Chirpy Hooves Breaks Her Quill and Gets Caught Up in The Underground Rock Trade.

Chapters

Chapter 1: A Well Worn Quill
Chapter 2: A Meeting With The Princess
Chapter 4: Followed
Chapter 5: The Babysitter
Chapter 6: Mikey's Leisure Hall
Chapter 3: The Affairs of Gentlecolts

Chapter 1: A Well Worn Quill

"Are you ready to go girls? The train for the Rainbow Falls Traders Exchange is leaving soon," Derpy called to her children.

Chirpy and Dinky where upstairs packing for the day trip. Although neither of them had anything valuable to trade with, they both hoped to find something that was cool yet inexpensive. Dinky decided to bring an old book that she didn't read anymore. Hopefully some trader would be in the market for "Discovering Yourself Through Creative Yodeling". Chirpy an the other hand decided to bring a worn out quill to trade. That quill did mean a lot Chirpy since it was one that she used throughout most of grade school.

"We need to get going or else we will miss the morning train. Can you girls please hurry?" Derpy said as she tried to coax her children downstairs.

"Coming mom!" Chirpy and Dinky said as they grabbed their small saddlebags.

Chirpy and Dinky ran downstairs and saw their mother putting the finishing touches on the batch of muffins she was baking for the Traders Exchange. Derpy asked if they had everything they wanted to take to which the girls replied with a fast nod. The family walked out onto the streets of Ponyville and walked over to the train station. The town wasn't usually as active this early in the morning but most of its residents where going to make the trip to Rainbow Falls. With this many ponies all at one exchange Chirpy began to wonder if she would be able to get something cool after all since every other pony seemed to have something unique and valuable.

After arriving at the crowed train station the trio made their way onto the train. Derpy was lucky to find a seat that accommodated her whole family as well as ten dozen muffins.

"Mommy, will we be able to look around while you are selling your muffins?" Chirpy said.

"I do not see why not. The Rainbow Falls Traders Exchange was one of my earliest and fondest memories from when I was a filly. I do want you to stay on the fairgrounds though and check in with me occasionally. Rainbow Falls is a good town but lots of unscrupulous characters can show up to these exchanges," Derpy replied to both Chirpy and Dinky.

"Last call for the first train to Rainbow Falls! Next departure at noon!" an engineer shouted to the crowd.

The Train slowly started off away from the station and soon Ponyville faded into the horizon. A couple rows in front of the happy Hooves family a group of gentlecolts huddled together and talked in soft tones.

"Alright so our supplier is meeting us by a food booth at the exchange. He wants two hundred bits for fifty rocks. The price is a little steeper than normal but understandable due to the intense amount of business this time of year," a gentlecolt in a white suit said.

"I thought we had control of the market in Rainbow Falls boss. Who could our guy be possibly be supplying other than us?" a pegasus in a white fedora said to the gentlecolt in the white suit.

"Ah, you have discovered our secondary objective for today. I want to know if he is making sales on his own or through another middleman. Either way I want to put an end to his scalping of our profit. I want him alive but threaten him with a modest amount of bodily harm out of the watchful eye of the public," the gentlecolt in the white suit explained to his clan.

"Yes sir boss, we will make sure the perp never forgets the Knights of Equity Gang," The fedora wearing pegasus shouted giddily.

Chapter 2: A Meeting With The Princess

The train to Rainbow Falls slowed to a stop and the masses came pouring out. The Hooves family walked out onto the platform and stared in awe of the sights to be seen.

"Wow this has to be the busiest I have ever seen the Exchange. I hope they are all in the mood for muffins. Why, I would say I should have made even more!" Derpy exclaimed.

"Mom why don't you sell actual stuff instead of food? Isn't trading antiques and crafts the point of having an exchange in the first place?" Dinky Hooves asked.

"Well sweetie I am providing a craft! My homemade muffins are an art in themselves. Did I ever tell you the story of how your great grandfather developed a recipe that made muffins especially fluffy and moist. He made them so well that a commercial bakery offered him one hundred bits for the recipe and even though that was a lot back then, he never sold it. The secret remains in the Hooves Family to this day and one day I will tell you that secret," Derpy said to her children with excitement.

"You only tell us that every time you make muffins mom," Chirpy replied.

"I only tell you that because it may be the last great baking secret there is left in the world. The heartless corporations will hound you for the recipe and even though they may tempt you with riches, you must never sell the recipe. It is called having integrity and being loyal to your family," Derpy lectured.

