Scootaloo Summer 10,14 ASD
Her whole body ached as she tried to get her bearings. Scootaloo tried to move causing shackles to jingle slightly. Her teeth pressed together in a grimace as she tried to stand. Her eyes had spots dance in them as she felt like her mouth was a desert. A water bowl was beside a brown apple mush by the smell of it. Scootaloo made her way to the water and drank deeply before stopping to breath. She sat back looking at her surroundings. She was in a jail cell that looked like the old western architecture she had come to know of Earthborn buildings. She looked at her wing and it was splintered and bound, that she was at least thankful for. Across from her she saw a unmoving body of a yellow coated and mint green mane stallion with his back to her. She pressed her head against the bars to see down the hall but didn't get to see anything. The stallion moved and he groaned. As he lifted his head and he looked at her and she saw he was a unicorn whose horn had been destroyed.
“You're awake huh?” he said, his voice was rough and bitter.
“How long have I been out?” she asked sitting by her food and began to eat and recoiled at the taste of the mush. It was apple maybe at one time but no anymore.
“You got here a day ago.” he informed as he shifted himself up and walked to a pot at the back corner and he began to relieve himself. Scootaloo looked away feeling awkward and after he finished he walked back and sat down.
“Where are we exactly?” She asked trying to get any information she could.
“This is a prison or jail somewhere in the Earthborn territory but were near the border or so I've heard.
“Is there a way out of here?” She asked knowing it was fruitless. The stallion laughed and laid on his side.
“Not that I know of, if I had my magic maybe.” He said solemnly.
“Can you?” She asked not really knowing what happens to a dehorned unicorn. The stallion frowned and lifted his head.
“No, if I try I get a massive migraine because the magic gets backed up and presses against my skull. If I focused on trying to do magic for a long period of time I would die from a brain hemorrhage.” he stated.
“I'm sorry…” she said before she tried to force down her food.
“What's your name? You look like a Stormwing.” he inquired.
“Scootaloo a scout for Stormwing.” she said after taking a bite and chasing it with water.
“Sour Lime, I used to be a lemon and lime farmer on the borders of Earthborn territory my family was hiding me till they found me out and hauled me off and dehorned me and threw me in jail awaiting execution.” He said sounding as he had become resigned to his fate.
“That's barbaric.” Scootaloo said with a feeling of disgust. It would be like removing the wings of a pegasus a thing that was most terrifying to even imagine.
“Well it happens often enough.” He said bitterly as the doors of their cells opened automatically catching Scootaloo off guard.
“Whats going on?” She asked stepping out of her cell as Sour Lime did the same.
“Exercise time. It happens every day for an hour. Then lunch, followed by back into the cell , it's like clockwork.” He said walking beside her. All the other convicts were walking out of the doors at the end of the hall that lead into a dusty yard she looked outside the fences and got a look at where she was. Her rigorous study of the maps could give her an idea of where she was. Mountains that stretched all along the left and right of them.
“We're on the westernmost part of the border of Earthborn territory. That must be the Changeling territory.” She said looking out into the land that she had not much info on.
“How do you even know that?” Sour asked
“I'm a scout need to know the lay of the land in order to know where you are.” Scootaloo answered before she was approached by three other ponies the one that lead them was all too familiar.
“Scootaloo?” The grey coat and lighter grey mane and tail.
“Silver...Spoon?” Scootaloo asked slightly surprised.
“I never thought you would be here last I heard to were dead.” Scootaloo continued.
“I was kidnapped and whisked away to a cult hideout, it was then an Earthborn raiding party saved us but when I was relocated… I was helping Unicorns escape Earthborn territory but I was caught and so I'm here.” She explained and Scootaloo blinked as it took her a moment to think that her once bully was trying to help ponies was odd but time changes everything some say.
“That's an amazing story.” She said with a smile. Silver Spoon looked at her with a smile that had a hint of more than a friendly gesture.
“Scootaloo we have been down one for a plan I have to get out of here.” She said as she looked at Sour Lime as well
“Ok maybe two more but you in?” She said as Scootaloo nodded.
“I'm in if it will work.” She said. Silver Spoon nodded.
“Oh don't worry we will get out of this place soon enough, I'm kinda glad you're here, it's not often I see somepony I know from before ponyville was flooded.” She said as she nudged Scootaloo’s shoulder.
Sweetie Belle Summer 10,14 ASD
The arts district of the fortress of Manehattan was a place that not seemed to harken back to times before the war. Sweetie Belle sighed as she overlooked the projects regarding sculptures ordered by all places within Manehattan and a lot of the sculptures that went to Canterlot, Stalliongrad, and several other capitals whinin Moon and Star territory. Many earth ponies that took jobs there came back changed or bitter towards the faction. A knock at her door shook the thoughts from her mind as Diamond Tiara poked her head in.
“Sweetie Belle, can I ask you about a few things the merchant guild is having some problems,” she said fully coming in. Diamond Tiara had been through alot since the disappearance of the sisters. Losing both parents and only a few years ago during the Cult of Laughters uprising in Manehattan, Silver Spoon was missing and presumed dead.
“Sure, what is it?” Sweetie Belle said waving her in.
“I think some of the funds are missing and it's taken me a while to figure it out I think somepony has been embezzling money on the side.” Diamond said with a frown placing the papers on her desk. Sweetie Belle felt her stomach tighten as Diamond Tiara began to state her case.
“Several small amounts from several establishments have skimped out on several payments of tax. Usually 5-10 bits at a time but the amount and scale it's happening on totals to an amount of 17000 bits! I'm surprised Lady Rarity hasn't seen this discrepancy.” She said baffled. Sweetie Belle gulped as Diamond looked at her.
“Is..that right.” She said before Diamond Tiara frowned at her.
“Did you know about this?” She asked accusingly.
“Ok let me explain.” Sweetie Belle began before Diamond Tiara stood up alarmed and angry.
“Explain what? You stealing money from your sister she...will kill me for missing something like this.” She said looking around the room as if expecting somepony to spring from the shadows and arrest her.
“No, no you are the only one who knows…” Sweetie Belle said harshly whispering.
“Quiet down or we'll both get caught. I've been taking money from the taxes but replacing the bits I take with my own money. So everypony still pays their taxes.” She explained before Diamond Tiara found herself sitting down again still on edge.
“What have you been doing with the bits?” Diamond asked.
“I've been buying medical supplies to have delivered to Redhearts Refuge.” She said quietly. Diamond Tiara seemed to be thinking now.
“That's dangerous, ever since Rarity banded business with Nurse Redheart because of doing business with pirates.” she said recollecting.
“Exactly I can't do anything really so I do it anonymously.” Sweetie Belle said looking sullen.
“Everything you do is under your sister's eye. This is a great risk.” She said before looking around.
“Why do you tell me? We don't have the best history.” Diamond Tiara finished.
“You found out and well...I see how you treat others now. I've come to depend on you regardless you knew it or not. Now I have put my life in your hooves.” Sweetie Belle said with a smile.
“No, you put our lives in my hooves, if I say anything I'll disappear.” She said with a glare and pointing her hoof at her. Sweetie Belle smiled innocently.
“You are Rarities sister… covering your bases while getting what you want.” Diamond Tiara huffed crossing her hooves.
“I'm in with you till the end. Whatever end that will be.” She finished looking at Sweetie Belle.