Connor tried to sleep as much as he could as the boat rocked to and fro but the sea outside helps him calm his mind.
The king had traveled to the nearby port and had sent them below, and set off for the north on his ship The Majestic that was two days ago.
Connor in his failed attempts to sleep he looked back into the empty cargo hold then to the large chains holding him to the floor.
Shade was curled up on the floor asleep or not he did not know for she has not moved since they were locked up inside of ship she just laid there like she died, but he could see the rise and fall of her chest.
The deck the two were on was empty only a set of stairs leading up to the next deck above them and a lantern hung from the wall next to it.
Connor started to figure out that she has been in the tyrant’s kingdom before and has not so pleasant memories but he never asked about them in fear to worry her further.
So he flopped on the floor and closed his eyes.
==================
Celestia moved over a stack of parchment and quills and stood from her desk.
“Tia are you ok” Luna walked into her study.
“I’m fine…just thinking about a few things, i'm suprised you don't really stay up this eairly” She said slowly.
“You think he will be ok, not many survive the king’s work and none have ever come back” Luna walked up to her sister.
“I have a feeling he will be ok I just wish I could help him but what could I do…what could I do…the amulet” She whispered understanding her sisters worry
“What?”
“The amulet maybe I could…no it wouldn't…but what if I…” Celestia pondered.
Celestia opened her desk and grabbed the strong ox from inside and opened it to were inside were to slots one was empty the other the same amulet that she gave to Connor.
“What is that?” Luna looked over Celestia’s shoulder.
“These are the twin amulets, the legend is that to powerful mages created to identical amulets that gave them magical powers greater than a unicorns magic alone could produce and one of the enchantments was the Scry spell, real time communication, but I never used it” Celestia picked up the amulet with her magic and brought it close to her face looking it over.
Celestia touched the center gem of the amulet with the tip of her hoof and the amulet started to glow and shimmer in her magical grasp
"Did it work?" Luna asked while peering over Celestia's shoulder
"Only one way to find out" She took the amulet close to her lips and whispered "Connor"
==================
“Connor”
Connor raised his head to Shade but she was still curled up with her back to him, so he looked around the deck but it was as empty as before, so he brushed it off and rested his head down.
“Connor” the voice called again he stood strait up and wiped his head around.
“Hello?” He called out to the room.
No response until the voice came again from below him.
“Connor it’s me” Connor looked at Shade who was acting like she could not hear it, could she?
Connor are you there? The voice said a little louder.
Connor traced the voice to...
"The amulet?" He said to himself.
Connor sat down and with both of his hoofs awkwardly brought it closer to his face.
If you can hear me touch the center of the amulet you wear He looked at it and hesitated but finally tapped it.
It gave a faint glow as he pulled his hoof away from the amulet.
“Hello, who are you?” Connor said feeling stupid for talking to an non-living object as he looked at Shade who gave no sign of hearing his or the strange voice.
“Connor you need to tell me where are you I don’t know how long this will last”The voice came again sounding familiar.
“I don’t know exactly just on a ship called the Majestic on my way to the north”
“ok, but look I can do only so little…just….your… be careful…to rash… The voice started to fade.
“Hello… are you there?” He waited for some time but there was no response.
He asked again if the voice was still there a few more times until be gave up and let the amulet fall back around his neck, gave a sigh.
Connor looked to shade still was in the same spot as before, until one of the crew members came striding down from the upper deck she perked up and looked at the wooden stairs, her face started to loose its color.
“Well you’re a luck one the King wants a little chat with’ya in his cabin” He chuckled as he unlocked her chains and picked her by her neck as she flailed around trying to kick him.
“He is going to have fun with you wants to see if you were worth the price” He chuckled.
Connor stood up and charged him but the chains became a static blue and Connor fell to the floor as electricity surged through is body.
“We won’t be having any of that will we” He sneered.
The chain cuffs became heavy and he was locked to the floor.
“Good boy” He chuckled and dragged of Shade as she still struggled against his grip.
===================
“Tia did it work?” Luna asked her sister.
“I-I think so, but that was harder than I thought” She said wiping the sweat from her brow.
