Clover the Clever attempted to keep his mind occupied while waiting inside the dungeon cell. Lying down on a mattress stuffed with hay, he rested his head on his forelegs as he waited. Waiting for what, he didn’t know. Without his books and scrolls he was at a loss as to what he should do. Lying down next to him, Shanks growled softly in his sleep. After having spent the last several hours trying to chew his way through the bars of their cell in vain, the little pup had given up on the idea of trying to escape.

Clover still couldn’t believe that the pup’s jaws had managed to chew through a good portion of the arcanium that made up the metal bars of the palace dungeons. That stuff was supposedly invulnerable to even dragon’s fire. He tried using his magic to cover the pup with a blanket, but the dampener ring over his horn made even simple telekinesis impossible. Sighing in resignation, Clover used his mouth to pull the blanket over the pup’s steadily breathing body.

“I wonder how everypony else is doing?” Clover said, sighed quietly so as not to awake the excitable diamond dog pup.

Shanks laid asleep next to the unicorn, oblivious to his worries. Only occasionally would the pups legs and tail twitch, in response to some unknown dream he was experiencing.

Exhausted from worry and bored out of his mind, Clover closed his eyes trying to pass the time away sleeping.

Deeper in the dungeon further away from Clover’s cell, the voices of Seafoam and Sir Stouthorn echoed throughout the corridors of the prison. “Sir Stouthorn,” Seafoam said, his voice filled with worry, “I’ll never get my knighthood now, and they’ll boot you out of the order for sure!”

Sir Stouthorn patted his page’s head and smiled. “Dear Seafoam,” the knight said, “be of good cheer. Those with a righteous cause, have no need to fear whatsoever dark clouds darken the sky.”

“But you punched Princess Luna right in the flank!” Seafoam exclaimed, his mane frazzled with worry over their predicament. “I’m pretty sure they exile ponies for assaulting goddesses.”

Sir Stouthorn’s face turned red with his embarrassment. “Well, in my own defense,” the minotaur said sheepishly, realizing striking a lady, especially one he wished to quest for could be considered bad form, “the old girl is rather large, and I was blinded at the time. I don’t think they’d hold a fellow responsible for extenuating circumstances.”

“Lawgiver, preserve us,” Seafoam said, pacing worriedly back and forth in their cell. “We’ll be lucky if we aren’t banished, and then imprisoned in the place we’re banished to.”

“The princesses don’t strike me as the sort that would hold grudges over a simple misunderstanding,” Sir Stouthorn replied, a single tear of regret for his nonchivalrous behavior braking through his eye’s otherwise impenetrable barrier.

“Perhaps we’ll be shown mercy,” Seafoam said hopefully, while his mane drooped in despair over his impending doom.

“Come now lad,” Sir Stouthorn said smiling, showing off his mustache full of vitality and power, “perchance a song will cheer you up?”

Thinking for a moment, Sir Stouthorn sat down and began singing an old folk song he knew from his childhood,

“The young foal sat upon his father’s knee and asked, ’How can I become a brave stallion like you’.

The father aged and pale looked at his son full of hope and dreams and said, carry on my son.

The world can be scary place the first time you step out your door,

Simply place one foot in front of the other and answer destiny’s call

Just carry on….

Not all the challenges you face will try a warriors steel,

Sometimes the only thing required is to just climb the next hill.

Just carry on…

Not every danger will be dragons attacking with claw and fang,

Sometimes to be courageous you must smile through your pain.

Just carry on…

Not every battle will require a heroic last stand in order to stand tall,

Sometimes all that’s needed is the courage to stand back up when you fall.

Just carry on…

The foal looked up at his father, and then lay down to sleep.

Leaving the foal to Luna’s tender embrace, the stallion reflected on his own father telling him the same.

Be strong my son, be brave. Let your courage carry on our family name.

Leaving the foal to Luna’s loving care, the father smiled and said carry on my son.”

“Thank you Sir Stouthorn,” Seafoam said, “your songs always bring me cheer.”

Sir Stouthorn smiled at his page. “Carry on my son. Carry on,” he said.

