In the dark of the Sugarcube Corner cellar, Pound Cake as well as his parents sat in shock after the soldiers left with Pumpkin Cake.
Nopony said a word for a few minutes. Finally, Pound Cake spoke.
"What did they do with her?"
Mrs. Cake responded, "I don't know, son."
"So, honey, what's the plan?" Mr. Cake asked.
"Well, we will have to hope for the best, I guess. I mean, whatever they've done with her, she IS a unicorn, and the Second Kingdom takes care of unicorns, so…"
"You aren't seriously saying we should just let them take her without putting up a fight?" Mr. Cake asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I don't see how we have any other choice, dearie. Unless you're going to propose some daring rescue attempt. But hopefully I don't have to tell you how reckless that is. We don't know where they've taken her, or even if she's still alive. We don't know how many soldiers are there, but most likely you'll be outnumbered. We don't know where we'll go even if we can get her back, because we certainly can't stay here. We don't even know if it's safe for us to walk out that cellar door, or if they'll shoot us on sight!"
"I'm not suggesting anything at this point, Cup. All I'm saying is that I am not going to lose my daughter to these ponies without doing something!" he firmly stated.
"Well then, what will you do, Carrot?" she asked.
"I'll think of something. We just need to scope the town out somehow and find…"
"I'll do it!" Pound exclaimed.
"You'll do no such thing, young stallion!" Mrs. Cake scolded.
"But all I'll do is just fly up in the air, find where she is, and come back and tell you so you can figure out what to do," Pound explained.
"Well, honey, it would be nice to not go into this blind, and know where they're keeping her. I doubt that they'll shoot Pound for just flying around, as long as he doesn't do anything suspicious. They didn't seem to be shooting at civilians before," Mr. Cake said.
"Well, what if they start? A few days ago, the Second Kingdom and Equestria were at peace. A fragile peace, but still it was peace. But then they launched a surprise invasion, killed dozens and dozens of the town guard, and they kidnapped our daughter along with who knows how many other unicorn fillies and colts. Going from that to shooting a bunch of civilians in cold blood isn't exactly too much of a stretch."
"Well then," Mr. Cake retorted, "Why not just live in this cellar for the rest of our lives? If you're so worried that they'll just shoot a kid for flying around, or shoot us for walking around, then let's just never leave!"
"No, we'll leave," she said, "But…"
"But what? But then we'll live in fear for the rest of our lives? We'll spend the rest of our lives lying awake at night wondering what would've happened if we had tried to rescue her? If maybe, just maybe, we could've gotten her back and escaped from Ponyville as a family? Yes, maybe I end up shot and killed. But at least I tried."
Mrs. Cake groaned, "Well, not that there's any use arguing the point anyway. You've made up your mind. Just promise me that you'll keep Pound safe."
"He knows what to do. Don't you, Pound? Just fly around the town, get a pegasus' eye view, and find out where they took Pumpkin and the other foals that we heard Trixie mention."
"I'd imagine they took any unicorn with earth pony parents, since that was who Trixie said," said Mrs. Cake, "For a town like Ponyville, that would probably be at least a few dozen. So just look for a large group of fillies and colts. But for Luna's sake, be safe and keep your head down! Try not to look suspicious. If one of the soldiers yells a command at you, just do whatever they tell you. It's not worth you getting shot, and then we lose you and Pumpkin. Understand?"
"Yes," Pound said.
"Now, if they DO start shooting at you, I want you to fly as high up as you can so that they have less chance of hitting you."
"Yes, mom."
"Good, dearie. Alright, now I feel more comfortable letting him do this," said Mrs. Cake, "Granted, I'm notcompletely okay with it, since it's dangerous, but I guess you're right that it would be dangerous anyway."
"Yes, that it would, Cup. Now, let's do something that we would have to do anyway. Let's leave the cellar. I'll just grab that barrel with my gun in it, and we'll go."
He walked over to the barrel and heaved it onto his back.
"Wait a minute," said Mrs. Cake, "Is anything else in there besides the gun?"
"No, why?" Mr. Cake asked.
"Because what if they search it? Then they'll find the gun. Here…"
Mrs. Cake lit a match and set it on the floor so that she could see. She went over to a sack of flour, ripped it open with her teeth, and poured it into the barrel. She then got another sack and emptied it as well. The flour was just enough to conceal the rifle.
