Calling In The Second String

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15

Chapter 1

Phil broke past the defensive end in a triumphant burst of speed. Fingers brushed against the edge of his uniform—then he was through. The yards fell away beneath him as he approached the end zone, entirely focused on his speed. Any second now there would be a crushing impact, driving him to the ground.

Phil was so utterly focused that he missed what was happening to him, at least at first. He might've missed it completely, if it wasn't for the cheering. This was a season-defining moment, clutching a crucial win for the Eagles that was mere inches from defeat. The crowd was a distant blur on the sidelines; he could never see their faces during a play. But something caught him up short, and made him slow for a step in his charge. Those weren't cheers—those were screams.

Even a slight break from his focus was enough to make him stumble. Something was wrong with his... shoes?

He took one step, and felt his cleats tearing under the strain, their soles giving way underneath him as the fabric split and tore. That was enough to make him stumble sideways. A less drilled receiver might've tripped, but he managed to catch himself for a step, long enough to see over his shoulder.

The entire game was frozen. Players from both teams stopped in place, staring in shock in his direction. A few actually pointed at him, or reached out as though they were about to help. Not a single Cowboys player was anywhere close to him—they'd fallen almost fifteen yards behind. Why?

"God, Phil. What's happening to you?"

To him? As soon as he heard the words, something lurched under his shoulder—the ball deformed under his arm, as though it had just burst, and he looked down, desperate to catch it. Then he saw, in the same moment that he began to feel it. Something red peeked out from beneath his shirt, straining against the fabric there.

What the hell is happening to me?

Now that something had broken his laser-focus on the end zone, he could feel it too. Like someone had stuck his entire uniform and all his safety gear in a supernatural clothes-ruining dryer, and they were shrinking away beneath him. His uniform tightened around his knees and elbows, and he could actually hear the fabric groaning. Something shoved up against his shoulder pads from below, and somehow he felt that too. Rapidly advancing cancerous tumors? Except that theory was apparently wrong, because the whole stadium seemed to be shrinking.

For an instant, it seemed like he was getting taller. A few of his teammates backed away. Even in their helmets, he could see their mouths falling open. Phil’s own helmet felt more and more cramped by the second, though not in a way that made sense. Like it was pressing down painfully on something, maybe?

Then he saw it—the quarterback's own uniform yielding near the shoulders, bright blue fur poking out from beneath. The rest of the team noticed it too, and they scattered, parting from around him. A few other players made it only a step or two before collapsing to the ground, seemingly tripping on something.

"EVERYONE, REMAIN CALM," shouted a voice from the stands. It didn’t sound like either of the commentators who had been running the game so far. This voice was harsh and abrupt—maybe stadium security? "PLEASE REMAIN SEATED."

But Phil lost track of whatever they said next, because the ground spilled out from under him. Rather, the very act of keeping his balance was suddenly impossible, and his arms fell forward.

Such a violent motion was too much for most of his uniform. The shoulders tore completely and his pads fell aside in two pieces, revealing shoulders they were not meant to contain. He gasped in a moment of pain as whatever had been trapped there was suddenly released, then felt the air against his skin.

His hands touched the AstroTurf, though the sensation was dulled somehow. His fingers refused to move, as though he'd just shoved them in the thickest, most immoveable gloves. He tried to stand again, glaring down at one of his hands. Why couldn't he find his balance?

Phil saw a limb that barely even resembled what should've been there. Red fur now completely dominated, with only a few shreds of his uniform still clinging there. His hand... wasn’t a hand anymore at all, but a solid red clump of... something. He wanted to reach out and touch it, but of course he had nothing to touch it with. That's a hoof, he realized, with a distant awareness not unlike watching it happen to someone else.

Ahead of him, media and support staff scattered from around the field, backing away. A few security guards in black appeared from an access door, though none of them seemed to know what to do. They bunched up on one side, staring with as little comprehension as Phil felt.

What's happening to me? He glanced over his shoulder, and found his neck surprisingly flexible—little comfort, since nothing he saw was familiar.

Phil wasn’t a human being anymore. He stood on four hooves, with only scraps of his compression pants clinging on for dear life—at least until a bushy yellow tail emerged from behind him and tore them too. Something twitched on his back, then opened. Suddenly, he felt the pressure of wind against two massive wings that were fully as large as his entire body.

He wasn't the only one, either. Half a dozen others were going through their own version of his living nightmare. There didn't seem to be any particular rhyme or reason to who it chose—Danny was already on four legs, with a sharply pointed horn and no wings to speak of. A member of the opposing defensive line looked even bigger and bulkier than Phil himself, towering over the still-human players like a Clydesdale. Granted, he'd never seen the Budweiser horses look that shade of green before.

"What's happening to you?" asked Carlos Reyes—the Cowboys' quarterback. He nudged the green horse with one gloved hand, as though checking to see if they were real. A visible spark arced between the horse's green shoulder and Carlos's hand, then he started to wobble and swell. His fingers fused so quickly Phil could see it in real time. Carlos actually tried to get away, but it did him no good. He made it three steps before his shoes tore apart and he tripped on the AstroTurf.

The remaining players scattered, backing away from the field in a disorderly blob. None of them screamed in terror, though it would be hard to tell their voice apart from the terror filling the stands.

Phil spared one glance up there, and that was all he needed to see that chaos was spreading among the audience as well. Not this strange transformation, but something much more familiar. People were fighting to get out of the stadium in a terrified disarray of fans. Phil could hardly blame them, though he could only hope nobody got crushed under the mob.

Seeing Carlos, the security guards came no closer than the edge of the field. They watched—a few with hands on their batons—though what they were going to do with them, Phil couldn't guess. They did nothing to stop the support staff and untransformed players from fleeing. Most members of both teams didn't go far past the field. They stopped just past security, both teams freely mingled now, watching the scene in the center unfold.

One figure moved in the other direction—one of the refs, in striped black and white. He ignored warning shouts from a security guard and cut straight across the grass towards Phil. He looked so small and frail compared to the clump of players in the center of the field.

Before he reached Phil, he came up short, bending down to the grass in front of him. Where he'd dropped the ball?

It wasn't a ball anymore, though. Instead it was a perfect sphere, made of a kind of pinkish glass. It glowed brighter than a stadium spotlight when he looked at it, with faint tendrils that seemed to reach across the field. One snaked all the way over to him, lingering for another second more before vanishing.

"I hoped this would happen in the locker room," said the ref. Phil looked down at his face—he was an older man, with a carefully groomed mustache and short white hair. Well, for a split-second that’s what he looked like.

There was a flash of pink light, briefly concealing his outline completely. When it faded, the tiny-looking referee was now taller than Phil himself, though he didn't look like anyone else on the field. He had a beak, and a pair of avian claws that could still grip the glowing pink sphere with ease.

Someone else was hurrying across the field—a reporter? Well, she dressed like one, and wore a press badge. But Phil hadn't seen a sports reporter with that particular shade of terror and determination before. "This was not the plan!" she exclaimed. She glanced over at the gathering clump of players. One by one, the other five victims joined Phil, stumbling over. They walked clumsily, but it was much harder to fall over on four legs.

"The Pearl wasn't supposed to take hold so quickly," said the referee—well, former referee. They did still have white fur, though it was mixed with silvery feathers now instead of black stripes. "Apologies to each of you. We imagined more a covert disappearance after the game and less a... national catastrophe." He tossed the sphere to the reporter as she approached, and she caught it in one hand.

There was another flash, and the sports reporter vanished. In her place was another horse—one Phil's own size this time, though her frame was elegant and lean, and she had a slim horn instead of wings. Somehow, the sphere didn't drop from where her hands had been, but remained in the air in front of them. "The authorities are reacting. We have to move quickly."

Phil was a bit disoriented, and barely able to stand. But he wasn't going to sit still and let this happen. "You did this to us?!" he asked. He had to yell over the terrified crowd, but he probably would've shouted at them anyway.

"Fix it! Change us back!" Without meaning to, he opened both of his wings again, spreading them out to either side. Making himself look bigger, perhaps?

"No," the mare said. Her voice was so abrupt, so absolutely confident, that it caught him up short. "Not yet anyway. We can use the Pearl of Transformation to return your humanity, but you must first cooperate."

Phil glowered down at the horse, though more and more he found the word didn't really suit her. Sure, they had the same basic body plan—but horses were clearly animals. Those eyes were huge and expressive, her face so easy to read. Even the little streak of light blue in her hair seemed natural, along with the marks on her flank.

Come to think of it, every member of his team had one of those. He'd thought they were just scraps of cloth, but no. Did he have one too? He twisted his head around briefly, and could make out something orange—but this was stupid. He had more important things to worry about.

"There are six of us, and two of you," said Danny. His voice was low and threatening. "I think everyone on this field could do with you reversing the damage you did. Then we won't stop you from running to try and escape the consequences of your actions, how about that? Sounds like a square deal to me."

"Try it," the former referee said. "Starlight here will turn your brains to mush. But if you win, you get the prize of never seeing your old bodies again. Or you could cooperate, and we'll send you home when this is finished."

"We need help," said the girl—Starlight. "Please. We had very little time, very little magic—but we found you. My home has been conquered by evil. We came here to recruit the bravest warriors we could find under such desperate measures."

"Bravest... warriors?" Phil asked, indignant. "Does this look like a war to you?"

Screams filled the stadium. A fire had started in the concession stands, filling the air with choking smoke.

But it wasn't just that. Sirens blared from nearby, and Phil could see dozens of uniformed figures hurrying out the home team’s tunnel towards them. Riot police, from the look of it, armed with huge weapons. Some of those weapons were pointed at him.

"Either that, or go with them," Starlight continued. "But help us, and I swear we'll change you back."

Phil still felt like he was in a dream—any moment he'd wake up on a stretcher, surrounded by paramedics. Hopefully whatever injury had given him such vivid hallucinations didn't put him out for the season.

He didn't wake up, though, and the police were getting closer.

They can't change me back. If this is contagious, they might have to lock us up, maybe kill us.

"Fine," he said reluctantly. "I'll help."

Chapter 2

"I'm glad," said the horse who called herself “Starlight Glimmer.” "Because I wouldn't know what to do if you hadn't."

Her horn started to glow.Phil backed away, and several of his companions did as well, staring with open shock and confusion at the manifestation before them. Even stranger, something lifted into the air from her fallen clothing—a little folded sheet of paper covered in strange markings.

"He doesn't speak for all of us," Carlos said, his voice as angry as Phil still felt. "Your cause is heartbreaking, I'm sure. Lots of innocent, uh…horses. And nobody can say I don't care about horses. But you're asking us to fight for you, and risk our own lives."

Someone else nodded—Phil wasn't sure who. They had wings, but bat wings instead of feathery ones. "Press-ganged, if we fight your war, then maybe could you think about sending us home? Not winning me over either."

The security guards had the field entirely encircled now. Plenty of them were facing outward, keeping bystanders from getting too close. That was probably for the best, considering the transformation seemed contagious. Or at least it had been—maybe now with the Pearl out of Phil’s hands, that would finally stop.

But just as many guards had their weapons pointed vaguely in the direction of him and the other players. They wouldn't be allowed to walk away from this. "Come on," Danny called. "I'm not defending this, but do you want to go with whoever shows up to drag us away? Men in black, or lizard people, or—whoever it is?"

While security tightened around them, the one named Starlight Glimmer didn't seem to care. She had the whole diagram in front of her now, and her horn glowed so bright that Phil could not even look at it anymore. He didn't need to know how magic worked to guess that she was going to get them across worlds, to the place these aliens came from.

The bird creature tucked the Pearl away in his satchel, looking between his angry new recruits.

"Before you refuse, we didn't get to all the other reasons you might want to help. There will be incredible riches for the ones who saved two kingdoms," said the bird-creature, while his companion focused on the book in front of her. "Or maybe the Pearl of Transformation could do more than return you to the bodies you once had. We could make you younger than you were, stronger, fix any injuries or illnesses, change anything you wished..."

Phil's eyes narrowed as the bird continued. He wasn’t inclined to trust this creature to begin with—not after being transformed in the middle of the game, a game he had been about to win. Under other circumstances, the offer of wealth and strength and who knew what else would be a compelling one. He might have accepted on his own, if given the chance. That was a strong offer.

"We didn't even get your name," Carlos said.

"Sky Beak," came the reply. "Starlight, are we almost—"

In response, the light from her horn exploded outward in a wave. Phil lifted one wing reflexively to shield his eyes, without knowing exactly how he'd done it. Even so, it was barely enough to stop him from being briefly blinded.

The watching security staff and human observers reacted as though they'd been struck. Some ducked for cover, others screamed, dropped their weapons, or generally cowered from the impossible sight.

The sky opened at the fifty-yard line, parting from the grass to some impossibly distant point far above. Through it Phil could see nothing, aside from a swirling blue that somehow stood behind the world he knew.

It was real magic, as terrifying as the artifact that had transformed him.

"Now we...go," Starlight said. She looked visibly exhausted, her ears folded and tail hanging limply. "While we can. They will recover, and might try to stop you." She was the first to step through. As she crossed the threshold, she vanished in a flash of purple light, leaving a trail of sparks that fell to the ground where she had stood.

"It's not like they can't send us back," Phil said reassuringly, mostly to the other players. "And make us human again. Sky Beak, you said? Do you plan on keeping that promise?"

Sky Beak nodded hastily, backing towards the opening. "Every word of it. If you're victorious, two wealthy nations would owe you their gratitude. No creature expects strangers taken against their will to fight without reward."

"Fine," Carlos grunted. His wings opened partway, turning towards the stranger—some subconscious way to show his anger and mistrust, maybe. "Phil, you're really doing this?"

Phil nodded. "The only way to get our humanity back is through there. If that comes with a payday on the trip back, the league can hardly blame us. Every team in the country will be jumping to sign us."

What happened to a contract when you were kidnapped to fight a war in another world? It wasn't as though he could keep his role as a horse anyway.

A service gate banged open on the far end of the field. Men in black armor emerged—riot police, from the look of their shields and batons. Their targets were obvious; they charged straight for the field.

The open portal was already dimming. Its bright light was now weaker than the stadium lights.

"Time to go," Sky Beak said. "I hope you will all join us. The need is desperate. Please." He took another step back, then vanished in a shower of sparks.

Phil took one last look at the stadium, and the shredded remains of his uniform, then charged through the portal.

There was no intermediate step, no middle-world. His hooves were on grass one moment, then on something much harder the next. Stone?

He was still running, into a space he could barely see—a huge room with an impressive, vaulted ceiling overhead and something glass nearby. Was that a table? There was very little light in the room, other than a lantern on the floor.

He managed not to blunder into it, slowing to a stop in front of one of several dusty chairs.

The other two aliens were already here. Starlight Glimmer was settled onto her haunches against the table, catching her breath. Sky Beak lingered near the door, crouched low and looking out into the dark space beyond.

"Just you?" Starlight asked.

He didn't have to answer, because there was another flash from behind him, then two more.

Carlos appeared, then Danny, the bat, and the huge one that was still built like a defensive line—but now a horse. Then the patch of bright purple vanished from the air, plunging them into gloom.

Only the lantern remained, not enough to light such a huge space.

Phil recovered faster than the others. He circled around the dusty room, with its seven big chairs and faintly glowing table. It no longer looked small compared to his new body. Here the furniture was horse-sized, and the windows were at a comfortable height.

There was no trace of the field, or the crowd, or the charging police. They were in another world.

"We can't stay here long," Starlight whispered. She had caught her breath, but still looked tired. "The traitor will sense our magic from wherever she is, and send someone to investigate. We have to go."

"I hope you don't want us to just…charge into battle or something," Phil said, resting one hoof up on the nearest chair. "That isn't really what we do. And I'm not sure how well I know how to be a horse. Do these wings even work?"

"Pegasus," Starlight corrected. "And yes. We transformed you using the forms that fit you best—powerful warriors."

"The plan was not to fight tonight," Sky Beak said. He kept his voice down, constantly looking back at the doorway. "We have carts and forged papers waiting. We will act the part of loyal servants to the king, transporting supplies for his industry."

"Still not sure what you expect us to do," Danny said. He reached up with one hoof, nudging the pointed horn on his forehead. "We fight like hell on the field, but it's not a war. We were playing a game. Sport."

"A battle sport," Starlight said. "I have never seen creatures fight like that. Equestria has survived wars battled with less intensity. The Storm King's soldiers will have no way to react to ponies as brave and powerful as you."

I sure hope so, Phil thought. The offer of transport to another world and the rewards for a successful campaign all sounded incredible, when he was on the field and in no danger.

But now that he was through, Phil realized the weight of what he'd just done. I came with them. They expect five people to make them win a war.

Starlight Glimmer stood up, then the lantern lifted into the air of its own accord. She floated it across the room, inspecting them. "I thought there were six of you. That number was important—in case you had to wield the Elements, it would've been—no matter." She gestured to the open door.

"Sky Beak, is your disguise ready?"

He nodded grimly, then reached into his satchel again. His outline flashed and blurred, and the bird was gone. Sky Beak had become a horse, of the same variety as Phil, with silvery wings. He was no longer the second-largest creature in the room, but was smaller than all but Starlight.

"Guess we don't have a choice," Carlos said. "We'll follow you until we can learn how this war of yours is going. But once we know what's going on, we'll do it our way. Won't we, Phil?"

He nodded reflexively. "I assume that's the point of recruiting outside help. We won't fight it the same way you would."

They left the throne room, then passed through hall after darkened hall. The castle's interior was vast, though largely empty now. There were many prominent blank places on the walls, broken doors, and damaged furniture. It might have once held vast wealth, but that wealth had since been looted.

Then they stepped out a final set of doors and onto a dirt road.

It was night outside. Down a short road ahead of them was a town, though it clearly belonged in no place Phil had ever seen.

Thatch roofs, dirt roads, and no sign of streetlights. Some light glowed from inside homes, though he couldn't tell if they were electric or something else. Others flickered off the buildings, moving slowly. Torches, he guessed, coming in their direction.

Off alongside the castle was a row of carts, with empty harnesses hanging from each. They were packed with barrels, sacks, and boxes of various sizes.

"The three strongest of you get to pull these," Starlight said. "Everyone else, hide; this stuff on top is just there to make it look like we're really moving stuff, see?"

She lifted a tarp, revealing a huge space underneath. It would be downright comfortable under there for someone.

