“C’mon crusaders! The hole’s over here!” exclaimed Applebloom, beckoning her friends over with a dirty hoof. She’d come across this hole whilst trying to earn a cutie mark in archaeology. It seemed like just another day for her, until she realized that there was something underneath Ponyville. It was not some small pocket of coal, nor diamond, but a massive complex of caves.

“Applebloom, you’ve been saying that for the past hour! Are you sure you saw something?” Scootaloo inquired, panting heavily from trying to keep up. Her scooter had been in a nasty accident with a tree, she had explained earlier.

The field they were in was barren of all life, and no buildings existed. In fact, this patch of land was very far from Ponyville, near the outskirts of Canterlot. How the three crusaders managed to make it that far is a mystery.

“See it, girls? Just like ah told ya!”

In fact, there was a hole in the ground, wider than a full grown alicorn. A dim yellow glow emanated from within, but was harder to see in the broad daylight. The dead grass of the plain swayed nicely in the summer breeze, adding to the peaceful atmosphere of the field. Or, what would be peaceful if not for the three fillies yelling loudly into the hole.

“Echo!” Sweetie Belle yelled, hearing her voice reply the same message. The others followed, hearing their voices yelling back to them.

The hole roared loudly, pulling the three’s faces back. Their manes frazzled, they jumped back in fright, worried they might have angered some ancient evil again. “Err...Applebloom did it!” Scootaloo said quickly, dashing along with Sweetie Belle back to Ponyville before they got into trouble.

“Sweetie Belle? Scootaloo?” Applebloom said, also taking off from the hole. “Wait for me, girls!”

Underneath the ground, from within the hole, two male colts were on their rumps, laughing at their prank. Little did they know that they’d be getting some unwanted visitors fairly soon.

Chapter 1- Discovery

“Sweetie! Scootaloo! Wait for me!” Applebloom yelled after her friends, finding that they were far faster than she was. She had been left there alone, to fend off the monster herself.

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle thought that Applebloom would catch up, and continued to Ponyville.

Applebloom looked at the hole again, finding that nothing was rising from it. Her nerves calmed somewhat, but the mystery still remained. What on Equestria could that noise have been? Applebloom had always been curious, and this frequently got her into trouble. She leaned over the hole, screaming into it, “Hello!? Is anypony down there!?”

… Applebloom could hear the faint whispers of teenage colts down there, and she thought they may be in trouble. “Hold on! I’ll go get some help!”

“No wait, little girl!” The colts inside yelled back. “You’ll be late for the ritual!”

Applebloom was told many times by her older sister and brother not to trust strangers, but her curiosity was especially drawing her in. She crept up to the hole, rearing her head back in preparation. “Er... are y’all still in there?”

“Yes, little girl, now hurry up! The ceremony is beginning!” the voices beckoned in unison. Applebloom was still skeptical about all of this, but brought her head closer to examine the hole. At first sight, it looked like a regular rabbit-hole, but it was actually a complex series of tubes and shafts, leading every which way.

The dead grass wasn’t much to support Applebloom’s weight, and cracked underneath her. She fell headfirst into the tube, being pushed by strong internal winds. She slid around the tubes, unable to make out where she was going. The steel walls of the tube were slicked with oil, which soaked into the coat of Applebloom.

She erupted from the tube and onto a dirt floor. Applebloom lifted her head and observed her surroundings, finding a well-furnished abode built into a stone wall, and two teenage colts looking at her. One was lean, colored a deep orange, with blue, shiny eyes. His mane was a darker orange, with coal stains throughout it.

The other colt was blue, with a darker blue mane. He was more plump than his brother, but still had similar facial features. His eyes were colored orange, looking like a beautiful blaze burning inside his eyes. He had the same confused look as his brother.

“Wow, miss, you sure took a real fall. Guess we should’ve warned you about the tube system. It’s been kinda...wonky lately.” The blue colt explained. “Suppose I should introduce us. I’m Smart Cookie, and he’s Buff Brains. Most ponies call me Smarty.” Smarty smiled sweetly at Applebloom, who was still lying on the ground in a dizzy heap.

“Miss, you should probably hurry up before the Csonka sees you. The ceremony is about to begin!” Smarty ushered Applebloom along with his hooves, bringing her to a balcony overlooking a very large chamber. It was moss-covered, and had four large altars surrounding a royal throne in the middle. Torches adorned the walls, covering the entire chamber in an orange glow. Thousands of chambers branched out from this main chamber. Ponies surrounded a regal looking stallion sitting on the throne, offering gifts and their firstborns.

