Chapters Chains
Chapter 1 Awakening
I slowly open my eyes…My head hurts terribly. You could say, that I, quite frankly, don’t remember anything.
It feels like something hit my head, something hard…Ouch…Yes, it must have been like that, even though I can’t prove it.
I am, anyway, able to prove, where I could be.
Let’s see…A dark, completely made out of stone room, only lit up by a few burning torches. The scent of rotten flesh comes to my notice, as I see some bones lying in a corner, together with chains.
And I just noticed…I am in chains…So…Is this here a prison of some sorts?
The chains are on my behind legs and my front legs, I can’t really move, but I’m sitting so it is actually not that bad.
Even though…Why in Celestia’s name am I in a prison? I mean seriously, I usually don’t get into any fights, nor do I steal…Why would I be imprisoned?
Now that’s just great, my brown fur is getting very dirty from these chains... Well at least my light brown mane didn't get dirty.
I’m not a Pony who cares about getting dirty or not, but I also don’t roll around in dirt. I have a common sense for that.
I hear someone coming, the steps echo through the cave and the fire of the torches on the other side of the room is moving, as a pony, completely hidden in a brown cloak, comes closer.
As the stallion stands in front of me, I play dead…Or to be more precise, I play sleeping.
“Now to get you to magic chains as well, before you get any silly thoughts.” A pretty squeaky, yet threatening voice says.
“This should keep you in here for a good and long time. I don’t know how long you will survive, but I got to say, that you won’t see much from your home. If you do, you will have about one or two years of freedom and then die of elderness, ha. Suits you well, fool.”
I may not seem like it, but I could easily turn my silly thoughts into silly actions. The chains are pretty thin, but not so thin that they would be able to be broken apart by anypony. He probably just put those on in case I awake before he got a better imprisoning mechanism onto me.
To be honest, I would never do anything as stupid as this, or even something that brings me to jail, and I will find out what the hell happened, but for now I got to get rid of this guy before he puts me away forever.
My sense of freedom takes the better of me…
Just as he moves closer to me, I can feel my heart pumping harder and harder.
I only got this one chance, so I better use it right now.
He just wants to use his magic channelled by a white beam through his horn, which is also hidden underneath the cloak, as I break free from the chains with my behind legs, and jump onto him, landing on top of him, using my every leg to keep his blocked.
“I am sorry, but I got to do this.”
I am not a pony who just kills. This is pure self defence, really! I use the chains I didn’t break from my front legs, push them onto his throat as he makes weird choking noises. I look away, as this doesn’t suite me at all.
It takes about one minute until he finally settles and stops breathing. I then easily break free from the chains and move his body into a corner.
I…Will just not remember this. Everything is alright.
“Oh…Thank Celestia.” A very exhausted, female and weak Voice said.
This came from my left so I turn around and see another prisoner: A Mare, a unicorn. Her fur is brown and her ruffled mane is red. She looks very tired, and is chained up in a lying position.
She looks like she has been through hell.
“No need for thanks, I didn’t intend to do this…Why the hell do you look so…Well, you know…”
“I do know that my appearance may not appeal to any pony…And I may not look like it…But I’m fine.”
The only thing that is fine about her is her horn. She has wounds all over her body, her fur is red, and some parts of it are even redder than others. There is only one thing that overshadows her heavy injures: The way she is imprisoned.
She looks like she is normally chained down, yet a green gloom glows on from the metal.
Are those the magic chains this guy talked about? Didn’t he talk about years of imprisonment? And…More important…What is a normal and polite unicorn like her doing here?
“It may sound a little awkward, but why are you here?”
She turns her head to one of the torches that lights up the cave, as it flickers, her eyes slowly close and she begins to speak.
“I was in need of an assistant and searched for a strong pony to help me finish a very powerful spell, for which I needed heavy items. I can’t carry those, not even with my transport magic.
So I looked for an earth pony, as they are known for using the magic power inside their body for physical strength, speed and agility, to help me, and it happened that you were in need of a job.
We moved to a hill, not far away from Ponyville, as I started to plan everything. The spell was supposed to help my Grandmother and heal her from her curse, so I tested it on you. It was an empowering spell.
Everything went…Well, not too exciting. A huge, blue light emitted from the middle of it, as you started to fade in the bright shine.
Suddenly, the whole mix became unstable and exploded – even though, it didn’t do anything.
We thought of that.
Celestia soon found out what happened, as she managed to locate the crazy power of the spell. I’ve clearly overdone it with the amount of blue Chyant Powder.
You see…At first, it doesn’t look like anything happened to you, but actually you are much stronger than you were before. You can’t lift houses or anything, but you broke those chains like it was nothing.”
She opens her eyes, looking directly into my face, as her expression seems very empty, if not blank.
“And I thought those chains are thin.”
“No, they are actually standardized and regular. The power of this spell was so insanely high, that she said it would be far too much for a unicorn without any permission to just test out on somepony. Since we experimented with such strong magic, we are now here.”
I am a little astounded by how few I can remember, but then again we have been hurt a lot.
“And the wounds on your body, what is with those?
“Speak for yourself, but I will explain this too. The magic turned you a little bit aggressive as you attacked the guards, which had to calm you down. I tried to help you, but it didn’t turn out so well for us.”
Long story short, we messed up a testing of a spell and now I’m stronger than usual, and because of this huge break of the laws of magic, we are imprisoned forever. Now this is one big pile of stupidity.
“This is ridiculous. Why would they keep us away for so long?”
“The spell wasn’t allowed, okay?
Well, you got us free”
“Of which I am not proud about how I did it.”
“If moral becomes freedoms enemy, give it up. You did the right thing without being sure about it.”
“Is that so? Well, how do I get you free then?”
She avoids my sight, as she sadly moves her head to the side.
“It won’t be as easy as you may think. You either need the creator of the chains, who you just murdered, Alicorn magic or…”
“Could you finish your sentence? The first two aren’t options at all, since I wouldn’t expect Celestia, Luna or Cadence to help a prisoner, and necromancy isn’t possible.”
“Well, legends once spoke of an ancient artefact, yet made of great but lost technology of ancient times.
It is said to break any kind of magic, even the one used by royals, ancient magic and also…Prison magic.”
