//------------------------------//
// Chapter 5: Rue Process 
// Story: Homeward Bow 
// by Someguy458 
//------------------------------//

Bowlina was now running on fumes as she pushed the ship to its absolute limit.
"Come on... You can make it!"
Thunder rumbled nearby. She looked up and saw a dark cumulonimbus cloud ahead of her. "A storm?"
Then she gasped, remembering that moment.
"No, no, no, NO! Turn!” She tried futilely to steer the ship away, but it was useless; the ship was caught in the wind, and she was thrown back in the cabin, going unconscious.



Bowlina groaned as she got up. "I - I'm alive? Yes!" She then saw that the ship was absolutely devastated. "Oh no! The ship's broken!"
She phased out the door. "Where did I land?"
She looked around. "A beach made out of ice cream, a broken sign that says 'I've got this' next to a crater, and a piece of paper that says ‘Visual Gag’..."
She then realized: "Oh great, it's the land of overused jokes..."
She then heard a noise in the bushes. "Wait, what's that?"
She crept up to it, and found a very small and cute kitten. "Aww, it's so - wait a second, I know what this is. Don't give me that look! I know what you are!"
The kitten looked confused.
"Don't play dumb with me! You'll start off looking cute, then you’ll suddenly transform into some terrifying beast with razor-sharp teeth, blood-colored eyes, and who knows how many more atrocious features!"
The kitten now looked like it was trying to get her attention.
"WHAT?"
She felt warm breathing down her back. She looked up at the eyes of a ferocious beast with bloodshot eyes.
"Oh. I really should've seen that coming..."
And thus, the chase was on.



Ruby was now in the Ponyville Police station, hooked up to a lie detector.
"So... I'm going to ask you a few questions, and you're going to answer honestly." Sergeant said.
"Alright."
"First, some questions to calibrate the lie detector. Answer this dishonestly: What is your name?"
"Harriet Johnson"
*machine whirrs*
"Alright... Now answer this honestly: What color is my fur?"
"A light lavender, I think? Maybe lilac? It's hard to tell in this lighting."
*machine continues whirring*
"Okay, now on to the real questions. Why did you punch me in the eye?"
"I was panicking because the ship wouldn't stop its take-off, and you were getting grabby. I regretted doing it from the start."
*more whirring*
"Alright... Why did you go down into the sewers?"
"To find the airship so I could help Bowlina get home."
*you already know what I’m gonna say.*
"Okay... and how would you describe your relationship with this 'Bowlina'?"
"We weren't exactly friends, but we were helping each other. That is, until we had a falling-out. Now, I wouldn't be upset if I never saw her again."
*whirring*
"You're lying."
"What? I'm telling the truth! At least, I think I am!"
"The machine says otherwise, bucko."
"Does that mean that I'm lying to myself? That deep down inside, I know she's doing the best she can in this stressful situation, and… and that I wasn't completely in the right for throwing all the blame at her?"
"I guess it does."
"I really messed up, didn't I?”
“Well, you’re gonna have a while to think about that when you’re behind bars.”
She paused, then added, “Well, after due process.”
Sergeant then started to fill in some paperwork. Ruby sat back, but heard a distant rumble. “What's that noise?”
“I don’t hear anything.”
The rumbling grew louder.
Then Ruby realized that it was coming from the wall right behind Sergeant.
“Watch out!” she shouted, diving over and pulling her out of the way as the wall fell over onto where she'd just been.
Sergeant looked at the wall, then at Ruby.
Then they looked at the wall again, where a familiar face appeared.
“Well, well, well! We meet again!”
“Comic!? What the heck, dude?!”
“I was just thinking, and I finally realized: I’m never going to get your love!”
“Finally!” Ruby felt relieved.
“And then I thought, ‘If I can’t have her, then NOBODY CAN’.”
Ruby was intimidated, sure, but it was still Comic.
Then the renegades from Flamburg came in.
“The renegades from Flamburg?!”
“They used their one phone call to contact me, and they agreed to help me if I broke them out!”
“Obtenez-la! Et son ami flic, aussi! (Get her! And her cop friend, too!)”
“Run!” Ruby screamed, and they bolted out the door and into the hall.
“What’s up with these guys?!” Sergeant panted.
“Comic didn’t get a date with me and hates me for it, and the renegades are seeking revenge after we threw them in jail.”
“Oh.”
“We need the upper hoof, but how? Don’t you have a gun?” she asked Sargeant.
“No, because this is a kids’ show. Even if I did, I couldn't pull the trigger.”
“Wait a second, where’s Pan?”
“He’s in holding cell B.”
They ran to the cell block, where he was practicing harmonica. He stopped and asked, “Ruby? Cop lady? What’s going on?”
“The enemies we stopped have come back for revenge, and we need your help!” Sergeant began to search through her keys. “Hurry!”
“I’m going as quickly as I can! It’s really hard to search through a set of keys with hooves!”
“Uh, girls?”
They looked up and saw that he'd phased out of the cell.
“Oh right…”
They then exited the building, the baddies a bit behind them (as they were slowed down by other officers trying in vain to stop them).
“Alright, what’s the plan?” Pan asked.
“Are there any animals nearby?” Ruby asked Sergeant.
She thought for a moment. "Fluttershy's animal sanctuary!"
Pan asked, “Wait, are you gonna -?”
“Yes.”
“But what about your morals?”
“Desperate times call for desperate measures.”
They dashed out of town, arriving at it.
And the first animal they saw?
“Pokios… how fitting.”
Ruby took Pan in her hoof and eyed it.
"Sorry about this..."
She threw him.
.......
She opened her eyes and felt out her new body. “Wow! This feels amazing! And look at how cute I am!”
“Uh, Ruby?” Pan interrupted her.
“Oh, right: focus.”



The four baddies arrived.
“Where'd she go?” Comic demanded.
“Right here!” Ruby called out from her perch atop the small cliff-face.
“You turned yourself into a bird?!” Comic and the others burst out laughing at the sight. "And you guys thought me making an -Inator was ridiculous!”
“This bird may look cute, but she packs a mean peck!”
She pecked the ground and slingshotted herself into the renegades, knocking them over. She then extended her beak and spun around, sending everyone flying back. Sergeant even got in on the fight, incapacitating Comic and radioing for backup.
“Battre en retraite! (Retreat!)” shouted the leader of the Flamburg renegades shouted.
“Wait! Where do you think you’re going!?” Comic shouted after them.
“Nous ne nous sommes pas inscrits pour cela! (We did NOT sign up for this!)”
“This isn’t over, Ruby! I’ll be back someday! You’ll see!” Comic screamed as Sergeant's backup arrived and arrested him.
“Now, let’s find Bowlina!” Ruby exclaimed.
“How’ll we do that? We don’t have a vehicle!” Pan asked.
“Actually…”