Viljatown was a very large city, just about the largest in the empire. It was a fine place on most days, except this evening. A young colt ran through the back alleys with wide eyes and his neck swinging between keeping an eye on what he was darting around and what was behind him. Why did I do that? he thought to himself as he hopped onto a precariously balanced box.

The force of his next jump sent the box tumbling as he sailed to the top of the fence that barred his way. An inch too short, he landed with his hindlegs dangling and began to scramble to make the top. From the direction he ran, a disappointed voice spoke calmly.

"This is not the way my newest, finest, acquisition is supposed to act. Come on down from there and we can put this behind us," it said, female in tone.

He shuddered violently. He scrambled against the wall desperately as she drew closer. Suddenly his vision sank as her teeth caught hold of one of his hooves and pulled him back. He yelped and kicked back with his free hoof, connecting with her snout and freeing himself. With a surge of frantic energy, he drew himself up and over the fence, falling face first to the street below. The impact was sharp and painful, but he didn't care.

"Foul little colt," she said, scowling at him through the fence, her face bloodied from the kick. "I'll teach you to pay your betters proper respect." She turned and marched off. He wondered why she didn't hop over the fence as he had, but it was no time to argue with luck. Wobbling from dizziness, he drew back up to his feet and swiftly resumed his flight, emerging only moments later into a wide open square.

There were many ponies here. Most were dressed festively. It was the last day of summer, celebrated with offerings to the Sun Queen so that she would return the next year. Small fireworks were being lit, sparklers held, and loud cheers rippled through the happy crowd. In this, the colt bobbed and weaved, making his way through.

"Where are you headed, Pure Water?" came a female voice from his left.

Recognizing it, he turned in that direction to spot a pony that was larger than he, but about the same maturity. "Big Dreams! Sorry, No time to talk," replied Pure just before he ducked through the legs of a noble-mare, ignoring the indignant squeal, and hopped up onto the rim of a fountain, rushing along its circumference.

Big was not so easily brushed off, and lumbered in pursuit. Not as fast or dextrous as the smaller pony, she could push through the crowd to follow the darting colt. The crowd became a disjointed series of complaints and surprised noises as the two got through it in their own ways. They ran side by side until they arrived at a small eatery, where Pure darted inside, and Big sauntered in more sedately.

The shop keep was a brightly colored pegasus with an equally bright smile. She waved at the two of them, "Happy Summer Sundown," she cheerfully exclaimed before moving over to set two mugs of sweet drink before each of them and returning to her station. Free gifts were common for the holiday, and neither argued, returning the greetings.

"So what's this all about?" demanded the larger filly, "You look like you saw the Unspoken himself."

"Worse," replied Pure, heaving for breath as he settled beside the table, climbing up onto the short, padded, stool provided. "I can't even believe it." He paused to take a sip from the drink that was placed there, its sweet coolness soothing him as it went down.

"Can't believe what? Give me some straight answers already. I know you zebras can be obtuse, but I don't like seeing my friends scared out of their manes." She drained her mug half way with barely a notice. Her attention was fixed on her distressed looking friend.wc

Pure was a zebra, with bright white and deep black pelt that ran from snout to tail. Much of his snout was dark, along with the ends of his long ears. His mane was an unruly mess of the two colors that hung down to about eye level on all sides. His brand of destiny, like most of the zebra tribe, was an intricate pattern that only other zebras could easily discern the meaning of, unlike the pillow over a moon symbol that Big Dream possessed on her flanks. She had a deep red pelt with yellow splotchy spots. Her mane was a mix of the two colors and ran down in a smooth swirl along her left side, covering that eye on the way. She was about twice as large as he was, but appeared as young. Her build was solid and full of muscle that could even compete with adult stallions of other tribes.

"I'm not sure," spoke Pure, "I went home to fetch some fireworks and instead of dad, this mare was waiting for me. She told me to go with her and she wouldn't answer any of my questions."

Seeing his wide eyes and how even repeating the story was working him up again, she reached to gently pat his head, "It's ok. I'm here. No one's bothering my friend while I have a say in it. What happened next?" She dipped her head and sucked up the last of her drink, offering an appreciative nod to the pegasus behind the counter.

