//------------------------------//
// Pinkie Pie 2: Lower Great Delve 
// Story: Upheaval: Journeys 
// by Visiden Visidane 
//------------------------------//

Upheaval: Journeys

Pinkie Pie 2: Lower Great Delve

It didn't take long before the smell of open gutters proved to be the least uncomfortable aspect of the Underbelly for Pinkie. She walked through a reasonably large tunnel. Reasonably, she figured, given the sight of the many much smaller branches by the sides. Otherwise, she'd just think this tunnel was pretty cramped too. Nightcanter and Copper Mane walked ahead while Sablesteel matched her pace by her side.

No light from the big, sun-like device made it to these tunnels. The long, vertical shaft they had to climb down ensured that. Instead, a multitude of small, glowing mushroom clumps lining the walls and ceiling lit everything in a cold, rather unsettling, blue glow. This looked like a repurposed mining tunnel, with large support beams along the way, and the traces of a railway track along the floor. Most if the ties and actual metal rail was gone, though, leaving the damp, stony ground bare. Trash littered the sides; piles of fruit peelings and seeds, pieces of wood too rotten to be reused, half a broken down cart...Pinkie did a double take. That looked like a foreleg sticking out of one pile...or was it just a large piece of mushroom? Her companions obviously weren't interested in stopping to investigate so she moved on.

The ponies that occupied this tunnel were also a far cry from the ones above. Most of them couldn't even be bothered to look. They moved past the group hurriedly, heads low, and lips tight, wearing mostly rags and strips of salvaged barding. A few did look, mostly the ones sitting around or rummaging through some of the garbage piles. Those weren't looks of welcome and curiosity being thrown their way. The weight of sullen appraisal made Pinkie's shoulders a bit itchy. It was like being swarmed by horseflies or buzzards. Not at all a pleasant feeling. She wanted to take solace in the sight of a patrol of guards moving through the tunnel with them, but these ones shared the same bored, sullen look that all the ponies here had.

Fortunately, they were sticking to the larger tunnel for now, but they were still descending. Pinkie's stomach churned a bit as her thoughts went back to the last time she went into a deep, dark place. The last time, she had to climb up to go down, now she was just flat out going down.

"Stop quivering," Sablesteel whispered as she walked a little closer. "You've gone to the abyss and back. What are you afraid of? These tunnel rats? They wouldn't dare. Even if they did, we'd kill them by the dozen."

"I'm not afraid," Pinkie whispered back. She put on a grin to hammer the point in, but Sablesteel didn't look convinced. "And could you please try not to kill anything by the dozen? I want this to be a nice, friendly visit!"

"Then stop acting so scared," Sablesteel replied. "Underbelly thugs look for easy pickings like scared chosen mares who look like they've never been here."

That did firm up Pinke's spine and keep her legs steady, not out of any renewed courage, but more out of concern for the ponies here.

They were walking past houses now. These were mostly old, repurposed buldings, probably foundries, ore storage, and workers' quarters. They were typical earth pony mining stuff; basically large, stone boxes with windows and doors. Pinkie remembered that the Pie Rock Farm had similar stuctures. These ones, however, had rickety wooden modifications coming out of them, like mushrooms growing out of a dead log. The inhabitants likely built them to add an extra room or two or to patch up a broken wall. Signs made of thin wooden planks tied together hung on some of the walls, advertising things like a pawnshop, cheap repairs, and "random merchandise". Bits of junk sprawled across their front areas while dirty, mussed-maned ponies hawked wares.

Graffiti covered the tunnel walls: names of what Pinkie could only guess were gangs, all sorts of weird symbols, "Mayor Strip Mine is an Ophidite Plant" in big, green letters, a crude drawing of a mare doing the—

Pinkie focused on other sights, like a mare bathing a colt outside a hovel using a tub of water and a cracked dipper. Pinkie was half-sure, that soap she was using looked like detergent. The suds ran down the gutter along with everything else flowing in there. A stallion staggered nearby on his hind legs, eyes half-lidded, lips smiling in some kind of daze. He was holding a small pouch, which he promptly held to his snout for a long, deep, inhale. 

It was all...well, Pinkie couldn't lie to herself about it. This place was really gross. Everything and everypony seemed worn, messy, and barely holding up. A layer of grime seemed to cover every inch of this place. She was sure it was getting on her as well. Hopefully, the True Earth Ponies had baths available.

Nightcanter looked over her shoulder. "Same old Underbelly," she said to Pinkie.

"Isn't somepony doing something about this place?" Pinkie asked. "I don't think these ponies like living like this."

