Her name was Scootaloo

Chapters

The arrival.
The old friend.
The deal.
Target 1: Sn1ps Wanted, Alive.
Target 2: Golden Fork Wanted, Alive
Target 3: Let's Get Wanted, Dead or Alive
It was her name.

The arrival.

It began with a punch.

“Get up you orange freak. That’s what you get for missing your payment. Bring it by tomorrow,” the brute spoke, motioning to his thugs as they thrust the orange teen into the trash. Laughing at their prey, it took them exactly 13 seconds to notice the black hooded form watching them from the darkness of the alleyway.

“Who’re you, you wanna piece of us? Think you can take us on?” The brute, a thin brown pony with green hair, motioned to his thugs as they moved in front to protect their payment. The cloaked pony stepped out of the darkness, and pulled off the hood.

“Greenfinger Thrift, did you steal money from the don boss of Hoof Alberto?” Her voice was low, almost masculine in sound. Her hair was gray, devoid of any color. Her coat was also gray, but of a slightly darker shade. Her eyes opened, and red eyes greeted the group. The green haired thug who was indeed Greenfinger gasped, and began to back away.

“Uhh, no of course I didn’t Blood Eye. What would ever give you-GET HER!” Greenfinger pointed to his thugs, who moved forward, aiming their hooves at the form in front of them. Greenfinger quickly dashed into the street, fleeing. The gray pony sighed, and leapt out of the way of the thugs, leaping off their backs and landing hard on the fleeing form.

Blood Eye grabbed her target with her teeth, turning around and letting him absorb the punch aimed at her, cloak billowing in the breeze. As they widened their eyes and recoiled, she dropped her quarry and pirouetted on her front hooves, and aimed a kick at the thugs faces, knocking them out cold with one fell movement.

Finished her task, she once more picked up Greenfinger, and leapt toward the wall. With amazing speed and grace, she leapt from one wall to the other, scaling the high buildings as if it was child's play. As she vanished over the top of the building, the orange form raised her head out of the trash, and looked in the direction she had left.

Blood Eye trotted down the alleyway, and knocked quietly on the door, an eye slot opening as a guard looked at her, before closing it and opening the door. The room was filled with tables, and various waitresses were dressed in bunny suits as the men at the table began to try and schmooze the owner to ‘sell’ one for the night.

“Ah! Blood Eye, here for another room? I take it your job was successful then, have a drink, on the house.” The barkeep poured a cup of ale as she sat down at the counter, dropping a coin onto the table. Some keen-eyed ponies would have noticed it was a gold coin, and smiled. Half a piece bought you a room, but a full piece bought silence.

A few of the newer thugs suggested to their older companions about going after the form at the counter, but were quickly warned. Anyone who was anyone knew messing with Blood Eye was never a good idea. No one knew where Blood Eye came from, nor what gender she was. The one thing they did know was she had never failed a job, and she could take on a small army and not even get a scratch.

“Tommy Bucktooth was looking for someone last I heard, I’ll tell him you’re interested and slip your Job info into breakfast.” The barkeep returned to polishing a mug as he turned and looked to where the owner had finally sold a bunny, who was currently being dragged upstairs by an ugly fellow with bruises and an ugly lump coming out of his neck. Catching two coins tossed at him with his magic, he quickly deposited them into the register, secretly pulling up the compartment to put them where the money was actually kept.

All turned as the door creaked open, and a new face appeared. The room fell into silence as the orange mare with purple hair slowly made her way up to the counter, pulling the hood off her blue jacket. Sitting on the stool, she held out half a gold piece, and asked for a room.

“That’ll be room 54 then sweetheart. Breakfast is an extra bit.” The barkeep put the two pieces of coin away and quickly gave the mare a key, who took it and headed up the stairs. The room returned to normal volume, and a stallion with dark black fur and white hair stood and headed up the stairs, the look of a man about to do unspeakable crimes. Standing up, Blood Eye took the key, room 57, from the barkeep and looked toward the stairs.

Heading up the stairs, Blood Eye locked the room behind her and quickly looked around. Finished that, she walked over to the bed and sat down, laying on top of the covers as she pulled the cloak around her, closing her eyes.

Blood Eye opened her eyes when she heard muffled cries of pain from a few rooms down, and turned to the door as a plate of food was sent sliding through a small compartment at floor level. The food was rather plain, a cooked potato and a loaf of bread. she ate them both quickly and unfurled the note.

It contained two pieces of paper. The first was a roughly drawn note ordering her to find and bring this man to him, the prize being the reward money. The second was the wanted poster, showing the pony was wanted alive along with how much he was worth. Turning her eyes on the picture, they narrowed as she recognized it as the stallion who had headed up after the orange pony, and turned her head once more to the sounds of pain.

Opening her door, Blood Eye trotted outside and headed for room 54, opening the unlocked door and taking in the scene of the man on the bed, the beaten up teenager, and the rope tied up to keep her from being able to struggle as he slowly lowered himself onto the bed.

Blood Eye was over there instantly, punching the stallion into the wall, knocking him out instantly. Putting the stallion over her back, Blood Eye turned and began to head out of the room, pausing when the mare spoke up.

“Wait, you can’t just leave me tied here!” Turning, Blood Eye took in the teenager once more, before pulling out a knife and slicing the bonds with four quick swipes, returning it to her cloak and once more heading out the door. Turning to the barkeep, she saw a small stallion with a buck tooth sitting on a stool, two guards watching him sip his drink. Blood Eye dumped the body next to him, hearing footsteps behind her as the orange mare followed her down.

“I don’t know how you do it Blood Eye, here’s the bounty.” Blood Eye caught the bag of bits as she quickly put it away before any other the other customers got any ideas. Turning around, she headed toward a small noticeboard near the door, and began browsing the wanted list for an easy bounty.

“Uh, thanks for helping me back there.” It was the orange one, she didn’t turn to face her. Putting a hoof on one bounty, she saw the large number and the glowing ‘dead or alive’ words. If she finished this bounty, she might be able to afford to pay her water bill along with her rent when she returned to her home on the other side of the city.

“So uh, your name is Blood Eye?” Giving a nod, she once more ignored the mare, pulling off the wanted poster and stuffing it into her cloak. Turning around she saw the mare was very close, barely a pony away.

“Listen, I’m uh-looking for someone and I was wondering if-” Blood Eye cut the mare off and pushed her out of the way, heading towards the door. Pausing, she glanced back and narrowed her eyes.

“Then make a wanted poster like everypony else, I’m busy.”

Blood Eye walked out the door, heading toward her information broker to find out where her target was.

The old friend.

“Yeah I know where that pony is, but yer not gonna like it.” The information broker was a pony covered in layers upon layers of clothing, and carrying so many secrets he had been attacked often. Blood Eye pulled out two gold coins, and handed them over to the broker.

“Word is, Dark Hoof is hiding him behind her family until she can claim the bounty herself. She’s locked herself up tight too, the only way to get in is if you happen to have connections inside the family.” Finished speaking, the broker handed Blood Eye a slip of paper, showing the location of the main building, before turning to leave.

“Wait!” Once more, the orange mare approached Blood Eye, who was starting to grow suspicious. The mare walked over to the broker and held out a gold coin.

“I-I don’t have a lot of money left but can this buy me information? I really need to find a pony.” Blood eye opened the slip of paper and quickly memorised the location before tossing it into her mouth, removing the evidence. The broker took the bit, and shrugged noncommittally.

