To Run Away...

Chapter 19

  After about five minutes of flying through the sky, the three were finally able to reach the destination. It was another apartment building in the outer areas of the city. There, they met a young woman who owned the house. She was glad enough to let them in, and offer them some water; in which the trio happy enough to accept.

  The three, along with the woman would sit in the living room as all was quiet. Ivan was relieved that things were finally like that now. The only thing that was distracting him from getting even more, was the woman's grey hair and wrinkles. He would constantly glance at it with every sip he took from his glass. Finding it scary, he knew that he shouldn't ask, because he already knows why it's like that.

  The woman on the other hand, wasn't blind to see that. The sights of Ivan's glancing was annoying her, so she had to intervene.

"You know you don't have to hesitate on asking me." She said, pieces of youth in her voice.

"Huh?" He muttered, putting down the glass with fear in his mind. Trying to deny his actions, he replied. "Whaddaya mean?"

"You know, my hair, my face, my voice. You don't have to be afraid."

"I wasn't looking Miss Earnhart." he continued to dismiss.

"I can tell that you were."

"Uh, no I-"

"Ivan." Pierre interrupted. "Just let it go."

"I-" He stopped himself from saying anything else, and just let it be. "Fine."

  The woman sighed, "Those are the looks I get all the time from people. It's all thanks to Roger's body builders."

"Uh, I'm sorry if-"

"Shhh." Pierre shushed.

  Earnhart looked at the mirrored coffee table in front of her, moping over the face she now has to bare. "You three are lucky that you have Maribelle by your side. She isn't..."

  Her back began to ache as she struggled to get up from her chair. "... like... me."

  Snap!

  She collapsed onto the ground after her back began to crack. Pierre would get out of his seat to help her up.

"Thanks Pierre."

"Don't mention it, Lillian."

  She stood upright and paced her way towards the large radio near the window.

"Sometimes they help you." He pressed the radio's 'On/Off' button. "But most of the time, they hurt you."

  The song, "Old time religion" played as softly as possible.

"I wish my parents never came here in the first place." Lillian sat back down. "I would've not have crap like this showered on me."

  She looked out the window. "Life is short, isn't it?"

  Ivan tried to think of something to say, but his equine friend had his back. "Sometimes it feels lah'ke it."

"Hmm. Can't believe a pony would actually say that."

"Oh?" said Haystack.

"Many have known Equestria to be full of ponies who think of sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows all the time."

  Haystack sighed, looking at the grey skies out the window. "Well, you humans are mostly wrong, then."

"Hmm." She shrugged.

  The four took another drink from their cups once the silence returned.

"So, how did you come to think that?"

  Haystack looked up, and stared at her with timid eyes. "Comin' here."

"I can tell that that's not the only reason."

"Huh?"

  Ivan and Pierre joined in on the conversation, with Ivan being the eager one. They stared at Haystack as they waited for

"Uh... yeah, it isn't the only thing... but, I don't wanna talk about it."

  Ivan wanted to roll his eyes, but couldn't; because there was no point.

"Yeah... because no country's perfect."

  Haystack wanted to get up, and argue with her to wit's end about how Equestria is paradise. But didn't feel like it, he looked down, glared, and said. "No, I deserved it, that's all."

   The three looked at each other, questioning his view on his job via their eyes. And so, like any person would, they decided to move on from the conversation.

"So Lillian, did ze state give you your well deserved rations?" asked Pierre.

"Rations?"  asked Ivan.

"Yeah." She smirked. "No supermarkets round here."

  Meanwhile, Haystack continued to stay down, dazing at the red carpet as his heart beat slowly. Every pound would hurt like bee stings as he began to hallucinate. He was seeing grey as his drooped. A few seconds later, he began to see something else; and that something would overtake his sight. It was the city, and it was passing by with every beat. The vision was jumping over buildings and shooting oncoming troops with a familiar weapon. Then, it spoke in a quiet tone.

"I hope they're okay."

"Maribelle?" He whispered in conclusion. Then, he felt something tap his shoulder, completely shutting it off and returning his vision to normal. He looked to the right and noticed that Pierre and the others were looking straight at him again.

"Is everything alright?" asked Pierre.

"Uh, yeah... er, Lillian?"

"Yes, Haystack?"

