//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: Hey, Old Friend // Story: City Scape // by TigerSwirl448 //------------------------------// Chapter 3 Hey, Old Friend ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ Applejack stepped out of her car with a sack of takeout in one hand and her security jacket in the other. She shut the car door and locked the car with the lock button hanging from her key chain. Applejack sighed happily pressing the lock button hanging on her keys. Once she heard the car horn beep twice, she marched up the concrete steps to the nice apartment building and went straight to the first floor apartments. She was whistling a tune she had heard on the radio, she juggled through her keys with one hand to find her apartment key. She looked up and stopped in mid step, the whistling tune left her lips in silence. Applejack stared at the rainbow headed girl leaning against the wall by the apartment door. Rainbow blinked rubbing the back of her head as she stood straight in front of her. The two old friends silently stared at one another. Applejack cleared her throat turning away as Rainbow looked down at her sneakers tapping the toe of her shoe on the pavement. "Umm, nice haircut." Rainbow said noticing that Applejack's hair was cut short and she was dressed in a white button up shirt with a brass name tag on her chest with a black tie, black pressed pants and black shoes. Rainbow even noticed her black belt around her waist with an empty holster for a gun. Rainbow looked down at herself with a light blush on her face. "What do you want?" Applejack snarled walking past Rainbow to the door. Rainbow sighed. "Can't I stop by and say hello every once and awhile?" Applejack glared at her as she pushed the key into the lock and unlocked the door. Rainbow groaned. "The one time I come by and say hi all friendly like and you want to ignore me?" Applejack opened the door surprising the purple haired woman inside the apartment. "Oh Applejack you came home ... early?" the woman said noticing Applejack’s glare and the rainbow haired woman walking into the apartment. Rainbow stopped seeing the other woman as Applejack tossed the jacket onto a sofa and placed the white sack on the counter at the kitchenette. Applejack turned to Rainbow and pointed outside. "Now!" Applejack growled. Rainbow shrugged and left the apartment with her friend behind. Applejack shut the door behind her glaring at her. "What the fuck, Dash!" Applejack snarled. "Why are you mad at me for?" Rainbow asked defensively as Applejack grabbed Rainbow's shoulder and shoved her to the wall. "Geez what's got you so upset?" "You are a freaking idiot!" Applejack snarled. "Do you have any idea what you're doing right now?" Rainbow shoved Applejack away from her. "The idea was to say ‘Hi’ while I'm down here but considering you've been being an asshole instead of saying ‘Hi RD how's it going Top Side’-" "Dammit!" Applejack groaned looking around especially the top corners of the floor for security cameras. "Dash, right now is not the best time, and I mean it, get out of here!" "Why?" Rainbow asked confused. Applejack sighed rubbing her face, she pushed Rainbow behind a large pillar to hide her from any curious passerby or cameras outside. "Listen to me very carefully, I worked hard to have a stable job." Rainbow looked down at Applejack’s name tag to see her first initial and her last name along with an all known enemy symbol, a black lined griffin head. The symbol of the Griffin Security Forces. Applejack’s a Griff?! "As a Griff yourself?" Rainbow asked glaring. Applejack shook her head. "No. I work for the Griffs now as a security officer at the Cloudsdale Plaza. And if I can get a better position especially with the Princess Summit coming in I will, but I can't get it if I'm seen with you! Ever since I asked for a promotion the Griffs won't stop harassing me about my past. I finally got them off my back last month. And now with you here- Dammit, Dash!" Applejack snarled turning away from her rubbing her head. Rainbow frowned losing her glare. Now she felt stupid even coming to see her. "AJ, I'm sorry alright. I didn’t realize this was happening and all or I wouldn't have made the opportunity to stop by." Rainbow snarled turning away. Applejack sighed untying her black tie thinking. The two old friends stood there staring at the ground. Finally Applejack spoke. "How are you doing?" She asked. Rainbow shrugged. "Fine, I guess. Everyone's doing well. We had a couple new members since we last ... talked." Applejack nodded. "That's good. Are they capable?" Rainbow smirked at that. "They seem to