Chapter Three: Captured

Chapter Three: Captured

"She's gone!"

It all happened so fast. First we're given a mission, next we help some kind of alligator thing, finally we end up captured by slavers, this has been one crazy day.

"Keep moving'!" Sawed-Off yelled, yanking our chains. No pun intended.

We were currently being dragged through the terrain, in the middle of the rain.

"Will, I wanna go home." Ace said, looking at me in fear. Before I could answer, Cager hit me with his shovel.

"Shufp ufph!" He said, prodding us with his shovel.

"Do, you ever stop talking?" Sawed-Off asked, as Ace whimpered.

"Don't to her like that, y-" Before I could finish, a blow from behind knocked me down. Turning around I saw Cracker glare down at me.

"Hold, up!" Cracker shouted, causing us all to stop. He looked down at me. "I'd suggest you shut your mouth, before we decide to have some fun with your sister." he said, smiling evilly at her, causing her to shudder. "We won't be gentle."

I wanted wring his neck, believe me I did, but I need to protect her.

"Yes... sir." I replied.

He smiled, "Good. Now get moving!"

As we continued on, I found myself contemplating on whether or not to kill them. Maybe i sh-

"Hey, you alright?"

A new voice snapped me out of my thought, looking to my thoughts I saw the gray donkey, looking at me with a puzzled expression.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"You sure?"

"Yes!" I replied, getting agitated.

"Ok geez." he replied, putting some space between us, "I was just asking a question."

I sighed. "Sorry, I'm just worried."

"Can't argue with ya there. This is the best situation."

"Who are these ponies?" I asked.

"Slavers, raiders, murderers, you name it."

"Since when have there been raiders, in Equestria?"

"Oh, a couple of decades."

"Dear Celestia."

"Tell me about it, names Chips by the way."

"Gadget."

"Hey, mind if I cut in?" The other donkey asked as he came between us.

"Uh, sure?"

"Gadget meet my brother Nails."

"Hi."

"Hello." He replied back.

We continue trotting for a few minute before I spoke up.

"How did you guys get captured?"

"We were out scouting." Chips replied, we were looking for supplies for our community.

"Only thing is, these ponies were waiting for us." Nails added. "Call themselves Cager, Cracker, and Sawed-Off."

"Wait, you two are part of a community?" I was stumped, how could there be a community when there's nothing to thrive on?

"Yep. The two of us and Lucky back there." He replied, gesturing to the brown earth pony.

"Hey." He said.

"How can there be a community in the middle of nowhere?"

"It was built around a Stable. Since those things are stockpiled with food, ammo, armor, and tools, there plenty of ways to starts a community." Nails replied.

"So you guys are part of it."

"Yep."

"If we get out, of this, can you help me and my sister?"

"We'd have t-"

Before we could finish, we came to an abrupt stop. Looking ahead, Cracker was standing completely still, and he looked scared.

"What is it?" Sawed-Off asked, clearly agitated.

Cracker didn't respond, he just kept staring at no pony in particular. His face looked pale for some reason.

"For Pete's sake, what's wro-" Sawed-Off started, before his face paled as well. Confused, I trotted forward to see what was wrong only to regret it. Standing on top of a hill directly in front on us where a dozen silhouettes of ponies. The only thing is, they all had the same beady red eyes as the pegasus and dragon from earlier. Their clothes were VERY creepy. They were wearing nothing but rags, they reminded me of scarecrows, only difference is they were alive, and they had guns.

One of them stepped forward and spoke, "You have somepony we need. Give him to us."

Cager was so scared he looked like he was gonna wet himself. "O-of c-c-course, wh-which o-one i-i-is i-it." He replied stuttering, motioning towards us. I glanced at Ace, getting her attention. I motioned toward her saddlebag and mouthed, "pick the locks." She nodded, her horn began to faintly glow, and I could see the same glow in her saddlebag. All of a sudden I was shoved to the ground.

"Here, he is!" Cager yelled, presenting me to the ponies on hill, "How much do you wan't for him?"

They laughed, all of them.

"Whats so funny?" Sawed-Off asked confused, I would be lying if I wasn't confused too.

"Whats so funny?!" The pony responded in between laughs. "Whats funny is, that you actually think were gonna pay for him!"

