35 Morton street
By the time the mini bus turned off of Varick street and was rolling down Morton, Margot was awake from her magic drain stupor. Unlike the streets of the yellow zone, these streets weren’t empty. A few ponies walked up and down the quiet tree lined street.
LaShawn looked back. “When we park, get inside asap! The Chelsea resistance says that the MA runs patrol cars through this area. You don’t want to be on the street when they drive by. They probably will be scanning notches. Since ours are fake, we will be in a firefight for sure.”
Once the minibus was parked everypony got off and headed to the building at thirty five Morton street.
While she walked to the building LaShawn fussed with a large satchel.
Jerome tapped Margot on the flank. “I’m beginning to think that LaShawn is some sort of bigwig with the resistance. She seems to know everypony.”
Margot shrugged. “Maybe. I just want this to be over. I’m so tired.”
Jerome nodded. “Me too. I wish we could rest a bit.”
Skybreeze broke into the conversation. “I agree with the both of you.”
LaShawn was already at the door of the building. She hit the button for 6b.
Horace Williams answered. “Yeah.” It sounded like he just woke up.
“We’re here to fix your TV,” LaShawn said.
“Okay, just remember to hold the inner door open for your teammates. Don’t let it lock behind you,” Horace said with a bit more energy.
The hallway was filled with a buzzing noise as the group rushed through the doors. After they entered the hot and humid foyer, the doors locked with clicks.
Skybreeze looked at the stairs that led up and sighed. “Really? No elevator? I’m just going to be all lathered up when I reach the top. We are going for the top floor?”
“Yes, we have to go up to apartment 6b,” LaShawn said while glaring at Skybreeze.
Jerome smiled. “Well, let’s do it.” He started up the stairs.
LaShawn followed him.
The situation reminded Margot when she had to go to her boss and get briefed. All of that ended up leading to this situation. After a while, they finally stood outside Horace’s apartment.
LaShawn knocked.
The door opened just wide enough for them to see just a sliver of a white unicorn stallion peering back at them with distrust in his blue eyes. “Who are you ponies again?”
LaShawn stifled a curse and then spoke up. “We rang your buzzer downstairs.”
Horace flung the door open. “Sorry about that, I think I dozed off.”
A grey cat darted out the door.
“Please, please don’t let Mr. Grey escape!”
Before the cat could get to the stairs, a green glow surrounded the animal and it floated off of the ground. It yowled once.
Nga'Devro walked into the apartment followed by Margot. Her nose was hit with the odors of plants, soil, old wine, lathered pony and cat excrement.
Horace shrugged. “Sorry about the smell of cat crap. Mr Grey and I don’t see eye to eye about his litter box. I bought some cheap litter and he didn’t like it.”
Then Horace turned to LaShawn. “Do you have the money?”
She gave him the bag.
A greedy smile crossed his face for a second and then it was replaced by sadness. “All that money and sooo little to buy,” he whispered.
Far latched all of the locks. It took him a few minutes.
Margot noticed that Horace had five. She figured that was enough for a New Yorker.
Nga'Devro placed the cat on the floor then it ran off to the hallway. A few moments later, he started to watch them with his bright yellow eyes.
Horace looked up. “How are we going to do this? What? Fillies?”
Apple Bloom frowned.
Margot stepped up to Horace. “They can disable notches.”
“Really? We might need that talent,” Horace said. His face seemed to light up. “Now, something interesting!”
Margot pulled out the disabled notch.
“Ahh, this will be quite useful. Put it on the table while I get my notes. Oh wait, who’s going to help me? Wait. I don’t know any of your names,” Horace said.
Margot held out her hoof for a bump. “I’m Margot, I will be doing most of the helping.”
Horace just looked at her hoof and nodded.
Skybreeze walked up. “I wish to help.”
Far and Nga'Devro shook their heads.
Sweetie Belle walked up. “I would like to help too.”
Horace shrugged. “Good, I have some help. LaShawn can you do me a favor?”
“Sure Horace. What do you need?”
“Well, I haven’t been outside in a while and I could use some help taking some of these wine bottles downstairs.”
Far nodded. “I can help you with that.”
“Nga'Devro will also assist.”
Horace smiled. “Thank you. Since it’s getting close to seven which is my dinner time, I was wondering if somepony can do a bit of shopping and get our dinners? The Chinese restaurant is just two blocks away. Also there’s a store down the block on Hudson street. Oh, I almost forgot. There is a liquor store across the street on Hudson. Please get me a yellowtail shiraz. I feel like celebrating. No no no! They ran out of those two weeks ago. Get me a Barkling. Some stallion makes them in his basement. I’ll get a pencil and write a list.” Horace went down the hall.
