Lyra's hooves didn't even touch the steps of the train car as she leapt to the platform at a run; Mimi, naturally, didn't either because as soon as she had jumped clear she had taken to the air to keep up with her charge. They had packed light and the maid flipped the porter several Bits and a note with the address to deliver their luggage to as she flew past.

“Alright, first stop is the library,” the mint unicorn said to the flying pegasus next to her, “Sparkles has to have notes or a book on some kind of spell or something that we can use to locate the big guy that works because she kept telling me how she had him hooked up to a buncha machines to test magic on him. I'll need your help to grab everything and anything that might give us a lead, then I need you to find Spike so I can send a letter and get an update from Princess Luna.” Their breakneck speed saw they were across the town and bursting into the library in no time, their explosive entrance scaring the little dragon off of the tall ladder however Mimi easily swooped in and caught him. With the dragon quickly located the plan changed only slightly as a letter was sent immediately and then Spike joined in on collecting reams and reams of notes and stacks of thick books from the list of references Twilight had dutifully listed therein. Several hours of compiling later, Spike burped up a scroll which Lyra tore into.

“Princess Luna managed to find his dreams! The big guy provided a clue that they're taking him East...” Lyra said but then read around a scowl after reading the Princess’ response that she hadn't been able to find him on the dreamscape since that first contact. Spike had been staying with Rarity and Sweetie Belle and he had heard only a few mentions of something happening in Canterlot (Rarity shielding both of them from the news as best she could) so, reading over Lyra's shoulder, he understandably became very upset to learn something had happened to the human and both ponies consoled him that everything possible was being done. They found, however, that after Spike had calmed down they had another determined compatriot to help them however he could.

It took them several days to comb through all of Twilight's relevant notes, and would have taken much longer had they not been meticulously organized to the violet unicorn's usual level, just to compile the papers Lyra thought might contain the clues she needed. To this task she asked to be left alone, neither dragon nor maid were familiar with the thaumatic equations unicorns were taught although Spike would check in and help by organizing the pages upon pages Lyra had set aside as potentially important while Mimi brought regular food and drink to the fully-focused mare.

Eventually, several more days into Lyra's research, progress came to a head and as good as she was with magic she had to admit she was stumped by Twilight's much more advanced understanding which was being demonstrated on the pages. Leaning up from the desk for the first time since early that morning Lyra let out a long expletive in a sigh as her back made an audible pop. There's no other way around it, I need to ask Sparkles. Traveling back to Canterlot was time not spent not being productive and the last she had heard Luna's charge East with her guard had gone all the way to the sea but had failed to catch up with the big guy, and they were preparing to board a ship when Celestia herself stopped her sister because the Griffonstone Army were positioning themselves along the coast to repel the “invasion.” Mimi had brought in a newspaper whose front page was asking if there would be war the day following, and even though the alicorn and her troops had gone back to Canterlot the situation on the border was a powderkeg and all travel was being strongly advised against. That pretty much sank any of Lyra's ideas of going over as a free party and seeing what her access to gold could do - pry open some breaks for some clues or even hire mercenaries to take up the search, at the moment nothing was being left off the table.

Lyra slumped as she sat forward and turned to something important she had asked Mimi to bring for her as a comfort; her Jedi action figure. Reaching a hoof out she pulled it close and hugged it tightly. 'You're always the one making promises, but I'll find you, big guy. That's my promise."

“H-Hey, Lyra, are you okay-?”

Spike's unexpected voice from close by caused the unicorn to start and nearly fall from the stool.

“Oh sorry! I just… came to see if you needed any help, ” he said and, as Lyra regained her composure and turned, he retreated up the laboratory stairs, “I'll leave you alone.”

“Wait, i-it's okay, you just caught me… being foalish,” she said before he had disappeared entirely.

Spike came back down the stairs a little bit and gave her a thoughtful look, “What do you mean?” She went a little red and clarified she meant how she had been talking to the action figure and Spike scowled. “Oh. I don't think that's foalish at all, m-maybe… maybe he even heard you, you know, w-with his Force magic stuff?”

This was met with a snort as Lyra shook her head, “I doubt that because I've talked to it before and he's never given any sort of sign of having heard me. Still, it's a nice thought so thanks for trying to make me feel better.” The subject of communicating like that lead to a thought that would solve her current dilemma… potentially. “So, Spike, I'm stumped on some of this data. What I need to do is get some clarification from Sparkles, do you think I could write a letter and have Princess Celestia give it to her?”

