"Ahhh~" Ah went ta say somethin', but all that came out was a big yawn.
“Applejack, would you please wake up? I'd prefer my friends be impressed when they see you,” Rarity said, though it was more like she was snappin' at me. It was just about six fifteen PM on Tuesday, August 27th, and Ah'd only woken up a few minutes ago.
“Ah can't help it. Ah had classes this mornin', ya know, on top of baggin' a bulky Power Pony that socked me in the ribs last night. Ah'm still sore and tired. Ah told ya Ah sleep a lot.” Another yawn and she rolled her eyes. My ribs were still bruised, after all. It wasn't the most comfortable thin' in the world ta walk like this.
“Well, be that as it may, I'd like to have you give a better first impression than my own, so if you would…” She was lookin' at me with an eye half open.
It was my turn ta roll my eyes. “Fine. Can we at least get me somethin' ta eat real quick then? This is basically breakfast time fer me.”
She sighed. “The Guild will have food, I'm sure Pinkie will want to feed you the moment you walk in.” Ah tried ta shake some of the sleep from my head. When Ah did, Ah realized we were headed toward the south district.
“So uh, where is this place? There ain't much but the park this way. Unless we're headed toward the southern docks. Or do y'all expect me ta work before lettin' me in?” Ah asked, surveyin' the surroundin's. Not much but run down apartment complexes and a couple of factory buildin's around. The south district was typically where all the poor and minorities lived within' Manehattan. Prejudice between the three tribes was just about gone these days. Prejudice between ponies and other races though? Not quite so much.
Aside from the park, this place was more or less fer the lower class ta outright homeless or addicted creatures, most of which were not ponies. Hippogriffs, stray dragons, griffons, zebras, the occasional pony of lower standin'. Not ta say that Ah'm much better off, all things considered, but when ya just need ta find a criminal fer some quick cash, this would be the place ta go. If there's one thin' that unites a community, it's havin' somepony ta hate, and all them folks that like ta hate, hate the folks here.
Ah wouldn't call it just, but if there's a crime, these are the creatures that get looked at first. And an unfortunate amount of the time, these are the folks that get taken in fer committin' a crime. The streets here are littered with homeless ponies and other creatures, creatures addicted ta some substance or other, even Power Ponies who've been just about kicked out of their homes due ta their appearance. It wasn't like this twelve years ago, but that was then. This is now.
“With your track record? I'm certain we all already know just what kind of valuable asset you would be to us. As it happens, the Guild is located in the park. Due to the nature of our work, it's better for us to be stationed near where crimes are at a higher rate. At the same time, we can't actually 'be' in the southern district because the princess often come to visit their protégé. So, partly for appearances, partly for practicality.” Rarity explained. Ah don't know what it was, but somethin' about that sounded off.
“Hmm. Ah suppose that makes sense. Ah was here last night after all... But, ain't it a little dangerous ta have the princesses' apprentice here? Ah mean, Ah'd think that makes ya a target.” It looked as if Rarity started to roll somethin' around her tongue, then decided ta say whatever it was anyways.
“Well, nopony technically knows that the Guild is actually there, or that a protégé of the princesses exists. Well, save for us that is. It's not quite a secret, but it's also not public knowledge. Ah, it seems as if we've arrived at the park.”
In Manehattan is one of the most well maintained parks of Equestria, Celestial Park. Part of the original plan ta settle this once-upon-a-time uninhabited island was ta keep some of the natural environment as is, by order of the princesses. The city grew until the Island's natural borders were no longer enough, and then expanded artificially afterward, but this little square of nature remained through it all.
City officials have fought the princesses, specifically Celestia, over the park on numerous occasions but ta no avail. A major part of the economic stabilization plan in Manehattan is ta give ponies without jobs one as part of the park committee. Of course, this happened after Pa was already gone. Ah still wonder sometimes if what Ah think happened that day was actually the day he died, or maybe…
“Applejack?” Rarity asked, breaking my train of thought.
Ah must have drifted off because we were much deeper in the park now than when we arrived. “Oh, sorry. Ah… might've been thinkin' about somethin' else. Did we get lost or somethin’? We're pretty far inta the woods,” Ah asked, takin' note of my surroundin's again. Lots of pine trees grow in the still natural parts of the city, what few are left. Further up north on the main land is an entire forest of these thin's that stretches all the way inta the borders of Yakyakistan. They're tall and they just about blot out the sky when there’s enough of ‘em. Ah've gotten lost in the park more than once myself because of it.
