Alternate ending to Cupcakes
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BRIEFING AUDIO:
"Emergence situation service, here's central BCC."
"You on, go ahead."
"A SPAT team is requested for an hostage rescue and high risk warrant service situation at sector Ponyville, Sugarcube Corner. Several citizens disappeared from Ponyville and their whereabouts were unknown until a foal spotted Pinkie Pie handling with skulls at the backside of the Sugarcube Corner. She also said that civilian Rainbow Dash was missing."
"Understood, we are'en route."
BRIEFING: A few weeks ago, citizens of the town Ponyville were disappearing without a single trace. At first, the town ignored it but became worried as more ponies disappeared. We sent the best SPAT investigators but soon we realized that this was the work of a expert.
Just one day ago, a foal named Applebloom went into the bakery to meet Rainbow Dash for something private. As she did not find her, she asked Pinkie Pie Rainbow's whereabouts, but was met with a quick 'I don't know' before she disappeared behind the backdoor. Applebloom followed her and spotted her stacking up a pile of real-looking ponyskulls.
She panicked and immediately called the 911 emergency call. We have no doubt that Pinkie Pie has something to do with all those disappearings, including a griffon named Gilda. The Griffon Empire is already sitting in Princess Celestias neck and it would cause an enormous politic warfare if she died in Equestria in the hooves of a pony.
911 AUDIO CALL:
Miss July: "911 emergency call, sector Ponyville, how I can help you?"
Civilian: "Hello...mah name's Applebloom...and...I worrying about mah friend Rainbow Dash. I don't know where she is."
Miss July: "Do you know the last position of her, my dear?"
Civilian: "We wanted to meet at the Sugarcube Corner, to talk about something. She flew in there, but Ah didn't find her afterwards."
Miss July: "What happened then? Take your time and tell me everything."
Civilian: "Ah asked Pinkie Pie, but she just answered that she wouldn't know anything about her. Ah followed her secretly to the backyard... where she...proceeded to stack up skulls of ponies. Ah think she has her...tell me that help is coming, I'm scared."
Miss July: "Where are you, sweetie? Are you in a safe location?"
Civilian: "Ah'm in the Town Hall, using one of the only telephones in Ponyville... yes, I think Ah'm safe."
Miss July: "Stay where you are. Help is on the way, but please stay in touch with me."
OBJECTIVES:
Rescue Rainbow Dash
Neutralize Pinkie Pie
Investigate Sugarcube Corner
Investigate Sugarcube Corner for other hostages and victims
HOSTAGES:
Rainbow Dash (20), bearer of the element of loyalty. Applebloom wanted to meet her at the Sugarcube Corner.
Gilda (23), a non-local. If we don't find her alive... at least we have the pony who's responsible for her death.
SUSPECTS:
Pinkie Pie (21), bearer of the element of laughter. She did not behave unusual. Caution is advised when we encounter her.
TIMELINE:
19:00 Applebloom called the 911
19:10 SPAT arrives
19:12 Tactical Entry
SUMMARY:
23th Septembre, 19:20
Ponyville
Sugarcube Corner
Hostage Rescue / High Risk Warrant Service
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The sky over ponyville was covered in storm clouds, the rain obscuring the stars and moonlight as a black, and unmarked, carriage remained hidden behind a dumpster close to Sugarcube corner. The sudden storm had not been on any weather reports but it was fat too late into the night for any pony to notice, save for the ones who needed it.
Inside the carriage sat officer Silver Vest and his SPAT squad. Iron Steel was smoking his pipe as he loaded rounds into his Benelli M4 shotgun. Golden Vest was saying his prayers to Princess Luna while Ferrum prayed to the mother of the princesses, Lady Faust.
Silver Vest had placed on his earpiece so he could hear the briefing like the others as he checked and rechecked his weapon.
"Detective 316 Silver, Stallion, Truck Unit 3 are responding code three at Ponyville Sugarcube Corner for hostage rescue and high risk warrant service.",the dispatch officer said to the headsets of every SPAT unicorn member. They had just arrived at the Sugarcube Corner bakery. Owned by a Mr. and Mrs. Cake.
It was also the last known location of Rainbow Dash, a civilian foal by the name of Applebloom had stated seeing RD flying into the bakery. She went after her after a few minutes later to talk with her about something of a private nature, but then she was nowhere to be found. And after Applebloom questioned where she was, Pinkie Pie just showed up out of nowhere and answered “I don't know!”.
