//------------------------------// // XVI. Going with the Flow // Story: The Flight of the Alicorn // by Ponydora Prancypants //------------------------------// XVI. Going with the Flow Art by WizardWannabe (deviantART) “What the hay is this?” The big stallion was the first to speak. He abruptly stood, pushing aside the small chair atop which he had been resting. Rarity saw a confrontational look in his eyes, and she guessed that he was accustomed to disputes ending in physicalities. His cutie mark was a length of rope with a loop at the end. A lariat, Rarity thought, or perhaps a noose. “I recognize you!” the stallion said. “You’re that Rarity.” She noticed that he spoke with the same rural twang she associated with Applejack and her family. “Have you lost your head?” the zebra mare scolded her compatriot, also rising from her position on the room’s sofa. Her voice was low and throaty, and thick with the exotic accent that all zebras appeared to share. “Rarity is dead.” Wonderful, another rhyming zebra. Rarity had never been fond of the way that Zecora, the potioneer living near Ponyville and the only example of the species Rarity knew personally, spoke solely in rhyming couplets. It was a ridiculous way to communicate. More irritating was the fact that this zebra was exceedingly beautiful; she was lithe and slender without appearing too sinewy. Even the simple act of standing had been accomplished with swift and subtle grace. The mare also wore none of the gold rings and bangles that Rarity associated with Zecora, and her striped mane fell loosely around her head and neck instead of being spiked straight up. The mark on this mare’s flanks, dark lines forming broken concentric rings, interspersed with straight lines radiating outward, was very similar to the enigmatic spiral mark Zecora bore. These markings were no doubt very meaningful to zebras, but unlike a pony’s cutie mark, the elegant mare’s markings gave Rarity no hint as to her special talent. “She was also a lot prettier than this pony,” the young half-zebra added, his voice a deadpan monotone. He spoke with no trace of the mare’s accent, and he had made no effort to rhyme his speech. The youth’s words caused Rarity to bristle and flush with embarrassment, reminding her of how hideous she must appear to the trio before her, especially in comparison to the beautiful zebra mare. In fact, she was fairly certain that if a large mirror were placed in front of her at that moment, she would suffer a nervous breakdown. She was a sopping mess, she knew, and her limp hair had bits of pond scum and stringy green lake plants stuck in it. Any hint of makeup was long gone, and it was nothing more than a rare stroke of good fortune that she had opted to replace her temporary false eyelashes with semi-permanent ones before leaving for the race. They were the only hint of beauty that remained, however unnatural they might be. That she seemed to be standing in somepony’s living room only made her feel more awkward and out of place. It was one thing to stage a dramatic rescue of an imprisoned scientist in a secured laboratory looking this dreadful, but it was something else entirely to track mud all through a pristine house and wind up dripping wet in a puddle of muck on a rather tasteful area rug. Besides her appearance, Rarity had another reason to feel humiliated. She had been completely and utterly had by Prince Khufu. Instead of Shrinking Violet, the one pony who could her help her save Blueblood, Khufu had fooled her into seeking out his weapons merchant compatriots. Without Doctor Violet, Blueblood had little chance of survival, and if it turned out that Blueblood died because of this betrayal, nothing would get in the way of her wrath. She had to say something to these three, but she struggled to formulate an introductory statement. With every second she continued to stand dumbly in place in her growing puddle of swamp water, she was certain she was losing a bit more of their respect and interest. “I’m pretty sure that’s her,” the large stallion said. “She …” “Quiet!” Rarity shouted. “Be quiet! I am Rarity.” The beautiful zebra mare muttered something in a language Rarity did not recognize - perhaps a curse - before addressing Rarity in Equestrian. “How can this be true? The griffons' collaborators killed you!” “They tried, but I survived, and so did your Prince Khufu. He sent me here.” All three of the equines that comprised Rarity’s audience pricked their ears up at the mention of their employer’s name. “He had been left for dead, but I saved his life.” “Khufu, you say?” the big, umber-coated stallion’s eyes shined with interest. “Heh, I knew that old so-and-so wouldn’t go down easy.” “But how did you come to be here? This is all a trick, I fear,” the zebra mare said, eyeing Rarity suspiciously. The younger half-zebra only stared sullenly, his dull expression inscrutable. “Khufu sent me here to ... rescue you.” That was true enough, Rarity supposed. “I swam across the swamp, as should be plainly obvious. The two guards who were posted outside are tied up on top of the building at the moment, but I imagine that fact will not continue to be true for very much longer.” The pony stallion spoke up again. “Huh. Well, it’s obvious that you’re all wet, but it seems a mite far-fetched that you managed to swim here, what with the jagugars in the water. They’re real quick to bite of anything that takes a dip, and you'd look a right tasty morsel to one of them big fish. As it is, you barely got a mark on you, apart from a few bruises.” The stallion scratched his stubble-covered chin with the edge of a hoof. “Add that to the fact that by all accounts you’re supposed to be as dead as a doorstop, and you can begin to see why your story sounds a bit fishy, if you’ll pardon the expression.” Jagugars? Rarity’s memory flew back to her swim across the swamp, and the feeling of something bumping against her body and legs. She shuddered. Had the fish been present all along, and she had simply been lucky? She remembered the pink pearl dangling from her neck on its strand. Could it truly be a protective charm? She supposed she would have to find out in the process of getting back across the swamp with these three. But first, she needed to know if there was still a chance for Blueblood. “I am most definitely not dead, and I assure you that I did indeed cross that swamp.” Rarity paused. Why she even attempting to justify herself to these three? “It matters not a whit whether you believe me, as I have no time to waste convincing you. Just answer me one question, Mister …” “Buckaroo. My friends call me Buck.” “Alright then, Mister Buckaroo, the question is this: do you want to leave this place or not?” Rarity looked at the others in turn. “What about the