Equestria Broken

by gutterratt

Equestria Broken - Eight : Intentions

Note: This chapter contains some French. I do not speak French but I tried to find the correct usage of each phrase that the character from Prance uses. If I am incorrectly representing the language, please let me know so I can make corrections. I do not mean to misrepresent the language but I did try my best. I am currently learning German for future chapters. I plan to learn French too but my brain can only handle one thing at a time.

Phrases I used and their translation:

Bonne soirée monsieur -> formal greeting
Excusez-moi? -> Pardon?
Monsieur -> Sir
Oh, je suis désolé -> I'm sorry
Si vous plaît -> Please
Mon nom est Cloud Glitter -> My name is Cloud Glitter
Oui -> Yes
Comment vous-appelez vous? -> Formal of what is your name
ta mère et ton père -> Your mother and your father
Bonne nuit -> Good night
un instant -> One moment
Au revoir -> Good bye (Can be used in formal situations)

For the way she talks, I used this Youtube video to get her accent in typed word:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivQ06hyfPNM

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Eight : Intentions

"You can count on me like one, two, three. I'll be there. And I know when I need it I can count on you like four, three, two and you'll be there. 'Cause that's what friends are supposed to do." Bruno Mars - Count on Me

"Those ponies were actually quite pleasant, unlike the present company." Glacier commented as she and her two stallions continued on their way to Los Pegasus.

Stratta folded his ears. "You know, I thought you were actually trying to change your attitude after we left Ponyville." he retorted, "I guess you're just a bitch, aren't you?"

The mare scoffed, "Well, you are no gentlecolt yourself, sir."

The three ponies had stayed only a few hours with the group of strangers, chatting with each other and exchanging stories prior to parting ways. Stratta had given them a few bits as compensation for the meal and Glacier was happy to be rid of the ugly boots, coat and gas mask she had recently purchased. Creed insisted on saying a prayer to his Goddesses that they would have safe travels and a prosperous life then they all said goodbye. The three of them walked away as the other six packed their camp back into their waggons.

Clout was setting an even slower pace than before but he was still determined to reach his destination. Stratta had suggested the two groups travel together but he received a rather irritated glare from their leader.

Knowing Clout's mood was still sour, the pegasus decided it would be better to not get into another childish fight with the mare. He decided that he needed to come up with a way to cheer him up. Stratta furrowed his brows as he figured stealing something might be the only way. He didn't know much about the crystal pony yet but he definitely knew almost everything irritated him. He glanced up from his hooves to look at the buckskin. Clout's ears were drooped down and his head was lowered. Though Stratta could not see his facial expression, his body language definitely said 'exhausted'. Finally he decided on somewhere they could get some proper rest. However, knowing what little he did, he figured the crystal pony would opt for scouting the soot mill first instead of going directly to sleep.

They had been walking in mostly silence for several hours and it was almost evening. They had followed the train tracks South through the thick White Tail Woods and Los Pegasus was finally within sight. Massive snow peaked mountains rose high to the left of the city and the sporadic cloud cover seemed to connect them to the highrise buildings. The large Applewood sign was clearly visible from their vantage point as it sat attached to the side of the mountain below the clouds. The tallest buildings in Equestria towered almost as high as their neighboring peaks and they were covered in lights, signs and advertisements.

Even the road they traveled on was not safe from the city's decor. As soon as they crossed over the bridge that provided passage over the swiftly flowing river, billboards and signs were everywhere. Advertisements for small businesses, community events, theatre shows and nightlife entertainment in the red district covered most of them. Some had new product advertisements from well known companies such as Hive Mind Industries, 2B Pharmaceuticals, Frozen Paradise, The Corporation and Lightning Ideas. There were a few with the King's symbol, reminding ponies to behave or be punished by his law ponies. There were even newspapers littering the railway and caught in the brush beside the road thanks to the wind from the nearby sea. They shouted discounted prices or sale events, job opportunities and contests for prizes. There were some notices of religious gatherings but compared to the boisterous noise of all the other publicities, they were barely noticeable.

It wasn't long until they came upon one that Glacier had to voice her opinion on. It showed a yellow-gray unicorn stallion wearing a thin banded diadem. He had a short black and light red striped mane. He wore a pair of spectacles, a red cape lined with white fur and a purple scarf. The stallion held a fancy looking cane in his hoof and he pointed the end of it away, showing off the dark circus tent behind him 'Come witness the horrors of Equestria at Simon Says' Unhinged Circus!' the advertisement insisted. Along the bottom of the billboard, it showed a date when the show would be in Los Pegasus.

Glacier wrinkled her nose in disgust as she commented, "Why on Equus would Prince Simon partake in sponsoring such a vulgar show. He really should be doing something more princely."

"Well you've got to admit there are a lot of strange looking creatures thanks to Discord's magic." Stratta replied, "Some are so horribly disfigured that they can't earn money for food or a place to sleep. I'm actually glad he's willing to give them a job."

"He is a prince," she scoffed, "It takes an abundance of lessons to fine tune one's essential qualities that are required for those in aristocracy. I can imagine those in royalty must have twice as many lessons. Prince Simon should be at home attending to his princely duties."

Stratta fluttered his wings. "I doubt those he's paying to teach him stuff can tell him what he can and can't do," he replied.

"Hmm," the mare mused, "I suppose you do have a point. Still, that child should realize he has better things to do with his time."

The trio finally reached the entrance to the city of fame. Many apartment lofts towered above them instead of city gates. Right by the entrance was a large parking garage for the city's taxi service. A few ponies strapped to rickshaws or carriages were pestering folks to take their services. Clout glared when one tried to coax him into riding. As they continued on, many buildings had huge neon signs, lit up even though it wasn't yet sunset. Though the marvels of technology were new, they were grand and demanding attention. The glass structures were shaped to the desires of the building owners, twisted into a logo, letters or bordering a wooden sign. There were a couple buildings with ponies installing the lighted signs in an attempt to keep up with the fast pace of the day's evolving technology.

They passed Hotels, restaurants, banks and casinos, all fancied up to attract customers. The museum and churches were even spruced up with flashing lights and bold colors. Fancy ponies in feathery costumes stood outside the comedy and magic theatre, enticing bystanders to come in and buy a ticket. Right next door was a large outdoor amphitheatre where a live performance was playing. An orchestra was just below the stage and there was seating filled with hundreds of ponies, some of which were standing in the street just to watch the show because it was so crowded. A structure that was partially made of clouds offered pegasai flown waggon rides to tour the city from the sky. A railway weaved around the metropolis; once being a path for minecarts through the nearby mountain's coal mine, it now served as Equestria's very first 'roller coaster' as the inventor called it.

