Chapter 24 Death.
Applejack watched her fellow ponies were digging tunnels. She could see the stallions pulling minecarts with rocks and dirt and sandstone through the tunnels while most of the mares dug, there were only a few stallions working alongside the mare.s
"How long have ya been down here?" Applejack asked a stallion digging next to her.
"About a year now." The stallion said "Most ponies don't make it."
"Why's that?" Applejack asked.
"They work us to death, they started about two weeks ago doing some less work and feeding us a bit more." He said.
"As anypony escaped?" She asked.
"None." The stallion looked to make sure the humans weren't watching "Just don't piss them off, they hate ponies who talk back, I would hate to see you die like so many."
Applejack looked at the humans "Someone is gonna stop them." Applejack said going back to her digging.
Matthew walked through the sand with Sansa and the two men "By nightfall we should reach the first ruins, they don't have tunnels but it's a place we can rest for the night." Sansa said as they walked.
"Alright sounds good." Matthew looked at the two men "You two haven't told me your names."
"Names Jason sir."
"I'm Earl."
"You two been in the army long?" Matthew asked.
"Yes sir, we both joined at the same time." Jason said.
"You two like it?" Matthew asked.
"Sansa is an amazing general, she cares for her troops." Earl said "We gladly follow her into hell without hesitation."
Matthew chuckled "That's good to hear."
"How long have you been king?" Earl asked.
"About two weeks." Matthew said "It's a long story, I was told I should write a book one day."
"I might read it." Jason said.
"You'll read anything." Earl said.
"At least I read instead of those comic books." Jason said.
"Alright you two! Stay sharp and keep an eye out." Sansa said as they moved through the sand "I don't want them sneaking up on us."
"YES MA'AM!" They both said.
"I know you mean well King Matthew but please wait till we make camp to make small talk with the men." Sansa asked.
"As you wish." Matthew said.
"Everyone get down now!" Sansa said getting down onto her knees as she spotted movements in the dunes.
Everyone got onto their knees "W-What is it?" Matthew asked placing his hand on his sword.
"I see a wagon." Sansa said "I don't know if it belongs to them or sellers for the bigger city."
"How good are you with a sword?" Jason asked.
"I can handle myself." Matthew said.
Sansa notices a pony pulling the wagon with another pony in the back "They are sellers." Sansa said "We can get moving again."
They returned on their path.
What felt like days walking in the hot sun was more than about seven hours of walking in the heat.
The night was filled with stories and good food. Each one telling stories of their life however when it came to Matthew's story the group was amazing of what had happened to him.
Soon the group felt their eyes begin to grow tired. They all said their goodnights while Sansa stayed awake to take the first watch for the night.
Matthew felt a strange force wash over his dreams as he found himself standing in the middle of a strange castle.
"So you are the one my son gave the dragon's power to." A voice said making Matthew look around.
"W-Who's there?" Matthew called out.
"I am the elder God Luthor, you have entered my realm." Luthor said "I do not know why but it seems you are here to stop something from happening."
"Right now I'm only here to get Applejack back from those who took here in the old ruins." Matthew said.
"Oh yes, the ruins I built in the old sands." Luthor said chuckling "Are you after the sword?"
"W-What sword?" Matthew asked confused.
"The sword of death, it's a sword I made in case we God's turn on each other." Luthor said "I hid the sword in those tunnels to keep anyone from getting that sword."
"That be why I'm here, to stop those at the ruins from getting the sword." Matthew said.
A man soon appeared in front of him "Why should I allow you to stop these people in my land?"
"Ask your brother Merlin, he sent me here for a reason." Matthew said.
"Merlin? He could never stay out of my life!" The room shook "My son told me about you Matthew, the king of Avalon, Lucy's making." The man moved towards a throne in the room "If find that sword and dare use it on me, I shall end you."
"I have no reason to turn a sword on you, you haven't done me wrong." Matthew said "Besides, I just want to go back home with Applejack."
"Now dear, this human has a heart filled with light." A woman said walking into the room.
