Chapter 18
Prison Entry
Deeper in the Outer Rim galaxy, a gigantic ship loomed over the horizon. It reached half a mile from bow to stern and stood fifty-five stories high. Surrounding this monstrosity of a ship was a small fleet of ships. Upon the sails of every ship was the sigil of the Pirate Lord of the Outer Rim. The sigil bore a skull with red eyes over a toothy grin and tri-pointed hat sat atop the head. Under that toothy grin were cross-bones. To all those that saw this sigil they would run in fright for fear of being destroyed by the giant ship and it’s fleet.
Inside the giant ship were pirates of all ages, races, and sizes, working in the giant belly of the ship. In the belly there were multiple ships from frigates to sloops attached to mechanical arms that were connected to the walls. Hanging from ropes were unicorns and earth ponies wearing harnesses and propelling from ship to ship. With heavy tool belts they sealed the holes on the hulls of the vessels, stitching patches on the sails, or even painting another layer of wood stain on the wood work. Those that didn't work in the belly of the ship, were either in the mess deck eating or patrolling the halls.
In one of the navigation rooms, a young pegasus hybrid was busy scrutinizing the radar as his twin unicorn sister walked into the room with two mugs of steaming coffee.
"Hey Pound, I brought the coffee." She said sleepily as she set her mug on the counter by her chair. She looked down seeing her brother watching the green radar screen closely. "Pound Cake, seriously you’ve been staring at that screen for what? Eight bells?"
"Shush!" He hissed. His sister blinked once then glared at him with her hand on her hip.
"Hey! I'm talking to you mister! I'm the eldest!"
Suddenly the pegasus gasped, leaping up in the air, flapping his wings, and pointing his finger at the screen. "Ah-ha!" He exclaimed.
"What?" His sister asked looking at the green screen to see nothing except for the dots that marked their ships circling them. "What?" She asked again.
"I saw a distress beacon right there!" He exclaimed pointing at the far upper left corner of the radar screen.
"Huh? I don't see anything."
"Of course, you can’t because we didn't turn that way."
His twin sister groaned rubbing her horn. "Pound Cake, you know we’ve only been inching east for the last three hours, right?"
"Yeah. An hour ago I saw the blip then thirty minutes later I saw it again. The closer we inch towards the east, to the Inner Galaxy, the blip pops up."
His sister stared at him for a long moment setting the second cub by Pound Cake’s station. "Meaning?" She asked crossing her arms across her chest.
"Pumpkin, don’t you understand? The distress beacon is pink!"
His sister, Pumpkin Cake went stiff turning to him in shock. "Pink?"
"Pink balloon, sis."
Pumpkin sighed softly before slapping her brother upside the head causing him to whimper in pain, rubbing his head.
“Owwie!” Pound whimpered glaring at her. “Why did you do that for?”
"Why didn’t you say so in the first place?!” She scolded causing her brother to shrink into his chair, “We have to tell the Captain, ASAP!"
"Right," Pound said nodding as his twin rushed out of the room. Pound blinked once then gasped. "Oh wait, right, right! Hey wait up!" Pound screamed out chasing after her.
Pound slammed the door behind him and rushing after Pumpkin down the spiraling stair case to the floor. He ran after his sister down the hall to the two large double doors. Pumpkin burst through the double doors hearing the sounds of construction as she entered The Hanger in the belly of the fortress. She yelped and went down on the ground in a slide, sliding between the legs of a giant earth pony. The earth pony yelped jumping away, slamming into two other ponies carrying heavy canvas for the patching of sails, and knocking them to the ground.
"Watch it!" The pony cried out before turning to see thee glares on his shipmates. He yelped again ducking as Pound Cake flew over him before landing on a table scaring a mare before leaping to the floor and began his sprint.
"Damn kids." The mare snarled as she began stitching canvas patches.
