Chapter 4: The Crystal Heist. Escaping Zephyr Heights.
The group were seen trying to figure out a way to get the pegasus crystal off the crown without being noticed.
Sunny: So, what do we do?
Zipp: I got it! Pipp's performing at tonight's royal celebration. All eyes will be on her, especially my mom's. She'll be distracted.
Desna: But won't she notice her crown will be missing? Even if we place it back, she will still notice the crystal will be gone.
North Star: I got it, we just make a fake crown, to swap with the real one.
Izzy: Ooh, I can craft a decoy! But I will need a box of macaroni, a tube of glue, 14 gooey bunnies and three jellybeans…
Desna: Gooey bunnies? Jellybeans?
North Star: Just let her.
Izzy: Oh, and glitter. Lots of glitter.
MONTAGE!
Zipp: I'll get the supplies.
Zipp is seen standing in front of a shop called Mac-A-Poni with the supplies.
Zipp: I'll pass them off to Sunny and then she will get them to you.
Zipp drops the bag to Sunny who catches it and gives it to Izzy who makes the decoy crown.
Zipp: Once you produce the decoy, get your flanks to the palace. Everypony who's anypony will be there, so security will be tight.
Zipp is seen walking out the elevator where she walks towards the palace with reporters flashing cameras and asking questions.
Zipp: I'll distract them, so you can sneak in.
Izzy: Maximum sneaky.
Sunny, Izzy, North, and Des sneak around the guards and paparazzi as they make it inside.
Zipp: You'll need to be stealthy. Carefully make your way to the Grand Hall, but watch out for the guards.
The group sneak their way in where they hide and move under a table cart.
Zipp: I will open the door to the back stage of the Throne Room.
Zipp puts her hoof on a hoof scanner and opens the back stage doors to the Throne Room where the others sneak in.
Zipp: And once Pipp starts singing, mom will be so caught up, that swapping the crowns will be easy-breezy.
Sunny: Easy-breezy. Sure.
Des sneaks a peek out from behind the throne and sees all of Zephyr Heights gathered.
Desna: I hope this works.
North Star: It's gotta Des. We came so far. Now let's hope Pipp keeps Queen Haven and the crowd distracted enough to make the switch.
Desna: You better not do it if she sings.
Sunny: What?
Desna: He dances every time he hears good music.
North Star: Oh shut it.
Above the Throne Room, Haven was seen powdering her face while Zipp looked down into the crowd.
Have: I hear you paid our guests a visit. She even told me that bizarre creature knows of our secret
Zipp: Pipp told you?
Haven: Oh, you know she tells me everything. I wish you would tell me more. You're going to be queen one day. You'll wear this crown. And trust me, it is heavier than it looks.
Zipp: Actually, there is something I wanted to tell you. The unicorns don't have any magic. I think it's tied to why we can't fly.
Haven puts down her powder and faces her daughter.
Haven: Zephyrina! I don't know what silly ideas those unicorns put into your head, but we have a duty to protect our citizens. Pegasi are happy enough that we royals can fly. Why would you want to disrupt things?
Zipp: Because it's a lie.
Haven: It makes them feel safe. Oh, one day you'll understand. Your sister does.
Pipp is seen being carried by cables to make it look like she was flying.
Haven: Oh, and here she is now.
Pipp: Me-me-me!
Haven: Showtime!
In a hidden place, a group of pegasi were monitoring everything as they were ready to make the royal family fly.
The lights went out where music started to play as the crowd cheered as the royal family were lowered and acted to fly.
Haven: Remember to smile!
Zipp: Ugh.
Haven and Zipp "land" and sit on their thrones where Pipp "flies" around like she's dancing as she sings.
Pipp: We got the light! We're coming in stronger. We're in it together. If you want it, it's all inside your mind! We got the light! We won't wait any long, we'll get it together. If you want it, then you can paint the sky!
Sunny is seen peeking over Haven's throne where she ducks down to avoid the spotlight where she stepped on Izzy where Des is shown pinning North down while holding his hoof over his mouth.
Desna: Why do you always sing and dance to music that's good in your opinion?
Sunny peaks over Haven's throne again with the decoy as she gets closer to reach the crown.
Zipp watched where Sunny made the swap while being unnoticed where Zipp smiled to the success.
Sunny: Got it. Des, how's North.
Des put duct tape over North's mouth while he had his tail wrapped around his two front hooves.
Desna: Nice and secured. Now let's get out of here and before North explodes.
The group sneaks away where Cloudpuff's ears perked up and then turned his attention to something else.
The group reached a door where Sunny opened it only to close it after noticing a guard on the other side.
The group turned around to see the dog sit in front of them then growl which caused the group to panic and run where the dog chased after them.
Desna: I don't know what's worse. A dog exposing us, or North's singing and dancing exposing us.
The group reached the main exit where Sunny opens it only to see Hitch in disguise with fake wings and a fake mustache.
Hitch: Sunny Starscout, you are under arrest…
Sunny closed the door where the dog came running towards them barking where it jumped off Des' tail, over Izzy, and reached into Sunny's bag and took the crown.
