> The Ballad of Rainbow Dash
>  by Ron Jeremy Pony
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Prologue
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

GTA: The Ballad of Rainbow Dash

(Penthouse on Xenotime Street North Holland – Bedroom)

Dash moaned slightly as she scooted close to Niko.  He never pushed for her to do anything, or be anything she didn’t want to be.  He understood that she had no idea of how this world worked, and had offered her a place to stay until she certain she could make a stand on her own.  The first night she slept on the bed while he took the couch, but the following night she slept closer to where he was.  Finally after two weeks she wanted to share a bed with him.

It wasn’t that she was completely foreign to the idea of sex.  The act itself is something any creature has some basic knowledge about, but she had no idea of how much closer it would make her feel to him.  She already felt connected to Niko because he had saved her life, but now he was just as much a part of it as any other piece of her existence.  She felt the soft touch of his hand on her bare stomach and it brought both a feeling of excitement and peace.  He shifted closer to her and she could feel his hot breath on the back of her neck.

“Thank you,” she said.

She didn’t expect an answer.  He was sleeping, far away in a land where even the worst of his memories couldn’t bother him, or at least that was what Twilight had once said.  Things had changed since then though.  She wasn’t sure if anything Twilight had ever said was really true, or just quotations coming from Princess Celestia.  

“You don’t have to thank me,” a sleepy voice answered.

She turned in the bed and looked at Niko.  His eyes was still closed, but there was a ghost of a smile on his face.  She grinned and nuzzled against his neck for a moment.  She inhaled his sent as she did and couldn’t get over how much she liked it.  There was a sort of solidified sadness that simply rolled off of him.  For almost anyone else in all of Equestria it would have been off putting, but she simply found it intoxicating.

“Yes, yes I do.  I would be dead now if it wasn’t for you,” she answered.

“Perhaps, but I don’t feel right taking thanks for doing something anyone would have done,” he replied.

She shook her head and studied him.  Another one of his infuriating and wonderful traits was his modesty.  He didn’t see himself as a hero, and in truth she knew he really wasn’t.  It didn’t take super smart Pony, or Person as she was beginning to learn to call herself, to realize he didn’t operate on the right side of the law.  

“What are you doing tomorrow?” she asked.

“Packie and I are going to do a few errands in Bohan,” he answered.

“I want to help,” she replied.

“This is something you shouldn’t become part of.  Believe me it is better if you don’t get into this part of my world,” he said.
“You don’t think that I could be of help?” she asked.

“I didn’t say that,” he answered.

“Then take me along.  I want to learn, and I want to help.  I don’t want to just be a house pon…  girl,” she replied.

(McReary House – Dukes)

Dash smirked as she parked Niko’s Dukes next to the curb.  It had been hard convincing him to let her drive, but when he finally gave in she showed him what Mallorie had taught her.  Niko had his hands firmly latched onto the dashboard of the car and looked at her with an expression of awe and terror.

“Who taught you to drive like that?!” he exclaimed.

“Mallorie, she said that you have to be aggressive in this city to get around,” Dash explained.

“Aggressive yes, suicidal, no,” Niko said.

She stuck her tongue out at him and honked the horn.  A moment later Packie ran out and looked at them both.  He gave a glance to Niko who simply shrugged his shoulders and stepped out of the car.  Packie crawled into the back and took the entire rear seat to himself.

“I’m guessing that Niko filled you in on our jobs, right?” Packie asked.

“He didn’t want to, but when I told him what I thought it might be he let me know all of it.  I think that you can call this my on the job training,” she said as Niko crawled back into the car.

“On the Job training.  I think I like that.  All right, but this isn’t the kind of training where if you fuck up you get shit canned.  This is the kind where if you fuck up you’re dead, and you might take us with you.  So listen to both of us, and don’t fuck up,” Packie said.
“She’ll be fine,” Niko stated.

“Look, Niko, Dash, I know that the two of you are most likely banging the hell out of each other.  That’s fine, but I don’t want you to get into something because he’s thinking with his dick,” Packie said.

“I’m not, and I wouldn’t the be the first to do so,” Niko said.

“Granted,” Packie said.

“Okay, now that we got the warning out of the way where are we headed exactly?” Dash asked.

“An old friend of ours just got a get out of jail free card given to her.  She’s got a major line on some product, and we’re going to help deliver it,” Packie said.

“Old friend?  Elizabeta got out of jail?” Niko asked.

“Yeah, apparently one of her crew on the outside had some dirt Bryce Dawkings, and since he became the governor it would look pretty bad for it to come to light.  Old Bryce ended up giving her complete and total amnesty for whatever it was they had,” Packie answered.

“What kind of job does she want us to do?” Dash asked.

“She was a little sketchy on the details, but she said the payout was huge,” Packie answered.

(Elizabeta’s apartment – South Bohan)

Packie walked toward the door and knocked.  A moment later the door flew open and an overweight Puerto Rican  woman stood there holding a 9mm Glock on him.

“Where you followed?!” she exclaimed.

“Damn woman!  No, we weren’t followed!” he shouted.

She breathed a sigh and walked toward the couch.  He walked inside followed by Niko and Dash.  She turned toward them and looked at the newcomer.

“Who’s she?” Elizabeta asked.

“I just joined up a few weeks ago,” she answered.

“She’s fine,” Niko said.

“Okay, okay…  If Niko says you’re Okay then that’s good enough, for now,” she said as she picked up a rolled twenty dollar bill and sniffed a line of chalk.

“Look, one of my connections said the cops are getting ready to go through their evidence warehouses.  There’s tons of product there, along with massive amounts of cash, weapons, and damned near anything else we could want.  That same contact said they are so busy trying to get through all of it they’re not even really checking badge numbers.  If someone has a uniform they can get inside,” she said.

“Great, only we don’t have uniforms,” Niko replied.

“It won’t take much to get one.  Jump a couple of cops, take their uniforms, and roll over to the Police Station in Broker.  Once there see if you can take a Stoackade.  It should be big enough on the inside to load up a lot of product.  Once you get the Stoackade head over to the Police Warehouse and load up,” she said.

“You really think it will be that easy?” Niko asked.

“My contact told me that these guys have been working in sixteen hour shifts.  They will be more than glad to take a couple hours off if someone is willing to take their place.  Let them leave, then load it up,” Elizabeta replied.

“What the hell.  If nothing else it’ll be fun,” Packie said.

“I think your definition of fun is different than mine,” Niko replied.

The three of them turned and walked out of the apartment.

“So, should we call the cops and report something going on?” Dash asked.

“Good idea,” Niko replied.

They walked toward the street and he dialed 911.  Once he reported a domestic disturbance a cop car came into view and two officers, a male and female, stepped out.

“Someone called the police?” the woman asked.

“Yeah, nighty-night,” Packie said as he slammed the butt of his pistol into the back of the male officer’s head.  The female officer turned and aimed her gun, but Dash caught her in the back of the head with a piece of brick she picked up.
They dragged the two of them behind a cinder block wall and laid them down next to each other.

“All right, lets strip these two down,” Packie said.

They began to change into the clothes and Packie groaned as he tossed Niko the officer’s clothes.

“They won’t fit,” he said.

Niko smiled and changed into the clothes finding them to be tight, but not so much he couldn’t fit into them.  He turned to see Dash finishing buttoning up the shirt and looking at the uniform.

“I don’t think she ever took this thing to the laundry,” she said as she wrinkled her nose.

“Don’t get bent out of shape over it.  Well, since I don’t have a uniform that means you’re going to have to take me in.  It shouldn’t be that hard to get into the back lot with me, but remember to take me with you,” Packie said.

“Sure, sure,” Niko replied.

> Chapter 2: Candy Shop
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

GTA: The Ballad of Rainbow Dash

Chapter 2: Candy Shop

“I'll take you to the candy shop
I'll let you lick the lollipop
Go 'head girl, don't you stop
Keep going 'til you hit the spot (woah)” 50 cent

(Police Station – Broker – Gate to the Back Lot)

Niko pulled up near the gated entrance and waited for a moment while the two officers in charge of watching it talked.  Finally he honked his horn and watched as one of them looked toward the car, looked back at his friend, and continued to talk.  He started to honk the horn again when Dash rolled down her window and leaned out of it.

“Look, I don’t know about you two, but we’ve got places to be,” she said.

The officer walked toward the guard shed, reached in, and pushed something.  When he did the gate opened and he made a grand gesture for them to go inside.  She shook her head and looked at Niko who was studying the parking yard.

“Looks like we have a couple of choices,” Packie said from the back.

“Yes, but when have things ever gone this easy for us before?” Niko asked.

“Good point.  Normally around now Derrick, or some asshole, would be screwing everything up for us nice and proper,” Packie replied.

“Let’s just grab one of the Stockades, and if at all possible let’s not end up on the inside of this place,” Niko said.

The three of them walked over toward the nearest Stockade and climbed inside.  Dash took a seat beside Niko as Packie made his way into the back of the Stockade itself.  A moment later he laughed.

“What’s so funny?” Niko asked.

“Looks like the police left us a little present in here.  There’s at least two full gun and ammo lockers,” Packie said.

“Good, keep track of it.  If this job gets difficult we may need it,” Niko said.

He looked around the inside of the large truck for a moment, but there wasn’t any evidence of a key.  Instead he broke the ignition switch, pulled it out, and pulled the tumbler identifier off of it.  He then pushed it back in and turned it over.  The large armored truck rumbled to life and the three of them began to pull out of the lot.  They stopped right before the gate and watched as a different police officer walked up toward the Stockade.

“Taking out the Stockade? You need to be careful, it’s breaks haven’t been changed,” the officer said.

“Thanks, in truth we’re just wanting to cruise around in it a little bit.  Don’t see why the N.O.O.S.E. boys should have all of the fun,” Dash said.

The officer laughed and waved them through.

“Good handling of the situation.  Okay, Niko my boy, When we get there I’ll stay in the back.  It wouldn’t look good for a civilian to go waltzing into the warehouse.  Just back the truck into the garage area, and I’ll be ready to help you guys load it on when you open the doors,” Packie said as he sat on one of the benches.

“You really think we’re going to get enough product out of there?” Niko asked.

“There’s quite a bit of room back here, plus at least four lockers are empty.  We can fill them, then fill the other space.  It should be enough chalk and other illicits to keep her busy for a while,” Packie replied.

Niko raised his hand, and turned into the police warehouse off of Erie Ave.  Packie crawled into the back Dash waited as Niko backed the truck up to one of the large loading doors.  He stopped and crawled out with Dash.  A moment later two tired looking cops came out of a side door.

“Oh… Oh thank God.  I thought that they forgot all about us,” one of them said.

“No, we got told to come over and relieve you guys,” Dash replied.

“Good, look, we’re almost through cataloging the stuff.  Basically all that’s really left is the three shipments of SPANK that was caught in transport.  Once that’s catalogued the stuff can be moved, and I bet they have you guys do it too,” the other one said as the two officers turned to leave.

“Thanks a lot officer,” Niko said as he waited for them to leave.

The both of them walked inside and Niko found the switch to open the garage door.  He walked back outside and got into the Stockade and backed it into the warehouse.  Once it was inside he closed the door and walked toward the back of the truck.  Packie stepped out and looked at the both of them.

“Looks like we have the candy shop all to ourselves,” he said.

“You know, I’d think that they would have better security than this,” Dash said as she helped Niko go down the catalogue list.
“Don’t jinx it girl.  We’re getting a pretty sweet deal here, and to be honest it’s not often we get something so easy our way,” Packie said.

“She has a point.  There were only two cops, and I doubt that even the police in this city would leave this place unguarded,” Niko said.

“So?  Look, we hurry, find the stuff, load the stuff, and get the fuck out of Dodge.  I don’t see what the fucking problem is,” Packie said.

“I'll take you to the candy shop, boy one taste of what I got, I'll have you spending all you got, keep going 'til you hit the spot,” a female voice sang from down the hall.

“Fuck…  You jinxed it,” Packie said as he pulled his gun and waited.

A moment later a short haired blond woman walked around the corner.  She bent over and picked up a file that fell out of her hands and stood up straight.  For a moment it appeared like she was going to just walk past them, but then she stopped and looked at Niko.

“Niko?  NIKO!  OH MY GOD!  It’s so awesome to see you!  Did you join the police? Who the hell is this another one of your whores?  God, no wonder I dumped your ass.  You know…  This looks a little suspicious to me,” she said as she began to back up.
“Kiki, we’re just here to finish cataloguing the inventory, and prep it for transport.  What are you doing in a police warehouse anyway?  I thought you were doing pro bono work,” Niko replied.

“I am…  I’m just here doing a little research for my current case.  I’m friends with the warehouse night manager and he pulled some strings,” she said.

“Friends or friends with benefits,” Packie said with a snicker.

“Hey!  I resent that implication!” she exclaimed

“Yeah, well look, we’re busy,” Packie said.

“Don’t…  Don’t I know you?” she asked.

Before another word could be said Dash walked toward her and turned her around hard pushing her into the shelving.  Kiki gasped as Dash cuffed her hands.

“Look, bitch, what I may or may not be doing with my fellow officer is my business.  Besides that we’re here doing official police business and you’re getting in the way.  I’ve got every mind to take your ass downtown and let the inmates run a fucking train on you for hours.  Then again a bitch like you might like that kind of shit,” Dash said with a sneer.

“Please…  Look I’m sorry.  I… I just freaked out when I saw Niko…” she said with a whimper.

“Hey, why don’t I take her out of here and get her a drink.  I’m not really dressed to be in here anyway, and you two can go ahead and get started.  I’ll be back in a little bit,” Packie said.

“Wait…” Dash said.

Niko shook his head and looked at Packie.

“Yeah, sounds like a good idea.  Maybe she would like something to eat,” Niko suggested.

Packie reached his hand out to Niko who handed him a set of cuff keys from the uniform he was wearing.  A moment later Packie walked out of the door with Kiki.  Dash turned toward him and glared at him.

“What the hell was that?!” she exclaimed.

“We can’t threaten her.  It’s empty threats and if we didn’t get her out of here there’s a good chance we would have to kill her.  I’d rather not,” Niko said.

“What about Packie?” she asked.

“If I know Kiki she’s going to be falling in love with him before they get to the restaurant,” he said.

Dash shook her head and helped him look through the list.  A few moments later they found the locations for everything Elizabeta wanted.  The two of them began loading it up into the Stockade.  Over an hour and a half later Packie came walking into the warehouse.  He looked at Niko and shook his head.

“Damn…” he said.

“I know.  You think she’s going to talk?” Niko asked.

“Naw, she wants to date though.  I told her I didn’t mind,” he said.

“Good luck with that,” Niko said with a grin.

“Glad to have you back.  Now, how about you help us load this shit,” Dash said as she pushed a dolly loaded down with several cardboard boxes.

After another hour the three of them climbed into the Stockade.  Niko opened the warehouse door and they pulled out.  It seemed almost too perfect.  The job was practically done, and they hadn’t run into any police trouble.  He let out a small content sigh, and moments later a hail of gun fire ripped into the driver side door.  He jumped, and felt some relief that the Stockade was bullet proof.  
He looked out on the driver’s side to see several of the men who had worked for Mikhail Faustin closing in on them.  He gunned the truck and ran two of them over only to have more bullets ping against the reinforced steel plating of the armored truck.
“Shit!  Packie, did anyone else know about this job?!” Niko exclaimed.

“Fuck, just my brother Derrick.  Oh, fuck.  I bet the fucker told his bookie about it.  Shit, man.  I’m going to kick his ass!” Packie yelled.

“You’ll have to get in line!” Dash screamed as she rolled down her window and unleashed a torrent of hot death toward the group following them.

“Fuck Niko lose them!” Packie yelled.

“What do you think I’m doing?!  This thing isn’t built for speed!” he yelled.

They turned a corner and both smaller cars easily maneuvered closer to them.  Niko slammed on the breaks causing one of them to ram into the back end of the Stockade.  He then gunned it trying to put a little distance from them.  The other car pulled around the one that had hit the Stockade and tried to get closer to him.  Niko waited until they moved toward the front and slammed hard into the side of the car.  He watched as it hit a parked car and kept going.  A moment later it was back behind them, and the one that had hit the Stockade seemed to have finally got to moving.

“Woah!  I found something to even the score a little bit!” Packie shouted.

Niko looked into the review mirror and watched as Packie opened the back doors and stood with a grenade launcher.  He fired the first shot and it went between both cars.  The second shot caught the car on the left and it exploded into mangled mess of metal and rubber.  The other car opened fire again, but Packie unleashed another bark from the grenade launcher and Niko watched as the car erupted into the same state as the other one.  He wiped his forehead and drove toward the meeting place Elizabeta told them about.

He pulled into the ruins of the mechanic shop Mr. Faustin had him destroy four years ago and saw Elizabeta standing there. 
“So, how did we do?  You got everything?” she asked.

“Yeah, looks like there’s enough snow in here to give you a few Christmases,” Packie answered.

“Good, hey, if you want to earn a little more let me know.  I’m going to need some help delivering this stuff,” she said.
“Not a problem,” Niko said.

She smiled and counted out their pay.  After she paid them a couple of her boys began loading the stuff into an old U’re Load Mule.  Niko grinned and walked outside with Packie and Dash.

“Well, it was fun,” Packie said.

He began to walk off.  Before Niko could say a word Dash elbowed him in the ribs.
“What?” he asked.

“What?  This is what you’ve been doing and you wanted me to stay out of it.  Hell, this was fun!” she exclaimed before she kissed him.

He smiled and called Roman.  A few moments later a cab picked them up and took them back toward Elizabeta’s apartment so they could pick up his Dukes.  Once there he shook his head and handed Dash the keys.

> Chapter 3 When the Man Comes Around
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

GTA: The Ballad of Rainbow Dash

Chapter 3: The Man Comes Around

“There's a man goin' 'round takin' names,
And he decides who to free and who to blame.
Everybody won't be treated all the same,
There'll be a golden ladder reachin' down.
When the man comes around.

The hairs on your arm will stand up,
At the terror in each sip and in each sup.
Will you partake of that last offered cup,
Or disappear into the potter's ground?
When the man comes around.” Johnny Cash

(Niko and Dash’s Apartment – two weeks later)

Dash groaned as she got out of bed.  The morning sucked, getting up sucked, and not lying next to a warm Niko sucked.  Instead she was finding herself in the kitchen making some instant coffee.  Niko had a coffee machine, and he did buy some gourmet coffee, but she was happy with some Taster’s Choice.  Well, not really happy, but to be honest she wasn’t going to go through the trouble of making an entire pot of coffee.  She finished her cup of the freeze-dried caffeine breakfast and looked out the patio door.  The penthouse was nice.  Granted it wasn’t as nice as the one Roman and Mallory had, but then she didn’t want all of the little decorative things that Mallory seemed to love hanging around in her home. 

“Morning,” Niko said as he shuffled into the room.

“It’s a little cold today,” she replied.

“It’s winter, although this isn’t cold.  Trust me, I’ve seen cold before,” he said.

He seemed to search around for a moment before shrugging his shoulders and letting out a slight groan.
“Feel like going to Panties?” he asked.

She laughed at the question.  It was the name of the little breakfast place a couple of blocks up the road from them, but the name was terrible.

“Sure, I could use a small stack,” she said as she walked toward the bedroom, “Are you wearing that?” she asked.

“What’s wrong with it?” he asked.

“Well, for one you’re missing pants, and two, your boxers aren’t really covering everything up,” she replied.

He looked down and realized that he had pulled on a shirt, a pair of boxers, but he hadn’t grabbed a pair of pants.  Grumbling he walked back toward the bedroom and found a pair of stonewashed jeans.  He quickly pulled them on, and Dash stopped for a moment as he pulled the jeans up over a large bruise.  It had happened yesterday.  Some jerk with an attitude had jumped Niko and hit him in the back of the leg with a baseball bat.  She had jumped him from behind and Niko hit the jerk in the throat.
It was obvious the bruise was still tender.  She walked toward him and gently touched his shoulder.

“If you want to hang out here I can go and bring it back,” she said.

He shook his head and finished getting dressed.  They took the elevator down to the ground floor and walked out to see the Dukes still sitting there. She walked toward the driver’s side and got in.  He didn’t even have time to complain before she had it started, jerked it into gear, and peeled out into the street.

She drove hard toward the small breakfast restaurant.  It was a nice place, quiet, peaceful, and usually the folks that owned it didn’t really seem to care about who ate there.  She pulled up to it to see something odd.  There was three sentinels parked outside, and from the inside a man was shouting.

“What do you think it is?” she asked.

“Protection,” Niko remarked.

She closed her eyes and growled.  Celestia damn it she wanted a quiet breakfast.  All she wanted was a little time to spend with Niko and eat a short stack with lots of butter.  She looked over at Niko who was already checking to make sure that his pistol had a full clip in it.

“I’m not going to argue.  It wouldn’t matter anyway,” he said.

She grinned.  He was right.  It wouldn’t matter.  She would insist that they go inside and take care of this.  Whoever this was they had already ruined the mood she wanted for her breakfast, and now they were going to leave, or she was going to make them leave.
“Let’s go,” she said.

The doors opened to a view that she had seen a few times before.  The two owners of Panties were huddled together as two men aimed their guns at them.  The sound of glass being smashed, pots and pans being thrown, and other noises erupted from behind them in the kitchen.

“Please, why are you doing this?” the older woman asked.

“You didn’t pay all of your protection costs,” one of the guys said.

They looked toward Dash as she cocked her revolver.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” one of them asked.

“I came to eat pancakes or kick ass. I don’t see any pancakes,” she answered.

Before he could say another thing she fired shooting his hand and causing the gun to be knocked away.  Niko quickly fired on the other man standing there making him fall backward with a leg wound.  He shot him once more and they waited as the door to the kitchen opened with four men standing there.

She had expected them to be smarter than what it appeared they were.  Instead of having guns drawn they were holding baseball bats.  One of them took a step toward her and found himself on the floor holding his knee.  The other three stepped back.
“Get your friends and get out of here,” Niko said.

The gathered up the other three and made their way out.

“We’ll be back,” one of them said.

The door closed and the couple got up.  The old woman came toward Dash and placed a withered hand on her shoulder.

“Thank you.  Those sons of bitches have been bleeding us dry for months now,” she said.

“It’s fine, but how about a little breakfast?” she asked.

The old woman nodded and pointed toward a table that hadn’t been thrown over and they walked toward it.  They took a seat and Niko looked at the old woman as she started to walk back.

“Wait, you said that they’ve been bleeding you dry for months right?” he asked.

“Yes, and the last two months we’ve been changing how much we’ve taken in.  To be honest my husband and I like working here, but neither of us want this kind of headache anymore.  He’s been looking for someone to buy the place,” she said.

“Niko, what are you thinking?” Dash asked.

“Roman has been talking about owning a restaurant,” he said.

“I think that Harold said he wanted a hundred and fifty thousand.  We want enough to break even and that’s it,” she said.
Dash looked at the older woman and then at Niko.  She could already tell what he was thinking.  It would be a legitimate business they could claim revenue from.  That was smart, but she had a feeling that Roman didn’t know the first damned thing about running any kind of restaurant.  It would come down to Mallory, and she was busy with their infant daughter.  She could cook, a little, but nothing like some of her old friends.

That started a feeling she had stayed away from for so long.  She couldn’t help but think about home. Her friends in Ponyville, Twilight, Apple Jack, Rarity, Fluttershy, and even a moment of Pinkie Pie came to the front of her mind.  She pushed it back though.  Pinkie had proven that nothing was ever what it seemed.  The world was never as perfect as everyone would want to believe it was.
She felt a shutter move through her as she remembered the table she was strapped to.  The insane laughter, and the feeling of those metal hooks through her wings.  She first feel of the scalpel as it began to cut on her flank.  She made herself forget it.  Niko had shown up before she could get very far.  She came to this world, and she had learned to love it.

Granted she didn’t have her wings.  They had withdrawn into her, and it seemed that instead they had become tattoos that ran down the length of her back.  Her cutie mark was a tattoo on her outer thigh, but she was safe.  She wasn’t just safe, she was thriving.  She had learned to live in a new way, and she loved it.