Not Phil. He stepped forward, and Carlos did too. The lineman came forward behind them. Whoever that was, Phil suspected they could probably outmatch the whole team with that much muscle.

The others were all too eager to hide. Meanwhile, Sky Beak and Starlight both donned black cloaks that had been hanging inside, with an official-looking badge on the breast.

Phil ended up in the front cart. Starlight made her way over, lowering the straps down. "You just step into it here. Get it around your shoulders without crushing your wings."

He obeyed, then tried to pull. It didn't surprise him that being a horse made the task fairly easy. The pony named Starlight walked alongside, her face obscured by the cloak.

They didn't continue towards the town, but took the first fork, leading away in the gloom. Without streetlights, he had to rely entirely on Starlight's lantern to see where he was headed. "Where are we going, anyway?"

Starlight flicked her tail ahead of them. Phil couldn't tell where she indicated, not in so much darkness. But even if he had, what difference would it make? This wasn't his world. "The one place that the Storm King's troops don't dare to visit: the Everfree Forest."

"I have no idea what that means."

She had sounded so confident when she said it, as though the pronouncement ought to mean something. It might've been cute, if she wasn't a horse.

"Right. Of course you don't. Well—it's not that far away, and it should be a safe place to hide while you figure out what to do to save Equestria."

Chapter 3

Phil continued in silence for a time, tugging the cart alongside his strange new companion. Volunteering for the hard job might have put him at risk out in the open, but that also meant he had his head up to see where he was going. They expected him to save this world somehow, and he would have to get to know it first.

That would've been easier if they had arrived during the day, maybe in the center of town instead of just outside it. But he could still perceive some things—vaguely familiar trees and grasses, a single moon overhead, and recognizable smells of damp earth and sagebrush.

It still felt like a dream. One minute he'd been about to score one of the most important victories of his career, and the next—he wasn't even human anymore. Maybe the horses would change him back and let him go home, but maybe they wouldn't. Maybe their forced recruits wouldn't be enough to free them, and they would die here instead.

At least there was no one else on the road with them, for now. He had a little time to catch his breath and figure out how his new body worked. The adrenaline of his traumatic transformation was fading, leaving a much harder task in its wake.

"Why did you change us, anyway?" he asked, finally breaking the silence. "You could've opened up your portal and brought us in without that. We wouldn’t have been so hesitant about helping you."

Starlight slowed her steps until she was walking along beside him, enough that he could see her face, with one eyebrow sharply raised. "You wouldn't even be strong enough to pull that cart," she said. "The Storm King's troops would make you look like foals. And everywhere you went, you would be easy to track. Plus—I didn't see any magic. I don't know how you'll win, but I'm pretty sure you will need some magic to make it happen."

A few hours ago, he would've laughed at something like that—of course magic wasn't real, and her attitude made no sense. But now he was talking to a unicorn, he had wings, and he was in another world. His understanding of what was real obviously needed adjustment.

"I guess that... makes sense," Phil admitted. "So, when do you give us clothes?"

She tossed back the hood of her cloak, shaking her mane free. Her smile seemed genuine this time. "I'm playing your guard—a Storm loyalist. Most ponies don't wear much, unless there's a special occasion, or especially in bad weather. Which... comes around quite a bit these days. He's the Storm King, after all. He takes it literally."

But she couldn’t say more, because a pair of dark shapes appeared on the road ahead of them. He couldn't see them yet, but they'd clearly noticed the group, and they were making their way over.

They weren't horses—both silhouettes stood upright on two legs. He might've mistaken those shapes for humans, if they hadn’t been so large. No human was so thick around, or had such long arms.

"You're slaves," Starlight whispered. She glanced over her shoulder, where two other carts rolled along in a line behind them. "Heads down, stay quiet. I'll get us through this."

Sky Beak hurried to the front of the group, trotting alongside Starlight. His transformation into a pony might’ve been complete, but he also moved unevenly, without much coordination. "You sure about this?"

Starlight nodded once, raising her hood higher over her head. "We knew it might happen. I've talked my way out of worse before."

They would not have very long to react. As they closed in, Phil got his first good look at the guards. His first impression had been right—they weren't human. He might've guessed them for some previously unknown species of great ape with a rich mane of white fur covered by a mask.

They were also massive, towering well over twice the height of any of the ponies. They wore heavy metal breastplates, and carried a spear in one hand and shield in the other.

"Halt!" one of them grunted, with a voice so deep it shook Phil's whole body. He slowed—not too quickly, or else he’d get crushed by the weight of the cart behind him. It rolled to a stop without much difficulty. He heard the others come to halt with more or less the same ease that he did.

The others wouldn't be so close to these oversized monsters. He couldn't see their faces, just a faint blue glow emerging from openings in their masks.

"Why are you leaving?" one demanded.

Starlight levitated something out of her robe—a piece of black paper marked with something blue. One of the creatures took it and unfolded it with hands that were too large to be doing such delicate work. Then it squinted down towards it.

"These slaves are transporting supplies to a new mine. We're quarrying stone to erect more monuments in our mighty ruler's honor."

She wasn't the best actress Phil had ever heard.

The creature took the sheet of paper, and instead of handing it back, tucked it away into its armor. "Not at night. You must go back with us. We wait. Officer can decide to let you."

"I don't think you understand how important this monument is," Sky Beak said, bolder than Starlight had been. "Our king won't tolerate delays. He insists these slaves work through the night to open a quarry. Do you want him to discover your name was the one who stopped us from doing our work?"

Phil shifted his weight in the harness, lifting it subtly from his shoulders. No animal from his world would ever move a load with something it could easily remove, but in a world of horses, there was nothing physically restraining him.

The guards closed in, standing to full height. "Loyal ponies should not argue," one said. It was the only one who had said anything he could understand, in fact. The other creature only grunted to the first, gesturing with one meaty fist. "Your place is obedience. Do as told. Come back with us, wait to leave until morning."

That was exactly the sort of response Phil was afraid of. Starlight Glimmer and Sky Beak might’ve been very brave, but their plans were less than stellar. Couldn't they see what was going to happen?

Phil glanced up and down the trail they were on, scanning for any possible help—either for their side, or the enemy. But there was no one out this way, only the forest ahead of them.

"We go back. Tomorrow, you can build the mine." The beast gestured with its spear, pointing vaguely back towards the town. He shoved both ponies ahead of him, back the way they'd come. Then he started walking.

Dressing like a loyalist to this monster didn't seem to matter much. The Storm King's troops still manhandled them.

The other soldier stopped on the trail, blocking off the path, and pointing with its spear.

It was probably a very bad idea to get violent with creatures twice as tall as he was. But as Starlight passed him, Phil saw the desperation on her face, and recognized what it meant. Their impersonation would not survive a trip back to town.

Phil didn't just have his own safety to worry about—he'd been the loudest voice encouraging the other kidnapped players to come here, instead of taking their chances on Earth. It would be rather difficult for the magical aliens to keep their promises if their journey ended in one of the Storm King's prisons.

Phil shifted in his harness, as though he were about to obey instructions and hike back to town. He waited until the first guard was directly behind him, in the most vulnerable position possible.

Then he exploded into motion, as sudden and dramatic as the snap of an opening play. He twisted to the side, smashing his shoulder into the back of the monster's knees. It was a dirty kind of fighting, but dirty was how you won against someone bigger than you were.

The other monster roared with surprise, lumbering into motion, but he was too slow to stop his friend from going down. He slid along the dirt, dropping his spear and shield in surprise. Phil kicked the weapon away, then brought his weight into the monster's head this time.

The monster had a helmet, making the blow sting far more than his first strike. But even without his usual protective gear, this new form was strong. The creature spasmed, then collapsed into unconsciousness.

The second guard came lunging for him. Not with the spear, strangely—instead, he tried to batter Phil with the shield.

He might've succeeded, if Phil was fighting alone. But his attack roused the other players to action. It was the little horse who reached the other creature, smashing into the shield the same way he might've clashed with another team's offensive line.

Incredibly, it was the shield that dented, seconds before the creature holding it tumbled backward to the ground.

The pony didn't stop there, ripping the spear from his hand and battering the shaft against the monster's head. After a few seconds of struggling, the fight was over.

Phil whistled. "Damn. Didn't see you change! Who are you?"

"Aaron, Phil."

"Should've known." He grinned, patting the stallion's shoulder with one hoof. Of course, it would be his team’s star linebacker.. And if the bat wasn't from the Cowboys, that would mean Carlos was the only member of his team who had made it into the horse world—bad luck for being so close to him while he carried the Pearl.

One by one, the other hiding players emerged. Carlos had a little more trouble getting out of his harness, but he made it. But they weren't the only ones to notice—their shouting had reached the town.

More monsters shaped like the ones they had already fought appeared on the road, running in their direction.

"I told you I was confident," Starlight said, glancing down at the beaten soldiers, then back up at him. "Battle sport."

"Impressive," a disguised Sky Beak said. "But I don't think we can fight the whole detachment. We've lost whatever stealth we had."

Phil nodded. "Do we need the carts? We could just run."

"We didn't need three carts to hide six ponies... five. They're also packed with stolen supplies for the rebellion."

Phil brushed the dirt off his coat, then darted back for his harness. They still had some distance on the reinforcements coming in from town, but that would change if they stood around doing nothing.

"Seems a little odd," Carlos said, shoving the unconscious soldier off the path. "They could have tried harder to kill you. I've seen some pathetic fighting in my time, but that was bad."

"Murdering someone for fighting back?" Sky Beak said, once they were moving again. "That would be barbaric, even for the Storm King. He only ever imprisons his royal enemies, rather than resorting to something so—final. A laborer isn't worth much if they're dead."

Yet as he said it, so much of the pony misunderstanding came into focus. They thought Phil was a warrior, because their version of war didn't involve lethal violence! From that perspective, the sport was real combat.

But there was no chance to share that impression with his kidnapped teammates. There were soldiers behind them, closing in with every moment. Phil pulled his cart along the trail, leaving the unconscious guards behind.

Soon the forest closed in around them, the path narrowing so that it was just barely wide enough for one cart. He trailed behind Starlight, who levitated the lantern high overhead to light the way.

"I hope you're sure about them not following us into the woods. They're just trees. Is the monster mash afraid of a few leaves?"

"We call them Ogres," Starlight said. "And yes. The Storm King's army are stronger than most creatures, and bigger. But the Everfree Forest is a realm of wild magic, one that Equestria's diarchs could never subdue. Neither can the Storm King."

"Wild magic?" Carlos called, from just behind them. "As in, dangerous?"

"Extremely," Sky Beak said. He fluttered down into the front of the group, now restored to his true hippogriff form. "But Starlight helped establish the rebellion here. She understands its dangers better than any creature."

Fantastic. At this point Phil had no choice but to follow. If they survived this, he would need to have a word with the locals about sharing the details of a plan before they jumped into danger.

Chapter 4

The Everfree Forest was definitely the creepiest wood Phil had ever visited. The trees were ancient old-growth monsters, further confusing his idea of scale. His own body had seemed so huge compared to the humans he left behind, but now this place made him feel small all over again.

The trail was narrow and poorly maintained, so thin in places that his cart threatened to leave the path entirely and tumble into the abyss. He managed to drag it along, even when only one of its wheels was touching the ground beneath him.

There were plenty of untraceable sounds of wildlife around them as they walked, crushing twigs and scampering over leaves. But Phil never got a good view. Despite Sky Beak's warning, nothing attacked them during their trek. The Storm King's soldiers didn't follow them either, or if they did, they never caught up.

Soon enough, an artificial shape rose ahead of them from the shadows—a vast castle. Getting to it wouldn’t be easy, as the path ended at a cliff spanned only by a rope bridge. Peering beyond the cliff, Phil caught a better look of the castle’s outline.. This one was much easier to wrap his head around than the crystal-shaped one they had left behind, as this castle was made of stone, having overgrown by numberless years.

There was light visible in its broken windows and smoke rising from holes in its tumbled roof. "We can't cross this bridge with so much weight," Starlight announced. "Stop here. We'll let ponies know we've arrived, and they can carry these supplies across."

"Supplies, right," Carlos said, annoyed. "Those things we could have brought if you had warned us we were going to another world, instead of taking us from the middle of the game. You know, our home had some pretty killer weapons, but none of us brought any."

"Killer is too extreme," Sky said. "Except for the Storm King, perhaps. If he escapes, he might raise another army and return one day.

"That's not the point—" Carlos began.

A strange howling silenced him as it eerily swept across the clearing. Itsounded like wolves, though louder and deeper than any wolves Phil had ever heard back home. They were probably the sort of monsters you didn't want to run into in the middle of the night with your back to a cliff.

Starlight seemed to be thinking along those same lines, because she backed towards the bridge. "How are you supposed to use a bridge without hands?" Phil asked, following her. "How do you stay steady?"

"By walking very, very, carefully," she answered. She'd ditched the disguise, keeping only the lantern floating in her magic now. But the supernatural glow of her powers was almost as bright as the lantern itself. That would be a neat trick, maybe as good as having his hands back. But if Phil could figure out his wings...

They crossed. Phil's wings opened as soon as he was over the dark expanse beyond, spreading as wide as he could make them. That meant the feathers brushed against the ropes on either side. It probably wasn't strong enough to hold him if something went wrong, but maybe he could catch the air and glide?

Thankfully, the bridge was in better shape than it looked. It barely seemed to notice he was there. It did worse for Aaron, who made it creak and rumble with every step. But Phil himself was built for flight. Maybe he even had hollow bones.

But he was far from weak, or else he would've broken something when he attacked the ogre.

Phil still felt much better once his hooves were on solid ground again.

"I thought moats were supposed to be filled with water," Danny said. "Not just a bottomless cliff!"

"The Castle of the Two Sisters has been abandoned for a thousand years," Starlight finally said. "There have been a few efforts to restore it, but none serious. It's full of old magic, traps, and dangerous creatures nesting in the lower levels."

Then she grinned. "At least, that's what we make sure everypony believes. So long as the place is thought to be so dangerous that nopony would dare come here, it means we can keep hiding here. The Storm King's army doesn’t understand magic that well; ogres don't have any of their own. So the more dangerous they think it is, the less likely they are to check for us."

That made some sense. The group closed ranks anyway. The newly-arrived humans knew just as little about magic as the ogres did, after all.

The castle’s front doors looked entirely collapsed, having vanished into a pile of rubble. But instead of approaching that entrance, Starlight took them to a random section of wall, and then pushed aside some vines hanging there. It revealed a postern gate beyond, which opened with the glow of her horn. "Welcome to our hideout—the last vestige of resistance to occupation."

"We're trusting you a great deal by bringing you here," Sky Beak said, leading the way in. "But if we're captured, you can bet the Storm King won't change you back. If he learned about your world, he would only threaten you too. There's no threshold he won't cross to grow his power and expand his dominion."

"I think he would regret it," Phil muttered. The hippogriff looked doubtful, but Phil didn't elaborate. They were still his kidnappers, after all. They weren't willing allies who he could trust with whatever he knew.

The castle's interior looked as abandoned as it did on the outside, at least for a while. They walked through crumbling rooms, overflowing with broken furniture and ancient art. At least there was no sign of looters here. If anything, the rooms looked too abandoned, like show scenes in a theme park. The walls were covered in comically large spider webs, and there was almost no room to step through the rubble.

But then they came to another door, this one made of sturdy, rough wood. Starlight banged one hoof up against it in a rhythmic pattern. "Password changes every few days," she supplied. "You'll have to memorize it. If you don't get the right reply back, run."

Someone knocked on the other side in a similar musical pattern. Then the door opened, and another unicorn appeared on the other side, along with a wave of bright light. The space beyond was warm and well-lit. More importantly, another smell came from within, one Phil hadn't even realized he was craving until that moment.

Food! Suddenly, he realized he could eat a horse. Or eat like a horse, anyway.

"It's about time. Trixie was worried you were stranded in another world!"

"Trixie shouldn’t have worried,” Starlight said, gesturing over her shoulder. "We found what we were looking for—warriors willing to help Equestria's cause."

"Willing is one way to put it," said the bat. When he spoke, Phil recognized his voice too. That was Harvey, a tight end for the Eagles. "They refused to change us back unless we helped you. It was a straight-up kidnapping."

"Trixie is in tears for you," said the horse, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "They lost their country, their people are enslaved—but all they ask for is a little help in return? How inconsiderate!" She stepped aside, opening the way into the room beyond.

Past a narrow hallway was a common room of considerable size. The space was underground, without windows to speak of, but the locals had made up for it the best they could. There were bright lights overhead, a roaring fire in a huge fireplace, and several long tables. A few dozen horses were inside, of all shapes and sizes and ages.

Other than a few vague patterns, it was hard to put together any coherent things they had in common. The ones with wings had lighter shades, the ones without wings or horns were typically a little bigger, and the unicorns had different tails than the rest.

Starlight had been telling the truth when she said the horse creatures didn't wear clothes. A few of them had cloaks or jackets, but the rest wore nothing at all.

They were also one of the most pathetic, downtrodden groups he had ever seen. They resembled the victims and refugees he saw in the saddest war photos from troubled regions of the globe, huddled and beaten down. They were a scrawny group, and most were dirty and disheveled. There probably wasn't much running water in this broken-down castle.

By the look of things, mealtime had just finished, with many groups moving away from the tables to help clean up. He held out one wing to get Starlight's attention, pointing towards the open kitchen. "I hope you plan on feeding us while we're here. We've already saved you once today."

"Yes," she said, sounding even more worn-out than she had been before. "Trixie, can you take care of them? I need to get a crew to unload our supplies before the animals get them."

"No," the unicorn said flatly. "Absolutely not. I will see to the supplies. You deserve a chance to rest. Trixie can only assume a physical transformation must be exhausting."

"Thanks, I think." Starlight continued past her. "Alright everyone, with me. I can introduce you to the other leaders once we get you fed. Everypony should be here."

"And this is where I leave you for the time being." Sky Beak inclined his head towards Phil. "Thank you for helping with our escape. I look forward to a larger demonstration of your battle prowess over the coming weeks." He left, taking off into the air and flying away across the room. Phil watched him go, wishing that he could do the same.

"Every...pony?" Carlos asked. "You look like horses to me."

Maybe they resembled horses in some ways. Phil didn't argue with him, as he had thought of the aliens using that same word up until that moment. But no earth horse had such huge eyes or came in such varied colors.

