//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: An Evening of Highs & Lows // Story: City Scape // by TigerSwirl448 //------------------------------// Chapter 4 An Evening of Highs & Lows ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ Vinyl stared intently through the plastic sights of her blue plastic pistol waiting for the timer to reach zero. "THREE!" The speaker said as Vinyl took a better stance feeling her shooting partner brush against her giggling. "Let’s see if I can get the hang of this." The girl next to Vinyl said in a sophisticated accent. Vinyl smirked. “TWO!” "I don't know Octavia, so far I've beaten you in the last two rounds." “Braggart” Octavia jabbed bumping her hip into Vinyl to knock her to the side laughing. "ONE! SHOOT!" “Cheater!” Vinyl yelled out laughing after Octavia took her first two shots as Vinyl straightened up and started shooting at the video game zombies running towards them. Vinyl laughed as Octavia kept hitting the metal door next to her in the game. “Balls!” Octavia snarled as she reloaded her red pistol and started shooting again. Vinyl was chuckling as she kept getting head shots and gaining a high score faster than Octavia was. Octavia looked up in time to see Vinyl’s high score and groaned. “Aw come on Vinyl, at least let me get ahead for once.” “Where is the fun in that?” Vinyl asked then gasped hearing the clicking from the audio, her gun clip was empty. She pointed the gun below the screen for the gun to reload then popped it back up again, shooting. "Ah!" Octavia screamed as the zombies attacked her player killing her. "PLAYER 2 DEAD! GAME OVER!" "Aw drat!" Octavia whispered as Vinyl laughed. "How do you do that?" She asked seeing Vinyl set the gun controller in the socket as she grabbed her drink glass and a plastic cup filled with tickets. She gulped trying to think of an excuse. Vinyl’s father was a police officer and he taught her older brother how to hold a hand gun and shoot with it. When Vinyl’s mother was killed by an armed man, her father decided to teach her how to handle a gun as well. For a year Vinyl and her older brother, Long Play, had understood the rules and regulations of how to carry a gun and how to shoot one. "Um, being lucky?" Vinyl lied chuckling. Octavia gave the radio DJ a look. Vinyl gulped making sure her glasses were still on the top of her head. "What?" She asked with worry seeing Octavia’s look. "Nothing." Octavia answered shaking her head. "Come along, do you want to play a game with tickets this time? We still need a lot more before we can get anything good." Vinyl nodded. "Yeah, let's do it." Octavia grinned. “Alright, let’s go then.” Vinyl was happy that Octavia chose to come to the Eat and Game place in town. Vinyl never really went to a place like this but if her date wanted to go then she would go. Vinyl had known Octavia for a long time as her best friend. Over time it seemed that their friendship in the music industry was only professional but as time went on it became a more personal friendship. Vinyl didn't mind that she really liked Octavia and Octavia liked her back but now it was reaching the point where they started walking together hand and hand. Vinyl wanted to see what it would be like to kiss Octavia, even if it was just a swift peck on her cheek. But she was scared, very scared to do it. Unlike her radio alternate ego, Vinyl wasn't that confidant with herself. She was always very private and always kept her feelings to herself. But the biggest thing of all ... she was very shy. And Octavia seemed to be the one to get her out of the shy shell she locked herself in. Now Vinyl wanted to try and take the next step. The plan was to ask Octavia out for dinner after she had walked Octavia to her apartment and maybe, just maybe, ask Octavia if she wanted to be her girlfriend. Vinyl could feel the nervousness just thinking about it. After another hour of playing games and snacking on bar food the two left with the prizes they had gotten with the tickets. Vinyl didn't get much since she gave most of her tickets to Octavia. Octavia though got a small stuffed animal of a bull dog. Vinyl didn't understand why but it seemed that Octavia liked bull dogs. Vinyl laughed after she got the toy and seeing her blush. "What? I like bull dogs! Their smushed in faces are sooo cute!" She cooed. Vinyl chuckled. “Alright, let me guess if the law allowed us to keep pets in the city, what would you love to have as a pet?” Vinyl asked as she and Octavia headed for the double glass doors to the outside. Octavia sighed looking down at her stuffed dog. “When I was little, my father and mother shared a dog together. His name was Milo, a boxer- pit bull mix. The sweetest dog I ever known.” Octavia sighed smiling sadly. “He passed away when I was eight. He was the closest thing to a brother I ever had. He was brave, super sweet, and very protective of me.” Octavia said giggling. “I think he took the term big brother too seriously.” Vinyl frowned turning away thinking about her brother. Octavia continued not noticing Vinyl's sudden sad mood. “But if this city didn’t have those pet laws … I would love to find some sort of pit bull type dog. A bull dog, a boxer, or even a pit bull. Just a dog similar to that type, you know.” Vinyl didn’t hear that, she was too busy feeling sad for her own brother, Long Play. She stopped in her