Title: Anon in Saddle Arabia's pony prison, chapter 8 Author: Wand_of_inferno Pastebin link: http://pastebin.com/udXxGwpn First Edit: Sunday 17th of July 2016 03:47:11 PM CDT Last Edit: Last edit on: Thursday 22nd of September 2016 12:07:45 AM CDT “Codename Wing and Codename Rock, nice to meet you” “So you are the spy The Boss told us about, Yarn Feather?” >“Call me by my Codename. Musul Mare”   >”Tactic, what happened? Tell me now” Short Fuse asks directly to Tactic Star, not wanting to look at the sad little filly crying with the look down >”Is… Lima’s brother.” Tactic took a pause, looking at Crystal Blossom, then at Short Fuse. “He… Nightly Veil… is…” >”GWONE! T-THEY TOOK HIM AWAY! NIGHTLY IS LWOST! WAAAAA!” Crystal finished Tactic’s sentence   “M-My sister will find you! A-And she will give you a long day in confinement solitary!” >Your threats were no use; the doctor was preparing everything to start experimenting with you   >From the shadows a pair of green eyes starts to come close >And finally, the body of him appears as it starts materializing “Your Majesty, is mein honor to present you… Project Night”   Be Doctor Karma >Emperor Sombra was examining the colt from every aspect, through his mane and eyes to the length of his front and back hooves >”Please tell me this is a midget stallion and not a kid…” His voice had a lack of astonishment, it had more… disappoint in it… oh no “Oh… ehem. Vell… yes. Project Night /is/ a kid. But a strong colt if I can remark! My two lackeys captured him and… well” >Emperor Sombra in an erupt of anger transforms into a cloud of smoke that goes directly in front of you, his green eyes could tell that he was angry about the kid >”A KID. YOU FOOLS BROUGHT ME A KID” >His suddenly wrath send shivers to your back as you feel a little of fright >Your hind hoof started to feel consumed by the darkness of the place >D-Don’t show fear Karma, th-this is what he wants… >Just calm down… be steady… and talk to him like any other pony >Just forget the fact that he is a powerful sorcerer from another dimension with the ability of dark magic on his hooves that could destroy their enemies in a split second aaaaand this isn’t helping “E-Emperor Sombra. Remember, our vorlds are different. In yours kids are just kids, but in ours… kids are machines of destruction fed with sugar! You know how this vorld is… veaker than yours!” >Emperor Sombra’s body came back in physical; his expression didn’t change in the slightest >You take a gulp and hope for the best >”This is what I get for finding a weak world… not worth my time, but already made that lady her promise… “ He looked to the kid, Project Night, who was sitting in a chair looking with the same grin to us. “You, kid, come here. Now” >In a blink of an eye, Project Night was already in front of Emperor Sombra >It takes you by surprise that he was this fast >”Impressive…” >Well, this is a good change. Maybe the Emperor will approve Project Night after all! “See? Sugar and foals are a great combination! In my vorld at least” >”Do not sing victory yet, Doctor. I’m going to test this kid, if he does pass the test… I’ll give him a reward” “…And if he doesn’t?” >Emperor Sombra just chuckled evilly as anwer… okay, you got it and maybe he got it too >Project Night in the other hoof wasn’t saying anything; he was just waiting for orders >Emperor Sombra’s horn starts to fill with a strong gleam of magic, it was so powerful that you can feel the dark power within it… it was so scary, but you needed to show no fear, this was a test both for Project Night and you… you need to prove him that you are more than a single scientific pony >After all, this is why you used those terrorists as a bait to summon him >You don’t need a boss… you don’t need her! You and your Project is everything you need! >To tartarus with The Corporation! Haha! >In a flash the place now had buildings around the place, they looked real… was this an illusion? >”Listen here kid. Right in front of you, you have what part of my world looks like. Buildings only the biggest of minotaurs can build! This is your first test, in the area there is a bomb. You /need/ to locate the bomb and disarm it, otherwise it’ll blow up and you’ll lost the test. …and probably your life” >Was he… was he serious? >Project Night was just staring at Emperor Sombra while he started to breathe slowly and his eyes were wide looking at him, nodding to each thing he pointed out >Hopefully he won’t need more sugar than he has already in his system >”You have 5 minutes starting… now. Go” >”As you wish” >Project Night finally spoke, disappearing and leaving a track of smoke behind him. You could see in the distance a figure jumping across the buildings… probably was him. If only you could see him closer and not be afraid of the bomb exploding… >…Hope the bomb doesn’t have the range to explode here >Maybe the bomb was a fake one, is just a test after all… >Maybe Emperor Sombra has confidence in the kid >Where did he go anyway? “Eh… Emperor Sombra?” >”Over here” >You look to the left and… Emperor Sombra was behind some walls of black crystal; his face was all that was showing from him >He doesn’t have confidence, not at all with him! “Eh…” >He only stares at you as he drinks something purplish from a glass “Can I… enter vith you?” >”No. Make your own fort” >Ugh… >… >Is getting bored in here as you two wait for Project Night >Maybe you should chat with Emperor Sombra for a while “Ehmm… remember that song of…” >”No, I’m not singing that /stupid/ song about hate. I don’t know your language anyway, in my Equestria we speak what my language is, and that is Equestrian” >Maybe you shouldn’t chat with him… >So rude… uhh… whatever, is not like you wanted to hear his voice singing >Ok maybe just a little >Some time pass and you are hoping for the best, you have no clock but it has been some time after Project Night went to his first test >Emperor Sombra was looking at you, staring with an emotionless expression >So cold… maybe he needs a hug from somepony, but knowing his character a Hydra would be the perfect individual to give him affection… >”Special delivery” >A voice came from behind you. It was Project Night that had the bomb in his hooves! He did it! He actually found the bomb! >” Marvelous.” Emperor Sombra proudly says. “Although you didn’t disarm the bomb.” You swear he was hiding deeper in his fort >Wait a minute… >He… didn’t!? >You look at the bomb that was in his hooves, the clock was… still ticking! It has 30 seconds left! BY THE FAUST! WHY!? >Project Night throws the bomb next to the floor and processes to stomp on it. A part behind the bomb opens, showing three wires, 1 green, 1 red and 1 yellow >15 seconds until the bomb goes boom!  >Project Night decides to cut with his teeth the red wire >N-Not the red wire! That’s the bad one for every situation! >5 seconds! >We’re doomed! >You kneel down and close your eyes. IS OVER! OVER! >… >”There you go.” Project Night says as he throws the bomb directly to Emperor Sombra’s hooves >The clock stopped in the exact 2 seconds… >”Impressive, for a kid” >Emperor Sombra removes his crystal fort and steps in front of Project Sombra >”For your second test… fight me. If you touch my cape, you pass this test” >A fight? He wants to fight a kid? That’s so unfair! “A-A fight!? Are you sure, your highness? It isn’t a bit… exaggerated?” >Emperor Sombra completely ignores you and stares to Project Night >”Evade, attack, do as you want, but you need to survive my attacks” >Emperor Sombra stayed still as Project Night takes his distance from him >This is madness… you read before that Emperor Sombra, or as in your world is called, King Sombra, is a powerful sorcerer with his dark magic, even capable of turning ponies into crystal! W-Well, that’s what the history says >”You better show me a good time…” Project Night says, as he prepares for the battle ready to run towards him. He really was excited to fight him… >You created a monster, didn’t you? >This kid had too much sugar! You really shouldn’t have given him that much! >You need to move away from here and- “Agh!” >…Your hind hoof is stuck in something… >You look at your hoof and almost yelp at the sight of some darkness taking control of it. Your entire hind hoof was covered in black! >T-This isn’t good >Emperor Sombra is preparing everything he has! If he hits you, you’ll be done! >M-Maybe if you are smart enough and create a magic shield… come on Doctor, do it! >With what little you had left of energy, you created a visible yellow field around your stuck body. This wasn’t much but maybe it would make any projectile to redirect to somewhere else… >Emperor Sombra started to attack Project Night; black crystals that looked very sharp flew directly to Project Night’s spot >But the kid is clever, he doesn’t stay in the same place, he keeps moving, closer and closer to Emperor Sombra >The battle gets intense as Emperor Sombra conjured a white stream of magic which hits Project Night, sending him flying meters away from Emperor Sombra. He groaned and spits saliva to the floor and kept trying to come near Emperor Sombra >More failed attempts; Emperor Sombra wasn’t showing mercy at all. He could clearly see Project Night movements >Time goes on and Project Night doesn’t stop trying to grab Emperor Sombra’s cape… until finally! >Project Night grabs his cape! >He was heavily breathing but didn’t look a bit exhausted… although he got too much damage >”Not bad, not bad. For a kid” >You need to remember to heal every bruise that your Project has now. You don’t want to take over The Corporation with a dirty toy, don’t you? >”Congratulations, Night. You passed” >Yes! He did it! >Your Project did it! >… “Now vat?” >At this point Emperor Sombra was ignoring most of what you are saying, is so rude for someone who summoned him… >”Now… as your reward, choose.” Emperor Sombra uses his horn and two crystal cabinets appear in front of Project Night, showing two sets of armors. “Choose one armor to wear. The left one will extend your earth powers to the limit, unlimited stamina will be at your disposal, meanwhile the right one will provide you with magnetic power, the power of nature itself. You’ll be as quick as the wind” >In the right cabinet, there was a black armor with red lines near the hooves part along with a red helmet >In the left cabinet, there was a light white armor with not much details as the black armor >Maybe you can take the armor that Project Night doesn’t want. Sure, as if Emperor Sombra would give it to you… >Project Night points to the cabinet in the right, choosing the black and red armor >Maybe he was in that phase of his live where he wants that kind of colors >”Ah… good election” Emperor Sombra’s horn makes his horn shine and the red and black armor levitates with his magic, in a flash Project Night was wearing the armor. “It suits you well apparently...” >Yeah, must be a magic suit. Some clothes in Equestria work depending on the pony’s size >Although Project Night was having problems with the helmet, was it bigger than his head? Too bad you can go there and help him because… YOU ARE STUCK IN SOME DARK STUFF! >”And the armor comes with a pair of weapons…” >His horn levitates two… knives!? “Vait a second, your majesty! Remember that he is a colt and… our vorld don’t allov those kinds of pointy veapons… someone could get hurt badly!” >Good thing Project Night was having issues with his helmet and he couldn’t see the knives, otherwise he would pick them up… nope! Too dangerous! >Emperor Sombra groans annoyed >”Right… kids… and your weak world.” He makes the two knives disappear with his magic. “This is everything I can think of” >Emperor Sombra makes appear two drafting triangles with his magic >Made of plastic, pointy in each edge, very easy to carry on and could probably cut somepony if is used with strong… >Is dangerous! >It looked more dangerous than the knives! >It shall do the work! “Nov that’s better” >Emperor Sombra throws the drafting triangles to Project Night, who accidently catches them as he places correctly the helmet. How can he see anything in that thing? Maybe it gives… night vision? >”Now Night, that helmet has the power to make anything levitate. You just need to focus and you’ll make anything fly near you” >”Got it” >So we are done! Now… if only you knew how to go back to your normal world >You should give him the thanks for everything and… go “Ehm… so… it vas good to talk vith somepony as poverful as you. But ve are busy and have a long schedule for today… so!” >You just want to get out of here and feel again your hooves… >”Not so fast, Doctor. There is one last test” “A…Another one?” >Emperor Sombra walks behind Project Night menacingly >”Teach Doctor Karma a lesson about loyalty… destroy him” >W-WHAT? H-how dare him give your Project orders! He’s your project! Not his! >And lesson about loyalty? What? “I created him! No you! You just gave him an armor, one vich vill make me-“ >”Step over the group of ponies that your boss is in, right? Oh Doctor… you should know better. I’m helping the lady, not you” He gives a few taps to the helmet of Project Night. “Night, contact the lady and tell her about Doctor’s betrayal. She will know what to do to him. For now, teach him how to be loyal” >”It’ll be a pleasure… somehow; part of me wants to have fun with Doctor Karma… yes… I can feel my anger raise” >His grin… that grin… it was giving you shivers… this creation went over control! You shouldn’t have used more sugar than you needed! “Y-You need me! You can’t do anything by yourself! I created you!” >”Words… Doctor, you wouldn’t survive a second in my world with that attitude. The lady in the other hoof, could survive long enough to be leader of… maybe a tiny town in my Equestria” >You try to struggle and run away, but your hooves are stuck in darkness… mostly of your body was covered in darkness! “NEIN, THIS ISN’T GOING AS PLANNED! I HELPED CREATING THAT PORTAL! YOU VHERE THERE! I EVEN HAVE THE SECRET OF THE ZWEI BROTHERS LOST IN IT! YOU CAN’T DO THIS TO ME! FREE ME! FREE ME!!” >Sombra was just laughing at you… that… pony…! He has no soul! No mercy and no soul! >Hmmph! You can’t escape! Is not use! Not even with your horn! >”And Night… remember to always look up to the lady, for she is your leader now” >”Understood” Project Night’s helmet closed hiding the evil grin he had on it and the helmet started to emit some purplish aura, his drafting triangles starting to levitate near him >Sombra walked away without looking back, giving an evil laugh >”Farewell, Doctor” >No, no! No, no, no! Not like this! Not… like… this…! “NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEIN” Lights out. … ”Does it hurt?” <…Okay, probably more than a little.   