A City's Understanding

"Reina! Did you lose the map?"

"Oh shut it...."

"Reina!"

The Assassin in cerulean robes stuck a hand in the little girl's mouth. This gave the Assassin a few seconds of silence before the girl's buzzing continued. "Reina, we're lost aren't we?"

The Assassin sighed and removed her hood. Bright colourful hair sprouted from underneath. The hair was coloured like the rainbow. The Assassin ran a hand through it. The little girl poked her arm. "Reina!"

Reina glared at the girl. She was fed up with the girl's remarks of shame. "Listen, we are not lost. We...We just need to....to..."

The girl crossed her arms. Her purple hair swung itself over her eyes and she blew it back away. The girl's large purple eyes stared at the Assassin with contempt. Reina snarled at her before gazing at the endless city before her. The Capital returned the gaze with its mixed emotions. Sadness, bliss, anger, it was all there before them. Reina was not familiar with the Capital, she had just arrived there. She leaned back and rested her palms on the rooftop they sat on. "It'll be fine, Scoots. Can't be that hard to find an Assassin Den."

"Oh really?" The girl sounded skeptical. "This place looks like the ocean. An ocean of steel."

Reina looked at the girl. "Ocean? You've never seen the ocean. Cloudsdalio was like this too."

Scoots continued to look at her own feet. "I've seen the ocean. I've seen it in a painting once. It looked like this. And Cloudsdalio was.....cleaner."

Reina chuckled at the girl. "The ocean is nothing like this. I remember the East Empires, you know, before I went to Cloudsdalio. They had an ocean. I crossed it, remember?" Scoots nodded. Reina was not an Equestrian by birth. Her heritage was from the far and mysterious East Empires. It made the Assassin easy to pick out among the paler Equestrians. That, or it was her sense of wild style and dyed hair. Scoots was not sure which.

"Soo....Where to go?" Scoots asked after a silence.

Reina stroked her chin and then shrugged. "Eh, we got time I bet. I've kinda gotten comfortable." She then laid herself down on the rooftop and closed her eyes. Scoots grunted at the Assassin's laziness. Scoots was never one to sit in one place for two minutes. She had to be moving, doing something. She could not understand Reina's methods of falling asleep whenever she wanted.

"Reina! We can't just sleep here. What would the Masters say? If they caught us lagging..."

Reina rolled her eyes in frustration. "Girl, you aren't even in the Brotherhood. What are ya, 12? 13? Kinda lost count. Whatever. They can't kick me out neither. I'm waaayyy too valuable to them. You know why I'm valuable to them?"

Scoots gave a long sigh. "Because you're the best runner in Cloudsdalio."

"WRONG! I'm not the best in Cloudsdalio, I'm the best in Equestria! Those cocksucker Masters can't live without me. That's why I'm here and not in Cloudsdalio."

Scoots was confused. "What? I thought the 'Bolts couldn't stand us anymore and sent us here to get us out of their hair?"

"The 'Bolts? That's what they want ya to think, Sis. In reality, they were just jealous. They couldn't stand the thought of an Easterner like myself being better than them. So they sent me here, so that they could look better over there."

Scoots rubbed her chin in thought. She never really had thought about it that way. Reina was known for being arrogant and sometimes unsympathetic, but she was a nice person overall. If the Wonderbolts were jealous of her, it would make sense to kick her out. However, Reina was also known to exaggerate the situation, so she could be telling a lie. Scoots could not make up her mind on her foster sister's claims. She merely shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly.

"See?" Reina smiled. "Big Sis is always right. Since I'm always right, you should just chill like me. We got time to relax."

Scoots frowned at her. "No we don't! You lost the map. We are lost! We should ask for directions."

Reina covered her face in her hand. "Do you even hear yourself? What ya want to do? Go ask that chump where the Den is? Yeah right. Besides, down there is trouble. Lots of trouble. If we go down in the streets, no doubt a Royal Guard is assault us for being.....different."

"Oh, you scared?"

Reina scowled at Scoots. "Scared? By Tartarus no! I just....Fine! But, if we get bullets in our skulls, it's your fault."

Scoots chuckled. "That shouldn't happen if you're "the best in the Equestria."

"You suck, ya know that?" Reina held the collar of her sister.

Scoots pointed a rude finger. "You suck more! Wait....Suck what?"

"See? What Di' I tell ya? No cares about us being lost."

"Well, that lady appeared nice enough. Why did she cover her nose?"

"Scoots, she is saying that we stink. You know, like a taztlwurm."

"What's a taztlwurm?"

"Guh...Just ignore that..."

Reina started walking down the street. Scoots hesitated before chasing after her. "I think I know what the problem is. You have those katanas on your back. People may think you're a murderer."

"Heh, they wouldn't be far off. But, nah, I keep these blades on at all times. Who knows when a Templar is gonna pop up and attack us."

