Metro: Canterlot Line

Vinyl wandered along in the middle of the bandit group that had captured her, the pony holding the flamethrower had been revealed to be named “Elemental Fire” a unicorn who was once a great student at Celestia’s school for gifted unicorns but had unfortunately lost his mind in the process of losing his family to the explosion. His closest friend, the group’s leader, named “Quick Shot” was an earth pony who once trained the guards archery division but was kicked out after an attempted assault on a co-worker. And the silent bandit with tinted glass on his gas mask was known simply as “Lucky” apparently he had escaped death on multiple occasions through sometimes luck and other times at the cost of others his past was not one he was proud of, so Vinyl was told. The other members had simply been referred to as a collective, all losing their individuality and simply labelled as ‘Grunts’ and it was this group that gave Vinyl her first glimpse at the saddening life in the Equestrian Metro.

The tunnels all looked the same and Vinyl felt extremely isolated and scared, the bandits around her had not spoken to her since they stole her away from the caravan and as her mind went back to the caravan she frowned and remembered Corroded Sprocket, his determination to protect her was met with only the harsh realisation that despite him having a weapon he was no match for a group without the support of the caravan members. She became angry, the other caravan members... she remembered how they stood and watched as Sprocket showed intentions of declining the bandits demands and simply did nothing but encourage giving her to the bandits so they could resume their march to Canterlot Central. The bandit group piped up once more, beginning their agonisingly boring conversations about how much they had stolen and bragging killing other ponies. It made Vinyl sick, but at the same time sorry for the group. They didn’t fit in with the stations and were exiled forcing them into a lifetime of crime and violence gaining their satisfaction from the death of others and stealing from innocent metro travellers, rich and poor.

The sound of the stolen cart creaking as it was pulled echoed off of the empty walls of the tunnel leading Quick Shot to tell a tale

“I remember passing through these tunnels and hearing a sound just like that” Began Shots “You ever heard the tale of the haunted tunnels, prisoner?” Vinyl looked up, oh great they were talking to her.

“I’ve heard tales” Stated Vinyl simply, checking her filter timer “But they’re all just made up”

“That’s what you believe, the tales are true and you’d do well to remember that when travelling through a haunted tunnel such as this” Replied Shots in a matter of fact tone “Can’t you feel it?”

“Feel what?” Vinyl pondered

“Don’t you feel like somepony is watching you?” Continued Shots without looking at her, Vinyl thought about it and realised that she had been feeling it this entire time she shuddered and shook her head. No, she only felt that way because he just mentioned it... didn’t she?

“As I thought” Sighed Shots “We best keep moving else the thing watching us might appear from the darkness, and we wouldn’t want that would we Lucky?” Lucky remained silent staring ahead of the group, Vinyl swore she saw him shudder a little bit.

As the group proceeded into the darkness the scurrying of small feet along the tunnel floor could be heard, Shots put up his hoof to stop the rest of them from advancing.

“Rodents...” Muttered Shots he stood in silence for a moment glancing over to Elemental “We won’t be using the flamethrower for now. We should advance further, that was only a small pack of them” Vinyl had more questions now, rodents? Packs of rodents?

“Why did we stop for... rodents?” Inquired Vinyl

“The rodents are probably the most horrific creature in the entire metro” Stated Shots simply “They can spread disease quite easily and in large groups have been known to wipe out entire stations within seconds. Guns and explosions do basically nothing whereas fire kills them almost instantly you can never predict rodent invasions, that is why we are so afraid of them”

“The base is up ahead” Muttered one of the grunts to another “Rodents so close to it isn’t a good sign...” Shots turned his head and the grunts cowered at this movement

“Do you have something to say to the group?” Inquired Shots in an eerily calm tone the grunt remained silent “Then be silent” and the group resumed their silent march through the tunnel.