>Another day, another round of sweat and rock.
>The glow of torches burn in your eyes as you hammer away.
>M: “You’re getting pretty good at this.”
“Just doing my job. Can’t attract too much attention.”
>Your pick cracks through a dense cluster of rocks revealing the gleaming treasure within.
>You pull out the rough emerald and dust it off.
>M: “I’ll be damned.”
>S: “Ooooh, big one found something!” the bull dog cites to his guards who take pleasure in stealing it from your hands.
“Didn’t want it anyways.”
>S: “Fill cart!” he barks at you as he calls for the mine cart.
>You put your back into it and load the meager amount into the heaping cart.
>Back to work.
 
>Rover comes in banging away at his bell and pulls the attention of every prisoner and guard.
>R: “Shower time.”
“Shower time?” you whisper questionably to Maverick.
>M: “You’ll see soon enough.”
>A guard smacks you upside the head and shuffles you along the tunnel tracks.
>The other prisoners eye your group with mixed looks, some envious and others concerned.
>You enter a different section of the caverns and note the density in the air along with the moisture building up on the walls.
>The tunnel opens up into a massive chamber further than the eye can see.
>Water flows from pipes in the walls and cascade down into a expansive pool.
>M: “This is where we’re taken to wash up. Even these dogs have a limit on what they smell.”
“This used to be part of a sewer system.”
>Maverick looks to you curiously at this.
“Look at the pipes, these were used by the city to dispose of waste and the like.”
>M: “So that’s why it smells like shit.”
 
“I wouldn’t bathe in that unless my life depended on it.”
>Rover snickers and passes you by.
>R: “It just might.”
>You head on down to the water’s edge as your fellows sink in one by one.
“I’m not going in there.”
>A guard shoves a piece of soap into your hands and pushes you on.
>M: “You will if they tell you to.”
>You cringe as the smell hits you and dip your toe into the water.
>It’s not as bad as you thought it’d be but it’s definitely not homey enough for your taste.
>You force yourself not to gag as you strip down, and fold your clothes against the rocks, moving waist deep into the pool.
>They don’t even monitor that far out, perhaps you could-
>M: “I don’t know what’s deeper in there, but the one’s that do don’t last very long.”
>A fin pops out a few hundred yards out and you step back.
 
>?: “Oh shit…” a stallion curses fumbling with his bar of soap.
>He looks around quietly before searching the water with his hoof.
>M: “They never learn.”
>One of the bigger stallions gets up behind him and before he can defend himself, he mounts him.
>You look away unable to bear the poor guy’s grimacing and continue washing yourself.
>Maverick and the others turn a blind eye to it as well as the guards.
>As long as you’re not the one getting rutted no one seems to care.
>M: “I sometimes wonder if they do it on purpose.”
>You lather up, eyes fixated on the sea before you.
>Your hand grips tight on the soap as the fin reemerges, your bar plopping out of your hands.
>You turn back to see the same stallion grinning coyly.
“I washed enough.”
 
>You hit the shore but find your clothes missing.
>When you look back up you find Fido slipping them on your shirt.
>F: “How I look?”
>S: “You foolish, clothes too small.”
“Hey! Those are mine!”
>M: “Let it go,” he says trying to quiet you down. “They’re just clothes.”
>They’re not just clothes, they’re yours.
>R: “Something you want to say big guy?” he says from above sitting on a rock.
>You shrug off Maverick and step up.
“Those are my clothes and I want them back.”
>M: “Oh boy…”
>F: “Want them back? Alright. We give them back.”
>A pair of guards grab your arms and pushes you away.
>M: “I tried to warn you.”
 
>You curl up as another paw kicks you in the stomach, six guards towering above you.
>Another hits you on the chin and forces you into the dirt.
>R: “Enough!” he yells and walks over to you, “Still want puny clothes?”
>You nod and cough as the fine dirt fills your lungs.
>R: “You have heart, but foolish. Will regret coming here.”
>He waves his paw and Fido tosses you your clothing.
>Come to find out he tore bits and pieces of it when he tried to put it on.
>F: “Lucky he like you.”
>Lucky. That’s the word for it.
>The group disbands and another prisoner comes over cautiously.
>You recognize him as Dusk, an older fellow with scars visible all across his blackened coat.
>D: “You’re an idiot you know that. They could’ve killed you.”
“I wanted my clothes.”
 