“It won’t get you a lot missy, but it will get you some.” The broker watched as the mare slowly pulled out a picture of three fillies, and pointed to the light gray, almost white filly in the middle.

“I’m looking for Sweetie Be-” The information broker quickly shut her up with a hoof, stuffing the photo quickly back into the mare’s cloak before speaking quietly, Blood Eye raising her head in curiosity.

“Listen here kid, saying that name could very well get all three of us killed. That mare is one of the most wanted ponies in this city. That’s not mentioning who she is connected to.” Releasing the mare, the information broker stepped back and quickly glanced around. Giving a sigh, it seemed they hadn’t been overheard.

“Y-Yeah but I know her from before, we used to be friends. If you could just tell me where I could…” The orange mare trailed off and sighed, realising she wasn’t going to get any more of of the broker. As she looked to the ground, the broker and Blood Eye shared a look, and a second coin was tossed to the broker.

“She is being hidden by a large mob family, but they might just let you in if you can prove you know her. You can’t go alone however, they would eat you alive. Blood Eye here is a gun for hire, if you can afford her services.” Motioning to Blood Eye, the information broker leapt into the shadow of the alleyway, and vanished.

“Well, in that case can I hire you? Not for a finding mission but for a bodyguard.” The orange mare pulled out a small sack of coin and held it out cautiously, watching it quickly be taken and opened as Blood Eye looked at the money inside. There was very little, not even worth a single hour of bodyguard work, but that wasn’t considering the payoff at the end.

“Very well.”

“You’ve gotta believe me! I have proof, just look at this picture.” The orange mare held up the picture from before to the guards, who snatched it and tore it into two pieces, much to her dismay.

“And I said, there is no way you know the boss’s second-in command, now get lost.” The guard pushed the orange mare away, who fell to the ground, wings flaring as she grunted in pain. Blood Eye watched the guards share a glance, and pull out a small device used for talking over distances.

“What’s that, you do know her? Alright boss, we’ll send her in.” Hearing their words, the orange mare stood up and brushed herself off. The guards stepped aside to let them pass, and they both walked inside. Blood Eye knew the real reason they had been allowed in, but kept her mouth silent.

They were led down a large white corridor with guards lining the corners. Blood Eye saw the mare glance into one of the room and miss a step as she turned away from the sight of the man being tortured. Blood Eye entered the elevator, and waited for the thug to press the button. They began to descend.

“I can’t believe it, I didn’t think this day would come.” The thug glanced to the orange mare as she spoke, before stopping the lift and motioning them out. As the door closed behind them, they were left in a large white room with painted on windows and a single desk with a chair in the middle. The chair rotated, and a pony became visible.

The very light gray colored pony had curled hair that was a light shade of purple, and a light shade of pink. The eyes were a bright green, and she was wearing the top half of a suit with a green tie. Leaning forward, the pony regarded the orange mare, and smiled pleasantly.

“It’s you, I thought I’d never see you again after the Pulse! How did you get to Manehattan?” The orange mare trotted forward, wings opening as open joy covered her face.

“Sweetie Belle! It was a tough journey to get here but I’m glad I finally found you.” The orange mare took another step forward, and all the thugs around the room reached into their pockets and pulled out a handful of small metal spikes. Sweetie Belle saw this and waved her hoof, they withdrew and the orange mare approached the desk.

“I’m glad I found you too, so did they kick you out of the white due to your dodo status?” Sweetie Belle’s voice took on a slightly scornful tone before she laughed, her voice soft and sweet. The orange mare paused, before giving a small smile and shaking her head.

“Nono, I left the white to come find you! Apple Bloom has been missing you terribly, won’t you come back with me?” Slowly moving around the table, the orange mare froze as the light in her friend’s eyes suddenly turned to ice.

“You think I would want to go live there? Besides, where were you when I was lost and alone, desperately trying to fend for myself in the darkness?” Her voice cracked and she slammed her hooves on the table, causing the mare to leap back in fright. Sweetie Belle calmed down a moment later, and turned her attention to one of the thugs, who stepped forward. Blood Eye recognised this as her target.

“I assume this is what you are here for Blood Eye, so let me make a deal. Pay me half the bounty, and leave her here and you can take him.” Sweetie Belle motioned to her thugs, who quickly moved to stop the target from escaping.

“Wha-But you swore protection! Your leader swore my protection!” The target struggled vainly for a moment, before slumping in defeat as Sweetie Belle stood up and moved to the other side of the table, the orange mare backed up slowly to stand beside Blood Eye.

“And you expected us to remain loyal to you?” Sweetie Belle raised her head, and laughed to the roof. The orange mare watched this and concern grew on her face, which quickly grew as the cold stare from before returned, and Sweetie Belle fixed her eyes on the orange mare.

“I don’t share bounty.” Blood Eye spoke, her voice barely above a whisper, but somehow audible to everyone in the room. Sweetie Belle’s ears perked, and she sighed, approaching the target as disappointment showed on her features. Reaching into one of the target’s pockets, she pulled out one of the small metal spikes that had been aimed at the orange mare earlier, holding it in her magic.

“You know, these small metal spikes are called bullets over here. Most ponies simply throw them at the opponent, however unicorns can take it and increase it’s speed to phenomenal proportions. All it takes is putting it in your magic, aiming, and using the right spell and…”

Sweetie Belle stepped back from the thug, the bullet held in her magic as it faced directly at the target’s heart. With a simple blink, it vanished from view, and a large sound filled the room as it implanted itself in the wall behind the target. The thugs released the target, who fell to the ground, dead. The orange mare covered her mouth, eyes going wide as she turned away from the scene.

“Therewego, my half of the bounty. Since you get half the amount if you bring them dead, it is a real pity you weren’t up to my suggestion Blood Eye. Now, not only do you have to protect your orange friend, you have to carry a dead body to the person who filed the poster.” Sweetie Belle tossed the body at Blood Eye’s feet, and returned to her table, and looked to her thugs as she sat down, putting her hooves together.

“Why are you doing this? I thought we were friends!” The orange mare spoke up as Blood Eye put the dead body over her back and under her cloak, using the cloak to keep it tied on firmly. There was a battle brewing and she would need all hooves free. The blood could be washed off later.

“You are joking right? Do you realise how much pegasi are worth over here? Even flightless pegasi are worth a lot, and I’m not going to let the chance to get that much money simply walk away.” Sweetie Belle turned to her thugs, who were already reaching for their bullets. Quite a few of them were magic wielders. Blood Eye turned and looked toward the elevator as the orange mare turned to her, expecting Blood Eye to help her escape.

“Attack, try not to kill them, both are worth a lot of money.” Sweetie Belle waved her hoof and all thugs began to fire their spikes, aiming for hooves instead of any vital points. Blood Eye was quick to leap directly at the elevator, slamming her back hooves hard enough into the door to cause a hole, leaping to the side and thrusting the doors open, revealing the shaft and the elevator above them.

Blood Eye leapt over the gap, and pulled herself up to the maintenance ladder as she began to scale the elevator, leaping onto the top of the carriage. Pulling off the top, she looked inside as an orange form gasped for breath behind her. Leaping inside, she quickly disabled the thugs, and pressed the button for the top floor. The orange mare felt the elevator shudder, and quickly hopped inside.