"May... May I use your restroom?"

"Sure, follow me." She grinned.

  Haystack was the first to get up. However, it took longer for Lillian; only this time, she didn't need any help. Once they were in the hallway, it gave Pierre a chance to talk to Ivan.

"Do you think Haystack's alright."

  Worried and confused,  Ivan replied. "I don't know. Ever since that Maribelle girl showed up, he's been a little..."

"I know, I was there. But I'm asking about his mentality."

"What do you mean?"

"Ze pony is not... How should I put it?" He thought of something. "... He's not feeling well."

"Meh, don't worry." Ivan assured. "It's probably from the fact that he's another brainwashed Equestrian-"

"No, no, you don't understand. Haystack is not alright, because of ze fact that he has to stay here."

  He looked away, thinking of the concept. The fear of death in that cell, the intake of Gabe. It was proof, but he knew that ponies from Equestria are just like them, only different views on life. Haystack is like a guinea pig coming home, fresh from the pet store. He'll be spooked from the very first limit he lands his hoof on human land.

"I don't think so, Pierre." He clarified. "It's probably common for a pony to land on our soil without feeling hunky-dory."

"I insist, it isn't; and history will prove it."

  Ivan sighed, "Well sorry, I learned very little due to the teachers going on strike or going to the local church of Celestia for services."

"Damn, school's been affected as well."

"Yeah, since twenty-sixteen."

"Hmm."

  They sat quietly for a couple seconds before Ivan decided to resume it. "So, I'll keep an eye on him."

"Hope you do."

"Mmm Hmm."

  Then the silence returned, even as they drank their water.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"You alright in there?" called Lillian through the bathroom door.

  Then she heard the flush.

"Yeah, nothin' wrong." Haystack called back. "Ah'll be out in no tah'me."

"Swell."

  In the restroom, Haystack was no longer feeling dizzy from that experience. He headed towards the sink and prepared to wash his hands.

"Ugh, Ah guess ah just needed to use the bathroom, that's all." He whispered to himself as he pushed the soap pump down. While the soap was landing on his hoof, he began to look at the mirror. "Why did I do this?"

  The tan pony standing before him was as depressed as he was, but he needed to know that it's for he and his family's own good. He began to lather his hooves as he tried to get that thought away from him. All he wanted to do was get the hell out of here and head back to ponykind, before the cruelties of humanity get to him. Once his hooves were covered in suds, he twisted the handle and let the water out. He looked up and noticed the bright light beaming over his eyes. It made him feel weary again after it nearly blinded him. Looking down, there was someone different in the reflection now. An elderly mare was now looking at him with angry fiery eyes.

"When?" She asked.

"Uh, g-granny?" His eyes widened, the sight of her was already filling him with fear.

"When are ya comin' home?"

"Uh..." Conforming with his hallucinations, he answered. "Ah.... ah don't know... G-granny... ah."

"When Sinner? When!"

"Ah... ah... ah." His vision began to fade into darkness, "Ah.. don't... ah..."

  He then fell backwards and slammed his back on the door.

Boom! SLAM!!

"Whoa!!" Lillian was quick to react, she jumped to the side before the breaking door could knock her over.

Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!

"What happened?" asked Ivan upon their arrival.

  Lillian lifted one of his forelegs in order to check for a pulse. "He's alive, only passed out."

"Damn, Ivan, got any of those syringes?"

"Mmm Hmm." He padded his coat to find them, none were found. "What the..."

  He searched into the pockets of his bullet proof vests, again, nothing. "Son of a bitch, I thought I had more than that."

"Drat." Lillian then lifted herself off the ground and stood up, holding onto her hip to maintain it's balance. "Ivan, help me carry him to my room, he needs a little rest."

"Uh, You sure about that? I don't think you're in the right-"

  Bothered by his complaining, she moaned. "Just help me lift him up ."

"Alright." He rushed over to the bathroom entrance. There, he grabbed Haystack from the left flank and hind-leg. "Ready."

"Good, on the count of three."

  Ivan nodded.

"One. Two. Three!"

  Their arms lifted upwards as the weight of Haystack's body resisted.

"Damn, Errgh, How heavy are they?" Ivan wondered despite the dimness in that issue. "Ugh, Pierre, help-. Huh?"

