//------------------------------// // In The Depths // Story: Reddux the Tyrant // by PaulAsaran //------------------------------// Reddux the Tyrant Chapter XV In The Depths “I can’t believe we’re just going to walk right in,” Fleur muttered. Fine glanced at her as they made their way along the crater wall. “If you have a better solution, I’m all ears.” She bit her lip and said nothing, but kept her head held high. Up ahead loomed the massive cave from which Tialvis had appeared. It had to have been at least fifty feet tall. Not for the first time, Fine wondered how it had even formed… unless it had been made. He wondered if the dragons had carved the hole for some unknown purpose. There were disguised changelings lingering about the cave, apparently there to gather water from the crater above. Fine found this curious; shouldn’t there be a pool or something within? He glanced over at his companion. Fleur was putting on a good show: there was only a tiny tremble in her legs and her face betrayed none of the fear that he knew had to be bubbling just beneath the surface. He’d considered telling her to stay behind before, but now he refused to even suggest it. Fleur was a strong pony, far more so than any filly her age deserved to be. Furthermore, her refusal to back down – even upon seeing what he was – had cemented his feelings of respect for her. Holding her back would only be an insult to what he now knew she was capable of. With the right polish, he suspected she could be so much more. “So,” Fleur whispered as they came under the cave’s shadow, “any plans for when one of them tries to talk to us?” He shrugged. “Wing it.” “Just like that, hmm?” She shivered as one of the changelings, disguised as an orange-coated and red-maned mare, gave them a nod while they walked past. “Cutie mark, don’t fail me now.” The moment they passed under the shadows of the cave, the air grew cooler. Fine had expected water to be dripping from the ceiling, but it was bone dry beneath his hooves. His chest became tight as the world grew steadily darker; he had the horrible sensation that they were entering the dark depths of Tartarus itself. Given that they probably wouldn’t be coming out alive, the approximation may not be too far off the mark. He felt Fleur move close to his side and shot her a brief glance. The filly was chewing her lip, and he could just make out the shaking in her shoulders. He said nothing; no words would help in this dark situation. Their hoofsteps echoed in the dim cavern, resounding likes ghosts in the gloom. The sunlight gradually retreated, making way for a world of hard stone and cold shadows. Despite the danger, Fine found himself relaxing. He welcomed the soothing absence of light, felt the energy coming back to his legs, delighted in the chance to slip away; with these colors and sensations he was intimately familiar. He was tempted to use a little magic to pull the darkness towards himself, all to improve his chances of disappearing amongst the darkness. Still, he held back; it wouldn’t do to lose Fleur due to his giddiness. Fleur hissed at him. “Is there a reason you’re smiling like a demented foal?” He shook off his moment of pleasure. “Sorry.” She cast her eyes about the gloom. “You don’t even look scared.” “Oh, I’m scared,” he replied solemnly. “I’m also excited.” “You’re a scary pony, you know that?” Fine couldn’t help but smile. Just as the last rays of sunlight threatened to fade, a new light appeared up ahead. It was a soft, violet glow that Fine considered somewhat pleasant. As they approached, he found his hooves covered in a sticky substance. He noted Fleur’s shiver and saw her purple-colored face twist in disgust, but neither of them paused. Soon they came upon the source of the glow; a collection of round pods protruding from a black, smooth material that covered the cave walls, ceiling and floor. A changeling – or rather, a white-coated and brown-maned unicorn – emerged from a smaller cave in the side of the tunnel. She nodded to the two of them and continued to the entrance, a quartet of empty wooden buckets floating before her. As soon as she was out of sight, Fleur leaned close to Fine. “Do you think they’re just gathering water for themselves?” “Most likely.” She paused to examine the bottom of her hoof, which had a thin coat of black gunk. “What is this stuff?” He hissed as she hurried to catch up. “Are you trying to advertize that we don’t belong? ‘Cause questions like that are sure to do it.” She winced and clamped her teeth together, wide eyes darting about the shadows. Fine sighed and shook his head. “Just keep quiet for now.” They continued through the main tunnel and its violet aura. Several side-tunnels appeared in the gloom, but he ignored all of them; only the one he was on was large enough for Tialvis to pass, and it was her he needed to locate. Every now and then a changeling would cross their path. Some were disguised, but as they went deeper they found more and more in the usual black, chitin-covered bodies. The first few put Fine and Fleur both on edge, but the changelings only passed with the conventional greetings of strangers. “How long can we go like this before they start to suspect us?” Fleur whispered in Fine’s ear after a trio of changelings passed them by with little more than a few friendly nods. “As long as it takes,” Fine whispered back. “Don’t worry, I’ve got an excuse for our disguises.” She glowered at him. “Care to clue me in?” Fine opened his mouth to speak and paused. His eyes caught something in a nearby tunnel, something… green. “Hold on a moment.” He guided Fleur into the side tunnel. His heart pounded in his chest and his throat was dry like the Zebrara. He entered into a large cave that was dimly illuminated not with purple, but