//------------------------------// // XI: Sacrifice // Story: Flight // by TheUnknownPerson //------------------------------// Pinkie rushed out of the train, galloping towards Ponyville. She galloped through the bustling town square and weaved her way through the town, finding her way back to the Sugarcube Corner. Pinkie burst through the door, looking around the room for Twilight. She was talking with Mr. and Mrs. Cake. "Pinkie? Was everything--" Pinkie quickly grabbed Twilight by her hoof. "No time to explain! Gotta go Mr. and Mrs. Cake!" She rushed Twilight out of the shop, pulling her into the alleyway beside the shop. "What--" "I need you to send a letter to Princess Celestia. Now!" "Slow down! What happened?" "Mom and dad-- they made me tell them where Marble was going! We can't wait- we need somepony to get to her now!" "We don't even know where she went! Where am I supposed to tell them to go?!" "Horseapples..." Pinkie turned. "She was going towards Sweet Apple Acres last time I saw her..." "So she might be in Las Pegasus?" "Maybe. Go ahead and send them there. Quickly!" She pled, worried for her sister's well-being. ================= Pinkamena jolted awake, rocks crunching in front of her. "You have to be kidding me." She looked up. Igneous and Cloudy- her parents were standing in front of her with Igneous pulling a wooden cart behind them. Oh no... She clumsily rushed to her hooves. The cape was still over her head and mane thankfully. "How did you get here?" Cloudy questioned. "We left before you!" "That-that doesn't matter. What are you doing here?" "We're taking Marble back. You can't keep her from us." "I can sure as Celestia try." Pinkamena stepped in front of them, disdain brimming in her. Don't hurt them, don't hurt them, don't hurt them... She repeated again and again and again. They had worked too hard for her to break her promise. "Please, Pinkie. You know this isn't right." "It's better than letting her be with two sociopaths." She spat. Igneous matched her anger. "Don't do something you'd regret." He warned. "I'd say the same for you two." She retorted, her sisterly instincts kicking in. Her heart bubbled with pure rage. I've gotta calm down... keep your cool... Pinkamena took a deep breath, steadying herself. "Don't make me do this. Please." She warned, backing up. "We won't have to if you let us have our way with her. Now move." He pushed her to the side. Cloudy and Igneous stepped in front of her. They had begun to open the door by the time Pinkamena got back to her hooves. She galloped past them, shoving Igneous away from the door and slamming it shut. "Stop. Please." "I'm tired of this-" He pried her away from the door, forcing it open. Pinkamena got her right wing and half her cloak into it before she pushed back, slamming her wing in the door. She bit down on her bottom lip as she held it shut. I've gotta buy Marble some time! Pinkamena rustled her brain, thinking of anything to say or do to find some time for Marble, at least until someone could get these two off of her. Suddenly, she found something. "C'mon old man. I'm sure you're just dying to hit me." Pinkamena taunted. "See if you have the guts to hit me." "Pinkie-" "'Pinkie, move out of my way before I hit you'? Was that what you were about to say?" "Of course not-" He said, but with the low growl his voice had tried(and failed) to hide, it was evident he was lying. "Just let me through." Pinkamena grabbed him by the coat of his chest, pulling him closer, almost to the point where they were in each other's face. "Make me." Igneous finally snapped, slapping her. Her mane fell in front of her face. Igneous stepped back, but Pinkamena had an iron grip on him. "Pinkie, let go," Cloudy warned. "Please." "Make me-" Igneous slapped her another time, then slugged her on her jaw. A cut had formed on her cheek and her lips. She looked back up to him with a chuckle. "You're going to regret it if you don't let me through." Pinkamena giggled. "Is that all you've got? Guess I was right when I said you didn't--" Igneous punched her in the ribs with one hoof, twisting into her kidney, then hit her under her chin. Pinkamena staggered for a moment but regained her balance. Igneous growled. "Why won't you just do what I ask?!" He punched her in the snout, then kicked her in the stomach, grinding into her ribs. Pinkamena gasped, falling to her knees. She looked up at him with blurry vision. Blood trickled down her lip. She couldn't tell whether it was from her snout or her lip. I... she still needs some time... Pinkamena looked around. There was a small crowd beginning to form, and she could see the blur of a carriage coming up in the distance. Just a little longer. She grabbed onto the