Sleeping was a chore all in its own; trying to get comfortable on a hard, cold, damp, solid-rock ground and having a mind racing with questions and thoughts, not to mention also on an empty stomach. The Changelings fortunately spared a few scraps of dirty and nearly-rotten fruits and vegetables to Braeburn and Cherry Jubilee each day, but nopony can live off that kind of diet for long; it was a miracle that neither of them had gotten sick, or at least sick yet. The dirty and damp conditions of being cooped up in holding cells for days, proved both a toll on Braeburn’s and Cherry’s mind and body; Cherry’s once creamy-white coat of fur was now tattered, damp and filthy. Braeburn didn’t fair much better either. Luckily, they had each other to keep company, and to keep sane.

“Ya still awake miss Jubilee?” Braeburn stopped concentrating on trying to sleep, as his efforts were completely futile. He missed home. He missed his family. He missed his love.

“Yeah I am, Braeburn. I don’t really sleep anymore...” Cherry answered as she looked Braeburn’s way, resting her head on her hoof.

Braeburn let out a long, sorrowful sigh. “I don’t know how long I can last in here miss Jubilee. I miss everypony so dang much.”

“Me too.” Cherry sounded just as beat-down as Braeburn, feeling completely helpless and troubled.

“Ya think we’ll ever see anypony again?”

Cherry choked as she started to cry, “I really try not to think about that, Braeburn. Part of me says yes, while the other terrible reality is that nopony will ever find us here.” Cherry broke down and cried.

Braeburn wobbled weakly to his hooves, and trotted to the barred wall separating the two cells. “Well at least we have each other miss Jubilee.” Braeburn lied back down on his stomach and sighed, “I would’a gone crazy by now if y’all weren’t here with me.”

Cherry looked up from having her head buried in her hooves, and wiped the tears from her eyes. She too rose to her hooves, and lied back down next to Braeburn, if it weren’t for the bars of the cell separating the two. She extended a hoof through the space in the bars, touching the side of Braeburn’s face. She looked him in the eye.

“I was just about to give up until you came along...” she actually managed a smile through her sorrow and tears.

Braeburn looked her back in the eye, but sunk his head and sighed.

Lyra looked at me with distress and bit her bottom lip.

I’m saying this again, aren't I? Where the hell is Rainbow Dash when you need her?

“Don’t you think we should call for help? Somepony might be able to hear us.” I shrugged, taking another look up through the hole in the cavern ceiling.

“I don’t know if anypony will be able to hear us down here Davin.” Lyra too looked up through the hole, to the freedom above.

“Well it’s worth a try.” I gasped and hollered, “IS--” Lyra silenced me by pressing a hoof to my mouth.

Jeez Lyra, you could’ve just said no.

“Shh! Who knows what kind of creatures are in this cave?” She looked around me to the darkening blackness as the cavern extended in the direction of the Everfree forest.

Now, thinking back to the day I arrived here, I remember that there were some pretty unworldly-sounding animals above ground. Who knows what might be lurking below in here? Lyra’s right, I too am not really in any position to find out. I can’t do anything magical; my horn is still gone, so scratch magic. I don’t know what to do. I feel like an idiot, and it's pissing me off! Better not let Lyra see me get frustrated this easily, that might give her the wrong impression of me, and that would definitely not be good at all.

“Well, what do you suppose we do then?” I shrugged, having no brilliant ideas coming to mind.

“We could look for a way out?” Lyra shrugged and pointed a hoof towards the darkness.

Really? You just said—ah screw it. It’s better than any idea I might have.

“Uh, alright. I don’t know about you, but I can’t exactly see in the dark.” I looked into the darkness, then back at Lyra, who gave me the ‘did you seriously just say that’ face.

Now only if I managed to have a pair of night vision goggles on me... Speaking of which, I wonder where, or even if, I could pick myself up a pair. I mean, who wouldn’t want a pair of night vision goggles? They’re awesome! Why can I picture Scootaloo knowing where I can get some?

Lyra rolled her eyes at me, and a light from her horn illuminated the cavern before us. She began to trot off down the cavern while I facehooved and started off after the green mare.

“You really think we’ll find a way out of here?”

“I hope so. This place gives me the creeps.” She answered while looking up at the tree roots growing in through the ceiling of the cavern.

Lyra and I trotted through the dark and damp cave under her illumination spell for hours.