"We know mom! Can we please go now since the heart of the Traders Exchange is over there?" Chirpy said.

"Ok you can run along now. Stay out of trouble and come back for lunch," Derpy told her children as they ran off.

The Traders Exchange was now in full swing and countless items where flying off the booths just so they could be traded for something else. Chirpy and Dinky where among the restless crowd and they were trying hard just to get a peep at the objects for trade. Dinky wasn't having much luck convincing vendors that they absolutely needed her book on yodeling. Chirpy faired even worse than her sister since her humble pen was seen as an insult of an offer. Eventually the sisters agreed that waiting for the rush to calm down would be the best course of action. Instead the two went sightseeing around the Exchange. Chirpy was especially interested in seeing the new Princess Twilight Sparkle but was disappointed when she wasn't at her official throne.

"Good luck finding her kid! She seemed to escape the watchful eyes of the Royal Guard. I have my guards combing the entire Exchange for her," the Royal Guard officer said at the roped off entrance.

This just made Chirpy even more determined to find her since no Royal Guards mean that she could probably get a closer look. The duo searched far and wide for the whispers of where the Princess could be. Eventually a group of ponies said they saw her running away in a certain direction. Even though that tidbit of information only ruled out half of the Exchange Chirpy wouldn't give up.

"We should split up I will go this way and you will go that way!" Chirpy said with conviction.

Dinky agreed and split off from her sister. Chirpy ran passed the countless booths while scanning each one for the Princess. She was shocked to come across a quaint bookstand that Twilight herself was managing. Chirpy didn't know what to say. What could you say to royalty? Chirpy immediately became self-conscious about her pen. What would the Princess think if She offered it up for a trade? Chirpy wondered if the Princess be offended. Just as that thought came to her mind she saw a couple of Royal Guards on patrol from the corner of her eye. This could be the only chance that Chirpy would ever get to meet the Princess so she decided to tap her ever so lightly.

The Princess turned around. She looked at the pen displayed proudly in the mouth of the young Chirpy Hooves. The Princess was trading with her! She offered up her books in exchange for the pen and Chirpy was delighted. Just as the deal was about to sealed a hyper, pink pony ruined everything!
She persuaded the Princess to reconsider. The pink pony convinced her that the pen was not what she really wanted. The menacing pony turned to Chirpy and told her to scram and get away from the Princess.

Not wanting to get in trouble, Chirpy obeyed. Chirpy was absolutely heartbroken. Her only short encounter with the Princess was a disaster! In the quick escape from the stand the pen that Chirpy valued so dearly was snapped between her teeth. Without a worthwhile item to trade, Chirpy ran off to the food court but couldn't find her sister or mother. What she did find was a bench to quietly sob on. It was unfortunate that she chose that particular bench because it was soon going to involve her in something way over her head.

Chapter 4: Followed

The rest of the Exchange was uneventful except for a dispute over a trade that the Hooves family didn't stay long enough to see. Chirpy never did say one word to her mother or sister about the strange colts in formal attire. She was afraid that she would get in trouble somehow. It really wasn't her fault that she ran into then and nopony would ever blame a witness for a crime. Still Chirpy hesitated from letting anyone know about what had transpired; perhaps, she felt that it was in best interest to get some answers first. It would be a long couple of days until Wednesday.

It wasn't until Monday that Chirpy felt uneasy about her surroundings. On her walk to school with her sister Chirpy felt the uncanny feeling of being watched. Dinky began to suspect that something was very wrong with her sister.

"You know Chirpy, I have seen you act kind of jumpy these days. Is there anything wrong?" Dinky inquired.

"One can never be too careful these days, Dinky. We both know that young foals get snatched of the streets all the time and are never seen from again." Chirpy said while looking over her shoulder.

"Yeah, in a big city like Manehatten but not in Ponyville! We have walked this path to school for years and never once have I seen anything sketchy go down. Promise me you will stop acting paranoid. On Sunday you didn't want to go to Sugar Cube Corner and now you won't stop looking around like there is something out to get you," Dinky said.

"I am not paranoid! Just a little cautious today that is all. You know what Pinkie says about trusting your gut instinct," Chirpy replied.

Dinky dropped the subject and the sisters continued on their way to school. In the bushes there was a shake in the foliage that managed to go by unnoticed. There was the click of a shutter and then silence.

