Friendship Force!

by Chrome Masquerade


Cold Storage - Edited

Following the directions given to her by her old acquaintance -surely now in prison, with any luck at all-, Groundskeeper hopped from rooftop to rooftop when possible. Since she was only on each for a few steps -depending on the building-, she beat a quick and relatively stealthy path to her destination.

Stopping a few blocks away, her ears perked as she heard voices. Not being close enough to make them out, she advanced a little further.

'There it is!' she thought, spotting her destination. 'Fer a bit there, Ah thought that Ah'd have to "reinforce" ma point with Connor.'

Picking her way over carefully, she noticed some guards on the rooftops closer to her target. 'Ah'm not big on stealth tactics, but in a fix like this, Ah'mma make an exception. But Ah'mma hafta do this careful-like.'

Feeling her connection to the earth, she encouraged the growth of a vine along the nearest building. When it had encroached close enough to the aloof guards, she Asked it to ensnare them quickly, which took them completely by surprise and slung them over the side of the building, safely dispatched, but alive.

She made her way along carefully, taking out each group of guards she came across before moving on. Eventually she spotted Chokov talking to some of the guards.

"The payload is squared away, boss. The plan is going perfectly."

"Excellent." Chokov said. "Carry on."

"Uh, boss?" one of the guards queried, "What do you have planned for that thing anyway?"

"That is for me to know and for you NOT to know. Needless to say, above your pay grade. Keep asking and you might find yourself replaced with someone who won't. Am I clear?" Chokov snarled defensively.

The man gulped. "Like glass, boss."

"Good. Carry on. I'll be moving to the hideout shortly." Chokov finished, turning away.

Just then, Groundskeeper heard a voice behind her. "Hey! Who are you?"

'Dangitall! Ah've been spotted!' she thought to herself before turning sharply, cuffing the spotter and KO'ing him immediately.

Shortly thereafter, more guards gathered to impede her progress, drawing their guns.

"Ah don't have TIME for this!" Groundskeeper snarled through her teeth, moving as quickly as she could to dodge the gunfire.

Suddenly, a new voice called out, "You look like you could use some help, friend!"

A force field surrounded each of the guards' guns and yanked them away, allowing Groundskeeper and the newcomer to take the disarmed men down in short order, leaving them groaning on the ground.

Alas, by that time, Chokov had escaped.

Groundskeeper made her frustration known. "Arrgh! He got away. Again!"

The newcomer said, "We make a good team, it appears."

"That we do, but the real villain still escaped. Ah'm Applejack, by th'way; Groundskeeper."

"Applejack, eh? Sounds strangely familiar, somehow. Archmage. Call me Twilight. Worry not, friend. for this one knows his location, I can tell." Twilight said, magically raising one of the more lucid men.

"I ain't telling you freaks nothin'!" the man said, crossing his arms with some effort.

"So you think." Twilight said, before her horn started glowing in an orange hue. "By the Element of Honesty, tell us what you know."

The man resisted for a moment, but said in a monotone voice, "Chokov. He went to our hideout on Liberty Lane." and he then fell unconscious.

"No time t'lose, friend!" Groundskeeper said. "Let's mosey!"