Chapter 10: Rarity to the Rescue
Hello everypony! It's Singer the Pegasus here to give you another chapter! I hope you enjoy this chapter much more than the last few.
Synopsis: Rarity witnesses the kidnapping of Twilight Sparkle and Singer and sets off on her own to rescue them. Meanwhile Singer is trying to tell Twilight something very important.
It had been a fun time in Appleloosa, even though they spent most of it rebuilding the damage that the minotaurs had caused, but Singer, Applejack, and Spike were on their train ride back home and they were ready to be back. Singer had pleanty of time to think about things, like his situation with Twilight. He had been gone from home for almost a week, and he really missed her. Well he missed all of his friends, Rainbow Dash among the highest, but still, Twilight stood out above the rest. They had become such close friends since he had lived in Ponyville, and he was thinking that it was high time that he told her how he really felt about her. Applejack could see that Singer was thinking pretty hard and she decided to express her concern, but not before putting a pillow under the sleeping Spike's head.
"Somethin the matter, Singer?" said Applejack.
"Uh... well" said Singer.
"Come on, ya can tell me anything" said Applejack.
"Okay" said Singer. "I was thinking about Twilight and..."
"No need to say anymore" said Applejack. "Ah know exactly where this is goin."
"You do?" said Singer.
"Ya really should tell her, Singer" said Applejack. "Ya won't feel better until ya do. Especially if it's makin you think that hard."
"I know... it's just that..." said Singer, looking back out the window of the train.
"Singer" said Applejack.
"I'm just afraid that if I tell her, she won't return the feelings and well... I don't want to ruin our friendship" said Singer. "That means more to me than anything."
"Singer, if Ah were you Ah would highly consider changin your mindset on this" said Applejack. "Twi isn't gonna become distant because you are honest with her. What if she finds out from somepony other than you? Ah mean, Ah know that Rainbow and Ah are the only ones who know but still... That, in mah humble opinion, would be more insultin than a little akward feelin would be if she somehow rejected ya... should an akward feelin exist."
"You really know what you're talking about" said Singer.
"Course I do" said Applejack. "They don't call me "Honest Applejack" because Ah make a mean Apple pie!"
Singer smiled really brightly at his friend. He knew that she was right. He thought about the times that he and Twilight had spent reading Daring Doo together, that time that she helped him walk back to the rest of their friends when he got injured in the "Great Pegasus Race", how she helped him calm down at his brother's wedding, how they made each other laugh, and she wasn't even scared of Louie when he first showed him to her(knowing how she wasn't very fond of reptiles, he was quite impressed at this). Twilight was very smart and intellegent, and had helped him through so much, and the best part is she almost seemed to enjoy it almost as much as he did. He knew that he would have to tell her when they got back.
"Thank you Applejack" said Singer embracing her in a hug. "I don't know what I'd ever do without you."
"You'd probably crash and burn somewhere and Ah'd have to come pull ya out" said Applejack with a grin.
"Probably" laughed Singer. "I know what I have to do now."
"Ah might know somepony who could help ya even better than Ah could" said Applejack. "Provided that you'd be willin to tell her your secret."
"Who?" said Singer.
"Rarity" said Applejack. "She's quite smart when it comes to this sort of thing. Ah don't have much experience in it. When we get back you should talk to her."
"I think I will" said Singer, stretching and lying down for a nap. "In the mean time though, I think it's time for a nap!"
Applejack decided to do the same, she had been bushed. The train wouldn't arrive in Ponyville for another four hours, so she decided some sleep would do them all some good.
Later that night, Applejack, Singer and Spike made their way to Sweet Apple Acres after arriving to Ponyville. Applejack had been given a bunch of Appleloosa apple seeds for their efforts in Appleloosa during their crisis. It was a nice reward, now she'd have some different apple seeds to plant in her orchards.
"Why don't y'all come in the barn for a minute?" said Applejack. "Ah got somethin Ah wanna show ya."
As Spike and Singer followed her into the barn, they got quite a shock when they walked in.
"SURPRISE!" said Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Buckshot all at once. Pinkie sometimes had a knack for saying it later than the others, but this time she got it right.
"Ah figured this was gonna happen" laughed Applejack.
"Well duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh" said Pinkie Pie, throwing confetti all over her arrving friends. "How could you not?"
"Good ol Pinkie Pie" said Spike, as his attention turned to a lavender unicorn. "TWILIGHT!" Spike revved up his legs and ran to his unicorn companion.
"Spike!" she returned, hugging the dragon. "I'm glad your back. The library hasn't been the same without you. You didn't get into any trouble while you were gone did you?"
"Nope" said Spike, looking back and forth.
