The night's air was cold and brisk, it was on the verge of being winter. A girl with fairly long black hair walked down the street, her arms wrapped in a sweater along with the rest of her torso. Bangs covered majority of her forehead, if not a tiny bit of her eyes. Her legs were covered in tights. Hair bouncing on the lower part of her back as she walked. She seemed frail, in more ways then one. Perhaps it was the way she carried herself- glancing around every corner and muttering to herself. "Man it's cold out here." she complained under her breath, she looked around for a moment, again, from her paranoia. Quickly looking back at her feet, she didn't like looking up. That might lead to awkward eye contact or something else she wasn't in the mood for. She was too scared to fly around, Angelics get attacked that way... No one really hears you that high up, and most of the time people won’t even lend a hand if you are in trouble. She'd much rather be human. Normal, and not looked at as gifted. Her pace quickened as she hurried into her favorite Cafe. She panted softly pushing a piece of hair behind her ear. The air in here was warm, and felt nice against her cold skin. The calming hipster music let her settle down. She really enjoyed music, especially in cafes- you know because things were supposed to be 'mellow'. she looked up at the counter, ordering her coffee and sitting down at a table. Alessa took a deep breath before taking a sip of coffee. She wanted out of this city.
The coffee shop was warm, and comforting. The walls were covered in pictures of food and fancy looking coffee, all of which were supposed to look nice so that you'll buy it- Although Alessa wasn't exactly in the mood to eat anything. Her eyes skimmed the dimly lit room, the furniture green and the walls a sort of brown mocha color. The chairs were those weird bar ones that sort of look like they cut a cylinder of a couch. Plus, the whole place just had a really nice sweet smell. Alessa sorta got lost in the music, looking out the window and to the empty city.
Isabel's heels made their usual noise down the hallway. The clicking in almost perfect unison. Green eyes staring blankly at the tiles in front of her. She carried files that were pressed to her breast. Long silky blonde hair, pinned up in a neat bun. A clean, neat button up shirt and a pencil skirt. All her work clothing basically looked the same. Almost like in movies. Her red shoes, and red lipstick being the only thing to stand out. There was something about the way she looked that was- intimidating, yet lose. Like the kind of girls who could scare someone by simply looking them, yet calm and collective. She sighed heavily while walking down the dark hallway, which was only lit by light from within closed doors windows. The whole place had a sinister glow to it, that made most uneasy at night. Entering her office, she slapped down the files on her desk. Her fingers pressed to her temples. "I swear-" She hated this job, she didn't plan on sitting at a desk while being with the solar empire. She was a Mage for crying out loud! With talents far better than most in this horrid city. Some Mages could only pick up things and whatever applied to their talent. It was pathetic. Soon enough, she sat down with a small growl, and opened a folder. Large folded up blue papers made up the inside, all containing building layouts.
Dirty bare feet skipped happily on the road, well her whole body was dirty really. She hadn't showered in awhile- a long while. Small cuts lining the bottom of her blackened feet. Honestly, she hardly noticed anymore. The small girl had lost her home a long time ago, she had nowhere to go. Yet her smile seemed to never fade. Though scars laced around her neck, dark red, pink, and a little black almost bleeding in a collar like form. She got these the day she lost her voice, the day she lost her home.
She was in a sweatshirt with some holes, and some shorts that were much too big for her. Her thighs now red from the now harsh weather. She was sort of hoping the weather would have given her one more nice day before it got this way. Her pink fingers gently pushed some curly strawberry blonde hair that had gotten loose from her messy ponytail. Which was complete with a blue ribbon that was poorly tied. Quickly shoving her hands into the one giant pocket in her stomach area, she bit her lip. Tugging her skin gently as she looked around. She was looking for someplace warmer to sleep tonight, her old place somehow got all wet and damp, and she can't stay there for the winter. She silently yawned and continued down the sidewalk, ignoring any looks from the other people shoved out here from their lack of money.
