The Prism Head Hunter: Part 2 - Retreat to the Tavern

"I'm sorry, but as a connaisseuse, I have to tell you that your goods are not nearly worth as much as what you want to sell them for", the purple maned mare stated, while examining some fancy rocks.

"You've got to be kidding me", the stallion on the other side of the counter demonstrated. "These are first-class jewels from some of the best gem fields and mines in the East Blue."

"Well, if you think that what you are saying is true, then I pity you."

"Are you saying that I'm a fraud?", he asked, so angry that he stomped his forehooves on the table.

"No, I said you are not made to be a jeweler if you think that these are of the quality you make them out to be." She placed the one she was examining on the counter and glared at him with a stern look on her face.

"Of couse, looking at your cutie mark, I highly doubt that. It's more likely that you want to overcharge me for something that I, personally, consider more to be shiny stones than actual gems."

"That's it." He punched the wooden surface on which his products were lying. "If you think my merchandise is that bad then find yourself another vendor."

He was just about to shove her out the door, when a pink blurr came crashing through it. It was moving so fast that he couldn't even really recognize what it was. And as fast as it came, it left through the back door again.

All he knew was that, on the way to the second exit, it bumped into every cabinet and shelf, causing all of the jewels to fall down. Some broke apon impact, which high-quality gems shouldn't normally do. The store owner was looking at this mess and hesitantly returned his gaze to his "client".

"So, uhm, how much did you say you wanted to pay, ma'am?"

It was seriously never Pinkie's intention not to pay for everything she ate, back there. Judging from how good it tasted she would have paid even more. But the truth was, Pinkie didn't have enough bits. She had been running through the town for 8 minutes now, the salespony always on her heels, chasing her with a baseball bat.

Wait a sec ... has she? Pinkie stopped in her tracks. She was standing in a secluded alley way, just barely luminated. Apparently, she got rid of her pursuer. Feeling a little guilty, she carefully made her way back to Pipsqueak and that little filly. Twist. That was her name, right? Or rather, finding him, since she still had no idea where he was.

"There you are." Pinkie barely managed to duck that swing. Her pursuer caught up with her.

"Bye." And away she was again. Running past the batter and onto Main Street.

"Get back here."

Pipsqueak has already brought Twist back home.

It was a rustic, little inn near the port. She and her parents made a living by serving food and drinks to the marines and visitors that came to the island and providing them with beds to sleep in during the night. Since most of the marines don't think too highly of the base' canteen, they make pretty good money.

Even if that wasn't the case, they would have come there simply because they wanted to help out Twist's parents.

It's three storeys tall, with the tavern at the ground floor, the family's own premises at the top, and everything in between being lodgings for the guests. Oh, and a cellar for the food.

It's a nice little family business and it has been theirs for several generations. They have been loved by the town ever since the first day..

Candy Cane, Twist's mother, is in charge of the food and she outshines every single other pony on the island with her cuisine. Even the chef of the base asked her for her recipes, but she just hit him over the head with the frying pan she had at hand. Without saying a word. But I think he understood pretty well. She's also the one who throws everypony who drinks over the eight out.

She always wears her pink apron, even when the tavern is closed up. She says that it brings her luck. Beyond that she has green and red hair, which she curled up into a bun, and a white coat.

Pop Tart, Twist's father, is the household pony for everything. He makes the beds, scrubs the floors, replaces the burned out lightbulbs. He really likes to keep everything clean around the house. He's also responsible for the establishment's financial stuff.

And if you look to him, you'll know where Twist got her most noticeable features from, like her frizzled hair and the glasses, although his were smaller. His coat is sand-colored and his mane cobalt blue.

And ever since her sister left to study in Logue Town, a couple of months ago, Twist took her job of taking orders and serving the dishes. It was quite a profitable decision, too, since most ponies can't say "no" to her adorability and just keep ordering more.

Pipsqueak supported Twist on their way back to the inn. It was a long way back to the shore and Twist insisted they go the long way round in order to not attract any attention from the townsponies.

They rested on one of the tables. Both of them agreed that neither would Twist be able to make it up the stairs nor would Pipsqueak be strong enough to carry her all the way.

"Where do ya keep the bandages?", he asked.

"They're in the bokth at the wall back there. Do you know how to apply them?"

"Yeah. When you're on a pirate ship and it's that lil' burnt cinder of time when they daan't make ya do chores, that's wot ya do. ya read books ter learn the stuff they will make ya do, so ya won't screw up and get killed."

"That thoundth horrible. It must've been a living hell."

"And wot abaht ya, mate? If the mother of that crown-wearin' masochist is as bad as 'er, it must've been pretty bad for ya, too ."

"Oh yeah, she'th the worst. Thhe once threatened to close up a thtore and execute the owner, because he wouldn't give her the monthly "extra tax". One little thlip-up that she findth offenthive and she goeth bonkers. Luckily, she doethn't leave her fortreth very often."

"I can certainly see that. Just wahn mention of 'er name and everypony 'id in fear."

Right then, Twist's parents came back from buying some supplies. Pop Tart immediately dropped the paperbags full of ingredients on the floor as he saw that Twist was hurt. Candy Cane just looked at them dumbfounded.

"Oh dear lord, what happened to you sweetie?" He completely ignored Pipsqueak at her side as he inspected if any serious damage has been done. When he saw that there was nothing worrisome, he pulled her close and planted a kiss on the fore head.

"It'th, uhm ..." She couldn't decide what to do. They would have probably noticed if she lied, but she also didn't want to drag her parents any further into this. Luckily, her mother didn't give her that choice.

"You were with Rainbow Dash, weren't you?", she flat out asked, leaning against the doorframe. "You thought I wouldn't notice when somepony is using my kitchen?" Twist hung her head and tried to hide her face.

