Deceptive Slavery
Annabell stomped angrily off the Apple owned property. Grumbling about how inconsiderate and deplorable her stallion's actions were. How could he just sit back and let Celestia knows what happen to his sister! He was her brother, it was his job to protect her and all of his family and friends. Why couldn't he see that?
Yea, she was being foolish, but that wasn't any excuse to let her heart be shattered!
As she made her way to Ponyville to confront her own brother about the matter and tell him to come clean with Applejack, she spotted the mare in question looking over some carrots in the market district. Her typically lively and radiant demeanor seemed sullen and thoughtful.
Concern growing in her chest, the butter milk mare slowly approached. "Hey, Applejack? Are you okay?"
"Huh? Oh hey there, Annabelle." AJ replied, forcing a cheery attitude. "Sorreh, was just thinkin' 'bout tonight. Soarin said he wanted me to meet him at eight fer a special date. N' to be honest, ahm real nervous."
She didn't know what this special occasion, but Annabelle had a bad feeling about it. So, with a heavy sigh, she asked to speak with the young mare in private. The two found a private space in the park away from prying ears and she told Applejack what Soarin had said to both her and her father a few days ago.
"Why would you say he said that?" The cow pony questioned, her face turning stern.
"Because it's the truth, and I don't want to see you get hurt."
"Care to prove those accusations?"
Of course she wouldn't believe her at her word, but Anna was clever, and an idea popped into her head. She invited AJ to listen in while she questioned Soarin and hear it from the horses mouth.
The two soon found themselves infront of the motel where her father was staying and stopped. "Put your ear to the door and listen, okay?" Though reluctant and skeptical, Applejack nodded and the circus pony entered. "Soarin!" She barked, garnering her brother's attention.
"Ugh, sis I just finished up all the papers for the Discord incident and I've got a date with my marefriend tonight. I don't have time argue with you right now." He said a little louder than necessary.
"Shut up! I'm not going to let you string her along anymore to get back at her brother!" She yelled back.
Soarin let out a loud groan. "How many times do I have to tell you? I don't care about that with her. Applejack is a kind and nurturing mare who I want to get to know better."
The straw maned mare visibly recoiled from the response. What? What was he saying right now? She over heard him admit to his intention being soley for revenge. What was going on? Her answer was soon given by Soarin casting a devious smile and looking at the door.
"Next time you want to try catching me in the act, don't talk about your plans right behind the door." He whispered, shaking his head.
Seeing her plan quickly falling apart, Annabelle pulled out the last stop she could think of. "If Macintosh is the one you want to hurt, you're out of luck, he doesn't care anymore. He gave his blessing that she come out and have a good time with you." She shot back in a harsh whisper.
This time it was the Wonderbolt's turn to recoil, though he recovered with a sadistic grin. "Is that right? Well then, I guess I'll just have to do something he'll have to care about, wont I?"
And like that, all defiance fell. She watched her brother walk away with a million and one different scenarios playing through her mind about what he might do... what he could do. It wasn't common knowledge, but Soarin was no saint by any means, and she was out of cards to play against him.
"Applejack? What are you doing here? Our date isn't for another thirty minutes." She heard from behind.
The cow pony blushed and looked away. "Sorry fer the intrusion, but yer sister wanted to show me somethin'." Annabelle could practically feel the daggers being burned into the back of her head from the scornful emerald eyes that locked onto her.
"Oh? And what was that, little sister?" She turned to find him giving the most smugly innocent face she'd ever had the urge to buck. Though she didn't have to give an answer, his marefriend told him that it no longer mattered and suggested they start the date early. "Sounds good to me, we can go for a walk in the park or something." He replied, closing the door with only the echoing hoof steps to keep Anna company as she slowly gave into despair.
She wanted to help, she wanted to save AJ from whatever fate that her kin had in store, but the had lost all credibility and she knew it. Following them would be out of the question, trying to catch him in the act didn't work, and Mac wasn't going to help. She was out of options and no matter how much she tried, she couldn't figure out any way to stop the date from happening. Heaving a sigh of defeat, Annabelle resigned herself to failure.
Spike grunted as he hauled an arm full of gems into an iron cart with a matlic ring. The gems weren't heavy, but after a few hours of back breaking manual labor, his arms and legs were slowly turning into noodles. Lunch break wouldn't be for another hour or so and any slacking off was severely punished.
It was all kind of ironic in retrospect. He wanted a job where he was doing labor for another, and he got it. Though, no pay, small breaks and the ever looming threat of death wasn't exactly what he wanted to go along with it. Still he wanted to prove that he was truly sorry for his actions and that's why he kept digging. He didn't complain, he didn't slack off and aside from the snide remark here and there, he didn't talk back.
He tossed one final arm full of the cache of gems he'd collected and pushed the cart to Disodo. "Another cart full."
Disodo nodded. "You mine gems good for a geko." Was that something resembling a compliment? The dragon wasn't sure, but he'd take it as one, positive reinforcement was a rare commodity down here. "Take to main chamber than come back. You know drill." Giving a slight solute, the reptile began the arduous task of pushing the cart up the tracks. It wouldn't have been so bad if it weren't at an incline, but still he pushed through with his personal warden pushing right along side him.
It was nice having help, when he'd first arrived; Disodo wouldn't even talk to him besides barking orders. The two were by no means friends, but there was a growing respect at least. Small though it may be.
"DISODO!" Cried a smaller k9, this one wearing a green vest. Something Spike had correlated as being some kind of messenger caste. "Alpha Raptor has told that the first of the Council come. Rest should be here in two days. Make sure the geko can present himself." The guard dog nodded in understanding and the messenger disappeared back into the tunnels.
Spike wasn't sure why, but the news that his trial finally had a date suddenly terrified him. What if his time down here wasn't enough? What if the gems he'd collected wasn't enough to get him mercy?
Then another thought struck him. If he were killed, what would happen to Twilight? Or Macintosh or the rest of his friends? Were they going to come? Would they be alright? No, they'd be devastated at his passing. Heck, Rarity dragged herself through mud to try to stop him from leaving for just a few months!
It was a terrifying thought, one that made the dragon shiver. He was just starting to figure out his life! He'd just patched things up with Twilight and Rainbow! He couldn't die now, he just couldn't.
"GEKO!" Disodo barked, bringing him back to reality. "Back to work. We talk while you mine."
It was a quite trip but much easier to bring an empty cart down than a full one up. Once back in the mine, Disodo looked at the mouth of the cave for any eavs droppers before explaining that today would be the last day of work. After tonight, Spike would be put to rest for his trial. It was an odd idea but when questioned, the drake wished he'd kept his mouth shut.
A final day of rest to the Diamond Dogs was a lot like the last meal request to the Minotaur.