The Sun had already set, but the last few rays were still visible from behind the mountains, and Canterlot Castle was preparing itself to another quiet night.
Twilight and Rarity had rented a hotel room, even though they had no intention of sleeping there tonight. Melissa was standing on the table, while both Twilight and Rarity were standing on their hind legs, their forelegs on the table, and observing the drawing what Twilight had come up with.
“It is a bit crude, but it is the best I could make based on what I saw and what you told me.” Twilight said to Rarity, frowning.
“It is wonderful, Twilight.” Rarity smiled back at her. “You are really talented!”
Twilight blushed a little at Rarity’s praise, which Melissa actually found cute, and had to suppress her laughter.
Twilight cleared her throat and continued, pointing the drawing with her hoof. “I think it is best to make it appear that Joshua escaped on his own. That is how we should be clear of any suspicions.”
“Why?” Melissa asked, looking at Twilight.
“Well… we are stealing somepony else’s property, it is against the law… but so is mistreatment of sla--humans.” Twilight answered, and smiled down at Melissa.
Melissa looked down, thinking about her words. Property, she said, but she is still doing this for me and Joshua. She looked up at Twilight and nodded.
Twilight looked back at the drawing and continued. “Also, since they think that Joshua escaped alone, they will search for him inside Blueblood’s castle, or immediately around it. We will be long gone by then.” She grinned at Melissa.
“M-mistress, what about the others, can’t we free them?” Melissa asked, even though she had already guessed the answer but she had to push it. Melissa was shivering a little.
Twilight shook her head, looking sad. “I am afraid not, Melissa. One escaped human can be attributed to carelessness from the guards, but not all of them.”
“Melissa, after we rescue Joshua, we can go after Blueblood and rescue the rest. Is that right, Twilight?” Rarity said, little unsure about Twilight’s reactions, looking back and forth between Twilight and Melissa.
“Yes, if we can get enough evidence and even then it will be dif--“ Twilight begun but was cut short by Rarity.
“And we will!” She grinned confidently. “And we will get to those poor little darlings out of there!”
“Right…” Twilight smiled a little at her friend’s enthusiasm, and tapped the table. “Now, we must get one of us there, so that we can get Joshua out. Those cages might be strong for humans but a piece of cake for an unicorn or alicorn.”
Melissa turned her head sharply and blinked, looking up at Twilight “You can’t use your magic from a distance?” Melissa asked, surprised. It was the first time she’d ever heard of the ponies’ powers having limits.
Twilight started to explain. “We must have line of sight to use our magic. Also, if the cage is damaged, it would make obvious that somepony freed him instead of making it look like he escaped on his own. At close range I can open the cage without damaging it.”
“But what about other humans… if they tell that he was helped…” Melissa insisted, still hoping that she could convince Twilight to free them.
Twilight frowned and lowered her head. “That is the risk we have to take. If we are lucky, they are all asleep and won’t be awake. If they see us, we’ll have to convince them to not to tell about us.”
“It would be easier to just free them all…” Melissa said quietly.
Twilight gave her sympathetic smile. “I know how you feel, but it is too dangerous now.”
No, you don’t, you have no idea how I feel, Melissa thought, wanting to scream it at Twilight, but bit her lip and remained silent. But she is probably right. Melissa thought at last and sighed.
Rarity was staring at the drawing and frowned. “But Twilight, how are you going to get there? Melissa told us there was just one window and if you just fly up to it, you could be easily spotted by the guards…”
“I know Rarity. So like you did with Melissa, I’ll fly up when the coast is clear, and get Joshua out of there quickly. You, Rarity, keep on close watch those guards.”
Melissa was suddenly excited. “Can I go with you!?”
“Yes.” Twilight smiled. “Don’t worry, you will be safe.”
“I don’t care if it will be safe or dangerous.” Melissa stepped forward. “I want to go with you… Mistress.” Melissa added.
Twilight smiled sweetly. “But first I need you to tell me what exactly you saw in the room. You were very brave to go there.” This made Melissa blush, to the amusement of Twilight and Rarity.
===
The sky was cloudless and moonless, the darkness only broken by stars and a few streetlights. Sticking to the shadows, Twilight and Rarity peeked out from behind the corner of a hat shop. They scanned the street ahead of them for any patrolling guards. Finding the way clear, they trotted down the street towards Blueblood's suite of the castle.