Another piece of architecture they passed advertised film shows where there were no actors or actresses present but pictures that moved. Next to the famous Golden Horseshoe Casino, notably owned and operated by the Spectrum Fliers, was the turf accountant who took betting odds of all sorts. Boxing matches, raceways, how long somepony famous would live or which factions would be victorious in ongoing hot conflicts. Nothing was off the table to bet your bits on. After they had passed a street lined with the noticeable red lights that informed it was the adult entertainment district, Glacier decided to pester their leader.

"Pardon me Clout but, might I inquire as to what our destination might be? We've been walking for some time and there seems to be many locations that actually look to be quite inviting to indulge in. Well, Specifically not that guided tour of the coal mines. I do not desire to entertain the prospect that it is haunted as the advertisement indicates," she scoffed at the very thought.

"To do my job." the crystal pony said flatly.

"W-well yes, of course." Glacier responded awkwardly, "However, King Sombra shall not arrive until tomorrow evening so do we not have time to enjoy ourselves a bit?"

Clout stopped to glare at her.

Seeing his opportunity, Stratta decided to take the lead. "Hey, what a great idea! I know the perfect place, come on!" he said before turning around and starting off in a direction the thief
did not want to go.

The unicorn furrowed her brows. "Are you being genuine or are you mocking me?" she asked over the noise of the city.

Looking back to make sure they were following, the pegasus saw neither pony was budging even with the flow of the crowded streets shoving against them. Taking to the sky above the herd of ponies so his two companions could see him better he gave Clout a sly grin. "You'll like it, I promise!" he tried, "Now come on or I'll pick you up and carry you there."

The crystal pony folded his ears at the threat, hoping whatever stupid idea the pegasus had wouldn't take too long. Wanting to get this next torture over with, he begrudgingly followed the pegasus through the city. They arrived at Freemare Street which was directly across from the red district. From there, they entered a hotel that was brightly labeled The Pioneer Club.

Clout glared at the pegasus above him. "Why are we here." he complained.

Landing next to them, Stratta gave a smile of success. "I told you, this place is fun!" he said in excitement.

The pegasus trotted in followed by a very grumpy Clout and a curious Glacier. The inside of the structure was dimly lit with candles along the walls. This struck a stark contrast from the pazzazz of the outside. A fancy chandelier hung above the lobby lit with electric bulbs that looked as if they were struggling to stay bright. The shape of them caught Glacier's attention and she opened her muzzle for a comment.

She leaned uncomfortably close to Clout and whispered, "Is it just me or do the lights on the chandelier look like… phalluses?"

"What?" the crystal pony asked while taking an annoyed step back from her.

The mare at the front desk gave the group a sultry look. Her coat was off white and she had varying shades of yellow and light blue for her mane. She wore a lacy outfit, barely covering any of her body, and a slick leather saddle. The decorative bridal on her face was intricately designed with ting hearts carved into it. "Welcome to the Pioneer Club. We have entertainment of all kinds, we host broadway shows here, there's gamblin' and we also have adult activities. As a group or in private...." She gave them a wink, "My name is Sugar Rain, how can I pleasure you today?"

"What kind of place did you bring us to." Clout interrogated the pegasus.

Stratta waved a wing at him. "Relax, relax, it's fine." he turned to Sugar, "We need three rooms. One mare and two stallions please."

Glacier stood to Stratta's side, "Pardon but if we are to get rooms for the night would it not be cheaper for you to have us all rest in the same room?" she asked.

The desk mare chuckled, "Well we do have group rooms if that's what you desire."

Stratta opened one of his wings to block the unicom's view of the hostess. She glared at him in response. "No, the three rooms are fine, we don't need one." he replied.

After an exchange of bits for different colored and numbered keys, they began down the hallway. Several times the trio passed double doors that had been propped open for anypony to enter. They passed a massive buffet, the gambling hall, a small theatre where an opera singer filled the room with his voice, and many other fun looking activities that essentially made the building a miniature version of the city. As they climbed the stairs, the sounds of excitement died down to a low rumble.

"I am quite surprised you paid for all our rooms, " Glacier said, " I thank you for that."

"I didn't do it because I wanted to," Stratta admitted, "I did it because I didn't want you to convince her we only needed one room."

"I can compensate you if you would like." Glacier remarked.

The pegasus pondered this for a moment, debating on if he wanted to be paid back or if he wanted to be a gentlecolt to the mare he didn't like. His ears swiveled as he decided on the latter. "It's fine." he replied in exasperation, "I paid for Clout's and I know you'd probably complain if I refused yours but paid for his."

"Well, I suppose that would be accurate." the unicom admitted.

When they finally reached the doors that matched their room numbers, Stratta passed out the keys.

"Why exactly are we here." Clout asked.

The pegasus grinned at him. "Well, I know you don't like me, you've said as much many times, and you've... I wanna say, endured my company well. So, I want to treat you!" receiving only a growl in response he continued, "Trust me, this place is nice. It's kind of like a spa hotel, they'll relax you, you'll get some rest and you'll be ready for the mission in no time! Maybe it'll make you less grumpy." he finished with a wink.

The crystal pony's expression turned to annoyance. "I'm not going in there. I don't sleep in inns, I sleep at home where no pony can rob me," he replied.

"The way you describe it makes it sound divine!" Glacier commented, "I shall see you in a few hours gentlecolts, perhaps we can explore the city a bit tomorrow before your job, Clout." The mare happily made her way into the room, leaving the two stallions in the hallway.

"Come on, just try it." the pegasus encouraged.

"Absolutely not."

"If you only sleep at your home, why did you say earlier that you'd sleep on the train?" Not getting an answer he continued, "Geeze, you are stubborn aren't you?" Stratta took the key out of Clout's hoof, unlocked the door and pushed it open. "Look, it's not a trap. Would you just trust me for once? I'm not out to get you, I just want to be helpful."

The crystal pony gave him a look of suspicion for a moment longer prior to looking into the room. The pegasus was correct, it didn't look like a trap, it looked like a standard hotel room. A large bed, a dresser with an attached mirror, a small section of the wall protruded out with a door on it which he assumed was the closet and another door which was probably the bathroom. His ears swiveled, he didn't like how normal it looked. Clout took a step back and turned to Stratta, "I don't trust it," he said.

The pegasus rolled his eyes. "You don't trust anything," he said with a sigh, "Just go in there, get some rest, and then in a few hours when you're ready we'll go check out the soot mill okay?"

