City Scape

by TigerSwirl448


Chapter 7: Celestia's Fears

Chapter 7
Celestia's Fears

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Applejack sat in her lawn chair on the roof of the apartment building, staring out at the skyscrapers where she just came from. She couldn't get the image of seeing Twilight Sparkle, Celestia's plus one, with Gilda. Applejack knew from the time she had seen Twilight the day before that something was going on. She remembered how upset all the higher up security soldiers were about her. Applejack had an idea why the anger towards the girl, Celestia did something without the GSF’s permission. That's the one thing these people are very touchy about, if something happened without their saying so they get pissed. None more so than Gilda.

Applejack shuddered at that, rubbing her arms feeling the chill. She had witnessed the blunt force of Gilda’s boot and baton many times in the last couple of years working for her. It’s not a pleasant experience. She sighed reaching into her pocket to pull out her small tin then opened it. Her fingers twitched as she saw that there was one last stick of the weed she smoked in the tin. Her mind mentally told her to save the last bit of the drug for when she was really stressed. But the urge to smoke and go into that darkness of peace, but fighting the urge, Applejack groaned shutting the tin closed. She squeezed her eyes shut stuffing the tin back into her pocket, tapping her fingers on the plastic arm of the chair in irritation. She clicked her tongue thinking until she saw the small radio next to her. She reached down and absent mindedly flicked on the switch and turned the tuner dial until she heard a familiar voice talking.

"And that was Sapphire Shores everybody." Vinyl's voice spoke in the airwaves. Applejack smirked.

"Hey Vinyl." She whispered sadly as Vinyl continues to talk.

"Good evening fellow listeners. Tonight I have some big news, especially for those of you listeners from my home turf of Low Town. It seems that there have been rumors of some folks disappearing in all parts of the city. There have been many that have been kidnapped in Low Town, so those of you that travel the city at night I don't care where you live, you don't travel alone, or hell don't come out at all. Stuff is happening friends, just clear warning."

Applejack blinked hearing this. This was new. People are being kidnapped in the city, not to mention Low Town? That made Applejack worry, to where she stood up and took her radio with her back into her apartment. Rarity texted that she was having a late night so she wouldn’t be home for a while. Applejack reached the apartment and closed the door behind her. She walked into the bedroom and reached into her bedside table and reached under her shirts to pull out her modified IPod that Vinyl made for her years ago. Applejack lightly pressed her thumb over the button. She paused in what she was about to do. She sighed sitting down on her bed to stare at the old music device.

"What am I doing?" She whispered rubbing her forehead and looking at the old dark screen. Her original idea was the talk to Dash or Thunderlane making sure they’re doing alright. She sighed, shaking her head placing the device back into her drawer then closed it. She laid on her bed with her hands behind her head then slowly she closed her eyes to sleep. Such ideas as contacting her old friends would give her more grief than what she had before. And besides, thanks to Vinyl's warning, she might just surprise Rarity at her work place and walk her home. That would put her mind at ease.

Still the thought of people being kidnapped under the Griffs' nose was a shocker to the security guard. But it comes to no surprise. The Griffs are too busy focusing on keeping the poor from entering the middle and upper districts anyway. She swallowed opening her eyes and looking around her, having an eerie feeling of being watched.

"Damn," She whispered as she sat up on her bed and looked to her radio and turned it off to end the dubstep playing. She walked out of the room then reached for her security jacket and pulled it on. She grabbed her baton for extra protection on the street, she walked to the bar separating the tiny kitchen to the main room and grabbed her car keys and headed out the door. She would just park by the warehouse and wait for Rarity. She would feel better that way.

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The next morning, Twilight woke up to find the princesses gone again. They had left early for another breakfast with the rich. With nothing else to do that day until lunch, she decided to look for the locations on the map first hand before she began her experiments. She got dressed in a purple shirt and light capris pants and headed out with the map in hand to try and locate the red spot areas on the map. She noticed that she was given looks as she walked through the city. She never had so many people stare at her before. Back in Canterlot she was just another person, here though she was looked at as if she was a rat in the gutter. Twilight sighed looking around wondering where she was now.

"Madam Sparkle?" Twilight jumped and turned with surprise to see the familiar reporter again.

"Oh um, Spell Check correct?" Twilight asked as Spelling walked up to her. Twilight and Spelling shook hands in greeting. Twilight looked the reporter up and down to notice that she was dressed in dark pants, sneakers, a plain t-shirt with the same denim jacket on her shoulders.