Chirpy and Dinky arrived at school on time as usual. The school bell rang and the foals took their seats. As soon as Cheerilee walked up to her desk to take attendance Chirpy habitually reached for her Quill. It greatly saddened Chirpy that she no longer had a working quill of her own. The rest of the day she spent using one of the loaner quills that made annoying squeaks as it was writing.

At recess Chirpy seemed to forget about the entire addictive magical artifacts ordeal and she started to be her normal self again. Chirpy and Dinky started to play ball with several friends on the side of the school. Far away in the brach of a tree there were more clicks followed by the sound of a quill brushing against paper.

School was let out early that day after a lecture on the brief history of the Equestria Games. Chirpy and Dinky walked together as usual. They both skipped along the pathway home while humming along to the anthem of Ponyville. A figure appeared behind them but kept its distance. The eyes of the unknown observer peered out of the puffed up collar of a trench coat trying to confirm its target.

The sisters arrived home and were greeted warmly by Derpy who was waiting at the doorstep. Derpy gathered her foals inside for supper while the figure remained unseen in the shadows cast by a setting sun. The gruff, guttural laughter identified the stalker as a colt. He looked down at the pictures that was given to him in the contact and compared them to the ones he took today. They were a perfect match.

A nearby pay phone rang. The colt in a trench coat walked over and picked it up. An older voice was on the line and gave instructions in a foreign language.

"Yes, I have positively Identified the target and I could move in at any moment," The trench coat colt said.

There was annoyed gibberish that filled the ear of the the mysterious colt. He then remembered that his new client doesn't speak the Princess' English and repeated the phrase in butchered Saddle Arabian.

The conversation went on for a another minute or so before the colt in a trench colt hanged up and walked across the street. He climbed up the stairs of a rooming house and made his way up onto the roof. The skyline of Ponyville at sunset was beautiful the colt thought. He picked up some binoculars and looked into the dinning room of the Hooves residence. Tonight's dinner was a casserole crafted out of leftover muffins.

The colt giggled as he said to himself, "I hope they don't mind a freezer burnt side of revenge. After all it is best served cold."

A blue ting of the trench coat colt's horn signaled the beginning of a dastardly spell that was about to be unleashed on the unsuspecting Hooves Family (one can only assume that it had something to do with ice because of the terrible freezer burnt revenge pun).

The sudden ring of tower bells alerted the town that it was now six in the afternoon. It was the perfect silencer for an easy kill. On the last thunderous burst of bell chimes there was a discharge of bright light. Chirpy, Dinky, and Derpy continued to peacefully munch on dinner completely unharmed.

The colt slumped over on the roof, an icicle puncturing the many layers of the trench coat. The Binoculars fell out of his hoof and the packet of photos and written notes were taken out of his pocket by a unicorn in formal attire. He gave it a quick once over before lighting a corner of it on fire with his silver lighter.

"Richardson will be happy to know the filly is safe. The Knights never leave a faucet of information unguarded," The unicorn thought.

Chapter 5: The Babysitter

The sun rose up over Ponyville the next day before being quickly obscured by a line of ominous clouds. Derpy was hard at work in the kitchen of the Hooves Residence making breakfast. She looked forlornly at the bag of mail she had to deliver by sunset before turning to the window with a sigh. There was a knock at the door; it was fast and loud enough to shake the pictures on the wall nearest to the door. Derpy walked over into the living room and turns the knob of the light wooden door. It opened to reveal a weather pegasus in adorned in the iconic weather squad vest with orange brimmed goggles.

She said, "Good morning ma'am. I regret to inform you that in order to meet our quota Ponyville will have to incur an extra day of severe weather. I can assure you that any lost productivity or lost wages will be compensated by your local government. Schools will be out of session."

Derpy replied, "Yeah I was told that last night by my supervisor. The Post Office is insistent that all mail couriers report to their duties. So what are we looking at?"

"Strong winds, hail, and heavy precipitation will hit the town in less than an hour. I was told to keep everyone off the streets until it has past but seeing how you work for the government I can do no more than wish you good luck," the weather pegasus said.

Derpy shut the door and turned towards the foot of the staircase. Chirpy and Dinky weren't even up and breakfast was ready.

"Girls you need to eat breakfast now. I have to go to work today and the babysitter will be here soon," Derpy raised her voice so her sleeping fillies could hear.

