The City Of Dream And Broken Souls.
Chapter one: The City of Dreams and Broken Souls
Gray skies engulf the city from afar. Sunlight shimmers off buildings, reflecting light right into your eyes no matter where you stand. Tall buildings pierce the dust ridden sky during the day. It's not surprising that Las Pegasus would seem polluted from a distance, but in actuality, dust builds up from the desert, and without wind, builds up within the town. The city itself sits upon a cloud raised high above the desert floor, while the unicorns use their magic to allow others to visit and for clouds to support solid objects. During the day, buildings and towers seem lifeless and colorless; just as dull and gray as the dust cloud it sits in. But during the night, colors explode, the tourists are loud, and the parties are endless. Strobe lights flash every color you can think of, entertainers roam the streets, looking for an easy bit to make. Tourists laugh, have fun, while others make trouble. “What Happens In Pegasus Stays In Pegasus.” A phrase used too often, even though it's somewhat true. Every visitor sees Las Pegasus as this wonderland of lights and people, but to anyone who lives here knows it's not that fabulous after all.
One Pegasi in particular spent all his time within the casinos, wasting whatever money he had left to gamble. His arrogant attitude constantly landed him in trouble, while his hot-shot personality got him pretty much anything he wanted. Solo Wing is his name; the user and the gambler. City born and raised, but never knew his parents. His whole life had been about having fun and living life to the fullest which lead him to drop out of school. He's lived 21 years so far, though the gambling age is 21, he learned how to gamble from the sliest and the best as a young colt. He was never good with money, but somehow had cash whenever he needed to gamble. He had everyone believe he was a former member of the Wonder Bolts and his physical appearance helped his credibility. His mane resembled Rainbow Dash's perfectly, except his mane was streaked with crimson and gray. He always wore his black flight goggles over his forehead. He could have picked gray, but it would blend with his hide. He bragged on and on about his farfetched ability to fly.
The sun had just gone down on a Friday night. Solo played poker at MGM and rich mares gathered around him to watch. He would casually hit on every one of them, having them blow on the dice for luck, or buy them drinks. Solo would use this as a chance to pick out a mare from the crowd and attempt to get lucky that night. It has only worked a few times, but with every night he tried, his chances of success grew higher. He never cared for anyone in particular other than himself, he viewed everypony else as a pawn in his chess game of fun.
“Seven!” he shouted, turning to his right to a mare he had been hoping to get with that night. She smiled, hugged him, and planted a kiss on his cheek. The dealer collected up Solo's winnings and stacked the chips in front of him.
“Who thinks I can roll another seven?” he looked around him. It was a rhetorical question in his head but everyone shouted with agreement. He set a quarter of his chips up front to the dealer then picked up the dice and shuffled them between his hooves. He then held them up to the mare standing to his right.
“Lady luck?” he asked with a sly smile. The mare smiled coyly and puckered her lips and blew gently into his hooves. He whipped his head to the table, casually throwing down the dice as if the bits he had bet meant nothing.
“Seven,” the dealer said, gathering up Solo's winnings once again and slid them over to him. Everyone cheered for Solo while his mare friend scooted closer, pressing herself up into his chest as a sign to everyone else that she was with him. He couldn't care less about how close she was to him, though he knew the other mares around him thought they were together, leaving less options for him to choose from.
The night was practically set for him. After a few more rolls, he would gather up his money and his friend-for-the-night. He looked around to his peers, holding his hoof up for high hooves. Everyone followed through. Laughs, giggles, and the sound of ice filled glass colliding filled the small area around him.
Four colts made their way from across the room, focusing their attention directly on Solo. Solo turned his head and instantly recognized them. He tried to blend in with the crowd but it was too late.
“I gotta go,” he whispered to his mare friend. She frowned in disappointment while her eye twitched in annoyance. Solo pushes passed her, causing her to spill her drink on herself. Everyone gasped and watched Solo flea, though no one knew why.
Once out of the crowd, he looked back to see if anyone was following. Ponies of all kinds blocked his view, but in the background, he saw them. Three colts of normal stature, while the one in the middle always wore a leather jacket, marking himself as the boss. They still followed him while pushing their way past other ponies who responded with rude comments. They didn't speed up or slow down in their attempt to chase him down.
Solo looked forward and trotted through the casino floor, making his way straight for the exit of the humungous structure. Ponies stared at him from every direction, the guards also watched suspiciously, whispering among each other on what they should do.
His heart raced and pounded in his chest. He picked the paths with the most ponies and the biggest machines to walk behind, hopefully confusing the colts that chased him. He looked back once again. He searched the faces off all the ponies behind him, none of them being the colts. He felt relaxed and slowed his pace, but just to make sure; he kept going.
The streets outside were busier than the building inside. He slowly and casually made his way through the ponies, trying not to stand out in anyway. Every time he should bumped somepony, his heart pounded in fear that he had been caught in a grasp. Solo slid his goggles over his eyes so no one can see the panic within him nor his darting eyes.