Storm walked down the chilly alleyway. Pulling his scarf up over his face as he began to walk more briskly. The scarf fitting nicely to his more defined jawline. Blue eyes somehow able to see past his black hair. Which swept over his face as he never made an attempt to fix it. He sort of wished he'd brought a hat. The scarf nor the goggles he wore were covering his now red ears. Getting to his objective faster was absolutely key. Hands in pockets he stopped under a single street lamp and waited. The light showing his figure a bit more. Lean, but with a lot of muscle. Someone who could go fast, or hold their own in a fight. Thick black clothing, and pockets stuffed with just about any weapon he wanted to have. The wind picked up and snow began fall, making small spirals. He pulled goggles over his eyes, a stolen Wonderbolt model. He pulled out his watch out of habit, but didn't open it. He guessed the time was roughly 3:00AM, maybe 2:45.
Leaving Phillydelfia was his main goal. An angelic was supposed to give him a lift at 3:15 sharp, down to the resistance HQ in Ponyville. It couldn’t be past 3:15. A silhouette moved in the distance. Zooming in with the goggles, he could make out it was an Angelic, female judging by the wingtips. "Zoom. Heh." He muttered. "How the fuck does this have zoom, but not a clock?" The angelic continued to approach. Storm fingered the small knife concealed in his coat. It could be a Dawnguard...possibly.
Seeing the figure disappear into a coffee shop worried him. Reporting him probably. "They also have a clock in there," he mused. He entered the shop and kept an eye on the girl he thought was a Dawnguard. She was no threat. He grabbed a chair and sat down. The clock read 2:15. Fuck. He hated being early.
After finishing half of her coffee, she left- The man they came in made her uncomfortable. He wouldn't stop staring and for celestia sakes, he didn't even buy coffee in the cafe! It was clear something was off about him, so Alessa stepped back outside. Her breath fogging up the air in front of her, red fingers gripped her warm coffee cup. She waved good bye to the barista at the counter and walked on. She pulled her sweater down for she worried it went up to high. She wasn't planning on getting hit on anytime soon. Then made her way down the street, glancing behind her just once.
About half an hour passes. Storm steps outside, bracing for the chilly air. Only a minute or two after the girl in tights left. And seeing the girl walk away made him nervous, he didn't want her hurt. A rough looking dawnguard who smelled of strong whisky had looked at her and began to follow. Doing some quick calculations, he figured he could shadow the guard and make sure the girl got home safely, then make it back to the pick up spot. It was risky, but he could do it.
Summing a bit of power, Storms eyes gleamed white, and he teleported silently to the rooftop above the guard. Eeyup, he was after her alright, she was already beginning to pick up pace. Storm panted. Silent Teleportation took a whole lot of mana, and felt like a punch to the chest. He began to jump along the rooftops, following, but then tripped. "Sonova..." He muttered, feeling only air underfoot. He fell a few feet and hit a snowbank silently, right in front of the girl. A beep emitted from his Goggles. "Oh.." He smirked "it has a clock." It was 2:53
Alessa let a small scream emit from from her lips before sweater covered hands muffled the noise. "What on earth-!" She said, even her screaming voice seemed quite like herself. She panicked and looked around now noticing the man behind her, who at the site of someone else took off. One girl was not worth a fight to this man. Alessa turned back to this stranger who fell literally out of the goddamn sky. "D-Do you need help?" She asked softly, her hand extending out of her sleeve. Her blue eyes rested on him, she studied him curiously. "Wait-" Alessa backed up a bit, her offer now gone. "Your the man who watched me in the cafe-" She looked at him now stern, and jumpy once more. Her wings rustled softly behind her, she could fly if she needed to, for it was clear this man could not fly. Not a bit.
Storm was thankful for his scarf, his face was incredibly red from blushing and the bitter cold. "Heh look this isn't what it looks like..." He stammered. "I...i just didn’t want you to get...violated. I’ve seen that too many times." Straightening his coat and picking up a few small but lethal looking objects off the ground. Alessa watched him, sort of taking a small step back. She was still a good few feet away from this man, "Violated?" She said out loud while thinking. That man the had ran away.. He was trying to get his way with her? She was stunned. Alessa never believed she was very pretty, even if her body was very slim with curves. This whole thing was crazy. Storm took off his goggles and pulled down his scarf, despite the cold, to show he was friendly. He offered a gloved hand. "I'm Storm...um...just your average..parkour enthusiast?"
