//------------------------------//
// Chapter 4 
// Story: Road to Riches 
// by Makin' Cupcakes 
//------------------------------//

	"We didn't do anything!" Half-Pence spat into the face of the guard that was prosecuting her. The constable wiped his face with a nearby dishcloth.
"Prince Blueblood has given you a small amount of money. Hand over the bag. Now." The guard was so unwavering it was nearly scary.
"We can always run," Half-Pence whispered. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but I had only realized that there were four more guards surrounding to door. We couldn't possibly outrun all of them, but there was no other choice.
"Go," I called, and at the same time, Half-Pence had thrown her chair at one of the guards. We bolted over the table, the hooves of the officials brushing helplessly at our sides. Tables were being tipped over by the pursuing guards, only to make more obstacles for the ones behind. I turned to the front, seeing a line of the four officials blocking our way. It was hopeless, I thought. And soon enough, I was right. One guard had picked me up by the shoulders. The other guard had some trouble grabbing Half-Pence. She kicked and struggled, only landing soft punches on her opponent's chest.
"Ugh," the guard that had been hit with a chair was just now getting up. "Take them them to the chariot." He had a large cut above his cheek, and he probably didn't seem to notice it.
The two guards that had grabbed us were now dragging Half-Pence carelessly across the pavement. Every single pony that was on that road was taking notice to our helplessness. There were looks of disgrace from nearly all of their faces. I wouldn't blame them. If somepony gave our town a bad reputation, I wouldn't be so happy either.
We were flung into the back of a gated chariot with 4 other troublemakers. I knew most of them. One of them was nicknamed "Light-Hooves," but was caught stealing from an old hag near her grave. But that was two months ago, why would he just now be getting punished? I didn't know any of the other criminals in the cart, though, but Half-Pence was looking like she was going to burst from either all the rage she had or all the questions she had built up to know about the other occupants.


***


The next 72 hours were the worst of my life.
After a few minutes of being hauled off to prison, Half-Pence had finally asked a mare why she had been caught. She just shrugged off the question like it had been a filly asking. She turned to the next passenger and eagerly asked. "The guards found me trying to steal a chariot. If they hadn't been looking for others, I would have stolen that chariot and been halfway to Fillydelphia."
She swapped looks with Light Hooves. "Hey, I know you. You owned that-"
"Shh!" he interrupted. "It's bad enough I've been caught stealing, don't mention," he turned around to see if the guards in the front were paying any attention, "the organization."
That's right. There was a small pickpocket gang led by him months ago. Their headquarters were swarming with the homeless, and when they abandoned, they never reassembled. Shame, it had been Half-Pence's dream to join that group. I had told her the gang was too unorganized, and when it collapsed, she had just said, "They weren't cut out for me, anyways.
Half-Pence turned and urged the next occupant to tell what had landed him a third-class ticket to imprisonment. "I've been down this trail too many, times. It might just be my last." There was a long, awkward silence. 
"That didn't answer my question," Half-Pence blurted.
"I'm sorry," replied the gray-maned pony. "I got sent here for breaking and entering a home."
"Why," I asked, "to steal?"
"No, I wanted to see a an old friend. But you're just fillies, you wouldn't understand."
At that point, it looked like he was going to cry. He took out a worn photo from his pocket and stared at it the rest of the trip to Canterlot.


***


Canterlot wasn't what I expected. I thought I would be seeing a small, stone stronghold like what I've seen from books we'd rummaged out of a library. But it was more magnificent than that.
The sunlight rising over the buildings and pillars in the massive kingdom sprayed over the rich green land. The mountainous landscape added to the scenic view that would soon be our eternal prison.
"Alright," the guard in front had said wearily, "get in line, all of you."
I had finally been able to stretched my limbs after 3 days. The relaxation was abruptly dampened as the guards nudged us out from the other side.
After 2 minutes of getting out and walking on land, the guards had spoken up. "Line up, alphabetical order."
I had leaped behind Half-Pence, who had situated herself in the front. The other passengers stood dumbfounded. The official pushed them into line and started the long march up the mountain to the castle of Canterlot.