Forsaken

by Iron_Hooved

Chance at a meeting

The sun slowly poked its face out of Canterlot's mountain range, sending the first morning rays shimmering through the white clouds onto the extensive landscape. Below them, the Canterlot Express sped on its rails, twisting and turning like a snake on the grassy plains. Down one of its compartments, a pink filly had stuck out her head outside the window. The wind rushing past her puffy mane, her eyes sparkling with excitement, her tongue flapping about as she tasted the air, Pinkie Pie followed the progress of the never ending river that stretched southward, alongside the train tracks. Despite Pinkie's elation and newfound joy for travel, however, her companions weren't so keen on partaking on her enthusiasm.

"Oh-ooh! My hair! Pinkie Pie shut that window!" Pleaded Rarity, trying to keep the wind from frizzing up her long, twirly mane.

"Oops! Sorry there girls, didn't mean to upset you," answered Pinkie Pie, closing the window, in her usual shrill voice.

"What'cha fuzzing for there, Rarity? Ah doubt, y'all gonna arrive to Manehattan looking all nice and proper," said Applejack, lifting her cowgirl hat to reveal a pair of baggy green eyes.

The white filly pulled a scarlet brush out of her purple bag, and started carefully brushing her mane. "Though I may have been reduced to sleeping on a dirty bench, I will at least maintain my dignity and arrive to Manehattan looking like the lady I am," retorted Rarity, contemplating herself on her portable mirror.

"Heh, good luck with that," scoffed Rainbow Dash. "We still have hours of travel left before we get there, like at least half a day," she added, rolling her eyes with impatience at Rarity's mannerisms.

"Uhm, speaking of which what are we gonna do once we get there?" Asked Fluttershy in a low, soft voice, eyeing her friends with concern.

"Well duh! We're gonna look for Twilight of course!" Said Rainbow Dash, throwing up her forearms in exasperation.

"Uhm, that's not what I meant...I-uh...I mean...I've..." stammered Fluttershy, looking down on the floor.

"What's that there sugar cube?" Asked Applejack with mild interest.

"Well...I-uh...that is to say...I've never...uhm...been to a city as big as Manehattan," said Fluttershy worriedly without taking her eyes off the floor.

Rainbow Dash let out a loud tutting noise. "Sure you have! We've been to Canterlot before, remember?"

"Yes, but Canterlot is different: it's picturesque, and up near the mountains, and surrounded by beautiful trees and gardens, and—"

"Your point?"

"Well, I just don't think I like the idea of...scary gigantic buildings...and concrete roads instead of grass...and thousands and thousands of ponies all bumping into each other in crowded streets," said Fluttershy, shuddering at the idea of being surrounded by thousands of strangers, in a city far removed from the nature she was used to.

"Aww, don't you worry your pretty little mane. We're here with you, remember?!" Squeaked Pinkie Pie, pulling Fluttershy into a hug as she patted her light pink mane. Fluttershy smiled back pretending not to notice Rainbow Dash's fake vomit attempt.

"Aw shucks, Ah can't wait to see Twilight again so we can apologize to her for the awful way we treated her," said Applejack, shaking her head in disapproval.

Rarity nodded in agreement. "It was unfair and hurtful that we abandoned her like that when she most needed us."

"Yeah, that was pretty lousy of us," admitted Rainbow Dash, rubbing her left forearm.

"Oh, I hope she isn't too mad at us," lamented Fluttershy, looking down at the ground yet again.

"What are you all sad and blue about? Of course she'll forgive us! She's our friend remember? And after we apologize we're going to throw her the most stupendous party a pony could ask for!" Chimed in Pinkie Pie, sending confetti flying out of nowhere as she stood arm-spread on her back legs.

Applejack chuckled. "Ah reckon y'all are right Pinkie, but there's something we gotta take care of first," she clarified, leaning back on her right forearm and pointing casually at her.

"You mean finding the real culprit and giving him the ole one and two right?" Said Rainbow Dash, punching the air with her hooves in a mock fight.

"E~~xactly! But I was talking about finding her first. Where'd you say she was staying Rarity?"

"Only the most marvelous and luxurious hotel in all of Manehattan! The Waldhoof Astoria!" Answered Rarity dewy-eyed.

The other fillies merely stared at her.

"Gesundheit," said Rainbow Dash.

"Ah!" Gasped Rarity, her jaw dropping in indignation. "The Waldhoof Astoria is a national landmark of all things classy and posh! I simply can't believe you've never even heard of it! Why, it was designed by the most talented architects and artists of our time, and only the most important ponies go there, and ooh! Don't get me started on the decor..." blurted out Rarity, her voice quivering with excitement.

"Oh my..." spoke Fluttershy in a hushed tone.

