Twin Saintsby The Emerald NightingaleChaptersPrologue Mission 1-A: From Third Street He Comes!Prologue Mission 1-B: Ain't She A Saint?Prologue Mission 2: Taking ChargePrologue Mission 3: ReunitingPrologue Mission 1-A: From Third Street He Comes!Prologue Mission 1-A From Third Street He Comes! Twilight sighed for what felt like the twentieth time that day, loading the last of her boxes into her parent’s Voyage - a boxy red “soccer-mom” car that had been gifted to her when they upgraded to a different model. “Typical Mom…” Twilight muttered. “Dad gets a new job with that stupid ‘Syndicate’ and suddenly I get the crappy old car shoved on me…” Pausing as she slid the last box into place, she sighed again, wiping the sweat from her brow. “At least it’s got enough space for the important stuff. Anything else I think I can buy when I’m there.” Glancing across the street, Twilight winced when she saw a group of people passing, all of them dressed in flak jackets and wrestling gear with colourful luchadore masks covering their faces. “How have the Guard not stopped them?” she demanded quietly, quickly slamming the trunk shut and hurrying to the library’s main door. The group would likely be back for her soon, to collect her keys. “Stupid gangs driving me out of Canterlot… Can’t wait to get to this new town. No gangs whatsoever.” Sighing again as she stepped up to the driver-side door of the van, she casually dropped the library’s keys on the driveway for her apartment before climbing in. “Yet…” Pulling out of the drive, Twilight shifted the stiff gear stick, driving away from her long-time home as law-abidingly as she could. She panicked whenever, on the long drive to the city limits, she would pull up beside a clearly gang-owned vehicle - whether it be the green Luchadores, the blue Deckers, or the red Morning Star. Breathing a sigh of relief as she passed under a sign reading “You are now leaving Canterlot, have a nice day!”, Twilight focused her gaze on the highway, quietly anticipating her own arrival at her new home. “Ponyville, here I come.” Pulling up at the side of a calm-looking street, Twilight let out a quiet yawn, turning the key and cutting the engine. “Finally…” she muttered, smiling tiredly. “Hopefully I’ve at least got a couch or something to sleep on tonight…” Stepping out of the car, Twilight yawned again, moving to the back to at least start moving her stuff inside. Grabbing a box at random, she turned to her new home, taking in the features for the first time. It looked much like a generic apartment building, though the front had - for some reason - been painted to look like a large oak tree. ‘Probably because of the library downstairs…’ Twilight thought to herself, passing the sign reading “Golden Oaks Library”. ‘Can’t believe that’s mine now too… wonder what happened to the old librarian?” As she approached the large double-doors to the library’s main room, Twilight paused again as a large yawn escaped her lips. Balancing the box on her knee, she pulled her light blue hoodie closed around her, shivering a little at the cold night air. “Hey baby,” a deep, gravelly voice purred, making Twilight freeze and sending a sickened chill down her spin. “How’s about you an I head down that alley and you show me what you can give for the ‘community’?” “U-um…” Twilight stammered, sweating profusely. “I, uh… I don’t think that’s a g-good idea. I-i’m, um… not very good?” she offered lamely, frantically searching in her pocket for her keys before realizing with horror that they were still in her car. “Oh, don’t worry about that~” the man - easily a good head taller than Twilight, with much more muscle under his bright blue shirt. “You look like a fast learner~” Twilight gulped again, backing into the door. The man clearly would not take “no” for an answer, and the path to her car was blocked. “O-oh… O-okay…” she relented, tears building in her eyes even as she attempted to memorise as many of his features as she could. The man grinned widely - and act that in itself made Twilight want to vomit - showing off the row of fake, golden teeth in his mouth. “That’s a good little girl,” he chuckled, placing his huge hand on her shoulder and gripping it tightly, making Twilight wince. “Now c’mon, let’s go have some-” he stopped as a quiet tapping sounded out, almost like someone was tapping on glass. Twilight perked up at the sound, looking around for her saviour, though her resolve failed when she saw no one. “Ha!” the man barked, turning back to Twilight with a lecherous grin. “Your cheap tricks won’t help you now!” “W-what tricks!” Twilight cried desperately, holding her hands up in defence. “Th-that wasn’t me!” “Of course not,” the man sneered. “Now let’s go. You got a lot of giving