Chapter 22
Escaped or Captured?
Octavia continued to run with Rainbow Dash and Daring until they stumbled upon Raindrops who was running towards them from another hall. Octavia couldn't get the nagging feeling out of her head. She couldn't let Blueblood escape again. She turned her head to look down a hall and gasped seeing Blueblood riding one of the electric cars down the adjacent hall. She stopped, watching him disappear. There he was! And he’s so close! Rainbow turned to look behind her and stopped, seeing Octavia staring at something.
"Octavia, we have to go! Now!" Rainbow ordered. They have to get out of the prison. There was no way they had enough time before Blueblood sent in a hit squad. Daring stopped too, turning to see what was going on.
"Octavia!" Rainbow yelled out.
Octavia blinked turning to Rainbow and Daring then back down the hall. She trotted to Rainbow pointing at the hall where she saw her uncle.
"I saw Blueblood." She said.
Rainbow looked frightened and then sighed with a nod. She placed her hand on Octavia’s shoulder.
"Octavia, I know what you’re thinking but we can’t risk it. We have to retreat. Don't worry, I promise you, we will get Blueblood for what he did. Alright?"
Octavia nodded slowly as Rainbow sighed in relief turning to Daring smiling. Daring nodded turning to walk away. Octavia kept her head bowed with anger. He was right there! Right there! She couldn't lose this opportunity. She then noticed the machete hanging on Rainbow’s belt. She was able to retrieve it from the dead soldiers earlier. Octavia’s fingers tingled as she stared at the old blade. After a long moment, she made her decision. Octavia snatched the machetes and ran to the hall and after Blueblood. Rainbow gasped turning.
"Octavia!" She cried watching with stunned shock as Octavia disappeared past the corner. “Get back here! Octavia!" Rainbow screamed out ready to run after her. Daring stopped her by grabbing her arm and pulled her back.
"Let her go!" Daring called out surprising the old guard.
"What?" Rainbow gasped turning to her. "She'll get killed!"
Daring gave her a look. "She'll be fine for a while. Right now we need you Rainbow, we need to know if everyone is safe before you go off and find her. Beside I know you'll catch her."
Rainbow stared at her for a long moment. Daring proved a valid point. She wants to know if Fluttershy was okay, or if Applejack was able to get Vinyl and Sweetie Belle in time. Once she find out that everyone was safe she could use her wings to get to Octavia. She might be nearing old age, but she could still fly fast.
"Fine, let me see everypony. Once I see every face no matter how brief I'm flying."
Daring nodded. "Of course." Daring whispered allowing Rainbow to take the lead to the hanger. She sighed turning towards the hall.
"I hope you get the bastard, Octavia." She whispered to herself then started running after Rainbow Dash to the hanger.
♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫
Octavia continued her sprint after Blueblood. She followed his trail down the hall panting hard as she reached an empty chamber. She stopped to take a breather for a long moment then heard something above her. She heard a shot then felt a tearing in her shoulder and screamed out in pain. She went down on her knees on instinct to duck. She winced grabbing her shoulder then looked at her hand to find blood. She looked up by chance and gasped to see Blueblood standing there holding a very fancy pistol.
"How come I had this feeling that you would still follow me?" Blueblood asked with a curl of a smile on his face
Octavia bit her lip slowly standing back up glaring at him. "Come down here and fight like me a stallion Blueblood! You murdering bastard!" She yelled out.
Blueblood placed a new charger on his pistol, shaking his head chuckling. "What language and such hostility. I gave your parents the favor they deserved." Octavia glared at him for along moment as he started laughing. "Actually it was the best thing that has ever happened."
Octavia stood back up pointing up at him. "You’re sick Blueblood, so is the rest of your organization! You will never win, not with five of the Elements together."
Blueblood started laughing hysterically at what Octavia just said. "You are dumb aren’t you? Everypony with a teaching of magic all know that the Elements won't work with any of the holders gone. And news flash brat, your last Element, the Element of Laughter, is dead!" Octavia glared at him baring her teeth. "You cannot replace the Elements when they are all dead. Wait another thousand years and then you'll have a new group of friends that will become the Elements of Harmony. But of course we made sure that the old way won't work."