“Y-Yeah,” Spike replied but to Lyra he sounded worried and she was quick to ask. “Um, well, part of the reason Titus is even here is because the Princess sent a few letters too quickly and I got ‘clogged’ with them, I guess you could call it,” he said, “If you ask for Twilight to clarify something from her notes it's likely going to need a lot of correspondence and I doubt I'm capable of coughing up that many letters without another problem. Sorry.”

Lyra sighed. Well, that answers that. “Okay, thanks anyway. I'd better get ready for the trip then.”

“Trip? If you were going to send a letter why don't you just have one of the sergeants send a messenger?”

Spike got a very curious look for that remark. “Uh… what do you mean?” she asked.

“Sergeants Quickbolt and Nightwatch were both given free communication directly to the Princesses,” Spike said as if he was staying the obvious, “I'm sure they wouldn't have an issue with sending somepony. After all, you and Twilight are Titus’ fillyfriends-”

Lyra cut him off with a shake of her head which hid her disappointment, “I-I realize we've been seen together a lot but I don't know if he'd say we've gotten that far…”

“Really? He wouldn't spend all that time with you if he didn't like you in some way, right? And I know that a Dash has pretty firm opinion on that, but Twilight said I wasn't supposed to repeat some of the words I heard her say,” Spike said with scowl because after sharing what he had heard with Twilight she wouldn't even explain what had been said, which was rather frustrating for the little dragon who simply didn't understand the odd phrases Dash had used. He quickly rid himself of this thought and got himself back on track and grabbed a quill and parchment, “But anyway, Quickbolt or Nightwatch would definitely send somepony if you asked. Do you want to start?”

“Absolutely.”

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

It took some time for Lyra to voice all of the questions she had so by the time she and Spike had finished he was giving thankful glances at the stuffed envelope he avoided having to send. Lyra had set off before he had even had the chance to tell Mimi and as she rounded the last corner she skidded to a halt at the sight of the crowd.

What are they doing here? Why is everypony this far back from the hill?

The answer to her internal question came when she saw the a perimeter had been pushed back and was reinforced - gone was the cordon tape and in its place were shoulder-height stone barricades behind which scores of Royal Guard stood stern and unwelcoming meanwhile pegasi Guard flew regular patrols. Pushing through to the front of the crowd was laborious as none of the countless media ponies wanted to give her space or were so busy talking into their cameras for their broadcast to notice who she was. When she bumped into two familiar friendly faces however, those being Snappy and Action, after she had given them a brief explanation what she was doing they helped shoulder their way to the front with the latter getting there just before the others.

“Hey! We need to see the sergeant!” Action said to the Earth pony guard that stepped forward to shove them away from the space between the barricades.

“You and everypony else, now move back,” she barked before Snappy and Lyra came into view calling for the same thing and the guardsmare quickly changed her tune and lifted the barricade out of the way, “M-Miss Heartstrings?! Please, come on through, I'll fetch the sergeant right away, ma'am!” Per usual, once the crowd noticed who was being let through they exploded into shouts and cries in attempts to get the famous mare's attention. Lyra waved a thanks to Snappy and Action as she rushed inside the perimeter before the barricade was placed back and the guard rushed off for her superior.

Lyra didn't have to wait long before the pegasus swooped down and landed in front of her amid shouting orders to several ponies following her, and once they were gone and it was just her and Lyra she put a wing over the unicorn's shoulder and lead her away from the crowd. “Lyra, how are you holding up?” she asked quietly as she lead them to the base of the stairs where they had some privacy.

To Lyra it was clear Quickbolt had been working long hours from the bags under her eyes but she didn't let any other sign of her weariness show and she seemed alert and attentive. “I'm not even worrying about myself, I've got to focus on getting the big guy back however I can,” Lyra responded and held up the sealed letter, “I need help, though. I need this delivered to Twilight A.S.A.P.-”

“Hey!” Quick was already on it with no explanation necessary, just as Spike had assured Lyra, and she called to the nearest guard, “Somepony find me the messenger puke, I've got a priority letter he can take back to Canterlot with him.” With the order given she turned back to Lyra, “I had heard you were holed up at the library, if there's any need to send additional messages I can post a round-the-clock guard with you just for that purpose. With a stun baton and permission to use it, of course… these bucking press ponies are a right pain in the cunt, let me tell you.”