  Lillian's grunts were getting louder as her veins lit up into a bright scarlet red. In a few seconds flat, she had the strength to carry Haystack with only her two hands.

  Getting out of the bathroom, Ivan said. "What the hell is-"

"Impressive huh?" Pierre said, both with joy and sympathy. "Thanks to ze body builders."

  They followed her into the room. There, she gently put Haystack on her bed. Luckily, the bed's support didn't break, nor did the bed itself crush through the floor.

"Ngh, Ah!" Lillian whimpered. She held onto her heart as she kneeled against the wall, struggling to regain consciousness.

  Without wasting time, Pierre ran over to her, and helped her up.

"Thanks." She looked at Haystack's knocked out body once she was back on her feet. "It's best that we leave him alone."

  Without arguing, Ivan agreed. "Yep."

  The two were then led out the door, leaving the pony as so.

  Down the hall, Pierre continued with his claim. "I'm telling you, Ivan."

"Alright. I already told you, I'll keep an eye on him."

"Fine. Starting when he's on-"

"Ugh, yes!"

"Mmm... mmm...." Alice sighed while opening her eyes, "Huh?"

  She sat up and looked around, "What... what... happened?"

"You were shot in the stomach by subject A1." Redmond explained, as he and two shotgun wielding guards walked into the room, "And you passed out."

"Huh? ... Who?"

"A little girl who's been fleeing from the state for two years now."

"Uh... oh... And... why is... ugh..." She looked out the window, hoping that her mind could recover through looking at the cityscape, "... why are they looking for a little girl named subject A1?"

  Redmond rolled her eyes. "Do you even remember how she shot you?"

"Ugh, no... I've been knocked out for hours now." He looked back towards Redmond. "... how am I going to know?"

"Vanessa's troops were able to acquire surveillance from the location you were shot at." He then walked over to the window and looked at the distant Doof tower. "Sadly, they're not going to give it to us... yet."

"So why say that a-"

  Redmond stopped her, "We managed to acquire photos from a small restaurant's surveillance camera."

  He took out the photos and handed them over to her. One of the photos was of her being shot while Maribelle was in the air, "What the hell?"

"Did that little girl do that to me?"

  Redmond sighed. "Yes. You don't remember much, don't you?"

  She shook her head.

"Ugh, well, this girl's real name is Maribelle. She's marked by the state as Subject A1."

"Yeah, you already told me that."

"Mmm Hmm, she shot you, and escaped from your sight. Then Vanessa was dumb enough to send two platoons in order to try to capture or kill her. Sadly, the little brat wiped out three-forth of the platoons before getting a clean getaway."

"Wow, dangerous little girl." She smirked.

"Yep, and now, we at RED have placed a bounty on her head."

"Good."

"And you'll be the one leading the operation to find her."

"What?!" She shouted, willing to sacrifice her heart rate in order to express her distraught.

"Consider this a little side-quest while you go and hunt the 'infiltrators' for their little package."

"But why me? That girl's is dangerous!"

  He rolled his eyes. "Alice, you're hunting for a teenage boy and a teenage stallion who put fifty plus state troops in body bags. Why are you complaining about a little girl who's doing the same?"

  She had to take that into consideration. So, she abided by his argument. "Err, fine. Any more information about 'Subject A1'?"

  Redmond said nothing, and turned around. Then. he and his guards headed for the door.

"Uh, Redmond?"

"That's all... make your own interpretation." Then his crew left the room.

  Annoyed, she laid back on her bed, and moaned in frustration.

*  -  *

  *  -  *

"WHEN!!"]

  Haystack's eyes opened at the sound of that. In front of him now, was the sight of grey, overwhelming his sight. It made him feel as if he was in one of those movies back home. Still, he already knew that it wasn't one. It was yet another nightmare.

"Granny? Applejack? Applebloom?" He looked around the gloomy world, trying to find them, "Where are you?"

"Sinner... sinner... sinner..."

  He could hear them. The crowd scolding him for his mistake. He galloped even faster and scurried around the barn for them. Noticing that they weren't there, he went inside. Entering the barn, he noticed that the doors slammed behind them and chants of fire grew louder.

"WIPE AWAY THE DEBT TO WIPE AWAY HIS SINS!!!" One of them yelled.

