It has been a few hours since our encounter with the steam punks. My body had been devastated and my mind fraught with anguish. I was worried that they would send a reconnaissance team after us or an Eagle Squad. I shuddered at the thought of Eagle troopers. They are the elite troopers of the URCF, renowned for their abilities in battle. They are known to…to have their way with small mares. Though it was a rumor of their intolerance to URCF code I wouldn’t risk it. The day grew long as we continued on down a small, defiled road. The sun loomed over the tree line, peppering the trail with golden specks. The trail itself was littered with old parts and what seemed like tarnished machines. I soon felt my wings began to twitch causing the feeling of flight to overwhelm me.
I trotted up next to corkscrew, “Hey!” I yelped as I slowed my pace to resume a slow march. He looked over at me and my heart sank. The sight of his bedraggled face and his bloodied coat was a disheartening sight.
“Yes’m?” He replied quickly.
“I, um, was wondering why we are walking?” I asked while I slowly ducted my head. I couldn’t bear to look at him, the colt who always saved me was now struggling past his own affliction.
“Oh yeah, well we could but it’s safer to walk. We can’t risk running into more URCF with where we’re going. Plus look at us, we’re not in any condition to fight!” He replied happily. I just nodded my head in agreement with his statement. It’s true we can’t risk running into another fight in our weakened states. So I remained next to him as we continued our slow march. I still wondered about the place to which we were headed. The mystery Corkscrew has shrouded it in has my curiosity too much to contain. I’ve tried asking before but never got a straight answer from him. I looked around us as the foliage of the forest became denser. Vines complicated the journey as they snaked around the slits in our wings and entrapped my legs. I became frustrated, almost to the point of crying as I continued to trip and topple over myself. Corkscrew must have heard my duress as he worriedly looked back. I was crying quietly to myself as the agitation finally got to me.
Then, a hoof placed itself on my shoulder, “C’mon, we’re almost there. Here, you can even ride on my back!” I heard corkscrew say with elation. The sound of his joy forced a smile onto my face as I rolled over. He roughly grasped my shoulder, yanking me up to my hooves. The force pulled me close to him; my cheeks began to turn a rose color as I looked at him. Corkscrew just smiled, “Hop on, it’s only a few hundred meters away!”
“A-are you sure? I don’t want to be a burden,” I said with a muffled voice as I pulled the vines off my back.
He just bowed his head, “Wouldn’t think anything of it malady!” he said in a British accent. I just chuckled at his notion and jumped on. I was seated awkwardly on his wing chassis as he trotted. The vibration of the gears seemed to pleasure me as my heart began to race. I let out a heated breath and carefully lowered myself on his back as he trotted on. As we trotted I noticed a specific marking on some of the larger trees. It was a crimson B with a wing coming out of the flatter part of it. We continued in the direction of these symbols. Eventually we came to an opening with a humble mound in the middle .Corkscrew let out a subtle cough and I slid off his back. I held back as Corkscrew walked into the obscure opening.
He walked to the mound and tapped on the top, “Cool running!” He yelled. At the utterance of those words a hissing noise came from the mound. Then the boisterous sounds of gears slamming into each other livened the air around us. I slouched back on my hind legs as my anxiety took over. The hissing became more intense as steam shot from the hole. A sharp, grinding noise soon followed, it sounded like metal was clashing together. Then, as quickly as the sound began, it stopped. I watched as Corkscrew just stood over the hole, then, his wings sprung from their spot. He then jumped into the air and flew down the hole.
“Corkscrew!” I yelped, bounding up onto all my hooves and cantering to the hole. I was soon upon the mound and looked down into it. I noticed it wasn’t a natural formation but instead built using scrapped steam ship parts. It was as if looking down the corridor of a steam runner. It was bulky but wide enough to allow passage through it. I withheld my anxiety and let my wings spring into position. I thought to myself, “Alright, you can do this. It’s just a dark, ominous hole!” But how I described it wasn’t a real morale booster.
Then a sound echoed itself out of the hole, “C’mon!” Somepony hollered. I jumped back at the sound, falling flat on my flank. I sat there in a cold sweat waiting for whoever spoke to show themselves. The augural sounds of something clawing their way up the hole filled the air. My body tremble in my discomfort, who else could possibly be down there. I continued to watch in my own angst as a hoof shot itself over the edge, gripping the soiled, metal bar on the edge of the mound. Then, a URCF trooper emerged from the hole. I broke out in a cold sweat and wanted to scream but was silenced by concern. I was concerned for Corkscrew, being in a hole full of these monsters, probably being slaughtered as I sat here. The thought of him being in trouble sent a spark of courage through me. I couldn’t let that happen to him; he wouldn’t let it happen to me. I arduously rose from my spot, fighting every ounce of fear pelting my limbs. I was finally on all my hooves and staring intently at the URCF trooper as he climbed out of the hole. I grit my teeth as I continued to hold back my agitation. The URCF trooper was almost completely out of the hole when I noticed his uniform. It had a bedraggled cloth on both sides with crimson wings embroidered on them. They were stitched over the URCF brand on the sides of the uniform. His helmet had “Brand” in red paint on the right side of it. I allowed myself to relax for a little and let the pony clean him or herself. The pony was on all fours and perturbed a little to remove the excess oil on his suit.
