Chapter VIII

The night air was warm, a few Pegasi towing storm clouds passed by them. There was going to be a storm tonight somewhere in Equestria. Reactor 1 looked as it had six hours ago when Rarity had left it. There were spotlights and stallions on guard, but it was just as silent and eerie as before. They landed at a chain link gate behind the reactor, a yellow stallion with an uncanny resemblance to Maurin approached them from the other side.

“Well well well, whut did the Cat bring home?” His voice sounded like he had a third testicle. Catcall sidled up to the fence and shrugged.

“Just here for a little yellow, she wants to not think.” He said casually. The yellow pony looked her over.

“All right then, you can come in.” He nodded to an unseen guard in the tower and the gate creaked open. They passed by the yellow brute. “You better not be a cop looking for infractions, I’d have to kill Cat here if that were the case.” He joked sardonically. Cat laughed.

“No, she’s funny.” The guard returned to his position by the fence.

“Everypony’s funny on yellow.” He muttered to himself.

Catcall and Bronx led her into a service entrance. All around them sat colorful barrels of what was probably rainbow liquid.

“Yellow.” Bronx pointed to a stack of yellow barrels. Catcall shook his head.

“We ain’t openin’ a barrel, that’s the best way for somepony to find out.” He led them through another door and they stood on a ledge overlooking a river of color. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and indigo and violet poured from various pipes into the rushing river. The river led into a grated pipe at the end of the room and disappeared from sight. Catcall turned and faced Rarity.

“So you know all these colors are just liquid. But you probably didn’t know you can drink them.” He began. Rarity remembered Pinkie Pie’s unpleasant taste of the rainbow.

“Yeah, they taste like shit and don’t do anything.” She replied. His eyes shone with excitement.

“All of them but yellow.” He pointed to the yellow pipe. “Yellow is different, don’t ask how, I’m not a scientist. What Bronx and I and pretty much every pony who works here know is that yellow is fucking awesome.” He looked around. “Now where is…ah there we go.” He reached down and picked up a blue ceramic mug that had been sitting next to the mouth of the yellow pipe. Filling the cup from the rushing yellow liquid, he held it out to Rarity. “This stuff will make you not think, guarantee it. Give it a try.” He offered.

“Yeah? So what is it like?” She asked skeptically.

“Ok, so, have you ever been drunk?” Bronx apparently thought he had a better explanation.

“Yes.”

“Ok, so, it’s kiiiinda like that, but different. Basically, you are like drunk, but you’re also like happy, more than drunk.”

“You get really confidant, like stupid confidant, like, don’t realize what you’re doing, you don’t think so good, and yeah, you’re happy. Takes about six hours to sober up.” Catcall summarized. Rarity looked at the opaque liquid before her, it essentially turned anypony into her save for the happy part.

“You go first, then him, then if you aren’t dead, I’ll try some.” She said flatly. Catcall laughed.

“God you’re funny!” He looked at the cup. “Tomorrow’s my day off, might as well.” He took a gulp, yellow ran down his green face and dribbled from his chin. “Theeeeeere we go!” He said in satisfaction. He passed it to Bronx, who took a large swallow.

“Shit, that’s smooth.” Bronx agreed. The mug was still about half full when they offered it to her. Rarity took it and looked at the two stallions before her, she hesitated.

“GET OUT!” Rarity threw Bronx back into the river and then stood unsteadily on the indigo pipe. “Queen of the fucking hill bitches!” Catcall guffawed as Bronx splashed about in the current.

“Goddamn, that is one badass bitch!” He slapped the rainbow covered Bronx on the shoulder. “We shoulda known she’d win!” Bronx pulled himself out of the rushing rainbow.

“You didn’t win, Imma get up there and fuck you.” His voice was slurred and his eyes were dilated, yellow was no respecter of size.

“Haha fuck you!” Rarity called from her perch. “You hold your shit like a broken toilet!” Catcall fell down amidst chortles.

“Shiiiit, why haven’t we met you before? You’re like the funniest pony ever!” He tittered. Bronx was trying (unsuccessfully) to climb the metal grate that led up to the pipe.