Celestia set the amulet back into the strong box and stowed it away into the desk then turned to her sister.
"Well its getting early and you i should sleep don't worry about him"
"I don't worry about him because i can feel that there is something more to him then we know, I worry about what he will do"
"Well it does not matter he is not in are boarders anymore, well lets get you to bed Lu-Lu"
Celestia lead Luna out from her study and Celestia closed the door behind her and took Luna up to her room and left after she was settled in.
She returned to the court room thinking.
What is he hiding from us?
===================
Connor was sitting alone for what felt like hours until the griffin from before came down with Shade behind her.
He locked her up again gave a crooked smile to Connor and left.
“What happened, are you alright?” She looked at him her body shaking slightly.
Her main was a mess, her face was flushed, and her left eye was a little swollen, she was sweating harshly and just shook her head at him and curled back up on the floor.
Connor looked down at her wishing he could comfort her but he could only get a foot close before the chains pulled him back.
He laid down on his side and closed his eyes.
===============
The ship rocked and Connor woke up quickly he heard chatter from the deck above.
“I think we arrived” He said looking up.
“I know” Shade’s voice was quiet and raspy.
A griffin came down the steps and gathered the two of them.
He took them up three different decks all the way to the main top deck were sailors were tying down sails and ropes as a over-watch was barking orders to the sailors.
The ship rose up and sank back down as it sailed over the choppy sea below them.
A massive city was in front of them extending over the water there was a large stone wall behind the port, and from the way Connor stood the city was built in steps each district rising above the others separated by a wall there was four districts, poor, middle, upper, and power, before it ends in a large citadel Connor guessed to be the kings.
“Welcome to Nubis the griffin capital, it’s where you rats will be working now” The griffin holding them said while looking proud.
They stood there was the ship became closer to the city.
Sooner than he hopped Connor and Shade we pulled of the now docked boat which had its own special little port and hauled into another cart.
Connor moved next to Shade and sat next to her trying his best to be a supporter.
They moved along through the poor district that was very similar to the one in Canterlot but here the dead stayed in the street lying on the floor with a rug or something similar over them.
The middle district was much better for the common workers lived there Connor was furious when he saw tax collectors dragging out a family and boarding up the home.
The upper district was full of color and had successful shops and stores were the griffins walked along the streets with big expensive looking attire.
The last district made him sick the griffins walked around with their own maids, butlers, slaves, and even mercenaries that followed them around.
They past the wall into the citadel and Connor was shocked to see slaves of all kinds chained together laboring painfully as overseers wiped them and beat them.
The cart came to a halt and the bared door swung open.
To griffins stood side by side identical to the other, they were just a simple ash grey color and black beady eyes.
“You are to work out on the field” The left one said pointing to Connor.
“And you are to be entertainment inside for the king and his guests” The right one pointed to Shade.
The left one grappled Connor and pulled him out and he was taken away and immediately pushed into work while the griffin to the right closed the door and lead the cart [that Connor now saw was pulled by slaves] taken to the citadel.
“Work!” An overseer whipped the ground next to Connor as he set off picking up rock buckets and taking them to a pile were other slaves grinded them down to bricks.
Connor as he worked took in every detail the rope on the buckets the movement of the overseers and how the field was ran and one day get out of this mess.
===================
Twilight was in her parents sitting room with the other Elements Of Harmony for she just finished explaining in detail of the situation.
"I don't know about ya'll but I ain't so sure he's comin back" Applejack was the first to go.
"I have seen him do something in a few hours that my own brother couldn't do in weeks" Twilight responded.
"I have to agree with Applejack, i'm sorry darling but he was sent off with the griffins" Rarity stepped in.
"I say he can kick those griffin's butts he took down two Celestial Guards in a fight no problem" Rainbow punched the air.
"Oh, maybe when he gets back we can throw him a griffin butt kicker party" Pinkie jumped into the air and slowly floated back down to her chair.
"Well I don't know he his very strong but the griffins are pretty mean" Fluttershy peeped.
"The best thing to do rather than bet if he makes it back is hope he makes it back in one piece" Twilight cut back in.
"Lets hope so" Said Rarity.