rest of you? The presence of guards outside indicates that you are not exactly honored guests at the moment. I can help you get out, if you tell me what I need to know.” “Hmm. Well, ever since Zolo turned on us, we’ve been stuck under house arrest in this little tropical château,” Buckaroo said. “I reckon they’re just keepin’ us around ‘til they find where Khufu hid the last big payment we received. ‘Spose they don’t feel like honorin’ their debts no more. Course, Khufu wasn’t gonna tell ‘em where to find the money, so they reckon one of us’ll talk.” “Though it may give the griffons fits, we know not where Khufu hid the bits,” the zebra added. “Well, I do not care about your money,” Rarity said. “What I need is to find a pony named Shrinking Violet. I was told she would be here.” “Violet?” Buckaroo repeated, screwing up his face in what Rarity could only perceive to be a mixture of surprise, bemusement, and disgust. “What do ya want with her, and why'd you think she'd be here of all places? That mare's nutty as a hearthcake. ‘Sides, she’s workin’ for them.” “What? Working for whom?” Rarity asked, confused. Buckaroo laughed. “I suppose you really must be on the level if y’all don’t even know about wacko Violet. Can’t imagine no griffon spy would think to ask about somethin’ like that. She’s workin’ for Karroc and his band of goons. I guess she didn’t feel like she was gettin’ enough support from Canterlot to keep up her research, so she decided to help out these griffons on the sly in return for a better lab. Karroc believes her crazy flower juice is going to make him and his little army unstoppable.” Rarity was taken aback at the revelation that Doctor Violet was willingly cooperating with the griffons. Khufu must have known this, and sent her here anyway, solely for the benefit of his little rogues gallery here. The camel's trickery aside, she had no choice now but to find Violet, wherever she may be. “Traitor or not, I need to find her. She can teach me the secrets that will allow me to use the Badge of Courage orchid to help my injured friend. Please, tell me where she is.” The situation was growing desperate, and the need to find Violet outweighed the danger that these unknown equines would deduce that Blueblood was still alive and try to use that information as a bartering chip. “There is no trick to the Bloodflower, simply swallow, and enjoy its healing power,” the zebra mare said. “Come again?” Rarity asked, staring wide-eyed at the other mare. A sinking feeling was rapidly developing in her stomach. “You just eat ‘em,” Buckaroo flatly stated. “Ain’t no secret.” Rarity made a small choking sound as she felt her throat close up. “Ahem. Ah, I'm sorry. Could you please clarify this for me." She paused to cough weakly. "What you are saying is that one merely has to pluck the flower and eat it for the healing effects to manifest.” She could feel an involuntary muscle twitch on the left side of her face. “You got it,” the pony stallion confirmed. “Just eat it within five or six hours after you pick it, that’s the rule. The thing only works on some kinds of injuries, though. The griffons tried using them to bring back prisoners they tortured, so they could torture them some more, but the flower didn’t work. Maybe the prisoners didn’t want ‘em to work. Magic is strange like that.” He shrugged. “Simply pluck, chew, and swallow. Nothing more than that,” Rarity said slowly. It was all she could do to keep a cork on the bottled scream of rage that was building up inside her. This entire exercise had been completely pointless. She could have nabbed a flower, trotted back to Blueblood, and been done with the whole business. Silently, she cursed the moment she had ever laid eyes on the humpbacked deceiver who had put her in this predicament. She closed her eyes, took in a deep breath, and slowly let it out. Another thought occurred to her. What if these three were the liars? Her instinct to trust was strong, but recent events had eroded it bit by bit. Anypony with an agenda, it seemed, would not hesitate to lie unflinchingly. She had to stop being a patsy. “You all just want to escape. How can I be sure you aren’t lying to me now, so that I will forget all about Doctor Violet and help you instead?” “Pardon me, miss, but we don’t have much reason to lie to you. After all, I’m not sure we even need your help,” Buckaroo said. “We sure ain’t goin’ back across the way you got here. Even if that water weren’t chock full of humongous pony-eatin’ fish, I can’t swim.” Rarity considered the stallion’s remark. She supposed it could easily be the case that three equines used to dangerous living on the fringes of civilized society might believe themselves more capable on their own than with a bedraggled couturier in tow. Furthermore, now that she did not need to locate Doctor Violet, she could simply rush back to the water and make her way to the opposite shore, and from there back to Blueblood. Buckaroo and his friends would then be left to their own devices, and she to hers. That would be for the best, wouldn’t it? They might even prove to be a helpful distraction, should they be discovered. She was prepared to second the notion of parting ways when the zebra mare spoke again. “I think a unicorn could be of great use, if we are to succeed in busting loose.” So much for amicably parting. “I don’t know why I should help you,” Rarity huffed. “You three were part of this whole mess that nearly got me killed.” “Hey now, we didn’t have no part in that,” Buckaroo protested. “None us knew that you were involved at all. 'Cept maybe Zolo, but he ain't here with us.” Khufu had said much the same thing. Either they were all keeping to the same fabricated story, or they truly were ignorant as to the full extent and purpose of the conspiracy. Rarity had to believe that at least they were nominally on the same team, or the trio would have attempted to subdue her immediately in order to turn her over to the griffons and secure forgiveness. She was still prepared for that to happen; her legs were tensed and ready to launch into a gallop. “What will you do if I attempt to leave my way,” Rarity asked. “Calling the guards would seem a bit detrimental to your own cause, would it not?” “So you’re going to abandon us, just like Khufu did.” Rarity was surprised to hear the sullen young half-zebra speak. “Do not impugn his name!” the zebra mare hissed. “Your rash words bring you shame.” “Ah, if anything, Khufu must be rather devoted to you, or he would not have … convinced me to help you. He did not think he would be able to evade the griffons and get to you himself,” Rarity said. "He is rather ... pungent, you see." "Hoo-whee, ain't that the truth!" Buckaroo agreed. “You’re right that we’d be shootin’ ourselves in the