"Ah well, it doesn't matter" said Twilight. "You're obviously fine now, so that's enough for me."
"Hey Singer" said Buckshot, inadvertedly interrupting Singer's subtle walk over to Twilight.
"Buckshot?" said Singer. "What brings you around here?"
"Decided to move here!" said Buckshot. "I figured that most of the best racing events happen in Cloudsdale and Ponyville is filled with such great personalities, and it's closer to Cloudsdale than my previous home."
"Well then, it will be great to get to know you better" said Singer. "Put er there, pal."
Brohoofing, Singer and Buckshot came to a mutual friendship agreement, or "male bonding" as Rarity put it. They had only met each other once before, but they in some sort of strange way felt they had been friends forever. They both looked forward to hanging out and racing together with Rainbow Dash. And Singer was enthused about no longer being the only Stallion in their circle of friends.
"Well I'm going to go talk to Fluttershy some more" said Buckshot. "She's pretty interesting."
Buckshot walked off to go visit with Fluttershy. Singer had noticed that they had become pretty close in such a short period of time. Unlike the rest of the ponies in Ponyville, with Buckshot, she wasn't nervous at all. In fact, she looked as if she had known him for years.
"Hmmm" thought Singer to himself.
"Well, well, well" said Rarity. "You look like you've been better."
"Yeah" said Singer. "I had kind of a dust up with a mino- I mean, mini cart."
"I see" said Rarity. "Well if there's anything I can do to help, just let me know."
"Actually Rarity" said Singer moving his eyes around. He could tell that the other ponies were busy talking, so he didn't hesitate to continue. "I have a small favor I need to ask, but in private."
"Oh?" said Rarity, unsure of where this was going. "Darling, are you sure privacy is necessary?"
"Yeah" said Singer. "I have a secret to tell you.
"Oh is that all?" said Rarity. "Of course, let's go outside shall we?"
Rarity and Singer snuck out the barn's back door, surprisingly unnoticed by everyone else. He then proceeded to speak.
"Rarity" said Singer. "I think I have feelings for somepony... No I know I do."
"It's Twilight isn't it?" said Rarity.
"What?" said Singer. "How did you.."
"Oh deary, you can't possibly expect me not to notice something so obvious, now can you?"
"So nopony told you?" said Singer.
"No, nopony told me anything" said Rarity. "I have an eye for things like this. But I am rather curious? Who all knew? I guess we can rule out Pinkie Pie, because she couldn't keep quiet about it if she knew unless she was forced into a Pinkie Promise, and Twilight herself for obvious reasons."
"Just Rainbow and Applejack" said Singer.
"Understandable" said Rarity. "Well I for one, am honored that you came to me for guidance... that is why you came to me isn't it? Because the last thing you need is just another pony carrying around your secret."
"No... you're right" said Singer. "I do need help. I feel I'm ready to tell her, just still trying to figure out the right words to say and muster up the courage to do it."
"I understand your feelings, but Twilight is your friend" said Rarity. "You should be able to tell her anything!"
"I know, but the fear of rejection... or worse... still exists" said Singer.
"The worst thing she can say to you is "no" or "not now"" said Rarity. "But I am quite sure that you can still go on to be friends if she does so."
"That's what Applejack told me on the way back" said Singer.
"And she's right" said Rarity. "You need to tell her. And soon! This is just going to keep eating at you and eating at you until you become a nervous trainwreck, if you don't!"
"I know" said Singer. "And I will... tonight!"
"And I'll be behind you every step of the way!" said Rarity.
"Thanks Rarity" said Singer.
"Anytime" she returned, motioning towards the barn door. "Now let's get back inside before the drafty air ruins my mane."
In the mean time, Singer returned to the party and enjoyed some one on one talk time with Rainbow Dash, while he worked up the nerve to talk to Twilight. Getting the occasional "are you ready yet?" look from Rarity.
"Everything alright?" said Dash.
"Swimmingly" said Singer.
"You look like you're about to face off against a super villain" said Dash. "Are you sure nothing's bothering you?"
"Nothing's bothering me per say" said Singer, lowering his voice to whisper. "I'm going to tell her tonight."
"Who- Oooooh" said Dash, almost about to ask, but she got it. "Good luck pal. I believe in ya."
"Thanks, Dashie" said Singer giving his friend a hug.
"Well everypony" said Twilight, out of the blue. "It's been fun, but I gotta go back to the library to study before midnight gets here. And to check on Spike, to make sure he got home safely." Spike had left a little earlier because he was getting tired.
"He should have" said Applejack. "Big MacIntosh walked him home. In that mindset, shouldn't we send someone to walk you home too?"