"No horses in Equestria," Starlight said. "You'd have to go to Saddle Arabia for that. We're ponies. Three main tribes—unicorns, pegasi, and earth ponies. That's you, you, and you. You're a thestral, uh...I don't think I caught your name."

"Harvey," he supplied.

Their little conversation attracted plenty of stares from the ones they passed. Phil could only imagine what he might've thought if he heard someone in a restaurant explain to a relative what it meant to be human. But the ponies here were so beaten down that no one questioned them. Or maybe they knew about Starlight's mission and supported her efforts to find help from Earth.

They ate bowls of plain soup at an empty table. Phil didn't say much during the meal, instead focusing entirely on getting as much into his system as possible. For his first meal in another universe, it was neither spectacular nor offensive. He couldn't taste anything resembling meat in the bowl, but surprisingly didn't miss it.

Starlight finished before any of the others. "I'm going to find Rainbow. You ponies stay here please, don't wander."

She didn't give them a chance to argue, vanishing down an open doorway—literally vanishing in this case, with a flash of light and everything. So, unicorns could teleport? That was cool.

"So," Carlos said as soon as she was gone. They were hardly alone in the room, but every other group had their own subdued conversations going. Most of the locals had gone off by then, so there were only a dozen or so ponies left, whispering quietly to each other. It was as close to privacy as they were likely to get. "We're actually here. We're doing this. Putting our lives at risk for the people who kidnapped us."

"You think we should defect?" Harvey asked. "Their enemy—maybe he would send us back to Earth. Might be worth it to him just to get us out of his hair."

"Before we've even done anything?" Danny asked, indignant. "I don't see it. There's no reason for him to be afraid of us yet. And once he is, I'm sure this 'Storm King' guy would just throw us in prison anyway."

"We can't do that," Phil said, setting one hoof onto the table with a loud, dramatic thump. "I'm as upset as you all are. It's wrong what they did. But look around you. These people didn't do anything. They're the ones who suffer if we do that."

Several low murmurs passed between them—mumbled agreement, mostly. They weren't heartless.

"The damage is already done," said the bat pony. "The whole world saw what happened to us. If we could even go back now, it would all be for nothing."

And there would be no reward, Phil privately added.

Chapter 5

It was a strange feeling to wake up as another species. When Phil woke, his memory of the day before returned only slowly at first. His limbs didn't make sense and his world was sideways. He tried to sit up, but only flailed around with his wings. Then he remembered. There was the end zone, victory within his reach—when suddenly, his humanity was stolen before a crowd of thousands.

He looked down and found the strange body he'd been given—a pegasus instead of a person. So much for the last day being a bad dream. He groaned, then rolled out of bed.

Phil woke up in the bedroom they'd given him last night. The rebellion might have been ragtag and underequipped, but having a whole castle meant they had plenty of space. They'd given him a sizable room to sleep in, even if it was only a sleeping bag on a cot.

He stretched, shaking out the discomfort of his poor sleeping arrangement. How was he supposed to get comfortable with a wing pinned under his body? He still felt groggy, like he'd been tossing and turning all night. He would need to ask Starlight Glimmer about it—or better yet, someone with wings. Having a horn was probably less inconvenient to deal with.

Unfortunately, the rebellion's desperate circumstances also meant they didn't have running water, assuming ponies even had that level of technology to begin with. Their washroom had no shower, only a cloth, a barrel of water, and a basin.

Phil did his best, but not having hands didn't exactly make the task easy. In the end, he still smelled a little like a barnyard. But so did everyone else, so at least he would be in good company.

The other doors in his hall were all shut, meaning his fellow former humans were all still asleep. Phil wished he could still be sleeping—but there was light in the window, and he felt trapped inside. He had to move, had to stretch—not to mention scratch that awful itch from his wings he couldn't quite reach.

They’d been brought to win a war—now it was time to learn what the war was.There was no point hiding away in this broken castle, no matter how long they could make it last. The locals seemed to think a handful of people could make a difference. It was time to put that theory to the test.

He found a single pony lingering at the end of the hallway, scribbling away with a pencil in her mouth. She was easily the most athletic pony Phil had seen so far, with a lean and still muscular build. Strange that he could already tell the difference.

She was also quite a bit shorter than he was, a full head at least. But that mane—did it really grow in a natural rainbow like that? She wrote on a little pad of paper, occasionally looking up in his direction with an impatient, annoyed expression.

Until she saw him. She snapped the pad shut, tucking the pencil under her ear. "You're finally awake. I assume you're one of the alien warriors Starlight brought?"

She stood up, making her way over. She was so fast; he barely even saw her cross the distance between them—had she flown? So, there were some advantages to smaller wings after all—she could better handle herself in tight spaces.

"I'm not sure what's so special about you. Muscular, sure—but being tough isn't going to win a war. Not sure you were worth the risk."

"I wish Starlight had agreed with you," he said. He matched her annoyed tone almost perfectly. "We were kidnapped.We didn't sign up to be soldiers in your war. But the hippogriff said he wouldn't change us back unless we did, so—here we are."

The pony stopped right in front of him, glaring up towards his face. "We're stuck with each other now, pony. You and your five friends. Guess they're sleeping in?"

He shrugged. Friends was one way to describe it. Four of them were at least on the same team,though to say he knew every player on the Eagles that closely would be a lie. But somehow, he didn't think the pony would either understand or appreciate the difference. "Probably. Heard some people moving around, I’m sure we'll see them soon. But not everybody was so eager to help after getting kidnapped."

The pegasus retreated from him, lowering both wings. "If you're not willing to help, I understand. You can stay around the castle here. We'll put you to work—safe work, keeping things running. When we take Equestria back, we can send you home. I can't use ponies if their hearts aren't in it—you will only put the other ponies on missions with you at risk. It's better not to have somepony who doesn't want to be here."

Amazing how fast the horse could go from angry and hostile to almost pathetic. But he knew why; the evidence was all around him. They cowered in a ruined building, with whatever supplies they could scavenge from the occupied territory or risk harvesting from a dangerous forest.

"Well?"

He sighed. "I can't speak for the others. I was—I guess I was their leader back home, most of them. But that was a professional relationship, not the kind where we risked our lives. They might turn you down."

"I'm starting with you," she said. "Are you in or not? If that means you're the leader, then your decision matters even more. In or out?"

He had already made up his mind. "I don't know if my help will make a difference or not. But I don't like the idea of a country getting occupied and its people enslaved."

"Its ponies," she corrected.

He rolled his eyes. Was she trying to talk him out of it? "It's ponies. So, I'll help. The kidnappers who came for us promised a sizable reward if we won. Is that still on the table?"

She nodded. "So long as you don't bring it up until after we win, yes."

He stuck out one hoof. "Then you've got me, anyway. You can call me Phil."

She seemed to recognize the gesture, because she lifted up one of her own, touching against it briefly. But she was smiling. "I'm not sure I could pronounce that. I'm Rainbow Dash. Basically, the leader around here, on account of being the only Element of Harmony fast enough to get out."

She looked away, her ears folding flat. "We might have to come up with something else to call you, Ph... Phil. We do names differently in Equestria."

Part of him wanted to argue the subject. It was his name; ponies were in no position to demand he go by something else! But they needed their country rescued, and that basically meant they were to do what they were told.

Nevertheless, there was something more important on his mind. Up close, it was even more obvious how athletic Rainbow was. She could fly so fast she left a little rainbow blur behind her, take off without a running start, and maneuver inside. "I want to learn how to fly. You used it to get away; I'm sure I could too. Who do I talk to about lessons?"

Rainbow seemed to perk up again at his question, and whatever shame had weighed on her shoulders vanished in a flash. "That's the smartest thing a pony like you could say. Flight is one of our key advantages—the Storm King's soldiers can't do it. He has some traitors and conquered griffons—but they're nothing in the air compared to an Equestrian with harmony in their heart."

Whatever that means.

She circled around him again, appraising. It was enough to remind him of how naked ponies always were. She clearly didn't think anything of it, but Phil tucked his tail in anyway. For whatever good it would do.

Then she was in front of him again and nodded her approval. "You're built like a Wonderbolt. That's good—it means we can skip all the strength and endurance stuff and get right into the technique and the magic. Are there any other pegasi from your world?"

"One," he answered. "As strong as I am, he was in the same position as I was. Then there's Harvey, he has bat wings. Starlight called him a thestral."

She nodded. "I see. So, no weather magic, but he can still fly. But his wings are different from ours. I'll need to find him a bat to teach him."

She turned her back on him, tucking her clipboard under one wing. "Get your friends up, then meet me downstairs. Once I know who wants to help, we can move forward. I have some ideas about how to put your skills to use."

Phil ground one hoof against the floor. "Starlight made it sound like we would be leading this. Didn't you recruit us because we know how to fight?"

She giggled and didn't turn around. "I'm not trusting you with any of my ponies until I see what you can do. Prove what she said about your world, then you can start picking our missions. Buck being in charge, you can have it." She left him there, vanishing down the stairs.

It took him about half an hour to get everyone rounded up and back in the common room. The desperate urgency of the night before had kept everyone moving so quickly that they didn't have time to second-guess their predicament. But now that the reality of their situation had set in, he saw a great deal more resentment from the kidnapped players.

Phil shared it. At that moment he should still be celebrating a victory, maybe sitting in interviews, and planning where their team would go next in the season. All that had been taken away from him, leaving only the grim reality of the conquered kingdom of Equestria with a handful of football players to help liberate it.

"It's insane," Danny said, once they were down in the common room with Rainbow Dash. There were plenty of others up for a late breakfast, though most gave them a wide berth. There was no sign of the unicorn Starlight Glimmer from the night before. "I didn't sign up for this, and it's nuts that you think you could just press-gang strangers into fighting for you. I'll stay here in your castle. I'll...work, I guess."

He turned on Phil then, glaring. "You're the one who said we should come here. You can be the one to win this war and get us home."

Would you rather be at the mercy of whatever is happening to the one who stayed on Earth? He kept his sarcasm to himself. "I think working with the Equestrians is our best chance for making it home again. But I understand not wanting to. There's no way to justify what they did to us."

Danny didn't back down. But one by one, each of the others committed to help, ending with Carlos himself.

"One day we'll be back on Earth, sitting for an interview over getting kidnapped and sent to an alien world. When that happens, I'm not going to let Phil say that I moved boxes and swept floors while he saved the world. I'm in."

Phil grinned back. He wasn't friends with Carlos; they had barely spoken before getting kidnapped. But having someone to compete with—it would keep him motivated as much as any promised reward.

Only when they were finished did Rainbow rise from her seat. "You four—come with me. I think I have the perfect mission for you to start with."

"What would that be?" he asked, trailing just behind her. "Don't forget, we only transformed yesterday."

The pegasus didn't slow down. But given that 'dash' was in her name, Phil suspected she didn't know how. "We can't wait much longer. If the prisoners get moved, we might never find them again."

"Prisoners?" he repeated.

"How do you feel about a jailbreak?"

Chapter 6

Any second now, the shock would wear off and Phil would be back in the United States. He'd wake up, obviously extremely hungover from whatever bender had resulted in him hallucinating a change in species and a conquered world to liberate.

But if Equestria was a dream, he didn't wake from it that afternoon, or see any other sign that its equine citizens were not truly suffering. It took until early evening for the horses to organize everything, leaving Phil free to get to know their rebellion a little more.

Flying lessons would've been better—at least that way he would be mastering the strange new abilities his form provided. That aspect of the transformation did excite him, even if it came with so much other baggage. Flying under his own power—how incredible would that be? And the obvious implication, buried only inches beneath it—what would the world be like if everyone could? He could only imagine the game he'd made his career transformed from two dimensions into three.

That would never happen, but maybe he could experience the next best thing. The natives probably had sports; he’d ask them if he could only coax them to talk.

Unfortunately, most of the ponies he spoke with were an exceptionally fearful, beaten-down bunch, giving only short answers. They referred to him and the other players as "Ancient Warriors" and looked on them with almost as much fear as a conquering enemy.

Phil had to add “earning their trust” to his growing list of impossible tasks. Maybe their first mission could do that.

They gathered in a private basement room just after dinner, with Rainbow, Starlight, and the other three players who were still willing to fight, along with Sky Beak. Only when the doors were locked tight and the windows covered did their strategic meeting finally begin.

"Obviously our ultimate goal has to be freeing Twilight Sparkle and the other princesses," Starlight began, gesturing nervously at the chalkboard behind her. She had several symbols drawn there, which Phil guessed were names. Strange, since he could read their other writing system. But that was not the first concern he had.

"Unfortunately, she's trapped in crystal in the Storm King's palace. If we could even get inside, we would never get out again. All the Alicorns fighting together couldn't beat him the first time."

The weight of that pronouncement settled on the room. Horse creatures or not, they radiated the same grim despair as any humans might have in the same awful position.

"And we're supposed to stop him?" Harvey asked, from his chair against the window. He kept peeking at the moonlight streaming in from outside, as though he might break into flight and flee. "I don't have a damn clue what an 'Alicorn' is, but you make it sound like they mattered. I don't think the Storm King is gonna face us on the gridiron. Unless... is this Space Jam? God, Phil, if you got us into a horse version of Space Jam..."

"We're not making jam!" Rainbow called, her voice overflowing with annoyance. "We're gonna get the other Elements free: Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie. That will mean we only have to replace one instead of four."

Phil’s teammates were horses now, and they didn't show the same tells he was trained to recognize on the field or the locker room. Horses showed emotion with ears and tails, maybe smells too. He needed more time to master all that.

"It sounds like you already have a plan," Phil said, keeping his tone measured and polite. No matter how unjustified, the only way they would ever get home ultimately required the Equestrians to cooperate. The anger his teammates felt was legitimate, but following it to its conclusion would not get them home. "Where do we come in?"

"When the Storm King won, he shoved anypony he thought might be difficult into a special prison, Stormcage. It's not easy to get to, and the guards inside watch its occupants close for any signs of dissent."

Starlight levitated something off the table, a crude sketch. She held it high against the wall, showing off the detailed floor plan. "Turns out, there's a flaw in their system. They're incredibly strict on keeping ponies from getting out, but the guards barely do anything to make sure ponies can't get in. So that's step one—the right act, and we'll deliver you four right to the doors. You work your way in and find the three ponies captured there."

"We'd like to get everypony out," Rainbow Dash added. "But if we tried to take all the Storm King's least favorite prisoners, and took all of them into the same place, even he might send a real army in here. So those three are our mission—my friends."

She settled three photos onto the table between them. The pictures showed three separate mares, taken in far happier times. There was nothing beaten-down or exhausted about them.

Now if only Phil could repress whatever part of his brain insisted that the horses looked cute, maybe he could focus on their mission.

Carlos tapped one annoyed hoof on the desk between them. "I'm sure your plan is great and everything, don't get me wrong. One problem though... not sure you noticed—you want us to go to prison? If you think we know some magic to get through stone walls and armed guards, you're wrong. We're only human."

"Not anymore," Harvey said. "Still sounds impossible, but I've never met a human with bird wings... unless we're angels. Do angels have hooves?"

"There's a way out." Starlight set something else on the table between them—a shard of crystal about the same length as a pony hoof. "They won't search you going in, so you can bring this. Once you find the ponies we're looking for, I should be able to open a teleport and get you out. It's an anchor—they use intimate sympathy for several targets at once. I might not have her power, but I was even better at precision translocation than Princess Twilight."

"No point saying that's impossible." Phil leaned forward, inspecting the shard of rock under one careful eye. It looked like pink glass, and was covered in tiny etchings. To his eye, the rock sparkled and shifted, radiating internal light. "We smuggle this in, find your ponies, and teleport out again. Why do you need us for this? I thought you wanted us for fighting."

"Might be some fighting," Rainbow Dash said. "Not even her best plans go exactly how we expect. Besides, the Storm King knows all of us. They'd realize we're dangerous—search every inch of us, then toss us in solitary. But you, you're just ponies to them. We forge some fake papers about how you disrespected the king's line of action figures or something, and you can go into low security. Find the Elements, Starlight busts you out, and everypony wins!"

Several unhappy murmurs passed through the room as Phil’s teammates considered Starlight and Rainbow's suggestion. After a few seconds, Aaron broke the silence. "I don't like this. Get caught on purpose, go to prison... dumb idea. Besides, we don't need so many. One person could smuggle in your... crystal. We don't need four. Just one."

"Brave or stupid," Harvey added. "Not sure which. Both, probably. Phil, you're in charge here. Shouldn’t it be you?"

Yes, throw myself in danger to rescue their missing people. Fantastic idea.

One by one, the others nodded their agreement—even Carlos, finally breaking his previous resistance to admitting any authority from Phil. But when it came time for personal risk, he was as insistent as the others.

"Phil's the best man for the job. Eagler's the best there is—if anyone could do it, he could."

And if I never get out of that prison, wouldn't that be fantastic for you.

Now they were all looking at him, a dozen different eyes all watching expectantly. He shifted uncomfortably on the floor, as though that would help. But ponies mostly sat on the floor, so he couldn't even take refuge in that.

"They may be right," Starlight Glimmer finally said. "It would only take one pony to carry the crystal. If I could make more, I would send one with each of you to improve our odds. But our resources are scarce; I could only scavenge enough thaumium for this single attempt. It would still be dangerous, but perhaps less so with only one of you. We could smuggle you into an existing prison transport."

Except the risk that I never get out. I'm going into a magical prison in a country I don't understand in a world I don't know. But how could he say any of that, with those expectant eyes on him?

Kidnapping aside, this mare faced the conquest of her country with remarkable grace, emotionally and otherwise. Could he disappoint her now? "It seems... extremely dangerous," he continued, as though he were about to change his mind. "I barely know this place. What am I supposed to do if something goes wrong?"

She slid the crystal across the desk towards him, smiling ruefully. "Break it. The whole plan will be ruined, and it might be months before we can try to get the Elements out again. But if you're still free, we can try something else."

Phil stood up, spreading his wings with a confidence he didn't really feel. Something about their size helped reassure him, though he couldn't say why.

With a little more practice, with a little skill, they would give him unparalleled freedom. "Before we go, I want a crash course in how to use these. If I could fly, I wouldn't have to worry about being stranded as much. Those losers who fought us on the road didn't have wings, so—once I'm in the air, I win. Right?"

Starlight and Rainbow shared a look. Starlight muttered something unclear, and the mare answered a few seconds later in a quiet mutter. Finally, they turned back to him.

