The Bits and a Blank Flank

"Ryder Hanajeema." A guard said. He stood at a jail cell door looking in at a white Pegasus stallion with a blonde mane. He looked to be about seventeen. Ryder (the Pegasus) was lying on a cot bolted to the wall. His mane was messy, he reeked of alcohol and urine. "Come on son get up. Your fathers here to get you. I hope your stay in here shows you underage drinking isn't fun. I see you in here again you'll stay in here for a week."

The stallion groaned a bit as he got up. "....Please tell me my dad at least has aspirin for me..." He said as he opened his eyes. His eyes were blue and bloodshot. He looked to the guard letting his ruffled wings stretch out. He saw the guard at the door was a unicorn guard with a few things in his magic. A set of sunglasses, keys, a black leather vest and a pocket watch.

"Sorry son but you're on your own there. Best I can do is give you some sunglasses from the lost and found to keep the summer sun from getting to ya." Ryder sighed getting up taking the vest and the pocket watch first. He put the vest on and shoved the pocket watch in to the pocket. He sighed putting the shades on.

"...Thanks... Mind sticking around so my dad cant beat my flank...?" He asked.

"I'll do what I can son but... Please I don't want to see you in here again. I'll call your father and schedule a few counseling classes for you. You got me?"

Ryder gave a nod and stepped out of the cell with his head hung low. The guard walked behind him. A few prisoners called out to him. "You're taking him outta here?!" One prisoner said. "What the hell man I was supposed to get out before him!" The guard looked back at him.

"That was before you threatened to rape another stallion in the shower. That's why you got the hose instead! Back to your cot dirtbag!" The guard looked to Ryder. He was slowing down looking a tad green in the face. "You know what son let's get you into the infirmary before you go. Give you something to keep breakfast down."

Ryder swallowed something he coughed up and rubbed his throat with his hoof. "...Shit... Did I have pancakes or gruel for breakfast....?" He asked having a bad taste in his mouth.

"Pancakes. Wanted you to eat light. You've been in that cell throwing up all night."

"...I'll believe that... Uh... Think if I get in here again I can get a bit better treatment after uh...." The guard looked to Ryder as he averted his gaze.

"After what? You aren't gonna puke are you?" Ryder shook his head swallowing again. "Then what's up? C'mon you can tell me I promise you come clean and I wont treat you like yesterday." Ryder took a deep breath and sighed.

"...Well... Yesterday I remember some colts wearing red bandana's chasing me.... They chased me into that alley I think you guys found me in and... They just shoved me to the ground and forced me to drink... I think they stole it and wanted to get rid of the evidence...." The guard gasped as they went into a door where there were colts all sick, beaten, bloody and cuffed to the bed. "....It's worse because... I knew them in school... They... They graduated last year... They saw me get hauled off and they're going to think I snitched.... I-I ain't one to snitch but... I'm just scared they're gonna come kill me at the school.... I-I don't wanna die sir...." The guard went into a medkit on the wall.

"Don't worry. You're going to be fine. You tell us where those guys are, we'll snag em and if you are in here again I'll make sure of it you're on a different schedule than them okay?" Ryder sniffled nodding as the guard gave him a few pills. He popped em and swallowed. "Alright... C'mon now we'll let you fill out an anonymous report form and let your father have a word with you. I'll be right there so no violence goes down." Ryder gave a hesitant smile as he wiped tears away with his wing.

Not long later Ryder sat in an interrogation room, gripping a pen in his teeth as he wrote down info on the stallions with the red bandanas. A stallion sat next to him looking ticked. An earth pony stallion who wore a fedora with a skull button on it. The guard sat near the door. "Ryder.... I told you next time I found you here I'd ground you!" The stallion said. "But being DRUNK?! What in Celestia's name have I told ya about drinking?!"

Ryder sighed as he set the pen down and slid the report over to the guard. "...Dad... Can you please not be so loud?" He asked. His father huffed.

"Why the hell should I?! You DRANK! ALCOHOL! HOW THE FUCK CAN I NOT BE LOUD?!" Ryder put his head on the desk covering his ears as the guard took the paper and rolled it up.

The sobering stallion groaned as the guard got up. "Sir I am going to ask you to calm down!" He said. "Both of you being in here isn't going to help either of you! Now stay here while I file this and send a few others out. If you need anything don't hesitate to ask anypony around here." Ryder whimpered as the guard went out the door. Just as the door shut Ryder looked up at his father who had a grin on his face.

"...Shinzo.... You made me proud and the entirety of The Bits proud as well! High hoof!"

Ryder gave a little chuckle as he bumped his fathers hoof. "Great idea on getting those jackasses out of their building. Now we can nab their stash, sell it for ourselves!" He said. "Now that we got those Red Rebel's gone who do we go after next? Green Circles? Silver Tail?" Ryder's father sat down next to him.

"Woah son don't get in over your head. The Silver Tails aren't as stupid as you think and you don't want to get involved with the Green Circles. For now why don't you just get to studying with your brother before he has to head out to his fathers.... Grindel's having him bring a part of that stash.... Now shut up and go back to crying or something I can feel that guard coming back...." Ryder nodded and went back to covering his ears with his head on the desk.

