Stalliongrad was once the gleaming northern jewel of Old Equestria. Now it is a city that is a shadow of its former glory. Spires with gilded onion-shaped domes that once gleamed in the sunlight are now tarnished and crumbling. Buildings that once held offices, apartment complexes and museums now sit abandoned with their facades scoured from the storms of wild magic and bear the scars of conflict.

The city was spared the initial destruction of the wild magical blooms. For unknown reasons during the cataclysm, the destructive wild magic blooms never appeared over the city, though they did erupt across the land surrounding the city, which still bears the scars of that turbulent time.

Stalliongrad used to be home to nearly a million ponies, now it is home to a few thousand gangers, mutants and tin pot warlord dictators that have all carved out their own little enclaves. The gangs, mutants and warlords all fight one another from block-to-block, building-to-building, floor-to-floor and sometimes room-to-room in the ruins to snatch a few extra hoof lengths of territory from one another, or over what little scrap and salvage that has yet to be looted, and for slaves that can be sold to whoever for profit or for their own perverse pleasure.

Below Stalliongrad there is a vast network of tunnels. The gangs, warlords and mutants avoid those tunnels like the plague, though stories do abound of a vast wealth of salvage down there. Only those who are brave or foolish or both have ventured down into those tunnels, and of those whom have ventured down there, only a smattering few have returned. The rare survivor who have returned from the tunnels tell harrowing stories of eyes shining in the darkness and death coming from every angle.

Outside of Stalliongrad, to the east, a league beyond the city's borders, sits a small gem of civilization. It is a small trader's hub belonging to the Trading Guild, though over the past year its borders have been growing. Along with vast Trading Guild caravans, there has also been an influx of well armed, well trained soldiers and ponies in robes who profess to all who will listen, sermons about the five goddesses. In the past few months a small garrison made up of the advanced elements of the New Equestrian Empire's Crusade to Restore Harmony has been established to protect the trading outpost and the community that has sprung up around it.

Pearl Wisdom, an earth pony preacher who recently received her robes and writ of conversion a few months ago, steps off of a large convoy wagon, accompanied by three pony student acolytes who bear their sackcloth robes with hempen ropes. What has brought her to this remote, but quickly growing trading hub? Reports of soldiers who found an old access hatch that leads to an underground network of tunnels. The soldiers reported that in their limited exploration, they found evidence of habitation, nothing much, just a small cluster of well maintained huts next to what appeared to be a farm of mushrooms. The soldiers found no ponies or other creatures, but they did report the clopping of hooves, soft whispers and rhythmic knocking on something metal.

The soldiers reported no contact, friendly, hostile or otherwise, though a few did report seeing what looked like a few glowing eyes peering at them from the darkness. They decided to pull back to just inside their point of egress and set up a guard post, just in case.

Pearl approached the complex that served as the garrison for the soldiers whom protected this growing trading hub. It wasn't an impressive looking complex, just a concrete wall about three body lengths high, there were towers that peered over the lip of the wall spread out at regular intervals. Atop the towers were gun emplacements, mostly machineguns, but a few did have small, short-barreled artillery guns. There were several concrete barricades of varying heights and widths set up around the wall forming a series maze-like obstacles, meant to break up enemy movements when they tried to assault the garrison. Clearly the outermost defenses were designed, and possibly built, by at least one minotaur. The bovine-like creatures who had allied themselves with the goddesses had a propensity for building their structures like mazes...when they weren't travelling in nomadic camps.

Pearl noted that the walls and barricades bore scarring from weapons fire, as did some of the other permanent and semi-permanent buildings of the trading hub. The wind shifted and the familiar scent of burning flesh assailed her nose. Turning her head, she saw a pair of ponies standing next to an open pit with flamethrowers slung across their backs. Bandits or mutants had recently attacked the outpost and now their remains were quickly being dealt with. It was imperative for bodies to be quickly dealt with after a battle, either by quickly burying them or, in the case of bandits, mutants and others who attack the Crusade forces, burning their bodies in pits. This reduced the risk for disease and plague caused by rotting bodies being left laying out, and in the case of enemies of the New Equestrian Empire, it served two extra purposes: It disheartened any surviving enemies who would be watching on as they watched their dead comrades remains being dumped into a pit and burned to ash, and it denied the enemies of the New Equestrian Empire graves that could be easily marked as martyrs that then could be used as a means to rally more to their banner.

Pearl and her trio of student acolytes walked past squads of soldiers and Trade Guild guards as they made their way to the front of the garrison. Ponies and minotaurs gathered along their path to get a glimpse of the quartet who bring the good word of the goddesses. Some bow, some wave out the sign of the holy quintet in the air, some hold up holy symbols depicting the five goddesses, some rush forward with their young to beg for blessings. Pearl gave benevolent smiles to the parents who come forward with their foals or calves, and traced the symbol of the holy quintet on the foreheads of the foals and calves, as well as their parents. She occasionally waved her staff over the heads of the gathered ponies and minotaurs in a slow arc while speaking small sermons.

As Pearl and her trio approach the main gate of the garrison, which is nothing more than a pair of simple wooden guard boxes and a pair of wooden arms that can be raised and lowered, a contingent of soldiers, both pony and minotaur, came out to meet them. They quickly ushered the quartet in and a simple wooden barricade is set up in front of the gate. Soldiers armed with steel shields and wooden batons form up ranks behind the simple wooden barricade to serve as a deterrent in the event any civilians or bandits disguised as civilians tried to rush the gate.

