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CYOA Twilight Sparkle

By Fapman
Created: 2021-07-08 11:47:19
Updated: 2022-02-21 20:04:45
Expiry: Never
twilight sparklecyoa

  1. Freeze! This is Twilight Police! You have been accused of commiting terrorist actas against the Twilight Sparkle Citadel and you're going to be transported there for a fair and square trial, punk. Don't move or you'll make my day, trash. During the academy days my fellow Twilight Sparkles called me a real Tackellberry Mare. Whatever that means. FREEZE!
  2. A - Flee
  3. B - Surrender
  4. Y - Fight [Pocket Sand 5/1]
  5. X – Sarcastic
  6. A
  7.  
  8. You chose to flee. A smart choice of a smart mare. Why, thank you, Twilight Sparkle. No, thank you, Twilight Sparkle- Wha! You have been hoof coofed! When did this happen?!
  9. >"Thank you for co-operating, Twilight Sparkle. I will make sure to inform my superior officer, Twilight Sparkle, of yours, Twilight Sparkle's, obeying the comand of me, officer Twilight Sparkle."
  10. >Why did you thank yourself for that long!?
  11. >"Can you please put the safety belt on my gun, though?"
  12. >Before you realise, officer Twilight Sparkle pushes her water gun in your hooves. It seems like it's empty.
  13. A - Make a mock reload gesture and point at the officer Twilight Sparkle
  14. B - Make sure the gun is empty and holster it on the officer Twilight Sparkle's chest floof
  15. Y - Drop the gun at the hooves of the officer Twilight Sparkle
  16. X - Say Heck
  17. A
  18.  
  19. >You point the gun at the officer Twilight Sparkle
  20. >She doesn't seem to notice at first, being bothered by the jingly sound the keys to the hoof-chains
  21. >To her defence they do sounds funny
  22. >She freezes the moment she notices the absolutely useless piece of toy gun facing her way
  23. >A look disbelief replaces the one of grim realistion, quickly followed by the wide-eyed "you fucked up" look
  24. >"C'mon, Twilight Sparkle," she chuckles nervously, "You don't really mean it. Look, I'm just doing my job. I am told to fetch someone suspicious and I do. And you're a Twilight Sparkle, too. You would never hurt a fellow Twilight Sparkle that did not wrong you in any way, right? Whatever you did it doesn't have to end this way. I am sure it's not that big of a thing, anyways, and they want to tell you this personally. So, if you're being calm and reasonable like any Twilight Sparkle should be, could you please lower the gun?"
  25. A - Lower the gun... for now
  26. B - Poke the gun at the officer Twilight and motion to your hoof-chains
  27. Y - Use the gun [water 0/1]
  28. X - Say you're just preparing to holster the weapon
  29. B
  30.  
  31. >You poke the gun at the officer Twilight Sparkle and motion to your hoof chained hooves
  32. >"You want me to take it off?" her ears flatten back, "I can't- I shouldn't- I- I."
  33. >She changes what to say each time she looks at the gun aimed right at her chestfloof
  34. >"I don't have much choice, do I?"
  35. >Indeed she doesn't
  36. >She slowly, very slowly, gives you the key chain which happily jingles
  37. >Her ears raise at that, but lay down as quickly
  38. >You unchain your hoof and notice they weren't properly tied to begin with
  39. >"So, what will you do now? Will you run forever? They will find you. I will find you. They will tell me, Twilight Sparkle."
  40. >She squints at the asphalt
  41. >"Because of you I will have my chocolate-milk ticket taken away for a week, or t-two... Damn you."
  42. A - Keep the broken gun and gallop out of the alley
  43. B - Stun the police Twilight Sparkle before sneaking out quietly
  44. Y - Tell her she can blame only herself for blindly following orders, give back the gun and run
  45. X - Offer the police Twilight Sparkle some consolation and a hug (but be very wary about the possibilities!)
  46. XX
  47.  
  48. >You can't stand the look of you, well, of one of you, so hurt and crestfallen
  49. >Somepony would say it's insane, but instead of taking your escape you pull the disgraced police Twilight Sparkle into a tight, incapacitating hug (very clever)
  50. >Her snout digs deep into your chest as her hooves waive around aimlessly
  51. >You make extra sure she does not manage to land an unfortunate, coincidental blow to your head (super smart)
  52. >Eventually the pony in your chest stops pulling away and allows herself to be hugged with more side-to-side contact
  53. >Her sides are shivering and steam comes from her nosetrils
  54. >Her eyes are closed, but the look on her face is clearly conflicted
  55. >Not knowing what to do, she not only accepts the hug, but reciprotes it slightly
  56. >And then you sprike and top the police Twilight Sparkle, before she could manage to touch the gun she was probably aiming for! (super concious during hugs and cuddles)
  57. >It felt like forever, but it takes only about a minute or two before her breathing goes back to steady and she opens eyes, visibly relaxed
  58. >You hope the hug repaid the lack of chocolate milk for a week or two, in any case, she's a version of you, a Twilight Sparkle, and she deserves only the best in life
  59. >She sniffles and breaks the hug
  60. >"Thanks. I needed that, I guess."
  61. >She kicks the ground and giggles
  62. >"So, there's, like, no chance for you to turning in?"
  63. >You shake your head sympatheticaly
  64. >"Shucks. Well, at least the hug was... nice."
  65. >Her purple face dons a type of pink only Rarity and whores are capable of
  66. >"I should probably report your daring escape. You should go. The department will send somepony after me if I don't report soon."
  67. A - Nod like a cool mare you are, keep the gun and stroll out of the alley
  68. B - Sniffle your nose, return the gun and stroll out of the alley
  69. Y - Grace officer Twilight Sparkle with a frienly (but caucios!) shoulder pat and
  70. X - Bounce couple steps back, wave "see ya" and run out of the alley (keep the gun OR toss it back)
  71. AA
  72.  
  73. >You look the police mare in the eyes with your head high
  74. >A quick nod, 180, and you're trotting outside
  75. >The streets of Lower Canterlot are packed, but you make sure no one is following you
  76. >It would be almost impossible for even best trained Twilight Sparkles
  77. >Those mazes of streets filled with ponies no-pony with right mind would want to buck heads with
  78. >But this encounter doesn't leave your mind as you wander aimlessly
  79. >The Twilight Sparkle Citadel want to see you
  80. >What for?
  81. >Who's the high councelor of the high council nowadays?
  82. >Twilight Sparkle?
  83. >That bitch?
  84. >You shake your head
  85. >It doesn't make sense
  86. >If the Citadel goons would want you alife they would not send only one operative
  87. >And such a bad one
  88. >Unless she was better than you think!
  89. >You scan yourself for any sign of trace spell and find nothing!
  90. >A quick glance to the broken and empty water gun proves it's destroyed beyond civilian grade gunsmith capabilities
  91. >You keep it in your chest floof
  92. >A gun as good as this may come handy sooner or later
  93. >If the Citadel wanted you, dead or alife, why would they send one operative
  94. >Unless it's not the Citadel!
  95. >Have you been lied to by yourself?!
  96. >That certainly is a possibility
  97. >But even if, then who else would pretend to send Twilight Sparkle after Twilight Sparkle?
  98. >You don't know
  99. >Yet
  100. >Unless somepony wanted you to be late!
  101. >But late... where?
  102. >Panick arises in your chest before you remember:
  103. >You have nothing to be, you think
  104. >Unless!
  105. >Somepony didn't want you to be somewhere for sure!
  106. >Yes, you are very good at this
  107. >You are, in the end, Twilight Sparkle
  108. >But if it was indeed a Citadel agent, they will send more really soon
  109. >And where would somepony not want you to be right now?
  110. >At Spike's? He should be safe at his place, you could pay him a warning visit though (A)
  111. >At Rarity's? She has her own security but you doubt they would do any good against the citadel (B)
  112. >At your place? Maybe a bomb is being placed there? (Y)
  113. >... You really don't know yet (X)
  114. B
  115.  
  116. >Spike proven to be capable of outsmarting Twilight Sparkle's goons (he won in chess against you, once!)
  117. >Your place doesn't seem as important - you can always abandon it and get a new place for a couple of crebits
  118. >You take your way to the slut house
  119. >...
  120. >You arrive at the slut house but something doesn't seem alright
  121. >The ponies in front of the entrance don't make a straight (heh) line, but rather gawk at the missing pair of doors that are off the hinges
  122. >You can hear the police sirens in the distance
  123. >Your hooves carry you though the crowd and into the slut house
  124. >The sight in front of you is a dreadful one
  125. >At least two dozen ponies laying down on the floor, snoozing dreamily
  126. >Some hug each other
  127. >Some are covered in various fluids
  128. >Some wear Rarity's slut wear armors
  129. >All of them with satisfied smiles on their pony face
  130. >Trully sickening view of a battlefield that happened, considering the consistency of the white goo on a turned over table, about fiveteen minutes ago, at best
  131. >A battlefield lost by the local slut guards
  132. >The first floor lacks the owner, though
  133. >The sirens gets louder, as your mind gets fogged with sweet and salty smell of satisfied customers that got the best possible service forced upon them
  134. >Whoever done this to Rarity's slut-itch will pay for it
  135. >But Rarity's not there, the police is coming, and you're hoof into the mess (quite literally considering the goo does not let go)
  136. >There is first floor unchecked and the basement level
  137. >Rarity must be somewhere here
  138. >Even if only her moaning corpse is left
  139. A - check the first floor (Vip and management)
  140. B - check the basement (storage and rest-rooms)
  141. Y - re-check this floor
  142. X - run out and not let be seen by anypony
  143. A
  144.  
  145. >You quickly raise the stairs
  146. >The vip room looks equally trashed like the base floor
  147. >The smell is even worse
  148. >About half a dosen working ponies lay in pure bliss in puddles of their vaginal secretion
  149. >You hope it's that, and not water
  150. >You're sure Rarity said more than once she is not insured for a pump-break
  151. >Two guards, one atop other, the one above unconcious, the one under, moving his tights out of pure reflex
  152. >Whoever got them was good
  153. >Was very good
  154. >There is even a pile of feathers and a griffon, comepletely drenched in-
  155. >Your slow and careful treck through the VIP zone ends at the door to the management room
  156. >You toss away the rest of the BlueBerryBeer away, promissing yourself to pay Rarity for that
  157. >The door does look not conquered
  158. >They crystal reader is mounted next to the wall, but it looks like somepony tried to crudely hack into that, with little success, presumably, by the shape of the cock it's pointing towards the north
  159. >It fills you with slight optimism
  160. >You pull the knob but they don't buldge
  161. >Smile and optimism: free beer
  162. >You look around the corpses to look for some sort of crystalgemcard
  163. >This is when the first police ponies manage to get into the corridor leading to the first floor shame hall
  164. >You grab the pony laying on top of the other pony and duck while avoiding his veiny baton rod in the air
  165. >The two ponies gets unplugged with a load pop and squishy sounds of oil being spilled
  166. >With the already despoiled hoof, you search through the pockets of the topping one, now with his spear dangling like a meat bag
  167. >No luck
  168. >You try with the faggy one, completely deaf to the feminine whimpers he feeds your imagination with
  169. >No luck either
  170. >Damnit
  171. >You are at your wits end, but then you notice something
  172. >The guard is still continuing to buck the air
  173. >You hate what you're about to do but you do it for Rarity
  174. >With your hooves planted firmly on either cheecks of his, you squish the freshly used pony rump with all your might
  175. >At first nothing
  176.  
  177. >but then something shiny and heart shaped drops out of his back pocket
  178. >a new neighgarra of white with another sickening champan-opening sound commence but you don't watch
  179. >You are Twilight fucking Sparkle, and you're better than this
  180. >even if slightly
  181. >you grab the slut-juice covered gem and place it to the cock-sock of the gemreader
  182. >the red light is off, but the green lights up and the door opens
  183. >the management room is nothing like you remembered
  184. >it's completely and utterly trashed, somehow more than the entire club
  185. >you get in and close the door behind, to buy some time in case the police won't help the first victims of this slut-by
  186. >the only thing unbroken here are windows leading out the building and the ones used to observe the clients under
  187. >only your steps can be heard as you search the tiny room for Rarity
  188. >then an air-freshener goes of
  189. >you freeze
  190. >and sneeze
  191. >those fucking orange juice air fresheners will be the end of you long before the citadel will finally got you
  192. >which they won't
  193. >"Gesundheit."
  194. >muffled pony sound from an old and vintage act-storage
  195. >you open it and find Rarity in the metal box
  196. >"Twilight Sparkle!"
  197. >Her pristine white coat smells like big money
  198. >She hugs you as you help her out of the box
  199. >"Wait, stop!"
  200. "Rarity, what have happened here?"
  201. >She pulls a dildo shaped shiv at you
  202. >What is this dumb bitch doing you don't want to know
  203. >"How can I know you are my Twilight Sparkle?"
  204. >You give her your best are_you_serious.filly face but it's no use
  205. >She's better at giving facials than any of combined
  206. >"Speak up! Or else!"
  207. A - "Rarity, if I were from the citadel you would be already bread."
  208. B - "Rarity, put that down before you get yourself in even more troubles than your pristine flanks could ever be."
  209. Y - "Rarity, are you ok? I was so worried when I saw what they did to the slut house."
  210. X - "Rarity, I promise I will make them pay what's due. Those bastmares will pare hefty. And here's five crebits." (hand her four crebits)
  211. X
  212.  
  213. >The White Dame Rarity looks down at your offer, but can't help but lower the weapon of ass destruction once she counted the crebits you left on the table
  214. >"One is missing."
  215. >The realistion hits her harder than tax collectors
  216. >"Twilight! It is really you!"
  217. >She jumps and hands off of your neck for a moment
  218. >The yells of the police ponies are coming up the stairs
  219. "I'm happy to see you, too, Rarity, but we don't have much time."
  220. >"I know, I know. It just happened so fast."
  221. >She fixes her always glamour swirly mane.
  222. "Are you alright? The door-"
  223. >"Yes, quite good, thank you. I spent the entire thing inside the confines of this room. Not a single hair got painted white or brown during this... this..."
  224. >You step forward and nuzzle the tese of a noble heart
  225. "I know it must be hard but I need you to focus. I should be gone before the police sees me. They may cum to wrong cumclusions."
  226. >She shakes her head and picks up a chair.
  227. >"Yes, I'm sorry. I just... It happens so quickly. One moment ponies paid to be teased, the business as usual, and then, and then... then they broke in!"
  228. "Who, Rarity? Who broke in?"
  229. >She coves her eyes with her hooves
  230. >"The sluts! The actual sluts! They barged in and started doing things we don't do!"
  231. "Do you remember how they looked like?"
  232. >"I am ruined! I am ruined! Who will want to, to get a private dance, or to be told compliments, or-or to h-hold hooves under the table..."
  233. >That little slut
  234. >"Now that the ponies were shown how real fun is done! I'm done! Bucked out of business."
  235. >She stands up and throws the chair against a shelf full of dildos shaped like dragons
  236. >It falls unceremoniously at the ground with squacking sounds of a fuck-ducks
  237. "Don't worry. I'm sure some ponies will come back. Not every client of yours is a total deviant."
  238. >She giggles and pulls out a fag
  239. >"It's sweet that you say it, but you don't sit in the flank business. Even if they would come back they will all want to relieve this one night. Nothing will satisfy them more..
  240. >"Nothing will satisfy them more than being breed agains their will ever again. Gah!"
  241. >She throws the fag into a trash can
  242. >"Well, with my flanks being ruined settled, what else do you want to know?"
  243. >A pity for an old hag of yours
  244. "Listen, Rares, I may not be a professional whore, but during the..."
  245. >You do it for her
  246. "During my academy days at the horny unicorn school for monetary challenged I sucked in a fair dose of business classes."
  247. >You motion to the macabre outside the window
  248. "And this, this is not a business problem, this is a business opportunity, if I ever seen one."
  249. >She gives you a curious look
  250. >Her mouth remind flat, though
  251. "I know it's against certain rules of Rarity, but you're unharmed, and with that you can rebuild the slut house. Without you... this place could not be."
  252. >The smile is weak but it's there
  253. >She grabs you for another short hug
  254. >Her eyes are so big from close there
  255. >"I guess you really are my Twilight Sparkle."
  256. >She snuggles you again, covering her beautiful unicorn chestfluff into some of the semen you got shot with by the fag's gemholder
  257. >As you break the snugg she places a shiv back into her mane
  258. "Sharp style. I'm glad I did prove myself to be me."
  259. >She only smiles weakly, and then kicks the table, turning it over and breaking its leg
  260. >"You know what, you are right, Twilight. It smells like a wind of change."
  261. >"Is there someone there?"
  262. >The yelling comes from the other side of the door
  263. >Rarity turns her back to you and looks for something in the mess.
  264. "I'm glad I could raise your spirits."
  265. >"Here," she hands you a green looking gem, "this is the recording of the evening. I don't trust the police with it. They work too close with the insurance companies."
  266. "Inscurance companies? What do you mean?"
  267. >She gives you a smirk to cum for
  268. >The white unicorny gently pushes you to the side of the window leading outside
  269. >"I won't let them lose the recording of this place being ruined. I... I might have bought an insurence."
  270. "You?
  271. "You? An insurance?"
  272. >This is indeed a shocking news
  273. >"Well," the cum covered chest proudly sticks out, "as I said, the wind of change.")
  274. "So, you think this wasn't the citadel attack?"
  275. >She stomps angrily right into the puddle of-
  276. >"As you said yourself, Twilight Sparkle. If it were of the citadel's doing, my poor flanks would never turn white again."
  277. >We don't know that for sure
  278. >She still gently pushes you to the now opened window
  279. >"But don't take me wrong, you coming here was a great thing. Now I don't have to worry about the insurance claim being targeted as a fake."
  280. "What would you do if I did not come to rescue you?"
  281. >"Why, I would snuggle it of course."
  282. >You fail to see any clothing on her
  283. "Charming. Listen, I will look through the recording in case there is some kind of trace, any."
  284. >There is smoke from the trash can that grows in power now, with the window opened
  285. >"Please, do. If anything, I owe you. You save my ass in more than one way."
  286. >You can imagine it later
  287. >Two subtle voices can be heard on the other side of the door
  288. >"Are you fucking?"
  289. >"Are they fucking?"
  290. >"They are fucking in there!"
  291. >You get out of the window and stand of a conviniently placed platform
  292. "The feeling's mutual."
  293. >She hugs you one more time, chest to chest, sticking to you in more than one way
  294. >Then she hugs you even closer and something sharp threatent to shave your beaver and more
  295. >"One crebit, Darling."
  296. >That sly vixen
  297. >You can't help but dry chuckle as you pay the missing crebit
  298. >She lets you go, but not before planting one final kiss on your lips
  299. >"Fu, fu. Now only I owe you~, Ta, ta, darling!"
  300. >She closes the window and you jump on an another conviniently placed platform, this time a broken A/C
  301. >The old whore's laughter
  302. >That's the currency you can accept
  303. >And the citadel hates you for it
  304. >Now, what to do
  305. A - your apartmen
  306. B - Spike's den
  307. Y - The local morgue
  308. Z - Sarcastic
  309. B
  310.  
  311. >Spike
  312. >You're sure he has a gem-reader in his hoarded stash of broken magitronics
  313. >And the plus is, he lives in the lower canterlot
  314. >You manage to get the cum out of your chest but this is not important because look super cool
  315. >...
  316. >Only one more dark and obscure and loot riddled alley divides you from the Den apartment complex
  317. >This part of lower canterlot is favoured by poor dragon fucktory workers and cheap sluts
  318. >But you are a smart pony and you know cheap sluts take cost little to taste but a ton for aspirin for the crabs to be gone
  319. >And that only if you're lucky
  320. >Oh no
  321. >Your thought were clouded with the vision of vet visit and your way has been blocked by another Tw-
  322. >"Yo, dog."
  323. >"What's up, dog?"
  324. >You breath out in relief
  325. >This is no assault by the Twilight Sparkle Citadel
  326. >This is your friendly local diamond dongs
  327. >"A dog got your tongue, dog?"
  328. >They are clearly talking to you
  329. >"You don't know who's curb it is?"
  330. >The towering gray dong-like creatures voices's are sharp like a papercut with a freshly printet ponknote
  331. >No wonder ponknotes got removed from use
  332. >Too many lethal casualties per emission
  333. >"Are you deaf, dog?"
  334. >"Can't hear our barking?"
  335. >They sure are rude, but they don't make any movement your way
  336. >These dongs must be really boned
  337. >You wonder could you go past them without any troubles
  338. >"We are the Artificial Gang and we rule this hood."
  339. >"Yeah, dog!"
  340. >The dongs laughed among themselves
  341. >Low life gangers
  342. >Could be worse
  343. >"Yo, you have a really a nice looking gem there, dog."
  344. >"Yeah, dog. We could relieve it of you, dog."
  345. A - confront
  346. B - ignore
  347. Y - reason
  348. X - flee
  349. YY
  350.  
  351. >You measure each one of them three
  352. >The shortest makes a face of someone chronically horny
  353. "Yes, I do hear you. I mean, excuse me, I was just shocked. I didn't know this is a private curb."
  354. >"How the heck did you not notice all the shit, dog?"
  355. >The tallest one, with the least retarded facial fur talks
  356. >You look around and see no marking on the grey concrete walls nor metal barrels tossed around in some rush-developed-deus-ex-like game
  357. >The middle one barks
  358. >"Shit's on the floor."
  359. >The horniest one add, very self-satisfactory
  360. >"Usually."
  361. >The look at the floor indeed proves that the alley is far more shit in than it supposed to be on this time of year
  362. "Shit. As I said didn't notice. I meant no disrespect. If you could just let me go and forget this slight this one time-"
  363. >"You disrespect the Artificial Gang, you eat the dirt, dog!"
  364. >"Yeah, dog! You eat the dirt!"
  365. >But there's no dirt around, just concrete, asphalt and dog poops
  366. >It dawns on them, as the shock is visible
  367. >"Er, or eat shit."
  368. >"There's more shit on the ground than ground on the ground... Uh,"
  369. >"YO, stop making my homies feel sick with your charades, dog."
  370. "Once again-"
  371. >"Shut the fuck up, dog. We, the Artificial Gang says how it will be."
  372. >The three of them turn their hunchbacked backs to you
  373. >You could attack now
  374. >But there are poops around there
  375. >You smell the risk to slip during a charge too high
  376. >"You either going to show us the gem or you're going to eat the shit, dog." says the tall
  377. >"From the floor!" says the middle
  378. >"Or the wall." says the horny
  379. A - come closer and beat the shit out of them
  380. B - eat the shit off the floor, or the wall
  381. Y - show them your shit (gem)
  382. X - shit yourself and run away
  383. AA
  384.  
  385. >You shorten the distance
  386. >"Yo, which one will be, dog?"
  387. >You should probably know better
  388. >but you, Twilight Sparkle, won't let the dongs to talk shit to you
  389. >this shit even sticks to your thoughts!
  390. >make it go!
  391. "Fuck."
  392. >"How did you call my mo-"
  393. >the shit hits the fan as you smash a hoof right across one of their faces
  394. >he whimpers something in sponish as you kick him right in the feels
  395. >in the knee, you mean the knee
  396. >"Dog!"
  397. >The smallest one jumps on your side slices the air where you just have been with a paw covered in poop
  398. >a swift buck to his arm sends seems to seal the fate a nearby wall, as the poop in question copies itself on it
  399. >you scream in frustration at all the shitty puns and turn to the last standing dong on your way with the look to blow it away
  400. >but shits himself in fear
  401. >to dong's defence, perfect nesquicks
  402. >"Dog! Stop! It's a prank, dog! It's a prank!"
  403. >only now you're angry
  404. >you don't let any bullshit to fly past you
  405. >that's why you left the cita-
  406. >damn, he is quick
  407. >he's good
  408. >he pounce and you dodge-
  409. >and you land chest fluff right into the liquid brown menac-
  410. >thank god you have a chronic allergy to bullshit or you would also smell it
  411. >you expect the final blow but it doesn't come
  412. >a quick peak above the brown horison proves the last remaining dong to pick up his comaderie and hauling them somewhere
  413. >you briefly think why are you so retarded and stuff the gem safely into the chest fluff
  414. >fuck
  415. >you pick yourself up and the dong menace is gone
  416. >so, you guess you won
  417. >and you won't ask why does this feel so shitty this one time
  418. A - sneak to your apartment (no way to meet Spike in this state)
  419. B - sneak to Spike's (yes way to meet Spike in this state)
  420. Y - go after the dongs
  421. X - sarcastic
  422. BB
  423.  
  424. >you sneak into the Den's apartment complex
  425. >right into the basement
  426. >no one even look at a s-
  427. >everypony takes you for a hobo
  428. >free snack when hungry
  429. >free fuck when honry
  430. >and let these suckers thing that way
  431. >you go by the last corner of the last corridor and jump back
  432. >Fuck!
  433. >another Twilight Sparkle stands in front of Spike's door
  434. >you did not notice her uniform but-
  435. >but does it bucking matter?
  436. >Sweet Celestial Bun in Oven Above
  437. >you hoped at least Spike's was safe-
  438. >what are you panicking about, Sparkle! get a hold of yourself, Sparkle!
  439. >yes, Sparkle! Thank you, Sparkle!
  440. >no problem, Sparkl-
  441. >NO
  442. >YOU BEEN THERE
  443. >well, Spike is an important persona for the citadel, right?
  444. >Twilight Sparkles don't hurt Spikes, usually
  445. >there's nothing good that comes from this, as far as you're concerned
  446. >fuck
  447. >how to play it
  448. a - wait behind the corner for the Twilight Sparkle to go
  449. b - stroll there casually and friendly towards Twilight Sparkle
  450. y - sneak behind Twilight Sparkle and uncapacitate her or... worse
  451. x - sarcastic
  452. YX
  453.  
  454. >you become shadow
  455. >you become nightmare
  456. >you become... hobo
  457. >with a beanie hat, freshly pulled out of convinient chest floof, you wipe the shit off of your chest and put the hat atop your dignified mane
  458. >no one notices the hobo
  459. >you turn the corner and...
  460. >Twilight Sparkle wears a pristine snow white shirt and a pair of oversized glasses
  461. >cute
  462. >but no less deadly
  463. >she knocks on the door
  464. >"Mister Spike. Mister Spike. I know you're there. We need to talk."
  465. >she pays you no mind as you slowly pull closer and closer
  466. >"It's official work. We have a meeting agreed upon. It's from the citadel-"
  467. >you wait no more!
  468. >with a mighty pounce you knock off the unsuspecting and incapacitated Twilight Sparkle!
  469. >"Ahh!"
  470. >her hooves trash in the air as she screams!
  471. >the voice echoes the corridors!
  472. >a hoof to the mouth, it is!
  473. "Shut up and talk."
  474. >Her pupils are tiny
  475. >Oh, yeah
  476. >you withdraw your hoof but not before saying
  477. "One unthought act and you're pretty shirt goes brown"
  478. >She nods
  479. >"Who are you?"
  480. >you take of your shit covered hobo disguise of a hat
  481. >Twilight sparkle under you gasp!
  482. >"No!"
  483. >You hold the hat close her shirt
  484. >"W-what is this?"
  485. "What do you mean what is this? It's shit."
  486. >you would lie if the squirming under you don't make you feel remotely good
  487. >there is this primal need of being the top Twilight Sparkle
  488. >every Twilight Sparkle feels it, but some are compelled to commit to attrocities just to ride that high a minute longer
  489. >that's why you left
  490. >"We will get you."
  491. >you smirk
  492. >"Eventually."
  493. "Eventually, you'll grow mature and have foals."
  494. >another short gasp!
  495. >"R-realy you think so?"
  496. A - yes
  497. B - no
  498. Y - maybe
  499. X - i don't know
  500. Y
  501.  
  502. "What do I look like, an oracle?"
  503. >and here's more shivering and squirming and even some tiny whimper in it
  504. >yes, it does feel good to be good
  505. >"No, you don't! What do you want from me?!"
  506. "Shh. No yelling."
  507. >you threat on her with the hat
  508. "And I want to know what do you do here."
  509. >"I-I can't tell you that."
  510. "And I thought you were going to co-operate."
  511. >"N-no, wait."
  512. >The purple menace fixes her glasses
  513. >"I'm here because we are doing static work."
  514. >Statistic?
  515. >That's pretty serious job.
  516. >She should have protection, shouldn't she?
  517. >A quick scan-spell proves there's no other Twilight Sparkle in the distance
  518. >"You know how i-it goes."
  519. >Or she's lying.
  520. "What if I don't trust you?"
  521. >"H-here."
  522. >she moves to pull out something from the still pristine shirt but you shake your head
  523. >instead, you shift more weight onto her belly with yours own and pull the notes yourself
  524. >indeed, it looks like a statistic job with pretty serious questions whose great importance you don't quite understand for the defence of the Twilight Sparkle citadel
  525. >like: "how many carrots is enough in dragon's diet"
  526. >or "what was first, an egg or a dragon soul"
  527. >"S-see?"
  528. >she's still trembling
  529. >how to proceed
  530. A - Tell her to begone
  531. B - Write silly things in the answers
  532. Y - Question her about what's up in the Citadel
  533. X - Terrorise her
  534. BB
  535.  
  536. >you smile at the Twilight Sparkle cushion agent under you and pick up a pen
  537. >she is a good Twilight Sparkle
  538. >a loyal Twilight Sparkle
  539. >an honest Twilight Sparkle
  540. >just like you were back when everything was simple
  541. >she doesn't deserve what comes next
  542. "What is the answer to "the sum of the whole is equal to:"?
  543. >"the square of the parts. Why?" her brow furrows, and her ears pick up
  544. >You write down "I like pie"
  545. "What do you like for breakfast?"
  546. >"Pancakes, w-why?"
  547. >Her eyes follow between you and the notepad as you scribble that down
  548. >"No! You cannot!"
  549. >How many carrots is enough in dragon's diet : pancakes
  550. >You look at the answer in the question above but nothing happens
  551. >"I beg you!"
  552. >Weird
  553. >It should make place for another person's answers
  554. >That's how it used to work, at least
  555. >You real couple next questions and answer them really quickly
  556. >What was first, an egg or a dragon soul? Sluts
  557. >"N-no..."
  558. >You turn your attention to the pony under you and shift the weight to get more comfortable
  559. >A loaf above a loaf
  560. >A loud 'oof' escapes her lips
  561. >Perversion
  562. >You know
  563. >Twilight Sparkle the statistic oberves you codly, with fresh tears in eyes and a quivering lip
  564. >"You wrote something dumb, didn't you?"
  565. >Something's off
  566. A - interrogate her about whereabouts of Spike
  567. B - pry about the changes in the statistics procedures
  568. Y - knock her out cold and go to Spike's
  569. Z - torture her more
  570. BZ
  571.  
  572. "This interactive questionary of yours does not seem to work properly."
  573. >"What do you mean?"
  574. >A confused look on her face tells you everything you need to know
  575. >Nothing
  576. "Tell me how did the field data gathering procedures changed."
  577. >The squirming once subdued return with double the pleasure
  578. >"I can't!"
  579. "Can't or cannot?"
  580. >"What?"
  581. "Can't or can."
  582. >Her nerves relax for a moment.
  583. "Not. Cannot."
  584. "Gah! Stop this! I don't believe you! Why are you like this?!"
  585. "I can do it all day, pal. Or rather can't. Or cannot."
  586. >Her angry whining is like honey for your ears
  587. >Something deep down you may be woken up, but you don't buldge
  588. >Not when the stakes are higher than Twilight Sparkle herself
  589. >"This makes no sense! Stop this cruelty! I have been good to you, Twilight Sparkle!"
  590. >She makes a point
  591. "Then be good for me couple more second and tell me what changed."
  592. >You reposition yourself on her top and put even more weight on her
  593. >Your chest flufs connects, and you look one another in the eye closer than you are cumfortable for
  594. >But you don't budge
  595. >Twilight Sparkle gasps
  596. >"T-the password. They added the password. Leave me be-"
  597. "Not so fast, sweet heart. What is the password."
  598. >"I don't know."
  599. "You want me to believe that?"
  600. >You motion to the poop covered hobo hat that you will miss dearly
  601. >"Fine. The password. You need to write it down at the bottom of the list once you're done."
  602. >That's an important information
  603. >If the citadel password-ed up statistics, they could have weaponise other science branches as well
  604. >One more thing to know
  605. "What is the password?"
  606. >"Why would I tell you?"
  607. >That makes you raise a brow and thrust your hips at hers once
  608. >ONCE
  609. >You are reasonable, not like those Twilight Sparkles
  610. "Have I hurt you, yet?"
  611. >You say as you trace the outlike of her purple head with your hoof
  612. >She mewls in your touch
  613. >"N-no, I guess. Twilight Sparkle, the password is Twilight Sparkle, Twilight Sparkle."
  614. >Twilight Sparkle is their password?
  615.  
  616. >That's strong
  617. >You doubt anyone would figure it out in a reasonable timetable window to hack a terminal during a stealth timer going off
  618. >Not that you would know
  619. >No sir
  620. "Who came up with that? "
  621. >"I don't know! I swear. We just ger the passwords together with dispositions!"
  622. "Who's your boss?"
  623. >"It's Twilight Sparkle, you don't know her!"
  624. >Probably true
  625. >The citadel's internal policy always disgussed you
  626. >And the democratic voting when everypony is named the same is a hell of a buck
  627. >You fill the rest of the answer spots with vague drawing of various stallion cocks of colours (blue) and sizes (big)
  628. >Then you write down the password at the signature place
  629. >A happy tune plays out
  630. >"No! What have you done! What have you-"
  631. >She bucks you off!
  632. >That comes harly as a surpise
  633. >An angry nerd who research job has been ruined can achieve inner strenght no one suspected her of
  634. >You are Twilight Sparkle and you know it
  635. >The other Twilight Sparkle jumps to her legs and points a hoof at you, very accusingly
  636. >"That's it! You will answer for that!"
  637. A - Go for the kill
  638. B - Knock her out
  639. Y - Persuade her
  640. X - Flee
  641. YY
  642.  
  643. >You look Twilight Sparkle right in the eyes
  644. "I won't lie to you. I'm not sorry for what I did to you, and I'm not sorry for what you will make to do if you refuse to co-operate."
  645. >She stomps a hoof, "You are a low life scum, Twilight Sparkle! The citadel will have you punished for it!"
  646. "Won't."
  647. >"Mark my wor-"
  648. "Or will not."
  649. >An angry step forward on her side
  650. >One small step back on your own
  651. "Listen, nerd. Against what your training is telling you, I did not come here to fight you."
  652. >"You already assaulted me. You ruined my field research. You threatened to ruin my new shirt!"
  653. >When it sounds like that Twilight Sparkle makes more sense than you, Twilight Sparkle
  654. "But I didn't ruin your glasses."
  655. >She raises a hoof to poke at you, which would be a very rude poke, if your experience means anything
  656. "Look at the hat. Imagine it as clean as your shirt still is. Now picture what would it do to the glasses on your snout. Now look at the actual state of the hat."
  657. >You point at it with a waves of your beautiful mane
  658. >Slowly, very reluctantly, she lowers her leg to the ground, but stops before the tip of the hoof touches the floor
  659. >"You're a rebel. You hurt Twilight Sparkles. Your very existence defies the citadel. What would you even do here? Aren't you on a run?"
  660. >She's talking
  661. >Good
  662. "Hey, it's me who asks questions here."
  663. >"No, you are not! Answer me, or we're done here. A-and don't even think about asking me to not write a report about you!"
  664. >She breathes in and out, regaining compusture she never ever have
  665. >Well, frankly speaking, you were kind of a clit to Twilight Sparkle and her flanks may be in serious trouble
  666. >"What are you doing here?"
  667. >Should you tell her
  668. A - Accuse her of inviding Spike's privacy against the citadel's policy [Rarity Gem 1/1]
  669. B - Accuse her about the maresaccre at the slut house [Slut house arc 1/1]
  670. X - Lie to her and try to assert the dominance [Gun 1/1]
  671. Y - Incapacitate her in a cool way [Pen 1/1]
  672. YAXXBBB
  673.  
  674. >"What are you doing here?"
  675. >Should you tell her
  676. "I'm trying to inform Spike about what your citadel superiors did to my friend, Twilight Sparkle."
  677. >Twilight Sparkle clad in still snowy white shirt, narrows her eyes
  678. >It does not avoid your perception that while the cloth was originaly white, the current colour is wet
  679. >Most likely by sweat
  680. >Probably not only hers
  681. >The thought makes your head spin
  682. >"And what are you trying to say Twilight Sparkle Citadel has done to your friend?"
  683. "I'm not going to tell you. If you somehow doesn't know yet, you will know soon enough."
  684. >Her lips curl above her teeth as she snarls
  685. >"Twilight Sparkle, you were supposed to answer my question!"
  686. "But I just did."
  687. >"No, you did not!"
  688. "That was another question."
  689. >A deep running scrunch on Twilight Sparkle's perfect face tells you, you won
  690. >You take a quick step forward
  691. >Twilight Sparkle takes a quick step back and raises a hoof but freezes
  692. >Her face turns red as she stutters something
  693. >You don't listen to her
  694. >The hoof she raised could look like in self defence, but you are Twilight Sparkle
  695. >You were trained in Twilight Sparkle arcs
  696. >This Twilight Sparkle before you could cover in fear when confronted, cry and bawl like a little, sexy filly, with great taste in clothes and glasses brims she was...
  697. >But she talked back
  698. >Only now you notice it
  699. >The raised hoof could be aimed at something hidden in her chest floof
  700. >You did not think about digging through her floof and now you lost the chance
  701. >This may be none-sense
  702. >This may be typical Twilight Sparkle indulged paranoya
  703. >Or this mare could be not the Twilight Sparkle she says she is
  704. >Because you're pretty sure there was no combat snuggles class at the ecunnyony courses
  705. >Fuck
  706. "Where were you about two hours ago?"
  707. >She takes a step back
  708. "Where. Were. You?"
  709. >Her head lowers to the chest level as she backs up the flanks into the door to Spike's apartment
  710. >You follow, with your head held high
  711. >Anger is a heck of a fuel
  712. >But you are better than this
  713.  
  714. >Or so you like to think
  715. >She never lowered a hoof from the vicinity of her floof
  716. >"I d-don't- I don't know w-what are you i-im-"
  717. >That's it
  718. >This is no coincidence
  719. >With a swift slap to her leg she falls flat on the ground before you
  720. >"N-no!"
  721. >With a weak hoof-maga grab to her flank you turn her around pn her back
  722. >Twilight Sparkle looks at you above the brim of her crooked now glasses and moans
  723. >She moans
  724. >What a nerve
  725. >You don't tower above her anymore, you lower your face a the level of her tummy and with both of your frong legs you part the down side of the shirt
  726. >She fights back
  727. >No use
  728. >You are Twilight Sparkle and you have 300 confirmed licks
  729. >With a swivel of your tongue you find Twilight Sparkle's belly button and invide it
  730. >It tastes like a poor mare's fear
  731. >You suscept she smells like lavender, but with your always malfunctioning nose you are more autistic than ever
  732. >One lick
  733. >Two lick
  734. >The licks
  735. >And a nibble
  736. >And a cry of pleasure leaves her mouth
  737. "Will you talk?"
  738. >"N-n-ah~~"
  739. >Her hind hooves kick weakly as you continue your moistening assault at the proximity of her digesting system
  740. >She bites on her hoof to muffle the agonizing musical she can't, or cannot stop
  741. "What do you know about raid?"
  742. >You say between kissing, pulling and tugging at her perfectly toned belly
  743. >"I don't know anything!"
  744. >This Twilight Sparkle is a tough cookie to milk
  745. >"Please! Ah-I beg of you, Twilight Spaaanklee~ I don't know about any raid at any slut house!"
  746. >Bingo
  747. >You did not mention the place, now did you
  748. >Should you point it out to her so she gives up or-
  749. >Sneak attack!
  750. >Her front hooves rab your head and force you down on her perky gi-
  751. >You Prrt with your mouth with all your might
  752. >Right in her belly
  753. >She screams
  754. >Water falls
  755. >Twilight Sparkle falls limp
  756. >Your assault ceased, you makes sure to take use the rest of her shirt to clean off your fluff from all the moisture accumulated
  757. >You look down at the mewling and neighing pony
  758. >She looks content and pretty
  759. >And asleep
  760.  
  761. >Damnit
  762. >You overdone it
  763. >There is no way you're going to wake her up now
  764. >That would be too cruel
  765. >You take off her completely damp shirt
  766. >Fold it and place next to her just like your momma taught you
  767. >She tries to fight you back by being cute and adorable with her heavy breathing as you reach for the glasses, but you are Twilight Sparkle
  768. >Cuteness is your weapon of choice
  769. >Nature implemented, not augemented
  770. >With the glasses secured and placed on top of the shirt you nod content to yourself
  771. >You still needs answers, though
  772. >Your hoof eachoes through the corridor as it meets the wood of Spike's door
  773. "Spike! Spike! It's me, Twilight Sparkle."
  774. >The door doesn't open
  775. "It's me. Let me in."
  776. >You wait for a bit before you retry
  777. >Is he not home?
  778. >No way to know for sure
  779. >Spikes value their privacy
  780. >Sometimes too much
  781. >There's no worse thing a Twilight Sparkle can do than to walk up on a Spike watching his Kirin Cart-
  782. >Damnit!
  783. >With some time bought by taking Twilight Sparkle out you wonder about your next action
  784. A - check out her chest fluff before you go [Hacking]
  785. B - steal her glasses, they will look better on you, anyways [Scavenging]
  786. Y - lay down next to Twilight Sparkle to take a well deserved nap [Empathy]
  787. X - go to your super secret apartment no other Twilight Sparkle knows about []
  788. BB "ABCD"
  789.  
  790. >With a new pair of nerd shades, and the citadel's statistic tiny notebook, and with a pen, all of these safely stuck in your chest fluff departnment, you leave the Twilight Sparkle snoring corpse behind you
  791. >You leave the Den complex in a different route than through the previously owned Dong street
  792. >No time for shit
  793. >It's only a matter of time before Twilight Sparkle will wake up and warn the Twilight Sparkle about you being aware of what happened at the slut house
  794. >You only fear for Rarity's well being
  795. >She may not get lucky next time if the goons decide to spread some free of charge love and compatibile veneral diseases
  796. >You fasten your pace as you sneak through the dark passages of lower canterlot
  797. >...
  798. >You arrive at your secret apartment with no further turbulence
  799. >All the warning mechanism of the possibility of the hideout being compromised says: "it's not"
  800. >Which means the lock was locked
  801. >You get into your apartment and let out a breath you did not hold
  802. >Your flanks plop on the sofa with a pleasurable plap
  803. >It's still the sun time, but the window pannels render a view full of one big star and couple of tiny moons floating around it
  804. >A gift from an old friend
  805. >You look at the surrounding and with a deep shrug which fills you with determination you get up, find the gem reader, and plop it next to your spot on the sofa
  806. >The device looks a bit dusty and rusty
  807. >You shrug and go to the kitchen to take a glass of tap water, but...
  808. >The fridge lures you with silent pleas, though
  809. >You pop the last can of Sparkle-Cola and take a swing
  810. >Sparkle-Cola has what ponies crave the most
  811. >It has electrolites
  812. >filled with artificial energy, you gently place the gem into the device and hope it won't choke on it
  813. >quiet music begins to play as a vision from an iHoof industrial camera shows on the wall nearby
  814. >it's hoovtzart
  815. >and it's the insides of the slut house first floor
  816. >the camera moves left-right, right-left
  817.  
  818. >the recording is blurry, but the clattering of glasses and sounds of fur on fur rubbing
  819. >you turn on the Twilight Sparkle enhanced measures of better and improved vision and they allow you to see more
  820. >that is, your pout almost touches the wall as you stand closer
  821. >you can see only couple of the patrons drinking and one particular your looking mare doing something with another patron's hoof under a table when-
  822. >the door blast open!
  823. >the camera stops moving
  824. >it points at the entrance hallway only
  825. >three ellegant looking ponies in expensive cartoon boxes run into the place and-
  826. >and spits perfectly in the camera lens!
  827. >it almost made you take a roll!
  828. >almost!
  829. >your head pokes out from behind the gem reader and you refocus on the onbstructed vision
  830. >what follows next would put less expertised Twilight Sparkle to a blush
  831. >but not you
  832. >you compliment the hoarsiest sounds of appriciation that's gutter-ably are possible with a sip and a coughing fit
  833. >the recording ends after fifeteen minutes of sounds of raising agony and meaty whacks that echoes through your tiny apartment
  834. >after a quick shower to deal with the filth you just witnessed you realise this was no amateur job
  835. >the spit sticked well
  836. >high quality spit
  837. >professional works
  838. >and the aim
  839. >none of the ponies were Twilight Sparkle
  840. >if any of them was, it would be simple
  841. >the citadel goons
  842. >but none of them even remotely resembled you
  843. >this makes no sense to you
  844. >but the statistic Twilight Sparkle knew about the attack?
  845. >you suspect she did
  846. >you also think you wishful think for her to know
  847. >GAh!
  848. >that's why you wanted to talk with Spike
  849. >he would well advise you, as always
  850. >you re-watch the gem recording one more time and after another long and hot shower you find your mind fog clogged and your stomach empty
  851. >yet you can't get the spit out of your mind
  852. >only one pony you know of could pull a shoot as good as that, but Applejack disappeared when the sweet apple acress got reposessed by the orgasm collectors
  853.  
  854. >a hoof goes down your body when you think of that but you stop yourself
  855. >two showers in half an hour is enough, your inner, better Twilight Sparkle whines
  856. >should be enough, your outer, prettier and smarter Twilight Sparkle neighs back
  857. >no use, with the can empty you won't have the energy to live it off the third ti-
  858. >you're at the dead end, Sparkle, you know that
  859. >and you don't know what to do, yet
  860. A - take a well deserved nap [Yawn]
  861. B - go to a local horn eleven shop to restock [Food!]
  862. Y - look around the apartment to find some left-overs [Search]
  863. X - roam the streets [Stealth]
  864. A
  865.  
  866. >A well deserved nap, it is
  867. >Darkess overtakes you quickly
  868. >No dream comes
  869. >Not even the smallest
  870. >You wake up when the sofa moves on its own!
  871. >The living things!
  872. >Hold on- no
  873. >It's the old whole twelve store building that shakened
  874. >And you worried about that silly movie The Night of The Living Bed comes true
  875. >HOLD ON
  876. >The whole building is shakened!
  877. >A loud thunder is still perfectly roaring in your covering ears
  878. >Damnit!
  879. >The citadel found you
  880. >Or it's some stupid turf war
  881. >But you're Twilight Sparkle and you can't bet your luck on that
  882. >Not that you don't like to gamble your life, but... you're Twilight Sparkle
  883. >You can math
  884. >You know the odds
  885. >The BOOM's echo eventually ends and a lot of pony voices in distress calls out
  886. >Poor fillies
  887. >Some rush out of their apartments
  888. >You would love to stop them... yet, that is very convinience for you
  889. >Twilight Sparkles may lose a minute or two to pacify or push past them
  890. >You look around the apartment
  891. >It was a cosy and warm and fuzzy place
  892. >You will miss it dearly
  893. >Especially the free champignon mushrooms growing in the bathtube
  894. >No time to get to any of the hidden stashes!
  895. >You must run!
  896. >And you run to the door!
  897. >Then you stop, come back for the gem, and-
  898. >And you think about the route of escape!
  899. A - run out with other ponies and rampede
  900. B - make use of the old ventilatory system
  901. Y - get out through the window on the window sill outside
  902. X - bariccade yourself in and prepare defense
  903. BXX
  904.  
  905. >you consider your options and decide to defend your turf
  906. >this is how the gongs must feel like
  907. >with a rough estimation of time that you still have turns out-
  908. >turns out you don't have much time
  909. >you suspected it but you had to be sure
  910. >with dignified haste you gallop to the pile of half read books and dig deep into it
  911. >it pains you to trash them away, but it's still better than letting them being read without consent of the owner
  912. >they deserve better
  913. >you can't look as you dig through the pile of your precious children untill you-
  914. >aha!
  915. >with a mighty pull a gray looking chest gives up and land on the floor
  916. >M.A.R.E. chest contains everything you may need to take your Twilight Sparkles with you
  917. >but where?
  918. >The promotional text under the name is confusing
  919. >another roar
  920. >another shake
  921. >some dust and paint falling on your head
  922. >you haul the box to a more preferable position and unpack it
  923. >...
  924. >you didn't have enough time to deploy everything you have when the neighbour's screams got quiet
  925. >probably silenced with threats of unrelenting belly rubs or worse
  926. >free saddle measurements in a shop a bit too expensive for your budget
  927. >the horror leaves your system as a familiar static sound cuts through your thoughts like a papercut
  928. >Twilight Sparkle used a localisation spell
  929. >they know you're here for sure
  930. >you know they know
  931. >two edged piece of paper
  932. >...
  933. >you look once again at all the pieces of the improptu death zone and stand inside the M.A.R.E. chest
  934. >it has a very convinient visior and lays very close to the vent
  935. >on a second thought, you open the vent
  936. >just in case
  937. A - close the chest with you inside and observe the assault
  938. B - move the M.A.R.E chest closer to the window
  939. Y - stay as you stay, in order to vent, just in case
  940. X - stand your ground to finish off kill zone survivors run to the other room in search of the B.O.X.
  941. AA
  942.  
  943. >with a last glance around,you salute to pay respect
  944. >the M.A.R.E. stash closes on top of you hitting your horn and squeezing you somewhat
  945. >but it's ok
  946. >you cry only a little
  947. >a little!
  948. >who could blame you for-
  949. >another explosion!
  950. >this one far closer and bigger than any before
  951. >the box with you moves back by a hair due to the sheer force
  952. >you quickly grab the complementary carton binoculars and put it on your nose
  953. >you don't know how it works but it works
  954. >it's pure magic enhanced into a form
  955. >with them on, you can see everything as good as if you were not inside a container
  956. >which is not much at the moment, frankly speaking
  957. >the vision is filled with thick black smoke
  958. >yet you manage to see a pony sized hole in the wall next to the door
  959. >the pony intruder holds in her hooves a mace some of sort
  960. >anti-magic device, you suspect
  961. >she quickly back tracks to the door and pull the door knob open and two more mares run into the place
  962. >those Twilight Sparkles are different tier from what you can tell
  963. >all three of them wear full body carton armors
  964. >perfectly capable of stopping water for about five second before they begin to melt
  965. >the citadel wants you
  966. >all of it takes only about three seconds between the breach in the wall and those three in total galloping in
  967. >and then the true hell opens
  968.  
  969. >you shoudl thank them for making so much smoke
  970. >they can't see where they are going
  971. >and they can't sense it with any magical means
  972. >nothing protects their hooves from running right into the maliciously spilled lego pieces
  973. >all of them scream in pain
  974. >all of them stumble around
  975. >one of them bucks in shock and confusion
  976. >this one lands on even more traitorous lego pieces!
  977. >that Twilight Sparkle screams and fall her side, trying to get the small objects out of her frogs
  978. >you do your best not to giggle
  979. >you really do
  980. >the other two do not share their fallen Twilight Sparkle comrade fate
  981. >they run through the kitchen and end up very close where you are
  982. >too close
  983. >there's hope!
  984. >one of them holds a plate of freshly baked cookies
  985. >she offers one to the other, but the other is better than that
  986. >to her ultimate demise, the second is not
  987. >she takes a bite and find them too hot
  988. >take that!
  989. >she freeze, then rush to the kitchen
  990. >you wish you could see if Twilight Sparkle is trugling to take a sip from the tap
  991. >poor thing
  992. >you cut the water off
  993. >the only thing she can drink is what you want her to-
  994. >and here comes more screaming and even more smoke!
  995. >that silly filly drank horse-shoe red looking intant kompot you prepared
  996. >she did not know you baptised it with hot tabasco sauce
  997. >you almost feel sorry
  998. >almost
  999. >the fiery red looking Twilight Sparkle runs to the door and falls into a hug of another Twilight Sparkle who shyly pokes her head into the breach
  1000. >another one comes out and, while dangerously waving a water pistol filled with fresh red pain, tries to pull out the first fallen, still trashing combatant
  1001. >the last standing Twilight Sparkle looks at the pile of half-read book
  1002. >the strongly augemented purple quickly turns around and kicks the M.A.R.E. chest!
  1003. >the carton oculars fall off and break!
  1004. >Gah!
  1005. A - stay still and try to NOT CRY
  1006. B - jump out and try to fight her in hoof combat
  1007. Y - jump out and try to disengage
  1008. X - sarcastic
  1009. AAX
  1010.  
  1011. >Twilight Sparkle sizes you up
  1012. >Your lip is not quivering in anticipation
  1013. >Your breathing stops
  1014. >Not knowing what to do you decide against acting alltogether
  1015. >You sit in the military grade crate and hope for a miracle
  1016. >Or to say it in a cool manner befitting Twilight Sparkle ninja kirin extra-ordinare
  1017. >You stick to principles and play dead
  1018. >The heavily augemented mare takes a single step forward before her radio buzz
  1019. >"Op. Is Op here?"
  1020. >Her brown pulled down
  1021. >Her eyes narrowed at you
  1022. >an intrusive thought forces its way past your cranium
  1023. >how would it be like if she stood like that above you
  1024. >and you don't want to know
  1025. >you think
  1026. >with a look of annoyance she turns to the radio
  1027. >"OP here."
  1028. >She finally esponds
  1029. >"Withdraw." the radio says
  1030. >A vein turns visible on her forehead but her eyes never leave your not-so-secured-stash
  1031. >"What do you mean withdraw?!" anger in her voice almost palatable
  1032. >the radio comes back to live
  1033. >"Long range radar spell turns null. Suspect escaped. If she ever been there."
  1034. >Twilight Sparkle takes off her helmet AND her view away from you
  1035. >oof!
  1036. >that was close
  1037. >she turns her back to you and witness the ruin of an apartment as she stomps a hoof angrily, breaking the wooden pannel under it into toothpicks
  1038. >wow
  1039. >you don't want to be that wooden pannel anymore
  1040. >y-you never wanted to be that pannel to begin with
  1041. >the M.A.R.E. should think of better ventilation systems cos it's damn hot in the box
  1042. >"-bucking ubelievable!"
  1043. >"That's an order."
  1044. >You didn't listen!
  1045. >Crabs!
  1046. >you refocus at the defeated combatant Twilight Sparkle amd wonder briefly should you do something now or-
  1047. >she gives the room another pissed off look as if the walls could have protected you
  1048. >with taht she bows her horn to the floor and cast the radar spell!
  1049. >you rush to prepare a counter-measure
  1050. >but you don't know did you manage to pull it off or what
  1051. >you don't feel the electric itch either
  1052. >weird
  1053.  
  1054. >the M.A.R.E box must be really magic proofed
  1055. >you didn't know that
  1056. >AND YOU TOTALLY NOT GIGGLE AT THIS REVELATION
  1057. >She quickly turns to face you again!
  1058. >oh no!
  1059. >fumes of brain damage get out of her nose!
  1060. >she runs at you, grab the you by the case and sends you flying again!
  1061. >Ow ow ow!
  1062. >you sacraficed your comfort and safety to steady the lid
  1063. >so, you did not sacrafice your safety in the long run, but a broken rib is a broken rib
  1064. >which you don't know how hurts because you never had a broken rib
  1065. >the radio wakes up once again!
  1066. >"OP. You-...-fa-...-g-go-""~!"-...-to! Disc-ipli-nnary actio-...-nns will be tak-en. Be at your supervisor's office after the operation."
  1067. >Twilight Sparkle doesn't listen, though!
  1068. >She looks where you just where!
  1069. >At least not at you
  1070. >Taht would be extremely painful
  1071. >What is she looking at-
  1072. >At the opened vent!
  1073. >"Four Uuus. This is Twilight Sparkle. I think I know how the suspect got away. Permission to pursuit?"
  1074. >A heavy breath is heard on the radio operator's side, "Don't take localisation spell off. Team Algebra will catch up. Team Grammar withdrawn. Do not try to interact alone. Do not remove the tag off the target."
  1075. >a static pause can be heard
  1076. >"Permission... granted."
  1077. >Whoa!
  1078. >You didn't know Twilight Sparkle smile's can turn so sadistic!
  1079. >So mad!
  1080. >The mare almost jumps into the vent and instanly disappears
  1081. >only her hoofs hitting against thin metal echoes through the building
  1082. >but even they get away pretty quickly
  1083. >only the sound of burning books and creacking under the weight of so much magic being used accompany you for a better part of half an hour
  1084. >it's possible you can go out of the box now-
  1085. >hold on...
  1086. >you pull everything out of your floof!
  1087. A - inspect the broken water gun
  1088. B - inspect the pair of glasses
  1089. Y- inspect the pen
  1090. X - inspect the statistic notebook
  1091. XAA
  1092.  
  1093. >you look at the gun
  1094. >it's a green top - blue bottom model of a water gun
  1095. >pretty standard, but with a broken glass and a scary hole in water tank
  1096. >the gun is empty
  1097. >the trigger is just right
  1098. >really, a standard police equipment
  1099. >really well done
  1100. >break proof
  1101. >if the marefacturer is to be trusted
  1102. >this item does not possess any identifying numbers
  1103. >probably removed due to being previously used by low tier citadel goons
  1104. >or maybe never had them
  1105. >it lays in the hoof very well
  1106. >it doesn't have a safety button, though
  1107. >high risk high threat
  1108. >you're unable to say would the gun leak water if kept barrel downwards
  1109. >easy to conceal
  1110. >very reliable
  1111. >quite pretty for an untrained eye
  1112. >with a muzzle that can work like a face opener
  1113. >but it doesn't look like it can shoot very far
  1114. >overall, a pretty common, perfect self-defence weapon on the street
  1115. >especially for those that can't be bothered with looking for ammo
  1116. >if the comercials are to be trusted
  1117. A - conclude everything's good and go out
  1118. B - inspect the pair of glasses
  1119. Y - inspect the pen
  1120. X - inspect the statistic notebook
  1121. XXX
  1122.  
  1123. >but do you really trust commercials?
  1124. >you give the broken gun last one glance
  1125. >maybe
  1126. >you turn back to the other items
  1127. >your eye catch the notebook
  1128. >it's worn out and it looks like it was used for generations of statistic data collectors
  1129. >the paper is yellow
  1130. >the edges are ruined
  1131. >couple of pages are missing
  1132. >and it's binded in the old fashioned metal rolls on the top way
  1133. >no one produces things like that nowadays
  1134. >this should be in a magic history museum more than in an use
  1135. >unless the citadel either has an inclination towards well established technologies
  1136. >which does sounds unlikely, but also very likely, when you think at it
  1137. >the answers to the questions evaporated over time, but your sign prevailed
  1138. >you wonder should you tap the pen on the first quiestion to see your sign erase
  1139. >hard to tell, but you can always do that later
  1140. >reading in M.A.R.E. case is one case, but writing in it?
  1141. >that would be as uncultured like swines
  1142. >those who don't wear hats matching their outfits, that is
  1143. >your lips quivers in uncertaincy
  1144. >as you commit last one attrocity testing
  1145. >you tear a piece of magically enhanced paper from the last page and put it in your mouth
  1146. >mmm, tasty paper
  1147. >it tastes like any paper ever
  1148. >which it should
  1149. >why shouldn't it?
  1150. >you are Twilight Sparle and-
  1151. >shouldn't old magi-paper taste worse?
  1152. >and how would you know how it's supposed to taste?
  1153. >it shouldn't be tasted at all!
  1154. >why did you think of that, Twilight Sparkle
  1155. >or are you a totall gluton?
  1156. >GAh!
  1157. >...
  1158. >what to do
  1159. >mmm
  1160. A - everything's good, take all and go out
  1161. B - inspect the pair of glasses
  1162. Y - inspect the pen
  1163. X - leave the notebook and get out
  1164. XXA
  1165.  
  1166. >You decide you're good to go
  1167. >Except taking the notebook
  1168. >The notebook stays behind you in the M.A.R.E. box
  1169. >It seems to be magic-proof and it saved your hide this time
  1170. >They may find it if or when the Twilight Sparkle will decide to search through this place but... why are they not here?
  1171. >The citadel has more than all resources to secure the place
  1172. >What would be stopping them other than a learning nap, you can't imagine
  1173. >You close the stash and look around
  1174. >There's not much left and the fire is spreading
  1175. >The sight of all your books catching fire in slow-motion fills your eyes with tears
  1176. >The black, thick smoke only adds to that
  1177. >But it's mostly the books
  1178. >Maybe you should try to protect them
  1179. >But you can't!
  1180. >Ponies in other apartments begin to wake up and yell and scream and run in amok
  1181. >You better not be seen
  1182. >Somepony's head poke through a pony shaped hole in the wall
  1183. >"Hey, is there anypony?"
  1184. >You fully turn to face the intruder with the horn poking its way!
  1185. >It takes a couple of seconds before the pony eyes' spot you
  1186. >"You alright? Can you walk?"
  1187. "Yes, I'm fine."
  1188. >You found yourself double surpsised
  1189. >That you can speak
  1190. >And that your voice sounds so weak
  1191. >"Don't stay there too long! Looks like your side got the worst hit. Grab anything you can carry and go out. Help somepony out if you can. The services has been already informed."
  1192. >"Informed?"
  1193. >he, because it's clearly a stallion, turns to somepony on the corridor
  1194. >"Yes, about the collapse of the building," he turns back to you, "move quickly!"
  1195. >He waits for you to respond
  1196. >You nod
  1197. >The corners of his mouth raise ever-so-slightly in a weak smile
  1198. >He leaves
  1199. >So should you
  1200. >But first!
  1201. >You around the piles of even-more-set-on-fire things till you get into the kitchen
  1202. >The fridge lays to the side, sticking the top of it through a thin wall
  1203. >Your hoof break and tear away a tile piece from under it and you grab the bag from the secret stash
  1204. >It's too big for the floof, but you can carry it on your back
  1205. >Now, which route should you take?
  1206. A - by the corridor, the stair case (down) and the main entrance, as suggested by the neighbour
  1207. B - by the corridor, the stair case (up) and to the roof
  1208. Y - by the vent into which Twilight Sparkle went to
  1209. X - by the window and on the balconies of the building
  1210. BYY
  1211.  
  1212. >Vents, then
  1213. >You push your pretty purple head into the entrance in the wall and find it in perfect side to not offend you
  1214. >Your hooves echoes slightly with each step but it's perfectly ok, as the whole building is catching more and more FIRE
  1215. >Or falling apart
  1216. >Hard to tell
  1217. >There's some of old dust that bites you in the snout
  1218. >There's little to no airflow in here
  1219. >Not quite sure is it good or bad
  1220. >Guess you'll find out
  1221. >Which you wish you won't
  1222. >Tap tap tap, each step forward
  1223. >There are couple of places where the pipe bends, all of them horizontal so far
  1224. >Certainly, some of them leads to other apartments
  1225. >You are certain becuase you can see the apartments through the vents
  1226. >But you don't have time for that, now do you?
  1227. >You try to find the way to any of the vertical ones
  1228. >When you reach another apartment you backtrack to a wider place and turn around
  1229. >
  1230. >Finally!
  1231. >You manage to find a four way connector
  1232. >A vent going from top to the bottom, the one you came from, and one more that's 90 degrees to your left
  1233. >It leads straight down and up, though
  1234. >Unless you feel athletic you won't be able to just slide down in it without hurting yourself
  1235. >You are Twilight Sparkle and you don't feel athletic at the moment
  1236. >Not in general, just not right now
  1237. >Uh!
  1238. A - slide down the vents
  1239. B - climb up the vents
  1240. X - continue to vent (to the left)
  1241. Y - return to any apartment and get out
  1242. Y
  1243.  
  1244. >Screw this!
  1245. >You try to unscrew the vent in the closest apartment which does seem not to be set on fire, yo
  1246. >It's solid work
  1247. >And it won't budge
  1248. >You kick it once, twice
  1249. >Nothing
  1250. >You lay down on your back and kick it with a hindleg and it gives ever so slightly
  1251. >Why is this such a hard work you don't know
  1252. >Victory!
  1253. >You roll into somepony's home and find yourself pretty dumbfounded
  1254. >An angry looking, black and white, hissing ball of fur bares its claws and fangs at your general direction
  1255. >By the sounds of it there's no pony in the apartment but this cat whose back is bent like a string in a bow
  1256. >AND JUMPS IT DOES
  1257. >You dodge behind a sofa
  1258. >The little creet meows sadly and uses its tail to signal who is the boss here
  1259. >You would do the same but you're not petty nor scared
  1260. >It attacks once again but this time you don't buldge, because so brave and in-thought you are
  1261. >The deadly monster cat stops just before making a contact and-
  1262. >Begin to mewl, "Meow meow meow meow meow."
  1263. >It's fuzzy for sure, you can tell, it snuggled one of your hoof and reciprocated with nervous purring at your petting it's head
  1264. >Dark, unhealthy smoke gets into the apartment through the closed door and accumulates under the ceiling
  1265. >You try to pick up the cat but it runs away
  1266. >Not far, thit time, it only grabs a gray pony-sized hoodie
  1267. >It refuses to let it go
  1268. A - grab the hoodie and the cat
  1269. B - leave the cat but take the hoodie
  1270. Y - leave the hoodie but take the cat
  1271. X - leave the hoodie and the cat
  1272. >You wonder...
  1273. >Your eyes fall on the door and on the window
  1274. >Not knowing which apartment it is you can't picture your posisiton on the builiding plan
  1275. C - open the door and if possible look for stairs
  1276. D - open the door and if possible look for a lift
  1277. V - open the window and try to get on the building elevation if possible
  1278. Z - go back to the ventilating system
  1279. AV
  1280.  
  1281. >Your hooves instinctively tie themselves around the cat
  1282. >It meows like crazy
  1283. >Only when you make an impromptu bag out of the hoodie and let it hang on your chest the cat gets quiet
  1284. >You push it into the hoodie and to your satisfaction it oes not try to run away
  1285. >With that concluded you look at the door
  1286. >There's more and more smoke coming out from behind them but it's not something you can't manage
  1287. >You come closer to the door but pause at the last moment
  1288. >Your leg hovers above the door knob
  1289. >You feel something
  1290. >Heat
  1291. >It's really hot on the other side of the doors
  1292. >Damnit
  1293. >You don't know is the fire close, but you don't dare to open the door
  1294. >The smoke's too hot for you
  1295. >You'll pass
  1296. >You mean, you'll pass through the window-door leading to a balcony
  1297. >...
  1298. >You had to break it with a kick
  1299. >Clouds of smoke follows you on the balcony
  1300. >The view before you looks almost dark
  1301. >The moon is high
  1302. >The floor is 8th
  1303. >The city is iluminated with thousands of LED lamps
  1304. >Red and blue lights, accopanied with very well known sirens are moving around
  1305. >Some of them to this location
  1306. >But those are not what you're looking for
  1307. >No
  1308. >You look for tiny little purple specs
  1309. >You look for the Twilight Sparkle citadel goons
  1310. >They withdrawn, alright
  1311. >Would they not leave behind some kind of a pair of eyes?
  1312. >You know you would, if you had two spare
  1313. >Which you don't
  1314. >Nor you will soon have even one pair as there's more poisonous smoke behind you
  1315. >The sky above glitches as you look around to find some overgrown clothes horse in the corner
  1316. A - jump out of the balcony to the one on the 7th floor on the left (no balcony on the 8th floor there)
  1317. B - use the clothes horse contents to make an improptu rope and get out of the balcony to the one under yours (but will it suffice to hold you)
  1318. Y - travel by the parapet to the right and turn the corner of the building (if you dare)
  1319. X - travel by the parapet to the left for the lenght of three balconies and get on it (if you want)
  1320. YBAA
  1321.  
  1322. >You have no clue waht to do
  1323. >The cat weights like a bag of candies on your neck
  1324. >A bag of candies you can't eat
  1325. >you don't want to lose,
  1326. >but that's fine, too
  1327. >the travel to the next balcon on the same floor on the left doesn't sound very plausible
  1328. >maybe it is, but it doesn't look like there's some better way out of there and each step you take is a risk you take and
  1329. >mare
  1330. >you're good at math
  1331. >what's behind the corner of the building?
  1332. >you pry your inner eye to tell you
  1333. >two carriages fly by in a far away distance
  1334. >yeah, this seems like a long shot, even if it's a turn around
  1335. >what if you don't make it?
  1336. >you know exactly what and that makes this sneak into unknown less of an exciting idea as before
  1337. >what you mean is: the citadel wins
  1338. >that thing?
  1339. >you are Twilight Sparkle and that thing won't happen
  1340. >no, sir
  1341. >not today
  1342. >er, tonigh
  1343. >you grab the clothes off of the clothe horse and tie bigger parts of it in tight knots which you would not be able to get off easy
  1344. >Rarity could, but not you
  1345. >nu-uh
  1346. >with the impomptu rope you tie it to a a metal barrier above the concrete half-wall dividing the balconies from the deep space...
  1347. >damn
  1348. >you can't tell will you make it
  1349. >barely a piece of the rope is visible when you look down
  1350. >standing on the barrier is out of the picture unless you accidentally develop emergency wings
  1351. >which you don't
  1352. >you let the rope dangle to the left side of the balcony and stress test it one more time
  1353. >the corners of shirts, pants and panties gets all wrinkled and tied
  1354. >or untied
  1355. >how are you supposed to know what you're doing
  1356. >even more smoke from the building makes you haste
  1357. >...
  1358. >you slipped down the rope and fell the last half a meter to your hooves
  1359. >easy
  1360. >there's nothing on the balcony and there's an apartment with a small dose of smoke in it
  1361. >no one there
  1362. >AAAh!
  1363. >The whole building violently shakes!
  1364. >You could swear it moved a bit down
  1365. >A big metal box flied couple meters away and crashed into the ground!
  1366. >More sirens are heard and-
  1367. >-and in closer proximity, too
  1368. >being saved does feel so nice right now, but anything feels so nice right now!
  1369. >And you shouldn't be seen!
  1370. >think fast!
  1371. >to the left is another three balcony long hole between another one, with a narrow parapet in between
  1372. >to the right is the balcony you were above, just after one small jump distance
  1373. >under you is floor 6th balconies in the very same patterns as already seen, you assume
  1374. >you ASSUME
  1375. >oh, how low you fell with your risk calculus...
  1376. >you would ask the cat for directions but it only looks at you with its light green eyes and blinks slowly from time to time
  1377. >think faster!
  1378. A - get into the apartment (7th floor)
  1379. B - jump to the balcony on the left (one floor lower, no rope)
  1380. Y - go to the balcony on the right (jump)
  1381. X - use the parapet to get to the balcony on the same floor to the left (the far away one)
  1382. B
  1383.  
  1384. >the cat is fine
  1385. >it moves its head up and down slowly
  1386. "Ey, uhhh, my new furry friend. Do you know any way out?"
  1387. >The cat blinks slowly
  1388. >That settles the cat matter
  1389. >A quick look through the balcony window prooves it's a living room of a typical low canterlot living apartment
  1390. >You can get in and try to search for anything that would be found in a typical apartment
  1391. >What also your mighty Twilight Sparkle perception makes aware for you is that - this balcony door does not make the smoke to go through them
  1392. >only a small amount of smoke is up the dark, ugly ceiling
  1393. >and there's no handle on this side of the door so only a kick can help
  1394. >at least you don't have to worry about repaying the damage
  1395. >for once!
  1396. A - get into the apartment (7th floor)
  1397. B - jump to the balcony on the left (one floor lower, no rope)
  1398. Y - go to the balcony on the right (jump)
  1399. X - use the parapet to get to the balcony on the same floor to the left (the far away one)
  1400. [The same as before after addition explanation]
  1401. B
  1402.  
  1403. >You jump!
  1404. >In place
  1405. >Totally not out of fear
  1406. >For preparing yourself
  1407. >This time no panty-rope to get down onto
  1408. >Er
  1409. >Let's forget that
  1410. >You don't take a leap
  1411. >You hang down the barrier and kick your hindhooves weakly as you let go
  1412. >The landing is not perfect, alright, but it's a landing
  1413. >Your pride may be hurt, your back, too, and the cat angered, but at least-
  1414. >OW!
  1415. >The cat bites you!
  1416. >Ow!
  1417. >It doesn't hurt, more like a surprise, really, but still!
  1418. "Why are you doing this? I'm saving your furry life!"
  1419. >It takes some heavy patting but the cat is no more hostile
  1420. >For now
  1421. >You look around and this balcony is in a far more dustier state than the last one
  1422. >The apartment it belongs to has the door closed and shutters closed
  1423. >You look around and spot a big crown of ponies looking up
  1424. >No purple dots, though
  1425. >At least you think so
  1426. >It's still six floors to go but you're not sure can you make it this all way down
  1427. >If you break a rib while doing so you doubt you will be able to land properly
  1428. >Damn, you can't do it without a rope, Rainbow Dash wouldn't!
  1429. >No, you're better than this, there's nothing Rainbow Dash wouldn't do
  1430. >And that's why she's such good friends with Rarity
  1431. >...
  1432. >This is not time for this
  1433. >There is another balcony on the far left (three balconies away), with an AC unit on the way in the middle distance
  1434. >Another palcony you could try to land on to the down left, with some carton boxes
  1435. >Two balconies on the right and then a parapet and a corner
  1436. >One full of sporting equipment in good shape
  1437. >Worth to remember where to get a bike or some durmbells if you ever have a use for them [Scavenger Perk]
  1438. >And if the building will stand [Twilight Sparkle]
  1439. >...
  1440. >Why are you like this, again?
  1441. A - get into the apartment (6th floor)
  1442. B - jump to the balcony on the left (one floor lower, no rope)
  1443. Y - go to the balcony on the right (jump)
  1444. X - use the parapet to get to the balcony on the same floor to the left (the far away one)
  1445. [welp]
  1446. None
  1447.  
  1448. >You leap to the apartment on your right
  1449. >The doors open, and there's no smoke
  1450. >It's almost completely dark there
  1451. >It's a living room that leads to other rooms
  1452. >There's a cup of coffee at a wooden table, two Muncher energy bars (which you swiftly take) and to a wall at the wait level is sticke a half used dil-
  1453. >You turn around and look for some kind of rope
  1454. >...
  1455. >You rampage through the kitchen but find no food
  1456. >Er, you find no rope, but the cable to an iron can do
  1457. >For some reason there are three irons here
  1458. >Each of them bigger than a regular sized one, even if not much
  1459. >Each of them signed, "papa", "mama", "hastur"
  1460. >You haul them to the living room
  1461. >Then you notice the bed
  1462. >The matress looks dirty, wet even
  1463. >But it can do, if you can throw it over to the other balcony
  1464. >The cat meows weakly and you don't ignore it
  1465. >His eyes shine in the dark room and he stops to vocalize its concerns once pulled closer to the chest
  1466. >You look around for the last time and see a glimpse of the apartment door being wide open
  1467. >your hair stands up as a wave of cold sweat falls on you
  1468. >somepony or something is standing in the dark hallway and is looking at you with shiny green eyes
  1469. A - leave everything and run out to the balcony
  1470. B - take a reasonably sized iron and do the same
  1471. Y - try to take the mattress and get yourself eaten
  1472. X - pull out the gun and confrot the pony of shadows
  1473. XXB
  1474.  
  1475. >You fortify this postion
  1476. >The gun in your hoof aimed right between the eyes of the nightmare monster
  1477. >You stomach lands on the floor, you head hiding behind an iron
  1478. >Never taking your eyes off of the dark figure in the door
  1479. >It's light green eyes never leaves you alone
  1480. >Nor does it blink
  1481. >It froze as if in mid-shock on its own
  1482. >The ominous feeling of it already gnawing at your bones provides enough encourageent not blink back
  1483. >This thing should be
  1484. >The cat cease to move
  1485. >Only the technicolor rays of moonlight reach into the door behind you
  1486. >The creature opens its jaw ever so slowly
  1487. >White teeth that reflects the light
  1488. >Canine teeth made to tear tender pony meat
  1489. >You can't watch
  1490. >You can't turn away
  1491. >You blink
  1492. >Your heart drops
  1493. >The creature's gone
  1494. >Only green lamps on the wall behind the door flicker
  1495. >You freeze
  1496. >The hair on your back dance waltz
  1497. >The death waltz
  1498. >You turn around and-
  1499. >wheeze
  1500. >...
  1501. >You pulled the triger of the empty gun and nothing happens
  1502. >The shadowy figure is not behind you
  1503. >Not in the doors
  1504. >You take a breath
  1505. >A first in an eternity
  1506. >An uneasy step forward proves it's hard to push the iron with you, but you do it anyways
  1507. >You stay in the apartment with the gun in the hand
  1508. >The lights in the doorframe flicker once again
  1509. >From up closer you can read EX and IT written on them, with a white luminescent arrow pointing to the bottom right
  1510. >You dare to unfortify yourself by putting a hoof to your head
  1511. >...
  1512. >Only the sirens from the emergency cart echoes through the building
  1513. >They must be here
  1514. >In place of your imagination
  1515. >Because you imagined that, Twilight Sparkle
  1516. >You did
  1517. >Did you not?
  1518. >The white arrow turns on and off once again
  1519. >The tears locked in your eyes fall freely
  1520. A - take the mattress and go back to the balcony
  1521. B - take the iron (for the cable) and do the same
  1522. Y - go inside the dark building
  1523. X - go to the other balcony to check another apartment
  1524. YYY
  1525.  
  1526. >You are Twilight Sparkle and you wish there was any way to know what's behind the corner
  1527. >Any way other than to stick off your vulnerable but capable head out of it
  1528. >The cat occassioanlly purrs and scrapes your chest floof with claws
  1529. >Ha!
  1530. >It deals you no damage!
  1531. >Unicorn master r-
  1532. >You get out of the apartment right into completely dark corridor
  1533. >The gun is hold high, just in case the pony of shadows is real
  1534. >You are 100% sure it isn't
  1535. >...
  1536. >The green colour of [Exit] signs marks the way to the staircase
  1537. >You find it easily while encountering nothing on your way
  1538. >It's quiet, though
  1539. >Too quiet for your likings
  1540. >The slow steps echoes on the ugly lino floor
  1541. >That's a thing worth mentioning;
  1542. >The building was never good to live in
  1543. >At least at the time you got yourself in
  1544. >The apartments were cozy, if the occupants were so
  1545. >Luckily for everypony, ponies are cozy
  1546. >Some at least
  1547. >The common area, however, well, it left little to imagination how scrape and concrete-like the lower canterlot is
  1548. >The staircase is no different
  1549. >A glass door with two windows leads to it, and both are broken into shards
  1550. >You step carefully and victorious through the sharpy rubbles
  1551. >Once on the stairs you feel uneasy
  1552. >You fight the need to flee and look back
  1553. >Nothing new is visible
  1554. >If anything, there's more shadows than before
  1555. >There is no light on the stairs
  1556. >No emergency light-bulbs on the stairs, even
  1557. >On the corridor you had at least some white arrows
  1558. >The steps lead down and up
  1559. >To get to the half floor is rather easy
  1560. >To turn 180 degrees back and climb down by the balustrade is easy pease
  1561. >To jump out of your skin because the cat begin meow furiously till you pattet it is completely natural
  1562. >You are on the straicase on a floor you don't remember
  1563. >The floor's emergency lights are as the one's above - minimal, white and light green
  1564. >The stairs leads down
  1565. >The hairs on your back rises
  1566. >Metal on metal noise can be heard somewhere
  1567. >As if a pipe fell down
  1568. >Pony noises cuts through the state silence that commences
  1569. >You must manually remind yourself to move
  1570. >A weak, almost un-noticable gust of wet wind falls on your mane
  1571. A - run down the stairs
  1572. B - walk down the stairs
  1573. Y - run into the floor and close the glass doors (which looks mighty sturdy right now!)
  1574. X - turn around and contront your completely reasonabl-(EEP!)
  1575. X
  1576.  
  1577. >Aha!
  1578. >You jump in place and swing the weapon at the pony's jaw!
  1579. >The shadow has no eyes, nor head
  1580. >Only a glimpse of white arrow under green, flickering letters in the far away distance
  1581. >You could swear it wasn't turned on when you have been next to it
  1582. >You don't need to swear to know that-
  1583. >Ow! Ow! Ow!
  1584. >That you doesn't have time to catch the balustrade!
  1585. >One hoof slipped and you went flying down the concrete stairs!
  1586. >Ow! Ow! What the heck?!
  1587. >Your determination and optimism is gone
  1588. >The pony of shadows got you for good, now
  1589. >Outside of your pride being mare-handed to you, nothing happens
  1590. >No pony-monster pounces at you
  1591. >Nothing but the hard, cold floor connects with you
  1592. >You landed on your back
  1593. >You wish you could gice your back to somepony
  1594. >The cat screams for a short bit and digs its deadly lasers and teeth in your chest
  1595. >Ha!
  1596. >Lucky you
  1597. >You can't feel it, really, you just know the cat does it
  1598. >Once back on your legs you don't fear to look up the stairs
  1599. >Nothingness lined with weak light source
  1600. >One of your back hooves does not feel too well
  1601. >It would be best not to perform any hoof-maga nor kara-neigh till it feels better
  1602. >Ugh
  1603. >The cat does not give up in it's nomming endeavors even after an administered pat
  1604. >Time to ignore the cat and get down
  1605. >Which you do
  1606. >The ominous feeling of somepony watching you doesn't leave you as you descend in almost complete darkness, but nothing more raises your pulse during the travel
  1607. >...
  1608. >The bottom floor's lights are turned off, too, yet, the level is filled with rescue ponies who bust the door open the moment you reach the bottom of the stairs
  1609. >They fill the corridor like a tsunami wave, but with many different hats with fitting ties
  1610. >Police hats, Fire fighters hats, Combat nurse hats
  1611. >You're better than hat envy-ing them, though
  1612. >Because you have a gun, and a good gun is the best hat income source
  1613. >The whole building shakes
  1614. >It feels weaker than on the upper levels
  1615. >It doesn't make anypony any-less nervous
  1616. >As quickly as ponies (in hats) got in, now they are scrambling out
  1617. >What you notice just now is a vandalized gop-nik-nic vendinch machine
  1618. >Concrete ash falls off of the walls as another explosion in higher leves can be heard
  1619. >Weird
  1620. >Does it mean the last couple floor corridors were silenced?
  1621. A - put the glasses on and fit in the crown
  1622. B - wait in the shadow until they are gone
  1623. Y - throw the cat at somepony
  1624. X - check out the vending-machine
  1625. AA
  1626.  
  1627. >You slowly, very slowly, dislodge the cat's parts from you, to it's great dissatisfaction, if angry hissing is any indicator of that
  1628. >It takes to anger the furry friend even more so you can pull the glasses out the container of your chest
  1629. >You realize you did not test the glasses inside of them
  1630. >Becoming completely blind is not something you did not practice just now, but OW!
  1631. >The fuzzy ball of hatred put its carbon based (science!) claws to your side!
  1632. >You can't help but let it go into the air
  1633. >It hisses at you and raises it's tail high
  1634. >You don't feel too bad
  1635. >That really hurt!
  1636. >You put the glasses on your face
  1637. >Just as suspected
  1638. >Fake glasses
  1639. >20/20 Twilight Sparkle vision
  1640. >The cat meows once again and disappears in the getting smaller group
  1641. >So much of gratitude
  1642. >You rush out of the shadows and stick your butt between some visibly shaken earth pony stallion medical doctor and a pegasi mare fire fighter pony
  1643. >if hats can be trusted
  1644. >which they can because: matching ties
  1645. >"Why did they tell us to get there if they want us to evacuate?" asks the masculine voice
  1646. >"I heard the service will used a life-search-spell again." answers the feminine one
  1647. >"Does it mean somepony was in and now is out?"
  1648. >"It means we follow the procedures and hope for the best."
  1649. >They both finally notice you as you narrow the doors
  1650. >Their eyes grow in size
  1651. >"Whoa! Who are you?!"
  1652. >"Are you a civilian?"
  1653. >"Are you hurt?"
  1654. >"Do you need a hug?"
  1655. >"A blanket?"
  1656. >"A cup of mocha?"
  1657. >Damni-
  1658. >The building shakes once again!
  1659. >This time with extra metal screaching!
  1660. >Almost everypony is out by now
  1661. >You are the first to act
  1662. >With a hoof on each of their necks you pull them out of the building
  1663. >So much for their help
  1664. >...
  1665. >In front of the building is a wide and long pony-free safety-zone
  1666. >Residents are given cozy blankets and warm tea
  1667. >You refused the cup of coffee
  1668. >You look cooler that way
  1669. >Your hoof and back gets attended to with a small bandage with butterflies and you immedietely feel better about it
  1670. >With a loud creek that fills the sky under the moon above, a part of the building collapse on itself
  1671. >None of it falls, though
  1672. >Pegasi secured that
  1673. >The dark sky above the building has been turned off to provide more light
  1674. >Full of tiny white dots imitating the stars, all turned on at the moment, making the scene as light as a day
  1675. >If not for the metal dome to be partialy visible one could say both the Moon and the Sun can be seen
  1676. >Sometimes you wish your could do that kind of maintenance work
  1677. >But you are Twilight Sparkle and you're a wing-less unicorn
  1678. >You don't wait for hot cocoa to be served
  1679. >You disappear into a dark alley before the rescue ponies notice they might have seen a mare like you some other time
  1680. >...
  1681. >You need answers
  1682. >You also needs questions
  1683. >Or better questions
  1684. >And a drink
  1685. >Where to go
  1686. A - The Hive (a night club)
  1687. B - The Barn (a saloon/bar)
  1688. Y - The Mine (a dive bar)
  1689. X - The Mane (a pub)
  1690. AAXB
  1691.  
  1692. >You limp to the night time district
  1693. >The mess is left behind you
  1694. >At least you avoided being taken to the citadel
  1695. >But at what price?
  1696. >This time you have no idea but the price got reduced by this Celestia given hood-shirt
  1697. >Absolute Cozy out of teen
  1698. >...
  1699. >Ok, well, you kind of limp for real
  1700. >It's minimal, alright
  1701. >Stepping with your left hind-hoof does give this sharp pain of something being smashed
  1702. >But here you are!
  1703. >You check your iMare card and see you have exactly 950 crebits
  1704. >You could swear you had a whole 1000, but, hey, no one can steal them, right?
  1705. >You place the polymer card back in your floof and fast travel
  1706. >...
  1707. >The Hive
  1708. >The night club's renoma is well know, low and cheap
  1709. >Which is not correct with the facts
  1710. >It's a high end place for ponies of action living in the lower canterlot
  1711. >The building it occupies is a tranformed old canterlot style-building
  1712. >It was modernised multiple times, that you can see
  1713. >And above it's three condignations it extends into open space above
  1714. >It's pretty rare around this parts to not have an another building above the shorter one
  1715. >It's some kind of a show-off of your position in the hood
  1716. >The line to the club is long, the music is loud (even through the doors!), and an armed guard in a black suit stands in the door
  1717. >There's a dark alley next to the club
  1718. A - wait in the line (responsibly!)
  1719. B - cut the line (politely!)
  1720. Y - explore the alley
  1721. X - go to any other fixer's location (the list from before but with 1, 2, 3, 4, instead
  1722. YYBA
  1723.  
  1724. >You are Twilight Sparkle and queues were not made for you
  1725. >Pretty ponies are queue-not-compatibile, they say
  1726. >A brown coated pony crossed the road and cut before you cutting in!
  1727. >Rude!
  1728. >The guard turns to her only after she made it very close to the door
  1729. >"Show your pass."
  1730. >The pony didn't stop until the guard palced a hoof on her chest at full leg disgance
  1731. >"Hey! I'm too cute for the queue!"
  1732. >The ponies in line only now notice the commotion and their ears and eyes turn to the scene
  1733. >Someone of the kick the ground, some sniffle
  1734. >All of them curious, some with stinky eye
  1735. >Cutting the line seems harder than it looked
  1736. >The guard doen't budge
  1737. >"Listen, pal. Either you show me the Hive pass or you can trot to the back of the line by yourself, or by my kicks."
  1738. >Now, the guard isn't built in any particular matter but something about that suit wearing character made you reconsider your idea
  1739. >You thank Celestia it's not you in that posisiton
  1740. >"Ok, damn. Sorry."
  1741. >The pony looks at the end of the angry at her line and chooses to walk away
  1742. >...
  1743. >The guard lazily observes the perimeter as you walk past the building to get into the side-alley
  1744. >He looks at you briefly
  1745. >You wave at him friendly but he doesn't react
  1746. >...
  1747. >They alley is quiet and wide enough for a cart
  1748. >Full of old, dirty cartons and other trash too!
  1749. >With only two sources of light at the end
  1750. >A lamp post next to the back-door to the club and a small lightbulb above the door on the opposite of the door
  1751. >Even more trash and trash boxes is there
  1752. >The back doors to the club looks closed and there's a camera on the roof that points at them
  1753. >Shucks
  1754. >You could vandalize it, but wouldn't that gather the attention?
  1755. >Twilight Sparkle investigation time!
  1756. A - try to disable the camera without destroying it
  1757. B - dig through the piles of trash
  1758. Y - check out the door on the other side (somepony's inside)
  1759. X - go into the camera field and wave
  1760. XY
  1761.  
  1762. >You get next to the back-door leading to the Hive
  1763. >The camera focuses on you - you think
  1764. >It doesn't really visibly move nor twitch nor nothing
  1765. >With a front leg above your head you wave your greetings to any security pony watching you
  1766. >...
  1767. >And nothing happens
  1768. >It's really hard to tell from this distance is the camera even on
  1769. >You pull and push the door
  1770. >The metal clank under the doorknob makes sense
  1771. >Locked
  1772. >You could try to play with it if you had something
  1773. >Yet, you're not the best at it, and in case the camera is on - yeah, just not welcome at the best
  1774. >You briefly think about going to another place but the dull sharp pain in the hidn leg is a thing you want to cherish as little as possible
  1775. >...
  1776. >On the other side of the narrow alley is a door
  1777. >It's a glassed one, with light inside, and it doesn't look angry at you
  1778. >Nor that doors can look angry at you
  1779. >Or at anypony
  1780. >You just get close enough to stick your snout to the glass
  1781. >The small entry room with an empty bookcase, a desk, a single chair and one lightbulb on
  1782. >Not much of furniture in there
  1783. >The opposite side of the room ends where a medical green curtain covers the light to another room
  1784. >You let yourself in
  1785. >The room feels tiny with how many furniture there is
  1786. >You can't get a better look before an elderly looking pony stands in the door, with the cutrain covering his back-side
  1787. >"Yes?"
  1788. >He sniffles
  1789. >"How can I help you?"
  1790. >Yeah, how?
  1791. A - who are you and what do you do
  1792. B - how to get inside the club
  1793. Y - where to get medical help
  1794. X - sarcastic
  1795. Y
  1796.  
  1797. "You can help me by answering me this: Where is the closest medical center?"
  1798. >You don't try to sound cool
  1799. >You're Twilight Sparkle, you always sound cool
  1800. >The stallion's ears relax
  1801. >"Huh. Nice one."
  1802. >He waves for you to follow and submerge under the cover leading to the next room
  1803. >It looks more like a workshop with many big screens set around a one sitting table and half as many around the other
  1804. >There are other doors leading somewhere in the other corner
  1805. >The cabinets next to walls are full of-
  1806. >"So. What do you want to be done?"
  1807. "Huh?"
  1808. >He giggles, stops, turns around and - and his ears stand back up!
  1809. >"What do you need help with?"
  1810. >Is he some kind of a medic?
  1811. >Oh, alright, worth a try
  1812. "You see, I stepped wrong and one my hind-hoofs hurts since."
  1813. >He only looks at you
  1814. >It worries you more than it probably should
  1815. >A snicker leaves his mouth
  1816. >"You don't really know where you are?"
  1817. >A weak smile is all he gets from you
  1818. >"And I thought someone sent you for something big."
  1819. >He shakes his head and slumps his shoulder blades
  1820. >Now that you look at him he does indeed look like a fellow nerd
  1821. "Can you do something about the pain?"
  1822. >"Show me."
  1823. >He pats one of the tables with a lot of pointy metal equipment above
  1824. >Not really trust-worthy, is it
  1825. >You turn to a side and pull out the hurt leg
  1826. >With a weirded out look on his face he comes closer and takes your hoof in his hooves
  1827. >His gently trace along your frog
  1828. >Rub the base of the hoof
  1829. >Massage the leg-
  1830. >Ow!
  1831. >This does not escape his perception
  1832. >"Well, I would prefer you to sit on the table, but if that's not an option it gonna hurt more."
  1833. >You're a big mare and you tell him this
  1834. >"Not big enough to trust your friendly neighbourhood ripperdoc."
  1835. >He grabs your leg once again and inspect it
  1836. >You sneer in pain
  1837. "But big enough to find his place."
  1838. >He only cocks his head at that
  1839.  
  1840. >...
  1841. >You end up on the table
  1842. >The machines equipped with many knifes, syringines and tubes face down on you
  1843. >Thankfully, none comes to live
  1844. >You check out what seemed to be a cosmetic magazine while he's busy doing some scans
  1845. >It is not a cosmetic magazine at all
  1846. >It's an iPonyX new visiors offer
  1847. >See more with more eyes!
  1848. >The ripperdoc pony comes back from one of many next-to-wall cabinets holding something in his hooves
  1849. >"It seems there's no bone fracture no nothing, but just in case, I say take those anti-biotics. One pill a twice a day for a week."
  1850. >He places a small white bottle used to carry glazed rock candies on a metal tray
  1851. >"Don't mix them with alcohol or you risk a liver transplanation."
  1852. "Why?"
  1853. >"You don't really want to know why. The next thing I offer you are painkillers."
  1854. >The second bottle have a blood-thirsty pony face on it
  1855. >The text says "Trust the Pain-Killer"
  1856. >You have never seen any of these two in the tv
  1857. >You don't watch tv, though
  1858. >"These are quite expensive but this is all I got. Above that, you must really take a week off. If the mobility gets worse and not better, go to a hospital. If you can't afford that you can always come and we will replace the invalid part with something easier to fix than biologics."
  1859. >He gives you a professional smile
  1860. >You pull out a leg to grab the bottles but he stops you
  1861. >"Money first."
  1862. "How much?"
  1863. >"Three Hundred for the antibiotics. Five for the painkillers. Advice is free of charge."
  1864. "Why is the painkillers more expensive?"
  1865. >"These work on not biological transmittors. That's the only I got. You're quite different from my target clientelle, you know."
  1866. A - Take the Antibiotics
  1867. B - Take the Painkillers
  1868. Y - Take both
  1869. X - Leave empty hooved
  1870. X
  1871.  
  1872. "I will take the antibiotics."
  1873. >He raises an eyebrow (higher than ever before!)
  1874. >You take your card and poke his
  1875. >The transfer is done and both of you check yout your bank accounts
  1876. >You take the antibiotics bottle and inspect it
  1877. >It really looks like a glazed candy
  1878. >Very yummy (you suspect)
  1879. >"Do you need anything else?"
  1880. "Do you know any way how to get inside the club nearby?"
  1881. >You jump off the table and he follows you to the entrance door
  1882. >"How about showing them your member card or waiting in the line?"
  1883. "Any... other way?"
  1884. >"Sorry. I don't pick fights with neighbours. Though, you're always welcome if you choose to ditch the bio-tech and turn chrome."
  1885. >He quickly adds
  1886. >"If you have money."
  1887. >The both of you exchange a hoof shake and the door closes behind you
  1888. >You're back at the alley
  1889. A - try the back door to the club again
  1890. B - get back to the line and wait
  1891. Y - dig through the trash
  1892. X - go to another location
  1893. Z - pop in an antibiotic pill (candy)
  1894. ZX
  1895.  
  1896. >You take one of the pills and keep it in yout mouth till it dissolate
  1897. >It is possible to just swallow it
  1898. >But it tastes too good
  1899. >With last glance to the dark alley you move forward the exit
  1900. >On your way this time you notice an open gate that normally would block the entrance here
  1901. >Call yourself lucky, Twilight Sparkle
  1902. >Why, yes, Twilight Spark-
  1903. >-you been there, you done that
  1904. >The hour is late, yet the line to the club got only longer
  1905. >Closed shops around the entire street lights up the way as you limp by them
  1906. >But where are you going?
