Commission: Scarlet in the crimson color

Scarlet in the crimson color

It is said that fortune and future can be found even at the deepest of bottoms. So much for just a little drink, so little for you to enjoy. These thoughts ran through the head of a lone mare sitting in the farthest corner of the nearly empty bar. She had spent an hour or so challenging her liver on the level of a beginner, only bringing herself to a warm tipsiness. Getting smashed the entire night only to feel your head on an anvil the next morning was not in her interest. The third bottle of medium apple cider hit the table and was forced to the cemetery with its comrades, standing silently without any content now when its mission had been carried out. They wouldn't be seen as failures just because the mission objective had more self-control than your average drinker, no... just another day when you're forced to carry out something half-heartedly and look at yourself in the reflection of spilled cider. She narrowed her eyes and wiped away the spot, leaning her head on a foreleg to put her mind on something perhaps more significant.

But what could that be? Who'd give a bleeding buck about her? Why should she force herself to spend time on ponies that relished in an easy life where you can go unemployed for years without consequences more serious than a low salary? She saw the drunkards far across the bar. They just sat there, drinking and complaining about their perfect life not being so perfect. Ingratitude towards their peaceful country and laziness that practically poured out from their snouts. Lack of discipline was the only thing this mare saw. Her frown furthered with arched eyebrows and crocked lips. Perhaps a dose of...

Nah, why should she care? She already knew where she had herself, no idea going into arguments that only would end with her beating the crap out of a few drunks. What satisfaction and self-esteem is there in doing that?

Suddenly, her eyes glanced over to the bar. She raised an eyebrow, surprised to say that she hadn't noticed that red stallion sitting in a green jacket with a pen in his mouth. For once, she felt her attention had been caught in an instant, far away from what she usually felt when looking at another stallion. Most of them were either bulky bruisers or skinny minors who believed in beauty on the inside when they didn't even have that. This one, however, had the perfect shape that was stuck between the recently mentioned appearances. Even though there was distance between them, she noticed that his eyes were different. Not that snotty ignorance best displayed by a Canterlot pony, nor the indifference of a regular bystander from Ponyville. He didn't even look like he was from around here. That jacket didn't look like it belonged in Equestria either...

Wait, she had seen that sort of jacket before. A long, long time ago.

That was it, she decided to find out more about this male stealing her attention. Thus, she got up from the table and made her way through the creaky bar floor. She stumbled just once because of the slight amount of alcohol in her system and the fact that you should take it easy standing up if you've been sitting for a while. She shook her head and proceeded, soon reaching the red stallion with the dark gray mane and tail.

Without her knowledge, the stallion had already noticed her approach. He had wished to be alone so he could finish this letter, but not everything can go according to plans. A gentle smile spread across his lips as he put down the pen from his mouth and looked over his shoulder. He expected much, but not a fine mare with such striking colors of red on her mane and tail. It was a blue pegasus mare, carrying a set of what seemed to be bedroom eyes or just a stage of intoxication. He waited for her to sit down next to him, keeping the eye-contact even though he usually didn't do that.

“Hi” the mare said as she made herself comfortable on the bar stool.

“Hello” the stallion responded right after getting hit by the stench of alcohol. He ensured himself that this was probably just going to be another mare that tries hitting on him just because he looks a little more exotic than most stallions. But he kept smiling, throwing a glance or two at the body of this pegasus.

A neat hill from the behind to the back, a self-confident look and a well-kept mane. At the same time his eyes ventured down to look at the cutie-mark of this mare, she did the exact same thing on him. They made eye-contact again, only this time they were both interested in each other. However, the female one decided to make a slower approach than jumping to conclusion. She needed something to break the ice with before this got awkward. She glanced at the piece of paper and saw her rescue in it.

“Writing a haiku?” she asked with a hoof pointing at the letter. She hadn't taken time reading it minding how rude it was. In that moment, the stallion covered the paper and looked in the corner of his eyes, asking himself how he could have forgotten to cover that up before she sat down. Now he had to come up with something to talk about just to divert her attention. He chuckled and scratched the back of his head.