There was fast cars, amazing food, good friends, and then there was Niko.  He was quiet, but there was something else about him.  There was a kind of strength she had seen a very few times, and it drew her in.

“Dash?” he asked.

“Sorry, Niko are you sure that Roman could handle this?” she asked.

He nodded as he cut a bite out of now present pancakes before them.  She followed suit, realizing that their food was finally here, and watched as he chewed.

“He could.  Roman learned how to run the cab depot without anyone teaching him.  He could learn to run a restaurant,” Niko said.
She shrugged her shoulders.  Taking a bite she looked at the plate and then back at him.

“I’ve tried his cooking.  Trust me, he would need someone else to do it here,” she replied.

Niko began to say something and then nodded.

“Roman would need to have someone else cook.  He isn’t really able to even make coffee without problems,” he agreed.

“Does Paddy or Jacob know anyone who might be a cook, or at least have cooking experience?” she asked.

Niko thought for a moment and a grin spread across his lips.

“Dwayne, he told me that he worked in the kitchen on the inside.  It was one of the few things he did that he enjoyed,” Niko said.

Dash raised an eyebrow at him.  She had known Dwayne for a while, and to be honest there didn’t seem to be much the man actually enjoyed.  He loved to complain about how things had changed, his father, his mother, and about how everyone is fake, but thinking that he ever enjoyed anything seemed a bit much.

“If you think that he would be willing to do it then I suppose that we could talk to him.  Isn’t he running that club though?” she asked.
“He gets money from it, but there’s a manager that runs it.  He just sits at home most of the time though.  I think that he would like the idea of getting out,” Niko replied.

She nodded and watched as Niko walked toward the kitchen.  After a few minutes the two owners came out and he sat down with them.

“Harold, isn’t this wonderful?” the older woman asked.

“Son, I don’t know if I should laugh or cry.  It’s a blessing in a way, but then I think that I might be selling you a curse.  I mean those boys will be back,” he said.

“I’m not worried about them, but are you still wanting to sell?” he asked.

The old man nodded.

“Good, I will come over with the money later,” Niko said.

The owners nodded and Niko shook hands with them.  Dash watched and accepted, grudgingly, a hug from the couple as they exclaimed their excitement.  They soon disappeared into the back and she looked at him.

“So, how are we going to do this?” she asked.

“Roman runs the business, Dwayne runs the kitchen,” he said.

“And Dwayne strangles Roman when he acts like an idiot,” Dash replied.

Niko looked at her and grinned.  She smiled knowing that he had already thought of that.  There was every chance in the world that Roman would piss off Dwayne, and when it happened there would be a slight exchange between the two.

She watched as he called Roman, talked to him, and then called Dwayne and asked if he wanted to run the kitchen.
“Good news?” she asked.

“They want in, so good news,” he replied.

They finished breakfast, paid, and walked out.  It was a business that they could use, and it seemed the day was at least going to try to be bright.  A sound behind them stopped the two of them from getting into the Dukes.

She didn’t even get to turn before everything went black.

She could hear the sound of a squeaking wheel in the distance and looked up to see a bright pink colored pony walking toward her.
“Goodie, you’re awake. Now we can get started,” Pinkie stated gleefully. She bounded into the darkness, and quickly reappeared pushing a small cart covered with a cloth.

“Pinkie, what’s going on? I can’t move!” Dash said urgently.

“Well duh, that’s because you’re tied down,” chided Pinkie, “That’s why you can’t move. I didn’t think you’d need to be told that.”
“NO!  This isn’t real!” Dash screamed as she struggled to get free.

“Dashie, Dashie, Dashie, did you really think that that Colt of yours was going to take you away from me? We still need to make Cupcakes, and I need my ingredient, my special ingredient.  He helped,” Pinkie said.

Dash looked toward the darkness and could see a pile of bones lying on the ground.  They had been cleaned, bits of blood and muscle still stuck to them.

“But, I waited a long time for this,” Pinkie said.

Dash watched as the scalpel got close to her.  She felt it press against her throat.

“NO!!!!” she screamed again.

“Dash!” a voice shouted.

She opened her eyes to realize that she wasn’t in Pinkie Pie’s basement, but instead she was in a dark room.  She felt a hand holding hers and she squeezed back.

“Where are we?” she asked.

“Hove Beach, and the noise you make has woken my wife,” a raspy voice said as it came down the stairs.
She looked to see a tall muscular man.  His face was riddled with scars, and it was obvious that he wasn’t afraid of pain, or threats of pain.

“My employer wishes to speak to you,” he said.

A moment later she heard someone else coming down the stairs, but like before she couldn’t see them until they came toward her.  Instead she heard Niko growl in annoyance.

“Why? I did everything you asked last time!” he shouted.

“Mr. Bellic, you make it sound as if you aren’t interested in business,” the voice said.

“We had a deal, the file is gone, and I do not work for you anymore,” Niko spat.

“That’s true Mr. Bellic.  You don’t work for me, but your little friend here isn’t a Citizen of the United States.  Much like yourself she seems to be an illegal alien.  That in and of itself wouldn’t pose a problem, or it wouldn’t except that she isn’t from any other country.  We’ve kept tabs on your Mr. Bellic.  When you began to shack up with your little friend we decided to look into her past.  It’s curious to find that she doesn’t have one prior to arriving in Liberty City.  So, it means she didn’t exist before now,” the voice said.

She watched as the owner walked around toward her.  He wasn’t as physically imposing, but there was something else.  He was threatening in a far different way.

“So, since you don’t exist anywhere else that leaves me to believe that your past is open to interpretation.  Naturally I had some of our staff give you a past worthy of Mr. Bellic.  Armed Robbery, prostitution, murder, possession of illegal substances with intent of sale, and a few of the other old but favorite crimes.  There’s enough in your file now to make sure that you would never see the light of day, and imprisonment for a woman is far different than for a man,” he said.

“What do you want?” Niko asked.

“Good.  I was hoping that you would see reason.  I’ll be in touch with the jobs we need.  Rest assured that when we’re finished I will hand over her file, and everything contained in it.  There are no other copies, and Niko you know I keep my word,” he said before he started up the stairs.

“Andre, let our guests go,” he said back.

The large man cut them free and stepped back.

“Welcome back to being a patriot Mr. Bellic, and Ms, welcome to the United States,” he said.

> Chapter 4 Du, Du Hasst, Du Hasst Mich
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

GTA: The Ballad of Rainbow Dash

Chapter 4: Du, Du Hasst, Du Hasst Mich

“Sie ...
Sie hassen ...
Du hasst mich ...
Du hasst mich ...
Du hast mich gefragt ...
Du hast mich gefragt ...
Du hast mich gefragt, und ich habe nichts zu sagen!

Willst du bis der Tod euch scheidet,
treu sein, sie für alle Tage?
(Yeah)
Nein!
(Yeah)
Nein!” Rammstein

(Roman’s old Cab Depot – two hours later)

She waited.  She waited to hear what it was that they had gotten into, but there was just no way she had the patience to keep waiting.  Finally she walked toward Niko as he touched the soot covered brick of the old depot before turning to look at her.
“How bad is it?” she asked.

“Bad, bad doesn’t begin to cover how bad it is.  This man, he forced me to do a lot of things in the name of security when I didn’t want to.  He had the threat of my file against me, and the promise of delivering someone who had betrayed me, my friends, our village, to me.  I thought I was free of him,” Niko said.

“Niko, it is just me,” she started.

He stopped her and shook his head.

“No, it isn’t.  I can’t explain it, but even without you there would be something.  It is how it is,” he said.
She thought of going back to the house.  Sure, the guy that had talked to them both was gone, but his friend was still there.  It wouldn’t take that much to make him talk.  If she could stand up to a dragon then standing up to one guy wouldn’t be a problem.  She looked back at Niko and could see how deep in thought he was about this.  She had seen him like this at times. Lost so deeply in thought that he seemed to not realize who else or what else was in the room.  It was fairly constant when she first came here, but it had slowly began to stop.  Now…  Now it was different.  It was going back, and she knew when he was like this before it had been something bad that made him like this.

She had heard a few things from Roman and Mallory, and she could guess some more of it.  She wasn’t exactly sure what to think or do at the moment though.  She was still considering the option of making the guy that must have jumped them talk, but it wasn’t the best option and she knew it.  They could run.  She wasn’t sure, but the way they made it into this world could still be open, but then again she wasn’t sure if she wanted to chance going back to Equestria.  Pinkie had been doing what she had been doing for a while, and she wondered if anyone else could have been in on it.  If they were then disappearing into Equestria wouldn’t be the smartest thing to do either.  After all Pinkie had said something about a number before.
She felt Niko’s hand on her shoulder and looked at him.

“You know I won’t let you do whatever this is alone right?” she asked.

He nodded.  There wouldn’t be any way of keeping her out of it.  She would end up coming into it eventually, and at least if she got involved in the beginning she might be a bit more prepare. 

“I know,” he said.

They walked toward the corner and Niko whistled for the first cab that came by.  It stopped and they got into the back seat.  Instantly Dash missed the Dukes.  She could feel her feet sticking to the floor of the cab, and she wasn’t sure what it was, but it felt as if something had been spilled in the seat at some point.  The stickiness of it was holding onto her jeans tightly.
“Where you wanna go man?” the cabbie asked in a thick accent.

“The corner of Xenotime St. and Frankfort Ave,” Niko replied.

The cabbie began to drive and the sounds of Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds played on the speakers.

“Mind to turn it to Liberty Rock Radio?” Dash asked.

The cabbie grumbled and messed with the radio for a second before finally it landed on 97.8.  The sounds of Rammstein’s Du Hast began to fill the cab.  Dash leaned back and looked out of the window at the view as they drove.  The city was beautiful in its own way, and when they got to take a helicopter or airplane got the thrill of flying through its sky, but it wasn’t the same.  She knew the truth was it would never be the same.  The thought of running home earlier wasn’t just about protecting Niko and she knew it.  She wanted to go home.  She wanted to take him with her and just disappear back into Ponyville.

He could start over there, and she could go back to the flying she loved to do, but the thought of the what ifs kept her from really even mentioning it.  What if someone else was in on what Pinkie Pie was doing?  What if she wasn’t just insane, but instead she was following some weird kind of order?  She made herself stop thinking about it.  It wasn’t worth focusing on the prospect of what if when she had already started making a life here.

And she did love it.  She loved driving way to fast in the Dukes, and she loved going out to eat at places like Panties, and of course she enjoyed pulling pranks on Roman.  He really wasn’t too bad of a guy, and he could take a joke.  Unsure of what was going to happen, what was tormenting Niko, and what to do about it she instead found herself thinking of something else.
She thought of her friends.  Fluttershy, Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, and Apple Jack all filled her mind, and she wondered if they were still alive.  If she didn’t end up in those cupcakes then did someone else take her place?  She didn’t want to think about that.  She couldn’t think about another one of her friends ending up as part of a recipe.  Besides, it looked like Pinkie Pie had died when they left, or at least she looked like she was dying.

She stopped herself from going too far with her line of thoughts.  Even if she was to go back and warn her friends there wouldn’t be much they could do about it.  If it was something that had influenced Pinkie Pie, changed her, made her the way she became then the Elements of Harmony couldn’t do anything about it.  It took all six for them to work.  Even with her there with them it wouldn’t be enough.  They would only have five.  She could try to bring them here, but then what good would that do?

She let out a breath and felt the cab stop.

“Okay that’ll be fifty-two twenty,” the cabbie said.

They got out and she reached into her pocket.  Mallory had tried to talk her into a purse, but she like carrying a wallet instead.  It just made a lot more sense, and to be honest carrying a wallet seemed about twenty percent cooler than carrying a purse around.  She fished out fifty-five and handed it to him.

“Keep the change,” she said.

“Wow, big spender,” he replied before he began to take off.

> Feel Good Inc.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

GTA: The Ballad of Rainbow Dash
Chapter 5: Feel Good Inc.

(Panties – Two days later)

Seeing Roman practically glow after finding out that Niko wanted him to manage the small pancake restaurant had worked wonders for both of them.  Dash knew that this was a big step toward a dream Roman had chased for so long, and it felt good to help a friend like she did back when she lived in Ponyville.  Dwayne had even shown a great deal of interest in running the kitchen.  Niko had told him that he wanted it to still serve pancakes, but that he could cook other things as well.

“So, I was putting together a lunch menu, and it looks like we might have to get some of the supplies in,” Dwayne said.

“Supplies, it shouldn't be a problem,” Roman said.

“Roman, we’ve only got the supplier that worked with the original owners.  Sometimes I don’t think that you think about things like this.  Niko, my cousins Carlos and Luis are in the distribution business.  I know that they have been supplying goods to a few of the vendors around town, and I think that they could get us what we want,” Mallory replied.

“Okay, Mallory talk to your cousins.  Roman, call the supplier we know and find out what else they can supply and what the charges are going to be.  Dwayne, give them a full list of what we need,” Niko said.

“And what are you going to be doing?” Roman asked.

“What else?  I’m going to be funding this Roman,” Niko said.

“Niko, man, I didn’t mean anything.  This, this is our dream come true.  It’s a business that we can be proud of.  It’s a place that will grow into a respectable restaurant.  One that will become the envy of every other restaurant in Liberty City,” Roman said.
“Sure, sure Roman, but first let’s get it off of the ground,” Niko replied.  He turned toward Dash who watched the entire ordeal for a moment.  

“Dwayne, can you cook fries?” Dash asked.

“Can I cook fries?!  Back on the inside I cooked the best food anyone ever tasted.  Sure, I can cook fries, but what kind do you want?  Sweet potato, regular, crinkle cut, stake fries, seasoned curly fries, or anything special?” he asked.

She thought for a moment.  She wanted to ask for Hayfries.  It had been her favorite back in Ponyville, but it would be a little strange asking for it here.  The closest thing she had found that sort of tasted close to the batter dipped goodness was asparagus.  That was it.  Maybe asking for asparagus fries wouldn’t sound too strange.

“What about Asparagus fries?” she asked.

He stopped for a moment and rubbed his chin.  It almost seemed as if he hadn’t considered the idea of frying another vegetable besides potatoes.  After a couple of seconds he nodded.

“Sure, I can do that.  I can mix them up in some cornmeal batter.  It should help keep them nice and crisp.  Got to say though no one asked me to make those before, so where did you get the idea?” he asked.

“I used to eat something like that a lot back home,” she answered.

She was being truthful.  She had nearly eaten her weight in hayfries when she was back in Ponyville.  It had been one of her favorite foods.  Well, hayfries, apple turnovers, and anything from Sugarcube Corner.  Although, thinking on what Pinkie had used to make her cupcakes…  she stopped her train of thought.  She couldn’t keep going in that direction.  Since coming here she had made sure to eat things that she knew hadn’t been made the same way.  So far regular French fries had become one of her favorites, although she did love Mallory’s vegetarian lasagna.

The sound of money being counted began to sound from inside of the room. After a moment Roman grabbed his phone and answered it.

“Bellic Enterprises, this is Roman Bellic,” he said.

“Roman, who is it?” Mallory asked.

“Niko, have you told anyone else about this place?” he asked.

Niko shook his head.

“Look, I don’t know who you are…” he started before his face paled.

“S..Sure,” he said as he put the phone down and pressed the speaker button.

“Ah, there we go.  Thank you Mr. Roman Bellic.  I’m going to assume that Mr. Niko Bellic is in the room,” the voice said.
“Who is this?” Niko asked.

“I’m sorry, but as you know in our business there aren’t names.  However, I believe you spoke to my employer earlier.  I believe that he had talked to you and Ms. Dash about a few jobs that needed to be done.  Of course, anyone else in the room with you should understand that this conversation doesn’t leave the room,” the voice said.

“What do you want?” he asked.

“Pick up the phone, turn off the speaker function, and we’ll talk,” the voice said.

Niko looked at the phone and picked it up slowly.  He didn’t like the feel of it.  He didn’t like the fact that someone knew he was with Roman and called his cousin’s phone in order to talk to him.  He switched off the speaker function.

“What?” he asked.

“Thank you Mr. Bellic.  Understand that if I have to contact you through your cousin, friends or anyone other than your little girlfriend standing beside you that I will have to eliminate them.  Consider this a friendly warning,” he said.

“Do not threaten me!” Niko roared at the phone.

“Mr. Bellic, I believe that you should calm down.  After all, I know that you are currently in the soon to be reopened Panties ‘Pancake house’, and that you are standing next to Ms. Dash.  I also know that Mr. Forge is standing off to your left, a mere eight feet from you, leaning against the fourth booth.  Your cousin, his wife, and their young daughter are standing directly in front of you.  I know all of this, and believe me when I say that I can execute all of them within ten seconds.  That’s using a high powered rifle.  If I decided to rupture the gas line it would be less time, but I need you alive. So, shall we try this again?” the voice asked.

“What do you want?” Niko asked through clenched teeth.

“Good, it seems that there is a man who has discovered a few unsavory things about what our Government is doing.  We’ve played most of his ramblings off as the insane ramblings of a conspiracy theorist.  We would continue to do so, but he has actually gained proof.  Unfortunately we’re uncertain of how much proof he has gained, and how devastating it would be if it made it to the media.  We’re an address to your phone’s GPS device.  I suggest that you turn your phone on, and head over to where he is,” the voice said.
Niko quickly ended the call and handed the phone back to Roman.  He turned toward the door only to feel Dash grab his arm.

“What did they say?” she asked.

He shook his head and walked outside.  Dash looked at everyone else and then at where Niko had walked to.  She began to follow him, but she heard the footsteps of everyone else behind her.

“Niko, whatever it is man we can deal with it,” Roman said.

“Roman they knew where all of you were standing.  They knew we were here, and they are somewhere around here watching us.  I used to think those idiots in Bohan were all insane, but they are right Roman.  Everything they said is right,” Niko said as he shook his head.

“So, you’re saying that the aliens are really controlling the government?” Roman asked.

Dash couldn’t help the laugh that began to well up inside of her.  It erupted as a small giggle and then turned into a massive case of guffawing.  It began to spread through the friends standing there.  It didn’t matter that there was someone that could be watching them at this moment.  All that mattered was that blissful moment of happiness.  Niko felt himself relax for a moment before he picked up his phone.  As soon as he turned it on his GPS app popped up showing that a new address had been added to his go to list.  

Before he could argue Dash got into the Dukes.  She started the engine hearing it rumble to life.  The large car felt good.  It felt protected in a way.  She couldn’t quite explain it, but it was almost as if it enjoyed being driven by her and Niko, and in return it wanted to protect them.  She knew that it was unlikely.  This place wasn’t like Esquestria.  Magic wasn’t exactly common place here.  There was that one guy The ‘Incredible’ Kleinman, but she wasn’t really sure if what he did could be considered magic or not.
She felt the weight shift for a second and looked to see Niko getting into the car.

“You shouldn’t go,” he said.

She stared at him blankly for a moment.

“This is because of me Niko.  I know what’s going on, and I’m going to help,” she replied as she rolled her eyes.
“This isn’t like doing a job of Elizabeth, or running a job with Packie.  This is dark in a way you should not face,” he said.
She could hear the way his accent tried to overpower his speech.  He always spoke with a deep Eastern European Accent anyway, but when she first wanted to start helping him it almost became completely overpowering.  It seemed as if he was trying to revert back to his native tongue.  She shook her head.

“Niko I’m not taking no for an answer.  This is because of me, and I’m going to help.  Besides, we both know that you need all of the help you can get,” she said with a slight smirk.

He leaned back and let out a long breath.  She knew he was going to end up giving in.  He would because she would end up following him anyway.  Finally he nodded and looked at the others standing there.

“Go back inside, go ahead and contact the suppliers and act as if everything is normal.  Actually, this is normal for me, and Roman, cousin, I know this is normal for you too,” he said.

Roman nodded.  Niko knew that it hadn’t been that long ago that both he and Roman had been caught up in all kinds of craziness.  The insanity of it all had rained down upon them for what seemed like months, but then it finally ended.  He still had to do things, things outside of the law, to help make a life for them, but it wasn’t so bad.  This was going back to same insanity of before.  He felt somewhat glad that some of that insanity was no longer around to torment them.  That Dimitri was long gone, and all of the insanity he had caused gone with him.  

The Dukes rushed off into the distance.  He glanced at the app and then to Dash who was following the digital voice from the phone.  Within moments they were in Bohan, nearing an old townhouse.  She pulled up near it and stopped.  He hit the autodial for the number he had been given by the government before.  It beeped twice before the sound it being redirected could be heard.
“Interesting, I would have thought that you would have gotten rid of the original contact information,” the familiar voice of the Agent said.

“I find it hard to let go of such cherished memories,” Niko snidely replied.

“So do I.  The threat to our security should be away for the moment.  I’m sure that you remember this drill, but go inside, check for anything that might have the information and proof he has, and report back as soon as you find it,” the Agent said.
“Fine,” he replied before he hung up the phone.

Dash got out and walked with him up to the house. Niko tried the door, found it locked, and kicked it in.  She walked inside and could tell that the owner of the place hadn’t cleaned in what seemed like forever.

“Niko, what are we looking for?” she asked.

“Anything that might have the proof this conspiracy theorist claims he has,” Niko answered.

“HeavyPad tablet?” she asked.

He walked into the room to see the tablet computer sitting on a table.  He pushed the screen to see it pop open to the owner’s email account.  He dialed the number again.

“What have you found?” the Agent asked.

“His email,” Niko said as he opened the first message, “It seems that he’s meeting someone named Broni on Tulsa Street.  This seems very familiar.”

“Yes it does, but does it say why he’s meeting this Broni?” the Agent asked.

“He’s giving him the proof.  He wants him to upload it to the Liberty Tree’s public News page,” Niko replied.

“Get over to Tulsa Street.  We’re sending a picture of what he looks like to you.  Find him, eliminate him and this Broni,” the Agent said.

“I thought that you would want to take him into custody,” Dash said.

“Ah, Ms Dash I see you accompanied Niko.  No, we can’t afford to take him into custody.  The public is just starting to calm down from the Edwin Snorden problem.  So, we can’t afford to look like we actually have anything to hide; however, having someone like you and Niko remove this problem for us makes it appear to be nothing more than a random act of violence.  It might even help pass stricter gun laws,” the Agent said before hanging up.

A moment later the phone beeped as a text message came through.  Niko opened it to show the individual.  He expected to see a middle aged man.  Someone who had fighting the government for years, but instead it was a kid.  He couldn’t be over eighteen, and from the looks of it he had all of his life ahead of him.  Niko closed his eyes tightly.  Forcing the memories of what had happened to his friends, to those who had been called his enemies, back into the darkness that hid in his mind.  It didn’t help that this was someone who was just as young as he was when he went to fight.

Dash followed him still trying to grasp the situation.  This was someone just a little younger than her.  It was somepony, or someone, who was just barely out of being a foal.  She didn’t want to think about what it meant.  She got into the Dukes and let Niko drive.  She leaned back into the seat.

“Is this what you meant?” she asked.

“Yes,” he answered.

“This is the kind of thing they force you to do?” she asked.

“It is.  This is why I said you should not come,” he answered.

“Niko, this is because of me.  I have to come.  I have to be a part of this, but, he’s just a foal, a kid.  It doesn’t seem right,” she said.
“I know.  It is not right.  It was not right when I first had to do this.  There are things I haven’t told you.  Things that I did, that I saw, and that I helped cause that ruined me.  I wish I could say this was the first time I had to kill someone this young, but it isn’t,” he replied.

She looked out the window as they drove.  Niko had done this before, and she knew that it bothered him.  His past always bothered him.  She wondered if that was going to happen to her.  The thought of what she did here coming back to haunt her later in her life floated around in her mind.  She was haunted already.  What happened in Pinkie Pie’s basement was always there.  It was always ready to pick up where they had left off.  She hated it too.  She hated knowing that there was nights when she would be back in that basement.  She would be helpless, and sometimes she would be looking at Niko already skinned, and his body turned into whatever ingredient Pinkie needed for one of her baked goods.

She felt the Dukes stop and saw the kid talking to girl.  She couldn’t be much older than him.

“Stay here,” Niko said.

