Chapter Thirteen – Airship Intrusion
Although it was still a few hours until sunrise proper, the sun started making itself known as the Marestream streaked its way through the sky.
In the rear compartment, Misty and Izzy had both opted to take naps. Meanwhile, Feather Breeze sat, looking around with a mixture of panic and anxiety. “I...Is this thing really safe?”
“It’s completely safe,” Pipp reassured. “I guess you don’t like flying much.”
“I…I’m terrified of it!” Feather Breeze exclaimed. “Being trapped in my own mind aboard the Airship. It was horrible! I’d never flown before and I…I couldn’t find out what the noises were. Why things moved as they did. I saw things, but I couldn’t check what they were.”
“It’s okay,” Pipp reassured as she put a hoof around her. “I’m here and I’m not going to let anything bad happen to you. I’ll help you understand what’s happening if that makes you feel better.”
Feather Breeze grimaced before taking a deep calming breath. She let it out slowly before smiling thankfully at Pipp. “Thank you so much, Pipp.”
Zipp meanwhile was homing in on the coordinates that Feather Breeze had provided her with. She frowned as she stared intently at the instruments. “These better be right.”
“Err, Zipp,” Hitch gasped. “I think they are.”
Zipp looked up from the instruments and also gasped at what she saw out the windscreen.
The airship was so large that it towered above the trees of the woodland it had landed within. Hitch and Zipp could barely fathom how many creatures could be on board.
“Okay. Okay, Zipp. That’s close enough,” Hitch said worriedly.
“Oh, shoot! You’re right, we don’t want to be spotted.”
Zipp put the Marestream into a tight turn. Banking away before they got any closer.
In the rear compartment, the sudden turn caused everypony to go flying. Feather Breeze cried out in fear, wrapping her hoofs around Pipp tightly as they fell on the floor. “Nonono, help me!”
“ZIPP!” Pipp shouted crossly. “What are you doing!”
There was a crackling sound as the intercom came to life. “Sorry for the rough ride everypony,” Zipp said bashfully. “We’ve found the airship and are landing now.”
After they’d landed, Feather Breeze was still clinging tightly to Pipp. Her eyes were closed as she trembled with fear. “N...Never again. Never again.”
“Feather Breeze,” Pipp said softly as she rubbed her head reassuringly. “I’m sorry but we’re going to have to fly again if we’re going to follow the airship to the quarry. It’s not normally that rough, honest.”
Feather Breeze opened her eyes, gasping for breath as she tried to calm her nerves. “I...I know,” she admitted. “W...What’s the plan now?”
“We need to get close enough to plant a tracker on the airship,” Zipp said as she entered from the cockpit.
“A tracker?” Pipp blinked.
“Yeah,” Zipp said as she opened a draw and removed her drone. “I’ve spent most of my time modifying this thing. It’s got a mode that’s got epic battery life. All I have to do is get it on board that airship before it takes off.
“Feather Breeze, I’m sorry, I know you probably want to stay a billion miles from that airship. But I’ll need your help.”
“I...I’ll try,” Feather Breeze gasped as she finally let go of Pipp. “I don’t think we’ll be able to sneak on board though.”
“We won’t need to,” Zipp smiled as the drone started to hover. “I just need your help to guide it in.”
“Okay,” Feather Breeze nodded.
Suddenly, there was a loud clatter as Izzy emerged from a pile of stuff that she’d landed in. “Sorry we don’t have any pancakes today,” she said randomly before collapsing back into the pile and promptly falling asleep.
“Whatever you say, Iz,” Zipp laughed as she packed a saddle bag. “Everypony else should stay here. This is a stealth mission.”
“No, I’m coming with you,” Misty said suddenly. “If we’re spotted, I can get us away.”
“Good point,” Zipp admitted. “Come on then.”
With a series of nods, the three of them headed towards the door.
After they’d gone, Pipp checked her phone. She sighed and sat down as Hitch walked in. “Pipp? What’s wrong?”
“Hitch, I think we need to tell everypony that Sunny is missing,” she admitted. “I wanted us all to discuss it, but I don’t think there’s time. I’ve got a signal, enough to maybe do a low-quality livestream.”
Hitch sighed understandingly and sat down next to her.