Pearl looks around the garrison. The buildings are the typical New Equestrian Empire's Crusade buildings, made of metal that can be quickly folded, assembled and disassembled as needed. She plants the butt of her staff onto the ground and stands to full height, head held upright, as the garrison commander approaches. Her accompanying student acolytes form a semi-circle around her and wave out the symbol of the holy quintet in the air.

The garrison commander stops three body lengths in front of the quartet and snaps to attention. Pearl notices that under the brim of his cap, a single eye gives an artificial gleam. He lifts his right foreleg and places his hoof to his chest. She notices as the sleeve of his military jacket moves up slightly, it reveals a mechanical hoof and foreleg, she mentally notes that at least a portion of his foreleg and one eyes must have been lost in service to the goddesses and replaced with cybernetics.

With the hem of her white robes fluttering in the breeze, Pearl offers a small bow to the garrison commander. The trio of student acolytes follows suit. "May the peace of the goddesses be upon you." It was the standard greeting for preachers to give.

"And upon you as well, good preacher." The garrison commander lowers his salute. "If you have not found a place to sleep, I can offer you and your students some spare quarters. They won't be luxurious, just some spare cots."

Pearl gave a small nod. "The cots will be plenty enough." Her student acolytes' eyes glimmered at the prospect of sleeping on something softer than the hard wooden planks they had slept on at the priory outside of The Quarry.

The garrison commander gives a broad sweeping gesture towards his rear with a hoof. "While your three fellow acolytes settle, would you care to join me in my office for some refreshments while you and I discuss business?"

Pearl gave a quick nod to the three student acolytes, then slung her staff across her back. "That would be most agreeable."

Several minutes later the pair entered into the meager office. It was a recently converted storage room. "My apologies for the mess and the meager office. A few weeks ago some bandits launched a night raid. They had a crude catapult that flung crudely constructed explosives. One of their lobs got lucky and took out the commander's office with the original commander, Captain Brass Shell. The rest of our officer corps were inside at the time having a meeting. I've been in charge until high command sends a new batch of officers. Who knows when that'll be." He stands up, walks over to a crate turned on its side with several small boxes stacked inside that was serving as a file cabinet and pulled out a ceramic bottle. "This isn't something fancy, like Apple Orchard's cider, it's just something the soldiers muddle together from old bread and potato rations. It tastes like plot stuffed in a hoof-locker filled with unwashed uniforms and left out in the summer sun for three weeks, but it gives you a good buzz."

Pearl gave the commander a small smile. "I'm sure it will do just fine...uh...I'm sorry, I never got your rank and name."

The commander gave a small tip of his head. "The apologies should be mine, good preacher. It's only enlisted ponies and minotaurs here, so we often forget the niceties of rank. I am Sergeant Peach Cobbler of the Fifth corps of the Seventh Division attached to the New Equestrian Empire's Crusade to Return Harmony."

"No need to be so formal, my good sergeant. I am but a simple preacher sent out by my abbot to investigate some unusual findings."

Cobbler tossed his hat onto the makeshift file cabinet, revealing a series of scars on his forehead and a cybernetic eye. He blew out an aggravated sigh. "Of course the message of a subterranean farm would be answered before our requests for an officer or extra provisions. Fucking Tartarus!"

Pearl lifted the small wooden medallion of the five goddesses from under her robes, kissed it and waved out the symbol of the holy quintet in the air. "I am sorry, Peach Cobbler. I am but a simple preacher and go where I am told. I can send a missive back to my abbot that you need aid and relief."

Cobbler strode over to his desk, which was a few crates pushed together side-by-side with a tarp flung over the top. "Then we'd get a bunch of those fanatics from the Fraternity. They just want to shout sermons while burning everything." He stopped, grumbled softly, blew out another sigh and cleared his throat. "I don't mean to vent at you. I'm just frustrated. I know the crusade is currently holed up fighting New Unicornia and probably has their hooves full, so they can't spare any extra bodies." He pulled out a couple of tin cups from the crates that served as his desk and lined them up on top. Pulling the cork from the ceramic bottle, he poured a small portion of a thick, clear liquid in both. He lifted one tin cup in his hoof and offered it to Pearl.

Pearl graciously took the tin cup. "Don't worry about venting to me. It's my job to take care of the souls, minds and bodies of the goddesses' servants. The student acolytes that are accompanying me are trained in medicine and combat, as well as tending to souls. I can offer their services. However I must complete my mission."

"And what mission would that be?"

Pearl pulled out a scroll from under her robes, unfurled it and read it aloud. "I, Pearl Wisdom, preacher of the first rank, have been ordered personally by the goddess Luna to investigate what you have discovered underneath the ruins of Stalliongrad. If there are ponies there who yearn to breathe free and search out harmony, I am to show it to them. All others are to face the justices of the goddesses." She laid the scroll out on the desk for Peach Cobbler to read.

Cobbler scowled as he read over the scroll. "If you've been ordered by a goddess, then it is my duty to obey." He lifted the tin cup in a toast. "May the goddesses guide and protect you."

"May they guide and protect you as well, my good sergeant."

