Chapter 8: Plans in Motion.

The cold night air gently brushed aside the long silk curtains as Sarah leaned out of the bedroom window and gazed at the quiet city below. She used one of her pale fingers to brush a strand of hair behind her ear before giving a long sigh.

Behind her, Sasha was laying on the large bed that had been provided for them. The young girl was lazily swinging her feet off the edge of the bed, her fingers tapping her belly in an impatient manner.

“When are you going to get on with it?” Sasha complained as she rolled onto her front to look at Sarah. The young girl’s impatience was getting on Sarah’s nerves but she knew she only had to endure the numerous complaints a few moments longer.

“I am just making sure it is clear,” Sarah called back into the room before she noticed a Pegasus guard fly around one of the castle towers. She waited a few minutes before another Pegasus flew past, she kept check of any movements she saw in the air before she spotted her window approaching.

Sasha groaned as she grabbed one on the pillows beside her and began to hug it tightly, “Come on Sarah, I am starting to get cold.”

Sarah took a deep breath before leaning forwards and tumbling out of the window, her ears were filled with the sound of wind as she fell towards the castle gardens below, she had timed it perfectly so no guards would be able to see her until the flew back around.

The ground was nearing Sarah, the soft grass coming into focus as she gently turned in the air. Sarah slowed in the air and landed softly on her feet. She walked beneath a tree and spied on a guard that flew overhead.

The moment the unaware guard flew back out of view Sarah made her next move. She hopped into the air and began to float, her smile grew as she began to pick up speed and she began to fly along the castle walls, swerving and spinning to avoid any windows.

Guards that patrolled the castle’s skies were unaware of the silent prowler that exploited every blind spot there was. Sarah eventually reached her destination on the far side of the castle, a large pair of wooden doors stood unguarded in the winter night.

“Easy enough,” Sarah sighed as she glided to the doors and quietly slipped inside, taking the time to look about to make sure nopony saw her as she closed the door. She turned to see the long corridor before her, the walls lined with gorgeous stained glass that depicted key moments in Equestria’s history.

As Sarah walked down the hall she gazed at the stained glass that shone in the moonlight, the vivid colours were cast around the room until they disappeared into the shadows. At the end of the hall was a large decorated door.

Sarah looked at the door with a smile before jogging out of the hall and flying carefully away. She retraced her path through the skies until she was safely back inside her room, Sasha was still lying on the bed as she stared at the ceiling.

“The door is there, just like he said it would be,” Sarah sighed as she dropped onto the bed. “Hopefully we won’t have to stick around much longer.”

“Good,” Sasha sighed as she rolled onto her side. “I hate having to sit around, pretending to be some scared little girl.”

Sarah sat up to look across at the child, her concerns for the girl’s wellbeing were quickly brushed aside as Sasha’s arms turned the dull gold that made her and most of her other acquaintances uneasy.

“Put those claws away,” Sarah glanced at the door. “What if a guard were to walk in?”

“Then I could make him stay quiet forever!” Sasha growled. “Hank said that I don’t have to be ordered about once we found the door.” The girl clambered off the bed as her hands finished transforming into the golden claws.

Sarah sighed as she rubbed her temples; her patience for the uncontrollable brat was wearing thin. “No he said you can do what you please once we end him the signal. Then you can make this castle your own, tear it down or even paint it pink for all I care.”

Sasha snarled at Sarah before turning her head away and pouting, “Hank says that you are only useful for finding the door and that’s it.”

“You have no idea what game you think you are playing but I can tell you that I am a lot more important than you,” Sarah said with a proud smile. “See Hank has no time for a child, that’s why I will be around long after you are gone.”

“Y-yeah?” Sasha glared evilly. “W-well you smell!”

The next morning…

Celestia, Dave and the two human girls were sat outside a café on the busy street that led to Canterlot castle, ponies walking by could only glimpse at the group before noticing a guard staring at them, encouraging them to move along.

Dave looked between the two glaring sisters; the only thing that broke the awkward silence was him giving a long yawn. Celestia looked at her husband before rolling her eyes, “Where did you end up sleeping?”

“I tried to sleep in Odio’s room,” Dave dropped his head to the table as Sarah and Sasha stopped their glaring. “He woke me up every hour to tell me something cool he had found on his new games or how his new consoles were better and in one case he woke me up to tell me that I had been asleep for exactly one hour.”

“Who is this Odio guy?” Sarah asked as she was handed a tea by one of the café waitresses.

Dave sat up as he was passed a large coffee, “Someone you really don’t want to meet.” Dave sighed before drinking the coffee in one gulp and passed the empty mug back to the stunned waitress, “One more please.”

“I told you countless times he is a bad influence,” Celestia shook her head, her attention shifting as a large slice of cake was placed in front of her. “I know enough about bad influences.”

Sasha beamed when an equally large chocolate bun was placed in front of her. “Wow it’s bigger than my head!”

