Escape from Arora Ridge Quarry

It took them some time but Zipp, Hitch, and Feather Breeze finally reached the summit of the mountain that overlooked the Quarry. However, they found it was covered in trees and the view was obscured.

Therefore, they started to make their way down the other side of the mountain, until they found the forest stopped abruptly. Ahead, was open mountainside with no trees or bushes at all, that stretched all the way down to the quarry.

“It’s like the trees just disappear,” Hitch gasped.

“I…I think that’s Allura’s doing,” Feather Breeze frowned as she held a hoof to her head. “I…I sort of remember helping cut trees down.”

Zipp said nothing as she quickly threw Izzy’s hide into the air, and it ‘popped’ up ready for them to use. “Got to hand it to Iz, she’s a genius when it comes to creative stuff. Quick, everypony inside before we’re spotted.”

As they settled down inside the hide, Zipp finally took a good look at the area surrounding the Quarry. “She’s created an open barrier. There are watchtowers in the middle. Anypony trying to cross it will be spotted.”

Hitch frowned as he handed out sets of binoculars. “So, it’s not just the area of the quarry she’s destroyed.”

“No, it’s not,” Feather Breeze sighed. “It’s the countless lives of the creatures she’s enslaved as well.”

“It’s okay, Feather Breeze,” Zipp reassured. “We’ll help them.”

Feather Breeze gulped as she raised the binoculars to her eyes. “I…I know we will, together.”

Zipp got her phone out and put it on record before she started looking through the binoculars too. Then, she began to narrate what she could see.

“So, day one. Overview. The Quarry is set into the side of a mountain opposite where our camp and hide are located. It appears to be a large horseshoe, set around a lake in the centre.”

“The main buildings are at the bottom of the quarry,” Feather Breeze advised. “Known as Level Zero.”

“Okay, and it then works its way into and up the mountainside,” Zipp continued. “There’s…. ten more levels.”

“L…Level One is the confinement level,” Feather Breeze sighed. “That’s where your friend Sunny will be. I’m sorry, it’s changed since I was last in the quarry. There are more huts within the fenced area. I don’t know which she will be in.”

“That’s fine, Feather Breeze,” Hitch reassured. “You can only tell us what you know. On the… sixth level, there’s a lot of buildings, do you know what they are?”

Feather Breeze nodded. “Those are the main huts. Where all the creatures are taken every night.”

“There are watchtowers scattered all over the place,” Zipp gasped. “There are inclines between the levels. One in the centre is running from the bottom level right to the top.”

“That’s the spoil incline,” Feather Breeze explained. “Where all the rock goes. At the top, Diamond Dogs push the trucks to be tipped on a spoil heap on the other side of the mountain.”

They spent some time watching the quarry, continuing to narrate what they could see. However, Feather Breeze was soon starting to struggle.

“Okay, so pulling carts on Level Nine are mainly Hippogriffs and those strange Unicorns,” Zipp narrated. “Feather Breeze, what were they again? A-roar something?”

However, Feather Breeze didn’t respond. Hitch lowered his binoculars and gasped. Feather Breeze was shaking.

“I…I can’t look anymore!” she shouted. “All my friends! My Family!”

She just about resisted the urge to throw the binoculars. However, Hitch gasped as her eyes turned white, her teeth sharp and pointy. She let out a cry of rage as she tried to keep a hold of herself.

Suddenly, she grunted. Her ears twitched as she appeared to be fighting with herself. “H…Help me get away!” she exclaimed. “I…I don’t want…” Her body twitched as convulsions ran through her. “H…H…Help!”

Quickly, Hitch and Zipp abandoned surveillance and hurriedly grabbed Feather Breeze. Pulling her from the hide, they retreated into the woodland until they found another clearing.

Feather Breeze let out a cry of agony as she erupted into flames. Hitch and Zipp looked at each other worriedly, unsure what to do.

As the flames dissipated, they sighed with relief, Feather Breeze was her normal self. She collapsed to the ground, her eyes filling with tears as she began crying despondently.