to do.” Twilight whimpered quietly, blinking as the tapping started again. “I told you that wouldn’t work!” “I-I swear, it’s not me!” Twilight insisted. The tapping continued, and both spun to the library’s doors - which Twilight realised were glass - to see a strange-looking man in purple pants, a long-sleeved grey shirt with a single purple stripe down the arms, purple sneakers, and a purple driving cap. He tapped on the glass with the barrel of a small, silver-glinting revolver. “The fuck…?” the man muttered, frowning at the second man behind the door. “She doesn’t want to,” the newcomer called through the glass, his voice - surprisingly pleasant, Twilight realised. Slightly deep, with a bit of a ‘puckish rogue’ vibe to it - muffled slightly. The man in blue blinked for a moment, his mouth moving uselessly, before he seemed to snap out of his trance and glared at the newcomer. “Hey man, fuck you!” he snapped. “This ain’t non’a your business!” The man in purple frowned, nodding before stepping back. Twilight’s eyes widened in fear as the man holding her turned back to her, smirking maliciously, before the sound of smashing glass rang out and a pale cream fist impacted into the man’s dark blue face. Twilight fell to the ground, dropping her box - and silently thanking a higher power it was only clothes - as the man in blue was thrown back from the force. “Are you okay, Miss?” the stranger in purple asked, smiling gently as he held a hand out to her. Twilight nodded silently, accepting his help and allowing him to pull her to her feet. “He didn’t hurt you, did he?” Again, Twilight was quiet, simply shaking her head in denial. “Good.” “Hey, Asshat!” the man in blue barked, stumbling to his feet. The stranger sighed, turning to the man and walking slowly towards him. Twilight gasped as she saw him reach behind his back, taking hold of the same gun he had used to tap on the glass door. “I’mma fuck you up! I told you to-” he was cut off as the stranger whipped his hand forward, jamming the barrel of his gun into the man’s mouth. “This is my good friend, the Commander,” he said calmly, smiling at the man. “Commander Shepherd. He’d like you to apologise to this fine lady.” The man glared, doing what he could to spit at the stranger. Frowning, the stranger pulled the trigger, spraying the man’s blood and brains across the pavement. “Commander Shepherd chose to end you.” Twilight watched in horror as the stranger pulled the gun from the man’s mouth, pulled a disgusted face, and wiped the barrel off on the man’s shirt. Turning to her, he tucked the weapon into his back pocket, once again donning his calm smile. “Sorry about that,” he offered, stooping down to pick up her dropped box. He winced when he looked back to the door he had smashed. “And about that… I’ll work it off if ya want.” “You…” Twilight muttered, still baffled by the stranger’s actions. “You…” “Hm?” the stranger asked, frowning and kicking the broken pieces of glass from the door. “I what?” “You just killed that man!” “Yeah, and?” the stranger shrugged. “He was about to rape you. I had to do something.” He paused, glancing back to the body. “I guess I can’t leave him there though, cops’ll be all over my ass. I’ll get rid of’im later. Where do you want this?” he asked, hefting the box. Twilight blinked again before looking in through the broken door and simply pointing to a set of stairs behind a desk enclosed in glass walls. The stranger nodded and headed in, walking casually up the stairs. ‘What is going on!?’ Twilight asked herself, watching as the stranger went up and down the stairs, casually carrying her boxes to the upstairs apartment for her. ‘This man comes out of nowhere, shoots someone in the mouth, then starts moving me in!? That is not normal!’ “You okay?” the stranger asked, making Twilight jump. “Oh, sorry. I, uh, got all the boxes, but the door was locked. Didn’t wanna break that one too, so I left them outside.” “Oh, um…” Twilight muttered, shaking her head. “Thank you, mister…” “Oh, right, names,” the stranger chuckled. “Name’s Lauchlan, but most call me Lock.” “Right,” Twilight said, nodding nervously. “Well, thank you, mister Lock. Now, if you don’t mind, I need to go to bed and hope this was all a bad dream.” With that, she spun around, hurrying up the stairs and unlocking her apartment door. “Hey, wait!” Lock called after her, making Twilight freeze. “I, uh… is it cool if I crash here tonight?” he asked. “What!?” Twilight demanded, rounding on him. “You shoot a man in the face and now you want to sleep in my home!? NO!” “Hey, I saved you!” Lock shot back, frowning at her. “And I moved your shit up here for ya! I’d say you owe me!” Twilight froze. On the one hand, he had saved her, so the least she