My Little Pony is Copyright to Hasbro and no infringement is intended. This story is written for no profit and is owned by me. This cannot be reproduced without my permission.
Fizzy awoke with a groan; her bed felt so hard and…why was her pillow moving?
Cautiously, she opened her eyes, blinking away the last vestiges of sleep.
"I wondered when you were going to wake up, sleepyhead."
Came a gentle voice, from beside her ear.
"Morning, Windwhistler." Fizzy mumbled, reluctantly getting to her feet.
"What happened? I remember Megan singing, and then…"
"You were using me as a pillow?" Windwhistler offered, smiling softly.
Seeing Fizzy's expression, she added:
"Don't feel bad, Fizzy. You've already repaid the favour." She said, indicating Fizzy's side with a nod of her head. Looking down, Fizzy saw a patch of tousled fur, just like the one on Windwhistler's side where she had been resting.
"Oh. Yeah."
"Anyway, now that we're all awake, what's our plan?" Gusty asked.
"Bath time, I think." Ribbon said, with a soft giggle. Looking down, Fizzy saw that her legs were covered in dust and flecked with grass. Everyone else seemed to be in a similar state, except for the Babies, who were caked from head to hoof in dust.
"Awwww!" Came the moan from all the Babies, suddenly faced with their worst nightmare.
"If you don't have a bath, then we won't let you come on the adventure."
Lofty said sternly.
"Okay." They mumbled, in defeat.
Megan walked towards the pool of water, dipping her hand in, before pulling it out with a squeal.
"Lofty, this water's freezing. It's no good giving these kids a bath if they catch a cold afterwards."
"Leave it to me, Megan." Fizzy said, cantering over to the pool.
Gently, her horn began to glow. Nothing happened for several seconds, then bubbles began rising to the surface the water started to give off steam.
"Outstanding. Fizzy is using her ability to create bubbles to excite the water molecules, transferring kinetic energy between them, resulting in a rapid rise in temperature."
"What's Fizzy doing, Megan?"
Baby Lickety-split asked, clearly confused.
"Fizzy's boiling you all a nice hot bath." Megan explained, kindly.
Soon, the water was nicely warm, a fact proved by Fizzy as she dived in head first, splashing around while laughing with glee. One by one, the Baby Ponies were shepherded into the water. Megan, having rolled up her trousers and sleeves, waded into the warm pool, moving around the group, playing with the Babies as well as cleaning particular stubborn dirt from hard to reach places. After a short battle aiding Gusty with Baby Gusty, Megan found herself with Masquerade and Magicstar. Magicstar used her tail to send powerful waves of water across Masquerade's back, sweeping away the grime.
Seeing Megan's concerned expression, they exchanged worried glances, before Masquerade asked;
"Why so down, Megan? What's the matter?"
"It's…I don't know…It's just…I wonder if we'll ever get home again. Maybe we aren't doing the right thing. Maybe the answer is back inside Kahn's fortress. Maybe that's where we should be going."
"Now, Megan. You know that we can't do that. It's just too dangerous. We're just walking back into the same trap that we barely escaped from last time.
"I know. I mean, I already knew that, deep down. Still, it will be dangerous. What if…?"
"Megan, we've been in danger before and we've come through by standing together. There's always hope, honey."
"Anyway, with all your worrying, you've overlooked someone who needs a wash very badly."
"And who would…yeek!" Megan's sentence ended in a squeal as, with a flick of her tail, Masquerade sent a wave of water washing over her, soaking her from head to toe.
Slowly, Megan brushed her damp hair away from her eyes, staring at Masquerade mischievously.
"Now, Megan, I…yeeek." Masquerade shrieked, as Megan returned fire, splashing vigorously.
Soon, the battle was joined; alliances formed mainly on whom hit whom. Megan dodged away from Magicstar's return salvo, which caught Gingerbread squarely in the head. Leaping forward, she sent out a wave of water which, as well as soaking Magicstar, also caught Buttons and Sundancer. And so it continued until before long, water was flying everywhere, sparkling drops filling the air with short-lived rainbows.
Fifteen minutes later, when the water had begun to cool, and everyone was soaked almost to the bone, they were laying on the grass, letting the warmth of the sun slowly dry them off.
Megan walked over to Syrus and Lumir, who had been watching the display with bemusement.
"Everything that I learn about you and your friends is a revelation to me. Here you are, lost and stranded; in the midst of danger and this is how you behave?"