“This artefact sounds fitting for the plan, and like it would get the job done. But this also sounds like its hidden far away so that no pony could get it without a lot of work, right?”
She opens her eyes.
“It is nothing that isn’t possible, as it is rebuilt able. I know how and what we need…If you could…
I interrupt her, as she speaks. My eyes widen, as I take a deep breathe:
“I may be free… But to be honest I can’t just let someone starve here. Okay I will help you...But how can I get out of here, so I can get the needed stuff?
“The place is quite small, only two turns around the corridor and you’re free. The colt who you got rid off was the only guardian of these halls.”
“Well…I would go out and search for those tools I need to get you free, but we got more important problems. The corpse has to disappear. Then, we need some supplies, as this could take a while right?”
She let’s out a little smile.
“I like your ways of thinking, first things first yes. But we also need to write reports every day, as the police station would get curious whether everything’s fine or not. He used some kind of magical sending system, comparable to the letter sending of a dragon.”
“Okay. I will search for a way outside, and then come back and look at this messaging thing. You just stay here, okay?”
She looks at me with a serious face. I forgot.
“Oops. Eh…I will be right back. By the way, a few things bother me…How do you know about this messaging system?”
“Well…”
“Also…you said first things first right? How comes I don’t even know your name yet?”
Her tummy makes noises, as she blushes.
“Ahem, I’ve seen him use it as I got here…Also, I will tell you my name as soon as you return with some food, since we will have all time for small talk then.”
I turn around, as I make my way to the exit. Even though I may be free, I feel with her…And somehow, I feel very bond with her. Did she skip some things and lie to me? Are we maybe even friends? Maybe she doesn’t remember anything as well?
All I can think of clearly is now, that I need some food and will have to do my best to get rid of those Chains.
It’s…
It still hurts.
Chapter 2 How to get a job
Chapter 2
I follow the cave path, enlightened by fewer and fewer torches, as I go on step by step. A few water drops fall from the ceiling and hit my nose, and underneath the spot I got hit is a little puddle, which I avoid.
I move on, and turn around left, as I see something bright, which seems brighter than the torches, which have become almost obsolete and aren’t used near this source of light: I have found the exit to the cave.
Funny, as I thought this here would be much bigger. This means…Our cave is just one little prison? Are there more? Or…Are we the only ones? Well, time to find out.
I move outside and I'm speechless: I can see all of Ponyville from here, which means…Oh god; I stand on a huge mountain! This cave has been dug into the mountain or is natural and has been expanded to a prison.
But as I look around and think about it being a huge complex of hundreds of caves…It is just this one…Does this mean we have been in a special imprisonment? And does this mean, we have been judged for eternal chains or even death penalty?!
Geez, what have we been doing to earn that? Then again, it was forbidden magic, so this might be justified…Well…Justified like in “An eye for an eye”, right? Pah. That is some black and white thinking.
But I have more important stuff to do then gazing at the beautiful sights of Ponyville as the sun stands on afternoon, probably around 3PM. It stands right above a farm, Sweet Apple Acres if I remember correctly. Maybe I can ask someone there to give me either food for nothing, which I highly doubt as they are very nice, yes, but they’re also very lawful and honest workers and believe that hard work can solve anything.
They’ll probably want me to work for them in order to get any kind of payment, whether it’s direct food or bits.
Looking on, I see some scenery aside the city.
A forest, Everfree Forest I suppose. Yes, I can see the crazy shape of the different trees. Would a forest help me at all? Well I could pick some fruits or vegetables but since this is no ordinary forest, the fruits and vegetables aren’t edible. So, looking back to the city, I don’t think there is something else that will get me a job faster than just well...Apple bucking.
It actually seems like the right season for that. It is, however, pretty hot, which brings me to the conclusion that it should be summer.
As I am pretty strong, and got this buff from…Whoever she is, I think this wouldn’t be a problem. So destination: Sweet Apple Acres!
I look around, to the left, to the right, and then notice the shape of the mountain’s road being very unnatural: A spiral-shaped path leads down about two or three times around the mountain, and then a straight path down connects it to the grassy fields and the road that leads to Ponyville.
I move down, going while in thoughts.
Because now that I know a little more… I got more new questions than I got answered.
First off: Who is she, anyways? And can I trust her? She seems to be hiding something from me…Were her intentions all that good? Is she lying to me?
But I probably think too bad about her…We sat in the same boat, so we leave it together…Even though I just left it by that…But that doesn’t matter, I will come back and save her from it and then we are both free.
As I move on and start walking down the road to Ponyville, I come to think about some other things: What did I do, that I needed money? Did I…Get fired? I do, however, remember being a cook, and being a pony who does exercise in his free time.
Also, I am reasonable and usually I try not to mess up…So what did I screw up, that I need to work for someone just for some bits?
I guess time will answer all of this, and I shouldn’t ask myself so many questions.
I finally get to Ponyville, the southern end of it to be precise. The little path ends short before the main road, which seems kind of odd…Why wouldn’t you combine the roads?
Moving on, I notice that I’ve almost reached my destination: Sweet Apple Acres.
Since they need to buck those apples, they usually take every help they get. With a little luck, I should get some money in no time!
Looking around, I can see no pony in front of the grey and brown barn; neither can I see any pony in front of the red house.
I should probably just knock on the door and ask right away…Then again: Do they trust strangers? I mean, Applejack, one pony of the Apple family, is of the mane six. She is pretty much a celebrity. It wouldn’t be too strange if I knew her, but since I study and exercise a lot in my free time, I never really talked with any of them.
Well, the earlier I ask, the earlier I got my answer.
I knock on the wooden door and I can hear someone coming down a wooden staircase. Seriously, is everything here made out of wood? As I wait, I take a look around: Wooden carts for transport purposes I guess, wooden fences, wooden houses, wooden everything!
My to be honest very platitudinous thoughts got interrupted by the opening of the door, which revealed an orange mare’s face.
“Howdy there, how can I help you?”
“Good day, if I may introduce myself, my name is Silver Mind, and to say things short: I really need a job now.”
She raises an eyebrow, looking curiously in my eyes
“Oh well, that shouldn’t be a problem, but why do you ‘need it now’?”