  Turning around, he tried to foolishly shoo them away by yelling out, "LEAVE US ALONE, YOU IGNORANT BASTARDS!!!"

  He trotted towards the stairs and ascended them. Upon reaching the second floor, he checked every room; only to find that no one was inhabiting them. The music box was still playing its sweet tune out loud. It was enough to lull him into singing for awhile, "Just let her go; that's what they tell me, every time...""

"WHEN, SINNER!"

  He stopped his singing trance, and galloped down the stairs. Now on the first floor, he noticed that three shadows of different sizes were waiting there. All of them were female, and looking at him with glaring red eyes.

"When are ya comin' home?" said the medium sized one in a monstrous voice.

  Scared, he took a few steps back. That made the shadows take a few steps forward.

"Ya didn't have to go, big brother." said the little one in the same voice as the other.

  Then, something stopped him from going any back. He looked behind him, and recognized the human little girl shaped silhouette in front of her. Her yellow eyes looked up at him and said softly. "Ya didn't have to do this."

"But... ah ... ah... did it... fer..."

"THERE ARE NO EXCUSES!!!" The shadows then lunged at him with rage. This made him shriek like a little girl as he braced for cover.

"Huh?" He grunted, opening eyes once more. All he could see now, was color returning to him once more. The first one was dark blue, coming from the window. Looking out of it, he noticed that it was raining, and the clouds were darker than before. He then looked over to the drawer next to it and noticed that it was already seven fifty-nine in the evening; according to the device called the digital clock. Haystack would sigh at the sight of that, wondering how the hell did he get here. "Ugh, at least they gave me a place to rest."

  The rest of the room was dark, making feel a bit at home. Back on the farm, he was used to the darkness in his room. On the other hand, the fact that there are no lights in a very metropolitan city made him feel a bit... odd. Since the first day he set foot on Danville's evening skies. He wondered why a city with such great technology not have lights. He knew that humanity was much better than that. They have some of the largest cities in all the planet and those cities were filled with them. Cities back home even had lights. Well, not artificial lights, but they had them. The fact that this city is not one of them, made him feel more homesick than ever. He just wanted to go back home, where he could feel more secure about stuff like this. However, since he first landed on human soil, he always thought that this was Celestia's personal punishment towards him.

   Then, the sound of music made him jump in surprise. I guess the digital clock had an alarm that played music. For that matter, it had an alarm set for eight PM. The music playing was another one from back when humanity's music was a bit... alive. Before their technology overcame voice and was used as a tool to garner money instead of talent. He knew the artists that were playing, they played a nice Jazzy tune as the male singer sang in a language that wasn't Equine. He never knew what the hell was he saying, but the female singer after him would get his back, singing the lyrics in his language. With that, he lied back on the bed, closed his eyes, and listened to it like a mare in a spa.

  Then, he heard the sound of a doorknob clang. It was then followed by the sound of a creaking door.

"Haystack?" The voice said softly. "You up?"

  Reluctant to do so, he sat up and responded. "Yeah, wh'ah?"

"Oh." He sighed in relief. "No reason, you were knocked out while in the bathroom so we brought you here so you can rest."

"Huh?" He gasped. "But, but how?"

  Ivan shrugged, "I don't know, you were the only one there. So how can we tell?"

"Yer rah'ght." He looked out the window again, listening to the rain as it fell from the sky, "What have you been doin' since then?"

"Nothing really. We just sat down and waited for you to wake up."

"Uh, wh'ah didn't ya use yer syringes?"

"You mean the ones that revived you out of consciousness?"

  He nodded.

"Oh, I'm out of those." He revealed. "For an earth pony stallion, I expected that you'd be a lot stronger than that."

  He looked down in shame.

"Whoa, don't be sorry, man." Ivan comforted. "I was just saying."

"Yeah." He said somberly. "Ah just feel-"

"Don't be, man. Keep feeling sorry, and it'll slowly kill you."

"Mmm Hmm." He grimaced.

  Ivan couldn't help but feel the same as he approached the nightstand.

"So, did you have a good day sleep?"

"Huh? Don't ya mean good nah'ght?"

"Well, it was day time when you were knocked out, and-"

  Being able to comprehend what he's saying, he cut him off. "Oh, yeah, yeah, that's what ya meant."

"Yep. So, did you?"