If midnight hasn’t passed yet, then I’ve seriously lost track of time; then again, there’s no way to know for sure what time it is in this place, unless you were wearing a watch or something. And unfortunately, that luxury is non-existent.

The cavern stretched deeply under the Everfree forest, but by now I assume we’re probably long past there now. Sure, the Everfree forest was huge, but this cave just kept going and going. Plus, the humid air and tree roots protruding from the ceiling ceased a little while ago, along with the cavern walls gradually turning from compacted dirt and clay into solid rock, even showcasing some large, brilliant crystals that reflected and refracted the light from Lyra’s horn. To a bit of my relief, the cavern had opened up slightly, and wasn’t nearly as claustrophobic as it was with all the tree roots coming in through the ceiling; I almost lost my cool back there a couple times. The thought of the ceiling coming down on us constantly burned in the back of my mind as well.

Completely changing the topic, because that’s how I roll sometimes, if Lyra and I actually manage to find a way out tonight, work tomorrow morning is going to suck big time. I’m going to be so exhausted. I can’t even fathom how tired Lyra must be already walking all this way, plus holding that spell for so long.

“Hey Lyra?”

“Hmm?” she looked to the side without turning her head, acknowledging my addressing her.

“You doin’ alright? It must be pretty tiring holding that spell for so long. I’m already bushed just from walking.”

“I’m doing fine,” She perked her head up a bit, “we can take a break if you’re too tired to continue on for a little longer.”

Oh Lyra, you are hilarious. I am not going to be the one to stop us from looking for a way out of here just because I’m a little tired, jeez. What do you think I am, a 6-year-old? No freakin’ way man! Keep on truckin'!

I lightheartedly laughed, “No it’s fine, let’s keep on going.”

Lyra giggled, “Well actually, now that you’ve mentioned something, I could actually use a little rest.” The light from Lyra’s horn dimmed substantially, causing most of the cavern to fall back into total darkness. She took a seat against the rock wall, and took a long deep breath as she ceased the light from her horn completely, and lied down on the hard rock floor of the cavern.

Now this was a sight; the cavern was completely dark, other than the few bluish-green luminescent crystals protruding in from the ceiling, walls and the cavern floor. It became an absolutely serene spectacle as my eyes adjusted to the darkness.

“This world never ceases to amaze me.” I mumbled under my breath.

As my eyes began to adapt to the darkness a little more, I could actually spot Lyra’s fur in the low ambient glow of the crystals. She looked beautiful. I just stood there watching her lie peacefully, as her chest rose and fell with every breath she took.

I shook my head vigorously and rubbed my temple with a hoof.

Man, I need to hear the sound of a V8 revving at 7000 RPM to get me back on track! This world is amazing, but shit! It’s making me soft!

It took me a moment to realize that she was already asleep.

Guess she was actually pretty tired...

Then I realized another thing...

Crap. I can’t really try to find a way out without Lyra lighting the way, and the Apple family is not going to be impressed with me tomorrow, that’s for sure. Only three days of work, and I’m already missing hours. Damnit! Way to go, Davin! You freakin’ slack-ass! No point trying to use ‘I was trapped in a cave with no way out’ as an excuse, although actually, it is a pretty good excuse... Ugh I’m too tired, and given the current circumstance, I shouldn’t worry about that right now. Let’s just concentrate on getting the hell out of this cave.

I facehooved again and rolled my eyes as I also took a seat and lied down a few feet from Lyra. The rock floor was freezing cold, and it shot a shiver through my entire body. I grumbled as I sunk my head into my crossed hooves, fighting the heaviness of my eyes as I glared into the darkness of the cavern. Just before I was about to doze off, Lyra moved up and lied in close next to me.

She didn’t make eye contact, she just casually moved to my side.

Ok, now I was feeling a little nervous. Ok, should I try and move away and give her some space?

I bit my bottom lip as I tried to come up with the best and the least awkward move...

Ughhhh, I do not handle the slightest bit of forwardness in the slightest; and this isn’t even really a forward gesture! I get awkwarded-out so goddamn easily, and I think way too damn much. The hell is wrong with me?

Lyra felt so warm and soft against me, it was impossible to just move away. It wasn’t long before I gave up the fight; both against my stupid brain, and to stay awake. I fell into a slumber under the calming glow of the cavern crystals.