“Cause I been tryin’ to be a gud gurl’!” Rarity laughed. “Too bad that didn’t work out so hot!” She snorted. “Silly me, if I had known about this shit I would applied for reactor work on day one!” Bronx gripped the top of the pipe unsteadily. With a mocking laugh, Rarity eased his hoof off of the lip and he fell again into the river. Catcall laughed that much harder.

“Dude, she’s gonna beat you every time! Like I said, she’s one badass bitch!”

“Oh yeah, I wasted a guy back in Ponyville when he called me a name.” She recalled. “Fuckin’ clown fucked with the wrong pony that’s for sure!” The emphasis of her words caused her to lose her balance. Flailing about for a second or so, Rarity dropped from the pipe. She hit the surface of the river on her side. The icy cold rainbow liquid shocked her, but she was numb to any kind of pain. She sputtered and coughed for a second. “Shit, that is some great color. I can’t think for shit!” She said groggily, pulling herself to her hooves.

“You bet your ass it is, best damn color in the whole rainbow.” Catcall agreed.

“Why’d you wanna stop thinkin’ so bad?” Bronx asked, sitting up in the rushing liquid. Rarity snorted.

“Cause I was a baaaaad gurl, I fucked up everything in my friendship with my friends.” She said with a carefree laugh. “Sucks to suck!” Catcall frowned, but there was not a sad thought between the three of them.

“Aw, that sucks, I don’t see why anypony wouldn’t like you.” He reached out and gave her a soaking hug. “You’re such an awesome pony, you’re funny and awesome and cool.” Rarity hugged him back.

“You’re a great pony too Catty, I’m glad you helped me forget my troubles, I’m so indebtified to you.” She said amongst giggles.

“Aw, I’m just glad to be of servitude.” He said in a caring voice. Rarity noticed an odd sensation from her rump, she looked back. Bronx was in the process of lifting her tail with his hoof.

“The fuck are you doing?” She asked in indignation. He was stepped back in coltish shame.

“Nothin’.” He said in guiltily. Catcall laughed at the two. He slapped Rarity on the shoulder.

“Bronx here is just eager to see the playing field is all.” He explained. She stepped away from him.

“What the fuck are you talking about?” She asked in drugged haze. Catcall was still laughing.

“Haha, come on Rarity! This is fun! You want the yellow, we want the yellow! You know you want us, and we sure as hell know we want you!” He said with a grin.

“What? What the hell are you talking about? You said this was free.” She said. Rarity felt lightheaded and sick suddenly. Catcall shrugged.

“It was free, we just thought maybe you could repay the favor.” He said casually. She took another step back, she felt like she might vomit. Catcall took a step toward her. “Look Rarity, you might be kinda nervous, but it’s been fun right? Trust us, we know how to keep the fun going.” She felt the wall against her back. “Promise you’ll like what comes next.” Catcall was within a foot of her now. Seriously inhibited and weak from the yellow, Rarity watched helplessly as Catcall brushed away her mane. She felt his soft kiss on her forehead. Rarity knew she didn’t have the strength to fight both stallions. She felt something shake her, Catcall jerked back, he was gasping for breath, something shook her again. Her right hoof felt number than her left, Catcall was grabbing at his throat.

She was dreaming, the world was soft and fictional and she watched from a noiseless void. Catcall stumbled back, he was holding his throat and Rarity noticed she was moving toward him. She bumped into him and they fell into the river, she saw her knee drive into his belly, she saw herself vomit into the rushing liquid. This was a dream about fighting, why was she having a dream like that? The world spun, she must be waking up. No, she was still dreaming, somepony had picked her up. Bronx was holding her, tightly it would seem since she wasn’t fighting anymore. She was spread-eagled against his body, Catcall was getting to his hooves, he looked pissed; she would wake up soon. She watched him wipe some blood from his mouth and start towards her.

