Chapter 2: Look for the Light

Sweat formed on my brow as I stared hard in concentration, carefully choosing my next selection. If I chose right, I would have this in the bag. If not, everything was over. I ran my tongue over my lips as I began to re- "Don't try to hard Sky, you might pop a vein or something..." I heard a Stallion's voice come from the left of me.

I turned and gave him a hard glare. "Can it Dusty..." I said, before looking over to Rain. "Got any twos?" I asked her.

Rain smiled and shook her head. "Nope, go fish"

Growling, I picked up my card. Luckily it was the two I needed, so I took the pair and set it down. Rain looked over the both of us. "Alright....Dusty. Got any kings?" She asked. Dusty shook his head, "Nope, go fish" He said. I looked over to Dusty as Rain drew her card, and gave a frustrated sigh. She was only one card away from victory.

Dusty turned and looked to me. "Alright Kiddo, got a king?" He asked with a smirk. I slowly nodded my head. "Yeah...but-" I stopped when Dusty set down his last card, which was a King of Spades. Glancing over to Rain, she definitely looked like a nerve was broken.

"You...You dirty, lying....Firefly!" She yelled at him. Dusty threw up his hooves in defense. "Hey, hey, Fireflies don't cheat..." He said with a smile.

"Then what the hell do you call that?!" Rain fumed, pointing at his card. "That sure doesn't look like a joker to me!" She added. Dusty just laughed, as he stood from the table. Rain glared at him. "I want a rematch!" She hollered. Dusty looked like he was about to say something before a lavender pegasus stuck her head inside their room.

"Hey, Trails...got a Firefly who needs her pistol checked." She said to the brown earth pony.

Dust Trails looked relieved. "Saved by the bell..." He muttered, before addressing the pegasus. "Yeah, I'll be right there Rose!" He said, before turning and looking at us. "Duty calls, Ill see you two around. I'll take that rematch some other time Rain." He said to her, before turning to me and ruffing my mane. "See ya, kiddo." He said to me, before turning and walking out.

"I'm not a kid anymore!" I yelled back at him. Dusty just laughed and turned the corner, the lavender pegasus following behind.

"Why of all the-" Rain began, before exhaling and visibly calming down. She turned around and looked at me. "This is why you should never trust a Firefly, Sky." She said, before heading outside.

/ * * * * \

When we got close to the checkpoint for Central, I turned to Rain. "Rain, what do they mean when they say 'Look for the Light?'" I asked her. Rain slowed down, looking to me and then her surroundings, before answering. "I don't know why they say that...their 'mysterious' leader of the group said it one day, and I guess they kept it as their motto." She said, before realizing we were coming up on our gate. "Now, don't mention this till we are away from the gate." She said, as a guard motioned her over.

"ID's..." He said, no emotion in his voice as all. I telekinetically pulled out my ID; and extending my magic to grab Rain's from her, moved them over to the guard. Using his horn, he grabbed them from me. Nodding his head, he looked over to me. "Where are you coming from?" He asked.

"Oh, just came from visiting an old friend that lives here." I said, as he nodded and handed me the cards. "Alright, go on through. Don't lollygag either, Curfew starts in fifteen minutes." He said as he waved us through. I set the IDs in my saddle bags and walked on through.

I made sure I was out of earshot before I opened my mouth. "Curfew already?" I asked, looking up into the sky. "I swear, it seems they put curfew into effect earlier every month..." I commented with a sigh.

"It's the Fireflies..." Rain said, as we walked down the street. I took note of how empty the streets were becoming.Guess its because they know Curfew is coming.... I thought to myself.

"Why do you say that?" I asked Rain. She looked behind at me, before answering. "Because, the Fireflies have been getting desperate lately, and have been attacking the Guards more frequently." Rain began to explain. "Since they have been risky, the guard put in curfew so they can have all the soldiers they need in the event of an attack. It ensures that the Fireflies can't escape without major casualties." She told me, before stopping at an intersection. "Can't trust the Fireflies. They are already dead."

