//------------------------------// // Chapter 9: The Guilds of Core Metro // Story: My Little Pony, Friendship is Magic: Heart of Friendship // by ShadowDurza //------------------------------// “Yeah! Yeah! Slash! Parry! Slash! Thrust! Dodge and counter slash! Now give ‘em a jumping slash! Pow! He’s down! One…! Two…!” The ponies leaned away in caution as the human shouted at the terminal in the upper corner of the gondola station. It appeared to be a fight between two armed humans. One was wearing baggy clothing with long hair and attacked with sparking bursts of magic and heavy strikes combined with teleportation aided by their staff with a heavy, hammer-like end. The other was a human with brown hair, bright red eyes, and a tan complexion wearing a red tunic with yellow trim and some chainmail garments underneath. They fought with incredible might and technique with their broadsword of solid amber energy being emitted perpendicular to their clasped, aura-covered fists, yet under his right eye was a pair of scars, one vierticle, one horizontal, making an unmistakable cross shape. Applejack narrowed her gaze at the screen. “Is this some kind of news broadcast? Shouldn’t somepony stop them?” The human just laughed. “It’s not the news! It’s our most revered sport! Pro dueling!” Fluttershy glanced worriedly at the screen. “Um… isn’t that a little dangerous for a sport…?” “Don’t worry your pretty little head, little pony! There are rules and a ton of safeguards! We’re not savages!” Rainbow Dash raises her eyebrow. “Oh yeah? What kind of rules?” “Well, for one thing, we use a points system, first to ten wins by TKO. Clean hits gets you one, critical hits get you two, and knockdowns get you three. If you knock your opponent down, you have to wait for the count of ten, if they don’t get up, you win by KO. You also get a KO by forcing your opponent to the floor or wall of the Arena’s ring for a count of three. Of course, the referee will break up the fight when things get too perilous, and different refs have different criteria for giving out points.” Twilight turns her head to him. “Like what?” “Well, some referees grade on how hard the opponent gets hit.” Rainbow Dash smiles and rolls her eyes. “Playing hard is its own reward.” “Some refs grade on style, technique, and subtlety.” Rarity flips her mane. “How else?” “And of course you get refs that grade on the audience’s reaction. They’re why they do it after all.” Pinkie Pie excitedly clapped her hooves together. “Ain’t no party like a wild party!” Rainbow Dash flies closer to the screen and squints at it. “That all sounds good in theory, but senseless violence is still senseless violence no matter how you play it, I don’t see- AW, DID YOU SEE THAT! HE DID A FRONT FLIP SLASH TO COUNTER THAT TELEPORTING BACK STRIKE! GO HUMAN! GO!” The human chuckled at Rainbow’s words. “Looks like the Kris army has expanded into a whole new species!” Twilight’s eyes widened in shock. “Um… what kind of army?” The human made a low, hearty laugh. “It’s just what they call the fans of the reigning champion and latest King Under The Mountain, Kris Deulis!” Twilight raised her eyebrow in curiosity. “‘King Under The Mountain’?” The human smiled a big grin missing a couple of teeth at her.  “It’s the title of a champion who rises to the top of the rankings without losing once and holds that position undefeated! Very few have ever had the honor of receiving the crown, and Kris Duelis came out of nowhere five years ago and took it for his own quicker and younger than anyone before! Supposedly, there was a similar title for a different rite long ago when we all lived on the surface, but when we all moved underground we came up with King Under The Mountain. It sounds intimidating, but there’s no shortage of formidable warriors that’d do anything to break that legend, and Kris sends them all packing as they come!” Applejack held out her hoof to the human. “That’s all well and good, but what’s he like outside of the ring?” “That’s the thing, nobody knows. He never does interviews or public appearances. After every match, he just goes right back to his private penthouse dojo the league provides for him. Because he never goes for any sponsorships or product endorsements, he actually makes a lot less than fighters holding ranks below him and lives only on his fight earnings. Of course, some interpret this as a sort of warrior fundamentalism, like seeking honor and glory only in battle and cutting off any worldly distractions, but again, he never gives interviews so nobody knows for sure.” “Market/Financial District Gondola nine, afternoon stop coming in. All aboard that’s coming aboard.” Right on cue, the gondola came sliding downward into the station. The ponies gathered around the dock as the hatch doors slid open. Before nervously boarding, Fluttershy turned back to the human. “Um… Are you coming mister…?” The human laughed into a small coughing fit and shook his head. “Nah, dear. A hobo like me don’t have any business