AIEPOSTING

"Princess Sparkle, I'm AiE."
>You hand the briefcase over to the scruffy pony as you introduce yourself.
>"She wasn't alone." He growls at you.
>Scoffing awkwardly, you motion to the balloon tied to the ground.
"Uh, you don't get to bring friends."
>The purple alicorn gives you a dark stare as she is pushed past you.
>"I have no friends." She mutters.
>"Don't worry, no bits for them." The stallion says, waving to the hooded ponies behind him.
"And why would I want them?"
>"They were trying to bag your prize." He continues. "They work for the mystery. The masked mare."
>A flash of recognition hits you and you scowl.
"Mare Do Well?"
>"AYE." The stallion barks and catches himself, letting out a racking cough.
>Worries run through your head as you turn to your pony team.
"Get them on board, I'll write it in."
>As the balloon begins to rise into the sky, you send your plan via your dragon team member and turn to the hooded captives.
>The wind starts to pick up as you shout.
"The flight plan I just filed with Canterlot lists me, my group, Princess Sparkle here, but only one of you!"
>It's an outright lie, of course, but what better excuse to extract some information?
"First one to talk stays in my balloon!"
>Walking across, you grab the closest captive and lean him against the edge of the basket.
"Who paid you to grab Princess Sparkle!?"
>Your yells fall on deaf ears, so you feint a tussle and cut a sandbag.
>For all intents and purposes, the remaining hooded ponies will believe their friend has been killed.
"He didn't grow wings at the end of the finale! Who wants to try next?"
>Ignoring the despairing groan from Ms Sparkle, you grab your next pseudovictim.
"Tell me about Mare Do Well! Why does she wear the mask?"
>You lean in close but hear no answers.
"A lot of loyalty for a hired pony!"
>"Or perhaps he's wondering why you would cut a sandbag, before throwing him out of the balloon."
>You turn to the final hooded pony displaying this insolence. You aim to play it up.
"At least you can talk. Who are you?"
>From underneath the hood you hear a giggle.
>"It doesn't matter who we are. All that matters is our plan."
>Slowly, you reach down and pull off the hood. Underneath are two shiny purple eyepieces, sewn into a deep purple mask.
>The masked mare puffs out her chest. "Nobody cared who we were until we put on the mask."
>You're not buying this fool.
"If I pull that off will I know you?"
>"It would spoil all the fun."
"You're a big mare."
>"For you."
>You are unsure of the grammatical correctness of this conversation, but you press on.
"Was getting caught part of your plan?"
>"Of course!" The mare cries, raising a hoof in defiance. As quickly as it happens, however, she slips it back into her restraints.
>"Princess Sparkle refused our offer in favour of yours. We came to find out what she'd told you."
>"Nothing!" The princess shouts over the wind from her corner of the basket. "I said nothing!"
>Mare Do Well simply angles her head, her hind legs twitching as if aching to kick.
>You snort and wave your hands at the sky, even as the wind picks up.
"Well congratulations! You got yourself caught!"
>"Anon?" The dragon poses your name in a worried tone as the wind begins to buffet the basket. You ignore him.
"Now what's the next step in your mysterious plan?"
>The mare raises her head and looks at you with those blank eyepieces.
>Through the wind, you hear her voice.
>"Crashing this balloon."
>Even as your blood runs cold, she stands and slips free of her cuffs.
>"With no fanfare!"
>One of your group is suddenly knocked to the ground. The balloon shakes terribly as things fly out of nowhere.
>As you duck your head, you spot the source of the attack; heavily armored pegasi, divebombing the basket.
>Even as you prepare yourself, you spot the hired helps betray you as they take down the rest of your squad.
"No! This can't be happening! I'm in charge here!"
>Trying to keep your balance, you do not see Mare Do Well walk over to you, until she bonks you on the head.
>Stars fill your vision as you are knocked on your ass.
>A couple of blinks later, you can see Mare Do Well calmly grab Princess Sparkle as the pegasi land.
>You spot other pegasi begin sawing at the rope with small swords.
>"No!" Mare do Well suddenly shouts. "They expect one of us in the wreckage, brother!"
>One of the betraying ponies, preparing to board a pegasus, calmly dismounts.
>"Have we started the party?" He asks in a thick accent.
>"Yes. The party grows!" The mystery mare says with a giggle, before climbing onto her pegasus.
>As the group takes off, you fade in and out of consciousness as the ropes begin to snap.
>Princess Sparkle is screaming in fright as the basket shakes.
>"Calm down Sparkle, now is not the time for fear. Most uncouth."
>You barely hear Princess Sparkle's screams as the basket plummets, the roar of the wind filling your ears.
>As the pegasi disappear above you and the wind screeches around you, you think back and smile.
"I get it. A big mare. For me-
>Crash