All of this attention began when, a few weeks ago, large numbers of Ponyville citizens disappeared, along with a foreign citizen. A Griffon Empire citizen by the name of ‘Gilda’, which threatened to turn this into a political incident, though the details of her disappearance were still up for debate. The fact that she was last seen in ponyville where other disappearances occurred raised many red flags.
Silver Vest’s superiors were hoping the team found her alive, otherwise the already strained ties with the empire would be further damaged. They even promised Silver a pay raise if he brought her out alive, but Silver didn’t need the pay raise, not that he would turn it down if he got it, but he was in this to save lives. And thankfully thanks to that little filly Applebloom they might just be able to.
With what Applebloom had seen and what was going on around Ponyville, she grew worried and when none would believe her she called the police and left a tip that proved rather useful.
“Alright, final checks before mission begins.”, Silver Vest ordered and the team wasted no time, Iron Steel quickly put out his pipe and placed it in his saddlebag for when the mission was over.
Silver Vest was checking the JHP rounds for his HK UMP45. He made sure his taser was charged before secureing, a flashbang, optiwand and a pepper spray can to his tactical rig.
Iron Steel was equipped with a M4 Super 90 with 00-buckshot ammunition, a Glock 18, a breaching shotgun, a door wedge and his lucky can of pepper spray he used on any suspects that needed to be reminded of who was the badflank and who was the criminal being arrested.
Ferrum was equipped with a M3 Super 90 with 00-buckshot ammunition, a Glock 18, three bags of C2 and a flashbang. He finished up his prayers and slipped on his balaclava just as the others did as well.
Golden Plate was equipped with a silenced HK MP5 with JHP-ammunition, a taser gun, a sting grenade and a door wedgem though he seemed nervous about the mission.
Quick Scope was already positioned on the roof of a house across from the target building and watching the windows of the upper floors. His eye was pressed against the scope of his HK PSG-1, a semi-automatic sniper rifle. They were unsure of if Pinkie was working alone or with others so if the Cakes turned into a threat Quick Scope was ready to drop them harder than a bag of hammers.
“I wish I had some coffee though.”, He said to himself as he shivered, rain hitting his body as he wondered if this could count towards hazard pay.
"Mission begins now.” said Silver Vest to HQ before Iron Steel opened the carriage door and they all trotted out, using the darkness of the rain to cover them while they ran to the main entrance of the bakery.
"Its locked. Ferrum, pick the lock.", Silver ordered and nearly slapped Golden Plate upside the head when he added “But you’re in his spot sir.”, while hiding a faint snicker.
“Scratch that, Golden plate your on point.”, He said and switched places, keeping an eye on the windows as he wondered what the buck they would be fighting this time. It seemed like civilization was falling apart and only barely being kept together by the hard work of SPAT and other law enforcement agencies.
‘Focus, no time to be dramatic. Mission comes first.’ Silver Vest reminded himself and kept checking the perimeter while Golden Plate worked.
It took Golden Plate a few seconds longer than it should have but soon he started to break the mechanism of the lock and after a flash of lightning and the boom of thunder, he drew back his pliers.
"Door's unlocked, sir."
"Keep it moving, clear it, watch for booby traps.", Silver Vest commanded. Golden Plate sprinted inside, clearing the room, while he is followed by the rest of the team.
TOC, we're in the bakery and continuing forward." Silver Vest said to the HQ.
"Copy entry team, stay sharp."
"Area's clear. No traps, I don’t think anypony knows we are here.”, Ferrum determined as he spotted nopony. The bakery was empty and the Cake family must be absent. He saw the stairs to the upper floor and said to the leader of the team "Should we look upstairs guys?”
"Yes, split up. Golden and Ferrum, clear the upper floor. Iron, we cover that area," Silver Vest commanded. The two unicorns were sprinting upstairs. Iron Steel and Silver Vest could hear their yelling "POLICE! COME OUT!".
"Sierra One to TOC, elements spotted." Quick Scope said while he watched the team search the upper floors.
The team on the upper floor radios out. “No one up here at all, no sign of any traps either.”
Silver Vest asked Quick Scope "Entry team to Sierra One, asking for sightings earlier contacts."
"Negative, there wasn't anypony at all, I assumed they are absent."
Golden Plate and Ferrum trotted downstairs from the upper floor to rejoin the group. Their weapons were strapped to their sides, where they could grab them if necessary. There were not any traces of Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash or anything. The mission was looking like a total bust.