I move my eyes into the bottom direction, looking crestfallen
“The urgency results of my loss of mine.”
She stops for a second and seems very confused
“Eh, what now?”
“I lost my job.”
“Oh, sorry for that…Well, we can always need someone to buck some apples, you can help us with that, if you need money.”
I look up, and answer her question
“That would be very grateful.”
She points into the house, and starts to explain:
“Alright, Silver Mind we will go and see Big Mac, he’ll tell us what’s to do today.”
…My guess would be Apple bucking, but hey, that’s just me.
We move into their house, which looks a lot nicer from the inside than the outside:
Many items decorate the walls and the furniture such as flowers, pictures, paintings and so on. They are all simple, yet they make everything look far more comfortable.
The furniture itself is mostly made out of wood, as well as the walls and pretty much everything else. We move through the pretty narrow and short corridor and get to a corner which leads to what seems to be a kitchen with a table and 3 ponies surround it. I seem to have interrupted their meal.
A red stallion, which I think is her brother, a small filly with a red mane who has no cutie mark, and an old green mare, who I think should be the righteous owner of this place. She also is the first to speak:
“Hello there, my dear, who is your friend?”
Applejack asks right away:
“Well, his name is Silver Mind and he needs some bits, so I thought he could work a little here for the standard wage”
She looks at me, but keeps sitting
She then turns her head back to Applejack and nods with a smile
“He looks like he can weigh something, so why not? We can need all the ponies we can get for apple bucking. You can start right ahead, Big Macintosh over here will show you the area you will buck.”
She points over to the red colt, as he nods and says:”Eeyup.”
“Alright, I will finish my meal, just follow Big Mac.” Applejack says, as she sits down next to her sister.”
A few moments later, I and Big Mac arrive at the fields which are bigger than I’d have imagined. Huge amounts of apple trees everywhere I can look. I seem to have forgotten, how much land they own. Also…How?
“So…How does this whole apple bucking thing work? Do I pick them each, or what?”
He goes up to a tree on the right of us, under which stands a bucket. He simply kicks it and all apples land inside the bucket.
“See? It’s simple. Want to try?”
I stand there with an opened mouth, not quite understanding how this works out, but I am willing to give it a try.
I move to a tree on the left of us, which seems a little smaller than the others. I don’t think I can do it that easily, but one can simply try, which I then try.
“Eh…Ok.”
“Just kick as hard as you can.”
I put everything I got into the kick, and I succeeded my task but I’ve kind of overdone myself: The apples land in the bucket, but my hooves get stuck in the tree.
“Ehm…Well, the apples are in, aren’t they…Hehe…He…”
Big Mac seems very surprised, and he stares at me with wide open eyes and an open mouth. He needs a few seconds to realize what just happened. At the same moment, I rip my hooves out of the holes I kicked into the tree.
“Okay…Next time, you should do the same, but with less killing-our-trees okay?”
I blush a little as I simply nod.
I then tried myself at another tree, and had to find the right strength to not knock the bark or the tree away, but still get the apples down. It takes me about 5 kicks to get it right, but then I get to handle it.
Big Mac watches me buck about 10 other trees before he speaks again, with a serious face this time.
“Alright, now that you got it right, you should be finished in no time. I can count on you, right?”
“Yes of course.”
I then commence to buck the other trees. This could take a while, I guess.
Chapter 3 As the sun sets
Chains chapter 3 – As the sun sets
So...Finally, after five hours I am done with the trees. Yes it is simple, but it gets very repetitive and boring after the first dozen of bucking. I don't think, this can be exciting to anypony in equestria.
I walk down another way which leads me to a small hill with a tree on top. I turn around as I can see the left apple farm and also A beautiful sight to behold: The sunset as it goes down behind the mountains. I sit down for a second and enjoy this moment.
The wind blows gently through my mane, and the smell of fresh cut grass is giving me warm feelings about summer. "It's still the simple things in life which makes it worth living." I talk out loudly.
"Eeyup. Beautiful, isn't it." A female voice says.
I turn around and recognize the orange mare with the blonde mane, Applejack.
"I didn't even hear you, what brings you here?"
She closes her eyes and smiles, as she replies:
"The same thing that makes you stop working. I come here every now and then to see the sunset."
"I-I wasn't stopping, I am finished!"
She looks surprised and replies:
"Seriously? That was a whole days work...Not bad, I gotta say..."
"Thanks...But what exactly brings you here now?"
"The sunset, silly. I already told you, didn't I?"
She lets out a brief sigh.
"It always reminds me of life."
I am confused...What does she mean by that? "...Could you explain that?"
"Life is portraied as a cycle, isn't it? Night and day are also a cycle, and they never end. We all will come to an end, of course, but when life is a cycle, won't the night end and the sun rise for another day?"
...Wow. My chin falls down, but as I notice that, I quickly get a hold of myself. Applejack is hiding another personality underneath her farm-mare type of character?
"The same goes for what we do. We plant plants of all sorts, they grow and they wither just to grow again another day, right?"
"Eh...Yes, right."
Stunned by her symbolism, I can't say anymore than this. I really didn't expect her to appear here, and I expected her to philosophize about sunsets to a much fewer extent.
"I expected you to actually grasp what I try to explain, yet you still have the emotion to understand, I felt it as I saw you for the first time.
There aren't much ponies around to which I can actually talk about stuff like that. But I saw by your formal manners and ways of speaking that you aren't the typical pony.
Also...You seem to have something to hide. You mind to talk about it to me?"
Wow. The newspaper wasn't lying when it titled her the element of honesty, was it...
"To make a long and not even by myself understood story short, I need the money to buy food for...A friend."
She looks into my eyes with an interested look on her face, and asks:
"So, you're helping somepony out who can't work for himself?"
"You could call it that, yes. Also not him but herself, my friend is female."
"Oh my, sounds serious. Is she alright?"
"Yes, but I need the money for food for us, for survival."
"Alright then, I got your wage here." She reached over and gave me 129 bits
"Wow, 129 bits for only 5 hours of work? Thanks alot!"
She smiles at me, and just nods. "No problem, just keep up the good work. We can still need help in the farm, repairing and stuff. You ought to help us out, if you want the money."
