Chapter 1: meet the kind pegasus Matt Crystal
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP
My alarm went off, I press the off button on my alarm clock.
I've got my blankets off and started to stretch my body and my wings so I won't get cramps all day.
"Looks like it's time to start the day" I said cheerfully.
I made my bed, eat Breakfast, took a shower and make sure I don't get soap in my eyes and lastly got my light blue hat on my head.
"Perfect" I said with a confident smile. I walked down the hallway and to stairs from my room and made it to the exit.
As I exit my apartment, I've played my music on my phone to start the day.
Mares and gentlecolts, welcome to my home city, zephyr heights the pegasus city among the clouds.
(Matt)
I'm a really helpful pegasus, you know
All the other pegasus they'll me so
My name is Matt Crystal and you can rely
on me
Because I'm a really helpful pegasus you
adore
The buildings were very huge and look very modern. They have shops to look around and buy whatever you need, restaurants to eat and other places to hang out and to see.
All the other pegasus of all shapes, sizes and colors, where either going to work, went shopping or taking a walk.
(Matt)
I'm the one
I'm the one
I'm the really helpful pegasus that you adore
I'm the one
I'm the one you know
Matt Crystal the kind pegasus
I'm a really helpful pegasus, you know
I Maybe little, but I'm never slow
Stand by the amazement, just you watch me
go
I'm the really helpful pegasus you adore
Oh I almost forgot to introduce myself. My name is Matt Crystal and I'm a blue Pegasus with green mane and tail and my light blue hat that I've got on my birthday 5 years ago. And my cutie mark represent my kindness and help other pegasus in need.
Anyways back to my daily life.
(Matt)
I'm the one
I'm the one
I'm the really helpful pegasus that you adore
I'm the one
I'm the one you know
Matt Crystal the kind pegasus
Little blue pony, I'm always there
Whenever you need a hoof
If you need help with a situation
Who comes into mind?
Just then the news appeared on our phones with a very important announcement.
"Good morning zephyr heights! It's another beautiful day in the big city. Looks like warm breezes and clear skies, just in time for tonight's royal celebration!" Announced one of the news presenters skye, he had orange fur with gray mane and glasses.
I almost forgot, the royal celebration, one of my favorite times of the years to celebrate the rulers of zephyr heights. Queen heaven is the head of the royal family, have been since i was born.
"Tonight's royal bash for queen heaven will be stunning. But real crown jewel in the crown will be princess pipp's performance!" said dazzle with excitement, she was a pink furred pegasus with golden-like mane. "Isn't that right skye?"
"Ha! Oh my yes dazzle" said skye
I'm not even lying when I say that anypony who is anypony that lives in zephyr heights knows who princess pipp is. It's really much possible not to.
Princess pipp is a Pegasus princess but also a famous pop star with a beautiful and fantastic voice, a specially in makeup, mane products, and fashion overall, and #1 online streamer/vlogger of zephyr heights. She's pretty much popular on all forms of social media.
"And this just in, an exclusive vid from pipp. For all you royal fans out there in ZH" skye said.
The screen then switched over to a livestream, light pink furred pegasus with a violet mane that wavy and swept to one side, a violet tail, kiwi green eyes, wings that are fluffy and white and made in large, soft feathers, and a gold headdress/tiara with a green jewel and golden wheat.
"What is up everypony, big shout out to all my friends the pippsqueaks," the pegasus princess said as multiple emojis kept popping on the screen and I'm pretty sure I just heard a couple of foals squeal with delight.
That is princess pipp petails herself. Her whole appearance with the pretty mane and tiara just screams that she's a princess. That or a beautiful pageant winner. Although I wouldn't be surprised if she was both because I'll admit, she is quite beautiful.
And yes, she can just broadcast her livestream onto the news network. I've told you that she's so popular on all forms of social media.
And yes, her fanbase is referred to as "the pippsqueaks." Quite a cute and sweet name if I say so myself.
"So tonight's the night, I can't wait to debut my new song later. It has a very special place in my heart, but not as much as you guys," princess pipp said in an almost singing tone. That warmed my heart a bit.
Other than her awesome music that are a bop to listen to, the thing i like the most about princess pipp is her personality. She's not some spoiled brat, she's so kind and a creative soul that engages with her fans on social media and I respect that.
The same respect could also be given to her older sister and future ruler of zephyr heights, zipp storm. She's not a social media kind of pony though, she's more like a athletic pony with, like I've seen, a bit a rebellious attitude and an intellectual side (not in a bad way).
And don't tell anypony about this but I'm pretty sure that zipp's reluctant to even be the future queen.
"Ok, guys I love you lots. Got to go. Pipp, pipp, hooray!" Princess pipp cheered with a smile before the screen cut back to the usual news.
"Pipp, pipp hooray!" All the pegasi around me cheered out in response. I even did it myself for my own amusement.
(Matt)
I'm the one
I'm the one
I'm the really helpful pegasus that you adore
I'm the one
I'm the one you know
Matt Crystal the kind pegasus
****
As I continued to walk during my day, my smile faltered a bit as I lightly sighed and looked up at the sky.
