#6 The Great Mine
Raiden opened the door, and stepped into the large rock corridor behind it. It resembled a large cave, lit only by a series of lanterns along the ceiling.
“Is this a mine shaft?” Raiden said to himself.
Raiden began running down the long, rocky, corridor as he received a call from Twilight.
“Raiden, I think I found something.” She said.
Raiden slowed down to a fast walk, and said. “What is it?”
“I was looking through my history books, and I found an interesting passage. It says,
‘The unicorn, King Emerald, coveted jewels above all else. A trait shared by his daughter, Princess Platinum. Knowing the mountain was rich with gems, they built the Great Mine.’
I’m afraid that’s all it says.”
“So it is a mine!?” Raiden said. “That answers that. The Changelings must be using it to build their weapons. Princess Luna, do you have anything to add?”
“The Great Mine.” Luna said. “I’ll see what I can find.”
Raiden cut the transmission, and continued running.
As he ran through the darkness. He began to realize how deep into the mountain he was going.
“This mine must be in the core of the mountain.” He said.
After a few minutes of running, Raiden saw a red light at the end of the tunnel.
“Finally.” He said right before his Codec went off.
“Raiden, I found it.” Princess Luna said.
“Go ahead.” Raiden said.
“I’ll spare you what Twilight already told you,
‘King Emerald’s hunger for gems ran so deep, that the innards of the mountain, and even the interior of his castle, were all dug out for his mine. Deeper, and deeper he dug, till he even broke through the planet crust. The heat was so unbearable, his workers couldn’t go any further. So the King had them dig outward instead. He had them build a dungeon at the bottom of the mine, to expose his enemies to the intense heat, a reflection of his dark heart.
‘Equestria was already founded at this point, and the now kind hearted Princess Platinum, pleaded with her father to come with her. But he did not listen, instead continued to expand his mine.
‘Eventually, they dug too much, and unearthed a demon, asleep in a rock cavity. This beast killed all of the miners, and King Emerald as well. The mine was abandoned ever since.’”
“How awful.” Twilight said.
“I get it,” Raiden said. “So the castle isn’t even a castle anymore. It’s just the top of a gigantic mine.”
“Yes, the book even provides a full map of the mine.” Luna said. “And it’s huge.”
“Great. That will come in handy.” Raiden said. “But I’m worried. That changeling said Celestia was locked up in the deepest dungeon. I assume the one at the bottom of the mine. I hope she can handle the heat.
“I wouldn’t worry.” Luna said with a smile. “My sister is the Princess of the Sun. She can handle extreme heat a lot easier then any other pony. Besides, It looks like there is still a few hundred feet between her and pure magma.”
“Okay. So, where am I headed now?” Raiden asked.
“Looks like a large side area. You’ll have to get through it to get to the core of the mine. There appears to be a lift that will take you to the prison area above you.”
“Probably where they’re keeping the Unicorns.” Raiden said.
“Most likely. The lift also goes down, where the changelings are mining ore for their weapons. There is a walkway down there, that will lead to the core. You can make your way down from there.”
“Anyway, didn’t that book of yours mention something about a demon?”
“Yes, but not anything else. But this must have been thousands of years ago. I doubt it’s still alive.”
“I guess…”
Before Raiden could close the transmission, Shining Armor spoke up.
“I apologize for interrupting,” He said. “But before you go to the core. Can you check the prisons. I just want you to check on the Unicorns. If they’re up there that is.”
“That’s fine.” Raiden said. “I was planning to do that anyway.”
Raiden ran out of the corridor, onto a large branching walkway. Going strait would take him to the core of the mine, and going left would take him to the elevator lift. He could see a large structure above him.
“If the map is right, that must be the prison.” He said aloud.
His thoughts were interrupted by a swarm of Changelings coming at him. They were poring out of the prison, and some were flying onto the walkway from below.
Raiden pulled out his sword, and held it in front of him. He couldn’t help but smile.
“So much for this being a stealth mission.” He said.
Raiden ran strait at them, and began hacking away. Each Changeling was torn apart by his sword.
They began to gang up on him. Six Changelings attacked Raiden all at once. But before they could get close, Raiden tossed his sword in the air. He quickly kneeled down, and performed a handstand. Raiden caught his sword, as it fell, between the ball and heel of his foot. He began to spin in place on his hands. He extended his leg outward, and the sword sliced the incoming Changelings to peaces. Even some of the guard railing was cut apart. Raiden let go of his sword, and it flew through the air. It stabbed a nearby Changeling in the forehead, pinning him to the rock wall.
