Chapter 2 Aftermath

As a young filly I'd always had this romantic fantasy that some day, I'd be swept off my hooves, fall in love, have a beautiful wedding and that my first time with a stallion would be something magical. No such luck. That dream had been completely robbed from me. Pain, humiliation, those were bad enough, but it was the loss of something deeper that stuck with me.

If I'd had enough tears to wash away all that pain, I would have shed them, but my tears eventually dried up and I simply endured it. I thought about home, trying to imagine the blossoms on my tree's and the feel of the sun on my fur. It wouldn't be the last time I'd envision all of that just to get through a difficult moment. I was determined not to let this destroy me. I held on to every piece of dignity inside myself. 'You won't break me' I mentally projected to the earth pony slaver who was holding my chain.

I was covered in the smell of the stallion who'd just raped me and desperately wanted to scrub it off! He'd made the experience far from pleasant. The more I'd protested and struggled the more he seemed to like that. By the end of it I felt so much less like myself. Even when he got off me, it was like his presence lingered, looming over me like a dark shadow that would follow me forever. Nothing would ever take back what he had taken away.

"Get up" he finally ordered, pretty much dragging me to my hooves by the collar. My injured wing stuck out from my side, distorted and twisted in an unnatural way. Several of my lovely light blue feathers were missing and at a glance, I could see the broken ends of the bones pressing against my skin. It still throbbed and I was unable to move it back to my side. The slaver yanked it in cruelly and then proceeded to tie both of my wings to my sides with ropes. He ignored my protests and cries of pain. Stupid earth pony! Didn't he realize I couldn't fly with just one? Probably not. Surface ponies weren't suppose to be all that intelligent. Not according to what I'd been taught. Probably brain damaged from too much radiation or something. I had a pretty low view of non pegasi back in those days.

The slaver then attached a chain to the collar around my neck and began to lead, and at times dragged, me along behind him. Earth ponies were so much heavier than pegasi, and this one was quite big and strong, I had no chance to pull back and resist. During the course of our travels he informed me that my new name was 'Brood mare' since that was now all I was useful for. He seemed to think that my foals would be more valuable to sell considering pegasus slaves were rare. Stupid Earth pony! I was no genetics master but even I knew that earth ponies were the dominant race and chances were that the majority of the foals would not inherit the double recessive gene. They'd most likely be wingless. My heart felt saddened at the thought of my own foals being bred and sold for slavery.

I trudged along behind him, watching as the mud covered my hoofs. I was not use to feeling it clog up under them. Gravel and clay embedded itself into the nooks and crannies of my hooves, making it difficult to walk. I stumbled a few times but he kept dragging me forward, seeming to navigate the terrain with no difficultly himself.

We were heading towards what appeared to be some kind of settlement. I could see the silhouettes of the buildings on the horizon. On the outskirts there were a group of run down sheds with boards barely nailed together to keep them standing. In front of one of these, was what appeared to be three ponies. It didn't take me long to realize that the one laying on the ground was... dead!

I'd never seen a corpse before and I was completely repulsed by the sight of this one, not just because she was dead, but because she appeared to be half eaten. I had to turn my face away and hold back my tears, that was, if I had any left to shed. There was a rank smell in the air which seemed to be coming from one of the sheds. The two living ponies hovering over the body were both earth ponies, a stallion and a mare, covered in blood, grime, dirty bandages, scars and wearing all kinds of junk that I assumed they thought was armor. Old tires, even a 'danger' sign had been strapped onto one them. If I'd thought the slavers mane looked unkept, these ponies were in far worse condition. Manes hanging in dread locks and full of Goddess knows what.

One of them approached the slaver and in a voice that I could barely recognize as a pony she said "fresh meat". A crazy grin curled up on her face, revealing dirty, blackened teeth; several of which were missing. On closer inspection I noticed that her coat was bare in patches, revealing unhealthy looking skin beneath that was scabbed up by either lice or a fungal infection. The very sight of it made me want to itch myself all over.

I heard a click as the slaver pony pulled out his gun and pointed it at them both, making me glance his direction. I opted to cringe behind him, not wanting to become the fresh meat they were referring to.