Clout narrowed his eyes, not sure what ulterior motives this buck had but at least he wasn't shoving him into the room forcefully. The crystal pony flicked his tail in frustration and he finally relented. "Fine," he grunted, "but this better not be a trap-"

"Or you'll kill me, got it." Stratta said as quickly as he could so the crystal pony wouldn't have a second to change his mind, "Here's your key back, see you later!" He waved his hoof, gave a big goofy grin at the other stallion and then happily trotted off to his own room.

Clout furrowed his brows, unsure of what to make of the situation. He couldn't trust the feather head and he sure as tartarus wasn't going to start now. He looked down the hallway back the way he came from for a moment. Back towards the crowds, the noise and the lights. The thought of it all was starting to give him a headache. He sighed and looked through the open door in front of him. Solitude, quiet and dark were quite an appealing option to him but the crystal pony couldn't shake the possibility that the pegasus had ulterior motives in this venture.

This could very well be a trap. Would the pegasus have 'saved' Clout from the auction only to capture the crystal pony for his own purpose? Maybe not, if that were his intention he would have set an ambush using his rebel friends in Ponyville. Did the pegasus truly want help with this job and to be friends? No, it had to be something else, it just had to. The crystal pony just couldn't see it yet. There wasn't any pony in the world who didn't have an ulterior motive for their actions. The only reason anypony ever did anything was for profit but what exactly did he have to gain? No matter how much Clout rolled his thoughts around he still couldn't make sense of it.

Resigning to his mental failure, he heaved a sigh and cautiously entered the room. Creeping along slowly to make sure he didn't miss any tripwires or pressure plates. Thief popped her head out of her hiding spot in the pony's cloak and looked around. Clout looked at her and offered his hoof. She climbed atop it and he gave her safe passage to the carpet below, giving her the opportunity to help him inspect the room. While his little friend went to explore, the stallion made sure to stop and inspect every crack or water stain on the wall just in case it was a cover for a hidden door. He came upon the dresser and gave it a thorough check as well. No hidden buttons or the false bottom drawers, no hidden treasures to steal either. It was just an average dresser for clothing and personal items.

He only gave the bed a quick glance. It was big enough for at least three ponies and it was neatly made. Next, he went over to the protruding wall with a door. The stallion readied his bow with a sharp pointed arrow and then he slowly opened the door. Not surprisingly, there was nothing of interest. It was a simple closet with an open safe and a piece of paper that sat atop giving instructions on how to reset the lock so somepony could stash their valuables. There was some room to the side for bags and a rod above to hang jackets on, he even checked behind the safe but there was nothing else there. Closing the door, he kept his weapon readied and crept around the bed, looking underneath it as he went but still there was nothing there. He was beginning to suspect the pegasus was telling the truth.

Hidden from the view of the doorway by the large bed was a basket with a blanket and a pillow. It was big enough for a large dog, maybe an adult pony, and it was something he had not expected to see. Before he had gotten the chance for a close examination of the basket he heard water beginning to flow behind the suspected bathroom door. Clout swiftly turned to face the door, teeth clenched and aim focused. Whatever was behind that door, he refused to go down without a fight.

Pausing for a second, he could hear hoofsteps in the other room. He listened and waited. There was a soft giggle and a small splash of water. He gave a low growl and took a step back. Whatever poisonous concoction the mystery pony was brewing up, the crystal pony wouldn't give them a chance to use. He backed towards the exit but kept his gaze on his target. He wanted to just turn and leave but he had no idea where Thief had scampered off to, he couldn't just leave her behind.

Suddenly the door swung open and a mare stepped out. The moment she saw the bow and arrow pointed straight at her she froze in place. Her orange-cream colored eyes went wide with the obvious threat the intruder posed. She began to tremble slightly and eventually took a step back into the bathroom. Both ponies were silent, just staring at each other until finally the mare decided to try and defuse the situation.

"B-bonne soirée monsieur." she said lamely.

Clout raised an eyebrow.

"I-I… uh…"

"I saw you yesterday." the stallion said.

"Excusez-moi?" she blinked in confusion.

The crystal pony slightly lowered his weapon. "Last night in The Everfree. You were being carted off by some slavers."

"Oh," she replied, still focused on the threatening object in his hooves, "Oui, I 'ad just been sold at auction last night." After another brief moment of silence, she decided to take the chance and ask, "Might you lower your weapon monsieur?"

Clout's gaze drifted to the bow in his grasp for only a moment before he looked back at the mare. Not trusting the stranger in the room that was supposed to be his, he stubbornly replied, "No."

She gulped and took another step backwards, trying to hide behind the door.

"Why are you in this room." the crystal pony pressed, "I was informed I was renting this room, I was not informed I would have a roommate."

The mare gave a small sigh of relief. "Monsieur, do you not know what kind of establishment zis is?" she asked, hoping to clear the misunderstanding.

The stallion furrowed his brows.

"Zis is a companion 'otel." she said, "Ze rooms 'ere come wiz a pony zat is tasked wiz pleasing ze customer. I am 'ere to serve you, monsieur."

Clout took his turn to be confused from the conversation. "You're– What?" was all he could say as he lowered his bow completely.

She gave a sigh of relief. "Well, in zis 'otel, if ponies wish to have sex wiz zeir companion we are to do zeir bidding. If zey wish to cuddle or desire a massage, we do as zey desire. If ze customer wishes to be washed by a pretty mare, we do as zey say." she says, looking back to the bathtub that was still filling with warm water, the steam softly rising into the air, "Zat is what we are 'ere for. We are to do your bidding while you stay with us, monsieur."

Clout blinked and sucked in a breath as he stared at her. He grit his teeth as the realization that the stupid pegasus had brought him to a brothel had dawned on him. "I am going to kill him." he quietly muttered.

"Excusez-moi?" she asked for the second time.

The stallion sighed as he put his bow away. "Nothing." he spat.

The mare flinched at his tone of voice. "Such anger, are you alright monsieur? You seem… not happy." she said.

"It's nothing," Clout repeated more sternly, "I just have a pegasus to murder two doors down." As he turned around and began to open the door, the mare let out a shriek. He looked at her to see Thief had found the bathroom and the mare that was occupying it. She took flight so fast to get away from the rodent that she hit her head on the ceiling. "Thief." he called to her and clopped a hoof on the ground. The little fuzzball sniffed the air in the mare's direction once more and then she bound back to her friend. He watched her climb his cloak, made sure she was settled in and then he turned back towards the door.

"Monsieur–"

"Why do you keep calling me that." he cut her off. Clout heard her land and walk toward him gingerly.