  1907. >What are the other places you know fixers meet?
  1908. >What would you even ask a fixer about?
  1909. >Now that you think of it, coming here was illogical
  1910. >You have no place to go and you're running out of money
  1911. >You could go back to Rarity's or Spike's place but isn't that risky for everypony?
  1912. >Where to go...
  1913. >What to do...
  1914. >You don't feel too well
  1915. >Maybe getting a place to sleep is the most reasonable...
  1916. A - go to: 1 -The Barn (a saloon/bar), 2 - The Mine (a dive bar) 3 - The Mane (a pub)
  1917. B - go to a motel to rest
  1918. Y - go to Rarity's
  1919. X - go to Spike's
  1920. Y31
  1921.  
  1922. >...
  1923. >You go to Rarity's Slut House
  1924. >You don't quite know what to expect but what you see is something you could have expected
  1925. >The area is cordoned by the service ponies
  1926. >They enter and exit the building as they please
  1927. >No signs of Rarity outside
  1928. >You think of going to the Barn, but the Mane is closer
  1929. >...
  1930. >It's a neighbourooh is filled with shorter, four-eight stories tall buildings and it remind you more of the canterlot from the books
  1931. >during the ponistration age, at least
  1932. >The bar is a safe space
  1933. >No harm can be done anypony on its ground, such are the rules set in cyberdeck rubbles of ponies who disrespected this rule
  1934. >The local pony mob resting and peace-talk space
  1935. >Or it used to be, back in the times upper and lower canterlot weren't divided
  1936. >So says the scarse history records you got in your hooves about a half year ago when you left the Twilight Sparkle citadel
  1937. >It wasn't long after that when the council realized you are not at your assigned spot
  1938. >Not your fault the instructions weren't too clear
  1939. >That's what you said then and the hunt never stopped
  1940. >You sigh heavily and enter the building
  1941. >The place is vast, but divided with pseudo-walls so each table has some privacy while it's impossible to sneak in any open carry cute cat or fart pillow
  1942. >The waiters are bulky and friendly, but it's just an act
  1943. >The owner makes a fortune on the high end mafponios
  1944. >You grab a lonely place at the bar and barmaiden takes notice of you
  1945. >Her maid outfit just a little bit too short at her flanks
  1946. >The light in her eyes clearly betraing she knows it
  1947. >She enjoys it
  1948. >Mafponies, mare
  1949. >"What will it be for you?"
  1950. >Her voice rings with a happy jingle
  1951. >A sweet jingle
  1952. >A jingle as bright as new day's first sun ray
  1953. >There is a slight chance you feel particularly horni after being bonked
  1954. >You look at her
  1955. A - order juice
  1956. B - order lemonade
  1957. Y - order hard-cider
  1958. X - order her
  1959. AAYX
  1960.  
  1961. "I will take a juice."
  1962. >Her smile almost genuine
  1963. >Her coat of light brown with white dots
  1964. >Her eyes the deepest green you've seen
  1965. >"What juice?"
  1966. >She looks at you with a funny smirk
  1967. >"We have apple-juice, orange-juice, banana-juice, pear-juice and mare-juice~"
  1968. >Her eyebrows wiggles ever so obviously
  1969. "I will take, ummm, bananas."
  1970. >She rolls her eyes as she shakes her head as is to say "unbelievable"
  1971. >The juice is delivered in no time
  1972. >Tall glass
  1973. >Yellow mass
  1974. >Two cubes of sugar drop in it
  1975. >"Freshly milked."
  1976. >You kind of begin to suspect she's interested in becoming friends
  1977. >How kind of her
  1978. >No new patron comes in the building so far
  1979. >You take a sip of the toxic concosion-
  1980. "Mmm!"
  1981. >and find it refreshing and tasty
  1982. "What's your name?"
  1983. >She giggles like a filly
  1984. >"Why? It's Open Tap."
  1985. >Cute
  1986. >You look around to see that no pony seems to mind you two at the moment
  1987. >Then you give her your best-mare smile
  1988. "Listen, Open Tap, I look for a couple of answers, but I don't want to bother patrons. Can you point me to the correct pony?"
  1989. >She pokes her lower lip with a tip of her hoof as she thinks
  1990. >"That depends. What kind of answers or contacts you look for."
  1991. A - I look for a job
  1992. B - I look for ponies (at the slut house)
  1993. Y - I look for a certain dragon (1 - Spike) or a pony (2 - Applejack)
  1994. X - I look for a twilight sparkle
  1995. YXXX12
  1996.  
  1997. >Well, why not?
  1998. "I'm looking for a certain pony. Her name is Twilight Sparkle. She's a friend of mine."
  1999. >The bar-maiden puts her legs on the counter and rest her head on her hooves
  2000. >"What if I say that I can be your Twilight Sparkle, tonight?"
  2001. >You double take and you totally don't break a sweat
  2002. >Open Tap only half-laughs at you
  2003. >Her voice suddenly deeper, tender than before
  2004. >She winks at someone behind you
  2005. >You turn your head around only to discover no one close enough to be winked at
  2006. "I'm sorry, Open Tap, but I don't think this will do. I'm also looking for a certain dragon-"
  2007. >"My, my~" she cuts you off
  2008. >SHE CUTS YOU OFF
  2009. >rude
  2010. >"You certainly don't look like the type, mare," she accents it with fanning herself with a hoof and half-blushing
  2011. "What? No-"
  2012. >"Well, I certainly would love to be there when you three meet."
  2013. >Her grin is almost as smug as Rarity's, but more toothy
  2014. >How do they treat patrons here?!
  2015. >Is this how mob ponies live?!
  2016. >Is this not forbidden by the Oneighta?
  2017. >"If that's all what you,re looking for tonight, then you should talk to the Bobby."
  2018. >Why is it so hot here anyways
  2019. >You take a sip and turns out it was the last one
  2020. >"He is usually around here at this time of whatever time it is now."
  2021. >What
  2022. >A small-framed charcoal coated pony exits the restroom walking funny
  2023. >"Yup, that's him. Good eye."
  2024. "Thanks. And the drink? it was delicious."
  2025. >You stand up but a quiet harrump stops you in tracks.
  2026. >Turn around and find her smug
  2027. >No idea why
  2028. >"My name is Open Tap, not Open Tab."
  2029. "Huh?"
  2030. >"That will be 15 crebits. The drink? Remember?"
  2031. >Oh, yeah, right
  2032. >You laugh sheepishly as her eyes look almost glued to yours
  2033. >Something about this mare unnerves you
  2034. >As if she knew something you didn't and wasn't afraid of sharing it against your will
  2035. A - pay 15
  2036. B - pay 20
  2037. Y - pay 25
  2038. X - pay later
  2039. YYA
  2040.  
  2041. >You return with a smirk of your own and place your card on the counter
  2042. "Use yours, too."
  2043. >Open Tap uses the hoof-sized card reader and then pulls out her own crebit card
  2044. >"What for?"
  2045. "Just do it."
  2046. >You are Twilight Sparkle, the confident
  2047. >She gives you another wide, radiant smile
  2048. >"Thanks, you... mare~," her voice rich with... something
  2049. >Heck if you know
  2050. >The last word sends a pleasant vibration from your ears to your spine, though
  2051. >So it must be friendly
  2052. >Oh, Bobby the stallion sits at a lonely table in a far away corner of the room
  2053. >"Before you go, don't call him Bobby. Don't call him Pin either. He will tell you how to call him."
  2054. >Her eyes flatten back and she scratches the back of her head
  2055. >"I kind of forgot."
  2056. >You take couple of steps to Bobby's table and realize you forgot to ask who and what was she winking for-
  2057. >No, you can't go back so soon
  2058. >Maintain your coolness
  2059.  
  2060. >The stallion doesn't look young, in fact he looks older than you
  2061. >But he is just so small!
  2062. >Like, your size
  2063. >Mare-sized stallion
  2064. >His black colouration doesn't help
  2065. >He presents almost cute with a fish-tank behind his back
  2066. >You realize you been staring but it does not seem to be a problem since you're literally standing next to his table as he is looking up at you with very worried expression on his face
  2067. >Oh, right
  2068. "Um, hello?"
  2069. >The pony in question sniffles and nickers quietly
  2070. >"Hello?"
  2071. >His eyes narrows as he looks around the place and sips an orange lemonade with extra sparkles
  2072. >"Who are you?"
  2073. "My name is T- Twinkle Sprinke. I was told you can help me to find somepony."
  2074. >Another sip, another snort, even more sour grimace
  2075. >"Yeah? Who says that?"
  2076. "Well..."
  2077. >You point a very discrete and not obvious hoof at the general direction of the bar-maided.
  2078. >He looks between you and the area
  2079. >"That depends."
  2080. >With a movement of his head he invites you to sit down
  2081. >You oblidge
  2082. >Wow, these cushions, so soft
  2083. >"I'm not going who are you working for or with, Twinkle Spinke, but I am going to ask the most important question of all."
  2084. >Holding breath comes so easy
  2085. >"How much you have?"
  2086. "What, time?"
  2087. >"Money."
  2088. >Uh
  2089. >"I can help you to find anypony, even anycreature, but it gonna cost, and if you don't have cold blooded twibits, Twinkle Sprinkle," he snickers at his own poo-n, (you do too, out of good behaviour!), "then I can't help you. Not even gonna lie I am sorry."
  2090. >He takes another swink and ends the glass
  2091. >With a hiccup, couple of droplets of orange colous fall out of his nosetrils
  2092. >So this is how the mobponies live and die
  2093. >By drinking with the fishes
  2094. "I'm looking for a pony, and a dragon."
  2095. >His hindhoof taps the panneled floor
  2096. "Her name is Applejack, and his is Spike."
  2097. >He only nods
  2098. "What is the price?"
  2099. >He jerks his head and you notice his eyes are deep brown, almost as black as his coat
  2100. >"Give me a day, or two. In the meantime prepare money."
  2101.  
  2102. >Both of you lock your eyes
  2103. "How much?"
  2104. >"As much as I will tell, capiche?"
  2105. >...
  2106. >You eventually nod and smile
  2107. >The corners of his lips grimaces, as if he wasn't used to smiling
  2108. >A nervous neigh escapes his mouth
  2109. >You pretend you didn't hear it
  2110. >That's a nice thing to do
  2111. "We have a deal."
  2112. >"Name's Chalk. If I won't be here tomorrow by the usual time ask for a Bobby, or for a Pin."
  2113. >Your ears raise
  2114. >Should you ask?
  2115. >Well...
  2116. "Yeah, I was told not to call you that."
  2117. >Now it's his turn to laugh a hoarse, dry laughter of a miner-pony
  2118. >"Yes, that's the code. That's how I know you are worth my time."
  2119. >Huh
  2120. >"Want anything else?"
  2121. A - ask about his skillset
  2122. B - ask about the place
  2123. Y - ask about the bar-maiden
  2124. X - leave him to his drink (now snort-free)
  2125. YY
  2126.  
  2127. >You can as well ask about the mare
  2128. "Chalk, since you asked - what;s up with the mare at the bar? Open Tap?"
  2129. >"Whadda ya mean?"
  2130. >His dark outline fits like a shadow in the view of the fish tank behind his back
  2131. >Even his pout doesn't ruin the view
  2132. >"She's good friends."
  2133. >... with?
  2134. >Oh, the mob, ok
  2135. "What am I trying to ask is... does she have a vision problem?"
  2136. >The colt frown
  2137. >"Why do you ask? You some kind of a veterinarian?"
  2138. >wow, rude
  2139. "No, she just... keep winking at somepony behind me, but there was nopony behind me."
  2140. >"Maybe she was winking at you?"
  2141. >You are Twilight Sparkle and you kind of figured it already
  2142. >But you're also Twinkle Sprinkle and that's an embarassing subject right now
  2143. >If the citadel saw you right now they would die from laughter
  2144. >Worth noting down
  2145. "It sounds silly. I wouldn't bother you with asking if she wasn't doing that all the hecking time."
  2146. >Now, the casual curse made his interest pique
  2147. >"All the time?"
  2148. "Well, most of it."
  2149. >"Somepony can get lucky, if you know what I mean."
  2150. >You don't
  2151. "I wasn't sure not the motion, but is it acceptable in this... place."
  2152. >"What? This is a pony place. We are not prudes like those griffons from the Perch."
  2153. "Thanks for clarifying this."
  2154. >"No biggie. You better ask her about it. You seem kinda her type."
  2155. "What? Fresh meat?"
  2156. >"Purple."
  2157. A - ask about his skills
  2158. B - ask about the place
  2159. Y - ask about the bar-maiden
  2160. X - leave him to his drink (now snort-full)
  2161. YXXA
  2162.  
  2163. >Twilight Sparkle, the tempt-less
  2164. >Or temp-resiliant
  2165. >You resist the desire to bother this pony any more, considering it couldn't end well, and you go back to the bar-maid
  2166. >Only to find her unaproachable
  2167. >Two ponies sits next to the bar, both of them wearing suits
  2168. >That's normal?
  2169. >Two other masculine ponies stand in a small distance from them, their ears standing and waey
  2170. >The distance is bit enough to not pry to listen
  2171. >Not big enough to not see these waiters don't really intend to serve these patrons, but rather protect them from unwanted ponies
  2172. >Lucky for you, you're a really wanted pony
  2173. >Couple of steps to their direction you take make the waiters-security-force to face you
  2174. >Ok, you're wanted by the citadel, not here
  2175. >Worth a try, eh?
  2176. >You take a slow step back and the guards visibly relax
  2177. >You excuse yourself with a weak smile and bow your head
  2178. >The patrons don't pay you any mind, as they laugh and drink
  2179. >Open Tap, however, notices you
  2180. >She raise a corner of her mouth and winks-
  2181. >Winks!
  2182. >- at you (you think), she throws her mane back and returns to her clients
  2183. >...
  2184. >What now?
  2185. A - sit somewhere and wait till the patrons are gone
  2186. B - go to a motel to get rest
  2187. Y - go to any other bar from the previous list of locally available hubs (1 - the Hive (rave), 2 - the Mine (dive bar), 3 - The Barn (saloon))
  2188. X - search the street for quick cash
  2189. AXXY
  2190.  
  2191. >Twilight Sparkle, the tempt-less
  2192. >Or temp-resiliant
  2193. >You resist the desire to bother this pony any more, considering it couldn't end well, and you go back to the bar-maid
  2194. >Only to find her unaproachable
  2195. >Two ponies sits next to the bar, both of them wearing suits
  2196. >That's normal?
  2197. >Two other masculine ponies stand in a small distance from them, their ears standing and waey
  2198. >The distance is bit enough to not pry to listen
  2199. >Not big enough to not see these waiters don't really intend to serve these patrons, but rather protect them from unwanted ponies
  2200. >Lucky for you, you're a really wanted pony
  2201. >Couple of steps to their direction you take make the waiters-security-force to face you
  2202. >Ok, you're wanted by the citadel, not here
  2203. >Worth a try, eh?
  2204. >You take a slow step back and the guards visibly relax
  2205. >You excuse yourself with a weak smile and bow your head
  2206. >The patrons don't pay you any mind, as they laugh and drink
  2207. >Open Tap, however, notices you
  2208. >She raise a corner of her mouth and winks-
  2209. >Winks!
  2210. >- at you (you think), she throws her mane back and returns to her clients
  2211. >...
  2212. >What now?
  2213. A - sit somewhere and wait till the patrons are gone
  2214. B - go to a motel to get rest
  2215. Y - go to any other bar from the previous list of locally available hubs (1 - the Hive (rave), 2 - the Mine (dive bar), 3 - The Barn (saloon))
  2216. X - search the street for quick cash
  2217. XXX
  2218.  
  2219. >The night is getting late and you're getting tired
  2220. >You chose against going and taking a rest
  2221. >You did not chose against reason, though
  2222. >It won't hurt to go around the hood in hope for...
  2223. >Don't know exactly what
  2224. >It's not taht you will jump some hard working pony, now will you?
  2225. >You are Twilight Sparkle and you are smart
  2226. >And that thing?
  2227. >That wouldn't be smart
  2228. >The lower canterlot doesn't sleep, the buildings around here go from six stores to twenty
  2229. >The newer, the uglier, somehow
  2230. >No pony else is nighering about it
  2231. >Only you
  2232. >You don't really belong here, you know it
  2233. >Nor you belong in the citadel, you know it even more!
  2234. >If that makes any sense
  2235. >You're in pain, you know?
  2236. >Well, in a subdued-pain, but it still is pain!
  2237. >3 AM, and you pass by the holder tower
  2238. >You wouldn't notice if not for you looking at the sky
  2239. >A rainbow bridge cut it above you, around 100th - 120th floor
  2240. >The name's cute, but it's a wide gray piece of metal hung just under the sky
  2241. >The holder towers are a connector to the higher canterlot
  2242. >Heavily locked
  2243. >Heavily guarded
  2244. >This one is about three stores high, a block of concrete with a single glass covered elevator shaft going all the way up
  2245. >The mere presence of such a structure provided ponies with the rare feeling of security
  2246. >Ponies around these blocks don't have to worry about somepony forcibly snuggling them or bouncing on them or telling them a lewd joke
  2247. >Charge free
  2248.  
  2249. >You roam the back alleys a bit more
  2250. >There is nothing really going on at 4AM
  2251. >The city doesn't sleep, but it also isn't partially awake
  2252. >More like it collapse on an unmade bed and just lay down till it's time to wake up
  2253. >Such a place this town is
  2254. >From time to time yellow and red lights of a charriot high above the ground catch your eye
  2255. >...
  2256. >What does bother you about this place is the complete lack of grass
  2257. >Ponies are supposed to see a lot of green
  2258. >Grass green
  2259. >Not neon green
  2260. >There's no path of dirt around there, too
  2261. >the only rain you get is when a water pipe gets broken
  2262. >Being here for the last half a year would be challenging even without the Twilight Sparkle goons going after you
  2263. >Now that you think of it, you're really lucky Rarity was here and she believe your history
  2264. >You almost fall on all four thanks to her help
  2265. >You met Applejack once, but it just... it wasn't the same
  2266. >About others?
  2267. >No pony knows
  2268. >Certain things change
  2269. >It's 5 AM and you're tired
  2270. >You finally find a place where you can get couple of crebits, but the labor ponies are now getting out of their homes, going to work
  2271. >What you find is a small marketplace, with a very peculiar fish smell
  2272. >In the back stands vending machines and...
  2273. >You're Twilight Sparkle
  2274. >Free snacks are, like, your second nature
  2275. >You won't ever confirm it to anyone, though
  2276. >There is a big sign of a hotel nearby, too
  2277. >Neat
  2278. A - go to a hotel
  2279. B - rob the vending machines
  2280. Y - roam the street (again)
  2281. X - chit-chat at the market
  2282. BBX
  2283.  
  2284. >The market is only opening when you sneak past the entrance, right into the vending machine corner
  2285. >They are bright
  2286. >They are many
  2287. >Full of overpriced goods
  2288. >And stuck in place, if the corporate welding to the metal plates indicates something
  2289. >You boop each one of them right in the cube detector
  2290. >It's a trade marked name for the crebits collector
  2291. >When machines are online, they say so by warm greetings and happy tunes
  2292. >You're interested in those who operate offline; these display very concerned warnings, like: "Watch out, tall grass!" or "Once in the bum is just for fun!".
  2293. >You don't pry why
  2294. >Not that many of the machines display this sick sense of humour,it seems, but certain things doesn't change
  2295. >Only two of the offline ones are equipped with the blue cubit memory
  2296. >It means they both work, but they store gold in themselves untill someone picks it up
  2297. >You're Twilight Sparkle, extra-ordinaire snack's collector!
  2298. >...
  2299. >Easier said than done
  2300. >Poking your hooves around the panels make you waste time
  2301. >That used to work around the citadel
  2302. >You suspect the only way to overdrive the security measures is to fry them
  2303. >Zapping is loud, though, and the blue cubit modules can be of literally any size...
  2304. >And you can't zap both of them same time!
  2305. >They are too far away
  2306. >Sweet Celestia
  2307. >You have to choose
  2308. A - zap the vending machine selling NRG-products. (NRG sells its best known sugar cube batons for around 5 crebits at a shop price)
  2309. B - zap the vending machine selling RUB-ER-products. (RUB-ER sells well known anti depressant toys which are the first choice among failed self-snuggles attemptees, usual price is also 5 crebits)
  2310. Y - abandon the idea and head to the hotel
  2311. X - [tired]
  2312. AXXY
  2313.  
  2314. >Screw this idea
  2315. >With a stomp you turn back and get out of the vending machine dead end
  2316. >You would lie if you say "just in time, because a civilian almost went in", because that did not happen
  2317. >This just can't end well in this state
  2318. >And you didn't even think how would you haul or download the money on your card
  2319. >You could loot them for snacks
  2320. >That's what you used to do
  2321. >Being tired makes you risky
  2322. >You exit the market place without being forced to exchange pleasant greetings with scarce passerbying ponies
  2323. >...
  2324. >You reach the nearby hotel building in no time
  2325. >It's three stores high, but from your experience with such places, the air conditioning is non-existent
  2326. >Your leg begin to hurt again once you reach the reception
  2327. >You look through your black hoodie and pristine chest floof for the painkillers, but find only the antibiotics
  2328. >It's not even 5 hours since you took the last pill
  2329. >You should wait
  2330. >...
  2331. >The reception is a desk with one slender looking mare with a peculiar look
  2332. >It's mane doesn't just end like any-pony else's, but rather falls down her neck on both the sides and meets at her chest
  2333. >The last thing you notice is her horn which-
  2334. >-which is whicked and splintered into two at the end.
  2335. >The mare in front of you is a kirin
  2336. >And she talks with a strong eastern accent
  2337. >"Welcome to the Silent Hill. We don't really have a hill here. Previously knows as the Silent Village, but the new owner changed the name. Not that we had a village here, anyways."
  2338. >As she end her speel two pairs of ponies walk in past you and go out
  2339. "What's the price?"
  2340. >"Twenty crebits paid a full day cycle. Fifty bits of bail. The third floor is under maintenance process. How long you want to stay?"
  2341. "Does it matter?"
  2342. >"Not really."
  2343. "Do I need to sign something?"
  2344. >"You need to pay on time."
  2345. "I will take a room."
  2346. >This is the first time she cocks her head to a side, as if confusion, but you could swear she does it a lot; you don't know why you think that
  2347.  
  2348. >"We don't have rooms here. We have cubits."
  2349. >This makes sense, considering the price
  2350. >You nod
  2351. "That's what I meant."
  2352. >"Put the card to the terminal, please."
  2353. >You do as you're told and put your card next to a screen-like light yellow screen built in on a nearby wall
  2354. >625 turns into 555 on your eyes
  2355. >not literally, the tv doesn't show it, you just remember how much you have
  2356. >You have very good memory
  2357. >And you fear how much will it cost to hunt down AJ or Spike or Twilight Sparkle
  2358. >Uh
  2359. >you don't remember did you ask Chalk-pony about th-
  2360. >"Here's your card, don't lose it."
  2361. >Oh, yeah
  2362. >"Number's 314."
  2363. >Yousecure the small orange card iwith the number in your floof and enter through the next pair of doors
  2364. >The building doesn't look taht tall, but each store is easily twice as tall as any other living space
  2365. >It's incredibly ugly, almost completely made of concrete
  2366. >With a big open space filled with chairs and tables in the middle, cornered on each end with small food stands
  2367. >Above the central platform free space up to the roof
  2368. >A staircase on your left and on your right, probably not the only two
  2369. >Your stomach is good, or you're too tired to eat
  2370. >Slowly, you trudge on the first floor
  2371. >There are crude looking red neons hanging off the wall
  2372. >Both turned off, but they say "1" on the left and "2" on the right
  2373. >You reach the second floor and the same pattern of neons changes to "3" and "4"
  2374. >The stairs lead up, but you just go to find your place
  2375. >Once inside the living site you pass by many ponies goint to work or coming from work or socialising in this little comune
  2376. >Not only lone types, but also whole families living one next to another
  2377. >The roof is lower here, pretty regular, only two cubits fit in place
  2378. >One above the other, a ladder is shared between two
  2379. >You find yours at the dead end of a corridor
  2380. >You get in and close the door behind
  2381. >It's completely dark
  2382.  
  2383. >Darkness and silence for the first time you entered the building
  2384. >The light above your head turns on and so does the air ventilation
  2385. >Only now you realize how unpleasantly hot the corridors were
  2386. >This tiny air vent is just enough to keep one pony not suffocating in this small, box shaped metal trap called home
  2387. >It's not that the place is tiny, but you can't stand up in there
  2388. >It's enough place for a tiny mattress with built-in pillow, a charger-slot and the light turn-off next to the head of the bed, and about two hooves in lenght of space for your things
  2389. >One and a half of pony height in lengh and two-pony wide
  2390. >This is your new home
  2391. >The silence doesn't stay on forever, as a foal somewhere nearby begins to cry
  2392. >You lock the door and turn off the light
  2393. >It was a long day
  2394.  
  2395. >The low humming of air vent goes off only when you unlock the door
  2396. >You don't know what time it is
  2397. >The place outside looks as packed as before
  2398. >As loud and smelly and-
  2399. >It feels as if you did not sleep at all
  2400. >Maybe you didn't
  2401. >You head out down to the food parlors and consume what is 25 crebits worth
  2402. >530 is not much
  2403. >with hunger and thirst sated you pop a pill of the antibiotics and search for a clock
  2404. >there is none
  2405. >a pony sitting alone with her back to you is who you ask
  2406. "Hey, what time is it?"
  2407. >she looks at you with a long face which turns into a bright smile
  2408. >uh oh
  2409. >"Twilight Sparkle!"
  2410. >UH OH
  2411. >she jumps to her hooves- and so do you!
  2412. >her light blue coat crashes into you and-
  2413. >She hugs you
  2414. "Wow, umm, ok."
  2415. >"Long time no see."
  2416. "You t-too, b-but-"
  2417. >you don't know her
  2418. >she knows a twilight sparkle
  2419. >she can't tell you are not you
  2420. >you know what you mean
  2421. >the point is, she doesn't
  2422. A - friendly
  2423. B - neutral
  2424. Y - hostile
  2425. X - sarcastic
  2426. AAAXXX
  2427.  
  2428. >You give her your best Twilight Sparkle(tm) smirk and wait
  2429. >Her head cocks to a side as her eyes narrows at you with a smirk of her own
  2430. >"But what?"
  2431. >You wave a hoof at her to come closer and so she does
  2432. >Straight to her ear you whisper-
  2433. "Butts."
  2434. >A burst of laughter is your prize
  2435. >It's contagious
  2436. >Couple of ponies around join to laugh but quickly cuts themselves in the mids of it due to not really hearing the joke
  2437. >There was no joke, to begin with
  2438. >"Ah, so that's what you been doing all this time?"
  2439. >Her blue eyes full of tears
  2440. "More or less. You know me, I prefer flanks."
  2441. >"Flanks? Now, that's the first time I hear about it."
  2442. >Uh oh
  2443. "You know, ponies change. You can spank only so many cheeks before you can tell the difference between the beet red and mean meat."
  2444. >You have no idea what you just said
  2445. >The smile she wears seems more genuine than the synthetic hay in hayburgers around there
  2446. "How have you been, er-"
  2447. >You pause
  2448. >"I can't believe you forgot my name, again!"
  2449. >Twilight Sparkle's best sorry smile
  2450. >"I told you to go to a memory doctor. They could fix you, you know?"
  2451. >A herd of office mares rushed beside you
  2452. >Both of you sit down at your table
  2453. >"Well?"
  2454. >She excepts you to say something?
  2455. "I know."
  2456. >"And?"
  2457. "I forgot?"
  2458. >She taps the table and raise a brow
  2459. >Her blue eyes pierce yours
  2460. >You can tell
  2461. >You watch hers
  2462. >Then a single crack of a smile
  2463. >She rolls her eyes
  2464. >"That's just so much you."
  2465. >She sighs
  2466. >Both of you resume to your food
  2467. >"I left the Marehattan about half a year ago. Lower city finally got sink in the sea and turned into a sewer water. You know it. You saw it."
  2468. >You suit a grim expression that matches hers
  2469. >"I stayed for a bit, but I quickly realized you were right. It was important to get out of that heck hole. No one cared about that place, no one with actual power, that is. I packed what little I had and I moved on."
  2470. >You reach out and pat her hoof
  2471. >The sad smile is gone in no time
  2472. >"I won't be kidding. If I were to say it was an easy thing to do I would be lying. To leave that place, with so much memories... But I had to save myself.
  2473. "So you packed and left. It must have hurt."
  2474. >"Watching the place turn into a boiling pot of colts and fillies playing grown-ups would be far more painful in the long run. It's as you said, certain ponies cannot be trusted with power."
  2475. >She slorps her coke through a star-shaper straw
  2476. >"I just wish you have waited for me. Why did you not wait for me?"
  2477. >UH OH
  2478. A - because you would not leave with me in the picture
  2479. B - because you needed to make your own decision
  2480. Y - because I couldn't wait
  2481. X - what is your name again?
  2482. XXX
  2483.  
  2484. >"Well? What do you have for your defence?"
  2485. >Her hoof pokes at your direction
  2486. "Eh, what is your name, again?"
  2487. >Her eyes snap full open
  2488. >Her ears fall back then stand up, then fall back again, repeatedly
  2489. >Her face turns crimson red before she chokes on a laughing fit
  2490. >"You're really ubelievable, Twilight Sparkle. I- I... We spent so much time together and you're always like this. How do you pull it off? You always seem so sincere at this fake shock."
  2491. "I took acting classes."
  2492. >"No, you didn't. You're just an ass, mare."
  2493. >She shakes her head with a manic grin that doesn't fit her
  2494. >"I don't know what to tell you."
  2495. "How about your name?"
  2496. >"My name? You're serious? Were you hit in the head?"
  2497. "Hey, don'y ask about my bed-time activities without sharing yours first."
  2498. >Worked as planned
  2499. >The mare is grinning with her white tooth visinle
  2500. >No trace of anger in her voice
  2501. >"Name's Light Breeze."
  2502. "Light Breeze. Fits your coat."
  2503. >It is light blue, with an inch of gray, only now you find it relevant
  2504. >"Gah! You always say the same! I swear, each time we meet you seem even more brain damaged than before. As if someone wiped clear your memory or if you were many ponies in one template."
  2505. >You are Twilight Sparkle and your chuckle is not nervous
  2506. "I'm in danger."
  2507. >"What?"
  2508. "What?"
  2509. >"You said-"
  2510. "Yes."
  2511. >"You're an absolute ass."
  2512. "For you."
  2513. >The both of you finish your food
  2514. >"The truth is, I got used to meeting you unexpectantly and always telling you my name."
  2515. "How sweet of you."
  2516. >"Bully. No, you told me your job requires certain things to be wiped out due to the company policy. For the record, you never crossed me in any way, on the contrary, you always has been a great help to me."
  2517. >So much for a light conversation
  2518. >"So, how have you been?"
  2519. >You look at the mare
  2520. "Good?"
  2521. >"No, for real?"
  2522. A - Good
  2523. B - Bad
  2524. Y - I don't know
  2525. X - What is your name again?
  2526. BB
  2527.  
  2528. "Light Breeze, I..."
  2529. >You take a deep breath
  2530. "I wasn't so good this time."
  2531. >She puckers her lips and frown in worry, you presume, but doesn't interrupt
  2532. "The memory wipes? They have been a bit more often than before, and they leave me dizzy for more time. I tried to acclimate. I really tried. I think about leaving."
  2533. >The mare moves closer
  2534. >Her voice barely above hearable volume
  2535. >"Then why won't you refuse?"
  2536. >Uh, work or what?
  2537. "What do you mean?"
  2538. >"To let the company order you to do so?"
  2539. "Ah, no. They are needed. The are..."
  2540. >You trail your voice dramatically
  2541. >Her compassion is almost physically visible
  2542. >One more dramatic exhale
  2543. "The company says so."
  2544. >You two sit like that as ponies around you move in chaos
  2545. >"Is there any possibility the company - and I won't pry who your current employer is - mess with your head in more than just memory?"
  2546. >She begins shy-ly at first
  2547. >"What I am trying to ask is, is there any way you would know if they fry something they are not supposed to?"
  2548. "Who are you and how are you oh so wise in the way of braindance?"
  2549. >You both share a chuckle
  2550. >She doesn't speak, though, clearly waiting for an answer
  2551. "I wouldn't know."
  2552. >"Part of the deal?"
  2553. "Yup."
  2554. >Another moment of silence
  2555. >This time, she is deep in throughts
  2556. >So should be you!
  2557. >You gathered so much intel and lied so much!
  2558. >Mommy Velvet would be so proud
  2559. >You will need some time alone to think of what to think of Light Breeze
  2560. "What is room?"
  2561. >"Room? 405. Does it mean you're not going to run after we meet?"
  2562. "No. Not yet."
  2563. >She should be known as the chuckling mare, because it's adorable
  2564. >"What if you get a different job offer?"
  2565. >Weird choice of words
  2566. "A... different?"
  2567. >"I doubt my boss can offer you a better offer, considering what you do - which I still don't know, but I have my suspiciouns - but a different job? I work for a takeover acquisition company and we always look for an experienced pair of hooves. I could talk to my boss. He's a total sucker for cute mares being bossy."
  2568. >She is right
  2569. >You're cute
  2570. >And bossy
  2571. >Hold on, Twilight Sparkle, no time for getting led on by a leash!
  2572. "It wouldn't hurt to get to know him, I guess?"
  2573. >"Sweet. I start soon and I end at 11 pm. How about we meet here?"
  2574. >She stands up, but then halts
  2575. >"What's your bunk's number?"
  2576. >So she fears you'll ditch her?
  2577. >Wrong, she fears 'Twilight Sparkle' will ditch her
  2578. >That's not you
  2579. >Remember it, Twilight Sparkle
  2580. "Three and fourteen. The one with air conditioning."
  2581. >"All of them have air-conditioning, silly."
  2582. "Lucky us."
  2583. >You exchange one last hug and she's on her way to- to where exactly?
  2584. >Your eyes follow her as she leave the building in no hurry
  2585. >They fall at the zifferblyat of a digital clock in the lower right side of a merchansiding screen
  2586. >It say's it's 2 pm
  2587. >So, you slept for almost 7 hours?
  2588. >Good enough
  2589. >You have a meeting set up after the mid-night, or was it the next day cycle, not this one?
  2590. >You can't remember
  2591. >Heh
  2592. >There's a chance to get money though
  2593. >...
  2594. >What to do in the meantime?
  2595. A - stay at the hotel and rest or explore
  2596. B - go to Spike's
  2597. Y - go to Rarity's
  2598. X - go to Twilight Sparkle's (YOURS) old place
  2599. BBXY
  2600.  
  2601. >You exit the market distict and hope for best at Spike's
  2602. >...
  2603. >No one followed you
  2604. >The miraculous meeting with Light Breeze leaves you in rather combersome mood
  2605. >That is, you don't want to become minced mare
  2606. >The Den apartments are as tall and proud as before
  2607. >Curiosity wins as you decide to take a look at the alley previously 'owned' by the Dong Gang
  2608. >It's oddly pristine for a narrow back-alley good
  2609. >All the smelly memorabilia are removed
  2610. >No sight of the dongs, either
  2611. >Maybe if you played it differently they would be there, but you'll never know
  2612. >...
  2613. >You avoid a casual approach and don both the hoodie and the glasses and sneak inside the building
  2614. >Search for any form of camera results in negative outcome - you find none, you find none, damnit
  2615. >What a way to monologue, Sparkle!
  2616. >After reaching the unlucky corridor you see nothing out of the ordinary
  2617. >Never too safe, though
  2618. >The magical energy gather in your horn and erupts in a short distance Twilight Sparkle scan
  2619. >There's no other Twilight Sparkle distance
  2620. >There may be other methods of setting an alarm, which you are not aware of, yet you decide to approach the door
  2621. >Three time knock echoes through the doors to Spike's unnamed apartment
  2622. >Aaaand
  2623. >He is not home
  2624. >Well, why would he be?
  2625. >It's not that you really need his help and he's being useless somewhere else
  2626. >You stomp in dignified anger
  2627. >...
  2628. >Could you barge in?
  2629. >You inspect the door and they look quite solid, for a piece of wood, that is
  2630. >Wait, what are you thinking?!
  2631. >You can't go in like that!
  2632. >To disrespect Spike like that- that's unthinkable!
  2633. >Even the citadel goonmares don't do that!
  2634. >...
  2635.  
  2636. >But it's a special situation
  2637. >You could wait at his place till he comes back whenever it is or find a clue as of his current position
  2638. >And the door have a hoof pannel next to it
  2639. >You did not notice it before
  2640. >You could hack it
  2641. >Or try to
  2642. >How hard Spike's password could be?
  2643. >Puh-lease, it probably is something about food, or gems, or marshmallows
  2644. >...>No... This wouldn't be right
  2645. >The situation is dire, but-... but he would understand...
  2646. >Your eyes snap open as if you used them for the first time and then the train of thoughts derail through your mental wall
  2647. >Why are you afraid of Spike?
  2648. >Because you don't want to lose an ally, simple
  2649. >Why is the citadel afraid of Spike?
  2650. >Well, maybe not afraid, maybe, hmm, rather respect his boundaries?
  2651. >Like... Like you do?
  2652. >Some doors creek open down the corridor!
  2653. >Unidentified steps audible on the concrete floor as they approach you from some side!
  2654. >Think fast!
  2655. A - Hide somewhere and wait till the creature goes by
  2656. B - Try to hack the doors (Type in the password in the format of "PASSWORD")
  2657. Y - Avoid contact and go to Rarity's
  2658. X - Avoid contact and go to your's old apartment
  2659. YAAAX
  2660.  
  2661. >You run behind the corner as the steps approach!
  2662. >The walls make it like an echo chambers once the figure enters the one where Spike's door are located
  2663. >You look around!
  2664. >There is a vending machine which you could pull a bit over and hide behind it
  2665. >Also, a potted plant which is oh so totally plastic it hurts to see
  2666. >The choice is important... not!
  2667. >You move the pot as quietly as possible and place it next to the vending machine
  2668. >Once next to it you commit an inhuman (what is a human) strengh and slowly move the giant metal box out of it's position
  2669. >It moves but catches a carpet and stand not-evenly
  2670. >It wobbles - but you don't have time to fix it as the person is nearby
  2671. >You mask the hole created this way with the plant and stick your thight and perfect butt in there
  2672. >Standing on hind legs and holding the wobbling machine with front hooves is not the safest, dangabit
  2673. >Yet it's very handy
  2674. >The voice approach and turns the last corner
  2675. >You can't see who is it
  2676. >You can only hear as it wheezles in your direction
  2677. >Your heart is pounding so loud against the warm instalation
  2678. >The thing misses you
  2679. >Then the sound stops!
  2680. >A halting screech
  2681. >Your ears hurt!
  2682. >Moment of silence
  2683. >It comes back!
  2684. >Sweet Celestia, no!
  2685. >Why did you decide to hide?!
  2686. >You would never do that if you knew this will be this terrible
  2687. >Since when are you afraid of sounds?!
  2688. >You close your eyes and in the silence if the refrigerating contant buzz is not taken into account, a feminine can be heard
  2689. >It's a sh-
  2690. >"I... aaa... laaa..." the elderly feminine voice comes from the other side of the machine
  2691. >"Beouf. Bingo," a giggle can be heard
  2692. >As much as the sound of crumping paper by repeatetive opening and closing and old, overused book can be used to describe a giggle
  2693. >You're Twilight Sparkle and you know your books
  2694. >A purchase is made and the wheezing-wheeling sound returns as the pony goes to the exit
  2695. >You stick your head out from the tight compartment to see a very wrinkled grey ass in a purple neon wig...
  2696.  
  2697. >... using an electic mobility device that pulls her forward
  2698. >...
  2699. >Well, it was close
  2700. >You had no idea donkeys lived here, but the Den is known for multi-species inhabitants
  2701. >Hmm
  2702. >Since when you, Twilight Sparkle, gets so jumpy you don't know
  2703. >You're about to pull out the pack of antibiotics you take to see any possible bad symptoms but something catches your eye
  2704. >The venting machine
  2705. >It displays a picture of you on red background with one horisontal white sinus of a line
  2706. >No, it's not a picture of yours
  2707. >It's Twilight Sparkle
  2708. >On a Sparkle-Cola advertisiment
  2709. >You exhale the breath you didn't know you been holding
  2710. >Quickly realise the machine must show the last purchase
  2711. >It makes you nauseous
  2712. >This is the first time you see this since you left the citadel
  2713. >You have no idea when did it come to the market
  2714. >You only know the citadel reached the next phase in the conquest of this and other realms
  2715. >Never a sign of this beverage in the last half of a year and now...
  2716. >And you don't even like the taste of carrots that much!
  2717. A - get back to Spike's door and hack the door ("PASSWORD")
  2718. B - get back to Spike's door and try to break in brutally
  2719. Y - go to Rarity's Slut House
  2720. X - go to any shop and ask about the sparkle-cola
  2721. YAAN
  2722.  
  2723. >Still in mild shock you go back to the computer at Spike's door
  2724. >It wakes up to life and display's the company name in white letters on a black screen
  2725. >Locc-o-kok-o
  2726. >The is divided into two halves; the lower one displays a numer digital keyboard, the upper 4 free spaces
  2727. >You try number 1 four times and see that the screen turns red and cleans itself off the incorrect numbers
  2728. >No sound is made by the testing attempt
  2729. >You inspect the door closer to find nothing out of ordinary
  2730. >You poke the hoof panel and eventually find two holes for technical cables
  2731. >Without augementations or a mobile computer you won't be able to hack into these
  2732. >You can crush it and hope for the best, only
  2733. >Maybe looking around the building could help?
  2734. A - Crush the hoof-panel
  2735. B - Attack the door
  2736. Y - Look around the building
  2737. X - Go to Rarity's (1) or the Hotel (2) or the Bar (3)
  2738. YY
  2739.  
  2740. >With a curse untold (and stuck in your throat!) you get away from the door and-
  2741. >And what?
  2742. >The corridor leads to the exit from the floor minus one, by a ramp up, not stairs, and to the other side
  2743. >You realize you haven't been there last time
  2744. >You slowly trot where the old donkey female came from
  2745. >It's a corridor that bends couple of times, with doors on each side
  2746. >They are numbered with the apartments numbers, some with hoof-readers
  2747. >Overall the corridor ends far away with two elevators in a recess in the wall, right in the middle of the long part of the hall
  2748. >Also a stair case is located next to it
  2749. >Some air vents, but too small to comfortably get into
  2750. >And turned on - very hazardous
  2751. >You climb up the stairs and find a small storage room in the middle of them
  2752. >It's closed
  2753. >The first floor, or zero floor, layout is similar to the one where Spike's apartment is, yet somewhat different
  2754. >The doors to the apartments look similar
  2755. >The corridor looks similar, with more different colours, though
  2756. >Everything is the same, but the apartment just above Spike's
  2757. >There is no door in the wall at this place
  2758. >The corridor bends twice from the elevator-stairs element but the wall is empty
  2759. >You reach up the next floor and see the exact same pattern
  2760. >The door to apartment corresponding to Spike's are only at the underground level
  2761. >Why must it be so confusing?
  2762. A - Go back to Spike's door and... knock on the closest neighbouring apartment?
  2763. B - Go to Rarity's
  2764. Y - Go to the Hotel
  2765. X - Go to the storage room and try to break in
  2766. BBA
  2767.  
  2768. >You get back to Spike's door and look at them intently
  2769. >They stare back
  2770. >Your brows move up and down as if saying "Well, how about that, then?" and you find yourself walking to the closest apartment
  2771. >You raise your hoof to hit the door- and jump in surpise!
  2772. >Not in fear, surprise!
  2773. >A loud, clanking sound from the deeper part of the corridor startled you, a bit
  2774. >It's an elevator moving
  2775. >You put your hoof back to the floor and direct yourself to the exit doors
  2776. >That was enough of a bad sign for you
  2777. >Not that you, Twilight Sparkle, believe in superstitions
  2778. >No, sir
  2779. >Supersitions are scientifically proven to have a source, though
  2780. >Science!
  2781. >...
  2782. >You reach the Slut-House in no time
  2783. >The sun is still high and you still have couple of hours to meet with Light Breeze, if you still want to, that is
  2784. >The door aren't barricaded with the police force
  2785. >Yet, the place seems packed with a high number of clearing ponies that hault parts of equipments and furnite out and stash it into a trash cart with two earth pony stallions harnessed to it
  2786. >The entrance is open ajar, and many voices of (re)construction ponies can be heard
  2787. >One of them stands on a ladder and tries to remove the destroyed camera, which recording you still have safely secured, as a meaty protrusion between his legs dangle left and right in free fall
  2788. >You narrow your eyes and confirm it's his p-
  2789. >Paint cans are being hauled inside
  2790. >It seems Rarity is wasting no time and getting to rebuild her business from scrap
  2791. >She most likely won't have any money to borrow
  2792. >You get inside the entrance hole watching out with each step
  2793. >Still glad she came out of it unharmed
  2794. >She was the first you met after-
  2795. >"Ekhm!"
  2796. >You stop and look around
  2797. >Then up
  2798. >Close to your face you see the dangling-
  2799. "Can I help you?"
  2800. >A salty smell tingles your nose, so you take a step deeper inside
  2801. >The pony gratefullly, but not gracefully, gets off of the ladder and pokes a hoof at you
  2802. >"I don't know. Where are you going?"
  2803. "Inside."
  2804. >"It's closed."
  2805.  
  2806. "I can see that much."
  2807. >"Then why?"
  2808. >his eyes narrowed, his snake withdrawing
  2809. A - "Going to meet Rarity."
  2810. B - "I'm an old patron."
  2811. Y - "Curious about what happened."
  2812. X - "What were you doing with that camera?"
  2813. AAXXXXX
  2814.  
  2815. >"Then why?"
  2816. >his eyes narrowed, his snake withdrawing
  2817. "Hold on, before we continue this- what were you doing to that camera?"
  2818. >His eyes snap open
  2819. >"What? I was checking is it usable. Why do you ask?"
  2820. "Well, as you know, this place has been raided by unidentified bed-fillies, it's of upmost importance to find the ones responsible for this act of sexual depravation to make sure they won't do something like that ever again."
  2821. >You cock your head to a side as you speak
  2822. "Solid spanking should be enough, maybe a week long, up to the court, really, but if what's talked on the street is to be believed, and,most of the time there's at least some of truth in it, then the rape raid could have been orchestrated by somepony far more powerful than just a back-alley wanna-breed."
  2823. "And that's why a missing gem in that camera could forfeit all the endeavors to discover the ponies behind this.
  2824. >You take a step forward and puff out your chest
  2825. "So, could you kindly tell me is there a gem inside this camera? I hope you did not pocket it while pretending to be a work pony, that would be extremely... bad for you."
  2826. >His eyes flat on the head, as his hooves glued to the floor, yet the whole body tries to move as far away from you as possible without commiting an actual step back
  2827. >His will-power is almost admirable
  2828. >"N-no, I- I wouldn't do that. I'm paid to scrap anything possible! The boss told us to do so before we pain the place!"
  2829. "Is the gem inside the camera?"
  2830. >His gulp is audible
  2831. >"No. I checked for it, but it's empty. It must have been emptied before our group even came here. I'm the only one with recroding device license, so only I touched this AR-12 model. I must say, I hoped it will be in a better shape. I-I... collect small parts from them, that's a hobby of mine, but I wasn't able to get any part out of-"
  2832. >Another pony sneaks up at you two!
  2833. >No, not really
  2834. >It's a different earth pony, this time a mare in a yellow helmet, approaching you two
  2835.  
  2836. >"Hello," she interrupts the other pony, whose meaty friend unzips itself as he gets redder on face, "name's Sturdy Blocks. I'm the boss here. What is the issue?"
  2837. >The small part enthusiast turns to his, presumably, boss
  2838. "Well, I would like to know."
  2839. >She looks at you unimpressed
  2840. >"And you are?"
  2841. "A friend of the owner. I came to visit her, but your pony stopped me."
  2842. >She dismisses the stallion with a motion of her hoof
  2843. >"Just as somepony should. It's a construction site, you can't get in."
  2844. "Why?"
  2845. >"We have our paint cans counted. We can't really allow anypony to wander in and out as they please, besides, the owner's not here."
  2846. >Hmm
  2847. >The pony her side to you and helps the other pony to get back on the ladder, his stallionhood jingling like bells-
  2848. "When she left? Where is she?"
  2849. >The bossy pony looks at surpsised you're still there
  2850. >"Once we signed the contract. If you're her friend, as you say, then shouldn't you know her whereabouts?"
  2851. >The stallion on the ladder loses balance and wobbles!
  2852. >The boss gasps and grabs the ladder harder
  2853. >No pony falls, but the top side of her bright yellow helmet gets hit with a pink meaty protrusion of the colt on the la-
  2854. >repeatedly
  2855. >couple of ponies laugh but quickly stop it as the boss mare's face is about to explode
  2856. >she begins to berate the colt for 'unprofessional behavior' and 'odd interest with camera equipment'
  2857. >a sad sight, indeed
  2858. >The colt stays on the ladder and the mare still secures it; the dangling dandelion does not shrink, nor stop pulsi-
  2859. >You don't know where Rarity lives
  2860. >you never really thought about that
  2861. >You never needed
  2862. >she always has been here
  2863. >but she must live somewhere
  2864. A - sneak in pretending you're somepony else
  2865. B - claim you are the ponice and order to be let in
  2866. Y - go to the Hotel
  2867. X - go to the Barn
  2868. BXAA
  2869.  
  2870. >you decide to sneak into the place
  2871. >luckily for you, Sturdy Blocks still faces away from you, berating the unhealthily excited engineer
  2872. >you would stay and watch as his meaty trunk pulses ever more as her voice gets louder, but you have better things to do
  2873. >once you're inside one thing turns clear
  2874. >the whole club is going under a groun-revamp, save for the first floor wooden bar, who is being currently emptied by a couple of giggling workers
  2875. >where the moaning corpses of satisfied ponies laid before, now stands cans of high quality paint
  2876. >where the white stains of good fun could be visible on satin panties that no one wore at the moment used to be, now stacks of paper and rolls of wallpaper occupy spaces
  2877. >you come closer to the duo of giggling ponies who put away the last carton box full of half-opened bottles and begin to unwrap a protective foil
  2878. >you decide to not interact with them as no pony pays you any attention
  2879. >with a quick step, you reach the first floor and look down from the VIP-used-to-bee section
  2880. >nothing out of ordinary, it seems
  2881. >three or four ponies on the first floor tears down some wall pannels
  2882. >it sure looks supsicious enough, so you do what a true scientist always would
  2883. >you stare
  2884. >the team in question pull away a piece of wall and-
  2885. >-and safely places the tile on a stack of tiles
  2886. >not quite sure what you expected, Twilight Sparkle
  2887. >oh, shut up, Twilight Sparkle
  2888. >you roll your eyes at no pony in particular
  2889. >then you pass the team and reach the door to the manager room
  2890. >they look exactly like before, but the wall next to them changed colour from mahony to red, maybe cherry, and gold, at the top and bottom
  2891. >there is a num-lock on the wall, just currently covered in paint paper
  2892. >you try the door again as someone behind you coughs
  2893. >and coughs again
  2894. >Celestia! That's a really long coughing fit
  2895. >You turn back to help the struggling to breath pony but none of them seem on the verge of death
  2896. >two or three of them give you a long glare
  2897.  
  2898. >hmm
  2899. >they still kind of try to paint the wall, but one of them comes close enough you can;t ignore them!
  2900. "Hi?"
  2901. >"Hello. I and the boys were wondering who are you?"
  2902. >You look to the now slyly listening group of mares, then back to the mare who seems to be the group leader
  2903. "Boys?"
  2904. >"Um, yes, any problem with that?"
  2905. "No, no problem with boys."
  2906. >"Good! Well, who are you? Why aren't you working? And what were you trying to do here? The office is off limits. You should know that."
  2907. A - The boss sent me to check on you (Younger Engineer Twilight Sparkle)
  2908. B - The camera pony sent me to check on the feedback (Younger Arcana Technician Twilight Sparkle)
  2909. Y - The duo at the bar sent me to ask you what you want to drink (Younger Friend For Hire Twilight Sparkle)
  2910. X - The ponice sent me to investigate (Younger Detective Twilight Sparkle)
  2911. YB
  2912.  
  2913. >You point back with your head
  2914. "The scavengers wanted to know would you like something to drink, or, as they said, what do you want to drink."
  2915. >You cough into your hoof to make it all look natural
  2916. "So, what to tell them, Boys?"
  2917. >The ears of all of the bunch raise in unisono at the mention of free drinks during work-hours
  2918. >Their backs straighten at their name
  2919. >Their leader mare really tries not to smile
  2920. >"Well, if it's like that, then tell them we want the usual."
  2921. >She turns her back to you and shakes her tail in - anticipation? you think?
  2922. >From the lower floor some commotion and yelling is heard
  2923. >A quick glance over the protective barrier reveals Sturdy Block is done yelling at the Meaty Whack, hue, and doing a walk-over
  2924. >You turn to the Boys (mares), giving you a curious look
  2925. >"What's the problem?" asks one of them
  2926. >"She shouldn't be here, most likely." another one, the older looking one answers
  2927. >You turn to look at them
  2928. >Ready to strike
  2929. >Ready to flee
  2930. >Ready to eee-
  2931. >"I mean, not working." the mare that answered continues
  2932. >"Oh, yeah," the younger one rubbed her head, "hey, mare, grab this!"
  2933. >She pulled out a leg with a big brush with something yellow and glue-ish on it
  2934. A - grab it and work
  2935. B - run down the stairs and out of the building
  2936. Y - hide on the first floor behind some revamp equipment
  2937. X - calmly go down and look for Sturdy Block
  2938. AA
  2939.  
  2940. >You grab the brush
  2941. >The pony raises an eyebrow in a questioning, expectant look
  2942. >The Boys one look at another with a varying degree of confusion turning quickly into a worry
  2943. >You think about storing the glasses in your floof but the boss is closer!
  2944. >No, she's here!
  2945. >You put the paiting brush into a nearby can of white, translucent paint and focus your effort on the closest tile on the wall
  2946. >"I see you Boys don't waste any time. Wait a minute..." Sturdy Block's voice trails off
  2947. >You are Twilight Sparkle and you don't dare to turn away from the very interesting, freshly painted wall
  2948. >Your ears are hot and very, very flat as she approaches you from behind
  2949. >"You're supposed to retrieve that. Why are you painting-"
  2950. >"Um, that's what we're trying to figure out," the Boy's leader mare speaks up, most-likely saving your skin
  2951. >You keep brushing the now somewhat whitened thin piece of stone
  2952. >"What do you mean?"
  2953. >"We were told to get them white and then to get them gone."
  2954. >"What? When? By who's order?"
  2955. >"Um," another of them speaks, "there was this, um, mare-"
  2956. >"-or stallion, hard to tell-"
  2957. >"-yeah, hard to tell. Anyways, they came and yelled at us and what not, that we been doing this wrong."
  2958. >A moment of silence, if not for the renovation sounds from the lower level
  2959. >The boss speaks again
  2960. >"In a black hoodie? Wearing glasses?"
  2961. >Boy, why is it so hot here, probably paint fumes
  2962. >"Yup."
  2963. >Heck!
  2964. >You quickly pull the glassess off of your nose and store it!
  2965. >The moment you return to facing the wall a hoof lands on your back!
  2966. >It pulls you to turn around!
  2967. >It's very strong!
  2968. >You don a neutral, bored look
  2969. >"You, are you not-"
  2970. >A look of anger quickly dissipates into one of confusion
  2971. "Not?"
  2972. >Her eyes narrows but she dissmisses the thought with a head shake
  2973. >"Take off your clothes. The owner is rich, but they won't pay for your personal belongings to get destroyed."
  2974. >You maintain the eyecontact till the hoodie restrict the vision
  2975. >"And the rest of you, please, stop doing that."
  2976.  
  2977. >"Why?"
  2978. >"We have a security issue, maybe a security breach. Follow only my orders. I will have you to report to me any suspicious activity."
  2979. >Various voices of confirmation, yours included, satisfy the boss enough to turn away and trot down in a quick pace
  2980. >You don't pick up the brush and look at the scene around you
  2981. >The Boys glance at you with raised eye-brows, till one of them begin to giggle
  2982. >Soon, all of them giggle
  2983. >"Why in the Celery's heck you pain the tile? It's not paint, it's glue removal, look at it."
  2984. >The can indeed stored paint removal substance, if the label can be trusted
  2985. >Protip: they can
  2986. >The tile you been furiously ruining is now in the hooves of one of the Boys
  2987. >"Well, we can't re-use it. I've never seen someone do that. I didn't even know it's possible to re-paint stone with this."
  2988. >"Either way, you should be going, girl."
  2989. >"Yeah. I'm thirsty."
  2990. >This confuses you
  2991. "Thirsty?"
  2992. >"Yeah? You came to ask us for- wait, what did the boss say?"
  2993. >The ponies look between the tile, you, and themselves
  2994. >Uh oh
  2995. A - Run for the run god
  2996. B - Collect the orders and go down to get the bottles, or try to
  2997. Y - Incapacitate the Boys and breach into the office
  2998. X - Ask for the orders and smoothly excuse yourself to go out of the club
  2999. A "AB"
  3000.  
  3001. >To get out is your goal
  3002. "So, what do you want to drink, again?"
  3003. >The Boys look at one another
  3004. >One of them speaks up before you can begin to worry (again!)
  3005. >"Anything, really, just not too strong."
  3006. >"Yeah, the boss may be onto something for real."
  3007. >You nod and salute with a hoof to your forehead
  3008. "Roger roger. Purple spy's out for drinks."
  3009. >As you said, you do, walking away slowly, bur with a purpose
  3010. >Yeah, to run away!
  3011. >Nervous chuckling behind you, and no yelling, proves you did well and not everything went to heck
  3012. >Descending the stairs you notice the boss talking with the pair of ponies that now have the Bar covered with foil of some sorts
  3013. >A sigh of relief escapes your lips
  3014. >You did not have to deal with the boss spotting you
  3015. >You sneak past through the middle of the place into the entrace corridor in no time
  3016. >With the still black hoodie still on your chest (it barely makes it up to your flanks!), you walk next to the ladder pony with sausage problem
  3017. >He's currently on the floor, sheathed, mumbling curses under his beath
  3018. >He doesn't notice you and you don't console him
  3019. >You're quite sure he will find a nice mare to console him if he only gets out of his workshop more often
  3020. >The sun is not going down, yet, and you still have some time, just not much enough to actually go somewhere, uhhh
  3021. >Oh, is that a gun shop?
  3022. >And is that a library? In the lower canterlot?
  3023. A - The Hotel
  3024. B - The Barn
  3025. Y - The gun-shop
  3026. X - The library
  3027. AX
  3028.  
  3029. >It's too early to meet with Light Breeze, and you don't feel tired
  3030. >Sore, a bit, as the antibiotics you take lose their pain-relief abilities after couple of hourse, but the hoof is in a stable state
  3031. >The neong sing of the gun shop's says "Colt and Colt">
  3032. >So happens you already have a perfectly funcional broken water gun
  3033. >The library, though... You can always come back to it, since you know it's nearby
  3034. >What you also didn't know is nearby is the lower canterlot's most known saloon, The Barn
  3035. >You knew its in the hood, but not exactly where
  3036. >Last time you chose to go somewhere else
  3037. >This time you dive in-
  3038. >There's no guard at the big-glass-revolving door
  3039. >Between entrance and exit is this third phase which locks you in a closet space
  3040. >With a beep it releases you into the enterprise-
  3041. >You expected brown and wood-y colours
  3042. >The place is in various shades of blue and steel and that's the first thing you notice
  3043. >The saloon's low-high ceiling is another peculiarity
  3044. >When you heard the name, which you don't remember when, you imagined a vast space of haphazardly tossed tables, chairs and mares, full of creacky, old equipment
  3045. >Not a well designed futuristic bar
  3046. >The place seems spacious, but limited upwards by various metalic rails and pointing down hoses
  3047. >The bar-counter finishes the look by having a digital banel on its full lenght up front, so the entering clientelle can stop the fat looking bar-stallion from a mile
  3048. >He is occupied with one pony at the bar, humming something confidently
  3049. >Not many other patrons are there, and those who are seems to sit alone and read the news-tablets
  3050. >They all look so bored
  3051. >You notice the tables are set in perfect lines
  3052. >When you take couple steps forward a protrusion on the ceiling moves in a fair distance and moves till it hangs above the client at the bar
  3053. >Then his glass of cider gets filled from the hose
  3054. >A quiet beep makes you look around and you spot a red dot of a camera, pointed at you
  3055. >Welp
  3056. >You don't know what to think
  3057.  
  3058. A - go ask the bar-colt for a 1 - cider, 2 - lemonade, 3 - juice, 4 - job
  3059. B - sit at any table alone
  3060. Y - sit at any table with somepony
  3061. X - exit the premises and choose from the C - the Hotel, D - The Colt and Colt gun shop, Z - the Library
  3062. BB
  3063.  
  3064. >You take a stroll as the camera focused on you lose the interest after seconds
  3065. >the vague thought of leaving and taking a nap at hotel before the meeting with Light Breeze escapes you, the moment another camera, just above you, turns on and follows you till you sit down at an empty table in the middle of the techno-saloon
  3066. >The chair made of some artificial steel, painted dark, with one narrow blue line on each edge, making it visible
  3067. >the table is enough for six ponies
  3068. >you look around and no one gives you any attention
  3069. >that's... a pleasant surprise?
  3070. >you put your front hooves on the cold, metal-blue table and lay your chin on them
  3071. >the climatisation above you turns on and it quickly becomes too chilly for you
  3072. >the hoodie gets back on your back, that is, you pull it through your head
  3073. >Hooligan Twilight Sparkle on the spot to get a glass of cider
  3074. >Well, not really
  3075. >You look around and at just that moment the strong-built bar-stallion erupts with laughter
  3076. >the client he talks with smiles very proudly of himself and taps the counter, while his haunches are positioned in the perfect line for your eyes to see the spot where his tail grows out from
  3077. >wew
  3078. >never mind
  3079. >you tap the table and in front a screen opens
  3080. >no, not really a screen, a hologram on the table
  3081. >"Welcome to the Barn," it says in a fancy futuristic cursive
  3082. >"What would you like to drink?"
  3083. >There's a list of prices and couple of names that make you double look, like 'hOh", "groan", and "p[i]e", and some more regular ones like cider, juice and nectar
  3084. >the prices are somewhat high, though
  3085. >not quite sure you feel thirsty for that much
  3086. >25 crebits for a glass of nectar?
  3087. >You're Twilight Sparkle and that's robbery
  3088. >You can tell from all the robberies you've read about
  3089. A - order something: 1 - fancy, 2 - simple
  3090. B - look at the clientelle
  3091. Y - go to the bar-colt
  3092. X - leave the premises and go to and of the positions from the last X
  3093. "AB" 2
  3094.  
  3095. >With giddy curiosity you can't localize the source of, you tap the glass next to the soft and simple "nectar"
  3096. >Kind of expect a choice of tastes, but nothing shows up - for now
  3097. >The mechanical things above your head moves in almost perfect silence, not breaking the yipp and yapp of the place
  3098. >One of them stops just above you and hits you with-
  3099. >No, not really
  3100. >It places down on the table, with a loud clinck, a thick, tall glass
  3101. >The protrusion holding it releases with an audible smooch
  3102. >It withdraws it's plunger like holder and disappears in the ceiling
  3103. >You look up, expecting another one to fall down and fill the cup, but nothing happens
  3104. >Huh
  3105. >The blue table turns green at one spot
  3106. >A small screen under couple of layers of glass says "put the card here"
  3107. >Uhh
  3108. >You do as instructed and another screen asking for 25 crebits pop up
  3109. >More curious than before you accept the transaction and another screen pops up
  3110. >Wait!
  3111. >Only 505 crebits left!
  3112. >Why did you buy this?!
  3113. >It cost as much as daily dose of proteins, and other stuff, too!
  3114. >The hose you expected earlier comes closer and with an indignant wiggle fillis the cup to the brim with some violet, foamy liquid
  3115. >Wait, again!
  3116. >Was that last screen to pick a taste?
  3117. >You weren't able to choose a taste!
  3118. >At least you did not order anything hard
  3119. >You can't stop being angry at yourself so you take a sip
  3120. >Mmm
  3121. >Real grapes
  3122. >Really tasty
  3123. >The table in front of you displays something what... is a newspaper?
  3124. >There are articles there
  3125. >How comes you never before came here?
  3126. >Ah, yes, the cameras above
  3127. A - read the netpaper till it's time to visit with Light Breeze and go there (1) or ditch her and go to the Mane to meet with Chalk deeper in the night (2) or ditch both of them (3)
  3128. B - finish the drink and leave on the street
  3129. Y - take the drink and go to the bar-stallion
  3130. X - yawn and take a nap
  3131. AA11
  3132.  
  3133. >The headlines are quite interesting, so you stick with the netpaper
  3134. >Times goes by as you read about the recent events in the big world
  3135. >There was some fire in some warehouse in Baltimare, and the local mayor personaly blames his opponents - what's more interesting, the current mayor is the first sea pony attending the office
  3136. >Not because it's the first sea pony who won the elections, but because it's the first term of office when the Baltimare city hall is finally submerged
  3137. >And the scientists propheted it to happen 50 years ago!
  3138. >Take that, scientists!
  3139. >Uh
  3140. >You tap the corner and the article change to a discussion about moral standing saying that since chroming-up is legal, so should be cloning-
  3141. >Boring
  3142. >Tap tap
  3143. >A building failure in canterlot? Ponies evicted en masse?
  3144. >That's something for you
  3145. >You can relate
  3146. >The picture depicts a building under a weird angle and it's YOUR APARTMENT
  3147. >The sounds around you got quiet
  3148. >With almighty hardship you pull the eyes off the screen and look around
  3149. >Some other patrons give you a brief look
  3150. >The glass fell and slowly rolls to the edge for the table and you're standing with your hooves supported on the table
  3151. >You grab the glass and put it back on the table, in a safe distance form your hooves
  3152. >After you sit down and rub your brow you don't know do you want to read
  3153. >You read
  3154. >...
  3155. >Yada yada
  3156. >Lies lies lies
  3157. >Nerve gas leak caused the explosions and -what?
  3158. >Ah, earth gas, you misread - as if any gas!
  3159. >You are Twilight Sparkle and you were there!
  3160. >You know Twilight Sparkles got sent to retrieve you and-
  3161. >Hmm
  3162. >And something went terribly off of their plan?
  3163. >So once they met with mild resistance they gave up and left?
  3164. >No, no, no, they continued the pursuit
  3165. >Just, missed you - and then -
  3166. >Uhhh
  3167. >The mental block rings in your head like a chain
  3168. >You look around again and see a long time has passed
  3169. >The place gets more clientelle now, but they don't look casual, no, not with all those vinyl-plastic-parts in their manes and clothes
  3170.  
  3171. >Some even wear leather!
  3172. >They must be wanna-be harckermares
  3173. >It's soon time to meet with Light Breeze, though
  3174. A - meet Light Breeze
  3175. B - stay and socialize
  3176. Y - [none]
  3177. X - [none]
  3178. AAXY +1
  3179.  
  3180. >Various herds and fag packs gather and break as you take your leave
  3181. >You quite ain't sure what to do witht he glass, so you just abandon it
  3182. >They won't know it's you
  3183. >Oh, right, the cameras
  3184. >You turn back in time to see a mechanical protrusion to pick up the glass and dispose it behind the bar
  3185. >Huh
  3186. >You leave and head to the hotel
  3187. >...
  3188. >The hotel lacks a sign
  3189. >It lacked one before
  3190. >It's clear there is a box-hotel, but not really
  3191. >In the lobby sits the same kirin as yesterday
  3192. >she looks at you above a screen from which kirin-pop can be heard, even if distorted
  3193. >at least you still have 50 crebits paid in advance
  3194. >that's two day worthy of a bed-sheet and a snack
  3195. >the kirin speaks up to you
  3196. >"Welcome to the Silent Hill. We don't really have a hill here. Previously knows as the Silent Village, but the new owner changed the name. Not that we had a village here, anyways."
  3197. >isn't the same one lines as she gave you yesterday?
  3198. >at least you think so
  3199. >you wave your cubit card as you pass her position
  3200. >she was clearly occupied with her music, as her hed bobs up and down in fast pace
  3201. >...
  3202. >the food stands on the parter looks as they looked when you left earlier today
  3203. >maybe the smell is even stronger
  3204. >or the air outside is clearer
  3205. >or your hoof is hurting for couple hours already
  3206. >oh, yes, we have a winner, that's it
  3207. >ow
  3208. >you sit down at the table and look at the clock
  3209. >10 pm
  3210. >you have an hour so you head to the cubit 314 and take a well deserved nap
  3211. >at 11 pm the clock in the wall calls you to go to heck
  3212. >how does it turn off?!
  3213. >oh, right, Light Breeze
  3214. >where were you supposed to meet her?
  3215. A - at your bulk (314)
  3216. B - at her bulk (405)
  3217. X - at the food stands
  3218. Y - at the food market in front of the Silent Hill motel
  3219. Y
  3220.  
  3221. >with a well rested trot you decide to wait for her outside
  3222. >...
  3223. >the Silent Hill motel looks as crowded as ever
  3224. >as if ponies did not sleep at more regular hours
  3225. >such is the life
  3226. >the food market before you looks more populated than at yesterday's early morning
  3227. >they sell stuff that actually looks like food, and not overcooked garbage, for one difference
  3228. >as you stand at the roofed entrance, in the way of many pony-clientelle, you realize something
  3229. >Light Breeze ends her work at 11pm
  3230. >That is now
  3231. >You didn't ask when she will be here
  3232. >Or where
  3233. >damn
  3234. >...
  3235. >you hit a stroll through the closest stands
  3236. >eventually you notice pegasi ponies going up above the roof and coming back with groceries
  3237. >you find a make-shift stairs up the first and only floor
  3238. >the pegasi friendly stands are located just there, between tall buildings and under the dark, starry sky
  3239. >the view is great from that place - you can clearly see everypony heading towards and out of the hotel - but the smell is not so great
  3240. >one turn of your head and you localise the source of it
  3241. >one or two stands above the entrance below are a meat stands
  3242. >filled with fish and bugs and-
  3243. >the patrons sitting around are griffons
  3244. >bigger than average pony, rougher, too
  3245. >last detail you notice is that there are a couple of pegasi sitting among them
  3246. >nothing will suprise you in this city, now will it
  3247. >your attention returns to Light Breeze, which you eventually spot
  3248. >It's 11:30 pm when you get down the observation nest and chase her
  3249. >you catch her past the hotel lobby
  3250. >she looks happy to see you if that smile means anything
  3251. >"Well, hello there, Twilight Sparkle."
  3252. "Helll... ugghhh."
  3253. >A coughing fit which you don't have ends after you inhale and hold
  3254. >She cocks a brow at you
  3255. >"You... been running?"
  3256. >Yes
  3257. "Pshh, no. Have you?"
  3258. >A small blush creeps her cheecks
  3259. >"Well, yes. I'm just so excited! I have the good news - but first! I need a shower."
  3260. >A shower?
  3261. >You sniff yourself but spot nothing out of the ordinary
  3262.  
  3263. >"Do you mind to wait for me or do you want to hit the water? Or you could order us some snacks. We have to wake up early tomorrow- that is, if you want to try."
  3264. "To try?"
  3265. >You donned your coolest Twilight Sparkle voice a moment before, but only now it reached the deepest hue you can reach
  3266. >A wink is your reward
  3267. >Not really an answer, is it
  3268. >But, boy, was her smile this radiant this very morning you don't remember
  3269. "Mare, do I?"
  3270. A - shower with her
  3271. B - take a nap
  3272. Y - get snacks at the food stands
  3273. X - head out to the Mane club to meet Chalk
  3274. B
  3275.  
  3276. >A shower would be nice
  3277. >A nap would be nicer
  3278. >You are Twilight Sparkle
  3279. >The coolest mare alife
  3280. "Listen, mare, I will hit the hay. Poke me when you're ready."
  3281. >You shoot her your coolest pose
  3282. >She tilts her head to a side
  3283. >"What... are you doing?"
  3284. >Crap!
  3285. >The bluish mare in front of you resisted your coolness-ment
  3286. >And it was a pose with both hooves pointing and all
  3287. "Um-"
  3288. >Her smiler replaces confusion as she speaks, "Ok, so, I will be at your bulk in 30 minutes. Make sure to get some snacks!"
  3289. >She warms you huggily!
  3290. >Wait, no!
  3291. >She hugs you warmly!
  3292. >... and she's gone
  3293. >You couldn't hug her back
  3294. >Not that you wanted
  3295. >You miss Spike
  3296. >damnit
  3297. >...
  3298. >the soft cloping wakes you up from the short slumber
  3299. >you turn the light on and open the door
  3300. >or rather the gate, since it rolls into the wall far away form the head of the bed
  3301. >Light Breeze's coat looks shiny
  3302. >She has a towel-made turban on her head
  3303. >You tap the matress and the mare joins you in
  3304. >The door closes and only now you realize how tiny the space is
  3305. >Both of you sit side to side
  3306. >The only free space left is the tiny storage section
  3307. >"Do you have any snacks? I don't see snacks."
  3308. >Damnit!
  3309. "I ate them."
  3310. >"All of it!?"
  3311. "This tummy can contain many rolls."
  3312. >You touch your chest to prove a point
  3313. >"You're just... incredible."
  3314. >Her cute little head shakes left and right
  3315. "You were quite giddy earlier. Care to tell?"
  3316. >Her ears perk up
  3317. >"Oh, yes. I talked with my boss, and he agreed."
  3318. "To what?"
  3319. >"To give you a chance."
  3320. >Your brow raise on its own
  3321. >"Don't give me that. You know it well we make a good team. At least we used to."
  3322. >Uh oh
  3323. >"So, I thought, why not get you in? I mean, not as a full time at first. A temp, if you want. I'm sure you have what it takes."
  3324. >Uhhh
  3325. >Money!
  3326. >Hold on, Twilight Sparkle!
  3327. >"You're monologuing, aren't you?"
  3328. >No
  3329. "N-no, you."
  3330. >She shooks her head back and hits the low ceiling with her snout
  3331. >That doesn't stop her laughter, she just hides her head in her hooves
  3332.  
  3333. >"Yeah, you didn't change one bit."
  3334. >She sighs and pauses
  3335. >"That's quite amazing, not that I think of it. Every pony I met here, back from the home, seems changed. Heck! Even I changed."
  3336. >You got this!
  3337. "Yes, you changed."
  3338. >"For the better?"
  3339. >Is it hope in her voice?
  3340. "Definitely."
  3341. >She huffs
  3342. >"I hope this is true. Sometimes I feel, like, as if I live a second life. As if the first ended when-, eh. I don't like to think of it."
  3343. >You pull the mare into a side-to-side hug
  3344. >She doesn't object
  3345. "You changed for the better. I can tell."
  3346. >You state matter-o-factly
  3347. >"What makes you so sure?"
  3348. "I couldn't recognize you."
  3349. >The mare stops nuzzling
  3350. >She dislodge you from her and look you right in the eye
  3351. >Her lips tight like a line
  3352. >She slaps your shoulder!
  3353. >Ow!
  3354. >Ow!
  3355. >What for?!
  3356. "Hey!"
  3357. >"You get your memory periodicaly wiped! How could you imply that! Jeez!"
  3358. >Oh yeah
  3359. >You forgot
  3360. >"You ass!"
  3361. >Her face is as red as your tongue
  3362. >The very same tongue you show her
  3363. "That's the pun."
  3364. >"I know! It's just! You're as bad as always."
  3365. >Oh?
  3366. "Am I a bad friend to you? Bad company?"
  3367. >"Well, no, not a bad friend, but definitely bad company."
  3368. "Then what are you doing?"
  3369. >"Offering you a job."
  3370. >You both share a gigle
  3371. "That speaks volumes."
  3372. >"A job you're going to give a try!"
  3373. "Oh, really?"
  3374. >"Ya, really!"
  3375. >"Can you two shut your yaps down?!"
  3376. >Both of you jump alert and meet the ceiling!
  3377. >OW!
  3378. >It was one of the neighbours trying to sleep
  3379. >The two of you share a look after your heads are sufficiently hugged-out-of-pain
  3380. >It's her the first to crack a giggle
  3381. >You feel allowed to join
  3382. >"So... I know it doesn't pay as much as yours, whatever it really is, but if you'll like it here you sure could make a living. It's a rather lucrative field."
  3383. >Oh, right
  3384. "And what do you do, exactly?"
  3385. >"We specialize in accquiring companies."
  3386. >...
  3387. >That doesn't mean much to you
  3388. "And what's in it for me?"
  3389. >"Except keeping your memories intact?"
  3390.  
  3391. "Hey, filly, there's nothing unhealthy with a little dose of microwaves right through your brain from time to time."
  3392. >You poke her side playfully
  3393. >"The fact you can say sentences this long proves you right, but the obvious wrongness of presented idea proves the opposite."
  3394. >...
  3395. >A sheepish smile creeps into her face
  3396. "Was making a joke."
  3397. >"Oh, ok, sorry."
  3398. >The air conditioning hums quietly
  3399. >"Either way, we wake up early. It's a tough case and I need your moral hoof support."
  3400. >She nuzzles you one more time and gets out of the box
  3401. >"Set the clock to 6 am. We will eat here and go to meet my boss."
  3402. >You grab her chest and pull her into one last hug
  3403. >Her chest is so floofy and fresh and blue!
  3404. >"I-I, well, yes, we can talk about it l-later. S-see you!"
  3405. >You wave her goodbye and have no idea what she talks about
  3406. >HMM
  3407. >What you notice, however, is taht you need a shower, and she was nice enough not to tell you this
  3408. >Probably due to her city town being such a garbage
  3409. >Ugh
  3410. >You really wish you did not feel bad for her
  3411. >Can't help
  3412. >You're very friendly
  3413. >And taht's why the citadel hates you
  3414. >You pop the medicine tab into your mouth and consider your actions
  3415. A - set the alarm at 6am and join Light Breeze
  3416. B - sneak out now and go meet Chalk, the informant pony
  3417. Y - get a well deserved rest and don't set an alarm
  3418. X - go get shower right now
  3419. BBX
  3420.  
  3421. >You are Twilight Sparkle and you close your eyes
  3422. >Ha!
  3423. >You wish!
  3424. >Places to be!
  3425. >One place to be exact - the Mane
  3426. >You don't plan to ditch Light Breeze, but a certain fixer pony had informations how to find Spike and Applejack
  3427. >Nothing else matters at the moment
  3428. >Your eyes snap open about ten minutes after Light Breeze is gone
  3429. >It takes you two minutes to be greeted by the still lively market
  3430. >The moon is high above when you disappear in the shadows
  3431. >...
  3432. >You reach the place with no further delay
  3433. >Mostly because the pain-killing property of the antibiotics works for a time after taking them
  3434. >You slow down before you pass the doors
  3435. >The Colta-Snoutra guard-waiters did not seem like tolerating gallop
  3436. >You take in the slow, almost ancient atmosphere of old business; it smells like somepony burning a straw of grass
  3437. >It hits you how this place is different than the cyber-saloon you saw earlier this day
  3438. >And the patrons, their style and average age
  3439. >Two different worlds in the same lower city
  3440. >You shake these thoughts out
  3441. >You nod to the closest staff pony and go straight to the farthest booth, the one with the aquarium inside the wall
  3442. >It's neatly tied and the table and the chairs are empty
  3443. >You check the old standing clock and it shows it's couple minutes past the midnight
  3444. >Sitting there is tight, very comfortable and all, but nothing comes out of it
  3445. >You abandon your post and move next to the bar
  3446. >No guards standing on... guard- eh - restricting your path, this time
  3447. >The colt behind the counter turns to you
  3448. >"What's your poison?"
  3449. >You blink in surprise
  3450. "You're not Open Tap."
  3451. >He chews his lips as a gum
  3452. >"Uh?"
  3453. A - ask him about Open Tap
  3454. B - ask him about Chalk
  3455. Y - ask him about a job
  3456. X - ask him for a drink
  3457. B
  3458.  
  3459. "Sorry. Have you seen Chalk?"
  3460. >His ears stand tall as he eyes you
  3461. >Not very subtle about it, is he?
  3462. >"You mean the bobby pin?"
  3463. >Boy, do you
  3464. "Yes, but he says he doesn't like the nickname."
  3465. >His eyes narrows
  3466. >Then his whole body snaps out from under the spell of being sneaky and vague
  3467. >"Yeah, not really."
  3468. "What do you mean?"
  3469. >"He wasn't here today, yet."
  3470. "Oh."
  3471. >You look around the place till your eyes refocus on the colt in front of you
  3472. >That works like some sort of a cue for him
  3473. >"You know, it's against the company policy to talk about our patrons and their habits..."
  3474. >Your hoof stops mere inches from your floof, as you wanted to show off your crebit cards
  3475. >Why? Because he dis-continues
  3476. "I'm sorry, what?"
  3477. >"What what?"
  3478. "I kind of expected you to ask for a bribe."
  3479. >His head shakes in laughter
  3480. >At your expense!
  3481. >Ponies are watching!
  3482. >Augh!
  3483. >"Sweetie, why?"
  3484. "You said it's bad to talk details about the patrons and then... trailed off your voice like that?"
  3485. >"Oh, sheesh. No, that's not what I meant. Sorry."
  3486. >He reaches the back of his head and give it a rub
  3487. >"Mighty sorry. I really meant that. We don't do that. Here, take this."
  3488. >He pours a half of a glass of a multivitamin and places it before you
  3489. >You take a swing and nod your burning head in gratitude
  3490. >Mmm, not too shabby
  3491. >Not too shabby at all
  3492. >You can even chow the multivitamin ripe pieces with your teeth
  3493. "Can you tell me when Chalk comes in?"
  3494. >"No, I don't think so. Tell you what, if he comes tonight I will tell him you were looking for him, miss...?"
  3495. 1 - Twilight Sparkle
  3496. 2 - Twinkle Sprinkle
  3497. 3 - Twiggly Spriggly
  3498. 4 - Tee eeS
  3499. A - ask him about Open Tap
  3500. B - ask him about Chalk
  3501. Y - ask him about a job
  3502. X - ask him for a drink
  3503. 43 "1234" "ABCD" 1Y
  3504.  
  3505. "Miss? Puh-lease."
  3506. >You make a dismissing and totally not practiced in front of a mirror gesture with a hoof
  3507. "Tell him that Tee. Ees. asked about him."
  3508. >The stallion's face tenses, finaly noticing you're serious business, you mean something to be reckoned, alright
  3509. >You are Twilight Sparkle and you're the coolest mare alife
  3510. >He slowly, almost painfully, takes his off eyes off of you and turns them to the bottle of juice
  3511. >The one he offered you a drink with
  3512. >He checks the label at the back as you let him have this moment to regain the composture-
  3513. >The coolness
  3514. >You assume he's cool, too, even if it's a temporary assumption-
  3515. >He searches for something at the neck of the bottle
  3516. >"Oook..." his voice trails off.
  3517. >Yeah, all's good
  3518. >Suddenly!
  3519. >His eyes light up
  3520. >His voice is filled with renewed giddiness
  3521. >"I assume here that the stallion in question knows you by the name."
  3522. >You nod and take a sip
  3523. >Mmm
  3524. >Noticing you're almost done he asks
  3525. >"Do you want anything else, Tea Ease?"
  3526. >You look around to spot who's talking to
  3527. >No pony nearby
  3528. >He is looking at you
  3529. "Me?"
  3530. >His eyebrows furrow
  3531. >"Yes?"
  3532. "Tea Ease?"
  3533. >You pause
  3534. "That's not what I said."
  3535. >"You sure about that? That's what I heard."
  3536. >You blink at him
  3537. >"I'm not trying to be a goodie-smarty-twoo-hooves here, but it doesn't really suit you."
  3538. >He smirks
  3539. >HE SMIRKS
  3540. "What do you mean?"
  3541. >"It doesn't suit you? Not judging, just, to keep my eyes open and mouth shut it's literally a part of my job. Funnily enough, it's also the opposite of what our clients do."
  3542. >You cut him off by slamming a hoof atop the counter
  3543. >Not too hard, you hope
  3544. "Name's not Tea Ease."
  3545. >Both his eyebrows and ears are raised up
  3546. >"Then, what to tell him?"
  3547.  
  3548. >If you weren't Twilight Sparkle it would be embarassing
  3549. "Yes, I'm sure. Name's Twiggly Spriggly."
  3550. >H-he burst in laughter!
  3551. >"That's the dorkiest name I've ever heard!"
  3552. >Various patrons and waiters turn your way
  3553. >You can tell from all the hot glances piercing your back
  3554. >Ugh!
  3555. "What do you mean?"
  3556. >"What do I mean? I mean, c'mon, mare-"
  3557. >He stands on his hindlegs and put the weight on the counter
  3558. >"What are you, some kind of a pig enthusiast?"
  3559. >He laughs again
  3560. >"Or was it a pig fan?"
  3561. >At least somepony is having fun here
  3562. "Ok, shees, sorry. I'm trying to be sneaky here, ok?"
  3563. >He clears his eyes from the gathered tears
  3564. >Tears of remose!, you tell yourself
  3565. >"Then what to tell him, for real?"
  3566. "Twilight Sparkle. My name is Twilight Sparkle."
  3567. >"Whatever you say."
  3568. >He glances at the bottle of the juice again and refills your glass to a half, completely emptying
  3569. >It's left on the counter, so you pick it up and check for what he looked before
  3570. >The neck of the bottle has a label with a single item on it
  3571. >The expiration date
  3572. >And it's good
  3573. >No idea why he checked
  3574. >"Do you want anything else?"
  3575. >Your cheecks may be on fire but you meet the judging gase of the bar-ponedear
  3576. "Do you know any way to earn quick cash?"
  3577. >H-he laughs some more!
  3578. >"That's cute. Sorry, sweetheard, but we ain't that type of place."
  3579. >He doesn't stop eye-ing you!
  3580. "That's not the type of work I meant!"
  3581. >What's wrong with this pony!
  3582. >He either laughs at you, or smirks at you, and now he's oggling you!
  3583. >"You sure? You certainy are built for this-"
  3584. "No! I'm sure that's not a job I'm willing to take."
  3585. >The stallion stares at you as if something wasn't right
  3586. >He speaks slowly
  3587. >"What do you think I'm talking about?"
  3588. >You don't want to say it outloud, but what choice you have?
  3589. "And you?"
  3590. >Oh, yeah, that choice
  3591. >He takes a tint of applekoniak and cleans his lips
  3592. >"I meant action."
  3593. >So, not-
  3594. "So, you-"
  3595. >"I suspect you wanted to trade your... hide?"
  3596. >What!?
  3597. "No! Why?"
  3598. >Why is it so hot here?!
  3599. >Open the windows! Sheesh!
  3600.  
  3601. >"Either way, whatever you can take or give - we don't hire."
  3602. >Maybe that's for the better
  3603. A - ask him about Open Tap
  3604. B - ask him about Chalk
  3605. Y - ask him for a drink [Freeloader perk]
  3606. X - don't make a foal of yourself in front of him anymore
  3607. if X: 1 - wait for Chalk
  3608. if X: 2 - go back to the motel and sleep after a shower
  3609. Y
  3610.  
  3611. >You look at the translucent bootle and pick up the glass
  3612. >The stallion watches you as you watch him through the depth of the glass
  3613. "Well, thanks for everything, but my throat's sore."
  3614. >The call to duty makes him return to previous, less smirky-self
  3615. >"What do you need?"
  3616. >This this it clearly meant a poison
  3617. >You need to guide him well!
  3618. "I don't know. You're good at picking so far. Pick something."
  3619. >He nods and what it is a nod!
  3620. >As if he gathered all professionalism, his and borrowed from his ancestors, and poured it into one, shallow motion
  3621. >His hoof grabbed a bottle of Fire Cider, and-
  3622. >And he put it back!
  3623. >"You going to pay?"
  3624. >Oh no
  3625. "You going to make me pay?"
  3626. >He turns to you empty-hooved
  3627. >Empty-hooved!
  3628. >"Depends."
  3629. >Still hope!
  3630. "Let me guess-"
  3631. >"No, I won't. I won't let you guess."
  3632. "What? Why?"
  3633. >"You failed to guess your own name two times in a row, or three times."
  3634. >Oh for Celestia's sake!
  3635. >Your face is not the sun!
  3636. >It shouldn't burn!
  3637. >Maybe it should shine, but not burn!
  3638. "That's just rude to say."
  3639. >"Maybe, but I think you had enough of juice for tonight."
  3640. "That's me to decide, isn't it?"
  3641. >He ponders for a while
  3642. >"I guess you're right. I propably should't turn off a paying client."
  3643. >You bite your tongue to not affirm this!
  3644. "But I'm not paying? This did not stop you before, you know?"
  3645. >"That was a courtesy. Not everypony comes to look for a patron well known for not being looked for. Let's just say, you sated my curiosity and I sated your thirst for some juicy juice."
  3646. >Time to get back at him!
  3647. "Fine! But you own me one."
  3648. >"No, I don't."
  3649. >No, he doesn't
  3650. A - ask him about Open Tap
  3651. B - ask him about Chalk
  3652. Y - ask him for a drink [Freeloader perk - you don't have it anymore]
  3653. X - don't make a foal of yourself in front of him anymore
  3654. if X: 1 - wait for Chalk
  3655. if X: 2 - go back to the motel and sleep after a shower
  3656. "F" B1
  3657.  
  3658. >You are Twilight Sparkle and you got this
  3659. >The bar-pony did not tell you his name, which seems very rude, now that you think about it, but, hey
  3660. >Could be worse
  3661. >"I'm sorry to tell you, but... either buy something or go."
  3662. >Gah!
  3663. "Before I go I want you to tell me about Chalk."
  3664. >He shakes his head in shock
  3665. >"What? I told you we don't- what? We talked about this, already."
  3666. >Not what you expected
  3667. >"I'm not asking anymore. Go."
  3668. >Not at all
  3669. >What!
  3670. >As if on command, one of the bulky waiters walks past you!
  3671. >You look back to the stallion to see his back, as he actively ignores your very presence
  3672. >With a clip-clop of your hooves, you stand up
  3673. >A thought about asking him will he deliver the message crosses your mind you
  3674. >You swallow it without digesting and with a short "bye" you leave
  3675. >No pony stops you nor yells any obscenities at you
  3676. >So that's a progress
  3677. >You think
  3678. >...
  3679. >The way to the motel was uneventful
  3680. >And once again the place was as lively as always
  3681. >The kirin however was different and asleep
  3682. >The shower rooms, two per floor, one per sex, two rows of six in line - were in good condition
  3683. >You kind of feared what you may see here but ended up positively surprised
  3684. >Very white, filled with ties and with working and pullable, well, shower heads
  3685. >Even without a shampoo you can swear you look lighter than before
  3686. >And so you feel
  3687. >You're too tired to be cautioush, so you crash at your bulk without checking did someone break in
  3688. >And even if, then what?
  3689. >All your belongings are on you
  3690. >Which is kinda saddening
  3691. >Your eye close as a foal begin to cry
  3692. >The door doesn't mute it well, but you're just too tired
  3693. >...
  3694. >Someone's knocking on your door
  3695. >You open it and with the best speech skills ever, you groan at them
  3696. >"Whoa! You look like mince-meat."
  3697. >Mice-meat?
  3698. >What's that?
  3699. >You couldn't ask as Light Breeze - because it's her - pulls you up into a sitting position
  3700. >"Did you stay up late? Even after I asked you not to?"
  3701. >The annoyance in her voice isn't annoying you
  3702.  
  3703. >It's too much justified to do that
  3704. >Or to show any remorse
  3705. "Um, no?"
  3706. >She lets go of a powerful, eye-opening sigh
  3707. >Your vision is back
  3708. "So, what's the plan?"
  3709. >She tries to pull you out of the box, yet you manage to shake her hooves off
  3710. "I will do it alone, thanks for your concern."
  3711. >You scramble out and lock the door with unusual dignity for a mice-mint
  3712. >You look straight at her
  3713. >She's scanning you with clear nervousness and anger in her eyes
  3714. >This much you see
  3715. >What you don't see is an incoming wave of hurt which you feared
  3716. >No, her grimmace softens
  3717. >"You took a shower. Nice. Truth be told, your colour hides dust really well, but the smell betrays you."
  3718. "What the hay? What is that supposed to mean?"
  3719. >"It means we're late, mare."
  3720. >She waves her hoof to follow her
  3721. >Which you do
  3722. >Once at the bottom of the hotel, between the food stands, you begin to search for an empty table, but she doesn't stop
  3723. >She looks back and gestures you to go
  3724. >Tired and hungry and in pain, you match her trot
  3725. "Will we not eat??"
  3726. >"We don't have time. You slept over."
  3727. >She must have noticed something in your face as she continues
  3728. >"I didn't eat either. We'll get something on the road."
  3729. >You nod affirmatively, but she's not looking at you anymore
  3730. >You nod again
  3731. >The both of you leave the building and stay outside of the market on the other side of the road
  3732. >The streetlamps are still on, but first glimpses of sun begin to bath the concerete city
  3733. >You just follow the mare, yawning whenever she doesn't look
  3734.  
  3735. >...
  3736. >You are in a different part of town
  3737. >A better one, if more glass than concrete on the facades of the tall buildings around you indicate anything
  3738. >"Well, I expected us to be more behind the schedule. We could take a break."
  3739. >Sweet Celestia!
  3740. >Your legs come to a screeching halt
  3741. >Her doesn't
  3742. >"What are you doing?"
  3743. >She turns with a smile
  3744. >A smile!
  3745. >That's something you can work with
  3746. "Looking for food."
  3747. >You lie
  3748. >Her ears perk up and her back straighten
  3749. >"Oh, yeah! I forgot. Come."
  3750. >And she's trotting again
  3751. >...
  3752. >You two stand next to a food truck on a parking plot in the shadow of an office building
  3753. >Everything under the window's of the building is pure concrete
  3754. >Evertyhing except the food stand
  3755. >It's metal
  3756. >"Well, I would like a chicory salad, with extra tomatoes, parmezan, olives, peices of cabbage and dandelions, if you have fresh."
  3757. >She's talking to the pony inside the booth and now puts her crebit card to the reader in the counter
  3758. >It's kind of an awkward position as she has to stand on her hind legs to reach-
  3759. >"What's for you?"
  3760. >The other mare from inside asks you
  3761. A - a light salad
  3762. B - a smol sandwiches
  3763. Y - a greasy salad
  3764. X - a long-goof sandwich
  3765. 1 - water
  3766. 2 - tea
  3767. 3 - energy drink
  3768. 4 - coffee
  3769. 3442B
  3770.  
  3771. >You look at the sammich mare
  3772. >She really looks like one
  3773. >Her coat light bready and her eyes olive
  3774. "I will take some 'smol sammiches' and..."
  3775. >You eye the list of drinks
  3776. "Everything."
  3777. >Her head adorably tilts to a side
  3778. >"Everything?"
  3779. "Maybe except water."
  3780. >"Okie."
  3781. >Once the goods are finished you and Light Breeze collects your orders
  3782. >Her's a plastic box of salad and a paper cup of tea
  3783. >Your's a paper wrap of a portion of munchies and a plastic palette with three cups of different sizes and content
  3784. >She doesn't comment on that, though it's visible that she want to
  3785. >And you just hope those 40 crebits are a good protein investment (465 left)
  3786. >...
  3787. >In no time, she leads you to the glass building on the other side of the street
  3788. >The lobby was big and with enough sitting space to eat
  3789. >That's what you do
  3790. >"You sure you know what you're doing?"