in the fancy-shmancy financial district. I just sit here all day watching the fights for free until they start serving in the kitchen! Go on! Pay no mind! I’m not putting on a show here!” The ponies anxiously looked at one another before awkwardly boarding the gondola. *** “Well, this is certainly a step down from the last district, at least in terms of style.” Rarity regarded the sight before her and her friends with mild disappointment. This sector was constructed with mostly business in mind. The view gave way to concrete cubes studded with paned glass windows, behind which countless humans sat at desks writing and typing. The humans that strided across the streets paid the ponies no mind as they carried suitcases, papers, paper cups of what smelled like strongly caffeinated drinks, and spoke into small round objects that apparently allowed them to communicate with each other across distances. The only interesting landmark was a very tall clocktower with four very large faces built into a box-shaped structure on top of a more slender pillar and capped with both large and small tapering turrets. Rainbow Dash slouched while in the air. “Doesn’t look like there’s much to do in this part of the city. Where are we supposed to go while we wait for the meeting with the next Director?” Twilight pointed her hoof at the clocktower. “Why don’t we go there? There might be something worth seeing at something so different.” Rainbow Dash groaned but started flying in that direction. “I suppose it’s better than just standing around.” Rarity held her nose high in the air and trotted behind. “It certainly adds some much-needed aesthetic to this otherwise dull and drab district.” The others agreed with the both of them and proceeded, only Twilight lagged behind with an uncertain look on her face. “I don’t like deceiving my friends, even if only for a little while. But this is something I need to know.” Twilight went back to the mall incident, recalling how she was about to celebrate with the others over their victory. However, she noticed a strange sensation in the air, similar to how the anomaly first appeared. When she looked around, everything except her took on an odd red tinge and was completely halted and silent. However, she quickly turned around when she noticed the steady paces of some footsteps, finding that Maxine was also unaffected, and in fact was warmly grinning at her. “He’s not the only one that can stockpile their magic when they sense themselves declining. Over the last twenty years, I’ve managed to save up about one hundred hours of time I can manipulate, and I never use them lightly, my dear.” Twilight was about to ask at least five questions, but Maxine held up her hand to silence her. “I’d rather not dally, so I’ll just get right to the point.” Maxine held out her hand to offer something to Twilight, which she floated with her magic to get a better look at. It looked like a square-cut emerald, but within was a crimson symbol: IX, the numeral for nine. “If you want to learn the true history of Core Metro, the one that those in power think better off forgotten, take this to the western base of the clocktower. But don’t tell your friends until you’re inside, there are ears everywhere that won’t hesitate to silence any voice that speaks words they don’t approve of.” Twilight, back in the present, sighed and began following her friends along from behind. *** Rainbow Dash huffed and crossed her hooves. “I don’t see how this is better than being back there! Where’s the entrance? Does this place even do tours?” Pinkie Pie hopped up and down. “Oh, it’s not so bad! We can make our own fun! Let’s start by counting the bricks! One brick, two bricks, three bricks, four bricks…” Fluttershy quietly follows along until she notices a red glint out of the corner of her eye, turning her head to look at it. “Twilight, are you glowing a different color than usual?” Twilight levitated Maxine’s gem forward, the crimson characters within flashing in a steady rhythm. Rarity made an excited sound. “Twilight, where did you get such a lovely emerald?” However, Twilight didn’t say a word. Instead, took it with her closer to the clocktower, its flashes growing more frequent. Applejack got a worried look as Twilight cantered right past her. “Um… Twi’?” Eventually, Twilight came to rest at a smaller but still large clock face built into the side of the tower’s base, the emerald now glowing continuously. She floated the item towards the clock and set it directly against the number nine. The clock face began to fade away, revealing a pathway directly into the clocktower. Twilight looked back to her friends’ confused faces, gesturing for them to follow, she proceeded in. The others looked at one another and did just that. Eventually, they came to some manner of lift which they all stepped into. When they were all in, a grate over the entrance slid closed and the lift took them upward. *** “YIIIEEEEEE! Not more!” As the ponies left the corridor and found