be. They work very well. We have eight members now." Applejack nodded with a sigh as she stood beside Rainbow and leaned against the wall. As if thinking the same mind the two slid down to the floor and sat down side by side. Applejack turned to Rainbow. "How's Thunderlane, CK and the twins?" Applejack asked interested. "They're doing great. I gave CK the promotion to being my second in command. She enjoys the job even if it means sleeping more in the mornings." Applejack chuckled shaking her head as she clasped her hands together over her knees. Rainbow noticed a golden ring on Applejack's ring finger. "Where'd you get that?" Rainbow asked intrigued. Applejack noticed the ring and blushed. "None of your business." "Come on AJ. You can tell me anything. What’s that ring for? I thought you were the one that hate jewelry." Applejack blushed even redder covering her ring with her other hand. Rainbow blinked noticing this. "What?" She asked. Applejack sighed standing up. "You have to go, Dash." Rainbow blinked in surprise. "Why? What’s up?" She asked. Applejack pointed towards the city. "Just go back to the clouds where you belong." Applejack snapped. "And don't come back." She snarled walking to the door. "Dude!" Rainbow yelled out, standing up. "Everything was fine! Why do you always do this?" Rainbow yelled out. Applejack turned to her with a glare. "I have a new life now Dash. And I want it to stay as it is with no trouble from you, the gangs, or the Griffs!" Rainbow blinked feeling hurt hearing that. Applejack sighed rubbing her face. "Just leave alright." Rainbow sighed turning away biting her lip. "Fine," Rainbow whispered. "Be that way." Rainbow turned sticking her hands into her pockets heading out. She stopped then turned to see Applejack rubbing the ring on her finger. "So much for sisters 'til the end." She said loudly as she walked off. Applejack sighed watching the rainbow haired girl leave the area as she stepped into the apartment with a hard sigh rubbing her face. She used her heel to close the door behind her as she pulled her hands down past her eyes to see the other woman standing by with a phone in her hand probably waiting to call the police if things escalated. "Is she gone? I heard yelling." The purple haired beauty said with concern seeing Applejack's face. "I'm fine, Rare." Applejack whispered pulling off her tie and collapsed on the sofa with a sigh. Rarity watched Applejack for a long moment then set the phone on the bar counter before walking over to sit by her on the couch. Rarity sat closer to her taking her hand and leaned into her side. "How was work?" Rarity asked kissing Applejack on the cheek. Applejack smiled a touch. "It was same old, same old." Applejack whispered nuzzling Rarity's face kissing her back. "How was your day?" Rarity smiled. "It was fine. With the Princess Summit coming many people are coming to all the designer stores in Cloudsdale to get some sort of attire for the summit ball. So far two of my designs got accepted so let’s see how far Suri will let them go." Rarity said with distaste. Applejack smirked at that hugging her. "That's good." Applejack whispered leaning her head back closing her eyes. Rarity frowned slightly. "Applejack?" "Hmm?" Applejack hummed. "Is everything going to be alright?" Rarity asked. Applejack opened her eyes then turned her head over to look at Rarity to see her fearful look. Applejack sat up and hugged Rarity, pulling her close. "Everything will be fine, I promise ya." She whispered kissing her on the head. "What was she doing here?" Rarity asked with a quirked brow. Applejack shrugged. "I could care less." Applejack snarled standing up walking over to the bar counter where the take out sack sat. She pulled out a wrapped burger and a salad dish with a clear lid at the top. "I got your favorite." Rarity gave her a look. "Applejack Smith, you better not be lying to me now." Applejack jumped turning to her. "Lyin'? I ain't lyin’ to ya!" "Or hiding things from me?" Applejack blushed turning away. "I told you everythin’ Rare." She said with a warning tone. Rarity sighed rubbing her face shaking her head. "Applejack ... have you ever thought about taking a break? You've been so stressed and considering what today is-" "Don't!" Applejack snapped causing Rarity to stop. "Just don’t talk about today, please." Rarity stood up walking over to hug Applejack from behind feeling her shake. "I'm sorry. I'm just very concerned for you, darling." Applejack smiled a touch. "I know. It's just ... today belonged to my old life." Applejack turned around hugging Rarity kissing her on the lips softly feeling her lover kiss