The Pony Scrolls: Empires

".....Is it gone?"

"Yes. It can't attack us down here. We're safe..... for now, at least."

Iron and the other former prisoner had kept running until the sound of the beast's fury could no longer be heard. They found themselves in a deep, labyrinthine network of caves, each turn confusing the duo more than the last. Light wasn't a problem, as the walls were lined with bioluminescent mushrooms, keeping the way through clear as day.

As they walked, they began to ask each other questions. Soon enough, they'd leave the caverns and part ways, but until then, they'd have to work together, so they might as well learn from each other.

Iron decided to go first. "So... who are you?"

"Well, I could ask you the same question, but since you went first, I guess I will too. I'm Emerald."

"Emerald...?"

"Hmm? Oh, just Emerald. And might I ask, what would your name be?"

"My name is Iron Heart."

"Iron Heart? ....I like it. Sounds heroic."

As they continued on through the deep passages of the underground, they learned more and more. Iron learned that Emerald was a mercenary, arrested for denial to join the Empire's massive army. He explained that they had been recruiting stallions to join their armies from all over Equestria in the hopes of finally ending the war this winter. When Iron asked about his life before becoming a mercenary, he refused to go into it and only revealed that, whatever he had been doing had been the reason that he had gotten his scar.

This time, it was Emerald's turn. "So, now that you can actually move your tongue, care to enlighten me on how you got arrested?"

Iron, slowed down for a moment. "I.... I don't like talking about it."

Emerald stood still for a moment. Then he looked back at Iron and spoke in a more serious voice. "It's your sister, isn't it?"

Iron froze for a moment. "How... did you..."

"It wasn't very hard. I remembered you saying something about your sister back when we were about to be executed. I'm guessing that the Empire probably tried to take her for.... well, I won't get into it. All you need to know is, it's bad. And then you stepped up and defended her."

Iron tried to stay strong. He tried to keep himself from sounding weak, but it got harder with every line. "I.... I killed them. They threatened to beat me to death and... and they looked at her so... it was wrong. It was very wrong. So, I did what I had to. I... I took my father's blade from above the mantle and... Oh Celestia, I killed them. I KILLED them. I'd never even used a sword to fight just a few days ago. And now.... maybe I deserved to die. Maybe I should've stayed back in Haygen and let that thing burn me."

Emerald's face didn't change. "Hey, Don't talk like that. You made it out, and that's what you need to focus on. Now, what do you plan to do?"

Iron knew he was right, and that even though he may have deserved his death, he'd have to make the most of what he was given. "......Where are you going?"

"Me? Well, nowhere in particular..."

"I'm going with you then."

Emerald did a double take. "I'm sorry, what?"

"I'm coming with you. You seem like a good stallion, someone who knows his way around, knows people. I'm going with you to the nearest town. And I'm going to find my sister."

"Well... alright then. I can't really say no."

"And I will not take no for an ans-- wazzat?"

"I said ok. Now then, if we're going to be traveling together, we need to know where we're going. After we get out of here, we need to head to Canterlot. That's the capital of Equestria, and the place that we're likeliest to get some information. But first, we have to make a stop in either Ivarsteed or Reinwood, depending on where this tunnel opens up."

Iron was genuinely surprised. He had seen no indication that Emerald was willing to aid him, but he wasn't about to question his sudden reversal of fortune. "Ok then... but wait--"

"What?"

Iron looked deadly serious and afraid all at once. "What if it followed us?"

Emerald looked at the ground for a moment, contemplating the possibility. If that....thing really WAS what he thought it could be, then that made things all the more complicated. He then levitated his stolen imperial guard blade and slashed through some glowing vines hanging down from the top of the caves, revealing another path that had a faint hint of light at then end.

"Then we pray that we can take it down before it takes us down."

~-~-~-~-~-~

Lily Bloom opened her eyes.

She couldn't see anything. Her face was covered with a bag of some sort, and her magic wasn't working, no matter how hard she tried. She could hear others next to her whimpering and praying as the cart that they rode in slowly bounced up and down with the dips and bumps on the well-worn path.

She believed that it was the middle of the night due to the darkness surrounding her, but in reality, the sun had just begun to rise. The cart had an opaque tarp covering the top, keeping any light from getting inside. She tried to speak, but a bit had been fitted in her mouth, keeping her from opening it, and the powerful smell of sweat permeated the interior of her unwanted escort, among other things. She didn't dare attempt to open her mouth for fear of her losing the contents of her stomach.

After what seemed like hours, they finally stopped. It felt nice to be able to walk on all fours again. As Bloom stood up on her hooves, the tarp flew up from the back end of the cart, the rising sun a warm and welcome feeling on her coat. The sobbing ponies surrounding her immediately started clamoring for the exit, crying and screaming "Thank Celestia!!" and "Oh Thank You!! THANK YOU!!" all the way.

Suddenly, the crack of a whip was heard. Everypony in the cart immediately went silent for fear of being stricken. After the din died down, Bloom could hear the voice of a mare with a strange accent. "Alright ya lot, out of the wagon or I'll git ya out me-self!" Suddenly, another crack of the whip was heard. Everypony in the wagon started to slowly move towards the source of light. As they did, Bloom could hear the sound of the burlap sacks being swiped off of their heads. When it was her turn, the bag flew off of her head, the light of the sun temporarily blinding her. When her eyes readjusted, she was in awe of the sight before her.

