Me? Betray the princess? Impossible!
My eyes widened and my jaw dropped upon hearing those words. They say that the truth hurts but this isn't me. Still, if everypony saw me, they would point their hooves at me first and ask questions later.
“I...I don’t understand. How did that happen?”
“I couldn't believe it either.” Caramel replied. “You need to rest up, though. I can’t believe I’m doing this but we’ll need to talk this through in a few hours.”
I nodded my head in agreement but something’s always been bothering me ever since I arrived: with the sky all dark and covered in mist, how could anyone tell the time? For all I know, somepony could be manipulating the day-night cycle and no one would know any better.
“By the way, what time is it?” I asked, wondering if the local stallion had some idea. My question was met with silence. I don’t trust this guy any more that he does towards me. Maybe I’ll find out sometime later...
With feelings of sudden disappointment in my new found companion, I drifted off to sleep, periodically waking up to check on him in case he tried anything funny. But after about thirty minutes, and with all that has happened after arriving in this mirror Crystal Empire, I couldn't help but drift off to undisturbed slumber.
I entered my dream state with sights of the castle. This time was different; I saw a chariot engulfed in green flame just by the castle entrance. Surrounded by the shadows and the mist, the sight of what appeared to be guards fighting their adversaries who were jumping out of the darkness. They all did what they could to survive but it was hopeless, their very bodies were consumed. I can only watch with disdain, quickly closing my eyes so as to avoid looking at this horrid sight. As the mist cleared, only one stallion remained standing but a bright glow enveloped him, blinding me. Before I knew it, I was awake; the flash bringing me back to reality.
These nightmares don’t tell me much and don’t last very long. This one took about three minutes tops and very few details stand out. Apart from all the action that happened, I couldn't pick off any prominent detail that could help me on my unknown quest. They did, however, bring me to this mirror world; this little coincidence may be more of an advantage to me.
Caramel brought me some bread. It wasn't much being only an eighth of a nearly stale baguette split in two for us to share.
“So, you wanted to tell me something?” I asked.
“Yes. We’ll be heading off to another location. I can’t tell you everything but I know someone who can; I can let you in on a few things, though. Ever since the king took over and subjugated Equestria, the whole land was split into territories with the King and the rebels fighting over them.” As Caramel finished, he pulled out a map from a nearby locker and showed me some key points as if he was a general of an army creating an attack plan.
“These boxes here show the king’s outposts and other important locations under his control. You already know of his stronghold in the Crystal Empire. Canterlot, Manehattan, and Fillydelphia are other territories that station a large number of his troops. Areas like Dodge Junction and Appleloosa here are untouched and are now part of the badlands of Equestria; bounty hunters and mercenaries mainly populate the desert environment, setting up camps wherever they can and pillaging supply caravans in the area.”
“And what about these circles?” I interrupted.
“Glad you asked.” The stallion replied, a little more enthusiastic this time but his voice still quite monotone. “These are our areas of interest. These circles show us where the rebel camps are located. Some are scattered throughout the badlands while others are much closer to civilization. Ponyville is the largest, most prominent camp in the land and you’re in luck, we’re going there right now. We’ll be meeting the rebel leader stationed there but I should warn you, she will NOT be happy to see you.”
Someone isn't going to have a good day...
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Without the sun to give a rough estimate on the time of day, there was nothing to help me identify the time. There weren't any watches or clocks either. I previously asked Caramel about how he can tell the time but he didn’t know. He tells me that no one refers to time anymore and for a good reason. Everyday is a time to battle; pushing forward or falling back, there’s no letting up when constantly fighting for freedom. Worrying about the time of day doesn’t matter to anyone. The war’s been in a stalemate for about three months and even though both sides show no sign of giving up, the resistance has had some internal squabbles that threaten to tear them apart. The reason behind this? It was because of a reconnaissance mission that ended in disaster. Caramel thinks that I may be able to stop all this confusion and get the rebels back on track.
At least, that’s what he believes in.
We went through an almost unending complex of tunnels, veering hard mostly hard lefts with an occasional right turn until we came to a temporary rest stop. Not everything under Equestria is tightly packed dirt; this was something I’d never expect.
