It was another day in Fleur’s hideout. The males trained their skills while Fleur and Peace Maker were doing each other’s hooves and manes. Peace didn’t usually partake in all these frilly activities, but her commanding officer insisted- more like commanded, and it was her job to follow her Shadow’s orders.
“Not to be rude, Fleur, but shouldn't we be training?” Peace asked Fleur.
“Why would we?” Fleur responded, “Besides, we don’t need to. We are the best on this team, and you and I never get any bonding time.”
“I understand ma’am, but our enemies grow stronger every day. We can’t just sit here lollygagging. We have to get stronger too.”
“You worry too much, Peace.” Fleur said as she began to brush Peace’s mane, “Plus, that’s not the real problem. Tell me, what’s truly bothering you?”
Peace took a deep breath before speaking, “You remember at the Paintball arena when we all lost? It was two versus five. Not to mention that one pony on the other team wasn't adequately trained, and we still lost. We’re the best team the E.I.A has, yet we lost to Isra-a.k.a the Lone pony- and her lackey-the farmer guy.”
“Big Macintosh, you mean.”
“Yes, whatever…the point is how could that happen?”
“Look, dear, I could go on about how they were lucky, or how we weren't ready. It doesn't matter. It’s in the past. Oh, turn your head; I missed a spot.”
As Peace turned her head, Fleur could see the downtrodden look on her face. Truth be told, Fleur didn't know how they lost. All the odds were in their favor, yet her team failed. She shook the thought from her head; her only job now was to make sure her team was happy and mentally prepared for the next mission.
“Okay, since you want to train so much, how about we have a sparring match?”
“Really?! “Peace’s face lit up like a Hearth’s Warming Eve tree, “Uh…I mean, Sure, but what about our hoofs and manes?”
“We can do them another time. Besides, that gives us more time to bond.”
Both ponies walked into the sparring after changing their clothes into the appropriate attire. Each went to either side of the medium square, bowed, and positioned themselves in their respective stances-Fleur in her Tai chi stance and Peace stood in her Earthpony boxing stance. Fleur smiled to see her disciple finally becoming some sort of happy. She blinked and when she opened her eyes, Peace was out cold on the mat. Fleur moved to see what was wrong, but then felt a pinch in her neck. She felt the area with her hoof and pulled out a dart. After a quick examination, she sighed.
“You could have simply asked instead of shooting us…” Fleur barely finished her sentence before she gracefully collapsed to the floor.
Trixie walked into the Canterlot Prison. It wasn't her usual sort of place to go, but she had received a letter from her friend Twilight. It told her about her brother who had run away long ago. Try as she may, she couldn’t find him for many years, but that’s a story for another time. She came to the high tech prison to find her brother, and take him home.
Trixie walked through the multiple check-out points. Each one checking her background over and over again. One guard seemed to recognize her name, and laughed. She knew her name had a bad reputation, yet she was working hard to fix it. Once she was confirmed as a “Low level threat”, she was allowed into the visitation room. In the middle was sound proof, magic resistant glass. She didn’t have to look long before she saw a familiar , blue stallion.
“Azure? Is that you?” Trixie asked.
“Yes. It is the Awesome and Mighty Azure LulaMoon…” Azure replied.
Trixie couldn’t help, but smirk at how much her brother reminded her of her old self. The smug sense of superiority, the third person speech, and of, course the blue fur. In a way, he was the male version of her. Even the way he sat uninterested in the room made her remember the old days.
“You know who I am, right?” Trixie asked again.
“Of course… You’re Azure’s less powerful sister. I’ve heard of your numerous defeats at the hands of Twilight…Disappointing.”
Ignoring her brother’s comment, Trixie continued, “You know I’ve missed you since you ran away from home. Mom, before she passed, always talked of you coming home. She...We loved you.”
Azure shifted uncomfortably in his chair. His shell of arrogance seemed to be chipping away, but he kept trying to fill it quickly. He struggled to find the words to reply to his sister’s comment, yet none ever came. He just sat that opening his mouth as the words never formed. Both siblings sat in silence until Azure finally found spoke up.
“How did you find, Azure?” Azure asked.
“I was contacted by Twilight. Apparently, the stallion, Big Macintosh, who you were stopped by-“
“No! Azure had that battle in his hooves! I was stopped by some guards, and Shining Armor! Not that farmer oaf. I was some close to all the bits.”
“…He contacted me through Twilight, and told me you were here.” Trixie finished, “That brings up another question. Why did you try to rob the bank?”
“Azure and his friends were in trouble-food trouble, and they were our only option at the time.”
“Who are they?”
Azure looked around before talking, “A huge underground gang. They said we could join if we did the job for them. Azure doesn’t know why they needed the bits, but it was for something big-some renovation project. All Azure knows is that they are controlled by an ex-political leader.”
A female guard randomly came into the room, and motioned Trixie towards her. Confused, Trixie walked to the guard. They spoke for a while. While the conversation went on, Trixie’s smile grew. When it was over, she hugged the guard, and returned to her brother who sat uneasily in his seat.
“I have good news…” she cheered.
“Azure doesn’t care.” His arrogance had reached topped levels.
“Well you should. You and your buddies, the Pegasus and griffon, are being offered a deal. If you all tell what you know about the gang, then they’ll let you go…with community service of course.”
“You’re lying to Azure. Azure doesn’t believe you!”
“Stop being so hard headed. Look, you’re going to accept the deal. You’re going to come home with me. We’re going to be a family again, and, if you are good, I’ll let you perform in my show.”
“R-r-really?! Azure can get a part in your show? You never let me help with magic before.”
“Well, you can, but only if you agree to talk.”
Azure thought quietly to himself for a couple minutes before slowly nodding his head in agreement. He couldn’t help but smile as his sister smiled at him, yet the moment didn’t last long. Two guards came into the room, and escorted Azure away. He was out of the room, yet Trixie heard him cheer when his two buddies joined with him. Trixie silently hoped her brother wouldn’t mess anything up. This was his only chance.
Within two days, Azure was out of prison, yet he was kept under strict watch. He walked the streets of Canterlot a free stallion (more or less), yet he wasn’t alone. Next to him was his sister who kept him in line. With her help, he would become a productive part of society, or at least, a great act in her show. Everything was looking up for the two unicorns…
Until they were both kidnapped.