"Well..." said Twilight, because she was hesitant to ask anyone that question. She didn't want to bother anyone's party time.
"I'll gladly accompany you home, Twilight" said Singer.
"You sure?" she said. "You're probably awfully tired from your trip."
"Nah" he returned. "It's okay. I'd be happy to."
"Okay, then if you are sure that you don't mind" she said. "Thank you, Singer."
"You're welcome, Twilight" said Singer.
Singer then gave Rarity the signal, and she gave an excuse as to why she had to leave as well. Twilight walked out of the barn first, and as Rarity and Singer walked out they devised a plan.
"As soon as we get to the path that leads to my place, start talking to her" she whispered. "I'll silently follow you, and step in if I am needed."
"Thank you for helping me, Rarity" whispered Singer.
"My pleasure" she said, pushing him out the door. "Now go!"
As Twilight, Rarity and Singer walked along the path back to Ponyville, they came across the fork in the road where Rarity was supposed to break off from the group.
"See you tomorrow Twilight" she said as she sped off down the path with a maniacle laugh.
"She must have been in a hurry to get home" said Twilight with a small laugh. "So how was your trip?"
"Pretty taxing, really" he said. "But it wasn't too bad. The train ride was the most relaxing part of it. Gave me alot of time to think about... things."
"I always enjoy thinking time" she said. "When I can get it, that is. Anything you got on your mind now?"
Small talk was something that Twilight was good at, especially with him. He noticed this too. If Twilight wasn't so cool with him all the time, this "mission" wouldn't have been near as easy.
"Actually I do" said Singer. "I have something, that I've wanted to tell you for a pretty long time."
"Oh?" she said. "What is it?"
"Well... I kinda..." he was cut off by movement in the bushes. Must have been Rarity, he thought. "I have been..." he was cut off again, this time multiple bushes were rustling. "Uh Twilight, I think we have company."
Two figures, resembling a unicorn and a pegasus with masks on, emerged from the bushes, spooking both Singer and Twilight.
"Who are you?" said a terrified Twilight.
One of the figures looked like a unicorn, the other a pegasus. They walked closer to Twilight and Singer, they looked like they were going to mug them or something.
"We don't have anything of value" said Twilight again. "Please don't hurt us."
"It's not something you have" said the Pegasus. "It's you we want, Twilight Sparkle."
"Me?" said Twilight, backing up. This had made her even more nervous.
Singer didn't hesitate to notice this and he stepped in to try and calm the situation, only making it worse by panicking and making threats.
"Back up, pal!" said Singer. "You mess with her, then you gotta go through me!"
"You call that a challenge?" said the Pegasus. "Look at you. You're a weakling!" The pegasus whacked Singer in the face.
The Unicorn followed it up by placing Singer in a cloth sack.
"Hey!" said Twilight. "Let him go!"
"Sorry, can't do that Miss Sparkle" said the unicorn. "Can't do that at all. We need you."
"Fine" she said. "But don't hurt him!"
"We wouldn't dream of it" said the pegasus.
Twilight found herself being put in a bag of her own.
"Can't let them know the way back, should they try to escape" said the unicorn.
As they walked off, successfully capturing Twilight and Singer, Rarity poked her head out of a bush, she had seen it all.
"Oh my goodness!" she said. "This is the worst possible thing!" She took a minute to gather herself, and quickly realized that she had to go after them. She would have to go alone as well, there was no time to reach the others if she was to keep the bad guys in her sights. "Those scoundrels are going to pay for what they have done!" Rarity may not have been the strongest in their group, but she wasn't about to chicken out when her friends were in danger.
Rarity quickly made a camoflauge outfit out of some leaves and branches that she gathered up as she followed the bad guys. She probably trailed them a good fourty five minutes until she had followed them to their base of opperations. Or at least that what she assumed it was. A small fortress, surrounded by no more than just a wall, going all the way around it.
"So this must be the place" she said to herself. "No matter, I will save my friends! They would do the same for me! Now if I could just figure out how to get in."
Twilight and Singer were now in a dungeon, it was a pretty well kept dungeon, but still a dungeon. And what was worse, they were in seperate cells. Both of them were scared of what this could potentially be, but still... somepony had to speak. Although it had been only five minutes, it seemed like an eternity because of the situation.
"Twilight?" said Singer. "Are you okay? Please talk to me."
"I'm fine" she said. "But I don't understand why this is happening."
"Me neither, but we will figure out a way out of this" said Singer. "You especially! You're the smartest pony I know!"
"Thank you, Singer" said Twilight. "But at this moment, I feel so... helpless."
"I know" said Singer. "Me too, but hang in there. We can't lose hope just yet. We don't even know why we were brought here."
