//------------------------------// // 2. Word Gets Around // Story: Rescuing Rarity // by Crosis //------------------------------// Chapter 2- Word Gets Around ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Spike was having the most wonderful dream. Fleur De Lis had invited Rarity to attend a fashion show in Canterlot, even going so far as to suggest that she bring along some of her finer pieces to put on display. Though flattered, the unicorn had been equally horrified at the possibility of arriving with substandard garments and being subsequently laughed out of the capitol. She just had to make sure that only the best of her dresses was chosen. That was where Spike came in. He had, after all, experienced Canterlot’s formal scene many times in the past. Not to mention they had worked together so well and so often, she trusted him to give a professional and unbiased opinion. And of course, there was no way Spike would refuse when she asked to model for him. So there he was, seated on the plush and velvety couch, a glass of cider all but forgotten in his claws. Eyes wide, he watched the vision of loveliness that was Rarity as she strutted and sashayed across the room. How was he supposed to choose which gown was better? They all accentuated her beauty, making her look like an angel, no a goddess. He tried to stay focused, offering a short nod or shake of his head and sometimes even a coherent sentence for each item. Rarity would hang onto his every word, profess her thanks with a dazzling smile, and then head back behind the screen to switch to a new dress. Maybe it was just his imagination, but Spike could have sworn that she was putting a bit more sway in her hips with each change. And… had she just winked at him? He gulped, grip tightening around the glass. The sun’s rays were filtering in from directly behind her, allowing him to clearly see Rarity’s silhouette as she slid the dress down her body. Stepping away, she extended her hooves and did a series of long, slow stretches. Spike could only stare, forgetting even to breathe as she slipped into another gown and lifted the discarded one from the floor, folding and hanging it over the screen. Finally, she stepped into view. Spike drew in a sharp, reverent breath, too entranced to care about the burning in his lungs. The gown was a rich and verdant green, the kind one might see in summer grass just after a rainstorm. Hundreds of tiny amethysts were embedded in the bodice and hem, twinkling like violet stars. It was long, ending only a few inches above her back hooves. Short, billowy sleeves and thin straps exposed her forelegs and upper body. The satiny material shimmered and gleamed in the light, giving her fur an almost pearlescent sheen. Spike knew that his jaw had dropped almost to the floor, but at the moment he couldn’t bring himself to care. Rarity put a hoof to her mouth and giggled, obviously amused at his reaction. She asked if he liked what he saw. Well, that’s what he thought she said. He couldn’t really hear anything with the blood pounding in his ears, so he nodded vigorously and hoped for the best. Rarity smiled, walking over with slow and measured steps. She stopped just before the couch, twirling in an elegant circle. As the dress settled around her hooves, she looked back over her shoulder, batting her eyelashes. She asked if he thought this was the dress she should use for the show. His mouth opened, and the compliments began tumbling out. That it was gorgeous, a masterpiece, that she’d be the envy of every tailor and seamstress in Canterlot, that even the princesses would be jealous of such a dress. Turning back around, she stepped up to the edge of the couch. She said that she’d had no idea he liked this outfit so much. Leaning down until their noses were almost touching, she asked in a whisper if he’d like to inspect it more closely. He whispered a timid yes. Her smile turned into a grin, and her horn lit up with a blue flash. The glass was pulled from Spike’s claws and set aside, and then he felt himself being pushed back against the couch. Rarity climbed up beside him, smoothing out the wrinkles in her dress before draping a hoof over his shoulders. Looking into her eyes, he could see the warmth, the affection, the desire. Pushing away from the couch, she turned and settled herself in Spike’s lap, straddling him. Her forelegs looped around his neck as she pressed her body against him. Claws trembling, Spike lifted his arms and wrapped them tenderly around her. Rarity let out a soft moan of appreciation as he rubbed and kneaded her back. Emboldened, Spike let his claws roam freely, from her flanks up to her shoulders and back down. Deepening the embrace, Rarity laid her head on his shoulder. She whispered into his ear, asking if he would like her to properly thank him for his help. Heart racing, throat dry, he could only give another nod. Rarity pulled back, eyelids lowering seductively. Spike shivered at the feel of cool satin and warm fur, and he closed his eyes as their lips were about to meet… *WHAM* *WHAM *WHAM* Spike jolted upright, tumbling out of his basket in a tangle of limbs and blankets. He frantically looked around the room, a feeling of shock