“He he... yeah, you could say that. I'm sorry, where are my manners. My name is Red Gear” he introduced with an extended foreleg towards the mare.

“Spectrum Slash” she said and met his hoof in a shake.

That name rang a few bells for Red Gear. He had heard that name before and it only took him another second to remember exactly where. There had been a rumor about a pegasus mare who was constantly kicked around into different weather teams due to various reasons. However, one of them claimed it was an act of rage. If this truly was THE Spectrum Slash, he was in for a mare tougher than any other he previously met. He looked at her hoof stuck in his and thought for a second.

“Spectrum Slash... the pegasus who lives under a rebellious spirit?”.

“Heh, you've heard of me?” she responded with a stain of pride and a smothered will to brag. “That is me alright...”.

Red Gear let go of her hoof and leaned at the counter. He had decided to give this mare an honest chance, and it would be a test involving subtle questions that would judge if she was of any useful material...

“Tell me, Spectrum... have you ever been to any foreign countries in your life?” he asked casually, acting like it was just a friendly question mean to get to know her better. He didn't expect any stunning answer or odd reactions, yet he couldn't hide his curiosity in Spectrum's expression. To him, she just starred blindly. But in her head, a flash of memories struck by. She blinked and shook her head lightly, realizing a little too late that she gave the wrong answer there.

“I mean... yes. I'm not originally from this town”.

“So you grew up somewhere else?”.

Spectrum hesitated one last time. The alcohol had played more than one trick on her now, and that was to be the last one.

“Stalliongrad. I was born there”.

Red Gear inhaled deeply and glanced at his letter. As mentioned, he didn't expect any exceptional answer, but it was looking good so far. Perhaps he was walking the right path on this mare anyway.

“Really...” he said and put his hooves together on the counter, right next to his half-empty glass. He was suddenly reminded of it and took a sip before turning his head back to Spectrum Slash. “Then perhaps you've heard of the sizable labor movement there?”.

Spectrum looked into the corner of her eyes, taking herself back to what she remembered of it. Not much of it served well, but she could speak of the protesting ponies and flyers that there had been some talk about. However, that area hadn't been much of her interest, therefore nothing she really paid attention to. Was hard missing it, though.

“I don't know much about it, but from what I've seen... the ponies partaking in it didn't seem so bad” she answered without reluctance for the first time during this conversation. She even managed to smile without feeling silly about it.

A convinced smile decorated Red Gear's lips. He had taken all the words and reactions Spectrum gave him and made a valuation from it. With any other pony, he most likely would have dropped the talking and turned back to whatever he did at the moment. But when promising things like this mare showed herself to him, it would be an idiot's decision to turn your back on it. There was still a risk that she would fall right before the finishing line.

“I have a confession to make, Spectrum Slash” he stated and emptied his glass. The mentioned mare raised an eyebrow, not afraid to hear anything whatever it might be. Of course, she could always just prepare herself for the worst and ready a counter attack. Not that she expected it from him, minding his already unusual appearance. He looked her in the eyes.

“I'm getting this feeling that you recognize my jacket. It's a jacket only given to those from the communistic party of the Hooviet Union”.

Silence roamed the air between them. Red Gear still expected the worst, even though he only had begun with the finishing line. Things might turn out good, but they could likewise turn out bad... really bad. Spectrum stared at him for a good set of seconds, prolonging them by repeating the words she just heard in her head. The thin whispers of nothingness broke once she made her move.

“Is that your home country?” she asked casually. Red Gear couldn't help but twitch his lips in response. Was this really happening?

“Well, my family moved there when I was very young, so I've practically lived my entire life there. However, I became a member of the communist party in an early age and been working for it since then. I am however here in Ponyville on a goodwill mission, but I plan on returning soon”.

“Really? Do they speak equestrian in Hooviet?”.

“Why, he he.... yes! The Union of Hooviet Socialist Republic, abbreviated UHSR, was from the beginning just a colony that slowly grew into its own country. We don't discriminate our equally minded ones so everything from ponies, griffons, minotaurs and whatever you may think of have over time immigrated and become one single population that united under the same flag during the revolution”.