Octavia’s glare left her face to a look of shock. "Wait, what old way?" She asked confused.
Blueblood chuckled leaning against the rail "Listen to the key points in the story, hybrid. Two unicorns, two pegasi, and two earth ponies. There will always be two Earth ponies that must be two of the Elements of Harmony. And without earth ponies or hybrids . . ."
Octavia’s glare lessened as she realized what he meant. "No earth ponies or earth pony blood, no Elements of Harmony!" She said glaring at him again. "You monster! You just destroyed the future keepers of harmony!"
Blueblood laughed. "Yes, no Elements of Harmony, no reason to fear a revolt. All earth ponies will be extinct in the next decade or two and then once we kill every last earth pony then we'll start killing off all the hybrids. That way no future earth ponies will be born."
Octavia stared at him horrified, past that fear she felt the rage burn inside of her. Now more than ever she wanted to kill this stallion, not only for her parents but for all of Earth pony kind!
"So that’s what the Order is about? Killing ponies that have no say in their race?!" She asked.
Blueblood chuckled. "That is one of our plans. Destroy the Elements of Harmony, true, but the rest it's a little hush-hush, even from me of all ponies!" He said with a snort. Octavia snarled then looked around the room looking for some way to get to Blueblood or to get him down. She gaped seeing a metal ladder leading to the ramparts. She started running as Blueblood complained about the Order not telling him anything, though he is a trustful member in the organization.
"Wait a second, where did you go?" He asked flabbergasted looking around at the ground floor for Octavia until he heard the clank of somepony on the metal landing behind him. He turned seeing Octavia climbing up onto the catwalk. He yelped backing away seeing her snarl.
"You sick jerk!" She whispered dangerously standing up. "I will kill you and stop your evil plans and get revenge for my parents’ deaths!"
Blueblood reached to his belt and pulled out a blade, a fancy rapier that was more for show than actual fighting. "Perhaps it's about time to for me to get this job finished myself. You have been a thorn in my side since that blasted hybrid whore shit you out!"
Octavia growled. "You’ll pay for that!" She runs forward with a battle cry. Blueblood stayed stoic and composed, waiting. When Octavia realized what he was doing, it was too late to change gears. Blueblood sidestepped and sliced into Octavia's back. Octavia stumbled but caught herself, wincing in pain. She looked down to find her vest and shirt was cut and she could see her blood from the wound.
She growled turning to back to him to see him smirk at her. "There was a reason why I put up those laws against earth ponies having weapons. I knew someday when our plan was in full swing, you would use your skills to kill me and my comrades. Good thing I got you before you became an amateur." He purred chuckling.
Octavia let out a battle cry again, swinging the machete around but Blueblood would either block her swings or side step away. He would poke her or slash at her, trying to cut her down little by little as she wasted her energy trying to catch him. After what seemed like forever of dodging and weaving, Octavia felt her legs give out from exhaustion. She crashed on her knees panting and wincing in pain from all the numerous cuts she received from Blueblood. She never knew Blueblood would be that fast of a swordsman.
Blueblood tsked shaking his head. "Earth ponies, they never learn." Blueblood chucked walking forward towards her. "Always brash enough to jump in a fight with their fists and brute strength." He said chuckling swinging his blade up for the final blow. Octavia growled, clenched her machete pommel. With a final ditch effort, she let out a roar, swinging up her blade in time to catch Blueblood's blade from his down stroke. Blueblood blinked in surprise as she put in more strength into his, pushing as she tried to stand back up. Octavia groaned struggling, her whole body was shot with exhaustion and from the wounds. She used her other hand to make a final sudden push against the machete. Blueblood smirked then pulled back his blade causing Octavia to suddenly hold up her hands. From the loss of pressure from Blueblood’s blade this left her vulnerable and Blueblood took that opportunity. He kicked her hard in the chest knocking her to the metal walkway.
Octavia slid to a stop hearing her machete clank to a stop next to her, teetering on the edge of the walkway. She reached for the pommel touching the tip with her fingertips, until suddenly Blueblood’s boot stomped hard on her hand. Octavia yelped and looked up seeing the tip of his rapier pointed in-between her eyes. Octavia panted glaring at him.
