A fool he may be, but he at least had a talent for recognizing faces.
Throughout his years, it had become habit more than anything. Remember the faces of those who take noticeable strides. The events of the storm king had reached the ears of many, as well as word of the unicorn with a broken horn. So even though he resided in Ponyville during the events of the Friendship Festival, it still was something on his radar.
He’d been in his own cell moments before, and the only reason he didn’t wear a similar shackle to her’s was… Well– because he’d just morphed his hoof out of it moments prior– once he saw the guards patrol slip by. These shackles could tame the magic of unicorns perhaps, but not his. Since, well– he was anything but one– despite what appearances currently portrayed.
“… T-Telling friend from foe is difficult, so I do not blame you for the mistake.” Opening her cell was easy enough, even while lacking a key– although he did make a show of making it look like he was picking the lock before opening it. When in reality, he’d just taken out the inner mechanism entirely. He did not approach past the bars however, afraid that might be interpreted as a threat, and instead floated the pick over to the shackle’s lock at her ankle. Using the same tactic he used on the door in order to undo it. “I-I am uncertain why they are imprisoning unicorns here– but i-it is best we question that later.” His gaze was elsewhere, towards where the patrol had gone. “I-I am not partial to fighting, but l-likely some of that will be needed. T-they won’t be gone for long. O-once we are out, we can send help for the others.”
Tempest was surprised the door to her cage had been opened, as did the lock around her hoof, and she eyed this one so wearily. Just who was he? She had never seen one like him before, but that was well beyond the point. The focus should be on the now, and right now she needed to escape. She held her chin up high as she moved to go past him, calmly, with all the regal flare that she could muster. There was no room for weakness, even now among a stranger. “Then move. We must not linger long.”
The broken-horned mare went trotting ahead of him, and that desire to leave this place was still deep in her heart. She knew that trusting one so quickly was a rash, and unwise move, but it was necessary for her goals. So, she ignored the strangeness of this all, and went with him in her company. There were few guards, but they managed to sneak past unnoticed.
It wasn’t until they were well beyond the place, that she noticed the alarms were just sounded, but at this point they were so far out of reach from their captors. That was when she turned to him, once they were safe. “Alright. Who do you work for? No one would have got me out of there, unless there was pay involved. Tell me now, or I decide you’re not worth the breath I’ve given just to speak to you.” She was almost craving a fight, honestly. Anything to get her muscles moving from being cramped up for so long.
