The Foundation

Read the damn authors note first! ;)

Rustling leaves fill my ears as I trotted down the road once filled with gleaming happiness, but now filled with the very thing I thrive on the most . . . Revenge. I can still hear the laughter and giggles of my treasures slowly fade away as I look at the tree that once hung the cadaver of the one I held onto at night, the one who would always be there for me. I looked down at the ground, still trotting towards my objective. I looked over at the side of the dwelling, to see a glint of what was the mangled carrion of entity that I once called a name, the same name I sat down with, cradled with until the very end. As I carried onto the outset of the abode, another gleam of light sparked in my mind, as I ran up the stairs in a hype, and into the bedroom. The gap of the room, still burning and screams all surreal, still there as I had last seen it.

I looked into the cracked mirror that was hanging from the ceiling, seeing the unscarred mare that I used to know, slowly turn into something I was never suppose to be. I looked beyond the crater within the wall and stared at the clash being present, watching that useless mare sit on her flank, watching everything burn down to the ground into a depression. My heart was racing and I felt as if my dieing moment was near, I just could not breath it was as if I were under water and inhaling every bit of water I could. I picked my head up in the process of hyperventilation, and put a hoof onto my heart as sweat quickly poured out of my pelt, Just a dream . . .

-

I got up and out of my bed, or at least my sleeping bag looking at the hot charcoals and waste that had still been burning. Though the sticks, twigs and piles of wood has turned into ash. I looked up at the the moon as I sat down next to the fire. I put my hooves down in front of the warmth and heat the fire so kindly gave to me and I watched as the sweat slowly abandoned my hooves. Maybe . . . I can skip tonights sleep . . . I thought to myself as my hooves gained heat and warmth.

I reached over to my saddlebag, dragging it towards me and put it on myself. I got up and trotted towards the darkness that catered to the small radius of light that the fire supported. I reached up for my sheethed sword that had been hanging from a branch of a dead tree, slipping it over myself like a sling and it hugged my left side of my ribs. I sighed and started down the dirt road.

Such a wonderful night, the stars were out it was a full moon and the sky was a dark blue color. There was small breezes every now and then but that only adds to the beauty and realism of the night. It had been a couple days since I left Candlelight it was a nice town, the architecture was simply amazing and the ponies were nice and minded there own business.

As I trotted down the road . . . I could not help but feel the sorrow my dream had brought me, slowly as I trotted down the road and slowly but surely sorrow became anger, and anger engulfed into flames of rage. I huffed and shook my head, to shake the tears that had been Impending, waiting for my collapse as they trickled down my face. I wiped my face clean of weakness and kept on my way towards Frail, the Freelang capital. My destination was long, cold, and was also neighbored to another town, close enough to buy supplies. The town of frail was known for its massive walls made from Ice, and had a protective magical barrier casted by Streamlet himself.

The place was a sanctuary for traders, peace lovers and business, though I was not interested in any of that. The one thing I wanted, the only thing I wanted, was to eavesdrop in the class one meeting that was to be held with the Freelang Empire, the Terrestrial Empire, and the Stellar Empire. I had first heard of such information when I was at Candlelight, a recent attack with no identification was prosecuted on the Stellar Empire, and the Terrestrial Empire, both of which taking heavy casualties.

The survivors retreated to Candlelight on orders, and soon left as they recovered though they described every bit of information that I needed to know what was happening and who the third party might be. I questioned where the meeting was at, and who would be attending it. I did however find it odd, that all three factions had decided on a meeting, and to top that off, both Flux and terran both agreed that no military forces would be leaving or entering the capital and they would not bring anypony else other then themselves. Odd . . . they had been at war for so long, I do not remember anything like this happening at any time. As I trotted down the road I seen a sign. “Dafalia” Was what it said.

I sighed trotting down the road, dawn was approaching had I really been going for that long? I thought to myself. I had seen the orange halo around the horizon as I was trotting. My ears perked up at the sound of wood, smacking the ground in a patterned cycle. As I kept trotting I seen a trading cart, being towed by two earth ponies, one being a female and the other a male. Both of which were an orange color, and both having a blond mane. They looked like twins to me, I stood up on two hooves and waved a hoof at them. They stopped in front of me, and greeted.