followed by deep, horrified disappointment filling him. It was only a dream, and he’d woken up before the best part! He groaned and buried his face in his claws, wishing he’d had just a few more seconds. *WHAM* *WHAM* *WHAM* Another series of knocks came from the front door, and Spike looked over at the clock beside Twilight’s empty bed. Ten minutes after eleven. Who in their right minds would visit at this time of night? “Spi~iiiiiike,” he heard Twilight call from downstairs. “Could you get that please? This stage of the experiment requires constant monitoring or else I’ll have to start from the beginning!” He glared down the stairs. No, he didn’t want to answer the door. He wanted to jam his head back under the pillow and hope that somehow he could pick up where he left off! He kicked the blankets away and trudged out of the room. This was all Twilight’s fault. If she’d just go to bed earlier instead of studying all night like a crazy pony, than maybe other crazy ponies wouldn’t see the lights on and try to visit. Muttering under his breath, he stomped down the stairs. With a drawn-out yawn, he undid the lock and pulled open the door. “HI SPIKE,” an exuberant pair of voices yelled. Spike looked at the two blearily, trying to stifle a frustrated groan. Great, just great. Pinkie Pie and Sweetie Belle. The two craziest, most hyper ponies in town, and here they were on his doorstep. “What do you want,” he asked. “Wait, wait, wait, almost ready!” Pinkie turned back to Sweetie and gestured with a hoof. “Places, quick!” Sweetie ducked behind the older mare. “Okay, go!” “Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…” Pinkie jumped up on her hind legs, swinging her upper body back and forth as she began to sing. “Good evening, mister dragon! How are you tonight?” Sweetie jumped onto her shoulders, flexing her hooves. “We’re here because there’s trouble! A wrong that you must right!” “Somepony needs assistance! A maiden prim and fair!” “She needs a dragon hero! One suave and debonair!” "HEY!" Pinkie flipped the unicorn into the air, where she spun several times before landing expertly on her hooves. Facing one another, the two began to cha cha, still singing back and forth. Spike watched in silence, half-wondering if maybe he was still asleep and his dream had just mutated into a nightmare. Eyes drooping, he leaned against the doorframe and was just on the verge of dozing off when Pinkie clapped her hooves in front of his face, startling him back awake. “You need to take action, there’s no time to lose!” “You can’t save the day if you lie back and snooze!” “There’s mutts making mischief, a damsel to save!” “So it’s time to decide, are you hero or knave!?” As the song’s tempo began to slow, both dropped to the ground, raising and lowering their forelegs in exaggerated bows. “We can see that you’re anxious, and ready to go~ooooooo…” “So we’ll cut to the chase, it’s ti~iiiiiiiiiiime… to~ooooooooo…” Spike slammed the door in their faces and turned back to bed. It was way too late for that much perkiness. “Spike? Who was at the door?” “Wrong number,” he said. *WHAM* *WHAM* *WHAM* They just couldn’t take a hint, could they? Well, he might as well get it over with. Knowing Pinkie, she’d probably climb up the side of the tree and start singing through the window if he kept ignoring them. “How come you shut the door, Spikey,” Pinkie asked. “My claw slipped,” he lied. “Oh well, our song was just about over anyway. So now we can deliver our message!” Pinkie’s excitement was beginning to give him a headache. “Fine, fine. What is it?” Sweetie Belle ran up beside the door and carefully sidled inside, looking back and forth as if to spot any eavesdroppers. She beckoned Spike closer, and the sleepy dragon grudgingly complied. “Rarity needs you,” she whispered conspiratorially. “You’re the only one who can help her.” That perked him right up. His mind cleared, his eyes snapped open, and a goofy grin spread across his face. “Really? What’s she need me to do? Where is she?” Sweetie pulled a scroll from her back and held it out. “Take this, and all will be explained!” Spike’s previous enthusiasm crashed harder than Rainbow Dash on a sugar high. That was it? The big important thing Rarity needed his help, and only his help with? A friendship report? Disappointing wasn’t a strong enough word. He frowned, making no move to take the scroll. “Couldn’t this have waited until morning,” he complained. “Nope! Too important.” Sweetie waved the scroll back and forth in front of his face. “Come on, take it! Take it take it take it take it take it…” “Ugh, FINE!” Snatching the note out of her hoof, Spike took a deep breath and blew out a jet of green fire, sending the note off to Celestia. He looked back to Sweetie and Pinkie, who were gaping at him in shock. “There, anything else?” “SPIKE! You incinerated my ransom note!” Sweetie stomped a hoof in frustration. “I worked so hard on it too!” Spike winced, clamping both claws over his ears. “Would you stop screaming already? I just sent it to mom, like I do with every other…” He trailed off, lowering his claws and looking at the unicorn quizzically. “Wait… ransom note?” Sweetie Belle looked at him like he was an idiot. “Yeah! A