"Well, it was mighty respectable of that there friend of yours to help us locate her Rarity, Ah reckon we owe him big time."

Rarity waved her hoof dismissively. "Oh not at all! Fancy Pants is such a darling, he wouldn't call us in on a favor. I have to remember to properly thank him next time I see him. This is twice he's helped us now."

"Soooo, how did he know Twilight was in Manehattan?" Asked Rainbow Dash, her left eyebrow arching upward.

"Well, Twilight and Spike apparently checked into the hotel posing as Fancy Pants' close friends, under fake names," said Rarity, barely suppressing a giggle. "Oh, Madame Crème de la Crème, I ask you," she added wiping away a tear of laughter.

"Krem-dela-what-now?" Persisted Rainbow Dash, tilting her head slightly.

"Oh, never mind my dear. The important thing is we know where she is," Rarity reassured her.

"Must be fancy for 'egghead'," pointed out Applejack.

Everypony stared at her for a second, and burst out laughing, Rainbow Dash on all fours thumping the ground with her hoof, Pinkie Pie rolling over the floor, holding her stomach. Though they had abandoned her friend before, each of them was prepared to go to any lengths to make it up to her, even if it meant becoming fugitives like her. Such was the bond they all shared together, and the marvel of friendship.

******

In the meantime, Twilight and Spike wandered the streets of Manehattan, under the blazing sun, hoping to find clues that would put them back on track, in their hunt for the mysterious gunpowder supplier. They had been walking around the city for hours now, and still hadn't found no trace or trail to lead them. At first Twilight had tried hitting every store and factory that sold or produced fireworks, only to find there weren't any. Next they had tried the local library to check for newspaper records of police busts aimed at organized crime, involving gunpowder manufacturing, however there hadn't been any in the city. They went to the labs and the chemists next, to find out the process of making gunpowder, but they were assured that one could not find ingredients for such a thing in the city. They perused maps for nearby coal mines, but the closest one's were about a thousand miles away in the Mild West. Finally, they had tried searching the train station for suspicious activity, only to come out empty hooved and seriously disappointed. Their patience running thin, their hopes waning, they sat at an outdoors cafe to eat brunch, wishing to renew their strength.

"Ohhh, my feet..." moaned Spike, letting himself fall face-first onto the table they were sitting on.

"I can't believe we haven't found anything in all the time we've been here!" Pouted Twilight, resting her forehead on her hooves.

"Need.Food.Now," punctuated Spike, his voice muffled by the table.

"I mean, after 6 days of nonstop searching one would at least think we would've found something," insisted Twilight, waving her hoof impatiently.

"Gems.Rubies.Sapphires. Anything," called Spike without so much as moving an inch.

"But nooooo, it just can't be that simple, can it? We have to check under every rock to find the slightest hint that something may be wrong here and, silly me, turns out there isn't!" Twilight continued with her monologue, banging hard on the table.

A waiter approached them and handed them menus, which couldn't have been more welcome by Spike, as he no longer had energy to lift a single muscle. After brief consideration Twilight settled for a Caesar's Salad and a macchiato, and Spike opted for a Super Deluxe All-Your-Gems Sandwich and a Slurpee. They were barely halfway through their succulent meals when suddenly Twilight noticed a pony stepping from the train across the street.

It was a navy colored unicorn, wearing a diamond-patterned blue and red tie over a ruffled white shirt; he had taken off the coat of his black suit, hanging it from his left hoof, over his back. His long wavy white mane, with pronounced streaks of gray here and there, dangling beneath a fedora, and a set of brass scales imprinted on his flank. He was closely followed by an aqua colored filly, with a straight short fuchsia mane, combed over her right eye. She wore red spectacles underneath a sun hat with pink lacing, and a chartreuse tie; she had a piece of parchment with a red quill for a cutie mark.

Twilight spat out a jet of hot coffee into Spike's face, who tried, only too late, to shield himself with his hands. Sticky and covered in brown liquid, Spike shot an annoyed look at Twilight.

"What's the matter with you?!"

Twilight grabbed the dragon by the head, and forced him underneath the table, as she pulled open the menu and pretended to browse through its content. Perhaps she would have been more convincing had she not been reading the thing upside down, but her work was done: the couple walked past them levitating a number of suitcases and bags behind them.

Spike re-emerged from underneath the table looking mutinous. "Twilight, what in Equestria—"

"Hush Spike! Or he will see us!" Whispered Twilight from behind her menu.

"See us? Who?"

"That navy unicorn walking down the street, with the scales for a cutie mark!"

Spike turn around and gave the pony a curious look. "Who is he? Is he important?"

Twilight looked at the dragon in disbelief. "Haven't you ever read any of the books we have in the library?" Asked Twilight in an accusing tone.