The apartment was a mess. Plastic bags filled with empty wine bottles were piled along one wall. Plants grew in profusion next to an open window with no shades. Books were piled on almost every surface.
Skybreeze looked at a book that was on the floor. “Topological Quantum Field Theories Derived From The Kauffman Bracket. Well, that sounds interesting but my higher math skills are quite rusty.”
Margot nodded. “I just stick with advanced level Calculus.”
Scootaloo grimaced. “How long do we have to stay in this hot stinky place?”
Horace came back with a list. “Well, little miss orange pegasus. It’s hot and stinky here. I should’ve not been cheap with the cat’s litter. Air conditioning might hurt my plants so I don’t use it, but I wish I could use shades. I keep forgetting to buy them.”
Apple Bloom shot a glare at Scootaloo.
Horace gave the list to LaShawn. “I wrote down the address of the Chinese restaurant so you can find it.” Then he reached into his bag of cash and gave LaShawn a bundle. The next few minutes were spent going through the menu and picking out what they wanted to eat.
Margot went for some hay and lemongrass egg foo young.
Apple Bloom took a while to pick out something. “Ah never heard of Chinese food before? Is it tasty?”
LaShawn nodded. “How about I get you some brown rice and chinese vegetables. It has tiny corns that you can just pop in your mouth.”
Apple Bloom’s eyes widened. “Corn that you can just pop into your mouth? Yeah, I want that.” Then Apple Bloom looked around. It seemed dramatic. “No apples please.”
Scootaloo laughed. “I’m telling Applejack that you didn’t eat any apples.”
Apple Bloom grinned. “Ah feel alright not havin apples.”
Sweetie Belle smiled. “LaShawn, can I have some apple pie?”
LaShawn nodded. “No problem Sweetie. If I find an apple pie, I’ll bring one back. This city was once called the Big Apple.” She looked at Jerome. “Ok, let’s go shopping.”
Scootaloo raised her left forehoof. “Can I go too?”
LaShawn looked down at Scootaloo. “Yes, you can.”
Jerome used his telekinesis to unlock the locks then they left.
Behind them Far and Nga'Devro grabbed the first set of plastic bags filled with empty wine bottles. They clinked as the ponies walked through the open door.
While that was going on, Margot went over her notes. It took her just a moment to generate a spell to create a hologram that showed what she found out.
Mr. Grey just watched from the hallway.
Horace looked at the hologram. “Pratt graduate, um no, they would never do something this practical. It seems that you have found most of what I know. There’s a missing part.” He went through his notes and showed Margot what he found. The empty spaces in the holo were starting to get filled in but the bottom was still empty.
“I found out that I can scan my notch, but I have to do it in a way that it doesn’t reduce my scanning ability. I can only do it for ten minutes a day. You scan too. Maybe between our scans we can get everything,” Horace said.
“I’m ready.”
Horace nodded then he brought over a large sheet of paper along with another pencil. “Ready, set, scan!”
Margot scanned Horace’s notch while he started drawing. This time it was easier for her because she just had to scan the areas that she missed before. The hologram flickered as she added more areas. For the next few moments, Margot and Horace with some help from Skybreeze kept scanning and updating the hologram. Margot was so into working she barely heard Far and Nga'Devro come back several times for more bottles. At last the hologram was complete, no dark or missing areas.
Horace peered at the glowing diagram one more time. “Yes, yes, it seems as though we got it. Now let’s see if we can fit all of this inside a real notch.”
Margot nodded and studied the diagram again then she conjured up a notch.
Horace peered at it closely. “Well, now we’re ready for the final test.” He went back into his room and came back with a scanner unit. It was basically a scanner paired with a small screen.
Skybreeze jerked her head back in surprise. “Where did you get that?”
Horace just shrugged. “I don’t ask and they don’t tell.” He turned the device on and pointed it at his notch. Then for about ten minutes they tweaked the test notch until it worked like Horace’s notch.
By the time Far and Nga'Devro came back, Margot had a working notch. She figured that it would be easy to duplicate for the rest of the team.
LaShawn, Jerome and Scootaloo walked into the apartment with a bunch of bags. Some of the contents smelled pretty good to Margot.
Horace saw the bag of kitty litter and walked up to LaShawn. “Thank you. Now I can get back into Mr. Grey’s favor.” He grabbed the bag with his telekinesis and went into the kitchen.