Out of the corner of my eye Ace had already picked the locks on her cuffs, and was moving on to the others, Just a little longer.

"Of course we expect you to pay for him!" Sawed-Off yelled, "We don't work for free!

"Well, I hate to disappoint you, but we'll be taking him one way or another."

"Oh yeah! I'd like to see ya try!" Cracker shouted, but I could hear fear in his voice.

"Well then," the pony said, " I'm sure Scarecrow would love to try."

The colored drained from Cracker and Sawed-Off's faces, I could also feel the chains on my legs fall off. I was free.

Without thinking twice, I turned and bucked Cracker square in the face.

Then all hell broke loose.

Once again, it all happened so fast. First, I bucked Cracker square in the face, next, Sawed-Off tried to shoot me with his shot-gun only for Ace to hit him with a spell, finally, causing him to fire at the ponies on the hill, almost hitting one of them. To sum it all up, they're trying to kill us. Right now, we're just running for our lives, Saw-ed Off used his magic to teleport himself, Cager and Cracker to safety, leaving us to die.

"Get the blue one!" the stallion from earlier shouted, "The boss want's him alive!"

I didn't know what they were talking about, but I didn't really care. All I cared about was protecting Beth.

"Come on!" Chips shouted, as he ran ahead, "Our settlements close by, we can take refuge!"

"I hope you're right!" I shouted back, "We could really use some help!"

I looked back, flying overhead, several pegasus were opening fire with their battle saddles, trying to hit our legs. I saw Ace take something out of her saddlebag with her magic, it was small, round, and gray. One of her smoke bombs! She pulled the pin, and hurled it at the pegasus.

BOOM!

Smoke went everywhere, blinding them. They flew into each other, fell to the ground, I think I one accidentally got shot. Oh Ace, thank Celestia for your pranks. It bought us some time, but I still had a feeling we weren't going to make it, but then Lucky spoke up.

"How much longer until we get th-" he was never able to finish because at that moment, a bullet went straight through his head, spreading blood everywhere. Even on us.

We were so surprised we both tripped and fell to the ground. Getting up, we looked back and saw his broken body, I was so shocked I couldn't move. I stared at him, blood gushing from his head, a blow to the side of my face, and a cry from Chips got my attention.

"Hey! Come on, we gotta go! Now!" he shouted, Nails was panicking behind him. I shook off the confusion and nudged Ace.

"Come on Beth!" I cried, but she wouldn't budge, "Ace, let's go!" but she still wouldn't move, she just stood there staring wide-eyed at his corpse, mouth open. "Beth, we don't have much ti-"

"Look out!" Nails cried, turning to run, I was to slow to react. Out of the corner of my eye I saw something that looked like a tiny silver apple without the stem, land a few feet away.

BOOM!

I flew several feet back, my head crunching against something when I hit the ground. Trying to open my eyes, I saw Ace, Nails, and Chips unconscious, I could also see our pursuers getting closer, whooping, and cheering as if this was some sort of sick game.

"We got'em!" One cried.

I tried to get up but every ounce in my body hurt, so it was pretty much pointless. I could see them getting closer, knowing what was going to happen, I closed my eyes ready to accept my fate, if only I could see Ace one last-

RATTA TATTA TATTA TATTA TATTA TATTA!

Gunshots! I opened my eyes to see what looked like a pegasus n black armor, coming towards mt shooting at them with a battle saddle. I heard them shout things like "It's him!" and "Retreat!" Before long they had all fled, leaving me thinking of who that was.

I saw him land a few feet away, and trot towards me. I started to make him out he was wearing black armor that seemed to cover his entire body, except his wings. His was concealed by a black mask with a red visor. He stopped right in front and kneeled down. Then he spoke.

"What happened here? Wheres my support? Fucking Observers took you all out? Damn. Gadget, is that your name? Gadget. Destiny's a bitch huh?" He got that right. "Don't worry I'll get you and your friends to safety." As he spoke, I could feel him lift me onto his back.

"Heavier, then you look, a little cardio wouldn't hurt would it?" Okay, now that was offensive.

As sleep took hold of me, I heard shouting.

"Quick, he's over here! Send help!

I blacked out.