"Oh dear. We told you to stay away from her. We know what she did and what it means to you, but we simply can't risk anything." Twist finally looked at them again. A little bit of shame in her eyes. "Now, please tell us what happened."

Right then they heard a mare screaming in anger outside.

"Wot was that?" Pipsqueak asked.

Candy Cane replied cheerfully: "Oh, just one of the sales ponies who didn't get her money. Some pink doofus with a straw hat picked the wrong stand." She smiled and giggled, just waiting for the bat pony (get it? I'm gonna kill myself now) to hit the bill-dodger. "Oh, they're coming our way." She watched intently as the pursuer slowly, but steadily caught up.

Pipsqueak startled: "Pink with a strawhat? She's 'ere wif me."

Candy Cane was kinda surprised by that. She looked turned to Pip with a raised eye brow.

"Huh? No problem, kiddo." She made her way towards the kitchen and returned with a frying pan and an apple in her mouth. You know what's gonna happen, don't you?

She waited at the door until Pinkie shot past, hauled off and the pan landed right in the light brown face of the pony that was running so fast and was stopped so abruptly that she made two back flips on her way to the ocean.

Pinkie instantly tried to thank the (to her) unknown mare, but was cut short by Pip.

"Pinkie! Wot happened?"

"Oh there you are Pip. Do you know her?" Pinkie asked surprised.

"Yes, she's the mother of that lil' filly from before. Now, wot 'appened?", he asked hastily.

"Well, everything at her stand was so good that I ate everything."

"YA ATE THE BLEEDIN' WHOLE STAND?" Pip inquired shocked.

"Yeah, but I didn't have enough bits to pay for everything." Pinkie felt a little ashamed after admitting that.

"Urgh," he facehoofed, "Ya should 'ave come ter me sooner. we 'ave plenty more on our boat." He saw the soaked mare climbing onto dry land again and raced over to her. He told her that there was plenty of money left on their boat and she could take as much as Pinkie owed her. And some extra to fix her muzzle.

Candy Cane, meanwhile, started talking to Pinkie, with a good chunk of apple still in her mouth.

"So, is this spot, like, your little brother", she swallowed," or what?"

"No, actually. We met at sea. It's a long story."

"Well, it's gonna be a while until our customers arrive. Why don't you two come in and I'll make you something to eat? On the house. It's the least I can do for you for helping my little angel."

There was certainly a little sincerity in this offer, but also a lot of distrust in her voice, but Pinkie was too flattered by the offer to really notice.

After that, Pinkie, Pip and Twist told her parents the story, slurping their vegetable soup while taking turns talking.

"At least we understand why you did it, sweetie", Pop Tart commented, still a huge amount of concern in his face and tone.

"And I understand that this soup is delicious", said Pinkie. CRASH went a vase on the other side of the room.

"That goat-shwaggeling bitch. Gimme something else to break or it'll be her neck", Candy Cane screamed at the top of her lungs. Her husband quickly ran to her, holding a plate. "No, honey. Not the good china plates." He got another one. "PERFECT." clash

Pipsqueak leaned over to Twist to ask her what that word meant, but she just told him that her mom likes to make up words when she's angry. Pinkie was interested in something else. How did it come to all of this?

After Pinkie told the story of how she came to meet Pipsqueak, the door suddenly burst open. The light of the setting sun cast a shadow across the room. The only things they saw were the outlines of a pink mare and two stallions in navy uniforms. Everypony except Pinkie and Pip sprung to attention.

"Captain Rich!" Now, Pip also stood up. There was a lot of fear in their voices, except for Candy Cane who just sounded like she was two seconds away from screwing the captain's nose up even more.

"Spare your breath. I heard your offspring infiltrated my facility today." She looked at Twist with stirring cold opal eyes. The little filly was too terrified to look away. "Don't worry. I'm not here to do you any harm. You've got somepony else to take the blame."

Twist's eyes widened. "No, you can't do that." She was just about to kneel before her. To plead her to reconsider, but her father held her in place.

"But you remember the deal she made. The bounty hunter will be punished for every crime this family commits in this month", she said in a tone that was almost a threat.

"That deal wath unfair. There'th no way anypony could thurvive that long." Twist cried again. Her face was still stained from the humiliation caused by Diamond Tiara earlier.

"Don't say that, my dear. She held out pretty well, so far. But if I had to guess, I'd say she wouldn't last two more days, anyway. Be thankful that I'll put the bounty hunter out of her misery."

"She-hihi is not a bounty hunter." Pinkie tried her damnest to prevent herself from bursting out in laughter.

"Do you know her?" Pinkie nodded. Not daring to open her mouth. "Isn't that nice? An old friend got wind of her sacrifice and decided to stand by her side, I presume." Her face changed from mockingly playful to deadpan serious in a mere second. "What's so funny?"

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. I'm sorry-hihihi. You just remind me of one of those pigs whose horns grow into their own skulls. How many face lifts did they mess up to make your muzzle look like that? HAHAHAHAHA."

Her laughter was quickly cut short by a bullet Spoiled Rich fired into her shoulder. That made her topple over and she landed with a loud smash on the floor.

"I have the highest authority on this island. How dare you mock me like that?" Pip, Twist and Pop Tart raced to check on her. "Any kind of disrespect shown against me is the greatest crime one can commit on this island. This little lowlife should be thankful for the mercy I have shown to her family and that barbaric mare.

Candy Cane reached for the frying pan that was still laying on the table behind her. There was nothing she would have rather done than to just beat her with it until that bitch's mind was fully functional again.

"But my patience has run out. Her execution will take place AT SUNDOWN. AND THAT'S FINAL."