  3791. >Light Breeze finally says as you slowly put the tip of your tounge into the energy drink container
  3792. "I don't really know."
  3793. >You know she's looking, so once enough of the energy drink is missing you pour the remaining tea and coffee into it and give it a shake
  3794. >"I understand you had a heavy night, and I feel a bit worse that I jump at you for it earlier this day, and I'm not gonna say sorry for that, but that's no reason to poison yourself.
  3795. >You smile and silence her witha raised hoof
  3796. "This baby?"
  3797. >You point at the drink extra-ordinare
  3798. "This is nothing."
  3799. >You chug it and instantly choke on the insufferable taste!
  3800. >Nothing persuades ponies as much as a good, honest coughing fit
  3801. >Once you're back among living you say
  3802. "Relax. I'm used to this."
  3803. >Her smile stops being of a concerned one
  3804. >"I can imagine."
  3805. >You take another slurp of the toxic concosion
  3806. "You don't have to."
  3807. >Note to never ever do that
  3808. >Yuck!
  3809. >...
  3810. >You did not finish the last sammich yet, and the energy pours back to you, filling you slowly to the brim
  3811. >The after taste is even worse, but the dandelion sandwiches really did it good to stop the terrible smell
  3812.  
  3813. >"Do you want to go up to the office? The boss is there."
  3814. "Yeah."
  3815. >The two of you go to the elevator and ride to the seventh floor
  3816. >...
  3817. >The boss isn't here
  3818. >"Seems like the boss is not here. Welp, we better get to the work."
  3819. >Something bothers you
  3820. >She says and adds, "oh, if you need to use a bathroom, it's outside, the second from the last door to the right down the corridor."
  3821. >That can be it
  3822. >...
  3823. >You find the way back to the office and now you look at it
  3824. >The entire enterprize is one big room cut into three or four or five smaller work-spaces by some thin carton walls
  3825. >That's weird
  3826. >Who would need anti-magic protection walls?
  3827. >You're about to ask, yet you bite your tongue
  3828. >"What? Are you saiing something?"
  3829. "Nah, Am Nat."
  3830. >The mewl leaves your mouth
  3831. >Because it's sure as heck you did not say that
  3832. >You come closer to your friend and look at the desk filled with papers, a computer screen and a phone
  3833. "So, what do we do?"
  3834. >"Oh?"
  3835. >Her face beams at you
  3836. >"I'm glad to see you're as good as ever."
  3837. >You indeed feel good
  3838. >She sighs, and shrugs, or sighs and shrughs
  3839. >"I tried to contact the owner, but he does not pick up the phone. He must be commuting. We better get going."
  3840. >She hands you a brown saddlebag
  3841. >A heavy saddlebag
  3842. >You take it anyways
  3843. "What's inside? Bricks?"
  3844. >She laughs at that
  3845. >"Worse. A purchase agreement."
  3846. "Oh, cool, cool."
  3847. >The two of you leave the office and you visit the bathroom again
  3848. >You're quick back to her side at before the elevator doors opens
  3849. >She must be happy you're so fast, because she keeps giggling
  3850. "Where are we going?"
  3851. >"The docks."
  3852. >That shocks you
  3853. >Should it shock you, you don't know
  3854. "Which ones?"
  3855. >You walk out the building and turn left
  3856. >Energetic trot, it is
  3857. >But she stops you and you turn the other direction after her
  3858. >It takes her oddly long to think about it
  3859. >"Not thelanding docks. The water docks."
  3860. >The shipyard?
  3861. >Here?
  3862. >In the middle of a continent?
  3863. >"Yeah, surprising, right?"
  3864. "That's little to say nothing."
  3865.  
  3866. >"I'm more surprised that you don't know about their existence."
  3867. "Well, I'm not here for long."
  3868. >You lie
  3869. >You have been here for the last six months, just after-
  3870. >"Aren't you living here for a year?"
  3871. >Uhh
  3872. "I just... forgot?"
  3873. >She put a hoof to her forehead as if hitting herself
  3874. >"Memory wipes, gotcha."
  3875. >That's very nice of her to be so gullible
  3876. >You follow her closely
  3877. >...
  3878. >Well
  3879. >The sun is higher and you both get really close to a side of the protectional dome of the the lower canterlot
  3880. >Indeed, there's water
  3881. >Not much
  3882. >Enough for metal pieces to corrode
  3883. >Not enough to be salty
  3884. >That's how it works, right?
  3885. >One pony would expect tall building at this place, but this used to be a natural flodding place down the canterlot waterfall river
  3886. >Now it's just a flooded place
  3887. >Various storehouses grows out in each free patch of land, that is, none anymore
  3888. >Before you can ask about the adress being good you spot an office building
  3889. >In the door of the four store high commerce center Light Breeze, now with a neutral expression, raises a hoof to stop you
  3890. >Ha!
  3891. >You do this before she can finish the gesture!
  3892. >So fast
  3893. >It makes her professional face to ease a bit
  3894. >"The boss should join us, but even if he's not there, let me do the talking."
  3895. "You took me in as an eyecandy?"
  3896. >"More like a security measures."
  3897. >You scoff
  3898. "If the negotiations go wrong? Can negotiations go wrong?"
  3899. >She shakes her head
  3900. >"No, no, no, no, no. Nothing like that. I know you're used to more... physicals means of negotiations, but-"
  3901. "Got it."
  3902. >She looks as you with a visible, you think it's a worry, but you're not going to call it that and the both of you gets inside
  3903. >The portier points you up to the second floor and you find the room in no time
  3904. >However, she been a bit staying back
  3905. >...
  3906. >Inside the room is a table
  3907. >Couple of comfortable chairs
  3908. >A coffee machine and trivalties
  3909. >And one pegasi mare, around your age
  3910. >"Oh! You're early. May I treat you to some coffee?"
  3911. A - yes
  3912. B - no
  3913. X - maybe
  3914. Y - I don't know
  3915. YAAA
  3916.  
  3917. >The pegasi mare pointed a hoof at the coffee machine in the corner
  3918. >You hesitate
  3919. >Should you?
  3920. >You see realization draws on her face as she puts a hoof on your floof-
  3921. >lewd!
  3922. >-and speaks
  3923. >"No, thank you. We just had one."
  3924. >"Let's take a seat."
  3925. >You find yourself already seated
  3926. >Silly mares
  3927. >They small talk about business
  3928. >Both of them giggle at mentions how both of their bosses always change their plans
  3929. >You pay them no mind
  3930. >The view from the window looks refreshing
  3931. >The canterlot harbour should be gray, like the rest of the town, but sun rays break on the water surface creating small shiny pools of different colours
  3932. >You bet on that
  3933. >If they were just waste water leaking into it, the smell would be terrible
  3934. >And it wasn't that bad
  3935. >The water is still undrinkable since one mare put its flanks into it couple decades ago
  3936. >At least it doesn't farts back anymore
  3937. >The door opens and a pony of reasonable size enters
  3938. >It's a stallion and he greets both mares, very professionally
  3939. >He's wearing a well fitted suit
  3940. >You nod
  3941. >Then turn away from the window, and nod again
  3942. >He looks at you with a small smile
  3943. >Wait, when did you stand up?
  3944. >Another pony enters
  3945. >A well matured voice of a mare that sends shivers down your spine!
  3946. >You try to turn to her but you're already facing her direction!
  3947. >She stops when she sees you, but proceeds to take a seat next to the pegasi mare who holds a paper cup of coffee
  3948. >"Coffee?"
  3949. >The pegasi mare in question asks everypony around the table
  3950. >You take a tentative step forward
  3951. >It gains her attention
  3952. "Yes, please."
  3953. >With a smile she gets up and gracefully goes to the coffee maker
  3954. >It whistles a happy tune which you kind of remember from somewhere
  3955. >The other ponies are silent till you get a cup of the brown beverage
  3956. >It tastes like fresh dirt
  3957. >Just what you need
  3958. >You take a seat as they talk
  3959. >Push papers one side, the other
  3960. >"Twilight Sparkle?"
  3961. >You snap out of this dirty delicacy
  3962. "Yez?"
  3963. >Light Breeze nudges you to a side
  3964. >"Let's go get them."
  3965.  
  3966. >You nod and follow her
  3967. >The three other ponies stay
  3968. >Once outside Light Breeze leads you at the end of a corridor and takes the saddlebag which you forgot you have
  3969. >Huh
  3970. >Something clearly worries her
  3971. >"What are you doing?"
  3972. "What do you mean, little filly?"
  3973. >"That's too much coffee. And what's with that humming? I mean, the bosses aren't here yet, but- no, what's up with the humming?"
  3974. "Humming? What-"
  3975. >She throws a hoof in the air
  3976. >It comes back to the ground
  3977. >Neat
  3978. >"You hummed a song while waited for the coffee. I don't know what you you're thinking, but please, please, don't do this."
  3979. >You shake your head
  3980. "You must be wrong, it must been the coffee maker."
  3981. >She only observes you
  3982. >"Are you feeling well? Are you intoxicated?"
  3983. >Now, that's silly
  3984. "No. Do you need me to be?"
  3985. >"What? No. Sweet Celestia. You're lucky our boss is late."
  3986. "Is she?"
  3987. >"He is, and these two are the guardsmare and the seller. Please, get a hold of yourself and stop doing that."
  3988. "Doing what?"
  3989. >"That."
  3990. >She points at something behind you
  3991. >And under you
  3992. >It's your leg and it's twitchy
  3993. "Can do that."
  3994. >It's hard, though
  3995. >"Great."
  3996. >A hoof of her own rubs the side of her head
  3997. >"I mean it. You sure made them believe you're a weirdo, so they may not notice..."
  3998. "Notice what?"
  3999. >"Uh, nothing. Just, tone it down, ok? The boss should be here very soon."
  4000. A - agree shortly
  4001. B - pry for more info
  4002. Y - excuse yourself to a restroom
  4003. X - disagree
  4004. BB
  4005.  
  4006. >Light Breezes begin to trot back to the room, now with a stack of paper in her hoof
  4007. >You catch up to her
  4008. "I would like to know more."
  4009. >She stops
  4010. >"More? About what exactly?"
  4011. >Uhh
  4012. "Why is the boss not here?"
  4013. >Her ears fall flat
  4014. >"I wish I knew it myself."
  4015. >She scopes you closes and whispers
  4016. >"He been behaving really weird past two days. I think something's up."
  4017. "Something like what?"
  4018. >"I... I don't know."
  4019. >You must ask -
  4020. "Did he begin to behave weird when you mentioned me?"
  4021. >Her eyes narrow
  4022. >"Uh? Why would he?"
  4023. >Maybe because he knows you're Twilight Sparkle
  4024. >Twilight Sparkle Extraordinaire
  4025. "Yeah, no..."
  4026. >Your voice waivers for a dramatic effect
  4027. "I don't know why I said that."
  4028. >She gives you a sympathetic smile
  4029. >You pull het into a short hug
  4030. >For a moment everything is perfect
  4031. >Your throat adequatly moistured as you speak
  4032. "I trust you."
  4033. >"And I trust you, you coffee addict, and yet, my guts is telling me something's wrong."
  4034. >Is it possible she knows you're not her Twilight Sparkle?
  4035. >Is it preferable?
  4036. >Heck no
  4037. "Maybe it is, but we have a job to do."
  4038. >She brushes your side with hers and you notice a brown saddlebag on you
  4039. >Was it always right there, or-
  4040. >Oh, right, the documents
  4041. >Welp
  4042. >You two get inside the room and meet the partner-trio
  4043. >The suit wearing, cheeky legal advice stallion
  4044. >The a tad older mare, with muscles toned under her coat as strong as pure steel
  4045. >The always friendly coffee dispener
  4046. >Er
  4047. >The always friendly coffee dispensing pegasi mare
  4048. >Hold on
  4049. >One of them is supposed to be the owner, or the boss, right?
  4050. >You must have coutned them wrong
  4051. >The pegasi pony's eyes shine as she speaks
  4052. >"Coffee?"
  4053. >Light Breeze shoots you a worried glance
  4054. >You got it
  4055. >You come closer to the pegasi mare and look into the cup she's holding your direction
  4056. >You look down into the cup and see the black gold
  4057. "Yes."
  4058. >An affirmative nod from you isn't what she excepted
  4059. >Weird
  4060. >You're pretty sure it's coffee, in the end
  4061. >You sir down at the table
  4062.  
  4063. >The sultry motherly mare speaks to Light Breeze
  4064. >"It doesn't look like your patron is going to make it. How about we begin?"
  4065. >You listen to her vocal vibration
  4066. >A part of your spine jingles to it
  4067. >Light Breeze does her best to look not defeated
  4068. >But you notice it
  4069. >But you're pretty noticable
  4070. >Perceptive
  4071. >Maybe they didn't-
  4072. >Yeah, they did
  4073. >All of them are smirking
  4074. >Except the Pegasi and the Stallion
  4075. >They are preoccupied the coffee in their cups
  4076. >And the Older Mare
  4077. >She dons an understanding smile and pulls out an expensive looking feather-pen out of her floof
  4078. >So they know!
  4079. >Poor Light Breeze
  4080. >You just know what to do!
  4081. "Yes. Let's proceed."
  4082. >Light Breeze jerks and jumps up on her chair in almost flooding grattitude
  4083. >Her grattitude reminds you of shock
  4084. >"Are you sure, Twilight Sparkle?"
  4085. >She asks
  4086. >The confidence hidden behind a mask of confusion
  4087. >You nod and smile to the older mare, who seems to be in charge, except of the coffee, and-
  4088. >Oh, how she smiles back
  4089. >If you weren't sitting you would definitelly sat on her-
  4090. >Hold on
  4091. >Hold on a minute
  4092. >Cold sweat under your horn
  4093. >Light tickle in your sides
  4094. >Your leg kicking under the table
  4095. >And those thoughts...
  4096. >You look down at the table in front of you
  4097. >Your partner begins to sort the papers she got from her office as you look down at the table in this indefinite break room
  4098. >There's a cup of coffee in front of you
  4099. >You didn't leave anything in it last time, now, did you?
  4100. >"It really seems like my boss couldn't did it, but I beleive he has a genuine reason for that, in the meantime, I pass you the version of the agreement with the latest fixes and once you check if they are correct to what has been previously agreed upon, please, sign them. That will be it."
  4101. >All three ponies on the opposite site takes a copy of papers
  4102. >They check them very thoughtfully
  4103. >Light Breeze doesn't
  4104. >Something isn't right
  4105. >Something isn't ok
  4106. >You look down again and you see the coffee cup is empty again
  4107.  
  4108. A - get up and open the window
  4109. B - get out and to the rest room
  4110. X - get out and take a copy of the agreement and read it
  4111. Y - get Light Breeze out of the room
  4112. YXA
  4113.  
  4114. >Buck it
  4115. >Something's crawling under your skin
  4116. >You grab Light Breeze and pick her up
  4117. >No, not really
  4118. >You grab her and pull her up
  4119. >She dons a perfectly genuine surpised and embarassed look
  4120. >Oh, she's good
  4121. >"What are you doing?!"
  4122. >She laughs
  4123. >No, she yells
  4124. >No, she chuckles nervously
  4125. >She turns to the now worriedly looking trio
  4126. >Except the stallion, he looks annoyed
  4127. >And the older mare, she looks angry
  4128. >And the pegasi mare which looks scare
  4129. >Only the coffee machine looks worried
  4130. >You wink at it
  4131. >"I-I'm sincirely sorry, I don't know what came over her. She- she isn't like-"
  4132. "Shh. Out. Now."
  4133. >The stallion stands up demanding to know what's going on
  4134. >You drag Light Breeze outside the room
  4135. >"What. Are. You. Doing."
  4136. >Light Breeze's snout is as red as your flanks could be if she kissed you just now
  4137. >Her teeth clenched and nosetrils flaring
  4138. >She lowers her head in a defensive position
  4139. >Good idea
  4140. >You do the same, watching her backs
  4141. >For reasons unknown it only angers her more as she seethes
  4142. >"You are unbelievable! I can't believe you ust turned on me! You- You!"
  4143. "Shh. Something's wrong."
  4144. >"What do you mean?!"
  4145. >You look around the corridor
  4146. >It's empty
  4147. >It's empty and purple in the morning syntethic light
  4148. >You blink the purple away
  4149. "Something's wrong means something wrong."
  4150. >You sigh
  4151. "It's hard to explain but my spider-senses are telling me to run."
  4152. >The door to the room opens!
  4153. >Between the door frames stand the outraged stallion
  4154. >"What is the meaning of this!"
  4155. >He stomps his hooves
  4156. >"Is this a prank? Do you think you can prank me?!"
  4157. "Do you?"
  4158. >His eyes fixes on you
  4159. >"You-!"
  4160. >You sneak past him inside the room
  4161. >Ha ha!
  4162. >Inside greets you a defensive standing milfy-mare
  4163. >She holds a stack of paper which you gladly take and force down the saddlebag
  4164. >You sneak back next to the suited pony, but not before stopping and opening a window inside
  4165. >In fact, all of the windows inside
  4166. >You bid farewell to the pegasi mare with a salute and evacuate back to the corridor, again
  4167.  
  4168. >"I'm really, really sorry, sir! Please, I will call my boss and let it sort through!"
  4169. >"There won't be a need for that."
  4170. >The colt glares at her as he continues
  4171. >"We can sign the deal now and part our ways."
  4172. >He points at you
  4173. >"But she has to be gone! This instant!"
  4174. >Light Breeze stops short before patting the suited shoulder as he hurriedly gets inside the coffee break room
  4175. "We should be going."
  4176. >"No! You should be going. This entire thing," she waves a hoof between herself and you, "was a mistake. I didn't know you would turn to be such a nuinsance! You weren't like that! You didn't have this nasty addition! Just go away!"
  4177. >You tap the inner yiff and yaff to pull out the aura of smugness
  4178. >And you success
  4179. >She turns her back to you and walks off
  4180. >No!
  4181. >You block her path!
  4182. "Uwuuu- wait, what is this? Don't you find it suspicious? I may have made a foal of myself in my eyes, but let's not forget who is who here-"
  4183. >"Cut this off! This is none-sense! Let me go!"
  4184. >And then the black dots in the corner of your vision align into Ursa Minor and a plasible bullshit finds it was to your mouth
  4185. "You did not read the agreement."
  4186. >"What?!"
  4187. >You repeat
  4188. >"I prepared it!"
  4189. "So? You didn't read this version. You didn't print it, now did you; you only picked it up at the office this morning. Your boss printed it, right?"
  4190. >"Yes!"
  4191. "And he printed it when exactly?"
  4192. >"What? Today? What does it have to do with anything."
  4193. "You said he wasn't at the office today."
  4194. >"Then maybe yesterday!"
  4195. "You stayed yesterday up late and your boss went to home earlier."
  4196. >She grimaces
  4197. >"You don't know that. I didn't tell you any of this."
  4198. "You stayed up late to finish this paper."
  4199. >You pull it out of the saddlebag and give it to her
  4200. "And you said the printer was broke."
  4201. >"No, I didn't."
  4202. "But you didn't print it yesterday."
  4203. >"No... are you playing a game now?"
  4204. "I don't know, are you?"
  4205.  
  4206. >She pushes past you but gets stuck in the doorframe, side to side with you
  4207. "All I'm asking you about is to read the paper. Something's wrong and I know it."
  4208. >Her swift body outmaneuver you as she gets into the room
  4209. >Her brows low, her snout wrinkled, her mane messy
  4210. >The last restort of yours is to nuzzle her neck!
  4211. >The moan of surprise!
  4212. >She leans in and then fights back with a push of her hoof, keeping you at distance
  4213. >Not before you whispered something
  4214. "If all is right, then why does he still want to talk with you?"
  4215. >Her ears flicks in confusion
  4216. >First time a different emotion that the will to spank you, you can tell
  4217. >You're Twilight Sparkle and you're quite and expert at telling when a spanking threat arises
  4218. >Uh oh
  4219. >Light Breeze was talking!
  4220. A - nod and get inside the room
  4221. B - salute and stay outside
  4222. Y - shake your head pull her out again
  4223. X - run outside into the docks while screaming
  4224. AA "AAAAAA" Y
  4225.  
  4226. >You know what to do
  4227. >You cock your head to a side and give her a dutiful nod full of purple confidence
  4228. "You can count on me."
  4229. >Your words work and bring back the smallest of smiles of grattitude to her face
  4230. >Her lips parts
  4231. >You dash forward
  4232. >Your faces miss each other by an inch or seven
  4233. >In other words, you barge into the room
  4234. >As nonchalantly as possible
  4235. >A weak whimper comes from behind you
  4236. >Did you snuggle past her?
  4237. >You don't remember
  4238. >The stallion is sitting down but the moment he sees you, he jumps up
  4239. >The guard mare positions herself between you two, while the pegasi's wings flares, obstructing the vision of the coffee machine
  4240. >You sit down at the desk and tap your hoof
  4241. >The stallion slowly raises a leg and points at you
  4242. >He yells
  4243. >"What is she doing here?!"
  4244. "She?"
  4245. >You look at now white at face Light Breeze
  4246. >She's visibly shaken by the sudden outburts
  4247. "She's taking care of your shabby business, whatever that is."
  4248. >The colt's eyes grow twice in size as if you grew another horn
  4249. >You quickly grab a copy of the documents and begin to read through them
  4250. >READ
  4251. >There's some more screaming
  4252. >"No! That's too much! I am not going to do any business with you ever again!"
  4253. >"Please, sir, this is... this is the top tier security-measures-"
  4254. >"Do you take me for a foal?!"
  4255. >He nickers
  4256. >"Fine! I will sign the papers right now."
  4257. >There's a small pause
  4258. >"But I didn't read them yet."
  4259. >"You brough them here! And you got her here, as well!"
  4260. >"I'm sorry, but I have to check if these are good."
  4261. >Silence
  4262. >You raise your head
  4263. >Light Breeze doesn't really sit next to you
  4264. >She's standing with her backs to you, while the stallion looks extremely red on face and...
  4265. >And looking at the guard mare who...
  4266. >Gives him almost imperceptible nod?
  4267. >The male's face burts into a fit of anger again and he demands
  4268. >"No! Either sign it or it's off!"
  4269. >But only after breaking the eye contact with...
  4270. >Wait, where's the pegasi mare?
  4271. >She's not there
  4272. >And the coffee machine?
  4273. >Why is it off?
  4274.  
  4275. >The tall mare turns (back?) to you
  4276. >Her eyes widen as she notices you observing her
  4277. >Your hearts beats a bit harder
  4278. A - grab a cup of coffee
  4279. B - engage the guardy milf into a stare battle
  4280. Y - be quiet and get back to reading
  4281. X - ask them what was that
  4282. BAA
  4283.  
  4284. >You stealthily look at the mare who's supposed to be the physical means of defence of this screaming colt
  4285. >She's quite a specimen, you will give her that
  4286. >Her mane simple, her muscles toned, her coat shining
  4287. >The image is finished by decorating her wrinkled snout and white as snow clenched teeth
  4288. >They must be fake, but that's not what you focus on
  4289. >You focus on the lack of snow during the winters
  4290. >Both in the canterlot and in the citadel
  4291. >There was not a single good winter in ages!
  4292. >Gib frosty pls
  4293. >The mare finally stops rippling her ripe and totally pettable snout
  4294. >That's when you attack!
  4295. >By that you mean lock your eyes with her
  4296. >Unless you have been doing that this whole time
  4297. >It's hard to say without coffee
  4298. >Coffee!
  4299. >Don't mind if you do!
  4300. >You stop whatever you're doing and head for the coffee machine
  4301. >The mare stands up as well
  4302. >Meanwhile, Light Breeze and mister suit yellscuss - it's a real word, Pinkie Pie told you - about some technical terminology
  4303. >You make coffee
  4304. >...
  4305. >You made coffee
  4306. >A cup for everypony in the room and one extra...
  4307. >Just in case?
  4308. >You place a paper cup in front of everypony's but only Light Breeze gives you a nervous but grateful nod
  4309. >Or is it a grimace?
  4310. >A grimace of not enough dirty drink
  4311. >Dirty drink!
  4312. >It's funny because it looks like- nevermind
  4313. >You return to reading the agreement papers
  4314. >It's the worst love story you've ever read
  4315. >Unless it's an adventure story
  4316. >Then it's even worse
  4317. >No plot
  4318. >Tons of contradicting terminology
  4319. >No plot twist-
  4320. >Ooo, what is this?
  4321. >In case of... of... something... the represantive of the... the side... is expected-
  4322. >Is expected!
  4323. >Aha!
  4324. >You hit the table and two empty cups in front of you fall down
  4325. >All eyes are on you
  4326. >This is your moment
  4327. "Mmm. Yeah."
  4328. >Ok, even you know it's not what you wanted to say, but your tongue feels like a carpet, and not the kind of a ponersian one, made of silk and only the strongest beans
  4329. >"As, I was saying-"
  4330. >Rude
  4331. >You push your paper to your partner and point the place
  4332.  
  4333. >Her mane falls in wet strands
  4334. >Weird, the windows are still open-
  4335. >Somepony closed them!
  4336. >Treasury!
  4337. >Treasury and treason!
  4338. >That's why it's so hot here
  4339. >Poor thing must be tired
  4340. >She did not touch her drink, too!
  4341. >You relieve her of the burden of luke-warm dirtiests of drinks
  4342. >You're Twilight Sparkle and you take burdens from friends
  4343. >Albeit, you enjoy them a tad too much?
  4344. >Nah
  4345. >Open the windows you must!
  4346. >And you do
  4347. >Once again you blink the purple peripheral vision again
  4348. >On you way back to the table you notice the pegasi mare is not there
  4349. >When did she leave?
  4350. >The stallion and your friend are now throwing their copies in the air
  4351. >The sight fills you to the brim with feeling proud
  4352. >You did it
  4353. >You landed this job
  4354. >Light Breeze stands up with tears of joy
  4355. >She opens the door causing a draft of air
  4356. >In the last moment she turns back and grabs you by a saddlebag with her teeth
  4357. >Your favourite cup falls down to the floor and shatters
  4358. >Whoa
  4359. >Hold on
  4360. >Since when you have such a cool saddle bag?
  4361. A - let her lead you out...
  4362. B - lead her out yourself! ha!
  4363. Y - congratulat her~
  4364. X - thank the ponies for a drink.
  4365. XXAY
  4366.  
  4367. >The door are left open behind you
  4368. >To leave like that would be really rude
  4369. >You put a hoof on Light Breeze's shoulder and stop walking
  4370. >She quickly reacts by doing alike, but not let go of the bag
  4371. >That's not a problem
  4372. >You masterfully maneuver around and face the door
  4373. >With a step forward your head gets into the purple room again
  4374. >You bow your head and thank them for a treat
  4375. "So long, and thanks for all the beans!"
  4376. >For reasons unknown your pony companion groans
  4377. >Probably because she did not think of this herself
  4378. >Yet again, she did not treat herself to the dirtiest of dirts as much as you
  4379. >You had, like, a really big cup of it
  4380. >Maybe two
  4381. >You're walking!
  4382. >Wow!
  4383. >Oh, right!
  4384. >She pulls you towards the elevators
  4385. >You quietly comply
  4386. >Didn't you help her enough?
  4387. >Must you lead her out?
  4388. >No, she's a friend
  4389. >Let her work for her crebits-worth
  4390. >You smile as the purple taste like purberrier
  4391. >Whatever their shapes are
  4392. >She lets go of you inside the elevator
  4393. >The ride down provides some good earie tune
  4394. >"What are you doing?"
  4395. >You boop her
  4396. "Good job, mare!"
  4397. >Her ears lay flat back
  4398. >Together with a shyly raised leg it does not add up to a picture of business confidence you had in your head
  4399. >But again, what do you really know about business studies?
  4400. "No, seriously. You did your best. It looked tough, that stallion, that cookie."
  4401. >"Are you aware we did not sign the agreement?"
  4402. >Agreement?
  4403. >Her eyes are very, very big, and very, very worried, as she gets in your face
  4404. >"Do you know where we are?"
  4405. "In a... lift?"
  4406. >She doesn't narrow her eyes, nor burts into flames
  4407. "I mean, the music's nice."
  4408. >"What. Music?"
  4409. >What music?
  4410. >What kind of a question is this-
  4411. >You raise a hoof above your head to point at the ceiling
  4412. >Something's wrong
  4413. >Not the purple vision, this time
  4414. >Only the elevator engine can be heard
  4415. >The music turned off
  4416. >"You were humming."
  4417. >What
  4418. >The door opens
  4419. >Were you really...
  4420. >Both of you exit the building as you ponder about the perfect cadence
  4421. >No! Not about that!
  4422.  
  4423. >"Listen."
  4424. >Uh oh
  4425. >"What you did here was... unprofessional. I was about to say unpardonable."
  4426. >A shiver runs up an down her lithe body
  4427. >When did you hug her?
  4428. >"But you were right."
  4429. >You were?
  4430. >"There was something wrong- no, not wrong- something not right with the agreement form we came with today. I don't know how did you sense that, or did you at all, you narkos, but I behave unprofessional, too. I should have read it before coming here. Anything that happened here is as much yours vault... as mine."
  4431. >She begins to tremble
  4432. >That ruins your chakras, mare
  4433. A - console her
  4434. B - agree with her
  4435. Y - ask what does she mean
  4436. X - stay silent
  4437. AYYB
  4438.  
  4439. >You fight the sudden urge to hug her
  4440. >She's a good pony, that's a fact, and the purple is mostly out of your vision, but you're hugging her already
  4441. >To hug her again to unhug her first is essentially required
  4442. >You are Twilight Sparkle
  4443. >And you won't unhug a pony
  4444. >So instead you speak, still holding her by the withers
  4445. "What do you mean?"
  4446. >It's super effective!
  4447. >The tears forming in the corners of her eyes get blinked away
  4448. >"What do you mean?"
  4449. >You give her a scrutinising look
  4450. "No, don't ask me that, what do you mean?"
  4451. >The hug breaks as she take a step to the side and walks alongside the dock line
  4452. >You stay there for a heartbeat, then catch up to her
  4453. >She doesn't look at you, focusing at the water, about six feet lower than her
  4454. >The artificial lake shines with lamp lights
  4455. >Not every place under the canterlot dome had access to the sun pattern
  4456. >This was a place like that, and only now you realzie this, when the upper parts of the city turns to post-morning yellow, and the harbour stays burnt-out orange
  4457. "Ok, listen."
  4458. >You break the silence before the purple comes back
  4459. >None of you stop the trek
  4460. >Her ears splay down on her scalp and her posture deepens
  4461. >Each of her step seems harder
  4462. "I know you bucked it up."
  4463. >She stops
  4464. "But maybe that's for the better?"
  4465. >So do you
  4466. >It's a good time to pull her for a hug, buy...
  4467. >Ok, well, this time she pulling her upper lip and baring he teeth
  4468. >You turn to the tile of water instead
  4469. >Avoiding touching an angry pony
  4470. >You're purple enough, thank you
  4471. "You said there was something wrong with the papers? Right?"
  4472. >She visibly relaxes
  4473. >The tension in her joints release
  4474. >You think
  4475. >You don't dare to look at her
  4476. >"Yes."
  4477. >Only the distant gust of wind moves some paper trash on the ground as you stay there in silence
  4478. "And?"
  4479. >You cough into your hoof
  4480. >She sighs and eventually turns from you to the lake
  4481. >"I am not sure, but this wasn't what I prepared. This isn't what was supposed to be printed. When I told this to that contractor... he exploded."
  4482.  
  4483. >Not sure what to say, you say nothing
  4484. >You're rewarded with her continuing
  4485. >"I don't know how could it happen. How the boss could print the wrong paper. That's not his style. This never happened before."
  4486. "Do you... um, know her a long time?"
  4487. >She chuckles
  4488. >"He."
  4489. >Or, right
  4490. "Do-"
  4491. >"Once again, it depends."
  4492. >She shifts and sits on the concrete road
  4493. >Her hooves dangle above the edge of water
  4494. >You make sure she sees you raining a hoof and gently placing it on her withers
  4495. >She does not shy away or tell you to buck yourself
  4496. >That's something
  4497. >Wait, why is that something?
  4498. >Lighy Breeze finally looks up at you, breaking the spell of, well, not looking at you
  4499. >Gloomy mare
  4500. >"How did you know something was up with the agreement?"
  4501. >You did?
  4502. >"You didn't read it."
  4503. >She traces a cirle in the air
  4504. >"I know you didn't read it, atop of, you know, being high on octaine."
  4505. "I..."
  4506. >You what, Twilight Sparkle?
  4507. "I don't know. I would call it intuition."
  4508. >"An intuition of a drunken mare."
  4509. "Hey! I didn't see purple in the last seven minutes! Five if we do count the last time, though."
  4510. >"Hah! That's you. That's just you."
  4511. >She places a leg on your withers
  4512. >Now you must look like some soon-to-be-wet pony spaghetti
  4513. >Ha ha
  4514. >No, but seriously, for a moment you feared she will throw you into water
  4515. >And you can't swim
  4516. >"I will have to report the failure."
  4517. >Oh, she's talking!
  4518. >"I may get some answers, too."
  4519. "Answers?"
  4520. >"Listen, I never before was tasked with such a big task. It was simply being a signature on it, but since the boss did not show up, all the liability would fall onto me."
  4521. >You're not sure the law works like that
  4522. >"At least that's what I understood from this version of text. Which I did not write, nor authorise to write anypony else. It smells like a fish."
  4523. >You sniffle
  4524. >Nothing stinks here
  4525. "You're aware there's not a single fish in this lake, right?"
  4526. >She punches you in the side!
  4527. >Ow!
  4528. >"But there can be a pony in it."
  4529. >GAh!
  4530. >Betrayal!
  4531. >She pushes you- and catches you!
  4532.  
  4533. >You scram to your legs!
  4534. >She's laughing, but follows
  4535. >"Relax, if I wanted to make you pay for that stunt you did I would just tell you."
  4536. "That's mighty fine, thank you."
  4537. >"Besides, if I were to throw you in, you would be already moistened."
  4538. "Yeah, there's no chance you would get me wet with that attitude."
  4539. >Her eyes snap open and she laughs
  4540. >That's a good sign, right?
  4541. >You laugh, too
  4542. >With closed eyes
  4543. >To avoid the purple mist creeping from between dock buildings
  4544. >The two of you go closer to the entrance to the district
  4545. "So... there's no chance we're paid for that?"
  4546. >"Oh, I am getting paid for that."
  4547. >What
  4548. >"Even if it's my last day at the job."
  4549. >How?
  4550. >She reads from your face
  4551. >"I'm salaried."
  4552. "Whaa. And I'm not?"
  4553. >"We didn't even sign a contract yet."
  4554. "But I'm your muscle!"
  4555. >"Yes, and a very flexing one."
  4556. >You plead with puppy eyes
  4557. >"Nope."
  4558. >Darnit
  4559. >It's before noon and you need a plan
  4560. A - go with her
  4561. B - stick around the docs
  4562. Y - go to the motel to take some rest
  4563. X - go to : 1 - the hive, 2 - the mane, 3 - the barn, 4 - gun shop, 5 - pharmacy store, 6 - tech-medic, 7 - library, 8 - spike's den, 9 - your last apartment
  4564. AAXX88
  4565.  
  4566. >You finally reach the big entrance to the docks
  4567. >And you don't even feel pain in your hoof!
  4568. >But, seriously, the entrance has a neon above it!
  4569. >How weird
  4570. >On the positive note, Light Breeze's step is faster now, more bounciful
  4571. >You hope she will get better
  4572. >Maybe you should go with her?
  4573. "Listen... where are you going to go?"
  4574. >"I told you I think about going to the office, but I guess, you have the grounds to think I changed my mind."
  4575. "Yeah, totally."
  4576. >She looks down at her hooves
  4577. >"Maybe I should take a day off. Maybe I am not fired. Maybe..."
  4578. "That's a lot of maybies."
  4579. >She stands up, puffing her chest out
  4580. >"And you? What would you do?"
  4581. "I would either go with you"
  4582. >Her face brightends up at that
  4583. >No chance for her to continue the thought
  4584. "Or make you go with me."
  4585. >"And where are you going?"
  4586. "To meet an old friend."
  4587. >It happens naturally
  4588. >You walk in the general direction of Spike's den
  4589. >She goes with you
  4590. >Oh!
  4591. >Somepony pulls a cart like crazy past you!
  4592. >You jumped off the street and onto pavement
  4593. >What were you doing on the street you don't know
  4594. >"So... how well do you know her?"
  4595. "Him."
  4596. >It causes her to giggle
  4597. "He's my second oldest friend."
  4598. >Her ears perk up
  4599. >"Who's the first?"
  4600. "My brother."
  4601. >"You have a brother?!"
  4602. >You sigh
  4603. "Yes, but... I didn't see him in quite a long time."
  4604. >"Why?"
  4605. >You put a hoof to your horn
  4606. >And stop walking
  4607. "I don't... know."
  4608. >Light Breeze rubs your side with her own
  4609. >S-soft!
  4610. "H-hey! Cut it out!"
  4611. >"Heh, sorry. I thought you liked to be a little softie, now that you're down, after the caffeine high. Seriously, though, I never seen anypony behave like that after so much coffee. Are you sure you feel better?"
  4612. "Better than before for sure. I wouldn't worry about it, though."
  4613. >She doesn't give up!
  4614. >"Alright, I give up."
  4615. >Oh
  4616. >"You should have it checked, though. I kind of suspected you of mixing substances."
  4617. "Hey!"
  4618. >With that you trot
  4619. >She tails
  4620.  
  4621. >"I know, I know. You were there, though. You made me fear the drink they offered was spiked and that you met me already oiled, or you mixed something with... some drugs, or something."
  4622. >After that you walk on for a moment
  4623. >The buildings gets taller and cleanier
  4624. >More glass than cement, it seems you will go through the office district
  4625. >"How comes you remember?"
  4626. "What?"
  4627. >"How comes you remember your brother and that other friend?"
  4628. >You look at her and she looks genuinely curious
  4629. "I don't understand?"
  4630. >"Huh. Each time we meet you don't seem to-"
  4631. >Oh!
  4632. "The memory wipes? They are..."
  4633. >buck!
  4634. "... selective."
  4635. >Her worried smile doesn't turn upside down
  4636. "Or they are not as deep as they are claimed to be."
  4637. >You're good
  4638. >She's nodding
  4639. >"Or maybe you build up natural resistance against them?
  4640. >You give her a snort
  4641. "Now, that's a sack of rusty horseshite."
  4642. >"I just hoped there's a chance you won't forget me next time."
  4643. "Ok, that was unexpected."
  4644. >"What?"
  4645. "What?"
  4646. >"You said it was unexpected?"
  4647. "I said that?"
  4648. >"Uhm."
  4649. >...
  4650. "Sorry, though aloud, and that's very sweet."
  4651. >Crisis averted
  4652. >"You saying that was unexpected."
  4653. >She gasps!
  4654. >"How about you tell me something that only your friend would know?"
  4655. >You're about to ask for what purpose but you're Twilight Sparkle
  4656. >But should you?
  4657. >You observe her
  4658. >Gleeful
  4659. >That's the word to describe her current state
  4660. >Other than other words capable of doing that
  4661. >Less lucky words in the grand scheme of your internal monologue
  4662. >"Hey! Stop doing that!"
  4663. "Oops."
  4664. >"Well, tell me your secrets!"
  4665. >Uh oh
  4666. A - tell her about the Twilight Sparkle Citadel
  4667. B - tell her about being seeked after
  4668. Y - tell her about that one time at the gay game looping gaia
  4669. X - tell her nothing
  4670. YYBB
  4671.  
  4672. >You won't lie
  4673. >Telling this makes you kinda nervous
  4674. >Oh, wait
  4675. >You stop and pull her into some unhabitated dark-alley between buildings
  4676. >They are very convinient and she yelped non commitable
  4677. "You want to know... I'm really seeked after."
  4678. >The sparkles in her eyes don't really dim as she cocks her head
  4679. >"What do you mean?"
  4680. >Well, perfect
  4681. >She's a dummy now
  4682. >She is a gasping dummy, now!
  4683. >"Do you mean-" her voice shushed "- the police is after you?"
  4684. "What? No!"
  4685. >You put a hoof on her withers
  4686. >She's all tense!
  4687. >"But you're not trying to tell me you're such a professionalist that big buck companies seek your help. I know you're a field operator-"
  4688. >No, you're not
  4689. >-but I also know where you live."
  4690. >Her ears fall down as she realizes what she says
  4691. >"That's not what I meant to say. I just... it feels as if you're joking. No offence."
  4692. "None taken."
  4693. >Your hoof traces circles on her perfectly soft coat
  4694. >Hmm, you don't know for whom the police force works here
  4695. >You never had any bad encounter with them
  4696. "Who's in the charge of the judicial system here?"
  4697. >Ok
  4698. >That earns you a look as if you got a pair of wings
  4699. >"The... state?"
  4700. >Nod, Twilight Sparkle, nod and smile
  4701. "What I'm trying to say, I have no problems with the law. I have a problem with a past employer. Probably like you."
  4702. >You are Twilight Sparkle and you mare-fully flipped the metaphorical cat
  4703. >Now she's worried about her own being more than to ask you for more!
  4704. >"More."
  4705. >Hwat?
  4706. >"I want to know more. Who's after you? Who you work for-"
  4707. "No."
  4708. >You can't tell her these
  4709. >You specifically chose not to mention the citadel and their twilight sparkle goons
  4710. >Whoa!
  4711. >She shakes your leg off of her and places hers on your back as she pulls close and-
  4712. >And exhale the hot air right into your nose!
  4713. >You can't help but take a lung-full of this sweet-smelly, oxygen-deprived, hormone-full breath of air of glim and glam!
  4714. >You push her back, but the damage's done
  4715. >She won
  4716. >You whine in pleasure
  4717. >Celestia damn her!
  4718.  
  4719. >"I want to help you, like you help me each time we meet!"
  4720. >Who's shaking
  4721. >You're shaking
  4722. "If ruining that business of yours can be considered helping."
  4723. >"It was my mistake I did not double checked! I almost signed it, too. I would be responsible finantially for any discrepancy between the legal and factual state-"
  4724. >Maybe...
  4725. "So you suspect your boss of setting you up?"
  4726. >"We're not talking about me right now! We're talking about you. About us, mare."
  4727. >You nicker
  4728. >Oh, why must your purple turn to red so willingly!
  4729. "What do you want from me?"
  4730. >"What?"
  4731. >She's next to you
  4732. >Did she not hear that?
  4733. "What do you want from me?"
  4734. >This time you speak out loud
  4735. >Her nosetrils flare
  4736. >No, not the air!
  4737. >"I want to know."
  4738. "Everything?"
  4739. >The fire in her eyes suddenly subdues
  4740. >She blinks and looks at you as if for the first time
  4741. >"That wouldn't hurt, but- whoa!"
  4742. >Your hind legs give up!
  4743. >Your pretty purple pony flank plops on the concrete with a loud pomf
  4744. >Light Breeze steps in
  4745. >You keep her at a full hoof distance
  4746. >You don't need help
  4747. >You need air
  4748. >"Hey, what are you going to do on the b-"
  4749. "Alright. I will tell you more."
  4750. >That stops her more effectively than your quivering leg
  4751. >She waits
  4752. >You stand up
  4753. >You can't look her in the eyes
  4754. >She feels it, and shifts her legs
  4755. "I... I didn't tell anypony, but I went once to..."
  4756. >The earth mare leans forward
  4757. >Now is not the time to re-evaluate her usefullness
  4758. "I went to the gay game looping gaia."
  4759. >She doesn't react
  4760. "Once."
  4761. >She gasps!
  4762. >And you can't help but notice how cute she's when her mouth opens so... roundly, and her eyes are also... round-
  4763. >Crabs!
  4764. >You turn to the side and take couple quick breathes
  4765. >It fills your head with dizziness
  4766. >"Hey! Hold on. That means nothing."
  4767. >You should get an uncle's oscard for the act you're pulling out
  4768. >"No, seriously. What's so shocking about it? Where's the secret?"
  4769. "There is no secret."
  4770. >Her eyes as narrow as your chances to not split the bills on a first date-
  4771.  
  4772. "I wasn't lying. I went only once."
  4773. >Even you feel as if this explanation lacked the logical conclusion
  4774. >And you're currently seeing the black swirling holes which run away whenever you locate them
  4775. >At least they are not purple
  4776. >Purple dots would run after you
  4777. >"What are you giggling at?"
  4778. >Uh oh
  4779. "I keep telling ponies that I've never been there."
  4780. >A raised eyebrow is all your reward
  4781. >Right now you would prefer to be paid in giggles
  4782. "The people I work with think I went to the gay game looping gaia countless times. I didn't. Not my kind of thing."
  4783. >The making of connection between your poorly drawn dots makes it worthwile to look her straight in the eye
  4784. >You don't neigh
  4785. >You don't beath
  4786. >That do the trick
  4787. >"I'm sorry about this."
  4788. >You laugh
  4789. >Sweet Luna, why do you laugh
  4790. "No biggie. I guess I owed you one. Ha, haha."
  4791. >Her smile may be troubled, but it's a genuine trouble, a good honest troubl-
  4792. >Light Breeze calls to you from the entrance to the backalley
  4793. >When did she get so quickly, so far?
  4794. >"Shall we?"
  4795. "Take me."
  4796. >...
  4797. >"What did you say? Sorry, didn't make it out."
  4798. >You gallop and halt with a screetch in front of her
  4799. >Your heart is racing, almost palpitating, but that's good
  4800. >You don't know why exactly, but this is the version you'll stick with
  4801. "Take me."
  4802. >What in the celestia's school for giften unicorns Sparkle?!
  4803. >"Oh, you mean, um, you want to come-"
  4804. >No!
  4805. >This is not you speaking!
  4806. >"- to visit my boss? Weren't we supposed to see your friend?"
  4807. >This can be saved!
  4808. >You can save your face!
  4809. >Yes, you can!
  4810. A - let her take you... to her boss
  4811. B - take her... to Spike's - or any on the list under
  4812. Y - part your ways... for now
  4813. X - FREESPACE - go to : 1 - the hive, 2 - the mane, 3 - the barn, 4 - gun shop, 5 - pharmacy store, 6 - tech-medic, 7 - library, 8 - spike's den, 9 - your last apartment
  4814. AA8Z
  4815.  
  4816. "Yes, we were, we can de-tour. It's not that we're in any hurry."
  4817. >You pat her between the shoulder blades
  4818. "I mean, we're both unemployed."
  4819. >Her smile is small, but genuine
  4820. >Then her eyes snaps open
  4821. >"What do you mean both of us? Aren't you employed in that corpo?"
  4822. >Uh oh
  4823. "The one?"
  4824. >She confirms with a vague form of a nod
  4825. >You sigh and wave to go faster
  4826. "Let's just say, they decided to get under my flanks before I bucked them in the methaphorical corpo-teeth."
  4827. >You cross a street and stop under a sign
  4828. >It's middle of the day, and the streets of the neightto are filled with ponies looking as busy as poor
  4829. >Almost everypony's naked
  4830. >Not that it means anything
  4831. >"But why did tell me the secrets if you aren't going to get a braindance?"
  4832. "Well..."
  4833. >Let's not hurt her feelings Twilight Sparkle
  4834. >Let's not
  4835. "... You didn't ask."
  4836. >Ok
  4837. >Her face hoof was a loud one and ponies stared, but she's laughing now
  4838. >Unless mad cackling doesn't count
  4839. >She raises a hoof in a quiet question
  4840. >Your eyes trace the line of sight where she's pointing to
  4841. >It's a chariot road mark
  4842. >Left to the office district
  4843. >Forward to the apartments
  4844. >'apartments' your flanks
  4845. >Real life happens in the Upper Canterlot
  4846. >But there's more Twilight Sparkle Citadel agents
  4847. >It's safer to stay here
  4848. >Not that you have any choice without a Canterlot pass
  4849. >Eh
  4850. >You smile to your palpably uplifted friend and head left
  4851. >Your hind hoof begin to sting, but it's more managable
  4852. >...
  4853. >It took you only half an hour to get there, and two ponies who did walk on the wrong side on the pavement and got scared
  4854. >Not by you
  4855. >By some ethereal purple mist in your vision
  4856. >You get close to the glassy-office building where Light Breeze's office is located
  4857. >"What's up with your coffee addiction?"
  4858. "I am not addicted to coffee."
  4859. >That's true, you're not
  4860. >"Then why did you react like that?"
  4861. "I would like to know myself."
  4862. >She friendly bumps you with her barrel
  4863. >"Would be a good idea to get tested, or at least ask a doc."
  4864.  
  4865. >Not a bad idea
  4866. "I will, once I get enough money to pay one."
  4867. >You bump back and she snickers
  4868. >Finally, you stop before the entrance
  4869. >"Do you really want to come?"
  4870. >You toss a longing look to the parking lot, now filled with charriots and other devices, and one, metal cucumber of a food stand from before
  4871. A - go with her into the office
  4872. B - go with her but wait on the floor
  4873. Y - wait here
  4874. X - wait at the parking lot
  4875. AAAA
  4876.  
  4877. >You smile
  4878. >The two of you enter the building without any problem of sorts
  4879. >The elevator stops at the seventh floor with a jingle and only now you notice the building has 13 floors, not 8 as you previously thought
  4880. >You reach the office's door in no time
  4881. >In fact, you lead the way, as you remember where to go
  4882. >You're Twilight Sparkle, natural office crawler
  4883. >You let Light Breeze to enter first
  4884. >It would be otherwise odd
  4885. >You get into the small space and see...
  4886. >That nothing changed since this morning
  4887. >"That's weird."
  4888. >Your companion get's to looking for anypony, and then through her ponystation
  4889. >You opt to be satisfied with walkign aimlessly between three, currently unoccuptied work-tables, each with its own hoofputer, a phone, and at least two stacks of prints
  4890. >With a quick glance you judge them waste paper
  4891. >But you can't find-
  4892. "Hey, do you know where's the printer?"
  4893. >"What?"
  4894. >You trot between the tall cubit's walls made of material that, as if intently, tries to hide it's made of anti-magic carton
  4895. >Expensive stuff
  4896. >You poke it with your hoof
  4897. >Not sure what you expect but nothing happens
  4898. >Then you try with your horn-
  4899. >Oops
  4900. >A hole is left where you pushed
  4901. >It's a really thin wall, alright
  4902. >Better say it was in this state when you arrived
  4903. >"What did you want?"
  4904. >You realize you're not here alone and join her at her station
  4905. "I couldn't find the printer."
  4906. >Her ears flicker as she process this
  4907. >"It's in the boss's room. Only he can use it."
  4908. "Why?"
  4909. >"I don't know? It's probably expensive."
  4910. >You look back at the piles of agreements and disagreements.
  4911. "Sure. Where's his office?"
  4912. >"Oh, just behind this wall here."
  4913. >You maneuver around the last piece of carton-wall and meet snout-to-knob with a door
  4914. >The door are painted white, but they are not made of the enchanted carton, just wood
  4915. >They look solid and expensive
  4916. >There's a key hole, though
  4917. >Through which you can't see anything
  4918. >"Hey? You're not planning to break through, are you?"
  4919.  
  4920. >You turn to your friend
  4921. "I don't know, are you?"
  4922. >"What? No! Why would we?"
  4923. >She waves you to her computer screen and point at things too small to read
  4924. >"We have here everything I wanted."
  4925. >Her smile's a sad one, if you ever seen one
  4926. >Which you did
  4927. >"You were right. I wasn't sure, but the papers we carried to get signed today were not the last version of what I wrote."
  4928. >You hmm and uhum
  4929. >"The job took some time to prepare and I didn't remember each point of it by heart, and even if it were a fresh case, then for what purpose?"
  4930. "What are you trying to tell me? I sense some tension and opposite signals."
  4931. >She turns the machine off and faces you
  4932. >"It was a set-up job. I was supposed to be a co-signer, not a guarantor of payments. These are just tiny changes, but-"
  4933. "But they means a lot of a difference. I don't know detail, but I know the modus operandi."
  4934. >Her head lands on your neck as you get employed as a not-only-moral-support
  4935. "The seller was probably set up, too."
  4936. >She whinnies
  4937. >"Which would explain why was he so... forgiving to your antics."
  4938. >Light Breeze releases you and packs couple personal things into her brown saddlebag
  4939. "Don't you want to get more answers?"
  4940. >She looks at you briefly, but the question dies in her open mouth as you point your head towards the boss's door
  4941. >"Um, I..."
  4942. A - persuade her try to break in to get some dirt(in self-defence)
  4943. B - pry to break in to get revenge(or something)
  4944. Y - let her pack things up and leave
  4945. X - ask her waht she thinks
  4946. A
  4947.  
  4948. "I'm not gonna to persuade you into breaking in."
  4949. >You attempt to persuade her into breaking in
  4950. "But I don't see here any camera."
  4951. >Your companion shuffles her legs
  4952. >"I don't know. I've never... It's not my style. Not even in revenge."
  4953. >She looks to a wall of windows
  4954. >Completely obstructed from where you're standing
  4955. >Little rays of sunshine add a sparkling effect to her blue coat and already yellowish mane
  4956. >You're Twilight Sparkle
  4957. >And she's pretty
  4958. >Both things are not connected
  4959. >But you want to help her
  4960. "Listen, I've been doing this for a long, long time. Longer than I can remember."
  4961. >You point menacingly at the door
  4962. >Her ears raise and turn to you, but she's still looking away
  4963. >"Because you get your memory wiped."
  4964. "Because I get my- what? Ah. Right."
  4965. >Damnit
  4966. >Another Twilight Sparkle's excuse has run up to you
  4967. >The Citadel got you again
  4968. >Again!
  4969. "Again."
  4970. >The mare eventually comes closer to you and touches the hard wood the door's made of
  4971. >"You know what? It always surprises me that you forget about forgeting."
  4972. >This subject is not a pleasant one and she senses it
  4973. >"I'm really worried. You should get tested."
  4974. >For being awesomen?
  4975. >"No, for any lasting brain damage."
  4976. >You double take before you know it
  4977. "You what?"
  4978. >She pulls a bit closer
  4979. >In a quick inspection her eyes narrow
  4980. >"You're... not aware that..."
  4981. >This doesn't look good
  4982. "Not aware that what?"
  4983. >"That you said that?"
  4984. >Not good at all
  4985. "Said what?"
  4986. >"About testing yourself for-"
  4987. >for awesomeness
  4988. >Your head spins
  4989. >But doesn't fall
  4990. >Her legs grab you before you can fall
  4991. >"C'mon."
  4992. >She pulls you up and place one of your front apendages on her barrel
  4993. >"You need to rest. Let's get home."
  4994. >...
  4995. >You realize where you are outside of the office, on the way to the elevator
  4996. >And you remember what happened
  4997. >She doesn't say anything but the muscles under her skin feels arched
  4998. >You are not in need of being mare-handled, yet you doubt she will allow you to walk alone
  4999. "I'm fine."
  5000. >She tenses, but before she can grab you-
  5001.  
  5002. "Thanks."
  5003. >You don't take your leg away, allowing her to help
  5004. >That's the least you can do
  5005. >After lying to her about being her Twilight Sparkle
  5006. >Or one of hers Twilight Sparkles
  5007. >Heh
  5008. >Now you are one of her Twilight Sparkles
  5009. >And you really, really hope you're thinking this
  5010. >...
  5011. >At the elevator she calls it but it doesn't come
  5012. >You wait there for a moment
  5013. >Feeling a bit uneasy
  5014. >Not really ashamed
  5015. >You're Twilight Sparkle
  5016. >You had worse breakdowns than... a shutdown?
  5017. >Whatever
  5018. >"It's weird."
  5019. >Your ears perk up
  5020. >"The elevator doesn't work?"
  5021. >You look up and see the digital display being turned out
  5022. >A quicky search left and right through the corridor proves that no-pony's here
  5023. >The hairs on your back raise
  5024. "Was it always that quiet there?"
  5025. >"What? Yes, I guess."
  5026. >Something's fishy or else you're paranoid
  5027. >She must sense the edge in your voice and that pushes her to continue
  5028. >"Most of the companies here work at night, so it's not a big worry."
  5029. >And yet you worry
  5030. >"You fine?"
  5031. >Her blue eyes are wells of concern
  5032. >You decide hug her a bit closer
  5033. >She smells like sea foam
  5034. "Never better."
  5035. >Distant ringing in your ear heralds troubles
  5036. A - wait for the elevator to turn on
  5037. B - go down by the stairs
  5038. Y - go up by the stairs
  5039. X - [none]
  5040. "X - chew hear ear" twice
  5041.  
  5042. >Troubles?
  5043. >Troubles are your middle name
  5044. >Twilight Middle Name Sparkle
  5045. >You notice Light Breeze is carefully observing you, which is a feat, considering you half-lay on her back half not
  5046. >She's about to ask about your well being
  5047. >You just know
  5048. >You must teach her to care about her own well being
  5049. >You move forward and your under-jaw snuggles the side of her head as her earlobe finds its way in between your teeth
  5050. >You nom the hostage
  5051. >The mare doesn;t seem to register it instantly
  5052. >Neither do you
  5053. >An intense shiver runs through her body
  5054. >She shakes you off, freezing the ear-hostage
  5055. >Light Breeze wobbles a step away from you
  5056. >Her eyes are wide open
  5057. >Her snout crimson red
  5058. >Her ear nommed
  5059. >You've won
  5060. >But what did you win?
  5061. >"W-what was that supposed to be?!"
  5062. >Ok
  5063. >You don't get it
  5064. >She clearly wanted that
  5065. "You looked like you needed that."
  5066. >Hot steam of exits her snout as she snorts and kicks the floor
  5067. >"Why would you think that?"
  5068. >Only now you notice her voice being pitched higher than before, and shaky
  5069. >You probably did something bad
  5070. >But what
  5071. >What would Rarity do?
  5072. "Darling, I got the signals wrong."
  5073. >You take a step forward and she tenses as you raise a leg to touch her side
  5074. >That's a clear indicator of fear...
  5075. >So you put your leg on your chest and lower your head in submission
  5076. "I don't know what overtook me. I just looked into your eyes and..."
  5077. >You break the eyecontact
  5078. >"Yes, yes you did."
  5079. >Bingo
  5080. >She isn't screaming
  5081. >You look back and her eye's are taxing your face
  5082. >Looking for something that's not there - you know it's not there wahtever it is, you took a good shower not so long ago
  5083. >Silly pony
  5084. >"Do you still feel sick?"
  5085. >Oh?
  5086. >What should you say?
  5087. "Only sick hot."
  5088. >A wave of cold sweat damps you as what you said sinks in
  5089. >Why did you say this?!
  5090. >What will she think of you?!
  5091. >Why did you thinkg nomming her ear was a good idea?!
  5092.  
  5093. >These and many more questions answered themselves as the elevator hummed back to live
  5094. >This small distraction was enough to stop kicking yourself over this
  5095. "I'm sorry."
  5096. >"I know."
  5097. >She doesn't look at you
  5098. >The elevator opens empty and she gets in first
  5099. >You go down
  5100. "I didn't want to-"
  5101. >"I get it."
  5102. >You're doomed
  5103. >She gets out of the building first, and to your surprise waits for you at the open door
  5104. >You keep a hoof distance
  5105. >"Don't..."
  5106. >Talk to me ever again?
  5107. >"... mope. What happened happened and I know you didn't mean this. I was just... shocked."
  5108. >You dare to look her shining, dreamy eyes
  5109. >"I should have known your training can kick in when you feel sick. It was just... collateral damage. I don't hold a grudge."
  5110. >She says so and pulls out of a hoof, which you gently shake
  5111. >Then she adds
  5112. >"You don't feel unable to walk, do you? I don't feel like risking more of that in pu-"
  5113. >A cart pulled by two stallions came to a screeching halt, and as quckly a mare jumped out of it
  5114. >The mare is of deep brown colour with lighter mane and she stands on the concrete pavement looking at you with a bewildered expression
  5115. >You ignore her, as she obviously want to get past you
  5116. "At least that ominous premotion from before is gone."
  5117. >You say as you get out of the door
  5118. >Light Breeze's hoof points at your mouth
  5119. >"Hey, don't try to prove me right, or else it will look as if you did... that, just to mess with me!"
  5120. >You chuckle and she joins you in the trek
  5121. "Once again, mea culpa."
  5122. >"You!"
  5123. >Your ears stand up and turn back faster than your head
  5124. >Light Breeze almost jumps out of her skin at that
  5125. >You look back at the browny mare and two surprised stallions
  5126. >"You!"
  5127. >She reapets herself and takes a step your way
  5128. >This cannot be good
  5129. >"But that's just impossible!"
  5130. "Scram!"
  5131. >You yell and gallop forward
  5132. >More screaming ensues
  5133. >Not long later Light Breeze catches up to you
  5134. >"What was that?!"
  5135. "I don't know!"
  5136. >"Then why are we running?!"
  5137. "I don't want to nom anypony today! You were enough!"
  5138.  
  5139. >Couple passer-bys heard your exchange and gasped
  5140. >A baby begins to cry as a troubled mother puts her hooves on her ears
  5141. >Maybe it's exhausion, but after couple of blocks and red-lights crossed you begin to laugh
  5142. >Light Breeze seems unfazed, her superior earth pony endurance barely kicking next gear
  5143. >Eventually the pace slows down and your breaths becomes shallow
  5144. >"Are you sure you don't know what she could want from you?"
  5145. >Should you tell her there is a small tiny littlest possibility that brown-brown mare had a history with a different Twilight Sparle or maybe just came back from a meeting with one, no matter how low the chance for that was in the lower canterlot?
  5146. >You doubt so
  5147. >In the answer you snap with your teeth at the air
  5148. >Your companion visibly tenses
  5149. >And laughs shortly
  5150. >Her eyes kind of unfocused and her breathing heavy
  5151. >The running must have took a toll on her, too
  5152. "You still good to come-"
  5153. >"Huh?"
  5154. >Her thought train derailed
  5155. "To come to my friend?"
  5156. >She blinks twice
  5157. >"Yeah. If you feel so."
  5158. "Great."
  5159. >You look around unsure where you are and how to go to Spike's Den from here
  5160. >It's a small business district with shops at the lowest level and at least six stores of living quarters
  5161. >You think the Hive's nearby
  5162. >You could visit a doc as she said, or it could wait until you are alone
  5163. >It would be a pickle rich if the doc revealed your memory's fine in front of Light Breeze
  5164. A - go the shortest way possible and through the Diamond Dong alley (to get there fast and furrious)
  5165. B - go through the official district entrance (to get there on your own pace and relaxed)
  5166. Y - go to visit the doctor-next-door to the Hive
  5167. X - [real free estate]
  5168. AAA
  5169.  
  5170. >You pick up a pace and your hind hoof reminded of itself
  5171. >It stings, just not much
  5172. >Thankfully, because that's what you want, Light Breeze follows you through the shortest path you know
  5173. >...
  5174. >You get into the infamous alley where you've met the Diamond Dongs before
  5175. >It's pristine, shit-less, with exception of paper loitered around the place
  5176. >The complex of tall buildings before you looks somewhat shorter in the tall sun
  5177. >It always made you wonder why, but never had any time to ponder this through
  5178. >The last half a hear was harsh and Spike couldn't explain this to you
  5179. >Not that he could
  5180. >You find the back entrance to the complex and enter the first building right from the bat
  5181. >"Is this friends of yours a one-team type pony?"
  5182. >Heh
  5183. "More like a duet-guy."
  5184. >"Oh. So he's a stallion? How comes you never before mentioned him?"
  5185. >HEH
  5186. "He's not a stallion."
  5187. >She cocks her head in confusion as you reach the vending machine with a perfect hiding spot behind it
  5188. >It stands not aligned with the floor tiles around it
  5189. >That's probably your doing
  5190. >"Your spirit seems lifted."
  5191. >You blink in surprised
  5192. >Indeed, after the gallop you feel slighty better
  5193. >Maybe some cardio does you good
  5194. >You will read on that
  5195. "That's because we're here together."
  5196. >"Aww!"
  5197. >The light blue mare bumps your side with hers
  5198. >No need to be a sherlock to notice her's a bit plumpier...
  5199. >"That's sweet."
  5200. >You give her a smile
  5201. >"But I don't buy that."
  5202. >Her audacity!
  5203. >You don't need to pursue this conversation any further as you enter the last corridor leading to Spike's lair
  5204. >You slow down and check the perimeter
  5205. >No pony in the underground corridor
  5206. >Only your hoof taps die in the carpet as you get closer
  5207. >"Why are we so quiet?"
  5208. >Oh, right, you didn't tell her, Twilight Sparkle
  5209. >Neither did you, Twilight Sparkle
  5210. >Thank you for a remin-
  5211. >"You, stop that."
  5212. >She pokes an accusing hoof at you
  5213. >"Stop overthinking."
  5214. >Her voice softens
  5215. >"Just tell me what's wrong."
  5216. >You show her the big wooden door without a hoof-reader.
  5217.  
  5218. >It doesn't feel like enough, considering the raised eyebrow you receive.
  5219. "I have been trying to contact Spike for about three days without any success."
  5220. >She blinks couple of times and looks between the door and you
  5221. >"Then why we come here?"
  5222. >Why did you come here?
  5223. >Hah!
  5224. >Such a stupid question!
  5225. >Hmm
  5226. >"You... hoped that if you come here with somepony then he will be home?"
  5227. >No
  5228. >"You still hope that?"
  5229. >NO
  5230. "Well, heh."
  5231. >Good job, Twilight Sparkle, a speech worth a diploma
  5232. "It's not a matter of hope, but of an expertise. Can you people take a look and tell me if there's something wrong with those doors?"
  5233. >Her ears perks up
  5234. "Ah, one more thing."
  5235. >You step forward and knock on the door three times.
  5236. >No one opens them and no voice comes through
  5237. >You give Light Breeze a free hoof to deal with this
  5238.  
  5239. >She starts with inpecting the door
  5240. >"There's no number, no hoof reader. Other apartments have them."
  5241. >You got yourself a detective
  5242. >You chuckle
  5243. "Not all, though."
  5244. >"Yeah."
  5245. >She says more like to herself and goes along the corridor, head high, looking at the walls.
  5246. >Quickly comes back.
  5247. >"Are you sure he lives here?"
  5248. "Yes."
  5249. >"Can we go upstairs?"
  5250. >You lead the way and in no time you are above your original position
  5251. >"That's weird."
  5252. >Light Breeze watches the place where Spike's apartment is on the lower level, but where a lobby of some sort is here
  5253. >She goes into that place and inspect the very same furniture you did last time, or the time before the last time
  5254. >It takes her less time than you to come to the wrong conclusion:
  5255. >"I don't think the room under this one's a living apartment."
  5256. >As you been thinking-
  5257. "I know, right? And yet I know he lives there, and I need to contact him asap."
  5258. >You scrunch your face in silent screem
  5259. "This is mind bogling. Mind boiling, even!"
  5260. >She boops-
  5261. >BOOPS
  5262. >your cute snout, making you squint and your scrunch permament
  5263. "Hey! What gives?"
  5264. >She snickers
  5265. >"Why don't you call him, then, silly?"
  5266. "Because I don't have his number, duh."
  5267. >You almost wish for her to say something more so you can deflect it
  5268. >She, however, raises a hoof to scratch her chin deep in thoughts
  5269. >"Are you sure you know him?"
  5270. >That shocks you
  5271. >So much that you reel back with your full heith pulled back as if you were some two dimentional vector
  5272. "What?"
  5273. >She hesitates
  5274. >"I don't want to sound rude, but, is there any chance your memories about him and you were changed?"
  5275. >...
  5276. >"Or implanted?"
  5277. >Well, ok, she isn't completely wrong
  5278. >A sufficient enough brain-dance technician pony can not only wipe out entire personality and 'download' a different one
  5279. >That's why there's no prison in Canterlot
  5280. >No need for that when you can just teach a meanie some manners
  5281. >In fact, all the manners
  5282. >But as much as you remember, you weren't under the procedure even once
  5283.  
  5284. >First and foremostly, because you are Twilight Sparkle and the Twilight Sparkle Citadel does not find any use for those Twilight Sparkles who 'betrayed' them
  5285. >A.ka, chose to live their own lives without the constant rule of the Twilight Sparkle Council
  5286. >They may be like you, but they are not better suited to choose your fate
  5287. >"I really don't want to derail your train of thoughts, but you look as if feeling weak again. Don't you want to sit?"
  5288. >She leads you to one of the sofas above Spike's place
  5289. >Only with your belly on the soft synthetic material you notice the cold sweat on your forehead
  5290. >You must been white on the face, too
  5291. >Her concern shouldn't go unnoticed
  5292. "Thank you."
  5293. >She pats your back and sits beside you
  5294. >"So, what's the plan? Did you fix it in your head?"
  5295. >There is a plan?
  5296. >"Easy, easy. Take more time if needed. We are not in a hurry."
  5297. >Not in a hurry?
  5298. >You look around and see no pony else
  5299. >Why does it make you funny
  5300. "You're right. We have no job to attend to."
  5301. >Her eyes narrows
  5302. >"You think that's funny?"
  5303. >Yes
  5304. "I don't know. Shouldn't I, officer?"
  5305. >Her hoof slaps your flank playfully
  5306. >"Do you have a fun license?"
  5307. "Oi."
  5308. >Laughter is good for everything
  5309. >Except for too much laugther, they say
  5310. >What comes next flows to your mouth naturally
  5311. ">I don't want to agrue about is Spike real or not. You know him, not me. We are in in a pickle with money. What do we do, now?"
  5312. >It's around 1 pm, maybe past and you take a big exhale
  5313. A - let's break into Spike's place
  5314. B - let's go get an odd job
  5315. Y - let's go to the hotel and rest
  5316. X - let's go to your old habitat
  5317. AAA
  5318.  
  5319. "I sit here. You try to crack the door open. We need to get inside. I need to know."
  5320. >You don't clarify 'to know what'.
  5321. >Truth be told, you're Twilight Sparkle, and you are having a hard time.
  5322. >Light Breeze pulls you into a brief hug.
  5323. >She's very warm and fuzzy and departing right now.
  5324. >She goes down the stairs to, most likely, begin the search of how to get in.
  5325. >You will just sit there, at this old-school sofa.
  5326. >Ok, you can do that.
  5327. >No, you can't
  5328. >You need to do something
  5329. >That's who you are
  5330. >There is not even a booklet at a coffe table to your left
  5331. >Unacceptable
  5332. >You may as well go through all your belongings
  5333. >Your chest puffed out for easy access, as a hoof digs into it and pull out item after item
  5334. >They all land on the forementioned coffee table
  5335. >First is the bottle of anti-biotics, which still looks like a glazed candy container
  5336. >You count them and find out you missed at least one dose
  5337. >Next item you pull out is the pen gotten from a the statistic Twilight Sparkle
  5338. >Could she been trusted?
  5339. >Can any Twilight Sparkle be trusted at all?
  5340. >Can you?
  5341. >Speaking of that, the black frames with neutral correction glasses gets pulled out next
  5342. >You won't hide your surprise
  5343. >You lost the track of them and assumed they got lost or something
  5344. >Definitely not being right there in your floof
  5345. >Carrying glass shards right in the place where sun rays dont reach isn't really safe
  5346. >Heh
  5347. >That could be said about entire Lower Canterlot, now, couldn't it?
  5348. >Your Crebit card joins the collection
  5349. >You don't even bother how much you still have
  5350. >No, no, you do
  5351. >465, and only now you realize you have to pay for more nights at the Silent Hill
  5352. >That's the plan
  5353. >Once you reach the place, eventually.
  5354. >You look around the public corner you're sitting
  5355. >It would be possible to sleep here, except, this is where you met other Twilight Sparkles
  5356. >Hostile Twilight Sparkles
  5357. >Twilight Sparkles of the Citadel
  5358. >And there's no toilet there
  5359.  
  5360. >Ah, yes, the hotel cubit card and the last thing
  5361. >The broken water gun
  5362. >It's green plastic case composes ideally with blue trigger and red sight
  5363. >A weapon to suprass the metal bear
  5364. >Everything is disposed in front of you, because you moved the coffee table
  5365. >It was not very comfortable, ok?
  5366. >The only thing missing was the black hoodie
  5367. >It fitted you perfectly
  5368. >It was robbed off a Twilight Sparkle in the end
  5369. >So nice of her to have the same size as you
  5370. >You could wonder where it go, but... maybe it's at the hotel
  5371. >Maybe... Maybe Light Breeze found something
  5372. >Worth to meet her
  5373. >You reluctantly move off the sofa and pick each of the items up before stashing them safely in your chest floof
  5374. >Long ago, when it was still unaccessable for you, Pinkie Pie taught you that floofs can work like that
  5375. >She mastered the very same thing with her mane and tail but you never made any progress with these two
  5376. >That was, oh, so long ago
  5377. >Simplier times
  5378. >Your step is tentative
  5379. >Whatever she'll find you will accept it
  5380. >Except, she's not there
  5381. >This is worrisome
  5382. >You run down the corridor, far behind the vending machine behind the bend
  5383. >She isn't there either
  5384. >Did she leave?
  5385. >You run back through the entire lenght of this level
  5386. >Hey, there's a toilet there-
  5387. >Not what you are looking for right now!
  5388. >She's gone!
  5389. >She vanished!
  5390. >...
  5391. >She's right at the Spike's door.
  5392. >You come back with your heart grasped tighly, but she is just there
  5393. >The earth pony mare take a step forward and friendly waves to you
  5394. >You join her quickly, but not too quickly, nor too slowly
  5395. >Just enough to explain you being white
  5396. >In case you are white
  5397. >No need to be
  5398. >No reason
  5399. >"I have the news."
  5400. >She has your attention and she enjoys it
  5401. >"I talked with a neighbour. She even invited me in."
  5402. >Ha, ha ha
  5403. >She half-smiles and put a hoof to her mouth as if is telling you a secret
  5404. >"Why didn't you tell me your friend is a dragon? Do you know how dumb I felt when she says that?"
  5405. >You didn't?
  5406. "I think I forgot."
  5407.  
  5408. >"You forgot he's a dragon?"
  5409. "C'mon, only to mention that. That was supposed to be a big reveal when you see him."
  5410. >"Either way, he lives here. That's the good news."
  5411. >She winks at you
  5412. >You release a breath that you didn't know you were holding
  5413. "So, all this mean-"
  5414. >"That your memory's fine."
  5415. >Light Breeze isn't hiding happiness
  5416. >Which is heartwarming, but kinda weird
  5417. >Someone would suspect you should be the happy one that nopony burnt your neurons into horse steaks
  5418. >"But he wasn't here for quite a long time."
  5419. "He moved out?"
  5420. >She pokes a hoof at an apartment number 017.
  5421. >"The nice donkey living there told me Spike the dragon has left this place about six months ago, maybe less, but he still visits at least once a month. He always stops by her place to ask what's new. She asked do I want to leave him a message but I decided to wait for you."
  5422. >Ok, that's not the worst possible thing
  5423. >Why did you not think of talking to the neighbours you don't know
  5424. >Wait, donkey?
  5425. >The same from before?
  5426. "Does she move with some kind of a walking stool?"
  5427. >An adorable tilt of her head happens!
  5428. >"How did you know?"
  5429. >Crap
  5430. "Precognition."
  5431. >With eyes narrowed she leans forward
  5432. >"Uh huh."
  5433. >Inquiring pony is inquiring
  5434. "That's my version and I'm gonna stick to it."
  5435. >"If you say so."
  5436. "Did she say anything else?"
  5437. >"Other than that? No."
  5438. >You point at the door
  5439. "Do you think you could break through that?"
  5440. >"What? Into a dragon's lair? Are you crazy?"
  5441. >You chuckle
  5442. "Depends by definition."
  5443. >Sensing your good humor, she graces you with a giggle
  5444. "Good job."
  5445. >She smiles at you
  5446. >"Nothing that anypony else couldn't do."
  5447. >None of the citadel goons seemt to crack this case so far
  5448. >Neither did you
  5449. >Maybe Spike knew that?
  5450. >Maybe, just maybe, he comes by to ask did someone ask about him?
  5451. >You go to the door Light Breeze pointed you to previously and knock
  5452. >"Yeah, it will take a while."
  5453. >Your companion declares
  5454. >You knock some more
  5455. >It should works faster now
  5456. >That's how it works in the movies
  5457.  
  5458. >The door gets opened with an old fashioned creak
  5459. >It's peculiar, for the hingies doesn't look unoliled
  5460. >In the door stands an elder donkey jane
  5461. >Her coat brown and her mane silver
  5462. >"Yes? What is it?"
  5463. >And your throat's hoarse
  5464. >You cough in your hoof
  5465. >"Oh! It's you, and you brought a friend? Come in, come in. I just made some tea and the Pony Life is starting soon!"
  5466. >You enter as Light Breeze follows
  5467. >"No need to, we just came to ask for a favor."
  5468. >She pats your side
  5469. >The donkey giggles and disappears into, what you presume, is a kitchen
  5470. >"A different favor than some tea flavor?"
  5471. >A tv turns on somewhere deeper
  5472. >The apartment doesn't smell bad, but the walls were pained ages ago
  5473. >You try not to look at private pictures on the walls but it is very difficult
  5474. >They are everywhere in the hall!
  5475. >She comes back
  5476. >"Are you sure you don't want to watch today's episode? It will reveal the final mystery!"
  5477. "Um, thank you, but we must be going and we won't to ruin your experience."
  5478. >"Fine, then what do you want, my dears?"
  5479. >That's your cue, Twilight Sparkle
  5480. "I want to leave a message to Spike."
  5481. >"To mister Spike the dragon?"
  5482. "Myes. To Spike."
  5483. >You clear the throat
  5484. "Please, tell him that Twilight Sparkle looks for him."
  5485. >"Oh, I will, my dear. Twily Spaily."
  5486. "Twiligh Sparkle."
  5487. >"Twilii Sparcle. God it."
  5488. >You really don't want to argue, but-
  5489. >But the show's intro music begins to play!
  5490. >"Oh, my. Either one way or another, young ladies."
  5491. >She empathises the words with a wave of her leg.
  5492. >You find yourself on the outer side of the doors in no time
  5493. "Thanks again!"
  5494. >"Not a problem."
  5495. >The door closes and locks for good
  5496. >You stay there, biting your lip at that cursed song and pondering...
  5497. "Will she ever remember me?"
  5498. >Light Breeze nudges your side
  5499. >"Well, she remembered me, right?"
  5500. >She did.
  5501. >"Albeit she almost kept me hostage with a tea situation. Eh. Where now, sister?"
  5502. >Huh
  5503. >It's around 3 PM
  5504. A - the hotel
  5505. B - the market
  5506. Y - your previous house site
  5507. X - let her pick
  5508. BA
  5509.  
  5510. >You pull Light Breeze into one last hug before you leave the place the very same way you came in
  5511. >No sign of the Diamond Dongs on the horizon
  5512. >You quicken the pace to not think about it
  5513. >...
  5514. >The two of you reach the Market quare
  5515. >It's around 4PM and the sun prism begins to descent on a narrower arc
  5516. >It should set around 8PM, and yet, you're already tired
  5517. >Not dead beat, by any means, just, not as giddy as before
  5518. >Now that you think of it maybe it's not the worst of things
  5519. >"We going in?"
  5520. >Your companion asks, pointing an ear to the hotel
  5521. >You nod and go towards the market
  5522. >"Hey!"
  5523. >You imagine her ready to crash into the bed, er, into the cubit, but you have different plans
  5524. >No, not really, you don't
  5525. >But she doesn't know that!
  5526. >At least, yet
  5527. >"What was that?"
  5528. >Oh, she's frowning as she catches up to you
  5529. >Better sell some lie
  5530. "I changed my mind."
  5531. >...
  5532. >Note for later: don't mix coffee and whatever you had
  5533. >It makes you less yourself and more... more a tool
  5534. >"Rude."
  5535. >She says so, yet graces you with a deep giggle
  5536. "I just thought, 'hey, we don't have anywhere to be or anywhere to do and we don't know anypony so how about we grab a drink and merge in-' What's wrong?"
  5537. >Her radiant smile quickly turned sour at a mention of a 'drink'
  5538. >"You don't plan to get high, right?"
  5539. >Uh oh
  5540. "Have I ever?"
  5541. >She punches your leg in good sport!
  5542. >Ow!
  5543. >"The tartarus if a I know."
  5544. >Her posture falsters
  5545. >You pay her a lot of attention, bu manage to somehow muster even more
  5546. >A second passes before a heavy sighs fights its way out of her cure mouth
  5547. >"You know what? That's a good idea. It was a heck of a ride today. We deserve a nap."
  5548. >She nuzzles your cheek with hers
  5549. >You would say it's lewd, but it's lewd only when you say so
  5550. >The smells of the place assaults you relentlessly
  5551. >No matter the time, this place smells like fish, hay and o-hayo
  5552. >At least you think so
  5553. >You not well versed in the weeb speech
  5554. >All you know are couple words in Kirin
  5555. "Hold on, a nap?"
  5556.  
  5557. >You turn to her without breaking the pace
  5558. >The pace in a crown of ponies is everything, Mama Sparkle said
  5559. >Or was it face?
  5560. >She clearly didn't catch that
  5561. "You said a nap?"
  5562. >Her brows raise
  5563. >"I did? Wow. That's. I mean, yeah, not now, but eventually."
  5564. >Now you're not sure did she say that or did you misheard it
  5565. >Better play the upper hoof
  5566. "Ah, yes, so you're not wrong, at least not in the grand scheme of things."
  5567. >"In the grand-"
  5568. "And ethernal,"
  5569. >"-and ethereal scheme of getting a nap."
  5570. >You do your best Rarity impression
  5571. >That is, you whine
  5572. "And I hoped the Fate prerate something greater for us than a mere 'le grande nappioso'."
  5573. >Some ponies gives you a well disuised offended look
  5574. >Ok, no making fun of the Manexican
  5575. >Light Breeze continues
  5576. >"Something like what?"
  5577. >Oh, you can think of many things
  5578. >Where to even begin...
  5579. "To be fair, I don't know."
  5580. >You pass couple of a food stand with varying degrees of still raw hay
  5581. >And certain bars where food is preparred next to the outer-counter, next to which the shady looking, tired ponies stand or sit, if there is anything to sit on
  5582. >But there's no place to just sit and drink
  5583. >"Don't you think it's crowded down here?"
  5584. "What do you have in mind?"
  5585. >"There's an upper level. Less crowded. Some ponies say it's a secret level, but most don't just bother to go up on their way home."
  5586. >There were griffons sitting above the entrace the other day
  5587. "Good for me."
  5588. >She leads the way and in no time you reach the first floor of this once-upon-a-time card-parking-lot market of today
  5589. >The place is not as much crowded, but by no means not desolated
  5590. >You look around to pick your resting place
  5591. >Heh
  5592. >Resting
  5593. "Do you eat here?"
  5594. >She shakes her head and looks at the many colourful menus with unhidden curiosity
  5595. >Truth be told, even you salivate
  5596. >But you ate today already, didn't you?
  5597. >You are Twilight Sparkle and you won't grow a tummy
  5598. >As if on a cue, your stomach grumbles
  5599. >Betrayal!
  5600. >Inside job!
  5601. >You look for moral support to your friend
  5602.  
  5603. >But she's busy walking between stands
  5604. >You almost missed her!
  5605. >So you catch up to her and put a hoof on her withers
  5606. "How about we eat something, and hit the hay?"
  5607. >"I suppose you don't want to eat the hay."
  5608. "Where does it come from?"
  5609. >"Because you want to save it to hit it later!"
  5610. >Your eye-rolls should have a sound effect louder than her laughter
  5611. >The knowledge it is arrangable makes you shiver
  5612. >You look at ponies who work to feed the lower city and those who eat their first, or only dish of the day
  5613. >None seem to be augemented, except some minor trinkets
  5614. >Before any judgemental thought can be formed, however, Light Breeze pokes your side
  5615. >"Just pick something."
  5616. >Huh
  5617. "Why me?"
  5618. >"Because I feel like eating hay and I hate it."
  5619. "You hate hay?"
  5620. >"No, I hate o-hayo hay and that's all they serve."
  5621. >You focus on finding something more than highest quality artificial hay stands
  5622. >The options are:
  5623. A - a close to the main line noodle stand with tiny curtains and seats
  5624. B - a crowded pizza place with no seats
  5625. Y - a half-empty fish stand with stools taller than normal
  5626. X - [Free Space]
  5627. XA "AAA"
  5628. X > Ask LB if she wants to find something more romantic and waggle your eyebrows very suggestively. Maybe carrot dogs.
  5629.  
  5630. >You look your companion right in her big eyes
  5631. >Your brows wiggling
  5632. >Your eye-lids fluttering
  5633. >You are Twilight Sparkle
  5634. >And you're secuding
  5635. >"Wha-Hahaha!"
  5636. >The mare burts in laughter!
  5637. >You try not to blink in surprise but some dust finds its way to your eye!
  5638. >Gah!
  5639. >You rub the particles of shame off your face
  5640. >More than that!
  5641. >You pay no mind to the other ponies giving you a stange look
  5642. >Light Breeve stops laughing, entually, and wipes off her tears of joy
  5643. >Of joy!
  5644. >Your secuction attempt can be still salvaged!
  5645. "What do you say we find some place more private?"
  5646. >It does sound a bit too... desperate?
  5647. >She looks at you again
  5648. >"That was hillarious! What did you do with your face? You were super serious and then, ooo, look at my mono-brow doing a worm dance!"
  5649. >If you weren't purple by default you would be red right now
  5650. >So much about trying to secude somepony
  5651. >At least your dignity is safe, as these other ponies won't remember you
  5652. >And yet the patrons of the noodle stand talks to you
  5653. >"Hey, what's so funny?"
  5654. >"Oh, oh! Can you do it again? I missed it."
  5655. >Great, just great.
  5656. >You plop your rear at one of the stools and hope for the night to fall so the burning cheeks can move to shadow
  5657. >...
  5658. >You spent 25 crebits on enough noodles and artificial flavor to get over your hurt feelings
  5659. >You ended with 440
  5660. >Not a good sign, if you ask yourself
  5661. >Of course you don't ask yourself
  5662. >You know it
  5663. >You're... you
  5664. >Mostly
  5665. >"What are you giggling at?"
  5666. >Light Breeze cheeks are full of spaghetti as she speaks
  5667. >"Either way, they did not tease you this much
  5668. >The other patrons get on their way but only after you shown them your 'seducing' attempt
  5669. >Their stomachs threatened to explode over the amount of 'good humor' you provided them with, as they said
  5670. >You reap what you sow, stupid
  5671. "Only after I got over the embarassment of performing with the public."
  5672. >As if that was the case!
  5673. >Ugh!
  5674. >"So, what now?"
  5675.  
  5676. >You mule over the rest of the noodle water in your bowl
  5677. "We need to get cash."
  5678. >It's hard to tell what for without telling her everything
  5679. >You sigh
  5680. "For food and stuff."
  5681. >Ok, it wasn't that hard
  5682. >"Yes, but I was asking for what do we do now. Like, I would totally like a hot shower and to crash. Something tells me we're gonna need to face my ex-boss earlier of later."
  5683. >Your ears perk up
  5684. >She said "We"
  5685. >That's nice to hear
  5686. "And we can do that together."
  5687. >"Yup! Really good to have someone to hold your back."
  5688. >You wearily nod into your post-noodle bath water and taste it
  5689. >There's so much artificial flavor it almost shines like a magical aura
  5690. >You look up to the tall, slender looking bar-pony
  5691. "What's kind of spices are these?"
  5692. >His lips pursued tight as he graces you with a unintentional shrug
  5693. >Light Breeze shakes her head in mild amuzement
  5694. "Right. It stays in the stomach if it stays a mystery."
  5695. >"I'm tired. If you don't mind I will go to the motel now."
  5696. >She stands up and pulls you with her forelegs into a hug
  5697. >You reciprocate the act
  5698. >"If you want a piece of it all you have to do is to ask."
  5699. >Somepony hushed tone makes to your ear
  5700. >You look around, but find only Light Breeze- with a smirk!
  5701. >A tiny one, but a undeniably a smirk!
  5702. >With a one cheek pulled up and a lips parted and everything!
  5703. >Wait, did she just-
  5704. >Her legs fall to the concrete floor and she turns her back to you, stepping away
  5705. >She put a lot of gait into her trot and her fla-
  5706. >You break the eye contact and gaze into the abyss of your previously noddle container
  5707. >There is so much to think of
  5708. >Other than this crazy mare, that is
  5709. >Not that you are any better!
  5710. >But you're, well, you
  5711. >At least most of the time!
  5712. >Focus! Focus!
  5713. >And focus you do
  5714.  
  5715. >At least until a bunch of meanies walk past the stand and push somepony's sticking saddlebag out of the way without a single word
  5716. >The unlucky mare tries to object, she begins to yell at the passer-bys, but her voice quickly dies in her throat at the sight of the perptrators
  5717. >You cant's see them, as the scene plays itself on the other side of the bar
  5718. >The mare quiets down and pick up her bag off the ground, making the way for the group to pass
  5719. >No luck to see, even with craning your neck
  5720. >Before you can reach your hooves the act ends as quickly as it began and live comes back to this piece of the bazaar
  5721. >The mare looks between the direction the group went and the unfinished noddle cake
  5722. >She quickly snatches it in her hooves and leaves
  5723. >Isn't this peculiar?
  5724. >A stray thought arises
  5725. >Maybe it's better you did not stand up
  5726. >You lick the rest of the noodll from the empty bowl and leave it on the counter
  5727. >To your great surprise, you don't feel tired yet
  5728. >Your leg is somewhat sore, but not numb, and your head is full of threads, but other than that, you feel fine
  5729. >You head to the stairs to get down, but stop in the middle of the crowded main alley
  5730. >A quick glance to the far end, where the entire floor terminates itself to give place the road under it and the hotel you reside on the other side of said road is, tells you who caused the previous mare to run for her bits
  5731. >Er, the mare from before
  5732. >Either way, griffons
  5733. >At least four, maybe five, sharp beaked and taloned creatures which you saw the other day reside at their sushi place just above the entrance to the market
  5734. >The half-eagles, half-minxes, whole trouble gangers of this new age
  5735. >Why are you talking like that?
  5736. >Who are you narrating this to?
  5737. >Maybe you are in worse condition that you thought
  5738. >You sigh
  5739. >The town's gigantic, and these do-no-good may need a pony contractor for some quick grab
  5740. >It's not that you're specieist!
  5741. >It's just... you've spent here half a year running from the Citadel
  5742. [20:56] Furittum: >And you're not discriminating against them, now are you?
  5743. >They may be dirty carnivores but you consider offering them your services
  5744. >Whatever they believe they can be
  5745. >Horsefeathers
  5746. >You're not sure you can pull it off
  5747. >But they look like cash money
  5748. >Both two things you need for Charcoal, a.ka. Bobby Pin, to find Spike
  5749. >Is it worth the trouble?
  5750. A - talk to the griffons (and try to gain trust)
  5751. B - go to the hotel (and take a well deserved rest)
  5752. Y - go to the Barn (techno-bar for mares and mareamigos)
  5753. X - go to the Hive (you could have asked somepony about that place! Gah!)
  5754. XXX
  5755.  
  5756. >It's too much to hang out with griffons
  5757. >Many reasons
  5758. >All of them feathered
  5759. >You head down and out of the market
  5760. >The loud laughter of the said perching pigeons is heard as you leave the premises
  5761. >You glance at the hotel, but it's only around 7 pm, and the sun in only in the third posion; between the center and hidden away
  5762. >You head to the Hive
  5763. >...
  5764. >The streets are as crowded as always at this hour, but the queue to the place isn't as long as during your last visit here, during a night
  5765. >The gun-smith and apothecary neons shine and buzz as you pass by them
  5766. >The club's music doesn't reach the street through sound-proofed doors
  5767. >A mare in black suit, with a neon green tie and black glasses which engulfs half her head, which cause her to look like an insect, stands and protects the door
  5768. >You look at her briefly and ponder your options
  5769. A - stand at the back of the queue
  5770. B - talk to the mare
  5771. Y - get to the back alley to the back doors
  5772. X - [free space]
  5773. BB
  5774.  
  5775. >You are Twilight Sparkle and you look sharp
  5776. >You cut in front of the line so swiftly no pony notices it
  5777. >"Hey! There's a line!"
  5778. >Some other poor pony is caught
  5779. >You don't look back
  5780. >No need for unhealthy curiosity
  5781. >"Seriously, what a nerve."
  5782. >Ponies talk behind you
  5783. >Their voices raise in volume
  5784. >You burry a hoof into your floof and pull out a pair of glasses
  5785. >The moment they land on your nose the guard mare waves a hoof for you to come closer
  5786. >"You cut in the line."
  5787. >Her voice is high pitched, but not unpleasant
  5788. >It's weird not to see her eyes while being so obviously glared at
  5789. >And yet, she stands there expectantly
  5790. >You think of what to say
  5791. "mYes."
  5792. >Can't see if the mare expression change, but her head cocks to a side
  5793. >However, she's not ordering you to get at the end
  5794. >You pull out a leg
  5795. "Name's not really important. I'm looking for a job."
  5796. >For somepony without visible facial features you can feel her taxing gaze x-ray you through and through
  5797. >She flinches as she reaches to shake your hoof
  5798. >"Bold, but if you don't have a membership card I can't let you. Only those with the cards can get in at will. We're packed."
  5799. >It's not even night, yet!
  5800. >"Maybe try somewhere else."
  5801. >Once again, hard to tell, but her voice isn't rebuffing, on the contrary
  5802. >You click your tongue
  5803. "I am a mare of many talents."
  5804. >She slowly shakes her head
  5805. >"I'm not even sure do we look for any help at the moment."
  5806. "Can't you go in and ask?"
  5807. >"No, sorry. I must stay and keep the order in the queue."
  5808. >You stare at her
  5809. >She probably stares back at you
  5810. A - ask about the back door entrance
  5811. B - offer a reasonable bribe
  5812. Y - get back in front of the queue
  5813. X - ask about the ripper doc pony from the back alley
  5814. ALBitlipB
  5815.  
  5816. >So you stare back at her
  5817. >But your eyes shine with an idea!
  5818. >Or you think so
  5819. >You lean closer and wave a hoof for her to do the same
  5820. >Which she does not-reluctantly
  5821. "There's the backdoor in this alley. You, or some other pony, could let me in by there without causing any ruckus."
  5822. >The mare puts a hoof to her chin as to ponder
  5823. >"How do you know about the back-door?"
  5824. >Uh
  5825. "Each club have one?"
  5826. >She nods
  5827. >"Yes, but how do you know it's in that exact alley? You been there before?"
  5828. >What is she asking about exactly is lost on you
  5829. >But, somehow, you gotta soldier through it
  5830. "If I say I been, would it cause any unpleasantry?"
  5831. >"Not for you, no."
  5832. >Then for who...
  5833. >Maybe it's not the best idea to ask
  5834. >A smirk grows in the sides of her mouths, after a long consideration
  5835. >"A-ok. Go you know where and knock on the door. Somepony will let you in."
  5836. >Woohoo!
  5837. >You grab her be the withers and pull the surprised mare into a bried hug
  5838. >She huffs hot air as you leave her there with her mane not so pristine and pulled back anymore
  5839. >You reach the entrance to the back alley and get in
  5840. >During the sun-hours the place lives up to it's night-time visage of a dead-road filled with empty carton containers and trash cans
  5841. >There is even more than before, you think
  5842. >The walls on both side of the road have only three floors high and now you can see how close to the rim of the lower canterlot dome you are
  5843. >It's still couple of roads before the safety section, but now that you know, the air feels different
  5844. >On your left are the door to the ripper-doc pony; without a sign or anything
  5845. >On your right are the short stairs and your sweet goal
  5846. >Anything else worth noticing is a cart filled with trash under the dead-end wall
  5847. >You stand under the camera and prod the door
  5848. >To your surprise they open!
  5849. >You are Twilight Sparkle and you let yourself in
  5850. >It's not that somepony isn't going to invite you in any minute now
  5851.  