As he started to whimper the guard came in with two water bottles in his magic. "Alright so they're getting out there and taking down those threat makers down." He said. "These are for you to help keep everything down and uh.... Well... Maybe just to beat the heat. Your cell felt like an oven to me." Ryder's father grabbed the bottles and set them down on the desk.

"Thanks. Now I guess someone wont throw up on a hydrant again!"

Ryder groaned taking a water. "....Just... Shut the fuck up I can not deal with any shit right now..." He said as he cracked the top off and drank from the water. The guard went for him but Ryder's father stopped him.

"No.... I'll let him have that one. We'll leave when he's ready." The guard gave a nod and went back to his seat.

About an hour later Ryder was walking with his father down the road. The city streets were busy with carts being pulled by ponies, there were ponies running up and down the side walks and gang members everywhere. Red Rebels. All wore red bandanas. Some wore it around their necks, some around their faces, some around their heads, some even tied their tails up. All dangerous. Ryder stuck close to his father as best he could feeling all the eyes of the surrounding area spy his flank. "Ayyyyy look at that lil' blank flank!" One stallion called out. Some just laughed at him. Tears welled up in his eyes as he rested his wing on his father's back. He looked over at Ryder.

"Just ignore them. We'll get the Silver Tail's to smack em. I got a friend there. Exactly why I don't want you fraternizing with them. You say the wrong thing and BAM gang war, we're revealed and dead! You get into the warehouse, find your brother, I'll get it going with ST and Double R. Just fly. I'll be fine. You get followed go into known territory. Got me?" Ryder gave a hesitant nod and flew off as his father ran.

Shinzo. The seventeen year old, cutie markless stallion. A member of a feared yet invisible gang in Ikkebuckero. The Bit's. Stayed in an apartment up on the west side. The Warehouse is their hangout. Each member is hidden amongst the crowds. Some in groups. Some by themselves. Some can just be infiltrating other gangs. Ryder 'Shinzo' Hanajeema was just a scout. Lowest of anything. Does what ever he's told but wont take orders from just anyone. He only takes those orders from his brother. Blades. He was also known as 'The Slasher', 'The Bandit', 'The Buster' and the 'Clear Coat'. He mostly just goes by Blades in the streets on account he has horseshoes with hidden blades in them. As Ryder landed at the back door of an abandoned warehouse he took a deep breath trying to forget what those stallions said. He knocked on the door. "Blades? C'mon someone open up I didn't get my key back!" He called out. "You assholes never gave my fucking key back let me in!"

A little slot on the door opened up and someone peeked out. A stallion's sigh was heard. "YO CLEAR COAT! YOUR DUMBASS BROTHER IS OUTSIDE!" He yelled inside.

Another stallion's voice was heard. "HEY LEAVE HIM ALONE!" They yelled. "He's a vital part of us! Without him we'd be sunk! We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him finding this place! Now let him in! I see anyone in here pushing him around, fighting with him, teasing him, or Celestia forbid grope him I will see to it someone's getting left for the Green Circles!"

The slot on the door closed and the door opened a bit. Ryder pushed his way in slamming the door. Stallions surrounded him. Him and a black maned stallion. He had a brown coat, a few knives as his cutie mark. That was Blades. Ryder's older brother. Ryder smiled. "...Thanks bro..." He said bumping hooves. "Got those stash protectors on ice, should be ready for attack soon." Blades grinned.

"DID YOU HEAR THAT MY BRETHREN! THE REBELS STASH IS UNGUARDED! YOU GUYS DOUBTED HIM! I BELEIVED IN HIM!" The stallion's around him cheered. "NOW! I NEED TWO MUSCLE STALLIONS THERE! ONE LOOK OUT, THE OTHER TAKES IT! REPORT IN IMMEDIATELY IF YOU'RE WILLING TO GO!" Just then two big stallions came out of the crowd. Blades looked at Ryder. "Shinzo. Head to the back and get washed up. You smell like my mothers cooking." Ryder sighed averting his gaze.

"...You think.... You think I can talk with you for a bit Blades...?" Blades gave a nod and started walking. Blades was just a few months older than Ryder. Just a few months. Still an older brother though. They went through an old warehouse door into a factory area. Everything was run down, dusty with Stallions everywhere. "...Blades... I feel like I don't get the respect I deserve... Everyone in there looked at me like I was just... Like I wasn't even a part of this gang... They treat me like I'm part of the green circles.... I mean yesterday before I got myself arrested a few of those fucking assholes out there pushed me around called me trash.... Trash being the lightest of what they called me... I was seriously trying to study just like you told me to but they just said I wouldn't get anywhere by studying..." Blades looked to his brother as they walked into an office with a chemical shower in the wall.

