Day three for the festival had arrived. The Meet & Greet was rescheduled for high noon instead of the early evening for some reason. Maybe because of what happened yesterday.
The area was loaded with security. It was clear the chiefs didn't want a repeat of what happened yesterday. Most pegasus were on the ground rather than in the air, the V.I.P’s are being escorted, anyone who goes to the meet and greets will be pat-down. Which kind of makes no sense since pony didn't have pockets. Or do they?
Storm knows this was because of what happened yesterday. The breach in security had many guests worried along with the V.I.P’s managers. Before dismissal Chief night grilled everybody in the room about how we need to be more careful and know where everyone is so that this incident doesn’t repeat itself.
Storm and Star are in front of the entrance. Taking cover under a tree from the sun.
“So how’s the house hunting coming?” Storm asked. “Find anything good?”
“Not really. Most are out of my price range and my place doesn’t have enough space for foal’s.”
“Just take a loan from the bank and start a family like a normal stallion in his mid-thirties.”
“I’m not thirty for another two years.” Star corrected.
Storm chuckled. “Star, just take what you can get. Small towns normally don’t have many options on where to live unlike the city.
Clover approached the pair. Her long mane is tied into a bun and her forehead was covered in sweat from the heat.
“Hey, Clover,” Star greeted. “What brings you here?”
Clover wiped off the sweat from her forehead. “It seems that you're very popular Storm, One of the V.I.P groups wants you to escort them to the Meet & Greet.
“Why?” Storm asked.
Clover shrugged. “They didn’t tell me. They just asked for you.”
Storm sighed knowing there was no way to get out of this, he moved out of his shaded spot and followed Clover.
“Let me know what happened,” Star called out.
Clover grabbed Star by the back of his uniform and dragged him from under the tree. “You’re coming with us if I have to drag you all the way there.”
At the entrance of the meet and greet a large number of ponies were waiting for the V.I.Ps to arrive. Notepads and cameras were in hoofs waiting to meet the performers.
Storm, Star, and Clover waited at the entrance along with a platoon size of officers that were ordered to keep unofficial ponies from entering that area.
“So you really don’t know why they want me?” Storm asked. “If someone is asking for me that’s kind of a red flag.”
“I thought the same thing,” Clover agreed. “I think it’s the same group that you helped when that drunk stallion attacked them.”
“It was less of an attack and more like a drunken rage.” Storm admitted.
“Gotta love festivals.”
Soon the madness started. It seems that overnight or in many cases in the morning Chief Night and Chief Flash came up with a new plan to contain the crowd. Separate the crowd from the carriage, from a route, and shield the performers with your body. Simple and effective.
Chariots landed one by one as the V.I.P’s and their managers exited and walked to the entrance. A few of them stopped for pictures and signed autographs for fans. This was repeated six times until the singing group arrived.
“That should be them,” Clover said. “Lead the way hero.”
Storm rolled his eyes and walked towards the chariot. The group was already stepping out of the chariot by the time Storm was half-way there. Three mares and stallions were the same ones from yesterday.
“Hello, everyone and Welcome to TownHall. Please follow officer Clover to the stage where the meet and greet will begin. Also stay close to me and the other officers to ensure we don’t have a repeat of last time.”
The four nodded and the short walk to the entrance was uneventful as expected. Just before Storm and Star were about to leave when Storm felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned and faced one of the performers, Snowflake.
Storm didn’t notice this at first, but now he couldn’t help that he’s seen her somewhere before.
“I’m sorry,” She began. “I know this may sound pretty rude, but may I ask you for your name?”
“Shadow Storm,” Storm replied.
Her eyes went wide at Storm’s name. “I know it.” She said. “It really is you.”
Without warning or permission. She hugged Storm right in front of Clover, Star, the other performers, and the fans.
Storm was speechless, to say the least, he couldn’t believe what was happening. Strom doesn’t have a problem with personal space, but a stranger was hugging him out of the blue without his consent in front of her fans, Storm’s co-workers, and photographers who are hungry for a story on celebrities. This won’t end well.
