Chaser

Chaser

Story 3

Chapter 5: The Best Sister

By: SleeplessScribe

I turned to Jack, shaking my head at him as he took a step forward. “Stay here. Whatever you do, do not follow us, you got that?”

He let out a grunt, closing the door behind us. Firecracker bound Applejack and I with a pair of hoof cuffs that were chained to each other, apparently expecting us to be able to walk like that. The silence remained unbroken as we were taken to the tower. I only had two things on my mind: Sprint and Firecracker. Of course I wanted to see my sister safe and unharmed, but I knew Monopoly would never hold up his end of the bargain. However, I knew Firecracker well enough to know that she wasn’t going to let him kill us. My only hopes were that either we could figure out a way to get ourselves out of this mess once Sprint was free, or that by some great, coincidental miracle, something would happen and give us a way out.

It wasn’t long before we were standing before the massive tower. The skyscraper looked as if it actually was touching the clouds when I looked up, but there wasn’t much time to admire the view as we were pushed inside. The interior was a major contrast to the outside; instead of some kind of poopy brown, the walls were a bright blue, and everything but the lobby you entered into was a series of hallways and doors. We were taken to the elevator across from the reception desk, and Firecracker took it down.

“State your business.” I looked back when I heard the two door guards talking, but I didn’t get to see who they were actually talking to before the elevator began its descent.

This place had almost as many below ground floors as it did above ground, and there was no doubt in my mind that they were used for whatever illegal crap Monopoly participated in. We stopped at the fifth floor underground, and immediately after the door opened I saw her. Sprint didn’t have but a scratch or two, but I was still worried sick. Sadly, I had to resist running over to her, despite how much I wanted to. The room seemed empty aside from two guards standing at the back wall, a red light with a clearly visible cable trailing off from it into the wall, a few chairs bolted to the stone floor, one of which my sister was tied to, and a door on the left wall. Why would anyone want to take the stairs down here?

After all three of us were out of the elevator, Monopoly showed his face. He was just as I’d imagined: black, greasy mane, ugly-ass bifocals, a typical rich-guy suit, though one sleeve was missing a cuff, dark blue coat, and the look was completed with a cigar sandwiched between his teeth. He had been out of our line of sight, right beside the elevator door while he waited for us.

“Welcome, my friends, welcome. So glad you could make it. I’m sure you know who I am, and I of course know who you are-“ He shut up as soon as he saw Applejack. “And who is this?”

Firecracker shrugged at him. “His marefriend who wanted to tag along.”

If the situation weren’t so serious, I would’ve chuckled at AJ’s blush. “I am not his marefriend! We’re just friends.”

They both rolled their eyes, and Monopoly circled us. “So, I assume my assistant here has given you the conditions of my proposal, correct?”

I had wanted to avoid talking to him if at all possible, but I guess we can’t all have what we want. “Yeah, and I’m here. Now let my sister go.”

The greasy jerk grinned, his teeth surprisingly white for being a smoker. “Ah, ah, ah. I will release her after you both are safe and secure in the custody of my guards.” His two front hooves came together in a single clap, and his guards brandished their spears and slowly advanced towards us. “Of course, I mean dead, as I’m sure you two knew. However, once you are dealt with, I will hold up my end of the deal and release your sister. I already made some room on my payroll for your little freedom fighters, and I will extend the offer to work for me to each and every one of them.”

Just as I thought, Firecracker stepped in front of us, keeping the guards from coming any closer. “I thought we agreed that they wouldn’t be killed, Monopoly.”

The stallion let out a laugh, his grin getting wider as she spoke. “And I thought you said you no longer had feelings that would get in the way of this! You do realize that what you are doing right now is a form of treason, and I punish traitors to the highest extent of my law!”

She shook her head, glaring at her boss. “You promised nopony would actually die!”

“I lied, you dolt! Deal with her!”