a sickly green. On the walls, shifting patterns danced like light on water, giving the area an eerie glow. What Fine saw within that place filled him with an intense nausea. Large green pods were lined against the walls and hanging from the ceiling. There was at least a dozen of them, all filled with a green liquid . In each one was a pony, sleeping blissfully in the dark. Except not all of them were ponies. Not anymore. Fine sucked in a sharp breath at the sight of the earth pony in the nearest pod. Half of her face had become blackened and twisted, malformed as if something were growing beneath the hide. Large portions of her body shared the same hideous distortions, making her appear half-bloated. Worst of all was the adoring, pristine smile that the normal half of her face bore in slumber. He’d heard of this, he knew what was happening to her, but he’d never witnessed it before. The sight brought him close to vomiting, especially when he imagined Celestia in one of these pods. He abruptly found himself praying that Hoofknife was doing his job properly. The room was filled with changelings keeping watch over the transformation process. It took all Fine had to maintain a solemn, emotionless expression at the sight of their hideous work. Fleur, however, looked as if she might faint at any second. He brushed her shoulder and started to guide her out… “You two.” He flinched and grimaced, swallowing the bile that had risen from his throat. He turned to find a changeling, a little taller than the others, approach. Given the nature of its voice, he could only suppose it was a male. The changeling’s eyes went first to Fine, then to Fleur. He wore a taught frown. “I was unaware there were any soft shells assigned to this mission.” Fine somehow managed to force a smile from his lips. “We are only passing through on our way to the pony lands. We have a mission of our own, but need to rest before we continue.” At that, the changeling shook his head. “I knew the Queen was permitting soft shells to join the fight, but I had hoped to never see it. Is our hive really that desperate?” Fleur turned on him, her eyes harsh. “This soft shell may be a lot harder than you think.” The changeling let out a hiss of a sigh. “We all thought that at your age. I hope your first run-in with an Archon doesn’t leave you a hollow shell. Or maybe I do; perhaps that will be better.” “Arch—” Fine thrust his hoof before Fleur’s face. He shook his head and turned his attention back to the changeling. “I’m here to at least try to keep her safe. Her confidence will be her downfall if she doesn’t harden up quick.” To her credit, Fleur didn’t miss a beat. “I’ll show you all! The ponies won’t even know I’m there.” At that, the changeling smiled grimly. “Then it’s good you’re practicing your powers. You’ll need them.” “Indeed.” Fine smirked at Fleur, though he suspected it came out more like a grimace. “She thinks she can hold her form longer than me. We shall see.” “Hmmph.” The changeling rolled his unnatural blue eyes. “Softshells. You need to molt a few more times before you can beat an adult, little softy.” Fleur growled, but her eyes shifted past the changeling. Her ears folded, betraying her as she stared at the malformed pony in the pod. The changeling caught her look and turned to study the pod. “First time seeing it?” Fine resisted the urge to give Fleur a comforting pat… and the swirling sickness in his barrel. “I thought it would be good for her to see before she goes out there.” The changeling nodded, his eyes set on the pod with a deep frown. “I know, it’s ugly. It’s even uglier when the skin starts molting off. Some changelings can’t stomach it. Took me a dozen tries before I could sit through the whole thing.” He turned to study Fleur. “You don’t like it?” Fleur stood as still as stone, her legs spread slightly and her head even with her shoulders. Her breath came in slow gasps as she stared at the hideous pony, her lips working silently. Fine maintained his scowl as best he could and shared what he hoped was a stern look with the changeling. “Tough.” The changeling sneered, his fangs shining in the shifting green light. “This is what it takes for us to survive now. It ain’t pretty, little soft shell, but that’s war. Remember what it looks like, ‘cause any pony you capture will undergo the same treatment.” Fine bumped Fleur’s shoulder, but she remained practically catatonic. He faked a sigh and turned to the changeling. “I think it’s sinking in. Too late for her to change her mind, though. Better bring her out, let her figure things out, but first: is the dragon here? I’d like to see one while I still have the chance.” The changeling’s sneered was instantly replaced by a broad grin. “We’ll be seeing a lot more of those soon, I’m sure. Once that witch Celestia becomes one of us, we’ll share her precious pony kingdom with the dragons. It’ll be glorious!” He kicked at the pod with a back leg, making the liquid inside slosh and gurgle. “Then we won’t have to do this anymore. It’s a real shame our Queen can’t be here to lead us in this mission, but that only means we must work hard in her absence and make her proud! Praise Chrysalis.” “Praise Chrysalis.” The name tasted rancid on Fine’s lips. “Perhaps we’ll see one another again before we leave.” He guided a stumbling, silent Fleur by the shoulders and made for the exit. “Feel free to bring the soft shell back for a second look,” the changeling called after them. “Will do her good.” Fleur said nothing for some time. Fine half-led, half-dragged her back into the main tunnel and further on. They turned a bend in the passage to find a large circle of light shining from the ceiling. At once concerned and curious, Fine brought Fleur into an abandoned side tunnel and had her