Canterlot High OSS: Gerald's Secret Weapon

Rayne, Gerald, and Pinkie advanced quickly and quietly through the maze of back alleys, guided by Gerald's satellite feed. When unidentified loiterers spotted them at a distance, they often tried to get into a better position, but when they took a closer look at how the three of them were equipped, and how they carried themselves with confidence, they either stood own or tried to vanish altogether. Unfortunately for those who were interested in criminal activity, they eyes-in-the-sky Gerald had turned on this neighbourhood did not belong to him exclusively.

When the trio got close enough to put just one last corner between them and their quarry, Gerald made sure to make one final check on the full sat feed through his smartphone to confirm everything. He shifted his visible dagger so it would not be visible, then gave his longcoat to Pinkie, the least threatening member of the group. This left him in a black golf shirt and green pants. Just as they were ready to launch themselves into a surprise attack, an alert chimed in Gerald's ear.

"What's that?" Rayne whispered, while they skidded to a halt and scampered back behind the wall. Gerald hoped they had not already given the game away.

"We have a portal," Gerald said, checking his smartphone again.

"Team-3 is ready to go secure it," Twila said. If Gerald's group was Team-1, Jackie's group was Team-2, which included Twila's sub-group, which was to respond to any portal that opened nearby.

"Location?" Gerald could not tell just from the voice whether it was Ro or Elle who spoke.

"Standby," Gerald whispered as the information streamed in. "This energy profile looks like it belongs to a single-user type." While there were portals whose operation were based on either the phases of the moon or a large quantity of magic to activate, they either anchored to a large, person-sized object or to a free but secluded location, which only one person could access at once. The portal had that linked to the statue at CHS's forward courtyard was an anchor-type, and it was stable enough for general use until it had been destroyed. Single-user types could open in mid-air just long enough to permit admittance to one person, probably whoever was closest. The last one of that type the friends had seen was only stable enough for two uses, which meant a  round trip for the individual who had come through from Equestria. If this portal was of the same type, there was no way they could switch it out for the one they intended to use.

And besides, Twilight, Spike, and Gearhead had other things to do before they could go home.

"The portal's stabilized in... Pinkie's closet?"

"Well that's convenient," Pinkie snorted. "Ha-ha!"

"Did you hear something?" Gerald heard Aria say.

"Shh!" Both he and Rayne leaped at Pinkie to cover her mouth. She made noises that matched up with "Oh, sorry!"

"I didn't hear anything,"

"Of course you didn't, Sonata. You'd better stay back while I check it out."

Gerald and Rayne exchanged a glance. This was not good: if the Dazzlings stood divided physically, the warning from their sudden appearance could allow the others to escape without hearing them out. Rayne, having looked at their surroundings, shook her head to indicate that she could get enough of a grip on the buildings' walls to scale them using Parkour, and her grapple lines would be too noisy.

May as well spring things now, Gerald thought, and held up three fingers. Two. One. He made a fist, the 'go' signal.

"Hello," Gerald said as he led off. Aria, who had been the one to hear his group talking, was the one who had decided to check things out.

"You!" Adagio said, and she and Sonata both got to their feet. Aria started backing toward the others, away from Gerald.

Sonata jumped up on the toes of one foot and started waving. "Hi!"

"Hi!" Pinkie waved back.

"Hey!" Adagio turned on Sonata.

"Sorry," the other said, fiddling with her fingers and shrinking back.

"Actually, we're here to talk," Rayne said. "We were hoping you'd hear us out, since we feel responsible for leaving you powerless here."

"You are responsible for that!" Adagio said.

"So we're agreed," Gerald said, "but we can help you to find a better way and a better place."

"Oh, so you think you can do better?" Aria asked.

"What would you know about what it's like to live like this without magic?" Sonata asked.

"I know all about it, because I was powerless shortly after I got here. I did not have the influence you three had over people either, but I had a contingency plan for money, and I made friends who would support me if I fell."

"We may not have our 'influence' anymore, but we don't need your help," Adagio said.

"Oh? What're you doing for cash?"

"Rayne! We're not here to talk about how we'll help them earn the money they need to but food, clothes, and shelter."

"It's still a valid point,"

"I like food," Sonata said, and three stomachs complained about a general lack of contents.

"You're making it worse," Aria groused.

"Sorry,"

"Why are we standing here talking? Run!" Adagio said, and then she turned to take her own advice.

"Wait," Pinkie called out, "we just wanna be friends!" But none of the Dazzlings were planning on staying, not even Sonata. Rayne launched straight into a sprint, lining up with Adagio. Gerald also gave chase. "You're running from me?" Pinkie blinked, and tilted her head in confusion. "Nobody runs from Pinkie Pie!" After yelling, she broke into a full-on tear down the alley, shouting furiously.

"Pinkie, that's just gonna scare 'em more," Rayne said.

"Oh, sorry. I'll do it more quietly. Raaaaaaaaah."

"How about not yelling?"

"Oh, but it's so much fun!"

Gerald couldn't see her face, but he figured Rayne was rolling her eyes too.

Gerald was the only one who could follow the satellite feed directly if they lost sight of any member of the Dazzlings as they split up, but Jackie, who had a temporary password for the tracking system at Gerald's house, and Gerald himself, could vector Rayne and Pinkie in on whatever path they needed.