ransom note that YOU were s’posed to read, dummy!” Spike was completely lost. “Okay, okay, I’m sorry. I didn’t know,” he said, trying to soothe the irate filly. “I wouldn’t have done that if I knew I was supposed to read it first. Forgive me?” She glared at him for another moment, and then finally shrugged. “Well… okay!” Spike exhaled slowly, glad to have dodged a bullet there. “So… do you remember what the note said?” Sweetie Belle laughed. “Yep! Kinda wish I didn’t though, it’s so sappy and dumb! Okay, here goes…” “Wait! Just… please don’t sing it, okay,” he pleaded. “Sure! But no more interruptions, got it?” Spike nodded, and Sweetie grit her teeth before reciting the letter in the meanest, growliest voice she could manage. “Attention, Ponyville Dragon!” “We have kidnapped your precious Rarity...” That was all Spike needed to hear before completely losing it. He stood there frozen in horror as Sweetie continued to talk, nothing registering in his mind but the terrible fate that had befallen his beloved beauty. “…Come and save her, if you dare. Signed, the diamond dogs. PS- BWAHAHAHAHA!” “Ooh, did you add the fiendish laugh part yourself,” Pinkie asked. Sweetie puffed out her chest proudly. “Yep! The dumb thing didn’t sound scary enough, so I added it in.” “It sounded awesome,” the earth pony said. “Thanks. I…” Spike grabbed Sweetie by the cheeks. “WHAT HAPPENED TO RARITY? WHO TOOK HER? DID THEY HURT HER? WHAT DO THEY WANT? ANSWER ME!!!” Twilight stepped up behind him, gently pulling his claws away from Sweetie’s face. “Spike, calm down and let go of Sweetie Belle. What on earth is everypony yelling about,” “Geez, weren’t you listening at all?” The filly crossed her hooves, pouting at the fact that her note was being so tragically ignored. “I already told you, the diamond dogs got her, they took her back to their den thing, and they want lots of gems!” Twilight gasped. “Oh, no! Sweetie, are you sure?” She nodded. “Uh huh! I was right there the whole time! They even let me write the note, and they were gonna kidnap me too but then decided I was too much for ‘em!” She threw a few air punches to demonstrate. Spike grabbed a fistful of Twilight’s mane and tried to drag her out the door. “Come on, Twi! We gotta do something! Anything!” “Ow! Spike, wait! We need to approach this rationally! “Rationally,” he said wildly. “Being rational is for little stuff like disasters and apolkalypses!” “Apocalypses,” she corrected him, wincing as he began to pull harder. “Ouch! Will you calm down? This is no time to panic!” “I’m not panicking, I’m freaking out!” Knowing that he wouldn’t listen to reason, Twilight touched her horn to the side of his head and fired off a quick spell. Spike released her mane, wobbling unsteadily on his feet as the sedative magic did its work. “We… gotta… we, um… where… ugh…” Eyes rolling back in his head, he took another step before falling. Twilight caught the unconscious dragon and gently laid him across her back. “Okay, now that the hysterics are over, here’s what we’re going to do. Pinkie?” The party pony snapped to attention. “Our friends need to know about this, so I want you to go wake everypony and tell them to come here immediately.” Pinkie cocked her head to the side. “Everypony,” she asked. “Yes, all of them,” Twilight said impatiently. “Quickly.” “Okey dokey!” Turning around, she raced off in a cloud of dust. Twilight ushered Sweetie into the house. “Alright. While she’s doing that, I want you to tell me what you remember. How many dogs there were, what they looked like, what they said and did, everything.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ After ensuring that Spike was fully unconscious and resting comfortably, Twilight eased back in her favorite chair and listened carefully as Sweetie Belle began to explain. As the facts were presented, the studious unicorn found herself growing more and more intrigued. By the time Sweetie had finished reciting her ransom note, Twilight was meandering around the living room, staring blankly at various objects as she puzzled and pondered. Why would the diamond dogs abduct Rarity for a second time? After seeing how thoroughly cowed they had become after the first encounter, Twilight would have sooner expected them to face down a hemorrhoidal manticore than tangle with the fashionista again. Especially not for something as trivial as a ransom plan. Speaking of which, why were they so adamant about following this plan to the letter? The ideas that Sweetie had offered them were quite sensible, even if she was appalled that the filly had actually suggested they kidnap Spike as well. Then there was the ransom note itself. While Twilight was withholding judgment on its ‘corniness,’ she had to admit that something was off about the wording itself. From what she remembered of the diamond dogs, their grammar was atrocious, misplacing words and mangling sentence structure at random. She would have expected the note to be more of the same, but it had sounded surprisingly articulate. And what about the specific numbers and types of gems that were listed? The dogs might have loved gems, but they certainly weren’t picky. Twilight would have expected the note to simply demand ‘all the gems you can carry’ or something along those lines. This mystery, which Twilight had decided to call ‘The Case of the Ransomed Rarity,’ was even more baffling than she thought. The more she considered it, the less sense it made. But before she could apply her deductive skills, the front door banged open and Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Fluttershy raced into the library. Applejack skidded to a halt in front of her. “Okay Twi, we’re here. Now what’s this big ol’ emergency Pinkie was yapping ‘bout?” “Well you see, Sweetie Belle and Pinkie recently arrived looking for Spike. They… wait. Where is Pinkie?” “I’m not sure. She went running off after waking us up. Maybe she, um, went to get Rarity,” Fluttershy said. Twilight groaned. That would make perfect sense. She could just see Pinkie banging futilely on the boutique’s door, having completely forgotten that it was currently unoccupied. “Fine, whatever. Pinkie already knows, so we’ll just start without her.” “But what about Rarity,” Applejack asked. “Well, considering she’s in the process of being KIDNAPPED, I don’t think she can meet with us to discuss her being kidnapped, can she?” “SHE’S BEING WHAT,” the three mares yelled, or squeaked, in Fluttershy’s case. “Kidnapped, abducted, captured, shanghaied, hijacked, pick a synonym! Now, if you’re all ready to listen, I’ll let Sweetie Belle tell you exactly what happened.” “Do I have to,” the filly whined. “I’ve already said it like three times so far!” Twilight patted her on the back. “This’ll be the last time, I promise.” Sweetie rolled her eyes, but complied. By the time she finished, Applejack and Fluttershy were exchanging worried glances, obviously concerned for their friend’s safety. Dash, on the other hoof, was livid. “I knew we couldn’t trust those guys!” She stomped a hoof angrily. “We shouldn’t have just left after they gave her back. We should’ve kicked their butts across the cave and made ‘em too scared to ever leave it again!” “Simmer down, sugarcube. ‘Member what happened when we busted in there? Rarity’d already had ‘em with their tails ‘tween their legs. Ah don’t think any of us expected them dogs to come back for seconds.” Dash snorted. “Yeah, well, they did. And now we’re right back where we started the last time, except this time they’re cocky enough to start making demands!” “There’s no point beating ourselves up over what happened in the past,” Twilight reasoned. “Right now we have to focus on the present and come up with a plan.” “A plan, huh? I got a plan for you!” Rainbow Dash spread her wings and took to the air, flying in a tight circle overhead. “Step One! We get our flanks in gear and head straight for their cave!” The pegasus tucked herself into a dive and tackled Applejack to the floor. “Step Two! We kick some diamond dog butt! Step Three! We rescue Rarity!” Leaping off the earth pony, she swept Fluttershy up into her hooves and landed beside Twilight, dropping the other pegasus to the floor. “And Step Four! We all go back to bed. Any questions,” she asked haughtily. Applejack picked herself up from the ground. “Yeah, I got one. Have ya lost yer dad-gummed mind?!” “Hey, you got a better idea?” “Ah sure do! We do what they say in that there letter, give ‘em the gems and get Rarity back, easy as you please.” Rainbow Dash was completely dumbstruck. Her mouth opened and closed several times as she tried to process what Applejack had suggested. “Are you insane,” she finally shouted. “You want to just give in to these jokers? Why in the hay should we do that? We stomped them flat last time! I thought you of all ponies would be up for doing it again!” “Now I’m not the type ta’ turn tail at the first sign of a rumble,” Applejack said. “But I’m also not gonna go jumpin’ into one if there’s no need. Last time that was the only choice we had. This time we don’t have ta’ do nothin’ stupid.” “Oh, sure. Because doing what the dogs want is the smart thing!” “Um, excuse me,” Fluttershy mumbled. “But I think Applejack’s right. We should probably do what they say.” “Aww, come on, Shy! Not you too,” Dash said. “I… I just think it would be the best option. And, and not because I’m scared of fighting them again… or anything like that.” The other pegasus scoffed, causing Applejack to whack her over the back of the head. “It’s for Rarity’s sake,” Fluttershy said. “I… that is… remember what they had Sweetie Belle write in the note? They said they’d hurt her if we didn’t do exactly what they wanted. What if she gets hurt because we go running in?” “Aww, that’s just a bunch of hot air,” Rainbow Dash said dismissively. “They’re just scared ‘cause they know they can’t beat us in a fair fight.” “Which is why I’m willing to bet it ain’t no bluff. If they can’t beat us fair, I’ll betcha they won’t think twice ‘bout fighting dirty. “All the more reason for us to hit them as fast and hard as we can,” she persisted. “I mean, come on! We go quick and take them by surprise, they won’t have a chance to do anything! They won’t expect us to come right after them!” Applejack growled. “How do ya know that? How do ya know that ain’t just what they’re hopin’ we do? They know it’s what we did last time, and they might just be