"Shinzo don't listen to em. They're just pissed that you're getting the better jobs than they are. Next time they ask for a job they're on garbage duty and leaving themselves on the curb stuffed in trashbags after I cut them all up. Maybe after you get done with your shower we find pop and grab some grub. What I'll even do is find someone to paint a cutie mark on to you so no gang members can pin ya on anythin' while we're out. You even remember where dad is?" Ryder shook his head as he climbed in to the shower.

"Last I remember he told me to come here, get away from those Red Rebels. I was about a name away from fucking em up the ass with one anothers hooves." Blades huffed and sat off to the side as Ryder turned the water on.

"Please you'd probably be in a body bag with dad cryin' over you. Something tells me dad's getting 'Izzy' to help out. Attacking with just us isn't gonna help. Gotta have multiple gangs in on this. Ones we can trust. The reason the bits are invisible is because we wanna take the streets ourselves. Just like those stupid spy movies you like, we have to blend in with our surroundings. Any gang activity going on like retrieving the stash is going to be held like any other. Dressed like another so they take the fall. I had to dress as a Green Circle to get the blue prints for an attack on Red Rebel hideouts all over the city. Five big ones, all loaded with cash, drugs and other things for you could help with. You're a scout but the best one at that. Most of the colts around don't have as quiet hooves as you do." He looked to Ryder as he started to lather his mane with some nearby soap.

"Yeah... I do have quiet hooves." Ryder replied. "You think... You think that's what my cutie mark could be?"

"Ry your cutie mark can be anything but silent hooves is just a standard skill. You're still looking for a special skill. One that only you can do. You give me anything with a sharpened blade and I'm cutting things up, throwing them at a target, I'm even cutting up veggies for stirfry on occasion and I do remember how much you like yours with hot peppers in it." Ryder chuckled a bit.

"Bro you gotta know I mean this family wise but I do love you! Hey you think we can find dad after I'm done here? That prison food sucks and I am hungry!" Blades huffed.

"Ryder drinking that booze is gonna fuck with your digestive tract for a while. You wait for a bit, I'll send somepony out to get some saltines for you. Just please study up on something we can use. See if you can train some dogs to attack for us or something." Blades got up just as Ryder shut the water off.

"What if I can make a plan of attack for you? If we can get the blueprints to their stash building?" Blades looked to his brother as he stepped out of the shower and shook most of the water off.

"Okay first off we have the blue prints to almost everything the other gangs own. We have an alliance with the Green Circles but we still keep their stuff on file just in case another gang needs a temp alliance. Alliances win turf wars. Green Circles own north. Rebels got west. No one dares own the south or east side just because of that headless griffon." He went over to a desk and opened it tossing him a towel. Ryder caught it.

"C'mon dude Celadon isn't bad! She just lost and confused!" Blades looked to him shocked.

"You named it?! What the fuck man it's fucking dangerous! They've found more dead bodies in alleyways just because that fucking thing KILLS everyone! You see that thing you run the fuck away! Got it?" Ryder didn't answer while he dried himself off before putting his vest back on. "Ryder! Shinzo fucking answer me or next time you wanna be let inside I'm not gonna!" Ryder huffed.

"I'm not answering until you call HER by her fucking name! And she's not dangerous! I'm her friend." Blades walked over to his brother.

"Lurking in the shadows following it is not a fucking friendship! But look i'll give you an apology IF you can prove it! I'll get you fit with wing blades. It's one thing to be safe but I don't want dad coming here and finding out you were attacked by that thing! He'll flip out at me for letting you go near that thing and he'll flip out at you for even thinking about it! That is if you aren't dead and it doesn't find out where I am! Grab a camera and if you aren't back in an hour meet me with Saffron at St. Bleetersburg carrots. Saffron agreed to give us a free meal if you didn't fuck up! So unless you wanna die come find me." Blades hurried out of the room leaving Ryder by himself. Ryder huffed and flew through a busted out window in the office. He flew down to where the machinery was and landed on a catwalk.

"He wants proof I'll give him fucking proof... along with a hoof up his fucking ass..." He sighed as he went into another office area, a break room if you would. This was his personal study area. He closed the door behind him and locked it before looking up at a poster he put up to help him. Wonderbolts. He admired them but always thought of them as an inspiration. He turned back into the room and saw a desk against the wall with a lamp on it. A book sat there in the middle of the desk. 'War of Steurope' it was titled. He always admired war time whether it was the battles, the sides of the war, how the war started and how it ended. What interested him most were the tactics. Surprise attacks, recon, strategic flanking during attack and some excessive use of explosives at a few points in the war. Shinzo went and sat down at the desk and opened the book to where he left off. The battle of Clippersville. The turning point in the Steuropean war. He sat there for at least an hour studying before he got a knock on the door. As he got up he yawned and stretched a bit. "...Wonder who that could be..."

Ryder walked over to the door and unlocked it before he stepped away just to have it fly open nearly hitting him in the face. In came the stallion at the door when he had arrived. He had a bag in his mouth. He huffed and set it down. "You're lucky that brother of yours speaks highly of you...." He said. "Otherwise one of us would come out on top in a fight and clearly it would be me!" Ryder rolled his eyes.

