The light, blinding as it was, barely registered in Flood's brain as he stirred from unconsciousness, eyes cracking open. His headache was back in full swing.
"He's waking up, sir."
Flood's eyelids twitched as he tried to locate the source of the voice. The light made it impossible to see. He was vaguely aware of the fact that he was sitting, albeit on a cold, hard, metal chair. He could only manage a weak pained grunt as he tried to raise a hoof to massage his pounding temples. But he had no luck in doing so. Something was holding his hooves behind the back of the chair he was strewn across, binding him to his seat.
"Well now, look at that. A live one." Another voice, smoother than the previous, spoke in a low tone, and chuckled softly.
"Where," Flood started to say.
"Are you?" the voice finished. "Nah, that's not how this works. I'm the one that asks you the questions, understand?" The light turned away from Flood's face, and he blinked rapidly as his eyes readjusted to the light of the room, to take in his surroundings.
He was in a small, bare room, occupied only by a table, Flood's metal chair, and another chair on the opposite end of the table. The three walls he could see were solid metal, save for the one to his right, which held a mirror. A light hung from the ceiling.
The voice belonged to a dark brown earth pony, sporting a short, cropped mane and beady, brown eyes. "Coming around, huh? That's good," he said, as he stared straight at Flood. "Very good."
Flood craned his neck to see behind him. The back wall had a door, flanked by two unicorns; the same two that had evidently abducted him. He didn't see the third, the one they commanded to stand guard at Ditzy's house, while Dinky slept inside.
"What did you do," Flood growled, "with Dinky? If you hurt her..."
"You're just full of questions, huh?" the earth pony said. "Aren't you the eager beaver." He slid the chair back from the table a bit, and sat down. "Well let me oblige. You can call me Sleuth," he said, as he scooted the chair back up to the table. "And I'm mighty interested in you. What's your name?"
Flood stared back at the pony called Sleuth. He felt there was something slippery about him, an uneasy aura that hung around him. "Flood," he replied.
"Well, Mister Flood," Sleuth went on, "you've got quite a fitting name. Because you've given us a whole torrent of problems." He leaned in from across the table. "Ever been to Rockland?"
Flood looked into Sleuth's dark eyes. "What?"
"Rockland, Flood! The mining town of Rockland," he exclaimed, suddenly jumping up from his seat. He began pacing back and forth. "Or at least it was. Have you seen it recently? Big mess now, burned-out buildings, bunch of bodies," he stated. Then he turned to Flood, saying nothing else.
Flood's heart rate started to pick up. Hayseed, does he think I destroyed it?! He returned the look Sleuth was giving him. "Look, I didn't," Flood started to reply.
"Don't play games with me!" Sleuth slammed a hoof on the table. Flood cringed. He stormed over to his side as Flood strained against whatever was holding his hooves behind the chair. Craning his neck again to look at the unicorns behind him, he saw one of their horns had taken on a shimmering aura. He was holding Flood in place with a spell.
"An entire town, totally wasted, no survivors, and a pony coming from the Rockland tunnel an hour after everypony's dead," Sleuth shouted. "And what, you were just passing by?"
Flood's pulse quickened further.
"What did you do? Bomb the place? What did she have you do?"
"What did who have me do? And I didn't have a bomb," Flood shot back. He had raised his voice, but nowhere near as loud as Sleuth's.
"So what DID you do it with, then? Magic? Blew up the coal reserves with a fire spell?"
"I didn't do anything! I was delivering a package!"
"Ha!" Sleuth laughed. "So it WAS a bomb! Damn liar," Sleuth spat.
"NO! I didn't know what I was delivering," Flood shouted.
"So she didn't tell you what it was?"
Flood's head was spinning. It felt like Sleuth was just going in circles. "Trixie? No, she didn't even know. It's a package, who cares what's inside it?"
Sleuth suddenly moved his face right next to Flood's ear. "Listen to me," he hissed. "You fucking punk. Whatever she threatened you with is going to be NOTHING compared to what I'll do to you, if you don't start running your mouth the way. I. Want." He accentuated the last three words with sharp, painful jabs of his hoof in Flood's side.
"Who are you talking about?!"
Sleuth bared his teeth as he pulled away from Flood, raising a hoof to strike him. Flood cringed away from him in his seat.
The door behind him suddenly burst open. "Alright," a voice barked. "You're done."
Sleuth stared back into the doorway, a flabbergasted look plastered on his face. "I was getting somewhere," he protested.