lie against the wall before heading back to check on the light. He felt the droplets before he heard them, pattering softly in a small circle. Fine looked up to see pure sunlight streaming from a hole far above. He realized that he was looking at a vent, which perplexed him. Wasn’t the lake right above them? There had to be some kind of shaft or tube rising up from the bottom of the lake all the way to the water’s surface. Natural, perhaps? It seemed unlikely. Satisfied that the light wasn’t emanating from anything threatening, Fine hurried back to Fleur. He found her shivering in a tight ball on the floor, her eyes wide. Fine felt his heart hit his throat. He stared at the filly, unable to see anything but her terrified eyes. There was that horrible sensation in his chest, one he’d felt for the first time on the day he’d met her. It was something he was steadily becoming familiar with, no matter how much he didn’t want to. What was he supposed to do now? He shuffled in place, indecision ripping through his mind. Talk to her? Leave her be? Goddess forbid he might actually hug the filly. He had no idea how to respond. One voice told him, angrily, to let her handle this on her own. After all, it’s what he’d done, and she’d already been through so much, so surely she could cope. Yet there was another voice, quieter but impossible to ignore. With a deep sigh, he turned and cast a darkness spell, enshrouding the entrance of the tunnel in black. Now, with the two of them alone in their little hole in the wall, he went to sit by his charge. He fumbled with his hooves before finally moving closer pressing against her side. She responded almost instantly, clutching at his waist with a whimper. Fine went stiff at the contact, his heart ramming against his chest. Instinct told him to quit while he was ahead and push her away. Instead, after several seconds of paralysis, he managed to move his legs. Not sure if it was the right thing to do, he began stroking her long, pink mane. He waited to see if it would help, but she merely trembled. He ground his teeth. Why did this whole situation make him feel so… useless? What would make him more comfortable if he were in her horseshoes? He thought on the topic for several minutes, his eyes lingering on the darkness of the small cave. Lips set in a taught frown, he focused on the spell he’d cast and began spreading the black. When it passed over them, he heard Fleur squeak with surprise. “It’s okay,” he whispered. “It’s my doing.” There was a long, pronounced silence. “W-why did you make it d-dark?” He heaved a sigh and relaxed. “I always found it soothing. I was hoping you would, too.” Fleur kept quiet and didn’t ease her vice-like grip. Fine’s frown returned as he wondered what to do next. He leaned his head back, gazing into the pristine darkness. What to say? What to do? He scoured his brain for something helpful, for once wishing he’d had some kind of experience with comforting others. It wasn’t often that he regretted leading a loner’s life… He thought back on his stories, on his life. Surely somewhere within his repertoire of knowledge he could find something. His adventures and jobs were of no help, and certainly not his time as a wandering vagabond. What else was there? His father? His moth— There it was. Just like that. “Do you remember your mother, Fleur?” She sniffed, her grip on his waist loosening. “M-mother? I… I was only f-four when she died, but… I remember her face. A little.” He nodded in the darkness. “I was five when I lost mine, but I still remember her face. She was a veritable angel.” He waited for her to speak. When she didn’t, he continued, “In some cultures, it is said that when a pony dies, if the pony was really good, they will meet their mother.” “What?” “A pony’s mother fills them with happiness because a mother’s love is perfect. So always work to make Mom proud, and you’ll be forever happy, even if you lose.” He wrapped a hoof around Fleur’s shoulder and gave her a tight squeeze. “A mother’s love defeats all evil. Mother always protects you, because mother loves you.” Fine waited, his mind calm and his heart at ease. Yet Fleur’s silence lingered, and he began to wonder if he’d reached her at all. “Where… where did you hear that?” He felt his cheeks burning and he coughed. His mind went to his notebook, still hidden among his pouches. “Forget it, I guess it’s not that effective.” “N-no.” Fleur pressed against him a little more. “I appreciate it. Really.” He relaxed and let out another long sigh. “I’m sorry. This isn’t really my forte.” “You’re trying,” she whispered. “That’s all that matters. It’s far more than I’ve ever had.” “I see.” He smiled in the dark. “Glad to help. I, uh, did help, right?” “You did.” He felt her nuzzling his shoulder, which only made his cheeks burn more. “But Fine, what they were doing to those ponies… It looked so horrible. Just the idea of it is terrifying. I know it’s not likely, but is there any chance—” “There’s no time,” he whispered. He shuddered at the memory of those horrible pods. “I don’t know enough about changeling methods to even say if the ponies we saw could be saved. We have a job to do, and I’m sorry to say that trying to save them isn’t part of it. The odds are far enough against us as is.” Fleur shivered against him. “I… I understand. In that case, I guess we should keep going?” He blinked and cast his gaze towards the sound of her voice. “You’re ready?” “No,” she whispered, “but we can’t linger, right? The faster we get this done, the faster we can go back to Equestria.” Fine’s jaw dropped as he realized that the mission had completely slipped his mind. What was this foal doing to him? He felt tempted to jerk away from her, as though she might be carrying some sort of ‘sentiment sickness,’ but resisted the urge. Instead, he stood slowly and stepped back. “You’re right,” he muttered, “we’d better get going.” “Okay.” To her credit, she sounded far more confident that he’d expected. “Umm… I can’t see the exit.” At that, he found himself smiling. “Listen.” “To wh—” He shushed her. “Just listen.” Fine perked his ears and closed his eyes. It was so very quiet, but he could hear it; the faint dripping of the water near the vent. There was a slight echo, but not enough to confuse him. He could also hear the movements of nearby changelings, some coming closer from deeper in the tunnel, others moving away. He turned and made for the exit. He emerged in the gloomy, pale violet light of the main tunnel. He squinted against the light from the vent and turned to look at the small cave he’d come out of. It was enshrouded in a pitch black shade, just as anticipated. “What are you doing?” Fine glanced aside to find a trio of changelings coming towards him from deep within the tunnel. “Training a soft shell.” “A soft shell?” one of the changelings asked, cocking its head in a way that was so pony-like as to be disturbing. “I didn’t know we had any soft shells on this mission.” “We’re not on this mission,” he replied as he turned back to the shadow. “Are you coming out or what?” At last Fleur emerged, her head held high but a slight wobble in her legs. “It’s a lot easier with them giving you away,” she declared. One of the changelings sniffed unpleasantly. “Sorry, next time we’ll take the long way.” They moved on without giving them so much as a sideways glance. Fine waited for Fleur to get near him before asking, “So, did you hear what I intended you to?” Fleur watched the changelings leave before letting out a gasp and sinking to her barrel. “H-how do you just… talk to them like that?” “I don’t know about physiology,” he replied calmly, “but mentally there’s not much difference between us and them. Just behave normally and have a good excuse planned.” She managed to stand on wobbling legs. “But they’re the enemy. Aren’t you afraid?” “I’ll be afraid when they catch on.” He guided her further into the tunnel, past the light from the vent. “I guess it comes with experience.” After a quick glance at the vent, Fleur hurried to his side. “I’d like to learn.” “I know.” She glanced at him as if just noticing he was there. After a moment’s hesitation, she asked, “Will you… will you keep teaching me?” “If we survive.” She gasped. “Y-you didn’t even… Fine, you’ll really teach me? I thought you didn’t take apprentices.” He averted his gaze and forced his lips into a frown. “Yeah, well we might not last long enough for it to amount to anything.” No more words were exchanged, but Fleur walked with a more confident step. Her smile was assured but small. Fine questioned the wisdom of what he’d told her… yet the more he saw of her, the more convinced he was that it wasn’t a mistake. Whether she’d survive the Archon training he couldn’t tell, but at the very least he felt like she had a good chance. Besides, she deserved to have something to work towards other than her next meal. Fine’s thoughts drifted towards when he was her age. His disorder hadn’t kicked in yet, but it was still a very lonely time. He still vividly remembered the shame of having nothing to work towards, of not knowing his purpose. In a way, he still didn’t have a purpose; he had just been living from mission to mission, doing what he was told for no other reason than that he needed a direction. True, he felt responsible about his job, but if Hoofknife hadn’t been giving him orders all the time, would he have done anything at all? It was always better to have something to do, to put his skills and quirks to some kind of productive use. Perhaps that was why he felt so driven to work with Fleur. Could it be that she too needed some sort of direction and purpose? He would offer her that, just as Hoofknife had offered it to him. Fleur would not spend her youth wandering aimlessly, feeling lost and useless like him. Maybe she’d appreciate it, or maybe she’d quit. Either way, she deserved a chance. They proceeded ever onwards, passing several more vents and side tunnels. Dozens of changelings crossed their path, and more than a few wondered why they hadn’t dropped their disguises. Fine stuck to his story about Fleur’s duration challenge, and they all readily accepted it. With every meeting, Fleur reacted with the anxiety of the inexperienced, but she always managed to hold her own when addressed. Seeing that gave Fine hope for her future. They’d been traveling for what Fine assumed had been an hour before the situation changed. The ponies found themselves standing in a vast cavern, the floor being some fifty feet below in a sheer drop. The entire cavern was illuminated by the same faint violet glow of the pods against the walls and ceilings, which were dotted with what fine assumed were more vent shafts. On the floor of the cavern, surrounded by stalagmites and a scurrying throng of changelings, were a series of pools, and in between those pools lay Tialvis. The great green dragon’s neck was craned high above the changelings, her sharp eyes set upon one of the pools. Fine peered at the body of water and saw within dozens of large, half-submerged eggs. “So, Parjin’s suspicions were correct.” Fleur trembled at his side, her head swaying slowly to take in the entire cavern. “The changelings stole the eggs? They’re providing Reddux all the ammunition he needs.” “There’s got to be at least sixty eggs in there,” Fine said. “If all of those hatchlings become loyal little Reddux followers, I’m not sure even the dragons of the Burning Lands could stop him from taking over. Those are the seeds of power.” Abruptly, Tialvis reared back and sucked in a