//------------------------------//
// Young Warriors 
// Story: Flutterbreeze and Shetland Hames: Manechester United 
// by Flutterbreeze 
//------------------------------//

“WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP!!!” 
As Flutterbreeze travelled the distance from his bed to the ceiling in half a second, his heart nearly stopped. He slowly drifted down towards the floor, dazed. When he was standing, he shook his head and looked about. Shetland Hames stood in a corner, which was no surprise to the pegasus. What was shocking, however, was seeing a widely grinning Pinkie Pie standing before him.
He blinked a few times. “What in Equestria is going on here?”
Shetland thought to himself, ‘He asks a lot of very obvious questions.’ Pinkie, however, responded in song.

“ITS MORNING!
Good morning, good morning, cause it’s a sunny day!
Good morning, good morning, it makes me say hooray!
The sun has come up, and the animals did too!
So good morning, good morning, good morning, to you!

Oops, I forgot an apostrophe!”

As Hames pondered the last words, Flutterbreeze blinked some more and said, “Well... I must say I’ve never started out a day quite like this before. But I still don’t understand why Pinkie Pie is here, or why I had to get up this early.”
Pinkie Pie was going to start another song, but Hames interrupted. “You are very hard to wake up in the morning, I’m afraid. I tried several medieval torture devices before I realized that wasn’t going to work. So while I was looking around for something startling enough I happened across this pony. It seems to have worked quite well.”
“Alright, but why did you need to wake me up so urgently?”
Hames knew he couldn’t pass on the information with Pinkie Pie still in the room. She was bouncing up and down in a circular path. Hames walked over and shoved her out an open window as she passed by. She let out a yelp, and Flutterbreeze’s jaw dropped in a horrified expression. 
“You do realize we are on the fourth floor?”
“She won’t receive any injuries that last longer than six months.”
Flutterbreeze stood speechless, but in a few moments Pinkie Pie stuck her head back in the window and said, “See you later Flutterbreeze! Bye Gummy!” She popped back out again.
Hames investigated the window, but could find no sign of the pink pony or her means of reaching the window. “How did she do that?”
“You tell me, detective. First, though, tell me why I am awake right now. We can talk about your habit of pushing ponies off great heights later.”
Hames returned to a more serious disposition. “Turnip Stew isn’t going to wait until tomorrow. I intercepted a message from one of his minions. It said to move forward with his plans tonight. I assume it’s to prevent me from stopping him since I now know what he’s doing.”
“And that would be...?”
“I only want to explain once, so you need to wake up the unicorn first.”
“Trixie? Why? You can’t seriously be thinking of sending her out on a dangerous mission with us... oh wait, you can.”
“I wouldn’t rely on her except for one reason: magic. We need magic to stop Turnip Stew, and she’s the most readily available source.”
“You really would make a great villain... alright, I’m in no mental condition to argue right now. I think Mountigue has a pair of cymbals in the music room...” The pegasus mumbled the words as he started heading down the hall, rubbing his sore eyes.
Flutterbreeze retrieved the instruments (of torture, as Trixie refers to them) and snuck up outside the room where she was sleeping. ‘Nothing quite makes me feel better about having no sleep than doing this...’ 




“Hehehehehehe... Muahahahahaha! Buahahaaaa- AHH HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!! Yes... yes... the time of our awakening is at hand. Go forth my puny stupid minions, and bring terror to the world. Soon all of Equestria will be shaking at the sound of my voice and the shimmer of my perfect teeth.”
“Sir, who are you talking to?” A confused pony asked as he entered the room. Turnip Stew, who had been maniacally laughing and making exclamations to a dark, empty room, turned around and glared at him. The pony cowered in fear of his master’s retribution.
“Do not question my methods, you insignificant oaf! My mind works in ways mere mortals cannot yet fathom. Soon, all will understand, though...” He was once again speaking to himself, or to some imaginary listener rather than the only other pony in the room. “No longer will I suffer the insolences of pony-kind who dare treat me as their equals. No longer will I clean the teeth of young foals who scoff at brushes and floss, NO LONGER... will...” His consciousness came back to reality, and he looked at the disturbed underling of his. “Is everything set?”
“Yes sir.”
“Then see to it, and may no pony fail me this day. My mind’s influence may guide you all, but I cannot protect you from ignorance... GO!”
“Scurry like a frightened squirrel” would be an appropriate phrase to describe the movements of the subordinate pony as he fled the room. Within moments, Turnip Stew began his impassioned, maniacal laughter anew. One fearful thought did strike a nerve in him, however, cutting his session short. ‘I must prepare myself...’