Pumpkin stopped looking around her to notice her original path was blocked by workers, she had to find an easier way to make it to her destination. Then her eyes looked up seeing a pulley being released from an upper floor as it slides down a line of rope leading to a lower deck. Pumpkin smirked as she leaped on to a stack of barrels waiting for the pulley to get closer.
One mare who was busy staining a patched spot on the hull of a frigate, turned to notice Pumpkin and Pound. "Careful you two!" She called out as Pumpkin grabs the hook on the pulley and held it looking down the line and smiled. She leaped off the barrels with the hook between her hands and began a fast decent with an excited scream of delight. Pound Cake leaped over the rail and began gliding down as his sister made the zip line down. Pumpkin released the hook and fell to the ground surprising three workers who were taking a break. One of them splashed his drink into his friend’s face causing her to scream.
"Sorry emergency!" Pumpkin called behind her running. Pound skirted a mare’s hat, flying over the three workers as he followed his sister to a set of doors leading out of the hanger.
The twins ran down the hall until they reached a large room with a spiraling staircase leading upward. Pumpkin began her ascend up. Pound though opened his wings and flew up through the center of the spiral. He reached for his twin, seeing him she grabbed his hands and was hoisted up off the stairs then up through the center to the top. Pound released his sister at the top in front of two large doors being guarded by two pirates. Pound landed next to her panting.
"Emergency! Need to speak to the Captain." Pound Cake panted saluting. The two guards nodded and allowed the two teenagers to pass, opening the doors into the Helm Station. They entered the giant room with huge glass windows overlooking the large upper deck of the ship towards the bow. The interior is a giant control room with the giant helm sitting by the windows. Several pirates sat at chairs in front of navigation monitors, radar screens, radios, even security terminals showing security footage of all parts of the ship. The ponies turned to see the two teenagers enter the room as the guards closed the doors. As the ponies returned to their work the twins could see their captain standing at the helm whistling a cheery tune and tapping her black polished boot on the deck in a beat.
Pumpkin walked forward with her brother behind her. "Captain, ma'am." Pumpkin called stopping a few feet behind her. Their captain tilted her head stopping her tune and turned slightly, looking at the twins behind her from the reflection on the glass. Pumpkin turned to her brother pointing her thumb at him. "My brother, Pound Cake found a distress beacon."
The captain hummed turning back ahead to view the stars. Pound cleared his throat. "One of our own, Captain." Pound said with amazement. "There is only one pony that we know of that has our beacon." He said smiling a touch.
The captain blinked then made a maniacal grin. "Where?" She asked in a whisper turning to the glass. The twins smiled in return seeing her smile reflecting towards them.
"Far East, Captain. Into the Equestrian Galaxy." Pound answered.
"Hmm," The captain hummed rubbing her chin with her scarred fingers. "Perhaps it's time to pay old Equestria a visit and see what my blue moon did that he needed my help with."
"Orders, Captain?" Pumpkin Cake asked, saluting. The pirates in the room turned and stood up with a salute as their captain turned to them, grinning. She pointed to one of the pirates in the room.
"Tell the engineers to prepare my ship, tell Quarter Master River to gather a blood thirsty crew.” The pirate nodded as he pulled on his headset to send the order as the other pirates listened to their leader. “We're going to Equestria." The captain said as she laughed, soon followed by a loud snort.
♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫
"There she is." Applejack said pulling down the spyglass after spotting their destination. She passed the spyglass to Octavia who was standing next to her on the quarterdeck. Octavia looked through the glass to see the prison. The prison was built into a giant asteroid being steadied by satellites surrounding it to keep it from moving from its set position. Very high tech, she thought.
"The Rock." Applejack stated firmly, shaking her head rubbing her face with her hands feeling old.
"It looks very, protected." Octavia said with worry handing the spyglass to Vinyl standing behind her. Vinyl took a look at the prison then shook her head.
"Yeah, it sure does." Vinyl added with worry as she lowered the spyglass looking at Blossomforth next to her. "Are you sure we can slip inside with nothing to alert them of our presence?"