Upstairs, Chirpy and Dinky slowly roused out of their slumber. Chirpy looked over at the window and saw the approaching storm. This disheartened the two sisters because stormy days meant that an old hag of a babysitter would bore them all day and their tired mother would come home and want to do nothing but sleep all night. Chirpy and Dinky made their way down the stairs and took their seats at the kitchen table.

"Its good to see you two are finally up. I was afraid I was going to have to drag you both down for breakfast. It is your favorite, muffins!" Derpy said while shoveling several onto Chirpy's and Dinky's plates.

"Do we have to eat muffins all the time mom? Dinky and I get tired of them every now and then," Chirpy asked her mother.

"Just until the end of the month sweetie. Once I get my paycheck we can throw away the rest of the leftovers and you have whatever you would like," Derpy said with a sigh.

There was a knock at the door a second time which was slightly lighter than before. Derpy figured it was the babysitter and put down her tray of muffins to answer the door. She was surprised however to find a pegasus with a white fedora at the door.

"Sorry I am late miss. Your regular babysitter is a little tied up at the moment," The fedora wearing pegasus said while giggling on the inside about the truth to that statement.

"So you are the replacement? I have never seen you around here before. What is your name?" Derpy asked suspiciously.

"Well you may know me by my stage name Johnny D when I am with my singing mates but my given name is Reggie. I can assure you I have a list of references and a CPR certification. I am an honored member of the Royal Guard Auxiliary and recipient of the Celestial Silver Cross for my service to the crown," Reggie said.

"Look I appreciate you coming out here but I am not sure I am entirely comfortable with you watching my foals. I can take them to neighbor's or something and clock out early from work," Derpy explained.

"There is no time, the storm is about roll in. You look like you have enough on your plate and besides the last thing you need is for your little fillies to be caught in the maelstrom that the weather team is brewing up," Reggie reasoned.

"Alright just no funny business! There isn't much to steal and Dinky knows karate," Derpy said.

"I assure you I am the pinnacle of professionalism. Not a single dust particle out of place," Reggie replied as he walked in.

Derpy showed Reggie around the house and gave him a list of what to do or who to call if anything went wrong. Chirpy and Dinky waved their mother goodbye when she grabbed her bag and hurried along. Reggie didn't greet the girls but instead went to the window and looked all around. He then preceded to check the locks on the front and back doors as well as all the windows. Feeling relieved
about the security of the house, Reggie sprawled out on the couch.

Reggie looked over at the the sisters standing in the archway of the kitchen and finally spoke up, "So which one of you is Chirpy?"

Chirpy began to feel anxious again. She couldn't help but think that the well dressed babysitter was an associate of that man at the Exchange. Chirpy was split about whether she was even going to go to that dinner for an explanation since her life had moved on without hiccup. It wasn't like she was in danger or anything. Suddenly Chirpy noticed that a long pause had accompanied Reggie's question.

Chirpy decided she should stop thinking too much and answered him.

"Well your mom wanted me to tell you something privately so if your sister could make herself scarce for a second I would be appreciative," Reggie said still sprawled on the couch with a lazy posture.

Dinky looked over at Chirpy confused but went upstairs to obey. Chirpy walked over slowly towards the living room while she was unsure on whether Reggie could be trusted. She reluctantly took a seat in the armchair adjacent to the couch.

"So what did my mom want to say to me?" Chirpy said after a moment of silence passed.

"Your mom told me to tell you that she loves you and your sister very much. Derpy didn't want to be late so that is why she couldn't properly say goodbye," Reggie said.

Chirpy sat back in her chair feeling relived that the funny business with the magical rocks were finally over.

Reggie sat up on the couch while leaning in closer to Chirpy and said, "Richardson however, can not send the same tidings."

Chirpy immediately shot up out of her chair and started to shout, "I thought I was going to be left out of this! Now one of Richardson's goons show up to my house and pose as a babysitter! Who are you really Reggie and don't feed me any crap about wanting to be my friend or help me. I want to know what you want from me!"

"Easy kid, I am not enjoying my recent demotion to literal babysitter either. Can you please turn down the volume a couple of notches so that the whole neighborhood doesn't hear! Yeash, working with you witnesses is almost as intense as the Boss himself," Reggie said.

"Out with it now Reggie. Why are you here? I already said I wasn't talking to anyone about the deal at the Exchange," Chirpy asked in a more reserved tone.

"The situation has changed Chirps, if I can call you that. Yesterday a little birdie told me that you had a stalker on your tail," Reggie replied.