They were about halfway up before the elevator shuddered to a halt, and began to shake as a groaning sound began to echo. Blood Eye leapt once more onto the top, and looked upward as a pony miles above them used magic to break the cables. Leaping toward the nearest set of doors, Blood Eye quickly opened them as once more the orange mare followed behind.

The room was filled with many thugs, but there was visible light from the windows and Blood Eye smiled, they had made it above ground. Dodging the various bullets, she leapt into a air duct and paused for a moment before quickly moving through the duct and began looking for an empty room. Once more, she noted the fact the orange mare had kept up, despite the wheezing breaths she was taking.

Leaping out into a room, Blood Eye looked out the window and saw she was very close to the top of the building, and opened a window, leaping onto the thin ledge around it. As she began to make her way around, she looked at the building adjacent and narrowed her eyes. They weren’t high enough to make the jump. Turning, she made her way back, seeing the orange mare about to follow, and pushed her back inside and out of Blood Eye's way.

Opening the door, she saw thugs were quickly narrowing on her position, and leapt through the narrow hallway into the next room, the orange mare quickly followed. Jumping once more into the air duct, she began to make her way down the corridor,looking through the grating for any sign of an emergency exit. Blood Eye spotted the sign, and slammed her hooves into the side of the air duct, breaking it and sending them into the corridor. Blood Eye rapidly opened the door and began to dash up the stairs as sirens began to sound, guards coming through the door after them. Jumping out onto the roof, Blood Eye leapt toward the edge and looked down at the other building, it would be close.

Blood Eye glanced once to the orange mare, who had followed her well despite the entire situation, and grabbed her hoof, and leapt off the building. Time slowed as she descended, and Blood Eye realised that while they would make it, she was going to hit a ridge and get seriously hurt. Grabbing the orange mare, she pushed the mare up slightly, meaning that both would instead sail through the windows of two separate floors and survive more or less unharmed.

Blood Eye leapt to her feet and quickly dashed out of the room, heading for the emergency stairs and descending to the first floor, breaking out of the building through a back door and into the alleyway. Quickly feeling her head, she noticed the blood and knew she had various cuts from the glass shattering on her.

Suddenly, she turned as a hoof made contact with her face and she fell to the ground and she began to get thrashed by a pair of thugs who had noticed her moment of weakness. Curling into a ball, Blood Eye waited for the thugs to finished beating. When they were done she would launch a counterattack. However, as they continued she began to wonder if they were going to actually stop as the pain began to register.

Clang, the sound of head meeting metal resounded through the alleyway four times, and the thugs quickly collapsed in the alleyway, an orange hoof was held out for Blood Eye. Blood Eye brushed it aside and stood up, checking her body over for any serious injuries. Other than the cut on her forehead, she had only a few bruises. Checking the body on her back, she was satisfied it was in good condition as well. With that done, she glanced toward the orange mare, and opened her mouth.

“What’s your name kid?” The orange mare blinked, shocked that Blood Eye had actually spoken, and quickly began to respond.

“I’m Scootaloo.” Blood Eye nodded once as Scootaloo spoke, and quickly turned as the sounds of sirens began to sound, and the trample of feet began to get louder. Leaping into the darkness, Blood Eye escaped with ease.

The orange mare keeping up every step of the way.

The deal.

On the 44th floor of building Gamma, a hiding place for various thugs and ingrates that prided itself on it’s ability to keep a secret, sat a single apartment situated in one of the more quiet sections of the building. The owners were known for slotting you exactly where you wanted to be. For that reason, most floors were often called by their nicknames, rather than the actual floor. However, floor 44 was the exception to this rule, as there was nothing that made this floor stand out, and that was how the residents preferred it.

Blood Eye opened the door to her apartment and stepped inside, the orange mare named Scootaloo following close behind, closing the door behind her. The room was barely furnished, consisting of a couch, a table, and the kitchen. There was two doors to the side, one leading to the bedroom and the other to the bathroom.

“So uh, how long does my money cover me for?” Scootaloo walked over to the couch and hesitantly took a seat. Blood Eye dropped the body by the door, moved into the kitchen, and set a pot of water to boil as she pulled out a cup of expired noodles.

“Five minutes,” was the reply Blood Eye gave, pouring the hot water into the cup and adding the flavor, setting it to simmer as she headed for the bathroom and turned on the sink, scrubbing her teeth. Scootaloo stood up and slowly approached, her confusion evident.

“Then why were you protecting me at the tower?” Stumbling back as Blood Eye left the bathroom, she fell over the couch and looked toward the ceiling. Blinking, she tilted her head at the sight of a small hideaway that held a large chest nestled above the door. It was a good hiding place, only a pegasus would think to look there.

“I wasn’t.” Blood Eye took the noodles over to the table, sat down, and began to eat with a fork, spinning the noodles around the fork and eating them slowly, as if this would be her last meal. Scootaloo sat up, and looked toward Blood Eye as she finally realised she had been used, and laughed mockingly.

“You just used me to get to that body.” Scootaloo sighed and rubbed the back of her head, realising how naive she had been. Blood Eye had probably tossed the broker an extra coin to get that recommendation. The money hadn’t meant anything.

“That’s right.” Blood Eye continued eating, staring into nothing.

“But then why didn’t you take her deal up about giving me up? Surely you could have traded my life for yours.” Scootaloo watched Blood Eye raise her head, chewing slowly as she stared at Scootaloo. After a moment, she swallowed.

“The deal called for me to pay half the bounty. I don’t share bounties. Your life had nothing to do with it.” Blood Eye lowered her head, and grabbed another fork of noodles as Scootaloo looked down, thinking about how much her life actually meant. On this side, her life was just a paycheck, she sighed despondently.

“Even if I had bargained your life for mine, you aren’t worth my bounty. A pegasi is worth a small house, my bounty could buy a skyscraper.” Blood Eye finished her food and dumped the cup into the bin, heading into the bedroom and pulling out a candle and lighting it. It produced an eerie green flame.

“What does that do?” Scootaloo watched Blood Eye write a quick letter and seal it with saliva. She then held it over the flame, and burnt it into nothingness.

“It allows me to send messages.” Snuffing out the flame, Blood Eye put it away as a knock to the door sounded, and she opened it halfway and tossed the body out. A bag of coin was passed through the door, and the pony on the other side closed it. Putting the coin under her coat, she once more turned to her bed, and prepared it for a sleep.

“So uh, what do I do now?” Scootaloo looked at Blood Eye as she paused in making her bed, and turned to face her.

“What do you want to do.” Blood Eye’s desponded answer made Scootaloo jump, and she looked to the ground as she muttered an answer.

“Well, I can’t go back to the white without Sweetie Belle, I promised I’d bring her back. And I can’t do that as I really don’t have any way to make her come with me.” Scootaloo sat down and the ground, ears flopping back, and sighed, a single tear escaping her eye. Blood Eye sat down on her bed and watched the mare work out what she wanted to do.

“What would you suggest I do?” Scootaloo turned her eyes on Blood Eye, who winced visibly in response and looked away. After a moment she turned back, once more a stoic face.

“Make a wanted poster, put a bounty on her body, alive.” Blood Eye began to fluff her pillow as the mare stood up, and gasped as the idea took hold in her head.