“Does the Great and Powerful Trixie need to destroy every pair of cymbals in Equestria to get her sleep?”
“Don’t you think one fireball was enough?” Flutterbreeze said, stroking his charred mane and beard.
“Apparently not. I don’t see why the Great and Powerful Trixie should be awoken in such a vulgar, barbaric manner.”
“I woke you up early because we need you to risk your life helping us on our foolhardy escapades.” Even though Flutterbreeze was serious, it was hard for him to say this with a straight face. It was no surprise to him when Trixie responded by creating a storm cloud over his head. 
“I know you aren’t going to like it,” he continued, “but the fate of Equestria rests in our hooves, and we need magic to stop a crazy dentist from enslaving all ponykind.”
“The last thing The Great and Powerful Trixie would want to do is lose sleep to go on a stupid mission with you and your friends to stop some dentist. You can count me out! Besides, what has Equestria ever done for Trixie, hmm?”
The now soggy pegasus maintained a stern look. “I wasn’t asking if you wanted to, or if you would. You will help us, because if you don’t I promise I will fill your life with eternal suffering.”
“What can you do to torture me you haven’t already done?”
“Have I ever disappointed you before?”
She frowned. Knowing the inevitable, Trixie decided she still needed to keep her dignity in losing the test of wills. She held her head high and said, “The Great and Powerful Trixie has given the issue some thought, and determined her time is best spent unwasted. The Great and Powerful Trixie will thus grace you with the Great and Powerful Trixie’s presence for the time being.”
“Excellent.” Flutterbreeze said, clearing away the clouds above his head and shaking the water out of his mane. “Now I just have to find out what we are doing!”

“Alright, now that we have everyone together and more or less willing to cooperate...” Trixie let out a “Hmpf” at this. “I will now explain what is going on...” Hames paused a moment to build anticipation. He puffed his pipe once and turned to the expectant ponies to say, 
“In short, we’re screwed.”
The detective gave the ponies time to facehoof before he continued. “In a very short amount of time, we need to accomplish both of two crucial goals, or else our enemy will succeed. The first is, of course, to stop Turnip Stew’s heinous plan.”
“Which is what, exactly?” Flutterbreeze asked.
“... The second objective we must accomplish at the same instance is to bring Turnip Stew himself to justice, one way or another. If we fail to do this, he will go into hiding and hatch another plan. If his plan succeeds, the consequences would be dire indeed.”
“What is his plan, Hames?” the pegasus demanded.
“Alright, alright. Some ponies are so impatient. As we speak, or as I speak, Turnip Stew’s cronies are preparing a fleet of airships to carry both a small army armed with “guns”, and also a sinister device. Their intended destination is, of course, Canterlot.”
“The device... because I know you were just about to ask, was designed to send out an extremely powerful magic field that would seal its target inside indefinitely. It has enough power for only two targets, but that is all it will need. I think you can guess who those targets are.”
“I’m guessing not Prince Blueblood, unfortunately.”
“Sadly no. If you wish to save the princesses and prevent a dentist from ruling Equestria with an iron hoof, you must take out the device. The best chance is a powerful blast of magic. I just hope you are strong enough for that... and that you don’t get shot before doing so.”
Even though Trixie hadn’t seen guns in action yet, she didn’t like the possibility of anything like “getting shot”. Even so, the thought of a lifetime of tortuous guilt in a world ruled by a dentist was a very poor alternative to risking her flank to become a hero. Maybe she could even make some ponies jealous.
Hames, having collected his thoughts once more, continued speaking. “So, while you two are messing about with the small fish, I will outsmart and apprehend the mastermind. As long as I stay focussed, I shouldn’t have any trouble... Who am I, after all, but Shetland Hames, the greatest detective and sharpest mind in Equestria!”
After a brief flourish, he checked the room’s tall clock, and said with some urgency, “Best be on our way, their scheduled to take off in half an hour!”
Hames started for the door, but was interrupted by Flutterbreeze. “Where?”
“Oh, yes. At that toothpaste factory we destroyed earlier, you know the one.” The detective turned to the door once again, but was halted by the pegasus’s shout. “Wait! Take Gummy with you!” 
Hames looked down and noticed the alligator at his feet. “Why?”
“You will need him, trust me.”
“Fine, let’s just go then!” He placed the reptile on his back and leaped out the window, not
wanting to bother with doors. Luckily, they were only on the second floor at the time, and they landed in a hay bale. He tried hard not to think about why it was there to break his fall, and instead focussed on the task ahead. Running off towards the town’s clock tower, he thought of the stallion he knew waited for him there, and all the twists that occupied his wrinkly brain’s mind.




Flutterbreeze went to his room to retrieve his mailbag. He found it sitting on the bed... next to a new mailpony uniform of the same design that he always wore. A note laying on top read, “Thought you might want this.” 
‘And here I thought Hames didn’t care about me.’ Flutterbreeze got dressed quickly and strapped the bag to his side. ‘Now we can’t possibly lose, I have pants!’
He dashed out into the hallway, bumping into walls as he rounded corners. He nearly ran into Trixie, but managed to leap over her at the last second, landing flat on his face. Still laying on the floor, he raised a hoof and hollered, “Let’s be off!” 
They passed by the duke on their way out. Flutterbreeze shouted, “So long, Mountague, we’re off to save Equestria!” The baffled duke of Manechester could only stand, confused, both at the pegasus’s attire and at what he had said. He shook it off and wandered inside. ‘Another carpet ruined...’