Spectrum listened with great interest, allowing Red Gear to keep talking. He was happy to oblige, but now was the time for the last step. If this went through, he would be looking at a potential candidate. If it failed, he would be looking at a mare walking away from him, possibly throwing hateful words and names at him. But this was his chance...

“I'll be honest with you, Spectrum. There is no such thing as a perfect government, but the UHSR tries it best to make sure the inhabitants live a peaceful, crime free and compliant life. However, the government is forced to make sure everypony grows strong by reminding them that weakness is a crime that you can get punish for”.

Spectrum kept looking at Red Gear as he leaned in a little closer towards her, looking awfully serious at her.

“We are forced to oppression and violence because the citizens needs it in order to grow strong. We do what needs to be done, and.... well...” he paused and leaned in even closer, gesturing that he wanted to whisper this for his own safety. Spectrum leaned forward so Red Gear's snout touched her mane, something the stallion couldn't complain about. She had a lovely scent, somehow reminding him of his home country.

“I am a part of it. Before I was sent here on my goodwill mission, I worked for the secret police under the KGB. What I do... is something many ponies can't hand-”.

He was interrupted by Spectrum who flew her head away from him. She stared with wide-open eyes like she was in deep shock, yet didn't say a word. Red felt all of his hopes die there when seeing the fine mare's surprised eyes.

“You... y-you kill ponies?” she hissed, unnerving Red Gear. He didn't want to lose his grip, but calmness wasn't his ally at the moment. He couldn't lie and say he was ashamed about his job, but he also understood that ponies who hadn't been in the Hooviet Union didn't know the circumstances.

“Only if necessary, but mos-” he said until he once again suffered the irony of getting cut off mid sentence. This time, however, he turned his head towards the bar door. What came in from there was nothing he liked to see. A group of large stallions walked from the door with the aim to reach the red pony dressed in his green jacket. None of them seemed too kindly, nor very reasonable by the looks of it. Red Gear had seen them before, and he knew what they had in mind. It was moments like this he hated the strict law on prohibited guns in most parts of Equestria. As much as he disapproved unnecessary blood shed outside of his job, he needed a way to defend himself. Sadly, it looked dark this time. He had probably made an enemy next to him and the other ones coming his way were too many to handle alone. He grit his teeth and looked at the empty glass that could serve him well.

“Hello, gentlecolts” he said with a wide smile without turning away from the bar. The stallions stopped right behind the only truly big one. A large earth pony with a dark shade of blue stepped forward, leaving only a hoof of distance between his sweaty chest and Red Gear's clothed back.

“Don't you 'hello' me, you filthy commie” he snorted, giving Red Gear a threatening look before turning to Spectrum. “You. Get away from this red-head piece of shit. All he talks about is socialist crap that nopony wants to hear about”.

Red Gear couldn't see what she did or what kind of expression she gave away. He sure felt alone right now, without any comrade to help him or any weapon to fend of his unwelcome crowd. He could only feel the cold touch of death caressing his shoulder, but something had to be done to avoid him from breaking this glass and slice open the stallion's throat. This wasn't his mission, he would be forced to erase all the words in his letter and rewrite that he didn't manage to return without casualties. In fact, this letter might not be able to make it back to his overseer at all.

“And I'm talking to you, commie!” the large stallion exclaimed and grabbed Red Gear's jacket. At that instant, he flipped the glass in his fetlock, aware that there was no other resort...

At once, all the stallions in the crowd widened their eyes in shock as the blue mare kicked away her chair and charged a swift move from below, sending a hoof packed with brutal force straight into the jaw of the large stallion. Stains of blood and broken teeth flew from the bruiser's mouth the moment before he struck the floor like a cut down tree, unconscious and leaking blood from his gums.

Red Gear slowly turned around with a huge expression of shock, unable to not stare with wide-open eyes at what just happened. Spectrum Slash was right next to him, giving him an angle to see what made the other stallions freeze in fear.