  5852. >You enter a rather bland looking corridor, clearly in the section not for the eyes of the club-goers
  5853. >It's spacious enough for two ponies to maneuver carrying bags of trash
  5854. >You know it, because that's what exactly is in front of you
  5855. >Two orange and green suited colts, only a bit taller than you, horn-excluded, come your way
  5856. >"Excuse me, miss."
  5857. >They say and you step out, letting them pass by and holding the door for them
  5858. >"Thanks, flanks."
  5859. "Hey!"
  5860. >You sound far more offended than you are
  5861. >Say what you want but you looked in a mirror at your own assets and-
  5862. >You liked what you see
  5863. >Not that is a good thing in a place filled with exact variants of you!
  5864. >They keep laughing from the trash cart to which they harness themselves to
  5865. >You close the door on the inside and turn-
  5866. >To get snout to snout with a pony in black vest and big black glasses
  5867. >What you don't notice before the pony speaks is that he's a stallion!
  5868. >"How can I help you, miss?"
  5869. >You inhanle
  5870. >You got this
  5871. "I was told by the entrance-mare to get here by the back-alley entrance, and, well, it was open, and those two gentlecolts were leaving and I got in."
  5872. >He looks at you over the rim of the glasses which only now you see as the exact same bug-like model the other mare had
  5873. >His eyes are blue, but that's not worth mentioning
  5874. >"Those two being gentlecolts? Mare, please."
  5875. >Are you in trouble?
  5876. >"Lucky you, I just got sent to fetch you. C'mon."
  5877. >No, you are the trouble!
  5878. >He begins to walk alongside an ugly yellow wall and you tail him
  5879. >"I don't want to pry, but..."
  5880. >Uh oh
  5881. >"...because of the usual state of intoxication of our patrons, don't get mad, or stir trouble, if anypony ask for bits first."
  5882. >Huh?
  5883. >His head bends to a side and he looks at you not breaking the rythm
  5884. >"You don't seem like the type. Doesn't hurt to inform."
  5885. "No, it doesn't."
  5886. >"It's a decent local, no matter what some ponies may think."
  5887. >You don't really know to react to that, but thankfully you don't have you, as he stops next to a door
  5888.  
  5889. >The door is not ugly yellow, but green and black, and looks rich, it doesn't fit the obscurity of the back-stage
  5890. >You look at the colt fixing his vest
  5891. >Behind him is more of the corridor leading up, and down
  5892. >"If you say you're new here to the bar-pony you'll get one for free. Just don't tell anypony I told you that."
  5893. >He lowers his head to look at you above the rim of the glasses and winks
  5894. >You wink back
  5895. >He opens the door for you and loud music almost knocks you off the hooves!
  5896. >But you're Twilight Sparkle
  5897. >The smoothest mare alife
  5898. >So you recoil forward and enter the Hive for good
  5899. >...
  5900. >The club's is a sprawling space, cut into smaller ones by sudden narrower spaces on the walking spaces
  5901. >The entirety is fillwed with deep black tiles of real rock, with celestial gold and toxic green elements here and there
  5902. >Even with those seemingly random narrowing places where only one pony can fit at the time the place isn't overpacked
  5903. >It's made this way so you always find a way from your sitting place to the dancing pool, or the bar, or the toilet
  5904. >Spend your crebits there and go back to your table
  5905. >You learnt about this
  5906. >It doesn't mean you know how to navigate this place
  5907. >You locate the bar next to the dancing floor, with patrons half laying on the counter
  5908. >There is main entrance in the distance, behind the dancing puddle of ponies, which you don't feel like going through
  5909. >You can imagine how thirsty they are
  5910. >Or the smell
  5911. >Aaah!
  5912. >As you wander around looking for ponies of interest you walk right under a ventilator which turns on and pumps a pony per second of fresh, cold air!
  5913. >You scuttle from under it with as much grace as you can muster and you find a pony going up the stairs which you did not notice before
  5914. A - there is two guards at the entrance door, go talk to them
  5915. B - there is the bar with three different bar-maids, go talk to them
  5916. Y - something must be on the next floor, go explore
  5917. X - wander the place to look for familiar faces
  5918. YY
  5919.  
  5920. >You choose to scramble up the stairs
  5921. >There is a middle section between two floors at wchich you turn right and right and here you ate
  5922. >At the first floor
  5923. >It's not very much different from the lower one
  5924. >Black, gold and toxic, but with more confined spaces for actual talk, with music rather echoing from the down than being played here
  5925. >Still a maze
  5926. >Whenever you walk without looking before you it's only a matter of time to touch somethign with your leg, something you're not supposed to
  5927. >A table, a chair, somepony else's leg
  5928. >The usual
  5929. >Reconnaissance ended with moderate success
  5930. >You did not find any known face, but you did not lost yourself in the crowd
  5931. >That's something
  5932. >Oh, there's a bar in the middle of the place
  5933. >You approach and a wall-tall shelf behind the countrer opens it's various contents to you
  5934. >This bar has stools on one of them you happily jump
  5935. >Instead of relyging on the water hole technique, like the one on the first floor, this is clearly operational in glasses
  5936. >The three bar-ponies serve the drinks as fast as they can, or they seem so
  5937. >It's hard to tell when they wear those silly compoud-like dark glasses
  5938. >Which in this neonic gold light look kind of intimidating
  5939. >You just sit there and wait for their attention
  5940. >Which works!
  5941. >One of them, clearly a mare of your size, with dark black mane and gray coat speaks:
  5942. >"Fancying anything?"
  5943. >Your eyebrows raise before you can prevent this
  5944. >With all your willpower you try not to sound frightened
  5945. "Um. I- ekhm. I was told the first drink is free."
  5946. >Smooth
  5947. >You can't tell what the mare is thinking and you don't really care
  5948. >"Cool."
  5949. >She pulls a glass of the size of a hoof from under the counter and turns her back to you
  5950. >Her neck cranes out as she looks left and right of the collection of various beverages in luxurious bottles
  5951. >Now, that's a service
  5952. >You pay and demand!
  5953. >"Here's a free for you, honey."
  5954. >The mare puts the half-full glass of- oooh- pretty
  5955. "What is it?"
  5956.  
  5957. >You take a sniff of the golden liquid and find it very sweet
  5958. >So sweet you put a tip of your tongue inside to make sure what is it even before you get your answers
  5959. >It's indeed very sweet, and very tasty.
  5960. >"Honey."
  5961. >You look at the bar-maid who clearly want something only to find her preoccupied with another client
  5962. >Then who...
  5963. >The mare on a stool next to the empty one your right side peeks at you and have the most sinister of snickers
  5964. >You turn to her with a smile and study her frame
  5965. "Excuse me?"
  5966. >She's a unicorn mare of green coat and scarlet, you think it's scarlet, mane
  5967. >Rarity would know better how to call it
  5968. >Maybe you should pay her a visit, or something
  5969. >She holds close a glass of same liquid
  5970. >"It's honey, honey."
  5971. >Huh
  5972. >You sip the nectar
  5973. >It's good
  5974. "If it's honey, honey-"
  5975. >You giggle like a filly to act gullible like a filly
  5976. >Not because you are, of course
  5977. "- then why does it do that?"
  5978. >To prove your words you wave the glass around, makign the content swirl
  5979. >"Probably apple milk."
  5980. >The what?
  5981. "You mean, apple juice?"
  5982. >The mare take a sip of her own drink
  5983. >"Apple milk. Totally apple milk."
  5984. "That's a thing?"
  5985. >"Uhuh."
  5986. >Nah, she's lying
  5987. "How do you milk an apple?"
  5988. >The green mare snorts into her own glass
  5989. >"I don't know. How one milk an almond?"
  5990. "I don't know. Good?"
  5991. >She neighs right between the bits of distant techhoof music
  5992. >"Yeah, right."
  5993. >She repositions herself to a seat next to you
  5994. >You pull up the hoof with a glas
  5995. >Once she notices, hers shoot out, too, and the loud clank of your glasses echoes through the chamber
  5996. "Name's Twilight Sparkle."
  5997. >"Kar. Nice to meet you."
  5998. "Cheers."
  5999. >Mmm, this honey mix is really good
  6000. >You already feel better than before
  6001. >You're not a fool to think this holds some magical unethical properties
  6002. >But it should!
  6003. >It's criminally good
  6004. >She looks into the drink
  6005. >"First time here?"
  6006. >Most likely overheard you
  6007. "Yup."
  6008. >She nods, more to herself than to you
  6009. "Do you know anypony here?"
  6010.  
  6011. >Her eyes wide open, her ears perked up, as she enjoys the drink
  6012. >Not like those almost inhuman working ponies, with their weird occuli
  6013. >Inhuman? What is inhuman?
  6014. >Inponious!
  6015. >"No, can't really say I am, but humor me. What do you need?"
  6016. >You are Twilight Sparle
  6017. >And she looks honest
  6018. >Sippity sippity sip
  6019. "A job."
  6020. >"What kind of a job?"
  6021. "Fast."
  6022. >"Heh. Good one."
  6023. >Your glass is almost empty when she clops her hoof on the counter you both are sitteng next to
  6024. >"Bar-mare! Same thing. Twice."
  6025. >Ok, you need to do something with your ears doing what they want
  6026. >They clearly betrayed your hope to get more of this honey juice for free
  6027. >Generally, any Twilight Sparkle likes freebies
  6028. >Uh
  6029. >Maybe this knowledge will put end to the Twilight Sparkle Citadel!
  6030. >Yeah, right
  6031. >You were in the thoughts long enough for the same black mare to refill the glasses Kar has in front of her
  6032. >Your's disappeared
  6033. >"I allowed myself."
  6034. >One of the glasses has some more fluid
  6035. >She pushes that one the counter utill it's back, almost in front of you
  6036. "Thanks."
  6037. >Is it possible ponies at such place tend their patrons with exact same amount of substance per drink without trying to trick them?
  6038. >You don't know, but wouldn't that be just nice?
  6039. >"Ah, so you're a introspective one."
  6040. >She's holding her glass in air
  6041. >You quickly reciprocate the act and clanck is done
  6042. >"What can you do?"
  6043. "For real?"
  6044. >"For real. What have you been up to lately?"
  6045. "The list would be too long."
  6046. >"C'mon."
  6047. >She lays her head down on the counter and turns to face you
  6048. >"Give me something to work with."
  6049. >Frankly speaking you...
  6050. >You can't think of things you're really good at
  6051. >Before the Citadel it was simple, but, after that?
  6052. >This is frustrating and you know it
  6053. >For the first time in long time you would prefer to omit that fact
  6054. >It makes you self-concious
  6055. >Who's breathing manualy
  6056. >You're breathing manually
  6057. >Gah!
  6058. >Think!
  6059. >Think, Twilight Sparkle!
  6060. "I'm good at getting out of places."
  6061.  
  6062. >She pulls up as you take a full swing this time and, oh, lordy, it's so tasty you don't swallow it at once, but coax the insides of your mouth with it for it to linger
  6063. >"Are you good at getting into those places, too?"
  6064. >You hold a hoof in the air to notify you heard her
  6065. >If this weirds her out she doesn't show it
  6066. >Just being blissful right now
  6067. "Depends."
  6068. >"On the day?"
  6069. "On payment."
  6070. >You let it sink
  6071. "So, do you have something for me?"
  6072. >She shakes her head
  6073. >"No, but I know somepony who might have. Will you wait here for me? I will go ask."
  6074. "Sure."
  6075. >You say as the mare slowly slips down the stool, rubbing her rump along the way before her hooves hit the black floor
  6076. >She disappears behind some randomly set particion wall
  6077. >You finish the drink in one quick gulp
  6078. A - wait here
  6079. B - go after her
  6080. Y - walk around the place
  6081. X - get lost as quickly as possible
  6082. AA
  6083.  
  6084. >You choose to disregard the possibility of your flank's safety being compromissed
  6085. >Not that you're drunk
  6086. >This honey is sparkling good, but it's sparkle-free, too
  6087. >Heh
  6088. >Sparkle, because you're Twilight Spa-
  6089. >Yeah, it's good
  6090. >You giggle to a nearby waiter mare
  6091. >She is full of professional distance and gives you only the smallest of smiles, but she acknowledges your sparkleness, before she serves some other curstomer
  6092. >A paying one, to that!
  6093. >Ha, ha!
  6094. >Oh, mare, the glass is empty.
  6095. "How much for a next one?"
  6096. >"Thirty."
  6097. >Whoa waht
  6098. >No, thanks
  6099. >You are Twilight Sparkle and you are good with your tongue
  6100. >Which currently licks the rest of the golden fluid out of the glass
  6101. >Somepony approaches you from behind
  6102. >It's a two tone orange mare in the same classy uniform seen all around the place: a black vest and ocelussii-hehe-glasses
  6103. >You turn to him, to her, to him
  6104. "Mmmhowdy?"
  6105. >The mare scoots over so no pony else can hear her
  6106. >"Miss Sparkle? You're being asked to meet the acting manager."
  6107. >She turns away and looks back at you
  6108. >"If you could follow me."
  6109. >If you could follow me?
  6110. >Duh
  6111. >If she could follow you!
  6112. >You don't stay ahead of her, of course, but you have a reasonable intention to, or an impulse?
  6113. >It's clear you would be good at leading ponies
  6114. >Oh, yeah
  6115. >In the meantime the orangerie the mare leds you down the stairs and to the very same facultry entrance you once visited
  6116. >The music is even louder and the air vent clearly aren't constructed to get all the pheromones out of the dancing floor, er, floor
  6117. >Maybe that's their game?
  6118. >The door closes and the ugly, old yellow, which now reminds you of old honeycomb yellow - if such thing exist - looks even worse
  6119. >She leads the way up to the intersection; forward leads to stairs up, and turn left contains couple of doors on each side and stairs down
  6120. "So, what's your name?"
  6121. >Her ear stands up and turns to you
  6122. >"My name?"
  6123. "Yeah. We gonna work together now. I would like to know you by your name-" cutie
  6124. >You don't say that
  6125.  
  6126. >Thank Celestia you didn't say that
  6127. >Ok, the honey was spiked
  6128. >Must be
  6129. >You're not like that
  6130. >Can you be really mad a night club serves spiked drinks?
  6131. >Probably not
  6132. >Be mad at yourself instead
  6133. >You're quite good at that
  6134. >She chuckles as she stops on the lower level with couple of rooms and something that looks like an open warehouse
  6135. >"I will tell you if we'll share a shift, sweetie."
  6136. >Her tail skims against one of your legs
  6137. >You can't look her in the eyes
  6138. >Smiling with closed eyes!
  6139. >You're a genious!
  6140. >She holds the door open for you and you barely avoid running into the door frame
  6141. >What can you say
  6142. >You're a natural
  6143. >...
  6144. >The room is an office, but not any office you've ever seen
  6145. >Mostly due to the artistic chaos that reings over all the paper slips
  6146. >It looks more like some sort of a study of a subject with very tricky learning curve
  6147. >And to speak about curves: The pony sitting behind a mahony desk
  6148. >A computer screen to her left, with a visual feedback from the upper levels
  6149. >She doesn't stand up at your arrival
  6150. >If not for her royal blue eyes and her light blue coat on a black armchair you would not notice her
  6151. >Well, you would, she's in the center of the room and she's glaring at you
  6152. >She doesn't say a thing
  6153. "Hello. I was told you need a specialist pony."
  6154. >No reaction
  6155. "So, here I am."
  6156. >Your voice as cheerful as it can be, given the circumstances
  6157. >The creature- the pony! why did you think that? - slowly blinks
  6158. >"You saying you can get into places undetected?"
  6159. >Her voice vibrates, rich in lower tones
  6160. "Well, I'm better at getting out of places, but yes."
  6161. >She takes her time with her taxing glancing
  6162. >That's ok
  6163. >You can glace, too
  6164. >Which you don't, because, you know, job
  6165. >You win the non-glancing contest
  6166. >With a flinch, she pulls herself off of the chair and lands on her hooves
  6167. >Oh, princess, she is a bit smaller than you but bigger in just the right pla-
  6168. >"So it happens that I may need a service of this kind."
  6169. >She walks around the table in your direction
  6170.  
  6171. >"It's a simple job, but you can't be seen. Can you assure that?"
  6172. >Considering you weren't seen at the unlucky apartment raid - yes
  6173. >You give her a nod
  6174. >"Good. It's tricky-"
  6175. "You mean dangerous."
  6176. >Oh, back to glaring we are
  6177. >Fine with you
  6178. >"Well, of course it is. Otherwise I would send one of my ponies, but considering you're who you are-"
  6179. >Wait, what
  6180. >"- I believe the job will be done by any means."
  6181. >What did she mean you are who you are?!
  6182. >Does she know about the Twilight Sparkle Citadel or she takes you for a special oops pony?
  6183. >And you can't ask her without blowing it off!
  6184. >This sucks!
  6185. >"I see, I suspected it won't be cheap, but that grimace doesn't really suit your pretty face."
  6186. >W-wha?
  6187. >"Ok, ok."
  6188. >She places her flanks back to the chair
  6189. >This time with a box of size of a leg on the table
  6190. >"I need this box to be delivered to the docks."
  6191. "That's it?"
  6192. >"The corporate docks."
  6193. >The what now?
  6194. >Or, right, probably shouldn't ask about it
  6195. >"We can stay in contact during the job, but if anypony even see as much as a single hair from your tail... you're on your own. That's all. I am willing to pay 1000 crebits, but only if nopony notices you. It's paid fully after I get the confirmation of delivery."
  6196. >The box looks sturdy
  6197. >You don't know if it's heavy, but you can't store it in your floof
  6198. >Balancing on your back would be the best idea
  6199. >But the money?
  6200. >It's more like a robbery done on you!
  6201. "Can I have a question?"
  6202. >The mare shrugs
  6203. >"Make it quick."
  6204. "I want more."
  6205. >"That's not a question."
  6206. "That's not an answer."
  6207. >Oh! She spoke about not grimacing and she's almost snarling now
  6208. A - 2k
  6209. B - 3k
  6210. Y - 4k
  6211. X - 5k
  6212. XXY
  6213.  
  6214. >You instantly sober up
  6215. >A trained small smile finds its way to the corners of your lips
  6216. "I will take five thousands. Paid upfront."
  6217. >The mare takes her blue eyes off of you and focus at her own hooves
  6218. >As if they were more interesting than your newly found resolve
  6219. >"That's an interesting negiotations tactic, but I'm afraid it's not a very good one."
  6220. >You allow yourself to couch into a hoof
  6221. "Oh, I beg to differ."
  6222. >Her head is still hung low, but her eyes return to you
  6223. >"And why is that?"
  6224. >You move towards the center of the big boss desk and force her to face you fully
  6225. >Then you smirl
  6226. "Because we're still talking."
  6227. >Her ears shoot up to move left and right, but she pins them down and sports a really ugly grimmace
  6228. >You could say something about it, but enough self-confidency is enough
  6229. >The scrunch of hers relaxes, eventually
  6230. >But the time and silence it took to happen you spent looking as much relaxed as you can
  6231. >How one does look relaxed?
  6232. >You know, relaxed
  6233. >"Fine."
  6234. >Don't smile, damnit
  6235. >You smile!
  6236. >She can get angry!
  6237. >What to do with said smile?!
  6238. >You bow your head to a side as if saying "something something, business with you is fine"
  6239. "Fine."
  6240. >Poetic
  6241. >She takes a deep breath before grabbing the crate and putting it down on the floor
  6242. "Am I supposed to take it with me now, or-"
  6243. >She cuts you off with a raised hoof
  6244. >"You'll be told the details before the job."
  6245. "And when will that be?"
  6246. >You ask before you realize
  6247. >"We won't talk the details now. I will have a pony to tell you all you must know in short."
  6248. >She pulls out a cigar and bites off it's butt before spitting it to a trash can
  6249. >"Why won't you enjoy a drink at the cost of the bar?"
  6250. >Excellent question
  6251. >Why would you not
  6252. >You walk to the door, not too fast, not too slow, and turn your head back to see her watching you, motionlessy, while smoking the vile thing
  6253. >You nod to her and close them on the other side, and
  6254. >Oh, look! It's the double-orange mare waiting there
  6255. >You won't work with her, it seems
  6256.  
  6257. >She leads you out in silence
  6258. >This time, however, you notice the motion of her hips in front of you... draws bigger cirles
  6259. >It would be worrysome, if you weren't glad you just landed a gig
  6260. >A dangerous one, totally, but, please, you're Twilight Sparkle
  6261. >And your guide's lighter and darker orange meets in just the right pla-
  6262. >...
  6263. >Goodbye old yellow, welcome back black, gold and green
  6264. >You seat yourself at the upper bar, but the nameless orangina shakes her head and leads you to a nearby empty table with really, really comfy sofa to lay on
  6265. >Before you ever speak your mind or wave her farewell she brings you a glass full - full! - to the brim of that honey based drink from before
  6266. >Carefully, you put your tongue around the brim to make sure no drop of it can be wasted when - rather when than if - the bass from below will shake the entire builging
  6267. >That is to not waste their hospitality
  6268. >Of course
  6269. >To your defence, you drink slower this time
  6270. >Almost not at all
  6271. >Hmm, now that you think of it, how did the guide pony knew what to do?
  6272. >They did not pager any communication or, what?
  6273. >You're half through the glass when the mare of scarlet mane and greenish coat scoots into your booth
  6274. "Oh, hey, Kar. I'm waiting here for somepony."
  6275. >She giggles and points at your drink
  6276. >"You should slow down with that sweetie."
  6277. "What do you mean?"
  6278. >"I mean it makes you even sweeter than normally."
  6279. >Who's coughing
  6280. >You're coughing!
  6281. >No!
  6282. >You're coughing!
  6283. "If- cough- you say so."
  6284. >Cursed expensive imported goods!
  6285. >Are they imported?
  6286. >Sure good enough to be
  6287. >"I suppose you're waiting for me, Twilight Sparkle."
  6288. >Wait, how did she know your name
  6289. >Oh, you told her
  6290. >Totally told her
  6291. >"I will be your operator."
  6292. >She gives you a smile the best described as promissing
  6293. >Promissing what?!
  6294. "Oh, you will?"
  6295. >Her voice once again hits the lower notes and vibrations and-
  6296. >You need to cool yourself with the drink
  6297. >"Don't worry. I will let you in and extract you out."
  6298.  
  6299. >Extract you?
  6300. >But...
  6301. "I thought there's no extraction in case it's botchered."
  6302. >Her half-opened eye-lids slid up like a roll cover being treated by a foal
  6303. >"Call me surprised you would consider the possibility."
  6304. "Call me surprised you wouldn't. Operator."
  6305. >You better get used to the awkward silence
  6306. >Because that's what is happening right now
  6307. >The music from below echoes through chamber some more
  6308. >When she finally speaks she does so in a professional manner
  6309. >"Ok, you got me there. Just don't let be detected and I'll have you in and out in no time. I would like to stay in contact with you before job, but due to the exact risk to interested parties it's not something we can afford. We will have to meet at the docs."
  6310. >It doesn't really bring out her inner beauty
  6311. >"Just don't fluke it and all'be fine."
  6312. >You snort
  6313. "Am I taking the thing with me now?"
  6314. >"No. It must be prepared. It will be delived."
  6315. "When?"
  6316. >"Before you go in."
  6317. >She cocks her head to a side
  6318. >"It shouldn't really bother you, now, should it?"
  6319. >Two can play this game
  6320. "I must to know how much it weight."
  6321. >"Ok, that's reasonable."
  6322. >The gears turning in her head can be almost seen
  6323. >She shrugs
  6324. >"Not much."
  6325. "Very specific. When will I be paid?"
  6326. >"Before the job."
  6327. "And when's that?"
  6328. >"In two days. At the sun set. Be in the docs and take this with you."
  6329. >She holds an old school pager for you
  6330. "Are we going to be pen pals now?"
  6331. >"Ha, ha. No. It will turn on and lead you to the target once you're there. Be there before the 8pm to get ready."
  6332. >You take it and it seems turned off for good
  6333. "Are you sure it will work?"
  6334. >Why does she have such an ugly grimace!
  6335. >Jeez!
  6336. "Did you check the batteries?"
  6337. >Her frown is gone, replaced by genuine surprise
  6338. >As much as somepony can be surprised in a night club
  6339. >"I will leave you to your own devices now. Have a good evening."
  6340. A - stay at the place and enjoy the night
  6341. B - go to the hotel instantly (after finishing the drink!)
  6342. Y - go visit the doc nearby
  6343. X - [free space]
  6344. YBX
  6345.  
  6346. >You are Twilight Sparkle and this honey is worth a crime
  6347. >A crime for which you won't be sentenced
  6348. >So let's not get carried away
  6349. >You finish the drink in the relative eerie atmosphere of the heavy wubbs from below
  6350. >As if the floor is vibrating, too
  6351. >Maybe it is
  6352. >The percent of drunk patrons easily topple over the percent of horse power in the drinks they sell
  6353. >No pony bothers you, but no pony avoids your eyes, either
  6354. >The pager-device in your hooves is turned off, or so it seems
  6355. >You run a quick spell to check for a decoy
  6356. >Those things are as complicated as magic itself, but who knew they could be compatible
  6357. >To some extent, of course
  6358. >The device sounds untracable, so you're safe to keep it, at least as long as it's not turned on
  6359. >You're not sure you can turn it on, anyways
  6360. >Fumbling with two buttons provide only the small screen to not shine up
  6361. >The dull pain in your horn forces you to finish the drink and get out
  6362. >You go to the lower level to see a sea of ponies in a prancing trance
  6363. >The party is wild
  6364. >It's worth to mention it to Rarity
  6365. >She could come and see
  6366. >They would probably let her in
  6367. >And speaking of that-
  6368. >You let yourself out by the employeer entrance
  6369. >What?
  6370. >You already know the way, and it's closer to the Doc's place
  6371. >Once again, the yellow ugly corridor remidns you of an old honeycomb, but maybe your drunk flank is speaking
  6372. >The hallway turns quiet when the door to the club closes
  6373. >You open the door to the back-alley and stumble out
  6374. >Fresh air!
  6375. >Wow! It's cold!
  6376. >A wild shiver runs down your spine
  6377. >You did not notice how hot was it inside!
  6378. >This normalized lower canterlot air almost hurt
  6379. >But it has it's brighter sides, too
  6380. >The horn pain is gone before you acclimate to the outside temperature
  6381. >A minute later you're on your way... to the other side of this road
  6382. >Literally on the other side are the door with glasses
  6383. >The light bulb inside the window flickers
  6384. >You put a hoof on the frame of the door and give it a push
  6385. >They don't budge
  6386.  
  6387. >You push them, then pull then, then push again
  6388. >It causes enough sound for anypony inside to realize there's somepony here
  6389. >This thought sets your mind on waiting a minute
  6390. >And a minute you wait, no Doc pony comes out to greet you, or to at least let you in
  6391. >Maybe he's busy
  6392. >Maybe he's not there
  6393. >You pull out the tube of the anti-biotics you had from him and move your hind hoof
  6394. >It was an intense day, but it doesn't hurt
  6395. >Maybe it's the honey
  6396. >Maybe you're Twilight Sparkle
  6397. >Either way, the doc doesn't seem interested in being here right now
  6398. >You could break in!
  6399. >It would take one kick to break the glass...
  6400. >But why would you do that?
  6401. >Too much to explain
  6402. >The naked lighbulb on a cable swings left and right
  6403. >You give up on the possibility of visitng him this evening, or night
  6404. >It's hard to say
  6405. >The sun is set, but the stars and moon under the canterlot diome, together with all the street lights of lower canterlot, makes the night almost as bright as the day is
  6406. >Except with longer, less lonely and darker shadows
  6407. >You give the door one last knock and turn away from it
  6408. >At least you did not leave the drink to get turned off faster
  6409. >A flicker of a tail is all you leave
  6410. >It must be past 10 PM
  6411. >Where do you go, next?
  6412. A - the motel "Silent Hill"
  6413. B - the nearby gun shop
  6414. Y - the nearby apothecary
  6415. X - the market nearby the motel
  6416. BB
  6417.  
  6418. >You exit the dead end alley with head hung low
  6419. >Not that it really mattered to meet the Doc, but who knows?
  6420. >The stash of candy looking, glazed medicine is still in your hoof, but not for long
  6421. >With it stashed in your chest floof you direct your legs towards the other side of dead road
  6422. >It's dead in the sense of no traffic, but pedestrians
  6423. >And a long queue to the Hive behind you
  6424. >You turn around to wave goodbye
  6425. >The guard that talked with you is replaced
  6426. >You can tell because this one's a stallion
  6427. >Oh, well
  6428. >Can't be too friendly
  6429. >You wave to him, anyways
  6430. >...
  6431. >You stand there for half a minute before deciding to go by the 'promenade' of night life
  6432. >Down the street
  6433. >Almost instantly you find a flickering, red neon, "Gunz R Uz"
  6434. >Charming, isn't it?
  6435. >You check the insides through a glassy door and can't see a thing
  6436. >The door opens to the outside as you wander in
  6437. >Wow
  6438. >Ok
  6439. >The entire show looks like one giantic kill zone
  6440. >At least what you see of it
  6441. >The glass and metal counters dividing the client-sphere from them attendee-zone is in shape of a horse-shoe, with the cut in part for the client to get into
  6442. >The shelves and cabinets stand tall beyond reach of any-pony who would wish to cause troubles
  6443. >The place is full in bright, and dark, and rainbow colored, and painted in polka dots - but why?! - weapons of mass destruction!
  6444. >You can clearly spot at least six wet towels of different sizes and colors
  6445. >Six!
  6446. >And a ton of different type of sweet treats - perfect for taking your enemies by dental expeditures in the long run!
  6447. >There is an entire side devoted to hoof-to-hoof combat
  6448. >Many camo clothes, perfect for sneaking upon Dragons and those less obvious ones
  6449. >Even a special ops gear with black spandex and cute, tiny, little light blue paw-like socks and fitting bunny ears!
  6450. >And all those knifes, swords, stillettos, maces, lances!
  6451. >They have lances!
  6452. >Of the highest grade foam!
  6453. >You take couple steps closer
  6454.  
  6455. >And look to the other side
  6456. >Under the wall, inside the securely locked containers, lay guns of highest quality and wildest imagination
  6457. >They have here hand-guns, for water AND ink!
  6458. >Pump-action orange juice throwers!
  6459. >Food coloration granades!
  6460. >Why are these legal?!
  6461. >Rarity would stutter at the mere mention of these!
  6462. >Especially after the attack at her club and...
  6463. >The two employees expectantly smile
  6464. >Both of them older and chubbier
  6465. >You look down at your hooves and notice white tiles on the floor, with some drains in small distances
  6466. >This really is a kill box
  6467. >They must sense the dread of your realization, because one of them speak
  6468. >"It's ok to come closer, friend."
  6469. >They called you friend, so they can't be evil
  6470. >"How can we help you?"
  6471. >You come to the counter pull yourself off the floor
  6472. >The glass under your head reflects your visage, under it exhibited are sturdy paddles and comically big tickling feathers
  6473. >Both with ergonomic handles from the same mare-o-facturer
  6474. >Can't help but shiver
  6475. >One of the shopkeepers return to return to work as the other faces you with a genuine smile
  6476. >"You have a good eyes. These are total new on the market, and already winning the hearts and flanks of not so few."
  6477. >Sweet Celestia
  6478. "I was just cutious and passing-by. Wanted to see this place before, but I never had time."
  6479. >He nods, still looking at you
  6480. >Oh, yeah, killbox
  6481. >"Just tell me what you're interested in."
  6482. >Truth be told, you don't know
  6483. A - evaluting my gun
  6484. B - getting a close combat gear
  6485. Y - getting a middle range weapon
  6486. X - just looking around (and leave to 1 - The Hotel, 2 - The Market, 3 - To walk around the place, 4 - To hit by Rarity's Place)
  6487. AA
  6488.  
  6489. >You pull a leg up, and push it into your chest floof
  6490. >It doesn't go unnoticed by both the selling ponies
  6491. >The one in front of you is still smiling, but the other freeze
  6492. >You suddenly feel very small, very observed, very to be dealt with
  6493. >But nothing happens
  6494. >It took him less than a second to return to wahtever he has been polishing, but the atmospehere of the kill zone won't leave you for a long time
  6495. "It's ok. I didn't want to scare you."
  6496. >"You didn't." say the closer one
  6497. "I'm gonna pull out a gun, and I want you to inspect this."
  6498. >He smiles and nod with permission
  6499. >You pull out the perfectly fine gun and gently lay it on the counter
  6500. >It's as green and glassy as before, but also blue as a decoration at places, with a red fly above the end of the barrel
  6501. >It has a big crack and opening around half the liquid storage
  6502. >The pony looks at pistol from different angles without moving it, then motions for you to turn it the other side before he continues the observation
  6503. >Eventaully, he speaks up, looking straight at you
  6504. >"My name is Colt and what is this uww, umm, Colt?"
  6505. >You wait for the verdict of this funny fellow
  6506. >Meanwhile, the other stallion approaches the first and they both tower above the weapon, almost side to side
  6507. >The newcome hums
  6508. >"I've never seen something like that, Colt. What is it?"
  6509. >"I... I don't know. It looks like one of things we have in the catalogue, but it's not quite as it. Mind if I try it?"
  6510. >He looked at you, his friend can't pull his eyes away
  6511. >You give him a small smile
  6512. >He, with almost reverent praise, takes the piece of plastic in his hooves and swirl
  6513. >"What it is?"
  6514. >"I don't know."
  6515. >"How does it feel like?"
  6516. >"Well, somewhat different."
  6517. >"What do you mean somewhat different? How can it feel somewhat different?"
  6518. >"Just take it and check for yourself."
  6519. >The one without it takes a step back
  6520. >"I don't want to, Colt."
  6521. >"Then stop asking me these question, Colt."
  6522. >He puts it to his eye, but doesn't pull the trigger
  6523.  
  6524. >He takes his time, and you allow it
  6525. >You want the gun to be throughouly evaluated
  6526. >The job, if fluked, which will be not, asks you to get out of the place by yourself
  6527. >Fine by you
  6528. >Both of the Colts talk in more hushed tone now
  6529. >The gun returns to the glass counter
  6530. "So? How good is it?"
  6531. >You look at the visible crack
  6532. "Or does it need repair?"
  6533. >They share one longing glance, and the 'pacifist' Colt shrugs his legs
  6534. >"Truth be said, we are in the business for tweny years and we've never seen anything like this."
  6535. >"That's true."
  6536. >What?
  6537. >The shop is literally filled, at least their part of the shop, with pistols like this
  6538. "But these have match event the color schematics."
  6539. >You point to an exactly looking one in a cabinet behind the pony
  6540. >He quickly opens the locks and pull out the thing
  6541. >It gets placed next to yours
  6542. >"See?"
  6543. >"Uhum, completely different."
  6544. >You stand on your hind legs and hover above two exact guns
  6545. >These syjam brothers after different mothers do the same and soon your almost butt heads with them
  6546. "All I see is they are different only by- no, they are not."
  6547. >Because they aren't
  6548. >It doesn't make sense
  6549. >They suck
  6550. >"No, no, you see," states the pacifistic one, you can tell because he push a leg to grab it but push it with a wince, "the insides, look inside."
  6551. >"Yes, inside."
  6552. >You pick up your gun, and this other and look at the Colts through their glassy-plastic-whatever exteriors
  6553. >The only difference is, yours cracked
  6554. "I don't think-"
  6555. >"Totally different."
  6556. >"Yes. How about we buy it from you?"
  6557. >"Oh, that would be so good."
  6558. >"We never saw a thing like this and we know all the mare-facturers."
  6559. >"We import everything."
  6560. >"We export everywhere."
  6561. >"And this thing?"
  6562. >"This is the newest hot thing."
  6563. >"Where did you get that?"
  6564. >"Who does sell it?"
  6565. >Sheesh!
  6566. >Only tapping the glass made their yuppers shut
  6567. "Too many questions."
  6568. >You place their gun back on the table and keep yours in the hoof
  6569. "What can you tell me about it?"
  6570. >"Are you not going to sell it to us?"
  6571.  
  6572. >"How about we give you the blue?"
  6573. >One of them produces a bit bigger, harder to conceal water gun which is, indeed, blue
  6574. >"How about yellow?"
  6575. >A yellow one joins the ever growing collection
  6576. >"How about blue and yellow?"
  6577. >"Yes, how about the blue and da yellow?"
  6578. >This is leading nowhere
  6579. "Guys, guys! No! Stop it. Tell me what you can, please."
  6580. >You add please, because you're a friendly pony
  6581. >"It seems like a gun too powerful for a simple unicorn to be holded, no offence."
  6582. >Simple unicorn!
  6583. >All the offence!
  6584. "Excuse me?"
  6585. >"Look inside, mare, look inside. Look at those shiny little cracks, at those pretty little gems inside. Oooh, so much power. Such great calliber. How about blue and yellow?"
  6586. >Sweet Celestia
  6587. >You pull the gun back to your eye-line and, indeed, inside the handle of the toy looking weapon of mare destruction are small, irregular shapes
  6588. >They must be the broken glass, stuck in it forever
  6589. >You exhale loudly and look at the offered replacements
  6590. >The blue one won't fit in your chest floof, and open carry isn't the best idea
  6591. >The yellow looks far better to you, but it's very shiny
  6592. >Imagine pulling it on someone in a dark alley only to make yourself visible before you practice to drop your one liner
  6593. >That's no good
  6594. >You feel like you wasted time with those two- but again, they are the specialists
  6595. >This gun was retrieved from a not-so-fellow Twilight Sparkle
  6596. >She wore a police mare uniform, but that's a disguise
  6597. >It's possible this thing came from the citadel's weaponry
  6598. >You perceive it in different light now
  6599. >It can be deadlier than any other hoof-gun
  6600. >And waht good would these two do with it?
  6601. >Reverse engineer this water gun, so they can monopolize the market and brutalize the herd wars?
  6602. >Can't really do that to the lower canterlot, now can you
  6603. >You hide your seemingly powerful gun and turn to their dissatisfied faces
  6604.  
  6605. "What do I owe you?"
  6606. >The Colts shake their heads
  6607. >"Nothing."
  6608. >"Yes, nothing, but if you ever think of getting rid of that piece let us know."
  6609. >"We will outbid everypony."
  6610. >"Anypony."
  6611. >"All the pony."
  6612. >"All the time."
  6613. >Will they shut up?
  6614. A - ask to see more stuff
  6615. B - go to the hotel
  6616. Y - go to the market
  6617. X - walk aimlessly around the district
  6618. Z
  6619.  
  6620. >You thank them
  6621. >You thank them very much for all the time they gave you and all the talking
  6622. >But you can't stand them anymore, and it's not that you're going to sell this curiosum gun, no matter in what state it is
  6623. >At least not now
  6624. >You leave the shop and close the door behind you
  6625. >The red neon of "Gunz R Uz" and a blue of "Colt & Colt" flickers as you walk towards...
  6626. >It's late
  6627. >You stop walking, after not making much of a distance
  6628. >The end of the queue to the Hive is still visible
  6629. >The moon shines together with stars high above
  6630. >Their silver light doesn't really reach under the turned on lamp-posts
  6631. >They may be more scare in the more center parts of the lower cantelot, but you're close the side of a diome, and that means the lamp posts are here every couple pony lenghts
  6632. >When you look skyward, only half the vission is filled with stars
  6633. >The other half, the lower and closer to the end of the protective barrier is empty
  6634. >It's darkness is as clear as mud
  6635. >A dead sky above a dead part of city
  6636. >And yet, the ponies were as lively as always, as everywhere
  6637. >You trudge forward
  6638. >Wishing you never go to the Twilight Sparkle Citadel won't turn back time
  6639. >...
  6640. >You reach the hotel and the market place
  6641. >The surroundings are almost as well-lit as during the day, due to the many red, green, and blue reflectors pointed up
  6642. >Loud music echoes through the market
  6643. >You shake your head and direct towards the motel
  6644. >Once you enter through big, thick doors, silence befall you
  6645. >Only now, when the heavy dubbs and wubbs died, you notice how well the place is cut from outside sources of racket
  6646. >The place isn't by no means quiet, rather on the contrary; it's full of walking, talking, cooking, eating, living ponies
  6647. >So it can't be quiet
  6648. >But the volume and intensity of sound is no match for the outside world
  6649. >"Silent Hill", is the name, and you think of it for real for the first time
  6650. >Could it be your home?
  6651.  
  6652. >You get closer to the other side of the quiet lobby, in which some bunch are lingering
  6653. >The other pair of doors separate you from the food stands and cafeteria
  6654. >You pull out the key card to your cubit and put it to a card reader
  6655. >A small screen above it turns yellow and the door don't give up under your hoof
  6656. >You been doing it for couple last days (and nights!) but it always turned green, so you never focused on it
  6657. >You look around to ask the ponies who stay here what to do-
  6658. >But what for?
  6659. >On your left is the very kirin mare who served you the first time
  6660. >And only
  6661. >Does hotel service count as service?
  6662. >You approach the floofy chested mare with am arborescent horn
  6663. >She is watching something in a portable tv, but her ears are standing tall and she hears you approaching
  6664. >"Welcome to the Silent Hill."
  6665. >Her usual spiel sounds trained
  6666. "We don't really have a hill here.
  6667. >You don't stop her
  6668. >Not that you're in hurry
  6669. >"Previously knows as the Silent Village, but the new owner changed the name. Not that we had a village here, anyways."
  6670. >You place the card at the counter and push it toward her
  6671. "It doesn't work."
  6672. >She picks it up and puts into some kind of reader you don't see
  6673. >"Are you going to leave now?"
  6674. >What?!
  6675. "No! No, I mean, I tried to get in, but the door doesn't open."
  6676. >She gives you a quizzical look
  6677. >"So, you're not leaving?"
  6678. >You scratch the scalp of your head
  6679. >Won't lie, it feels nice, so you keep doing it for a bit longer
  6680. "No. I want in."
  6681. >She nods her head and a tiny smile returns to her face, but she doesn't return your card
  6682. >"For how long would you like to stay?"
  6683. >What?
  6684. >You scratch your chin
  6685. "Are you saying what I think you're saying?"
  6686. >"That depends. Are they blue?"
  6687. "What? No. Three more days."
  6688. >"If it's me, then you can stay here as long as you want."
  6689. >She types something on the machine, a loud beep and boop heard at the end
  6690. >The key card finally returns on the table
  6691. >Before you can pick it up she continues
  6692. >"That will be 100 bits."
  6693.  
  6694. >You produce your crebit card and put it to the screen built up into the counter
  6695. "I thought a room costs 20 a cycle."
  6696. >"It does. You just paid out the whole bail with the past two nights. The security deposit is 50. So it says on my screen."
  6697. >Craning your neck to see her screen proves futile
  6698. >Only 340 crebits left
  6699. "Well, thanks for help."
  6700. >"That's my job. Have a good stay."
  6701. >She returns to her tv show even before you leave
  6702. >This time the door opens and the smell of burnt apples hits you
  6703. >Why is the food stand closest to the entrance door the worst and still in business?
  6704. >With slumped back you decise where to go
  6705. A - Your cubit 314
  6706. B - Light Breeze's cubit 405
  6707. Y - Look around the place
  6708. X - Ask the Kirin about a gem reader
  6709. BBBB
  6710.  
  6711. >To the second floor, and section starting with Four, you go
  6712. >Once again it strickes you how much lively this place feels, compared to your previous living place
  6713. >Sure, you had a whole, even if not the biggest, apartment for yourself, but there is some charm in seeing ponies en-masse
  6714. >Just living their lives
  6715. >Laughing, bonding, taking care of their own or themselves
  6716. >It feels like pre-citadel ponyville, to some extent
  6717. >Oops
  6718. >A pair of ponies in one of the smaller corridors are currently busy getting one on another-
  6719. >You walk out of 470s and haste back to the main path, the one from which you can look down at the food stands, the view which you observe very intently
  6720. >With well concealed pink cheeks on your purple face you finally find the cubit row and collumn with 405
  6721. >The place looks just like yours, maybe with more artificial additions on the floor and under the ceiling
  6722. "What are these for?"
  6723. >You ask an elderly mare
  6724. >"These? They hold extra space. If you get two cubits facing each other you get a compairment like that."
  6725. >You thank her and find the 405
  6726. >The shutter door with a plastic window is closed when you knock
  6727. >A baby nearby cries out sharply
  6728. >You knock some more, until a single light bulb turn on and the door move to the side where the legs of the bed are
  6729. "Hi."
  6730. >It's all it takes for the door to open almost completely ajar
  6731. >Light Breeze, with her vivid light blue coat and fitting light yellow, hay like mane, smiles at you
  6732. >"Hi. Is it time already?"
  6733. >She looks for a built in the wall clock
  6734. "I just came to talk."
  6735. >She fails to stiffle a yawn
  6736. >"Are you sure it can't wait untill morning?"
  6737. >Well, are you?
  6738. "It won't take long."
  6739. >A scrunch on her snout and a welcoming gesture force you inside the small space of the rented cubit
  6740. >The door closes behind you, and you must not stand, but crouch, like in yours
  6741. >You sit side to side, you in the legs of the matress
  6742. >On the other side stands a metal box, probably with her personal stuff
  6743.  
  6744. >And atop of that, a collection of different electronic gadgets and tools
  6745. >A stray thought gets to your mouth before to your brain
  6746. "Do you happen to have a gem reader?"
  6747. >Why didn't you think of it earlier, you don't know
  6748. >She's rubbing the sleepness out of her eyes, but she affirm with a nod
  6749. >"Not at all."
  6750. >You cock your head in confusion
  6751. >"But I can borrow you a portable gem seer. They're basically the same, but you can't record anything on it. Let me just."
  6752. >She finishes rubbing her face and pulls a leg above your barrel, towards the pile of instruments
  6753. >It's one of the toppest
  6754. >Her hooves hover above yours, as if trying to place the item in front of you, but there's no space, as where the bed ends, the door begin
  6755. >You take it and thank her
  6756. >The item is a small tripod with one extra leg to the side and bent toward the hypothetical gem holder
  6757. >A short cable is connected to it
  6758. >For the time being you don't stuff it into your chestfloof
  6759. >"So? What you wanted to talk about? Unless it's all?"
  6760. >If you didn't know better you would say she seems sour
  6761. "What are you plans for tomorrow?"
  6762. >Her head falls on top of her legs
  6763. >"I don't know. The boss called me on my private hoofphone, but I didn't pick up."
  6764. >That's all she says
  6765. "Do you plan to call back?"
  6766. >"I don't know."
  6767. >She looks at you from down below
  6768. >"I thought, maybe we will look for something, together?"
  6769. >That's not a bad idea, but you already found something
  6770. >More over, should you ever mention it to her?
  6771. "Maybe."
  6772. >She freezes
  6773. >She trembles
  6774. >Her eyes widens as she observes you with an expression you can't begin to decipher decipher
  6775. >As quick as it appears it's gone
  6776. >One of your hoofs, acting absent-mindendly, found its way between her shoulder blades
  6777. >When? You don't know
  6778. >What does it do? Apply a massage
  6779. >It stops when you realize
  6780. >You breath in and...
  6781. >Continue the gentle strokes and kneeding of her tender fresh under the velvety skin
  6782. >It must feel nice
  6783. >She must be shocked
  6784. >Hey, it's weird only if you make it weird
  6785.  
  6786. >She keeps looking at you with eyes as wide and white as tea cups, for a second more
  6787. >Then settles back down, from the half-up position, accepting the word-less admiration
  6788. >No, no
  6789. >Not admiration, friendly caress
  6790. >You let out a breath you weren't holding, and you won't lie; it must feel good for her if this tiny moan is any indicator-
  6791. >Now it's your time to freeze
  6792. >Not only that, but your ears stick back to the skull and you can't face her
  6793. >She moves her head away from yours, too
  6794. >Your leg still lays on her back
  6795. >What happened with "it's only weird if you make it weird"?
  6796. >Did you make it weird?
  6797. >Only one way to test it
  6798. >You chough and renew the massage, digging the tip of your hoof deep into her muscles
  6799. >That distant moan from before is back
  6800. >Her side lingers into yours for easier access...
  6801. >Your leg stops the illegal bonding activity and slips down, not breaking a contact with her slender side
  6802. >Your courage is tested and wins!
  6803. >You steal a quick glance at her unsually beet red face
  6804. >You can't really judge it; you feel yourself as if after eating an entire horse raddish
  6805. "I should be going-"
  6806. >"You should be going-"
  6807. >Both of you speak the same time
  6808. >Both of you cut off when the other's voice gets registered
  6809. >And both of you, facing each other with uneasy eyes
  6810. >Her lips parts ever so slightly-
  6811. >This would be the perfect moment for somepony to interrupt you, but nothing like that takes a place
  6812. >Maybe it's the current hour with no baby crying nearby, or no argument piercing the thin wall of a cubit, no pony knocking on the door trying to sell you a grilled corn or baked spaghettinoddles
  6813. >She whimpers and closes the distance between your faces ever so slightly
  6814. >Her blue eyes glisten with holded tears
  6815. >Your chest stings at the sight
  6816. >What have you done to her?
  6817. >She whispers
  6818. >"I don't want you to go."
  6819. >Curse your analitycal nature
  6820. >Instead of enjoying this you can't help but think
  6821. >Does she mean she want you to stay with her tonight?
  6822. >Or forever?
  6823.  
  6824. >Is it even possible?
  6825. >Do you even want it?
  6826. >Could you even want it?
  6827. >Eh, why can't you enjoy it like any other mare would?
  6828. >When you look deep into her beautiful, attentative eyes, you can't help but wonder...
  6829. >Does she want you, or another Twilight Sparkle from her past
  6830. >You know about at least one
  6831. >This so called friend of yours has been used and left by a Twilight Sparkle before
  6832. >She may want this thing with you for wrong reasons
  6833. >Can you really risk it?
  6834. >But can you not risk it, either?
  6835. >What if you say not?
  6836. >What if she won't talk to you?
  6837. >Will you be once again alone?
  6838. >Alone versus the citadel?
  6839. >You can only hope she won't get angry
  6840. >And...
  6841. >You're always alone.
  6842. >In the end, only Rarity, Spike and Applejack knows about the citadel.
  6843. >And about meeting Spike and Applejack after you got out of that golden cage, you're not so sure anymore
  6844. >She helped you with figuring out Spike's not where you thought he was, where the citadel did think so
  6845. >Light Breeze thinks differently than, it's hard to say, but than a Twilight Sparkle like you
  6846. >Can you afford not going with her wishes, then?
  6847. >But can you endanger her?
  6848. >Pull her in not her war?
  6849. >Should you even invest in anypony who can turn on you the moment they learn about multiple Twilight Sparkles?
  6850. >You already lied to her about being 'her' Twilight Sparkle
  6851. >You didn't have to lie to Rarity
  6852. >She knew
  6853. >Oh, sweet Celestia
  6854. >Why must you be burdened with this magnificent brain of yours
  6855. A - Give in and tend to Light Breeze wishes.
  6856. B - Play coy and get out of there ASAP.
  6857. Y - Tell her she doesn't really want it.
  6858. X - Promise her to think of it, as you're not ready for commitment.
  6859. B
  6860.  
  6861. >You did not turn away from Light Breeze
  6862. >She must have noticed the long train of thoghts hooting between your ears by now
  6863. >And even if not, then what?
  6864. >She lets out a painful whimper and scoots even close
  6865. >As if that were possile!
  6866. >Turns out, it kinda was
  6867. >Not was, is!
  6868. >She's about to go for the kiss!
  6869. >Let's not make it any weirder than it is
  6870. >You grab her by the withers and pull her close with one hoof
  6871. >The other one redirects her incoming face down, right into your chest
  6872. >You hug her violently
  6873. >Well, maybe more like, surprisingly
  6874. >But she's trashing, and you're not giving in
  6875. >She must be trying to hug you back, probably
  6876. >You stop smothering her and her eyes pops out from between her face and your chest
  6877. >Light Breeze glares up at you, and you breath heavily
  6878. >You're such a good friend
  6879. >You let your legs fall on matress and she gasps for air
  6880. >"What was that supposed to be?!"
  6881. >She tries to say something more, but a coughing fit gets a better of her
  6882. >You wait patiently, observing as her red shot eyes return to the normal white, and her nosetrils flaring
  6883. >If they had veins they would be threatening to pop them now
  6884. >Ok, well, that might not be what you wanted to accomplish, but it is what it is
  6885. >You better roll with it
  6886. "You were about to cry."
  6887. >She stops rubbing tears out of her eyes with the ankles of her forelegs
  6888. >"And you still made me cry!"
  6889. "Yes, but for a different reason."
  6890. >She pokes your side
  6891. >HARD
  6892. >You don't budge
  6893. >You can't show off weakness to having your ribs prodded so painfully
  6894. "Buck!"
  6895. >"Yea! You deserve it! You almost suffocated me there! And what do you pack in chest floof? It felt like crashing into a wall of bricks!"
  6896. >Now she's just making shit up
  6897. >And she doesn't beat you, so... mission accomplished, situation defused?
  6898. >"I have no problem with crying, no, thank you."
  6899. >You snicker
  6900. "Obviously."
  6901. >That earns you another playful jab
  6902. >BUCKING PRINCESS
  6903. >Earth pony strenght
  6904. >You would need to be a princess to be a match for it
  6905.  
  6906. >Time for a plan B
  6907. >Avoiding jabs
  6908. "I'm sorry, ok? Tried here to stop you from making a mistake."
  6909. >Her ears flicker to the sides before standing to full attention
  6910. >"What mistake?"
  6911. >Light Breeze's side still does touch yours and you are sure she knows exactly what you mean
  6912. "You know exactly what I mean."
  6913. >"N-no."
  6914. >Damn, you'll have to draw her a chart, or something
  6915. >"I mean-"
  6916. >AHA!
  6917. "It's not your fault. I don't think you really want it. Maybe the moment made you think it's a good idea, but it's not. Not in this life style. It's too risky to get... bonded."
  6918. >"But we're friends, Twilight Sparkle. Why can't we be something more?"
  6919.  
  6920. >A dry chuckle escapes your lips before you can stop it
  6921. "Oh, but we already are."
  6922. >Her eyes are confused, and a bit sad
  6923. >She deserves an explanation; an explanation you can't give
  6924. "Our friendship prevails over my memory lapses. If that's not something special, then what trully is?"
  6925. >You can't stop now, you must talk her over
  6926. "Besides, the very same reason proves it's just too dangerous to get this close to me. I wouldn't want to put you into danger."
  6927. >The blue-beige mare shakes her head
  6928. >She speaks with a hoof to her chest
  6929. >"I don't mind danger. You know me. We always, somehow, got out of the danger. If we survived Marehattan, we can survive anything!"
  6930. >Her genuine enthusiasm is infecting, but you really wish it were this simple
  6931. >On the other hoof
  6932. "It's complicated."
  6933. >You place your hoof at hers
  6934. "You're a special friend, and I don't say that to cloud the picture."
  6935. >Her eyes once again are glued to yours
  6936. >These amounts of hope make it unable to lie!
  6937. >Quickly! Produce truth!
  6938. "Let's put this subject down for some time. We have much to settle down. I have a lot to settle down with my past employers."
  6939. >Her free hoof joins yours, that's still on hers
  6940. >"There is no pony else?"
  6941. >Sweet Celestia
  6942. >She's really struck with you
  6943. >Nothing surprising, really
  6944. >Oh, who are you lying to
  6945. >Your second fore-hoof lands on the hoof pile
  6946. "No. There is nopony else."
  6947. >She giggles and pulls the most bottom hoof from the pile, then places at the top
  6948. >"So, you're not saying no?"
  6949. >Err
  6950. "I'm not either saying no, no."
  6951. >"That's-"
  6952. "And, before you say 'that's all I need to know", we should focus on problems at hoof."
  6953. >With that you withdraw your unstacked now legs under your form and lift yourself a bit
  6954. "It's late, and we're tired, at least I am. Sorry for waking you up, by the way, and... the other thing, too."
  6955. >She dismisses your concern with a hoof shake
  6956. >"No biggie. It's a pleasure."
  6957. >Good-
  6958. >"But could be bigger."
  6959. >-riddance
  6960. >You open the door to the cubit and step outside
  6961.  
  6962. >Turn around and bend down to nuzzle with her last one time
  6963. >The short of affection doesn't cause any unwanted moan
  6964. >Or wanted, for the record
  6965. >It's back to the friendly terms, good old friendly terms
  6966. >"Ok, see you at the morning routine."
  6967. "Yeah, about that. I have something do to tomorrow, so, we can eat breakfast together, but I may need some time alone."
  6968. >An uneasy grimace appears on her face
  6969. >Her voice is quieter than usual
  6970. >"Is it because I said something about something?"
  6971. "No."
  6972. >You say too quickly
  6973. >Damn
  6974. "It's just... I'm not sure yet will I need any backup, and you will be busy looking for a job, so, I think, why bother you?"
  6975. >She blinks at you, not completely buying the explanation, but willing to believe you
  6976. >"Alright. Fine. If I find something for two I will get you know instantly, but if you find something before me, let me know."
  6977. >One side of her mouth curls into a half-smile
  6978. >"We're a team."
  6979. >You nod
  6980. >Only when you walk away through never trully empty corridors of the Silent Hill motel, Light Breeze closes the side-door and turns off the light
  6981. >What?
  6982. >You might have promissed to let her know, but it's not a job for two!
  6983. >And it's dangerous!
  6984. >She would understand
  6985. >Probably
  6986. >...
  6987. >Ok, what now
  6988. A - shower, then bed
  6989. B - bed, then shower
  6990. Y - food, then bed
  6991. X - using the gem reading device
  6992. XA
  6993.  
  6994. >You take the shortest road to cubit 314, going back from completely clogged paths only twice
  6995. >Mare, this 4th section of is far more occupied by whole families, with more compairment for spare stuff than in any other of these
  6996. >At least you think so
  6997. >You're not sure, you've been to other section than the 3rd for the first time
  6998. >Your cubit looks the very same way as you left it
  6999. >In the corner and at the bottom
  7000. >The one above your's turns its light on as you approach, but the door doesn't open, and a curtain in the window blocks the sight
  7001. >You open the door and find black hoodie in the legs of the bed
  7002. >With a quick snuggle to it, the need for a wash is confirmed
  7003. >You're going to take a shower anyways, so why not do both?
  7004. >Before that, however, you search your your chest floof storage and leave all the electronics in it
  7005. >...
  7006. >Shower was short and steamy
  7007. >Some foal begin to cry, ruining the most relaxing moment!
  7008. >But you managed to clean both yoruself and the hoodie
  7009. >It's dripping, but a moment under an air vent dries it sufficiently to wear
  7010. >You head back to the cubit
  7011. >...
  7012. >A cold shiver runs down your spine as you are closing to theplace
  7013. >As if you were being observed
  7014. >You sense the presence of a perpetrator and-
  7015. >You are being observed, by a foal in another room-case
  7016. >You pass by it with a smile
  7017. >That causes it to babble furiously
  7018. >Inside your cubit, you plug the gem reader inside the fitting electricity socket in the wall above the bed head
  7019. >You sit on the bed, fold the hoodie, and put the gem into the device
  7020. >It gets on and throws black and white screen on your coat
  7021. >You turn it towards the empty wall in the legs of the matress
  7022. >It's only possible, because you have nothing stored there, in difference to the amount of trinkets Light Breeze have
  7023. >This through stops you in your tracks, but only for a moment
  7024. >You choose not to focus on all the bygones things in the old apartment
  7025. >Can't help but wonder did they begin to tear down the construction yet
  7026.  
  7027. >The gem-provided movie is the very same as the previously
  7028. >The camera faced the front door corridor and recorded the exact moment the door were kicked in
  7029. >Three androgynous looking mares or stallions ran into the building and... that's it
  7030. >You can't focus on their faces, nor cutie marks
  7031. >At the end, presumably one of them, a mare for sure, looked into the camera and shot something sticky to obscure the little vision this imperfect device provided
  7032. >Being comepletely frank you can't make out any specific feature to save your purple life, and a mane can be re-arranged fairly easily for such professional party-rapists
  7033. >You turn it off and sleep
  7034. >...
  7035. >And you don't sleep for long
  7036. >Or maybe you do, but your eyes still seems to be tired and somewhat sore
  7037. >You get out of the cubit and streatch your legs and back and neck
  7038. >Aah, instantly better
  7039. >The usual clatter of the place reaches you
  7040. >You go to grab Light Breeze
  7041. >Here she is!
  7042. >Right in the middle of the way to fetch you!
  7043. >Such an early bird
  7044. >But wait, she doesn't go your way
  7045. >She's going down the stairs
  7046. >What is she doing you don't know, but it smells fishy
  7047. >You follow her, not really hiding among ponies
  7048. >Once at the food stands (and cafeteria!) level you spot her talking to a vendor
  7049. >They talk for a longer while
  7050. >Long enough for your citadel indugled paranoia to make you feel something's not right
  7051. >But that's silly
  7052. >Eventually, she gets, what you think is, two corns in artifcial honey
  7053. >You join her at the table
  7054. "What's up?"
  7055. >Her ears perks up and a slight rose creeps onto her cheeks
  7056. >Whatever her deal is you'll get down to it
  7057. >"Oh, hi, Twilight Sparle. I didn't know you woke up already."
  7058. >You take a chair and put it closer, but not sit yet
  7059. "I thought we're supposed to wake up each other and meet here."
  7060. >Her head cocks to a side
  7061. >"We were?"
  7062. >She shakes her head
  7063. >"I don't remember... but I was on my way to you and I got, um..."
  7064. >You glance at the amazing looking food
  7065. "Hungry."
  7066. >Her sheepish slime tells you all
  7067.  
  7068. >It tells you this food is good
  7069. >You order two corns of it for yourself, only 10 crebits each, that is 320 crebits left for now, and two more nights paid at this place
  7070. >Your order takes a minute to be processed, as the vendor heats up the artificial honey and only then bathes the corns in it
  7071. >Smells delicious and tastes delicious
  7072. >When you sit down at the table, Light Breeze's portion is already done
  7073. >You happily nom the food, as she looks at you
  7074. "I can see why you came here first. It's delicious."
  7075. >She sharply laughs
  7076. >"Yea. Yea."
  7077. >Her snout scrunches for a mere second
  7078. >You eat in silence
  7079. >The events of yesterday evening are still too fresh in your head to ask any question of private nature
  7080. >And she's giving you a stinky eye!
  7081. >What's going on?
  7082. "Um, is something wrong?"
  7083. >Her eyes unglues from the half of the second corn in your bowl and she dons an embarassed smile
  7084. >"No, nothing. Why?"
  7085. >You munch, trying to connect the dots
  7086. >She looks at your food
  7087. >And her's gone
  7088. >Is she...
  7089. >Is it possible that...
  7090. "Do you feel like I would judge you over quantity of food you require to process?"
  7091. >She freezes at your word, except for her pupils, which shrink to the size of needle heads and search around frantically
  7092. >"N-no."
  7093. >Ok, this is honseshite
  7094. >You're going to cut the crap right now
  7095. >You stand up and order four more corns
  7096. >You pay for them and provide a bowl with two to Light Breeze
  7097. >That makes you light to 280 Crebits, but not to have to deal with this makes it worth it
  7098. >She takes the food and eats in silence
  7099. >It doesn't mean the place is quiet, on the contrary, actually
  7100. >You almost can't hear your thoughts
  7101. >"Thank you."
  7102. "Make nothing of it. What is your plan?"
  7103. >She rubs her hooves together
  7104. >"I will contact old co-workers. They may know what did my old boss wanted to tell me without facing the unpleasant confrontation. They may also have some work contacts at hoof. If they have something I will let you know."
  7105. >Her eyes focus at you
  7106. "Cool."
  7107. >You finist he food
  7108.  
  7109. >"What will you do?"
  7110. >Uhh
  7111. "The very same."
  7112. >"Is it safe? I'm sorry, I don't know how you really worked, but- you get what I mean."
  7113. >Safe?
  7114. "I will check. If it isn't I won't engage."
  7115. >She slips down the chair and steps to your side
  7116. >"I will be going, then. See you at the evening?"
  7117. "Maybe. Listen, about the previous-"
  7118. >Her snout moves in and-
  7119. >She pecks your cheek!
  7120. >L-Lewd!
  7121. >Quckly! Don't blush!
  7122. "Hey!"
  7123. >"Licked, so you're mine."
  7124. >She giggles and runs toward the only entrance this place has, but stops at a certain distance and waves to you
  7125. >You didn't tell her about the tomorrow's job, and it doesn't make you feel guilty
  7126. >Nope, it doesn't
  7127. >It's still fairly early, though
  7128. A - run after her
  7129. B - go and take a long, well deserved nap
  7130. Y - go to Rarity's
  7131. X - go to old apartment
  7132. YXAA
  7133.  
  7134. >You are Twilight Sparkle, and you turn on the spot
  7135. >You don't know what makes you dash after Light Breeze
  7136. >But maybe you can tag along?
  7137. >The fact you're going to try to reach fro your own contacts doesn't bother you one a bit
  7138. >You can always say you changed your mind, especially after talking with her
  7139. >You pass the front door as quickly as it's possible and jump to the entrance corridor, with an obligatory kirin sitting there, minding its own business
  7140. >This time it's clearly a stallion you've never seen before, but you just gallop out
  7141. >The sun is still not on the sky, but the streets are covered in warm yellow light
  7142. >The stars above you looks extremely dim in the glow of the always loud marketplace on the other side of the street
  7143. >You stand on the tips of your hooves, but you can't stop Light Breeze
  7144. >Sudden burst of energy causes your head to threaten to spin
  7145. >It doesn't stop you from power walking towards where her office was
  7146. >She has no reason to run, so you should catch up to her
  7147. >...
  7148. >You did not catch up to her
  7149. >Currently hidden in a back-alley with a look at the tall glassy office building and the empty parking plot with one cucumber looking metal cart
  7150. >There's nothing fot you to do here
  7151. >Even if you managed to get inside the building and into her boss office... then what?
  7152. >You don't need any attention from the local police force
  7153. >Even if it's possible for them to try to detain another Twilight Sparkle, a goon of the Twilight Sparkle Citadel
  7154. >Though, you giggle at the thought
  7155. >Heh
  7156. >The Moon is still up, but lowering
  7157. >The brisk pace must have been faster than you assumed
  7158. >You head back towards the hotel and ponder what to do next
  7159. >...
  7160. >You were walking towards the hotel, but then redirected towards the Slut House
  7161. >And here you are
  7162. >The door's closed, but no repair pony in the peripheries, and no police ponies sweeping all the dust off one's hoof
  7163. >These door are red and looks far more sturdy
  7164. >In front of them stands a pony in a black tuxedo
  7165.  
  7166. >You approach him, and he moves in front of the door
  7167. "Hello. Is Rarity home?"
  7168. >His scrutinizing eye must be approving of you, because he nods and pulls the door open
  7169. >Oof, you almost feared he will refuse to get you in
  7170. >What would you do?
  7171. >Climb the outer side of the buildings to get to Rarity's window the same way you left this place before?
  7172. >You're not an earth mare!
  7173. >There is Rarity and, wow, the place looks different.
  7174. >You can't really remember what colors the previous arrangement was supposed to have, but this one is in white, and black, and purple, and blue
  7175. >Much like Rarity herself, except the black of course
  7176. >The layout stayed mostly the same, but old, cum dripping round chairs and tables took place for more square ones
  7177. >Each one of them divided in a smaller section with some eastern style standing walls with floral patterns, giving enough of privacy to talk about business
  7178. >Indeed, there are pairs of clients sitting at their tables, nicely visible and nicely looking next to the pristine white table cloths
  7179. >Rarity's frong legs restits on the, now, lowered bar-counter
  7180. >Only the wine rack behind the bar looks like before
  7181. >As you walk next to her she takes a notice, yet she does not outburts with your name as she has in custom
  7182. >She rushes to meet you in the middle of the room
  7183. >Her legs push you to a tight hug, but you don't let yours be idle
  7184. >After the initial greeting, she push you at her full leg distance and hugs you again
  7185. >None of you speak a word as she nods to the bar pony and leads you up the stairs to her office
  7186. >The second floor was renovated, and cleaned off all the stainins, too
  7187. >It was divided into even smaller compairments; those were made of solid wood and were too tight for two ponies
  7188. >They had no table, but a single sitting position and a... water hose?
  7189. >The floor led to newly built in outflows?
  7190. >...
  7191. >The door to her office has been replaces, and there were two code panels now
  7192. >Insides of the room were untouched by the makeover, but cleaned
  7193.  
  7194. >There were also far less items there, in general
  7195. >Shelves looks empty
  7196. >And the computer is replaced
  7197. >Hmm
  7198. >She still have a leg on your withers, but reaches for something laying on a cabinet-
  7199. >You grab her with both your front legs and pull away from where she tried to grab
  7200. "No. Don't grab the sharpie. It's me. It's Twilight."
  7201. >She's struggling against your grip!
  7202. >Thank Celestia you got her by surprise
  7203. >She was totally going to shiv you
  7204. >"You br-"
  7205. "Yes, yes, I'm a brute."
  7206. >She struggles some more
  7207. >"Let me go this inst-"
  7208. >You let her go before she can finish
  7209. >The voice dies in her throat
  7210. >Her eyes shocked, her mane perfect
  7211. >You pull out the gem you got from her and push it into her hoof
  7212. >She looks at it, at you, and visibly relax
  7213. "I see you have not been wasting time."
  7214. >The old Rarity sic! you know is back when her chest proudly sticks out forward
  7215. >"Oh, this little thing?"
  7216. >She giggles as she points at the outside view above the bar
  7217. >"Yes, I outdid myself, I presume."
  7218. "And you look good, too."
  7219. >"Good?"
  7220. "Very good."
  7221. >She graces you the tinies of smiles
  7222. >"Charming."
  7223. >She sits on a simple chair behind the desk, and offers you a guest chair
  7224. >Probably equally comfortable, just not visually... rare, heh
  7225. >"I managed to get all of this paid by the insurance. They did not even took a long time to get it finalized."
  7226. "That's good to hear, but isn't it kind of surprising they did it so quickly? And why is this place-"
  7227. >She shakes a hoof in disgust
  7228. >"Ah, yes, this room kind of burnt down, a bit?"
  7229. >What?!
  7230. >She taps the top of the desk in a very fast pace
  7231. >"They did not pay to remake this place as the doors seemed to be closed when the police arrived and, something something, the fire inside was unexplainable."
  7232. >Hey eyes narrows as she does air quotes with her hooves
  7233. >Does it mean she burnt this room to fraud insurance?
  7234. >Do you even want to ask?
  7235. >Sure, you do
  7236. "Rarity, does it mean that tiny little flame from the trash can kidna jumped between things here after I left?"
  7237.  
  7238. >Her eyes break the contact
  7239. >"Well, darling, that, um..."
  7240. >That tells you enough what you need to know
  7241. >And you laugh
  7242. "Really? Rarity?"
  7243. >She puffs her cheeks out in the dignified indignation only she is capable of taking seriously
  7244. "Ok. Ok. I'm not laughing anymore."
  7245. >She looks at the gem
  7246. >"Thank you for keeping it for me. The police swept the entire place. They would take it and I would never seen it again."
  7247. "I checked the content, as you asked, but I don't recognise any of these ponies."
  7248. >She sighs
  7249. >"I have a private investigator on the case. Maybe he will find it more useful."
  7250. >She hides it in a drawer
  7251. >You freeze as you see she touches a shiv inside it
  7252. >But she doesn't pick it up, only pushes away to make place for the gem
  7253. >Oof
  7254. >Why every visit to her must feels like dancing on edge of a blade?
  7255. "Can you borrow me money? I have my own investigation going."
  7256. >"I'm sorry, but whatever I had I re-invested in this place magnifique. It's no Slut House anymore. It's Slut Horse."
  7257. >She pulls each of her legs apart in a big, monumental pose
  7258. >You have no heart to tell her how silly it sound, nor how grotesque she looks like
  7259. >Just roll with it, Twilight Sparkle
  7260. >Yes, I will, Twilight Sparkle
  7261. >Cool, Twilight Sparkle
  7262. >"Twilight? What's wrong, my dear? Do you want a cup of water?"
  7263. "What? Yes, yes, please."
  7264. >Rarity stands up and goes through half the lengh of the small studio-office
  7265. >You join her near the water dispenser
  7266. >"Oh, a-ok."
  7267. >She hands you a cup
  7268. >"So, what does really bring you to me? Don't take it personaly, I just know you... too long not to suspect that, I guess."
  7269. >You try not to scrunch
  7270. >You really try
  7271. "I wanted to see you, how you do. I tried to reach you couple of times. No one could help me, and I don't know where you live."
  7272. >"You don't?!"
  7273. >She slaps her forehead with a hoof and walks to the office desk once again
  7274. >After a moment she produces a business card
  7275. >You read it to make sure you know where "Rarity Belle, professional professional" lives
  7276. >You keep it
  7277.  
  7278. >The adress doesn't tell you anything, though
  7279. >"I would really love to stay and talk with you, but I have errands to run. I help with the clients now."
  7280. >You sip the cold liquid
  7281. "You opened back really quickly."
  7282. >"Well, yes, indeed. That's where the extra funds went. A business like this cannot stay closed longer than the wave of interested onlookers wander and ask for 'that night special'."
  7283. >Your ears perk up at that strange name
  7284. "What do you mean?"
  7285. >She laughs, and sounds more hoarse than before
  7286. >"After they turned my temple into a pallet, a den of wyld stallions... the regulars came in and asked to relive that night. They weren't here to be a part of it, but these ponies wanted to be treated the same way. They not only requested it, they demanded it! The place was in shambles and smelled like a milk department and yet they wanted more!"
  7287. >What you hear scares you to the bones
  7288. "And that's why your second floor is-"
  7289. >She puts a hoof on your side with a threatening shine in her eyes
  7290. >"Exactly, darling. Ruining the entire place again would leave me in, from the lack of a better word, in ruin, but preparing a place for those unclean ponies who want to, who crave to-"
  7291. >You force your hoof into her face, making her stop
  7292. "I think I heard enough."
  7293. >She pushes your leg away
  7294. "I'm glad it turned out good for you, or at least it will turn out well in the long run."
  7295. >She kicks the floor
  7296. >"I wouldn't be able to do it without you giving me the prep talk. I was really in shambles. Thank you, Twilight Sparkle."
  7297. >She lunges forward and peppers your face with small kisses
  7298. >Resistence is futile
  7299. >Once she's satisfied with the effect, and you're overdozed on sugar, she hurries you up
  7300. >"I really have to get back to work. Not going to kick you out, though. I don't want to."
  7301. "And you wouldn't dare."
  7302. >"That, too. How about you stay with me down?"
  7303. "Do you want to use me for cheep labor?"
  7304. >"Cheep? Puh-lease, darling. Free labor. Or you can just drink at the bar. On the house."
  7305.  
  7306. >It's not that you have anything else to do
  7307. >Maybe chatting with her will give you any idea how to proceed with your crusading against the Citadel
  7308. >But maybe you want to go somewhere else today?
  7309. >You're not sure how will it work out, but spending time with Rarity...
  7310. >You miss your friends
  7311. >A glass of something good wouldn't hurt
  7312. >Even if it's before 10 am
  7313. A - stay with Rarity
  7314. B - go to your old apartment
  7315. Y - wander the lower canterlot
  7316. X - [Free Space]
  7317. AA
  7318.  
  7319. >It might been early, but it's late now
  7320. >You plan to spend an hour or two, maybe at Rarity's newly opened Slut Horse
  7321. >By all means, it is time well spent
  7322. >You two talk for hours, reministenting the old ponyville, reliving old memories of world-gone-by
  7323. >Time took it's toll, however, as you and her do not remember the same events identically
  7324. >That comes without saying, friends don't have to see things eye to eye, it's mostly about upholding similar values, mottos, and tails (especially high for friends!), nor you ever did, but memories waver with time
  7325. >It feels quite interesting to hear her opinion on the Parasprite invasion, or the Canterlot invasion, or how silly Apple family was to honor Apple Bloom's boasting to Flim and Flam
  7326. >Speaking of which, Flim and Flam, if they are still around, must feel like a fish in water in this new equestria
  7327. >You do not hog her all attention, though
  7328. >She tends to clients, greets them mostly, make sure they find their way to the upper floor 'benches' when their business meetings are about to turn into business meatings
  7329. >You help her in this losing battle of keeping the place milk-spill-free
  7330. >What don't you do for a friend
  7331. >Only once you refuse to give her your helping hoof - when she sends you to the most sanitary closet you've ever been to
  7332. >It took you only a glance to take in the modernized dish cleaning station and shelves full of weaponized d-
  7333. >Nope
  7334. >She can provide them to her clients by herself
  7335. >That slut momma
  7336. >'The plappery', as you named the upfloor closeted stalls, does not require a pony cleaning them - they are equipped in self-cleaning measurements
  7337. >And that's for the better, after couple pairs left the place the smell is pungent, it's almost toxic with musk-
  7338. >Rarity eventually pokes your side and waves her head to the exit
  7339. >"We should go, Darling."
  7340. "Where?"
  7341. >"The last patrons will be served and that's it."
  7342. >The time is around 8 pm, the sun should be shut down, soon
  7343. "Isn't your new club a night club?"
  7344.  
  7345. >"No, darling. That's the old Slut House. The new and better Slut Horse is a place of bussiness, where everypony can seal the deal of any kind."
  7346. >You don't tell her how little sense the new name makes, then
  7347. >She giggles and scratches her chin
  7348. >"Having a place for peaca talks between feuding groups was the original idea, but there are some desires no pony can run from. They are too warm, too hot to ignore. I bet you understand, Twilight."
  7349. >No, you don't!
  7350. >"Oh, please! Don't behave like a little filly."
  7351. >She rolls her eyes, and dons a a friendly smirk
  7352. >"Thank you for staying."
  7353. >She moves closer to nuzzle with you
  7354. >You accept the gesture
  7355. >She's as soft as you can imagine
  7356. "You would make through the day even without me."
  7357. >"Well, I suppose, yes, that is correct, but you being there for me made me less nervous. I really worried being contacted by some canterlot goons thinking they can cash in on my bad luck."
  7358. >Huh
  7359. >"If they did come and changed their plans after seeing you, we won't know, but intentions are what matter."
  7360. >That wasn't quite your plan, but it's believable, if you try really hard to believe in that
  7361. >Oh, cool
  7362. >More snuggling
  7363. >Seems Rarity has no problem with faith in you
  7364. >Such a rare feeling to be trusted
  7365. >"This is for you."
  7366. >She pulls out a crebit card, similar to yours, but not orange, rather gold
  7367. >It's a company card
  7368. >She's want to pay you
  7369. "Oh, you don't have to, Rarity. It's only the first day and we don't know how will it turn out. Maybe you should keep it for now."
  7370. >Rarity stops snuzzling to you and looks you straight in the face
  7371. >"Darling. Please. That's the least I can do."
  7372. >She grabs you by the chest floof!
  7373. >What?!
  7374. >No!
  7375. "Alright! Alright! Let me do it! You don't have to be so forceful, you know."
  7376. >You pull out your crebit card and hold it out for her
  7377. >She places her atop yours for just a moment, then hides her card
  7378. >You check your balance: it's 380 crebits
  7379. "Thank you, but you really didn't have to."
  7380. >"Everypony has to eat, my dear."
  7381.  
  7382. "Well, thank you, again."
  7383. >"I know it's not much, but as you said, everything's happening so quickly."
  7384. >You administer couple soofing pats to her back
  7385. >"What are you doing?"
  7386. "Um. Making you feel good?"
  7387. >The shark-eatning smirk is back
  7388. >Warning!
  7389. >"I know a better way you can make me feel 'good', Twilight. Why won't you try to do that, instead?"
  7390. >Nope nope nope
  7391. "Rarity!"
  7392. >You look around
  7393. >The tunnel vision you weren't aware of breaks, and you find yourself next to the bar inside the Slut House
  7394. >The room is almost empty and quiet, except for two or three wait-staff cleaning the place and meaty pitter-patter from above
  7395. >"How about you come to help, tomorrow, too?"
  7396. "It's not an innuendo?"
  7397. >She gives you a small smile
  7398. "I don't know yet. Even if I come, I won't stay this long. I have something planned."
  7399. >With a shake of her head, Rarity makes sure it's not a problem
  7400. >"My doors are always open for you, or as they say in Prench "Omelette du fromage"."
  7401. "That's... not what they say."
  7402. >Her brows jumps up and down in quick, threatening succession
  7403. >"Maybe not, but totally what they do."
  7404. >Celestia and Luna!
  7405. >She does not let you internally despair any moment, as she grabs you by the side and make you walk towards the exit through the corridor
  7406. >The door-pony in tuxedo opens the door for you
  7407. >Outside, the sun must have settled down and the moon replaces it's older sibling
  7408. >It doesn't change anything, anymore, as the yellow light streets are turned on both day and night
  7409. >You look at her white coat pull her closer, again
  7410. >"Oh, is somepony getting frisky? And I thought you don't want to-"
  7411. >You shut her up by hugging her
  7412. >You can tell she did not expect such a strong display of affection, but she's accepting this as gracefully as always
  7413. >"You will ruin my mane!"
  7414. >Heh
  7415. >With your snout right in her chest you take a whiff and wonder, why does she always feels so fresh
  7416. >How much time must she spend to not even break a sweat
  7417. >She's really something different
  7418. >Eventually, you let her go
  7419.  
  7420. >"Say, darling, do you have something to do at the evening?"
  7421. "What do offer?"
  7422. >"Straight to the business? I like that. How about you come to my place and we get a glass of wine? I could get you accquinted with my room-mare."
  7423. >A room-mare?
  7424. "You don't live alone?"
  7425. >"No, it's a friend from old times. Her name is Coco."
  7426. >Can't hide a smile
  7427. "I know Coco Pommel. How is she?"
  7428. >Rarity doesn't hide a surprise
  7429. >"You do? Small world. She's just fine. A little precious thing."
  7430. >By the back-entrance to your mind, a stray idea gets in
  7431. "Would you like a to hire a friend of mine?"
  7432. >"Oh, if you vouch for a pony - yes. Why? Yes. Bring her in tommorow."
  7433. >Hmm
  7434. "How do you know it's her?"
  7435. >Her hoof raises to hide her snicker as she gently laugh
  7436. >"I assumed that I know you, Twilight."
  7437. "Hey! I'm not a mare-lo-"
  7438. >You don't finish as the ponies crowning the street turn your way
  7439. >This makes Rarity laugh only more!
  7440. >"Just bring her in, or if you can't, tell her to tell somepony you sent her."
  7441. "Cool. Cool."
  7442. >"What?"
  7443. "What."
  7444. >"And where do you live?"
  7445. "Well, I-"
  7446. >Maybe you shouldn't tell her
  7447. >For her own safety
  7448. "Eh."
  7449. >"Anyways, Coco may not be home. She rarely is, these days. I will tell her you're fine, unless you want to tell her that personally?"
  7450. "Let me think of it."
  7451.  
  7452. A - go with Rarity to her place (to possibly meet Coco)
  7453. B - go to Light Breeze at the hotel (to tell Light Breeze about the job prospect)
  7454. Y - go to a e-hoof library (because you feel sentimental, and nothing's as good as book!)
  7455. X - go to your old apartment (under the cover of night!)
  7456. AAAA
  7457.  
  7458. >You pull Rarity for a quick hug
  7459. >Hard to blame
  7460. >She's so soft
  7461. "Let's go to your place."
  7462. >Clapping with her hooves she walks through the pony crowd, which part their semi-uncoordinated dance, so she, Rarity, can walk
  7463. >Or, you know, you tell yourself that's what is happening
  7464. >You follow in tow
  7465. >...
  7466. >It takes almost an hour to get ro her living district, but you spend it on pleasant chat about nothing
  7467. >Rarity treats you to some street-food, a hay-dog
  7468. >The streets are just as occupied, and the lamp post light is as yellow as everywhere else, but these high buildings reach up to thirty, forty floor
  7469. >They almost touch the sky!
  7470. >The entire complex is one big building, that's what you think
  7471. >It's the best one in the lower-canterlot, or at least the most expensive, due to the proximity to the center plaza
  7472. >The only place a regular pony like you can go to the upper canterlot
  7473. >But what for?
  7474. >Rarity leads you through a gate and ponies become scarcely noticable
  7475. >What you did expect, yet it took you by a surprise, is the green
  7476. >The lobby has its own park-square
  7477. "It's not what I expected."
  7478. >"Don't raise your hopes. The place may look like heaven, but the rent is hell."
  7479. >You two reach a lift and call it
  7480. "Then why won't you move somewhere more affordable?"
  7481. >"As much as I wish I could, I can't. Ah. Finally."
  7482. >The elevator doors open and you head in
  7483. >Rarity continues, as you rise to 17th floor
  7484. >"A mare of my position as an entertainment business owner must remind ponies of her status on every step."
  7485. "Don't you just like to show off?"
  7486. >"Twilight, darling, a lady doesn't show off."
  7487. >The elevator door's open, greeting you with a corridor covered with real wood and stone, not conrete
  7488. >"But yes. I do."
  7489. >Certain sharp shine in her eyes shuts you up.
  7490. >The door to her apartment does not have a number
  7491. >She holds them for you
  7492. >Huh
  7493. >You expected something extravaganza, not... this
  7494.  
  7495. >The place is nothing like the old Carousel Boutique
  7496. >It's rather small, and rather not stocked with dress making accessories
  7497. >You let yourself go on a small tour
  7498. >One small kitchen and one small bathroom
  7499. >Both finished with expensive materials and even more wanted designs
  7500. >You've never before seen a bathtube to look like a work of art
  7501. >One room for Coco, and one for Rarity, that's it
  7502. >Rarity's room is furtnitured with great taste, yet keeping the functionality of a living space and a workplace, as well
  7503. >A sed, couple closets, a desk, a chair, writing supplies, a computer, and books
  7504. >Books!
  7505. >You rush in to check the titles
  7506. >Some romances and tax textbooks
  7507. >"My, my. I should have known you will be interested in these more than in a conversation with me."
  7508. >Your eyes unwillingly unglue from the now opened 'Tax Reliefs For Relief Services, second edition'
  7509. "Not really, but you changed a lot."
  7510. >You point at the room
  7511. "I mean, I don't see any manequin."
  7512. >"And where would you fit them?"
  7513. >Fair point
  7514. >"Tea? Coffee?"
  7515. "Tea."
  7516. >You two move to the tiny kitchen
  7517. >Rarity produces some kind of crackers
  7518. >You're not going say no to such a generous host
  7519. >"Coco's not home, it seems. Goodness only knows when will she finish her shift."
  7520. "That's ok. You can always tell her I say hi."
  7521. >"Let's move to my room."
  7522. >You pick up the tray of snacks and do so
  7523. >Back in her not-as-tiny-as-kitchen-but-still-small room, the white unicorn opens one of the closets and pulls out a big tv screen
  7524. >She places the computer on the wooden floor (it's feels so nice under your hooves!), and pulls the desk in front of the bed, providing easy access to drinks and food
  7525. >You don't get on the bed yet
  7526. >Only now you notice framed pictures covering one whole wall
  7527. >"Would you mind if I go first?"
  7528. "Go where?"
  7529. >"To refresh myself, of course!"
  7530. "Shower?"
  7531. >"Why, yes. Do you want to join?"
  7532. >She giggles and disappears
  7533. >Running water is heard throughout the entire apartment as you begin to check the many pictures
  7534.  
  7535. >There are many pictures of Rarity and Coco, mostly traveling
  7536. >Some places resemble ones from the past, some are alien to you
  7537. >Rarity hums under the shower
  7538. >You take a sip of your definitely real tea
  7539. >It's easy to say it's not artificially planted
  7540. >You haven't heard of a company that found a way to change the natural's tea bitterness into anything else
  7541. >And why would they try?
  7542. >Good Tea's used to be expensive, now any tea is
  7543. >You return to the pictures on the wall
  7544. >Seems like the two are together for a long time
  7545. >"You can go now."
  7546. >This does not startle you enough to jump, but you did not notice her
  7547. >Rarity's wearing a towel atop her head, and another on her back
  7548. "Just a moment."
  7549. >She hums and comes to your side
  7550. >"Do you like what you see?"
  7551. "Very pretty pictures."
  7552. >"I have some more in an album, if you're interested, but I hoped we will watch some movie after we refresh ourselves."
  7553. >Jeez, you get the hint
  7554. "Then I better do just that."
  7555. >The bathroom is steamy, and very, very warm
  7556. >If you were grasping for air here after a who knows how long gallop you could suffocate
  7557. >You carefully descend into the bathtube and-
  7558. >The water feels nice, but all those fancy looking bottles aren't there for a display
  7559. >After some testing with shampoos and mane conditioners you know some of them are for a display
  7560. >Or should be!
  7561. >Stingy, stingy things!
  7562. >You finish the shower and towel up yourself
  7563. >Rarity's on her bed, drinking tea, checking out a photo album
  7564. >You jump on the bed with a noticable pomf
  7565. >"You're back quick, and your eyes looks red."
  7566. "I am a quick mare, and yes."
  7567. >Her lips pucker down, as she clearly want to ask about this
  7568. >The battle is still going in her head, when you grab the album and flip to the beggining
  7569. >It shows you, and all your friends, back in Ponyville
  7570. >A different age
  7571. >Almost all of your adventures are here, with a mute photo-relation
  7572. >Making a dragon move out? Yup
  7573. >Saving the town from Flim and Flam? Yes
  7574. >The Grand Galloping Gala catastrophe? Yes, yes, and yeee
  7575.  
  7576. "Do you have any contact to Applejack?"
  7577. >You blurt that your before thinking
  7578. >Rarity raises a hoof to scratch her jaw-line
  7579. >"I don't think that I do. She contacts me whenever she want something."
  7580. "Not what I was hoping for, but can you let her know I am looking for her?"
  7581. >She gives you a wide smile and half-lidded stare
  7582. >"Of course, darling."
  7583. >She moves closes, so your towel covered sides touch
  7584. >Her's somewhat bigger than you
  7585. "What about Rainbow Dash? Fluttershy? Pinkie Pie?"
  7586. >Her smile, as quickly as comes, goes away
  7587. >"I'm sorry, Twilight, but I haven't talked with them in ages. I don't know any of their whereabouts or what they are up to these days."
  7588. >She turns on the tv and a mare-flicks's logo shows up
  7589. >"I do have a contact with Scootaloo, though, if you're interested in that."
  7590. >Your ears perk up at the unexpected revelation
  7591. "What? What is Scootaloo doing? Is she here? Tell me everything!"
  7592. >"Easy, easy."
  7593. >She turns her head back to you from a vast movie selection
  7594. >"I don't know did I tell you about a private investigator I have on a certain case, but, well, that's her."
  7595. >Scootaloo? A private eye?
  7596. >"And, yes, she's in lower canterlot as are we. I don't think I have her business card, but her office is nearby a techno-club, the Barn. If you know-"
  7597. "I know where it is!"
  7598. >"I'm glad your night-life exist, darling, but if you're hoping to get yourself a job at hers, you may get me offended in the process."
  7599. >She sings and smiles until you audibly swallow your saliva
  7600. >"I'm joking. You know I'm joking."
  7601. >It's your time to laugh now
  7602. >If she's touched the wrong way with you getting back at her, she doesn't show it
  7603. >"Are we done with the pictures?"
  7604. >You look around the room from your comfy fort atop the bed for the last time and nod
  7605. >And then quickly add
  7606. "What's with Sweetie Belle? Is Scootaloo looking for Sweetie Belle?"
  7607. >Rarity sideway glances at you
  7608. >"Oh, she's fine, and no."
  7609. >That's odd
  7610. "C'mon. I did not see a single newer picture of her and you, only the older ones."
  7611.  
  7612. >Then it occurs
  7613. "Did... did something bad happen to her?"
  7614. >The white unicorn mare once again drops the remote to the bed and turns to you, disconnecting her towel-clad side from yours
  7615. >"No, why? And-"
  7616. >She doesn't finish
  7617. >You stay silent as some kind of mental battle happens in her head
  7618. "Rarity."
  7619. >You speak slowly
  7620. "Can you tell me why don't you want to talk about your sister?"
  7621. >Immediately, her eyes close and she faces forward, with her chin upheld as high as she can
  7622. >That's very high, is it possible that Rarity is taller than you?
  7623. >"It's a very difficult subject for me, Twilight, and I did not expect it to be touched."
  7624. >So she's safe, but they are not talking
  7625. >Typical marshmallow mare drama
  7626. >At least certain things doesn't change in the world
  7627. "I did not want to tear open an old wound, I won't ask if it causes any discomfort."
  7628. >You grab the remote and flip through movie posters
  7629. >Each next similar to the last
  7630. >She grabs your hoof, stopping you from doing that
  7631. >"It's ok. You didn't know, and it's no secret."
  7632. >Oh, ok then
  7633. >"She's ok. She's better than ok. I thought she's better than that but..."
  7634. >Her nosetrils flare up before they return to their normal side
  7635. >"Sweetie Belle always made me feel special. Really unique. Yet, it happened two years ago. At the new equivalent of spring, as you call it. Long story short. She broke my heart, and left me for somepony else."
  7636. "Oh my gosh, I'm really sorry to hear that she-"
  7637. >...
  7638. "Wait a minute, what?"
  7639. >Rarity opens her eyes and faces you with small tears forming and drying in her eyes
  7640. >"She left me."
  7641. >You wave a hoof to stop her
  7642. "No, no. That part of leaving you for somepony else."
  7643. >Sweet Celestia
  7644. >"Well, if you're going to rub salt in my wounds then-"
  7645. >Anger and anguish gets into her voice, and there's only one remedy for that
  7646. >A hoof to her mouth
  7647. >It's super effective!
  7648. "Your sister."
  7649. >She pushes against you leg!
  7650. >Not effective anymore!
  7651. >"Can you please stop calling her that?"
  7652. "But she's your born sister, and you two-"
  7653.  
  7654. >Rarity stands up on the bed and looks down at you
  7655. >"Would you kindly stop calling that ungrateful brat my sister?"
  7656. >Her angry stopming on the bed makes you tip left and right, as if on some kind of waves
  7657. >"I get it, we used to be inseparable, and I enjoyed her attention maybe a little bit too much. I did not want to be frank with my own feelings, so I did not acknowledge her for whom she wanted to be, but yes, it was clear she crushed hard since the day we met."
  7658. >You listen with pure terror freezing the blood in your entire tiny body
  7659. >This is not what was supposed to be
  7660. >This is wrong
  7661. >Rarity sat down, and begin to shake, tears add themselves to the composition in no time
  7662. >You just sit there
  7663. >"And what was wrong with that? I was the adult, I had to be responsible. If she looked up to me I could be the best big sister a filly could have! Why couldn't I have something like Applejack or Rainbow Dash? And she went after me, we were inseparable!"
  7664. >The towel from her mane gets used to blow her nose in it
  7665. >"And then she grew up, and still held me in such high, such undeserved admination! Am I at fault that I felt loved?!"
  7666. >Her face flings almost into yours
  7667. >You pull back
  7668. >She hides her head in her hooves
  7669. >Only her crying echoes through the room
  7670. >Slowly, very slowly, you put one of your hooves on her back and pet her
  7671. >It doesn't change much, but-
  7672. >"It was just like in one of the romance stories, Twilight! Just like in the books! And then, then after a wonderful year, she... she disappeared! She left me a letter that she doesn't feel what she felt and- and all that! She had no courage to face me in person!"
  7673. >You administer more heavy patting, and even pull her into a hug
  7674. >As she cries, you finally accept the truth
  7675. >This is not your Rarity
  7676.  
  7677.  
  7678. >This never was your Rarity, and you didn't notice for the last half a year, since you're on the run
  7679. >In fact, anything that happened after that police intervention couple of days ago caused so many changes in your life, you can't count on your hooves
  7680. >The Fluttershy Effect, they call it
  7681. >Is it even possible?
  7682. >And how to know what's real anymore?
  7683. >First Spike, now Rarity and Sweetie Belle
  7684. >If they are not who you think they are...
  7685. >The who are you
  7686. >How to know what's true?
  7687. >You absent-mindedly hug her tighter
  7688. >Tight enough, this Rarity taps the mattress
  7689. >"Please! Mercy!"