“Hey there partner, do you need something?” The female said, her cutiemark was a slice of an orange in a cup, there was a straw coming out of the cup and hung like a fishing hook. She spoke with a roudy, and deeper voice than expected and had a big accent. I looked at her, searching her for weapons or anything that could do harm and after about five seconds, her smile she had afixiated on me had disappeared and her eyes looked at my sword. “I dont mean any harm . . . could I buy some goods?” I asked in a raspy and sort of masculine voice. As I spoke the male got up and out of the chains that attached the cart to them, and trotted out into the back of the cart without a word. The female did the same but stood there with me.

“What are you looking to buy we have food, liquids and clothing all from the Vergimore family.” She said as she set the chains onto the ground, and looked back at her colleague, returning a look at me that seemed like she was proud. “Let me take a look at your clothing, food and water.” I replied. The male brought me over a set of clothing, black and brown in color, though they were plain, but that was just the way that I had loved them to be. “You don't talk much do-” I interrupted her so time would not be wasted. “How much are they?” I said. “Oh well how about twenty gold bits?” She asked.

I reached into my saddlebag and held my hoof out with the bits waiting for her to accept them. She took them with a smile and said “Thank you, anything else?” The male set down two small brown packages, both of them saying C-rations on the top of them, following the brief description on how to cook, and a caution description. C-rations are cooked and canned goods produced for public use, rather than military but are actually very useful when traveling long distances without towns and such, due to the fact they will always stay fresh. “Six gold bits” He said and held a hoof out, without the smile and cheerful voice. His voice was replaced with a deep and mellow sounding voice, I knew he did not talk often just by hearing it.

I hoofed him the bits and replied “Water?” I said slightly irritated. “Oh right!” She said as if she had forgotten I told her about two minutes ago. She trotted back with a bottle of water, and hoofed it to me, “One silver bit” I just looked at her, for the longest time thinking how stupid some ponies can get. “You got me a bottle of water for traveling?” I said still irritated. “Oh sorry how many did you want?” She asked innocently and gave me a sheepish chuckle. “Four bottles and a capped flask” I replied, and slipped my saddlebag off of my opposite side of my sword, and opened it, ready for the supplies. She returned with the supplies I asked though, little did I know she was a clumsy mare, she slipped and fell right on her flank.

“O-oh! Whoops! Heh sorry at least nothing bad happened to your stuff” she said with yet another sheepish chuckle, putting the supplies in front of me that I had asked for. “You never did say a price” I said putting a hoof over my head. “O-oh right! How about six silvers?” She said with her usual smile.

I reached back into my saddlebag once more and hoofed the amount required for the supplies. I picked up my supplies, putting them into my saddlebag. “Where you heading?” She asked obviously curious.

“None of your business” I said in reply as I picked my saddlebag bag up off the ground, closing it shut and putting it back on myself. She looked at me with a spark of adventure in her eyes. “You heading towards Dafalia? Or frail?” She said, sitting down against the wagon, and taking a sigh of relief. “Why does this concern you?” I asked as I stood up, from my kneeling position and looked at her for a reply that would sound something like “I dont know . . .” Though instead of my prediction she said something rather different. “Oh well maybe I could give you directions, we travel a lot so we know our ways around, or maybe if your heading towards frail we could offer some better merchandise, free of charge.” She said giving me a small look of concern, but being covered with her intoxicating smile.

I had started trotting down the road once more but stopped in place, due to her answer and looked behind myself observing the mare in front of me. She did look young, maybe between the age of thirteen or fourteen. “Nothing is free, what is the gyst of what you want?” I said without turning around, waiting for an answer. “Oh sorry, I guess it aint really free . . . we were heading towards Frail but it had been closed off, and they were not allowing anypony to enter or leave the area . . . it looked like something bad happened because the wall had cracks running down them . . . but this was about a week ago, we made a side trip to Defalia to make up for it but Frail is just an amazing trading route.” She said with crimson cheeks displaying the chagrin she had.

“And you want me to do what?” I turned around and asked. “Maybe you can escort us back to frail?” she said. I stood there not replying, only studying her watching her every move as she laid back against the wagon, her front hooves on the back of her head in a relaxed position. “Don't hold me up than” I said keeping in mind of my objective and I watched as her face lit up with joy and comfort. “Oh thank you miss- excuse me what is your name?” I tossed my bag on the wagon and replied. “It's Amiable” I said confirming my name.

Hours had passed, the morning turned to mid-day and mid-day turned into night, replicating the same night I experienced just the other night, though the moon was in the form of waxing gibbous. It was a colder night, almost enough to be classified as chilly, and nearly enough to make me shiver. We had set up a fire to rest up for the night, knowing the dangers of trotting at night with timber wolves and wild bears attacking.