It looked like a comet, whatever it was that hit his face. Recognizing the ceramic shards floating downstream, Rarity realized she had picked up the mug with her horn and thrown it into his face. The green Pegasus fell again into the river. She felt a sharp twist and even in the dream, her neck hurt as Bronx wrenched her head. She felt another shake to her body and she fell to the freezing liquid. The dream began to move faster now. Bronx was holding his groin and she rose to her hooves. She was sprinting over to the green pipe. She stopped in front of it and turned back. Now she was rushing at Bronx, who was galloping toward her. A rusty grey pipe flew through the air and struck the side of his head. The muscular stallion stumbled and fell face first into the river, leaving a trail of red in the blue strip. She was running now, toward the ladder out. Something caught her and she tumbled under the cold surface of the rainbow. She couldn’t breathe, even in the dream she gasped and fought to rise from beneath the river. Catcall had her, he was pulling her out of the river, she threw a kick into something that gave. He released her and she turned on him. He was cradling his belly as she took ahold of his mane and threw him into the metal ladder. A jagged cut opened across his face. She repeated her action, worsening the wound and staining her white arms crimson. Blood mixed with the foaming yellow and the rainbow became a little darker. He flailed at her, but dream Rarity dodged his blows and kicked the wounded stallion downstream. She raced up the ladder. Reaching the top, Rarity sprinted out the door which she had entered from.

Outside, the scene was chaotic as ponies rushed to and fro unloading a massive flatbed freighter laden with barrels. Rarity stumbled drunkenly out of the door of the reactor. The freighter sat perhaps fifty feet from her. A row of crates hid her from sight and she ran for the vehicle. Reaching the side, she climbed the ladder of the vehicle and jumped aboard. The deck was nearly empty and she searched frantically for a place to hide. Spotting a metal footlocker sitting by the cab of the freighter, Rarity hid from anypony who checked over the deck.

The footlocker was cramped and pitch black. She listened, for a few minutes all she could hear were the sounds of the workers as they unloaded the cargo. Somepony walked by her.

“All right, that’s about good.” Came the voice of the pilot. In a few seconds, there came a lurch and she felt the freighter rise into the air. The stuffy footlocker was running out of air and she peeked her head out. The deck was clear and they were rising to Cloudsdale. Popping out of the coffin-like crate, Rarity teetered on the edge of the deck and waited for her chance to escape.

In a few minutes the freighter broke through the cloud that the city was built upon and the unicorn leaped from the deck before they rose any farther. It was a soft landing and Rarity picked herself out of the cottony folds of the cloud and looked about her.

The city of Cloudsdale sat probably half a mile away. Nothing but empty cloud for quite a ways. Rarity realized she could hear again and things were moving normally. She had awoken from her drugged dream. Her burn was humming with dull soreness and her bruise pounded painlessly with blood. The yellow was still with her. She started walking toward the city.

What a night! First fucking Twilight Sparkle shit on her dreams, then she almost got raped. A laugh burst forth from Rarity, it had been one fucking hilarious evening of hijinks. The haze of yellow gave her a sort of careless nonchalance to the entire night and everthing seemed to hold a measure of black humor.

“Twilight.” She said raising her right hoof. “I salute you. High mighty Queen of Equestria, only you can be that big of a cunt!” She proclaimed to the empty sky. “And you mister Catcall and whoever the hell that other guy was. Thank you so much for letting me have some yellow, it’s going into the highlight column of this trip.” She swaggered about. “But when you say you’re going to fuck me, that’s when I draw the line.” She recalled the dream and began to snicker. “Hehehehe, you fucked with the wrooooooong mare. But anyway boys, thanks for the yeller!” Her drunken ramble continued for the ten minutes it took her to enter the city.

She had no fucking clue what time it was and she didn’t particularly care. It was still dark and there was nopony about. She skipped down the streets looking for her hotel. She felt great, better than great actually. Rarity felt fucking ecstatic and she didn’t even mind spending half an hour wandering the streets in search of her destination.

“God, what kind of a crap city is it where there aren’t signs pointing to places?” She wondered as she peered down an alleyway.

“Is there something I can help you with madam?” She turned. A doorman for a hotel stood watching her quizzically from the other side of the street. She snorted.

“Yeah, put up a fucking sign, can’t find this place for shit.” She said as she pushed by him. She entered her hotel.