“Yes! That could work! She’ll surely forgive us once she’s back in the white! Oh but I don’t have any bits and I doubt I can afford the wanted fee…” Scootaloo frowned once more, bringing a hoof to her face as she mused. Blood Eye laid down, and has just closed her eyes as the mare spoke once more.

“I know! you can help me!” Scootaloo saw Blood Eye flail slightly as she jumped, and fell off the bed. Chuckling sheepishly, she saw a glare directed at her as Blood Eye once more sat on the bed.

“And just why would I do that.” Blood Eye was getting tired of Scootaloo. If this was how people on the white were, she didn’t want to visit.

“Simple! I’ll take on targets too. I’ll pay your fee and use what’s leftover to save for the bounty on Sweetie Belle! I’ll also pay part of the rent, that is, if you allow me to stay here.” Scootaloo saw Blood Eye consider it for a moment, and a smile grew on her face. This was her chance!

“You do realise my bodyguard fees would run you out of bits so fast, and that’s not mentioning the fact I’m not available 24/7. You would be paying for hours you would not receive.” Blood Eye dismissed the conversation with a hoof, and turned her back to Scootaloo as she laid down, facing the wall.

“Not 24/7, only for a few minutes here and there when I can’t complete the bounty on my own. I’ll make you a deal, one you can’t resist.” Scootaloo paused, standing up and wings flaring as a smirk broke onto her face.

“If you have to help with the bounty, I will give you half of it, no questions asked. You wouldn’t even have to lift a finger. I will pay the rent, do the bounties, everything, all you have to do is be there in case I fail. And if I do, you get half the bounty.” Scootaloo saw Blood Eye slowly roll over, and look at her depressingly.

“I don’t split bounties.” Turning once more, she failed to see Scootaloo wince and look toward the couch, and finally sigh in desperation.

“Fine fine! The entire bounty is yours if you have to help! I’ll even always go after bigger targets so as to make up for the money I lose on the times you have to help! Please Blood Eye, you’re the only person I can ask!” Scootaloo waited a moment, before looking to the ground and closing her eyes, knowing she was defeated.

“Why me?” Hearing Blood Eye’s voice, hope sparked in her eyes as she took a step forward, and began speaking.

“Because you’re the only pony that has ever helped me in this rathole called Black.” Scootaloo approached Blood Eye, noticing she had yet to turn around. This would be difficult, this pony was as stubborn as a mule.

“I have never once outwardly helped you. You escaped the building on your own. That just happened to be by following me. And the jump was me using you to ensure I would not get seriously hurt, nothing more.” Blood Eye shifted, pulling the cloak around her more tightly.

“And what about at the inn? Do you think anypony else in this place would have turned around and come back and untied me? Do you know what anypony else would have done to me had they found me there, with the door open? It would not be pretty.” Scootaloo raised her head and stood tall, wings open as she waited for an answer. After a minute, she relaxed her posture and lowered her head. As she raised a hoof to turn and leave, she blinked in shock as Blood Eye rolled over once more and fixed her eyes on Scootaloo.

“Fine, but you sleep on the couch.”

Target 1: Sn1ps Wanted, Alive.

Scootaloo waited for the guard to open the door, his eyes going over her before sliding off the lock and letting her and Blood Eye inside. A few faces turned at the sight of her, but as soon as Blood Eye appeared all quickly turned back to their own business. Both walked over to the wanted posters, and Scootaloo began to look through them. The bar was quieter than usual, and she couldn’t help whispering so her voice wouldn’t carry.

“I don’t see yours here, these look like mostly thugs and henchponies rather than big time.” Scootaloo turned her head, seeing Blood Eye lean forward as she looked at the posters, eyes pausing briefly on one that was wanted alive but had a large bounty. Pulling it off, she looked at it for a moment before passing it to Scootaloo.

“Big time are kept separately." Blood Eye continued looking at the posters as Scootaloo went over the target. His name was Sn1ps, and was dressed in bright clothes. Was he some sort of DJ?

“Do you ever go after them?” Scootaloo folded the poster up gently and put it in her hoodie, looking around the room at the eyes watching from their corners. Obviously Blood Eye’s behavior hadn’t gone unnoticed. Blood Eye stepped away from the wanted poster and slowly made her way over to the bartender.

“Not often. I only do those missions when I really need the money.” Blood Eye sat down, and glanced to Scootaloo as she did the same. The bartender noticed their behaviour, and quickly spoke up about it.

“Well well Blood Eye, never thought you were one to team up.” The bartender blinked and took a step back, dropping a glass that shattered on the ground, as Blood Eye fixed him with a pointed glare. All eyes turned to the commotion briefly, before turning away just as quickly.

“I’m not.” Was all she said in response. The bartender quickly looked for another mug to clean and chuckled happily.

“Well of course not, what a silly question. So what can I get for you today?” The tavern keeper saw the gold coin as Blood Eye moved her hoof away and quickly snatched it up. After a glance around, he leaned in and motioned to a map of Manehattan.

“Broker’s on Tenderhoof Road, knock three times at house 15 and wait in the darkness.” With that said, he returned to cleaning his cup, wiping the glass shards under the bar table with a hoof. Blood Eye stood up, and turned to leave. Scootaloo blinked, and was quick to follow.

“So Sweetie Belle is the second in command of Dark Hoof. Is that the largest mob family in Manehattan?” Scootaloo and Blood Eye were currently traveling through the alleyways of Manehattan. When she had asked about why they stayed in the alleyways, Blood Eye had replied it was easier to tell if someone was aiming at you.

“Dark Hoof is one of three mob families that rank the most wanted in Manehattan. Their leaders are ruthless, cunning, and without mercy. The other two are Gorgon, and Midnight Nova.” Blood Eye turned a corner and entered the empty street.

“So who’s the most powerful of the families?” Scootaloo looked around the street as Blood Eye knocked on the door of house 15, before following her into the darkness beside the house.

“All three are about equal, but all report to the same pony, one that's above them. This pony apparently controls the entire city with an iron hoof. That’s what rumors say at least.” Blood Eye watched the Information Broker enter the shadows, and tossed the broker two coins, showing the poster.

“Sn1ps works at the bunny house on Astley Lane. He is normally there around 8 every night until morning.” With the work finished, the broker once more vanished from sight. Blood Eye turned to Scootaloo.

“I’m not paying for you next time. And you owe me six gold bits.” Scootaloo grudgingly fished into her meager savings and pulled out the last of her gold. It was worth it though, now she knew how to accept bounties. And this fee also included how to hand bounties in.

It was time to begin work.

Target 1: Sn1ps
Wanted, Alive.

The party was humming, pulsing with the beat of the tune. At the entrance stood a 5 meter sign showing a triple x along with two ponies dressed in bunny suits. At the front stood two guards, there merely for show than anything else. The door slid open with a loud whoosh, and the sound blasted into the street.

As the two entered, the noise intensified as the strobing lights pranced along the dance floor, a disco ball spinning in the center. Along the edges were many stalls with curtains over them. Those were the private parties, one could assume. In one corner of the room was two large poles with a large assortment of tables surrounding them. This section was filled to the brim with mares, who were throwing money at the stallons showing themselves off on the stage.

Scootaloo felt her head swim as she suffocated in the thick smoke premating the place. It was riddled with many different scents, and most of them pertaining to illegal substances. Although, she guessed they weren’t considered illegal over here. It was also possible it was something that was illegal, but no one enforced anymore.