"Yep, just Spelling to my friends." Spelling smirked looking around her hen back at Twilight. “So, what brings you in this part of town?” She asked walking forward with the flow of people. Twilight followed her not wanting to be left behind.

"Wait, how did you get away?" She asked. Spelling blinked turning to her walking beside her. She stuck her hands into her jacket pockets.

"Get away?" Spelling asked chuckling. "I just check the area before entering. That way I know the way out faster than those guards. You have to be one step or five ahead of Security in this city. No one can catch me." Spelling said with a wink and a cocky smirk. Twilight smiled at that seeing the reporter’s high spirit.

"Anyway, how have you been?" Spelling asked casually keeping her eyes peeled for trouble. Twilight shrugged.

"It was fine. I just visited the counsel earlier." Spelling stopped in her step and turned to her.

"The council or the security?" Spelling questioned. Twilight stopped to stare curiously at her.

"Um, aren’t they the same thing?"

Spelling shook her head. "No, they're not. Was Commander Griffin at the head? Calling the shots?"

Twilight nodded. "Yes, she was. She actually said that I can do my experiments."

Spelling's eyes went wide with shock. "Really?" She asked blinking a few times. "That is so unlike her." She whispered thinking.

"She also gave me a map of the city." Spelling turned to Twilight to see the folded map. "She told me where to do my experiments. Do you mind telling me where to go?"

Spelling blinked again with surprise as Twilight held out the folded map. Spelling took the map.

"Um, sure." Spelling looked around then saw a large fountain to sit at. "Follow me." Spelling said walking to the fountain and sat down on the edge unfolding the map. Twilight sat down next to her as Spelling unfolded the map and paled it on the concrete edge. Spelling blinked seeing all the dots on the map.

"Um you don't mind if I take some photos of this?" Spelling asked seeing Twilight shrug.

"I don’t see why not. Go on ahead."

The reporter smiled pulling out her cell phone and took pictures of the map. After she was done she slipped her phone into her pocket and found her pencil in her second pocket.

"So you want me to lead you to the right spot?"

Twilight nodded. "Yes, if you be so kind. I was told that the red dots are the places they will allow me to go." Spelling nodded studying the map again.

"What about the black dots?"

"She said that the security forces have no jurisdiction there as of yet."

Spelling smirked. "No doubt. And what are these blue dots?" She asked intrigued. There were a lot of blue dots over the section of Low Town.

"Gilda told me that those are also off limits. And consider them dangerous."

Spelling nodded thinking. Finally she looked up at Twilight.

"My personal opinion Twilight, is that no matter where you do your experiments ..." Spelling paused to look around her. She grabbed Twilight's shirt to pull her close to whisper into her ear. "All of those places are dangerous for outsiders."

"What do you mean?" Twilight whispered back looking around fearfully.

"The area of map you got here is of what the locals call Low Town. Low Town is a dump now, it was once a perfect place until the terrorists attacked the area. Gangsters rule these streets and it chaos between the Griffs killing these people and the poor fighting to survive."

Twilight gulped with worry as Spelling sighed softly. "I'm telling you this for the last time Madam Sparkle. Leave this place. Go back home and forget about this experiment."

"What?" Twilight gasped pushing Spelling away. "No, I'm not leaving not when I have the opportunity,"

"No," Spelling interrupted. "I'm serious Twilight. You don't understand what you are getting into. Trust me on this, it’s better you abandon this project and get back to Canterlot."

Twilight glared at her. "I thought you were going to help me."

"That was before I learned that they gave you locations in the most dangerous places in the city." Spelling argued. She groaned with a sigh. "Listen Twilight, You are a good person and I'd hate it if something happened to you and I wasn't there to prevent it. I have been living here for three years and this place can drain you in spirit. Horrible things happen every second there."

"Then why do you stay here?" Twilight challenged crossing her arms across her chest. Spelling glared at her then turned away hiding her blush.

"There are reasons that you won't understand." Spelling said softly in a threatening growl. "But I'm trying to prevent you from being stuck in this place too."

Twilight sighed and looked at her. "I appreciate the concern Spelling, but I was really hoping you can tell me which is the best spot."

Spelling groaned. "You are very persistent are you?"