hooves if we stopped you, but now that Zee brings it up I can see the benefit of havin' you along, and I’m hopin’ that you’ll want to help us out freely. I reckon that there’s a long way between here and, well, anyplace you’d want to be. We know this jungle. We can help you survive here and get you out in one piece.” Rarity considered the stallion’s point. If she did escape, it could very well be the case that she would truly be on her own. There was no guarantee Blueblood was still alive, and Khufu obviously could not be trusted, if she ever saw him again. She also no longer had Blueblood’s compass to point her in the direction of home. “Assuming I do help you find a different way out of here, do you actually have a plan that doesn’t require you to swim?” Rarity asked, raising a delicate eyebrow. “I find it hard to believe that there is a different way across all that water.” “Actually, we were discussin’ this very topic when you barged in on us,” Buckaroo said. “We plan to try our luck within the griffons’ aqueducts,” the zebra added. “Then away downstream we aim to float, once we commandeer a boat.” “The aqueducts? Oh no no no!” Rarity protested. “After everything else, I absolutely refuse to sneak around some stinking sewer. Let death claim me before filth!” She raised a hoof to her forehead and dramatically mimed a faint, hoping to drive home the gravity of her revulsion. Buckaroo shook his head. “Naw, it ain’t no sewer. We got pipes here for that. The aqueducts just bring clean water to all of the different buildings in the complex. There’s a grate just outside that leads down. We were goin’ to dig our way in, but now there ain't no time for that. They’ll be lookin’ for us soon as the guard changes and they find the previous shift is missin’.” “Fine,” Rarity declared. “We shall do this your way and traverse the aqueducts. If I am to be your unwilling accomplice, though, I should at least know all of your names. I’m afraid Khufu did not see fit to give you much of an introduction in advance.” “Oh, sure,” Buckaroo said. “The lovely lady here is Zinzi, and this chatty little fireball is her kid, Zipinoru. Y'all can call him Zips.” “You’re part pony,” Rarity observed, turning to Zips. The youth, just barely old enough to be considered a young stallion and no longer a colt, stared silently back at her. She noticed that he had a pony’s cutie mark on one flank, depicting two arrows, with one embedded in the other and splitting it apart. The other side’s mark was a zebra symbol, all wavy gray lines around two overlapping gray triangles. She wondered if the marks were different in meaning, or if they both symbolized the same talent. “It is true what you see, his father was a pony,” Zinzi confirmed. “Before you ask, I ain’t his pappy, and Zinzi and me ain’t a couple,” Buckaroo added, holding up a hoof to forestall the inquiry. “I’m a free stallion, just so’s you know." He winked, and Rarity stared back in confusion. Was he suggesting ... no, that was impossible. She looked too horrible. Then again, he probably didn't see a lot of pony mares in his line of work. “The grate is just outside. Now is the time to hurry and hide,” Zinzi stated, ending the moment. At some point, Rarity was not going to be able to stand listening to these contrived couplets any longer, but for show she held her tongue. For some strange reason, after everything she had already been through, she did not feel the sense of dread and anxiety she expected about embarking on yet another mad quest, this time into the heart of a hidden paramilitary installation. She was already bruised, battered, and bitten, and her hair was an absolute disaster. She had been thrown out of an airship, shot at, survived a horrific crash, and nearly been eaten by ravenous monsters. She had trekked through a jungle infested with venomous creatures and swum across a swamp apparently teeming with pony-eating gars. She was hungry, thirsty, wet, and exhausted, but she continued to struggle on. Whatever happened next, at this point she would just tally it among the litany of horrors through which she had recently lived. If she didn’t make it? Well, at least this nightmare would end. The way things were going, though, she had to believe that they would survive, if only so that she could end up in an even worse scenario next. “Lead on,” she said with a sigh. “And please, let this be quick." “Then let us away, without any delay,” Zinzi said. “Do you not want to take any supplies?” Rarity asked, gesturing encompassingly with a hoof. “You have an entire house here.” Buckaroo answered. “Nah, the griffons didn’t leave us nothing. No food, no rope, nothin’ for makin’ potions, and they sure as hay didn’t leave nothin’ sharp for Zips here. Now c’mon, let’s git!” Rarity followed the other equines back through the house to the only door, and waited as Zinzi carefully opened it and peered outside. “There is cause for cheer, the coast is clear!” she announced. “The grate that leads down to the aqueduct is mighty heavy,” Buckaroo said to Rarity. “I can tear it outta there, but I’d be mighty appreciative if y’all can use some of that magic of yours to keep it from crashin’ down once I get it up.” “I’ll do my best,” Rarity replied. “Right. Okay then, ready when you are, Zee. Follow us, Miss Rarity.” The zebra nodded once, and then burst into motion. Rarity was astonished at the other mare’s athleticism as she flung open the door and leapt at least five lengths from a standing start, disappearing into cluster of leafy plants opposite the house. “Go!” Buckaroo shouted. Rarity ceased gawking and galloped after the zebra. She dove headfirst into the thicket where the other hid and crouched low. Buckaroo and Zips followed immediately thereafter. “I still have the key,” Rarity whispered. “If I lock the door, perhaps the next set of guards who arrive will not think to check on you.” “Good thinkin’, though I reckon they’ll figure out what happened soon enough.” Buckaroo nodded his approval. Rarity levitated the guard’s keyring back to the door, secured it, and then tossed the keys back into the murky swamp adjacent to the house. “Looky here.” Buckaroo indicated the ground with a hoof. “Care to help me with this?” In the middle of the circle of thick vegetation that now provided the equines cover from the prying eyes of any griffons circling overhead, the earth gave way to a thick steel grate. Rarity could smell moist air wafting up from somewhere below. The metal bars of the grate were obviously far too strong and thick to bend or break, and she doubted her magic was potent enough to levitate the entire grate. What did the big stallion want her to do? The earth pony began to dig into the wet soil around the grate, until he uncovered enough of one edge to allow him to