"You're Just a Kid" - Part One
Going Rouge
"It's a worthwhile proposal Lyvia," Captain Silver Blaze said honestly as he sat back in his black office chair and reviewed the plan that the school girl had offered him, "However," he continued, "It's too risky and the consequences of a failure outweigh those of us not even trying. A preemptive strike would be beneficial and so I understand why you're offering this, but if we fail then there will be no-one left to defend the towns and cities from their wrath."
"But," Lyvia objected, "This is our only chance to destroy them!"
"I don't care about that Lyvia, I care about the safety of those who are under my protection. You're letting your emotions get ahead of you. You need to think about this in a more professional way - from the standpoint of my position. I've dealt with them before and I know how dangerous they can be. It's only natural to assume that those guarding their base will be much more powerful."
"So you're just going to pass this opportunity by. That's it! No maybe and no trying?" she stood up angrily, her fists by her side and her eyes filled with rage and determination. "I will not be leaving this office until I make sure you do something about this!"
"Sit down girl. There's not point in popping a blood vessel because I refuse to send my soldiers on a suicide mission," he growled and fixed his posture, "There's no point in arguing this with me. You have no idea how to handle a situation like this. Best you leave it to me, since I know what I'm doing."
Silence befell the room and Lyvia sat herself back down in the chair, pouting. She did not appreciate being ignored simply because she was young. She crossed her arms and hesitated to speak, fearing that she may be shot down again. Never the less she refused to back down, she did not want this opportunity to be ignored simply because it was 'risky'. She sat up straight just like the captain and cleared her throat to speak once again - this time, she made sure her words had much more impact.
"I figured you'd be much smarter than this captain. I don't know what happened to make you so soft, but last I saw you, you were freaking out and needed a plan. Well I thought of one and now you're just passing it by. What the fuck is wrong with you."
The captain grumbled and rolled his eyes, he put down his papers, unfolded his arms and looked her directly in the eyes, "Listen here Lyvia, because I will not say it again. Don't you ever take that tone with me again - I understand your frustration but you need to calm down and think about what you're trying to make me do. I am the captain of the elite guard, not you. So excuse me if I pass-by the poorly thought out plan of a 16 year old who lets her emotions cloud her judgement."
"I am not letting my fucking emotions cloud my fucking judgement. I am trying to save people here! Can you not fucking see that!" she yelled and found herself standing yet again with her hands slammed down upon the table.
"Uh huh," Blaze sighed in disbelief, "I think you need to leave Lyvia, you're not making yourself look good right now," he got up and walked past her to show her the courtesy of opening the door, "You're just a kid," ... "Come back to me when you've calmed down."
Lyvia stood up, defeated. She can't believe she had let her emotions get the better of her. Now there was now way she would be able to convince him of her plan. Never-the-less she sighed deeply in regret and walked out of the office, which was soon closed behind her. She had never not been successful before and this was more of a wake-up call than anything else, but it still stung like nothing else.
"You're just a kid," Blaze's voice echoed throughout her head. She had always seen herself as an adult, the way she acted, behaved, thought and handled situations had always been responsible, although not always sensible. The only thing that had stopped her from being an adult was her age and that had always restricted her of her chances. She had never been able to get a job or convince others of her independence due to her young age. The only she was was ever able to do was go to school and listen to teachers ruin her life for the sake of 'learning'. Yet. This is how it was for now and she had no choice but to put up with it. If she was to make this work she would need to find a way around it - and that meant doing it herself.
Although her plan consisted of more than one apparent problem. The most significant one being, she had to do it all by herself. There was no one else she could properly trust to stay alive. She was the only combat trained mare among her entire group of friends and armed with only her trusty pocket-knife she would most have her hands full. Yet, it would be worth it, the sacrifice to save her friends - and if she didn't die that would be good too. The possibility of the damage she could cause to the enemy outweighed all risks in her mind, which is why later that night she sneaked out of her bed, down the numerous hallways and into the ill-guarded armory that Captain Blaze and his soldiers had been using.