The two clinked their tin cups and Pearl drained hers quickly. She winced and gagged. It felt like somepony had just bucked her in the back of the throat while she was drinking sewage mixed with burning fuel.

"Good, huh?"

"I thought the stuff the caravaneers cooked up from old carrots, potatoes and cabbages, then fermented for months was rough."

"Ya get used to it. More?"

Pearl offered up her tin cup. During her time as a salvager before entering into the goddesses' service as a preacher, she had drank some truly vile booze that were made from much more questionable ingredients. Besides, if she drank more of it, it would eventually taste better...right?

Pearl gagged again after her third cup. Somehow it tasted worse. She waved off another offer for another drink. "Thank you, but no. I will need my wits about me to do my duty."

Cobbler shrugged and poured himself another cup. After downing it, he corked the bottle and stuck it, along with the tin cups, inside his makeshift desk. "So you really plan on going down into that goddess forsaken tunnel? It's dark and there are some weird things down there."

"The night is dark and there are goddess forsaken things that walk under their sky. Are there any thestrals under your command here?"

Peach Cobbler shook his head no. "I wish there were, then we'd have been able to root out where those bandits are hiding when they launch their night raids."

"Do you have some paper and quills?"

"Paper, yes, quills, no. Maybe when the pegasi molt we will. All I can offer you is some charcoal."

"The charcoal will suffice."

Peach Cobbler hoofed Pearl Wisdom several leafs of paper and a piece of charcoal shaved down into a crude pencil.

"I will write down my requests along with any reasonable request you and your soldiers need, and send them back along the trade routes to my abbot. It will take a couple of months and I cannot guarantee anything, even for myself."

Peach Cobbler rattled off a laundry list of things, including ammunition, medicine, food rations and weapon maintenance kits. Pearl Wisdom dutifully wrote them down.

***TWELVE WEEKS LATER***

Peach Cobbler and Pearl Wisdom had been pleasantly surprised just as the sun started peaking over the horizon at the deep thrumming of airship engines. As they rushed out of their quarters, they saw six small airships, half bearing the standards of the New Equestrian Empire's crusade, the other half bearing the flags of the Trading Guild, flying in. They were capable of carrying a company of soldiers each. The soldiers of the garrison were already clearing out landing zones and setting up smoke flares.

The engines on the airships turned upwards, causing them to hover in place. Struts extended from their undersides as they slowly lowered to the ground. As soon as their struts were settled, ramps were lowered. Three companies of soldiers marched out, along with a unicorn lieutenant.

Peach Cobbler walked up and snapped to attention before the lieutenant. He sharply placed his hoof to his chest in salute. "Sir! It is good that aid has come, sir!"

The lieutenant eyed Peach Cobbler quickly, then returned the salute. "At ease, sergeant." He stiffly walked past Peach Cobbler and eyed up the garrison. "Looks like you ponies and 'taurs have seen some Tartarus."

"That we have, sir."

The lieutenant walked back in front of Peach Cobbler. "I have been sent here for more than just to bring this garrison supplies and fresh troops. I am here to personally promote you and relieve you of command."

Peach Cobbler sputtered with a mixture of shock and indignation. "R-r-relieve me?! Why would command..." He dipped his head and laid his ears back. "I apologize, sir. It's just what with ponies and minotaurs I've served with, all the muck and Tartarus we've survived through. The thought of leaving them for some cushy desk job, it seems--"

The lieutenant held up a hoof, cutting Peach Cobbler off. "You are not being recalled, so relax." He reached in to his uniform jacket pocket and pulled out a small box. "Peach Cobbler, word of your courage and the courage of the soldiers who have served alongside you has reached the very ears of the goddesses and the ponemarchs." He opens the small box, revealing a pair of silver leaves. "You are to be promoted to the rank of colonel, along with all of the rights, privileges and duties of said rank. After much deliberation, Adamantem, ponemarch of the Celestial Hooves legion has decided to send Lieutenant Glittering Jewels of the fifteenth war-herd of the Celestial Hooves to serve as the commander of this garrison, along with a retinue of five legionaries. You are to serve as the sixth member of her retinue and as the representative of the mortals that will be under her command. I have brought along with supplies and fresh troops, a proper officer's jacket. I suggest donning it and getting your rank hammered in properly before your new commander arrives."

Peach Cobbler had quickly changed into his officer's jacket and applied his colonel's pins. Soldiers stood around him, patting him on the back as they congratulated him and each took turns punching his new colonel pins. The lieutenant stood on the deck of his airship and smirked at the ritual the soldiers carried out with their newly promoted colonel. He absentmindedly rubbed at the phantom pain in his withers at the memory of all the times his fellow soldiers had "hammered in" his rank.

***

As the sun lazed in western the sky during early evening, the armored airship bearing the colors and banners of the Celestial Hooves hovered above garrison. Ropes were tossed from the deck of the armored white airship with royal purple and gold accents. Legion unicorn servants, whose armor bore the same colors as the airship shimmied down the ropes. Eight of the legion servants bore long, slender brass horns and surrounded the landing pad. They blew out a fanfare on their horns, which was repeated by the same fanfare from the deck of the airship. The remainder of the legion servants on the ground secured the landing pad and waved out signals to the airship crew.

Once the airship's struts had settled, the chapter servants that had served as the landing crew and horn-blowers formed up ranks in a pair of rows standing unmoving at attention.

