Wrath of My Righteous Little Ponies

The trek through the last tunnel was the shortest Gold and the others had experienced in their time under Manehattan, but it felt almost as long as their first. A heavy silence hung in the air since the discovery of the dead cultist who had been masquerading as crusaders. It was easy enough to look at Cranky to see he didn’t care about such things, but his dislike of the mongrel ponies had caused much of his haughty attitude to return. Twilight had been more excited but the grave suggestion from Snakebite that they should hold their questions for the mayor left the unicorn shaking with nervous energy. Gold couldn’t stop worrying about Greenery.

Finally, the tunnel ended in a circular cavern maybe twenty feet across. Four mongrel ponies stood before a large stone door. The guards glared uncomfortably through Gold’s light for a moment as she and the others entered the cavern. That wasn’t surprising as mongrel ponies had a kind of thermal sensitive vision that allowed them to see clearly without the slightest source of light. Greenery had the same ability thanks to the blood her draconic father.

One of the guards call out in their subterranean tongue, Snakebite answered with a bit of humor in his tone and trotted up to meet the guard. The guard was a stallion who at first Gold though was carved out of wood. His brown fur was covered in swirling patterns like the rings of wood. Long thick green vines grew in place of a mane and a large rose thorn grew out of his forehead possibly marking the unicorn heritage of his family. His eyes were indescribable, with large black irises that were the size of post pony’s pupils, with chemical rainbows bubbling around it, no whites to be seen at all. A long thick vine took the place of a tail ending in a wide wildly bladed leaf.

Snakebite turned back to Gold and gestured her forward with a nod of his head. Gold slowly hobbled forward Twilight remaining at her side as Gold quickly whispered a description of the mongrel ponies and the large door they had come to. Glancing back Gold saw that Cranky was still standing at the entrance of the cavern, a distasteful frown across his face. Gold gave him a scolding look and gestured for him to follow. With a groan, Cranky did so staying several feet behind the unicorns. Spiller and Gut Feeling moved past them to mingle with the three other mongrel pony guards.

“Leafie this is Gold Guard, Twilight Sparkle, and the donkey behind them is Cranky Doodle.” Snakebite introduced the trio, Gold and Twilight giving a polite hello while Cranky just snorted. Gold frowned at him but the mongrel stallions didn’t seem at all offended by him. “My friends this is Leafie Breeze.”

“Charmed ladies,” Leafie smiled and gave them a small bow. His eyes were even more amazing up close and Gold found herself getting lost staring into them as if grasped by a sudden need to pick out each color.

“It’s a pleasure to meet any pi-” Twilight caught herself and with a start, corrected herself a little too loudly. “PONY, um, ponies who are decedents of the first crusaders. I only wish I could still see you and your community myself.”

Leafie chuckled at her outburst but answered apologetically, “I’m sorry you can’t as well. Your friend seems far too distracted to be of much help either.” Leafie commented turning his unusual eyes and attention fully on Gold.

Gold blushed hotly and stammered, “S-sorry I didn’t mean to stare. You’re umm, very unique.”

Snakebite snickered causing Gold’s blush to deepen, “Even surface mares can’t help themselves around you Leafie.” Leafie gave a slight grin of pleasure as Gold turned hotly on Snakebite fixing him with a glare that lost much of its sting as her face remained red with embarrassment. “Don’t be embarrassed Leafie’s the handsomest of us mongrels, he’s used to being stared at.”

“That’s enough Snakebite, leave the poor mare alone.” Leafie chastised gently. “Given the things we’ve heard from you and others we don’t have time for foolish teasing. Get those doors open, these honored guests are more than welcome in our glorious Ponyville.” Leafie commanded turning back to the other guards who rushed to push open the large stone doors.

Spiller and Gut Feeling hurried through first calling something to Snakebite in their own tongue. Snakebite explained that they had gone to report in to the captain of the guard. As Gold and the others followed Snakebite into Ponyville Leafie flashed Gold a smile. “It’s a rare pleasure to get to meet someone even more beautiful than myself.”