"You are about to find out" said a voice. It spooked Singer and Twilight, they looked around to see who it might be. They were able to spot a unicorn Stallion, walking over to him. He was an older Stallion, about middle aged perhaps. He was a brown unicorn with a white mane and a white beard. He wore a plad colored shirt and his cutie mark was a pair of scissors. "Call me, Barber."
"What's the meaning of this, Barber?" said Singer.
"Silence!" said Barber. "A guest does not speak to his host like that."
"Funny" said Twilight. "I don't really feel like a guest, more like a captive prisoner."
"That could change for you, Miss Sparkle" said Barber. "Depending on how you chose to respond to my offer."
"Offer?" she said, curiously. "What kind of... offer?"
"To become my apprentice and to learn the ways of the dark magic" said Barber. "Together with my skills and your power, we could over throw Celestia and rule as equals in Equestria!"
"What?" said Twilight. "I couldn't do that! Princess Celestia has been nothing but good to me! To do so, would be..."
"Betrayal?" said Barber. "Funny. I remember being promised something by that two-bit good for nothing tyrant, many years ago, but NEVER got it! Instead, she decided to pass it on to a future pupil, the first of which I discovered to no longer exist in Equestria, but then I found out about you... a truly remarkable work of art, if I do say so myself."
"Uhhh..." said Twilight, unsure how to respond to that.
"You defeated Nightmare Moon, Discord, Queen Chrysilis, and King Sombra and you weren't even a high level magician!"
"I didn't do that all on my own" said Twilight. "I had the magic of..."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah" said Barber. "Do you really believe that the untapped potential of yours was sparked by your partnership with five insignificant ponies?"
"Yes I do!" said Twilight. "And they aren't insignificant! They are great! And to say I did all of that on my own, would be a huge lie!"
"If by great, you mean a great hindrance to your raw talent!" said Barber. "Take it from me, Twilight. You can do so much more far better and faster without them. True power is gained by a passion to take control!"
"You're wrong!" said Twilight. "And further more, I'd rather die than join you or your stupid cause! There is no way I would ever turn against the Princess!"
"I will give you more time to think about it, Twilight" said Barber. "It was tough for me to do it, too. But you have to learn to let go of those who hold you back!"
"I've heard about enough of you!" said Singer. "Shut up!"
"You're hardly in a position to be telling me what to do!" said Barber. "Twilight has a choice to make, unlike you! I can't afford to keep you around, so once I'm done persuading her to join me, you will be destroyed!"
"No!" said Twilight. "Don't you dare touch him."
"I'm sorry Miss Sparkle" said Barber. "But he can't be trusted. He should never have been involved."
"I swear, if you do anything to harm him in anyway" she said trying to charge her horn, but it wasn't working.
"This fortress' dungeon was built with an ability to neutralize any unicorn's magic. The reason why I can use mine, is because of this." He pointed to his necklace that he wore. It had a purple ruby on it. "It allows me to use mine in this dungeon, sorry that things have to be this way, Twilight. Oh and you should know that if you fail to agree to my terms, you will spend the rest of your days, here in this dungeon."
As Barber left the room, two guards came in to stand by the doors. Twilight, devastated, sunk to the ground and began to cry. It didn't matter what she chose, she'd be separated from her friends forever, and Singer would be gone.
Singer looked at her with compassion and tried his best to comfort her.
"Twilight" said Singer. "Everything is going to be..."
"Fine?" said Twilight, lashing out at him. "How can you say that, Singer? How can you say that this is going to be fine? Look where we are! Did you even hear what Barber said?"
"Of course I did, Twilight" said Singer. "And I am scared... but I have to be strong right now, as do you. This guy is evil, and we both know what happens to bad guys."
"Singer, this isn't some Daring Doo story, okay? This is real!" said Twilight, still trying to hold back the tears. "I don't know how I will go on, knowing that you'll be gone forever!"
"Twilight, please!" said Singer. "I know how hard this is for you, I really do. I'd react the same way if I were in your situation. I am proud of you for standing up for what you believe in, even if it means the possibity of my demise. But I want you to know something, Twilight."
"What?" she said.
"I just want you to know that I believe in you" said Singer. "I always have! Ever since I met you, I always saw you as one of the most beautiful ponies in Equestria. I've admired your personality and your character for a long time now."
"What are you saying?" said Twilight.
"I guess what I mean to say is... that I've always had... a crush... on you" said Singer he could see that this had surprised her a bit, and should probably keep going while he had her attention. "In the time that I've been your friend, I've learned so much about you, and enjoyed every moment we have spent together. I've always wondered if we could ever be anything more than just friends, but... recently I have come to the conclusion that I now know that nopony else in the world could ever replace you. Not even my best friend, Dashie. I do apologize if this catches you off guard, and I also understand if you don't return my feelings. I just hope we can remain friends."