"Mmm Hmm... it was nah'ce. Plus, ah lah'ke the way the music woke me up."

"Huh, is it one of your favorites?"

"Yeah."

"Huh, you Equestrians love our music, but you rarely want to share with us about yours."

  Haystack chuckled a little. "It's just to keep our culture safe, that's all."

"Meh, I don't think it is safe."

"Whaddaya mean?" Haystack began to build suspicion from that.

  Recognizing his tone of voice, Ivan decided to evade another argument. "Nothing."

"That's what ah thought."

  The two then stayed there in silence as the rain and music took over.

"Ah'van?" Haystack asked, his aggression gone.

"Yeah?"

"Did ya fah'nd a tape recorder at the news station."

"Yeah, how did you know."

"Just askin'. Ah guess people love to record their lah'ves here."

"Actually, this one's from the old president here."

"Really?"

"Just listen." He took out the tape recorder from his pocket and pressed play.

  It started with the applause of many before it would fade and make way for the speech.

"In the society outside our Utopia, they expect us to do two things, work smart, or work hard! Be in command of your own life, or be inferior to the commander!" Roger's voice called with pride. "Everyone seems to go for the obvious one, which is to work smart! But, after they had to go through many trials to get there, they end up hopelessly finding a way to do so. and end up going no where! So, they settle for the 'work hard' choice instead! Some are successful however, but most aren't! That's what the lions in Washington, Moscow, and every nation in Europe want from you; to gamble with your lives and see if you'll be successful, or a complete failure! Here in our nation, you won't have to worry about wasting your time! Here, you'll grow with confidence that your future will be bright, instead of wondering if it'll be bright or dim! The common man isn't playing a game of Monopoly, but he or she is walking down the yellow brick road... to destiny."

  The audience clapped in joy again, then the click signaled the recording's end.

"Hmm, nice speech." complemented Haystack.

"Yep... you ponies must be real lucky."

"Whaddaya mean?"

"I mean, when you get your 'Cutie mark', all of Equestria knows that that's what you're destined to be. There's nothing that can stop you. Here, we don't know if what we're doing is right or wrong... and there are people bound to prevent you from becoming that right or wrong thing." He walked over to the window. "They tell you to be a business man, a doctor, a scientist... but you don't want to be those things. With you and that sickle on your flank, no one's... I mean nopony is telling you what you can or can't be."

  Haystack looked under the covers and began to stair at the sickle. He knew that that wasn't his actual mark, but he knew where Ivan's getting at.

  Ivan sighed as he watched the rain fall. "When I go home, I don't know what I'm gonna do after this. When you go home, you're gonna tend to your farm along side your family and live a nice life... all because you don't have to do any gambling."

  Haystack looked up, he felt that lucky feeling in his head; but in his heart, he felt nothing but shame and pity.

"Ivan!?" Pierre shouted.

  Once he heard his name, Ivan ran over to door and called back. "Yeah?"

"Is he awake?"

"Of course!"

"Good, now, can you both come here?"

"We'll see!" He then turned to Haystack. "Can you get up?"

"Ah'm already-"

"No, as in stand on your feet."

"Oh, rah'ght." Slowly, he sat up on the bed and placed his hooves on the floor. It didn't take much work, but the two realized that Haystack wasn't down no more.

"Sweet, what a quick recovery."

"Thanks."

"Alright, now let's go."

  The two walked down the hall of the room. While that happened, Haystack began to feel his heart beating again. It wasn't as painful as the last time, and like that time, he disregarded it, and hid it from their sight.

"Yes, you guys?"

  Lillian's attention quickly turned to Haystack. "Oh, you're alright, good for you."

"Uh, thanks." He grinned, appreciative at her compliment. "So, wh'ah call us?"

"Troy called, and he wants to speak to you." Pierre called from the table where the phone was at.

  Immediately, the two walked over there.

  Once they were there, Pierre barely realized that his comrade was alright, so he said. "Oh, and welcome back Haystack."

"Thank you."

"Uh, hello?" called Ivan.

"Where the hell is she?!" Troy shouted, making everyone in the room bounce in surprise.

"Whoa, you mean Maribelle?"

"Yes her! Lotus sent me a messenger and he told me that the little girl was gone! Not only that, she stole one of their weapons, along with the ammo for it!"