"It takes a lifetime to get as good as I am," Rainbow said, sliding around the table towards him. "But that's not what you're looking for, right? So long as you can get from A to B, that's good enough."

He nodded. Despite her smaller size, the mare advancing on him suddenly made him feel self-conscious. There was an effortless liquid in her movements, a streamlined grace in her feathers and face. She radiated prowess with every gesture, not just a show of attractiveness for the cameras. This was no horse cheerleader.

"I think I’d like to learn more than just going in a straight line. But as a place to start, yeah. That might be good enough. Teach me first, so I'm not going in helpless and blind. Then I'll run your undercover mission."

Rainbow nudged him in the chest with her wing. There was surprising force in the gesture, despite the softness of those blue feathers. "You're built like a Wonderbolt, Phil. But that doesn't mean you can fly like one. Let's see how you look in the air."

"I'll talk to the others about something for the rest of you to do in the meantime," Starlight said, returning her little shard of crystal to an insulated case. "Your strength could be useful for clearing more land, or maybe a few supply raids. Or do you object to any risk at all, no matter how small?"

"Supply raids sound safe," Carlos said. "At least compared to that other mess you suggested. Getting arrested on purpose, no thanks. Do we get flying lessons too?"

"Sure, probably," Rainbow said. "Just not from me. Phil here is going in to rescue my friends; that means he earned my personal attention. Everypony else here will have to wait until another pony's time opens up."

She waved them out, then exited into the hall. Phil followed, up one set of steps to the ground floor, then another much older staircase continuing further into the vast ruin.

"Best way to learn is to do," Rainbow explained. She didn't walk up the steps, but floated along ahead of him, just out of reach. "Hope you're not afraid of heights. If you didn’t have wings before, this might be a little awkward."

"No, never. Helped replace a roof once."

She giggled. "Good, because that's where we're starting." The stairs continued, up and up in a spiral inside a narrow stone tower. Finally, they reached a doorway, and she nudged it open. The door cracked off its hinges, then tumbled away into empty air. Outside was night sky, hundreds of feet up.

"All foals start with a glide. Open your wings like this, then..."

Chapter 7

Phil perched precariously on the ledge of the castle tower, his heart hammering against his ribcage like a trapped bird. Rainbow Dash stood at his side, her wings flared out in a vivid array of blues and purples. He could smell the scent of the high altitude, the sweet smell of the Equestrian sky, a mix of fresh rain and the ozone of electricity from her mane.

"Alright, Phil, remember what I told ya," Rainbow Dash said, her tone as light and breezy as the wind. "Gliding first, then flying. You need to learn how to use your wings to steer and catch the air currents."

"I know, I know," Phil said, spreading his wings, feeling the unfamiliar weight and flex of strong Pegasus muscles. His wings were far less colorful than Rainbow's, but hopefully just as powerful. If they weren’t, he was about to learn the hard way.

The view from the tower was breathtaking. Even in the desolate corners of the Everfree Forest, there was an abundance of life. Trees exploded with a thousand different shades of green and purple, clustered tightly together. Brown, skeletal limbs broke through the leaves at sharp angles, the spikes that would break and pierce his body if he failed here. It was so high that Phil could see where the perfect blue sky faded into the white of the clouds.

He wasn't afraid of heights, but this... this was different. He was about to step off the ledge and rely on wings he'd barely had a day to get used to. It felt crazy, even for a world like Equestria. "Rainbow, are you sure about this? I mean, I weigh a lot more than you. I spent my life getting smashed into by dudes who could knock over a wall. What if I’m too heavy?"

She rolled her eyes. "Hey, what you did in your spare time is none of my business. But right now, you learning to glide is." She flicked one wing over the edge, insistent. "You've got this, Phil. Just trust your wings."

Trust his wings. Right. Phil looked down again and found he now had an audience. There in the castle courtyard, where trees were trimmed away, a smattering of ponies had gathered to watch. Starlight Glimmer was standing in the center, her lavender coat gleaming in the sunlight. She was watching him. The other players were there too, with snacks. Were they there to watch him soar, or land in a broken heap?

But Starlight wasn’t laughing. She squinted up in his direction, her eyes intense. Could she care about what may happen to him?

With a deep breath, he closed his eyes, imagining himself as one with the wind. He stretched his wings, letting the breeze flow between each feather. His human mind was unprepared for so many sensations, granting him total knowledge of every air current. Finally, he leaned forward, tilting over the edge. His hooves slipped on the old stone, taking him out over the void. He kicked out with his hind legs, flinging himself as far as he could.

For a split second, there was silence. Then, the wind was roaring in his ears, tugging at his mane and tail as gravity pulled him down. He was falling, plunging towards the ground at a dizzying speed! The horizon blurred into the clouds, and the trees came rushing up to meet him. For a moment, he was sure this was it. This was how he'd die—a human turned Pegasus, in a failed first flight. Too bad news of his death would never make it back to ESPN to report on.

But then, something incredible happened. His wings, previously flailing in panic, caught the wind, stretching out to their full span. Rainbow’s instructions solidified in his mind—a slow progression of movements, the technique for holding wings extended. It took surprising strength, straining muscles along his back. But if there was one thing Phil had in abundance, it was strength.

He felt a strong upward pull, and suddenly, he wasn't falling anymore. He was soaring.

Euphoria swept over him as he spiraled upwards, riding on the tail of a gust of wind. He did it! He was flying! His heart pounded in exhilaration rather than fear, and he could hardly contain a triumphant shout.

It was everything he’d ever imagined—the rush of motion, balanced on a knife-edge of control and recklessness. He could ride those currents, stretching away into forever. He turned and twisted in the sky, the ground a dizzying mosaic of colors below. The wind in his feathers, the sun on his back, the limitless sky around him, all of it was intoxicating.

For the first time since his transformation, he felt hope. Maybe he could master being a pony after all!

"Not bad!" Rainbow appeared beside him, gliding along at a perfect match for his speed. It felt to him as though he was moving so fast that his whole body might come apart at the seams. Rainbow, though—she looked as though this was a relaxing cruise for her, no more than a breezy walk down the hallway.

"Just remember, you don’t know how to go up yet. That thermal you rode might end any minute. Aim for the courtyard, and circle around it. You can descend slowly by tilting your wings like this…"

Whatever fear had beset him initially now was gone. If he could learn how to glide, then he could learn how to fly. If he could do that, then maybe he could save Equestria. It wasn’t like he didn’t know how to survive tons of pressure.

He managed a somewhat clumsy landing in the middle of the town square, his hooves skidding slightly as he touched the ground. But he didn't care about that. He had flown, and he was alive.

His teammates erupted into cheers. Starlight Glimmer trotted over, a look of surprise and admiration on her face. "Phil, that was... that was amazing!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide with awe. "Was that your first try?"

Even Rainbow Dash was grinning, her eyes sparkling with approval. "Told ya you could do it, hotshot."

Phil felt a blush spread over his cheeks, but he couldn't keep the grin off his face. He had flown!

"But that was the easy part." Rainbow shoved him with her shoulder, hard enough that he lost his balance and nearly fell over. "You have to do more than glide. You need to master this."

"I’ll have something ready when you’re too tired to keep going," Starlight Glimmer promised. His teammates waved, retreating from him. It was almost as though they could sense the grueling hours of practice waiting for him, and they wanted to get away before they could get roped in.

He waved them off, his attention all on Starlight. "Yeah. Sounds good."

He watched her go, trying very hard not to stare. That was the trade-off of such rapid adaptation, he supposed. He could use his wings almost from the start, but his mind changed with them.

"Phil." Rainbow waved one wing in front of his face. When he didn’t react, she shoved him again. "Phil, are you still with me?" She lowered her voice to an annoyed whisper. "Weren’t you just talking about having huge stallions slam into you?"

Finally, he looked back, glaring in her direction. "That is not what I meant."

She shrugged both wings, then spread them wide. "Next thing we’re gonna talk about is how to ascend. This one’s important, at least if you ever want to get away from the Storm King’s soldiers. Try to listen, okay?"

The next few hours went more or less how he predicted—exhausting practice, just as intense as anything he went through between seasons. But when he spent endless hours pumping iron in the gym or going over the various fundamentals on the field, at least he was doing something familiar. Flying was something else.

But the ache in every muscle, the smell of sweat and dirt surrounding him on all sides—those he knew. Despite the exhaustion, there was a bounce in his step that hadn't been there before. As he finally made his way back into their makeshift common room, he realized that he was famished.

True to her word, Starlight Glimmer was there waiting for him, her lavender mane tied back as she busied herself with a large pot on the stove. A mouthwatering aroma filled the air, the scent of stewed vegetables and herbs.

"Smells great," Phil said, settling himself at the long, wooden table that dominated the room.

Starlight turned, a warm smile on her face. "I hope you like it. It's a traditional Equestrian stew. And by that, I mean it’s the same thing we make every night, so we can stretch our supplies as far as possible. But maybe while you’re out on rescue duty, your friends can see about refilling the stockpile."

"They better." He stretched, shuddering involuntarily. It always hurt after a workout so intense, but it was also profoundly satisfying.

As they settled down to eat, Phil found himself stealing glances at Starlight. He had to admit, the soft candlelight did wonders for her. Her lavender eyes shone with a certain depth, her gaze warm and inviting. This was what hope looked like—the face of someone who finally saw a way out after watching everything they loved fade away.

Yet as the night wore on, Starlight seemed to become more open, more vulnerable. She shared stories of life under the Storm King's reign, her voice catching as she spoke of the brutal occupation, the loss of freedom, the constant fear.

Next to all that, there was so little he could say. Dramatic victories for his team, dramatic interviews and upsets on the field—those were just games! They didn’t end with any country under brutal occupation.

"I'm sorry we kidnapped you, Phil," Starlight said, her gaze dropping to her hooves. "I just... I didn't know what else to do. We had already tried everything we could. The Storm King crushed everypony. There was nowhere else to go."

Phil stared back, his heart aching at the regret etched on her face. "I might’ve done the same thing in your place. No one deserves to see their nation get conquered. I didn’t choose to be here. But now that I am, I'm going to do everything I can to help put your world back together."

Starlight looked at him, her eyes welling up with unshed tears. "If anypony can do it, Phil, I believe you can. If the others are half as strong and adaptable as you, the Storm King has no idea what’s coming for him."

For a moment, Phil thought he saw something else in Starlight's gaze. But before he could even comprehend it, she stood up, her chair scraping against the wooden floor.

"I should get some sleep. You too—you’ve got another few days of practice ahead of you. Learn fast, so you can get our friends out of that prison. After that, maybe save Equestria."

He laughed. "So, no pressure then? Got it."

She smiled back over her shoulder at him. "Goodnight, Phil."

As she disappeared up the staircase, Phil was left alone with his thoughts and the flickering candlelight. His heart was a flurry of emotions—hope, determination, and something else, something he couldn't quite put his hoof on.

But for now, he had a mission to focus on. The promise of a new day and the hope of a brighter future for Equestria was all the motivation he needed. Still, as he blew out the candle and made his way to his own room, his mind kept drifting back to their conversation. Something had changed tonight, and Phil wasn't quite sure what it meant.

His next few days were every bit as exhausting as he expected. Rainbow Dash pushed him harder than any personal trainer the league ever provided. He flew so hard that he lost feathers, so hard his back bled and he had to spend hours soaking in a heated tub to recover afterwards.

But when it was over, Phil was different. Not just physically transformed anymore—those extra limbs sticking out of his sides actually meant something. Phil wasn’t just an Eagle in name—now he could fly like one!

Chapter 8

The dense foliage surrounding the checkpoint swished gently as Phil, Rainbow Dash, and Starlight Glimmer watched from the shadows. Phil's body felt heavy, weighed down by the sham shackles around his hooves, but more so by the responsibility resting on his shoulders. Concealed within his hoof was the crystal shard—their only hope of rescuing the captive ponies.

Rainbow Dash, her eyes gleaming with determination, leaned in close, her voice a whisper on the wind. "Remember, Phil, you're a disrespectful prisoner, someone who dared to go against the Storm King's rule. Act helpless. They'll probably throw you into minimum security. From there, it's about keeping your head down, making friends, and finding Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie."

Her words, a mantra of the mission at hand, echoed in his head. Phil nodded, his throat too dry to speak. He could feel Starlight Glimmer's eyes on him, her gaze filled with a mix of worry and faith.

He didn't want to seem less than brave, not for her. Summoning his courage, he managed to give her a weak smile. "Don't worry, I've got this." He didn’t, or at least it didn’t feel like he did. But maybe if he could make her think so, he would start believing it too.

Starlight returned the smile. "Good luck, Phil," she said. "Of course, you don’t need it. You’re a mystical warrior from another world—the only one brave enough to go in there. This was the day we started winning."

Phil felt a rush of warmth spread through his body—hope in the face of the daunting task ahead. He nodded as confidently as he could, crouching low in the shadow of a ruined building. This checkpoint stood on the edge of an ancient, tumbled ruin, overgrown with weeds. Here, the weight of Equestria’s conquest hung heaviest, leaving little still standing but a few brick walls.

"I’ll cover you with magic," Starlight said, crouching just beside him. "Say when, and I’ll stun the guards. Just have to make it to the cage—"

"And you’ll teleport me inside," he said. They’d been over this part of the plan a dozen times by now. Maybe two—there wasn’t much else to do while they waited for the prisoner cart to reach them. But if they waited too much longer, the cart would keep rolling through, and continue to its destination without him. He had to be inside it if he had any hope of infiltrating the prison.

Phil’s heart pounded with adrenaline as he prepared for the most critical move of his life. He watched the worn wagon, its grim purpose painfully clear. Tension coiled in his legs as he crouched in the shadows of the dilapidated ruins.

Starlight’s horn flickered with a pale glow, ready to launch the stun spell at his command. The reassurances of the plan echoed in his mind, rehearsed tirelessly during their wait.

The hour had arrived, and with it, the beginning of the rescue mission. He gave Starlight a short nod, standing up and wincing as the shackles bit into his hooves. One more look at her and Rainbow, and he launched himself towards the checkpoint.

His strides were short and uneven, his hooves clinking against the cobblestone road. As he closed in on the checkpoint, Starlight’s horn flared, and a blast of magic shot forward, striking the unsuspecting ogres. They convulsed and dropped to the ground, frozen and lifeless. But they wouldn’t stay that way—he had to move quickly.

Using the distraction, Phil staggered up to the cart, gasping for breath. Starlight’s magic enveloped him, and in an instant, he was inside the cage, with a wide-eyed group of ponies gazing at him.

On their faces, he saw a mixture of hope and anxiety. The ponies stirred, their hooves clattering on the floor of the wagon. Some reared back in shock, while others crowded around him, filled with desperate hope.

"Are we being rescued?" one of them, a pink unicorn, asked. Her voice was barely a whisper, strained by years of heartbreak.

Phil glanced at the still-stunned ogres before looking back at the unicorn. He swallowed hard, forcing himself to speak calmly. "No. I'm infiltrating the prison. We have a plan to get everyone out."

The ponies stared at him in disbelief, their hope diminishing. "We have to play along," he added, looking at each of them, pleading with his eyes. "Can you do that?" This was the moment they would fail him. They would see his pony form was a false one and another creature lingered underneath. How could they not? "Please. Just pretend you didn’t see anything. Equestria depends on you."

A silence fell over the cage, the tension thick. Finally, the pink unicorn nodded. "Guess it doesn’t make a difference. What would they do if we ratted you out? Send you to prison?"

Somepony else laughed, their voice hollow and weak. These creatures hadn’t experienced genuine laughter in a long, long time.

Just as the last nod came, the ogres began to stir, their grunts of confusion echoing in the quiet air. They moved clumsily, scratching their heads, seemingly unaware of their new prisoner. Phil kept his head down, barely even daring to look up. It was true—he could get the manacles to release his hooves if he strained hard enough. But even if he did, and Starlight teleported him free again, it would mean that this mission was a failure.

I’m just a football player. I can’t believe I’m doing this! He could still call out for help—Rainbow and Starlight were close enough to hear him. He could give up!

Then the cart lurched forward, continuing its journey. The checkpoint, the ruins, and his friends all began to recede in the distance. He kept his silence, and the ogres made no sign that they had recognized the deception.

Starlight and Rainbow watched him from a distance, their faces filled with worry. They exchanged a brief, lingering look with Phil before they disappeared in a brilliant flash of magic, leaving him alone in the back of the wagon.

Phil let out a breath he didn’t realize he had been holding. He glanced at his fellow captives one last time before turning his gaze forward.

His heart pounded in his chest, surging with the realization that he no longer had any easy path to escape. Now the only way out was the crystal shard he concealed, and Starlight’s powerful magic.

They rolled along that road for several grueling days. The ogres removed them from the wagon in turn, hitching two strong-looking ponies to the front and using them to pull their fellow prisoners.

The ponies all responded with similar dread as they were hitched to the front, and they were barely strong enough to drag the wagon forward. But where they were nearly starved, Phil was at full strength. He felt that strength flare in him each time the ogres whipped one of his fellow prisoners for moving too slow, or hurried them away from a river before they could fully satisfy their thirst.

More than once he nearly attacked them, ending the fight before the ponies could get hurt. But his mission was more important. If he could keep his head down long enough, he could do more than save a few.

The prison that awaited Phil at the end of that bumpy ride was a monstrous structure, a stain on an already bleak expanse of naked rock. Within a hundred meters of the prison walls, nothing grew, and the ground was scorched black. Watch towers rose over it all, with guards at their peaks, to catch and prevent any attempts at escaping.

An ogre guard yanked him out of the cart, his grip rough. Phil was herded with the other prisoners through a large iron gate that groaned under its own weight. The sky above was clouded, casting the prison yard in perpetual shadow.

The ogres marched them through a series of hallways and doors, each one heavier and more fortified than the last. He could hear the low murmur of voices as they passed by the cell blocks, each filled with ponies of every kind. Their eyes were hollow, their spirits seemingly crushed under the weight of their captors.

Finally, they reached the intake room. His shackles were removed, and he was poked and prodded by ogres wearing more frightening masks. Despite an apparent discrepancy with his paperwork, they didn’t seem terribly interested in figuring out the details. A few seconds checking him for concealed weapons, and he was through.

"Off you go, Pegasus," one of the guards growled, giving Phil a shove towards the door. "General population’s that way."