ready fer that! Use yer head, girl! We go chargin’ in there looking fer a brawl again and we might not come outta it on top. An’ like Fluttershy said, we’d put Rarity in danger if’n we did.” “I get it. So you want to just play nice and do whatever they say so Rarity doesn’t get hurt, or we don’t get hurt. But she’s not gonna be the only one in danger if we do things your way, you know. What about Spike, huh?” Dash was not one to sit about and strategize. She was a pony of action, and having every one of her ideas shot down was sorely testing her temper. Her wings beat furiously, and she looked about ready to give Applejack a good punch in the jaw to vent some of her anger. “Sweetie already gave those dogs the idea to nab him too. And you still want to send him in there to make this trade by himself!?” “Don’tcha go puttin’ words in my mouth! Ah only said we ought ta pay ‘em what they want, never said nuthin’ about making Spike do that!” The two ponies pressed their foreheads together, teeth clenched as they stared one another down. Fluttershy whimpered and dove behind the couch, with Sweetie Belle quickly ducking down after her. Twilight merely sighed and magically shoved both mares to opposite sides of the room. “That’s enough, you two! However we decide to handle this, knocking each other’s teeth out isn’t going to help.” “Yeah, you’re right. Sorry AJ, for accusing you and stuff,” Dash mumbled. The earth pony nodded. “S’all right, sugarcube. Ah know we’re both just worried ‘bout Rarity and got a bit riled up.” Twilight looked back at the couch where Spike was still out cold. “And Fluttershy? You two can come out now.” The pink-maned pegasus slowly crept around the piece of furniture, as if expecting the argument to suddenly flare up again. Sweetie followed, gently nudging her back into motion every time she halted. “Excellent. Now that everypony’s on the same page, I’d like to address each of your concerns. Both your opinions are valid, but we have to look at them logically.” Crossing her forelegs, she thought over each of the presented ideas, weighing their various pros and cons. “Rainbow Dash,” she said, making the pegasus look over expectantly. “First of all, I think we should abandon any notion of a full-frontal assault.” Applejack shot her a triumphant smirk, and Dash looked ready to protest when Twilight held up a hoof. “Just hear me out, please. From what we’ve heard, it seems to me that the diamond dogs have refined their methods and carefully considered their actions. Their first kidnapping was impulsive, sloppy. This time they acted in a precise and efficient manner. That proves that they’ve learned from their mistakes, and are planning things in advance. Therefore, it would be foolhardy to try and deal with them exactly as we did in the past. Their ransom note also clearly threatens Rarity’s safety if we do not adhere to their demands. This leads me to believe that Fluttershy and Applejack are correct in assuming that they are both prepared and expecting us to come charging in.” “However,” she continued, turning her gaze to Applejack. “This does not mean that I endorse paying their ransom. All things considered, I believe this would be the absolute worst course of action.” “How in the hay do ya figure that,” Applejack said incredulously. Twilight rose to her hooves and began to pace. “Consider the following: Right now, the diamond dogs have Rarity. We have gems. However, they can find gems elsewhere should the need arise, while we can only get Rarity back through them. Do you see what I mean? They hold all the cards.” “Do… do you think they won’t give her back, even if we pay it,” Fluttershy asked. “It’s a definite possibility,” Twilight said. “Their side of the bargain is more valuable, after all. I wouldn’t be surprised if they tried to stall us, increasing the ransom each and every time.” Twilight paused. “And that’s not even the worst thing that could happen.” She said, more to herself than the others. “What if the trade proceeds optimally, and our compliance convinces the dogs that they can get away with this kind of thing!” Completely enraptured by her theory, Twilight was now speaking too quickly and quietly for them to hear. Stepping over, Dash carefully reached out and tapped the rambling unicorn on the shoulder. “Twilight? You kinda lost us back there.” “Oh! Sorry, I guess I got a little carried away.” She tried to recall where her train of thought had jumped the rails. “Okay, so there’s another problem with paying off the ransom. It might serve as positive reinforcement for the diamond dogs, which in turn could lead to subsequent abductions and increasingly outrageous demands.” The cyan pegasus smiled and nodded. “Alright, good, good. Now can you translate that from Egghead to English?” “What I mean,” Twilight said with a scowl. “Is that if we give them what they want, it might encourage them to try it again. I’m sure you’ll agree that kidnapping ponies is a bad thing. The last thing we want to do is reward them for it.” “Ah, I gotcha! Why didn’t you say that in the first place,” Dash asked. “I did,” Twilight growled through her teeth. “Alrighty then. So we can’t go rushin’ off to the rescue, and we can’t give ‘em what