  7690. >You let her go right into a coughing fit
  7691. >She eventually stops, and excuses herself to the bathroom
  7692. >You stand there dumbfounded
  7693. >If the attack on her place wasn't caused by the Citadel, you're causing this... - Rarity, she's still Rarity, just not your's- you're pulling her into a dangerous gamble she cannot win
  7694. >With Light Breeze you at least knew from beggining
  7695. >But with Rarity? She was right to pull a shiv at you from the very beggining
  7696. >Her subconcious intuition was superior to the very, minimal in nature, but gigantic in effect, upbringing
  7697. >You need to get a hold of a Twilight Sparkle
  7698. >You need answers, not extra questions
  7699. A - leave to the hotel without saying goodbye
  7700. B - leave to the hotel but say goodbye
  7701. X - stay and pretend you're her Twilight
  7702. Y - stay and come out as a different Twilight
  7703. Y
  7704.  
  7705. >And answers you will get
  7706. >Some explaining is due
  7707. >Rarity eventually comes back; she walks in almost painfully slowly, with her head sunk low,
  7708. >Her eyes express certain uncertaincy as they are locked at you
  7709. >She stands in the door frame, uncertain how to proceed
  7710. >You slip off the bed and face her from the floor level
  7711. >"You're still here."
  7712. >Her voice did not conceal the internal turmoil that still shakes her body
  7713. >At least it's not radiating outside anymore
  7714. >If you can reason in this state, so can she
  7715. >She's still Rarity, just not the one you thought
  7716. >"I half of expected you to be gone."
  7717. >You can see where it comes from
  7718. "I wouldn't leave you in such a state. You're my friend, Rarity. No matter what. And it's my fault. I shouldn't touch the subject. I just didn't know."
  7719. >Her back straightens and her head rises
  7720. >She flashes you a short, sad smile
  7721. >"I can't be mad at you. You didn't know. Do you want to watch a movie?"
  7722. >She doesn't sound as hurting as before, but she doesn't take a step towards you either
  7723. >A moment passes, as you keep the distance
  7724. >Her head drops almost to her hooves, again!
  7725. "Rarity, I have something to tell you."
  7726. >With a hoarsely chuckle she steps forward, but stops after the first step
  7727. >"I guess we won't be watching any movie tonight."
  7728. >You guess you won't
  7729. >You inhale slowly and put a hoof to your chest floof
  7730. >The tension in the room could be cut with a cake spatula
  7731. >Or a spoon
  7732. "Rarity, I-"
  7733. >She raises a hoof high above her head
  7734. >She knows
  7735. >She realized
  7736. >But you have to say this
  7737. "Rarity, I am not your Twilight Sparkle."
  7738. >The white mare, as quickly as it happens it ceases, grimaces in pain, as if you slapped her in the horn
  7739. >An impuls runs down your spine, making you shake, but you had to tell this
  7740. >You can't lbear to ook at her, but you don't dare you pull your eyes away either
  7741. >That's not everything
  7742. >Easy access to the water gun, under your hoof, turns your guts on the left side
  7743. >What it came to disgusts you
  7744. >Other Twilight Sparkles make you angry
  7745.  
  7746. "I'm sorry."
  7747. >That's all what you manage to say before swallowing a lump
  7748. >Her hooves are stlll the most interesting thing to her on this world
  7749. >This makes you even angrier
  7750. >You can't help what makes you angry
  7751. >But you can help not to act on your issues
  7752. >You're not the only one in a pickle
  7753. >"It's not your fault."
  7754. >She sounds weak, distant
  7755. "I know you realized. I'm not sorry for the misunderstanding. I'm sorry that I had to tell you."
  7756. >Rarity steals a glance at you and sharply laughs
  7757. >"And if you wouldn't tell me, then what? We could just sit down, watch a movie and, and joke about the old times as if we did not know this?"
  7758. "I guess not."
  7759. >"I was angry at you for bringing this up. I told you. You knew. Apparently you didn't. Some intuition flickered in the back of my mind but I tried to actively subdue it. To mute those unpleasant, unlikely thoughts."
  7760. >A sniff causes her to stop
  7761. >"I won't be lying if I say I'm quite surprised you did not leave while I was at the bathroom. That way it would be easier for both of us.
  7762. >You take a fast step forward
  7763. "No. It wouldn't. We may not be ourwordly coutner-parts, but our histories are close enough. I never noticed anything that would even imply we're not good old friends. Now, did you? Even if who we thought we are turned out incorrect, then does it change anything between us?"
  7764. >Her haunches meets the floor
  7765. >So does yours
  7766. "It doesn't have to end like this, Rarity. I'm still a fugitive from the citadel. You know that."
  7767. >You say that and stop
  7768. >Let it sink
  7769. >Her ears flicker one side and the other
  7770. >A marshmallow gunea pig in her brain runs so fast it can soon dimnish to the size of a hamster
  7771. >She would sure like that
  7772. >She's, in the end, Rarity
  7773. >"You are right, we don't have to end this. It's just... so hard."
  7774. >The pang in your chest aches as she pulls the same strings
  7775. "Yes, yes it is. We can face it together. If you want."
  7776. >You stop again
  7777. >Unsure what else to say
  7778.  
  7779. >She doesn't raise her head, craning it down, only occasionally looking up, as if you make sure you're still there
  7780. >At least she did not pull out a shiv at you
  7781. >This could turn completely different if you tried not to come out clean at first, that's for sure
  7782. >"How long have we been in contact?"
  7783. "Are you saying you might talk with more Twilight Sparkles than me in the last half a year?"
  7784. >"Half a year, then?"
  7785. >It's... hard to really estimate
  7786. "I have been on the run for that time, and I have memories of us meeting at least when I first stumbled upon you. What do you remember?"
  7787. >Before she sepaks, she lays down to her belly, still maintaining a distance
  7788. >And that's good
  7789. >At least you're still talking
  7790. >"I lost contact with Twilight around a year ago. She had less and less time to spend together, and then she moved out. Even in the cypher age, she refused to use electronic means of communication, but no letter reached her. When you shown up and keep telling those unbelievable stories about the citadel, that you're on the run from other you, I just... accepted it. I always knew deep down that something wasn't right, but the same thign wasn't right with you in the very same way."
  7791. >You think you know what happened next
  7792. "And we rarely seen each other, and when we did, we always had something to do at short notice. The difference is so tiny It just never surfaced.
  7793. >She gives you a weak smile and a nod
  7794. >You reciprocate the gesture
  7795. "At least now we know at what we stand."
  7796. >Nothing is said for a minute or two, but the silence doesn't feel so tense and unpleasant anymore
  7797. >You clear your throat and release the grip on the well concealed gun
  7798. >She most likely won't shiv you
  7799. >"How was your Rarity?"
  7800. >Can't hide the question takes you by a surprise
  7801. "Do you really want to know?"
  7802. >"Well, you accepted me as your friend from the first sight, too."
  7803. >Good point
  7804. "Much like you, except her Sweetie Belle was her sister. Or still is."
  7805. >"I... I see."
  7806.  
  7807. "Oh, and Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo? They weren't sisters. Great friends, though."
  7808. >This causes her to double take
  7809. >"Really? That's... weird to hear. It causes all my skin to crawl, Twilight. Is this how you feel about me and Sweetie Belle when you realized about our past?"
  7810. >You don't get what she's really onto with this until it clicks
  7811. >Your Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo, together, the same w-
  7812. >She can easily see a deep shiver shaking your body
  7813. >"Yes. I can't imagine. Or rather, I don't want to."
  7814. >Then she adds
  7815. >"On the other hoof, that's quite funny."
  7816. "If by funny mean coincidental to pain and disgusting to the extreme, then yes. Fun."
  7817. >A giggle escapes her lips
  7818. >"See? That why it was so easy to ignore my sixth sense for so long. You're just like her."
  7819. "Except, I'm a fugitive."
  7820. >"Oh, she was always good at disappearing in the worst possible moment, too."
  7821. >Ok, that's funny, but that's not what you want to hear
  7822. "Heh. If you could change it, would you prefer not to face the now obvious truth?"
  7823. >"And what do you think, Twilight?"
  7824. >Ah, yes, making you do the talking
  7825. >How thoughtful
  7826. "I wouldn't. It sure felt as a falling anvil on my chest and a piano on my head, but look, we're talking. Both our intentions were true. Now we can begin anew."
  7827. >She doesn't say anything, only observing your face
  7828. >"Yes, I would like that."
  7829. "To make everything clear, what does Coco do for a living?"
  7830. >"Coco? She's a well known actress-"
  7831. "What?!"
  7832. >"Why, yes! You never heard about her? It were all over the e-papers."
  7833. >You had better things to do than to follow the local culture
  7834. >Street Creed helped you hide
  7835. >Still does
  7836. "Unbelievable. In my place, Coco was an aspiritng clothes designer and she was like a protege to you."
  7837. >She blinks in confusion
  7838. >"Pardon? I don't quite understand."
  7839. "My Rarity was a... buisness mare, like you, but in the field of beautiful garments. There was no other pony like her."
  7840. >Her mane shakes with her head
  7841.  
  7842. >"I... I always thought about trying that, but never really tried to pursue that career. It felt silly at the time, and then I got into taxes, and then, before I realized, I knew more about managing a local than my current boss, so I leaped into deep water and just resuffaced enough."
  7843. "And from what I saw today, you're doing great. Maybe your place is not where I would go on a romantic date, but you can't compain at the empty tables."
  7844. >She queenly rolls her eyes
  7845. >"Puh-lease. You and my Twilight are just prudes. It must be universal to each one of you."
  7846. >You bucking wish
  7847. >No need to tell her that, though
  7848. >"You know, now that I think of all of it, it's possible that this is why Applejack broke the contact."
  7849. >You sit back to your haunches
  7850. >Wait, when did you lay down?
  7851. >Eh, anyways
  7852. "Are you suggesting she isn't your Applejack and she felt if?"
  7853. >"Yes?"
  7854. "That's..."
  7855. >Indeed possible.
  7856. "Huh."
  7857. >You will need to make sure about this when or if you meet AJ
  7858. "When did she contact you the last time?"
  7859. >She sits up, too
  7860. >"About half a year ago. For a week."
  7861. "What did she want? Do you remember?"
  7862. >"I'm sorry, but she wasn't making much of sense, and I couldn't just drop everything and run after her when she got angry."
  7863. >You nod
  7864. >You understand the notion
  7865. >You give her a small reasuring smile
  7866. >She returns an equally shy one
  7867. "Does the job offer still stand?"
  7868. >"Why, yes, of course."
  7869. >...
  7870. >She and you stand up to your full heigh
  7871. >Your hind legs feel tensed
  7872. >"So, what do we do now?"
  7873. >Yes, what do you do?
  7874. >It's late
  7875. >Maybe early
  7876. >But you're glad you soldiered through this
  7877. >And you're glad you did not pull out the gun
  7878. >That would kill the mood
  7879. A - offer to watch a movie
  7880. B - offer to talk through the night
  7881. Y - offer to split and take a night
  7882. X - let her decide
  7883. BYXXA
  7884.  
  7885. >You focus at Rarity's dyplomatical smile
  7886. >But something hides under that pleasant small expression of friendliness
  7887. "That depends."
  7888. >Her entire body almost imperceptibly shrinks, as if recoil
  7889. >It looks as if she was only cocking her head to a side, but your eyes have perfect vision
  7890. >Perfect vision and eyes focused on the prize
  7891. >On Rarity
  7892. "What I try to say is, what would you like to do?"
  7893. >Now, aren't you a born charmer, Twilight Sparkle
  7894. >The white mare blinks a few times in very quick, very schick, very now, succession
  7895. >"For a moment I thought-"
  7896. >She shakes a hoof
  7897. >"Nevermind. What I would like to do?"
  7898. >You positively beam at her
  7899. >"I don't know. Frankly speaking, there is so much to sink in. I still hardly believe we know each other for half a year and-"
  7900. >She helps herself by making a circle in the air with her hoof
  7901. >"- we reminiscented! And yet none of us mentioned anything that would stop the other in tracks. To think we didn't think of that. It's sickening."
  7902. >You share the sentiment
  7903. >But she probably doesn't know that
  7904. >That's why you giggle
  7905. "Hey, come on, now. You pulled a sharpie at me couple of times, so maybe you knew we tangled something. But, hey, at least we know what we stand on and did not fear to face the music. That should count."
  7906. >Her small hum of agreement reaches your ears
  7907. >"Yes. I'm glad we manage to solve this identity crisis without causing a ruckus, or worse, a scene."
  7908. >Now, that's very Rarity-like wording and naming of a possible crime scene
  7909. >Combat Snuggles were averted
  7910. "By the way, what's up with the shivs?"
  7911. >"How about I first make us some more tea? This one must be cold by now."
  7912. >You look back to the tv, the bed, and the tiny table with some snacks and two cups of not-steaming-anymore beverage
  7913. >Wha-
  7914. >You jerk yourself half-up from the floor, before you realize how quickly you're ascending
  7915. >You saw Rarity getting up, already, and sixth sense kicked in
  7916. >She doesn't hide a worried look
  7917. "Sorry. You startled me."
  7918. >Warm visible air exits her snout
  7919.  
  7920. >"That's fine. You startled me, too."
  7921. >Both of you eye each other, trying to read intentions
  7922. >This is ridiculous
  7923. >You already did that!
  7924. >Just no more fast moves
  7925. >Cutting the distance would work, too
  7926. >Or not
  7927. >You speak after clearing your throat
  7928. "Do we go to the kitchen?"
  7929. >Her ears perks back up, touching the scalp of her head no more
  7930. >"Y-Yes. Can you- Oh."
  7931. >You're already holding the tray with crackers
  7932. >They do look tasty
  7933. >And you're hungry
  7934. >The kitchen is small, but the two white small chairs and a table for the set looks comfortable
  7935. >And you're right, they are
  7936. >You place the tray in the middle, leaving not much rum for cups
  7937. >Rarity stands on her hind legs and lift her tail somewhat to balance herself as she sets up a traditional kettle on an induction cooker
  7938. >You don't stare
  7939. "How comes these are called crackers if they don't come cracked, eh?"
  7940. >This earns you a snort and a chuckle
  7941. >So rich
  7942. >Rarity joins you on the other side of the table
  7943. >The table is so small you can grab her
  7944. >You won't of course, just saying
  7945. >"Seriously, Twilight, I find it amuzing you of all the ponies try to small talk, but there's no need. I may feel out of my comfort zone, but I know you're equally shaken."
  7946. >Heh
  7947. "Are you saying we're in the same boat?"
  7948. >She slaps the table, and the tray clatters
  7949. >But an incredible smirk shines through her acting
  7950. >"Oh, stop it, you."
  7951. >Maybe she want to say something more, but she doesn't, because the whistle marks the water being ready
  7952. >She slips out of the chair, and pour water into two cups
  7953. >One for you
  7954. >You get to choose tea this time, as she produces a trial box of different teas
  7955. >It's more or less full of tea bags
  7956. >I mean, what else would there be?
  7957. >Horse weed?
  7958. >"Pick what you want."
  7959. >You grab the first one on the left and put it into the cup
  7960. >After all that, she gets back on the chair
  7961. "I don't feel like comparing about our memories."
  7962. >"Not even a bit?"
  7963. "Maybe, but- I mean, Rarity, what if we find out something equally mind boiling as that one case?"
  7964.  
  7965. >"Then it's good for us? Darling, we're talking, despite the circumstanced. It's hard to believe you of all the ponies aren't interested in discovering more of these anomalous similarities."
  7966. >Hmm
  7967. >You take a cracker and chomp it with your chompers
  7968. "Ok. But before that there are things I must ask about. When did your pack broke out? Because I know you were friends, once, for some time."
  7969. >"And you said you don't want to talk about it."
  7970. "Huh. Maybe I said it to make you offer to talk about it?"
  7971. >Rarity stops in the middle of a sip of her flavoured water
  7972. >Her eyes half close, glaring at you, scanning you
  7973. >Maybe you should not joke like that for some unforseen (but reasonable!) time
  7974. >She- she is laughing!
  7975. >At you!
  7976. >"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, but, darling, if you could see your face."
  7977. >Alright, alright, you get what you sow
  7978. "Fine, but, can you answer my question?"
  7979. >She puts the cup down
  7980. >"The truth is, I don't know."
  7981. "What do you mean?"
  7982. >She sighs
  7983. >"We were all good friend and saw each other everyday, solve problems that could end the world if unsolved, and then, one day, we stopped meeting as often, stopped talking."
  7984. >You don't stop her, but she stops anyways
  7985. >It takes her a moment to continue
  7986. >"I guess that's how things sometimes turn out."
  7987. >You genrly place a hoof at hers
  7988. "I'm sorry to hear, Rarity."
  7989. >She pats your hoof with her free one
  7990. >"Now, now. I understand your herd of friends survived longer and the every day life wasn't as successful as mine."
  7991. >You nod
  7992. "More or less."
  7993. >He lips are pulled into a tender smile, but eyes are pools of sadness
  7994. >Which is kind of weird, because you don't feel sad
  7995. >Worried, yes, but not sad
  7996. "Are you from here?"
  7997. >"As far as I know. And you?"
  7998. "Definitely not. In my place we don't- you wouldn't believe."
  7999. >"Try me."
  8000. "Unicorns have magic, and pegasi can fly higher than you can see."
  8001. >Good thing she takes it very seriosuly and burst in laughter
  8002. >"You don't have to tell if you don't want to."
  8003. >Yeah, right
  8004.  
  8005. >You spend the rest of the evening or rather early night with Rarity
  8006. >Talking about what how your Rarity was a successful fashion designer
  8007. >And her was a true technological prodigy
  8008. >No wonder the citadel found her more interesting than you, and grabbed her first
  8009. >You tell Rarity the basic things about the Twilight Sparkle citadel, but she tells you, you already told her that
  8010. >That's why she's pulling the shivs on each Twilight that approaches her
  8011. >Only her Twilight Sparkle variant and you did not run away in fear the moment she did that
  8012. >As much as you hate it, it makes sense
  8013. >You get offered a job at the Slut Horse, again, before you two almost faint from tiredness
  8014. "Don't you need to wake up at morning?"
  8015. >"Dear goodness, you're right. It's comepletely dark outside."
  8016. >Both of you turns to the window - the insides of the most expensive living complex in the lower canterlot are in the night-mode, which doesn't mean much
  8017. "I shouldn't be going."
  8018. >You stand up and you notice, to your satisfaction, she doesn't cringe, or shrink, or cover
  8019. >Nothing of these; she joins you
  8020. >"Do you really want to go? Where do you live? Will you be safe?"
  8021. >Too many question for the yawning you
  8022. "Don't feel insulted, but the less you know about my whereabouts, the safer you are. The citadel may want to talk with you and if you don't know certain things, they can't get them out."
  8023. >You already learnt her neutral face is the first that comes in the succession of terror
  8024. >You quckly add
  8025. "I don't think they will be invasive against you. Heck, they did not realize where Spike is supposed to live is no apartment at all. It's against their core policies, no matter how stupid they are."
  8026. >She nods, steps forward, and brushes the side of your neck with hers while hugging you
  8027. >You cannot help but reciprocate the gesture
  8028. >"That's good to hear."
  8029. >She follows you to the door
  8030. >"Are you sure you want to go? We could share a bed. And I must ask one more thing."
  8031. "Yeah?"
  8032. >"Who's Spike?"
  8033. >You can only laugh
  8034.  
  8035. A - go to the motel
  8036. B - go to the hive
  8037. Y - go to the old apartment site
  8038. X - stay with Rarity
  8039. XXXYY
  8040.  
  8041. >Rarity's eyes perk straight up in confusion
  8042. >"What? Did I say something funney?"
  8043. >Must stop laughing to explain, but it's such a hard thing to do!
  8044. >And when you finally succed at this herculean task, your stomach hurts too much to talk
  8045. >The state your thoracic diaphragm is in indignates you're not a professional singer
  8046. >No shock, really
  8047. >"Very funny. Twilight, can you explain me what did I say? I would like to have a hearthy laugh, too, you know."
  8048. >You sit on your haunches in front of the closed apartment door
  8049. "You wouldn't believe."
  8050. >"It's worth a try, isn't it?"
  8051. >She cocks her head and shines at you with a prying smile
  8052. >Her eyes catch a time-display
  8053. >"Oh, goodness! It's this late. And I must wake up so early!"
  8054. >You observe as this Rarity quickly panics, with all Rarity's normal fashion, lower jaw let loose, eyes big as plates, tail angrily bouncing left and right on the floor
  8055. >"Well, not tonight. Next time. You will tell me who this Spike is and why did you at the mention of that mare. Must be hay of a story."
  8056. >It's past 1 am
  8057. >"Quickly, let's go."
  8058. >She grabs a card and gently pushes you out of the way
  8059. "Er, where are you going?"
  8060. >The stop in her tracks is audible with a squeak
  8061. >"To let you out."
  8062. "No need. I can find the exit myself."
  8063. >Rarity shakes her head as she disagrees
  8064. >"I disagree."
  8065. >Damn
  8066. >"The elevators works only with the door cards. I cannot give you mine, as I must exit at morning, and we didn't bother to get a visitor's card at the security booth."
  8067. >You stand there for a moment as this sink in
  8068. >"And before you asks, darling, the staircase opens only during emergiencies."
  8069. "Hmm."
  8070. >"Don't stand there, let's go. I must go to bed, and so must you."
  8071. >She stands next to the door, and you throw your head back to look at her bedroom
  8072. >There is a bed
  8073. >Even a big one
  8074. >Bigger than your entire cubit
  8075. >Nothing wrong with that, but if she's in a hurry
  8076. "How about we save up that time and hit the hay?"
  8077. >Once again a very confused Rarity warily eyes you
  8078.  
  8079. "Your bed looks good to fit both of us, and you will save up time."
  8080. >There's a flurry of emotions displaying on her beautiful visage
  8081. >From worry to acceptance, through understanding and marshmallowness
  8082. >You decide to gamble and walk away from her
  8083. >Her bed doesn't make a sound as you climb it
  8084. >Rarity joins you in her bedroom, but doesn't get on the bed, yet
  8085. >She ends with her chest pulled into the side of the bed, and her head hold high
  8086. >Just under where your is as you lay on the bed
  8087. >"It's not that I'm against the idea, but I was under the assumption you want to go."
  8088. >Her eyes focused at yours
  8089. >For a change, you can't read her thoughts
  8090. "Well, aren't we friends?"
  8091. >She dignifiently neighs - neighs! - and doesn't budge
  8092. >Maybe you over-gambled it
  8093. >Why do you always have the most problems when trying to help somepony else than you?
  8094. "You don't have to answer that question, Rares, but-"
  8095. >You cut it sigh as dramatically as only Celestia could
  8096. "Please?"
  8097. >Her forhead relaxes
  8098. >She climbs on the bed
  8099. >"Well, since you're so considerate, it would be rude of me to not accept this state of matter."
  8100. >Whatever you say, Rarity
  8101. >The both of you tuck yourself under the blanket and your head falls right into a velvety pillow
  8102. >It's so big and soft and big both of you use it, and none of you are even touching!
  8103. >All of it is done without a sound, maybe except for her giggle, that turned out to be not sneaky enough
  8104. >Rarity clops her hooves twice and the light turns out
  8105. >You lay there, in complete darkness
  8106. >The windows don't let in any light
  8107. >You know it's bright outside, the day-night cycle doesn't mean anything in the lower canterlot
  8108. >You briefly wonder does it matter anywhere else
  8109. >But it's too dark to focus on anythin gbut that unpiercable vail falling over your senses
  8110. >Seems like you are equally physically taxed
  8111. >You close your eyes and see no difference than when they were open
  8112. >It feels as the first moment in your cubit, before the light and air pump turned on
  8113.  
  8114. >They don't turn on here, and the sounds of other ponies having living their lives does not reach you either
  8115. >Only some small movement to your side and steady breathing of your friend
  8116. >How long has passed since you lay down in the bed you cannot tell
  8117. >Rarity moves during her sleep, no serious trashing, but moving closer and closer
  8118. >Her side eventually meets yours
  8119. >It's extremely warm and pleasant
  8120. >Only then she stops to occassionaly mewl
  8121. >Only then you manage to fall asleep
  8122. >...
  8123. >A loud alarm wakes you up!
  8124. "Wa!"
  8125. >Ah!
  8126. >You can't get on your hooves!
  8127. >Something heavy doesn't let god of you neck-
  8128. >Wait, hold on
  8129. >You clop twice and the light turns on, and then you stand on the bed
  8130. >Rarity's voice is filled with strong 'five more minues' vibes
  8131. >"Twiligjt. darling."
  8132. >The winter coated assailant lets go of you with a soft pomf
  8133. >"Check the time."
  8134. >She doesn't open the eyes, but covers them with hooves
  8135. "It's 6:20 am."
  8136. >She sighs and get up
  8137. >"Can you disactivate the second alarm, please?"
  8138. >It doesn't sounds like a question, more like a command, really
  8139. >The morning is particularly harsh for her, so you get off the bed to the traditional looking alarm clock
  8140. >As you try to figure out how to turn it off she goes out of the room
  8141. >The clock has three panels
  8142. >Why does it have any panel?!
  8143. >Water in the bathroom is being used when the bomb in your hooves explode to live with even louder ringing!
  8144. >You slap it right on the top and it shuts up with a metalic clank
  8145. >Aw, hay
  8146. >You go to the bathroom to find the door open and Rarity cleaning her teeth
  8147. >"Waan a kln erzelf?"
  8148. >You chuckle
  8149. "Yes, I too like to mewl."
  8150. >She stips out the rest of the foam and cleans her mouth
  8151. >"You can clean yourself now, we have to go out in 30 minutes."
  8152. >Rarity?
  8153. >Done withing 30 minutes?
  8154. >You trace after her as she goes past you
  8155. >She licks her teeth and looks at you with one eye
  8156. >Her butt bounces as she halts
  8157. >"What? Do I have something on the flanks or you want me to raise some ta-"
  8158. >You rush into the bathroom
  8159.  
  8160. >There is some laughing outside but you don't care
  8161. >Rarity isn't like that, she would spend endless hours inside before going out
  8162. >And she wouldn't tease you like that
  8163. >The view in the mirror displays a perfectly healthy looking Twilight Sparkle with perfectly looking case of embarassed snout
  8164. >You don't know what's in the head of this Rarity but she is teasing you once again
  8165. >Like before
  8166. >Like before!
  8167. >Does that mean you managed to save your friendship?
  8168. >Does that count as a success?
  8169. >She's not coy or shy or anxious around anymore
  8170. >She commands you and tries to raise her tail!
  8171. >So, she did get used to these odd events and what they hold
  8172. >You get out and receive an oatmeal toast, or two
  8173. >And a cup of warm powder milk
  8174. >Mmm, tastes almost real
  8175. >Rarity puts the glasses in the sink, fills them with water, and both of you exit through the front doors
  8176. >...
  8177. >Rarity leads the way
  8178. >She isn't going where you come from yesterday, but goes past the corridor that leads to the elevator
  8179. >Her pace is brisk and energetic
  8180. >It's kind of hipnotizing to look at her from this angle from behind-
  8181. >You notice her head turns your side and you avoid getting caught staring at the goods
  8182. >She gives you a big smile which you return
  8183. >When you're about to open your mouth and asks the corridor ends in an open gallery
  8184. >It's so bright and warm
  8185. >One of the walls gave up and made place for a railing at which you place your front legs
  8186. >On the other sides are still doors to the apartments, but you can look up and down all 40-stores
  8187. >Deep down is a garden!
  8188. >It must be, it's so green, with trees!
  8189. >You thought the side-entrance greenery was looking so delicious, but no
  8190. >Even from the distance of 17 stores your mouth begin to water
  8191. >And then you look up
  8192. >High, high above you sun rays made their way through the glass roof, creating a spectacle of lights, right in the middle of the complex
  8193. >As if the sun on the dome was nearer the top of the building
  8194. >Rarity hums as she shares the view
  8195.  
  8196. >"Yes, it's quite beautiful."
  8197. >You drop down and pull your jaw back to its place
  8198. "I see why you chose to live here."
  8199. >She leads you to an elevator which you spot from a distance
  8200. >It's on the empty side of the complex, descending right into the park or raising right into the sun
  8201. >It quickly opens and both of you enter
  8202. >She puts her door card to the panel and it moves
  8203. >"It's not like that. You see, I would not be able to pay for it."
  8204. "Is that why you have a roommate?"
  8205. >"Coco? No, no. She could actually afford a place like that on her own. I won this."
  8206. >You tilt your head and she catches the clue
  8207. >"I won a lottery and won to live there rent-free. All I need to pay are the commodities."
  8208. >You whistle
  8209. "Now, that's a heck of a lottery."
  8210. >You both exit the elevator
  8211. >You look for the green trees and all that, but it must have stayed up above you
  8212. >"I know you looked for a chance to get your hooves into a real grass, but that's a priviledge I don't have."
  8213. >She once again leads you, this time towards big portal with pony guards in matching uniforms
  8214. "Priviledge? What do you mean?"
  8215. >"Each pony living here can spend one day each three months at the gardens. Otherwise everypony would just crown the place and ruin it."
  8216. >You shake your head in disbelief
  8217. "That's crazy."
  8218. >"But necessary."
  8219. >The guard ponies scan Rarity's card and give you two warm smiles
  8220. >The main entrance to the complex is as grand as the views inside
  8221. >And you find yourself right at the Plate Plaza
  8222. >The Plate Plaza is a round area where ponies can meet and spend time, right in the center of the lower canterlot
  8223. >It also containt an elevator to the upper canterlor
  8224. >"What are you going to do now, darling?"
  8225. >You watch the elevator section of the Plaza being swarmed with ponies in expensive suits and angry brows getting out of the lift
  8226. >After it's empty the guards allow more humble lower canterlot ponies to get in, after being scanned
  8227. >"Are you going to show yoruself at the Slut House? We open at 10."
  8228. "I will..."
  8229.  
  8230. >You deploy a tactical yawn before you answer
  8231. A - run to the Silent Hill Motel to catch Light Breeze (if she's hasn't left yet!)
  8232. B - go with Rarity (to work at her place!)
  8233. Y - go take a stroll around this part of the city (you don't think you ever been here before)
  8234. X - go to the old apartment of yours (they must have do something with the collapsed bulding in the end!)
  8235. AA
  8236.  
  8237. "Do stuff."
  8238. >You close the gap betwen you two with the intention of kissing her cheek.
  8239. >She oblidge, without any trace of uncertaincy and without missing a beat she reprocicate the gesture
  8240. >Won't lie, it feels good
  8241. >"Then have a good day, darling."
  8242. >You begin to trot, only to stop and turn back
  8243. >Rarity notices it, as the is going through the same exit street from the spacious Plate Plaza
  8244. "I may send a pony your way."
  8245. >"To work?"
  8246. "Yes. Now bye, stuff."
  8247. >You flash her a mischevious smile, and the moment the realization sparks in her big blue eyes you're gone, running and giggling like a mad mare
  8248. >Manouvering between a sea of ponies, now more busy than ever, in the current state of infectious laughter is very dangerous
  8249. >Somepony may say a lame joke and others may think you're laughing at it
  8250. >You take it anyway
  8251. >...
  8252. >It must be a personal record time to get through such a distance in such short time for you
  8253. >Sadly, you are unwilling to confirm the said record by looking at the hotel lobby's clock
  8254. >You know you won, you don't need to make sure
  8255. >Your lungs may burn a little and your head may dizzle brizzle, but you won
  8256. >You just need a small pause, which you take at the parter floor cafeteria
  8257. >After two cups of lemonless lemonade, five crebits each (370 left), you go to Light Breeze's cubit
  8258. >This time you know the way to 405 and find no pony barricading the entire path by the measures of mounting one another
  8259. >And even if!
  8260. >You would kindly ask them to get a room
  8261. >They are in a hotel, for Celestia's sake!
  8262. >You knock on the closed door and wait
  8263. >And wait some more
  8264. >You put your snout to the glass, but the inside is obstructed by an ugly beige curtine
  8265. >Is it possible Light Breeze left for the day?
  8266. >Well, what else could happen?
  8267. >You wonder about asking the neighbours
  8268. >That exact moment the stallion from the cubit above the 405 snores
  8269. >Eh, what the heck
  8270. >You tap his door
  8271. >The light in the cubit turns on almost immediately
  8272.  
  8273. >The door open to the side and a dark brown, bushy-looking colt pushes his head thorugh the gape
  8274. >He spots you and furrows his brow
  8275. >"Ponies try to sleep here, you know!?"
  8276. >Heck
  8277. >You are getting ready to tell him it's not nice to yell at strangers, but you're good at friendship, and realize you're not nice either
  8278. >The initial disgust prevails, though
  8279. "Do you know where the pony living you went?"
  8280. >His brown snout raises to the ceiling as he looks at you with one eye
  8281. >"That mare? How would I even know?"
  8282. "Light Breeze. She your neighbour."
  8283. >He jabs a hoof at you from his perch
  8284. >"Do YOU know all whereabouts of your neighbours?"
  8285. >Oh, wow
  8286. >No need to be angry
  8287. "Listen, I-"
  8288. >"Not even going to pretend you're sorry?"
  8289. "I'm... sorry?"
  8290. >The stallion gasps in indignation and speak some more, but you don't listen to him anymore
  8291. >His behavior hits you like a train when it dawns on you:
  8292. >He could make Rarity run for her bits in a sassy-ness contest
  8293. >As this mules through your rather creative mind he drones on and on
  8294. >You really don't know what he's talking about right now, but you know what to do
  8295. >"Rude and barbaric and-"
  8296. "What-ya-DO-DA-DOO."
  8297. >His head recoils back
  8298. >Ponies from other rows and alleys get silent
  8299. >You must have gained unwanted attention
  8300. >It would be better if you just walked away
  8301. >But no
  8302. >Here you are
  8303. >You pick the sincere route
  8304. "I'm sorry, ok? I just worry about my friend. Life isn't easy and she's in a pretty dire situation and I wanted to give her the good news as soon as possible. I'm sorry I woke you up, but I must ask you to tell her something. Can you do this for a fellow pony?"
  8305. >His lips part but no sound comes out
  8306. "All I ask of you is to tell her to find me ASAP. Tell her the Purple-"
  8307. >Purple what?!
  8308. "-Princess found what she needs."
  8309. >He looks at you dubiously for more that would be pleasant
  8310. >The voices around you comes back to live
  8311. >Whatever they though would happen - didn't, and they did not find it interesting to listen anymore
  8312.  
  8313. >As for the colt, he breathes a stream of hot air and nods
  8314. "Thank you."
  8315. >You turn away and go towards 314 without looking back
  8316. >Diffucult to tell will that snobbity snob snob deliver the message,
  8317. >Maybe he will show good will
  8318. >In the end, he stopped to yell when you yelled back
  8319. >Stopped to talk, even
  8320. >Eh
  8321. >Your cubit looks the same way you left it
  8322. >When the door opens a small piece of paper falls to the ground
  8323. >You hesitate to pick up the litter, but curiosity wins
  8324. >It always wins!
  8325. >It's a message!
  8326. >"Dear Twilight"
  8327. >Oh!
  8328. >You enter the cubit, and close the door,
  8329. >It's very hot there
  8330. >The light and the air vent turn on faster than ever
  8331. >You send warm praise to the air vent goddess that raises air vents on the sky each day
  8332. >And giggle
  8333. >You read the message
  8334. >"Dear Twilight, I think I will visit my cousin, she works at the kirintown in lower canterlot, she may have a job for both of us, if anything, see you at the evening, with warm hugs, xoxo"
  8335. >The air is pleasantly cold now, but you feel warm inside
  8336. >Somepony cares about you
  8337. >Well, somepony more than an old friend Rarity
  8338. >Even if she's not your variant of the very same friend
  8339. >It just feels nice and you think the day just got better
  8340. >But who the heck is "xoxo"?
  8341. A - take a day off to relax before the job at the docks (be well rested)
  8342. B - a quick nap at best, but do something in the meanwhile (but what?)
  8343. Y - nothing really to come up with
  8344. X - no, srsly, is there anything else to do?
  8345. AA
  8346.  
  8347. >The mistery of "xoxo" is left unsolved as you go down to get some light second breakfast
  8348. >Hwat-a-borgar, a cup of Soap soda and a hoofful of Prench Fries later, you head back to your cubit
  8349. >With 350 bits on your digital card, the vision of 5000 crebs to be earnt is undoubtedly a pleasurable one
  8350. >On the way to your cubit you get to know one of your neighbours
  8351. >A mother of two, with said two, yelling as if Luna came down from the Moon again
  8352. >What's the worst is, their high voices pierce through the thin walls of your cage, only minimally duffling them
  8353. >Those are no conditions to rest, or prepare for unprerable
  8354. >The place feels even smaller than before
  8355. >Such is the unexpected effect of the visit to Rarity's place
  8356. >She at least has a flat to herself
  8357. >And Coco
  8358. >Whoever this Coco might be
  8359. >A thought of Coco being the bulkiest version of a pony, and a stallion to this no less, briefly amuzes
  8360. >But you saw the pictures, it's not true
  8361. >The foals are still crying
  8362. >It's unberable to the point of semi-promising yourself you will buy them something sweet to shut them up once you're done with this job
  8363. >Not faster than you think this, the air vent inside the cubit stops working
  8364. >You turn to the small screen above the bed's head and poke the code pannel with the tip of your hoof
  8365. >The screen comes to life and turns blue
  8366. >The letters are blue, not the whole screen
  8367. >Aha!
  8368. >The air filter system turns off from time to time, to make sure it's not turned on for the whole day
  8369. >That, and it's a state mandated practice
  8370. >If the explanation can be trusted
  8371. >To be frank, you weren't inside a cubit at such time of a day before
  8372. >The code pannel doesn't provide much more, as it's very unpleasant to tap multiple times to get a letter
  8373. >Turns out, the connection with the PoneNet is extra paid at the reception
  8374. >The children finally cease their cacophony
  8375. >You close your eyes and doze off almost instantly
  8376. >...
  8377.  
  8378. >Gah!
  8379. >You wake up and trash at the tiny mattress, hitting yourself in the knee in the effect
  8380. >Rubbing the pain out help a bit, but you forgot to set a timer!
  8381. >What if it's already too late?!
  8382. >You open the door and get out
  8383. >There is no pony in your part of corridor
  8384. >You rush to the common zone on your floor, two floors above the marketplace
  8385. >Crowded as always
  8386. >As before, you can see heads of ponies and tops of the stands, but you're interested in an old, round clock, high above
  8387. >It's only 4 pm!
  8388. >Oof
  8389. >You still have time to get to the docks, and maybe eat something on the way
  8390. >Shit!
  8391. >You forgot to close your cubit!
  8392. >Galloping back, you find everything in check and, as if on cue, door number 305 opens!
  8393. >You kick the ground, ready for anything, observing the pinkish pegasi mare to get out of it and close it
  8394. >Only then she spots you, and you notice she's kind of smaller than you
  8395. >Her eyes widen and a hoof of hers lands on her chin
  8396. >"Did- did something happen?"
  8397. >You blink
  8398. "No."
  8399. >The pony want to say something more, yet doesn't
  8400. >She checks is her place locked up, without taking her eyes off of you
  8401. >Then she proceed to back track out of the alley
  8402. >Damnit, Twilight Sparkle! No need to scare good decent ponies like that!
  8403. >How could we know this, Twilight Sparkle? We had to be ready for-
  8404. >No, this is stupid
  8405. >And to talk about stupid
  8406. >You grab both the glasses and the black hoodie and put them on
  8407. >That will work miracles!
  8408. >You hope
  8409. >With everything in check, you depart from the Silent Hill motel without any further delay
  8410. >...
  8411. >The docks did not look orange at this time of day
  8412. >They looked gray, and brown, and ugly
  8413. >And they smelled bad
  8414. >You don't remember did they smell like urine before but now they do
  8415. >And they are full of ponies in werehouse's clothes
  8416. >You must congratulate yourself on the disguise
  8417. >You fit there perfectly
  8418. >Smaller and bigger magazine ponies roll out bales and palettes of various goods and products and put them on carts, each with two ponies at least
  8419.  
  8420. >It's past 6 pm, because you took your time to walk here, and it must be the time when the night-time deliveries to shops are being prepared
  8421. >You did not know that, and you've never seen it before
  8422. >But what other explanation this collective behaviour can be?
  8423. >You slowly stroll past and between the working spaces watching as the city lives
  8424. >Sometimes, in between tall buildings, you have to backtrack and find another way, as the carts are stored there
  8425. >These ponies don't care about you in the slightest
  8426. >At least as long as you keep some distance
  8427. >The don't wear much, just a yellow or orange jacket with their company's name on a small badge
  8428. >You fit in, but more like a pony going to or from work
  8429. >...
  8430. >You spend the rest of the time walking in circles, trying to locate the corporate docks
  8431. >You ask one pony at a time to direct you there, but he only laughed that this is the corporate dock everywhere
  8432. >With that in mind, you return to walk next to the water canal, which smells even worse now
  8433. >The deeper into the docks you go, the less ponies you see, untill you eventually reach the trade association builing that you have been at before
  8434. >You're tempted to get in and ask for some coffee, but you're not supposed to be seen
  8435. >Maybe on the way out
  8436. >After that place, the ponies are almost unseen
  8437. >Nopony packs anything or pull anything
  8438. >The warehouses close to the cart routs give up place to closed space barns
  8439. >And closed spaces they are
  8440. >With tall brick walls and sturdy metal gates, with fence mesh and cameras facing many directions
  8441. >There are some trash cans and wood crates in dead ends of some alleys, but you keep to the water
  8442. >It's hard not to wonder how far the water canal really goes
  8443. >Especially after the place where the canal is not a lake anymore, and the dome cuts it from freely spilling outside the lower canterlor
  8444. >Something in your chest floof tingle
  8445. >You retrieve the pager and pull it close to your face to read the tiny screen
  8446. >It says "Behind BlackMare"
  8447.  
  8448. >More poking the device produces the exact same message
  8449. >You look around and, indeed, the very next gate leads to the "BlackMare" properties
  8450. >As you close to the wall, behind which is a big open site, filled with ship containers, and with a towering guard post in the middle of it, the pager tries to jump out of your hoof
  8451. >That means you're at the place, right?
  8452. >Even if so, you still need to locate the "behind" of it
  8453. >You don't go near the main entrance
  8454. >There's a camera there, it must be
  8455. >You go in the opposite direction and find yourself walking past couple of corners, in an arrow path between two walls
  8456. >One of the walls give up, and soon you find yourself hoof to face with a pile of construction trash
  8457. >They are located next to unsecure (still closed!) entrance to some other warehouse
  8458. >So it won't be much of use
  8459. >You poke the pager, but it doesn't turn on or budge or anything
  8460. >Here goes nothing
  8461. >You open the first trash can
  8462. >...
  8463. >You open the last trash can and, finally, you find something!
  8464. >Of course it had to be the last!
  8465. >It's a neatly foiled package
  8466. >You untie it and place the contents on the conrete grounds
  8467. >In front of you lays a hoof size small box, and, presumably, the thing from before
  8468. >It's packed in brown box, similar to the black one, but with difference with neat hoof-writing on top of it
  8469. >"Don't shake" and "it's in paper inside"
  8470. >You try to pick it up under one of your legs, and while uncomfortable, it doesn't feel like much of a burden
  8471. >If you're not going to run or roll, it should be safe
  8472. >You focus on the luxury looking smaller box and see no instruction
  8473. >You pop it open
  8474. >Inside is a crebit card and a piece of plastic which seems to be an earpiece
  8475. >You try it and it fits your ear
  8476. >The card turns yellow when you touch it
  8477. >It has no less than 5000 crebits
  8478. >And because it's yellow, it allows you to suck it dry by putting your orange one to it
  8479. >Or try
  8480.  
  8481. >The earpiece comes to life
  8482. >"Hello."
  8483. >The voice is distorted, but you assume it's aimed at you
  8484. >You nod your head in a greeting
  8485. >It's not as dumb as it sounds!
  8486. >You're checking is the operator capable of seeing you somewhere on a screen
  8487. >She doesn't say anything more
  8488. >"Hello?"
  8489. >if you remembered Kar any better, you would recognize her quicker
  8490. "I'm on the position."
  8491. >"I know. I see you on the map."
  8492. "The money card doesn't work."
  8493. >You can only imagine a hypothetical sultry pony giving you a stinky eye
  8494. >As if you were trying to rob them!
  8495. "Money before work was a part of the deal. Important part."
  8496. >"I am aware. The card you got has the full sum. We, however, had to make sure you won't try to rob us. It would be extremely painful."
  8497. >You are Twilight Sparkle
  8498. >And you're well versed in the language of the young
  8499. "For you."
  8500. >She is about to say something but she pauses
  8501. >"What?"
  8502. >The surprise in her voice is clear even after the deformation
  8503. >Shit
  8504. "What?"
  8505. >"What?"
  8506. >The sun, far to the side, give up the place for the lunar body to raise above the canterlot dome
  8507. >But no lamp post turns on nearby, except for the one under the locked entrance to some magazine next to you
  8508. >You sigh as if it were not you who caused this silliness
  8509. >"I'm sorry, we had some connection issues. "
  8510. "When will I be able to transfer the money?"
  8511. >"The card will be good to take the money from in four hours."
  8512. "Where can I check it myself?"
  8513. >"Place the card to yours and try to transfer."
  8514. >You do as you're told, and the orange screen of your card, after the second failed attempt informs you the banking depot you're trying to reach will open at midnight
  8515. "Cool."
  8516. >"Now, your task is simple, don't let anypony see you and deliver the package to the guard house."
  8517. >Right to the nest?
  8518. "Now, wait a minute, how am I supposed to do that?"
  8519. >As if on cue, at the top of the said construction a reflector shines up and swings through the sea of darkness belowe
  8520. >"You're the expert of sneaky stuff."
  8521.  
  8522. >It's indeed dark and sneaky, but-
  8523. >No, no butts, you need these money
  8524. >But do you need it this much?
  8525. >You look around and find three ways to get there
  8526. >Two are purely hypothetical
  8527. A - put the parcel through the bars in the wall section, make a ladder of the trash cans and jump over the fence
  8528. B - go along the wall untill you find a fence net that's good enough to go under or tear apart or... hope for best!
  8529. Y - get down into the canal, not in the water, mind you, but on the level where you have your hooves in the water and look for a pipe big enough for a pony leading to this facility
  8530. X - screaw this and tell Kar you're not going to do it
  8531. Y
  8532.  
  8533. >You back out towards the street and the canal
  8534. >The place seens empty
  8535. >Once again, you sweep the area to make sure no pony sees you
  8536. >Eventually, content with this, you stand near the canal
  8537. >The water is two ponies height under you
  8538. >Jumping into it, with a package of unknown content is a big no-no
  8539. >And where to mention your black hoodie!
  8540. >Oh, and with an earplug, no less
  8541. >You walk until you find a ladder
  8542. >It leads towards the water, of course, and ends around half-a-hoof in it, hiding in concrete
  8543. >Your hind legs gets wet, and instantly feels solid ground under it
  8544. >All of your hooves are in the water, but you're standing on some kind of a window sill
  8545. >Just as you suspected
  8546. >The parapet is narrow, and you can't turn back without falling into water
  8547. >It's not a problem, you don't plan to back-walk
  8548. >From the view on the water level, the canal looks impregnated with darkness
  8549. >But it doesn't smell bad
  8550. >You feared you would need to puke, but the bad smell of the docks which you encountered in the more populated area must be gone for now, or never reached here
  8551. >With that final thought you step forward, one leg at a time, with your stomach just above the mirror of water, without making your hoodie wet
  8552. >You walk, and walk,
  8553. >And approach a place where the canal gets covered with a roof
  8554. >There are visible holes in a wall on your side in the distance, lit dimly with old lightbulbs, which only need to start to flicker to make the place looks haunted and unwelcome
  8555. >And you almost fall to the water
  8556. "Damnit."
  8557. >The curse leaves your mouth as you take a step back
  8558. >A distant, distorted voice resounds in your ear
  8559. >"What happened? I'm losing your signal."
  8560. >Oh, yea, you forgot you're not alone
  8561. "Do you have the plans of the site?"
  8562. >"Yes, but only the building. No info about the whereabouts of the containers. What do you need?"
  8563. "I'm going by the canal. I need to know which pipe leads to the site."
  8564. >It takes your operator a bit of time, but she responds sounding almost proud of herself
  8565.  
  8566. >It's the second big pipe you'll encounter, but I'm not sure it's the most sanitary way to enter."
  8567. >You get into the tunnel and her voice dies out completely
  8568. >Only irregualr clicks of the piece turning on and off cling randomly in the device
  8569. >It's really quiet there
  8570. >And clean, considering the walls have no sign of graffiti
  8571. >No hoofigan gang sits here
  8572. >There's nowhere to sit, to begin
  8573. >You reach the first big hole in the wall, clearly bigger than the ones following it
  8574. >They all are on your hoof level, barely filled with standing water
  8575. >The second pipe big enough for you must be it
  8576. >It's too, filled with a hoof of water, but that's not a problem
  8577. >The darkness in it, is
  8578. >Crap
  8579. >You didn't think of that, now, did you?
  8580. >But wait!
  8581. >You push the hoodie down, exposing your vulnerable chest floof and wipe the hoof into the hoodie!
  8582. >Sacrafices must be made!
  8583. >With a not-so-wet leg, you can grab the pager!
  8584. >It doesn't work
  8585. >But!
  8586. >It displays "Connection Time Ran Out"!
  8587. >So it provides a tiny bit of light, right?
  8588. >It's sure not the best idea ever, but still a best idea for now
  8589. >You enter the pipe, wearing a hoodie and a pair of glasses
  8590. >You can't stand on your full height
  8591. >Must bend your legs just a tiny bit so you don't scrap the metal with your horn
  8592. >And you don't want to, it's rusty
  8593. >It's almost brown inside, but at least doesn't smell nasty
  8594. >The water looks normal, but feels dirty
  8595. >The device in your hoof does suffice
  8596. >It doesn't provide as much light as a light stick would, but hey
  8597. >At least you can see something in front of you
  8598. >And speaking of your senses - it's very quiet
  8599. >Each of your steps outside of the water, unwillingly echoes, making it come and go through the entire lenght
  8600. >You look under your legs and sneak forward, with the package under your other leg
  8601. >...
  8602. >It must be around half an hour before you find the end of the pipe
  8603. >There's nowhere else to go
  8604. >You look around
  8605. >There's a hatch above you
  8606. >It must have had a hold to open from the inside, but it's gone
  8607.  
  8608. >Only two bits of metal stick out where the handle must have been
  8609. >You turn off the pager and secure it in your floof, then you proceed to prod the hatch in one way or another
  8610. >And it gives up-
  8611. >And falls down!
  8612. >The noise is almost unbearable!
  8613. >But there's light!
  8614. >The exit light above doors shines enough for your head, sticking out of the now hatchless pipe to notice a small storage room
  8615. >The pipe and the machinery connected to it takes up almost one third of the room
  8616. >There are shelves filled with bottles and carts with mops
  8617. >There's a single crate in one of the corners, away from you
  8618. >And a ladder, positioned in the way the machine blocks the vision from the doors, leading under the ceiling, right to a closed marehole
  8619. >That's hay a lot of to take in instantly, but you're Twilight Sparkle
  8620. >And you're in trouble
  8621. >From the other side of the door come raised voices of ponies, at least two
  8622. >The door gets pulled, but they don't open
  8623. >They must be looking for a key
  8624. >You don't have time to lose
  8625. A - Get inside the pipe and hide really deep in it!
  8626. B - Grab a mop cart and hide behind the big crate!
  8627. Y - Get on the ladder behind the machine and stay under the ceiling!
  8628. X - Hide in the open, by the door, and assault the first pony that gets in!
  8629. AA
  8630.  
  8631. >You sneak back into the hole!
  8632. >And you manage to take one quick step back, before your hoof hits the metal too strong, and it groan in almost inhumane effort!
  8633. >A curse dies in your throat
  8634. >One of the guards yell at the other
  8635. >You don't hear what
  8636. >At least the tube is wide enough to manouver inside
  8637. >You turn back and trudge, slowly, making sure you make a bee-line with your hooves
  8638. >The small amount of the water is present even so away from the canal, and it still muffles your steps
  8639. >The door opens!
  8640. >You freeze
  8641. >Oh no, you did not get to the first corner!
  8642. >There's no chance for hiding deeper
  8643. >You'll be demasked
  8644. >Thinking this won't make you any good
  8645. >Hooves on conrete
  8646. >They talk
  8647. >It's hard to hear when your heartbeat in chest and blood pressure in ears is louder than that
  8648. >Not daring to move, you await
  8649. >Two stallions, that's sure
  8650. >If any of them flashes light at you-
  8651. >Can't have that
  8652. >This unimmobilizes you
  8653. >You place the brown parcel across the pipe width, securing it won't fall into the water
  8654. >With both hooves free, you quickly disrobe the hoodie
  8655. >You push it into the rusty roof
  8656. >Hard to tell will it block the vision but isn't that better than nothing?
  8657. >It's dark
  8658. >This time you don't hold a dim light of the pager in front of you
  8659. >The only thing visible is the end of the pipe, with the open hatch
  8660. >You can hear them talking
  8661. >Yell?
  8662. >Argue?
  8663. >You cannot tell
  8664. >Then one of them sticks their head inside the pipe and looks right at you!
  8665. >You hold breath
  8666. >Not even blink
  8667. >His eyebrows raise in mute question
  8668. >"Do you think we should report it as suspicious activity?"
  8669. >His voice is high, cracking
  8670. >The other one answers him, but it doesn't reach you
  8671. >"I don't know, but we should at least report it. Worst case scenario, we'll get yelled at for filling the wrong paper."
  8672. >He disappears
  8673. >They talk some more
  8674. >Your legs begin to tremble from exhaution
  8675. >It's not heavy, but the pose is far from comfortable
  8676. >Now only bits of conversation go your way, but they sound more like white noise
  8677.  
  8678. >For a good moment you don't hear anything
  8679. >You lower the hoodie and stick an eye and an ear out
  8680. >Due to being light-challenged nothing changes in this department, but you can hear more
  8681. >"I didn't know the janitors had this much of a closet."
  8682. >"Trust me, you don't want to change the rooms with them."
  8683. >The other's stallion voice is deeper, he sounds older
  8684. >"Because of the dust?"
  8685. >"Because of this."
  8686. >You don't know what he points at, but there's a distinct sound of a hoof meeting with metal
  8687. >"It's loud. Like, really loud."
  8688. >The deeper voice finishes
  8689. >"Isn't it a water recycler?"
  8690. >The higher voice inquires
  8691. >You use this moment to go a little bit deeper into the pipe
  8692. >A slow hum from in front of you sends the pipeline into small, slow vibrations!
  8693. >You can't tell what is happening
  8694. >Wrong, you can, you just refuse to acknowledge it
  8695. >Wet half of your hoof turns into whole wet hoof
  8696. >The water level is rising!
  8697. >They turned the thing on!
  8698. >Why would they do that?!
  8699. >You can't tell what else are they doing!
  8700. >And you must do something!
  8701. >And-
  8702. >Oh, Luna on the Moon!
  8703. >The smell!
  8704. >The water under you smell like a rotten fish!
  8705. >You can't breath!
  8706. >You will reach!
  8707. >Puke!
  8708. >Screw this!
  8709. >You take one step back, and no sound is made by the old pipe, but-
  8710. >But you can't go back!
  8711. >You will suffocate on the way out!
  8712. >You must go forward with the only hope none of them will stick their head into this stinky hole
  8713. >You make four or five steps and the light is gone!
  8714. >They must have heaved the hatch and placed it back!
  8715. >What- what if they locked it?!
  8716. >Could it even be blocked?
  8717. >Oh, no, no, no
  8718. >No time to think
  8719. >The water level reaches half way to your knee!
  8720. >And you not puke a little into your mouth
  8721. >Nope
  8722. >You run forward, with the hoodie and package on your back
  8723. >At least you don't need to crawl like at the hotel!
  8724. >You think you're close- and hit snout first into the metal grill!
  8725. >You greab your nose and rub your eyes
  8726. >The glasses get int the way!
  8727.  
  8728. >You let go of the hoodie and the glasses fall down
  8729. >You can't see, you can't breath, and you wish you couldn't smell as well
  8730. >Frack!
  8731. >You don't care!
  8732. >You push the heavy piece of metal and, you your heart's content, it gives up instantly, the very same way it did the first time
  8733. >And the room is filled with noise
  8734. >You traded the ability to see, for the ability to hear your own thoughts
  8735. >But that doesn't matter
  8736. >You can't think about anything anyways!
  8737. >One lightbulb is enough to show that the room is pony-free
  8738. >No wonder!
  8739. >The doors are closed
  8740. >You scramble out of the pipe and land on the floor
  8741. >You're shaking
  8742. >The vibrations left your legs sore
  8743. >You try to grab the hoodie, but it's compeltely damp
  8744. >Lucky enough, the glasses landed just on it
  8745. >You snatch them and- yes, they are as smelly as everyting else
  8746. >You are smelly
  8747. >Will it even get off after a shower?
  8748. >You look at the package
  8749. >Your brows travel right under your bangs
  8750. >It doesn't look even moistened at all
  8751. >Out of all of this trouble and lost wardrobe, this thing is present in perfect condition
  8752. >If you were superstitious, you would believe it's a sign, but you're not
  8753. >What you are is Twilight Sparkle
  8754. >And that means you inspect all your chest floof items
  8755. >Did something get wash away?
  8756. >No, the water got only to your knees, but it smells like an unwashed ox, not that you smelled one!
  8757. >They left, but what if they stay just outside the room?
  8758. >You look back at where the ladder behind the machinery is
  8759. >Could you go out by there?
  8760. >Won't they hear someone opening the mare-hole even for a bit?
  8761. >You can't stay here
  8762. >You will certainly faint
  8763. >You are Twilight Sparkle
  8764. >And you're fucked
  8765. A - Open the door and try to sneak out
  8766. B - Climb the ladder and sneak out through the hole
  8767. Y - Get the biggest, the meaniest mop cart and trash the door
  8768. X - Try to hide and try not to zone off
  8769. Y
  8770.  
  8771. >The smell!
  8772. >Oh, the rancid smell!
  8773. >It seeps through your nose and mouth and legs!
  8774. >You swallow that last bile and look around
  8775. >Desperate times take desperate measures
  8776. >You don't know where these two guards went
  8777. >Probably as far away from here as possible
  8778. >You're going to do exactly the same
  8779. >But on wheels!
  8780. >You run around the room and look for the meaniest looking cart
  8781. >One of them has place for, like, five different full size mops!
  8782. >It's very wide, and you don't think you can speed without crashing into the doorframe
  8783. >The sound of your hooves may be drown in the low humming, but it would be impossible for them not to notice the door to budge
  8784. >Unless they are gone by now
  8785. >But again, why would they be gone?
  8786. >What do guards have to do?
  8787. >The next cart looked like one big bucket
  8788. >It would be perfect for sitting in it, but it's empty and not sturdy enough
  8789. >The last one fits your needs just perfectly
  8790. >Heavy, but not too wide
  8791. >If not for the empty water container and the lack of a sitting place you could take it for a micro sweeper machine
  8792. >And most importantly
  8793. >It's paint yellow
  8794. >Everypony knows yellow is the color doing the best during cart crash tests
  8795. >With newdly found hope for the impromptu formulated plan, you push the cart to the door
  8796. >Only from them, you pull it back in a straight line
  8797. >Making sure the concrete under the tiny wheels don't make the construction to jump
  8798. >You have seen the safety measures clips about not testing the ground and losing all your teeth, your job, your wife, house ,and custody over children because you don't bother to check the basics
  8799. >And you almost faint taking this take-up run!
  8800. >Heave Ho!
  8801. >The cart gets into motion with less effort than you spent to haul it
  8802. >You don't know is it you giving your everything, or is it happy to be used as a ram
  8803. >Both of you conquer the small distance in no time
  8804. >The yellowness meets the doorframe
  8805. >No sound of breaking is louder than the slow, deep hum of the smelly machinery behind you
  8806.  
  8807. >The door gives up!
  8808. >Something grazes one of your ears the very same moment!
  8809. >The cart, and you still holding to it, hit the wall on the other side!
  8810. >You let go of it the moment one of the wheels give up and the contraption bends under a weird, ugly angle
  8811. >You pony up in your battle ready battle pose!
  8812. >Look left - the corridor is guard-less, white and gray
  8813. >Look right - equally empty, gray and white
  8814. >Hmm
  8815. >It looks secure enough to drop from your silly pose stance
  8816. >With all your hooves back on the ground you listen
  8817. >And all you hear is the machine behind you
  8818. >Growning, producing the puke trigger
  8819. >Clean water your ass!
  8820. >You pick the cart up and push it back into the room
  8821. >When you're about to close the door you notice something
  8822. >The doorknob is bent and hangs by a thin metal piece
  8823. >That's not only thing
  8824. >The lock-hole is empty
  8825. >You completely devastated the poor door
  8826. >If there was a pony standing here you-
  8827. >Not think about that, now
  8828. >You push the doorknob back in the place and hope for the best, and the knob on the other side falls out
  8829. >At least this one looks presentable
  8830. >You also pick up the broken wheel and toss it into the cart
  8831. >Maybe you should place the cart where it was, but if somepony notices the lock on sick-leave, it won't matter
  8832. >The more you do, the more your ear does sting
  8833. >You touch it and you feel a sickening warmth
  8834. >There's no way for you to see how much, but your ear is bleeding
  8835. >Something must have caught it when you were storming the door!
  8836. >You return for the brown box last one time, and find nothing that you could tear yourself open at touch
  8837. >At the moment like this, you would really like your old hoodie
  8838. >How much an ear bleed?
  8839. >Will it make a trail?
  8840. >Doesn't matter, you don't have a way out
  8841. >You rub the other ear with a hoof and find the earpiece still in
  8842. >Out of pure luck, the device seems perfectly unscathed
  8843. >If it were this ear, it would be-
  8844. >You don't think of it and look for some rags, anthing that can help with it
  8845.  
  8846. >You find some white material and with an improptu bandage, get out of the cursed room
  8847. >To your content the corridor is still devoid of any life
  8848. >Both sides look identical, with similar doors on one side, and nothing on the other
  8849. >You pick to go left, because you want to be left alone
  8850. >If you picked to go right, that would mean, because you think you're right
  8851. >And right now, you don't feel right
  8852. >And the fact you're making up those ridiculous explanations proves your point
  8853. >Ha, take that Twilight Sparkle!
  8854. >It's not a long corridor
  8855. >You check the doors, but all seem locked
  8856. >Most importantly, there's not a single camera here
  8857. >The door on the end are slightly open
  8858. >And have a window!
  8859. >You rear up to spy
  8860. >It shows a small room, a connector, really
  8861. >Two doors, both with windows, lead out!
  8862. >One forward and one to the right
  8863. >Vision is kinda obscured, but you collect what you notice
  8864. >The door forward leads to some gray-only area, with shuttle doors on left and right
  8865. >A storage, most likely
  8866. >The other is in more white and gray
  8867. >Wha!
  8868. >There was a tiny red hue on the glass from there!
  8869. >Up the ceiling, too!
  8870. >It can be a camera!
  8871. >In that exact moment you jump out of your skin
  8872. >The ear-piece turns to life!
  8873. >"---ee you. Poner."
  8874. >You pull it to a whisper distance
  8875. "I'm in. Can you see me?"
  8876. >"Goo---. ---eak con--- ---ctio---. ---ust go hig---. ---You're not that f---."
  8877. >You would love to decipher the message but you don't have time for it!
  8878. >You've spent here enough time!
  8879. "Listen. Listen."
  8880. >You don't like how nervous you sound."
  8881. "Through the storage or that other room?"
  8882. >"---"
  8883. "Where am I supposed to go?"
  8884. >"---p. Go up. Any way. B--- ---th good."
  8885. >Both good?
  8886. >You shake your head and instantly regret it
  8887. >The pain!
  8888. A - go thought the possibly a storage
  8889. B - go through the other, similar looking room, and risk getting seen by a camera
  8890. Y - run back to the opposite side and try your luck there
  8891. X - [Free Space]
  8892. BXX
  8893. X - "Let's go up. If nothing else, it might give us a better signal."
  8894.  
  8895. >You still lurk in the corridor, snout connected to the door window
  8896. >The budges, and you lose balance
  8897. >All your hooves make it to the ground without any other accident
  8898. >There is something good about this, though
  8899. >When the door moved, the light behind the door turned on, and for a few seconds, stays on
  8900. >It must be a camera, for sure
  8901. >You can't risk bad timing and getting taped
  8902. >This sends you back to the pipe-room
  8903. >On your way, it's not as loud as you feared it would be
  8904. >The small hole in the door somehow doesn't make much a difference, except for the reeking smell
  8905. >You take a step back and inhale the last lung-ful of stale air
  8906. >Anything's better than this
  8907. >You rush in!
  8908. >And stop at the door on the other side
  8909. >The doorknob left in your hoof
  8910. >Your ears begin to tear up already
  8911. >Slow exhale which you draw on and draw on helps you, but you can't just go thought the room
  8912. >You must hide the marks of your presence as long as it's possible
  8913. >Preferably to the very end, even longer
  8914. >Thinkering with the knob goes relatively well, considering you're suffocating
  8915. >It's done, but it took too long
  8916. >You must breath!
  8917. >And you do, right behind the working machinery!
  8918. >You halt and crouch down
  8919. >Your belly meets the ground
  8920. >Couldn't make it to the ladder in one go
  8921. >Not after fixing the door
  8922. >When the little stars in your eyes finish dying one by one, you reach the ladder and slowly ascend
  8923. >Your eyes cry no more, but your stomach rebels
  8924. >You are Twilight Sparkle
  8925. >And this is nothing
  8926. >You push the metal lid above you
  8927. >It's heavy
  8928. >Not at the first, or second try, but you do it, it moves
  8929. >You can't tell does it make any noise
  8930. >The machine dulls your senses
  8931. >Some more and you won't be able to think!
  8932. >To think!
  8933. >You don't look where you're scrambling up
  8934. >You only try to get away from this place
  8935. >The lid returns to the hole
  8936. >You take two or three steps away before-
  8937. >Sweet Celestia!
  8938. >Air!
  8939. >Fresh air!
  8940. >...
  8941. >It takes you several crucial minutes to get back to yourself
  8942.  
  8943. >You're at the storage platz
  8944. >Three and a half pony tall storage containers on your left and right
  8945. >Raw concrete under you
  8946. >Dark sky above
  8947. >Really pretty sight
  8948. >For somepony who isn't caught with a hoof in the toilet
  8949. >You're not nervous shaking yet, but the time spent to return to some operational level of your sparklenessment doesn't make you feel easy, either
  8950. >On the list of positive things are only two positions
  8951. >The alarm is not on, and the air is fresh
  8952. >One more important than other
  8953. >Figure it out yourself, Twilight Sparkle
  8954. >While you're hiding, you see outside guards
  8955. >Not many, but each of them with a flashlight
  8956. >And they walk everywhere, not only to the areas covered by post lamps
  8957. >It's only a matter of time before one of them enter your alley
  8958. >Maybe you still have some time
  8959. >You poke your good ear and whisper
  8960. "Can you hear me?"
  8961. >The familiar distorted voice comes back
  8962. >"Sweet. I thought we lost you for a minute. Or five."
  8963. >You wait, promting her to speak
  8964. >"No need for giving me the cold shoulder, now."
  8965. >You don't say anything harder
  8966. >"I can see you on the upper platz. Didn't you enter by the severs? Why are you outside?"
  8967. "To contact you."
  8968. >Somepony in far distance laugh
  8969. >Your ears stand tall and turn in that direction
  8970. >And one of them hurts!
  8971. >You can't control it like that!
  8972. >"Do you still have the package?"
  8973. >You pick it up and heave it at your back
  8974. "Stupid question."
  8975. >"Then go to that central guard house and I will give you next instructions when you're in."
  8976. >There's a small click in your ear
  8977. >You don't care is she still online
  8978. >The earpiece gets unplugged and secured inside your chest floof
  8979. >It would be for the best if it had vibrations
  8980. >With one working ear and none lungs collapsed, you stand up sneak into the shadows
  8981. >...
  8982. >You make half a way around the building, but not much of a progress towards it
  8983. >There's a sweeping light that shines around it
  8984. >You will have to somehow miss both it, and the guards
  8985.  
  8986. >And you almost walk on one of them!
  8987. >It's more luck than skill, that he turns around and trots away
  8988. >You look closer
  8989. >He's wearing a hat
  8990. >At his side is a small walkie-talkie
  8991. >Whatever they do hold in this cargo bay, they protect it well
  8992. >Another thing gets added to the list of positive stuff
  8993. >You don't do it for half-free!
  8994. >Speaking of which, you pull the temporary cart out and try to send the money, but it's not midnight yet
  8995. >...
  8996. >Further observation provides you with the knowledge of the patters they are moving along
  8997. >What does it mean is, you had to change your hiding spot twice already
  8998. >Making around 90 degrees to one side from your original position
  8999. >It's like playing a cat and a mouse, with you as the only mouse and a ton of a cats per you
  9000. >Would it be so hard to get closer if you stayed underground, you don't know
  9001. >No chance of going back
  9002. >You can't find another marehole
  9003. >Ducking between containers is easy, but doesn't provide any advantage at all
  9004. >Some of them are opened
  9005. >You don't find anything valuable in them, but they could work as a hideout
  9006. >If you don't get closed in them, that is
  9007. >What if you were to climb one?
  9008. >Would you be able to jump between them without causing sound?
  9009. >Or should you lure some poor guard out and incapacitate him?
  9010. >Could you best him in combat without making him even yelp?
  9011. >You pull out your gun just in case
  9012. >It's empty
  9013. >You pull it close to your eye
  9014. >Or should you move to the opposite side in hope to find another entrance down?
  9015. >You really don't know
  9016. >The guard tower itself has only two floors, both accessible from the ground level
  9017. >But that light above!
  9018. >It's hard to see is it automatic or operated by a pony
  9019. >One is sure, you must give your best
  9020. A - get on top of the cargo containers
  9021. B - lure a pony into a shadow and befriend him
  9022. Y - follow the guard pattern until you reach the other side of the plot
  9023. X - sneak from shadow to shadow and between guards
  9024. XBBBB
  9025.  
  9026. >The light of the central reflector graze in the dark alley between two containers where you're hiding
  9027. >You spent one full cycle watching the trajectory of the beam and you don't have good news
  9028. >If you could play it off, sneaking between the guards could be possible
  9029. >Nothing guarantees the success, but the distance to conquer is doable if you run
  9030. >But if you run, they will spot you
  9031. >You just know it
  9032. >And if you walk, the light will come back to you again
  9033. >The bad news is the nearest area around the building in the middle is not having anywhere to hide
  9034. >It's devoid of vehicles or ship containers
  9035. >Couple of trash cans is all
  9036. >You know what?
  9037. >The worst news is you missed the sneak-away window
  9038. >A guard will walk right onto any moment now, if previous patrol pattern is of any indicator
  9039. >Which it is
  9040. >That's ok
  9041. >You can deal with one pony
  9042. >You are Twilight Sparkle
  9043. >You could deal with two!
  9044. >A pair of hooves approaches you from the front!
  9045. >You push your side to the cold metal of a container wall to avoid instantaneous detection
  9046. >The pony that is comming stops just before entering your hiding spot
  9047. >You don't dare to look out
  9048. >He grunts and-
  9049. >Patting sounds reach you
  9050. >Even more discontent grunting
  9051. >Any moment now-
  9052. >Another pair of hooves approach
  9053. >"Need a fire?"
  9054. >There are two of them!
  9055. >The pony just around the corner must do some visual sign, because you can't hear an answer
  9056. >You can't hear much with blood pulsing in one ear and blood oozing out of the other anyways
  9057. >And then the pony without a cigarette stands next to his partner
  9058. >He looks right at you and your heart misses a beat
  9059. >Your thought process halts with an imaginary screech
  9060. >You blink and see his back!
  9061. >He turned away!
  9062. >Blood surges to your face
  9063. >Instinct tells you to run, but you couldn't even if you wanted
  9064. >"Here."
  9065. >He says to the other pony and pulls out a lighter from his utility belt
  9066. >Didn't he see you?
  9067. >Is it some sort of a trick?
  9068.  
  9069. >You look down at your hooves
  9070. >And see nothing
  9071. >Complete darkness
  9072. >It never has been such a soothing site, but now you begin to understand
  9073. >At least as much as possible given the circumstances
  9074. >"So, anything suspicious tonight?"
  9075. >Yet he receives no audible answer, which only prompts him to speak again
  9076. >"C'mon. Don't be like that, Stoic."
  9077. >The newcomer pokes the other pony side
  9078. >The guard apparently named Stoic click's his tongue before speaking in a slow, prolonged manner.
  9079. >"Blaze, what are you doing here?"
  9080. >"Not even thanks for the fire? I will have you know, I'm on a break, and so, I decided to come and talk with the biggest thinker we have. That's you, if you wonder."
  9081. >The cheerful voice doesn't fit the hour or place, nevertheless sounds genuine
  9082. >More grunting commence
  9083. >"We're not allowed to talk at work, Blaze."
  9084. >The guard in front of you throws a leg in the air
  9085. >"But I'm on a break!"
  9086. >"But I'm not. I'm done with smoking."
  9087. >Ahoof hits the floor
  9088. >"You always says so, and yet, you still carry some hay on you, but no fire. How can I not consider it a shy invitation to hang out?"
  9089. >Heavy, existentially pained sigh escapes Stoic's lips
  9090. >He says nothing
  9091. >"Well, I'm going back to patrol."
  9092. >Says Blaze and adds
  9093. >"How about you go on the break and I take your spot?"
  9094. >Nothing else is said
  9095. >You observe as the pony you're watching trails his eyes after the other guard
  9096. >He then fixes his small hat, so both of his ears go through the ear holes and turn your way
  9097. >This time you're prepared and cower not in fear
  9098. >Not in fear!
  9099. >It's tactical coverage!
  9100. >You read about it!
  9101. >The pony walks into your darkness and past you, as he fumbles with something on the belt
  9102. >You crawl behind him
  9103. >He doesn't pay you any attention
  9104. >Finally, he finds what he looked for and pulls one the legs forward
  9105. >Bright light washes over the rest of the path way
  9106. >You briefly ponder at how lucky you are and then you speed up!
  9107. >He takes a sharp turn and his eyes open wide
  9108. >But it's too late
  9109.  
  9110. >You befriend him
  9111. >Your friendly right hoof makes it way to the side of Blaze's head before he can do as much as yelp
  9112. >He falls to the ground and shakes his legs
  9113. >You quickly pounce at him and grab his mouth
  9114. >He's fighting back!
  9115. >Pushing you off him!
  9116. >And he's winning!
  9117. >You gently boink his forehead with your lovely left hoof and that concludes the act of friendship
  9118. >You make sure he's cold out and turn off the small flashlight
  9119. >He lays there, with his tongue out, sleeping peacefully
  9120. >You make sure he's sleeping and not just napping or not planning to wake up at all due to your best abilities
  9121. >Your good ear sweeps the area in search for any imminent movement
  9122. >It did not go as smooth as you planned
  9123. >Maybe somepony got alarmed
  9124. >Seems like not
  9125. >That is, you check his pulse
  9126. >Can't tell what for
  9127. >An earth pony like him will most likely wake up and be totally fine
  9128. >Not that you have actual strenght to do any lasting harm!
  9129. >Then why are you thinking about it now?!
  9130. >You should have thought about the consequences of it before, not after, Twilight Sparkle!
  9131. >Gah!
  9132. >You can't bear those thoughts at the moment, so you do what a Twilight Sparkle does best
  9133. >You research the contents of his utility belt
  9134. >A lighter, an ID card, and a small but sturdy looking flashlight on a self-coiling link
  9135. >You leave the pony naked
  9136. >Even his belt and hat aren't safe around you
  9137. >You have a little problem with pulling the wounded ear though the hat, but you manage
  9138. >You make sure the radio is turned on receiving only
  9139. >You can't read the ID card in darkness and not want to turn on the light
  9140. >When the brown block is secured under one of your legs, you think what to do next
  9141. >Last thing you check is your temporary crebit card
  9142. >It's past midnight
  9143. >You touch both cards with the screens and soon enough your budget goes up to 5370 crebits
  9144. >Between this and the unconcious pony you feel pretty ruthless
  9145. >You keep both of them
  9146. >The operator probably knows about you doing it, but wasn't that the plan to begin with
  9147.  
  9148. >The earpiece in your chest floof doesn't vibrate
  9149. >You would love to hear the operator's opinion, but you need the ear to listen to the surroundings
  9150. >You promise yourself you will contact her when it's necessary
  9151. >What now
  9152. 1 - leave the pony in a shadow
  9153. 2 - carry the pony someplace far away
  9154. 3 - find an open container and place him in
  9155. 4 - carry him on your back to other guards
  9156. and
  9157. A - casually approach the tower and let be seen
  9158. B - continue the route first, then try to sneak to the tower
  9159. Y - use radio and report something suspicious in a far away sector
  9160. X - look for something which you can trip and then run away once that have guard's attention
  9161. 33BY
  9162.  
  9163. >You grab the pony by the waist and pick him up
  9164. >If you could leave the package on the ground and come back for it later, it would be perfect
  9165. >Well, It's not
  9166. >Another guard, a more focused on job at hoof and not relations with co-workers will be here any moment
  9167. >You try and try to secure the colt from falling, but it just won't do
  9168. >You place him gently on the cold concrete and proceed to pull him by a leg
  9169. >It's a hind leg, mind you
  9170. >His coat looks rather thick, but you don't want to cause him any more harm
  9171. >You travel in almost complete silence and equally blindening darkness
  9172. >...
  9173. >First, to scout behind the corner
  9174. >Then, to pick up the guy and transport him
  9175. >Finally, to go back for the package
  9176. >This is not going as planned at all
  9177. >You expected at least one container out of the closes ones to be accessable
  9178. >Well, they are
  9179. >When they are open
  9180. >None is
  9181. >You're sweating
  9182. >...
  9183. >Ok
  9184. >You find an open container filled with pony sized boxes
  9185. >Ha ha!
  9186. >Who are you trying to lie to, Twilight Sparkle?
  9187. >Yourself?
  9188. >It took you far too long!
  9189. >You would gritt your teeth, but in the silence like this, a fear that a nearby guard can hear you is real
  9190. >At least you imagine so!
  9191. >And you're rarely wrong
  9192. >You enter the hideout and grab the utility flashlight from the belt
  9193. >It works just right
  9194. >You leave the parcel in the open door and carry the stallion deeper
  9195. >Only when you're around halp the lengh of it you snuck him there
  9196. >A huff and puff later and the sweat forming on your forehead dries
  9197. >You give the guy one last look
  9198. >He's sleeping so peaceful
  9199. >In fact, it's your first look of him
  9200. >His coat is brown and his short mane even brownier
  9201. >However, his eyes are green
  9202. >At least one
  9203. >The one he's observing you
  9204. >With a blink of this one, his other eye lazily opens
  9205. >As if they weren't synchronized at all
  9206. >He's currently on his back, with hooves curples up in the air and his head facing you
  9207. >If you didn't know any better you would call his expression between amuzed and uninterested
  9208.  
  9209. >You raise a hoof to your mouth
  9210. "Shush. Not a word."
  9211. >But his eyes is quickly closed
  9212. >Was it even open?
  9213. >What?!
  9214. >You're pretty sure he just nodded
  9215. >Or is he moving in a dream?
  9216. >His mouth closes and open and-
  9217. >He does that little silly act of zipping his mouth
  9218. >The said hoof falls limp to the metal floor!
  9219. >It's not exactly quiet!
  9220. >You give the stallion one last glance and due to his lack of any further reaction you hastily withdraw from the container with your precious cargo!
  9221. >Just in time!
  9222. >Your superior unicorn anxiety of being taken alive allows you make it to a corner basked in darkness, even if barely!
  9223. >Two guards appears running from two different directions, flashing light in every directions, effectively trapping you
  9224. >None of them is looking at you directly, but it's only a matter of time before they find you or simply raise the alarm
  9225. >They stop just in front of you!
  9226. >"Have you heard that?"
  9227. >"What do you think it was?"
  9228. >"Raccoons."
  9229. >One of them states matter-o-factly
  9230. >What
  9231. >The other guard vocalizes your thoughts
  9232. >"What?"
  9233. >"You heard me. They must have gotten into one of the capsules and-"
  9234. >He clearly want to continue, but his colleague finds it rather funny
  9235. >"Oh, yeah! Raccoons!"
  9236. >His laughter echoes through the place
  9237. >Then he pulls his radio up to an ear
  9238. >"Yes. It's nothing. Nothing at all. No. Raccoons! Can you believe it? Ghost Raccoons!"
  9239. >His laughter is sincere, but the 'raccoon' pony's face turns bright red
  9240. >"I didn't say it were ghosts!"
  9241. >"But you were going to!"
  9242. >An accusatory jab to his chest successfully stops any argument in a bud
  9243. >You watch in awe as the 'raccoon' guard stomps in anger and gallops in the direction he came from
  9244. >The other one looks around, while still talking on the radio
  9245. >"No, no. Other than those imaginary raccoons, nothing to report. I head back to my position. No, dunno when he went."
  9246. >He lazily stroll away
  9247. >Only when he disappear from your vision you dare to slowly exhale
  9248. >You are Twilight Sparkle and you're shaking
  9249. >A bit
  9250.  
  9251. >It was close
  9252. >Too close
  9253. >You are far more lucky than skilled tonight
  9254. >Maybe taking this job was a mistake
  9255. >No time to kick yourself over it, though
  9256. >You have a delivery to, well, deliver
  9257. >You sneak back to the center
  9258. >...
  9259. >You avoid detection by a wide margin
  9260. >No other encounter with guard raises your morale enough to steady your breath
  9261. >The central building presents itself to you from a different angle than before
  9262. >This time you're facing the door on the ground floor and the staircase to the first one
  9263. >That's just convinient
  9264. >You fix the cap and straighten your back
  9265. >There's no real way to make sure you look like a local without a mirror
  9266. >The searching light makes its way past you
  9267. >It's your signal to get out of the darkness and walk towards the tower
  9268. >You walk, but not too slow, nor too fast
  9269. >The same pace you noticed earlier on the guard
  9270. >It's surprisingly easy to pace like that, even on three legs
  9271. >Now that you're conquering the open space, it seems far bigger than from the observation posts between far away containers
  9272. >There are lights on your left and lights on your right
  9273. >Other guards patroling
  9274. >Only one working ear is all you use to look for any sign of interest of your person
  9275. >Half way in and no interruption
  9276. >Is it going to well?
  9277. >Gah!
  9278. >The reflector makes a full circle before you manage to close to the building!
  9279. >You can't outrun it without going out of your role
  9280. >You will have to soldier through it
  9281. >The light blinds you
  9282. >The silence is defeaning
  9283. >No alarms gets set off
  9284. >The beam slips off as quick as fell on you
  9285. >You reach the building and notice a pony in front of it
  9286. >He's not hiding that he is chewing a gum
  9287. >You close on him, trying to go past by him to the parter door
  9288. >"Hey, what are you doing here?"
  9289. >Apparently, you ran out of lucky juice
  9290. >He has the most uninterested expression ever performed on stage
  9291. >You pull your head away and try to copy it before you stop and turn to him
  9292. >"Want a gum?"
  9293. >Or maybe you're ok
  9294.  
  9295. A - "I'm having a break."
  9296. B - "I need to go to the little fillie's room."
  9297. Y - "My flashlight doesn't work."
  9298. X - "I was told to bring this."
  9299. Y
  9300.  
  9301. >The stallion is holding in front of you a small tube of gums
  9302. >You consider the option but a better idea shows up
  9303. >To act some more!
  9304. "No, thanks. I don't eat on duty."
  9305. >His brow furrows and he looks away from you
  9306. >The offer gets withdrawn together with his attention
  9307. >That solves the problem perfectly
  9308. >You take a single step to the side he speaks again
  9309. >"So, what's the issue?"
  9310. >Right
  9311. >Shouldn't just leave without answering his question first
  9312. >You point at your utility belt
  9313. "My flashlight doesn't work. I need to get a new one."
  9314. >Even in the dim light of far away lights, the sincere worry on pony's face would be unmistakable as a caustion-free expression
  9315. >"Can I see it?"
  9316. >You place the package down and calmly pull on the flashlight
  9317. >The link reel gives up and you present the instrument to him
  9318. >"Can I?"
  9319. >Crap
  9320. "Sure."
  9321. >Surprisingly you stay to sound stiff like a stick in a guard's mane.
  9322. >He takes it into his own hooves, turns towards the wall, effectively pulling you a step closer, and turn it on
  9323. >The bright light forces you to squint and raise a leg to hide from blindening rays
  9324. >"Huh. It seems to work."
  9325. >Uh oh
  9326. "Yes, but it will suddenly turn off for no reason."
  9327. >The stallion plays with it a bit more before turning it off and turning back to you
  9328. >"Are you sure?"
  9329. >You will call to common professionalism
  9330. >And hope they know what that is
  9331. "Yea. Would I bother to get out of my position to slack off?"
  9332. >"I don't know. I don't recognize you."
  9333. >Don't panick!
  9334. >That's because you're new!
  9335. "That's because you're dumb."
  9336. >His ears stand tall
  9337. >The flashlight gets released and the link connecting it with your midsection reels
  9338. "Ow!"
  9339. >He doesn't say anything.
  9340. "I'm sorry! Ok? You don't have to torture me. I will talk."
  9341. >Oh, Twilight Sparkle
  9342. >You sly pony
  9343. >The colt snickers and shakes his head as if in disbelief
  9344. >"Well, go ahead. I will join you shortly."
  9345. >Do guards salute?
  9346. >"Wait, what is that?"
  9347. >Curses
  9348. >You don't need to look to know what is he asking about
  9349.  
  9350. >And you thought it will get easier now
  9351. >Can you boink him right here, right now?
  9352. >You steal a glimpse at him
  9353. >He's bigger than you
  9354. >Without the advantage of surprise you won't be quick enough
  9355. >Wait
  9356. >He's eyeing you warily and you're deep in thoughts
  9357. >That's no good
  9358. "Food."
  9359. >"Food?"
  9360. >He raises a hoof to scratch his chin
  9361. >"Food, really?"
  9362. "Why, yes?"
  9363. >The pony snorts
  9364. >"Your lovely-dovely wife makes you sandwich?"
  9365. >He continues, with a growing snicker
  9366. >"So that's why your sides are so round?
  9367. "Excuse me?"
  9368. >You're not round!
  9369. >You're compact!
  9370. >He is laughing!
  9371. "Oh, shut up!"
  9372. >He's laughing harder!
  9373. >You just leave him there
  9374. >All you care he can choke on the gum or something
  9375. >That could probably help you
  9376. >You reach the doors and-
  9377. >And there's a card reader
  9378. >You don't really know what to expect
  9379. >Maybe the robbed ID card fit it>
  9380. >You retrieve it from the belt and swipe
  9381. >The door opens and you let yourself in
  9382. >You don't really know what to expect
  9383. >There is one big room and two smaller ones
  9384. "Is anypony home?"
  9385. >No one answer, so push your hat deeper on your head and spy for any camera
  9386. >There is one, focused at one of three unsigned doors
  9387. >You don't get close to this one
  9388. >The other leads to a restroom
  9389. >There's a small kitchen, a low table, and couple of sofas in the main room
  9390. >The last room is filled with cabinets and shelves filled with small boxes
  9391. >They have numbers, but no text
  9392. >Ok, what now?
  9393. A - go to the bathroom to tale off the bandage of your ear
  9394. B - connect the earpiece to get instructions
  9395. Y - wait on the pony guard and pretend to be asleep
  9396. X - search through the cabinets and boxes
  9397. BXX
  9398.  
  9399. >To connect the ear piece can wait
  9400. >And your ear?
  9401. >Pfft, not important right now
  9402. >Maybe you will find something important in the equipment crates?
  9403. >You head to the small property room and grab the first medium sized crate you can
  9404. >It's pretty heavy
  9405. >Once it's secured on the floor you look for a tool of sorts to open it
  9406. >Aha!
  9407. >A crowbar!
  9408. >You place it between the planks and pop one
  9409. >It heaves up with a creak and a pop
  9410. >To your eyes show up a collection of- fried hay cans
  9411. >You pick one up
  9412. >The best fried hay on this side of the great hay-nyon!
  9413. >Whatever
  9414. >Once it's stashed back you place the box back on its place and grab for another one
  9415. >You remember what are you here for, so you make a small pause to retrieve the earpeace and plug in
  9416. >It fires up instantly
  9417. >Gah!
  9418. >The static sound fills your only intact ear!
  9419. >It hurts!
  9420. >As quickly as it comes, it's gone, but ringing in your head prevails
  9421. >Somepony is saying something, but you can't see no pony in the room
  9422. >"-I repeat. I lost you."
  9423. >Oh, right
  9424. "I'm here. I'm inside."
  9425. >The ringing get weaker every second
  9426. >Tears of pain pool in your eyes
  9427. >You blink them away
  9428. >"Do you have the package on you?"
  9429. >It's on the floor right on your left
  9430. >You open another medium crate and find it full with small silver cans
  9431. >These cans are really tiny!
  9432. >You almost squint to read their equally tiny text!
  9433. >Ein Coof
  9434. >What is that?
  9435. >"I repeat, do you have the cargo?"
  9436. >Uh
  9437. >Right
  9438. >It's only embarassing if you feel embarassed
  9439. >Which you not!
  9440. "I said yes. Must be connection issues."
  9441. >Smooth
  9442. >"Makes sense. You come in distorted all the time, even before the insertion. You have to-"
  9443. >The rest of the message gets zoned out
  9444. >You turn to face the door as they open
  9445. >The guard from outside joins you
  9446. >His face is shocked
  9447. >He points a hoof at you
  9448. >"What are you doing?!"
  9449. >You wouldn't notice him entering if not for observing the door
  9450. >Quick!
  9451. >Think!
  9452. "Um, I'm looking for the flashlight replacement."
  9453. >His face darkens with suspicion
  9454.  
  9455. >Silence grows thick with each passing second
  9456. >The shorter mane strands at the end of your skulp stands up
  9457. >You're in danger, Twilight Sparkle
  9458. >For real
  9459. >"Well, it's not here."
  9460. >He stomps the floor!
  9461. >His nosetrils flare!
  9462. >Oh, well
  9463. >You can't possibly win against him in clear hoof fight
  9464. >Unless you stab him with your horn where sunrays don't shine
  9465. >...
  9466. >Which you won't
  9467. >And why do you even think of that?
  9468. >What to do?
  9469. >Wait!
  9470. >You got this!
  9471. >You slowly raise a hoof holding the small can of Coof beverage while not taking your eyes off the angry pony
  9472. >Once it's on your face level, you pop it open and, still with the blankest stare you can muster, take a sip of it
  9473. >The sweet liquir tastes good
  9474. >Chocolate flavored
  9475. >He doesn't budge
  9476. >You lip your lips
  9477. >One would think it's impossible to narrow his eyes even more, but the stallion in front of you successfully pulls it
  9478. >His legs paws on the floor
  9479. >His voice dangerously neutral
  9480. >"What happened to your ear, private? Did somepony bit it off?"
  9481. >W-what?
  9482. >Down your spine runs a single shiver
  9483. >Is he teliing the truth?
  9484. >Or is he prompting you to lose the footing
  9485. >And what is a foot?
  9486. >Doesn't matter
  9487. >Either way, can't trust him now
  9488. "Well, are you going to show me where the fleshlights are or?"
  9489. >He shakes his head
  9490. >"F-Fleshlight!?"
  9491. >That little moment was enough for you to pull out a gun
  9492. >You aim it at him
  9493. >He hides his head behind a hoof, breaking eye contact
  9494. >Only then you blink
  9495. >You wave the gun at him to get inside the room
  9496. >He promptly obeyes
  9497. >His eyes jumping between you and the gun
  9498. >"Whatever you want, you will regret this."
  9499. >Somethign wet seeps through your mane
  9500. >It probably have to been leaking for some time
  9501. >Heh
  9502. >You laugh and this visibly disturbs him
  9503. "Oh, I already do."
  9504. >You force him into a corner and without taking your eyes off him poke the good ear
  9505. "I'm back."
  9506. >A moment passes without any answer.
  9507. >To say waiting is unnerving is to say nothing
  9508. >The room is uncomfortably warm
  9509. "This is no time to joke."
  9510.  
  9511. >The voice in your ear comes clear now, without a single trace of metalic grind
  9512. >"I had to recalibrate the device. One second."
  9513. >Two seconds later
  9514. >"I don't see your exact position. Good. Are you inside the guard building, still?"
  9515. "Yes."
  9516. >"Are you alone?"
  9517. >You look at the angry pony
  9518. >You sigh
  9519. "No."
  9520. >"Get past the door down."
  9521. >The guards has been scratching one leg with another for couple of seconds now, but he does not lower it to the floor even when he's done with that
  9522. >Nore than that, his ears are swirling in all directions!
  9523. "Wait."
  9524. >You tell to your operator, and raise the gun up to your eye
  9525. "I wouldn't do it if I were you. Just a friendly advice."
  9526. >He freeze and very slowly gives up on his plan to reach the belt
  9527. >Most likely to click on the radio
  9528. >There's a chance he already managed it, if so, however, why is he not mocking you yet?
  9529. >He looks like the type of a bully
  9530. >"And what will you do, shoot me?"
  9531. "Wouldn't you want it, you slut?"
  9532. >What are you saying?!
  9533. >His eyes widen and so does yours!
  9534. >Your sick ear tries to flare up, but all it does is to hurt!
  9535. >You wince, and the pony attacks!
  9536. >He rams you!
  9537. >The gun gets out of your hoof and fries Celestia knows where!
  9538. >Both of you crash into the shellf full of crates
  9539. >Your chest hurts
  9540. >You must get to your hooves
  9541. >You do
  9542. >He is still rising when you're ready to attack
  9543. >It's not easy to muster enough strenght for a meaningful hit against a bigger opponent, but maybe, just maybe-
  9544. >You slap his ass with all your might
  9545. >The poor stallion jumps to hiss full height not without a whine
  9546. >"Oh, you, piece of trash!"
  9547. >He jumps and grabs you be the sides!
  9548. >You lower your head and aim the horn at his chest
  9549. >It's enough for opponent to jump back in recoil
  9550. >You see, ramming an unicorn twice is not the best of ideas, but an interesting one, no doubt about that
  9551. >When you talk with yourself he is grabbing for the radio, Twilight Sparkle
  9552. >Very observant of you, Twilight Sparkle-
  9553. >Gah!
  9554. >You leap and smash the item in his hoof
  9555.  
  9556. >The radio hits the floor and turns into a pile of electronic trash
  9557. >That leaves you exposed
  9558. >At the moment it felt like acceptable risk
  9559. >Now your back collides with the cold floor
  9560. >Your bad ear is burning with the power of thousands suns and you can't open left eye without having everything spin!
  9561. >That was a bad blow
  9562. >Fear resurfaces in your mind
  9563. >The stallion falls on you with his superior weight!
  9564. >You're effectively pinned under him
  9565. >You can't move!
  9566. >"Now I got you, punk!"
  9567. >You can't buck him off!
  9568. >Somepony get his off of you!
  9569. >His legs grabs yours and splay you open
  9570. >His soft stomach rubs yours
  9571. >No
  9572. >This cannot be happening
  9573. >His sweat gets rubbed into you
  9574. >As you struggle under him something pokes you in the stomach
  9575. >He is pinning both your forelegs with one of his as his other leg seaches somethign around his utility belt
  9576. >You open your mouth to screem, but no sound comes out
  9577. >"Now you aren't going to be so difficult, will you?"
  9578. >He looks at you with a sickening grin
  9579. >You stop struggling
  9580. >It yields no result
  9581. >Let's just roll with it
  9582. >You look deeply into his eyes, still with your lips parted
  9583. >"Ye, I thought so."