"Of course" I reply, and we sit there for about half an hour just looking at the sunset, as it finally is all over: The sun is behind the mountains.
"Well, I'll go back. It's getting dark, and at night it can actually get very cold even though it's summer."
"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow then."
Now that the sun has set, I should hurry as there won't be much time left to buy anything. I got some bits which will be all I have for the week, but that will be more than enough. I just hope for some answers from...Eh...Right. No name said until now.
A short delay later I finished my shopping: Some tomatoes, lettuce, a dozen potatoes, a package with bread, milk, some flour, a pack of butter, peas, a barrel filled with water, some plates and glasses, a Pot-Over-A-Campfire-set9001™ and I got some sleeping bags for a cheap price from a shop for sleeping bags which I somehow didn't notice before.
It isn't a real bed or anything, but everything's better than rock ground. Even though I bought all that, I still have 35 bits left to use for food in case we run out.
I transport all of this in a wagon which I found beside a house next to their trash. They wanted to throw away a fully working wagon, even though it may be a little old, why would somepony do that? Oh well. I also picked up some wooden planks and some flintstones, which lay down right next to it. Now that's convenient.
On my way up the mountain, I can see no sunlight anymore. The night has come. I make my way up the spiral way, accompanied by the moonshine. The wagon isn't too heavy, infact it is very light.
I finally reach my destination, and I'm lucky: The entrance and the hallway is big enough for me to just go with the wagon inside. I pull it inside and see all the torches and can smell that disgusting scent again. Also I see her lying on the floor, shivering a little.
"I'm back. Sorry that it took me so long."
"I-I'm fine. Tell me...What did you bring? That wagon looks like it's filled with...With..."
I see her being very exhausted and almost starving from hunger and thirst...She has to eat first before she talks anymore.
"You seem to be in a miserable state. Let me help you, just let me get something."
I go to the wagon, pick up one of the sleeping bags and tell her to stand up. She does, even though only barely as her hooves seem tired. I then put the sleeping bag beneath her, so she has it a little more comfortable.
I then put away all those bones and what I believe is a bag of...Something, I don't think I want to know what it is, and just throw it off the mountain on the other side of the way. I hate untidy rooms, yuck.
Finally, I pick out some of the tomatoes and lettuce and make a nice salad for both of us.
"Alright, it took a little but here you are. I hope you like tomatoes."
I then turn around, get the wooden planks, some stones around it and the flintstone and create a small campfire. I put up the Pot-Over-A-Campfire-set9001™ and put the potatoes in, together with some water.
"It certainly isn't my favorite food, but thanks...I'm starving."
She then slowly eats up her salad, but gets faster and faster the more she eats. As she finished up half her plate, she ate the other half in one bite.
"Sweet Celestia, this was so good...Thank you so much, I thought I would die a hungering death on those chains. This was probably the best salad I ever had...And I don't even like salad!" she then drinks from her glass very quickly.
"I don't want to be rude or anything...But do you have more?"
I giggle a little, as I am also hungry, I haven't had any salad anyways.
"Ofcourse, let me just get the main course."
I get the potatoes out of the water, and put the water into a bowl. I then melt some butter with milk and flour, thus creating a white sauce. I stir the sauce a little, and put it over the potatoes and voila – Potatoes with white sauce.
As I turn around, I can see her brown mane shaking as her head is aswell, awaiting more food. How long has it been that she hasn't eaten properly?
"Done. Here you go, just care it's -"
Just as I want to say hot, she bites into it and burns her tongue
"HOT!! Ouch my tongue!"
"Yes...I was about to say that. You need to blow on it a few times, the sauce will cool down the whole food when you do. Like this."
I blow three times on my plate and the little...Eh...You know, that little cloud that appears above your food when it is too hot? That. It disappears and my food is edible now.
"Go ahead and try it for yourself. Three time's the charm here."
She does as I showed her and then carefully moves her head down to the plate. She slowly takes her first bite, and her hurt frown turns into a joyful smile. She then eats everything that's on the plate, including the sauce. She just licks every little trace off of it.
"Oh my...Such masterful taste, like I have bitten into a piece of heaven...How do you call this masterpiece?"
"Potatoes with white sauce."
"You need to show me how to - ...Wait a second. I'm forgetting something once again. Am I forgetting...What did I forget? Tell me!"
She looks at me with a serious face, shouting out as it everything changed from one second to another.
"You...Wanted to tell me about how we ended up here, and what and why...Basically, everything about this whole situation...But first off..."
"First off what?"
"Who are you?"
To be continued
Chapter 4 - Identification
Chains 4 – Identification
"Who are you?"
The campfire crackles a little and some sparks of fire lighten up the room a bit more as she starts to explain.
"My name is Cyan Clarity. Now you!"
"I'm Silver Mind...Where are you from?"
"I am a unicorn from Canterlot, and like I told you – I tried to help my mother with a forbidden empowerment spell. A pony with low physical powers like somepony who is old would turn into a normally athletic pony."
She turns her head away as I interrupt her with a straight face:
"And a normal pony would gain super strength, like I did and you needed somepony to test this on, right?"
She looks at me again and talks on.
"Yes, but it doesn't seem to bother you at all that I misused you so flagrantly. Aren't you upset?"
I giggle a little, and hear another crackle in the fire, it seems like the wood was soaked when I got it.
"Not at all, I mean super strength...Why should I be mad?"
"I got you into all this trouble...The spell isn't allowed for a good reason. It's abuse could be exploited to create powerful warriors that not even an alicorn like Celestia could stop! Because of me we both got imprisoned here...I'm so sorry."
"Don't worry. You did this for a good reason. If moral becomes freedom's enemy, give it up! You did the right thing, even though it didn't help your mother at all yet.
I do have another important question for you, Cyan."
She looks relieved but still curious about my question and asks:
"What is it, Silver?"
"How do we get rid of these chains? They aren't normal, are they?"
She looks away again and seems to be afraid of telling me.
"I already got you into so much trouble, you are a jailbreaker and you helped another prisoner with food and you killed a guardian...Do you really think, you want to get me out of here and get into even more trouble?"
"Well, that's the point. I'm already, you could say screwed, so I should be fine. I could go into jail forever for this already, so whatever. Now commence your explanation of breaking you free, if you don't mind. Your mother isn't fixed yet, now is she?"