"I think you're paranoid..."

"Oh, shut it."

Reina sped up her walking speed to about normal speed for the average Equestrian. Her height may have been a factor in their lack of current success. Even though she wore bright colours and had an interesting sense of style, no one could see her over the black and purple dresses of proper women. Equestrians were taller than most countries. Reina didn't consider herself short, but she was definitely smaller. She was lucky Scoots was still shorter than her, and hoped that would last. She however, doubted that her sister would stay small.

The Assassin turned sharply and entered a store. She did not know why she entered the store, but the Eastern style of the shop intrigued her. Maybe she would find another East Imperial in here? The store was cold and dark. The tightness of the walls and objects made her slightly claustrophobic. Scoots followed her inside. It did not take long for the Eastern masks and "dolls" to creep her out. She was glad such things were rare in Equestria. Reina took no mind to the masks and walked by them. She was more interested in the shop's owner. A spry middle-aged man appeared from the gloomy back. He smiled at them friendly, but he did not match his store.

"Hmph, I was hoping an Easterner would be here." Reina muttered.

"Sorry to disappoint, Miss...?" The owner began.

"Dasshu." Reina uttered simply.

"Miss Dasshu." The owner finished. "Well, if you see anything, let me know. There is much more stuff here than from the Far East. I am a collector of sorts. I have relics from the Griffin Confederacy, the Crystal Empire, ancient Equestria, and even from the Southern Wastelands. I'm sure you can find something you'd like."

"Sorry, but, we're not here for shopping. We're kinda lost. You know, new here and all. Can you tell us exactly where we are?" Reina asked.

The owner stroked his white goatee. "You are in the West Sector, Beta District, Adison Neighborhood."

Reina blinked in confusion. "Say what?"

The owner was confused as well. "Huh? I spoke clearly. Where are you from?"

"Cloudsdalio."

"Hmm. I thought they separated the city in the same manor. Well, never mind. I do have a map of the Capital, but it will cost you."

Scoots clapped her hands in excitement. "Really? Oh, Reina, we'll need that."

Reina rolled her eyes and began to search her pouches. "Fine, how much ya geezer?"

"Well, for that remark, 25 bits."

"25 for a map? Are you crazy?" Reina spat.

"Indeed I am. You are not the first to call me that. 25 bits, or no map."

Reina sighed and looked at the floor. She had the money, but that price was far too much. Her hands became fists and her breathing became heavy. Scoots could tell that she was having one of her "moments" where she would completely lose logic for a minute at least. The Assassin's frown became deeper with every second. She was kind of a cheapskate, and would not depart with her bits unnecessarily. 25 for a map? He was loony! She reached over the counter and grabbed the owner by his collar. She then proceeded to drag him across the counter and throw him on the floor. Scoots moaned and could only watch with disappointment.

"You wanna get that by me again? Huh? Ya snow-haired pickle! Ya daft imbecile!"

The man coward away from the woman. "Alright, alright! Don't hurt me! Just take it!"

Reina spat at him and picked up the map from a shelf behind the counter. The owner still grovelled before them. Scoots rubbed her temples in frustration. She had lost count of how many times Reina lost it. That was probably the reason the 'Bolts kicked her out. "Reina, did you have to beat up this man?"

"Of course I did. No man is never gonna cheat me like that! No one!"

"You're insane! Mental!" The owner shouted.

Reina leaned over him. "Bloody right, kono yaro!"

The man grumbled and stood up. He was much bigger than Reina, but was far more intimidated by her than vice versa. The Assassin held a triumphant smirk on her face. Scoots shook her head and walked out of the store. Reina continued to have her smirk on her face. The owner sighed and walked to the back of his store, obviously stuck-up with the previous moments. The Assassin tossed the map in the air playfully and followed her sister out the door.

"Reina, what are we going to do with you?" Scoots gazed at her own shadow on the ground.

"Ah, c'mon Scoots! We got what we wanted right? Now, let's see what we have here."

The Assassin leaned on the wall of the store and unfolded the map. Scoots tilted her head to get a look at the parchment. Reina's grin vanished as she inspected the map. It was not like their previous one, with large red lines and circles, but very complicated and the names that covered their last map were absent. They knew they were the West Sector, but that Sector was a fourth of the entire Capital, thus it did not help at all. They needed to find the Den, but....Where was that?

"Hey Scoots, did ya remember where ol' Captain Firehair told us where the Den was?" Reina asked the little girl. The Assassin was trying to recall what the Wonderbolts told her, but she guessed she wasn't listening at the time. Those 'Bolts always talked too much. She only listened to them half the time.

"That was your job." The purple haired girl jabbed a finger into the Assassin's arm.

"Chikusho! Well, what do you want to visit? Cause we ain't gettin' to the Den anytime soon. Might as well enjoy ourselves." Reina muttered as she inspected the map with confusion. Attempting to find the Den without those circles was going to be finding a needle in a haystack. An invisible needle too. They were more likely to come upon it by accident than use some method to find it.