"Oh, je suis désolé, I am from Prance you see. I am still learning my Ponish."

He turned back to her, not only out of curiosity but to make sure she wasn't sneaking up on him to try something. "Then what does it mean?" he asked.

"It, um…" she looked to the floor as she put a hoof to her muzzle in thought, "You are a stallion and I do not know your name." She wasn't sure if she explained it right so she gave him a sheepish grin.

Clout tilted his head slightly in thought. "So, it's a placeholder name?" he asked.

"Place 'older?" she asked in return, "I do not know zis word."

The stallion sighed, not wanting to be somepony's language teacher. "Nevermind." he said, "I'm just… gunna go."

"M-monsieur, I know I 'ave only been 'ere one day but I know I can pleasure you!" she said, "I 'ave worked in places like zis my 'ole life, I 'ave much experience, I can assure you. Si vous plaît, give me a chance monsieur!"

He hesitated as he saw the desperation in her eyes. This wasn't an act, she was terrified of him rejecting her company. The hoof she extended towards him trembled more than when his bow was pointing at her. What did she get out of him staying? Was she going to drug him and steal his supplies? Did she have a quota of how much she had to steal for the week and was in desperate need to fulfill it? Why in Equus would a brothel worker fear her client leaving? He had to find out what her angle was.

"Is it–" she continued, "You wish for a unicorn, oui? Je suis désolé, I… I may not have an 'orn to–"

Clout gritted his teeth and interrupted her, "Stop, just… What do you want from me?"

The mare flinched and retracted her foreleg. "Monsieur, I… Zey tell me zere is punishment for not pleasing a customer. I 'ave only been 'ere one day, I will be punished." she finished, hoping that the stallion would understand.

He stayed silent for a moment as he contemplated her. She seemed sincere but, just like with everypony else, he still had a hard time trusting her. She looked well groomed for a slave, probably a rule of the brothel. Her coat was a very soft gray with shiny colorful beads tied here and there to accentuate her curves. Her mane was longer than most pony's and it partially dragged on the ground. It had thin streaks of different hues that reminded him of a prism light that reflected off a clear jewel. Her wings were petite but fluffy, he wasn't even sure how she could fly with them so different from what he was used to seeing on a pegasus. The fur on her hind legs was so long it hid her light orange hooves and her tail was a small puffball that was similar to a rabbit's. She wasn't wearing any lingerie like the desk pony had been so he was able to see her cutiemark. It was a glittering star shooting up past the cloud layer. The mare wasn't bad to look at but he would still refuse the kind of services she was offering.

"Monsieur, si vous plaît…" she said weakly, losing hope at preventing a beating from her new owners.

Clout sucked in a breath and avoided eye contact as he awkwardly tried to explain, "Look, I just don't… do… that."

"You like… stallions?"

"No!" came the immediate answer, "No, I don't I just–"

She blinked at him and understanding dawned. "Monsieur, we do not 'ave to 'ave sex. We can talk if zat is what you desire. I am just 'ere to keep you company."

The stallion hated the conversation more than anything in the world right then. He wanted to crawl in the closet, lock himself inside and wither away to nothing. He needed an out, some way to change the conversation topic. It was fate that he found one so quickly. "The bath water's overflowing."

As the mare rushed to turn off the water, Clout let out a sigh of relief. Finally, a chance to breathe and think. He understood what she had tried to explain, that she would be severely punished because they just purchased her. If he had made a bad financial decision, he would want someone to blame too. The mare seemed nice enough, he supposed, but he didn't want a roommate. He couldn't sleep in a room with somepony he just met. The crystal pony was exhausted after walking all day and his side still ached from being pummeled by Tombstone. If he couldn't sleep here, he would much rather be scouting out the soot mill for his job but if he left, this mare would be in a lot of trouble. He knew he shouldn't care if somepony else was punished because of their master's rules but that look he gave her… He folded his ears as he made his decision, hoping he wouldn't regret it.

Clout closed the door to the room and walked towards the bathroom. She was still soaking up the water with some towels as he demanded, "What's your name."

The mare stopped to look at him. "Mon nom est Cloud Glitter." she told him.

He smirked at how similar their names were. "Look, if we don't… do anything… we can just talk." he said, hoping that would make her smile again. She looked better with a smile.

"Oui!" she replied with a grin, "We can!"

Once Cloud Glitter was finished cleaning the bathroom, she got on the bed and padded the empty space next to her to invite him up. The stallion folded his ears and just sat on the floor. She cocked her head at him but accepted his decision. "Monsieur, what would you like to talk about?" she asked.

"I–" Clout started but stopped himself. He didn't think this far ahead and he was stumped on what to do. He didn't want to talk to her about his job, what he was or the goings-on of his life. He definitely wasn't going to talk to her about sex in any capacity and he wasn't knowledgeable enough to discuss the politics that controlled the cities he ventured in and out of. He never talked small talk with Merchant, they usually just traded quips so he didn't have much experience in that either. He couldn't decide on where to start in terms of a conversation and he really wished he had thought this spontaneous decision through.

Seeing the stallion struggle, the mare decided to start for him. "Comment vous-appelez vous?" she asked.

"Uh, what?" Clout asked in utter confusion.

"Oh! Uh," she stuttered as she realized she was speaking Prench again, "Your name, monsieur."

"Oh, I'm Clout." he replied.

Cloud Glitter giggled, "Your name is so close to mine."

"Y-yeah…"

"May I use your name monsieur?" the mare asked him.

Clout scratched the back of his head with a hoof as he said, "Sure, I guess."

She gave him another smile. "Clout," she said, "you 'ave a very nice name, monsieur."

"If that word means you don't know my name, why are you still using it?" he asked.

Cloud Glitter scrunched her muzzle, "Well, it is 'ard to tell. I do not 'ave ze words."

"Never mind then."

Getting the feeling he was still not really wanting to talk even though he was the one who made the offer, the mare decided to try and get him a little more at ease by talking about himself. "Monsieur Clout, may I ask about your little… friend?" she inquired hesitantly, "I 'ear you say, Zief?"

Clout could tell she was getting a little nervous again. Most ponies were quite reasonably nervous when talking about rodents such as the one he had hidden in his cloak so, he wasn't surprised. What he was surprised about was that this mare was willing to ask about her. He didn't want to frighten her so he didn't take his rat friend out. "Yeah, she's a friend of mine." he told her, "She's not sick and she won't get you sick. I've been around them for a long time and I've never gotten the blight so you don't have to worry."

"Zem?"

