The Strange Tale Of Ezekiel Henderson

"What?!", Anchita's eyes were wide, "I mean, yes, that is the only way to retrieve them, but STEAL them? From Celestia's castle? Are you mad?!"

Henderson shrugged, "Maybe. Do you see any other way we're going to handle this?"

Anchita considered his words, "True, but..."

Henderson stepped forward and gave her a friendly pat on the shoulder, "Come on, let's get Dash and get going."

Anchita sighed, "Fine, I'll take you to her." She walked back down the hall from which they had entered.

"She's in here.", she opened the third door on the right. It opened to reveal Rainbow Dash, asleep on a cot, curled up under a thick blanket.

Henderson walked over and gently shook her shoulder, "Dash, get up, we're moving out."

"Mm hmph mughsh...", she shoved her head under the blanket.

"You'd never make it in the marines...", Henderson muttered as he shook her again, "Get, Up."

"No, leave me alone Twilight, I don't want any coffee...", she slurred.

Henderson straightened and sighed, "Fine, we'll do things the fun way." He raised his rifle and fired a round into the dirt wall, blowing a sizable divot into the hard-packed clay.

His actions had the desired effect, the blue pegasus shot straight up, impacting the ceiling. She fell back down, landing on the cot. She grunted and flipped her mane out of her eyes.

"Was that really necessary?", she groaned.

"No, but it was hella funny."

Henderson and Anchita had filled Dash in on their plan, who, of course, refused to participate. Only after Anchita had told her that one of her subordinates, Hassan, had watched her sleep for an hour did she decide that leaving with them was a good idea.

Without either a train, or a royal chariot, the trio was forced to walk to Canterlot. They'd been doing so for the past five hours, and Canterlot was just appearing in the distance, illuminated by the setting sun.

"Damn.", even Henderson was panting, "When do y'all plan on inventing helicopters?"

"Invent what?", Dash was now flying beside Henderson, as was Anchita.

Henderson looked at his flying companions, "Never mind."

It was well in to the night when they arrived at the base of Canterlot's wall, not an easy task considering the city's geographical location. They found a drain, covered by a metal grate.

"See?", Dash pointed at the grate, "We can't even get in! Oh well, we tried." She turned sharply and began to walk away.

Anchita maneuvered in front of her, holding a talon to her chest, "Alone, in the dark with the monstruum?", the hooded griffin hissed.

Dash's discomfort at this thought was outwardly visible. She considered Anchita's words, then begrudgingly turned and walked back to Henderson's side.

"Well how are we gonna get in?", she repeated, "Ezekiel, you're not strong enough to bend those bars."

"Oh ye of little faith...", Henderson pulled out his toolkit, which was proving itself to be a very useful asset. He removed a small plasma torch, lit it, and held it to one of the metal bars. One by one, he cut through them, catching them as they fell.

Henderson gestured at the breach, "Ta da."

Moving through the drain system allowed the trio passage straight into the castle, no city-guard trouble involved.

The drain had emptied them into a side-room of the castle's basement system. Henderson recognized the hall outside the door, and was able to return to the subterranean library with ease. After four tries, he guessed the correct code on the glyph system, and they were in.

"Ok, look around for it. It's got some bars and triangles on the spine, and a triquetra on the cover.", he started searching the shelves.

No...no...no...n- There!, he reached for it, high on the shelf, facing outward.

"Got it.", he whispered harshly, "But I can't reach it."

Dash rolled her eyes, "Pfff, ground-pounders.", She flitted up to the book's level and laid hold of it.

"No thanks necessary.", she handed it to Henderson.

"Ok, lets get out of here.", he started back to the closed library door. He came within two paces of it.

Click, resonated from the door's lock system.

Henderson froze, then darted behind a shelf, HIDE, he motioned to Dash and Anchita, who complied with haste.

No sooner had the trio concealed themselves, the door opened and in stepped Princess Luna. She began searching the shelves, pulling out books with her magic. She amassed a small pile on the central table, apparently her evening reading.

Her brow furrowed, she moved the books faster.

"Where...", she muttered.

Damn, Henderson thought. She was looking for the book he held against his torso.

She stopped after a few moments, apparently accepting the fact that her sister had taken it, or something similar.

Ok, now leav- what the heck are you doing?

Luna closed her eyes tightly, and held her breath.

POOSH, the book disappeared from Henderson's grasp, only to reappear, hovering in front of the indigo Princess.

Oh come on...

Luna telekineticly picked up her stack of books and sauntered out of the library, shutting the door behind herself.

After a few more moments of hiding, Henderson stepped back out into the room, as did Anchita and Dash.

Henderson fought the urge to slam his fist on the oaken table, but settled on removing his helmet and rubbing his temples.

"Well," Anchita sighed, "What now?" She turned to Dash, "And, no, we're not giving up and leaving."

Dash snorted, "I know, I know."

The trio stood in silent contemplation for a few minutes, until Dash spoke up, "Anypony else have an idea besides going and getting it from wherever Princess Luna took it?"

Both Anchita and Henderson shook their heads.

"Dang, that's what I thought."

The trio crept silently through the subterranean tunnels. Now, out of the basement and into the great marble halls of the main floor, they slinked towards the throne room, through which lie Luna's study.

Henderson held up a closed fist, signalling his companions to stop. A guard passed through the hall in front of them. He entered the next room and Henderson resumed his crouch-walk, followed by his quadripedal companions.

They entered the throne room, dark and cold; though a faint light shone through the crack of Luna's partially open study door. Henderson slid up to this crack and peered through, into the lantern-lit room. Luna was lying on her bed, on her stomach, her books spread out in front of her.

There was no way they were getting to the book they wanted.

Henderson turned to his followers, "Find someplace to hide, and get comfy. We're going to be here a while."

They nodded and walked to different parts of the room. Dash glided up to a small ledge near the ceiling, where she blended in with the moonlit marble ceiling. Anchita flew to another ledge, on the other side of the room; untouched by the moonlight, her dark robe allowed her to hide. Henderson walked to a nook behind the Matriarchal thrones, where he settled into the shadows.

I hate waiting...