He got out, pulled out a pistol and dropped the boy.  She could see that he did it quick, and the way he shot the boy barely even had time to realize he had been shot.  She wasn’t sure, but from what she could see the boy was most likely already dead before he hit the pavement.  The girl however ran.  She heard him shooting at her, shouting at her, but she was pulling away from him.  Without a second thought she jumped out of the car and took off running toward the girl.  She darted past Niko, pulling further and further away from him, and closer to the girl.

She tackled her knocking her to the ground and causing her to cry out in pain.

“Please let me go!” the girl pleaded.

“We can’t,” Niko said almost out of breath as he neared them.

“What did I do?” she cried.

“It’s what your friend did.  I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” Dash said.

“He was just a harmless geek.  I mean, he was just a harmless guy what did he do?  What could he have done?” she cried.

“He learned too much,” Niko said.

He aimed the gun, and found Dash looking at him.  He closed his eyes and cursed.

“You cannot stay here.  Actually you cannot stay anywhere.  Disappear, I don’t care where, but go.  Leave and don’t come back,” Niko said.

The girl started to get up, but Dash stopped her.

Whatever he gave to you, give it to me,” she said.


The girl handed her a flash drive.

“Go ahead and get on out of here,” Dash said.

She took off and Niko looked down at her.

“This could put us in danger,” he said.

“It’s worth it.  It was like seeing myself back there all over again,” she said.

“I know, come on, we need to get out of here,” he said.

> Shooting Star
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

GTA: The Ballad of Rainbow Dash
Chapter 6: Shooting Star

(Niko and Rainbow Dash’s Penthouse – three days later)

Dash stretched as she lay across the couch.  The television was on, and she could see some brightly colored cartoon called Princess Robot Bubblegum playing on it.  For the most part she wasn’t watching the Princess, or her adventures fighting against the Tentacle Kingdom, but instead she was lost in thought.  She didn’t want to admit that she could have been wrong.  She heard the sounds of muffled groans and turned her head to see Niko walking toward the Kitchen.

“It is too early for this,” he grumbled.

“You want to talk?” she asked.

His head turned toward her, and she watched as he stood there a moment.

“Do I want to talk, or do I want to talk about the things you don’t know yet?” he asked.

She watched him as he looked past her. Finally, he looked at her and moved her legs so he could sit down next to her.  She moved them back up and across his legs as he leaned back.

“I tried to talk to Roman about this once.  He fell asleep on me,” he said.

“I won’t,” she said.

“I was very young, and very stupid.  We all were.  Roman, he and I grew up together.  We were more like brothers than cousins.  Things began to get bad, and he left for America.  He asked me to come with him, but I wanted to defend our village.  I wanted to join with the army, fight the enemies who threatened us.  It only shows how stupid I was,” he started.
“You wanted to help, that’s not stupid,” she replied.

“It was.  It was stupid because of what we had to do.  We marched out of the village, to protect it, and we saw horrors.  Children, lined up against a church, each one shot in the head and their hands chopped off.  Young women beaten, barely breathing, most wouldn’t survive the night, and it only got worse,” he looked away from her as he talked, “Roman’s mother was one of the worst moments.  She… she was like my second mother.  She helped shelter me from my father’s drunken rages, and we found her.  She had been raped, dozens of times, and then killed.  I never told Roman.  We thought it best to tell him that she died in a fire.”
She watched his face as he looked at the floor.

“After the war I thought nothing of doing terrible things.  It was the way of the world.  The things I did, when I say it ruined me I meant it.  It ruined me,” he said.

He slumped his shoulders once he finished talking.  She moved her legs and moved closer to him.  She put her arms around him and gave him a hug.

“You’re not ruined.  You have a chance to do something else with your life.  We both have a chance to do some great things,” she replied.

He looked at her and gave a slight nod. He started to get up when she stopped him.  She kissed him.  He needed it, and she wanted to do it.  To be honest she enjoyed the moments they had together.  The few moments of peace between the chaotic and hectic lifestyle they had.  She felt his hands hungrily move down her sides.  He grasped the curve of her ass and repositioned them.  A small squeak of surprise and delight escaped her.  This wasn’t just passionate.  It was the ruined one asking the damaged one to heal him.  

Over the course of the next few hours they connected and tried to heal one another until both of them lay spent on the rug in front of the television in the living room.  There was a layer of sweat that covered the two of them, and she couldn’t help but feel sated and complete.  After a few minutes of basking in the afterglow they both began to stir.  They moved from the entertainment area back toward the bedroom.  Dash walked to the bathroom and turned on the water in the large walk in shower.

She stepped into the running water and felt the warm beads explode against her skin.  She leaned her head forward letting the wonder of the warm water run down the back of her neck.  A soft moan of pleasure escaped her as she stood there.  She moved a wet rainbow colored hair bang away her face.  She found a bottle of R34 shampoo and squirted some out on open palm.  The smell of mixed berries filled the shower and she began mixing it into her hair.

The shower lasted a little longer than she wanted it too.  There really wasn’t any threat of using all of the hot water up, but she didn’t want to spend the kind of time in there that she did.  Instead she walked out of the shower to smell something wonderful coming from the kitchen.  She grabbed a clean pair of panties and t-shirt and quickly put them on.  Once she was dressed, or what she considered to be dressed anyway, she walked toward the kitchen.

Niko brought over two bowls with what looked like thick oatmeal in them.

“Thanks,” she said.

“It was my turn.  Why?  Why did you want to know about my past?” he asked.
She looked at him and could see that it was still there.  It was foolish to think that it would disappear, but she hoped that at least he knew he wasn’t alone.

“I don’t want you to think that you have to face this on your own.  We’re in this together, through thick and thin,” she replied.
“I know, and I don’t want it to ruin you.  This, what I do, what we have to do, it is something that eats everything,” he said.
She shook her head and looked at him.

“It’s not going to get me.  Niko, what we do is just that.  It’s what we have to do, but it doesn’t mean that we have to lose ourselves doing it.  We saved that girl.  We could have ended her life, but we didn’t.  That’s proof that this kind of life doesn’t have the power to ruin you,” she said.

They ate quietly for a moment.  It almost seemed like it was going to be peaceful, and she hoped that maybe it would be.  Perhaps the world could throw them both a free day, and they could just sit back and not do much of anything.  Moments later that hope was dashed against the rocks as Niko’s phone went off.  He picked it up and answered it.
“Hello?” he asked.

His eyes narrowed for a moment and he gritted his teeth.

“What happened?” he asked.

He closed his eyes and pinched his nose.

“Where are you Packie?” he asked.

He hung up the phone and looked at her.  She wasn’t sure what he had heard, but there was something happening, and for Packie to call him for help it had to be something out of his abilities.

“We need to go to Packie’s place.  It seems that a friend has come to visit,” he said.

They dressed, and were on the way in under a few minutes.  When they got to Packie’s home they heard insane laughing from a room cut off from the others.  Dash walked toward to the room to see someone she thought had to be dead, should have been dead, tied to chair.

“Dashie!!!!  I was so hurt when you left, and when I came through…  Well, I had to take care of myself.  I stayed in that dark old ride until I could get out and walk, and now we get to finish making Cupcakes together!” Pinkie Pie shouted.

“The bitch swiped at me with a chainsaw!  She swiped at me with a fucking CHAINSAW NIKO!” Packie shouted.

“Calm down Packie, are you okay?” Niko asked.

“Is he okay?!  He’s fine except he didn’t want to help me make a birthday cake!  I mean the nerve of some ponies!  They don’t want to help someone out when they just want to make some baked goods!” she shouted.

“You…  You tried to kill me!” Dash screamed as she pulled her gun.

“Dashie?  I said that your number was up…  I couldn’t help it, I mean when your number is up it’s just up,” Pinkie said as she looked at her.

“That’s your excuse?!  That’s why you cut on me?!  Because my number was up?!  We were friends Pinkie!  Friends!  Don’t you even know what that means?!  Friends don’t hurt each other!” she screamed.

“But I had to,” Pinkie said in a smaller voice.

“I’ll tell you what you have to do…  You have to fucking die!” Dash said as she pulled the trigger on her gun.

The first shot went straight through Pinkie Pie’s head.  Blood and gore exploded out on the wall on the opposite side.  She didn’t stop though.  She kept firing, all nine rounds inside of her pistol emptied into what was now Pinkie’s corpse.  She stood there looking at the monster that had nearly killed her, and had taken lives before her.

“Dash,” Niko said.

“I’m taking her back to her basement,” she said.

He nodded and walked out of the room.  In a few minutes he walked back with a shower curtain and helped wrap the body in it.  They carried it out the back and into the garage where Packie had them back their Dukes into the garage and helped them load it into the back of it.  Once she was loaded into the trunk they drove toward the funfair.  They stopped and Niko looked at her.  She shook her head and unloaded Pinkie’s body.  She pulled it toward the haunted house and then through it.  The same hole was there, and she kept crawling until she came out the other side.

It felt so different once she on the other side.  Her clothes hung loose on her, but it didn’t matter. She looked around to see everything in the basement almost looked the exact same as it did before.  Maybe Pinkie Pie had been lying.  Maybe she wasn’t really staying in the haunted house the entire time.  It was what made sense about how this place looked.  She unwrapped the body and put her on the same table she had been strapped to.

“You won’t ever hurt another pony again Pinkie,” she whispered.

She thought about going upstairs, going into Ponyville, but she couldn’t.  This wasn’t her life anymore.  It wasn’t another one of her friends that had saved her.  It had been Niko.  He saved her when he could have left her, and to be honest she knew that it could have been easier for him to have left there to whatever fate Pinkie Pie had waiting for her. 

She didn’t even take time to look around before she crawled back through and came out on the other side.  It meant leaving part of her life behind, but there was no doubt in her mind that it was a part that need to be left beind.
> Good Old Days
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

GTA: The Ballad of Rainbow Dash
Chapter 7: Good Old Days

(Over the Broker Bridge – Three days later)

“Woah, watch the bridge!” Brucie yelled.

Dash grinned as she tilted the helicopter and flew almost straight down.  She began pulling up making the machine hover just below the bridge and above the water.

“Trust me, I got this!” she exclaimed.

She moved it forward, barely creeping under the bridge for a moment.

“Yeah, yeah this is it!  This is what I’m talking about girls, see when you live like to the extreme like Brucie you can afford toys like this, and you can have kick ass friends who do things like this,” he said.

“Sure Brucie,” one of the girlfriends of the week said.

“You sound bored,” Dash replied.

“We’ve rode with Niko, and believe me this is mild,” the other one said.

She laughed and moved the helicopter up until the blades were almost touching the bridge.  She moved it out and then flew down above the traffic.  She spotted a large panel truck and landed on top of it.  The truck tried to swerve, but she kept the helicopters balance the entire time.  After a moment it stopped and she began to lift off of it and back into the sky. 

She could hear the two talking in the back seat, and she looked to see Niko smiling.  Grinning she pulled the helicopter up and banked hard to the left.  They flew out of the bridge, barely missing the wires making the suspension possible, and headed toward a large shipwreck.  It had been out in the water for an extremely long time, and when she got close enough she began lowering the helicopter down.

She lowered it next to the ship onto a rock that was flat enough to land on and big enough for them to get out onto.  She cut it off and looked at Brucie.

“What do you guys about a little swim over to that shipwreck?” She asked.

“Ummm… No, I just spent five hundred dollars on my hair and nails.  I’m not going to tread water over to that rusty old ship.  I demand that you take off and fly us back to Brucie’s place,” the blond said.

“Actually, that sounds like a lot of fun.  I mean yeah!  That’s a workout and a half!  Let’s do it!” Brucie said as he got out.

“Sure, we can try to have a little fun,” Niko said as he got out of the back seat.

“I refuse to get out of here,” the blond said.

Her friend looked at the others, at her friend, and then back at the others.

“Simone, it looks like it could be fun,” the brunette said.

“Tracy, do you see that water there?!  It’s unfiltered!  Getting out into that mess would damage my complexion!” Simone exclaimed.

“Fine, stay in here, but I’m going for a swim,” Tracy replied.

“In your two thousand dollar Jovani evening gown?!  Are you insane?” Simone asked.

“No, I’m leaving my dress here,” Tracy said.

She unzipped it, stepped out and stood in a black thong and bra.  She looked at the others and smiled.

“Cool! Last one across is a rotten egg!” Dash said she stripped down to her t-shirt and panties.

She jumped into the water and heard the sound of the others following suit.  She felt the current around the ship trying to change.  It seemed to want to pull them away from the ship itself, but she made it to the side and found the old metal handholds leading up the side of it.  She climbed and heard the metallic pinging behind her of someone else climbing up.  She quickly got onto the deck of the old ship and looked behind her to see Tracy climbing aboard.

The brunette grinned and then moved out of the way as Brucie and then Niko both made it to the top.  Brucie breathed in deep for a moment and then let out an excited yell.

“That’s what I’m talking about!  That’s taking it to the extreme!  That’s being alpha, and if you’re going to hang with Brucie you’ve got to be ready to take it to the extreme!” he exclaimed.

“So, what’s on this thing?” Tracy asked.

“Oh, I heard this was something the Columbian Cartel was using to move stolen cars and bring in some coke or something.  Apparently one of the big families here didn’t like it and rigged it blow,” Brucie said.

“Anything worth seeing?” Dash asked.

“We’re here, we might as well look around,” Niko said.

Brucie nodded and the four of them headed toward one of the doors that looked as if it was still partly open.  Dash walked up to it and grabbed ahold of the door.  For a moment nothing happened, but then it began to squeak and move slowly.  Once it opened the four of them walked into the darkened room.  There was shapes of boxes, a few hanging lights, but for the most part it looked like darker shadows on lighter shadows.  Dash walked toward the wall and heard something scrape across the floor. She looked down and focused to see an old lighter.  Lifting it up she flicked it a few times and then it finally ignited.  Once it did she could see the room a little better.  The boxes looked aged, cracked, but all of them had the same coffee logo on them.
“This must have been the stuff,” Niko said looking at a box that Dash was holding the lighter next to.

“I wonder why these boxes weren’t destroyed.” Tracy pondered.

“I bet the charges didn’t go off in here.  Say Niko, how much stuff do you think is in here?” Brucie asked.

“If it’s packed like I’ve seen it packed before…  At least half a million dollars’ worth,” Niko said.

“Wait, are we talking about taking this stuff out of here?” Tracy asked.

“Why not?  It’s obvious that no one else knows about it.  The original owners are long gone, and it’s a chance to make a little extra dough,” Brucie said.

“Yeah... It doesn’t feel right though,” she replied.

“It’s not like we’re going to be the ones selling it on the street,” Dash said.

“Oh, then yeah let’s do it,” Tracy said.

“That is what you were worried about?” Niko asked.

“Well, I’m trying to get through medical school. I couldn’t be found selling this on the street, but if we’re selling to someone else directly, and it’s just one time, I don’t see how it’s going to come back and bother me,” she said.

They walked out in time to see the other girl standing on the rock across from them.  

“What is Simone pointing at?” Tracy asked.

The first few drops of rain began to fall and the four of them realized that it was getting ready to storm.  Simone quickly climbed back into the helicopter, and the rest of them climbed down into the water and began swimming over to the rock.  Once over there they climbed their way up the side of the rock until they were on the plateau on the top.  Each of them grabbed their clothes and began dressing quickly, but to be honest it was already getting too late.  The rain was falling fast and hard.

Still, they managed to get into the helicopter.  It didn’t take long to get it started, and once it was going Dash began to lift up a little. They were off of the rock and already the feel of the change in wind could be felt.  Dash thought about the times she had controlled the weather back in Equestria.  A storm like this would have been nothing to clear up, but here in this world it was different, but then she did think of something similar.  She would still have to fight to get to where they were going, but she could get out of the air a little more.

She began to adjust the helicopter and after a few minutes it began to clear up some.  The others seemed to relax and what should have only taken a few minutes ended up taking over half an hour to get back to Brucie’s place.  She brought it in and landed on the helipad.  They exited and she helped Brucie tie the blades in place.  Once that was done the four of them walked into Brucie’s penthouse and began to relax.

“My hair is completely ruined!  Brucie, I fixed myself up so nice and now… I’m wet!” Simone complained.

“Simone, you need to learn to live a little,” Tracy said.

“Live a little?!  Live a little?!  I was dragged out in a helicopter, treated to what would equal a rodeo in the air, and then forced to walk in through the rain without even an umbrella!  This is perhaps the worst possible thing that could ever happen!” she complained.

“Okay, seriously you need to learn to toughen up a little bit,” Dash said.

“How dare you talk to me like that!  I am Simone, one of the top fashion designers in Liberty City, no the world!  My designs have found themselves in Perseus more times than you’ve ever dreamed of!” she exclaimed.

“And how exactly did that help you today?” Dash asked.

“You dirty, filthy, uncouth little thing how dare you address me like that!  I am important!” she started.

“Simone, baby, sweetie, darling, look I’m not sure that this is going to work out,” Brucie began.

“No!  You do not get to drop Simone!  Simone drops you!  You are not worth the time!” she said before she stormed off down stairs.

“Simone, come on, don’t take off,” Tracy called after her.

“No, I will not stand around and be talked about and compared to a child!” she called back.

Dash shook her head and thought back to home.  It was like hearing Rarity and Twilight talk.  Twilight was usually the even headed one, and she could see a lot of that in Tracy, and as for Rarity… Well, she didn’t know how generous Simone was, but all of Rarity’s other little traits… Well, she had them nailed down to a tee.

“Look, I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean to upset you,” Dash said.

“Well, it is raining rather hard.  I suppose I could stand to stay for a few minutes, but only if you agree not to treat me as you would a child,” she replied.

“No, you can even sit at the grown up table, so come on back up here,” Dash said.

That caused a couple of giggles to erupt from the girl.  She slowly walked back up stairs and toward where they were standing.

“You know, I kind of like hanging out with you,” Tracy said.

“I like hanging out with you too.  Maybe we can do it more often,” Dash said.

“Well, if I’m going to hang out with you to I suggest a spa visit next time.  There’s a wonderful one here in Liberty City.  It’s located down the Meat District.  Wonderful little place and its owned by the most charming little oriental woman.  I go there every time I get a chance,” Simone said.

“Actually, a spa day does sound nice.  Dash, how would you like to join us for one?  Maybe tomorrow or sometime later this week?” Tracy asked.

“That sounds nice.  Sure, I’ll come check it out,” she replied.

She smiled and walked with them toward Brucie’s kitchen.  It was almost like being home.  It was about as close as she had come to hanging out with a couple of her friends, and for that moment it was kind of like visiting the good old days.


> Dating Blues
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

GTA: The Ballad of Rainbow Dash
Chapter 8: Dating Blues

(Warehouse District Smelly Tuna Warehouse – Hove Beach – Thirty six hours later)

“She’s a looker ain’t she Cutter?” a voice said.

Dash growled as she worked on the ropes around her wrist.  Six hours earlier she and Niko had been working with Brucie and Tracy to get the coke out of that old shipwreck.  They had moved it to a pair of power boats that Brucie had, and then transferred it over to four vans.  Niko had questioned Brucie about this, but Tracy explained that she came up with the idea.  If something to happen to one of the vans there would still be three vans left full of the stuff, and they could still sell it.

It had made sense, and in the end that’s what they did.  What they didn’t realize that someone had been watching them.  It should have been expected.  If Brucie knew the story about the shipwreck then she guessed that other people knew as well.  It was surprising that no one had checked before now, but maybe they had simply thought that anything worth stealing off of the ship had been destroyed by the bombs.  Instead their actions had drew the attention of one of the motorcycle gangs and once they started moving those sorry bastards began to fall on them.  Niko told them all to split into different directions and try to meet up back on Bohan.  She had split off, headed toward the tunnel to Algonquin, and hoped that they wouldn’t follow her.

Instead they seemed to focus on her van and even with her firing at them as she drove they managed to blow the tires out.  She checked to make sure that she had a spare clip and got ready for them to attack.  She tried to back the van out, and fire again on them, but another van slammed into the side of the van she was using.

She heard a few voices before blacking out, and now she was tied up in this warehouse.

“I’m going to enjoy breaking her in.  I mean it boys.  I’m going to crack that ass open and take it for a test drive.  I bet she’s a screamer,” Cutter said.

“MMPH YMU!” she exclaimed through her gag.

“Got a dirty mouth little girl, but don’t worry none, ‘cause we’re going to teach you how to use it,” the other one next to cutter said.
“Any news on the other vans?” Cutter asked.

“They managed to get away from some of the other brothers, but they figure that we managed to get about a hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars worth of coke off of that one van,” the other one said.

“Damn, I bet it was about the same on all of them.  Still, not too bad.  It should keep us in fun for a while,” Cutter said.

He walked over to her and she felt him pawing at her breasts through her shirt.

“Nice and athletic,” he said.

She growled at him and he drew back his hand and slapped her hard.

“If a bitch growls you got to give them a slap,” the other one said.

“I like calling it the pimp hand, but a slap is fine,” Cutter joked.

She looked at them.  They had tied her up, and they had put her in this warehouse, but they hadn’t exactly cleared out her pockets.  She felt her cell phone vibrating and she moved in the seat a little.  There was a moment where she wasn’t sure if it answered or not, but then she felt it vibrate again.  Niko had hung up, but not because he didn’t want to talk to her.  If he called her he had hoped she was alive, or at least that those sons of bitches had her phone.  If they did then that meant that he could link the GPS together once she tried to answer.

Tinkle Wireless wasn’t the best phone company in the world, but when it came to useless crap like linking GPS locators it was amazing.  Of course right now she could kiss the code monkey that had written the app.  She wasn’t sure where he was, but he knew where she was, or her phone was, and he would be heading here.

“Cutter, let’s see what she looks like topless,” the other one said.

“Yeah, hand me your blade,” Cutter said.

The other one handed him an eight inch knife and he placed it against her throat.

“Move and I’ll cut you.  Don’t move and I might not, but either way when we’re done teasing…  We’re going to start having some real fun,” he said.

She felt the blade move down her, not really cutting into her, but instead lightly scraping until it reached the collar of her t-shirt.  He pulled it down and the material began to give to the blade.  She felt him take his time.  It was obvious that he was enjoying this, and she figured that he wanted her to feel weak and helpless.  What he didn’t know was that she was getting her hands free, and hopefully Niko would be here when she was ready, if not she was going get started without him.

“Look at that… Someone’s already been cutting on you huh darling.  Damn shame,” he said.

She felt the bonds getting looser.  She tried not to alert him to what she was doing.  Let him look down her shirt, let him see her breasts if that was what the son of a bitch wanted, but she couldn’t let him know that she was almost free.  There was a squeal of a seat of tires and gun fire erupted from outside.

“Shit!  It looks like they came looking for her!” one of them exclaimed.

“Motherfucker!  Get out there and mow the son of a bitch down!” Cutter exclaimed.

She felt the rope finally slack off enough and she worked a hand out.  When she did her hand came up and hit Cutter hard in the throat.  He stepped back confused as he dropped the knife.  She grabbed it, cut the tape on her legs, and then looked at him.  She could hear the gun fire still going on, but it was slowing down.  

There was no doubt in her mind it was Niko.  These bastards might have been a bad ass gang, but her Niko…  He had been a soldier, and he knew how to make his shots count.  She rared back and kicked forward landing a swift kick in Cutter’s balls.  He grabbed them in pain as she grabbed the rope she had been tied with and got ready.  He got on his hands and knees to get up and she jumped on his back.  The rope came across his neck and he tried to get her off of him.  He tried to roll over to get her loose, but she wouldn’t let go.  She felt the bulk of him as he tried to squirm, but she held on until she felt him starting to stop moving.  She slacked off and pushed him off of her.  To her surprise he was still breathing, but it was slight, almost as if she had choked him out instead of killed him.

Seeing him in this situation she worked on pulling him toward the chair.  Still, he was a good deal heavier than he looked.  She heard someone walking in to the room and looked up to see Niko.  He ran toward her and she dropped her would be attacker and met him in an embrace.  They kissed and she felt him pull her tight against him.

“ljubavi,” he said.

He didn’t speak his native language around her too often, but she smiled at that.  He was calling her love.  She leaned her head against his chest.

“I knew that you would get here,” she said.

“How?” he asked.