"Great, now I'll have to clean all the flour off my gun," Mr. Cake groaned.
"At least you'll still be alive to do it," Mrs. Cake responded, "But all three of us walking out of this cellar with just one barrel is suspicious. Pound and I will grab other barrels of flour as well, that way we can say that we all came down here to get flour."
They each grabbed a barrel, and then the three of them headed up the steps, out of the cellar, and into the sunlight. They squinted their eyes as they adjusted to the light.
They walked around to the front of the house, carrying the barrels on their backs. However, a unicorn soldier in the street saw them, and he raised his gun towards them.
"Halt! What's in those barrels?"
"Just some flour: we run a bakery," said Mr. Cake.
"Flour? Likely story. For all I know they're full of weapons or bullets, or makeshift bombs," the soldier said, "Put them on the ground."
The Cakes put the three barrels on the ground. The unicorn soldier lifted the lids off of each barrel with his magic. Seeing nothing but flour, he put the lids back.
"Very well, then. Carry on. Oh, and kid. Do you fly?"
"Yes," Pound responded.
"Figures. Well, just stay out of the way of our airplanes if you don't want to get torn up by a propeller. We've had some accidents with pegasi civilians before."
"Oh, well thanks," said Pound Cake.
"Mhm," he muttered, walking away.
The Cakes continued into the bakery, where they put down their barrels.
"Well, he was… nice?" said Mr. Cake, "Though they can't all be evil, I suppose."
"Yes, and now at least we know Pound won't be shot down out of the sky," said Mrs. Cake.
"Okay, I'll go scope out the town," said Pound Cake.
"Be safe, whatever you do," warned Mrs. Cake.
"I know you can do this, son. Be brave," Mr. Cake encouraged.
"You bet," said Pound, opening the door, taking off into the air.
Pound Cake soared in the air above Ponyville, looking for any sign of his sister or the other unicorn foals. From a few hundred meters in the air where he was, he could see down into the streets below and to the tops of the buildings.
There were several buildings smoldering, and several which had completely burned. He saw a few Ponyville residents inspecting the remainder of their homes.
Despite the carnage, he could see that the fight had not been entirely one-sided. He saw a makeshift medical tent set up in the middle of the town, and dozens of unicorns were being treated for bullet wounds.
He continued flying over the city, in shock at how different it appeared now. The streets and skies were nearly deserted. Those few ponies who were outside, such as him, scurried about nervously, glancing over their shoulders from time to time.
Unicorn soldiers walked from house to house, knocking on doors. He noticed that most of them were simply knocking, entering the house, and then leaving a few minutes later. He figured they were conducting random searches as they had been with his parents.
He flew along, not seeing anything of note, until he saw a group of soldiers carrying a unicorn colt in their magic.
Of course, I just need to follow them!
Pound ascended a few hundred more meters into the air until he was well above sight of the unicorns. He didn't want them to think he was following them. He sat on a nearby cloud, as if taking a rest, and observed these soldiers. They were small specks, about the size of ants at his height, but he could still just barely make them out.
After about ten minutes, he saw that they were headed in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres. He saw ten unicorn troops stationed on the outside of the barn.
He dashed back to Sugarcube Corner, opened the door, and told his parents.
"Hey, they're taking all the unicorn children to Sweet Apple Acres."
"Alright, thanks, son," said Mr. Cake, who was busy cleaning flour out of his hunting rifle, "Now, here's what I need you to do. Your mother has come up with a plan for the three of us to rescue your sister, and it won't put our lives in danger. Now, listen carefully, and I'll tell you what to do."
A few hours later, Pound Cake emerged from the bakery along with his mother and father. His father carried a cart in tow, and on the cart was a large barrel. The family walked down the street of town, chatting with each other and trying to appear inconspicuous as a normal family would.
Pound Cake and his parents eyed the soldiers who walked around the town. None of them seemed to pay his parents any mind, until one of them stopped them and asked to search the barrel. Finding only pies, he let them walk on their way. The Cakes began walking in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres, cart in tow.
As soon as they were far enough outside of town to where there was nopony around, Mr. Cake unhitched himself from the cart. He bent down, reached under the cart, and retrieved the rifle which he had placed atop the axles of the wheels. He then ran into the thick grove of trees where nopony could see him.