Walking toward the stairs, she ascended them and headed for the actual part of the building, entering a door and blinking as her senses cleared the instant it closed. Behind her, Blood Eye was absolutely silent. A thug stopped them, and asked them to state their business.

“We’re here to see Sn1ps.” The thug took in Scootaloo, before moving aside and pointing to a door at the end of the hall. Moving through, she knocked gently on the door and waited.

“You may enter the Sn1ps pimp pad.” Wincing at the high and scratchy voice spoke, Scootaloo entered and wasn’t surprised to see the light-brown haired, dark blue stallion that was well known for his small eyes, buck teeth, and large brown eyebrows. Upon seeing her, his eyes lit up and he stood up.

Scootaloo hadn’t seen Snips in a long time, and it had not treated him well. While most ponies slowly grew upward, Snips had grown rounder and shorter, almost like a pancake. His teeth had gotten worse, and she wasn’t surprised to see him trip and fall over his short legs.

“Well hey Scootaloo, come to sell your body as a bunny? I have plenty of opening for mares that look like you. And the pegasus thing would make you even more desirable. I could make us rich!” Snips motioned to one of the mares who had stood in the shadows of the room until now, who approached Scootaloo, holding out a bunny outfit. Scootaloo tossed it aside, and pulled out the wanted poster.

“Actually, I believe you’re a bit more ‘wanted’ than I am Snips.” Scootaloo folded the wanted poster and put it away as Snips began to backpedal, stuttering as he pointed to Scootaloo.

“Y-You’re a bounty hunter!” Pressing a button beside his seat, guards burst into the room and quickly leapt around Scootaloo to stand between her and Snips. Both waited as Snips pointed and ordered them with a wave of his hoof.

“Seize her! If she won’t come willingly we’ll make her a bunny by force.” Both guards descended on Scootaloo, who leapt over their heads, rotating mid air with a single flap and knocking the first guard down with her back leg, sending her spiraling forwards and face first into the floor.

Leaping to her feet, she turned just in time to see the second guard dive for her, and jump straight in the air as he sailed underneath her. Landing on top, she quickly kicked him once in the head before turning to look at the other guard, who was just getting up. Jumping toward him, Scootaloo aimed a front hoof at his face, knocking him down once more. Seeing both were not getting up, she quickly jumped at Snips and knocked him out.

“Whew,” she sighed, cracking her joints just like her big sister had shown her how to do. Finished that, she looked around for some rope to tie up Snips with, before settling for the ropes hanging off the velvet drapes on the bed in the corner of the room. Finished that, she remembered Blood Eye was at the door, and looked between her target and Blood Eye before snorting and moving behind him. Once behind, she began pushing him out of the room, rolling him like a doughnut.

All patrons turned and watched Scootaloo as she slowly rolled the owner out of the club. Some almost stood up to object, but as soon as they met eyes with the mare following closely behind, they sat back down. As the two ponies left the establishment, all heaved a sigh of relief, and the party began anew.

Scootaloo paused outside and watched as Blood Eye walked toward the curb and waited, one pony carts rushing by as ponies pulled their passengers along the streets. Eventually one stopped and a pony completely dressed in black opened the door to the passenger car, holding out a bag of bits. Scootaloo pushed the body in the back of the car and took the bits, blinking for a moment before quickly stashing the money and following Blood Eye away.

“Wait, so I just wait at the curb until a strange car pulls up and pays me the bounty?” Scootaloo turned into an alleyway as Blood Eye nodded. It looked like they would be heading back to building Gamma tonight.

“But isn’t that dangerous, what if someone steals your bounty before I can deliver it?” Scootaloo saw Blood Eye pause, and glance back at her briefly before continuing.

“Only fools steal from those that use this route.” Confused by Blood Eye’s words, she followed quietly as she tried to work out exactly what was meant. Did she mean that those that used this route were strong enough to defend their bounty? Or that those that used this route were protected by those that paid the bounty. Scootaloo was sure it was the former.

“I don’t really think I should be using it, I’m not that strong.” Scootaloo followed once more as they made their way back to the building, knowing that she would be spending another uncomfortable night on the couch.

“Is that not why you hired me?”

Target 2: Golden Fork Wanted, Alive

Target 2: Golden Fork
Wanted, Alive.

Scootaloo left the apartment and quickly went toward the location of the information broker. According to Blood Eye, he could be found in the same place for two days only. As they waited for the broker, a strange motion caught Scootaloo’s attention. It was nothing irregular, she did it herself. Blood Eye shook like a dog for a moment, and her fur bristled in the chill. Scootaloo turned as the broker emerged, and handed him the two bits, holding out the wanted poster.

“Golden Fork eh? That’s a real shame, she gives me a lot of my business. You want the Tiara Spirits drug shop off Elderbirch Drive. Pick me up a pack of catnip while you’re at it, all the colts are sniffing it nowadays, I can make a steal.” The information broker tossed one gold coin back as a sign of good faith, and vanished into the shadows. Scootaloo opened up her map and quickly pinpointed the location of the store. Turning, she and Blood Eye matched pace as they made their way through the maze of back streets in the city.

“Golden Fork, seems they’re not very original in their naming.” Scootaloo chuckled to herself, surprised to see Blood Eye had raised an eyebrow in response.

“Oh uh, you see, these two bounties have been ponies I grew up in ponyville with. Sn1ps was a little bit of a weirdo, but he was a nice guy really. Golden Fork is likely Silver Spoon, another one of my childhood...ponies. I wouldn’t say we were on good terms.” Scootaloo bit her lip and looked down, giving a sigh. Even in the white, things weren’t as cut and dry. Sure things were happy over there, but as soon as she had passed The Wall, things had started to...change.

“The darkness changes ponies, just as it has changed you.” Blood Eye spoke a single sentence, and yet Scootaloo felt as if she had spoken a paragraph. Was it really that simple? Surely there were decent ponies over here too? Blood Eye was decent, somewhat, right? Scootaloo sighed, and lowered her head.

“I miss those days, before the Pulse, back when I had my best friends, and my sister. It all felt so...bright.” Scootaloo paused as the sight of the shop came into view from the alleyway, and narrowed her eyes. Scoping out the place first was important, security was likely to be a problem otherwise.

“Does the white not feel the same?” Blood Eye raised an eyebrow at Scootaloo, who blinked and returned the gaze.

“No, but yes at the same time. It’s hard to explain without having actually been over there. But I was sorta happy.” Scootaloo noticed one mare walk by the shop, and stop out front. After a few moments she passed on. Barely a moment later, a second mare did the same action.

“Then why leave? Blood Eye had noticed the pattern almost instantly, but let Scootaloo work through it at her own pace. Looking up, she also noticed a stranger watching them from the roof. Scootaloo had yet to notice.

“It’s complicated. Over there problems don’t seem as large as they do over here. I wanted to bring Sweetie Belle back, and possibly find...Anyways Celestia just happened to be considering sending a party in to see if this land was worth saving from the darkness, to see if ponies here deserved redemption.” Scootaloo bit her lip, glad she had managed to stop herself from talking about her sister. It was really just too soon.

“Very well,” was all Blood Eye said in response. If Blood Eye had any opinions, she kept them to herself. Scootaloo finally noticed the guard on the roof, and sighed, knowing their cover had been blown. Standing up, she began to walk directly toward the entrance. Security was tight, but not as tight as Sweetie Belle’s.