"That's what you need to understand about these Little Ponies. Not even times such as these can dampen their spirits. The tougher things get, the more they enjoy what they have. If they know there are difficult times ahead, and they have one last chance for fun, to enjoy simply living for awhile, then that's what they'll do.
Syrus nodded, slowly.
"I hope that I will have more time to learn from you. Still, time is short and we should be moving on.
"Which way are we to go?"
"We must risk crossing through Blackvale, for it is the most direct route towards the Dwindling Mountains."
"Then, the sooner we get moving, the better."
They left the shelter of their makeshift camp rather reluctantly; for they knew that they were leaving behind the only safety any of them would find for many miles. Nevertheless, they travelled on, Megan, Syrus and Lumir at their head. Despite the difficult journey that lay ahead, they remained in high spirits, chatting amongst themselves and absorbing the new world that they found themselves in.
"Do you remember whether you found what you were looking for in Kahn's fortress?"
Megan asked quietly, to Lumir.
I cannot recall, precisely. I have this sense of dread, like a vast shadow is stretching out to swallow the world. However, I have no idea what that means, if anything.
"Don't worry, Lumir. We'll get you home and get your memory back, I promise."
I admire you're confidence, Megan. I feel that I was once like you. Now, with the loss of my powers and memories, I am uncertain.
"Lumir, all your strength and wisdom doesn't come from your memories, or even from your powers as a Phoenix. True strength always comes from your heart. Your powers may be gone, but that isn't what lets you do all the incredible things that you do. Just look at me and the others: We don't possess even a fraction of the power than you do and yet, we've gone places and faced evils we never expected to defeat. We did it because we believe in ourselves, and in each other. Try to imagine, for a second, that you hadn't been born with your powers. What would you do?"
I…I would do what I could, using whatever strength I had been given.
Megan smiled:
"Just hold onto that thought, Lumir, and you'll be surprised at what you can do."
They continued on their way until the sun was sinking towards the horizon and shadows were spreading across the land. Knowing that they would need to stop for the night soon, Megan sent Lumir, Northstar and Heart-throb to the top of a nearby hill, to get an idea of what lay ahead, especially to see what shelter lay ahead.
They returned almost immediately, with news that made Megan forget her exhaustion.
"Wagons, Megan. Many of them, catching us up fast." Heart-throb called, as they swooped down to land
"They are probably merchants or traders." Syrus added.
"This may work to our advantage. Traders will usually offer lifts to travellers, especially in return for worthwhile information or new stories to tell when they reach settlements. However, we must be cautious, for not all those who travel these wild lands are to be trusted."
"I think we have to take the risk." Megan decided. "It's getting late and we can't stay out here all night without any decent shelter.
"We should be careful, Megan. I think some of us should wait here, while the rest of you go in. That way, if anything happens, we'll still be free and able to act."
Ribbon cautioned.
"You're right, Ribbon. Okay. Danny, Magicstar, Heart-throb, Sundance and Gingerbread. Stay here with Ribbon and keep watch. If it's safe, we'll send someone to get you. If not, it'll be down to you to mount the rescue."
"You sure you'll be okay without me, Megan?" Danny asked.
"I hope so. Anyway, I need you here. If anything happens, follow us.
"You can count on me, Megan."
"I know I can, Danny. Lumir, I think you'd better stay here too. You're too valuable to risk. Besides, you're likely to attract attention."
Lumir nodded, indicating his acceptance.
"Alright, then. Everyone else, let's make our presence known.
Northstar had to work hard to hide her smile at the stir they caused as they entered the camp, though she was not surprised. They walked in a column, with Syrus and Megan at their head. Behind her walked Fizzy, Heart-throb, Shady Truly and Galaxy. This was Windwhistler's idea, to present the wrong picture of their nature, by making their 'leaders' appear to be friendly and easy-going. By keeping those like Buttons or Magicstar, who were sure and confident, out of the spotlight, they could maintain an element of surprise that could prove invaluable. All heads turned to gaze at them, the flicker of the firelight revealing the curiosity in their eyes. Even though Syrus had warned her what to expect, their lupine appearance was still enough to unnerve her slightly. Most wore simple tunics and trousers, careworn but in good condition, their coats well-groomed despite the evidence of a hard days travel. Slowly, Megan spread her arms in the gesture of peace that Syrus had taught her, saying:
"Hello. We saw your camp and hoped that you would be able to help us. Is your Chief around?"
