The group of four took a bus from Fort Mage to the river town of Gallopside. A boat would take them up-river to a popular stopping point for explorers, treasure seekers and other adventurers. From there they would trek to the Flare Prison.
The bus was parked up on a dusty dockside as the group awaited the boat amongst a crowd of other passengers. Shining groaned as a bag was dumped into his arms from the roof of the bus. The busman was happy to help load and unload but he wasn’t going to do it alone. Rainbow had made it clear that she was only going to handle her kit. Even now she had a brown sheepskin parcel strapped to her back and an olive khaki satchel at her hip. She had refused either being loaded.
Twilight had packed two suitcases, heavy and strapped closed to avoid exploding open. Shining was sure she had put half her library into them. He had filled a duffle with everything he though a chap in the desert would need. Hopefully they weren’t too woefully unprepared.
The weird pink haired Corporal had a haversack and a satchel to go with the alarmingly sized firearm holstered on her belt. She seemed quite happy to be going out into the desert to find a ruin that had claimed the lives of far too many expeditions in the past. She was also talking nineteen to the dozen.
“…So I though, no Pinkie! You don’t need a waffle iron in the desert! You’ll just get sand in the batter and only sand-wiches have sand in them!” She laughed at her own joke. “So I just made sure I had plenty of ammo and neat-o clothes for adventuring into the desert.” She took a breath to begin again but it whooshed out in a gasp. “A boat! A boat! We’re going on a boat!!”
“I don’t know what is more worrying.” Twilight said to Rainbow as the excitable officer ran over to the dock. “That she is an actual honest to goodness officer of the law, or that she has been sent with us.”
“Yeah, if only she was as easy to ditch as she is to distract.” Rainbow replied, resettling the bag on her shoulder. “Want me to take that?” She offered a hand to Twilight, pointing at one of the suitcases.
“No, no. I’m fine. Levitation magic.” She smiled as a visible purple glow boosted the two cases into her grip.
The boat was docked and a boarding ramp was put in place. The crowd of people waiting to embark surged forward, Pinkie clearly at their head. Shining, Rainbow and Twilight all walked towards it. Twilight gazed about, noting the more striking passengers.
The most noticeable were a small group stood amongst the usual local travellers and tourists. A graceful woman dressed all in white, she had a cascade of rich purple hair and carried black luggage, seemed in the lead. Alongside her were two sky-born men, one had a sky blue Mohawk and the other a thick mop of brown hair. The one looked bored, the other slightly listless. Bringing up the rear of their group was a tall, well-built woman. Her cowboy hat standing out amongst the sea of pith helmets and woven straw hats. She had a rifle slung across her back and a canny expression, eyes scanning every approach. Her plaid shirt and brown waistcoat also at odds to the muted desert shades of tourists and the stark white robes of the locals.
Before she had a chance to make comment Twilight realised she had fallen behind. She hurried to catch up and was soon busy settling in for the day and night of travel upon the boat.
-*-
Cadence sat at her desk rummaging through her papers. She was certain she had saved the notes Twilight had made on some Pre-unification worship columns in Everfree, just the project to distract the librarian from chasing after danger. She hadn’t seen Twilight all day, in fact she’d missed work. Cadence didn’t blame her, she’d been more than a little mean to her the night before and the girl was due some time off.
As she shifted another book, her in-tray slid over and deposited its contents across her blotter. An envelope caught her eye; it was addressed to her in Twilight’s neat cursive. Slitting it open she hurriedly read it.
“Oh No…” was all she uttered. She took a closed box from a drawer and for long minutes the only noise was that of pen on paper. There was a flash of magic afterwards. “I’m sorry Twily…” Cadence said, looking at a photograph of herself with a happy child and smiling adults. “It’s for your own good…”
-*-
The boat was one of the larger ones to take the river route; it had a decently sized dining room, some smaller cabins and plenty of deck space. The smoke stack was tall and attractive looking even as smoke puffed from it. The engine chugged away, propelling it upstream.
Twilight was sat near the lifeboats and stabling for the camels, she was hastily reviewing her notes. Pinkie had found the off duty sailors to be great company, even now their raucous singing of dirty ditties echoed about the boat. Shining was sat at a table, playing cards with the other group of unusual travellers. Rainbow moved across the deck to take a look.