Rarity returned in a minute.

“This isn’t my hotel. What is wrong with you?” She asked in annoyance. He stepped away from her.

“Um, I don’t understand you.” He said uneasily. She frowned.

“The other fancy hotel.” He stared at her for a few moments.

“Could you mean the Stable of the Skies?”

“Yeah, that one.” He pointed down the street.

“Down the road, about a quarter mile.” She searched for some money to give him. She must have lost it in the river. The unicorn gave him whatever she held, which turned out to be the bloody metal pipe; she thought she had dropped that.

“Here, this should suffice.” She said kindly, handing him the improvised weapon. At this, he dashed inside the hotel in terror. Rarity shrugged and threw the pipe into the street and made her way toward the correct hotel.

She was hungry, did they have a minibar in their room? They fucking better if it were the penthouse suite. Having come by an unfamiliar route, she reached the rear entrance to the hotel. Rarity found her way to the main entrance after a few minutes of wandering the first floor. The entire lobby was empty. She looked around, it was literally deserted. Not even an attendant at the front desk. Some shitty service this place had. The lights were on and the elevators worked thankfully. God, there had better be something of substance in the minibar. Would she have to pay for it? The elevator deposited her on her correct floor and Rarity strolled into the suite.

“Any more info on how this happened?” Twilight looked up from the dinner table, which was covered in papers. She was surrounded by about five Pegasi, including Cirrus. Spike was standing amidst the ponies, all were wearing the same expression of sober concern. Rarity stopped and looked blankly at them.

“God, Twilight, is this an intervention?”

“Who is this? Is she cleared to be here?” Asked a black stallion. Twilight rose and walked toward Rarity.

“Yes, it’s fine.” She looked at Rarity in an expression of deathly seriousness. “Rarity, now is not the time.” A police officer burst into the door behind them.

“Need to move, more confirmed.” He related. The group erupted into commotion at this. The strange ponies grabbed maps and papers from the table and began to bustle out the door past Rarity.

“Twilight, what in the hell is going on? Are you trying to-” Twilight shook her head.

“Please Rarity, just take your bag and follow me.” Her suitcase was already packed and sitting on her bed. The ponies were filing quickly out of the room. Rarity looked at the refrigerator, if this intervention took long she would need food. Spike took hold of her leg as she tried to make for the white appliance.

“Rarity, we need to leave ASAP.” He said urgently.

“Oh what fucking ever.” She said in disgust and heaved her bag onto her back, she would make them stop on the way to the rehab clinic. They took the stairs instead of the elevator, which annoyed Rarity even more, she had excercised enough tonight. As they sped down the stairs, the unicorn turned to Spike, who was carrying Twilight’s bags.

“What the hell is going on? I’m really hungry Spike, I don’t know what we’re doing, but we need to get food at some point.” She declared.

“Rarity!” He whispered angrily. “This is serious, there’s a terrorist in the apartment beside us. He’s wired the place with explosives. We’re trying to get ahold of the situation.” That sounded like, no, that WAS the most bullshit excuse imaginable. Did he seriously expect her to buy that shitty story?

“Yeah, that’s what going on.” She scoffed. Honestly, if they were going to institutionalize her, they ought to at least give her a dignified lie. It took them forever to reach the lobby and Rarity was out of breath and hungry as they approached the several police officers who had congregated by the front desk.

“Officers, what’s the situation?” Twilight asked an officer.

“Your majesty, he’s barricaded himself into a single room apartment and is demanding an audience with a higher power. We’re making plans to send in a negotiator.”

“Any word on the extent of the explosives?” She asked. The mustached stallion shook his head.

“No, we only confirmed charges on the apartment itself, but destroying it could break a hole in the cloud and drop the whole block.” Rarity was munching the mints from the bowl atop the desk.

“Did you bring doughnuts?” She asked the officer.

“What? Who are you? Are you clear-”

“Yeah I’m cleared asshole, now, doughnut situation.” Twilight shoved a hoof over Rarity’s mouth.

“How about you take Spike to a place to eat?” She spoke quickly. She handed Rarity fifty bits. “How about you get going now?” Rarity shrugged and took the money. Might as well if Twilight was paying for her meal.