“Feather Breeze,” Hitch gasped as he hurried to her. “Are you okay?”

Feather Breeze hiccoughed as tears ran down her nose. “No…No, I’m not,” she gasped. “I couldn’t take it, seeing them all trapped down there. My fellow Kirin and all the other creatures. I felt so much anger.”

Hitch sat down in front of her, taking both her forehoofs in his own as he pulled her into a sitting position. He looked into her eyes calmly. “It’s okay,” he reassured. “We’re here, and together…”

“…we’ll save them, I know,” Feather Breeze sighed. “It…It’s not just that though.”

“It’s not?” Hitch asked worriedly.

“I…I could feel it,” Feather Breeze groaned as her eyes welled with more tears. “I could feel the purr, pulling at me as my anger rose. As I got closer to transforming into my Nirik form. It was pulling at me. Urging me to revert to Situation Ninety.”

“Winters Breath used that before,” Zipp gasped.

Feather Breeze nodded. “Rollcall. To go to Level Zero and line up in front of the main barracks. Where all the Nirik go when we’re not on duty.”

“How?” Hitch gasped. “How could you feel it from here?”

“I…I don’t know,” Feather Breeze sighed. “I…I’m sorry. I don’t think I should go nearer again.”

“Well, it would help if we were more supportive,” Hitch frowned. “Instead of being concerned about surveillance, we should help you overcome your anger.”

“You’re the best hope we have at figuring out a rescue plan,” Zipp agreed. “We still need your help, Feather Breeze. We need to remember to help you too.”

“O…Okay,” Feather Breeze nodded. “I’m coming. J…Just keep holding me, Hitch. Keep me in check.”

“Will do,” Hitch smiled.

Elsewhere, Winters Breath couldn’t help feeling worried as she walked through a long wooden-panelled corridor. Around her walked four Nirik. Two in front and two behind. She was well aware she was being escorted. “Oh, I wish you could explain what’s happening my dear ones. You’ve clearly been tasked with taking me somewhere.”

She looked up at the intricate panelling on the walls. The marks where pictures had once been hung were clear to see. Despite all her time free from Allura’s purr, she couldn’t remember this exact corridor.

Finally, they came to a large set of double doors which were being guarded by two more Nirik. They both grunted and moved aside as the doors opened.

As she was escorted into the room, Winters Breath couldn’t help gasping in shock. It was some sort of laboratory, there was equipment all over the place.

Some was very large and freestanding. Equally, there was lots of smaller things sitting on countless benches. Either components or full devices, Winters Breath wasn’t sure.

What she could tell though was some appeared intact whilst most were in pieces. Either in the process of being repaired, constructed or modified.

The biggest piece of equipment was at the far end of the room. A large round gateway on top of a raised platform which resembled a stage. There was a ramp which led from the gateway to the edge of the platform and down to floor level.

The gateway was made from metal rodding which formed a frame. Within the frame, there were many components, some of which appeared to be missing. Countless wires of multiple colours ran between these. Some were neatly routed between the rodding. However, lots spilt out and hung loosely. The gateway was therefore either in the process of being built or modified.

On either side of the large gateway, there were huge glass cylinders. Two on each side. They ran from the platform to the ceiling. Each contained a light pink liquid which was bubbling continuously.

Winters Breath followed the Nirik until they reached the bottom of the ramp. They stopped and she watched as they all turned to face her. Their eyes narrowed and looked like they were ready to pounce should she try to move away.

Presuming she’d reached her destination, Winters Breath looked around the room, seeing no sign of Twitch or Allura. She looked at the Nirik, each one in turn. Then, she gasped and looked up at the gateway worriedly.

“Impressive isn’t it.”

Winters Breath gasped and looked upward towards the voice. She spotted Allura, sitting on a round plinth that was suspended from the ceiling.

Allura jumped, spreading her wings and gliding down to land before Winters Breath. Her tail flicked casually as she smiled cordially. “So, Captain. Care to explain why your arrival was so late?”

Winters Breath gulped, she’d long since learned not to take Allura at face value.