“Well hello Dash! Wouldn’t you know it but these lovely ladies are off to find the Flare Prison!” Shining was leaning in a deck chair, a glass of clear iced liquid in his one hand and cards in the other. Sat opposite him was the glamorous woman and the cowgirl. “They even have someone who’s been there to guide them! Just like…” Rainbow’s hand on his shoulder shut him up, it was a strong grip she had.
“Now isn’t that interesting. Most sensible folks would keep information like that close to their chest.” Rainbow tried to grin but the man was grating on her nerves. “I think I’ll be off, y’know. To check on your sister.” She walked away from the card players.
“Well anyway Shining, darling, it was your play.” The lilting voice carried across the deck. Rainbow shook her head; too many guys like Shining were too easily played by women like that. She preferred the much more direct route of fists and threats.
The lower deck area was quieter. Whatever conduit was channelling Pinkie’s singing didn’t open out onto the space and bar the sound of shuffling horses and camels, it was pretty much silent. Twilight was sat near the stables on a bundle of cargo. She had her notebook on her lap and a finger-light spell glowing at the top of her hand.
From the angle Rainbow was approaching and the soft light on her features, she actually looked quite pretty. Rainbow smirked weakly a moment, a high class educated girl like that would never be interested in a rough gunner like her. She was a she to start with.
“Lookee there, it’s Rainbow Crash.” A sly voice said, mocking in tone. A man emerged from the shadows.
“Hoops.” Rainbow glared. “Thought you’d be headfirst into a sand dune by now.”
“I don’t crash like you do.” He nonchalantely picked at a finger nail.
“So you’re the one leading the city slicker and the cowgirl out to the ruins.” Rainbow stated, putting the facts together. Hoops was the only other on the ship she knew to have been to the Flare Prison, it wasn’t a great leap to guess he was the guide Shining has heard about.
“That I am, been promised a whole heap of money.” He grinned; his teeth clear in the dim light. “I went there once and got nothing thought I’d sell the info for some real cash.”
“Green Ray and Nimbus are dead because of you jerks deserting us!” Rainbow raged, grasping at his lapels, no longer able to contain herself.
“Not you though, mores’ the pity.” He shoved her off. “So what are you doing here then, if that place so scared yah?”
“Taking some historians out there. I owe my neck to one and will lose it if things don’t go right.” Unconsciously she indicated Twilight. Hoops ran lecherous eyes down the librarian’s figure.
“Itching for some sack action eh?” He chuckled, easily fending off Rainbow’s rage propelled punch. “See you later Crash.” He sloped off, back up the stairs to the bar area.
Rainbow stood and breathed a moment. She had to calm down a little after confronting Hoops, then returned to her original plan of joining her new employer, “Hey.” She called out to alert Twilight to her approach.
“Good evening Ms Dash.” Twilight replied, looking up and stowing her book.
“So formal!” Rainbow laughed, setting herself down on a barrel. She took the package from her back and unrolled it over a crate. The brown hide rolled out from a tidy wrap to a sheet covered in grips, straps and harnesses. Each held a firearm or related ammunition and accessories. Twilight flinched back a little at the final heavy clunk.
“It’s only proper and polite.” Twilight said, checking the straps of her satchel to avoid eye contact or looking at the guns.
“Never did go much in for proper or polite.” Rainbow shrugged, she unbuttoned a shotgun from the holdall and began checking it out.
“Quite, like that kiss.” Twilight replied. “Why did you kiss me?” she still looked away from Rainbow.
“Eh, I was going to swing for heresy, might as well have added lewd public behaviour to the charge.” With a quick movement Rainbow folded the gun back up, the parts clicking into place.
“Why I never!” Twilight grumped. “I think I need to retire to bed.” She stalked away.
“What? What’d I say?”
-*-
On the dark riverbank a group crouched low in the shrubs. The lights from the boat were drawing nearer. Soon it would be time for action. Their leader pulled his mask closer. “We are just to scare them away.” His voice was soft, so as not to travel across the water. Muted metallic clinks answered him. “She will be cross if we harm them.” He quieted then. It was time to move out into the water to board the boat.
-*-
On the opposite bank, hidden in a copse of trees another group set up. “Our agents tell me, brothers, the infidels aboard, they will be seeking to desecrate the seat of our Queen.” A short gravelly voiced old man said. There was a low roar from his men. “We will stop them. With fire and sulphur as She would want!” As he spoke camouflaged artillery was uncovered and those not manning the equipment raised rifles to fire.