"I suggest you stay back, and get on with your meal. I'm passing by with this slave, whether you like it or not." He told them in his deep, sinister voice. As strange as it may seem, I was suddenly grateful to have a 'protector' of sorts. Alone and unarmed, I would probably have become their dinner. I was neither skilled, nor equipped for a confrontation of this kind.

"Raider ponies have boom sticks too" said the stallion in front of us, pulling out a cut off rifle and aiming it at my bold protector. "It's two against two and your little slave there doesn't look like she will put up much of a fight." I must have looked pretty pathetic, cowering behind him like a frightened bird. He was right, I couldn't fight my way out of a wet paper bag.

"Trust me," My slaver assured them. "My gun far out matches yours. Take a step forward, and you're paint." He snapped his weapon into gear, holding it with, what seemed to me, to be expert precision. No saddle to strap it to like the Enclave used, he held it in his hooves with his mouth on an extension which would operate the trigger. "Don't be stupid" he warned them. "You cant' win against me"

To my knowledge, all surface ponies were stupid, had half a brain, and were crazy. The two ponies in front of me helped cement in that opinion by charging forward to tackle him; ignoring his warning. Teeth bared, eyes crazy, and still grinning from ear to ear like this was some kind of game to them. The first one had knives strapped to her hooves. She slashed at the slaver, making a deep cut on his shoulder which stained his coat crimson but he ended her rather swiftly with a quick shot from his fire arm, splattering her remains over both of us in a shower of blood.

I screamed. I couldn't help it! It was bad enough to be covered in dirt, now I was covered in pony remains as well? Before the second raider could fire his weapon, the slaver had leapt forward to secure him in a head lock. I froze as I watched, the two grapple together, unable to look away even though every sense inside me said not to look.

The slave trader threw the other stallion to the ground, bending and twisting his front leg back at an awkward angle, causing him to drop the broken down gun. This caused the raider to react by kicking backwards, landing his back hooves into the slaver and tossing him backwards several feet.

The two stood to face each other with angry scowls on their faces, the slave trader pawing at the ground and grunting angrily to intimidate his opponent. Then they reared up and struck at each other with their front hooves, squealing, as stallions do. The sound struck fear through me. I'd never seen such a savage display in my life before! Oh sure we'd had play fights as fillies and colts but nothing like this. These two were set on a battle to the death and who ever the victor was, I'd be his prize. I was hoping the slaver would win. Being a slave was better than being lunch.

As I watched my mind began to click over. 'Run Misty' a little voice in my head prompted. 'This is your chance' but run where? The township was no doubt full of more deranged surfacers. Back where I'd come from wasn't very appealing. The cloud cover was out of reach with a broken wing, and even if I could fly, the brand on my flanks made it impossible to return home. The loss of my cutie marks was as if I'd metaphorically had both my wings permanently broken. Up was out of the question. I made a random decision and scrambled to my hoofs, attempting to gallop forward. It's not the easiest thing to do when your legs have been shackled together. I fell right on my face, into the dirt. Scrambling back up, I starting off more carefully at a trot instead.

Before I had gotten very far, I felt a sharp zap go through me as my slave collar lit up in a spark of magical energy, causing me to reel to the ground in pain. As a pegasi, I didn't know that much about magic, but I knew what lightning was from bucking rain clouds just for the fun of it. The zap I'd felt, was most assuredly lightning in nature. An electric shock? Glancing back, I saw the slaver pony approach and slam his hoof down on the trailing chain that acted as my leash.

"Not thinking of escaping, are you?" He asked, his deep voice seeming to resonate and threaten me to the very core of my being. In his hoof, I noticed that he held some kind of device that I didn't' recognize. It ebbed with a magical aura. I could only assume that the source of my zap had come from that device. "If you stray too far, there is also a bomb fitted to you, so I'd suggest sticking close by me, unless you want to join the raiders as red paint."

Glancing past him, I could see the remains of the two raider ponies lying on the ground in a sea of red. Yes, they'd wanted to eat us, but I still didn't like seeing them that way. It was obvious that the slaver pony was an adept fighter that I couldn't possibly hope to contend with. As much as I'd been grateful that he'd protected me from being eaten... I also feared him. I lowered my gaze to the ground rather than look at the remains of the ponies, only to have my chin jerked back up by his hoof as he glared into my eyes.