It was a massive desert on every side but one, with sand ranging in color from red to black to the normal yellow. Some patches of the ground even held spots of blue or violet here and there, which only served to heighten the contrast and beauty of the sight before her. As Bloom admired the beautiful landscape, she was shoved from behind by a hoof, falling face first off of the platform upon which she was standing into a dry patch of grey sand. As she picked herself off of the ground as quickly as she could with her hooves bound, she heard the mare with the strange accent address her from behind. "Nice flanks ya got there," She announced and licked her lips audibly, something that Bloom found to be incredibly revolting. "The Sultan will be veeeery pleased." She drew out the word 'very', making it sound as if this Sultan was someone that Bloom wouldn't exactly like to be around. The whip, lined with small studs and spikes to inflict maximum pain upon the victim, cracked at her cutie mark, a bouquet of  multiple flowers, and Bloom screamed as hard as her lungs would allow. She had never felt that kind of pain before in her life, and wasn't accustomed to physical feats, as she was more comfortable helping out her brother at home.

Iron. She turned her head around to see if she could spot him among the other ponies still holed up in the wagon by his cutie mark, a shield crossed by an ax and a sword, but she couldn't spot him. She was able to spot her oppressor though - A light red colored pegasus mare with a strange type of armor set upon her, the bone-styled helm almost completely covering her amber mane. "'Ay!" She yelled as she raised her hoof in the air, her brace glowing slightly as the whip extending from it prepared for another blow. "There ain't nothin' of interest for ya back 'ere!" Her accent seemed to grow stronger when she was angry, as a result of her losing control of herself. "Now MOVE!! Or would ya like a matching set?"

Bloom looked back at her flank. Her cutie mark had been untouched, but just below it she could make out a crimson line trickling down her leg. She hadn't noticed it before, but the pain was searing, feeling as if she had dipped a cut in lemon juice and attempted to cauterize it. She wanted to cry, to call out for her brother to save her, but he wasn't here. She needed to be strong. She couldn't show whoever it was who had taken her weakness.

So, with hope as her only console, she walked in line with the other ponies to the majestic city sitting just on the horizon.

~-~-~-~-~

Iron and Emerald ran through the tunnels, eager to see sunlight again after hours and hours of nothing but fungi lighting their way.

As they galloped, the vibrations from their hooves shook some of the stranger looking pods on the high ceiling of the cave. They stopped, hearing the rattling noises from above, and looked up to see giant, insect like creatures scuttle down the walls.

Emerald's face stayed blank. "Chaurus." Iron was about to make a mad dash for the exit when Emerald stopped him by holding his hoof behind him. "Don't," He whispered cautiously. "These things can barely see, but they can sense vibration easily. We must have woken them up. Running away only makes it worse, as they can track you by your hoofsteps and spit their paralyzing venom at you. That, my friend, is a way that you do NOT want to go."

He turned around cautiously, standing on the tips of his hooves and staying low to the ground as he headed for the exit. "Now, follow me," He continued to whisper, "And whatever you do, DON'T MAKE A SOUND. They can't pick up sounds from the air as well, so we should be ok if we keep it to a whisper. We just need to get outside, and they won't chase us. They hate the sun."

Iron followed Emerald's lead as the two of them sneaked as quietly as possible across the ground to the exit. The Chaurus were clicking their mandibles, searching for the source of the noise that had awoken them. They didn't seem to notice the two ponies silently walking their way out of the den. The light was right there, only a few feet away now. The outside was so close, and yet still so far.

"We're almost there," Emerald said in his hushed tone. As the two of them walked however, Iron's hoof knocked against a stone for just a brief second.

Every Chaurus in the room turned its attention to the two intruders and hissed. The group started to charge.

"RUN!!" Emerald cried. The duo made a mad rush for the exit, but the Chaurus skittering down the walls blocked their path. They dodged the globs of poison spit being hurled their way, but they were losing ground, fast. The giant insects surrounded them, and were much faster than anticipated. One nearly snatched off Emerald's tail when Iron, running every possibility through his mind, had an idea. "Emerald!! Stick close to me!"

Emerald sliced one them in two and bucked in another's mandibles before running over to Iron. "Whatever you're doing, make it quick!" Iron shut his eyes and concentrated. He focused on light, and nothing but. He imagined the blinding light of the sun, and let that image rule his mind as he drew upon his magic. He felt the energy surge through his horn, and when he opened his eyes there was a bright flash as an immensely bright light began to emanate from his horn. The Chaurus hissed in displeasure as they scurried up the walls, eager to hide in the darkness once more. The path outside now open once more, Emerald and Iron backed out of the cave until they could see with the aid of the sun. Iron cut off his magic, and the light ceased. The skittering sound echoed inside the caverns, but he knew that the creatures wouldn't follow him out in broad daylight.

Emerald tapped him on the shoulder. "Hey, Iron.... I think you should see this." He turned around to one of the most breathtaking views he had ever seen.

The sight in front of him was a massive, sprawling plain of grass, with bushes and small trees dotting the landscape. Snow-capped mountains stood majestically in the bakcground, and tiny lakes and rivers of crystal clear water were common all around them. The sound of rushing water was the most prevalent one, with the screeches of eagles and the wind rustling the leaves of the nearby forest making themselves known as well. The sun was sitting high in the sky, the moon and stars faintly visible beside it even now, and there wasn't a single cloud in the sky. It was easily one of the most beautiful vistas that Iron had ever seen.

Even now, the sound of wings beating as creatures of all shapes and sizes soared through the skies was calming to him. He had no words for this gorgeous scenery.

Emerald simply smiled at his reaction. "Welcome to Equestria."