Outside it was a mess of police officers and unrelated Pegasi milling about in front of the offending apartment building next door. Rarity pushed through the ponies.

“Why don’t we go to this one all-night doughnut shop? It’s pretty good.” She suggested. Spike glanced back. The dragon looked worried and not at all like he cared about where they would eat.

“Yeah, you can go Rarity, ok?” He started back. Apparently everypony was more concerned about a stupid terrorist than her.

“Oh come on Spike!” She yelled. He was already jogging back to Twilight, because nobody gave a shit about immature old Rarity. She ran after him, if nothing else, she was going to teach that smart ass dragon something about politely declining an invitation.

There were wood barriers in the street before the building, Rarity carelessly ducked them and pursued the dragon. Twilight was among the crowd of police officers at the front door of the apartment complex. Spike sped up to her and faithfully took his place beside Queen Twilight.

“Going to need to make sure this doesn’t get out of hoof, if anything goes wrong.” Some police officer was droning on about something stupid as Rarity stealthily approached the group.

“I’m going in. I’m the highest authority and I can facilitate a good dialogue.” Twilight announced. Anything Rarity was going to tell Spike about his supreme shitheadedness was lost in the cries of protest arising from every pony in the group. Twilight shook her head. “If we aren’t honest and straightforward with him, how can we ask him to do the same?” Twilight maintained. The first police officer started to talk about the volatile nature of a cornered terrorist but Twilight shook her head. “I command it.” She noticed Spike. “Spike, oh good, you’re here, I want you to come in with me, we may need you to take some notes.” Praetorian took his place beside Twilight.

“I’m going to accompany you your majesty.” He said firmly. “It is my duty to protect you.” Slipping quietly into the group, Rarity waited for her chance to accost Spike. Unlocking the door, the Alicorn and her companions entered the darkened building.

“Men, spread out and tell the crowd to disperse, we need to make this as safe as possible. If they won’t go, at least keep them back from the building.” Twilight commanded from inside.

“Roger that.” Agreed the mustached stallion. “All right, you heard the lady, get to it.” He said to his men. The group of police officers dispersed around Rarity. They were apparently too busy to care about an unrelated white unicorn standing with them. The door was just swinging closed when Rarity ducked inside.

The first floor hallway was dark, the power had been apparently been cut to gain a tactical advantage. Rarity crept up behind the three, who were making their way down the narrow hallway toward the stairs. Rarity got within smacking distance of Spike’s head.

“Hey, you gonna just leave me out there?” She asked loudly. Spike was so startled that he actually jumped a little. Praetorian whirled around and tackled Rarity. The pair landed on the shitty tile floor. The guard was inches from crushing her into the floor.

“Friend or foe?” He demanded, the heat from his breath radiated onto her.

“The hell kind of question is that?” She asked, twisting her head to avoid his breath. “Friend.”

“Rarity? What are you doing here? I told you to go get something to eat!” Twilight almost sounded desperate.

“Yeah well, Spike was an asshole to me, so I wanted to let him know.” Rarity explained as the muscled stallion let her up.

“Ok?” Twilight sounded like she didn’t care how much of a dick Spike had been. “Listen, Rarity, you have to leave, this is serious. Just, please, listen to me.”

“Oh fine, just rip me apart when I do something wrong, but Spike can be the biggest dick ever and you don’t care.” Rarity said bitterly. “Fuck you Twilight.” She turned for the door.

“Rarity.” Called Twilight suddenly. The high unicorn stopped. Twilight heaved the biggest sigh Rarity had ever heard from the young queen. “Don’t go.” Rarity started to say something about accepting her apology. “The ponies out there are going to get really spooked if somepony they don’t know comes out of that door. Right now we just need to keep everypony calm so we can get things in hoof. Please just stay with us until the situation is resolved.” Rarity nearly kicked the door down out of spite from Twilight’s shitty apology. But still, it was better than nothing. Reluctantly, she returned to the three.

“Ok, let’s get this shit over with so I can get away from you assholes.” She said in irritation. Twilight just shook her head and muttered something.