"Oh, yeah, I've got a lot of rats back home." he elaborated.

"Where do you come from? You say Ze Everfree earlier." Cloud Glitter asked.

"I don't live there. Well, I do but I don't. I used to, my friend lives there and he lets me stay sometimes. I'm… kind of lucky that way." Clout realized.

"Lucky?" she questioned, "What do you mean lucky?"

The crystal pony wasn't entirely sure he wanted to go into detail about his past for her but, he didn't know how to steer the conversation. He let out a sigh and tried to give the simplest answer he could think of. "I… I did something a long time ago and he got really mad at me. I pushed him away and I think he hated me for a time. He's the only pony I have in my life so I'm really lucky he forgave me." Clout said as he looked at his hooves.

She looked at him sympathetically as she asked, "Can you tell me ze story?"

He rubbed his aching side with a hoof as he avoided eye contact. "I… don't want to talk about it." he admitted quietly.

After a short silence, Cloud Glitter decided this buck needed a change of topic. "May I see your face, monsieur?"

He looked up at her, still on the bed, and he stood. That was a question he was not prepared for. Was this part of her ulterior motive, to get his mask off so it would be easier to drug him? The stallion refused to cooperate with her plan. Clout narrowed his gaze at her as he asked, "Why."

"I am only curious, you are covered muzzle to tail so I cannot see you."

"You don't need to see me." he stated.

"Oh, oui monsieur. As you wish." she said in disappointment. She thought of another way she might get him to talk. "What is it you do zat makes people not see you?"

Clout looked at her, trying to suss out her question. "Are you asking what my job is?" he asked and she nodded. Taking a moment to decide whether telling her was a bad idea or not, he concluded it would be fine. Most ponies in The Everfree knew what he did so what was the harm in telling this whore what he did for a living. She didn't need to know the specific details though. "I'm a thief." he finally said.

She was only slightly shocked at his reply. It was obvious she had met more than her fair share of criminals being sold at auction, especially in The Everfree. "You steal zings, oui? Why not do a work zat will not get you in trouble?"

The stallion didn't know how to answer other than, "Uh, because it's what I do. What else would I do to earn a living?"

"Zere are many zings you could do," Cloud Glitter said with a smile, "Your cutiemark is not chains. What are you good at besides steal zings?"

"Uh… I can shoot a bow and pick locks, I guess. Why do you care what I do, I'm a complete stranger to you."

The mare gave him a sincere look as she said, "I may not know you, monsieur, but all ze ponies matter. Zose who do bad zings just to live, zey are just trying to live. Ze law of ze land disapproves and will punish you. Everyzing is, 'ow you say, à l'envers. Um… up, down? Ze law need to help ponies and zen ponies can be 'appy. Zey can live and not do bad and ze land will be better. I zink, ze law will not listen so ze ponies must try to start ze change. I cannot do much to 'elp but ze one hoof for change is an idea. Zat I can 'elp ponies with even zough I am 'ere."

It took Clout a moment to process what she had said; her accent was decently thick and she used some words in unusual places. "So," he thought out loud, "you're trying to change the world one client at a time because you think the way things are is backwards and because you're a slave, putting an idea into their heads is the only thing you think you can do."

"Oui!" she said, happy he understood.

"I-" the stallion cut himself off with a shake of his head, "Someponies just can't change. I can't change and neither can the world."

"You can, monsieur Clout." Cloud Glitter assured him.

He walked in a half circle, turning away from her. "You don't understand. Somepony like me can't do anything else. There's no trying anything else for me, I'm stuck like this because I'm…" he trailed off as he stopped himself from telling her the truth. He grit his teeth in frustration at himself. Why was he getting so invested in this conversation with a complete stranger? He shouldn't be talking with her, he should be doing his job so he can go home. He enjoyed his solitude, loneliness and only the company of his rats so why was his mouth moving when his brain was screaming at him to stop? The same thing was happening around that stupid featherhead too. Merchant had told him many times when he was a colt that ponies are social creatures, they cannot live in solitude forever. Was this what he meant? Was his mouth going to keep spouting off words whether he liked it or not? Whatever this was, he hated it.

Clout sighed and looked back to the bed where the mare laid. She was patiently waiting for him to be ready to talk again. She didn't look bored or annoyed, she looked content to listen to him ramble on, not giving her any details. He decided that he changed his mind. Maybe this wasn't so bad. Maybe it didn't require the word hate but instead, something less like perhaps dislike or unpleasant. That stupid pegasus was getting into his brain.

"I can't explain it to you," he started again, "I really can't. But I can say that I would be in a lot more trouble if I took off this cloak than if I got caught stealing something." He hoped that was a good enough explanation.

"Well, we can, 'ow you say, play?" Cloud Glitter offered.

"You mean pretend?" he asked.

"Oui! Pretend!" she happily replied, "If you could, what would you do monsieur?"

Clout kicked the carpet below with a hoof as he answered, "I'm not sure, I've never thought about it before. My friend has a shop, maybe I could help him?" He shook his head at his own words. "No, after what happened he'd never let me. I don't know what I would do."

Noticing the melancholy in his tone of voice, she tried to think of something for him. She put a hoof to her chin in thought, tapping it a few times as she stared at the comforter she laid on. Then her eyes went wide with an idea. "Ze locks!" she blurted out, "You can do ze locks!"

Clout furrowed his brows. "I can– Uh, yeah, I can pick locks. What do you mean?" he probed.

"Ponies, zey need ze locks, oui? You can make zem and open zem!" she nickered in excitement.

He blinked. "You're… talking about a locksmith." he audibly thought. It actually wasn't a half bad idea. He could easily unlock most any lock and he knew each brand's strengths and weaknesses which made them easy to open. If he had the facilities to create his own line of locks and advertise them as more secure than any other brand on the market, his would be the ones everypony used. And, of course, he would also be the one ponies called to unlock things when they lost their keys but making them was really a brilliant idea. Almost perfect for him in fact. He knew the ins and outs of locks just like his cutiemark opened the door to his natural bow skills. It was an honed craft after more than twenty years of working with them.

Clout looked at the mare in astonishment. She really was right, she could change Equestria one idea at a time. The only flaw was that crystal ponies were not seen as citizens. His kind didn't have any rights under the law, they were only seen as property, a tool for others to buy, sell and use until it's worn out and becomes useless. Just like she was in this room, not a pony but a piece of furniture for the customer to use. He wouldn't be able to even try this idea of hers as he was, as the King's laws were. If he actually wanted an honest job he would need to pick a side and try to change things in his favor. He would actually have to side with the rebels like Wulf told him to. Everything would have to change and he would have to spend his dragon's hoard to accomplish it. He wasn't ready for that, not at all.

