//------------------------------// // Episode 7: Search and Rescue // Story: Dragon Ball TX // by MidnightTwister //------------------------------// Ponyville Saga Episode 7: Search and Rescue The group consisting of six mares who we’ll just call the Mane 6 for short, one dragon, and one Saiyan stood in the main room of the library, talking in worry about what to do about the missing fillies known as the Cutie Mark Crusaders, or CMC for short. The CMC was supposed to spend the night at Fluttershy’s cottage, but had never shown up. Currently, no pony, dragon, or Saiyan knew what to do… Applejack asked with worry in her voice, “Ya don’t think they went on anotha one of their crusades?” Fluttershy responded quietly with, “I don’t think they’d go out on another crusade at night. Not after what happened last time…” Everypony recalled the incident with the cockatrice, which could turn ponies to stone with a gaze. “Maybe they’re at their tree house?” Twilight suggested. “Maybe they’re just sleeping over there!” Applejack shook her head. “Ah didn’t see them in there ‘fore Ah left Sweet Apple Acres.” Rainbow Dash showed a look of irritation on her face to mask her worry. “Why the hay are we just sitting here talking?!” She said as all eyes fell on her. “We NEED to go out and just find them!” Twilight said, “Find them where? We don’t know where they went!” The room fell silent for a moment before Spike voiced his thoughts. “What… what if they were kidnapped?” Everypony considered the idea and became much more worried. Cloud was still a little lost in the madness. He knew the CMC was missing, but he didn’t know about most of the stuff the mares were talking about. Beyond that, he had no idea what kidnapping was. So the boy walked up to and lightly pulled on Twilight’s mane to get her attention. “What’s it mean to be kidnapped?” He asked innocently. “Uh, basically we think somepony might’ve taken the girls…” She answered “That is, unfortunately, very likely…” A new voice said in a motherly tone. The voice came from the now open door, which everyone looked towards. Standing at the opening was a tall white mare. She had the long horn of a Unicorn, a pair of Pegasus wings, pink irises, and a multicolored main and tail. She was adorned in gold regalia and a crown which had purple gems embedded into it.  The mares and dragon gasped in surprised, though Pinkie’s gasp was far more exaggerated. She even sped off into the kitchen and came back in an instant with a cup of water in her hoof, took a sip of the water, and spit it out in surprise! Everyone but Cloud looked at the pink party pony blankly before bowing to the obviously important pony. The Saiyan boy looked at his friends in confusion as they bowed before taking a second look at the white pony. He then noticed something very unique to this mare. Her mane… Blew in a nonexistent breeze… Um… What? He immediately scampered over to the mare to investigate her mane. However, the moment he reached to touch her mane he was hit over the head. “OW!” He yelped, turning around to see a very, VERY angry Twilight. She held a frying pan in her magical grip, ready to use it again if necessary. Cloud gulped in fear as he backed away slowly from the tall white pony. “Um… sorry?” The white mare looked in surprise but soon chuckled at the event. She said, “That wasn’t the introduction I was expecting!” She looked towards the mares and dragon as they remained bowed. “You may rise my little ponies.” Everyone rose to their feet and hooves and relaxed, although Cloud moved to a corner to sort of hide, fearing incurring a certain lavender mare’s wrath. Said mare asked, “Princess! W-why are you here?” Cloud perked up at this. “Prin… cess… What’s that?” Twilight looked to the boy and answered his question, slightly embarrassed. “Oh, Cloud, this is Princess Celestia! She’s in charge of, well, pretty much everything…” She turned to Princess Celestia. “Princess, this is Cloud, a new friend of ours!” Celestia looked over to the young Saiyan. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Cloud, I just wish we could’ve met under different circumstances.” He smiled and was about to happily reply, but then gave a somewhat confused look. “Sir… Sirgum… huh?” He attempted to pronounce the words. He then shook it off and set his question aside as he smiled and replied appropriately. “It’s nice to meet’cha, too!” The Princess suddenly became serious, changing the atmosphere immediately. “I came here to ask all of you for your help in a very serious matter.” Everyone perked up at this news, especially Cloud. “Back in Canterlot, we’ve been undergoing an investigation into an illegal operation. We have all the evidence we need to go in, however, as the Elements and the ones who defeated and reformed my sister, I wanted to ask you all for your help.” “We’d be SUPER happy to help!!” Pinkie exclaimed, hopping on over. Applejack smiled. “Couldn’t have said it better mahself!” After everypony happily responded, Twilight asked the obvious question. “What kind of operation is going on?” Princess Celestia said “Based on reports found and other evidence, innocent foals are going to be sold.” Everyone was shocked to have heard this, though Cloud was confused yet again. Suddenly it began to seem like Cloud was confused by anything and had a question for just about anything every second.  She continued with “Apparently 200 foals were kidnapped over a couple of months by Diamond Dogs, who will then sell them for gems… Two weeks ago, we captured a Diamond Dog as he was attempting to kidnap a young foal in Fillydelphia. It took a few days for him to confess, and even more to convince him to help us undercover. As we speak, the deal is going down at Rambling Rock Ridge.” “Then what are we waiting for?!” Rainbow questioned, flying off the floor dramatically. “LET’S GO!” ~ Back at Rambling Rock Ridge with the Cages ~ Fillies and colts of all ages sat in their steel cages. There was a good number of cages, each very large and capable of holding at least 20 foals comfortably. In one of them, a colt blew into a harmonica, playing a sad melody in the background. A young filly sat on the cold iron floor of the cage, her face matted with dried tears. “Are we ever gonna see are families again?” She asked sadly. “Yes, we will!” Scootaloo said with confidence, wrapping hoof around the filly’s shoulder. She smiled to show her confidence to the filly. Apple Bloom walked up with more of her own air of confidence and hope. “Don’t worry! Somepony’ll come save us! Ah promise!” “You’ll see! We’ll be just fine!” Sweetie Belle said, joining on in. The CMC’s attempts to cheer the filly up worked as a small smile formed on her face.  “In fact…!” Scootaloo started. She stood up and walked over to another spot, motioning the rest of the CMC to gather closely and began to whisper something inaudible. “… and that’s my plan!” Sweetie Belle asked, “Are you sure it’ll work?” “Of course! It has to!” The orange Pegasus responded. “Everypony know what to do?” “Yep!” The other two CMC members responded. After a minute, Sweetie Belle screamed loudly, “Guards! GUARDS! Help!” A nearby guard Diamond Dog in heavy armor walked on over to the cage where the scream came again. He immediately saw Apple Bloom and Scootaloo in a fight, hitting each other over and over again. He lost interest however and started to leave. Suddenly, with a well placed kick to the ribs, Scootaloo fell over, screaming in pain. She held at her ribs and began to cough and wheeze. Sweetie Belle hurried over as some nearby foals held back Apple Bloom. The unicorn put her hoof on the injured part of Scootaloo and looked at the guard with panic. “HER RIBS ARE BROKEN! SHE COULD DIE!” The guard looked on dumbly and shrugged, turning around and walking away with disinterest. The plan wasn’t working. Scootaloo dropped her act and looked at the guard as he walked away. “Shoot! I was so sure that would work!” A colt who was helping to hold back Apple Bloom wore a look of confusion. He then realized the youngest member of the Apple family had stopped struggling but was instead looking down upset. He looked between the two, got his math on and put two and two together, and stepped away. He walked to the bars and began shaking them as hard as he could. “HEY! IDIOT! GET BACK HERE!” He screamed as the guard stopped and turned around with a look of anger on his face. “There was a deal, right?! You were gonna sell us, right? And for a lot of money, right?” “What’s it matter to you, eh?” The guard asked as he began to turn back and walk away. The colt began to buck at the bars as hard as he could. “So? If they find out YOU let one of us DIE, those jerks aren’t gonna pay any of you guys!” The Diamond Dog wore a look of fear and began to sweat profusely. “AND GUESS WHO YOUR BOSS IS GONNA BLAME!!” The CMC smiled widely, but got back to acting as soon as the guard turned around and hurried to the door of the cage. He took out his keys and entered, shoving aside all of the foals to get to the Pegasus in pain. However, the moment he reached her, he was met with a buck to the face, and one of the hardest Scootaloo ever dealt, too! He stumbled backwards and was bucked again by Apple Bloom! Guess who dealt more damage… The Diamond Dog fell over unconscious as colts and fillies began to run out of the cage all at once. Sweetie Belle took his keys off him the second he fell over and made her way out with the rest of her friends. While most foals ran out as fast as they could, some stayed behind to help the CMC unlock the other cages. ~ Outside With our Heroes ~ Multiple carriages pulled by Royal Guard Pegasi touched the ground and ran smoothly to a stop. Royal Guards hopped off the carriages and got ready for the mission as they stood just outside a hole which was guarded by a lone Diamond Dog with pointed ears. The Mane 6, Cloud, Spike, and the Princess walked up to him. “It’s about time you got here!” He said angrily. “Thank you for your aid…” The Princess said with a hint of anger. She looked towards the girls and said, “You’ll be accompanied by Royal Guards when you go in, but you need to know one last thing.” “What is it?” Twilight asked. “The Cold Blooded Bros. are involved and are even down there as we speak. You should all know who they are: the infamous Saurian brothers, Ghid and Orah.” The princess answered to everypony’s shock. She continued, “It’s just the strangest thing, however. They’re usually the ones who do the kidnapping! Having Diamond Dogs do it for them? Cutting a deal of ANY kind? Just what’s their game here…?” She shook her head and brushed the questions she had aside. “We understand!” All the mares said as they headed towards the entrance with the guards behind. Cloud followed, but was abruptly stopped by a magical golden aura. He looked to see the Princess’s horn wrapped in the same aura. “Sorry, but you can’t go in with them. This is too dangerous.” The princess said, releasing Cloud from her magical grip. Cloud’s face took on that of horror. He yelled, “WHAT?!” He did not understand why he wasn’t allowed. “B-but I’ll be fine! Honest! I’m SUPER strong! I really am!” He complained. He wanted so badly to get in on the action! Besides this morning in the Everfree, nothing too exciting has happened! And these dangerous guys? How could he resist the sound of danger?! Oh, if only this princess would let him go! “It’s fine princess! He’s not lying!” Twilight said happily. “In fact, we might actually need his help here!” The princess was shocked. “Really? Are you sure?” She asked. She looked to Cloud to see him on his knees with puppy dog eyes, whimpering pitifully. She sighed in defeat and said in her normal motherly tone with a smile “Alright, you may go!” “YAY!” Cloud exclaimed, jumping into the air with a big smile. Woohoo! Time for some excitement! The Saiyan boy hurried to meet his friends, and together they jumped into the tunnels below… Our heroes are about to face an entirely new threat, TWO to be exact! Just what are the Cold Blooded Bros. really up to? And what do they have in store for our heroes?! Tune in next time on DRAGON BALL TX!