-*-
The boat, chugging along sedately, the crew and passengers relaxed. No one was expecting what happened next.
-*-
Twilight looked in the mirror on the wall of her small room. She was putting her hair up to avoid tangling while she slept. “Lewd behaviour charge! Ha! Uncouth, ill-bred... Cad!” She turned away and lightly pulled her nightdress into a more comfortable hold and shifting the satchel at her side a little, it was far too valuable to risk theft or losing. She didn’t notice the face at the window, nor did she see someone in her doorway.
“Miss Sparkle, I would advise you left the prison well alone.” A voice said. Twilight screamed. There was a strange man in her bedroom. A hasty fire spell made the black clad figure jump, but not leave. He stamped out the guttering flames.
“Get out! Help! Shining! Corporal Pie! Dash!” She backed away from the man.
“I am afraid I need an affirmative answer Miss Sparkle.” The man wore a mask and scarf and even though his voice was gentle he was firm and quiet threatening. His hands caught her flailing arms and held them, halting her progress.
He was about to speak when gunfire and an explosion rocked the boat. Losing his grasp on Twilight, he fell. Taking advantage. she ran to her door, stamping her feet into boots before she fled. Another person dressed in black attempted to stop her, but they were smaller and she was darting past swiftly. His comrade joined him and once again Twilight was being chased.
The doorway to the deck was at the end of the hall but whatever had exploded was sending flames through the wooden construction. Her satchel bounced at her hip and the boots clumped on the planks. “Twilight! Over here!” a voice shouted.
“Ms Dash! What’s going on?” Rainbow was flying close to a hole in the wall; it was wide enough for Twilight to escape.
“No time! Jump.” She shouted. With flames and pursuers closing in, she didn’t need to tell Twilight twice. The librarian jumped from the hallway and was caught in Rainbow’s strong grip.
“Shining?” she gasped out.
“He can take care of himself, he was making a line for the river last I saw.” Rainbow shouted down, shifting her grip a little to hold Twilight’s wrists better.
-*-
The deck was in chaos. Pinkie and the sailors were freeing the animals and urging them overboard. Anyone able to fly had already taken to the air; some of the friendlier were taking the earthbound up and away.
Shining was ducking and dodging gunfire and flames, his personal shield at least allowing him protection from the projectiles. Reaching the edge he looked back at the madness. “Did I panic? I think not!” He shouted, and then jumped overboard, swimming to follow the general exodus of passengers.
“Shoobee doobee doo.” A voice to the left of him sang. Shining looked over to see the strange Corporal come past astride a swimming horse. A few other animals followed behind the pair, shrugging, Shining caught some reigns and pulled himself onto the back of a pinto pony. It nickered as if in greeting.
“Mind if I catch a lift old boy?” Shining said to the pony, giving it a scratch behind the ear. Free from the real work of keeping afloat, he was able to worry about his sister, scanning the area to try and catch sight of her. It was a good job he was looking around. Of the evacuating group, he was the only one who noticed the red clad cultists start up their machines. “Look out!” He yelled, just in time for people to duck the shooting flames.
-*-
Up in the sky, Twilight was experiencing mixed feelings. On one hand she was being flown away from the burning and now sinking boat. On the other, she was dangling by her wrists in Rainbow’s grip. She was about to pass a comment about this when Shining’s yell warned them of the coming flames. Right at the level Twilight was hanging.
Rainbow acted swiftly, using all her strength to lift up the librarian in a throw and catching her again in a matter of seconds. Now the woman was held against her in a steady grip. She felt the librarian wrap her arms around her waist, she was shaking. “It’s ok Twilight. I won’t leave you hanging.”
Held in the embrace Twilight felt a rush of feelings and a blush stain her cheeks. Despite her impropriety, rough manners and curt ways... Rainbow was quite attractive and was certainly being protective. Twilight remained silent. She didn’t trust herself to speak. Rainbow put it down to shock and didn’t prod the woman; she followed the line of swimming and flying evacuees to the river bank.
Everyone was too busy escaping the fire and the bullets to notice the cultist being set upon by the black clad warriors. No one heard the fighting. By the time everyone had been pulled ashore and the leftover floating luggage and equipment there was nothing left to see.