Peach Cobbler and every soldier not currently on patrol formed up in parade formation. When the ramp lowered, he sharply barked out in a loud voice, "Atten-HUT!" In near-perfect unison, the gathered mortal soldiers standing in parade formation stood to attention with the stamping of hooves.

Dozens of legion servants in formation marched lockstep down the ramp. Twelve more horn blowers joined the previous eight and all twenty raised their horns in perfectly timed precision, preparing to blow out a fanfare. Lastly a pair of legion servants marched down the ramp, carrying a rolled-up royal purple carpet between them. Upon reaching the bottom of the ramp, they unfurled the carpet and straightened it out.

It was known among all of the mortal soldiers that the Celestial Hooves were the most pompous and haughty of their sibling legions. There had been rumors of them doling out harsh punishments to the members of their legions and their legion servants who weren't always in their best appearances.

The horn blowers sounded a long fanfare as the six transequine super-warriors marched down the ramp in perfect unison. The servos of the power armor whirred and clicked in time as their armored hooves thumped on the ground in unison. Once reaching the end of the carpet, the six legionaries stood wither-to-wither in a tight formation.

Mortal soldiers couldn't help but gawk at the six angels of beauty. Their white armor with royal purple and gold accents glinted in the early evening sun. Their brushed fur seemed to shine with an otherworldly glow. Their immaculately coiffed manes blew gently in the breeze.

Five of the transequine marines came to a perfect standstill and Glittering Jewels continued marching forward a few more paces, then stopped three body lengths away. Peach Cobbler knelt before Glittering Jewels. "We, the mortal servants of the goddesses bid you welcome lieutenant, to your command. We stand ready to serve."

Glittering Jewels darted her eyes around to look at the gathered mortal in parade formation and gave a short sniff. "Your unshakable courage and iron tenacity has been commended by Ponemarch Adamantem. It is clear that you have been fighting long and hard without proper resupply. First order of business..." She pointed to the single flagpole made from several lengths of pipe fitted together and the tattered flag of the New Equestrian Empire hanging from it.

Peach Cobbler glanced over at the impromptu flagpole with the tattered flag hanging on it, then looked back at the pony marine. "Many apologies, your ladyship. We just received new supplies today and have yet to erect a new flag, I will--"

"No bother. The flag of the New Equestrian Empire and its Crusade to Restore Harmony, along with the banners of my legion and war-herd shall be displayed from proper flagpoles. If you choose to suspend your unit's heraldry from a filthy sewer pipe, I have no say over that."

"I'll show you a sewer pipe.", Peach Cobbler muttered under his breath.

Glittering Jewels loomed over Peach Cobbler. "My hearing still hasn't fully recovered from when an enemy mortar shell exploded near my head. Would you care to repeat that, colonel?"

"Just making a mental note, your ladyship."

Glittering Jewels dipped her head down until she was face-to-face with Peach Cobbler. "I know you mortals in the army are used to things being in a more lackadaisical manner, but you are now under the command of the Celestial Hooves. We have certain standards for all mortals under our purview. You may be part of my retinue, but if I detect any insubordination, I will personally rip those leaves from your uniform and have you scrubbing out the septic containers of our armor. Do I make myself clear?"

Peach Cobbler stiffened. "Crystal, your ladyship."

Glittering Jewels rose back to her full height, curled back her lips, revealing the metallic teeth all transequine legionaries had, in a manner that she felt was a comforting smile for mortals. It made Peach Cobbler shudder."Good! Now colonel, you will join us as we patrol the nearby settlement while the legion servants erect for me a proper office."

"P-permission to speak freely?"

"Granted."

"Wouldn't you and your fellow angels want to oversee the refitting of the garrison personally?"

"And risk scuffing my armor on a filthy crate or getting dirt on it from a filthy floor? No. The legion servants are more than skilled enough to ensure I have a proper office to conduct my affairs from. They know my standards. Once I have a proper office, I will personally oversee the proper fortification of this bastion. Do you have any more questions?"

"Shouldn't you and your fellow angels be wearing helmets? There are bandits still hiding among the civilians, and it might hamper your ladyship's ability to carry out your duty if you get a shot to the head."

"We would not deny our enemies the right to look upon our beauty and weep before they die. We do not fear the arrows or bullets of puny mortals. If one were to get lucky and mar any of our beauty, they would know true terror before oblivion took them."

"Can you give me a few minutes to get a helmet and some proper armor?"

"You have ten minutes. Do not tarry. For every minute past ten you delay will be five lashes."

***

Pearl Wisdom was sitting before the acolytes who had been assigned to her as she spoke with them. "Now remember, keep your medicine pouches full at all times. You never know when a soldier or a civilian will get injured or sick, and you will need to treat them. Keep the blades of your knives sharp and clean, if a soldier or civilian is too sick or injured to heal, you are to grant them the peace of the goddesses with a swift stab to the base of their skull so they do not suffer any longer. If you are attacked, use whatever is at hoof to give the enemy the goddesses' justice. You are only to pick up a rifle or pistol to defend yourself, the injured and the innocent if attacked. Once the enemy has passed, you are to surrender the firearm to a member of the Crusade as soon as possible. Our order is not part of The Fraternity, and as such violence is only permitted for protection."