Blueblood shook his head. "You are a dumb one thinking you could take me on and win, hybrid." Blueblood lowered to a knee pressing his knee on her stomach to keep her from running away. He used his sword to push the machete over the edge. Octavia gulped hearing her weapon clatter to the stone floor below them.
"I would love to hear you beg for mercy, but things on timing is a bit tight at the moment." Octavia glared at him. "After I kill you I’ll have Captain Lulamoon, once she's done turning Twilight Sparkle to us, to turn your special captain to our side as well." Octavia reached for his face to poke his eye or something to cause him any pain, but she was thwarted when he grabbed her other hand and forced it down above her head. With his other hand he grabbed her throat and squeezed, causing her to choke. She tried to get her other hand up from its locked position under his boot.
"I'll make sure Trixie records this memory of your death and sends it to that mare.” He whispered smiling. "Of course I would love to see you suffer, but sadly your daddy's not here to watch. I'll make this quick since I do have a meeting with General Lighting Dust in a few hours." He released her neck and hand to grab his rapier and held it up ready for a final stab, to finish her off.
"Any last words, my dear niece?" He asked smirking.
Octavia glared coldly at first and then she smirked. "Yeah, duck."
Blueblood blinked catching himself before he began his thrust. "What did you-" He looked up too late, seeing the rainbow haired captain bulldoze him to the floor and off of Octavia. Blueblood slid to a stop, groaning. When he opened his eyes all he could see were ducks with rainbow hair on their heads flying around his head, quaking.
Rainbow landed on the walkway watching Blueblood to make sure he didn’t get back up. Once she was sure he wouldn’t get back up she turned to Octavia seeing her sitting up on her haunches, rubbing her neck from where Blueblood had grabbed her. Rainbow immediately went to her aid and knelt down on the floor looking her over.
"Are you alright?" Rainbow asked with worry seeing all the cuts from the fabric of her clothes and seeing blood stains from the cuts on her sleeves.
"I'm fine." Octavia whispered smiling up at her. She gasped. "Rainbow!"
Rainbow jumped in surprise until she felt an arm wrap around her neck into a choke hold. Octavia jumped back in shock seeing that Blueblood had a crazy look in his eye and had a pistol pointed in the Rainbow's lower back.
"I guess I should have expected that." He growled spitting the blood out of his mouth from the collision. "With the brat is her traitor guardian, always waiting for the time to pounce." Rainbow gasped out feeling the pressure to her windpipe increase to where she began to choke.
Octavia slowly stood up grabbing the rail. "Let her go, Blueblood." Octavia threatened.
"You know what? Screw everything they say! I'm going to kill you both if it's the last thing I-"
There was a sound of a pop somewhere in the air and suddenly there was a spurt of blood from Blueblood’s head and Rainbow let out a scream of pain falling forward with him to the floor. There was a sound of a high pitched metal sound that caused Octavia to duck, covering her head with her arms. Octavia looked up from her crouch to see Rainbow shoving Blueblood off of her and holding her shoulder. She crawled over to the old captain to see the blood on Rainbow’s shoulder and applied pressure to the wound.
"What was that?" Octavia asked with shock as Rainbow grits her teeth shaking her head.
"I don’t know." She answered.
Octavia looked over to Blueblood lying face down next to them. She could see the entry wound of some kind of weapon, it wasn’t a laser or it would have been a cleaner entry. Whatever was used, it was a messy way to kill. An old fashioned pistol perhaps?
Octavia heard a sound behind her that caused the hairs at the back of her neck to stick up. Rainbow looked up and gasped grabbing Octavia’s hand looking at something behind her. There was a click and barrel of an old flintlock pistol was pointed at Octavia's head.
"Don't move." A mare's voice said from behind her. Octavia gulped and beyond her better judgment, she turned to look at the mare. What she saw was somepony dressed in dark green and blue clothes.
The mare lifted up the pistol. "I said no moving!" She cried out slapping the hard metal pistol into Octavia face knocking her to the ground.
"Octavia!" Rainbow cried out as she hit the metal catwalk.