"Clearly you don't know your mouth from your ass cause all that shit is just coming out of your mouth. Blades would love to leave you to another gang to fucking die. I'd love to watch your execution by the hooves of those fucking Rebels." The stallion looked a bit embarrassed by the young stallions words. Ryder grinned a bit. "Gotcha bitch. Now those better be my wing blades or you might be demoted to scout!"

"Fine just give me your wing! Blades is having me get it set up for you just because of your fucking inability to use your entrance." Ryder raised his wing and rolled his eyes.

"Any entrance is my entrance. You might as well squeeze your fat flank through a fucking dog door. So cut the crap and get it on there." The stallion nodded and took something from the bag attaching it to his wing. He hit a button and four blades that went with his feathers almost hiding them from view.

"What the hell is this for anyways? He sending you to the stash house?" Ryder shook his head as the stallion pulled a camera and fit him with it.

"Blades wants me to snag proof I can get close to the headless black griffon without getting caught... Who knows if I can get to her without fighting we could probably use her." The stallion looked at him like he was crazy.

"Really? That thing?" Shinzo nodded. "...Dude you're fucking insane trying to go to that. But I'll make you a deal. You bring back a picture of the headless black griffon and a feather I wont give you anymore shit. I fucking promise on the name of the fucking bits!"

"Hm... You're serious..." The stallion nodded. "Well... What if I bring back the whole griffon. You willing to kick somepony's flank if I ask you to?"

"Anything you need. I can promise I'll get it or do it for you!" Ryder gave a smile and walked out of the room. Not long later Ryder was flying over the city. The sun was overhead and bright. Luckily the sunglasses he got from the guard helped him. He flew over to a building with a shack on top. There were many buildings like this but this one had something about it. Something dark. It had a thin essence of darkness coming off of it even in the day time. He walked up to the busted shack door and knocked. "Celadon! It's Shinzo let me in!" There was no answer. All that happened was the dark essence weakened around the door as it creaked open slightly. Ryder pushed it open and went into the dimly lit shack. A dark shadow was seen at the other side of the room. There sat the headless griffon Celadon. A plume of smoke came from where her head should be as Ryder slowly approached. "Don't worry I know I wasn't followed. Trust me the only one who'd fuck with a stallion with wing blades would be you." Celadon stood up and walked to Ryder lifting his wing. "Look I'm sorry but my brother wanted me to wear this to protect myself from you. He still thinks you're responsible for all the killings that have been happening lately." Celadon released his wing and pointed to the camera. "Well... He thinks you and I wouldn't ever be friends because of what you are. He thinks you're a heartless monster but if that were so would you have saved me from those assholes who tried to purge me because of my age and no cutie mark?" Smoke puffed out in a good amount. "Don't hurt him! You hurt him he just wont let me near you again and he could get everyone to go after you and even my father! They get hurt who do I have? No one!" Celadon pointed to herself. "Yea I'd have you but you cant be seen by anyone and if you weren't around when I got hurt or something I could die! Most of The Bits still don't see me as part of the gang! And seriously what have I told you about using the note pad I gave you?"

Celadon let out a huge puff of smoke as if her heart was made of fire burning her from the inside out. She sat back holding a claw up as a plume of smoke made a pad of notebook paper appear. Another plume of smoke went into her other claw making a pencil and she started writing down something. Soon after she showed Ryder. 'Sorry sorry it's all still new to me.' It read. Ryder sighed and went to a stack of wooden crates.

"It's okay. It takes a while to get used to something... Trust me my dad came here with me and my brother didn't speak to me for a week. His mother basically wanted to carve a fucking cutie mark in my flank...." He hopped up and sat down on the crates. "...The worst part about it was having to bunk with my father until she said she wouldn't do that..." Celadon started to write something down as she flew over to Ryder's side.

'That sucks but... You know I've never had the experience of parents. My home in Steurope didn't think highly of me because of what I do. I'm basically a grim reaper.' She flipped to another page. 'My job was to go to the ponies that have wronged others and reap them... Back then I had my head always attached to my tail... One day I had my back turned trying to protect myself from angry villagers and it was gone.... I came here because when I sleep at night I see things my head sees... I saw this city... The buildings around here looked like it but I still have yet to find it...'

"I really don't think you've slept for a while have you?" Celadon started to write something down.

'...I've been awake every night helping ponies out. They don't freak out because I cloak myself... Just like when we first met... The only reason I returned to you is because you need more help than anypony I help... I mean look at you. No cutie mark, almost zero knowledge about other gangs and you listen to someone months older than you about what to do.'

"One, Blades is the leader of the gang. I have to listen to him. Second, I know more about the Red Rebels than all the other gangs. That's what Blades always has me on." Celadon started scrawling on the page.

'Do you want to get that picture of me and just head back? I feel like you might cry and... I don't know how I'd be able to help.' Ryder huffed a bit.