Melissa was riding on Twilight’s back as the two ponies walked slowly through the streets of Canterlot, Rarity leading the way. Melissa shivered from excitement, as she held Twilight’s mane in her hands.
Twilight couldn’t help but smile how cute Melissa had been, so excited and energetic to rescue her brother and now sitting on her back. The giant pony could just barely feel the weight of tiny human girl.
“Mistress…” Twilight’s ear twitched when Melissa whispered.
“What is it?” Twilight whispered back, without turning her head.
“Mistress, couldn’t we… couldn’t we rescue the others too?” Melissa said quietly.
“No, we have to make it appear that Joshua escaped on his own.”
“Maybe we could make it so that Joshua opened their cages too…” Melissa wasn’t giving up, even though she felt that she was pushing it, and these ponies were still the masters.
“Melissa.” Twilight said gently, turning her head so that she could see her. “If we released the others too, we couldn’t hide them all, and they would be just captured and maybe punished for it. If just one escapes, Blueblood won’t have time to seek just one little human boy.”
“But…” Melissa started, but Twilight cut her off.
“Melissa, releasing others would put you and Joshua in danger too.” Twilight said patiently.
Melissa looked away angrily, biting her lip again.
“If you two are finished.” Rarity said, stopping behind a house. “We are here.”
Twilight and Melissa both looked at the white castle, which in the darkness of the night looked dark and menacing to Melissa. The castle was surrounded by a metal fence and guard ponies were patrolling the yard between fence and the castle itself.
“All right, Rarity, Melissa.” Twilight said, observing the castle. “The faster we do this, the better.”
Twilight turned to face Rarity. “Rarity, if a guard comes, send us a sign as we agreed.”
Rarity nodded, grinning confidently. “You can count on me.”
“Melissa, are you ready?” Twilight asked, turning her head to her.
“I am, Mistress!” Melissa said, little too loud in her excitement and grasped Twilight’s mane tighter.
They had to wait for a while for guards to move out of sight, but when it finally looked that the way was clear, Twilight spread her wings and gracefully lifted off. She moved her wings as silently as she could while she flew higher and higher.
Melissa was concentrating on Twilight’s mane hairs in front of her, not daring to look down.
Twilight reached the tower’s window. It was too small for her, and there wasn’t enough room in front of the window to land so she had to keep hovering while she used her magic to levitate Melissa from her back and at the same time open the window, without making a sound.
They operated silently as they had talked through every step beforehand. Melissa was clutching her chest while Twilight levitated her inside and towards Joshua’s cage. She had been lifted by unicorn magic before but that was only short distances and not far from ground, she had not experienced something like this before and could only hope that Twilight knew how to use her magic. She looked around, all the humans, as far as she could see were sleeping. Melissa focused on Joshua, who was sleeping in his cage too.
Twilight concentrated to levitate Melissa as gently as she could and lowered her on the table in front of Joshua’s cage. Melissa sighed a relief as soon as she felt her feet touch the solid surface again and felt that Twilight released her from her magical grip.
Melissa tip-toed to the cage and reached her hand between the bars to gently touch Joshua. She noticed how her hand was shaking.
“Joshua…” She called quietly and shook the sleeping boy. “Joshua, wake up.”
Joshua moved a bit and lifted his head. “Wh-what…?” He muttered and it took a moment before he realized who was shaking him.
“Melissa!” He shouted and within moments was fully awake. “What are you doing here!”
“Shh!” Melissa put her hand in front of his mouth. “Quiet. I have come to rescue you.” She said smiling.
“Rescue me? H-how are you going to do that?” Joshua looked puzzled. Melissa moved a bit so that he could see Twilight. For a moment, Joshua’s eyes were full of fear.
“It is all right, she will help us.” Melissa calmed down Joshua, and then she stood up, waving her hand at Twilight as a signal.
Twilight bit her lip as she concentrated again. They had considered that Twilight would have simply teleported into the room, but Twilight had told how loud it was, that it might wake up the other humans and even alert the guards.
Joshua watched in amazement as the pony’s horn started to glow and two bars of his cage shimmered lightly before bending making it possible for him to squeeze between them.
As soon as Joshua was out of the cage, Melissa grabbed him into a strong hug. Melissa felt tears coming into her eyes. “I missed you…” She whispered.
