When the high-pitched beeping sound awoke Sunny the next morning she immediately began hoisting herself from the mat. She was determined not to be caught eating as the Nirik entered this time.

Meanwhile, Sugar grunted as she shook her mane. She was longing to be able to brush it, the straps from the bridle were doing a number on it.

Then, she gasped as she saw Sunny. “Urm, Sunny, did you get hot last night?”

Sunny blinked with confusion. “It was a bit warm, yeah. Why?”

Sugar pointed at the side Sunny had been laid on. “Because I assume the advice on the bottle is, don’t get wet.”

Sunny turned her head and looked at her side. Patches of the dye had disappeared, and her normal orange coat was showing through. Gasping, she fiddled with the harness around her barrel. Sure enough, the areas under it had completely lost the dye as well.

“Well, I wasn’t going to let Pipp actually dye me black,” Sunny defended.

“Actually, I don’t blame you,” Sugar responded. “I don’t think I’d want to permanently change my colours for a disguise either.”

“I’m going to need to be careful,” Sunny sighed. “It was never supposed to last this long.”

They heard the low-tone beep, and Everypony immediately started trying to eat the horrid porridge.

Later, as they were ushered from the hut, Sprout realised Sunny was staying close to him. Then he spotted Sugar and smirked, keeping as close to her as he could.

As the ponies were split up, all three remained in the same group. Then, as they waited to be hitched to the carts, Sprout smiled as he realised his plan was going to be easier than he expected. Of the remaining carts, there was only one for a single pony.

As Sprout expected, Sugar started to move towards the one-pony cart. However, Sprout suddenly pushed Sunny into Sugar’s path and they collided. They both gasped and only just remembered to stay quiet and not alert the Nirik.

Sugar frowned at Sunny who looked back innocently and silently indicated towards Sprout.

Sugar scowled as she saw Sprout was already being hitched to the one-pony cart. Then, she realised Sunny was the only pony left that she could be paired with.

Suddenly a Nirik growled at them and pointed towards a cart. Sunny looked at Sugar and shrugged before moving into position.

Sugar frowned as she reluctantly moved towards the cart and stood alongside Sunny.

As they both headed away after being hitched up, Sugar groaned. “Looks like somepony really wanted us stuck together today.”

“Seems that way,” Sunny agreed. “Not too dissimilar to when we were at school. Why did Miss Butterscotch move you next to me again?”

Sugar snorted. “Because I kept winding Dahlia up.”

“Oh, that’s right,” Sunny smirked. “Sprout was winding me up too, so she swapped you both over.”

“Yeah, you kept getting angry with Miss Butterscotch when she took Sprout's side,” Sugar chuckled.10

“At least you didn’t try to change what I believed in,” Sunny responded.

“Only because I thought the arguments were silly,” Sugar admitted. “I thought History was boring, so I didn’t care.”

“Oh no, that’s not what I remember,” Sunny grinned. “You thought it was funny every time I argued with Miss Butterscotch in her History lessons.”

“Yeah, that’s because it was,” Sugar smirked. “You wound her up so easily telling her she was wrong all the time.”

"You never heard the conversations she had with my dad afterwards," Sunny chuckled.

They both started laughing. However, they stopped in their tracks as they suddenly heard a loud growling sound. They hadn’t realised they were getting close to a watchtower. Therefore, the Nirik stood at the top of it had heard them.

Gasping, they looked at each other, wide-eyed and slack-jawed as they realised, they were in trouble.

There was a burst of flame in front of them as one of the Nirik appeared. It’s eyes were narrowed and it’s flaming mane was large and threatening. It walked towards them slowly, hunched over with it’s head down in a threatening position. It’s eyes were narrowed as it bared it’s pointy teeth and snarled at them.

Then, Sunny suddenly remembered what she’d done the last time she’d spoken. She held her hoofs up submissively, staying silent and looking at the Nirik with an obedient, non-threatening expression.

Sugar gasped, looking at Sunny with confusion before she realised the Nirik was now staring straight at her. She glanced back at Sunny, then at the Nirik.

Finally, she copied Sunny, holding her hoofs up and looking as submissive as possible.

Both of them waited with bated breath as the Nirik stopped walking and watched them intently. It continued to snarl as it stood and waited to see what they were going to do.

Slowly, it’s flames began to diminish, and it eventually stopped scowling. It cocked it’s head and after a moment stepped to one side.

Sunny carefully lowered her hoofs and looked down at the ground, taking a submissive and nonthreatening posture. Sugar gasped and carefully copied.

The Nirik watched closely before finally gesturing with a hoof that they should continue. With silent nods, the pair carefully did so.

However, as they walked, they could hear something behind them. Therefore, after getting to where it was normally okay to start talking. Sunny raised her head and risked glancing back over the cart. She gasped as she spotted the same Nirik following them.