Be Anonymous >It’s been a day since the kidnapping of Nightly Veil, it took way too much for all the ponies to calm down and everyone was sad, angry but, mostly sad. The notice of the kidnap of a colt in the Daycare Center emerged around the prison; even the prisoners were scared of a terrorist kidnapping them >Various ponies were damaged by this scenario, Lima, Nightly’s sister, hasn’t been out of her room in the entire day and night… Blue said that she only manages to carry a portrait of her and her brother and only drinks juice from her fridge >Crystal Blossom has stopped crying, thanks for the help of the rest of the kids in the Daycare Center and Jenny’s motivational words, but in the bottom, she misses her friend and what’s worst, feels bad to hide the secret of the kidnap to her friend, Buttercream. Even if the notice is around the prison, Buttercream thinks his best friend is playing hide and seek >The guards from the prison have increased the security of the place, thanks to the guard Gniw and her security cameras around every corner of this prison. Nothing can escape now if anything happens outside or inside the prison >And for the warden, Short Fuse… he lost his pride of warden. He is so broken inside that nothing but any news on Nightly Veil whereabouts could make him smile. He’s been staying with the two nurses, Bright Light and Redheart, telling them that he feels sick no matter what he looks… hope this doesn’t get him traumatized, something that you wouldn’t want to see is your warden friend sad about this >And you? Well, you had a tough talk with the new guards. That is anything, just anything happens and someone sees a terrorist near the prison or city, they’ll better tell you so you interrogate that pony… any terrorist must have a clue of where the tiny colt is located >You don’t give a fuck if you are a prisoner and not a guard; you know you are at least the toughest living being here with the authority of justice in your mind. Weeks in prison for kidnapping a pony? Months? Hell fucking no, you are putting underground that fucker once you find him …or her >To think ponies were able to kidnap other ponies… you never thought of that possibility to be honest. The anger stills flows through your body and you want to search for the motherfucking kidnaper that got all these ponies in tears and sorrow >But you know that that edgy as fuck pony from before is a source of information… >First time you didn’t know how you triggered it, but you have motivation in your side to try to talk to him and get information out of him, even if you have to torture him >That pony… Sombra, really sounded like he wasn’t from Equestria… you need to be physically and mentally prepared when you get to see him again >You need to get information; maybe if you ask someone for this guy’s name, you’ll get something to start with. Plenty of ponies or other creatures could tell if they know about someone named Sombra >For now, you are back in your prison cell, your comfy… prison cell… “…man, this isn’t comfy at all” >You were eating a chocolate ice cream and in the edge of the bed was your squared friend Pancho… alone with him and… hey, doesn’t this sound familiar? “Pretty much the prologue that everyone skipped.” You say as you eat some of the chocolate ice cream. “I wanted vanilla…” >…Right “…” >You look up to the ceiling, thinking… thinking and thinking for ideas. Maybe Silver Pie could be a good pony to begin with and then move to the library and start thinking if you get any further in clues to Sombra >Even with one liter of ice cream you feel empty inside. Must be because Blue and Red are eating the rest of the ice cream from your fridge >You don’t blame them; everyone could use some ice cream after the news of Nightly Veil. Short Fuse started eating ice cream and got the great idea to share ice cream with all the ponies that got sad by the news. Ice cream is a good friend, but even with ice cream Shorty stills feels bad >You look at them, Red was sad and her brother was trying the best to make her smile. You tried your best to make her feel better, but nothing you said made her smile >Guess there goes your ghost blowjob >Ponies man… they might don’t forget about Nightly for like, the rest of their lives… you need to find him >You grab Pancho and look at him, you look back at the ghost ponies and back at Pancho, you suddenly get an idea that could work “Blue, can you come here for a second?” You call him over, he obeys patting slightly the head of her sister and comes next to you >”..Yes, Anon? Do you need a pat in the back too?” >You shake your head and put Pancho next to him “No, I got an idea since I think Pancho hides something.” You open the box and show him the code inside Pancho. “I don’t know the solution of this code, but I know there is something inside of this box, Pancho…” You look at Blue Candle, he looks at you in the eyes. “Can’t you take a look inside and see what’s inside of Pancho? You two have possessed him before… I was wondering if you could do that favor for me, please” >Blue puts his right hoof on the box; he takes a look at the numbers and looks back at you >”..Is no problem, no big deal I guess…” >Blue Candle puts its head inside of Pancho, it takes some time for him, but he finally talks after a while >”..I see…” He takes another pause. “..Nothing, everything is black” “Black? Like, empty?” You ask >”..No… like… black… I can’t find anything, yet I know there is something here…” >Blue Candle puts his head outside of the box, he was sweating slightly after that >”..Maybe my sister can see if she finds something… I don’t know why everything was black…” >Is weird… they were fused with Pancho yesterday like nothing, yet today Blue can’t see anything inside of that pesky box… wonder if it has something to do with Sombra >Now that you think of… this box was from two suspicious ponies in the streets of Saddle Arabia. Maybe they were working for that boss Sombra said in that empty place… >Man you have a lot of questions, but you don’t want much answered, just the location of Nightly is enough >Hope the little colt is doing okay… >Well, he needs to be okay, doesn’t he? Ponies can’t do much harm to other ponies in this world of fantasy. They think swearing is enough to go to jail, what’s the worst they can do to a colt? A colt! Just like a kid! >Surely they can’t get as worst as what terrorist do in Iraq or other war zones in Earth… man that scene of American Sniper still haunts your dreams. Aaaand