I frowned. "But what about Dusty?" I asked her. "He's a good friend" I responded.

Rain sighed, before turning left and going down the next street. "Dusty is a Firefly, so no; you can't trust him" She said. I opened my mouth to argue, but she stopped me. "Now I know Dusty treats you like his niece, and you looked up to him as a filly, but you can't trust him."

I grunted, as we reached the door. "You shouldn't judge a pony by their title Rain..." I said as I began to walk inside. "Even if they are apart of a bad group."

That was the end of that conversation.

/ * * * * \

I stood in the kitchen, glaring at the bag containing our rations for the week; which wasn't much. It made sense that we only got half-rations again, because we had been getting half-rations for 2 months straight now. Not to mention, there is already talk of the line only opening once every two weeks soon. Rain was right, this zone will die out soon. But if that happened, what would eveypony do? Where would they go?

I really didn't want to think about it.

Grabbing some apples, a bottle of water, a can of tomato soup and some noodle, I searched for a semi-clean pot. Finding the pot I had used last time, I took the water and poured it into the pot. I threw the noodles in with it, and set it on a stove. I turned around and went to find Rain. "Hey Rain!" I called.

"Yes Sky?" She answered from another room.

"I'm making some tomato soup and noodles, turn on the generator for me!" I called back.

There was a pause, before the sound of a magic generator game to life. Oh the things unicorn scientists come up with. Turning back to the stove, I noticed it was on. Finding another pot, I grabbed another bottle of water, and poured it into the pot. Then I set that on another burner. I hummed to myself as I prepared dinner for Rain and I.

Suddenly, a voice began to resonate through the city. Attention. Curfew is now in full effect. Anypony caught outside without proper authorization will be arrested and prosecuted. Additionally, harboring or aiding wanted criminals is punishable by death. Do not place yourself at risk. Report any suspicious activity immediately. The message repeated itself, before shutting off.

After a couple minutes, I came back to the second pot, the water in it boiling. Grabbing it with my magic, I went over to the sink, which was starting to turn green, and poured the hot water down the drain. Ensuring that the pot was somewhat clean, I opened the tomato soup can and poured it in. After setting it back on the burner, I turned to do other things while everything cooked.

Rain came in a little while later, and went over to the pots. "Do we have any bowls for this...?" She asked me. I turned and nodded, pointing to the two bowls on the side.

"Yeah, I rinsed those bowls out with some of that bottled water. We used them like, 3 days ago" I said to her. She shrugged and sniffed at the soup. "Well, it smells good at least" She stated, as I moved the pots off the burner.

"Yeah, fix up some bowls would you? I'm going to shut off the generator before the Guard gets pissy and decides to fine us again for 'overuse'" I said, as I trotted out the room.

I made my way over to our generator room, humming a song to myself as I thought about things. Mainly, I thought about what Rain said. I never understood why she didn't trust the Fireflies, or the bottled anger she had towards them. She had been meaning to ask Rain about it, but it didn't cross me mind untill just now. Rain was old enough, so something obviously happened.

Now about it I think about it, she never talked about her siblings. Anytime I brought up her sister, she always avoided the question. I should ask her over din- I paused as I heard a knock at the door. *thunk thunk thunk*. Turning off the generator, I sat near the wall and closed my eyes. My horn glowed with an indigo aurora, as I focused my hearing.

"...taking you in for questioning. You and Skylight Shadows are under suspicion of aiding the terrorist cell known as 'The Fireflies'. If you don't comply and tell us where Skylight Shadows is, we will be authorized to use deadly force." A gruff voice commanded.

"On what grounds do you have this suspicion?!" A voice, belonging to Rain, asked. There was something that sounded like shuffling of parchment.

"This. We have photographic evidence of you leaving a building we had suspected as a hideout for the Fireflies. After raiding said building, we had confirmed it as a Firefly hideout. Now, tell us where Skylight Shadows is, or I will use deadly force." The gruff pony said in a threatening tone.

