//------------------------------// // Chapter 52 - Talon's Hold End! Board the Airship to freedom! // Story: Luffy in Equestria // by SparkStone //------------------------------// The prisoners rush up the stairs as quickly as they could, running from the poison clouds behind them. With only fear deep in the mind, they run blindly unaware of the fight going on in the next room. The smell of smoke causes some to cough, and the red lights with a tiring heat wave wraps around their fur. It didn’t take long once they reached the room to see a battle take place. The embers dance around in the air as they sizzle into the floor. The prisoners didn’t know what to do, and were desperate for a way out. Commander Gold Shield returns from the depths below and manages to reach the prisoners. He turns to see the purple clouds following him at an uncomfortable distance. Looking at the prisoners with a mix of Pegasus and griffons, he sets up an idea. “Pegasus! Griffons! With me! We will use the gust of our wings to blow the toxic smog back!” He suggested with gusto. “If we can make some more time to live, I’m sure my comrades will make an escape way for sure!” Not willing to complain, they did it almost immediately. The griffons and Pegasus with proud and broad wings took the back and flapped as hard as they could. The winds push the poison back, and the prisoners roared with happiness. Gold Shield turned to Flare as she was fighting Laflora. As the vine reaches to her, she simply brushes a flame off and burns the vine into a crisp. Laflora stepped back as she was losing energy to continue the fight. Flare took the chance and shoots a burst of fire, and finally knocking Laflora out. Flare heavily breathes as she lied down on the ground. She turns to Gold as he pets her mane. She chuckles some as she says… “What took you so long?” “I just had to round up a few things.” Gold scoffed. “I should be questioning you. She was using plants. How could you take so long to beat some pony using, plants?” “Sir, if I may, she was extremely dodgy.” She claimed. “She kept blocking and dodging and everything. She was going over the top to stay alive.” “Hmm… If you say so.” Gold smiled as he rolled his eyes. Flare shoved him some in retaliation to his teasing. Another chuckle passes before Gold looks up for something more serious. “How is Luffy and Twilight?” “Still waiting on them.” “Something tells me that they’re in trouble.” Gold assumes as he strokes his chin. “But as we are now, we should do our part here in the harbor. I’m going to get the prisoners to secure us a boat. Flare, you should get ready to burn a hole through that wall of vines before we head out.” “Just give me a minute sir.” She says. “That should be enough time. Once the airships are secured, I’ll go upstairs to check on them.” “The electricity dissipated.” The female griffon spoke. “It should be safe to go in.” “How can you tell?” Gilda questioned her mother. “The one who was causing them was taken out. I don’t sense her presence anymore.” Gilda raised an eyebrow at her mother’s ability. “Presence?” “Unlike a land walker like you, traveling around the seas can earn you some pretty useful skills.” She grinned. “Haki is something difficult to practice.” “Fluttershy got it down pretty fast to knock every pony out with it.” Gilda retorted. “Is it safe to go in yet?” Rusher asked. “Yes.” She answered. “The unicorns will open a way for you in. Just go get them, get out, and we run like we’re in Tartarus.” “Alright then.” He nodded as he walked to the flooded archway. The walls of magic show an abyss beyond the safety that is the walls. The pounding of the fight going on shakes the stairway, making bubbles flow from the cracks being made. Rusher steps closer and kicks his hooves to the floor. “In 12 seconds, I’ll be back.” Luffy and Twilight brace for their life as the water shoves them from wall to wall. Steel Fort swims in the water, controlling the waves with his mass and causing the two to crash to the metal wall of the water tanks. “How long do you think you can stand this barrage?” Steel questioned. “By now, you must be at the limit of your life!” Twilight is urged to let go from the powerful waves, but Luffy grabs her hoof and stares to her eyes. “We can’t give up yet!” Luffy told her. “We need to go to Shining and save your brother!” Her