"Bullshit." She said bluntly at his last comment, "You don't look like your average everyday joe." she added to his appearance. " Not to me mention you being up this late-" She stammered on, her words just spilled out. She gently took his hand after a moment of silence and shook it. " And my name is Alessa- thank for the-" she stopped looking at him then quickly to the ground "Protection." she finally finished. She blushed looking to the ground. Her wings cutely fidgeting behind her.
He stopped shaking her hand and his eyes went wide. Quickly, Storm grabbed his pocket watch and looked at it, then cursed and shoved it back in his pocket. Flipping down his goggles he checked the clock. "Motherfucker!" He pulled up his scarf. It was 3:10, no way he could make it back in time. "Alessa. I know I just met you, and this is gonna seem crazy, but could you do me a favor maybe? I just need a lift to the coffee shop you were at" He talked very fast and was already strapping gear on himself. "Please? Just trust me?"
Alessa's face got bright red, her eyes got wide as well. " Excuse me?" She asked stunned. He was asking a favor after basically stalking her? She was horribly confused. She watched him scramble to put his stuff away. Wow, he was in a rush- just then Alessa squinted at his goggles, they looked so familiar... She held her head to get her train of thought back." I suppose I could try." She said shyly, she shifted her weight to the side as her wings went out cautiously. She couldn't help but hate this ugly things. They were pure white but they just stuck out like a sore thumb. She clumsy made her way behind him. placing her hands gently underneath his arms,"Hope you like heights" She whispered before smiling a bit. Her wings pushing off the ground hard, she had trouble flying with someone else for a change. It only took them two minutes to get back. Although in her opinion, the whole thing was sort of awkward. She spent most of her life avoiding people, and here she was doing this guy a favor. While muttering, she placed him on the ground- Only to start falling forward, her body confused on the weight change. Alessa yelled curling into a ball as if it'd soften the blow, as her landing was turning into more of a crash.
Eyes flashing white, Storm teleported her to his side. He completely forgot about the need for silence and a poof of smoke and a sharp crack made it very obvious to anyone that a mage was breaking magic curfews. A Dawnguard Angelic began striding over to investigate.
Storm drew a small knife from inside his coat "Alessa get out of here...just run." Storm warned with a bit of a hiss. The girl would be in danger here, and he didn't want that. Alessa yelped once more seeing herself suddenly standing straight up instead of falling. So, storm was a Mage? Guess that makes sense... Hearing her name she looked up, "but I-" Alessa looked up seeing a guard, she muttered something under her breath. He couldn't move, she was scared stiff. Then, a whistle filled the air as another dark clad Angelic streaks out of the sky. 3:15 AM. The Angelic landed next to Storm. "Lets go." he muttered Storms eyes flashed and he touched the ground, and pulled the earth up into a curved wall, blocking the Dawnguards path. Alessa watched as someone like her came down. Only to have Storm make a large wall around the guard. Wait, there's a curfew- that's why the guard here, isn't it? Alessa bit her lip looking up at the new stranger. Glancing at Alessa, Storm gestured to the other Angelic. He looked at Alessa hard. "How well can you fly?" he asks as Storm held off the on coming Dawnguard. She began poking her fingers together and looked away. "Not particularly well but it doesn't seem I have a choice-" She muttered the last part, her wings spread out ready to fly off when told- or to run... She was clearly nervous.
"I want you to grab Storm and then follow me, we will switch off when we lose the Guard." The Black Angelic hovers a few feet. The wall began to crack and Storm was panting and sweating, the glow in his eyes getting dimmer and dimmer. The wall broke and the guard was upon Storm, gun cocked and at his head. "In the name of the great and Powerful Celestia, you are under arrest for treason, and violation of curfew. By the SunFlash Decree I am licensed to kill you on sight." The Dawnguards hand tightens around, finger on the trigger, Storm was too weak to cast anymore.
Alessa reached out when she saw the power drain from him. "Storm-" She said barely audible, her hand still reached out towards his now collapsed body. What was she going to do? She wasn't nearly strong to take a guard, let alone get that gun from him- If she left shed be guilty forever. Alessa wouldn't just leave. She stopped for a moment, rushing herself to think of a plan when- " Gah!" The guard yelled suddenly. A girl now strung around his back- she could only be in her teens. No home by the looks of her clothes and lack of shoes. After crawling all over the guard she received the gun off him, tossing it straight towards the other angelic. Sophie grinned now. She hated these guards. The guard literally picked up the tiny girl and threw her. by the time he looked up Alessa was already getting off the ground with Storm in her arms. Barely audible, Storm breaths a "thank you" before passing out.
