Guide to the Undermarket [open, but please ask first] (Dated)

Prolog here

The sun slowly sets as Jack and his two companions String Chord and Hjalti trot through the dirty alleys of the eastern Residential District. Jack has an uncomfortable feeling, since he lost Kunnia here. He quickly shakes his head to regain a clear mind and turns his head to the others and says: " If I would make an entrance to an underground market I would make it somewhere here. So look out for any signs that could indicate an entrance to the underground. I don't want to be out here past the curfew."

Onyx, finally believing that he is safe, decides to come above ground. His claws make quite a bit of noise as he breaks through the alleyway up to the surface. Onyx was wondering where he would end up. Onyx knew it wasn't inside a building because the stone was wrong. As his claw reaches out of the earth, he pats around the surface to make sure it is clear. His paw finds a piece of glass, which he throws.

Onyx finally decides it is time to come out, and pops out of the ground. Onyx notices three ponies. He had made a quite a bit of noise breaking through the alleyway, but not enough to warrant undue attention from any nearby patrols. Seeing the ponies, Onyx asks, "Does Pony know where Onyx is? Onyx is a bit lost..."

String stops, pulling the two ponies back with him, and sliding them to a halt "Hail, underground creature, we trot blindly these alleys ourselves, lost as well, but, it would be of great help if you told us, maybe, if you knew where the 'Undermarket' is."

Hjalti stares at Onyx curiously, keeping his hoof on the hilt of his weapon as he always does. He whistles a tune he heard before he came to this land, not wanting to interfere with the conversation between String and the strange creature.

Onyx hears the pony's question, and decides to speak like the shamans, "Onyx know where Undermarket lie. Look beneath your hooves, but you cannot see it with your eye."

Onyx decides to drop the facade and get straight to the point, "What does Pony want to do underground? Onyx know where Undermarket is. Onyx live underground. Is Pony avoiding the Defiler so late at night?"

Jack looks mistrustful at Onyx. He saw several Diamonddogs working for the gryphons during the war. "How can we trust you? I mean you could work for the gryphons and lead us into an ambush. Don't take it personal, but my job made me wary of strangers. Especially if they come out of the earth."

String listens to Gray to the end then turns towards Hjalti "What do you think, should we listen to him...?"

Hjalti thinks for a moment, trotting closer to Onyx. He looks back at String; "I don't think he's with the griffons." He turns back to Onyx; "Hail... Onyx, was it...?" He smiles; "We're looking for a friend who might be in this undermarket place. Would you be able to take us there...?"

Onyx looks at the grey pony, "Onyx understand that Pony is mistrustful. How can Onyx possibly gain trust for enemies of the Defilers? All Onyx can say is that Onyx know where Undermarket is, and that Onyx's Clan when Defilers enter country. Besides, why would Defiler want poor Onyx. Other dogs hate Onyx for Onyx's ancestry."

Onyx looks back towards the hole. "Onyx can guide you to Undermarket. Onyx not care if Ponies follow... Onyx need things and Onyx doubt Onyx will find them here. Perhaps Ponies would help Onyx."

Onyx jumps back into the hole and shouts, "Onyx would say that if Pony come into tunnel, Ponies will need light as Onyx cannot provide any. Things hide in this darkness, but that could simply be something Onyx have to bear. Onyx know the tunnels, and the traps Onyx made."

Jack sighs. He just has to trust Onyx or they would search for an entrance for the rest of the day. "Okay Onyx, I'll trust." he says. Usually he would say his name now, but he thinks that it isn't necessary right now.
"Light, huh?" Jack thinks and rummages around in his saddlebags to find his matches. He lights one match and before he follows the Diamonddog Jack turns to his followers. "I'll go first and you just follow my light, okay?"

String nods and gets onto standby, he turns his head to Hjalti to check of he is ready too. Awaiting at least a nod.

He gives String a small nod, then turns to Jack; "We should go before it gets late."