Both guards lunged at Firecracker, and though she was able to jump over one and land on his head, the other slammed her into the wall with the shaft of his spear, knocking her out as her head banged into it. Fortunately, that gave us enough time to do… whatever it is crazy people do. Using the chain that linked our cuffs, we held down the guard that was already on the ground by his neck while Applejack kicked the spear out of the loop on the other guard’s gauntlet.

The guard we had down managed to push us back while we were distracted by his friend, throwing us into the way. He tried to swing at us, but we both raised out hooves to block it with the chain, causing the spear to break. You would think with all the money Monopoly had, he’d invest in better arms for his security. Although we got rid of his primary means of defense, that didn’t keep the guard from pinning us to the wall by our necks, and before we knew it the other guard had regained his spear, pointing it at AJ as Monopoly held the head of the broken spear in his hoof, advancing towards me.

“Bravo, friends, you almost got away. Too bad nice guys don’t actually win. You should’ve killed Stone and Hardhat when you had the chance. Because you let them live, they told us the location of your base, and that knowledge brought you here much more quickly.” He leaned forward, inching the blade closer to my throat. “Say your prayers, Jet Rush.”

Cue that great, coincidental miracle I was hoping for. By some stroke of extreme dumb luck, an alarm began blaring in the room, the red light flashing on and off like a strobe light. Numerous shouts could be heard behind the wall, and before I knew what had happened, the door flew off its hinges, hitting all three of our captors. A large, bright-red colt ran into the room, spotting us and stomping on our cuffs so hard that they broke. The minute I was free, I grabbed the broken spearhead and cut my sister loose.

“Come on, Sprint’s free, let’s go, go, go!”

About five guards were running down the steps, and I heard Applejack shout “Big Macintosh?” I could only assume by the name that they were related somehow.

I realize the situation we were in didn’t allow for many words, but I still found it odd that all he responded with was a long “Eeeyup.”

With Sprint lifted onto me back, plowing through the guards was an easy feat. Big Macintosh was pretty dang strong, taking out three of the guards with one kick each. We all booked it as fast as we could, hoping for dear life that no other guards would get to us in time. As fate, or more of our amazing luck, would have it, we managed to get out of the tower with only two guards chasing us, both of whom gave up the chase after a few blocks of running.

Turning back, I saw the big guy staying beside AJ, so I made it my goal to let him know I was the good guy. “Applejack, come on! Let’s get back to the base, it’s only a matter of time before Monopoly wakes up!”

She nodded, turning to the big colt. “He’s right, come on, Big Macintosh! Jet’s on our side!”

There was a big old welcome wagon waiting for us as we approached the theater. At least three of our newly made teams were outside the open door, slamming it shut as soon as we were inside.

Quick fix ran over to us, patting our sweating faces with a cool rag. She stalled a bit once she got to who I assumed was probably AJ’s brother, but eventually helped him as well. “I won’t even ask where he came from.”

* * *

All of us, including Big Mac, sat around the bed we had dragged out for Sprint. After a few inspections, Quick Fix assured me that aside from a few scratches, the only issue was the fact that chloroform was used to keep my sister quiet. While we waited, we found out the Big Macintosh had come all the way from Ponyville to find her sister, and forced his way into the tower when he saw us go in. I guess fortune really does favor the bold.

After a few hours and some medical care, Sprint was awake. I rushed over to her the minute I saw those little eyes starting to open, caressing her cheek with my hoof.

“Sis? A-Are you alright?”

The small pony gave a slow nod, coughing a bit before she spoke. “I have a surprise for you… when I feel better.”

She closed her eyes again, and Quick pushed all the rest of us out. “Alright, give me some time, and I’ll help her get situated again. Don’t disturb me!” The brainy mare closed the doors to that particular theater, and every Chaser knew a closed theater door meant “Do not enter”.

I sent Jack and Dust back out to patrol around the perimeter, and they took off after giving their salutes. My next objective was to both thank and scold Applejack for coming with me, but I decided to mark the second one off the list when I turned around.

