A mare with a light crimson mare with red pink-streak hair entered into a restaurant. She was followed by stallion, so huge, that he had to duck underneath the door. He had an light amber coat and creamy-brown mane as he stepped in.
“Fancy place he’s got here,” spoke the stallion in a Brooklyn accent. “Sure some guy who’s got something like this going for him is going to go with our proposal.”
The mare chuckled with a gentle smirk. “Have to try don’t we?”
“Doubt it, what makes you think he’ll talk to us. Bet he hasn’t even seen ponies before.”
The only customers sat down were griffons that began to take notice of them.
One of the waiters stepped out, giving a suspicious look. “Sorry, but we do not serve your kind. I will have to ask you to leave.”
“That’s alright. We just came here to talk with Gustave le Shaw.”
“I’m afraid Gustave le Shaw does not sully himself with ponies I am afraid.”
The stallion gritted, showing his hoof. “Got some nerve treat-.”
The mare separated them with her upper leg, giving a warm smirk to her brother. “Let me handle this.” She tapped her forehead then the waiter was stunned. “Sorry, but we honestly do have a meeting arranged with Gustave le Shaw.”
“Uh, so you do, I-I will seek him out, allow me to have one of the other waiters fetch you a seat.”
“May it be one nearby the window?”
“Yes, that is no problem. Fraun will get you one right now.” He snapped his claw tips and another waiter showed the pair to a table.
“I thought we weren’t meant to be using our powers, what gives?”
“There was no time to arrange another meeting with Gustave le Shaw I’m afraid.”
“Yeah right.” The stallion fell back folding his arms.
“I’m sorry. But we are in a hurry. We have others like us still to meet.”
“Bonjore mon ami.” A large griffon, not as large as the stallion, with a curly moustache sat down between them. “If I knew you were ponies, I would’ve arranged a more discreet location.”
“Take it it bothers you that you’re speaking to ponies?” grouched the stallion.
“Not at all my friend. But I do run a business.”
“We can take this meeting somewhere else more appropriate if you prefer?” offered the mare.
“No-no, nothing can be changed now I am afraid. Let us be on with the introductions shall we? I am Gustave le Shaw.” He held out his claw to the stallion, but was only returned with a pout.
“Apologies,” said the mare. “This is Joe Donut and I am his sister Cup Donut.”
“Heh, apologies, I may not be very good at telling the difference between ponies, but I know that you look nothing related.”
Joe frowned. “That’s because we’re step-siblings.”
“Oh, my apologies then, I meant no offence.”
“How about we get onto business,” suggested Cup. “I understand you have special gifts.”
“Oui, how is it that you know I have special gifts.”
“It wasn’t easy, but we found files that you were a part of a special program during the war.”
“Ah yes, I try to forget that. They were more like awful camps. I was detained in one, isolated and all alone. I could not forget the horrors. Luckily, when the war was over, the ceasefire agreement included that all camps must be shutdown, including ones that held its own civilians. I guess they thought we were more like sympathisers of the enemy side then, how you say, had special gifts. Good thing your side never looked into it.”
“May we have a sample of your special gifts Gustave le Shaw?”
“If you wish.” He inspected around them. He then proceeded to pick up a fork. Holding it up, it flared, glowing red. It soon melted. Holding up his other claw and a small red ball of energy appeared. “As you can see, I can absorb whatever and I can store it into energy.” He flicked the ball, striking the fork and melting it. “Of course, the only thing I can do with it I’m afraid is destroy.”
“Going to want to explain to the staff about the melted cutlery,” suggest Joe.
“Meh, they will not care. I have done it before a few times, trying to find other ways to make my powers contribute more towards society.”
“That is exactly what we are offering. My brother and I are trying to form an establishment where others like us with special gifts can learn to use them to further help society.”
“I see.” Gustave rubbed his beak. “Gustave le Shaw accepts then.”
“What, just like that?” blurted Joe.
“I may have it good here. But it is only a matter of time until everyone finds out that I was a part of the special program and I become an outcast. Most of us on that program had very destructive powers; a certain number could kill hundreds if they put their mind to it. So it is better I leave now when I have a welcoming opportunity rather than be chased out by a mob that I may not survive from.”
“I am very happy to hear that Gustave le Shaw you’ll join us then.” Cup extended her hoof. “Welcome to the X-Stallions.”
Gustave shock her hoof. “Eh, might want to work on the name if you’re including griffons as well.”
“We’ll be sure to. But when will you be ready to leave then. We’re sort of in a hurry if you don’t mind.”
