"Sunset…eh Sunset." Applejack shook the girl next to her as she heard this mix of a grumble and gurgling noise leave her. "Come on girl time to wake up."
"Go away~" Sunset muttered as she buried her face into her pillow. "Let me sleep."
Applejack made a face, put her hands on her hips and stared at the would be sleeper. "No can do suga. We gotta long day ahead of us." Sunset made that noise again.
"Don't remind me…" Sunset couldn't resist glaring at the girl next to her, something Applejack chose to ignore.
"Now come on girl get up. They got breakfast ready for us."
"If you could even call that stuff breakfast." Sunset whispered, but still chose to pull herself from bed, revealing the fact that she had slept in only her black bra and panties… again. Applejack slapped a hand over her face.
"Girl, how many times have I told you not to sleep without your clothes on?"
"About as many times I've told you that it's uncomfortable." Sunset countered, gathering up the clothes that had been scattered around the foot of her bed. "I'm used to sleeping naked." There probably wasn't an Equestrian that didn't.
"Yeah yeah, but ya can't sleep in the bucket round here. Lord knows what them boy's will think." Applejack stated as she adjusted her hat before turning. Anyway, come on. Let's get ya cleaned up and get some food in ya. You'll need it."
"Right." Sunset grumbled as she watched her counterpart step off. As she did though Sunset couldn't help dropping onto her bed and rubbing the bridge of her nose "another day slaving away in this dump." She muttered, before looking around.
This dump happened to be a boarding house of sorts. If one could even call it that. More than anything it was like a box with for walls and a whole bucket load of beds spread out.
Temporary housing they called it, it was where they'd be staying till they were moved to a more permanent shelter… well a shelter for refugees anyway.
Sunset dropped back into her bed and made a face.
She hadn't made it through the Citizenship registration process and she hated herself for that.
She hated the fact that she had jumped headlong into trying to gain citizenship without realizing she couldn't fucking read tor write in this species language!
Sunset groaned, resting a hand on her face.
That… that realization had been the most embarrassing thing she had ever experienced in her life. The Registration officer had given her some paper to sign, and something called a pen and staring at the sheet Sunset just… froze up. She couldn't read a damn thing that was presented on it. Worse when she tried faking that she knew what was on the paper and started writing she realized her penmanship wasn't just abysmal but damn near ineligible.
The Registration officer looked at her like she was making some kind of bad joke. Even asked who on earth could survive with penmanship this bad.
"Feel free to apply for citizenship again once you learn how to write."
That had been almost two weeks ago.
It was humiliating to be honest. She was Sunset Shimmer praised student of Celestia herself, the one destiny had chosen to succeed her as the ruler of Equestria and yet. "And here I am practically illiterate." She grumbled. "It's a miracle I can even speak to the people here." She admitted to herself and started to think. "If I couldn't I'd truly be at the bottom of the ladder." And that wouldn't do her any good." The young woman muttered. "I refuse to be anywhere but at the top." She whispered to herself as she sat up and got to her feet. "It's gonna take me a while to get there, but I swear I will." It didn't matter how many people she had to step over to do so.
"Alright everything seems to be in order." The Spear official stated as they looked forward, staring at the young man that was across from him. A young man with black hair and blue eyes. Nothing to out of the ordinary, still. "How long will you be staying with us, Citizen Noble?"
"Hard to say really." The young man muttered as he gathered his belongings and looked at the man across from him. "Depends on how long my vacation lasts."
"Vacation huh." The official muttered before seeming to smile. "Well you're in luck, the heart of the Spear is considered the number one vacation spot in the entire Northern Continent."
"I've heard." Noble muttered as he hoisted his bag over his shoulder and waved. "Anyway, I better get going. Be seeing you around." The official just nodded his head as he watched the young man leave the border registration center and walk into the city.
The heart of the Spear, their capital city built upon Washington's bones; looked just as Noble remembered it. A sprawling metropolitan megastructure that went on for countless miles. It looked great, there was no denying that, but no matter how grand it looked a city was still just a city. Even if that city was built on the ruins of a nation's capital and the bones of slaves.
Walking into the capital, Noble made face as he looked around, attempting to regain that familiarity he had lost with this city.
It had been a while since he came here. Last time was… a year ago? Was that right? He couldn't really remember, been to long. Hell he couldn’t really remember the layout of a lot of Spear Cities.
Then again even with citizenship he didn’t really hang out in these parts.
Preferred the more independent cities.
“Let’s see~ which direction do I need to go?” Noble asked as he crossed his arms. “I think I need to go that way.” He started off towards the western districts. Hopefully this would take him in the right direction.