“Just what in sam hill were you thinking, doing something like this? Little sis, what has gotten into you to make you think that running away and putting yourself in danger like that is okay?”

It was obvious she was struggling with a response, but I had the perfect one as I stepped in front of her. “Look, big guy, it’s my fault. I was the one that let her join. Even if she volunteered, I should’ve said no. This isn’t her fight, and I’m sorry for bringing her into it.”

His expression didn’t change as he turned his attention to me. I take that back, he looked even angrier now. “So you brought her into this? I swear, if I find one hair in her mane out of place-“

“Big Mac, stop!” The stomp was almost as loud as her shout. “Don’t get angry at Jet. I’m here by choice because I want to help! These ponies are fighting to keep their city from falling under the rule of that grease ball you saved us from! He’s threatening to take away their very lives, and you expected me to just leave and not even give it a second thought? Big brother, you know me better than that!”

For being such a big, and decently scary guy, he got shot down rather easily. “I read the letter, but I really thought it was a lie. Some excuse somepony was making to keep you here.”

The farm pony shook her head, wrapping her forelegs around her brother for a moment. “No, Big Macintosh, I want to be here. I want to help. It’s just… the right thing to do.”

Unfortunately, the sentimental moment was interrupted by a loud bang as the doors behind us flew open. Quick Fix’s eyes were sparkling and the grin on her face was the biggest I’d ever seen. I never realized she wore an invisible retainer. “Jet! Applejack! Um… handsome big guy! You will not believe what I found folded up underneath Sprint’s leg band!”

Before any of us could respond, she handed me a few pieces of paper. I felt my own grin starting to form as I read through them, dropping to my knees and shouting. “Sprint Rush, you are the greatest sister a stallion could ask for!”

Both the Apple siblings backed away a bit, and the sister tapped my shoulder. “Uh, Jet, what exactly are those?”

I held them up in front of her excitedly. Half my brain said she wouldn’t understand because she was from the country, and they probably didn’t use stuff like this, but the other half said she’d knew immediately what they were because she ran a farm and made a living selling stuff. “Look! Quick found these in Sprint’s leg band! They’re sales records dating back to the last three months for several thousand units of Seahorse Dreams!”

She and her brother tilted their heads. “Seahorse Dreams?”

“It’s a very potent and highly addictive drug capable of creating such strong addictions that ponies will do literally anything to get it. Not only that, but in high enough doses, it’s fatal. Do you know what this means?”

Slowly, AJ’s eyes began to light up too as she grabbed me, pulling me into a tight hug. “If we can get this to a princess, we’ll have proof that Monopoly’s breaking the law!”

“Exactly!”

We both shouted with excitement, and it wasn’t long before Quick joined in the laughter and rejoicing with us.

Sadly, there was still one issue. I froze, causing the two mares to bump into each other. “We need to get out. We need to get out of the city if we even want to get this to somepony with power, and there’s no way we’re going to get past the exit checkpoints.”

My adorkable friend was one step ahead of me. With a smile, she handed me a map she had drawn up of the city and the walls around it. She had drawn a bright red circle at a certain point in the southwest side. “This will get you out. Look,” she set her hoof on a sequence of buildings, sliding it along the route until it got to the wall, “If you hop along this series of buildings, there’s a chunk missing in the wall that you should be able to jump to. It’s a bit risky to jump from that height, but ground on the other side is soft enough to make a rolling landing hurt a lot less.”

A couple bits fell on the ground at our hooves, and we both looked at the big guy. “The fastest way to get anywhere is by train. I guess I owe you for keeping my sister safe, considering she’s chosen to do all this, so take that to pay for tickets. You go, and I’ll help your friend here take care of the little one, now go, before I change my mind!”

I gave him a courteous bow, taking off. Slowing down to let Applejack give him a thank you, I sped up again when she caught up. “Come on, AJ, it’s not that far from the theater!”

It didn’t take us too long to get to the tallest of the buildings before the wall, and Quick was spot on; there was a big old hole in the top of the wall, and even the barbed wire was missing. She was also right about it being kind of a far jump, but Jet patted my back.

