//------------------------------// // Chapter 5 // Story: An Equestrian Metro // by MrAwesome343 //------------------------------// Chapter 5 Taro woke up in a small jail to a pair of voices. It slowly came to him what the two were saying. They were talking about him and a cellmate that he apparently had. “...believe that this one is from the Solar Republic. The one over there may just be a stalker or of neutral party,” said one of them. Taro sat up. His hands were tied behind his back tight with a thick rope. “What were you doing crossing the tundra, Solar?” asked the second man. “I wouldn’t reveal my secrets to the likes of you! Not for a million bullets!” defended the alleged Solar soldier. “Well I suppose we have no business with you.” The second guard held up a shiny pistol. “Wait, can’t we...” The first guard was interrupted by a loud shot. “No, we can’t.” The man moved on to Taro. “And what of you?” “I was crossing with my friends. Where are they?” Taro replied. “Who?” asked the guard with the pistol. “Rainbow Dash first of all, and I know you have her because I recognize that gun anywhere.” Taro answered, looking down at the gun, which barred the symbol of his daring friend. “I grabbed this gun from the weapon room this morning. It is a coincidence that you know it. I think you'll find that WE are the ones asking questions. Now, did the Order of the Crystal Empire send you?” “Of course they didn’t,” answered the first guard. “They sent me.” The guard pulled out a trench knife and cut the guard’s neck. “That ought to teach you to send spies of your own.” The guard cut Taro’s hands free. “There you go. Ignore the blood.” “Why are you helping me?” Taro asked, grabbing the pistol the interrogator had, as well as all of his pistol ammo. “I’m from the Order of the Crystal Empire. We do not hurt stalkers. My name is Sombra, by the way.” “Taro.” They shook hands. “Now, where are my friends?” “Rainbow Dash? Sounds like a woman, which may mean some trouble,” Sombra replied, opening the door. “Why’s that?” Taro asked, walking out and reloading Rainbow Dash’s pistol. “This is a ruthless military base. Why do you think?” Taro and Sombra snuck through the halls of the base, killing the guards that got in their way. “It shouldn’t be too much farther.” The duo turned down a long empty hall. “Get off of me!” shouted a familiar voice. “What, you too good for me?” a man’s voice screamed back. “I’ve earned this, now sit back you bitch and let me...” “Phthew!” “Aw! Disgusting! You just spit in my mouth!” the guard yelled. “Yeah, that’s Rainbow in there,” Taro whispered. “Now you’re really gonna pay!” A small tear was heard through the door. “My turn,” Taro said. He shot the lock on the door and kicked it open, promptly shooting the abusive guard in the head. “Oh thank God,” Rainbow Dash sighed, wrapping her arms around Taro. “You okay, Dash?” Taro asked, examining her. The collar of her T-shirt was ripped from her neck to her armpit, curving toward her chest. “I can’t say I’ve had a worse experience,” she replied, sighing again. “What about this guard, you expect a promotion too?” “No, he’s from the Order, he helped me escape and rescue you. Oh, and I believe this is yours.” Taro handed Rainbow Dash her gun. “The guard was about to shoot me with it.” “Keep it until we get out of here, where’s Pinkie Pie?” Rainbow replied. “Pinkie Pie? Your other friend is named Pinkie Pie?” Sombra asked, worried. “Yeah, why?” Taro answered. “That wanted poster might answer your question.” Sombra pointed to a picture of Pinkie Pie in the back of the room. “What? Wanted: Pinkamina Pie for mutiny and insubordination?” Taro read. “How did you not notice that?” “I was a little busy at the time!” Rainbow Dash answered. “Who cares, let’s go, she’s most likely in the gallows. Follow me!” Sombra interrupted them. Passing a few guards and taking several short cuts through some vents, the three of them dropped into a small room. “Alright, gallow is only a little further.” “Who’s there?” asked a guard, entering the room. Sombra quickly grabbed Taro and Rainbow Dash and put their arms behind their backs. “Just got a few more prisoners for the noose,” Sombra said, taking the two out of the room. “Oh, don’t worry about this one,” the Lunar guard said, dragging Rainbow Dash aside. “I can deal with her really quick.” “Ugh, not again...” Rainbow Dash sighed, getting taken off to the side. Taro swiped Sombra’s knife from his belt and stabbed the guard through the back, letting him fall to the floor, limp. “I’m getting really tired of being the damsel in distress,” Rainbow Dash complained. “How do you think Pinkie Pie feels?” Taro replied. “Pinkamina Pie, you are charged with mutiny and insubordination. Sentence, hanging. Any final words?” the guard asked. Pinkie already had her noose around her neck. “A couple. Let’s see which work. Can’t you take a joke?” The guard didn’t budge. “Okay, um... It was two years ago?” Nothing. “Well that’s all I’ve got.” The door burst open. “Hold the noose, I’ve got a couple more,” the man said, throwing in two people. Taro and Rainbow Dash. Pinkie Pie looked at them with concern, but the two of them looked back at her, smirking. “What two new hangings, I heard nothing about such a thing,” Pinkie Pie’s executioner replied. “Well explain why I have a notice from Commander Luna herself?” asked Sombra. “Where?” “It’s right here.” Sombra showed the guard a clipboard with several sheets of paper on it. “Where?” the executioner asked again. “It’s right THERE!” Sombra smacked the executioners head down onto the clipboard, with Taro shooting a bullet through his head. Rainbow Dash jumped up and cut Pinkie free of her leash. “You okay?” Rainbow Dash asked her, Taro walking up next to Rainbow. “I’m fine. What happened to you? Why’s your shirt torn?” Pinkie Pie asked. “I don’t want to talk about,” Rainbow Dash responded. “It doesn’t matter anyway, Sombra, lead us to the weapons cache and out of here,” Taro instructed. “Can do.” A short walk later, the three of them had their equipment loaded up and stood at the exit to the base. “To get to Ponyville from here, take this tunnel through Octobreskaya. Go up to the surface for about a half, maybe quarter day and continue north until you find the entrance to Dodge Station. Go through the tunnel on the other side of the trolley and you’ll make it there in less than three hours. As for Venice, go out the tunnel near the trading post and take the first branch to the left. Take a long walk through there and you’ll make it. You’ll pass some camps of other people along the way, so sleeping arrangements shouldn’t be too much of an issue. Good luck.” Sombra shut the door and the three of them started their trek once again.