The place was empty - in terms of people anyway. It was just her and the dozens of crossbows, swords and armour for her taking. She gave herself a reassuring smirk as she took her pick of the lethal equipment before her. Her only regret was that she had been trained to use absolutely none of them, so if nothing, it would at least be interesting to see how things played out. Coming to the realisation that she would be risking herself needlessly if she took items she was not comfortable with, she placed down everything she had taken except for the crossbow.
Now that she had 'borrowed' all that she needed, Lyvia advanced down the hallways yet again and continued to stay out of sight as though she was on hostile territory. Eventually after what seemed like an eternity she managed to reach outside the grounds of the school. The vast city of Canterlot stood before her with not a soul in sight and only the moonlight to illuminate the magical city of royals. It occurred to her that she had no idea where the hideout was and she was armed with only the knowledge of what Sweetie Belle had shared with her. 'It's near an old, burned down shack on the outskirts of Ponyville' she reminded herself. It was far away and there was no way she would reach it before sunrise but she figured it would be best to start heading towards her omniscient target and gain as much ground as possible before the captain or her friends caught wind of her rouge adventure.
Only having a few Bits at her disposal she was able to afford one train ticket which was unfortunately only valid up until Appleloosa. So that was to be her next stop. She would sleep there until rested and work out where to go afterwards. She was to take this one step at a time if she was to be successful but for now, she didn't worry about what was to happen only what she was doing.
The young mare boarded the empty train and took her seat of which she traveled from a majestic city out of legend to a western town of cowboys. The journey was long and by the end she was both tired and hungry, but she did not have enough money to rent a room nor buy a meal. She decided to brave her conditions and once exiting the train to stand before the town stuck in the past she acquired her bearings and slept under a tree upon the outside of the settlement's borders. She hadn't planned for any of this, and in hindsight she really should have.
She had no money left and no food or water in which to survive with. It was time she took matters into her own hands and decided that journeying further upon her current course would only lead her to despair and poverty. It was for these reasons that she planned to make her way through the wilderness to hunt for food and scavenge for any water source, whether it be a river or a left over canteen.
However, before she could set forth upon her, no doubt, dangerous adventure, she was stopped by a stranger who seemed to taken notice of her.
"Howdy lass!" he called out, "I couldn't help but notice that y'all knew around these parts. Do you need any kind of assistance?"
Lyvia didn't even give the stranger the kindness of looking at him as she shot down his offer of aid, "No," she replied bluntly, "I'm fine," yet, this was another choice she regretted making as she really did need aid. If this stranger could offer her water then maybe she stood a chance.
"Are you positive lass? You look parched. I could fetch some water? Maybe even some food?" he continued to extend his offer despite being denied her cooperation beforehand, "Or perhaps I could give y'all a tour, show you around so you know where to go."
Lyvia sighed and gave him the courtesy of looking at him this time. She nodded, putting aside her previous mistake and accepting his kind offer of help. If things played out well then maybe he could help her in more ways then one. "Very well," she accepted, "I will gladly take some water," her stomach grumbled and echoed across her immediate area, "And some food wouldn't hurt."
"I knew you'd come to your senses," the arylide yellow stranger said with a grin, "Come, follow me and I'll get you that water," he began to lead her through the bustling town of hard labor as the sounds of farming, blacksmithing, mining filled the atmosphere until they finally arrived to a small house on the other side of Appleloosa, "So. What's your name lass?" he asked as he opened the door for her to show his chivalrous nature.
"I'm Lyvia Sounds," she answered blankly and walked in showing him no regards of kindness except for her following question which she asked after turning her head to glance at him behind her back, "And what's yours?"
The stranger smiled and sat down before answering as he knew she would have plenty more questions to asked before his help was through, "Why thanks for asking Lyvia Sounds, my name is Braeburn - and I am at your service."