Raiden jumped to his feet, and ran to retrieve his sword. He pulled it out of the wall, as the enemies began to close in on him. There were still about twelve left. Luckily, the sword landed next to the elevator.
“See ya.” Raiden mocked as he quickly entered the lift, and hit the up button.
“After him. Kill the intruder!” One of the Changeling shouted.
As the lift stopped at the prison, three of the Changelings flew up, and into the holding cells. The prison had three levels, with twelve cells on each. Each cell had about six unicorns inside. They were all terrified.
The three Changlings entered the prison at the same level the elevator stopped, but they saw no sign of Raiden.
“Were did he go!?” One of the Changelings shouted at the unicorns. But they gave no reply, only scared looks.
“Forget it.” One of the other Changelings said. “He got away. Come on, we have to report this to Bruno.”
The three Changelings flew out of the room.
Raiden stepped out of the darkness, and deactivated his cloaking device, as he heard his Codec ringing
“What just happened?” Twilight said. “Those Changelings looked right at you, but how did they not see you.”
“It’s called Stealth Camouflage.” Raiden said. “I can bend the light around me to render me virtually invisible. As long as I stay still, I can’t be seen. Don’t sound so disappointed.”
“Oh…sorry…” Twilight said “I was just confused. Your technology is almost like magic to me. Anyway, you’re in the prison right?”
“Yeah.”
“How are they?”
Raiden looked into the cells, each cell had about four or five Unicorns each. All of them looked terrified. Raiden turned on his AR mask to check their vitals.
“There all alive.” He said. “But malnourished, and dehydrated. The heat from this volcano can’t be helping either.”
“We have to help them.” Twilight said.
“I know. But at the moment, the safest place for them is right here. I’m afraid if I free them now, the Changelings will swarm them. I’d rather free them when it’s all clear.
“…That’s a really good point…Is there anything else?”
“They seem scared of me. No surprise I guess. But their eyes…they’re faded. And the ponies themselves are in a state of lethargy.”
“What!?” Twilight screamed. “What about their Cutie marks?”
“Their what?” Raiden said, confused.
“The picture on a pony’s flank!”
Raiden looked at the Unicorns and noticed that their flanks were blank. He didn’t think anything of it at first, but apparently they were important.
“They don’t have anything.” Raiden said.
Twilight’s heart sank when she heard that.
“Twilight, could it be…?” Shining Armor said.
“No!” Twilight shouted. “We sealed him away months ago. He couldn’t have come back.”
“Your right Twilight.” Luna said. “Ever since the Tirek Incident, I’ve had guards go to Tartarus to check on him and report back every day. And they confirmed he’s still locked up. It has to be someone else.”
Raiden had to chime in. “Hold on a minute! What’s this about?”
Twilight let out a sigh, and began to explain. “A while back, a powerful centaur named Tirek broke out of his imprisonment, and began stealing the magic from ponies everywhere. All of them showing the same symptoms you just described. We were able to beat him in the end, and return all the magic. But there is no way he could return.”
“It looks like we’re dealing with a different magic stealer.” Raiden said.
“But it doesn’t make sense.” Shining Armor said. “Chrysalis doesn’t have that kind of power.”
“Perhaps it’s that figure in the red robe you saw.” Luna said.
“Could be.” Raiden said “But what would anyone hope to gain from stealing magic?”
“Power.” Twilight said. “With every Pony he sucked the magic out of, Tirek became more and more powerful.”
“I’m afraid we’ll have to figure it out later.” Raiden said “I found a pony that still has her ‘cutie mark.’”
Raiden cut the transmission, and approached the lone pony in the corner cell. She was laying on her side, facing away from the cell door. She had fire orange hair, and a yellow coat. Her Cutie Mark was that of a spark of flame. She also had a pair of wings on her back.
“I guess you’re the odd one out.” Raiden said.
“Your one to talk.” She said in an angry tone. She turned slightly to look at Raiden. “What are you anyway?”
“A human. And you’re a Pegasus right?”
“What of it?”
Raiden knelt down, and got close to the cell. “Shining Armor told me he sent a Pegasus in here. I take it that’s you.”
The pony’s eyes went wide, as she got up, and ran to the door. She slammed her face onto the bars, as she stretched her wing through the bars, and around Raiden’s head. She pulled him close, and said;
“How do you know the Prince?”
Raiden pushed her wing away, and said. “He sent me here too. I’m on a mission. To rescue you, these Unicorns, and the Princess.”