She looks at me with wide opened eyes and they become tear-filled
"Silver Mind...Thank you so much."
She wipes the tear away by moving her head down to her left hoof.
"So...First things first: The guardian I had to get rid of is gone missing for a whole day already, won't any higher authority notice that?"
"Well as far as I know, a new guardian is changing the position of the old one every month which means..."
I interrupt her with a downcast voice:
"We have a mere month time to get you out of here and to get as far away as possible. And judging by the look on your face, it will be a close call, won't it?"
She looks gloomily at me and nods.
"Okay, what do we need, and how do we get it?"
"Infact, I don't know. The pony who has cast the spell can normally reverse it, but..."
I down my head a little...He won't be able to remove the spell anymore, now will he?
"That won't be possible...I guess I'll just ask Applejack about it."
Her eyes widen alot, as if something surprised her.
"A-Applejack? I recognize that name...It seems familiar..."
"Yes, she is the Element of Honesty from the Mane 6, you know...Saved the day several times, also she runs Sweet Apple Acres together with her family. You probably know her since she was in newspaper sometimes when she won second place in that sports event and saved equestria twice."
"Probably."
She seems thoughtful. I don't know if she cares about sports, but my guess is that she does read the newspaper.
"I'll ask her out tomorrow when I go to work...Sorry for leaving you here again in this uncomfortable cave, I really tried everything to comfort you."
"You don't have to be sorry, if it wasn't for you, I'd be tortured to death by exhaustion or starvation. I'm very afraid about what will happen next, where should we go after we've broken out, what should we do?"
I think about the questions for a moment, and answer confidently:
"At the moment, I don't really know. I'd say as far away from this place as possible."
As I speak so, a mighty gust blows out the fire and with it comes very cold air. The whole room chills down so fast, that my fur doesn't even feel like doing anything, it just directly affects my skin.
"W-wow, it's getting cold all of a sudden...Applejack didn't lie when she said at night it can get very cool."
I can see Cyan Clarity shiver aswell, as it is getting colder from second to second and she huddles up as she freezes. She looks as tired as before I gave her food. She must still be very exhausted.
"Wait a second." I stand up from my sleeping bag and use it as a blanket for her. She must feel terrible, and actually, it doesn't make sense as I have to work tomorrow...But I can't just let her freeze, can I?
She mumbles something before she huddles up even more.
It can't be helped. I move next to her, pushing my body against hers and try to keep her warm by my body temperature. I don't have any other way of heating her up, as the cold wind would just put out another fire I start and I don't have any cover for it.
She just shivers a little, and then pushes her body more against mine.
The night is long, and the wind lasts for about half an hour. All this time through, I am lying next to a pony who I barely know. I sometimes start to think if all this was right...But then again it is too late anyway...And actually...I don't feel regret or shame in my acts until now. And if I don't, I guess all this was ok...Wasn't it?
As I think, she slowly falls asleep. The wind doesn't stop, but it does get a little tamer than before. It may still be cold, but I think I can sleep now, too.
I could be everywhere now, especially somewhere more comfortable, instead I have comitted crimes, have enough money to buy food and that's it, and am in a very cold cave with her.
But actually, I don't dislike this, not even to a little degreee. I actually am very glad about what is happening...I have the feeling that there will be a lot more trouble than me feeling cold. Maybe all this will fail, maybe we will just both get caught or even executed for what I've done...
Yet I think all this is right. Maybe it's because I've become insane, maybe it's because of her buff...And maybe it's just her.
I don't even know...All I know is that I'm getting tired. I lie down my head as she leans over to me a little more, laying her head on my shoulder. I...Just want to sleep now...I close my eyes, and give in to the slumber.
A dreamless night occurs, I just...Wake up.
I slowly open my eyes. I feel the temperature has risen to a degree which is bearable again, and actually: It is quite hot. Not really suspicious as it is summer.
I also notice that since it is already pretty hot, I guess it isn't an early morning but much rather about 10AM or 11AM...Which leads me to the question...Why is Cyan still lying on my shoulder?
She opens her eyes as she notices me being awake and says:
"Hey, thanks so much, without you I don't know what would have happened to me. I can't help but be grateful for what you do..."
"It's fine, really! Even though, could you answer me a question?"
"Sure, what is it?"
"Why are you still leaning against my shoulder?"
She blushes a little, and moves her head up, trying to avoid eyecontact.
"Well, it is comfortable, much more than the ground."
"Alright. But I need to make us breakfast now." She nods and raises her head from my arm. I stand up and walk right to the campfire. I put some new planks in it, ignite it with the flintstones, peel and slice some potatoes and put them into the pod.
I turn my head, put a smile on and tell her:
"It won't taste special since it's just some fried potatoes, but it will do the job."
I turn my head back to the pod and watch the potatoes. Half a minute later, my very exciting observation gets interrupted.
"Silver?" Cyan asks.
"What is it?" I reply while minding the food.
"I wondered all the time along...Why do you do all this for me?"
My eyes focus on the flickering fire.
"Why do you help me in the first place? Why didn't you run after you were free?"
I close my eyes and reply:
"I actually don't know. I didn't know you, nor do I know you now, but..."
She says with a high pitched voice: "But?"
"But I somehow have the urge of being there for you. So much stuff happened in such a short time...I lost my job, got arrested, killed someone just for being free, got a new part time job and met you...Maybe all this got to my head. But maybe, just maybe it is more than that."
I turn around, and smile again: "I'm glad how this turned out until now. Anyways, food is ready."
Everything is on the plates and I bring it to her, sitting down on the opposite side of her. She smiles back at me and then looks at the potatoes. She lowers her head and eats a little, then goes on and eats the rest. I do the same and eat up.
I will go to work now. I hope she doesn't feel too bored until I come back.
"Alright, I got to go to work now. I will see you soon."
"Return as soon as you can please...I really liked the company after the two days of being lonely on the hard ground while it was so cold."
she looks at me with a saddened face...I can't help but ask:
"Will you be fine?"
She replies with a crestfallen expression, saying:
"...I guess I will. See you soon" She tries to smile, but I see that she isn't for real.
I make my way to the exit of the room. I can hear the torches in the room burning on and flickering.
