Chapter 16: Down the Rabbit Hole

(…………………………………………………………………………………………)

“Whoa, nelly, slow down thar, Rarity!” Applejack shouted while trying to grab the fleeing fashionista unicorn’s attention. As it happened AJ’s call went unnoticed as the unicorn, so concerned with the promise of a fortune in gems, was surprisingly outpacing them all and had managed to procure a sizable lead. Unlike a bullet fired from a gun, the path they trekked was not a linear straight shot. More like a tangled mess of string as Rarity would make sudden turns and head below seemingly random tunnels. Sometimes she’d dive down in one direction only to double-back and drive on a different divergent course.

Throughout it all, Rarity’s horn glowed endlessly with a lucid blue aura with such an intensity that it had made it physically hurt to look directly at it. Yet, if not for that light, the group would’ve lost sight of her long before this juncture. The pony troupe of six headed further and further down into the soft murky depths of the earth. Always descending, never going up, the atmosphere was becoming more and more humid and harder to breath. The stagnant stillness was choked by the stench of decay the further they delved it had become so oppressive that it was hard to concentrate on anything else. Like a carrot on a stick, thoughts of how to return to the world above were muted as the five ponies pursuing ponies single-mindedly focused on the surprising, and unusual, quickness of the gem-hunting white unicorn.

“You certainly have...some very...interesting friends, Twilight.” Isaac huffed, eternally grateful that the interior of his suit was climate controlled. Though it hadn’t stopped a layer of sweat to mingle with his body hair. The unending pursuit had already caused him to feel as if his lungs were about to implode and, judging from the sounds the others were making, he wasn’t the only one.

“Yeah...,” was all Twilight could force through parched lips. Her strained heartbeat echoed and pounded in her ears as if she was caught in the middle of a DJ Pon-3 signature techno-rave party. Even Pinkie Pie, normally so hyper and energetic, was feeling the burn. Twilight feared that the confectionary baker would soon collapse from a sudden sugar crash.

“She’s certainly fast when she wants to be.” Spitfire breathed in measured control.

“Had she been born a pegasus I might’ve recommended her a position in the Wonderbolts.” The fire maned pony had performed many years as the acting captain of the performing troupe. Daily intense training gave her the clear athletic edge, and had there been enough room to fly she would’ve easily captured the fleeing unicorn. Unfortunately she had found that her talent for raw air travel was not cleanly converted into ground speed.

Applejack, unlike Spitfire, was in her natural element. She was conditioned for such long distance races and tests of stamina. Having enacting them regularly against her friend, and unofficial rival, Rainbow Dash. The farmer had pulled ahead, with Spitfire a near second, and the rest of the group falling pathetically behind.

“Slow down there!” Applejack squinted ferociously and scowled with a hunger for the prize in front of her. The farmer formulated a dastardly plan that would’ve involved a rope and a hogtied and subdued white unicorn completely at her mercy. But Rarity’s unpredictable pattern, coupled with her brightly shining horn, made such an approach treacherous. AJ feared the likely outcome would be her tripping over her own lasso.

AJ and the rest ploughed onward, their collective hoof steps echoed loudly in the cramped corridors, like the beating of many drums. Yet, inch by inch, hoof step by hoof step, AJ’s charge brought her closer to her target and further from the runner-ups. Every step of the way was fraught with dozens of obstacles; exposed roots, discarded tools, and many large rock formations that jutted from the walls and ceiling. She bobbed and weaved her way past them all.

Twisting to meet every false lead and to try and make an interception possible. Beads of sweat flew off her body in a light spray as she galloped forth with all her strength. As the distance dwindled AJ extended her neck and opened her mouth, her aim was locked upon Rarity’s tail which was mere centimeters in front of her, teasing her nose with its light purple strands with a scent of roses and lavender.

In a last desperate burst of forward momentum followed up with the final snapping of an enamel vice, AJ’s teeth clenched down upon the unicorn’s groomed tail. At the moment of contact her mouth was filled with the taste of floral shampoo and she steeled her legs and dug her hooves into the ground. Sharply pulling her head back to apply as much drag as possible.

Then she felt a whiplash as her cranium was immediately snapped forward as Rarity’s momentum forced AJ forward and started to tow her across the ground. Creating a furrowed trail behind her.