“No, we're here.” Rarity took a few steps forward, and then half her body disappeared into what should've been empty space.
“What in tarnation!?” It usually takes a lot ta startle me, but this was a new one. Ah jumped a few steps back.
“Oh, come on already, it's just an illusory spell,” she explained… without movin'. Ah laughed. That made her walk back out of the field. “What? Is there something funny?”
She sounds happy. “Well, it just so happened ta look like ya were talkin'… out yer ass. Pfft- wouldn't be the first time. Ha ha ha...”
Takin’ as much time as possible to sarcastically roll her eyes, she pushed me through the field. “You know, at times I wish I had the foul mouth you do so I could reprimand you in your own filthy tongue. What? No witty comeback? I thought that was your forte. Oh, that's right. The Guild is quite the sight for your first time isn't it?”
Honestly, Ah didn't hear a word she said. What could only be described as some kind of futuristic castle made entirely of a blue-violet iridescent crystal stood in the middle of this hidden forest clearin'. Light bounced off it in all kinds of colors, turnin' this would be ordinary wood inta a display of color like nothin' Ah'd ever seen before. It was shaped almost like an archway, or a rounded spear head that pointed high up in the air, almost ta match the height of the trees that were possibly three or four stories tall.
The castle was smooth and metallic, shinin' in various colors as the light hit it, and in the very center was what must have been an emblem. A six pointed star surrounded by five other six pointed stars. What it meant or who it belonged ta, Ah couldn't know, but the way the evenin' sunlight hit it had me captivated unlike anythin' Ah'd ever seen.
“Well, come along then. If we're any later, Twilight may very well reprimand us herself. I find it strangely adorable when she attempts to skirt the use of curse words, but it's not something very becoming of her, and she doesn't always succeed when she's angry or stressed enough.”
“Uh-huh…” Ah was still just about dumbstruck by the castle's beauty as she practically pulled me along the clearin' ta the entrance. Ah never believed in my entire life that Ah would find a sight like that in this city. The dark, decrepit alleyways where my father disappeared, where criminals are born, where heroes die. That is the world Ah live in. Wonder has no place here. When we approached the rounded wall underneath the giant star, it pulled back and split in two, revealin' a doorway.
“I'm here with my guest,” Rarity announced ta the violet crystal door. Before Ah could ask what she was doin', the door responded.
“You're late! You were supposed to be here ten minutes ago! Do you know how far this is going to throw my schedule off?” The door sounded feminine, and annoyed.
“Pfft, ten minutes is nothing you can't plan around. You always have extra time anyways. At least act like you want more members. This is Marevelous we're dealing with, Twilight!” Rarity said, pushing her face against the upper part of the door.
It didn't respond for a few minutes before finally sayin', “Come in,” and then slidin' away inta the wall.
“Well, she sure sounded pleased,” Ah remarked.
“Oh, believe you me, she wasn't, but she will be once she meets you. I hate to continually sound desperate here, but we really do need your help, and even Twilight would be willing to put aside her... obstinance for the chance at you joining. Stay close, the Guild is not unlike a maze if you've never been here before.” Rarity lit up her horn, castin' an illumination spell. It wasn't long before Ah noticed the strain' it took on her beginnin' ta show. Ah didn’t know much on about magic, but spells like that are supposed ta be pretty simple.
We wandered through dark hallway after dark hallway fer what seemed like hours until we finally arrived at an area that was lit. The hues of the crystal changed from the deep indigo blue that coated the outside ta a more reddish violet at the lower floor, then a solid blue that honestly looked like Rarity's eyes. Shakin' off a thought Ah had zero intention of addressin', Ah took notice of the room we were in.
It was a large circular chamber with a big table in the center of a two stair dip in the floor. Around it were five large chairs that looked like they were part of the castle's crystals, but in some whitish opaque color as opposed ta the vibrant blue hues that the rest of the castle held.
To the left was some kinda large screen with a podium standin' in front of it, and to the right was a more casual lookin' area with a table, couches, and chairs where a pale yellow pegasus with a pink mane and tail sat polishing a rifle. A very big rifle at that.
“Hello Fluttershy.” Rarity addressed the yellow pony.