walk to stare. She saw an older boy with a younger girl holding her hand as she leaped over the cracks in the sidewalk as her brother lift her up causing her to fly then dropped her back down on the ground. “Do it again!” The girl cried as he nodded. When she made the jump the brother gripping tightly to her hand and lifted her up in the air causing her to squeal then she landed back on the ground. Vinyl blinked seeing the two transform. The boy was dressed as her older brother in a hoodie, sagging pants, and sneakers with a pair of blue sunglasses on his face and his red hair under a dark red sock hat. And the girl changed to Vinyl showing her in a large hoodie with pants and large shoes trying to mock his way of walking. Long Play looked down at her. “What are you doing?” “Nothing!” “You were copying me?” “No I wasn’t!” “Yes you were!” “LP, Vinyl!” An older voice called. The two siblings’ looked up to see their father smiling at them. “Want to get some breakfast before I head off to work?” Young Vinyl looked up at her brother to see him grin at her. A breakfast with dad was a rare occasion. Older Vinyl watched as the two kids ran to their father as they walked across the street and headed for the subway station. “Don’t go.” Vinyl whispered watching the family of three of her memories disappear towards their life changing doom. “Vinyl?” Vinyl shook her head and turned to see Octavia looking at her with concern. “Is there something wrong? You look upset.” Vinyl blinked a few times and turned to see that the brother and sister were long gone. Vinyl swallowed hard and turned to see Octavia. Vinyl nodded with a forced smile. “No, nothing's wrong. I’m fine.” “Are you sure?” Octavia asked still worried. “Yeah,” Vinyl whispered taking her hand. “I’m alright.” Vinyl frowned turning away. “Just memories you know.” Octavia nodded still confused. Vinyl already told her that she had a tough past but didn’t feel like she was ready to talk about it. Octavia understood since she too had tough memories herself but by the look on Vinyl’s face, Octavia could tell that Vinyl’s past was so much different than hers and possibly way worse than her own. Octavia smiled wrapping her arms around Vinyl hugging her tight. Vinyl blushed a touch. She smiled, hugging her back. Octavia pulled back smiling seeing Vinyl’s blush and smile. Vinyl took Octavia’s hand and the two continued their walk back to Octavia’s apartment. When they finally reached the apartment complex the two walked up to the fourth floor and went to Octavia’s apartment. Octavia turned to Vinyl and smiled. "I enjoyed lunch. It was fun." She said smiling with a light blush on her face. Vinyl cleared her throat before speaking. "Uh, yeah it was a blast and I enjoyed it too. I hope to do that again sometime." Vinyl said smiling with her hands behind her back. Just say it you idiot! Ask her out! Her mind screamed as Vinyl kept silent. Octavia turned back to her door and unlocked the lock to enter her apartment. She turned back to Vinyl blushed even deeper. Octavia gulped walking up to Vinyl then kissed her on the cheek. Vinyl went stiff as a board with her face turning red as Octavia stepped back. "Um, call me whenever you have the free time, Vinyl. I hope to see you very soon." "Uhh ...." Vinyl said in a love struck tone nodding her head giggling bashfully. "Yeah, um, I'll uh, call you sometime soon." Octavia giggled seeing how Vinyl was reacting to the kiss and nodded. "Have a good evening then." "Y-you too." Vinyl said watching Octavia close the door. Once the door was locked Vinyl turned and started walking to the stairs and stopped. She leaped in the air and did a backflip, landing on her feet in the hall. "Aw yeah!" She said giggling. "She kissed me! Yes!" Vinyl suddenly stopped smiling, blinking. "Wait I didn't ask her out!" She slapped her forehead then ran back to the door. She gulped and knocked on Octavia’s door feeling bashful again. Octavia opened the door with a confused look. "What's wrong Vinyl?" Vinyl gulped. "I forgot to ask you something." "Yes?" "Um, do you want to go out on a ... date next Friday night?" Octavia blinked then began to smile. "I would love to." "Really?" Vinyl asked shocked seeing Octavia nod with a blush. "Yes really. I have a day off that Friday." Vinyl nodded. "Awesome! Um, pick you up at seven then?" Vinyl asked. Octavia nodded. "Seven sounds great. I'll see you then?" Vinyl nodded. "Yeah, see you then." Octavia nodded as she closed the door. Vinyl sighed. She smiled and headed off with her hands in her pockets happy that things were starting to look bright for her after all. When Vinyl returned to the radio station and went straight to her tiny room. She closed the door behind her and locked it to make sure no one came into the room unannounced. She pulled off her jacket and shirt and tossed the discarded clothes into a basket for the laundry mat and collapsed into her couch. With a sigh she toed off her sneakers then propped her feet up. She reached her hand under the couch and pulled out a bottle of whiskey and unscrewed the lid. She held up the booze in the air with a sigh. “To you Mom.” She whispered as she took a long swig of the whiskey, the burn in her throat not as bad. “To you Dad.” She whispered sadly taking another long swig now feeling tears in her eyes as haunting images of what happened that day twelve years ago came flooding back in. The screams, the gun shots, the dead, the dying, and then the collapsing building above her. “And finally, to you big brother.” She sniffled drinking just a small amount a she hiked up her legs pressing her forehead to her knees. The vision returned showing her standing under the falling debris from a skyscraper above her. She would have been crushed if it weren’t for her brother shoving her away, she would have been crushed along with her father and brother. Vinyl broke down crying in her couch with the bottle in her hand. Just another year of pain and sadness as tradition took her back to her darkest places. ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ As the sun began to set, the shadows of the city cover a large portion of the lower district. In Low Town is where all the "illegal" activity arises in Cloudsdale. Low Town is where all the low end jobs, old sketchy apartments, hidden speakeasies, and even the illegal fighting rings in the city. On top of a warehouse roof sat one of the old abandoned water silos that littered the lower level. This silo was one of the many secret bases the Flying Couriers use in hiding. In this particular silo is a technological marvel. Sitting inside was Thunderlane, the main computer tech of the Couriers. He was sitting cross legged on his well-used chair with his wireless keyboard on his lap typing. His eyes roved at the five computer monitors in front of him seeing the news, listening to police feeds, even the radio. Thunderlane sighed rubbing his eyes feeling the telltale stings of stress from staring at a computer screen for so long without rest. He rubbed his eyes with a sigh now feeling a headache starting. He reached over to a bottle of aspirin and popped a pill into his mouth. He reached over again for his soda can and tipped it back to swallow a mouthful of it. He sucked for more but there was no more. He groaned crunching the can with his hand and tossed it behind him, missing the trashcan that was already filled with soda cans of various brands and types. He looked over too far to stop to see a picture taped to a computer monitor. He paused in his typing to see the picture of himself as a younger teen with his younger brother sitting on his shoulders. Thunderlane smiled then turned back to the monitors. He heard a sound of feet landing on top of the silo and the sound of the top hatch being opened above him. He heard the sound of shoes hitting the steel bottom behind him. "Heya, Big T." Cloud Kicker greeted seeing his back to her. She walked over to a built in bench against the rounded wall and sat down with a sigh. She grunted rubbing her lower back. "Damn when will you put in the new cushions to this bench?" Thunderlane smirked as he continued typing. “Have you finished the drop?" he asked. Cloud Kicker nodded reaching into her pack to pull out a wad of bills that were wrapped with a rubber band. "Yep, got two hundred bucks for the damn thing." She said tossing the wad to Thunderlane's back. Without turning, Thunderlane held up his hand and caught the wad in his hand. Cloud Kicker smirked wondering how he had such reflexes. She had known Thunderlane for eight years and she still didn't know how he stayed in shape even though all he did was sit in front of his computers. She sometimes felt admired by his presence but yet … she didn't want to be close to people. Not in a romantic way. Cloud watched Thunderlane place the wad on his cramped desk and started counting the bills. After few moment of slow counting he stacked the bills together and nodded. "Yep two hundred. I'll let Chaser look at these to make sure they're not counterfeited bills. Great work." He said opening a small tin lunch box and tossed the new bills into the box and closed it. He set the tin lunch box back in the hanged shelf as he went back to work. Cloud scratched her cheek as her face went red from the praise. She blinked hearing a woman talking on the police feed. "Hey, turn it up would ya?" Cloud asked. Thunderlane shrugged. He pulled off his headphones and unplugged the headphones from the plug then pressed a button for the speakers to turn on with whatever he was hearing. The police chatter was going nuts about some burglary in progress. "Boring!" Cloud complained falling onto her back on the bench with her arm behind her head as a pillow, staring at the ceiling. "It was your idea." Thunderlane growled as he started typing. After a long moment the two heard about the police shooting and killing the suspect in the burglary. "That’s just sad." She whispered shaking her head. "I mean, wasn't it a police officer's duty to catch the crook without killing him." Thunderlane shrugged. "Times are different now, CK." "I know that." Cloud Kicker growled now feeling anger. "But does it have to be like that?" "What do you mean?" Thunderlane asked curiously. "I mean think about it." Cloud Kicker said sitting up. "The police were made for one thing and that is to protect Equestria’s people and make sure justice is taken care of." Thunderlane shrugged reading a post on a chat room and typed something on a post and sent it. "Yeah, that’s what they were meant to do." "Right, and now suddenly they became trigger happy, douche bags. The rich call this place the safest city in Equestria?" Cloud Kicker snorted. "Yeah right. We're like the slums of Equestria and we're forced