Scoots rubbed her small chin. They had the whole city to visit, where to start. The names on the map were all unfamiliar. She didn't know if they meant homes, stores, Neighborhoods, or even tourists attractions. She closed her eyes and poked the map. When she opened them, she found her finger on the word "Delta District" in the West Sector. She looked up at Reina. The Assassin shrugged. "Why not?"

"This is soooo boring! Why can't some bobby come and attack us. Why can't a group of gangsters mug us? I'll show them! You know I would. Kick them like that. Huh! Punch 'em there! Yuah! Oh, and give 'em the 360!"

Reina ran up along the wall and spun in midair with a graceful kick at nothing. She continued to fight non-existent foes as the two of them made their way down the street. Scoots was just as bored as the rainbow haired, katana swinging, Cloudsdalian Assassin. Their walk and been one of the most uneventful trips ever. They never crossed on any events, but only the remnants of them. Smoldering paper and trash from yesterday's riots. Shells and casings dotted the cobblestone from previous gang activity. Adventure and excitement was there, but none of it was around them. Reina resorted to her imagination while Scoots went off with her wandering mind.

"I miss Cloudsdalio. It wasn't so....busy and.....boring."

Reina finished a flip off the wall. "Cheer up some. We got this whole Capital to ourselves. No Masters to yell at us. No 'Bolts to scold us. Just a city full of terror and injustice. We could have fun with so many Templars and Royals."

Reina continued to run about, flipping off the wall, climbing on a poll, annoying the fancy women who thought she was some demon possessed individual. One could find humour in it, but Scoots was so used to it that it was old. She needed to have fun as well, but she didn't know how. The Capital was more intimidating than Cloudsdalio, she felt like she didn't belong there. She nodded in agreement with her thoughts. Suddenly, a sound of laughter penetrated her ears. The laughter came from a young girl with pink and purple curly hair. Scoots found the laughter odd as it was quite different from all the others around her. It was high-pitched and full of joy. Scoots began to walk over to the girl.

"It was a phantom I tell you. Don't believe me? Well, go to the tower, you'll see."

The girl was talking to a young boy. The boy had golden hair that reminded Scoots of autumn. The boy's eyes matched his hair perfectly. He gave an awkward salute and ran off. The girl giggled again and watched him go. There was something she was hiding from him. Scoots nudged passed a talking couple and approached the girl. The girl giggled some more before noticing the new girl before her. Once she did, she smiled and waved at her.

"Hello! I've not seen you before. What's your name?" The girl asked. Her emerald eyes inspected the Cloudsdalian girl.

Scoots returned the smile. "Scootaloo. Yours?"

"Oh, I am Sweetalia, but everyone calls me Sweetie. That's an interesting name. How did you acquire such a name?"

Scoots pointed her thumb at the Assassin behind her, who was still being a nuisance to the crowds in the street. "She gave it to me. Just kinda stuck."

Sweetie nodded quickly. "I see. Well, do you want to do anything? I'm waiting for Ben Mashers to come back. I told him that there was a phantom up in the old tower. He bought it and now is on some wild chase." She sounded proud of her mischief on the poor boy. Scoots simply grinned in return. She didn't really find the humor in the prank. The girl was odd to her. She wore bright and well-fashioned clothes. Unlike her, as she were something that appeared to be rags compared to Sweetie. It seemed that this girl had never been on an adventure, had never left the safety of home. Scoots' home was Reina, which meant it was the Brotherhood. For her, everyday was an adventure. This girl needed an adventure.

"Yeah, my sister and I are roaming the city. We gotta find this cool place before the day is over. We're new here and we don't know to go. We have a map and all, but that doesn't help. Wanna help find the cool place?"

Sweetie became even more excited. She hopped two times in the air to express her enthusiasm. "Wow! That's neat. I would love to guide you through the labyrinth of a Capital! Where do you wish to go?" Her squeaky voice reached new levels of pitch as she spoke.

Scoots rubbed her neck sheepishly. "Well, that's sort of the problem. We don't know. You see..."

"Oh look, my sister is out here. Finally!" Sweetie pointed at a tall woman with royal purple hair. She was the most elegant woman Scoots had ever seen. Her sapphire eyes did not look too happy and they narrowed slightly as they took in the girl. The young woman looked at her for a second before turning to see Reina. The Assassin had ceased her antics and leaned on a wall with her hood over her eyes. Sweetie's sister delicately walked over to Reina and they soon were talking. There was much diversity between those two alone.

"She looks nice." Scoots remarked with uncertainty.

"Yeah, she can be. Most of the times she is, but.....Those other times." Sweetie shook her head slowly.

"Tell me about it." Scoots chuckled and crossed her arms.