Breakfast was usually a more social event for Alto when others were over for breakfast, especially with Harp Hearts. Instead, she and Sentinel, the pony who accompanied her, remained quiet as Alto told them of the previous night’s events.
Alto offered his friend a plate of pancakes before he started explaining his story, but Harp Hearts kindly declined, more hungry to hear his frightening endeavor. Sentinel sat on the couch, away from the two ponies. He scribbled down notes, his pupils staring hard on the parchment.
Harp Hearts sat close to Alto, her hoof firmly holding onto his own. Her comfort was appreciated, but the warmth was not enough of a distraction to how Alto felt about his decision to leave High Brass behind; all because Orange threatened to harm Harp Hearts.
A forkful of pancakes levitated into Alto’s mouth. Sweet flavors danced on the stallion’s tongue. A temporary distraction.
“I'm sorry you had to make that choice,” Harp Hearts said, leaning into the caramel pony. “It must have been very scary to be in a situation like that…”
Alto sighed out of his nostrils, his teeth breaking down the food with hard bites. “More than you know…” Alto admitted.
Sentinel concluded his last sentence with a harsh tap, ending it with a strong period. “There was nothing that you could have done,” Sentinel spoke.
“I know…” Harp Heart’s soft cheek settled on Alto’s shoulder. “It's funny. When I saw High Brass beaten on the ground, I tried to hate him. I just… couldn't.”
Harp Hearts blinked at Alto, “How come?”
“I saw a little of myself.”
“What do you mean?”
His fork stabbed into a small piece of pancake. “The bruises on his face were a reflection of my past. He looked lost. Just like I was. Lost to the evil of self-frustration and hatred.” Alto levitated the fork, watching the overly-saturated slice drip thick syrup. “Maybe he and I are one in the same.”
“No, you are not!” Harp Hearts furrowed her brow. “Now is not the time to beat yourself up.”
“Don't tell my sister this,” Sentinel spoke up.
“I wouldn't say whatever you want to say.” Alto gave the shoulder Harp Hearts was resting on a little wiggle. “Miss Likes to Share Secrets here will slip up.” A rebellious hoof tickled the unicorn's ribs.
“I'll say it anyways. High Brass did have it coming to him.” Harp Hearts gave Sentinel a not-so-friendly stare. “I mean, what happened to him was horrible, but karma was eventually going to bite back.”
“Karma did have a nice debut when your sister showed up,” Alto smiled.
***
Alto froze when we saw a black shadow of a body clinging to the building’s wall. Bastion’s furious eyes bore into the unicorn’s face, the mare hushing a quiet “shh,” demanding that she must not be detected just yet. Alto tried his best to not move his head but was able to move his eyes. He looked down to see a brick in Bastion’s dark-purple hoof. A wave of relief and fear brushed the hairs of Alto’s neck. He pondered the thought if he actually went through with assaulting High Brass… and Bastion was to know about it. The reality of what could have been would have most likely involved the brick clutched by Bastion. At least Alto didn't have to worry about being intimate with the blazed brick of clay.
“Having a hard time walking away?” Orange asked from behind. Alto took a deep breath and closed his eyes before turning back toward the alley. He wouldn't want his eyes to look at Bastion and blow her cover.
Alto saw everypony he had just left behind stare back at him. “I…” he muttered, anticipating Bastion to strike at any moment. “Just… promise Harp Hearts will not be involved…”
“Just don't give me a reason to,” Orange responded. The pegasus eyed Neutral, then nodded, “Go make sure our friend makes it around the block. And be sure no pony is around the corner. Specifically to the left.”
Alto knew that Bastion’s cover was blown and couldn't resist looking back at her direction. But when he expected to see the purple pegasus, she was gone. “No pony is here,” Alto said and he wondered if his mind was playing tricks on him.
Neutral passed Alto, bat in hoof, prepared to attack any potential bystanders. Neutral looked to the left, the right, and up. “He's right. No pony is near.” Neutral turned back toward Orange and said, “I’ll watch Alto walk fro-”
A loud ‘clank’ echoed in the dark as a brick smacked on Neutral’s skull, the force splitting the hard brick in half. The bat Neutral was holding fell to the ground, bouncing with freedom in each bound. Alto stood frozen, watching Neutral crumble to the ground. Where is Bastion?
“We've been found!” Mouthless exclaimed. Alto smirked at the irony. A black figure leaped from the rooftops and into the ally, grabbing Neutral’s dropped bat.