A bittersweet feeling runs through my body – On one side I helped her, on the other side I don't want to leave her like this even though I have to.
But I guess I have no choice. I just hope that the day won't be too boring for her.
This whole day long I won't buck since we're done with that. What do we do today? I have no clue.
I already arrived at the shed from Sweet Apple Acres, Big Mac lead me here. My guess is that we will be repairing tools of some sort.
"Today, we actually aren't very busy or anything, all we do is move this shed. It needs to get behind the barn, about 200 meters away from here."
"What do you mean 'move', as in push it away?"
Big Mac looks at me, neutral as always, just saying what had to be said: "Eeyup."
I simply glare at him. I am able to do this without a problem, but to be honest – the shed could break, and I am not willing to let this happen...I could however...No, or can I just show off my power to him? It isn't like he'll talk about it, he isn't the stallion for rumors and smalltalk, but...Can I? I guess I have to, so whatever.
I go over to the shed, but how should I lift this? I mean the emphasis would be in the middle as it is symmetrical and doesn't seem to have any special or heavy decoration on it.
I just do as I think – I pick it up, balance it on my back and look to Big Mac:"Okay, where do I move this now?"
Yet again he seems impressed by my raw power and also my technique – balancing such an object isn't the easy everyday task as you might have guessed already. He follows me around the barn, as he talks to me for the first time in about a minute at about half the distance:
"With move I actually meant that we both push it over there, but...Okay."
"Well, this is faster."
"Ee..yup."
As much as I have to focus on not tumbling I have to think about Cyan Clarity. She lies there and I can't do anything.
All I can do for now is try my hardest to earn money. I wish I could do more.
"Okay, that is all."
"Really? So...I get paid for five minutes of work?"
"Well...Yes. You see, this should have taken about an hour, but you just casually carried it over there so that we're finished even earlier than early. Here's your money."
Big Mac puts his hoof in a bag at his side and pulls out some bits: 31! For doing pretty much nothing at all!
"Eh...Crystal mind?"
He looks at me, as shocked as before
"Could you do me a favor and...Uh...Never mind, I'll do it myself."
He just walks away after he says that
"Uhm...Alright? See you soon!"
This is strange...His kind of facial expression looked less shocked but much rather afraid.
Is this power up really that frightening? I try not to think about it too much and just move on.
I don't buy much, just a few carrots and a few potatoes to make a nice stew. It is still afternoon, 2:11 PM says the town's clock. Oh well, I can get back way earlier this day, I bet she's as excited and as hungry as before.
I move through the rest of the town up the spiral mountain and get to the entrance of the cave. On my way, the sun shines and a slight breeze blows through my mane. Just a beautiful day.
The torches flicker a little as the gust rushes through the cave.
I get going as I hear hoof steps: Multiple hoof steps. Someone is in here. I rush towards the end of the cave but I only find myself falling over and over; the cave is still wet and I slip every few steps.
As I finally make it, I see two ponies fighting over...Something.
The left one is wearing strange triangle shaped like glasses and a red cape while the right one also has a cape, but this one's in way better condition. He also has a monocle.
The guy with the cape seems very upset while the stallion with the monocle on whose side I'd be on as monocles are my kind of facial accessory, actually looks confident and has an arrogant grin on his face.
"Hah. You're just pathetic and as late as always. I've already made my move and she's gone into another cell, where she won't get fed by freedom fighters."
"And you're just stupid to believe I would care. I will destroy every single of these prisons, you sick vigilant idiot! I'll kick your sorry ass, here and now!"
He rushes him with amazing speed and a flying kick, but short before he hits, the monocle guy moves his head to the side grabs his leg, swings it around his axis two times and throws him back to where he stood before. He spins around half his axis and lands on three hooves.
"I've prepared everything. All three prisons are finished and the empowerment will be ours to use!"
As I get myself together, I have two thoughts: Where is Cyan Clarity and why don't I have a monocle?
"Okay, whoever both of you are, I got some questions for you."
"...Who the hell might you be?"
"Dude, what the hell? Don't you see we're busy?”
"Actually I was about to leave, my dear Kraurion, sadly alone. As I said, your dear sister's gone for good, and you won't find her.”
His...Sister?! As in...Cyan Clarity? She's gone?!
A water drop hits me from the surface and runs down my face. I take in a fighting stance, ready to brawl.
“What did you do to her, you crazy psychopath?!”
They don't even notice me, neither of them does. They don't even care. Another drop hits my other cheek and runs down my chin.
"Oh, really? Actually I was about to open a can of ass whooping and drop it all over you!"
"Please, save me, the big Kraurion is going to attack me, ooh no! Take care of him, he annoys me. And take that interrupting guy with him, he's very rude."
Suddenly, a completely shrouded mare enters the arena; only two green glowing points at the position of...It?...Its eyes are sight-able.
"Bye bye" he yelled and disappeared in a cloud of smoke...Now that's cliche.
As I think about this, the dark guy rushed towards me and is about to hit me, but Kraurion seems to help:"Get down!" he yells and fly-kicks him into the wall on the left side of me.
"OK, whoever you are: This guy over there may look strong, but he is actually very weak...As you might have just seen."
"What is going on? Why are you...Dressed up like that? And what is that symbol? And..."
"Do you like it? It is the symbol of our Boomerang-Shade-Batallion!"
He points on the symbol of his cape; a burning pony skull with boomerang shaped sunglasses. I could swear I've seen this somewhere before. My thoughts get interrupted, as usual, by Kraurion.
"But first off, let us get out of here. I saw the emotions in your face, you're Boomerang-Shade-Batallion material!"
"Wh- wha- whe-...Whatever."
Way too much questions to ask right here, so I guess he's right. I wipe off the liquid from my face and follow him; we move outside of the cave as he starts to explain:
"First of all, these guys once were normal ponies and are simply called “Sinister”. We actually worked together with them and were formerly known as a group of mercenaries. One of us wanted to get even stronger, it's the guy you just saw – Braek.
We reach the end of the cave and I see the car Kraurion got here with. We get in and he continues.
His girlfriend, who was a pony, helped him achieve this goal with a now highly forbidden spell she invented; it causes your physical power to have almost no limitations at all but could cost you all your senses if you don't have the potential to control it.