*knock-knock-knock*

There were three swift knocks at the door of the small building that Pearl Wisdom and the three acolytes were currently in. The door opened and a thestral wearing dark lenses walked in.

Pearl turned her head to look over at the bat-pony walking in. "Welcome, my good thestral. We are about to begin our morning prayers before tending to the minds, bodies and souls of the goddesses' herds. Feel free to take a seat or politely wait outside until we have finished."

The thestral strode over to the three acolytes, sat down and bowed his head.

Pearl hefted her simple wooden staff that bore the likeness of the five goddesses and uttered a prayer. "Oh goddesses, the most-holy quintet! We ask that you guide our hearts, minds and hooves in your service! If it be thine will that we fall in your service, we ask that you guide our sous to the still waters and sweet grasses of the meadows beyond! By your harmony we are blessed!" She traced the sign of the holy quintet over her chest.

"By your harmony we are blessed.", the three acolytes repeated back as they traced the sign of the holy quintet over their chest. All four lifted the wooden charm they wore on their necks in the likeness of the five goddesses and kissed them.

As the three acolytes left the small building, Pearl turned to the thestral. "Are you to be my guard and guide in the tunnels the soldiers discovered?"

"Yes, good preacher."

"What is your name?"

"Flittering Moth, good preacher."

"Enough with the good preacher nonsense, Flittering Moth. Since you are to be my bodyguard, guide and companion, it would be better if we called each other by our names. My name is Pearl Wisdom. My friends and fellow preachers call me Pearl. I hope we can be friends."

"I hope so too, good pre--uh, Pearl." Flittering Moth rolled the words on his tongue. It was unfamiliar to him to call a preacher by their name. He was a soldier and like all soldiers in the Crusade to Restore Harmony, they always called ponies and minotaurs who wore the cloth of the many holy orders good preacher.

"Come along, Flit. Uh...do you mind if I call you Flit?"

Flit smirked as he gave a pleasant snort. "Only if I can call you Pearly."

Pearly gave a small smile. "Come on, Flit. We've got some preparations to do before we go down into the tunnel."

As Pearly and Flit walked side-by-side towards the quartermaster's office, the mare tossed her wooden staff onto a trash pile.

Flit blinked behind his dark lenses at that. "Uh, Pearly...is it smart to throw away your staff? Who knows what we'll run into in those goddess-forsaken tunnels."

Pearly chuckled. "Tis but a simple wooden staff, not some holy relic or expensive weapon. Before I entered the goddesses' service I was a scrapper. I crawled through ruins and tunnels, searching for salvage and scrap that I could trade or sell for a night's meal." She stopped, drew her knife and cut away the lower portion of her robes. "When we reach the quartermaster's office, I shall requisition a truncheon to defend myself with. I suggest you get an assault rifle or a pistol, several magazines and sword or mace to defend yourself. It's going to be tight down there and that big, long sniper rifle will get hung up on things, plus you won't have wide open spaces to line up a shot."

"So why ask for a thestral to guide you and not a legionnaire?"

"The goddesses' angels are quite large, larger than horses and it will be quite tight down there. Plus they are quick to violence and that would hinder my mission to bring the word of the goddesses to good ponies, even if they live in dark tunnels. A misunderstanding could lead to a massacre."

***

Pearly with the truncheon strapped to her side and her knife tucked under her shortened robes, accompanied Flit, with a pistol holstered to his foreleg, a short sword strapped to his side and two bandoleers of magazines secured to his barrel, approached the access hatch.

When one of the soldiers guarding the outside of the hatch lifted a hoof and ordered them to halt, Pearly reached into her robes and produced the scroll that had orders from Luna. "I am Preacher of the First Order, Pearly Wisdom. This is my bodyguard, guide and companion, Corporal Flittering Moth. I am under the personal orders of Guardian of Dreams and Goddess of the Night Luna to bring the light of the goddesses and the words of harmony to any good ponies that live in the dark tunnels beyond."

The guard took the scroll, unrolled it and read the orders. With a grunt he passed the scroll back, then nodded to the other guards. "Open the hatch and let them pass."

With the shrieking of rusty hinges, the hatch was opened. Once the hatch was opened, one guard shouted down, "Two with divine orders from the goddesses, let them pass!"

Pearly and Flit scaled down the ladder that was newer than the rest of the construction. Reaching the bottom, they were met by a cadre of guards. "We will escort you to where the electric lanterns end. I must warn you, there are weird things down there. We've all heard the soft clopping of hooves, whispers in the dark and tapping, like somepony is knocking on metal. We've also seen glowing eyes looking at us from the darkness. It gives us all the heebie-jeebies. If you decided to turn around and go back to where you came from, none of us would fault you."

Pearly stood tall, pulled the wooden charm she wore on her neck from her robes and kissed it. "It is my sacred duty to bring the word of harmony to all who would listen. I would rather be strung up by my hind fetlocks, flayed with a rusty spoon and dunked head-first into a swamp than be remiss in my duties."

"And it is my duty to protect all good ponies from those who are cruel and enslave. I have been asked by my friend to guide her through these dark tunnels and protect the innocent. I swear that I will not allow any harm to come to her to the best of my abilities, even unto my death.", Flit said as he stood to attention.

The head guard, a female minotaur, raised a cloven hoof. "Easy now. This isn't a pre-battle rally. We're just warning you that there are weird things in those tunnels."