"Sure." One of the wolves growled, before calling:
"CHIEF!"
"Alright, alright! Keep your fur on." A voice snarled from a nearby caravan.
Then, the canvas flap was pushed aside, revealing a silver-furred wolf, who looked around angrily, until his eyes lighted on Megan and the Ponies. Suddenly, his angry demeanour softened and he rounded on the one who had called his name.
"Klad, you cub! Yelling and raising a ruckus, instead of saying we've got guests."
He admonished, cuffing him playfully.
"Forgive me. If I'd known that you were here, well… Anyway, what can I do for you? We didn't expect to meet anyone one else out in these lands."
"In truth, we came to trade. We have a proposition for you."
"I see. In that case, you are doubly welcome. Ah, where are my manners? I see that you are tired, especially the little ones." He added, winking at the Babies.
"We have seats prepared by the fire, and we can talk more comfortably."
Megan smiled:
"Thank you, sir. We're very grateful."
Soon, they were all seated around the fire, drinking tea that their host had provided. Megan wrapped her hands around the mug gratefully, taking a cautious sip. It was pleasantly sweet and did wonders for her aching limbs. The others were drinking from china bowls, clearly feeling more relaxed than they had since arriving in this strange place.
"This is delicious, sir."
"Please, call me Tran. It's just a delicacy that we picked up on our latest travel. Still, I'm pleased you like it."
"My name's Megan, and this Molly, my sister. Also, meet Fizzy, Heart-throb, Shady, Truly and Galaxy."
"Greetings, one and all. Well, what can I do for you?"
"We we're hoping that you could provide us shelter for the night. I know that is a lot to ask, for someone that you have never met. However, we can compensate you for your trouble. I understand that you are always keen to hear new stories, stories that no one else could tell you? Well, we just might be able to help you there."
"Stories?" Tran asked, his eyes lighting up with excitement?
"Indeed? New stories are highly prized. That is…very generous. I accept your offer. The hospitality of our camp is yours. Now, you must be tired!"
"Actually, I…" Megan voice was interrupted by her yawn.
"Excuse me, I…" Her voice trailed off again. She suddenly felt very sleepy, barely able to keep her eyes open. Around her, everyone clearly felt the same. Already, the Babies were fast asleep and everyone else was falling fast.
"Something's…not…right." Megan whispered, struggling to get to her feet, even though her limbs seemed to have turned to lead. She made it about two steps before sleep finally overcame her and the last thing she remembered before blackness took her was the thought that she had let everyone down.
Ever since Megan and the others had left, Danny had paced up and down, stopping only to glance down at the camp every few seconds, until a stern look from Magicstar caught his attention.
"Danny, please sit down. Megan can take care of herself and you can't afford to waste your energy fretting."
Reluctantly, Danny sat on a nearby rock, though now he gazed determinedly at the distant shape of his sisters.
Magicstar couldn't blame him entirely, though. She would rather be down there too, even though she saw the wisdom in Megan's plan.
Suddenly, Danny sprang to his feet and Magicstar rose to sit him down again. However, the words died on her tongue as she saw Megan slumping sideways, clearly unconscious. With a shout of rage, Danny made to race down the hill, desperate to help. Reacting with lightning speed, Magicstar seized the back of his shirt, pulling him up short.
"Wait, Danny. You can't help her. If you go down there, they'll just capture you and we'll lose our element of surprise."
"Are you kidding? We gotta rescue her."
"We will, Danny. It'll just take a little longer."
By now, the camp had vanished along with the captives and the caravans were heading away down the trail.
"Lumir, do you have any idea where they're heading?"
There is little doubt. Unless they change direction, they will reach Blackvale within an hour.
The loud rumble of the cage doors disturbed her sleep, but she didn't even raise her head from atop her massive paws. The terrible sound was so familiar, after months in this awful place. A faint breeze stirred the heavy air, bringing with it the scent of fresh air and…something else. A scent from long ago that got her tail wagging, despite her incarceration. Her eyes sprang open and she was on her feet, straining against the chain attached to her collar. She could barely restrain a faint growl as her captor walked in, smiling in satisfaction. She'd vowed long ago that she would make him pay for his actions, no matter how long it took. Then, they arrived and all other thoughts were forgotten. It was them; somehow, they were here. For the first time in those dark months, she felt a glimmer of joy and hope. Now, perhaps, there was a chance.
The cage door slammed with a clang and her captor swept out, not even looking back. She waited, to be sure that he had gone, before calling at the top of her voice.
