Chapter 6
Candlebright – a good spirited filly earth pony, with an orange pelt and a beautiful red mane and tail with coral-pink steaks. She has dreamy yellow eyes. Submitted by: M0RG4N L4 F4Y
Vintage Scripture – a colt earth pony, with a tan pelt with green stripes and a dark brown mane and tail with blue tips. He has green eyes. Submitted by: Kimba's Bro
On the first Solstic after the days of Discord, Princess Celestia rose the Sun upon the inherited land of Equestria. Higher sort and nobility reigned once again anew. Rejoiced the living creatures crowning her betaken full hearted with love. And she, our astral goddess, looked down from the sun-plane with be found adoration and saw the majestic mountains and its rapid running rivers, the flourishing forests and the humbling high hills. And Princess Celestia saw that it was good. As to, the ponies that dwelled within the lush land and flew in the sailing skies were also good. But alas, not all ponies were good. These not good ponies did unpleasant things. They stole and cheated and called names and fought and played terrible pranks. So Princess Celestia said that these unkind ponies that do-not good shall be called ponies no longer, but will bear the name bully.
And so it came to be–
"Vintage Scripture, are you still reading that book? Will you please put that thing down and help me."
Vintage Scripture looked over the top of the book propped up in front of him to see Candlebright impatiently bouncing up and down. The perky pony was undaunted by the grim situation of the hijacked school. Determined to find a way to escape and save her classmates in turn. Vintage Scripture disregarded this and returned to his book. "I am helping. All of our answers are right here in these books," he said, pointing to the book.
Candlebright and Vintage Scripture had been trapped in the schools library ever since Hawthorn had taken over. The two ponies decided to stay hidden in hopes that they would not be found. Luckily no one had come to search the library.
Yet.
"How's that old book going to help Vintage?"
"History. It's history that will provide an answer to our questions."
"Oh Em Gee! Will you please help me open this window?"
"I wouldn't stand so close to the window if I were you. One of Hawthorn's goons patrolling outside might see you." Vintage Scripture warned.
"Really?" Candlebright panicked, ducking down low under the window's ledge. Carefully she peeked out the window and scanned the terrain for any signs of Hawthorn's minions. To her relief, the only thing that was moving outside was the snow. The gentle snowfall had quickly turned into a heavy snowstorm. Swirling snowflakes danced in the billowing winds, leaving a thick, pillowy layer of snow over Ponyville.
"Do you see anypony out there Candle?" Vintage Scripture asked.
"No. I don't think so," she whispered back. "Now's our chance to get outa here Vintage, give me a hoof, will you?"
Vintage Scripture pointed again to his book.
Candlebright gripped the window and lifted with a grunt. The window did not budge. She tried again, lifting with all her might, arching her back and pushing up with her hind hooves. She bit her lip, turning red in the face under the strain, till she collapsed backwards. "It won't open," she said dumbfounded.
"Then it's probably stuck," he replied sarcastically.
"Why would it be stuck?" Candlebright inspected the window. She was shocked to see that the window's edge was nailed down to the frame. "It's nailed," she said offended. "Who would nail the window shut?"
Just then Candlebright noticed movement outside. Four ponies walked out from the school. "EEK! Somepony is outside." She dashed away from window.
Vintage placed his book down and walked to the window and cautiously peeked outside. There were indeed four young ponies walking away from school, heading towards downtown Ponyville.
They appeared to be Hawthorn's minions. All but one. A pegasus with the blue and gray main and tail, that Vintage Scripture instantly recognized.
"That's Lightning Runner."
"Who? Let me see." Candlebright popped her head back into the window.
"Lightning Runner. He's in my chemistry class… we're friends."
"So why's he with them?" She watched them walk away till the obscuring white snow consumed them.
"I don't know. Something tells me he's in trouble though."
Suddenly, two more ponies darted out from the school wearing what appeared to be white bed sheets draped over themselves, like ghost costumes - perfect winter tundra camouflage. They quickly followed the first group.
Both Candlebright and Vintage Scripture jumped in surprise, but continued to watch the strange pair. One zigzagged tactically, finding cover to hide behind as he or she went. The second pony, on the other hoof, was not as graceful. Tripping and stumbling forward, obviously having a hard time maneuvering with the sheet on, trying to keep up with the first. They too disappeared into the concealing white snowfall.