“That’s who you are.  I know that I can depend on you, and besides, how you feel about me is how I feel about you,” she said.
He looked at the body on the floor.

“Who is this?” he asked.

She growled as she kicked Cutter in the side of the face.

“Someone that’s going to learn a hard lesson about threatening Rainbow Dash,” she replied.

He looked at her and helped put the man into the chair.  It didn’t take long before they had his hands bound.  Once that was done she taped his legs to the chair legs and then took a bottle of some kind of liquid on the floor and poured it on his head.

“Smells like piss,” Niko said.

“He deserves it,” she replied.

He began to stir for a moment.

“Huh what?” Cutter asked.

She held her hand out and Niko put a gun into it.  Dash held her gun against the forehead of Cutter and sneered at him.

“What was it you said about my ass motherfucker?  Huh?  What was it?” she asked as one of her rainbow colored bangs fell down in front of her eye.

“N…. Nothing,” he said.

“No, I think a few minutes ago you said something about cracking my ass open and taking it for a test drive.  Funny, when my boy Niko showed up, kicked your friends’ asses, and then proceeded to help me tie your ass up your tune suddenly changed.  So, how about we play a nice game of truth and ponyshit.  If you lie I shoot you.  If you tell the truth I think about letting you go.  Where is the fucking coke?!” she screamed the question.

“I….  I don’t know!” he screamed.

She shook her head and shot him in the kneecap.

“Ponyshit!  Now, where is the motherfucking coke?!” she yelled.

“Back at the clubhouse!” he screamed.

“How many of your boys are left?” she asked.

“Dozens of them,” he whimpered.

“Ponyshit!” she yelled as she shot his other kneecap.

“Ten!  There’s ten left!” he whimpered.

“Good, now, do you like cupcakes?” she asked.

“Yes!” he screamed.

“Wrong answer motherfucker,” she said as she shot him between the eyes.

She handed the gun back over to Niko.  He stopped her and looked at her.  A bruise was already starting to form where the bastard had hit her.  He kissed her again and felt her wrap her arms around him.

“I know we need to get the coke back from them…” she started before he stopped her.

“No, I’ve already cut Jacob in on the deal.  He was to help me find you, and then find the coke.  There is another person I am going to contact about helping get the coke back.  He does not like these men, and I know that he will not have a problem killing them to get it back,” Niko said.

“Do you trust him?” she asked.

“I can trust Mr. Klebitz to do the work for the money.  He has no love for these men, and besides if I know Jacob he will also have Badman there to help make sure that he doesn’t try to take off with the coke,” Niko said.

They walked out of the warehouse and she looked at the car he had driven to find her.  It wasn’t the dukes.  She was thankful he hadn’t brought the muscle car, but instead it looked like he had borrowed someone’s hatchback.  A puddle of antifreeze and oil under seemed to tell a story it not going anywhere. 

“There,” he said.

She walked with him over to a motorcycle as he hotwired it.  After a few seconds the engine started and she climbed on the back of it. 

“Hold on,” he said.

She did and with a jump the motorcycle sped off.  She felt it speed through the warehouse district and enjoyed the feeling of riding like this.  They neared a turn and he slowed down for a second.

“Want to go home?” he asked.

“That sounds good,” she replied.

They headed toward the penthouse and she enjoyed the trip.

It was cold, but that was normal for Liberty City.  It was kind of surprising that yesterday had been as warm as it was, but it appeared that the storm that had blew in was also bringing back the cold arctic air with it.  She didn’t mind though, and it didn’t take long to get back home.  They walked in, both shaking off the cold, and took the elevator ride up to the penthouse.  Once there she headed straight for the shower.  She wanted to clean off the smell of those bikers, and she wanted to let that experience go down the drain with the water.

She closed her eyes and stepped into the hot water that was running, after she undressed, and felt the wonderfully hot water cover her.  The door the shower opened, and she felt a pair of arms wrap around her.

“We could both use a shower,” Niko said.

After they both washed each other, which was something she decided was going to have to happen again, They got out of the shower and heard someone knocking on the door.  She groaned, got dressed, and walked to the door to find Brucie standing there with Tracy.  She stepped back a little surprised as the two of them came inside.

“Sorry to drop by unannounced, but we wanted to make sure you were all right.  I mean if you can keep up with that serious Red Army Niko then there’s no problem, but we just wanted to make sure that you weren’t hurt,” Brucie said.

“No, I’m fine, thanks though,” she said.

“Thank God!  I was scared out of my mind!  They tried to follow me for a while, but I lost them through a gated community.  I was never so glad to get rid of a van in my life!” Tracy said.

Dash smiled.

“So, ummm… since you two are okay what do you say to a little dinner to celebrate?  I know a good place!” Brucie said.

“Brucie they might want to be alone,” Tracy said.

“Naw, I bet that Niko’s seriously starving after pulling some of those Red Army moves, and besides, I’m paying,” Brucie said.

“Okay, we’ll go,” Niko said as he came out the bedroom.

“Seriously Niko, if you two want a little alone time…” Tracy started.

“Trust me, I know Brucie, and if he gets an idea into his head it’s best to go with it.  We’ll go,” Niko said.
> Build Me Up Buttercup
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

GTA: The Ballad of Rainbow Dash
Chapter 9: Build me Up Buttercup

(Ms Wong’s Day Spa and Nail Palace – a week later)

“Simone, thanks for inviting us to the Spa,” Tracy said as both she and Dash walked into the building.

“Darlings it was the least I could do.  I mean first you help keep me from making that huge mistake of trying to walk home in the rain, and then you saved me once more from that despicable wretch of a boyfriend.  I don’t know what I was thinking when it came to trying to date that uncouth Donald Love.  He was more obsessed about how he looked and what he wanted than even considering worrying about me,” she said.

“It was funny to watch his face wasn’t it?” Dash asked.

“Funny isn’t the word darling.  Priceless is the word.  Getting that information on him plastered all over the internet and on the Ultratron on Star Junction was a stroke of genius!” Simone said.

Dash grinned and rubbed the back of her head.

“I’m just glad that Tracy knew how to get into the control system for that thing,” Dash said.

“Oh, that’s easy.  I mean we high-jacked the Basketball stadium’s instant replay megascreens in my third semester of college.  A guy that I was dating showed me how to get around some of the lesser controls.  He said that once you do that most of the time they don’t think of putting any higher security up,” she replied.

“Still, it was perfect.  He’s gone, left the city in shame, and with him all of his crass comments and disregarding of my fashions, so let’s celebrate with being pampered,” Simone said.

A few moments later three young women walked out to them and bowed slightly.
“Ms Simone, it is a pleasure to see you again,” one of them said.

“Why thank you Ono.  My friends and I would like my regular,” she said.

“Oh, okay, three premium packages today, we can do that for you Ms. Simone,” Ono said as she nodded to the other two.
The three friends followed the employees back to a large room where several massage tables where lined up.  Dash looked at Simone who wasted no time in getting undressed and lying down face first on the table.  Deciding to follow suit she did the same.  The air in here was a little warm, but it felt good on her exposed skin.  She began feeling the first hints of what had to be a deep muscle massage.

“Miss Simone says you all three get premium package,” the woman giving her a massage said.
“Uh huh,” Dash said feeling herself relaxing.  

Sure, the massage felt a little rough at first, but now her body was accepting the hands of the masseuse as she worked on her.  She looked over to Tracy who seemed to be doing about the same.  Her brunette headed friend let out a relaxed moan once her masseuse began working on her back.

She felt the hands moving up her back and then to her neck.  She felt her head being turned, but she remained relaxed.  After a moment there was a loud crack and she felt so much pressure that she had just release itself.

“Okay, we go into the waxing room now,” Ono said to the other two employees.

Dash felt the masseuse step back and she slowly got up.  It felt nice.  She felt a lot more limber than before.  She would really have to thank Simone for this.  She walked into the next room and found Simone laying down, her legs slightly spread, and walked over to a table beside her to do the same.  

“Ummm,” Simone grunted slightly as Ono pulled a strip of wax off of her bikini line.
Dash watched and it didn’t look too painful.  The masseuse who had worked on her stood there for a moment before looking up at her.

“First time?” she asked.

“Yeah, but it doesn’t look too bad,” Dash replied.

“Yes, Miss Simone does this every week.  Take deep breath now,” the masseuse said as she spread some warm wax on her bikini line.

“Oh, give her a full Brazilian, after all it is my way of saying thank you,” Simone said.

“Okay,” the masseuse said as she spread a little more wax on Dash.

Dash wasn’t sure what to expect, but feeling fire, as if her crotch had been dipped into the very fiery lakes of Hell itself, wasn’t it.  Her held breath came out in a sudden blast, and before she could say a word she felt more wax being applied.  Her lips quivered as she felt the cloth being pressed against it.

“Wai…” she didn’t get to finish.

The masseuse pulled the cloth up removing more of her bush.  She had liked calling it that.  It actually resembled that once, but now…  now she wondered if it resembled a nuclear holocaust.  She wondered that because that’s what it felt like.  Another dab of wax and she closed her eyes.  Her one bit of relief was hearing Tracy breathing like she was.

“Who does this to themselves?” Dash asked through gritted teeth.

“Anyone who wants a clean playground,” Simone replied.

Dash felt another dab of wax and quietly prayed for someone to have some mercy and knock her out.  The cloth pressed against it and she gritted her teeth.  There wasn’t any use asking for them to wait.  A second later the piece of cloth came up and she nearly left the table.

“Okay we done now,” the masseuse said.

“Thank Celestia,” Dash muttered.

“Next we have the sauna, and then the facials,” Ono said.

They got up and followed Simone, although Dash seriously thought about turning around and taking off.  She couldn’t be sure, but it seemed possible that Simone was a sadist.  She wondered if that was it or not.  Instead she went ahead and followed them into a large steam room.

She took a seat and felt the hot air and steam wash over her. It was hot in here, but at least no one was trying to rip anything else out of her.  She leaned back against the slick wood plank walls and breathed in deep.

“This is what life is all about,” Simone said.

“The massage, sure, this, okay, having them go to town on me ripping hair out…  I could live without that,” Dash said.
“Darling, it gets so much easier when you get used to it,” Simone replied, “Besides, I’m certain that your boyfriend will be glad to see a nice, clean, and beautiful playground.”

“Thanks for this Simone,” Tracy said.

“Oh both of you are welcomed.  Like I said it’s the least I could do,” she said.

Simone yawned and stretched.

“I almost always feel like I could go to sleep in here.  It’s just so peaceful,” she said.

“Yeah, I don’t think that I could handle the hiss of the steam,” Dash replied.

“Oh, it’s just white noise.  Something to help you relax,” Simone said.

Dash watched her friend and grinned.  There was no doubt that her and Rarity would get along.  Both of them talking about high fashion, and Simone would love to visit Rarity’s design room.  Although Simone’s taste in men was another matter.  She had basically busted up with Brucie and started dating Donald Love.

Mr. Love had money, so it made sense, but the way he spoke when in public made Dash not like him.  He loved to act as if he was really above everyone else, and he even acted that way toward Simone.  Sure, Simone was a little snooty, but at least she didn’t treat everyone like they were lower class.  She would talk to anyone that wanted to talk.  She might leave a conversation, but she was polite about it.  Mr. Donald Love would simply say they were boring him, turn, and leave.

So helping her get rid of him wasn’t any trouble.  She heard the door squeak open and a head popped in.

“Miss Simone, it is time for facials,” Ono said.

“Of course, thank you Ono,” Simone said as she sat up.

The three of them walked out and were lead to a room with several posh looking red chairs.  They took a seat in session and then each of the employees laid them back and began covering their faces in a green mud that smelled citrusy, almost like an orange, and then topped their eyes off with a slice of cucumber over each eyelid.  Dash let a contented breath.  This wasn’t so bad.  She was able to relax, the feeling of hellfire that had covered her crotch was disappearing, and she was enjoying the nice smell of the mud on her.

“This is nice,” Dash said.

She heard the door chime go off and Ono excuse herself.  A moment later she heard Ono saying something in a foreign language, but it sounded as if she arguing.

Her voice started getting louder, and after a few minutes it sounded as if the voice was right outside of the room.

“This is my place of business!  I tell you before that I do not owe you protection money!  This is Miss Ono Wong’s Day Spa and Nail Emporium!” she shouted.

“And if you want it to stay that way you better pay us,” a voice said.

“No, I no pay!” she shouted.

“Fine,” the voice said.

There was a loud slap and then the door opened.  Dash could heard someone choking and uncovered her eye lids to see Ono being choked by a large oriental man.  Another man with her turned toward her and her friends.
“Look, either you pay us protection or we’re going to take it out on your girls and your customers,” the one looking at her said, “Yoshi, loosen up and let her talk.”

“No hurt them…  I… I pay,” Ono said.

“Good, although I think that you should entertain us both since you took so long to decide to agree,” Yoshi said.

“Yeah, I think you’re right,” the other one said.

Dash cursed not having her clothes with her.  She had a switch blade in her pocket, and she knew she was fast enough to get over to them before they could do anything.  She felt the side of her chair and felt something.  It was long, thin, curved slightly at the tip, and at the moment it was perfect.

She stretched, letting her towel fall slightly. The thug watching them stared at her.  She hoped he would take the bait and come closer.  After a moment it seemed as if her hopes would be realized and she walked toward her.  He moved, obviously thinking about what he would see, closer and when he was right next to her she lashed out with the small tool.  It buried easily in his balls, and she heard him scream.

He fell to the floor in pain and she ran toward Yoshi who stood completely dumbfounded.  She didn’t need the tool for him.  A little trick she learned back in Poneyville would work just fine.  She jumped, catching his shoulder, and pulled as she jumped past him.  The action caught him off guard and pulled him away from Ono and instead forced him to hit the door frame hard.

He bounced off of it and stumbled back.  She grabbed the closest thing to her, a fire extinguisher, and swung it hard.  It connected with his head and knocked him back.  He stumbled for a moment before a loud cry sounded out and he fell forward grabbing his manhood.  Dash looked up to see Simone standing there grinning.

“Mrs. Ilyena Faustin’s self-defense course.  I wanted all of my employees and myself to be safe after all,” Simone said.

“Thank you, thank you so much!” Ono said as she bowed slightly to Dash.

“It’s okay, I’m just sorry those two were bothering you,” she said.

“They come in here every day after my brother die.  They want us to pay them protection money,” she said.

“Have you thought about hiring security or something to deal with this?” Dash asked.

“I thought, but I don’t want a bunch of…  rough men here.  You… you want to work security?” she asked.

“I don’t know… Let me think about it,” Dash said.
> The Bad Touch
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

GTA: The Ballad of Rainbow Dash
Chapter 10: The Bad Touch

(Hove beach – Lloyd’s Adult Emporium)

Niko looked at the address.  Well over six years ago he had been here making sure that the men who ran this place were paying Mr. Faustin as they agreed to.  Now, now he was here again, but this time it was for a complaint one of the girls that worked at the Triangle Club had given Dwayne.  Niko knew that the girl was smart enough to go ahead and contact Dwayne personally.

He walked down the stairs to the store and could hear rhythmic thumping coming from behind the closed door.  That was part of the complaint.  The new owners were still making porn, but they were getting some of the family of the girls who worked at the club.  He wasn’t sure what it was they were doing exactly, but the girls didn’t want the police called in on it.  They didn’t want their family dragged through the mud in order to fix this, and the police would do that.  They would drag everything out into the light of day.  That’s when Dwayne asked him for a favor.

He took a breath and then kicked the door in.  It swung open and he could see a shaggy blonde haired guy standing near the door.
“Hey man, look this is a closed set.  The Emporium is closed, and you’re going to fucking owe us a brand new door asshole,” he said.

Niko kicked his leg forward and caught him in the stomach.  The shaggy guy bent over and the next kick landed on his chin.  He watched as the shaggy blonde crumpled to the floor and walked past him.  He pulled his pistol and looked at two middle aged men with a girl dressed up in a cheer leader’s uniform between them.  They stopped what they were doing for a moment.

“Hey, what the hell do you think that you are doing?!” someone yelled.

“I’m closing down your porn making business,” he replied.

The man walked closer and Niko pointed the gun at him.

“Woah fella, look, I’m sure we could work something out.  I mean, have you ever thought about being in the movies?  We could do a stranger in a strange land kind of movie with you,” the same man said.

“I don’t like being filmed,” he said, “You,” he pointed to the girl, “Get out and rethink your life.”

“Amber sweetie don’t leave!” one of the men said.

She turned and looked back at him.  

“Go now,” Niko said.

She took off up the stairs and he looked at them.

“This is closed as of today.  If I hear a single word of it being open again I will come back here and I will end you,” he said.

The obvious director, a balding man with a grunge fetish, stepped toward him.  Niko didn’t wait another second.  He pulled the trigger on the pistol and shot him through the kneecap.  The other two looked dumbfounded for a moment.  One of them started to move, and found himself looking down a barrel.

“Man, I swear I won’t work here again,” he said.

Niko studied them for a moment.

“Just one word about this still happening, and I will return,” he said.

He turned and walked out the door and up the steps.  Once he got up there he saw the girl sitting on the curb.

“My big sister sent you huh?” she asked.

“Possibly, but to be honest I am not sure.  A friend asked me to handle this,” he said.

“Yeah, it was Monique.  Well, that’s her stage name.  I still call her Candice,” Amber replied.

“Why were you doing this?” he asked.

“We need the money, and I knew that they would pay me something.  Besides, it’s kind of hard to find a job around here,” she answered.

“If you’re old enough to do porn there are other jobs,” he replied.

“Yeah, I kind of lied about my age,” she said.

He turned and looked at her.  She shrugged her shoulders and looked across the road.

“Just how old are you?” he asked.

“Old enough,” she answered.

“Seriously, you should go home.  This is not the kind of life for anyone,” he said standing up.

“What like you’re a saint or something?” she asked.

“No, but I know that you don’t need this,” he replied.

“Yeah?  That’s great except that I’m the only one who can work.  Sis works, but she’s says that she’s putting herself through school, and mom… All she does is pop a lot of pain pills and have uncle Hank through Frank come around and do whatever so she can get more of them.  If I don’t work then we don’t have food, water, or anything else,” Amber said.
He shook his head and looked up at the sky for a moment.

“Where do you live?” he asked.

“Bohan, the Valentine Apartments on Alcatraz Avenue, that’s where I live.  It’s the only place that’s cheap enough,” she said.
Niko knew the street.  He had lived in Bohan with Roman for a while, and where she was talking about was about as bad as that shitty neighborhood.

“Are you able to get to Xenotime Street?” he asked.

“Sure, why?” she asked.

“Have you waited tables?” he asked.

“What are you going on about?” she asked.

“I own a business there, a pancake house, they are needing a waitress.  It has to be better than doing this,” he answered.

“You’re offering me a job?  You just saw me taking it in the…” she started before he glared at her.

“Okay, you saw me doing what I was doing and you’re going to offer me a job?” she asked.

“Yes, I’m going to offer you a job.  You want to work, I have work, and it is a job,” he said.

“Not to be insulting, but what does it pay?” she asked.

“Enough so you won’t have to do this anymore,” he answered.

She got up and looked toward the steps leading down into the makeshift porn studio.

“Yeah, my ride was down there and I don’t think that I’m going to get it back home… Actually, I don’t think that I’m going to be able to get one to this job either… Well, Monique might let me stay with her.  She lives on Algonquin… would you mind to give a ride to my sis’ place?” she asked.

“Sure, why not,” he said.

He got up and walked to his Dukes.  She looked at the large muscle car and got inside of it.  It rumbled to life and he dropped it into gear.  The tires squealed as they took off.  He turned around, barely missing a parked, and rusting, purple Uranus.  Amber quickly buckled her seatbelt as he headed toward the bridge connecting Broker to Algonquin.

“Where does your sister live?” he asked.

“She lives in the blocks.  Like I said she’s paying her way through school,” Amber said.

“Fair enough,” Niko replied.

The moment they crossed the bridge he took a right toward North Algonquin.  He knew the blocks pretty well.  Dwayne had lived there for a while, but finally he decided to go ahead and move into a small house instead.  It was an improvement over the dingy apartment, but from what the girl said the blocks was an improvement over where she had lived.

It didn’t take too long before he pulled up beside the huge apartment complex.  She sat there for a moment and then smiled at him.

“Ummm…  Do you mind if I borrow your phone?  I kind of forgot mine back at that place,” she said.

He handed her the phone and leaned back as she dialed.

“Come on, come on pick up, pick up,” she said as she drummed her fingers on the dashboard, “Candice? Okay, okay, Monique. Yeah, this is Amber.  No, no I’m fine.  Yeah, I wanted to know if I could stay with you for a while.”

She waited and then another smile broke out across her face.

“You’re the best sis.  Oh, I got a job, no, not that kind.  Well, it’s a pancake house.  No, I don’t know about mom.  I haven’t been home in a week.  I…  I don’t know what she’s doing, but I guess that she’s strung out on pills again,” Amber said as she looked down at her knees, “I know.  I want to feel bad about it too, but she’s done this a thousand times before.  It’s just gotten worse after Dad died.  Look, I’m heading up there,” she hung up the phone and looked at him, “Thanks.”

She gave him a hug and he sat surprised that she had.  After all he had busted in earlier with a gun, but then again what did he know about women and girls.  One of the few things Roman had ever said that made any kind of sense was that there was no making any sense of a woman.  There was just loving them.

He waited to make sure that she made it to the building and then began to speed off.  A moment later his phone rang and he answered it.

“ljubavi,” he said, “What is it?”

He listened as she told him about the adventure at the spa, and the suggestion of working security.  He thought for a moment and then smiled.

“It would not be that hard to do this job.  I have worked security before, for different people, and we could include Little Jacob.  He could help make sure that you have what you need,” he suggested.

She paused a moment and then agreed.

“Do you need me to pick you up?  No?  Okay.  What playground are you talking about?” he asked.

(Bohan – Valentine Apartments – Alcatraz Avenue – Apartment 406B)

“Please… Please don’t,” a voice begged in the dark.

“My boss said we had to keep you, but he didn’t say that we had to treat you nice…  Pinkie,” a tall gangly Eastern European man said.

He walked toward her and lifted her up.  Like herself he wasn’t from here.  He had been from that other world, from Equestria, or at least a kingdom near it.  It had been easy to find her, after he was hired of course, and even easier to fool her.  Being a changeling gave him all kinds of advantages.  The fact that she had a crush on somepony called Big Macintosh had only made his job easier.
Telling her that he was interested in her, that he wanted to date her, and then having her show him all over until finally they entered the basement, but that had almost ended it.  The clone was already there.  He had been told about it, but she started to get confused.  He turned into his natural state and her hair deflated.  She tried to run, but he was far too quick for her.  A little nip and he drained some of her energy out of her.

He loved her fear.  It was so sweet.  It tasted like cake frosting, and it only made him want her to feel it more.  He followed his job, crossing over into this world, finding those who had been approached as well, and getting the apartment.  It was perfect.
All he had to do now was break her down.  He walked toward her and saw her twisting her pink hair into tight strands.

“Please, please don’t…” she begged again.

He slapped her hard.  

“You don’t even know do you?  Your friends are never going to find you, and even if they could…  they wouldn’t want to.  That other you has made sure it.  You are all alone, with me, Pinkie Pie, and I’m going to enjoy every, last, minute of this,” he said as he grabbed her and pulled her up to him

He pushed her hard against the wall, and the next thing he heard was the wonderful screams coming from her to stop.
> Tracy's Mom
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

GTA: The Ballad of Rainbow Dash
Chapter 11: Tracy’s Mom

(Perseus Clothing Store – South Algonquin – four days later)

Dash stood in a designer dress that Simone had provided her.  She looked at Niko who was dressed in a suit he had bought a few months ago.  She felt flattered that Simone wanted to invite her to this reception, but at the same time this wasn’t the kind of thing that she really liked to attend.  Her one visit to the Galloping Gala had been more than enough to prove that she didn’t enjoy going to something so far removed from her element.

“Dash, thank God I was afraid that there wasn’t going to be anyone else that I knew around here,” Tracy said as she came toward her.

“Yeah, I kind of felt the same way.  That’s why I asked if Niko could come,” Dash said.