  9584. >You're tired and the vision on your left and right gets shaded
  9585. >It's tunnel vission
  9586. >You're aware of your current sitution
  9587. >Having a hundred thoughts a second
  9588. >One of them you find particularly fond of when his lower legs pulls apart yours even wider
  9589. >You bend forward
  9590. >He pulls back out of the horn area
  9591. >You can't bent your neck like that
  9592. >But waht you can do-
  9593. >You bite his jaw!
  9594. >A surprised yelp leaves his lips and he pushes your head back to the ground!
  9595. >But that means your forehooves gets free!
  9596. >You hit him repeatedily from left and right!
  9597. >That's when he goes for your limbs again!
  9598. >This time he does not duck your head and you-
  9599. >Miss the stab completely!
  9600. >But you grab his snout with your teeth!
  9601. >And munch!
  9602. >As a hay sandwich
  9603. >He screams bloody murder and falls off of you
  9604. >Trashing on the foor
  9605. >It's hard to move, look, and listen for you
  9606. >Heh
  9607.  
  9608. >But it doesn't bother you
  9609. >If anything, you're rather impressed by the gray in front of you turning some shade of purple
  9610. >It can't mean anygood
  9611. >You pick up another can of Ein Coof and clean your mouth with it
  9612. >The taste of blood gets replaced with dark chocolate and you regain the ability to swallo
  9613. >Now, how long did this farse take?
  9614. "When you will a new guard come for a break?"
  9615. >The pony doesn't hear you, focused on whimpering and hodling his bleeding nose
  9616. >You poke his side
  9617. >He freezes and refocuses with teary eyes
  9618. "Don't make me repeat myself, colt."
  9619. >"W-what?"
  9620. >You repeat yourself
  9621. >"They won't! The procedure is to wait for a replacement on the road!"
  9622. >Doesn't that sound just too convinient?
  9623. "Are you lying to me?"
  9624. >"N-no-"
  9625. >You poke his side harder
  9626. >"Please, no, don't."
  9627. >"What's the status?"
  9628. >You turn to the door!
  9629. >Nopony entered- it must been the earpiece!
  9630. >You're surprised it survived your little struggle
  9631. "Alive?"
  9632. >You don't like how weak you sound.
  9633. >"You had me worried for a while. You have to get to the lower level."
  9634. "How much deeper?"
  9635. >"Anywhere. The door it the guard doors are spell protected. You can't force them open."
  9636. "Roger."
  9637. >You look down at the guard just in time to see him shift and kick a hind hoof from under you!
  9638. >Oof!
  9639. >Once again on the ground
  9640. >If somepony asks you about a good security company you will have to reference the BlackMare
  9641. >Unfortunately, you fall this way, so your neck gets right between his hind legs!
  9642. >He grabs your hindlegs and keep them to his chest so you can't buck!
  9643. >He chokes the breath out of you
  9644. >What can you do?!
  9645. >You try to push a hoof under your throat so you can breath!
  9646. >No!
  9647. >He's still too strong!
  9648. >You opt to vandalize his seat!
  9649.  
  9650. >You hit and hit and hit his bony end but it doesn't make and difference!
  9651. >Your other hoof still has a hold on the tiny can and you part his ass cheek and deploy the tactical can the worst way possible
  9652. >It gets right in
  9653. >The colt doesn't yell, but whimper in shock, in disgust, in silent agony
  9654. >Then you slap it for good measure and he dashes away
  9655. >He lays there, almost paralized, as you strumble to your legs
  9656. >It's not your proudest moment, but if it works, it works
  9657. >You want it to stop
  9658. >He still doesn;t move
  9659. >Processing the new experience
  9660. >Maybe even enyoing it
  9661. >Now, that's something what Rarity would think
  9662. >It's weird
  9663. >There is a lot of those small cans tossed on the floor
  9664. >And some hay, too
  9665. >Ah, the entire crate of them is on a side
  9666. >Must got hit during the struggling
  9667. >Hmm
  9668. >A dumb snicker crawls onto your face
  9669. >Rarity could tell this is the first time you have rolled in a hay so many times during one night, and with a stranger stallion, no less
  9670. >Or would it be Applejack?
  9671. >You don't know
  9672. >That's saddeding
  9673. >Wait, why is that black dot running away from your peripheral?
  9674. >You...
  9675. >You look down at the cans
  9676. >Ein Coof
  9677. >Turn itin your hoof
  9678. >Coof Ein
  9679. >...
  9680. >Shut
  9681. >Your left eye opens a little without causing the ringing pain
  9682. >You open the storageroom door and stick your head out
  9683. >Maximum sneaky
  9684. >No pony in there
  9685. >Perfect
  9686. >The only closed door werethe one with a camera pointed at them
  9687. >They look sturdy, but if they are, then why the camera?
  9688. >Or are you missing something important, because you indulged in chocolate flavored personal doom instrument of yours?
  9689. >Are these your throught, or-
  9690. >You shake your head and go back to the guard who is still contemplaging the newest jewelery addition in his rump
  9691. >He is shakign when you pick him up
  9692. >His eyes are full of heart shattering tear
  9693. >His plot is full of aluminium
  9694. >You give him a small reasurring smile-
  9695. >Heave Ho!
  9696. >And swing in the him toward the secured door in one swing motion
  9697. >Your legs hurt but doesn't that mean you're alive?
  9698.  
  9699. >The pony curls into a ball as he flies, and hits the door with his side-
  9700. >He flies right through them!
  9701. >The solid wood turns into pieces of carton
  9702. >You grab the package and run after him and stop in awe!
  9703. >The guard is levitating in a purple aura!
  9704. >The corridor down is full of stairs but he doesn't hit any of them!
  9705. >Maybe for the better-
  9706. >No, focus, Twilight Sparkle!
  9707. >The poor pony looks positively terrified and trapped in that purple glow
  9708. >He levitates above the grond!
  9709. >Magic!
  9710. >Magic as you know!
  9711. >As before the citadel came and-
  9712. >You look back to the camera
  9713. >It lacks lens
  9714. >Instead, inside it, shines a small orb of purple energy
  9715. >You instinctively take a step towards it, but stop dead in your tracks
  9716. >Why do they have it here?
  9717. >How does it even work?
  9718. >Then you realize, it must have turned on a silent alarm
  9719. >You don't have time to spare
  9720. >You run down past the levitating pony and find yourself in another well lit storage room
  9721. >This one is full of paper boxes?
  9722. >You poke your earpiece
  9723. >"You good there? I think somepony turned on a silent alarm."
  9724. "Shush. I'm in."
  9725. >"Are you inside a storage room?"
  9726. ">Cartons full of cartons, yes."
  9727. >"Open the box."
  9728. >You do just that and from the brown box falls out a longitudinal device
  9729. >It has a lot of small lamps and four buttons and a small numerical display
  9730. "Ok, what now?"
  9731. >"Well, turn it on!"
  9732. >You give the thing a second look and find nothing about the name "CoaBalT"
  9733. >You push the green button and-
  9734. >00:10
  9735. >What
  9736. >00:09
  9737. >No
  9738. >00:08
  9739. >Crap
  9740. >You grab the levitating pony's tail in your teeth
  9741. >The field gets penetrated with a quiet pop he lands on his legs
  9742. >You just run
  9743. >Run and don't look back
  9744. >And you never ran that fast before
  9745. >...
  9746. >You don't look back when the ground shakes, nor when everything around gets covered in blue hue of an explosion
  9747. >When you look back you do it only because the shockwave sends you flying
  9748.  
  9749. >The arcane waves connect with your horn and your central nervous systems gets set ablaze
  9750. >You wish somepony would borrow it for a year or you would die
  9751. >You land side first into a container
  9752. >Many ponies are running around, screaming orders, trying to get rid of the post arcanum bomb
  9753. >If you were in any better shape you could wonder how do you feel to become a terrorist
  9754. >Or what benefits a career of a ponobomber can hold for a pony a humble like you
  9755. >But you're not in any better condition
  9756. >Every cell in your body got zapped
  9757. >Not as fun as they portait it in the old stories
  9758. >Not at all
  9759. >A pony runs up to you and checks your pulse
  9760. >How nice of them
  9761. >"Here, here is another!"
  9762. >No, not nice!
  9763. >You're lucky he leaves you and runs somewhere else!
  9764. >You can't stand, but you can crawl
  9765. >Your stomach lays on the floor as you begin to move without a clear direction
  9766. >Just away from here
  9767. >Though, is't that a clear direction
  9768. >You look around and it's almost as light as during a day
  9769. >Can you make it to the wall?
  9770. >And even if, can you force it?
  9771. >You can't even stand!
  9772. >There is an open container to your side
  9773. >But won't they search everything?
  9774. >Maybe you should get to the main entrance and sneak up when they open it for back up?
  9775. >Ugh!
  9776. >And you thought being pinned down by that creep was bad!
  9777. A - crawl to the site's side and try to find a way to go past the wall
  9778. B - roll around inside a container and play a loaf of dead pony
  9779. Y - drag yourself to the main gate
  9780. X - look for a marehole and get underground
  9781. XX
  9782.  
  9783. >You slowly inch forward, not sure where to
  9784. >Your muscles threaten to explode at any movement, but you must hide
  9785. >Your tender underside is the only part of your body that doesn't hurt yet, but brushing it against the uneven concrete promise tin your and change that rather quickly
  9786. >Still can't stand on your legs, and without this thin layed of much provided protection you can receive an ugly cut right where's a lot of blood
  9787. >With your senses dulled you could work something out,
  9788. >You did surprisingly well with only one working
  9789. >But the overstimuli leaves you almost blind
  9790. >You make it to the containers
  9791. >It's hard to see anything along the wall of solid, corrugated sheet of steel
  9792. >You're still not sure the general direction you're pulling yourself towards
  9793. >Just away from here sounds good enough in the world filled with voices of screaming orders
  9794. >The worst thing is yet to happen if you get captured!
  9795. >Straining your remnaining strenght to the brimb of pony possible endurance you search for any place you could crawl in and rest, even if just a minute
  9796. >You don't give up
  9797. >Not yet
  9798. >Not now
  9799. >...
  9800. >While you slip closer to a half-open container to which you plan to get into and hibernate-
  9801. >Do ponies hibernate?
  9802. >- a sound of distant fire cart grabs your attention
  9803. >Your head turns towards the sound, your jaw still connected to the ground
  9804. >Of course, there's nothing to be seen yet, the card is away, and in that moment the whole area just got brighter
  9805. >Which is odd, because you don't remember the entire Blackmare yard to be so well lit
  9806. >It's so bright it's getting hard to watch
  9807. >If they could make it so before, why wouldn't they?
  9808. >Still looking to the side and contemplating the thought, you notice something on the ground
  9809. >Hard to say for sure, but the outline seems to be-
  9810. >It's a marehole!
  9811. >Like the one you used to get up
  9812. >Something wet drips on your back
  9813. >You put a hoof to your left ear and recoil in pain
  9814. >It hurts so much!
  9815. >You cry and crawl towards the savety of a hole in beton
  9816.  
  9817. >It gives up almost instantly, taking mercy on your tired self
  9818. >Won't lie, this is good news, because if it was stuck, you would be fu-
  9819. >The hole is completely dark, silent, and welcomingly round
  9820. >You slowly lower one of your hindlegs in the dark, until its tip reaches the ladder
  9821. >With both legs half way in, you go a step lower
  9822. >It takes almost herculean strenght from you to not only balance on trembling legs, but also to grab the cover and disappear without a trace
  9823. >The moment before you do so, you are forced to look up, right into a descending source of light
  9824. >You stay in complete darkness
  9825. >Your steer yourself to reach a lower step
  9826. >Only when both your lower legs stand stable, one of your frontlegs gets moved
  9827. >And all of them are shaking
  9828. >You're descening for a long time
  9829. >Or so you think
  9830. >Being devoid of any outside point of reference creates nightmares in a pony's mind
  9831. >But being tossed in air by a bomb does too
  9832. >After the longest time, a change stratles you!
  9833. >You almost fall when a hoof collides with the solid ground
  9834. >Takes you a second to register
  9835. >You gently let go and land on a- carpet?
  9836. >Brushing the hairy material rises even more question than answers
  9837. >It's a welcome change, for once
  9838. >In hope of resting for a little, your eyes close, but it doesn't make any difference
  9839. >...
  9840. >You sit there, Luna knows how long
  9841. >At some time, your legs don't tremble, and your breath relaxes
  9842. >The dull pain in your head gives up a place for almost pleasant tingling
  9843. >From time to time a water drops echoes in some distant pipe
  9844. >Still far from perfectly Twilight Sparkle conditions, but you're not made of jello anymore
  9845. >As if on a cue, your stomach convulses
  9846. >You think of pulling your cash card out to use it as a source of light, but don't you have a flashlight at the belt?
  9847. >It's right there
  9848. >The discovery reveals itself in front of you
  9849. >You're in a small room, sitting on a carpet, next to a rolled bag!
  9850. >Even more!
  9851. >There's a tiny fridge and a pile of magazines of Vanity Mare!
  9852.  
  9853. >Two pony sized pipes lead out, one to left and one to right
  9854. >Whoever occupies this place is not here
  9855. >You carefully stand up and reach towards the fridge in a corner
  9856. >It opens and it's turned on!
  9857. >Inside you find couple cans of some Pisswater beer you've never head about
  9858. >It's pleasantly cold in your hoof and you put it to the side of your head
  9859. >It hurts, just not as much as before
  9860. >You inspect the rolled piece of material and it seems to be a sleeping bag
  9861. >When you grab to pull it out, your intuition stops you
  9862. >You look at the magazines showing off bold pictures of clothed mares and at back at the thing in your hoof
  9863. >It's too fluffly, too pleasant-
  9864. >Nope
  9865. >You may need a beer
  9866. >...
  9867. >You come to the conclusion, this is some guard's hideout
  9868. >There are clear markings of this place being some sort of a machinery maintenance entry, but there is no machine fix
  9869. >And now, that you can, you think of possible repercurssions for your actions
  9870. >For sure the lights coming from above were flying chariots
  9871. >And the only flying chariots in use in Canterlot belong to the Canterlot Board
  9872. >If somepony got a good glance at you, each purple unicorn may be looked for
  9873. >Unless the Blackmare guards won't disclose this information
  9874. >But if they do, won't the Canterlot Board get a hold on each Twilight Sparkle in the lower city?
  9875. >You never thought about it before, but is the Canterlot Board aware of the Twilight Sparkle Council?
  9876. >It would be easy to think they been working since you got here, but you don't ever had a proof of that
  9877. >Seems like the future days or weeks will give a suitable answer to that concept
  9878. >Even if they were collaborating, wouldn't one rogue Twilight Sparkle be enough to undermine their glorious co-operation?
  9879. >Get a hold of yourself, Twilight Sparkle, you're just one little pony, in a city full of groups of interests, a pony on a run, no less
  9880. >You pop another beer and familiar warmness engulfs you tighter than darkness before
  9881. >Then you pull your the two digital money cards
  9882.  
  9883. >Yours shines in small orange letters turning to gold
  9884. >Yes! There's 5370 crebits on it!
  9885. >The other is... dead, not even turning on
  9886. >You hit it with your hoof and it bents, the screen cracks, leaking couple drops at the carpet, as if tears in the rain
  9887. >The arcanum bomb did not affect the electronic circuits...
  9888. >And why would they?
  9889. >They are Citadel's product, you worked with them for a short period of time
  9890. >Each magical properties gets positively nullified, maybe not for good, but the process of getting the item functional is usually more expensive than infusing a new one from a scratch
  9891. >This raises a question you don't want to be raised
  9892. >The entire storage of magical carton got wasted on the job from the Hive... but why?
  9893. >Was that the true purpose?
  9894. >Is it in their interest or were they paid to make it happen by an unknown third party?
  9895. >Can you even go and ask them? Won't they be hostile the moment you give them a friendly wave?
  9896. >It's hard to say
  9897. >You understand their logic with sending a unicorn and not telling they about the bomb's true potent
  9898. >A poor soul would be captured and blamed for it
  9899. >The short fuze time totally deserves to be raised if you ever go to face them again, but the money's there
  9900. >They did not try to trick you on the money, and you said you're rather good with running away
  9901. >Should you feel at least a little proud you made it out in one piece?
  9902. >And most imprortantly, where did the Hive got that bomb?
  9903. >You saw it only for a moment, but there was something about a CoalBalls marefacturer, or close so
  9904. >The warm beer gets replaced with a cold one
  9905. >As you do that your hoof touches the hat still on your head
  9906. >You gently take it off
  9907. >It seems comically small now
  9908. >You check the crebit card again
  9909. >It's around 8 am, the sun must be pulled out
  9910. >Dear Celestia, jow long have you spent in this hole, and no pony found you?
  9911. >Two hours, max! Max!
  9912. >You can't get out the same way you got in
  9913. >And you can't stay here
  9914. >The lazy guard made your stay here better
  9915.  
  9916. >Your eyes wander towards the fluffly matterial bunde
  9917. >Yuck
  9918. >"Twilight? Twilight Sparkle?"
  9919. >You freeze
  9920. >The source of the voice must be behind one of these pipes
  9921. >"Are you here?"
  9922. >It gets changed as it travels the pipes, but you really can't forget this voice
  9923. >Your voice
  9924. >It's a Twilight Sparkle!
  9925. >"I'm Twilight Sparkle."
  9926. >You knew it!
  9927. >They found you!
  9928. >"And we come to help."
  9929. >We?
  9930. >Help?
  9931. >How could a citadel goonmare help you?
  9932. >"We don't have much time. If you are here, then come. We can help you. Twilight Sparkle, are you there? Where are you?"
  9933. >It sounds... sincere
  9934. >You are capable of lying this convincingly to yourself
  9935. >Yet, it's so weird to heard you begging you
  9936. >Don't Twilight Sparkles usually boss around?
  9937. >"I promise we won't hurt you. We're like you. We're many. We can help."
  9938. >The voice gets
  9939. >What does it even mean?
  9940. >You can't process it
  9941. >Her voice gets carried away, as if she passed by the right pipe entrance
  9942. >We are like you?
  9943. >Does it mean, they are stray Twilight Sparkles out there, other than you?
  9944. >The mere thought excites you
  9945. >Wouldn't that be just perfect?
  9946. >Wouldn't that be the best thing to tell to get you out of your hideout?
  9947. >The words aren't recognisible anymore, but the tone gets more desperate as times go on
  9948. >Should you?
  9949. A - answer the other Twilight Sparkle's and get ready for anything
  9950. B - sneak out through the pipe leading where the other Twilight Sparkle came from
  9951. Y - get out through the other pipe and run
  9952. X - use the ladder to climb out through the marehole
  9953. XABY
  9954.  
  9955. >Twilight Sparkle's voice mish-mash into incoherent echo as you still ponder what to do
  9956. >You can hear her acting being top notch, nothing short of the most genune tone you could muster
  9957. >Wouldn't it be nice to be able to trust a Twilight Sparkle other than yourself?
  9958. >Your ability to do that wasn't really tested in the last six months
  9959. >The flashlight turns off when you let go of it
  9960. >It zips to the belt, as you stand in complete darkness, trying to think
  9961. >You can't go up, blackmare facility after a terrorist attack must be really closely observed
  9962. >The more you think about it the more it seems It's a miracle you haven't yet been found!
  9963. >And now this Twilight Sparkle, saying that she's just like you
  9964. >Asking you to let her help you
  9965. >You don't really remember any encounter with the citadel's most precious when they weren't trying to intimidate you into submission
  9966. >Of course, it means nothing; you're a rouge Twilight Sparkle, and you cannot, simply can't trust a Twilight Sparkle
  9967. >And yet the smallest part of you want to give this purple pony behind a pipe the benefit of the doubt
  9968. >She came alone, that's for sure
  9969. >A scout capable to overpower you, but not good enough to find you doesn't sound most likely
  9970. >What would happen to the minimum two buddy-buddy system?
  9971. >Her partner or entrie group could be waiting for you, but then again, you don't feel the air getting filled with electrostatic particles
  9972. >She could detect you with a short range radar spell only by betraying her postion, and yet, she gives her whereabouts for free
  9973. >Or she can't, because the bomb above interfered with the already weak magic field-
  9974. >Ugh!
  9975. >Her voice is as loud as distant murmur now
  9976. >You inhale and exhale before putting your head next to the pipe entrance
  9977. "I'm here!"
  9978. >Now, that was loud!
  9979. >Your hair stand up in fear someone else could have heard you
  9980. >Seconds pass by, and you still echo and echo and echo
  9981. >Your good ear lays flat to your skulp
  9982. >What have you done, Twilight Sparkle, what have you done?
  9983.  
  9984. >Before long a new sound can be heard from somewhere on the other side of said pipe
  9985. >Hooves running
  9986. >Twilight Sparkle's relieved voice accompanying them
  9987. >"Oh, thank goodness! I began to think I had chosen the wrong side!"
  9988. >She stops nearby and doesn't talk to your direction
  9989. >"Where are you? How to reach you? Which pipe?"
  9990. >Hmm
  9991. >You can use this to your advantage
  9992. "Stay where you are. Before I show myself, I want answers."
  9993. >Doesn't that sound reasonable on your part?
  9994. >Her breathing is fast
  9995. >"We really have to go. Quickly."
  9996. >Hah
  9997. "I'm not going anywhere unless you-"
  9998. >"Fine! Ask your dumb question!"
  9999. >You waste no time
  10000. "Who are you?"
  10001. >Your voice slips along the edges of old metal
  10002. >"I'm Twilight Sparkle!"
  10003. "I know that. What kind of Twilight Sparkle are you?"
  10004. >The answer doesn't come instantly
  10005. >"The free kind."
  10006. >Your heart skips a beat
  10007. >You blink once, then twice more for good measure
  10008. >Free Twilight Sparkle?
  10009. >Is it even possible?
  10010. "Is it why you meant by saying you're jusr like me?"
  10011. >Her tone grows more and more in desperation
  10012. >"And what else would I mean by that? C'mon, we shouldn't been here this long!"
  10013. >Her hooves stomp, presumably in place
  10014. >"Are you stuck? Do you need me to pull you through one of these? Can you crawl through to me?"
  10015. >This is not what you would expect in a thousand years
  10016. >A million thought push itself into your brain but only one remain
  10017. >Can you trust her?
  10018. "You said 'we'. Is there more of us?"
  10019. >It feels weird to think of yourself back in plural
  10020. >And you catch the thought - 'us'
  10021. >Why didn't you say 'you'?
  10022. >"Only a few, and it will be a few less if we stay here any longer!"
  10023. >This is incomphensible to you, maybe due to the shock or tiredness
  10024. >You want to trust her
  10025. >You want to believe, but you're Celestia's star pupil, and you're not as gullible as a filly in sugar rush!
  10026. >Then why do you want to go with her?
  10027. "Where will you take me?"
  10028. >"I can't tell you. You will see, if you come! I must go, pick!"
  10029.  
  10030. >You turn ont he flashlight to find yourself standing with a hoof already at the brim of the pipe
  10031. >Are you really going to do it? To risk all?
  10032. >Your guts is not giving you any advice, which doesn't worry you, considering you may be a little bit tipsy
  10033. "I need a minute."
  10034. >She sighs, but doesn't relax
  10035. >"Do you need any help?"
  10036. >You crawl into the pipe and turn off the light
  10037. >Better for her not to know where you're going to exit, in case of any ambush
  10038. >You may not be in shape to win a hoof-to-hoof combat, but you're sure as hay not going down without a good, old, unfair fight
  10039. "I'm fine."
  10040. >"Ok, but come quickly! They can be here any moment!"
  10041. >Your hooves aren't exactly quiet on the old corroded metal surface
  10042. >In no time, you reach some bigger corridor branching
  10043. >It is in shape of letter T, with a pony-and-hoof-deep canal in the middle, which seems to be empty when you look past the branching, and a path wide enough for two ponies on each side of the tunnel
  10044. >You slow down your uncomfortable crawl before making your position known
  10045. >"What now? Why did you stop?"
  10046. >She doesn't try to hide being annoyed
  10047. >For some reason your slightly intoxicated brain reads it as a benefiting factor
  10048. >You pop your head out of the pipe, half expecting a stunning blow to your horn
  10049. "It me, Twily!"
  10050. >The perfect copy of you, turns towards you couple meters away
  10051. >Her face express a wide pallete of emotions
  10052. >From fear through anger to relief
  10053. >You get out of the hole and stand tall
  10054. >"Thank goodness!"
  10055. >She gallows thouse couple meters towards you-
  10056. >You brace for the impact
  10057. >And she halts in a respectable distance
  10058. >"Good to see you, Twilight Sparkle. You look-"
  10059. >Her big, violet eyes scan you from the top of your horn, but stops at your left ear with baring her teeth in disgust
  10060. >Maybe you should be sharing this feeling, if not for taking in a sight of a Twilight Sparkle who doesn't instantly turns hostile to you
  10061. >Nor you to her
  10062. >You double take at the thought
  10063.  
  10064. >She must taken it as a sign of fainting, because she moves in and supports you by the right shoulder
  10065. >"Hey, it's ok now, it's ok. We're getting out, before they find out about this secret entrance."
  10066. >To your surprise you don't push her back, and let her guide you somewhere along the empty canal
  10067. "Who?"
  10068. >Is all you muster
  10069. >She answers with a short, tired laughter
  10070. >"You know exactly who."
  10071. >After a moment she adds
  10072. >"The citadel goons."
  10073. >A long forgotten warmness in your chest wakes up
  10074. >Your steps sometimes kick the ground instead of step on it, but that's ok
  10075. >Twilight Sparkle is supporting your side and you don't feel so tired anymore
  10076. "Are you sure is it not some kind of a dream? I wouldn't want to wake up from it."
  10077. >Only to be again alone
  10078. >Her purpleness gives you a reasurring smile
  10079. >"I can assure you, it's not a dream."
  10080. >And you want to believe her
  10081. "If it were a dream, I would not want to wake up."
  10082. >She pulls your side closer to her
  10083. >One of you shiver
  10084. >You can't put a hoof at which one
  10085. >...
  10086. >Against your expectations you did not exit the tunnels
  10087. >You been walking for a better half an hour
  10088. >More to an hour, really
  10089. "Is it here, yet?"
  10090. >Your purple rescuer clicks her tongue before flicking her tail
  10091. >"I told you, we are taking the long way so we are sure we aren't being tailed."
  10092. >Then her voice softens
  10093. >"I know it's an inconvenience and I understand you're tired, but we cannot put a risk to the whole cell because of our individual needs."
  10094. >You sigh
  10095. "Whole cell? No, don't tell. In the hideout."
  10096. >...
  10097. >The hideout is located under the lower canterlot
  10098. >Inside some abandoned cart storage, if the straight white lines on the floor are any indicator
  10099. >There was an entrance from the canals which you took, which led through a short, dark tunnel starting with pulled apart bars
  10100. >No other pony welcomes you at the lowest level of this cart storage
  10101. >Twilight Sparkle, not you, the other Twilight Sparkle leads the way to a side
  10102. >"Come on, we gonna get you cleaned."
  10103. >You turn after her
  10104.  
  10105. >She opens a door leading to what you presume is the living quarter
  10106. >You aren't completely right
  10107. >There are three rooms
  10108. >Two of them looking like barracks of some sort
  10109. >With two bulk-beds, and piles of books laying on the ground under them
  10110. >You count at least 6 double beds in total, but not all of them seem to be used
  10111. >There's no pony there but you and Twilight Sparkle which pokes at the third room
  10112. >"There's the bathroom you can fix yourself there."
  10113. >You nod, but withdraw your hoof from the doorknob, and turn to her
  10114. A - "What will you do now?"
  10115. B - "Can you first answer some of my questions?"
  10116. Y - "Where are others?"
  10117. X - "Can you help me with my ear?"
  10118. XB
  10119.  
  10120. "Can you help me with my ear?"
  10121. >Her eyes widen in surprise
  10122. >"Yes, of course. I just..."
  10123. >Her blush is somewhere in between crimson red and rose-ish pink
  10124. >Is this how you look when flustered?
  10125. >Then you can't blame Rarity for teasing you
  10126. >Your laughter comes out dry
  10127. "Twilight Sparkle, please, you have seen everything there is to hide looking at yourself in a mirror a thousand times."
  10128. >She pulls a hoof to her chest in an apologetic manner before she joins your side
  10129. >"I thought you would prefer some privacy."
  10130. >Her side touches yours, effectively exchanging dust and filth
  10131. >Under any other circumstances, your sixth sense would tingle like crazy
  10132. >It doesn't
  10133. >You already chose to trust this mare with your life once and she did not incapacitate you when she could
  10134. >Or lead you on with warm promises only to lead you into a trap for her own convinience or sick pleasure
  10135. >You do trust her, for now
  10136. >She opens the door and gives you a shy reassuring smile, which quickly quiver when her eyes raise to the top of your head
  10137. >Both of you enter the room
  10138. >It's a small bathroom, with an actual bath, a sink, and couple cabinets
  10139. >The tiles on the floor and walls are pink, creating a warm atmosphere of a house
  10140. >A house in the old cart parking lot?
  10141. "So, what is this place?"
  10142. >She prods you until you make it into the tube
  10143. >The water from the showerhead is ice cold for a moment
  10144. >You neigh in surprise
  10145. >Her lips part, but before she even vocalizes an apology or an answer the water turns pleasantly warm
  10146. >With her free hoof she gives you a bottle of shampoo, the other aims the stream at your hooves
  10147. >You eagerly open the bottle and take small amount, before gingerly taking a whiff
  10148. >It smells like lavender
  10149. >Shaking your head, you begin to clean yourself
  10150. >First your lower legs, then upper
  10151. >You focus on the task
  10152. >Only when you reach your chest floof you pull out every times, laying it on a shelf at your eye level
  10153. >"You asked what it is. A hideout. A base. A home."
  10154.  
  10155. >Some foam flies up into your eyes, obstructing vision
  10156. >"Depending on who you ask."
  10157. >You constinue to scrub the ton of dust out of your coat
  10158. "And for you?"
  10159. >She doesn't answer instantly
  10160. >"That depends."
  10161. >Now, if that isn't a diplomatic response to a personal question
  10162. >You must accept this for a moment, as you are done with washing all your body, but for the still bandaged part of your head
  10163. >Some small bruises on your stomach get discovered, but to your luck, no cuts at the tender flesh
  10164. >And bigger bruises on your back and legs, where you got kicked or fell at during your little terrorist escapade
  10165. >Twilight Sparkle turns off the shower and gives you a soft towel as you get out of the tube
  10166. >After getting yourself at least a bit presentable, you look into a mirror on the wall
  10167. >Your coat looks as purple as always, but you hardly recognize the pony looking back at you
  10168. >Without mentioning the yellow and red piece of material that used to be white half a day ago, you have pits under the eyes, visible enough to think you didn't sleep for a week
  10169. >And that's how you begin to feel
  10170. >As you slightly wobble to collect your things off of the shelf, Twilight Sparkle measures you with her sight
  10171. >Her eyebrows furrows in deep thought
  10172. >She tenses when you turn toward her
  10173. "I appriciate your worry, but you don't look well. How about you jump in and take a shower?"
  10174. >Her ears stands up
  10175. "Don't worry. I'm not going to faint."
  10176. >Why would she worry about that?
  10177. >Why did you say that?
  10178. >"I can refresh myself later."
  10179. >To prove the point she glances at where your two were touching and she snorts
  10180. >"Are you sure it's ok?"
  10181. >You smile
  10182. >She pops into the bathtube and wet herself from the top to the bottom before applying the coat and mane shampoo
  10183. "How many of you is there?"
  10184. >Her jaw tightens as she scrunches
  10185. >"Don't take it's personal, Twilight Sparkle, but I don't feel comfortable talking about details of out little place with you, yet."
  10186. "What does it mean?"
  10187. >She removes the mane out of her eyes
  10188.  
  10189. >"I have couple of questions myself. I'm sorry, but I'm sure you understand."
  10190. >You do
  10191. >It would be extremely unline you to tell a newcome every secret of your little operation without making sure she's not a purple spy
  10192. >Well, onviously you aren't, with what you did and all
  10193. >Or are you?
  10194. "Yes. I guess, I do. Conspiracy and all."
  10195. >She hums and rinse herself last one time before coming out on the naked tiles
  10196. >You turn towards the towel rack and count six other towels
  10197. "Which one?"
  10198. >"The one signed Twilight Sparkle."
  10199. >Each of them has the same tag
  10200. >You grab the first one from left and after it does not meet with disapproval you hand it her
  10201. >"Thanks."
  10202. >...
  10203. >"This may hurt. Are you sure you want to see it?"
  10204. >You nod, sitting in front of a wall mirror
  10205. >Twilight Sparkle collected a fresh roll of bandages and a bottle of strong alcohol
  10206. >It only grounds you in the belief the yellow and dark red splotches over the protective material around your ear is worse than you allow yourself to think
  10207. >Which now you do
  10208. >Your stomach heaves when she gently grabs the corner of material and removes it from your ear
  10209. >You yelp and she stops
  10210. "No, no. It doesn't hurt. It's just."
  10211. >You see her reflection in the mirror, her brow furrowed and her eyes sad
  10212. >She gives you a small nod and return to unpacking the sanitary bomb
  10213. >You really try not to whimper as the pain returns, burning through your scalp
  10214. >"It would be easier if you didn't look."
  10215. >You shake your head
  10216. "I want to see it."
  10217. >She sighs
  10218. >"Then think of something else. It helps me at times."
  10219. >Totally not where your wound gets opened!
  10220. >But you do as you're told
  10221. >You don't remember using so much rags, yet you can't blame yourself for it
  10222. >At the memory of that unholy smell the last dinner gets known about itself
  10223. >And your last dinner was two cans of stolen beer
  10224. "There's six of you, right?"
  10225. >You babble absendmindedly
  10226. >Twilight Sparkle jerks and looks at you in the mirror
  10227. >"How do you know?"
  10228. >You point a hoof at the towel rack
  10229. >She nods to herself
  10230.  
  10231. >"Well, of course you would figure it out."
  10232. >It's a weird sight to see a pony like you to face-hoof herself
  10233. >You giggle
  10234. "So, what do you do? An open rebelion or- what?"
  10235. >The mighty scrunch from before takes a come back, making her cheeks fatter than they are
  10236. "Easy, you don't have to answer, but I have to keep asking. It makes it easier for me to chatter."
  10237. >"We try to live."
  10238. "Well, when you invited me to join your witch coven it sounded more like an underground resistance cell, and..."
  10239. >You raise a hoof to point to the room
  10240. "We are underground. So I'm curious about the resistance part- Ow!"
  10241. >The tip of her hoof slipped and touched the open wound
  10242. >A blood clot falls off on the floor with a sickening sploch
  10243. >Your teeth grit as the last piece of material gets removed by the remoseful looking unicorn- and you can't see
  10244. >A push of a hoof at your shoulder turns you away from the mirror
  10245. >She inspects the side of your head and it almost doesn't hurt
  10246. >You don't dare to move it
  10247. "A-and?"
  10248. >Her pupils narrows to pinpricks as she shows her teeth in a weak smile
  10249. >"G-good, really good. No, wait!"
  10250. >You turn to the mirror
  10251. >Hard to say what you see, due to the purple coat being completely red
  10252. >How much blood did you lose?
  10253. >At least now can you blame certain backfiring decision at it
  10254. >Not that you're going to admint anything to anypony
  10255. >You brace yourself for another wave of pain as yourisk moving it, and to your surprise it doesn't come
  10256. >Sure, it hurts when your head is pulsing, but what's sore is the skin around the ear
  10257. >The sight is bizzare
  10258. >The lowest part of the ear rises on command, with only the smallest sting, causing burning of the nearby skin by changing the underskin tention, but...
  10259. >Around two-third of the ear lobe faces straight downward
  10260. >You move it left and right, and that big part just dangles
  10261. >The pony beside you whimpers, but you're too hipnotized to listen to her
  10262. >You pick up the wrongly directioned part of your ear and with utmost care unroll it to the side
  10263.  
  10264. >It becomes as clear as it's red, that part hangs on a thin strip of meat
  10265. >You can't unglue your eyes from it
  10266. >Gulping your saliva becomes the most interesting thing on the world
  10267. >The words of consolation fly your way but you stay deaf to the outer world
  10268. >You place the previously an ear to the side of your head and let the blood slowly drip down the crippled stump
  10269. >Your sight falls to your front hooves, placed in front of toy
  10270. >Twilight Sparkle gets quiet when you turn toward her
  10271. >You hope your expression is neutral, but what you saw and the look of gruesome terror must take a toll on you
  10272. "I'm fine."
  10273. >You like through closed teeth
  10274. >The purple pony that isn't you places a hoof at your withers and offer you a small paper towel
  10275. >You daintly take it and notice it's wet
  10276. >The quiestion you ask with your eyes don't stay unanswered
  10277. >"Put it your ear to prevent the infection."
  10278. >It smells like alcohol
  10279. >You close your eyes and pick up the ear the same way as before
  10280. >It doesn't hurt until you don't begin to rub it with the gauze
  10281. >This time you whimper
  10282. >This time you scream
  10283. >...
  10284. >You don't know how long you spent on the floor, but you aren't alone
  10285. >When you can move and look around, you feel stable enough to stand up
  10286. >Twilight Sparkle stands up with you
  10287. >"Don't force yourself. You need to rest."
  10288. "No, I don't."
  10289. >The adrenaline speaks through you and you don't hear whatever she says next, but her intelligent eyes shine with understanding
  10290. >You want to walk it off
  10291. >To prove it you exit the bathroom with her at your tail
  10292. >You enter the main barracks and notice a different pony slipping in just that very moment
  10293. >Another purple unicorn of your shape and posture
  10294. >Her eyes open in surprise and suspiction
  10295. >She lets the bags she was carrying to fall and take a defensive stand
  10296. >You lower your head, more tired of contant fighting than looking for more, but beggars ain't choosers
  10297. >"It's ok. She's had a rough day."
  10298. >Says the mare behind you
  10299.  
  10300. >You eye the other Twilight as she drops the position and picks up the bags
  10301. >"Ah, mare, you could have warned me we have a guest."
  10302. >She doesn't even as much as glance your way
  10303. >"I didn't really have time, you know."
  10304. >Twilight Sparkle turns to you and pushes you towards an empty lower bunk
  10305. >"You can rest there. We will make food."
  10306. >The other Twilight Sparkle takes a step forward and pulls out her leg
  10307. >She has a crooked smile and hold her head to a side
  10308. >"Nice to meet you, eh? Name's Twilight Sparkle."
  10309. >It's not that you don't appriciate the pun, but that's the lamest one you ever heard
  10310. >Anyways, you clop her hoof and return a tiny smile
  10311. "Same."
  10312. >"As always."
  10313. >She laughs at her own joke and cuts it short when she notices the state your ear is in
  10314. >"Whoa, what happened to you, sister?"
  10315. >You're about to answer, but a hoof to your side stops you
  10316. >"She already agreed to tell us everything what happened, but she needs to rest first."
  10317. >"Ah, come on! I want to hear it! It must be intense!"
  10318. >Yes, intense
  10319. >As intense as the thread of deploying a tactical bile in the middle of the room
  10320. >"Give it a rest, Twilight Sparkle, and, besides, she won't have need to repeat herself twice. Let's just let the poor mare sleep while we wait for mares to gather."
  10321. >The argument makes the new Twilight Sparkle to close her mouth in defeat
  10322. >Content with the outcome, the first Twilight Sparkle picks up a pillow and pushes it your way
  10323. >You grab it and return it to where she took it from, depositing yourself at the mattress
  10324. >It's not Rarity's but not the Silent Hill's either
  10325. >You would say, medium soft
  10326. >The more motherly Twilight returns to the bathroom
  10327. >The more rash Twilight opens some cabinets and fills a pot with water
  10328. >She looks your way
  10329. >"Do you like onion soup?"
  10330. >Do they have real onion
  10331. >Or the synthetic one
  10332. >You click your tongue, dealing with saliva
  10333. "Do you have onions?"
  10334. >Her smug aura mocks you
  10335. >"No. Just asking."
  10336. >You snort
  10337. >Her laughter is nothing if not good-natured
  10338.  
  10339. >"Maybe just a little bit. For special occasions."
  10340. >The door to the bathroom opens
  10341. >"Twilight Sparkle, let the poor mare sleep."
  10342. >"Ok, mom."
  10343. >You smile at the little display of everyday-life of... Twilight Sparkles
  10344. >Rogue Twilight Sparkles
  10345. >You have questions
  10346. "How long are you here?"
  10347. >The mare side-glances at you with uncertancy as clear on her face as her color of the coat
  10348. >"I don't think I should give you an answer yet."
  10349. >You try to stay neutral, but she must read you as confused
  10350. >Because of the ear laying down, isn't it?
  10351. >"You remain our guest, but we don't trust you."
  10352. "Harsh, but accurate."
  10353. >"Yeah."
  10354. >Her moves around the electric stove are quick and natural
  10355. >She's the group's cook, that much is sure
  10356. A - try to get rest when they let you
  10357. B - engage in conversation with Rash Twilight about yourself
  10358. Y - ask Rash Twilight about the group again
  10359. X - ask Rash Twilight about herself
  10360. Z "Ask if she knows of other Sparkle-adjacent friends. I'm curious if we can find "our" M6 gang or Spike."
  10361.  
  10362. >Your head lays on top of your crossed and splayed frontlegs
  10363. >If rash Twilight were more talkative, you would opt to talk about the group, or at least her
  10364. >She hums a little song while shuffling around the small kitchenette in the far corner of the room
  10365. >You watch her graceful movements a pegasi would not be ashamed of, as she works her magic through what looks like potatoes and onions
  10366. >Saliva gathers in your mouth at the thought of real, not already pre-produced vegetables, but being on the run does not really make these best things affordable
  10367. >Soon enough, she finishes and puts a pan on fire
  10368. >The motherly Twilight doesn't return from the bathroom, but running water is heard
  10369. >By now, you could be asleep, that wouldn't hurt
  10370. >These two mares don't mean any harm
  10371. >Or so they want you to think that
  10372. >This uncertaincy gnaws at you, but once again you commit to the leap of faith you took earlier
  10373. >The idea of Twilight Sparkle other than you rebeling and freeing herself is preposterous at it's hoof value
  10374. >To have six of them and you seven meet?
  10375. >That's far more of an absurd than Rarity and Sweetie Belle having a teacher-student relationship which got set ablaze
  10376. >Onion happily sizzle
  10377. >The atmosphere is almost homey
  10378. >Even the song the cooking mare is humming sound familiar
  10379. >You can work with that
  10380. "Sorry. I can't really sleep."
  10381. >Her ears perks up as her hoof is rising and stop at her lips
  10382. >She shakes her head with a playful smile, and nods towards the bathroom
  10383. >You get it and lower the volume
  10384. >Her hoof doesn't joint the other on the floor, but grabs and then flings the content of the pan inside the pot
  10385. >The pan gets rinsed and the last pieces of food land into the soup
  10386. >With it on fire, she quietly makes it to your side
  10387. >From upclose, she looks as identical to you as each other Twilight Sparkle
  10388. >Her eyes stop at your ear, or rather what's left of it
  10389. >She ask the silent question
  10390. >You raise both of your ears, she pulls back at the sight, eyes buldging out
  10391.  
  10392. >Moving it hurts, but far less than before, and the flapping sound it makes only a little causes your stomach to convulse
  10393. >You'll live
  10394. >She gasps
  10395. >"What happened to you?"
  10396. "Some janitor doors."
  10397. >She quietly chuckles before sitting on the lower bunk of the bed on your left
  10398. >"Must have been heck of a janitor's closet."
  10399. "You speak as you been there."
  10400. >Sitting in silence is awkward only if you make it
  10401. >Maybe you should begin with an apology?
  10402. >"I'm sorry I can't tell you anything-"
  10403. "I'm sorry I'm bothering you with-"
  10404. >Her smile doesn't lack the sparkle of genuity while remaining not the happiest
  10405. >A Twilight Sparkle you just met must feel bad for you
  10406. >Is this how bitter-sweetness tastes like?
  10407. >Or it's just confusion?
  10408. >"Sorry, and no, you're not bothering me, but maybe you should take a rest?"
  10409. >You shrug and she stands up
  10410. >As she stirs the soup with a long spoon, she steals sneaky glances your way
  10411. >There is something irritating in them, but from your position it's the best to ignore it
  10412. >Whe she starts to hum that song again you wave for her to come close, which she does, even if not instantly
  10413. "What is this song?"
  10414. >Her eyes widen
  10415. >"What this? I heard it at the radio and it stuck with me as an earworm. I can stop."
  10416. "No, no. I never said it's a bad song."
  10417. >Her head cocks to a side
  10418. >"Are you trying to tell me I can't sing?"
  10419. >Her lips are tight, but her eyes are shining
  10420. "Excuse me, are you trying to tell me I can't sign either?"
  10421. >Your polite smile meets her toothy grin
  10422. "I find it rather pleasant, but I believe I heard it before."
  10423. >"Probably. Radio signal doesn't reach this deep into rubbles. You must be from the higher grounds, aren't you?"
  10424. >Higher grounds?
  10425. >It's the first time you heard someone call Lower Canterlot like that
  10426. "You could say that, Depends on how deep underground we really are, but I guess you can't tell me that just yet."
  10427. >She gives you her half-smile
  10428. "I wanted to ask you something. Maybe personal. I don't know."
  10429.  
  10430. >"As long as it's not about our security, our defences, our modus operandi or statutory goals."
  10431. "Wait, what? You have statutory goals?"
  10432. >She giggles
  10433. >"No, that's why I ask you not to ask about them. I have a delicious mushroom soup to tend for, so I don't have time to come up with some weak excuse of a game plan."
  10434. >You try to focus on her incredulous explanation, but something at your face makes her laugh, louder than it's safe
  10435. >The bathroom doors open and the other Twilight Sparkle enters the small barracks
  10436. >"I told you to let the poor mare to sleep, not to poke her every five minutes to make fun of her."
  10437. >Rash Twilight opens her mouth to scowl while going back to the kitchen, but you silence her with a raised hoof
  10438. "That's not her fault. It's me who want to talk."
  10439. >Motherly Twilight takes a step forward and looks down at you, locking her eyes with yours
  10440. >There is something scary about her
  10441. >If it's a staring contest then you may even lose it!
  10442. >Assert dominance!
  10443. >Flap the ear!
  10444. >Your adversary's eyes almost pop out at the sight which you only can imagine is both hypnotizing an disgusting
  10445. >This is what you did not have to care about in last half a year - anything bad happening to one of Twilight Sparkle shocks the others
  10446. >There's something very unsettling in seeing a perfect copy of yours getting... imperfect
  10447. >Oh, great
  10448. >Now your mood is as low as you are compared to the ground level
  10449. >"Fine."
  10450. >She hmpfs at you!
  10451. >The two of them exchange a glance, and the motherly one does the talking
  10452. >"What do you want to know?"
  10453. >It's probably still not the best time to ask about technicalities of their existence
  10454. "Who are we waiting for?"
  10455. >Her lips make a perfect letter O, when it's the rash that answer
  10456. >"For Twilight Sparkle, duh."
  10457. >"What she said. They should get home soon enough. Then you can tell us everything you been through so you don't have to repeat yourself."
  10458. "That's very considerate of you, but, I want to ask you about your... how to put it... previous lifes?"
  10459.  
  10460. >Motherly Twilight raises her eye suspociously at you, pondering about something darker than before
  10461. >The sight in front of you is so intense you briefly consider flapping the stump of your ear again
  10462. >Thankfully you don't have to, because her face relaxes
  10463. >"And why is that, if I can ask?"
  10464. >Should you tell them?
  10465. "I thought about getting the gang back."
  10466. >Rash Twilight really loves to cock her head back in the most neck breaking ways
  10467. >"The gang? As if, what?"
  10468. "Do you happen to know what happened with your friends from back before you joined the citadel?"
  10469. >They look at you as if you grew a second head
  10470. >Which you might have, considering all you went through recently
  10471. "What?"
  10472. >"Why would we try to?"
  10473. >"Yeah, they sucked."
  10474. "What?!"
  10475. >You struggle to your legs!
  10476. >"Easy. Easy. It's just..."
  10477. >They share a look which you can't decypher
  10478. >"Seems like we are from places where we never reached the ponyville arc."
  10479. >The ponyville arc!?
  10480. >They must spot your shock
  10481. >Doesn't matter!
  10482. >Your life is not some sort of an arc!
  10483. >"How long have you been in the citadel?"
  10484. >You shake your head and return to the laying position
  10485. "I don't know. Around two years?"
  10486. >"Years or cycles?"
  10487. >The third voice joins and all of you turn toward the new comer mare
  10488. >It's a purple unicorn, if your decduction skills are as sharp as usual, called Twilight Sparkle!
  10489. >She disrobes her saddle bags and gives a friendly wave in your direction, as she turns towards the pot
  10490. >"Ohh, the nail soup. My favourite!"
  10491. >You watch in silence as rash Twilight's nosetrils flares
  10492. >"It's not a nail soup, Twilight Sparkle! It's a mushroom soup!"
  10493. >Motherly Twilight pipes in turning to her
  10494. >"I thought you used onions."
  10495. >"Because I did, but I found we have one last daffodil bag so I fried it and dumped it in!"
  10496. >"But they are not mushrooms."
  10497. >"Where I am from they are considered mushrooms."
  10498. >The scene looks as familiar and serene as anything can get
  10499. >It also answers your question about similar growing conditions
  10500. >Seems totally different, alright
  10501.  
  10502. >The new Twilight picks up rash Twilight's long spoon and takes a sip of the mixture
  10503. >"Hey, it's good."
  10504. >It cuts the talking
  10505. >Motherly Twilight turns towards you, as rash Twilight rushes to protect the content of the pot
  10506. >"Sorry about that display."
  10507. "Don't be sorry. That was... refreshing."
  10508. >She giggles
  10509. >"At least that answers your question. We are from different backgrounds, but you're saying you got to the Ponyville arc?"
  10510. "I am not quite sure I do understand what do you mean by that, but-"
  10511. >The new Twilight Sparkle gets hit with the spoon and shoo-shed away, that is, close to you
  10512. >"Oh, you started the princesshood quest? I don't see your wings so you must have been recruited rather early."
  10513. >The what now?
  10514. >You don't hide confusion
  10515. >"Oh, sorry, where are my manners. I'm Twilight Sparkle."
  10516. >You sake her hoof and she continues
  10517. >"I left the citadel around a cycle ago, and was there for at least four."
  10518. >"Twilight Spakrle!" the motherly Twilight hisses, "Maybe next thing you tell her will be the way to find this place and the size of our horse shoes!"
  10519. >New Twilight raises a hoof and pokes yours
  10520. >"The size's 12, by the way."
  10521. >The pout of the mare that rescued you misses her goal completely, looking too adorable to take her serious
  10522. >"Ah, ha, ha, very mature."
  10523. >"What can I say?"
  10524. >"The soup's ready."
  10525. >It works like a spell and both mare gets up to get a bowl of the concoction, forgetting about their quarrel
  10526. >You get your bowl first, and it smells amazing
  10527. >The aroma is rich, and the water is fat
  10528. >The onion got fried before-hoof and tastes like heaven
  10529. >Yes, this is the good stuff
  10530. >It gets devoured in no time
  10531. "How much is a cycle?"
  10532. >The new mare stops cleaning her teeth
  10533. >"Around 30 moons. More or less."
  10534. >Thirty moons!
  10535. >By Luna!
  10536. "And you worked there for 4 cycles?"
  10537. >She snorts
  10538. >"More or less. I worked around the princesses, but one day decided to pursue the life of a free mare and ditched all the glory of an above collective slave."
  10539. "What?"
  10540. >"Political wind changed. Had to run."
  10541.  
  10542. >Her head lowers as she licks the bown empty
  10543. >You do the same
  10544. >Motherly Twilight moves aside, letting the one lacking a nickname to plop her flanks on her bed, while the cooking one takes away your bowl and put them in the sink
  10545. >She comes back and joins you as you scoot to the pillow
  10546. >So many Twilight Sparkles
  10547. >So little time for it to sink in
  10548. >"You can start to talk now."
  10549. >They all look at you a little expectantly."
  10550. "Talk... about what?"
  10551. >Rash Twilight lands a gentle hoof at your withers
  10552. >"About everything, Twilight Sparkle."
  10553. >Motherly Twilight closes eyes and open her lips
  10554. >"About anything you have to share with us. You have seen something already. We musthear you out before we decided what to do with you."
  10555. >The newest Twilight chimes in
  10556. >"Yes, no pressure."
  10557. "I thought there's more of you."
  10558. >The three mares share a shiver
  10559. >"There is, they just not come here very often."
  10560. >"Regularly, you meant regularly."
  10561. >They speak no more
  10562. "Ok."
  10563. A - tell them about what happened since you ran away until everything fell apart (to the apartment)
  10564. B - tell them about what happened this month (since a police twilight sparkle assaulted you)
  10565. Y - tell them about the recently event (1 - with Rarity, 2 - with Light Breeze, 3 - with mentioning both, 4 - without mentioning any of them)
  10566. X - tell them about the last job
  10567. X
  10568.  
  10569. >You feel welcomed among these Twilight Sparkles
  10570. >But can you really trust them?
  10571. >Sure, they didn't cause you any harm, yet, but how long will they remain friendly?
  10572. >Oh!
  10573. >They shuffle around, sensing your growing anxiety
  10574. >Best to try to hide it - the last thing you need is to make them think you're the citadel agent, as you fear of them
  10575. >You close your eyes and speak after taking a deep breath and holding it until your cheeks threaten to explode
  10576. "I needed money. I took a job. Didn't know the details. Still don't know them. To grab a thing and put it somewhere, while remaining undetected."
  10577. >The memory of how it started flush through your head
  10578. "Long story short, I got into the marked position. Received an ear piece. I put it into the other ear, so that's why it survived until the job got finalized, but that's beside the point. I got into the-"
  10579. >Should you tell them the exact location?
  10580. >Motherly Twilight found you around... so it doesn't really matter.
  10581. >A slight cought masks the short break
  10582. "The Blackmare site through the dock's canal. I did not have much of contact with the pony operator. After some perturbations under the facility this happened."
  10583. >The wounded ear continue to sting as you flap it into the air, capturing their eyes by the movement
  10584. >Each of them turn away after it falls freely to the side of your head
  10585. >"I almost fainted due to some terrible smell. I am quite suprised it did not stick to me. Long story short, I got into the central building that worked as a searching tower and a room for guards. It was tought, but hey, I'm Twilight Sparkle."
  10586. >Your playful tone elicit the smallest giggle out of Rash and Princess Twilight
  10587. >"And then you planted the arcanum bomb and obliterated whatever artifacts there were stored."
  10588. >You nod at Motherly Twilight who finishes it for you
  10589. "More or less, and after a small disagreement with one the guards. I got hit really bad. My legs still spasm from time to time, but I'm getting better."
  10590. >You don a small smile
  10591.  
  10592. "And then I got into some nearby marehole and found a place really deep, which some guard must have furnished and where he spent his shifts as dutiful as you can imagine."
  10593. >"How do you know it's a he?"
  10594. >The mental image of the sleeping bag being used that way makes you shiver
  10595. "I... I just know. Twilght Sparkle's sense."
  10596. >It's so weird to hear a collective giggle of other you
  10597. >It was weird back when you were a novice at the citadel, but after the run begun it feels otherwordly
  10598. >Rash Twilight is the first to talk
  10599. >"So, you got set up to blow something up, without knowing what, and left to be captured."
  10600. "The operator promissed to pull me out but the earpiece broke when I landed face first into the asphalt. It wasn't as durable as the gun."
  10601. >"What gun?"
  10602. "The gun-"
  10603. >The citadel's gun
  10604. >You lost it
  10605. >In all those emotions and being short of time you did forget to pick it up
  10606. >It's gone
  10607. "The one I broke when shwing the guard what a unicorn mare can do to him."
  10608. >Doesn't sound so confident anymore
  10609. >They all stay silent, watching you very closely
  10610. >You look at Motherly Twilight
  10611. "In the end, hours later, I heard you calling out and I, from the lack of better comparison, took the gamble you were not a trap set by the Citadel. No offense."
  10612. >"None taken."
  10613. >Princess Twilight, or maybe servant Twilight, turns to each one of you one after another, giving the collective a stinky eye
  10614. >"So they betrayed you and didn't pay. Who were they? You don't have to protect them."
  10615. >Her eyes gets quickly clouded with anger, and as quickly the mist vanishes, defused by your giggle
  10616. "Oh, no, no. They tried to underpay me, but they paid as much as I wanted upfront."
  10617. >Unexpected silence takes you by surprise
  10618. >"So you have a crebit card?"
  10619. >Their faces neutral
  10620. "Yes. I'm sorry. I don't think I understand?"
  10621. >They don't speak for a little more
  10622. >You rub a knee to not begin to worry, at least until Motherly Twilight shakes her head
  10623. >"It's not money what we are after, but the crebit cards."
  10624.  
  10625. >Are they gonna assault you know?
  10626. >Better to give them the benefit of the doubt, before they mug you
  10627. >It's not that you can win
  10628. "What?"
  10629. >Rash Twilight notices the change in your demeanor and puts a hoof at your knee, gently grazing your fur up and down whole lengh of a leg
  10630. >"Don't worry. We won't jump you."
  10631. >Nervous laughter escapes your lips
  10632. >The Servant Twilight pulls a leg over Motherly Twilight's withers and pulls her for a short hug
  10633. >"Yes, Twilight Sparkle, we all have been there and had the exact same thought. We might be different ponies, but in the end we are Twilight Sparkle."
  10634. >"And there's no running away from who we are."
  10635. >"There's only running towards who want to be."
  10636. >Wow, ok
  10637. >Quite hard to be sure wasn't this staged act before lowering your defense, but they would not need to do that
  10638. >That must is clear
  10639. "So why are you after the cards?"
  10640. >"They are bio-assigned, and cannot be falsified."
  10641. >Says Servant Twilight and Motherly Twilight softly continues
  10642. >"We have one, but I can't use it."
  10643. "Why not?"
  10644. >"I am not compatibile. These two," she points at other mares, "can use it, hence they get to do the purchases and collect the money, but, well, I can't."
  10645. "Don't we have the same DNA?"
  10646. >Rash butts in, scooting a bit closer
  10647. >"We don't have the same upbringing, Twilight. No pony knows how it really works and we don't really have the mare power necessary to penetrate the Ministry of Finance."
  10648. >You let it all sink
  10649. >"Yes, it's a lot to take in. I find it surprising you didn't know this. How long are you free, again?"
  10650. >"Not again, I think she didn't tell us."
  10651. >Didn't you?
  10652. >"Maybe you just didn't listen close enough."
  10653. "Half a year, around half a year."
  10654. >"And you don't know how these cards work?"
  10655. >What?! Yes, you know!
  10656. "I never had any problem with them other than the number digits on it. Even more, I-, I-"
  10657. >Huh, you never thought of that
  10658. "That's weird."
  10659. >Rach face around you is just like you, and confusion gives place for compassion, you think
  10660. >"Oh, well."
  10661.  
  10662. >"What were you up to before that?"
  10663. >The Twilight Sparkle petting your leg asks with a sly smile
  10664. >You shift on the bed to get a better look of her
  10665. "Laying with low profile. Being on the run is still pretty new to me. You all were lonely for a time. You know how it's like. Only recently the citadel got on my tail-"
  10666. >They gasp!
  10667. "Relax! I get rid of them."
  10668. >"How did you do so?"
  10669. >Uhh
  10670. >Should you tell them?
  10671. "Well, that's a funny story. They invided my apartment-"
  10672. >"You have an apartment?!"
  10673. "I had an appartment, you see, the citadel sent a kill team and they kind of... killed the building?"
  10674. >The emotions on their faces vary from bewilderment to worry
  10675. "I hid too well for them to find me and they somehow made the building collapse as a parting gift."
  10676. >And we're back at awkward silence
  10677. >You play with your hooves
  10678. >It's the servant Twilight that breaks the spell
  10679. >"I think I heard about it at work."
  10680. >Your ears perk, ow!
  10681. >"Somewhere in the living district?"
  10682. >Those names of older parts of lower canterlot were picked with quite literal meaning behind them
  10683. >She smiles as you confirm with a nod
  10684. >Motherly Twilight raises a hoof before somepony else can speak
  10685. >"Twilight Sparkle, what are you going to do with your new life?"
  10686. >To say the quiestion takes you by a surprise is to tell nothing
  10687. >You reel back, almost making Rash Twilight's to fall from your back in the process
  10688. >Wait, since when is she hugging you?
  10689. >Doesn't matter, it feels nice
  10690. >Three sets of identical eyes as yours observe your internal monologue with piqued interest, which they don't even try to conceal
  10691. >What are you even supposed to say?
  10692. >That you want to run away and have a life?
  10693. >You're doing that right now
  10694. >That the citadel must burn?
  10695. >You couldn't do it alone
  10696. >That you want back to your Equestria?
  10697. >Don't you all?
  10698. >You opt to tell the truth
  10699. "I have no idea."
  10700. >No reaction from any of them breaks a sweat on your brow, but you don't dare to wipe it and betray your nervousness
  10701. >Which Rash Twilight probably can feel! Gaah!
  10702.  
  10703. >Motherly Twilight is the one to speak, as she was for the most time
  10704. >"Don't fret. You're alright, Twilight Sparkle."
  10705. >Both Rash and Servant grin, showing off their teeth, leaving only Motherly's lips not to part
  10706. >Her smile deepens, though
  10707. "You too, girls. I would never expect to see a bunch of, well, me, free."
  10708. >"As free as we can be with the constant threat of the citadel finding us out."
  10709. >"Yee, but we make a decent living and keep eyes around our heads."
  10710. >"Listen, do you have somewhere to sleep? You could stay here, you know."
  10711. >The offer makes you feel warmer inside
  10712. "I do have a place to stay and I may have some errands to run."
  10713. >Her ears lowers a bit, piercing through your purple heart
  10714. "But a nap wouldn't hurt."
  10715. >"You will need your ear fixed, too."
  10716. >...
  10717. >They left you be and you indeed managed to get some sleep
  10718. >You wake up and only two of them are there
  10719. >One of them is the rash Twilight, you can tell because she's doing something which looks like cooking and whistling, even if barely
  10720. >The other mare remains a mystery
  10721. >Your legs and chest hurts less, at least where you're not bruised
  10722. >Ok, what now
  10723. A - ask them to let you go visit a medic pony
  10724. B - ask them for some method of contact with them
  10725. Y - ask them what do they do for a living
  10726. X - ask them where is the rest of them
  10727. XAA
  10728.  
  10729. >The more you talk the more atmosphere becomes almost serene
  10730. >As you four sit and talk about nothing in particular the two you identify as Rash Twilight and Servant Twilight indulge in friendly bickering under the Motherly's Twilight eye
  10731. >She came off as a leader, but now it feels more as if she just did not find much fun in banter, and that put her in the role of the arbitrator whenever the discussion gets too heated
  10732. >You mostly keep to yourself, taking only when asked directly
  10733. >They don't ask you personal questions anymore, clearly not willing to interrogate you, or make you feel uncomfortable
  10734. >And comfortable you feel, but all good things come to an end
  10735. >One thing cannot let you enjoy this for long
  10736. >At the sound of your voice the three unicorns turn shaprly
  10737. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but I must ask."
  10738. >Equipped with a sheepish smile and raised a hoof you proceed to count the beds qualifying as occupied
  10739. "It seems like there's six of you. I find it quite confusing you wanted me to talk in front of you three. I hope you don't mind me asking, but where is the rest of you?"
  10740. >A faint nicker escapes your lips
  10741. >Mothrly Twilight find her hoof the most interesting, thus you turn to the other two
  10742. >Their faces don't hide the very same sour expression
  10743. >"That's not a pleasant subject."
  10744. "Oh, I'm sorry-"
  10745. >"No, no. We will tell."
  10746. >Just how much - that is left unspoken
  10747. >They exchange glances, like many times before
  10748. >You understand them; you didn't lie to them, but neither said much
  10749. >Why would they reveal their secrets to you?
  10750. >After a longer moment Motherly speaks
  10751. >"We are the regulars here. The others are more..."
  10752. >"Free spirited."
  10753. >Butts in Rash
  10754. >"Yes, that's well said. One Twilight Sparkle pays us a visit at least once at week, but her job, whatever it is currently, require her to be more mobile. Our hideout and style of life doesn't really support that kind of volatility."
  10755.  
  10756. >Serving continues
  10757. >"And there's Twilight Sparkle, too. She wasn't happy here. Last we heard from her she found her special somepony and because that pony hold a position of influence they could get away together. We don't know the details."
  10758. >Motherly's sad smile catches your attention, but she doesn't talk
  10759. >"We wished her the best and offered to be here for her, but she just doesn't contact us. Must be going well for her. That's good, but Twilight Sparkle and Twilight Sparkle did not break the discussion on very friendly terms."
  10760. >You get a feeling which one of them feels grudge, or is it remorse
  10761. >"We all hope she's happy whatever she's doing. Right, Girls?"
  10762. >"Yup."
  10763. "That's two, what with the last one?"
  10764. >The mattriarch of the herd finally looks you in the eye
  10765. >"She chose a path of extinction."
  10766. "The what now?"
  10767. >"She swore to get rid of every citadel Twilight Sparkle and became an infamous terrorist."
  10768. >The blood gets sucked away from your face
  10769. "What?!"
  10770. >The mares explode in laughter!
  10771. >You wish you could join, but embarassment is too big to handle
  10772. >They know what you did and they con't care, which is nice, however, they care to make fun of you!
  10773. "C'mon, I didn't want to do it. Girls, please."
  10774. >It takes them a full minute if not longer to wipe their eyes
  10775. >"I'm sorry, Twilight Sparkle, your face was too intense not pull your leg."
  10776. >"That was awesome. Truth is, she's at work, so we know when will she come home. You can tell her everything when she comes back."
  10777. "Yes, well, about that. Can you show me the way out?"
  10778. >Any trace of previous merriness is gone
  10779. >Good job, Twilight Sparkle, you just killed the mood
  10780. >Oh, well, it's the best to roll with it
  10781. "It's not that I don't want to stay."
  10782. >You point at your torn ear
  10783. "I want to find a doctor who can fix it and I don't think I can find the way out. At least not a way out that's so obvious it's observed. Endangering your little resistance group is the last thing I would think of, so don't worry."
  10784.  
  10785. >...
  10786. >They trusts you enough to promise to get you out after the sun settles
  10787. >It doesn't come out of them easily, but what else could they do?
  10788. >Imprison you and still boast how great their community of Twilight Sparkles is?
  10789. >Maybe, but how different would it be from the citadel's behaviour?
  10790. >So you have nothing to worry and spend the rest of the evening in their company
  10791. >Twilight Sparkles's credibility is almost as sacred as her intellect, and these three understand it well
  10792. >No surprise here; it's really hard to unincorporate values being the core of your person no matter the world
  10793. >Turned out, it's the one Twilight Sparkle you did not meet inform Motherly about the call she was answering to
  10794. >It was obviously a job of a Twilight Sparkle, so she jumped to see if there is any sole survivor
  10795. >That was you this time
  10796. >All of them lead you out through the dusted passways up the empty cart parking lot
  10797. >It takes three asimetrical floors for Rash and Princess to finally say goodbye and exchange hugs
  10798. >A promise to visit them is made
  10799. >Is it empty you can't tell; it's enough to satisfy all of you for now
  10800. >Won't lie if you say the idea does lure you
  10801. >It's still a weird sight to see non-hostile purple unicorns after the long time of running away
  10802. >Motherly leads the way through a ruined factory, and you don't use any stairs anymore, therefore you must be on the ground level
  10803. >She point to the far away door and stops in the middle of abandoned production hall
  10804. >"You can always come back. You're one of us now."
  10805. >Her warm words spread through your body like a blanket, and soon enough, Motherly Twilight waves and turns her back, disappearing deeper between the rubbles of old world
  10806. >You yell after her
  10807. "What if I won't be able to find you?"
  10808. >Her small laughter due to the distance and accoustic, and for the first time since you met her not a day ago, sounds as a different pony
  10809. >A more mature and sadder pony than you
  10810. >"Oh, I'm sure you will find us just fine. If not... use a bomb."
  10811.  
  10812. >Heh
  10813. >You exit the building and recognise the place instantly
  10814. >Even in the moon-light the old horse shoe factory complex stands proud and refuse to collapse
  10815. >Clearly abandoned, streets filled with empty trash cans and paper slips on the ground
  10816. >Defective street lapms and low, three stored houses
  10817. >You try to remember the way back to civilization
  10818. >After a street or two, your mental map is as good as it can ever be, and you reach the first habitet buildings
  10819. >Only from here you notice how close the old horse shoe factory is to the side of canterlot dome
  10820. >Where now?
  10821. A - the motel and Light Breeze
  10822. B - the living complex and Rarity
  10823. Y - the hive and Kar
  10824. X - the ripper doc nearby the Hive
  10825. AX
  10826.  
  10827. >You make a quick stroll through the ugly streets, sometimes getting off the roads and sneaking through open courtyard of old construction style
  10828. >The passageways lack the distinc yellow glow of the lamp posts, which either were removed from the forgotten passageways by scavengers, or never were properly installed
  10829. >The shadows there have a peculiar blue hue, imitating the shining lights of night time, high up on the canterlot dome
  10830. >You hurry up to get out of this forgotten by princesses area
  10831. >...
  10832. >It doesn't take long for you to reach more livable neighbourhood
  10833. >Streets filled with ponies bring to your heart unsolicited joy
  10834. >Griffons perked in a bar above the entrance sign of the market, squawk loadly, scarring ponies not used to their presence
  10835. >The motel doors give up and open, and as you enter a familair kirin from the first night turns off a portable tv to look at you from her small booth, divided from the wide corridor ended with another door and screens on each side by a mere counter
  10836. >Her eyes catch yours and her usual spiel plays out
  10837. >"Welcome to the Silent Hill."
  10838. "You don't really a hill here, I know."
  10839. >Her eyes narrow at you, her snout scrunch, and if her horn could split, it would grow another branch from the raw puzzlement of her expression
  10840. >You move closer to go past the connector
  10841. "I already have a room, but thanks for the introduction."
  10842. >Her eyes trail after you, but one of her legs is blindly looking for something under the counter...
  10843. >Whatever it is you don't slow down, but your gait grows more ready for anything with each step
  10844. >The cart locked door opens with a quiet slide, and that's when the Kirin's interest in you dies
  10845. >Her tv turns back to life, and you leave her behind as you enter the always boiling pot of Silent Hill motel
  10846. >The rows of street food vendors and their multitude of clients remind cause enough noise to wake up an Ursa Major
  10847. >You can't help, but gallop to the cubit 405 with a smile
  10848. >...
  10849.  
  10850. >You knock on the door for a good minute before someone inside stirs up
  10851. >The door move not much to a side, just enough for an yellow eye to pop in it and, after fighting the sleepiness out of it, to focus on you
  10852. >"Who izz id?"
  10853. >A gasp can be heard, and the door slides into a nearby wall with a loud clanck
  10854. >Light Breeze, as bluish as before, jumps at you, almost tackling you down in the process
  10855. >It really takes a lot of borrowed power to stay on your legs with the extra weight of an earth mare
  10856. >"Where have you been?! What been you up to?! Two days, Twilight Sparkle! I thought you were gone for good!"
  10857. >More questions in high pitched voice follows, each one similar to the previous one
  10858. >The very same moment her questions stop, the doors of the cubit above hers open
  10859. >And elderly looking mare pulling her head out to look for the commotion
  10860. >Her face is full of dignified disgust as her eyes scan your face
  10861. >Then they fall to the top of your head, and her gaze freeze
  10862. >Shit
  10863. >The last thing you need is to get remembered
  10864. >You bend towards Light Breeze and push her back a little without breaking a hug
  10865. "C'mon. We'll talk at my place."
  10866. >"Oh, ok!"
  10867. >As she secures her property you turn away and slowly trot
  10868. >Light Breeze joins your side in no time
  10869. >...
  10870. >Your cubit looks untouched, both from outside and inside
  10871. >The fan wakes up to life with a familair lag, after the door gets closed behind the two of you
  10872. >You tactically position your left side facing her, to avoid your stump of an ear to be detected
  10873. >It works only before you two settle onto the hard mattress
  10874. >The sight elicits a deep gasp out of her, much like her last one, but with no question attached
  10875. >Her side slowly trembles as her pupils shrink into tiny pin pricks
  10876. >It's only a matter of time before she will start yelling
  10877. >Better talk
  10878. A - tell her about the job for the Hive
  10879. B - tell her abour Rarity's offer
  10880. Y - tell her about meeting Twilight Sparkles
  10881. X - ask her about that job at the kirin-town
  10882. YXAB
  10883.  
  10884. >Her scrutinizing gaze doesn't soften at all, hurrying you to tell her everything
  10885. >One last deep breath before the tale sets your thoughts straight ahead
  10886. "I met a group of friends, whom I hadn't know I had. They are not really friends, but more a sort of potential friends, as we all have the common interest of laying low. They come from the very same-"
  10887. >No, you can't tell her about who they actually are
  10888. >Now, can you?
  10889. "- we worked together. Not per se, but in the same corporation."
  10890. >Light Breeze's gasp is barely above the threshold of audibility, but usable as an excuse to plan ahead
  10891. >"And they did that to you?!"
  10892. >Ow, your ears!
  10893. >Maybe it was a mistake to let her talk
  10894. "No, that happened earlier. If anything, they helped me out when I was in a pickle."
  10895. >"How did they help you?"
  10896. "That's even a longer story."
  10897. >You continue before she choose to berate you for even implying you won't tell!
  10898. "Listen. What's important is-"
  10899. >"I get it. You're not the only one who freed herself from the smothering grasp of your corpo-mater-"
  10900. >Corpo-mater? Like alma-mater?
  10901. >That's the first time you heard this word
  10902. >Kinda fitting
  10903. >"- and that's important, and all, but all I care about is you being safe, and goodness help me if you don't tell me how did your ear turn into griffon kibble!"
  10904. >She puts a hoof frog-upwards under your snout, implying it can be used on your face like a hammer
  10905. >Ha, little does she know!
  10906. >You would probably prefer than from dancing around the subject of multiple Twilight Sparkles
  10907. >Hey, she just gave you a way to drop it!
  10908. "Alright, alright."
  10909. >You look in her golden eyes and you notice the unusual tint of her irises
  10910. "Wait, since when do you wear contacts?"
  10911. >You regret instantly regret it
  10912. >The teeth-revealing snarl overflows her features like water overflows a river
  10913. >"This. Can. Wait."
  10914. >She barks in throaty tremble tone
  10915. >It gives you a silent double take at where you are in your life
  10916. >You don't show it, but, goose, this mare can be scary
  10917.  
  10918. "Sorry."
  10919. >Her watching softens ever so slightly as your explanation continues, melting her combativeness
  10920. "Long story short, I took a job, and the job went well until the very last moment. I don't want to burden you with the details, because the less you know the safer you are-"
  10921. >"Excuse me?"
  10922. >You raise a hoof to stop her before she picks the fight
  10923. >It's miraculous and it works
  10924. "It was like during the old times. That's why I don't want you to know about it. There's a chance you will hear about it in the media today or tomorrow. Maybe never. Depends how big it was."
  10925. >The anger fueled by your lack of visible will to explain changes into confusion as you talk, prompting you to explain even more
  10926. "Depending on how big a no-no happened in the process of me simply fulfilling the contract, you may be contacted. It's in our best interest for you to say you don't know about anything and you don't know me neither. I know, I know. It's not what you wanted to hear, but this is the most important thing. Now that I think of it, I don't know why did I not start with that. Can you promise me you will not talk about it to anypony ever?"
  10927. >The tears filled eyes close, and soon a nod mimics the movement of falling eye lids
  10928. >She trusts you
  10929. >To keep her in the dark is a must, just in case
  10930. >Then why does it make you feel bad?
  10931. "Ok, great. Thanks. You have no idea how afraid I was to ask."
  10932. >Light Breeze dries tears into her leg
  10933. >"As if I was going to do something to you."
  10934. "Oh, I don't know. You clearly wanted to beat somepony, and I was just in your reach, so…"
  10935. >Her side collides with yours, sending you jiggle like a jello and losing the balance
  10936. >"Sorry!"
  10937. "Let me continue. The job was simple. The pay was good. They did not try to screw me on the money. I went to a place undetected and I left whatever they gave me to right where they wanted. That's when the heck let loose."
  10938. >You place a leg at her withers and push her closer
  10939. "That's when I met the ex-coworkers of mine, but I didn't lose-"
  10940.  
  10941. >Lose the ear
  10942. >That's what really happened
  10943. >Isn't it weird you only know accept it?
  10944. >Why is this bile so hard to swallow?
  10945. >Her hoof, previously threatening you with an up-ward slap, now, starts to draw circles on your other fore leg
  10946. >It feels nice
  10947. "-damage the ear. It was just after I got in. Silly situation. Who could have known the janitor's closet doors can fight back?"
  10948. >She stops the petting and gives you a weird look
  10949. >"What do you mean, fight back? You fought the doors?"
  10950. "Light Breeze, please, do you think I would leave them in a shape better than I am, after it all?"
  10951. >A deep giggle escapes her mouth, making itself perceptible by your skin contact
  10952. >"Twilight Sparkle, the conqueror of the Doors."
  10953. "Hey, it was an even fight."
  10954. >Now she's laughing, but it's not any kind of laughter
  10955. >Whoever was in emotional distress that dissolved in a blink of an eye share the very same specific type of laughter that expels accumulated worries and clear your heart
  10956. >You're patting her back all this time, not daring to focus on how terrified she was for you
  10957. >If you thought of it, it would make you feel bad
  10958. >And you're not thinking of it
  10959. >You're not
  10960. "A-anyways... I got some crebits, so if you want, you can-"
  10961. >"No. I'm good. When you're busy getting yourself butchered I visited an old friend in the Kirin Town. So it happened, she was in dire need of hiring a manager for her restaurant, and I do have experience with taxes and-"
  10962. >Wow!
  10963. "That's great to hear!"
  10964. >You explain so enthusiastically the small cubit echoes and makes your ears burn!
  10965. >Good job, Twilight Sparkle
  10966. >No problem, Twilight Sparkle
  10967. >"You said you have money, but if you want, I could talk with my cousin and maybe offer you a job at the bar? Only... you would have to do something with that ear of yours."
  10968. >She looks at the weak meat strap of previously a very purple ear
  10969. >Not caring about the slight stinging, you raise it
  10970.  
  10971. >As back at Twilight Sparkle's place, around two third of it is hanging loose, straight down
  10972. >You realize you didn't think of how much of a hearing impairment will it do outside the cubit, and you walked here, but you don't begin to wonder about it, no, no
  10973. >Light Breeze's pupils never leave your crippled protrusion, and keep growing until they are size of saucers
  10974. >Huh
  10975. >You move the stump to left and right and her eyes follow
  10976. >The hoof she been trailing circles on top of your leg digs deeper into your coat
  10977. >That's an interesting effect
  10978. >You grab her attention by pulling the ear down, causing her to snap out of hypnosis by throwing a fit of rapid blinking
  10979. >"Wuh? Wa?"
  10980. "You know, I met a different friend before all of this hustle took place. She owns a bar in the area. Quite understaffed, she seemed, and offered me a job, too. I asked her could I bring a friend and she was positive about the whole idea."
  10981. >Her ears perks up higher than before during this converstation
  10982. It's almost as if the universe wants me to stick in a bar."
  10983. >"Maybe that job would suit you."
  10984. "Your idea sounds plausible, but I thought the world wants me rather to get a drink. How about that?"
  10985. >You accent the offer with a pulled out leg
  10986. >Light Breeze takes it and places it back on the floor
  10987. >Her sour smile gives you a vague idea of an answer you're about to hear
  10988. >"I work tomorrow morning, and it's getting late. I would love to, but how about after I finish tomorrow's shift? I'm the boss, you know. I can't get late. Tomorrow, maybe?"
  10989. "Maybe."
  10990. >She pulls you into a strong hug, which you deeply appreciate
  10991. >Was she always this warm?
  10992. >"I should be going, but I want you to know I'm happy you told me all of this. Even since it's a lot to take in. Especially because of it. I know I can trust you. Like in the Baltimare."
  10993. "But with less water."
  10994. >"And less ears."
  10995.  
  10996. >You were going to say something, but her comment scrunch you
  10997. >There's the usual giddiness in her eyes, so it's a win, right?
  10998. >She opens the door and turns her face to you, now from a standing position outside
  10999. >It got considerably louder with the door open
  11000. >Light Breeze points her bluish-grayish leg at your general direction with a sheepish, uneasy grin
  11001. >"And do something with that ear, ok? It looks kind of creepy… And it cannot be healthy for it to stay in that state, however the fancy name of the state it is in now sounds in ancient ponish!"
  11002. >She waves you goodbye and quickly turns you, shuffling her legs slowly
  11003. >You look after her for a moment, but not until she disappears behind a turn, because a stallion from the same corridor gets a notice of you and, well, his eyes gets locked with your you-know-what in the you-know-how way
  11004. >You close the door and as if on a command, the air vent and the light turns off
  11005. >Damn it!
  11006. >It takes around half a minute in complete darkness for the system to turn on, again, even after you started to play with the small built-in-wall control panel above the head of the bed
  11007. >You will pay a visit to Chalk, or Bobby, or whatever his name is at the late evening, so you can't tire yourself too much during the day
  11008. >Even if that, it doesn't mean you have nothing to do or nowhere to be
  11009. >But you must pick
  11010. >Your eyes close without you knowing as you dream of the new day
  11011. A - go visit the ripperdoc nearby Hive, or 1 - go to the closest Red Hoof Apothecary Office
  11012. B - go visit Rarity at work (if she will be there), or 2 - go to work with Light Breeze (if she will allow you), or 3 - go to the Hive (if they aren't hostile), or 4 - go to the Barn (if you have any business there), or 5 - go to the Mane (this is where Chalk resides at night)
  11013. Y - go to a public h-library to search for all the stuff you want to know
  11014. X - go to purchase a new outfit capable of hiding your Twilight Sparkli-ness from the curious spying eye
  11015. Z - go to find Scootaloo's office
  11016. BBAZ
  11017.  
  11018. >After a long shower your crebit cart gets lighter
  11019. >Two giga-hayburgers, a big bag of fried hay, and an apple
  11020. >You know, to stay healthy
  11021. >With your social credit score around 5335, you leave the always lively hub of Silent Hill motel, which is not a Hill, not Silent, waving a hoof to the kirin stallion in the reception booth
  11022. >He sees you and raises his brows, but doesn't wave, as he's explaining something to most probably new clients
  11023. >You didn't go to see Light Breeze, she told you she gonna run fast, and come back around-
  11024. >OK, the small detail may be a tiny bit lost on you right now, but that's nothing that won't clear itself out soon enough
  11025. >The market in front of your eyes shines as much as the sun that's being raised at this very moment
  11026. >Morning's new rays fall on the tops of buildings and slide down as if orange threads unrolling from the hank
  11027. >You take in the sight and all the weird smells and loud sounds until the towering street lamps turn off and the dark Canterlot Dome turns into sky blue
  11028. >With no wish to be wasting any-time, but with equal no need to rush, you settle for a trot
  11029. >A small visit to Rarity won't hurt
  11030. >…
  11031. >The tuxedo wearing stallion in front of the doors recognizes you from last time
  11032. >He pulls the door open for you
  11033. >As you pass him you nod at him
  11034. >The small corridor leading to the main part of the Slut Horse bar is richer of a red neon on a white wall
  11035. >It's turned off, making it positively unreadable, but what could it be if not some artistic piece?
  11036. >Fart decor, or something equally Bon Appetit
  11037. >The first clients are already seated next to round tables under the walls
  11038. >All of them looking similar, with their fat briefcases or stylish backpacks next to their dangling hind legs, and laptops placed in front of them
  11039. >Each one of them with a glass of something stronger to start the day, some already on the second
  11040. >If this is the clientele Rarity aimed for then she had no business into making the Plappery on the first floor
  11041.  
  11042. >They are invisible from where you stand at the bar, nor they throw any shadow, but the knowledge of their existence causes you to clamp your hind legs a little more than you're comfortable with
  11043. >The bartender pony looks at you with a mild-curious glance
  11044. >You nod to her, but you never seen her before
  11045. >She quickly returns to whatever professional bar-ponies do when it's too early for regulars to get drunk at the bar
  11046. >You walk up the stairs unbothered by anypony, and reach the Plappery and Rarity's office
  11047. >No matter how hard you pull on the door, they won't budge
  11048. >Looking at the numpad and the card-reader protecting the entrance brings dire intentions, but you can't break them, now can you?
  11049. >Like, why would you do that, filly?
  11050. >You resort to knock on the door and wait a minute, or two
  11051. >Yelling Rarity's name is as fruitful as all this endeavor
  11052. >Soon enough you go south, er, down, back to the bar
  11053. >You could ask the bar-mare about Rarity's whereabouts, but she doesn't know you
  11054. >The colt that stands the door does!
  11055. >When your hoof scratches the handle of the door, he, as a good door-pony he is, opens them, letting you out in the process
  11056. >You try your best smile and fix your eyes at his dark brown bangs ending a hair above where his eyes begin
  11057. "Hello. I have a question. Did Rarity show up yet?"
  11058. >The stallion's deep voice have a warm note to it
  11059. >"Nu-uh, Ma'am. Miss Rarity did not come yet."
  11060. "Do you know if she's going to be here today? I had the presumption of her not missing a day since the unfortunate events of- Did you work here when the raid happened?"
  11061. >His ears fall flat, and his hooves shuffle, as he tries to come up with an answer
  11062. >"Um, I wasn't scheduled that day, miss, and even if I were, I would not enjoy it at all!"
  11063. >His flaring nostrils put negation to his words
  11064. "That's... nice of you."
  11065. >What are you even saying, Twilight Sparkle
  11066. >Oh, shut up, Twilight Sparkle
  11067. >The colt breaks your crawling monologue, probably thinking you're not satisfied with the answer
  11068.  
  11069. >"B-but you're correct, miss. The boss comes and helps us at the first floor each day since the re-opening. We are somewhat understaffed. She won't get mad I tell you this, it's no secret. Some ponies don't want to work in places like this, and most of those who want... have weird ideas of what do we serve to our patrons."
  11070. >He ends with a grump look on his otherwise handsome face
  11071. >When he mentions those 'service' freaks a shiver runs up your spine
  11072. >What is going on with you today?
  11073. >Your mouth open to talk, however his eyes shines with a new idea
  11074. >"Wait a seconds... I think I remember. The boss mentioned an important business meeting coming this week. I don't know where or what for exactly."
  11075. >The deep brown eyes catch a glimpse of something behind you, making him freeze
  11076. >You head turns to notice what transfixed the stallion, but you find nothing out of the ordinary in the fully packed streets of lower canterlot
  11077. >His eyes doesn't leave your left side-
  11078. >Oh, crap
  11079. >It's your ear's magical properties
  11080. >Your heart drops a little for reasons unclear
  11081. >You could probably venture into the depths of your Twilight Sparkliness to find the out why, alas you have to cut it short
  11082. >You're quick enough to stifle an involuntary whine, giving out only a sad hum which can pass as a sign of acknowledgment
  11083. >Your leg reaches out and slings along his soft coat covering his shoulder
  11084. "Thanks."
  11085. >You leave him in hope his eyes trail rather after your supple hips and swishing tail, and not your, you know, the problem you're going to fix right now
  11086. >…
  11087. >You reach your destination in higher spirit than you left the Slut Horse
  11088. >The hour is still young, and to your surprise, no queue to the Hive is made
  11089. >No guard is visible at the front doors either
  11090. >You stay in the shadows of the shorter buildings until you confirm it must be too early for them to run a party
  11091. >Even those bug-looking helmet-wearing backstabbing ponies need their rest
  11092.  
  11093. >With renewed vigor you get next to the club, and walk into the dead end road leading to the ripper's doc clinic
  11094. >All the trashy cartons from before are gone, and no sign of anypony
  11095. >You lurk from behind a wall to see are the club's backdoor open, but there's not, and no sign of ponies, either
  11096. >It feels sort of weird to be in the partying district of lower canterlot at this time of day
  11097. >You glare at the red brick wall at the end of the street
  11098. >Reminds you of the abandoned hoof factory
  11099. >Must been built around the same time
  11100. >When the thought is digested, you face the office's door
  11101. >The flickering light bulb and no sign in the door
  11102. >You push the door and they open with an archaic door-bell ring hanged above, almost pushing you into memories of visiting Ponyville's shops
  11103. >So much about your not-so-sneaky entrance
  11104. >Letting yourself into the small room, you notice no change in the furniture
  11105. >"I'm coming!"
  11106. >The male's voice comes from the insides of the next room, to which you wander off
  11107. >This is ripper's doc sacred temple, and it looks different than before
  11108. >The lamps above giving everything an uneasy red hue
  11109. >The metal operating table is moved to aside; where it stood before now stands a hybrid of a bastard child between a chair and a couch
  11110. >Both with a full sets of monitors and various prodding instruments
  11111. >The wooden crates under the walls seems to be more sorted and overall more exposed to a potential client, giving the place a more professional look
  11112. >The stallion that helped you with the sprained ankle comes out from a backroom
  11113. >A bit of hay sticking out of his snout
  11114. >"Ah, how can I help you? And how's the leg?"
  11115. >You give him a small smile for recognizing you
  11116. "I want to tell thanks for fixing my leg."
  11117. >"Already? That's pretty damn fast. Get on the table, we will see what's going on."
  11118. >You take a step towards it, but stop
  11119. >With standing side-wise to the medic pony, your hind hoof raises as high as you can dare to, without revealing your more sensitive bits
  11120.  
  11121. >Rarity would probably laugh at you
  11122. >The colt gives you a curious look
  11123. >You follow to move the hoof up and down without causing any pain or feeling any thickening of your muscles that would imply you're not fine
  11124. >His voice full of amusement
  11125. >"Well, what do you know."
  11126. >He shortens the distance and finishes his breakfast
  11127. >"So, what do you think of this place? Does it look better?"
  11128. "It does. Last time it didn't look like it, but now you can give a medical center a run for their money."
  11129. >His laughter makes you smile
  11130. >"Thanks!"
  11131. >As much as you like to ignore it, you came here for a reason
  11132. >You point a leg at your wounded ear
  11133. "Can you see what can you do about this?"
  11134. >His whole body tenses when his eyes meets your one third of a raised ear
  11135. >He blinks and cocks his head to a side, then waves for you to get on the chair in the middle of the room
  11136. >You exhale the breath you didn't know you were holding
  11137. >The weird sitting place is made in the way so your legs are pulled to your sides and your belly gets exposed
  11138. >Certain unpleasant slickness wakes up in your nether region
  11139. >This is the worst time to think of that, Twilight Sparkle
  11140. >No inner Twilight Sparkle answers your berating
  11141. >Probably too busy making you be miserable
  11142. >Many of the screens turns on, and almost all of them is white and black
  11143. >The colt whose colors you can't name due to the red hue pulls out medical instrument and starts to touch your ear
  11144. >It doesn't even tingle when he touches the meat-heap
  11145. >A sting of pain and a sharply inhale accompany the place where your ear connects the head
  11146. >He puts the tool down, and pick ups another one
  11147. >Exact same procedure generates exact same effects
  11148. >After a while, he faces you with a grim smile
  11149. >"It's completely blown off."
  11150. "I tore it."
  11151. >"Which explains why you still have hearing on your left side, but if an infection settles in you may lose not only what's left. When did it happen?"
  11152. >Can you tell him?
  11153. >Won't he connect the dots?
  11154.  
  11155. >Now that you think of it, you did not hear about the events in the docks in any form of media
  11156. >Nor did you look for it
  11157. >You let out a helpless sigh
  11158. >"No, don't tell me."
  11159. >Your good ear perks up
  11160. >"The less I know the safer we are."
  11161. >Huh
  11162. >It only confirms what you supposed about the business this pony is running
  11163. >You would be lying if you did not say it's both relaxing and unnerving at the same time
  11164. >Didn't you play this card with Light Breeze recently?
  11165. >It makes sense
  11166. >"Listen to me very carefully. If this kind of wound happened recently, and I mean, in a day, and it looks like that, then it's out of my expertise."
  11167. >You look at his face scrunches ever so slightly
  11168. >"We met, like, when?"
  11169. >The silence prompts you to speak
  11170. "Around a week ago?"
  11171. >"Right. Let's say a week. What I'm trying to say is - this doesn't look like any wound I have dealt with. The auricle is broken and won't hold it's own weight. You probably noticed that already."
  11172. >You nod
  11173. >"The thing is, the brim of the wounds is clear. You said you torn it, but all I see is a clear cut and maybe some burnt coat."
  11174. >You nod, understanding even less than before
  11175. >"I would love to reconstruct it, but I think I'm not good enough of a prop maker to tie the tissue effectively. Does it hurt when you move it?"
  11176. "It doesn't."
  11177. >To prove it, you raise the caricature of an ear
  11178. >Your doctor grimaces in disgust
  11179. >"Yeah, there is something wrong with it I can't put my hoof on what. If it happened just after we met, it should be burning with infection with how much blood gathered just under the skin. If it happened this morning, it should be bleeding like a pig. You know what's a pig, right?"
  11180. >He continues
  11181. >"What does hurt?"
  11182. "The moment when you touch the scalp of my head. That's when it stings, as if you were putting something sharp through my skull."
  11183. >"Does it burn when I take my hoof away?"
  11184. >You jerk to stop him
  11185. "No need. It doesn't. It hurts only on contact."
  11186. >"Does it bleed?"
  11187. "Not anymore."
  11188.  
  11189. >Isn't it a bit weird he asked that?
  11190. >His eyes close as gets deeper into his zone
  11191. >With a head full of ideas he clicks his tongue and eyes you suspiciously
  11192. >"It's either you got some hidden head trauma and the ear issue has no connection to it, or- no, there is nothing else, really."
  11193. >You think of it for a moment and dare to ask
  11194. "No other possible explanation, no matter how stretched it would be?"
  11195. >The half grin on his face makes him look old and unattractive
  11196. >Which is good, considering the wetting circumstances
  11197. >You don't even let the thought of getting physically incapacitated to be considered as a foreplay
  11198. >Nu-uh
  11199. >"Well, if I could fantasize, then I say there is a chance of pain being caused by the open wound, but it should cease the moment you cauterized it, which looks like it. Hold on, did you?"
  11200. >As if you knew
  11201. "Maybe. I had somepony else to tend to me, but she is no medic."
  11202. >"The pain should be unbelievable. Then I would like to meet that pony, because I've never seen a clear burning like this. Do you know what method or tools she used to clean it?"
  11203. "Not at all."
  11204. >"Shame. Knowledge like that could be worth enough to migrate to Upper Canterlot. I'm be back in a minute."
  11205. >The colt disappears on the back-room
  11206. >You sling down from the comfiness of the medic chair and drop to your hooves
  11207. >Having time to let your mind wander around is a god sent
  11208. >He mentioned the wounded ear should be either rotting off or bleeding like crazy
  11209. >None of these is happening, that's sure
  11210. >And you can move it, just not the way you used to
  11211. >He mentioned some burn marks, but did not think of your wound being cleaned with fire
  11212. >At the mention your legs shivered, it's no different now
  11213. >Did Motherly Twilight Sparkle tend to your wound with that?
  11214. >No, it didn't hurt that much, yet you were still bleeding, according to her
  11215. >That's weird
  11216. >Is it possible the arcane bomb cleaned the wound for you?
  11217. >That's... you won't know for sure, and there's no pony else to ask
  11218.  
  11219. >Maybe fellow Twilight Sparkle's would know, but to contact them just to ask this sounds like a stretch of goodwill
  11220. >You rub the head where it hurts
  11221. >A certain node is distinguishable under the frog of your hoof
  11222. >If you didn't know any better you would say, you earn a bruise, but when?
  11223. >And then you begin to laugh
  11224. >"What? What's happening?"
