//------------------------------// // 23. Nasty 'Nappings // Story: Wanderlust // by DwarvishPony //------------------------------// "What happened?" You ask as you slowly start to come to. Everything is fuzzy. You remember the light at the silo, and wanting to know who the culprit behind it was. But then things went dark. And your head! You realize that there's an excruciating pain in the back of your skull. Like somepony beaned you with a lead pipe in the ballroom. "So you're awake." A voice states. The voice sounds... scruffy? Gravelly. That's the word. "Boss' wantin' a word with yous." Gravelly voice said. You already wished somepony would give him a swift kick to the face. "Where am I?" You realize that there's something that's dried and itchy on your face, though you can't see what. You contort your face into carious expressions, as if that will somehow give you the ability to see your own face. Even though it's a pipe dream, your movements cause the dry stuff to flake away in small red specks. Blood. It's dried blood on your face. Somepony really did wallop you over the head. Oh, that's bad. Some part of your brain points this out, like it wouldn't have been evident to you otherwise. It's not like the sight of blood was a clue. "Who are you?" Your voice sounds distorted. You're not sure if that's an echo you're hearing or the residual effects of the strike to the back of your head. "I do apologize for the actions of my associate. The poor Brute is only good at one thing, I'm afraid." That voice. Why does that arrogant voice sound familiar? It was the kind of stuck-up voice a high-class snob would have. One where there was alway a condescending undertone to their words. "Brute Force, leave us." Hoofsteps leaving the room. You realize you've yet to see either pony the voices have been belonging to. You struggle against your bindings, but to no avail. You've been tied to a pipe or pole or something, your front legs bent uncomfortably behind your back. You've been positioned to face away from the rest of the room, the most likely reason being that whoever is behind this wants to hide their face from you. It starts coming back to you now. You were headed to the silo. Something caught your eye though. Movement in the shadows. Somepony who didn't belong there. You foolishly made the mistake to try and grab the pony. They were a lot stronger than you expected though. You were tossed to the ground like a rag doll before a sharp blow to the side or your head turned the world to blackness. Then you woke up here. "Fancy Hooves." You growl as you recall the name that irritating voice belongs to. The name makes your blood boil. "When I get out of here, I'm gonna kick your flank!" You struggle against the bindings, determined to rip them apart like you plan to do with the pony who wants the land your farm sits upon. "Oh, I think you'll find you're in no position to make threats, Limestone." Fancy Hooves replies coldly. "You see, even though Brute Force was there to break your equipment, I find his mistake of taking you to be quite fortuitous. Without you, your filthy rock farm is sure to fail." The posh socialite lets out a laugh that makes you want to shove a hoof down his throat. "And when that happens, the land will sell for even less than I could have hoped for!" "One problem though. Even if we lose the farm, you won't be the one to own it. I'll go straight to the authorities, even if I have to walk to the Appleoosa sheriff to do it." You retort. There's no way Fancy Hooves could stop your testimony once you got free. "Oh. Did I not mention that? Sorry, my dear Limestone, but you're never leaving this place." The aristocratic pony lets out another snobby laugh as his hoofsteps echo away into the distance. ~~~ Spike slammed the door to the silo open, panting for breath. There's fear in his eyes as he sizes up the situation. He spotted the telltale purple of Trixie's hat behind some barrels. "Trixie, come quick! Limestone's been kidnapped!" Spike rushed over to the mare, only to find Maud Pie in the silo with her. It's Maud that speaks first. "What happened?" She asked in her monotone voice. Though she didn't show any signs of emotion in her voice, there's something in her eyes that told Spike that Maud was worried. He sees a hint of something there. Fear? Anger? Spike isn't sure, and didn't have time to figure it out. "I was running to the silo, because I saw Trixie's light. While I was coming here, I saw some big stallion putting Limestone in a wagon and leaving!" Spike pointed a claw away from the silo as he spoke. "We have to go help her!" "Trixie will handle this. Spike, go find Marble." Trixie ordered, the awkwardness she'd been feeling moments before replaced by adrenaline. "I'm coming with you." Maud bluntly stated. "Its not safe for you to go alone, Trixie." "I wanna come too!" Spike added. "Marble went to the house to tell Igneous Rock and Cloudy Quartz to go get somepony to help." "Fine. Where's Winona?" Trixie looked down at Spike. "I dunno! She was with Limestone when they were in the quarry, but I didn't see her when Limestone got grabbed." Spike shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other. "I'll go find her!" The dragon ran back out the silo to search for the missing canine. "Maud, Trixie is sorry about this. I'll do everything I can to help your older sister." Trixie placed a reassuring hoof on Maud's shoulder. "I know, Trixie." Even Maud couldn't hide the tears that threatened to slip from the corners of her eyes.