Gabby's Misadventures in Maretropolis

by Pen Dragon


Things are Looking Up!

Chapter Three: Things are Looking Up!

“Gabby, do you have any idea… How HUGE this is?” Front Page had asked me. It was a rather joyous occasion for the boss to find out that I alone was able to uncover who Gunvolt was with the photos I had taken of him and the drug dealers that were there.

“Um… It has to be pretty huge right?” I asked, sitting across from her as she looked over the photos she had printed out from the memory card I had given her. “Will this get us noticed?”

“Oh, it’s going to do a LOT more than that,” Front Page said as she looked back at me. “Not only does this show that this Gunvolt actually exist, but it also shows that he’s somehow tied into the recent crime spike somehow. Talk about-” She paused for a moment, before shaking her head in response. “You know what, nevermind.”

“S-Seriously? I’m still having a hard time believing this myself.” I stated, still trying to wrap my head around that last night had actually happened and I wasn’t dreaming. However, judging from Front Page’s Smile, I’d say that this was real and it’s also the first time I’ve seen her smile at me truly.

“This is definitely amazing… did Silver help you with this or no? Just out of curiosity?” She asked me, and all I could do was shake my head, implying that she did not help me and I was on my own. There was no way I was going to give her credit for something she didn’t even do, I wasn’t going to give her the glory. This was my moment and I was going to enjoy it. “Alright, and the article to go alongside this is ready… there’s just one last thing we need to do now.”

“What is it?” I asked, tilting my head a little.

“Well, you need to choose a pen name. An alias if you want to call it that,” The mare told me in response. “If you publish a story like this using your actual name, there’s no telling who might come after you or where you live at. Creeps, criminals, other heroes… It’s for your own protection.”

“Hmm… I don’t know… I’ve never really thought about it before...I guess you could call me… Aimer!” I shouted, grinning at the simplicity of that name, there’s no one who has that kind of name.

“Aimer… who?” Front Page then folded her arms.

“Just, Aimer. May as well keep it simple and vague right?” I asked, getting a little giddy that my story was going to be published. This was my golden opportunity and I couldn’t be happier, still wondering if this is actually happening or not?

“Alright, Aimer it is.” Front Page told me. “I’ll get this story ready ASAP and have it out for this morning’s paper.”

“Okay, thank you, Mrs. Page.” I replied, walking out of her office and began to make my way over to my desk. Personally, I felt an overwhelming amount of joy just surge through me. I actually did it. I was able to follow through on an assignment that I originally thought was impossible and I was proud of it. And I didn’t even need to rely on the assistance of Silver Spoon in order to pull it off.

“GABS!!!” I heard my horrible nickname call out to me, and before I could even turn around, I soon felt the oxygen in my lungs being squeezed out of me as I tried to gasp for air, already knowing who it was.

“Silver… Spoon… Can’t Brea-” I tried to say, but only felt like her on me had gotten tighter.

“I can’t believe you did all of this without ME!!!!” She said, finally letting me go as I fell to the ground, gasping for air as I struggled to get my bearings. When I turned to face her, she looked like she was about to cry. “WHY!!?”

“Calm down, first off… Follow me.” I said, pulling her to the side as we made our way over to the mare’s locker room. Nopony else was inside at the time, so it seemed like the best place to talk about this with Silver. “Now, what are you talking about?”

“Hellllo!? The assignment! You did it without me, especially when you said we were gonna do it together.” She replied, pouting as she folded arms. I couldn’t help but snicker a little as I rolled my eyes. Normally I wouldn’t care, but for the sake of staying on her good side, I decided to just go with it.

“Look I’m sorry, but the opportunity presented itself. How could I not take advantage of the situation? But, my question is, how did you know? I gave those documents and everything nearly an hour ago, before having to meet with her again?” I asked, raising a brow as I folded my arms this time.

“Phone call.” She said, bluntly as I mentally sighed. “Front Page informed this morning as she was going over the data you had and I was really really Jelly.”

“Grr… Fine, look… Next time something like this comes up, I’ll let you help me. Deal?” I said, extending my claw out to shake her hoof, but I was instead embraced in another death hug of hers.