The terrorist was holed up on the sixth floor. It was a shitty move cutting the power, now they had to walk six flights of stairs. Rarity was sick of Twilight’s bullshit and really just wanted to go home, the yellow was making her tired.

Apartment E621. They crowded around the door.

"Your majesty, I strongly advise against this, I cannot guarantee your safety if you go through that door." Praetorian warned.

"I understand. But I have to make sure that nopony gets hurt. That's my responsibility." Came Twilight's firm response. Spike swallowed uneasily and Rarity picked at her nose.

The door was unlocked, a trashy kitchen/bedroom sat empty, save for one sweaty and very nervous looking diamond dog cowering at the far end of the room. Twilight stepped toward him.

"I am Twili-"

“Don't come near me! Get that guard out of here!" He screamed. Twilight flicked her head to inform Praetorian he was no longer an asset. The guard hesitated, then backed out of the room.

"Ahem, I am Twilight Sparkle. I want to open a dialogue with you. I have extensive resources to comply with your demands, I would like to converse with you." Oh for fuck's sake, this was shaping up to be a long conversation.

“What do you want asshole?" Rarity called to the dog.

"WHICH ONE OF YOU IS THE NEGOTIATOR?!!" Demanded the terrorist. Rarity put a hoof over Twilight’s mouth.

"That would be me!”

"Rarity-" Twilight was mortified.

"Sorry, this is my partner. She's trying to get some experience." Rarity yelled to the dog.

"Alright, just keep the fuck away, I'm warning you!" The furry terrorist shouted. Rarity feigned uncertainty.

"Wait, have you established a threat? That's something I'm going to need to proceed." She said with a laugh.

"YEAH!" he motioned to his paw, which was a taped mess. "WE WIRED THE FUCKING HOTEL! ANYTHING HAPPENS TO ME THE WHOLE PLACE GOES UP!"

"Ha! You can't do that!" Rarity laughed. "He can't do that right?" She asked Twilight.

"Rarity!" The queen whispered fiercely. "We have to consider all threats as valid!"

"Oh, ok, alright." Rarity conceded. "What do you want?" The petrified bomber thought for a moment.

"Gimme a hostage!" He demanded.

"Done." Rarity clopped her hooves. "Spike, help him out."

"WHAT? ME?" He asked in terror.

"Rarity, you can't do that!" Twilight hissed.

“HEY! I call the shots here, get over here little man!” Commanded the distraught bomber. The dragon walked forward unsteadily.

"Don't keep the man waiting." Rarity scolded. Spike reached the dog in an awkward jog. "Ok then, you got your hostage. Anything else?" Rarity called. The diamond dog, who was now clutching the frightened little dragon, put his paw to his head and thought.

"Ok, yeah, both of you take ten steps back. AND KEEP YOUR FRONT HOOVES IN THE AIR!" He made what Rarity assumed was a threatening motion to the dragon's throat.

"What are we? Fucking circus ponies? Just gonna keep my hooves on the ground and walk like a normal horse thank you." Rarity said as she and her apprentice negotiator complied. "Ok then, anything else?"

"YEAH, no funny business when I walk by you!" He ordered.

"Lucky you didn't get the party pony negotiator." Rarity muttered.

"OK." He started forward, dragging his hostage. "I'm gonna walk right outta here and you're not going to do anything."

"We're a mile off of the ground, you got a parachute shoved up your ass?" Rarity asked.

"Yeah..." He considered this for a minute. “I need one of those winged ponies."

“Pegasai?”

"Yeah, I need one of those!"

"Which kind sweetie? This is Cloudsdale, we got a lot of pegasi."

"Just one that flies."

"Cocky? Humble? Zippy? Derpy? You need to be more specific."

"JUST A FUCKING PEGASUS!" He shouted in frustration.

"Ok." Rarity said tiredly. "You got about all you can handle apparently." She motioned for Twilight. "Get me a Pegasus, any will do."

"Rarity, this is getting worse every second. You can't give him another hostage!" Twilight whispered pleadingly.