Despite all the many great things that zephyr heights has to offer, there is one thing that I wish to do someday.
Fly.
I always wanted to just spead my wings and take my hooves off the ground so I can see the city from above. So I can be among the clouds and to see what they feel like. So I can gain a sense of freedom and not be grounded all the time.
But I can't.
I don't know what it happened, or how it happened for that matter. All I know is that one day...all the pegasi lost the magical ability to fly.
It been like that since I was born. Heck, I think it's was before my parents are born.
Everypony in zephyr heights believes that we can't fly for one reason.
The unicorns.
Unicorns are like a pegasi but no wings just a horn. Their horns are capable of many things, including shooting lasers, reading our minds and melting our brains.
Everypony believes that they somehow took our magic away in order to conquer us all with their mind ability.
The only thing that's protecting us it the royal family because they are the only pegasus that can fly.
And there was the third tribe: the earth ponies. They may have no magic, wings or horns but they can bash our heads with their hooves. But I'm not afraid of them because like I always say, little ponies can do big things, that's my moto.
****
"Check this out pippsqueaks!" I hear princess pipp's voice say.
"Live from the castle" she said with a smile, as she turned her camera around, I gasped to see, "it's a real unicorn and earth pony!"
My eyes widened as the ponies around me gasped at the sight of an actual unicorn and earth pony.
"I know, right? This is not a filter," princess pipp continued commentating.
****
Well bust my buffers, maybe they do know.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Author's Note
Part 2 coming soon and I hope you enjoyed it
Chapter 2 The royal celebration
Bust my buffers, I can't believe my eyes
An...earth pony...and a unicorn? Here in Zephyr Heights?
I honestly didn't know what I was feeling right now other than surprised.
Shocked?
Scared?
Amazed?
It's most likely that last one.
Never in my life have I ever seen a non-pegasus pony.
It's just so...surreal.
The earth pony was an apricot orange coated mare with brown hooves and emerald green eyes. Her mane was magenta and purple, and was tied back into a braid with aquamarine elastic bands. Her tail was the same color scheme, but wasn't tied back. She was also wearing a teal satchel.
The unicorn was a mare with a lilac coat with navy blue hooves and magenta eyes. She had a wavy, cerulean blue mane and tail with an indigo ombre, a bracelet on her left forehoof with blue, pink, and purple beads, and of course, a long powder blue horn with white swirls. And also for some reason she had a tennis ball sticking on said horn.
The two mares looked at each other before they smiled and waved at the camera while the two guards around them just gave deadpan stares.
I guess they don't appreciate the fact that one of their princesses just livestreamed that fact that there's an earth pony and unicorn here in ZH.
"Pipp!" a voice called out with a bit of anger before the camera turned to Queen Haven herself.
The Queen had a pale pink coat, periwinkle mane with lilac streaks flipped to the side and braided at the back, a long tail, and icy blue eyes with lavender eyeshadow. She wore a dark purple vest, a golden necklace with a turquoise gem in the middle, and a golden crown with a turquoise crystal that was shaped like pegasus wings in the center.
"There's nothing to fear, Those nasty little ponies have been captured. You're queen will protect you," Queen Haven said reassuringly, much to the relief of the citizens as the pegasi around me gave out sighs of relief. She then turned her eyes, presumably towards Princess Pipp, before saying, "Shut it off."
The livestream then turned off and went back to the normal news network as the pegasi just went on with their everyday lives, as if that wasn't big news in the slightest.
As for me?
I just...kind of stood there a bit dumbfounded.
****
"So...that just happened," I thought to myself.
was now back in my apartment, laying on my bed, staring at the ceiling, and just...thinking.
An earth pony and a unicorn.
In the pegasus city of Zephyr Heights.
Once again it's...surreal.
I had so many questions that needed answers, but probably the most important one is...why?
Why are those two ponies here?
To spy on us?
To conquer us?
Were they simply tourists that wanted to see the many wonders of ZH?
I mean I can't really blame them if that was actually the reason.
But then again, in all my life, I've never once seen or even heard of a non-pegasus pony taking a tour in the city.
So why?
It can't just be a coincidence that on the same day that the royal celebration is meant to happen that the kind of ponies we were taught to avoid (which in my opinion sounds a bit racist when written on paper) as foals suddenly appear.
Who's to say that there might be more of them?
Is my brain gonna be melted?
Are they really as bad as we believe?
I'm too young to die!
"Gah! Why am I still thinking about this?!" I asked myself as I groaned and rubbed my temples...before I realized what I just thought, "Are they really bad as we believe?"
I can't be the only one that's questioning it.
Once again, never in my life has there been any type of earth pony or unicorn activity.
And if we've been lacking in magic for this long, then surely there would've been some kind of attack or at least a sighting of a non-pegasus at least once.
But no.
Not once has this occurred.
I began to watch my movie, as I did, I got a phone call. "Hello?"
"Oh my gosh! Did you see it? Did you see the livestream?"