Celestia’s sun was shining brightly, and there wasn’t a single cloud in the sky.

“Ya know Rarity, I’m real glad I decided to come help my cousins with cider season this year.” Braeburn took a sip from one of the two straws of the chocolate milkshake himself and Rarity were sharing.

Rarity tilted her head, “How come, Braeburn?”

“Well, I’ve always wanted ta be a part of Ponyville’s famous Cider Season...” He took another sip as his cheeks flushed a bit. “...an’ ‘cause I was lucky enough ta spend some time ta get ta know ya.”

“Oh Braeburn, you’re such a charmer.” Rarity playfully cuffed Braeburn’s chin.

Braeburn chuckled as he grinned uncontrollably.

Just then, a wall of bars slammed down and surrounded him. The clang of the jail cell echoed loudly in Braeburn’s ears and blurred his vision, so much so that he couldn’t hear Rarity’s screams, or see clearly what was happening just before him. Immediately to his concern he tried to reach out to Rarity, but she was trapped and pinned down by three black figures; all grinning maliciously and laughing hysterically.

“Noooooooo!” Braeburn awoke in his jail cell, only to be greeted by the damp darkness of the cavern prison. He jumped to his hooves and angrily shook the bars of his cell.

“Let me outta here! LET ME OUT!!” Braeburn screamed into the darkness as he slammed himself against the bars of his cell, attempting to break free.

After a few minutes of screaming and trying to escape, Braeburn fell to his flank and covered his eyes as he started crying.

His struggle had awoken Cherry Jubilee in the cell next to his, and she trotted over to the cell wall separating the two. Braeburn was just close enough for Cherry to reach through the bars and rest a hoof on his shoulder.

“Braeburn, it’s ok. It’s going to be ok.” She tried to comfort the stallion breaking down before her.

Braeburn lifted his head up from the rock ground and took a deep breath as he faced the kind mare in the cell next to him.

“No it ain’t miss Jubilee.” Braeburn sunk his head again, “We ain’t ever gettin’ out’ta here.”

Cherry sunk her head as well, “I know.” She placed her hoof atop Braeburn’s, then looked him in his teary eyes. She tried to smile, but she couldn’t even force one. They just stared into each other’s eyes with understanding and defeat as they held each other's hooves through the bars of the holding cells.

“Now where in tarnation is that stallion?” Applejack peered through the barn doors into the early morning air, searching for any sign of the blue stallion who would’ve already been hard at work this time of morning.

Big Mac and Braeburn, pulling one of the large apple juicers out of the back of the barn paused beside Applejack.

“Ah’m sure he’ll be here sis.” Big Macintosh attempted to reassure, “He’s been extra early these here past few days, maybe he’s just runnin’ bit late this mornin’?”

“Ah dunno Big Mac, it ain’t like him to run late, he even said so himself.” The orange mare stared out of the barn to the path leading from Ponyville.

“Well ah’m sure he’ll make it.” Big Mac shrugged while Braeburn wore the face of curiosity and concern, pulling the apple juicer out of the barn into the light of the morning sun.

AJ suspiciously scrutinized Braeburn as he left with Big Mac into the orchard. “Somthin’ ain’t right ‘bout you Braeburn... Somthin’ just ain’t right at all.” She spoke under her breath and shook her head.

Applejack put a hoof to her chin, changing her train of thought, “Ah sure hope nothin’ bad has happened to Davin... I’m gunna go an’ ask Twi an’ Dash if they seen him. Things ‘round here are feelin’ mighty strange lately...” AJ turned to look at the machinery and several barrels of cider stored in the barn.

“Somthin’ wrong sis?” Apple Bloom’s stroll to school was paused as she took notice to Applejack’s concerned state.

“Uh...” AJ hesitated, “Honestly, ah ain’t too sure, sugarcube.”

Apple Bloom raised a brow and tilted her head, but before she could speak, Applejack continued.

“Come, ah’ll walk ya ta school. Ah have’ta go into town anyways.” Hooking up to her cart, Applejack and Apple Bloom set out towards Ponyville.

I awoke to my usual morning headache, compliments of my horn beginning to grow back. I opened my eyes, but I couldn’t see a thing. Even the ambient glow of the crystals was gone entirely. It was extremely unsettling. Out of all the 5 senses one can loose, sight is by far the only one I could not live without.