“I was enacting your protocol, Allura. W...We lost somepony.”

Allura’s eyes narrowed dangerously as she looked Winters Breath in the eye. “You lost somepony? You mean one of your followers is missing?”

“Y...Yes, Allura,” Winters Breath stammered. “Feather Breeze, she didn’t return from her capture mission.”

“Interesting, and instead of Earth Ponies. You bring Pegasi!”

Winters Breath gulped as Allura maintained eye contact and snarled angrily.

“T...There were no Earth Ponies. The Pegasus Ponies were all that were found.”

Allura took a step back, looking down at Winters Breath with disappointment.

Winters Breath gulped again, almost cowering under Allura’s gaze. She twitched as thoughts suddenly flashed in her mind. The Kirin are expendable... She closed her eyes and grimaced. The Kirin are Allura’s to control...

Allura couldn’t help grinning. “I see you’re remembering your place at least. So, you enacted evasive protocols on your return?”

“Y...Yes,” Winters Breath gasped. “We didn’t detect anycreature following. B...But I was cautious as per your orders.”

Allura nodded in approval as she turned away casually. “Good. And you are very, very fortunate. Twitch has perfected the method that will ensure Pegasus Ponies remain in check. We will fit out the four you provided and use them as the final test.”

“I didn’t doubt Twitch’s ability,” Winters Breath said as she bowed.

However, Allura spun around, snarling in anger. “Don’t you presume he has the time to correct your mistakes!”

Winters Breath gasped, wide-eyed she dropped to one knee, looking at the ground in submission. “I presume nothing, Allura,” she said desperately. “I...I know you want more ponies to help expand the quarry.”

Allura growled dangerously as she walked around Winters Breath. Studying her intently as she continued to look down obediently.

“If I didn’t need the Captain of Airship Three to have autonomy you’d be under my full spell like the rest of your kin,” Allura reminded. “However, you clearly need a little more incentive for you to perform correctly.”

Winters Breath gasped and looked at Allura fearfully. She watched as Allura turned and walked away. Her eyes flicked towards one of the Nirik, then back at Allura.

Allura turned back and smirked maliciously as she stepped on a lever at the side of the raised platform. There was a clunk and then a rattling sound as part of the floor to one side opened.

Winters Breath gasped as a bell cage rose from the floor and her eyes widened. Sitting inside the cage, looking at the ground, was a light-yellow Kirin. With dark green scales and a bright red mane and tail.

Winters Breath raised a hoof towards the cage in shock. “S...Spring Flare?” she breathed.

Spring Flare’s ear twitched and as she looked up her eyes widened. However, a muzzle over her nose and mouth prevented her from responding. She didn’t move either, on account of the rigid shackles locked around her fetlocks. One pair bound her forehoofs and another her hind legs. Connected to the centre of these was a chain, running from one to the other.

“You should know by now that I keep a close eye on the Airships,” Allura growled. “You insult me by thinking I wouldn’t find out you’d tampered with your daughter's collar, allowing her to revert. Allowing her freedom! Allowing my hold on her to be BROKEN!”

“I...I...” Winters Breath cowered.

Allura walked towards her, snarling dangerously.

“Just remember, you are MINE to control,” she purred. “Just remember, you follow MY rules.”

Winters Breath gasped as her eyes flashed and her head twitched.

I am Allura’s to control... I follow Allura’s rules...

Allura smirked triumphantly as Winters Breath grimaced and tears welled in her eyes.

“Your dear daughter will be spending her time in solitary confinement,” Allura snarled. “She’ll not move. Even being allowed to eat will become a luxury for her. You know what will happen if you defy me again!”

The Kirin are expendable... Winters Breath gasped, her eyes wide with fear.

“It looks like you understand,” Allura smirked triumphantly.

Winters Breath grimaced. Then, after a moment, she sighed and bowed. “I thank you for your leniency, Mistress. What are your orders for Airship Three’s next tour?”

“Wise choice,” Allura smirked. “A standard tour will suffice. However, I have one request. Add both Unicorns and Pegasus Ponies to your capture list.”

