//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: Meeting the press/The Big News // Story: On the Run // by darkmage1997 //------------------------------// Two weeks ago, after Tirek's defeat Twilight was panicking with the swarm of reporters and fan fillies that looked like they were out for blood. Twilight cast a reinforcement spell on the door, to try and buy some time. She then quickly made her way back to where her friends and family were, "Is everything alright Twilight?" Cadence asked. "Well, other than a pack of rabid reporters and fan fillies outside the castle walls, everything is just peachy!" Twilight replied nervously, twiddling her hooves. "Ugh, I hate the paparazzi!" Heiru commented. "Well, it doesn't look like we have a lot of options. Those guys look like they want you guys," Shade commented, as he looked out the window. "So our choices either try to teleport out of the castle or face the media," Toby suggested. "Well, seeing as how they'll hunt us down, I guess we will just have to face them, whether we like it or not," Silver said, as some uncertain murmurs came from the children, including his brothers, "C'mon guys, we save lives all the time! We're no strangers to the press," he added. "Yeah, I guess you're right," Stealth commented. "Well, seeing as how they won't leave us alone either way, we may as well bulk up some courage and head outside," Conner said, admitting defeat. With heavy sighs, the children all nodded reluctantly. "Don't worry sweetie pie, I'll be with you all the way!" Silver Spoon said, hugging Toby from behind. "Ok, lets do this," Lance grumbled, as they all made their way to the front of the castle. Way in the northern part of Equestria, about twenty kilometers west of the Crystal Empire stood the most fearsome prison in the world, Frostbite Prison. Inside these walls, in the maximum security wing held a cell belonging to a person by the name of George Cunningham. Without warning, the door exploded off the hinges to reveal a short man with brown hair, green eyes, and an evil smirk on his face, as he left his cell. He began taking out guards left and right, before pressing a button that released the other inmates. The active guards rushed to where George was, "Lets dance," he said in a think Russian accent. He then went to attack each of the guards, effortlessly knocking them all away. A few moments later, he mysteriously emerged from a muddy bog just outside the prison, "Time to light the fireworks," he said, as he pressed a detonator, and the entire prison exploded. Halfway across Ponyville, a unicorn stallion in a fancy suit saw the commotion coming from Twilight's castle, "Hmm, what could be going on here?" he asked himself. Just then he heard a ringing coming from his pocket, "Hello?" he asked, answering his phone. "Hello number two," a deep male voice, belonging to George, answered. "Ah, number one! What's going on?" the stallion asked. "I am on my way. We shall proceed with plans exactly as we agreed," George replied. Looking over at the castle, the stallion noticed one human in particular. He looked exactly like his partner, except he was wearing glasses, "Actually, I think we can add one more step to the plan," the stallion said. "Oh, and what would that be?" George asked. "Meet me at the warehouse district, just outside of a flyspeck of a town called Ponyville. I'll explain everything then," the stallion replied. "Alright, I will see you shortly," George said, hanging up the pay phone he was using. Once he was far enough away, he pressed his detonator, and the payphone exploded, as he chuckled evilly. Opening the doors, Cory led the children out through the sea of reporters all asking questions at the same time, and the fillies, all wanting to get their pictures taken with one of the children, "QUIET!" Echo-Echo called. "Listen, we will answer any questions you guys may have, but you all must be patient," Chris said to the crowd, as one hoof went up. "What was it like defeating that monstrosity?" one reporter asked. "To be totally honest, it was nerve wracking," Josh replied. "Yeah, we never anticipated the battle to be that difficult," Raiden added, as a hoof of a fan went up. "I want a picture with you, Conner!" she called. Conner blushed out of embarrassment, but Nyx hugged his arm tightly, not wanting to share her coltfriend with anyone else. Just then, another hoof went up, belonging to a reporter. "What are your plans for the future?" she asked. "Wow, to be honest, we never really thought that far ahead," Timmy replied. "Well, we're going to continue protecting Ponyville and Canterlot," Silver said, motioning to his brothers and the Nega Titans. "I plan on playing the piano," Toby added. "We want to help Mommy at Sugarcube Corner!" Melody and Clover replied, as one more hoof went up. "Prince Nathan, rumor has it that you're dating a farm filly, true?" the reporter asked. Nathan and Applebloom blushed fiercely at the question, "Well, she does have a nice figure," Nathan replied, as Applebloom hugged the bat winged boy. "Well, what does she have that fillies like me don't have?!" one filly demanded. "Like ah said, her figures the best thing Ah've ever laid mah eyes on. Plus, Ah've always had a thing for farm girls," Nathan replied, as Applebloom nuzzled closer to him. "Alright, this'll cover it for the Q&A session," Silver said, as the children went around signing autographs. After about half an hour of autograph signing, the fans and the reporters left. "Well, back into the castle!" Kelly said, as they all went back inside. Once they were back in the party room, they saw the others huddled around a television set. "Breaking news! This just in: George Cunningham, the most dangerous human in existence has escaped the Frostbite Maximum Security Detention Center!" a griffon reporter said. "This incident has him at the number one spot of Equestria's most wanted list, right after the Mysterious Turtle, who's identity is still unknown," another griffon added. "With this guy on the loose, it may not be safe for the children to be outside, most of all Toby," Shining Armor commented. "Why's that?" the adults and other human children turned to see the Children of Harmony. "Because, well, take a look," Twilight said. The children all gasped at the sight of the mug shot of George: he looked exactly like Toby, minus the glasses, and he had a mole on his lip. "Oh boy, maybe I better not go out until this guys caught," Toby said with a heavy sigh. "Now hold on, the news just said that George escaped. It never said where he was going," Discord pointed out. "And we've got Pegasi keeping watch from the sky's," Rainbow said. "Well, we'd better play it safe," Twilight said. "By the way, how is another human here without us knowing?" Cadence asked. "Well, before your planet was destroyed, there were some humans on Earth who knew of our existence, so they had asked me and Luna to hold all prisoners deemed too dangerous for any of their prisons," Celestia replied. "And with their best prison shut down, there was no other alternative," Luna added. "Wait, their best prison?" Silver Spoon asked. "Most likely they're talking about the Alcatraz Prison. It was one of the best prisons for holding real bad criminals, like Al Capone. It was an island prison, with the only way to escape was to get through the bay. However, the waters are shark infested, so breaking out of Alcatraz is pretty much impossible," Shade explained. "And rumor has it that the island is haunted by the spirits of the prisoners, still trapped after Alcatraz was shutdown," Amber added. "PUH-LEASE, there's no scientific evidence of spirits or ghosts," Trinity stated. "Not true. There were some TV shows that said Alcatraz was haunted," Josh replied. "Really?" Trinity asked, surprised, which her brother nodded. "But back to the matter at hand, this George guys could be trouble, so we all need to keep an eye on Toby until his capture," Twilight said, which the others nodded in agreement, unaware of what was happening, right under their noses. "Hey, what's the camera still doing here?" Mike asked, as Snips and Snails walked in. "Oh no! Disaster! This can only mean one thing!" Snails said. "Doggone it, you're right! It looks like someone's ordered a sequel," Snips said. The two colts laughed, as they walked off, with Toby entering in white and yellow tuxedo.