“Why are they givin’ him presents?” Applebloom whispered, not wanting to interrupt.

“The Csonka is our leader, and today he’s going to take a sacrifice.” Smarty explained. His hoof motioned for Applebloom to watch.

The Csonka was a large stallion, red in color and had a medium-sized diamond crown. He had a large, golden cane in his magical grasp, and was motioning it around the crowd. Every pony in the vicinity of the cane shivered, hoping that they would not be the next sacrifice.

The cane stopped at a young filly, with a coat of white. Her cutie mark had not yet been obtained. Her pink mane and tail were surprisingly clean, and her innocent face looked like it would be hard to choose to sacrifice her.

“Whaddya mean ‘Sacrifice’?!” Applebloom demanded.

“They’re gonna kill her to pay for our food!” Smarty said with a smile. Applebloom shot him a glare and looked down to the ceremony.

The Csonka ordered two large colts to grab the filly and bind her to a chair. Applebloom watched in horror as the Csonka neared the filly, bearing a large metal rod. “May this sacrifice bring us eternal wealth!” he yelled into the sky.

Applebloom couldn’t take it any more, and jumped over the balcony. “Stop!” she screamed, attracting unwanted attention from the crowd. “Ya can’t kill her! She’s just a little girl!”

The Csonka stopped the rod inches from the filly’s head, turning to stare madly into Applebloom’s eyes. “You dare interrupt the most sacred of rituals?! Who... are you?”

“That doesn’t matter! Let ‘er go, or ah’ll be forced to use... force!” Applebloom stood her ground and huffed. From the balcony, Smarty and Buff stared in awe. Though they thought Applebloom a fool, she sure had guts.

The Csonka stared at her a while longer, dropping the steel rod from his magical grip. A wild grin broke his cold face, and he stood ground in the same manner as Applebloom. “Then if you wish to free her, you must defeat me in a skirmish!”

“A what?” Applebloom cocked her head to the side, foolishly letting her guard down. In the blink of an eye, the Csonka had her pinned to the ground, horn readying a finishing move.

“Any last words, little filly?” The Csonka’s horn sparked with heat. Applebloom noticed a small amount of oil soaking into the Csonka’s coat and robes, where the sparks were falling.

“Yeah... Stop, drop, and roll!”

At those words, the Csonka looked down and saw himself lit aflame. His red coat and mane perfectly complimented the fire engulfing his flailing body. He tried jumping into water, but forgot that there were two holes in the ground meant for water or oil.

Applebloom just lay on the ground in shock, not knowing that he would be in so much pain. Too late now, she thought.

As the screaming subsided, Applebloom was met by the two large colts. Accepting her fate and closing her eyes, she didn’t notice the two colts bowing down to her. She opened one eye to check what they were doing.

“What’re ya...”

“Mrs. Csonka, please! Take the filly as a token of your initiation!” the two said in unison. Strange how the ponies did that.

Applebloom stood confused as the two colts practically kissed her hooves, and ponies from the crowd adorned her with newer Csonka robes.

Once let free, Applebloom untied the filly from the chair, receiving a hug from her. “Thank you, Mrs. Czonka! I am forever in your debt...” she told Applebloom, still hugging her.

Applebloom tried to push her off, but instead found herself underneath the filly. Ponies aren’t necessarily able to balance on their hind legs, as you should know.

“Listen, ah was just tryin’ to save you s’all! I didn’t mean ta hurt the Csunko, or whatever! I jus’ wanna go home!” Applebloom pleaded.

“You... want to go home? Where is your home? I’m sure one of the guards could find it!”

“No, you don’t understand... Uh, what was your name again?” Applebloom had to know who she saved first.

“My name? It’s Fair Wind.”

Applebloom nodded, then shook her head to get back on topic. “Listen, Fair Wind, ah’m not supposed ta be down here! I live up there!” Applebloom pointed to the ceiling, which drew out loud gasps from everypony in the chamber.

“H-how did you discover us?” one stallion asked from the crowd.

“Ah heard Smarty and Buff talkin’, and they invited me in!” Applebloom pointed to the two brothers on the balcony to clarify who she meant. The crowd all angrily glared at the two, muttering curses that Applebloom had never heard, even from Big Macintosh.

“You... you’re from... above?”

Applebloom nodded, confirming their suspicion. Some backed away, and some demanded answers to life above. Fair Wind stepped closer to Applebloom, giving her a tighter hug. “My savior, and a top-sider!”

“Please! Tell us what it is like above! We’ve longed to see it!”