"Somepony's always planning to do something about it," Nightcanter replied. "Especially when mayoral elections come up. It's still the Delve's cesspool. That true during your time too, Sablesteel?"

Sablesteel merely nodded.

"There's no improving this sewer," Copper Mane said. "Better to just throw out these squatters, burn out their filth, and build more useful things. Nothing good has ever come out of the Underbelly, just thugs and filth."

"Hold your tongue, boy," Sablesteel hissed. "You know nothing of who has survived this place."

Copper Mane opened his mouth in some instinct to argue, but he swiftly closed it when his senses caught up. "You can't deny that it's filthy..." he mumbled.

"Do you know some ponies from this place, Sable?" Pinkie asked.

"The mistress," Sablesteel said softly. "And Blue Moon, of course."

"Oh, that's right!" Pinkie said. "Blue Moon said that in Sky Mirror Lake. Hard to believe that those two grew up in a place like this—" she waved her front hooves in front of her wildly. "I mean, I'm not saying Blue Moon lied or anything! But, you know...because they're both so graceful, and clean, and stuff..."

"They're strong, skilled, and determined," Sablesteel replied. "You must be all of that to survive and escape a place like this."

"Hard to imagine Black Rose running with some Underbelly gang," Nightcanter chimed in. "I guess we all have to start somewhere."

"Did you start out like that too, Sable?" Pinkie asked. "I mean not in a gang or anything, and you said that you weren't a delvite, but you're also strong, skilled, and determined, so maybe you also grew up somewhere that's sort of like this place?"

"Slow down with the talking," Sablesteel replied. "And speed up with the walking."

Pinkie did quicken her pace. It was a good idea too. She didn't want to spend too much time here. Deepstone Quarter had to be a nicer place. It was pretty easy to be nicer than this place. She hadn't given up on hearing Sablesteel's answer though, and looked to her several times, in between watching out for the deeper puddles of stagnant water. At least, Pinkie hoped that was water, and the smell of stale urine was coming from the nearby gutters. Some of the wider, deeper ones had weird green gunk floating on the surface. Flies buzzed around them, though flies buzzed around nearly everything and everypony here. Pinkie glanced at one house in time to see a huge rat, bigger than most cats Pinkie had ever seen, scurry out the door.

"I didn't grow up in a disgusting city if that's what you were asking," Sablesteel finally said. She kept her gaze forward though. "Grain Basket," she added after a while.

"Hm?" Nightcanter said. "That's a village just south of the Delve. Mostly rice farmers."

"I'm surprised it's still around," Sablesteel remarked. "It was a rat hole on the verge of collapse when I left with my grandfather."

"Economic recoveries do happen, you know," Nightcanter said.

"Ooh, maybe we can visit after this!" Pinkie said with an excited hop.

Unfortunately, Sable's frown remained, not exactly what Pinkie was going for. "Why?" she asked harshly. "You looking to buy some rice, Pinkie? That's all there is to that place."

"Well, some rice sounds tasty," Pinkie replied. "Especially if it's the sticky sweet stuff with jam or beans inside! I tried some of that before maybe—" she caught herself. "I mean, I thought you'd like to see what your hometown looks like after hundreds of years."

Sablesteel was quiet again. She fiddled with one of her many small pouches, then pulled something out. Pinkie's ears started drooping as more awkward silence passed.

"Pinkie," Sablesteel said, a lot softer this time. "I appreciate your concern and effort—" At this, Pinkie perked up again, just in time to hear the venom flood Sablesteel's tone, "—but focus on your task, will you?" She put a hoof to her lips, then suddenly turned away from Pinkie to make a sharp blowing noise. It kind of sounded like spit...but not really. 

Pinkie's ears flattened, and her lower lip jutted out a bit. Nowhere near what she was hoping for. And was that a weird spit in derision? At this, Nightcanter began to giggle. Before either Pinkie or Sablesteel could say anything, she hung back a bit, and drew Pinkie closer with a little telekinetic nudge. "How adorable!" she said. At her nudging, Pinkie walked a bit faster so Sablesteel brought up the rear while Copper Mane led. "Don't worry, Pinkie, I've got your back on this."

Pinkie raised an eyebrow. "Well, duh!" she said. "Princess Luna did send you to escort me, didn't she?"

"Yes, she did," Nightcanter said, again with a brief giggle. "But I'm quite flexible with these things."

Pinkie wasn't quite sure she liked the smile on Nightcanter's face, and she was a big fan of smiles. This one was playful with an odd touch of meanness, like a cat staring at a mouse.

They passed some time in silence. The slope along the floor had been very gradual at first, but slowly increased in steepness. The wall they were following was no straight line either. They were descending in a spiral. The smaller tunnels they kept passing by were straight, though. Probably to create levels that expanded the Underbelly. The main tunnel just kept going down.