Margot noticed that LaShawn and Jerome brought wine and some sodas. The SHC could have something to drink too. She also wasn’t in the mood for wine, especially when it was made in somepony’s bathtub. Margot watched as Mr Grey watched the ponies pass around pints of Chinese food and drinks. After a few quick scribbled notes, she joined the party.
Hudson River Park
A cool breeze blew over the park while the rising sun gilded the roofs of the buildings across the river. Margot could hear Jerome whine about the earliness of the hour.
“I understand that we have a lot to do but starting a few hours later would be good,” Jerome said while squinting.
Far laughed. “Not to laugh at your pain but I’m glad I didn’t drink any of that wine.”
Skybreeze snorted. “Wine? That was more like old grape juice. I have to admit it does have some interesting notes, but I figure it needs a year or more before anypony should drink it.”
Nga'Devro laughed. “Nga'Devro also agrees that the wine was too rough.”
Far looked over the water and back at Nga'Devro. “Rough? No, sandpaper is rough. That stuff, to steal a word from LaShawn, was nasty. Sorry LaShawn.”
LaShawn laughed. “No you are right. Horace puts up with it because he likes to drink. When the Gleaners are driven away, I hope he can get real wine.”
Apple Bloom frowned. “Well, ah didn’t get any wine.”
LaShawn leaned down to Apple Bloom. “Be glad. After a little bit I just started drinking orange soda. That was much better.”
Jerome faced Apple Bloom. “Why are you not sleeping like Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo?
“Ah grew up on a farm. I’m used to getting up with the sun,” Apple Bloom said with a proud smile on her face.
Jerome just winced.
Margot wished she could heal him or do something to ease his pain. Other than conjuring up water or more alcohol there was nothing she could do.
LaShawn looked at her watch. “Daylight’s a burnin. Who’s first?”
Margot raised her right forehoof. LaShawn and Margot went to the minibus. Margot was pleasantly surprised to find out that driving in this world wasn’t any different from where she came from. There was some new stuff on the gears but that was it.
After that, Margot drove the van around the park area.
LaShawn was relieved and surprised. “Let me guess there are cars where you come from?”
Margot nodded.
The next driving student was Far, and LaShawn had a lot of work on her hooves. The van moved in fits and starts. LaShawn decided to get to the next student. Skybreeze ended up not doing any driving. They started arguing when Skybreeze got into the minibus.
Margot and Jerome had to intervene.
LaShawn looked at her watch. “Okay, that’s enough for the driving lessons. The others will be here soon.”
Margot looked back.
Already Horace and the rest of the team were trotting toward them.
Far faced Jerome. “I noticed Horace was complimenting your curly hair and fine coat. Did anything happen while I was sleeping?”
Jerome sighed. “Yeah, I know he was flirting with me but I could tell he wasn’t going to do anything.”
“Really?”
Margot remembered that Horace brought out the keys to the other apartments on the sixth floor. She was glad they didn’t have to sleep in his hot apartment. Her apartment was also hot and stuffy too, but a few open windows and some cold air spells made things comfortable. Once her head hit the pillow, she was fast asleep. It felt like a minute later when LaShawn woke her up in the morning. Then Margot made notches for the team.
Horace and the rest of the team walked up. “We should stop somewhere and have a nice breakfast then go on to the NYU campus. The center for Advanced Magical studies has some checkpoints around it, but anypony can walk through the campus to Broadway. This should be a good test or we get caught.”
LaShawn sighed. “Fine. We need to test if these notches work. Where should we go for breakfast?”
Horace smiled. “I know a nice diner near here. I will tell you where to go.” He then spent the next few minutes acting like a tour guide pointing out areas of interest.
Washington Square south
Jerome looked at the MA enforcers in their police cars watching the ponies walking by. “Tell me again why we are testing the notches here and not at the Eyesore building?”
LaShawn sighed. “If the notches fail here, we have a better chance to get away. Since this is not a high value area, the guards are not on high alert. If we tested the notches at the building and they failed, we wouldn’t survive. There’re just too many guards and SWAT units there.”
Margot looked down the block. It would be nice to play the tourist, but she was just so tired. Testing the notches and heading back would be good. She hoped to get back early so she could catch up on more sleep.
LaShawn shrugged. “Follow me.” The group followed her and acted like tourists gawking at everything. When they passed the checkpoint without incident there were a lot of relieved sighs.
Margot managed to get a glimpse of the NYU Center for Advanced Magical Studies. It was just another red brick building with black windows. Two MA enforcers stood next to the black and silver doors.