long breath. She let loose a torrent of fire directly upon the eggs. Steam billowed from the pool as the changelings stood by patiently with their buckets, and as soon as the flames faded they marched forward to pour more water into the pool. “So that’s why they’re collecting the water.” Fine’s ears perked and he stepped aside, letting a quartet of bucket carrying changelings through. They descended down a gradual slope to the right of the entrance, a line of their fellows already marching up the path. “They have to keep replenishing the pool.” Fleur dropped to her barrel and peered over the ledge, her eyes wide. “B-but why keeps the eggs in water?” “To evenly distribute the heat, I imagine.” Fine gestured to Tialvis, who was now carefully and lovingly inspecting the eggs. “Even a dragon couldn’t keep all those eggs warm by conventional means.” Fleur was shivering, but she still managed a deadpan tone. “I don’t think dragons and chickens hatch eggs in the same way, Fine.” “Excuse me,” he grumbled. “It’s not like I know a lot about dragon anatomy.” He examined her with a frown. “Are you alright?” “I w-watched as that dragon dropped flightless ponies to their d-deaths. It was a r-rain of screaming bodies.” A violent shiver ran through her. “No, I am not alright.” Fine pondered the situation, his gaze passing back and forth from Fleur to the eggs. He knew what had to be done, and it would be a lot harder with her in such a state. At the same time, he couldn’t just leave her here to fend for herself. He turned in a circle, scanning the walls, the ceiling, the floor. Where could she stay while he went to work? His eyes caught a relatively small opening in the wall. It wasn’t far from the exit and only a couple feet above the descent into the cavern. Perfect. “Come.” He caught Fleur’s hoof and gently tugged her along. She followed, but her legs were wobbling. A quick survey of the opening revealed it to be another vent, this one rising at a steep angle. Rivulets of water ran through it, forming a small puddle at his hooves before descending along the path. He picked Fleur up and set her in the tunnel. “I want you to use your invisibility veil and hide here.” Her eyes went wide, her chin trembled. “I c-can take it,” she whispered, but her attempt at confidence failed terribly. Part of Fine was frustrated, but he managed a smile and reached in to pet her mane. “You’ve done enough to prove yourself, there’s no need to overdo it.” A group of changeling passed behind him. One paused. “What’s the soft shell’s problem?” Fine kept his eyes locked with Fleur’s and maintained his smile. “She’s never seen a dragon before.” The changeling laughed, the sound accompanied by a strange clicking from its throat. “Can’t blame her for that! She’ll get used to it. Unless Tialvis decides to have some changeling fricassee, which she’s done once or twice.” Fine scowled his way. “Not helping.” “Hmmph.” The changeling shrugged and went to rejoin his comrades. “This is why soft shells shouldn’t be out here. What is the Queen thinking?” Fine watched him go with a grimace, then turned back to Fleur. “Listen, I need to get one of those eggs for Parjin. Please, just stay here and I’ll be back before you know it.” Fleur chewed her lip, her eyes darting over his shoulder, but she finally nodded. He gave her one more pat on the head before turning to march down the slope. He questioned the wisdom of leaving her behind, but steeled himself. As usual, most of the changelings ignored Fine’s passing. Had this been Canterlot, he would have complained about the lax security. He found it curious that the changelings, who were reviled by the Archons for their ability to disguise themselves and slip through intelligence networks undetected, were susceptible to a pony pretending to be one of them. Shouldn’t they have some kind of check for this type of thing? How could they not even consider it? Under the circumstances, Fine decided to count his blessings and not fret over it too much. Upon reaching the cavern floor, he cleared his mind of such thoughts and focused on the task at hoof. There were far too many changelings around for him to make off with an egg and not be discovered. Even if the dozens of changelings weren’t an issue, Tialvis was watching the eggs with all the doting of a mother. Flames and steam filled the air as Tialvis breathed on the pool once more. Fine watched the scene with a peering gaze. A plan began to form in his head. He had the tools, he just needed a bit of luck and some range. As the flames died, he spotted an empty place near the pool, a vast stalagmite forming a suitable wall. It would put him a long distance from the slope, but at least it was covered. Fine made for the spot, carefully watching the changelings. Every time Tialvis blew fire on the eggs they would look away, as if the brightness of the flames bothered them. Not surprising, considering how dark it was otherwise. They were constantly moving, either hurrying to get more water or rushing to fill the pool. Under different circumstances, he might have appreciated their work ethic, especially considering the mundane nature of the chore. Tialvis, in the meantime, had eyes only for her eggs. He could hear her cooing and whispering to them, her eyes filled with a warm glow. He squeezed his way between the stalagmite and the wall. There he lingered until Tialvis breathed on the eggs once more, this time paying attention to the timing. It seemed fairly regular so far. What did he have, five minutes between breaths? That should be more than enough time. As soon as she finished, Fine walked to the other side of the stalagmite. The edge of the pool was only a couple feet from his hooves, and he could easily jump back to safety. Now he just needed to get his