//------------------------------// // Retribution (Zeke & Carrot): First Against the Most Vulnerable // Story: Awkward Conversations And Other Stories // by No one is home //------------------------------// Z smiled brightly at the mare by her side. "Carrot Plate must relax! She is with her sister, Z-978, and they are enjoying a pleasant walk. Carrot should be happy." "I am happy Z," the red unicorn smiled timidly, "The past few days have been the happiest time in my life... but my father IS planning something." "Pfft." the changeling pffted with disdain. "What is a stupid perverted unicorn going to do against the Train Wreck? What is a stupid old, dirty, smelly Stallion going to do against Surprise? We will show mercy and make Diane stay home." Carrot Plate smiled at the thought that she was a part of a strong family that was built on love, and not political leverage. It was always at those little unguarded moments that everything went to hell. "Carrot Plate?" a rough looking lunar guard, approached the pair, "You are under arrest for vandalism, willful destruction of private property, and reckless endangerment of ponies' health and safety." "No!" Z-978 moved between her ward and the menacing guard, as his partner moved to flank the mare. "Z-978's sister did nothing wrong!" “Stand aside bug!” The belligerent guard demanded, as his fellow guard moved behind Z. “Z, lookout!” Carrot warned, recoiling in horror as the guard behind the guard brought the butt of his spear into the back of that changelings head with a sickening crack. “We’ll take ‘em both in, the bug can stand trial for obstruction if she wakes up,” the guards smirked, “Maybe that’ll teach these freaks to respect the lunar guard!” “Did you see that?” The ponies on the street began to gather and converse in hushed voices. “They just assaulted Z-978, she’s such a polite changeling.” The Lunar guards looked about in nervous agitation as the secured their prisoners, but the accusing voices continued. “They couldn’t kill the Train Wreck, so they’re going after his family!” “Damned bat-pony cowards!” “This is retribution because of those damned vamponies couldn’t get away with murder!” “Back off sun-ponies! We’re just trying to do our jobs!” The larger guard snarled at the crowd as they made a nervous retreat with their prisoners, watching the angry crowd nervously. -=-=-=-=- Captain Crescent Phase was not having a good day. He had a saying, “Anytime there’s not an angry mob at the door, it’s a good day.” He always figured that with the bar set that low, actual bad days should be rarity. Today was a very bad day. The eastern district of Canterlot, known as Decanter had always posed it’s own unique challenges. For one it was more diverse by far than most of the rest of the city, being home to earth ponies, various immigrant races, and more recently, the local changeling hive of Princess Fast Change. Until the bakery incident, it was largely a very friendly district for the lunar guard, actually. And then that damned goon Stormy Night had to go and try to take out the Train Wreck. Nothing like the perceived murder of a local hero to turn public relations sour. If that wasn’t enough, an uncomfortable portion of his guards actually sympathized with that damned sociopath. The problem as he saw it, was that there were too many Lunar Guards who quite obviously did not need to have the job. Like the two clowns who had caused his current head-ache. He should have sent the damned noble SOB packing back to Celestia’s court, and fallout be damned. He knew there was going to be trouble. Some stick up his flank noble throwing his weight around demanding that charges be brought against his daughter for vandalising his estate when she ran off with some stallion from Decanter. If he had known she was with THAT family, he would have told the unicorn where he could stick his noble influence. This was never going to have gone well, but the to flank-hat corporals who made the arrest had taken it the worst possible direction. Now there was a well-known, well-liked, mentally handicapped changeling mare in the hospital with a concussion. There were a good six to twelve ponies outside the guard house at any given time making demands of varying unreasonableness, and it was only a matter of time before… the captain felt a tremor and severely hoped it was only the beginning of a major earthquake. -=-=-=-=- “Where is Z and Carrot?” The captain fought hard to keep a bad day getting worse by wetting himself in front of the troops. Being set fire to and buried alive had NOT made the Train Wreck’s appearance any less frightening. Quite the opposite in fact. “Mr. Pastel,” the guard captain began, “I want you to know that your herd-mate is in stable condition in Canterlot hospital. The guards who assaulted her will be severely disciplined! I know you haven’t had the best of experience with her Majesty’s Lunar guard…” “Carrot Plate,” the beast’s lower mandibles only opened slightly, but the threat was clear, “where is she?” “Enough!” Luna bellowed as she entered the precinct, “Mr. Pastel, I understand your concern, I truly do, but I cannot allow you to bully my royal guard! You do not treat my sister’s guard in this fashion. Nor the royal guard of Princess Fast.” “Or you Warlocks either.” Train wreck rolled his eyes in annoyance. “Maybe because they didn’t start a one way feud that ended with me being set fire to and buried alive. Your guard have put my sister in the hospital, tonight… And I don’t know what they’ve done to Carrot!” “Your Majesty,” Captain Crescent Phase spoke respectfully, “I can assure you Miss Plate is quite safe. Her father has agreed to drop all charges against both perpetrators, and paid her bail. Miss Plate is in the custody of her parent’s as we speak…”