I opened my eyes. I needed to get out of here and find Dusty! I sure hope that he wasn't taken down in that raid.

Sneaking out of the room, I looked around for a possible exit point. Down the hall, I heard a shout. "Spread out and find her! No one leaves this building alive." A voice commanded.

"Shit..." I muttered, silently making my way to the nearby stair well. My bedroom was up there, and there was an open window! I can escape there.

I quietly moved up the stairs, turning down the hallway to my bedroom. Levitating my saddle bags onto my back, I made my way to the window.

Quietly opening the window, I peeked outside. 'Fuck...' I thought, as I saw a squad of armed ponies at the front door. Even if I made it outside, I would risk getting spotted by the ponies. Putting a hoof on the base of the window, I leaned out some more. I looked around for something I could climb on for leverage.

Bingo... Looking to my left, there was a ledge big enough for me to squeeze and shuffle along. As long as I used my magic to balance myself, I could get over to the roof of the building beside us. Placing my other foreleg on the base, I began to climb my way out.

*Click* I froze, slowly turning my head to look behind me. I came face to face with an Assault Rifle barrel. A white unicorn dressed in military gear grinned back. "Skylight Shadows, I presume?" She asked. I slowly nodded.

"Good," She smiled. "Now, you are going to climb out of that window sill and come with me. If you try to resist, I will fucking shoot you; If you try to climb out, I will fucking shoot you; If you say even one word, I will fucking shoot you. Catch my drift?" She asked. I just nodded again.

"Good girl, now come with me." She said, waving her rifle to the door. I slowly climbed back inside and made my way to the door. There was a forceful shove, and it motivated me to move faster.

Well... I thought. Were screwed.

/ * * * * \

We were brought to some old, run down police station. There was overgrowth everywhere. Moss growing on the walls, old terminals broken and misused, rusted iron everywhere. They through is into a cell room, which honestly looked like it wouldn't hold much. Luckily for them, not us, they put us in a cell that didn't have a huge gaping hole in. The only hole to the outside was a barred off window near the back.

As I sat there thinking about my escape, my stomach began to growl. All of my plans came to a halt as I realized...we didn't get to eat dinner! I groaned and laid down on the ground as my stomach growled in agreement. I swear, the next pony to come down here is going to hear it from me.

Speaking of the devil, I heard hoof steps coming down the hallway leading into this room. The minute the door opened, I was up against the cell bars, slamming my hooves against them. "How dare you, you monsters! Trowing us down here without food. Is that how you treat your prisoners?! You should be ashamed!" I yelled at the guard pony.

Looking back at me, unfazed by my outburst, he cleared his throat. "The Sergent is going to see you for interrogation." He said, looking at me. Stepping off the bars, the door was opened and I was led out, and taken to another room.

Upon entering, I saw the gruff unicorn from before, who arrested us in the first place. "Ah yes, Skylight Shadows. Please, have a seat." He said, before sliding over a couple granola bars to me. "Please, eat. Wouldn't want you to go without an empty stomach." He said in a tone that was too sweet to be trusted.

My assumption was correct. For not even one second after I finished the bars, I felt the room get colder. "Now Skylight, I am Sergent Steeltread. I'm about to ask you a few questions on what you know about the Fireflies. Answer them, and I might let you off and forget this incident. Dont. Piss. Me. Off. I am not afraid to throw you in a cell and schedule you for the next Firefly Firing Squad." Steeltread said coldly.

"So, lets get started. Are you a Firefly?" He asked. I shook my head no. "Alright, well tell me what you were doing at that house." He asked.

"We was over visiting a friend, having a nice game of cards and some sodas." I said to him. He said he wanted me to answer them. Never said about being true. I can just be partially true, and all will be fine. I thought.

"Oh really? Did you know that your friend was a Firefly?" he asked me.

