//------------------------------// // Chapter Two: The Mane Gang! // Story: Loyalty in Brass: Captain's Ashes // by Mr BHunt //------------------------------// Rarity was annoyed. The nobles of Canterlot, some of the wealthiest ponies and ready to smear it in your face. So when one noble, known to many as Blueblood but to Rarity he was the worst pony to haunt Equestria. That's why she was more then welcome to let Blueblood hear her mind. "Get out you dishonest buffoon! You barbarian oaf! The nerve you must have to-" Rarity's rant was interrupted when the shocked and surprised Prince suddenly bolted from the boutique, Rarity put on a smile as she silently cried in victory. Even though she was in New Ponyville, it didn't stop many nobles coming and requesting clothes and thanks to the closer proximity to Canterlot, many could easily walk to down the mountain and back up to Canterlot. Then as she turned back to her work, the bell rang and in trotted a familiar face. "Applejack?!" Rarity said surprised, the orange earth pony chuckled slightly. "Been ah while, eh Rarity?" Applejack said in a quiet voice, Rarity blinked. "It has, Applejack. But something is wrong, what is it darling?" Rarity asked and the orange mare looked around the boutique. "Nice place yah got here, ah like the... colour?" Applejack blushed and shook her head. "Applejack?" "Umm, alright, ah can't get outta this now. Ah swung by to tell yah, Granny Smith... she passed away, just a few hours ago-" Applejack found herself in a tight hug from Rarity, tears spilled from both their eyes. "A-after ah g-got back, we had to all work harder a-a-and-" "Shh, it's okay it's alright." Rarity soothed her friend, they stayed in their embrace for another minute or so. Then the sound of loud knocking drew them from their quiet mourning. "Y-yes?" Rarity called out. "Miss Rarity? It's Swift, I come with a message from Princess Celestia and Princess Luna." A familiar voice called back, Rarity opened the door to find two sweaty unicorn Captains. "Howd- are you alright, Miss Rarity? You look like you've been crying." Suddenly a loud shout from behind the unicorns caused their faces to pale and sweat more. "Ah, do you mind if we come in? We... may, or may not, have teleported our compatriot into a lake..." Shining Armor said quickly with a smug yet scared tone. Another scream, closer made Swift look at Shining. "It'd be better to leave this immediate area, quickly... like NOW!" The unicorn shouted before he disappeared in a flash, the other Captain blinked then looked at Rarity. "Celestia wants you and the rest of the Elements back at Canterlot! That'sallsorrybutIdon'twanttodiehereseeyoulater!" The river of words stunned Rarity, but not as much as Shining Armor disappearing and a fuming, dripping wet, batpony in his wake. "Urgh! I'm too late! Sorry, but this... this takes priority!" The enraged Violet snarled before flying into the air and dashing through the sky. Rarity blinked and looked back at Applejack. "Looks like we got another adventure, better get packing!" Rarity said in a singsong voice, Applejack groaned. Rainbow Dash was asleep. Being a weather pony was boring but paid well, but after the destruction of Old Ponyville that weather crew are down a lot of hooves so Rainbow stepped in. The work was exhausting, leaving the prismatic pegasus sleeping in short shifts for the next work load, luckly the boss gave her a few weeks of rest. "SHIT SHIT SHIT!" A voice screamed and shook Rainbow Dash from her sleep, she peered over her cloud and saw a familiar brown unicorn. "FUCK SHIT!" He yelled out and disappeared in a flash, a batpony slammed into the ground right as he disappeared. "Damnit! So close again!" Violet yelled and saw Dash. "Wait a minute, you one of the Elements of Harmony right?" "Yeah..?" Dash answered hesitantly and the batpony smiled. "Alright, message from the Princesses. They want you lot to get to Canterlot, I- we are going around and giving the message... but I got another mission, kick a pair of stallion's arses!" Violet called up and took to the air again with a speed that surprised Dash. Just as Rainbow Dash was about to go back to sleep, the message registered in her head. "Wait... you lot? The girls are getting back together! Booyah!" Rainbow cheered and flew through the air towards a patch of flowers and a peachy pegasus. "Hey, Fluttershy! We got to go to Canterlot, Princesses want us for an adventure!" Rainbow