Chapter 11
I groaned as I tried to get my senses working again, hoping the blood flow starts picking up. My body just felt so sore all over, with everything just aching when I try to move. I don’t remember ever being this sore before. Never hurt this much back home.
Having some of my senses more awake now, I realize I’m now on my back, laying on what feels like a soft pile of fluffiness. As if it was the clouds itself. I moved my hand to try and get the sleep out of my eye, only to have something restrict my movement from doing so. Too lazy to figure out why I’m restricted, I blinked my eyes a few times, finally able to see my surroundings.
Finally able to see, I appeared to be in some steel framed bed, with myself above the green covered mattress and my head on a white pillow. I was in a big framed tent, with a few lanterns hanging on the supports, giving off the some of the lights, exposing more of the insides. The bed was on the opposite side of the entrance, which was left closed, only having little rays of sunshine escape through the crack of the opening.
Now the funny part was that I was surrounded by both ponies and a dragon. One pony was brown pony, the guard captain from earlier, another a blue pegasus, who I vaguely remember seeing in the village, and Rex, who seemed both tired and bruised all over. Both ponies were near the entrance, with what seemed like a very heated discussion, though I couldn't tell what it was about. Rex was on the ground by the left side of the bed, wings by his side and arms crossed as he had his head lowered, eyes barely open.
The even funnier part? When I tried to move my claws to get Rex's attention, it was restricted by what seemed like chains. Looking around my dragon body, I notice that I am chained to the steel supports of the bed, my arms chained to the side, my legs chained together and locked. Hell, even my hands where covered with some weird cylinder water container thing.
This is really weird.
Please, this isn't even close to what I woke up to once.
Oh fucking joy. Your still here in my head.
It involved a cow, a monkey wrench, five stripers, and myself tied and anchored to the deep end of the pool. With piranhas everywhere. Ahhh, I miss Rio.
..... What the fuck?
I try to grasp the situation of waking up to this, when I heard a voice from the far side of the tent.
"Ah, your awake now."
It was the blue pegasus, who was now walking towards my bed along with the armored guard, who seemed a bit angered at the moment. By the sounds of the voice, Rex was suddenly more awake, as he rubbed his face from exhaustion. The pony stopped at the end of the bed, blankly staring as he looked over my chained body.
"Hmm, I bet your wondering what is going on at the moment, correct?" I merely nodded my head as I continued to look around my surroundings.
"Right, well then. First things first, introductions. My name is Solar Radius, but you can just call me Sol. I am a consulting investigator here at Dragon's Gate. This here is Stone-Edge, the commander of the village guards." Sol pointed a hoof at Stone-Edge, who just 'hmph' once his name was said.
"Now, we have some questions, and I bet you have some too, so this is what's going to-"
"Why the fuck am I tied to a bed?" I know it was rude to interrupt, but for fuck's sakes, I'm chained to a fucking bed! Either they're going to interrogate me, or do some kinky shit with these chains, both of which I do not want!!
"Um... Well, you see.... um.. how do I put this delicately?" The pegasus stammered.
The hell is he afraid of? I'm not gonna eat him or anything.
True, but when was the last time you had meat? My stomach rumbled at the mention of the delicious substance. That's what I thought.
Shut up.
The earth pony jumped in before Sol could react to the sudden tremor from my belly. "It's because you destroyed the west side of our town, as well as causing more fire and damages in it. Not to mention scare off the townsfolk. This is all just a safety precaution so a dragon like you doesn't go off on a rampage again."
I raised my eyebrows and turned towards Rex. "Why isn't he tied up to a fucking bed then?" Great, sell out your dragon friend out. That'll bite you in the ass later.
"That's because the dragon here actually helped evacuate some of the villagers to safety, as well as help put out the fire. You're lucky you have somepony - er, someONE- like him." Before I could make a remark about how I helped as well, a sudden white mare with short red hair walked into the tent, caring a tray full of medical supplies on her back, being balanced by her wings.
"That's enough now." The mare said to the other ponies. Her voice was soft, yet strict in tone, as if she was disciplining children at a daycare center. "Visitors please leave the tent while I diagnose the patient." Stone-Edge grumbled a little then walked out of the tent. Sol merely smiled and nodded, then turned to leave. Rex got up, but had to slouch his back as to not disturb the top of the tent.