eyes widen and she holds on tighter, pumping in more magic than before. The waves continue to shove to and fro, making the duo spin along with the whirlpool. “Even if you make it out, you’ll face the odds of hundreds of high ranked griffons! Those with powers like you see today! Those who will only need to take a moment to see their enemies before they are killed off! You’ll never make it out, and Shining Armor will STILL die!” Luffy stretches his hoof to the ground and punches his hoof into it. Reeling himself in, the two glared at Steel Fort as they ready their attack. With his other hoof stretching across the room in the Second Gear phase, he arms himself with Armament Haki. Fire illuminates the dark room of water along with Twilight’s horn, now powering Luffy’s hoof. The flaming attack shoots forward and hits Steel Fort as he passes by their range. Gomu Gomu no Impact Hawk! The fierce attack blows Steel Fort to the water tanks, crashing him deep in. His armor was broken to pieces, and he finds himself too injured to continue fighting. He was stuck, and couldn’t give pursuit in rebellion. All he saw was the water below him. “C-Curses… What… What is this power…!?” Luffy sighs in relief and turns to Twilight. “Okay… let’s get out of-” Suddenly, the water now weakened Luffy like it did before. He was now drowning. In confusion, he turns to Twilight, who was now unconscious. Reaching to her, he tries to give aid, but his vision became faint. As things seem to be at loss, an orange stallion comes in and grabs the two of them. He rushes his was down the stairs and soon, air reaches their lungs again. “They’re not breathing!” “They’re waterlogged!” “STAND BACK!” Gilda shouted before she elbow dropped onto Luffy. He vomits several buckets worth of water while Gilda presses Twilight’s stomach and gets her to chuck up a couple mouthfuls before waking up. “Huh… What… happened…?” Twilight asked, holding her head in pain. “This guy managed to save you two.” Gilda pointed to the orange stallion. “His name was… Rusher or something.” “Thanks. You came just in time.” Twilight said gratefully. “It was no problem to the sister of Shining Armor.” He said with a bow. As Twilight stepped back in surprise to his bowing, a voice from the stairs leading to the harbor calls out to them. “Twilight! Luffy! Gilda!” Turning to the source, they see Gold and Flare running up to them. Gold confronts the new band of prisoners, looking for one pony in particular. When Rusher’s head stuck out, Gold grinned. “Rusher! There you are.” He said with a grin. “I’m glad to see you alright.” Rusher lowered his head in shame, still giving eye contact to his superior. “Shining Armor… They took him away…” “We all know that by now.” Flare stated. “Instead of wasting time, we make our way to Scarper City. There, we’re going to enter the war.” “The griffons don’t know his connections. Now, Princess Cadence and her battalion are going in to aid in his rescue.” “Princess Cadence!?” Rusher yelped. “Surprising, I know.” Gold agreed. “But enough dawdling. We have everything we need. Now we need to escort the prisoners out of here.” “Follow me! We’re going to the airships right now!” Flare alerted them. The unicorns keeping the water from flooding began to back up, as the room started overflowing with water. The barrier breaks, and everyone is now running away from the flood. Reaching the harbor, everyone was now getting to the airship. The toxic air was too much and was able to penetrate the gusts the winged pegasus and griffons could give. The water came in and was now taking over. With that, it was time for the final phase of escape. “Alright every pony!” Gold shouted, gathering their attention. “Come with me if you want to fight against the vile Griffon king’s army once more! As for the children and the weak, please head to the other airship!” The seconds went by as if they were hours. The time was do or die. As children and other tired souls went onboard the other ship, the strong willed and vengeful ponies and griffons braved their way to Gold’s ship. On the ship aiming to attack Scraper City was Luffy, Twilight, Gold, Flare, Rusher, Gilda, and her mother. The other had Gilda’s father. As the ship went toward the thick barrier of vines and thorns, Flare jumped and burned away all of the plants. The ships moved out and had