“Horace have you ever been in the advanced magic center before the gleaners came?” Margot said.
Horace looked down. “Well, I have been in the Bobst library but no. I could have done some studies at the center but at that time I was little more than a bum. Eventually, I cleaned up my act, but by then I didn’t care about magic that much.” The group walked up a block and then walked to the minibus.
LaShawn turned to the group. “I talked to some resistance leaders and they agreed to let us practice shooting in their armory. After today, everypony will need to know how to shoot a gun. Even little fillies.”
Scootaloo grumbled.
Horace’s eyes widened. “No, I don’t want to know how to shoot. I abhor violence.”
LaShawn faced Horace. “Really?”
Horace waved his right fore hoof. “Well, it’s more I don’t know what I would do in a situation that requires violence.”
LaShawn nodded. “Well, then you don’t have to come. You’ve done enough for the resistance already by helping us with the notches.”
Horace looked at the group, his ears drooped.
Margot felt sorry for him. She could tell he was a lonely pony. The outing to Chinatown was probably the first time he was with a group in a long time. There was a good chance that they would never see Horace again.
Horace waved slowly. “I wish you well in your endeavours.” The group watched as he turned around and headed back across the park with lowered tail and ears. Then the group got on the minibus and went to Chinatown.
Chinatown
The buildings looked like what Margot expected in Chinatown. Everything else was different. For one thing, there was this constant whirr of wings. She could see changelings landing at upstairs balconies and flying above traffic. Also they would land and take off from the street. Then there were the strange chirps of their language mixed in with English. Margot wondered what Nga'Devro thought. His face contained no clue to his thoughts.
Skybreeze and Far’s faces on the other hoof were filling with fear.
“Are you okay, Skybreeze?” Margot said.
“No, I find all of these changelings quite disturbing. I feel that they will swoop down on me and rip out my emotions,” Skybreeze said while trying not to panic.
Far’s eyes also were looking around at all of the changelings in the area.
Nga'Devro spoke up. “Nga'Devro wishes to tell you that ripping out emotions from ponies is considered a hostile act. No civilized changeling would do such a thing.”
Skybreeze looked back at Nga'Devro. “That may be true but I have lost relatives to a changeling attack.”
LaShawn looked back. “Well, I’m sorry we can’t park in front of Happy Golden Village, we have to walk a bit. Please keep it together until we get inside.” After the minibus was parked, they started down the street.
Margot wondered why she didn’t hate and fear changelings. The changeling that had the device on Earth, Margot shot. That didn’t stop the devices from exploding or doing whatever they were supposed to do. She realized that she didn’t know what the devices did.
“Jerome, do you know why the changelings attacked that mall?” Margot said.
Jerome looked back. “Well, the Messenger said that the changelings wanted emotions from the humans in the mall. But there was more to the spell. It brought gleaners to Earth and Equestria.”
“Wait. When did you speak to the Messenger?” Margot said.
“I was at the mall following up on a hunch and then the gleaners came. I was in the middle of a bunch when the Messenger saved me,” Jerome said.
Scootaloo pointed at some geese hanging in the window of a butcher shop. “What’s wrong with those birds? Why are their skins shiny? Where are their feathers?”
Margot looked at the geese. Their black beady eyes made her hackles rise. It seemed like they were watching her.
LaShawn sighed. “Those geese are dead. Somepony plucked out their feathers and put a glaze on their skin. Changelings like eating some birds.”
Sweetie Belle grimaced. “Ewww.”
Apple Bloom pointed to some pigeons that were strutting down the street. “Changelings eat those too?”
LaShawn didn’t say anything.
Margot knew some humans ate pigeons but she decided to keep quiet. At last they reached the front of Happy Golden Village. A male changeling with a black mane and tail opened the door and let them in.
“Welcome to The Happy Golden Village. I’m Chen Wua. You can call me Chen. Don’t call me late for dinner,” Chen said.
Far laughed.
The rest of the group was quiet. The group introduced themselves.
“The restaurant is closed except for you. After training, we will have a nice feast. First, some of you will train,” Chen said and led the way to the back. Then they went down some stairs to the shooting range. Two changeling stallions waited for them. A large crate was on the floor next to the changelings.
“We spent some time studying the MA Enforcer’s guns as well as copies of the sigils for killing caspers and stealth,” Chen said.
Far wrinkled his nose. “Wait, how were you able to get an enforcer’s guns?”
Chen smiled and one of the stallions chirped. “Well, Far, the half drained do still keep some of their desires.”