your nephew because your sister is dumb enough to let her son watch a 15+ movie… >Well… enough of past things, present is now >Blue Candle calls on his sister, who poorly reacts with him. She levitates slowly back to the bed and slowly sits over your nap >You dislike seeing ponies so sad… ghost ponies is another level of sadness. Yesterday she was so sad about what happened at the Daycare Center that her body was “stuck” in the table, and you are sure she wasn’t stuck… >You try on petting her ghostly mane but you don’t get even the littlest of coo’s from her >Shit’s so badly yo “Red, I was wondering if you could check what’s inside of Pancho. Your…brother tried, but he didn’t see anything inside, right Blue?” You look up to him, he nods as answer >”….I can try…” She says with a low tone of excitement >Man… this isn’t fair, your pony friends are sad and it makes you sad too. You want your cuddly, happy and shy ponies back >She leaves your nap and goes near Pancho. Instead of going inside as Blue did, she puts her ear on Pancho, trying to hear something >…But why? >”….” >After some seconds of trying to hear, she puts her head inside the Mexican named box >Blue and you wait for her to come back, probably with the same result >It is taking way more than Blue did with Pancho on checking… >…What’s taking her so much? >After a whole minute she finally gets her head out of Pancho, her entirely expression changed to one of impression >”…I… I…” She was amazed or surprised by something that she saw and Blue couldn’t see >But what was it? “Did you see what’s inside the box, Red?” >”..Sis, you ok…?” >Damn now you two were concerned about Red >More seconds of dramatic waiting… Jesus, do horses do this all the time? Just get to the damn point! >”….I saw… the colt…” >… >She what!? >You jump out of the bed and grab Red Candle by her shoulders “The colt!? You saw Nightly? Y-You better not be joking with that! You said colt as pony or colt as the weapon?” >She slowly nods… >This can’t be truth… or can it…? >Red was starting to shiver, you could feel it in her shoulders… the room started to feel cold. But why? Aren’t this good news? Shouldn’t the room feel warm with the feeling of his little friend? >No… wait, this is weird… >First, if Blue couldn’t see him, why Red can? And… why or how was she able to see Nightly inside of Pancho? Was he there!? ….no that’s dumb >You stop grabbing her shoulders and let her go, waiting for an answer >You sit back on the bed as Red looks at his brother and you, shivering more than before >”….I don’t know why… or how… but I saw the little colt, with terrorists… a creepy basement… a pony that looked like a doctor… and… shadows, lots of shadows… then everything went black and… I hear screaming from the tiny colt…” A single tear comes out of her left eye. “Screams, Anon! The tiny colt was screaming! A-And that wasn’t from fear!” >Sc reaming… from pain? >Well unless those were screaming from pleasure which isn’t either good or possible in this situation, those are some awful news… no wonder why the room was cold… >Something big is happening in this desert… and you need to solve this mystery >A boss… a kidnap of a colt, the box, the edgy shadow pony… >Wait, Red said that she saw shadows… is this all connected with him? That boss is behind this? Is she the leader of the terrorists? Ugh… all is so confusing… >Blue Candle had his sister on a tight hug, making sure everything was going to be okay “…I need to tell the warden this and now. I mean, we just need to look for houses with basements, right? It could take some time but we can find Nightly in no time!” >A search plan is always good, they must be near Saddle Arabia… they better be… >”..Unless they have hidden basements…” Blue adds “You two can do that, can’t you? After all you two can go through walls… is the perfect plan!” >”….What if they already moved by the time we start searching…” Red says with her spirit going down >God damn, you want to help and they don’t show the less motivation! “We can check for any suspicious pony, they are terrorists… maybe the warden or any guard can recognize them. Besides, we can use Pancho to look for more clues, yes?” >Red didn’t see it as a good idea, she didn’t want to see again in that box for the creepy ending of whatever she saw… but this is better than nothing >This is perfect, excellent and good news! >Good thing no one can hear these ghosts… well, maybe your neighbors can and you just sound creepy. No, wait, there’s Short Fuse spell about silence or something >Nothing can go wrong! >You hear a loud sound coming from somewhere near your cell. It sounded as if someone hit their head with something… you are an expert on knowing sounds and that was pretty much it >You have a PhD on noises as a matter of fact “Well, I’ll be going now. Maybe the warden’s still on the nursery… this news will make him soooo happy! I bet he’ll reward me with another photo session” >You say showing a grin and a fist to the air. Red Candle notices your posture and starts giggling, Blue Candle starts laughing slightly too >Finally… >”….Just don’t get too comfy with him alone in the photo session, heh… Blue and me we could surprise you and come in any moment…” She says with a tiny smirk >Oh she’s back with being herself, isn’t she “Okay I get it; you are feeling better, hah. Well, I need to do haste and tell Short Fuse about this before he gets even sadder. Take care of Pancho while I’m out!” >They both nod and you get up from bed and walk towards your cell door >You step from your cell and close it behind, but before going you see an inmate that looked like she got hit by something “Oh, hey Jenny” >She had a bag with some ice cubes on her head and she had a pain expression. So you know now where that sound came from… poor Jenny maybe got her head badly injured. By pony standards of course >”Hello… Anon…” She even sounded hurt, the poor thing >Tactic Star told you that Jenny was trying to make Crystal Blossom feel better; she found the filly moments after the kidnap of Nightly Veil occurred. Even when she tried her best calming the filly, she cried as expected that day >Wish you could forget that… sadness on the expression of Crystal Blossom “Did you hit recently your head with something?” >”Y-Yes… but is no biggy… I have emergency bags in my cell for… moments like this” >Don’t laugh Anon, imagine yourself in her position. Having a neck so long you need to crawl and always look down for others. You even want to ask how she got hit; it wasn’t for her door, that’s for sure… her door is for giraffes after all >But you don’t want to sound rude and ask, so you’ll better go with your favorite warden “Well, hope you feel better. I’m in a hurry, we’ll talk later!” >She slowly nods without saying anything else. You leave her behind and start walking to the direction of the nursery >Alone in the corridor, Jenny looked at Anon’s door cell >”Hello Jenny!” A voice came from behind the giraffe >Standing behind her was Yarn Feather with a happy expression >”Cookies?” The Pegasus simply asked   Be Short Fuse >Be