//------------------------------// // Loop 63 // Story: The Time Thief // by Reading4HalfMyLife //------------------------------// Manehatten was a bit of an odd place, Astral decided. Growing up in the charmingly quaint town of Ponyville, Astral had gotten used to gravel and stones streets, of a forest right next door, of lakes to swim in and trees to climb. She had felt right at home in Appleoosa because, despite the heat, it reminded her of home. But Manehatten made her feel uncomfortable in the same way Canterlot always did. Full of ponies who were constantly judging, gossiping and completely willing to backstab you for even a chance of success, Astral had to fight the urge to turn tail and sprint away. But, she reminded herself, I told myself I would travel, so I am travelling. The loud noises of cabs grated her ears and the bright, neon lights hurt her eyes. Every alley looks like a place I could be stabbed in. Fillydelphia, Manehatten, Canterlot, all of them were overcrowded areas full of cutthroat bitches. Of course, Astral was the ultimate cutthroat bitch. And, she had to admit, when night came, all the lights were actually really pretty, to the point where she took out her camera and sorted out her scrapbook folder. It was pretty full now, full of pictures of shocked faces from her pranks, or pictures of her in her armor, or several excited pictures of her cutie mark. She had just closed the scrapbook with a slight, dreamy sigh, only to hear somepony screaming and begging for help. “Help me, please! Oh Gods, please!” An owl which had been perched on the roof across from Astral, gave her a quizzical look as she stood up, tugging her saddlebag back on, before leaping off the roof. The wind made her long mane fly backwards as her eyes watered. She could hear muted screams from ponies inside the apartment she had just jumped off of, and she kind of wished she could give them an apologetic wink and a smile, but she was kind of busy, so instead she just teleported. She teleported a meter above the actual ground, and she had a couple of seconds to take stock of the situation. A Pegasus Stallion, tall and somewhat handsome, running away with a purse while a Unicorn lay on the ground, clearly in shock. Astral quickly cast a healing spell and teleported overhead to land just in front of the stallion. The deafening crack as her hooves, going at a hundred and twenty miles an hour, hit the concrete and split it. Thanks to her healing spell, the worse Astral felt was a minor sting. The Pegasus took a small step back, gaping, and Astral knocked him out with a simple straight punch to the chest and slammed his head into the ground. Wordlessly, she gave the Unicorn back her purse, which she clutched like a lifeline while staring at Astral like some kind of messiah figure. “Thank you. Oh, thank you” she kept repeating, and Astral felt herself blush under the constant praise. She gave a little nod and a smile, before teleporting away, back to the rooftop. It was only when she reached for her bag that she had an idea, and scrambled to take out her notebook, which she put down Be a superhero for a loop She gave herself a little smile and a satisfied nod, before making her way into the apartment complex where she was staying for the night. When she had stayed in Appleoosa, she had stayed in a rickety old motel, and, if she was being honest, she much preferred it over the soft, plush bed she was currently in. . . . .She had stolen money from the bank for this trip and now it seemed like she didn’t even need it. She let out a sigh and turned over, eyeing the beautiful stars that somehow seemed weaker In comparison to the neon lights outside. Maybe I’ll skip Fillydelphia, she thought, shutting her eyes. I can go Canterlot and see Alchemy again and then I can go to non pony regions!