"You bludgeoned your way into a wall," came the response. "An innocent wall, to be precise." The voice practically oozed authority. Whoever it was, they were too far beyond the doorway for Flood to see them reflected in the mirror. "Escort him to my chambers, I will investigate him." Hoofsteps announced the new pony's departure.
The brown interrogator glared back at Flood. "Innocent my hoof," he growled at Flood. Sleuth glanced at one of the unicorns behind Flood. "Let him go."
Flood felt the magic restraints around his hooves dissipate. He quickly slid off of the chair, taking a cautious stance, facing Sleuth. They stared each other down for a moment, until Flood felt one of the unicorns work a hoof around the side of his neck, jerking him away and through the door.
---
They had walked down multiple, dimly-lit corridors before approaching a door at the end of a more brightly-lit hallway. One of the unicorns rapped on the door four times. "Let him in," somepony behind the door responded. The door handle shimmered as the unicorn's horn did the same. It swung open. The other simultaneously shoved Flood inside the room beyond. Flood turned his head to voice his discomfort, only to see the door slam in his face.
"At last," the voice from before said behind him. Flood swung his head to face it. His jaw dropped.
A pony with a deep, indigo coat sat behind a desk in front of him. Her mane was a shimmering blue and purple, one that seemed to sparkle like stars and flow as though it had caught a breeze that wasn't even there . A horn, longer than any Flood had seen before, broke through the vibrant mane. And she had wings. Elegant wings that folded neatly along her dark-spotted sides. Flood had seen this pony before, at the alicorn statue in the Thoroughfare. Like everypony in the underground, he would recognize her anywhere.
It was Princess Luna.
Flood's jaw dropped. Never before had he met face-to-face with a being like an alicorn, let alone a member of the royal family of Equestria. Actually seeing the majesty that was the Princess for the first time was stupefying.
Princess Luna gazed at him with deep, teal eyes. Flood returned the gaze with a slack-jawed, awestruck stare.
"Puh..." he stammered.
Luna smiled at him. "Even after all these years, the ponies of this land continue to hold me in an unnecessarily venerable view."
"You're...you're Luna! I mean, sorry, Your Majesty, Princess Luna," he gasped.
"Indeed I am," Luna replied. She continued to stare at him, a somewhat amused expression splayed across her face. "And you are Mr. Flood of Mantle City, Housing Quarter 7, Block 38. Please, take a seat." She motioned to a chair in a position opposite her side of the desk.
"So it was you that brought me here?"
"The city security did, more specifically. They told me you showed great defiance when your presence was requested for questioning." Luna gave him an approving look. "I understand it was for a younger pony's protection?"
"Yeah, and if they did anything to her, I'll-"
"You may relax," Luna interjected. "Under my orders, be they direct or indirect, no harm has come to anypony. Except in your case, for which I must personally apologize. Sleuth's methods are admittedly harsh, but his actions are purely for the benefit and safety of all."
Idiot, you forgot to bow! She's royalty! Flood's amazement had forced his manners from his mind.
"S-sorry for not bowing, your majesty..."
"Please, Flood, it is I who should be apologizing. I never wished for harm to come to you," Luna said. She leaned in towards him from across the desk. "Seeing you here now, in person, leads me to believe that you had nothing to do with the destruction of Rockland."
Flood blinked back at her. "That's why you brought me here? You guys thought I blew up the town?"
"You were the only suspect we could find," she replied. "The SOS from Rockland reached us just as you were seen emerging from the tunnel. A bit of bad luck, that's all."
"How could I have even done something that big? It'd take a unicorn with more magical power than I've ever seen."
"We had to be sure that she hadn't tricked or hypnotized you into doing it," Luna sighed.
"She? Sleuth said the same thing. I don't even know who she is," Flood said, bewildered.
Luna stood up from her chair, pulling it with magic to rest next to Flood's. She took her seat again as Flood adjusted his own chair to face her.
She took a deep breath. "My sister is the one we speak of."
"What," he breathed. "Celestia's behind this?"
"Indeed."
Flood's disbelief was almost palpable. "But...she's supposed to be dead!"
"So the rumor says. 'Celestia died and the sun went out of control,' they say."
"Then the ones about her," Flood gulped, "going crazy are true?"
"I am afraid so," was Luna's somber response.
"So the Corona Reign was because of her," Flood mumbled. He slouched in his seat. The events of the day, coupled with the realization that his ruler had burned and killed so many, fatigued him to no end. All he could ask was "But why?"
