Author's Note

Welcome back, here with another chapter. This is going to be a different take on the chapter with Rin's POV, so hopefully, this will provide a different look at the story's events so far.

Follow your intuition. Be smart, be brave, tell the truth. And don’t take any nonsense.

-Kelly Cutrone.

Stealth For Power

Rin's POV:

''Are you sure about this?'' Blank asked me as we dragged Jamir and Daring to their beds. We just set them down and contemplated tying them up, but what we had planned wouldn't take long. I know I should feel bad and a little sick with myself for attacking my friend and best friend, but I didn't have time to worry about that, not with this Starlight chick going all Adolf Hitler on these poor ponies. ''We need to be quick about this, so we can deal with getting chewed out all the quicker,'' Blank snickered but also frowned a tad when she thought about hurting her friend.

''Yea,'' I said, making sure my shoelaces were tight so I wouldn't trip and putting my hair into a ponytail. Jamir will understand later, he and I just had different ideas at the moment, and I knew that he actually was right on waiting, but waiting has only gotten us fucked since Detroit, and I wouldn't let that stop us from getting back home and stopping his crazy ass sister. ''Grass and Echo fast asleep?''

''Yep, they both can be out like a light, so we don't have to worry about them anytime soon.'' Blank looked out the window and narrowed her eyes again. The only issue would be to get those lookouts out of the way so we can move out. Luckily, Hanabi can help with that.

''Yes, Lady Rin?'' Hanabi appeared in a flash of pink and red particles, unsheathing one of her swords.

''Need you to cause a distraction. There are 2 ponies out there, about 45 to 50 meters away, keeping a lookout,'' I had hope that she was able to do this without causing a problem, or without anyone who didn't need to get hurt. ''Non-lethal, if possible.''

''Say less, Lady Rin. I will follow your instructions to the letter.'' Hanabi smirked and phased away, the ponies on the ridge soon falling to the ground a few moments later.

''Helpful little scout,'' Blank commented, but then remembered something. ''We forget about the other-''

THUMP!

''No, she didn't.'' I smiled, spying out the back window to see the other two guards be knocked out cold. This was going to be too easy. ''Let's go.'' Blank and I slowly and carefully went outside the front door and crept along the backs of the houses, being careful to stay low under the windows and step lightly over the rocks and small impressions in the ground. The moon was a small comfort throughout our little operation and faintly illuminated our way house past house.

We chose not to speak until we knew the coast was clear enough for that. The entire time, I kept thinking about what that bitch would accomplish if she was let to run around and mess up the lives of those around us. I mean, how could she just decide the fate of all of these ponies around her like they were just puppets?

The thought put a very, very bad taste in my mouth.

Time, and time again, we as humans have constantly went to war and aruged over pretty much any possible thing, and it always results in death and destruction. It has never went such a way that everyone benefited, and that lack of care or understanding that certain people hold is the most annoying thing to me.

And Starlight was one such pony to push her agenda on others that didn't want it.

We came to the front of her house, scooting over to peer at the corner of the window. Inside was Starlight Glimmer, in all her bullshit glory. How easy it would be to just go over and knock her head loose and send it halfway across this planet?

If only I could get that chance.

''What is she doing?'' Blank asked, looking to see Starlight opening a long wooden box with her magic, looking over her shoulder and producing a wooden staff intertwined with leaves and gems, the staff resembling more of a club at the top. Out the corner of our eyes, we saw one of the ponies that came into her house the other day, Double Diamond, I think.

''I don't know, but something tells me that staff is probably how she's turning everyone in the village. Like, nobody smiles that hard and is just that happy all the time. I definitely sense something along the lines of mind control.'' I checked around us every few seconds. Starlight talked to Double Diamond, who looked absouletuy estatic to hear anything she had to say.

''Are our 'guests' fast asleep?''

''Yes, they are,'' Double Diamond replied with a mile-long grin. ''Are we going to help them see the ways of our little town?''

That did not sound right.