“Yes, you have…” Bastion scowled, eying the one who bore no mask.
Alto couldn't help himself and yelled, “Let them have it! They threatened Harp Hearts!”
Like a trained platoon, each mask bearer surrounded High Brass while Orange stood front and center. “Take him away, now!” Orange ordered. “Or your lives will be ruined!”
“You won't have one before sunrise…” Bastion proclaimed at Orange. “That is unless you surrender.”
“Is that a threat?” Orange asked, his grin mocking the guardspony.
Bastion ignored the quip and her eyes met with every pony standing around High Brass. “I may not know any of you. But what I do know is you all have some obscene hatred for High Brass. You have been caught. Throw down your masks as a sign of surrender, and your punishments will be less severe.”
Despite how Orange maintained his cocky smile, Alto could tell the pegasus was pushed into a corner. “Are you done with your heroic speech?” Orange asked. Bastion didn't reply. She and Alto continued to stare at Orange and the masked ponies. Orange shook his head, “You have no idea who you are dealing with.” Alto looked down at High Brass through the legs of the masked ponies, wondering how the rich pony would be rescued.
“Neither do you,” Bastion responded. She then smiled, “And I'm not talking about me.” She pointed with her bat at Frown, shaking in place. Alto was curious about Frown’s behavior and tried to understand what got him so spooked.
Orange looked over his shoulder, still on edge with the pony before him. “What are you so scared about?” His voice only made Frown rattle even more. “Just do what I say and nothing will become of you.”
“Y-you said we wouldn't get caught…” Frown spoke. Alto couldn't help but feel slightly sorry for him but was glad Frown and the others were facing justice.
Orange grunted in frustration, “Not everything goes according to plan. All I did was use convincing words towards you and the others.”
Bastion leaned in towards Alto as Orange and the others talked among one another, “Be thankful you chose not to harm High Brass. Otherwise, you would be in their horseshoes as well. And I would not have hesitated to strike you down.”
“I'm sorry you can’t fulfill the fantasy of pummeling me into the ground,” Alto smirked, thinking now would be a good time to try and make light of the current situation.
With their small talking session over, Alto and Bastion faced the criminals again. “But I didn't agree with how you went about threatening Alto and Harp Hearts,” Smile argued. “That was going too far.”
“Too far?!” Orange yelled. “Have you forgotten what you all have done tonight? You just assisted with fillynapping a rich pony and assaulted him!” Orange’s pause was deafening. “Face the facts! You are all criminals!”
Eyeless stepped forward, tore off his mask, and shouted, “Unlike you, none of us are changelings, you freak!”
Alto took a step back, shocked at how Eyeless showed his light-green face, and was even more astonished, understanding why Orange was not wearing a mask. “I-it makes sense…” he shivered. Alto looked at High Brass, wondering if the rich pony knew about Orange’s true facade. The unicorn noticed High Brass was not staring at Orange, but at Faceless.
“Is that true, High Brass?” Bastion called. “Did any of them mention this fact? That he is a changeling?”
“Mhmm!” the beaten pony mumbled as loud as he could.
Orange retaliated against High Brass and kicked him in the head. “Damn you all!”
The action sent Bastion careening toward Orange with the speed of a Wonderbolt. Orange jumped into the air in an attempt to flee, and the purple pegasus gave chase.
No longer held down by authority, the masked ponies began to talk among themselves. “We need to run,” Smile ordered.
“But what about-”
Mouthless was cut off by Frown. “You heard what the changeling said. We are criminals. All we can do now is run.” Every mask bearer faced Alto with their only given expression, save for Eyeless. “I don't expect you to stop us.”
Alto didn't want the assaulters to escape, but he was no hero. He was only a musician. “No, I won't.” The unicorn put on the most serious expression he could muster. “But remember this: you not only put yourselves at risk but myself and Harp Hearts. You will be held accountable for this if something happens to me or her. Understand?”
Nopony answered with words. They only nodded. As a group, they moved as one and approached Alto. Smile picked up Neutral before jogging off with the rest of his group.
With nopony left to stop Alto, he briskly walked over to High Brass and removed his bindings and gag. High Brass moved very little, perhaps too sore from the beatings he endured. He laid on his belly, keeping his eyes on the ground. “Th- th- Thank you…” Alto just stared down at the humiliated pony, not sure what to say to High Brass.