“I see.” She backed up a few steps, and said. “I can help you. I was able to explore this place a little before I was captured.”
Raiden nodded, as he pulled out his sword. “Stand clear.” He said, as the Pegasus stepped back. Raiden thrust the blade into the lock of the cell door, and it melted. Raiden put his sword away, and opened the door.
“My name’s Captain Spitfire of the Wonderbolts Flight team.” She said as she stepped out of the cell. “And you?”
“Raiden, head muscle of the Maverick PMC (Private Military Company).”
“Never heard of it.”
“Never mind.” Raiden said, before taking out another headset. “Here. This headset will let you speak with the rest of the team. It’s how I communicate with them.”
Spitfire was a little nervous at first, but she allowed Raiden to put the device on her ear. Raiden quickly briefed her on how to use it.
“Okay, here it goes.” She said before turning it on.
“Spitfire? Is that you?” Shining Armor said.
“Captain Spitfire reporting in sir.” She said.
“What’s your status?”
“A few bruises but I’m otherwise fine. As for the mission, I was able to obtain some valuable information.”
“What? How?”
“I overheard a few guards talking. Apparently Princess Celestia is being held at the bottom most dungeon.”
“That’s what we thought!” Twilight interrupted. “I’m glad your okay, Spitfire.”
“Princess Twilight? You’re here too?”
“Yes, I hired Raiden for this mission. With his skills, and physical abilities, he’ll rescue Celestia for sure.”
“You flatter me Twilight.” Raiden said.
“Spitfire.” Luna said. “I want you to work with Raiden. Aid him in bringing Celestia home to us.”
“Of course, Princess. I’ll put my trust in him.”
“Spitfire, Raiden, I have good news.” Shining Armor said. “The whole village is under our control, and the train Raiden hijacked has just arrived. Sorin and Fleetfoot managed to stop it. The Unicorns on board are in our custody.”
“That’s great news.” Raiden said. “I wish we had a moment to savor the victory, be we still have a job to do.”
“I agree.” Spitfire said. “There’s still the ponies in these cells.”
“We’ll leave you guys to plan out your next move.” Shining Armor said.
The transmission ended.
Spitfire turned to Raiden, and said. “What is the next move?”
Raiden looked around. “These ponies aren’t going anywhere for a while. But I don’t want to alert the Changelings that I freed a prisoner. I want you to wait here.”
“What?!”
“Don’t get your feathers ruffled. Saving these Unicorns is just as important as saving the Princess. I want you to keep an eye on them, and keep them safe. I doubt with my appearance, they would listen to me. But they will probably listen to someone of their own kind. When the time is right, I want you to lead them to freedom.”
Raiden reached behind his back, and pulled out a foot long knife. He placed it on the floor.
“Just in case you run into trouble.” He said.
As much as it hurt, Spitfire swallowed her pride. “Fine. I saw you take out those Changelings down there. If I tagged along, that would just be one more life you have to worry about.”
Raiden nodded. “Yeah, so stay in your cell, and keep the channel open. I’ll call you when the time is right. And listen…” Raiden knelt down, and looked at her in the eyes. “On the battlefield, the patient solider waits for the right time to strike. The solider with no patience gets himself killed.”
Spitfire took a moment to let those words sink in. “I understand. And…thank you.” She picked the knife up using her mouth, and returned to her cell.
Raiden nodded as he turned around and entered the lift.
Raiden headed for the catwalk that would lead him to the core of the mountain. He was in the same area where he fought the group of Changelings, thankfully there were none left.
“Did you see anything?!” Raiden heard a voice from below him. He could see Changelings toiling away at the bottom of the mine. He continued to listen.
“No I didn’t. I’ve been down here all day.”
“Well keep an eye out. We have an intruder. Some freak with a sword slaughtered most of the prison guards, and we haven’t heard anything about the train, but we fear the worst.”
“What’s he after?”
“We think he was hired to rescue the princess. But even if he can take the heat down there. No way he’s going to get past that demon.”
“Yeah, heh heh.”
“Sounds like that demon is still alive down there.” Raiden said into his Codec.
“Yeah.” Luna said. “And our theory that Celestia is down there with it, has been confirmed.”
“I wouldn’t say that, but it sounds promising. I’ll check it out.”
“Okay. The catwalk in front of you should lead you to the dormant core of the volcano… I better let Twilight explain this next part.” Luna said before hanging up.
“Thank you Princess” Twilight said. “Now Raiden. You said once your body is artificial right?”
“Yes. Everything below my upper jaw is all biomechanical. Why do you ask?”