"Well, all but the boring ones."

"Spike, that stallion's name is Silver Tongue: Canterlot's District Attorney! He is a top-notch prosecutor who has complete command over the police and some influence in the Imperial Guard. He's written several books on penal law!"

"Yeah, that would be why I don't know him," joked Spike.

Twilight stamped both her hooves on the table and stretched herself over the table so that she was face to face with Spike. "Spike this is serious business! He's the one leading the case against us! If he's here that must mean he's sniffed us out! Soon the police and the Imperial Guard will be patrolling down the streets! This is bad, this is very bad!" Said Twilight, her voice filled with panic, pressing her nose against Spike's.

"Calm down Twilight! Even if he is who you say he is, there's no way he would recognize us or know where we are staying," Spike reassured her. "We just gotta go back to the hotel, get our things, and scram before he catches a wind of us,"

Twilight cringed at the thought of giving up her search for the gunpowder shipments. "But what about—"

"Twilight," interrupted Spike. "I think it's time we bailed this joint. If there ever was an operation here, there's nothing left now. Besides, we're bound to find clues in Canterlot," he added reasonably.

Twilight couldn't help but agree with him. If the feds had sniffed them out, the best thing was to pack things up and leave before things took a turn for the worse.

"Let's hurry back to the hotel Spike,"

******

It took them barely twenty minutes of trotting to reach the hotel, the nerves and hysteria driving back their weariness. They packed their things at top speed, stuffing everything they found in sight into their bags. Five minutes later they were at the reception counter checking out.

"Oh, uhm, about payment..." started Twilight hoping to smooth-talk the manager into charging their very extensive bill to Canterlot Castle.

"Oh, yes! No worries madame: monsieur Fancy Pants has already delivered payment on your behalf," interrupted the stallion, waving his hoof dismissively.

Twilight and Spike exchanged quick looks of shock. "W-what do you mean?" stuttered Twilight.

"Well, after you two checked in, I sent a message to monsieur Fancy Pants telling him you two had dropped in. He was quite delighted that you took his recommendation and asked me to send him your bill as a courtesy," explained the stallion, thoroughly convinced of their ruse.

Twilight's heart beat with excitement and happiness: she could only think of one pony who could have used her connection with Fancy Pants to help her out. However, she'd have time to reminisce later, it was time to get the hay out of there.

"Oh how marvelous! Well, since all that's taken care off, I think we best be off," she said, backing away as she spoke.

"Oh, do take care, and visit us again. Messieurs," replied the stallion, giving them the lowest bow yet.

They were about to head out the door when they found their way barred by a burly white stallion, with a brown mane and matching mustache, wearing a white captain's cap and a navy overcoat.

"I say, I couldn't help but overhear you're acquaintances of Fancy Pants..." said the stallion, sucking on a wooden pipe.

"Oh, yes, yes. We know him. We've known him for some time," replied Twilight, desperately trying to sneak past him and get to the exit.

"Oh, you mean Madame Crème de la Crème? She's also an acquaintance of the Princess, and her husband, Monsieur Blasé, is a royal messenger!" piped up the hotel manager, gesturing towards Spike, with barely contained enthusiasm.

"You don't say! Why, how spiffing to meet such a pair of wonderful... err... ponies..." said the stallion, eyeing Spike with interest.

"Haha! Well, its been nice meeting you too! But we must be on our way... haha... bye!"

"Oh but you simply must stay and have a chat!" insisted the white stallion, twisting his arms around their shoulders and pulling them towards himself. "Oh, but how rude! I don't believe I've introduced myself: the name's High Tide, captain High Tide of the S.S.Concordia. It's my own cruise: I both own it and navigate it."

"Really now?" Said Twilight with faked interest, trying to pull out of the captain's enormous arms.

"Where are you two going in such a hurry?" Inquired the captain with a frown.

"Well, we were heading back to Canterlot—" began Spike.

"Oh, how convenient! I'm heading there myself! Mind you, it's a cruise so it sacrifices speed over the scenic route, but if you're interested...."

Twilight's mind raced over a plethora of excuses, each one as bad as the next. "Uh, well you see—"

At that moment D.A. Silver Tongue and Nemo Ius stepped into the Waldhoof Astoria, sending Twilight's mind into full panic mode. Spike had also seen the stallion and started to fidget with his mustache, nervously.

"Yes! Of course we are!" Shouted Twilight, quickly turning her head to hide her face.

"Magnificent! Then it's settled!" Exclaimed High Tide, pulling the both of them into a tighter embrace.

"Uh, yes can I help you?" Called the manager's voice in direction of Silver Tongue and Nemo.

