Love and Slavery.

Chapter 11. Map's, Sister Talk, New Home.

Applejack sat outside on her balcony. Her mind in deep thought. The event's from last night kept playing out in her mind, everything from Matt being attacked then her best friend admitting she's in love with her.

Why did this have to happen to her tonight. She removed her hat from her head and flipped it to pull out a small silver heart shape locket. She opened it open as she saw her mother and father both standing there with a smile on their faces "Ah wish Ah knew what ta do." A tear ran down her cheek. Her mind confused.

Twilight rolled out the map of Equestria across her table as she pulled out the book from her saddle bag and began.

She marked on her map the path she would need to take to find the human's once grand city. She marked on the map the spot and her eyes widen "The old kingdom lays near the Smoky Mountain?" She continued to search around the books that laid in her room.

She marked the on the map the route she would take "It's settled, once Applejack is healed I'll ask her if she want's to come with me. I know the other's will." That's when her thoughts went towards Matthew. Ever since Applejack got him, this human has been on her mind, just something about this human made her wonder what made him tick.

Why would he risk his own life to save Applejack. Even after everything that had happened to him, he still hasn't wanted to be set free "Maybe I should talk Applejack about taking him to the Crystal Empire."

Darkness filled the skies over Canterlot as clouds covered Celestia's sun and rain fell to the ground. Celestia sat on her balcony as her fur and mane were completely soaked. Tears ran down her face as she cried. Lightning lit up the sky as thunder shook the sky. Memories of her past haunted her mind, cries of the humans being slaughtered in front of her and the screams of children crying out for their parents as fire rained down from the sky.

For so long she had fought back these memories. The pain of what she saw, the people she watched fight with everything they got were defeated and forced into slavery. Those who fought were killed. Their kingdom left in ruins, their wills broken and their hope shattered.

The rain fell down her face washing the tears away that fell down her cheeks "The idea of humans and ponies living together as one... was just that... an Idea." Celesita eyes opened up and she looked out onto the land before her. The Idea of ponies and humans living together as one in a kingdom to bring peace was just that an Idea "But now our dreams have come true my love, humans and ponies living in peace in a kingdom that once known slavery themselves. With the help of the Crystal ponies the humans may one day return to their homeland and reclaim what was once theirs." A small smile spread across her cheek. A new plan was in motion. A new area in human history was beginning to take shape.

The wild storm came out of no where as three ships attacked a ship. Night tried his hardest to escape, they came to the cliff side. Night saw the caves and knew they would be able to escape through there.

"Get our injured to the row boats and the rest of the crew out of here, take those caves there and I'll be right behind you."

They quickly rushed to load the injured into the cave "Is that all of them?" Night asked looking at his second in command.

"Yes, that is all of them." A stallion said looking at Night.

"Alright take them through these old caves, they'll lead you guys to safety, I'll be right behind you."

Night watched his crew row towards the caves.

With the last of his crew in the row boat Night cut the line and sent it falling into the water.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" The stallion yelled as he watched his captain.

"Lead them out of here Fire Heart, someone has to hold them off to allow you to escape." He said "Now, get back to your bride and live happy with her. Tell Luna and Sunset... I'm sorry."

"Come with us! You can survive with us!"

Cannon fire rung out "Go now!" Night quickly rushed to the other side of the ship and loaded the cannons.

Night notices his crew were safely in the caves, he looked back at the three ships heading towards them then back at the cave "Forgive me Luna, I cannot allow my crew to die... Sunset, I'm sorry." He opened fired on the cave and sealed the entrance.

Night felt his ship shake as the cannon balls slammed into his ship. He quickly rushed towards the cannons and fired back. He knew he wouldn't survive this but at least he'll be going down fighting. A cannon ball flew through the hall and into the gun powder and wood flew around everywhere.

"Sir, the rebel ship is no more." A stallion said watching the ship sink into the ocean.

"Search the water, I want bodies found now!" The captain said glaring at the water "If you find any alive, kill them."

Sunset sat by the bar with a mug in her hoofs as she waited for the safe return of her brother and his crew. She had a gut feeling something had happened.

She heard the rustling of other humans and ponies coming in and she turned to face them to see them all either injured or... scared.

"Amber! we're going to need help out here!" Sunset yelled.

After getting injured into the medical wing, Sunset sat with Fire Heart as Amber wouldn't leave his side worried.

"So he just sealed off the cave and fought these ships alone?" Sunset asked angry and upset. Her brother didn't even try to escape, instead he stayed and fought.

"I'm sure he's alright Sunset, he's a strong stallion." Amber said trying to make her feel better.

"He's an idiot! He should have escaped with you guys... h-he should have came home." Tears escaped her eyes as she started crying. She had just lost her brother, the only one who watched over her and kept her safe through so much.

Amber walked over towards her and pulled her into a hug.

The sounds of waves could be heard washing over the shores as the heat from the sun heated the sand on the shores.

A stallion laid on the sand as the sun shined down onto him. The stallion gave up on trying to survive as he knew no matter what he did, he failed his crew... and Luna.

"Why do you give up?" The stallion heard making him open his eyes to see a human wearing a old knight outfit he saw in a book he found along time ago.

"I-I've failed to free those slaves on that ship."

"So? Doesn't mean you should just give up." He said as he started walking away "Go to Avalon, you'll find what you seek."

Night shook his head as he saw the human fade away and he rubbed his eyes as he thought the sun was frying his brain.

He got to his hoofs and notices where he was and started walking through the forest as he made his way towards a village.

Luna sighed as she opened the door to her room as she placed her bag on the night stand near the door as she made her way towards her bed.