Silver Vest thought over the whole situation, he could feel something was not right but he just couldn’t put his hoof on it.
Pinkie Pie was here two hours ago, she had not been seen leaving the building which meant she was still inside. Then Vest realized that they didn’t find any baking supplies, no flour or milk, not anything.
Silver Vest’s horn glowed as he had an epiphany and ordered "Elements, look for the basement!"
"Roger that!" The team responded and began looking for any doors that led below, their hoof stepped slow and as light as they could manage to keep anyone below from hearing them.
Iron steel checked the counter and found a door off to the side behind bookcase.
“Over here!” He said and the team moved up to join him.
Iron Steel holds his breath as he slowly opened the door with his shotgun up, while Golden Plate prepared a shield spell in case Pinkie knew they were coming.
When the door finally opened and Steel shined his light inside they found a broom closet. It was a small room for cleaning supplies or random objects that didn’t have a place elsewhere.
“Bucking dammit.”, Iron said, “This is freaking unbelievable, where the tartarus is she?” Iron Steel said, starting to get really angry.
The team had begun to move away when but Golden Plate spotted something very odd on the floor. Several bottles with no markings and slightly covered by a rag.
He took it with his magic and yells "Sir, I've found something!"
Silver Vest walked in the kitchen and straped his weapon on his side. Then he examined the bottle. It is small and contains a translucent liquid, that moved like water when shook, but slightly thicker. He opened it and waved the scent towards his nose on it. The smell made his nose feel like it was on fire before feeling slightly numb for a second.
"Horseapples, these bottles are filled with KO-drops... our lovely element of laughter seems to be mixed in with the wrong croud" Silver Vest said. Suddenly, Ferrum yells "I've found a door in the floor!" from the inside of another broom closet in the kitchen.
The team trots up to the door. It was well hidden under a rug that matched the floor, making it hard to see in the dark. Ferrum just noticed it as he stepped on it and heard a hollow sound thanks to the brass horseshoe.
"TOC, Officer Ferrum found a trap door in a closet in the kitchen. It appears unlocked. We are breaching, alert the local guard to have transports and medivacs prepared. We don’t know what we will find down there.”, he said and swallowed saliva that had collected in his throat.
"Yes, keep an eye out for civilians, we don’t know how many victims are still alive.” Miss July said back at HQ, the pegasus pony felt her wings flutter in anxiety as she began alerting the other law enforcement and medical teams inside of Ponyville. The Captain Sunny Bonds stood behind her, to watch at the screens of the entry team's helmet cameras as he sipped on a cup of coffee.
Silver Vest opened the door with his magic and pointed the barrel of his .45 SMG. He waited a second and activated the flashlight. The light illuminated stairs that led two meters down into what looked like an old basement that was not used often. He trotted downstairs with the team close behind him, Ferrum feeling focused and ready to kick flank. Golden Plate was doing his best to stay calm and not think of what horrible sights he might see. Iron Steel was doing his best to fight off the desire to smoke and keep his tradition of smoking after a successfull mission.
"Elements, stay close.", Silver whispered, feeling safer knowing his friends had his back.
The stairs lead to a tight corridor, a small candle providing light on a wall next to a soundproof door. Brighter light was coming out of the bottom of the door, letting the SPATs know that they had found their target.
"I'm gonna mirror the door. Cover me.", Silver Vest said as he switched to his optiwand, sitting on the ground while the others aimed at the door. As he looked at the screen, he let out a loud gasp as he saw something that would have sent weaker ponies running in fear to their mommys.
Rainbow Dash was strapped down on a metal table, the cleaned up skeletons of several ponies were posed around the room on strings like puppets. A small table had skulls in circle with party hats on. Above the table was a banner with the words 'Life Is A Party.' Written in blood.
But the most terrifying thing was Pinkie Pie. The once bubbly element of laughter, was showing Rainbow Dash a costume, made of cutie-mark skin and around three pairs of pegasus wings. Her mane still has the fluffy condition but she has bloodshot eyes and a insane smile on her face.
“Do you see my work? Do you see? Do you see!” she shouted to Rainbow Dash who was in tears, her movements indicated she was still alive, this was a full on rescue mission now.
****
Find Rainbow Dash Completed
****
Silver told the team what he saw and was about to get up when he saw Pinkie pull up a small cart of tools.
“wait,” he said, almost frozen in awe at the horror of it. Pinkie picked up a clean scalpel and a marker. She uses the marker to make a circle around Dash’s cutie mark in preparation to remove it.