"Welcome to Onyx's extended home!" Onyx motions around the tunnels. While it look complicated, Onyx mostly remember where everything is and goes."

Onyx begins to look closely at the walls of the cavern, as if scrutinizing a piece of art. Onyx mumbles something and pulls out a small, worn piece of paper. "No, no. That way not good." Onyx pulls out a small book and looks inside. "Oh! Onyx go this way!" Onyx begins to walk down a seemingly random tunnel.

"Don't worry, Onyx is mostly sure that there are no traps. Besides, Onyx would walk into it first anyway."

Onyx quickly turns around and says, "Are all the Ponies in the tunnel? Onyx will have to cover the hole so Defilers do not find it! Onyx not want Defilers in Onyx's home."

Jack looks back to the others. "Yep everyone is in." he says. He's worried that one of the tunnels won't hold them and they'll just crash into the underground.

String coughs as he moves through the dirt, he tries covering his guitar from the dust "Well, at least I am doing this for Mercy" he coughs harder, now covering his muzzle.

Hjalti chuckles; "At least it's warm down here... Not that I dislike the cold at all~". He tries not to get any dust on his cloak.

Onyx begins packing dirt and closes the hole. "Onyx think we should move. Pony place is this way."

Onyx begins walking down the tunnel, which slants slightly down and zigzags. "Onyx often make it difficult for invaders to get into tunnels by making traps. Does Pony know where Onyx can find gems?" With the word gems, Onyx gains a bit of a glint in his eye.

A rumble can be heard in the distance. Onyx turns his head towards the sound and can see a bit of light in the distance. Onyx begins to whisper, "Onyx think there are Defilers. Onyx will go behind them, and Ponies can ambush them here. Onyx suggest you put light out. Defilers will notice it."

Onyx walks a bit further, and digs into the wall, so the griffons won't notice him. Onyx pokes a hole in the wall and listens as the sounds grow closer.

"Did you know there were tunnels down here?"

"Those stupid mutts must be around here somewhere. Always looking for gems."

"Onyx looks through his hole in the wall, and notices the two griffons are around the corner, and walked into the ambush. Onyx jumps out of the wall, and jumps onto the back of one griffon. "Defiler will not live to see another day!"

Onyx bites the griffon's neck as his claws dig into the wings.

Jack makes his body ready for a suprise attack and as the griffons walk around the corner he jumps on the griffon. Not sure what he should do now, because usually he has a knife to fight with, he starts to hit the head of the griffon with his hoofs.

"Get off!!" the griffon yells, grabs Jack and tosses him against the wall.

String's eyes widen he jumps on the Gryphons back, trying to pull him away "Hjalti! We need a hoof here!" he wraps his foreleg around the Gryphon's neck trying to choke him, but teh thick throat forbidding it.

Hjalti grunts, drawing his blade. Coming from a warlike people, this all seems natural to him. He stamps his hoof angrily, charging towards the griffon. He thrusts his weapon into the griffon's side, thrown into a battle frenzy as his steel meets flesh.

Onyx, having finished with the first griffon, sees that the Ponies need some help. Seeing the other griffon being stabbed, Onyx decided to aid the pony.

"Is Pony okay? Onyx would be upset if Onyx has to carry you to Undermarket."

Since Onyx has no medical experience, he moves to help finish the last griffon. Seeing it is basically bezerking at this point, Onyx takes a step back since he doesn't want to get hurt. Onyx thinks, 'Onyx know first rule of combat! Don't get hit. Ever.'

"Should Onyx make sure there are no other Defilers in tunnel?"

Jack shakes his head as he stands up again. "Shoot, I'm useless against a griffon without a knife." he thinks and sees how Hjalti rams his knife into the griffon.The griffon screeches and starts to rage. If he wants to end this fight without any casualties he has to act quickly. "String!! Ram your knife into his kneck." he yells. If he would make it correctly his knife will cut the spinal chord of the griffon. In the same moment Jack notices how stupid it was to yell this, because now the griffon rages more and tries to get String Chord of his back.