"Luna, we need to talk." Luna turned her head to see her sister sitting near her night stand as she seemed to be hiding in the darkness.

"Tia... are you alright?" She asked using her magic to lite the candles around the room to better see her sister. What she saw shocked her. Luna could see fresh tears in her eyes as her fur was ruffled and stained with her tears "You were thinking about him again weren't you?" Luna used her magic to grab a box of tissues as she used it to wipe the fresh tears that escaped.

"Yes... I was." Celestia said wanting to cry again. Luna wrapped her wing around her sister.

"It's alright Tia, I'm here for you." She said giving her a big smile as she tried to cheer her sister up "Do you remember when we were little and I lost that bunny?" Luna asked.

"Yeah... we had that small little funeral in the back yard for him." She sniffed.

"And do you remember what you told me?"

"That he was in a better place watching over you." That's when Celestia got what her sister was getting at.

"He's watching over you Tia, he's still with you." Luna brought a hoof to her sister's chest and placed it where her heart would be "He's here with you, always and forever."

This brought a smile to Celestia's face as she felt a bit better "T-There is a reason why I'm here."

"Oh, what is it?" Luna asked raising an eyebrow at her sister.

"It's about the human and Sunset." Celestia felt guilt and sadness wash over her as she fought it back as she looked at her sister "They are indeed related."

"I already knew that." She said with a sigh. She then looked at her sister with a surprise "Wait... How did you know this? Did Blaze tell you? Oh he's soooo gonna get a hoof up his dragon butt!" She said getting angry.

"No, he didn't tell me... I read his papers in the lab when I was visiting him." She said lying to her "I told him I would tell you... He got scared when I read the paper... Luna... Matt isn't safe here. He needs to go to the Crystal Empire."

"I agree, if he stays here somepony might learn this and he'll be killed."

"We must convince Applejack to set him free." Celestia said looking away from her sister.

"From what I've been told... Applejack isn't his owner, her cousin is still his owner." Luna said sighing "I shall speak with her about this, she'll need to know the danger."

"I think I should inform her." Celestia said looking at her younger sister "She needs to know and I need her to know that... I'm not the monster that the humans think I am."

"I think it would be wise for me... father laws..." Both felt pain rush through their bodies as the memories of their father came flooding into their minds "I think we could use a drink."

"Make it double."

Shining watched as the humans from the train be freed from their chains and were brought off the train as they were placed in the lines as small children who were brought off the trains were smiling as they were brought to the middle of town with the other children as ponies around were adopting them to live among them as their son or daughter.

Shining smiled at the sight before him. Ponies and humans living as one and not as slaves was a sight to behold.

"Sir, these humans claim they were sent by Luna." A guard pony said walking up to Shining.

"Do they bear the royal seal?" He asked.

"Y-Yes but they look... strange."

"Take me to them." He said as he followed the guard.

He notices a group of ponies and humans altogether "Welcome." Shinning said as he walked up to them "I hear you bear the royal seal?"

A stallion with a red mane and an orange coat walked up and pulled out the seal "We have traveled far to come here, Luna told us we can be free here."

Shining took the seal and notices the royal seal on it and looked back at the group "Alright, you may enter, but the humans will have to come with us."

"Why?" The girl asked looking at the stallion with panic in her eyes.

"We need to get you registered and made a citizen." Shinning said giving her a warm smile "Then you can return back with the others if you want."

"I'm staying with Fire Heart." She said looking at Fire Heart.

Shining notices how she was eyeing him "Ooooh, you two are an item... alright, how many are you here are dating?"

He watched as the whole group raised their hands and hoofs and he sighed "Celestia help me... Alright, all of you will need to follow us and we'll register you."

After about five hours Shining took them to a housing area where most human and ponies were living at.

Fire Heart carried their bags into the house "Alright, the housing is free for one month, food and water are the same, but by then you'll have a job and being able to support your bride to be, and if you feel like it, the crystal guards are hiring."

"Thank you Shining, I'll look into that." He said looking at his bride to be as she looked around the home with joy in her eye.

"I'll let you two be, have goodnight you two."

"You two sir."

Amber sat down on the couch and grinned "So this is what it likes to be free." She said with a smile "Come here, relax." She said patting the couch.

He smiled and made his way over towards the couch and climbed onto it and sat next to her "You're worried about Sunset aren't you?"

"Yes, she's staying behind and Nick is staying there as well... I'm worried for them." He laid his head on her lap as she ran her finger through his mane.

"I know how you feel.. I have a friend who I haven't seen in so long that's been through so much... that knowing him, will still remain a slave till he die." Tears started to form in her eyes as she tried not to cry.

"Hey, Matt will be alright. From what you told me, he's a strong human and can survive through a lot." He said leaning forwards and kissing her lips lightly "But, maybe I can talk some of the old crew into getting him and bringing him here."

"No, I know Matt, he'll go back... he'll go back because he'll be afraid."

"You never know... he might stay here.. and find a mare or women to love and have children with."

She giggled "I think Matt has already found the right mare... tho he'll never go after her like you did."

He chuckled as he felt her hand slide down his stomach "Oh? So he won't go up to her and kiss her and ask her to be his girlfriend?"

"No... he'll just be himself and just go hi.. Like you did." She said giggling as she kissed him.

They shared a passionate kiss as Celestia's sun slowly lowered.

"Let's take this to the bedroom shall we?" He asked wiggling his eyebrows.

"First one there has to make breakfast!" Amber flipped the stallion into the floor as she made a mad dash up the stairs.

"CHEATER!" He called out as he chased after her.

To Be Continued.