in the nursery’s bed taking a rest. Nurse Redheart was in the nursery too taking care of whatever inmate or guard got any bad injury >You are so sad about everything that has happened in the past 24 hours >Or how many hours? You didn’t even remember in what time the tragedy happened! But you even slept in the nursery… good thing Nurse Redheart is kind and a good listener… ponies like her are a miracle nowadays >You suck on the seventy lollipop the nurse has given you, this one tastes like lemon… acid… as the taste of defeat… >Those terrorists! They are to blame! They always do bad things around you! >You don’t know why they do this stuff… but, agh! You really want that Musul Mare behind the bars! That… pony…! >One day… she’ll be behind the bars! WITH NO PUDDING AND THREE HOURS LOCKED IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT EVERY DAY UNTIL SHE’S… out of prison from good behaving >You were doing grumpy noises in the comfiest of the bed of the nursery and moving around it… uh! This is their fault too! You don’t feel comfy anymore! >”Warden, are you alright?” Nurse Redheart notices your change of expressions… you were kind of in the bad mood; she was examining the boo-boos of a pony who got hurt by tripping over the sand of the desert… poor pony. “Do you need another lollipop?” >Since there were now two nurses, one had to go to the second nursery of the prison. Well, it wasn’t a nursery, it was Bright Light’s room… she always had her stuff in there for a second nursery emergency. Whoa, she was so prepared… who would think this could happen? You need to remember to give her some points >You shake your head and take a sigh after removing the lollipop from your lips with your magic “I’m not…”  You stand and sit on the bed. “I mean… I am kind of, but… I’m worried about…” >”The colt?” >You were going to say your reputation as the warden, but yeah… pretty much the colt is the major problem and is more important than your reputation… but still… how are you going to live after this. What if the reporters know and the news spread across Equestria? Short Fuse! The warden that let some terrorists kidnap a colt! >You’ll be the laughingstock of the whole world… your family will be disappointed and your brother… your brother will make a movie in your name and he’ll be the richest pony in Equestria! Ugh, you dislike him! Wonder how he’s doing in the business of the movies… mom always preferred him! He always had the cutest bows to wear! He was a good brother too… but father didn’t make him wear the girlish of clothes! >”Short Fuse, you should calm down a bit…” Nurse Redheart says with worry in her voice >Calm down? CALM DOWN!? This is not time to calm down! There’s a kidnaper in the loose! What if the terrorists kidnap anypony else? What if this was only the beginning? >You stand from the bed and start walking towards her as you talked “I told you nurse Redheart… the panic hasn’t stopped! I have… been so nervous about what the council of wardens will think about me! The worst warden they will call me! I even called the royal guard of Celestia and Luna for this kidnap! I… think they are in the move… hopefully they’ll be here in the weekend!” >The sooner the better… >”Warden, you need to calm down… unless you want pills to make you sleep… again…” The nurse gives you a grin with a raised eyebrow and you take a step back “NO, I’M FINE!” >No! Not the pills! Those were tasteless and bad! Not that bad… but you don’t want them again! >You didn’t even know when you slept in the nursery and you felt somepony at your side… maybe it was Anon… but he doesn’t know you are here… does he? Probably Yarn Feather or somepony else told him by now that you are here. Maybe you just felt somepony in your dreams… must be your imagination >”Then relax and try not to think the bad things, warden.” She placed her hoof over your shoulder and gave you a warm smile. “Act naturally as the warden Bright told me you were and in no time, that colt will be back to his sister… you can do this” >You were kind of blushing from the sudden touch of the nurse, but her hoof was soft… her words correct and her eyes so tempting to give her a- >YOU MEAN >No, bad thoughts go away! “T-Thanks, Redheart… I think I just need some… inspiration and probably calm down as you said… heh… sorry” >You smile, then your expression gets serious and you think of the probabilities of the scenario of the kidnap >Why did they kidnap a pony? Why a colt? Was the sugar bag a distraction to kidnap the colt? Probably. Was it on purpose or all an accident? Ponies don’t usually kidnap ponies; even criminals are sad and regret it when they do so… >You should call on the detective inmate Silver Pie, his thoughts sure are better for the situation >The door from the nursery opens; you turn around to see a human inmate walk in- “ANON!” >”Hey Shor- Huf!” >You tackle him down to the floor and hug him while resting your head on his chest “Anon! I-“ …You just noticed that you two are in the floor and the nurse is seeing you two… “I… tackled you by accident, again… heh…” >Was this the third time? How embarrassing… >Anon puts his hand on your head, giving you a lightly pet… his hand going through your silky mane and then over your cheek >”Is nice to see you again, Shorty” >You blush and smile at him… you missed him for some reason, as if… you haven’t seen him in a while, days… even weeks… “W-What brings you over here? Are you hurt? Do you need something? We have pills! We have band aids with tiny pictures of bears! Or I can kiss your boo-boo if you want! Do tell, do tell!” >”Whoa, whoa, whoa! Calm down Short! I came here looking for you for two reasons, first of all to see how were you doing… but looking at that good tackle and the way you speak, I’d say you are doing good” >Since Anon seems to be okay, you give him so space and stand up from the floor, even help him with your hoof and magic to stand up. He sees you with the same glad smile as always and his hand almost goes to your mane… but it stops >Owww, was it for the nurse? Was she jelly? You can share Anon… just for a second, not entirely >Oh right he asked you a question “Well… I’m doing fine here with Nurse Redheart, we hang out ever since… I slept here… ehrr…” You scratch your mane with your mane feeling slightly embarrassed. “B-but it was for the anxiety! Even she told me that I had sooo much anxiety for… yesterday’s incident” You look down as you remember yesterday >Ugh… you are getting too sorrow too soon, at least give him a smile… he’s your special inmate after all >You look up to him and smile slightly, just enough to see him not seeing you sad “But I’m not giving up on looking for tiny Nightly! I won’t rest until we find him! W-well… maybe a little… you know how ponies need eight hours of energy, heh….” You cough on your hoof and look serious at Anon. “But seriously, when I caught the one behind all this, he or she will pay in days or even weeks…” You take a sigh. “Unless they have a good lawyer” >With the help of your magic you pick up your tri-cornered hat and place it where it belongs, on