"Yes, I saw the livestream. It was on every big screen in the city," I paused for a second before asking, "So is it true? There's really an earth pony and unicorn here, huh?"
"Yep! I like have no words. Never in my life have I seen a non-pegasus pony."
"Neither has...literally every pony else. I'm just surprised that no pony is freaking out over it. I mean, you'd think that would happen since they're supposed to be our 'sworn enemies,' right?" I asked in a sort of sarcastic matter, "That unicorn didn't try to...fry your brains...or anything?"
"Nope. The guards made sure to place the shield on her."
"The shield? What do you mean the—...You mean that tennis ball on her horn?" I asked with a deadpan expression.
"Mmhm."
Okay. I'm no expert in unicorn anatomy by any means, but I'm pretty sure a tennis ball won't prevent one from performing magic.
"And as for the earth unicorn? Well, we shouldn't worry too much. You know they have very tiny brains."
"One should not assume what your opponent is like before you face them, you know? Especially if they appear weak," I said as I leaned back on my chair and propped my hind hooves on the desk, "That's one of the lessons that help me as a gamer. But then again, this is real life."
"...I'll keep that in mind."
"So what happened to those two mares anyway?" I asked.
"They were put in the dungeon."
"The dungeon? As in the one that looks more like a fancy hotel room with a fountain, a fruit basket, and a massage chair? You talking about that dungeon?"
I'm not even exaggerating when I ask that. That's literally what the so called castle dungeons look like.
"Yeah. And can you believe that when I went to them for the content, I find that my sister was speaking to them even after we were specifically told to stay away?"
"I can actually. You know how she's like," I said before I realized what she said, "Wait, you too went to those two ponies...just for the content?"
"...Well, can you really blame me?"
"Not really. I meant it's not like you already broadcasted their presence across all of Zephyr Heights," I responded sarcastically, "So do you know what your sister was talking to the prisoners about?"
"I do not, but the earth pony did ask me why no pony was flying. And...well..."
"I know. Only royals can fly," I sighed.
"Yeeaah...Soo...you excited about tonight's celebration? And my—"
"I already told you like 3 times. I got the ticket that you sent me...literally about a week ago. And yes, I'm going."
"Really?! Oh, I'm like so glad to hear you say that!"
"Heh heh. Of course I'm going to see your performance. How else would I support my best friend?"
"Thanks a lot matt! Okay, I got to get back rehearsing, but I'll talk you after the show tonight. Bye."
"Hope you put on a good show," I said with a smile, "See ya, Pipp." Then I hang up and begin to watch my movie.
What? Do you respect that I'm best friends with one of the royals. We first met when we're fillies, we're best friends for many moons.
****
was almost time every pony. Almost time for the royal celebration to begin, and with that comes a performance by the one, the only, Princess Pipp herself!
Yeah! The crowd is going wild!
They're not actually, but you get what I'm trying to do.
It's called building up hype.
Due to me personally knowing Princess Pipp, I'm no stranger when it comes to navigating through the castle and to the throne room. Okay, this place was and always will be a bit of a maze, but I at least I have some familiarity and know when I'm close to it.
After all, one gains an advantage when they become familiar with the layout of the battlefield.
****
I'll work on coming up with a better one.
Anyways, as stage performers would say, it's show time. Although I'm not the one putting on the...whatever.
I opened the doors to the throne room and—
"Holy crap. That's a lot of ponies," I thought to myself with slightly widened eyes as I saw the sheer amount of ponies in the throne room alone. In hindsight though, that's to be expected. The throne room is obviously pretty large, and who wouldn't want to see Princess Pipp perform in the flesh?
I know I would.
I took a deep breathe and entered the large crowd.
"It's alright. As long as the attention isn't on you, then you're fine," I told myself.
You might be asking yourself: how is a common pony such as myself best friends with somepony that's not only a princess, but that's also really popular on social media?
First of all, I consider it kind of rude to refer to me as "common." I prefer the term "everyday" or "ordinary." I know those two words are synonyms, but they just sound much nicer.
Second of all...that's a story for another time, I'm afraid. But if you want the short version, it's that we met on accident, we connected, and there.
The throne room looked...exactly what you would expect from any other throne room. Grand, glamorous, curtain walls (walls made of glass in case you didn't know) all around, pillars going up to the ceiling, and three thrones for the Queen and the Princesses. And up above at the ceiling is some sort of balcony where the Royal Family would graciously descend from, as a means of just looking spectacular to their guests, I guess.
The crowd then started to cheer and looked up as the lights dimmed down. I looked up as well and saw the spotlights shining on two pegasi floating down from the balcony.
One of them was Queen Haven.
The other was the aforementioned Princess Zipp. She had white fur with silver hooves and turquoise blue eyes. Her sleek wings had light blue and lavender feathers. Her clearly gelled up mane and tail were hot pink with aqua and pink streaks.
The two ponies continued to float down to their thrones before music started playing.
Once the ponies finally sat down, another set of spotlights suddenly revealed Pipp flying above.