“I have an idea, Applejack. Did you bring your claws?”

I had to shake my head. “I left all my gear back at the base.”

He gave me a smile, handing me one as he slipped on his other. “Don’t matter, I guess. It’d just be easier with both of us having two. Alright, AJ, stand back.”

I did as he said, and after taking a few steps away he rushed forward, kicking off the edge of the roof to propel himself further. He didn’t go quite far enough of his own, but he was able to catch the edge with his claw and lift himself up. Jet reached out to my, beckoning me forward. “No doubt, girl, just jump! You know I got you!”

After a gulp and a deep breath, I followed. I didn’t go as far as he did, but just as he promised, he hooked his claw into mine and caught me, pulling me up and onto the wall. “See? Told you!” I was met with a wide grin as I looked up at him, but that grin soon faded as we both looked down.

Not only was it a decent fall, we also had to clear the water. Manehattan was on an island, and while the wall came out into the water a little there was still a decent gap to jump. Feeling a foreleg wrap around me, I looked to my friend. His eyes were closed as he pulled me close, standing up. “AJ, brace yourself, I’m about to do something crazy again.”

I was ready for it. Both of his front legs were around me, and as we flew through the air, I barely felt a thing as we hit the soft grass and rolled. Were we both not laughing at how surprisingly easy that was, I’m sure we would’ve both been blushing at the fact that I was now on top of him.

After a bit of laughter, we both got up, making a beeline toward Fillydelphia. “Now you see where this cutie mark came from! I may not be a Pegasus, but I was born to fly!”

Up until he brought it up, I had never even paid much attention to the winged horseshoe on his flank. However, now that I was, it actually looked pretty cool. By a stroke of luck, we managed to find an abandoned wagon on the road, and took turns pulling the other along the road, switching places whenever the other got tired. With our combined efforts, we were at the Fillydelphia train station after just a few hours.

We were both exhausted, so a train ride to Ponyville was not only the quickest route to a princess, seeing as how Canterlot was also uphill, but also a nice rest. Jet and I stayed in a train car by ourselves, resting in the beds they had.

“Hoowee! Can you believe it, Jet? All your problems are about to be solved!”

I lifted my head to look at him after a few minutes with no response. He was just lying there, absentmindedly staring at the bunk bed above him. “Jet?”

Finally, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “It was my mother.”

“Pardon?”

“My mother is the reason I got so mad the first day you arrived. AJ, Sprint and I are only half siblings. My mom was raped in an alley on my eighth birthday. She was impregnated, and a few months later, out came the Sprint Rush I now love with all my heart. Everypony in the city called her a whorse and slut, and it burned me up inside. It’s not like my mom had any control over what happened!”

My ears fell flat as I looked at him. The beds weren’t that far apart, so I was able to reach out and touch his hoof. “I… I don’t know what to say.”

He opened those deep blue eyes and looked at me, reaching out himself to make it easier for me to get to him. “Then, just a few days after Monopoly came to the city, she was found dead outside her office. She had been stabbed to death with the words ‘No good whorse’ dyed into her fur. I’m positive it was one of Monopoly’s damn thugs that did it!” Realizing what he had said, he looked back to me, covering his mouth with his other hoof. “Sorry.”

I shook my head, getting up from my resting place to hug him. “Don’t be, Jet. I’m mighty grateful to you for telling me this… it must be a hard thing to bring up.”

“It really is.” He patted my back before I broke up the hug, still holding onto me as I tried to get back to my bed. “AJ, I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done.”

“Aw shoot, Jet, you don’t have to thank-“

I probably should have seen it coming, but it still caught me off guard. However, I can’t lie; not only was I blushing hotter than a desert in August, but I pressed my lips to his cheek in return. We both let out nervous chuckles, backing away from each other. Jet gave me a nervous grin, tapping his hooves together as he looked at me. “I guess Sprint… may have been right.”

“Maybe just a little.”