“O-oh, hi Rar-” She stopped dead in her tracks when she noticed me. “W-who is that?” She looked like she was about ta jump outta her skin, while at the same time, she slowly lowered the barrel of her weapon toward my position.
“Oh, would you put that away! This is our new, tentative member, Applejack. Please, introduce yourself properly, and without your weapon, thank you very much.”
The half cowerin', half threatenin' pony placed her large rifle, which was in full view now, on the couch and shakily trotted toward us. She attempted what Ah could only guess was a smile and reached out a hoof that would make a Parkinson’s patient look steady by comparison. “H-hello… I-I'm Flut…” she mumbled.
“Ah'm sorry, what was that?” Ah asked. Ah figured Ah already knew what she was sayin' since Ah was told beforehoof, but Ah thought Ah might give her a chance ta practice again. It looked like she needed it.
“M-my name is F-Fluttershy…” she said again, quickly losin' eye contact and volume. Ah figured that was as good of an introduction as she was gonna give. Maybe she'd get better with time. Ah reached out and met her hoof, which was far lighter than Ah had anticipated.
“Well, howdy Fluttershy, Ah'm Applejack.” Repeatin' her name fer her seemed ta have some kind of immediate catharsis on the shaky mare, almost puttin' her inta a normal state.
“It's v-very nice to meet-”
She attempted ta say, but was interrupted by a very quickly movin' force that yelled out,
“TOKI WO TOMARE!”
Which was finished by Rarity behind me suddenly yellin',
“ZA WAURDO!” And the entire world suddenly lost it's color in a light gray flash, save for the ponies around me. A pink blur from the other side of the room started throwin' knives in impossible numbers all around the circular room. They moved a few inches at an equally high speed, and when they had all finished appearin', Rarity quickly grabbed me and ducked. Then the world returned ta it's colors.
The knives all flew together directly at the yellow pegasus. Somethin' in me must have snapped because Ah jumped up ta try and protect the mare usin’ my body. When the 'knives' hit me, they didn't leave a scratch, nor were they remotely sharp. They felt like rubber. What was more impressive is that Fluttershy had caught every blade that didn't land on my chest or my front legs.
Ah caught a glimpse of the mare behind me, and she was basically a different pony amidst catching the knives. No shakin', no fear, not even a hint of lost composure. Steeled, like some kind of robot… or a monster. Maybe Ah'm crazy, but Ah could swear her eyes flashed red fer a moment… When the hoof moved ta continue grabbin' knives that would have already landed on her back touched me, she changed back ta normal.
“O-oh my goodness! Y-you… you tried to p-protect me?” she stuttered amidst droppin' the rubber blades.
Once my heart had calmed down enough for me ta speak, Ah finally replied with, “A force of habit, maybe even an instinct, but yeah, Ah guess Ah did. Speakin' of, Rarity, what in the hell was that!?”
“Oh, my apologies, I am so sorry for not warning you. We have a code word when we're working together to get me to use my powers for a few seconds. It's almost second nature for me to follow through, and well… Pinkie,” she said, pointin' next ta me.
Ah turned my head and nearly jumped outta my skin when Ah saw a bright pink pony not but a few inches from my muzzle, starin' right inta my eyes. “Holy shit!” Ah spouted, takin' a step back. Twice today. What in the world did Ah just step inta?
“Hiiiii! I'm Pinkie Pie, and you must be some kind crazy or at least some kind of Power Pony to just jump up in front of knives! So, what's your power? It must be super cool if you expected to just take knives like that! Is it like, super hard skin? Or you can turn you body into metal? You know, I know a guy like that. Ooh! Is it that you're just super strong and didn't think a few knives in the ribs would hurt all that much? Maybe-” She was muffled when Rarity put a hoof in her mouth. That didn't stop her from tryin' ta continue ta talk though.
“Yes, this is Pinkie, she's our fastest, and at the moment, our only earth pony member. She came up with the code word, I have no idea what it means,” Rarity explained. Ah wasn't sure if Ah could take another adrenaline spike today, so Ah simply sat down ta try and catch my breath.
And then a voice that could probably have been heard through the entire castle shot through the room. Ah could've swore Ah was gonna go inta cardiac arrest. “Pinkie! What are you doing!? You can't just show ponies our secret technique! We don't even know if she's going to join us yet!” Ah was practically frozen in position when a relatively same height ta myself lavender mare had trotted up beside me.