“How dare they treat a lady like some common criminal?” Showboat pouted, stamping her hoof in exasperation over at least in her own opinion unjust incarceration. Slick shrugged his shoulders and went back to playing his game of solitaire.

“Tell me Slick,” Showboat whined, “you think I’m a lady don’t you?” Slick nodded once, turning over a few cards and trying to complete a suit.

“Then why did they lock me up in his dungeon like some sort of common criminal!” Showboat sobbed.

Slick started counting on his claws, “I think currently the charges being pressed against you are: disorderly conduct…” he said laying down six of spades

“I was merely an innocent bystander,” Showboat replied.

Resisting arrest…” Slick continued, placing down a queen of hearts.

“Who wouldn’t in similar circumstances?” she asked.

“Assault, aggravated assault…” he said.

“Those ruffians had it coming, every last one of them,” she fumed.

“Interfering in a parlay of honor…” Slick said, turning over a card in his deck.

“Sir Stouthorn was out ponied, without magical aid somepony might have hurt him badly,” Showboat protested.

“Casting with intent to commit mischief, casting with intent to cause bodily harm…” Slick said, placing a jack of clubs on the queen of hearts.

“I tell you, I only casted in self-defense,” Showboat said dramatically, bringing a hoof to her face.

“Assault with a deadly weapon…” Slick continued, placing an ace of spades down

“That’s absurd!” Showboat exclaimed, incensed at the very notion that she would use anything as crude as a weapon. “Slick, they can’t honestly expect me to be responsible for your actions.”

“Possession of a class IV restricted magical object…” Slick said, laying down an ace of hearts.

“Well to be fair, the bridle is actually Shaw’s…” Showboat replied. “He shouldn’t be so careless with such valuable magical artifacts.”

“Possession of a class V restricted magical creature…” Slick said, moving some of his cards to the aces he had laid out.

“But you’re your own dragon Slick,” Showboat protested. “I can’t possibly be held liable for owning you. You’re with me of your own free will.”

“And interspecies fraternization,” Slick said, finishing both the list of charges leveled against Showboat and his game of solitaire.

“There’s no law against love!” Showboat exclaimed. “Who I choose to share my bed with is my own business.”

“Tell it to the judge sister,” Slick retorted, shuffling his deck of cards for a new game.

Showboat narrowed her eyes at the little dragon. “You know Slick,” she said with an evil grin. “I know of a much better game you could try playing.”

“Oh really what’s that,” Slick asked disinterestedly.

“How about a game of fifty-two card pickup instead?” Showboat said, making her horn glow with magic.

“Wait. Nooo!” Slick cried out, desperate to save his cards from destruction.

Moments later, the cell was rocked by a powerful explosion. Smoke poured out into the hall from the cell’s bars. Slick coughed violently a few times while rubbing the soot out of his eyes. “Showboat, how did you manage to cast anything?” he asked in amazement, his face and scales blackened from the explosion.

“Oh a magician never reveals her secrets,” Showboat replied with a grin, her magic dampener ring mysteriously absent from her horn. Trotting over to the door of her cell, she used her magic to open the door with ease.

“Showboat, lead the way,” Slick said, climbing on top of her back.

“Okay, now to free the others,” Showboat thought to herself, as she began searching the dungeon for her companions.

Shaw was not happy; in fact he was rather pissed. “Bucking unicorns and their bucking magic!” he cursed silently. Currently he could not move or speak. The palace guards had him in a strait jacket, and bound against a table reclined at a forty-five degree angle. To protect themselves from bodily harm from his sharp beak, and their ears from his sharp tongue, they had placed a muzzle over his face. Now all he could do was glare at anyone who came to close to him. If being restrained and muzzled wasn’t bad enough he also had to endure his diminutive cell mate.

“How dare you lock me up with common trash!” Prince Blueblood raged. “I demand to speak with your supervisor!”

Shaw rolled his eyes in exasperation at having to listen to the tiny unicorn complain nonstop for the past four days. He only wished his mouth was free so he could tell the pipsqueak to shut the Hades up. Apparently he wasn’t the only one tired of the former regent’s antics, because every hour or so a guard would come to their shared cell and politely tell the prince to stuff it.