(Pipp)
We got the Light, We’re coming in stronger
We’re in it together, If you want it It’s all inside your mind
We got the light, we won’t wait any longer, we’ll get it together, if you want you can paint the sky
As she began to sing, she also started to fly around the room, making everypony else, including me, look up in awe.
Used to care what they say, let them into my brain
But I found a new way (Oh-hoo-hoo)
Every time I fall down, I pick it up like rebound, gotta get through somehow
Remember when I said that Pipp has a fantastic singing voice? Yeah, I wasn't lying in the slightest. One might even say that she has the voice of an angel, but I just say that she sounds good.
"Putting on an amazing performance as always, eh Pipp," I mentally chuckled before my ears picked up on something. It was kind of feint due to the music, but noticeable, "...Do I...Do I hear a dog barking?"
We don’t fly like we used to, we take what we’ve been through, and we can feel brand-new (Oh-hoo)
I know I am a fighter, I feel the fire, I’m shining brighter (Ooh-hoo-hoo)
Glowin up, kind of love, dip and slide, through the cut
Glowin up, kind of love, we say "hi", you say "what?"
I kept my ear out this time for whatever noise I just heard, but instead there was no sound of what I believed to be a dog barking. Just the music.
"Huh. Maybe I have been watching too much movies lately. I think I'm starting to hear things now," I thought to myself before I shrugged and focused my attention back on Pipp.
Everywhere that I’ve been, yeah they say I’m different, but I’m good in my skin (Ooh-hoo-hoo)
If it doesn’t feel right, break it in with tie dye, and don’t you stop ‘til sunrise
We don’t fly like we use to, we take what we’ve been through, and we can feel brand-new (Ooh-hoo-hoo)
As Pipp continued to sing, I noticed something out of the corner of my eye. Or rather...lack of somepony.
"Hmm?" I muttered as I turned my head in the direction of the thrones...and saw that Zipp wasn't there on her chair.
I know I am a fighter, I feel the fire
I'm shining brighter (Ooh-hoo-hoo)
We got the light, we're coming in stronger, we're in it together...
"That's...weird. Where in the world did Zipp go? Did she go to the bathroom or something? No, that can't be right. She might not be interested in the same things as Pipp, but Zipp would always be there to support her. And that includes holding in the water inside the tank during her concerts," I thought to myself before asking with a cringed out face, "Wait, why exactly do I know that?"
As I was questioning my...questionable thoughts...the lights in the room started flickered on and off.
"What the...?" I, and probably every other pony in the room, asked out of confusion as I looked up at the lights as they continued to glitch out. Suddenly, a light beamed down right next to me, which honestly startled me a bit.
I turned my head to see a pegasus stallion with light amber fur with various white markings across his body and chocolate brown hooves. He also had a short, aqua green mane and tail, amber eyes, and a moustache.
His wings...er...looked discolored from the rest of his body.
****
...Well that sounded a bit racist.
It was quite clear that the stallion wasn't expecting the lights to suddenly be on him, much less all eyes to turn on him, if him freezing in place and stuttering a bit were any indications. It was also quite clear that he wasn't part of the show due to him trying to sing the song.
Key word being "try."
(The stallion)
Throwing up find a glove fly around, bup-bup-bup, doing stuff that I love, you’re like "why?", I’m like "what?"
Crisp and Dry, eat some mud, flowing up lovey dove…
I didn't want to be mean or anything, but this was both painful...and comical to watch. But mostly painful.
I was watching this stallion's...cringe worthy performance...I noticed two things.
First of all, there was some fluffy white dog (a Pomeranian if you want to be specific) with a round body, short legs, tiny paws, and wings howling (I'm assuming that's a dog's version of singing) right beside him.
"What the hay?" I thought as I instantly recognized him as the Royal Family's dog, "Is that Cloudpuff? What's he doing?"
Second of all, there was also crystal laying on the ground. One that was turquoise and looked pegasus wings.
"Wait a minute..." I mentally processed before I was able to tell what it was, "Isn't that—"
"WHOOAAAA!" a scream rang out.
I immediately turned to see what the commotion was...and my eyes widened in shock as I saw Pipp flying out of control all over the place. As if her wings had a mind on their own.
"What the...?!" I mentally yelled with steadily increasing worry for my friend's safety as I continued to her watch fly around, " cinders and ashes! What's going on?!"
I was so focused on the whole situation that I didn't even notice the crystal being swiped from right beside me.
"Is this all part of the show?! Because if it is then this is one heck of a perform—"
"Freeze!" the stallion suddenly yelled out, prompting me to turn towards where he was looking at...
"It's the prisoners!"
...in which I saw the earth pony and unicorn that have captured earlier today trying to sneak away.
That wasn't the most shocking part, however. No, no, no. What really shocked me was the pegasus that was with them.
"Zipp?!" I muttered with widened eyes as I also the oldest pegasus princesses also sneaking away with the prisoners.
Before I could do anything, Pipp suddenly zoom by...and knock the stallion's apparently fake wings off.
"Another earth pony!" yelled another pegasus, to which the stallion ran off.