Shortly after he got buffed with this, he was caught and analyzed – this spell actually isn't a normal buff, it creates a power source inside you that can be used just like the energy unicorns use for their magic. Since they're highly uncreative, they just call it magical power, or short MP.
This MP does make you more powerful as you can pump it directly into your muscles. It doesn't even feel like you'd be using magic, that's how subtle this is. No, it feels like normal but stronger and faster motion.
The problem with this is, that Braek wanted more. Since one unicorn could do such unbelievable tasks already, what would the combination of magic do? So he asked the only other unicorn in our small troop – my sister Cyan Clarity.”
“So she IS your sister.”
He looks at me with a little surprise.
“You met her before?”
I roll my eyes to the side and continue:
“You could say so, yes.”
“Oh, okay.”
We reached the foot of the spiral mountain and drove away from it but still away from Ponyville; we were heading for Everfree Forest.
“Anyway, he asked my sister and we both had the same opinion about this whole buffing up thing: It's retarded.
Obviously, she refused. For a few days, a no was enough but after a while he would beg as if his life depended on it.
Four days of begging was too much and he forced her to help him or he would attack her.
She was scared and buffed him up. She told me what happened and I kicked him out of our group. His girlfriend followed him, as did two other ponies from our group and separated. Since then he tries to force unicorns to work for them as some kind of buff machines and throws them into prisons which he hides everywhere around Equestria. I don't know what he does, but he does want more power. I guess he has one big base and just fills the prisons with unicorns before he visits them or something.”
In the middle of Everfree forest we reach a tree which has a face carved in it. It has a red aura to it, as if it would shine like that on the inside. He looks around carefully, then knocks against the tree six times in a melodic way, which opens a door. It leads to a small room with nothing in it.
“Follow me.”
I do as he says and go into the room. The door shuts and everything lights up in a red light, which would explain the red gleaming.
“Uh...Where are we?” Just as I say that, the floor starts moving down.
“Oh...An elevator!”
“My sister was working normally again, but she called me on a regular basis. Someday she got abducted by some of Braek's minions and fortunately she could use her magic to talk to me. I tried to save her, and I did track down and defeat those guys, but Braek showed up himself, knowing who he just captured and just knocked me back and ported the whole wagon away. You seem to have been in the same wagon, as there was someone else in there, too. What were you doing? I mean...You're not a unicorn, are you?”
“I've been unconscious for quite a while...So I don't know. I've been told that I gained a power-up-spell that your sister trained for her grandma so she could walk again.”
“And she got you as a test example with that story, right?”
“Yes! - Wait, story?”
The elevator moved on and on and seemed to have no end at all.
“She made up this story so she had someone to test this on. We needed to know what exactly this power-up-spell does to someone. She's been looking out for statistics and wanted to do research regarding this spell even though it's been declared illegal shortly after we told the police ponies what happened with Braek and what could happen and I...
Well, let's say the police search just wasn't fast enough for me. I was tracking down Braek on my own, and I actually think I got his base.
But first, let me introduce you to our crew.”
Okay. This guy's actually a lot more than hot blooded fighting, but it still feels awkward that Cyan's his sister. I do know one thing...I will save her.
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Chapter 6 The Boomerang Shade Batallion - Kick reason to the curb and aim for the impossible!
"Alright. We're here." Kraurion declares. The elevator moving down lead us to a comfy room with bright, inviting lights, a red couch and several monitors and blackboards showing data of missions and people, groups and targets.
"To sum us up, we're a group of people who'd do almost anything if the price is right and if we're fine with the motives of our client. Usually this involves getting a little mud'n'blood on your hooves. Currently we don't really take any requests as we're trying to stop that monocle wearing arrogant prick of a colt."
"I see." We go over to the couch and sit down. A green maned unicorn turned around sitting in front of one of the monitors. "Which, in my opinion, is a stupid idea as we're not getting a single buck out of this!"
"Oh yeah, that's one of the members who didn't join that idiot." Kraurion mutters in a slightly annoyed way.
"The name's Crint and you're another mouth to feed, aren't you? Just what we need." He turns back to the monitor and focuses his magic on the computer infront of him.
"Good day to you aswell, I guess." I turn to Kraurion who whispers:
"He' a little worried about the financial situation we're in, so..."
"Don't worry, I work at Sweet Apple Acres and that's more than enough to feed myself." I interrupt Kraurion with a slight grin in my face.
"He stops hitting the buttons infront of his monitor with his magic for a few seconds, proceeds to stand up, goes to the elevator without making eyecontact with me or Kraurion and leaves while saying:
"Good on you. I'll go catch some air." After that he goes up.
"Uhm...Is something wrong with my workplace? Is it too muddy for him?"
Kraurion looks at me with wide opened eyes. "I...Didn't know that." His face clearly tells he's worried but he goes over to a fake smile: "Well, that's good for us, atleast we don't need to carry you through this!"
He laughs out loud and whole heartedly.
"Yeah...Great, I know."
He goes over to a crate filled with notes as he tries to put them away while blocking my field of view.
One of the notes had detailled information about Sweet Apple Acres on it which were crossed out.
"Ok, since I want to help you I need you to trust me." Kraurion says while putting it away quickly.
"Why?"
"Well, if we're to work together we-"
"Not that. Why are you planning an attack on Sweet Apple Acres?" I yell while standing up
"Listen, it's compli-"
"If you try to harm any of the ponies living there I will make sure that you will never be able to stand or even think again, so you better think of a good reason right now and stand for having assault plans on this place and you better think of them fast and stand your ground truthfully! Otherwise-"
"Listen for a freaking second already!" Kraurion yells as he stomps his hoof on the ground, making the whole place shake a little.
He then deeply breathes in and out.
"Sit down. I'll explain."
We sit down again.
"Ok. First of all, Crint worked there once. He was just a part time worker, just like you and he was together with Applejack, who you probably know."
"Was?"
"Well, something went wrong and they broke up. Shortly after that, we got an unknown client which told us to 'lift the secrets of Sweet Apple Acres'. I still have no idea what that means, I only know that Crint was more eager about this than anything else. He never told me why they broke up and what secrets were meant or who the client was." Kraurion tells me with a crestfallen expression.