Pinkie seemed ta blur from her spot ta havin' a foreleg over the much taller pony's neck. “Oh, Twi, Twilly, Twilight. Do you really think that somepony who would take a bunch of knives for somepony she just met wouldn't join us? Really though, it's probably a good thing I left the real ones in my room today, otherwise, that could have been messy.” With all my senses in overdrive finally beginnin' ta give way ta rational thought, Ah noticed that 'Twilight' was like some kind of unicorn with wings. Like she was a really short princess or something. She rolled her eyes and practically snarled at Pinkie.
“I still think that was a really stupid move on her part, but I guess that does prove that you're trust worthy. Welcome to Harmony, I'm Twilight.” She took a step forward and held out a hoof ta me. Ah finally got a good look at her her now, and this wasn't really what Ah was expectin' of this 'Twilight' character. She looked real tired, and Ah noticed that her violet aura was carryin' a stack of papers and a coffee cup on either side of her. Then Ah noticed that her Cutie mark matched the emblem outside.
She must be the protégé. Straightenin' my hat and my jacket, Ah met her hoof. It was the strongest one so far, but not quite as strong as a regular earth pony. “Howdy, Ah'm Applejack. So uh, if ya don't mind me askin', what exactly are ya?” Fer a moment, she looked like she was about to respond, but then shut her mouth.
“Uh… I, um… Well, okay so… F-first, why don't we get you all signed up? Technically, the state says I'm not actually allowed to disclose much of anything about Harmony, er, the Guild, to outsiders, so once you join I can tell you anything you want to know!”
Ah frowned. Fer whatever reason, Ah felt the need ta see what all Ah could get out of these mares before Ah signed anythin'. Could just be me bein' over cautious, but hey, better safe than sorry. “Ah'm not too sure about all this. Ah mean, even from y'all's perspective, this would seem kinda fishy right? Ah had knives thrown at me mid time stop today, Ah think ya owe me a little bit more than just, 'sign here.'” Fluttershy, more or less reverted ta bein' as shy as she was earlier, Pinkie just about did everythin' she could ta avoid the hard stare Twilight was givin' her, and Rarity wouldn't look at me either.
Ah figured since nopony had anything ta say ta that, Ah'd give em a chance. “Well, how about this. Ah'm pretty sure y'all know who Ah am with the mask on, so how about ya tell me who all of ya are?” Twilight clapped her hooves together.
“Ooh, that's an idea! Why don't we have a round of back stories again? We haven't done it since Pinkie joined!” The lavender mare exclaimed. She made her way ta the table and chairs in the center of the round room and took a seat at what Ah could only assume was the head chair.
“Hmm. I suppose that would be fine. I didn't really tell you how I got into this business, I just told you how my powers work. And I don't really know why you started doing this either…” Rarity mused as she slowly made her way to another chair. Pinkie and Ah followed, but when we finally reached the table, Fluttershy had yet to move.
“Uh, are ya alright, Fluttershy?” Ah asked. She seemed ta get snapped out of somethin', then sulked her way to a chair at the table. Since Ah was sittin' next ta Rarity, Ah figured Ah'd ask what was up. “Is she okay?” Ah asked. Rarity leaned in close and whispered ta me.
“This is a rather difficult subject for her. Without telling you anything she wouldn't really want anypony to know, five years ago she started as a first year at… Cloudsdale high.” Ah nearly chewed inta my lip.
No wonder she's so... fragile lookin'. Anypony that survived that... goddess, that's just messed up. Without sayin' anythin' else, Ah nodded and sat back in my chair. Poor girl.
Red Hoof awoke to darkness and the sounds of sirens. His whole body ached, and an immensely heavy object was weighing down on him. He could feel that he was in a puddle, everything that wasn't still in his suit was wet. All around he could hear the sounds of other ponies yelling.
“Have you found him yet!?”
“He's over there! Quick, push the rubble away!”
Light started to filter in on his left and the taste of dusty air flowed in. He took a deep breath, not realizing he was struggling for air to begin with. He couldn't remember what was going on, until finally he heard a familiar voice.
“Dew? Dew!? No, NO, NO! This can't be… how did…? Dew please… AHHH!”
Memories of the last hour started to flood back in just as the sound of his brother's screams of agony raised through air. Citrus tried to move. He tried to speak. He wanted to see his brother. But his body wouldn't respond. He couldn't feel anything but wetness and pain. The light became brighter as the large concrete roofing was thrown aside. Power ponies he barely recognized took him on their backs and began to head away.
