Chains 4 – Identification

"Who are you?"

The campfire crackles a little and some sparks of fire lighten up the room a bit more as she starts to explain.

"My name is Cyan Clarity. Now you!"

"I'm Silver Mind...Where are you from?"

"I am a unicorn from Canterlot, and like I told you – I tried to help my mother with a forbidden empowerment spell. A pony with low physical powers like somepony who is old would turn into a normally athletic pony."

She turns her head away as I interrupt her with a straight face:

"And a normal pony would gain super strength, like I did and you needed somepony to test this on, right?"

She looks at me again and talks on.

"Yes, but it doesn't seem to bother you at all that I misused you so flagrantly. Aren't you upset?"

I giggle a little, and hear another crackle in the fire, it seems like the wood was soaked when I got it.

"Not at all, I mean super strength...Why should I be mad?"

"I got you into all this trouble...The spell isn't allowed for a good reason. It's abuse could be exploited to create powerful warriors that not even an alicorn like Celestia could stop! Because of me we both got imprisoned here...I'm so sorry."

"Don't worry. You did this for a good reason. If moral becomes freedom's enemy, give it up! You did the right thing, even though it didn't help your mother at all yet.

I do have another important question for you, Cyan."

She looks relieved but still curious about my question and asks:

"What is it, Silver?"

"How do we get rid of these chains? They aren't normal, are they?"

She looks away again and seems to be afraid of telling me.

"I already got you into so much trouble, you are a jailbreaker and you helped another prisoner with food and you killed a guardian...Do you really think, you want to get me out of here and get into even more trouble?"

"Well, that's the point. I'm already, you could say screwed, so I should be fine. I could go into jail forever for this already, so whatever. Now commence your explanation of breaking you free, if you don't mind. Your mother isn't fixed yet, now is she?"

She looks at me with wide opened eyes and they become tear-filled

"Silver Mind...Thank you so much."

She wipes the tear away by moving her head down to her left hoof.

"So...First things first: The guardian I had to get rid of is gone missing for a whole day already, won't any higher authority notice that?"

"Well as far as I know, a new guardian is changing the position of the old one every month which means..."

I interrupt her with a downcast voice:

"We have a mere month time to get you out of here and to get as far away as possible. And judging by the look on your face, it will be a close call, won't it?"

She looks gloomily at me and nods.

"Okay, what do we need, and how do we get it?"

"Infact, I don't know. The pony who has cast the spell can normally reverse it, but..."

I down my head a little...He won't be able to remove the spell anymore, now will he?

"That won't be possible...I guess I'll just ask Applejack about it."

Her eyes widen alot, as if something surprised her.

"A-Applejack? I recognize that name...It seems familiar..."

"Yes, she is the Element of Honesty from the Mane 6, you know...Saved the day several times, also she runs Sweet Apple Acres together with her family. You probably know her since she was in newspaper sometimes when she won second place in that sports event and saved equestria twice."

"Probably."

She seems thoughtful. I don't know if she cares about sports, but my guess is that she does read the newspaper.

"I'll ask her out tomorrow when I go to work...Sorry for leaving you here again in this uncomfortable cave, I really tried everything to comfort you."

"You don't have to be sorry, if it wasn't for you, I'd be tortured to death by exhaustion or starvation. I'm very afraid about what will happen next, where should we go after we've broken out, what should we do?"

I think about the questions for a moment, and answer confidently:

"At the moment, I don't really know. I'd say as far away from this place as possible."

As I speak so, a mighty gust blows out the fire and with it comes very cold air. The whole room chills down so fast, that my fur doesn't even feel like doing anything, it just directly affects my skin.

"W-wow, it's getting cold all of a sudden...Applejack didn't lie when she said at night it can get very cool."

I can see Cyan Clarity shiver aswell, as it is getting colder from second to second and she huddles up as she freezes. She looks as tired as before I gave her food. She must still be very exhausted.

"Wait a second." I stand up from my sleeping bag and use it as a blanket for her. She must feel terrible, and actually, it doesn't make sense as I have to work tomorrow...But I can't just let her freeze, can I?