“Oh my, Scootaloo!” The gray mare with a necklace of fake pearls approached the two, and brought Scootaloo into a hug, stepping back a moment later. Scootaloo’s eyes widened as she realised the cutie mark was in fact of a golden fork.

“Oh nevermind that, it’s just some fancy makeup. I had it done so people wouldn’t be able to recognize my lineage.” Silver Spoon, for of course it was her, quickly led the two into a small room away from the counter. It opened up, revealing a large factory behind the store. Various ponies could be seen packaging various herbs of unknown origin.

“The Information Broker asked me to pick up some catnip.” Scootaloo blinked as a small bundle was tossed to her, and she quickly pocketed it.

“Oh anything for the broker, he has helped me out many times before. If I find out you're lying I will be procuring his resources to hunt you down you know.” Silver Spoon winked, but Scootaloo could tell she was dead serious. It was lucky Scootaloo was telling the truth. Finally, they entered another door, and Silver Spoon sat down at a desk. Scootaloo took the only seat, and Blood eye took a corner of the room.

“Now, could you show me the wanted poster?” Silver Spoon held out a hoof, and Scootaloo numbly held it out. After a moment, she scowled and scrunched it up, tossing it into the bin.

“This has Platinum Crown all over it, darn her. What an inconvenience this is.” Silver Spoon clapped her hooves together, and a burly stallion came in and deposited a bag of money on the table, and left the room. Silver Spoon kept her hooves clasped together.

“Now Scootaloo, I need you to listen very carefully. You see, this poster is put up by my competitor, Platinum Crown. If you take me in, my business will gain a bad reputation, and we will likely have to foreclose. However, if you take this bribe of twice the amount you would receive for handing me in, I won’t receive any negativity from my customers and I will quickly be able to regain the amount I give to you. So, what will it be Scoots?”

Scootaloo listened carefully to the words, as Silver Spoon has asked, and felt her inner morals die a little on the inside. On one hand, this was an obvious drug operation, and it going out of business would be a good thing. But another one would just spring up in it’s place, and nothing would change. However, if she took the bribe, she would be that much closer to getting the one pony she could out of the black as soon as possible. And Silver Spoon didn’t really deserve to be ruined.

“Double the bribe, and you have a deal,” she replied, putting a hoof out. Silver Spoon mused for a moment, and then smiled and grabbed the hoof and shook it.

“You have a deal! Come back anytime for a 1% discount on any drugs you buy!”

“I’m just not sure I made the right decision.” Scootaloo sighed and lounged on the couch. Blood Eye was making expired noodles as usual.

“There was no right decision kid, there normally isn’t. You forget where we are.” Blood Eye quickly ate her food, and quickly entered her room, locking the door and going to sleep. Scootaloo raised her head, and blinked in surprise to see a second cup of noodles steaming on the bench. Sitting at the bench, she ate them as if they were the best food she had ever eaten. But why had Blood Eye done it?

Why?

Target 3: Let's Get Wanted, Dead or Alive

Target 3: Let's get(Aka: Rumble)
Wanted, Dead or Alive.

Scootaloo entered the tavern, and watched as ponies glanced to her. Turning straight for the notice board, they looked away. Ponies had grown used to her presence by now. Blood Eye appeared a moment later, no one bothering to glance. Ponies knew the orange one meant Blood Eye was close behind.

“None of these look even close to the amount we need for the rent. I really don’t want to dip into my savings, what do you think Blood Eye?” Scootaloo stepped aside as Blood Eye scanned the posters expertly, before leaning back and looking toward the bartender.

“If you are looking for bigger game, you want the higher bounty board. You have to tell the bartender a secret message.” Blood Eye looked around the tables, noticing a particular pony sitting in the shadows. What was the information broker doing here?

“Okay, let’s do one of those. What’s the secret message?” Scootaloo followed Blood Eye’s gaze, before they headed for the counter. The barpony smiled, and exchanged the typical greeting.

“We want a suicide mission.” Blood Eye’s words silenced the room swiftly, and you could feel the eyes staring at her back. The barpony nodded, and motioned toward one of the bunnies, who quickly came to man the register while he led Scootaloo and Blood Eye into a back room. Scootaloo examined it, and noticed it was a simple storage room.

“There’s the list there, just tear it off when you’re done looking and bring it to the counter. And don’t think of trying to take any of my wares. All of them have magic traps to vaporise you in an instant if you try. ‘Course you know that Blood Eye.” The barpony turned and left them alone. Scootaloo approached the board.

“Woah, even you are on here.” Scootaloo put a hoof to the picture of Blood Eye, who was worth nearly a million bits. There were some that were worth nearly ten times that on here. Scootaloo gulped, and slowly moved her hoof toward the less pricey side of the board, her hoof coming to a stop on one particular poster. The price was nearly double the amount needed for rent, which was a substantial amount, but that wasn’t what had caught her eye. It was the picture, and how familiar the stallion in it was, despite the fact he was obviously fully grown now.

“We’re taking this one,” she decided, grabbing the poster and turning to Blood Eye. If Blood Eye had anything to say, she once more kept it to herself as she led the way out of the storage room. Taking the poster from Scootaloo, she slammed it onto the counter and locked eyes with the barpony, who had returned to work at the counter.

“We’re taking Rumble.” Once more, Blood Eye managed to get the entire tavern to pause on their very breathing. The bartender shook his head sadly, but nodded and put the poster under the counter. Blood Eye glanced to Scootaloo, who blinked and deposited two bits. The information broker came forward, and quickly gave an envelope to Scootaloo, taking the two bits straight from the bartender’s hoof. Depositing another two bits, Scootaloo pocketed the letter and turned to Blood Eye.

Upon exiting, Scootaloo opened the letter.

Nice job kid, aim for the top as they say. You’re not exactly in the best place to be receiving information at this time, so I’ve written it down for you. Eat it after, my words are for you alone.

Rumble’s taking care of a small family up north. Just tell Blood Eye to take you to the Thunder Ready hideout. Assuming you make it out alive kid, remember that after this lil’ job you’ll be the one with a bounty on ya head. That’s gonna draw some big names after ya. Good news is most of em are wanted themselves. Bad news is most of em are on the list you just plucked a poster from.

Good luck kid, you’re gonna need it.

p.s: Swiped the catnip from your bag while I passed, thanks kid.

Scootaloo ate the letter quickly, cringing at the taste. Really, the information broker could have made an effort to at least make the ink somewhat edible. Checking her bags Scootaloo was not surprised to find the catnip was gone, as the broker had spoken. Blood Eye waited patiently, and eventually Scootaloo was ready to go.

“Let’s go to Thunder Ready’s hideout.”

Scootaloo crouched in the alleyway, watching the security around the building. Glancing to the roofs, she was glad to see none of the scouts had spotted her yet. It didn’t look like there would be an easy way in undetected, so they would likely have to enter via the front door and wing it. Glancing to Blood Eye, Scootaloo was half tempted to ask if she had any ideas, but held her tongue. It might count as her entire bounty if she asked for help, that couldn’t happen.

Breathing in, Scootaloo stood up and waited for the guards to spot her. Blood Eye followed her out into the street as she approached the stationary guard at the entrance and waited for him to acknowledge her.