Every inch of the city was drowned with light and color. He had to hide, just for a few minutes until he was sure they weren't following him. He walked with the crowd against the wall, turning quickly down a dark alleyway, where he pressed back against the wall and slid down to the dark end as quietly as possible. Darkness surrounded him and the area.
Hoof steps other than his own appeared behind him; mocking him. Solo stopped and looked over his shoulder.
“There you are, Solo.” Four shadows cast their way down the alley to merge with the shadow that surrounded Solo.
“Hey Guys, what's up?” Solo said casually, turning to them. The four colts slowly made their way into the alley. Solo backed up slowly as they approached and smiled nervously.
“We just wanted to come by, say hello, and collect our money,” the leader with the leather jack said with a grin on his clean shaven face.
“That's just what I was doing in there, winning back the money I owe you guys. Heh,” Solo said, rubbing the back of his head with his right hoof before bumping into the brick wall behind him, “so if you guys don't mind.”
“We want our money now,” the leader interrupted.
“Well I don't exactly have all of it right now.”
“In that case,” the leader trailed off and clapped his hooves twice. Two colts walked up to Solo while the third followed behind them. The two colts latched onto Solo's arms and wings, holding him back against the wall. The third colt raised his hoof, glaring directly at Solo's stomach.
“Wait, Wait!” Solo shouted. The third colt looked back to his leader, who nodded. The colt lowered his hoof.
“What is it, Solo? Have our money?”
“No, but; look, I'm sure we can make some kind of deal, right?” Solo asked.
“Hmmm. . .” the leader raised his hoof to his chin then lowered it, “well, some of our mare 'workers' have gone missing, and we could use a new one to patrol the streets. If you know what I mean. So, how about this. Me and my boys are going out of town for the week to check on our clients there. You have until Saturday to either give us our money, or find us a new mare member. And don't think about running for it, we'll just find you,” the leader explained while holding up a switchblade that shined within the darkness.
Solo nodded and gulped. “Got it. That should be easy,” Solo laughed to break the tension.
“Yes, It should be. You are impressively skilled with mares. So we have no doubts you can pull that off. But just remember; no money, no mare,” the leader held up his blade, “no life.”
The leader clapped his hooves twice. The third colt raised his hooves and gave Solo three clean punched directly to the gut. Solo let out bursts of breathe with every punch, gasping for air in between. After the third punch, the leader called them back upon which they left the alleyway, blending into the walking crowd.
Solo dropped to the floor to his hooves and knees, gasping for air and coughing multiple times. He crawled slowly to the edge where darkness met light, where only his face was illuminated by the light. He fell completely flat on his stomach, gasping for even more air. The sound of it made it seem like he'd heave up a lung any moment.
Chapter 2: Her.
Solo gasped and gasped for minutes.
“Are you okay?” a mare asked, standing at the opening of the alleyway with concern imprinted on her face. She trotted over to Solo, wrapping her hooves around his upper body to help him up. Solo kept his head down; his breathe becoming more stable within moments.
“Sir, are you okay?” she asked again.
“Yeah, I'm fine. Don't worry about me,” he whispered and looked up the purple pony. Her pink eyes reflected the image of Solo's fright stricken face. He shook his head and the fear disappeared like an image on an etch-and-sketch . He stood on his own and the purple mare backed up a foot. She wore a purple bow, a lighter shade than her hide. A darker shade of purple stained her long, flowing mane with pink highlights. She turned to her side to get a better look at Solo's body for any marks; revealing her three-star cutie mark just behind her wings.
“Let me get some help,” she said and turned away quickly.
“Wait, please. Don't.” he said with a cough.
She turned back with confusion. “But, why?”
“Just trust me,” He said.
“Okay, then at least let me take you home,” she offered.
“No, No. I'm fine,”
He finally caught his breathe and took a good look at her. He then realized in the darkest part of his mind, that this innocent looking mare could be the mare he could sell. He just had to become friends with her and the plan would come together all by itself.
She gave up on trying to help him all together. “What happened?”
“Ah, I got into a little scrap with some colts. Showed 'em who's boss until one of them got a cheap shot to my stomach,” he said, raising his hooves to punch at the air in front of him.
“Oh, that's good, I suppose,” she whispered.
Solo slid his goggles up from his eyes to his forehead and whipped his head so his mane would come back into place the way he liked it. The mare watched and blushed a bit. To her, Solo was the perfect stallion and she had been lucky enough to help him out.
“Hey, no worries. How about we go get a drink or something?” Solo asked.
“I'm only eighteen,” she said, lowering her head.
“Don't you worry about that. I have my ways,” he said and winked.
They roamed the streets of Las Pegasus boulevard for any small-business bar. When they finally found one, they mad their way in. The mare sat at a table, too nervous to sit at the bar because of her age. Solo bought two drinks, paid the bartender, sat down across from her, and slid the drink to her.