to stay here." "What are you getting at Kicker?" Thunderlane asked annoyed. One of the things Cloud always liked to do was start conversations like this. Always blaming the police and politicians for all the suffering and how Equestria is stupid for not seeing the real truth of the city. He just wished Cloud hadn't talked with Vinyl during her ranting years before she left. Cloud Kicker glared at his back then looked at the steel floor. Outside they could hear a helicopter flying over them. "I’m saying that there are better places than this dump." "You're thinking of leaving now?" Thunderlane asked surprised. “The group I mean?” Cloud Kicker blinked feeling heat on her face as she clenched her fists. "Maybe." She answered leaning back to lay back down on the bench. "I mean there is nothing for us here. And it gets harder and harder doing these things and growing up. The taller I get, the heavier I get, and it’s just a matter of when I slip up.” Thunderlane nodded. “Yeah, I know what you mean.” Cloud Kicker bit her lip closing her eyes. “And the longer we stay in this city the harder it is to leave.” She blinked at a hard thought in her mind before speaking again. “I knew this guy once. He tried to get his family out of the city." Thunderlane could hear the coldness in her voice that made him worry. "Right when they were about to leave, the police and the Griffs came and forced them back into the city telling them that they would kill them before they leave the city." Cloud held up her hand with her thumb up and her pointer finger out making a gun with her hand. Her voice went darker as she glared at the ceiling. "When the man refused to stay, bang, bang, bang." She whispered. "They were all dead and the two sisters were taken and thrown into the system. No escape." Thunderlane gulped looking at the picture of him and his brother. "One day, T," Cloud whispered blowing on her finger as if it was the barrel of a gun. "I'll find a way out. And finally be free of this fucking city." Thunderlane nodded. "Freedom at last." He whispered thinking. "Hey, Thunderlane." A new voice piped up. It was Rainbow through the private feed. Thunderlane sighed placing his com back in place. "Hey boss. How was your trip?" He asked as he flipped a switch to allow the private feed to play through the speakers for Cloud Kicker to hear. "Meh, it would have been better. Street Level has a sick vibe." Thunderlane nodded. "Hmph, just as thought. Nothing good happens on Street Level no matter what part of the city you go to." "Anyway can you do a check for me?" "Sure," Thunderlane said grabbing his keyboard again and placed it in his lap. "Of what?" "I noticed this before calling you. Can you find information about walls with gates being built in the middle district?" Thunderlane looked to Cloud to see her still staring at the ceiling. "Um sure, let me check." Thunderlane typed fast looking at his screens and noticed a newspaper clipping on a website. "I found something. I found a newspaper clipping from a few years ago. It mentions that the council with the Griffs used taxpayer money to build security walls in the upper and middle districts with security walls and cameras. It's all part of their Order Equals Safety Campaign from seven years back. I guess they’re still doing it though no one talks about it anymore." "Ah ... Are they still working on it or have they stopped?" Rainbow asked interested. "Hmm," Thunderlane checked for more information but shook his head. "After the newspaper clipping there is nothing. It's like it was forgotten." "Forgotten my ass." Cloud Kicker snarled turning away. "Huh, interesting." Rainbow said out loud. "They have cops there checking vehicles and trucks before they leave or enter the districts." "Was there a reason for the question?" Thunderlane asked waiting for Rainbow to answer. After a while he got it. "No ... just curious. I just haven't seen that before and I visited the middle district last year and saw nothing." "Speaking of that, how's Applejack?" Thunderlane smirked hearing Rainbow gasp. "That’s none of your business!" Rainbow said hotly. After a few seconds she sighed. "I talked to her ... but she shut herself away from me as usual." Rainbow snorted angrily. Thunderlane thought for a moment then began typing on his keyboard looking for files on people typing the name Applejack Smith on the search bar. What he got was AJ’s records reading them. He bit his lip rubbing his face with his hand. "You know Dash ... Maybe you should just not see Applejack again." "You have her records up, don't you." Rainbow deadpanned. "More than that boss." Thunderlane said as he looked back at the left screen to see Applejack’s records. Cloud Kicker stood up to take a look herself. She noticed something that made her balk with shock. "She's a Griff?!" Cloud asked with shock and disbelief. "No!" Rainbow snarled hearing Cloud's response from Thunderlane's microphone. "She said she works for the Griffs as a security guard." "But don't security guards have to have police training? And police academies won't allow felons, right?" Cloud asked interested. "They do now." Thunderlane answered as he pointed at the date Applejack signed up and was accepted to be in Security. "She was the last few people to be hired without the police academy training here in Cloudsdale." "Anything else?" Rainbow asked worriedly. Thunderlane