Skybreeze grimaced. “Ponies are attracted to changelings?”
Chen smiled again. “Well, some are and others have their eyes on other creatures. We just get their guns while the owners are busy and study them carefully.” He focused and the crate floated over to him. “The weapons here can kill caspers and Gleaner Lords. The only difference between the two is more magical training and status. It would be quite wonderful if Ms. Sore suffered an unfortunate end.”
The two changeling stallions chirped. Chen also chirped.
LaShawn narrowed her eyes. “Yeah, I would like that to happen.”
Chen bowed and then took the top of the crate off. Inside was several sets of guns in holsters. For the next few minutes, the guns were handed out to the group. Even the SHC got guns.
Margot could tell that was a decision that LaShawn didn’t like, she just looked at the fillies parading around with their smaller guns and rolled her eyes. The group’s previous set of guns were put into the crate. Then Chen placed it back in the corner.
Chen turned and faced the two changeling stallions. “These trainers don’t want their names known. You will address them as Trainer one and Trainer two. Now who needs training?”
Skybreeze, Far, Nga'Devro and the SHC stepped forward.
Trainer one chirped at Trainer two.
Chen faced them. “Stop that. English please.”
Trainer one bowed. “Sorry.”
Trainer two just bowed.
Margot faced Chen. “Excuse me. I was wondering if I could get some practice time in?”
Chen nodded. “Yes, you can. You can practice at the far end away from the trainees. When you are done, let me know.”
Margot checked the earmuffs. Even though they were for winter, she sensed a powerful sound blocking spell on them. The choice of guns was much better. Instead of Mac tens there were a bunch of assault rifles. She just picked a Glock and practiced shooting for a bit. When the clip was empty Margot stopped and looked at Chen.
“No problem, just give me the gun and I will have it taken care of,” Chen said.
Margot gave him the gun.
He stuck it in the waistband of his maroon robe.
“Anyone else wants to get in some practice before the trainees?” Chen said.
LaShawn walked up to the gun rack and also picked out a Glock. She also put on the earmuffs and then started shooting. When she was done, she also gave her gun to Chen.
The gun ended up in Chen’s waistband.
LaShawn looked at Jerome. “Your turn Curly.”
“Nah. I’m good,” Jerome said.
Margot watched as the trainers showed the different parts of a gun and some basic safety tips.
“The rest of you follow me for some wonderful conversation,” Chen said with a smile.
Trainer two chirped loudly.
Chen looked at trainer two and shook his head. “Now, that’s just rude!”
Margot, Jerome and LaShawn followed Chen upstairs.
“Chen, what did trainer two say?” LaShawn said.
“Well! That rude trainer two said if the conversation was going to be wonderful, it must not include me. I think I’m quite gifted in the art of conversation,” Chen said while waving a fore leg. He turned and looked back with a smile. Then when they reached the restaurant level he pointed at a table. “Sit and I shall bring drinks and conversation.” Chen took the guns out of his robe’s waistband and placed them somewhere in the bar.
Margot sat down with Jerome and LaShawn.
Chen brought some glasses and a bottle. “Don’t worry, it’s Lychee limeade. No one will get drunk until the whole group is here.” He poured the drink into four glasses then he raised his glass. “To new beginnings!”
LaShawn, Jerome and Margot toasted and drank. The sweetness of the Lychee fruit mixing with the sour lime made for an interesting taste.
Chen sat back in his chair. “I remember when Chinatown was so vibrant. Then the gleaners came and things changed. Soon we will fight and maybe we will win. Many will die so that more can live free. Do you know that when the gleaners took Washington DC., they couldn’t find the President or his cabinet? I have a foolish thought that maybe the President and his cabinet are still alive and are waiting for the revolution to begin. Ah, such a hope.”
LaShawn took another sip of her drink. “Chen, you know the Revolution won’t be televised. We must make it happen and not rely on just pure hope.”
For a few hours, Margot listened to Chen and LaShawn trade anecdotes about the times before the gleaners came. For Margot the day seemed to take a melancholic turn. She was sitting there listening to two ponies go on about what was lost. To her it made more sense to party because who knows what will happen after tomorrow.
A few hours later, the trainers arrived with their students. Chen moved the group to a long table then he sat at one end while LaShawn sat at the other.
Now Margot knew the feasting would begin. It reminded her too much of the great feast before battle. Maybe they won’t survive or worse they will get captured and sent to the Tombs. Margot pushed that thought to the back of her mind and focused on having a good time. Maybe this would be the last time?