"Look... I'm tough... I'm not gonna cry... Besides I need either you or a feather so another asshole doesn't give me shit..." He looked to her a bit. "...I even gave Blades a little thought on seeing if you can help on an attack but only if you'd be willing to help..." Celadon's smoke simmered down. She started to write again.

'...I'll help but give me time to get a disguise. If anyone sees me you and all the others are going way down. It should only take a few minutes for me to scrounge one up. My smoke can make anything.'

"Picture first?" Celadon waved a claw as Ryder got up. "Okay fine the real you is better than a picture anyways. Headless but not heartless. That's what I like about you." He gave Celadon a smile before going outside of the rooftop shack. He sat outside for a few minutes just like Celadon wrote. Not long later he and Celadon were out flying above Ikkebuckero. Celadon had put a black cloak on along with a mask hiding her head smoke. The mask was made to fit a griffon's face perfectly. It was painted on almost to look realistic. "Honestly Celly I love the new mask. Makes it seem like you're an actual griffon who just doesn't really like the sun and yes I do know you like the sun." Celadon stopped and just stared at Ryder. He flew around her. "What you surprised I called you Celly instead of Celadon? I wanted to try something new this time around. You let me in to hide when I needed to hide from those damned rebels, you let me cuddle with you when my fucking step mother wouldn't let me in when it was raining... And... well you were always one I'd look to if I needed some advice about specific things... That's why I see you as a good friend instead of just an acquaintance... Now c'mon can you just keep flying? Staying out in the open like this is making me nervous." Celadon grabbed Ryder's hoof and started to fly with him. "Well it's good to see you happy now. Just uh..." Celadon looked back at Ryder. "Never mind."

Celadon looked back forward and kept on flying. They flew all the way back to The Bits warehouse. They snuck in through the door Ryder left out. Nopony around. Just the sound of his hooves and Celadon's claws and paws against the metal cat walk. Ryder's ear flickered as he approached his study room. He stopped and listened closely. Crying. A stallion crying. He slowly stepped towards the door to his study room. "...Dammit... Where are you Ry... Please be okay..." Someone said. It was Blades. Ryder looked to Celadon and just held a hoof up. The dark hooded headless griffon sat down as Ryder started to open the door. He peeked in and saw Blades just curled up on the floor in the middle of the room.

"Blades...? Everything okay?" Blades sniffled sitting up hearing his brothers voice. He looked back and rubbed his eyes.

"...Ry... Y-youre okay..." He slowly approached. "...And... No everything isn't okay..." He stopped just feet from the door. "...Come in... Take a seat.... Just got some good and bad news from some of the guys out in the field...." Ryder took a deep breath and glanced at Celadon.

"Sure but... maybe you'd wanna meet someone first? Maybe get a hug from em?" Blades hesitantly nodded and backed up a bit as Ryder went inside and stopped next to the door. "Blades..." He knocked on the wall a bit with his hoof and whistled a bit. Outside Celadon stood up and hesitantly entered the room. Blades looked at her confused. "Blades.... This is Celadon the headless griffon... She's my friend..." Ryder smiled nervously.

Celadon removed her hood and took the mask off letting a plume of smoke puff out as she set her things down. She put her claws out and made her pencil and paper pad appear. Blades jumped a bit as she wrote something down. She showed it to him. 'Yes I'm Celadon. Ryder here tells me you've been putting the image that I'm dangerous in his head haven't you Blades?' she wrote. Blades hesitantly nodded feeling a bit scared. Celadon flipped to another page and started writing. 'Good news from me is I am dangerous but only to those who hurt others like Ryder. Bad news it's rumors like that that nearly get me killed but surprise- I can never die. Just... Don't tell him...' She had an arrow pointing towards Ryder. 'He's sensitive and... Seeing him cry just hurts me...'

Blades gave a sigh. "...Yeah I... I know...." He said. "...Maybe... Just sit with him... I... Yeah...." Celadon closed the door and sat against the wall with Ryder. Blades took a deep breath and sat down. "...So... I'm just gonna start with the bad news.... Ryder..." He looked into his brothers eyes. "...You and I... We're on our own tonight.... Your dad's in the hospital.... My mom's in jail and... Well... My... My Dad OD'd... He's dead..." He saw in that moment all emotion leave Ryder's body. Celadon hesitantly put her arm around Ryder pulling him close. "...Good news is Dad's still alive... Yours but... He's gonna be in the hospital a while.... Izzy said she'd put us up at her place until he can get out and.... Well until the crime scene is cleared... Dad never said we lived there from what the guys said... Glad for that..." Ryder hung his head and closed his eyes whimpering. Celadon brought her arm back and rested her wing on him writing another note.

'...I knew he would do this.... Is there any way I could come with you...? Just for him?' Blades sighed.

"...Sorry uh... Celadon? Is it...?" Celadon gave a thumbs up. "...Yeah sorry we uh... We need to go alone... Izzy's only expecting us. You can stay here if you'd like and... Thank you for not killing my brother.... I'm pretty much he's got left other than the gang but they just pick on him for not having a cutie mark." Celadon started to write again.

'I'll forgive the thing about being called a ruthless murderer. Call me again and that name might live up to fit me.'