an entry hall, the human standing at the desk shrieked and cowered behind it. Applejack approached the desk with an inquisitive and slightly worried look. “Um… excuse me miss, can you tell us where we are exactly?” As Applejack craned her head over the desk, the human tried to bend down even lower and started covering her eyes. However, Applejack managed to get a good look at her. She had pale skin, white hair done in a small but thick ponytail, and dark red eyes. All wearing a plain bluish suit. Her clenched teeth showed off her unusually long and sharp canines. A concerned Fluttershy approached, which somehow got a sharp wail out of the woman even though her eyes were covered. “Um… are you okay miss…?” “Please, just… go away!” “Relax Carmi, I’ll do the rest from here.” The ponies turned towards the relievingly familiar voice as Maxine came in from the other end of the entry hall. “You have to forgive her. Carmilla Waybright here’s a blood elemental, but a mishap in her childhood involving her stubborn grandfather refusing to get a cut treated gave her a crippling case of hemophobia. That combined with her ability to sense the blood in others left her quite neurotic, this is the only place I could have her work. She usually does a good job with people she’s grown accustomed to, but she always has a bit of an episode when multiple new people show up, especially ones a lot heavier than the average human.” Rarity turned her head away and pouted. “I’m not that heavy…” Twilight turned around to face her friends. “I’m sorry for not being entirely honest with you, girls…” This got a sour look from Applejack. “...But Madam von Wrinkle said that it might be dangerous to talk about.” Twilight turned back to Maxine. “So, you mentioned something about Core Metro’s history?” Maxine started beaming and put her hands together. “I thought you’d never ask! Come with me ladies, let’s go to exhibits dedicated to this city’s most important but now tragically suppressed history!” They followed her past the entrance hall deeper into the clock tower, but Applejack had to go back for Pinkie, who was currently engaged in a screaming contest with Carmilla. *** “Many years ago, I found these chambers hidden within this clock tower after discovering it reacted to time magic. It’s no surprise, in the old days, many of the carpenters liked to hide secrets in their works. In fact, I’ve decided to turn this whole place into a museum to show the trusted masses all the neat things they did in the old days.” As the ponies and their guide made their way deeper into the hall, they came upon the fist chamber, which illuminated all kinds of interesting exhibits. On one end, there was a case containing brightly colored weapons of all makes just like they find with certain humans, except these had multiple cracks in them and had old pictures of humans hung above each one. In another end, there was a case containing awards inscribed with titles such as For Distinguished Services to Core Metro, For Discovery of Vital Importance, and For The Preservation of the Lives of Citizens. In the middle was a display depicting nine brightly colored banners with different designs. “Almost immediately after the ancient humans settled in the cavern, they had to assign duties to those whose skills were most suited to each one. However, there tended to be breakdowns of communications whenever certain situations arose, it was often these specialists who received the brunt of the fallout. “Later on, these specialists discovered that they could handle these situations if they banded together, and so the first Guilds were born. Over time, these guilds fostered a sense of unity and community among the humans that they rarely saw even during their glory days on the surface, and core metro grew into what it is now today. In the end, nine guilds rose above the others for their excellence and contributions to the city: North Star: Home to the most seasoned and detailed mapmakers and explorers. Glorious Forge: Fosterers of the greatest craftsmen the city ever knew. Phoenix Tears: Where millions of lives were saved by the most merciful of healers. Golden Griffon: Where the most driven and single-minded treasure hunters shared the bounty of their efforts with all. Wild Heart: Tamers and tenders of even the most savage of beasts that make their homes in the vast caves. Elegant Elephant: Though they took it upon themselves to take the filthiest jobs to maintain the city, they did so with the highest of pride and dignity. Shadow Iris: The investigators who would prowl the darkest nests of corruption to safeguard those that live in the light. Silver Hand: Few consider dealing with numbers to be the most pleasant experiences, but these expert eccentrics relished the thought. And Rising Dragon: Though humans are considered a warrior race as a whole, these combatants never hesitated to push that standard and themselves to new heights.” Twilight and her friends marveled at this story. And with Maxine’s