//------------------------------// // Chapter 37 - Digging Gems // Story: Quest For Harmony // by destinedjagold //------------------------------// It was a really rough ride, but Applejack and I really kept quiet and still. It really was a long journey to wherever the unicorns were marching to, but we eventually reached the end of the journey. Where that is, I'm not sure, but I don't want the unicorns to remove the clothe and find out that there are two earth pony stowaways on their wagons. I carefully lifted the clothe, enough for me to take a peak outside. The unicorns' full attention were on the tired and panting earth ponies a few meters away. It was now or never, to say the least, so I turned and faced Applejack, gave her an affirmative nod, and I quietly slipped off of the wagon, careful not to make a sound. Applejack soon followed, and the two of us quickly hid behind the wagon, shielding ourselves from the eyes of the unicorns. I looked around, and saw our surroundings. We were inside a cave, but not just any cave. I'm back inside Unicornia's mining field... Sigh... Oh well. That is the point: to get back here. Applejack and I were close to the cave's wall, and the faintly glowing gemstones on the walls were providing enough light for us to see around, though it was not enough to remove the shadow that hides the two of us from sight. It may look like the mining cave, but I don't recognize this part of the cave. Well, I did only came here only once, so I doubt I'd instantly remember the layout. Anyway, there was a tunnel up ahead, with brighter light coming from it. It's probably the exit, so I guess we should head there. I told Applejack this, and she nodded without giving it much thought. We quietly crept towards it, hidden from the shadow of the cave. I simply hoped that it was enough for us to be hidden from their eyes. As we turned around a corner, we found an entryway, to both our relief. There was no waterfall though, so I suppose that this part of the cave really is new to me. I don't plan on celebrating my new discovery however. I turned to see if Applejack was right behind me, which she was. With a nod, I faced the opening, took a breath, and walked tow--- "Were are you two heading off to?" A grumpy and rusty voice echoed through the tunnel, making the two of us froze in place. We heard hoofsteps, and we knew that whoever that voice belonged to was coming closer. I braced myself as I awkwardly turned to face him, which was a struggle on my part. He stopped meters away from us. He was wearing a dirty mining helmet, and he was wearing a very angry glare. "Er..." think brain! Think! Aha...! "Our uh, mining tools broke..." I flashed a small smile, an awkward one to be honest, while Applejack nodded quickly in agreement. The unicorn arched an eyebrow, but lifted a hoof and pointed at the wooden wagons near the entryway, where several unicorn ponies were standing. Where the hay did those unicorns came from!? "Pick your tools over there, and be quick about it!" He yelled as he turned around. I sighed as I faced my companion. "I guess we're stuck here for a little while..." Applejack slightly shook her head, and nodded soon after, which confused me... A no and then a yes? "It's fine, I guess." She simply said with a neutral tone and expression as she walked towards the mining tools. I sighed through my nostrils as I followed her. Great. I'm back being a miner... Well, at least no one seemed to recognize me as the earth pony who escaped Unicornia or whatever title the unicorns gave me. I picked up a dirty-white helmet and a pick-axe. We didn't really had the time to choose, since the stares of the unicorns were burning through our souls. The exit was a few steps away, but I sighed sadly as Applejack and I walked towards the other direction: towards the mining field. This is definitely going to take a while... --- I don't really know how long Applejack and I have been stuck here, digging up gems and putting them on the metallic wagon-container-thingy. Maybe we've been here for two or three hours, I think. We kept close to each other though, as we followed the bright blue aura from the white unicorn mare. As we dug gems, I could overhear the white unicorn's conversation with other unicorns in the area. Bless my sharp hearing senses. Hm... I do have a sharp hearing as a human. I wonder if that ability is also passed to this earth pony body I'm using? Anyway, I didn't really understand what they were talking about. They said something about the princess needing more and more gems to bring the pegasi down. I have no clue how these gems could bring the pegasus down. Are they planning to throw all of these using a giant catapult and launch the gems towards the pegasi kingdom? I thought anything will simply go through clouds. But this is Twilight, so I'm sure she's thought of a way to bring the cloud city down with these. I'm not really sure if I should interfere or not. No no. I came here to talk to Celestia about how to get rid of these black clouds. That, and nothing more. I just hope I'll be able to achieve that. As I continued digging, I started thinking of ways to get there. I do seem to recall the layout of the castle though... At least, the parts that I took to get to Celestia but, the room where she is...is also where Twilight is...maybe? I hope she moved to another room for her fun activities with a certain stallion that will soon get his flank fly towards the moon when a certain orange mare gets him. "Alright," echoed Rarity's loud voice, "everypony, stop what you're doing." Everyone did as what they were told. Applejack and I then faced the white unicorn, who was standing on the center of this small crater-like hole on the cave's floor. We didn't need a unicorn-powered lift to carry us up or down though, for there are wooden ladders provided. Though I'd prefer the lift. "Gather all the gems and pull them all." I heard a few ponies groaned, but they immediately silenced themselves after the white unicorn mare glared at them. I was really tired, and it was a bit embarrassing, for Applejack seemed to be just fine. I guess she's really used to work a lot. She did gave me a teasing grin after she noticed how tired I was. I replied with a tired glare, which made her chuckle slightly. I rolled my eyes as I collected a gem with my mouth and another with my hoof. I didn't really have a choice though. I needed to use my mouth if I don't want Rarity to recognize me, for she might be aware of the news. Heck, I'm sure she knows about it. We earth ponies then fell in two line in front of a number of metallic wagons. Applejack and I stood beside each other. Unicorns then started using their magic to levitate and install metallic harness around our necks. I don't like where this is going. Before I could even complain, I heard rattling noises of chains, and with the unicorns' magic, the chains attached themselves on the back of the harness we earth ponies were wearing. Eeyup... We're going to pull a large metallic wagon full of gems. Joy...