Blossom nodded. "Blueblood is more concerned for his wellbeing. If he gets money for the prison, he uses the money for himself and his Stallion Cave in the prison. But I do suggest once we get there, you go do your thing and get what you want fast before they start patrolling the hanger."
"Hanger?" Sweetie Belle asked listening to them.
"The Rock is one of the very few places where instead of a dock you just go under the prison then go up into the hanger. Just like your life boat entering the ship." Blossom answered. Sweetie Belle nodded biting her knuckles thinking about what she wanted to do.
Vinyl sighed. "Alright everypony get some food in your guts and get your weapons primed and ready." Vinyl ordered walking off. Derpy nodded taking the helm again as everypony else rested up or ate. Once dinner was finished many ponies headed off to their rooms readying themselves for an upcoming fight.
Blossom and Raindrops spoke with Luna about a procedure if the unthinkable happened on the ship. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom were in the engine room doing small fixes and tinkering with the launch system. Sweetie Belle was nowhere to be seen, much to Scootaloo’s worry. Fluttershy stood in Rainbow’s room watching Rainbow Dash prepare a musket trying to get the old thing to work properly. Fluttershy just stood there worriedly trying to plead Rainbow into not going. Applejack was sitting outside staring at the prison as it slowly approached, clenching and unclenching her fists with anxiety. Spike, with aid from Twilight, was busy cleaning up the mess and the kitchen before the fight. Spike made sure to sharpen the knives for an easy weapon. Twilight was busy washing down the tables looking up watching the young dragon work. Derpy stood with Daring at the helm and the controls planning how to maneuver the Fancy Flute into a hanger.
Octavia climbed down the ratlines after taking an extra look at the sails and the lines to make sure nothing was loose or about to snap. After her inspection she decided to go to the hammock deck to talk to Vinyl. Worried about the idea in her mind. She knew the guardians were right, she wants to know more about Vinyl and understand what had happened to her. Or possibly to figure out how Vinyl knew the Element of Laughter or what her connection to her was. Octavia took in a deep breath then walked straight for the hatch that would lead her down to the hammock room.
In the hammock room Vinyl was staring at herself in the mirror set up on the wall. After a moment of examining her face she sighed softly looking down at her arms to see them getting a bit fatter since her time sick. She was happy to see that she was regaining what she lost, but she knew it would take a long time to regain her lost strength. She heard knocking on the wall and turned to see Octavia stepping off the stairs into the room.
"Hey," Octavia said with a small smile.
Vinyl blinked then made a small smile in return as she quickly pulled down her sleeves to hide her small arms. "Um hey." She said back smiling.
Octavia walked over to her looking between Vinyl and at the mirror smiling. "I can imagine you in a real Captain’s suit and hat." Octavia said reaching her hands over to fix Vinyl’s vest. Vinyl blushed at that looking at herself in the mirror.
"Nah, can't see it." Vinyl said with a grin then paused giving Octavia a searching glare. "You’re not coming with me." She said severely.
"I know that." Octavia said softly looking up into her eyes. "And I know it’s not my place to ask but... Can you tell me more about you?" She asked silently.
"Me?"
"Yes about you, your life... your family?"
Vinyl bit her lip thinking, turning away. "I don’t think-"
"Vinyl please, tell me a little bit, it doesn’t have to be sad or horrible just... I just want to know you better."
"Why?" Vinyl asked a touch defensively. Octavia gulped then leaned forward surprising Vinyl with a swift kiss on her lips. Vinyl blinked blushing hard seeing Octavia smile at her sadly.
"I just want to understand who you are so it'll be easier to love you more." She said smiling a touch. Vinyl gulped then cleared her throat.
"Wow..." She said rubbing the back of her neck, blushing even more. "Geez, you made it harder you know."
Octavia turned away with a blush. 'I just wish you could trust me."