Octavia struggled to stay awake from the dizzying hit. Through her vision she could see Rainbow Dash backing away from this stranger, holding up her hand as if begging her not to shoot. Octavia blinked once and twice, her vision clouding as she saw the mysterious mare’s bushy and bouncy pink tail. There was a soft bang and Rainbow fell to her side.
Octavia groaned out before she fell into unconsciousness.
♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫
Vinyl panted stopping for a moment to catch her breath. She started hacking and coughing and then spitting up gunk and junk from her lungs that were left over in her lung. Once she caught her breath she continued trotting down the hall knowing the auditorium was nearby. She turned the corner and gasped finding the door.
"Thank you, Luna!" She breathed running to the auditorium door then kicked the door down, not even thinking that if the door was locked or not. She panted seeing the mirror and the box. She rant straight to the box but stopped turning to the mirror.
The magical tendrils reached out to her again, beckoning her to come over. She gulped staring at the mirror then to the Elements. Her heart’s desires will be answered through the mirror. Already the questions were luring her to the mirror.
Will she ever be a successful merchant? Will she ever have a wonderful future? Can she find a way to free every slave in the galaxy? Can she and Octavia ever have a future together?
That last question made her inch closer and closer to the mirror. But then a thought occurred to her. Through her haze Princess Luna’s voice spoke clear in her mind.
It works too well. It lead me to many planets on my expeditions to the stars. It lead me to treasure but it also lead me to my capture.
Vinyl gasped blinking out of the mirror’s influence. Luna used this mirror for so long that her power to find new worlds led her astray and took her to the crystal moon where she was locked away for many centuries. Blueblood was then given the mirror by his family. How much could Vinyl bet that Blueblood used this mirror to get what he wanted?
Vinyl turned away rubbing her head, feeling drained of energy. She blinked turning to the mirror and for the first time she could see the magical tentacles reach for her head trying to regain control.
Vinyl shook her head. "No," She whispered backing away from the mirror. She bumped into something behind her and turned to see the pedestal and the Element’s box. She took the box gently into her hands feeling the dead power within. She turned to the mirror feeling it's magic grab her and pull her closer, begging for her touch and to answer her questions.
Vinyl growled shaking her head hard pulling away from the magic. "There are no answers you can give me." She whispered setting the box back on the pedestal, looking around her. She spotted a golden scepter and grabbed it, turning to the mirror. She lifted the scepter up in the air, and through her mind she can hear the screams from the mirror and she swing the scepter and smashed the glass of the mirror. The instant she hit the glass could hear high pitched screams and felt a sudden wave of magical energy push through her, she closed her eyes and covered her ears waiting for the horrible sound to stop.
Vinyl opened her eyes watching the glowing rubies and sapphires start to turn dull and began to crack and the mirror’s shining golden frame went old and dull as it turned to rust. Vinyl watched as the Shining Mirror transformed into an ordinary old mirror.
Vinyl stood back up with a sigh. "Never again shall you lead ponies astray and lead the evil ones to victory." She whispered dropping the scepter and grabbed the Elements. She opened the box to make sure all six medallions were in the box. Sure enough she can count two bronze: Honesty and Laughter, two silver: Kindness and Loyalty, and the two gold: Generosity and Magic. Vinyl sighed in relief closing the lid and patting the box. She turned and headed for the door. She stopped to look at the room around her with a pang of regret. If she had more time she would have snagged something of value from the room. She shook her head.
“Enough wasting time” Vinyl growled to herself and stepped out of the room with a sigh. "Finally, things are going my way." She said happily shutting the door behind her. She heard a snicker that caused her to stop and turn. Before she found the source of the snicker she was hit in the head with a bully club. Vinyl fell hard on the ground, the Element’s box opened at impact, scattering the medallions on the floor. Vinyl opened her eyes feeling horrible pain in the back of her head. She gasped seeing the Elements on the floor. She grunted trying to reach for the closest one to her.
"Look at her crawling!" A filly laughed out as Vinyl grabbed the Element of Honesty.
"I'm bored, sis." A colt said before stomping his foot into Vinyl's head knocking her out completely.