Tracy smiled at Niko who gave her a slight nod before looking around the room.

“So, what are we doing here?” Niko asked.

“Simone is unveiling some new fashion creation,” Tracy answered.

“Why didn’t you bring Brucie?” Dash asked.

“You do remember what Simone is like around him right?” Tracy asked.

“Good point,” Dash said.

Tracy looked back over the crowd and let out a breath of relief.

“Something wrong?” Dash asked.

“Ummm…  Sort of.  I mean it’s not really wrong, but it might try to get that way,” Tracy replied.

“What is it?” Niko asked.

“My mom was supposed to come with me.  I’m glad to see her here, but the guy she was dating is…  I don’t know how to describe it,” Tracy said.

“He’s a dick?” Niko asked.

“That’s probably the best way I could think of saying it yeah,” Tracy answered.

The lights began to dim and Simone walked out on the small catwalk wearing a newly designed dress.  She smiled at the group in attendance and waved to them all.  Dash watched her friend and moved a rainbow colored strand of hair out of her eyes.

“Gentlemen, Ladies, and all lovers of fashion welcome to the cirque du Simone!” she exclaimed.

She stepped down and a beautiful woman wearing a low v cut dress walked out.  Dash watched as she walked and noticed that the dress seemed to crystals, or maybe small diamonds, sewn into the material.  Each time the woman stepped the dress seemed to reflect the light making it turn into an entire rainbow of colors.  Everyone near the stage Ooooed and Ahhhhhed the wonderful new piece of fashion as it was paraded up the catwalk and then back up it.

Once that dress disappeared a man walked out carrying a suit jacket.  His rose colored vest looked as if it was stitched together with golden thread, and the bowtie he wore was the same color rose as the vest.  The dress shirt was a stunning pearl white, and the slacks were the black as the suit jacket he was carrying.

“What the fuck is this shit?!” a slurred voice said.

Dash turned her attention to owner of the voice.  He was dressed in a shabby leasure suit, and he stumbling around slightly.

“Darlene, where the fuck are you?!” he shouted.

“Your mom’s boyfriend?” Dash asked.

Tracy nodded and shook her head.

“She’s become such a better person, but she still goes out with the same trash she did when we lived in a trailer park,” Tracy muttered.

“Damn it where the hell are you?!” he shouted again.

He stepped closer to the center of the room and one of the usual security personnel at Perseus walked toward him.  The security guard held a hand up and grasped his shoulder.

“Sir, I suggest that you leave this event right now,” the guard said.

“Sure,” the man said.  He turned around, and then taking the nearly empty beer bottle he had been carrying turned back around and clocked the guard hard on the side of the head.

The security guard stumbled and the drunken man took a swing at him.  He connected, surprisingly, and knocked the guard on his ass.  He kicked the guard hard in the ribs and soon found another two men approaching him.

“Oh God this is so embarrassing,” Tracy muttered.

One of the two men tried to grab him only to have the drunken man shove him back.  When he did it appeared that Tracy’s mom’s date had grabbed one of their guns.  He aimed it at the both of them and then aimed it into the air and fired off a shot.

“Darlene you stupid bitch, where the fuck are you?!” he yelled in a drunken rage.

Dash felt Niko tense up.  She looked away from the situation to see Niko looking at the man with utter hate in his eyes.  It was something she hadn’t seen in his eyes often.

“Panchart, Tvoja skurvena mater je prostitutka!” he exclaimed as he stood there shaking in rage.

“You got something to say to me boy?!” the drunk raged at him.

“Ty kurva stávku mám problém debile!” he shouted.

Dash hadn’t heard him talk in his own language very often, but he seemed to be so fueled with anger that he wasn’t able to speak English.  Niko started to walk toward the man and then the drunk made a mistake.  He made what had to be the biggest mistake in his entire life, or at least to Dash it was the biggest mistake of his life.  The gun fired again and she saw Niko’s left side move.  He kept walking toward the guy and another shot rang out.  This time Niko’s right leg gave out and he fell to the floor.

“Yeah!  Take that you foreign piece of shit!” the drunk ranted.

Dash’s eyes narrowed at the bastard in front of her.  She wished that she knew what made Niko hate him so bad, but now she had a reason to hate him just as much.  She moved behind some of the crowd and walked toward the downed guard behind him.  She reach into guard’s jacket and pulled out his weapon, a Taser, and fired it.  The two prongs hit him in the small of the back and she held the trigger down on the Taser.  She heard him scream in pain as he laid there.  His hand dropped the gun he had and she walked toward him.

“You mother fucker!” she shouted as she kicked him hard in the balls.

“Get this crazy bitch off of me!” he screamed.

“Crazy bitch?!  Crazy bitch?! You haven’t seen crazy bitch yet!  I’m going to show you crazy bitch!  I’m going to go full on Pinkie on your ass!” Dash screamed.

She looked up to see Niko breathing, his hand holding his side, and she looked at the drunken bastard on the floor.

“Dash, darling, I’ve called the police, they’ll take care of him,” Simone said as she walked toward her.

“Paramedics, did you call them?” Dash asked through gritted teeth as she shook in rage.

“Yes, they are on the way,” she replied.

Dash kicked the drunken bastard in the side of the head hard.

“If he dies then I promise you this.  I promise you that it won’t matter where they put you, how well they hide you, or how many walls they put up around you, because I will find you.  And when I do I’m going to take my time making you pay for what you did,” she said.

Tracy ran over to her and Dash looked up at her friend, and then she looked at Niko.  Almost as if they silently spoke to each other the two friends walked over to him.  Dash touched his shoulder softly.

“I’m right here baby,” she said.

“ljubavi, I’m sorry,” he replied.

“It’s all right.  The ambulance is on the way, and you’re going to be fine,” she said.

Simone walked closer to them and knelt down near the two of them.

“I’ve called ahead and asked a surgeon friend of mine to meet all of us at the hospital.  He’s one of the best, and he owes me a thousand favors,” she said.

“I seem to have ruined your party,” Niko said through the pain he was feeling.

“It’s not the only fashion show I have lined up, and besides these things are usually dreadfully boring.  Although, next time you come to one I will have to ask that you keep the fighting and gun shots to a minimum,” she replied.

He laughed before groaning in pain.

A few seconds later the sound of two different kinds of sirens going off could be heard.  Dash heard the officers screaming at the drunk to stay on the ground, and she heard the paramedics telling her to move.  She fought the urge to stay where she was, to protect and save him like he had done for her, but she stepped back and let them take him.

“I’ve got a Schyster PMP 600 outside.  Come on and we’ll go straight to the hospital,” Simone said.

Dash nodded and stood up.  A second later a slightly older woman walked toward them.  At first glance it looked as if Tracy had somehow managed to step into some magical room and put on about sixteen years.  Sixteen well aged years, but sixteen years none the less.  The woman stopped and looked at Tracy.

“Oh Gawd what the hell did that sum bitch do?” she asked.

“Mom, your date nearly killed my friends…” Tracy started before Dash looked at her.

“He nearly killed my Niko,” she seethed.

“I’m awfully sorry.  I…” she started before she looked at the floor.

“We’re going to the hospital Mom, why don’t you come with us, and maybe there will be something that you can do,” Tracy said.

“Thank ya babygirl,” she replied.

The four of them walked out to the PMP 600.  Dash didn’t look back at the store.  She didn’t think about the fact they were leaving one of the premiere fashion shows in Liberty City.  All she was thinking about was getting to the hospital, and making sure that Niko was okay.

(South Bohan – Elizabeta Torres’ home)

Elizabeta looked at the pink haired girl that had stumbled up to her house in the middle of the night last night.  She had been nude, and it looked as if she had been through things that would have made the toughest bitch on the inside cry.  She touched the girl’s head and offered her a cup of coffee.

“Thank you,” the girl said quietly.

There was something different about her.  Elizabeta couldn’t explain it, but there was something about this girl that made her stand out, well other than her outlandish pink hair.  It was odd that it lay so perfectly flat against her.

“You were telling me about the Puta who did this to you,” Elizabeta said as took a seat.

“He tricked me.  I thought he was someone else, and then he cornered me…  I was knocked out after that.  I remember waking up and…  Oh dear Celestia…” she closed her eyes tightly and began to cry.

“It’s okay, you’re safe now.  I don’t know who did this to you, but I don’t like it when any man gets too grabby with a girl.  As long as you are in my house you are safe,” Elizabeta said.

To her surprise the girl’s hair began to puff out a little.  She shook her head thinking that she must have been wrong on how straight it was earlier.

“So, you hungry?  You like cake?  I picked up a carrot cake yesterday,” she said.

“Cake?!” the girl asked.

It appeared that her hair puffed out even more at the mention of the carrot cake.

“Yeah, it’s in the kitchen.  Lets go get a piece of it.  So, what is your name, really?” she asked.

“It’s Pinkie, well, actually my full name is Pinkamena Diane Pie,” Pinkie said.

“Okay, well lets stick to Pinkie.  That’s easier to remember,” Elizabeta said.

“Okay Izzy,” she said.

Elizabeta rolled her eyes at the pet name.  It was something her cousin in Puerto Rico had called her time and time again.  It was something she swore that only her cousin could call her, and when she received news that her cousin had been raped and killed…  She swore no one else could call her that, but this girl, this Pinkie, she reminded her of Melody.  She wondered, if it was possible, that this girl was Melody re-incarnated.  

She shook off the thought and opened the bakery box holding the carrot cake.  Once it was open she cut a large piece out for herself, and one just as large for Pinkie.  To her surprise Pinkie had it eaten in less than four bites and was ready for another piece.  She looked at the full sheet cake and wondered if it would be enough.
> September
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

GTA: The Ballad of Rainbow Dash
Chapter 12: September

(Rusty Brown’s Ring Donuts – two weeks later)

Elizabeta sipped her coffee as Pinkie came almost skipping over to their booth.  She was surprised at how much the girl had opened up.  Not to mention the girl could bake.  Everything she had gotten from ‘Thick, Sticky, and Sweet Batter Bakery’ didn’t hold a light to what Pinkie could make.  Naturally she couldn’t let such fantastic talents go to waste.

She had been caught before because she was too open with what she did.  She had let everyone know about her practices, or at least everyone who cared to know.  This time she was taking it easier and slower.  She was still back in business, but she was doing it through a business venture.  The opportunity came when the Burger Shot near her closed its doors for the last time.
She did want to help Pinkie, keep her safe, but there was no reason she couldn’t earn a little money while doing it.  That’s when she told Pinkie how she thought of opening a bakery near her home.  The girl seemed interested, and she admitted that she had some experience working in a bakery.  It wouldn’t be hard to hide some of the coke, and other things, in the cakes and pies Pinkie would make.  It would be a real business that catered to those in the know, and those not in it.

So now, she sat in this donut hole-in-the-wall, and began going through the various things she would have to buy for the Bakery itself.

“Izzy, what cha thinking about?” Pinkie asked.

“Nothing Mija, just thinking about the bakery, and what we’re going to need for it,” she said.

“Oh, well I know we need an oven, you know a big one, I remember the one that I used to work had had a big one, but it never seemed big enough.  I mean I tried to cook a six layer cake in there once, and it wouldn’t fit.  Of course Mrs. Cake, she was one of the owners, she said that you couldn’t bake the layers on top of each other, but how else are they going to get to know one another unless they are already on top of each other?  Oh, and then I wanted to fix a special black berry cobbler, for my friend AJ, but Mrs. Cake said the oven couldn’t hold a pan big enough for a twenty-two pound cobbler.  What kind of oven can’t hold a cobbler?!  I was just trying to make it big enough.  Then Dashie tried to order a hundred cupcakes one time, and I put them all in there, but it caused the oven to make this funny Woosh sound!” Pinkie exclaimed.

Elizabeta watched her for a moment and just sat back.  She had already tried to stop the girl when she went off on a story before.  Eventually she would get back on track and then they could talk.  At least while she was doing this it was entertaining.  As Pinkie continued to wind herself through the long, and confusing, very confusing, story Elizabeta picked up a filled donut and bit into it.  A little bit of strawberry filling leaked out and suddenly Pinkie stopped talking.

“Is that a strawberry filled donut?” she asked.

Elizabeta looked at her strangely for a moment before nodding.

“Yes, it is,” she replied.

“Oh, those are so yummy, but then so are blueberry filled, and apple filled, they are just so good!” Pinkie exclaimed.
Elizabeta pushed another filled donut to Pinkie who bit into it and chewed noisily for several seconds.  Elizabeta watched her as she finished the donut and then moved on to the glazed ones in front of her.

“Izzy, we’re friends right?” she asked.

“Of course we are Mija. Why are you asking?” Elizabeta asked.

“Because I like to be friendly, and I like to talk,” she said as she rubbed her hands together.

“What is wrong Pinkie my friend?” Elizabeta asked.

“I just want to make sure that we’re friends,” Pinkie said.

She could see her hair starting to deflate a little.  It seemed to come and go almost on its own.  She would be undeniably excited and happy for one minute, and the next… the next moment she was reserved and sad.  Elizabeta touched one of her hands and grinned at her.

“Mija, what did I say huh?  We’re friends.  I wouldn’t just let anyone stay with me for so long,” she said.

“Oh, okay.  Who was that one guy though?  The one who came by yesterday?” she asked.

“Oh him, he was one of those bikers that I sometimes worked with.  Mr. Johnny Klebitz, and he’s not so bad, he’s just a little off in the head.  I think it comes from him hanging around that junkie puta of his,” she replied.

“Oh, okay, say, what’s a puta?” Pinkie asked.

Elizabeta face palmed and tried to think of how to put it to her.

“It’s a girl of questionable morals who doesn’t believe in loyalty, and will watch her friends burn for a few dollars,” Elizabeta said.
It felt almost sad when she said it.  There had been times that she had been like that.  Granted she didn’t do it for meth money, but she had let friends go down without help in the past because of the money offered by a competitor.  She didn’t like to think of herself like that, but it was there.  It was in her past for the entire world to see, and she couldn’t hide all of it.  Maybe that’s why she was trying to help Pinkie.

It was a chance to make herself clean.  She might not be able to really become completely free and clean, but this was a chance to at least remove a few stains from her record.  She stopped her musing when Pinkie waved a hand in front of her.

“Earth to Izzy,” she said.

Once again her hair had puffed back out some.

“Sorry Mija, I was lost in thought,” she said.

“That’s okay, but what did he want?” she asked.

“Who?  Johnny?  He was wanting to know about an old business associate of mine.  I told him what I could remember, but I don’t think that it will do him much good,” she replied.

“Why?” Pinkie asked.

“He went to San Andreas some time ago.  I’m not sure where he went in the state exactly, but I know that Johnny seems to want to find him,” she said.

She looked at her pink haired friend for a moment and then at the old clothes she was wearing.  Pinkie hadn’t complained when she found some clothes that belonged to a couple of girls that had worked for her a few years ago, but the clothes weren’t in the best of shape.

“What do you say to us going and getting you something better to wear?  There’s a Modo in Algonquin.  We’ll go there and get a couple of suits of clothes.  I’m needing something else to wear as well,” she said.

(Liberty Lanes – Algonquin – Same time)

Niko groaned as he stood up.  His leg and chest was healing, but all of the wounds burned like fire when he walked.  To be honest he was surprised that Dash agreed to them spending some time with Brucie and Tracy today.  The four of them, well five if he wanted to count Tracy’s mother Darlene who was over at the snack bar flirting with the employee, were there to play a friendly little game.

“All right, I’m going to show you how this is done,” Dash said as she walked up to the line.
She lined up her ball and hurled it down the lane. It rolled, hard, toward the pins and blasted eight of them over leaving a seven/ten split.

“Good job, but lets see you pick that up,” Brucie said.

“You buy us all a round of beers if I do?” Dash asked.

“A round for us?  I’ll buy everyone in here a round if you do!” Brucie exclaimed.

She took careful aim.  She had done this before in Ponyville.  All it would take is one good throw and she could get both pins.  She reached back, let it loose, and the ball hurled toward the number ten pin.  She watched as it neared the gutter and right before it fell into the gutter it hit the pin.  The number ten pin flew across the short distance toward the other pin and just barely connected on the top.

They watched as it rocked back and forth for a moment.  At first she began to wonder if it was going to fall over or not, but then it went down with ease.

“Well look at that.  I’d say that it looks like you owe everybody in here a little something to drink,” Dash said.

She turned as she felt something.  She couldn’t explain it.  It felt wrong.  She had felt this once.  It was as if there was something here that didn’t belong.  She looked and there was a tall Eastern European man with unkempt hair standing two lanes down.  He was talking to a couple of guys dressed in biker leathers.  He turned toward her and she saw his eyes change.  They changed from an emerald green to a sapphire blue then back again.

She almost tripped over herself as she noticed that.  She had seen one other creature do something similar before.  A changeling, but that couldn’t be possible.  She shook her head.  Whatever that changeling was doing here it couldn’t be good.  He walked past them and then outside.

“Dash, what’s up?  You going to play or stand there gawking at those guys?” Brucie asked.

“Is something wrong?” Niko asked.

“I… I don’t know.  I can’t be sure, not yet, but if it tries to get wrong I’ll let you know,” she said.

“But if it’s the kind of trouble I think it is… Niko, they’re not like what you’ve faced before,” she thought.


> Nightmares
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

GTA: The Ballad of Rainbow Dash
Chapter 13: Nightmares

(Yugoslavia – battle scarred village – Near a small church)

Niko looked at the bodies lying before him.  Children, twenty or thirty of them sat against the side of the building.  The image refused to leave his sight, even when he closed his eyes it would not leave him.  

“Is this what we fought for brother?” a voice asked.

He turned around to see a figure he hadn’t seen in years, and one that made him stop thinking about everything else.

“Janko, brother, I thought that you were dead,” he said.

“Brother, we’re all dead.  This is a place of the dead.  It is hell itself.  It is our punishment for killing so many innocent.  There is blood on our hands that will never be washed off.  Nothing, nothing we can do will remove it,” he said.

Niko looked at his own hands and saw them covered in blood.  It began to turn dark, and the blood started to run up his arms.  It covered everything, and inside of it he heard screams.  The screams of everyone that had been killed by him or because of him rang out from the blood.  He tried to shake it off and found that it wouldn’t move.

“Niko!” Dash’s voice rang out.

He turned to see her fighting with the same problem.  Blood, dark blood, was covering her.  The problem was she wasn’t human anymore.  She was back to what she looked like when he saved her.  She looked like a pony.

“No, she doesn’t deserve this!” he shouted.

“We curse those close to us.  They die, or they become like us,” Janko said.

(Niko and Dash’s Penthouse – bedroom)

Niko sat up.  A cold sweat covered him and the horror of what he had just witnessed sat heavy with him.  His eyes turned to the sleeping form of Dash.  Her bright rainbow colored hair lay in a mess, for a moment he thought of pulling her close, taking some comfort from her, but he pushed the thought away.  He wasn’t sure what the dream meant, but an idea lay open to him.

He slowly got up and walked toward the entertainment area.  The large Plasma television switched on and he watched as the same news played from earlier in the evening.  He leaned back and thought about the dream.  The blood, the screaming, and seeing Dash in her original form all of it pointed to the fear that she was going to end up ruined as he was.  He heard a little stirring from the bedroom and a moment later Dash came out wearing only a red Love-Fist t-shirt.  She yawned and walked over to him.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“Bad dreams,” he said.

She curled up beside him and he brought an arm around her.  The warmth of her body spread over his own.

“What was it about?” she asked.

“It… it is not important,” he replied.

She caught the tone.  The sound of his voice was more than enough to tell her that something was bothering him.  She kissed him and made him look at her.

“Niko, what was it about?” she asked.

“I let you become ruined like me,” he replied.

She hugged herself to him and felt him return the hug.

“You haven’t ruined me.  You’ve saved my life, given me a chance to start over in this world.  Trust me, you’ve done a lot of good for me,” she said.

“I’ve had you help me perform criminal acts, watched as you killed someone you knew, and helped you get rid of the body.  I wouldn’t say that I’ve done the best at helping you not become ruined,” he replied.

She touched his face and made him look at her.  Her violet colored eyes searching his own for a moment before she kissed him deeper.  It wasn’t just sex, it wasn’t just enjoying each other.  It was trying to connect to each other.  Her hands moved down his chest.  Scars from knives, bullets, burns, and even acid marked a painful past.  She touched each one gently mapping their place.  Her mouth left his and began gently kissing down his neck.  His hands found the hem of the t-shirt and pulled it up.  It moved, quickly, off of her and onto the floor.  He felt the scars on her left thigh.  His hands moved up her back finding the long scars near her tattoos.

“Dash,” he began before she pulled away and placed a finger against his mouth.

“You’re not going to ruin me Niko.  You’re not going to break me, and I’m not going to lose myself.  Whatever part of me is gone was taken in that basement.  But right now, I want you, and I want to show you how not ruined you are,” she said.

He felt the sweats he had pulled on disappear, and then an incredible warmth surround him as they joined.  He leaned forward and began kissing her neck.  As he did this she rocked her hips, loving the sensation rocking through her.  A deep moan began to build inside of her.  She rocked her hips in perfect time with his.  Each movement driving deeper toward a feeling both were starving for.

She wanted him to gorge on her.  To take from her, and she couldn’t help but do the same from him.  She needed this.  She needed him.  She wanted this feeling more and more.  Her eyes seemed unsure if they wanted to be closed or open.  Instead they settled on a hazy half open look, or they did until a few minutes into their love making.  It was at that time she felt the first incredibly push of her orgasm.  Her eyes flew open and she cried out in triumph.

The both of them lay down on the couch, her laying on top of him.  A thin layer of sweat covering them both, and the both of them basked in the wondrous after glow.  She felt his hands rubbing her back rubbing her scars, and she returned the favor by gently rubbing some of his. She kissed him again and a small giggle escaped her.  He looked at her and she smiled slightly.  Her head lay down on his chest and she enjoyed this moment.

“What do you say to us taking the batteries out of the cells, and just hanging out in here all day?” she asked.

He smiled and nodded.  As they held each other neither realized, how connected they truly had become.  A small gift, one that would change their lives, was forming.
> Gives you Hell
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

GTA: The Ballad of Rainbow Dash
Chapter 14: Gives you Hell

(Algonquin – Mondo Clothing Store)

Pinkie looked at the bright pink track suit in front of her.  The clothes she was wearing was fine, and she tried to tell Elizabeta that, but her new friend seemed determined that she get some new clothes of her own.  This was nice, and it fit her personality, but it wasn’t as good of quality like Rarity made.  Her hair partially deflated once she thought of her friend.

The changeling had said that none of them would want her back. The clone had done some terrible things, and she could only guess what it had done.  A tear threated to roll down her cheek, but she sniffed it back.  It wasn’t too bad.  Elizabeta was pretty nice, a little odd, but nice.  She looked toward her friend who looking at some of the more Earth tones of clothes.  She grinned and carried the pink track suit with her.  She moved to the small sport bra and panties section.  Finding what she wanted, in neon pink, she grabbed them and carried them up to the counter.  The cashier smiled at her, looked at the clothes, and then smiled at her again.

“Got a pink fetish huh?” he asked.

She smiled back at him unsure of how to answer.

“She likes pink, so what?” Elizabeta asked.

“Nothing man, look, you want to try these on before you buy them?  ‘Cause I’m going to be honest I think this track suit is going to be a bit too small for you,” he said.

Pinkie looked around and he motioned toward a changing room.  She walked toward it and pulled off the white t-shirt, old Harwood hi-tops, and gray sweatpants.  She looked at herself in the mirror. She wasn’t wearing a bra, her panties where clean, but they were second hand, and the same with her socks.  She had been completely naked and alone when Elizabeta had taken her in.  She pulled on the sports bra first.  It fit, but it felt a little tight, well tight as in she was trying to spill out over the top of it.  She pulled it off and looked at the size.  32 B wasn’t going to fit.

“Ummmm…  Elizabeta?” she asked.

Elizabeta walked toward the door and leaned against it.

“What is it Pinkie?” she asked.

“What’s the next size up from a 32 B?” she asked.

“What isn’t fitting about it exactly?” Elizabeta asked.

“It pushes a little hard against me, and it looks like I’m trying to spill out over the top,” she said.