wedge a rear hoof underneath. He then paused expectantly, and Rarity realized that he meant for her to assist with magic. She hastily cast her telekinesis at the heavy hunk of metal. As she suspected, actually moving the thing was far beyond her capacity. She was, however, able to cause it to jiggle and jostle a bit, shaking loose the earth holding the grate in place. Just as she was beginning to doubt whether the grate could be moved at all, she was surprised to it slowly begin to lift upward. Buckaroo was not quite the largest stallion she had ever met, though he was extremely lean with sharply defined muscles. Rarity blushed as she found herself staring appreciatively as his flanks and sides rippled from the strain of exertion. “Now catch it!” the stallion grunted. With one last push, the side of the steel grate that Buckaroo had lifted flew up into the air, and Rarity realized that it would crash down with a mighty bang on the other side if she wasn’t able to somehow arrest its descent. She pushed back with all the magical strength she could muster, but it wasn’t nearly enough to stop the grate. Some most unladylike phraseology issued from her lips as the metal fell to the ground, but she was relieved to hear only a dull thud. She had slowed it enough. “A good show. Now, we must go below,” Zinzi declared. Without another word, she jumped confidently into the mysterious abyss that had just been opened. Her son followed silently thereafter. Rarity instinctively backed away from the hole. She couldn’t simply jump in there! She could break a bone or worse, land in something dreadful. There could be anything down there! “C’mon, we can’t pull that thing shut behind us, so we need to move.” Buckaroo prodded her from behind with a hoof, and Rarity quickly turned to bat the stallion’s foreleg away. “Do not presume familiarity and definitely do not touch me,” she snapped, a bit too quickly. “It’s only a couple of lengths,” Buckaroo said, declining to apologize. “I’ll jump with ya. We got to go, though. ‘Sides, don’t you wanna get that flower back to that friend you mentioned?” “Well, yes, but …” “Then turn around and get in there!” The stallion slowly began walking toward her, and Rarity instantly realized that there was no way around him. If she tried to evade him by going through the plants on either side, she would be back out in the open and vulnerable. Behind, there was only the gaping hole. “Ugh. Very well.” She turned, glanced one more time into the foreboding hole, and cautiously jumped in. As promised, she didn’t fall far, and she landed in swiftly flowing water no more than a quarter pony length deep. Inside the aqueduct, the sunlight from above illuminated the area immediately around the opening into which she had jumped, and she could see the walls and floor were cut from huge blocks of limestone. Providing this source of clean water to the various buildings of the sprawling complex had obviously been a monumental task. She was still pondering the underground aqueduct’s construction when Buckaroo jumped down beside her, drenching her with his splash of his landing. “Thank you for that,” she said, aiming her most baleful glare at the stallion. “Pardon,” he replied nonchalantly. Rarity saw that Zinzi and her son had known to stand well back of the big pony’s likely landing target, and she could have sworn that she saw the first hint of a smile briefly play across the sullen young half-zebra’s features. The aqueduct was a relatively narrow tunnel, wide enough for two ponies to comfortably walk abreast, but no wider. Beyond the small area beneath the grate, Rarity could see only darkness in either direction. She cast a basic illumination spell to remedy that situation. Instead of nothing, now she could see that the tunnel terminated in a series of pipes not far away, but in the other direction it stretched on seemingly without end. “The docks are all the way on the other side of the base,” Buckaroo said. “This way.” He started down the long passage, and Rarity and the others followed behind, trotting as quickly as the water and confined space allowed. “We would not have been able to easily flee without your light allowing us to see,” Zinzi said to Rarity as the group hurried along. Rarity supposed that this was the zebra’s attempt at thanking her. The words also made her think. Of course Khufu would have known exactly how his crew would plan to escape, and he also would have known how her particular skill set would help them. As furious as she was with the treacherous camel, she had to admire his craftiness and apparent loyalty to his remaining faithful employees. “You are quite welcome,” she replied to the zebra hurrying along beside her. “I hate to pry, and I’m sure you get this all the time, but is it really absolutely necessary to speak entirely in rhyme? Surely it must be difficult, if Equestrian is not your first language.” “She only does it when she’s stressed out or around new ponies that she doesn't trust yet,” Zips said from behind Rarity. “I see,” Rarity said, not seeing at all why stress would cause anypony, or zebra, to speak in rhyming verse. She addressed the mare again. “Does that mean you can speak, um, in a more standard fashion, should you choose?” Even in the modest glow of her illumination spell, Rarity could see the zebra flush, clearly embarrassed. “It is … difficult … to speak as you do,” Zinzi replied haltingly. “Zebran is a lyrical tongue, we speak in rhyme from when we are young. Ah … excuse me please … what I mean to say is that it is chiseled into our brains that careful rhyming will make our meaning plain.” “You realize that last bit also rhymed, right?” Rarity asked, her gaze narrowed. The mare shook her head sorrowfully. “Again I fail this unending travail! Once the danger we pass through, I will attempt proper speech for you.” “Oh no, do not agonize any further about your manner of speaking on my account,” said Rarity, waving a dismissive hoof before resuming her rapid gait. “I was merely curious.” So, according to her uncomfortably forthright offspring, Zinzi did not trust her yet. The feeling was mutual, though for the moment Rarity had to rely on the others if they really were to escape. Perhaps they could yet learn to be comfortable around one another. She doubted that she could get over her intimidation at the Zebra's beauty, though. At least, not until she had access to a hairbrush, shampoo, and a makeup kit again. She picked up the pace to move closer to Buckaroo, crowding next to him in the narrow passageway. “So, we’re stealing a boat, is that it? Won’t the griffons notice and give pursuit? I would like to know more about this grand scheme of yours before I throw my life away on it.” “Well, we ain’t exactly stealin’ it, and it ain’t