"Hey Twilight?" Rarity turned to the queen in deep sarcasm. "I'm kinda trying to do something here? You want to give me a hoof and get a Pegasus for this guy? Or do we need to go home and take a time out?" Twilight was speechless. The yellow had erased whatever inhibition Rarity held about condescending the Queen of Equestria and she actually rather enjoyed talking down to her bitch of a former friend.

"GET MY FUCKING PEGASUS NOW!" Hollered the terrorist. Twilight first looked to Rarity, who shooed her and then to her terrified secretary. She went for the Pegasus. The door closed and the three were alone.

"Sorry 'bout that, it's her first week." Rarity looked at the sweaty dog. He carried nothing but his captive and the horridly taped switch. They stood in silence for a few minutes, Rarity was too high to explain anymore. Yet the moment became awkward and finally she asked.

"You got a plan after this? Cause the moment your switch gets out of range, you're going to have a million pissed off Pegasi looking to rip your balls off." He started to pant, this possibility had not occurred to him.

"Fuck, you need to order all the winged ponies to fly west for five, TEN minutes."

“Oh my God why can’t you plan things?! Stop making me do all the fucking work.” She said in frustration.

“Listen pony!” He screamed. “This isn’t about you or me!” She rolled her eyes.

“God, buddy, I just want to go home, make this short ok?”

“This is about letting Equestria know something! This is about telling you ponies that you don’t own us! You think our war is just some distant fantasy that doesn’t matter, because you live on the surface!”

Twilight re-entered, with her was Soarin’. He looked tired, probably getting his beauty sleep. The dog eyed the new Pegasus with mistrust. “You!” He pointed Soarin’. “Over here now! There isn’t a minute to lose!” Twilight raised her hooves to show non-aggression.

“Soarin’ here is the fastest Pegasus we have. He will take you wherever you want, you can give Spike-”

“No you can’t, Soarin’ is just gonna dump you off once you get out of sight. You need a hostage to make sure he doesn’t drop you.” Rarity interrupted.

“What the fuck are you trying to do?!” The suspicious dog looked to Twilight with an expression of betrayal, who in turn looked to Rarity with more or less the same emotion. “Get over here Pegasus. We need to leave.” Shouted the dog.

“Yeah, ok, anything you say buddy.” Soarin’ walked over to the diamond dog.

“Ok good, you are free to go, I have instructed that no pony follow you. Once you reach your destination, you can set both Spike and Soarin’ free.” Twilight said slowly.

“Hey, look, if you want to kill Soarin’ to send a message, I can tell you that that would definitely make us understand.” Rarity offered. Rarity heard Twilight and Soarin’ gasp a little to this. But the terrorist shook his head.

“No, he is but one pretentious fool. The lot of you must learn.” He said ominously. Twilight spoke over Rarity, who was about to say that Soarin’ was too much of a dumbass to learn anything.

“Well we are very willing to listen to you. We can talk about what you want. I know the war must be very horrible for your people. I want you to know that the nation of Equestria is ready to investigate any war crimes or atrocities that you observe.” The terrorist shook his head hopelessly. He was trembling and Rarity figured he’d pissed himself by this point.

“You can’t pretend like you don’t know, you can’t pretend like you want to learn.” There was a sudden lifelessness to his eyes.

“This is the only way!” He shouted suddenly. His free arm twisted backward. There was a sickening thud of metal and he screamed in pain and terror. The bomber dropped Spike and looked up to his left arm. A kitchen knife stuck awkwardly out of his wrist, which was pinned to the wall. Blood ran down his brown fur and he gazed at the wound in shock.

“Soarin’! Break his arm completely!” Rarity shouted to the Pegasus. Frozen by the gruesome sight, Soarin’ stood blankly beside the injured dog. “Oh my fucking God you are so fucking worthless!” Rarity shouted angrily as she rushed forward. The diamond dog was trembling and still staring at the glinting silver blade protruding from his arm when she took hold of him. In an instant, Rarity grabbed his arm and snapped the wrist completely. He screamed and writhed in agony and tried to push her away. Pinning his neck to the wall, Rarity yelled back to Twilight.

“You want to call the cops now?”