I sat down next to the fire, putting my hooves close to the fire and watched the sleeping mare murmur in her sleep, tossing and turning. “She is special to me” He said to me, catching me staring at her in her sleep. “Is she now?” I said with a smirk, something I had not done in such a long time until now. “I would like to thank you for staying with us along the way, we have had some difficulties in the past . . . she sometimes gets scared and likes to cling onto others” he sat down next to me, looking at my facial expression that expressed every ounce of exhaustion within my body. “You look tired.” He said laying with his back against the grass, and his back hooves right next to the fire, his front hooves in the back of his head. “I am tired.” I replied and leaned my head up against his lap, placing it on top of him and sighing in relief. “You are okay with is?” I asked, finally letting all of the weight of my head relax onto him. “Fine by me.” He said before speaking again. “So you are a mercenary?” He asked and looked at his loved one. “Just trying to get by, is all not necessarily a mercenary.” I replied turning over on my side, and laying my cheek onto his lap.

He had said something but I could not translate it, it was tongue, everything was blurry but oh so relaxing . . .

“Do you think we should wake her up?” I heard as soon as I woke up, and soon after a reply. “We dont have time to lose, but she does look tired . . . maybe just a bit longer?” I sat up from the tree that I had been laying against, rather the warmth of the body of the night before. “I'm all ready up.” I said looking at the startled mare on my side that was now scampering to the wagon. “Oh all right! Heh cmon big brother!” she said stepping inside the metal harness, and tightening it so it fits her snuggly. She reminds me of her . . . always energetic and laughing all the time, making those stupid chuckles after every statement she makes. I do like her though . . . I know I can protect her, I thought.

The stallion also strapped himself in, he glared over at me, as I put my sheathed sword back into place against my side, and stretched out my wings. I stood up and trotted in front of them. My ears perked as I heard both of them trot at the same time, with the same noise that were made by the wooden wheals of the cart. “So where are you from?” I heard the mare say. “It is only polite if the guest would ask questions first.” I said in reply. “O-oh yes mam, is there anything I might answer for you?” She said

“Well what is your name? And your friend?” I said not looking back but only to keep trotting. “Oh my name is flavored Valencia, but you can just call me valentine its kind of a nick name heh. Oh and uh my big bro's name is flavored Navel, but I just call him big bro.” She said. “I see . . . and where are you from?” I asked as I trotted down the road, this time looking for the answer I wanted. “I'm from GreenPatch and so Is my big brother, well the main plantation of GreenPatch.” She said with an ear to ear smile, that even made me chuckle “Spose that's it” I told her, hiding my smile.

“So where are ya from?” She asked, with a smirk left over from the cute little smile she had. “Oh yes . . . im from the town Turtles Plateau, though I lived on the outskirts of the town rather in it.” I replied, this time I was focused more on the journey rather than the conversation that had started. “Oh i've been there quite a few times with my big brother and my pa! I like it there the water is blue and there is a lot of guards to offer protection!” I nod my head for my reply and continued trotting. “What about your cutiemark? What is it?” she asked.

“Oh this?” I put my hoof over it with a small grin remembering all of the past memories that I had enjoyed while I participated in my hobby. “Its two clouds, with rain drops below it, it resembles my talent with changing weather and clearing clouds with a weather team or alone, it actually use to be my job” I replied putting my hoof back down and my wings that had been flapping to allow me to use a hoof. I stopped on the spot, and my ears perked up once more listening to the rustling leaves around us. “Valentine, keep going I will be right there I just need to take care of something.” As I stood up on two hooves and put my front right hoof on my swords hilt and waited. They both complied to my orders and they had continued trotting without a single reply.

I stood still looking at the cart until it had disappeared, waiting for something if anything to happen. Not long before I heard the clogs of hooves land behind me. “Amiable of the plateau, you are wanted for treason, murder and espionage on multiple accounts, the Stellar Empire demands that you give in, for punishments may be excused, if not excused reduced.” I turned around and gave the five ponies a cynical look whom, were lightly armored with the emblem of fire that displays the Stellar Empire. Though they did seem to be different, then my last encounter, they were all wearing masks rather than  steel helmets. They were decorated with the symbol of fire on the left or right sides of the masks. “I've told you I have things to do, and do not have enough time for your tricks and silly rules.” I said, drawing my sword and sticking it into the ground in front of me, so I could lean over it as if it were a cane.