hooves on an egg without being noticed. The changelings weren’t paying him any mind and Tialvis, though she faced him, didn’t so much as give him a passing glance. He took his time examining the eggs, which were of a variety of colors and patterns. The nearest one was a soft purple with darker spots. He ducked back behind the stalagmite as Tialvis prepared another blast of fire. He didn’t have a proper distancing for the egg yet, but Fine was patient. As soon as the flames ceased he stepped back out and studied the egg. He had to get the distance just right… He waited through another burst of flame, and then another. At last he thought he had it. He sat behind the stalagmite, closed his eyes and began working the magic. Knowing he had to wait for just the right moment, he held back on the completion of the spell. This had to be done right; too early and he’d be caught, too late and he wouldn’t have enough time. A trickle of sweat beaded down his cheek. The last five minutes seemed to take forever. Fine tapped his knife, making it sway. Any second now… Tialvis began her next burn, and Fine finished his spell. He felt the magical elements snap into place and immediately started lifting the egg. The effort of holding the enchantment was like carrying an unnecessarily heavy load; Fine was known for his trickery, not his magical stamina. The flames came to an end, but there was no outcry. He sighed with relief and continued maneuvering the egg. After several seconds, he felt something hot bump against his chest. He reached out and knew he had the egg, wrapped securely in his invisibility spell. The work wasn’t over yet. His horn was already vibrating, and he still had to get the egg out of the cavern. He began walking at an even pace, having no desire to draw attention to himself by running. Besides, if he broke the egg he’d have to start over from scratch. Rumor had it dragon eggs were harder than rocks, but he wasn’t about to take that chance. Out from behind the stalagmite, past the ever-mobile changelings and their buckets, towards the gentle slope— “Wait.” Fine jerked to a stop. He sucked in a sharp breath and looked back to see Tialvis pouring over the eggs. “An egg is missing. One of my eggs is missing!” With a curse, Fine turned to make for the exit but paused when he saw a half-dozen changeling stopped at the slope. He’d never get past so many without drawing attention to himself. Maybe if he could raise the egg high enough, but his horn was already burning. “You!” He jumped and spun about; Tialvis was looking right at him. “You took my egg!” Fine tried smiling, but was sure it came out as a grimace. “What, me? Why would you ever think that?” “What spell are you casting?” Tialvis stepped over the pools, her eyes filled with dark intent. “Why is your horn red?” She knew a lot more about pony magic than he’d expected. A quick glance around the cavern revealed a disturbingly large number of blue eyes on him. His mind worked quickly. “I’m just experimenting, you see. Trying to make my magical aura different colors. Makes for better disguises.” Tialvis moved a little closer, stamping the cavern floor with such force as to shake dust and water from the ceiling. “Cancel the spell. Now.” He chuckled weakly, noting out of the corner of his eye that there were a lot more changelings at the exit. Already he was forming a plan, but it depended on him using a particular spell. He was already pressing his magical limitations… Baring her fangs, Tialvis began to rise up; he was out of time. Fine stepped forward and canceled his spell, the egg appearing before him in his red aura. “Okay, you win, I have the egg! Happy?” The changelings began murmuring amongst themselves and casting ominous glances his way. Their wings started to buzz in a way that reminded him unpleasantly of angry bees. He moved a little closer, trying to judge just how much distance he could cover. If only his plan didn’t rely on a spell he’d never once managed to cast! A long, deep growl rose from Tialvis’s throat. “You dare to steal my egg?” “Well, technically it’s not your egg.” Tialvis’s eyebrows rose. “You—” The burn in Fine’s horn was going down. A little more… He quickly considered her behavior regarding the care of the eggs. “Furthermore, I’m only doing what I was told to do by Reddux.” At the mention of Reddux, Tialvis hesitated. “Reddux? What are you saying?” Fine shuffled a step or two sideways, moving beneath the slope. “He knew you wouldn’t want any of the eggs broken, so he ordered me to take one.” Another step. She peered at him, smoke billowing from her nostrils. The changelings were starting to form a semi-circle around him. “I don’t believe you. Reddux hasn’t had time to return from the Burning Lands, he could not have spoken to you.” Fine smiled as best he could. “You’re assuming he told you the truth about his whereabouts. He could—” “Enough.” Tialvis loomed forward to study him with piercing eyes. “Release your disguise.” His smile grew strained. “Umm… I dunno, I’ve kinda got a bet going.” “Whatever is the matter, changeling?” The buzzing of wings grew louder. Fine glanced at the bottom of the slope and saw that the changelings at the exit had descended. Perfect, now if he could just… “Give me the egg or die.” A few more sidesteps. “Something tells me I’ll die regardless.” Tialvis grinned and spread her palms, indicating the changelings now lined before her. “I could let them have you.” Fine’s stomach churned at the thought of being stuck in one of those pods. “I really fail to see the difference.” “Then death it is.” Tialvis reared back and sucked in a sharp breath. Fine’s heart leaped into his throat and he immediately began casting the spell. He turned away and grabbed the egg as black clouds started to form around