  11225. >The worried look on his face causing you to laugh even harder
  11226. >How could you forget you fought in hoof-to-hoof, and that you were losing at least once?
  11227. >Or that the bomb sent you flying, and maybe whole your body burnt at the moment, but you had to land at some place
  11228. >Whatever the issue is, you should be totally fine
  11229. >Spare for the missing pieces of the ear, which you could just keep under a hat until the moment you need to transfix somepony in the future
  11230. >At least as long as no infection gets place
  11231. >The worst is, you can't explain it to the poor medic pony
  11232. >He wouldn't get it
  11233. >Or maybe he will?
  11234. "Nothing, sorry. I'm just surprised by my silliness. You see, I forgot that I fell down the stairs. I must have hurt myself in the head and forget about it."
  11235. >His worry quickly turns into a scrutinizing gaze
  11236. >"Well, that would explain some things, but to forget something like that, you would have to get hit really hard. I would like to run a concussion test on you to make sure you're fine. It gonna cost, though, as you don't have a doctor's note."
  11237. >You decided to play along
  11238. "How much?"
  11239. >…
  11240. >With 55 crebits less on your card (and 5280 on it! woohoo!), you learn that your skull is not cracked, and your brain never was better
  11241. >The former is a fact, the latter is up for discussion
  11242. "Am I good to go?"
  11243. >You say slipping down the chair, again
  11244. >"That depends. You may be fine in the mental department, but... Don't you want to have your ear fixed?"
  11245. "What do you mean?"
  11246. >He fetches a catalog from one of the crates
  11247. >"You see, it's only a matter of time before your flappy ear will begin to cause you problems of many natures."
  11248.  
  11249. >He points at the booklet displaying three brand new cybernetic ears
  11250. >One of them with customable coat color, one of them dull metallic, and the last covered with chrome
  11251. >"-and they have the ability to improve your hearing from certain distances-"
  11252. >The pony that you took for a medic now is mid inside his sale-pony spiel
  11253. >"-you could go to a medic center and get your ear cloned, but where's fun with that? Where's progress?"
  11254. >He just goes, and goes
  11255. >"and don't get me even started on the second hand transplantation. A used ear will never serve you as good as those babies. And frankly speaking, it's just disgusting to reuse somepony's organs, won't you agree? That's your decision, though. If I were you I would go with the chrome one. It's the most bad-arse looking."
  11256. >Your stupid smile matches his, and his ears perk up in well sold deal
  11257. "I will need time to think of it."
  11258. >His expression falls for a fraction of a second
  11259. >"Yes, o-of course. That's not an easy decision. You should take your time."
  11260. >You don't let yourself be stopped any time more
  11261. >The time read off your crebit card says it's just after eleven am
  11262. >You grab the smallest brochure titled "Ear gone? What now?" from the heart-broken pony's grip on your way out
  11263. >What?
  11264. >You really need time to think about what to do with this stump, and he seemed too much set on selling you one product over other options
  11265. >You're a smart filly
  11266. >Not smart enough to not lose an ear to a janitor's closet, though
  11267. >Gaah
  11268. A - go to the Hive to confront Kar and the boss whatever her name is
  11269. B - go to a library to dig the information you may be missing about this city
  11270. Y - go to a clothes shop to get something to hide your purpleness
  11271. X - go to a medical center to compare prices
  11272. Z - go to Gun&Run or whatever the shop's name was, the one where you can buy a small pistol
  11273. :AAAAAA~1: - to speed up time for all the picked options
  11274. :AAAAAA~1: YB
  11275.  
  11276. >Equipped in a gray hoodie, and a fitting bean hat, you feel far more secure
  11277. >Not that clothes magically hide the color of your coat, at least not from Twilight Sparkles and not for you, but…
  11278. >You are aware of this odd thing when other ponies that are complete strangers can't instantly recognize a pony when they're wearing something
  11279. >Like the glasses gotten from the self-called statistic worker of the citadel
  11280. >They were enough for most ponies to never suspect you are not who they think you are
  11281. >Isn't that kinda weird?
  11282. >Are all ponies this gullible?
  11283. >You know they are not innocent
  11284. >The story of the sunken city another Twilight Sparkle and Light Breeze came from, which name you can't place a hoof on right now, clearly states of the world-ending scenarios happening on the streets as the sea level was rising
  11285. >Now, that you think of it, being aware of this property and not asking the rebellious cell of Twilight Sparkles about noticing the same... resurfaces with embarrassment
  11286. >The reflection of yours in the mirror presents undoubtedly you, albeit rose-cheeked
  11287. >The simple, zipper-less, gray hoodie lays surprisingly well on your coat, and the color is just right; not too dark, not too light
  11288. >Very soft on the inside, and if the tag can be trusted very durable on the outside
  11289. >Albeit the lack of washing information is odd
  11290. >The hat keeping your bangs under it isn't your first choice; having something less boyish in mind you tried many of them
  11291. >Or at least tried
  11292. >Each one either not allowed your ear to be tucked under it, or, if it did, it was too loose to keep it hidden, and when it did both, rubbed the bruise next to the ear
  11293. >The mare in the mirror blinks in surprise
  11294. >She- that is you! - is missing only glasses to look like a Canter U student
  11295. >Happy with the set you leave the Hoof-Mart Mart lighter for couple of bits
  11296. >Around 5100 still on your soul
  11297. >...
  11298.  
  11299. >You find the closest Hoof-brary to be placed just outside your living district
  11300. >The seven floors towering above the entrance are living space, while the street level is doubled in height and must have been some sort of bar or shop before the Canterlot Dome was finished
  11301. >Before entering, as usual, you long in the door for a bit to remember the surrounding terrain
  11302. >As much as the new outfit puts your poor nerves on ease, you won't let yourself be unprepared
  11303. >...
  11304. >The place is different from what you imagined
  11305. >Back in Ponyville, different Ponyville that the one you could visit here, you used to live in the treebrary
  11306. >That's common knowledge for Twilight Sparkles
  11307. >Around half or less of you did
  11308. >What you see in front of you is an open space, with no book-shelf in sight, with a front desk and automatic doors that open when the librarian decides so
  11309. >You steps are light yet still marks your coming in the empty lobby
  11310. >A mare sitting behind a desk looks up to meet your eyes through a glass screen
  11311. >"Hello. Welcome to the Canterlot Library number 42. How can I help you?"
  11312. "I want to get access to the history section."
  11313. >She looks back down to whatever she was doing before
  11314. >After you not moving, as you probably were supposed to, her gaze returns with brows raised
  11315. >"Well, why won't you get in through the doors, then?"
  11316. >The machine she points at looks like a rotating gate with some sort of a metal detector
  11317. >You look back at her
  11318. "It's my first time in a library like this. Where are the books?"
  11319. >"The books-"
  11320. >The mare's shocked face freezes before her eyelids flutter
  11321. >"We don't have books. This is not a book shop. This is a library. Is it some kind of a joke? Wait a minute... Are you new in the town?"
  11322. >You shrug, causing the mare to shake her head in what you think is professional amusement of sorts
  11323. >"Do you have a name? I need to type you into the terminal. Get into the gate so we can proceed."
  11324. >Shit
  11325.  
  11326. >Now, should you tell her or fake it?
  11327. "My name is Twilight Sparkle."
  11328. >A light on the metal detector with bars with stadium-like round entrance turn on just as you steal a glance
  11329. >You take a cautious step and push it so you can enter
  11330. >A keyboard getting is getting typed on
  11331. >Her brows knit as she focuses on the screen you cannot see
  11332. >The machine beeps and bars closes you on each side
  11333. >A second later, another beep, and the bars open letting you enter a bigger room, with couple colorful ponies standing or sitting on chair next to tables which filled the place
  11334. >The light is dimmed
  11335. >A small tree grows out of the floor in the center of the place; its branches unnaturally thin, unusually long and facing upwards as if summoned to grab the high ceiling
  11336. >It drags itself along it, and only then allowed to grow patches of small unhealthy colored leaves
  11337. >The sight is otherworldly; it's easy to forget what you came here for
  11338. >As far as the libraries go, you are lost
  11339. >You turn to the booth and the mare is patiently waiting for you
  11340. >"Are you sure you have never been registered in the Canterlot Library System?"
  11341. >Of course!
  11342. >A different Twilight Sparkle must used their services in the past!
  11343. "I am positive. Why?"
  11344. >You end with a light smile
  11345. >Her natural librarian instinct warns her about something fishy, that much is visible
  11346. >"I have a record of a pony of this name and her bio-data matches yours, but you can't be her."
  11347. >Uh oh
  11348. >"Unless you are at least Forty-Two years old, plus all the years before registering."
  11349. >She must mean the first encounter a Twilight Sparkle walked into Canterlot Library!
  11350. >That means you would have to be at least Fifty-Eight years old to get a book borrowed on your responsibility!
  11351. >You're not even twenty!
  11352. >Thoughts are swirling in your head, but you're not the only one trying to crack this mystery
  11353. >The mare's voice have had the tingle of irritated animal to it since the begging, but now it gets covered in deep curiosity, as if a sour hard candy bathed in chocolate
  11354.  
  11355. "I'm not sure, but I was named after a great grand Aunt. Maybe the record belongs to her."
  11356. >Her judging gaze relaxes
  11357. >She returns to shuffling things around her working space
  11358. >"The machines back then weren't as precise as today's, but our bio-processor got transported here from the Upper Canterlot. It takes the discrepancies into account, yet it's positive you and your Great Grand Aunt is the very same pony. Which can mean only one thing…"
  11359. "... That there is something wrong with that processing-unit."
  11360. >She clicks her tongue, offering you a half-smile
  11361. >"I would rather fancy the idea you are a time traveler, but we both know which one is more probable."
  11362. >Once again, back to shuffling things around
  11363. "What am I supposed to do now? As I said, I'm from a backwater village. Not quite grasping the concept of book-less library."
  11364. >"I will have you to accept the Terms of Service at any terminal. Were you here half a year ago, you would get a bio-metric card, but since the change you can access the system at will. Just put the your crebit card next to the screen and type question into it."
  11365. >Well, if isn't this futuristic
  11366. "And what if I want to get a book or news out with me?"
  11367. >"That's where the cost comes into play. Each article has a small fee if you want to copy it. If you choose so, we can lend you a library's hoof-reader, except we are out of them. Do you have any other question?"
  11368.  
  11369. >You bow and leave the old mare to whatever else she does in free time
  11370. >If your job experience is still relevant, and you're sure it is, she is going back to reading!
  11371. >And so do you
  11372. >The terminal you pick is in a corner, in a place with great visibility of all what's happening in the room
  11373. >Not that much is, just to be sure
  11374. >Before you place the crebit card into the red rectangle you confirm the sum you have and notice the orange letters on black thin piece of metal shines, making them most readable than ever before
  11375. >The screen turns on and basic information is displayed
  11376. >It does ask you to not ruin the work-station for future users, to stay quiet while searching, and to be wary that the search history may be used for statistical and scientific purposes
  11377. >A white page in with a blinking black line in the middle of the screen shows up
  11378. >The conveniently placed screen, just under your head, allows the user to crane it's neck in a position well accustomed to by real scholars
  11379. >Then a thought hits you
  11380. >You don't know how much will it take to find something useful
  11381. >Better prioritize things before you run out of time and have to go to meet Bobby, Pin, or Chalk, whatever
  11382. >You look down and begin your quest
  11383. A - search for Canterlot's past around the age the first Twilight Sparkle came to the Libraries
  11384. B - search for the latest news about explosions in docks and buildings collapsing
  11385. Y - search for what happened to Baltimare to get to know what Light Breeze and her other Twilight Sparkle went through
  11386. X - search for... library's user repository and, in it, for Twilight Sparkle
  11387. Z - [free space]
  11388. BYYZ
  11389. z- wtf is up with magic?
  11390.  
  11391. >Your hooves dance on the keyboard, typing in couple easy, testing phrases
  11392. >It's not your first time with a Get-machine
  11393. >You know it's the best practice to know how the system handles sorting and filtering, even in a rough approximation
  11394. >"Lower Canterlot" presents you with a white screen with lines
  11395. >Each of them representing one position in the general database, according to the Fetch-timer in the top right corner
  11396. >You quickly figure out arrows works to jump between pick-able volumes or words, and Enter and Back to get in and out
  11397. >Well, that was easy, but why wouldn't it be?
  11398. >You pull your head up from the screen and look around the dimmed room
  11399. >All of the few ponies at their own terminals stand proudly
  11400. >They must have experience in this kind of forced pose, so you adapt it now, that you aren't tired
  11401. >As you think nopony is going to move, one of the stallions proves them not being marble statues
  11402. >He yawns and uses on of his forelegs to rub his face, before returning to scanning the screen before him
  11403. >His eyes scan the room, noticing you staring
  11404. >The corners of his lips raise into a shy smile
  11405. >Good manners orders you to at least bow in response
  11406. >He shuffles his legs in place and quickly returns to his lecture
  11407. >Once again the room rests covered in silence so thick you can hear your heartbeat
  11408. >The tree in the middle could make you forget what are you supposed to do here, but the flickering screen reminds you by keeping your progress, or the lack of it
  11409. >You try with different catch-phrases
  11410. >They work, until you type in question
  11411. >No longer sentence really work the way you could hope for
  11412. >The system still tries to look for the most fitting books
  11413. >It doesn't answer questions, it suggests at least three hundred page long volumes that dissect the subject into more academic dispute
  11414. >Sounds lovely, but you don't now have time for it
  11415. >Or ever, no matter how interesting "Steamed Clams and Baltimare's Cuisine Destruction" can be
  11416. >"What Happened to Baltimare's Hoof Ball Team?"
  11417.  
  11418. >"Happened in Baltimare: The Tales of Mare Noir."
  11419. >You try some more historical sounding titles, but they talk about ages-long-gone instead!
  11420. >Why is this place filled with fiction so much?
  11421. >And why is there no encyclopedia?!
  11422. >Encyclopedia! That's it!
  11423. >You find the newest edition at the top of the catalog and it allows you to get some basic information without spending hours of reading through garbage!
  11424. >…
  11425. >You spent hours reading through garbage
  11426. >The basic information were an immense help to get the right words to get the right positions, they did not hold much value for you by themselves
  11427. >You already knew Baltimare was submerged in the ocean
  11428. >Why?
  11429. >Not due to the rising sea-level which was propagated by all the news-corporations, but to the fact the city was built on a small tectonic plate which somehow slid under the water level faster than expected
  11430. >The Baltimare Council, before got disbanded and put in chains by Equestrian Federal Government, blamed on the gangs for thwarting their attempts to save the city
  11431. >The said ganger-ponies responded with a law-suit in the highest Equine Court and provided proves of the Council being as corrupt as cheese, and won
  11432. >You would think these 'gang members' were concerned families and protesters
  11433. >Nope, the pictures attacked shows ponies born under a dark moon, that is, if you aimed to insult Princess Luna's domain
  11434. >This is not the story you expected
  11435. >Not at all
  11436. >At least you learn some random facts about the non-existing town, in case Light Breeze decide to interrogate you
  11437. >Not that she would
  11438. >Unless?
  11439. >Checking the 'Equestrian Federal Government' comes with no small fear in your heart
  11440. >Princess Celestia and Princess Luna established a central organ of administration before closing themselves in the Sky Palace for an eternity
  11441. >A religion could be made out of it
  11442. >It's not the worst possibility of all, but why did you never before reach to get those basic data?
  11443.  
  11444. >This bothered you for some time already, but facing the answers to rather simple questions forces those unpleasant to cloud your head
  11445. >You briefly check the time on your crebit card and it's not that late
  11446. >The cute stallion from before catches your eye when you look up
  11447. >…
  11448. >You could have begin with looking for a news article search tool, for there is one atop the book positions
  11449. >The white screen turns into washed out green, and letters receive an 'upgrade' to italics, but the 'search an article by words' at the top is what you sought for
  11450. >The yesterday's paper issues gets summoned and-
  11451. >Yup, there they are
  11452. >"An explosion of unknown materials in the Lower Canterlot storage. Full scale investigation announced by the Canterlot Chancellor. Inaccuracies in quantity documentation. Black Mare refuses to comment."
  11453. >Re-reading the articles is a must
  11454. >There's no mention of any copy of what the cameras recorded
  11455. >You didn't think of it before, because even if you got recorded, then what?
  11456. >A Twilight Sparkle like you have no characteristic
  11457. >The thought of causing problems to a random Citadel's Twilight Sparkle by similarity amuses you >Alas, no chance for that; unless the recording wasn't deleted
  11458. >But again, only if it exists, and even if, then you kept the guard's hat on, keeping your ear, your only recognition mark, safe
  11459. >So, the Canterlot has a Chancellor
  11460. >Is it possible to meet that pony?
  11461. >What interest could you have with them?
  11462. >Are they aware of the Citadel?
  11463. >No idea
  11464. >You check for "Twilight Sparkle Citadel", but the only book or news article is about a best seller "Still: Better Love Story Than Twilight"
  11465. >There's no "Twilight" book, though
  11466. >Maybe that's for the better
  11467. >Since you're here, you can as well check what happened to previous apartment
  11468. >"A construction failure leading to the building partially collapsing and being terminated for deconstructions. Miraculously nopony got hurt. Homeless ponies herded to the Canterlot Stadium for now."
  11469.  
  11470. >Because don't know it was an attack of a Spec Ops team
  11471. >Can't really blame them, now can you, Twilight Sparkle?
  11472. >Shut up
  11473. >...
  11474. >You search for "Magic"
  11475. >There are many theory books from the past
  11476. >You skim through them to find what you remember from your foal-time lectures, but these are written in highly academical language which no filly would trudge through
  11477. >It seems like magic never really got big in this Equestria, and the recent scientific breakthrough in developing and popularizing the simplest spells possible is a recent history
  11478. >Only a few positions in the last fifty years or so
  11479. >All of them written and published by a think tank named "Purple"
  11480. >Yea, no wonder who's behind it
  11481. >Which is weird
  11482. >Why is the Citadel sharing it's knowledge with these ponies?
  11483. >Is it some social-test?
  11484. >You could using your magic until you were forced to join the Twilight Sparkle's Citadel
  11485. >After that... poof, magic's gone
  11486. >And now you're here
  11487. >You ran away, but how exactly?
  11488. >Half a year ago isn't that far
  11489. >You remember fighting against somepony trying to stop you, and then using the teleport chamber
  11490. >Without knowing where exactly would you land it was highly suicidal
  11491. >Yet it was attuned to this place; a place with its own Rarity, and Applejack, and Scootaloo
  11492. >And you
  11493. >What happened to the original Twilight Sparkle of this place?
  11494. >You don't know, and why would you know?
  11495. >There's no way to learn that
  11496. >Not without getting in touch with the Citadel itself!
  11497. >How could you even to that?
  11498. >And what for?
  11499. >To get back into the Citadel to- what?
  11500. >Tell them they are mean?
  11501. >That's ridiculous!
  11502. >You, Twilight Sparkle, you are a mare of good laughter
  11503. >Why, thank you, Twilight Sparkle, the best possible audience
  11504. >Somepony's hoof musters your side!
  11505. >You crouch and turn ready to push back the assailant-
  11506. >Only to find it's the old lady librarian, with a troubled expression
  11507. >"It's OK. All's alright."
  11508. >Her soothing tone takes you by surprise
  11509. >"Whatever happened it's gone now. You're safe."
  11510.  
  11511. >A quick glance around and the place is completely empty if not for you and the librarian
  11512. >"I'm sorry I bother you, but you started to talk to yourself, and then…"
  11513. >She holds a hoof out
  11514. >Your leg raises out of instinct
  11515. >It freezes when the elderly mare places a piece of material in your hoof and proceeds to mimic using an invisible tissue to wipe her eyes
  11516. >"So I thought I will come and ask."
  11517. >You only observe the mare with your heard emptied out of everything
  11518. >When she lets her hoof fall to the floor the other legs cease to tremble
  11519. >Only now it becomes clear the mare is afraid; either of you, or for you
  11520. "No, I... I'm fine, now. Thank you. I meant it."
  11521. >She reacts to your small smile with a sage nod and turns her back to you, returning to her position at the booth
  11522. >When she's half the way to it, she stop and turns back to tell you
  11523. >"We are closing in half an hour. You can stay, but you were here for couple hours without a break. Learning can be taxing, I know. We are open each day of the working week."
  11524. >The last words are spoken as she nears her semi-office
  11525. >You look at the screen, then at the empty room, finally at the tall tree
  11526. >It's long branches reach up to where you are
  11527. >The bushes of leafs on the roof are only above the terminals
  11528. >The time shows half to eight pm
  11529. >Something clicks in your head and you suddenly know what to do
  11530. >Or so you hope you do
  11531.  
  11532. A - Go to Mane to meet Chalk
  11533. B - Go to Silent Hill to visit Light Breeze
  11534. Y - Go to the abandoned horse-shoe factory to grab Twilight Sparkles
  11535. X - Go to the Barn to look for Scoolatoo
  11536. Z - Go to the Hive to confront Kar the Operator
  11537. BZ
  11538.  
  11539. >Your bristle pace leads you back to the Silent Hill motel, but not before you say goodbye to the older librarian that was so helpful to you
  11540. >It feels almost sacrilegious to go leave the temple of knowledge, which the Canterlot Library number 42 undoubtedly is
  11541. >Not due to finally being able to use the system more efficiently than a new-born filly, but entering the yellow and white streets lamps lit streets assaults your eyes after spending a better portion of a day in a dimly-lit room
  11542. >The firmament of sky is not long since veiled in deep blue, starred with shining dots in the exact spots as every night, as you reach the sea of ponies which the early night market becomes
  11543. >Before the door to the motel can close after you a loud noise crossed between laughter and clucking raise your awareness
  11544. >Nothing comes to attack you
  11545. >Through the glass in the doors the usual griffons sitting in the bar atop the main entrance to the market are spilling their drinks over something
  11546. >You would stall a minute longer if not for the door to open again when you press the snout to it
  11547. >The Kirin sitting in the kirin-booth is a constant for this place, but this one you've never seen before
  11548. >His light green eyes abandon whatever show he has been watching and find yours
  11549. >"Welcome to the- Ah."
  11550. >He cuts shortly as he notices your 314 cubit card is placed it at the screen built into the counter
  11551. >"Do you wish to move out?"
  11552. >Why would you?
  11553. "No. I want to know how much bits is still no the card."
  11554. >The answers pops up before you get to finish
  11555. "Does it mean I won't be able to enter today with sixty crebits on the device?"
  11556. >The blue kirin shakes his head
  11557. >"Only if you try to enter after the midnight. At least fifty bits must be on the card to be allowed in, but you already know that. Don't you?"
  11558. >You do
  11559. >As you're safely securing the motel card into your impenetrable chest fluff he tries to convince you to paying extra for faster pony-net access
  11560. >Good luck with that
  11561.  
  11562. >"You know, we're going to open the third floor sometime soon, if you want to grab a fresh cubit out of factory you can sign in on the waiting list."
  11563. >You wave him a goodbye and close to the second pair of doors
  11564. >Then you stop and turn back to him
  11565. "Can I sign for two?"
  11566. >…
  11567. >Is it you or the place seems more crowded than usual?
  11568. >By the general rule, anyplace seems more crowded than a library
  11569. >You find your bulk unmolested by any unwanted pone-sona
  11570. >Only after making sure you're not trailed you head towards Light Breeze's cubit
  11571. >She doesn't open
  11572. >Maybe you came too early for her to return from work?
  11573. >Or something else stopped her?
  11574. >Before any panic can dawn upon your purple (at the moment!) mind, a mare opening the cubit few numbers down to your left speaks up
  11575. >"Ah, you're looking for Light Breeze? I passed her on my way from under the shower. Not more than two minutes ago."
  11576. >Her smile disappears into a towel as she is wiping the droplets off her face
  11577. >You toss her a spare 'thanks' and, with newfound knowledge, go to take a bath
  11578. >But first... you have to disrobe in your own cubit!
  11579. >…
  11580. >After tuning from A to B, from B to A, you finally reach the vast showers
  11581. >Only the crebit and the motel cards hang loose in a plastic pendant around your neck
  11582. >The mare's shower-room (or a hall!) once again reminds you more of a military solution, but regular ponies don't need much privacy in this aspect
  11583. >The lack of even symbolic partition walls doesn't weird you out as much as it should, and you're fair aware of it
  11584. >The unlimited amount of warm water is a perk too great to be bothered by showing your sensitive parts to other mares around you
  11585. >It's not that anypony is actually paying attention to others - not outright impossible or lacking in purpose, but, hey, the fog is so thick!
  11586. >On the other hoof, it doesn't stops you from instantly spotting the mare in question
  11587. >Blue fur and beige mane isn't that much common among the mares in the room
  11588. >Purple isn't, too
  11589. >No time for that!
  11590.  
  11591. >You approach the mare without making a sound
  11592. >She's scrubbing the top of her head and begins to coat her mane in the freely provided "Your average marre conditioner", aka, soap
  11593. "Do you need a hoof?"
  11594. >A yelp leaves her throat as she jerks in place and takes in a full sight of you
  11595. >Her smile broadens
  11596. >You find yourself covered in water in no time, as she prance to hug you
  11597. >The two chests hitting each other
  11598. "Oof."
  11599. >"Sorry."
  11600. >Her embarrassed cheeks shine as she kicks the tiled floor
  11601. >When she raises her eyes they fall the side of your head and an involuntary grimace disappears an eye-blink too late to be unnoticeable
  11602. >Her brows furrow
  11603. "I know, I know."
  11604. >You didn't do anything with your ruined ear
  11605. >Why would you decide on anything yet?
  11606. >There's still time
  11607. >Uh oh
  11608. >She's probably expecting an answer
  11609. "Move aside. I will help you."
  11610. >You don't wait for an answer, grab a hoof-full of lotion and covering her mane in it
  11611. >Light Breeze shrugs to herself and allows you to pamper you for a little while
  11612. >You touch her soft sides with her bath-brush, tenderizing the flesh under it to her satisfaction
  11613. >Once she's properly rinsed she puts a hoof at your shoulder
  11614. >"Now it's my turn."
  11615. >You don't object
  11616. >Why would you
  11617. >Her hooves gently rub and tug at your mane, knead your sides, massage your back and eventually leaves only the underside to be cleaned by yourself
  11618. >All of it still under the warm shower
  11619. >Isn't it nice to have a buddy?
  11620. >…
  11621. >Both of you find yourself at your tight cubit, as it's the one closer to the showers
  11622. >Side to side with her, you relation the day to until you finish
  11623. "So, in a summary, I spent the day at the library."
  11624. >She cocks her cute head to a side
  11625. >"And it took you so long to read about the basic knowledge of this city?"
  11626. >Er, when she talks about it like that
  11627. >Horseapples!
  11628. >You almost forgot she doesn't know about multiple Twilight Sparkles!
  11629.  
  11630. "Yeeaaa, no. I tried to find something useful about getting to my previous employer's back. It's so hard to find any mention of them."
  11631. >She nods and nudges her head to yours
  11632. >"Well, now it makes more sense."
  11633. >Then she tells you about her day as a manager of a kirin restaurant in the kirin-town
  11634. "Wait, are you a manager? I thought you're a waiter."
  11635. >She shares a giggle with you
  11636. >"Oh, stop it, you."
  11637. "No, seriously, who are you?"
  11638. >Her eyes widens, her jaw hangs open
  11639. >You drape her leg with your hoof, giving her a grin
  11640. >"Not funny!"
  11641. >Her voice echos through the metal box
  11642. >"Sorry."
  11643. >You're still grinning
  11644. >"Maybe a bit funny."
  11645. >…
  11646. "Did you hear at work anything about the docks?"
  11647. >"No, I didn't, unless you mean the explosion at the noodle pit."
  11648. "Noodle pit?"
  11649. >"Are you trying to tell me it was your doing?!"
  11650. "... No?"
  11651. >"Oh, ok, then."
  11652. >…
  11653. "You know, the kirin staff said they are going to open the third floor as a brand new section. I asked to get us two cubits next to another."
  11654. >She burts in laughter
  11655. >"You did? So did I!"
  11656. >…
  11657. >"So, what are you going to do now?"
  11658. "With what?"
  11659. >"With everything. Your past employer, and tonight."
  11660. >Didn't you have to meet Chalk at the Mane?
  11661. >You have money
  11662. >Maybe he will have a way to…
  11663. >To what?
  11664. >To find a Twilight Sparkle?
  11665. >Scootaloo is a detective, right?
  11666. >She could be hired to do the same...
  11667. >Are you really going to go after the citadel?
  11668. >It won't hurt to ask!
  11669. >Light Breeze nuzzles to you a bit more, humming a song
  11670. >Was she always this affectionate?
  11671. >"Tomorrow's a day off, so I could go with you."
  11672.  
  11673. A - Go to the Mane to find Chalk, and maybe Open Tab
  11674. B - Go to the Barn to find Scootaloo
  11675. Y - Go to the Hive to confront Kar
  11676. X - [Free space/Lack of other things to do]
  11677. 1 - Take Light Breeze with you
  11678. 2 - Leave Light Breeze at the motel
  11679. A2
  11680.  
  11681. >You find an excuse to leave Light Breeze at the motel
  11682. "Do I really need an excuse?"
  11683. >"An excuse?"
  11684. "To go to a place alone."
  11685. >Her pout is a weapon to surpass metal beads
  11686. >That's the price that must be paid
  11687. >"Ok, but if you believe I won't go and party on myself then you're wrong, mare!"
  11688. >After this you sneak out to the Mane at a young hour into the night
  11689. >...
  11690. >An incredibly buffed stallion, wearing a waiter's suit, opens to the door to the Mane for you
  11691. >You try not to linger there, but isn't it nice to be somewhere welcomed?
  11692. >No matter you're just another client to these mafia ponies
  11693. >Even worse; with the bean hat and hoodie on your back you do remind more of a Hench-pony than a business-mare, which you undoubtedly are!
  11694. >To some extend
  11695. >The place doesn't look different from when you were here the last time
  11696. >Still filled with open spaces and half-walls
  11697. >No chance to conceal any weapon, be it cute pills, or estrogen injectors
  11698. >However, the few patrons at the place give it rather a grave atmosphere
  11699. >Almost as many staff as the clients, and the bar is empty
  11700. >Something tells you that compared to Rarity's Slut House this establishment doesn't have to rely only on the official income
  11701. >You take a place on a bar stool
  11702. >The mare behind the counter quickly notices you and her smile grows to an ear-to-ear grin
  11703. >His pupils dilate even before she speaks
  11704. >"Well, hello there~ What can I do for you?"
  11705. >You're Twilight Sparkle and you aren't easily fluttered
  11706. "Or maybe, what can I do to you~"
  11707. >Her eyes widen in surprise, and for a moment a tint of pink shows up on her cheeks
  11708. >The bar-mare doesn't break eye contact as her hooves work with intense precision to pour her a glass of tap water
  11709. >Neither of you blink as she chugs it down
  11710. >Her throat exposed and moving up and down along each gulp
  11711. "Remember to breath."
  11712. >The mare chokes on the liquid and breaks the eye contact in a coughing fit
  11713. >You feel sorry for the poor mare, yet opt to scan the surroundings
  11714.  
  11715. >The little tug of war display did not gain you any unwanted attention from the staff or the patrons
  11716. >Your offer of a shy sorry smile meets Open Tap wiggling eyebrows
  11717. >"You improved your game, sister. Here, on the house~"
  11718. >You don't even buckle as she places a tall glass of yellow liquid in front of you
  11719. >A straw comes with it, and you take a quick sip to confirm it's the same juice you got the first time
  11720. >"Freshly milked."
  11721. >It's delicious, but also bothersome
  11722. >Open Tap did recognize you
  11723. >As nice as it may seem, this should not happen
  11724. >You're wearing clothes, she shouldn't know it's you, not that quickly!
  11725. >Even Light Breeze would have an issue, that's what you think
  11726. >That's of what you are certain!
  11727. >Your thinking process takes to a screeching halt as the mare's warm hoof lands on yours
  11728. >A watchful gaze she's giving you is as intense as if she tried to read your mind
  11729. >As if that was possible
  11730. >"What's wrong?"
  11731. "How did you recognize me?"
  11732. >Before you can stop, words are spoken
  11733. >Even more, a hoof of yours points to the hat, to add this as a factor to question
  11734. >Maybe it's for the best you ditched Light Breeze
  11735. >You would never admit Open Tap's smirk sends a shiver down your spine, and it's as sure as a title in a book she would notice and tease you about it
  11736. >A nervous chuckle escapes her lips, which she licks with the tip of her tongue before speaking
  11737. >"How could I forget that unicorn trot of yours~."
  11738. >What?
  11739. >You... don't have any peculiar pattern of walking
  11740. >Do you?
  11741. >No, that's impossible
  11742. >"Do you want another one?"
  11743. >The glass in front of you is empty
  11744. >You nod, and a new glass joins
  11745. >"That will be 15 bits, darling."
  11746. >It's not that you're unwilling to pay, you have the money
  11747. >There's something peculiar with the way she used the word 'darling'
  11748. >How to express it does sound warm, yet not fully genuine?
  11749. >It's hard to put your hoof on, but…
  11750. >Is it possible she doesn't remember you?
  11751. >Didn't Chalk tell you that you're her type?
  11752. >That you're 'Purple'?
  11753.  
  11754. >Now, wouldn't that be rude, and made her a she-beast for one colored flanks, like yours?
  11755. >So many question, so little answers
  11756. >The mare is closing the distance, lining on the bar counter, resting on elbows with her head atop the fetlocks, looking dreamily into your eyes
  11757. "How about we play a game?"
  11758. >Her fogged eyes regain some of the previous clarity
  11759. "If I win I won't have to pay for this."
  11760. >"And if I do?"
  11761. "You won't have to pay for this."
  11762. >Both your front-legs point at your head and trace down on the sides your body
  11763. >You can't get more blunt about it
  11764. >To say that gets her attention is to say nothing
  11765. >Her throat dries up as she takes a refill of the water, again, without breaking eye contact
  11766. >"What are the rules?"
  11767. "Simple. Tell me my name."
  11768. >She cocks her head to the side and chuckles
  11769. >"Ok, you win. Is there still a chance for a pay-back?"
  11770. >Her hoof gently massaging you along
  11771. >Heh
  11772. "Listen, slut. Is Chalk here yet?"
  11773. >What
  11774. >What did you do?
  11775. >The intimate atmosphere breaks like glass cut with a knife
  11776. >Or a stone, for that matter
  11777. >Your throat relaxes only to stiffen again, giving your confused whimper a timbre of angry growl
  11778. >She recoils and fall to all her hooves, almost tripping
  11779. >A shock on her face is unmistakable
  11780. >Why did you do that?!
  11781. >You turn to look around to spot any incoming waiter of the size of a bull
  11782. >It's hard to feel ashamed for not being ever-so happy about hoofing a pony half bigger than you >No pony seems concerned, though
  11783. >No pony other than Open Tap, whose face is beet red from the neck the tips of her now straight standing ears
  11784. >She raises a leg and point to the direction where, you guess, Chalk is
  11785. >Your face is burning as you give her last glance, which causes your side to tremble
  11786. >Could swear she's biting a lip
  11787. >Her eyes burn into the back of your skull as you approach the round table in a corner
  11788. >The aquarium full of small rays of light built into the wall behind marks the same place you met Chalk before
  11789.  
  11790. >The occupant of the booth lazily sips a wheat colored drink from a wide glass, not paying you any attention
  11791. >That is, until you take a seat
  11792. >The tiny stallion raises an eyebrow as dark as the rest of his coat in a silent question
  11793. >If not for the light from the aquarium and two white dots of his eyes he would be near invisible
  11794. >Well, this is it
  11795. >You slowly pull your beanie hat off your head and place it at the table
  11796. >His energetic eyes meet yours, then trace to your falling mane, only to stop at the ear
  11797. >Giggling internally, you humor yourself and raise the scrap of an ear
  11798. >His pupils narrows to pinpricks
  11799. >What if you wave it forward and backwards?
  11800. >The colt doesn't even pretend he's untouched by the sight, following the movement for a moment
  11801. >Before you're done he jerks his head away in a well
  11802. >"So that's what got you busy. Twilight Sparkle was it?"
  11803. >There is something dangerous in his voice
  11804. "More or less. Do you have what I asked you for?"
  11805. >"Depends. Do you know how much trouble I had to get to this information?"
  11806. >Does it mean he knows where Spike or Applejack is? Or both?
  11807. >Best not to anger him
  11808. "Are you trying to tell me it's going to cost more, bragging about your connections, or have you been met with a dead end for real?"
  11809. >"Let's say I have nothing to tell you. What would you do?"
  11810. >Is this some sort of a test?
  11811. >Are you going to answer that?
  11812. "Can you please not waste our time? We are busy."
  11813. >Good job, Twilight Sparkle!
  11814. >That deep exhale was surely a mark of deep appreciation of your friendliness
  11815. >And then Chalk snores and sips his drink
  11816. >He raises a leg and a waiter pony, almost twice Chalk's size approach the table with a tray with a carafe and spare glasses
  11817. >The waiter-bodyguard refills his glass and is about to leave before Chalk stops him and gets a second glass of the stuff
  11818. >He pushes it to you on the table and picks up his in the air
  11819. >"Our luck is, that's not the case."
  11820. >Both of you clink and drink
  11821.  
  11822. >Whatever it is, tastes well, bread-y, almost like pure sourdough
  11823. >You lips taste funny
  11824. "No dead ends. Any real problems?"
  11825. >"Nothing I couldn't get past. I only wonder who are you and what do you plan."
  11826. "I don't understand."
  11827. >"Listen, I don't do business with ponies deemed untrustworthy. Quick cash is bad for long term game. I had to know don't you work for some agency."
  11828. >You sip the Baker's Wit."
  11829. "And? Do I?"
  11830. >"I don't know. You tell me."
  11831. >There is nopony around you two and yet you feel cornered
  11832. >Not because you can't answer
  11833. >It's just hard to play poker when you don't have any cards
  11834. "I may, if you will be more precise."
  11835. >If he's irritated with you, he doesn't show it
  11836. >Probably a smart move, considering you haven't paid him yet
  11837. >"You see, Twilight Sparkle. When I tried to pull out the papers on you, turned out my hoof-tablet didn't have enough memory. And it's a new model."
  11838. "Have you tried to turn it off and on?"
  11839. >"Very funny. Ha. Ha."
  11840. >Shit
  11841. "Is your source reliable?"
  11842. >"You have nerve to ask me such a question- of course it is. What kind of a question is this?"
  11843. >Should you ask?
  11844. "Mind to disclose it?"
  11845. >"No."
  11846. "Of course. Silly of me asking."
  11847. >He looks at you some more before turning to the bottom the glass
  11848. >You too taste the rich taste pallet of bitter-sweet Bread-y goodie
  11849. "I too wonder can you be trusted."
  11850. >"Understandable."
  11851. >Somepony burts into laughter on the other side of the place
  11852. >"I still don't know can I do business with you."
  11853. >You could try to persuade him that he already went through some troubles
  11854. >That's not what you're going to do
  11855. "Oh noes. Anyways, what do you have for me?"
  11856. >Chalk has a serious case of expressing amusement by snorting and smirking or rolling his eyes, this much you figured
  11857. >And right now, he snorts and smirks
  11858.  
  11859. >"Look. All I got away with are some basic recent activity logs and their addresses. One of Spike the dragon and one of Applejack the earth pony mare. Spike's is not even a real address, as far as I'm concerned, unless it's somewhere in the upper canterlot. My contacts don't reach that far. I'm more of a head to ground pony."
  11860. >It's a moment of relief for you
  11861. >He found them, and you were worried he may come up with Dragon's Den location
  11862. "How much for them?"
  11863. >"Considering the troubles I had to go through, I say twenty hundreds per contact."
  11864. >Four thousands?
  11865. >"I would really like to be able to lower the price, but the only other thing you can offer me is to sate my... curiosity. Who you really are."
  11866. >You working ear falls back, your broken ear was already there
  11867. >"Of course, that would be unprofessional of me to pry into something that a client doesn't want to share, but how can I help it? Not everyday you get to lose a tail."
  11868. >Wait, what?
  11869. "Were you followed?"
  11870. >His smile is small, because his head is small
  11871. >"Somepony sure tried."
  11872. >He pats your leg
  11873. >"Don't worry. I can make myself invisible."
  11874. >Shit
  11875. >What to do?
  11876.  
  11877. A - Pay for information on both
  11878. B - Pay for Spike's
  11879. Y - Pay for Applejack's
  11880. X - Ask him about something else [what]
  11881. XX
  11882. [X: literally respond "what"]
  11883. [He's interested in information about who we are and why we're everywhere. (I'm assuming he has a glut of information and not a dearth since he said he ran out of memory.) We could throw him and the citadel both off by setting him down the path of a TSC agent instead of ours. And use that as payment.]
  11884.  
  11885. >Even without well trained paranoia, your innate curiosity gets better of you
  11886. "What?"
  11887. >Chalk tilts his head to a side
  11888. >"What?"
  11889. "Can you disappear? Like-"
  11890. >With magic?
  11891. >You stop yourself from asking that
  11892. >In this world, wizardry never came out of theoretical speculations, and if it did, not wide enough to make an impact on anypony
  11893. >Mentioning it would draw you a crazy pony, and you have yet to explain the concept of more than one Twilight Sparkle in the same time and place
  11894. >Because that's what you're going to do
  11895. >An incoming uphill battle to save you some money
  11896. >What's the worst that will happen?
  11897. >He refuse to sell the info?
  11898. >Better not
  11899. "Never mind. I see you can take care of yourself."
  11900. >Your damage control should be taught in the canterlot university
  11901. >You're not sure in which class or course
  11902. >Maybe in each one
  11903. >"What will it be?"
  11904. >Money, or intel; he doesn't have to finish
  11905. >You wave a hoof in an attempt to look nonchalantly
  11906. "Let me collect my thoughts. The story is quite... I just don't know where to start."
  11907. >As if on a cue, the gigantic waiter approaches you and refill your glass
  11908. >It gives you enough time to come up with a viable strategy
  11909. "I must warn you, before-hoof, that the things I'm going to say will certainly come off as incredulous and unbelievable. You may tend to think I am making jokes of you with these deliberate lies, but I assure you, none of what I say is in any degree farther from truth than us both sitting here in this bar."
  11910. >His eyes focus on yours, and his ears slowly rise as you speak until they reach their tallest point
  11911. >He motions you with a hoof
  11912. "But first things first. How high a discount is on the table?"
  11913. >Chalk's forehead dons a deepening frown, which, due to his black coating in a dim place, is almost imperceptible
  11914. >His ears doesn't fall to his head, thought, betraying curiosity or something else what you can't name
  11915. >"That depends."
  11916. >Words seeps past his lips
  11917. "On what?"
  11918. >Dramatic pause
  11919.  
  11920. "If on the believability of my words then we can already do the payment in full the price and not bother with talking about it."
  11921. >You bait with a bare bone and turn towards your glass
  11922. >The drink does taste exquisite
  11923. >Hold on, how much will it cost?
  11924. >It's not the best time to come off as nervous, but you can't help your thoughts!
  11925. >A hoof clops the table
  11926. >"Fine. You're going to tell the full story of what in tarnation is going on with your personal files, and if it feels plausible, you will pay half the price, but for both."
  11927. >That's a good deal, but it's not the best you can get
  11928. >What makes you think that?
  11929. >He is still talking with you
  11930. "No. I am going to tell exactly what is going on, and whether you can accept it as true, or not, the price gets halved. I won't waste my time trying to prove the truth if you refuse to think out of the box, because, oh, stallion, you will not want to believe me."
  11931. >The black stallion's eyes pierce through your skull and find nothing that could justify to break the negotiations
  11932. >He speaks, albeit reluctantly
  11933. >"Only if it makes sense."
  11934. >Not completely happy with the promise, you motion him to scoot closer
  11935. "You said something about my personal files. I get you have contacts to some police or administrative system. Definitely with an archive functionalities. Am I right?"
  11936. >A tiny scrunch on a tiny snout
  11937. >This mare should have been a mare with how adorably dangerous he is
  11938. "You don't have to answer, Chalk. The details doesn't matter. Do you know the concept of an impersonation account?"
  11939. >"Of course. However, it raises additional questions. How would a pony like you be so influential to change the data-banks, but not being able to find somepony in a whim? That's what it is?"
  11940. "No. Well, maybe in some regards. As you said, to change the city records is improbable task. Heck, even the library system is well protected, and that one seems ancient."
  11941. >"Because it is."
  11942.  
  11943. >The colt chews on his lower lip
  11944. "Two words. Dummy entries."
  11945. >"What do you mean?"
  11946. >The confusion in his voice is almost tangible
  11947. "What if I tell you that there is a way to drop all types of official actions into somepony else's account? Like a non-existing one that will be created and kept alive only to have access to the canterlot services, or the crebit cards?"
  11948. >His ears flickers, but his eyes doesn't waves
  11949. >"Then I would call you crazy. The crebit cards are tied to the user by the genetics and they cannot be over-written by any known power in the ever expanding universe. That's how they work. That's why they work."
  11950. "I agree. It would be impossible to interfere with that."
  11951. >He breaks the eye-contact for long enough to roll eyes
  11952. >"We're back at the entry point."
  11953. >Or so he thinks
  11954. "Not really. I got you to agree the city council's system, whatever it is, is impenetrable with fake inputs. Only legitimate, automatized information gets into it."
  11955. >That's where you order another round of the drinks
  11956. >None of you say a word until the pony exit the ear-shot distance
  11957. >You notice the place begins to feel with more patrons and the tables on your left and right may eventually get filled
  11958. >That would make you unable to continue
  11959. >Better hurry up
  11960. "Since the entries cannot be fake, they must be legitimate, right?"
  11961. >He doesn't answer, scanning your face for any sign of telling lies
  11962. >Woe is him, he won't find anything; you're already purple!
  11963. "Once again, whatever, wherever you found - it doesn't belong to me."
  11964. >"Are you not Twilight Sparkle?"
  11965. "I am. You can check my identity on my crebit card."
  11966. >He raises a leg to wave off the idea
  11967. >"No need to do it now."
  11968. >Which mean, to do it at all
  11969. >Surely, the data he searched through had a physical appearance description or a photo
  11970. >"Then you're at least 60 years old. You don't look."
  11971.  
  11972. >At this moment the same waiter as before comes to the table to offer you a refill
  11973. >Hmm, must been lured by Chalk's waving
  11974. >You give both of them your best shy smile
  11975. >More of a grin, really
  11976. "Why, thank you."
  11977. >Once again you wait to stay alone, except this time you giggle like a little filly
  11978. >The constant intoxication finally reaching your head
  11979. >"Cut the crap."
  11980. >Uh oh
  11981. >"What are you trying to tell me?"
  11982. >Isn't it obvious?
  11983. >Wait, that's not how to speak
  11984. "And what do you think?"
  11985. >Finally, he breaks the eye contact
  11986. >"This doesn't make sense."
  11987. >Except it does
  11988. "Except, it does"
  11989. >Thank you, Twilight Sparkle
  11990. >No problem, Twilight Sparkle
  11991. >"That would mean there's an entire family named like one pony, and a quite big one, maybe far too wide for natural causes, or you're a time-traveler."
  11992. >You don't have time to wonder will he feel insulted if you burst out with laugh
  11993. >Rubbing your face helps to stop, but the damage is done
  11994. >Damage?
  11995. >You mean the atmosphere at the table become lighter
  11996. >Is that a bad thing?
  11997. >"Sweet princesses. You're completely wasted."
  11998. >A proud smile plastered on your face a sufficient proof
  11999. "At least."
  12000. >"At least, what?"
  12001. "Completely wasted."
  12002. >The stallion shakes his head
  12003. >"You're not a time-traveler, now, are you?"
  12004. >The giggling fit is what you need right now
  12005. >Oh, there it is
  12006. "Depends."
  12007. >"Yeah, I don't really believe that."
  12008. "That's the thing. Let's be real. Time travel? Puh-lease. Outruling the impossible leaves us with the possible, am I tight or am I tight?"
  12009. >Something makes him look at you funny for the first time of your short acquaintance
  12010. >"I don't want to believe your family is this big, nor every one of you bears the same name. That's impossible."
  12011. >He understands whatever he got must be real!
  12012. >You got him right where you want!
  12013. >At the table that gets free refills of this top plush stuff!
  12014. "Of course not, silly. What if- what if, I tell you, there's more Twilight Sparkles than me. Not family. Same looks and same cutie mark."
  12015.  
  12016. >Oh, back at the scoffing are we
  12017. >"Impossible."
  12018. "Butts would make it sense?"
  12019. >He doesn't answer
  12020. >You raise both your legs above the head in the gesture of victory
  12021. >Oh, cool, another dose of the wheat delicious
  12022. >"I will have to check it."
  12023. "Don't let them check you first."
  12024. >You wink at him, or so you think
  12025. >It's hard to see his reaction
  12026. >Black on black is maximum sneaky, not maximum readability
  12027. >Damn, you feel good
  12028. >You sit there and enjoy the smooth music that's now being played
  12029. >It's a good night for jazz
  12030. >And you finished just in the right moment; both tables around you gets filled with small parties of mob-like looking ponies
  12031. >No pony is paying you any attention
  12032. >That's nice
  12033. >No pony but the dark coated pony next to you and occasionally glimpsing bar pony
  12034. >Maybe you should later go and say hi
  12035.  
  12036. A - remind about the 50% discount
  12037. B - demand free data in exchange
  12038. Y - tell him more about Twilight Sparkles [what]
  12039. X - ask him about something [what]
  12040. BBbee
  12041.  
  12042. >The slow, rhythmic jazz swings now through the establishment for a drink or two
  12043. >Can't see the pony playing the viola from where you sit, but it doesn't bother
  12044. >You allow yourself to speak only after Chalk's black eyes make contact with yours
  12045. >That happens after another refill of this hopefully not as expensive as rich in taste drink
  12046. >Some more and you may need to visit the little fillies room
  12047. "Let's get back to business. To defeat the-"
  12048. >"Alright."
  12049. >He puts his glass back on the table and pull himself upright
  12050. >The posture he takes make you expect him to continue
  12051. >But he doesn't
  12052. >You only got interrupted
  12053. >Maybe for the better
  12054. >Nah
  12055. "Listen, you-"
  12056. >"Yes?"
  12057. >He snorts
  12058. >SNORTS
  12059. >Is he doing it to piss you off?
  12060. "I may be a little drink, but at least I'm not drunk, capisce? You promised me half the price. I promise you, you will give me all the data for free."
  12061. >The confusion on his features marks your soon-to-be victory!
  12062. "What I told you is worth far more than what you want in exchange."
  12063. >"What do you mean you will 'promise' me?"
  12064. >What?
  12065. "What?"
  12066. >"What?"
  12067. >Oh, he's really good at this
  12068. "Just give me the data, please."
  12069. >"Didn't we agree on half the price if the story is good?"
  12070. >That's not how you remember it
  12071. >What a jerk
  12072. >That gives you an idea!
  12073. "And is it good?"
  12074. >His forelegs rest on the table and his head hovers above it
  12075. >"Depends. I've never heard anything more dark and fantastical same time than this, and I read the entire Neuromare Trilogy."
  12076. "Life is more unbelievable than any three books, don't you know?"
  12077. >"Actually, the said trilogy has four books, but that's beside the point-"
  12078. >What?!
  12079. >Calling a book series a trilogy and making it four books?
  12080. >What a devil could come up with that?
  12081. >"- why do you think it's acceptable for you to ask me for my hard labor fruits for free?"
  12082. >The nerve of this colt!
  12083.  
  12084. "First off, not for free. I told you what's going on with the biggest mystery you've been presented with during your life. What you do with it and how you earn your bag of gold off it is your thing, mister fixer pony, not mine. For all I care, you can go right to the canterlot council or the counselor themselves and report that to them. You would be rich, as long as they do not co-operate with my name-ponies. If that's the case, you're as good as griffon kibble. Dry with extra salt."
  12085. >Ok, that's a bit wide of assumption, but the point is clear
  12086. >You're drunk
  12087. >Wait, no- he can make money, that's your point
  12088. "Second thing, who in Equestria calls four books the only word describing three books? Who does that? That's pure chaos!"
  12089. >Your not-silly question hangs in the air without an immediate answer
  12090. >His lips part, revealing a tiny grin, until his eyes fall on your hack and slash of an ear
  12091. >"Well, well, well. Call me surprised."
  12092. >You don't say anything and you don't feel embarrassed
  12093. >No, you don't
  12094. >"So you're suspecting the council to know?"
  12095. >His smirk gets replaced with a neutral expression, which is a welcoming change
  12096. >You nod
  12097. "How else would they be allowed to lurk around with so many account cards?"
  12098. >To prove it, you rustle your chest fluff to retrieve your own one
  12099. >You place it on the edge of the table
  12100. >His eyes perk up at the sight
  12101. >"Whatever is the case, ruling this out could bring doom to the poor pony reporting it. Frankly speaking, the first moment I noticed the logs were at least twice the size of an average pony I got mad at you. I'm not mad anymore, just speaking so you know."
  12102. >Is your small smile charming?
  12103. >Sure is
  12104. "Why?"
  12105. >However, you don't wait for an answer
  12106. "You felt you got set up?"
  12107. >Chalk raises a hoof to trace a circle in the air before pointing it you
  12108. >"More or less. My source is secure, but to look into files of this size without any warning felt like picking a war against an entire agency."
  12109.  
  12110. >You raise a brow
  12111. "And that's by fault I didn't warn you not to check me?"
  12112. >To your great surprise, in difference to a regular surprise, Chalk's black face is capable of an apologetic smile
  12113. >"Silly me."
  12114. >The local suited guard-waiter comes to refill your glasses again, but this time you put a hoof at the top of your glass
  12115. >He gets the clue
  12116. >Chalk shakes his head and the bulky pony goes his way
  12117. >You look into your empty glass
  12118. "I need the money."
  12119. >"Don't we all?"
  12120. "I need the money to get to the upper canterlot."
  12121. >"Ah."
  12122. >He sits back
  12123. >"Because I said the dragon's address is there? Can't you ask your other... yous? If what you say is true."
  12124. >He wanted to say friends
  12125. >Do you have friends you could ask about help?
  12126. >Maybe, but he said 'yous'
  12127. >Your mind is too clogged to be sure, but he probably, most-likely, certainly, meant other Twilight Sparkles
  12128. >Didn't you tell him you're a fugitive?
  12129. >Isn't it obvious?
  12130. "No, I can't."
  12131. >"Mind to tell me, why?"
  12132. >Shouldn't it be easy for an organization like that?
  12133. >That's what he meant, this time for sure
  12134. >His lips are curled into a gentle smile, but his eyes are cold
  12135. >It may be the aquarium behind his back... yet you shouldn't trust him without a limit
  12136. >Heck!
  12137. >You didn't say everything even to Light Breeze!
  12138. >Or did you?
  12139. >Hard to tell
  12140. >Definitely not so easy!
  12141. >Is money really worth it?
  12142. "It's a private matter."
  12143. >"So, nopony to help you with getting to the upper canterlot?"
  12144. "Are you offering a service?"
  12145. >"What is your relation with your sisters, from the lack of a better word?"
  12146. >What is it?
  12147. "An interrogating?"
  12148. >Did you say that?
  12149. >His small black face turns unreadable
  12150. >Oh, sweet Celestia, you said that
  12151. >Good job, Twilight Sparkle
  12152. >Fu-
  12153. >"No, I'm sorry. Old habits die hard and all that junk."
  12154. >He pulls out a leg to scratch the back of his head
  12155. >This is accompanies by a sharp chuckle and softer laughter
  12156. >You better grab the addresses and get lost
  12157. >Before he realize he can snitch you out
  12158.  
  12159. >Would the Citadel even pay a third party to get their hooves dirty?
  12160. >Not unlikely!
  12161. >The music stops
  12162. >Your back straighten and you ears shot towards the lack of soothing sound
  12163. >The one still working turns towards the commotion deeper in the room
  12164. >It's the musician that packs their things and gets applauded
  12165. >There's no screaming, it's not that type of establishment, but some younger looking clientele, which is far too old for you, clops their hooves against hard surface
  12166. >Even when they do it, the sounds come muffled and not-bothering
  12167. >The crebit card screen betrays its little secret to you in small orange letters
  12168. >It's past 3 am
  12169. >How long have you spent here?
  12170. >You turn towards Chalk
  12171. >His nostrils flare at your sudden movement, but you do yourself nothing out of it
  12172. "Listen, colt, it's all nice and dandy around here, but if you don't value my intel as much as you should, let's deal and get going."
  12173. >You may be drunk, yet you hear your voice cut sharp through the silence
  12174. >His eyes narrows as he speak
  12175. >"I'm sorry, filly," he accents this word. "As much as touched me your story, this isn't a charity. I agreed to half the price and that's the best you'll get."
  12176. >Eh, whatever
  12177. >Tried your best
  12178. >You pick up your crebit card and ready for a transaction
  12179. >He produces his and the deal is done
  12180. >"I will pay for our drinks tonight, so don't worry about that."
  12181. >3280 crebits left on your card
  12182. >You hope it will be enough to find these two
  12183. >It must plaster an involuntary sour grimace on your face
  12184. >You know it does
  12185. >"It's nothing personal, mare."
  12186. >Nodding, you hold out a hoof for a small piece of paper he produced in front of you
  12187. >You quickly check the raw scribble and memorize both addresses
  12188. >One of them doesn't look legitimate; it must be from the upper canterlot
  12189. >No chance you will forget that, no matter how intoxicated you are
  12190. >That makes you think "what if these are fakes?"
  12191. >Twilight Sparkle always pays her debts
  12192. >Or something
  12193. "Are you sure these are legitimate?"
  12194.  
  12195. >His face blank, and very, very dark
  12196. >"Would I stay in business if I sold fake data?"
  12197. "Would you?"
  12198. >He pulls his head backwards to the wall and laugh
  12199. >It's genuine, you can tell
  12200. >"I probably would."
  12201. >Chalk, Bobby, Pin, or whatever his real name is looks pleased for the first time this night
  12202. >"Not in this bar, though, nor near around a place half as well-known as this."
  12203. >You stand away from the table and put your beacon strip of an ear under the beanie hat
  12204. >"If you'll need anything come find me. I may have a job for somepony like you. Though, it's nothing sure. Who knows what the future brings, since we don't even know how these... those ponies managed to get past the council security."
  12205. "You do manage."
  12206. >His head dismissed the thought
  12207. >"I wish. Either way, good luck with your friends, and... I don't know did I tell you, but watch out at the bar pony. She's a mare-eater."
  12208. >You leave him there and with slow, tired walk, exit the building
  12209. >Once you make sure no-pony is following you through the well lit, still crowded streets, you think of ponies who can help you to collect your thoughts
  12210. >But first: go to bed
  12211. >…
  12212. >Morning routine got you a lighter vegetable salad
  12213. >The wheat beer turned out to be pretty caloric
  12214. >3250 on the count and... probably will have to pay for more nights at the motel, soon enough
  12215.  
  12216. A - go find Light Breeze; she's probably at her bulk
  12217. B - go find Rarity; she's probably at work
  12218. Y - go to find Scootaloo's office
  12219. X - go to visit Twilight Sparkle's hideout
  12220. Z - go to the supposed Applejack's place
  12221. AA
  12222.  
  12223. >You direct your steadfast gait towards bulk number…
  12224. >Alright, can't remember right now
  12225. >Seems like yesterday's, or today's, bread beer still has a hold on you, befuddling your calm and well calculated mind
  12226. >However, that's not much of a problem
  12227. >You're Twilight Sparkle
  12228. >You remember the way
  12229. >…
  12230. >The place is packed, what isn't unusual at this hour of early... before-noon, which is a fancy way to think of waking up a tad later than usual, but not too late to be called a productive member of the society
  12231. >Not that you care
  12232. >It's neither a crime they would stay a bit quieter, no matter how impossible a wish it is
  12233. >Knocking on the cubit's door with number 405 proves fruit-less
  12234. >Even waiting a minute doesn't change the final outcome
  12235. >You knock again, in the rhythm of your head pulsing
  12236. >Nothing is left to do but to look for your friend in a different place when the cubit's door budges from inside and one red eye pops out through a thin crevice
  12237. >"What?"
  12238. >The voice coming from the hole does belong to Light Breeze, yet is cracked in the most tired way imaginable
  12239. >The eye and the ghastly voice, eventually, finds you standing in front of it, and a deep gasp, bordering with a grunt, can be heard
  12240. >Not sure what to do of it, you put the tip of a hoof in the hole and pull it to a side to reveal the mess of a pony inside
  12241. >It doesn't happen without a loud hiss on her part
  12242. >Light Breeze, because it's her, and she doesn't look bad by any means, covers her eyes with her hooves
  12243. >You don't know what to do of it, unless you realize - she suffers the common fate of late night party-goers
  12244. >From all this and covering from the light it's clear to deduct she must have drunk far more than you, or slept far shorter a time span
  12245.  
  12246. >Not waiting for an invitation that won't ever come, you rear yourself into her tiny cubit, between her and the bottom-bulk container filled with stuff
  12247. >The door closes behind you, or rather, in front of you, and a sigh of release from oppression is made the same moment darkness envelopes you two
  12248. >She doesn't say anything, with her breath heavy
  12249. >Her side makes way to your side, and her fore-leg makes side atop one of yours
  12250. >Does that count as nuzzling?
  12251. >You have things to do and places to be, but doesn't bother you; it's obvious one of these place-things is right here and right now
  12252. >It may be true you woke her up from her drunken agony, yet, you won't lie to yourself, she seems far beyond the capacity of being angry about anything but existence
  12253. >To prove this point, your snout scrunches involuntarily at her hot breath reaching you
  12254. >Twilight Sparkle, the intoxication inspector
  12255. >Yup, still intoxicated
  12256. >"Do you bring water?"
  12257. >That's a rhetoric question, with a raspy voice that could give Rainbow Dash a run for her bits
  12258. "No. Do you want me to get you some?"
  12259. >Her leg grabbed stronger on yours
  12260. >"Not yet. Can't stand light."
  12261. >You stifle a giggle in your throat
  12262. >Oh, wow, more snuggling, ok
  12263. "Fun night?"
  12264. >Light Breeze grunts and the thin walls carries it forward;
  12265. >"Can we just sit here?"
  12266. >In silence, she means?
  12267. >You would rather talk your recent discovery, and discuss a way to get to the upper canterlot, but, hey
  12268. >What don't you do for your friends
  12269. "Sure."
  12270. >…
  12271. >It's already half past after-noon, closing on the time the 8 pm, when the sun goes down, when your companion gets back to the living
  12272. >By the time, you have traveled for something to drink and eat for you two twice
  12273. >That makes you around 3200 crebits on the card, but you're Twilight Sparkle
  12274. >The non-whinny
  12275. >More nuzzling ensues
  12276. >"Thank you for staying with me."
  12277. "No biggie."
  12278. >Her cheek pushes into your chest, snout close to the fluff
  12279. >Grazing you with each exhale
  12280. >"You probably had plans."
  12281.  
  12282. >She isn't wrong, but does 'plans to make' really count as plans?
  12283. >This is where you really miss Spike the dragon the most
  12284. >Talking to yourself about semantics is fine, but talking to yourself under the pretense of talking to somepony else really connect the dots
  12285. "What are friends for?"
  12286. >A sour giggle which tone you can't really place catches you off guard
  12287. >"I don't know. Maybe leaving in the heat of action and not contacting friends for half a year least?"
  12288. >Your muscles tense
  12289. >It's not difficult to proceed what she meant
  12290. >The other Twilight Sparkles
  12291. >Plural or Singular you will never know
  12292. >You have no reason to feel the pang of guilt you do
  12293. >It's heavy in your chest, heavier than lead, or iron, of really, really heavy flanks
  12294. >This poor mare
  12295. >She senses she said something wrong, and pushes her face deeper under your leg
  12296. >"I'm sorry."
  12297. >There's nothing to be sorry about
  12298. >Not in the dark confines of this tomb called home
  12299. >Possibly not at all
  12300. >You administer well practiced head pats and hope for better
  12301. >…
  12302. >It works better than anticipated
  12303. >Soon enough, you two head under a warm shower
  12304. >The difference in her walk and posture pre-and-post this medication of hot water dripping down her frame would be easily noticeable by a blind pony
  12305. >If you're any good at estimation of a post-party state, she reached when you were, when you were when you woke up today
  12306. >That's a bit convulsed; thus, it's true!
  12307. >All badly worded wisdom are correct, the same way all good prophecies rhyme
  12308. >So says Zecora-thustra
  12309. >You offer to get crash at the bulks until all's good, but she dismisses you with a wave of a hoof
  12310. >That's how you two walk into the first-floor, as full of food and ponies as ever, and get a table
  12311. >She pays for the food, so it tastes better
  12312. >That's a scientific fact!
  12313. >"I have tomorrow off. What's the plan?"
  12314. >You cock the head to a side
  12315. "The plan is, I don't have a plan."
  12316. >She munch on a hay-burger before speaking with a mouthful
  12317. >"Didn't you go somewhere to get something?"
  12318.  
  12319. >What did you tell her?
  12320. >Can't recall
  12321. >Heck, you can't even remember how much you told her about the whole ordeal with the citadel
  12322. >That's worrisome to say the least
  12323. >Your memory is playing fiddles on you
  12324. "I got a lead or two. The plan is to get rid of the company, or at least to make them realize going after me is against their statutory declaration."
  12325. >"What do you mean?"
  12326. "They promised to be profitable. Going after me isn't."
  12327. >Her ears now lay down on her skull
  12328. >Uh oh
  12329. >Did she take it personal?
  12330. "At least for them."
  12331. >They perk up again, albeit in a shy manner betraying some deeper thought-work happening in her earth pony head
  12332. >Better not give her too much time to mule over it else she comes up with another idea to stab herself with over the Twilight Sparkles of day by-gone
  12333. >Heh
  12334. >Bye-gone
  12335. >What is wrong with you?
  12336. "I wanted an advice from you."
  12337. >That gets her attention
  12338. "How to get to the upper canterlot?"
  12339. >The blue-beige mare blinks at you as if you grew a second horn
  12340. >"Why would you ever want to go there?"
  12341. >That's not a question you were expecting
  12342. >"Everything there is so pointlessly expensive. You can get everything you may think of here. Even on the market outside."
  12343. "I don't want to go shopping, I have an address to visit, but the thing is, I don't want to be noticed."
  12344. >Her body shuffled forward, bending over the table in a manner over-comically conspiratorial
  12345. >She waves for you to do the same and speaks only when you reluctantly reciprocate the gesture
  12346. >"Is it about your previous employer?"
  12347. "What? Yes. Of course. What else?"
  12348. >Her back meets the support of the chair as she whistles
  12349. >"Do you want me to go with you?"
  12350. >Did you even think of it?
  12351. "I'm not going there yet. There's another pony I want to visit before going there. A pony or two. I'm not sure. All I wanted to ask you is how to get there without being noticed. The question stands."
  12352. >Light Breeze's chin meets her chest
  12353. >She gets really deep in thoughts, with eyes closed, and tail waggling, and what-not
  12354.  
  12355. >One of her eyes pops open for a moment, to see are you watching her, only for it to close and her to shake violently
  12356. >"Nope. Sorry. No idea how to get there. If I were to go there I would just pick the Central Pan Lift, but since you worry about being visible and, thus, not wanting to be registered, I don't really know what you could do."
  12357. >Ah, well
  12358. >As much you could have expected
  12359. >"I can ask round the Kirin Town when I'm at the work at Monday. I can't promise anything, but maybe they know some way of getting your purple flanks up there. Oh, and since we are about your colors. I really love this creation of yours. That hoodie and beanie? It fits you so well. The moment I saw you I wasn't sure is that you or somepony twenty percent cooler."
  12360. >Jeez, mare, thanks
  12361. >At least your disguise works
  12362. >"Maybe you could show me where you got them today? I know it's late, but why not?"
  12363. "Didn't you have enough attractions for today already?"
  12364. >"C'mon, Twilight, it will be a quick trip to-and-fro!"
  12365. >Getting fresh air doesn't sound like a bad idea
  12366. >You may even get to drag her along to visit Applejack or other ponies…
  12367. >Do you want to risk her being tangled into this mess?
  12368. >Can you take this responsibility?
  12369. >Sure you can!
  12370. >You're Twilight Sparkle
  12371. >The intangible
  12372. >Should you, though?
  12373.  
  12374. 1 - agree to the shopping and take her with you
  12375. 2 - agree to the shopping and send her home
  12376. 3 - disagree to the shopping and find a good excuse
  12377. 4 - disagree to the shopping and find a better excuse
  12378. A - go to Rarity's home, nearby the Central Pan
  12379. B - go to rebellious Twilight Sparkle's old horse shoe factory
  12380. Y - go to Scootaloo's office nearby the Barn
  12381. X - go to Applejack's address
  12382. 1XA
  12383.  
  12384. >A simple nod is all it takes for Light Breeze to pounce at you
  12385. >The hug and contact with her legs and chest is warm and soft, but what really matters to you is how energetic she gets
  12386. >It's a clear sign she's feeling far better than before
  12387. >You grab a small supply of things that somehow found their way out of your chest fluff and both of you make out... out of the hotel!
  12388. >But not before you send her to runs to her cubit
  12389. >It's totally on you
  12390. >You forgot you still have her gem reader tripod device
  12391. >She gasps at the sight
  12392. >"For me? Really?"
  12393. >You cock a brow
  12394. >It elicits a giggle from her
  12395. >"I know you had it, I just, kinda, signed it off as missing."
  12396. "Rude."
  12397. >More giggling follows as she run away to her stash
  12398. >She makes you wait for herself a little
  12399. >Totally deserved
  12400. >…
  12401. >The market outside is packed, yet seems less crowded than the motel
  12402. >Your attention is hogged by the lack of familiar bunch of loud griffons
  12403. >The bar above the entrance looks small and abused
  12404. >You don't get to think of it much more as Light Breeze joins you and you two trot off to where you got your outfit
  12405. >…
  12406. >Frankly speaking, you kinda feared she will take hours to find something that would fit her size and taste - Even though you're very similar in shape!
  12407. >As it turns out, for no reason
  12408. >Maybe it's the past experience of shopping with Rarity back a life time ago, in Ponyville
  12409. >It always took so long!
  12410. >Light Breeze takes like, what, twenty minutes in-and-out?
  12411. >Now, that's some speedster-magic
  12412. >Every-mare could learn from it
  12413. >The old you would get an aneurysm from the disbelieve of any mare being able to do that!
  12414. >What she picked is a thick, white shirt (that looks more like a sweater to you) and a dark hoofball hat
  12415. >It's a rather cute combo
  12416. >You give her a small smile and she reciprocates with a gleeful one
  12417. >Her leg hooks around your withers, pulling you out to the streets in the process
  12418. >The sun is going to be soon set down, what means the street lamps are about to fill the visible area with bright yellow light, in difference to the warm orange one
  12419. >This won't change how filled the streets are, but will replace the hard working ponies with hard partying ones
  12420. >They are mostly the same, with few exceptions
  12421. >"So, what do you think?"
  12422. "Didn't I tell you already it looks good on you?"
  12423. >Her cheek finds yours
  12424. >"I know, right? Purple is really my color!"
  12425. >Purple?
  12426. >But her clothes-
  12427. >She must planned it!
  12428. >You look at her in inquisitiveness, and her face gets serious-
  12429. >Only for her brows to wiggle, the very next moment, like some sort of naughty, naughty worms!
  12430. >Hearty laughter follows which you proudly tolerate
  12431. >Because you're a good friend with distance to yourself
  12432. >Not because you're too red on face after this uncalled for display of affection to even stomp a hoof in disagreement!
  12433. >As you ponder how to get back at her, it becomes clear she's still leading you in circles around the same block of front-end pubs
  12434. "Not that I mind our little adventure, but you don't know the address."
  12435. >This prompts her to stop
  12436. >Her lips make a perfect "o" before she elaborates:
  12437. >"Oh," she says and- that's all what she says
  12438. >The one ear which you can see from under her hat lay flat against her skull
  12439. "What's up?"
  12440. >She kicks the ground
  12441. >Her eyes reluctantly swing around the welcoming drinking-places
  12442. >There is some water-work gathering in the corners of her eyes
  12443. >Should you begin to worry?
  12444. "Light Breeze, don't you want to go with me tonight?"
  12445. >Once again, a perfect "O", this time a silent one
  12446. >The smile is back with tenfold the strength and hugs
  12447. >Oof!
  12448. >The hugs!
  12449. >Can they feel 'elevated'?
  12450. >They do!
  12451. >How much of it is her natural charm and how much is light-work?
  12452. >"I thought you're going to ditch me here."
  12453. "Why?"
  12454. >"Because you're always so... I felt like you considered it."
  12455. >Well, you did
  12456. >She stops shortly, as if keeping a tab on what she says
  12457. >Whatever is the reason of it, you can't just stand there and stare at her
  12458. >Ponies are walking this sidewalk and it will take only couple of seconds for them to bump into you!
  12459. "Well, I don't plan on leaving. You want to come with me, then come on. We have a city to burn, samu-mare."
  12460. >Last time check the address given by Chalk and-
  12461. >She catches up to your left side
  12462. >Her voice worried
  12463. >"Did you really mean it about burning the city?"
  12464. >You glance at her
  12465. "No."
  12466. >Barely audible exhale of air is followed by a whisper
  12467. >"So cool!"
  12468. >Damn, she's right
  12469. >You're the coolest Twilight Sparkle alive
  12470. >Oh, the merriment!
  12471. >…
  12472. >It took some asking around for the "Old Orchard" street, but some elderly pony wearing heavy make-up and spiked collar explained to them, the club they look for doesn't exist
  12473. >"The club?" Light Breeze asked first
  12474. >"Yes, fillies. That's a place from my youth." the gentle-colt sits on his haunches and uses front-legs to pull his mane upward
  12475. >It stay in that position and he begins to form a spike out of it
  12476. "Can you tell us where it was?"
  12477. >"Sure."
  12478. >You find the place not far away from the Central Pan Plaza
  12479. >Rarity's living complex is left behind you, as the roads gets suddenly narrower and more reminding of an old labyrinth than a living city space
  12480. >"Huh."
  12481. "What's up?"
  12482. >"We're almost in the Kirin Town, you know."
  12483. >You don't
  12484. "This is where you work?"
  12485. >"Not in this part. "White Shrooms" Bar is far closer our motel. I never approached this district this way."
  12486. >You look up the tall constructions of stone and steel
  12487. >Not much different from other parts of the town, except for different posters with letters unknown to you
  12488. >The ponies are as many as everywhere else, except more kirins where there, and even more exotic looking creatures
  12489. >Your sense of smell gets approached with a varying palette of sour and salty with each street-stand passed-by
  12490. "Can you tell me more about this place?"
  12491. >"The Kirin Town didn't really make a good impression on lower canterlot in the past. Constant fires and tight constructions led to prejudice and violence and more fires."
  12492. "Aren't buildings here just as tall and concrete as everywhere else?"
  12493. >"Yeah. I don't get it myself. I read that on some pamphlet some time ago."
  12494. >…
  12495. >The place is behind a corner
  12496. >You learn it, by entering the wrong door and ending in an old school washing-machine place
  12497. >Rows and rows of items belonging in a technical-museum by canterlot standards, still in use
  12498. >It's an interesting sight, now that you have clothes to wash
  12499. >The entrance from the street leads you into the "Pizza Time"
  12500. >The entire floor and walls are filled with ugly white tiles, so different from the ones used in Rarity's Slut House
  12501. >Light Breeze finds her way to an unoccupied table with two crude chairs
  12502. >They dare to creak when your flanks get secured in sitting position!
  12503. >There is three black chalk-boards with mixed Kirinise and Equestrian
  12504. >Under it a single counter with a kirin female sitting there with the most bored look ever
  12505. >It looks like nothing can break through the mask of boredom, not even the scarce clientele approaching her and returning their dishes or placing orders
  12506. >Oh, right
  12507. >There's not a single server in the place, and nothing to really look at
  12508. >The most of the patrons are old ponies, anyways
  12509. >You look at Light Breeze
  12510. >She returns your sentiment
  12511. >This time it's a smile
  12512. >They are the most common when you look at her
  12513. >Her hat is tipped to a side, making her eyes somehow even more radiant than before the longer you observe these deep wells full of soul
  12514. >It's as good a moment to think about your relationship as any other
  12515. >Expect when somepony is actively chasing you
  12516. >Or her
  12517. >Do you put her in danger?
  12518. >Even by being nearby
  12519. >Would she allow you to cut yourself from her life?
  12520. >Only if she had something to say in the manner
  12521. >So far you impersonated a pony she used to know
  12522. >Or more than one, but you never meant her any harm
  12523. >Lost a job because of you, but…
  12524. >That doesn't have to be a bad thing
  12525. >Did she not land instantly on her hooves?
  12526. >And she sticked to you; to a Twilight Sparkle of hers, that is
  12527. >There are thoughts going through her head right now
  12528. >Not pleasant ones
  12529. >"I know what you're thinking."
  12530. >W-What?
  12531. "You do?"
  12532. >She nods her head slowly
  12533. >"I can assure you, this place is nothing like my new job."
  12534. >Oh
  12535. "Yeah, I bet a kidney they are nothing alike."
  12536. >"A kidney?"
  12537. "'Cos I kid you not."
  12538. >A well earnt snort and shake of head
  12539. >You can sit there all the night and nopony is going to pay you any mind
  12540. >That's not exactly how the plan goes, now is it
  12541. "Should we order something?"
  12542. >"I don't really feel hungry- oh, you mean, to get their attention. Yes, sure."
  12543. "I can't really read what's on the menu. Care to read it for me?"
  12544. >Light Breeze's eyes opens wider in surprise
  12545. >"You don't read Kirinise? How comes?"
  12546. >Uh oh
  12547. >Talk about the devil herself
  12548. "Haven't used in the longest time."
  12549. >Your companion smirks, but complies with your plea
  12550. >It's really a pizza place
  12551. >If not for her guidance through the offer, then by a mare using a mobility scooter picking up her pizza and driving out into the packed street
  12552. >She finishes
  12553. "It's odd."
  12554. >"What is?"
  12555. "There's no apple on the menu."
  12556. >"Apples on a pizza? Do you mean pineapples?"
  12557. "No, I don't mean the ananas."
  12558. >You bend forward like some pink pie-ter
  12559. "My friend's name is Applejack. As you can jump to the funny conclusion she puts apples into everything."
  12560. >"Into everything?" A fat gulp moves down earth pony mare's throat. "Are you sure she's not some kind of a villain? She may work for your ex-company with such tendencies…"
  12561. >What?
  12562. "What? No. It's delicious."
  12563. >"If you say so."
  12564. >Mentioning that Applejack could work for the citadel is base-less
  12565. >That's what you think
  12566. >Then why your heartbeat got higher
  12567. >The next consecutive thought should be about the possibility of Light Breeze being a citadel out-sourced goon
  12568. >Now, now, no need to be paranoid now, Twilight Sparkle
  12569. >You're correct, Twilight Sparkle, we're past this moment
  12570. >Gah!
  12571. >Light Breeze might be right in blind, but…
  12572. "This business must be a cover. I'm sure of it."
  12573. >Because…
  12574. >You want it to be
  12575. >Maybe Chalk got something wrong
  12576. >No way to tell before at least trying to talk with the workers here
  12577. >You focus your gaze at the counter kirin
  12578. >The orange and green tries to ignore you harder
  12579. >So that's how it gonna be, huh?
  12580. A - order an Apple Pizza
  12581. B - ask about Applejack
  12582. Y - tell you have a business to the owner
  12583. X - [Free Space]
  12584. BBAA
  12585.  
  12586. >You walk for good half an hour, yet it doesn't seem you are any closer than you've been before
  12587. >The ponies led you through the back of the building
  12588. >That's what you assume, since you're sure you didn't go through the main entrance, and if reached the outside world then only in obscure and tiny corridors of Kirin Town, half forgotten or half collapsed
  12589. >One of the ponies kept a hoof on your side, guiding your every step in a pace far brighter than one would expect to go
  12590. >Which only raises even more concerns about the length of the path you're going
  12591. >Light Breeze following behind you, sometimes asks her escort a question or two in a hushed tone
  12592. >The said escort made a mistake of answering to one of them, causing them to be relentless until she walked into a puddle of water, not wasting any time to warn you about it
  12593. >Your one good ear isn't suffice to know where you are, but the sounds of the city are left long ago
  12594. >The floor sometimes goes under a falling angle, most likely stepping deeper into the maze of constructions
  12595. >The last time you heard something vaguely resembling a street full of ponies was before you were told to crouch down and walk with curled legs for short distances, as if going through a hole
  12596. >The mob ponies scarcely talk, and you're getting bored
  12597. "If we're going to the canals, can't we just climb in?"
  12598. >A dissatisfied grunt from your guardian tells you enough
  12599. "This is the long route. To avoid the ladders. Am I right?"
  12600. >You're left without an answer to your... are you really dissatisfied with that?
  12601. >No, not really
  12602. >You're about to meet Applejack
  12603. >Most likely not your Applejack, but an Applejack none-the-less
  12604. >Better if the lass is in the mood of getting you your answers, or if not, you will make her talk
  12605. >As quickly as these overgrown earth ponies leave you alone, that is
  12606. >No need for them to see their venerable leader being bent to her power
  12607. >You're not allowed to power trip in your fantasy any longer as you're told to stop and to take off the paper bag, which was the reason your vision was obscured
  12608. >You fold it neatly before handing to one of your captors
  12609. >Only when your civil duty is done, you fix your beanie hat and only then look around the quiet room, which reminds you of a living space
  12610. >It's vast, but doesn't look so, thanks to all the different looking wooden cabinets positively filled to the brim with various examples of tableware; the older, the better position it holds among other plates
  12611. >A thick red carpet under your hoof, equally expensive, made of material you don't recognize
  12612. >Everything is finished with a view of the central part of the room, where a table and a writing-desk stand with a tall, throne-like, armchair made for nobility
  12613. >Light Breeze comes closer until her side touches yours
  12614. >The two of the mob ponies are missing
  12615. >Somepony knocks on the door and on this cue the remaining two get out through the door you came from
  12616. >At the same time another pair of doors opened on the opposite side of the door
  12617. >Two big earth ponies in fedoras enter and stop only when they reach each side of you and Light Breeze
  12618. >She smiles to you, to them, to herself, but instinctively pushes her warm side into yours
  12619. >"Howdy."
  12620. >She says, but the bucks don't pay her any mind
  12621. >That's when another pony almost sneaks through the still open door
  12622. >Your eyes narrow in anticipation of seeing a familiar face-
  12623. >One more earth pony, almost as big as these colts, not wearing a hat-wear of any sort
  12624. >She closes the door behind her
  12625. >The good ear of yours fall down, the bad ear already there
  12626. >This is not Applejack, even if her color palette fits; her mane is different
  12627. "This is not going as planned."
  12628. >You tell to Light Breeze whose eyes widen, betraying a growing concern
  12629. >"What do you mean?"
  12630. >"Yesh, what da ya mean?"
  12631. >Both of you nearly snap your necks and all three working ears raise to full attention in search of the source of the voice of a mare you don't see that came from-
  12632. >From the big armchair behind the writing-desk
  12633. >You take a sudden step forward
  12634. >The guards prove to be attentive as they cross your path, each of them keeping a spanking paddle in their mouths
  12635. >"Nah, no need far dat." Is all it takes for them to leave their battle stances without dropping their readiness
  12636. >They let you pass closer to the desk, and you use this liberty
  12637. >Light Breeze follows close behind you
  12638. >The first person you see is the orange and blonde mare standing next to the royal chair
  12639. >She's holding a hoof to her left, helping somepony with getting on the-
  12640. "Applejack!"
  12641. >You nicker in shock
  12642. >The criminal mare-ster mind herself looks you square in the eye
  12643. >The mare sports a warm, motherly smile, which isn't changed by the fact she's at least, and you mean it, at least five decades older than you remember
  12644. >The wrinkles on her cheeks could have their own wrinkles, the same about the bags under her eyes
  12645. >Her widely open mouth reveal her teeth taken away by time
  12646. >The small shape only barely remind her previous glory of an apple bucking machine
  12647. >She allows you to take in the sight as long as you need to
  12648. >Your purple eye finally meets her green again
  12649. >"Iz dat haw ya meet an old friend? Come here!"
  12650. >This time you don't rush, but round the desk and slowly put your front legs on each cushion of the chair
  12651. >You gently place them around the husk that overstayed its welcome to this world and even with more care let her grab your back in a hug
  12652. >Her legs aren't nearly as strong as they used to be; how would they stay that way?
  12653. >To your hearts content the mare in front of you does not turn into a pile of dust at the touch
  12654. >You hug her to your chest and not let go
  12655. >Not until she stops patting your back
  12656. >"It's ok. It's alright."
  12657. >Your eyes are past stinging at this point
  12658. >You are Twilight Sparkle, and you're crying
  12659. >The elderly mare eventually stops soothing you, and let you cling to her until you can risk letting her go
  12660. >You don't know how long it take, nor you notice or care she's giving the other ponies in the room a warm smile and nods her head as if trying to say "Let her have this"
  12661. >This you are going to learn from Light Breeze after you leave, but it's important so you mention it now
  12662. >Applejack's embrace tightens for a moment
  12663. >Her wet face mashes with yours
  12664. >You gasp, letting her hot breath to penetrate your lungs
  12665. >Her lips close on yours
  12666. >The shock once again rocks your entire body to the point of fearing you may hurt her
  12667. >Lucky enough, Applejack lets go and observe you, by skipping from one eye to another, with visible content of herself
  12668. >You don't know what to say, or think, but-
  12669. >"But naw yer not cryin' anymore. Heh."
  12670. >Her deep chuckling proves her voice strong, even if her distorted vocabulary is thicker than Granny Smith's
  12671. "How?"
  12672. >You manage to ask
  12673. >She raises a hoof and place it on your cheek before turning to the mare on her right
  12674. >No word is spoken, but a pleading look given
  12675. >The mare, so far with features made of stone, visibly deflates before turning towards two stallions
  12676. >They try not to sport a look of utter disbelief
  12677. >Their eyes jump between you and their venerable god-mother - that's the term, right?
  12678. >The more perceptive of them catch a glimpse of the other orange mare and does some sort of a hard to describe sound with his lips, what catches the other's attention
  12679. >They leave the room and take with them the spanking devices
  12680. >As previously you didn't dare to touch the drying mare, now you didn't want to let her go
  12681. >"Ahm happy to see ya, too. Coffee?"
  12682. >"No!"
  12683. >It's Light Breeze that yells, a look of terror replaces the one which until now was positively radiating, what makes the mare next to Applejack cough and Applejack-
  12684. >Applejack, the elder matriarch of a mob, is *giggling* like a filly!
  12685. >"I'm sorry. It's just. Caffeine works bad on her."
  12686. >"Ah know! Dat's the whole point!"
  12687. >You can't believe your eyes for a second time this day
  12688. >Your legs slide down along the sides of the chair and land on the floor with a muffled thud
  12689. >"Who is yer friend, Twilight Sparkle?"
  12690. >What?
  12691. >Oh, yeah
  12692. "This is Light Breeze. We are working together for some time."
  12693. >"Noice to meet you, filly," she turns back to you, "fer some time, eh?"
  12694. >Oh no
  12695. >If you or Light Breeze go into details of your history, especially the one shared with a different Twilight Sparkle, the element of Honesty will smell the bull-shit
  12696. >Her eyes are already drilling into your skull
  12697. >Thankfully, to your aid comes the younger apple off-spring
  12698. >"Then, how about a cup of tea?"
  12699. >Applejack, as if on a cue, looks to her helper and offers her guests, that is you, an apologetic smile
  12700. >"Ah, haw could Ah forget. This is Pear-" Pear?! "-Bosom, an' she's helpin' meh with business. Please, if ya need anything, tell her."
  12701. >Apple-Pear Bosom nods her head
  12702. >You open your mouth to ask but Pear stops you
  12703. >"How about I take one of our honorable guests and-"
  12704. >Her voice holds no particular accent
  12705. >Applejack shakes her head so sharp you involuntarily hold breath in case her skull dislodge from nearly visible spine
  12706. >No such thing happen
  12707. >"Nay, filly. Ah need ya here. Call da kitchen. Order pies and compote."
  12708. >The mare listens to her senior with calm manner and small smile; once the disposition is fully received she looks up to you two and her eyes lose part of the warmth, replaced by a neutral look of mild interest, but not deep enough to do more than pull her lips in some sort of a mechanical smile
  12709. >Without any more word she leaves the room
  12710. >This gives Light Breeze a cue to talk
  12711. >"Oh, not really a need for food, ma'am. We just ate."
  12712. >"What a terrible host Ah would be? Please, do meh dis pleasure and sit and dig in."
  12713. >She ends with pointing at the table
  12714. >You don't get to say a word, still taking in the sight of the Apple Granny in front of you, when the door opens and Pear themed pony enters
  12715. >After her goes two smaller ponies who bring glasses, plates, and two big apple pies; you can tell by smell
  12716. >This old pony really is Applejack
  12717. >Some sort of Applejack
  12718. >Definitely not yours
  12719. >And yet, not merely familiar, but close to the core
  12720. >Your fixed stare at her doesn't get to be unnoticed, and find her looking at you with knowing, almost playful shine in the green eye
  12721. >She chuckles softly and slides down the chair, reaching the carpeted floor with one hind leg
  12722. >Once it reaches it, the rest of the body quickly joins them
  12723. >Now you can compare your sizes with justice
  12724. >She's not smaller than you when it comes to height, but her head is bent lower by the weight of time which puts its mark on her neck and back
  12725. >"Whadda ya lookin' at?"
  12726. "You."
  12727. >Another chuckle out of her puffy lips
  12728. >"Ya can do it while munching."
  12729. >She isn't wrong
  12730. >Being full with pizza quickly proves to be wrong
  12731. >All it takes is the first bite of the delicious apple-filled delicacy
  12732. >The smell, the shape, the taste, oh the taste, if reminds you of Ponyville
  12733. >Can food do that?
  12734. >You would need to read about that, because it does
  12735. >No chat is stirred when the four of you consume
  12736. >When it comes to refilling her drink with the sweetest apple juice you ever had, the task turns out to be overgrow Applejack's capabilities
  12737. >Pear Bosom is quick to the job
  12738. >When the dishes gets collected by an another filly in a hat, and another jug of juice makes its way to crown the table, the host supports her skinny legs on the chair, making herself look like a bigger, more apple-themed skeleton
  12739. >"As nice as a friendly visits come, dis is a nice one."
  12740. >Her hooves clops, marking the dinner officialy finished
  12741. >"Ya ar' a Twilight Sparkle."
  12742. >The atmosphere changes
  12743. >Light Breeze cocks her head to a side, probably confused at stating the obvious, a gesture which Pear Bosom quickly reciprocates
  12744. >Your eyebrows raise as you steal a glance towards your companion in hope the orange mare will understand the implication
  12745. >She stay silent until it become a bit uncomfortable
  12746. "Yes. That is correct, and you are Applejack. My good friend."
  12747. >Now, the two mares unfamiliar with the concept of multiple hues of the same purple shoot their heads towards you, as if it were a buck-ball match
  12748. >"Da ya need money?"
  12749. >What?
  12750. "No, thank you. I'm not looking for a job. We're having our hooves full with a personal project, of sorts."
  12751. >"Persohnal? Interesting. And ya, Light Breeze, was it?"
  12752. >"Oh, no, no. I work at a cute little kirin restaurant in-"
  12753. >You don't get to listen to their conversation
  12754. >Your only working ear moves to the source of the tapping sound
  12755. >It's Pear Bosom
  12756. >"I'm sorry to interrupt, but, how did you know where to look for Granny Applejack?"
  12757. >Granny Applejack
  12758. >It feels more real when somepony else uses that name
  12759. >Wait, what?
  12760. >She asked you a question!
  12761. >Should you tell?
  12762. >Of course she's concerned with AJ's safety, but...
  12763. "I got a contact in the relax district. It took them some time. They didn't really mention were they met with any difficulty with obtaining it."
  12764. >Pear's eyes squint in absolute focus
  12765. >"I assume it's a pony who has many connection. Even in the mare-ID system. Only from there could be pulled some pre-dome archaic archive data. Am I right?"
  12766. >Old data?
  12767. >More importantly - can you even tell her about Chalk?
  12768. >Sure, you can, but should you?
  12769. >You think it over
  12770. >Applejack is a mob pony, as weird as it sound, the structure of an organization like that must look like a family, and family is all she know...
  12771. >No, betraying your informant won't yield even short term relationship improvements
  12772. >As you ponder the possible implications of giving away your fixer's personal information, your conversant nods to herself and a small smile grows on her lips
  12773. >"I won't pry into your sources anymore. If I'm even half right this source of your poses us no real threat, no nothing. However, I must point out you're very lucky."
  12774. >You choose to indulge her
  12775. "Why?"
  12776. >"The pizza place you visited was the very first and very only business registered at Granny Applejack's name. Not for long, even."
  12777. >A quick glance to your left reveals Light Breeze and Applejack laughing about something
  12778. >You... you didn't hear them laughing until your ear moved
  12779. >Is it how being one-eared will be like, that is, if you won't pick a solution?
  12780. >Normally, it would be a 'to find a solution', but in your case it's more of picking between a transplantation a cloned organ or installing a completely new cybernetic ear
  12781. >The former require time for it to grow, the latter won't work without a cortex enhancer
  12782. >Why did you not think of it when visiting the Ripper Doc?
  12783. >Of course that ear must be re-connected to your brain!
  12784. >Was he ly-
  12785. >No, it's not time nor place now
  12786. >You turn back to Pear Bosom who patiently waits and observes your struggle
  12787. "What do you do for Applejack?"
  12788. >She's coy in her expression
  12789. >"I go where the god-mare doesn't want to go. Most often to discuss legal details."
  12790. >A lawyer?
  12791. "Does it mean she values your advice?"
  12792. >"Gosh, I like to think that."
  12793. >That's all you need to know
  12794. >Personal assistant, organizes, in one word, a consligiere
  12795. >The keeper of secrets and books
  12796. >A god-mare in production
  12797. >"I suspect I know what you're thinking, but I can assure you," her voice hushed and she waits for another burst of laughter " I have no ambitions in taking over. That would be disrespectful to her children. They would be here if you didn't visit us at such short notice."
  12798. "Good to know."
  12799. >A sip of the perfectly sweet apple juice is your escape to think for a moment
  12800. >AJ is not only a gangster, and an old one to that
  12801. >She had kids
  12802. >What a crazy time-line is it
  12803. >"Twilight, Twilight!"
  12804. >Light Breeze grabs your attention
  12805. "Hm-yes?"
  12806. >"Lady Applejack"- lady -"agreed to help us to get to the upper canterlot!"
  12807. >Your eyes lock with Light Breeze's, then with Applejack's
  12808. "Really?"
  12809. >Her smiling creates even more gorge-like wrinkles
  12810. >The meeting comes to a quick conclusion and you didn't even get to talk to this Applejack in private-
  12811. >"Oh, poor ol' meh. Twilight, muh dear, why won't you help meh to de toilet?"
  12812. >Speak about the devil
  12813. >Applejack holds a leg out for you to grab once she slips down her chair
  12814. >Light Breeze doesn't pay you any more mind, happily talking with Pear Bosom about something business related
  12815. >As you lead out the Apple-god-mother out of the room the consligiere nods her head
  12816. >The corridor is long, with multiple doors, each next more grand than the last one
  12817. >"Ya can let me go now."
  12818. >Her freed leg hits the floor, and she leads the way, stopping and turning towards you each time she speaks
  12819. "You know I'm not your Twilight Sparkle."
  12820. >"And ya knows Ah'm not yers Applejack."
  12821. "Obviously."
  12822. >Step, step, step
  12823. "Why do you decide to help me?"
  12824. >"Ain'tch ya be wrong with the citadel?"
  12825. >If you had any suspicion of the mother-apple not being aware of your secret, then you would be a cretin
  12826. >Which you are not!