"Ugh, it wasn't our fault! The little girl just came to us and-"

"I know that, you knuckleheads!"

"Then why yell at us for it?!"

"Because she's subject A1, and with her on the loose, she'll have the whole country looking for you guys!"

  Haystack heard that loud and clear, and he knew that he had to act. "Ah'van, can you hand me the phone please?"

"Uh." He turned back to Troy. "Haystack wants to talk to you, can he?"

"Oh, uh, yeah, put him on the phone." He calmed down.

"Uh, here Haystack." Ivan handed him the phone and placed it against his ear.

"Ah'van, we ponies can hold on to it fah'ne."

"Ok then." He let go.

"Uh, hello?"

"Errgh, I'm not going to yell at you, because I hate being angry for a long while." He paused for a breath of air. "So, I'm going to be clear with you... How did Maribelle get to you?"

"Ah... don't know."

"Ugh, WHY don't you know?"

"She just... arrah'ved at the news station and shot everyone on sah'ght. Then she just left us whah'le shootin' at some lady."

  There was another pause, "Wait, she then left you guys... and what lady?"

"Ah don't know. We had to leave the moment she jumped off the buildin'."

  Another pause, "Damn it, that girl's causing a whole lot of havoc, isn't she?"

"Uh..."

"Look, I don't know what the hell's going on with her, but I want you to go out and find her, now! Once you have her in custody, call me."

"But sir-."

Click!

  Haystack facehooved himself in disappointment.

"So, we're going to find her?" Ivan asked.

  He placed the phone on the table. "Yes."

"And we have to call him once we find her, right?"

  His heart began to painfully again. "No."

  The colors in his sight began to dull before returning back to normal. Once feeling better, he headed for the door.

"Uh, why not?" asked Pierre.

  He opened the door, and took his Air-grabber out.

"Haystack, why not?" Ivan raised his voice, questioning why he was ignoring the question.

  The rain gently touched his fur as he aimed it at the clouds that were letting it free.

  Not going to let his buddy jump out into the cityscape, Ivan walked over to him and grabbed him by the soldier, "Answer me."

  He stood silent, and pulled the trigger.

Tw-wch!

  Zzzzzzz!

"Damn it." He muttered. "C'mon Pierre, we have to catch up to him!"

"On it!" He replied.

"Wait!" Lillian shouted. "Take this!"

  She ran towards him and handed him a bottle of glowing yellow liquid.

"Uh, what's this?"

"No time, just follow him."

"Alright."

"Go Now!!"

  He nodded before getting his gadget out and firing the rope. Pierre would follow; leaving Lillian to wave at them from the doorway.

"Told you that something is wrong with-."

"Would you kindly stop telling me that!? All I want to do is find Haystack, the girl, and goddamn Silver fox!!"

  Pierre said nothing after that, and the two continued to go after their fleeing pony.

  It took a short while before they were able to catch up to him, but now the task at hand was to reach him.

"Ivan, being that you're his partner, I recomm-"

"Alright, alright, stop your bitching!" He shouted back.

"Excuse me, sir?!" He snarled, repulsed at his response.

"No time!"

Tw-wch!

  Zzzzzz!

  He was now far away from Pierre, but he wasn't any close to Haystack. He then prepared to fire another longshot.

"Alright, I hope I don't end up flying like Haystack did." He muttered.

Tw-wch!

  The rope flew far out of the gun, the tip flying towards the pony's back. The moment it was aligned at the right position, Ivan pressed the button, and let the device pull him through the sky. His lips tugged back as the air pushed them. However, as Ivan approached Haystack, he noticed that he wasn't going to catch up to him, more like fly past. So, he braced for his next move. He extended his right arm and grabbed onto his back.

"Whoa!" Haystack shouted. "What the-!?"

  He noticed that Ivan now had him under his control and was about to set themselves down on another rooftop. He couldn't let him do that, but at the same time, he couldn't stop him from doing so. He had to find Maribelle, and Ivan was the wall between them.

  The two then landed on the ground.

"Now, Haystack." Ivan said while his feet acted as his landing wheels. "Can you explain why-"

Tw-wch!

  Zzzzzzzzzz!

"What the hell?" He looked up, and noticed that Haystack had already took off. "Hey, get back here!"