beckoning, they raced throughout the exhibits. Pinkie Pie giggled almost nonstop as she played with the interactive exhibits. Rarity could barely contain herself at the sight of the artisan guilds’ original clothes designs. Applejack regarded the exhibits and cases containing the tools each guild did their work with admiration. Rainbow Dash marveled at the awards and plaques dedicated to great deeds and competitions. Fluttershy eagerly read the entries on the exhibits pertaining to the wildlife of the caves, but tried not to look at the real taxidermied creatures. And Twilight peeled through the preserved copies of the old texts and logs of the guilds. Eventually, they all met back in the main hall, clamoring towards Maxine. Twilight was the first to ask a question. “This is all very amazing Madam von Wrinkle, but what happened to all the guilds?” On that note, Maxine suddenly got a very sad, very tired look on her face, which brought down the mood in the hall severely. “Well… I have an exhibit for that too. Follow me.” Maxine proceeded to a darkened adjacent hall, followed by the now apprehensive ponies. Maxine flipped a switch on the wall and the hall was illuminated. Inside each case were several newspaper clippings relating to disasters, massive political reform, and several financial crises. The ponies got a distinctively different vibe from this hall. Maxine strode to the middle of the exhibits. “I suppose it all started about seventy-five years ago. Over the course of a week, the city was rocked by several disasters of great magnitude that shook it to its very foundation. By the end of it all, it seemed like the whole thing would collapse upon itself no matter how hard everyone worked. “But where most saw calamity, others saw opportunity for greater prosperity. Five of the most wealthy business moguls in the city offered to rebuild it using their own resources, bigger and better than it had ever been before. In exchange, they wanted to reform the city’s policy with themselves on top. With no options available to them, the people and guilds were forced to accept. And out of the ruins were built the districts we know today. For many years, the economic growth of the city skyrocketed, but it had the unfortunate effect of concentrating in the hands of a wealthy few and widening the gap between the rich and poor. To quell the dissent of the citizens, the Directors decided to reform the city’s political affairs once again on their own terms. Most of the major administrative power was concentrated into the Central Administration, and the position of High Director was formed. There were more jobs, but growth was slow. So ten years ago, the latest High Director accused the guilds as the source of the lull for taking the jobs for cheap, and signed an order to abolish the guild system, promoting a philosophy of self-interest and individualism in its place to encourage ambition in the citizens. In the end, the Guilds were just a victim of political scapegoating.” After finishing the story, Maxine started looking more solemn than ever. Fluttershy trotted up to Maxine. “Madam von Wrinkle, were you part of a guild?” Maxine wiped something from the corner of her eye and regained her composure. “Yes, I was. It wasn’t one of the big nine, just one of the smaller, not-so-special guilds.” Applejack sensed that there was more to it than she was letting on. While she was debating internally on whether or not to pry, unknown to everyone, something dark slid out from underneath Twilight and quickly made its way into an adjacent hall. Before any of them could break the silence, they were all stunned by the sudden appearance of a platoon of underworlders charging out from one of the halls. Right before both groups made contact, the hall suddenly took on a red tinge. The ponies slowly opened their eyes after their anticipation was met with utter silence and found that all of the underworlders were frozen in place, covered in the same red hue as everything else. Rainbow Dash swung her head around and scowled. “This is just like Trace’s spell!” Pinkie Pie perked up at the sound of that. “Does this mean the whole world’s covered in cherry gelatin?” Maxine coughed to get everyone’s attention. “I’ve stopped time for now to give us a chance to keep our senses. It seems my little museum has been invaded by the Underworlders. I don’t know how and it doesn’t matter how. But these old halls have more than a few tricks to defend themselves from intruders. My accumulated time magic won’t allow me to alter anything caught in the stopped time, so I could use your help to operate these defense systems. But I won’t blame you and will even help you if you want to escape.” On that note, the ponies responded in the negative, making their decision very audible. Maxine gave them a warm smile. “Very well. Follow me, we should collect Carmilla before moving into some hidden rooms. Follow me then.” Maxine strided as fast as she could with the Ponies following close behind.