''Yes, we will. . .I do find it sad that they are unwilling to be a part of our humble town so far, but we need only give them just a bit of motivation. In the morning, we will help them to see the charm and magic here,'' the staff in Starlight's magic twirled around. Then she smiled and look to one of the other windows. ''I will have you return soon.''

''We need to strike, now,'' Blank whispered to me, beginning to go around to the other side of the door, baring her fangs. ''Get him away from her, and follow her to where she's going.''

Easier done than said. And I know that's not the way that saying goes, but when you're me; almost anything is that way. ''Hanabi, can you take care of him?''

My Fairy saluted as she told Blank to provide a distraction once he got far enough away from the house so we could question him. We remained on the sides of the house, out of his perhiphal vision until he was far enough away. We would rush him, and take it from there. This would be something that would need spilt second decscions. We didn't want any more violence that was needed.

''I shall be back, Starlight,'' Double Diamond said, walking towards the door. ''Should I alert the guards?''

''Hmm. . .no. Just make sure that they are doing their job, I want no distractions until morning. If there are any, I will hold you accountable and suggest you for 'corrective' training. Is that understood?''

''Y-Yes, Starlight.'' Double Diamond opened the door and proceeded outward, a look of fear on his face as he walked off, toward the direction of our houses. Once we were sure he was far enough, Hanabi floated close to the pony, as Blank clicked her hooves together just loud enough for him to hear as he turned around to see my Fairy press the tip of her sword to his forehead.

''Wha?-''

''-Worry not, you will be only knocked out for 4 hours. You will remember next to nothing.'' Hanabi chuckled as Double Diamond slowly fell to the ground.

''Knockout,'' Blank commented, taking the knocked out Double Diamond and storing him in a nearby outhouse, and securing it with a sturdy enough looking branch. ''We need to just wait for her leave.''

''And what exactly are we hoping to accomplish?'' Blank asked, though I was sure she had the same idea as me to help these ponies be liberated from her tyranny. For all the grand talk of being together and the same ideal, it sure doesn't seem like it. I only wondered how long she has been doing this, and for what purpose; to build an army, to make a statement, to. . .I don't know.

I just knew it wasn't right, whatever it was.

''Stop this charade and free this town,'' I replied, inching closer to the door with Blank, but something came up that I had to think about for the moment. ''What if this is your only chance to get home?''

Home. . .Detroit.

I hadn't thought about that. I mean, The Alicorn Amulet is something that we could attempt to try and use to get back, but it could backfire on us. Graceful seems like she may be smart enough to help, but that doesn't seem like it would hold water. But these ponies need help, we can't just abandon them. That's not what we do, especially Jamir.

''We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Right now, our priority is making sure that Starlight isn't left to do whatever the hell she is now when we do end up leaving.'' I said, taking control of this situation. It was a little messed up to have to choose something like this, but it's better to do something than nothing.

''Lady Rin,'' Hanabi called out to me in a whisper. ''Are you certain you want to do this? This may just be our only chance to return home,'' I bit my lip as she folded her arms. ''I understand the situation in front of us is nothing either of us wants to be confronted with, but we must think of the greater good here.''

''What are you talking about?'' I asked, narrowing my eyes, normally Hanabi is the first and last person I can rely on besides Jamir. And for her to suggest going against what we both knew to be the lesser of two evils was. . .unsettling. ''Are you actually on Jamir's side of this versus taking the fight to this asshole? We need to-'' I was cut off by Hanabi's hand.

''-What we need to is to play this the only way the only person with any amount of sense knows how; Lady Rin, we do not belong here, and the problems of this world are even lesser of that statement. Try as we might, we are only making a bigger target on our back. Daring and the rest of The Nameless Crew can handle this to the best of their ability,'' Hanabi poked my nose before continuing, a look of passive annoyance on her face. ''We need to secure a way home and then; only then can we consider helping.''

But. . .we. . .

''And if I seem to recall, you had the same thought process when we were in the jungle; what happened with that?'' my eyes narrowed and my hands began to shake.

''Uh, guys,'' Blank called to us.