More pain started to flood through out his body, but he couldn't yell, scream, or even make a movement to try and stop it. All he could do was watch his brother being taken away by the police, struggling to get to the body he had been laying near. He finally caught his brother's eyes. Another wave of pain coursed through his body. The last thing Citrus heard before he passed out was one simple phrase from his own brother's mouth.
“This… is your fault…”
The coming weeks did not treat Citrus well. Red Hoof was held responsible for destroying the roofs of several apartment buildings along side the entirety of the warehouse. The reward for the 'hero killer' and half of the savings he'd stored were taken to repair all the damage he caused.
When he attempted to see his brother, what he found was the shell of a pony.
“One day… I'll get my revenge…” Blood would repeat over and over again. Other ponies didn't seem to exist in his world anymore, and his tear ducts had all dried up. He would not eat, he would not sleep. He repeated one word until it finally got to the point where Citrus had to have him committed. 'Vengeance' he would say, over and over again. After a few days of it, Citrus couldn't bare to watch him waste away anymore. The last act of the stallion known as Citrus Root to the outside world, helping his brother into a mental facility. When all was said and done, Blood Orange was locked away. The doctors there didn't believe there was any hope of recovery for the broken widower.
When forced to have his brother taken in for mental health care, Citrus sank into a deep depression that he would never truly recover from.
When asked by Star Slate and Brightness if he would ever return, he simply said, “Red Hoof... is retired.,” and refused to make contact with anyone from the hero world again.
He pushed his friends away, and he left home only when it was in order to feed his children. He turned his back yard into a garden and spent most of his days tending to the plants he’d managed to grow in the ever expanding concrete island.
For two years, it was like this. Brightness and Star would come visit on occasion, those two being the only ones allowed inside the Root family home. The kids got older and continued on with their lives, being the only hope for the future Citrus had left. However, two years is a long time to go without working. With the fortune he'd built over the last six years nearly destroyed by the Copper Tassel incident, funds had become low. The time for work was approaching.
At the same time, a new enemy had arisen, and one that nopony was ready for.
The darkness of night combined with the stormy skies made streetlights the only hope for Octofish to escape from his pursuer.
How did this happen? Copper died years ago, why is somepony killing us again!? His thoughts were interrupted when a giant column of water shot in his direction, sending him flying into a brick building.
“Ack!” The crash happened so fast, he couldn't liquify in time to keep from hurting his body. He couldn't feel his left foreleg anymore. In an attempt to get up, his left side dropped in pain. His shoulder was broken.
I have to escape, I have to let somepony know! Octo tried once again to liquify himself in hopes of fleeing to the sewers, but with his broken shoulder, his body wouldn't transform. Damn it, damn it, damn it! With all his remaining strength, he pushed on with his three working legs. This alleyway has a lamp! If I can just make it to the lamp, there should be a payphone near by then, I could call… but… would he even answer? No! I have to try! If I don't, then nopony…
A shadow walked out from beside the lamp. Octo could feel his heart sink and his pulse sky rocket. Everything in his body was telling him to run, but not a single muscle would move. He was petrified.
“The last one told me that you were close to him. So why don't you tell me what I want to know?” the shadow asked. He took a single step forward. Octo could feel blood running down his other foreleg. It wasn't going to last long.
“Him who!? Why are you doing this!?” Octo yelled at the shadow. It stepped forward once more and a glistening mirror on his chest was caught in the light. Octo could see just how badly his front left leg was broken now. And his front right didn't look much better.
“Why? Because I lost everything long ago, and it was their fault. It was your fault. But above all else, it was HIS FAULT! You know exactly who I want! WHERE IS RED HOOF!?”
“I would… never tell you.” Octo spat at the dark figure. The pony approached Octo and held out his right hoof.
“Then you will die for him.” The shadow's right leg liquified, just like Octofish's powers, then he felt a stinging sensation in his chest. He suddenly lost all the feeling in his back legs. A wave of blood came pouring up his throat.
“Give Red Hoof my regards when he comes to see you,” the shadow whispered, then removed his hoof from Octofish's body. The shadow liquified his hoof one more time to remove the foreign blood from his suit, and then walked away. “You were the one who took him away that day. If this doesn't draw him out, then I'll just have to destroy his precious city. Even he, wouldn't turn a blind eye to that.”