I looked back and saw him following Zipp and the two other ponies, whom were now running away.
"Okay, this is getting ridiculous! I'm gonna find out what's going on!" I thought with determination, with the intention of following after them.
Before I could so much as take a step, however, the crowd suddenly gasped.
"She's a fake!"
I looked at back to see what the crowd was looking at...only to see Pipp hanging upside down...with wires tangled around her.
Author's Note
Part 3 coming soon, let me know when if I have any errors and I hope you like my story
Chapter 3 escape from zephyr heights
"She's a fake!"
"Fake!"
"The royals can't fly either?!"
Terror and panic were all that was visible on Pipp's face as she just hung there upside up, the wires preventing her from getting away, while the pegasi around me were exclaiming and taking pictures of this shocking revelation.
The revelation that the Royal Family can't fly!
It must be scary for the Royal Family to be exposed as nothing more than a bunch of frauds.
And it must've been heartbreaking for the citizens to learn that their rulers that have promised to protect them with their magical abilities were just as flightless as everypony else.
And as for me?
I just stood there with wide eyes at the form of my friend struggling to get out of her binds.
To be honest, I wasn't quite sure how exactly I should feel at the moment. Sad that Pipp's performance, which she stated numerous times was going to be her biggest one, was ruined? Shocked that she can't fly and has been pretending to all this time? Angry that she and the rest of her family have been lying?
Who knows? Probably all of the above.
One thing for sure though was that one single question was running through my mind.
"Pipp, why didn't you tell me?" I thought with a bit of disappointment.
Taking a quick look back, I saw that Zipp was now running away with the prisoners and the stallion who was revealed to be another earth pony. It wasn't hard to put two and two together and determine that she was the one that helped them escape.
And there's also the fact that she's just running away when her sister needs help!
"Wait, is she just gonna leave her sister—?!" I asked as I was about to run after her, but stopped and deadpanned when I saw that she was already out the door, "...And she's gone."
So many things are happening that only lead to more questions.
Why did an earth pony and unicorn just show up out of the blue?
How did Zipp help them escape? Why did Zipp help them escape?
Why did they ruin Pipp's performance?
And why am I just standing here?
****
Why am I just standing in place and watching while Pipp is panicking?! I have to do something!
****
I have to move! I have to go and save her! Get her out of here before she gets seized by an angry mob!
****
It doesn't matter whether or not this is my problem! And it definitely doesn't matter that she lied! She's still my friend!
"This is probably the most reckless thing I've ever done. Pipp, you better give me a good explanation for this," I thought with determination as I began to walk through the crowd and towards Pipp. The only problem is that I didn't have a plan, "Come on. Think Matt. How do you get a princess away from an angry mob when she's smack dab in the center of it?"
In the corner of my vision, I could see that the guards have also turned on the Royal Family if them seizing Queen Haven were any indication.
"Dang it. I'm sorry your majesty, but I can't save you. It's not like I'm in control of the your guards or anyth—"
!!!
And that's when an idea popped into my head.
"...This idea is completely stupid and shouldn't work...," I sighed, but as I got closer and closer, Pipp finally managed to break free from her binds and fell towards the ground, which prompted me to practically to quicken my pace, "...but I have no choice but to try it anyway."
"Alright everpony! Back up!" I yelled out loud enough for the crowd to hear before they could get any closer to Pipp. Almost immediately when everypony turned to me, I started to get weak knees and a bit of sweat. I almost froze up completely, but seeing my friend in distress, I knew I had to keep going. The pink pegasus in question had a surprised look on her face when she saw me approaching, but quickly turned into one of hurt when I said, "Y-you do not need t-to worry. I-I and rest of the Royal G-guards will make s-s-sure that your princess will s-swiftly face j-justice for her c-crimes."
I am such a crap actor when all eyes are on me. This is why I don't show my face on my videos and streams. Because I don't do well with all the attention.
What I said seemed to have its effect, however, as the crowd stopped in their tracks and backed up a bit.
"A-a-alright Princess. To the du-dungeon you go," I said with a frown on my face, but when I grabbed Pipp's hoof to pick her up, I discreetly gave her a wink and whispered, "Play along."
She seemed to get the message at what I was doing as her eyes widened a bit. She pretended to resists arrest yet not to the point that I was actually dragging her through the crowd, who kept glaring and calling out that she was a fake and a liar.
I turned my head back and saw just how hurt she was from all the hateful comments as she averted her eyes to the ground and was on the verge of tears. I wish I could say something, anything to get them to stop, but I don't want to risk it.
"I'm surprised this is actually working so far," I thought as I finally got through the crowd and continued to drag Pipp towards the exit, "You'd think that at least one pony would see through my decep—"
"Hey, wait a minute! He's not part of the Royal Guard!" a voice, most likely belonging to an actual guard, bellowed out, causing both of us to freeze.
"Crap, I just jinxed it."
Pipp and I glanced at each other before we did the only sensible thing to do in this type of scenario.
We ran.
