//------------------------------// // Chapter 61 // Story: Unshaken // by The 24th Pegasus //------------------------------// Agree: 8 Votes “I think it sounds like a mighty fine idea,” Kestrel said, nodding in agreement. While the political aspirations behind Starlight’s scheme meant nothing to her, the possibility of an enormous payday from striking at the factories and companies of the Apple Conglomerates was too good to pass up. “Lead the way, Starlight.”  The aspiring communist wasted no time in bounding across the square toward the bar on the other side. “This way. Come on! The equine condition is not something that will right itself!” Kestrel and Tumbleweed shot each other a look, shook their heads, and followed in her wake. “If nothin’ else, least it’ll be a fun story to tell the Gang,” Tumbleweed said. “So long as you ain’t thinkin’ ‘bout runnin’ for office,” Kestrel said. “Way to advertise to the Pinks that we’re here in Hoofston.” “Why, they wouldn’t dare take down a fairly elected representative of the people, would they?” The stallion snickered and held the door to the bar open with his magic, letting Kestrel step inside first. “It’ll just show them I’ve turned over a new leaf.” “Uh huh.” Kestrel took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the comparative darkness of the bar’s interior, and she saw Starlight waving them over to a table at the corner of the tavern. Making her way over, Kestrel gathered up her skirt with mild frustration as she slid into the seat across from Starlight, doing her best to smooth it back down and not let her wings ruffle at the oppressive fabric clinging to her and restricting her movement. “Some place,” she commented, idly looking around to try and divert attention away from her awkwardness. “I ain’t get the chance to go into town much.” “Is that why you need disguises?” Starlight said, eyes seeming to tear through the illusions on the two ponies across from her. Tumbleweed froze in place, halfway into this seat. “Disguises?” he asked her. “Whatever do you mean?” Starlight uses Scholar (8) to accurately identify the magic on Tumbleweed and Kestrel: Critical Success “Oh, please, I wasn’t born yesterday. Whoever put those illusions on you did it quite sloppily.” Her eyes seemed to peel away Kestrel’s illusory skin with ease, and her wingtip brushed against the holster of the revolver she had tucked under her dress. “I had several years of formal schooling at a mage academy before I spent a few summers overseas. I can recognize when a spell isn’t put together efficiently. That’s a showmare’s illusion, not a true ‘disguise self’ spell. After a moment, Tumbleweed finally finished sitting down with deliberate caution. “Very astute observation,” he said, carefully measuring his words. “I trust we ain’t gonna do anythin’ rash now, right?” “Depends on who you are and why you approached me,” Starlight said, eyes narrowing down her muzzle. “Tell me straight or I’ll have to wring it out of you; are you working with the capitalists, and is this just another setup to try and make me stop?” Kestrel turned to Tumbleweed, eyebrow raised. She didn’t dare say anything—not yet, at least. Honeyed words and negotiations were Tumbleweed’s strength, not hers. After a moment, Tumbleweed relaxed and slouched back in his seat some, hooves behind his head. “Well, Starlight, it seems we have somethin’ in common, then,” he said. When Starlight cocked her head to the side, he elaborated. “The Apple Conglomerates, Miss Belle, well, they don’t like us none. We’ve been known to rob and steal from ‘em in the past. Now, Hoofston’s a big city, which means there’s eyes and ears all over the place. I think you’d agree it’s hard for wanted ponies to make their way through a town like this freely, in their own skin, and not have somepony recognize them.” Starlight seemed to consider this some, and then a sly smile rooted itself on her muzzle. “Yes, that does make sense. Well, if you’re no friends of the capitalists, then I think we will make excellent allies. Sometimes, in the spirit of revolution, we must get our hooves dirty to bring about the changes we want to see in society. Those in power never want to let go of it once they have it.” Tumbleweed merely nodded along. “So we’ve seen,” he said, glancing sideways at Kestrel. “Now, I’m gonna be honest with you, Starlight. We’re hardly revolutionaries ourselves. We’re just in it for the money. But despite all that, you’ve led me to believe that we might be able to come to a mutually beneficial arrangement.” “Yes, I believe we may.” Starlight leaned in a little closer, prompting Kestrel and Tumbleweed to do the same. “As luck would have it, a few members of the Apple family are coming into Hoofston this weekend,” she said. “These are the fat cats that run Equestria’s biggest industries. They have more wealth than the poorest half of the nation combined. Their presence here has given me a couple of good ideas to send a message and empower the workers of Hoofston to be the birthplace of a new revolution.” While that claim seemed dubious at best, Kestrel did her best to not show her thoughts on her face. “And those ideas are…?” “We have to show the workers in the factories that the bourgeoisie are not invincible,” Starlight said. “Which means we have to hurt them in some way. One idea I had was too try and take over a factory and get the workers to rally out from under the nose of that tycoon, Applejack. Another was to go after her sister and get a ransom for her. That money could go a long way in funding the growth of the equality movement in Equestria.” “Ain’t her sister still a filly?” Tumbleweed asked her. “She’s twelve,” Starlight said with a nod. “But no harm would come to her. After all, I’m sure the Conglomerates would pay quite handsomely out of their pockets to make sure that stays true.” “And what if we ain’t all that interested in startin’ an uprisin’ or foalnappin’ a filly?” Kestrel asked, frowning at Starlight. “Any plans where somepony ain’t gonna get hurt?” “Honor among thieves, then?” Starlight shrugged. “Well, Applejack and her family are holding a big event outside of the city next week where they’re debuting some of their newest inventions. Crashing that event will humiliate them, and you’ll probably find some interesting things to take. I heard they were supposed to be debuting a new prototype flying machine there, something that can fly under its own power instead of relying on hot air and wind currents like a balloon.” “Now what in Celestia’s name would we get out of stealin’ a flyin’ machine?” Tumbleweed asked. “Not sure, but you look resourceful and capable. Maybe somepony will buy it off of you.” Starlight leaned back into her seat and gestured toward the bar to order a round of drinks. “Whatever we do, it has to be big enough to make a fool out of the Conglomerates, show the workers of Equestria that the capitalists can be beat. That’s the first step in bringing about equality for all; you have to show people they can win before they’re willing to play the game.” Kestrel chewed on her lip as she thought through each of the scenarios. “They’re all pretty dangerous,” she said. “Lotta unknowns.” “I’ll be working with you to try and sort things out,” Starlight said with a grin as three beers arrived at their table. “I mostly need capable help, not thinkers, and given what we know about each other…” She let the rest hang unsaid, underscoring the tenuous alliance between revolutionary and outlaw at the table. “Right,” Tumbleweed said, taking his mug of beer in his magic. “But if it’s my ponies who are gonna be riskin’ life and limb for this, then we get to make the choice on what we do.” “Go ahead,” Starlight said with a dismissive gesture. “All three should help out the cause equally enough.” Kestrel pulled her beer closer and frowned into the white froth bubbling around the mouth of the mug. 1.     Start a worker’s rally. Gettin’ the workers of the factories to band together and march on outta there should be simple enough. Might be able to dig through the offices once we’re done, though who knows how much we’ll come across there. 2.     Kidnap Applejack’s sister. Foalnappin’s dirty stuff, but Applejack is one of the richest ponies in Equestria. Imagine the ransom she’d pay to have her sweet sister returned back to her safe and sound. 3.     Crash the Conglomerates’ Conference. Who knows what we’ll find at that conference? Might be able to come across somethin’ worth our time, though a high profile event like that’s bound to have good security. 4.     Back out. On second thought…