Shoving all those fantasy thoughts of a different life and a massive change away, Clout turned away from her once more. "Yeah, maybe." he admitted.

Cloud Glitter gave a smile, seeing that her seed was planted. She had given him that tiny little spark and she hoped it would turn into a beautiful flame inside of him that would urge him to a new goal in life someday. She was happy that she helped him imagine a new way of doing things. She knew it wasn't much but it was all she could do.

"Monsieur Clout," the mare began, "I know you don't disrobe 'ere but ze tub is ready if you wish for a bath. Ze door 'as a lock."

His thoughts became a trainwreck as they flipped a u-turn. She had mentioned her clients getting washed by their room companions. That was too intimate, way too intimate. Hadn't he told her he wouldn't undress? He could have sworn that's what he said. Clout looked at her and tripped over his words as he tried to answer. "I-I don't, no, I, uh, no," he shook his head, trying to get rid of his embarrassment as she giggled, "Why did you make a bath?"

Still daintily laughing at his plight, she replied, "Zey let us know wiz zese little buzzers zat we are going to 'ave a customer and zey usually want a baz before… well, you know. It is a sort of, 'ow you say, forward play?"

The stallion was lost for words. He didn't know how to respond. He knew what she meant and he wanted to be as far away from that conversation as possible. He looked at the ceiling as he turned around. "Yup, I'm going to…" he trailed off, looking for the non-existent window he could use to escape without her getting into trouble.

She laughed again at his awkwardness and how much he was blushing. "You do not 'ave to monsieur Clout," she told him with a grin, "it was just an offer."

"Right…" Clout sighed while still avoiding looking at her.

"May I ask, what 'appened to your family? You say your friend is all you 'ave."

"My family…" he started, trying to steady his thoughts that this mare was batting around with every question, "I– um, my, my family is dead. My mom, I was told, died during childbirth and my dad was eaten by a dragon."

Cloud Glitter put a hoof to her muzzle as she let out a small gasp. "Oh my, monsieur Clout, I am so sorry! Zat is so sad. I am truly sorry about ta mère et ton père, monsieur." she told him.

The stallion swished his tail. "It's fine, it doesn't matter. Happened a long time ago." he said.

"Monsieur Clout, it does, zey were tes parents. Zey– It matters!" Cloud Glitter insisted without explanation.

He looked at her, seeing a determined expression on her face. She was so expressive compared to his anger and disinterest. It made him want to believe her regardless of her not giving a justification as to why it mattered.

"I just never think about it." he confessed, "I've never met my mother so I don't have any feelings one way or the other about her being dead. My dad, that was… It was a day I'll never forget but I resented him when I was a kid. I hated him. It was because of him that I was bullied by my classmates. Look, I can't tell you everything but I have my reasons why I'm fine without them."

She looked hurt at his words as if the thought of him not caring about his parents was the worst possible thing. As he saw tears forming in her eyes, the stallion had no idea what to do. He had very little experience with ponies, and with mares, even less so. Clout furrowed his brows and took a step toward her as she wiped a tear away with a hoof. He didn't like this new expression on her face.

Cloud Glitter sucked in a breath and gave him a sad smile. "Will you tell me about ze dragons, monsieur Clout? I 'ave never seen one before."

He hesitated for a second, waiting to make sure she was really wanting to discuss something else. Then he wondered if he should ask about her parents, if that was the reason she was really upset. On the other hoof, if that truly was why she had tears in her eyes and she was just projecting herself into his answers, that might be a bad idea. He had heard mares can be temperamental and if her parents were a touchy subject it might really make her cry. So, he decided to take her lead and talk about dragons.

"Well, they're big." Clout started by stating the obvious, "I mean, really big. They could probably fit about six ponies in their mouth at one time if not more. They don't have fur, they have hard skin. See these shells on my cloak? Those are dragon scales." He tapped one with a hoof.

"Oh my!" Cloud Glitter gasped, "Zey are bigger zan your 'oof! If zey 'ave shells, do zey live in ze water? I was told zey make fire."

"Uh, no, they aren't shells, they just look like shells. The scales on dragons are like fur on ponies. To them, these are so small they couldn't count them all." he explained, "They don't live in the ocean, they come from the sky like pegasai do. They have claws like spears and teeth like swords. Their massive tails can knock down a castle like it was a pile of sand. They have a voice like thunder and they move like lightning. They rain fire down from the sky and they can turn the land to glass, melting everything it touches to nothing. Not even metal or stone is strong enough to withstand their fire," he knew he should stop talking but the words just kept pouring out, "When you're standing there, the fire is so hot you can feel yourself burning even if you're a mile away from it. Your fur shrivels like a burning piece of paper and turns black. Your skin bubbles up and turns red like the flames and no matter what you do the burning just won't stop. You can scream and try to escape them but it's useless to run. They–"

He let out a shaky gasp as he realized he was trembling. He could feel the heat of the inferno even though the air around him was chilly. He could see the flames even though there were no lights present other than the small lit candle in the bathroom. He could hear the loud report of the beasts and their wing beats as they circled above even though the space was silent. He could hear the shrieks of pure terror as the ponies around him boiled and melted before his eyes even though he and the mare on the bed were the only two in the room. He could feel his side burning and aching as if he were feeling the flames against his skin, melting the flesh to his ribcage. He shut his eyes tight and tried to shove the memory away.

The pounding of his heart in his ears didn't let Clout hear the creek of the bed as the mare got off of it. She gingerly walked to him and tried to look into his face which was still hidden by his hood and mask. "Monsieur Clout?" she quietly said, "You are safe." Gently, she put a hoof on his, hoping that he would come back to her.

The simple touch brought him back to the cold, dark room. His side refused to let go of the pain from his flashback, however, but he knew he exacerbated his injury. Garrett was probably right, he may have cracked a rib or two. He took a slight step back away from her touch and he saw the look of concern she showed on her face. "I-I'm fine." he stated, praying in his mind to a god he didn't believe in that she wouldn't ask any more questions. It was scary how easily she pulled information out of his willing muzzle.

She simply gave a smile, relieved he was okay. After giving him a little time to just stand there and breathe, she opened her muzzle again. "I zink it is time for bed, oui?" she asked, "No sex, just sleep."

The stallion folded his ears. Sleep? No, he didn't need sleep, he needed to do his job. He needed to focus on something so the flames would die down and the dragons in his head would go somewhere else.