"But why was it crossed out?"
"Well...After being sleep deprived by thinking about it, my sister had a talk with him and told him that it was ok to hate and it was ok to be mad at somepony for doing something but that he should not hang on to his grief forever. Something like that, and thus he took a pencil, crossed out the plans and threw them in this crate where we keep those."
"...I might have to apologize to him."
"No, no. Don't. If anything he'll apologize to you." Kraurion says with worry in his face.
"Why is that so?"
"I can relate to him - he probably thinks he almost deprived you of your workplace and mayby someponies you got to like since he almost did whatever to them."
"So...What else should we do?"
"Let him be for a while. We two need to think of a way to locate Braek and how we can stop him. That needs to be done fast as his power grows by the minute."
"Kraurion?" I ask with a worried expression.
"Hm?"
"Did you recieve this magical majigger which your sister studied on?"
"I did. I was one of the first ponies she tried it on. I told you she tested this on ponies whom she lured in by saying her grandma needed that, right? Well, before she gave that buff to everyone of the Boomerang Shade Batallion. Why do you ask?"
"Well, then we might stand a chance, but realistically..."
Kraurion stands on his rear legs, points to the surface and yells:
"Kick reason to the curb and aim for the impossible! That's how we roll and that's how we will keep rolling! We can do this, together!"
"I sure hope we do."
After evaluating the situation, searching through notes, Kraurion notices something.
"Hey, Silver, look at this!"
He points at the screen which shows a small house with several mountains in the background.
"..Wait, I un-did the zoom. Here!"
After a three stepped sequence of enlarging the part, a small cave entrance reveals itself. You can't see a lot, but you can see weak light emitting from the inside.
"We've had a job for the people in this house - repair some stuff and help them out, get a good price and some food for it and only now I notice that in these mountains there's another cave. It must be his!"
Kraurion smirks and continues
"We need to check this out!"
"Ofcourse, but where is it? Also, shouldn't we prepare or something?"
"The only thing you need packed and loaded is your muscles! Let's go right away!"
Kraurion rushes to the exit as I stop him:
"And what's with Crint?"
Kraurion cancels his charge and abruptly stops.
"...You're right. Let's look for Crint and tell him."
We go into the elevator which takes us upward. The red light flickers yet again as the metallic plaform moves skyward.
"Hey, Kraurion."
"Yeah?"
"Is...That your real name?"
Kraurion giggles and proclaims:
"Well, yes and no. My and Cyan's parents were dead since I can think. I never got to know them, so I never got to know my own name. Later on I saw a toy - a crazy robot. I wanted this thing so badly. One thing led to the other and I named myself after the toy."
That's actually very sad. I didn't know that. Come to think of it, Cyan never told me anything about her past, did she?
"I guess a similiar story comes from Crint's name, right?"
Kraurion looks away and sighs as he goes on:
"Yup. Actually, the same goes for everyone in the brigade. My sister's the only one with a last name because she loved the color of the sky so much that I named her cyan as a nickname once. After that, that was her name."
"You mean it is her name."
Kraurion still avoids looking me in the eye.
"Hey, I already know a lot but not everything about you, one of those things being your mantra. Repeat it, come on."
"...Kick reason to the curb-" He stammers as I interrupt him.
"You're not even trying. Come on, scream! Shout it out! Believe in yourself!"
"Kick reason to the curb and do the impossible!"
"Now that's the spirit. Now let's search for Crint and then for Braek!"
"You're right. You're absolutely right!"
Just as he says that, the elevator begins trembling.
"What the-" A falling stone disrupts Kraurions sentence.
"We should leave, now."
"Well, where?"
I get up on my rear legs, put my hooves between the two doors and rip them open, then proceed to punch a hole in the tree's bark and then dig through the ground with my bare hooves.
It only takes us about 30 seconds to reach the surface.
"Wow, that was some quick thinking there. Good job! But...What was that?!" Kraurion says as he turns around and - to his surprise - see the tree being chopped down by a huge, monstrous creature with 3 heads, one of each being a different animal - a chimera of sorts.
"Hey hey hey HEY! You dare to attack the Boomerang Shade Batallion's hideout? Must be your unlucky day to stumble upon its great, tenacious leader! The one and only Kraurion!
Who the hell do you think I am!?"
He yells while stomping the ground repeatedly.
The chimera stands tall, almost as tall as the tree it hacked away with only a few strikes.
"Are you out of your mind? Stop blabbering and attack!"
"True men fight face to face and announce themselves properly!"
"And idiots get themselves killed while uttering nonsense. Move aside."
I slowly move forward onto the chimera. It's paws are those of a lion, just as one of its heads is while two of the other heads are the ones of snakes.
"Dear fellow, you don't look like the kind that can be reasoned and while you're quite interesting, I will beat you up now. We kind of needed that elevator, you know."
I say and jump into the air and charging forward onto the chimera, punching it right between the eyes.
The damage is clear - the beast holds its wound with both paws while standing on its rear legs and thus opens up for a follow up.
"You're wide open, you know that?" I proclaim as I jump again, this time kicking the monster into the stomach, following up with a flurry of punches that make the creature fall over in defeat.
"That was easier than I thought. Well, that's over."
"It isn't." Kraurion says.
"Could you stay in character just for five seconds please? You're really confusing me with your changes of heart you know that?" I hissed at Kraurion without bothering to turn around.
"How about you stop talking and turn around instead?!" He dictates. I do as he says and see the whole other half of the forest in the distant ablaze. Dozens of these creatures I just beat roam around, burning and destroying everything.
"Wh...What?" I yell as I realize the implications of the situation at hand.
"We can't go back now I guess. Our elevator's done for. Let's go directly for Braek's base, I bet this is his doing." Kraurion commands with a straight face.
"And just leave this all behind? What about Crint?"
"Do you seriously think he survived this? You could manage one of these easily, yeah, but if three or more attack you, what then, huh!?" He screams and turns around, with tears in his eyes.
I stop for a second, just...Realizing.
"...I didn't know him at all. I'm sorry."
"It's fine. This monster is going to pay for that!"
That was the last I would hear from him before he just started moving after a while. I follow him, not knowing what will come or what can happen.