Rubbing my eyes, I closed them and shut them tightly before opening them again. 'Uhg what?' I wondered sitting up and looking around. Looking over my surroundings, memories flooded back making me look over at the bucket of disgusting water in the corner of the cell. Standing up with some difficulty, the pain in my legs rather intense, I let out a yawn. I made an attempt to make the pain in my legs go away by stretching them, and while it helped for a while it came back with a vengeance a while later making me sigh.
'So what's on the agenda today?' I questioned looking over at the wall. 'Oh looks like there's nothing to do!' I thought sitting down and looking over at my backpack. 'Haven't tried to build a house of cards in a while...' I thought digging through one of the smaller pockets for my deck. Fishing it out, I started laying the cards tops touching, quickly finding the gaps in the stone would be my first enemy. Houses collapsing one after another before a thought occurred. 'Why not connect smaller houses together instead of building one large one?' I wondered before starting to get to work.
Soon there was a small city of cards, small bridges connecting them over the gaps in the stone. A chuckle echoed through me as I looked at the small achievement I had made, using a little over three quarters of the deck. Turning around to see if there was any guards, I found there was one standing at the door leading back upstairs.
Her eyes darted to me as I came into view only to return to their original position, looking straight forward. There was a temptation to wave the guard over and show her my city, but I decided against it. Scooting back into my room I questioned what to do with the city.
A smile came to my face as remembered dominoes. Carefully getting up, I carefully made my way to the small iron grate that served as my toilet, crouched down and blew at the nearest house. A strange happiness came over me as I watched everything I had build tumble down to the stone only for me to notice wide eyed that a card had slid under the iron door.
Scrambling I reached out managing to get my arm through the iron bars of the cell door and retrieve the card. Seeing the guard, I watched as she turned and lifted a hoof obviously going to make her way over to my cell. Scooping up the cards I looked around unable to think of something to do before throwing them down my shirt, thankful I had gotten in the habit of tucking it into my pants.
The guard arrived to see me sitting there against the wall 'looking' at my feet before changing my line of sight to the guard.
“You have playing cards?” The guard asked raising an eyebrow.
I was going to try to play it off as though I didn't know what she was talking about, but a spark of interest in her eyes made me instead nod. The unicorn mare looked around my cell before returning her gaze to me with a questioning look.
Un-tucking my shirt with no small amount of care, I let the cards fall to the cell floor before grabbing them and starting to shuffle them, flipping cards all in the same direction as I go.
“You know Five card Draw?” she asked bringing a smile to my face.
After a few games, Sundance, as her name turned out to be, asked if I had anything to wager pulling out a couple of bits. I cocked my head to the side and looked at her strangely. “Come now, the other guards took all my money and what would I even do with bits in here?” I asked a smile coming to my face.
“Well what should we wager then? She asked crossing her forehooves and raising an eyebrow.
A hand went up to my chin tugging at my beard. “Well unless you want to bet pieces of straw” I said pointing back at the useless 'bed' in the corner. “I have... this” I finished pulling out my small roll of bills.
“And what is that?” She asked raising an eyebrow as I split the paper money, putting a small roll of it in my pouch.
Holding out a small stack for her smiling. “Money from where I come from. It's not doing anyone any good, so might as well put it to some use betting right?” I asked with a smile.
The unicorn shrugged taking the bills looking them over before separating them out. Throwing a five forward, we started another game.
“So what landed you in here anyways?” Sundance asked throwing away a five to draw another card.
I chuckled “That's quite a long story” I said throwing away a eight of clubs and king of hearts hoping for a flush, or at least a straight, drawing my two I found that while I didn't get what I wanted two aces aren't bad. I added a ten to the pair of fives and was met by her.
The mare looked at me and smiled, “That's what they all say” She said laying her cards out revealing a straight. I nodded showing her my own hand of two aces, a three, a five, and a pair of twos. Sundance pulled the bills throwing them on her stack.
I shrugged as I reshuffled the deck. “That doesn't surprise me” I said tossing her her five cards before drawing my own. “I mean some peo-er-ponies would rather keep that personal” I said looking at the cards to find a flush. I threw in a ten dollar bill and was met by the mare.
“That's understandable, though you don't really seem to be that kind of guy” She said dropping three of her cards. She threw in a five and I pulled a ten from the stack which she met.
I nodded chuckling again, “You're right I'm not, I just don't think I know you well enough yet, and figure if you've been standing there since the night shift ended then you probably don't have much time left before whoever is going to relieve you does” I said before laying my hand before me letting my her see and groan as she revealed a pair of kings.