"Okay sorry I just... Everyone just blames you for random deaths.... All those bodies are just results of our gang members fighting over that territory. So far we haven't gained or lost any ground... plus... not really much to own there... It's the nicer part of town." Again writing.

'Yeah... The sunsets are beautiful from the highest buildings there but enough of that. Just get going with him... I've actually been looking for a change of scenery anyways and I'm happy to help in any fight you guys get in to.' Blades gave a smile and nodded before helping his brother up.

Hours later Blades sat in a bedroom of a studio apartment. Ryder was passed out in the bed and neon lights flashed outside of the window. Blades just sat at the foot of his brothers bed looking out at the bustling city. Pegasai and Griffon flew around, lights in the buildings across the road shown into lives of other ponies. A slight creak was heard making Blades look back. There he saw Izzy, a short maned mare looking tomboyish. She was a grey unicorn and had a cutie mark that of a beer mug. "Ah you're still awake there." She said with an accent. "Little lad passed out before dinner didn't he?"

Blades nodded as he sighed. "...Yeah... He's been through a lot lately... Hangover, an abusive bitch, and now just alone with me..." He said. "He just cant defend himself yet. Not with that blank flank bringing him down... You've probably been through the same things he has." Izzy nodded as she sat next to the bed.

"Aye. I've been through a lot of that as a little filly. Other fillies kept givin' me shit about it and I snapped mentally, they just snapped physically." She giggled a bit maniacally as Blades laughed a bit.

"They don't call you 'Insane Izzy' for nothing." Shinzo mumbled a bit shifting. Blades shushed Izzy and he got up. He looked to Izzy and nodded towards the door. They almost silently left but Ryder just was out of it. They came out into a fifties style living room, with a diner looking kitchen. Three couches sat near a window with a table in the middle. "...Still no TV here of fucking course Izzy. You were always a board game girl. Less of the 'Insane' more of 'Izzy'." Izzy gave a laugh hopping onto one of the couches.

"Yeah... No telling what could set me off and with what you're going through, be glad. Otherwise one of you'd be dead and the other a fuck toy." Blades sat down at the end of an opposite couch looking out of the large window.

"...Guess what keeps you sane is looking down at the ponies on the road thinking someone's about to get killed or mugged...." He looked up at the unicorn mare. "Am I right?" Izzy nodded as she went to the other side of the couch.

"I keep watch over everyone. A neutral god as I see it. I do nothing to help or hurt them. If they help me, I help back. They try and hurt me..." She snickered clicking her hooves together having her pupils go small and go away from her nose. She took a deep breath and smacked herself. "Okay uh.... Maybe let your brother sleep a little while and I start cooking. Hope pasta sounds good cuz I got nothing else."

Blades shrugged and just kept looking at the ponies down below. After a while with Ryder he was tossing and turning in the bedroom. "....N--no.... Dad.... Not me..." He mumbled. "...No... Not her anything but her...." He suddenly gasped sitting up in a cold sweat. He looked around. No one but him in the room. The door was cracked a bit. He rolled out of the bed and got up going right for the door. He opened it and the smell of freshly baked garlic bread hit his nose. "...Blades? Izzy?" He walked out into the apartment and saw Blades and Izzy in the kitchen getting a few plates set up. Izzy gave a smile seeing Ryder and his messy maned mug up out of the bed.

"Ah there's the snoozing sand snorter! You were out quite a while." Ryder gave a sigh as he went to the couch.

"...I honestly wish I was with my dad.... Why did Grindel have to put him in the hospital...?"

Blades set a knife down after shoveling in a bit of oregano into the sauce. "Ry if you were with Dad you'd be somewhere else, you and I wouldn't be brothers anymore." He said approaching his brother. "Besides... With my fucking mom in jail someone has to put out for you and last time I checked she wanted to slap the shit out of you if you never found your cutie mark. God knows she'd hold you hostage just so she could make up some story just to stay out of jail. You and I would both be stuck with her and we'd be getting our asses whipped and unless you knew where to hide but maybe hiding might not be an option. Would you even want that?" Ryder shook his head as his brother sat down next to him. "Well I wouldn't like to find you scared shitless."

Izzy strained a pot of noodles into a strainer in the sink. "You're in good hooves here." She said stirring the pasta sauce. "You guys are always welcomed here no matter the weather, the home problems or whatever it is. Now who wants some food? Got plenty up here." Blades sat his brother up and patted his back.

"You sit right here. I'll get your food for ya." Ryder smiled and rubbed his eyes as Blades got up and walked over to the kitchen.

Later that night Ryder was outside admiring the night sky just on the balcony. The streets below were still busy with other ponies but he was just waiting. Waiting for someone. A black shadow came down from a building across the way. It was very noticeable with the bright neon lighting. That shadow was none other than Celadon. She flew down and landed next to Shinzo. No hood or mask. Just a plume of smoke. She held her claw out and got her pencil and paper pad. She started to write something down. '...Bit for your brains?' She wrote.