Twilight looked at Singer dumbfounded. She had no idea that he felt that deeply about her. She had always felt a connection to him, but never really thought about it that much. She had liked his happy personality, and his ability to make her laugh. Twilight Sparkle had some thinking to do. Now that she knew, things were starting to become more clear. It did help her think about her current situation a bit less, so she was thankful for that, but at the same time she was nervous, because she now had another choice to make. Whether or not she returned the feelings that Singer had just expressed to her. Looking over at him, finally, Twilight could tell that he understood that she needed some time to think about this. She watched him curl up in a corner and lie down. She had always enjoyed having him around, but she'd never considered having him as a coltfriend, she never thought much about it. She lightly smiled at him as he lie there, nervous as Fluttershy usually was. He had successfully calmed her down, but her mind... and her heart, were both fast at work.
Rarity had tried several times and failed, but finally got to the top of the wall, using her horn to stack rocks so she could get up to the top. Once she got there, she lost her balance and fell off the wall, luckily on the side of it that she wanted to be on.
"Not one of my more graceful landings, but it will do" said Rarity as she conjured a small brush to dust herself off.
"HEY!" said a unicorn guard. "What are you doing here?"
"I was just admiring the fancy archetecture of this building" said Rarity. "And a mighty fine fortress it is."
"What seems to be the problem?" said another guard, also a unicorn.
"What do you think?" replied the first guard. "We have an intruder!"
"You're afraid of her?" said the second guard. "I don't see the fuss!" He then looked at her, almost looking away then he looked back again, as he had noticed something about her that he... liked. He seemed to be taken by her eyes, but it wasn't just her eyes. He saw beauty in Rarity as a pony.
"Might I ask, what you are staring at, my good gentlecolt?" said Rarity.
"I... couldn't help but notice your beautiful...ness" said the guard akwardly. "I apologize, milady. Such behaviour isn't classy for a gentlecolt to act around a lady."
"Such manners" replied Rarity. "Such divine manners." Rarity looked into his eyes, and the two unicorns stood and stared at each other for a moment. The other guard, not paying Rarity any mind, decided that she wasn't a threat and walked off.
Rarity wasn't sure if she believed in love at first sight, but she was definitely feeling something. Love at first sight wasn't sounding too bad right about now.
"My name is Rarity" said Rarity, blushing. "What is your name?"
"I was born Diamond Sword, milady" said the guard, speaking in a fancy way. He was a tall white Unicorn. His armor was silver plated. His mane was blue and his eyes were as blue as an ocean... for so Rarity thought. And on his flank, was a diamond sword as his cutie mark.
"Well then, Mr. Sword" said Rarity. "Might I say that you have quite an astonishing physique?"
"And you..." said Diamond Sword. "Have the most amazing mane I have ever seen."
"And it doesn't hurt that you're so polite" said Rarity. "So civilized, like Canterlot stallions."
"I used to live in Canterlot" said Diamond Sword. "Until I got kicked off of the Royal Guard."
"Whatever for?" she said, not meaning to pry.
"I tried to move up when I wasn't ready, thus being expelled from my training" he said. "Never made it all the way up to official status."
"Well you sure are doing a fabulous job of guarding this fortress" said Rarity.
"Yeah, I- what?" said Diamond Sword, realizing that he had been chatting with Rarity, instead of doing his job.
"Oh my" said Rarity. "I must get to finding my friends..." She stopped herself before she could say anymore, but she had pretty much already said enough. She backed away from Diamond Sword, fearing that this was about to turn upside down. He noticed this, but he didn't want her to leave.
"Rarity, wait!" said Diamond Sword. "Don't leave. I promise you, I won't let anything happen to you in here."
"But what about your boss?" said Rarity.
"My boss is a total... monster" said Diamond Sword. "I'm getting real tired of his orders here lately. And I've wanted to escape this place for a really long time."
"So you won't take me in?" said Rarity.
"Of course not" said Diamond Sword. "And I'll help you find your friends. They are probably in the dungeons somewhere. Barber has been planning something huge involving the student of Celestia for a while now."
"Twilight?" said Rarity. "What could he possibly want with Twilight?"
"I would hate to imagine" said Diamond Sword. "He usually just keeps his plans to himself."
"This is horrible!" she said.
"Might want to keep your voice down, milady" said Diamond Sword. "This is a dangerous part of the fortress."
"Right" she said.