He nodded with false obedience, hurrying down the open hallway. With luck, they would see his behavior as eagerness to get away, and not rushing to escape before they could discover what he hid. The crystal shard still pressed painfully into the sensitive inner section of his hoof—what ponies called a “frog.” It was still there as he made his way down a stone ramp into the prison proper.

Stepping into the general population area, Phil was met with a wall of noise. The room was filled with the sounds of shuffling hooves, hushed whispers, and the occasional scuffle. The smell was rank, the stench of overcrowding and despair mixing in the stagnant air. After days of hard travel to get here, he couldn’t imagine he smelled much better.

The prisoners were all in a state of disarray—their manes and coats unkempt, their eyes devoid of life. They sat huddled in corners or lay on thin, ragged mats, completely defeated. Despite the intervening days, his memory of the photographs of his targets remained fresh in his mind: Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity. For reasons he didn’t fully understand, those three were key to freeing Equestria.

And getting home again, of course. But seeing the suffering here, Phil’s personal need for returning to his human life seemed like a distant second place. If only the other players could see what Equestria had become, maybe they would be more forgiving of their kidnapping, too.

I have to find out where they’re being held. The sight of the downtrodden ponies around him weighed heavily. How could he possibly stand against this level of despair and cruelty? There was no parallel in his life, nothing to prepare him for these conditions.

He had to work quickly, before the stark brutality crushed him as badly as the other prisoners. So he searched, moving through the prison’s general population as quickly as he could. By nightfall, he was confident that his targets weren’t there. It was just as Rainbow Dash feared—the important ponies were locked up deeper.

He had to figure out a way to infiltrate the maximum-security section. He found a frayed mat in a shadowy corner to sleep on his first night. His mind began to churn, rolling from one desperate plan to the next. If he could gain the trust of the other prisoners, maybe they could give him information. Some of them looked like they’d been confined here for months, maybe years.

He knew he had to tread carefully to avoid arousing suspicion among the guards. Too much energy, too much life, and they would smash him to pieces.

On the second day, he found someone willing to tell him about high security. The strange pony was another bat, with pale lavender in her mane and more energy than most. She must’ve been a recent prisoner, if the guards hadn't crushed her yet.

"Maximum security," she repeated, her expression hollow. "Not sure why you'd want to go there of all places, stallion."

"Because..." There was another reason this pony might seem healthier and more vibrant than the others—she could be a collaborator, mixed into the population to search out trouble. The Storm King would likely reward such behavior with milder treatment or maybe even a promise of escape one day.

She also might be genuine. "Because some friends of mine were thrown down there," he answered, noncommittally. "A few months ago. I want to see if they're okay."

"They're not," the bat said, without hesitation. "Might not even be alive."

What if they weren't? That grim possibility seemed too terrible to contemplate—not so much because Phil had any attachment to the missing mares, but because of how Starlight would react. And how critical they were to Equestria, for magical reasons still unclear to him.

"I need to know," he insisted. "Please. Is there a way, or not?"

She stuck out one hoof for a sudden, deliberate shake. "Name's Moire. What's yours?"

"Phil Adler." He took the offered hoof. That was short of proof of good intentions, but far better than the other ponies had given him so far. They had to start somewhere.

"Weird name," she said. "But it's a weird thing you want to do. Come on. Maybe there's a way. I'll take you."

Chapter 9

Phil crept through the shadows, his heart pounding. One wrong move and the guards would spot him. He couldn't fail—too many lives depended on him.

He peered around the corner and spotted two troll guards lounging against the wall, their faces obscured by their helmets. Both carried spears, though they were the only signs of any obstruction to pony passage. "I think this is it," he whispered, backing slowly around the corner. His wings flared involuntarily. At least they weren’t trying to restrain him anymore. But with stone and metal ceilings overhead, Phil had nowhere to fly.

Moire emerged beside him; her pale wings folded closed. "That's them. Ready to perform?"

He nodded. They only had one shot at this.

He dropped his head low, slouching and submissive. He couldn't put on the effect of someone starved by their many years of deprivation here in the prison, but he could at least stop from acting too proud. Just as in so many things, the key was acting like he belonged.

They moved forward together, towards the checkpoint. As they rounded the corner, both guards straightened, now towering over him. Of course they would use their size against him, with their stupid extra height and hands.

Just as they got close, both guards crossed their spears, blocking passage. "High security," said one. "Where do you think you're going?"

Moire glanced back at Phil. She said nothing, but those slitted bat eyes might as well have been shouting, “You better be sure about this!"

"Warden told us to get our asses down to confinement," the bat said. "Overheard us talking about that hot-air imposter who can't even control the weather without stealing magic. Can't remember his name...called himself a king?"

The result was instantaneous. The guards surged forward, turning their spears aside—ot to spare them, but to strike with the shafts, battering against Moire and Phil's shoulders in a swift, brutal beating.

Moire screamed in exaggerated pain, higher pitched than any of the ponies Phil had met so far. But during her bloodcurdling screams of agony, she also rolled along the ground, past both guards and onto the ramp leading down.

He didn't have the same acting skill, but Phil could still take a fall. He dropped down, turning his shoulders towards the attack while protecting his more delicate wings.

The guards weren't energetic in their attack. After only a few seconds, they straightened, returning to their comfortable spots on the wall. One called down after them, smugly satisfied. "Get worse next time! No one dares to question our king!"

Phil kept low to the ground, following a feeble crawl behind the bat. The guards weren't particularly smart either. Starlight was right—they didn't care about anyone trying to get in. But going the other way...

"Whatever ponies got stuck down here, I hope they're worth it..." Moire whispered. They were almost around the corner, twisting with the ramp down under the ground. It was already far enough to avoid being overheard. "Because that won't work going the other direction. They already closed the way I used to escape last time."

As soon as they were around the corner, Moire rose to her hooves. He couldn't help but notice the slight limp to her steps and the fresh bruises along her back. Getting in was an act, but the beating was real. For his own part, a life of getting beaten meant he was more than prepared for guards who weren't trying to do real damage. "How deep is High Security?"

The thestral didn't answer with words, just gestured for him to join her. He did, following her around and around the ramp. Soon it was only lit by the glow of torches and lanterns, no trace of real sunlight or stars reaching from the distant windows.

The ramp opened into a large cavern, bigger than most caves he'd seen on Earth. Its crystal walls might be beautiful, if they weren't entirely covered by dirt and muck. Ponies huddled in makeshift shelters or slumped against the walls, their hollow eyes peering out from tangled manes. Most weren't even looking in their direction, but watched the metal troth in the center of the room. It stank worse than the rest of the space—that must be where food was delivered.

"Who are we looking for again?" Moire whispered, directly into his ear. "What do they look like?"

"Names are Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie," he answered, just as quietly. "The resistance needs them back, don't exactly know why." Unfortunately, he also didn't see any obvious signs of the ponies he had come for. But most down here were so filthy that he might not recognize them.

Moire whistled, high and energetic through bat teeth. "Buck me, the Elements of Harmony? We better pull this off—no telling what the Storm King will do if he catches us with them."

They wandered along the cavern, past a large pool of water collecting where it dripped down from overhead, where the prisoners occasionally slunk over to drink. Finally, they found more open tunnels stretching further into the dark, broken only by the occasional lit torch beside many that were dark and lifeless.

They walked in relative silence along the halls, occasionally passing into stone rooms with ponies. There was very little sign of typical prison activities inside, more just grim corners where ponies tried not to get noticed.

The tunnel took them in a circle around the central chamber. It had very nearly delivered them back to where they started, when Phil caught a glimpse of stark white fur and a purple mane emerging from a hallway. They hurried through the entrance together, and there at last were the targets of his mission.

They'd turned the tiny room into a makeshift living area, with three cots, a table made from rubble, and a few old books and random bits of garbage repurposed into whatever tools they could. These three were the subjects of his mission, no better off than the other mistreated masses: a white unicorn with a purple mane, a yellow Pegasus hiding behind another pony, and a pink earth pony without any of the laughter or energy Starlight's photo had captured.

Phil grinned. They'd found them. Now to get them out of this miserable place—before the Storm King decided to move them someplace even more secure. "That's them," he whispered. "Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie."

Moire kept watch as Phil approached the three ponies. Rarity eyed him suspiciously, while Fluttershy trembled behind Pinkie Pie.

"Who are you?" Rarity demanded, her voice cracking slightly. "What do you want with us? We're still making all the regular...work duty contributions. If the warden sent you—"

Phil held up a hoof. "It's okay. I'm here to help you escape. Starlight Glimmer sent me, from the rebellion."

Rarity's eyes widened at the name. But before she could answer, the yellow Pegasus cut her off.

"C-careful," she whispered. "Remember last time."

"Right." Rarity straightened, putting on an air of dignity. She managed to make a decent impression of it, surprisingly clean despite their surroundings. "My friends and I are behaving as prisoners ought, under these dreadful conditions. You can whisper that back to whatever creature offered you an extra ration to report on our schemes."

"We're all schemed out from last time," said the pink one, not even looking up at Phil. "You win. Just leave us alone."

"Geeze," Moire called, peeking behind her. "Better hope that's an act. If these ponies are the Elements of Harmony, it's no wonder we lost so badly."

Phil ignored them both. "Rainbow's been teaching me to fly." He spread both wings, working subconsciously through one of the practice exercises Rainbow had taught him. After days of walking with both wings restrained, he needed all the extra strength he could get. "Listen, I don't know who you three are—but I'm supposed to get you out with me. Do you want to escape or not?"

The three mares shared a nervous look. Phil sensed more than just suspicion and fear this time. Good! If they were starting to hope, maybe they would trust next.

"Starlight and the rebellion," Rarity continued. "Sent you in here? That doesn't seem like her. With her history, Starlight Glimmer is somewhat loathe to expose other ponies to danger."

"She would never send you here unless she had a way to get you out again." Pinkie stood, shaking out her straight, lifeless mane. It was dirty enough that a few curls returned.

"She did." He held up his foreleg, twisting the hoof in their direction. With some careful pressure, he dislodged the crystal sliver wedged there, letting it clatter to the floor.

Or it would have, if Rarity hadn't caught it in her magic. She held it up, inspecting it with one eye open. "I feel her hoofprints on it. This is Starlight's magic."

"Really?" The creamy yellow Pegasus opened both wings, shrugging them down onto the rocky floor at either side. "Thank goodness. I thought we would never see the sun again."

Rarity offered it back, levitating the crystal in his direction. "This is a beacon spell. I've seen their like before. But how do we use this to escape? If Starlight is free, I assume she must know where this prison is located. Finding it was never the challenge."

"I'm meant to break it when I find you. Stand close, and we can be out of here. Moire, you too. I'm sure Starlight can find the magic for one extra pony..."

"Wait!" Rarity yanked the sliver of crystal out of his reach, holding it just above him. "We're too far underground. For these spells to function, they need to be under the sky. There's too much rock."

"The ramp," Moire said. "There are windows before the checkpoint. Is that close enough?"

Fluttershy stretched, then lifted into the air in a low hover. Broken yellow feathers scattered from her, tumbling over the cave. This pony hadn't been airborne in a long time. She landed seconds later, a faint smile on her face. "I'm brave enough to try. What about you ponies?"

Phil returned the crystal to where he'd been hiding it before, painful though it was. None of their group would be able to escape scrutiny, but at least he wasn't an "Element of Harmony."

They left moments later.

Phil and the ponies made their way down the dimly lit corridor, slinking along as quietly as possible. Moire took the lead, her bat wings spread wide to obstruct the view of the ponies behind them. Suddenly she halted, holding up a hoof. In the distance, heavy footsteps echoed through the stone tunnels.

"Guards coming this way," Moire whispered. "We need to hide, now!"

Phil's pulse quickened. He scanned their surroundings, spotting a small alcove along the wall. "There!" he said, ushering the ponies inside. It was a tight squeeze, but they managed to conceal themselves just as two brutish guards rounded the corner.

The guards paused, sniffing the air. "Thought I smelled something down here."

Inside the alcove, the escapees held their breath. Fluttershy trembled against Phil, her soft whimpers muffled by Rarity's hoof.

After a few agonizing moments, the guards moved on, continuing their slow circuit. "Must've been a rat," one of them grumbled. Their footsteps faded around the corner.

Phil exhaled sharply. He stumbled out of the alcove, stretching again. As they emerged from the alcove, Phil gave Fluttershy's shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "We're going to make it," he whispered.

The yellow Pegasus managed a small, brave smile in return.

With adrenaline pumping through his veins, Phil pressed onward. He rounded the corner so fast that he didn't see the pony waiting on its other side. Instead, he smacked into her, rattling off her metal armor. She was larger than any of his companions, but even in the armor only about the same size as he was.

She stumbled backward, splashing up to her forelegs in a stream of something that was definitely not water.

"Warden!" Moire squealed, so high he could barely understand her. But the intention was clear enough, along with her terror. He didn't need telling twice, just broke into a gallop, leading the others along beside him.

The guards they had fooled waited only a few steps further, their spears already pointed in their direction. He glanced between them, considering his odds. No armor, no weapons, and those stone tips glittered deadly.

"Not only did we find our intruder," said a voice from behind him, crackling with angry energy. Or maybe that was the broken stump where her horn had been. "He attacked me. Guards, send these others back. I will have words with this one."

Chapter 10

Phil's wings strained against the iron shackles that bound him, his red fur streaked with grime and blood. The guards shoved him roughly through the door of a bleak, empty room, pressing with their inhuman paws.

Maybe he could have resisted such intense strength, but that would have only prompted greater violence. He could probably take on two guards, but not a whole army of soldiers.

The warden's office was all gray stone and plain walls, marked with a few minor awards, trinkets, and trophies.

"Bow before the warden, Captain Tempest Shadow." The voice was barely audible, a distorted grumble from behind the mask. When he didn't react, the masked guards forced him to his knees before the tall, powerful unicorn. Even up close, there was definitely something wrong with her horn. Why was the tip so different from the rest? It was made of reddish crystal, attached with little gold rings. She noticed his gaze, and her anger intensified. She glared down at him with unbridled fury.

The reason for that was obvious—she still stank faintly of the slime he'd pushed her into. "The king entrusted me with his most valuable prisoners—those who pose the most threat to his kingdom and the peace of its good creatures. Did you really think someone could walk into my prison without my noticing?

"You've caused quite a bit of trouble for the Storm King."

"I'm just doing what I'm told. Said I was sorry about what happened—it was an accident. Didn't see any rules about walking around." Phil stared back, his defiance not dampened by the pain from an array of minor bumps and bruises. If there was a single bright spot in all of it, at least Tempest had taken her anger out on him specifically. The prisoners of this awful place had already suffered enough. His heart raced in his chest, beating faster than any human's ever would. "What do you want from me?"

"Information," she snarled, her voice like ice. "Let's start with your name. The record here says...Grid Iron. There's no such pony anywhere in Storm records."

He shrugged. Phil had given that false name to the guards at intake, rather than reveal the truth. Even with minimal background into his new world, it was obvious how different everyone's names were. Evidently his own attempt at a fiction was less convincing than he had hoped.

He looked down, pawing at the ground. "Grew up in a small town. Not many know about it. And I've never caused any trouble."

Tempest laughed, circling around her desk. At her gesture, the guards departed, backing away through the open door. Both took positions outside it, feet from where they spoke. Too close for him to make a move on the warden, at least not directly. But if she got any nearer, maybe...

"Never caused any trouble. Yet you're on a transport to Stormcage Prison?" Her horn glowed, faintly red. As it did, heat flared around his throat, wrapping tight like an invisible collar. It faded a few seconds later, leaving a shimmer behind— a shackle made of red light, matching the glow of her horn perfectly.

"Tell me your name, Grid Iron. Again."

"It's G—" Light pulled tight around his throat, as unyielding as leather. He coughed and spluttered, dropping flat to the floor.

"I do not know what you do," Tempest continued, circling around him. "And my...accident...makes it impossible to extract it from your mind without killing you. But this spell knows when you try to lie to me. Try to speak words you do not believe, and..."

Invisible force lifted him back to his hooves, like rough hands that gripped him all at once. He stood, facing his assailant. Her horn still glowed, flashes of light that turned into an even light through the crystal attached to it.

"Now, let's try again. Who are you?"

"Phil Adler," he spat. His voice was harsh and rough, his throat raw from a few seconds of strangulation. He would need to be more careful, or that spell might actually kill him.

"Well that's interesting." She lifted her helmet down onto the desk beside her, shaking out a short mane. Under the helmet, her features were every bit as harsh as her words suggested. Scars broke her coat at several points, poorly healed. Just like the broken horn.

"Phil. You knew where the prison transport would be. Not sure where you got on, but you weren't with them when they left Canterlot. But here you are inside my gates."

He opened his mouth to deny the accusation, and felt the invisible line constricting before he even spoke. So he remained silent, glaring at her.

The unicorn looked increasingly smug. "Very good. The rebellion sent you. What are they planning?" She slammed her hoof on the cold stone floor, sending a tremor through Phil's body.

"Sorry, I'm not much of a conversationalist," he said.

"Resisting won't help you," she hissed. "I have ways of making creatures talk."

"Go ahead," Phil said, his eyes narrowing. He'd faced countless adversaries on the field. This was a different type of game, but he refused to give in without a fight.

"Very well." Tempest's horn crackled with dark energy. "You brought this on yourself."

The first jolt of agony ripped through Phil's body. He spasmed, his wings straining against their bonds with muscular contractions.

The pain intensified, causing Phil to grit his teeth harder and clench his wings tightly against his body. His mind raced, searching for a way to escape this torment. But then it was over. He dropped to the ground, his whole body steaming from the electrical burns.

"This is usually the part where my guest will tell me anything I ask," Tempest said, almost conversationally. How could she so casually torture him? "I suggest you do the same. Be mindful that it's the truth, if you want to keep breathing."

He shuffled slowly to his hooves again. He smelled something burning—himself, starting from the singed tips of his wings. He faced her.

"M-my name is...Phil. The rebellion plans to...rebel. They'll stop you."

The mare circled around him, until she stood inches from his face. He no longer had the strength to attack her, not how she deserved. "The...rebellion...is going to...rebel."

She smacked his shoulder, hard enough that he stumbled, dropping to one knee. "Truthful, but meaningless. The pony with the strange name, fighting harder than any of Canterlot's pathetic troops—"

She froze, her eyes widening suddenly. There was recognition there, sudden confidence.