“Come on, not all of them!” Lyra corrected with a laugh which was a welcome change from the dark and pressing atmosphere that had seemingly stifled her since arriving in town. “Thanks, that would be appreciated if you can spare somepony. I see you've pushed the perimeter back and established quite the barricade, what's going on here?”

Quick scowled. “When I got the dispatch something about the details didn't feel right. Grabbing a prominent figure like T, and from the Palace, and from in the presence of one of the Princesses? That doesn't make sense, it's much too risky,” she said, which was much like Mimi's analysis of events as well so Lyra nodded in agreement. “I heard opinions that he was taken to ransom back to the Crown for gold, as the G.R.A. has been known to do to fund their fight but that's usually done within their own borders, but if that was the case that he was taken for ransom why take him and not the Princess who would undoubtedly fetch much more? What I think is that he was the target either for something he knows, or something he has,” she looked back at the large ship behind her and Lyra's gaze followed, “So, I called for reinforcements and now we've got his ship locked down tight.”

“Have there been any problems or anything out of the ordinary?” the unicorn asked but was relieved when the sergeant shook her head.

“No, not really. Got a buncha ponies upset that I expanded the perimeter - mostly just tourists that came to see his ship - but the Academy squints constantly complain about how strict security protocols are… so I occasionally add more for a few days just to spite them.” Quickbolt scowled and went quiet for a moment and when Lyra asked why she held up a hoof and told her she needed to think. A moment later she looked around then back to Lyra, “Come to think of it, there is something. I haven't seen the Iggys around in the last few days, might be nothing but they were still out working after he left for Canterlot but then they disappeared just shortly after the news broadcasts started.”

Lyra joined in looking and now noticed the lack of Magnaguard droids but in the field was what seemed to be organized piles of salvage. “Hmm, maybe they finished the task the big guy ordered them to do?” she suggested but agreed it felt slightly odd not to see them because she thought they would normally bring what had been salvaged aboard into the cargo hold for sorting into what was still functional and what would was too broken which needed to be crafted by the CNC machine, which was another explanation, "Maybe they're inside crafting parts on that laser table thing, I remember there being a lot of parts that needed to be done." Lyra started for the ship without even thinking that she would be leaving the sergeant behind but the pegasus followed not long after. While Lyra climbed the stairs Quickbolt simply flew to the top where she waited.

“So, there's a chance this is completely normal?” Quick asked with a hint of worry in her voice.

“I don't know, Sergeant, but I hope so. I was going to ask Iana,” Lyra replied as she waited for the outer door to open automatically at her approach but her path remained obstructed by the airlock. Not to be so easily thwarted, she flipped the small panel containing the keypad open with a hoof and created a field of magic eerily reminiscent of a human hand, the golden fingers flying over the buttons in the sequence she had memorized him entering the day he got sick. The door slid open and together they proceeded to the next which responded by opening for them to enter the first hallway where Lyra started for the only place she had encountered the ship A.I.

Quickbolt just followed the unicorn, though a glance over her shoulder revealed several curious guard had followed them to the door for a look inside the ship. She simply pointed to their hooves and they came no further but by the time she had turned back around the unicorn was disappearing through a set of doors at the end of the corridor. When she caught back up Lyra was already approaching one of the consoles.

“Hey, Iana. You awake?” she said aloud with a look around which confused Quick. Lyra scowled when there wasn't an immediate response but only a moment later the nearest screen on the wall lit up with text.

“< Affirmative, I am not currently in a hibernation state although I have been restricted from the audio module. Is there something I can do for you, Lyra? >”

“Whoa, the ship talks?” Quick muttered which caused a second line of text to appear.

“< Correction, designation Sergeant: while I can communicate with users I am actually a separate entity from the ship, however I can control any integrated functions. >”

Lyra spared Quick the usual lengthy explanation of abilities the A.I. would give to somepony new and went forward with their original purpose. “Iana, what happened to the droids working outside?”

There was a longer pause than the other times the A.I. had responded but eventually more text popped onto the screen. “< I am constantly monitoring the surroundings and detected roughly a four hundred percent increase of strength in the armed presence in the immediate vicinity. My Pilot was outside of communication range so initial attempts to contact him failed, prompting investigation so I modified the onboarding communication equipment and began monitoring the simple aerial broadcast signals you use for television and radio. After analysis I determined the best course of action was to order them inside where they are on standby to respond to the situation as it develops. Currently I have deployed I.G. zero-six and I.G. two-three to be in position to intercept the organics at the airlock should they proceed further or show signs of hostility. >”

“Whoa whoa whoa, hostility? From us?!” Quickbolt exclaimed in surprise, “I increased security because the Guard didn't want anything happening to the ship. I assure you, we're not the enemy.”