Sunset Shimmer; if there was ever a mare destined for greatness, it was her. She had graduated at the top of her class, and her talents even earned her the esteemed position of being s the prized pupil of Princess Celestia herself, and as that prophetic mirror portal was to be trusted she was meant to succeed her mentor one day.
… And yet here she was picking trash like some kind of garbage collector.
Disgust crossed her face as she used her gloves to pick up another piece of garbage and tossed it into her bag.
She couldn't believe that this was what she was forced to do with her days now; traveling the streets in this uncomfortable jumpsuit, hauling trash off towards the refuge site.
"Least it's better than cleaning toilets." She whispered as she picked up another piece of trash, a discarded half crushed soda and growled. "Disgusting." She threw it in her bag without another word.
"You good suga?" Applejack asked as she hauled another bag off into their vehicle.
"I think I want to complain to management." Sunset muttered before lifting her bag and carried it towards their garbage truck. "They have us working long hours doing the jobs that no one wants to do and what do we get out of it?" Sunset tossed her bag into the van. "A poor excuse for a shelter that probably violates housing laws and we get fed table scraps." She muttered.
"Eyup." Applejack walked over to another trash and pulled the bag within it free. "That's how they treat refugees round here."
"We can't live like this." Sunset muttered. "I refuse to live like this." She declared as she crossed her arms and watched Applejack return.
"I hear ya, but ain't nothing we can do bout it right now. " Applejack stated. "Citizenship seems pretty far away right now, don't it?"
"Easy for you to say." Sunset grumbled. "You at least got past the part where all you need to sign your bloody name."
"Hey it ain't my fault ya can't write." Sunset practically saw the humor in Applejack's words but the truth still hurt. Crossing her arms, Sunset looked away and frowned.
“Just you wait.” She muttered. “Soon as I get this penmanship thing down, I’m going to apply again.”
“Same here.” Applejack stated as Sunset seemed to pause as she caught sight of someone walking down the streets.
“Hey, isn’t that…” She trailed off, her attention zeroing in on someone as Applejack looked over. “It’s that boy.”
“Boy?” Applejack muttered in confusion as she just stared at the bot for a while as he walked on. “Ah remember him now,, that’s the Raven that attacked my town not long ago.” She muttered in annoyance as she adjusted her hat as she frowned. “What in tarnation he doing here?” Actually she had an idea…
“That’s my question…” Sunset muttered as she started walking over only for Applejack to grab her arm.
“Hold it there suga, I wouldn’t recommend getting involved with that Raven, ya here? No telling what he up to.”
“You keep calling him Raven.” Sunset muttered. “What, is that his name?”
“Nah, its what he is.” Applejack grumbled as she released Sunset’s arm. “You know, he one of them AC mercenaries.”
“AC…” Sunset felt an image flash through her mind. “You mean those machines we see walking through the streets some time?”
“Yeah, we call AC’s but really they’re called ‘Armored Cores’, not sure why but then again I don’t really care much in finding out.” Applejack muttered. “Them Raven’s pilot those war machines for whomever got the coam to burn.” She stated. “That Raven probably got called here cause the Spear wants him to do a job.”
“What kind of job?” Applejack shrugged.
“Don’t know, don’t really care. It ain’t our business.” Applejack muttered. “Ah recon we give him some space, he ain’t got a damn reason to bother him.” Sunset didn’t say anything, instead just watched the young man head off before frowning and immediately went after him. “Sunset - dang it suga we got…” Applejack sighed and just looked at her garbage truck before taking a breath. “What am I gonna do with that girl?”
“I’m going the wrong way, aren’t I?” Noble muttered, scratching his head as he put his hands on his hips. “Shit…” He muttered before raising a hand to his head and ran it through his hair. “Sun’s gonna go down by the time I get where I wanna go.”
“Hey you!” Turning Noble looked around, his attention eventually finding a garbage collector running up to him. He sighed as he scratched his head, half ready to make a comment about the fact that he hadn’t littered or anything before he took in some details concerning the one before him.
“I know you…” He muttered trying to think back. “You’re one of the refugees from Canterlot.”
“You remember me.” The girl muttered, narrowing her eyes. “Good to know.”
“Can I help you?”
“What are you doing here?” Sunset asked, getting straight to the point. “Going another job for the Spear?”
“Don’t get your hopes up.” Noble stated gesturing to his attire. “I’m just here on vacation.” The Raven - Noble stated as he looked at the girl before him. “That attire really doesn’t suit you.”
“Who’s fault is it that I’m in it?”
“Well I can get you out of it.” Noble stated to Sunset’s surprise. “For a while anyway.” Sunset just stared at him before looked more appalled than flattered.
Ew… just… ew.