they want. So what in tarnation are we s’posed to do,” Applejack asked, clearly out of ideas. “Well, I think that-” Twilight was interrupted by a loud knock on the door. “Guess Pinkie finally remembered that nopony’s at the boutique,” she said. “Twilight! We’re here,” Pinkie said from the other side. ‘We? But we’re all here, aside from Rarity,’ Twilight thought, pulling the door open. ‘Who else would she…’ her jaw dropped at the sight. Standing behind Pinkie was a massive crowd of anxious and restless ponies. They completely filled the streets surrounding the library, making it seem as if the entire town was now congregating around her house. Twilight suddenly got the unpleasant feeling that it WAS the entire town. “Umm, Pinkie? Why are all these ponies here,” she asked, trying to keep as calm as possible. “Because you said they needed to know, silly!” Pinkie tousled Twilight’s mane with a laugh. “Remember what you said? You said go wake up everypony and tell them to come here immediately, so I did!” “Not every everypony,” Twilight protested. “Just our friends!” “But everypony in town is my friend!” A stallion pushed his way to the front of the crowd. “Pinkie said you needed to tell us about some kind of emergency,” he said. “Something about a pack of wild dogs that are breaking into pony’s houses!” “I heard they were some kind of crazy ninjas,” another mare shouted from the back. “I was told they’re abducting mares and carrying them off into the night,” a frantic pony shouted. Soon the air was filled with countless voices yelling back and forth. Somehow the truth had become hopelessly distorted, and the crowd was rapidly devolving into a frenzied mob. Twilight could only watch helplessly, without the faintest idea how to react. Calming one panicked dragon? That she could do. But a whole crowd of hysterical ponies? Not exactly her specialty. Could this night get any worse? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Less than a mile from Ponyville, the diamond dogs were running. Even with Rarity held between them, Rover and Spot were able to keep an equal pace on three legs as they dodged around tree trunks and bounded over ravines. Fido kept to the rear, constantly pausing to look behind them, listening and sniffing for anypony that might be following. Their captive remained surprisingly docile, as though she understood that any distraction might lead to a rather painful collision or fall. They pushed themselves to move faster, breaths coming in low, powerful rumbles as they broke through the tree line and out onto the ridge. Rarity’s sister had probably already delivered their message. They’d have to work fast to get everything ready in time. They skidded to a halt at the edge of a hole. Taking Rarity from the two smaller dogs, Fido slung the unicorn over his shoulder. Rarity made a muffled protest at being tossed about like a piece of luggage, but he paid it no mind. One after another, they leapt down into the darkness. The dogs slackened their pace as they navigated the labyrinthine tunnels. This was their territory after all, no need to worry about further pursuit. They continued on for several minutes before stopping in a large, cozy cavern that had long since been cleared of gems and was now used by the pack as living space. It was certainly among their most finely furnished, filled with expensive furniture and fine decorations that the diamond dogs had acquired from years of trade with travelling merchants. There was a wide and comfortable bed, covered with embroidered pillows and thick, wool sheets. Couches and sitting cushions were scattered about the room, and carpets lined the stone floor. A bit ostentatious, perhaps, but only the best would do for their ‘hostage.’ Laying Rarity down atop one of the couches, the dogs stepped back to catch their breath. “We… we did it,” Spot said in amazement. “We actually did it!” Ecstatic at their success, the three began to cheer and congratulate one another on a job well-done. “Hmmufhh mhfh,” Rarity said, repeating herself until the dogs took notice. “Oh, sorry Miss Rarity,” Fido said. The larger dog leaned in and carefully untied the gag. “That better?” Rarity smacked her lips a few times. “Thank you, darling. Fashionable as it was, that gag was becoming a bit uncomfortable.” “Anything else we can do? Ropes too tight?” “Oh, they’re perfectly fine. Quite snug, in fact. No, I think…” Her next words were interrupted by a harsh cough, and the dogs crowded around her worriedly. “You okay? Did you get sick on the way over?” “No, nothing like that. My throat just feels so dry. Would one of you care to fetch me some water?” Spot leapt to his feet. “Right away, Miss Rarity!” He was back in a flash, holding the stone cup up to her lips as she drank. “Thank you ever so much,” she said gratefully. “All that screaming and struggling does tend to wear a lady out, but I simply had to keep in character.” “You did good,” Fido said. “All that kicking and screaming just like a real scaredy-pony!” “Aww, why thank you! And I must say that you three did an excellent job as well.” All three of their tails began to wag. “Really? You think we did good,” Rover asked hopefully. Rarity laughed. “But of