Life's Left Hook

That's...

That's...

Yup, that's a body...

But who is it?

Who the hell could it be?

Fucked if you know; all you can see is that they have a bright coat, and not much else.

The moonlight isn't sufficient.

But, then again, you've got what you wanted.

You know what's inside.

A body.

No doubt Cadance has had to put an... End to things, before.

Right?

But why did she have it delivered here?

That seems a little ridiculous.

As much as you want to stop asking questions, you can't.

There's too much left to your wandering imagination.

All you can really think of is—

*WHEEEEEEZE*

You jump at the sudden sound coming from the box.

Holy shit, was it alive?!

You look in horror, and you can hear a faint wheezing.

And, if you squint, the moonlight reflects enough to show that the body's chest is rising and lowering.

Okay, that crossed a bit of a line.

You have to find out more.

You pull back more cloth, revealing a bloodstained, ragged coat of a pony.

It looks like whoever it is took quite a beating.

You can see an eye look up at you, almost devoid of hope.

It's heart-rending, how defeated it looks.

With that, you pick up the box, and start heading to where you can find light.

Looking around, you don't see anywhere that can give you an ample source of light.

Without going into the hotel, that is.

You let out a sigh, and keep looking.

You see a door, though, on the side of the hotel.

It's a metal door, clearly not for guests.

Labeled, 'Hauswart'.

You have no clue what it is.

But, it's looking like your best bet.

You walk up to the door, and check the handle.

It's unlocked.

And, a quick peek at the cracks between the door and the wall reveal that there are no lights currently on.

Well, nobody's in there, then.

You swing the door open, revealing a hallway barely lit by the moonlight.

And, your arm reaching forward, you grasp at a string.

With a tug, the blinding lights come on.

You look down at the crate, and its contents.

And, at first, you don't believe your eyes.

It doesn't make any sense at all!

The bright-colored mare writes in agony in the crate, and all you can do is stare in shock and awe.

This...

It is really...?

"Spitfire?!"

She looks at you and snarls with what little stength she has left.

You can tell she's trying to glare at you, too.

But she looks so weak, it's hard to notice.

"Make it quick... You..."

You feel your heart skip a beat, and look down at her in confusion.

"Huh?"

She coughs up some blood and then averts her gaze away from you, staring off into the distance.

"Make it quick. I— I know damned well when I'm beat. I can't move anything without feeling my broken bones shift around in place. I'm not getting out of it— you have me. I'm done. And, if you have any honor, you're going to get what you came for and be done with it."

You look at her for a moment, and you let out a sigh.

"Spitfire, what the hell's going on?! I'm not going to kill y--"

"Then what the! HNNN—"

She bursts into a short coughing fit, blood spattering everywhere as she coughs up a lung.

Afterwards, she composes herself.

"Then what the hell do you want from me? To mock me before you kill me? Intel? You're never going to get any, if that's the case."

You shake your head.

"No, no, I'm not going to—"

"Bull fucking shit. I know you and that— Ugh, that pink -witch- are plotting something! I'd rather die than let you-"

"No! No, no, no! I have no idea what's going on! Why the hell are you like this?!"

She finally regains the strength to glare at you again.

"I don't believe you in the slightest."

You let out an exasperated sigh, and look behind you in case someone is there.

"If I was with Cadance, I would have listened to her when she told me to put this box in the garbage."

With this, she raises an eyebrow.

"What?"

"Cadance told me to put this box in the garbage until the trash compactor came around. She also told me not to look inside. And, well, I didn't listen. Whatever she's hiding, it's not good, and I need to know what."

Spitfire takes amoment to let this all sink in,staring at the wall of th ebox in front of her.

"I would have killed you already if I knew what was going on. But I don't. And now I'm worried, concerning I just saw you, in full uniform, only five minutes ag—"

"You WHAT?!"

After she hollars, she bursts out into another coughing fit.

Blood gets everywhere, and drops are now on your hands and clothes.