“Queen Haven didn’t want ponies to panic,” he sighed. “But now, we’re just about to start our rescue mission. That’s going to give the families of those who are missing hope. I say you tell them, make sure they know that everypony needs to stay safe and alert.”
Pipp nodded with determination and readied her phone. She checked her mane and adjusted it a bit before starting the stream.
“Hey there Pippsqueaks! I know this is, like, super early for a stream and you are all probably in bed. I expect most of you will watch this later. Those of you watching now are likely wondering what gives. Well, what gives is I have an important update for you all. If I wait any later then I’ll be out of signal range.
“Yes, you heard that right! Ya girl is going off grid for a bit. My friends and I are just about to start the mission that will rescue Sunny and the other Earth Ponies that have gone missing.
“Yes, you heard that right too! Sunny Starscout is one of the ponies that has disappeared. I know there’s been a whole lot of speculation about that, and I wanted to put the record straight. The thing is, that doesn’t matter now. There’s a whole load of creatures that are in trouble. Not just Sunny and our fellow ponies. We’re determined to rescue them all.
“However, the threat has not passed! Please, please, please, follow the curfews like Queen Haven has asked. We are dealing with another powerful enemy here, one who can control others.
“Turns out the creatures that have been whisking ponies away are prisoners themselves, prisoners in their own minds! They’re controlled by this powerful enemy against their will. But, I’m confident that by working together we’ll rescue not only our missing friends but every other creature that’s in trouble.
“Wish us luck everypony, as soon as I’m back in signal range I’ll give you all an update. Pipp Pipp Horray!”
Pipp sighed as she tapped on her phone and ended the stream. She looked at Hitch with a hopeful expression.
“Not sure I’d have said that stuff about a powerful enemy, but I think that’s put the message across,” Hitch admitted. “Your cutie mark certainly seems to think so.”
Pipp blinked before looking back at her cutie mark to see it was glowing brightly.
Meanwhile, Zipp, Misty, and Feather Breeze were carefully making their way towards the airship. It was still dark and they daren’t use any light in case they alerted the Nirik.
“I thought you said there were two airships,” Misty gasped. “Isn’t that a big number three on its side?”
“Yes, there’s two that I know of,” Feather Breeze answered. “Number two, and this one, number three. I’ve no idea if there’s a number one.”
“Okay, that’s mildly concerning,” Zipp admitted as she pushed between two bushes. “Okay, super sneaky time. The clearing is just up ahead. Everypony whisper from now on.”
They carefully made their way towards the treeline of the large clearing the airship had landed in. Hiding within a group of bushes, they crawled forward until they could see out towards the airship.
From the bottom of its large underbelly, there were a series of large floodlights. These lit up the clearing and it was obvious that moving further from the treeline would be foolish. They kept in the shadows under the bushes and watched.
From an open hatch near the ships nose, four cables run down to a lift on the ground. One Nirik stood by this, guarding it.
One of the large sets of doors at the bottom of the airship was open. From it, five chains dangled downwards, each having a bell-shaped cage attached to the bottom. Around the cages, there were several Nirik. However, they weren’t the only creatures there.
Feather Breeze gasped and watched, wide-eyed, as a large Kirin paced back and forth in front of the cages. “W…Winters Breath.”
“Is that a good thing?” Misty murmured.
Zipp frowned as she started removing items from the saddle bag. Passing a pair of binoculars to Misty before looking through a pair herself. “It’s probably got something to do with the Pegasi in the cages,” she breathed. “And Strawberry of course.”
“Strawberry?” Misty gasped quietly.
As Misty looked through her binoculars, she saw Zipp was right. In the cage at the end of the row was an unconscious Strawberry. The other four however each contained a Pegasus.
Zipp zoomed her binoculars in on each one. She didn’t recognise the first three. But then, in the cage next to Strawberry, she spotted one she did. “They’ve got Minty Cloudstrike.”
“Who?” Feather Breeze whispered.
“Minty Cloudstrike is the leader of the Pegasus for Pegasi movement,” Misty murmured. “She’s been protesting against Earth Ponies being in Zephyr Heights.”
“Maybe Sunny will get to chat with her after all,” Zipp hissed as she readied her drone. “Feather Breeze, what’s my best way in?”