finally escaped Talon’s Hold. Both ships were piloted by the parents of Gilda, heading to different directions. As the ships began to split paths, the group now talks of their next plan. “Now that we have an army.” Gold began. “And an airship… We’ll be making our way to Scarper City, fighting powerful foes.” “From this point on, we only move forward to battle. What happens when we get there will be decided by fate.” Flare stated. “I’m going to rescue Shining no matter what!” Twilight declared. “I’ll do everything in my power to do the same.” Rusher noted. Gilda watched as the airship furthered away from Talon’s Hold. As she sat down, Trixie went next to her. “Trixie sees you’ve chosen a smart choice.” Trixie stated. Gilda’s eyes shrunk in surprise to see Trixie was on the airship. “Whoa! What are you doing here!?” “Going to safety of course!” Trixie retorted. “Now that we’re away from the prison, it’s high time to go to someplace peaceful. Maybe a trip to a tropical island.” “But…” Gilda muttered. “You’re on the wrong ship then.” Trixie stared at Gilda before chuckling. “Silly griffon! Trixie would never do something as stupid as-” “Trixie? What are you doing here?” Twilight questioned as she walked into the scene with Luffy. Trixie’s expression deflated to that of Pinkie’s biggest frown. “Eh… Wait… If you two are here… then that means!!!” She turned to the other airship and realized that she was on the wrong one. She grabs hold of the railing and reaches out to them. “WAIT! Take Trixie with you!!!” Twilight and Gilda slapped their faces in disappointment with their narcistic friend. Luffy on the other hand laughed at her predicament. “Wow! You must be pretty stupid to do that Tricky!” The blue mare turned to Luffy and growled, “Its TRIXIE!” “Whatever the case is.” Twilight spoke. “We’re not turning back. Sorry Trixie.” “Get back here!” Laflora demanded as she used her abilities to lunge a vine at the ships. Gilda was wrapped by the vine, and was slowly getting pulled away. Twilight and Luffy gasped and ran to her aid. As Twilight used her magic to hold onto Gilda, Luffy held the vine and tore it apart. Laflora didn’t stop and began to fly her way to the airship. Twilight began to sweat at the situation until she looked at Laflora’s armor. With an idea, she turns to Trixie and devises a plan. Gilda and Luffy readied themselves as Laflora boarded the ship. He vines began to grow onto the ship and take over. “Did you really think you were gonna make it out alive!?” Laflora questioned. “Did you think you were going to be fine when you got on this ship!?” Twilight sneered as she used her magic to keep Laflora still. The botanic griffon found herself immobile, and completely vulnerable. As she was staying still, Twilight called out to her partner. “Trixie! Now!” Trixie stripped Laflora of her armor, causing the plants to be as normal as vines could be. Laflora was shocked as Gilda tackled Lalfora off the ship. “Gomu Gomu no Pistol!” The hit from the punch launches Laflora back whence she came. With that out of the way, the team finds another set of armor. “That was close.” Gilda breathed. “I wasn’t planning on going back there anytime soon.” “And check it out!” Twilight told the others. “Now we have her armor! She won’t be able to use those plants anymore!” “Oh, you retrieved her armor?” Gold spoke. “That adds another set to our collection.” “Collection?” Luffy repeated. Gold showed off his loot to the others, and explained. “I managed to steal some when I was traversing the Hold. I’m not sure what powers they hold, but they must be useful.” “Armor powers!?” Luffy said with sparky eyes. “We have a lot of time before we reach Scraper City. We can discuss plans, tactics, and all sorts of things. It’ll be important to have a good idea on what to do.” Laflora announced. “We have a lot to worry about too.” Rusher pointed out. “Even with a whole army from Princess Cadence, the whole place is crawling with griffons carrying big names.” “Then we’ll just have to beat them if they get in our way!” Luffy declared. “It won’t be that simple.” Rusher stated. Twilight walked away and simply said, “It doesn’t matter. Getting Shining out is all that matters in this battle. That’s what every pony seems to be fighting for.” Turning to her comrades, she shows her new bravado. “And I’m no different.”