Twilight’s house was in the higher class section of the sprawling city. A medium sized townhouse that just about managed to contain the hundreds upon hundreds of books Twilight owned. Shining sat slightly uncomfortably on her couch while Twilight took a bath. She had nearly been in tears the whole taxi ride home. A mixture of betrayal from her oldest friend and anger at Shining for possibly pulling a prank and then back to being upset.
Like any guest in a house where the host is occupied in a private matter, Shining was a little stuck. He was always welcome at his little sister’s home but last time he had visited he’d had a group of “the boys” in tow and somewhat unintentionally disrupted her library system. He knew that even one thing out of place would be noticed and mean disaster.
Sadly, it is well known that idle hands are the devil’s playthings. He found a tennis ball in a bowl on the side table next to his seat. A little game of throwing it up and catching it could do no harm…
-*-
Twilight was soaking in her tub, the heavenly scent of lavender filled the steamy air, bubbles piled high atop the water in the old fashioned porcelain tub. Some even splatted to the floor beside the cast iron legs. With only her head un-submerged, Twilight was perfectly able to hear the crash of something in her living room. “Shining, can’t you even visit once without disturbing something?” She sighed and left the bath, wrapping herself in a large purple bath towel before the soap suds finished sliding off and she lost their insulation from the comparatively colder air.
-*-
The coat stand had fallen. Through some freak of something, the tennis ball had lost his catch and bounced from the floor to hit the loaded stand. It overbalanced. Shining guessed he had about five minutes to reload it before Twilight came down. Coats, umbrellas and hats flew through the air in urgent purple magic. A high crown pith helmet was spinning on the hook just as the door creaked open. “Twily!” Shining turned, arms open wide and smiling.
“At least you picked it up after dropping it, BBBFF.” She was using a spell to dry her hair and was dressed for bed. For a moment, Shining was struck by how his sister had grown up to resemble their mother just as he looked like their father. A little sadness pulled at his smile.
“Yeah, ah… Tennis mishap.” He waved a hand to dismiss the past. “Are you feeling better?” He returned to the couch and Twilight sat beside him, laying her head against his shoulder.
“Hmmm, I suppose. That map was such a lead though. I wish I had made a copy or at least a quick sketch before we showed it to Cadence.” She sighed again and wrapped an arm around his. “She brought up mum and dad twice though…” Twilight trailed off. “I really thought that this could be my big break… Something to say I am Twilight Sparkle, not Twily Sparkle who is tagging along on her parents reputation… I, I wanted to do something they’d be proud of.”
Shining gripped her hand. “They’d be proud of you little sis’.” He chuckled, “Not sure about me though. And Cadey… Cadey cares about you. She doesn’t want to see you hurt.”
“Hmmm,” Twilight snuggled against her brother a moment, she was feeling drained and tired. Though her mind still went over everything that happened instead of resting. An idea struck. “Shining?”
“Yes Twily?”
“Where did you really get that map?” One of the last things Cadence had said was echoing through her mind ‘probably from whatever drunks Shining was trying to play cards with’. “I mean, a book? Really?” She pulled back from lying against him and looked him dead in the eye.
“Ah… uh… Maybe not quite a bookshop?” Shining attempted a winning smile. “It, ah, it did fall from a book.” He tugged at his collar, growing warmer under his sister’s baleful gaze.
“Shining?”
“Ok… ah. Heh. It came from a book in the possession of a rather um, irate young woman in the Dive this afternoon?” Shining chuckled nervously. “She was quite vexed and more than a little, ah, sozzled at the time. Kept rambling on about that place you always speak about.” Shining’s smile wilted under Twilight’s glare.
“Shining, did you, as it were, steal the map?” Twilight looked at him. She really did resemble their mother he decided. Shining was put in mind of the time he’d decided a bucket of frogs would make excellent pets or the one where the entire packet of backing soda went into a pan full of vinegar in the kitchen.
“No! Of course not. I just, ah, picked it up as she was being carted off by the guards for heresy…” His grin was more of a gurn now, or a death rictus.
“Do you know what this means Shining?” Twilight seemed to be brightening up.
“No?” He hazarded.
“Someone knows how to get to the Flare Prison. We can collect her and she can lead us there!” Her eyes gleamed.
“She will be in a prison cell of her own though…” Shining said, “Heresy is quite a serious charge.”
Twilight waved a hand in dismissal. “Not if I say she’s contracted to me as an archive assistant or whatever. Heresy comes up from non-scientific mention of the old-times, if I snap her up for the museum everything she does is now for science, even when drunk.” Twilight tapped her fingers in glee. “First thing tomorrow we go to the gaol and fetch her.” She stood up and made to leave the room. “Goodnight BBBFF!”
Shining waved goodnight before suddenly realising he’d be left to sleep on the couch. “Ah, Twily? Where can I sleep?” A shower of blankets teleported to his head shut him up.
-*-
The next morning brother and sister made their way through the busy city to the gaol. It was housed in one of the many old forts that had given the city its name. A tall walled polygon with a strong gatehouse and towers at each corner. The armed and uniformed guards waved them through quickly and one of the officers led them to the holding cell areas.
“She’s been loud but inactive until anyone approaches.” The lieutenant said, standing the pair near a fenced area.
“Unimpressed with the heresy charge. She’s been smacking anyone who gets anywhere near. You know the charge for real heresy is hanging.”
Twilight gave a strained laugh. “Oh, it shouldn’t be a problem, she’s my, ah, new assistant archivist.” She grinned slightly madly, “Just got into the city and my darling brother.” She elbowed Shining who put on a smile. “Lost track of her as she celebrated her new job…” She waved a letter at the officer and handed it over.