could do would be to give him a place to stay for the night. On the other hand… “You are a murderer, no!” “Bitch, let me sleep!” Lock cried. “I’ll fix the door! I’ll work in the damn library! Just let me fucking sleep!” “I do need to fix the door…” Twilight muttered, glaring at Lock out of the corner of her eye before sighing in defeat. “...Ugh, fine. You can sleep on the floor.” “Thanks,” Lock muttered, hoisting two boxes onto his shoulders before stepping inside. “Where do you want these, oh gracious host?” he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “In the kitchen, my valiant knight,” Twilight shot back, sneering at him as she began bringing boxes in herself. They went on like this for a time, shooting back-handed insults at each other as they moved Twilight’s belongings into the apartment before eventually collapsing onto a cheap-looking fabric couch that exploded with a cloud of dust from their weight. “I need a new couch,” Twilight wheezed, desperately trying to wave the dust cloud away. “No shit,” Lock coughed, fanning the air with his hat. “Fuck, that was a lot of dust. How old is this place?” “About twenty five years old,” Twilight shrugged. “Old as me. Not sure how old the couch itself is though.” “You’re twenty five?” Lock demanded in shock, Twilight nodding in response. “Huh. I’d have only placed you at about twenty, to be honest.” “R-really?” Twilight stammered, blushing. “You think I look that young?” Lock just shrugged, leaning back and staring at the ceiling. “...You know what this apartment needs?” he asked aloud suddenly. “A plasma TV, a decent sound system… and a stripper pole.” “What?!” Twilight demanded angrily. “I am not having a stripper pole in my home!” “Aww, come on!” Lock whined. “Every crib needs a stripper pole!” “Well when you get your own ‘crib’,” Twilight spat. “You can put one in, can’t you? But this is my home, so what I say goes!” “Spoilsport…” Lock muttered. Twilight just sighed in exasperation, running a hand down her face. “Whatever…” she muttered. “I’m going to bed. It’s been a long day.” “Yeah, you do that,” Lock replied, laying across the couch and kicking his feet up. “Later lady.” Twilight paused. “...You don’t even know my name.” “You never told me it,” Lock replied casually. “So? What is it?” Pausing for a moment, Twilight considered if she even wanted this man to know her name before realising it was pointless to hide it from him. He already knew where she lived, after all. “Twilight Sparkle.” “Weird name,” Lock laughed, and Twilight was about to yell at him again before he cut her off. “Though there was once a girl named Kinzie Kenzington, so… meh, can’t say much. Nice to actually know ya, Twilight.” “...you too,” Twilight replied unsurely before she turned away, moving towards her bedroom. “Well, goodnight Lock.” “Night Sparklebutt!” Lock called back. Twilight just sighed, letting the name slide for the night in favour of finally getting some sleep. Prologue Mission 1-B: Ain't She A Saint?Prologue Mission 1-B Ain’t She A Saint? The roar of a motorcycle disrupted the peace of Manehatten’s streets, people’s heads turning to watch as a black Sabertooth rolled by, the rider’s gold and crimson hair billowed from below her helmet. The bike pulled up on the side of the street not long after, slowing to a stop in from on a tall building. The rider stepped off, stretching out for a moment before reaching up to remove her helmet. “Jeez…” Sunset Shimmer muttered, placing her helmet on the bike’s seat. “I swear, I need a new helmet. That one’s just a little tight.” Shrugging, Sunset smiled, shoving her hands into her pockets as she walked casually into the building before her - the large sign above the doors marking it a King Records. “Good morning, Miss Shimmer,” a mansat at the front desk called as Sunset stepped through the doors, his yellow suit standing out against the black marble wall behind him. “Mister King has asked to see you.” “H-he has?” Sunset stammered, suddenly nervous. “I-I thought he was out of town?” “He was,” the man replied simply. “He got back yesterday and would like to know why you have not recorded any songs in the last week.” “And did you tell him I’ve been sick?” Sunset demanded. “Did you tell him I had food poisoning!?” “I did,” the man replied simply. “He was not pleased with your excuses.” Sunset sighed, hanging her head in defeat. “Okay…” she relented. “Where do I go then?” “Mister King is awaiting you in his penthouse,” the man provided, returning to his paperwork. Sunset sighed again, turning and walking away from the desk and up to a nearby elevator. Stepping inside, she reached out a pressed the button for the top floor, inscribed with a small yellow crown. Sunset was silent as she rode