January, the birth of a new year. The year was 1974, a usual year. For most ponies in the Solar Empire, this was nothing but a milestone in how long they've simply been, or merely a timer 'till their demise.
For NightShadow this year was like no other; as this was the one he stole his first ring. He was only ten years of age at the time: a young colt? Certainly. He was just strolling down the dark slimy streets of
Fillydelphia. The cobblestones felt wet under his hooves, time to time he slipped and hit the cobbling-stones with a thud. NightShadow was disappointed he couldn't be like his role-models,
The Maricates. They stole all sorts of things, gold ingots, steel bars... They even robbed entire banks!
NightShadow felt something inside of him, he had this feeling before; he called it his "Theft Sense", he always got this feeling when someone with something valuable walked by him. He looked around, a few moments later he found the source. A rich pegasus was walking down the street. He doesn't look like he could care, thought NightShadow. He examined the pegasus, slowly looking for something-- Aha! He had a gold ring slipped on to his left wing. The beautiful gold shined in the light, NightShadow knew he needed it. "But how am I going to steal it?" he whispered. The stallion then looked around with a bit of concern all of a sudden. NightShadow was afraid the stallion heard him, if he did his entire operation would be ruined! He waited... the stallion then continued walking.
The sneaky colt then silently let out a breath. "Alright, what do I have to work with here?" He looked around the alleyway he was hiding in. A lead pipe sat inconspicuously next to a dumpster. NightShadow shook the idea out of his mind, "I don't want to kill him, I just want his ring." There was a paper bag thrown next to a drain. NightShadow trotted up to it and looked inside, a mirror. "Aha! If I can distract him with the beam of light I can make with this I have a window of opportunity to snatch his ring and run!"
As he trotted back into the street, NightShadow noticed that the stallion hadn't gone far. He was walking rather slowly, like if he went any faster he would keel over and die. NightShadow walked behind him and shined the mirror at a metal plate in front of the stallion. He stopped and looked at it, bent over and picked it up. He raised his wings in suspicion, now was NightShadow's chance. NightShadow slipped it of his wing slowly and gently. Careful...careful he screamed in his mind. He couldn't mess up now. YES! he managed to get it off. NightShadow then silently backed into the alley and scurried off into the damp alleyways. As he trotted about he examined the ring. The clever colt was no jeweler so he couldn't pin an exact price on it, but he estimated 2,000 Bits. NightShadow laughed to himself, thinking what he could buy with this.
NightShadow cantered about the city, closely guarding the ring in his saddlebag. The time seemed about 7:00PM, the sky darkening ominously. Many ponies walked at a brisk pace down the walkways, there was probably another Grand Galloping Gala soon. NightShadow thought about the Galas, they've been having them since 1888, at least, he thought. He was too busy to notice a police pony nearing him. NightShadow mindlessly walked into the officer, then stumbled. He didn't know it was a mistake and ran instinctively, thinking the officer knew he stole the ring. The officer, seeing this as some sort of crime, chased after Night. NightShadow looked behind him and saw the officer in pursuit; he had to think of something to get him off his tail.
The officer drew his pistol and shouted, "Police, Stop!".
The thieving NightShadow was mortified. Is this how it ended? Wait, no! He had an idea. NightShadow sprinted into the alleyway he was first at and grabbed the lead pipe. He then charged at the officer, knocking him unconscious with the brute force of the pipe. NightShadow knew he couldn't stick around, that was armed assault on an officer. He sprinted out of the area and found a dumpster to make his new home for the night.
The tired colt awoke to the noise of ponies yelling and gunfire. Dear Luna! he thought. He poked his head out of the dumpster and saw some gangster-looking ponies running away from some officers. Remembering last night, a scared NightShadow quickly retreated his head back into the dumpster. He looked around inside the metal unit. Ale bottles, wooden planks, paper bags. NightShadow then thought, Could those be The Maricates that just went by, being chased by the police? He couldn't help but raise his wings in excitement at the thought.
Carefully he peeked out the dumpster and saw that the surrounding area seemed clear enough. He slowly climbed out, but he got stuck as the lid slammed on his tail. He was dangling about half a metre off the ground. He cried as the lid pulled on his tail; the pain was excruciating. He heard someone and tried to stop crying, but he couldn't. A large earth pony stallion trotted towards him. He was wearing a thick leather coat and black boots. A distinctive "thunk", was made with each step. NightShadow looked around for something to help him escape, but it was too late. The stallion picked up NightShadow and dropped him down forcefully.
"What are you doing?" the stallion shouted at him.
"I-I-uh..", started NightShadow. Rats, he couldn't think of anything.
Another stallion trotted around the corner. "What do we have here?" he asked ominously.
"Caught this filly stuck in this here dumpster." the other said. NightShadow scrambled up and tried to run but he was caught again, this time by the other stallion.
"Where y'all think yer goin'?" he asked, a southern accent evident.
"I'm not a filly; I want to go home!" NightShadow said nervously. The truth is he was homeless.