Despite how similar their forms were she was still Equestrian underneath it, and she wasn’t really into the whole interspecie thing.
“Relax I’m just joking.”
“Terrible joke.”
“Yeah~” Noble agreed as he looked elsewhere.”I completely agree.” he scratched his head for a moment before starting to walk off. “Well, gotta go, maybe I’ll catch you later, k?”
“Hold on.” Sunset ordered as she grabbed his arm and caused him to look back. “You still haven’t told me what your doing here.”
“That’s a lie right there, as I said I’m on vacation.” The Raven muttered as he glanced around, somewhat disappointed that this street was empty, “Would you mind letting me go now? I do have somewhere to be soon.” He muttered before looking elsewhere. “And probably going the be late getting there…” He muttered to himself. “I knew I should have brought a map.”
“Where are you going?”
“You’re very curious about me, aren’t you?” The Raven asked as he finally pulled his arm free. “Anyway I gotta -” His phone went off as he started feeling around for it. “Sorry I gotta take this.” He muttered, pulling his phone out before bringing it to his ear. “Hello… yeah I’m here, just... “The young man muttered as he glanced at Sunset, noticing that she was still looking at him. “You mind... No not you Aria, your good there’s this girl just staring at me menacingly.” He fell silent. “Yeah she is… but probably out of your league.” He stated with a smile. “Anyway can you remind me where I need to go, I got a bit turned around.” He fell silent for a moment. “Thanks man, I’ll see you soon.” He hung up a moment later as he seemed to stare at his phone for a moment.
“You done?”
“Yeah~ just waiting for directions.” Noble muttered as he stared at his phone for a moment longer before looking at Sunset. “So~ can I *help* you?”
Sunset just continued staring at him before her frown disappeared. “No… I guess not.” She muttered as started walking off before stopping. “What’s your name?”
“Noble. Noble Six.” Least that’s what his Citizenship papers said. Yeah, it wasn’t his real name, but she didn’t need to know that right now. Besides with how rare it was to find those ancient Halo games he doubted she’d catch the reference anyway.
“Sunset Shimmer.” The girl stated.
“Nice name.” Noble stated as he watched Sunset nod her head and started walking off. “Bye.” He waved the girl off as he turned on his heel, attention shifting to the directions that had been put on his phone before walking off. He glanced back at the young woman, noticing that she seemed to be getting scolded by her coworker. “She might be an issue…” He grumbled and turned before walking off. “Anyway I better get going. Aria is waiting for me.”
“Took your sweat time getting here.” Aria muttered as she looked at Noble who waved and apologized for being late. It took longer than he would have liked, but at least Noble made it. Dropping his bag on the floor Noble made a face as he pulled out a chair and took a seat. Their housing complex wasn’t great, it wasn’t terrible but it wasn’t great. It was better than a refugee shelter anyway.
“Alright…” The Raven muttered as he looked to the side, his attention focusing on the other two people that was gathered for this job. “It looks like everyones here…”
“That’s what happens when you come late.” A lady muttered as she pulled her head from the table. Noble blinked in surprise.
“Fluttershy?” The pink haired girl just made this muted noise as she nodded. “What are you doing here? Where’s your brother.”
“Prison.” Was all the young lady muttered as she started messing with something in her hands.
“Yeah, that sounds about right…” Noble muttered as he looked elsewhere. “Trixie.”
“Noble.” The young lady stated as she seemed more interested in the tower of cards thats she was putting together.
“Anyway, since everyones here, let’s get this over with.” Aria muttered as she leaned back in her seat. “As you know, the Lion’s Dominion has caught wind of the Spear producing a new AC.” She stated. And we’re getting paid to bring it to them.”
“Stealing a whole AC is going to be hard.” Fluttershy muttered, putting on her game face. “Let alone pulling it straight from their main city.”
“Exactly.” Trixie muttered. “As great and talented Trixie may be, even she would find it near impossible to make a whole AC disappear…” She paused. “At least without overwhelming awe-inspiring, and ground-shaking firepower.”
“That’s why we’re stealing the blueprints.” Aria stated. “It’s smaller and easier to transport. Fluttershy can get it out of the city easily and send it to our client.”
“Fluttershy huh.” Noble muttered. “What about the rest of us?”
“You just got into town for Vacation.”Aria stated. “Don’t you think someone might ger suspicious that you came in one day and left the next.”
“Fair.” Noble muttered. “What about Trixie… you know what, never mind.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Trixie shot him a look that he ignored, seeming to whistle.
“As for me, I can’t leave until my sister is better.” Aria’s voice seemed to disappear as she started to think and Noble just nodded. “That’ll take another week at least.”
“Right…” Noble coughed into his fit. “So what’s the plan; where do we go and what do we need?”