him. Fire erupted, his horn sparked painfully, the smoke blocked his vision. He closed his eyes and prepared for the heat. There was a strange sensation, like the air around him had shifted in some way that defied description. The sound of the flames changed origins, the buzzing gained a new quality, his hooves adjusted to a new floor. When Fine opened his eyes, the smoke was clearing and he found himself facing solid rock. He looked around and realized he was standing on the slope. His jaw dropped. “H-hey… I finally did it.” The roar shook the cavern and jolted him back into action. The egg in his grasp, he turned for the exit and barely took three steps before a swarm of changelings landed before him. He backpedaled, eyes wide as he looked for an escape route. Turning around, he saw more changelings charging up the slope and several launching from the cavern floor. The vast walls amplified the buzzing of their wings and the noise pierced his ears, but that was nothing compared the look of rage on the face of Tialvis as he glared up at him. “Fine! In here!” With seconds to spare, he turned to the vent tunnel and charged. He couldn’t see Fleur, which was probably a good thing. He thrust the egg through first and leaped inside, his back knees banging painfully against the wall. “Climb! If you want to live, climb!” “Stop them! Don’t let them escape with my hatchling!” Fine’s heart had become a sledgehammer for his ribs. He pushed the egg in front of him and struggled against the slope. The egg took up enough space that he could only barely see around it. “Keep climbing, Fleur! We’re going to get out!” “I am, for Celestia’s sake!” The buzzing had been muffled from inside the vent, but that only made it easier for Fine to hear the scraping of his followers. They’d have to come after him one or two at a time, but that didn’t mean much to him at the moment. How were they going to escape once they got out? He heard the hiss and turned onto his back. A lone changeling glared up at him, its intense eyes glowing in the sheer darkness. He kicked at it, landing a few solid blows to its face before its forehooves managed to catch him. “Fine!” “Take the egg and keep going, for buck’s sake!” His horn flashed and an aural knife flew through the air; it landed right between the changeling’s eyes. The creature instantly fell limp, but as soon as it did it was dragged backward and two more took its place. Fine scrambled up the vent, his hooves slipping on the water-slicked stone. “Fine, it’s too steep! I can’t keep going!” He cursed and turned to face his attackers. Another aural knife appeared before him. It shined bright in the rosewood glow of his aura, a stark contrast to the bright blue eyes below. The changelings hissed and bared their fangs while Fine braced himself. Even as he prepared for the fight, though, he understood that he’d failed. That thought didn’t bother him so much as the knowledge that he’d dragged Fleur down with him. The very idea left a deep pit in his stomach. Even so, if he was going to die, he’d take as many of them out as he could first! Maybe he could plug the hole with their bodies and buy time to think. He almost broke out laughing at the sheer absurdity of the idea; was he really that desperate? He let the blade fly as he realized: yes, yes he was. Fleur pressed her back against the moist wall of the tunnel, her breath coming in short gasps. A halo of light shined almost a hundred feet over her head, and she had no way to get there. She had tried scrambling up the sheer walls again and again, but her hooves slipped and she couldn’t even find a purchase. The egg sat beside her, blocking her view of Fine and his desperate fight. If only she could help in some way! “Fleur!” Fine’s voice called from around the egg. “You’ve got to climb!” Tears streamed down her cheeks. “I can’t! I tried and I can’t!” “You have to, it’s your only chance!” She covered her face and sobbed. The air was filled with his curses and the clicking, hissing noises of the changelings that had cornered them. This wasn’t how she was supposed to die. Her life had been so pointless, there had to be more to it than this! She covered her ears and shivered in the cold moisture that surrounded her. “I can’t hold them forever, Fleur. You have to get out!” But she couldn’t. She felt so useless! They were going to die, or worse, be put in one of those ugly pods! Reddux was going to win, Equestria would burn, and every single town and city would end up just like Sueño. Why couldn’t she have been just a little stronger? “Come on, you black bastards! Is that the best you can do?” Fleur sat up with a grimace and sucked down her sobs. Fine was fighting for her, and she’d be damned if she let his sacrifice be for nothing. She’d find a way to help, even if it only meant waiting for them to come clawing over his body. The last thing she wanted to do was die like a coward! She started to stand— Her hoof slid and she fell on her barrel. For a moment – a tender second of weakness – she thought she would start crying again, but something made her pause. She examined the hoof that had slipped; it was wet. She was wet. Her gaze fell upon the walls surrounding them… and met water. It was seeping out of the very rocks in a constant trickle. She examined the halo of light far above her. The vent had to be running right up through the lake itself, so that meant there was water all around it, right? And if those walls were so thin that the water could seep right through… “Fine!” She slipped towards the egg and tried to peer past it. She could barely make out Fine as he wrestled with something black. “The walls! Break the walls!” “What?” There was a resounding crack and the changeling he was fighting stopped moving. “What are you talking