She didn't understand why storms friend wasn't helping, Alessa looked for the girl- but she was no longer there. Alessa began to fly up higher to get away from the guards visibility. "Storm, are you alright?" Alessa asked trying to look down at him. No reply. "Lets move!" The Black Angelic called. He grabbed Storms other arm and flew with Alessa, making the load easier. In mid flight he tossed her a small device to wear. "Put it on it will cloak you" he put his own on and shimmered out of view. Gunshots cracked in the chilly night air,hot bullets whipping by the group. Alessa nearly dropped the device while it was thrown at her. "Cloak me, why do I need-" She stopped middle of sentence as she heard a gunshot, followed by more. "Holy Crow!" She exclaimed ducking slightly. "Come on!" Shouted the disembodied voice of the Black Angelic. She paused and looked at the device that was thrown at her. She did the thing that the other angelic did, this whole thing was really freaking her out.. Something told her she wasn't going home for awhile. She looked down at storm just taking in his appearance, before looking up- " So who are you guys- and don't give me some bullshit answer." She had to be a bit loud, the sound of the wind from the speed of their flying made it hard to hear quiet things. Alessa waited for her reply, a bit impatiently.
"Well seeing you either have to keep it secret, or i have to kill you, I'm pretty sure you won’t snitch" the Angelic chuckled. "Bottom line, we are Freedom Fighters. Or terrorists if you think that way" He slowed down a bit and hovered, giving Alessa time to catch her breath. Alessa began to freeze up again, they'd have to what? Kill her? Why would- Alessa nearly broke out in panic at his next comment. Terrorist? Why couldn't she have just found, a candy maker or some fishermen. Not a full blown person who might as well have bad news written all over them. Alessa's displeasure was written all over her face. "Lucky for you we look like normal criminals, so we wont be pursued far. However we need to hide" he looked down. Storms eyes have begun to leak blood. "Shhhit" The Angelic Swore "thats not good." He switched off his cloaking device and looked right at her. "Can you dive?" A few more shots were fired, glowing bullets streaking past his head. "Dammit! Can you?" This began to get hectic once more. Alessa has no determined that the sound of a gun shooting should be banned for being the worst sound she'd ever heard. Alessa looked at the angelic, she stirred a bit before blurting out "yes- y-yes I can." She figured that she’d leave out the fact that the last two times she's tried, she ended up in the hospital. Alessa slowly set her body in motion to dive, with another person in her hand. This was either gonna go decent, or horribly bad. Air streaked past as the Angelic guide pulled the trio in a headfirst dive. Mid-dive, he twisted his body around and drew a pistol firing back at the approaching guard. The ground hurdled up to meet them,Alessa tensed,readying herself for the impact and closing her eyes. "Pull up!" Screams the Angelic. Pulling out if the dive they soared upwards. The unsuspecting Guard crashed into the street below,not as agile or lucky. "Alright lets head to the docks!" He shouted. The snow whipped around the group and mists gathered,cloaking the docks looming ahead.
Alessa wondered if they should be quiet, and that this angelic should stop shouting so much. Alessa was almost happy from all this moving about, otherwise she'd be freezing her ass off. In fact she hadn't really anticipated it snowing at all. Her arms were getting tired as well. Even with the help of the other Angelic, Storm was heavy- she wasn't sure she could keep this up... It only took them a few minutes to get to the docks. "Where now?" She asked looking around. She didn't understand why they came over here, or why her, or why she had to leave her coffee back at the snow bank where Storm had fallen.