"Not even I know the answer to that impossible question," she replied, standing up from her chair. She circled back around the desk, levitating a broken picture frame up in front of her. "The moment the sun intensified, I knew something was wrong with my sister. As I ran through the unbearable heat, up to the throne room, I expected to find her in some great distress. Nothing scared me more than something that could bring her down..." She shut both her eyes as the picture frame came to rest back down on the desk; a picture of Canterlot Castle. A tear dripped onto it.
Flood looked up at her apologetically. "What was wrong with her?"
"When I opened the door to the throne room, all I saw was blinding light," Luna replied. "Whatever may have happened to her, I could not see. Not a day goes by that I wonder what could have driven her to such action all those years ago."
She walked back around to Flood. "Which is why I have brought you here. We know nothing of her power now, or of her intent. As the only survivor of the Rockland massacre, you hold such valuable information on what went on."
Flood stared at her, confused. "But I don't know anything," he said depressingly. "I...all I did was try to make a delivery. That's what I do, I'm a delivery pony." He grimaced. "Or at least that's what I did. I yelled at my boss, oh horsefeathers, Trixie is going to kill me for sure."
"Please, anything you know could be useful," Luna pressed. She was not keen on walking away empty-hoofed. "What happened there?"
Flood sighed. "The entire town was wrecked when I got there. Ditzy flew off trying to look for survivors, and I went after her, but all we found was this huge stone golem, runes all over it and everything. And all I could do was run for my life." He hung his head. "I got my only friend killed because I'm so helpless."
Luna hung her head as well. "I truly am very sorry for your loss," she said in a low voice. "But I must ask, how did you escape? The security forces that searched the area found bits and pieces of strange stone, what I assume was the golem."
"I don't know," Flood said, exasperated. "It just blew itself up when it blasted a building."
"A self defense mechanism?"
"I don't know, okay! I don't want any of this," he shouted. Luna gave him an understanding look. He sighed. "I'm sorry, Your Majesty, really. I don't mean to yell. This is just...a lot to take in, on top of everything else."
"Then I believe this is where our time together should come to a close," she said. "However, before you go, I extend an invitation to you to join with the security forces of Mantle City. Any help you could provide against a future attack would be greatly appreciated. After all, you have the most experience with Celestia's golems. Your expertise, great or small, would be a valuable asset."
"I can't, I just," Flood said as he stood up from his chair. "I don't want any more to do with this. It's not my fight," he continued. "I just want to go home. I have an orphaned filly that I have to figure out how to take care of."
He started towards the door.
"The offer will always be open, then," Luna called, as Flood opened the door with a touch of magic.
"Thank you, Princess Luna. With all you've done for us, it's no wonder everypony loves you."
She smiled at him as he went out the door.
"Farewell."
---
"Cheerilee, all I'm asking for is just a few weeks while I get something more permanent set up."
The magenta earth pony stared back at Flood, worried. "I don't know if I can. Teaching fillies is one thing, but taking care of one full time?"
"I promise I'll work as fast as I can." Flood reached down and put a hoof around Dinky. "And besides, you know Dinky as well as I do. Good kid."
Dinky's depressed expression was all the convincing Cheerilee needed. "Alright," she conceded. "I'll take care of her."
"Thanks. Dinky, why don't you take your bags inside and grab something to drink?"
"Okay," came her weak reply. Suddenly, she squeezed Flood's neck in a tight embrace. "Promise you'll come back soon," she said, sniffling.
"I promise." He returned the hug. Dinky let go, and walked inside, closing the door behind her.
Cheerilee glanced at the door, then turned back to Flood. "I just can't believe it," she finally said. "Out of nowhere..."
"Yeah," was all Flood said.
"How've you been doing?"
"I've been fine," he lied. He was far from fine. A better answer would have been exhausted, guilty, and helpless.
"I know you're just lying for my peace of mind," came Cheerilee's chiding reply.
"Yeah. I gotta go somewhere. Thanks again, Cheerilee. You know Dinky and I both really appreciate everything you're doing." He set off down the Housing Quarter tunnel.
---
The bars of Mantle City, while providing a much-needed getaway from the day-to-day stress, did not generate as much business as the owners hoped. For this reason, the proprietor of Berry's, Berry Punch, had decided to take her love of drink and present it to the good ponies of Mantle City in the classiest way she could imagine: a lounge. As Flood walked through the double doors of the establishment, he was reminded again of the value everypony placed on comfort.
Aside from being close to the Delivery Company, Flood favored Berry's lounge for a particular reason; the place always had some kind of live entertainment in the evenings. Sometimes it was music, or comedy. Tonight, it was some of the greatest music he had ever heard. A gray-coated, jet black-maned mare sewed smooth sounds into the air from a cello as she was accompanied by a brown stallion playing dulcet notes on a grand piano. The lights were turned low, except for one spotlight shining down on the pair as they played.