“Okay, I’ll get you a C cup,” Elizabeta said.

She breathed out a sigh of relief.  It wasn’t that she was really worried anyway.  She could just go without a bra.  Elizabeta had explained what they are, what they are supposed to do, but she really didn’t see the point in them.  After all she had never really wore one before, and it didn’t make any sense to wear one now.  She stood there looking at the being standing in the mirror.
It was odd not having her coat.  She was so used to seeing a bright pink coat every time she looked at herself, but instead all she was seeing was this sort an off pink, almost white, skin.  Her teats, Elizabeta called them breasts which why call them that?  What was the point of calling teats breasts?  Chickens had breasts, and they sure didn’t look like this.  This looked like really weird looking teats, but anyway her teats didn’t look the same.  

She sighed and leaned against the wall.  That wasn’t the worst of it.  The worst of it was how small she felt.  She had never felt like this before.  Ponyville had been different.  It had been a happy place, somewhere she belonged, but here, her she felt like she was just another face.

“Pinkie, here you go,” Elizabeta said.

She caught the larger bra and pulled it on.  It fit better, it didn’t feel like it was trying to squeeze her teats out over the top, and it actually felt kind of comfortable.  She quickly pulled on the track suit and studied herself in the mirror again.  At least she kind of looked closer to herself.  She walked back out into the store and noticed a long pink scarf.  Her eyes studied it for a moment and she walked toward it.  She picked it up and studied how fluffy, and curly it was.  Without a second though she wrapped a little of it around her neck and let the rest of it drape down behind her.  She ran back toward the changing room and looked in the mirror.
It wasn’t exactly right, but it looked, no she looked more like her old self.  She walked out and nodded to Elizabeth.

“Okay, so, we have six suits of clothes, twelve pairs of shoes, twelve sets of underwear, at least six bras and one scarf.  That’s going to be six hundred and seventy three dollars,” the cashier said.

Elizabeta pulled out a stack of bills and began putting them down.  She counted it out for a moment before the door opened.
“Everybody on the ground this is a fuckin’ robbery!” a young voice yelled.

She rolled her eyes and felt the weight of her pistol.  It wouldn’t be hard to pull the gun and shoot whoever this was.  She stood there, waiting for the robber to make his decision.

“I said everyone one the fuckin’ ground!” he shouted.

“Puta, I don’t get on the ground unless I’ve been dating someone for a while,” she said.

She felt the tip of a gun press against her back.

“Get on the ground you fat bitch!” he shouted.

She turned toward him and grabbed the gun.  She pulled it, hard, almost ripping it from his hands.  A moment later the pistol went off.  She watched the kid as he ran out of the store.  The pistol itself was now on the floor, and she felt odd.  She couldn’t describe the feeling, but it was there.  Her knees buckled as she fell to them.

“Elizabeta!!!” Pinkie screamed as she ran to her friend.

“Stupid carbon,” Elizabeta said.

“The ambulance is on the way!” the cashier shouted.

“You’re going to be okay Elizabeta,” Pinkie said as she held her.

“Mija, it’s okay.  It’s just how it is,” she said.

Pinkie looked at her in confusion.  She wasn’t sure how Elizabeta could be so calm.  The large woman touched her forehead and smiled.

“Be good Mija, don’t fuck things up too bad,” she whispered.

A moment later two paramedics burst into the door.  They rushed over and began working on her.

“Where are you taking her?” Pinkie asked.

“We’re going to the hospital kid,” one of them said.

“I’m coming with you,” she replied

“Family?” the other one asked.

“The only family I have in the world,” Pinkie whispered.

(South Broker – AutoErotica)

Dash looked toward the entrance and then checked back with Niko.  He was working around the security system of the car dealership and finally got it disabled.  Once it went down he pulled the gate up and motioned for her.  The outside of the car dealership had a few nice cars, but mostly it looked like the normal daily driver crap they had expected.  

It was what laid inside of the locked gate that was what they wanted.  Two red and white Pegassi Infernuses sat behind the formerly locked gated area.

“How much is Brucie paying us for this?” Dash asked.

“It’s not Brucie, it’s his friend, Steve, and he is paying fifty thousand a piece,” Niko replied.

Niko started to head over toward the cars when Dash cleared her throat.  He turned to see her standing next to a small wall box that she had opened.  Inside was two sets of keys for the cars.

“You were seriously going to hotwire them?” she asked.

“It is something I am used to doing,” he replied.

They started the cars and drove out of the lot.  It seemed almost as if they weren’t even going to get into any kind of trouble until someone yelled.

“Son of bbbbitch!” A large man screamed as he ran toward them, “Get the fuck outta my cars!”

“Let’s see what these things can do,” Dash yelled.

Niko nodded and sped off.  She chased after him and a moment later a crème colored Feltzer was trying to catch up to them.  She looked in the side mirror just in time to see it shatter when a bullet struck it.

“No you just didn’t!” she shouted to herself as she pushed the Infernus harder.

Its engine began to whine hard as she weaved in and out of traffic.  Traffic around her began to go crazy, cars weaving toward her, trying to get away from the crazed driver behind her.  She looked ahead and saw a gap closing.  There was every chance she might not make it, but by Celestia she was going to try.

She gunned it, felt the car lurch, and heard the sound of scrapping as she made it through.  A moment later the sounds of a massive wreck erupted behind her.  She waited a few seconds and then dialed Niko’s phone.

“You make it?” she asked.

“Already across.  Steve is meeting us at the Cluckin’ Bell on Star Junction,” he said.

She smiled, “Hey, what do you say we celebrate our little job?” she asked.

“What do you feel like?” he asked.

“Club Liberty, maybe invite Tracy and Simone?” she asked.

He nodded and she quickly dialed her two friends.  It felt like old times, and times she was more than happy to remember.

> Just Wait
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

GTA: The Ballad of Rainbow Dash
Chapter 15: Just Wait


(Broker – Warehouse District – three days later)

The sound of bullets ripping into the door frame and wall echoed in the small room.  Dash tried her hardest not to think about the fact of how many there was outside.  In truth, any number of them could be the changelings.  She didn’t know when they came over, but they were here now, and one of them was going to pay for what they did.

(Bohan – Niko’s old Apartment – three days earlier)

Dash looked around the room and took a deep breath.  The air was stale, but that was understandable.  Niko and Roman hadn’t lived here in a few years, but the apartment was still rented to them.  Niko had told her that the apartment more or less served as a storage room for some of their things, and there was something there he needed to be done with.  She wasn’t sure what it was that he wanted to be rid of, but if it was going to help him then she was more than ready to do it.  He began digging through boxes, and after about an hour of searching he brought out a small notebook.

“What’s that?” she asked.

“This was the journal I carried after the war.  My friends, twelve boys I grew up with, all died because of the actions of one man.  I lived with the desire to find him, and make him pay for betraying us.  I wanted to make him suffer for killing them, and for trying to kill me, but in the end I found that he was a shell of who he had been.  His life was pain, and letting him live was the best way to get past what had been done,” he said as he looked at the book, “I don’t need any more reminders of this time in my life.”
She reached for the notebook and he handed it to her.  She opened it to see his native language scribbled on the pages.  Crude drawings of two men seemed to be present throughout the book, and finally it came down to one man’s drawing.  She knew this had to have been the one who had betrayed him.  She had heard him talking about him, about Darko, and even some of the things he had been through.

She held the notebook and it felt, heavy.  That was the only way to describe it.  It didn’t feel as it should.  It was still a normal notebook, and she knew that in truth it only weighed a few ounces, but still, holding it she could almost feel the weight of what he had been carrying around for so long.

“What do you want to do to it?” she asked.

“Burn it.  I want to make sure it cannot come back to haunt me,” he replied.

They walked downstairs and Dash spotted a bum standing near a trashcan he was using to burn trash in.  She nudged Niko and pointed toward the can.  He nodded and the both of them walked toward it.  She began to toss the notebook in when she saw him again.  The same Eastern European man she had seen a while before.  His eyes trained on her and a wicked smile crossed his face.  She backed up toward the building.

“Dash?” Niko asked.

He turned to see the man she was looking at.  He caught the man’s eyes changing color for a second.  For the briefest of moments his eyes looked unnatural, and bizzare.  Niko watched as the man then looked at him and slowly studied him.
“Who are you?” Niko asked.

“A traveler who knows your friend,” he said before he began to walk away.

Niko walked toward him and shoved him toward the wall.

“I asked you who you are!” Niko shouted.

The Eastern European’s voice and face changed.  Niko stepped back as he looked into his own face.

“Why, I’m you.  Isn’t it obvious?” he asked mimicking Niko’s voice perfectly.

“Niko, get away from him!” Dash shouted.

Following her advice Niko jumped back.  The bum standing near the entire ordeal screamed and threw his hands into the air.
“I knew it!  Aliens!  I said the Aliens were here!!!!” he screamed as he turned to run.

The false faced Niko stood looking at Dash and the real Niko.  She watched as his eyes turned a deep forest green.  Twilight had talked about the Changelings, she had said what they were capable of, what they could and would do, but with the exception of the small incursion they had helped deal with there wasn’t much she really knew about them.

“Maybe right now being an egghead wouldn’t be such a bad thing,” she thought as she watched it.

Before she could really react the Changeling raced forward toward Niko.  She tried to pull a gun, but it was too late.  Once it had him the thing turned toward her, grinned, and then the both of them disappeared.  

“Oh, sweet Celestia what do I do?” she said as she stood there.

Those things had all of the magical ability of the unicorns.  She tried to think of someone, anyone, which could help her and Niko.  Little Jacob would gladly help her look, and so would Packie, Roman, Brucie, Dwaine, Tracy, and Simone, but none of them had the ability to tap into magic.  She thought instantly of going home, going back into Equestria, facing her friends, and begging Twilight to come and help them, but she couldn’t.  Even if Twilight agreed to help her it would be too hard to explain about Pinkie Pie.  
She racked her brain trying her hardest to think of someone who could help them, who would be able to help them when she thought of the Incredible Kleinman.  She never saw wires, or anything else that she had noticed during other magic acts when he performed.  It was a long shot, but maybe he was really magic.  If he was then he could help.  She needed someone to help her  convince him, and that’s when she thought of Little Jacob.  The Rasta would be glad to force him into helping them.  She grabbed her phone, dialed Jacob’s number and waited.

“This is Jacob,” the Rasta said with a sleepy voice.

“Jacob, I need your help.  Something’s happened to Niko, and we need someone to help find him,” she said.

“What happen to ma boy Niko?” Little Jacob asked.

“Someone took him Jacob!  I need help finding him, and there’s one person that might be able to do it,” she said.

She could feel herself trying to slip into a frantic and panic state.  Her control was slipping and she was feeling as helpless as she did when she had been trapped in Pinkie Pie’s basement.  She had to force herself to calm down.  She caught the end of something Jacob has said and shook her head.

“What was that?” she asked.

“Who? Who gonna help us?” he asked.

“The Incredible Klienman.  He’s the only one that I can think of that might be able to give us some idea of where to look,” she replied.

“Meet me at Perestroika in half an hour,” Little Jacob said before he shut off his phone.

Dash looked around carefully.  There had been one Changeling, just one, but it had been fast enough, and resourceful enough to capture Niko, and now it had escaped.  She walked toward the Dukes and started to get in.  Then for a moment she thought of the notebook, the journal Niko had carried with him since the end of the war, and she looked toward where she had dropped it.
She didn’t see it, and she knew that she hadn’t dropped it into the fire.  She closed her eyes and tried to block the idea of what that thing could do with the journal.  Niko was strong.  He had faced so much already, and she knew he had faced more beforehand.  There was no doubt in her mind that the Changeling would have a hard time trying to break him down if that was its plan.
She pulled the Dukes up to Perestroika and stepped out.  The Russian Vaudevillian club seemed closed.  She figured that it was Little Jacob’s doing.  Walking inside she heard the sound of a grunt and then something large falling to the ground.

“Where’s ma boy Niko?!” Little Jacob yelled at the downed Klienman.

“I don’t know a Niko you hyped up hippy!” Klienman shouted back.

“No, but you’re gonna help find him,” Dash said as she neared him.

He stared at her for several seconds before he began to stand up.  It was obvious that Little Jacob hadn’t worked on him too long, but it was more than enough to show a few places that would be turning into bruises.

“And what could a humble purveyor of magic tricks do to help you?” he asked.

“A, whatever the Tartarus you said, can’t do ponyshit to help us, but someone who is able to practice real magic can.  I’ve seen your act.  No wires, no life nets, and you always recover from something that should kill you or your assistant.  You have magic, and we need that to help us,” she said.

He laughed, almost insanely, for several minutes before finding a seat and setting down.

“Then you don’t need me.  When I say that I am a mere purveyor of magic tricks I’m not lying.  You need Laurel.  She’s the one who knows magic,” he said.

A moment later a woman with white hair came down the steps.  She stopped, and Dash took a good look at her.  Her eyes were purple, her hair white, and she had a light aura of blue light around her.  The woman stepped back and Dash shook her head.
“The Great and Powerful Trixie?  What in the name of Celestia are you doing here?!” Dash exclaimed.

The woman breathed out and took a seat.  She looked toward Klienman and shook her head.

“Trixie asks you to do one job.  One, but you can’t even do that for Trixie can you?  Make the crowd believe it is you doing this Trixie told you, but no, you can’t do it,” she said.

“Damn it Trixie it’s not that damned easy!” he exclaimed.

“Okay, I don’t care who is what.  All I know is that you,” she said pointing to Trixie, “are going to help me find Niko.”

“Why should Trixie help you?  As Trixie recalls you and your friends laughed at her when she failed to beat the Ursa Minor,” Trixie said.

“Because I’m not the same pony I was then.  Because I can and will do what I have to do to make you help me,” Dash said as she stepped near the setting woman.

“Time in the human world has changed you hasn’t it?  Trixie has found it to be different, but it is better than being killed,” she said.
“What do you mean?” she asked.

“The pink one, she foalnapped a clone Trixie had created with the mirror pool.  Trixie needed a partner, and Trixie thought who better than Trixie?  So Trixie created the clone, came back to camp, walked out to find some dandelions, for a nice snack, and came back to find a trail and Trixie’s clone missing.  Trixie followed it, and she found the basement.  Trixie watched the pink one as she cut Trixie’s clone apart.  It… it was horrible,” Trixie shivered, “She left and Trixie went down to look at what had happened.  Trixie heard noises from a hole and crawled through it.  When Trixie came out she stood inside of a dark building hearing the sounds of a man trying to perform magic tricks.”

Dash looked at Klienman who shrugged his shoulders.

“I needed a place to practice and the haunted house was shut down,” he said.

“Fine, and I don’t really care, but you are going to help me now.  I need you to find Niko, cast a locator spell, whatever it is you need, and find him,” Dash said.

“Did he leave you?” she asked snidely.

“We were attacked by a Changeling,” Dash replied.

The admission of that caused Trixie’s eyes to widen and suddenly she was up trying to get past Dash and out of the building.

“NO!  TRIXIE WILL NOT DEAL WITH THOSE THINGS!” Trixie screamed.

“Jacob, little help?” Dash asked as she held on to Trixie.

A moment later Trixie went limp after getting a blow to the back of the head.  Jacob turned to Klienman who spread his hands.

“I don’t care man.  She’s a bitch, and she’s hard as hell to work for,” he said.

They carried her out and then Jacob looked toward her.

“What cha talkin’ ‘bout back in there?” he asked.

Dash sighed and helped Jacob load Trixie into the back of the Dukes.

“You know that I’m not from around here right?” she asked.

He nodded.  She took in a breath and figured that if she was going to trust someone else besides Niko she needed to start now.

“I’m from an entirely different world.  I’m serious when I say that.  There’s a magic portal or something that connects our worlds together.  It’s inside of that Haunted House in the fun fair.  I don’t know how it works, but it made me human when I came through.  I didn’t even realize that what I was now was called human.  Before I came through here and before everything changed on me I was a Pegasus Pony,” she said.

Jacob looked at her for a moment and then shrugged his shoulders.

“You’re taking this really well,” she said.

“I grew up in Jamaica, and there be thin’s there that can’t be explained.  Just need an open mind,” he said.

She studied him unsure of what to say about his response.  What is it that he could have seen in his homeland that would make her story not sound so bizzare?  She decided not to think about it, and instead got into the Dukes.  She was surprised when he got in beside her.

“I’mma coming with you girl.  We gonna find Niko, and then we gonna to rain down upon de rassclot,” he said.

(Broker – Warehouse district)

Niko woke up to the sounds of laughter.  His eyes hazily looked around the room until it fell on a blackish creature which had holes in its legs.  It stood nearly as tall as him and when he seemed to  be awake it began to change shape and form until it resembled Dash.  The false Dash walked up to him, touched his cheek, and then slapped him hard.
“I’m not sure what another of the Elements of Harmony is doing here, but I don’t really care.  I have orders to follow, and they are simple.  Break down the Element anyway I can.  I guess that means that I have double the work since there’s two of them here now.  The other one…  She didn’t enjoy having her plot plowed.  But this one…  She seems hung up on you human, so the question is…  how do I break you?” it said in Dash’s voice.
> Last Dance
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

GTA: The Ballad of Rainbow Dash
Chapter 16: Last Dance

(Broker – Warehouse District)

Sounds of muffled thuds and thumps echoed in the large warehouse.  After several moments the being responsible for making the sounds stood before the person they were using as the sounding board.  It breathed deeply and growled.

“Stopping already?  I guess that you must be like your dad and like it up the ass,” Niko said as he spat blood.

“Your bravado is well noted, human, but I will get you to scream,” it said to him.
“Anything else you want to add?” Niko asked.

The creature had dropped the guise of Dash and instead turned back into the Eastern European it had been at first.  It balled up its fist and struck him hard in the stomach.  He felt his body pull against the ropes around his arms, which tied him to the spot.  He groaned a little and looked back at the thing facing him.

“You are not the most intelligent of your species are you?” it asked.

“No, I’m tied up in a warehouse, with a demented shape shifter who likes bondage and taking it up the ass.  Of course I’m not smart, but there isn’t anything you can show me, do to me, or put me through that I have not already seen or felt,” he replied.

“Challenge accepted,” it said.

(Niko and Dash’s Penthouse – same time)

Trixie groaned and held her head.  She sat up and looked around the room to realize that she wasn’t in the rundown apartment Klienman had them living in, and that this place was far better than what she was used to.  She rubbed the back of her head and slowly stood.  She could smell something delightful cooking and walked toward the kitchen area in time to see Little Jacob dishing out some kind of pasta onto a few plates.

“Dash, come and eat girl,” he said.

He looked up to see Trixie standing there.

“You wanna eat?” he asked.

She nodded.

“Get busy finding ma boy Niko.  You find ‘im, then you can eat,” he said.

“Trixie will not work on an empty stomach.  If you want Trixie to find this ‘Niko’ then you will have to feed Trixie,” she replied.

Suddenly Trixie felt a hand grab her wrist and force her to spin around.  She looked into the eyes of the rainbow haired woman standing in front of her.  The other woman’s eyes narrowed and it almost seemed as if she was going to look into her very soul.

“Jacob said that if you want to eat then you’re going to help find Niko,” Dash said.

There wasn’t even the slightest hint of doubt or negotiation in her voice.  It sounded authoritarian and full of venomous promise, but at least it didn’t sound directed toward her.  Trixie swallowed down a sense of building fear and instead looked directly at the woman.

“Trixie needs to eat.  Trixie hasn’t had anything in nearly two days.  The owner of the club refuses to pay, and Trixie refuses to do what he demands in order for her to be paid.  If you want Trixie’s help she needs to eat,” Trixie said.

“Fine, but if you try to skip out on us, don’t come through, or even attempt to look like you’re lying to me I swear by sweet Celestia I will make you pay for it slowly.  Jacob, give her some of that,” Dash said, “And stop referring to yourself in the third person.  You’re not that important.”

Trixie looked at her in complete disbelief as Dash walked past her and instead of grabbing a plate of food walked toward the pool table.  She watched as she touched the side of it softly.  She turned her attention back to Jacob who was holding a white plate out to her.  She took it and looked at the grouping of noodles with some kind of gravy on it.

“Thank you,” she said.

“Eat up, and then get to finding ma boy,” he replied.

She nodded and took her first bite in nearly two days.  The taste of the fried noodles, mushrooms, and brown gravy floated over her tongue.  She savored the meal, enjoying each moment, each taste, and after a few blessed moments the plate was empty.  She placed it on the counter and turned to see Dash still at the pool table.

“Do you have something of his?” she asked.

Dash looked at her.

“All of his stuff is here,” Dash replied.

“Clothes, other things are fine, but if you want to really find him you need a piece of him.  Hair, blood, something that is him is what must be used.  Trix…  I can cast a spell without it, but it won’t be exact.  The most it could do is get you within a couple of miles,” she said.

“I’ll check the brush in the bedroom,” Dash said.

Trixie looked around the room again and took it all in.  She wasn’t sure how it worked out like it did.  This mare arrived here and found someone to share her life with that seemed to mean a great deal to her.  She arrived and all she found was The Incredible Klienman.  It was ludicrous that she couldn’t help but laugh at it.  She was one of the most gifted unicorns in all of Equestria, or she had been.

A soft sigh escaped her lips.  She didn’t want to admit it to herself, or really to anyone, but she couldn’t help but feel jealous.  She would have loved to be this other mare, no this other woman’s situation.  To have someone that meant so much to her.  To have a place where she could live without the fear of going hungry, of performing parlor tricks in order to earn enough to eat, and then have the owner of the club demand that she debase herself even further by becoming a simple harlot.  She was so much more.  She had been the most promising student at magic school, and she had so much ability, but in the end she wanted fame.

Her head began to feel light as she took a seat.  She had been the cause of her own troubles and she knew it.  Her desire to be famous, to be held so far above every other pony, except for Celestia, had driven her to travel from town to town in order to perform.  It had gone fairly well up until Ponyville, and then it went bad because she wasn’t as powerful as she claimed.

She had wanted to blame the purple unicorn, but it wasn’t her fault.  Even now she wanted to blame Klienman, but he wasn’t the problem.  The problem was she was still caught up on being famous.  She saw Klienman as a tool to get there, and the truth was he couldn’t do it.  He had told her that he worked in Las Vegas once, funny, a name that sounded so much like Las Pegasus, but when she asked around she found that he was an opening act in a second rate casino.

He was what he was, and she couldn’t change that.  The sound of footsteps brought her out of her brooding and she looked at the other woman.  She took a small tuff of hair and smiled.  She had been many things, but at least she could do something worthwhile now.  She took a ring off of her own finger and held the hair next to it.  The hair and ring glowed a brilliant blue and then the hair disappeared.  She handed the ring to the other woman.

“This will help you find him.  I would put it on, but then I might not know where he would be.  I might not understand what I was seeing.  You will.  You are close to him, and that will help you to understand,” Trixie said.

Rainbow Dash nodded and took the ring.  She pulled it onto her ring finger and suddenly a bright blue aura covered her.  She lifted off of the ground for a moment, and her eyes turned a brilliant white.  She felt herself dragged away from her own body.  She looked down to see it suspended in the air.  Little Jacob walked toward her, his hand reaching out to her before Trixie pushed him back.

“Not while she is like this.  It’s too dangerous to touch her,” she said.

Suddenly she felt a huge pull and she flew.  She stretched out her arms only to realize that they weren’t arms.  It was her forelegs.  She felt her wings beating and it occurred to her she was once again a Pegasus.  An excited whoop escaped her as she did a barrel roll over the city below her.  She could feel and smell the air around her as she flew.  It felt wonderful, and it was something she hadn’t done in so long.  She looked at the clouds above her and almost flew up to them when she heard a cry of pain.

Her eyes widened as she heard it.  She looked around for where it could have come from and once again the same cry sounded out.  She flew toward it trying to force herself to go even faster, and finally she could see the warehouses in broker.  She swooped down seeing a familiar sight, and landed outside of one of the warehouses.  She looked around, expecting to see people, but there wasn’t anyone.  Slowly she moved forward, and her hooves touched the door in front of her.