  12827. "How can you tell? Is it the Honesty speaking or…"
  12828. >That elicits a short laugh from her
  12829. >"Nah. Just experience."
  12830. >You open the door in front of which she stops
  12831. >She quickly for her age scramble to close herself in one of the stalls
  12832. "I would never suspect Applejack being capable of becoming a god-mother."
  12833. >"Does'id really surprise ya?"
  12834. >Does it?
  12835. "No, not really."
  12836. >A stream of definitely not water nor cider gets leaked
  12837. >It prompts you to turn on the water tap
  12838. >Applejack's stall flushes the water and she wobbles out
  12839. >"Woowee, bucking good."
  12840. >It's your time to laugh!
  12841. >"Wha? Whaddid Ah say?"
  12842. "More like how!"
  12843. >Your voice echoes in the small tiled room until it completely subsides
  12844. >None of you go to the door yet
  12845. >"She doesn't knaw."
  12846. >You confirm it with a head shake
  12847. >AJ's voice suddenly sounds as weak as she looks like
  12848. >"Haw much she travels with'ya?"
  12849. >What she's really asking is how much of her experience with Twilight Sparkles were made with you
  12850. >You yourself can't be sure
  12851. >"Doesn't really matter. It will still hurt the same," she sighs before she continues. "Ya knaw, ya could leave her with us."
  12852. >And let Light Breeze become a mafioso-pony?
  12853. >No, that anger doesn't suit you and it doesn't do this old Applejack any justice
  12854. >Er, maybe just some justice
  12855. >"Ah can read it off yer face. No need to speak."
  12856. >The pause feels pregnant
  12857. >"What'z yer goal?"
  12858. >That you know
  12859. "To make myself free from the citadel's grasp."
  12860. >The orange head nods, or bends under it's weight, hard to tell
  12861. >"Dhat's nice and all... And what dhen?"
  12862. >What then?
  12863. >You will think of it when it will be in hoof's reach
  12864. "Are you trying to invite me into your ranks, ma'am?"
  12865. >You speak with voice as indignant as you can muster
  12866. >"And what if Ah do, filly?"
  12867. >Her response is an ugly sly smile of a disgusting buisness-mare
  12868. >This exchange makes you two share a chuckle
  12869. "Seems like I found you by a mistake."
  12870. >"Ah prefer to think of it as a miracle."
  12871. "I was pretty sure, when I came here half a year ago, I met with Applejack."
  12872. >This confuses her
  12873. >"Dhat's rather impossible. Ah'm de only Apple here. Or Ah was."
  12874. >She pats her belly
  12875. >You shift the subject
  12876. "Do you know Spike?"
  12877. >"Who, now?"
  12878. "Doesn't matter, then."
  12879. >"Are ya sure?"
  12880. "Yes."
  12881. >She pauses for a brief moment
  12882. >"Honestly speaking," - heh - "dhat's not what Ah wanted to'ask."
  12883. >Another long pause
  12884. >"Haw was she?"
  12885. "Who?"
  12886. >"Yer Applejack."
  12887. >This orange mare must appointed it a point of her honor to get you surprised each half an hour
  12888. >What can you say?
  12889. "Orange."
  12890. >"Ah know dat."
  12891. "The warmest workaholic I even knew. In working her bones to dust second to none. Always caring for her family first. For that short time I spent with her and the girls we all felt like true apples. She called everypony a sugarcube."
  12892. >You tell her what she want to hear
  12893. >More than certain she knows it, too
  12894. >This one time in eternity, Applejack lets it slide
  12895. >"Sugarcube, eh?"
  12896. "I'm not lying, you know. It's just, we didn't spend much time together before this happened."
  12897. >"Ah get id. It's good t'hear. Ah hope ya don't judge meh too harshly."
  12898. >And why would she care about your opinion?
  12899. >That leads to another question
  12900. "How was your Twilight Sparkle?"
  12901. >Sadness wells in her eyes until the shining from before return with tenfold the radiance
  12902. >"Much like you."
  12903. >You let it sink in with all the implications and implyings
  12904. >Then a loose end of what she said hits you right between the eyes
  12905. "Wait, 'you'?"
  12906. >The mare jerks her neck and with her head draws a circle in the air
  12907. >"Ah meanh, uh, 'ya', alrighty?"
  12908. >She makes a motion with her leg as if she was bribing a police officer for speeding ticket
  12909. >Both of you laugh and exit the restroom
  12910. >...
  12911. >You're back in the apple office
  12912. >Four of you stand next to another and you inspect the thing in your hoof
  12913. >It's an upper canterlot pass for the bearer
  12914. >The name is kinda misleading
  12915. >To be valid, these still require a blank form to be filled with your personal data, but no bio-metrics are used with it
  12916. >It's usable in any elevator and Light Breeze got her own pass
  12917. >These things aren't distributed anymore, subsequently lifting their price to a small fortune
  12918. >How Applejack's crime regime got two blank forms of these is unclear and must reach back into the times when the canterlot dome was still unfinished
  12919. >You're not going to ask
  12920. >Why is she giving you these is equally an enigma
  12921. >You won't turn a gifted horse in their teeth, or something, and she doesn't seem to accept if you tried, if anything, she would feel insulted
  12922. >The small chat is pleasant and much juice is being drank, but Applejack, being an old mare as she is, speaks too loud and keep her head high
  12923. >You're painfully aware it's just an act, and other ponies notice it, too
  12924. >Her legs sling and eye-lids fall
  12925. >In fact, Pear Bosom is the first to notice, in retrospection, and her answers got shorter, less in detail, more general, until she looked at the clock in one of the cabinets
  12926. >She is tired and must rest, and even if she's not your childhood friend, she still possess the defining qualities of hers
  12927. >She's in good hooves
  12928. >You better go finish your journey
  12929. A - go to the upper canterlot under Spike's address
  12930. B - stay in lower canterlot to finish any business [which one?]
  12931. Y - ditch Light Breeze
  12932. X - ask for a weapon
  12933. AAX
  12934.  
  12935. >On the way out only two ponies in fedoras accompany you, most likely to make sure you don't get lost in the maze-like undergrounds than to prevent you from memorizing the way
  12936. >You're taking what you suspect is a short route, or the same one, can't be sure and they don't want to tell
  12937. >Still, it's nice to being able to walk faster than galactic snails
  12938. >No climbing up ladders nor any mare-holes on the roof in sight
  12939. >No points of interest in the corridors of the underground either
  12940. >At some point the canals turn into rooms, some with ponies doing something, some used as warehouses
  12941. >None of them is paying you any mind
  12942. >This time the hench-ponies are more talkative, especially with Light Breeze who's happily yapping with them about, last you listened, best bars and restaurants in this part of the city
  12943. >You find it a little out of character for her, not really knowing why - she always seemed talkative
  12944. >Maybe it's not what but how - how easy it come for her to treat these gangsta apples to her, some sort of, culinary secrets, which you're pretty sure she didn't share with you
  12945. >Whatever it is at the moment, you tune it out with a good reason in mind
  12946. >You're too busy to be bothered with practicing swinging your new telescopic riding crop
  12947. >It's short, but long enough to smack a pony that would be facing you in a kissing distance in the butt, and a tad on the lighter side
  12948. >Perfectly lays in hoof and guides your leg along each swing
  12949. >Up and down, left and right, and then quick draw
  12950. >You hit the wall, or the floor, or drop it completely during this impromptu training montage, but only once, er, per each thing mentioned
  12951. >Pear Bosom agreed to supply you with a weapon of flank destruction that you could sneak past the security of upper canterlot city
  12952. >Even if the guards don't check for illegal items or substances, open carry was off limits unless you deploy a pair of police bridles or at least some uniforms
  12953. >As if that were even possible, filly!
  12954. >You wanted a spanker, but it proved to be too long
  12955. >Regular riding crop can deliver a heavier blow with a lasting mark, but no avail
  12956. >Only this telescopic one fitted in your chest fluff
  12957. >Good thing is, you're perfectly happy with the way you swing and not stumble on your own legs, even before you reach the dead end where the apple bandits decide to drop you off
  12958. >The sounds of the street hit you like a wave blast just after the last doors gets opened
  12959. >You're still somewhere in the Kirin Town, that's clear
  12960. >Poking your head out of the corner reveals it's the very same place you came to except couple steps away
  12961. >You are in a narrow, empty alley behind the pizza place and the washing machines... what is this place called?
  12962. >Eh, who cares, you can always find this place again and go through the entire ordeal if needed
  12963. >Point is, when you reconnoitered the surroundings of the bar you missed this place completely
  12964. >No wonder; it's hidden behind a mobile wall with a ton of posters on it
  12965. >You turn towards Light Breeze who's saying goodbyes with the ponies, a sunshine in her voice and uncertain smiles on theirs
  12966. >They tip their hats and bow their heads, and as quick as her mouth closes, they are gone
  12967. >She turns to you with a look of disgruntled grimace
  12968. >It doesn't fit her voice from just a second ago
  12969. >"Crap."
  12970. >What
  12971. "What?"
  12972. >Her head shakes as she violently rubs the top of her head, making her mane slightly deform
  12973. >"I tried to get something out of them, but they just said 'Eyup' and 'Nope' all the time. As if they were mutes."
  12974. >A small smile creeps upon your lips
  12975. "Yes, some apples are just like that, also I doubt these are unadulterated ones. If you ask me, it's a lost cause. You would learn more by talking to a wall instead."
  12976. >A kick to the knee of an imaginary pony makes her deflate enough to fix her hair and not to sound iritated
  12977. >"You know what? I think it would."
  12978. >She ends with a chuckle
  12979. "C'mon, we have to go. What did you want them to tell you?"
  12980. >Both of exit the place of hiding and join the always swiveling river of walking ponies
  12981. >"Does the bar where I'm the manager belong to the a-" she cuts sharply, "- to them, or not. I heard the owner is advanced in age and that mare seemed to know alot about kirin cousine."
  12982. >This... makes far more sense than you expected it to or even dared
  12983. >Can't help but look at your friend in a different light now
  12984. >If she's capable of scheming, the same office-bug that you saved from the fate of the insurance industry, how is it possible she did not see past the multiple Twilight Sparkles?
  12985. >Because that's not a thign any sane pony will jump to, that's how
  12986. >…
  12987. >The central pan is iluminated with the moon and thousands of stars, not counting for a ring of streets lamps
  12988. >The place is packed even though the hour is rather early, or is it still late?
  12989. >It's past 2am, so it's today, not yesterday, er, it's always today, isn't it?
  12990. >As previously, the central place of it takes an elevator to which now you had an entry tickets
  12991. >Your eyes frivolously gets attached to the towering living complex on the other side of the pan, where Rarity lives with her Coco, whoever that Coco might be
  12992. >"Come on, now. As you said yourself, places to be, butts to kick!"
  12993. >She pulls you by a shoulder towards the rainbow painted floor zero of the lift
  12994. >The couple yards just before the opening is the least occupied place on the entire pan
  12995. >Whenever the doors opens, a small, hardly called a wave, number of ponies get out and mix with the more partying occupants before totally dispersing into the crowd
  12996. >At the same time an equally small party gets inside the vault and it closes behind them, long before you could reach it; if there are any elevator guard at the premises of the establishment they are not in plain sight
  12997. "Do you see any police pony?"
  12998. >"Why would there be any?
  12999. >You roll your eyes that you have to explain it
  13000. "Shouldn't there be ponies that checks our papers as we get in?"
  13001. >"Oh, no, no, no. Just do what I do and we'll be fine."
  13002. >You are Twilight Sparkle and scrunch a little, what makes her giggle
  13003. >The elevator looks like a gigantic tube of glass beyond the before-mentioned first floor which serves like a door
  13004. >Almost four sides of translucent materials so users can watch the city's panorama, with about forty five degrees less than a full scope, filled with metallic propeller that makes the lift, well, lift - ascent and descent is more proper a way to call it
  13005. >The ponies that entered it are visible as the plate they are standing on moves slowly upwards until they lose their distinctness and create a pulp of colorful dots and quickly after that disappear completely
  13006. >...
  13007. >It take approximately ten minutes for it to return
  13008. >The door opens with a quiet whistle and clothes-wearing ponies gets out into the naked crowd
  13009. >Light Breeze is first to step in, you follow in tow
  13010. >The doors closes behind you, making the place dim
  13011. >A bunch of ponies inside, maybe a dozen
  13012. >Your friend pokes your side
  13013. >She holds something in her leg and motions you to do the same
  13014. >The elevator doesn't move, so you take the time to check what it is
  13015. >It's her upper canterlot pass
  13016. >Other ponies seems to hold it in the air, too
  13017. >You comply, but only after a brute behind you cough into a hoof while giving you a stinky eye
  13018. >Or squinting
  13019. >You never know with gray pegasi
  13020. >The device wakes to life
  13021. >With a persistent swoosh and an initial plap it drives you above the floor level barrier, allowing you to see the lower canterlot in all it's glory
  13022. >Not at first, as the buildings around the central plate are taller than the ones at the sides of the canterlot dome
  13023. >Quickly enough the sea of ponies under you becomes a wild picture of splotches that fell off of a painter's brush, and then it becomes hard to look straight down
  13024. >Around the tenth store the street lights give place the moon shining, turning the always yellow into light blue
  13025. >The twentieth floor and some of the buildings gets replaced with a cascade of constructions from where you are to the very end of the dome
  13026. >At the fortieth, only Rarity's complex still stands, but you don't care about it
  13027. >The sight of the far away districts grabs your attention
  13028. >Even at the night, you can weakly make out the shape of the market-place next to your motel, and from there it's easy to find a bent street with immense number of neon signs
  13029. >It must be where all the bars are located, each one of them in some distance
  13030. >You never before notice they are all on the very same street, just in different corners of it
  13031. >In front of you the lower canterlot in it's full size and might, and yet it feels so small
  13032. >Light Breeze touches your side and points at something in a far away distance
  13033. >At first it's hard to tell what it is, due to the poor light, but the lack of the stars where they are obstructed by these things draw a visible outline of...
  13034. >Couple towers twice as tall than the others around
  13035. >Nothing special about them, yet she's looking at them, with still raised leg
  13036. "What's about them?"
  13037. >Her face turns towards you with her eyes don't break the contact with the towers
  13038. >"One of them seems to be standing crooked."
  13039. >That bit of information piques your interest
  13040. >Strain your eyes as you may, Twilight Sparkle, you just can't see them right
  13041. >Maybe at the day-time ride down
  13042. >Soon, the entire town under you becomes one big bowl of soup and the star constellations become closer
  13043. >The entire tube turns white, at first just a bit, later far more
  13044. >Your eyes narrow as you look straight up
  13045. >A part of the moon is currently displayed at the brim of to the tube, and shines straight into the elevator
  13046. >From so close it doesn't look believable, with it's pixels so big and gradient so odd
  13047. >It's nothing like the real thing
  13048. >And then you ride above the moon and disappear into nearly total darkness
  13049. >A new, tiny. red light takes power over the situation, at the other side of the wall
  13050. >Light Breeze nickers, and couple other ponies shift from leg to leg, everypony facing the light
  13051. >The device finally comes to a halt with an audible clog and pog, and a second diode turns on, this one green
  13052. >Then the third, blue, turns on, and the door swing open to the sides
  13053. >The few ponies that rode with you step out into the floor of yellow and white marble
  13054. >Your tentative steps leads you into a hall in same colors, and made of stone
  13055. >It's not a tall building, nor spacious, yet impressive
  13056. >"Is this... is this real sandstone?"
  13057. >You don't know
  13058. >It feels different than anything you have touched in your past half-a-year or longer
  13059. >Polished it may be, still coarse at places
  13060. >You near a window which has a traditional six pieces of glass in it, divided by three thin strips of presumably wood, one vertical, two horizontal
  13061. "Come and see this."
  13062. >She joins you, albeit reluctantly
  13063. >"What is it?"
  13064. >Your turn to point a leg at the sky
  13065. >It's dark, and clouded, with no star nor no moon visible
  13066. >The light on the outside comes from old looking nearby lamp-post in sets of three on each post
  13067. >It's warm, pleasant light aura, is so different from lower canterlot invasive and irksome light of street lamps
  13068. >Sound breaks in her mouth, making her voice crack
  13069. >"I forgot how it's like under the open skies."
  13070. "Me too, filly, me too."
  13071. >…
  13072. >At the exit of the transit station stand two guards
  13073. >They chit chat and pay no mind to you letting a machine scan your upper canterlot permit or pass, whatever
  13074. >Light Breeze is close when you go under the open sky
  13075. >…
  13076. >Ponies that walk here are many, but each one with a purpose, and yet, never breaking more than a slow gait
  13077. >The buildings of the upper city come in all shapes and sizes as the ones of the lower city, but all them are more grand, more detailed and more pleasant to be around them
  13078. >The urban nightmare of mazes of kirin town, fish smell of the market platz, and abandonment of the old industrial district bend their non-existent knees in front of the clean and disciplined roads that always fall one into another under 90 degree angle, no smell coming out of late night restaurants even through opened doors, and – grass
  13079. >They have grass here!
  13080. >Your mouth waters at the sight and you're not alone in this predicament
  13081. >When no one is watching you take a bite- nope, it's fake
  13082. >...
  13083. >You wave for her to stop and sit down
  13084. >A nearby tea shop has a comfortable bench outside, made of actual young oak wood!
  13085. >It's so weird- one hundred percent amazing, just so weird to place your haunches on wood that's not at least fifty years old!
  13086. >"What's the address we're looking for?"
  13087. >Thankfully, you remember it just fine, you still have the piece of paper, though
  13088. >It doesn't hurt to share it now, does it?
  13089. "Eleventh's street, cl, ten-ten-ten, nine-two-six, op."
  13090. >The mare scratches her chin
  13091. >"You mentioned it has a weird format, but this is almost wizardry."
  13092. "Maybe witchcraft, even."
  13093. >Her hoof collides with your ribs
  13094. "Oof!"
  13095. >"Stop it. You're adorable, but even your purpleness have boarders that are better left uncrossed."
  13096. >W-what does she mean?
  13097. >Was your joke lame?
  13098. >Nah
  13099. >Better get super serious for no reason
  13100. "The thing is, we are on the eleventh's street. There's no building named 'cl' or number three times ten."
  13101. >You point between numbers eight and twelve on this side of the road
  13102. >Her head jumps between the places until it comes back to your
  13103. >You begin to think the lass fell asleep when her eyes flutter open
  13104. >"What if this is not an address, but a, I don't know, a box?"
  13105. >What
  13106. "A box?"
  13107. >She squirms under your scrutinizing gaze and the king of scrunches
  13108. >"Like, a contact box? A post office box. You know, a box type of box."
  13109. >Her ears flap, rise and fall, finally agreeing at being half risen half pointed downwards
  13110. "A box type of box?"
  13111. >Is it possible that Chalk bucked up?
  13112. >Of course
  13113. >Will you give up easily?
  13114. >You think not
  13115. >"You're smiling," the yellow-blue mare chimes in anew. "Do we have a plan?"
  13116. >Now, do you?
  13117. A - check the tea shop and ask for directions
  13118. B - look for some public information office
  13119. Y - go back to the two police mares at the transport station
  13120. X - [Free Space]
  13121. YA
  13122.  
  13123. >"Are you sure we want to ask them? We could try the shop, first."
  13124. >Light Breeze treks next to you through…
  13125. >Empty streets
  13126. >Well, they are not completely empty, but are not even a third as crowded as the lower canterlot's counter-parts
  13127. >Why did the observation as simple as this sink in just a moment ago, very hard to tell
  13128. >It's a rather big difference in environment, in the end
  13129. >Under the moonless, dark sky, everything on the street level is visible thanks to those old-styled lamp posts
  13130. >That means your mare-friend notice your only good ear to fall back and cling to the skull
  13131. >Her concerned voice only adds to the flooding embarrassment
  13132. >"What's wrong, Twilight?"
  13133. >You try to speak, but fail; a sudden gag giving you a cough
  13134. >It doesn't stop you from walking towards the main elevator station
  13135. >Light Breeze's hoof prods your side
  13136. >Repeatedly
  13137. "What?"
  13138. >"You didn't answer."
  13139. >Better tell her the truth
  13140. "Nothing's wrong, it's just that I did not realize how devoid of ponies this place is."
  13141. >The mare looks back, without breaking the gait
  13142. >Her eyes scan the surroundings in an overly obvious fashion
  13143. >"Oh, yeah. Now that you mention it, this place really looks like a ghost town."
  13144. >You walk in silence for a moment
  13145. >"It reminds me of the times before Fillydelphia got bathed in chaos and lubricant."
  13146. >Something doesn't sit well with you
  13147. >You better ask
  13148. "Don't you mean Baltimare?"
  13149. >She shakes her head
  13150. >"No. I'm pretty sure Baltimare got basked in chaos and fire. Not bathed."
  13151. >A smile that reeks of confidence cannot be wrong
  13152. >Unless it is
  13153. >Can't really say
  13154. >Wait
  13155. >You don't even remember where did the other Twilight Sparkle met her!
  13156. >Was it Baltimare or Fillydelphia?!
  13157. >She's still watching you under the all-revealing lights of the street
  13158. >You're faster this time
  13159. "So, you're saying no lube for the city? Must have been rough."
  13160. >Her lips part as an explosion of laughter gets out
  13161. >Won't lie, it startles you initially
  13162. >It also overpowers her so much you two have to take a short break
  13163. "Ha. Ha, ha-ha."
  13164. >You fake the laughter with skills of an aspiring actress-mare
  13165. >What started as something that was supposed to die quickly, it prolongs, causing the few ponies that trek to and fro to pay you attention
  13166. >Some even hushing between them
  13167. "What are we laughing at?"
  13168. >She stops, looks you right in the eye, and hollers with double the strength than before
  13169. >Did you sound funny?
  13170. >You didn't sound funny, did you?
  13171. >No, that's highly improbable
  13172. >You're Twilight Sparkle, the serious
  13173. >Once the outburst eventually subsides enough for her to not gasp for air only to start howling again, you pull her forward with one leg placed by the withers
  13174. >Unfortunately, you get stopped by the fun police
  13175. >A blue and mint looking stallion disengage from his party of three and approaches you
  13176. >He eyes your friend warily, but with a certain dose of interest, or is it excitement
  13177. >You don't get to analyze it
  13178. >His eyes shy away as a leg waves for you to lend him an ear
  13179. >Light Breeze is still having a giggling fit fueled by... whatever
  13180. >Some of the other ponies returned to their walk, but these three stallions decided to bother you
  13181. >Seems like you don't have much of a choice
  13182. >"Psst. Psst. What was so funny?"
  13183. >Your eyebrows first fall down in confusion, then shoot up, almost dislodging themselves off of your countenance
  13184. "Excuse me?"
  13185. >The poor stallion shuffles his legs
  13186. >He doesn't get to answer another question, for in this very moment another friend of his, previously staying quiet and back, now yells clearly a demand
  13187. >"Just tell us the joke, jeez!"
  13188. >You blink, and blink, and can't blink the surreal situation away
  13189. >The blue and mint colt have at least enough grace for himself and his friends; his cheeks burn beet red, his head held down, the mane obstructing the view
  13190. >"We're waiting!"
  13191. >Once again, the attention of passerby ponies gets piqued
  13192. >Their eyes dart between your two groups
  13193. >Light Breeze's reaction is easy to predict, the easiest of all so far, if you keep in mind her current state of being the Pinkie Pie-est of mares
  13194. >Ah, yes she erupts in another fit of snorting so much her sides tremble
  13195. >You grab her once again and pull away
  13196. >The group of the three stallions regroup, but that one ruffian keeps yelling all the way until you're too far away to anymore hear
  13197. >This was enough of randomness for you for years to come, and all of it happened in the span of, what, five minutes?
  13198. >As you reach the white and yellow building that works as the terminal between both parts of the city, or maybe between two cities suits it better, Light Breeze is in almost a conversational state
  13199. >What you carry for more is the sight of two police mares that stand in the exact same place they stood previously
  13200. >You close towards them and they took quickly took a notice
  13201. >With natural swiftness of pegasi, both of them turn your way, and both don a friendly smile of a well fed governmental official who doesn't have to do anything because the automatized system does it for them
  13202. >Enough to said they don't feel bothered at first look, but what do you know
  13203. >The answer to that is "a lot", but that's beside the point
  13204. >A snicker and a nicker from your left side proofs you're the one doing talking
  13205. >That's the only good thing about it
  13206. "Hello. Can I ask you for assistance?"
  13207. >One of them is two toned brown, lighter in the coat, the other white with orange, and very spike-looking mane
  13208. >The latter speaks
  13209. >"Of course, citizen. How can be of use?"
  13210. >Her voice hits lower notes, with a warm tremble which you heard long ago in some far away place
  13211. "My friend and me are looking for an address. We already been on the eleventh street-"
  13212. >The brownie interrupts
  13213. >"That's right there."
  13214. >She points the way with a hoof
  13215. "Yes. We know. We been there."
  13216. >"They just said that."
  13217. >"Oh, right. So, what's the problem?"
  13218. >The police officer beams at you, as if that short exchange never happened.
  13219. >The other sighs and clear her throat
  13220. >"The buildings are numbered from the central station, that's here," she points at the big building that begins above them, "towards the outskirts of the town. One side is odd, the other even." She scratches her chin for a moment, then adds. "The only discrepancy of this rule is around the council castle due to some historic laws or events."
  13221. >The less bright one chimes in with a luscious grin
  13222. >"Tax fraud. I was just telling officer Fire Top about-"
  13223. >"That's enough!"
  13224. >Officer Fire Top hoof stomps on the sandstone tile, her eyes burning a hole in her partners head
  13225. >Finally, the everlasting giggling or snorting on your left dies down
  13226. >You look there and reveal no Light Breeze!
  13227. >She's gone!
  13228. >Before a little pony in your brain can gallop all the way down your spine to enable panic to settle down you do a full scope turn
  13229. >Here she is!
  13230. >On your right side!
  13231. >How could you miss her!?
  13232. >Ah, right, one ear
  13233. >Dang it
  13234. >She catches your eye and takes it as a cue for her to speak!
  13235. >"What if the address we have don't have numbers but letters?"
  13236. >The less competent turns to her with eyes fully open, filled with magic stars
  13237. >Her voice oozing with giddiness
  13238. >"Are you one of these tax-avoiding criminal scums? No, don't tell. Now, now, you don't have to incriminate your family, but if it's friends that commit these disgusting crimes then you better fess up now, and save the city of canterlot a ton of court-room expenses."
  13239. >She drones on about the duty of being a citizen over being a criminal, oblivious to the difference of her tone and message of her words, or of anything, really
  13240. >You look up for help to officer Fire Top to no avail
  13241. >She and Light Breeze together seem to be completely transfixed by the unexpected rant of-
  13242. >You dare to lean forward and Fire Top's ears turn to you, hopefully catching your whisper
  13243. "Is she a newbie or what?"
  13244. >"Diversity hire."
  13245. >She blinks twice before jerking her head and transfixing her eyes on you
  13246. >A second later, deep regret of telling you that is self-evident in a weak crimson creeping on her cheeks
  13247. >What are you supposed to do?
  13248. >"-so, are you going to fill a report against yourself, or will you first think it over?"
  13249. >The brown mare is now chirping happily with a pen and a small rectangular tool in a hoof, as if ready to write something down
  13250. >"I like pancakes."
  13251. >The excited smile that so far was on the mare's face breaks like a pane of glass, a flurry of emotions tumults on her face
  13252. >You would be lying you said it isn't a satisfying look
  13253. >Light Breeze, on the other hoof, holds her usual light smile
  13254. "Anyways. Is there any way you two-,"
  13255. >You include the now looking away officer from the need of your good heart
  13256. "- can help us figure out which one of these plots is 'cee-el'? We would greatly appreciate your help."
  13257. >"That does depend," starts the older copper," do you have time to wait?"
  13258. "For how long?"
  13259. >"I can't tell you."
  13260. "You can't tell me on what does it depend?"
  13261. >"No, I can't tell you how long will it take."
  13262. "To depend?"
  13263. >"To depend- It depends all the time."
  13264. "Well, then it depends."
  13265. >"On what?"
  13266. "On how long will it take."
  13267. >"Take to what? To depend?"
  13268. "No, to wait. So, how long will it take?"
  13269. >"I told you can't tell you."
  13270. "No, you told me you couldn't tell me on what it depends. Can you tell us now?"
  13271. >"That's not what I told you."
  13272. "I know, that's what you didn't tell me yet."
  13273. >"Didn't tell you yet?"
  13274. "It depends."
  13275. >"On what?"
  13276. "Did you?"
  13277. >"Didn't yet."
  13278. "Ah, see. You didn't. Can you tell us now?"
  13279. >"It depends. Can you wait?"
  13280. "For how long?
  13281. >"I can't tell you."
  13282. "That's what you told me already. Celestia damn it, mare, I thought we have it going closer now."
  13283. >"That depends."
  13284. "On what?"
  13285. >"Do you have time to wait?"
  13286. >"MARES. Please."
  13287. >The time has come for Light Breeze to ruin your negotiations
  13288. >Her eyes are as wide as tea-cups and her jaw hangs loose, yet, she doesn't let herself to falter
  13289. >"Yes, we can wait," She barks to you. "As long as it takes," she barks again, this time to the officer. "If you can help us, then please do."
  13290. >The mare grabbed her uniform's utility belt and pulled something out of it
  13291. >It's a small black rectangle
  13292. >It wakes to life when she taps the password into it with her hooves
  13293. >"I will need to see your id cards. Permits are ok, or crebit cards."
  13294. >Uh oh
  13295. >You forgot yourself
  13296. >These are police mares
  13297. >You really are a strong willed purple pony and only that provides enough self-control not to face-hoof yourself in the snout
  13298. >Pro tip about will power: it takes a lot
  13299. >The pegasi pony starts tapping some more information into her device in a faster pace, as she employs tips of her wings to do so
  13300. >"What for?" an inquire from Light Breeze
  13301. >"We need to queue the question to the archives section and that means it's an administrative task."
  13302. >She states matter-o-factly, as if it contain all the meaning everypony understood
  13303. >The following silence is used by the brown officer who so far stayed quiet after the accusatory rant against the rich and aristocratic, or however a TV show of such a subject about this would be named
  13304. >"Every administrative action must be registered in the Central Civil Query system. It must be known who asked for our help, what was the issue, and all that. Basic procedure."
  13305. >She seems far more head to ground now, with a still visible post hype-crash
  13306. >Is this how you look like after burning all caffeine?
  13307. >The older officer nods her head and give the newbie the first look of approval since ever
  13308. >"Yes. Officer Brownie is right."
  13309. >Brownie!
  13310. >"We are going to need the full address, citizens."
  13311. >Fire Top's encouraging smile makes the gears in your head come to a screeching halt
  13312. >F-full address?
  13313. >Can you share it with police?
  13314. >That doesn't sound good.
  13315. >"All you said seems like you got an old address before the reforms. Buildings on the eleventh street may look as new, but they are quite old. It wouldn't surprise anypony if construction of some of them was started more than fifty years ago, and the newer parts got built over the old ones. "
  13316. >Was this supposed to make you feel better about this whole ordeal?
  13317. >It doesn't
  13318. >Officer Fire Top, once again, takes a nod too deep, but this time her tiny, police issued hat falls down her head, or rather gets sent up in the air
  13319. >It doesn't reach the street on the route back - her wings shoot out and grab it in air, as quick as it never happened
  13320. >Oh, sweet Celestia
  13321. >You don't want these two to be on a pursuit of you
  13322. >No chance to run away if they are half as fast as they seem dexterous
  13323. >Light Breeze must come to the same conclusion, as you hear her clear her throat and turns to you
  13324. >"Why don't you give them yours?"
  13325. >Wait, what?
  13326. >What is the trying to do?
  13327. >To abandon you?
  13328. >Right now?
  13329. >The police officers look at one another and that's when she winks at you!
  13330. >Ooh
  13331. >She doesn't want to leave you on ice; no, no
  13332. >Her idea is to let you choose what to do
  13333. >Pretty clever if you ask... yourself
  13334. A - give them your crebit card (and give them your best smile)
  13335. B - give them your upper canterlot permit (and hope for best)
  13336. Y - tell them you forgot a wallet and will go to home for it (retreat to ask in the tea shop)
  13337. X - retreat and roam the street and ask ponies walking there (somepony must knows something)
  13338. AA
  13339.  
  13340. >Leaded by a fair presumption of not risking showing off your newly filled upper canterlot pass you produce your crebit card out of your chest fluff
  13341. >Officer Fire Top takes it from your hoof and tips her tiny hat as she does so
  13342. >This time it's not a bow deep enough to send it flying
  13343. >She is quick to turn it on and to deftly type into her police device operating with only one wing, as she holds it in another
  13344. >It takes less than ten seconds flat before she returns you the card, which you proceed to store back in the fluffy prison of yours
  13345. >Light Breeze pulls out her own, but the officer shakes her head
  13346. >"No need. One will suffice."
  13347. >She nods, and steps to the guard's side with a curious glance.
  13348. >"All it needs is one mare's identification numbers?"
  13349. >The younger guard, Officer Brownie, chuckles heartily before speaking up, "or stallion's. It doesn't really matter."
  13350. >Fire Top's lips turn into a thin line at the joke so crunchy it could feed ducks for month to come
  13351. >This is probably how Light Breeze must have felt for you when you got high on rich octane caffeine back in the docs
  13352. >Her voice deep, softly compelling to focus on
  13353. >Hard to not notice it's a pretty great trait for a public authority
  13354. >It better not fool you, however, nor Light Breeze
  13355. >You don't find a way to warn her about that
  13356. >"Officer Brownie is right, although it's a pun so weak..." her voice trails off before she coughs into a leg. "Point is, the system needs somepony to claim the query to. If it's anonymous it can be a joke."
  13357. >You motion her to continue the thought, which she complies but not without shifting from one leg to another
  13358. >"The city avoids wasting tax-payers money. That it, really. I feel like I already explained it once."
  13359. >Brownie's ears shot straight up as her whole posture does at the mention of, you suspect, 'tax-payers'
  13360. >Her eyes catches yours; a recently subsided wild fire gets to renew in them again
  13361. >Then her gaze falls at Light Breeze and the growing of her wicked smile cease
  13362. >You're sure she's scowling at your friend, but, remaining as little professionalism as the mare can, she turns her face away and look into the building in whose entrance your little party takes place
  13363. >There is couple of clothes wearing ponies inside, usually each by themselves, waiting in the building's round parlor, in front of the currently closed elevator doors
  13364. >Light Breeze looks the same way
  13365. >She searches for you in her peripheral vision, you can see so, and sends you a small smile
  13366. >As if trying to reassure you all is going good
  13367. >You raise a leg and slowly graze her shoulder with it on the downward motion
  13368. >Yeah, take that, and nicker as much as you want, you sly encouraging pony!
  13369. >A beep and a buzz from the police mare's now colorful device grabs yours and Light Breeze's attention
  13370. >"Ok, so," she sweeps you two with a brief glance, "the automatized archive says that indeed, the eleventh's street, used to have a different nomenclature. Buildings were named after the owner, but that was half an age ago."
  13371. >You exchange short glances with Light Breeze
  13372. >The mare continues, "Huh, that's funny."
  13373. >Only to take a pause.
  13374. >"Alright, so. There is no archaic address of 'CL', was it?"
  13375. >What?!
  13376. "How comes?"
  13377. >"All of them were named from A to Z, in that order. That's the surprising part. The ancient ponies must have thought it funny to divide the street of at the time capitol that way."
  13378. >Is fifty years really a time span enough to call your grandparents ancient?
  13379. >That is, if you had them
  13380. >And that is not what you say, though
  13381. "That gives twenty six buildings. The street is far longer."
  13382. >She simply shrugs
  13383. >"Sorry. The automatic response did not attach even a map, so I can't tell you which plots belonged to which family. Maybe if you had more than just the building number it would work out smoother. Or at least faster."
  13384. >Your lips zip up
  13385. >No way you're going to tell them anything else more specific
  13386. >That just can't end well
  13387. >Light Breeze pulls out a leg to touch the older officer, but changes her mind in the last moment, and opts to scratch her chin instead
  13388. >"Miss officer, you said an automatic response again. What does it mean?"
  13389. >Once again, Brownie cuts into the discussion in a somber tone, releasing her superior from the burden of explaining what seems to be the most basic information of the upper canterlot
  13390. >"That's why you've been asked do you have time to wait."
  13391. "That depen-"
  13392. >Crap!
  13393. "Wait for what?"
  13394. >"For the non-automatic response. Who knows when it be once the question grinds through the administrative system and finds a pony responsible for that field of knowledge."
  13395. >"Or until that pony finds an expert on that field, if they are unable to shoot the answer right back," adds Fire Top.
  13396. >"Which can take really a long time."
  13397. >"Considering it's a night it will be long enough to get a cup of tea while we wait."
  13398. >"Oh," Light Breeze exclaims on your left, "we were just at the tea shop on this way."
  13399. >The last thing you need is them having a friendly cup of tea!
  13400. "I'm pretty sure these police mares don't have time to go anywhere with us-"
  13401. >"Acktu-," the senior mare coughs, "excuse me, actually, we kind of have time for a short break. We missed the previous one."
  13402. >Ok, you will do the justice to the mare of... justice
  13403. >Her eyes are captivating
  13404. >That's not a reason to risk, now is it
  13405. >"And we could wait until we get some answer."
  13406. >Et tu, Light Breeze?
  13407. >Saving from oppression comes from the site you were expecting the least
  13408. >Office Brownie's face contorted in pure disgust
  13409. >"Tea's terrible."
  13410. >Yes!
  13411. >This can be worked with
  13412. >Since she refuses to partake in activities like that with a lowly citizen you can take your exit without raining any suspicion
  13413. >Completely naturally
  13414. >You raise your head and grab attention of your friend
  13415. >Your lips part-
  13416. >"Coffee, now that's more like it."
  13417. >Only to get ignored by brown mare Brownie
  13418. >It's Light Breeze's turn to look at you with a worry
  13419. >...
  13420. >And that's how you four ends in the very same tea drinking establishment from which you have detoured to meet these police mares
  13421. >You would be lying if you say the chat is unpleasant
  13422. >It's because there is barely any talking at all
  13423. >You may sit in company, but after making brief curious inquiry of how did it happen to be the plot owners in old canterlot segregated and ordered themselves by names no other subject is really touched
  13424. >The difference in interests is obvious and more visible than tonight's moon
  13425. >Yup, the clouds never revealed it, not even partially
  13426. >Light Breeze tried to hold the conversation, which was a vain task to begin with
  13427. >She just didn't know it, nor did you
  13428. >Now both of you focus on your cups of warm tea
  13429. >Your is hibiscus; very red and energizing
  13430. >That's what they say
  13431. >For you, the best part thing about it is you didn't pay for it
  13432. >Who knew the workers of a shop would not ask the police to pay for refreshments?
  13433. >Well, ok, that would be possible to predict, but they must have mixed something up, because nor you, nor Light Breeze ended up paying
  13434. >Isn't that what makes things the best?
  13435. >Still, your mind can't run for long from the nervous atmosphere of waiting Celestia knows how long, in the proximity of not one but two physically more capable than you officers, that makes you a susceptible subject of itself
  13436. >You came here for a reason, damn it, and now you're facing two officers of law, both of whom would undoubtedly overpower and capture you
  13437. >Even you know that you're repeating yourself, but...
  13438. >That kind of a stressful condition, and the taste of the weird fruity flower thing, takes its toll and makes your bladder to remind of the need for more mundane activities
  13439. >Thankfully, they have a restroom for paying customers
  13440. >Heh
  13441. >Paying
  13442. >…
  13443. >Once relieved, you wipe your hooves and look in the restroom's mirror
  13444. >Your face eyes begin to betray signs of tiredness, but you don't feel it yet
  13445. >It may stay at bay as long as you are still in the vicinity of police, and then, crash you down without a warning
  13446. >Wouldn't be the first time
  13447. >Albeit, you are perfectly fine, except that something tells you you are wasting time
  13448. >With a final approving look of Twilight Sparkle's approving reflection, you feel approved enough to go out of the seclusion of-
  13449. >Why are you so melodramatic?
  13450. >Was it something in the tea?
  13451. >…
  13452. >You don't go back to the table of three, directing your legs towards the staff of the place
  13453. >A stallion higher than you intercepts your intent and stops you
  13454. >He wears a traditional hat of a tea-maker, so you already know he's who you were look for, and not get perplexed at his equally troubled and fearful look
  13455. >"Was there any problem in the restroom?"
  13456. >What
  13457. "Like what?"
  13458. >He cast a cautious, longing glance on you, then at the door to the toilet, then back at you-
  13459. >You don't have time for this
  13460. "Can I ask you for help?"
  13461. >His snout and forehead gains a single wrinkle each
  13462. >They remind look ugly on his otherwise perfect features
  13463. >"Sure?" he says, and then goes back behind the counter!
  13464. >You follow him, definitely not rolling your eyes because it may be a good thing to gain more a distance from the merry company full of police mares per a war crime fugitive
  13465. >And by that you mean Light Breeze
  13466. >The colt raises a brow at your unexpected giggle and asks you a silent question
  13467. >'what's so funny' - no, not this one, although it would not surprise you after witnessing the behavior of upper canterlot entitled brats
  13468. >'what can I do for you' - yes, that's the one
  13469. >Well, what can he?
  13470. >Should you ask him?
  13471. >He won't probably know, but would more specific details not lead the police officers after you in case they receive an order to tie your flanks?
  13472. >It's clearly paranoiac thinking on your part, you know this, but did your guts betray you trust yet?
  13473. >So far so good
  13474. >The younger police mare, officer Brownie, leave her cup on the table and gets off of the place
  13475. >She straightens her legs and take a stroll to the restroom
  13476. >It would be the best idea to ask him about something similar, that's for sure, but not too similar
  13477. >As if summoned by a magic spell, Light Breeze joins you at the counter
  13478. >"Oi, What's up?"
  13479. >Her conspiratorial whisper, just above the level of ambient sounds of glasses clattering and water being boiled have an equally magical effect on as of her being summoned
  13480. >It makes you feel better
  13481. "I would like to get lost. Something tells me there will be problems."
  13482. >"I feel the same. That's not how I imagined hanging out with them to be like."
  13483. >What makes you feel even better than better,- the bettest? The bestest? Good, - is you don't have to explain it to her
  13484. >She knows!
  13485. "Speaking of it; should we ask them about the address?"
  13486. >You don't move your head towards the now fully scrunching stallion, with his brows furrowed and his time wasted
  13487. >A toss of eyes is enough for Light Breeze to return a scutining gaze upon him, which in turns takes him back, his eyes big as the cups they serve their drinks in
  13488. >Soon enough, and with a mumbling under his breath, he turns away
  13489. >"Should we?"
  13490. "Dunno."
  13491. >"And then we cram?"
  13492. "The word's scram."
  13493. >"I'm sure the word is scream."
  13494. "That's..."
  13495. >What is the even talking about-, oh, more snickering full of herself, alright
  13496. >That mare loves to confuse the soul out of you, but you could swear it wasn't like that when you first met, when she was happy her Twilight Sparkle was there for her to do whatever she been doing with her
  13497. >And now look at her
  13498. >Almost oozing with smugness, and a smugness of density of the sun, or the moon, or-
  13499. >"Anyways. Your call."
  13500. >Dang it! You were about to make her choose!
  13501. A - Ask the workers, and fake most the address
  13502. B - Return to the table to wait for the response from the system
  13503. Y - Thank the police for help and go on your search alone
  13504. X - Find an excuse to leave the premises for 'a moment' and never come back
  13505. AY
  13506.  
  13507. >When the stallion comes back he wears an apron
  13508. >You dare to whisper to the him, as still one of the police mares went missing in the restroom, and can appear behind you any second now
  13509. "Can you tell us is there any building on this street that's called... 'EX'?"
  13510. >He holds a curious look in the eye, yet his voice copies your manner of quiet talking, and he speaks only after stealing a sneaky glance at Light Breeze and Fire Top, who is still drinking her tea at a distant table
  13511. >"Is this some sort of an unofficial investigation? I don't really want to get into any trouble."
  13512. >Nopony would want to
  13513. >Light Breeze uses this time to-
  13514. >"It depends."
  13515. >-to mock you!
  13516. >You try your best to stop an eye-roll and succeed only after it have already traveled half the way
  13517. "No, it's not. Don't worry. We're just looking for some basic directions. We are looking for a building or some other place, but the address we have got is, apparently, an ancient one. We don't really know what to expect, so we ask who we can."
  13518. >His eyes narrow, as if still suspicious of an unpleasant surprise
  13519. >"So, you're not cops?"
  13520. "Last time I checked I wasn't. Listen, we got bored with waiting the police mares."
  13521. >"You know, the police must tell you the truth if you ask them directly. So you know it's true," your friend adds
  13522. >"Great," his voice even quieter than before, "first, that doesn't work like this. Not anymore, anyways. Second, what are you waiting for?"
  13523. >"For an inquiry being passed to some central and they can answer us."
  13524. >"The what?"
  13525. "The something something administrative system? You know, passing your question to a bunch of ponies who do that for a living, getting a generic answer, then waiting for a more detailed data on the subject whatever it may be..."
  13526. >Your voice trails off at the end
  13527. >There is something sincere about his confusion, something very sincere and equally worrying for you
  13528. >"I'm sorry, I've never heard of it," he says and cocks his head to a side
  13529. >Deep down in your stomach a maw that's usually lays docile, opens and gnaws at the back of your head
  13530. >Light Breeze betrays a similar feeling of dismay, if her nervous glance everywhere but at the direction of the police mare is any trustworthy indicator
  13531. >And it is more than enough
  13532. "Did we pay for our drinks?"
  13533. >"What?"
  13534. >You repeat through your teeth, this time slower
  13535. "Did. We. Pay?"
  13536. >He blinks twice, and even Light Breeze raises an eye brow
  13537. >"Of course you did."
  13538. >Oh no
  13539. "Hahaha! That's a good one!"
  13540. >Er, fake laughter sounds only fake if you fake it too much
  13541. >That's why you think of how funny it would be to pass the stallion your credit card when you pat his shoulder after he told you a really good joke which you can't repeat due to the lack of the latter
  13542. >You even turn to look at everypony in the tea-cafe
  13543. >Indeed, the few pairs of ears perk up and focus on your voice even before the faces follow to turn towards you
  13544. >Only Fire Top's head doesn't budge
  13545. >Not good
  13546. >However, no pony would suspect you of such sneakiness
  13547. >You're Twilight Sparkle, the sneaky bastardo
  13548. >The colt looks at the item in his hoof
  13549. >That's when Light Breeze burst into-
  13550. >To call it hysteric would give it justice
  13551. >So you won't do that
  13552. >She howls in registers higher than you ever witnessed
  13553. >"Hi. Hi. Hi. Hi. Hi," her choking fills the cozy place
  13554. >It sounds absolutely unpleasant
  13555. >Quickly gaining even more attention than you
  13556. >You don't get to consider what or why is she doing it, as she gently pushes the stallion towards the other side of the counter
  13557. >It works
  13558. >He wobbles back, his eyes opens wider and you can see an idea dawning on him
  13559. >Thank Celestia, the stallion gets close to the card reader and passes it through
  13560. >As for your friend, she approaches the few other patrons and overplay the game of pretend
  13561. >In this case, the "Let me try to tell the joke I just heard while still laughing"
  13562. >Honestly speaking, her attempts to come up with a hundred beginnings make a mare or two to giggle in advance
  13563. >Too bad they are destined to never hear the full story of the joke that doesn't exist
  13564. >As the ungodly distraction of Light Breeze continues, the tea-working pony gets back to your side
  13565. >The maw in your stomach opens wider even before he speaks up
  13566. >You ponder briefly whether should you ask him
  13567. >He uses this time to hand you the card
  13568. >His mouth close to your good ear as he leans in
  13569. >"It's blocked."
  13570. >That's all what you need to know
  13571. >You fucked up
  13572. >…
  13573. >Gaah!
  13574. >Five thousand crebits lost!
  13575. >It's no time to mope about anything
  13576. >No amount of assessing the place paints it in any better paint
  13577. >With your crebit card out of use, you are sure it's the work of the police mares
  13578. >What a coincidence it would have to be for some system error to happen just now?
  13579. >Even if that's the case, you can't take the risk
  13580. >You turn to Light Breeze and find her missing
  13581. >Of course, she left your side and joined Officer Fire Top to hide your actions under a soft and heavy blanket of au-
  13582. >Officer Brownie enters through the door
  13583. >Wasn't she in the restroom?
  13584. >She sports a neutral expression and bee lines straight for her partner
  13585. >A small nod gets exchanged
  13586. >You look again at their long, slender wings
  13587. >Do you have any chance to outrun them?
  13588. >No, as far as your physique training expertise goes, you're dead in horse shoes
  13589. >You close on them on full display
  13590. >Both of them sitting in front of Light Breeze, who as the only one turns her head towards you
  13591. >You don't look at her
  13592. >Your eyes fixed on two officers
  13593. >The tiny hats still on their heads
  13594. >Weapons at their utility belts, just under the place where their blue police shirts end
  13595. >You can rush one of them now
  13596. >Take them by surprise and hope for Light Breeze to act fast
  13597. >Yet you don't
  13598. >It's hard to put a hoof on it, but the same maw that's leaking warm liquids all over your lower stomach renders the impromptu plan barren
  13599. >They must be observing you, that's why you slowly slide your flanks back on the chair
  13600. >It got cold in the meantime, but you don't mind
  13601. >You discover your decision as a good one; they both exhale simultaneously
  13602. >Can't call it relaxing, but take your hooves away if they weren't expecting you to pull something out of your mane
  13603. >That's when they ask you a question
  13604. >You don't register words, just the tone
  13605. >Setting on a smile and a nod it is
  13606. >Another question follows and this time Light Breeze answers for you, although her voice got harsher
  13607. >The small chat continues for a short time
  13608. >You don't listen, only watch as their lips meet and separate
  13609. >A distinct buzzing in your hear grows
  13610. >It's makes all the sounds turn into one, pulsing mass
  13611. >And the very next second it's gone
  13612. >That's when your Twilight Sparkle training kicks in
  13613. >You know, the one which you never fully finished, because you ran away?
  13614. >That one
  13615. >Without actively thinking of it, you kick Light Breeze under the table
  13616. >She yelps and both the police mares focus on her for long enough that you can grab your beanie hat
  13617. >Your friend gazes at you in bewilderment for long enough that you exchange a glance and understanding shines in her eyes like two rubies
  13618. >Which is completely out of place, for her eyes aren't red, but light blue, just like her coat
  13619. >She turns away just in time for your beanie hat to hit the table
  13620. >The eyes of everypony gets transfixed on your bad stump of an ear and time slows down to extremely lazy crawl
  13621. >You move it up and down to strengthen the effect
  13622. >It still does as you command, even though two-thirds of it flaps around wildly on a thin string of meat
  13623. >That's what you think they see
  13624. >Your good ear gets very hot very quick, it prompts you to stand up and to pull a thing out of your chest fluff
  13625. >The telescopic riding crop falls perfectly into your right hoof, ready to swing at any-pony not wise enough to try to stop you
  13626. >However, not a single one does even as much as budge
  13627. >Light Breeze makes it to the door without look at you
  13628. >She holds them open for you, but you hesitate
  13629. >It's bad manners to not say goodbye, now isn't it
  13630. >So you turn around and bow your head deep down, never stopping to move your ear, no matter how stinky the skin around its base gets
  13631. "Thank you for your co-operation."
  13632. >Silence gets broken by a glass that meets the floor
  13633. >Both the police mares blink the hypnosis away and jump to their hooves!
  13634. >You turn your head to them and wave the stump
  13635. >None of them fall for the same trick twice, not completely anyway
  13636. >"Memetic attack!"
  13637. >They cover their eyes and lay flat on the ground
  13638. >You deftly help yourself out of the building!
  13639. >Light Breeze stands there, waiting for you, and handing you something
  13640. >It's your hat!
  13641. >She grabbed it for you
  13642. >You don't waste time and place it atop your head, covering the 'memetic' device
  13643. >Truly, a pony ex machina tool
  13644. >As you finish your task, once again Light Breeze surprises you
  13645. >She stands next to the wooden bench, pacing nervously in place
  13646. >"Come on!"
  13647. >You jump into gallop- but she doesn't join you
  13648. >So you stop
  13649. >Her fore legs awkwardly hug the bench as her hind legs kick into the concrete
  13650. >Oh!
  13651. "No, no, don't hug it, just push-"
  13652. >She heaves and the thing finally moves
  13653. >Is it even worth to mention you jump in to help?
  13654. >Hnng!
  13655. >Why is real wood so heavy!
  13656. >You think so after moving it to the door and effectively blocking them from being opened
  13657. >"Because it's wood!"
  13658. >Wait, did you say that?
  13659. >You double take while already on the run, and in no time you find yourself alone on the scarcely populated street
  13660. >Were this the lower canterlot you would disappear by barging through the crowd
  13661. >Here, though, in the desolated area so alien to you, you're visible as on a surface of a hoof
  13662. >Except Light Breeze and you, there must be less than thirty ponies on this whole street, and it's a long one
  13663. >The more fabulous streets of upper canterlot doesn't look as welcoming and secure as they used to
  13664. >The maw in your stomach finally closes, as you two gallop down the street, or is it up?
  13665. >Still, it doesn't change you may be pursued
  13666. "They blocked my card."
  13667. >Unbelievably, saying this much is enough to make you gasp for air
  13668. >"I know."
  13669. >How many numbers you ran past?
  13670. >Ten, twenty?
  13671. >Ponies which you leave behind stop to watch you
  13672. >Somehow it did not occur to you that these upper canterlot entitled pricks never saw a mare galloping
  13673. >This makes you feel angry
  13674. >And extremely tired
  13675. "We need to hide, can't run much longer."
  13676. >You say around ten seconds after your lungs begun to burn
  13677. >"But where."
  13678. >You stop and look around
  13679. >Previously you were too focused on not tripping over your own legs, but now the street looks different
  13680. >All buildings look bigger and grander than before
  13681. >There is also another little, tiny thing that reopens the stomach pit
  13682. >Cameras on lamp posts on every intersection
  13683. >You let out a small nicker
  13684. >The smallest one, you swear
  13685. >The hunt is back on
  13686. A - a gray, simple, and tall business office building on this side of the road
  13687. B - a bright, shopping mall an entire block back
  13688. Y - an older, red, smaller, and decorated with flags office on the other side of the road
  13689. X - a spacious parking lot with an equally spacious terminal a bit farther down
  13690. YY
  13691.  
  13692. >You cross the street in hurry
  13693. >Light Breeze follows you a step behind
  13694. >A worried look down the street proves futile to determine are your due seen by the mares in pursuit
  13695. >That give birth to a question - what about the pedestrian ponies?
  13696. >Only few per a mass present on each street at each time in the lower canterlot, but they sure took a notice of two of you running to your rags
  13697. >And what if other police forces are put on their legs and just waiting behind the corner?
  13698. >Then you're done for
  13699. >You and Light Breeze
  13700. >The only positive thing is you can ditch clothes and become ungovernable, er, unrecognizable
  13701. >Gritting your teeth in frustration is not what you do best, and that means you bite yourself in the tongue!
  13702. >Good riddance!
  13703. "Fack!"
  13704. >Elaborate of you
  13705. >You two close on the building
  13706. >A weak gust of wind moves the two stores high flag closest to you
  13707. >It has patterns you've seen elsewhere, but not really a word
  13708. >You open and hold the tall door for your fellow criminal scum
  13709. >That's where she notices your jaw being loose
  13710. >"What happened?"
  13711. >Can you really dare to try to explain the damage done to your tongue and pride in a time of trial vocally?
  13712. >Nah, can't
  13713. >So you roll your eyes and clop a hoof against the smooth concrete
  13714. >The one of her ears that you can see, that isn't under her beanie hat in your manner, hugs the back of her scalp
  13715. >She pounces to air in place before prancing forward into the room, as if spooked by snake or police
  13716. >Heh
  13717. >Still got it
  13718. >You don't waste any more time and close the door behind you
  13719. >…
  13720. >It looks like an a utility area, if such things exist in the dark foreseeable future
  13721. >Or was it, back when canterlot was only on the top of a mountain, not on a dome
  13722. >It must have served as a way station, now these different flags outside and inside begin to make sense
  13723. >A monument to a bygone era
  13724. >These days it's pretty much a postal office, if the brown uniforms with wide white cuffs and big slogan saying "Postal Office" is an indicator
  13725. >However, not the only service takes place here
  13726. >Here's the twist; there are rows upon rows of two pony high metal shelves to your left and right, each closed with an old-school round lock
  13727. >The pony attendants are not many, but there is a bunch of ponies waiting in the lines or occupied with the lockers
  13728. >Is it a good time to allow yourself to take a breath?
  13729. >Hard to tell, but if you were there alone it would be a bad idea to stay
  13730. >Either way, only after hiding between the furniture
  13731. >Let's hope they will obstruct the field of vision in case the police gets up to you
  13732. >Of course, if that is going to be an entire platoon then no plan will work out, now will it?
  13733. >You spend too much in thoughts, it prompts Light Breeze to poke your side and point her head to the far away wall
  13734. >Don't run, you remind yourself, that would cause echo and raise easily avoidable interest
  13735. >Light Breeze leads the way, this time and you do your best not to cross your eyes with anypony
  13736. >The old, black and white floor tiles which could have been used in a kitchen of sorts in their previous lives still makes each step of yours audible
  13737. >Oh well, can't have it all
  13738. >…
  13739. >Time passes and no pursuit comes after you
  13740. >And, hey, you can talk!
  13741. >Little victories, they say
  13742. >You're boring yourself to death by waiting and looking interested in the ceiling and wall corners
  13743. >"I can't spot a single camera."
  13744. >For her defense, the same chat for the third time doesn't bother you in the slightest, and it really seems like the building was never updated in the newest tech, maybe except for the worker stations
  13745. >At least the only one that is still open
  13746. >Or is it already open?
  13747. >Can't help but notice the hoodie got a bit too sweaty for your liking, and it's only a matter of time it starts like you
  13748. >What won't you endure for your quest for revenge!
  13749. >Revenge?
  13750. >You stop in tracks - you have been walking between the shelves and sneaking your head past the corner, half-expecting the police mares from before to block your path and call you bad names
  13751. >As if that could make any impression on you!
  13752. >Anyhow, revenge?
  13753. >Is this what you seek?
  13754. >"Hey, Twilight, look."
  13755. >Thank Celestia Light Breeze pulls you out from the train called thoughts before you could depart to the station self-doubt and remorse
  13756. >She's closely examining something on the metal door of a shelf, then moves to another, and another
  13757. >They... have numbers!
  13758. >And letters, too!
  13759. >The closest one reads 'O555'
  13760. >Tiredness gives place excitement in her eyes as she speaks
  13761. >"Do you think what I'm thinking?"
  13762. >Why does she thing the puppy eyes can win you over?
  13763. "Fine. Let's split."
  13764. >Ah, that's why
  13765. >…
  13766. >The round lockers are fake and hanging there as a decoration at best
  13767. >The entirety of the units you have checked have a panel that is in energy saving mode, and turns on only at the touch
  13768. >It allows to type four digits in three tries
  13769. >You certainly didn't lock one or two for an hour testing that out
  13770. >No need to mention that
  13771. >"Couldn't find a two letter number."
  13772. >Truth be told, neither could you
  13773. "Letters start at 'O', and ends at 'Z', but-"
  13774. >"-But there aren't always in order, right?"
  13775. >That's what you were going to say
  13776. >Instead you opt for a nod
  13777. >"I swear I saw a couple of 'A's and 'B's."
  13778. >So did you
  13779. >"So!" She takes a moment to rub her front hooves together in a gesture too vulgar and uncivilized to describe. "What do we do now?"
  13780. >In the bask of such a sign of certain tendencies that you are rather sure she doesn't possess if she's not being chased by the police you still recoil back
  13781. >She has the audacity to ask you 'what do we do now'?
  13782. >As if this entire flawless escapade was your sole idea-
  13783. >Ok, yeah, right, that's totally your fault, but still
  13784. >You're Twilight Sparkle, that must count for something, right?
  13785. "I don't know, we ask?"
  13786. >Due to lack of any better prospect she graces you with a shrug far too cute for the dire circumstances
  13787. "Should we butt in?"
  13788. >"I don't think that's good for keeping a low profile."
  13789. >Now it's your time shrug
  13790. >…
  13791. >The queue to the only open window takes easily half an hour to disperse
  13792. >You are finally in front of the counter
  13793. >Behind it resides a gray stallion, with bright yellow mane, and a running eye
  13794. >He is there supposedly to serve the customers, and not munch on his delicious looking sandwich
  13795. >Two ponies in thirty minutes!
  13796. >What a rampage
  13797. >"Hello, welcome in the canterlot postal office. What can I do for you?"
  13798. >Her voice definitely doesn't sound bored, and yours definitely doesn't sound hoarse
  13799. >Because, you know, you're a pony
  13800. "Let's say I want to use a stash to leave my stuff, but these numbers are rather inconsequential. 314 followed by 420? Can you tell me what is going on?"
  13801. >The stallion puts down the sandwich and grabs a pair of glasses
  13802. >They are not what you expected to see
  13803. >The ear-pieces looks normal, but the glasses are replaced with pieces of carton
  13804. >Should you begin to worry?
  13805. >Can't, you already do that
  13806. >You feel Light Breeze next to you, nervously shuffling her legs until your sides meet
  13807. >Impossible to feel her body warmth through two layers of hoodies; at least none is wet
  13808. >Colt's mouth open, his tongue flicker, his sandwich back in a hoof
  13809. >Luna damn it
  13810. >He speaks with food in mouth
  13811. >So much about good manners, or any manners
  13812. >"These don't really belong to the office."
  13813. >"Then to who?" Light Breeze says
  13814. >"To the locomotion station."
  13815. "You mean the hub a street farther?"
  13816. >"Yup. That's theirs. They just stand there, so I guess you can use them."
  13817. >Another bite
  13818. >He chews slowly and pulls the carton glasses off his face
  13819. >You speak, before he can put the ear-piece into his mouth
  13820. "How to find the one I would be looking for?"
  13821. >It startles him and he rushes the glasses back, putting them up-side down
  13822. >Seems it's not a problem for such a work pony
  13823. >You can't see his eyes, but judging by his voice he's quite surprised you're still here
  13824. >"Oh, sorry. I thought you went your way."
  13825. >Great service, everypony
  13826. >He swallows the bite, but doesn't take another
  13827. >You like to think that he learnt to take his dead shift a bit more serious, but...
  13828. >The merit lays mostly in that nothing of the sandwich is left
  13829. "Well?"
  13830. >"Oh, what do you want to know?"
  13831. >Light Breeze must sense your nostrils flaring
  13832. >She says, "Where to find one particular locker?"
  13833. >"Probably by the numbers."
  13834. >And he raises a leg to grab the gla-
  13835. >How much power it takes not to face-hoof?
  13836. >Too much
  13837. "Listen, we understand, these are not a part of your duties, but they stay there, and-"
  13838. >His growing smile tell you all that you want to know
  13839. >Except nothing
  13840. "What can you do for us?"
  13841. >He cocks a head to a side before focusing really hard, so hard he forgets to look at you through the carton lenses of the carton-tech glasses
  13842. >"I can get take your letter."
  13843. >You're almost miss the police mares or the citadel goons on your tail
  13844. >Almost
  13845. >"Hold on, don't you take parcels?"
  13846. >"Nu-uh, miss. We don't do that."
  13847. "What kind of a postal service don't take packages?"
  13848. >"The best, ma'am."
  13849. >This is leading nowhere
  13850. >At least nopony is behind you in the queue
  13851. >If there were you could stomp and walk away in anger
  13852. >How would that profit you?
  13853. >Light Breeze places a leg on your back
  13854. >What for?
  13855. >To ease you?
  13856. >You're not angry!
  13857. >"Then who does the parcels?"
  13858. >"The ups, duh."
  13859. >"U.P.S.?"
  13860. >"More like 'OOPS'."
  13861. >Oh, great, even his laughter is crazy
  13862. >Turning to your friend you pull her closer, so close you look each other eye-to-eye
  13863. "What do we do?"
  13864. >"I don't know? We send a letter?"
  13865. >Send a letter!
  13866. >To where!
  13867. >Send a-
  13868. >Wait
  13869. >That may be it!
  13870. >…
  13871. >You can't pay for an envelope with your card blocked, but Light Breeze can!
  13872. >Same with the stamp, really
  13873. >And a pen
  13874. >She says she doesn't mind
  13875. >How comes they don't have free pens to use at such a place!
  13876. >"There! Can you take it?"
  13877. >It's the second attempt, this time you write entire address, except the last two letters 'op'
  13878. >Attendant's keyboard happily dhak-dhaks until he's done with retyping
  13879. >"Nope, sorry."
  13880. "Is it because something is missing?"
  13881. >"No."
  13882. >You scribble the last two letters
  13883. "And now?"
  13884. >He proceed to delete everything and type it again
  13885. >At least it's short!
  13886. >"Oh, it works, but…"
  13887. "But what?"
  13888. >Visible beads of sweat forms on his brows
  13889. >What the heck
  13890. >"It's a room in the canterlot castle?"
  13891. >There is a castle?!
  13892. >No royal sisters but they build a castle?
  13893. >How comes?
  13894. >Light Breeze once again takes your silence as her cue to speak
  13895. >"What is this castle?"
  13896. >"It's a... prison, ma'am."
  13897. >Yes it does sound more like it
  13898. >PRISON?!
  13899. >Is Spike in a dungeon?
  13900. >Nothing new for a dragon, but, not like that!
  13901. >How are you going to get inside a prison?
  13902. >Why do you already jump to 'how'?!
  13903. >Your friend's prying voice once again saves you from the embrace of never stopping train of dark thoughts
  13904. >You should buy her a dinner, or something, if you, you know, could pay for it right now
  13905. >The idea goes on the mental list of 'to do' things
  13906. >You don't have such a list
  13907. >Well, you should; what kind of Twilight Sparkle are you to not have a list of-
  13908. >Doing it again, ain't you?
  13909. >"Are you sure it's a prison?"
  13910. >"Yes, ma'am."
  13911. "Can you read out what you typed?"
  13912. >You speak without thinking or feeling anything but spreading numbness in your heart
  13913. >"Ceel, teen-teen-teen, naine-tvo-sigx, oop."
  13914. "What the hay?"
  13915. >At least your friend is laughing her flanks off
  13916. >…
  13917. >With this episode done you kind of still don't know what to do with yourself
  13918. >At this point you may as well contact the police or commit another act of terrorism
  13919. >Hey, it's only terrorism if you don't get paid, Twilight Sparkle!
  13920. >Shut up, Twilight Sparkle!
  13921. >"I think we should go to the parking lot."
  13922. >…
  13923. >As said, is done
  13924. >It feels rather creepy to be in such a big city with almost no pony on the street
  13925. >Sure, still a moon-less night
  13926. >As if that changes anything!
  13927. "Do you feel observed?"
  13928. >You stop and wait for your pal to reach your side, as being sneaky makes no sense without even a scarcely crowd to sink in
  13929. >"I feel weird. This place is weird."
  13930. "What exactly?"
  13931. >"Everything."
  13932. >She raises a leg and point at the sky
  13933. >"Where's the moon?"
  13934. >She doesn't let you point out the dark clouds, as she continue to throw her leg up in a wide arc, and keeps it there for a dramatic effect
  13935. >"Look, all these tall office buildings, and some living ones, too, and…"
  13936. >She doesn't have to finish
  13937. >If anything, it's rather sad you notice it only now
  13938. "The lights are off."
  13939. >"Everywhere."
  13940. "That's the literal opposite of life in the lower canterlot."
  13941. >"It feels fake."
  13942. >You understand what she means
  13943. >Not as a trap, as a movie set
  13944. >"Let's get inside and scram."
  13945. >You follow her through the big and empty parking lot
  13946. >…
  13947. >The inside of the building is smaller than it looked from the outside
  13948. >The first thing that grabs attention is a wide, tall, and split-flap display table with arrivals and departures of what you can only presume are trains or chariots
  13949. >There's more red letters on it than whites, and all the rides are either canceled, delayed, or departed
  13950. >Instead of a ticket booth, here stands a ticket machine
  13951. >Completely useless to you
  13952. >"Well, if it isn't just creepy."
  13953. >She says so, but nudges your side and makes you look at a similar looking metal lockers filling the rest of the place
  13954. >On the way to the closest you spot a refreshment stand with a bored looking pony
  13955. >There is max two other ponies that your duo and that one merchandiser here
  13956. "Why?"
  13957. >"Why what?"
  13958. "I haven't noticed it before, but everything here is as you say. Fake. Odd. Alien."
  13959. >No further comment is needed as you get your best to search
  13960. >…
  13961. >Numbers were equally mixed, but after some time you can finally say -
  13962. "Here!"
  13963. >Your voice makes through the entire hall, grabbing the attention of as many ponies as many legs you have
  13964. >Four, that's four
  13965. >Light Breeze joins you in a jiffy
  13966. >The locker looks like every one other, except maybe a bit smaller, with a number plate
  13967. >The label reads 'clop'
  13968. >Celestia knows what it means
  13969. >"Oh! It's three times ten. Good thinking!"
  13970. >You double take
  13971. >She double takes
  13972. >Does that mean everypony double take?
  13973. >Hold on, she's not facing the same locker than you, but one to the left
  13974. >It reads 'cl30'
  13975. >Oh
  13976. >Ok
  13977. >You prod the screen and it wakes up to life
  13978. >Six digits
  13979. >So happens you have three times ten
  13980. >The small door opens revealing a small box inside
  13981. >Your more focused on any silent alarm that can be turned on,
  13982. >Light Breeze eyes locked on the prize
  13983. >"Come on, take it."
  13984. >The place doesn't get swarmed by inter-dimentional purpleness so you allow yourself the leisure to retrieve the item
  13985. >That's a success, without rolling
  13986. >You gently pull it and sit down on your flanks
  13987. >A brief inspection close to your clever eye proves it to be some sort of a brick in a tin foil?
  13988. >You take a bite in your mouth
  13989. >Yes, definitely a tinfoil
  13990. >No, you're not red on face because your so called friend dons an incredulous smirk
  13991. >Then the door opens and everypony turns to see the newcomer
  13992. >Your heart stops for a moment
  13993. >Panic open its gates to flood your mind faster than you can read!
  13994. >The pony's tall, classy, and purple
  13995. >She wears a business suit and well fitting fedora and she's Twilight Sparkle
  13996. >Her eyes scan the spacious space and stop at you
  13997. >…
  13998. >Then she proceed to slowly approach the lockers and look for something
  13999. >What is going on?!
  14000. >Wait, no!
  14001. >You turn to Light Breeze!
  14002. >She's observing the other Twilight Sparkle with squinting eyes
  14003. >Shit!
  14004. A - grab Light Breeze and the brick and run to the lower canterlot
  14005. B - order Light Breeze to wait and approach the other you
  14006. Y - do that, but together
  14007. X - talk to the vendor pony
  14008. Z - stay in the upper canterlot [do what, go where]
  14009. CBY
  14010.  
  14011. >You choose to approach the mare alone
  14012. >Light Breeze is already eyeing the newly came Twilight Sparkle
  14013. >No realization shines on her face, yet
  14014. >You can't have that, and opt to operationally distract her
  14015. >A wave of your leg in front of her face might been too close, as her head pulls back
  14016. >It works, though
  14017. "I don't know how to tell you, but it seems like this pony here may know something important. She reminds me of some old co-worker of mine. I want to talk to her."
  14018. >"From that corporation job?"
  14019. "Yup, that one."
  14020. >Not to your surprise she takes a step forward only to realize you block her path
  14021. >A confused glare doesn't hide a tint of worry
  14022. >"Hey, what gives?"
  14023. "Alone."
  14024. >"But-
  14025. >Her shoulders sink and her tail whips the air
  14026. >She looks on the ground for a moment
  14027. >Then slowly pokes one of a rim of a big tile the entire floor is made of
  14028. >It's not a pretty sight, but you are Twilight Sparkle, and you know what she's trying to do
  14029. >To guilt trip you!
  14030. >Ha ha!
  14031. >Not this time, pony!
  14032. >It takes her about ten seconds flat to realize you're not going to bent
  14033. >She makes clear it was her plan with a short laugh!
  14034. >"Ok. What do you want me to do? Watch the thing? And-", she pauses, "Is it even safe?"
  14035. >Didn't really think of that, now, did you?
  14036. >You wave a hoof to dispel her question
  14037. "If this pony worked for my ex-boss we would be already fresh bread."
  14038. >Your words reach its goal - your friend's cheeks turn light red, her lips part, a gasp is not withheld
  14039. >No pony will ever defend against the vision of being freshly bread
  14040. >No pony
  14041. >Except you and other Twilight Sparkles
  14042. >The bread is never fresh
  14043. >You're not a cruel pony, the situation makes you one
  14044. "Yes, you can hold to it. It's probably safer on you than on me, anyways."
  14045. >The brick in tin foil quickly exchanges the owner
  14046. >You don't really suspect to fight this other Twilight Sparkle, but to not have it on you may provide an additional risk
  14047. >"Why do you think it's a good idea? If it's her she may just give us up to your company. What then?"
  14048. >Ok, well, that's a good question so you proceed to completely ignore it, so you look her square in the eye, open your mouth so the tip of your tongue is visible and wiggling up and down, pull in closer to her ear and whisper
  14049. "I don't."
  14050. >With that you wink a 'see you soon', and start to walk towards where this new Twilight Sparkle disappeared between between the walls of lockers
  14051. >…
  14052. >You find her spying behind a corner
  14053. >Not on you, but on Light Breeze, who is talking with the drink stand pony
  14054. >Why did you not think of that?
  14055. >Eh, who cares
  14056. >The Twilight Sparkle in front of you jump in place, visibly startled by your silent approach
  14057. >"Sweet Celestia, you really had to?"
  14058. >She wears a rather fitting green vest with gold buttons
  14059. >That's weird
  14060. >You were sure she was as purple as mama Sparkle made you
  14061. >"Who is that? Your friend?"
  14062. >Her voice hushed, her chest fluff enormous and similar to yours
  14063. >"What? You're one of these dumb ones or what?"
  14064. >She suspiciously eyes you, or gives you a stinky eye
  14065. >It's hard to tell
  14066. >What's easy to decide on is - this is not at all what you expected
  14067. "Uh, sorry. I was just shocked."
  14068. >Twilight Sparkle narrows her eyes even more and pokes your chest
  14069. >"You're shocked? Then how am I? How comes you're here? Now, don't even think of lying to me, you," she fails to find a suitable word and settles on a grunt. "You new here and lost your way, or got drunk on caffeine and have no regard for personal safety?"
  14070. >She pokes you again, this time it pushes you back!
  14071. >What is going on?!
  14072. >Why is she interrogating you?!
  14073. >That's not how things are supposed to be
  14074. >And she's waiting for an answer!
  14075. >Think. Think!
  14076. >The best to tell the truth
  14077. "I'm sorry, I don't quite understand what are you exactly asking me about."
  14078. >Not the whole truth
  14079. >She stomps on the floor and a tile cracks
  14080. >The sound echoes through the building
  14081. >Light Breeze is most likely going to worry about you now
  14082. >Great
  14083. "Hey, don't demolish this place. You want to know who I am, so I will tell you. My name is Twilight Sparkle."
  14084. >If her horn could kill-
  14085. >So could yours!
  14086. >Twilight Sparkle in green vest lowers herself to haunches, not without a groan
  14087. >"I know that, you idiot-"
  14088. >R-rude!
  14089. >"-what I want to know is who sent you here, or rather, how did you end up in this part of town. I doubt anypony was dumb enough to mix something so crucial, so it must be your fault, newbie."
  14090. >Is she-
  14091. >Is it-
  14092. >Can you believe your luck?
  14093. >Scientifically speaking, no
  14094. >You are Twilight Sparkle and you're amazing, luck has nothing to do with it
  14095. >Slowly, you raise a hoof and place it at back of your neck
  14096. "Yeah, well. I kind of bucked up and ended up here."
  14097. >With a nod of head you motion to now obstructed view of Light Breeze
  14098. "I found great help in that pony. She took me in-"
  14099. >Something what you said make her eyes double its size
  14100. >It's not really that much of change, considering the narrowness of her eyes up to now
  14101. >You'll most likely learn what was so unusual-
  14102. >"She took you in? Like, what? How long are you here?"
  14103. >Uh oh
  14104. >Long or short?
  14105. >She works for the Twilight Sparkle citadel, that's sure
  14106. >A field agent
  14107. >And she's already suspicious of you
  14108. >Why wouldn't she?
  14109. >You literally walked on her turf; that sounds like a big no-no between Twilight Sparkles
  14110. >"Are you telling me it took you more than a day to get to your post? What the hay? How is that even possible?"
  14111. >You don a sheepish smile, but stay silent
  14112. >The less you talk, the more likely she will fill the gaps for you, and then you'll be able to…
  14113. >To what?
  14114. >Call her a bad name?
  14115. >"No. Don't even say a word. It's a miracle you're still in one piece, but don't hope you'll stay that way once I'm done with the report about all of this."
  14116. >To signify the importance of it she draws a circle in the air
  14117. >Best if she doesn't notice the stump of your ear
  14118. >You want her information, not her to die of heart attack
  14119. >"Seriously, to think somepony up there would allow such thing to happen."
  14120. >Her eyes fix once again on your forehead
  14121. >"Were you the one the police ponies ran after?"
  14122. >Your shoulders involuntarily tense
  14123. >Is it too much to assume she notices it?
  14124. "No?"
  14125. >A single eye brow ends up lifted
  14126. >Crap!
  14127. >Better lie so more to hide the initial blunder!
  14128. "I mean, I bucking wish that were me. I would tie them up and deliver to the police station. Just give me a sign. Ha. Ha."
  14129. >Her necks crane forward with each word you speak until her entire body is crumpled in a position as uncomfortable for a non-giraffe as defensive against your bullshit
  14130. >A shudder runs down her back and she shakes it off
  14131. >"Why in the princesses goodness would you do such a thing? You know what? I don't doubt you would try to do that, nor that your skull is so tight there's little space for blood to flow. Who the heck approved a mare like you to come here?"
  14132. >Why is she still interrogating you?!
  14133. >She shakes her head
  14134. >"How would you know. Where are you supposed to be, and what is your purpose here? No, don't tell me. The less I know the better for both of us. Will you- can you stop looking at me as if I crucified your smarty-pants?"
  14135. >Sweet Celestia!
  14136. >What are you going to tell her?
  14137. >Hold on, is it possible she's one of the Twilight Sparkles family from the canals of lower canterlot?
  14138. "I'm sorry-"
  14139. >"You should be."
  14140. >Not quite sure on it, but did they not mention one of them had special somepony?
  14141. >Or did you read it on some public barn advertisement?
  14142. "Are you married?"
  14143. >You swear her eye twitches
  14144. "To a stallion, I clarify that."
  14145. >And an ear flap, too
  14146. >She snorts in disbelief, "I'll pretend I didn't hear that, but on which part of it's better not to know training did you sleep through and why all of it?
  14147. "You asked me about my assignment yourself, you know."
  14148. >"Oh, no, you won't play brazen with me, Twilight Sparkle. Right now we need to disappear and contact the citadel, and then, if they won't call you back for your upmost incompetence, we will get you into your position. Did you understand?"
  14149. >Nope, you can't go with that plan
  14150. >That's where quiet steps forces both of you to look at the source
  14151. >Light Breeze joins you without a word
  14152. >She comes to your side, stealing only a peek at the other purple mare
  14153. >Her face undisturbed and neutral, and she holds something out for you
  14154. >It's a bottle of water and you accept it
  14155. >Aah, you didn't know how dehydrated you were!
  14156. >The other Twilight Sparkle slowly smiles and pulls a hoof out to Light Breeze who imperceptibly looks up to you as if to ask a silent question
  14157. >Too bad you're emptying the bottle
  14158. >"Hello. We haven't met yet. My name is-"
  14159. >The rest of the water which you didn't manage to swallow ends up on a wall of lockers in front of you
  14160. >A quick slap to her stretched hoof is all it takes for to get into a defensive position
  14161. >Her head low, the horn pointed at your throat, legs straight and spread
  14162. >"Now you've done it. I will make sure to write everything in detail. Everything."
  14163. >She growls and threatens you with what, it seems, would make her shake her flanks in fear
  14164. >Unless, she means she will write about Light Breeze helping you
  14165. >Pfft!
  14166. >Didn't you already accept this risk?
  14167. >Sure, your buddy, your pal, your amigo doesn't know exactly what you two are against, but she herself understand she may lose a hoof and a mane
  14168. >Speaking of which, Light Breeze stands closer to your side and leans in to look down at the purple unicorn, before she speaks. "Then write it too in your report. Bitch."
  14169. >Oof
  14170. >Your wide eyes serve enough of a cue for her to rose her cheeks, again
  14171. >It becomes a pattern
  14172. >She looks down between her legs, and fixes her beanie hat
  14173. >"Because, you know," this time her voice half the volume than before, "that's a female diamond dog, and you're barking right now."
  14174. >Both of your purple pair of flanks stay silent
  14175. >You manage not to do as much as snicker
  14176. >What will the other mare do?
  14177. >You prepare your hind legs to pounce, but the field agent Twilight Sparkle coughs and pull up her head, dropping from the battle stance
  14178. >Her snout is as high as neck allows
  14179. >"We are going, Twilight Sparkle."
  14180. >She takes couple steps away towards the door, is all
  14181. >Still visible and in ear-shot, she turns away and scowls
  14182. >"Say your thanks to your friend and we're on our way. Alone."
  14183. >Light Breeze's worried leg shuffling becomes distinct for you
  14184. >You look between two mares and think what to do
  14185. A - ditch Light Breeze and go with Twilight Sparkle
  14186. B - stay with Light Breeze and say goodbye to Twilight Sparkle
  14187. and/or
  14188. Y - pantomime to Light Breeze to follow you two / follow Twilight Sparkle, the field agent, from the shadows
  14189. X - go to the central elevator and return to the lower canterlot
  14190. Z - find a place in upper canterlot to discuss the newest information with Light Breeze before doing anything else
  14191. YXX
  14192.  
  14193. "Yeah... no. Change of plans. We gotta go."
  14194. >You state matter-o-factly and clash your flank with Light Breeze's own one
  14195. >It prompts her to drop the air of uncertainty and to follow you which only proves she gets your intention
  14196. >Because you step forward and close to the now stunned field agent Twilight Sparkle
  14197. >The non-understanding in her eyes quickly dims and makes place for fires of anger
  14198. >Can you just withdraw and leave that purple disaster in making alone?
  14199. >Probably not, but the real question is will she do the same to you?
  14200. >Her lips pucker; other than that, the face becomes void of any expression
  14201. >The only betraying act is done by her ears; they stand up tall and focused on you and only you
  14202. >Or not
  14203. >Hooves of your friend echoes through the hall
  14204. >She is doing it on purpose
  14205. >The flickering of Twilight Sparkle's ears indicates something you did not quite expect
  14206. >Her sense of danger kicked in
  14207. >Which to you does make some sense
  14208. >To think she was unlucky to met a 'rookie' agent of the citadel that required her assistance was enough to make her field agent mad, but to witness said 'rookie' to act on her own must have activated her anti-trap card
  14209. >The hair on your neck raise the nearer to her you get
  14210. >The feeling is clearly shared by Light Breeze who as if on a command joins your side
  14211. >This sight, by all means of literature old and new, can't be reassuring to the field agent
  14212. >You're not in Citadel's shared quarters, though, and the last you need is to get stabbed with a horn
  14213. >Not that it would be any different back in that time when the new batch of girls, including you, found out they all share exact same interests in-
  14214. >The memory brings in the smell and a shudder runs down your spine
  14215. >Twilight Sparkle, with well practiced movement, imperceptibly lowers her position into a defensive stance
  14216. >And then ducks her head an entire hoof down to double the measures, throwing away any signs of hidden purpose
  14217. >Light Breeze step quickens
  14218. >You push her to the side and-
  14219. >That's when you finally reach her, or rather, make a pretty letter "C", avoiding her completely in a safe distance of one Twilight Sparkle stab-pounce
  14220. >She blinks in surprise
  14221. >You're, too, a Twilight Sparkle, and, although you don't have rich field experience, you can tell the distance by your body parameters
  14222. >In the end, it's one of the most first things a pretty purple pony learns at the purple keep in the Twilight Sparkle citadel
  14223. >Your friend quietly gasp at the sudden contact
  14224. >"What? Aren't we going to trample her?"
  14225. >You shake your head, and she goes through the exit door
  14226. >One last glance passed into the insides provide you with a view of four or so ponies, all of them looking at you in silent awe, and one very confused you, uneasy about what the future brings
  14227. >A report about the event
  14228. >And a quick one
  14229. >You leave the building and make sure no pony follows you
  14230. >…
  14231. >The sky is even darker now, and with how close the clouds get to the higher floors of the sky scrappers, it threatens to consume them and never give back
  14232. >Even less ponies are on the unnaturally spacious streets of upper canterlot
  14233. >Maybe this city looks different at day, but at night, calling it anything but a ghost town is blunder
  14234. >The few inhabitants leisurely walk to the scarce open businesses and then munch on way to the elevators or take a sit on benches next to multiple, small, delicious looking grass patches
  14235. >You touch them and stones laying here and there with a hoof
  14236. >Of course, they are made of fiber-plastic
  14237. >It doesn't make them look any less edible
  14238. >Although, the stones feel real
  14239. >"Come on. We better go. Before your friend turn out send ponies after us."
  14240. >These are her first words since you left the malfunctioning transport station ten minutes ago
  14241. >Is she angry with you?
  14242. >You don't get to indulge in your monologue as she prevents you with "So, what did you learn?"
  14243. >She deserves the truth
  14244. "That co-worker returned to work for the company."
  14245. >Her consternation forces you to quickly add
  14246. "No biggie, she didn't recognize me, nor she knew I left."
  14247. >Her cheeks puffs
  14248. >"I figured as much. From what I've seen she wouldn't let us go without a fuss. Even with that, she was expectant of us charging her without any provocation."
  14249. "And you tried to take a unicorn in lowered stance by frontal tackle. That doesn't sound a pleasuring experience."
  14250. >She exhales with an uncontrollable whinny
  14251. >"Yeah, well, sorry about that. I kind of panicked."
  14252. >That could easily end her up in horse-spital
  14253. "I may not show it, but I'm relieved you did not turn yourself in a mare-skewer."
  14254. >"Oh, stop it, you."
  14255. >She boops your chest
  14256. >Due to all the stuff packed here and superior unicorn fluff you feel nothing
  14257. "Like, I see myself coming to visit you in the hospital, and I don't doubt you would want me to come as often as possible, but-"
  14258. >"I wouldn't mind you to come to me…"
  14259. >Aaand that concludes the poking fun at her expense
  14260. >Burning in your face doesn't stop you to look at her
  14261. >Her mouth tightly shut, eyes widely open, cheeks blue, with extremely noticeable tint of rose hue
  14262. >If it were not a real life, but a fantasy, you could say the same status applies to you, except you're purple, hence not so easy to spot embarrassment
  14263. >Which you're not
  14264. >No sir
  14265. >A couching fit is your solution to the awkward silence
  14266. >At least it's dark, so no one can tell how fake it sounds like
  14267. >"Ah, yes, I, too, have had have had had something in my throat," she says, then snorts.
  14268. >What
  14269. "What."
  14270. >She stays silent
  14271. >Oh, that was an attempt of hers to defuse the saucy situation
  14272. >Cool, cool
  14273. >She almost made the spaghetti untangle
  14274. >Almost
  14275. >After a while, you continue
  14276. "Other than her returning to the company, we learnt nothing."
  14277. >Your voice isn't heavy with hoarse, throaty groan
  14278. >Nope, it is not
  14279. >"At least we retrieved the item. Maybe somepony will have any idea what to do with it. Speaking of which. I still have the foiled brick. Do you want it back now, or what?"
  14280. "It seems to be safe with you at the moment. I would not exchange it in such an open space, in case somepony really follows us."
  14281. >"I think no pony does."
  14282. >Indeed, you deployed best Twilight Sparkle counter measures invented by the purplest of brains
  14283. >You suddenly turns your head back, jabbed a hoof in the air in and exclaimed "Aha!"
  14284. >One hundred percent of sneaking ponies fall for this classic move
  14285. >"Did she know what it is?"
  14286. >Uh
  14287. >Ah, the brick
  14288. "No. Didn't even mention it once she started to berate me for being in the wrong field area."
  14289. >"Oh, she did?"
  14290. "Yes, she feared being exposed as a-"
  14291. >As a what
  14292. "-as a one of them."
  14293. >Light Breeze shakes her head and fix her beige beanie hat
  14294. >Wait, was it beige all the time?
  14295. >Yours gray, so…
  14296. >Uhhh
  14297. >"Why do you think she fears her identity being known? What does your ex-company really do it's so dangerous?"
  14298. >If you could tell her, you would
  14299. >No, no, you can, just, not now
  14300. >In due time
  14301. >Or whatever
  14302. >You sigh
  14303. "They do meddle with many industries to get them to do what they want."
  14304. >"That doesn't sound much like a crime activity, unless they do it by illegal methods."
  14305. >Is using superior carton-tech illegal?
  14306. "No, you don't understand. They corrupt the politics."
  14307. >That sinks in as you finally see the central elevator rotund
  14308. >"Ok, and?"
  14309. >She motion for you to speak, but nothing comes to your mind, so you shrug
  14310. >"Every big enough company tries to purchase politicians if they can't raise their own. That's how things always been."
  14311. "Not on such a scale."
  14312. >"I can't tell how big your ex-stable is, and I believe you it's gigantic, but things are not that easy in canterlot, well, at least the lower canterlot. Up here is not enough ponies to get swing by one politician campaign. Which is weird for its own reasons."
  14313. >"But the lower canterlot would explode in a perpetual state of chaos, a full fledged turf war, if it was proven the canterlot council or the major major major mare sit in the pocket of a company."
  14314. >The ma-
  14315. >What in the heck
  14316. >"Don't get weirded out. You know they do, but there's a difference between being bribed by many lobbies, often contradicting one another in goals, and doing what one party says."
  14317. "Are you saying it wouldn't be about the truth, justice, social health ideal, but-"
  14318. >"Other corporations would wreck havoc on the flanks of the legislature monopolist, yes. That would cause many casualties among common ponies, especially "
  14319. >You stop
  14320. >That's…
  14321. >You did not have to come here to get to know this!
  14322. >All it took was to talk to Light Breeze about stuff a bit more sincere
  14323. >A hoof-face is not enough
  14324. >A double hoof-face seems to be just it
  14325. >"Oi."
  14326. "I know, I know. It's just. Eh."
  14327. >You groan one of the fattest ones ever witnessed by pony kind of royal purple coloration
  14328. >Raising eyes to the sky proves it being as much an unpiercable cover as before
  14329. >No blessing of sudden revelation other than the current
  14330. >You can compromise the citadel by disclosing the very existence of yourself to the public opinion
  14331. >Would it not be enough to make ponies of canterlot realize they are being played like a fiddle?
  14332. >Hard to say
  14333. >According to Light Breeze, probably
  14334. >How would she react?
  14335. >Right now she dons a warm, if not worried, smile, and patting your back in a comforting manner
  14336. >Well, if it isn't nice
  14337. >You will have to reveal the truth to her sooner or later
  14338. >She deserves it for all what she did
  14339. >No, she deserves it by the matter of principle
  14340. >How she helped you only proves you being a rather poor friend and a pony in general
  14341. >On the other hoof, ff you show the truth about the citadel the common lower canterlot folk riot to get all the purple agents out of commission you could have your revenge
  14342. >And revenge only
  14343. >No chance to get back to your simple life at Ponyville
  14344. >Frankly speaking, you're not sure you are capable of it
  14345. >Ignorance is a bliss...
  14346. >Saving the lives of innocent ponies is a big plus, but is that your goal?
  14347. >Is that who you are? Who you want to be?
  14348. >And saving lives? Won't the ponies go on a witch hunt?
  14349. >They will, they always do
  14350. >Ponies are riot
  14351. >You have a triumph card in your mane
  14352. >You can contact the citadel and blackmail them!
  14353. >They could take you back to your Equestria!
  14354. >However... no, they won't
  14355. >Sure, they could say they will and then lure you into the citadel defenseless, and do with you as they please
  14356. >Turning you into a bre-
  14357. >Bread mare, bread!
  14358. >For sure!
  14359. >You're too young and smart to be a baker!
  14360. >The heavy patting assault somewhat slows down the train of thoughts before it can derail in the platform
  14361. >Because of them you are where you are
  14362. >The citadel cannot be trusted, not now, not ever
  14363. "You know, I wasn't sure was this visit a total waste of time, but now I can tell with a leg on my heart, it wasn't."
  14364. >"What made you think it was?"
  14365. "The always helpful police, for one."
  14366. >Oh, look, you two remember how to laugh
  14367. >The ponies being countable on a pony's of legs cast their tired glances at you
  14368. >These are wearing more work-clothes than any party-like
  14369. >You both return to walk, you place a leg on the withers and pulls her close, eliciting a sweet giggle out of her
  14370. >That sound is a honey for your ears
  14371. >"Come on, I thought you're not a fan of horsing around."
  14372. "Filly please. You're on any mention of so called 'fun' just as red as me."
  14373. >More adorable nickering follows
  14374. >You two sneak inside the elevator premises, being wary for possible police patrols
  14375. >None is in the perimeter
  14376. >The wait for the elevator is short
  14377. >Only two exit, and around two dozens enter
  14378. >Most of them alone, with ears splayed flat
  14379. >The big door closes from left and right, until they meet in the middle
  14380. >Air gush rustles your hat
  14381. >A quick hoof to your head proves the ear on its own isn't getting any better
  14382. >You grab for your upper canterlot passport, but no pony else is doing it
  14383. >No doubt, the state of your ear will have to be dealt with if you plan to not wear a hat in any foreseeable future
  14384. >Light Breeze sees your commotion and pantomimes grabbing your ear and bitting it off
  14385. >Your jaw hangs low and she rolls her eyes filled with amusement
  14386. >You're pretty fortunate the light turns off
  14387. >No pony can see how red on face you are
  14388. >Soon, the gigantic plate slides down the glass tube
  14389. >After the initial pitch of blackness, the panorama of the lower canterlot shows up before your eyes
  14390. >Once again, the sight knocks air out of your breast
  14391. >From up there, the city doesn't look that big, an ant nest at best, but you know, back up close, it will be a gigantic monument to these ponies will to live
  14392. >It's so different from the upper canterlot, and no expectation about the place above turned out to be true
  14393. >The first sky scrappers gets in the way to spot the farthest parts of the city, near the canterlot dome radius and the safety zone next to it
  14394. >You spot a few different elevators, now that you know what to look for, but none of them as grand as the one delivering you back to your city
  14395. >"What are we going to do?"
  14396. >Light Breeze asks to your left, once the sight gets completely tunneled out and the mass of colors on the lower canterlot 'plate' becomes recognizable as equine beings, and not sinuous serpents of colors
  14397. >What do you want from this life?
  14398. >For yourself and others?
  14399. >And what is achievable?
  14400. >You look one last time at the sea of ponies before the elevator reaches the only destination
  14401. >Before the door opens you wait in dark
  14402. >It's a bit early to say what do you want to do with newfound knowledge, but it's just the perfect time to decide your next step
  14403. >Who are you going to for help?
  14404. A - meet Chalk at the Mafia Mane Cafe
  14405. B - meet Kar at the Hive Dungeon
  14406. Y - meet no one in particular at the Cyber Barn
  14407. X - meet Scootaloo around the Cyber Barn
  14408. Z - meet Rarity and maybe Coco at their place
  14409. C - meet Applejack and Pear Bottom... no, Pear Bosom, at the Magical Mango Grove
  14410. D - meet the free Twilight Sparkle society under the old Hoof Factory
  14411. E - [what else?]
  14412. F - tell Light Breeze the truth

CYOA Twilight Sparkle

by Fapman