As we were nearing the exit though, something shiny on the ground caught my attention. It was the crystal that I saw on the ground just about a minute ago. The crystal that belonged in Queen Haven's crown.
First, it was just laying randomly on the ground for some reason. And now it was positioned exactly where Zipp was standing before she fled with the prisoners.
It wasn't hard to connect the dots in that one second of seeing it lying on the ground.
"This...this crystal...Was this the whole reason why Pipp's show was ruined? Why Zipp was running away with the prisoners? All for this stupid crystal?!" I thought with a bit of anger, "She really went through all that trouble to steal this thing, and then she ends up dropping it and leaving it behind?!"
As we continued to run, I swiped the crystal and tucked it under my wing.
Once we exited the throne room, we wasted no time shutting the doors just before the mob could reach us. Now the thing with the doors is that they require some effort to open them when they're fully shut, meaning that we bought ourselves a few seconds until the mob is on us again.
"Come on! Let's go!" I said to Pipp as we both ran through the halls.
"Hey, thanks matt. I owe you one," Pipp said with appreciation.
"Yeah, you owe me an explanation when we get to safety," I responded sternly as I looked back to her, whose face fell a bit in response.
"Okay, so what's the plan?" she asked after composing herself.
"Honestly I didn't think I would get this far ahead, so...keep running to the elevator?" I suggested...just before we heard the sound of the throne room doors opening.
"Yeah, running sounds fine," Pipp responded with panic in her voice.
"It's a good thing the guards were in the throne room as well," I thought with relief, "We haven't encountered a single one so fa—Oh come on!"
Pipp and I stopped in our tracks as three guards were turning the corner. I immediately grabbed Pipp and hid ourselves behind a pillar. We practically held our breathes as the guards passed by.
"Okay, new plan," I whispered as I peeked my head out to see that the guards were gone, "We sneak our way out, but we have to be quick as well if we don't want that mob to catch us."
"But how?" Pipp asked.
Due to the amount of guards and citizens that are currently after our heads, it would be too risky to just stay out in the open like this. Pipp might have the advantage of being small, but both of our color schemes aren't exactly meant to blend into an environment with bright light.
And if we get caught, we'd be pretty much screwed. We weren't as athletic as Zipp, but we were no slowpokes either. But who knew how many ponies after us are actual professional sprinters?
I looked around to see how we can sneak out of here, and conveniently saw one of those rolling tables with the white cloth over.
"Ah, there we go," I said with a smile.
"Jeez, how can two ponies manage to get away with just a few second head start?" Thunder asked nopony in particular as he and his partner Zoom walked through the halls of the palace in search of their false princess and her accomplice.
"Just keep looking. They couldn't have gone far," Zoom said.
As the two guards continued their search, they happened to pass by a random yet ordinary looking table sitting out in the hall. Thinking nothing about it, the two continued to walk down the hall and—
"Achoo!"
"Hmm?" Zoom immediately turned her head to see what the noise was and where it came from.
"What's wrong?" Thunder, who apparently did not hear the noise, asked upon seeing his partner.
"...Nothing. Just thought I heard something," Zoom shook her head and continued walking.
"...Okay?" Thunder said as he followed his partner, "...Do you think the Royal Family can really fly?"
"What?"
"I mean...maybe that's why Princess Pipp managed to get away so fast?"
"Thunder, we literally saw her hanging on wires with our own eyes. And even if she could, what about her accomplice?"
"...Maybe she carried him. Or maybe he's also part of the Royal Family. Or maybe that whole thing was all part of the show."
Zoom only facehoofed in response.
And while the two guards continued their search, neither of them noticed that the table they passed by was now gone.
"That was close," I sighed out of relief as Pipp and I continued to move through the halls while hiding underneath the table. I peeked from under the covers and smiled as I recognized the doors that lead to the outside, "We're nearly there. We just have to make it to the elevator and we'll be free."
I stopped our movement, however, as I noticed a couple of guards guarding the door. Luckily, they were faced away from us.
"It's never easy, is it?" I groaned.
"So what now? We can't just wait for them to leave. Who knows how long that would take?" Pipp asked.
"If your enemy doesn't have a reason to leave, then make them have one," I responded before I turned to her, "Be quiet and follow my lead."
I then started to slowly creep out from under the table, Pipp following in tow. Keeping an eye on the guards ensured me that they haven't noticed our presence yet. Turning my head a bit to make sure that I don't knock anything over, I carefully reached a hoof out and picked up one of the gold plate covers on the table. I turned and motioned for Pipp to follow me. We both carefully crept over to beside the entrance and behind the door, just out of sight of the guards.
I then reeled my hoof back and tossed the plate cover down the hall, resulting in a loud clang.
CLANG
"What the?!" one of the guards yelled out, "Who's there?!"
I smiled a bit as the two guards then stormed into the castle and just past us towards the plate cover. I immediately signaled Pipp to go, to which we both quickly yet carefully went through the doors and towards the elevator that leads to the city.
"Holy crap! That actually worked!" I whispered as we reached the elevator and pressed the button.
"I know, right?!" Pipp said with excitement.