Even after they split up, Sonata did not show any hesitation about which fork to follow any time the alley split. As hungry as she might be, she did not stop or pause at all. She even faked going down one alleyway, only to reverse direction and slide to her knees to slip under one of Gerald's arms as he tried to grab for her. As Gerald pivoted, he realized that unless he gave himself a boost, catching his target would take longer than he had first thought. He touched his dagger's hidden pommel and whispered "Ventos," to gather a WInd Magic boost at his feet.

Gerald continued in his dogged pursuit of Sonata. She seemed to have a good idea of when he got close. Perhaps she could sense his magic, since she started to juke more aggressively to get around him when he was nearly within reach of her. She can guess when I am going to try to get a hold on her, but can she react quickly enough 100% of the time? Gerald focused more, and doubled his boost.

This time when Sonata tried to fake him out and dive under his left arm, he pivoted and launched himself right into her. The world tilted as they both tumbled to the ground, Gerald rolling and Sonata scrambling free. But he recovered quickly and lunged, wrapping both arms around the girl's waist.

"Let go, let go!"

"Not this time," Gerald said. "We let you all go after the show, and look where that got you. You don't have to be alone anymore!"

"But I want --" Sonata's stomach growled again.

"Why don't you let us be friends, and we can help take care of you." Gerald subtly shifted his grip, so he was less holding Sonata back and more holding onto her.

"What are you doing?"

"I think it's called a 'hug.' Why?"

"Because it doesn't hurt. But I still can't eat it."

"We can get you some food, but we might need some help convincing the others."

"Let me think about it," Sonata said.

* * *

Adagio ran full-out for five seconds, and then slowed to a jog to conserve her strength. As per the plan, she went left at the first fork. Why does this have to happen now? She thought. But she shoved that aside, and focused on her anger. It's time to show these idiots that being powerless doesn't mean we're helpless!

"Hi again," Rayne said, jogging alongside Adagio. "Listen, it'd be easier to talk if you slowed down a bit more."

"Who said I wanted to talk?" Adagio said, and then she pivoted to dash in the other direction.

"Look, we really are sorry for not seeing passed the brainwashing, but we had to stop you."

"You're so annoying!" Adagio went most of the way past another alley, only to dodge down at at the very last moment.

"We're willing to help you now," Rayne said, matching her again.

"Oh yeah, helping your enemy at your convenience so we'll owe you later!" Adagio jumped and pulled herself up and over the fence at the end of the alley. She dropped down and started to run full-tilt again to get away while Rayne scaled the barrier. Except she was right in front of the Dazzlings' leader, who nearly ran right into her.

"We had another thing to take care of right as you left, but we have the time, and we honestly wanna help. You just have to let us."

"That sounds so convenient, but we don't want your help." Adagio planted her left foot and swung straight at Rayne's stomach with her right.

"Watch the spikes," Rayne said, catching the foot. in both hands. "Oh wait," she said, getting an idea.

"No way that's happening," Adagio said, and she dragged her foot right out of her shoe and then turned to flee back down the alley.

Rayne sighed. "Don't you want your shoe?"

"Keep it for all I care!"

"Man, you're angry. Maybe you'll be a little less angry if... I do hate to admit it sometimes when Pinkie's right, but I think with this one she's bang-on."

"What're you talking about?" Adagio asked as she jumped to start climbing the fence. Rayne grabbed her by the belt and yanked her back down. "What the...?" She blushed, flustered, as Rayne spun her around and wrapped her arms completely around her. "Wha-wha-what do you think you're doing?!"

"Being a friend, damnit! And I'm not letting go until you at least agree to hear us out completely."

Adagio was silent for awhile. "Fine." She paused. "You're too persistent."

"You're not so bad yourself."

"Are... are you going to let go of me now?"

"Why not give yourself a minute?"

Why would this be giving myself more time? On reflection, Adagio was surprised to find that she was resting her hands gently around Rayne too.

* * *

"Get back here and let me hug you!"

"No way, crazy girl!" Aria ran all the faster, but unlike her, Pinkie did not show any signs of tiring.

"You know, the more you refuse the Hug Monster, the more she wants to hug you."

"Why are you so obsessed?"

"Stop running and I'll show you why."

For every twist and turn, for every time Aria tried to fake Pinkie out, the latter in turn seemed to jump ahead of Aria and find her again. For what seemed like five minutes, Aria ran herself ragged. Then she collapsed against a wall. "I give up," she moaned. "You win!"

"Really?" Pinkie squatted in front of Aria so they were looking into each other's eyes. "I don't feel like a winner; I feel like a bully."

"I thought... you wanted... to catch me."

"Silly Aria, we just wanted to talk. Oh, and also this." Pinkie wrapped one arm around Aria's back, and started patting her head with her other hand.

"Hey, I'm probably older than you," Aria said.

"What, is this a bad thing? It doesn't make you feel uncomfortable, does it?"

Aria paused. "Not... exactly."

"Maybe it makes you more relaxed?"

"Maybe a little,"

"And happy?"

"I don't..."

Pinkie kept up the hug and patting for a moment more, and then she pulled back and looked Aria in the eyes again. And smiled. As though responding to that, Aria felt something strange happening to her lips: the corners were curling upward, and not in a sneer of any sort.

"Maybe a little," Aria said, blushing.