Shinzo gave a sigh. "...You ever wonder if there's something you can do but it could just be so absurd you cant find out what it is?" He asked. Celadon started to write more down.

'Cutie mark again huh? Why do you worry about it so much?' He looked to the smoky griffons neck hole.

"It's my special talent. I don't find what I do better than anyone else I might be out on the streets... I wouldn't be able to pay rent, I wouldn't be able to buy food for myself... I'd be a nobody... still more than I already am..." He sighed looking away. Celadon started to write on her pad again.

'Oh... Well... Sorry I don't pay any mind to what ponies do and don't do... But... Maybe I can help you find what you're good at. I've been around many of years, I've seen many things you could do to get that cutie mark of yours... Really might help.' Celadon flipped a page. 'Oh and... While you were gone someone tried to break in and I scared them off. Red Rebel too.' Ryder glanced up at Celadon's smoke plume.

"You saw Red Rebels? In Bits hideout territory?!" Celeadon put a claw up as if she were shushing him. He huffed. "We gotta tell Blades! We cant just let those Rebels enter our base without backlash! We need to react!" Celadon wrote more down.

'Blades doesn't need to get involved! All I did was inadvertently scare them off by scratching my claws against the metal, breaking glass in that one office room across from that little room I was in. You say the word and I can spring an attack taking out one of their hideouts.'

"Not without back up Celadon! They could capture you and force you to do things for them! You're on our team and a tazer does not feel good trust me I've fucking gotten it in the flank!" A dark opaque plume of smoke came from Celadon's neck. Ryder huffed a bit. "I'm not budging from my answer. Kill me if you have to! I know you wont do it unless you're trying to protect someone who cant defend themselves." The smoke calmed down and the dark griffon turned away, waving him off with her claw. If she had her head, she might've been looking out over the city streets below. The stallion sighed and sat down. "...Okay look I'm sorry... I'm tired, its late... Just go back to the warehouse and guard it... I'll tell blades tomorrow morning... I'd ask for a hug but after the way I treated you....." Celadon turned back showing him the note pad.

'It's okay... You need sleep while I don't... Go on... I promise I'll be okay until the morning... I'll block every entrance and exit with my aura...'

"But... How will you know when the light comes?" Ryder watched as Celadon wrote on the pad again.

'With my aura I can sense when there's light out... It sort of burns but not like if I'm on fire or I got acid thrown on me. Mostly like a light diaper rash. Not too painful unless it's being touched. Just.... go back to bed... I promise you i'll be fine.... if you feel like you have to just tell Blades... Just go....'

Ryder gave a nod and hesitantly walked back inside. As he closed the sliding glass door he saw Celadon bring the cloak over herself and have the mask appear in her claw. A plume of smoke came from her neck hole looking like she hesitated on just slashing at him with her claws. She just put the mask on and flew off. Ryder turned inside and sat on the couch moonlight on him and a chess board in front of him with a white pawn visible in the moon light. He heard a door open up stairs and gave a groan. A yawn was heard and hoofsteps coming down stairs. "...Ryder...? What the hell're you doin' up lad....?" A familiar voice said. Ryder looked up and saw Izzy walking down into the moonlit room. Her mane was messy and shit did look a tad tired.

Ryder sighed as he reached over and knocked the pawn into the shadows. "...Everyone in that warehouse makes me feel like I'm just a pawn..." He said. "...An expendable no good piece of crap pawn... Something that can be eradicated and forgotten..." Izzy came up and sat right next to him.

"...This is about how everyones treatin' ya huh?" Ryder gave a nod. "Ah... Well lets see it this way... The pawns might be taken out because they're the first line of defense... if you know how to move those pawns they can last a while and your brother being the leader is always moving those pawns the way he sees fit. You're that one pawn closest to him and you moved only a space forward while the others moved a lot. You determine whether the king will fall or not. You keep him safe and so far your kingdom has grown stronger. You keep the kingdom moving forward and only attack when you see an opening. You understanding everything I'm putting out laddie?" Ryder huffed.

"....I don't wanna feel like a pawn! I want to feel like.... Like... Maybe a rook or a bishop..."

"Rooks and bishops only get straight shots at it and they always get taken out. If a pawn meets a pawn head on they cant do anything and neither of them'll budge... The rooks go in if the pawns fail. Same with the bishop. They fail more often because they cant attack like the pawns do. They attack the same way they move. Pawns move forward while attacking diagonally. Now you can be the best pawn you can be or be a rook and know nothing about what the hell you're supposed to be doin'." Izzy patted Ryder on the back and got up. "I aint gonna tell ya to get to sleep but a bishop gets less sleep than a pawn does since they got their own shit ta do." Ryder sighed and got up following Izzy up the stairs.

"....Guess if you need me I'll be out at the warehouse sleeping... I'll think on what you said... I do better thinking when I'm flying anyways...." They both stopped outside the bedroom doors. "But... before we get to sleep you think you can fit me with some wing blades? It would make Blades feel a little better knowing I'm protected..." Izzy let out a sigh.