shrugged. "Well it shows that she has a great track record ... uh oh." He said as he noticed a red flag spot in Applejack's records. "What uh oh?" Rainbow asked worriedly. "Well it seems the Griffs knew her to have been involved with us. It seems to be the only things that's keeping her from ... promotion? She's trying to get a promotion or a change of stations but the Griffs won't allow it, it seems." "Damn Griffs." Cloud Kicker snapped shaking her head in shock seeing the amount of information on Applejack’s daily life. "Damn, they have everything on her, even when she uses the bathroom and when she goes to sleep." Thunderlane nodded. "Oh yeah, they know everything on everyone in Street Level." "Hey," Rainbow interrupted. "Can you check one last thing?" "Sure." Thunderlane said noticing the sad tone from his leader. "Can you check if there was anything serious between AJ and that fashion girl she's with?" "Rarity you mean?" Thunderlane asked. "Don't ask, I found a person of interest link on AJ's records. It seems that the Griffs are watching the fashionista too. Rarity is her name." "Right, that's her. Why do the Griffs have tabs on her?" Rainbow asked. "Maybe ‘cause she's with AJ?" Cloud mentioned. "Maybe," Rainbow whispered. Thunderlane shrugged. "There is nothing here about Rarity that raises any red flags. They have a bunch of Privates watching her though." "Private detectives or secret Griffs?" "Security Griffs. They've been watching her for a long time." Thunderlane said still looking. Cloud blinked seeing something of interest on Rarity's records. "Hey, it says that her parents were prime conspirators in the riots. Remember those huge riots during The Change" after the massacre?" "Yeah, they're the ones that said that the government was trying to take control of the whole city with cameras, microphones, phone taps, all that stuff. Which did happen." Rainbow said sadly. "Yeah well it turns out that Rarity's parents disappeared during a riot that went very ugly. Rarity also had a sister. Sweetie Belle." Cloud said intrigued. "The teen singer?" Rainbow asked in shock. "That very same." Thunderlane answered. "Wow," Rainbow whispered. "So why aren't they watching Rarity's sister then?" Thunderlane shook his head. "There is nothing about her. Wait ... here's one thing. Sweetie Belle was those few that were able to leave the city before the complete shut down." Cloud Kicker glared and turned away. "Lucky, bratty bitch." She snarled sitting down. "Is CK brooding about her past again?" Rainbow asked with worry. "Yeah." Thunderlane whispered. "Sorry." "No, don't be. That is interesting though. If Rarity's sister left the city how come Rarity didn't leave with her?" Thunderlane shook his head. "A lot of shit happened in the last twelve years, Dash. It’s hard to put everything in a time line or even get the correct answers. But all I can say is for your sake and Applejack's, let's refrain from seeing her for a long while. AJ is in line with the Griffs now, like it or not if something happens she'll have no choice but fess up to them." "AJ would never do that." Rainbow snarled. Thunderlane gulped. "We don't know whether she will or not, but for now the Griffs have had their eyes on AJ and her girlfriend for a long time. Keep your distance." Rainbow sighed. "Fine, I'll be back soon." Thunderlane sighed pulling off his com and set it on his desk rubbing his face. Cloud Kicker sat up and stood. She leaped up to the hatch above her. "I'm heading off for a drink. Want to come with?" She asked as she pressed a button on the side and the hatch began to rise. "Nah," Thunderlane answered. "I should stay here in case something happens. Pinkie is delivering a package and Derpy is waiting for a drop at the river docks," "Okay, okay," Cloud said shaking her head. "I get it, you have work. Seriously dude, you need a day off. Ever since Vinyl put you here you're never out anymore." Thunderlane shrugged. "So?" "Whatever." Cloud growled before pulling herself out of the silo and closed the hatch behind her. Leaving the computer hermit alone and confused. ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ Rainbow was sitting alone on a ledge looking around watching the sky turn orange of sunset. She couldn't stop thinking about her chat with Applejack. For some reason she thought they might just talk like old times, but like Thunderlane said, Applejack was being watched and her seeing her might have caused more harm than good. It still hurt though, thinking about that. Applejack for some reason sounded harsher and she looked different. Rainbow rubbed her hands together in the chill of the breeze, thinking. She looked up at the sky smelling the air. Unlike the smell from the streets, the air smelled crisp. "It is September after all." Rainbow mumbled to herself crossing her arms across her chest looking at the sky line towards Cloudsdale Plaza. She bit her lip feeling the faint memories flash through her eyes. The screaming, the running, the fear ... the confusion. Rainbow sighed then heard Vinyl's voice in her head. "I shouldn't have stood there! I should have done something then they would be alive!" Rainbow shook her head hard at that. "There is nothing you could have done." Applejack’s voice said softly in her memories. "We were all kids. Young kids. We weren't strong enough to understand or even strong enough