He took a rummage through the papers and found the rather hefty clump of monetary notes concealed within. “I see, these seem to be in order.” He pocketed the billfold, “Bring her out boys!”
The door opened up with a slam and a struggling sky-born woman with a shock of brightly coloured hair was pulled out. “Get offa me!” She kicked out and pulled at the shackles. Her magic-manifesting wings were kept folded in by bonds and spells.
“Ms Dash, we have your employer here.” The officer smiled smugly.
“Employer!” She flung herself against the fence. Twilight drew closer and waved. “C’mere” The woman motioned. Twilight kneeled down.
“You are the one who drew a map to the Flare Prison yes?” Twilight whispered.
“Drew a map? I was there hun.” She pushed her forehead against the bars.
“Really?” The librarian’s eyes shone. “Ok, so… You are facing the gallows for heresy. I work for the Museum here. I take you on as my assistant, you guide us there and I let you get away scot free and neck intact.”
“Yeah? Come a little closer.” The woman smiled, as soon as Twilight’s face was near she stole a peck on the lips. Twilight jumped back. “You got a deal. I’m Rainbow by the way.” She winked.
Harumphing, Twilight stood. “Could you let my assistant out? We have a busy job ahead of us.
-*-
Rainbow Dash was unchained and the horrible constricting wing binder was removed. The guards, still wary from her outbursts all night, led her from the holding cells to the custody desk. Waiting for her satchel, the adventurer stretched out her un-restricted arms and legs and briefly manifested her wings. Signing some paperwork she was free to go.
The eggheaded chick with the sensible outfit was stood in the courtyard, she looked thoughtful until Rainbow’s approach caught her attention. “Rainbow Dash, that’s what this dismissal sheet says.” She held out a hand. “Twilight Sparkle.” Rainbow shook, Twilight then pointed to the slightly ruffled man. “My brother Shining.”
“Hello, good to meet you.” He seemed distracted. Rainbow wasn’t sure if she recognised him but shrugged it off.
“So, you want to go to the Flare Prison.” She asked the woman.
“Well, yes! It’s been a subject of my research for years and I made excellent headway.” She smiled widely. “I had hit just a little dead end when, uh, rumour had it someone had been carted off to gaol for speaking about the place.” Twilight began to leave the fort.
“Yeah. Damn near killed me. Cultists come out of the sand like dried bones.” Rainbow said, following. “You’ll only meet death, blood and sand. That’s my warning to you.”
Twilight seemed to falter and was about to say something when a shout stopped them. It was the officer who had released Rainbow. “One second, madam.” He reached the trio. “We, ahem, we are required to send a, parole officer, as it were with the former prisoner. Just until the letter is approved.”
“Approved!” Twilight shouted, “Approved? I was assured that all my papers were in order.” She nearly growled. Rainbow was inching towards the exit.
“I am sorry madam, it is, as you say, above my station. We will assign someone shortly…”
He was cut off by Rainbow bolting. “Oh no you don’t!” Twilight said, giving chase in a burst of light. That left Shining alone with the officer.
“Women?” He shrugged, giving a nervy smile.
-*-
They ran through the streets, Rainbow’s speedy exit had set the guards chasing after them and when Twilight had twice toppled things to slow them, Rainbow had taken to helping her keep up. She flew as low as she dared and Twilight seemed to be running and teleporting quickly.
“Flash Steps.” She had breathlessly explained to the unspoken query during a moment when Rainbow was flying them both, her hands wrapped around the mage’s wrists.
The city wasn’t familiar to Rainbow. She’d lived most of her life in the sky-city of Cloudsdale and her forays into treasure hunting had never led to large population zones very often. Luckily, Twilight knew exactly where to go. “Turn here!” She shouted to the flier, taking a leap over a stack of crates into an alleyway. Rainbow followed.
“Where do you have in mind now?” She whispered urgently.
“Through that door.” Twilight pointed to a ramshackle slat covering an archway. “Back entrance to the market, it is busy inside and there are plenty of small rooms to hide in.” A shout from the perusing guards moved them through. By the time the authorities reached the alley, no sign was to be had of the pair.
-*-
The room they had chosen was on the rickety third floor, dusty from disuse. “I still don’t know why you had to run.” Twilight complained, leaning against the wall and sliding down to sit on the floor.
“No one is ever gonna tie me down.” Rainbow grumbled, sat cross-legged beside her new employer.
“Aww, That isn’t fair! I wouldn’t tie you anywhere!” a chipper voice chimed out. Twilight and Rainbow shouted in shock. A puffy haired woman had popped out of a barrel in the corner. “Hi! I’m Corporal Pie! But you can call me Pinkie!” She clambered from the barrel and righted the fez on her head. She was wearing the beige shirt and shorts of the city police force, which explained the terribly clashing headwear. Her badge pinned to her belt gleamed in the sparse light.
“How… How...” Twilight muttered, going cross eyed.
“We were way ahead of you guys.” Rainbow groaned, glaring at the officer who stood a good few inches taller than herself.
“Well, I found you!” she smiled widely.
“But how!” both women on the floor yelled.
“’sah secret!” Pinkie winked. “I’m real good at my job.” She looked around the room and then right in Rainbow’s eye. “No one ever escapes me… Ever!”
“Crimeny… I guess we’re stuck with her.” Rainbow kicked at a pile of dust, resigned.
“One more for the expedition then.” Twilight sighed. She was already collating just what supplies and gear they’d need and her budget.
She and Shining had decided it was better to fund their own trip to avoid any objections from Cadence. All they needed to do was find something, even a tiny something, to prove it was the Flare Prison. Then Twilight would be able to go home and show Cadence proof, wow the board and get a proper dig going.
Simple right?