Silver threw his optiwand back and tried to open the door, but it was locked.
“Its locked. Dammit Go loud! Blow the door!” He ordered and jumped out of the way of Iron Steel as he ran up with his breaching shotgun.
Iron Steel points the muzzle of his weapon at the lock and with one push on the trigger, he blows the lock away. He then slammed his shoulder against eh door, forcing it open and faling to the ground while the others ran past him.
"POLICE! Drop the scalpell and put your hooves up!" Golden Plate yelled as his weapon shook a little in his magic, the entire room made him panicking. Rainbow Dash was already hyperventilating as they interrupted Pinkie just as she began to cut. She looked at the SPAT ponies in a mix of joy and disbelief.
Pinkie Pie was not fazed at all. She slowly turned to face the officers with a smile. “Hi, you guys are early. Can you just give me a minute and then we can start the party!” she said, turning back to Rainbow.
"This is not a party! This is insane. You need help, Miss Pie. Just come with us and we can get you help.", Silver Vest said, holding one hoof out as he tried to sound as friendly and comforting as he could. This was one of the Elements of Harmony, a national hero. He didn’t want to take her down.
"Yes, but just let me finish my work, then I'll go with you..." and with that she prepared to continue cutting Rainbow Dash.
"No! no! Make her stop! Get her away from me!” Rainbow yelled, struggling against her bonds wildly.
"STOP!" Ferrum shouted as he fired a warning shot above Pinkie’s head. She just ducked as the bullet hit th ceiling above her, sending some dirt on her mane.
"You’re ruining everything. Stop being such meanies!” Pinkie Pie said, sounding like a filly being picked on. She threw the scalpel in her hoof like a knife as the officers duck for cover, save for Golden Plate who felt the scalpel his his shoulder where the armor was not present.
“GAAAH!” he sat down and grabbed his shoulder, shouting in pain as Pinkie again brought the tip of another scalpell to Rainbow Dash, but this time she stood with her body in front of dash. The officers couldn’t risk shooting without hitting Dash.
Silver magically raised his weapon as time seemed to move incredibly fast but also just as slow, his brain working overtime to figure out a solution...when it hit him.
Pinkie was standing on her hindlegs, an abnormal position for a pony.
With all the smoothness of a well oiled machine, Silver Vest lined up the shot and fired four times, two shots for each leg. The rounds he had fired were JHP ammunition, which while it does not have great piercing power. It will stick in organic matter and shred it up.
Pinkie Pie dropped the scalpel and screamed in pain as she fell with a wicked thud to the ground, her hindlegs were bleeding. The rounds had shattered the bones so much that she would never again be able to walk, let alone stand.
"You...you just shoot at me..." she said, looking to the officers while her eyes welled up with tears, her lower lip quivering.
"Well, that was your responsibility," Silver Vest said coldly to her, then he looked over to the corner filled with mutilated corpses while Ferrum and Iron jumped on her to cuff her, not bothering to be gentle while Pinkie cried and sobbed, calling the officers bullies for ruining her party. Her title of an national hero was gone at that point.
"TOC, this is entry team. We have... a lot of DOA's here. At least six ponies, likely more. We should be able to identify them all via dental records and cutie marks. The suspect... well, the suspect took good care of their skulls and cutie-marks."
"Understood, proceed with your objectives and search for living victims. Medical teams and local guard will be there in ten minutes.”, Miss July said as she sighed in relief that her team was safe. They all felt like the brothers she never had.
DOA meant Dead On Arrival, that a victim was already dead as the entry team arrived. It was also the term Silver hated the most.
Golden Plate groaned in pain as he held his shoulder, the scalpel was already removed since it was not deep. Ferrum and Iron Steel were unstrapping Rainbow Dash and helped her on her hooves. She could not stand properly, she was under a heavy mental shock and looked ready to either pass out or vomit, possibly both.
Ferrum helped to keep her steady by instructing how to hold herself on him while he brings her out from the basement, Iron Steel moving with him.
“Don’t worry I have Plate.” Silver called out when Iron went back to get him.
"TOC, this is entry team. Hostage has been rescued, but she is in need of medical help, and get a head doctor too, shes gonna need one.” Iron said when they left the building and waved to some Medical Pegasus ponies who came over with a stretcher.
"Roger that, EMT's are should be there now."
Ferrum restrained Pinkies hooves with his own cuffs, just to be sure, while Golden Plate gets up, groaning abit.
