//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: My little Pony: Rise of the Arcadia // by Geek Crossing //------------------------------// -With prince Blueblood in his study at the castle- “Damn that Fetlock!!!” Blueblood cursed loudly as he tossed his bottle of liquor at the wall nearly missing his butlers head. It had been years since Fetlock had arrived in Equestria and became a massive thorn in Blueblood’s flank. He amassed a crew consisting of the Elements of Harmony and a few of the populous of that hick town of Ponyville among others across Equestria that shared the belief that the nobles were corrupt and only sought to benefit themselves. “Sir, perhaps you should-“ his Butler began. “Be silent, Alfred, and get me another bottle!” Blueblood yelled and sat in his chair his head in his hands. “R-right away sir.” Alfred said before exiting the office quickly. ’How? How do I deal with him once and for all? He has the Elements on his side for Faust’s sake!!’ Blueblood thought bitterly, then an idea came to him, ’Of course! That little filly of his!’ he then called for Alfred. “Yes, sir?” Alfred said entering the room with the bottle Blueblood asked for and setting it on the desk. “That filly with the black coat and blue cat-like eyes? What’s her name again?” Blueblood asked. “I believe her name is Nyx, sir.” Alfred said. “Yes her! Send for Shining Armor and have him meet me here. I have a plan for dealing with Fetlock.” -At an observatory in Canterlot- Night Light and his son, Shining Armor, observed the stars seeing a massive black sphere approaching the planet Equis. “What do you think it is dad?” Shining Armor asked. “I’m not sure son, but whatever it is, it doesn’t bode well.” Night Light said. Then a guard knocked on the door to the observatory and stepped in. “Excuse me, Captain, prince Blueblood wishes to see you at the castle sir” the guard pony said. “Ugh, probably about Fetlock as usual. Alright I’ll be there thank you.” Shining Armor said then the guard exited the room, “sorry Dad but duty calls.” “I understand son, I’ll be here if you need me.” Night light said smiling to his son. Shining Armor hugged his father before taking his leave. -Above Equis in the Arcadia- “Captain, are you sure it’s safe to visit her at this moment?” Twilight Sparkle asked. “Twilight my love, you know the kind of life Nyx lives with us here in space. I have to make sure she’s alright.” Fetlock said before going up to the wheel of the ship and pressing the “instant transport” button and beaming down to the surface, to Ponyville. After he discovered that the rumors for the execution of the Princesses were true by disguising himself as a common thug by gathering clothing from different homes in Ponyville and cobbling them together and traveling cross country on hoof while he infiltrated the seedy underbelly of Equis’ criminal underworld and learned their trade and tactics, he rescued ponies and other species who were brought into slave trade, brothels, abusive homes, and other such vile acts across the country while leaving calling cards of a black skull and crossbones like the one on his coat front with the messages “Viva Libertas Equis!” And “down with Canterlot nobility!” He quickly amassed his crew from the rescued who wished to serve him, willingly mind you he never forced anyone to join his ranks, and made a name for himself as the “Loyal Dog of the Princesses” which served to anger the nobility of Canterlot and demand for his head on a pike or have him locked in Tartarus for “Crimes against the Crown” to which Princess Celestia and Luna denied such claims as to his existence as no actual evidence was gathered other than said calling cards and even those where deemed as fake due to the common stock paper used by the majority of the populace and were so inexpensive to make tracing said cards were next to impossible to do as there were no fingerprints on said cards or any incriminating evidence such as mane follicles, magic residue, etc. so legally the nobility had no leg to stand on. Fetlock, dressed as a common earthpony, walked along the roads of Ponyville towards Sweet Apple Acres, home of the Apple family and his ships co-chief culinary officer and chief CQC officer, Applejack and his Daughter Nyx, who lives with said family while He, Twilight, and the rest of the mane six travel throughout Equis and her neighboring planets and asteroids gathering supplies and liberating the world from the control of the