The Angelic lead her to a graffiti covered warehouse by the docks, a low building with a few barred windows.The grey exterior was rough and weathered. The infamous 'OBEY' posters showing Celestia plastered the outside, scratched and defaced,the walls crumbling with age and lack of maintenance. Working quietly, the Angelic picked the lock and hurried inside, dragging Storm. He dumped him on a cot and began working in a small,grimey kitchenette. Obviously this place was often used. An old Helmet from Luna's personal guard rested on a rickety,handmade shelf. Very few of these actually exist anymore, and are viewed as treasonous artifacts. The whole room was rather bare,except for some furniture that looked salvage from a dumpster,and a few red,metal lockers,the pain peeling away. Alessa gasped slightly when entering the building. Something that seemed like no one would go in is actually used often. Well at least it looked like it. Blue eyes shifted around looking at all there was to see in this little room. Her eyes paused on Storm. She walked over to him, fixing a hair out of place and jumping slightly when the angelic spoke." Anything you want?" The Angelic said almost kindly. "I'd like to go home, but that won't happen.." She mumbled sitting next to Storms cot. " I suppose waters fine though." Alessa looked up once more at Storm, she wondered if he was going to be okay. The blood had since tried to his cheeks.
The Angelic walked over holding a glass of water and a glass of a bluish liquid. "My name is Silverbeam" he says, handing her the glass. "Im really sorry you can’t go home...but thank you for your help. I can give you a place to stay and food to eat, but if you do not want to follow us to our long term destination, i can do no more for you." He tilted Storms head back and poured the blue potion down his throat. The blood leaks down Storms face again.Alessa brought the cold glass to her lips, letting her mouth fill before swallowing. She hadn't realized how much she just needed some water. She wiped her mouth to get off the remaining water, she looked up at the man now named Silver. Noticing the concern look on Alessa's face he turned to her. "Storm feeds on very powerful hatred to use his magic, and using it to excess can have...well...side effects" Silverbeam explained. She listened about Storm, nodding her head here and there. How odd, the way he gets his power, and perhaps Silver was a friend to know so much about storm. "He should come to in a bit, until then, what do you want to know?"
Alessa pushed back her bangs and looked at Silver. "Well." She started, shifting the water around in the glass cup. "What exactly do you guys do? I don't want to hear freedom fighters again." She looked up at Silver for the last part, then back to her cup.
Silverbeam sighed. "I figured you would want to know. Well... We are part if a resistant movement." He pulled his grey streaked hair back into a ponytail. "This is not how Equestria is supposed to be. Dictatorship, fascism, people going missing, people spying on one another...the things I've seen are too much to believe that Celestia has our best interest in mind. Her soldiers rape and kill the innocent" he looked at Storm with hard eyes "She even banished her own sister. A few people who are like me are trying to find her and with her leadership take back and restore harmony to Equestria. There is a rumored hideout in Ponyville's outskirts, the Everfree forest. Thats where we are headed." Alessa listened carefully to everything Silver had to say, the water now making circles." So what you're saying is, you want to overthrow the people who govern just about everything? That's crazy talk!" Alessa exclaimed, nearly yelling the last bit. She stood up pressing her hands to her head. She breathed in then out, turning to Silver once more. "This whole thing is crazy, like one of my books" he last comment was more of a mumble at this point as she paced some. These people really were bad news! He paused and began to wipe Storms face with a wet cloth, cleaning the blood. "Anything else you want to know?"
Alessa threw her hands up, "I don't even know what to say at this point-" At this point Alessa started coughing, it started to get worse until she doubled over in pain, holding her stomach. Alessa unfortunately had a condition where if she got too worked up or stressed her body would throw a fit like it is now, this is why she went out at night and avoided people. She lived her life in fear- She finally got to more of a gasp then a cough, trying to calm herself down.
"Hey, hey, hey...shhh." Silverbeam rushed over and gave her a small glass of pink liquid. "Drink this, it calms you." right as Alessa was about to drink, Storm bolted upright, sweaty and gasping, clutching something around his neck, muttering to himself.Suddenly, his eyes locked on Alessa. They wasn’t much emotion...they looked empty with a hint of sadness. Alessa gladly took the drink, only with the urge to spit out the horrible tasting liquid. Why does this guy have so many fancy drinks? And why can't things just be normal for one day? Alessa soon could breath normal, "Thanks but I didn't need help-" She pouted, she then looked at Storm who'd decided to wake up. "Welcome to the party," Alessa muttered to everyone. She stood up and grabbed some of her hair, as if it's calm her down just the slightest bit more. "Okay, so now what? He's awake, we have to wait for some guards to stop chasing us, then fly to the Everfree Forest?" Alessa really hoped there was nothing more to this. She just wanted to get away from the guards, hope they don't recognize her when she got home, then leave. Only then to act like none of this had ever happened.