“Tell Rumble his old friend Scootaloo is here to see him.” Scootaloo saw the guard turn toward what looked like a mirror of sorts, and three beeps came through the walkie talkie on his belt. Gruffly, he motioned toward the door, stepping to let them in.

“Third door on the left.” After they passed him he returned to his position, slamming the door behind them. Scootaloo heard the barely audible click as the door locked behind them. Gulping, she continued forward, and opened the door he had said to open. Surprisingly, it led into a spacious room, and all the other doors also seemed to lead here. As Scootaloo stepped in, closely followed by Blood Eye, she wondered why he said this door, just as a cage slammed around them.

“Forgive the rude introductions my old friend, but I get many people after me, and my family these days.” A large, buff stallion with a bluish gray coat, a two-tone dark gray mane and tail, and purple eyes entered from a different door, looking them over. Rumble looked to Scootaloo with a hungry expression, it only growing more pronounced as he looked to Blood Eye.

“Your family? But Thunderlane’s on the white.” Scootaloo bit her lip and reared back as Rumble smashed into the cage, his eyes burning into her’s with a righteous fury.

“My brother abandoned me to the black. When he never came for me, I made a new family, one that looks after it’s members. Anypony not a part of our family is the enemy, and that includes you.” Rumble blinked and his eyes returned to normal, calm but with a hard edge to them. Scootaloo could tell Rumble wasn’t joking, this was what he believed. Looking to his sides, her eyes widened as she gasped, eyes widening with horror.

“Y-Your wings!” Scootaloo barely made out the stumps where the wings had been on her old classmate’s body. Rumble glanced back to them, and jiggled them as she held in her lunch. Scootaloo could tell her horror merely amused him.

“Cut them off my dear. You see, Pegasi are the lowest scum of the low on black. To actually be considered as a pony and not a bottom feeder, you have to be either Earth or a Unicorn. The wiser Pegasi cut off their wings, and no one but another Pegasi would notice.” Rumble glanced to Blood Eye before returning his gaze to Scootaloo, and smirking at the wings clearly protruding from her back.

“B-But,” she stuttered, unable to form a proper sentence after seeing what she had just seen. Really, Rumble was correct, no one but a Pegasus would notice the fact the shoulder blades were slightly more prominent than on anypony else. Scootaloo turned as she saw the room begin to fill with ponies. Quite a few of them were mutilated Pegasi to her displeasure.

“Now that we have the introductions out of the way, let’s get down to business. I had a tip off an orange Pegasus would be coming to try and claim my bounty. The tip off also stated a certain Blood-Eyed individual was following said Pegasus around like a puppy dog.” Ruble spat at Blood Eye’s feet, who didn’t move an inch. Scootaloo saw the ponies begin to pull out peculiar devices. They looked like slingshots, but automated to fire on a button. Each one was filled with those spikes Sweetie Belle had shown her earlier.

“You see my dear, Blood Eye’s bounty is enough to feed us for over a year, even dead. And family comes first. So I’m afraid you two must die to preserve my family.” Rumble turned and nodded to the ponies, and they began to aim. Scootaloo could tell Blood Eye was to be their first target, but she would be closely followed. The cage, it looked like it might be able to be lifted up…

“Fire!” Rumble motioned toward the cage as Scootaloo ducked under the first volley and pulled the cage up and over them, releasing them. Looking to Blood Eye, she was relieved to see not a single one had hit her somehow. Turning, she began to dive for the thugs shooting. Seeing her diving for them, all changed their target from the one who had yet to move, to the one already on the offensive.

Scootaloo leapt out of the way of most of the bullets, but one scraped her neck as she leapt past, sliding into a kick and knocking over the group of thugs. Diving onto one of the slingshots, she quickly began to knock them away before the thugs could retaliate. Finally, it descended into a fistfight.

Dodging a punch aimed for her cheek, Scootaloo pushed one of the thugs into the majority of the group, twirling around and kicking the one she had left alone unconscious. Giving a flap, she backflipped over another thug and used her wings to spin her in the air so she was facing his back, and she slammed her hoof into his head, knocking the second one unconscious.

Searing pain entered her leg as a spike embedded itself into her front hoof, and she turned to see Rumble had started to fire on her, expertly aiming despite the thugs around her. Scootaloo felt someone slam into her from behind, and struggled vainly to get free as they began to pin her down. Gritting her teeth, she flared her wings and flapped as hard as she could, flipping the group over and leaving her on top. Kicking another head, she rendered a third unconscious.

Diving down to dodge a bullet from Rumble, Scootaloo tried to hoof one thug in the face, but missed as one came from the side and aimed a kick at her stomach. Rolling with the impact, she saw one of the thugs dive for the bundle of slingshots, and her eyes widened as she realised the others were also making an effort to regain their slingshots.

Pain lanced through her back as a bullet sliced through the skin close to her spine. Scootaloo cursed her stupidity for forgetting that Rumble was there. Dodging one thug diving for her, she used him as a diving board and dived for the guy who was just beginning to aim his slingshot. Seeing her coming, he cried out and fired on instinct, hitting her in the shoulder.

Falling to the ground, Scootaloo winced in pain and quickly tried to get back up to fight. However, her limbs weren’t responding, and she realised then that there must have been something in the bullets to make her limbs go numb. Turning, she caught Blood Eye’s gaze, and raised her head, wincing as pain shot through her as Rumble fired again.

“He-lp,” she choked out, collapsing as her body refused to obey her. Scootaloo was amazed her eyes were even staying open, but she was glad they did. If they hadn’t, she wouldn’t have seen Blood Eye in action, let alone prove why she had such a high bounty. Blood Eye bowed her head once, and all eyes turned on her as they saw her crack her joints in a way that was obviously preparing for a fight. The thug with the slingshot was the quickest, and he fired just as she let out a slow breath of air.

Blood Eye was on the guy in an instant, bullet in her mouth as she slammed her hoof into his chest, knocking the breath out of him. Turning, she pirouetted and tossed the bullet with her mouth at Rumble, disarming him as he cried out in pain. Turning, she faced the final five thugs.

Diving under a kick, she knocked one into the wall, leaving a large dent as he gasped for breath. Leaping into the air, she aimed a kick at one, knocking him out instantly. Two dived for the slingshots and fired at Blood Eye, who caught them once more with her mouth and returned them right back. Turning on the final thug, she stood on two feet, and slammed her hoof directly into his face. Turning to the one she had knocked in the wall, she slammed her hoof into the side of his head, and then kicked backward at the first thug she had winded, knocking him out soundly.

Rumble had finally picked up his weapon, and was aiming to fire. However, he only had time to widen his eyes as Blood Eye was on him. Rumble was quick though, and back-flipped out of the way of Blood Eye. Turning, he fired three shots at where an attack could come from, and then dodged out of the way as Blood Eye leapt over his shots and aimed a kick at his head.

Leaping around to her back, Rumble tried to punch her in the back, but found Blood Eye mimicked the action and felt hooves connect with his body. Grunting, he didn’t bother turning and instead tried to buck the form behind him, knowing Blood Eye was likely going to spin around if he tried to face her.

Sadly, Blood Eye predicted this, and merely leapt onto his back and punched him in the back of the head, causing a headache as he tried to shake her off. Rumble still stood however, and he roared loudly as he stamped down, and charged Blood Eye, the headache eliminating all conscious thought from his mind.