I took the small pile of bills and added it to my stack. I watched as Sundance's horn glowed for a moment as she closed her eyes. After a few moments her horn went out and she opened her eyes. “No worries there, I still have a couple hours” she said smiling.
I shook my head as I reshuffled the cards again. “Never understand how you guys can do that” I said dealing our hands. “I'm surprised you don't end up falling asleep at your post”
Sundance smiled and leaned in closer, “Between you and me, sometimes I do!” She said chuckling.
The games of five card draw went on for a good while, each of us telling stories. Both of us started getting rather board of it, surprising me as she had most of the bills now.
Dealt one more hand to both of us. “One more for it all?” I suggested making the unicorn smile and shrug, an obvious 'why not?' as she pushed her pile to the center of our little game, cut in half by the cell door.
I looked at my hand, a small smile coming to my face at the luck. A full house looked back the, making me look up Sundance only to see her throwing three of her cards. Giving her three more, I laughed out loud as she lowered a straight flush before lowering my own.
“Welp Miss Sundance, it's all yours” I said accepting the cards back as she pulled in the large pile of bills a smile on her face.
The unicorn looked at her armor for a second before tucking a five into a hidden pocket before pushing the rest back. I gave her a look of confusion before she shook her head, “I have nowhere to put all this paper, I figure we can play again sometime, maybe when you're having better luck” She said before sticking out her tongue playfully.
Humor graced my face as I accepted the money back. “I'll look forward to it” I said before shuffling the deck again. “I take it you gotta go?” I asked as she got up and stretched for a moment before nodding.
“Yea I probably have fifteen minutes before the next guard arrives so I gotta get that...” she stopped interrupting herself to freeze her face still, showing no emotions and staring forward. “thing going” she finished looking back down at me. “I'll see you later though alright?” she said waving before returning to her post.
I returned the wave before packing the deck of cards up and putting the bills back into my pack.
“My I say, I cannot stand it down here” a voice echoed through the dungeon followed by the clacking of hooves. I raised an eyebrow. 'I doubt that's Sundance's next shift' I thought peeking a look out of the cell door to see a white well built unicorn with a straight blonde mane walking down the stairs. Flanking him on either side were two well built unicorns, one sporting a gray coat and black mane that was tied off into a ponytail, the other had a bright red coat with a light orange mane. “You can step out for a moment my dear” Prince Blueblood said to Sundance who saluted before walking mechanically out the door.
'Oh dear God help me' I thought as the door shut. I quickly donned my coat and hood, flipping the latter up before resting my head on my pack facing the stone wall opposite of the door.
“Those new guards are so foolish” I heard a higher pitched voice say quickly followed by posh laughter.
“Oh yes, I must agree. Following whatever you tell them to do, hoping to get a promotion” Blueblood's voice sounded again making my stomach bunch up wanting to hurt him. “That's not the reason we're here though! We came to see the newest and only addition to the castle dungeon!” the voice sounded again as it approached. “The traitorous... minotuar guard” the voice said trailing off disappointment evident.
“Oh come now, I heard he was some kind of murderous brute, what is this?” the high pitched voice said.
“Perhaps he is asleep” Blueblood said, purposefully being loud. “There is nothing to do in that sad little room of his”
“That is so true!” the high pitched voice agreed making me wish I could end both of them. “I don't think I could last hours let alone years in such a boring environment”
“Will you dimwitted fools shut up?” I said sitting up and looking at them, already having enough of their prater.
The three seemed taken aback, taking a step away from the cell door. Blueblood recovered first, anger coming to his features. “It seems the felon is not only a murderous brute, but to call the Prince of Equestria a fool? It seems he doesn't even know how to talk to his superiors!” he said. I rolled my eyes folding my arm over my chest.
The anger in the 'Prince's' face quickly dissolved into a look that had been practiced many times. “I am a merciful Prince though, so if you kneel down and kiss my hoof all is forgiven.” he said walking forward and holding his hoof in between the bars of the cell.
My eyes narrowed as I got up and approached allowing saliva to build in my mouth before kneeling, coming eye to eye to the prince and spitting right into one of his half lidded eyes that spoke of nearly endless pride.
A howl of pain and anger echoed through the dungeon as the prince stumbled back. “You! You uncultured swine!” He shouted, horn sparking to life.
I felt myself being lifted and thrown up against the stone wall behind me arms splayed out. “You will pay for that!” he shouted again the door to my cell being thrown open allowing the other two unicorns to enter.