At Clout's non-answer, the mare decided to take charge again. "Monsieur Clout, ze bed." she demanded gently, pointing to it with a fluffy wing.

The stallion lifted a hoof, hesitated, and then made his way over to the basket next to the bed. He still didn't want to sleep in the same room as a stranger but he was willing to at least lie down.

"Monsieur Clout."

He looked at her after climbing in.

"Ze basket is for me, ze bed is for ze customer." Cloud Glitter told him. The stallion stayed silent as he rested his chin on the edge of the basket. She gave him a thankful smile, said, "Bonne nuit monsieur," and got into bed.

The crystal pony heard the creek of the bed, the rustle of the blankets and then her soft breaths as she drifted off to sleep. Needing something to keep his mind occupied, his thoughts drifted back to Garrett Stratta. He just couldn't figure that pony out. What exactly were his intentions by bringing Clout to a brothel? What did that featherhead get out of purchasing Clout somepony to do whatever he wanted with, was this all one big joke? It was obvious the pegasus stallion enjoyed teasing him but there had to be something else, it just didn't make sense.

---

A loud thump, thump, thump on the door made Clout's eyes pop open. He quickly stood up and looked around, trying to get his bearings. Everything was the same as last night. The room was the same, the bed next to him, the dresser with its mirror and even the mare still fast asleep despite the knock on the door. She hadn't even moved in her sleep. Out of morbid curiosity, he checked to see if she was still alive and he was pleased that she was fine. The stallion climbed out of the basket and checked his gear. Everything but Thief was accounted for, nothing was out of place or missing. He wasn't sure where his tiny friend had gone but he was pretty sure she was off searching for food. She must have made her way out of the room somehow. He folded his ears and gave the room another look around, the normalcy of it all was making him uneasy.

A louder banging on the door woke the mare up. "Mmm, un instant, s'il vous plaît," she sleepily mumbled as she crawled out of bed to answer the door. She put a hoof over her mouth as she gave a small yawn and she opened it.

"Morning!" an overly cheerful charcoal pegasus greeted, "Oh, you're pretty." The compliment didn't register with the half asleep mare.

The light green earth pony with his short dark purple mane that stood behind Stratta gave a frown. "Is she prettier than me?" he pouted.

The pegasus stallion looked at the buck and told him, "Hey Mister Jealous, who did I want in my room, you or her?"

"Yeah but–"

"I can give other ponies compliments too." Stratta gave the stallion a sly smile and then he turned back to the open door, "Hey Clout! Did you have a good night?"

The crystal pony growled as he strode over to him, using a hoof to move Cloud Glitter out of the way of his wrath. "Next time you do something like this I will murder you." he threatened as he gave him an icy stare, "I will not make it painless."

Stratta chuckled, "Ya know, all your threats so far have been empty ones. Buuuttt you're saying you are giving me a next time so I'll take that as a win. And I'm assuming you did have a good night since you're being so nice though, hmm?" He raised an eyebrow and grinned at the mare, "You did a good job with him, he's normally more grumpy than this!"

"I-I, uh…" Cloud Glitter wasn't sure how to respond.

"Let's just go." Clout demanded.

"Alright, alright, don't throw a horseshoe now." the pegasus stallion said as he started walking down the hall.

The thief took a step out of the doorway and hesitated. He looked back to the mare he spent the night with, looked to the floor and gave a quiet, "Thanks." before he followed the pegasus.

She gave him one last smile and a little wave as he trotted away. "Au revoir, monsieur Clout."

As the three stallions began walking down the hallway, another door opened and Glacier peeked her head out. "Oh, but of course it was you. Who else would be so loud this early in the morning." the unicorn complained.

The earth pony was the first of the three to stop and look at her as a stallion walked out of her room. "Morning Regie." he told him.

"Paxton." the other buck replied. Glacier's room companion was a dark brown stallion with grey stripes. He had a short mane and tail that was varying shades of brown. It was obvious he was half pony and half zebra.

"Reginald, would you be a dear and fetch my effects please?" the mare asked.

"Of course." Regie replied as he trotted back into the room.

Leaving her room companion to his task, she trotted out to follow the group downstairs. "Tell me the truth, were you or were you not attempting to abandon me again?" Glacier asked with a bite in her voice.

"Sorry, you're just so forgettable!" Stratta replied with a cheery snark.

"And you are insufferable!"

"Do we know when exactly King Sombra is going to be at the soot mill?" Clout asked.

The pegasus chuckled at the mare. "Not yet but we can ask around town," he replied.

Clout grumbled to himself.

Regi caught up with them, passing Glacier's belongings to her and then he followed them downstairs. The five ponies continued past the rooms of enticing entertainment once again but they were much emptier. A couple of slaves were seen cleaning the rooms while they were mostly empty. The slaves could be seen picking up empty cups, sweeping the floor and tossing the cigarette butts from the ash trays. There were a few ponies in the dining room, sitting down to eat some breakfast. The hotel's recreation rooms were quite a bit less exciting with the rising of the sun.

A black rodent darted out of the cafeteria with a bit of sausage in her mouth, halting the five in their tracks. The two room companions went wide eyed and darted to put themselves between the fuzzy bringer of the plague and their clients. Both stallions reared up as Thief came to a stop and looked up at them, blocking the path to her friend. Seeing that they planned on stomping Thief to a pulp, Clout quickly ran over to defend her by threatening them with an arrow in the face. Glacier stood in place and watched the scene as Stratta ran in between them all, trying to distance everyone with a shove of his wings.

"Wait! Wait! Just, calm down!" he exclaimed. Addressing the room companions he said, "She's not a threat so don't hurt her!" Then he turned to Clout, "They didn't know. Just, calm down."

The two stallions lowered themselves and stood there, utterly confused but they obeyed and backed up a couple of steps. Clout lowered his bow but kept his deadly gaze on them. Thief looked up at Stratta for a second before she ran over to the crystal pony and climbed onto his back. She nibbled at her prize happily, unawares that a second ago she was a hoofstomp away from death.

Stratta gave a sigh of relief and said, "Thank you. We definitely don't need bloodshed this morning."

"No, we don't." an irritated voice said.

The group turned around to see another stallion standing in the hallway. He was a light blue and gray painted pony with half black, half pink hair that was slicked back into a small bun. He wore a slim dark gray suit, glasses and he had a thin mustache. The stallion raised an eyebrow as he asked, "Gentlecolts," he dipped his head at Glacier as he said, "M'lady, do we have a problem?"

Both of the room companions opened their muzzles but it was Paxton who spoke first. "No sir, there's no problem."

