The landing was slow, and Twilight found herself nervously tapping a hoof as she waited. The descent itself ironically caused her stomach to drop in time with her worried thoughts, briefly shoving her through a moment of queasiness. Godzilla paced anxiously behind her, flexing his claws and sniffing at the possible threat through flaring nostrils. Rey was mostly focused on landing the Falcon on even terrain, but it was clear that she was anticipating a confrontation; Jack was anticipating a hiding spot.
"You should calm down. " Daredevil advised suddenly. "I can't really hear much over your breathing."
"Sorry. Twilight offered apologetically, but calmness still alluded her.
"When we land, I'm going to head out of the emergency hatch so they won't notice me. I work best under the element of surprise, and I need time to sense what we're up against."
"Good idea!" Jack started out of the room with a pep in his step. "I'll go out the back!"
"Get back here." Daredevil yanked him back by the collar of his clothing, and the ship landed in the same beat. The suited man started forward with a brisk, eerily silently movement that caused him to disappear around a corner. "Keep 'em focused on you."
The pirate rubbed his neck gingerly, eyes narrowing after the man. "Quite a grip he has, eh?"
"Now come out! We'll be waiting. No funny business."
Twilight turned to the four with an anxious but fairly steady nod. "I know a shield spell in case anything goes wrong." She paused, cautiously moving down the first hallway. "You think they're expecting us?"
"Why would they expect you guys?" Harley pointed out, reluctantly following behind Rey. "You only just now came together."
The Jedi agreed soundly. "She has a point. It was a celestial that pulled us all here. Maybe they really think we're just tresspassing."
"Then maybe we should leave now and promise not to come back. If our hull is indestructible--" The pirate offered, only to deflate as the entry doors opened up slowly and steadily. The more the outside world opened to them, the more cautiously the five stepped out into the open. Sunlight for this planet was not particularly bright, but it still made them blink in its rays.
A good twenty feet or so in front of them lay a ship slightly more massive than the Falcon itself, entirely drowned in black hues or shades that glinted in the light. Two figures stood in front of the ship as a third climbed out of it behind them. Clad in helmets and armored vests that all appeared to be black, pointed at certain parts of the face, the figures were clearly soldiers of some kind. Heavily armed ones too, if the giant things in their hands were anything to go by.
"State your business. " One of them said after scrutinizing them for a moment.
Twilight blinked at the command, and wondered how any of them would answer to that. They couldn't very well say that the were heroes meant to defeat them or whatever. "Uh...we're....citizens."
The soldiers exchanged, but their faces were too stony to tell what they thought of the lie. "Citizens? I've never seen your species here before."
"I'm an in law to someone else here! Yep. Their lineage automatically makes me a citizen here..." She nodded rapidly, and then pointed to the trio standing behind her, uncertain of whether they should speak or not. With how fast she was vomiting out replies, it appeared that they wouldn't need to do much. "So, yeah. Came back to my adoring Uncle in law!"
"And these three?"
Jack coughed into his fist and curtsied them for all of three seconds. " Slaves, of course! What else could we be? "
The taller one took a stomp towards, easily making the pirate flinch back with a squeal. "You dare to speak to us in such a tone, lowlife?" He snarled through the mask, his crossed arms looking more imposing than they did resting just a moment ago. " Your master should teach you to respect those on a higher level."
Nice going, Jack. Twilight swallowed nervously and attempted what she hoped was a very angry face, focusing it on the pirate as well. "Trust me, if...If my whip hadn't broken on the other three scumbags, I would gladly teach this one a thing or two!" For added effect, she kicked and landed a soft blow at the man's leg. Apparently the hit wasn't light enough, if his one legged dance and grumbled swears were any indication. "Er, show any more back talk like that, and it'll be worse for you, slave! Honestly, why my mother in law suggested I get one of his kind, I will never know. We should definitely get him back in--"
The larger soldier looked at her suddenly, eyes narrowed and readily staring into her soul. "I thought you said it was your uncle."
"...That's what I said, isn't it? Uncle?"