“< I’m sorry but I can only proceed as directed by my programming while adhering to The Protocols to protect the ship, however the Pilot can provide instructions counter to this when he returns. In the meantime I will continue to monitor internal and external sensors, as well as broadcast signals to collect data for analysis. Furthermore, because of the heightened state of security, only those possessing Clearance Priority Class One and higher are granted airlock access through use of their security code and my operational parameters sanction the use of force in regards to unauthorized entry or detection of hostility. >”

“Quickbolt and the others are on all on the same side of getting the big guy back,” Lyra chipped in, “You can trust them.”

“< Noted, however I do not understand the fallible organic concept of trust, given their inferior ability compared to my processing power to examine an exponential number of probable outcomes and tie these to biometric scans to make conclusions from them. With my ongoing analysis of the situation one such conclusion is that there is a high probability that an attempt will be made to seize this ship. The Pilot's standing order is that I not let that happen. >” The discomforting text appeared and neither pony was sure how to respond. Then, a moment later as if Iana had taken one for thought, another popped up just below the first. “< I will await the Pilot, I have learned he has a propensity toward breaking my probability calculations of his return. >”

“Is there anything you can do to help? Like… scan for him or something?” Lyra asked and looked about for the Locate Big Guy button on the nearest console, although she knew she wouldn't find it.

“< A planetary biometric scan, from the surface, for a single specific signature is not possible as my sensors are not that refined. The limits that I am able to assist you under the heightened security is to provide analytical probabilities to help narrow the search for the Pilot. I calculate there is a ninety two percent likelihood the Pilot has been moved through a commercial port close to the site of abduction and further, as I understand the means of travel outside of matter transpositioning employed by the horned entities is restricted to primitive methods, a cargo ship is the most probable to have been used to stow him away. >”

“If the foalnappers were traveling by ship Manehatten has the busiest dock, although Baltimare is another possibility and is a shorter travel from Canterlot,” Quickbolt commented with a look to Lyra, “I'm going to write a quick report of this and send it off to the Princesses with your letter, if it can wait a moment.”

Lyra nodded. “That's fine, my letter is a request for clarification on some of Twilight's research notes that I need to proceed with crafting a locator spell,” she replied and asked if there was anything else Iana could theorize or “probabilicate” that might help and every screen in the helm lit up with calculations being actively solved with ever-changing equations.

“< I am unable to establish an active connection for my ongoing analysis, however a suitable storage device has been detected to your right and… (processing)… >” There was a moment of pause as only this message was on the screen which let Lyra see the small blinking datapad on the nearby console. Iana continued her statement which appeared just a bit later. “< I have uploaded the library of my completed calculations. In the interest of not risking the security breach of having someone come aboard for future assistance I have also created and uploaded a subjugate, autonomous fragment of my program capable of further calculations as necessary to facilitate the search for the Pilot. I grant designation Sergeant permission to take possession of the datapad and remove it from the confines of the ship for this purpose. >”

Quickbolt was surprised by this gesture but graciously accepted with a voiced thanks as Lyra passed the small datapad to her. “Well, I'd better get this to the spooks at Crown Intelligence. They'll know how best to put this to use,” she said and launched into the air to hover as Lyra also thanked the computer entity and followed after her.

Monitoring sensors as the pair moved through the ship, Iana’s calculation that they would leave if she offered them the datapad proved correct because soon the airlock sealed behind them. She had also learned from the Pilot to be more cunning than just that - “when circumstances dictated or justified” he had stressed. When the pegasus had indicated the datapad would be transferred to an intelligence organization, she had devised and already begun to engineer the same signal the Pilot and Princess Luna used to play their game to piggyback code that would then broadcast from the game console so she could remotely connect with the datapad covertly. If they made any plans to seize the ship she would likely listen in on such information in advance.