String's eyes widen, he tries holding on, clutching harder releasing a barrage of swears "Марш у ПИЧКУ лепу материну!" pulling his knife out and aiming at the gryphons neck, he swings, the tip of this sharp cold arm aiming directly at the back of his neck, horizontally.

Hjalti makes a large gash in the griffon's side as he withdraws his weapon, leaving him completely still for String's strike. He casually takes a few steps back.

Onyx watches as the ponies fight the remaining griffon. he thinks, "They are not pack mates, so Onyx cannot help them fight.

"Onyx will just watch, Onyx think you can do it!"

Onyx backs away from the fight, and attempts to hide in the shadows, hoping not to have to fight in open air.

Onyx mumbles, "Onyx does not care if it is easy fight, Onyx know first rule of fighting. Do not ever get hit. Onyx think that fight will not end well for Onyx if Onyx join."

Jack just stands there not really sure what to do. Without his knife he isn't a very valuable fighter against a griffon. He just crosses his fingers that String Chord will be successful with his attack and kill that griffon fast. The griffon isn't really happy about his enemy on his back and still tries to get him down.

String swiftly pulls the blade out and makes another strike, trying to hit the nervous system, by cutting it off, Gryphon would die in a second.

"HJALTI, RIP HIS GUTS OUT!"

He screams out, his voice now rough, he hangs tightly, trying not to get killed.

Hjalti groans; "You ponies are useless." He thrusts his weapon back into the wounded area, his whole hoof stuck inside the wound now. He grins, twisting the blade inside the griffon.

Onyx watches almost in awe as the pony with the sword, to Onyx makes short work of the griffon. Onyx mutters to himself, "Shamans were wrong about Ponies. This Pony killing Defiler. Onyx thought Pony was prey to others."

As the griffon bleeds out from the wound, Onyx makes a small whimpering noise, as instincts kick in.

"Onyx definitely not going to be Alpha... with Ponies like that, probably not even Beta."

Onyx decides this is a good time to speak up and moves out of the shadows, "Onyx think this good time to finish our journey. Strange Pony place is near. Can Pony feel it? Can Pony at least smell or hear it?"

Jack lays down on the ground with his ear and tries to hear something. It's a hard to difference the sounds from the Undermarket and the fight, but Jack can definitively hear some voices down there. He nods. "Yeah, I can hear some voices down there. Could you be so nice and make the scout? I don't want to run into some angry griffons or ponies down there."

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"

Scintillance has been falling for... lord knows how long now, and his throat is long dry from the screaming. he finally Calmed himself, though still somewhat emotional. "DAG-NABIT! THINK! THIS IS NO WAY TO DIE, DANGIT!" he focused his mind into the first thing he could do by magical reflex: summon his weapon, the martyr, a twin-sickle, double edged scythe normally used for melee combat, but proven to have other uses.

Martyr:

Spoiler:

the construct forms an intense light that would shine through the tunnel system, especially bright due to being fueled by not only by immense magic, bu by fear and emotion as well. "OH, AND WHAT AM I-supposed to do with... this?" Lance's voice finally toned down proper, as he could now see hes surroundings. He noticed he was quite near a tunnel wall, and so stuck his martyr into it, as he gripped his Weapin with both front hooves, hoping to slow, or even stop, his fall. he could see light from bellow, getting closer as air slowly ceased to blow past him, though not entirely...

When Lance had run out of wall for his scythe to cling onto, his dropping speed was already very minute, and Lance fell onto his four hooves, his martyr bright and levitating beside him. however, Lance's vision was starting to blur, and he was on the verge of fainting. he looked up, and saw a hulking creature, reminiscent to a very large dog, before his sight failed him, as did his legs, as he collapsed to the floor. his martyr construct dissolved, disappearing in thin air.