This time a timid yellow pegasus with a pink mane checked up on their cell. “Uh, Prince Blueblood sir,” she stammered nervously.

“What?” the price snarled. “Unless you’re here to give me my own cell or release me from this dungeon I don’t want to hear it!”

“I’m sure your cellmate, and your fellow prisoners would appreciate it, if you were to lower your voice just a tiny bit, I mean only if you really want to,” she whispered almost inaudibly.

“Listen, uhhh… Whoever you are,” the prince said dismissively towards the guard.

“It’s uh, Private Pansy,” the timid pegasus replied softly.

“Yeah whatever,” the prince rudely interrupted. “You tell your boss, that he better release me immediately or there’s going to be Hades to pay!”

“I’m sorry, I can’t do that,” Pansy said clearly intimidated by the prince’s demeanor. “But if you like I can bring you some dinner, wouldn’t that be nice?” With a gentle smile, the pegasus slide a tray of delicious smelling soup into the cell for the prince to eat.

“Dinner?!” the prince roared, his nostrils flaring in anger at the outrage of being offered common prison fare. In disgust, he picked up the tray holding the soup with his mouth and threw it the cell door.

Private Pansy shrieked in terror, the hot soup flew through the air and hit her squarely in the face completely soaking he pink mane. “There’s no reason to be so mean!” the pegasus cried, with tears freely flowing down her cheeks. “I made that soup especially for you, because I heard you had special dietary requirements.”

“I didn’t ask for your soup,” the prince seethed, trying to make his tiny body as intimidating as possible. Looking up at her with a sneer he continued his tirade, “I didn’t ask to be locked up in this cell with the griffin, and I most definitely didn’t ask to be serviced by a pathetic guard like you!”

By now, the tears were freely falling down Private Pansy’s face as she took the full barrage of the prince’s rude behavior. Shaw genuinely felt bad for the pegasus who had gone out of her way to help the tiny prince, only to have her kindness thrown back in her face. He decided that the prince was definitely going on ‘The List’. The list as he called it, was the list of people who had ever wronged him, at the top of it currently was those harpies back at his eyrie, and those Celestia bucking windigos. However, Shaw took opportunities as they presented themselves, to cross off even the most minor entries on it when he could.

Pansy looked up at Shaw and looked genuinely sorry that she couldn’t feed him. “I’m so… sorry mister griffin,” she said, stammering over her tears, “I’m not allowed to feed you.”

Shaw gave her as sympathetic look as he could, tilting his head as if to say “It’s alright, I understand.”

Prince Blueblood pounded against the heavy bars of his cell. “Peasant,” he ordered, “I demand that you leave at once! A pathetic mediocrity like you makes me nauseous.”

Private Pansy lowered her head submissively, and left the cell behind with tears of hurt streaming down her face.

Shaw had been waiting for night to do this, but Prince Blueblood’s atrocious behavior had to be answered for. Flexing his talons, he began working on the restraints holding him down.

Blueblood seeing that the guard had finally left, resumed his temper tantrum screaming about the outrage of treating nobility like common gutter trash. After about fifteen minutes, the prince suddenly found himself very thirsty. After all, screaming at your inferiors can be very thirsty work. He began screaming out into the hall, “Mediocrity! Bring me refreshment this instant,” the tiny noble commanded.

Private Pansy meekly returned to the cell and cautiously looked at the prince. “Ye… yes, here is some water Prince Blueblood,” she said, sliding into their cell a large bowl of water, rich with the fragrance of roses.

“Rose water!” he snarled, knocking the bowl to the side and spilling its contents all over the floor. He glared up in anger at Pansy, disgusted that he had been offered something only a peasant would drink. “Now listen well you imbecile, I shall only tell you once. Go into my office and fetch me the gold bottle in my desk. If anyone tries to stop you, go to the pony at the front desk and tell him you’re under Prince Blueblood’s orders. Now do you understand?”

“Ye... yes prince,” she meekly replied leaving the cell as quickly as she could.

“And be quick about it!” the prince shouted out after her. “I’m dreadfully parched.