to save those we love. " Rainbow sighed rubbing her jacket sleeve then gripped to the fabric tightly, sniffling. "Stay there!" Her father's voice spoke. "Stay there and keep your head down until I get back and look for you. I'll be back as soon as I can." Rainbow shook her head hard trying not to cry. It's always this specific day that her emotions always got the better of her and it was getting harder to block out those cold memories. "The past is the past." Rainbow uttered sniffling. "Why are you so upset?" Rainbow blinked hearing the voice and turned to see Scootaloo standing behind her dressed in old clothes that were too large for her. Rainbow smiled wiping her eyes. "Hey Squirt, what are you doing up here?" She asked. Scootaloo smirked walking over to sit down next to her as she looked down. "You're sitting on the building across the street from the orphanage." Scootaloo chuckled pointing forward. Rainbow blinked then looked down to see the old school house building turned orphanage. The building was once a boarding school for girls back in the day. At the turn of the century the school was closed down after some sort of scandal with the schoolmistress and the building was abandoned. Since the Massacre the old school building was turned into one of the many orphanages that dotted Low Town. Rainbow smiled a touch. "Huh, I wonder why I'm here." Rainbow thought out loud hiking one knee and placed her arm over it watching the small children play in the old playground. "Why are you here?" Scootaloo asked interested. Rainbow shrugged. "I just felt like sitting here for a bit." she said sadly. Scootaloo blinked then sighed. "Are you going to visit? We got the TV to work and we're going to watch the Princesses go to the Plaza." Rainbow blinked thinking about this. She turned to Scootaloo then smiled. "Sure," Scootaloo smiled standing up. "Really?" She asked excited. "Yeah, I'll see you down there." Scootaloo nodded. "Alright! I'll go tell Cheerilee and Fluttershy." Scootaloo ran off the edge then grabbed the window sill and began her decent down to the street. Rainbow slowly stood up then looked over towards the Plaza to see four spotlight waving in the air. "The princesses have arrived." Rainbow whispered frowning, sticking her hands into her jacket pockets glaring. "What good will they do?" She said resentfully. The princesses abandoned the city, abandoned the people! Why are they here now? Rainbow sighed and found a pipe to start climbing down off the building until she reached the pavement. She walked across the street to the tall iron barred fence. Instead of using the gate she made a run to the fence then leaped up and began climbing. Several children in the yard stopped playing to watch in awe as Rainbow climbed up the fence then went up and over the top and leaped off to land in a roll back up her feet. The children all cheered seeing her and ran over to see her. "Okay, okay, it's nice to see you rascals too." Rainbow called out laughing as the children all said her name and asking questions about where she was. One girl grabbed Rainbow's hand and began tugging her towards the orphanage. "Come on, Miss Rainbow, come on inside!" The girl urged along with the other children pulling her towards the large building. Rainbow feebly followed smiling. "Alright, alright, stop pulling. I can walk on my own." Rainbow said laughing as she went into the front doors. On the outside the orphanage looked run down with it's old doors and slightly saggy walls. But on the inside the building was very cozy and nice. It didn’t look like the interior of an old worn down building. Rainbow smirked seeing the warm light covering the light green walls with a mural of flowers and trees with little woodland creatures. Rainbow walked down the hall then into the foyer to see the large stair case to her right and the doors to the large sitting room to her left. She could hear light singing and smiled seeing the head mistress of the orphanage. "Hello, Fluttershy." Rainbow called out surprising the young woman causing her to yelp with shock. Fluttershy turned to see Rainbow and sighed. "Rainbow Dash, don't scare me like that!" She said smiling slightly. Rainbow shrugged. "Sorry, thought of dropping by." Several of the young orphans ran over hugging Rainbow "Can she stay, Miss Fluttershy?" Several of the kids asked at once. Fluttershy smiled at the children then looked back at Rainbow. "It's up to Miss Rainbow what she wants to do." Rainbow frowned then looked down seeing the quivering lips and giant eyes look up at her. "I already said I'll stay for a bit." She whispered causing the kids all to cheer. Rainbow chuckled. "I guess I should have brought some pizza or something." "Oh don't worry about that." Fluttershy said quickly. "Cheerilee and I already started cooking dinner. Do you mind keeping the little ones occupied?" "No problem." Rainbow said before Fluttershy smiled. "Thank you Rainbow, you are always a big help to us." Rainbow rolled her eyes and smiled. "It’s no trouble." She leaned on her knees looking at the children around her. "Well let’s go and get that TV set up for the Princesses arrival, huh?" "Yeah!" The children all cheered running to the sitting room. Fluttershy nodded then went through a swinging door to the kitchen as Rainbow walked to the sitting room to see many of the children already sitting on the