"I don't think paps or mommy are gonna be seein' you soon."
That's all NightShadow could hear before he was hit by something and knocked out.
NightShadow wandered in his dream; he was in the meadows outside Ponyville. He walked up to a stream and looked at it. The flowing water was soothing and small pebbles at the bottom seemed as if they glowed. NightShadow woke up drenched in water. He was laying on the wet sand of a beach, somewhere. As far as he remembered the closest coast to Canterlot was... Manehatten. NightShadow rolled in the sand and got up.
Wow! he shouted to himself.
Shaking his mane, NightShadow looked around, noticing that the sun rising over the beach was reflected in the water. He took some time to enjoy the aesthetics of nature but was quickly stopped by the realization of where he was. When he looked around more, he saw a pier in the distance. He quickly ran towards it, the wet sand sloshing about as he trotted over it. As he neared he saw a submarine next to the pier. It had some large cyan text printed on it, New Lunar Republic. Wow! he thought. A real NLR Submarine. It was floating about 50 metres off the shore, rendering the idea of swimming to it impossible. Night knew the sub was a relic of the 1970 war between the government of the Solar Empire and its violent rebels. Using nuclear weapons and submarines, the rebels were able to conquer parts of the Solar Empire, almost reaching Manehatten. The rebels then formed their own nation, called the New Lunar Republic. Why am I fascinated by the NLR? wondered NightShadow. When the rebels took over the coastal cities, my parents wound up dead. NightShadow was a mere six years old at the time, an orphan with no living relatives, no home, and no money. If my parents hadn't been killed by the rebels, he thought, I probably wouldn't be a thief today.
NightShadow decided to head downtown, away from the sad reminder. As he cantered along, he saw buildings in the distance, no further than a kilometre away. Encouraged, he sprinted towards them, though he was exhausted. He was halfway there when he was almost scared to death by a speeding train roaring by. GAH! His mane rose, blown up by the draft only a hoof length away. They don't have these at home!
About ten minutes later he reached the city and scaled a chain-link fence into someone's yard.
"Get out!" screamed a mare.
NightShadow ran to the other side of the yard and out the gate into the street. An automated bus passed. This city is so cool!
He trotted around, realizing how hungry he was. Soon he forgot his hunger and remembered his ring. Do I have the ring on me? He checked. Ha! They didn't check my saddlebag! He held the ring and ran towards a jeweler. The usual stereotypical bell on the door rang as he opened it and stepped inside. Classy mares and stallions loitered about inside the store, all examining useless necklaces or rings. He looked for the clerk. The clerk stood at the desk, wearing a fancy black tuxedo with a red tie.
"Mister?" NightShadow asked.
"Ah, yes?" the clerk looked around and didn't see little Night, who wasn't tall enough to be seen behind the desk. The clerk looked downwards on the other side of the desk, merely by chance. "Ah." He said, a bit disappointed that a colt was there, probably asking for a candy or something.
"I would like to sell this," announced NightShadow as he held up the ring.
The clerk was surprised that a colt like Night had a ring like that. "How did you get that?" The clerk asked nervously.
"I didn't steal it, if that's what you're implying." NightShadow remarked. He was proud of himself for being so bold.
"I didn't imply you did. I just wanted to know how a colt got an expensive ring.." The clerk stumbled.
"My mommy gave it to me before she died," NightShadow said in a mournful voice. He doesn't know I fabricated that story.
"My apologies, sir." The clerk proceeded to examine the ring. "Ah, fine gold this is."
"What do you estimate it is worth?" Night asked.
"I'd say approximately 3,000 Bits."
That's more than enough to get me back to Canterlot and feed me for a month, NightShadow thought. He remained silent, enjoying the moment deeply. He fought to survive, and any money he could get his hooves on in any way meant survival. We all need to survive. Without survival, we'd all be dead. I could have fun with the bits I'll get for the ring, but I am going to save them.
"I'll get the bits in exchange for the ring." The clerk fumbled with some keys and opened a silver-laced box. The clerk proceeded to hand over 3,000 Bits. Night gave him the ring and trotted off with the bits. NightShadow could have sworn he saw classy ponies gawking at how a colt got a hold of that type of money. Night stared at the golden bits as they shined in the light. A embossed version of Canterlot Castle was imprinted on one side with a motto underneath it, "Britanniarum sub sole."
Night wandered the busy city, going in a western direction. He was awed. There were many beautiful buildings with headers on them and various advertisements for brands and musicians. He looked at a sign which looked interesting to him. "Lunaris Hotel" That sounds like a rich pony's hotel. I would love to stay there, I could probably steal another ring or two there; but I want to make Canterlot before sunset. I don't really want to stay here even one night because some traitors who help the NLR live here.