“Ma’am?” Strom asked, still being embraced by the surprise hug. “Can you please let me go?”
To Storm relief, the idol released herself from Storm. She wiped her eyes with her hoof. “I’m sorry,” She said. “I lost my composure for a second. That must have been a surprise to you. It’s just that I haven’t seen you in so long.”
“What? Have we met somewhere before?”
She smiled. “We’ve known each other for our whole foal hood. I can’t believe that you don’t recognize your own little sister.”
“You’ve got a lot of explaining to do, Storm.” Clover lectured. “What the heck was that all about?”
After the whole incident with Snowflake, Storm made the excuse that he had to relieve a pegasus officer who was providing overwatch in another area. He was able to avoid everyone for the rest of the day. That was until he returned to the station where his team was waiting for him.
“Listen to the mare,” Star demanded. “We need answers. When this gets out to all of Equestria it’s going to become a PR nightmare for our town.”
“How is this going to be a PR nightmare? This doesn’t have anything to do with the town or the department, just me.”
“Ignore him,” Comet said. “Back to you. What was that all about and don’t say it was nothing. One of the biggest pop stars in Equestria just hugged you out of the blue and called you brother. That’s something, not nothing."
Storm sighed, knowing that he’s not getting out of this one. He might as well spill everything. “Alright, I’ll tell you everything. She’s my little sister that I’ve haven’t seen for almost six years.”
“None of my business or anything, but why haven’t you seen your sister for six years?” Clover asked.
Storm sighed again. “The last time I saw her was when I went to Bootcamp for the army. After that I’ve haven’t seen her since. My mom told me that she moved to Manehattan after she finished college, then we lost contact.”
“Wow,” Phantom said. “You sure do have an interesting life, Storm.”
“It hasn’t slowed down since I moved here,” Storm sighed. “I just want to have a normal month where nothing crazy happens.”
“You guys should catch up,” Phantom suggested. “Tomorrow is the prep day for the concert. So she isn’t doing anything.”
“I’m pretty sure that she’s got her own problems. The press is probably swarming her with questions.” Storm said.
“That reminds me. There’s a pack of reporters in front of the station waiting for you.” Star warned.
“I’m going out the back door.”
“HE’S YOUR BROTHER?” Silver Flash and Rose shouted.
Snowflake winced from the shout. She knew that was going to happen sometime today and this was the best time for it inside the carriage away from their fan.
Today’s list was finally complete. The girls are on their way back to the hotel to rest and prepare for the concert in two days. The meet & greet went on a bit longer than expected thanks to Snowflake. She had a longer line than normal asking the same questions over and over again.
‘Who was that stallion?’ Was repeated almost every single time a fan approached her. Snowflake responded the same every single time he’s a friend. She said this with the prized innocent smile she does when she’s in a jam. It worked throughout her foal hood and it's working now.
Finally after dealing with her fans Snowflake now has to deal with Silver Flash and Rose. Two mares who are determined to find the truth by any means necessary.
“I’m not buying it,” Rose objected. “No way he's your brother. That hug you gave him was completely by surprise.”
“That’s because we haven’t seen each other for seven years. Of course he’ll be surprised, let alone not recognizing me.” Snowflake explained.
“Could have you at least given us a heads up,” Rose asked. “Copper is freaking out. He thinks that the stallion is your secret boyfriend. Or something else from a tx drama he’s watching.”
Snowflake rolled her eyes. “I don’t care what Copper thinks. I just wanted to say hi to my brother. I can’t do that now because he’s gone and I don’t know where he is.”
“Flake, flake, flake,” Silver Flash said, shaking her head. “Like I said before this is a small town, not a big city. I bet that your brother is at the town police station. Wherever that is.”
“Technically, we have half of the day free tomorrow,” Rose remarked. “Maybe you can visit him before he does he’s cop stuff.”
“You think so?” Snowflake asked.
“Yea, leave it to me. I’ll get everything you need.”