“Ow! Applejack! What are you doing?” Rarity cried out with the sharp pain in her flank, turning to give AJ a look of pure offense. Never once did she surrender an ounce of speed.

“Let go this instant!”

AJ ignored her and continued to hold a firm grip on the violet tail, as unyielding as the color orange on her coat. She felt an incredible amount of strain in her leg joints as she fought to regain her balance. Her haunches and stomach screamed in agony as they were rubbed raw from being dragged wholesale through a bed of dirt and minerals. Rarity, too focused on her source of deadweight, was tragically unaware as to where she was going. A fork in the path ahead lead down two separate tunnels, and she was heading towards the one on the right. The one that was covered in an unknown slimy brown substance.

Any further progress was lost as Rarity’s hooves contacted said substance. It was slick as ice, a texture of wet moss and a consistency of fresh vomit. Still unaware as to what she’d chanced upon, she lost her purchase and slipped. Landing on her stomach with such force that it left her winded and disoriented. Both AJ and Rarity became buried in a sickly brown slime that clung to the ground and walls like a carpet of filth. It bubbled and hissed as innumerable air pockets had been ruptured under the weight of the ponies. Releasing bursts of green gas that filled the air with the unholy stench that had filled the tunnels before.

Some of the slimed had forced its way into Rarity’s mouth. She tried to tightly constrict her throat against the pressure to swallow it, spitting and gagging as she went. The taste was horrendous and vile; no words could describe just how obscenely abhorrent the sensation was.

Then the bottom gave out, she crossed the boundary of the tunnel, and felt herself falling into darkness. Sliding down a sudden incline, speeding away into the depths beyond. Both Rarity and Applejack screamed as they plunged out of sight.

(…………………………………………………………………………………………)

“Stop!” Spitfire screamed, her warning echoed loudly. She spread her wings to full mast, extending them as far as she could to break her momentum and to catch the others from meeting a similar fate as the farmer and fashionista. The others obeyed the sudden order and screeched to a halted mere inches from crossing across earthen dirt onto alien sludge. In the darkness someone coughed from all the dust that had been kicked up. It had sounded like Twilight.

“Oh, this isn’t good, this isn’t good.” the fiery Wonderbolt traced her eyes over the encrusted walls as the malicious substance bubbled and churned almost as if it was alive.

“What Celestia forsaken, Tartarus-spawned, Everfree abomination is this?” Spitfire threw a rock at it. The projectile contacted the substance with a splat and remained affixed to it.

“What are we going to do?” Pinkie was shaking, fidgeted, and gyrating in a prancing dance, all at the same time. “AJ and Rarity are down there. This is the absolutely, positively, no-holds-barred, Luna-on-crutches, I-used-salt-instead-of-sugar-in-the-cupcakes, worst thing ever!”

“This substance,” Twilight took a few hesitant steps toward the offensive matter, “...is this the stuff you were talking about before?” She wished she could see Isaac’s face in order to gage his reactions. Maybe, perhaps, to find comfort in his confidence in dealing with such otherworldly abominations. She could do with a bit of that. Yet, the helmet made him seem even colder and more distant than ever before.

“It is.” Isaac responded plainly, not even bothering to look at her.

“Wow, I’ve never seen anything like it.” she feinted boldness, mixed with a lot of scientific curiosity, and approached the substance with a true morbid fascination.

“Don’t touch it.” Isaac raised an arm to cut her off.

“What? I wasn’t going to...I’ll just take a sample.” Twilight shrank back under his forceful attitude.

“I don’t know what will happen if you come into contact with it in the open. I’ve only ever encountered it with my suit on. Exposed as you are...no, you should take the alternate path.” He pointed towards the ‘clean’ left tunnel.

“But our friends are down there,” Pinkie pleaded, “we have to go save them.”

“Exactly, we can’t just leave those two to fend for themselves.” Spitfire contributed. Isaac sighed, shaking his head in tune with the depressing emotions that hung in the air. He always said he worked better alone, but a part of him realized that not a mere two days ago he was sticking his neck out to save another.

Ellie.

