//------------------------------//
// Le Capitaine Maudit 
// Story: Quete 
// by Comrade Bagel Muffin 
//------------------------------//

"Uhg. Where? Where am I." Escutcheon slowly sat up rubbing his head as he did so.
"Finally awake, that's good how are you feeling?" Full Mast asked softly.
"Okay I guess." He hissed as his hoof ran against his horn. "What, happened?" He looked around. They weren't on the ship anymore. The wall that he could see was black smooth stone. There was a dying fire in the middle of the cave. Around which the others were asleep.
"Well quite a bit has happened since we got here what's the last thing that you remember?" Full Mast asked quietly, so not to wake the others.
"We were on the boat and I had just brought the sails to full mast." Escutcheon answered. "Then the boat jerked, and, and I can't remember anything else. Ugh what happened, why does my horn hurt?"
"Well you brought the ship to full mast, and then we ran ashore faster than you thought. You were thrown into the hull." Full Mast offered him a bottle of water. "Your horn dented the hull, I think you hit the hull and all your weight was on your horn. You've been in concussion for the last couple of days."
"I've been out of it for a couple of days?" He set the bottle down using his hoof. He wasn't going to try and use magic until his horn stopped hurting. "What's been happening?"
"Not much we've fortified this cave. We're pretty safe here. Since then we've been slowly exploring our surroundings. The jungle isn't safe at any time, day or night, but we're close enough to natural greens that we won't starve, and there are a few under ground springs so we have plenty of water." Escutcheon nodded softly. "Are you feeling better?"
"Yeah I think so." Escutcheon nodded softly again. Escutcheon slowly stood up. "I need to pee."
"About ten paces that way." Full Mast nodded deeper into the cave. "We've got a little latrine." Escutcheon slowly made his way into the darkness of the cave a small glowing pile of embers marking his way. After a few minutes Escutcheon came back. "Better?"
"Not really I think I stepped in the latrine." Escutcheon half smiled and half grimaced.
"Well it happens." Drag Net sat up. "Good to see you walking around Escutcheon, after the third day we were getting rather concerned." He walked up to the colt's side. "I've got a job for you. Something to help you wet your hooves." He gave the colt a wry smile. "In something other than our latrine." Escutcheon flicked his hoof at the oldest stallion, who chuckled. "Come on." He grabbed a smoldering branch from the fire pit, and after using a fire starter he soon had a torch. "We've found a small cavern over this way." He lead Escutcheon further back into the cave. "Do you have any idea if you can still use your magic?"
"I don't know." Escutcheon answered. "I maybe able to use my magic right now, but my horn is really sensitive right now. I really don't want to try to do any magic right now." Escutcheon looked up at the stallion. Did you find the cursed object?"
"Not yet we're checking the cave. Which is why we need you there's a cave further in, but it's entrance has purposely caved in. You might be able to fit through it." He lead Escutcheon to the back of a side tunnel. At the end of the tunnel they came to a dead end. with a small hole near the middle.
"I'm not sure that I could fit in there." Escutcheon got down.
"Maybe not now." He gave him a shovel. "We found this in the one of the caves. Somepony was here. You can dig out the bottom that'll give you a little bit more room, and if you're not wearing that cloak."
"What no-no-no-no. I'm not going naked."
"Relax colt with exception of Trail Life we're all stallions, and besides colt, most ponies go naked anyways close are just to much of a hassle." Escutcheon shook his head. "Fine tell you what only you will be in this cavern okay? Nopony will come back here to see you okay?"
"Fine." Escutcheon nodded. "I'll do it take the torch back with you. I can work in the dark."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive. This way no pony can see me." Drag Net sighed, but did as Escutcheon asked and left with the torch. Once Escutcheon was sure that he was alone he took his cloak off, and after rolling it into a ball set it aside. He grimaced. "I'll have to find out eventually." He focused on his horn. The shovel was surrounded in his glow for a fraction of a second before the pain was to much. He winced started rubbing his horn as the spell was cut. "Well at least it's not burn out." He grabbed the shovel, and got to work. After what felt like several hours he crawled out of the narrow passage and walked on the shore of an under ground lake. Under the lake was a large luminescent colony of giant water mushrooms lighting up the giant cavern. He walked up to the water and looked into the pool.
"Whose that?" Escutcheon froze at the voice. It didn't sound like any of the ponies with him. "He's not one of the crew. Who could it be." Escutcheon froze his face going red he felt mortified, and horrified. He turned and ran back for the tunnel only to be tackled half way to the tunnel.
"Story Teller! Trail Life! Full Mast! Hook! Anchor! Drag Net!  Turkeylegs!" Escutcheon screamed down the cave. It echoed over and over again. "HELP!" His horn lit up he winced in pain and he teleported a meter into the hole. He felt himself being pulled out of the hole by his hind legs. He tried in vain to do it again he felt his magic, but the pain quickly became to much, and passed out, slipping into unconsciousness.