''That was different!'' I hissed quietly. ''We didn't know that-''

''-We, and by that definition, you didn't know that there are multiple problems anywhere you go, and there is nothing that can stop every single one. The second you realized that, your entire demeanor changed. Just like with Challenger, you both are weak-willed when it comes to matters personal,'' fire began to slowly flicker and which around her form, the anger in her eyes only becoming more apparent. ''If we are careless in this world, then we may not have one to return to and stop the corruption there.''

''Guys. . .'' Blank slowly backed up past us, her head hung low to the ground and her posture seeming tense. Ugh, whatever, Hanabi's little tirade is a little more important.

''So you want us to just lay down and take this as is?'' I asked, poking my Fairy in her armour as she floated back a tad and hovered closer to my face, landing her feet on my waiting hand. ''You, of all people! Aren't you all about justice and fairness and doing what is right?''

''Yes, Lady Rin, but at a certain point playing the hero will only cause more harm than good if you do not take stock of your true issues versus trying to save the masses. Do you not realize that if we allow Challenger's sister to take hold of our home, that we are essentially dooming Amercia?'' Hanabi threw her hands out and let them slap to her sides before folding her arms back. She can't honestly think-

''-Her reach will only grow until it is in every house, in every block, of every street, of every city, town, state, country and conteitent on Earth. And who's to say she will stop there?'' Hanabi closed her eyes and sighed. ''If left unchecked, she will fester like a disease and it will be too late to adminster a cure if we do not make the difficult choices now, and I-SHING! refuse to let everything we, and those before us be for nothing. On my pride, I swear.'' I looked to see the tip of one of her sword prod my nose. If she felt so strongly about this, why not get a second opinion?

''Takiko and Ko; what about them? Do they feel the same?'' I whispered and grit my teeth. I couldn't be alone in this.

''When it comes to them; I am. . .unsure. You will have to ask them yourself.'' my Fairy simply replied. ''But, we need to-Look out!'' Hanabi called as she was smacked with something black and blue, the speed of it dazing her as she was pulled forward and smacked again, but being sent flying over the outhouse where we put Double Diamond. I managed to turn around to see Blank jump back from a swing of Starlight's staff before charging, a wall of rocks being erected to stop her before the staff came around to me before I lifted my arm to block.

Diving forward and throwing my leg out for a side kick, that damn staff was there again to block. ''What the?'' I questioned, the power of my kick being stopped somehow. ''Oof!'' the staff came to my face to blind me for a second. Blank hopped over the wall to fly towards the Unicorn as she rolled over and sung the staff around again to graze Blank as she dropped to the ground in a instant, falling face first into the dirt. ''Blank!'' I reached for my side for King, but another whack from that staff made my arm go limp for a moment.

WHAM! The staff hit my head, causing me to kell over the same as Blank. What the fuck is that staff made of?

''You bitch!'' I cursed, trying to get up, but barely managing to rise my head a few inches before Starlight chuckled and looked back to me. ''What are you doing to these ponies?!''

''. . .Well, nothing really,'' Starlight smiled, her look of satisfaction in her eyes pissing me off all the more. ''I just helped to see the little charm of our town. And now that you saw too much, I'll have no choice but to help the two of you see that our town is the best thing for you, and once I take care of Equestria, I will expand my reach beyond and to this so called 'Earth' of yours. . .'' The gems on the staff began to change to the color red, zapping Blank with it along with a stream of her own magic, her screams being muffled by a sack that Starlight put in her mouth.

I could smell fur and flesh being singed a bit, and her whines as her body convulsed and breathed up and down rapidly. Her eyes began to shrink and dart over the place before being swallowed up by the glow of her magic. When she got done, Blank stopping moving as I looked to see her Cutie Mark being lifted off her flank and floating over to Starlight.

''What did you do to her?!''

''Just made her a good citizen of town, now. She will be an excellent addition to the town, and so shall you,'' Starlight soon trotted over and stared me down. ''And worry not, I will take care of your friends.''

Before I remember being zapped, the only two things I could think of was;

Jamir's gonna be pissed. And Hanabi may have been right after all.