“I’m sure you are,” a cold voice replied.

“You have no idea…” the price began, before wondering who dared to speak to him so casually. In anger he turned around to verbally assault who ever had the audacity to speak out of turn to their betters.

Deeply inhaling, the prince closed his eyes and turned to face the voice. “How dare you address your betters without permission, I should have you flogged!” he said venomously, “Don’t you know who I am…”

“A dead pony,” the voice said, interrupting the prince’s tirade.

Opening his eyes, Prince Blueblood’s face went pale when he saw that the griffin had somehow managed to free himself from his bonds.

Shaw’s face was covered by the shadows of the jail cell. Only his burning eyes revealed his malicious intent, as he cracked his talons in preparation for what was about to come next.

In terror, Prince Blueblood slowly backed up into a corner as the angry griffin approached him menacingly.

“Oh I’m so going to enjoy this...” Shaw said, reaching out to grab the tiny unicorn.

“Oh, my gosh. Oh, my gosh,” Private Pansy said, as she rushed the gold bottle back towards the prince’s cell. “I hope he won’t be too upset I took so long retrieving his bottle.” Fetching a tray and a large crystal goblet she had also grabbed from his office, she trotted back towards the cell. When she reached it she was shocked at what she found.

Prince Blueblood was shaking in terror, chanting, “Please make it stop, please make it stop.”

Private Pansy looked at the room in confusion, beyond the griffin who wore a satisfied look on his face, the room seemed no different. “Uh, Prince Blueblood,” she said timidly, “I have your gold bottle like you requested.”

Once he saw the guard, the prince crawled on the ground towards her and started kissing her hooves. “Oh please forgive me,” he begged, choking back his tears “I’m so sorry for being a bad pony, please forgive my behavior!”

Pansy was taken aback. She had no idea what could have transformed the prince so quickly. “Oh it’s all right,” she replied, stroking his mane. “You’re not a bad pony, you just made bad choices.”

“Will you forgive me?” the prince asked hopefully.

“Of course I forgive you, prince,” Private Pansy replied.

“Will you stay with me till I sleep?” the prince begged.

“Yes,” Pansy replied stoking the prince’s frazzled mane.

With a sweet and tender voice the guard began singing.

“Hush now, quiet now,

It's time to lay your sleepy head.

Hush now, quiet now,

It's time to go to bed.

Drifting off to sleep,

The exciting day behind you.

Drifting off to sleep,

Let the joy of dream land find you.

Hush now, quiet now,

It's time to lay your sleepy head.

Hush now, quiet now,

It's time to go to bed.”

The gentle melody of the guard’s singing echoed throughout the cell, making Shaw’s eyes droop heavy with sleep. The prince lay by the cell door, being cradled by the pegasus as she finished her song. Once it was done, she unlocked the cell and laid the prince down on his bed. With the prince asleep, she exited the cell and locked it behind her.

Struggle as he might, Shaw could barely keep his eyes open. The guards singing reminded him of Showboat, and how much he already missed that mare. “Oh buck,” he said sleepily, before closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep, “I’ve got it bad.”

The dark corridors of the dungeon provided ample cover for Showboat to use for cover to hide her presence from the pegasus guard patrolling the dungeon.

“Whew,” Showboat whispered to herself, “that was a close one.” As she held her breath waiting for the yellow pegasus guard to head back down the darkened halls of the dungeon.

Once the coast was clear, she jingled the keys triumphantly that she had ‘liberated’ from the pegasus that had just passed by, unaware of her presence.

“Now where are they keeping them at?” she asked herself, while looking into the windows of each cell they passed.

“Showboat,” Slick said, “this place is like a maze. We’ll never locate everypony before they discover we’re missing.”

Showboat brought a hoof up to her muzzle and thoughtfully tapped her chin. “Idea!” she softly sang to herself.

Heading towards the barracks, Showboat used her magic to softly open the door. Seeing the dozens of sleeping unicorn guards made her nervous, but she pressed on and ‘borrowed’ a sergeant’s uniform. Before leaving the room she saw a box that caught her interest. Opening the box, she smiled deviously as she put her spontaneous new plan into action. A few minutes later Showboat exited the room. Using her magic, she warped the door so badly that only by destroying the door would the sleeping guards be able to leave.