"When I wasn't moving fast enough for her, she tried to grab me. I ran away. She just kept following though. I barely shook her off when I ran into you," replied Pure as he looked towards the glass doors of the small eatery they were hiding in. Outside, the festivities progressed without pause, unaware of his discomfort.

Big frowned and clopped her forehooves together, "I'll teach her a lesson if I see her. Come on, you're my guest for the evening. We'll figure out what's going on. Does your dad hang out anywhere? He's a smith right?"

Without further prompting, Pure hopped to his feet, then to the table, and in one more smooth bound he was perched on Big's back. He reared up as his legs slid down along either side of her, mounting her as a knight would a bare backed steed. "You're the best, Big. Yes, he works in the dwarven neighborhood." He directed with a hoof, pointing in a South direction. "If we can find him, everything should be fine. He'll kick out that creepy mare from our house."

The pegasus frowned a little at the two, "I hope you're going to clean that," she said sternly as she indicated with a wing tip at the remainder of Pure's drink, spilled across the table in his jumping about.

Pure adopted an embarrassed expression, his nose and ears going red as he dug out a cloth from his saddlebag in his mouth and passed it to Big, who made swift work in mopping up the mess. Placated, the pegasus moved over to collect the mugs, but didn't trouble the two further.

"I hope he's there," said Big as she trotted back to the front door, "Most people take today off, but the dwarves don't always abide local customs. Still, an excuse to drink? Maybe they're all over there getting drunk. Maybe that's why he isn't home already."

"Maybe…" said Pure with little conviction. "I never saw dad drink all that much. He says it slows your head and then you make mistakes. He's really smart! He'll fix all of this."

"'Course he will" agreed Big with a smile before she pushed out into the crowd with her precious cargo and began to muscle through the crowd.

They left the busy square and her pace picked up, able to take on a trot along the smooth cobblestones and let the city pass by them. Away from the concentrated mass of revelers, the city became still. Only the flickering lights of the street lamps allowed them to see, but it was enough for their sharp pony eyes. It was those eyes that picked out movement. Pure raised a hoof to the left, "Did you see that?"

"See what?" asked the larger as she squinted into the darkness a moment before continuing her movement, "I don't see anything at all, but I do hear someone coming."

She resumed her trot as a guardspony came into view. He wore the gleaming armor of an Imperialist, fitting for the central city of that same empire. Mounted at his side was a long and deadly lance, and his hooves glinted with every step, making loud metallic clops as the deadly horseshoes worn on them made their presence known.

"Filly, Colt. I know this is a night for celebration, being Summer Sundown, but there have been signs of trouble about," he said with a voice of authority, "It would be best if you returned to your parents. I would escort you but I am needed."

"What kind of trouble?" asked Big Dream. She was as large as the guard, despite their age difference. "We're going towards his father right now, promise."

"You're a lucky colt," replied the guard, looking at Pure, "To have such a good friend. It shouldn't be anything major, but we would prefer not to take chances. If you see anything unusual, find one of us, or your parents, do not investigate." He sighed then, "Truly, do not." His tail flicked behind him agitatedly, "I was young once myself, I know the urge."

"Don't worry," said Pure, "I just want to find my dad. Big is here to keep me company," and to protect him, he did not add, though it was not needed, "Thank you. I hope everything is ok."

"Everything will be fine. It may be a holy day for you, but for the guard, these are days to be vigilant.  Travel swift and safe. Sun watch over you." He bowed his head as he raised a hoof in a salute, and then he trotted past the two of them, heading for the square they emerged from not long before.

The two resumed their trot, marching along in companionable silence for several minutes before everything upended. "Where are your parents?" asked Pure, "Are they going to be worried about you?" Big had little chance to respond as a shaggy hand with dirty claws burst from the street under Big and grabbed a leg before both were drawn down violently into newly created hole, leaving little behind but a strange patch of gravel in otherwise smooth cobbles. Perhaps the sun was watching over them, but the sun was set. Next Chapter: Into the Depths Estimated time remaining: 6 Minutes