She mumbles something before she huddles up even more.

It can't be helped. I move next to her, pushing my body against hers and try to keep her warm by my body temperature. I don't have any other way of heating her up, as the cold wind would just put out another fire I start and I don't have any cover for it.

She just shivers a little, and then pushes her body more against mine.

The night is long, and the wind lasts for about half an hour. All this time through, I am lying next to a pony who I barely know. I sometimes start to think if all this was right...But then again it is too late anyway...And actually...I don't feel regret or shame in my acts until now. And if I don't, I guess all this was ok...Wasn't it?

As I think, she slowly falls asleep. The wind doesn't stop, but it does get a little tamer than before. It may still be cold, but I think I can sleep now, too.

I could be everywhere now, especially somewhere more comfortable, instead I have comitted crimes, have enough money to buy food and that's it, and am in a very cold cave with her.

But actually, I don't dislike this, not even to a little degreee. I actually am very glad about what is happening...I have the feeling that there will be a lot more trouble than me feeling cold. Maybe all this will fail, maybe we will just both get caught or even executed for what I've done...

Yet I think all this is right. Maybe it's because I've become insane, maybe it's because of her buff...And maybe it's just her.

I don't even know...All I know is that I'm getting tired. I lie down my head as she leans over to me a little more, laying her head on my shoulder. I...Just want to sleep now...I close my eyes, and give in to the slumber.

A dreamless night occurs, I just...Wake up.

I slowly open my eyes. I feel the temperature has risen to a degree which is bearable again, and actually: It is quite hot. Not really suspicious as it is summer.

I also notice that since it is already pretty hot, I guess it isn't an early morning but much rather about 10AM or 11AM...Which leads me to the question...Why is Cyan still lying on my shoulder?
She opens her eyes as she notices me being awake and says:

"Hey, thanks so much, without you I don't know what would have happened to me. I can't help but be grateful for what you do..."

"It's fine, really! Even though, could you answer me a question?"

"Sure, what is it?"

"Why are you still leaning against my shoulder?"

She blushes a little, and moves her head up, trying to avoid eyecontact.

"Well, it is comfortable, much more than the ground."

"Alright. But I need to make us breakfast now." She nods and raises her head from my arm. I stand up and walk right to the campfire. I put some new planks in it, ignite it with the flintstones, peel and slice some potatoes and put them into the pod.

I turn my head, put a smile on and tell her:

"It won't taste special since it's just some fried potatoes, but it will do the job."

I turn my head back to the pod and watch the potatoes. Half a minute later, my very exciting observation gets interrupted.

"Silver?" Cyan asks.

"What is it?" I reply while minding the food.

"I wondered all the time along...Why do you do all this for me?"

My eyes focus on the flickering fire.

"Why do you help me in the first place? Why didn't you run after you were free?"

I close my eyes and reply:

"I actually don't know. I didn't know you, nor do I know you now, but..."

She says with a high pitched voice: "But?"

"But I somehow have the urge of being there for you. So much stuff happened in such a short time...I lost my job, got arrested, killed someone just for being free, got a new part time job and met you...Maybe all this got to my head. But maybe, just maybe it is more than that."

I turn around, and smile again: "I'm glad how this turned out until now. Anyways, food is ready."

Everything is on the plates and I bring it to her, sitting down on the opposite side of her. She smiles back at me and then looks at the potatoes. She lowers her head and eats a little, then goes on and eats the rest. I do the same and eat up.

I will go to work now. I hope she doesn't feel too bored until I come back.

"Alright, I got to go to work now. I will see you soon."

"Return as soon as you can please...I really liked the company after the two days of being lonely on the hard ground while it was so cold."

she looks at me with a saddened face...I can't help but ask:

"Will you be fine?"

She replies with a crestfallen expression, saying:

"...I guess I will. See you soon" She tries to smile, but I see that she isn't for real.

I make my way to the exit of the room. I can hear the torches in the room burning on and flickering.
A bittersweet feeling runs through my body – On one side I helped her, on the other side I don't want to leave her like this even though I have to.

But I guess I have no choice. I just hope that the day won't be too boring for her.