"."
Every head turned and then there was a delighted squeal:
"Dinah?" Dinah!"
Immediately, the Ponies were bounding towards her, chattering and yelling; sobbing with joy and sorrow.
Eventually, calm was restored and everyone could make themselves heard, Truly being the first to speak.
"Dinah, sugah. Oh, how ah wish ya could tell us how ya got here. Ah never thought that we'd see ya again."
Oh well; here it goes, Dinah thought.
"I have missed you too, Truly, and all of you."
Shocked silence reigned for a few seconds, as what they had heard sunk in.
"D…Dinah. Ya can talk?"
"Of course, Truly."
"But, back in Dream Valley, you could just bark."
Lickety-split added, slowly.
"True. Back then, I was very young and had not yet learnt how to talk. Many things… have changed since I saw you last."
"Then, you must have a name of your own." Lickety-split said.
"I do. However, it does not translate well into your language. 'Dinah' will suffice, I think.
Then, she turned to the three Babies that had been staring at her in wonder, saying:
"Hello, Baby Shady, Baby Lickety-split, Baby Tiddly-wink. It's wonderful to see you again."
Immediately, they threw themselves at her, burying their heads in her fur, sobbing furiously.
"Dinah, we miss you."
"You still our friend!"
"Oh, my dears." Dinah soothed, drawing them closer with her paws, licking the tenderly. Eventually, they had calmed down and were sitting around, snuggling against Dinah's warm fur.
"Dinah, this is Megan, Molly and Danny, friends of ours from Earth. And this is Syrus."
"A Cykian. It is many years since I have seen one of your kind, Syrus. Some would say for the better. However, if my friends trust you, then that is good enough for me." Dinah said.
"My people have a lot to answer for." Syrus answered, a shadow of pain creeping into his voice.
"What is this place, Dinah?" Megan asked.
"It is a slave market, Megan. Our 'host' seeks for unique and powerful creatures, which he sells, to the highest bidder. It is an evil place, of little hope. I have been here for months, watching others come and go."
"Then, how come you're still here?" Megan asked, gently.
"I am considered to be brutish, stupid and violent, an impression that I have worked hard to create. Ever since I bit my last prospective owner, I have not been very popular. I knew that as long as I was here then, perhaps, there was some hope of escape. I had begun to give up hope, until now. "
"Well, don't despair yet, Dinah. Ribbon and some of the others are looking for us right now. We've got to be ready to act as soon as they make their move. So everyone, get some rest. I'll take the first watch. Cherries Jubilee, I'll wake you in a few hours."
It was dusk by the time Ribbon and the others, tired and dirty, reached the outskirts of Blackvale. They had made good time, but Ribbon had insisted that they rest every hour. Therefore, it had taken them a little over six hours travel. Now, they sat on another hillside that overlooked the town. In all her years, Ribbon was confident that she had never seen a more dismal place. It seemed to attract shadows. She had to suppress a twinge of fear at the thought of her baby being in that dreadful place.
"Boy, would you look at this place? It's huge. How are we ever going to find them in there?"
"Relax, Danny. That'll be easy. Megan knew what she was doing when she told Ribbon to stay behind." Magicstar reassured him. "Ready, Ribbon?" She asked.
Ribbon nodded, closing her eyes, concentrating hard. Softly, but with increasing strength, her horn began to glow. Of all the Unicorns, Ribbon had one of the most powerful abilities, for she was a telepath, able to read minds. However, unless she was familiar with them, most minds were largely alien to her and she could only decipher strong thoughts or emotions. But, for those she was close to and who were willing to let her in, she could do much more, sending messages over great distances. Right now, she was reaching out to the one whom see could communicate fluently.
"Baby Ribbon? Sweetie, its' Mommy. Can you hear me?"
"Mom! I hear you. I hear you!" Baby Ribbon answered, excited and relieved.
"I can hear you." Ribbon corrected automatically.
"Oh darling, I'm glad you're alright. Honey, listen, I'm going to look through your mind and find out where you are, okay?"
"Okay."
Images rolled across her mind; dark streets; a large building; a stable surrounded by solid walls, dank cells with solid iron bars.
"Well done, Baby. Be brave, okay?"
Ribbon expanded her mental sphere to encompass the others.
"Megan, can you hear me?"
"Loud and clear, Ribbon. I'm glad to hear your voice! Where are you?"