"No, I do!" Vinyl quickly said taking her hands. "I do it's just... I'm not ready to talk about it." Vinyl whispered shamefully. "There's just so much of it that's horrible and... It's just old, hard memories." She felt Octavia's fingers on her cheeks stroking her face.
"Vinyl, I don’t want you to be ashamed or scared or sad. I know you've been through Tartarus and back ten times over, but I want you to be happy. You don’t have to tell me the horrible things. How about the happy things?"
Vinyl smiled a touch. "Well," She blushed smiling at her. "I used to play in the junkyard by my house. That was fun. And my mom made the best pastries any chef could make. She was a baker pony after all." Vinyl said smiling then she frowned sadly turning away. Octavia leaned forward wrapping her arms around her holding her.
"I wish you could have met her." Vinyl whispered. "She would have liked you. Royal or not." She whispered hugging her back. Octavia smiled.
"Is it true though, you’ve met my parents?" Octavia whispered. Vinyl nodded into her neck. "Are they... happy?" Octavia asked her voice cracking. Vinyl smiled.
"As long as they have each other, they are happy." Vinyl said softly pulling back seeing Octavia in tears. "And they told me to keep an eye on you and protect you." Vinyl said earnestly smiling at her.
Octavia smiled gave her another firm squeeze. "Thank you for telling me, Vinyl."
Vinyl smiled then hesitatingly gave her a peck on her cheek. "You’re welcome."
The two stood there in each other’s arms, enjoying each other’s company. It felt nice for Vinyl, she never had such close contact with anyone in a long while, not like this. It made her feel good.
"Hey Vinyl, we're about-" Spike called out running down the steps and stopped seeing Vinyl and Octavia, still hugging, staring at him blushing. "Oh, uh sorry about that." He said worried catching his captain in a personal moment then he smiled cheekily at them. Putting two and two together. "I'll leave you two lovebirds alone for a while." He said chuckling. Vinyl blushed angrily glaring at him as she pulled away from Octavia waving her fist at him.
"Get out of here you dragon spawn!" Vinyl roared as Spike made a hasty retreat up the stairs.
"We dock in six minutes!" He called back laughing. Vinyl growled, the blush still on her face from being caught.
"I don’t care if he's a little brother to me, I'll wring his neck!" Vinyl spat. Octavia chuckled as her blush faded away.
"Just promise me you'll be careful." Octavia said suddenly. Vinyl turned to her with a nod.
"I will."
"No heroics?"
"No heroics." Vinyl said firmly with a smile. Octavia smiled in return and gave her another quick kiss on the lips then went up the stairs back on the main deck. Vinyl blinked with a goofy smile on her face.
"Wow… She kissed me." She said giggling like a school filly. She was kissed by Octavia! This moment made her the happiest mare in the galaxy. She frowned suddenly then looked up through the hatch to see the infamous prison now above them. She let out a sigh as her excitement turned to worry. "It's now or never." She walked over to the old barrel and reached inside to pull out a pistol and some charges. Then she found her trusty knife and stuck it in her belt ready for action. Lastly she pulled out an old box and opened it to pull out a bit of folded leather, which contained her lock picks that she made when she was younger. Once she was prepared she ran up the steps to the main deck as the ship slowly rose up into one of the large openings to the hanger of the prison.
"Gently, gently!" Daring ordered as Derpy struggled in controlling the ship into the gravity fields of the prison hanger. Everypony watched in awe as the ship entered through the bottom of the prison then inside.
Everypony gasped and yelped in shock covering their eyes and faces from the brightly lit interior. The hanger was a giant room, white walls and floors made of a tile flooring, giant light fixtures on the ceiling shining down bright florescence lights. Floating next to them is a frigate with the royal guard colors.
"Oh, forgot about that." Raindrops exclaimed rubbing her eyes, squinting into the giant room. "This place was built with the best technology possible. Blueblood made this place the newest of space stations in the galaxy."