“Well, I’m honestly not sure,” Feather Breeze sighed.
“You never looked around or anything?” Zipp frowned. “Like checking doors were secured or carrying out maintenance?”
“No,” Feather Breeze sighed. “I was always on Situation Thirteen, so I was a guard. Checking things like that wasn’t part of the instructions.”
She groaned and held her head. “Oh, I hate this,” she said quietly. “T…The memories haunt me. All the things I wanted to do that I couldn’t. All the decisions I wish I could reverse.”
“It’s okay,” Misty whispered back. “There’s so many things I want to change in my past too. By helping us, you’re already making up for them.”
“Especially when you weren’t in control of them,” Zipp added quietly. “Are the Nirik on the ground all I need to watch for?”
“Honestly, the Nirik won’t be a problem,” Feather Breeze whispered. “It will be Winters Breath. I doubt that the Nirik will bat an eyelid at the drone. I mean, inside they’ll be screaming with curiosity, but they’ll not be able to do anything unless told specifically.”
“What? Really?” Zipp goggled.
“They’ll all be on Situation Thirty,” Feather Breeze explained with a grimace. “Watch for unauthorised creatures, capture on sight. There's a list of unauthorised creatures.”
“Okay, I’m going for it,” Zipp informed as she passed Feather Breeze the binoculars. “You can take these if you like. I’ve got my screen here.”
Feather Breeze watched in interest as the drone took off. It slowly climbed, staying out of the beams of light from the spotlights. Then it headed towards the top of the airship.
“I’ll take it over the top,” Zipp murmured. “There could be hatches up there.”
Feather Breeze looked at the binoculars in her hoofs with confusion. She wasn’t sure how to use them. Spotting this, Misty gave her a quick tutorial.
As Feather Breeze got the hang of the binoculars. She gasped as she watched Winters Breath inspecting Strawberry.
“We have waited too long already,” Winters Breath said to the closest Nirik. “We must send this one back. We cannot take a Unicorn.”
The Nirik blinked and cocked it’s head. Winters Breath looked down sorrowfully and sighed. “Query, did you see any ponies without horns or wings?”
The Nirik blinked, and after a moment, it shook it’s head.
“The Ponies have reacted so fast, it's getting harder and harder," Winters Breath groaned. "Query, have all Nirik returned.”
Again, the Nirik blinked. After a longer pause, it shook it’s head again.
Winters Breath’s eyes widened. She looked around the Nirik with concern. “Situation Ninety!”
In the bushes, Zipp gasped as she concentrated on her screen. “What’s happening?”
“W...Winters Breath has realised I’m missing,” Feather Breeze gasped. “She’s running roll call.”
“The Nirik have all lined up,” Misty informed as she watched through her binoculars. “This is your chance, Zipp.”
“Come around from the tail,” Feather Breeze advised. “Winters Breath is looking the other way.”
“Got it,” Zipp nodded as she piloted the drone.
Meanwhile, Winters Breath was working down the line of Nirik. Confirming who each of them was.
After reaching the end of the line, Winters Breath looked crestfallen as she looked around. “Feather Breeze?” she murmured.
She sighed and looked back to the Nirik. “Spring Flare, Situation One.”
One of the Nirik stepped forward, it cocked it’s head and looked intently at Winters Breath, ready to receive instructions.
Winters Breath produced a piece of paper. She looked at it before looking back at the Nirik. “Red pony with horn. Bind hoofs. Copy words from this onto its flanks.”
She held out the paper, the Nirik blinked and took it in its levitation.
“When complete,” Winters Breath continued. “Await further instructions.”
The Nirik blinked again before nodding. It then ran forward and started carrying out the instructions.
“Wait,” Misty gasped quietly. “Was that Strawberry they’re talking about?”
“Yes,” Feather Breeze murmured. “They are sending her to the city. I’m not there, so they can’t put her back where they got her from.”
“What was that about hoofs?” Misty asked.
“They’re making it look like she’s been a victim of an attack,” Feather Breeze sighed. “It has been done before. She will wake up, bound, dazed, and confused, and with slogans painted on her.”
Misty frowned as she watched the Nirik get to work on Strawberry. She could feel a growing urge to jump in and rescue her. But she held back. They couldn’t risk detection, there were too many others that were relying on them.