Daring looked around frantically waiting for anypony else to return from the prison. It’s been ten minutes since Rainbow Dash made the dash after Octavia after Fluttershy gave her the go ahead. Now Daring stands watch with Raindrops in case any guards try a sneak attack. Daring watched with worry wondering what was taking Rainbow and the rest of their party so long. She heard running feet and held up one of the stolen rifles, Raindrops turned to her and joined her with her knife ready to fight. They gasped seeing that it was Applejack running over with Rarity, Sweetie Belle and Scratch.
"Oh blessed Luna! You're all alright!" Daring called out lowering the musket. Sweetie Belle ran up to her hugging her. Daring blinked pushing her back looking her over. "Sweetie Belle, you’re all wet!" Sweetie Belle nodded blushing. Daring looked around and noticed Vinyl wasn’t with them "Wait, where's Vinyl?" She asked with fear.
Applejack scratched the back of her head. "She and Sweetie Belle found something."
"Like what?" Raindrops asked confused.
"We found the Elements of Harmony!" Sweetie Belle proclaimed beaming.
"What?" The pegasi asked in shock.
Applejack nodded. "Vinyl ran off to get grab them. She said she'll be here soon."
“You mean she went alone?” Daring asked with shock.
Applejack shrugged. “I didn’t like it either, but she made a good point. She’s faster and she’ll be here soon.”
"Girls!" Fluttershy called out suddenly. Everypony turned to the Fancy Flute and gasped with shock to see a large stallion holding Fluttershy at gunpoint from the ramp. The stallion chuckled seeing the mares’ shocked faces.
"It’s a pirate!" Applejack cried standing in front of Rarity and Sweetie Belle to block them from any attacks. Scratch stood beside her with his fists out ready to fight. Daring held up her rifle as Raindrops pulled out her pistol pointing it at the stallion.
"I suggest you drop your weapons, ponies." A mare's voice ordered from behind them. Daring and Raindrops turn slightly behind them. "I said drop them!" The mare screamed out firing a shot in the air causing everyone to scream and duck. Fluttershy watched terrified at the pirate mare. The mare waved her pistol in a forward motion looking behind her. Four pirates came out from the prison dragging Rainbow Dash and Octavia into the hanger.
"Rainbow Dash!" Fluttershy cried.
Applejack turned and gasped seeing Rainbow dropped to the ground with Octavia lying unconscious next to her. Applejack growled feeling rage. She already lost her friends once, she won’t allow pirates to take them again. She stood up charging to the pirate leader.
"Applejack, wait!" Rarity cried out keeping Sweetie Belle down.
Applejack swung for a punch. The mare ducked then made an uppercut into Applejack’s stomach causing her to cough for air then fall to her knees. Applejack felt another punch, hitting her in the face. She fell onto her back groaning. Rarity gasped crawling to her friend.
"Applejack, wake up! Please!" She begged patting her cheek trying to get her to wake up. She felt the barrel of a pistol on her head as Rarity looked up seeing the shadowed face of their assailant. "Who are you?" She whispered with fear. The mare grinned and opened her mouth to answer.
"Captain, great to see you again!" Scratch exclaimed suddenly, walking away from Sweetie Belle and the pegasi towards the mare.
Suddenly the mare turned then smiled. "Vinyl? Is that you?" She gasped. Rarity blinked turning to Scratch watching the two interact. Also the thought of the mare’s voice was very familiar.
“It’s me, my captain.” Scratch said smiling. The mare reached her hand up to his face and stroked his cheek and smiled happily.
“It is you.” She whispered hugging him tight. Rarity blinked turning to notice Daring and Raindrops were just as shocked seeing this.
"Hey captain!" A young voice called. Everypony turned to see two young teenagers, one unicorn and the other a pegasus drag Vinyl between them into the hanger room.
"Look what we found," The yellow unicorn called as she and her brother drop Vinyl on the ground.
"And look at this! She was carrying this thing leaving the treasure room. It must be important." The pegasus colt said holding up the blue box. Sweetie Belle gasped pointing at the box, the pegasus was holding in the air.
"That's the box where the Elements are held in!" She said with worry.
More pirates came out of the halls holding bloody knives, swords or holding up smoking muskets and pistols. The pirate at the Fancy Flute shoved Fluttershy down the ramp and waved for more pirates to come aboard to take out their prisoners. Fluttershy was grabbed by another pirate and forced on her knees.