>He helps you up, the effort hurting him as much as you looking at the scars.
>D: “I hope it was worth it.”
>You wipe the blood residing around your mouth and nod.
“There’s six.”
>D: ”Six? Of what?”
“Six guards at any section. I thought it might’ve just been our block, but it’s consistent all over.”
>You find a rock to sit on and catch your breath.
“They each have a bell like Rover, if one group gets in trouble they’d call the others. You’d have to avoid them all together.”
>D: “You’re thinking about escaping?”
>You nod and he smacks your chops.
>D: “And I thought you were reckless before. What kinda stupid idea is that?”
“It’s Maverick’s idea.”
>D: “Then Maverick’s an idiot who’s going to get you killed.”
“I trust him.”
>D: ”And I don’t trust anybody.”
 
“Look, I appreciate your checking up on me, but I have to get back to work.”
>D: “Just listen to me here. You don’t want to be doing nothing foolish like that. You’ll get yourself killed or worse.”
“And what could be worse than death?”
>He grows silent for a moment and you think you’d bested him.
>D: “I didn’t always look like this ya know. I used to be the talk of the block back in the day.”
“Of course,” you roll your eyes.
>D: “And then I tried to escape.”
>Now it’s your turn to grow silent.
>He shivers as he runs a hoof over his mangled flesh.
>D: “Once you try to run, they’ll make you never do it again. Remember that.”
>With that he picks up his pick and disappears down the tunnel.
 
>You find your way back to the group and immediately go back to work.
>M: “I’m sorry man I tried to warn you.”
“It’s alright.”
>You don’t say more and just fixate on your work, your eyes picturing Dusk’s torn body.
>M: “You alright man? I got some extra water here to-“
“I’m fine. Just- I want to get today’s work done alright?”
>It’s a fair enough request.
>You mine the time away before turning in to bed.
>You crawl to the corner and wrap yourself up, thought wandering to what you’d look like in Dusk’s place.
>They’d beat you until the only movement left was your lungs barely lifting your chest.
>They’d carve into you like play-doh and chuckle at your protest.
>Who knows what things they’d do to you?
>Dusk knows.
 
>Day 95 in Equestria.
>Mining is almost second nature to you now.
>When you awaken you mine, when you sleep you dream of the mine.
>They bring in a new batch of prisoners every week or two and there’s always the two heroes.
>They play it tough, but they all end up begging as they’re dragged down that same path.
>The soup always has a bit more flavor afterwards.
>Maybe escape isn’t worth it knowing the consequences.
>If there was anyone out there who managed to survive they deserve a medal.
>You live on the scraps of those you created, nobody in their midst.
>Maybe that’s just who you are, nobody.
>Just a blip on the cosmic scale, or even the natural scale.
>This might be all you-
 
>A guard kicks dust in your face as you write, Spot appearing out from behind him.
>S: “Rover want to talk to you.”
“Yes sir,” you drone and set your things down.
>He takes you away under heavy guard to Rover’s chambers.
>You can almost taste the fresh air as you near the surface.
>A gate blocks the way forward, two guards stationed outside the door just to the left.
>Spot knocks on the large wooden door, Rover calling you in.
>S: “Behave.”
“Yes sir.”
>You enter the meager office, an old wooden desk in the center.
>Rover sits behind it as he inspects a gem under a looking glass.
“You wanted to see me sir.”
>R: “Sit.”
>You do so slowly, unsure of his motives.
>He looks up from his gem and puts his paws under his chin.
>R: “How’ve you been?”
 
“Sir?”
>R: “How you like it here?”
>Is- Is he really asking you that question?
“I don’t understand the question.”
>R: “You dumb or just stupid?”
>Does he- Whatever.
“Do you want a lie or the truth?”
>R: “Surprise me,” he leans back in his chair.
“I’d rather of died and gone to hell.”
>He rubs his chin before snapping his claws with a grin.
>R: “Tartarus fun place, but I assure you it funner here.”
>You eye the belt around his waist, his keys dangling from the straps.
“Your grammar makes me want to hit children.”
>R: “So it safe to say you don’t like it here.”
“That would be an understatement.”
 
>He stands up and takes a ruby off the wall, twirling it around in his fingers as he sit on his desk.
>R: “We know this. What we don’t know is who might- How we put it? Try to leave?”
>So this is that kind of conversation.
“I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t want to leave.”
>He shakes his paw at you and leans forward.
>R: “Not want to leave, try to leave.”
“We know better than to try.”
>He sighs and grabs a glass of something that smells of alcohol.
>R: “Me like you Mr. Anun.”
“Anon.”
>R: “Yeah, Anun. Me thinks you are smart guy.”
“You just asked if I was stupid.”
>R: “You splitting hairs. My point is you could have better life here.”
“If…”
>R: “You supply information.”
 