“Uhh, Lyra? You there?”

No response.

“Lyra? Hello?” I called out a bit louder, still no response.

Alright Dav, keep your cool bro.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. I opened my eyes again, still to utter darkness. I rubbed my eyes with both my hooves, in any sad attempt to regain my vision. I stared blankly into the darkness, trying to contain my composure.

Then something completely startled the living shit out of me, let alone nearly blinding me.

Two extremely bright, bluish-white lights flashed on.

The sound of a high-torque ignition.

The roar of a certain engine cranking to life.

A very, very familiar rough-sounding idle.

As I used a hoof to shield my eyes from the intense white HID headlights, I tried to peer at the vehicle behind the two headlights shining before me.

It was Rarity; my custom GM pickup.

But here? How? There’s no possible way! It was destroyed in the crash with the train!

“This is impossible...” I just sat there like a deer in headlights as my mind raced, as the vehicle before me sat there roaring with that unmistakable rumbling idle.

I arose to my hooves, and approached the lights. I knew my HID’s were bright, but damn, I don’t remember them being this bright! I had to keep one eye closed and shield the other with a hoof.

I was now able to make out the front of the truck. It was definitely Rarity, there was no mistake. I trotted around the front, towards the driver’s door. I reached a hoof out to the handle, but just as I was about to try and flip it open, the window rolled down.

I think I’m about to faint.

I was completely frozen from what the opening window revealed.

It was me. The human me. He—I didn’t say a word. He just stared at me, holding a completely blank expression.

I had no idea what to say. For once, I have no idea what to say to myself. Just, nothing; I was drawing a complete blank from the sight held before me. Here I was. The human me, with one of my most prized possessions of my old life; my Rarity.

“Holy... Shit...”

The human me just stared through me, as if he knew everything about me. I never seen myself look so intimidating. This whole scene was just completely overwhelming.

“Don’t doubt yourself; you’re capable of anything...” The human me finally broke the silence and spoke down, “...Make the right choices...”

The window began to roll up as I heard the truck being shifted into gear.

“Wait! What choice?!” I raised my voice above the revving engine.

Just before the window completely closed, the human me smiled down, “...Take care of yourself, Strach.”

The truck took off in an ear-splitting engine roar and squeal of tires, leaving me again in total darkness.

“Davin, wake up.” I felt myself being nudged, “Wake up sleepy-head!”

“Ugh... What the hell... What a weird-ass dream...” I peered one of my eyes open, as the torrent of memories of the night before came back to me.

Oh right. Lyra and I are still stuck in this goddamn cavern. Awesome. And I’m definitely late for work. Ugh, sorry Apple Family! God, at this rate, I'm going to be buried in favors I owe to everypony before I can even get started on the first issue; getting the fuck out of this damn cave!

“You sleep ok?” Lyra sounded fairly calm and optimistic, despite how uncertain and apprehensive she felt last night after falling into this cave.

Lyra had already lit up the cavern with her magic, but not as vividly as last night. She must be trying to save her energy or something, I guess.

I arose to my hooves and cracked my kinked neck.

Ow. Guess I wouldn’t have expected any less from sleeping on rock.

“Uh, not really... Did you?” I rubbed the back of my sore neck.

Lyra giggled, “Yeah I slept ok.” She pawed at the ground, “Sorry if I came across as a bit forward, just snuggling up to you like that. I was uncomfortable... And, well... I was cold...”

And now I feel guilty. Shit. Play it cool Dav, play it cool.

“No, no. It’s ok. I would’ve probably froze too if you hadn’t have!” I nudged her reassuringly with a hoof, “Anyways, let’s just worry about finding a way out of this place.”

Lyra nodded her head in agreement, “Yeah, let’s go. I’m sure half of Ponyville must have noticed that we’ve been missing by now!”

“Ya wanna tell me what’s really botherin’ ya sis?” Apple Bloom tried to pry, “Ya ain’t actin’ yerself today.”

Applejack sighed, “Well ah’m just a bit concerned ‘bout a friend is all.”

“Why? Who? What happened Applejack?” Apple Bloom’s tone changed from concern to panicky.

“Y’all know that blue stallion that’s been workin’ here these past few days?”

“O’ course I know ‘im! Everypony knows who Davin is!” Apple Bloom spotted Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo waving to them as they entered Ponyville.

