Rachel stood in front of the Castle of Friendship for a long time, feeling partially numb from just having to leave Igneous behind. She knows he's in good hands and she knows she has to do this. Staring at the damaged scorch marks Garble made during the siege.
She took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "Once more unto the breach." She muttered under her breath before using her key to get in.
The key Spike gave her when he first asked to move in with him a year ago.
The door pushed open when she inserted it. "Bitch still doesn't lock it after all this time?" She sighed deeply. Wondering if Twilight is still too friendly and trusting to others before pushing her way inside.
Instantly, she picked up the distinct scent of a cat as she entered into the foyer. The smell of a cat and an unknown pony. She could hear their voices speak coming from the map room.
"Seriously, Fizzy, hear me out. You've made quite a bit of coin when you turned mercenary. If you invest into my business, it'll make you very rich. Donate at least 5k and you'll get it back plus 40% interest once it takes off." This smooth talking suave male voice spoke.
"You do realize there was a reason why I turned mercenary after I spread the word on friendship, you old tom." A female voice grunted. "And why I got so good," Rachel enters the Map room to find the three inhabitants.
Twilight sat at her head chair, an older multi brown abyssinian wearing a black cloak and top hat with a red ribbon that was on the table, tuff of blue hair with streaks of gray to show his age in one chair, and a maroon unicorn with a broken horn, her pink hair was in a mohawk, turquoise blue eyes with a scar across her left eye, dressed in dark clothes but looked like she traversed across vast wastelands.
"One of the reasons is because I don't fall for scams anymore. Still a con artist by trade, Ambassador." The female unicorn smirked.
The male cat gave her a charming smile. "I may have risen back to the top, but I can't seem to get rid of old habits. That was a joke, by the way." he chuckles.
Twilight chuckled, seeing the two interact before looking up to see the Queen standing at the doorway. "Ah, Rachel, good, welcome." Twilight said as she got out of the chair and walked over to her. The cat and mercenary pony turned in their chairs to turn and greet the dragoness.
Rachel gave them a wave. "Sorry I'm late, I had to… take care of my son." She spoke softly.
"I'm sorry, I know it must be hard leaving him behind, but this won't be forever." Twilight said as she placed a hand on her shoulder. "Now, let's get you acquainted with your team."
The old tom got out of his seat along with the unicorn before approaching her, giving her a bow. "Capper Dapperpaws, Abyssina Ambassador of Friendship and aristocrat at your service, your royal dragoness." He held his hand out for her to grab.
Rachel grabbed his hand and he shook it, when he went to kiss it, she quickly took it back. "Capper…." she repeated the name, having it jog a memory. "Didn't you use Spike as a flamethrower against the Storm King? Spike told me about it once."
Capper let out a laugh. "Ah yeah. Well at the moment, sweetheart, it was in a dire situation. I kindly reminded the tiny guy that he was a fire breathing dragon. It was a mutual decision."
"That was like twelve years ago, he's probably not tiny anymore." The unicorn said as she came up to her. "Fizzlepop Berrytwist. I also go by Tempest Shadow, you can call me either way." she raised a hand up to her to shake.
Rachel took it and both shook. "I'll go with Tempest." she said.
Something about Tempest's voice struck something within Rachel. A voice she hadn't heard in years.
So Rach, you're my ride and die?
Ride and die, hell yeah!
Rachel quickly lets go of Tempest's hand. "So, you two got summoned by this dang map?" She asked, trying to push some thoughts away.
"Ain't my first time." Capper shrugged before he motioned for her to go take a seat.
Rachel sighed before approaching the table as Twilight went back to her chair. She saw her summoned symbol, along with what looked like an emoji looking Capper's head and Tempest's broken horn symbol floating around the Friendship Castle. She frowned.
"Why did the map have my floating things looking like Rarity's cutie mark with my wings? That's just all kinds of wrong." Rachel grunted.
As if the map listened, it glowed and her symbol changed. The blue diamonds turned into a single blue flame with her wings.
Twilight blinked. "Uhhh….okay that never happened before." She looked at the map. "After all these years, I'm still baffled by this thing."
"You're supposed to be the Princess of Magic and Friendship, it's literally your job to know all of this." Tempest said, causing Rachel to snort.
"Shall we continue?" Capper asked with a chuckle.
"Right," Twilight nodded. "Everypony, put your hands on the map."
The three placed their hands on the map table. The three markers glowed and began to dance around each other. They watched as the images began moving around the map. The map itself began to change. The landscape drastically changed from bright and colorful that's typical to Equestria and turned dark and dreary, roaming across the sea and across deserts, going past Klugstown to travel far.
Farther than any of the mane 6(5) had ever gone, going across several continents before the images came to a stop of a rancid looking portside village.
"Ironstone Wharf?" Rachel read the name of the village. "Fucking Sombra took him basically the other side of Equis?" Her voice cut deeply, filled with anger.
Both Tempest and Capper had similar looks on their faces, both of them recognized the village and made uncomfortable sounds.
"You two know of this place?" Twilight asked as they gazed at the place.
"I do." Tempest said. "The Storm King used to do deals with the owner of that cesspool back in the day."
"I've heard horror stories, it makes Klugstown a paradise in comparison." Capper said. "It's owned and run by a nasty little pig by the name of Snowball."
"He's also known as The Collector. He likes to collect strong, nastier, vile and vicious creatures, he has a way of getting such beings to obey and serve him. If you have a debt, you're a slave to him until that debt is paid." Tempest added. "He tried to purchase me from the Stormking, thank goodness that didn't happen."
Rachel looked at the two. "You have got to be fucking joking, right?"