“Well, you’re about to descend into the core of a volcano, that reaches all the way to the edge of the upper mantel. The heat can reach temperatures of almost 1,700 degrees.”
“No worries there.” Raiden said. “This body can take it. Although it will be a strain. I’m more worried about Celestia.”
“She’ll be fine. Celestia is the Solar Princess, and can handle extreme heat. Likewise Luna is the Lunar Princess, and can handle extreme cold.”
“I’ll take your word for it.” Raiden said.
“Just remember Raiden. At the bottom, there is only about half a mile between you and pure mantel. To much stress on the very thin planet crust, will cause the volcano to erupt!”
“Great.” Raiden said sarcastically. “I’ll try to be careful.”
Raiden ran across the long catwalk stretching over the mine. The path lead him into a dark cave. It was difficult to see, but he eventually reached a ledge overlooking a bottomless pit.
The whole area was perfectly cylindrical, with the volcano above him, and a dark abyss below him. To his left, hanging on the wall, were a few white suits. The same type that Geologists use when studying volcanoes, only they were for ponies.
“These must be what they use when they need to go down there.” Raiden said
“Makes sense.” Twilight said. “How else would they survive down there. Anyway, don’t let the depth fool you. It has a bottom. But this is far deeper then the cliff earlier. And even if you freefall, and survive the impact, I estimate the said impact would be the same as a small meteor hitting the ground. Such an impact would definitely ignite the volcano. How in Equestria are you going to get down there?”
Twilight’s lecture had no effect on Raiden. “I have my ways.”
Raiden closed his Augment Mask, and dove off the ledge.
Even though he wasn’t at the bottom, the rising heat was intense. His AR display was giving him information on how far the drop was, as well as the temperature of his surroundings. Only a sixteenth of the way there and already it was over a hundred degrees. Raiden reached over to his left forearm, and opened a panel reveling a small screen and keypad. He pushed a few buttons, activating his emergency cooling systems, allowing his body to withstand extreme heat.
He was halfway to the bottom and the temperature was at six hundred.
Raiden pushed a few more buttons and activated his night vision mode. As deep as he was, seeing was impossible. He then turned on his scope, and zoomed in on the bottom. He could see he was almost there.
The temperature was over a thousand.
Raiden pulled out his sword, and moved toward the wall. He stabbed the wall, slowing his decent. Finally he reached the bottom, and landed on the hot lava rock floor as softly as he could. He quickly pulled his sword out, and saw hot lava oozing out of the crack in the wall.
Raiden turned and saw a door on the other side of the room.
“Guys, can you hear me?” He said.
“Loud and clear Raiden.” Twilight said.
“Good. I just wanted to make sure the signal was strong this far down.”
“How’re you feeling?”
“Hot. My cyborg body is keeping me cool, but it’s definitely uncomfortable.”
“That reminds me.” Shining Armor said. “You seem too prepared.”
“What do you mean.”
“I mean, my sister pulled you from your world without warning, right? And then you agree to a mission that puts you in the depths of a volcano…”
“I see. Your wondering why I just so happen to have the right gear for the job?”
“Yeah.”
“Oddly enough, the mission I was on, that she interrupted, I was trying to sabotage a refinery that happened to be sitting on top of an active volcano. You might call it a coincidence.
“Huh.”
Raiden approached the door.
“I take it that’s my next ‘Port of Call?’” Raiden said.
“Yes.” Twilight said. “Princess Celestia should be through there.”
“Got it.”
Raiden took two steps towards the door, before hearing clapping coming from behind him. He quickly turned around, and drew his sword. The red hooded figure stood before him.
“I’m surprised you made it this far.” He said.
“Who the hell are you?” Raiden demanded.
“You must be the meddler I heard so much about.” The figure said. “I heard how you took down Zazz, and his entire battalion. Nice work. I could use someone like you. Tell me, what are you? You’re no Pony nor Changeling that’s for sure.”
Raiden gripped his sword, and demanded. “Tell me your name!”
“Tell me yours first.”
“Raiden.”
“I see.” The figure pointed at Raiden, and the cyborg got a glimpse of his hand. It looked like it was coated in lava rock. And the creases and joints were made out of magma. “I don’t know what you are, but I’m afraid you need to die here. The Princess is far to valuable to me. But I’m afraid she’s not feeling well.”
“What have you done to her?!” Raiden said in a raspy voice.
“Nothing. It seems her magic has dwindled on it’s own. So I have to find a way to restore it. What do you intend to do?” The figure took a step forward, and Raiden saw a glimpse of his foot. Same as his hand, made of magma, and coated in lava rock.