Sunny: No!
Desna: Are you kidding me?!
The group chase after the dog where Hitch runs through the door where he catches eye of Pipp and listens to her singing where he nearly starts to dance where he focuses and looks around for his suspects.
The group keep chasing after the dog where North loses balance due to only walking on two legs and trips where the duct tape rips off.
Desna: Crud!
Desna grabs North and pulls him along to catch up to Izzy and Sunny where they caught sight of Zoom and Thunder and hid.
Sunny peaks out and sees Cloudpuff running towards Zipp and Haven with the crown where Des is making sure North doesn't sing and dance.
Cloudpuff was in front of the thrones and sat down in front of Haven where Zipp sees the dog with the crown and hurries to it and tries to take the crown away.
Zipp pulled back where the crown and crystal split.
Zipp drops the crown and chases after Cloudpuff who runs into the crowd with the crystal.
The group who was hiding kept a look out where Hitch spots them and approaches where the ponies back away behind a curtain.
Des lets go of North since the music wasn't clear to be heard through the curtains.
North Star: Did that sheriff actually follow us?!
Desna: What does it look like?!
The group slowly looked behind them to see the pegasus working on Pipp's flight where he panicked.
Worker: Oh! It's the prisoners! And the monster!
North's ears just flopped down as the pegasus still panicked.
Sunny and Izzy try to calm him down where Zipp is seen still chasing Cloudpuff only to get stuck in the crowd where the dog bumps into a pony's leg.
The dog looked up and saw it was Hitch who was confused by the dog who smiled at him.
Back in the hiding spot, North and Des kept guard as Sunny and Izzy tried to calm down the pegasus.
Sunny: It's OK - don't be scared.
Izzy: I'm not going to fry your brain, OK?
The pegasus still panicked where he leaned back on the control module behind him which causes the spotlight to go on and off and cut out the music.
Pipp: What the…?
Everypony was confused on what was going on where the spotlight pointed at Hitch where the music continued.
Hitch started to sing though he sounded like he was talking instead where everypony just watched where North's ears picked up on it and made him cringe.
Des then got an idea and headed toward the module where North's echolocation was aware of everything and knew what his friend was planning.
North Star: Des, no!
Des pushed the pegasus out of the way and messed with the module where he pushed a lever up which made the wires carrying Pipp go out of control as she was spinning through the air screaming.
Everypony caught sight of this and gasped where Zipp snuck by and took the crystal.
Des continued messing with the module as the pegasus ran out.
North Star: Desna, that's enough!
North pulled Des off the module.
North Star: What was that for?!
Desna: Hey, you have another plan to get the crystal? No, somepony had to do something and I did something!
Sunny: Stop fighting you two!
The group peaked their heads out of the curtain where Zipp ran up to them with the crystal.
Zipp: I got it!
Sunny: Yes!
Zipp: Let's go!
The group ran towards the door where Hitch spotted them.
Hitch: Freeze!
The group stopped where the pegasi turned their attention to them.
Pegasus Mare: It's the prisoners!
As the pegasi starts to panic, Pipp is flung over Hitch which knocks off this disguise.
Pegasus Mare 2: Another earth pony!
Hitch ran off after his cover was blown where Pipp was still being dragged around by the wires where it stopped where she then fell and was left dangling above the crowd where the spotlight was pointed at her.
Pegasus Stallion: She'a a fake!
Pegasus Mare 3: Fake!
Pegasus Stallion 2: The royals can't fly either?!
The paparazzi started taking pictures
North's echolocation and emotion reading saw Pipp's situation and how in shock and fear she was feeling when he started to slow down and then stopped.
Desna: North!
Des wasn't paying attention where he bumped into Sunny where the crystal dropped out of her bag.
North Star: Go on ahead, I'll catch up!
The others went off without North where he located the crystal and put it in his bag.
North Star: You got this North…
North charged towards the crowd where the pegasi saw him.
Pegasus Stallion: It's the monster!
The pegasi started to panic where North took his boomerang and tossed it.
The boomerang spun and flew through the air where it cut the wires holding Pipp where she fell and scream only for North to catch her on his back as he caught his boomerang and put it in his satchel.
North saw a window and came up with a crazy idea.
North Star: Hold on tight to me!
Pipp: Wait, what?!
Pipp saw North running towards the window as she wrapped her front hooves around his neck as he jumped out the window.
Pipp started to panic where North spread his wings out and started to glide.
Pipp: Wait, I thought you can't fly!
North Star: This isn't flying. It's gliding.
North used his echolocation to find the others and found them hidden in an alley with Hitch.
North Star: Why are they- Ah forget it. Hold on tight, I'm getting us out of here.
North glided away where Pipp just hung on to him where she had several questions. Why did he help her even though they didn't get along? Why was he being so nice even though she wasn't towards him? How can he act so selfless despite everything? She kept asking herself that when she decided to say something.
Pipp: Thanks for getting me out of the spotlight.
North just smiled.
North Star: Anytime. Name's North Star by the way. You can call me North.
Pipp: As you know, its Pipp Petals.