“So, what's your name?” the mare asked, shyly taking a sip from her first drink.
“Solo, Solo Wing,” he raised his chin in pride.
“I like that name. I'm Shimmer Starlight,” she said, taking another sip.
“Do you live here or are you visiting?” Solo asked, placing his drink down on the table.
“I'm visiting. I just graduated High School and I decided to take a trip here. Then when I return home, I'll attend college in Cloudsdale,” Shimmer explained.
“When are you leaving? I mean, not to sound rude,” he said and smiled slightly.
“Next Friday. I'm only staying for a week,” she said.
Solo bit his lip then relaxed. He figured he had plenty of time to coax her into staying.
“Have you done anything in Pegasus yet?” He asked.
“Nope. I got here when the sun set. Then I spent the night unpacking and decided to walk the streets and look around,” she said, then took another sip.
Solo picked up his glass and took a long, slow drink, taking this opportunity as an excuse to think without causing unnecessary silence between them. He then decided his next move and lowered the glass.
“Do you need someone to show you around town?” He asked.
“Well, that would be nice. I've never been here before, nor do I know where anything is,” she inquired, looking down at her hooves as they came together.
“I can show you around,” he said as he crossed his hooves over his chest, raised his chin, and looked away, as if to pose for an important picture. “I know this city like the back of my hoof.” Solo was right, he did know the city like the back of his hoof. He could tell you anything about the city and the exact location of every casino and attraction to see.
Shimmer blushed lightly and nodded. “I'd like that actually.”
Solo pounded his fists on the table with a loud thud. “Then it's decided. I'll show you around town each day while your here.”
“Okay,” she whispered and smiled.
“We shall start tomorrow. What do you want to see first?” He asked.
She looked out the window, then focused on the reflection and looked at her bow. “I think I wanna buy some clothing. Maybe a new bow.”
“Then tomorrow we'll go to the malls. There are plenty in Las Pegasus.”
Shimmer's ears perked and she looked up, her eyes glistening. “Really??”
Solo nodded and smiled. “What time do you want me to get you?”
“Ummmm. . .” Shimmer looked at him and thought for a moment, “noon sounds fine to me. I'm staying at New York New York. Room 325 in the Empire tower.”
“Got it,” Solo smiled and knocked his noggin gently with his hoof.
The lights flickered over head, marking the spark that started the friendship between the two, but Solo knew he couldn't let himself become attached to her. Shimmer sipped her drink up until the last drop entered her lips. She then looked at the clock on the wall and decided that it was late and she best get back to the room.
“I'm so tired right now. I think I'm gonna go back to my hotel room and rest,” Shimmer announced.
“Want me to walk you there?” Solo offered.
“Yeah, sure,” she smiled lightly.
Solo dropped some bits upon the table and scooted off from his chair. Shimmer did the same and they both made their way for the exit. Solo held the door open for Shimmer, at which she nodded in gratitude. The streets were less packed then earlier. All that were left were the lost and the wasted. At this time of the night, it was dangerous.
Solo walked Shimmer down the street to New York New York, keeping himself on guard the whole time. Some strange looks here and there from the weirdos that come out during the time, but nothing else.
Inside the elevator that would bring them to her floor, Solo stood to one side of the elevator, away from Shimmer. Shimmer noticed this and slowly stepped closer to him. Closer and closer, but Solo pretended not to care. Shimmer whistled to herself, casually stepping an inch closer every second, until finally her wing was touching his. Solo looked away and rolled his eyes, and just before Shimmer could make any further advances, the door to the elevator opened, and Solo couldn't get out of there any faster than he did.
Shimmer sighed and followed Solo to her room. Solo stood off to the side while Shimmer inserted her key into the door and unlocked it. She looked at Solo and smiled.
“Thanks. I'll see you tomorrow,” She said and opened the door.
“You bet. Get yourself some sleep and be ready by noon.”
“Of course.”
Shimmer went inside and closed the door gently behind her. Solo sighed and rubbed his cheeks. He walked half way down the hall way before starting his rant.
“Ugh. This is gonna be the longest week of my life! But, It's worth it. I'll have my debts repaid by next week and I'll be living free once again.”
He spent the next ten minutes exiting the hotel and grumbling about his situation. Solo made his way home, his home in the shadows. He wasn't exactly homeless, but he didn't have a house. He slept in an abandoned building that had been left to waste away years ago. He was happy there. No bills to pay, no visitors to please, he could even go and leave to his choice. He felt free, but never happy.
Steel girders held the skeleton of the building, while the bottom floor and the ceiling of it were plastered in. Every opening and window was sealed, except for one in the back that Solo could easily slip through. A crack within the wall had appeared before Solo made it his home. He kicked the crack until it opened up just enough for him to fit.
He slipped onto his mattress that was surprisingly clean, with a blanket that was surprisingly comfortable, and a pillow that was surprisingly soft. He set his goggles on the cold stone floor and thought about his plans until he dozed off.