She felt it move, but it wouldn’t open.  She pushed harder and this time she was able to get into the building.  In front of her she could see Niko, tied to a chair.  The Changeling drew back his hand and instead of it looking normal there appeared to be tiny spines on it.

“Scream for me human,” it said.

“Fuck you,” Niko said.

She could see his teeth clenched in pain.  Without thinking she rushed forward, prepared to hit the Changeling directly in the back and instead of hitting it she passed through it.  She turned back around and looked at it.  Her eyes widened as she watched it strike Niko again.

“Scream!” it yelled.

“Fuck you and your dad,” Niko said.

“Human, you are trying my patience…” it growled.

It hit Niko hard again, causing him to cough blood.  Instead of screaming Niko began laughing.

“I guess you want to go and get laid right?  Got a guy all lined up to give it to you?” Niko asked.

“Stop implying that I enjoy having my plot plowed!” it shouted at him.

“Who’s implying anything?  I’ve been saying it,” he laughed.

Dash felt something pulling her.  Suddenly she flew out of the building, being pulled by some unknown force away from the warehouse.  She flapped her wings, desperately flapped her wings, in an attempt to stay there with him.  She had to try to get him free, but instead she found herself back in her apartment.  She could see her body and then she crashed into it.  She floated back to the ground, her eyes became a vibrant violet again, and then she collapsed.

“What happened?!” Little Jacob shouted.

“It’s the after effects of the spell.  She’s going to be out for a while,” Trixie said.

“How long?” Little Jacob asked.

“I’m not sure…  It really depends on what she saw,” 
> Touch of Grey
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

GTA: The Ballad of Rainbow Dash
Chapter 17: Touch of Grey

(Niko and Dash’s Penthouse – Twelve hours later)

Dash sat up.  Her eyes were wide and she felt the need to scream.  It boiled out of her faster than she could contain it, and moments later she erupted in a loud strangled cry.  Trixie ran into the room with her.  She brought a cold damp wash cloth and pressed it to the back of Dash’s neck.

“It’s just the after effects of the magic, but did you see what you needed to see?” Trixie asked.

Dash nodded.  She had seen more than she needed to see.  She had saw Niko being tortured, beaten, and he was withstanding it.  They needed to get over there, and they needed to get him free.  She started to stand, but her head started to swim.

“It’s going to take you a while before you can really stand on your own.  The magic takes a lot out of you, and it’s worse when…” Trixie paused for a moment seemed to think, “It’s worse when the focus point of the spell has more than one soul inside of them.  It has to determine which soul to remove and which ones need to stay.”

Dash looked at her and tried to take what she had said into account.

“What are you talking about?” Dash asked.

“You know what I’m talking about.  How does a mare have more than one soul in her?” Trixie asked.

“No, no I’m not.  I know I’m not,” Dash said as she stood up.

“The spell wouldn’t have reacted to the degree it did if you weren’t!” Trixie exclaimed.

Dash touched her stomach.  This was getting to be far too much.  She was pregnant?  She wasn’t sure she ever wanted to be pregnant.  After all, the only kiddo she had any experience with was Scootaloo.  The idea wasn’t horrible, but it was scaring the living hell out of her.  She had to force herself not to think about it.  She couldn’t be thinking about it right now.  She needed to focus on something different.  Right now she needed to focus on getting Niko back.

“It doesn’t matter,” Dash said.

Trixie looked at her as the rainbow haired woman breathed out evenly.

“It doesn’t matter because it doesn’t change the fact that we need to get Niko out of there.  I need to be up, and I need to find a way of getting him away from that thing,” she said.

“You can’t get up yet, but your other friend is out on the patio.  He said when you came to he wanted to know what you saw,” Trixie said.

“Bring him in,” Dash said.

She leaned against the wall near the bed.  Silently she prayed that Niko was still holding on.  She didn’t know what the Changeling was doing to him, but she was going to make that thing pay for all of it.  She was going to make it pay, and she was going to get Niko back.  What she had seen had been terrifying to say the least, but she knew that Niko was at least alive and he hadn’t broken yet.

She turned to the sound of footsteps and saw Little Jacob.

“He’s in Broker, the warehouse district.  It’s the old fishing warehouse near the port,” she said.

He nodded and pulled a cell phone out of his pocket.  She watched as he dialed a number and a moment later someone picked up.

“Badman, Yeah, this is Jacob.  I wanna call in a favor.  The Niko boy is in trouble with a rassclot that got ‘im held up in a warehouse.  Yeah, I wanna visit them a whole bumbclot of trouble,” Jacob said as he stood there, “Good, Be there in half an hour.”

He turned toward Dash and nodded.

“We’re gonna get the Niko boy back now,” Jacob said.

She nodded.  She wanted to get up, to go with him, but she was having trouble just sitting up.  Whatever the spell was the Trixie had used had drained her so hard it was unbelievable.  She looked at Trixie who seemed to be focusing on helping her.

“What about you girl? What you gonna do?” Jacob asked.

Trixie looked up at him and then back at Dash.

“I’m going to make sure that she recovers over this.  She doesn’t need to be risking herself right now, and she needs someone here,” Trixie replied.

He nodded and then headed out of the door.

“Why do you want to help me?” Dash asked.

Trixie looked at her and shook her head.  There was just too much to say.  She didn’t really know her.  It wasn’t as though they were friends.  It was something different.  She just wasn’t interested in fame anymore.  Chasing fame had given her nothing except for heartache.  She wanted something different, something more, and she had hopes that she could find it by doing things different than she had before.

“I cast the spell, and you’re still suffering the effects of it.  My job isn’t finished until you recover,” Trixie said.

It was a half-truth at best, but she seemed to accept it.

“Thanks for helping me find Niko,” Dash said.

Trixie nodded and got up.  She took the washcloth with her and began to walk toward the kitchen.

“I’m going to freshen up the cloth a little.  Do you want anything from your kitchen?” she asked.

Dash shook her head.  She looked toward the door Jacob had already left through.  She trusted the Rasta.  She knew that he could and would find Niko, but regardless she wanted to be there.  She felt the need to be there and help out.  She tried to stand again, and this time she found that she had the strength to actually make it completely upright.  Her head began to swim and she almost fell when Trixie came back into the room and helped her back to the bed.

“You need to relax,” Trixie said.

She shook her head.  How could she relax?  There wasn’t any chance that she was going to relax until she was sure that Niko was safe, and then she wanted to make sure that the Changeling that did this paid for it.

“I need to be there,” she said.

Trixie shook her head and took a seat beside her.

“Look, I know that we’re not really friends.  Honestly, the last time I saw any of you I had been made a massive laughing stock of, but it doesn’t change the fact that I’m sorry this happened,” she said as she patted Dash’s hand, “And, I want to help.  I don’t want to deal with them, but I want to help you make sure that your, Niko, is fine.”

Dash looked at her in complete surprise.  She almost wanted to believe this was some kind of set up, but Trixie didn’t seem to be lying.  She couldn’t see any of the normal tells she had begun to see in other people.  After a moment she nodded.

“Good, now, go ahead and try to relax.  I’ll see what I can do about preparing you a little something to eat.  I’ve learned to cook a few things here, although I would give my left hand for a plate of hayfries,” Trixie said.

“You and me both,” Dash replied.

(Broker – East Hook – Smells like Tuna Warehouse – 30 minutes later)

Jacob stepped out of his car to see Badman standing there.  Behind Badman was a couple of hired thugs that had started hanging around the older drug dealer.  He motioned for them and Jacob tossed Badman a shotgun.

“You ready?” Jacob asked.

“Sure’n I’m ready Rasta!  Gonna put some rudeboy in the ground for messin’ with ma boy Niko!” Badman exclaimed.

Badman aimed the shotgun and blasted the door in front of him.  The old lock in the door gave way and it flew open.  They walked in to see a blackish creature standing in front of Niko.  Their friend was hanging by his wrists, trying to mock the creature, and upon their arrival the thing hissed at them and tried to run.  Badman shot again, but missed.  He looked at the two thugs and pointed in the direction it went.  They both ran off toward that direction and he walked toward Niko.

Both he and Jacob lowered Niko to the floor.  He stumbled and they helped keep him upright.

“Come on my youth, we gonna get you out of here,” Badman said.

“Dash…” Niko half moaned.

“De girl is home ma boy.  She’s waiting,” Jacob said as they made their way outside.  

They loaded Niko into Jacob’s car.  Badman looked at Niko and then at Jacob.

“What was that thin’ my youth?” he asked Jacob.

“Not sure, but that rassclot gonna pay for this,” Jacob said.

“Sure enough my youth,” Badman said as the sound of gun fire erupted from inside of the warehouse.

They turned and saw one of the thugs stumbling out.  The younger man had a long claw mark down his chest.  He collapsed and seemed to stop breathing.  A second later the sound of police sierns began to fill the air.

“Go,” Badman said.

“What about that Rassclot?” Jacob asked.

“I’ll rain a bumbclot of pain on it, now go rasta!” Badman exclaimed.

Jacob nodded and got into his car.  He started it and took off into the night.  Badman looked at the thug lying there and cocked the shotgun he was holding again.  He began walking toward the entrance of the warehouse when the thug’s arm reached out and grabbed his leg.

“It’s always easier to take someone’s place when they’re alive…  Your friends had a little accident, but you….” it said before Badman tried to shoot it.  The thing tossed him hard against building and knocked him out.

“Now, let’s try this again,” he said as he began to change form once more.

It took the creature almost no time before he was standing in Badman’s form.  Of course like every other time he transformed, unless he happened to be wearing clothes at the time, he was nude.  He stripped Badman and put on the downed drug dealer’s clothes.  Once that was done he formed a sack of greenish gel and put Badman into it.

“Everything you know I will know, and everything you do I will do.  Oh, this is going to be fun.  The element will be broken, and I’ll get to finish breaking that human as well,” it said.

(Niko and Dash’s Penthouse – Two hours later)

Dash was thankful that she was feeling stronger.  Enough of her strength had returned for her to stand, to walk, and right now she was pacing.  Jacob had brought Niko back, and with him was the same doctor Niko had taken her to when she first arrived in his world.  The doctor had explained that Niko would be better off in a hospital, but Jacob insisted that he be treated here.  Dash knew why.  Jacob had seen the Changeling.  She didn’t know if it was dead or not, but there was every chance that where there was one there was another.

Having Niko here meant that thing couldn’t get to him. It meant that he would be around they trusted.  Once the doctor had treated him he stood up and looked at all three of them.

“Look, I understand that you don’t want him going into a hospital.  It doesn’t change the fact that he would have a much better chance of surviving there then he does here.  Regardless, I’m not going to make you choose the hospital if you don’t want to.  I am going to suggest that if you know anyone who has experience being a licensed nurse that you have them come here and help you.  Your friend was very close to death.  The I.V.s I’ve hooked up to him will help, but there’s a lot more that needs to be done.  Also, the next twelve hours are the most crucial,” the doctor said.

“If we call…”Jacob started and the doctor nodded.

“Of course I’ll come.  The rate is the same though.  Two thousand up front, and then if there is any complications or other problems I’ll tally the rest,” he said.

“We know,” Dash said.

He nodded and walked out of the penthouse.

“What happened Jacob?” Dash asked.

“That Rassclot was beating on ma boy Niko.  Badman, he stayed to pour down a bumbclot of pain on ‘im, but the police came,” Jacob said.

“Dash…” Niko groaned.

She walked toward him and took his hand into her own.

“Hey,” she said.

“He… he wants to find you…” Niko said.

“I know,” Dash said.

“I told him that he liked it up the ass,” Niko said before he coughed.

Dash smiled and kissed his forehead.

“We’re going to be right here,” she said.

Trixie looked at him and walked over.  Even in the condition he was in she could see some of the attraction.  He wasn’t a bad looking human.  She wasn’t sure how much her healing spells would help.  After all, most of what she had done was create a spell that helped speed up healing a little, but she didn’t do it often, and right now the most it could do was maybe sway things in the right direction.  Her hands glowed blue and she touched Niko’s foot.  Dash watched as a light blue aura covered him and then she looked toward Trixie who stepped back.  She started to thank her when Trixie began to sway.  Jacob caught her and helped her toward the living room.

“That was too much,” Trixie said.

“Take a rest girl,” Jacob said.

She nodded and soon her eyes closed.

He walked back toward Dash when his phone went off.

“Badman?  You deal with that thin’ then?” he asked, “What happened?”

He paced back and forth for a moment before stopping. 

“It didn’t escape?  Badman, you gonna come with me to the holyland?” he asked.

Jacob’s eyes widened for a moment.  He took a seat and shook his head.

“Sure,” Jacob said before he hung up.

“What is it?” Dash asked.

“Badman, he wants to go to the holyland,” Jacob said.

“That’s good right?” Dash asked.

“It is, but this is the first time he ever say it seen.  He never say it before now,” Jacob said.

“It’s not him,” Dash said.

Jacob nodded and stood up.

“It took Badman, and I’m gonna take this thin’ to a whole bumbclot of pain!” Jacob said standing up.

“Jacob, we need more help than just us.  We need everyone we can get on this,” Dash said.

(Broker – Brucie’s Apartment – a day and half later)

Brucie stood listening to everything being said.  Near him Packie, Derrick, Dwayne, Roman, and Little Jacob sat.  The five of them listened as Dash filled them in on what the plan was.  After a few minutes Brucie held his hand up and shook his head.

“Hey, I’m willing to help bring the pain to the asswipe that did this to Niko, but Dash, it sounds like you were smoking some serious herb with Jacob over there,” Brucie said.

“Hey rudeboy!  You wanna watch your bumbclot mouth?” Jacob asked.

“Fuck, I didn’t mean anything by it, but seriously, this sounds like some fucked up shit.  I mean this sounds like something straight out of Galaxytrip or Galactic Battle.  A shape shifting alien that is able to morph into anyone it wants to?  That’s pretty hard to swallow,” Brucie said.

Packie stood and shook his head.

“I’ve never known Dash to lie before.  Fuck, she’s proved herself a dozen times over.  Besides, this might be something those bastards at the FIB have been working on.  They might have wanted to squeeze information out of Niko about all of us,” Packie said.

“It could be anything.  I saw a lot of things in Ireland,” Derrick said.

“Fuck it, Niko’s been a friend.  I don’t care if she ends up saying the thing stands seven foot tall and shits fire.  No body fucks with my friends,” Dwayne replied.

“Okay then, where do we go?” Roman asked.

“I’ve called it.  I told it that we were going to be meeting at the warehouse in a couple of hours.  With any luck it’s going to be there already,” Little Jacob said.

“What should we do once we get there?” Brucie asked.

“We kill it,” Dash said.

The nodded and stood up.  Roman stopped and looked at all of them.

“Guys…  I…  I,” he started before Dash shook her head.

“I know Roman, but what I want you to do is have the car ready.  Wait for us out in the car, and be ready to leave when we come out there,” she said.

He nodded, and followed them down.  The six of them walked down to the Patriot waiting on them.  The gloss black SUV was powerful enough to ram its way out of a situation if there was one, and it only proved that Dwayne knew what he was doing when they told him they needed something big, strong, and fast.  The large vehicle rumbled to life and soon they headed toward the Warehouse.

Within moments they pulled near it and Roman looked at the rest of them.

“I’ll be right here,” he said.

“Don’t take off Roman.  Seriously man, if 5-0 comes your ass better still be here,” Packie said.

He nodded and quickly locked the doors once everyone was out of the Patriot.
“Let’s kill this rassclot,” Jacob said.

They walked toward the warehouse, and then to their surprise the main door came up.  Dash looked in surprise as twenty armed men stood there.

“FUCK!” Packie shouted as he dove toward cover.

The entire group of those things began to rush outside and Dash took that moment to run into the warehouse.  Seeing what she was doing Brucie, Jacob, Derrick, and Dwayne followed her.  Packie fired from their left side drawing fire.

“Die you fucks!” Packie shouted.

Soon Dash began firing on them as well and then hid behind the door frame when they fired back.  She moved away from the front door and found her way into a small office.  She fired again and ducked when they shot back.  The sound of bullets ripping into the door frame and wall echoed in the small room.  Dash tried her hardest not to think about the fact of how many there was outside.  In truth, any number of them could be the changelings.  She didn’t know when they came over, but they were here now, and one of them was going to pay for what they did.

“I know you’re out there!” she shouted.

“Ah, the Element.  How is your human doing?” a voice shouted.

“We’re going to kill the entire fucking lot of you!” she shouted.

“I doubt it…  I seriously doubt i…” it shouted back, “You miserable fucking meat sack!  How dare you hit one of the brood!”

More shots fired, and Dash helped them return fire. The sound of gunfire began to slow down, and she raised up in time to see one of them running away. She tried to get out of the room, but a stray bullet hit right in front of her.

She shot back and after several minutes it ended.  She walked out of the office to see several bodies.  Four of them began to morph slowly turning into talk blackish creatures with holes in their legs.  The rest of them seemed to be normal.

“Okay, what the fuck is going on?!” Brucie exclaimed.

“They’re here.  That’s what’s going on,” Dash said.

(Westdyke Memorial Hospital – an hour later)

The Changeling hobbled into the hospital.  While it was in this form the human medicine should work on it.  It grumbled about losing the other Element.  The one it came through with had escaped, and now it had no way of getting to the other Element.  It growled lightly until it heard a familiar voice.

It followed it to a room where a large human female was lying in the bed.  There sitting beside her was the element it had brought over.  It didn’t need the human medicine after all.  All it needed was her fear.  All it needed was for her to scream.  It walked into the room, dropped the form it had, and listened to the beautiful scream from the Element.

“Ah, Pinkie, I have missed you,” it said.
> Go To Hell
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

GTA: The Ballad of Rainbow Dash
Chapter 18: Go To Hell

(Bohan - Valentine Apartments – Alcatraz Avenue – Apartment 406B – Three days later)

Pinkie looked in absolute fear at the Changeling in Elizabeta’s form.  It walked toward her and slapped her hard.

“I’ve missed you so much Pinkie.  Those little noises you make when I have you strapped to the bed, completely helpless, and exposed to me,” it said.

“NO!” Pinkie shouted.

“Let me explain something to your.  That meatsack of a human you care about is in my tender care.  I’m going to do things to you, unspeakable things, wither you want me to or not, but if you fight me, I will release her.  Then I will do the same things to her.  Do you want that?” it asked.

She shook her head.

“Then bite that pillow, and prepare for humiliation,” it said.

Pinkie did and closed her eyes.  She thought of Elizabeta, and she prayed to Celestia that she was at least keeping her safe.  The next moment she screamed a muffled scream as the Changeling began its sick and twisted fun on her.  Her eyes watered and she let a muffle cry of pain escape her.

“YES!  CRY OUT FOR ME PINKIE!  FEED ME!   FEED ME YOUR FREAR! YOUR HUMILATION!  FEED ME!!!!!!” it yelled.

It went on for hours.  Finally the Changeling stood up and looked at the earth pony turned human trying to curl up into a fetal position.

“Rest now Pinkie, because tomorrow we do it all over again, and don’t worry there is another Element here that I plan on tormenting right beside you.  Her and her human,” it said.

“No…  Please leave my friends alone,” Pinkie whimpered.

“Oh, so touching.  You think they are still your friends.  The clone I left behind has done all of the work I need to ensure that your friends will hate you.  All of your friends, including the one here now,” it said.

Pinkie tried to move, but her wrists were tied to the bed.  All she could see was the pillow she had bitten into and the bottom of the window to the small bedroom if she looked up.  A fresh stream of tears welled up in her eyes and she began to openly weep.  It had found her, and it was hurting her again.  Elizabeta was here, but she was trapped, and if she tried to fight back then Elizabeta would be hurt right alongside of her.  The door opened again and she looked over her shoulder to see two men walking in.  The Changeling stood behind them in the form it had for the longest.  It grinned and patted the two men on the shoulders.

“Like I said, it’s twenty-five dollars apiece,” it said.

“However we want?” one of them asked.

The Changeling nodded.

“Fuck man that’s a steal,” the other one said.

“No… please…” Pinkie begged.

The older one of the two walked up behind her and grabbed her hips.

“Sorry sweetheart, but the Angels of Death don’t have any mercy to give ya,” he said.

Her head shot up and she screamed in pain once again as this new being began hurting her.

“Scream for me Pinkie, scream for me,” the Changeling whispered.

The hours passed by slowly.  The entire time Pinkie worked on the ropes that were wrapped around her wrists.  She didn’t let the Changeling know what she was doing.  She couldn’t let him know.  It would come back and hurt her, humiliate her, torture her, but she didn’t let it know.  She screamed, by Celestia she screamed, but who could keep from it?  Who could keep from screaming when something so violent, so violating was done to them?

She finally felt one of her hands get free.  The door opened, and she pretended to be still tied up.  A hand ran up her leg.  Feeling the tattered remains of her clothes until it turned into skin.  It scratched her, leaving a few small red marks until the hand found the curve of her hips.  She felt it lean down closer to her.  The stink of alcohol began drifting off of it and assaulting her nose.  It leaned down close to her ear.

“As a human you’re very cute…  My mother…  Queen Chrysalis wanted me to do this specifically for her.  She said that I wasn’t like the rest of the Brood…  I’m a royal like her.  I’m the prince of the Changelings…  A prince, doing the work of a soldier…  It would be funny, but Pinkie… I’m not laughing.  I hate being here.  I hate dealing with these meatsacks.  I don’t really hate you though.  I’ve actually grown quite fond of you.  I…  I want you to be the barer of the next royal.  I want to give that gift to you,” he drunkenly said.

She felt him touch her again, but it wasn’t rough.  It had been, but right now it was soft.  She squirmed as he neared her.  Once again he violated her, but it was different.  She tried to keep herself from crying out in anguish as he worked on her.  For several minutes he did and then he kissed her neck.

“Goodnight Pinkie…” he said before he collapsed.

She pulled her free hand loose and quickly went to work on the other one.  She stood up and looked at the Changeling on the floor.  She thought of running off, of disappearing, but then she stopped.  She pulled him roughly up on the bed and tied his hands down.  She worked on his ankles until they were secure.  Once they were she walked out of the room.  She had been out here before.  The Changeling had always kept the other doors open, but one of the rooms had a closed door.  She walked to it and opened it to reveal two cocoon like pods that appeared to be filled with some kind of green gel.

She walked to the kitchen and found a knife.  She walked back into the room and cut the two pods open.  Once they were open two bodies fell out.  She reconised Elizabeta, but the other one was someone she didn’t know.  He looked like the man the Changeling had been when he walked into the hospital where Elizabeta had been.  

She pulled them over to a mattress on the floor and laid them on it.  She then found a few sets of women’s clothes and picked through them until she had what she wanted.  She continued to look around the room and spotted a large coffee thermos.  Her eye lit up in malicious glee as she eyed it.  She walked back into the room where the Changeling was at.  It was just starting to stir when she slapped it hard on the back of his head.  It screamed out in pain causing it to awaken in a drunken stupor.

“You’re lucky that you’re drunk…  Because this won’t hurt as bad.  But since you like humiliation, pain, and fear I thought that I would make you smile and give those things to you.  After all, I love to make people smile,” she spat.

It tried to move and then something huge pushed against it.  Its eyes flew open in fear.

“NO!  PLEASE NO!” it screamed.

“What’s your name?!” she screamed at it.

“Prince, Mother only calls me Prince…” he said.

Pinkie laughed and pushed the thermos a little harder.  Prince groaned and cried as it began to violate him.

“Well Prince I hope you like this as much as you liked giving it!” she screamed.

He cried out in pain and flashed into his Changeling state.  He tried to move, but she had him completely bound.  He tried to clear his mind, focus, concentrate on teleporting out of there, but she slapped him hard on the back of the head.

“Please stop!” Prince cried out.

She leaned down to him.  Her mouth barely a breath away from his ear as she began to whisper to him, “I’m leaving.  Don’t look for me again, don’t try to find me, and know that…  even though you deserve it I’m not going to kill you.  I don’t want to.  But you had better never look for me again,” she said as she pulled away from him.