Twilight nodded. Spelling sighed with a small smile. "You remind me of myself before I came here." After a long moment the reporter nodded. "Alright, fine I'll give you the safest places I know."

Twilight squeeed hugging Spelling. "Thank you! Thank you!" Spelling blushed being hugged by her looking around to make sure no one was watching them.

"You’re welcome," Spelling said feeling Twilight pull away holding the map out for her. She reached for her pencil setting the man on the cement rail looking at the map for a long moment. After a while she sighed and circled one place.

"Here, this is the best place I can determine." She said handing the map back to her with the circled area. Twilight looked at the spot and blinked realizing the red dot and a blue dot were close together in the penciled circle.

"Where is this?"

"That's over a Wonderbolt boulevard, and fifty-fifth street. This is probably the safest spot in this area because it's just past the train bridge. But I'm warning you, all of Low Town is dangerous, but it's this place that has the least activity. I'm not saying it is safe but it is the safest place in this area."

Twilight grinned looking to Spelling again. "Thank you so much."

Spelling nodded. "No problem, I just hope I didn't put you in harm’s way."

"I'll watch out for danger you keep reminding me of. I'll be careful." Twilight said brightly too focused on her future plans to realize the danger she's in. Spelling kept her mouth shut about it, she tried to persuade Twilight but all persuasion fell on deaf ears. She sighed standing up.

"If you'll excuse me, I have a date with someone." Spelling said sticking her hands into her jacket pockets and heading off.

"When can I meet up with you again?" Twilight asked stopping Spelling in her tracks.

"Why?" Spelling asked.

"So I can tell you about my findings? They might help you in a future report for the news?"

Spelling licked her dry lips thinking about this proposal. "Meaning you want me to interview you?" Spelling asked curiously noticing Twilight’s grin.

"Why not?"

Spelling sighed rolling her eyes but smiled all the same. Her big break with The Twilight Sparkle.

"Alright, I'll find you. You don't need to meet up with me." Spelling said starting to walk off again. Twilight blinked her smile gone to a curious frown.

"Wait? What do you mean you'll find me?"

"Just as I said," Spelling called out behind her waving her hand in the air. "I'll find you when you’re ready. Good luck."

Twilight watched as Spelling merged with the moving crowd of the citizens of Cloudsdale then she disappeared. Twilight gulped looking back at the map then back at the direction the reporter went off to.

"What an odd woman." Twilight said to herself as she decided to head back to the hotel to get her equipment together.

When Twilight returned to the hotel, she stopped in her tracks to notice a huge crowd of people with cameras flashing at their targets. Twilight blinked then noticed between two photographers she saw Cadence waving but walking pretty quickly to the glass doors with Luna and Celestia behind her. Twilight turned to the side of the building to see a couple of cooks tossing old scraps of food into the dumpster.

Twilight ran over to them as they were speaking.

"Excuse me!" She called causing the two cooks by surprise. They were both women.

"Yes?" One of them asked politely.

Twilight smiled. "Um you see I can't get past the photographers at the front entrance, do you mind if I can squeeze through the kitchens?"

The two cooks looked at one another then back at Twilight with scrutinized looks.

"Okay," The second woman said with a glare. "Prove you have a room here and we'll let you in."

Twilight blinked at the suspicious looks she got from the cooks. She reached into her pocket to pull out the key car and handed it to the first cook. The cook with blue eyes looked it over to make sure it wasn’t a counterfeit then handed it to her partner to look at.

"It's real," The second cook said surprised.

"Excuse us for assuming falsely, miss." The first cook said with a burning blush of shame. The second cook handed the card back to Twilight as she looked around her.

"You see," The second cook said rubbing the back of her mulberry head. "Many paparazzi and hoodlums trick our staff to get into the hotel. And Bonbon here got us in huge trouble." The second cook said pointing her thumb to the first cook called Bonbon.

"How many times do I have to keep saying I'm sorry?!" Bonbon exclaimed glaring at her partner. "He was dressed like the party goers at the Gala event."

Twilight nodded. "I understand perfectly. Would you mind letting me inside?"

"Even better." Bonbon said shoving the second cook to the door. "Berry will show you to the staircase."

"Why me?" the cook named Berry whined.

"Because I covered for you when you drank too much of the Flur Wine. Good thing we had a party or Colgate would have blown a gasket."

