Chapter Nine:
Time to go to work

"He's got my sister Minerva." Gilda said. "WHAT!" Shouted both Twilight and Applejack. "Ah didn't know ya had a sister." AJ said as they calmed down. "Don't exactly go around advertising it to everyone bumpkin." Gilda snidely remarked. "Ah'm sorry, care to repeat that turkey?" AJ said as they both glared at each other. "ENOUGH!" Shouted Jing, startling the girls. "Alright Gilda, do you know where he's keeping her?" He asked calmly. "If I knew, I'd have busted her out a long time ago." She said. Turning to Twilight he decided to see if she would know anything.

"Hey Twi, would you know anywhere he could possibly keep her?" Jing questioned. "Hmm... Well, Blueblood could be keeping her in his mansion in Canterlot." She offered. "Hmm maybe, but that seems too easy, does he have like a holiday home or something?" He asked.

"Well now that you mention it, he does own a Villa out near Las Pegasus." Twilight said. "Perfect, lets go Kir." Jing said as he began heading for the door.

"Wait, where do you think you're going?" Asked Twilight as she ran up to him. "I'll give you three guesses." Jing stated.

"Now wait just a gosh darn minute, y'all ain't doin this by yourself!" Applejack exclaimed. "Who said I'm going to be alone, Gilda's going with us." Jing answered. "HUH?" The three of them said simultaneously. "Well it is her sister, don't you think she should be there for her?"
He asked. "B-but, I tried to kill you, what kind of idiot would trust someone after that?" She questioned. Jing just smiled at her and calmly walked back over to her and knelt down. "And I forgive you for that, because you were just doing what you had to, to keep your family safe."
Jing said as he untied the rope from Gilda. "Now lets go, we've got a job to do." He said as he stood up and left the library with her following soon after, leaving the two stunned mares behind. "I think I need to write a letter to the princess." Twilight said.

On the train to Las Pegasus, Gilda sat in a cabin with both Jing and Kir. Kir having made a bed and gone to sleep on the overhead storage, while Jing stared out the window. Gilda on the other hand, was laying on her back, with her talons interlocked behind her head.

Looking over to Jing, she decided to try starting a conversation. "Hey Jing?" She said to get his attention. "Yeah Gilda?" He answered as he faced her. "Well, I was wondering, why did you decide to help me?" She asked. "Oh is that all? Simple, it's because you needed my help."
He said as if it were obvious. "Seriously? It can't be just that, you must want something in return right?" She continued.

"Not really, last I checked, you don't have anything I want or need. If you're worried about repaying me, don't be. I'm sure there's plenty of valuables at Blood's villa." Jing said as he relaxed back into the chair.

"No way, you're going to rob the prince while you're doing this? Are you nuts? Even under the circumstances, robbing from royalty is a major offence!" Gilda exclaimed. "Says the failed assassin,and besides a thief has to start his career somewhere." Jing said jokingly.

Gilda Just stared at him for a long time before asking her next question. "Just who are you Jing?" He opened his eyes and stared directly into Gilda's. "I'm the bandit king."

"That useless bird, where is she? She should have taken care of the little brat by now. How hard could it possibly be to kill a child?"
Blueblood complained as he paced around his mansion's study. "This one is not just any child Blueblood. He possesses incredible skill and has dealt with great foes in the past." Sherry informed him as she laid atop a bookshelf. "I suspect that she has already been defeated."
She speculated.
"Oh confound it, why must the hired help always be so useless? I suppose that we shall have to find another to take care of him then." Blueblood contemplated.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door to his study. "My prince? I apologize for disturbing you sir." Came the voice of one of the mansion staff through the door. "What is it? I'm incredibly busy." He answered. "The royal guard sir, they have requested that you are to be escorted by them to the castle for an audience with the princesses." The servant explained to him.

"Oh very well, tell them I shall be out shortly." He ordered. "As you wish sir." They replied as they left. "Oh what could those old hags possibly want at this hour?" Blueblood asked as he left. Sherry kept close by, but hidden in the shadows as they headed for the meeting.

Author's Note

Chapter Nine folks, and so the rescue begins. What wile lay in store for Jing, Kir and Gilda? Be back next time and find out!