"Before we go, we need to get to the storage room and grab some purple rubies" said Diamond Sword. "We cannot use our magic in the dungeons without them."
"Alright then" said Rarity. "Lead the way, Mr. Sword."
After a half hour of pacing, Twilight was finally ready to speak to her pegasus friend, who was still curled up in the cell next to her. She figured she'd try small talk first before jumping straight to the subject. It might be easier on the both of them.
"Singer?" said Twilight. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah" he replied quickly. "But I'm more concerned about you."
"I'm fine" she said. "I feel much better. And I've had time to think about... things."
"Enough time?" he said. "Because I don't want you to feel rushed."
"I think I'll be fine" she said. "Why didn't you tell me this before?"
Singer felt his stomach tensing up. He hated to even think about his fears, but it was necessary that he got this over with.
"Because I..." started Singer before going into a pause. "I was afraid of ruining our friendship. Until I got guidance from a couple of our friends, I was terrified of telling you how I felt."
"Singer" said Twilight. "I also should have known. I mean, now that I think about it, it was a tad bit obvious. But like I said, you can come to me about anything! I'm your friend. However I cannot hold your fears against you because I'm not so sure that I could have handled it any better myself. I mean, I've never been romantically involved or had romantic interest in any pony before."
"I understand" said Singer. "This is also a first for me as well. If you feel that you aren't ready, or that you just simply do not feel the same way, I totally understand. I am willing to move on and continue being friends if you are."
Twilight was about to answer him, but Barber came thundering through the door. "Time's up, Miss Sparkle!"
Twilight glared at the stallion from inside her cell. She wasn't ready to give up, but she knew she had to do something soon. All she knew is that she had no intentions of being evil.
Rarity and Diamond Sword ran into the supply room and grabbed three purple rubies.
"Three?" said Diamond Sword. "I thought you had two friends. Won't we need four?"
"Twilight's fellow captive is a pegasus stallion" said Rarity. "The dungeon should have little effect on him."
"Fair enough" said Diamond Sword, quickly converting the necklaces into bracelets. "This will make them harder to take off, should they get in a grudge match with some of the other guards here."
"Excellent idea, my dear" said Rarity.
"My dear?" said Diamond Sword.
"Uh I mean..." said Rarity, but quickly silenced when Diamond Sword gently placed his hoof over her mouth.
"I like it" he said, making her feel better.
Rarity just smiled graciously at him, and allowed him to lead the way to the dungeon. They had almost gotten to the door when they were stopped by another guard.
"Hey!" said the guard. "Diamond Sword! What are you doing with her?"
"This is my... marefriend" said Diamond Sword, kind of lying. "I am taking her on a tour of the place."
"Are you sure you wanna go in there?" said the guard.
"She's... curious" said Diamond Sword, smiling sheepishly.
"Oh alright" said the guard. He didn't pry, he just walked off.
"Marefriend?" said Rarity as Diamond Sword opened the door for her.
"Sorry, milady" said Diamond Sword. "I should have thought of something else..."
He was cut off by a kiss he recieved on the cheek from Rarity. "Why I thought, you'd never ask."
What had just happened? Had they just become... marefriend and coltfriend? Diamond Sword liked the sound of that, he followed after Rarity and quickly shut the door. They ran down hallways and hallways lined with empty cells, as they went further and further they started seeing prisoners in them. Some were unicorns, a few pegasus and earth ponies, but most appeared to be minotaurs, teenage dragons, and trolls. There was one cell in particular that caught Rarity's eye. She noticed a blue unicorn mare sitting in one of them. She stopped for a few seconds to see if it was who she thought it was. The mare wasn't facing her though. She could have sworn it was Trixie. She then caught a glimpse of Diamond Sword nodding his head, telling her that they needed to keep going. She would have to wait, no... she thought. She used her magic to unlock the blue unicorn's cell, and she left it opened and ran off after the stallion. The blue unicorn didn't take long to realized that her escape had been gift wrapped. Trixie got up on her feet and snuck through the hallways, eventually to reach the dungeon door and make her clean get away.
"So what will it be, Miss Sparkle?" said Barber. "Rule with me in Equestria or spend the rest of your lonely life in this cell? There are other ponies who could stand to benefit from my teachings you know."
"Take your stupid plans and throw them in the fire, because I will not have any part of it" said Twilight sternly. "You shall not have the satisfaction of taking me away from the princess!"
"I see" said Barber, turning to one of his guards. "Bring me that pegasus."
Singer's heart began to beat faster as the unicorn guards restrained his wings and pulled him out of the cell, much to Twilight's horror.
"I told you to leave him alone!" said Twilight, gritting her teeth.