Blueblood wiped the spit from his eye before following his companions. “How about we castrate this fool prince” the high pitched voice sounded from the red one as the gray one's horn lit and a green scalpel appeared floating near his head.
“Oh how appropriator.” I laughed at the three as Blueblood opened his mouth. “The Prince of Equestria going after some equipment so much more capable of pleasing mares than his own!” I said laughing harder before malice dripping from my voice.
I felt an impact in my chest that sent the wind from my lungs and left me gasping for breath. Blueblood had presumably had enough of my chatter and begun hitting me with his hooves.
Pain laced up my spine forcing me to bite my tongue to keep me from crying out in pain before the unicorn prince lowered my head to his level and started hitting it instead.
After a few minutes, the Prince stepped back letting me fall to the ground fighting for breath. “Such uncultured delinquents have no right to talk to me in such a way” he said breathing heavily. “Come” he said to his two companions as he turned and exited the cell.
“How... surprising” I managed to cough out spitting out blood and a few teeth, one of my eyes already swelling shut. “The.. unicorn Prince of Equestria... resorts to dirtying his hooves instead... of using the glorified stallion poker... on his head” I said.
Prince Blueblood whirled around, his two unicorn companions stepping past him as he rushed back into my cell and kicked me over so I was looking up at him as his horn lit up and a ball of magic gathered at the top. “If you are so wishing for a beating, who is the Prince of Equestria to deny?!” He shouted before firing the magic at me.
A smile crossed my face as the cool feeling washed over me making my injuries hurt less and making the swelling in my eye go down just enough for me to see a blurry image out of it. The Prince looked shocked for a moment before trying again, only making my smile wider as the magic impacted.
“What in Equestria are you?” he shouted stepping back as I rose to my feet.
Quicker than he could react, I grabbed onto his glowing horn. “Someone who really hates you” I said before pulling with all my strength bracing my other hand against his face and pushing with it.
Blueblood's started screaming and more magic was poured into his horn before a loud crack echoed through the dungeon making me jerk back away from the Prince as he fell to the floor. I lowered my fist and looked at my prize; a white spiraling horn.
Magic and blood sputtered from the cracked remains of Blueblood's horn making the two other unicorns eyes go wide with panic. Within seconds the two sprinted for the door only for it to bust open with guards and a rather unhappy looking Princess walking in, the two not knowing what to do, quickly exited before the Princess could get a word in.
“Wanderer...” She started anger turning to shock as she saw me covered in new injuries, her nephew on the ground and his horn in my hand. “What happened?” she asked, anger slowly resurfacing.
I coughed into my fist wiping off the blood that had sprinkled it. “Your nephew here” I motioned with the horn to the unconscious unicorn. “Decided he wanted to 'see the new prisoner' to find out if rumors of me being a savage brute were true.” I said, more coughing taking me before I gave up on standing and sat down. “After his extremely rude attempts to gain my attention while I tried to pretend to sleep, hoping he would leave, I told him to silence himself. After some agitation on both sides, he decided it wise to pin me to the wall using his magic and beat me when I insulted his stallionhood by 'lowering himself to that of an earth pony' he decided to try and blast me with magic and...” I trailed off holding the horn in between my forefinger and thumb.
I started coughing again dropping the horn and holding my stomach. Blueblood groaned as the trickle of blood from his horn slowed down.
Princess Celestia looked between both of us, seemingly trying to make sense of the situation. An angry growl echoed from her throat as she put a hoof to her forehead. “Guards take Blueblood to the royal physician I need to speak with the Wanderer” she said the guards saluting before picking up the unconscious royal. When the door shut again, the princess looked at me with a mix of anger and confusion. “You claim to know about our world, but then cause something like this to happen!? Explain yourself!” she nearly shouted.
Letting out short breaths I tried to adjust my seat. “Alright, Princess” I said holding my hands out defensively. “I admit I may have gone a little too far” I said looking at the horn laying in front of me. “I did try to keep from even speaking to him though. After seeing what he had done to Rarity and AppleJack at the Grand Galloping Gala, I wanted nothing to do with him seeing as how you no doubt would've ignored my requests to do... well that” I said motioning to the small pool of blood and the horn. “He quickly became agitated and, as I said, pinned me to the wall before beating me. When I made another comment, he decided that he should shoot magic at me, which thankfully had the same effect as the other magic in the Everfree. I was defending myself in ripping his horn off, as I guessed it would disable him enough he wouldn't be able to try and kill me again”
Princess Celestia simply looked at me for a few moments, almost as if expecting more before she slammed her hoof into the stone below her, causing a small tree of cracks to appear, and letting out an angry shout. After a few moments she tried to take a few deep breaths, but it didn't seem to work as she looked over at the bucket in the corner before blasting it with her magic. The bucket seemingly evaporated, the only thing left being a small amount of steam that trailed up for a moment before disappearing.
