The Tale of Isla Nova

A Red Letter Day

Silence waited outside his cabin, it was only twenty minutes until the set time of the meeting. As Silence paced near the gate to the city a merchants cart passed by, slowing down as it passed him, but not stopping. Seeing this as an opportunity Silence jumped into the cart. As the cart neared the heavily guarded main entrance a Keeper stood out in its path.

“Halt! We must inspect this cart before you can enter the city.” The armored guard ordered. Silence’s heart skipped a beat as he searched for a way to sneak out.

“You fool, hell hath no fury like a mares scorn; Rarity will use your ass as a mop if this cart is late!” Another Keeper yelled.

Rarity, well it seems all these neutral nuts are helping lately. Silence thought calming down. The cart pulled behind Rarity’s shop and Silence jumped out and made a mad dash towards the library, avoiding any Keepers along the way. Silence walked down the street to the library, but was stopped when he noticed a Keeper at the door; Silence pulled his hood over his head and readied a dagger from his saddlebag.

“You there, halt!” The keeper said as Silence approached the door. In response Silence thrust his dagger through the Keepers neck, opened the door and threw him inside the library, sliding into the chair of Dusk Shine.

“May I come in?” Silence asked from the doorway. Dusk turned around to see the Pegasus at his door.

“You know, you never very subtle for a Pegasus.” Dusk replied.

“I know, now can I come in?” Silence asked again.

“I thought that was rhetorical, alright come in.” Dusk said gesturing towards a chair. A large table was set out, at the end Dusk and Twilight sat across from each other; Silence took a seat at the end of the table between the Alicorns and looked around at his old home: Dark hardwood walls covered top to bottom with bookcases many of which Silence had read top to bottom. A single light hung over the table dimly lighting the interior.

“Silence, meet your new allies.”  Twilight said getting up and walking around the table, she stopped at two chestnut colored Earth ponies “Meet the Doctor and the Professor.”

“Are they here to take my temperature?” Silence said sarcastically. The Doctor stood up.

“We are time travelers from the planet Gallifrey, and we have chosen to ally ourselves with your cause.” He stated.

“I’ve seen demonic overlords, gods and their children, and now time traveling aliens from the planet giraffe, what next, the Apocalypse? “ Silence questioned. As Silence finished his sentence Solar and Lunar walked through the door and stopped to stare at the body, frowning greatly.

“Why the long faces?” Silence commented. Bubble Berry and Pinkie Pie began to laugh hysterically. Solar and Lunar walked over to a pair of empty seats on the side of the table far from Silence and sat. Twilight continued over to another part of the table, where a small purple Pegasus with a red mane sat.

“Meet Ember Blaze, I found him being attacked by Al Capony’s gang. They nearly killed him over money he didn’t have.” She informed.

“Ember Blaze… you mean like the richest family in the city?” Silence asked.

“Not anymore. Some of the servants torched the mansion for insurance money. 20,000 Jangles. That’s the price the government placed on their lives.” Ember replied. Silence nodded as Twilight approached three mares looking barely older than twenty. The one which Silence assumed was the oldest had a yellow coat with a red mane and a pink bow and a heart shaped apple cutie mark. Another had an orange coat and pink hair and leaned casually on a scooter, she had a butterfly mark. The last one had a white coat with a purple and pink mane with a musical heart cutie mark.

“Meet Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo. They’ve worked as vigilantes for the last few years.” Twilight explained.

“Howdy.” “Hello.” “Hey, wassup?” They each said at once.

“Twilight, you brought me a hobo, two loons, and three wannabe superheroes… I like it.” Silence stated. “Alright, who’s ready to disturb the peace!?”

“I am, MEMEMEMEME!” Pinkie screamed out. Silence shook his head disapprovingly and looked around the table, forming a plan in his head.

“Doc, you’re a genius. Where’s a good place to start our attack?” Silence questioned.

“Well, there’s a series of options: Precincts, Prisons, and Industrial Complexes.” The Doctor replied.

“Forget choosing, let’s strike all three.” Silence said quickly. “Its past curfew so the gates are closed, we’ll need to get past those first, and it’ll shut down the gate system for the next few weeks in the process. Then we’ll need to access Luna’s PassCode System so we can get inside the prison without alerting every mare and their brother, there we’ll find a few more rebels; as for the industrial complex, well who here feels like blowing up a Rainbow Factory?” Ember and Scootaloo gasped at the mention of the Pegasus Slaughter House. Silence approached the far wall and pulled at the book titled “Electrical Wiring for Dummies” which opened a hidden compartment behind the bookcase. Reaching in’ Silence produced two saddlebags stuffed with supplies and threw one on Ember’s back.

“No what-for’s, my friends, only a victory screech after this is over. Ember, get ready for a little electrical work, because that door’s going to be in our way. You three,” Silence gestured to the three mares. “Which of you is which and what can you do?” The yellowish Earth pony stepped forward.

“Ah’m Applebloom, founder of the Cutie Mark Crusader’s an’ mah talent is in mah fam’ly business.” The mare said.

“I assume you’re with Applejack with that accent.” Silence stated.

“Hi, I’m Sweetie Belle, Rarity’s sister. I’m a singer.” The white mare said.

“Name’s Scootaloo, don’t let the butterfly throw you off. I’m a daredevil.” The last mare stated casually.

“Good, you’re the bait.” Silence replied non-hesitantly.

“Wait, what?” Scootaloo asked.

“I didn't stutter, nag,” Silence said to Scootaloo, much to her dismay. He turned back to the crowd who kindly averted his gaze. “OKAY, ponies, we’re gonna have a really big day tomorrow. Everypony meet by the tailor at 23:59 tomorrow night. The plan is going into action, and the only ones that should know about it are us.”

“Isn't that closer to the next morning?” asked Scootaloo.

“Buck you say?” Silence replied. The crowd dispersed from the library, luckily unnoticed by the keepers who were on patrol nearby. Silence approached his adopted aunt.

“I gave that mail mare the Jangle, and she hugged me. What are you up to?” He questioned.

“I was just trying to cheer you up a little; Derpy gives away hugs for a Jangle.” Twilight replied smiling innocently.

Silence nodded grinning slightly at his friend’s thoughtfulness and flew off towards his cabin, hoping his two would follow.

To Be Continued...