top of your head “See? I’m wearing the serious hat! Seriously!” >Anon giggles a bit and Nurse Redheart watches in awe, she knew you were talking serious! The hat never fails! >”Do inmates get serious hats?” Anon asks you wondering now “But of course! …not, since they are inmates, they don’t get to wear the serious hat! They get to wear balloon hats! Which makes them look rather not serious” >You look at Nurse Redheart who was watching the whole conversation that you were having with Anon as she helped her patient “You see, nurses get nurses hats! But those are for work only! …But! They also have their /almost/ serious hat, which they use to give diagnostics to their patients!” >Nurse Redheart starts looking through her papers of her patient and see him with a sad puppy face >”I’m so sorry Mr. Sandy Crust, but you have a boo-boo right over your shoulder… you won’t be able to play games for like a whole day…” >The patient, “Sandy Crust” looks at her with a semi face of worry >”I don’t believe you! I can play! This is but a scra- Aaaauch!” The patient tried to stretch his hoof slightly, but maybe what Redheart was saying about his shoulder was right >”Oh I’m talking seriously.” She removes her nurse hat and places a fez on top of her head. “Very serious” >The patient in the bed starts to tear up and begins to cry, which in reply the nurse pads him slightly on the back and gives him a lollipop… ah, lollipops always do the job >You look back at Anon and with the same smile you continue talking to him “If you want a serious inmate hat, you gotta ask Fray. Just… procure he doesn’t get too much air in the balloon… otherwise the fire in his system would trigger and… you don’t want an air balloon, do you?” You giggle out of your attempt of a joke >”And how come I’ve never seen a single pony wear a serious hat in this whole time I’ve been in this prison? Huh?” >You readjust your serious hat before talking “Becaaaaaaaause. These are /serious/ hat! For /seriously/ discussions! Weird you haven’t seen Lattore wear his serious hat… he uses a pan as hat!” >Lattore is a creative griffon, you gotta give him that! Not even your hat is as seriously as his! He seriously gets his serious work all really serious! >Maybe you can give Anon a seriously hat and lie about it… he’s been a good inmate and he deserves the best of the best! Now, if only you remember where you left that chicken… >Like your mom once said, nothing like wearing a living being as serious hat… she got a squirrel and dad always lost because he only got a bird >You wanted one too… but noooooo, mom gives the eagle to your brother! Pfft… whatever, you prefer your warden serious hat than an eagle >”I think I prefer the balloon hat… It’ll look silly, but it should do the work” >Maybe Anon doesn’t need a serious hat… his words all by itself are already… serious! Whoa, how does he do it? You need to learn that… maybe in the future it could help you “Well, now that the hats are something you now know… what was the other thing you wanted to talk about, Anon?” >You give some licks to the lollipop you were having… so tasty, so tasty! >But for some reasons Anon didn’t react good at you sucking on a lollipop… wonder why? >”Oh, uhmm…. Well. Shorty, you trust me… right?” >Why he asks that? “Of course I do Anon! Have I ever not trusted you in something? Well… Pancho at the start was… kind of… I wasn’t believing that much about a box that could… talk, but hey! He talks now and is less shy! All must be thanks to the prison!” You take out your lollipop of your mouth so you can get to speak a liiiiiittle better. “You see, the wonders of somepony special talent are so great! Mine being helping others, I truly believe I  helped Pancho in that! And I’m glad so!” >You take back your lollipop into your mouth and start licking it again… glory taste… “But yeah! I trust you, Anon! A lot!” >He keeps looking at your lollipop… does he wants one? >Maybe he does… but I believe the one Redheart gave to Anon was the last one… ugh… what to do… >…Well, maybe you need to be kind! Share the taste and, well… give the lollipop to him >You take out again the lollipop and… oh how embarrassing… it has some saliva on it… how gross of you! How he’ll accept such a tasty, tiny, round and excellent lollipop like this! >… >Doesn’t hurt to try… >You look behind you, Redheart was still giving cheering her patient… good, maybe she won’t notice >While looking at the nurse, you give with the help of your magic your lollipop to Anon… you were blushing a bit… how’ll he knows you want to give him it? Oh Celestia, you feel so embarrassed… what if he doesn’t accept it? What if the nurse notices? ohCelestiaohCelestiaOh- >You hear the same sound you do when you put a lollipop in your mouth… you look to Anon and… he accepted it! Horraay! Friendship is amazing, isn’t it? “S-So… what were you talking about? What was the thing you wanted to tell me?” You say with a grin and some blush… Anon tasted the same lollipop you tasted… something inside you turns on as if… as if it was the lights of a beacon… >”Oh… about that.” You hear him pause and give a lick to the lollipop, y-you could even hear him trying to bite it… u-unf. “Is about the whereabouts of Nightly Veil…” >Oh you suddenly want him to suck you something else~ O-Or maybe you could suck him, his fingers could taste like a lollipop… You even bite your lip for- >… >WHAT >HE >KNOWS? >You almost jump and tackle him again, your eyes go so wide and your hooves were grabbing Anon with an intense… well, not so intense, more like a tiny grip. But the point is…! “You know information about where Nightly is? Please tell me! Any information, even if tiny is okay! I want it, I want it, I need it!” You take off your serious hat and give it to Anon. “I’ll even give you my serious hat for this! Just tell me Anon! TELL ME!” >The nurse and patient were looking at you two with wonder, the nurse obviously for Nightly Veil, the patient just for… you yelling all of the sudden >You were breathing so heavy… any news right now… preferably good were… excellent for you! And Nightly’s sister sure could use the information! >”I won’t think the hat is necessary… if you believe me, you know is true… I had… a vision in my dreams about a place… a basement… it had some terrorists, a pony wearing a doctor coat and of course, the colt.” Anon was giving you a deadpan look. “I don’t want you to enter in panic, but I don’t think they were doing good things to the colt… whatever they are doing… needs to stop, /we/ need to stop… I have the feeling they didn’t leave Saddle Arabia… we need to search for them… locate them… and hopefully… find and bring back Nightly Veil to his sister” >Anon has the voice of a great leader… he truly would be a good guard… >You change your expression to a serious one again, hat or not… he is right! You don’t need a hat for it! Words say more than a hat! “I’m going to communicate with the ponies of the town center and do a meeting… hopefully they’ll lend us some help.” Your expression changes to a calmly one and smile glad at Anon… you are glad he is here