“You take us for foals play, you will not get away murderer!” As the centered pony in the group of five spoke, they all drew swords and got into a defensive position. “Oh i'm not the murderer now?” I took time to let the words boil up inside of me, slowly taking my conscious over with rage. “You are all the murderers! Because of you I have no one! Not anything! And you think you have the right to call me the murderer!” I huffed at them, and jumped forward, swinging my sword to the left in a horizontal fashion. They all jumped back, but the centered pony caught the sword with his own. The sound of steel grinding was echoed throughout the forest.

All four of them had jumped up and over the pony I had struck, and cornered me into a box like formation. I picked my sword back but felt a strong tug and nip, and soon after both feelings accelerated into pain. My hooves gave out, and I was pinned to the ground. I looked up to see the pony I had struck, put his sword back into its sheath and spoke. “Violence is not everything in life, we offered a more peaceful way to serve your sentence yet you attacked us.” I moved a hoof to reach, and brawl him in the muzzle, but it was soon fastened back to the ground almost immediately. “It is an iron string, enchanted enough to be nearly unbreakable by normal means, and easily used to capture a pony.” He said picking me up and throwing me over his back. “Let me down . . . please” I said in a low tone. The meeting was in two weeks I had no time to be brought back, and worse I must protect valentine! He replied by trotting in the opposite direction I had been going, I looked back to see the other ponies follow behind me, and with my sword and saddlebag. “Please I-” I was silenced by the pony that had been carrying me.

“You do not speak, only listen and obey if you do not meet the expected criteria, equipment will be implemented to be sure the criteria is met.” He said. I stayed quiet and only thought to myself. Murderer . . . such a brash name given to those who are not given the chance to tell the other side of the story. They would never understand what I had to go through to get to where I am now. Hours had passed, I had lost track of time but I knew it was nearly dark and I had a major loss in the progress I had made to get to frail. They never even spoke to each other, nor did they exchange looks, if they had not been wearing masks I would have guessed they would show no emotion.

The pony that had been carrying me stopped and glanced back at either me or the ponies behind me and spoke. “We will be stopping here, A5 You will set up camp and set B rations for six, the rest of you will follow me to set up a perimeter.” He tossed me over the pony he had called “A5,” whom he caught me over his back and trotted over to the nearest flat area within the woods. He than sat me gently on the ground, and prepared a fire. “Where are we heading?” The only answer I got was the sound of flint and steel colliding and a flame sparked, catching fire the twigs and sicks the pony had stacked. The pony than grabbed more wood and stacked it higher, which caught quickly almost like the fire was assisted in some way. I whistled at him, a high pitched note, than a low pitched tone to catch his attention.

“You gonna answer me?” I said, but only was replied with silence as the pony set up sleeping bags, and hung my saddlebag by a branch. The ponies came back from where ever they came from, and all sat down picking through the large saddlebag one of them had been carrying. “Barrier set” One of them said, sitting next to the fire completely ignoring me. “Hello!? It would be nice for a small reply it would only take a small portion of your time of doing nothing!” I said getting irritated. “You do not speak, only listen and obey if you do not meet the expected criteria, equipment will be implemented to be sure the criteria is met.” He quoted himself with the same tone as if he had been recorded with a spell of some sort. I just rolled my eyes. They pony that had set up camp, finished what he was doing and picked through the large bag, and opened a can that had the title “B-rations” he than opened it up and poured it into a can he had gotten from the bag, and sat it up next to the fire. I looked at the food, and my stomach began to growl. The one who had been sitting farthest away from me, looked at me as if he had heard it all the way from there. “So kami, explain to us what happened at Cedaridge?” She replied with a voice that was unexpected, and also came from the unexpected individual that was with me before all of them had came back. She was a female? She looked buff and almost like a stallion . . . though it was covered in the gear she had worn. “That is of none your concern damious” She replied, serving all of them bowls, leaving two of them by her side. She slid the pony that had been looking at me, the one farthest away two bowls and spoke.

“If you are so interested in such a mare, you will feed her.” She said putting the scraps of the container away, and into the bag. “You can just leave it out or through it into the forest kami” The one closest to me said, his back turned to me. “The Terrestrial Empire would have it otherwise.” She replied, as she started eating the beans that were in the can. He spoke and mimicked her the best he could though his acting skills were horrid, that of a newborn who took up dancing class. “The Terrestrial Empire would do this, but the Freelang would do that, my word who's side are you on kami?” He replied, but was interrupted at the end of his complaint, by the pony that was trotting over to feed me. “That would be enough Damious.” and he sat the bowl next to me, scooping up beans with a spoon, and putting it close to my mouth. “I'm not hungry” I lied.