"Just outside the city. You know that you're in Blackvale, right?"
"We had a feeling. Listen, have we got a surprise for you. Dinah's in here!"
Ribbon felt her eyes widen.
"What? Dinah! How can she be here?"
"We haven't got all the answers yet. The main thing is, she'll be able to help us. Now, what's your plan?"
"It's late, Megan and we've been walking for hours. We'll rest up tonight and slip into the town tomorrow morning. I bet they'll have kept you a secret, so we shouldn't raise too much suspicion. We'll get a look at the building tomorrow and start making plans. Once we've got a better idea of how things look, we'll be in touch again."
Ribbon refocused her mind back to Baby Ribbon.
"Okay, sweetie. I've gotta go now. But, I'll talk to you again tomorrow, I promise. In the mean time, I want you to be in bed on time, and no argument, or there will be trouble."
"Okay, Mom. G'night."
"Goodnight, Baby."
Reluctantly, she broke the connection, opening her eyes slowly.
"Everyone's fine, or as fine as they can be."
Quickly, Ribbon relayed what Megan had told them, the news about Dinah causing a predictable excited outburst.
Magicstar sat listening thoughtfully, then questioning Ribbon about every detail she could remember of the building.
"Okay, it's nearly morning. We'll get a few hours sleep, then sneak inside Blackvale. We've got a lot of work ahead of us."
Sunlight had not even started creeping over the rooftops when Magicstar, Heart-throb, Danny and Lumir slipped over the ancient tiles towards the edge of the roof, flattening themselves when they got there. They had chosen this building because it overlooked the stables and because the flat roof would hide them from casual observation. However, the view was less than encouraging. Strong wooden gates sealed the exit from the yard, looking every bit as strong as the stone walls. Four guards, carrying spears, were patrolling the yard, walking between the caravans that had carried the captives here. Others, in pairs, walked around the perimeter. In short, there seemed to be no way in. The only possible access was through the small chimney in the thatch roof. Much too small for Danny, or any of the Ponies, to make use of. A Phoenix, however…
"Lumir, we need to get someone inside, someone that Tran and his crew don't know about. That chimney, do you think you could get through it?"
I am willing to try. Lumir answered confidently.
"Excellent. Once you're inside, find Megan and the others. Once we know where they are, we can make proper plans. Meanwhile, we'll stay here and see what we can learn."
I understand. Once I find Megan, I'll have Baby Ribbon contact you.
With a faint ringing, Lumir spread his wings and soared away, sweeping towards the stable. Wind whistled past him, as the stable came nearer, until he alighted on the soft thatch. Cautiously, keeping low to the roof, he risked a glance into the yard. However, the guards were still standing around idly and Lumir relaxed slightly. Carefully, he slipped back to the chimney, leaping back into the air, tucking in his wings to turn his fall into an accurate dive. Stone surrounded him, rushing past him in a blur. A faint crackling reached his ears and red light flickered on the walls.
Fire. Lumir thought, calmly. Well, that was no real obstacle for a Phoenix. Suddenly, the stone walls vanished and Lumir spread his wings hurriedly, sweeping out of the fire to land safely in the shadows of the rafters. Seconds later, the door opened and two wolves came in, sitting down by the fire. Silently, Lumir cursed. As long as they sat there, he wouldn't be going anywhere. Suddenly, Lumir turned his head, as he felt a breeze stir his feathers. Clearly the building had been built cheaply, for the walls did not extend all the way to the ceiling, meaning that the roof was one large loft. Carefully he took to the air again, flitting between the wooden beams, landing whenever he seemed to cross into another room. Ten minutes later, he found what he was after. The cells were dingy and dismal and the Ponies sat huddled together, next to a large creature with brown fur that he assumed must be Dinah. Taking care to keep his mind-speech focused, Lumir called out:
Megan. Megan, I'm here.
Swiftly, every head looked up and Dinah began to growl softly.
"Take it easy, Dinah. This is Lumir, a friend of ours. Windwhistler, carry on."
"Our captors think they have the upper hand. As long as they think we're helpless, they'll be overconfident and that works to our advantage. They're clearly not worried about us, because we're not chained up like Dinah is. We need to create a situation where we appear helpless but are actually in a position of strength."
Gusty appeared thoughtful:
"We need to think of more than just getting out of these cells. We need a safe way out of Blackvale, too. We can't exactly walk out in broad daylight, not without attracting attention."
"Oh, that's easy."
Everyone turned in surprise to look at Shady.