Gold blushed hotly again and not knowing exactly how else to respond hurried after Snakebite, nearly leaving Twilight behind as she did. Leafie eyes followed her for a moment before an angry snort drew his attention down to the donkey standing in front of him fixing him with an ugly glare. “Back off colt, she’s a married mare.” Cranky spat warningly and without awaiting a response continued after his companions. He left the dazed mongrel pony behind his ear buzzing with the barely stifled laughter of his fellow guards.

Ponyville was quite a sight to behold. A small, dark lake rippled in the center of the two-hundred-foot-wide cavern, the walls and ceiling aglow with thick sheets of luminescent fungi. In the center of the lake, over two dozen low stone buildings clustered on a rocky one-hundred-foot-wide island. Lights glowed in the windows of the buildings, giving the settlement an almost welcoming look. Rafts made of mismatched planks of timber bob along the length of a crooked pier at the lake’s closest shore.

Gold looked out breathlessly across the lake for a moment, catching sight of Spiller and Gut Feeling on their own raft. Gold’s curious spirit pulled her to explore the wonderfully strange new place, but Snakebite ushered them quickly onto a raft. Gold was forced to lay for the sake of her injured leg. Cranky didn’t fair much better looking greener by the second as he sat off to one side staring fixedly down at his hooves, and tipsily scrambling off the raft as soon as it touched the shore. Twilight didn’t seem affected at all and sat simply because it was easier than standing on the teetering raft.

Once on shore, Snakebite lead them through the stone carved hamlet. Mongrel ponies of all shapes and sizes whispered in hushed tones as they passed through the streets and up to the largest building atop the island’s low central peak.

Upon reaching it Snakebite rapped his hoof on the finely crafted wooden front door and waited. There was only a moment of silence before the door was opened. The elderly mare on the other side was almost a completely normal pony, with a tan coat and nicely kept flowing gray mane and tail. An elaborate green bow held up a white color around her neck. Her face, however, was rather like that of a rat, with long whiskers protruding from her muzzle, rows of tiny sharp teeth, and tiny rounded ears. Her one blue eye was soft and gentle not betraying a hint of surprise at the sight of three surface dwellers on her doorstep, the other was a cloudy blank white orb.

“How wonderful Snakebite, you’ve brought guests from the surface to our fair town.” She said giving the three each a warm smile that they couldn’t help feel was a little sinister given how it displayed her sharp rodent teeth. “Please come inside and tell me how this came to be.”

She let them inside and lead them to a large table with more than enough cushions for them all to sit comfortably around the table and still leave an unoccupied cushion between each of them, though Twilight chose to sit right next to Gold anyway. “We very much appreciate your hospitality Ivory Scroll.” Twilight gave a nod of her head in thanks, as usual not quite able to fix her look directly at the other pony. Gold quickly chimed in her own gratitude and Cranky managed a somewhat appreciative grunt.

Snakebite spoke first explaining what had happened at the outpost, how Gold had helped them, the discovery of the dead spore cougher and the dead cultists. After that Ivory Scroll turned her questions on Gold, she and the others explained about the demon’s attack and their journey through the tunnels. As she spoke Gold could have sworn she saw the mayor’s good eye every so quickly dip down from her face before snapping back as if reprimanded for wandering.

By the end of Gold’s explanation, the mayor’s face had lined with worry, there was a moment of silence before the mayor spoke. “My kind and I may be outcasts and freaks in the eyes of uplanders like you.” The mayor paused a moment and looked to Cranky all eyes briefly following hers as Cranky who continued to frown neutrally at the rat-faced mayor. “But our ancestors helped drive back the demons in the first crusade and we want the demons defeated as much as anyone on the surface does.”

After another short unchallenged pause, the mayor looked back to Gold, “If you are willing to take this message back to the ponies on the surface: The mongrels will stand with the inhabitants of Manehattan to defend the city.”

“Of course I’m willing,” Gold answered quickly as if a second’s hesitation would somehow lose her the opportunity. “You have my word your message will reach the surface.”