“That’s easy. I’m going to kill you.” Raiden proclaimed.
“Not so easy, I‘m afraid.”
Raiden’s opponent knelt down to the ground, and conjured a sword made from the same lava rock he was standing on. He lunged at Raiden at full force, but the cyborg easily deflected it, and stabbed the figure through the abdomen.
“It’s over.” Raiden said.
“Not yet.” The figure said.
He shook Raiden’s sword free from the cyborg’s grip, and knocked him back with a series of punches, while still impaled.
Raiden wiped his blood from his lip, and dashed forward. Using his CQC (Close Quarters Combat) skills, pinned the figure against the wall. Raiden grabbed his sword, pulled it out of his opponent, and cut the rock wall above the figure. Lava began oozing from the crack in the wall, and onto the figure.
“Get back up from that.” Raiden said as he put his sword away.
He began to walk towards the door, when he heard a voice.
“Not bad. I almost felt that.” The figure said.
The figure actually rose out of hot lava, unharmed. The heat from the lava set his red cloak ablaze. He began walking towards a horrified Raiden.
“W…what the hell are you?!” Raiden said with a shaky voice.
“You wanted to know my name before right?” The figure said as he removed his burning cloak. His body was pure magma and lava rock, and his face was only two eyes and a mouth. Each lit brightly with fire and lava.
“My name, is Lavan.” He said as he took a bow. “I’m the last of the ancient lava demons that once ruled all of the world. After it cooled, I was put into a deep slumber. Until that greedy Unicorn King disturbed me.”
Raiden got into a battle stance with his sword in front of him.
“Oh please.” Lavan said. “Put that thing away. I was only toying with you earlier. You want to see true power?”
Lavan raised his hand.
A red aura formed around Raiden, as his arms and legs were spread apart. He couldn’t control them. His grip loosened on it’s own, and his sword floated out of his hand.
“Is that…Levitation Magic?!” Twilight shouted in Raiden’s ear.
The sword floated through the air, and pointed at Raiden’s abdomen.
“’Eye for an Eye’ as the saying goes.” Lavan said, before commanding the sword to pierce the cyborg’s body.
“Now you die.” He said. Lavan conjured his lava rock sword from his own body, and placed it near Raiden’s neck. He took a back swing, and swung it.
“Raiden!” Twilight shouted.
Raiden’s arm moved and blocked the blade.
“This…pain.” Raiden said.
“What!?” Lavan said as he jumped back.
Raiden shook free of the magic controlling him. But he still had a sinister aura around him.
“How did you…?” Lavan shouted.
Raiden grabbed the hilt of his sword, and pulled it out of his torso, spraying blood everywhere.
“I told you my name is Raiden.” He said in an even more raspy voice then normal. “But some call me by another name.”
Raiden pointed his bloody sword at Lavan and said. “Jack the Ripper!”
The ripper dashed at Lavan, and before the lava demon could even react, his head was taken off. Raiden doubled back, and entering blade mode, sliced him into multiple pieces.
Raiden put his sword back into it’s sheath, and took a deep breath. As he turned toward the door, his codec began to ring.
“R…Raiden? What was that just now?” Twilight stammered.
“How should I know?” Raiden said. “It called itself ‘Lavan.’”
“No! Not that! Your personality changed for a moment. And you even broke his spell.”
Raiden hesitated before speaking. “Remember that story I told you. About how I was raised to kill.”
“Y…Yeah?”
“My kill count was higher then any of the others, and that earned me a nickname. Jack the Ripper. Not something I like to talk about freely.”
“I’m sorry. You just scared me, that’s all.”
“He scares me too, Twilight.”
Raiden began walking to the exit, when he heard something behind him.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Raiden said, as he turned around to see what was left of his opponent melding into one another.
“How are you not dead!?” Raiden shouted.
Lavan retained his true shape. His body had completely regenerated.
“My body is made of magma and rock.” Lavan said. “You can cut me down as many times as you want but it won’t do you any good. But more importantly I want to know how you did that just now.”
Lavan vanished in a flash of light, and reappeared next to Raiden. He then put two fingers near the cyborg’s forehead.
“You fascinate me. Now sleep.”
Raiden’s legs gave out under him, as he fell unconscious.
“I want to know what makes you tick.” Lavan said, as he prepared to pick Raiden up.
“Raiden?!” Twilight shouted over the codec. “Raiden, wake up! Raiden! Oh my gosh. Raiden! Raiden!”
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