“Hey hey, sit down your hurt.”, Silver said, moving to his friend.
“No, no im fine, it was just shock, I'm okay.”, Plate said, nodding his head as he shivered from the adrenaline rush.
“Well stay here while I look for any more victims, if she gets loose don’t hesitate to shoot.” Silver ordered and began looking around the room, to find another door that led elsewhere.
Outside Ferrum was reporting the status of the mission before following Iron Steel back inside.
"Entry team to TOC, suspect has been secured and will be taken into custody. Royal Guards may come in, we are re-entering building to search for other survivors. Golden Plate had a small injury and looks ot be okay but have an ambulance ready.”
"Copy, good work entry the bosses are proud, ambulance on the way.”, Miss July said while the office was filled with applause over a succesfull operation. Only Sunny Bonds muttered how Plate could be get wounded.
****
Take Pinkie Pie into custody Completed
Investigate Sugarcube Corner Completed
Investigate Sugarcube Corner for other hostages and victims In progress
****
Iron Steel and Ferrum were almost back down to the slaughter room when they heard a loud screech and gunfire.
They didn’t bother looking at each other but ran down as fast as they could, nearly tripping on the stairs and arrived to find Golden Plate and Silver Vest struggling to hold down a large Griffon who was missing one of its wings and had several stitches on its body.
“You bitch! You bucking bitch! I'll kill you! I'll rip YOU up and see how you like it!” she yelled and tried to punch Golden Plate who kept trying to say something to her.
“TOC, This is entry team, weve found the foreign citizen but shes gone berserk upon seeing her kidnap-“ Silver said... before Gilda head butted him.
“Tazer the bird!” Ferrum said, while looking around for one, they needed to stun her or else. She could do real harm in her rage filled rampage. They did not want to use the lethal weapons on her, it was also against the laws of SPAT to injure a victim with a lethal weapon.
“Bucking ponies! Damn you! I'm the victim here! You should be letting me kill her!” Gilda shouted, almost reaching the still crying Pinkie Pie when Iron Steel slammed into her side and got ontop of her.
“Do something!” he yelled when Gilda almost wrapped her claw around his neck, before Golden Plate slapped the cuffs on her hands and held her in a choke hold, talking gibberish to her.
The others quickly got a hold of Gilda and did their best to control her. All of them doing their best to keep Gilda under control, save for Golden Plate who kept talking in strange words.
“Faust dammit boy, will you do someth..thing?” Ferrum said as suddenly Gilda seemed to relax and went limp, the only thing she did was talk back to Golden Plate and... started crying.
“W...what did you do? Was it a spell?” Silver Vest said, panting hard as Golden Plate rubbed his injured shoulder, which was now in a lot of pain.
“N..no I, ow. I was talking to her in Griffonic. I thought it might calm her down to hear her native language.”, Golden plate said, slowly rubbing Gilda’s head feathers while she cried and sucked her thumb, rolling up into a fetal position. This also allowed the officers to see her back, where it looked like she had lost a lot of skin over time as Pinkie must have wanted to make such a rare meal last longer.
Gilda mumbled the same words over and over again while tears rolled from her eyes like a river.
“What…what is she saying?” Iron asked as he stuffed a rag into Pinkie’s mouth to keep her from saying anything that might set off the griffon again.
Golden Plate paused for a moment and sighed “She’s just saying she wants to go home.”
A few minutes later Golden Plate and Gilda were taken to the ambulance. Pinkie was thrown in a different ambulance heading to a different hospital.
Then Shining Armor, along with four Royal Guards made it into the basement where the other three SPAT officers were.
"Oh dear, Celestia..." Shining muttered as he spotted the horror, his face turning green, "We will take it from here. Good work, but now go home. You deserved it.", Shinning said, nodding his head to each officer as he and his men waited for the investigators to start finding out who the other victims were.
"Thank Faust," Ferrum said while he and his exhausted team went upstairs, the safeties turned on for their weapons as they trotted out from the basement. Outside the bakery, a large crowd had gathered. Some ponies heard the shots and were attracted by them, others were curious as to why there was a crowd.
The officers all got into their self moving carriage and drove back to HQ for debriefing and a hot shower.
It took long for Gilda to get better, but after three weeks she was almost back to her old self, and even though she missed having both of her wings... she was thankful to be alive. So thankful she even hired a private investigator to find Golden Plate so that she could personally thank him for calming her down, both in the basement and on the ambulance.