exactly a boat, but yeah, that’s right,” Buckaroo said over his shoulder. “This is Zips’ plan, though, maybe y’all ought to ask him.” “Ah, no offense, but he does not exactly seem the most talkative sort.” “Huh? Oh!” the stallion laughed. “I reckon that’s so. He’s a retirin’ young feller, he is.” Buckaroo chuckled again. “Alright, I’ll fill you in as best I can. This here aqueduct eventually passes under every building in this whole complex. Iffin’ we follow it all the way, we’ll end up at the loading dock at the end of the canal that runs through the base. That’s where the water that keeps this place hydrated enters, so that’s where the current begins. Now the griffons have this whole system of barges to move stuff from building to building under cover, which makes sense for a hidden factory. They tug ‘em upstream to the dock, and then just let ‘em float back downstream ‘til they get where they was goin’.” “You plan to abscond with a barge then?” Rarity asked. “I don’t see how that makes it any less likely that the griffons will chase us down.” “Not one barge, we plan to cut loose all the barges, plus make a heap of commotion on the side. With so many of 'em floatin’ away downstream, those featherbrains won’t be able to pick the one we’re hidin’ on to tow back.” “All predators are the same,” Zips piped up, still speaking in a disinterested monotone. “Give them too many targets and they can’t pick one.” “Though what my son says is right, we will still keep out of sight,” Zinzi added. Rarity had to admit that the plan sounded plausible, if not particularly straightforward or foolproof. “What if they are already looking for us when you cut the barges loose?” she asked. “What if they are already searching for us now?” “That might not be such a bad thing,” Buckaroo said. “There’s only forty or so griffons managin’ this whole operation, plus another couple dozen to crew that monster airship. The more they’re already dashin’ around helter skelter when we make a break for it, the better.” “Provided that they do not succeed in finding us,” Rarity pointed out. “That goes without sayin’, but they won’t look down here. Ain’t ever seen a griffon what would get his fur or feathers damp if he didn’t have to, not to mention that they don’t know their way ‘round down here like we do. Don’t forget that we were here while all of this was bein’ built.” “I wish I could share your opti …” Rarity stopped mid-sentence as Buckaroo turned his head and held up a hoof in warning. Up ahead, another grate let light in from above, and Rarity could hear loud voices filtering down from the surface. “How much longer before we can feast on ponies instead of kowtowing to them? If we have to go through this one more time, I may just slit that arrogant pegasus’ throat myself.” “Just shut up and guard the door, Blacktip. Do you think I like bowing and scraping, pretending that fool is an honored guest? Do you think I like having to speak this filthy language when they visit, so as not to offend their delicate sensibilities? No. But we have a job to do, unless you want to end up in the stockade with Karrk and Kurlew.” “Those idiots deserve to rot for letting a couple of pampered unicorns get the better of them. Say, do you think the General is gonna tell our little pegasus friend that those two are still alive? After all, it’s his fault the girl lives.” “The less Canterlot knows the better. Now be silent and perform your duty. We are still soldiers, no matter how far from home we may be.” Rarity’s eyes grew wide as she listened to the griffons’ conversation. A pony was visiting the base - a pegasus, who these griffons blamed for failing to kill her. There was only one stallion who fit that description, but what was Colonel Tempest doing here? He should be with Fancypants, probably back in Canterlot by now. How she wished she could be a fly on the wall, and learn how and why Tempest had come! “I know of whom they speak,” Rarity whispered quietly. “Tempest is the pony who threw me overboard during the storm. If he is here, it must be to meet with General Karroc about the next phase of their plans. We should try to learn more about the meeting.” “This is not our worry. To escape, we must hurry,” Zinzi whispered back. Buckaroo held up a hoof again to silence the mares, and beckoned the group forward away from the grate. It would not do, Rarity realized, for the griffons to overhear them. “This may be my only chance to learn the full scope of the plot against my country,” Rarity said. “I came all this way to free you, the least you could do is help me try to discover what the conspirators are discussing. This aqueduct travels beneath the building those guards are protecting, does it not? I’m positive that Tempest and Karroc are inside there right now.” “Getting sidetracked is a waste, we must move forward with all haste!” Zinzi said quickly, shaking her head. “Now hold on, Zee,” Buckaroo began. “You know how upset the boss is about these griffons plannin’ to attack after they promised peace. Now that we know there’s ponies involved, ain’t you a little curious as to what’s really goin’ on? I may be a wanted stallion back in Equestria, but I’m still a pony. I agree with Miss Rarity. We should investigate, so long as we’re down here. Zips?” The youth shrugged. “I believe that is another point in my favor,” Rarity announced triumphantly. “Buckaroo, try to find any ventilation openings into this building. If we are lucky, we may be able to overhear something. I promise that this will not take long.” Not far ahead, the quartet arrived a fork in the underground aqueduct. Rarity followed behind as Buckaroo turned and led the way down the left branch of the tunnel. The air here tasted stale, and a faint musty smell emanated from somewhere. Whereas before there had been open air above them, Rarity knew that they now walked beneath one of the large buildings scattered about the complex. If Karroc was here, this was likely the griffon general’s headquarters. The group had walked only a few lengths before Buckaroo pointed out a small vent leading into the building above. There was no grate, but the opening was no more than three hooves wide by one hoof tall; it was far too small for a pony to pass through it. Nothing could be heard from the chamber above other than the muted whir of far-off machinery. Moving on, the equines passed two more of the tiny vents without incident. Rarity was disappointed. They had to be very close to the far side of the building at this point, and it appeared as though her little venture would prove fruitless. Then, the unmistakable sound of angry voices echoed in the underground chamber. This was it! Rarity raced ahead, shoving past Buckaroo in her eagerness to reach the next vent. She let the glow from her