"Wish we were," Tempest said.
"It's going to be a task breaking Spike out. That pig will not give him up so easily, and if this Sombra took our boy and handed him over to Snowball on a silver platter, it's going to be a fight." Capper said.
Rachel pushed herself up off of the map table. "Bring it on. I'll gladly cook that squealing bastard over an open fire."
Tempest made a hand gesture to Rachel. "I think I'm going to like you." she grinned.
"I wish I could go with you guys, but it has to be you three." Twilight said as she cleared her throat. "Now since this is far, I made some arrangements for you guys to make the travel go fast. Rachel, you may not like it, but it's something that can get you there."
Rachel frowned as she and the others followed Twilight out of the castle. Wondering what Twilight meant by that.
It quickly becomes apparent that she does indeed not like it. It was a white and gold colored airship parked in the landing dock in front of the Friendship School. The ship itself has a picture of Blueblood painted on the side.
"What the actual fuck?" Rachel snapped. She wanted NOTHING of that pompous ass, shriveling scrotum sack of a pony who was the cause of EVERYTHING!
Twilight nervously grins. "It's what Celestia and Luna could lend to help you all on your journey."
Tempest had a disgusted look. "That is so distasteful."
"I am sorry, but is that a party airship?" Capper asked, looking rather confused and cringing.
"It is." Twilight admits.
"I got a pair of wings and can teleport, I am NOT stepping one taloned hoof on that mother fucker." Rachel barked.
She then hears a hum coming from the Blue Celestial. WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?! I CAN'T TELEPORT US THERE IF I HAVEN'T BEEN THERE BEFORE?! She screamed at her hidden staff mentally.
"Well, we don't have wings or magic…no offense, dear Fizz." Capper said.
Tempest responded with a grunt.
"I'm sorry, with all the other airships and hot air balloons being used up for the war effort, this was the only one left." Twilight said.
"What happened to your hot air balloon?" Rachel asked, her eyes burning as she stared at that failed abortion of a pony.
"Pinkie Pie took it last week, took it with Cheese Sandwich so they could travel to all of our ally forces to boost morals by entertainment."
Rachel began laughing, as this was completely unbelievable. "I fucking hate this."
Tempest quickly pulled a dagger and a dark crystal orb out of her clothes before she started running towards the ship. She threw the orb down as she lept, giving her a bit of a boost as she launched up to the picture of Blueblood. She took that dagger and slashed at the picture so many times so fast, she was a blur before she fell and landed on her hooves.
The picture was now deeply scratched, his face now distorted and unrecognizable.
"Okay, Tempest, I think I'm going to like you too." Rachel grinned. Oh crap, I know who her human variant is… Putting together several similarities of the human she knew in question together. There was no denying it. She knows these two weren't the same but still.
A part of her pained in memory of that person, but a part of her felt giddy which was a good thing.
Twilight stared blankly when Tempest did that. "Uh…oh wow, it seems twelve years haven't slowed you down." she said to the unicorn.
Tempest halfbowed in respect of her.
"So, now that's over with, shall we get started?" Capper asked as the stairs slid down from the yacht door and he and Tempest began walking up to it.
Twilight stopped Rachel from entering. "Rachel, do whatever you can to bring Spike back." Twilight spoke in a soft voice. "Do whatever it takes."
Rachel nodded. "For our family."
"For our family." Twilight repeats. "Now, I have the ship stocked up with food and other necessities for the trip, judging by the map, it's going to be a long one, permitting the weather doesn't put you all off course."
"Naturally."
Twilight then placed a small potion bottle in her hands. There was a milky white substance in the small oblong bottle.
"Um, okay what is this?" Rachel asked with a raised brow, examining it.
"Oh, that's to make sure you don't uh…leak at the worst times." Twilight said, gesturing to her breasts. "It'll hold back the lactation."
"Twilight Sparkle, I spent the last few days being literally pumped like a fucking cow so my son could have at least a month's worth of milk to drink, though with him it won't last that long. I would like to keep feeding him when I get back, do you want me to lose the ability to do so?" Rachel asked, annoyed with her face flushed red.
"Oh you won't. Cadence provided these for you. She said it'll not only make sure you don't have any accidents, especially when dealing with Snowball, but will tone down the postpartum hormones you're currently having. It only lasts a day so you have to drink it regularly, but once you stop, it'll be back to normal, it's perfectly safe and harmless." Twilight assured her. "There's about roughly six months stocked in the ship."
"I'm not planning to be gone for six months."
"If luck permits us, you won't be gone that long. If you're worried that Iggy won't recognize you when you get back, I highly doubt that." Twilight said. "When you and Spike get back, you can make up for lost time and be first time parents together."
Rachel glanced down at her swollen breasts. Considering the potion because it would be highly embarrassing to be having to deal with this pig and her breasts began leaking milk. "I'll consider it, thanks."
"No problem." She said with a smile. "Now, good luck, bring Spike home."
Rachel pockets the potion in her pants pocket before she goes up the steps and inside the airship. Once inside, she came into a lounge area with Capper already enjoying the finer things of the party ship. Enjoying a bottle of sparkling wine being fed by grapes by a couple of sexy looking stewardess ponies. Sitting on a lush chair with his feet propped up on a stool.
"Whoever this Blueblood is, he's got some exquisite tastes." Capper purred as he was being fed.
Rachel visibly shudders and gags at that before taking a seat on her chair. Visibly sick as the boat still has that lingering smell of pompous ass.
"This is going to be a long ride." The Queen muttered. Rubbing her temples as the yacht began lifting in the air and began their long trek to rescue their dragon.