large rug in front of the TV. The older orphans were either sitting in the corner talking or just sitting around. Scootaloo was at the TV trying to find the right channel with the remote control. Rainbow walked over to her and snatched the remote out of her hand. "Hey!" Scootaloo growled then noticed the remote thief was Rainbow. "Oh uh," "It's alright." Rainbow said ruffling her head. "Now let's see, every local channel should be broadcasting the princesses." She turned to the couch to see several boys sitting there. "Make me a spot?" The boys nodded scooting over to make a space for Rainbow to sit on as she pressed the correct numbers on the key pad then watched the screen lit up in color. "It's alive!" A boy cried out dramatically causing everyone to look up and ran to pick a spot on the floor or on the old couches. "What's happening?" A boy asked. "Shut up so we can all hear!" An older girl snapped. "Hey now!" Rainbow called out silencing everyone. "They haven’t arrived yet. We'll just wait a bit." "I hate waiting." Scootaloo grouched. Rainbow chuckled as she leaned back into the cushions with a sigh. Rainbow chuckled as she waved Scootaloo over. Scootaloo walked over then sat down on the floor with Rainbow's legs behind her in a back rest. "What do you think the princesses might look like?" a young girl asked dreamily. "Eww! Princess, smishness." A boy grouched. Rainbow let them bicker amongst each other as she watched the newscasters speak about the news. Rainbow couldn't hear them talk but by the videos the news was showing, it was all about the Massacre. Rainbow blinked once watching the video, the cell phone video was shaky as it revealed the black helicopter and the black dressed man shooting down at people. Rainbow swallowed hard watching the scene change to that of rioters fighting the police and the Griffs. Rainbow turned away to see another painted mural on the wall to see the shapes of a man hugging a girl in frozen laughter. Rainbow blinked and saw the two change into that of her father and herself in her father’s arms. Rainbow bit her lip wondering if her father got away or if he was dead. She didn't know why she still had that feeling that he didn't abandon her but why is it so hard to accept the fact that he is truly gone? "Hey! They're starting!" Scootaloo cried out. Rainbow blinked out of her thoughts and turned back to the mural to see the man and the girl again back to their original shades and colors. Rainbow gulped then turned back to the television that was showing a helicopter view of the Plaza. Stepping out of the limo were the three princesses themselves. Rainbow quickly turned up the volume so everyone could hear the announcer talking about the princesses. Rainbow watched the limo as the door opened and Princess Celestia dressed in a white flowing dress came out of the limo to wave to the crowd. What surprised Rainbow the most about Celestia’s attire was how plain it was. It was different than what Rainbow expected her to wear. She thought Princesses were interested in all types of jewels and such on their gowns but Celestia was dressed plain. Strange. Second to exit the limo was Princess Luna. She wasn't dressed in a gown like Celestia, more like a modernized look, she was dressed with slacks, and a nice shirt with a vest. Unlike Celestia, Luna's clothing was in blacks and deep blues. Then the new princess, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. She was dressed in a nice gown like Celestia but with a modernized look. The gown was fluid and silky looking that rose up to her knees, with a dark pink dress vest. She looked pretty and colorful. All three of them were colorful. Rainbow blinked noticing another woman coming out of the limo but the driver slammed the door to keep her from leaving. Rainbow blinked once and then the camera changed to a different angle. Rainbow found this odd the press didn't seem to bother in introducing this fourth person as the camera view shifted again to the ground pointed at Celestia and down the line. Rainbow ignored the three princesses and noticed the limo door pop open to reveal the fourth woman. She closed the door behind her fixing her skirt as she jogged to catch up to the three princesses. This last woman was different than the others. She was dressed normally, not like the royals. She was dressed in a short navy colored skirt that brushed the top of her knees, a crisp white shirt with a dark purple sweater vest. She didn't look royal but she acted like she belonged with the princesses. She caught up to Cadenza and walked behind her with her hands behind her back with her head held high. "Who's that?" Rainbow asked curiously. "Who?" Scootaloo asked too mesmerized by the princess. "That girl behind Cadenza." Rainbow said pointing. Before Scootaloo or the children noticed the screen shifted to the stage as the mayor of Cloudsdale bowed to Celestia as she stepped up the steps. Rainbow blinked seeing a familiar woman standing at the stair case offering her hand to Princess Celestia to help her up the steps. It was Applejack! Rainbow licked her lips feeling anger seeing Applejack dressed up as a security guard and helping the princesses. As the camera changed again Rainbow noticed at the edge of the screen Cadenza stopped to turn behind her as Applejack held onto the fourth woman and kept her off the stage. Rainbow saw this