"Yeah I can see him right in front of me!" Chirpy interjected with contempt.

"Please if you would let me finish you little brat! The stalker was found on the rooftop across the street with pictures of your movements throughout the day along with notes on when the best time to strike would be. Luckily for you however our district contact got to him first. You ought to be thanking us we saved your life," Reggie continued.

"So, there are ponies who want me dead now? What did I ever do?" Chirpy asked nervously.

"Well you see here Chirps the kind of folks we buy the rocks from don't play nice and dress well like the Knights of Equity. In fact the gang is known as 'Jagged Saber' in Saddle Arabia and known to one of the most cruel rock running cartel in existence. They would gladly destroy entire villages if there was a profit to be made from it. Jagged Saber hasn't exactly responded well to the Knight's attempts at integration and now we are at full on war. Lenny or that guy that tried to sell you some of the unstable magic rocks escaped our custody. Richardson believes that Lenny is targeting you in order to get our attention," Reggie said.

"Then that must mean you are here to protect me," Chirpy replied.

"Precisely kiddo, we Knights of Equity are honor bound to protect those we involve," Reggie explained.

"Why can we not go to the police? Why do I need your protection if I can be protected by actual police?" Chirpy inquired.

"The police and the Knights of Equity aren't exactly on friendly terms. The rocks we require are still illegal and if you were to go to the police our whole operation could be uprooted. Our mission is too important to abruptly end by the hand of legality. You must understand that I simply can't allow you to go to the Police. Besides the first thing they would want to do is ship your family out to a faraway frontier town under a new identity," Reggie said.

"I guess I can trust you," Chirpy reluctantly replied.

"You are going to have to! I have been looking out the window and for the past ten minutes a group of weather pegasi have been circling your house. Now it seems they are abruptly changing course and coming straight for us!" Reggie shouted while pointing out the window.

Chirpy looked over out the window. What Reggie said was true! There were three weather pegasi
Diving at the house with a large line of storm clouds on their tails.

"Have you ever been in a fly-by before Chirpy?" Reggie asked.

Chirpy shook her head no while backing away from window.

"There is a first for everything! What is going to happen is those pegasi are going pull up just before they hit the house. When they do that the line of storm clouds are going to ram up against the house and cause all sorts of bother. We need to get on the ground and far away from any windows," Reggie shouted while he motion for Chirpy to hit the ground.

At that moment Dinky ran down the stairs and asked what all the shouting was about. She saw the approaching pegasi and Chirpy on the ground. Dinky quickly dived next to Reggie and Chirpy the moment the storm clouds hit. The next few moments were chaos. Windows shattered all over the floor while the door blew open. Hailstones immediately filled the living room smashing everything that could be broken. Finally a volley of lightning struck almost shocking Chirpy in the process.

Then there was silence.

Reggie got up and looked out the shattered window. He couldn't see them coming back but the message was clear. Broken Saber was not going to be playing any games. Chirpy and Dinky slowly got up on their hooves and looked at the destroyed interior of their home.

"Mom is going to have a fit!" Dinky quietly said.

Chirpy began to smell something. It was barely noticeable at first but now it bothered her greatly. Smoke began to creep out of the kitchen before bursting out in a big, continuous puff that consumed the living room.

"Fire! We got to get out of here! Come on now foals this is the part where we run for our lives!" Reggie hollered before choking on smoke.

Chapter 6: Mikey's Leisure Hall

Reggie, Chirpy, and Dinky all ran out onto the street. The storm was hitting Ponyville at full power with a downpour of rain and concussive thunder. Chirpy fell down on the sidewalk across the street while having a coughing fit before Reggie came over to pick her up.

"Get up kid we have to move! It is only a matter of time before more come to finish the job. Can you walk alright?" Reggie asked while he pulled Chirpy to her hooves.

"I am fine but where can we go? We are out in the open!" Chirpy said.

"That is what I am trying to avoid. We all need to get inside somewhere to lay low until nightfall. I can arrange for a team to take us out of Ponyville under the cover of darkness," Reggie replied as he started to run up the street.

Dinky looked away from the burning house and followed behind Chirpy and Reggie. She ran up to Reggie and shouted, "I don't know what the big idea here is Mister but we need to get our mom!"