"Oh... my." Fluttershy whispered with shock at how advanced the hanger looked. Rainbow walked over to her wrapping her arms around her from behind her feeling her quiver with fear.
"It’s not so scary.” Rainbow reassured her feeling Fluttershy start to ease. She turned to her to see Rainbow wink at her. “It is very incredible." Rainbow whispered in awe.
Twilight nodded. "Truly." She turned to Blossomforth.
"We better hurry,” Blossom stated severely looking up at the balconies above them. “Who knows how much this place was renovated since Raindrops and I were here. And how many troops are here."
Vinyl nodded turning to Applejack, Rainbow, and Daring. "Alright let’s get this over with and fast." Everypony looked at one another with worry. "Remember, no sudden noises or racket from this ship. If they spot you try to distract them as long as you can. If they start shooting, you all shoot back. Keep them off the ship and keep them from locking us up."
The crew all nodded. Blossomforth and Raindrops lead Princess Luna below decks with them to hide. Twilight and Fluttershy said their goodbyes to their friends. Twilight hugged Daring for good luck as she handed her a musket to hold. Daring nodded smiling kindly at her assistant before heading to Spike who held the rope ladder.
Rainbow hugged Fluttershy tightly kissing her on her temple.
"Be extremely careful," Fluttershy whimpered holding her tight. "You're still recovering." She said worriedly.
Rainbow smiled with a wink. "I'll be careful. I promise."
For a second the two mares just stared at one another, arms apart, wondering what to do next. Until Rainbow pulled away blushing hard as she walked over to Daring as Spike tossed the rope ladder over board and helping Daring over the rail.
Applejack knelt down to hug her sister, she felt her sister hug her back. "Remember, stay hidden and stay out of the line of fire.” Applejack pushed Apple Bloom back at arm’s length to look her in the eye to notice her sister looked frightened. Applejack reached behind her back to pull out a pistol she had holstered there and handed it to Apple Bloom. “And if you have to, shoot any pony that comes to grab you, got it?"
Apple Bloom nodded taking the pistol into her hands. “I will, Applejack.” Applejack smiled sadly and nodded.
"Good, be safe." She whispered kissing her sister on her head hugging her tight.
Vinyl turned to see Derpy and Scootaloo looking at her. Vinyl smirked at them and nodded. “Just like the Arena.” She whispered seeing Derpy frown then nod her head once. Scootaloo looked heartbroken hearing that old saying and nodded before turning and leaving for the engine room. Apple Bloom followed her down there as Applejack headed for the rail.
“Vinyl,” Vinyl turned to see Octavia walk up to her.
“I’ll be careful.” Vinyl said soothingly taking her hand feeling Octavia squeeze her hand.
“Don’t do anything stupid.” Octavia whispered turning away. Vinyl swallowed thinking about what to do now. Should she kiss her? On the cheek? On the lips? Vinyl blushed noticing she was taking too long!
“Vinyl,” Vinyl jumped and turned to see Spike waving for her. “The others are waiting for you.”
Vinyl nodded and turned back to Octavia to see her look into her eyes. She reached up to her new crystal guardian and held it in her hand with a small smile. “I’ll be back soon.” Vinyl whispered. “And when we do get back … I think I’ll probably talk to you a bit more.”
Octavia blinked confused until she noticed the sad meaning in her captain’s eyes. “You mean you want to talk about …. Vinyl, you don’t have to do that.”
“I do.” Vinyl said blushing. “I trust you and well, I want to help you. And telling you about my trials in the arena will help then I’ll do it.”
Octavia smiled and nodded turning away. “I’ll look forward to it.”
“Great.” Vinyl whispered before walking over to the rail and began climbing down the rope ladder regretting not giving Octavia a kiss before leaving her again.
Octavia sighed watching Vinyl leave the ship. She turned and began to walk to the mess deck to get something to drink. As she walked past the stairs to the quarterdeck she failed to notice one little filly hiding. It was Sweetie Belle, she was hiding under the steps waiting for everyone to go about their business. She watched Spike hold up a thumbs up to the four mares before walking away heading for the first hatch to the hammocks.