Shit...

After a sigh, you let her calm down, and you explain.

"You, yes, you. In full uniform. You were talking to Cadance and I about how the Crystal Empire was being ran."

Suddenly, the expression on her face turns to one of horror.

And, soon, guilt shows itself too.

"Me? You... It wasn't me..."

"Yes, it was. And YOU dropped off this box. When I found out this box contained the very mare that delivered it, I was beyond confused."

Spitfire seems to be going into a full panic mode, at this point.

"This... This is bad... And you're saying Cadance is in on this?"

"I think so, concerning she told me not to open the box."

"God fucking damnit, no wonder Shining left her in the dust. That broad is about as smart as fuckin' Rainbow Dash when she's drunk on cider."

You suddenly realize how much time you've spent talking to Spitfire, and a bit of panic sets in.

"Look, I have to get back before Cadance figures out what the hell I've been doing. Will you be all right?"

She grumbles.

"Well, I'll live, I can tell you that, but not much else."

You sigh, standing up.

"I-I'll be back, with first aid. Soon. As soon as I can."

Spitfire rests her head, closing her eyes.

"Please, hurry back, soldier. Make an excuse and come back. I need you to help me."

You can tell the embarrasment she's going through by her tone of voice.

Bet she doesn't say that last line often.

"I will. Don't worry—I'll think of something."

With that, you take off, closing the door behind you.

You walk into the hotel, finding your way up to your room soon.

Cadance greets you as you walk in the door.

"Hey, hun," she says, smiling.

"Howdy," you reply.

"Everything taken care of?"

You nod.

"Eeyup. It's in the trash, under a couple of bags."

"And you didn't look inside?" she asks, tilting her head forward.

"Nope, I didn't," you say reassuringly, nodding.

"Oh. Good. But what took you so long?"

panic

brain.exe has stopped working

"Oh, I just ran into Scootaloo when I was down in the lobby."

"Oh, I see," she says, nodding.

And, then, she looks at your hand and your shirt.

"How'd you get blood on you?"

Oh, fuck.

"Did you not hear what I said?"

Oh dear god you're not going to be able to rebound from this.

"What?"

"I, uh, RAN into Scootaloo."

"Oh, lovely."

"She has a bad nosebleed. You got some TP?"

"TP?"

"Asswipe."

"Oh, sure."

As she trots to the bathroom, you recompose yourself and reboot brain.exe.

How the fuck did you weasel your way out of that?

You're never that witty.

Or Cadence isn't that smart.

It must have been pure dumb luck.

Soon, Cadance comes back, a roll of TP with her.

She tosses it to you, and you catch.

"There you go. Sorry about Scootaloo," she says, trotting over to the kitchen.

"Eh, it's fine. Nothing you could do, I suppose," you respond, walking out the door.

"Goodbye!"

*LATCH*

After the door's closed, you powerwalk down the stairs, out the lobby, and to the closet where you're keeping Spitfire.

It doesn't take you long to make it, and you look around.

You see Spitfire, where she was before you left.

And, then, for the first time, you look at the things in the closet.

A mop bucket, a broom, various tools and thingalings...

Must be a custodian's closet.

Oh! Maybe there's a first aid kit!

"Welcome back, savior" Spitfire says sarcastically.

"Did you get your ass out of trouble?"

You nod.

"Somehow. I really don't know how."

She chuckles, and for once, you see her smile. "Good, so our asses are still covered, right?"

"Right. She won't know a thing," you say, looking back further into the closet.

After a bit of searching, you see a rusty metal box that's probably thirty years old.

You can't read the Germane on it, but you can assume it's a first aid kit due to the symbols.

You pop it open, walking over to Spitfire.

"And, well, after this, I really have to consider a few things," you say, pulling out a roll of bandage.

Spitfire looks up at it with some hope.