He had come for drinks at Berry's a few times before, usually an evening pick-me-up after a long day at work. Even so, the magenta Earth pony seemed to recognize him as he wandered among the tables in the dimly-lit room. She waved him over to the bar.
"How's it goin', mailcolt?"
He gave a quick nod and a forced smile as he sat at the bar, setting his saddlebag down.
"Don't usually see you around much at this time of night," Berry noted.
"Can't sleep," Flood explained. "Might as well drink."
She tousled his mane, laughing. "That's the way to do it. What can I get you?"
"I don't even know," Flood sighed. "Whatever you recommend."
Berry laughed again. "A drink recommended by Berry Punch? I'll have you knocked on your flank in half an hour." She wheeled around, and began mixing his drink, throwing ice in a glass, and squirting liquids of various color in after. Flood turned around on the barstool, absentmindedly watching the ponies play their instruments.
A moment later, he felt the tap of a hoof on his back. He turned around to see a glass of dark liquid on the counter in front of him. He looked around for Berry, who was already at the other end of the bar, taking an order from another pony.
Flood levitated the glass to his lips and took a sip. It was unbelievably strong. "Damn," he muttered, stifling a cough. The drink was going to do its job.
Standing up from his stool, he looked around the darkened lounge for a place to sit. He spotted an empty table in a corner of the room, and began to weave in between the rest of the tables and lounge occupants, carefully pulling his drink alongside him telepathically.
He sat down next to the small table, sipping his drink in the shadowy lounge as the two ponies in the spotlight struck up a somewhat melancholy song. Flood sat and listened for a moment, until a voice from beside him suddenly spoke.
"Well howdy."
Flood jumped at the sudden southern drawl, sputtering a mouthful of alcohol from his mouth.
"Geez, scared the Hell out of me," he said as he wiped his chin.
"Sorry, pardner," came the soft reply. "Thought I might say somethin'. You seemed mighty mopey."
"Mmm, yeah," Flood uttered quietly. There were a few seconds of silence. "Long night."
"Must've been somethin' big, drivin' a pony to drink."
A real long night, Flood said inwardly.
"Anything I can help ya with, pard?"
Flood sighed. "Not unless you can turn back time, bring back the dead, or teleport me far away from here."
The pony chuckled. "Ain't a unicorn, hoss. Sorry." He took a sip of his own drink. "What's your poison?"
He swirled the glass of dark liquid. "Dunno. Whatever Berry mixed me." He tipped it back, swallowing a big mouthful. "Strong though."
"Mighty fine drink here," the pony mused. He took another drink. "I'm partial to the cider, myself. Always had a healthy hankerin' for apples."
Another period of silence passed.
"Sorry about yer loss, too. I know hard it is to lose someone ya care about."
"Really, now," was Flood's slightly indifferent reply.
"Honest buffalo. My own granny died in the fires that burned down the family farm."
Flood sighed, feeling a pang of pity. "I'm sorry."
"S'alright, pardner. Ah've made my grievances."
The two ponies finished their song. A light smattering of applause came from a few tables around the room.
"How'd you get through it?" Flood asked.
There was a soft thunk as the pony set his drink on the table. "Lotta feelin' sorry for myself at first. Lotta blamin' myself. Thought it was my own mistakes that lost us our Granny."
Just like you.
"But I didn't have the luxury of bein' so down an' self-depreciatin'. Family I needed ta help back on its hooves." He shifted in his seat. "An' then I realized it wasn't even my fault. Started tellin' myself every day it wasn't me that burned down the barn, or killed my Granny. Ain't my fault that the sun started beatin' down so hard on us decent ponies."
And then a different voice whispered something to him.
He's right, you know.
A voice at the back of his head. Confident and sure.
"Yeah...not your fault."
She'd want you to be strong. Ditzy didn't die for nothing.
"We may lose someone we love, but we got a lot more ta look forward to," the pony said." "An' a lot more ponies that still need us."
He's trying to tell you something.
"Gotta be strong."
Flood looked at his drink. Something had taken hold of him, making the sight of the half empty glass seem revolting, as if it contained all the horrible things he had been feeling. Then he stood up, and turned to the voice in the shadows. Despite not having had a good night's sleep, he felt awake.
Be sure to thank him.
"Thanks," Flood said earnestly to the stranger.
"Eeyup."
And he hurried towards the exit.
~