He felt the violating tool she used leave him and his head hit the pillow.  Tears began to flow down his face.  She watched as she saw something she never expected to see.  Changelings had always been evil.  She knew they were not to be trusted, but she could see him hurt, sad, and alone.  She could almost pity him, but her own aches reminded her of the horrors he had put her through.  She turned and left him lying on the bed.  With any luck he would remain there.  She walked to the other room and gently shook Elizabeta.  Her friend slowly opened her eyes and looked up at the younger woman.

“Mija, is that you?” she asked.

“It’s me Izzy.  Let’s get out of here,” Pinkie said.

Elizabeta started to get up when she noticed the naked gel covered body of Badman.

“What is that rasta piece of trash doing here?!” Elizabeta asked.

“The thing from the hospital captured him,” Pinkie said.

She looked at him and then at Pinkie.

“We need to call Jacob.  I don’t like the rasta, but he can deal with this,” Elizabeta said.

They walked toward the door and Pinkie stopped.  She found a large coat and handed it to Elizabeta.  The larger and older woman looked at the coat, took time to look at herself, and quickly slipped it on over her naked body.  She walked with Pinkie down stairs until they neared a payphone.  She stopped and felt into the pockets of the coat.  She found fifty cents and quickly punched in Jacob’s number.

“Rasta, yeah, this is Elizabeta.  Look, a friend and I found something of yours.  It’s…” she looked at Pinkie, “Where are we?”

Pinkie looked at her and whispered, “The Valentine Apartments on Alcatraz Avenue, apartment 406B.”

“Yeah, Valentine Apartments, Apartment 406B, on Alcatraz Avenue.  What you want is lying on a mattress in one of the bedrooms,” she said.

They walked out together and Pinkie looked back at the apartment building.  She was glad to see it go, happy to see it disappear, and with any luck she would never have to worry about Prince again.  The two of them walked up the street until Elizabeta saw someone she knew.  They stopped and offered them a ride back to Elizabeta’s apartment.

(Bohan – Valentine Apartments – Alcatraz Avenue – Apartment 406B two hours later)

Jacob walked into the room with Packie.  It was more or less decided after their little discovery of the Changelings that they would travel in pairs. Jacob knew that Dash was at her apartment with Niko and Trixie.  The former assistant to The Incredible Klienman had decided to stay with them, at least until Niko recovered completely, and Dash didn’t seem to refuse the help.  Of course Mallory, Roman, and their daughter was visiting every day, and it meant that Niko was surrounded by people at all times.  Still, what was lying on the bed, naked, covered in green gel and snoring lightly brought Jacob out of those thoughts.

He looked at Badman and touched his friend.  The drug dealer moaned and opened his eyes.

“Jacob, that you my youth?” Badman asked.

“It’s me Badman, You wanna go to the Holyland?” he asked.

“Why you wanna ask me this thin’?” Badman asked.

Jacob nodded to Packie and the two of them lifted Badman up.  They started to walk out and Packie noticed a bed in a different room.  It was empty, but there was four ropes where something had been tied down, a large dark spot seemed to have pooled up, and a bloody looking thermos lay on the ground.  He shook his head as they walked out of the apartment.  Whatever the hell had happened here was something he didn’t want to know about.

(Niko and Dash’s Penthouse)

Niko sat up in bed and felt his aching ribs.  That thing had nearly beaten him to death.  He groaned and tried to sit up.  It felt like his entire chest was on fire.  He gritted his teeth and finally made it to a sitting position.  He breathed out a sigh of relief and worked on turning toward the side of the bed when Dash walked in.  She scowled at him, and he shrugged his shoulders.

“Niko, you need your rest,” she said.

He grumbled as she walked over with a bowl of vegetable noodle soup.  She did have to admit that Trixie did know how to cook.  So far she had more than proved herself, and Dash was actually glad to have the company.  It was almost like being back in Ponyville again.  Of course Tracy and Simone were coming over fairly often, and when Simone would come over she would bring something from Superstar.

It was usually pretty good, and Dash never complained.  As for their income the dinner was actually taking off.  All in all she was surprised that things seemed to be going in such a good direction.  This could be the chance to back out of what they had been doing.  They would have to deal with the Changelings, but everything else could be stopped.  Especially since she was...  The thought hung in her mind like a heavy weight.  She was pregnant.  Trixie had ran another magical test and it proved it beyond a shadow of a doubt.

She didn’t want to know the sex of their baby yet.  She didn’t want to know too much before she told Niko.  It was going to be interesting letting him know as it was, but it was something that she was going to have to do eventually.

“Dash, that thing, what was it?” Niko asked.

She looked at him glad to have the distraction from her thoughts.

“It’s called a Changeling.  They… they tried to overthrow our princess before back in my world.  They have the ability to look like anyone and they feed off of strong emotions… I think they like to feed off of love the most, but I don’t know if they can really feed off of anything else though,” she said.

“It tried to get me to scream for it.  It wanted me to tell it exactly where you where, what you were doing, everything,” he said.

“It was trying to get a response from you Niko.  It wanted to use your emotions to feed off of,” she said.

He laughed and shook his head.

“Then all it got was anger.  I keep thinking about the war, what I went through, what I went through when I first arrived here with Roman.  That kept me sane,” Niko said.

“So, maybe your past shouldn’t be removed huh?” she asked.

“No, I still want to make a fresh start, but it’s the first time that my past has ever done anything good for me.  It’s the first time that it has actually helped me,” he replied.

She touched his face and kissed him softly.

“Niko, your past is part of who you are.  The fact that it saved you only proves that it is an important part of you.  If you never went through what you went through, and if you never experienced the things that you did then there is no telling if you would ever have been able to survive what that thing did to you.  In truth if you hadn’t went through what you did I would most likely be dead right now.  Something I’ve learned while I’ve been here is that my past is part of me, but it isn’t the only part of me.  It’s just something that has helped guide me to where I am,” she said.

“I wanted to trade that past for the one we’re building,” he said looking toward the wall.

“Neither of us can do that, but we can add that past to it,” she said.

Neither of them noticed Trixie as she watched them talk.  She grinned and walked toward the kitchen.  This was a good idea to stay with them.  If nothing else it was helping her come to terms with who she really was.  She still wasn’t sure what her future had in store for it, but at least she had a feeling that she would be experiencing it with them as her friends.

(Leftwood Church – Six months later)

A very Pregnant Dash stood in front of an alter with Niko as a priest looked out at the people gathered there.  She felt Niko’s hand holding her own as she stood in the wedding dress Simone had made for her.  She looked back at the group sitting behind them.  Tracy and Trixie sat next to each other.  The two of them shared a small kiss.  She was glad the two of them had discovered something about themselves, and seemed to be happy together.  Near them Roman, Mallory, their daughter, and a woman she had met for the first time a week ago sat.  She wasn’t sure what to think about Milica Bellic, but if she had helped raised Niko then she couldn’t be bad.

“If there is anyone with reason why these two souls should not be joined together in holy matrimony then speak now or forever hold your piece,” the Priest said.

“Then, by the power vested in me by Almightly God, the city and state of Liberty I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride,” the priest said.

Niko turned toward her and kissed her deeply.  For a moment they held each other knowing that they had found a way of helping each other, of healing each other, and if Celestia was indeed good then they would continue to do so.

(Near the Haunted house in the Fun Fair in Broker)

Queen  Chrysalis walked out of the haunted house and saw her son.  She scowled at him as she tuned into a human female.  He brought her over a dress which she quickly pulled over her head before she looked at him.

“I am disappointed Prince.  I gave you such an easy assignment.  Break down the Element and report back to me once you found out what it took.  Instead I find out from one your own troops that you have failed me,” she said.

“Mother…  I tried,” he whimpered.

“No, there is no excuse for this. I have been buying my time, waiting for you to ensure that the elements would be useless so that I could rule this pitiful planet along with our world.  Instead you’ve lost troops, allowed not one, but two different Elements to escape you, and now… Now I find out that there may be a half-breed child attached to one of those Elements… To say that I am displeased would be an understatement,” she said.

“Mother, please, I beg you give me one more chance,” Prince pleaded.

“My dear, dear foal…  What makes you think that you deserve another chance?” she asked.

“I am your son,” he said.

“Yes, and we cannot have your failure mar our name.  Capture an element, I don’t care which, and break them.  If you fail me again I will not be as forgiving, oh, before I forget give me your,” she looked at her hand, “Hand.”

He did as she commanded and she touched it.  He screamed in pain and fell to the ground.  It felt like everything that made him what he was suddenly disappeared.  He looked up into his mother’s face to see some sort of solace, to see a small piece of mercy, but instead there was only angry and disappointment.

“Until you have proven your worth you are will be nothing more than one of these pathetic meatbags, and if you return home you’ll be nothing more than a pony.  Do not fail me again Prince.  I will not tolerate it,” she said.

He nodded and bowed to her.

“Of course mother.  I shall not fail you,” he said.
> Epilogue
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

GTA: The Ballad of Rainbow Dash
Chapter 19: Epilogue

(Elizabeta’s Apartment – four months later)

Pinkie held the little bundle in her arms.  She couldn’t hate her.  It wasn’t her fault who her father was.  Elizabeta had asked her if she wanted to go and have the baby aborted, but she couldn’t do it.  She sung to her little filly, her little girl as she rocked her.

“Momma loves you Strawberry,” she said as she kissed the blue haired baby.  

The infant opened her eyes and looked up at her mother with green cat like eyes.  Her hair and eyes a gift from her father, but otherwise she looked like a normal, healthy, and beautiful little baby.  Pinkie lifted her to her right breast and let her start to feed.  She held the baby, her baby and gently sung again.

“Hush little baby and have no fear, momma Pinkie is right here.  I’ll keep you safe and keep you clean, but never, ever will I ever be mean.  Momma is going to bring you up right, and teach you to live in the light,” she softly sung.

The door opened and she watched as Elizabeta walked into the room.  A gentle smile spread across the Puerto Rican woman’s face.  She sat down next to Pinkie and looked at the small infant.

“She’s beautiful Mija,” Elizabeta said.

Pinkie nodded.

“She is.  She’s never going to find out about her father either,” Pinkie stated.

“No, she isn’t.  That Puta isn’t worth her knowing,” Elizabeta said.

Elizabeta looked at Pinkie and then at the door.  The girl didn’t need to know that she saw that thing earlier.  Besides, she was certain it didn’t know where she was, or anything else.  

“Pinkie, The bakery is doing good.  It’s actually doing better than good.  We’re moving a lot product,” Elizabeta said.

“Mrs. Cake always said that I was a good baker,” Pinkie said.

“You are Mija, although the staff that’s doing the baking are having a hard time fixing your layer cakes.  They said it’s impossible,” Elizabeta said.

“It’s not impossible, and they should know that.  I’ll go by there tomorrow and tell them how to do it.  I mean it’s not like I’m asking them to steal gems from a dragon, which why would someone steal gems from a dragon?  I mean that’s what dragons eat, so why steal their food…  Ooooo…  Food, I could go for a chocolate cake with sprinkles right now,” Pinkie said.

Elizabeta shook her head as her friend began a long tangent.  She looked at the little girl she was holding and wondered if the world was ready for two of them.

(Niko and Dash’s Penthouse – six months later)

Dash looked at the two infants lying in their cribs.  She lifted the little girl first.  She felt proud and incredibly sad when she saw the same wing tattoos on her back that she had.  She was meant to be a Pegasus.  Her little boy was an earth pony, but her little girl would have been able to soar through the air back home.

She touched her little girl and lifted her up.  Gently she cradled her in her arms and held her.

“You know, maybe one day we’ll be able to go home.  If we do mommy is going to show you all over Cloudsdale.  I want you to see everything, and we’ll get Twilight or Trixie to give your brother the ability to walk on the clouds.  I want him to see it too,” she said.

She heard the door open and saw Niko walking toward her.  Her husband lifted their little boy and held him much like she was holding their little girl.

“Roman wants us to bring them over to his and Mallory’s apartment,” Niko said.

“We will, but not right now,” she said.

“Dash… The Agent called,” he said.

She closed her eyes and cursed.  It had been over a year.  She hoped that he would have forgotten about them, but that wasn’t the case.  

“What does he want?” she asked.

“He wants us to go to the haunted house at the fun fair.  He… Dash, he knows about the portal.  He said we need to come through it,” Niko said.

She looked at him in surprise.  How could the agent know about that?  What could he possibly know about Ponyville?

“What… Niko, what’s going on?” she asked.

“He said it has to deal with those things that were here,” Niko said.

She closed her eyes and cursed softly.

“When?” she asked.

“Tomorrow and we’re supposed to bring backup.  I’ve already asked Dwayne and Packie.  They’ve agreed to come with us,” he replied.

“Okay, we’ll ask Roman and Mallory to watch them for us.  I hate to do it, but… Niko, I don’t want them in harm’s way,” she said.

He nodded.

“I know, they’ll be safe Dash.  I know they will,” he replied.
> Bonus Chapter 1 Dash's Run
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bonus Chapter 1 Dash’s run

(Liberty City University – Track Field)

Brucie stood near Dash and stretched out.

“Are you sure about this Dash?  I mean I can’t help it if I’m awesome,” Brucie said as he ran in place for a moment.
“We’re both sure,” Tracy said as she stretched out.

Dash watched her friend seem to become almost boneless as she stretched her legs out to the point of touching her forehead with the toes of her shoes.

“Wow, you’ve been holding out on me babe!” Brucie shouted.

“Yeah, whatever, look are we going to race, or are the both of you going just keep making small talk?” Dash asked.

“Okay, okay, so, first lap around the track wins right?” Tracy asked.

“Hey, how about we do a major race?  I mean a foot race from here to our cars, a race downtown to the helipad, take a charter copter up, parachute down, and then take a couple of speed boats and head over to Happiness Island.  Then the first one up to the top of the Statue of Happiness wins!” Brucie said.

“That sounds a bit over the top,” Tracy said.

“Did you say flying?” Dash asked.

“Sure, we can take the… They have to fly!” Brucie shouted.

“I’ll do it if I get to fly,” Dash responded.

“If you do how will you parachute out?” Tracy asked.

Dash looked at her, then realized that she couldn’t leave the helicopter alone in the air and cursed under her breath.

“Damn it…  Wait… We take a pilot up with us and they take over!” she said.

“Still want to do it Brucie?” Tracy asked.

He began to shake his head.

“Aw, he’s chicken.  Bawk, bawk, bawk!” Dash said.

“Brucie isn’t scared of anything!” he said.

(Twenty minutes later)

“Oh God, Oh God, Oh God!” Brucie said as charter helicopter banked in ways it had never done before.

“Young lady you’re fouling up the hydraulics!!!!!” the co-pilot shouted.

They neared the dock and Brucie was the first one to jump.  Tracy followed him and the pilot simply looked at Dash.
“Yeah, just a second,” she said.

She moved the helicopter a little and then looked at him.

“Thanks!” she shouted.

She jumped out and felt the air rushing up around her as she fell.  It was just like flying last time.  The wonderful feel of the air, the smell of the ozone, and the feeling of sound barrier slowly being broken wide open was something she had loved in Ponyville, and it was something she wanted to feel here.

She saw the dock getting larger and pulled the zipcord on the parachute.  For a moment nothing happened, but then it opened revealing a stunning blue parachute, with Brucie’s Executive Auto logo on it, and she felt herself slowing down.  She aimed toward one of the speed boats and landed near the end of it.  She unbuckled the parachute, dropped it, and ran to the front of the speed boat.

She heard the sound of another one starting and looked to see Tracy getting into one.  Right behind them was Brucie, but he had missed the boat completely.  She gunned the boat and headed toward Happiness Island.  The spray of the water hit her face and she grinned as turned on the music.

The sounds of the Foundations ‘Build Me up Buttercup’ played through the speakers, and she couldn’t help but feel like singing.  She raced the boat until she hit the ramp for the dock, launched over it, landed in the water, and rode it up to the beach on Happiness Island.  From there she took off running.

She nearly made it all of the way until she heard a little boy crying about getting his video game taken away, and then him and his mother talking in some made up language for the game.  Shaking her head she side stepped the two of them, which had stopped in the middle of the trail, and tried to make it to the Statue of happiness.  She made to the front and began to laugh.

Tracy and Brucie both showed up a few moments later and looked at her as she stood outside the lower level of the statue.

“What is it?” Brucie asked.

She pointed at the sign indicating the cleaning of the statue, and how it was off limits.

“Remember everyone the statue is off limits for the next two weeks for its/her annual D.O.U.C.H.E.

Diamondtastic

Outstanding

Universal

Clean-up

Health Inspection

and Environmental Inspection.

She/it will re-open in two weeks, and we expect her/its insides to be clean and ready to accept all visitors in both the front and rear entrances!”  the sign read.
> Bonus Chapter 2 Not my Son
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Bonus Chapter 2

'Not My Son'


It's not often that I come back here.  Liberty City isn't the same as it used to be.  It's not...  home like it was.  It hasn't been since sixteen years ago.  Everypony, even Princess Celestia, said that Niko was a hero.  They claimed that he did a great thing, but being a hero doesn't mean anything if you're gone.  I didn't get get to see his body.  I didn't want to, but at least I would get some closure about it.  Something, anything that would have helped me move on, but there wasn't anything.  A well placed bomb in Canterlot Castle helped ensure that the Changeling threat was taken care of.  Niko, my Niko stayed behind to make sure that Chrysalis couldn't get away.  I tried to get back inside, I tried to fight my way in, but Pinkie wouldn't let me.  I watched as the Castle fell, and when we finally got through the burning wreckage we found Chrysalis, but we didn't find Niko.

I had to face raising our children, both of them, on my own.  Their names raised a lot of eyebrows in Ponyville.  The fact that I chose to name my daughter Trixie Pinkamena Bellic had raised more than a few eyebrows.  I suppose not having the traditional name that helped explain some part of them was offsetting, but then again I had lived on Earth long enough to appreciate some of the differences.  Pinkie was happy, and I had to admit that despite what happened in that basement it wasn't her.  It had been a clone, a clone that Chrysalis had tortured, tormented, and put through all kinds of nightmarish things before she broke.  When she did Chrysalis had left her in Pinkie's place to start getting rid of anypony that could stop her.  It nearly worked, and would have if not for my Niko.

I stand in our old penthouse and touch the sheet covered couch.  I really should let this place go.  I know that in the back of my mind I'm hoping that he'll just appear here.  That maybe some cosmic force would place him back in this world, but it hasn't happened yet.  The city has changed quite a bit too...  I keep forgetting how much time differs from here and back in Equestria.  Most of my friends I made here are in their twilight years, well except for Trixie and Tiffany.  The two of them have long since moved to Equestria.  Still, that's not why I'm here.  I wish it was so that I could see Brucie, or say hi to Jacob, but instead it's because of a fight that happened with Niko Jr.  There is so much of his father in him.  Niko once told me that he did the things he did because he was very young, and very angry.  Jr is like that.  He's so angry.  He's angry at life, at the stallion, the man who was supposed to be his father, and when I shared everything with him he nearly turned his back on him.

"You could have stayed out of it!  I could have known my father!  I could have known him!" the memory of him crying was still fresh in  my mind.

He left, two days ago.  Days...  I wanted to give him some time, thinking that maybe he would have went to Twilight's or maybe even to see Pinkie and her daughter Strawberry, but he hadn't.  It was then that she realized he had came here.  A soft sigh escaped my lips and I stood inside of the abandoned Dark Ride.  Even with the foundation the Agent had created to keep the Fun Fair in tact it was still aging.  I wasn't sure how long it would be before it would finally be demolished only to be rebuilt again.  If that happened there was no telling if there would be anymore coming back.  I wasn't sure if she wanted to come back.  A sigh escaped my lips and I heard the door open.  A quick hope raised in me.  Maybe it was Niko.  Maybe...  I pushed it down.  Niko was dead. I needed to accept it.

I turned and looked at the person walking into apartment.  He had grown physically older since the last time she had seen him.  His head was still clean shaven, and he was still somewhat fit, but Brucie didn't look like the man I had seen before.  He grinned, and walked toward me.

"You should try to get back sooner," he said.

I hugged him back and nodded.

"I know, but it's a little hard to do.  Kids, work, and just being awesome keeps getting in the way," I replied.

"Thanks for showing up at Simone's..." he stopped and I felt his shoulders slump.

"Hey, I couldn't stay away.  She was one of my best friends.  I'm just so sorry that it happened.  How are your kids taking it?" I asked.

"Rainbow is taking it the hardest.  I'm doing what I can for her, but she's lost without Simone," Brucie said.

I had told Simone how honored I was to have her daughter named after me.  Even after she came to Equestria, and she saw what I really was she was still one of my best friends.  Her and Brucie seemed to finally fit together, and I was glad for it.  Of course she couldn't stay in Equestria.  She was the amazing Simone, fashion goddess of Liberty City.  Her calling was here, and it would have been wrong to try and talk her out coming back.  I looked toward the elevator expectantly, but it didn't open.

"Where's Junior?" I asked.

"Dash, I think that you need to sit down," Brucie said.

I felt fear building up in the pit of my stomach.  Two days...  For me he was gone two days, but here...  Junior was here for a good couple of months if not longer.  Brucie breathed out a sigh and pulled out a smoke.  He offered me one, but I declined.

"Your son came through, and he actually came back here.  If it wasn't for that dark rainbow colored head of his I would have thought it was Niko himself.  He remembered me, and we talked some.  Dash, he wanted to know about his dad.  He wanted to know everything about Niko, so we talked.  I told him the kind of guy Niko was.  What he was like, what he did, and what happened.  I tried to keep him from going and trying to live in his dad's shadow, but he wouldn't hear of it.  Last night...  Dash last night there was an accident.  He's just a sixteen year old kid.  He didn't deserve..." I didn't let him finish.

"Where is he?!" I demanded.

"Come with me," Brucie said.

The entire trip felt surreal.  We arrived at the Hospital and walked in to find a room where a young boy was laying on a hospital bed.  I walked over and touched his arm.  He didn't move.

"Are you his mother?" a voice asked.

I turned around and looked at a doctor who walked in and checked on him.

"What happened?" I asked.

"He was admitted last night do to some severe tramua.  We've had to sedate him because of the extent of his injuries," he said.

"What happened?" I asked again.

"Please take a seat.  Your son was involved in what appeared to be some kind of gang war.  We're not sure what it was exactly, but from what we can tell your son was beaten, and it appeared that he was violated," the doctor said.

It took her several seconds to come to term with what he said.  Her son, little Junior had been over here, and he was...  I closed my eyes and nodded.

"I'll leave you alone.  I doubt that he's going to wake up very soon, and if you are worried about the police there was a sizable donation made to the hospital with the understanding that your son's actions would go mostly unreported," the doctor said as he left.

I nodded again.  There really wasn't anything else that I could even begin to say.  I heard him leave and I felt Brucie's hand on my shoulder.

"I'll be out in the lobby," he said.

I touched my son's arm again.

"I'm sorry.  I should have known that you weren't just blowing off steam and I should have came right after you.  I don't know if I'm ever going to be able to thank Brucie enough for looking out for you.  Damn it what were you thinking?!  Why in the hell did you come here by yourself for anyway?!" I screamed.

I wanted him to wake up so I could tell him this to his face, but he simply lay there.  I leaned over and hugged him.  There was no question in my mind that Trixie or Twilight could fix this.  They could heal the physical damage, but emotionally...  Sweet Celestia I was scared that he was going to be scarred for life.

"Auntie Dash?" a voice said.

I turned to see my name sake.  She walked in and looked at the young boy laying on the bed.

"I'm so sorry about this," she said.

"You didn't do it," I said.

"No, but it was because of me.  My ex boyfriend was trying to start a scene, and when that didn't work he was going to take me off somewhere.  Niko...  He jumped in and fought back for me.  He was doing so good until several of the other guys showed up...  I... I'm so sorry," she said.

I looked at her and the thought of being mad at her came to me, but then I passed it off.  I couldn't be.  I motioned for her to come to me and she did.  I felt her arms wrap around me and I looked back down at him.

"I can see why he did what he did," I said.

She shook her head and looked at him.

"I know, and I like him, but Auntie Dash I'm twenty - two years old.  It wouldn't be right," she said.

I understood what she meant.  I breathed out and shook my head.  There was so much to think about, and so much to do.  Whatever happened I knew that I needed to take care of my son, and I needed to make him understand that he is part of a family that loves him.