"Listen very closely because I am not in the repeating mood. Your beloved sister has gotten your family involved in something that no one wants to be involved in. I have been sent by some good ponies to save your sorry little behind from some very bad ponies. As you can see I am not doing a very good job and it would be helpful if you could shut your trap and follow close to me," Reggie said while running farther down the street.

"But what about my mom?" Dinky hollered.

"If I can arrange for her to be extracted out of Ponyvile then I will do it. However, you and your sister and top priority. Also please lower your voice! If it isn't conspicuous enough that we are the only ponies out in the storm; yelling about our plans will surely tip someone off to our presence," Reggie retorted.

The trio weaved in and out of the swamped streets, jumping between alleyway and sidewalks in silence. Chirpy and Dinky tried hard to keep pace with the rather athletic Reggie but to no avail. Dinky demanded that they stopped and slumped over against a brick wall in an alley. Reggie tried to pull Dinky up to her hooves but she refused to move any farther. Chirpy kneeled down next to her exhausted sister and tried to coax her sister to get moving again. Reggie pushed Chirpy out of the way and laid Dinky across his back. With some effort he was able to continue on his route at a walking pace.

Rain poured down harder that ever before and the wind made it hard to stand. Chirpy looked up at Reggie and saw the incredible strain that was exerted onto him. The trio slowed to a crawling speed before they were barely moving at all. Reggie finally stopped and looked around the immediate vicinity.

"I don't think we can go much farther. That pool hall over there is a good enough spot to hide for now," Reggie said in between deep breaths.

"My mom tells us to stay away from those kind of places," Chirpy stated.

"Good, I suggest you listen to your mother any other time except now. Pool halls are usually nothing but trouble but I used to frequent this one and it is pretty chill. Follow my lead and whatever you do, don't wander off," Reggie said as he lead the sisters through the doors.

As soon as the group walked in they saw a large, neon sign that read: "Mikey's Leisure Hall". The interior was well maintained and gave off a welcoming vibe. There were maroon walls in between patches of wood paneling with knick-knacks strung upon the walls. Eight pool tables were stationed in the center of the room bordered by booth seats illuminated by hanging light fixtures. Chirpy turned her head to the right and saw a bar tended by a lone, elderly bartender (half-asleep and using the counter for support by the looks of it.) Beyond the patch of pool tables there was a small stage that was only brightened by a single spotlight. A single guitar player strummed forlornly for an absent audience. Apparently these two didn't get the memo about today's storm and were now stuck working even though no one would venture out into the torrent of rain and wind.

"Go sit over there by the tables. This won't take long," Reggie said while he walked over to the bar.

Chirpy and Dinky took a seat at one of the many open tables. Dinky caught her breath enough to become curious about exactly what had happened. Although Chirpy didn't feel like admitting she accidentally got involved in gang warfare; she couldn't leave her sister in the dark about the real danger that faced the entire Hooves family. After Chirpy stumbled through an explanation Dinky fell silent. The look in her eyes just killed Chirpy. They were so distant and cold. It seemed as if Dinky's entire childhood was just pulled out from under her. Gone were the days of carefree play and easy living. Instead, their lives would be spend floating from on place to another or they would separated all together.

After a while Dinky finally spoke up, "It wasn't your fault. You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. So where do we go from here?"

"I don't know but I am sure Reggie is figuring it out. I just can't help but thinking that mom is still in danger though," Chirpy said.

"Mom is a pretty tough cookie. She has raised us all by her lonesome while keeping up with the demands of being a mailmare. What I would be worried about is that Reggie guy. Are you sure we can trust him?" Dinky asked while looking over at Reggie who was using a pay phone.

"He hasn't given us a reason not to. Shoot, he sheltered us in the fly-by and carried you across town on his back. If that isn't reason enough to trust him, I don't know what is!" Chirpy said with confidence.

Reggie hung up the phone and wrote something down in a notebook. He marched back over to the table and tried to break the bad news.

"I tried everything I could but it seems that I we won't get an escort until tomorrow morning. There is still no word on whether your mom will be able to be extracted with us or not," Reggie sighed.

"We got this far! Why can't we get out of town all by ourselves?" Chirpy inquired.

"It is to risky kid. The Boss doesn't think it would be safe enough for me alone to get you out of Ponyville," Reggie explained.

At that moment the front door slammed open while knocking the entry bell so hard it fell off the wall. Two figures emerged at the door. As they stomped their way through the joint, Chirpy and the others ducked underneath the booth. Chirpy couldn't get a very long look at the two but she was pretty sure that one was a unicorn and the other was a pegasus. They made a mess of the bar when they overturned stools and hopped over the counter to threaten the bartender.