"We need to talk after this." He doesn't sound happy at all. He slouched even lower and left the tent, leaving me with the nurse.
Great, I pissed off the dragon.
Told you it would bite you in the ass.
Oh shut it Ava.
The white pegasus looked at me with a warm smile, then frowned when she saw I was bond to the bed. She turned to the open entrance. "And for Luna's sakes, please rid of these chains, they make it harder for me to perform these tests with rusty chains in the way." She wants these chains off? I like this pony already.
"But ma'am," Stone-Edge said, poking his head out of the opening. "That dragon might attack at any minute if we let it loose." Hey! I'm not an it! I'm a dude, I even have the balls to prove it..... Wait, where are my genitals? OH SHIT! I'M NEUTERED! NO NO NO NO! THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING!
"This patient was found exhausted on the floor next in the village floor. I don't care what species he is, he needs medical treatment for his wounds and scar. Now please, somepony, remove these chains, or so help me, you'll need Celestia herself to stop me from whooping both of your flanks!" Damn! This girl gots some spunk!
The mare interrupted my emergency freak out thoughts when she spoke about my wounds. Looking over myself again, I realize that she was correct about my wounds. I had few scratches and scraps all over my scales, and dry blood spots and dirt over my body. What was more impressive was that straps of white bandage over my chest, showing some blood on the tight bandage. All of these where from the aftermath with my fight in the village.
Instead of Stone-Edge making a retort against the nurse, Sol pushed past him to walk back inside, with a key in between his teeth. He smiled as he was glad to help out the pretty nurse in need, unlocking a few of the locks that bound me. The nurse turned her attention away, placing the tray on a nearby table, looking over the medical supplies.
When the chains keeping my hands and feet were all that was left, I waited for the blue pegasus to finish unlocking, only to find out that he wasn't going to do so. "Um.... what about these?" I asked as he started to leave.
"Got to keep some restraints on you, so you don't go raging on us. Besides, the nurse can still perform her test while you're like that." I glared at the pony as he chuckled like a kid and went out the tent. The nurse suddenly blocked my view of the entrance.
"I can work with this. Don't want you clawing at me once I put this little thing in." She giggled as she seemed to be dragging something behind her, having both of her front hooves trying to lift the object, grinning like a mad mare.
When the nurse finally moved it into my point of view, I saw...
Oh sweet merciful neptune, THATS A BIG NEEDLE!
"Get that thing away from me!" I screamed, scrambling away from the crazy pony as she pointed the sharp needle at me.
"Now hold still, please. I need to give you this so we can safetly perform other tasks and the reason for it being so big is because you're a big dragon, right dear?" I nodded my head as I listened and stared at the horrific sight of the giant shot. "Well, we have to up the dosage so the effects can still work for a dragon your side. Sorry dear, but don't want you getting any more harm. Now then..."
She lowered the shot near my thigh holding it with her wings and front hooves. I closed my eyes and bit my lips, hoping it would just be a simple prick. Who knows, maybe it won't hurt as much if I don't think about it. Soon, the needle made contact in between my scales, finding the soft tissue underneath. The nurse then pushed the needle forward, jabbing into my skin.
And then........
Pain.
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"Don't you be lying to me boy! I can smell liars miles away, and you starting to reek!" The steel colored mare threatened, glaring at the guilty pony.
The room was bare, having nothing but a one sided window, a sealed door, and a table with two wooden seats, both occupied by the fastest guard in the village, Sharpwing, and one of the 'traitors' of the village, Mix.
The interrogations have been at it for hours, ever since the former defenders were captured. Each time she tried to get answers, none of the 'Dragon Slayers' would cooperate with her.
The mechanic of the ship, Wrench Wheel, was jittery the whole time, being unable to answer or even stay still in his chair. Flames would ramble on about the good ol' days, never staying focus on what she was asking, and giving her a massive headache. Sparky would stay silent, never answering to any of her questions and her threats, while Lancelot was chained and locked inside a still standing structure within a cell.