"HEY, YOU TWO! STOP RIGHT THERE!" a voice yelled out as the elevator doors opened.
We both quickly looked back and started to panic as the guards have finally caught wind of us and started to run towards us.
"Get in! Get in!" I yelled as I practically threw Pipp and myself inside the elevator. I then repeatedly pressed the down button in a panic as the guards continued to run at us and yell at us to stop, "Come on! Come on! Come on!"
And as luck would have it, the elevator doors closed just before they could reach us.
I let out a sigh of relief and sat on my haunches as I felt elevator start to go down.
"So...we made it. Oh wow, that was intense," Pipp chuckled after a few seconds before going in a more serious tone, "Now we just have to find Zipp so I can yell at her for ruining my show."
"Yeah. To think that she'd did all of that...for this," I said as I took out the crystal from underneath my wing.
"W-wha...?" she stuttered in disbelief before swiping the crystal from my hoof, "This?! This was why my whole show was ruined and my sister left me behind?! A stupid crystal?!"
After taking a few breathes to calm down, Pipp let out a frustrated sigh and tucked the crystal under her wings.
"When we find her, she better give me a good explanation," she huffed.
I lowered my head to look at the floor.
"...She's not the only one," I said in a low voice.
"What do you..." Pipp tried to ask, but stopped when I looked up and gave her a stern face, probably catching her off guard since I rarely do that.
"Now that we made it to safety, it's time for you to start explaining. What was all that back there? What was with the wires?" I asked once again in a low voice.
Pipp's only response was silence, but I wasn't having any of that.
"Tell me the truth, Pipp," I practically demanded with a raised voice, "Can you and your family really not fly?"
"I-I..." she stuttered, clearly hesitant to answer, but that was all I needed.
"I see," I said as I lowered my head back down.
"M...matt, I...I understand if you're mad, and I've wanted to tell you for so long, but..." Pipp tried to explain.
"...You've been lying to me for the reason you've been lying to everypony else. You've been lying in order to make me feel safe, right?" I asked in a kind of tone that pretty much said that she'd better give the correct answer.
"...I...yeah. Mom always told Zipp and I that if everypony believes that we can fly, then they would never feel as if they were in any danger. That we would be able to protect them," Pipp explained before sighing, "And...I guess I was just...scared...that you'd react in a negative way if I told you the truth."
She...actually sounded pretty genuine with her explanation, which calmed me down a bit.
"Pipp, we've known each other for years. You can tell me anything. And...I honestly couldn't care less if you can't fly. I'd surprise me at first, but I would eventually get over it," I said before looking away with a pained expression, "I just wished you told me the truth instead of lying to me all this time."
"I'm sorry," Pipp said in a sad tone, "I—"
"Stop," I interrupted her as the elevator finally stopped moving and the doors opened, "Let's just...let's just find your sister."
As we got out of the elevator and into the city, I looked back a bit and saw Pipp's gaze averted to the ground, clearly showing guilt over what she did.
"Look Pipp," I sighed, "I'm not mad at you or anything. Okay, I'm a bit mad, but you know I'm not the type that likes to hold grudges. I just...I just need some time to think, I guess."
"Okay," she whispered as her expression softened a bit.
Most ponies would be very upset if they found out that their friend has been lying to them for years and probably leave them. It's a good thing I'm not most ponies. I meant it when I said that I don't like to hold grudges against others. I'm just not one that expresses negativity so much.
I guess Pipp should consider herself lucky for that.
Because otherwise I would have left her to hang.
****
Zephyr Heights always looked so pretty in the night time. The grandeur buildings, the bright lights. It's like a city that never sleeps.
But sneaking around in alleyways and trying to avoid being caught by other ponies so we don't get arrested...it surely ruins the experience.
Pipp and I have been searching for Zipp for a few minutes now...when we finally heard voices.
"Oh no, no, no, no... It’s not here!" a mare's voice cried with worry.
"Seriously?!" a tomboyish mare's voice said.
Pipp and I instantly recognized whose voice that was and decided to peek around the corner. There we saw Zipp herself along with the two earth ponies and the unicorn in another alley.
Pipp frowned at the sight and proceeded to walk up to them, me following shortly behind.
"Look on the bright side. We had so much fun losing it," the unicorn said in a cheerful way.
"We have to go back," the first voice, which has been revealed to belong to the earth pony mare, said.
"But it could be anywhere," Zipp said.
It was then that Pipp unintentionally kicked into a can laying on the ground, which caused the four ponies to look in our direction.
Due to us being in the shadows, they didn't recognize us until we stepped into the light of the alley, making some sort of dramatic entrance for us.
"Somepony seriously needs to explain why this thing was so important that you had to ruin my whole show over it!" Pipp demanded as she took out the crystal from her wing.
"Trust me, it is," Zipp smiled as she tried to take the crystal, but Pipp snapped back at her.
"You left me hanging there! In the spotlight! Now everypony knows we can’t fly," she said with sadness.
"Yeah. And I had to end up getting her out of there, which guess what, most likely got me in trouble," I stepped up.