"There are weird things under the sky and we still face them. If there are good ponies in here, then it is my solemn duty to bring the light of the goddess and the words of harmony to them.", Pearly replied. "We shall venture out for three days. If we find good ponies, we will return with a few of them. Otherwise we will return alone and send a message that there is nothing good down here."

The minotaur cow grunted. "By my honor as a Fire Pipe, I shall watch for you for three days and three nights. May the goddesses guide your hooves."

Pearly gave a short nod. "May the light of the goddesses shine on you for all time."

Pearly and Flit, flanked by the soldiers guarding the tunnel entrance, strode through the portion of the tunnel lit by electric lanterns. After several body lengths the electric lanterns came to a stop and the party stopped also.

"Wait here while I step into the darkness and look around real quick." Flit stepped out of the light of the electric lanterns and removed his dark lenses. He blinked a few times as his eyes adjusted to the darkness.

Pearly sat on her flanks as she pressed her forhooves together and whispered a small prayer.

Flit backed up to the edge of the light. "There's ponies out there in the darkness. It looks like they can see in the darkness too, but they lack the slit pupils of thestrals. It looks like their eyes are larger to compensate for the darkness. They're also shorter, probably from living goddesses knows how long in these tunnels. Some of them are armed too. I count one, two, uh...seven...fifteen...twenty-five ponies with some sort of weapons I've never seen before. Strike that, there's another twelve that are escorting what looks like unarmed civilians away. I think we've given them a scare with all of these soldiers coming here. They're whispering to each other, hold on a moment...they're saying something I can't quite understand." He took a slow step backwards. "Hold on. There's several more to their rear with what looks like wrenches and hammers. Ah, that's the tapping you all were hearing. They're tapping wrenches, hammers and hooves on pipes. I think they're talking to somepony. I'd guess they're sending sitreps and calling for reinforcements."

Flit returned to the light of the electric lanterns and put his dark lenses back on. "I think we've discovered a new tribe."

Pearly blew out a relieved sigh. She turned to the soldiers escorting them. "Return to your posts and send a report back that we have visual confirmation of ponies living in the tunnels. We're going to venture forth and greet these ponies."

The minotaur cow stiffened. "But the thestral said there's a bunch of them with weapons and they're calling for reinforcements."

"They're responding to you all escorting us to the edge of the light.", Pearly said. "Think about how you'd all respond if you saw a bunch of armed ponies and 'taurs walking towards you in the dark. They're responding to a potential threat. Fall back to your post while we go and greet these ponies."

With disagreeing grumbles, the soldiers fell back to their post, though they did post a couple halfway up the lit portion of the tunnel to serve as sentries.

Pearly turned to Flit. "Shall we?"

Flit extended a leathery wing. "Stay close to my side. It's going to get really dark once we leave the light of the lanterns and I don't want you to get turned around."

Pearly scooched up close to Flit's side and he draped his wing across her back. The two then stepped from the light of the electric lanterns.

"Oh geez! It is dark. It's almost like ink."

"Toldja."

***

The gathered security ponies of the dark tribe watched as two surface dwelling ponies walked through the darkness towards them.

Lead Pipe, a stallion with a dark grey coat and pale mane, checked the cylindrical magazine on his pneumatic rifle, counting the number of steel balls he had in it. Giving the lever a few pumps, he glanced at the pressure gauge on the side. Raising the weapon, he lined up the sights that had been painted with the juice of phosphorescent mushrooms. "Halt, sky lovers! Turn back the way you came and leave! We do not welcome your slave-taking kind here! Go back to fight your petty wars with your fellow slavers and proceed no further in our realm!"

The two surface dwellers stopped in their tracks, but did not turn back. The one with slitted pupils could clearly see them, it was a pony of darkness too. Several of the security ponies murmured if this one was a member of another dark tribe far beyond the tunnels. Other than its slitted pupils, it also had leathery wings. Members of the dark tribe had seen other surface dwelling ponies that had wings, but those always had feathers, Feathers weren't unheard of among the dark tribe, a third of their number would grow feathers on their backs and sides.

The pony with slitted eyes' companion was clearly not accustomed to the darkness of the tunnels, seeing as it stayed close to the slitted-eyed pony's side. It was wearing robes, The robed pony began to talk in a language none of them could understand, complete with broad gesticulating. The robed pony reached into the collar of it's robes, which caused the security ponies to ready and brace their weapons, as they were expecting some sort of weapon. Instead the robed pony withdrew a medallion on a cord.

Lead Pipe gestured for the security ponies accompanying him to lower their weapons. "Somepony call for commandant Tuber. I think these ponies are connected to the creatures who have set up watch by the access point and placed false fire along the tunnel."

After several minutes Tuber, an older stallion with a black coat with white speckles and a dark mane, came up with a retinue of bodyguards. "What's going on here?"

Lead Pipe spoke up. "Commandant, these two ponies are connected to the creatures who have set up watch at the entrance point down that tunnel. The ones who have set up the false fire."

Tuber eyed the two surface dwellers. "The same ones who approached Spore and Screw's farm, then retreated? I was wondering when they were going to make contact."

"So they're not a threat?"

"Not to us at least. If you remember, the traders that have the big beasts told us a couple of years ago that the Five Divines who carry the True Fire of Friendship have returned and are calling all pure souls to them. Quickly! Bring food! Bring the best mushroom vodka! Bring phos-'shroom cages! And find somepony who understands surface tongue!"

