Maud and Shining Armor came up to what appeared to be a cliff lodged into the side of a hill. It wasn't a landmark by any means, as with all the trees, rocks, bushes, and all the other things that dotted the terrain. Shining didn't see any hidden switches, levers, or anything that could suggest a hideout was nearby. This was after he had looked under every nook and cranny.

"This is it?" Shining asked.

Maud nodded in agreement. This only puzzled Shinning, but before he could ask anymore questions, Maud threw a well placed punch into the wall, causing a part the wall to crumble down. A cave was then revealed, which answered several of Shinning's unasked questions. Once the two ponies stepped into the dark tunnel, Maud hit the wall again, sealing the door.

"Don't worry. I know where the exits to the surface are." Reassured the grey mare.

The cave was dark, but thankfully Maud carried a flashlight with her, which made the illuminate spell that Shinning had just cast partially pointless. The white stallion wondered if Maud had dug up these tunnels herself, or if they were simply natural. At the end of the path that the two were following, which consisted of several turns and branching pathways, they wound up in a large cavern. There were multiple lit lanterns around the room, making it much more easier for the two to see. There was an average sized pond in the middle of the chamber, indicating that this was a grotto.

Several kinds of camping gear could be found to the left of the pond, including some bedrolls and tents. Most of them however were very dirty, and ripped in several places. What caught Shinning Armors eye however, was that there were a few creatures living down here, many of which had a few injuries.

"How many refugees do you have down here?" Asked the unicorn.

"Six. Three earth ponies, two dragons, and one griffon."

None of the creatures showed any sign of hope. If Shinning had to guess, they had all escaped the Rock farm, Mauds former home.

"Is.. Is that Shining Armor..!?" One of the ponies asked nervously. The white unicorn stepped forward and nodded.

"I am. Maud told me what happened...." Before Shining could finish his sentence, the pony was at his knees hugging the unicorns forelegs.

"Oh thank Celestia! I thought for sure that Neighsay killed you and all the others...!!" Shining felt rather uncomfortable with how clingy the earth pony was, especially with how dirty he was.

"Tremblehoof, please don't harass the guest." Called out one of the other earth ponies.

"Oh.! I.. I'm sorry...!" Tremblehoof then went back to join his fellow refugees.

"He's a very unstable pony." Maud stated.

"He's been going through severe trauma and other mental problems ever since he escaped."

Shinning was instantly reminded of Thorax. While Tremblehoof was certainly more energetic and hyper than the former changeling king, they both had suffered the horrors of this world, to the point where it had taken a toll on their mental health. Shining walked over to the two dragons, who were both trying to comfort each other. He also noticed a small scar on one of their bellies.

"What happened to you?" Asked the white unicorn.

"I.... I was accused of eating the gems that.... The slaves were mining.. Which led..."

He was stuttering clearly nervous about mentioning what had led to the attack. Which prompted the other dragon to speak up.

"We dragons have to eat gems in order to survive. The NEM don't care though, so if we try to eat some... They will try to cut it out of us... Using saws and other devices...."

Shining was both disturbed and repulsed by the fact.

"And they do this while you are conscious?" The two dragons nodded, still shaken by whatever horrors they experienced prior to his arrival.

Maud came over and offered one gem to the scarred dragon. Which he slowly took and ate.

"While I am not completely thrilled by the concept of eating rare minerals, I won't let any creature go hungry. Especially after what they did to my family."

Shining Armor then remembered how much of an expert Maud was on rare minerals. Having seen several of them in NEM possession, it would be very helpful to know more about them.

"Maud, can you tell me anything about this crystal?" Shinning removed the clip from the rifle and handed it to Maud. After getting a good look at the mineral, she handed it back and spoke.

"It's a sample of lazgesium. A rock with energetic power stored inside. The energy cannot be let out through normal means such as hitting it with a pickaxe."

"Are these things found on your rock farm?" Shinning asked, wondering if that was the source of the crystals.

"No. This is a sample of energedite. They can only be found in the crystal empire. Each rock has a focused electrical energy inside that cannot be extracted by mining or any other common methods."

Maud pointed to Shinings rifle.

"That weapon you have there is most likely used to harness the energy and shoot it out at its target."

"Do you know of any other devices that use it?" Shining asked.

"No. Though I'm certain the NEM has a few we haven't seen yet. I haven't really left this area after the fall of ponyville."

The fall of ponyville... Shining was still on the run from Neighsays goons when that battle happened. He didn't know exactly what went down during that event.

"Maud. Were you in ponyville when it fell?" "Yes. Though I didn't experience the attacks first sight. I did hear them." Maud took a seat next to Shining.

