//------------------------------// // Chapter 16: Rebel Yell // Story: Achieving Divinity: Dragon's Deception // by The Joeker //------------------------------// As Twilight and I ran through the sewers toward what we had to assume was the rebel base, we stopped to catch our breath. "I shouldn't have left him..." Panted Twilight. "He'll be fine." I nodded. "I hope so..." She said. "Come on. Let's keep moving." I said and we kept going. There were arrows pointing the way forwards luckily. "What if the arrows only lead out and the base is hidden?" She asked. "I doubt it. The rebel told me the path out also leads through their base." I said. "So-" She stopped as we saw a metal door up ahead with lanterns. "There!" I exclaimed. We approached the door. "Should we knock?" She asked. "Why not?" I asked and knocked loudly on the door. Nothing. I tried again. "Maybe nopony's home." I shrugged. "What?" Came a male voice from the other side and a eye slit in the door opened. "We're looking for the rebels?" I asked. "We have not been informed of any escapees... Especially none that look like you..." Said the voice. "Who do you work for?!" It asked. "We're not escapees. We're allies. Here to help you." I said. "How do we know?" He asked. "حرية." I said. He went wide eyed. "حرية." He replied quickly. Shutting the eye slit and opening the door. "What was that?" Asked Twilight. "Freedom. In their language." I said. "I see." She said as we followed the sentry. Eventually we came across a makeshift base. A campfire at the center. "Ah!" Came a voice. I saw the pony I tried to stop the king lashing earlier. "Hey, it's you." I said. "Yeah. Good to see you. Thanks for trying to save me earlier." He said. "No problem." I shrugged. "Still I thank you." He said. "Spike!" Exclaimed Twilight. I saw the Pony I freed come in from the back entrance with Spike on his back who hopped down when he saw Twilight. He ran over and they embraced. "Alim!" He exclaimed, the stallion talking to me turned around. "Bari!" He replied. "So your name is Alim?" I asked. "Yes. Alim al Abad. This is my brother, Bari al Abad." He introduced us. "Looks like you've saved the entire family." Chuckled Bari. "So it would seem." I chuckled. "So why are you here? I thought you were working, albeit begrudgingly, for the king?" Asked Alim. "Well I was at first, until I learned they were keeping the royal family hostage and I found out how they treat other ponies." I informed them as we sat by the fire. "Then they captured the baby Dragon and held him hostage unless he did what they said." Added Bari. "Now we have him back, I can fight against him now." I said. "You have a plan? Bakr, come over here." Said Alim. A stallion who looked like the leader came over. "Bari! Good to see you alive!" He exclaimed. "Thanks to this strange being." Replied Bari. "What do we call you?" Asked Alim. "Dragon-Knight." I replied. "Dragon-Knight, this is Abdul Bakr. Our leader." "So, you freed Bari and defended Alim? You have our thanks." "No problem." I said. "So you have a plan?" Asked Bakr. "We need to expose this base." I said bluntly. All conversation stopped and everypony turned to me. "What?! Are you mad?!" Asked Bakr. "No. We all need to evacuate and launch an attack on the castle. If we expose the base, the king will send his best, probably all of his soldiers. That leaves his castle exposed." I said. "Interesting... What do you propose?" Asked Bakr... ;10 minutes later; "When do you we execute this?" Asked Alim. "As soon as you can evacuate everypony." I said. "Tonight." Replied Bakr ;A few hours later - Sandstone Stronghold; As Commander Rhode came around, she groaned. A servant then gasped and ran out of the room. "You're awake then?" Came a voice. "Yes..." She replied. She saw Marius standing over her. "What happened?" He asked. "I don't remember... I think a rebel knocked me out?" She asked. "It seems so. They fled unfortunately. I had to carry you back." He said. "What is happening?" She asked as she saw guards running past her room. "Tyrath found the rebel base. The king is going to storm it. All the soldiers are gathering outside." Explained Marius. "We must join them!" Exclaimed Rhode, sitting on the edge of the bed. "You must. I have been ordered to remain to lead what is left of the guard in the castle." Said Marius. "Very well." She replied. She jumped up, grabbed her sword and ran out. Marius waited about a minute or two. "You can come out now Tyrath." He said. I slid from underneath the bed, clutching my sword to my chest and I summoned Creature. "Thank The Divine. It was fucking uncomfortable down there." I said, stretching my arms. "I imagine. What's the plan?" Asked Marius. "Watch." I said. I opened the window and whistled. Two guards stationed below looked up, nodded and gestured to other guards stationed across the side of the Stronghold. They all started climbing up the windows they were stationed under. If you looked hard enough at the shadows at the side of the building, you might see a pile of guards, mouths gagged, hooves bound, armor stolen. The two guards stationed under the Commander's window removed their helmets. "OK! We're in!" Exclaimed Alim. "Calm Alim." Said Bari. "Sorry, I'm so exited! We've actually infiltrated the Stronghold!" He whispered. "It's fine. Marius, is everything set up?" I asked as I headed to the door, I looked left and right down the corridor. No pony. I exited and everypony else followed. "Oh yes. The Generals are waiting in the meeting room for the King to get back." Said Marius. "Good. Let's hustle. Marius, you know the plan?" I asked. "My part? Of course." He nodded. "Good. This is your turn." I said. He nodded and did a sharp left toward the meeting room. Alim, Bari, Creature and myself kept walking. "Here, the dungeons." Said Alim. "Yes..." Shuddered Bari. "It is OK brother. This time you're on the right side of the bars." Smirked Alim. "You're right. Shall we?" Asked Bari. I went first and was followed by the others. I walked past the Warden. He went to stand up but a swift jab to his muzzle put him to sleep. "Bari, tie him up and put him in a cell, you're into kinky stuff. Oh and guard the entrance." Said