In The End

Insane

That is what this plan is, Shadow thinks to himself, Insane. Night Shade had led the trio to the old ponyville ruins where they worked out this plan. Night Shade told Shadow the only way he could get into the slaver nest would be if he were a slave. It was risky since only Shadow could go in leaving the rest of the group blind to whether or not Shadow survived and could get out. They agreed that if Shadow did survive getting in they would meet him on the east side of the slaver nest and if he didn't arrive there within two days they would assume he was out of action and they woule send in somone after him. Night Shade rode atop Shadows Mustang holding a chain connected to a collar around Shadows neck. Quantum and Sonata also held chains connected to the collar and in addition to that Shadows hands and feet were chained together. They decided Shadow would just wear his hoodie but without his shoulder holster and arm band where he clips his knife to. They lead Shadow to the front of the nest where three people stood watch over the rest of the camp.

"Looks like we got some fresh meat boys!" A girls with black hair and grey skin says as the four approach." ohhhhh looky here! We got another bright one fellas!" She calls back as Sonata pulls back Shadows hood showing his bright orange hair.

"We want at least one hundred bits for this one!" Quantum says as if he did this all the time.

"Deal." The grey girl walks up to Quantum allowing Shadow to get a better look at her. She has dark circles under her eyes and a long scar across her face. She looked to around her late twenties. Two men come out from behind her as she hands Quantum the money. They take the chains and lead Shadow through the gates.

"Lets go!" One with dark green skin says yanking the chain.

"Hey you don't touch that one till im done with him!" The grey girl yells after the green one.

"He'll be in the lockup till you're finished." The green skinned man says as he leads Shadow deeper into the nest. They arrive at a door marked holding. The man opens the door and throws Shadow inside then slams the door behind him leaving Shadow in almost complete darkness.

Outside the grey girl is questioning Quantum about the "Slave" he sold them.

"Is this guy going to be any trouble?" She asks with a raised eyebrow.

"No didn't you see him?" Quantum asks.

"I saw you leading him in with a steel collar around his neck and his hands and feet cuffed." She growls.

"As long as you keep him on maud he'll be fine!" Sonata pipes up. Quantum glares at her." What? did i say something?"

"Alright then thank you for you buisness." The grey girl says turning and walking back into the camp.

Shadow sits on a dirty matress in a shadowy corner of the room waiting. The front door creaks open and the grey girl walks in with a wicked smile on her face. She hasn't seen Shadow yet so Shadow attempts to sneak up on her by staying close to the wall and edging towards her slowly. Shadow sneaks up until he is right behind her but before Shadow even takes a breath she spins around and jabs Shadow in the neck with a syringe. Shadow stumbles back into the wall holding his neck. She walks slowly towards him with an evil smile on her face and a malicious look in her eyes.

"Well, well, well." She says kneeling down. Shadow tries to move but a wave of dizziness overtakes him and he falls flat on the ground. She yanks his hood down and pushes him against the wall." trying to sneak up on me eh? Bad boy!" She says slapping Shadow. Shadow tries to swing at her but only succeeds in falling forward and slamming his face into the ground." Now I bet you are wondering what I just injected you with, right?" She says flipping him over and smiling at him as his eyes go out of focus." It's a little drug thrown together by some genius a couple years ago. Its called maud after the inventor maud pie. She believed the key to surviving was to die so she made a drug that would basically render the user helpless. It throws off you vision, sense of balance, and in some cases it causes you to pass out. She went on a killing spree once she perfected it. But now everyone around equestria just uses it to apprehend and control slaves. The only problem about it is that it becomes extremly addictive after the first use." She grins as Shadow tries to crawl away. She walks over to Shadow and flips him over." You are going to be mine for the next three hours buddy! so I suggest you get comfy!" She whispers as Shadow loses conciousness.

Outside Quantum, Night Shade, and Sonata gather on the east side of the slavers nest.

"Do you think he's alright?" Night Shade asks as she hops off of Shadows mustang.

"He survived being bitten over twenty times by an entire horde of ravenous, vicious, blood thirsty infected phsycopaths. I think he's fine." Sonata says with a smile as she sits down on a rock.

"Yeah...."Quantum says sitting next to Sonata.