Onyx hears a rumbling noise, and sees a light. He looks up, and notices a pony with a large beam of light falling down a hole. He can only wonder what is going on as the pony lands on the floor, and collapses on the ground. Hey looks towards the ponies he was guiding and says, "Do Ponies understand what is going on? Onyx is confused. First Defiler get into tunnels, now strange ponies with solid light. Onyx starting to think Onyx should have listened to the stones"

Onyx melds back into the shadows and waits for the other ponies to deal with the newcomer. Onyx decided it would be too risky for Onyx to wake the unicorn. The Shamans taught Onyx about magic users. Onyx knew that angering them was worse than any other type of pony. He picks up a rock and begins to whittle it with his claws, seeing what he will make with it. He mumbles to himself, "New Pony is not Onyx's problem. Onyx is not sure about Pony magic. Shamans say bad things happen when Pony with horn magic get involved. Very bad indeed."

Onyx looks up at the hole that the pony fell through. Onyx began to wonder, how many other things were wandering through his tunnels. Onyx thought, "Onyx will need to work on traps, Onyx starting to think that that is how Ponies are finding strange Pony place. What is name again... Undermarket... that is it."

Jack made a little jump as Scintillance fell on the ground some inches away from him. Jack had still his ear on the ground and therefor the sound was about 5 times louder. He looks at the unconscious pony. Jack looks to the two ponies, but they seem to be busy with the griffon. So he looks to Onyx, but he doesn't seem to attempt any help. Jack sighs as he realizes that he has to help the pony. Jack walks over to Scintillance and tries to wake him up with slight slaps. "Hey, wake up! It isn't a good time to make a nap right now."

bothered by the facial slapfest, Scintillance's eyes slowly opened to eventually see a blurred grey figure before him. he jumped back, startled, and re-conjured his Martyr once more, in case he was in for another fight. though as his eyes finally cleared he realized he was in the presence of other ponies. His Martyr glowed brightly and buzzed, but was levitated aside. he kept it spawned, juuuust incase he'd need it. his mane had been horribly ruffled, and his fur riddled with dirt

"THANK THE GODS! other ponies! I've spent HOURS down here... it's so, so nice to see other ponies..!" A sad smile lay over his face.

String slides to the ground and turns the gryphon's head around, he slams the knife into the back of the neck, cutting the spinal cord off, ending the pain. He stands up and takes a step back.

String closes his eyes and mumbles something on his own language, before raising his hoof to his muzzle and kissing it, then laying the hoof atop of the Gryphon's forehead "Нека богови буду са тобом." (May the gods be with you.)

Hjalti grunts, pulling his blood soaked weapon from the griffon's side; "Mhh. That could've gone better..." He pulls a feather from the griffon's corpse, hanging it from his belt. He looks at String, then at Jack; "I'm surprised you two haven't been killed already~"

Onyx motions towards Grayscale to follow him down the tunnels. Onyx begins walking down the tunnels, and begins knocking on the walls and floor, as if testing acoustics. Once Onyx finishes his work, he begins to dig into the floor of the tunnel.

Onyx eventually hits the bottom, and light spills through the hole. Onyx could see ponies milling about the Undermarket. Onyx climbs back up the tunnel, hoping ponies do not notice a hole in the ceiling. Once he is sure that nothing will hear him speak in the Undermarket, he says to the ponies, "Onyx has led the way to Undermarket. Ponies will come out of ceiling there" Onyx points towards the hole. Onyx has things Onyx need to do, so Onyx will wait for all Ponies to leave before closing hole."

Onyx steps back into the shadows, eyes shining in the darkness, "Onyx does not want to scare strange Pony with deadly light weapon. Would end badly for Onyx. Screaming one did not have magic like that. Was tolerable."

Jack makes a step backwards as Scintillance conjured his weapon again, but he smiles as he hears his words. "Well, it's nice to meet you, too" Jack isn't sure what he should think about the new pony, but since he has a weapon he acts friendly.
Jack notices Onyx gesture. "It's time to move. To be honest I don't want to stay any longer in these tunnels." He walks torwards he hole, nods to Onyx and says "Thank you very much, Onyx. You are a lifesaver. Without you we would still search for an entrance." He slides down the tunnel and meets two surprised ponies on the other side. "Well, hello there" Jack says with a friendly smile, but the ponies don't seem to bother about it and continue to talk to each other.

