Maybe it wasn't the brightest idea, but Lightning Dust knew she had to get away somehow. Her saddlebag held her most valuable belongings: 70 bits, her Washout's uniform, and her notebook. As she headed out the door and flew off her porch, she only had one place in mind.
“Las Pegasus, they definitely won’t look for me there,” Dust thought confidently.
It would be impossible to search for a single pony in the midst of hundreds more. Or so she thought.
She landed at the nearest train station, quickly buying a one way ticket to reach Las Pegasus.
“I only have 60 bits left. I hope it’ll be enough for me to stay away from the Wonderbolts until this whole thing blows over.” Dust thought to herself as the train pulled into the station. She got on and sat in an empty train car so she could think her plans over in peace.
It would be a two hour train ride, meaning she would have to figure out what to eat for lunch soon. That also meant she would have to find a place to stay for the night, perhaps even a few more nights if needed. She didn’t know how long it would take for the heat to die down before she could return back to her home in Cloudsdale, but she sure as hell wouldn’t be found.
As the train pulled into the station, Lightning Dust peaked outside before stepping out into the brightly lit station. She looked around and spotted a cafe, drawn to its uniquely large signage, walking inside to settle down for lunch. She ordered a daffodil sandwich and some green juice, setting her back 6 bits. As she sat down and started eating, her eyes suddenly caught something hanging on the wall.
She saw a picture of her under the words “WANTED FOR QUESTIONING,” and immediately quickened her eating pace. She finished her food and tore the poster off the wall, placing it into her saddlebag as she left the cafe. She hurriedly galloped through the streets searching for a nearby hotel, settling for one that was close to the train station.
Dust spent 15 bits for a room that would last her 2 days and nights. She chose a room on one of the higher floors, as she liked the idea of an extra escape route. She decided to count up her remaining bits, which totaled to 39. Before putting the bits back, she carefully removed the poster that she had taken from the cafe. She confirmed that it was placed by the Wonderbolts, judging from the distinct seal on the corner of the paper.
“Well…they must’ve placed them all over, but that doesn’t mean they know I’m here…right…?” Lightning Dust questioned, sighing as she packed everything into her saddlebag and stretched out onto her bed.
She suddenly woke up, realizing it had gotten dark outside, and hastily left the hotel to search for a place to eat. She didn’t have to walk far, as a tavern grew closer to her with each step.
Entering the small building, she quickly sat herself down at the bar and ordered a quesadilla with a nice apple cider to go with it. Sure she wasn’t that hungry, but she still needed to eat something. She kept to herself, occasionally checking her surroundings for any pony who was watching her and for more wanted posters of herself. Her food arrived and she ate the quesadilla between sips of cider, smiling to herself as she enjoyed the space’s ambience. She finished her first glass before ordering another, and continued to enjoy her night out.
As she was enjoying her cider, her face continued to flush pink as the night went on. She continued to survey her surroundings and, unfortunately for her, she saw something that made her heart sink to her stomach.