***

Flit watched as several of the security ponies conversed with one another. He said softly to Pearly, "I think they've brought an officer. Hold on...they're bringing ponies carrying what looks like food, drink and cages containing phosphorescent mushrooms."

The tunnel ponies erected poles in a large circle and hung cages containing the phosphorescent mushrooms from them. The area was illuminated with a dim, pale greenish light. They quickly assembled a large table and several chairs from pipes and sheet metal. They laid out dishes on the table made from mushrooms, tubers and roots, along with ceramic bottles containing a clear liquid that had an alcohol smell.

Several ponies escorted an old mare, whom had more lines on her face than a Trade Guild route map. Her eyes were covered with a blindfold, a mass of scars could be seen around the edges of the blindfold.

The old mare sat down at the constructed table with assistance from her escorts. "Many much apologizings as my surface tongue is poor as I have not spoken it for some time. I was an enslaved filly when the dark tribe rescued and adopted me."

Pearl Wisdom took a seat at the table as Flittering Moth stood behind her. "There is no need to apologize. I have come to bring the word of the goddesses, not judge others for their language. My name is Pearl Wisdom, Preacher of the First Order. I am a member of a holy order of the New Equestrian Empire. I am of the earth tribe of ponies. This is my companion, bodyguard and guide, Flittering Moth. He is a member of the thestral tribe."

Pearl waited as the old mare conveyed to what looked like an officer. The officer then spoke and the old mare interpreted. "What is your...um...what's the word? Uh...are you here for good or bad?"

Pearl gave a soft smile. "My intentions are peaceful. My companion is a soldier who who's purpose is to protect me from violence."

The old mare interpreted and the officer spoke. "The commandant says he knows of your army as we occasionally contact the Trading Guild for things that cannot be found in our realm."

Pearly smiled at that. The trading Guild had been a most useful tool for spreading the news and gathering information of the surrounding countryside.

The officer spoke again and the old mare interpreted. "Why did your security creatures enter into our realm uninvited?"

Pearly gestured to Flit. "It is standard procedure for the army of the New Equestrian Empire's Crusade to Restore Harmony to secure all potential routes against attack. It was not our intention to frighten or provoke you."

The old mare interpreted and the commandant spoke. "You have spoke of goddesses and harmony. Are they like our five divines who bear and protect the True Fire of Friendship?"

A broad smile spread on Pearly's lips. "It sounds like your five divines are an interpretation of the goddesses. The True Fire of Friendship is Harmony."

"What does your army do?"

"It's purpose is to protect the innocent and to give swift justice to those who are cruel, enslave or slaughter. The goddesses welcome all who are willing to live in harmony. They have already spread harmony to many communities and the land is prospering. Every day ponies and minotaurs from across the land flock to their banner."

"What are minotaurs?"

"They are the large creatures that serve and live alongside us. They have cloven hooves, their males walk upon two legs while their females walk on four."

"How long will you stay here?"

"For as long as I am welcome."

"Will your army try to invade and enslave us?"

"Our army only attacks those who are cruel, enslave, slaughter or attacks us first. I have been sent to offer the hoof of friendship and harmony. Every place that has joined us has flourished."

"What if we choose not to join your empire?"

"Then the goddesses will be sad. But as long as you remain peaceful, we will respect your borders. We will still offer trade and assistance."

The old mare interpreted and the commandant spoke again. "The commandant does not have the...um--[Slow down, my surface-tongue poor and my mind isn't as sharp as it once was.] As I was speaking...the commandant does not have the speaking-power to make those decisions. Only the council at Red Line Station has the speak-power to make that decision."

"Station? Is that like a city or a town or a village?"

"City? Town? Village? What are those?"

"We who live under the sky build structures to live and work in. We congregate in settlement. Depending on the size we call them a village, town or a city. A village is the smallest, where a few dozen to a couple hundred live, while a city is the biggest. A town is in-between in size."

The old mare interpreted and the commandant spoke again. "The commandant understands. Your cities would be like our stations, and villages would be like our stops and towns would be like our yards."

"You may use different words to describe things, we share a common ground and bond. Your five divines are the five goddesses." Pearl Wisdom held up her wooden medallion for effect. "The True Fire of Friendship is Harmony. Your stations, yards and stops are cities."

"Would you come with us to Red Line Station?"

"I promised the guards I would travel for three days and if I found good ponies, I would return with some of their representatives."

"Days?"

Pearl Wisdom wracked her brain trying to figure out how to explain how days work to ponies who have never seen the sky. Flittering Moth spoke up. "The soldiers standing guard in that tunnel down there change shifts once every eight hours. Three guard changes would be one day."

The old mare interpreted what was said. "So nine guard changes would be three days. Red Line Station would be four changes away by trot and one change away by rail. The commandant, some security ponies and myself would go with you and your companion to Red Line Station by rail to talk with the council. If they agree to meet with your soldiers, they will send one of their numbers with you, otherwise we will send you and your companion back alone."

Pearly gave a quick glance to Flit, who in turn gave a quick nod. "We agree to your terms."

***

For two days Mooriel had maintained her vigil, only resting when she grew tired to stay awake, but not leaving the tunnel.

"We got lights and movement incoming!", a soldier shouted.