"Why don't we use the wagons? One of those should be large enough to carry all of us, right?"
Shady beamed, triumphantly.
"That might work, Shady. Lumir, have you seen any sign of the wagons?"
They are being kept in the back courtyard.
"And are there any guards?"
Two pairs that we saw. And more patrolling the streets outside.
"We only really need to worry about the ones in the yard. Once we're out of the gates, the others won't be able to stop us. Danny and the others can find a way to get rid of them before we make a break for it."
Whizzer added.
"Okay. That just leaves getting out of the cells. I can't see any way of breaking the bars down."
"We don't need to!" Molly exclaimed, excitedly.
"If they've got the keys, then we'll need to make them unlock the doors themselves."
"How could we do that, Molly?" Megan asked.
"I don't know." Molly admitted.
I think I may be the solution. If they are so keen to get rare creatures, then a Phoenix should certainly interest them.
Megan nodded:
"That certainly sounds plausible. Still, even if this works, what good will it do? Even though were not chained up, we can't fight those guards!"
"What we need is a little surprise!"
"What do you mean, Surprise?" Northstar asked.
"I was thinking about what Windwhistler said. About how we need to appear helpless, even when were not. We need to create an illusion. And I think Dinah may be just what we need."
"Me?" Dinah asked, clearly confused.
"Yes. They won't worry too much about you, because you're chained up. Except that you won't be. If we can find away to remove your chain, and then put it back for show, we'll have the element of surprise."
"But, how can we free Dinah? That chain won't come out easily." Moondancer pointed out.
Quickly, Megan moved over to Dinah, examining the chain. It ran from the metal collar around her neck to a large iron ring attached to the wall.
"Spike, come here." Megan whispered, hurriedly.
Swiftly, Spike scampered over, joining Megan in the shadows.
"Spike, can you burn through the chain?"
"I don't know, Megan. I'm only a Baby Dragon."
"I have faith in you, Spike. I know that you can do it. Lumir, get into the rafters above the corridor outside and let us know if someone's coming."
It only took about five minutes and the chain fell in two pieces. Swiftly, Megan arranged them on the floor, covering them with straw so that it appeared as if the chain was still whole.
She moved to sit next to Baby Ribbon, wrapping one arm around her neck.
"Alright, Baby Ribbon. I need you to call your Momma for me. We've got some planning to do."
Night had fallen by now and shadows covered the yard as Danny, Ribbon, Sundance and Gingerbread waited in an alley, watching as Magicstar and Heart-throb alighted on the stable roof. Several seconds passed and then Magicstar raised her head to the sky.
"That's the signal. Let's go." Danny whispered, before slipping out into the street, making his way to the wall, crouching next to a small shed. Gingerbread went first, using the shed as a platform to allow her to easily clear the wall. Danny tensed for the shout that would signal that their plans had failed, but nothing happened. Seeing that Magicstar was still signalling the all clear, Sundance and Ribbon cleared the wall easily, Ribbon winking to the top of the wall, before jumping down. Now, it was Danny's turn. Checking that the cost was clear, he clambered on top of the shed, standing up to peer over the stone wall. Seeing no movement, he got a grip, hauling himself up and vaulted over, landing in a crouch. Quickly, he slipped through the shadows to the fourth wagon in the line. Glancing left, he saw Ribbon pulling blankets over herself, until she was invisible to casual scrutiny. Hurriedly, Danny leapt into his wagon, covering himself with the dusty blankets and fighting the urge to sneeze. Now, all he had to do was wait, until the commotion started. His hand rested on what felt like a long wooden pole and gripped it reassuringly. When it came down to it, it would certainly come in handy.
This time of night was Tran's favourite; his business was finished and he was about to return to his apartments. First, however, he would swing past the stables and check on his wares. Nothing brought him more pleasure than imagining how much money his latest acquisitions would bring him. He never expected anything unusual to happen, however. So, he could be forgiven for walking right past Lumir, sitting boldly in the middle of the cells, until he did a double take. Even so, it took him several seconds for his brain to recognise what he was seeing.
"A Phoenix!" he roared, in excitement.
"Quickly, you fools. Bring the keys. Open the doors."