"Doesn't matter. This planet now belongs to us, and as a result, so do the five of you." He spoke with a straightened form, clearly disgusted with the lot of them. Twilight tensed up as the muzzle of his odd weapon was pressed against her forehead, just underneath her horn. "You'll be held with the others that live on this misshapen rock, until this planet is restor--!"
A tiny blur slammed directly into the soldier's head with a loud crack, slowing down enough afterwards to identify it as a familiar billy club. Knocked into unconsciousness, the second soldier scrambled to fire his ammunition, which seemed to consist of strange black zaps of energy. They watched, impressed as Daredevil soundly weaved under and over all of the bolts before crouching low and making a quick pounce at the soldier. With no time to react, he was tackled down and far too slow to protect his head from the sudden onslaught of punches. Twilight wasn't one for violence solving problems, but even she'd admit that the takedown was pretty cool.
"That was beautiful. Like some kind of male ninja ballerina." Harley gushed quietly, though greatly impressed by his fighting style. "Think you could teach me a few moves, DD?"
"Not on your life. And you," The man suddenly rounded on Twilight with an accusing finger and an exasperated voice. "Have you ever made a convincing lie in your life?"
"Well, I tried kicking Jack for effect!"
"Yes! About that, your highness!" The pirate captain limped in front of Twilight, and it was all the mare could do not to burst into laughter. " Maybe next time you could try not to take my leg clean off with a single kick, eh?"
She swallowed her giggles. "Uh, heh. Duly noted."
Rey circled the unconscious body with an air of suspicion, eyeing the masks and taking the visible weapons into account as well. "Back to the matter at hand," She said, tearing her eyes away from the bodies for now. "I guess we'll have to time them up to delay a warning to anymore of them down there. We could ask them questions when they wake up."
"No. They'll more than likely stall long enough for someone to come for them and us. " Daredevil proposed while pointing in the direction of the remains of the large city. "Not to mention a story from the eyes of the citizens would be more believable than whatever they cook up."
Godzilla huffed through his nostrils, glancing at Twilight after a long stare at the buildings below. The Alicorn nodded slowly and turned to translate his words to the team. " Godzilla says it might be a good idea split ourselves as we collect information. When we're done, we can meet up at the tallest building and relay what we learned. "
"Well, that sounds a good idea in my opinion!" Jack suddenly bellowed, making Twilight narrow her eyes at him. She couldn't shake the feeling that he had something planned. "Since we're all six in total, we can split up into groups of two! What say you, mates?"
Daredevil nodded at the idea, then turned his focus to the Jester next to him. "Harley and I will tie these two up, while Rey and...Godzilla can park the Falcon somewhere more hidden. That leaves you, Twilight, to go with Jack and start the search for answers."
"That sounds lovely! Let's get a move on, then horsie!" The pirate practically charged past her with an enthusiastic gait, motioning for the Princess to follow closely downhill. "Come on! Chop, Chop as they say!"
After attempting not to roll her eyes, Twilight gave a nod to the five that remained, though mostly Rey. "We'll meet you guys down there. Try not to draw attention yourselves."
Rey gave her a contagious, lopsided smirk. "Shouldn't you be telling Jack that?"
Twilight smiled back, but quickly galloped after Jack.
"They've definitely got numbers. No more than there are fish in the ocean, though. " Twilight's pirate compadre was thankfully keeping to the shadows of this city, in ways that she couldn't even believe. Past experience, perhaps, was the sole reason for him blending in so well. The pony felt as if she stuck out like a sore thumb. " or more than the population, for that matter. Fear's keepin 'em under their thumb. "
Twilight peered to the right; a few citizens moved hastily to the side as a small patrol of soldiers stomped past. They whispered something to each with similar looks of tiredness and worry before parting ways. "How can they not be? This city is crawling with them."
"Like an infestation." As Jack meandered past a cart full of alien food items, he plucked one that looked similar to an apple with an orange hue and whistled past the unsuspecting owner. His shorter partner, however, was not oblivious. "What? I haven't eaten since the other day."