Sweetie Belle crouched and snuck over to some barrels to hide as she peeked over the rail to watch Vinyl, Applejack, Rainbow, and Daring make the silent dash to one of the large opened doors that lead to a large hallway. Once she saw them disappear she tiptoed to the rope ladder and began her decent down to the floor. Her shoes clank on the metal floor of the hanger doors then made a dash across the hanger floor to the hallway, following the four mares with her own mission.
♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫
Ten minutes into their travel in the prison, Vinyl looked past a corner to see no guard ponies nor prisoners around. This was starting to get her agitated. "We've been walking for how long?" She asked with an annoyed glance to Applejack standing behind her.
"About ten minutes." The ex-pirate answered.
"Right and there are still no sign of any guards or soldiers. No cells either."
"Perhaps they are farther into the prison?" Daring asked curiously looking around.
"Maybe." Rainbow said worriedly, getting antsy.
"There’s some kind of railing right here." Vinyl said pointing down on the floor to a large rail with blue lights running down the rail line that turns a corner to another hallway. Applejack walked over kneeling down to the floor to look at the glowing rail line.
"Hmm, they used this technology back in the Canterlot prison.” Applejack said surprised looking down the hall then turned back to the others. “These are for the electrical cars that drive through the prison. The prison cells should be along this rail line. They use the cars to transport prisoners to their cells." Vinyl nodded as Applejack stood back up with a wince holding her knee. “The left and right tunnels where the rail line is set, each of those halls can hold the prisoner cells. And where your dad might be." Vinyl nodded looking both ways.
"So what now?” Rainbow asked.
After thinking for a while, Vinyl sighed coming to a decision. "This is where we must split up. I'll look around the cells. Surely this auditorium Raindrops mentioned is probably with the prison cells. I'll look for signs of my father and the mirror. You guys keep going straight. You might find the big computer center there."
The three mares nodded.
"Are you sure you don’t want me or Rainbow Dash with you?" Applejack said with concern.
Vinyl nodded. "I'm sure. I’ll be quicker by myself. I work better alone."
Applejack nodded then sighed. "Let’s go ladies." She ordered and started forward. Rainbow and Daring nodded running after her. Vinyl sighed and started running down left hall hoping she didn’t just made a big mistake. Hanging behind the four mares, Sweetie Belle peeked out from her hiding spot. She took in a deep breath then started running after Vinyl down the left hall.
♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫
Applejack stopped her followers holding her hand up. Rainbow stopped feeling Daring bump into her. Rainbow glared at the professor to see her blush with a silent, “Sorry.” Applejack turned to them placing her finger to her lips. The pegasi went silent as Applejack peeked around the corner a touch to see five guards talking and laughing. She looked ahead past the guards to look into the giant room to see a large pillar in the center. At the top closer to the ceiling was a large circular room with large windows. Through the windows Applejack could see what look to be terminals and hologram screens. The computer station.
Applejack turned to the two mares. Holding up her hand to show five fingers then she pointed to her eyes then points into the room. Applejack backed up then leaned back into the wall looking out. Rainbow leaned forward to see the room to see the five guards and pulled back, nodding to her. She turned to Daring and nodded. Daring peeked over then smiled seeing the computer station. She pulled back rubbing her hands together in anticipation.
Applejack went down in a crouch to the floor as Rainbow crouched down next to her. Applejack waved her finger for Rainbow and Daring to move closer to her to whisper. "I'll get these guards distracted, long enough for you and Daring to get up there and get whatever info we need." Rainbow blinked with a look of total terror at the idea.
"No way AJ, let me do this one."
Applejack shook her head. "Not in your current state, Dash. I'm fit and healthy and you’re still healing. You're better off sniping with that musket than running like me. Here," She said handing her musket to Daring. "I'll make a mess of things. They won't question where I came from only that I'm an Earth pony."