horn fade, turned toward the opening in the stone wall, and swiveled both ears forward to capture every word being spoken above. There was no question as to the identity of the speakers. “So, you have failed to beat the drums of war hard enough. Or, your employer is perhaps not the charismatic leader he believes himself to be,” Karroc said, his rich baritone resonating even in the aqueduct below. “Either way, it is not my problem.” “It's you worthless crossbreeds who've failed,” Tempest furiously retorted. “Again! You were supposed to make it a gruesome and horrifying murder. Instead, all we have is a missing airship, and one Element bearer dead from a tragic accident, which I took care of myself! This is not exactly the cause for military intervention you promised us, Karroc. For all I and anypony else knows, the duke may even still be alive!” “Please. Regardless of the present location of the duke’s airship, the only reasonable inference to draw from the known facts is that Graywings murdered Blueblood and stole his precious Alicorn to deliver the engine back home. My griffons cleaned up Graywings’ ship and left it for your search parties to find, empty.” Karroc sounded dismissive, if not scornful. “It’s not enough, Karroc. You promised a body. Find the body, so that I can present it to Equestria. They need to hate you like I do if there is to be war.” “And if the jungle has claimed the body? What then?” Karroc asked. There was a certainty to his question, as if the answer was foreordained. “You keep to the plan,” Tempest stated grimly. “Regardless of whether you find Blueblood, you are to use the weapon over Gallopoli. You are to leave nothing standing, and then you are to begin raiding the South. Equestria will have no option but war then, and the griffons will have no choice but to join you. I consulted the stone, and she tells me that the unicorns are already recharging it. You can move out on the third day.” Rarity struggled to stifle a shocked gasp, and nearly missed Karroc’s next words. “And the princesses will stand aside, or so you ponies keep saying,” the griffon stated, half-questioningly. “They won't fight. They don't dare, after what happened when Luna gave in to her darkness. Our sources close to Celestia report that she is already prepared to let mortal ponies lead in her stead should she be unable to prevent conflict. After all, it is we who must bear the losses of war. It is we who stand to lose, or gain, everything.” "What if the other seizes power instead?" "He won't. We'll be sure." “Good. You must know how eager I am to destroy the hive of idle waste that is Gallopoli,” Karroc stated. “It will be a true joy. And then, pegasus, I will come for you and yours.” “Know your place, crossbreed!” Tempest shouted. “Once my lord is king, the war must end, one way or the other. Do you forget that we control your great weapon? How do you plan to harness the stone without magic?” “Then I will enjoy wreaking as much havoc as I can until he seizes the throne,” Karroc said, almost gleefully. “Perhaps I will even force you to try to stop me, even without the weapon under my control.” Rarity could imagine the rapacious look in the griffon’s eyes. “If you want those concessions at the border, you'll hold to the deal. If not, then I shall take pleasure in running you through myself. I may not crave fresh meat like you beasts, but my lance thirsts for blood, and it has not tasted griffon in many years.” “Do not jest, pony. You could never best a griffon, not with ten more of your pitiful ilk.” “You’re wrong. Let's see if I can refresh your memory. After all, you were there, all those years ago in the mountains. Perhaps you remember the scandal when a pegasus cloud scientist went missing? Perhaps you also remember a griffon scout disappearing in the wake of that tragedy? The scientist was my wife, and your worthless scout I gutted was just my first taste of revenge. Know that I will not be satisfied until your despicable race is gone from this world forever.” “I remember,” Karroc said coldly. “The mountain pass was my command. You know, many of the loyal griffons I flew with then are here on this base now. Perhaps I can ask around and find out which of them made a meal of your dear wife, so you can complete your revenge today? Perhaps it was even … me. Yes, my little pony. I do recall enjoying a particularly succulent meal of braised mare’s leg, but maybe that was just a prisoner of ours, or maybe not. It’s been so long, and I’ve dined on so many deliciously unfortunate ponies.” Karroc’s voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper, and Rarity could barely make out the words. “The best part is sucking out the marrow inside the bones. Fortunately pegasus bones are easy to snap.” “I’ll kill you!” Tempest bellowed. “I’ll kill all of you!” Rarity cringed at the sound of a mighty crash that reverberated through the underground tunnel, like heavy furniture being overturned. A series of grunts and exclamations of pain followed, before being replaced by heavy breathing. “There will be time enough to kill each other later, pony,” Karroc rasped, obviously recovering from having had the wind knocked out of him. “If not during the war, then soon after,” Tempest promised between heaving breaths. Rarity heard the sound of a door opening and a clatter of activity above, as well as the sound of talons skittering across the stone floor. “General!” a new voice croaked. “What is it?” Karroc snapped. “It’s Khufu’s team. They’ve escaped!” Rarity felt a sharp jab. She could just see the angry eyes of a zebra glaring at her in the darkness. “I should never have listened to Zolo and allowed them to live even one more day,” Karroc muttered. “Find them!” “We think they’ve gone in the water,” the third voice stated. “We found this. It seems to be some kind of makeshift breathing device and a disguise, made from the lily pads in the swamp. I am told that zebra is very crafty. They could have easily created any number of these things to aid in their escape.” “If they’ve gone in the water, they are fish food by now,” Karroc stated. “What did the guards see?” “We found the guards tied up, but they haven’t been able to explain what happened. They claim they were attacked and disabled by vines growing on the building, of all things!” “Idiots!” Tempest shouted. “Lily stems do not naturally bend at perfect right angles, and vines do not strike on their own. This is unicorn magic! Blueblood lives, and he was here! Find him now!” “Do not concern yourself, pony,” Karroc said. “We will find these escapees, and Blueblood, if he is among them. If they live, then we will kill them.” “Just get it done. Use the stone to inform us when you have the body. No more failures! Now I need to return to the search