her back. "My new life is something I want to hold on to. My new life, new job, new love." Rarity chuckled kissing Applejack again. "I just wish you would talk to me." Rarity whispered. "I'm not ready. Not yet." Applejack whispered. "Applejack, we're going to get married in the spring and you still won't tell me?" Rarity complained looking at her. Applejack groaned shaking her head. "And it was just going so well." Applejack whispered. Rarity sighed walking away. "Rarity!" Applejack called as Rarity went to their room shutting the door. Applejack sighed. "Damnit. Why is it so hard?" Applejack looked back at the door then reached into her pocket to pull out a pack of illegal cigarettes and quickly stepped outside shutting the door behind her. Applejack climbed up the stairs then reached the end of the walkway and climbed up onto the black railing to climb up to the rooftop. Once there she crawled to her spot at the top and sat down on a lawn chair she had set up for this purpose. Applejack sat down in the chair with a sigh unbuttoning the top three buttons of her shirt then placed the weed filed stick into her mouth and pulled out her lighter to light the stick and suck in the toxic weed then let it out through her mouth and nose feeling her stressful mind at ease as she starts to relax. “What am I going to do?” She whispered to herself closing her eyes. The plant used in this cigarette blend was recommended by another security guard when he noticed how stressful Applejack was at work. Beyond better judgment, Applejack took the cigarette from him and true to his words, it worked wonders. But it had side effects. Even though the drug helps Applejack while awake, the drug has a sedative that causes her to fall asleep. And in her dreams she battles her nightmares from the past. Applejack groaned, her eyes growing heavy as she watched a lone fluffy cloud float by over her. She shook her head and reached for her watch and set it for the time she had to wake up. She had the Evening shift at the mall tonight. As soon as she blinked she groaned again seeing the face of her baby sister beaten and bloody, staring at her with haunted eyes. “Why?” Her tiny voice said just as darkness overtook her mind. ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ Rainbow landed in a squat on the roof before standing back up and looking around her. "Well so much for that." She whispered sadly to herself. She turned to look and noticed something different. Something she never noticed until now. It looked like a wall and a mechanical gate. Rainbow walked over to the ledge and knelt down to get a better look. From her position she noticed police officers checking people's cars before letting them enter the middle class district. And when they passed the check the gates opened and the car drove through. "Huh," Rainbow said out loud standing up. "That's new." She said rubbing her chin. "How come I missed that?" Rainbow watched this security gate for a while but couldn’t wrap her head around it. Rainbow shook her head and looked around her to notice the sun was starting to set. It was early evening. "Time to go home then." Rainbow whispered with a sigh. She turned around and began to jog to the nearest place to climb and began her climb back up to the roof tops. ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ "Wow," Twilight whispered looking out the window as their train reached Cloudsdale’s outer city limits. "I've never seen so many skyscrapers in one city before." Princess Luna who was sitting across from her turned to the window and nodded. "Indeed, Cloudsdale sure has grown in size since I last visited." Twilight turned to her. "When was the last time you went to Cloudsdale?" She asked. Luna fingered her chin, thinking. "Hmm, maybe six years ago, on the sixth anniversary of the attack. I went there in disguise since the Griffin Security Force wouldn't let me visit the city. Even if I was royalty they wouldn't allow it." Luna said with a snort shaking her head. "The nerve of some people." Twilight chuckled behind her hand as Luna frowned with a thought, looking back out the window. "Which at the time was concerning." Luna whispered. "Most cities would have been overjoyed to have a princess enter their city to visit the people, but Cloudsdale for some odd reason wouldn't let me visit the city. And this is the first time they're allowing us access and it's because they're the ones that wanted the Princess Summit in their city this year." Twilight blinked realizing that Luna sounded skeptical. "Why is that so bad?" Twilight asked curiously. Before Luna could speak the door to their car opened