Hurriedly, one of the guards raced forward, inserting the keys and opening the door with a loud creak. Eagerly, Tran pushed the guard aside, stepping into the cells, followed closely by four of the others. Carefully, Tran reached out towards the Phoenix, which was sitting quite peacefully and…everything happened at once. With a terrible snarling, the vicious brute that he was sure had been chained up sprang forward, knocking him to the ground. Thuds and screams behind him were testimony to the fate of his guards. Desperately, he struggled to his feet, hand reaching for his sword. Suddenly, he heard hoof beats and spun just in time to see a wave of Ponies speeding towards him. Several dived passed him and he found himself surrounded. He managed to draw his sword, swinging it towards a green Pony with a horn. She had no time to dodge. However, the sword struck the ground where she had been a second ago. He'd barely spun round something struck his chest, flinging him across the room, his sword flying out of his hand. He struck the floor hard and saw the Cykian standing with his hand outstretched. He saw the sword lying a few inches away, and scrabbled for it, his fingers clasped around the hilt. Then, a blue hoof stamped down, pinning the sword to the floor.
"Well done, Windwhistler." He looked up to see the golden haired creature standing over him and, just visible behind her, were his guards cowering on the floor, as the brute loomed over them. Golden hair raised her voice:
"Everyone, outside now. Molly, get the guards' keys." She didn't move as the others filed out, except for the brute.
Golden hair looked down kindly:
"You know, I thought I'd be angry, but I'm not. You may have kidnapped me and my friends, but I don't hold it against you. You were just acting according to your nature. And now, I must act according to mine. You've imprisoned innocent creatures, for your own profit, with no concern for their feelings. Now, you can see how it feels. Windwhistler, if you please."
There was a crunch, as her hoof stamped down fully, snapping his sword, before they turned and walked out, the key clicking in the lock. The last thing he heard, before they walked out of earshot was:
"Baby Ribbon, tell your Momma it's time."
As soon as Ribbon got the message, she threw back the blanket, eager to escape the dusty confines of her hiding place. Megan and the others were on the way, and they had to act now. Wasting no time, she sprang from the wagon, calling out to the others.
"Come on. It's now or never."
She heard thundering feet and two guards appeared ahead of her. Risking a glance behind her, she saw the other two blocking her retreat. However, Gingerbread and the others had arrived, Danny wielding a long pole. Without waiting for them to recover, Ribbon charged at the closer two, yelling for Gingerbread to follow her. She felt certain that Danny and the others could handle the rest. Closer she ran, watching with satisfaction as the guards raised their spears, planning to intercept her. They would be in for a surprise. Seconds from impact, she winked out, reappearing behind the surprised guards.
"Missed me!" Ribbon yelled, and the guards spun hurriedly. It was then that Gingerbread struck, leaping through the air to land on the back of the first guard, driving him to the floor and leaping away. With an angry growl, he charged after them and both Ponies put on an extra burst of speed. Together, they dodged between the wagons, leading their pursuer on a dizzying chase. However, Ribbon knew that they couldn't keep this up forever. Quickly, Ribbon leapt into a nearby wagon, Gingerbread following close, heading deeper into the shadow.
"I think we've lost him." She whispered.
"No such luck!" Gingerbread yelled as the guard leapt into the wagon. Slowly, he advanced, grinning cruelly.
"Nowhere to run now." He growled.
Swiftly, Ribbon seized the edge of one of the dusty covers with her teeth and pulled hard. The cloth jerked, sliding from beneath the guard's feet, who stumbled backwards.
"Grab it, Gingerbread." Ribbon yelled. Gingerbread grabbed the other corner and together they charged towards the guard. He raised his spear but they simply spread out, stretching the cloth between them. Now taut, it struck him across his chest, dragging him along in their wake as they dived over the edge. He struck the ground hard, his spear flying out of his grasp, and he lay still.
Gingerly, Ribbon moved closer, sighing with relief when she heard his shallow breathing.
"He's alright. He's just out cold."
Swiftly, they turned and ran, heading back to the others. They arrived just in time to see Danny shatter his staff over the head of the last guard, who slumped sideways on top of his companion.
"That's the last of them, Danny." Ribbon said. "Come on, let's check out these wagons."
Soon, all five of them stood outside one of them, looking around in bemusement.
"I don't get it." Danny exclaimed. "There's no yoke or harness and we haven't seen any animals in any case. So, how do they move?"
"What are these, Danny?" Heart-throb asked, indicating the collection of pipes that ran along the back of the wagon, extending above the roof.
"I'm not sure." Danny muttered, more to himself, examining them closely.
"They seem to run under this thing."
Quickly, he bent down, peering underneath the wagon, his face breaking into a grin.