as odd as another security guard dressed like AJ pushed Cadenza towards the stage. The third princess turned to the crowd and immediately smiled and waved but her eyes had a look of worry on them as she turned behind her then back to the front as she was guided by the mayor to her seat. Rainbow sat there with the other kids watching the Princesses welcome. As the children were excited and mesmerized by the princesses, Rainbow was curious about the involvement of this fourth woman. Who was she? Why was she there? And why are the Griffs trying to keep her out of the public eye? It didn't last though, Rainbow sat with the children as they listened to Princess Celestia speak for the first time to the people of Cloudsdale in twelve years. For some reason it just made Rainbow angrier. All she could do was clench her fists with anger. Celestia kept talking about what a great job the Griffin Security Forces have done in bringing the city back from its weakened state. Rainbow blinked noticing how Luna was scowling turning away from the cameras. Princess Cadenza looked worried as she fidgeted in her seat and looking behind her as if looking for someone. Perhaps the fourth woman that was with them? When the speech was over the news came on and began sprouting their lies. Rainbow sighed reaching for the remote but stopped seeing something strange. "Children dinner is ready." Cheerilee called stepping out of the kitchen. The children all got up and ran to the eating room. Scootaloo stopped at the corner noticing Rainbow watching the screen intently. Cheerilee patted Scootaloo on her back and told her to go into the eating room. Cheerilee turned to Dash as Scootaloo ran off and stepped up to her. "You are welcome to stay for dinner, Rainbow Dash." Cheerilee said with a smile. Rainbow blinked and turned to her. "Oh um I won't be here for very much longer. I have to get back to the others. Save the food for yourself and Fluttershy, Cheers." Cheerilee smiled then covered her mouth to cough. Rainbow blinked and turned to her as Cheerilee coughed a sickly sounding cough. "Are you alright?" Rainbow asked with worry as Cheerilee pulled out a handkerchief and spat into the cloth then wiped her nose. "Oh yes, I'm fine. It's that time of year again." She said with difficulty. Rainbow gave her a look as Cheerilee smiled. "Really," She croaked then cleared her throat. "I'm fine. Thank you for visiting, Rainbow Dash, the children love seeing you when you come over." Rainbow smiled sadly at her. "I do what I can for friends." Cheerilee nodded as she noticed the woman on the screen. "Oh it's her." Cheerilee said pointing at the TV. Rainbow used the remote to make the volume of the sound to go higher to hear. It shown a woman talking to a news reporter. "I'm telling you." The woman said strongly. "The GSF are hiding something. Why are they using our tax payer money to build walls that are not needed?" The woman asked fixing her glasses on her face. Rainbow blinked seeing her brown eyes glaring at the camera. "Why do you think about this Miss Check?" The woman asked with a look of warning. "I think of this because back in my home of Manehattan, tax payer money is voted on for what we want it to be used for. The government has no right to use our money without our permission." Suddenly the screen changed to the news desk with an overly bright woman grinning. "And I believe that is all the time we have left!" The woman said smiling. "And now on to the sports news with-” Rainbow turned off the TV then turned to Cheerilee. "Who was that?" Rainbow asked interested. Cheerilee smiled. "That is Spell Check, a reporter. She came by here to the orphanage two months ago." "For what?" Rainbow asked standing up. Cheerilee blinked confused as to why Rainbow was curious. "Well, she came by here to ask Fluttershy and me some questions about the orphanage and the children. She said it's for The Times." "What's that?" Rainbow asked curious. She never heard of The Times. Cheerilee gasped. "Oh that's right you all don't read the news. The Times is a huge newspaper group from Manehattan. Spell Check was transferred here three years ago." "Three years? Griffs don't allow tourists or outsiders here. How did she get in?" Cheerilee shrugged. "I don't know how she got here, but she said that she works to find the truth about Cloudsdale and what this new government is trying to prove by keeping us locked up here." Rainbow thought for a moment looking to the TV. "She's fucking insane." Rainbow snarled as she left the room. Cheerilee watched as Rainbow headed for the door. "The next I'm here, I'll bring pizza. Later Cheers!" Rainbow called as she shut the door behind her. Rainbow stepped onto the walk way leading to the gate. The chill of the cool air blew as she looked up noticing the sky was turning dark. She turned away. Whoever this Spell Check is, she's fighting a losing battle if she’s getting information on the Griffs. Once the Griffs see her going to places she shouldn't then she's good as dead. Rainbow stopped her angry stride to think for a second. What if this reporter Spell Check isn’t the only outsider that's trying to help them? Equestria never cared before ... why now? Why are the princesses coming? Why is there an outsider reporter trying to stir this hornets’ nest? "Why?" Rainbow whispered looking up and watching a helicopter fly by. "Why now?"