Reggie closed his mouth and just nodded in agreement. The well-kept stallion gave the two of them a suspicious look. He then regarded the three hotel guests. "If there are any issues, please let me know. I am the Silver Jester, the owner of this establishment and I run a tight ship. Discrepancy is not tolerated here under any circumstance from our room companions. That being said, it is quite early in the day and somepony was shouting. I will ask you to please refrain from being so loud as it may disturb our other guests who were up late last night."

"Oh, sorry, that was me!" Stratta admitted, "Won't happen again."

"Good, it is much appreciated." Silver said. Since he was satisfied the noise issue was dealt with, he turned around and started back towards the front desk.

Reggie and Paxton stayed a few steps behind Clout as the group continued. When they all reached the entrance to the building, the two of them split off and went down another hallway some other room companions were entering.

Clout, Stratta and Glacier checked out of the hotel, the pegasus wandered over to give Paxton an intimate farewell and then the three of them began to walk down the streets of the city. Now that the sun was over the horizon, the neon lights of the city were shut off and the excited atmosphere was dulled. The crowds on the street were thinned out but there were still some suits off to an early morning start wherever they worked.

They eventually passed a large studio building where shouts were coming from. A scream sounded and there was a loud pop. More ponies yelled at each other and the three of them stopped to stare at the building. The other ponies on the street paid the noise no mind as they casually walked past; apparently they either didn't care or they knew something the three tourists did not.

"Should we… help?" Stratta asked.

"It's none of our business." Clout stated.

"Well, to be honest, that scream sounded like my sister. I would be remiss if I were not to assist her when she is in trouble." Glacier admitted.

With a cheerful smile that it was time to help somepony, the pegasus said, "That's two to one, let's go!" and he opened the door.

"Still don't like you two." Clout told them.

"That's fair." Stratta replied with a chuckle as the three of them entered the building.

The room was tiny compared to the outside of the building and only contained a desk, an office plant, a trashcan, a door to another room and a receptionist. The mare had a cigarette in her muzzle, looked up at the group from the magazine she was reading and blew out a puff of smoke. She raised an eyebrow and asked in a dull tone, "Can I help you?" There was another scream and some more shouts but she ignored them.

"Well, we just thought somepony needed help. There's screams and gunshots coming from inside this building." Stratta said, not expecting the tiny reception room.

The desk mare gave him a slow blink and a bit of silence, wondering if he was going to figure it out himself. Determining he was as dumb as a box of rocks, she finally replied, "If youse didn't see the sign on the top of the buildin', this is a movie studio sir. They are currently in recordin' which means the're actin' out the movie and getting it on film. If youse is not in the know, a movie is movin' pictures that tell a story. Nopony needs help and I can't allow youse to go in while they're in progress."

"Oh, uh, okay." Stratta said, partially disappointed. As he began to turn around to leave, the unicorn mare spoke up.

"Are you sure you are not to let anypony inside? I am the elder sister to one of your actresses and I would love to visit her." Glacier said, trying to be charming.

The receptionist gave her a flat look and just said, "Youse think I'm dumb or somethin' sweetheart?"

Glacier recoiled at the accusation. "N-no, that was not my intention madam, I only wished to inquire on visiting my sister." she said.

The desk mare took the cigarette out of her mouth with a hoof and leaned on the desk. "Look, sugar, I get loads of ponies claimin' this and that so they can get in to see what's what. Tryin' ta pitch their actin' skills cause they seen a movie or two and wanna be on the big screen or tryin' ta talk coin ta demand bein' in the show. It ain't gunna work." she told the unicorn, "But, if youse really do gots a sister in there, gimme her name and when they take a break this afternoon youse might be able to see her."

"Oh, why thank you!" Glacier replied with a grin, "Her name is Diamond Dust, she is a silver unicorn with a short white mane and blue eyes."

The receptionist scribbled a note on a piece of paper and then she asked, "Your name sweetheart?"

"I am Glaciated Era."

"Right," the mare replied, "I'll get your message to her. Come back around noon, might be able to get youse in."

Glacier bowed her head in thanks and the three of them walked out of the building.

"Well that was a waste of time." Clout commented.

"Hey, just had to be sure no pony was getting hurt." Stratta told him.

The crystal pony only grumbled in response and the trio continued on their way. They passed a street full of little townhouses which looked out of place for the bustling city, they passed a large park with some trees, a pond and walkways paved with colorful stones. They passed a few family owned businesses such as pawn shops with all kinds of trinkets in them, A bakery filled with the smell of bread and pastries and a clockworks shop that displayed clocks of all shapes and sizes. There were book stores, a small corner news stand with magazines galore and newspapers, they passed a boarded up building that looked like it had once been a small bank and they passed a toy store with all kinds of colorful wooden creations for colts and fillies.

It wasn't long before they could see a large, dark smoke stack flowing into the sky. As they got closer, they saw it was coming from a huge building that was fenced off as it was closed to public access. There were several wagons, overfilled with coal that were parked all along the outside. The sign that emboldened the outside of the building said it was the city's power plant owned and run by Lightning Ideas. They were burning the coal to create the massive amount of electricity the city required to be flashy and functional.

Glacier cocked her head as she looked to the smoke in the sky. "Does that not interfere with your pegasai cloud cover?" she asked in curiosity.

"Probably." came Stratta's answer, "I don't live up in the clouds so I don't really know."

The next building they happened upon was Clout's destination. It was a great brick building that was stained with soot. The old company name was still etched into the outside of the bricks, Skinner's Swine Slaughter. It had a large label from the city guard overtop it that declared the place condemned.

"This is what they turned the new soot mill into?" Stratta asked no pony in particular.

"I wonder if a building can be condemned twice." Clout commented.

"Ugh, must we enter? The smell is atrocious." Glacier complained as she put a hoof to her muzzle.

Stratta fluttered his wings in thought. "I don't think we have to right now, King Sombra's not supposed to be here until this evening so we should have some time to kill." he told the mare.

"You two can stay here, I'm going in." Clout said as he trotted ahead.

"What, why?" the pegasus asked.

"Wouldn't you like to know." the crystal pony said.

Stratta rolled his eyes and followed. Glacier stood in place, unsure what to do. She tapped all four hooves on the ground anxiously, almost dancing in place as she tried to convince herself she still needed to follow. Against her better judgment, she gave a dainty rear and galloped ahead to catch up with her two stallions.

Comments

[Starlight Nova]

With King Sombra and Discord holding the reigns of Equestria, they have driven the people to starvation

Why does Discord allow this? He seems to like creating lots of free food.

[gutterratt]

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Spoilers