"Well there's that pawn. You be that pawn and kick some ass. Don't let those asshats get ya down lad. Trust me when yer brother wakes I'll tell him you went with that black griffon. That's right I saw you talkin' with it... How'd ya manage not to get killed?"

"Helps to not fight. If she doesn't get attacked she doesn't attack."

"She?" Ryder gave a nod.

"Yeah. She. But.... seriously wing blades please? Blades seriously wouldnt like it if i disappeared and didnt have any protection." Izzy sighed.

"Fine fine just hold your horses lad. We cant get this done any faster if ya keep complainin'. Just wait here and I'll getcha fitted and on your way." Ryder nodded and just watched as Izzy disappeared into the bedroom.

Not long later Ryder was flying over the city. The darkness shrouded the roof tops showing the streets below like rivers of light in a cave of darkness. As he flew on he grew a little more fatigued as he looked out towards the outskirts of the large city. He could see Canterlot sitting atop a hill in the distance but all he could do was stare. He felt as if he were just distanced from all of society. Just then a loud screech sounded out. It was Celadon. Ryder landed on a building with a neon light just across the street. The light was a green and blue color. When he landed he sat down and sighed just looking out at the outside of the city. He didnt even flinch as someone landed directly behind him and hugged him. He looked back and saw Celadon's mask. She broke the hug and went to sit next to him. She started to write something down. 'You alright there Ryder?' She asked. Ryder huffed and shrugged. She started to write again. '....Come on what's wrong? Wanna go back to my shack and talk? I can carry you if you'd like."

He looked up at the headless griffon. "... Would you please....? I cant really sleep and I'm afraid if i start to nod off while flying I'll fall or hit something...." He said. He couldnt see any expression a little smoke came from behind Celadon's mask. She got up and lowered herself beckoning to him. He smiled and climbed on being mindful of his friends wings. "....Thanks Celly.... Hopefully I can wake up somewhere else and feel better.... tonight is just shit..." Celadon reached back and pinched his muzzle slightly and put her claw against his mouth telling him to be quiet. "....Alright.... I'll shut up for now.... But when we get to your place I need to speak with you...." Celly gave a thumbs up before just putting her pen and notebook away and flying up. The pegasus stallion held on to the dark griffon tight as they flew over the streets. Lights from the street nearly blinded his tired eyes but he looked down and saw ponies of all kinds just going through the streets. Some in gangs, others just regular citizens. He could even hear a few groups scream out something about the black griffon. That she was kidnapping a pony or taking him for a meal. He didnt care but he could feel the tension in Celadon's wings rise as they yelled those things. All he could do was hug the headless griffon tighter. It took a long while before they landed and when they did Ryder hopped off just near the door. He sighed. "....They were hurting you werent they? I could hear them yelling things.... I felt you tense up." Celadon went into her shack making her mask and cloak disappear before lighting a candle of darkness that still somehow lit up the inside. She sat down against the wall and pulled her pen and paper pad out.

'....Every day I go out whether its to save someones life from being ended or just to visit another friend of mine I can hear everyone just.... yelling and screaming at me....' She wrote. '....I wish i had my head so I could yell at them.... Tell them I'm no monster....' Ryder sighed as he went inside closing the door.

"...Oh right... You're looking for your head.... I dont know why but that keeps slipping my mind." He watched as the griffon started writing something down again.

'Its fine if you dont hold on to that info.... I dont care.... but... at least you see me for who I am... Not for what I do to protect....They say those bodies hidden in alley ways are mine but.... They arent.... They're just someone elses work made to look brutal just to blame on me.... I take shadows and make weapons while theirs leave metallic residue....' Ryder looked to her surprised as he shook off his wing blades having them land with a clang.

"Damn Izzy.... Not tight enough to fight but tight enough to stay on my wings while I fly...." He stretched his wing and cracked his neck. "...Sorry little tired here.... But you've tested their wounds? With what though?" She started writing again. Ryder sat next to Celadon just peeking over her shoulder.

'Well I didnt but I have a medic friend who helps me with this stuff. He's sort of.... unorthodox.... in a sense.... He basically is a griffon like myself but... He's got a head and can speak while I just write out my responses... By the way can you find me another paper pad or something please? I'm actually running out of pages here...." Ryder smiled and lied down giving a yawn.

"....Sure Celly.... Tomorrow when I'm out doing what I do I'll swing by the store and get one for you.... Maybe some new pens to write in different colors maybe? Just a thumbs up or down for this...." Celadon gave the colt a thumbs up and a plume of smoke came out of her neck hole and floated over them both just growing until it formed a blanket. It landed on top of them and Ryder instantly cuddle up to the dark griffon. Her warm body just pulled him in just as a little cloud of smoke formed a pillow for him. Her body moved like she sighed seeing her friend fall asleep. She couldnt even help but put an arm over him holding him close just so he'd feel comfortable as he slept. She carefully and hesitantly caressed the back of his head running her claws through his mane. Celadon lied down next to him and cuddled up to him before he just turned to his side hugging the dark griffon.