party and keep steering them away from here - another task that would not be necessary if you had managed to kill Blueblood and left the body as we agreed.” Rarity could hear the sound of a hoof kicking a door closed, just before she nearly fell over from a sharp push on her haunches, which she knew had come from Zinzi. If the zebra was suggesting that now was the time to move, Rarity was not inclined to disagree. Tempest might believe that she was dead, but the griffons knew better, and now that they had been alerted to the presence of a unicorn, they would be on the hunt for her. She only hoped that they continued to believe that she had taken Khufu’s crew and swam to safety, and did not find the open grate and think to search beneath them. For now, she saw that Buckaroo had already started off down the aqueduct again, and she hurried after him. “Because of your foolish delay, we may not survive the day!” Zinzi said reproachfully. "Hardly foolish!" Rarity shot back. "Why, it was practically a miracle that we were able to learn their plans. Did you not hear? They are going to devastate Gallopoli in order to start a war and allow Lord Procyon to seize power. The entire town, gone! Now that we know, I must get back to Equestria so that the Princesses can stop this insanity!" “Both of y’all, hush now and argue later,” said Buckaroo loudly. “We’re nearly at the end of tunnel, and if there’s guards on the other side we sure as hay don’t want ‘em to know we’re in here.” Indeed, shortly after rounding another corner, Rarity could see a light in the distance. Apparently the aqueduct terminated not in another series of vents, pipes, or grates, but rather lay open to the surface. As the group neared the entrance, however, it became clear that was only partially true. At the opening, the lower half of the aqueduct consisted of a metal barrier with a few small holes, each of which was covered by a fine mesh through which water poured into the aqueduct. The upper half was truly open to the outside world, and Rarity could see a body of water and a floating wooden dock on the other side. “Alright, now huddle up and let’s make sure we do this right,” Buckaroo whispered. “Miss Rarity, sidle on up over here next to me and take a gander. If your fancy magic is gonna make this work, you need to see what we’re up against.” Rarity cautiously moved over to stand next to Buckaroo, close to the tunnel entrance, and looked around, quickly finding herself gaping at the panorama laid out in front of her. There were so many things to look at, it was nearly impossible to take in the entire scene. Immediately in front of her, a wide circular reservoir of crystal clear water had obviously been dredged out of the earth. This was the source that fed the aqueduct, and it was also where the griffons had located a large and complex system of floating docks. Dozens of wooden barges, each ten pony lengths by five, were moored at the docks, as well as an enormous low-slung steamboat that had to be the tug responsible for pulling the barges against the current. Though several of the barges were empty, many were filled with stacks of boxes or piles of equipment. Some were host to mounds of refuse. A few were covered in blue canvas tarps, which Rarity supposed were intended to conceal the barges from the air as they floated to wherever they were needed on the base. A half dozen griffons were immediately visible, loading and unloading the barges. To her right and somewhat more distant, Rarity could see the beginnings of the river that fed the lake and swamp here, and which coursed through the jungle to the Alicorn’s crash site. A tall promontory, completely covered in greenery, loomed over the base less about a quarter league away. The side of the promontory was host to a huge black hole, a cave opening so large that it looked like it could swallow half of Ponyville. A mighty waterfall gushed out of the cave, cascading down to the ground in a spray of foam, and swiftly rushed into and through the griffons’ base. The Heavenstone was in that cave, Rarity knew. Her horn throbbed and ached from simply looking up into the vast opening, as it yearned for the incredible gem. It called to her. With difficulty, she forced herself to look away. Finally, directly opposite the docks and on the other side of the nascent river, an enormous building was constructed on and open to the water. It was by far the largest and tallest structure Rarity had seen anywhere on the basis, though its size, sloped roof, and thick covering of plants and greenery made it appear more like a large hill than anything unnatural. Inside the building, Rarity could see a number of vessel hulls floating on the water, all of which bore a startling resemblance to Fancy Free and Blueblood’s yacht Sacrebleu. They were clearly the product of another stolen airship design, even though these floating ships lacked balloons. “Are those …?” Rarity began. “Yep,” Buckaroo confirmed. “That’s the shipyard, and those airship hulls are just waiting to be hooked up to balloons. We recently shipped a huge order of lifting gas here from way out west in Bighorn country, and I reckon the griffons could get those ships in the air as soon as they can pull the crews together. In fact, I think I see a couple of balloons already inflated in the back of the hangar there, all tied down and with nowhere to go.” Rarity could see he was right. It seemed that Karroc was not quite ready to field an army on his own, but rather was counting on the different eyries to join together in support once he had forced Equestria into armed conflict. Then, he would have soldiers enough for all the vessels and weapons he was amassing here. There was still time to prevent any of that from happening, but first they needed to escape. “If I understand this correctly, the plan is for me to untie as many of the barges as I can with my magic, and for us to hide on one of them as it floats away to safety downstream. Is that right?” Rarity asked. “That’s it,” Buckaroo nodded. “Then I certainly hope you have a significant distraction planned, because there is no way all those griffons out there are simply going to allow us to sneak past unmolested.” “We will indeed make quite a splash, and leave here with a bang and flash,” Zinzi affirmed. “That tug right there is hauling barrels of firepowder, Zinzi’s own special recipe,” Buckaroo explained. “Tonight they’re planning to haul the whole batch up to that big cave in the distance. That’s where they keep the Big Girl, as I call her. They’ve been test-firin’ the cannons and burnin’ up a lot of powder lately, and if they’re gonna take her into a combat she needs to be fully stocked. “We’re going to blow of the ship.” Zips concluded flatly. “Or I am, anyway.” “You are? But