The streets were busy with agressive drivers, all wanting the same thing; to get the hell out of traffic. Night coughed as the fumes from a diesel "semi" passed him carrying a large tank of petrol on the back. Crystal Petrol, read the side in large grey text. He soon found a train station. He was amazed, the large plaza next to it had a beautiful gold coloured circle in the centre. As Night stepped into the station he noted how the behaviour of other ponies had changed. No longer were these upper-class ponies. They were mere middle and low class ponies, scrambling about and fumbling with train tickets. He trotted through the noisy, rowdy, crowd and found a ticket kiosk.
"One for Canterlot!" he stated, attempting to make himself heard.
"That train departed- right about now," the kiosk owner said.
Shit! He whipped himself around and saw the train and ran after it, dodging all the hordes of obstructions that made his path almost impossible to navigate. I must get to Canterlot tonight! The Fillydelphia law enforcement won't look for me there. Anyway, there will be a lot more rings and, hell, even diamonds to steal from the ponies on the train. He was gaining on the train. Obviously it isn't going full speed. He ran faster and faster, oblivious to his surroundings. The caboose was about two metres away from him, and he leaped with all his might and got a grip on the railing. He struggled climbing over it. Damn, why does this have to be two metres tall? He finally made his way over it and laid down on the metallic flooring.
After a bit of rest he opened the door and observed his surroundings. There were crates stacked up along the sides with random labels on them, most of them were flour and sugar. NightShadow casually cantered into one of the passenger train cars. Classy ponies were scattered about in their seats, speaking with notable British accents.
"Ah, as you can clearly see, I moved the rook in such a way that your pawn is stuck!"
"Yes, my good chap, that was indeed a good move! But I move my queen here, and... Checkmate!"
"Dear! You're a professional!
I've never been beaten as fast as that! I don't suspect you're cheating?"
Night stopped listening and trotted down the aisle. Beautiful paintings were hung along the textured walls. Night read a few of the captions. Sunset la Ponyville, Das Wunder Falls, Mare-a-Lisa. The paintings were truly wonderful but he had to get to Canterlot. If I could only get my hooves on one of these, I would be set for life. These rich mares and stallions have plenty enough. As he pondered, he bumped into a grey mare.
"How irreverent of you!" NightShadow didn't know what that word meant, but didn't care. He barely glanced at her. He just kept calm and trotted into another passenger car.
"Gad, this tea is bloody dreadful."
He noted the attire had changed, the ponies were wearing pitch black suits and ties.
"I hear that the NLR is losing the war."
"Well, that's good news."
"What isn't now-a-days?"
These accents were really annoying Night because they were rich ponies' accents. In the poorer part of Canterlot, Night and his friends spoke in slang with "Urban" accents. Night remembered a good phrase was "Gimme 'DAT, son." Night may not have liked their accents, but he did like their paintings. One was called Sonnenuntergang über Ozean. That was an amazing name. NightShadow had picked up a few languages fairly quickly when he was very young and knew that "Sonnenuntergang über Ozean" meant "Sunset over Ocean" in Ponmen.
The train, after what seemed like an eternity, stopped at Ponyville Station. Some of the ponies got off, giving Night a good area to sit in. Surprisingly, one of the mares stopped him.
"I didn't see you get on from the station platform."
Night was insulted and quickly answered, "Don't be bloody stupid. It's hard to miss a colt boarding a train."
He faked his best British accent, emphasizing the word "bloody".
The pony stumbled, "You are right, I-.." *ahem* "I apologise."
Night felt a bit better, now that the train had started moving again.
He looked at the mare who had started conversation; she had a grey coat. It was the same snobby pony he had bumped into earlier, he now realized. She now looked down at her hooves in embarrassment.
Night then made himself comfortable and relaxed. It was about ten minutes since Ponyville Station, so they were probably only two kilometres away from Canterlot. A gleam caught NightShadow's eye. It came from a tall stallion two seats away. I must get my hooves on that stallion's watch. It looks like it's worth twice as much as the ring. Is that DIAMOND!? His thoughts were broken by someone yelling in a southern accent. It was a mare's voice and she sounded pretty damn angry, though he couldn't tell what she was saying. Everything went silent for a moment. Then the fragile silence was broken by a gunshot, like glass shattering with a hammer. Night couldn't comprehend what had just happened. KABEWM! A large explosion ripped most of the bridge support beams down into the ravine below. The shockwave obliterated the windows, sending shards of glass everywhere. There were screams and ponies were running around. The train shook violently as the secondary explosives went off.
Some of the glass shards unfortunately stabbed into Night like spears, causing him extreme pain. Night dropped to the soft red carpeting of the floor, now stained in his blood. He crawled up the car slowly, panicking and moaning from the pain he endured. A classy stallion tripped over Night and slid down the aisle as the train car slid down into the ravine slowly. The stallion went right through the back door of the car and stuck the oxy-hydrogen tank at such a velocity, his death almost instantaneous. Night grabbed onto the support bar of a bench and held himself there until he felt capable of climbing again.
Eventually he made it to a segment of the train that was not in danger of sliding into the ravine, and he climbed onto the rock cliff.
Author's Note
Abridged Version Of Previous Story
