//------------------------------// // #10. Braddlefield 10 // Story: The Bradical Adventures of Twilight Sparkle & Flash Sentry: The Book of StarSwirl // by Chelis //------------------------------// Twilight and Spike appeared in a brilliant flash of violet between the walls of the castle and a watch tower. The small grassy area was well hidden by a giant, wild berry bush that was sprouting it’s seasonal dark purple fruit,. Even though Twilight appeared there for her and Spike's safety, she had no intention of staying and was preparing herself to disappear once more. In Twilight's mind: as long as Spike and Flash were safe she could have rested her mind. But, only one of them were not in danger. "Stay here, Spike!" Twilight commanded. She was stopped by the baby dragon holding on to her wing. “Where do you think you’re going?!" Spike demanded. "Saving Flash!" She said in desperation. "It's too late, Twilight. They’re all over the place looking for you." "But-" "I don't think Flash would like it if you went back after him! He told us to run!" Twilight gave a defeated sigh, especially with the entire guard now scrambling to the skies looking for her like hawks looking for their next meal. They were in all manners of dress, from full metal armor to simply nothing but a spear clutched in their talons. It didn't matter if the Princess could easily defeat them in a one-on-one battle, as long as the rest of the griffons knew of Twilight’s location. "What can we do, Spike?" Twilight asked in despair while the images of a brutally tortured Flash Sentry raced through her mind. "Hide for now... I think we can use the night to help us look for him," he suggested. "I guess we don't have a choice either way," Twilight sighed, looking to the frenzy she had started above her. *** They waited in that hidden crevice for hours as they looked up to see patrols whizzing by as they looked for the princess and dragon. Their search went on tirelessly into dusk, and then they eventually gave up at nightfall. "What do we do now?" Spike asked, peering at the night sky above. The rushed deployment of the kingdom's guards were replaced by the infinite dots in the sky. "If I remember correctly, Carloman said he was holding ponies for ransom. Flash must be in the prison." "But where is the prison?" Spike asked. "Well, I think it's that tower?" Twilight pointed to the tower that, upon a close study, could be the prison. While the rest of the walls and towers of the castle were white, the lone tower was gray, old, in shambles, and had the look that it would collapse at any moment. "Get on." Twilight and Spike struggled out of the thorny bushes. As soon as they did, Spike jumped on Twilight’s back and she silently took off into the crisp night air. Twilight flapped her wings towards the light on top of the tower. it was a single solitary light, and she had a hunch that Flash was inside. She didn't get far until she was stopped by the voices from the larger window a story below. "Well look who we got here! Howdy, princess!" An older, dirtier earth pony hollered. Twilight peeked in and had no words. Over a few hundred ponies were inside: colts, mares, and foals alike. They seemed well fed but cramped, and they looked on to their princess in complete wonder. "She's a really pretty one," a larger mare observed. The entire room rushed to see their princess flapping her wings to try and keep level. "What is every pony doing here?" "Well, the King started imprisoning us, hav'n something to do with pay'n a tax for being in his land. We can’ pay it so he has all o' us in here until Celestia pays for our release." "So the rumors were true," Twilight lamented. "Did they bring someone here today? A young colt with blue hair and an orange coat?" The older stallion grimaced. "No, Princess. Not here. They must have brought him up there to the top of the tower. R'ughed him up real good. We o'erheard the guards talking about his execution." Twilight's heart became heavy, and her eyes began to water. "Is he..." "He’s asleep. The boy snores like a freight train. Is he our prince?" Twilight did not answer, she gave her wings a few heavy flaps and rose to the window at the top of the tower.