She immediately dropped her head again and indicated to Sugar they needed to remain silent. Sugar sighed and nodded understandingly. It seemed they’d had their only warning.

The Nirik continued to follow them for the rest of that morning. However, as the sun reached its highest point and the day was at its hottest, it disappeared.

It was Sugar who spotted they were alone again. Sighing with relief she couldn’t help smirking as she looked at Sunny. “That was close. It felt just like the time Miss Butterscotch found us passing notes.”

“Oh no, Miss Butterscotch only kept us back for an hour,” Sunny gasped. “That felt like we were walking on eggshells all day.”

They fell silent again as they passed another watchtower. Once they were clear, Sugar sighed as she looked at Sunny worriedly. “So, if you needed to. Do you think you could get away?”

“Why?” Sunny gasped. “I...I don’t want to leave you here.”

“Sunny, it’s boiling hot today,” Sugar groaned. “I...I can see your rainbow stripes starting to show through.”

“R...Really?”

“Yeah, on your fringe and where your bridle is pushing your mane down. You’re coat, it’s glistening too. I wouldn’t be surprised if the black is running off by the end of today.”

Sunny frowned and looked worried as they neared the central incline.

The day had been sweltering and, as Sugar predicted, the dye in Sunny’s coat had started running. By the time they entered the hut, it had completely disappeared from her back and her normal orange coat was showing through. Her sides weren’t much better, the dye was running down them in long streaks.

Sunny groaned in dismay; she’d hoped it would be cooler inside the hut but, if anything, it felt hotter. “O...Okay, nopony touch me. If you do, you’re going to get black hoofs.”

“More like grey, Sunny,” Sprout gasped. “It’s like you’ve got half the quarry stuck to you.”

“You don’t look much better,” Sugar frowned.

“Yeah, we’re all filthy,” Sprout sighed as he looked at himself. “What I would give for a nice shower.”

“Problem is, I look like a dirty orange pony,” Sunny groaned. “I’m supposed to be dirty black.”

“Sunny, seriously, could you get away?” Sugar asked worriedly. “If they recognised you, I mean?”

Sunny closed her eyes and grimaced. “I...I don’t know. I don’t know when I could try. We’re attached to carts most of the time. Besides, I don’t want to leave all of you!”

Suddenly, there was a scraping and grunting sound from the tunnel. Sprout hurried over and moved the mat. Then, the concrete plug started moving upwards, accompanied by a grunt.

“L...Little help,” Skysurf grunted.

“I’m here,” Sprout informed. “Lift it up more and then I can move it clear.”

Skysurf groaned as she pushed the plug harder. Finally, it was high enough for Sprout to push it and help her move it clear. Finally, Skysurf gasped with relief as Sprout pulled her from the hole.

“I thought you’d have moved that already?” she frowned. “What with one of you having magic and all.”

“I’m sorry, Skysurf,” Sunny sighed. “I daren’t activate my powers. I’ve got a bit of a problem.”

Skysurf gawped as she saw the state Sunny was in. “Oh, okay. I guess you’re normally orange then.”

“Yeah, she is,” Sugar answered. “The fake cutie mark is holding up though. Izzy’s done a good job there.”

“I think my wings might make it worse,” Sunny admitted. “I don’t want to rub them on it. Is it cooler in the tunnel?”

“It is,” Skysurf nodded. “Why?”

“Because I need to cool down to let the dye set again,” Sunny explained. “I can’t even lay down like this.”

“Get in,” Skysurf nodded. “I’ll try helping with my wings. They’re clipped so I can barely fly but I should still be able to help you cool down.”

When they arrived, both Thymus and Giselle found a Sunny-shaped blockage in the tunnel. However, she soon moved to one side to allow them into the hut.

Skysurf continued blowing cooling air down onto Sunny as they all gathered around the hole, surveying the situation.

“Yeah, that’s going to be an issue,” Giselle frowned with concern. “It’s been getting hotter and hotter hasn’t it.”

“It’s likely to get even hotter yet,” Skysurf sighed. “The weather here comes in waves. It gets hotter and hotter, then there’s a huge rainstorm before it gets cool again.”

“Which means if the heat doesn’t make you sweat it off, the rain will remove it,” Thymus sighed.

“You’re probably best off staying down there tonight,” Giselle suggested. “If you’re up here the heat will make you sweat again.”

Tentatively, Sunny placed a hoof on her coat. She sighed with relief as she found it was dry. “Well, it’s set so I’m coming up now. I’m going to message my friend, Misty. You won’t be able to hear, but I’ll relay what she says.”

Aboard the Marestream, Pipp froze as she suddenly felt a vibration. She whisked out her phone and gasped as she saw several notifications.