"Human?" Tempest's eyes widened, her horn's energy dissipating. "You're from another world? Through the mirror?"

Phil realized his mistake too late, but there was no turning back now. "Yes," he admitted. Granted, he had no idea what “mirror” the pony was talking about. Hopefully, that meant the discovery would be less valuable to her.

"Interesting," Tempest mused, her gaze sharpening with renewed interest. "You are the pony they chose to send. Brave enough to infiltrate my prison. Bold enough to venture here alone, beyond the reach of friendly hooves. Fool enough to face me."

"Maybe," Phil responded. But inside, he couldn't help but feel a growing sense of dread—he was playing a game he wasn't sure he could win. Phil's heart pounded in his chest as he tried to keep his breathing steady.

Tempest Shadow paced around him, her eyes scrutinizing every inch of him, searching for any sign of weakness. Phil had to be careful; he couldn't let her discover the teleportation crystal hidden within his hoof.

"They brought you here against your will, didn't they?" she said. Her voice was softer now than he'd yet heard it, almost compassionate. "The losing side, desperate for some tool to turn back their failures. There's no reason for you to be here."

She touched one hoof against his chin, turning it upward. "Look where you are, pony. Their war was over a long time ago. Equestria’s princesses are frozen in eternal crystal. The Storm King's rule will be eternal. That cannot change, not from any number of brave warriors."

He said nothing. Whether the truth spell would interpret his vain hope as a lie, he couldn't say. But the last thing he needed was more strangulation.

"I have another option," she continued. "You could throw yourself under the millstone for a lost nation. You'll die, eventually—after I'm finished with you. Or—alternatively, you could renounce your ties to the Equestrians."

She circled around him again, her voice dropping low. "They foalnapped you. They sent you here to die. To them, you're disposable. To the Storm King...you could be something more. Live a life of significance, a life of comfort. With a word, I could release you from this prison. I planned to return to Canterlot in the next few days. You could be on my airship, in my company. If I chose."

Without Starlight, he might've accepted. Tempest was right about one thing—the resistance had kidnapped him. He was here as a prisoner, forced to fight for the chance to ever see his home again. Why should he be loyal to people like that?

But Starlight and the other members of the rebellion showed him what life should be like in Equestria: peaceful, compassionate, friendly. No one deserved a miserable existence under the grinding fist of a dictator. The Storm King's own handiwork was far worse than kidnapping.

"You're a pony too," he said. "Why would you work with them? Look at what they're doing to your people. The way they're treated..."

Tempest's face hardened to fury. "Ponies made that decision. They abandoned me. What happened after—this was their fault.”

Before Phil could react, Tempest's horn flared to life, and a surge of magical energy ripped through the air. Force yanked his foreleg upward, turning it towards him. The sensitive flesh underneath screamed in pain, and a little shard of crystal levitated, right into the air between them. He gasped, reaching for the crystal with desperate energy.

The burns were too much, Tempest's magic too fast. She held it high overhead, backing away across the room. "You think because my horn was damaged that I would be oblivious to the presence of such magic? Are you that naive?"

"Give it back!" he gasped, desperate. For the first time since arriving at Stormcage, Phil felt genuine terror. Without that shard, his final lifeline to the outside was gone. He could die in a place like this, and never see the sun again.

She turned it over in one hoof, before setting it gently down on her shelf.

"Did you really think I'd let you keep this?" Tempest asked, her horn still crackling with energy. "You may have been a formidable opponent in your world, but here, you're nothing more than a pawn."

Tempest Shadow's magic crackled like lightning around Phil, causing his coat to stand on end. The air grew heavy with ozone and burnt feathers. With each pulse of her dark power, jolts of pain shot through his body, leaving bruises and welts in their wake.

"Enough!" Tempest snarled, releasing her grip on Phil as he crumpled to the floor, gasping for breath.

"Take him back to Maximum Security," she ordered. "And make sure he understands that this is only the beginning if he continues to defy me. You wanted to be in Stormcage so badly? Congratulations, you're invited. I hope you enjoy your stay."

The guards hesitated for a moment, glancing uneasily at Phil's battered form. Then they gripped him, lifting under his forelegs. He no longer had the strength to struggle. They dragged him from the room, steam still rising from the burns across his body.

"Think about our conversation!" Tempest called after him. "Perhaps you'll reconsider which side you want to join."

A few minutes later, the guards reached the ramp into Maximum Security. They heaved, and he tumbled down onto the stone. He slid a few feet, then fell still.

This was it. The key to their escape now sat in the warden's office, behind a dozen armed guards and many locked metal gates. They were trapped.

Chapter 11

Phillay crumpled on the muddy ramp, his coat caked with filth and blood. The cold seeped through his bones as he struggled to move. His once-proud wings were still bound, trapping him on the ground. Not that he had anywhere to fly to—the sky overhead was solid stone. He wasn't sure how long he spent lying there, barely breathing. Phil knew pain and defeat—no player could climb as high as he had without facing his fair share of sacks and interceptions. No loss on the field could ever equal the stakes in front of him now. Lives were depending on him—the ones he would help escape, and the nation they hoped to liberate.

He tried to stand and crawl his way back, but his heart just wasn't in it. After a few seconds, his legs gave out, and he closed his eyes. How was he supposed to know how powerful unicorn magic could be? Starlight thought he could smuggle that crystal, but she probably didn't plan for a skilled unicorn examining him from only a few feet away.

Maybe he slept after a while, or at least dropped unconscious. Place and time were vague things by then, punctuated only by the ache of burned flesh and the throb of his heartbeat.

"Phil!" Moire's voice broke through the haze of pain, her light blue wings moving anxiously as she approached. "He's up here!"

He looked up in time to see a bright pink mare appear around the corner. If the others were nearby, they were far enough away that his eyes never focused on them.

"Looks bad," she whispered. "Worse than she did to me. How did you upset her so badly?"

"How did you live?" Moire added, prodding his flank with one hoof. "I've never seen a pony take spell burns like this before."

He grunted in response, trying and failing to form words. They seemed to get the gist, because Pinkie dropped down beside him.

"Let's get you out of this mud, Phil," she said. Without waiting for a response, she slipped her head under his chest and hoisted him onto her back. Phil winced as the movement sent fresh waves of agony coursing through his body. He no longer had enough energy left to wonder how a pony smaller than he was could somehow carry his weight with ease.

She carried Phil past the rows of despondent prisoners. He barely noticed them, only seeing brief flashes of pity and hope. Every step jostled and tore at his wounds, but he never managed more than the occasional pained moan.

Then they were in a familiar cavern. "This might hurt," Pinkie said. "Just get ready."

Magic touched him again, though clearly not from her. The glow came from elsewhere, reflected across the gloomy space. But not to torture him this time, just lowering him to a makeshift bed of straw and tattered blankets. They offered him a cup of brackish water, which he took in shaky hooves.

"Thank you," he croaked. "Wasn't... sure..."

"Drink," Fluttershy ordered, more confident than he'd yet heard from her. "Don't try to talk. Just swallow."

Time passed. Phil drifted in and out of consciousness, vaguely aware of the medical care being administered by his fellow prisoners. Rarity tended to his wounds, wrapping and bandaging the burns, while peeling away the charred feathers. More than once he tried to tell the truth—reveal their sorry state and hopeless escape. The words never came.

Eventually, he slipped into the sweet oblivion of unconsciousness and thought no more.

Then he was awake again. He couldn't say how long had passed—there were no windows, or any other visual signs of the time he'd lay there. He moved, and found his limbs stiff and aching.

"You're awake, perfect." Someone loomed over him, appearing out of the gloom. It was the bat pony Moire, with several bits of bent metal resting against her wing. "Roll to your other side. Lock's there. We have to get those chains off your wings, or they'll keep cutting circulation until you lose them. Whoever locked you like this obviously didn't care what could happen to you."

He nodded weakly, then flopped to his other side. The view wasn't much better on that end—a straight shot of stone walls covered in black mold and condensation. "Like this?"

She approached his other side, resting one hoof gently on his shoulder. "Hold still. If the lock's moving, I can't get it open."

He nodded, settling back against the ground. Not exactly a pleasant sensation, his body ached where he had already spent far too long holding still on the ground. This was not the way to recover from an injury.

Soon she was over him, several bits of metal stuck into her mouth. She worked them through the lock, tapping with faint mechanical clicks.

"She took the crystal," he whispered. Phil could keep the secret close, too ashamed to admit his failure—but what would that help? They needed to know the score to pick their play. "It's gone."

"I know. We checked for it while you were out," Moire snapped, not looking away from her work. "Don't think I'm not furious. You were supposed to be my ticket out of here. Years in Tartarus, and finally someone offered a way out. You had to throw away our escape."

"He didn't give it up without a fight," Pinkie said. "Look."

"If I had a way to hand it off..." he began. But whatever defense he was imagining didn't matter. Nothing mattered, other than the missing crystal. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry," Moire repeated, her voice bitter. She lowered her head again, and a few seconds later, a loud click echoed from beside him. Something slipped off his body, heavy metal links tumbling to pile up on either side of him. "There. Lock open. You're welcome."

"You're rather nimble with those, uh... tools," Rarity said, speaking from nearby. "That couldn't be two minutes."

Moire gathered up her little bits of twisted metal, tucking them under a wing. "Maybe I was here before the world ended. Maybe I deserved it." She looked away, her ears folding flat. "I thought that there was a way to make a difference. All those mistakes I made might not matter so much, if I actually did something good. Helping the Elements of Harmony escape fit the bill. Guess that's bucked up now."

He opened his mouth to speak, but Moire silenced him with a hoof. "No, don't talk. Stand up; we need to look at those wings. If they're broken, we might have to amputate. Otherwise, you’ll die."

He shuddered at the thought. What would happen when he got back to Earth, if they amputated a limb humans didn't even have?

He stood—legs shaking, body screaming in protest—but still he stood. Compared to the rest of his body, his wings responded quickly. Aside from a few scorched feathers along the edges, there was no sign of Tempest's interrogation. "They feel good. About the only part that does."

Fluttershy circled past him, moving into the dim candlelight. "That's weather magic. Pegasus ponies usually store it in their wings. They're the last to burn. Otherwise, we couldn't do a very good job at controlling lightning."

One more entry to his list of insane, impossible things.

Moire prodded at each wing in turn, pressing until he folded them closed again. "Looks good. No infection, no breaks. Guess we don't have to call the barber." She stalked away, vanishing into the shadowy gloom of their cave. "This is the part where we get used to this. Poison water and slop for food, wasting away down here. Can't wait."

"I would like to know what happened, precisely," Rarity said. "Tempest Shadow found the crystal on you? Where did she break it?"

He looked away. "I didn't see her break it. During the interrogation, she must've felt it on me. Not sure how. She left it on her bookshelf. Didn't seem like she cared much about it."

"They're useless for tracking in the other direction," Rarity explained. "Whatever unicorn cast it could easily sever the connection if they felt somepony pulling."

"Wait a minute!" Pinkie exclaimed. "You said Starlight would poof us away with that crystal. We just need to get it high enough that we're not underground anymore. Right?"

He nodded weakly.

"That means if we can get the crystal back, we can still escape!"

Phil couldn't help but smile at Pinkie's boundless optimism. “I guess so. If we could make it into the warden's office."

"Indeed," Rarity agreed. "But we must gallop. There's no telling when the warden might move it. I'm afraid I know no way to track a tracking spell. We shall need a solid plan to reach that office before she does."

"I've... written some things down," Fluttershy whispered. She held up her hoof, depositing a bundle of rotting paper onto the desk. "All the different places animals live down here. And everywhere else. We could use it."

"Perfect!" Rarity exclaimed, as soon as she had a good view of the map. "Gather round, everypony. We have work to do." They huddled around the improvised map of the prison. Even Moire joined in, with a perpetual scowl frozen on her face.

Phil's injuries weren't gone—but despite the pain, they weren't serious enough to debilitate him. He could still move. That meant he could still fight. He had another chance to get things right. He pointed at the crudely drawn checkpoint on the map. "We'll have to make our way past this checkpoint right before the guards change shifts. When they're exhausted and bored; that's our best chance to slip by unnoticed."

"Morning," Moire grunted. "Four hours. Ish. Can't see the moon."

"I can distract them!" Pinkie suggested. As mere seconds passed, her mane seemed to inflate and illuminate, curling around the edges. What kind of pony magic did that? "I've got a few distractions saved up for emergencies."

"Excellent idea," Rarity said. "I'll be waiting in the wings to take more drastic measures if the need arises. But you must bait them to open the gate—that metal is warded against all my magic."

So they continued, discussing every obstacle that stood between them and the office. With every word, he felt his strength returning. His hopes were battered, but they were not yet dashed. They could still fly free. He could still see Starlight Glimmer again. And maybe his home too, when the time came.

"It all boils down to this," he said, about an hour later. His injuries still ached, but they wouldn't stop him now. He couldn't let them, or else he’d be imprisoned until the rebellion found some other pony to take on this insane mission.

"Get past the checkpoint, break into the barracks. Make it up to the Warden's office, then activate the crystal. Anything I'm missing?"

"Oh sure, nothing," Moire said, "Except there are dozens of armed trolls in this prison. Our magic is drained, you're half barbecued, and we don't even know if the crystal is still up there."

"It's there," Rarity said, confident. "I know that pony—she's proud. If she kept it, it's because she hoped to offer it back to Phil during their next conversation. Perhaps she wanted to turn him into a double agent? Daring, but futile. She should've known that he’s a stallion who won't break."

Phil nodded. "Work for a king who treats ponies that badly? No chance."

"Escaping with a plan like this?" Moire added. "The jury is still out on that one. But maybe that's not so bad. I've spent enough time in dungeons. I'd like to live for Equestria—but if I have to die for her, I'll take it."

There was precious little to prepare. These ponies owned almost nothing, and wielded so few tools they might use in the escape. A few bundles of clothes, odds and ends for Pinkie's “distraction,” and they were on their way.

I can't believe I'm doing this, Phil thought, as they crept slowly towards the ramp. The guards waited above on the other side of a magically reinforced gate. To be free, they first needed to cross it. Wait until the team hears about this.

Chapter 12

Phil led the ragtag group of desperate prisoners up the ramp, towards the heavily guarded checkpoint. On her whim, Tempest Shadow could move that crystal, crushing any realistic chances of escape. She might have moved it already, but he wouldn’t let himself consider that possibility. He needed hope right now, not reasons to doubt.

"Alright, everyone," Phil whispered, trying to keep his voice steady, despite the pounding in his chest. They circled around the ramp, stopping only when they were just out of sight of the checkpoint. "Pinkie, are you ready?"

Her eyes sparkled with excitement. Her mane no longer hung straight, but had entirely given way to unruly curls. Whether that was from the sweat of working hard, or some other force, Phil couldn’t guess. At this point, it might be best to just accept whatever she said. "All this time down in a hole, I haven’t had many chances to be silly. That changes right now."

"Good," Phil said, nodding his approval. "We're counting on you." Without someone to get the magic-proof gate open, they stood no chance of ascending higher in the prison.

Pinkie bounced forward, clutching her heavy bundle of cloth to her back as she went. She vanished around the corner. Phil listened, his ears straining to hear what she might be doing. He resisted the urge to peek out and see, instead remaining out of sight. If the guards suspected anything, even for a second, they might seal the gate up tight, trapping them in high security until reinforcements arrived.

"Don’t worry about her," Rarity whispered. "I’ve not seen Pinkie this enthused about anything since Twilight—since this started. She’s quite capable when she means to be."

Before he could reply, voices shouted from the other side. Guards at first, demanding that the prisoner explain something.

The mare didn’t answer. Instead, a wave of sound erupted from around the corner. A cacophony of bizarre noises echoed off the stone ceiling—honking, whistling, and even mooing filled the air. How was she doing that?

"Yee-haw! It's a party down here!" Pinkie whooped.

Metal ground together, and the huge gate banged against the wall.

"Unbelievable," Moiré muttered, her bat wings extending all the way to either side. She was ready to fly, though he didn’t know exactly how she would manage in such a confined space. "It's actually working."

"Indeed," Rarity said. "Pinkie's unique talents never cease to amaze me."

Fluttershy seemed more anxious than impressed. "How long do we wait? When do we know if she’s ready for us?"

"Relax," Phil reassured her, his athlete's instincts kicking in. "I’ll look. Everyone else, stay behind me." Phil didn’t stick his head out to watch—the torches from the distant guard station would reveal him too clearly. Instead, he lowered a bit of dirty metal around the corner with his hoof, watching through the reflection.

Pinkie had somehow transformed the space in front of the checkpoint into a party. A heavy blanket covered the floor like a carpet, balloons lay scattered everywhere, and guards on both sides of the fence had party hats on their heads and streamers wrapped around their clubs. As he suspected, they had opened the gate now, with two of the three advancing cautiously down the ramp towards where Pinkie took swings at what was unmistakably a piñata.

When did she make that? Where did she get any of this stuff? These were questions that would evidently be going unanswered.

The guards approached Pinkie, their suspicion mounting. Their confusion soon turned into irritation. One ripped a streamer from his club, lifting the weapon high in crude paws.

"Hey!" the other shouted, pointing an accusing gauntlet at Pinkie. "Get on the ground. If you want attention so bad, we’ll take you to the warden."

"Uh-oh," Phil muttered. "Looks like she needs some help. Rarity, plan B!" His eyes locked on the ogre guards as they closed in on Pinkie.

She darted around the corner, aiming her horn up the ramp like a gun. It glowed to life, shimmering with a sudden wave of brilliant blue. The guards groaned as they were lifted off their feet, then slammed into each other with a resounding crash.

Phil joined her, charging up the ramp towards the gate. One last guard remained on that side, shoving his weight against it. If he got it shut…

Phil reached it, bracing his forelegs against the metal and his back legs on the stone ramp. He dug in tight, then shoved with all his strength. The guard stumbled backward, smacking into the stone wall. His club tumbled out of his other hand, rolling away along the floor.

"Come on!" Phil urged, as loud as he could. "Move!"

The guard retreated from him, reaching for something Phil couldn’t see well in the gloom. He spread both wings, preparing for an attack—then a piercing whistle split the air. He charged, closing the distance in seconds, but not before two more blasts echoed up the hall.

His hooves met the guard, smacking him down. He followed up with a few quick strikes on the ogre’s helmet, finally silencing the whistling.