and Celestia along with Princess Cadenza entered the car. Twilight stood up and bowed as the two princesses entered. "I hope we didn't interrupt anything." Celestia asked winking. "It sounded like you two were in a discussion." The elder monarch sat down in a chair. Twilight turned to the young princess and curtsied before her. "Princess Cadenza, it's an honor to make your acquaintance." The young princess chuckled. "You must be Twilight Sparkle. Do please stand up, I'm still trying to get used to such greetings. And please, just Cadence is fine." Twilight smiled standing up straight. "Oh, of course, Cadence." Cadence smiled. "Your brother, Shining Armor, told me so much about you during our talks in the crystal gardens. I made him captain of my guards during his stay in the empire. Sadly he wasn't able to join me for this Summit." Twilight blinked with a frown. Even Luna looked up surprised. "Why wasn't your captain here?" Cadence shrugged. "We have been getting strange threats by messages of some sort of attack. I ordered my top guards to stay in the empire while I'm here." Twilight looked between the three monarchs. "An attack? What type of attack?" Cadence shook her head. "I'm afraid we have no clue as to why these threats are begin sent to us. The nearest border we have with anyone are the Kingdoms south west of the empire." Luna snorted. "Those horrid warring people. I swear we should have dealt with them when we had the chance." Celestia quirked her brow at her sister. "Luna, you know the reason why we had to have peace. If they still have problems they should take it up to us." Luna rolled her eye by her sister’s pacifist comment. "Alright so why haven't they done it yet? I still believe it was those beasts of war that attacked Cloudsdale." Luna snarled. Twilight sat down by Cadence on a couch feeling the high tension in the room as the princesses begin to ‘discuss’ the past. Twilight knew why Luna thought of such things and Celestia wishing not to be part of it. Almost half a century ago, Equestria was in a war with the Griffin King and his empire. A civilization that was heavy on conquer and control. What started the war was when the Griffin King ordered for his soldiers to attack an Equestrian settlement of Stalliongrad and took it for their country. Celestia tried to reason with them to release the town back to Equestrian lands. But after a year of argument after argument, Stalliongrad became a walled in city where the people were forced to be watched and assimilate immediately to Griffin culture and religion. Anyone who went against them were sentenced to death. And just to spite them, the Griffin Parliament would send these recordings of the executions to Canterlot. Finally Celestia had enough and allowed Luna to attack Stalliongrad. The result was mixed. Equestrians weren't happy with how the princesses handled the return of Stalliongrad while others cheered for it. In the end though Stalliongrad was abandoned, nothing but ruins of an old forgotten time in Equestrian history. The griffins didn't touch it but they did leave traps in the city to prevent Equestrians from returning. Some sort of "If we can't have the city, neither can you." type of thing. Some people say that the parliament of the kingdoms are still very angry and want revenge against Equestria for making them look like fools. Or to cause the ultimate war against the two giant superpowers to see who will win. Twilight hoped and prayed this war never came in her lifetime. But with new technological advancements every day makes it more than likely for another attack or another war to come sooner. But which will come first? Another attack on an Equestrian city like Cloudsdale or just a full out call of war. "Enough." Celestia said causing the other three to look at her. "Let's not talk about such horrible thoughts and relax and enjoy the city. It's been a long time since we have seen Cloudsdale at its glory. We'll arrive in the city in an hour." Celestia stood up and left for her room. Luna snorted shaking her head, looking back out the window. Twilight gulped with worry. "Do you think there will be another war?" She asked with fear. Cadence shook her head. "Don't be ridiculous Twilight." She said standing up. "We are at a time of great peace. I doubt there will be anything as stupid as that to change the peace we have." Twilight felt a bad feeling in her gut. What if Luna was right and the Griffin King and his parliament are trying to start a war by attacking the Crystal Empire? Is it possible? "I sure hope not." She whispered to herself as she sat back by the window to watch the city get closer.