Meanwhile, Zipp had been busy. With Winters Breath distracted, she had managed to pilot the drone through the large hold doors. “I’m in.”
“Stay low,” Feather Breeze advised. “There are walls full of cages in there. There will be creatures within pretty much all of them.”
“And if they spot the drone, they could alert the Nirik,” Zipp deduced. “Any idea where’s best to hide the drone?”
Feather Breeze sighed and shook her head. “I’m not sure. Like I said, I was on Situation Thirteen when we were in the air.”
“And what was that again?” Zipp asked kindly.
“Oh, yeah,” Feather Breeze gasped. “Standard patrol of the hold. I’d walk a set route watching the creatures.”
Zipp nodded understandingly. “Okay, does Winters Breath come down to the hold?”
Feather Breeze shook her head. “No, I never saw her much. Only on the bridge.”
“Winters Breath,” Misty hissed. “She’s walking around and around looking for something.”
Feather Breeze gasped and looked through her binoculars again and gulped. “She’s looking for me.”
Winters Breath sighed as she walked further from the Nirik. Walking around in a circle as she watched the treeline.
Suddenly she heard a growl from the Nirik behind her. Turning around she saw they were all looking at her through narrowed eyes. Their manes flared dangerously as they began snarling.
“Fear not, I am not attempting to leave,” Winters Breath sighed as she walked towards the Nirik.
As she neared them, they all seemed to calm down. The one working on Strawberry finished and stood next to her expectantly.
Winters Breath noticed and headed over. She inspected Strawberry, ensuring her hoofs were all tightly bound together and that the slogans she’d prepared had been copied correctly.
“Your paintings were always so good,” she murmured.
The Nirik cocked it’s head in confusion whilst Winters Breath sighed sadly. “Spring Flare, Situation One.”
The Nirik cocked it’s head the other way, ready to receive instructions again.
“Stealth level maximum. Teleport this one to capture area Zulu,” Winters Breath instructed. “Leave it within a bush. Return to Alpha, alone.”
The Nirik nodded and there was a flash as it teleported away with Strawberry.
Winters Breath sighed as she turned around and looked up at the ship before waving a hoof. Suddenly, the five cages began rising into the airship.
With another heavy sigh, Winters Breath looked around again. “Feather Breeze!” she shouted. “If you are free, do not come for us. Doing so will just result in you falling into her paws again. There…There is no hope for us.”
Feather Breeze trembled as she watched Winters Breath and the other Nirik walk towards the lift. As they boarded it, the Nirik that had taken Strawberry appeared on the lift with a flash. Then, it began to slowly rise towards the ship.
“Feather Breeze,” Zipp hissed as she angled her remote. “This look good to you?”
Feather Breeze looked at the screen on the remote. Zipp had found a corner to hide the drone.
“I...I'm not sure,” she admitted unsurely. “I can’t see the walkways so, maybe?”
“Good enough for me,” Zipp responded kindly as she tapped on the remote. “There, it’s all set. Come on, let’s get back to the Marestream before it takes off.”
“But you heard her,” Feather Breeze murmured.
She gasped as Misty placed a reassuring hoof on her leg. “It’s okay,” Misty responded. “She doesn’t know you’re with us. She doesn’t know you have friends who are going to help you. She thinks you’ll recklessly run into that quarry alone. You won’t. We won’t. We’ll work out a way to save everycreature. Hoof to heart.”
“Hoof to heart,” Zipp smiled.
Feather Breeze gasped, blinking as she looked at her hoof. “Hoof to heart?”
It was a short time later that the three of them made it back to the Marestream. As they hurried on board, they found Pipp was on a video call with Queen Haven.
“…I just don’t think it was necessary,” Queen Haven sighed.
“Yes, it was necessary, Mum,” Pipp groaned. “It’s been like the worst kept secret ever. Ponies put two and two together when they didn’t see her. It was getting embarrassing. We’re about to go rescue her so it’s fine.”
Queen Haven sighed and was about to respond when Zipp suddenly jumped in. “Mom, you need to get somepony to search every bush in the park.”
“Whatever for, Dear?” Queen Haven gasped.