Winters Breath couldn’t help gasping as she looked up, her eyes widening in surprise.

Allura smiled knowingly. “Yes, as I said, you are most fortunate. Ensure the Unicorns are fitted with suppression bridles when captured. They have already been added to your ship inventory.”

“Understood, Mistress Allura,” Winters Breath sighed.

“Good, you leave immediately and take these Nirik with you. Nirik! Situation One. Escort Winters Breath directly to her bridge. Once there, Situation One Hundred and Three.”

The Nirik all nodded and immediately began ushering Winters Breath from the room.

Gasping, Winters Breath got one last look at Spring Flare as she was escorted away. As the door closed, Spring Flare looked worriedly at Allura, her eyes glistening.

Allura smirked as she turned towards Spring Flare and began purring. “Just remember, you are MY prisoner forever. Just remember, nocreature can save you.”

Spring Flare gasped as her eyes flashed and her head twitched. I am Allura’s prisoner forever... Nocreature can save me... Her eyes widened as tears welled within them.

“Excellent,” Allura sneered. “I’m glad you appear to understand your situation. Soon, you’ll help me find that dear sister of yours. Until then, get used to your new home.”

Allura grinned deviously before moving back to the leaver and pressing on it. Spring Flare gasped as the cage shuddered before it started lowering into the darkness below.

That evening, there was a great deal of tension in the Pony’s hut. The four Pegasi newcomers all stood together in a corner. Shell-shocked and worried after their first day in the quarry. They stood in silence, seemingly not at all interested in talking to the Earth Ponies.

Sprout had just finished opening the tunnel when he was tapped on the shoulder. “Sander, what’s up?”

“Sprout, somepony needs to do something,” Sander sighed. “They’re just stood there.”

“I know, Sander. I know,” Sprout sighed.

“I wish Sunny was still here with us,” Sander groaned. “She’d know what to do.”

Sprout sighed and shook his head. “I know, you’ll have to leave it to me.”

Sander looked dumbstruck. “You? But…”

“I know, I know, but I’m in the Equestria Guard now,” Sprout responded. “I uphold its values of Unity between the pony tribes.”

With that, Sprout made his way towards where the Pegasi were standing. Trying to look as non-threatening as possible.

“Hi, I’m Sprout Cloverleaf. I’m a private in the Equestria Guard. Look, I know this is a massively stressful and worrying situation but don’t worry. We’ve got an alliance going with the other creatures. We’re working together to escape.”

A frowning and visibly shaking Minty Cloudstrike stepped forward. “That’s all well and good but we’ve been violated.”

She turned and showed Sprout her wings which had been tightly strapped up and immobilised. “Isn’t this what you Earth Ponies want? Pegasi that are unable to fly? That’s the whole reason I started the Pegasus for Pegasi movement. To protect and preserve our Pegasus rights and history!”

“Wait, you’re Minty Cloudstrike, aren’t you.” Sprout groaned. “Shoot, why couldn’t Sunny have still been here.”

“Sunny?” Minty gasped. “As in Sunny Starscout? Was she here? Did she escape?”

Sprout shook his head. “No, she hasn’t escaped. She was here with us until her cover got blown. Now she’s stuck in confinement.”

Minty blinked with confusion, looking at her three followers who looked equally baffled. “So, she’s not able to help us?”

“Well, no,” Sprout admitted. “But...”

“Then how do you expect us to escape?!” Minty exclaimed before sitting down in shock. “We’re really trapped here, aren’t we? I...I thought it was only Earth Ponies being taken. I THOUGHT WE WERE SAFE!”

The other Pegasi looked equally worried and not at all happy with the situation they’d found themselves in.

Sprout frowned, trying to find a way to lighten the mood. Then, his eyes widened, and he smiled as he remembered something.

“So, funny story, Sunny actually thought it was you lot from Pegasus for Pegasi behind the disappearances,” Sprout revealed. “So, you’ve got something in common. She wasn’t expecting a Nirik to poof her away either.”