Alim. "Just cause you're older, doesn't mean you're in charge!" Called Bari after us, shaking his head with a smirk. We went past the cells, all empty. "They're deep inside, according to my brother." Said Alim. We went down further... I took a torch from a sconce and gave it to Creature. My Dragon Vision allowe dme to see in the dark flawlessly. The others needed a torch. I looked in the cells... Ah! I saw four ponies in a cell. I opened it up. "Who goes there!? More of Kaiser's minions?!" Came a male voice. "We will not sign over out kingdom legally! No matter what!" Called a female. I took the torch and held it before the source of the voices. They were a mare and stallion. The stallion had moderate violet eyes and his mane was light gold and pale, light grayish olive and his coat was grayish tangelo. The mare had moderate Persian blue eyes and a brilliant cornflower blue mane and her coat was a pale, light grayish heliotrope. They were both more horse-like in thir features than most. Even though most Saddle Arabians look more horse-like, these two look the most like the equines from my home. "We're here to help. If you want your kingdom back, you need to also help us." I said. "What are your names?" I asked. "My name is Haakim, my wife is Amira." Said the male. The two foals were also stallion and mare. The male had teal eyes, a black mane and a dark blue coat. The filly had green eyes, a yellow mane and a red coat. "These are our foals, Baaqir and Khairiya." Said Haakim. "Good to meet you. We need your help to stage a coup against Kaiser." I said. "So he actually got his hooves on our country? Well, he didn't take it legally. Come dear." Said Amira. "I agree." Said Haakim. "My name is Alim al Abad. I will take your children to safety." Bowed Alim. "Thank you Alim... Al Abad? Your father worked in my personal guard." Said Haakim. "Indeed. He passed not long ago." Informed Alim. "Ah. We should talk when this is over, you and your brother." Said Haakim. "How did you know...?" Asked Alim. "Your father and I always used to chat. He told me about his two sons. Troublemaker Alim and coolheaded Bari." Chuckled Haakim. "Thank you Your Majesty." Said Alim, he used a secret tunnel to leave with the children. "Be safe." Said Amira. "My name is Tyrath. Tyrath Kyelinth. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna sent me to get you out." I said. "Good old Celestia. I haven't met Luna yet. Our ancestors told us of her, and her kindness toward us however." Said Amira. "She is a very nice Pony." I said. We came to the exit and Bari had left to execute the last stage of the plan... I looked both ways down the corridors again. We walked to the meeting room and waited outside for the signal... I heard hushed talking... Then the main door opened. "What is the meaning of this?! What's the emergency that interrupted my sacking of the rebel base?!" Came the voice of the King. "That's our cue." I nodded. Creature nodded and we burst in. "What now-" The King turned to me but stopped as the Royal family came into view. Marius pulled his sword out and pointed it at the King and Rhode. "My apologies Commander. But I am declaring you out of line, and relieving you of duty as Slayer Commander due to you abdicating your responsibility as a Slayer. And also I am placing you, every military commander under King Kaiser, and the King himself under arrest due to gross negligence of the lives of others, partaking in slavery, allowing rape and the subjugation of mares." He spoke. "Marius?!" Asked Rhode, shocked. "Guards!" Exclaimed Kaiser. No response. "Guards!" Exclaimed Haakim. The guards then pointed their spears at the King and Rhode. "It is as the one known as Marius said, you are both under arrest." Said Haakim. "Take them away!" Ordered Amira. The guards led them away. "It is done." Sighed Marius. "Thank you my strange friends. You saved us and gave us our country back." Said Haakim. Suddenly, Alim and Bari ran in with the foals, laughing and playing. They jumped into their parents hooves. "Mommy, daddy? Can Alim and Bari stay?!" Asked Baaquir. "Please, please, please, please????!!!!" Exclaimed Khairiya. "Alim, would you consider becoming my new personal guard?" Asked Haakim. "Bari, would you become my personal guard?" Asked Amira. "Yes! Thank you Your Majesty!" Exclaimed Alim. "That would be fantastic, Your Highness." Bowed Bari. "Now then, Marius and Tyrath. The two we have to still thank." "Indeed. We are indebted." Bowed Amira. "It is nothing." I shrugged. "I must get back to Equestria soon anyway." I shrugged. "Excuse me, Mr. Marius." Said Haakim. "I prefer just Marius Your Majesty." Bowed Marius. "Would you consider becoming my new Commander? We could use your help in the coming days." Requested Haakim. "I would be honored." Nodded Marius. "Wonderful! As for you, Tyrath... I cannot think of a suitable reward..." Said Haakim. "I only require your aid against the Black Ring, Your Majesty." I asked. "But of course! Err... Who are they?" Asked Amira. Suddenly, a rebel pony burst in, bowed and ran to me. "Master Tyrath! Out troops in the west wing were attacked! Twilight Sparkle and Spike have been captured!" He exclaimed. I ran out as Marius began to explain about the Black Ring. I followed the Pony and eventually came upon the dead bodies of some rebels... The blood trail led into the Servants Quarters. I saw Black Smith looking out the window. He turned. "Lord Tyrath! Lady Sparkle and Spike were taken away! I told one of the rebels as soon as I saw them!" He exclaimed. "Great..." I said. "And there's this." Said Black and moved out of the way. I saw Bakr, injured, lying against the window. "Dragon-Knight..." He coughed. "The Black Ring took your friends. We attempted to stop them but..." He gestured with his hoof to the massacre that was the Servants Quarters. "It's OK. Take this." I said and gave him a health potion, he managed to stand. "Thank you." He nodded. "Go see the Royal family in the meeting room." I said. He limped away and Black and the rebel supported him. "Right, now then-" I was cut off. "Dragon-Knight." Came a voice. I turned and was hit in the face, knocked cold... It went black...