with you… “Thank you, Anon” >He smiles back >”Maybe you need to thank Pancho too… after all, he-“ >The door of the nursery opens and a pony enters in panic… it was Yarn Feather >”NURSE! WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY! WE NEED BOTH NURSES! THREE IF WE CAN! A WHOLE HOSPITAL PLEASE!” >She enters the nursery room in so fright… that she looks like she just saw a ghost… >Even if… this isn’t a good temperament for her… “Yarn! Please calm down and tell us… what happened? Did one of your cats bite their tongue again?” >”NO! NO, NO, NO! IS WORST! IS EVEN WORST! IS THE WORSEST WORST, WORST THING I’LL EVER SEEN!” Yarn Feather was starting to tear up, then she flew up and gave a hug to Anon along a few sobs. “ANON… ANON I’M… SO SORRY” >Anon remains calm and asks Yarn Feather what was happening in a tenderly, slow tone… >”WHAT IS HAPPENING? DID TIMMY FELL ON THE WELL AGAIN? WHAT HAPPENED, YARN!?” >Oooooookay, more like… a yelling and commanding voice… >Yarn Feather tried to calm down but evaded eye contact with Anon >”I-Is… P-Pancho… he… he…!” >Yarn Feather starts stammeringly and leaves Anon grip, just to fall straight to the floor… is weird how this time she didn’t fall in four as she always does… >”No… but I did close my- My door!” Anon ignores the now lying Pegasus on the floor and runs away from the nursery, not even closing the door of the nursery in his hurry >You don’t know what the hay is going on but your warden instinct is telling you to follow Anon… “Redheart…” >She nods >”I’ll follow you. I don’t like anything this now… by what Anonymous said… he is running towards his cell or some room… so, lead the way, warden” >You nod her back and start leaving the nursery… the poor Yarn Feather now stammering the world “He”. Poor girl, you need to remember to give her something to cheer her up… and probably call Bright Light to attend her >You two leave the nursery and do your best to run at Anon’s pace, a bit impossible but you two will get him… eventually > >As the nursery stays in quiet silence, the only sounds that were coming from there was the voice from Yarn Feather. >… >”He… he…” >.. >”He… he… he…” >. >”He… he… heh… “ >.. >”Heh… hehe…” >… >”Hah… haha, hahaha…! HAHAHA! HAAAHAHAHA! Aayyyyyyayaya! What a day! What a beautiful day! The Boss is a genius!” >”Uh…. Can you at least tell me the joke so we can laugh together? Doctors say that laugh is the best medicine.” The patient talked to the laughing mare. >The Pegasus almost smirking tilted her head and looked at the patient on the bed >”Did you know that… boxes can’t talk?” She got up and went towards the door that was semi-open. “Not unless they have help of course…” She closed the door slowly, as it squeaked slowly, the laugh of the mare being heard in the corridor >”…That door needs some maintenance.” He covered the bed sheets over his body and went to sleep, ignoring the laughs coming from the mare     Be Anonymous >No… >No, no, no! >No! How! >How could you forget about closing your door? You didn’t thought that anyone, or rather, anypony could open the door and go inside your cell >Unless they wanted to talk to Pancho or look if you were there… or both, but time is short and you must arrive to your room >You run, run with various thoughts racing your head… the most important being about the box, did something happen to Pancho? >You were some doors away from your cell and you rushed it so hard like a Russian would do in Counter Strike >Until finally… you get there. The door was open and you hoped for the best, for at least the security of those two ghosts that no one can see. Well, maybe you don’t need to worry about them if that’s their forte >You put your hand on the door and slowly try to take a look at your cell room >…Only to see the worst you’ve predicted >In the floor of the room, lying and wide open with various scratches was your friend, your not living friend Pancho. Destroyed, damaged, broken… like a Christmas gift given to a kid who wanted an xbox only to get clothes… the rage of thousand of suns lying here >You have no words. You kneel down and try to look at Pancho to the eyes, his broken eyes that are scattered on the floor of your room “You had a good run buddy…” You say while closing your eyes, sorrow in your tone. “I can’t believe I’m feeling bad about a box… but you were like a brother, non living brother to me” >You grab from the floor what you think is his crayoned drawn mouth and fake his voice, just for the old times >”D-Don’t you… worry, compadre… I’ll… go to a… better place…” You take a moment to think for something that Pancho could say for you in his last moments. “…I always wanted… to become a professional boxer *cough* guess now… now I can’t do anything… but wait for the worst…” >You grab what you think is his crayoned drawn right or left eye “Don’t worry Pancho… I’m here, just… I’m here. Don’t worry, everything will be fine… we can… we can fix you, right? You are more than a box, you are my amigo! My compadre! My mayate!” >Okay maybe that last one word wasn’t the correct word, but you don’t care either remember what its meaning >You cough in the name of your dying friend once more, as dramatic as he would want it to be >”I’m sorry my man… I’m done for; I’ll go to the… box sky, be wrapped and sent to a good place to rest…” You cough again. “This time with you… it felt like… more than a normal week, as if… as if it was a long year…” “Yeah…” >”I’ll… miss you and those adorable ponies” “They’ll… too…” >”That crazy pegasus and the giraffe sure will miss me…” “Yeah…” >”Tell the warden… that…” >You go closer to his mouth to hear him closely, even when you are talking for him >”That he has a butt…” “…” >Your mind is fucking feeling awful, even if this wasn’t a living item… for some reason you feel bad about this happening to him… “Goodbye… Pancho” >”See you… space… monkey….” >… >Silence >… >Your buddy, friend, pal and amigo Pancho, died. >… >You put your hand over the parts you’re holding, eyes or not… you think it was his face. You make a slow movement as trying to shut his eyes down >You take a sigh and sit on the floor as you look at the mess that minutes ago was your box friend “This can’t get worse…” >Your ears hear noises behind you… crying… noises… >Maybe you didn’t had to say that >You turn your head slightly to see the entrance of your cell room, in there were two crying ponies looking at you in sorrow, pain and all the sadness in the world >The warden Short Fuse and the nurse, Nurse Redheart were almost standing with the help of one another… weird sight as both can fall or faint at any time. What they see probably is a death body or a very bad injured body, but what you see… is a crime because you noticed something by now… >Whoever enter in here, he wanted whatever was inside of Pancho… and you are going to search the hell out of this prison until you find the respo- >”ANOOOOHOHOOOOON I’M SO SORRY!” >Yikes! Too slow to think. Short Fuse quickly tackled you with yet another hug, his tears covering the back of your prison shirt in wet tears and god; even her mane didn’t