  And so, along side a worried Pierre, they continued their chase.

  Meanwhile, Haystack's heart continued to beat as he raced across the sky as he continued his search. Then, as he was looking at the night sky, a pair of eyes appeared in his sight. They were grey, and the ones of a child, and he knew exactly who it was.

"Haystack!" Suddenly, he heard it again. Maribelle was now speaking, only this time, to him personally. "Can you hear me?"

"Maribelle?"

"Find me." She uttered. "Hurry!"

  The voice, and the pair of eyes then dissolved from his mind.

"Okay, Ah know Ah'm gettin' close." He thought, before suddenly feeling the beating in his heart grow faster. "Wait, Ah'm already there."

  His head began to tingle, telling him to go right... and so, he obeyed.

  Ivan was quick to notice that. It gave him a chance to reach him through a diagonal shortcut. With that, he was able to catch up to Haystack once again. However, he chose not to catch him as if he were a net.

"Haystack, what the hell? Stop this instant!"

  The stubborn pony lowered his Air-grabber towards another rooftop.

Tw-wch!

  Zzzzzzzzzz!

  He descended down, and landed on the rooftops safely. Ivan and Pierre would repeat.

"Haystack, please answer my question." Ivan demanded. "Why the hell aren't we going to-"

  The stallion ignored it, and proceeded to take out his Machina. He then went prone, and looked through its scope. "She's over there."

"That doesn't answer my-"

"But it does answer the question on where Maribelle's at!" He shouted back, angry at his tone. "So be happy!"

  They stood there, and let the rain do its thing. The pony has been acting strange ever since he found that little girl, he has even gone far as to ignore his own comrade, and even disobey the humans he's supposed to be trusting. Still, that isn't an excuse as to why he won't answer. There's a reason he's doing all of this; and right now, they needed to reason with how are they going to prevent chaos in the group.

"Yes, we are." Ivan was successful in not letting his emotions get the best of him, so he proceeded. "But tell me, why aren't we going to call Troy once we have her?"

  He lied there, quiet, unwilling to respond.

"You didn't tell us why over there, so tell us now, or we won't..."

  Then, he noticed it ; he realized that the pony was looking a bit depressed on this issue. As if he didn't want to talk about it yet again. But Ivan wasn't going to let that stop them from continuing.

"... proceed with the objective at hand."

"Fah'ne then, You both can go back to that old hag's house whah'le ah continue with the mission." He talked back.

"Gosh, what a come back." Pierre muttered, looking through his binoculars.

"Damn it Haystack! Can you just tell me why we're not going to obey half of Troy's damn orders? What is it what?! Does the girl have some special powers or something, that you need? Is Troy going to take her and kill her or something and you don't want her to die? Does that girl remind you of home? What? Tell me!"

  He said nothing, all he wanted to do was to get to her and keep her from harm.

"Ivan, just let ze pony be." Pierre whispered.

"What? But you just told me to keep-"

"Well, this isn't ze time to do it. Look." He handed him the binoculars, in which Ivan decided to look through without hesitation.

  In it, they managed to found the little girl, only she was restrained by two men in tuxedos. She was doing her best to break free from them, but it was no use. The men, then took her inside via a door and shut it closed.

"Who the hell are they?"

"Beats me." said Pierre. "Could be anyone. State politicians, RED businessmen or agents. Who knows."

"So, are we goin' to stop our arguin'?" said Haystack.

  Rolling his eyes, Ivan agreed. "Fine, sorry."

"Apology accepted."

  Then Ivan turned to the matter at hand. "Pierre, where's that at?"

"'Ze museum of our Utopia'. That's what they call it."

"Great, we're going to raid a museum."

"Mmm hmm."

"So, what's stopping us from heading over-"

  The two pointed in front of them, this made Ivan use the binoculars again to see why. "Bummer, troops are having a stakeout there."

"And it seems that they're heading this way. When ze troops have a stakeout, they'll send a entire platoons to do so."

"That explains a lot." Ivan muttered.

  The rain took over again, but not for long.

"So, what do we do now?" said Haystack.

'Rappel down there." asked Pierre.

"How? We don't have anything-"

"Our Air-grabbers work as Rappel tools."

"Huh, you're right." said Ivan, as they lowered themselves down the building.