"We're getting close now," Copper Mane said. He looked over his shoulder. "I can easily explain Pinkie Pie, but it will be harder for me to successfully vouch for a unicorn and a pegasus."

"This is Legion business," Nightcanter said, still all smiles. "If Clan Quartz, or even Clan Basalt, refuses, I'll be happy to involve our Prince, and he is in a very, very bad mood at the moment."

"The True Earth Ponies will not be pushed," Copper Mane insisted.

"And I'd sooner be dead than let Pinkie Pie disappear into Deepstone Quarter by herself," Nightcanter replied. She put a foreleg around Copper Mane's shoulders, a move that made him flinch as if a snake had draped itself around him. "Don't worry, Copper Mane, we'll be meek and contrite while you talk to them." To emphasize, Nightcanter put on a sad look and a pout. "Just the way the True Earth Ponies like, am I right?"

"Your high-hoofed mocking is certainly not what we like," Copper Mane said as he shrugged off the foreleg. "But we certainly expect it. You're a delvite, correct? Let me guess: the daughter of some old money unicorn house in Gemstone Quarter? This would be my first time meeting one, and you're fitting the bill."

"House Gallop is hardly old money," Nightcanter replied. "We've got only a little more than a century under our belt. We can't even get invites to House Song's parties."

"It's ridiculous that House Song is still around," Sablesteel remarked. "Weeds really are the hardiest plants."

"You've had some run ins with them?" Nightcanter asked. "They are an old old house after all."

"I eliminated two of them on the High Commander's orders," Sablesteel replied.

"I can think of a couple more if you're interested in that streak," Nightcanter said.

"Unicorns," Copper Mane remarked. "All smiles and parties while you murder each other. Through hired killers too. And you call us True Earth Ponies hateful. At least, we tell you to your face where we stand."

Pinkie had to step in. "Oh come on, Copper Mane, unicorns—"

"That's true," Nightcanter said with a knowing nod and a smile. Sablesteel also nodded at this. Copper Mane, clearly expecting an angry defense merely looked away, and focused on walking. Baffled, Pinkie shrugged and decided to be glad that her companions at least found something to agree on.

They were moving away from the houses now, this place must be so deep that even Underbelly settlers didn't like it. It was darker too. Fewer patches of glowing mushrooms lined the walls and ceilings with few, if any, ponies to cultivate them specifically. Pinkie quickly noted that this particular tunnel didn't smell of stale urine. It was cleaner too. No need to dodge scattered, rusted scrap and puddles of...something. There was more to that, though, a sudden hum of power all around her. Her tail twitched just a bit, not the sort to indicate a falling object, but it felt like...a presence. She looked around on instinct. Ahead, Copper Mane looked back at her with a pleased smile.

"You must have noticed already," Copper Mane said. "Yes, the ley energies here are frequently manipulated. This is True Earth Pony territory now and we do not tolerate the Underbelly's filth."

They stopped briefly at a tall, stone pole, about twice the height of a stallion. A stone mask of a pony's featureless face, the same sort as the ones Pinkie saw the True Earth Ponies wear, topped the pole. Beneath it, a metal hoop hung off a short peg, festooned with a few feathers big enough to be pinions and some colored cone-like things. A closer inspection left Pinkie horrified. These were horns, pierced so they could be attached to the hoop as morbid decorations. At the pole's base lay a few pony skulls. These looked old, bleached white and smoothed, obviously prepared for display. One of them still had the base of a broken horn still attached.

Beyond that pole was a large pit with a spiral staircase lining its sides. It looked like whoever was building these tunnels grew tired of the slow process and must decided to dig straight down.

"How welcoming," Nightcanter remarked as they all stared at the pole.

"Gross!" Pinkie added. 

"We have had more than our fair share of intruders," Copper Mane said. "The Delve Guard is not nicer to criminals, Nightcanter, and certainly not the Legion."

Pinkie looked to Sablesteel, who was staring to the far sides of the tunnel. She squinted for a better look, but the shadows revealed nothing.

"It's starting to go numb, isn't it?" Sablesteel called out. "That's right, rat, it wasn't some insect that stung you. Another half hour and you'll have to cut that leg off. If you want the antidote, come out and present yourself. I mean all of you."

A sligh rustling came from the shadows, followed by a silhouette unsteadily walking out of them. More than that, a sudden disturbance in the ley energy of the place hit Pinkie like a surprise breeze. These were True Earth Ponies, but how had she not noticed earlier?