An individual he had known less than a day and yet he was willing to fight to the ends of the galaxy to save her. Similarly these sugar bowl ponies had known each other for a much longer time frame. A chapter whose length he could only guess at, and . He wanted to help, but his true motives were less than honorable.

After being exposed to the corrupting biomass there was a slight possibility that Rarity and Applejack could emerge unscathed. Yet, his experience said that they would be beyond saving. Sooner or later to be transformed into necromorphs; perhaps even a new type he’d never seen before. If such a grim scenario was to pass then he’d have to kill them. It would be the only merciful solution and he’d have to do it out of sight. Less his companions try and stop him.

“Twilight, are we close enough that your magic can lead you to the gems? You know, without Rarity’s help?” He asked and got a purple glow from Twilight’s horn in response.

“Yes, I we’re close enough that I can sense them with no problems.” the lavender unicorn confirmed.

“Ok,” he continued, “Twilight, you and the others take the alternate route and we’ll all try and meet up further ahead.”

What? No!” Twilight venomously objected, “Isa...Cutter, you can’t. We should all go.”

“Yes I can! I’m protected by the suit so logically I’m the best one, the only one, that should go down there and help your friends.” Isaac snapped, facing Twilight at last. “You can’t take the risk of getting exposed, you’re smarter than that Twilight. I promise if there is a way to save your friends...then I’ll find it for sure.” He said with confidence, although a large sliver of doubt plagued his words.

“Cutter...I...I can’t let you do that.” Twilight felt shame with her words and turned away from him.

“Why not?” He said Feeling that at any moment she would pull a mind control card on him.

“Because we’re supposed to stick together...” Twilight knew that was not the real reason. It was deeper than that, more selfish, and she struggled for a few seconds to try and find the words to express her real desire.

“Actually...I don’t know what to do. I know nothing of what we could face and there are no books or guides for me to read about these things.” She motioned at the slime. Her friends looked to her as the official leader of their group. She was the one that had discovered the stories of Nightmare Moon and the Elements of Harmony. Although the books on the subject were just a step above prophetic prose, at least she had had a plan of action. Now she was involved in a situation that was beyond her ability to understand, with Isaac the only window of knowledge available. Above all she was scared out of her wits. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, and now Rarity and Applejack. She was losing all her friends and she felt so helpless.

“Without you I... I don’t know what to do about these necro-things.” Twilight hesitantly admitted and for a crucial amount of time no one said anything. Until Twilight felt herself being embraced in a tight hug by her favorite party pony.

“Don’t worry Twilighty-mighty,” Pinkie nuzzled the unicorn, “if any pony can get us out of this, you can. I believe in you.” The unicorn progeny eagerly returned the cuddle.

“Pinkie...thanks.”

“Well then, wish me luck.” Isaac said, ending the debate.

“Be careful.” Spitfire placed a concerned hoof on his shoulder.

“I’ll be fine.” Isaac returned a nod, walked to the mouth of the right side tunnel. His hoof steps made loud squishing sounds as he carefully worked his way over the carpet of organic ooze. Tentatively peering over the lip of the tunnel. The light from his helmet’s visor was only able to illuminate less than a foot in front of him. It was enough to know that the tunnel took a sharp angle downwards. It would be a manageable trek if dry, but the corrupting ooze turned it into little more than a water slide. Isaac took a deep breath, filling his lungs to capacity, then slowly exhaling out. The cathartic action steeled his resolve and without further hesitation he jumped down the tunnel, quickly sliding out of sight.

(…………………………………………………………………………………………)

“Hmm, The lavender pony mulled while studying the biomass, like a scientist would study bacteria under a microscope, “the organic growth appears to be alarmingly super active and seems to share properties with certain strain of slime molds such as the class Myxogastria. Growing at a very rapid rate.”

Thankful that this time she was prepared to take samples unlike before, when she’d faced the necromorphs in the mines. She telekinetically summoned a q-tip and a petri dish from her saddle bags. Quickly taking a sample of the biomass and swabbing the specimen into the petri dish culture. Discarding the cotton swab she then replaced the dish back into her saddle bags.

Twilight...go back...

“Hello?” Twilight called out into the darkness.

You are one with...

Luna...she knows.

“Did any pony hear that?”

“Hear what?” Spitfire shrugged and Pinkie tilted her head in confusion.