“Yeah sweets are a bit oversized in Equestria,” Dave shrugged. “I don’t think I have managed to finish a cake to myself yet.”

There was a moment of calm before Sasha began to tear into her treat; bits of chocolate chip fell from the bun as she quickly devoured it. Sarah figured it was probably down to the gifts they had received that had increased Sasha’s appetite but was shocked when she saw Celestia had already eaten most of her own cake.

“Finished!” Celestia and Sasha both said in unison. Sarah and Dave looked in bewilderment at the princess and girl. The waitress looked at the group in bewilderment before slowly retreating back into the café to serve other customers.

“Well I suppose some people and ponies have larger appetites than I do,” Dave gave Celestia a reassuring smile as he wiped a bit of frosting from the corner of her mouth. “At least you enjoyed it I suppose.”

Celestia smiled, “Well cake is my favourite.”

“Mine too!” Sasha cheered.

“Well we will have to have cake when we get back to the castle,” Celestia winked, bringing a large grin to Sasha’s face. “Sarah, did you want anything to eat? The strawberry sponge is delicious today.”

“No thanks,” Sarah shook her head. She stood up as the waitress returned with another coffee for Dave. “Excuse me, is there a toilet inside?” She asked politely.

The waitress placed the coffee down before responding, “Yes there is one at the back of the seating area.”

“Thank you,” Sarah left the group to walk inside the café. She ignored the curious stares that she received from the customers. She was getting sick of waiting around, being stared at like a freak, and treated like a helpless animal.

Sarah reached the small bathroom, locking the door behind her before giving a sigh of relief that she had some privacy. No longer worried about accidentally spilling any information or letting her disguise slip, Sarah looked around the small space she had available.

There was a small white toilet, a small sink and a frosted window. Sarah had to open the window to peek out into the quiet alley. Luckily for her there was a wooden fence separating the alley from the busy main street.

The girl had to hover off the ground to slip out the small gap in the window; her flight helped her lower herself silently onto the ground. Sarah looked around the dirty alley she was in; a few bins that belonged to the café were lined up near a rear entrance.

Sarah reached into her back pocket and pulled out a small mirror, using the café as cover from the streets she flew into the air until she was level with the rooftops. Making sure no pegasi were about before laying down on the tiled rooftop.

The mountain that Canterlot was built around was standing proud beside the equally impressive castle. Sarah’s eyes darted around the mountainside before she held the mirror beside her head, rotating it gently as she tried to reflect the sunlight at the mountain.

After a short time of waiting, Sarah saw a brief flash of light, showing that her signal had been received by a companion on the mountain. Sarah returned the mirror to her pocket and froze as she heard the café door below her open.

She peeked down to see one of the staff throwing a bag of rubbish into one of the bins before returning indoors. Sarah floated back down to the ground and gave a sigh of relief that the pony hadn’t noticed the open window.

“So you have completed your assignment?” A deep voice asked from behind the surprised girl. Sarah spun around and was relieved to see Hank staring at her.

“Yes,” Sarah bowed to the taller man. “The door was there just like you said, I made sure I wasn’t seen and the princesses don’t suspect a thing.”

Hank nodded before resting one of his large hands on Sarah’s shoulder. The girl appreciated the small sign of praise but couldn’t help feel intimidated; scared that Hank would do something to hurt her now she was no longer required.

“Now you can let Sasha know that she can fulfil her task,” Hank removed his hand from Sarah’s shoulder. “Mike is getting ready to enter the castle; he will provide a distraction while you escape.”

“What about Sasha?” Sarah couldn’t help but wonder whenever Hank began to tell her what to do. The man standing opposite her was always leaving details out that made no sense, her questions were always half-answered and the details were usually something she would rather not know.

Hank hummed before responding to Sarah’s question. “Mike is going to give her another gift, something that will help her create a distraction.”

“Another gift? She already has those claws and she can manipulate objects,” Sarah growled. “Why are you spoiling her?”

“Because that is the plan!” Hank snapped, his glaring eyes instantly crushing any argument that Sarah had. “Sasha will receive this gift, Mike will help create a distraction and you are to leave the castle when he arrives.”

Sarah lowered her gaze to the floor, her anger hidden behind her silence. She clenched her fists to stop herself from yelling, to stop herself protesting until she was given more power. “Are you sure Mike won’t chicken out like last time.”

“Mike knows what will happen if he doesn’t do as he is told.” Hank responded plainly, “Now go back into the princesses and make sure you know how to escape.”

The two humans stood in silence before Sarah finally nodded, “Whatever you say.”

“Good,” Hank began to walk away. “With Steven’s death we know that Dave’s fighting abilities isn’t an issue.”

“It isn’t Dave’s fighting skills I’m worried about,” Sarah turned to glare at Hank. “I’m worried that there is more going on than we realize.”

Author's Notes:

Sorry for the wait :P