Slick looked at Showboat questioningly. “What the hay took you so long?” he asked, afraid that their cover would get blown.

“Oh,” Showboat said smugly, “I just took the liberty of giving us some insurance should anything unexpected happen.”

“Here put this on,” Showboat said, levitating a hat and a purple velvet doublet into Slick’s claws.

“What the hay is this for?” Slick asked in confusion.

“It’s your disguise,” Showboat explained.

“Ugh, I look so ridiculous!” Slick growled in complaint. The velvet doublet’s puffy sleeves made him look like some sort of royal servant, and the black wide brimmed hat had a bright red phoenix feather in its band.

“No, you look adorable,” Showboat corrected, “now follow my lead.”

Confidently Showboat walked down the corridor and waited patiently for the pegasus guard to return to her station.

About five minutes later, the yellow pegasus walked back into the main office looking flustered. “Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear,” she kept repeating to herself.

Taking her queue, Showboat winked to Slick and began her performance. “Private!” she barked in a commanding voice.

“Aiiieee,” the pegasus yelped, seizing up in fright and tipping over.

“Oh my,” Showboat remarked to herself, “I think I may have just broken her.”

Private Pansy woke up when she felt a clawed hand slapping her cheek lightly. “Oh my,” she said disoriented.

Looking up, she saw both Showboat and Slick looking down at her in concern. “I’m okay everypony,” Pansy said, climbing up off the floor.

“Private, sorry for starling you,” Showboat apologized.

Pansy stood at attention and saluted. “Um, how can I help you Sir…” Pansy asked, trying to hide her face with her mane.

“That’s Sergeant Showoff, to you private. Cause I work for a living,” Showboat said.

“Umm, yes sir… err, Sergeant Showoff sir, umm, ma’am…” Pansy said, trying to figure out how best to address her superior.

Sergeant Showoff will be fine, private,” Showboat said.

“Sergeant Showoff, so um, how can I exactly help you?” Pansy asked.

“Prisoner transfer,” Showboat said, as she looked to either side of her.

“Um, but there isn’t a prisoner transfer scheduled for tonight…” Pansy tried objecting.

“Well that’s the top brass for you,” Showboat said, giving Pansy a conspiratorial nudge.

“Um, well I suppose so,” Pansy replied, “so who exactly are we transferring?”

“That information is on a need to know basis soldier,” Showboat said.

“But um, I need to know who it is you need transferred,” Pansy explained, “additionally, I’ll need to see the orders.”

“Private, are you questioning my authority?” Showboat demanded.

“Well, um, no Sergeant sir,” Pansy stammered. “It’s just that I can’t move the prisoners if I don’t know who’s being moved.”

Showboat pulled out a piece of paper she had stolen from the barracks earlier, the letterhead and fine writing made it seem authentic if you only glanced at it. “As you can see, the orders regarding the transfer are right here,” Showboat explained, handing the document to Pansy.

Before Pansy had an opportunity to read more than three words, Showboat snatched back the document and placed it inside her saddlebag. “As you can see, it’s all very official,” she said, “let’s go get the prisoners now.

“Okay….” Pansy replied, unsure about the whole situation, “who’s the first prisoner?”

“First on the list is a blue unicorn named Clover the Clever…” Showboat replied.

Clover heard the sounds of somepony approaching his cell. His ears moved, trying to get a fix on who it might be.

“Um, Sergeant Showoff. I have a small problem,” Pansy said, “I seem to be missing my keys. In fact, that’s what I was so worried about earlier, when you startled me.”

Showboat jingled the stolen keys in front of the private. “Oh don’t worry about that, I have that all covered,” she said smugly.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Slick whispered, after giving Showboat a poke in the ribs. “You’ll blow our cover!”

Private Pansy narrowed her eyes at Showboat. “What unit did you say you were with again?” she asked, pointedly.

“I didn’t,” Showboat replied, “now let’s get on with the prisoner transfer.”