Along the way to his destination, Hames managed to gather several items to use as disguise. He knew it wouldn’t fool his adversary, but he wished not to have anypony following him around until he got there. 
Within a few blocks he had managed to gather the ensemble of a vagabond, and was mimicking the movement patterns of one as well. He also filled his pockets with various things he found sitting out, just in case he might have need of them. Gummy, atop his back, acquired a false moustache during this time.
There was still imminent danger for them. The street leading up to the clock tower was narrowing into an archway up ahead, and they both knew that a group of Turnip Stew’s cronies would be waiting there, and expecting a disguise.
The detective thought for a minute, then turned to look at his alligator companion. “I think I have a brilliantly stupid idea...”




Two blue ponies were rushing through the crowded streets in the opposite direction. Trixie was having a hard time keeping up, being frequently stopped by large groups of passers-by that the pegasus could simply fly over.
“Hurry up Trixie!” he shouted back. “Unless you want me to carry you there!” He knew this wasn’t going to happen. Slightly more motivated, Trixie lit up her horn, shoving ponies out of the way magically as she went along. She didn’t become any more popular doing this, but it certainly helped speed their progress.
They were relieved when they reached the edge of town and started moving through the forest, or at least Flutterbreeze was. Trixie, still stuck on the ground, had to force her way through all the vegetation, gaining scratches, sap, spiderwebs, and burrs along the way.
Inspired, the pegasus started speaking dramatically as he floated above her. “Now is the hour of our fates, to rise up and vanquish our foes, or fall into obscurity. Twas destiny that brought us here, in the moment of great need, to do great deeds. And so we shall! We will prove our worth today by meeting the challenge, and spitting in its face. So let us cry ‘havok’, and release the hounds of war!”
As he finished speaking, she couldn’t help but wonder,  ‘What is the Great and Powerful Trixie doing here?’. She thought on it a moment before realizing the sad reality. ‘Oh yes, that’s right. All of Trixies belongings were lost in Ponyville and she has since been living in an apartment in Fillydelphia next door to an insane pegasus who gets Trixie into the worst sorts of trouble... and then gets her back out again.’ 
“Hurry up Trixie!” he shouted back as she took a face full of branches. “We need to get there before they take off!”
‘Ugh, this is the last time I do anything for that ungrateful- Oh thank Celestia we’re here!’
They reached the clearing in time to see a group of frustrated ponies floundering about a very poorly maintained dirigible. About them lay piles of rubble strewn with chemical spills.
“Thank goodness we aren’t too late.” Flutterbreeze said. “Catch your breath, I think I can handle this.” Trixie flopped down on the ground breathing heavily as the pegasus flew off in a blue streak shouting a war cry. The ponies trying to get the craft off the ground were caught off guard, and were quickly routed when Flutterbreeze started to battle. With no motivation to stay, all that were able to fled deeper into the forest. 
Flutterbreeze stood tall and proud for a moment, but when he looked up into the sky, his face dropped into a frown. Several dirigibles were already flying off, perhaps half a mile away. Not a moment to spare, he located Trixie, and without warning or hesitation picked her up and flew off towards his adversaries.




A hooded black cloak covered Shetland Hames and Gummy, who sat on his head. The alligator’s face and the detective’s hooves and tail were all that were visible. They neared an archway filled with Turnip’s minions guarding the street. One of them, upon seeing such a strange form, stopped them and said, “Wait a minute...”
The pony stared at Gummy, who simply blinked a couple of times. ‘I knew this was a dumb idea.’ thought Hames. After what seemed like minutes, the large pony let them through, saying “Never mind.”
‘I can’t believe that worked.’ thought Hames. ‘Either this alligator has hypnotic powers, or these are the dumbest ponies I’ve ever seen.’ 
The ponies guarding the clock tower itself would of course not let anypony in, regardless of who they were. They were also quite large and intimidating compared with the average mild-mannered folk. When the black form walked up to them and looked at them with a reptilian face, the two thugs at the door raised an eyebrow each. They weren’t sure what to expect, but they were confident that they could handle whatever the odd form would attempt.
Hames, who still had some vision through the fabric, planned his moves for a few seconds, then proceeded to take out the guards shins, chins, and pride, dropping them them both to the ground before they could react. The detective didn’t even remove the cloak or alligator in the process.
The duo proceeded as they were, inside and up no small amount of stairs. From above, they could hear a voice singing, occasionally being interrupted by a bout of maniacal laughter.
“I wonder who that could be.” Hames remarked sarcastically.
When they reached the top of the stairs, the detective finally disrobed and set Gummy on the floor. He spent a couple of moments catching his breath and his thoughts before setting his sights on the door in front of him. The musical pony had grown silent. Hames studied the doorway, the entire room, and everything he could detect of the room behind. The pungent odor of toothpaste, mouthwash, and body odor (which he realized to be his own), the sounds of the floor creaking underhoof, the ticking of the clock’s internal mechanisms above him.
“The door is open, Hames!” a shout came from within, interrupting his observations.
‘That’s a little embarrassing.’ he thought as he carefully pushed open the door, content of minimal danger.