal kept their head down they would have come out relatively unscathed.
A young filly that looked about fourteen crawled out of the space under the arch. She was a dark cream with an aquamarine, lime green streaked, mane that was tied into a braid. Her smiling face was littered with freckles.
"I'm Fleetfoot. I came here with my ma a few weeks back. Have you seen her?" She politely asked. Her accent was strong for her age and her voice was surprisingly deep.
"Fleetfoot, look behind you... It's a miracle you made it out, let alone anyone else." It was harsh to tell her so bluntly but then so was most of this city. Especially for an orphan.
"Nah. Ma's a unicorn she can teleport an' everything. She jus' can't teleport two ponies." Fleetfoot stated simply.
"How did you make it then?" Dusty tome couldn't tell if Rosebud asked because she was curious or if she was still suspicious.
"Well my ma told me so I ran. An' when I saw the fallen arch, I hid under it. Simple as that." They could tell she wasn't lying but her story didn't add up.
"How did you run fast enough to escape the falling rocks?" Rosebud frowned slightly while asking and subtly took a more defensive stance.
"My cutie mark." Fleetfoot turned to her side so they could see it clearly. It was a messenger bag with two scrolls poking out of it. "My Ma and Pa ran a farm before they came here. I carried supply lists and trading deals to other farms and villages. Most the folks in the area said that I should have been born a pegasus," she beamed. The infectious smile began to break out on Dusty Tome's face.
"How about you come with us. We'll see if we can find her." He put a foreleg around her and gave her a small hug but Rose bed pulled her to the side.
"Are you sure that's safe. Even if she means us no harm, one slip of the tongue put her in deep trouble and maybe even us," Rosebed whispered.
"Well we can't leave her here, can we?" As if on cue, Fleetfoot's eyes began to tear up and her lower lip began to quiver. Rosebed shook her head.
"I guess this has already been decided." She glanced over to Fleetfoot. "Besides, Who could say no to that face."
Fleet foot dashed up and hugged Rosebed's leg as they began the accent to the surface.
Author's Note
I am SO sorry for how long this chapter has taken but The first chapter backfired and backed me into a corner and I was really struggling for what I could put in the next chapter.