A murderous monster roamed inside the mare's eyes. Ferocious cravings for blood circled her pupils and spread contaminant strains of red lines over the white of her eyes. The air grew cold and fearsome, sending waves of killer instincts through he empty spaces between them.

“I... was talking to him...” she said coldly, sounding like her sanity had transformed into the pure madness of a psychopath. The little group of discouraged stallions didn't find any reasons to remain, not after seeing their leader get beaten down like nothing in an instant. But Spectrum's eyes weren't any calmer. On the contrary, a thirst for more blood radiated. The downed pony was still breathing, she intended to make sure to end it. Thus, she took a step forward and raised a hoof over the exposed neck. Red Gear frowned and was just about to jump from his chair...

In a flash, Spectrum threw her raised foreleg to the side, instantly getting blocked by the pony she actually aimed at. Red Gear was only half-way from his chair, thus only able to see who this new pony was. He didn't come from the group of other stallions, who now took their chance to run away.

Spectrum was on the edge of grinning, but once she stared into the dark depths of the tall pony's eyes, she turned the sinister curve upside down. Her world grew cold and lonely, she was abandoned in an unfathomable darkness where the air was thick and a strange pressure grasped her neck. Memories came back, the reasons behind her burst of rage. What made her the one she was. Her own horror grew unstable and leaked out from its hidings inside her head. Suddenly, the anger started to vanish.

Her blood thirst cooled down and her eyes slowly returned to normal as the murderous thoughts disappeared. She finally felt the suffocation end and she put down her hoof that just recently rested in the dark purple colt's grip. Before either Spectrum or Red Gear could react, a beige pegasus mare walked up from behind and looked at the bleeding stallion.

“Rough Knock. Suspect for rape and robbery murder” she said with a tone of satisfaction and then gave the tall pony next to her a glance. Without a word, he picked up the heavy body and laid it over his back. “As a thank you, I won't report your murder attempt to the guards” she finished and walked to the exit with the other one following her tightly. Spectrum kept staring at the door, panting lightly after that bizarre trip into her own head. She didn't look back at Red Gear, yet felt like asking him something.

“Who... who was that?” she asked.

Red Gear was relaxed again, especially when he understood that Spectrum wasn't going to pick a fight with the tall pony. As much as he didn't mind seeing him again, he sighed in disappointment.

“Somepony who would have been one of our best agent if it weren't for that shrink...” he said without making much more sense.

Spectrum shook her head to get rid of the remaining scraps of her recall, she wished to get back on the topic she and Red just talked about. She had unintentionally given the wrong signal after listening to a good portion of Red's story, and now was the time to get back on track and tell him about it. She was fully aware of what he spoke about: a violent regime that used secret operations to keep dissidents in order, all for the sake of a strong country and government. As much as it may involve more brutal methods to get your will through, she didn't consider that as a con. In fact, she loved it.

She turned towards her bar stool again and sat down, all ears to hear more about this ideal behind Red Gear's country. Of course, she saw more than just that, combining such an interesting ideal with good looks was more than enough to attract her. Once she sat down again, Red turned to her with a new sort of look in his eyes. He was impressed by the sheer force this mare used in a single punch, and even more satisfied with that murderous twinkle she practically screamed of during her outbreak. The loss of control was nothing he put much thought to, just a small setback that was easily compensated by several things. One of them was without doubt her undeniable beauty that covered her brutality like graceful petals. A killer beneath the charm, secret and efficient.

This mare known as Spectrum Slash had potential, a good amount of it too...

“So tell me more about yourself... and your government” she said and raised her hoof to order a drink for her and Red Gear from the indifferent bartender. He had kept his eyes on the ruckus, yet kept his calm by glancing at the shotgun under the counter every now and then. Luckily, the fight had ended well so he went back to his job.