"Just don't draw any attention to us. We don't need to be called thieves and thrown in jail...or worse." She slowed her trot when a trio of soldier suddenly marched out from a street corner, her head going lower. They didn't bat an eye at her or Jack, and thankfully continued on. "...It'd be nice if we knew what we were up against. Some information about what happened here--anything, really."
"Ha! Where do you think I've been leading us, mate?" Was the question that made Twilight suspicious and surprised. She hadn't realized it at first, but the pirate really had been leading her with his sneaky, small-talk ways. "We're going to the mother of all information, sure to give us what we need to know."
She perked up instant at that, holding a hoof to her excited grin. "The library?!"
He gave her a blank stare. "No the pub. That big building right in front of us. " He pointed at a mostly wooden structure, rectangular in shape and large enough house more than 200 ponies. Not that anypony would want to go inside a building that literally shook with yelling, laughter and crude music. "We go in that, and come out with more knowledge than kings!"
"What?! In some shady, crusty old bar where ponies...er, people waste their lives?" Something suddenly clicked in her head, and she took a repulsed step back. "Ugh! I see now. You just came here so you can get some kind of ale or...whatever it is you like to drink!"
"Rum, mate. And l'll have you know that rum calms my nerves. And so far, today has made me the most nervous I've ever been." Sparrow tilted his hat to her. "And don't tell me we won't learn even a little bit in that building, where no soldiers are around to twist facts. You know I'm right."
Her lips formed a deep frown. "I know that it's easy to get sidetracked or robbed or...worse in a place like that."
"Pfft! I know pubs like the back of my hand! That place," He was interrupted by a scream cut short inside the building. "...is completely harmless. And it's not like we can't defend ourselves against a few drunkards,eh?"
He was right, but only to some extent. They didn't know the rest, and it was a dangerous place to be. She'd heard of ponies being killed in bars, or growing some kind of drinking habit from being in a pub. And this wasn't even Equestria! The Alicorn rubbed her face, trying to look calm instead of worried. "...We go in. We get information. Then we leave. Immediately. No drinking."
"Who, me? You wound me, Princess." After patting the growling horse's head, he practically skipped his way to the front doors and whistled for her to do the same. "Come along then! We haven't got all day!"
When she'd reluctantly joined him on the front steps of the creepy Tavern, he pushed it open without any hint of worry or regret and sauntered in as if he was being welcomed into an old home. The inside of the bar was surprisingly similar to the medieval style of the bar back in Ponyville, if not bigger and dirtier. Things that looked like rats scurried away from the entrance into the dark shadows made by stools and benches.Tables were stationed perfectly across the creaking wooden floorboards, and filled seats blocked them almost entirely from view. When they'd only opened the doors, the occupants of the bar paid them no attention. But when they both waltzed in just a few steps more, all of the laughter and yelling and boisterous talking shrunk down to quiet noises.
"I don't know about this Jack. Maybe we should go somewhere else." Twilight didn't like the stares sent their way, or the cold feeling that made her fur feel clammy. " Like a library. Yeah, let's try a..."
Wait, where was Jack? Wasn't he standing right next to her a few seconds ago? "Jack? Jack! Jack, t-this isn't funny!" Twilight tried to call a little louder, but the constant gazing made her voice grow softer and softer. Blast that jerk of a pirate for leaving her alone, surrounded by people who looked like they'd escaped from prison a few minutes ago! And now she had to venture deeper to find said jerk and strangle him.
To her relief, the bar patrons farthest from her went back to their own business and the usual laughing and yelling continued. Those closest to her, made up of different types of alien species, stared a little too closely as she crept along the bare paths in the tavern. The worse part was when she walked past those that licked their teeth, or made kissing noises or were bold enough to make unmentionable comments on her flank. It completely baffled the mare how species entirely different from her could find her attractive enough to make catcalls, but for once in her life she didn't want to know how that worked. There had to be quicker way to solve this problem. Someone around here to be approachable.
If an approachable bar-goer was even possible.