The Legend of Archenold

Chapter 2

Time to Get Out of This Shit Hole

"Well, Ah was able to do a little reconnaissance on mah way here to rescue the both a y'all." Big Macintosh Starts. "It was really hard to get my way in here to begin with, so we're not going to go out the same way. Now, I've done a little research in the laboratories eventually coming across the database in one of their computers. Using mah hackin' skills, I was able to get passed their security without bein' detected. I've downloaded a map of the whole vacinity on this here PDA." Big Macintosh pulls out a PDA and pulls up the map. "Now, we're here in cell block B of sector A." Big Mac points to a red flashing dot on the screen. "We need to get through the rest of the cell blocks to get to the trash pits." He explains as he points out the route.

"Wait a sec." Apple Jack starts. "We have to go through all of them?" Apple Jack inquires worriedly.

"Eeyup. That's the only way to the trash pits." Big Mac informs. "Why? Is there something I should know?" Archenold starts getting antsy as he realizes whats coming up.

"Well... It's just that Archenold here... he had a friend who was just... killed in the hands of Cyphento." Apple Jack replies. Big Mac glimpses at Archenold who is now frowning.

"Oh...well, ah'm real sorry for that." Big Mac apologizes. "If there's anything we can do for you when we're done, let us know." Archenold nods his head slowly as a tear forms in his eye. Big Mac puts a hoof on Archenold's shoulder to try and cheer him up. "Listen, let's get out of here then we can plot revenge." Archenold lifts his head higher and smiles weakly. Big Mac pulls out his PDA again and starts going over the plan further.

"So, we head through these cell blocks possibly stopping by for Archenold to pay his respects quickly, then we head out towards the armory. There we get some grappling hooks to swing across the lava drop and some guard uniforms to disguise ourselves. After that, we go to the trash pits. If we come across anyone who asks who we are, we just say we're new recruits and are headed to the trash pits. OK?" AJ and Archenold nod in acknowledgement, Archenold a bit more pumped than before. "Good. Let's head out." Big Macintosh finishes. The three head towards the cell block exit, knocking out the warden who started gaining consciousness again.

The three ponies head down a long hallway white hallway with doors leading to multiple offices. At one point, a guard noticed the three from far away. Archenold noticed the guard running to set off an alarm, but Archenold acted quickly drawing his bow back with a razor sharp arrow, launching it at the guard getting him square in the back of the neck, with the guard dieing instantly from a broken spinal cord. The three head out again. Reaching a corner of the hallway, they notice two guards talking, one of which is facing away and blocking the other guard's view of the impending doom. Big Macintosh looks to AJ and does some sign language. Giving the signal, Big Macintosh makes the first move, grabbing the guard by the neck holding his mouth shut, alerting the other guard, when AJ jumps right over Big Mac and subdues the guard with one quick buck to the face. Big Mac snaps the restrained guard's neck, lowering the body to the ground silently, looking around for any witnesses. Archenold pulls out another arrow and launches it through the empty hallway for it to hit a guard who turned around the corner. AJ and Big Mac stare at Archenold in surprise.

"What? I just...sensed him." Archenold responds to their puzzled looks. The two just shrug and drag the bodies into an empty supply crate where the bodies would be inconspicuous. After hiding the bodies, they run past the next few cell blocks, occasionally running into some guards. They are silently dealt with and quickly hidden. Passing by the last cell block, they knock out the ward as they enter the room. They rush past the prison cells, only for Archenold to stop completely in front of a specific cell. "That's...That's her." Archenold starts with a loss of words at his fallen friend. "that's Daring Do." Archenold starts tearing up when he realizes something. He searches the ground around Daring Do. "W...Where's the blood?"

"Archenold, you done?" Archenold gives a quick look to AJ before taking his knife and reaching into the cell to lift Daring Do slightly, sliding the knife under her.

"Just in case..." Archenold gets back up and follows AJ and Big Mac out with one last look at Daring Do, this time with a sign of hope on his face.

"Let's go." Archenold orders as he heads out with the other two. A few seconds after exit, Daring Do's ear twitches.