Mooriel quickly ran to the edge of the light. There was indeed balls of greenish light moving forward and she could barely make out shapes moving in the dark beyond the light of the electric lanterns.

Pearl Wisdom and Flittering Moth walked into the light.

"I've made contact with the ponies down here! It's a new tribe. By the goddesses! It's a new tribe! They have a whole vast civilization down here of allied cities they call stations! From the maps I've seen, there's dozens of those stations down here! I managed to parlay with one of the stations called Red Line and they've agreed to meet with Her Ladyship, Lieutenant Glittering Jewels to negotiate. We're going to need dark lenses or welding hoods as they've adapted to living in darkness, with only phosphorescent mushrooms to provide any dim lighting."

Pearly panted to catch her breath after her excited tirade.

***

The lights in Glittering Jewels' office had been dimmed to provide barely any illumination. The transequine warrior sat behind her massive desk. The three representatives of Red Line Station whispered back and forth between one another.

"There shall be no need for an interpreter as I have figured out your language."

"You speak Mareussian?!"

"Understanding languages is one of the many gifts we the angels of the goddesses have been granted. I am a very busy pony, as I am sure you three are. I am not a diplomat, however I feel we can come to some sort of agreement. Allow me to start. I am Glittering Jewels, lieutenant of the fifteenth war-herd of the Celestia Hooves. I have been granted command and authority over this garrison by ponemarch Adamantem. Until my death or I have been relieved, I speak with their authority in all matters." Glittering Jewels' face was a blank mask. "Present your terms and we shall come to some sort of agreement."

"I am Torque Bolt, eighth chair of the council of Red Line Station and these are my two assistants, Mushroom Bake and Deep Delver." Torque Bolt presented a stack of papers made from pressed mushrooms. "The council of Red Line Station welcomes our new friends. So long as you are peaceful towards us, we will allow passage of your troops through our tunnels. The council will also offer an alliance of trade and mutual defense."

Glittering Jewels used her magic to rifle through the documents as she didn't want to sully her armor with any dirt. It was bad enough that she was going to have to get her office cleaned after this meeting with those tunnel dwellers was over. Included in the documents were maps. "What of the other settlements in the tunnels below?"

"The council of Red Line Station does not and cannot speak for the other stations. You will have to negotiate with them as they choose to make contact."

Glittering Jewels stayed silent for a few moments as the magic-fueled machinery of her power armor interpreted the writing and her brain committed it to her eidetic memory. "Are there any settlements that would be hostile to us? Any threats, such as bandits, mutants, gangs or monsters?"

"The banished, castaways and runaways who love in the deep lines have occasionally been hostile, but have never attacked in any significant numbers. Only small raiding bands that occasionally come up from the deep lines, but they're usually quickly repulsed. Then there's The Hub. Twenty years ago after an incursion from the surface where mobs of mutants attacked and were repulsed by an alliance of stations, they slammed their gates shut and will fire on any who enter into their tunnels."

"The deep lines are a minor annoyance, but I'm sure it will be no major threat. Do those in this Hub ever launch attacks of any kind?"

"No. They never come out of their tunnels. Occasionally somepony will occasionally catch a glimpse of one of their workers patching up one of their barricades, but they usually retreat back behind their doors and gates. There have been attempts in the past by other stations to make contact. They always open fire with their weapons and drive them away."

Glittering Jewels gave the paperwork one last look over. "Everything seems to be in order. Your troops will be allowed access through all territory we control and our troops will be allowed access through the tunnels." She signed her name to the treaty and passed it to the representatives of Red Line Station so they could sign their names. "This is a temporary treaty of mutual trade and defense. I'll have copies made. One will be sent to the Trading Guild so they can set up a post in your tunnels. I'll send several up the chain of command so the New Equestrian Empire so negotiators can be sent to hammer out a permanent treaty."

***

A rush of thrill ran through Pearl Wisdom's body as she descended back into the tunnels. By her side were her three student acolytes as well as her friend, companion, bodyguard and guide, Flittering Moth. In her saddlebags was a flashlight, light-amplification goggles and a map of the stations. At the edge of the light was a small contingent of ponies of the dark tribe carrying weapons and cages containing phosphorescent mushrooms.

Just before stepping beyond the edge of the light cast by the electric lanterns, Pearl Wisdom turned to her student acolytes. "We are going into a place where these ponies traditions are different from ours. Be respectful and courteous. Remember the teachings of the goddesses and the examples of the six heroes of ancient. We are to bring the message of harmony to anypony who will listen. At every settlement we are welcomed, we will set up shrines and temples for the locals to worship at. Keep your medicine bags ready to heal any of the sick and injured. We have been forewarned about the passages leading up to the ruined city above. Those heathens are beyond the light of the goddesses and when the crusade finishes bringing light and justice to New Unicornia, they will come to the city above to purge those whose very existence is blasphemy."

The group set out into the darkness to win hearts, minds and souls for the goddesses. Hopefully they would survive to see the end of their mission and when the bulk of the crusade's army made its way over to the ruins of Stalliongrad, there would be an entire army of the dark tribe ready, willing and able to assist them in their ordeal.

Author's Note

This chapter takes place while the New Equestrian Empire's Crusade to Restore Harmony is fighting its war against New Unicornia.

This is the first of two side chapters to flesh out what's going on in the world.