“I will have to go inside and give my resignation and then I’ll have to go and pack my things and explain to my mother. But that will not take me long I don’t think, give me an hour.”
“An hour it is, can we wait for you at the train station?”
“You certainly can, I will be sure to make it.”
“Thank you Gustave le Shaw.”
“Please, just call me Gustave; we are all friends are we not?” He looked at the stallion, still grouching. “Well, we can work on it at least.”
The two ponies later walked out of the restaurant and back on the street.
“You should have been more friendly Joe. This is someone who is gracious to accept our help.”
“Meh, something just doesn’t strike me right about that griffon.”
“Don’t judge others Joe. It’s what we’re trying to teach.”
“No it’s what you’re trying to teach. I’m just going with this because I’m looking out for you and all that stuff.”
“Can’t just look out for me Joe. You’ve always been a caring brother. But you should learn to care for others besides me.”
“Do you have any idea what you sound like?”
“I probably don’t. But my idea is worth trying.”
“Sigh.”
“Let’s just focus shall we? We have now recruited two members on our team. That leaves one more and I want you to try a little harder at welcoming him.”
“Don’t have to tell me,” murmured Joe. “If you tell me, someone like him is way too far gone.”
*
A filthy yellow coated stallion with mangy orange hair wearing a battered old coat approached directly towards one of the apartments aligned across the streets, his eyes brooding at the door.
“Hold it,” barked a griffon blocking his way. He wore a military uniform. “Military activity is going on at the moment. You’re going guh!” A steel pipe was lodged through his chest, the stallion had barely moved even as the griffon dropped to the floor.
The door knob twisted and the door shot open. The stallion to paced in. He ignored the pony slump on the floor with a hole in his chest and continued up the stairs.
“Where is she?” screamed someone upstairs.
“I don’t know sir!” replied someone. “I think she got away!”
“You idiot! Do you have any idea what Matilda Stryker will do to us you utter fool!”
The stallion had reached the door and it shot open. He found two ponies and griffon all in uniforms in a torn up room.
“C-Carrot!” stuttered the griffon. They raised their weapons, but the guns were mysteriously scrunched up like paper. The griffon’s eyes were bulged. He and the other ponies reached for the sky. “Look C-Carrot, I’ll give you anything! Anything?”
Carrot advanced on them. “Can you give me back my childhood life, my mother or my father?”
“I-I could try! J-just give me a chance. Wait I have an idea where Matilda Stryker is.”
“Not good enough.”
“There has to be something!”
“How about try begging hard as I did!” sneered the stallion before the griffon. “Try to give me a sadder, more desperate look when I pleaded to be brought back to my mother and father, when I was nothing more than a filly.”
“O-okay!” squealed the griffon. He knelt down cuffing his hands crying. “Please-please spare me! Just please spare me and I swear I’ll do whatever, I promise. I never wanted to do all those horrible things, I was just serving my country!”
The other ponies were following the griffon’s lead, also begging.
“I have a kid!”
“A wife!”
Carrot leered unremorsefully. “Your nothing but monstrous filths.” Kitchen utility, pipes, bars, whatever punctured through them uniformed men. “I’ll remove you all from existence!” A couch was lifted up and over the already dead victims, it screamed. Carrot looked up at the couch curiously. Lowering it down, he ripped it open with his hooves. He was perplexed to see a blue-scaled filly with yellow eyes and red hair. “What?”
“Don’t hurt me, please.”
The brooding left Carrot and he became more relaxed. “There’s no one left to hurt you. They are all gone.” He scooped out the filly, resting her down.
The filly sniffled. “Th-they took m-my parents.”
“I am sorry I did not make it in time then.” Carrot lowered his head. He heard the filly sniffle again and looked at her. “Do you have anyone else?”
The filly rubbed her eyes. “No.”
Carrot sighed. “I guess I should look after you then until I can find out what to do.” He looked around. “Need to find a way to disguise you though.”
“Oh, I can do that!” The filly concentrated and she changed to a unicorn an ordinary white coat with light-pink hair with white steaks. “How’s this.”
Carrot gaped. “Amazing, you have the powers of shape-shifting.”
“Yeah and this is my favourite form.”
“I see. Well I am Carrot Cake, yours?”
“Fleur Dis Lee.”
“Well Fleur Dis Lee. Let’s get moving now before anyone shows up.”
“Could you carry me?” asked the filly pitifully. “I want to cover my eyes when we’re in the corridor.”
Carrot gazed. “Of course child.” He scooped her up onto his back and paced back out. As he went down, he saw the body at the entrance. “Together Fleur Dis Lee. We will change this world.”