“I missed you too, I was so afraid that…” Joshua started but words stuck to his throat.
“How did you--” Joshua looked at his sister.
Melissa smiled. “Shh, I will explain everything later. Now, we have to leave.”
“Wait! What about the others.” Joshua looked at other sleeping humans. “We have to get them out too.”
“Later. I promise.” Melissa said firmly. “Now we must go, before anyone notices.”
Twilight had in the meantime closed the bars, so that the cage looked undisturbed. She saw that the two human children were ready, so she carefully levitated them across the room towards her. So far everything was going perfectly.
Melissa saw that Twilight had drops of sweat on her forehead, from the effort it took to concentrate and use magic as accurately as she could. Twilight levitated the two humans on her back.
Melissa felt how Joshua was shaking and put her arm around him. When she was near enough, she grabbed Twilight’s mane again, keeping Joshua in her lap.
“All right.” Melissa whispered to Twilight and she released her magic. Last thing to do was close the window. Twilight then looked back where Rarity was, who gave her all clear signal.
Twilight glided silently down, and sighed when she could finally rest.
“So this is Joshua, hm?” Rarity had come beside Twilight and was looking closely at the two hugging humans on Twilight’s back. Joshua was shaking badly at the presence of giant ponies.
“It is okay, they are friends.” Melissa said, and immediately thought that that wasn’t exactly true. But they had helped her nonetheless.
“And how are you, Twilight? You look exhausted.” Rarity said, looking at Twilight who was still breathing heavily.
“Yes… yes, I am.” Twilight smiled tiredly. “That took more effort than I expected.”
Suddenly a bright light shone to their eyes. “What are you doing here!?” A commanding voice asked. An unicorn guard pony come closer, his horn shining brightly to give light.
“Twilight…” Melissa whispered, now fear grasping her, they were so close. Joshua was suddenly yanked from her lap. Twilight was between the guard and Rarity, and she had reacted quickly, levitating the boy from Twilight’s back.
Twilight, after a moment of hesitation, stood smiling in front of the guard pony. “Yes, what is it? Can’t a Princess take a walk with her friend without being disturbed?” She said with confident tone.
Guard’s eyes widened for a moment when he saw who the ponies were. “Excuse me, Princess Twilight, but my orders are to patrol these streets…”
“I can see that, guard. We are not causing any trouble here, aren’t we?” Twilight said. Melissa had pressed herself against Twilight’s mane fearful that if the guard might see her, and fearing for Joshua.
“No, of course not.” The guard said quickly, but walked around Twilight.
Twilight stood still. She bit her lip, one wrong word could ruin everything.
The guard looked at them in the light of his horn. The princess had a human girl on her back, and the other pony, a unicorn mare was sitting and holding another human, hugging him against her chest.
Seconds passed but then the light subdued and the guard bowed to Twilight. “Excuse me, Princess, but I had my orders.”
“Of course. I am sorry, I was tired.” Twilight answered. “It was getting a bit too late.” She looked at the sky. “Was that everything?”
“Yes. Yes, it was…” Guard said, he was clearly thinking something but eventually moved out of their way.
Once they were out of the guard’s sights, Melissa dared to breathe again. “Joshua?” She called.
“I am here.” Joshua answered, riding on Rarity back.
“I am envious of you, Twilight. Now you have two cute little humans.” Rarity said, grinning. She turned her head and nuzzled Joshua, who had to grab Rarity’s fur not to be knocked off from giant unicorn’s back “He is so precious!” Rarity chuckled.
“Yeah…” Twilight sighed. “Now back to our room to get our things. Morning’s first train leaves before sunrise.”
Two ponies hurried their steps, carrying Melissa and Joshua, and disappeared into the shadows.
===
Morning had come and the disappearance of one of the humans had been soon discovered.
Prince Blueblood levitated the empty cage and looked at it closely. Everything looked intact, except that the human who was supposed to be inside it, wasn’t.
Without taking his eyes off the cage, he asked the guard. “And no-one saw how he escaped?”
“Yes, sire, they all said that they were asleep.” The guard said, in an uncertain tone.
“Hmm… Question all the guards, if anypony saw something.” Blueblood frowned and put the cage back. He then walked to the cages. “All right, who saw what happened?”