"Where are they?! Tell me where you are hiding them or so help me I will snap you like a twig old timer!" the unicorn shouted.

The bartender didn't say a word to the relief of Reggie. What followed was a moment of tense silence before the shattering of liquor bottles echoed throughout the room. The poor old bartender must have been in horrible shape but Chirpy and Dinky wouldn't know since they opted not to look. The aggressors made their way to the center stage and tackled the guitarist before he could get away.

"Now that we are at an understanding, where are they?" the unicorn hollered.

"I don't know what you are talking about? Who are you looking for?" the guitarist whimpered.

"A pegasus with two fillies, the pegasus goes by the name of Reggie. Please make this easy for us. I hate to cause a mess," the unicorn said more reserved in tone.

"I don't know a thing about them and if I did I wouldn't tell you brutes!" the guitarist shouted with contempt.

The unicorn looked over at his pegasus friend and said, "Break his guitar. If he doesn't talk then break his fore-hooves so that he can never play again! I am going to comb the area and make sure they aren't hiding."

Chirpy, Dinky, and Reggie got really quiet. The steps of the unicorn grew louder and louder until suddenly he was right in front of the table.

"Hehe, look who is hiding like a foal. Come on out Reggie! Face me like the colt you once were!" the unicorn said as he overturned the table and pulled Reggie to his hooves.

The pegasus walked over to the side of the unicorn. They both stared him down in unblinking silence, unsure of what to do.

"You know Reg, I honestly thought we lost you for good but I guess I overestimated your abilities. All that time you have spent with those frilly Knights of Equity must have made you a dull blade. Tell me now Reg, even if you claim to work for the betterment of all of us and yourself; are you still the same hustler I left for dead three years ago?" the unicorn said.

"You haven't changed one bit Mikey, I see you still think I have any empathy for slime who rely on cheap cheats and intimidation to make a living. I regret every moment I ever spent in this hall with you cheating honest folks out of hearth and home. What do you want with me?" Reggie replied.

"Its not you I want but those fillies over there have a price on their head so high I could pack up my whole operation and move to Las Pegasus!" Mikey explained.

"Well you aren't going to get them. So are we going to fight like gents or will you have your little pegasus street rat do all the work for you?" Reggie taunted.

Mikey swiftly popped Reggie right in the snout forcing him to take a few steps back. Reggie flew over and dived on top of Mikey, picked him up by his hind legs and threw him into a pool table.

"Don't just stand there! Knock the living crap out him!" Mikey said to his pegasus accomplice as he tried to get up.

The pegasus blindsided Reggie and tackled him into some tables. There was a resonate snap upon impact. Reggie winced in pain and rolled over to reveal his crippled wing. The pegasus was about to finish Reggie off when Reggie did the one thing that he could to balance the odds.

Reggie lifted off his trademark fedora to reveal a horn.

"That's impossible!" the pegasus shouted while taken aback.

Reggie charged up a spell and sent the pegasus flying. He landed with a thud on the stage before convulsing from an electric charge that seemed to fizz out all over his body. With the punk out cold, Reggie slowly got up on his hooves and walked over to where Mikey was spread out across the pool table.

"I wouldn't say the Knights made me a dull knife. Next time you take a gamble on a contract, make sure you know the odds. It has been a pleasure Mikey and hope you don't mind the mess," Reggie proclaimed proudly.

Reggie ran over to the sisters and lead them out of the building.

"Reggie! In all the books I have ever read there has never been a male alicorn!" Dinky said in excitement.

"And there still isn't kid, let's just say I have had some work done. Now if you to would get a move on because I believe we are going to be doing that whole running for our lives thing again!" Reggie said.

Chapter 3: The Affairs of Gentlecolts

"What are the tears for kid?" a strange colt in a suit said as he walked over to the bench.

Chirpy look up from her quiet sob. Her mother taught her long ago to not talk to strangers but seeing how the day had went so far she figured that venting a little wouldn't hurt. She told him everything even though about half way through her rant the stranger seemed to have second thoughts about asking the question. After Chirpy described the depressing turn of events all the way up to the present the Stranger opened his mouth.

