//------------------------------// // Escape // Story: The Journalist // by redspark //------------------------------// Chapter 11 Escape Shadow Pony watched as the five most annoying ponies he had ever met escaped the room. He shouted angrily, as he threw a magic blast against a stone pillar, making it collapse immediately. He felt... Mainly frustrated. He had hoped Nimble Hoof would join her, help him instead of them! But apparently his calculations had been wrong. She had opted for the other. Day was sad adv frustrated, but mostly sad, while Shadow was angry and also frustrated. He had been bested, and that wasn't good if he was to rule Equestria someday. He needed to be more clever than his enemies. Much more clever. "Get them." he growled as the immobile cloaked ponies slowly rose from the ground and snapped out of the shock of what had happened. "Now!" he shouted. All the ponies ran fast after them. * * * * Nimble Hoof felt her initial adrenaline fade away as she began to feel fear and be scared again. They where running away from Day, her best friend, and now her worst enemy. She was still trying to assess all the new information as she ran at the head if the ponies. After her was Silent Mane and then Sun Seeker. After her where the other tree, with Hightip throwing blasts of energy to brake down the doors and stop their pursuers. It was dark, but surprisingly Hightip's spell was still working so they had no trouble running. Sun Seeker stopped "Wait!" she shouted. All stopped. "We need to jump off this window." she said pointing at a window on her right. Silent Mane nodded as he broke the window and looked down. "It's a long way down..." he muttered. Sun Seeker shrugged. "You know, we could always go through the front door." she said, half teasing Silent Mane. The stallion groaned as he jumped down. He landed atop a pile of hay, softening his fall. When he got out of the hay he looked up ate the window. "Its safe!" he shouted. The ponies exchanged worried glances between each other before each one jumped. First Hightip, then Grey Stone, then Deepsqueak, leaving Sun Seeker and Nimble Hoof alone. "Jump, I can fly after you." Sun Seeker said to Nimble Hoof. Nimble Hoof nodded and looked down. It was a long fall. She gulped and Sun Seeker noticed her scared face. "Come on, it's not that long a fall. I'm certain nothing will go wrong." Nimble Hoof nodded again and slowly climbed out of the window. When her whole body was outside she jumped. She shouted as she fell, but stopped after falling on top of the hay stack. She got out trying to shake off all the pieces of hay that were still on her. Silent Mane helped her get out and then all looked as Sun Seeker jumped and unfurled her wings. Seconds after that, a sound of hoofsteps was heard inside. "They escaped." a voice said. "we've got to tall him..." said a second. The four ponies stayed no longer in there. They broke into full gallop before the shadow ponies inside noticed anything. It took them not more than a few minutes to finally return to their base, but they were tired after the sprint they had done. Nimble Hoof laid down in the floor exhausted as the other ponies also struggled to stay on their feet. A minute later, Sun Seeker arrived. “Great… job… back there, miss Hoof.” Hightip said. Nimble Hoof blushed slightly. Silent Mane nodded. “Yes Nimble, that was really brave.” He said. Nimble Hoof blushed even more. Sun Seeker smiled. Deepsqueak and Grey Stone nodded together, making Nimble Hoof blush even more. “Well, Nimble, I believe you look redder than a tomato!” Sun Seeker said laughing slightly. Soon, all the rest were laughing, including Nimble. Nimble Hoof finished laughing first because she was still short of air after the sprint. Silent Mane was next, but just because he couldn´t laugh more. Finally all stopped. Hightip shook his head slightly, still smiling. “Well, I guess we all need a good night´s rest. Great job everypony; and Miss Nimble…” Nimble Hoof looked at him. “…make sure this story hits records.” All the ponies around clapped. Nimble Hoof nodded. “I better get back to my house, I believe I have a lot of writing to do.” Hightip nodded. “Of course, of course… Silent, would you mind escorting Miss Nimble Hoof to her home, I don´t want to risk her after tonight.” Hightip said. Silent Mane nodded. “I thought you thought I was already prepared for everything after what just happened.” Nimble Hoof said, trying to sound hurt by the proposal Hightip made, but her smile made it just pointless. “That may be, but Shadow Pony… He isn´t one you want to meet on your own, in the dark alleys of Lower Canterlot.” He said, turning serious. “This might have proven that you are ready to belong to Lower Canterlot, but it does not make it any safer. Silent Mane will escort you.” Nimble Hoof nodded. Silent Mane smiled at her. “We better get going then. I think we both want to get some rest.” Nimble Hoof nodded, yawning. Everypony left the room slowly, going to sleep. Hightip nodded at them as he walked away too, leaving Sun Seeker, Nimble Hoof and Silent Mane alone. “I´d like to go with you.” Sun Seeker said suddenly. Both ponies looked at her surprised. “But I thought you wanted some rest?” Silent Mane said. “Yes, I do, but I really want to see Canterlot… er, I mean, the High Canterlot.” She looked down. “I´ve not seen it in a very long time.” Silent Mane was about to say no when Nimble Hoof interrupted. “Of course you can come with us Sunny.” Silent Mane eyes her quickly, but soon nodded, defeated. “Argh, alright, you can come, but don´t slow us down and no flying.” Sun Seeker smiled. “Thanks!” she said excitedly. She then realized she had shouted. She blushed. “Sorry.” Silent Mane shook his head and walked outside, opening the door. “If you two, would like to move one I believe we will all be on our beds faster.” Both mares walked outside and followed Silent Mane… Escape