Heading down their path occasionally snapping a few necks on the way, the three finally make it to the armory. They get suits their size, first putting on the black body suit, then the black visor that blocks out their eyes and most of their head. They equip themselves with the grappling hooks. They tuck in the grappling hooks under their body suits to make it inconspicuous. When they're about to leave, Archenold notices something.

"Well this should be nice." He comments with glee as he takes a powerful pistol off the racks.

"What would you need that for?" Big Macintosh inquires curiously.

"You never know when you'll run out of arrows." Archenold responds wisely as he takes a couple extra magazines. "Let's move out." The three leave the armory to head to the trash pits when a pony stops them.

"You three, where are you headed?" The pony interrogates.

"We're headed towards the trash pits. We've recently been recruited." Archenold lies to the pony.

"You best be on your way then. and quickly. Cyphento doesn't take kindly to those who are late. Even if it's only a second." The pony warns.

"Right away." AJ and Big Mac head off when the pony stops Archenold, staring intensely trying to see through the visor on his helmet. "Something wrong, sir?" Silence answers him for a moment when the pony finally decides to speak up.

"N...Nothing. You wouldn't have happened to hear about a pony who died in the cells recently. Would you?" The pony questions suspiciously.

"I can't say that I have, sir." Archenold replies swiftly.

"If you're lying, you're doing a very good job at it. Be off now." The pony steps aside for Archenold to go. He then activates his com link and speaks into it. "Cyphento, could you send somepony to replace me for a second? I have to keep an eye on somepony suspicious. Thanks" He then heads off to secretly follow the three ponies to the trash pits.

"You guys are the newest recruits here?" a guard asks in curiosity.

"Eeyup. Heard the pay was pretty good." Big Macintosh lies.

"Well, hopefully you guys will have it better in this line of work than me. I've been employed here for at least ten years now and I'm still stuck throwing away this shit. Do you even know what we're doing right now?" The three start looking closer at the trash.

"Damn. These are burnt bodies and torn limbs!" Archenold exclaims.

"Yeah. These are Cyphento's victims. The ones who were lucky, were those who were burnt alive. That's his way of taking it easy on them. Poor bastards never stood a chance against him. Those, along with any guard or worker of his who deny him. You two best follow his orders without question or this'll be you. burnt, or face shredded into millions of bits of skin." The guard warns. "I know how all this works. I've been here longer than anyone in these pits. Of all the Celestia damn times I could have got a promotion, I was denied higher authority. I feel like giving Cyphento a piece of my mind, but we all know where that'll lead. all the way back here. Either in pieces or fired. literally." He turns to the three giving a creepy smile. "Good luck in life." They three feel a shiver run down their spine when the lunch bell wrings.

As everyone rushes into the cafeteria to eat, the three ponies sneak off undetected to the target garbage chute. Archenold looks around to make sure no one followed them.

"You go ahead. I'll keep watch for a second." He replies. AJ goes first, then Big Mac. Archenold surveys the area one last time, when he notices a small pair of silver eyes staring at him on top of the roof of the nearest building. When he blinks, the eyes are gone. "The hay...?" Shaking the thought out, he jumps into the chute, pulling out his grappling hook. At the last second, he jumps out of the chute to see a huge pit of lava down below. He uses his grappling hook to swing across the cavern to one of the most inconspicuous holes where AJ and Big Macintosh are waiting for him. He retracts the grappling hook as he hurdles towards the hole, only to grab onto it with his hooves. Aj is about to help him up when the ledge breaks loose, causing Archenold to plummet to impending doom. He closes his eyes accepting his fate.

Then, he hears a voice close by.

"Ar...Archenold...?! You're... flying!" AJ informs with great awe.

Archenold flings his eyes open to meet AJ at eye level. He looks to his back to see transparent, sparkling, jade wings flapping about keeping him suspended in air. He smiles ecstatically and starts flying around in great joy.

"Yes! Thank you Jade Heart!!!" Archenold finishes celebrating the gift of flight by landing down next to Big Mac and AJ who are still staring in awe. When he lands, the wings lose their color, and sparkles as they retract to his sides. "Move out!" Archenold orders with a sense of great joy. As he moves, he has a sort of bounce to his trotting showing his excitement. After what seemed like forever, they finally reach the end of the tunnel. they look up in alert as they hear the sounds of guns being cocked.

"Oh shit."