“Well ah’m just concerned why he hasn’t shown up fer work yet. He’da been workin’ a full couple of hours by now.” AJ scanned over the few faces of other ponies going about their business through the Ponyville streets, then taking notice to the taped-off rubble pile of town hall. “Ah sure hope he dun nothin’ like get himself hurt again.”

Apple Bloom bit her bottom lip in concern, also looking at the rubble pile in the middle of the town square. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were quick to meet up with Apple Bloom, immediately taking notice to her concern.

“Hey Apple Bloom, Hey Applejack.” Scootaloo greeted, “Something wrong?”

Sweetie Belle tilted her head, clearly noticing the concerned look about both Apple Bloom and Applejack’s faces

“Applejack says Davin’s missin’!”

Sweetie Belle gasped and covered her mouth and Scootaloo’s mouth dropped.

“Now don’t ya go worryin’ bout him, youngins.” Applejack tried to extinguish the fillies’ panic. “We’ll find him. Who knows? Maybe he jus’ slept in or somthin’.”

This calmed Apple Bloom down some, and she agreed, “Yeah, maybe. He does work awful hard after all.”

“Exactly.” Applejack nodded her head. “Y’all best be gettin’ to school, now.”

Scootaloo groaned and turned in the direction of the Ponyville schoolhouse. “Fine... See you later Applejack.”

“See ya at home sis.” Apple Bloom sounded just about as apathetic as Scootaloo, and waved a hoof as she too left alongside the little orange Pegasus.

“Bye Applejack! Hope you find him!” Sweetie Belle squeaked as she hopped off, following Scootaloo and Apple Bloom.

“See y’all later.” Applejack dismissed, turning away from the little fillies and lowering her head. “Ah do too Sweetie Belle. Somthin’ tells me it ain’t gunna be easy.”

“Sorry about dragging us into this.” Lyra lowered her head slightly, clearly with regret in her voice.

“Into what Lyra?” I looked the green mare in the face, avoiding the blinding illumination spell from her horn.

“This whole ‘stuck in this never-ending cavern thing.” She shook her head at herself, rubbing her temple.

Her fault? Umm, no I don’t think so. Sure, she caught me off guard when she tackled me to the ground, but still! It was probably my own damn fault for being too heavy for the ground to take!

“Hey, don’t blame yourself.” I nudged her gently in the side reassuringly. “If I wouldn’t have lost my balance and fell on my ass, we wouldn’t be stuck here in the first place. If anything it’s my fault.”

And you know what? It totally IS my fault. Because I’m a weird, awkward, klutz, we’re stuck in this goddamn cavern. Who knows if we’ll even make it out of here? Shit, I don’t want to die like this.

Lyra clearly didn’t want to agree that it was my fault, even though it totally was. I could see it in her face that she knew I was right. I suck so much. God, no wonder girls never liked me back home; I’m making the same dumb mistakes here too.

I looked down at the damp cavern floor, taking notice to how the ground here was becoming soft enough to make impressions of perfect hoof prints. Then I noticed something even more shocking and unusual. Man I must have ADD, I get distracted so easily.

“Huh, that’s weird...” Lyra’s and my own hoof prints didn’t seem to be the only ones in this cave. The other hoof prints however, we’re definitely a bit different. They looked almost as if they had parts missing.

Hmm... weird.

“What is it?” Lyra turned back towards me, nearly blinding me with her illumination spell.

I covered my burning eyes with a hoof, pointing to the ground where I assume the other hoof prints were. “Look. Guess we’re not the only ones down here.”

Lyra lowered an eyebrow and followed my hoof to where I was pointing. She gasped. “Oh no. Please Celestia, no.”

Now it was my turn to ask. “What?”

“Those hoof prints. They look like...” Lyra trailed off as she covered her mouth with a hoof.

“Like what, Lyra?” I placed a hoof on her shoulder.

“Those prints look exactly like...” She turned back around towards me, “...we need to get out of here. Now.”

“W-Wha--?” I didn’t even finish as Lyra started galloping down the cave, nearly leaving me in the darkness. So now I was both confused and a bit worried.

Lyra definitely did not want to come across whatever left those prints.

Author's Note

Oh no, cliffhanger!
Haha don't worry, Part 2 is almost completely written; I'll probably have it posted tonight, if not, tomorrow. So hang in there!!