Author's note
Only 2 more chapters left to go. Enjoy!

Chapter 11: Musketeers Reunited

Pinkie and her pals are tied up at the moment....literally! She, Pinkamena, Applejack, Rainbow and the clones are being held in escape-proof chains by Brian at a bridge on the far side of Equestria. The river below is dangerous and treacherous...just like how the minion wants it.

Brian laughs as he grabs the captives, remarking, "Okay, this is it, you ponies! Prepare for the big sleep because in the river of no return, it will be a long day's journey into night; Ha ha ha!"

"Okay, geez, those jokes are kinda lame." Rainbow remarks with a grunt of annoyance.

"Quiet, Rainbow!" Applejack exclaims to Rainbow in concern.

Brian kept on laughing on what he's doing. The captives look worried...all but Pinkie who is only paying attention to Brian; her eyes are turning into hearts. For a bad guy's minion, this stallion is a cute one.

"Wow, your voice sounds pretty." Pinkie said to Brian lovingly.

"Wait, what?" Brian asks Pinkie confused. Where did this come from?

"Awww, shucks. Pinkie's in love." Applejack said with a smile. She can tell great love for Pinkie when the cowpony sees it.

"Ugh, you got to be kidding me!" Rainbow remarks with a groan of annoyance. Although Pinkie is chained, she somehow manages to lean and trots towards him, singing.

Pinkie: Your chains of love,
Now hold me tight.
Your stallion beauty makes my heart take flight!

Brian: You will not change
My minds one smidge.
I'm going to drop you screaming off this bridge!

Brian grabs Pinkie and prepares to throw off of the bridge first. But the pink pony manages to turn around, twirling the two and causing the stallion to get chained up this time.

"I am nuts, Brian!" Pinkie giggles. Brian hears a chorus while looking blankly at the mare who is falling for him.

Chorus: Her love so sweet,
Her love so blind

Brian: Poor filly

Chorus: You have to kill her,
Or you’ll change your mind.
So say farewell to the doof!

Brian grins evilly as he sings once more.

Brian: Farewell!

Chorus: ‘Cause it’s your duty that she takes the plunge!

Brian got himself freed from the chains and took out an anvil. He is determined to make sure that Pinkie and her group are dead! The minion ties the group with it with more chains then push them off the bridge, causing the doomed to be dead heroes to scream.

But to Brian's shock, the group just bungee jump up back and forth. While Brian tries to push the anvil off to finish the job, Pinkie just kept on singing happily and lovingly.

Pinkie: My stallion sir,
You charmed my soul.
You leave me utterly beyond control.

Brian stops his attempts as he listens to Pinkie's words. They sound so...enchanting to him and romantic.

Call me a goof,
But one thing’s clear.
Your melodious voices are music to my ears!

That did it. Brian smiles lovingly to Pinkie as his eyes also turned to hearts. The stallion is falling for the pink pony who he was supposed to kill under Boris's orders.

Chorus: She’s no Einstein!
She’s not really smart

Brian: And yet she's touched my stallion heart!

With a lovingly smile, Brian pulls Pinkie towards himself.

She loves my voice…
My pup-like gaze,
Her numbskull chaaaaaaaaaaaaaarm,
Has set my heeeeeeeeeaaart!

As Brian sang the long line to finish the song up, the moon behind the new couple broke into a lot of pieces in a toon like matter.

Ablaze!

Once the song is over, Brian put Pinkie onto the bridge. The new lovers smiles and lightly kissed.

"Okay, yes, you two are in love now...how about getting us out of here?!" Rainbow demands to the two lovers in frustration. Pinkie and Brian have fallen for each other, now how about getting the others release?

As Pinkie and gang are heading off, Pinkamena punches the manhole from nearby, and leaps out ready to fight as Golden Heart and Gold wing come from behind.

"Ok foes, time to.........um.........what is going on?" Pinkamena ask, noticing Brian and Pinkie kissing.

Golden Heart chuckles a bit, "Well seems like Brian has falling in love with Pinkie."

"Well that's good."

Golden Heart's horn glows and the clones go away. Applejack, noticing, looks confused, asking, "Should Ah even know what's going on?"

Suddenly the bridge begins to crack a lot. The anvil's weight along with that of the prisoners is too much. Soon it broke, causing the captives to scream as they and the anvil fell downward.

Brian looks horrified, he got to do something! The former bad guy quickly tied the chains to a stand on the bridge and jumps down, yelling, "I'm coming!"

Of course, Pinkie's group stops falling, hanging from the bridge. That was a close one. Brian meanwhile lands on the chain with the anvil. He is determined to save his new love and her friends no matter what.

"Shucks, mah blood is rushing 'ta mah brain." Applejack mumbles a bit, getting dizzy.

"My love and friends, you must hurry." Brian said in concern as he begins to work on freeing Pinkie's group. The time has come for him to make up for his mistakes. "You don't have much time. Your pal Spike is in dire peril."

"No he isn't, silly! Spike's in the musketeers!" Pinkie exclaims happily, missing what Brian's saying.