>R: “Think like this. Better clothes, better food, benefits and who know? Maybe freedom at some point.”
>You ball your fist as he drabbles on about what you could get if you cooperated with him.
>No benefit package in the world would be enough for you to betray Maverick and his group.
>They’ll escape with you and you’ll be rid of this place.
>R: “So? What you say?”
“What do I say?”
>You uppercut that fucker right in his smug snout even managing to draw a trickle of blood.
“That’s what I say!”
>He kicks you through the door and right into Fido’s arms who puts you in a full nelson headlock.
>R: “I make offer and this how you act? Foolish to the end.”
>He punches you hard in the gut and you sink to your knees.
>R: “Get him out of here.”
>The guards drag you back to your meager bed roll kicking you for good measure.
 
>M: “What’d he offer you?”
“I’m doing fine, thanks.”
>You take a draft of water and wipe your lips clean.
>M: “I didn’t expect them to begin so soon. This throws a wrench in the whole plan. We’re going to have to act fast.”
>You grab hold of your pick and rub the splintering stock with your palm.
“When I get out of here I’m going to drive this pick straight through Rover’s eye.”
>M: “Hey! Hey! Look at me,” he grabs you. “We’ll make it out, but they caught you once, they can do it again. Don’t go doing anything foolish.”
>You pull away and grit your teeth as the wood cuts into your hands, more fuel for the fire you say.
“I was going to a great scientist, renowned throughout the world. The war took that away and these dogs took away all I had left.”
>M: “We’re going to get out of here.”
“I know,” you say fishing Rover’s keys from your pocket, “Let’s make it quick.”
 
>M: “You sly mother- How’d you get manage that?”
“Punched him in the snout and grabbed them in the confusion. My old girlfriend said I had magic hands.”
>He chuckles and moves across the tunnel to the other group of stallions that he’d been in league with.
>They talk as you rub your pickaxe greedily, eagerly waiting for the moment to come.
>M: “They’re not sure they can trust you.”
“We’ll see about that.”
>You bide your time, nestling back into bed, hands still wrapped around your pickaxe.
>The guards pass, each time you count their movements.
>You’ve done many a day in hope of actually mustering the strength to act.
>But this isn’t strength.
>It’s rage.
 
>You stand up, muscles quivering as adrenaline pours into you like a flood.
>Maverick stirs just as you move behind the yawning guard pickaxe raised in the air.
>You close your eyes as you imbed it in the back of his neck, the dog sputtering softly as the length of the pick cuts through his throat and out the front.
>The spray of blood hits your face but you can’t bear to open your eyes at the sight.
>Rage all but dissipates at your action, all of it concentrated in that one swing.
>You shake as the other guards soon become aware of what you’ve just done and descend upon you with their lances at the ready.
>You’d be dead by now if not for your fellow captives who had sprung up to defend you.
“So much blood…” you mutter as you sink to your knees and rock back and forth.
>This wasn’t you. You’re not a killer, no matter the being you just don’t kill.
>M: “By Celestia! The buck were you thinking dude?”
“I- I-“
>M: “I didn’t think you had it in you.”
 
>The others agree some even patting you on the shoulder.
“I only wanted to make life, but-“ you look away from the pile of corpses, “Death is another matter.”
>M: “Snap out of it,” he shakes you, “Don’t go all filly on me now. We have to move now.”
“I can’t do it again…”
>M: “You don’t have to. Just leave it to us, now give me the keys.”
>He snatches them out of your hand and stands up in front of the group.
>M: “I know a route we can take through the lower portion of the caves but we’ll need to move fast. The guards will be rotating in the next half hour so we have until then to sneak past them.”
>The p0nies raise their picks in the air and Maverick picks you up.
>M: “We’re going to make it out of this. You and I.”
>You don’t say anything as he puts your pick back in your hands, blood dripping of the end.
>You shouldn’t have done this.
 
>The crowd waits in the shadows as the cart passes, one of the dogs sniffing the air.
>G1: “You smell that?”
>M: “Now!”
>The p0nies come clobbering in and knock out the pair of guards.
>The shipment of gems is swiftly unloaded and replaced with the equine cargo.
“I think I’ll push,” you say softly and move behind the cart, Maverick there with you.
>You push it along the tracks without a hitch, the months you spent mining doing well to invigorate your muscle growth.
>The tunnels are remarkably quiet, almost too much so.
“You sure we’re going the right way? I haven’t seen a guard for hours.”
>M: “Trust me, this is the way.”
>He hasn’t led you astray since you’ve known him.
>Perhaps it’s for the best.
 
>You spot a metal gate up ahead, Maverick rushing over to it and fumbles with the lock.
>There’s nothing down here, yet torches line the walls still.
“I don’t like this Maverick.”
>M: “How can you say that when we’re this close? After this gate we’ll be home free.”
>No it’s too easy. No bells, no more patrols, no nothing.
“Who else did you let in on this plan?”
>M: “No one,” he says opening up the gate, “Why?”
“I think someone tipped them off.”
>M: “That’s impossible. None of us would do that?”
>It couldn’t be-
“Dusk…”
>Cackling echoes from behind you and you whip around fearfully pressing your back against the cart.
>Claws scratch the stone walls on all sides.
“Damn him.”
 