“Hands behind your head Equestrians!” A mare ordered poking Daring with her dagger. Daring nodded dropping her weapon then went down on her knees with her hands behind her head. Raindrops growled as she too did the same, glaring at their new captors. Fluttershy stretched her neck out to try and get a better view of Rainbow from her position, hoping Rainbow wasn’t suffering any worse injuries.
The pirate captain walked away from Scratch to the pegasus colt to take the jeweled box and opened the lid. Her eyes widened with shock seeing the Elements inside. She picked up a bronze medallion, the Element of Laughter rubbing her thumb over the dark blue balloon shaped jewel. She bit her lip then let the medallion fall back into the box and shut the lid with a soft sigh. She turned to Pound Cake and patted his head.
"Well done." She whispered strangely calm which made the twins look to her with worry as she turn away. After a moment the mare began to giggle which ended in a snort. Rarity blinked feeling the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.
"Who are you?" She asked fearfully.
The pirate captain looked back at the crew of prisoners as she lift the brim of her giant hat and pulled it off. Fluttershy and Rarity both gasp in shock. Scratch smiled walking up to her, bowing.
"Captain, permission to come back aboard?" He asked smiling taking the pirate mare's pink hand kissing it. The pink mare smirked at him.
"You’re always welcome on my ship Vinyl, I missed my gallant." She said smiling. Applejack slowly opened her eyes staring at the pink pirate in shock.
"It can't be," She whispered trying to sit up. Rarity placed her hand on Applejack’s chest trying to keep her down, fighting tears of joy and fear at the same time.
Scratch turned smiling as a huge shadow covered the large glass windows. Everypony turned to stare in awe and fear seeing a gigantic wooden and metal ship loomed towards the station blocking the sun. There was a giant sigil on the main sail and Applejack noticed it and groaned recognizing it and couldn’t believe what this mare and that sigil have in common.
Rarity finally swallowed seeing all the evidence was too hard to ignore. "Pinkie Pie is a pirate?" She whispered.
Pinkie Pie, the Element of Laughter, and thought to be dead stood before everypony alive as she began to laugh. Scratch smiled turning to see Rarity stare at him with shock. He shrugged his shoulders smirking.
"Don’t take it so personally Rarity." He said wrapping his arm around Pinkie’s waist pulling her close. Pinkie smiled at him hugging him back. "Pinkie always said I was a great liar and a great actor."
"You... that message you sent was to her?! A pirate!" Rarity asked flabbergasted.
Scratch shrugged again, kissing Pinkie on the cheek as she smiled flirtatiously at him in return.
"What about Vinyl?!" Sweetie Belle cried out. She yelped when she felt a hand grab her shirt collar to prevent her from running off. Scratch turned to see Sweetie Belle glaring at him. He turned to see Vinyl lying unconscious by the twins.
"Oh Grace May? She's still my daughter. That I won’t lie about." He jumped with a thought. "Oh and in speaking of her, Captain Pie I would love to introduce to you to our newest member." He said walking over to Vinyl. The twins moved aside allowing him to approach her. Scratch reached down grabbing Vinyl's vest pulling her up to her knees. He used his other hand to gently grab her hair and pull her head up to reveal her bruised face.
"My daughter, Grace May Scratch."
Pinkie fingered her chin looking at him then at Vinyl to see the true resemblance. "Ah, so this is the little baby you told me so much about. She will be a valuable member of our family." She cooed smiling at him.
Scratch beamed excitedly getting Pinkie’s approval. "Any time my lovely pink star." Scratch lowered Vinyl then let her drop to the concrete.
Pinkie Pie turned to her crew. "Bosun is that ship preferific?" Pinkie called.
A stallion climbed up on the rail grabbing the ratlines to keep balance. "Needs to be upgraded and modified but this here is a sound vessel, Cap."
"Good." Pinkie turned to her prisoners. "Vinyl!"
"Aye, Captain." Scratch said saluting.
"Get some proper clothes on and get these ponies to my ship." Pinkie ordered.