Blood Eye leapt once more onto his back, and kicked him once more, knocking him out. Blood Eye’s ears flickered as the sound of alarms rang through the compound. Turning to their target, Blood Eye grabbed the large stallion and tossed his body over her back, approaching Scootaloo quickly. However, Scootaloo’s eyes finally stopped obeying her and began to close, just as a hoof grabbed onto her own.

It was her name.

“I gotta warn you, this isn’t nearly enough to cover the rent.” Sharp pain, the first thing Scootaloo felt was sharp pain, and a voice complaining about rent. Her body felt mummified, and she couldn’t even move. It was as if something was sitting on top of her and holding her down, and yet at the same time causing her immense pain wherever it touched.

“Wave the safety charges for now, money’s a little tight at the moment.” Scootaloo felt the pain clear slightly, and her ear twitched as the voice that just spoke registered. That was Blood Eye. What did she mean money was tight? Surely the fee for Rumble had covered it and more. Then again, Scootaloo’s funds didn’t include it after she had asked for help.

“Well...only for you. Just be careful, you have a lot of enemies in high places. You don’t want the Gorgon trying to turn you into stone.” The pain was fading, and Scootaloo could feel her body starting to respond. It turned out the thing around her was just a blanket. Slowly, she began to open her eyes.

“I’m well aware of the risks. Thank you for your concern however.” Slowly the ceiling came into focus, and Scootaloo looked around. Was she in Blood Eye’s room? Turning her head, she looked to the desk to the side of the bed. There was an alarm clock, a brush, and a small locked box.

“Not concern really, I just don’t want to lose one of my paying customers. You have no idea how hard it is to get the junkies to pay.” Scootaloo heard the voice growing distant, and the sound of a door closing. It was soon followed by a very faint click. Softly, hoofsteps approached the closed door of the room, and Blood Eye entered the room.

“How long was I out?” Scootaloo sat up and examined the hoof that had been hurt during the fight, surprised to find it expertly bandaged. Looking to her back, her wings were also bandaged, as it was wrapped around her waist to cover where she had been hit near the spine.

“Two days.” Blood Eye leaned out and grabbed something, pulling back into the room a moment later. Scootaloo grabbed the cup of water and gulped it down gratefully.

“How many bits do I have left?” Scootaloo looked around for her hoodie, where most of her items were stored. Blood Eye tossed the jumper over, and Scootaloo put it on, dismayed to find not one bit remained in her savings. Turning on Blood Eye, she narrowed her eyes in anger.

“You took some of the money for yourself didn’t you!” Scootaloo reared back, eyes widening at the sound of her own voice. Was that how she really sounded when she was angry? It was almost like an entirely different pony. Blood Eye turned and left the room.

Come to think of it, why was she in Blood Eye’s bed? And why were her wounds so expertly taken care of. Blood Eye didn’t have that medical skill, Scootaloo had seen her tend to her own wounds that night they had gone to Sweetie Belle’s. Standing up, Scootaloo saw the impressive dent where she had been laying for two days, and her mouth turned downwards. Walking out, she saw Blood Eye was sitting on the couch, holding out two wanted posters.

“Sorry,” she spoke, taking a seat beside Blood Eye. If Blood Eye had heard, she made no motion of it. Scootaloo turned to look at the two wanted posters, and her eyes widened and she breathed in, one was of her. Her bounty wasn’t a lot, but it was enough to put it on the regular board, near the higher bounty area. There was also the name they had given her.

“Sunset?” Scootaloo turned to glance to Blood Eye’s wanted poster, which was what the second one was. Blood Eye’s bounty hadn’t changed much, the only difference being she was worth slightly more now. Blood Eye handed Scootaloo one of the posters, then tossed the one of herself in the bin near the kitchen. Scootaloo pocketed her own wanted poster.

“It’s your nickname. Essentially it means something along the lines of ‘light fading from the world.’ That’s likely referring to you originally being from the white, and being orange in color.” Blood Eye glanced to the secret compartment, and her mouth turned downward very slightly. Standing up, she went to the kitchen to cook some stale noodles.

“Huh, what does yours mean? Scootaloo didn’t entirely like the fact she now had an alias, but at least it was a pretty one. Sunset, if that was what her name over here was to be, she might as well start calling herself by it. Scootaloo was her white name. Now in the black, she would become Sunset. Yes, it was almost poetic to Scootaloo.

“It means my only discerning feature is my eyes. Some used the Pulse as a chance to change their identity, like Golden Fork for example. Others found the Pulse changed it for them.” Blood Eye sat down with her noodles, and Scootaloo, no, Sunset, and Sunset sat down on the other stool and dug into her own.

“I remember the Pulse. My sister was teaching me how to use my scooter on clouds and...The Wall just...S-She went to t-try and stop it a-and…” Sunset sniffed once and quickly discarded her tears. They were useless in the black, and would only be seen as weakness. Blood Eye tilted her head curiously.

“Scooter?” Blood Eye paused and looked to her secret compartment, eyes narrowing and hoof coming to her chin. After a moment she shook her head and returned to looking at Sunset, who was puzzled by this behaviour, but decided not to look into it.

“It sounds like your sister was very brave. I’m sure she’s out there somewhere. I’m not sure what condition she’ll be in but-” Blood Eye cut herself off and continued eating her food, looking to the wall in irritation. Sunset could tell Blood Eye was trying to be nice by not continuing, despite the obviousness of the situation. Sunset didn’t want to think about it, would her sister be a don boss, or worse? Shuddering, she decided to move on.

“So what about you Blood Eye, what’s your memories of the Pulse?” Sunset saw Blood Eye wince and glance away, tossing her empty cup into the bin. After a moment she sighed and shrugged, moving her hoof in a wavy motion.

“I was one of the unlucky one’s. We were too close to The Wall when it fell. Most jus’ lost their cutie marks, some even lost their memory, but I got the whole shebang. I lost whatever my mark was, most of my memories pre-Pulse, and I woke up surrounded by thugs who were hoping to sell me as a bunny.” Blood Eye glanced toward the bin, and continued speaking, closing her eyes and breathing out.

“I get brief flashes sometimes, but nothing to really help me solve the mystery. Not to mention without my mark, any chance of someone knowing who I was is pretty much gone out the window. I have a few clues, but I don’t really care enough about my past to pursue it. Pretty busy survivin’ ya hear kid?” Blood Eye opened her eyes and smirked slightly at Sunset. The smile was actually quite chilling, and her teeth were in horrible condition, but Sunset appreciated the sentiment.

“That’s a pity, I would have loved to know who you were. I wonder if you were from Manehattan.” Sunset glanced over Blood Eye carefully, trying to pick out any details that might give her clues into her past. Sadly, no matter how she tried, there was really nothing that stood out. Gray hair, gray body covered by a cloak, and red eyes. Blood Eye turned and headed for her room, pausing at the door to glance back to Sunset, and pointed to her chest.

“You should get those wings chopped off sometime. They only paint you a more appealing target.” Blood Eye closed the door, it giving a soft click as Sunset sat there, mouth agape and eyes wide. Cut off her wings? Nonsense! There was no way in tartarus she would ever do that!

On the other hand, Blood Eye was right about it painting her a target. Sunset sighed and finished her noodles, jumping onto the couch to snuggle into her hoodie.