The D.A. walked over to the reception counter and set his fedora down on it. "Yes, we wish to be accommodated in one of your dormitories."

The stallion behind the counter eyed him from head to hooves with a look of contempt and pure dislike.

"I'm sorry, but the Waldhoof Astoria only caters to the needs of only the most refined ponies. Also, we don't have....dormitories...we have suites," specified the stallion, putting emphasis on 'dormitories' as if it were a foul word.

High Tide turned around to look at the commotion and immediately brought an enormous hoof to his forehead, with such force that he could've knocked down an iron door.

"Oh dear Celestia! If it isn't everypony's favorite D.A.! Silver Tongue old friend, how are you doing?!" Called the captain over his new companions, making his way over to the reception counter to shake the D.A.'s hoof with two of his own.

"I-I-I'm-m-m f-i-i-i-n-n-e," stuttered the unicorn as he was shaken up and down on the spot by the enormous captain.

"Oh, and who might this beautiful young filly be?" barked High Tide, setting down Silver Tongue and taking two ample bounds towards Nemo.

The filly blushed and shied away, intimidated at the sight of the captain.

"That's my assistant High Tide: Nemo Ius," explained the D.A. adjusting his tie.

"My pleasure," Spoke the stallion out loud, lifting Nemo's hoof and kissing it.

"Ch-charmed," replied Nemo flushing a deep shade of scarlet.

High Tide turned around once more to face the D.A. "What brings you to this part of town old friend? Sightseeing maybe?" Suggested the captain in his booming voice.

"Not quite Tide. I'm here on important business," answered the unicorn with a touch of impatience in his voice.

"Ah! Listen to him! Always serious!" Said the stallion, making his way over to the counter and throwing a huge arm around the manager's neck. "You know, this guy might not look like it, but he's a damn good prosecutor! Sure, he might look messy from time to time, but that's because he's a workaholic. I'm telling you, you'll never find a better pony fit for that D.A. gig if you looked around for a hundred years!"

"Thanks for the compliment Tide, but I'd really like to get checked in...Nemo and I haven't slept in a while," Silver Tongue informed him, hoping the captain would at least drop the tone a few decibels, as his head was pounding with every syllable the stallion spoke.

"Certainly monsieur Silver Tongue!" Rejoiced the manager, the D.A.'s social standing having refreshed him with a renewed sense of brown-nosing.

"Oh but you must simply come with us Silver! My cruise is anchored at the docks; you and your enchanting assistant can come and sleep all you like, and then we can catch up!" Suggested the stallion, wrapping his arm around the unicorn's shoulders, and dragging him towards the door.

"Thanks but I think I'll pass Tide: I'm awfully busy," replied the D.A. trying to come up with a suitable excuse.

"Nonsense! What you need are a few weeks of relaxation and pleasurable company! Why, I've just met the most wonderful couple out here. The way I hear it they're both acquaintances of Fancy Pants and the Princess!"

The unicorn was starting to get severely irritated. "Now, really Tide, I'm being se—"

Silver Tongue paused for a second as his gaze stopped on Twilight and Spike, who were both sweating buckets underneath their disguises.

"This is Monsieur Blasé, a royal messenger to the Princess, and his wife, Madame Crème de la Crème. They have already accepted my offer to come with me on my cruise," said the captain gesturing towards the odd couple.

The D.A. narrowed his eyes in suspicion, not really taking in anything High Tide was saying. Twilight and Spike gave him very nervous and forced smiles.

"So? You going to join us?" Asked the captain.

The unicorn smiled back maliciously at the pair, and then added: "Sure, why not? I believe the case I'm working on might be coming to an end after all..."

Comments

[Iron_Hooved]

Oh God, I need moar coffee......been writting for 7 hours

[Barbecue Sauce]

[insightguy]

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Wait....... this might not end so bad after all! (the previous chapter, silly me...... he's gonna help! )

[Obsidian]

Yea, but he'll probably make them sweat some more first.

[Jm4573r]

I think Silver Tongue is going to have to much fun with this.

[Linkfan197]

i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/000/578/1234931504682.jpg

[Xaldon Ajide]

i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/001/384/Atrapitis.gif Runn from the foalmolesting D.A. Runnn and hide your children. poor spike

you sir are genious ,and yess your rest is well deserved good night.

[shadowflame2000]

270001 that can damage your eyes u should have taken brakes trust me im a hardcore gamer who now needs to where glasses for stareing at a tv screen for too manny hours at a time

[kladdos]

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!
RUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUN

[Csquared08]

And the plot thickens!

[Resurgent Wanderer]

I can't help but read High Tid e with Irish's accent from Red Dead Redemption

[Ledingdongdiddle]

270001
I write 8.
And coffee is a damn-good remedy