doorknob, using it to stand. "Stay down." He spat in a hushed tone. Pinkamena forced her way up onto shaky hooves. "Don't... tell me... what to do." She breathed. "Bring it." Pinkamena said. Igneous growled, not even trying to hide his anger at this point. He headbutted her, aiming for her snout. Pinkamena backed into the door before Igneous slugged her on her chin. He kicked her in the chest. Her hooves collapsed, but she managed to catch herself on the doorknob. Igneous stomped on her left hind hoof. She gasped sharply before he kneed her in the chest. The assault paused as a carriage slowed to a stop. Pinkamena looked upwards, seeing that Celestia's officers had finally arrived. She pulled herself up, barely hanging on to consciousness as the two officers approached. Igneous looked back to them, then to her, furious. "I... win..." Pinkamena laughed breathily. Igneous and Cloudy quickly made their leave as the officers came towards them. As she watched them ran away, with one of the officers quickly following behind them. The other approached her as the crowd had suddenly begun to dispell. "Are you all right?" The pegasus officer asked. Pinkamena looked up to him. She's safe... With the knowledge that her baby sister was out of her parents' hooves(for the moment), she fell forward, losing consciousness. Her wing strained from the increased pressure between its owner and the door. A loud pop sounded through the wing as it slipped out of the door, following Pinkamena as she fell into the officer's hooves. ================= Pinkie paced back and forwards in the middle of Twilight's room. She had made a rut in her carpet from her nervous pacing, whilst Twilight had a steaming mug of coffee sitting beside her, and a large book. "You just gotta keep your cool, Pinkie. It's all just a waiting game now." Twilight noted before she took a sip from her mug. She flipped through another page in her book. "I know, sorry. Can't help it. Feels like I'm running a marathon." Pinkie giggled, trying to quell her own nervousness. "It should be here any time now. It's been a few hours, you know." "I know. Trust me." She chuckled. Puff A letter appeared over Twilight's head with a ball of smoke. It fell, landing on her book. Her horn quickly brightened with her raspberry magic aura, lifting and unraveling the letter. Pinke quickly rushed up to her, tripping up the last step up to her desk. "What does it say?!" Twilight remained quiet. Pinkie rushed up to her hooves, looking over her shoulder and reading it with her. Dear Twilight Sparkle, I received your letter(thankfully) quickly and sent my finest officers to Las Pegasus. And I'm relieved to tell you that they have successfully recovered Pinkie's baby sister. She's in my doctors' care, although she wasn't hurt in their attempt. Her parents may have escaped, but both Luna and I are working to get either her night guard or my day guard to keep posted at their home and in Las Pegasus for the next few weeks. Pinkie sighed. It felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She giggled. "Thank Celestia... literally." Pinkie laughed. However, Twilight kept silent. "Pinkie..." She said, her voice serious and somber. "read the rest." Twilight finished, her magic holding the letter up to Pinkie. She pushed her book to the side as he opened a desk door to her right. Her horn brightened with her magic as it lifted both a piece of paper and a quill with a bottle of ink and quickly began drafting another letter. For the same reason, however, I am also saddened to say that Pinkamena was badly injured protecting her. From the reports my officers took, she had a wing trapped in the door and taunted them, keeping them busy long enough for my officers to save Marble. Some say she did it purposely while others say it was accidental, but they all agreed that she never threw a single punch or kick at them. Pinkie's throat had dried up while reading it. "How fast can we get to Canterlot?" She asked, leaning over Twilight's shoulder as she looked her in the eyes. "Already ahead of you," Twilight said, quickly finishing a few lines in her letter before placing her quill down. She rolled the paper up before quickly stepping down and trotting out of her room. "Spike!" She called as she trotted towards the staircase. Pinkie fastly followed behind her. Spike ran up the staircase up to her. "Yeah? Do you need something?" "Send this to Princess Celestia. Some bad stuff happened in Canterlot and Pinkie and I have got to go." "Can I come?" "Yeah, but hurry. We need to catch a carriage." Twilight said in a rushed manner, running down the stairs and out the door. Pinkie picked up Spike, placing him on her back, before galloping after Twilight. =================