You know how all those nature documentaries have that soothing voice of David Attenborough, and you go on the wonderful adventure through the dense jungles of South America, the sweltering deserts of the Mojave, or the deepest and darkest parts of the known oceans? It's always enjoyable to sit on the couch for hours at a time and just be awed at how beautiful and majestic our tiny little marble of a planet really is.
Those documentaries don't even compare to the real thing, especially when you're exploring the depths of an alien planet. The soft sounds of hooves and pads on the damp stone was the only sound that penetrated the enormous cavern that we had found ourselves in. The flickering flames of torches held by the diamond dogs was engulfed by the darkness that surrounded us in the tunnels underneath Manehattan. A drop if water had fallen on my head, which shook me out of my trace.
Saffron had the same inspired look on her face that was certainly upon my own, she kept looking around the giant cavern, eye opened wide and ears turning every which way. Drop Shot gave tentative glances at the pirates that lead the way, oftentimes finding himself staring at the Captain's own glares. After the second time Morgan had caught his eye, Drop Shot lowered them to the floor and concentrated hard at making sure he put one aquatic blue hoof in front of the other.
The Captain and his crew stared ahead, purpose filled Morgan's eyes. Baron looked about as nervous about this endeavor as the rest of us, which made me reevaluate the first-mate/cook. He was probably more intelligent than he would like to admit, which gave me the impression that he's the first-mate more so to look after Morgan than to follow the Captain's orders. Most Captains would have to be a special brand of insane if they wanted ton make their way in the world of pirates, I would assume.
We continued on in tense silence for what seemed like hours. The path eventually started to slant downwards, and we almost reached a wall at some point but the Captain got us to turn and walk back into the inky black darkness. The cavern was ridiculously huge, and I never would have though that it could get smaller. I was proven wrong when we reached the edge of an underground lake, and it was freshwater, too. Pirates refilled their canteens, while I sulked in the corner because I should have totally thought to have brought canteens or something.
When we took that rest, I had realized that me, Saffron, and Drop Shot were immensely under prepared. We never really had much when we left for Manehattan, and whatever we did had was still on Drop Shot's ship. Fortunately Baron was able to convince Rusty to lend a spare canteen for the three of us to split, which eased my worry of dying of thirst underneath a city.
With a start I realized that if I have no way of keeping track of time, I don't know when I'd be forced to change back. In all the huss and fuss of everything that's happened, I had forgotten to mention that little detail to Saffron and Drop Shot. I quickly did some thinking in my head. OK, let's see, I did revert back to my true form when I reached Drop Shot's ship. It's been about two hours since then, I think. Could be three since we first came down here. I had maybe a couple of hours before I needed to change back into a changeling. I just silently hoped that we reach our destination quickly.
The break ended and we continued walking. I noticed that the walls were actually visible for the first time since we had entered the caverns. I looked up and spied the roof once more, happy to see that we were actually going somewhere instead of walking circles in a giant cavernous space. I was curious as to how the Captain knew where to go, but I thought nothing of it. After all, diamond dogs might be much better equipped to working in dark places underground than ponies.
Soon after that the cave started to close in on us, and the water dripping from the ceiling started to echo. It sounded like a proper cave, but in addition to the now smaller caverns, a light source flickered in and out of view in front of us. It was hard to tell how far it was, but when we got closer we found ourselves in a room that could have held Drop Shot's ship with room to spare. Torches were placed regularly across the walls, and across from us there was a simple stone doorway. On the floor there was a large circle that was carved into the rock. A smaller circle was carved inside of that one, it was big enough for a pony to stand on.
I shivered and felt peering eyes stare at me and the group from somewhere. I couldn't tell where, but I knew we weren't alone in the room anymore. I looked about the damp stone, but if there was anyone or anything watching I wasn't able to tell from where.
Morgan shuffled across the hard rock, his feet became soaked as he stepped in a few puddles of collected water. His one good eye never left the door on the other end of the room, and the way he stared at it betrayed the sense that he wasn't expecting anything good to come through it.
"I'm looking for a guide."
That was all that needed to be said, the unknown watchers lifted their gaze and presumably went to fetch a diplomat. Sure enough, only a few minutes had passed and a masked unicorn exited the marked doorway. The mask was very ornate, with carved lines and a few symbols engraved into the headgear.
"We are willing to provide you with the necessary services." His voice was a monotone, neutral tone. The only thing that kept me from thinking that he was a robot would be the lack of a metallic sound. "On the account that you have payment."
"Aye, I have what you need. A fine couple of specimens, too. I'd be willing to bet that you'll be having a tough time with them as well." Morgan smiled as he said those last words. What sort of specimens did he mean?
A horrible thought entered my mind. I turned to look at Baron, the only diamond dog I considered friendly. He looked back at me mournfully and shrugged his shoulders, as if he had no choice in the matter. I faced my friends and was about to give them a warning, but a long hairy arm snapped around my mouth. I flared my wings, but the dogs behind me pinned me to the ground as more diamond dogs went to deal with Saffron and Drop Shot.