“THANK YOU!!!!” She shouted, nearly choking me again before dropping me to the ground.

“No… gasp… Problem… Just don’t say anything, okay?” I asked her politely as she nodded her head and began to make her way out of the locker rooms. ‘Glad nopony, or anybody heard that… And good thing I kept it vague, last thing I want is for somepony to eavesdrop on this kind of subject. Especially when it involves vigilante punks.’

Taking a moment to recompose myself, I soon made my way out of the locker room, only to bump into someone and felt something hot and wet pour on top of my head. “YOWCH!!!!”

“Agh!!” I turned, only to find the same clumsy intern from before on the floor. His entire shirt soaked in with hot coffee. “Aw man, I just picked this up from the cleaners… Gah.”

“It’s you…” I said, calmly as I tried to hold a smile at him as my eye twitched, feeling the hot coffee burn the top of my head and leak onto my clothes. “How… Are you?”

“Um… okay…?” He nervously looked at me. His legs shaking. “A-are you okay though? I-i’m sorry! Please don’t hurt me-!!”

However, I didn’t listen as I jabbed him as hard as I could on his torso and watched as he collapsed, rubbing his side. “WATCH WHERE YOU’RE GOING, YOU NINNY!!!”

Honestly, at the time, I was beyond angry with the new guy, cause not only did he spill on me once, but did so again a second time. Which wouldn’t be the last time, cause I knew that in the near future, I would encounter this stallion again and be covered in some kind of beverage or food. Still, what came next, was what made my day.

“What’s with all the yelling out here? The others could hear you down the halls?” A tall stallion wearing a dark blue suit approached us, he had red fur and snow white mane. He was considered to be ‘The hunk’ of our editors department and I completely agree with that opinion. His name was Flare Blitz, head Chief of the Editors department.“Hey, you okay over there?”

He gestured over to the new guy. “Y-yeah… I just accidentally bumped into…” The unicorn paused, before looking back at me. “W-what’s your name?”

“None of your business.” I said to him, glaring at him, before feeling Flare nudge me on my shoulder and I didn’t know why, but I couldn’t help but blush when I turned to him.

“Gabby… Don’t be rude.” He said, with his deep toned voice, and I couldn’t help but shiver at the sound of his charming voice.

“... accidentally bumped into Ms. Gabby and my coffee spilled on both of us.” The unicorn continued. “I-i didn’t see her as I was coming through the hall… I’m sorry for all of this.”

“Whatever… Fine, I’ll forgive you.” I said, to him, but it was only so I could get Flare Blitz’s attention.

“See? Now that wasn’t so hard now, was it?” He said to me, grinning at me before he made his way over to the new guy, helping him up on his hooves. “So, what’s your name?”

“C-charge…” He said. “Charge Volt.”

“Flare Blitz, nice to meet you Charge.” He said, extending his hoof to Charge Volt. Charge Volt looked nervous, but shook the hoof. However, he looked to have a bit of trouble keeping balance in the process. “She nailed you pretty hard huh?”

“K-kinda…” He grit his teeth a bit. “Claws were pretty sharp.”

“Heh, it’s alright… Just try to keep your distance and you’ll be fine.” He said to him, and I couldn’t help but groan quietly as I turned away. “Anyways, Gabby… Have you submitted any story yet? You always somehow make me laugh when I read your stories.”

“O-Oh… Um… Not at the moment… Still looking you know? Ms. Page is giving me extra time to find one.” I lied, but it was necessary since I wasn’t allowed to get anypony or anyone in general involved in this assignment. Plue I didn’t want to somepony to get hurt because they knew I was working on the Gunvolt project.

“Well, if you want the two of us could find a story together if you’d like?” Flare asked me, and I could only grin like I was back in school again.

“N-No thank you… I’ll be fine, but next time for sure.” I replied, as he merely nodded his head and waved goodbye with his wing. Meanwhile, I heard Charge Volt groan as he walked passed me and even though he did spill on my, I gave him a gentle smile as I made my way over to my desk and turned on my computer. And soon, the article was posted with the title ‘Gunvolt Revealed at Last! Drug Dealers Brought to Justice!’ “This is going to be a good day~”