"Who do you think they were?" Candlebright asked.
"I'm not sure. But if they're following Hawthorn's minions I hope they have better luck than we do."
"You think they're on our side then?"
"Maybe, I hope." Vintage walked back to the table and opened up his school bag. A beady eyed weasel popped its head out of the bag, looking around curiously.
"Oh! It's soooooooooo cute."
"This is Pepper, my pet weasel." The grayish-brown critter hopped out onto the table and sniffed Candlebright's nose, tickling her with little whiskers.
"I like him," Candlebright giggled.
"'She' likes you too," he corrected, picking up the weasel and lifting her up to the libraries air vent. Pepper slipped through the space in the vent cover's grating.
"Where's your rat going?"
Pepper crossed her arms, shooting the orange pony a discontent look.
"'Weasle', Candlebright–" he corrected again, rummaging through the bag.
"Sorry." She blushed.
"–and she's going to get us an interview with Hawthorn." Vintage Scripture pulled out a small digital recording device from the bag and handed it up to the weasel in the vent. "Pepper, go and find Hawthorn. You know what to do. Just don't get caught, okay."
Pepper nodded, giving a salute before she darted through the schools dark ventilation system. She made her way around the many twists and turns. Bumping into dead ends. Peering through vents. Riddling her way around the metallic maze in search of the tyrant. Till she came to a vent, overlooking a room with a large wooden desk and a tan unicorn colt sitting in a chair, his face planted on the desk – Hawthorn.
Pepper placed the recorder down and pushed the red 'record' button.
The door to the office opened and Quicksilver looked in. "Hey boss, I heard you have a headache. I brought you something for it." She slipped into the room.
"Did Lightning Runner, Kunai and Buff and Tuff leave for the train station yet?" Hawthorn murmured, his face still firmly planted on the desk, unmoving.
"They just left a few minutes ago."
"Please tell me Onyx Charmer is working on the letters."
"Yeah, he's almost done. But he keeps singing an annoying song about a 1000 bits?"
Hawthorn groaned miserably at the mention of money, mumbling something about 'hate' and 'Onyx Charmer'.
"Oh, it's okay boss. Here, take a sip of this." Quicksilver pushed a bottle of medication into Hawthorn's hoof. He looked up and removed the cork with his green magic and drank the contents. "I hope you feel better my lord," she said rubbing his shoulders gently.
He sighed. "Unless we get the letters out in time, we'll all be in big trouble. Everything depends on these letters to trick the parents into thinking that their stupid kids will be in Canterot for the next two days."
Quicksilver leaned up against Hawthorn, wrapping her forelegs around him. "Stop worrying. It will work. What parent would say no to having their little ones spend time with the Goddess of the Sun and Moon?"
"And if we don't free Jet Streamer in two days then we're done for. We need him."
"Hawthorn the Third, you have nothing to worry about. Your plan is working perfectly. You have the school. You have you're letters. You even have that ninja pony and the chemist going to free Jet Streamer." She giggled playfully. "And you have me too." She leaned in, kissing Hawthorn.
Pepper stuck out her tongue, repulsed.
Hawthorn pushed Quicksilver away. "W-what are you doing?"
"I-I was trying to–" She faltered.
"I don't want to kiss you. Celestia, what's going on!" He barked.
"You're still thinking about her, aren't you? Fine then, I'll find some other pony to kiss." Quicksilver stormed out of the office, slamming the door. She was blistering mad when Metal Hooves came skipping up to her.
"Hey Quicksilver, what's wrong?" He asked.
"Nothing," she snorted, "come on Metal Hooves, we've got business to take care of." She grabbed him and led him down the hall.
"We do? What is it?"
"I'll show you in a second," she said pushing him and herself into the janitor's closet, closing the door behind herself.
Thank you everyone for you great reviews and wonderful OC's that I've been receiving. I still have not forgotten about any of you and you will be seeing your OC's in action.
Thank you MasterPony 117 for your critical review.
Thank you for reading and I look forward to reading your comments, they truly mean so much to me.
Have a Happy New Year everypony.