The trooper finished their routine and looked over at me, “Hey! You must be Fluttershy; Ha, don’t worry I’m one of Corkscrews friends.” He said happily. I was relieved to hear that he was a friend instead of what he appeared to be.
I let a sigh of relief out as I trotted over to him, “Y-yes, I’m Fluttershy. Um, who are you?” I asked wondering who else Corkscrew knew.
“My name is Red Cross, I’m an old friend of Corkscrew,” Red Cross said quickly.
“Wait, does that mean y-you’re also a Brand?”
“No, I was chased out of the clouds 8 years ago. Well, no time for the past we have something to show you!” Red Cross said as he jumped backwards down the hole. I squeaked and ran over to the hole; wondering why he would do such a daft thing. I ran over to the hole and peered down into its depths. I didn’t want to jump down but my curiosity was too strong to ignore and I readied myself. I loosened my joints, spread my wings, and leaped into the hole. As I crept down the hole my eyes felt like they were almost welded shut. I continued to advance down the hole, wiggling my legs in hopes that I would soon feel the ground. Eventually, after drifting for almost a minute, I felt the cool touch of metal under my hooves. When I was certain all my hooves were safely planted I opened my eyes. I gasped for I was surprised to see both Corkscrew and Red Cross were waiting for me.
Corkscrew chuckled a bit before speaking, “Took ya’ long enough Fluttershy!” He said in a smug tone.
“Agreed, I didn’t scare you to bad did I?” Red Cross asked with a smile.
“N-no you didn’t!” I managed to reply.
“Good and sorry, probably should have told you about the dark and ominous hole for an entrance.” Corkscrew said as he rubbed his head.
“Oh no it’s fine, I’m just glad to see you’re alright!” I said joyfully. Corkscrew blushed a little and hid his face. I could see he was happy to hear that but he didn’t really want to show it. He turned around and motioned me to follow. I proceeded to do as he ordered and so did Red Cross. We followed Corkscrew up to two defiled and rusted hangar doors. The admirable doors had the same symbol as the trees, a large B with a wing.
Corkscrew put his hoof on the door and turned around, “You ready Fluttershy?” He asked as his hoof excitedly shivered on the door. I just nodded my head to signify that I was ready. Corkscrew beamed with anticipation as he pulled the door open. A cool breeze fluttered out as the doors widened. A bright, fluorescent light emanated from the room as the doors were finally open. Corkscrew grunted as he finished with one, finally pull of the doors. He rubbed his head and then gradually walked through the doors, then Red Cross followed suit. I held back for a little before entering the massive room. I was worried about entering such a massive place, but again my curiosity won. I walked through the rusted archway and was dumbfounded by the sight. There were Pegasus, Brands, and deserters to the URCF all living in harmony together. They were laughing and smiling and yet all had a certain feeling of desertion to them. I walked through the underground hangar watching all the confusing sights before me. All the URCF troopers were helping brands, Pegasus children playing together with everpony. They all shared food, space and heat. They were living together in harmony under the ground. Hidden from the world and hidden from the plight above us. I carried on to an overhanging ledge; Corkscrew and Red Cross were both standing on. My wings fluttered at the sight of Corkscrew so I turned my march into a canter. I slid on my flank next to Corkscrew; he looked over at me and smiled. I looked up at him with my own curious smile.
Corkscrew looked at me, “This, Fluttershy, This is what I wanted to show you!”He said with joy. I cocked my head and looked over the ledge. I was awe struck at the sight before me. It was a massive, underground factory. All the ponies who seemed to be able bodied were down there working. They were crafting exceptional armaments and weapons, building their own admirable steam ships and runners. I watched, dumbfounded at this unknown war effort.
I looked back up at Corkscrew, “W-what is all this, why are they building all this? How has this massive structure remained undetected?” I asked, surprised by all these unexplained instances.
“This is a means to an end, this is The Crimson Brand. We are a coalition force of all sorts who disagree with the URCF.” He said with pride.
“Don’t think differently of us Fluttershy, we’ve tried diplomacy but all they want is war. So we’re giving it to them!” Red Cross replied.
“I-I don’t think differently of you, just promise me nopony will get hurt,” I pleaded to corkscrew.
He looked down at me and smiled brightly, “Promise!”