//------------------------------// // Chapter 29 // Story: A Filly's New Hope // by Mocha Star //------------------------------//         “Okay, so, we’re going to let the birds that just burnt most of our town to ashes go?”         “On the premise that they lead the royal guard to meet the boss of their clan…”         “And, hope, that they’re going to do the right thing and not betray the ponies we send with them?”         The royal guards had arrived and were discussing the plan that was made with the gryphon captives amid much skepticism.         “I do not like this plan,” one of the pegasi guards huffed.         “Nor do I; it reeks of sabotage.  How do we know one of you locals aren’t with them?”         “Are you serious?!  What pony would burn their own town for nothing?” a townspony countered.         “Perhaps it’s part of a larger plan,” another guard suggested.         “Enough of this,” a pegasi said sternly, silencing the crowd, “this is an opportunity to end a lot of strife.  These gryphons aren’t the first to attack a town for profits owed to a mysterious benefactor.  Let’s follow the plan,” he said and looked back to the gryphons.  “Untie them, uncover their heads, and free their wings.  Attach tracking gems and let them go.”         “Mister Pony,” Rild mumbled from beneath his head cover, “we are a race that values honor.  We have no loyalty to the Boss, to spare the lives and freedom of thousands of my brethren-”         “And sisters,” Klin added.         “Then I pledge my loyalty to you, until the Boss is in custody and those under his employ are scattered…  My flock will follow me through the afterlife.  Our lives are yours.”         “Humph, whatever,” a stallion guard grumbled as he turned to a wagon they’d brought to haul the prisoners away.         “I understand and you have our trust.  Break that trust and you will find out that we aren’t all pacifists.”         With a nod, Rild agreed.  A moment later all their hoods were lifted, blinding them to the bright morning light.  “Thank you, being in the dark is… discomforting,” Klin said softly as her wings were freed.         They looked around, all locking eyes on the purple filly they had taken hostage… and bowed their heads in respect.  “Flock, to the skies we wait.”         Rild’s order was followed by loud screeches as their legs were unbound and they took to the sky with massive, loud flaps from their wings.  The squad of pegasi took off after them.  A moment later there was a high pitched, very feminine scream that garnered all the attention and surprise.         …         A chest was slapped closed in front of Tree, who had just finished exhaling the last pitch of a high note.  He fell to his haunches, staring at the chest that was lined with gold and silver.         “Tree?!  What happened?  I haven’t heard you make that noise since you got bucked in the orchard,” Nova asked as she galloped to him.         “Guh… Buh?  Beets…”           Nova cocked her head at the random noises Tree was making as Trek placed a hoof on the filly’s back.  “There was a reward for their capture,” she said softly, staring at Tree, who was weeping quietly, pulling the chest to his body.         “What’s a reward?”         Tree was babbling softly as the guards left him, returning to their caravan; the ranking officer approached Trek.  “Sergeant, you did a fine job.  Are you going to escort these two home?”         Trek snapped to attention and saluted.  The officer nodded and returned the salute. “Sir, I am going to guard them regardless of their choice.  It’s my duty.”         “Well said, Sergeant, at ease.  There will be a bonus in your purse when you return, either way.”         Trek grinned and saluted. “Thank you, sir.”         “Keep up the great work,” he returned the salute and looked to Nova.  She had a hoof held over her right eye.  “She’s cute, and smart.  Keep an eye on her, Safe Trek.”         “Permission to speak in private, sir?” Trek asked as she glanced to Nova and smiled at her attempt at a salute.         “Granted, follow me.  Filly-”         “My name’s Grape Juice and I’m a young mare.”         “Indeed,” the officer said as he led Trek to a quieter area.         Nova trotted to Tree, who had stopped crying, but was still hugging the chest. “Tree, are you ‘kay?”         He sniffled. “Y-yeah.  This’ just, such a gift.  If I wanted to I could just go home, we could just go home, and take a year off.  But, we need the trade routes,” he hummed, “I’ll get this home while we travel to the next town,” he got up and held it tightly, one last hug, before moving it to his back and prancing to the royal guards.         “Growedups are so weird.  If I gotta box I’d just put my toys in it,” Nova mumbled as she turned back to the camp.           The fillies and colts had been taken back to town a couple hours earlier and shared goodbyes leaving only a few adults to talk with the guard.  Now that they were done and leaving, she was practically alone.  She trotted to the cart; still in great condition and missing almost no product.         Nova climbed into the cart and lay in the space that had been made for her to rest in, surrounded by crates and bags that she didn’t care what was in them.  She lay her head on her forelegs and sighed a sad breath.         “Nova, what’s wrong?”         “I miss my friends and Apple.  I wanna go home.”         “While you’re with family, you’re always home.”                 “I don’t feel like I’m at home, right now.  I’m lonely and I was almost hurt’d, bad.  They coulda ate my tail and put me in timeout forever,” Nova pouted.         “Oh, certainly they weren’t that mean.  Just wait; in time you’ll see that timeouts can’t stop you or what you are capable of.”         “I don’t wanna be on timeout, or a slave again.  It’s sad and when I’m with Tree, I’m happy.”         “That’s very good to hear, Grape,” Trek said, “who were you talking to?”         “Huh?” Nova asked, sitting up and rubbing her left eye, “oh, it was that nice pony from before.  Did she leave again?”         “Uhm, sure, is this friend of yours really close to you?  Like, a friend that only you can see?”         “Sometimes, but she’s really nice and helps me feel better.”         Trek nodded and tapped the back of the cart. “Hello, Nova’s friend.  As long as you’re nice to her, you’re a friend of mine,” Trek offered, looking to Nova.         “She isn’t here, you said,” Nova commented, looking at Trek with a skeptical eye, “are you sure you didn’t see anypony a second ago?”         Trek giggled. “Nope, just you and a bunch of stuff,” she said poking a crate, “hello?  Any ponies in there?  No?  Well, if there are, keep her safe.”         “You’re parent-al-izing me,” Nova chewed the words out.         “Ha-Hah!  You mean patronizing?  That’s a big word, where’d you learn it?”         “...From that nice mare.”         Trek raised an eyebrow before nodding and backing up.  “Ri~ght, well, here’s a staff of your own; a gift from the royal guard.  I was gonna do more, but it seems you’re still having some shell shock.”  Trek levitated a staff to Nova and smiled one more time before she turned away.                  “A staff of my own?”         “It would seem so…  Perhaps it’s best to keep you safe from tail eating monsters.”         “And time-out monsters, too,” Nova added with a determined nod.  “I like you, you’re fun Miss Pony.”