“If you are not hungry than you are sick, from what you have recently eaten. Peristalsis can only happen if a pony has eaten recently and peristalsis can occur when a pony is hungry due to the process occuring twice for the body to sweep up and regain any nutrients or food it has missed the first time around.” I gave him an irritated look as I just realized he brought me into a science class. “Are you sick miss amiable?” He said obviously ignoring my look that I gave him. “Fine feed me” I said opening my mouth, waiting for him to feed me. He scooped the beans into my mouth and went back to the bowl to scoop up another batch. I swallowed and spoke. “If you would untie me I could eat on my own . . .” They all spoke at the same time and looked at me with the white masks they had worn, with the fire symbol on it. “Captives will not be released until court-martial take place.” They looked back at what they were eating and stirred it, none of them taking bites of there food. “Like a broken record . . .” I said, though being silenced by yet another scoop of beans.

Once he finished feeding me, he cleaned my face with a rag he had gotten out of the large bag. “Your vision will be taken away for a short period of time.” He said putting a mask that completely covered my face, and my eyes. All I could hear was the sound of fire crackling and the sound of ponies eating, though somehow I did like being taken care of again. It was nice even though they were obliged to such acts. But the meeting! How could I forget such a thing! It was my one of few chances I had to catch the rat that had made me suffer for such a long period of time! How could I be so forgetful and easygoing while I pass the chance the one of few chances I had to avenge my family!? I had not noticed I was nearly bawling under the mask, though it was silent tears ran down my pelt and down my neck. I had worked my self up to a maelstrom of rage once again, though it was involuntary I felt ashamed for losing control of myself once again. I heard the sound of spoons hitting wooden bowls, and my vision was restored. He put the mask back into the bag, and they all had there masks on.

“He looked back at me as he closed the bag, and sighed sitting down next to his team and looked at the fire. The night was cold and the wind was blowing, it was enough to make me shiver since I had been left out in the cold and away from the fire. The same pony who took care of me looked back at me, and spoke. “Would you like to sit by the fire miss amiable? He said before he was nudged by the pony that was called Damious. He whispered something and looked back back at me, with what was probably a crossed look and than finished speaking and looked at the fire. “I will take responsibility for it” He spoke out loud and trotted towards me. “Would you?” He said. I nodded and he picked me up, setting me beside him next to the fire. They all looked at me, and shook there heads with the exception of the one that was called Kami. I exchanged looks with them and sat down, looking at the fire intensely thinking to myself. For a murderer he sure was taking care of me . . . he is indecisive he must be, making such accusations towards a pony he had just met and expecting me to obey his every command. Yet he was the only one who was treating me like an actual pony . . . what is he thinking? Why does he even care for me? Wait does he care for me? I thought to myself, before the one closest to me, the one known as Damious got up and laid down on his sleeping bag. I looked at the fire and the fire exchanged looks with me, I watched as the fire burning inside of it glimmered with hatred but slowly burning the one thing that gave it life and became red coals of waste, though were re-lit with more wood. As I continued to watch, I laid my head against the pony who had taken care of me.

The only thing I could remember after that was waking up on the back of a pony who had been trotting down the road. “Where are we?” I said but only received silence. “Im talking t-” I was interrupted before I could speak with the same chant from all five of them. “You do not speak, only listen and obey if you do not meet the expected criteria, equipment will be implemented to be sure the criteria is met.” I rolled my eyes once again and attempted to move my wings out of the net that carrased them, but they were only tightened, enough to make me gasp in pain. “Do not do that, you will only harm yourself and you will than be considered for the act of self mutilation, and your rights will be further restricted.” The pony said looking back at me with the mask. I felt the wires loosen and at last I was painless again.

“It would help if you would speak to me to pass the time . . .” I said obviously trying to get a rise out of them. I only received silence. “Please?” I said but still only received silence. Time had passed, hours in factually. We had passed small houses and resting inns on the way to destination unknown, until we had approached a sign that I had remembered from my previous destination. The town of Candlelight, known widely for its architecture and underwater mines, and land mines. The economy was widely carried by the trade of clay, bricks, and stone. The buildings were made of brick, and small amounts of other material for example wood and stone. I was set back nearly two day's of traveling, If there is any hope I can make the meeting in time now was to have help in someway possible, but who would help a “Murderer?”