how?” Rarity asked, taken aback by the young stallion's proclamation. "Looks easy from here. They docked a barge twenty lengths away with everything I need on it.” “Well then, get to it, my boy! Hya!” Buckaroo shouted. Before Rarity could even object to the stallion’s unnecessary volume, she gasped as the youth leaped clear over both her and the water gate at the end of the tunnel, landing on the floating dock outside. What in Equestria's name was he doing? “They’ll surely stop him!” she exclaimed, fighting off panic. “Nah,” Buckaroo shrugged. "This is what he does. I hope you didn't think I was the dangerous one. I'm mostly the cook." Zips kept his body low to the dock and covered ground swiftly, though without making any discernible noise. Rarity gasped again as he somersaulted through the air and onto the deck of a particularly heavily laden barge. There was no reaction from any of the griffons Rarity could see, who kept toiling away at their dockworker’s tasks. These were clearly not guards keenly alert for anything out of the ordinary, but merely laborers lost in the drudgery of their repetitive jobs. On the barge where Zips had alighted, she could see numerous tubs, canisters, bundles of wooden rods and beams, and tall stacks of folded fabrics. “That right there is a whole mess of supplies for the officers’ quarters they’re settin’ up. Bits and pieces to build furniture, fancy linens, and plenty of kerosene for lamps. Sounds flammable, don’t it?” Buckaroo laughed. Meanwhile, Zips unfolded what appeared to be a large linen blanket from one of the stacks and used his teeth to quickly wrap it around a clay jar. He then pulled a long wooden rod free from a bundle to which it was tied, and again using his strong jaws and teeth, he brought the rod down on the cloth-wrapped jar. The cloth effectively muffled the blow so that Rarity heard nothing above the lapping of water against the docks. Zips then carefully wrapped the cloth around the end of the wooden rod, pausing to look away from his hoofwork and take deep breaths. It must have been a pot of lamp oil that he had broken, she realized. He had made a torch! But how would he light it? She did not have to wait long to find out. Zips laid the makeshift torch on the deck of the barge and clapped his forehooves together, releasing a shower of sparks that immediately set the torch alight. “How?” Rarity asked, flabbergasted. “He wears horseshoes of Khufu’s invention,with a flint on the edge, I should mention,” Zinzi stated. Rarity could hear an anxious note in the other mare’s voice as she watched her son in action. Rarity understood the maternal concern, but at this point, having watched the solemn young stallion in action, Rarity felt sure he knew what he was doing. Zips grabbed the burning torch in his teeth, leapt back onto to the dock, and spun once to build up momentum before letting the flaming missile fly in a high spinning arc. Rarity heard several of the griffons cry out as they watched the torch’s trajectory with slack beaks, having finally realized that something was amiss. “I saw your son’s cutie mark,” Rarity said to Zinzi. “Might I ask what his special talent is?” “Accuracy,” Zinzi said simply, not bothering to rhyme. As she spoke the word, the torch landed perfectly amidst the stacked kegs of firepowder on the griffon’s steam tug. “Yep, that boy’s a deadeye with anything that can be fired or flung,” Buckaroo added. “And … any second now. Miss Rarity, you may want to think about startin’ to untie those barges.” At that moment, she was overcome by a deafening explosion and a shockwave that knocked her down and into the water. The blast was so powerful it felt as though it would burst her eardrums, and she flattened her ears to her skull protectively. Where there had been a large steamboat a moment ago, now there floated a burning hulk and tons of flaming debris. Understandably, the griffon laborers all took to the air in a panic and were now flapping about madly, and a ringing alarm began to sound. The guards who were out searching the waters of the lake would surely be here soon. Though her head was muddled from the blast, Rarity knew had to act. She jumped the water gate and landed on the floating dock, with the others not far behind. The barges were all tied to metal cleats on the dock with simple cleat hitches, an extremely basic knot that required mere unwinding rather than complicated untying. She could handle many of these at once. Her horn glowed as she reached out and latched onto as many ropes as she could see, and as each barge lost its connection to the dock, it immediately began floating away with the prevailing current. She kept at it until a small flotilla was on its way downstream. Looking around, she saw that the dock itself was now on fire, and the flames were spreading. There was no more time to tarry. “Whoa there!” Buckaroo exclaimed. “Leave one for us!” “That one!” Rarity said determinedly, pointing at one barge that was still covered in its concealing blue tarp. They could hide from the eagle eyes of the guards there. She galloped across the dock and onto the barge before casting off its mooring line. Zinzi and her amazing son followed thereafter, and Buckaroo just made it onboard as the unpowered craft left the burning docks behind. All four then crawled under the tarp and pulled it down behind them. There they waited, and drifted. She was floating toward freedom, if the escapees turned out to be fortunate enough not to be recaptured, yet Rarity could only feel deeply dissatisfied. She was presently surrounded by equines she barely knew and most assuredly could not trust. She somehow, after everything, still did not have the Badge of Courage flower for Blueblood. Worst of all, these griffons planned to unleash a genocidal massacre against the gentle population of Gallopoli, abetted by traitorous ponies with bloodthirsty ambitions. All those ponies could lose their homes, or even perish, and there was nopony out here to save them. Thousands of ponies. And then who would check Karroc's ambition? What if he finally obtained his healing tonic, and Equestria could not stand against his forces? Everypony in Equestria was in mortal danger, but what could she do? Even if she could get the flower and save Blueblood, they would not be able to warn Gallopoli in time! Even with a two day head start they could not outrace Karroc and his evil warship. Rarity suddenly felt her the ends of her lips curl up ever so slightly as a strange, perhaps slightly mad idea took root. It was true that they certainly would not make it to Gallopoli in time on hoof, but what if there was a faster means of travel? What if they could bypass the jungle's dangerous creatures and treacherous terrain? What if the Alicorn flew again?