A jumbotron nearby turned on with Dazzle Feather on screen.
Dazzle: Breaking story, Zephyr Heights is in turmoil tonight after the shocking revelation that the royals cannot fly.
The scene changes to two fillies talking into a mic.
Filly: Pipp used to be my favorite
The scene changes to a mare.
Mare: If we can't trust our own royalty, who can we trust?
Pipp felt sad after hearing all that where North felt guilty for what happened where a stallion took the mic.
Stallion: I would blame the unicorns and earth ponies because they ruin everything but the one I think we have to blame is that monster.
North just felt sad. He was getting tired of being called a monster.
Pipp: Are you okay?
North Star: I don't know to be honest.
The scene on the jumbotron changes to Dazzle getting a paper.
Dazzle: This just in. Queen Haven has been arrested for being a phony pony full of baloney.
North Star: What kind of crime is that?
The screen shows Haven being taken away by guards where the paparazzi are taking pictures.
Haven: No comment, and no photos! Ok, one photo.
Haven posed for a picture where North was dumbstruck.
North: Wow.
North glided down in front of the alley where everypony was waiting for them as Pipp got off his back.
Sunny: Oh you're okay.
North Star: Yeah. I'm fine. As for you Des…
North walked up to his friend where he then slammed him against the wall.
North Star: That was not necessary!
Desna: Oh ho! You think talking was going to get us out of there? It got us thrown in prison!
Des threw North's hooves off and faced him.
Desna: You think that everything is so peachy and good that we can just walk in there without trouble. But no! We can't expect any pony to treat us with respect! We almost got captured in Maretime Bay just because everypony had no spine and believed stupid lies! We literally walked into Zephyr Heights as prisoners for no reason and were thrown in prison just because the queen lied about not having magic! And look where it got her!
North Star: All because you exposed them by using Pipp! Sure we were in a jam but we could've still figured something out!
Desna: Oh really? You think improvising is going to help us in those problems?
North Star: Well at least I got the crystal.
North brought out the crystal where Pipp snatched it and faced them.
Desna: Hey!
Pipp: Somepony seriously needs to explain why this thing was so important that you had to ruin my whole show over it.
Zipp walked up to her sister.
Zipp: Trust me, it was.
Zipp tried to reach for the crystal only for Pipp to pull it back.
Pipp: You left me hanging there in the spotlight. If it wasn't for North, I would still be hanging there! And now everypony knows we can't fly.
Pipp's phone goes off where she brings it out and turns it on to see the news.
Dazzle: A warrant is out for the arrest of the princesses.
The scene changes to Haven holding her inmate number.
Haven: Pipp! Zipp! Save yourselves.
Haven looks away as her picture is taken where Pipp puts her phone away in shock.
Pipp: What?! This isn't happening. This is so not happening!
Zipp: Pipp! Forget about all that. We think we can bring back magic, but we need that crystal.
Pipp: Have you lost your mind?
Zipp: Please. This might be our only chance.
Pipp was thinking where she gave in.
Pipp: Oh, fine! I know a way out. Come on.
Pipp led the others out of Zephyr Heights where North stopped Des.
North Star: Our conversation, far from done.
Desna: I still think it was the right call.
North and Des followed where Hitch was in shock by this.
Hitch: What? Wait! You can't just…But I'm a sheriff!
North Star: Not here you're not.
Hitch just sighed in defeat.
Back at Maretime Bay in the Canterlogic warehouse, earth ponies were hard at work. Unloading parts and assembling them to make whatever Sprout had planned.
Sparks flew, cranes moved, and measurements were made.
One unfortunate worker was stuck on a tube hanging on a wire as he was swinging around nearly hitting some of his colleagues.
Sprout was seen coming down the elevator where exited while drinking a smoothie as he was wearing a vest with a golden badge in the middle.
Sprout walked out the elevator as he gave his smoothie to a nearby mare.
Sprout: Why aren't you finished yet?
Stallion: We're working as fast as we can, but we've run out of rivets.
Sprout: Riveting story.
Sprout laughed it off as he sighs.
Sprout: Just make it work, OK?
The ponies got back to work where Phyllis walked up to her son.
Phyllis: Sugar cube, I know your little top-secret project is important and all, but when do you think my workers can get back to making Canterlogic products?
A stallion came yelling down as he fell and hit the ground.
Sprout: Back to work, Glitter Cupcake.
Sprout and Phyllis then take a walk.
Phyllis: It is my factory after all, dear.
Sprout: It's my town, mommy. Your son's Emperor of Maretime Bay.
Phyllis: Emperor?! But yesterday you were only the sheriff.
Sprout then stopped his mother as he faced her.
Sprout: Well, see how fast I'm climbing the ranks? This defense factory is going on offense, and it's all thanks to your love and encouragement. And pretty soon, that monster will be no more. Break's over, Bubblegum McGinty!
Sprout then walks as Phyllis just watches in shock.
Phyllis: Oh, dear. Somepony's getting a big head.
Behind Phyllis, was a tarp where the light made by the sparks showed some giant machine that was being built.