As we trotted up to the gates of the town and entered the town, I seen ponies look at me with small grins and if they were not grinning they were laughing. I was so embarrassed to be brought back to a town on another ponies back, nearly hog tied so I could not move. I looked down at the ground, and felt my face getting hot from the chagrin, if I had to take a look at myself my cheeks had probably been crimson red. I heard the foals laugh being silenced by there parents, most likely because of the ponies who had been taking me on horseback. Literally. We trotted through the town, and up to the only courthouse within the town, usually having a place under the foundation of the building for cells and the like.

As we trotted up the steps of the building, two guards held position at the steps, both having the emblem of fire on there chest plates, though they were not wearing masks. “Her majesty orders the arrest of Amiable of the plateau.” The pony who was caring me said, nodding his head at one of the ponies who had been in the team. The pony held out a note to the guard, whom took it and read it slowly and gave me a cross look. I looked back at him with the same cross look he gave me. “You may enter, Her majesty will be told of your accomplishment.” The guard said, opening the door and standing enough out of the way for them to enter. The building was large, made of brick and had multiple floors, most of which looked like they were for storage of something, or somepony.

As we entered the building I looked around, there were two doors, leading left and right. There was also a downstairs and upstairs directly in front of the door. Of course he took the staircase that lead downstairs. The walls upstairs had been made of wood, and decorated nicely but downstairs it was only stone walls, and as we proceeded down more the decorations vanished. I was brought to a cell, but the pony that had been carrying me stopped and shook his head. “Excuse me” He said, and went down the stairs more. “What?” I replied, looking back at the cell that I had thought I was to be locked in. He trotted down the staircase once more and they ended, leading a large hallway. The hallways had small peepholes, every few feet or so, I assumed that each peephole was for a cell. I continued to look around as he trotted down the hallway, the place looked like something out of a book I would read, almost like a perfect horror scenario.

He stopped at the end of the hallway, and opened the cell. The cell was probably big enough for me to sit standing up, and was extremely small, so small that I don't think I could even lay down, let alone the thought of how dark it would be with only the small vent for me to look out at. The only light source was a hanging light bulb that flickered once in awhile due to low maintenance. “I am not getting in there” I said in revolt of the mere suggestion of bringing me down here. He replied sharply, with the same damn chant. “You do not speak, only listen and obey if you do not meet the expected criteria, equipment will be implemented to be sure the criteria is met.” I interrupted him mid-sentence with a bark “You don't talk, only repeat the same shit over and over, if you dont shut the hell up I will cut your damn tongue off.” I replied mimicking him. “You don't want me to loosen the wire for you miss?” He replied standing still and not even looking at me when he was talking to me. I replied with silence looking at the wire that had been wrapped around me for so long.

He stood there, and assumed that I would not answer, I knew this because he sat me down off of his back, and nudged me to get into the cell. “Im not a damn dog!” I replied “And if you had not noticed im a bit “Tied up!”” I added. He pushed me into the cell, and closed it with a slam, nearly pinning my tail in the door. I gasped at the sound and yelled out “What about the!-” I was Interrupted by the snap of his voice. “Those who treat others with respect, only expect to receive respect in return, and if this chain is broken than why should that pony respect the non-respectful?” I heard him step away from the cell and I quickly spoke out to be heard. “W-wait!” I heard the movements stop. “P-please undue the wire . . .” I mumbled under my breath.

The hoofsteps came back to my cell, and light was caught in my eyes as he opened it. He had a small knife, probably from the many pockets in his uniform. He cut the wire with ease and closed the door as quick as he possibly could. “You are welcome.” He said as I heard him trot off. I tried to sit down, laying my back against the door but the area was just to small, so I just laid my head against the door, and sighed. What did I ever do to deserve this? And what's with that damn pony acting all majestic? Such an ego . . . almost irritates me to look at him. But he is the only one who has taken care of me for such a long time, how could I hate him?