"Oh, don't forget this," said Mrs. Cake. He turned around as she reached into the barrel and got the pie on the top, handing it to Mr. Cake.
"Thanks," he said, retrieving it. He ran into the trees and removed the pie crust. This particular pie was a decoy, and was in fact full of dozens of bullets for his rifle. Mr. Cake hurried through the trees towards the Apple Family barn. Mrs. Cake took the cart, and she and her son continued down the path for a while longer until they reached the fence indicating the Sweet Apple Acres property line. A unicorn soldier stood guard on the path.
"Halt!" the guard said, holding up his hoof. "What business do you two have here?"
"My son and I just need to deliver this order of pies to the Apple Family, and then we'll be on our way," said Mrs. Cake, smiling at him.
"That's too bad," said the guard. "This farm is no longer their property. You won't find them here."
"Oh no!" cried Mrs. Cake, "But then what will we do with all of these dozens of pies? The Apple Family needed them for their family reunion!"
"I don't know," said the guard.
"Great, now they'll just go to waste," she lamented. "Are you sure that you don't want them, dearie?" She reached into the barrel, grabbed a pie, and offered it to the guard. The guard's eyes widened as he took a whiff of the delicious apple pie.
"Hmm… well, I haven't eaten all day…" he said.
"Here you go," said Mrs. Cake, giving the guard the pie. He hungrily wolfed it down.
"Mmm," he said, "Alright, just head down to the barn; you'll find a bunch of unicorn fillies and colts. Just give the pies to them, and I'm sure they'll eat them up. But there's armed guards, so don't try any funny business, or Sergeant Bolt Action will have you shot."
Mrs. and Pound Cake continued through the wooden gate. Mr. Cake, who was hidden in the trees, saw this exchange and took it as a sign to continue. He walked through the orchard, making sure to remained concealed. When he reached the barn, he climbed a nearby apple tree and used the leaves for cover.
Mrs. Cake and her son walked down the path and up to the front door of the barn. They saw that there were about five guards stationed at various posts around the barn. When they tried to enter, one of the guards stopped them.
"Pie delivery for a bunch of hungry fillies and colts," said Mrs. Cake.
The guard raised his eyebrow. "We didn't order any pies. You'll have to go back."
"Sergeant Bolt Action sent us," said Pound Cake, taking a gamble.
"Oh, did he? Alright, come on in."
Mrs. Cake entered the barn. Once they were out of earshot, Mrs. Cake scolded, "Pound. That was incredibly risky. What if HE had been the sergeant, or had called up the sergeant and found you were lying?"
"Well, he didn't." Pound shrugged.
They continued into the dimly-lit barn, seeing dozens of unicorn fillies and colts on the ground. They all had the gear brands on their flanks. Some of them were still sobbing from the pain. Pound and his mother winced at the sight. They did not see Pumpkin in the crowd, because it was too dark. Pumpkin, however, did see them from near the rear of the barn from where she sat. She refrained from speaking for a moment, rightly thinking it to be some sort of ploy to rescue her.
Trixie stood and glanced at the two Cakes.
"You two? What are you doing here?" she demanded, "As I recall, I took a unicorn from you, a unicorn whom you as an earth pony had no right to raise, so you'd better not be here to ask for her back."
"Oh, no, dearie, we're just here to deliver some pies," said Mrs. Cake, opening the barrel and pulling a pie out.
Trixie eyed them suspiciously.
"The ones that Sergeant Bolt Action ordered us to make?" Pound Cake added.
"Sergeant Bolt Action?" asked Trixie, "Well…"
Mrs. Cake's heart jumped in her chest.
"Glad to see that you two are obedient to your unicorn superiors."
Trixie turned to the children, "You all have been so brave. I thought that you deserved a treat, so here are some apple pies for you."
The children, who had not eaten in hours, stood up and formed a line to receive their pies. Pumpkin stood near the end of the line.
The two Cakes quickly emptied out the barrel, but there were twenty or so children who had yet to receive the pies.
"Don't tell me you didn't bring enough," Trixie sighed, "I see eighteen children who didn't get one."
"Huh, that's funny. Pound, did you forget them?"