Sighing softly, Pansy opened the cell holding Clover and Shanks. “Um, excuse me prisoner,” she said. “You’re being transferred to another facility.”

Clover got up and nudged Shanks a few times with his nose. “One minute please,” he said, trying to wake up the pup.

Showboat impatient with all this waiting, used her magic to place the pup on Clover’s back. “Okay, that’s done,” she said. “Next on the list is a minotaur named Sir Stouthorn.

Sir Stouthorn was lying on the tiny mattress in a vain attempt to try to sleep. No matter what position he tried, some part of him was forced to lie against the cold stone of the dungeon floor. Sleeping in a proper bed was the only thing he ever missed about the questing he did. Hearing a guard approach, he looked up hoping that maybe they were bringing around the midnight snacks. He looked over at Seafoam floating in his magic bubble. It was times like this, that he envied his young page. Roughing it where you’re an older bull just wasn’t as much fun as it used to be. Gently shaking his page awake, the minotaur waited patiently for the midnight snacks to be delivered. Say what you want to about ponies, no one could argue that they didn’t know how to make great food.

Seafoam lazily opened an eye. “Sir Stouthorn what is it?” he asked groggily, “are we finally getting banished?”

“I’m not quite sure Seafoam,” Sir Stouthorn said slightly confused. Outside their cell, he saw Shanks and Clover being led by the night guard, Showboat in a guard’s uniform, and Slick in the frilliest doublet he had ever seen.

“Nice choice of wardrobe, eh Slick?” Sir Stouthorn said with a small grin.

“I don’t what you could possibly mean, minotaur whom I’ve never seen before,” Slick said through gritted teeth.

Seafoam floated over to them and smiled. ”Oh hi everypony!” he said. “Did you all get released from prison?”

Pansy furrowed her brow; something was definitely off about this whole situation. “Are you sure that minotaur hasn’t ever met you before?” she asked.

“Oh I’m quite sure,” Slick replied, “Isn’t that right…”

Sir Stouthorn was never very good at lying, seeing as it went against the whole notion of chivalry in general, and his vow as a knight of the Lawgiver specifically. Additionally breaking out of jail after all he had done to get them arrested in the first place seemed a bit silly. He couldn’t fathom why Showboat and Slick were trying to bust them out of jail before they had a chance to make their case to the princesses. But curious as to where this was all going he decided to play along.

“Oh ho, quite right Sli... er I mean, that is to say,” Sir Stouthorn said, stumbling over the words, “a dragon I’ve never seen before. Especially one dressed in a shirt as puffy as the one you’re wearing.

Slick slapped a claw against his face, was the big lout trying to blow their cover. “Well prisoner…” Slick growled, “I think that it would be best if you remained silent for the rest of the transfer, or at least until we are out of the prison.”

“Oh, quite right, Sli... oops,” Sit Stouthorn bumbled, “I mean a dragon I’ve never seen before.”

Slick rolled his eyes at the absurdity of the whole situation. He made a mental checklist, next time bring a gag. “Whatever,” he said, “let’s just get the last one.”

“Okay,” Showboat said, “last prisoner on the list is an absolutely dreamy looking griffin named Shaw. You’ll know it’s him, by his magnificent rainbow plumage, and his striking blue eyes.”

Pansy knew something fishy was going on, but couldn’t quite place her hoof on it. Opening the final cell door, she looked at the sergeant for further instructions. “So here’s the last prisoner on the list,” she said.

When Showboat saw Shaw restrained in a straightjacket and wearing the muzzle, it just about broke her dishonest little heart. “Just don’t stand there,” she demanded, “Go untie the poor dear. His wings must be stiff after being restrained for so long.”

Pansy obediently walked over to the griffin and gently shook him awake. “Um Shaw,” she said. “You’re being transferred to another prison.”

Shaw’s eyes shot open, his pupils dilated to adjust to the low level of light in the dark cell. He was surprised to see his friends waiting patiently as the guard removed his restraints. “Well this was unexpected,” he thought to himself.