"I was in my underground grotto when it happened. The cavern ceiling began to shake as the hooves of the soldiers ran across the surface. I heard the screams of ponies and magical projectiles being shot. Thankfully I was never fully discovered, as I sealed the entrance to my hideout as the attacks were happening, one of the advantages of living underground. However I did grab what I could and dug out a tunnel leading away from ponyville. Once it was safe enough to resurface, I came up and saw that the small village had changed drastically. Several of its iconic buildings and landmarks were damaged or destroyed completely. I could see the soldiers taking several prisoners, which I predicted as the population of ponyville doesn't usually put up a fight. I made my way to my families rock farm in the hopes that they were ok. Unfortunately it seamed like I was too late, the soldiers had already gotten there. I could tell because Holders Boulder was gone."

"Holders Boulder?" Shining Armor asked.

"It was a giant egg shaped rock that my sister, Limestone, found and guarded aggressively. We weren't entirely sure what was inside it, or why Limestone was so obsessed with it, but it must have attracted the attention of the NEM. Chances are that Limestone tried to fight them over it, most likely resulting in them killing her, or arresting her."

The two ponies hoped that it was the ladder, but given how cruel the NEM was, it was likely that Limestone didn't survive the initial contact. Then again, the NEM did love to torture and imprison their opponents, both for fun, for information, and to set examples.

"Maud. I'd like to let you know that you are not responsible for the fate of your family. In fact your sister Pinkie is still alive! Me and Twilight..."

"Twilight?! You mean Princess Twilight..?!" One of the distraught earth ponies exclaimed in excitement.

"Yes. My sister in fact."

Maud turned Shining armor to face her, grabbing his attention.

"You said Pinkie was alive as well. Where is she?"

"I was just getting to that. Pinkie is being held at the fortified base just outside the rock farm. I sent Twilight and Rainbow dash to bust her out."

"Dash is alive as well?" The griffon asked, prompting Shining to nod.

"Neighsay lied then! He claimed that Twilight had sold out all of equestria to the other kingdoms! I knew that wasn't true!"

One of the ponies then spoke up.

"I was a student at the school of friendship, and Rainbow dash was one of my professors! One of the ponies that went missing before that bastard Neighsay took over!"

The tone in the room went from sad and hopeless, to riled up and angry. Everycreature save for Maud and Shining, wanted to rip apart Neighsay for destroying their lives, and splitting them from their friends.

"Lets go. I know the direction of that place you mentioned. You can't mine through the metal building by normal means, but i know a trick to get past it."

"We're coming to!" Shouted one of the earth ponies.

"We want to see professor Pinkie again! And to buck some NEM soldiers for kidnapping her!"

"Everycreature. I understand that you are upset and excitement about our sisters. But you are in no condition to be fighting."

"We won't just sit back and wait for Neighsays goons to kill us! We are taking the fight to them and if we die, so be it!"

There was clearly no point in trying to talk them out of this. They were determined to taking down this base, even if a bit foolish.

"Well we could use the extra creature power. Besides, taking over a fortified stronghold could pose a major threat to Neighsays power, and make him realize he isn't invincible."

Everycreature in the room was eager to set off, and Shining didn't feel like arguing.

"Very well. Get any proper equipment you can carry, and we will get going." The white unicorn turned to face Maud.

"You know how to get in right?"

"Yes. Just stick by me, I'll carve out enough tunnels that will allow us to enter the facility from the basement level. From there we can work our way up."

Tunnel after tunnel was dug and dug into by Maud. Her experience as a rock farmer had made her more than familiar with how to dig up cave networks. The 6 refugees and Shining followed behind her, all armed. Yet the lack of proper weaponry, minus Shining, made the group look more like an angry mob rather than a military squad. Still, they were ready for and anticipating a fight with several NEM soldiers, hoping to rip them apart for their crimes. Maud led the team through a series of caves and tunnels until she came to a stop. Feeling the wall with her hoof, she wiped off a slab of dirt, revealing a piece of metal that was used in the NEM buildings.

"We're here. Behind this wall is the stronghold. Once we get past it, we will be underneath the facility."

Maud reached into her saddle bag and pulled out that appeared to be some sort of long metal pick. She lined it up with a weaker part of the wall, and slammed it with her hoof, emitting a loud clang which rattled the eardrums of everycreature. More metallic sounds of metal scraping and hitting each other continued until a hole in the metal was created.

"Everycreature wait here. I'm going to dig out a room underneath the basement. Once I'm done I'll let you know."

The crew waited behind while Maud went to digging, Shinning making sure that everycreature stuck together. After what felt like a good 7 to 8 minutes of waiting, Maud returned, and bought the squad into the doorway of a sizable room, only held up by stone support beams, which had explosive devices strapped to them. Maud held out the trigger to those explosives in her right hoof.

"Once I press the button, the room will collapse, along with the room above it. We will be able to dig into the room above, and enter the compound. I Chose a room in which there will be some guards, so the will be buried under the rubble."