"Silence, Miss Sparkle!" said Barber. "You are no longer a guest here, you are a prisoner! Unless, we can persuade you to join us another way!" He levitated a sword and held it to Singer's throat.
"Don't do it, Twilight" said Singer.
"Shut up" said the guard, kicking Singer in the back.
"The choice is yours, Twilight!" said Barber.
"What's the point?" said Singer. "You're probably going to run me through anyway?"
"I said shut up!" said the guard.
Twilight's anger was building up rapidly as Barber continued to threaten Singer. She had had enough of Barber's antics.
"You had better knock it off, Barber!" said Twilight. "You wouldn't like me when I get angry!"
"That's it, Twilight! Get angry!" said Barber, continuing to poke Singer with his sword. "Let that anger flow!"
"Stop it!" said Singer. "Just stop it now already!"
"Shut up!" said the guard, this time hitting him in the head.
Twilight's rage built up, despite the pleas from Singer. She then jumped up in the air and her mane and tail burst into flames, and her fur turned white. This gained an evil smirk from Barber.
"How do you feel, Twilight Sparkle?" said Barber.
"I feel like I want to mess your face up!" said Twilight.
"Excellent!" said Barber. "Release her so she might be obliged!"
"What?" said the guard, surprised by the request.
"Do it!" said Barber.
As the guard went to unlock the cell, he was struck down by a magical blast coming from the entrance to the room.
"What?" said Barber, looking to the door to see Diamond Sword and Rarity standing there. "Diamond Sword! Stand down now!"
"Shut up!" said Diamond Sword, hitting Barber with his blast too.
"You dare defy me?" said Barber, collecting himself.
"I said shut up!" said Diamond Sword, knocking Barber out with another blast.
Rarity ran over to Singer to unlock his wing bonds, so he could go to Twilight. "Thanks again, Rare" he said. Rarity nodded and motioned him to the cell.
"Twilight" said Singer. "Please calm down! It's okay, we're safe now!"
Twilight heard the softness and the sincerity in Singer's voice. It was enough to do the trick. Twilight's firey mane soon turned back to normal, as did her tail. She then looked around to see Singer, Rarity and the guard, Diamond Sword standing there outside her cell. She then looked down in sorrow.
"I'm-I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to..." said Twilight, getting cut off by Singer putting his hoof on her shoulder.
"It's okay, Twilight" said Singer. "We're safe now."
"Here Twilight" said Rarity levitating a purple ruby to her.
"Thank you" said Twilight, putting the bracelet on. She then used her horn to open her cell to join her friends.
"Let's get out of here!" said Diamond Sword as he started out the door, being followed by Singer, Rarity and Twilight.
But what they didn't see was Barber getting back up, and he started to scream. "TWIIIIIIIILIGHT!" he screamed with rage.
The four friends had ran through the dungeon and through the front yard of the fortress before nearing the walls, heading for the gate. They had almost reached the gate when Barber had teleported in front of them.
"Stop right there!" said Barber. "I cannot let you leave! None of you will leave this fortress alive! It's the end of the line!"
Suddenly a large burst of dark blue light hit Barber, picking him up and tossing him against the wall.
"Twilight?" siad Rarity.
"Wasn't me" said Twilight.
"Because it was I" said Princess Luna appearing from the sky.
"Princess Luna!" said Twilight with glee.
"Luna!" said Barber. "How nice of you to show your flank around here. How's your traitorous snake of a sister?"
"Silence!" said Princess Luna. "You will not speak of Celestia in that manner!"
"You defend your sister?" said Barber. "I was hoping you were still Nightmare Moon!"
"Never speak of that again!" said Luna. "That is the past and should never be brought up ever again, especially not by someone like you!"
"What are you going to do?" said Barber cockily.
"Thou hast earned a place in the Canterlot Prison!" said Luna. "A just punishment for a monster such as yourself!"
"HA HA HA HA HA HA!" laughed Barber. "NOPE!" With that he vanished. Luna's guards ran to grab him, but saw him disappear.
"Twilight Sparkle, art thou alright?" said Luna.
"Yes" said Twilight, looking down. "I'll be fine."
"How did you know to come looking for us, your highness?" said Singer.
"I got tipped off by Rainbow Dash" said Princess Luna. "She heard somepony screaming, and was going to check it out, but I told her that I would do it instead. Evidence led me to this place. Unfortunately, my fears were true and Barber has returned."
"I've never even heard of him before today" said Twilight.
"That's because his existance was wiped from the Royal Archives" said Luna. "He did in fact used to be a student of my sister, long ago. Now he's nothing more than a crimelord!"