cheered, Fluttershy merely smiled at her friend. "I guess we should go to Canterlot then... if-" "Yes, Fluttershy, it's alright with me." Dash said with a laugh. "Yay!" Fluttershy quietly cheered, Dash looked at her. "You still gotta work on your volume, Shy." Canterlot, an hour later... Twilight smiled when she saw her friends, Pinkie immediately yelled with joy and bounced towards them. "Oh, it's been too long!" Rarity said when Pinkie managed to get everypony in a group hug. Then a scream filled the air, suddenly a brown unicorn dropped from the sky and hit the ground, somehow still in one piece. Swift looked up with spinning eyes and groaned before faceplanting, Violet swooped down and landed next to the dazed unicorn. "Oh, you all made it in one piece, good. Let's go, we can't keep the Princesses waiting." Violet looked at Swift. "Try not to fall behind, Captain Swift." The unicorn sighed and dragged himself to his hooves and followed after the group, but not before whispering something into Violet's ear. The batpony mare grinned and took to the skies, leaving a smirking Swift. "If I go down, then I'll drag him down too!" He laughed to himself. Celestia smiled when the Mane 6 walked in, their presence most uplifting in her boring day. Then she as she was about to talk, the faint sound of screaming and hoofsteps caused her to look at a side door, the two guards on either side looked at each other then one opened the door. Captain Shining Armor was galloping his heart out, a certain Lunar Guard Captain close behind with a maniac grin. "Princess, HELP!" Shining was suddenly tripped by Violet, who then grabbed the Captain and dragged him off down another corridor with a wave to the crowd. The two guards closed the door slowly and turned back to Princess Celestia, one with a smile threatening to burst. "Um, the Captain, uh, might have... thrown Captain Violet into a, um, pond." The other supplied, the first guard looked away to hide the shaky grin. "Oh." Celestia simply said and the guard burst into laughter, for about three seconds then resumed his stoic position. The group looked back at Celestia and she looked at them, that door opened and Violet walked in. "Ah, your majesty, I just had to... take care of some business, I'll update our missing Captain after this." Violet said with a smirk. "Right, well it's time to tell you why we wanted you here." Celestia said and Luna walked past the Mane Six, surprising them. "We have found Captain William, in the ruins of Griffinstone, we are going to get him and bring him home." Luna added as she ascended the stairs to her throne, Celestia nodded. "We want to bring you to help on the journey, we are also bringing a few squads of Captains Loyal from the Lunar Guard with us for added protection." "Aye, I've picked out some ponies that'll be very useful, a few of the original vanguard to Canterlot and two squads of Captain's Loyal." Violet supplied with pride. "Princess... I think I speak for my friends here, we will help you bring back William." Twilight stepped forward with her friends. "Good, then we depart immediately, come then." Celestia and Luna stood and moved past the group, leading them through the castle halls. Shining Armor came into view after rounding a few corners, he was rubbing his cheek and grumbling. He looked up and saw the group, he nodded to his Princesses and Swift, smiled at Twilight and the other Elements and then paled and gulped when he spotted Violet. The group moved past him and he followed, taking quick glances towards Violet, then Swift yelled in his ear and sent the poor unicorn jumping high into the air. Everypony laughed as the Royal Guard Captain grumbled and continued walking. Soon the Mane Six, the Princesses and the Captains found themselves in front of a pair of airships, one that had a theme of the sun and the other the moon. The Mane Six followed Celestia and Shining Armor onto the Royal Guard ship while Luna and Violet moved to the Lunar Ship, suddenly Swift appeared next to Luna. "May I request to go with your crew?" Swift asked and the Lunar Princess looked down at him, noting a flash of gold in his left eye. "I can't see why you can't, besides, more the merrier, right?" Luna said happily and Swift nodded as both parties boarded their ships, one for comfort and the other for defence. Both airships rise into the air and quickly moved higher into the air, objective set and determination high.