"What are you doing here Lillian?" Luthor asked.
"I sense this human's heart in our realm." She said walking towards her husband "He is no threat my dear."
"You keep to your word human." He snapped his fingers and Matthew felt his body fall.
"He has the power to break the sword once and for all my dear." Lillian said.
"Rex was foolish to give him the power of a dragon." Luthor said.
"Rex was helping Lucy out, he wanted to put an end to the slavery." Lillian said.
"He was still foolish." Luthor stood "If he uses that sword I will have to kill him."
Matthew slowly awoke from his dream "Why is it always me?" He asked out loud "Because you love her." Matthew thought thinking of Applejack.
He left his tent to see Jason sitting on a stone keeping an eye on everything.
"Oh good you're up." Sansa said "We were about to wake you for breakfast."
"Have you guys eaten already?" Matthew asked.
"Yes."
"Let's get moving then, I wanna reach these ruins." Matthew said.
"Are you sure you don-" Sansa words were cut off by Matthew "I'll have some bread to go, I wanna get there as soon as possible."
"Alright Matthew."
They gathered up their things and made their way out into the desert.
Matthew could feel the heat burning his face as they walked through the desert. Yet he couldn't care less, he would get to these ruins save Applejack and put an end to these slavers.
The sand blew across the dunes. He could see the sun dancing across the sands as they walked. He could see the sun getting lower and that made him happy.
"Everyone down now." Sansa said "I see movements."
Everyone got down "What can you see?" Matthew asked as they hid behind a dune.
"Earl, I need your spyglass." Sansa said.
Earl crawled up and handed her the spyglass.
"I see about ten people, two in the towers and the rest standing around a wagon."
"Do you see any ponies?" Matthew asked.
"No, but they are armed." Sansa said "They even have the crown seal on a flag on the wagon."
"Should I head back and inform the Queen?" Earl asked.
"Jason, Earl." Sansa looked at her men "I want you both watching your backs on your way back, tell the Queen we found them, Matthew and I will follow them into these tunnels when they head back inside."
"As you wish Ma'am."
Jason and Earl stayed low and made their way back to Cradle Light.
"What's the plan?" Matthew asked.
"Right now we just watch them." Sansa said "We don't know how many there really is."
They soon placed a wagon inside a hidden tunnel "Looks like that's where we wanna go." Matthew said.
"Indeed, they seem to be heading inside." Sansa said as they watched the people head inside the tunnel.
"What now?"
"See that guy right there?" She said.
"What about that guy?" Matthew asked.
"He's heading somewhere else, I bet he's heading towards another hidden tunnel."
The two snuck towards the city as they followed the man. The sun was starting to set and the moon was getting ready to rise.
They watch as the man walked up to a stone statue, he pushed the statute in and a secret room appeared.
Sansa quickly rushed over to the man placing a dagger to his throat "Alright you slaver where are you keeping the ponies?"
"Kill me, I'm already at peace."
Matthew walked up "You tell me where they are holding the ponies right now or I promise you I won't let you rest in the afterlife." The man could see Matthew's eyes change from brown to a hellish red.
"T-They are being held deep in the tunnels digging." The man said "Y-You won't get passed the guards, they will kill you on sight."
Sansa knocked him out "Alright let's tie him up and gag him."
Once the guy was tied up and hidden they closed the door to the hidden room.
"Alright, looks like these tunnels connect with each other."
"Listen Sansa, I think it would be wise if I go this alone, if you can stay hidden I can get to the ponies and get them out I just need a way out." Matthew said.
"How can you get them out alone?" Sansa asked.
"I have magic, I can use that to fight them off, just stay hidden and when you hear them freaking out you know I'm on my way." Matthew said.
"Alright, be safe my king." Sansa said as she watched Matthew leave the room and go deep within the cave.
The tunnels were poorly lit, he tried to stay close to the wall of the tunnel. He notices markings on the walls "These might be how they get around." Matthew thought.
He went deeper into the tunnel till he heard some sounds coming from the end of the tunnel.