I shook my head again. "Nope. Just thought he was an ordinary friend." I lied. Steeltread glared. "Really now? Playing a friendly game of cards inside a room that turned out to be their operation room, with a weapons armory next door? How come you never saw it?" He asked me.

"Uhh....they hid it." I said blatantly. I heard somepony stifle their laughter, before another one nudge the stallion.

Steeltread blinked. "Alright then, fine. Take this one back to her cell. Shes not giving anything" He said, before turning to me. "You better hope your friend is more giving of information, for both of your sakes." He said to me, before leaning in. "If I find out you or Ms. Rainclouds over there is a Firefly, I will personally tear you a new one." He said coldly, before I was grabbed and taken back to my cell. Thus ended the shortest interrogation ever.

I must had dozed off when I returned, because it was hours later when I awoke to the sound of a cell door opening and shutting. Rain came up next to me, and waited for the guard to leave the room. "Well?" I asked expectantly.

"Were slated for execution first thing in the morning..." Rain said, visibly disturbed. "I told him everything I could, but I guess he didn't believe me. Going to use us as an example of why you shouldn't aid criminals." She said, laying on the ground. "I..I don't want to die. Not like this..." Rain said, on the verge of tears. I put a hoof on her shoulder, feeling a lump form in my throat as well.

"Well, Well, Well...If it isn't the two mares I've been looking for." I heard a voice say from behind us. Turning around, I looked out the small cubby window I had, and saw a familiar face staring back, smiling. "Dusty!" I said, trotting up to the window. "Oh thank Celestia you are here. They are gonna execute us!" I said to him. Dusty's smile faded.

"I overheard your arrest from one of the patrols heading into Central. I had to take the long way into here, but I am glad I found you two." Dusty said, as Rain came up next to me. "So, how about I get you two out of here. Hopefully Steeltread won't mind postponing that execution...indefinitely." He said.

Rain scowled. "How? There are guard all over the place. You wont make it past the front door." She said to him. Dusty just smiled. "I got this covered."

Thirty minutes had past before I heard commotion at a door on the other side of the cell area. It sounded like something was forcefully shoved into the weak lock, and then broke it. The door opened to reveal Dusty, a shiv in his mouth. He trotted quietly over to our cell, and put the shiv inside our cell lock. Turning, he kicked a hoof onto the handle of the shiv, forcing it into the lock. He then went over to the side, grabbed the handle in his mouth, and turned until the handle broke. He spit the handle out and opened the cell door. "You have got to teach me that." I stated, making him smile at me.

"Sure thing, but lets get out of here first." He said, heading back for the door he entered in. "This tunnel leads to the Metro Security station in the underground tunnels. We can escape through there." He said.

Rain stopped. "Hold up, the tunnels? You do know that those tunnels are riddled with infected, right?" She stated.

Dusty nodded his head. "Yeah, but not the route we are taking. The Fireflies use it all the time. It's clear of infected. Trust me on this one" He said to her.

Rain frowned. "Yeah, trust you like I did on that card game..." She said. Dusty turned to look at her.

"Rain look, I know you don't trust us...but its not our fault your sister left. She did that on her own terms. She left us too you know" He said to her. Rain opened her mouth, but didn't say nothing. Dusty turned and went down into the tunnel, with us following. I took note again to finally ask Rain about her sister later.

I grabbed the door with my magic, making sure to close the door behind us; not that it really did any good. "So, you broke us out. Now what? We fight back, hide?" I asked Dusty. "What do we do?" He turned his head to look at me.

"The Fireflies are leaving the city. You're coming with us." He explained, as the three of us went down into the dark Metro tunnels.

Author's Note

Wow, I'm glad to see the feedback so far. I know its not much, but it helps motivate me to continue with the story. If you have anything you want to say/tell me, do it in the comments. And and all feedback is welcome.

Now, don't get used to these updates. They will come as fast as they update. I try not to follow a schedule because I can never keep up with it. So an update comes when it comes. I thank you guys in advance for the patience.