“For Strawberry Sunflash,” Zipp responded. “She’s been left there by a Nirik, bound and with Pegasus for Pegasi slogans painted on her flanks. We can’t let her be seen by anypony or it will cause even more trouble.”
“Oh, my hoofness, that’s awful,” Queen Haven gasped. “Yes, I’ll get Zoom and Thunder on it immediately.”
“Thanks, Mom,” Zipp smiled. “You need to know, the last ponies taken from ZH were Pegasi. Sounds like there weren’t any Earth Ponies for them to take. Minty Cloudstrike was there so I think they were members of Pegasus for Pegasi.”
“Oh, those silly fools,” Queen Haven sighed. “Are the Nirik likely to return to take other Pegasi?”
“They are,” Zipp confirmed. “We’re about to leave following the airship. Hopefully, we’ll be in touch soon but solving this is all going to take time.”
“What? NOW!” Pipp gasped. “It’s going like, right now?”
“Yep, right now and we don’t want to lose it,” Zipp confirmed. “Love you, Mom.”
With that, she hurried towards the cockpit.
Queen Haven let out a deep sigh. “It’s okay, Pipp, my darling. I’ll follow up on your stream. I’ll extend the curfews too.”
“Queen Haven,” Misty ventured as they felt the Marestream powering up. “I...I’m worried about Strawberry. Could you make sure she’s okay? Please?”
“I’ll have Zoom message Pipp as soon as she’s found,” Queen Haven reassured. “Don’t worry, Misty, I’ll personally ensure she’s okay and cared for.”
“Thank You,” Misty smiled. “S...She kind of failed after being really boastful. I’m worried about how she’ll take it.”
“I understand, Misty,” Queen Haven smiled. “Don’t worry, leave it with me.”
Pipp gasped as the Marestream lurched and took to the air. She looked back at the phone, sighing as she saw the already poor image deteriorating. “Mum, we’re going to get cut off. I love you.”
“I love you too, Pipp,” Queen Haven smiled. “Please, let Zipp know that I love her too and I trust you both. I know you will sav…”
Pipp sighed as the image suddenly froze. A few moments later it disappeared completely as the Marestream flew forward.
“So, that was your mother?” Feather Breeze ventured.
“Yes, Queen Haven, the ruler of Equestria,” Pipp responded sadly.9
“But that means...”
“Yes, Zipp and I are Princesses,” Pipp sighed. “I know what you’re probably thinking but it changes nothing. We’re going to that Quarry, Feather Breeze, and we’re going to rescue everycreature there. I’m confident we can do it, no matter what we face. We’ll do it together.”
Feather Breeze blinked; the words Winters Breath had said were ringing in her ears. Then she saw Pipps confident and unwavering expression and nodded. “Yes, together. We’ll do it together.”
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Yay! Operation rescue all the creatures and find Sunny!
I hope they'll sneak pass the Niriks, remove the collars, get all the creatures out of the cages, along with freeing Minty Cloudstrike and Strawberry, too.
Another great job on the dialogue, characterizations, action and future chapter set-up. Appreciated Pipp putting in that message to the populace before she and the others began their rescue mission. Also understood the gang emphasizing how important stealth is at this point, which is the only reason Misty didn't jump in when she saw Strawberry getting worked over by Allura's brain-washed minions while she was sneaking around (and, yes, with the possible exception of Zipp, Misty DOES have more experience with stealth than any of the rest of the group, so she would know). Feather Breeze explaining a bit about certain "Situations" makes sense, as does the stuff with Winter Breath and the gang letting Haven know about Strawberry being left in the situation she was in and needing help.
REALLY looking forward to more of this.
11925025
Yep, the mission has begun. First step, follow that airship and don’t get spotted!
I thought that was going to be the slowest part of the story for Sunny’s friends. However, I'm finding there's plenty of character interactions to be had. You'll see that over the coming chapters.
11925026
The 'situations' came to me doing the first draft of a later chapter. Fortunately, I was able to rejigg this one to retrofit them.
Made a lot more sense I think as it simplifies the 'instructions' the Nirik are living by.
More than happy to hear some suggestions for 'situations' that can be added. Both numbers and what they are.
I see them as being a 'Set' of instructions that form an activity BTW.
11925052
(Star eyes)
I'll be looking forward to see it, and I'll be waiting.