about?” “Break the walls, let the lake in! It’s our only chance!” “I’m a little busy at the moment!” She grimaced and turned away. Setting her forehooves as steady as she could on the slick floor, she began to buck at the wall. Three hits, five hits, seven, again and again. “Come on, come on!” Her legs ached, her heart raced, her mind was frantic. She could hear Fine fighting. How long would he last? If this didn’t work— Her ears perked to a loud pop, and then a crunch. Panting, she looked back to see a long, thin line in the wall. Water seeped through it, and as she watched the crack began to grow and produce even more of them. More and more water poured into the tunnel, which vibrated so wildly Fleur had to drop to her knees. Fine shouted. “Fleur, what did you do?!” “The tunnel’s collapsing,” she shouted back, covering her head and hoping she’d not made a terrible mistake. “The egg,” Fine cried, “Don’t lose the egg!” “That’s what you’re worried about?” Despite her disbelief, Fleur hurried to wrap the egg in her magical aura. Right at that moment there was a roaring sound, and she looked up in time to see the water crashing down. She gulped in air just before the cold waters covered her in a tidal wave of currents. Water ripped at her body, making her twist and flip around. She could see rocks and slabs flying about and the world was a confusing mess. What was up? What was down? Despite her confusion, she somehow managed to hold onto the egg, which continued to appear and disappear in the chaos. Surprised and horrified changelings darted past her, their blue eyes wide and bubbles flying from their black lips. Once she saw Fine, but it was only a passing glimpse. Her lungs burned, her heart hammered in her chest, the water roared in her ears! Then, just as suddenly as it had started, it was over. She saw a bright light above her and swam as fast as her legs could muster, bursting through the lake's surface with a long gasp. The egg bobbed up alongside her, along with numerous black bodies. There had to have been a dozen changelings. But things didn’t calm down. Fleur could see numerous whirlpools all around her in the vast lake and realized that other vents had to be collapsing as well. Was the entire cave system being flooded at once? Something was missing – or rather, somepony. “Fine!” She swam in a circle, eyes darting frantically at the bodies. Many of them were being sucked down into the watery vortexes. “Fine, where are you?” The egg began to drift away, and she snatched it back before it could end up in one of the whirlpools. Fleur had to paddle hard to stay between them and not get dragged down. “Fine, talk to me! You’ve got to be here somewhere.” Her eyes passed over the scene again, her heart sinking as she scanned body after body after—there! Fine floated face-down in the water between two nearby whirlpools. Fleur kicked her legs as hard as she could, struggling against the wild currents that threatened to drag her down. “I’m coming, Fine, just hold on!” It seemed to take an eternity to reach him, but reach him she did. With no small effort, she managed to turn him over. He was bleeding profusely from his head, and the sight almost sucked the air out of her. Panting, she caught him by the shoulders and swam backwards for the nearest shore. It was a long way and the whirlpools didn’t show any sign of abating. Fleur’s muscles burned. Staying above the water’s surface was a constant struggle with Fine’s heft, and to make things worse she was still holding the egg in her magical grasp. Even so, she somehow managed to reach the wall of the crater that formed the lake. 'Wall,' because the water level had fallen precipitously. She couldn’t have climbed out on her own, much less with her burden. Luckily there was a ledge nearby, and she managed to reach it before the water level dropped too low. She set the egg down first, then climbed up herself. Dragging Fine’s body onto the ledge required both her muscles and her magic. As soon as he was safe, she collapsed on top of him with a gasp. She lay there for some time, panting and wishing her muscles would forgive her. Yet no matter how much pain she felt, she could only smile, for she was alive. The thought made her laugh giddily. Then she recalled the blood and came to her senses. She hurriedly checked to see if Fine was breathing and was relieved to see his chest rising in a slow rhythm. Next she examined his head, trying to find where the blood was coming from. She parted his mane and felt at his scalp, but could find nothing save a large bump. Worry filled her; if she couldn’t stop the bleeding— Fleur paused. She ceased her frantic searching and stood to take in Fine’s head in its entirety. It was then she saw that the ‘blood’ seeping from Fine wasn’t even red, but black. She blinked and rubbed her eyes, then realized that her hooves were black, too. She examined Fine once more and realized that the excess red she’d been seeing was actually his mane. Dye. Fine’s mane had been dyed, and now the black was washing out. She stared, dumbfounded to see bright, light red hair. She glanced back to find Fine’s tail in the same state. She stood there, motionless, speechless. Then, as if a damn were breaking, she started to laugh. She threw her head back and let loose, her jaw spreading so wide it hurt and tears running down her cheeks. Why she laughed, she hadn’t a clue, but as it rose high into the blue sky she began to feel a weight lifting off her shoulders. At last reduced to mere chuckles, Fleur lay down next to Fine, pressing her body close to his. Her legs hurt, her body was shivering from the moisture, her lungs hadn’t stopped aching. Yet she felt… relaxed. She closed her eyes and let the weariness overtake her. The lake continued to drain.