"Of course, Captain." Scratch said turning to the pirate crew, smiling. Some pirates were smiling at him, recognizing the older stallion. "You heard her men! Take all the booty you find and store it in the hold. Take these freed slaves and give them food and clothes. And lastly, take these scurvy dogs to the brig. Let’s go home!" He hollered.
All the pirates cheered as they went on a spree running into the prison to find treasure and the salves. And few of the pirates left in the hanger grabbed a pony and took them into the Fancy Flute for transport to the Pinkie’s frigate. When Applejack was grabbed she struggled against her captors’ looking to Pinkie.
"Pinkie Pie!" She cried trying to get her attention.
Pinkie turned to her with a smirk. Applejack stared at her a while longer as if trying to find the old Pinkie in that face. But instead of the old happy-go-lucky Pinkie Applejack knew, she only saw a very angry Pinkie look back at her.
"Pinkie!" She cried out again as she was dragged away. Scratch stood by Pinkie watching Applejack being pulled up into the Fancy Flute with their other prisoners.
Scratch turned to her to see her look up at him. "It's been far too long, Pinkie." He whispered smiling.
"It really has Scratchy," Pinkie said stroking under his chin. "Fifteen years was way too long. I missed having you around." She said pouting.
Scratch smiled. "I got what we wanted Pinkie. Though it did take time to get back to you."
Pinkie nodded smirking and turning towards the halls watching her pirates returning with their haul of treasure and helping the recently freed slaves to the ship. "I killed off that Jerk, Blueblood."
He nodded seeing her satisfied smile. "I can tell." He paused then turned to the ship. "I do mean what I said Pinkie, I promised you a child and I brought her. She might not be the son I promised, but from what I gathered, she is better than any son."
Pinkie nodded thinking a un-Pinkie thing to do her friends might say. "Well let’s get out of this stinky galaxy and return to the Outer Rim. I don’t like it here." She handed the Element’s box to Scratch. "Hold this for me, my blue moon, this box is very special to me and I want to make sure no pony else takes this. Are we clear?" She asked sweetly. Scratch nodded.
“Of course … unless you give me a kiss.” He joked as Pinkie giggled.
“Come here you!” She ordered, grabbing his collar and pulled him into a deep passionate kiss. After the kiss Pinkie smiled up at him and sauntered away to the Fancy Flute to prepare the smaller vessel for takeoff to the frigate. Scratch smiled licking his lips with a sigh. He smiled lovingly at Pinkie’s back and followed her to the ship.
Finally, his life was going to go his way again
♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫
An older pegasus mare stares out the window of her office to see Canterlot city and the castle. She focused her gaze on her reflection in the window seeing her graying blonde mane, her fierce golden eye and her black eye patch. She curled her lip into a snarl.
"Are you sure you can't remember anything else? Repeat it to me, again!" She growled. Her eye shifted to the reflection of Trixie who is covered in magical bandages and sitting in a comfy chair across from the pegasus. Trixie sighed rubbing her forehead with two fingers.
"Like I told you, all I remember is reading Twilight’s' memories and then I was hit for behind." She groaned reaching for the icepack sitting on the side table and placed it back on her head. "Then nothing."
General Lightning Dust sighed heavily placing her arm on the window and then leaned in to rest her forehead on her arm. "What do you remember, again?"
Trixie sighed rolling her eyes. It seems that Lightning Dust hadn’t done any interrogation in the last few days and now she’s putting all that energy on her. Trixie took in a deep breath to calm her rising annoyance and repeated her story again.
"All I remember was Twilight Sparkle screaming for mercy then nothing else. I'm sorry Lightning Dust. But I assure you when I get my magic back and when I catch Sparkle again I will gain control over her. I was so close! I was at her breaking point but then- Gah!" Trixie cried slamming her fist on the arm of her chair shaking her head with fury.
Lightning Dust sighed pushing off from the window then waved her hand. The motion caused the giant curtains to cover her window as she leaned forward on her desk looking at Trixie.
"It was a good thing some of the guards that were left found you."
Trixie sighed nodding. "Yes, good thing."
Lightning Dust walked around her desk towards Trixie with her hands behind her back. "From their testimonies they said that a pirate lord from the Outer Rim took out nearly all our guard, took every slave and everypony in the prison, and then disappeared." Trixie nodded watching Lightning Dust walk to her cabinet and pulled out a bottle of whiskey and two glasses to drink from.
