//------------------------------//
// Chapter 4 
// Story: Play Stupid Games, Win Stupid Prizes 
// by totallynotabrony 
//------------------------------//

The fireworks Trixie had given them would certainly get somepony’s attention.  The art supplies she'd also thrown in the box might help.  Melon considered how to best use them as he and the Privates stealthily approached the Horseshoe Bay Solar Guard station right after sunset.

Of course, stealth was relative as they walked down the well-lit paved street.  The four of them were still trying to work out the best way to “attack” the Guard station.

The plan they’d come up with so far boiled down to setting off fireworks nearby and when the Guards were distracted, Scootaloo would fly a note into their compound that read something along the lines of “if this were a bomb, you’d be dead.”

“I don’t see why we can’t just fold it up into a paper airplane and throw it over the wall,” said Chalice.  “It would be a much lower risk.”

“We have to make an impression,” said Scootaloo.  “We want to make them think we’re so good that we were able to infiltrate their base.”

Both were valid points.  Making their name early in the game could make their tiny Can’t Remember Faction seem much more threatening than just four ponies.  But getting caught so early in the game would ruin everything.

After considering it, Melon made his decision.  “Dew, Chalice, go with Scoots and get into position.  I’m going to set off the fireworks a few blocks away and then hurry to you.  If there’s a problem, we’ll get her out.”

That seemed to tread the middle ground well enough and the four of them parted, going their assigned directions.

Melon arrived behind the building that was across from the station’s front gate.  He laid out a bundle of small firecrackers connected to a single fuse, a sparking pinwheel, and a rocket.  Hopefully, the combination would get and keep the Solar Guards’ attention.

Flicking open Lieutenant Mirror’s lighter, he sparked the fuses - and the plan.

Once the fireworks were lit, Melon turned and sprinted down the block, making the corner and keeping buildings between him and the station.  Behind him, he heard the rocket scream into the air and explode.

Melon arrived, breathing hard, just as Scootaloo reappeared over the wall.  The four of them got moving, glancing back to check for pursuit.  There was none, and they slowed down two blocks later.

“How did it go?” Melon glanced at Scootaloo.

“I put it under a rock.  It should be pretty obvious, though I don’t know if they’ll notice immediately.”  She shrugged.  “I figure they’ll definitely notice when the sun comes up.  If it takes them that long, it’ll make us seem even more stealthy.”

“Ninja archeologists,” Dew laughed.

Melon smiled to himself.  They couldn’t afford to let down their guard, of course, but he would enjoy the pleasant afterglow of a successful mission while it lasted.

While they weren’t being chased, it didn’t seem wise to hang around such a small town for too long after attacking.  All of them were in good spirits, and decided to push on west.

A mailpony was standing at the side of the road as they approached the edge of town.  He checked his watch and tucked it back in his vest pocket, turning towards them.  “Telegram from a Ms. Fractured Looking-Glass.”

Melon accepted it.  The mailpony tipped his hat and walked away.

“How did Lieutenant Mirror know which road we were taking out of town?  Are we being followed?” muttered Scootaloo.

“Maybe she just took a good guess about where we would be,” offered Dew.

“Or she sent a telegram for each road to make sure,” suggested Chalice.

Either wouldn’t surprise Melon.  He opened the envelope.

“What’s it say?” asked Scootaloo.

“It’s more intel,” said Melon.  “We have three new targets.”

He read them off.  “Dodge Junction, Ponyville, and Los Pegasus.”

“I’m from Ponyville,” said Scootaloo.  “We could hole up there and make it a base.”

“I’m from Baltimare.  It’s a lot closer to where we are now,” said Dew.  “We could stay with my folks.”

It was an appealing idea, having somewhere to stay.  Especially since it was now night.  And, if Melon remembered correctly, their closest target of Dodge Junction was on the other side of the Hayseed Swamps.

“We weren’t told to go to Baltimare,” said Melon.

“Is that envelope full of orders?” asked Chalice.  “Or just ideas?”

She had a point, though Lieutenant Mirror wouldn’t have sent the targets if she didn’t think they were important.  But there was surely a Guard station in Baltimare where they could stage a mock attack.

Walking to Baltimare would take the rest of the night.  Walking to Dodge Junction would also take the rest of the night, but they would be going through the wet, muddy swamps where who knew what creatures lurked.

Either way, once they arrived, they would be short on sleep.  For Baltimare, they could crash at Dew’s place and then go searching for the local Guard station.  On the other hoof, they already had quality information on the one-building, minimum-security station at Dodge Junction and going west instead of north would get them closer to their other objectives at least a day faster.

“We’re going to Dodge Junction,” Melon decided.  

The three mares groaned.  “Come on!” said Chalice.

“Tonight’s going to suck,” Melon acknowledged.  “But if we keep up a good pace, we can hit the station in Dodge Junction before first light and escape.  We’ll find a place to rest and then we can do Ponyville the next day.  Remember that we’re on a time limit for this exercise.”

He felt that he shouldn’t have to explain himself, but his reasoning seemed to quiet the mood.  

“If we could get some light, Chalice, Dew,” said Melon.

“We’ll have to trade off,” said Dew.  “You know I usually get condensation all over me when I use magic for a long time.”

“We’re going through Hayseed Swamp,” said Melon.  “You’re going to get wet either way.”

That got him another round of groans.