Berry groaned then waved for Twilight to follow her to the door. Twilight thanked Bonbon as Berry opened the door and lead Twilight into the kitchen. Twilight stopped to see the activity of hard working chefs making the orders from room service. Twilight followed Berry past the lines of chefs and dish washers until they reached a door.

"Here you are." Berry said opening the door to reveal the nicely carpeted stairwell. "These stairs will lead you to your room." Twilight smiled at Berry.

"Thank you very much, Berry."

"It's no trouble at all." Berry said smiling. "Have a nice day."

"You too." Twilight waved as Berry closed the door to the kitchens. Twilight sighed in relief then started up the stairs. As soon as she reached the last floor to the elevators she leaned against her knees panting.

"Wow," She panted. "I need to get in better shape." She wheezed as she walked over to the elevator leading to the top floor and slipped her card through the card slot. She waited until the light turned green then the elevator opened allowing her entry.

Twilight couldn't can't seem to get over the fancy technology that Cloudsdale used in their hotels and buildings. It was fascinating and very impressive.

"No wonder they call Cloudsdale the second capital of Equestria. Very nice." She said to herself as she leaned against the wall to turn to the back wall to see that the wall was actually a window. After passing the wall, the back wall was gone showing off the large windows of the hotel. Through the giant windows she can see the sky and Cloudsdale’s growing skyline. She smiled seeing the pristine, clean glass skyscrapers, white buildings, and she can even see the capital building and the Griffin Security HQ from there. The last building she saw after rising over the smaller buildings was the giant dome of Cloudsdale Plaza.

"Beautiful." She whispered in awe. She turned to notice the teleprompter on the wall. She had noticed it before but never looked at it, being in awe of the gorgeous view of the outside. Her eyes skimmed quickly through the small green colored letter reading what appears to be the news. News clippings about the Princess Summit. She read through the normal news, virus vaccinations, politics, and something that caught her eye. She stepped closer to the prompter to read it clearly.

"What is this?" She asked intrigued. The next clipping was of a warning to the citizens of Cloudsdale especially to parents of children.

"New Danger To Children- Running!"

Twilight's first thought was how absurd this was. You can't keep children from running? Everyone can run, what's so dangerous about it? As Twilight read more of the message the more confused and intrigued she became.

"Warning, to spot the signs that your child or someone you know is doing illegal running." Twilight read out loud curious. "A fondness for bright colors, calluses on palms, knuckles, or fingertips." Twilight blinked looking at her hands then back at the prompter. "Noticing telltale scuff marks on clothes. Unexplained bruises, scrapes, or broken bones?" Twilight blanched at that. "Unreliable or unexplained absences from work or school. If you see a child or adult that has these signs of illegal running operations, contact your local Security Forces Official. You will be doing Cloudsdale good for stopping these felons."

Twilight was even more confused as she watched the prompter reveal a red circle with a dash through it over a picture of a running figure.

"Hmm, maybe I'm thinking too much on this." Twilight said to herself as the elevator went into a slow stop. The doors opened with a ring of a bell allowing Twilight to walk out to the hall for the high suites. She reached the end of the hall and unlocked the door and went inside.

As soon as she entered she stopped hearing arguing. She blinked a few times seeing Luna sitting on the sofa looking annoyed, Celestia was glaring at her speaking, and Cadence was nowhere to be seen. Twilight closed the door behind her hearing the end of the argument.

"For the last time," Celestia snapped as Luna rolled her eyes. "We are not here to judge what they haven't been doing Luna. We are invited here."

"Still." Luna growled then noticed Twilight walking into the main room. "Ah Twilight." She said happily, standing up. Celestia jumped and turned to see her protégé walk into the room with a heavy blush. Luna walked over to Twilight.

"So how did the council meeting go?" She asked looking for a clock. Celestia looked at her wrist watch to see the time.

"I didn't notice the time." Celestia said in surprise. "Did it go well?" She asked worriedly.

"It went better than I thought." Twilight answered.

"Really?" Luna asked.

"Oh yes." Twilight answered. "Gilda Griffin, the commander, allowed me access. I can begin my experiments tomorrow. I just have to check the place they have allowed me to do the studies."

"That's great Twilight." Celestia said smiling. "I know you'll do us proud."

Twilight blushed at the praise then looked around the room. "Where's Cadence?"

Luna pointed her thumb to the hall. "She said she wanted to be left alone for a bit." She said with a frown.