"It looks like an engine. That's how they work. Come on, there must be some controls inside."
They had just turned to clamber into the wagon, when the doors burst open and Megan and the others appeared.
"Megan." Danny called. "We've got a problem."
Inside the wagons, a quick search revealed a front compartment with two seats, one with a pedestal with levers and buttons, as well as a crude steering wheel... "I think this is it, Megan. Do you now how to work it?"
She nodded:
"I think so. Let's see…he pulled this lever and then pushed these buttons, I think." Nothing happened for several seconds and then a high whistle became audible, followed by the working of machinery.
"You did it, Megan." Ribbon yelled from the other end of the wagon.
Slowly, the wheels began to turn and the wagon began inching forward.
"Come on, everyone." Ribbon yelled, cantering back as the others charged forward, leaping one by one into the wagon. Soon, it was becoming quite crowded, as everyone struggled to watch.
"Lofty, Gusty, move the kids down the other end." Ribbon yelled, as Fizzy winked in, nearly tripping over Baby Shady. Dinah was last to jump in, causing the wagon to rock slightly. By now, the wagon was moving at a fast walking pace.
"That's everyone, Megan, I…look out." Ribbon yelled, her voice rising in panic.
Megan gave the wheel a twist, and the wagon swerved left, heading for the gap between the wagons. Everyone held their breath as they barely slipped between them, wood scraping against wood. Now, they were travelling at running pace, the gates rapidly drawing nearer.
"Hang on!" Megan yelled.
The gates, while intimidating, were not strong. They were not even locked, merely intended to secure a little privacy. They most certainly could not resist something as large as the wagon moving so fast. They splintered on impact, one of them flying off its' hinges as they wagon bullied its way through. Desperately, Megan swung the wheel again and they raced off down the main street. Thankfully, the road was wide, straight and, mercifully, deserted. Long, tense minutes passed as Megan struggled to keep the vehicle in line. However, before long, the buildings began to thin.
"We're almost there." Megan called, spotting the open land ahead. Suddenly, the houses vanished and she squinting against the sunlight. When she was able to open her eyes again, she saw the grassland all around them and breathed a sigh of relief, feeling her hands loosen their death grip on the steering wheel. Behind her, a great cheer erupted and Megan glanced back to see the Babies cantering around, clearly relieved to be free again.
"Great job, Megan." Molly said, hugging her.
"Not bad for someone without a driving license." Megan responded and they both erupted into giggles.
"Can I drive, Megan?" Danny asked, hovering excitedly over her shoulder.
"Sure, Danny." Megan answered, gladly surrendering the wheel.
"Yeehaw!" Danny yelled, in an imitation of a cowboy.
Megan smiled; she really was lucky to have a brother like Danny. Even though he said he wanted to drive, and he probably did, he'd also done it to give her a rest. He really was very special.
"Is everyone here, Windwhistler?" Megan asked, as she made her way back.
"All present and accounted for, Megan." Windwhistler replied, as Megan sat down between Paradise and Lickety-split.
"These wagons are great, Megan. It's like having a moving house."
"Yeah. They'll save our step, as we'll as stopping us having to find shelter every night. Now, it's been a rough day, so everyone should get some sleep, if they can. Especially you Babies." Megan finished firmly.
"Lumir, Syrus, I'll need your help for a moment."
Standing up carefully, Megan made her way back to the front, with Lumir and Syrus following after her, where she stood looking out over the landscape.
"Which way are the Dwindling Mountains from here, Lumir? Can you recall?"
I can, for it is them that you can see on the horizon. By my estimation, we are less than a week's journey away, at these speeds.
"That's brilliant, Lumir. I'm very happy for you. Still, it's getting late and we don't want to be driving through the night. We'll easily get lost. We should find a place to stop for the night."
"Look over there, Megan." Molly called, pointing.
Megan followed her finger and saw a ring of stones large enough to conceal the wagon easily.
"That'll do nicely, Molly." She said, as Danny turned them towards it.
"We'll need to set a watch during the night, just in case. I'll…"
"…get some rest, Megan, my dear." Paradise broke in, having trotted up to the front.
"You've been up all day and you always take the watch as well. Well, not this time. I'll do it and I'm sure Whizzer will keep me company."
"Oh,Iwill. YoubetIwill." Whizzer replied, in her usual excited, rapid-fire speech.
It had, Megan reflected, been quite a day.
END OF CHAPTER 2
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