He came to an opening as he could see ponies pulling minecarts "I don't see Applejack, she might be deeper down in the tunnels." Matthew crouched down and slowly moved along the side as he watched the ponies "I'll free you all, don't worry."
"I want an update." A woman said walking forwards from one of the tunnels.
"Nothing so far your highness." A man said walking up to her.
"She must be their leader." Matthew thought.
"We found it!" A man said running from one of the tunnels "We found the tomb of the old king!"
"Take me there at once!" Matthew watched as they made their way into the tunnel.
Matthew quickly made his way down to the tunnel and went after them.
Applejack watched as the humans guard the chamber they had found.
"Finally the sword of death!" Applejack saw a woman walking down the tunnel "You ponies are about to be slaves for the rest of your life."
A flame blew through out the cave causing them all to shield their eyes "The sword of death will not fall into your hands!"
Applejack knew who that voice belonged to "Matt!"
"Applejack!" Applejack felt the chains around her hoofs and neck break.
"You dare free our slaves!" The woman yelled "Kill him men!"
Matthew looked at the men with cold red eyes "I am Matthew, King of Avalon! You will stand down or face my wrath."
"So you're the one the legend spoke of." The woman said smiling "I see these ponies corrupted you."
"Only one here corrupted is you! You made a mistake kidnapping these ponies from their homes!" Matthew took a step forwards "I will not stand for that!" The air in the room started to heat up as Matthew's body began to change to his dragon form.
"So this is the power of Avalon, amazing." The woman pushed her guard at Matthew as she rushed inside.
Matthew tossed the man to the side knocking him out as he rushed in after her.
Applejack grabbed the keys off the knocked out guard and used it to free the ponies inside "Alright ya'll, let's get everypony freed!"
Matthew looked around the room as he saw a stone coffin in the room with what looked like a human buried "This is where the great king of these ruins were buried with the sword of death!" She pulled out the sword from the grave "Now I shall kill all who dare enslave us again!" She rushed towards Matthew only to have the sword break in two as Matthew used his fist to break right through it.
"Wow that worked." Matthew said surprised.
"N-No t-this can't be!" She went to punch Matthew only to have her hand blocked.
"I won't allow you or anyone to enslave anyone." The tomb starting to shake as the grave top moved.
A hand moved from the tomb "Who dares awaken me?" A deep dark voice said.
"She does." Matthew said pointing to the woman.
The man looked at the broken sword on the ground "Who has broke my sword?"
"He did!" The woman said pointing at Matthew.
The man stepped out of the tomb "Who was in search of the sword of death?" The man asked moving towards them.
"Again her." Matthew said.
He placed his hand onto the girl's cheek and her life was sucked out of her body and ashed fell to the ground "W-What did you do to her?"
"She had awoken me from my slumber." He looked at Matthew "There for she had to die."
"She didn't have to die!" Matthew said his eyes glowing red.
"She has unleashed me from my slumber and now I shall spread death across the world and take out the Gods." He said moving his hand towards Matthew only to have it chopped off.
"I won't allow you to kill this world!" Matthew said holding his sword.
The man's hand grew back "So you are the one I was fated to fight." The man faded "Our battle will happen soon enough."
Matthew looked around trying to figure out what in the world was going on "I can never get a break can I?" Matthew sighed as he moved out of the tomb.
Sansa opened the tunnel door allowing ponies out of the tunnel.
"Sansa!" Sansa turned around to see a grey stallion. The two hugged each other.
"Silver, I'm so glad you're safe."
"Alright, we have them freed." Matthew said walking into the room with Applejack behind him "I have most of the humans running but I can't keep going into my dragon form."
Sansa notices Matthew's right arm was almost black "A-Are you alright?"
"I'll be alright, just gotta take it easy for awhile." Matthew said "We gotta get moving before they regroup and come up this tunnel."
They quickly rushed out of the tunnel and out into the night desert.
Lucy notices a being standing before her.
"Your light is too bright."
To Be Continued.