She unlocked it and frowned, whatever signal she had somehow received had already gone but a group of text messages had come through. As she read them, her eyes widened and she gasped. Then, she looked around for Misty. “Misty! Misty, you’ve got to see these.”

Misty blinked with confusion as she looked up from the spellbook she’d been studying. Pipp trotted over, holding her phone out so Misty could see.

Zoom
Your Highness, letting you know that we found Strawberry Sunflash safe and well. We ensured nopony saw the embarrassing slogans and escorted her to your mother.

Zoom
Messages below from Strawberry. Her Majesty needs to learn how to text!

Zoom
Thank you for asking your mother to send the Guards to find me. I don’t know what I would have done. I hope all goes well and you are all successful.

Zoom
Misty, I am so sorry. I should have listened to you, but I was my usual arrogant pig-headed self. I failed you completely. I hope you can forgive me, and I’ll be able to see you again soon.

“Can we reply?” Misty asked hopefully.

Pipp sighed and shook her head. “There’s no signal now. Honestly, I think we’re super lucky to have received these.”

Misty sighed and looked down sadly. “At least we know she’s okay.”

“Why are you so worried about her, Misty?” Pipp asked. “From what I’ve seen, she’s an arrogant pony who just wants to use you.”

Misty sighed and looked seriously at Pipp. “Yes, she’s the most arrogant pony I’ve ever met. More than Opaline even. But, unlike Opaline, Strawberry has a softer side. I’ve seen it. She can and does care, deep down.”

“Fair enough,” Pipp smiled as she placed a reassuring hoof on Misty’s shoulder. “Like you said, at least we know she’s okay and Zoom will know the messages have been received.”

“So, she’ll know too,” Misty grinned. “That’s good.”

Suddenly, Misty gasped as she felt a tingling sensation in her horn. “The messaging spell! It’s Sunny!”

“W...Well go to the cockpit and answer it there,” Pipp gasped. “Then you can relay it to all of us.”

What follows is a transcript of the messages. At either end, the two ponies relayed what was said to their relevant groups.

“Misty? It’s Sunny. I’ve got everycreature with me, so I’ll relay what you say to them.”

“I hear you, Sunny. I’m in the cockpit of the Marestream with the others so I’ll do the same. We’re following the airship right now!”

“Misty, that’s brilliant news! We’re all so relieved to hear that. Have you any idea how long before you’re here?”

“Zipp has no clue. Feather Breeze says it varies. She doesn’t know why, just that sometimes it takes longer.”

“Okay, we understand. Who’s Feather Breeze?”

“Oh, yeah. She’s the biggest news I have for you. She’s our new friend, I sort of rescued her…. Oh, haybiscuits, this is going to get complicated. I’ll try to tell you one thing at a time.”

“Okay, I’m ready.”

“So, Allura has an ability. She uses her purr to control the minds of others.”

“Okay, that sounds ominous.”

“The purr affects some creatures more than others. With you and your friends, she’ll have to be close for it to work. Like right next to you.”

“Right, okay. So, is everycreature different? Or does it depend on what you are?”

“Depends on what creature you are. Like the Auroricorns, they’re stuck in a trance. They believe everything is different to what it actually is.”

“Sprout says that explains a lot.”

“The biggest thing is the Nirik. They’re prisoners, Sunny, just like you all are. Allura is controlling their minds with her purr.”

“That…That’s awful. So, Feather Breeze is a Nirik?”

“Yes and no, Feather Breeze is a Kirin. But Kirin turn into Nirik when they’re angry. When they’re Kirin, Allura’s purr affects them less.”

“Okay, we see where this is going. They’re all trapped as Nirik then?”

“Yes, all the Nirik are wearing collars that stop them from changing back into Kirin.”

“So Allura keeps her control of them.”

“Exactly. Sunny, they’re trapped in their own minds. They have a series of instructions and can only obey them. They have no free will.”

“Misty, the Kirin aren’t the only ones with collars. The Changelings have them too, theirs stop them being able to use their abilities.”

“Zipp wants to know if they’re the only ones. Are there others?”

“Yes, there are, hold on... So, the list we have is. The Nirik, Changelings, Yak and Diamond Dogs. They all wear collars.”

“Zipp says the collars could be the key to rescuing all of you. Thing is, I kind of broke the one we have, getting it off Feather Breeze.”

“So does Zipp need one?”

“She says yes, as many as you could get.”

“Okay, Skysurf says she’s seen where they could be stored.”

“Good, Hitch says don’t do anything reckless.”

“Well, I’ll try... We’ll see if there’s anything we can do without getting in trouble.”

“Keep an eye out for speakers too. Feather Breeze says the purr is sent through the Airship on speakers. She doesn’t know how that works.”