Unexpectedly, rather than relief, a look of uncertainty came over the mayor’s face. “I’m afraid I must warn you that great danger still lies ahead, the tunnel that leads to the surface is guarded by a group of mongrels that have traitorously turned against the will of our ancestors and have for some time consorted with the demonic cultists. We’ve ignored them until now, but they cannot be allowed to act against the crusades any longer. You’ll have to kill them to reach the surface.”

A sudden scoff erupted from Cranky and he glared accusing across at the mayor. “So that’s what you’re after humph. You don’t like the taste of killing your own, you’d rather send a pair of crippled mares and an old donkey to do your dirty work for you.”

“Cranky!” Gold shouted angrily turning fiercely on the donkey.

“Shut up kid you’re too headstrong to know what’s good for you.” Cranky met her glare with one of his own, heavy with the weight of age and imperial experience. It didn’t cause Gold to back down but held her in check. Twilight face lined with concern as she looking vaguely in their direction, but remained silent. Cranky turned his glare back on the mayor, “Send you own ponies to deal with them.”

Ivory Scroll maintained a calm neutral expression through her one good eye did flash with displeasure at Cranky’s words. “My ponies are spread thin throughout the tunnels and those here must venture out and call them all back so we can be an effective force against the demons. I cannot offer you the aid of my ponies, but I have an assortment of healing and restorative potions which I can offer to aid you.”

“That’s not even good enough to be called a platitude.” Cranky scoffed.

The mayor let out a defeated sigh, “You are welcome to remain in Ponyville until we are able to provide you with an escort to the surface. However, I’m afraid there is no telling how long that will take, we have no way of knowing which tunnels have been blocked by the tremors.”

“I’m not going to wait,” Gold cut in before Cranky could say anything and no glare of Cranky’s could silence her now as her mind filled with thoughts of Greenery. “Cranky and Twilight can wait here if they like, but I’m getting back to the surface now even if it’s by myself.” She shot Cranky a fierce glance showing that there would be no arguing on this pony.

Cranky’s face screwed up in rage and he seethed with anger but he didn’t say anything, it was Twilight that spoke instead. “As much as I would love to stay and learn all I could about Ponyville and its inhabitants I can’t let you go alone Gold. I don’t know how much help I’ll be but I’m with you, besides I need to get back to my number one assistant.” She finished with a reassuring smile.

“Thank you, I can’t tell you how much your trust means to my ponies and I. But please you have gone through a great deal already, please remain here to rest at least one slumber before you go. I have rooms aplenty for all of you.” Ivory Scroll said gently keeping her eye on Gold and Twilight not daring to look at the seething Cranky. “Snakebite will you please show Twilight and Cranky to their room, I will take Gold to hers in time if you will speak to me privately for a few moments Gold.”

“Of course,” Gold nodded. Snakebite nodded and stood moving to Twilight’s side assuring her of his presence with a word and starting towards the stairs with her in tow. It seemed that in the tiny hamlet even an average guard like Snakebite knew the mayor’s house as well as any member of her family. Cranky gave both the mayor and Gold a last hateful glare and snort before moving to follow Snakebite.

Gold waited until she could no longer hear the others hooves on the stairs, then assured they had gone she spoke. “I’m sorry about Cranky, he’s not a bad donkey, he’s just… he doesn’t trust anyone easily.” Gold attempted to explain her companion’s behavior but the mayor just waved off the apology.

“He most definitely doesn’t favor the way my ponies look, but his objections were not those of a bigot. His concern was only for the safety of you and Twilight, I can respect a donkey like him. The place I’m sending you to could very well claim your lives. I want my ponies to join the fight as soon as we can and so I have to trust ponies like you who were strong and resourceful enough to make it this far are my best hope to get my message to the surface.” As if hearing them talking about him Cranky suddenly appeared back at the bottom of the stairs. However, he didn’t give the mares as single look as he stormed past them and out the front door as if he were welcome to come and go as he pleased.

A moment after Cranky had departed Snakebite rushed after the donkey out explaining in a rush of words that he’d taken a single look at his room and left. Gold rolled her eyes and shook her head.