Outside, Lyra waited for the messenger to zip off for Canterlot, her message and the carefully wrapped datapad in his satchel before she bid the sergeant farewell and headed back for the library, assisted by a small army of guard to get through the throng of press that swarmed them when they reached the barricade and were now stationed outside keeping a strong perimeter around the tree. “Were you successful, Miss?” Mimi asked with a plate balanced on a wing with a cheese sandwich which looked to be headed for the laboratory. Lyra closed the library door behind her and indicated the message had been passed off and only a moment later Spike popped up the stairs carrying a stack of papers but gave the pegasus a huff.

“Come on, Ms. Angel, I said I was happy to make myself lunch! You really didn't have to do that.”

“And have you get greasy clawprints on all that parchment? I think not,” she replied amid exchanging the stack of papers for the plate, “I would bring little Lyra and Twilight sandwiches when they were studying for school. Rules are eat, wash your claws, then you can go back to work.”

While the dragon took the plate to the dining room Lyra turned to the maid, “Hey, Mimi? A conversation with the Sergeant has me curious,” she started and as always the pegasus was an attentive listener, “It's likely the big guy was taken aboard a ship, either through Baltimare or Manehatten. How would somepony sneak him by t-the police or um, port authority or whoever inspect the ships?”

“The authorities are already stretched thin so not every ship gets inspected, but most do. Still, there are some… less than legal organizations that have connections that can facilitate cargo making it on board that doesn't go on the ship's manifest or that could be ‘missed’ by the inspector,” Mimi explained and watched as Lyra nodded.

“Riiiight, like in the movies,” Lyra hummed and looked deep in thought before she suddenly turned around and started for the guest room where their bags had been moved. “Alright, we'll start in Baltimare-”

“E-Excuse me?” Mimi stuttered in surprise, “What are we going to start?”

Before Lyra could answer there was a loud burp from the dining room and Spike came jogging around the corner with a rolled parchment in claw which there was no doubt what it was. “Oh jeez, I hope I'm not about to get a bunch more of these,” he said with worry as Lyra took the message.

“You shouldn't be, in my letter I said to dispatch a messenger… or several, as I doubt one could carry the explanation I need from Sparkles. This isn't-” Lyra started but fell silent as she read the elegant script on the parchment. She had been friends with Twilight long enough to know who it belonged to.

Miss Heartstrings,

Although I asked, regrettably because of Twilight's emotional condition she was unable to answer. I have looked over what you sent, but without source material for reference and a good time to study it I'm afraid her notes are incomprehensible to me. If there is anything else I could do to help on your endeavor please let me know.

Sincerely,
Celestia

Huh, she didn't address it as ‘Princess’ like all her letters to Twilight? It was odd thing to note and not of importance but this was not the letter Lyra was hoping to get. “Mimi? Postpone the trip to Baltimare and Manehatten, we're going back to Canterlot first,” she said and started for the guest room again, “I'm going to speak to Sparkles directly!”

“Uuugh…”

Cold.

His entire side was cold and sore, though it wasn't as bad as the aches and stiffness that had been there to welcome his sporadic drifts from near-unconsciousness to barely-aware over the past… actually he wasn't sure how long it had been since darkness had engulfed him at the award ceremony. He waited for the stab of pain in his neck and subsequent return to the limbo he had been stuck in that always followed his slowly becoming aware of his condition but the timeframe slowly passed where he would have otherwise felt it.

Opening his eyes he found them filled by blackness, but as more time passed that he didn't feel the jab he instead perceived the slow adjustment as the oblivion he found himself in revealed itself, the signs of light beyond it came into focus through what were fibers of cloth.

Titus thought of removing what he now realized was a hood or bag over his head but his arm - the one that wasn't screaming at him from a broken wrist - was a deadweight and didn't move, in fact he couldn't feel his hands or feet. It wasn't until he made a considerable concerted effort that he knew the arm slowly shifted. After several more moments of struggle he pulled the hood free but was greeted with more blurriness, but as this slowly corrected he focused on his other senses. The cold floor beneath him was a rough, dense stone that had a chalky dust covering it and the surface was unnatural - it was too flat. The air had a stale dampness to it but there was no current to it, wherever he was it wasn't likely to be close to being out in the open. At least it's solid ground, I… think I remember a lot of rocking and swaying at some point. Further details came into focus when he shifted his attention up from the ground beneath him. Looking around, the floor's color swept up to indicate two walls were cut from the same stone while the other two were a blurry dark grey which turned into thick iron bars. He quickly became aware one of the reasons of his struggle and why he couldn't feel his feet or hands - he had hooves. That explains how they moved me, wherever this is, without making the spectacle a human would. The fact he was nearly naked, save for the form fitting undershorts that had been left on him which had stretched uncomfortably to fit his pony form, was of little concern in this sort of situation.