"They'll kill you if given the chance." Rainbow hissed.
Applejack made a confidant smirk. "Then I won't give them the chance. I'll meet you at the ship when I lose them."
"AJ!" Rainbow hissed reaching out as Applejack started running into the room. Daring grabbed Rainbow pulling her back covering her snout to keep her from shouting.
"Hey you yella bellies!" Applejack screamed out. The guards turn to her with shock. "Your mothers are half bred cows that got knocked up by an earth pony pirate!" Applejack made a mad sprint to another hall.
"Get her!" A mare ordered and all of the guards in the room went running after Applejack.
"Damnit!" Rainbow hissed, feeling useless watching her friend run off risking her life like that. But she knew Applejack was right and she couldn't sit around and let this chance slip by. The sooner she gets this mission done, the quicker she’ll go help Applejack.
"Come on Doc, let’s get this over with." Rainbow ordered harshly. Daring nodded as the pegasi flew to the stairwell closest to the top and quickly ran up the steps to the door, leading into the computer hub. Rainbow opened the door silently then looked inside pulling out her pistol as a precaution if there was a guard sleeping inside or not. Seeing nor hearing anything she nodded to Daring.
"It's clear, make it quick!" She ordered. Daring nodded and ran to the nearest computer and started hacking. "How long will this take?" Rainbow asked looking out the windows realizing she could see the four main halls from the high position.
"As long as it will takes, Captain Dash. I'll go as fast as I can. These are newer versions of the original terminals I used in the University."
Rainbow cursed silently watching the halls. Hoping and praying Applejack will be able to lose her pursuers long enough or Rainbow to come to watch her back.
♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫
At the top floor of the prison, sits Blueblood’s suite where the prince himself was fixing his dark blue bowtie in the mirror. "I appreciate you two boys coming in today." He said smiling looking from the mirror to see two unicorn stallions, twin brothers with red and white hair.
"Quite," Flam said smiling. "We always bring our best slave fighters here."
"Sure do, brother.” Flim replied smiling before turning back to Blueblood. “So your highness, you said you have a special fight planned?"
Blueblood chuckled. "Yes, I do. Recently I learned that my wayward hybrid niece was the one that escaped your games in Filly, right?" The brothers looked at one another then back at Blueblood.
"Yes," Flam said twirling his mustache turning to his brother.
"We’ve been wondering when we might meet the little flower again." Flim said smiling evilly.
Blueblood chuckled. "In due time, gentle colts. When my captain returns from her trip, we'll have a great show. I'm planning on having my niece and the Element of Generosity in the ring."
"Element of Generosity, you say?" Flim and Flam asked at once smiling at one another.
Blueblood nodded fixing his hair. "Yes, a perfect way to get rid of them. We must kill one or all of them to get rid of the threats. And Miss Rarity will perish soon and when she does, Elements of Harmony are no more." He said chuckling.
"Well, your highness, we have our slaves prepped and ready for the fight." Flam said with confidence.
Blueblood chuckled. "Good, why don’t you go on ahead and send the call. I'll get-" The door slammed open surprising the stallions as Trixie walked into the room, glaring at them. While the brothers frowned seeing her look disheveled from her supposed trip, Blueblood looked happy. "Ah Captain, giving me some good news, I hope."
Trixie growled turning to him. "I'm afraid they escaped me. Somehow they were able to get to their ship without being caught by the wildlife and able to escape the planet before any of my scouts could catch them."
"What?" Blueblood hissed glaring at her. Trixie glared back crossing her arms across her chest.
"They're gone. But,"
"But what?" Blueblood snapped.
"I think I might have found something of interest."
"Oh and what is that? Is it more important than having the hybrid bastard’s head on a platter?"
The brothers looked between the prince and the captain then to one another with worry.
Trixie sighed rolling her eyes. "I discovered two guard ponies in their gang of traitors."