"What happened?" Twilight asked.

Celestia sighed rubbing her tired eyes. "Some of the guests at the brunch were very vocal."

Luna leaned over to Twilight. "She’s putting it very mildly." Twilight blinked with shock seeing Celestia's annoyed glare as Luna shrugged her shoulders.

"Will she be alright?" Twilight asked worriedly.


"She'll be fine." Celestia said with a worried glance to the rooms. "She'll have to be. We're invited to a special tour around Cloudsdale Plaza later and then pay our respects to those that were killed in the attack. Would you like to join us?" She asked interested. Twilight smiled.

"Can I?" She asked with excitement, but she frowned remembering the last time she joined the princesses in their first Cloudsdale outing. She was practically pushed away from the monarchs. "Actually," She said quickly seeing Celestia's puzzled frown, even Luna looked to her in surprise. "Maybe it'll be best that I stay here and focus on my experiment planning."

Celestia sighed disappointed that her protégé wouldn't enjoy an outing with them. But she could understand why she chose to stay. "I understand. Pity, I bet it would have been fun."

Twilight nodded disappointed. But it was either be disappointed for not going than being disappointed and angry at the tour.

"Besides," Twilight said smiling. "I have some planning and check list writing to do."

Luna smirked at that. "Well I'm going to take a short cat nap before we leave." Luna said excusing herself to her room to sleep. Celestia sighed nodding her head.

"A nap sounds like a perfect idea. I haven't been sleeping well since we got here." She paused to notice Twilight looking out the window. She walked over to stand beside her looking out to the city. Celestia watched as a black helicopter flew by, she furrowed her brows seeing machine guns hanging off the chopper with men and women dressed in black protective gear of the GSF looking below them for trouble.

"For a city in peace, they sure love to show off their guns." She said with a snort.

Twilight nodded. "We do the same thing,"

"True, but I don't show off our weapons like this. Swords yes, but never firearms. Just thinking about them leaves a very dark mental picture."

Twilight nodded. "The Great War?"

Her teacher nodded at that as a frown formed on her face, Twilight can see the age in her face. "I do not wish another war on our people. No matter the race, gender, or age. I fear for an upcoming war. And I fear that I can't prevent it any longer." Twilight gulped thinking back to the history books she read in her life seeing the drawings, painting, and even portraits of warriors, battle scenes, and generals of the age. The battle scenes were beautiful in art but gruesome in reality. That was back before all these semiautomatics, helicopters, bombs ... just imagining the technology they have today ... who would win?

"I fear that Luna will be calling out to war without my consent." Celestia said worriedly. "I understand why she thinks that way. She was always the more practical of the two of us." She chuckled sadly. "I'm a hopeless romantic aren't I? Wishing for people to get along and hoping and praying that no violence would come in every generation I watch grow."

Twilight looked down at her feet thinking about Luna and her carefree attitude when alone with Twilight. Always so optimistic and fun to be around with. "Do you really feel that Luna would do such a thing?" Twilight asked with worry.

Celestia shrugged. "Her old self might. Believe me Twilight, she has changed since her exile. She matured and grew into a stronger and better leader. But sometimes…” She sighed shaking her head. "Perhaps I'm scared of the unthinkable but I know Luna is afraid of the outcome as well. It's every leader’s worst nightmare to go into war."

Twilight nodded thinking. "How about you go on and take that nap while you have the time." Celestia blinked and turned to her.

"Oh, right I should, should I?" She said chuckling. "I'm sorry if I rambled like that."

Twilight smiled and shrugged. "It's a stressful time. I understand if you were wanting to talk."

Celestia smiled. "Forgive me for saying so Twilight, but it felt nice telling you my worries. Luna would have made it worse."

Twilight blushed by that. "I'm always here."

Celestia smiled then walked to her room to take her nap leaving Twilight in the room frowning. Twilight swallowed as she reached into her pocket to pull out the folded map and looked at the circle Spelling circled for her seeing the blue and red dots.

Twilight sighed walking back to her room and closed the door behind her setting her map on the bed as she reached into her bag to find her journal to make her check list for the job at hand. As she scribbled on her paper she kept feeling butterflies in her stomach remembering Spell Check's warnings around the area about how dangerous the place was. Twilight licked her lips looking back at the map of what Spell Check called Low Town.

"Perhaps I should pack the least important things with me." She said to herself as she continued to write.