“Ok, every pony,” Twilight said with her confidence returning in leaps and bounds, “we know what we have to do. We’re not going to let our friends down.” Her declaration was met with nods of approval from Pinkie and Spitfire.

‘Please be safe Isaac, and take care of AJ and Rarity.’ she silently wished before turning towards the left tunnel and charging ahead, horn glowing with magic. Followed closely by her two companions.

(…………………………………………………………………………………………)

Tumbling down the narrow tunnel, it was a wild downfall of hooves over flanks and heads. Both Applejack and Rarity quickly lost all sense of orientation and time as they slid further and further down into the bowels of the earth. They held their breaths to avoid the overwhelming stench.

With no warning, the sliding incline suddenly leveled out. The impact leaving both ponies winded and with future bruises. Their inertia carried them ever deeper into their newfound location as they continued to skim over a layer of slimy excretion. Eventually physics took over and their speed was slowly eaten until they came to a tentative stop. The room around them was filled with an innumerable amount of stalactites and stalagmites. Yet, everything was covered in the same brown sludge as far as the eye could see.

Large tentacle growths of the mess hung limply from the ceiling. Forming a crisscrossing pattern that held no rhyme or reason. The air was humid to saturation and the constant dripping of yellow liquid equaled the downpour of a light storm.

Rarity had just finished evacuating her dinner all over the floor. Adding another layer of filth over the blanket of sludge that already coated the entirety of the cavernous chamber. She squeezed tears from her eyes, ashamed of herself for giving in to such an unladylike act. But give in she did, and freely so. The taste in her mouth, she imagined, was what rotten vegetables and manure would be. Just the most wretched thing ever that had dared to touch her tongue, and she might’ve even swallowed some. The very thought of it being inside her caused her to vomit a second time. Just to be sure the invader was removed completely.

Applejack had not faired any better. Worse, in fact, since she had lost her hat somewhere along the way. The farmer fished a canteen out of one of her saddle bags. She took a swig of water and washing her mouth before spitting the liquid out. The container was then offered to Rarity. The white unicorn eagerly accepted the container. Taking a large mouthful of what turned out to be apple juice, she repeated AJ’s lead. The sweetness of the juice helped alleviate a little of the horrid taste, but only as much as a drop of water could fill a bowl.

“Thank you, Applejack.”

“No prob,” AJ returned the canteen to her bags, “bleah! Ah don’t think Ah’ll be able ta eat for a whole week.” She spat several time for emphasis before getting up to look for her hat.

Rarity, meanwhile, was using a combination of a comb and her telekinesis to clean herself off. As slick as the biomass was, it proved to be nearly impossible to remove. Clinging to her mane and coat like wet gum and trying to extricate it resulted in long stringy tendrils that refused to let go.

“Agh,” Rarity grunted, “it’ll take at least twice as long to clean my immaculate quaffer at this rate.”

“Oh well, if ya’ll weren’t in such a hurry we wouldn’t be be here in tha first place.” AJ glared daggers at her white friend.

“HAH,” Rarity gasped with dramatic offense, “Me? Well if it weren’t for some pony that had distracted me by ruining my perfectly styled tail, then I could’ve stopped before this whole mess happened.”

“That’s a load of horse-apples. Face it, ya’ll got too caught up in ya’lls fancy gem huntin’ ta notice danger when it comes a callin’ for ya.”

“Humph, I’d expect such ignorance from some lower-class pony who lacks any appreciation for the finer things in life.” Rarity held her head high in assertion.

Suddenly their argument was interrupted by a sound of somebody falling down a pipe of slick sewage.

“Holy Shit!” Isaac screamed as his body was violently tossed across a landscape of zero friction. Applejack and Rarity tried to get out of the way, but only found themselves bowled over by a rather large piece of stallion meat.

(…………………………………………………………………………………………)

Author’s Notes: I know the chapter is criminally short considering how long its been since I last updated and I apologize profusely for it. I have not given up on this story and I feel it would be better if I updated more frequently with shorter chapters.

Just so there is no confusion, I’d like to remind you that this story takes place after MLP season one and before season two. While I will try to keep it faithful to established Equestrian history and holidays, there may still be some discrepancy. Therefore, expect episodic events to not play out the same.