As I sat there with my head against the wall I listened very closely to know what was happening around me. I could hear water droplets hit the ground somewhere near me, maybe there was a leak from somewhere that lead down here? Its so boring I'm thinking about a damn leak in a holding cell, if you want to even call it that. I sighed loud enough for somepony to hear, but only received more silence. My ears perked at the sound of hoofsteps coming back down the stairs and lifted my head to look through the small hole that I was provided. The door opened and two ponies stood there, both of which were guards and had the emblem of fire on both of there chests. “It is important that everypony maintain a healthy hygiene he said as if her were some kind of machine. I scoffed at him and replied “Is that an insult?” I said, he cracked a smirk but it went away quickly. “You will be provided with everything necessary, now come.” He said, moving his hoof to command the other guard. I was pushed out, cuffed by all four hooves in a fashion that restricted most movement other than stale movements that aloud me to move forward and backward. “You expect me to take a shower like this?” I asked giving him a cross look. “They will be removed in due time.” He replied bending over, and putting a collar on me, and quickly lipped out a leash to surprise me. I jumped back and hollered at him. “H-hey im not a damn farm animal I can walk just fine!” He smirked and bent over on top of me, buckling the leash onto me, which made a loud snap. “It is a choker, making any sudden movements and you will choke yourself.” He said pulling it tight, leaving me breathless for the few seconds he let it stay.

He released it and gave me a satisfied look, and made a clicking sound with his tongue, moving forward and pulling me with him. The Freelang Empire and terrestrial empire never treated ponies like this! This is intolerable, how dare they expect me to follow there every command like this! As we trotted up the stairs, I found myself back in the lobby, which we had entered the door that was facing the clear opposite side of the room the exit was at. The long hallway had many doors, one of which had a sign over it that said 'shower department.' He opened the door and entered with me. “Soap and shampoo are both, on the semi tables, use them wisely they are limited.” He said, unhooking the chains at my hooves and stood up on two hooves, leaning against the wall watching me. “I think I can handle showering by myself thank you very much.” I said and gave him a death stare. “Oh im sure you can, most foals grow out of that when they are young.” He said.

Walking around like that is one thing, but having another pony standing there watching you shower is another. The least he could have done was turn around and respect my privacy. I had started the shower and worked up a thick suds with the soap that I was given, and I started rinsing off my body, dirt and mud rinsed off of my pelt. Slowly the dirt vanished and my pale yellow pelt was revealed. I quickly rinsed off my private areas. I used the same suds to rinse out my mane. It was rather easy due to my mane being short, I rinsed through the brown and teal almost a green teal mane the two bangs that had drooped down my two sides of my face were both notched into a ponytail. I rinsed myself off in the water, making sure that I had not missed any suds or dirt. “You are done?” He asked and looked at me Quizzingly.

I could not help but hide my face, when answering him and I replied. “No I am not done.” I would much rather waste time in a nice hot shower rather than going back into the damn hole they call a cell. And it had been almost years since I had a hot shower, it felt amazing the hot water running down my pelt, and the way it made myself relax. I lifted my head into the shower head and held it there, closing my eyes and taking all of the heat in. I heard a buckle and, the same restraints had been put back onto my hooves. “I said i'm not done.” I said, and opened an eye looking at him. He picked up the choker leash that had been laying on the floor, and tugged it tight, turning around towards the door. “We do not fancy prisoners, we only maintain them enough to be put into the process of court-martial.” He said pinning the choker against my neck with more force.

It had caught me by surprise I did not know he would do that so quickly, I had not even insulted the pony! I made a small gag noise, and caught my breath when he released it, and followed him out the door, shaking myself clean onto him. He ignored the fact I had shaken myself onto him, and trotted downstairs with me. Where I had met my cell once again. He opened the door, and waited for me to get in, as if I were some type of dog. “In” He said and shoved me into the hell hole. He took off the restraints and the leash, though I held onto the leash, refusing to let go of it.

“I will say it once and once only, let go of the leash.” I replied in a challenge. “Make me.”

He moved his hoof to smack me, which I quickly ducked and pulled tight the leash, quickly throwing it over him and in the back of his hooves. I pulled it tight causing him to fall over, and I tied it around his neck as soon as he fell and made sure it was tight enough so he could not breath. All of the while he made a loud yelp, which to my concern was heard from others. I bent over him and spoke sharply, with the same grin he once had. “I do not fancy prisoners either.” He made gagging noises and muffled yelps, I heard ponies coming down the staircase. I dragged him into the cell and closed it shut, cramming him into it, and slamming it shut. I heard a loud cry and I looked back to see that I had closed his tail in the door. I ran up the stairs, and seen two ponies who resembled guards, both of which had swords. They both stopped in front of me and braced themselves for impact.