"No more attempts to escape." He warned me. "You belong to me Broodmare, Is that clear?" I said nothing, which apparently was the wrong answer because he struck me across the face with his hoof, leaving a welt under my eye. "Is that clear?"

"Yes" I answered feebly, only to be struck a second time, causing me to squeal and cower down in front of him.

"You say, yes Sir or yes Master" He instructed. Neither option sounded appealing to me, but I picked what I believed to be the lesser of the two evils and muttered,

"Yes Sir"

I immediately hated myself for saying it. Was I this easy to break down? I was a proud pegasus, raised with high standards, an upper class citizen who was far above this filthy damn dirt dweller. Could my pride be taken away so swiftly with out much of a fight? Two nasty smacks across the face had served as a reminder that yes I was that easy, but the rapid beating of my heart told me 'no, you're just going to survive and bide your time till an opportunity presents itself.'

As I battled with my own thoughts I felt a tug at my leash as the earth pony continued down the road, dragging me with him. What was left of my pride and self worth, I buried deep inside me for safe keeping.

We came to a small township where I laid eyes for the first time on bedraggled surface pony citizens. Most of them skinny, all of them pretty dirty and poorly dressed in the remains of what I assumed use to be clothing. Most of them didn't appear very happy with their lives. It was like a dark cloud of depression was over this city. Each pony just going through the motions of life, taking one day at a time. It's true I did not like surfacers, but I couldn't help but feel sorry for these ponies.

Several of the ponies were milling about near a huge body of water. I'd never seen that much water collected all in one spot before. I could hear the lap of waves splashing against the sides of the dock but even more fascinating, was a small vessel floating upon the rippling water. I'd also never seen a boat before. It was nothing like the Enclave sky ships. It was much smaller, made mostly of rotting wood, and this particular one was in very bad repair, paint peeling from the sides and looking like it had seem much better days.

Much to my dismay, I was led onto the boat. I was taken below deck and then thrown into a cage like a piece of cargo. The slaver locked me in and ascended back up the stairs. I was glad to see the back of him for a while.

It wasn't a very big enclosure, but I didn't feel like standing anyway. I lay on the cold floor miserably trying not to relive all that had just happened to me. "Stop thinking" I told myself. I kept my eyes shut in an attempt to block it all out.

Despite that I still had my cloak on, it had been left draped up over my back, leaving my brands to air. Despite being tied to my side, the broken right wing still jutted out, twisted in an awkward way. I struggled to move my other wing, feeling it start to cramp up, the ropes digging in to me. I didn't notice the mare in the cage right beside me, but she had apparently noticed me.

"That injury looks bad" she said, her voice low and gentle. I reluctantly opened my eyes to look at her. She was a sandy colored earth pony with a cream mane and tail which was unbrushed and straggly. She was also shackled and collared like I was. I said nothing back. Just couldn't find the words.

"It looks broken" She continued. "Did Rocky do that?"

The slaver hadn't mentioned his name, not that I was suppose to use it anyway. "Sir or master" he had informed me. It didn't matter, the answer was obviously...

"No, a member of the Grand Pegasus Enclave did" Even though I'd said the words out loud, I still found them hard to believe. I'd always thought the Enclave to be honorable protectors of pegasus kind. To be betrayed by one in this way was such a let down. Everything was crashing down on me and I really just wanted to lay there and give up, not discuss the horrible past. Especially not with a surfacer.

"Slide over, let me look at it" the earth pony mare offered. I really didn't trust surfacers, but nopony else was around offering to help so I slide over as close to the bars as I could. She reached through with a hoof and touched my hurt wing causing me to wince. "Those bones need re aligning" she concluded. I was surprised that she seemed to know what she was talking about. "Your wing won't heal correctly like that."

"I seriously don't think he cares" I grumbled, referring to the slave trader. He'd dragged me along for several hours with out bothering to check it. "I don't think he wants me flying off" I concluded. Not that I could anyway... Even if I had two good wings, I still had a bomb strapped to my neck.