"I would have been dead if it weren't for them." Trixie said softly, reflecting on how lucky she was. She looked up as Lightning Dust filled one glass with whiskey and handed it to her.
Trixie took a sip of her drink then smirked at an idea. "We should pay our respects for Blueblood, I heard he was murdered." She said with a chuckle.
Lightning Dust smirked raising her glass in the air. "Damn that bastard and good riddance." Lightning Dust said taking a swig. Trixie chuckled lifting the glass in the air taking a long drink, wincing from the burn.
Lightning sighed topping her glass. "I'm serious,” She said pointing her finger at her. “He was a thorn in my side since that Order leader mama of his dropped him into our laps." Lightning sat down in her chair behind her desk, propping her boots up on the desktop and taking another swig. She suddenly laughed. "I mean seriously lady, he's no fighter, he's just a noble that cares for the money he gets and the whores that suck his cock."
Trixie raised her glass. "Hear, Hear." She laughed shaking her head.
After a moment of silence Trixie looked up at her. "Have you sent our ponies to check on the Baltimare Military Station?"
Lightning Dust nodded. “I did."
"And?"
Lightning sighed shaking her head. "If there was rebel activity it's not there now. I had my guards check and double check every guard there and everypony checks out."
Trixie glared at her. "Even that General Cloud Kicker?" Trixie growled dunking back the rest of her drink. She flittered her fingers with a wince to magically levitate the whiskey bottle to her. She grabbed the bottle to pour a second serving. Lightning Dust glared at her for stealing her bottle and for the question.
"She’s clean." She said flatly. "As much as I despise Cloud Kicker she's been a true soldier and follows command." Lightning Dust turned to the wall glaring at it. "She’s good and we have nothing to prove that she was or is involved with the rebels."
"Assassins?" Trixie asked hopefully.
Lightning Dust snorted. "I sent fifty of them after her over the last twenty years and they were all found dead in space. I stopped, realizing I should use them for better means than being killed by a Kicker."
Trixie snorted. "What about the Hybrid Princess?" She asked curiously.
Lightning Dust looked up with a quirked brow. "Isn’t she dead?"
"I don’t know, is she?" Trixie asked glaring at her. Lightning Dust sighed placing her glass down on the desk.
"We have no evidence of her body. She might have been captured by the pirates." She said smirking. She grabbed her glass raising it in the air. "Let’s make a toast for the hybrid bitch. And hope she enjoys every torture those pirates give her." The two mares cackled in laughter.
Trixie sighed as Lightning Dust's smile faded in a glower. "I also heard from the guards that the Harmony medallions are missing." Trixie was in the middle of drinking when she spit the whiskey out of her mouth couching.
"What?!" She croaked out, coughing hard.
Lightning nodded. "The pirates took them or the princess found them. Those are the only explanations I can think of for their disappearance."
Trixie sighed after her coughing fit to look at Lightning. "Not to worry, they’ll just sell them and then hurray, they're gone forever." Trixie said quickly. "That was our plan wasn’t it?" Trixie asked smiling a touch. "Get rid of the future threats, the earth ponies and their hybrid cousins, then no pony will be the earth pony duo for the elements. They’re powerless. And sure go ahead and sell them. The Queen couldn’t use them anyway, remember?"
Lightning Dust nodded slowly still upset. She sighed and shook her head. "Medusa will be furious knowing we lost the Elements. Hand me the bottle."
Trixie nodded topping her glass first then magically sent it back to Lightning Dust's hand. "Let her gripe, she just doesn't understand how great it is that the Elements will be out of our hair and gone forever."
Lightning smiled before pouring a refill. She stood up lifting her glass. "A final toast then?" Trixie nodded standing up with difficulty from her broken bones. She grabbed her drink raising it up, smiling.
Lightning smirked. "To our Order's triumphed victory and a new dynasty of control."
Trixie nodded. "To our great and immortal queen! May her rein continue forever more."
"Hear, hear!" Lightning cheered as the two took a long swig of their drinks sealing the deal with a smack on the table.
The Order is strong and nothing will stop these two mares for claiming absolute victory from their enemies.