//------------------------------// // Morph // Story: Trench // by Dashie04 //------------------------------// After I intoduced myself to everypony in Trench, Wingless assigns me a sleeping spot, but I am still worried. “Look Wingless, I came here because it was the only sign of civilization outside of Lema. Do you know about that place?” I say. “Yeah, it’s gained fame as the first Lunar colony, what do you want?” Wingless says, brushing her incredibly messy mane off of her eye. It reveals a scar, starting at her forehead and crossing across one eye. “Also, could you take off the helmet of that jumpsuit so we could talk face-to-face?” “No, this is a one-piece jumpsuit, I’m afraid. How did you get that scar?” “It’s a long story.” Wingless goes over to a side of the crevice. “Well, I have no time to hear it, I’m being chased by guards from Lema. It’s a miracle they haven’t arrived yet.” “And why are you telling me this?” Wingless asks. “You seem like a leader, I need your help.” “I am a leader, what do you need my help for?” Wingless is getting continuously more annoyed, I can tell. “Perhaps destroying the government of Lema.” “When did you hit that conclusion?” “I’ve always wanted to do it, but they’re too powerful, Ocin and his nine bishops rule the place and they are shit. They always tell us that we can’t escape and that they hold power over all. They also imprison anypony who dares say an unkind word about them.” “Look I’ll help you...” Wingless starts. I perk up. “In the morning, you should probably get some sleep.” With that, Wingless trots out of the room. I attempt to make myself comfortable on the floor of moon rock. I assume all the ponies in Trench got their decorations from the delivery ships. I think that’s a little extreme, so I won’t decorate my area. I mean, I’m going to leave in the morning anyways. I can’t get to sleep, I keep on thinking what the guards will do when they got their hooves on me. Will they kill me? If they do, I am assuming if, a blind hope, I don’t want to focus on when right now. If they kill me, who will care? I was a little mortified at this thought. At some point, I fall asleep. My sleeping is interrupted by a cascade of hooves entering Trench. I silently curse myself for not finding Wingless’ sleeping quarters. It took me a day to get to Trench, of course it would take them a day to reach here. I realize I ditched my sword when I left Lema, I was always terrible at thinking about the long-term parts of my ambitious plans. I hope Ocin isn’t with the guards, I’m in hot enough water already. If Ocin is with them, I’m bucked, he’d definitely order the death penalty for me. I rush down the hall, running straight into the sea of danger, hoping to find Wingless’ area. I find her near the front. I hope that my rushing confused the guards a little. I shake her awake. “What the hell did you do that for? It’s not even bucking morning!” I point my hoof into the guards, who have nearly reached the end of the hallway. “Oh, understandable.” She gets up,”How are we supposed to avoid them?” “Well, we can’t go under the guards, or around, so we can only hope to go over.” Wingless looks at me like I just told a funny joke.”Wonderful, now explain how I get over the guards.” “Um, run and hope for the best?” “With plans like these, it’s no wonder you got caught. Fine, let’s go.” Luckily, the guards are nearly to the end of the hallway, leaving a gap for Wingless to run through. We quickly exit Trench, and start heading towards any other area, except Lema, I wasn’t quite feady for that yet. Unfortunately, guards noticed me, they quickly send off a message to everypony stating that I am leaving the colony. I only assume this because they all fly towards me, and unlike I can with Wingless in my party, they can fly. Also unfortunately, I notice a certain pony at the head of the patrol, Ocin. Just my bucking luck. “We finally caught you Prancey, you weren’t running for long, now were you?” “Well, I have help!” I say weakly. “What, that mare who’s been living in a cave and can’t even fly? What good will she do you?” “She cares about me, at least more than Lema’s government can! Right Wingless?” She shrugs, which is incredibly reassuring. I know she won’t let me die at least. “Look Prancey, imagine an alternate universe where there’s a different one of you who follows every rule in Lema. Instead of running for his life, he lives a happier life. A blissfully unware one.” “Look, you still rule Lema with an iron hoof. Nopony even knows your name. We can’t trust a leader that hides their name now can we?” I retort. “Look, when was the last time you heard Twilight Sparkle referred to as anything but Twilight?” “The difference is, people know her name, while nopony knows yours.” “Oh, I’ll tell you my name, you’re being sentenced to death anyways. It’s Optical Knowledge.” I decided not to question how he got Ocin out of that. Thought I really didn’t want to die, it felt too early in the journey to give up. So, I turn to Wingless, who is acting like she’s ignoring everything that just went on. “Wingless, can you climb?” I ask. “Never tried, however, I can attempt to fight.” She brandishes her hooves as if she’s about to punch something. At this point, the guards are carrying us to Lema to be sent to Sun Row. I wasn’t done, so I took advantage of our lack of chains, as they never thought I’d leave Wingless behind when she can’t fly. I mouth ‘jump’ at her. We jump. I get as far out of the circle as I can and rush out, followed by Wingless doing the same. The guards take notice to that, and we get a super minor head start on them. I find a little ravine and hop in, hoping they don’t notice. Wingless follows me, and we hide as deep in the ravine as we can. “Ok,” I say, once the guards are looking for me at the end at the ravine.”My plan is to get out of this as fast as we can and run as far away as we can.” “That’s seriously the best you can think of?” Wingless asks. “Trench showed signs of civilization, we can’t head for civilization for a long time. Just trust me, it’s the best we have, and we have to execute it, we can work out the kinks later.” Wingless rolls her eyes and follows me out of the ravine. We quickly hit the moon’s surface and run as fast as we can away from the guards. I wish sometimes I could morph into somepony else, and I wouldn’t have to deal with Ocin anymore. Alas, I couldn’t. I hope Wingless and I could still at least find some solace somewhere.