“We will discuss this later!” The solar princess said her magic grabbing onto the cell door and slammed it shut. Celestia stomped off to the door leading to the staircase opening it before slamming it shut as well. “Where is the guard who was posted in the dungeon?” her shout rang out, though I didn't pay it much attention.
Looking down at the horn, I put it in my pouch before taking off my coat again. This time draping it over myself as I put my aching head against the surprisingly soft backpack.
“Where is the guard that was posted in the dungeon?!” Celestia yelled walking up the stairs. There was the thought to listen to the two unicorns that her nephew had been wandering around the castle with, but part of her knew that if they were hanging around with Blueblood, there was little doubt they would both spin completely different tales of how The Wanderer assaulted the prince making them fight him off.
“Private Sundance reporting your majesty” A female guard said saluting as Princess Celestia reached the top of the stairs.
Looking over the mare, the solar diarch raised an eyebrow. “Would you care to explain to me why you were not at your post?” she asked, annoyance still finding it's way into her voice.
A look of fear crossed over Sundance's face and she shook even standing at attention. “I w-was ordered to leave y-your majesty” she finally stuttered out, her eyes darting from Celestia's face to anywhere else.
“By whom?” The Princess asked, having a feeling she already knows who ordered it.
A cough sounded from Sundance, “Th-the Prince your majesty” she managed to say making Celestia let out an annoyed sigh.
“I understand. Who is your commanding officer?” The princess asked, the tone of her voice growing softer.
The tone made Sundance calm slightly, but the question made her ears fall knowing the meaning behind it. “Sergeant Almond Sweets, your majesty” She said perking herself back up to attention.
“Very good, thank you my little pony. Please return to your post” Celestia said watching as the guard saluted and made her way down the stairs. 'Going to have to have a word with the Sergeant, it's not too hard to explain to new recruits that you are not to obey orders from prince Blueblood' she thought making her way down the hall, going to check on her nephew before returning to day court.
Guards saluted and servants bowed as the solar princess made her way through the castle to the royal physician's office. While normally she would return the courtesy with a smile or a nod of her head, her mood was still soured.
'I'm going to have to do something about the Wanderer if he cannot act like an adult' She thought rounding a corner and seeing two guards salute as she passed. 'I can understand his attempts to keep away from the prince, but after purposefully antagonizing him there needs to be some kind of punishment...' she thought before arriving at the royal physician's office. 'Though after seeing him beaten nearly to a pulp, letting the injuries heal themselves may be punishment enough'
Opening the door after a light knock the princess stepped into the office. A desk sat across from the door, plaques from different medical institutions resting on the wall behind them all addressing a mare the princess knew well. “Nurse Apothecary?” Celestia called out. Looking around the office.
“In here” a voice sounded from a door leading to the adjacent room. Stepping through the doorless frame, Celestia saw her nephew being checked over by an elderly green unicorn mare with a salt and pepper mane that was pinned up in a bun. A white coat rested on her back and a pair of small glasses rested on her muzzle. “Just the pony I wanted to see” Apothecary said looking up at the princess, “What happened to the boy here? It looks like he got in a fight with something that ripped his horn off”
Celestia nodded, “That's basically what happened” she said making the mare look up at her again, having started bandaging up the horn.
“Come now, a full grown minotuar bull couldn't do that, are you telling me a dragon is attacking the castle and I haven't been informed?” the mare said severing the medical tape with her horn and putting pressure on the wound making the Prince's unconscious form twitch. When the princess didn't reply the elderly mare looked up at her with an annoyed look before sighing. “Regardless, the boy's horn has been severed. It'll take a year or two to grow back, and it seems he drained his magical reserves so he'll be unconscious until his body can rebuild those. I cleaned out the stub of his horn as best I could, but there's not much else I can do for that”
Celestia nodded, looking at her nephew, a mixture of shame, worry, annoyance building in her gut. “Perhaps this time he will learn not to look down on others” she said before hearing a laugh from the elderly unicorn as she washed her hooves.
“I sincerely doubt that Celestia” She said her horn lighting up and drying her hooves. “The boy has no empathetic bone in him and the only way for him to step out of those high horseshoes he's in is if he's put in his place”
Celestia looked back at her nephew a look of contemplation crossing her face. “Perhaps you are right” she said.