"There's a bad gash on my front left leg, and another on my left mark," she says, not even bothering to gesture. "My wings are also crumpled and cut everywhere. If you can find a way to take care of those, you'll stop most of the bleeding. I'm going to need to go to a hospital, one way or another. One of my hind legs is shattered to pieces. A simple stint might do until then, though. I'd complain about my ribs and wings, but there's nothing you can do about those anyhow."

As she speaks, you start working on the cut on her front left leg.

It's no small cut; this is pretty deep, and should probably get stitches.

Grimacing, you do your best to wrap it tight.

Spitfire grimaces a bit, but doesn't do much else.

"Mind if I ask what the hell happened?"

As you keep wrapping, she lets out a sigh.

"I don't remember. All I remember is that I had recently been scheduled to fly to the Crystal Empire, to take Cadance's place. I was in Canterlot that night, staying at a hotel, and some time in the night, I was... Attacked. That's all I remember. I haven't woken up since."

Yikes.

"How long ago was this?"

"I... I don't know how long I've been out. Egh, shit."

You sigh, and you start working on her hind leg and plot.

This gash was just as nasty as the last, if not more so.

You're careful not to touch her broken leg as you go.

You could about imagine how much that must hurt.

And, as tough as Spirfire may be, you don't think you want to torture her any more than you have to.

She grits her teeth as you try to pull it together, but doesn't make a sound otherwise.

Damn, that's a nasty cut...

You'll have to talk to doc after this.

Intel is her business, she won't tell a soul, if you tell her not to.

And pay enough.

So long as Cadance doesn't get suspicious, and ask directly.

"Look, uh... Marshal... General... right?"

"Cut the fancy terms. You aren't in the military. Yet. That, and you're the one saving my ass. Call me Spitfire."

You nod.

"Sure."

"No sense in being formal in what's probably the shadiest situation I've been in for years."

"Good point. But, anyway, Spitfire, I know someone who can give you some first aid and can keep a secret well. I'll bring you to her as soon as I find a way."

Spitfire tries to jerk her neck to look at you, but hurts her self in the process.

"You! AUGH! ...Okay, who? You can't trust just anybody, Anonymous. We can NOT get our cover blown."

Heh, she knows your name.

"Yes, yes, I know. Trust me. She won't tell a soul, so long as Cadance doesn't have any suspicion."

Spitfire gives you a stern look.

"Are you absolutely sure?!"

After a beat, you nod.

"...Yes. Yes I am."

"I hope you can fall back on those words later on. It's looking like our only chance, at this point."

"I figured. No other doctor is going to patch a high-ranking, world-famous official without saying something."

Spitfire grumbles. "...Half the world knows my ass, if not more than half. It's going to be tough to stay low, especially until I find out what's going on."

Wait, what?

"Wait, what'd you say?"

"Do you think I'm just going to go right back home to the Crystal Empire like nothing happened?! No, I'll get killed! I'm going to try and tag along until I either know what's wrong or I get found out, whichever comes last."

You blink.

She's going to...

Join you?

How?

"Wait, how the hell do you expect to come with us?!"

"I'm not! I'm going to follow you!"

You cock an eyebrow.

"Follow us? As in, stalk us as we go on our tour?"

She nods.

"That's exactly what I mean. I need to find out what's going on, and fast; as much as I trust Cadance's judgement, something fishy's going on her. She's trying to kill her best, fuck, only general, officer, commander, or whatever you want me to be. I know damned well I'm the finest on the planet. Trying to take me out of the picture is incredibly suspicious, especially since tensions with several nations are at an all-time high. I need to find out what's what, before the shit hits the fan."

Your jaw drops a little bit.

"Uh, Can you, uh... Back up a little bit?"

"Huh?"

"Okay, I'm lost. Tensions?"

There's a small pause.

And, then, Spitfire lets out a long, drawn-out sigh.

"Damn it to the stars, how much do you know?"

"Uhm, the big Russian country up north evidently doesn't like us?"

"A fuckin' understatement to say the least!"