I jumped up against the left side of the wall, and jumped off of it climbing up onto the next floor through the balusters. I climbed the last staircase and seen that the next floor was blocked by three more guards. I flapped my wings with all the power I could do without an injury and flew up on top of the ceiling, kicking off of it and landing at the exit door. To my surprise it was locked and I found myself cornered by all of the guards I had surpassed. “Get on the ground now!” One of them said, all of them pointing swords at me. I stood up on two hooves and motioned him to come towards me, which he did. He swung his sword horizontally, which I stepped back to evade. As I looked at it I noticed his weapon was stuck into the flooring, and I knew this was my chance.

I up to him, and through a punch that sent him flying back, and down the staircase breaking the rails that had been blocking the fall. I took his sword and aimed it at all of the others, showing no stop, or mercy. “Everypony lower your weapons.” I heard the voice of male tenor, I looked at the voice and he had been standing up on top of the staircase and holding something that was very precious to me. It was the doll that I had treasured for many years, the only artifact that I had left of MONICA. I looked at it, as if it meant my life, and I instantly dropped the sword I had stolen. I heard the door that I had shut on the guards tail opened and the sounds of pain stopped, but being replaced with him stamping up the staircase. I got on my knees and put my hooves up in the air, which were quickly cuffed with my back hooves and a muzzle was implemented.

“Take her to my room, we will have a humane conversation rather than what has just been witnessed.” The pony holding the doll said. His voice sounded like he was elder, he was a gray pelted pony with a black mane. They stomped off, with me in there grasp and brought me through the centered door that was at the opposite side of the room of the exit. Since I had been carried on the back of a pony once again, I did not have much of a view to look around and before I knew it was brought into what seemed like a doctors room, there was a table in the center of the room, with shelves and containers filling the sides.

The theme of the room was painted white, and the table was made of steel, which had restraints to them, and to my surprise I was bolted down to the table, and chained down to it with the restraints. They released the cuffs that I had on and left the room leaving me alone. As minutes passed I heard talking outside of the room, which quickly ended with the door opening and the pony who had a hold on the doll walked in. “Amiable is it?” He said, placing the doll onto a table directly ahead of me, probably for me to be able to see it. I did not reply but only looked at the doll. “It has been a long time since you had been caught in a situation like this has it not?” He said, opening a book and was obviously reading. “What does the Stellar want?” I said, still looking at the doll and spoke softly.

“We could negotiate through your sin towards Flux herself, or . . . we could just do away with you. It is your choice, and you are leaving us with very few choices, are you not? With your recent rampages and attacks you are nothing but a nuisance.” He said lightly, not in a cocky or offensive way but seemed to be more interested in his book when he was speaking. “I don't negotiate with the Stellar, you are all filth and could care less of other ponies” I said lightly in return to be sure he knew I was not becoming aggressive once more. “You would prefer death? From what I read in your documents you are after something, maybe we both could benefit from the negotiation?” it took me a minute or so to reply, but he gave me the time to do so. “I'm listening.”

“If you swear your allegiance to the Stellar Empire, and prepare to die for the Stellar Empire, we will negate your recent actions. This includes that you carry out the supposed tasks on a daily basis, without any issues.” He said, as he started writing down something on a piece of paper. “And information?” I said, obviously interested. “Including information.” He replied setting the pen down. I took time to think and let everything sink in, so I would knew I would make the right decision.

“Fine.” As I seen his hoof move down to the table and it vanished below the table, moments later I heard the snap and crack, of the locks. I moved my hoof up, sitting up off the table and let my hooves dangle below me. I sat straight up and looked at him, with all seriousness and spoke. “What now?” I asked and looked at the paper that he had just laid on the table next to me, where my back hooves had been tied to. “Just sign and everything will go as I explained, I suggest you read it.” He said and put a pen and quill, on the table and soon after the ink.

I picked up the piece of paper and started reading it, making sure that everything there was what he had explained. It said,

It has been acknowledged that Amiable of the plateau has been excused for the crimes of murder, treason, and espionage on multiple accounts. Signing this paper states that you, Amiable also recognize such crimes and admit to the crimes completely without excuses or alibi. As well as signing the contract, you also acknowledge your full pledged loyalty to the Stellar Empire, and will bow to every command given to you without refusal. If this contract is broken, the subject will be punished with the same crimes the subject had previous to the contract.

Lemark III            __________

“And I will be fed, and taken care of?” I asked with a raised eyebrow. “Anything you could possibly need, including intensive training to enhance your skills.” He replied pushing the quill towards me. I picked it up and signed my signature in print, and slid the paper back at him. “Good, I will expect to see you at the next discipline course miss amiable.” He said, and opened the door for me.