But the damage was done. Somewhere far away, others repeated the whistle. An alarm rang, echoing through the empty hallways. Other shouts joined it, boots clattered against the floor, and doors banged open.

"Not quite according to plan," Rarity muttered, her elegant features marred by frustration. She stepped through the gate, followed by the other members of their desperate band.

"Doesn't matter! Can't stop!" Phil shouted, his wings flapping with urgency. "We need to move!"

The once simple route to the warden's office was now swarming with additional guards, but Phil pushed the group forward, his determination fueled by his previous failure to protect the crystal from Tempest.

As they hurried through the dimly-lit corridors, they came across the central holding area, packed full of pony prisoners. There must have been hundreds inside, sleeping on narrow bunks or tucked away in corners. Conditions up here were far better than maximum security, but still, these ponies had obviously suffered tremendously.

Doors all over the room banged open, with club-wielding guards already making their way towards Phil and the others—directly into a space with hundreds of prisoners. It was true that Starlight couldn't teleport all of them at once. But if they took over themselves, maybe she wouldn't have to.

"Join us! Help us fight for your freedom!" Phil stepped up onto a half-rotten box, spreading both of his wings. He couldn't look that imposing, not with a body covered with burns and bandages. But someone had to lead the fight—and it might as well be him. "Fight beside us!"

"Your magic is stronger than theirs!" Rarity added, joining Phil. There were at least a dozen guards rushing towards them, straight across the room. Once they reached them—he knew the brutal beating that would follow. He might not survive it this time. "Go on! The rebellion has a plan!"

Many prisoners scoffed or cowered at the prospect, but a few brave souls took up the call to action. Someone knocked over their bed, toppling the heavy wood into a group of guards. Others started shouting or throwing rocks at them from across the room. In seconds, the guards turned towards the crowd, battering random ponies with their clubs.

That did it. Ponies of all kinds rose from their resting places. Many just screamed and fled, but even that helped. Stampeding hooves did a great deal to block the path.

"Phil, come on," Fluttershy whispered. "That's enough."

"Right. Let's get that crystal."

The sounds of clanging metal and shouting echoed around them as they moved forward, surging through an open hallway out of the holding area and towards the prison offices. Soon the fighting spilled out into every room and passage, the crowd getting larger and more violent as the conflict spread.

Please let the crystal still be there. If Tempest moved it after he left, or got to her office before they did—the whole fight might have been for nothing.

Panting from the pain of his injuries, Phil led the band of escaping ponies towards the warden's office. Despite the beating, he still remembered the route clearly. The chaotic cries of rebellion reverberated behind them as they pressed on. The further they got, the more other ponies joined them, breaking in little waves. They battered down barricades and fought back small groups of prison guards, advancing through the castle with relentless determination.

"Are we going to seize this place?" a grizzled Pegasus asked, wiping blood away from his bruised and broken face.

Fluttershy hesitated before answering. "Probably not," she finally admitted. "But if we can keep this rebellion going, you'll all be free soon. We'll get you all out."

The prisoner's face fell. He faded back into the crowd, letting the other ponies rush around him like water. Many of them had crude weapons now, holding them in magic or tucked under wings. Strange that now of all times, the ogres didn't pull out their crossbows and spears.

They continued onward, using the chaos as a cover to slip past the remaining guards. Finally, they were on the top floor, surrounded by metal bars and high windows. The crystal would be easy to use now, if only they could get their hooves on it.

A pair of soldiers stood with their backs to the warden's office, their spears at the ready. They straightened as Phil approached, prepared for a fight.

"Get behind me!" Phil commanded, stepping forward. He had lost the crystal once, but he refused to let it happen again. Both guards charged—not with the deadly points, but wielding the weapons like staves, ready to beat him into submission.

Phil took off. There was little room in the hallway, just barely enough to fly without smacking his wings into the wall. There was no space left in his mind for doubt or hesitation, only acceleration. No need to wonder how he would stop—two perfectly good guards stood in front of him. He smashed into one, his hooves impacting their heavy chest and taking the ogre to the ground.

These soldiers might be taller than he was, but they were also fat and soft. It took little strength to rule over captives in a prison, but a great deal more to fight the nation's mightiest athletes on the battlefield. Phil had them outmatched.

His body screamed in protest, still weakened from his interrogation, but he pushed through the pain, battering over the first guard and turning on the second.

"Come on, Phil! You can do it!" Pinkie Pie cheered from the sidelines.

He turned, just in time to see the second guard swinging towards him with the staff.

Rarity caught the strike in her magic, sending the weapon spinning free from the beast's meaty paws. "I believe you'll have no more need of that."

Phil's vision blurred from exhaustion. His muscles burned, but he refused to give up. He tackled directly into the other guard's knees, right at his shoulder level. The creature gasped, then buckled, toppling sideways.

Moiré was there seconds later, bringing a stolen club down on the ogre's metal helmet.

He dropped to the ground, unconscious.

"Is everyone all right?" Phil asked, leaning weakly up against the nearby wall.

"For now." Moiré reached the door and tried to kick it open. "Earth pony?"

Pinkie screamed, her words melting into an incomprehensible roar of rage and frustration. How long had she spent trapped in this prison? The door buckled, then went flying backwards, smashing into Tempest's desk.

The others cheered, filing into the office behind her. Except for Fluttershy, who urged the crowd of rioting ponies past the door. "Go for the guardhouse! If you can get the gate open, you can escape!"

"Let's get that crystal and put an end to this," Phil said, his voice filled with determination.

The office was dimly lit, casting eerie shadows on the walls. Phil scanned the room, his eyes finally settling on a glittering crystal on the bookshelf. It was still here, exactly where Tempest left it! "Here!" He pointed urgently. "Can you activate it, Rarity?"

"If everyone would like to join me," Rarity answered. Her horn glowed a soft blue, lifting and spinning the crystal into the air. It zipped over to them, and the glow began to increase.

"Is that it?" Fluttershy whispered, her eyes wide with anticipation.

"Indeed," Rarity replied, her focus unwavering. "Now, everypony should brace themselves. Starlight was never known for the comfort of her teleports."

"Hurry," Moiré urged, her ears twitching at the distant sound of running feet. "Reinforcements could be here any second."

As Rarity concentrated, beads of sweat formed on her brow. With one final surge of energy, the crystal burst into brilliant life, its light filling the room."

"Over here! As close as possible!" Rarity instructed, positioning the group next to Tempest Shadow's window. As the crystal's magic swirled around them, a dark figure appeared in the open doorway.

"Going somewhere?" Tempest sneered, her broken horn crackling with dark energy.

The teleportation spell reached its peak, enveloping the group in a cocoon of light. As they vanished, Phil saw Tempest's rage, a flash of electrical energy—then darkness.

They were free.

Chapter 13

The world came crashing into focus around Phil—light and color and shadow all in a single instant. Ponies surrounded him, the same group of desperate captives he had saved from the Storm King's prison, snatched from the hooves of its awful warden.

This felt worse than any of Starlight's teleports so far—his world tumbled upside-down and his stomach twisted in knots. His wings opened reflexively, and that helped orient him. Those stone walls on either side weren't the cruel bricks of his prison—this was the rebellion's hidden shelter, tucked into a ruined castle.

The floor under his hooves was a twisting pattern of arcane glyphs, still glowing faintly with Starlight's magic.

"Not exactly my... preferred method of travel," Rarity said, from somewhere to his right. "But the timing couldn't be better. Another second, and we might have never seen the sun again."

Finally, the last of the disorientation faded, and Phil saw where he was standing—less than an inch from Starlight as it turned out, close enough that he'd nearly smacked into her face.

The unicorn looked worse than he'd ever seen her—eyes bloodshot, bags on her face, and an expression barely even looking forward anymore. She didn't meet his eyes so much as look past him at the wall, overcome with powerful confusion. "Welcome... to the rebellion," she said, before tumbling sideways.

Phil jerked forward with an athlete's reflexes, slipping under Starlight before she could hit the ground. The unicorn wasn't exactly light, but she still barely strained his muscles. He stood up, nudging her to one side so she wouldn't slip off his back.

"She must have been watching for us," Fluttershy whispered, pawing timidly at the stone floor. "Maybe the whole time you were gone."

Rarity nodded her agreement. "She would have to be. I've never seen a portable teleportation enchantment, but even if such a thing could be done, it would radiate power like Celestia's own horn. Our escape had to be compact enough to reach us. If it wasn't for that near-disaster with Phil's capture, we would've returned a day earlier."

"She should really see a doctor," Pinkie Pie said. She bounded past Phil towards the door, her mane now fully inflated. Curls of bright pink cascaded down her shoulders, and she didn't walk so much as bounce. "You too, Eagles. You're bleeding all over."

He was—he had only partially healed from the interrogation, and he knew it. But he wasn't in enough pain to miss the nickname. "That isn't my name, Pinkie. It's Phil."

"Phil," she stopped by the door, her hoof resting on the knob. "Ph-ill. Eh, no. Maybe you could have a strange name before, but not anymore. You're a proper pony now. Saving the day, fighting evil… Eagle! See?"

"No." He approached slowly, careful not to dislodge the mare on his back. Now that she mentioned it, the idea of seeing a real doctor did seem appealing. The last thing Phil needed was to die of an infection before they even finished saving Equestria. "A local nickname seems fine, but not that one. Maybe Starlight can come up with one."

He glanced over his shoulder, and found the mare's eyes closed, her head resting up against his back. She was already snoring. Phil opened both of his wings a little, using them to hold her steady. He'd almost forgotten what that warmth had felt like...

"Perhaps after she's seen a doctor. And you too, dear. We did what we could to sew you back together, but we were three starving mares in a dirty hole."

"Agreed," said Moire. She'd remained silent near the back of the room, her eyes fixed on the floor—almost like she was trying to make them forget she was there. "I'm ready for some real food. A fat, juicy moth, right out of the air. Then I'll wash it down with a fresh mango, and..."

Fluttershy hurried past Pinkie, nudging her until she opened the door. Of course, Phil recognized the castle outside—this was Starlight's study, located in the heart of the rebellion's headquarters. His rescued ponies immediately set off down the hall the wrong direction, towards a bend sealed with bricks. But they walked with such confidence.

"Not the way," he said—but he felt almost as exhausted as Starlight, and his words didn't quite reach them.

"They'll figure it out," Moire said, slipping into place beside him. She matched his pace, though kept far enough away that she wouldn't accidentally dislodge Starlight. "Can't believe we actually made it out. Feels like a dream, you know? Vivid enough to take some of the pain away, but then you wake up and you're back in that... awful place."

He nodded weakly. In Phil's short stay undercover, he had already started to feel some of that dread. What would life be like if he had never found a way out? "I know what you mean."

"I'd... appreciate it if you kept what I said between us," Moire continued. "But I can't stop you."

Behind them, the others' hooves hurried to catch up, trotting back towards Phil. They'd found the dead end and would only take another moment to catch up.

"Won't say a word," he whispered back. "I never would've made it out without your help, Moire. I still don't know what makes them special, but Starlight thinks these Elements of Harmony are key to saving Equestria. Getting them out is kinda like saving the country yourself. Whoever you were before, now you're a hero."

She nudged his shoulder with a wing. Her eyes were so big, overcome with emotion. She was crying. "Looks like you've got your hooves full with that mare. But maybe I'll see you in the sky anyway… if I still remember how to fly."

She slowed, letting the kidnapped Elements catch up with him. She trailed along behind, just as they passed through the heavy doors into the common room.

Ponies were just gathering for breakfast, packing in tight for their share of meager rations,but a little less meager this morning, judging by the stacks of pastries and number of bubbling pots. Maybe his teammates had been helping while he was away after all!

He wasn't sure who started it, but a cheer rose through the hall, joined by stomping hooves. Their words blended together—a mixture of names, joy, and the chanting refrain of “Equestria! Equestria!” The joy wasn't for him—the ponies he rescued spread out into the crowd, meeting many friends with hugs and desperate tears.

He crossed the hall, passing trays of delicious food and heading for the infirmary doors. Even when the Elements weren't following him anymore, the cheering continued. Ponies waved and did their best at his name, but many of them stumbled over the pronunciation. Pinkie was probably right about getting a new one.

Harvey caught up with him. He looked like he might slam into him for one of their field-side greetings, but then he saw the mare on Phil’s back and stopped short. "Wondered if we'd see you again, Phil! Undercover agent, really? Looks like they weren't excited about your performance."

Phil shrugged one wing, which was about what he could manage without risking dislodging his passenger. "Definitely not." He grinned back, despite the pain. "Too bad I wanted the win more than they did. I think the prisoners might actually take the prison now, and send those trolls running."

"Damn." Harvey whistled. "You can tell us the whole story when you're not bleeding so much. Can't wait to hear it."

Phil stumbled into the infirmary a few seconds later. All the beds inside were empty today, thankfully. He picked the nearest, lowering Starlight down carefully.

One eye fluttered open as he did so, briefly meeting his. "Glad... you..." and she was out again, nestling up against the pillow.

He straightened, facing the doctor as he hurried from an open office nearby. Phil started to explain what had happened, but the doctor pressed his mouth closed with a little unicorn magic. "Back from the prison mission. You don't need to explain. I already know how it went; my ears are working fine." He pointed at the bed beside Starlight's. "Lie down. You can try to sleep, but you probably won't get much. Not too many healing potions left anymore—mostly hydrogen peroxide and thread. This will hurt."

Phil stretched out on the horse-sized bed. "Can't be worse than what Tempest did to me."

Starlight's eyes shot open, and she turned her head towards him in bed, looking suddenly alert. Or maybe “panicked” was the right word. "Tempest Shadow was at the prison?"

"Warden," Phil said. A nurse came rushing towards them, pushing a cart of medical supplies along ahead of her. From the looks of it, Phil knew the doctor was right—this would hurt.

"The Storm King made her a prison warden." Starlight lay back against the pillow, though she was still facing him, and one eye remained open. "He wouldn't have won without her help. That's the thanks she gets for betraying Equestria."

Something harsh burned into his side, followed by something sticking through his skin. Not just once, but repeatedly, back and forth. The doctor wasn't standing right over him, but he didn't have to. He was using unicorn magic!

"I guess." Phil stiffened, fighting to keep still against the pain. He needed treatment; someone had to sew him up. But part of him wanted to get up and flee. "Thanks for pulling us out. Were you sitting awake in that room the whole time?"

"Since I got back," Starlight muttered. "No other way. No other unicorns here have the skill. If I missed when you used the crystal, you'd be trapped."

"Saved my life," he whispered. His words were briefly strangled by another harsh burn of pain against a different wound, and more stitches. But if being a pony had one advantage, at least he didn't have to watch them work.

"You're the hero," Starlight said. "I could've gone down there myself, but I wasn't brave enough. You were. Thanks to you, Equestria has a chance."

"Relax there, Miss Glimmer," the doctor chided. "I know exhaustion when I see it. Either rest, or I'll have you sedated." How he could still talk while stabbing Phil repeatedly with a needle, Phil figured he might never know.

Maybe he should keep quiet and let Starlight finally sleep. But one thought gnawed at him, demanding attention. Plans for the salvation of Equestria would still be there the next day, once they were all recovered, and the parties were over.

But at least one question couldn't wait. "Pinkie said something when we got back. I was a 'real' pony now, and needed a real name. But I didn’t like what she came up with."

"She's... something else." Starlight cracked open one eye this time, watching him. "But she's right. You've done as much for Equestria as any pony. More than most. You do... deserve... a proper name. Even if you don't want to use it much. The history books will just invent one otherwise."

He turned that over for a few seconds, considering. "Maybe you can come up with something."

"Golden Wind." She didn't hesitate, not even for a split second. Almost like she'd had it picked out for days, maybe since he first arrived. Only now she finally had the chance to share it. "I mean, that's how you look. You seem like a Golden Wind to me. Like those feathers on the underside."

He lifted one wing reflexively, turning to look. Of course, he already knew what was there—but at that moment, those feathers caught the light of the glowing crystals on the walls, reflecting onto Starlight. "Golden Wind. I could work with that."

"Delightful," the doctor said, annoyed. "Now put that wing back down, Golden Wind. Unless you don't plan on keeping it. A few of these feathers are showing early signs of infection. I'm afraid healing spells hurt more than hydrogen peroxide. Hold still and let me work."

The doctor was right of course—it burned, worse than Tempest Shadow's electrocution. But Golden Wind hardly felt it. His undercover mission was over, and he was a hero to the rebellion.

And much more importantly—he was a hero to one specific mare. The rest was just gravy.

Chapter 14

Golden Wind spent the next few days in recovery and celebration with the other ponies. Equestria might’ve still been enslaved, and the Storm King still sat on his throne, but for the first time, they had a major victory under their belts.

Even from a hospital bed, watching it felt like seeing the ponies of Equestria finally come alive again after so long as sleepwalking zombies, going lifelessly from one kind of suffering to the next.

His teammates all came to visit—even Danny, who had refused to leave the ruined castle and do anything more than safe work from behind the lines.

They had more or less the same thing to say. "No one's gonna believe this when we get back," Harvey said, about three days later. Phil still had a few bits of bandage where the worst burns were healing, but most of the damage was already gone. He was tough, and healing magic worked fast. "Helping the locals is one thing, but getting tortured in prison? Damn, Phil."

He didn't correct Harvey, of course. None of his teammates had adjusted as well. They weren't “going native.” But maybe they had fewer reasons to adjust like he did.

"Someone had to," he said. He glanced to Starlight's empty bed before continuing. She hadn't been injured, only exhausted, so she was already released.

But admitting she had anything to do with Phil's motivations—they'd never let him live that down. “We don't go home until we save them. We're already into the fourth quarter for this rebellion. They needed a Hail Mary."

"And you're the one to give it." He clasped Phil's shoulder for a second, laughing loudly. "You think they'll let us go home now? We won?"

Phil winced, and not just from the pain under his bandage. "Equestria's not safe yet. Not until the Storm King is gone. You'd have to ask Starlight what's next."

Harvey shrugged. "You do that, Phil. You're around her often enough." He turned and vanished out the door before Golden Wind could retort.

Still, his stomach sunk in his chest with grim suspicion. He knows.

The next day brought his official release, along with a brief lecture from the doctor about medication and changing his bandages.

"But so long as you don't get into any battles for another two weeks, you should heal up fine."