“A minecart?”
“This area used to be an extension of a mine shaft that was never finished. The good news is that this thing’s fully operational despite it never being used by the miners.”
I got on the large steel cart with the yellow stallion following after. Releasing the handbrake, we began our journey. I know that it’s definitely a long way to Ponyville from wherever I am right now.
“How long will this ride take? It isn’t going to be a fast one if we’re going to Ponyville from here.”
“I know,” Caramel replied. “but I didn’t say that we’re going there immediately; we’re stopping at other destinations before we can get to rebel central. Three stops lie ahead before we reach our final destination. We’ll be heading to the town of Stoneborough first.”
“And what will I expect from that area?”
“Lots of thieves. This underground slum is home to both the rich and the poor, both engaged in a love-hate relationship of sorts. The rich rule this area while the poor live off the rich, finding legal and illegal ways of getting through life. The largest rebel-run market is located here; we’ll only stay here to get some food and be on our way. Take it from me, there’s nothing to look forward to in this town despite it being the home to a lot of displaced ponies.”
About an hour in, we’ve arrived in this shady town. Shanties litter the streets just by the almost non-existent station. The market’s bright red hut was an attraction in itself, a contrast from the monochrome grays around the town. Being named Stoneborough can be very misleading since there aren’t any traces of stones anywhere. My stallion guide, Caramel, told me that this town is actually inside an unnamed mountain. Caramel stayed close and acted as a personal bodyguard with eyes watching all around me and my belongings. As a precaution, I’ve also cast a discharge spell and an invisible barrier on my saddlebag that will shock any unsuspecting thieves trying to get my valuables.
The market was the first, and possibly only, stop. Surveying the location revealed much about its deteriorating appearance, having been poorly constructed with rusty metals that are way beyond their prime. Caramel went on and grabbed some hay and daffodils to start. At about five bits for a small bale of hay the size of my hoof, this central hub of exchanging goods is a place where somepony will be exploited more often than not.
“It’s hard to come by such precious commodities nowadays,” the stallion said while approaching me by the corner of the market. “Everypony was well-off in the days before the king’s hostile takeover; now, we’re all struggling to get by another day. Folks don’t trust each other the way they used to but the trust they once had still stays with them.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“No one trusts each other in terms of security but they make sure that someone doesn’t lose a life more than a limb. They need each other to live; the rich run the market and the poor rob the rich. It’s a cycle that these ponies live by and ending a life disrupts that cycle. Morality doesn’t exist with these folks but it puts bread on the table.”
Caramel and I quickly ate our lunch and returned to the station without problem. We immediately left for the next stop.
“Caramel,” I asked. “Are you, like, one of them? Like the denizens of Stoneborough?
“I live by a moral code. Despite the many temptations I had when I first encountered the struggles of the new world order, the values I learned as a young colt kept me sane enough to continue living without deteriorating into a pony without dignity. Most ponies do but Stoneborough is an exception. I don’t know how long you’ll be staying here but once I’m gone, I hope you don’t become a degraded street rat who resorts to crime to make a living.”
I smiled and turned to face the darkness that filled the tunnels knowing that even in this dying world, there is still a ray of light that can pave the way for a new Equestria. If these rebels succeed and are led by ponies like Caramel, there is hope that this world will become just like mine.
“About an hour and a half from now, we’ll be at stop number two: Dimondia, the camp of artisans and blacksmiths. This place is, by far, the best place to stay. Locals warmly welcome those who stop by. Some ponies say that even the best weapons and crafts forged in this camp aren’t as rare of a jewel as the ponies who reside here.”
A feeling of satisfaction coursed through my mind as I smiled subtly, thinking of bringing this king to justice. The alternate Cadance didn’t feel quite at home back in the castle and deep down, I know she wants to escape her living nightmare. Maybe I’ll find a few ponies in Dimondia who could help me rescue her. With the wind beating at my mane and its sound entering my ears, I muttered words that continue to resonate into my mind:
I will come back for you...