Minty blinked with shock. “I...I don’t know if I should be honoured our movement was linked to the disappearances or mortified.” She looked thoughtfully at the ground. “C...Can I ask you something? Aren’t you worried about your Maretime Bay traditions being lost and forgotten?”

“Well, no, not really,” Sprout said as he rubbed the back of his head. “I suppose there’s been a whole lot of stuff to get used to. But I’m really not the pony to talk to about this stuff. You really need to speak to Sunny about that.”

“Oh yeah, just speak to one of the greatest protesters ever,” Minty groaned. “One who actually managed to be listened to and be taken seriously.”

“Wait, wh...”

Suddenly, Sprout gasped. His eyes widened and he froze in place. The others looked at each other worriedly. They called his name and shook him, but he didn’t respond.

Finally, after a few tense moments, Sprout gasped, shook his head violently and put a hoof on his forehead. “Whoa.”

“What was that?” Minty gasped. “Will that happen to all of us?”

“No, no it won’t,” Sprout grinned. “Trust me, we’ll escape. The Guardians of Unity aren’t that far away and are here to help us. I’ll explain when the other creatures get here. Minty, you can join us if you like.”

Minty took a step back in shock. “Oh, no, no. I’m not going to be any use.”

“Sure, you will,” Sprout smiled reassuringly. “I bet your friends there think so.”

Minty turned and looked at the other Pegasi, they all looked at each other and nodded.

Gulping, Minty turned back to Sprout. “F…Fine, if they want me.”

With a sudden influx of new arrivals, it was sometime before all the creatures made it to the Pony's hut. Bingo was the last to arrive and bounded effortlessly from the tunnel.

“This better be worth it,” she grunted. “I’ve got territory to defend and my status to maintain!”

“Oh, trust me, it will be,” Sprout grinned. “Although, I want to introduce you all to Minty Cloudstrike first. It seems that Allura has set her sights on Pegasus Ponies now.”

Sprout raised a hoof towards where Minty was stood to one side. “Oh! Err. I…I don’t want to intrude.”

“Come forward, Minty,” Thymus smiled. “This is your hut. You can join us if you like.”

Minty gasped and moved forward timidly. “W…Well, I’m the leader of a protest group. We... Well...”

Skysurf frowned. “Are you the disgruntled Pegasus Ponies that have been protesting against the unification of your kind?”

Minty gasped, not knowing how to respond as she stood wide-eyed and open-mouthed.

“Yeah, they know how Sunny got here,” Sprout clarified.

“Don’t worry, your business is your own,” Thymus smiled. “All we wish is to escape and you are welcome to help or leave the planning with us.”

Minty looked at them unsurely before she took a deep breath and her eyes narrowed with determination. “Thank you, I’ll accept your invitation. So, yes. I’m Minty and I’m the leader of the Pegasus for Pegasi movement. I’ll not say any more about that though, it’s irrelevant here. What were your names?”

Sprout smiled as he pointed to each creature in turn. “So, we’ve got, Skysurf the Hippogriff, Giselle the Griffon, Thymus the Changeling, and Bingo the Diamond Dog.”

“It is, well, nice to meet you all,” Minty nodded.

“Yeah, be better under nicer circumstances wouldn’t it,” Giselle agreed. “I see they chose to strap your wings.”

“Yeah, I feel so violated,” Minty sighed as she looked at her wings. “Even before our flight returned, wings were an important part of Pegasus body language. Now I feel stifled like I cannot express myself properly.”

“You’re not alone, they do that to many Hippogriffs too,” Skysurf sighed. “I’ve become one of them.”

Skysurf moved so the others could see her wings which had been securely strapped up.

“What!” Giselle gasped. “How? Why?”

“They rotate us when the Airship docks,” Skysurf explained. “There are many Hippogriffs here and they don’t need all of us mining and flying the ore. Especially as more and more Griffons arrive.”

Giselle’s eyes widened and she looked mortified.