As if the timing couldn't be any more perfect, a giant TV that just so happened to be on a building outside the alley turned on.
"This just in. Some newly released footage of a pegasus helping Princess Pipp escape has been released," Dazzle reported while showing footage of me walking Pipp through the crowd before running away, "The guards are still identifying this stallion, but we advise you be on the lookout for him and report if you know of his whereabouts."
****
"...Okay...Scratch that. It definitely got me in trouble," I said with widened eyes.
"Wow," the unicorn said in amazement as she and the two earth ponies, "Zipp, you never told us that your friends with a cowboy."
"Um...what?" Zipp asked in confusion.
"First of all, I got my hat from my great grandfather and two I don't speak southern" I said.
"You're not?" The unicorn asked
But then their was trouble, when Pipp's phone buzzed. She took it out and looked at the screen. I walked over and stood beside to see what was going on.
"A warrant is out for the arrest of the princesses," Dazzle reported before the video switched over to Queen Haven getting a mug shot taken.
"Pipp! Zipp! Save yourselves!" she begged before posing for some reason.
"What?! This isn’t happening! This is so not happening!" Pipp freaked out.
"And since I helped you escape..." I whispered before I sat on my haunches as I could barely stand, "Oh cinders and ashes, I'm a criminal now."
"Pipp! Matt!" Zipp spoke up, grabbing our attention, "Forget all of that! We think we can bring back magic, but we need the crystal.”
"Have you lost your mind?" Pipp asked in disbelief.
"I agree with pipp, after they done, no way!" I said crossly
"Please. This might be our only chance," Zipp pleaded.
"Fine. I know a way out. Come on," she said before running off.
"Alright, but I'm keeping an eye on them" I agreed
Zipp smiled as we and the other ponies ran after her.
"What? Wait! You can’t just... But I’m the sheriff!" the earth pony stallion whined before following.
"Not in this town, dude, now come on" I replied.
As we continued to run, Zipp came up beside me.
"Hey, um... Matt?" she said, grabbing my attention, "I'm sorry for...you know...lying to you for all these years. I...was hoping you didn't find out this way."
I simply sighed at this.
"You were only doing it to make me feel safe. I can't exactly blame you for that," I said, "But you're right. I wish you just told me instead of finding out like this."
"Are you mad?"
"A little, but you know I don't like to hold onto grudges. It's just...probably gonna take a little while for me to forgive you."
"...I understand."
"First, I find out you've been lying about being able to fly, then I become a criminal. Can this night get any worse?"
Oh how I just jinxed it yet again.
BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ
I felt my phone vibrating and took it out.
My eyes widened in a panic not just at the fact that somepony was calling me, but who exactly was calling me.
"Oh no," I mumbled as I stopped in my tracks.
"What's wrong?" Zipp asked as she stopped in her tracks, as well as everypony else, and eventually Pipp when she noticed what's going on.
I didn't answer her, however, and instead hesitantly answered the phone call.
"H-hey Mom," I said, "How uh...how are you doi—"
"Matt, what is going on?!" my mom said, and let me tell you when I say that she does not sound happy in the slightest.
"What do you mean?" I responded, trying to play dumb.
It did not work.
"You know exactly what I mean! You're all over the news!"
"Really?" I said, once again trying to play dumb, but on the inside I was dying, "That's cool."
"No, it's not cool! I'm worried sick because the Royal Guard is looking for you!"
"Then when they find me, I'll make sure to tell them that I was simply helping a friend," I chuckled.
"This is serious, Matt!" she yelled. After a few seconds of silence I heard her sigh in anger, "I'm sorry. I'm just...I'm just concerned about you, you know?"
"I understand."
"Where are you now?"
I glanced at the only two pegasi present before responding.
"I'm with Pipp and Zipp," I said, leaving out the fact that I'm also with two earth ponies and a unicorn.
Silence was all I could hear on the other end.
"Look...I...I understand if you're upset with them for lying to us all these years. Believe me, I'm upset with them too, but...I have to stick with my friends. I've known them for so long and I can't just abandon them," I explained, "Please, just trust me on this."
I heard her sigh once again, but this time not out of anger.
"You're a grown stallion, Matt, and I respect you enough to make your own decisions. And I appreciate you respecting me enough to be honest about them," she said, and I didn't need to see her to tell that she was smiling, "Just...be careful. Okay?"
"I will," I said with a small smile of my own, "Love you, Mom."
"Love you too, son," she said before hanging up.
I put my phone back under my wing and took a deep breathe. I looked up and saw the concerned faces of everypony (although Pipp and the earth pony stallion had looked like they had a bit of grumpiness despite them looking concerned as well).
"Come on. Let's go," I said as I trotted up ahead and beside the pink pegasus, "Lead the way, Pipp."
Pipp gave a nod before leading the way once again. Together, we all ran to escape from the pegasus city, and began moving towards...I actually don't know.
A part of me was actually...glad that my mom became sick today. Because who knows if things would've been different, and what would've happened if she was with me at the show?
Author's Note
Part 4 coming soon