With an extreme effort and a long grunt he got himself up to a seated position before looking to see what was beyond his cage. There was another set of bars making a second cell to one side and the unmoving form of another pony laying on the floor. The room outside the bars was small but featured a table with chairs at which several griffons were seated. but when he moved they all got up and left through a heavy-looking wooden door with metal reinforcing it. What, did they think this would hold me?

Bending the bars would be no challenge but in trying to focus to call upon the Force Titus was wracked with a sudden screaming headache that nearly doubled him over and only subsided when he stopped and let his mind wander.

"Ah! Dia dhuit, conas tá tú?" Geirr's greeting as he entered was laced with false sincerity and jarred Titus from his pained stupor. He was well aware of the drugs that had been injected in their pony captive during his journey which were a careful concoction to prevent him from reaching any sleep deep enough to dream and made him unable to focus on any one point too much before a wicked headache kicked in that only grew worse the more one focused, effectively causing him to be unable to call upon the Force. Geirr grasped one of the bars of the recently-finished cell to test that it was secure - a pointless demonstration, to be sure, as the heavy iron bars had been anchored within the mountain's bedrock several feet in at both the top and bottom so even with his strength they didn't budge. Satisfied, he shrugged at Titus as he sat up a little more and looked to him lethargically, "So, I guess ye don't kin griffon, ey? Means 'hello, how are ye?' but I won't trouble myself further speakin' to ye in me native tongue. I've been waitin’ for ye to be delivered so I can get started.”

“And what do you want with me?” Titus grunted. Finding he was in the pony form was worrying; he had gotten his immunizations after the last time but this headache was new to him and keeping him from connecting with the Force like he was used to was unsettling.

Geirr looked at his captive glancing at himself, “That'll be wearin’ off soon enough, don't ye fret. Just needed ye to blend in for a bit…” The pony remained quiet then winced and shook his head briskly which got a snort, “Ach! I’d nay try that if I were ye, that headache feelin’ like an axe is splittin’ yer head in two? Witch’s brew o’ some mushrooms or some such shite, she wouldn't tell us her 'secret recipe' but we knew it would work. It’s the same thing keepin' ye from catchin’ a good wink so yer Princess friend can find ye. Speakin’ of... it's time for another dose.”

The three griffons burst through the door and threw Titus’ cell open before rushing him. Two pinned the hooves thrown at them in an attempt to fend them off while the third waited until jumping in to stick the syringe she was holding into his neck. Whatever she pumped into him when she depressed the plunger felt like molten metal racing through his veins from head to foot that sent him into a spasm as every muscle locked up.

“Name’s Geirr, by the by, and ye'd better be gettin’ used to this on account we're nay takin’ the risk o' ye usin’ yer special magic, so resistin’ a dosage will just make it worse for ye,” he continued as the griffon lackies each pummeled or kicked him a few times before they retreated and closed the cell door behind them, the last one double-checking it had locked before nodding to Geirr. The large griffon waved a talon and they returned to the table, meanwhile he waited for Titus to recover from writhing before leaning his face close to the bars, “Now then, it’s my job to pass along a request on behalf o’ the G.R.A., and I hope ye'll be smart with this decision. Really give it a think, yeah? Right… give me the security codes for yer ship, we mean to take it for our own against the twat king for invadin’ our land.”

Was he serious? I don't need to give that any thought. “I'm going to have to say that's a hard no,” Titus said flatly, “There’s no way I'm giving you my ship, especially if it's to be used for a civil war.”

Alarmingly Geirr grinned at his answer. “Oh laddy, ye dinnay kin how much I hoped ye'd say no! See, it's my job to get those codes from ye, so if ye nay were willin’ to just give ‘em to me…” there was a sharp tsk before the grin splitting his beak became one of eager malevolence as he looked at his new plaything, “Ye and me are gonna spend some time together ‘til ye feel a wee more charitable to the cause… but I've grown bored with ponies-" He briefly paused and looked to the other cell before returning his gaze to Titus, "So, once that spell wears off we'll get ye situated and say a quick 'ello to the Princesses." Geirr nodded to the guards and walked out, eager to get the room set up for the broadcast and inform his Mistress the captive had woken and they were ready to move to the next phase of the plan.