The brown unicorn was sitting on his chair, looking calm and obnoxious as he inspected his hoof. This was really getting on Sharpwings nerves and she might snap at any minute.
"Listen. Babe. I don't know who you think you are, but I suggest you stop. We're hired help now, not you're 'local defenders'. We get paid to do stuff like this, rather than just do it freely like before. So, why don't you be a doll and take these cuffs off me, as well as this magic resister." A vein popped on Sharpwings forehead, having the final straw break from when this ignorant pony talked so low to her. Now the gloves are coming off.
Sharpwing causally walked around the table, taking her time as the restrained pony continued. "And who knows babe, maybe after all this, we can forget this ever happened, then you and I can go out on a date. Say, tonight? at seven?" The brown unicorn grinned, while he looked at her with some distasteful lust in his eyes. Silverwing's not gonna allow such talk to her.
When she was finally next to him, she grabbed the wooden table and suddenly flipped it, scaring the poor colt. She then kicked the chair from under him, having Mix lay on the floor, groaning from the contact with the floor. She moved her hoofs to hold him by the neck, and glared into the now choking unicorn.
"Listen here and listen well, you dumb colt. I'm not interested in scums like you. How you were ever one the village protectors, I'll never know, but you make me sick. Now," She picked up Mix and held him against the wall.
"I will see to it that you spend the next 10 years in prison getting flanked-bucked! If the others don't like how I treated you, I will personally hire a big tall stallion to flank-buck you for the next 10 years. So if you're a flank-bucking fan, you go ahead and mouth off!" The chained pony was shivering at the new threat that this mare made.
Sure, he knew in the back of his mind that she would never really do it, but in the moment, he was too scared to tell if it was the truth or not. He began to stutter as she was still holding him up, having his legs dangle from the wall.
"Now, 'babe'," The mare teased. "This isn't my first time dealing with somepony like yourself. I dealt with my fair share of troublesome colts. Now then, are you going to cooperate, or am I going to have get to get my secret weapon that I use to deal with your type?" Mix went wide eyed when she taunted him. He was stupidly about to ask what the 'secret weapon' was, until a sudden scream interrupted his answer.
"GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! FUCKING NEEDLE!!!! GAHHHHH!! IT HURTS SO FUCKING MUCH! FUCKING PIECE OF-"
The scream kept going, babbling more about some poor colt's mother and some more inappropriate language that I rather not put into text. Both the ponies in the room were wide eyed when the scream started. Then, the mare decided to use this opportunity to scare the criminal one last time.
"Ah, I see somepony else is testing the equipment for my secret weapon." As the screams continued, the mare dropped the shocked pony, leaving him staring with eyes like saucer at the mare as she turned to leave. "Well, I'll be going to get the equipment ready for you," she turned her head and raised an eyebrow. "That is, of course, if you rather not, and just tell me what I want to know?"
It took Mix awhile to get his composure together. When he was about to respond with another snarky remark, he was reminded by more colorful language and screams coming from celestia knows where.
"I CAN'T FEEL MY FUCKING LEGS!! OH GOD THE INHUMANITY...."
"Alright! I'll tell you all you want to know! Just please, don't let me come near that darn equipment!" The terrified pony said, backing away from the mare and into the farthest corner from the door.
Sharpwing smiled coly, having her bluff win her some more information, as she turned back towards the scared pony. Whoever was in pain, she would have to thank personally for the assist.....
And hope to Celestia the poor filly stops screaming over a silly needle. With some soap to put into her mouth as well for all that language.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Quit your wining. It barely did anything!"
"Barely did anything? I can't feel my legs! What kind of shot is that for anyways?!" I complained like a little kid. What? I HATE needles and this one went UNDERNEATH what I thought were my strong as hell scales. Apparently not!
"It's suppose to knock you out while I do the real tests, hon."
........
"That wasn't the test?"
"Nope," She replied, putting the needle away and going over some of the things on the tray. I did my best to sit upright on the bed, trying to get a good look of what she was preparing.
Hahahahaha! You scream like a little girl! Hahah!!
I do not! I swear Ava, don't you have more important things to do?
Nah! I'm too busy going through your past memories. I must say, That's a lot of porn you looked through. I felt my face redden at having someone look through my personal life.