Back inside the nest Shadow is carried out of the holding cell and tossed into the slave yard. Shadow groans as he wakes up. He sits up and looks around the large fenced in area where several other men and women sat around in chains with blank looks in thier eyes. Shadow stands up and stumbles over to a pile of broken stone steps where a statue once stood. Shadow climbs to the top and begins yelling.

"SUNSET! SUNSET SHIMMER!" He does this for twenty minutes but recieves no answer. Shadow collapses and tumbles down the steps to the ground. Shadow can feel the withdrawls begining. Shadow doesn't know how long he lays there but he hears someone walking towards him. Shadow looks up to see an all to familiar face." You.....SON OF A BITCH!" Shadow stands up and drags him to the ground and begins slamming his fist into his face." YOU SHOULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF HER! YOU BASTARD!" He yells as he continues to punch him." YOU WERE MY FRIEND AND YOU MADE THE WRONG CHOICE YOU BASTARD!" Shadow is thrown off of him and held down to the ground." Let me go!" Shadow yells.

"Shadow calm down!" Red June yells.

Shadow stops struggling and looks at her. She has only been out here for two days and she already looks like shes been out in the world for years. Her red skin has become dark and dirty and her hair has all but lost its bright cheerful green color.

"Red?" Shadow asks.

June smiles and gets off of him. She stands up and holds out her hand. Shadow takes her hand and stands up. He walks over and glares down into the face of Close Cut. He looks back up at Shadow expecting him to kick him. Shadow holds out his hand and helps Close cut to his feet. His tan skin is a darker light brown now and his once blonde hair is now full of grease and grime. All three of them walk to a corner of the fenced area where they all sit down around a barrel with a fire inside of it. The sun has begun setting throwing long shadows over the slave pen. The temperature gradually dropped making the three hudle close to the fire. Shadow still had his hoodie but he didn't seem to need it as he wasn't feeling cold.

"Its really good to see you Shadow." June says as Shadow hands her his hoodie.

"Well I'm glad to see a familiar face in this godess forsaken wasteland." Shadow says.

"How did you get out of there we saw you get swarmed before we left!" Close says.

"Well the thing is....I'm immune." Shadow says showing them he bite scars on his arms and neck.

"Wow!" June says taking his arm and looking closely at his scars.

"Yeah wow...." Close says.

"Now....I want to know where Sunset Shimmer is." Shadow asks.

"We tried to save her Shadow we really did but....." June puts her head down.

"A day or two ago a couple of merchants came by looking for something....exotic to bring to someone in manehattan....when he saw Sunset Shimmer.......we tried to fight but we were having withdrawls Shadow! We could barely stand! At least none of the slavers got to her.....They did a number on June and that grey bitch wouldn't leave me alone." Close says. June stares at the ground letting tears fall freely from her eyes.

Shadow puts a hand on her shoulder." I'm sorry Red." He says. She nods and wipes away the tears." where is everyone else?" Shadow asks looking around for any familiar face from The Compound.

"They were all hauled off to the fight pits." Close says.

"Fight pits?" Shadow asks.

"Thats where everyone who isnt being sold is sent. They send two into an arena and they fight to the death. Its horrible.....and most don't come back....in one peice at least." Close says shaking his head.

"What do they fight with?" Shadow asks as a plan begins forming in his mind.

"machetes, knives, sticks. Whatever the spectators throw into the ring really." Close says

"I know how we can get out of here!" Shadow says grinning.

"How?" June asks.

"Ok so am I right to assume the arenas are to the east of this camp?" Shadow asks.

"Yeah I guess it kind of is....why?" Close asks leaning forward.

"I have three people on the outside waiting for me. They could to break in here guns blazing and give us a distraction so we can all slip away!" Shadow says." We just have to get into that fight arena and get a message out to them!" He says.

"I get you are excited but i dont see how this is going to work." June says.

"are there any slavers who patrol inside here?" Shadow asks looking around.

"Just one. He comes in to hand out food in the afternoons." Junen says.

"Where does he get in?" Shadow asks.

"Well SHE comes in through that door." June points to a large metal door which replaced what must have once been a wooden door on what was once was a shop called carousel boutique.

"Alright we have two days before they leave. Lets hope this works." Shadow says with a grimace as the light from the fire flickers across his face.