"I mean the Dragon is in danger. Boris has put him at the Tartarus Same Doom, in a chamber where the tide will come and flood the dungeon...with Spike in it!"

"Hoo doggy, not good," Applejack said in concern. So Boris is the bad guy after all! The cowpony suspects that something's wrong with that captain.

But before Brian could finish freeing the group, the stand that held the chains broke. They all scream as they themselves fell towards the river below.

It was at this moment, as if by fate, that Ben is using a rowboat to make his getaway. The cowards sigh a bit in sadness. He felt ashamed and guilty for leaving Spike but Ben is no musketeer.

"Musketeer, yeah right," Ben mumbles to himself while shaking his head. "The day I will become if a bunch of ponies fell from the sky."

As if by saying 'watch what you wish for', Ben hears screaming and looks up to see Pinkie, Brian, Applejack, Rainbow and the clones falling right at him. The coward screams and tries to row faster to escape, but it's too late. They all crashed into the boat, sending everyone right into the water.

Everyone soon resurfaced as Pinkie smiles and hugs Ben, saying, "Benny! Good to see you again! Anyway, bye, Brian; Got a friend to save!"

"Right, later," Rainbow exclaims as the freed heroes, with the reluctant Ben coming, heads off.

Brian floats in the water, waving goodbye while saying, "Good bye Pinkie!"

The real ones join the group, Pinkamena saying, "Hi there!"

"Pinkamena, Golden Heart? Okay, mind telling us what just happened with you two appearing on the clones and the ones with us disappearing," Rainbow ask Pinkamena and Golden Heart puzzled.

"Later Dashie; we got a little Dragon to save!"

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In the chamber, Spike saw the tide coming in. No good, he is going to around! The Dragon looks around and looks upset when he saw a ruler going about 10 ft. up. There is a sign on the top saying 'You must be 10 ft. tall to survive this dungeon'."

"Oh man!" Spike groans a bit.

--------------

The group are reunited with Fluttershy and Angel. Fortunately, the two know where the dungeon's at (they took a tour of Equestria once) and are on their way right now. Ben on the other hoof tries to break loose.

"Hang on, Ben! We're coming!" Golden Heart calls out in determination.

"Hey, guys, let go! Boris is going to kill us!" Ben exclaims, struggling in Pinkie's hold.

"Awww, come on, Ben! Who cares about that mean ol' Boris? Spike is our friend and we must save him! It's all for one and one for all, remember?" Pinkie reminds her friends who looks surprised by what she just said. "Yeah, I know it's the most craziest and horrifying of evil in all of Equestria but we gotta go in there."

"Right, it's right there!" Pinkamena exclaims, pointing a hoof at the dungeon. Lightning flashes as if showing that EVIL flavor.

Ben gulps then screams in terror. He got freed, digging a hole and put his head in the hole like some sort of ostrich.

"Oh man!" Rainbow groans a bit.

"Is this the end of the musketeers?" Fluttershy ask in sadness. Ben has given up. What now?

"Shame on you, Ben," A familiar voice of Buster spoke out as he is near his instrument nearby. The bunny continues speaking to the cowardly Ben. "I thought you, Pinkie and Spike were in this together? Look, I know that you're scared deep down inside, but this has to done! You don't want the bad guys to win, do you? You gotta do this for...for justice, for freedom...for honesty."

"Go ahead! You can't make me go in there." Ben's voice mumbles a bit.

"Okay, I hate to do this but it got to be done!" Buster remarks in determination. He then begins singing while shouting.

Buster: This is the end!!

Ben's friends yelp, some of them hold onto one another while looking at Buster who sang and shouts at Ben some more while he plays his instrument. If talking won't help, then maybe this song will snap him out of it.

This is the end!
That Earth filth left poor Spike there out to drown
He let him drown!

Ben cringes as he hears the singing. The Earth pony looks worried but Buster isn't going to make him go in there, would he?

And the guys trusted him, but Spike here just lets him drown
He let them down!
We all berate him,
Because we hate him!!

Ben tries to ignore Buster but the words are making him more annoyed and angry. That bunny is making him look like a darn Stu who has turned on his friends!

He's a traitor, vacillator!
He's a lousy second rater!
Mangy coward!
That doesn't make sense!

Benn took his head out, getting very ticked off. He is having it up to here with this.

But look at him!
He's just an Earth filth coward!
Ben's destiny has soured!
It's the end!

Ben had had enough. Roaring in fury, he rushes over and grabs Buster's instrument, smashing it into pieces. Once the stallion's done, he snaps, "Now listen here! I may be a coward but I am no traitor or an Earth filth! Spike is my friend and you won't accuse me of turning my back on him, got it?! I'm going to go in there and help rescue him! But don't you dare say those kinds of words about me again!"

"Well, way to go, Benjamin!" Buster cheers on to Ben with a chuckle. The stallion blinks a bit then he realizes something.

"Uh, you only said that stuff just to get me out of my shy and cowardly shell, right?"