"Oops," said Pound, blushing, "I think I left the other barrel back at the bakery. I can just fly back to the bakery and get them." Pound headed for the front door of the barn.
Trixie sighed. "Stupid dirt ponies," she grumbled.
Pound left the barn and flew two hundred meters straight up into the air and waved his hooves. His father, upon seeing this, took it as a signal and fired his rifle, taking a few potshots at the side of the barn.
Meanwhile, back in the barn, Trixie heard the gunfire. She ran outside to investigate, leaving just one guard in the barn.
Mr. Cake took a more deliberate shot this time, and he hit his mark. A unicorn guard fell down, a shot straight through his chest.
"We're under fire! We've taken a casualty! All units respond!" The last guard from the barn ran outside to assist. This left no guards inside of the barn.
"Pumpkin!" Mrs. Cake cried out.
"Mommy!" cried Pumpkin Cake, and she ran over to her mother, giving her a hug, "What are you doing here?"
"There's no time to explain, Pumpkin. Here." Mrs. Cake picked up her daughter and set her inside the barrel, putting the lid back on. She turned around to exit the barn, but a colt from the crowd said, "No fair! Why didn't my parents come to rescue me?"
"Shh. They'll be here soon, dearies," said Mrs. Cake, "I have to go; our family needs to escape."
"No fair!" another yelled.
Soon, several fillies and colts began screaming and crying. One of the guards from outside ran back in upon hearing the commotion, and discovered that Mrs. Cake was still there. He stood outside the door, drew his rifle, and pointed it at her. The children, upon seeing the guard, quieted down.
"What's all the commotion?" he asked, accusingly.
Pound Cake glanced down from the air where he still hovered and saw the guard had his rifle drawn and pointed into the barn. Scared that his mother was in trouble, he dive bombed straight towards the barn door and the guard.
"They're just scared from the gunfire," said Mrs. Cake.
Pound was closing in on his target.
"Ah, I see. Carry on then," said the guard in the split second right before Pound Cake delivered a flying kick to his back, knocking him clear across the barn. In the guard's confusion, he fired a bullet from his rifle.
"AAH!" Mrs. Cake screamed, hit with a bullet in her leg. She fell where she stood.
"Mommy!" said Pound. He flew back around and up to his mother, "I saw you were in trouble."
"No, I just had to talk to the guard, that was all. Why didn't you do as I told you and go back to the bakery after you gave the signal?"
"I just wanted to help…"
They heard voices off in the distance.
"The sniper's been neutralized. Just another Equestrian sympathizer…"
Pound flew up into the rafters, hiding just as a guard entered the barn.
"What's going ON?" he exclaimed.
"Nothing, just a little firing accident," Mrs. Cake answered.
"Wait a minute…" The guard ran over to his unconscious comrade. He glared menacingly at Mrs. Cake.
"You!" He levitated his rifle up and took a shot at her.
"AAH!" she screamed, this time hit in the stomach.
"No!" yelled Pound, flying down and bucking the guard before he could react.
The guard fell to the floor, knocked out cold.
"Go to… go to Cloudsdale, out of danger...… take your sister… it's safe there…" Mrs. Cake spoke, coughing up blood. Her eyes closed as she faded away.
"Nooooo!" Pound yelled once more. He flew over to the barrel and opened it to find Pumpkin Cake still hiding inside.
"Pumpkin, come on! We've got to go to Cloudsdale!"
"No, Pound! Not without mom and dad. Who will take care of us?"
"Look, I don't know, but mom and dad can't come. Come on, get out of that barrel and let's go! Quit bein' a scaredy-cat!"
"No, it's too dangerous!"
Pound tipped over the barrel and tried to wrench her sister out, but she wouldn't budge.
"In here! I heard gunfire!"
Hearing the soldiers, Pound gave up trying to get his sister, but instead said, "Look, I'll come back for you. It's okay."
Pound flew off, out the door of the barn. The unicorns fired shots at him, but missed, and he ascended higher and higher into the heavens.
He reached a cloud and sat down on it, his head spinning. He lay down on the soft pillow as the hard reality hit him. Both of his parents were dead. His mother was shot. If she wasn't dead, she was dying. His father had been "neutralized," so in all likelihood dead as well.
He sobbed. His parents, both dead. His sister, a prisoner who wouldn't come with him.
And it's all my fault, he thought.