Scintillance wasn't the only new pony nearby, though the other two arrivals managed to stay hidden. Shade and Scrapper hadn't taken the vertical path but approached from behind, as far as they could without the risk of being detected, which ment they hid behind a turn since Scintillance's weapon lit up the path quite well. The both of them had searched for the brown unicorn, and somehow Shade wasn't in the least surprise to find him causing a commotion and taking a place in everyponie's memories. The surprising element was that they had found him in the first place, for hours they had been wandering around down here in almost complete darkness with hardly anybody else to meet. Encounters generally had been avoided anyway.

But even if had taken so long, a waste of time was something different. For one, it had given Shade the possibility to cool down from her outburst and collect her thoughts again, and they had even found a new place to stay, a new hideout. Or at least, possibly. Finding Scintillance had been more important than checking out the location, but now that they had found him, they didn't show themselves. Shade didn't like to show herself to strangers, it was best if nopony knew that she was around, and as long as Scrapper was with her, he better applied the same standards. Which he did, much to Shade's satisfaction. He wasn't only promising, as she had described him before, he also kept those promises.

Now they were listening, and silently following as the group moved on. At first Shade hadn't been interested in their purpose, but when it became clear that they were going to the Undermarket, Scintillance falling into them turned out to have a good aspect. Now they only had to wait until the group had left the entrance to the underground city Shade only once had heard of since she had arrived in Manehatten, but it had been enough to raise her interest. Every place that was hidden and bare of light deserved her interest.

Scintillance realized his weapon was still conjured, and hastily dissolved it. He slid down the same hole Grayscale took. and fell to his knees. "Civilization... at last..." He turned to the gray pegasus, "I feel that I must thank you... I may have taken a wrong turn there and proceeded to stumble through those caves had you not shown me the way... to... hmm... where are we? ... Where are my manners, I'm Scintillance."

String turns towards Hjalti and pats his shoulder, then turns to everybody, he clears his throat, trying to get everybody's attention "Today, one gryphon died at our hands. This is just a start. Death. We'll have to meet it again, many times in the future. But, death is the price of peace, and blood is the price of glory. Don't let death scare you, we are the ones who should scare -it-" he then heads for the hole in the ceiling, only glancing through it, far enough not to fall through it.

He slides down the hole as well, spreading his wings to soften the fall, he looks around the undermarket and smiles >Finally<

Hjalti stays silent, wiping the blood from his blade with his hoof. He follows String closely.

Onyx watches as two of the ponies slide through the hole into Undermarket. Onyx thinks to himself, 'Why did Onyx help Ponies again? Yes, Onyx remember, Ponies will remember Onyx helping. Ponies will make connection. Onyx was stupid for giving name. Ponies know who Onyx is. Onyx should have gone by previous name. No, previous name known by Defilers. Ghost cannot appear in city. Ghost will not appear in city if Onyx can help it. Maybe Defilers forget Ghost?'

Onyx sniffs the air and looks around, "Onyx smell you... but Onyx cannot see you."

Onyx looks towards the pony who fell from the ceiling, "Onyx is leaving now, Onyx think Onyx can hear crowd." With that, he jumps to the ceiling and digs a tunnel towards the sound, leaving the ponies in the dark, with the hole to the Undermarket still open.

Shade visibly tensed up when the diamond dog openly warned them that he was aware of their presence. Sure, dogs had good noses, and Shade couldn't deny that she could need a shower or a bath, but such luxury wasn't always available on the street, she wasn't the only one who had to live with that.

The trouble that usually followed when somebody noticed her presence didn't come. The dog left, digging his way somewhere, and Shade simply continued waiting until the path would be clear.