"What about flying?" He opened both wings, stretching them to full size. A few feathers were still missing, and others were scorched by dark magic. Yet if he squinted, he could make out their replacements emerging from the downy fluff underneath. "Rainbow Dash wants to keep up my training. Get into advanced maneuvers, weather magic..."

"Flying, yes," the doctor said. "Weather magic, absolutely not. The last thing you need is more lightning. Come back in a week and we'll see. Those damaged feathers are going to keep falling out, but sometimes they need a little help." He looked away. "I wouldn't say anything, but I'm told wings are new to you. You don't have a lifetime of preening experience."

Golden Wind shook his head once. "I've never had any of my own before, no." But now he did. They weren't awkward grafts onto his body anymore, alien limbs he couldn't control. He folded them against his sides as easily as he might move his legs.Shame he couldn't bring them back to Earth after they finally defeated the Storm King.

"I'll keep it simple. If a feather looks damaged and starts to itch, pull it out. Usually, a Pegasus will lose all their feathers and grow new ones in about a year. The potions you've been drinking sped up that process. Unfortunately, that means you'll go through a whole set of new feathers in the next month or so. Talk to another Pegasus if you need help; I can't get more specific than that."

The doctor tapped one hoof against his horn, matter-of-factly. "I've never had wings either. Just try not to burn yours again next time you're saving the world."

"I'll see what I can do."

Of course, the first pony he went to see wasn't one of his teammates. They had their own tasks in the rebellion now—a few were away on supply missions, or helping smuggle ponies out of nearby towns.

It was Starlight he went to find. Fortunately, that wasn't a difficult task—the mare was only a short distance down the hall, barely around the corner from the makeshift hospital.

She had several pads of paper floating around her, along with a quill and pen. Somehow, the unicorn could hold them all and still find the concentration to pace nervously back and forth. She was so absorbed in her task, that she didn't look up as Golden approached.

"Trying to dig through the floor?"

She squealed in surprise, dropping several pages from her notebooks to the floor in a clatter of magic. Her ears tucked back and her tail whipped rapidly as she avoided his eyes.

"Golden! You're... doctor let you out? That's great!" She levitated the fallen sheets of paper up off the ground, stacking them all haphazardly in the air in front of her. "I was hoping to talk to... How are you feeling?"

It wasn't just his wings that felt more natural. Ponies couldn't help but show their feelings—be that eagerness for their mission, or their social anxiety about talking to a pony they were interested in.

The unfortunate implication of that truth, of course, was that he was as easy to read as everypony else.

"Good. Only lightly singed. Doctor says it's nothing that won't grow back, so long as I'm careful about it."

"Great!" Starlight beamed back at him, brushing one awkward hoof through her mane. "Great! We've been planning... the Elements and I, since you rescued them—what we need to do next."

She settled abruptly onto her haunches, then turned one of the floating notebooks towards him in the air. "See? This is what we're missing."

He looked. Phil had seen diagrams this complex before, back in college. Granted, none of those gave him magical powers. "I can't read spells, Starlight. Not a unicorn, remember?"

"Right, right!" She spun it around, then went back to her pacing—around him this time, rather than just in a straight line. It seemed to help her think, so Phil said nothing. "Getting the Elements of Harmony back was a key step to freeing Equestria. But we'll never win against the Storm King directly, not unless we can free the Alicorns. With all the princesses and the Elements working together, we might stand a chance."

"Okay." He spun slowly in place, watching her walk back and forth. She did know ponies didn't wear anything, right? Every time she flicked her tail like that... "You think I can help with that?"

"Not... directly. I've worked on a counter spell since he took over, without success. Princess Twilight would be able to find a way, but she's trapped in crystal. If she could get herself out, she would've done it already." She flicked through the pages, blurring several magical diagrams, until she settled on something much more familiar—a map of Equestria, seen from high above.

It wasn't Phil's home, but even so, he found the view almost familiar—the shape of the continent, what would've been the Rocky Mountains in the west, and the plains in the middle. It might be a parallel world, but it seemed to share the same shape. Maybe he could use that. "I'm not sure there's a pony smarter than you out there," he said. "If you can't figure it out..."

She flushed. "Yes, well... I've always been more of a sorcerer than a wizard. Let my emotions guide my magic, trust my instincts. It means a lot of power, but... not great when you're going up against somepony with more raw strength. I need a pony like Twilight. Lucky for us, there's one out there." She tapped the map, near a little town on the west coast.

"One of Equestria's wisest Unicorns—Starswirl the Bearded. While you were in prison, we heard somepony had seen him down there. Guess he's been in hiding since the Storm King took over."

Golden Wind squinted down at the map. Unfortunately, that view gave him very little information to work with. Towns and cities were little dots, sometimes not even with a name. "If he's so wise, why isn't he helping with this rebellion? Is he a collaborator or something?"

Starlight giggled. "Not likely. Ponies who work for him don't need to hide—they can be in his court, drowning in luxury. Starswirl is a dangerous pony, but he's not omnipotent. I'm sure he would help if he knew we were out here."

"And if you're telling me about this..." Golden continued. "It means you're sending me to get him?"

"Us," Starlight corrected. "With a few illusions. After that whole 'jailbreak' thing, you're not a nopony to the Storm King anymore. Neither am I." Her horn glowed for a second, but he felt no spell. Just for demonstration, maybe. "You're a warrior, not a wizard. I have to be there to explain our problem. And you're there to keep us both safe if anypony finds us."

He glanced down the hall, but nopony else was coming. They were alone, at least for that moment. "Compared to my last mission, I think I like this one much better. No prison, no torture. And I can't think of a pony I'd rather have at my side."

Suddenly, Starlight was staring.

Golden flushed, though of course Starlight wouldn't see that. She would see him nervously shuffle his wings, though. "For a secret mission, obviously. Because you're so pr—powerful. The most powerful unicorn I know."

She touched her forehead up against his, so close her scent overwhelmed him. "You're not a very good liar either, Golden Wind."

He shrugged his wings. "Maybe not. But are you really any better? You could just send me and teleport us back. You didn't have to come."

She brushed up against his cheek, then straightened. "I still need to work out the details with the others, but we should be able to leave tomorrow. Just waiting on Rarity to craft a few illusions for us to wear while we're out there, now that the Storm King probably wants to execute us both. Meeting room, tomorrow morning. I'll be ready to teleport us by then."

Golden Wind had a few of his own preparations to make before then, albeit none with any magical ramifications. He wanted advice on wing-care from Rainbow, and a chance to write a few notes for his teammates.

Given the danger he kept putting himself in, the chance he might not come back seemed to be growing every day. So he borrowed a pen and paper and took a few hours to write his goodbyes. His family and friends back home deserved to know what had happened to him, even if he wasn't around when Equestria was saved and his teammates could go home.

He kept the details vague, of course. No need to tell them about ponies and wings and magic. Far better if their last image of him wasn't as a crazed lunatic.

He finished with a simple pronouncement, more or less the same with each letter.

"There's something here worth fighting for—more than my season record, more than the playoffs or a title. This was worth fighting for.

-Phil"

Now he'd seen Stormgate, so he knew what Equestria's enemy was capable of. He wouldn't let the Storm King throw Starlight into that place—or anyone else.

He addressed each letter, though of course he couldn't stamp them. He found Danny and left the bundle with him. "If you make it back and I don't, please. Send those for me when you're on the other side."

He nodded. "You planning another suicide mission, Phil?"

"No. Just wanted to be prepared."

Then he was off to the meeting, where he met with the Elements of Harmony for one final briefing. Rarity was there, with another magical crystal for him.

"Tuck this anywhere. Into a hoof, behind your ear... like so." She levitated a mirror as she said it, turning it to face him. "Just like that. Golden Wind is no more! Behold... whoever you are now."

He looked at the illusion reflected back at him. Perhaps Rarity could've done a little more to hide him—he had a slightly different color in his coat, a different mane style, and most importantly, his wings vanished. Instead, he had a horn, as though he too had transformed into a unicorn upon arrival in Equestria.

"I should stress, this is only an illusion, dear," she said. She pulled the crystal free, and his reflection returned to what he expected. "You are still a Pegasus. You'll still walk on clouds, still have wings, and that horn isn't real. This isn’t about changing you into another tribe, or we could just use the Pearl. It’s only meant to conceal your identity long enough for a mission."

He nodded along. "What if I try to fly?"

"You can," she answered, without thinking. "And it will look as unnatural as you can imagine—a unicorn manipulating powerful muscles he should not have, guiding himself through the air. Any creature who sees will likely identify the trick in an instant."

"I'll keep that in mind." He nodded appreciatively, then hurried out to meet Starlight Glimmer.

Chapter 15

Starlight Glimmer's illusion changed her less than Golden Wind's. Her horn vanished behind the illusion, replaced with a pair of wings that never moved, remaining neatly folded at all times.

Like his, the disguise went only skin-deep. Her horn still glowed, even though it wasn't there, as she traced the lines of her careful spell. She drew onto the ground, making a perfect circle surrounded by dense runes.

"This should get us to San Palomino," she said, tossing the chalk aside and stepping carefully over the lines. "Getting back should be easier, so long as I have some time to think. Can't prepare a spell like this with a spear to my throat."

"I won't let that happen," Golden said, stepping carefully over the edge. "I can't fight an army on my own, obviously. So long as they don't send one, we should be fine. How strong is the Storm King's grip on... San Palomino?"

Starlight shrugged. "Haven't been there since he took over, so your guess is as good as mine." She looked him over, grinning. "Little closer. Don't want to leave anything outside the circle."

He moved closer—close enough that his wing brushed against her side, and her tail flicked his leg. That wasn't so strange, so long as he didn't look back. I still feel my wings, but can’t see them.

"You know where we can find this... Starswirl?"

She nodded. "Assuming the Storm King hasn't found him first, yes. But I can't bring us straight there—knowing Starswirl, he'll have wards around the shelter for miles. And we wouldn't want anypony to see us teleporting in; that would look suspicious. Only the Storm King's servants are allowed to use high magic. Now hold still."

The castle vanished from around him. For an instant, there was a terrible cold crushing in on his body, tearing the breath from his lungs. Light returned seconds later, briefly blinding him. They were outside in full sun, bright enough that he tried to lift his wing to shield his eyes.

The wing lifted, and he felt feathers against his brow. But the illusion was too strong—his wing cast no shade.

Little bits of ice flaked away as he moved his feathers, falling from the open air.

The “Pegasus” next to him faltered, her legs shaking with the effort of keeping herself upright. "That was... far." She gasped, her breath emerging in the cold fog. "Need... a night's sleep... before I do that again."

Golden held firm, wrapping his wing around her back to keep her steady. Even if neither of them could see it, she would still feel it. "I'll take flying any day."

They weren't in the castle anymore. Instead, a rough trail surrounded them, stretching in both directions through a wilderness of scraggly weeds, deep green plants, and occasional wildflowers. It was warm—too warm. He'd be sweating already if it wasn't for the spell.

Most importantly, there were no watching soldiers, or any other creatures that might ask awkward questions about their arrival—only buzzing insects, and the occasional bird passing over the trees.

He reached into his saddlebags with his other wing, removing the canteen from inside. He was getting better at using his wings the way natives did, even if it looked a little like magic right then. He still might not understand exactly what the “Elements of Harmony” were, but Rarity sure did cast a powerful illusion. "Here."

Starlight took it and drank. She passed it back a few seconds later, leaving it mostly empty. "Looks like I got us close. San Palomino is on the coast. From there, we just need to ask around for the recluse living on his own."

She straightened, shaking herself out without opening her wings. No real Pegasus would move like that. "And he'll want to help us?"

They set off together down the trail. At one time, it might've been well-maintained, but time had not been kind to this place. Much of the gravel had washed away, or else been swallowed by mud that softened and hardened again in many rains. Numerous hoofmarks in the ground suggested the space was still well-traveled, with many thin marks left in the mud by cart wheels.

Equestria's new king didn't care much to maintain his conquests, at least not here. Soon, Golden’s companion recovered, and they began a brisk trot instead, through warm hills, rolling grass, and singing birds.

Few signs of civilization broke the otherwise uninterrupted natural beauty. Their path took them down with every step, descending a steady switchback towards the coast.

He wasn't sure how long they had walked, but it was long enough for the sun to rise high overhead, and for Starlight to tire more than once.

She stopped again as they came to a particularly high bluff overlooking the valley below, settling down onto her haunches to rest. "Just... need a few seconds." She looked up, running one hoof awkwardly through her mane. "Not everypony can be an inexhaustible... warrior."

Golden sat down beside her. His eyes were still for the trail, and occasionally at whatever flew overhead. He saw no sign of patrols, or any other occupants in this distant place.

From his high vantage, he could make out dense streets and narrow buildings. It felt like looking down at a historical photo. He could imagine many towns like this across the US in an earlier age. The streets were far narrower, only wide enough for a cart drawn by two ponies at most. A railroad passed almost directly through the town, its tracks snaking up the coast and out of sight.

"You can almost forget you're conquered," he said. "Seems... peaceful from up here."

Starlight looked up at him, her expression distant and pained. "Not everywhere is big enough for the Storm King to notice. But nowhere escapes—his work crews take ponies from everywhere. Never know when he might decide to give your job to somepony else, or move your whole family out. See those fields up north? They should be full of fruit right now. But without the weather teams, you can't get enough water for strawberries."

She closed her eyes, resting her head up against his shoulder again. "At least we found you. I almost gave up before that. Nothing worked... he was always one step ahead."

"I'm glad you didn't," he replied.

She looked up, opening one eye. "I thought you were still upset that we foalnapped you."

He shrugged his wings, which of course the mare couldn't see. Maybe she felt them twitch. "You could've asked. But I'm not mad. I never thought I'd get to fly, so that was nice. Equestria has some things going for it." He looked down into her eyes, then away again, before he could say anything stupid.

"Wait until you see it free." She stood again, and they returned to their walk. "The princesses presided over a thousand years of peace. The streets were full of music, the weather always scheduled, and every harvest was overflowing. Nopony went hungry or cold." She lowered her voice to a bitter mutter. "If I have to sing the Storm King's stupid anthem again, I think I'll throw myself off battlements."

"We can't have that," Golden said. "I'd like to see Equestria when it's back to the way it should be."

She flicked her tail at him, speeding up. He broke into a trot, then a canter, and still she kept ahead of him. Starlight wasn't half as tired as she claimed! "Careful saying things like that, Golden Wind! Almost sounds like you want to stay after we win."

He said nothing to that. Phil had no answer. Golden Wind—maybe he did. Besides, he had some time. They had to win first.

San Palomino proved somewhat less peaceful and welcoming when they actually arrived. The streets were mostly empty, save for furtive ponies hurrying in tight groups from one section to another.

Posters were plastered to every wall and pole, showing a judgmental creature scowling at them. Most said more or less the same thing "Report Dissident Activity to the Stormwatch. Be vigilant or be complicit."

Many shops had closed, while others had most of their shelves empty. What had obviously been the town's central grocer had only a few meager crates inside, with bags of grain, hay, and salt piled up in front of vivid harvest murals covered in fruits and vegetables.

They had good reason to fear. He'd only made it a few steps inside before they met the “Stormwatch” for themselves, a pair of ponies in black and blue uniforms, with a handful of military-police looking ponies trailing behind them.

Too small to have ogres. The king really doesn't care about this place.

They carried weapons of old and battered wood, and their uniforms had been patched several times. He wouldn't know their lowly station from the pride in their voices, though.

"Papers, please," said the tall earth pony with the biggest hat.

Starlight produced them, removing two sheets of worn paper from her own saddlebagswith her mouth, so there were no obvious breaks in the illusion.

The stallion squinted down at them both, then back up at the two of them. After a few seconds, he passed both of them back. "Reason for your visit?"

"Visiting my grandfather," Golden said, without missing a beat. "He's been getting on in years. You never know when a pony's time will come."

The two stern ponies shared a look. "You are... both needed for this?" His attention settled on Starlight now. "You know unnecessary travel remains suspended. Our great king requires all to work where they live, unless they obtain a royal travel license. Why are you here, Pegasus?"

"To... comfort my husband!" She wrapped her foreleg around Golden's neck, pressing up close to him. "They were so close. I fear this is the last time our king will permit my husband to see him in this life. Without me, the grief might overcome him!"

Golden nodded along, holding the mare closer to him with his foreleg. "We won't burden your town for long, sir. I'm only here to say my last goodbyes."

The two stared for a few more seconds. Finally, the earth pony scribbled something on his notebook, and tucked it away again. "Have your business concluded in San Palomino by tomorrow morning. I expect to see you at the station for the morning train. Our king has no time for sentimentality."

Then they were gone. Police marched behind them down the street. A few gave them sympathetic glances as they passed. Most didn't even look up, their eyes always on the ground. They don't want to do this. But those collaborators do.

They asked around town for a few minutes after that, now playing the part of a couple who had come to pay last respects to an ailing family member. Maybe it was coincidence, or maybe Rarity's illusion did the work—either way, no pony seemed skeptical that Golden might be the old stallion's grandson.

It was early evening as they left San Palomino proper and hurried down a narrow road that led to their “grandfather's” property. If their directions were right, the trip would be brief, another mile at most.

He waited until they'd left the town behind, and he saw no sign of others following down the road.

"Husband, huh?" he said. "Guess that makes me the luckiest stallion in Equestria."

Starlight's ears folded back. She laughed, but the sound came out nervous and forced instead of confident. "First thing I thought of. Storm King wasn't supposed to have ponies out here. It's fine... we'll be gone before morning. I hope those jerks spend weeks hunting for us."

Even in this bleak land, Starswirl's hideout was among the least welcoming places Golden Wind had ever seen. It was little more than a solitary shack at the center of a fallow field, surrounded by skeletal brown trees and parched soil. Just looking at it made him want to turn around and hurry in the opposite direction.

"You sure this is the right place? I'm getting Hills Have Eyes vibes. Maybe we teleport back now."

Starlight nudged his shoulder. "That's exactly how we know it's the right place. Aversion spell, come on. Don't look at anything, just walk. It can't work if you don't think."

Anyone else would probably have trouble forcing him. But for Starlight Glimmer—he let the mare tug him forward, albeit reluctantly. It took effort, but if all he looked at was the mare ahead of him, he could keep moving.

They trotted right up to a pair of heavy wooden doors, and a dirty glass peephole that stuck through haphazardly at eye level.

Starlight knocked several times, quiet and urgent. "Hello? We're here to see you, and we don't have much time."