"Pretty much."

"I thought so." Ben said with a thoughtful nod, "So which way?"

"That way," Buster said as he points to the others in a boat, heading off to the dungeon as if leaving Ben behind. The stallion nods as he gallops after his pal. "Ha! Thank goodness," Ben came back to shake his hand.

"Hey thanks for the song."

Ben thus flew with his power to his friends and jumps into the boat. Pinkamena grins upon seeing him, saying, "Ben!"

"You came back!" Pinkie giggles as she and her pals hugs Ben while Angel licks his cheek.

"Oh, I'm so happy, I could shout." Fluttershy said gently then shouts...a bit quietly, "Yay."

Ben smiles as he took out something from behind himself: a spare musketeer costume when the stallion kept for some reason. The Earth pony quickly put it on having it on himself.

"Okay, come on! We gotta save Spike!" Ben exclaims in determination.

Once the gang reaches land, Angel got out first and led his friends to the dungeons. They rush through the area until they arrive at the place.

Inside the place, it is now filled with water. Spike is trying his best to get loose from his chains but to no success. He went to the surface to spit some water out and get some air. But the water by this time is so dangerously near the top, it is impossible. Spike does his best to hold his breath as best as he could.

But soon, Spike stops as he begins to faints, preparing to drown while leaving a hidden Mickey. As the Dragon does, he fails to see two familiar figures diving in and getting to him, pulling the chain off Spike very hard until it broke...

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Spike finds himself in darkness, apparently now dead. A familiar voice spoke up, "Spike?"

Another familiar voice is heard, "Mr. Spikey Wikey; Helllllo?"

"Hey, runt! Wake up, hey!" A third voice spoke up in irritation.

Spike realizes that he isn't dead but is waking up. The Dragon opens his eyes and seeing his friends looking at him while standing near the Dragon. Applejack spoke up, "'De little critter is waking up!"

Spike spits out some water. The Dragon is no longer in the chamber but is outside the dungeon. Looking around, the Dragon spoke, "Pinkie? Ben? Everyone," His Friends smiles, making him smile right back and hugging him, "Pinkie! But Boris told me that you, Applejack, Pinkamena and Golden Heart are dead and...what is Rainbow doing here?"

"Got captured as well," Rainbow remarks with a shrug while chuckling a bit.

"Anyway, you know better than that. Pinkamena and I used clones to fool Boris's former minion." Golden Heart said to Spike with a smile.

"Anyway, we would never leave ya in a million years, Spike!" Pinkie exclaims to Spike, hugging the Dragon happily.

Spike stops his hugging, spotting Ben as he said, "Ben. You came back."

"I did. Sorry about that but hey, look." Ben said as he removes his own hat. The stallion reveals Spike's which Ben managed to rescue before the gang got out of the dungeon. As Ben gave it to the Dragon, he said, "Got your hat. Now let's go. Rarity and Twilight are in danger and we got to save them."

"But what's the point, guys? We're not really musketeers. Applejack is only a cook and Rainbow is the only official musketeer here."

"'Not musketeers'?" Pinkie scoffs as if what her friend said was a joke. "Now just a darn hay picking minute, Spike. I got something to tell you right now. Look, maybe Ben is a cowardly shy pony..."

"It's true." Ben said to Spike with a shrug.

"And sure, Pinkamena is creepy..."

"Guilty as charged!" Pinkamena said, showing off her creepy.

"And maybe Fluttershy is shy and has a bunny who got an attitude..." Pinkie said, revealing the problems of herself and her friends.

"Oh yeah, that's right." Fluttershy said with a shy nod yet smile gently by the comment.

"And sure, Golden Heart is an Alicorn who got something that Boris the Animal can't figure out..."

"Bingo!" Golden Heart remarks to Pinkie with a nod by that comment.

"And yes, Applejack is a country pony; Dashie got an ego problem..." Pinkie said, counting off the flaws while Applejack smiles a bit while Rainbow just chuckles sheepishly. Pinkie then pats Spike on the head, making him laugh. "And you're a little Dragon who cannot swim. And yes, I am not a genius but there is one thing that I do know. As long as we stick together as a team..."

"We can do anything!" Ben exclaims to Spike with a smile.

Spike grins a bit as he put his hat on. Pinkie and Ben are right, as long as they stick together, the heroes can do whatever it takes to save the day.

"Right; And not even Boris the Animal..." Spike remarks with a grin.

"...or any other meanie pants will stop us!" Pinkie ends what Spike's going to say in determination. The gang put their hooves (claws and paws for Spike, Gold Wing and Angel) on top of each other with the rabbit laughing eagerly.

"Okay, so what are we doing standing here for? Come on, Musketeers, we got a princess to save!"

Author's note
All right. The gang is reunited once more! In the next and final chapter, it's time for the final battle as the heroes fight off Boris and his goons for the fate of Rarity, Twilight and all of Equestria! Read, review and suggest!

Buster's line before the song to rile Ben up is from 'The Great Muppet Caper'.