course! Your performances were exemplary. So threatening, so forceful! Why, it felt just like a real kidnapping! I was in complete suspense…” The unicorn trailed off, her smile lessening. “Well, until my sister made her appearance and complicated things, that is.” Fido winced. “Umm, sorry I shouted at her… and said I was gonna roll her up in the closet.” Rarity gave him a reassuring pat with her bound hooves. “No apologies needed. I know that Sweetie can be rather frustrating and difficult to handle. She gets it from me, you know.” The dogs wisely chose not to agree with her on that point. “Nevertheless! I was quite impressed by how quickly you thought on your feet and incorporated her into the plan. Having her deliver the note, rather than leave it to be found in the morning? Quite ingenious!” Rarity pushed herself up into a seated position, her voice taking on an authoritative tone. “Now then, we can’t spend all night patting each other on the backs, can we? With Sweetie Belle delivering the note, we won’t have nearly as much time to prepare. Shall we get started on Phase Two?” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Celestia’s bedroom was still and peaceful, silent but for the ticking of the clock, the soft breathing of a sleeping princess, and the scratching of a quill against parchment. The far corner was dimly lit by a single candle. Sitting at the desk was an alicorn, her dark blue fur making her nearly invisible in the shadows. A small pile of scrolls and papers was spread out before her, and she worked dutifully to complete Celestia’s remaining paperwork. Affixing her signature to the report, she levitated it away and chuckled. Celestia had always found it difficult to properly manage her time. Whether it be homework when they were fillies or budgetary reports as monarchs, she never managed to stay caught up. Since her nightly duties tended to be a bit more relaxed, Luna had no qualms about lending a helping hoof. “Oh, sister. How ever did you manage to rule the kingdom alone for a thousand years,” she whispered fondly. She was just reaching for another document when she noticed something moving from the corner of her eye. She looked over to see a trail of smoke condensing over Celestia’s bed. Luna set her quill aside and stood up from the desk. She advanced cautiously, not sure what to make of the strange, glowing mist. Before she could take another step, there was a quick flash of light. A scroll appeared out of the smoke and fell to the mattress with a soft plop. Now she understood. Based on the letter’s arrival, it must have been sent by her nephew. But… what could he be sending, and so late at night? She knew that Celestia had already received Twilight Sparkle’s friendship report for that day, so it must be something else. Curious, she crept over for a better look. Her puzzlement deepened when she got a better look at the scroll. It looked to be made of ordinary parchment, a far cry from the high grade that Spike’s letters were normally composed upon. It was also missing the seal that marked it as being from and to a member of the royal family. What could this mean? Had another pony asked or forced Spike to send a letter for them? Was he in such a hurry that he had simply grabbed and sent the first bit of parchment he could reach? Or did Spike always use normal parchment when sending personal letters to his mother? Luna chewed her lip thoughtfully. It wouldn’t be proper of her to go snooping through her sister’s mail. She should probably just act as if she never even noticed it. Just ignore the letter and let Celestia read it in the morning. That was what would happen any other night, wouldn’t it? She nodded to herself. That was exactly what she was going to do. She would respect her sister’s privacy, finish the paperwork that remained, and then go about her business. She would not be tempted by Spike’s letter or its mysterious contents. Turning her back to the bed, she lifted her chin and marched back to the desk. But no matter how hard she tried to return to her work, the letter refused to leave her thoughts, and her eyes kept drifting back. The scroll sat motionless on the bed, taunting her with its secrets. It was practically asking her to open it, begging to be read. Now Luna was neither an impulsive nor weak-willed mare. But there was just something about that letter. Perhaps this was due to its strange appearance, or the unusual hour in which it arrived. Maybe it was the mind-numbing boredom caused by hours of paperwork that made any diversion alluring. Or maybe it was just because Celestia wouldn’t get around to seeing it for another seven hours. It all added up to a perfect storm of inquisitiveness that the moon princess found impossible to resist. She had to see what was in that letter! Lying flat on her belly, Luna crawled back over to the bed, raising her head just enough to peek over the top of the mattress. She briefly considered just waking Celestia and having her read the letter aloud. Then she could satisfy her curiosity without feeling like a nosy nag. And Tia wouldn’t mind, right? After all, this could be something important! Something that simply couldn’t wait until morning. Spike wasn’t the type to