The figure walking...no, limping, towards them was small, probably a mare, skinny too. To Pinkie's surprise, a better look revealed a dark brown stallion's jawline, and an unkempt beard of reddish brown. Three more ponies, all similarly sized, emerged around the tunnel, surrounding them.

"What the—!" Copper Mane snapped. "Clan Sandstone channelers! Why?"

The one that came out first didn't seem to hear. "You've made your point, bird!" he cried out. He was sweating profusely and his eyes were wild with panic. "Now, give me the antidote! Is this how you plan to introduce yourself to Deepstone Quarter? By killing someone for watching you?"

"Spying, you Sandstone rat," Sablesteel said. "Too bad for you, Frenzy Heart's already taught me what to watch out for." She pulled out a small syringe from one of her pouches, and threw it over to him. "I'm sparing you so you can tell your fellows not to try their usual tricks on us."

"We're not just here to watch," the spy grunted. He settled down once he administered the antidote. After a few seconds of just catching his breath, he turned towards Pinkie. "Your visit has been expected Legionnaire Pinkie Pie, Elder Magma Flow wishes to speak with you as soon as possible."

"Elder—!" Copper Mane gasped. "Clan Basalt's leader!" He was quick to recover, though, and his shock turned into into narrow-eyed defiance. "I'm to present her to Elder Clearstone first!"

"If you insist," the spy said. He kept his gaze on Pinkie. "If you want to harness your channeling, you should learn from the best. Clan Quartz will stunt your talent with gem polishing tricks. Clan Basalt will show you how to move mountains."

"But I don't want to move mountains," Pinkie replied with a tilt of her head. "That's dangerous. What if there were ponies on them, and they fell off while the mountain was moving? Anyway, you guys are moving way too fast. Can you, at least, show me around Deepstone Quarter?"

"We will," the Sandstone spy said. "For you. The goat and the bird must stay by our border tunnels."

"We go where Pinkie Pie goes," Nightcanter said. Her smile was gone at this point. "That's not negotiable."

"You are in the bowels of the All-Mountain, goat," the Sandstone spy replied. "We dictate terms here. Not your moon princess."

"Like how you begged Sablesteel here to spare your life?" Nightcanter asked. "I'm terrified."

"Um...girls?" Pinkie said. Even she caught the mention of a moon princess. These ponies knew stuff. When Sablesteel was suddenly holding a pair of feather-shaped throwing blades, she tugged at the pegasus' sleeve. "Can we calm down a bit?"

"We will, Pinke Pie," Sablesteel said. "As soon as we remove intimidating us or getting violent from their diplomatic options, everypony will be in a more reasonable mood. Relax, I'm not using any lethal mixes."

"That's great and all, but—"

"Halt!"

Pinkie flinched at the deep and powerful below followed by the clatter of multiple hooves over the stone floor. Another group of earth ponies emerged from the pit. Several of them had channeler tablets out, and they were all clad in stone plates.

The biggest, and the obvious leader of these new arrivals stepped forward and removed his stone mask, revealing his long, braided, light gray mane. Hazel eyes glared at the Sandstone spy as he spoke. "This is Corundum territory, Burrows, you will cease your channeling, and stand down."

Clearly outnumbered, the Sandstone spy called Burrows glared at the new arrivals first, but gestured at his fellows to ease up. They retreated into the shadows, then disappeared. Once more, Pinkie couldn't feel their presence within the ley lines.

"Thank you, Chisel Sharp," Copper Mane said. "That could have gotten quite ugly. We owe Clan Corundum for this."

"It's nothing," Chisel Sharp replied. He gestured for his followers to go back into the pit. "We just don't like these Clan Sandstone ponies suddenly deciding that they get to inspect visitors. You aren't the first to be harassed." He looked over Pinkie's group. "This has not been a proper welcome and we apologize. You are free to enter the Deepstone Quarter, even the unicorn and the pegasus, if they have the fortitude for it. We would provide an escort through the Sifting Tunnels, but you have Copper Mane for that. Cause no trouble and your visit will go well."

"We'll be fine," Sablesteel replied. "I know Clan Corundum has always been the most welcoming, but this is a very relaxed stance, even for you lot."

"I don't know how long it has been since you came here, Miss," Chisel Sharp said. "But the changes have been long coming and gradual."

"If they are, then 'long' is an understatement," Sablesteel said. "Around seven hundred years ago, Clan Corundum stayed at the edges of True Earth Pony society. It seems to me that you're still there."