The pegasus, only just recovered from his injuries, put up little fight against the strong brutes. He was able to get a good buck in, but the dog only grunted in response before tying his wings down with rope. Then he was pushed don to the ground and pinned by another dirty dog.
Saffron lifted her captor with telekinesis, only to have her concentration broken when a second dog tackled her to the ground. She struggled under the weight, but was unable to find leverage against the pirate. The dog reached into his pocket and pulled out a small hammer.
I watched with terror in my bones, I felt my stomach drop to the floor as I realized what the dog was going to do. I opened my mouth to yell but the arm that covered my mouth and the weight pushed harder down on top of me. I tried to yell to Saffron, to warn her of what was going to happen to her, but the furry arm that covered my mouth muffled anything that could potentially save my friend.
Time seemed to slow down. I couldn't look at anything other than the steel hammer rise up, tiny in the diamond dog's paw. It came don swift and hard, and it made contact with a sharp crack. Silence filled the scare room, but that was broken by the whimpering of Drop Shot as he stared wide-eyed at the hammer's target.
Saffron slowly lifted a hoof to her forehead, eyes bugged out of her skull. When she reached her horn, she felt another crack go through it. Then she saw her horn, cracked and broken, fall from the top of her head and land on the ground beside her. Her eyes never left the shattered remains of her horn, lifeless and still on the cold, hard rock.
Then she screamed. Her voice, high-pitched and loud, shook everyone else into action. The dogs had picked me and Drop Shot up and hefted us over their shoulders. Neither of us felt like fighting anymore, we had lost this battle, and Saffron had lost even more than that. Morgan shouted for someone to get the mare to shut up, and eventually someone complied. The cavern filled the void of noise; droplets of water had never before sounded so loud.
"Three healthy ponies is more than enough for what you ask for. You're a generous dog." The masked unicorn observed.
"I'll be even more generous if I get my guide." The dog smiled. The unicorns were not the only ones that wore a mask, it seems.
"Very well. Follow me and you can have our pick of the very best tracker. You can drop these," the unicorn nodded his head towards the three of us, "off just down the hall. We'll take care of the rest." His crew deposited us at the spot that the unicorn had indicated, and we were immediately surrounded by guards.
Before we were carried off like cows to a slaughter, I turned to face Captain Morgan one last time. "I seem to recall you don't deal in slavery." I yelled.
"Aye, we don't. What you're goin' into ain't slavery. It's a mandatory workforce." With that the pirate turned and started guffawing. His lackeys joined in on the fun, and their hoots and howls disappeared down the hall and out of earshot.
Pirates were no longer were cool in my books. Ninjas are totally the best, anyways. The guards that surrounded up bound our legs together and wrapped some sort of cloth around our snouts. Once we were thoroughly gagged and restrained, collars were strapped around our necks. The cold metal seemed to suck all the heat out of me, and no matter how much time passed, the metal never grew warmer. Chains were attached to the new accessories, and we were dragged roughly through the dark hallways of the underground.
The journey continued for some time, it could have been minutes or hours. Our hoofs had started to crack, and with every step we took the pain shot through our legs like they were on fire. Our mouths became a desert, hungrily lapping up anything that could help sate of dehydration. We had made a few short stops to rest up, but the three of us were given no food or water. We weren't even allowed to sit down, lest we feel the slap of the masked unicorn's whips or a harsh yank on the chain. On the walk I felt my stomach do a little backflip. I prayed to whatever gods that resided on this planet that I'd be able to hold out before we reached wherever we were going.
We were taken to what I believed to have been a dungeon. The numerous iron bars and rooms full of bones and unrecognizable shapes locked inside them were a pretty big hint. One of the shapes moved and cried out for a mother in a soft-spoken tone, as if he knew that his mother wouldn't come no matter how hard he cried. The guards ignored him and continued to pull us along until we got to the end of the hall.
Most of these cages were empty, but the biggest one that spanned the entire back wall of this particular cave was close to bursting with occupants. Which is strange, considering all of it's inhabitants are contained in a small lake that had eaten up most of the floor.
"Drop Shot, Saffron," I whispered. They both gave me the same uneasy look. The couple had both saw the cage, and they know exactly who was in it. My whisper earned up another yank on the chains. The guards gave me an impatient glare, it seemed we had arrived at our new place of residence. By now it took everything I had not to start heaving right then and there, but if I held on for just a few more minutes then I'd be scott-free.
We were each taken to a different cage; I was locked in a cell all by my lonesome, Saffron was taken to the cage directly across from me, and Drop Shot got locked in the cage to the right of Saffron. Once the guards left us with no word and no telling if there was going to be anyone to come down here and feed us, I let go of the mask I was holding onto for dear life. I felt my form melt away until all that was left was a shiny black carapace. I looked across the hall and saw Drop Shot staring at me. I guess he hasn't really seen the 'real me' before, has he?
