//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: Trapped // Story: Sunny Investigations // by sunnyday //------------------------------// Sunny wasn't sure exactly what happened. All he could remember was hitting the ground before everything faded away, but he was sure something hit him. He was awake now, but hadn't opened his eyes yet in fear that someone might see him wake up. As he was thinking to himself, he could hear two ponies talking. One voice was deep and almost sounded like the guy swallowed some serious amounts of sandpaper. The other sounded like someone with a slight case of down syndrome. "Who's this?" The deep voice commanded. "He was a guy who's probably looking for Thunder." The other one replied meekly. "Probably?" The deep voice seemed to mock the other one. "Well, he was hanging around where we grabbed Thunder 'n stuff..." Immediately after the other voice finished, Sunny heard the sound of a loud smack to the face. "YOU IDIOT! You don't even know if he was onto us but you went and created more problems for us to deal with!" Sunny could hear the other pony hit the floor. The deep-voiced one must have hit him hard. Sunny thought to himself for a moment to assess the situation at hand. Me, a problem to deal with? I guess they're the ones who captured Thunder Clap, seeing as how the downy-pony said it. I guess he jumped the gun and took me as someone who was hunting them down, even though I really was. Maybe if I play my cards right I could find an opening to get Thunder Clap and try to get out of here. Sunny decided it was time to wake up. He blinked his eyes open and did his best to appear as if he had just barely got himself together. "Uhg... What's going on? Where am I?" Sunny blinked a bit more just for added effect. "Shit, you're awake. Do you know why you're here, kid?" It was the deep-voiced pony. He was a red stallion who's mane and tail resembled flame, and to top it off, his cutie mark was a skull. "Erm... No, not really? Who are you guys?" Even Sunny didn't believe his own voice right now, but he hoped that the thugs would buy his playing dumb. "We're the infamous gang leaders of the Flame Gang! Don Honcho and me, Dirk!" The downy-pony said excitedly. He was light blue in coat color, and his mane was orange and his cutie mark was a campfire. It had just now come to Sunny's attention that both of them were Unicorns, and he took a educated guess and decided that they could use flame magic. HIM? A gang leader? That's almost laughable. Sunny thought while stifling a chuckle. "Dammit Dirk! What are you doing? Now we HAVE to kill him." Sunny swallowed hard, these guys were going to kill him. "You better hope this guy has no close friends or family that'll come looking for him down here." Don said as he began to open the cage. Sunny immediately took this opportunity and kicked Don Honcho in the face and bolted for the door that was near the cage. He was able to escape and close the door before the two could react. "Ack! He's getting away! C'MON DIRK, WE NEED TO GET HIM!" There was so much rage in Don's voice that it almost felt like an object in the air. Sunny saw the the lock on the door was on his side so he hurried and locked it before continuing to run down the immense hallway that was in front of him. There were so many doors and other hallways in this strange looking house. Sunny just took random guesses and ran around the halls like an idiot. "I think he went this way! Come on men!" This was a new voice, it looks like there are more of them after him. Sunny immediately charged himself into the closest door causing it to burst open. Sunny quickly closed it behind himself and locked it. He had to hide from these guys. Or at least find a way out of this place without them getting a hold of him. All Sunny could do now was wait until they looked somewhere else. ---- "So... Thunder Clap..." Don Honcho paced in front the cell that held Thunder Clap. "Did you tell anyone about our arrangement? Because a yellow Earth Pony showed up around the spot we arranged to meet. We had to capture him." Thunder snorted. "No. I didn't tell anyone, I swear." Thunder Clap shot a serious look at Don. "Well isn't that interesting, you lying. I thought we had a deal, you helped us train my minions into elite soldiers like you did for the war without telling a single soul, and we wouldn't hurt HER." Saying that caused Thunder to jump up and hit the bars of the cage as hard as he could. "YOU WOULDN'T DARE! YOU BASTARD!" Don laughed. "Watch me. Now if you excuse me, I have to help everyone deal with a certain, 'problem' that has arisen." Thunder laid back down and began to cry softly to himself. How could I let her get hurt and live with myself? There has to be something I can do... Right then, Sunny burst into the room and slammed the door behind him. "Hey! You must be Thunder Clap! Rainbow Dash asked me to come find you." Sunny was reaching for a key when Thunder Clap stood up and began to yell at him. "You idiot! DO YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU'VE DONE?!? They're going to hurt Rainbow Dash now! They think I asked for help!" Thunder was furious. "Really...? They're going to hurt her because they thought you asked for somepony's help? Ah... Well then that means I'm gonna have to beat the ever loving hell out of them doesn't it?" Thunder took a step back in shock. Beat them? Obviously this pony had no idea what he was getting into. But oddly, it seemed like he would be able to somehow. Maybe it was just the way he said it, but it appears this pony is one hundred percent confident that he can do it. Thunder nodded and waited for Sunny to open up the cage. The two took a couple steps toward the door before they heard voices coming this way. "Well, it looks like we're gonna have to make a run for it and try to find the exit." Sunny smiled at Thunder Clap, trying to reassure him. Even though it looked like he was confident, Sunny was scared for his life. He really didn't think that they will make it out alive, but he was going to die trying. Sunny threw the door open and began running in a random direction and Thunder followed. The thugs heard them and immediately began charging after them. "GET BACK HERE! HE'S GOT THUNDER!" Sunny was beginning to get tired of running. He wouldn't be able to keep this on for much longer. Just when Sunny was about to turn a corner, a flame rose out of the ground and stopped him and Thunder in their tracks. When they turned around to face their executors Don Honcho was standing at the front of the pack with his horn glowing. Don began laughing. "Aw... Poor Thunder, it looks like you and your little friend here won't be able to save Rainbow." He charged up and backhoofed Sunny Day into the wall extremely hard. Blood shot out of Sunny's mouth upon collision with the wall and he hit the ground, still barely conscious. Sunny wobbled back up to his hooves. "I'm not gonna... go down... that easily." It was obvious Sunny was hurt. IT would be a miracle if he didn't suffer any severe head trauma from that hit. This caused Don to break into a huge fit of laughter. "You honestly think a couple kids like you can defeat me? Even if one of you is already experienced in combat, it still makes no difference!" Don made a fireball at the tip of his horn and launched it at Sunny, who was struck and fell down again. It didn't light him up, but it severely burned off some of his flesh. Sunny didn't move after that. "Now for you turn, Thunder. Then when I'm through with you, I'm gonna do the same to Rainbow Dash." Don started approaching Thunder when a voice called out from behind them, "HEY! DON HONCHO! WHY DON'T YOU DEAL WITH SOMEONE A BIT MORE YOUR STYLE?!?"