felt his usual silk >Nurse Redheart was trying to get the pulse from Pancho, which…… isn’t going to end well at all >Man this sucks… having not one, but TWO crying ponies and a crime in the room isn’t anything good >”WAAAAH ANOOOON” And there he goes again… “I’M SO SORRY! PANCHO WAS JUST AN ORDINARY CREATURE! HE SHOULDN’T BE LIKE THAT! WHY IT WASN’T ME! WAAAH” Jeeez, he really feels bad… even when Pancho was just a box >You /need/ to lie about Pancho’s death or accident. But how? He’s just… wide open to show to anyone that enters this room >You sigh… this was going to be hard to explain >…It would be funny to see this scenario where a nurse is trying to revive a box with first aids, but when she is crying… is not that funny >You inhale some breath and exhale… “Pancho is okay” >Well, you simply say that as if nothing happens. The ponies stopped crying, that’s a good thing, but they were now wondering why he was okay >”B-But… how he’s okay…?” The cuddly warden in your arms says >”T-This is a medical emergency! This isn’t time for jokes, Anonymous…” >God damn both had now hiccups for how much they were crying. If someone was going to die, it was you by how much adorable they are sad… not that adorable, still adorable… maybe… UGH, GET UP YOUR MIND, ANON! “I know this could sound… strange… but Pancho is… changing skin…” Now you’re just treating him like any kind of animal, aren’t you? The two ponies tilt their head at the same time… which makes your heart to miss a beat of how cute that sync was. “You see… one time a year, Pancho changes skin… he goes crazy sometimes and decides to do a scene as you two see… even poor Yarn Feather thought he was hurt, heh” >Good thing they didn’t hear you when you were saying goodbye >”But… but we hear how you were sad as he told you farewell… we didn’t wanted to bother and we were almost going to… but… but…” >DAMNIT, DOES ANYTHING THAT YOU THINK OR SAY HAPPEN? >If there is a good, please make Shakira come to Equestria so she can sing me some songs as I grab her rumberas… whatever the word was >Well, that aside… ehh… what to lie, what to lie… >Just… throw anything to the fire, Anon “Pancho is always been the dramatic guy, when we were in school, the little guy would do that just to call the attention, the kids thought it was funny, but… not me. He… he always does that so, please… just ignore that, okay? Fuse? Nurse Redheart? He’ll …be fine” >Short Fuse rests his head on your knee as he looks at what’s left of Pancho, he still had a sad expression and his ears weren’t giving too much of a positive signal, as they were down >”Then why doesn’t he talk to us…?” >”And why I can’t feel his pulse…?” >Tsk, these ponies… “When he’s changing skin, he… doesn’t speak, for a… while. It could take minutes, days, weeks… but he always come back when nobody expects him.” Just like the Spanish inquisition. “Just don’t worry about him, I’ll take care of him. Is that okay, warden? Nurse?” >Both look at you with still some tears left from their eyes, they slowly nod and Shorty gets off of your knee >”W…Well… we’ll be seeing that thing about your vision you had. I’m going to contact some ponies of Saddle Arabia and try getting a team to search. Probably it won’t take too long and we’ll start today the search…” >Today? Is morning and is almost high noon, weird that he said that, it would meant that they are going to search around the end of the day, which is… not a pony thing to do as they sleep earlier than humans “Anything I can do to help, just call me.” You give him a smile, which in replies he nods with an even more big smile than yours and steps to the door of your room alongside Nurse Redheart >”If you need bandages, first aid or care of boo-boos, remember that the nursery is always open!” >Okay that’s now weird. Did suddenly everyone got a nighty round? “Even the night?” You ask her out of curiosity >”Specially the night” “Why’s that? Don’t you ponies sleep early?” >Nurse Redheart looks down for a second and then at you before closing the door >”I got a bat guard to take care off… see ya, Anonymous” >And she closes the door waving goobye with Short Fuse >…Right, Lima is the only night guard and right now she must feel really bad… poor girl >Well, you are finally alone. Time to call the duo of ghosts and ask them what happened here “Hey, Blue Candle! Red Candle! You guys here?” >… >Silence, not a voice replied to your call “Guys? Are you playing hide and seek? Come out! I need to ask you what happened here!” >… >Nothing >Weird… maybe they weren’t here the moment the thief entered the room, agh, what a bad timing for them >Well time to inspect if there is anything left… knowing ponies from here; they leave clues just for giggles or trying to give you an opportunity >You search in the waste that was your squared Mexican friend and find a letter. Well gee, if you did know they’ll be leaving you something >Or maybe it was from the box and they forgot it… whatever, time to read it >You just open the letter, in the first page it was… a note. No, no, like… a musical note. And now that you notice, the letter had a… big letter B in the addressee >…Smug ponies >In the other side of the page that was the musical note, there was a /real/ note. It said… “This was just a warning; get your claws out of our business. You don’t want your little two friends to be in problems too, don’t you? We know…” >As signature there was just a single hoof, a weird hoof signature… why do horses even use their hoof as signatures? >But what concerns you the most was the “Two friends”… who is this pony and who was he talking about? You have like… too many friends to even know which one he or she was talking about… >No, wait. Remembering back with that black pony Sombra, he said something about a “She”… so it’s a she whoever is involved with all this >Someone in this prison is involved with whatever was inside Pancho, the box. Giving that you went to talk to that guy because of yes… tells you that he’ll be able to talk to “her”… and that guy is no good news, neither now that you can’t interrogate him >And you’ll never know what was inside of that box >You’ll have to call that detective, Silver Pie here to help you with this scenario. He knows Pancho was just a box and he probably could help you search for clues… >…Okay, you /could/ do it by yourself, but you don’t have a magnifying glass and you want to talk to someone about this, until Blue and Red appear again… >Until then… you’ll leave your room and this time with key and go search for Silver Pie >Let’s hope for the best… this day started bad >What secrets hides this prison? > >Some cell rooms away, a cheerful Pegasus was singing while walking in the corridor. >”What a day~ watching from far away~  Spying from above just for this opportunity that I love~” Yarn Feather stops at her own door which was closed, voices could been hear from inside, being from Rock and Gniw. “Hmm hmm~ Now that these two helped The Boss get her crystal back, maybe is time to tell these two the plans” >With her tail moving to right to left, she opened the door to her cell.