nobility. He hated leaving her while he and her mother, Twilight, were trying to free the ponies of Equestria In the very land he had multiple enemies in, but he told her that it was better for her to live a normal life on Equis and make friends than live in space and in constant danger. Nyx, reluctantly, understood and fortunately lived with her friend, Applebloom, and her family and they gave her a wonderful home and Fetlock visited as often as he could spare. As he walked up the path to said property he smiled as he heard the giggling of four fillies as they played in the yard with a ball. “Ok Nyx, here it comes!” Came Applebloom’s voice as she bopped the ball with her head and in the Alicorn filly’s direction. The ball sailed towards said filly and she was just about to catch it when the figure of a tan stallion with a brown mane caught her eye. “Dad? Daddy!!” Nyx cried happily and ran towards the stallion, who picked her up in his arms and laughed hugging her tight. “Hello my moon flower, how you been?” Fetlock asked his adopted offspring. “I’m fine, daddy, but I miss you and mom so much when you’re not here. When will you be home again?” Nyx asked, her smile quickly becoming a frown. “Sweet pea, you know mommy and daddy do a lot of work trying to give other ponies and other creatures the freedom they deserve without the oppression of the Nobles. I promise once they are properly dealt with we will come home.” Fetlock said before setting her on the ground. Just then the rest of the CMC came up and smiled, with Scootaloo asking, “why can’t you use the Arcadia to blast them? Wouldn’t that be easier?” “Indeed it would be easier, Scootaloo, but it wouldn’t be right. I can’t just sick my guns on the nobles and force them to surrender as that would put innocent ponies and the Princesses in danger. In order for me and my crew to win we have to infiltrate their network and make our way into the heart of the problem in Canterlot. The nobles influence everything and everyone in Equestria and have many followers. I know it’s a slow process but it’s like a great pony from my home world once said, “a house divided against itself cannot stand.” You understand?” Fetlock explained. “Yeah I guess so.” Scootaloo said, “still sucks tho!” “Watch your mouth little filly..don’t make me tell Rainbow Dash about your language.” Fetlock said warningly. “Sorry sir.” Scootaloo said ashamedly. “Good. Now I can’t stay long but I wanted to give you this Nyx. Happy birthday.” Fetlock said before reaching into his pocket and taking out an oval like instrument with holes in it and a rectangular mouth piece. “An ocarina!! Oh thank you daddy! I love it!” Nyx said taking said instrument and marveling at its craftsmanship. It was colored a midnight blue with her cutie mark, a shield with a crescent moon, in gold leaf at the base of the neck of the mouth piece. “You’re welcome dear. Have you been practicing like I told you to?” He asked her. “Yeah! I have been every day! Want to listen? I’ve gotten really good!” Nyx asked. “I’d love to.” Fetlock said before sitting on the ground and watching. Nyx slowly put the ocarina to her lips and began to play. As the song ended a pair of hands clapped behind Fetlock and a voice was heard. “Very beautiful song. Shame it will be the last one you hear after your incarceration.” A white unicorn with a blonde mane and tail said grinning devilishly. “Blueblood. What an unexpected surprise! To what do I owe this grand visitation?” Fetlock said standing and giving a mock bow. “Spare me your sarcasm, Fetlock! You are hereby under arrest for criminal acts against the Crown. Captain restrain him!” Blueblood said to which captain Shining Armour stepped foreword and said, “you heard him men.” And two guardsponies grabbed Fetlock by both arms while Shining stepped foreword and placed a pair of cuffs on him saying, “I’m sorry.” “No! You can’t arrest him! Let my daddy go!” Nyx said trying to help Fetlock before the CMC stopped her. “It’ll be alright Nyx. Be good for Granny Smith and Big Mac you hear me?” Fetlock said to her to which she could only watch with tear filled eyes as the guard walked him towards Blueblood and stopped. “I’ve waited a long time for this.” Blueblood said sneering before slapping Fetlock across the face. Fetlock only looked at him with a confident smirk as blood dripped from the cut across his cheek. Then the guards took him to the chariot and once Blueblood and Shining Armor were in they took off.