Shades of Crimson

Equestria 2009 five years before the beginning of the crime sprees, Canterlot outskirts and slums.

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"The book where is the book at sister?" Crimson asked his younger sister.

"Right next to your hoof." His younger sister Scarlet giggled.

Crimson just looked down at his younger sister and smiled as he picked up the book, he was shocked that his little sister could be so happy living with nothing.

"Do you miss it?" Crimson asked curiously.

"Miss what brother?" Scarlet responded tilting her head.

"The big city living on fresh food, the pampered spoiled city life. Most of all do you miss mom and dad?" He asked, with his crimson eyes looking at his younger sisters blue eyes. She looked back up and, stared lost at her brother, she didn't know what to say.

"I miss mom and dad the most as for the material life, I'm not so used to it. Besides I'll always be happy as long as I have you." She assured him with a smile.

"Do you miss it?" She asked Crimson was a bit appalled with the question coming back to him.

"I'll always miss mom and dad their kind smiles and gentle eyes, their soft touches and the silliness dad always had. They still were happy even knowing that their days were numbered from the sickness. I do sometimes miss the big city and having the money, but I have you and family needs to stick together." He told her giving his little sister a hug.

"How come we didn't get the sickness, what was it called again?" She asked with a little squeak in her voice.

"It was a severe case of hay fever from eating some wrongly prepared hay and flowers, or so the doctors say but the reason we didn't catch it was because we ate with our friends that night. The doctors tried everything they could to stop the symptoms but nothing worked. Why is it you ask this over and over, I'm curious?" He stated looking at his sister.

"I'm thinking about being a doctor when I'm older maybe I could discover new antibiotics to help, or a cure for something worse. I just want to help the people." She told him moving her black and scarlet mane out of the way of her eyes.

"Even for a unicorn you're too smart, you know that right." He giggled as he covered her up. He looked around and noticed they were running out of food, he silently cursed himself for picking to live on the outskirts he heard the alleys of Canterlot we're nicer than the outskirts of it but his sister liked the outdoors more than the busy city.

"Damn I knew I should have stolen more food, the others do it around this time hopefully I can grab some." The pegasus murmured to himself. He looked back at his sister who looked like she fell asleep. He silently cursed himself for leaving her all alone around these hours but he knew she'd be safe, and she's gotten much stronger with her magic. He thought about leaving her alone and silently agreed with himself she'd be fine. He grabbed his bag along with the dagger from his father, he looked at the other and looked back at Scarlet. Someday she'd be able to understand the truth. He also took his staff with him, for the long reach just in case.

The pegasus slowly walked away from their shack made out of boxes and wood, he was rather impressed that it was a decent sized structure and it held both of them and enough room for supplies. Still not a house but better than an orphanage where they could possibly be separated, he knew they'd take her first with her being an adorable little pony. He couldn't blame her he was proud to have a sister like her, so outgoing even after all they've been through. Her black coat that matched most of her mane besides the few strands of scarlet, all he had was his blue coat with his strange crimson eyes with his mix of blue and red mane.

His parents told him that his colors meant his crimson was one of passion, courage, love, and his blue was one of loyalty.

They always reminded him and his sister what their colors meant they said it could possibly help them to get their cutie marks sooner, he remembered that his sisters color of black wasn't bad they believed it to be one of power, and the same for her blue eyes one of loyalty, and for her scarlet it was one of wisdom and compassion. He smiled warmly remembering things like this always tried to make him push harder to succeed. To succeed in becoming a master thief something his dad always reminded him what he was before he met his mother, he vowed to stop his thievery but taught him some things he knew and even how to fight.

"I wonder what he does this late at night maybe he's a protector, or has a job. Well finally I can find out where he goes this late." Scarlet said as she grabbed a bag with supplies, expecting an adventure. Scarlet followed loosely and distantly behind, she thought about what her brother always did during these hours of the night. Being so young she thought he was out maybe saving the day and would just never tell her, but she was smart enough to know that this was just a fairy tale she wished for. Logically she knew if he was a superhero they wouldn't be living so poorly. For being a sixteen year old Crimson had a lot of responsibility to bear, she always admired her brothers courage she had some but not as much as him.

Crimson slowly entered the city's perimeter he noted the soft squishing of the grass to the low clopping sound of the stone pavement. He noted to hover lowly when he was ready to strike just as his father reminded him, he looked around all the carts were taken down around this area. He sighed as the bright city was almost always in a twilight state when it was night, the air was nice and cool with a slow and steady breeze. He noted some of the late night diners and coffee shops were still open, Canterlot was a rather busy city even at night.

'Guess no rest for the wicked.' Crimson noted as he saw in the shadows of others looking for unsuspecting prey as he called them. He slowly panned his head back and forth. As he kept walking on the cold and smooth pavement, he could almost feel the city's day rush. He imagined and felt the ponies brushing by. Their scurried hoof steps as they motioned around the city looking for things to buy. He turned into one of the alleys he knew were empty this hour and flew over it.