"You're probably right, but when it comes to being a slave, you just need to learn how to train your slavers." her voices sounded slightly amused as she gave me a sly wink.

"Wait what?" I asked, my ears perking forwards. "Isn't that a bit backwards, don't they train the slaves?" I'd already had it drilled into me that I was to do as I was told or face the consequences.

"Oh yes they sure think they do, but I've been a slave for a long while now, and trust me, you learn how to manipulate your situation. You have to appeal to what you know about them. Learn what they really want and then use that knowledge to your advantage. They're greedy and selfish, especially this one. Molthrak Rocket thinks more highly of himself than he really should. These are all weapons you can use against him."

I was amazed by how wise and knowledgeable this earth pony seemed to be. She was also very well spoken.Not what I had expected. I had been led to believe that surface ponies were unlearned and stupid but this mare certainly seemed to have her wits about her. "It's all about survival" she concluded "Wait and see. You'll learn. By the way, My name is Chamomile, but Cammy will do."

I noticed the herbal cutie mark on her flanks. I wasn't a herb grower, but I knew what they were. When you're a farmer you study all kinds of plants.

"I'm Misty Haze. You're a gardener?" I asked her, indicating her cutie mark with my hoof.

"No" she replied. "I don't know how to grow plants, just use them for their natural properties. I have a talent for alternative remedies, that's why Rocky likes to keep me around. Chems are expensive and can be very hard on a pony physically. The old natural ways keep a pony healthy with out the ill effects. He finds me useful so he doesn't sell me. I'm also very good at first aide and other medical procedures but I wouldn't call that a natural talent. Just something I've learned over the years."

The thought of being sold horrified me. Bad enough to be owned, beaten, forced to do things against your will, but to just be sold like property as if you were some object to be possessed. I shuddered visibly. The idea of using plants as natural remedies fascinated me. Under different circumstances, I would have liked to have learned more about it. Cammy seemed to be a pony who appreciated plants. The kind of pony I could get to like, even if she didn't have wings. If only weren't stuck in a couple of cages on a boat heading who knows where...

"So tell me... " Cammy queried, interrupting my train of thought. "How does a Dashite become a slave?"

Her question was simple enough but the first words out of my mouth were.

"I am not a Dashite!" I said it with conviction. No way was I going to submit to that title. They were traitors. I was not! "I was tricked and betrayed," I continued. "I have never done anything to hurt the pegasi, nor will I ever." My words came out far more angrily than I had intended them to.

"Calm down winged one" She said in her smooth even voice. "I've known some pretty honorable dashites in my time. You needn't be so defensive. With that brand on your flank that is what you will be seen as. There is no shame in that."

I reminded myself that I'd never accept it. Never! I turned my head to gaze at the brand, catching a glimpse of the apple blossoms sticking out beneath it. I sighed deeply. There was no healing that wound.

Chamomile moved to the other side of her cage and laid down to rest seeming uninterested in further conversation with this 'non dashite'. It was quiet except for the creaking of the boat as it moved on the water. I didn't mind the movement. It reminded me a little of the cloud cover. An ever shifting surface.

I took the time to gaze about the cabin, and take in my surroundings. There were several cages, most of them empty except for the excrement that had been left behind where ponies had obviously been. It was dim, but as my eyes adjusted I spotted the shape of a dark blue pony huddled up on a bench opposite my cage against the very far wall. She was not caged, but had been chained down by all four legs. The leash on her collar was latched to the wall with a lock on it. I could see the rise and fall of her body as she breathed so I knew she was alive.

I noticed that she was a unicorn, and on her horn was some kind of ring like device that I learned later was to inhibit her magic. Her lavender eyes were half closed and even in this bad lighting, I could tell that there was no light of hope left in them. She stared straight ahead, miserably, looking like the most broken down and forlorn pony I'd ever seen. She didn't acknowledge me, her stance was low and helpless. Was that my fate? To become like her? Were my metaphorically broken wings destined to become a broken spirit too?

Author's Note

After much editing, thinking and updating, here is chapter two.

The Original Character Molthrak Rocket was created by Nieroda.naidoo of second life (askNightmareluna)