//------------------------------// // Chapter Fifteen – One More Light // Story: Reality is a Blur // by lLoveRainbowDash //------------------------------// Rainbow and the other pony had walked the wagon down the hill, and into the valley where the large city resided. Being closer, she could pick out more details on the wall. The stone was weathered quite a bit with small cracks and chips here and there. The left side of the entrance gate was covered in vines that stretched up the length of the wall. “Welcome to the Pyrathian Kingdom, ponies!” The guard stood from his seat and jumped off of the wagon. “Pyrathian Kingdom?” London said, looking up at the guard. Once the wagon train came to a stop, ponies began coming from the city, odd-looking wagons being towed behind them. “How many of’em per cage?” a guard from the wagon in front of them asked. One of the ponies that had come from the city with the caged wagon stopped by Rainbow. “Three to a cage. No more, no less,” she said, looking straight at Rainbow and London. The guard began pushing them towards the cage. Rainbow picked up London and placed him in the cage, then jumped in after him. The nice pony that pulled the wagon with her was pushed inside the cage as well. The cage door was slammed shut right after he had gotten in. Once their cage began being pulled back inside of the city, Rainbow saw how many cages they had lined up. They stopped to allow more caged wagons past. Rainbow placed a hoof on London’s back, keeping him close. While they were stopped, she overheard the guards talking. “How many do you have this time?” a guard from the city asked. “Sixty-six today,” the wagon guard answered. “You know, some day we’re going to need you all to drop off your... cargo at a different location. Our city is beginning to become crowded. Everypony who lives here has at least three pegasi!” “I’ll make sure to tell the boss ‘bout that.” The boss? Pegasi? After all of the caged wagons passed, they were walked inside of the city. Wagon after wagon. Cage after cage. All sixty-six of the captured pegasi were being loaded up and hauled into the city to be sold. Their cage stopped once it had gotten to the middle, it seemed, of the city. It was a large opening in the buildings with one large structure at one end. The field was all dead grass. The few trees it had were towards the sides of the field. The structure at the end of the field was just a flat foundation with only one wall on the back of it. As they were being unloaded from the cages and led to the foundation, Rainbow noticed all of the town’s ponies coming onto the large field. There were hundreds, if not, thousands, of ponies. The guards from the city helped lead all of the pegasi to the “stage,” as they called it. London wouldn’t budge from Rainbow’s side. She almost felt... like she had to take care of him. She wouldn’t let them do anything to him. They would stay together. They were led up some steps onto the large stage, facing out towards all of the town’s ponies. They were lined up and given papers with a number on it. Rainbow was #45, and London was #46. “Mo—R-Rainbow... I’m really scared,” London whispered to her. Rainbow cried quietly to herself as they were being numbered off. She pulled London closer to her side. A pony with a bright red suit came onto the stage holding something. “Alright everypony! We have sixty-six pegasi for you all on this fine day!” he shouted. His voice was amplified by large black boxes on the sides of the stage. “You all know how this goes. I list the pegasi’s numbers and prices, and you guys holler out if you want it or not!” That’s all we are to them... just a thing to be sold. “Now, which one should we start with?” The crowd of ponies all shouted, seemingly shaking the ground. Rainbow could pick out a few numbers amongst the yelling, none of which were hers or London’s, giving her some bit of hope. “Let us start with #44, right here,” he said, walking up to the pony that had helped Rainbow pull the wagon. Part of her wanted to stop him. “The price for this one starts at 729 points. Who wants him!?” A few ponies from the crowd stood and called out. “729—No, 749. Oh, 759! And... Going once! Going Twice! Sold, to the fine stallion in the fedora! Alright, get him out of here, guards. Moving along, we have #45! Her magnificent colours will not go unnoticed, as well as her child! Their price will be an even 1,000 points!” Rainbow’s heart felt as if it skipped a beat. She felt London squeeze her leg. She watched as almost every single town’s pony stood and shouted. “Whoa, hey now! I can’t take everypony at once! Tell you what, I’ll up the price to 1,600 points! Who still wants her?!” Most of the ponies stood again. This time, though, there was a little less than before. “Okay! How about 2,300 points for both?!” Most of the ponies in the crowd looked annoyed. They all looked around at each other. “Okay then. Moving o—Oh! You’ll buy them for 2,300 points?!” Rainbow searched the crowd, and at the very front was a pony in a dark brown-coloured trench coat with a black top hat. “Yes. I will buy them for 2,300 points,” he said, looking straight at her and London. “Woo! You got yourself a deal! Guards, get them in the cage and hand them over!” Three guards came from behind them and led them to another cage. This one was smaller than the wagons and looked to be older. “W-what are they going to do with us?” London asked once the guards left. “I’m not sure... but I’m glad you’re still with me,” Rainbow replied. “Me too.” Just then, the pony that had bought them came up to the cage. “Hello, you two.” They only stared at him. “Not much of talkers, are you? Well, don’t you worry.” He reached inside of his coat and brought out a knife. Rainbow jumped back. “Oh, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to scare you. I... look.” He hit the lock that was keeping the cage door closed. After a few more hits, the lock broke and fell to the ground. He opened the cage door and stepped back, allowing them to exit. “My name is Percy. What is yours? If you don’t mind me asking.” She hesitantly spoke, “R-Rainbow... and this is... London.” “Well, Rainbow and London, welcome to the Pyrathian Kingdom! One of the largest cities in the country.” “W-what are you going to do with us?” London suddenly asked. “Young one... it hurts me to see how ponies treat pegasi after the war. It is horrible. I hope I can make your life better.” “Thank you,” Rainbow said. “Here, come with me. I will tell you about everything on the way to my home.” Rainbow stepped out of the cage with London, and followed Percy out of the field. They walked through the streets and alleyways. Ponies on the street stared at Rainbow and her wounds and scars. True to his word, Percy explained everything that was going on within, and outside of, the city. He explained how unicorn ponies were the upper-class since they had magic. Unicorns were the wealthiest. He also explained how earth ponies, such as himself, were the middle-class, being average. “Buying you two really took a lot, hope you know that,” he had said, laughing afterwards. Percy also explained why pegasi were slaves. And how some ponies even had their pegasi’s wings cut off to prevent them from leaving. But he assured her that he would do no such thing. Maybe this won’t be so bad after all.