“Thymus says he’s seen speakers at the digging sites.”

“Okay, all of you stay safe. We’re coming. When we arrive, we’ll coordinate and hopefully rescue everycreature, together.”

“Thank you, everypony. We’re all really grateful.”

Sunny sighed as she signed off the final message. She looked around at the worried faces of the gathered creatures.

“You didn’t say anything about your disguise,” Sugar frowned.

“I didn’t want to worry them,” Sunny admitted. “They’re coming as fast as the airship allows them to.”

Thymus looked thoughtful. “I suppose there isn’t much they can do about it currently. Once they are closer, then let them know. They need to be aware getting you out is a priority.”

“Yeah, maybe Misty could come and teleport you,” Sprout smiled.

Sunny blinked and looked confused. “Why should I be a priority?”

“Because we don’t know what will happen to you if Allura gets her claws on you,” Giselle responded. “Look, I like you, Starscout. You’ve got lots of guts sticking around like this. If I were you, I’d be jetting off ASAP. But you’re not, you’re staying here and helping.”

Sunny looked around, all the creatures were either nodding or smiling in confirmation. Many of the other ponies in the hut were doing the same.

“So, getting collars and the like,” Giselle smirked. “Where did you see them, Skysurf?”

“One of the watchtowers. A Diamond Dog’s collar got damaged. A Nirik went into a watchtower and returned with a replacement.”

“You want to get into a watchtower?” Sunny gasped. “How?”

“I don’t know,” Skysurf admitted. “First, we need information. Like how to slip away from our Nirik guards.” She sighed as she spotted Giselle’s excited expression. “Don’t get any ideas, Giselle. Just identify if there’s any loopholes we can exploit.”

“I’ve got a few ideas,” Giselle smiled as she crossed her forelegs. “I was stuck in confinement after my airship escape attempt. I only got a proper look at things today. I’ll review again tomorrow then check in tomorrow night.”

“Can it be any watchtower?” Sprout asked.

“Yeah, they might keep spares in all of them,” Sunny pointed out. “At least for the Nirik.”

“Could be worth trying to get into an easier one first,” Thymus agreed. “One that has fewer creatures around it.”

“Then we’ll keep an eye on which are less occupied,” Sprout smiled.

“We’ll take it carefully,” Sunny agreed. “Gather as much information we can and then we’ll plan how to do it.”

“Right, so is it time for food?” Sugar asked as a low-toned beeping sounded. “No, not that food!”

Thymus suddenly gasped. “Actually, that gives me an idea to help Sunny. Open the second hole and bring some of the porridge.”

Despite feeling confused, Sunny used her magic to move the mat and open the second hole.

Meanwhile, Sugar was more than happy to offer some of her porridge. “Here, what are you going to do? Cover her with it?”

“Well nearly, throw it in the hole,” Thymus instructed.

Sugar did so and Thymus started kneading the food into the grey soil. However, it wasn’t long before he frowned. “I need more, the runnier the better.”

“I’ve got it,” Sunny smiled.

She walked over to Sugar’s bowl, picking a large amount of the food up in her levitation before heading back to Thymus.

“Excellent,” Thymus said as Sunny brought it near the hole. “Hold it there and I’ll take as much as I need from it.”

Sunny waited and held the porridge whilst Thymus worked. Soon, he’d created a runny paste using the porridge and soil.

“I know this sounds awful,” he admitted. “But if we rub this onto your coat where the dye is failing it will cover your natural colour.”

“And will look like I’m dirty,” Sunny smiled before grimacing. “Yeah, it looks awful but if it stops me from getting identified then I’ve got little choice.”

With a nod, Thymus got to work again, slowly rubbing the paste into Sunny’s coat. She dismissed her powers as the others all started assisting too.

After picking up a hoof full, Sugar couldn’t help giving the concoction a sniff. “Well, at least it doesn’t smell.”

“Honestly, I think we all reek as it is,” Sprout laughed.

Eventually, all the areas of Sunny’s coat that had been orange were disguised again. She now looked like she was an especially dirty black pony.

“Thank you, everycreature,” Sunny said thankfully.

“No problem,” Sugar smiled. “Just so long that slop in there doesn’t taint the Apples.”

They all couldn’t help laughing as Sugar proceeded to grow an apple tree. However, as Sunny tucked into her apple, she had no idea that their efforts to conceal her would all be in vain.

Author's Note

10 - Miss Butterscotch is one of the teachers at the school in Maretime Bay. She was Sunny's teacher when she was a filly and is still teaching currently.
Not to be confused with Izzy's friend Snr Butterscotch!

Interested to hear what you think about the message transcript. Whilst the opportunity for character interaction was lost, I felt it was far to hard to follow what was being said.
Thoughts?