Blueblood and the brothers stared at her in surprise. "Traitors?" Blueblood asked. "Who?"
Trixie smiled. "A sergeant and a corporal in the royal guard. Sergeant Blossomforth and Corporal Raindrops."
Blueblood blinked at the thought. "Hmm, I don't know them."
Trixie made a deadpanned look. She shook her head clearing her throat. "Anyway, I sent word to Lieutenant Heartstrings at Hoofington to make an investigation to the station where they were trained. I’m still waiting for a reply from her."
Blueblood nodded. "Good work, don’t forget to send word to General Lightning Dust as soon as possible."
Trixie rolled her eyes then bowed to him. "Of course, your highness."
Blueblood turned to the brothers with a nod. "A shame the hybrid bastard won’t be here. Get the arena ready anyway, we’ll get rid of the Element of Generosity tonight. Send word to my guards to let them know it’s time.”
The brothers laughed as they left the room already making plans for the fight. Blueblood turned to Trixie. "Captain, I believe it's time to send our special guests to the arena." Trixie nodded smiling.
"Your highness!" A mare called, running into the room, panting hard from her run. "Your highness, Captain Lulamoon! We have trouble!"
"What trouble Corporal? Trixie asked glaring at the guard pony.
The corporal stood up straight and saluted. "Down in Sector six, there was a disturbance. Somepony not authorized or otherwise is in that sector, ma’am."
Blueblood turned to Trixie to see her angered. "I thought I ordered all of the new guards never to go down to sector six. I made it perfectly clear."
The mare gulped. "It said so in the security systems, ma'am. And there are reports of an Earth pony running wild in the prison."
"An Earth pony? Running free?" Blueblood asked.
"Yes, sir."
"Describe this pony?" Trixie ordered.
"Uh they say she's an orange mare, ma'am. With an accent from the Green Belt."
"Green Belt?" Trixie asked confused then she gasped with an idea. "Applejack!" She growled turning to Blueblood. "It's that earth pony Applejack, the Element of Honesty." Blueblood froze.
"Element of Honesty? How can she be here?"
Trixie blinked then ran to the large hologram table sitting in the middle of the room and pushed all the books off the table giving a glare to the prince seeing him turning back to the mirror. With her magic she called through the hologram and a keyboard appeared, then began typing on it. She pressed a few more keys into a password then opened a large hologram screen showing security footage from every camera in the prison.
She noticed movement in one screen and gasped seeing Applejack running down one hall in a sprint with at least ten guards chasing after her. Trixie pressed her finger on another of these floating screens watching the footage from an earlier time showing Applejack with Rainbow and Daring in a hall crouched down. Applejack hands her weapon to Rainbow Dash then runs out. Trixie watched as Rainbow and Daring flew to the computer station.
"Damnit!" Trixie snarled watching more security footage then saw the footage of the ship Fancy Flute entering the prison hanger. "Somehow that ship got here." She turned to Blueblood seeing him looking at her spooked. "That brat is on that boat."
Blueblood smirked. "Excellent. I was expecting her. Now the fight will begin." He turned to Trixie. "Plan a capture of that tiny boat and the crew. I want everypony to be in the arena. But make it quiet Captain. I want them surprised." Blueblood said smiling. "I'll meet you at the arena when you are finished."
Trixie watched flabbergasted as Blueblood chuckles with mirth as he left the room. Trixie groaned then pointed at the guard mare.
"You gather your best pegasi and go after that Earth pony Applejack, we want her alive for the arena." The guard nodded then ran out of the room. Trixie returned to the hologram table and quickly opened a communication radio. She linked to several radios in the prison and started calling for ponies for a team capture and a silent mission. Trixie turned to one of the screens then blinked to see a familiar unicorn mare sneaking in a hallway looking around. It was the Hybrid unicorn, Vinyl Scratch.
Trixie smirked with an idea. "I'm coming after you, hybrid."