“I knew they’d mark me as needing to have my wings strapped,” Skysurf continued. “What with the number of times I ‘stopped’ in the blind spot. I’ll be with you ponies tomorrow, pulling carts.”

“No, no we have to get them off somehow,” Giselle blinked as she moved towards Skysurf.

“Giselle, it’s okay,” Skysurf responded holding up a claw to stop her. “I’ve worn them before. Trust me, there’s no way for us to get them off.”

“Very sorry for you but could we get to the point?” Bingo grumbled. “The Airship is here, is the help here too?”

“Yes, they are,” Sprout smiled. “Sunny’s friend, Misty Brightdawn, she messaged me.”

The others all smiled and looked at each other as Giselle danced with excitement. “Okay, okay, what did she say?”

“Most importantly, they’re here,” Sprout smiled. “They set up a camp on the mountain opposite the quarry. Something about a hide too.”

“Sounds like they’ll be watching the quarry,” Skysurf nodded approvingly. “I know that’s what I’d do first. Try and understand what’s what from afar.”

“I think that’s what they’re doing, they’ve already spotted Sunny and Sugar,” Sprout nodded. “They’ll work out how to receive messages from us. Misty said something about being brave, but I don’t understand.”

“Well, I think this is exciting news,” Thymus smiled. “Sadly, it sounds like it’s still a waiting game for us. But hopefully, we’ll soon be able to deliver our spoils to them.”

“Spoils?” Minty frowned.

Skysurf nodded. “Giselle and I managed to acquire examples of the collars and straps they are using on us.”

“Hopefully, they’ll work out their secrets,” Thymus explained. “A way to deactivate them or get them off would be useful.”

“If we had tools, I bet we’d be able to do something ourselves,” Giselle pondered.

Skysurf frowned. “There are no tools for us to get so that’s not an option.”

“Using our natural abilities to complete tasks is clever,” Thymus agreed. “It means none of us need tools.”

“Good point,” Giselle sighed. “We wait then.”

“Sunny’s friends need to be careful, just like we do,” Skysurf sighed.

“Being careful sounds sensible,” Minty agreed. “I wish I’d been more careful. I’ve led three of my friends into this situation.”

“We need patience,” Thymus advised. “We’ve waited this long, a little longer will not hurt us.”

The others could only agree.

Meanwhile, Sunny and Sugar had been playing their hoof-clapping game. However, they stopped when they spotted the LED on their ports turned green and both eagerly headed to remove the muzzles again.

Sugar gasped with relief as she pulled her head free. “Sunny! Did you see the rainbow?”

“W…What?” Sunny croaked before coughing.

“As the Airship was landing,” Sugar smiled. “I’m sure I saw a rainbow in the clouds. It was just a flash, but it looked like…”

“The Marestream!” Sunny exclaimed excitedly before she coughed heavily.

“Sunny,” Sugar said with concern.

“I…I’ll be okay,” Sunny coughed again. “I just need some water.”

Their bowls started filling with food and water as if on cue. Sunny immediately started drinking, even before the bowl was full.

“My throat gets so dry with that thing stuck to my face,” she grumbled. “I…I can’t believe how much better things have become since you got here.”

“Better?” Sugar gasped. “Today was awful!”

Sunny couldn’t help laughing. “Well, yeah. But it was better than it has been. Actually being able to communicate with the Yak, getting them to slow down. That was a massive improvement.”

“Oh!” Sugar blinked and looked down in thought. “No wonder you’ve been so depressed. I still found it hard after they’d slowed down.”

“Like you said, Sugar, we’ll get through this,” Sunny said with determination as she held a hoof to the bars.

“Yeah, we will,” Sugar smiled as she returned Sunny’s hoof bump. “Together.”

“Together,” Sunny grinned.

They both concentrated on eating and drinking, well aware they likely didn’t have much time. Then, Sunny’s head twitched.

I can’t escape… But my friends will rescue me.

She’ll capture all my friends…Sunny couldn’t help chuckling as her cutie mark glowed, clearing the last of the fog from her mind. Still here? She wishes. I still have HOPE!