Get the fuck out of my head now!
Pshhh, fine, but I have to say, that’s quite a collect you have here....
"GET THE FUCK OUT!" I screamed out loud. "OR I SWEAR I WILL FUCKING BURN YOU AND RIP YOU A NEW-
*THUNK*
The needle did its work. I was out cold and laying flat on the bed with my head over the side of the bed and my body completely numb from any feeling whatsoever. The nurse looked back at my limbed body, looked down and shook her head in disappointment.
"*Sigh* This dragon needs to learn how to keep that colorful language to himself. Oh well. Back the work."
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"Come on now, ladies! Just two more hours till you can go home and kiss your wives! Put your backs into it!" The chief ordered his men as they continued to work vigorously in the dank cavern. The whole cave was near the new established village known as Dragon's Gate.
The village quickly soon became known for its mines and mineral collection. Best in Equestria, as far as any traveler would say. Any other day, the workers down in the mines would've already been home by now, but a certain attack gave the village an idea. They just need the supplies for to work.
"Geez, Rocko is working us overtime eh?" A dirt covered pony said to his companions. Him and his two co-workers were heading towards the north side of the mines this time, just following orders.
He was a brown unicorn, following the eldest of the group, a orange earth pony, towards their section of the mines. The last of their group, a topaz looking earth pony was hooking up the chains of carts on his back, ready for another day.
"He's working us because the mayor finally gave the ok on the wall idea.” His eldest friend replied in a thick. “We're digging up as much stone and minerals as we can to help build it."
"I heard that Dragon's Gate was attacked by some dragon and a few ponies!" The last of the ponies said, worried about his family back home.
"Why you think we're trying to get wall up? So it doesn't happen again."
“I heard the dragon’s gonna help us around here with us, as well as help build the wall.”
“Damn dragon. First he destroys our village. Now we’re giving him our jobs. Damn him to tartarus!”
"Enough talk. Let's just do the work to keep up with the others, k?"
They reached the end of their tunnel, where some other ponies, with a few diamond dogs, were already mining out the tunnel. The group unloaded their tools, and started digging up the rocks in one corner, smashing away at the stones and few gems in the way.
"..... Hey, who's that colt?" The first pony pointed to a young looking yellow unicorn as he continued to mine.
The orange pony looked over his shoulder and chuckled."I forgot you're new here in the mines. He ain't got a name to him. He came out of nowhere a few months ago. Started working here all of a sudden. All he has to him is his own pick and the clothes on his back.”
The eldest shook his head as he watched the colt work. “We tried talking to him, but he ain't responding at all. We tried to kick him out, but he'll just be stubborn and ignore us. So, we let him work on the mines with us. And the colt has been fine with it all ever since."
"Geez..... What about his family?” The newbie asked.
"Far as I know, He ain't got one. He's a lonely fella."
“But why work here in the mines? Shouldn’t he be out playing with the some other fillies and colts?”
“I don’t really know. ‘Sides, he looks old enough to take care of himself. He ain’t that young. Now quit your staring and get a move on! We gotta finish filling these carts up before the end of today.”
“Geez, you almost sound like Rocko.” The brown pony giggled. The orange elder gave him a stern look, showing how little he enjoyed that comment. The pony’s chuckled quickly died off and returned his attention back towards hammering away at the rocks underneath his hooves.
While the group of workers went along and mined at the stone ahead, the lonely colt was busy mining away, living in his own little world. He was busy digging and humming a soft tune to himself that no one else in the mines seemed to know.
After a final strike to a stone, breaking it to bits, he stopped dead in his tracks and looked towards the exit of the tunnel. He stared at it with his ears pointing straight up, as if it was a dog hearing a disturbance. The group of ponies from before noticed this, but before any of them could ask what’s wrong, the lonely pony quickly strapped his pickaxe to his back and made a dash for the exit.
“What’s wrong with the colt, Hard Hat?” The brown pony asked the elder.
“I honestly haven’t got a clue.” How could he? The pony that came out of nowhere, now making a mad run for the exit. What could’ve gotten the colt all worked....
A series of loose rocks fell on Hard Hat’s head, answering his question.