Craving to do some impression on his newfound friend, he asked the bartender to put it on his bill, something Spectrum found more as a cliche to do... but none the less felt flattered about it. She was worried that showing the other side of herself would have frightened Red Gear, just like he had worried about his ideal doing the same to her. Against everything they expected, they now sat next to each other, told stories from their everyday life, laughed, befriended and even dared to throw some discreet flirts at each other. After a few hours of talking, Spectrum had to go to the bathroom, giving herself an opportunity to reflect on what she was going into. Red Gear remained on his seat with a smile, following Spectrum with his eyes until she disappeared behind the waving door.

He leaned back with a sigh, only to be caught open by the bartender.

“Looks like somepony is getting lucky tonight?” he asked with his hooves covered by a cloth inside an empty glass. Red Gear looked into the corner of his eyes and chuckled.

“Just making her acquaintance”.

The bartender snorted into a fit laughter. “Right! If I had just one bit for every time I heard something like that, lover boy” he said and put away the clean glass. Red Gear frowned with a blush. He was sure he had been more subtle than that...

Meanwhile inside the fillies' room, Spectrum washed her hooves to the background noise of a flushing toilet. She looked into the mirror and ran a wet hoof over her mane. Right after that, she caught herself realizing that she did it to look a tad better. She raised an eyebrow and asked herself why in Equestria she tried to look better than she already did, a question she didn't feel like answering. Just thinking about that handsome stallion in his green jacket and hearing his sooth voice was enough for her to feel the temptation of going back inside the stall and run a hoof through her warm marehood.

She opened her eyes wide when that though invaded her head, then smacked her cheek before walking out of the restroom. She met Red Gear with an awkward smile, answered by the exact same kind from him. She got back to her seat and cleared her throat, doing her best to stay calm.

“Ahem! So... I planned on asking, but I'm not sure if I should” she began shyly and tapped on her glass. Red Gear looked her deeply in the eyes, waiting for her to go on without assuming anything. “I was just wondering if perhaps, you know all that you talked about? Your job, the operations, the... 'messy' job you had...”.

“Yeah?”.

“Do you think there's... anything I could help with? Like, some empty spots to fill out?” she finally asked, glad with herself to get it out of the bag. She hoped for a positive response, but she had already figured that the government of Hooviet Union probably didn't expect mares to handle jobs like...

“Why, of course!” he answered happily, much to Spectrum's surprise. Red Gear pushed away his empty glass and leaned on the counter again, smiling with satisfaction. He loved the idea of finding a new prospect here in Ponyville even though he always had thought it was farfetched. Plus, if she would like to join him he could travel with her and spend some more time together.

“The HUSR is always welcoming congenial individuals no matter race, origin or gender. And now when I know you a little better, I dare say that I can offer you a job in the Hooviet Union” he assured.

“Really?” Spectrum asked with sparkles in her eyes, hardly believing what she heard. Of course, there was one more thing she had to find out before accepting this offer. “But... does it take long to get accepted? Don't I need someplace to live?”.

Red Gear rubbed his chin and shortly after that realized more about how perfect this opportunity was. He had to restrain a grin when speaking. “Well... if it's not too much, you can live in my home until further notice. I have some useful influence within the KGB so I'm sure they can put your request in the 'urgent-folder'...”.

Spectrum felt her heart beat a little faster when hearing these words. She welcomed the chance to work for such a promising government even though she had a few doubts about moving into the county. Not that she had a problem living in Hooviet Union... it was something else that troubled her. But that had to be put aside for now, she couldn't let the doubt get the better of her. Besides, maybe she could be lucky enough to follow Red Gear on his way home. And that was a chance she really didn't want to miss.

Red Gear glanced at Spectrum's extending foreleg. She smiled with the other hoof resting over her chest as she waited for the male to raise his own hoof.

“It's a deal, Red Gear”.

The mentioned one couldn't help but flashing a little crimson on his cheeks when seeing the adorable thing in front of him. It was exciting to know that she most of the time was so tough and ruthless, yet had the ability to express more feminine sides of herself. She had truly beautiful eyes, even outside of her murderous rage. Thus, he raised his hoof and met Spectrum's in a shake.

“Pfeh! Red love birds...” the bartender said to himself as he took another glass to clean...