Once he was freed, Showboat rushed to his side and gave the griffin a loving kiss right on the beak. Pansy now knew she had made a mistake. “Stop right there Sergeant Showoff,” Pansy said, trying to sound as assertive as she possibly could. “If that’s even your real name!”

“Oh but it totally is, isn’t that right?” Showboat asked Slick.

Slick rolled his eyes, nopony could be this naive. “Uh yeah sure,” he said, not even caring anymore.

“Oh, well in that case…” Pansy replied, giving the unicorn a hard look, “okay!” she said, wearing the biggest smile possible.

Showboat and Shaw exited the cell, and then closed the door shut. “Thanks for the assistance, Private Pansy.” she said.

“But I’m locked inside the cell now,” Pansy replied, not realizing she had been tricked.

“Yeah about that,” Showboat said levitating the keys in front of her, “sorry about this but I really needed to get my coltfriend and myself out of here. Sorry about deceiving you, but I don’t think you were really cut out to be a guard.”

“I know, that what my boss keeps saying…” Pansy said, as the group left the cell behind them.

Realizing what had just happened, Pansy’s eye widened, “Oh my goodness,” she said, “I had better alert somepony about this.” Taking out a whistle from her saddlebag she blew on it as hard as she could. Immediately the lights in the prison started flashing red, and sirens started wailing.

Head jailor, Captain Sing Sing, a brown unicorn, heard the ringing of the alarms and jumped out of his bed. “Get up everypony!” he shouted. “There’s a jailbreak in progress!”

One of the earth pony guards tried opening the door, but found that it was sealed tightly. “We can’t open the door!” he said as he failed to budge the door open in the slightest.

Sing Sing growled in annoyance. “Then stand out of the way and let a unicorn magic it open,” he barked, while attempting to gather magic into his horn. To his surprise nothing happened. After several failed attempts at using magic, he looked up and saw that every unicorn in the barracks was wearing a magic dampener ring on their horns.

“We’ve been hornswoggled!” Sing Sing cried out. “Somepony go and get something to ram the door open with.”

As the party galloped through the prison corridors in an attempt to escape, the flashing lights and wailing sirens disoriented them. “That’s another dead end you’ve lead us to,” Slick said, pointing to the cells all around them.

“Weren’t you paying attention?” Showboat countered.

“No, I thought you were supposed to be keeping track of our escape route,” Slick replied.

“Well we had better figure out a way soon,” Shaw said, “these sirens hurt my ears.”

Shanks tried covering his ears with his paws and barked in agreement,” Aroo, make it stop!” he whined.

“I wonder why nopony has come after us yet,” Seafoam wondered, floating above their heads.

“Oh give them some time…” Showboat said, “Okay I think we’ll need to head back down this way.”

As the party reached a corner, they ran smack dab into a group of about twenty palace guards, and a very surprised looking Princess Celestia.

Before any of them could move, Celestia erected a force field preventing their escape.

“I see that’s why the alarms have gone off,” Celestia said.

“I know princess,” Showboat remarked, bringing her hoof up to her muzzle, “someponies can’t even take a leisurely stroll at night without causing a racket.”

Before Celestia could respond, a dozen guards out of uniform ran around the corner slamming into the force field. Captain Sing Sing looked up at the captured prisoners, and wiped his brow with his hoof. “Good work everypony,” he said, “time to return these prisoners to their cells before the princesses find out.”

When nopony responded, Captain Sing Sing looked up and saw a rather bemused Princess Celestia looking down at him. “Oh, horse feathers,” he swore.

Author's Notes:

Gentlereaders I apologize for my tardiness, I had intended to release this yesterday, but was unhappy with the direction I was heading. In hindsight, a jailbreak is counterproductive to forwarding the plot, yet half the party would attempt to do exactly that. So please take this chapter as a a bit of a prank by the characters towards the readers. But fear not, with Celestia now in control of the situation our protagonists shall be pushed in the proper direction.

As an aside to this, I had given some thought to doing a joke chapter in the way of railroading the story in a ridiculous direction. However, seeing as I respect my readers too much for such shenanigans, I ultimately decided against such a uncouth course of action.

As always gentlereaders, thank you for reading, and any any comments to you post.