“Then why don’tcha go up there in your fancy slide thingy?” Applebloom pointed to a metallic hole in the wall of the chamber.

“The tube is a one-way trip, Miss.” Smarty stated, startling Applebloom at his sudden appearance behind her.

“What!? One-way!? But I need to get home!”

“Nopony can help with that. Looks like you’ll be down here with us forever, Csonka!” Buff said in a sing-song tone. Applebloom’s eyes grew wide and her mouth hung wide open.

“F... f-f-forever?”

The maze of tubes and domes was enormous and complex, spanning over twice the size of Canterlot. Each hallway was lit by torches embedded into the walls, covered by a thin layer of glass. Numbers were hung on the walls next to doors in each hallway, giving every individual pony an address, or “Dome-Number” as the underponies called them. Applebloom frequented the hallways a lot when she was trying to find her room, always getting lost. Thankfully for her, Fair Wind was always by her side to direct her when needed.

“Take a left after the third hallway, and keep going.” Fair Wind said from behind Applebloom. The corridors were very narrow, only allowing ponies in a straight line. “Watch for the hole in the floor; we haven’t had a chance to fix it up.”

Fair Wind, now that Applebloom had a closer look, was a petite pony with beautiful pink eyes. Her white coat was incredibly clean for a pony living under dirt, and her mane was somehow styled. Plus, she had an education to boot, making her the perfect little girl.

“Wouldja like to stay over mah place fer some dinner?” Applebloom asked, stepping cautiously over the large crack in the floor of the hallway.

“Why, I would be delighted to, Miss Czonka!” Fair Wind’s eyes grew and her expression was overjoyed, resembling somewhat of Twilight when she got her new books. Applebloom liked the idea of some welcomed company, especially after such a hard hit a few days ago.

“What will we be having tonight, Miss Czonka?”

“Call me Applebloom, please? I don’ even want to be this ‘Czonka’!” Applebloom had found her Dome Number, and opened the door for her and her new friend.

Applebloom’s room was very ornate, sporting a red carpet, white marble pillars, and golden furniture. For an underground civilization, these ponies had quite the craftsmanship. Though it was a smaller room, it was cozy for the two fillies.

“Oh, please, Cz— I mean, Applebloom, let me make you something!” Fair Wind dashed over to the kitchen and prepared a feast in nearly a minute.

“... Thanks, F.W.”

“‘F.W?’” This nickname confused Fair Wind, as she was always called by her normal name.

“Yeah, F.W, Fair Wind... ya get it?”

“I believe so.” Fair Wind finished, setting down the last of the food on the golden dining table. “Can you tell me what life is like on the surface? You never actually told anypony the other day.”

Applebloom thought for a while. What was life like up top?

“Well, ya see, it’s sorta... like a... um, can ah have a minute?”

“Sure thing, Applebloom.”

Life Topside. What it was like. Think, Applebloom!

“It’s... uh, well it’s definitely bright. There are lots of ponies I know, and I have a couple other friends. Spike’s a baby dragon, and Scootaloo... ah usually tease her by callin’ her a chicken, but—”

“Pardon the interruption, Applebloom, but I wanted to know what it’s like. I was always told it was barren and disgusting.”

Appleblooms jaw dropped. “Barren?! It’s anything but! There are trees everywhere, full of red apples that me an’ my sister always buck. The place is full of ponies, good an’ bad! Ah’ll tell ya one thing, is that it ain’t in the least bit barren or disgusting! Grass is everywhere, little squirrels are runnin’ around, there are forests everywhere... Fluttershy has animals all over her cottage, too. Maybe I can take you to see... oh.” Applebloom looked down. Fair Wind decided it was best to change the subject.

“I see then, Applebloom. So, are you enjoying the feast?”

“Ah... ah think I’ll just head to my bed. I’m really tired.” Applebloom lied, walking off the chair and over to her bed in the wall. It was much more cozy than hers at Sweet Apple Acres.

Fair Wind looked over to Applebloom, who was facing the wall. “Sorry, miss Applebloom.”

“Aw, it’s okay F.W. Ah jus’ miss my home.”

Dirt fell onto Fair Wind’s muzzle suddenly, causing her to twitch.

“Ah wonder what mah family’s thinkin’ right now...”

The dirt continued to fall onto the head of Fair Wind, growing in quantity. She could hear somepony yelling from above. Light began to pour into the room, frightening Fair Wind with its intensity. Covering her eyes in pain, Fair Wind cowered in a corner. Applebloom turned to see her big brother lifting himself from the ground.