send off a frivolous message, not at this hour. What if he was hurt, or there was something wrong in Ponyville? She was just reaching out a hoof, but stopped herself once more as she looked down at Celestia’s peaceful expression. True the letter might be of the utmost importance. But then again… it might not be. Luna knew all too well how cranky Celestia could become if her beauty sleep was interrupted. And if this did turn out to be a false alarm, she’d be the one facing Celestia’s wrath. Did she really want to take that risk? In the end, she decided the safest bet was to read the message herself, and go from there. If it was an emergency, she would inform Celestia at once. If it wasn’t, she’d just reroll the scroll and put it back where she found it. No harm, no foul. Secure in her logic, Luna raised a foreleg and slowly inched it across the mattress. She didn’t dare use her magic. The humming and light from her horn might give her away. She kept her eyes glued to Celestia’s face, looking for any sign that the older alicorn was about to stir. But Celestia continued to slumber, and soon enough her hoof made contact with the scroll. With a mental cheer, she snatched up the letter and scooted back and away from the bed. Scrambling to her hooves, she carefully tucked the scroll behind her ear, taking great care to hide it under her mane. When she was satisfied that her ill-gotten gains were out of sight, she blew out the candle and tiptoed from the room. She trotted off down the hall with a bounce in her step and a gleam in her eyes, feeling far more pleased with her act of burglary than she probably should have. Guards and servants bowed as she passed, none of them suspecting a thing. Luna had to suppress a giggle. Here she was, carrying on like a master thief trying to smuggle her plunder out from under their noses. Just for the fun of it, she crossed the last few rooms in more of a sly and slinking manner, trying to look as deliberately shifty as possible By the time she reached her chambers, Luna was fully absorbed in her act. She looked over her shoulder constantly in case she was being tailed, and even took to ducking around corners and doubling back to cover her tracks. This caused a great deal of confusion for the guards posted outside her room. Walking up to them, Luna shifted her eyes left, then right, then left again. Finally, she gave them a conspiratorial wink. “If anypony asks, you never saw me tonight,” she instructed, then leapt into her room and slammed the door. Luna turned the lock and slid the deadbolt, then raced over to the windows and pulled the curtains shut. After a quick search of the room, which of course included checking under the bed and in every closet, she pulled the scroll free of her mane. Mission successful! Grinning widely, she opened the scroll, promising that she would only take a quick peek. Maybe read over the first two lines, three at the most, to see if the matter was urgent. She took her first glimpse of the text, and her grin immediately fell. “What in the world,” she muttered, rereading the initial line. The first thing she noticed was that the writing was positively atrocious. The letters were scrawled in harsh, uneven strokes that looked nothing like the impeccable claw-writing that Celestia had drilled into her son. Secondly, the letter seemed to be addressed to Spike himself, making her wonder why he would send it away. Confusion turned to dismay as she reached the second line. Rarity. She recognized the name as one of Spike and Twilight’s friends. And she had been… kidnapped?! Her jocularity vanished in an instant, and Luna rapidly scanned through the rest of the letter, her stomach twisting as the situation was made clear. An Element Bearer held hostage. A ransom demanded for her safe return. And Spike was the one ordered to deliver it. Luna’s mind was racing. She didn’t understand who these dogs were, or why they had targeted Rarity. Was it pure coincidence, or some deeper plot? How did Spike fit into the whole matter? She needed to get to the bottom of this, but how? Aside from her sister, the one pony in Canterlot most likely to know would be… Leaping to her hooves, the alicorn rushed across the room and blasted the door off its hinges, the pieces nearly smashing into the guards positioned on either side. Both pegasi leapt back, thoroughly unnerved by their monarch’s irrational behavior and wild expression. One of the stallions worked up the courage to approach. “Your… majesty? Is something the matter? What…” “Summon Captain Shining Armour to me at once,” Luna ordered. “Fly with all haste, and bring him here even if you have to drag him yourselves! Go, now!” Neither stallion waited to respond, but took to the air and shot down the hall in a flurry of wing beats. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Well, there's chapter two, and it looks as though not all was as it seemed. But what will happen next? Will Rarity and the dogs complete their mysterious yet sure to be convoluted scheme? Will the citizens of Ponyville riot in the streets? Will Luna jump to conclusions and destroy the entire planet? Will anypony ever acknowledge Sweetie's badass ransom note? Only time will tell.