>The p0nies file out and ready their weapons for the oncoming carnage.
>M: “Looks like this is it boys. Let’s give them hell.”
>A lance smacks you in the nose from above as a rain of guards come crawling in from every which way.
>Another hit knocks your body into the cart, the battle raging on as you lie in the empty cart.
>You grab hold of your pick.
>Then you think of that dog, slumped over gurgling his last breathe because of you.
“I can’t do it…”
>You pull yourself into the fetal position, breathing heavily as your fellows are slaughtered like cattle.
>Their blood is on your hands now…
>A shadow covers you as an empty void fills the tunnel.
>R: “Coward to the end.”
 
>The gag cuts into the sides of your mouth, hands locked in a crude set of manacles as you’re paraded through the tunnels.
>They know exactly where you’re going and so do you.
>You don’t fight back merely because you can’t.
>You brought this upon yourself the second you swung that pick.
>If you hadn’t perhaps things would’ve turned out differently.
>They died because of your cowardice.
>Perhaps you should’ve died with them.
>Dusk shakes his head as you pass him by, a flicker fading within you.
>He tried to warn you after all.
>He didn’t want to see you hurt.
>The tunnel leads only to where your actions take you.
>Fido throws you into the room, the dirt floor covered with tarps.
>F: “Don’t scream, it annoys us.”
 
>The guards shed their armor, a few still maintaining their lances.
>He pulls you across the floor and locks you to the floor.
>Rover enters the door in front of you and watches your shivering body.
>F: “You not need these,” he says ripping off the clothes he’d desecrated beforehand. “Look better on me anyways.”
>R: “We gave you chance, but still you defy. Shame. Me still like you.”
>Your gag doesn’t allow you to respond.
>The door behind you swings open and the many guards quiet down.
>R: “Only reason you not dead now, but you still need lesson. Be lucky you have friend.”
>You tune him out, but a sly voice causes a shiver to run up your back.
>M: “What can I say? They had dental.”
>You pull against your chains violently as the door closes behind you.
>M: “No tears…”
 
>Day… 237.
>Everyone’s running.
>I don’t know what’s going on.
>All I know is that I’m safe here in my bed.
>No one will hurt me here.
>They can’t see me if I can’t see them.
>I didn’t see the bright one come.
>He spoke to me but I didn’t listen as I cowered in my bed.
>He can’t hurt me like the others.
>Everyone’s running.
>The dog’s are lying on the floor.
>They’re not moving.
>The bright one is taking me away.
>I don’t know where he is, but I still have my bed.
>I’m safe here in my bed.
>No one can hurt me here.
>I just want to sleep.
>Why can’t I sleep again?
 
>This room’s different. Smooth walls but hard, like rock. You don’t like rock, they live in it.
>A purple p0ny sits across from you
>?: “Do you know who I am?”
“Don’t know. Don’t need to know. Not one of them. Don’t know who you are.”
>She has a thing on her head and it glows brightly. Like a torch.
>You flinch at the thought of flame. Not good. Not feel good.
>She reminds you of something- Something you forgot- Bad memories. Don’t think.
>?: “Where are you from?”
“From? From where? The tube. Yes, I remember the tube. It was cold, not like fire. Very weak. Then-“ your heart races as you remember. “They came! They took me! Deep into that place! Don’t want to go back, can’t go back.”
>?: “Shhh, it’s alright. You’re safe now.”
>Safe. You were safe. Back in the tube, back asleep.
 
>?: “This is your journal correct?”
“My journal. I want my journal. Please-“
>It hovers over to you and you pull it into your arms as you retreat back into your blanket.
>So soft, warm, not bad. Won’t hurt you.
>?: “The inscription on the inside says ‘Maverick.’ Is that your name?”
“Maverick… He was there, thought he was friend, worst friend, can’t trust him, turned me in, can’t trust anyone, they’ll hurt me too.”
>?: “How about me? Can you trust me?”
“Don’t know. Not one of them. Don’t know who you are. Maybe. Not likely.”
>?: “Then how about your name. Can you tell me your name?”
“A-” you hesitate, she’s nice. Maybe she can help. Real nice lady. “It’s Anon.”
>She smiles and closes her book.
>TS: “My name is Twilight Sparkle and I’m going to take good care of you.”
>Nice lady. Real nice. Gave you book. Had to leave. But bed is good. Back asleep.
>No more pain. Just sleep.