Everycreature, Maud included, backed away from the room to make sure they weren't caught in the blast. Once they were out of range, Maud hit the switch, and the room was lit up with loud booms and flying rocks. While the pillars had crumbled, the room was still intact.

"Was... This part of..." Shinning's was cut off as large cracks formed in the ceiling each emitting a loud noise as they formed. After several moments, the room caved in. Everycreature covered thier eyes to keep the dust and dirt at bay.

"Nevermind. That was supposed to happen."

As the dust settled, a large opening in the ceiling revealed a decently sized room, with piles of rubble below it. The refugees noticed a couple of NEM heads sticking out, which prompted them to jump in front of Maud and shining, and beat them in. They ripped off their helmets and bucked, punched, clawed, and did whatever harmful action they could to the trapped ponies. The dragons proved to be especially damaging, as they breathed fire on the already wounded officers.

"This is for all the pain you've caused to us you tyrant!!"

Shinning and Maud moved past the others, climbing into the near floorless room. Once they were in the hallway, they noticed a small squad of guards rushing at them. Maud slid under one of them and bucked him into the ceiling, before focusing her attention to the others. Shinning distracted them with laser fire, aiming for the head in an attempt to blind them. However it didn't take long before Maud was finished taking care of the other guards.

"Their armor is tough, but I've managed to find a way to damage it."

Maud went over to Shinning Armor, and showed her a pair of horseshoes that she was currently wearing. While Shining did notice that Maud had put on some equipment before heading out, he didn't get a good look at it.

"These are made out of dialac. A very strong of gem. It's one of the only minerals that can break NEM armor, which is made from Crimorite."

That must be what Twilights blade is made out of as well. Considering it could also break NEM armor. The other creatures caught up to maud and shining, and upon seeing the dead soldiers, took thier rifles and other equipment they could get thier hooves (Or claws) on. They also took the two bodies back to one of the empty rooms, probably to inspect them further.

"We better move, it's only a matter of time until..."

Before Shinning could finish his sentence, an alarm went off.

"They.... Know we are here..."

Maud and Shining ran through the halls looking for Rainbow and Twilight, hopefully they were able to free Pinkie Pie before their arrival. When the white unicorn and gray earth pony turned a corner, they saw an open door with blood coming from the adjacent room. It caught the duos interest, prompting them to run to it, inside was a disturbing sight. There was a pony standing over a corpse, but it wasn't Rainbow dash or Twilight, it was Pinkie. He mane was straight and deflated, which usually meant she was depressed.

"Pinkie Pie!" Shouted Shining Armor.

The two rushed towards her, fearing the worst. Pinkie didn't respond to the two, as her focus was on the pony bleeding out. Maud got a good look at the pony once she got close enough, it wasn't rainbow or Twilight like they had feared, it was the corpse of an NEM officer. Only his chest was torn open, and Pinkie was eating the flesh that it contained. Shining Armor wanted to vomit. Seeing one of Twilights closest friends resorting to cannibalism was too much for him to bear. Maud went to pinkie to get her to stop eating, and upon doing so, a large creepy grin formed on Pinkies face.

"Maud! I'm so happy to see you again! You're just in time for a meal! Come on! Try some!" Maud held Pinkies head up to prevent her from taking another bite of the carcass.

"Pinkie what are you doing? This isn't good for you."

"Oh come on Maud! have you ever tasted another pony before? It's to die for!" Shining wanted to pretend he didn't hear that.

"Pinkie where are you?! We have to get out of here!"

The white unicorn recognized her sisters voice, and ran to the doorway.

"Twily! Pinkie is over here!" Hoovesteps stopped, then started up again upon Shinings call. Within moments, Rainbow Dash and Twilight came to Shinings location.

"Shining what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be watching our getaway?"

"I was, but then I ran into Maud, who was able to help me find another way in, figured you could use some backup."

Twilight was thankful that her brother provided another way out, but other problems were on her mind at the moment, primarily Pinkie Pie.

"What is up with Pinkie? She's.... Well...." Shining then pointed to Pinkie, who was trying to take another bite out of the dead pony, only to be stopped by Maud.

"Yeah I was about to tell you about that. Pinkie has.... developed a sort of cannibal mindset." Rainbow then interrupted the two.

"We can explain later, right now we have to go! Reinforcements are probably on the way right now!" Shining then went to the doorway and faced everypony.

"Maud dug out a tunnel in the basement, we can all head there and then seal it off so that the NEM don't follow us." All five ponies headed for the exit, with Pinkie being reluctantly pulled by Maud.

"Awww Come on! I wanted to finish my afternoon snack!"

Shining pretended not to hear that.

Author's Notes:

I procrastinated for a while with this one. Alot has been on my mind both regarding where I want to take this story, as well as ideas for other ones. That being said, I can't say for sure when the next chapter will come out.