The Return of Darkness

"Volty Masturbation," I said as High Voltage came too from the sudden shadow teleportation, thus, causing to awaken as my sleeper slave. He gave me a curt bow as we hid in a small grove outside of Manehatten. I made sure to check to see if no one followed us, which was unlikely. He continued to bow or was he just fascinated with the ground below him? I might never know. "Rise and listen," I ordered, to which he eagerly smiled. "We are outside of the big apple because our train was derailed. We need to get a ship to take us the rest of the way to Trottingham Island. Do you know of anyone that would give us a lift?"

"Yes master, I do," he nodded happily. "I have a friend who would happily give us a lift. She usually is located in the northern harbor, transporting materials to and from the island. She was going to be our original pick up from the train. If we get there by nightfall, we can be in Trottingham by morning." I gave him a wicked grin. "Good, act natural and lead on."

I followed him quietly through the city and to the harbor. We got some odd looks since everygriffin that I saw had no wings. So for me to keep them must have been a rare sight to behold. We stopped for a quick bite to which I was offered that fucking goop again, to which Volt declined saying that it would hinder my skills. To which the ponies just gave him a strange look, and gave me dog food instead, which I ate despite the humiliation. I had worse, its called pig slop.

I managed to get Volt to make several stops around the city, mostly to equip myself with things that I will need in the Old Kingdom. I grabbed; maps, climbing equipment, ropes, canteens, heating crystals, water condenser crystals, crystal inscribers and various other things that I might need. As we jumped from shop to shop, I was surprised as how much money Volt had. Where he kept it, I don't know. You would think that pockets in you fur would show, then again, I have a ship hidden within my body.

Eventually, we came up to the harbor in question. It was a simple place with the eastern sea that was calming and welcoming to the ship masters of the mainland. We didn't see many ships other than the odd frigate. I would make a comment about the state of the harbor with all the loose rope, randomly placed pallets and the like, but I don't want to insult the mare that would me taking us to the island.

As the sun was about to cross the horizon, we came up to the last dock of the northern harbor. To which I was impressed. There was a big ship that was reminiscent of the wonderful genre of steampunk. I would try to describe it, but it wouldn't do it justice.

We walked to the stern to where a bunch of crates was being loaded up via walkway leading onto the ship. Volt called out to someone by the name of, SteamPunk, to which I facepalmed the most epic of face slapping. In just mere seconds of the name being called I saw a mare jumped from the ship and landed right in front of us. She was what I would expect from a mare with a name like hers.

She had a; dirty-gold mane that was in a cute, ponytail. Her coat was a light hazel with lots of oil stains near the tips of her hooves. She had a pair of brown, aviator goggles that she wore like a headband and she was a pegasus with one metal wing. She wore a brown leather jacket that the pilots of WW2 would have worn with glee and to top it all off, she had a lit cigar in the corner of her muzzle.

'Yep, the very definition of SteamPunk girl stuff, I bet she has a cute voice too,' I thought with a giggle.

"Hey, Zapz! How are ya?" Steam said with a very cute voice that rivaled weaponized cuteness.

"I could be doing better, and I thought I told you not to call me that. It hurts the stallion card," he scoffed.

'Oh god, they're dating.'

"Well, you're no fun," she winked with her tongue sticking out. Volt rolled his eyes. "So, aren't we supposed to have met up in the small port town of Port Town?" Steam asked.

"We were supposed to, but somepony gave me a hint that something bad was going to happen to that metal monstrosity, so we took a different root," he replied following my plan.

"Well, I say your helper gave ya good advice," she nodded knowingly. "The train was derailed and all the ponies on it disappeared. The guard is going insane trying to figure out what happened, besides. Ships are safer anyway," she finished.

'Huh...So they didn't get caught right away, but if there that organized. Then they must have learned that I escaped before they could do anything. Making me an unknown to them. Which is perfect for me.'

"I have to agree with you there. Ships are way better anyways," Volt winked. Steam blushed a deep crimson, "are you trying to take my heart away?" she asked. "Nah, I'm still into stallions."

"Dang it all. One day I will bring you to the dark side of the force," she playfully frowned. "When that day comes, I will be an ugly Diamond Dog."

'FUCKING SHUT UP AND KISS ALREADY!' I internally screamed as we were running out of time of day. The more time I have, the more I can prepare. "I see you charge is getting sleepy. We should probably get on our journey now," Steam giggled. "I agree," Volt agreed.

She lead us aboard her ship called the Maze Runner, to our rooms. Volt was probably getting the pussy in the captain's den while I get to spend my time in a big cage with a dog bed in the corner in the storage area. I smacked a nearby crate, causing a big hole in the side of it as I walked into my cage and got comfortable for our eighteen-hour trip.

Gason couldn't comprehend what he just learned. One of his spies located in Manehatten told him the High Voltage was already on a ship on his way back to his lab. He slammed his claw down on his desk in the darkness of his cave hideout. With that pony on his way to continue to that accursed place that was crawling with guards. He knew he had just a few hours before they get too deep into the militarized waters. Volt was supposed to be a trump card to take over the fort city of Trottingham. In just a few hours, his take over f that train was going to be all for not, despite it going on without a hitch.

Just as he was about to scream in frustration, the screeching of his iron door into the room preventing him from destroying his desk. He looked up and saw Mendez walk in. "Sir," she saluted in her armor. "Mendez," Gason nodded in response. "Any word about how the target got away?"

"Sorry Sir, nothing that makes sense, but I did learn what ship they got on."

"Okay, start explaining the first thing then go on with the second."

Mendez nodded,"Of course Sir. From what our freed, brothers had told us. There was a young Tom that knew a lot about what was in the Green Poison. Normally, this wouldn't signal anything too important, but what's confusing about the Tom was that he turned into a shadow and swam through the darkness like the mythical Lich King of Tartarus. From what I could put together. This Tom has taken control of High Voltage with a mind-altering drug called, Purple Dragon and was searching for information. I personally believe that this Tom used the shadows to travel long distances with Volt in tow, which is how they made it to Manehatten."

Gason bit his lip. This Tom, the more he learned about him was becoming more and more of a concern. From being picked from the adoption center in Canterlot in just an hour after arriving, to be picked by Fancy Pants of all ponies. Followed by being taken to Volts private lab via the train and now being able to pass through shadows like nothing was something of a mystery that was looking like a nightmare.

This Tom was an unknown, a dangerous unknown that was using whoever he comes across to get what he wants. No wonder why he was so healthy, why he knew what he knew. He must have a unicorn working alongside him that was well-versed in the dark arts and was using the young Griffin as a sleeper agent. There must be a third party making a move, and that's something he cannot have if he were to become King.

"There must be a third party using the Tom to get into secret areas, that is the only logical explanation. That Tom must be taken out as soon as possible, so what ship is he on?"

"The Maze Runner, Sir. Our friend would be most happy to help us take out that Tom. In fact, she will be making a stop in Port Town to pick up our smugglers. I believe that's the time when we could take him out and capture High Voltage in the process," Mendez purred through her helm.

"Make it happen," Gason ordered as his luck was turning back around.

"Yes, my King."