"That is a real bad run of luck kid. I feel awful sorry for ya but it could always be worse. Look at me for example since I haven't had a warm meal in a month. I don't wear this suit just to be all formal. It is all I have left. Besides you must work for Richardson, that cat is loaded with enough dough to make a baker jealous," The stranger said.

"I am sorry but I think you must have me mistaken for somepony else. I don't know any one by the name of Richardson," Chirpy replied.

"Ha, that is good because for a second there I thought old Richie sent a little foal to do his dirty work. I know you don't have anything left to trade for but do you have any bits? I am afraid my client won't be meeting me for a little while longer and I am sure even a little foal like you knows a thing or two about quality rocks," the stranger pitched in a salespony voice.

Chirpy felt the weight of the lunch money in her pocket and said, "I might have a few. It would be a shame to leave the great Rainbow Falls Traders Exchange empty handed. I am not sure I would want any old rocks though. Why look there is a pathway made of nothing but pebbles. What makes any of the rocks you are selling any more valuable that them, Mister?"

"Please, call me Lenny young lady since everyone else does. The rocks I supply to many colorful groups all come from deep within in the mines of Saddle Arabia. Now that is all fine and dandy but what makes them so valuable? The value kid is the fact that these rocks have a special ability. They grant the user access to a power denied to many in this unfair world. The power to channel unicorn magic! I would get them while there're hot because who knows if they will be here tomorrow. I will sell you one of my fine rocks for the modest price of four bits," Lenny said enthusiastically.

"Are the rocks safe Lenny?" Chirpy skeptically asked.

"Why you betcha! I have been using them for months and I am the picture of health. The hallucinations are not even a concern anymore. Why I-" Lenny proclaimed before getting into a coughing fit.

"I know what's going on. These new rocks are nothing but new addictive magic artifacts. Do you know what they say in school about those in school Lenny? My classmates and I have to sit through the same boring presentation every year. Those addictive magic artifacts will slowly turn you into a power obsessed lunatic before they eventually kill you. My mom said that is what happen the poor Trixie before the awesome Princess Twilight Sparkle saved her from its spell," Chirpy defiantly said.

"Listen kiddo and listen real close. I am known as the closer which means I don't let deals pass me by just because my clients have some reservations. Whether you try my product of your own free will or not you will be part of the trend latest in designer artifacts. I never have tested it out on a young foal before and it would be nice to know if you is going to blow up in tiny bits before I try to market my magic rocks to the younger crowd," Lenny whispered.

Chirpy looked around nervously. The immediate area around the bench was oddly vacant. There would be no one to hear her cry for help if she even tried. The only ponies she could see was a pack of surprisingly well dressed ponies approaching the bench from all directions.

"So this is what are supplier is up too when he isn't kissing our behinds for a cut of the sweet deal! Lenny I am disappointed but not at all surprised. Only real scum of Equestria like you would force their product on an innocent foal in the name of profit. I am going to give you five seconds to explain to me why I shouldn't take you around back and save your creditors the trouble of smacking you into tomorrow. Hey kid get behind me and let the adults sort it out," a pony in a white suit said.

Chirpy ran behind the formally clad gentlecolts as Lenny gulped really hard and started to speak, "Richardson it is so nice to see you boss! How is business... um I did get you the new shipment," Lenny said nervously.

"Business was better when you weren't selling to everypony who gave you a second look. When we reached an agreement on the terms of our repeat business I believe the matter was made crystal clear that we would be your one and only buyer. You have not only been unfaithful to us but you also have managed to offend our sensibilities. The Knights of Equity would never consent to the sale of the unstable raw product to young foals. We will be relieving you of the shipment and I want you to give me the names of all your suppliers because as of today they will be working for us. What do they say about doing something right again? I believe the answer was to simply do it yourself. Take him away boys!" Richardson eloquently retorted.

Lenny was picked up by two gentlecolts and dragged off somewhere while Richardson directed the rest to grab the bag of rocks.

Richardson walked over to Chirpy and leaned down to her level, "I apologize for the behavior of my former associate and I sincerely hope he hasn't soured the good name of the Knights of Equity for you. I believe an explanation is in order for what has just happened but I am short on time at the moment. Take this card it has a address of a dinner I frequent on Wednesday afternoons. I must ask for your complete silence on what you have been told or may have witnessed until we meet on Wednesday. The Knights of Equity grant you their blessing or as the young crowd might put it, we owe you one," Richardson politely said.

Richardson and his associates walked off the scene just as Chirpy heard her mother calling for her.