Saffron on the other hand... The unicorn was in bad shape. She laid down on the hard rock surface and stared unblinkingly into nothing. Seeing her eyes unfocused like that unnerved me a little, so I turned to the pegasus and nodded my head in her direction. Drop Shot seemed to have snapped out of his surprise and rushed to see to his mate.
Unfortunately, a rock wall stood between him and Saffron. Looking around frantically, he tried to flap his wings against his binds. He started to whinny and rear up on his legs. He turned and bucked at the wall, as if that was all it took for him to get to her. Eventually he wore himself out and he rested his head against the wall. He spoke but I was too far to hear what he said. But I was able to see that he was repeating Saffron's name over and over.
His eyes began to moisten and tears fell down hard on the stone below. What could I do besides watch? They wouldn't be able to understand me if I tried to speak, and that would only serve to remind them that I had lied to them the whole time. Instead I turned my attention to the cage that was just down the hall from us. I was able to catch a glimpse of it before I really had to stick my head between the bars in order to see more. I squeezed just a bit more, but I wasn't able to slide past the iron guards.
I pulled my head back to see Saffron had focused her staring at me. She didn't look mad or anything, she looked more curious than anything. As long as it kept her mind from falling into despair now that she lost her horn, I'd be happy if she had looked at me with anything, even fear or anger. When I thought of the word fear, my stomach began to rumble. I hadn't had much in the way to eat for a while now, and I'd need some fear soon or... well, I assume emotion-deprivation is the same thing as hunger.
I turned my attention back to Saffron and gave her a weak smile. A few straggled breaths later and she smiled just as weakly back. Neither of us knew how we'd get out of here. There was no way we could take a seapony with us either, even if we do manage to escape somehow. It was going to be a long night, and the masked unicorns aren't even the biggest threat. Changelings are gonna do something in the morning. I'd hate to imagine what, but for right now, we can't do anything about it but rest up and prepare for the worst.
I think it's been about an hour or so when we heard sounds of a guard coming. I spent the time trying to think up plans about escape, but most of them wouldn't work or were just plain stupid. Saffron regained some of her strength and she started to converse with Drop Shot. Both were worried sick about what would happen, but they both agreed it wouldn't be so bad as long as they were still together. I had chuckled silently at the rather cheesy line, but they believed it so who was I to rain on their parade?
The moment we heard sounds of a pony making their way towards us, we stopped what we were doing and hid at the back of our cells. A sudden inspiration hit me like a truck made of brick going mach 5, and I disguised myself as a unicorn with one of those masks. Drop Shot and Saffron watched me and they seemed to have gotten the plan when they saw my disguise.
We waited in silence, and I laid down on my side, feigning unconsciousness. Eventually a pair of masked guards came, as I cracked open one eye I spied that one of them held aloft three trays of hay and bread with a sickly yellow aura. The other one looked only slightly bored to be there. I reverted back to my 'unconscious' self, hoping the ponies didn't notice me just yet.
"Alright," one said in a rather oddly high-pitched voice, "once you're finished we're going to take you down to the lower mines." I could hear the cell doors of my friends open up. "You have five minutes to eat what you ha- what in Tartarus?"
I waited until I heard my cell door open and heavy hoofsteps quickly made their way towards my side. I took this an my cue and weakly opened my eyes. "The prisoner..." my voice sounded much deeper than I was used to, but I was able to hide my surprise with a cough. "The prisoner escaped, Hit me right in the head."
I coughed some more as I waited for the response. I was surprised they didn't immediately bolt out and raise the alarm. Instead they stared curiously at me, then they gave me a rather unnerving grin. "Why didn't you say what you were in the first place?" One of them said.
I broke my poker face for just a moment to raise an eyebrow quizzically. This only served to make their grins grow bigger, then both my eyebrows shot up and I saw their fur melt away. Their eyes became a glossy red, the fur disappeared and was replaced by a thick black and all too familiar shell. Their horns became curved and twisted, and insect wings appeared on their sides as they laughed joyfully.
"The Hivemind works in mysterious ways, doesn't it, brother?" The one with an unnaturally high-voiced had apparently been a girl, while the other one was male. I still couldn't tell the difference between both of them. It was probably a Hivemind thing, after all.
"Indeed, dear sister." The other one cocked his head to the side, as if listening to something. "Wait, I don't think that this one is-"
My shock kept me from taking my eyes of either of them, so I also didn't see how exactly Drop Shot was able to get the drop on both of them. I had chuckled inwardly at my little pun after the event. The blue trays that had carried food smacked both of them hard on the side of their heads. They collapsed against each other and slid down to the ground, green ichor was dripping out of their head wounds.
I turned my attention to the pegasus, panting heavily and surprised at his actions. I looked behind him and noticed that the changelings had forgotten to close their gates when they noticed me on the ground. I turned back to the stunned pegasus and licked my lips, shifting back into my Lucky disguise, which turns out didn't seem to be so Lucky after all.
"I really hate Manehattan," I said. The couple nodded silently as all three of us wondered just what exactly was going on in this crazy place.