Luna looked up at the roof of the fortress. Apparently that had been the place where Celestia took him for training when he was young. Luna hadn't been there, but she knew the place, regardless.
Luna said her fairwells and went back to her nightly duties, promising to find Barber and personally take him down.
Singer got excited. "I just met Princess Luna!" said Singer. "I never thought I'd ever meet her!"
"So happy for you" said Rarity, walking closer to her stallion. "So Diamond Sword, what's going to happen for you now? I mean, I must go back to Ponyville, back to my life. Do we have to split up, after just meeting?"
"No" said Diamond Sword. "If it is Ponyville, where you wish to go, than Ponyville is where I shall go too!"
Rarity was giddy with excitement. "This is the best possible thing!" she said giving Diamond Sword a passionate kiss on the lips.
"I was hoping you'd be happy" said Diamond Sword.
While Rarity and Diamond continued to walk ahead, Twilight stopped and put her hoof up as a signal for Singer to stop too. Singer halted right behind Twilight. He kinda knew what was coming.
"Singer..." began Twilight. "I hope you understand why I got so angry back there."
"I..." said Singer, he really didn't know what to say in this instant, he was almost relieved when Twilight cut him off.
"I got got angry because he was threatening you" said Twilight. "I felt like he was slowly taking you further and further away from me. I know I've only known you for a few months, but in those few months you have become a really great friend, one who I would have a really hard time getting used to living life without."
"I feel the same for you, Twilight" said Singer. "More than you know."
"But I do know" she said with a smile. "I finally know the answer to your question, Singer."
Singer's eyes got wide, was she really about to say what he thought she was going to say?
"If you would like to, Singer" said Twilight. "I would love to be more than just your friend."
"R-really?" said Singer. "You wouldn't mind going with a big softie like me?" He kinda kidded on that last question.
"You're a strong willed stallion" said Twilight. "Nopony tells you enough how great of a friend you are. You have greatness in you, Singer. I've come to see it, and you will to. But it's not the only thing that I like about you."
"What do you like about me, Twi?" said Singer.
"You're humble attitude" said Twilight. "And you know how to make me laugh without going completely overboard... no offense to our mutual friend, Pinkie Pie."
"I'm sure she'd understand" said Singer, wiping a tear from his eye. "You really mean all that?"
"I do" said Twilight. "What do you say?"
"I think you already know the answer to that, Twilight!" with that they both ran over to each other and joined in a hug. Twilight surprised Singer with a kiss. As their lips met, they could feel fireworks going off in the background. At first they thought it was just the effects of the affection that they shared, but they let go of each other to see that there were literal fireworks going off. They then looked over and saw the rest of their friends, except Spike, standing at the end of the trail.
"You guys!" said Twilight with a laugh.
"What?" said Pinkie Pie. "Were the fireworks too much?"
"Maybe" said Rarity.
"Congratulations you two" said Applejack with a wink. "We was really rootin fer ya, Singer!"
"I knew you two would wind up together eventually" said Rainbow Dash.
"Fluttershy and I had no idea, but still... we weren't too shocked when we found out" said Pinkie Pie.
"Way to go, Singer!" said Buckshot.
"Can ya feel the love tonight?" sang Pinkie Pie.
"I can" he replied, to Pinkie Pie while getting closer to Twilight. "You guys didn't have to do all of this, though."
"Yeah" said Twilight, smiling lightly. "It's a little embarrassing."
"We know" said Rainbow Dash. "But we couldn't resist."
"You guys look really good together" said Fluttershy.
"Thank you" said Twilight, giving Fluttershy a hug.
"I'm so *yawn* happy" said Singer. "I don't think I can..." Singer's body finally gave out. He had been pretty sleep deprived for a while.
Twilight caught him with her aura before he hit the ground. "I better take him home" she said with a giggle. "Good night everypony."
"Good night Twilight" they all said, walking off.
Rarity had done her part to help not only Rescue Twilight and Singer but helped get them together, and she was rewarded by finding a stallion of her own. Twilight noticed them holding hooves as they walked back to her place. She smiled. She wouldn't get to do that tonight, due to Singer passing out, but she'd definitely make up for lost time in the morning.
When she got to his house, she opened his door and walked in. She placed the sleeping pegasus on his bed, and tucked him in with his covers. She then proceeded to kiss him on the cheek as he slept. She could have sworn she saw him smile after she did that.
"Good night, coltfriend" said Twilight as she walked out of his house and closed his door.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaw! Singer finally told Twilight and she said yes! How awesome! There is more to come!
I don't know when I'll be able to update this story again, hopefully it won't be too long.
In the next chapter, we will see the return of Trixie, and find out why and how she was in Barber's fortress dungeon... and the sad consequences of the