Chisel Sharp stayed silent for a while, eyeing Sablesteel as if he was halfway towards challenging her to a fight. Eventually, he relaxed his stance. "Clan Corundum will always remain at the edges," he said. "The True Earth Ponies never forget any grudge. It's who we are, but that doesn't mean adjustments can't be made." He focused on Pinkie Pie. "Miss, our clan leader, Ruby Red, would also like to meet with you, after Copper Mane introduces you to Clan Quartz of course, but preferably before you engage with Clan Basalt or Sandstone."

"Um...okay," Pinkie replied. 

"Magma Flow will not take kindly to your meddling, Chisel Sharp," Copper Mane said. "I, at least, can claim that Clan Quartz reached out to her first. Hasn't Clan Corundum brought down enough anger from Clan Basalt on its head?"

"You talk like a Sandstone weasel," Chisel Sharp retorted. "Let Magma Flow fume, these are new days. Even down here, we can feel it."

"Wow," Pinkie said once Chisel Sharp's group walked off. "We just got here and everypony wants to have a talk."

"What did you expect, Pinkie Pie?" Sablesteel asked. "You are an important pony. Now, you thrown yourself into the heart of their politics. Expect each clan to try to use you." She looked pointedly at Copper Mane. "Including Clan Quartz."

"I haven't held any pretense that I've been doing all this out of the goodness of my heart," Copper Mane said. "Pinkie Pie wants to harness her potential. My clan will benefit from a prestigious channeler. It's a fair exchange."

"Silly Copper Mane," Nightcanter said. "You should have focused getting on her good side. If you compete solely on the benefits of training, Clan Basalt will naturally crush you."

"I trust that Pinkie Pie will show honor, and reciprocate Clan Quartz for reaching out to her first," Copper Mane replied.

The peals of Nightcanter's laughter echoed all over the tunnel. Even the corners of Sablesteel's lips turned up a bit. At this, Copper Mane's face flushed a deep red that showed even in the dim, blue lighting.

"I'm right here, you know," Pinkie said with a frown at Nightcanter.

"Yes," Nightcanter said as she wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. "Yes, yes you are, my honorable lady."

"Enough of this!" Copper Mane snapped. "Let's go through the Sifting Tunnels so I can bring you to my clan already!"

Pinkie had read about the Sifting Tunnels. They were a project of Magma Dart, one shaped after Rock Maven's death. The Sifting Tunnels symbolized the True Earth Ponies' growing isolation. They were a maze of cramped, dark tunnels, the sort that could only be navigated by well-trained earth ponies. The tight spaces, the dark, and the sheer depth of the place supposedly drove unicorns and pegasi mad as they wandered the place. Pinkie didn't miss the names thrown out there either. Magma Flow, the leader of Clan Basalt...maybe a descendant of Magma Dart himself? Basalt was his clan. It could just be a title every leader of the clan took. Regardless, she would have to face Magma Dart's legacy sooner or later, and that would definitely involve Clan Basalt.

"Say," Pinkie said to Copper Mane. She had to pay close attention to her hooves. The stairs were quite steep and the pit was dimly lit. Copper Mane led the way with her and Nightcanter behind, followed by Sablesteel. "How did those spies do that? I couldn't tell they were there were through the ley lines at all."

"Clan Sandstone specializes in stealth and subterfuge," Copper Mane replied. "They can be compared to g— unicorns focused on illusions."

"Only in the broadest sense," Nightcanter said with a tilt of her nose. "Illusionists weave spectacle and subtlety in harmony. We're all performers to some degree along with whatever we actually do professionally. Sandstone channelers are rats. They scurry about using their earth pony channeling to squeeze into burrows to get into places where they're not wanted so they can spy and steal."

"What would you know of Sandstone channelers?" Copper Mane snapped.

"I was Delve Guard before I signed up for the Legion," Nightcanter replied. "I've caught my share of Sandstone thieves. A good way to be introduced to True Earth Pony entitlement." Nightcanter raised her voice to a nasally whine, her face twisting mockingly. "Your ancestors owe mine for slavery, goat. I'm only taking what you should be paying as reparations!"

"It's wrong for them to steal things," Copper Mane said. "But you do owe reparations."

"I've never owned a slave, Copper Mane," Nightcanter said, her tone sincere this time. "Neither have my parents, or their parents. You were never a slave, unless you were captured by ophidites once, and neither were your parents and grandparents. You should let this go."

Pinkie found herself nodding silently.

"The True Earth Ponies never let go," Copper Mane said. "It's who we are. By the Oathstone's unyielding face, we will never let go."

Behind Pinkie, Sablesteel sighed. "Why should you even bother?" she asked softly. "Frenzy Heart was one of them and he couldn't make them budge. You are an outsider."

"I have to try," Pinkie replied just as softly. She looked down the side of the winding staircase and at the seemingly endless pit she was going into. "I won't give up on them."