The Human Pet

By the time Power Point arrived at Canterlot Castle, it was chaos. Alarms were blaring (from where??) and ponies were stampeding back and forth like mad. It seemed that moments earlier, Flash Sentry had showed up with that bratty teen Diamond Tiara in tow to report on the existence of Sugar Town. Diamond was proudly telling anypony who'd listen that her parents were totally fine with her exploits around Equestria and she was continuing her quest for the meanest boyfriend in the world.

Power Point had no doubt that Celestia intended to deal with Sugar Town one way or another before news could leak of EvilCorp's existence... and the royal family's involvement in it. Not to mention the apocalyptic storm that had to be brewing within her over the kidnapping of Princess Luna. It seemed certain to Power Point that Governor Glow had pushed his luck far too far and was about to reap the consequences. But before that could happen, she had to steal the ashes of the Alicorn Amulet for him to ensure his silence about her own criminal past. What he intended to do with the ashes was beyond the mare's comprehension. But she couldn't imagine there was enough juice left in there to defeat the princesses or anything like that. Power Point soothed her own guilty conscience by deciding that he was probably planning some elaborate escape. And so, for that matter, was she.

With all the business in the Castle, nobody noticed her sneak into the royal quarters and tip-toe away with the ashes from its fireplace. There was a strange glitter to the ashes, and they seemed to be vibrating in the little satchel she poured them into. The Governor was right - there was still some power left unspent. Power Point released a breath of relief. A quick dash to the Tradestone and she would be teleported back to Sugar Town, with the Governor's henchponies closing the path behind her.

But right as she was heading back, she was stopped by a bright pink pegasus guard. Power Point froze. It was Flash Sentry's assistant from the village prison, the high-strung mare called Blue Rose. "Halt!" The guard commanded, a feral grin on her face. "You're the little whorse who shoved a door in my face... now I shall take my vengeance!"

Power Point - who was more than a little high strung herself - panicked and galloped straight into and over Blue Rose, leaving her squashed on the ground while Power Point ran off.

"I hate everything." Rose groaned.

Suddenly, she heard Flash Sentry call behind her: "Roooose! Has there been an attack? I'll need that on report! In triplicate, missy...!"

"Sir, please just let me die..."

There was nopony who could ever catch Rainbow Dash once she was on the move. The blue mare zapped through the fort, distracting, confusing and alarming the Governor's guards. While she was busy as a distraction, Nurse Redheart snuck up to the two Diamond Dogs keeping watch over Princess Luna's cell and disabled them with expertly judged knocks to the neck. The dogs were out like a light.

Trixie emerged from the shadows, her horn bursting with energy. A blue haze enveloped the cell door and unlocked it. Inside was Princess Luna, gagged and chained. Another jolt from Trixie's horn freed her. "The Intrepid and Valorous Trixie arrives to the rescue!" Trixie announced loudly. Redheart nudged her in the ribs. "Ow! Alright! Um... Princess, we're here to get you out!"

Luna smiled warmly. "And not before long! Quick, remove this accursed inhibitor from our royal horn so that we might give these wayward fools a long overdue spanking!"

Despite Trixie's best efforts, however, the magic inhibitor would not respond to her will. No amount of concentration could force it to unlock. "I can't get it to open!"

"It must be tied to the Governor's own magic somehow. My sister could surely break the spell, but only if word reaches her." Luna paused, her ears pricking up. "I hear chaos upstairs. What is happening?"

"Rainbow Dash." said Redheart simply, grinning.

The blue pegasus flitted through the fort, playfully driving the Diamond Dogs into a frenzy by performing various complicated Wonderbolt tricks and loops. Finally, she burst out onto the battlements. "Yeah!" Rainbow declared proudly. "She's back! Queen of the cool! Kicking butt! Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Oh yeah!"

"A delight it is to catch your show! Now might you help us escape, Rainbow?" A familiar voice shouted from below.

Rainbow Dash looked down, gawping. "Zecora??" She dropped out of the sky and onto the stone floor. "Corporal Star? What the hay are you guys doing here?!"

"Trying to leave!" Crimson presented the melted remains of his hoofcuffs. "We can play catch-up when we're back home playing snooker. The Princess and Red?"

"All taken care of. Follow me!" Rainbow Dash disappeared in a blue flash. Crimson, Zecora and Soup looked at each other, awkwardly. Then the blue mare's face suddenly reappeared from the broken trapdoor. "Uhh, at your pace then, got it..."

Crimson practically disappeared into Luna's hug when they reunited in the dungeon. And then Nurse Redheart piled on top.
"Crimmy!"
"It's good to see thy face, Sergeant!"

"Sergeant?" Rainbow Dash scratched her head.

"Crimmy?" Soup scrunched her face in disgust.

The hug continued until finally Crimson's hoof punched out from mass of blue and white fur, followed by his gasping face. "Guys! Oxygen levels failing... kidneys at 23%!"

Luna and Redheart finally released the bat, who sat still for a few moments watching his life flash before his eyes. "It's wonderful to see you both too, but I gotta go back."

"What?!" the entire group shouted.

"They've brainwashed Lighthouse. I'm not leaving without her." Crimson said firmly.

Luna began to speak with a firm "Sergeant...", only to fall silent out of shock when Rainbow Dash spoke over her. "I gotcha! You and I will go find her. The Princess can fly the others outta here. Nopony stays behind. Right?" She froze and turned to the Princess with a fierce blush on her face, realising she'd ignored her.

To her surprise, Princess Luna smiled proudly and nodded.

Redheart piped up. "If they're staying, I'm staying. I've got a few tricks up my fur!"

"I'm not leaving without my brother." said Soup, stepping next to him.

Zecora smiled. "I have not had this much fun since I came to Ponyville and made them all run!"

They all turned expectantly to Trixie. She looked aghast. "The Great and Powerful Trixie is outta here! And she thinks you're all NUTS if you want to stay!"

"But what about taking revenge for Care Taker?" asked Redheart, her head tilting to the side quizzically.

"Trixie will give money to charity instead!" the blue unicorn said desperately.

Rainbow Dash frowned. "What money? You're poorer than dirt!"

"... Trixie will start an OnlyPones!"

"Forget I said anything." Dash facehoofed.