“What this?” He examined the rocks on the floor, wondering why the sudden drop. Only then did he hear a faint sound from the end of the tunnel slowly echoing towards him. Was this what the colt hea-
*BOOOOM*
The earth shook as a sudden explosion blasted within the cavern. All workers immediately stopped what they were doing and looked around for each other for answers.
“What’s going on?!”
“I don’t know! We weren’t scheduled for any demolition and explosions this week!”
“Doesn’t matter! RUN FOR IT, EVERYPONY!”
A series of explosions and earthquakes erupted from within the tunnel as every creature ran for their lives, not wishing to be trapped by the rocks they mined themselves. Tools and carts were left behind as the ponies and diamond dogs ran, dodging falling debris and rocks from above.
The crew was turning left and right, going through the maze as the earth shook.
“Why is this happening?”
“This isn’t the best time for questions! Just keep running!”
The group turned a final left corner, knowing that it will lead them to their sweet freedom out of their tunnel. Unfortunately, fate had other plans for them.
“Horseapples! The exits blocked!!”
Hard Hat looked around at the now exhausted co-workers. Six unicorns, nine earth ponies, three diamond dogs, and hell, even a pegasi was trapped with him. He quickly formed a plan.
“Alright guys! If we want to get out alive, we do this fast and by the books!”
“Hat! What are yo-”
“Unicorns!” Hard Hat interrupted. “See if you all can get a shield going around us and the exit, to block anymore rocks from falling. We need all of us to be safe through this whole ordeal. Those who don’t know any protective spells, start grabbing rocks and tossing them to the side now!” All the unicorns nodded in understanding and went to accomplish their task.
“Those that brought any tools with them, start mining away for freedom! Dogs, help dig as well! Aim towards the southern end! Those without tools, start doing what you do best, and buck the tartarus out of these caves! We created this cave, but sure as tartarus we ain’t gonna die in it!” The miners all saluted to him, then went off to dig out the blocked exit.
The explosion seemed to ceased within the caves, but the tunnels still shook the area. Hard hat went to help the ponies dig and claw away for freedom, sweating while moving the rocks away. He was grateful that at least the three of the unicorns could bring up a shield spell. Soon, within ten long agonizing minutes, a small light broke through rubble, giving the trapped workers much hope. They continued to whack and claw at the light till it was soon wide enough for them all to leave.
Thank celestia! Freedom!
[Mood setting music]
As each pony, with the few diamond dogs, exited out of the trapped tunnel that enters into the enormous cavern, they all froze near the entrance, blocking some of the light and view from those still trapped.
“Hey! What’s the holdup now?” Hard Hat asked, being one of the last to crawl out of the rubble. He then noticed two things: One, it's extremely too quiet, meaning that the explosions and earthquakes must have stopped. And two....
“W-w-what in the...” He couldn’t finish what he started. He was even hoping to just stay inside the trapped tunnel, as it would’ve been a much easier sight to see. None of them could move, all standing still, to paralyzed at the atrocity they see before them.
All over the floors were those of their friends and workers. Ponies of different origins, dogs from many clans, with tools and carts littering the floors.....
Dead.
All of them.
Blood spilt everywhere.
Limbs torn from the torsos.
White, lifeless eyes staring wide.
Blood on the coat and fur of many ponies and dogs.
Bodies stacked on top of each other, piling high up.
And on the top of the pile, was the yellow, lonely colt, as he was crying his eyes out.
A hole from the ceiling leaked moonlight into the cavern, shining a natural spotlight on the pile, and more importantly, the whimpering pony. His face was covered with blood. His pick was in his two hooves, drenched from the red liquid of his victims. He just sat on top, crying. Asking himself one question quietly. Just a simple question he wants answered.
He looked up to the new arrivals of the scene, as he spoke for the first time in forever since they ever knew the colt. He tried to ask them, but all he could do was stutter. Soon, he asked them the only question on his mind.....
“W-w-what did I do?”
A/N: I HAVE AN EXCUSE AS TO WHY CHAPTER RELEASES ARE SLOWING DOWN......... school. 'Nuff said. Now then! Hope you enjoyed this chapter! And I hope I didn't over due with the whole font change and coloring..... hehehe.