upwards, ignoring the world around her. Reaching into her jacket, she rested her hand on a small notebook, biting her lip nervously. ‘If push comes to shove…’ she thought. ‘I’ll have to give him this. I don’t want to end up like the last singer to disappoint Mister King…’ Shuddering suddenly, Sunset thought back to the woman who had made her feel welcome in the professional world - the pop sensation Sapphire Shores. One day, though, Sapphire had just… vanished, and the last person to see her was Mister King. The sound of the elevator’s bell chiming made Sunset jump. Looking up, she gulped as the doors slid open, revealing a long, oak table surrounded by a plethora of chairs. At the end of the table sat a dark-skinned man in a black suit with a yellow shirt, casually reading that day’s newspaper. “Please Miss Shimmer, take a seat,” Mr. King said, not looking up at her. Sunset swallowed nervously, moving to sit in the closest chair to her. “Do you know why I have called you here?” “Y-yes, Mister King,” Sunset stammered. “B-but I can explain! You see-” “I don’t want to hear your excuses, Miss Shimmer,” Mr. King said, cutting her off. “I want to know if, in your absence, you have made any progress towards any new singles.” Sunset nodded frantically, pulling the notebook from her jacket. “Y-yes sir, I have.” “Good,” he said, nodding. “Do make me proud, Sunset.” “O-of course, Mister King,” Sunset stammered, moving to stand. She paused when the man glanced at her. “Um… w-was there anything else, sir?” Mr. King stood up with a tired sigh, turning and walking over to an antique brandy cabinet. “I’m getting tired of your attitude, Miss Shimmer,” he said, pouring himself a small glass of the amber liquid. “You are constantly late, you neglect your duties, and you are giving King Records a bad name.” “B-but Mister King,” Sunset tried, flinching as he turned to her with a raised brow. “I-I’m trying, sir. I can only give so much-” “Are you defying me?” Mr. King asked abruptly, frowning at her. Sunset gulped before taking a steadying breath. “I’m afraid I am sir,” she replied. “I just can’t give you anymore of my time than I have.” Sunset jumped as King slammed his hands down on the table, fury in his eyes. “I AM BENJAMIN MOTHERFUCKING KING!” he roared. “AND YOU WILL DO WHATEVER THE FUCK I SAY!” Sunset flinched under the verbal onslaught, preparing her retort before something happened that made them both pause. The glass that King had left on his antique cabinet exploded in a shower of glass and alcohol. “Excuse me sir,” a tomboyish, but still distinctly female, voice called, making Sunset and King whip around. Sat in an armchair, Desert Eagle in one hand and an open book in the other, dressed in an odd outfit consisting of purple plaid pants, purple turtleneck, black leather jacket with flared collar an black leather knee-length high heeled boots, was a woman, her dark auburn hair held back in a simple ponytail. “But I think you owe the lady an apology.” “How dare you…” King growled before catching himself, taking a calming breath. “Ahem, excuse me. Who might you be miss…” “Call me Load,” the woman provided boredly, tossing the book over her shoulder. “You know, if I’m gonna wake up somewhere completely random, I’d at least expect a decent book to read. Not that books are my thing, but still.” She shrugged, standing and turning to them, keeping her gun trained on King. “So, ‘Benjamin Motherfucking King’, do you know who I am now?” King took a moment to look over Load before quirking his brow. “A Saint?” he asked incredulously. “Interesting. I never expected the Saints to appear in this world, though I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised.” “Ah, so that’s what happened,” Load mused, smirking. “Well then, Benny-boy, you know what to expect don’t you?” Walking over to Sunset, Load placed a hand on the golden-skinned woman’s shoulder, almost instantly switching her aim to Sunset’s neck. “Do me a favour and tell security to back down, will ya Benny? I’d hate to mess up this pretty face.” “Um…” Sunset whimpered, sweating nervously. “M-Mister King?” King watched Load for a moment before nodding. “It will be done. Have a lovely day, Miss Load,” he said sweetly, a pleasant smile on his face. “You too, King,” Load replied, smirking as she backed into the elevator, pulling Sunset with her. Jabbing the button for the ground floor with the butt of her gun, she waited for the doors to slide shut before letting sunset go, rolling her shoulder. “There we go…” Sunset stumbled back, pressing herself against the side of the elevator. “Wh-what…” she stammered, trembling with fear. “What are you gonna do to me?” “Hmm?” Load hummed. “Oh, nothing. But you seemed important to King, so you made a decent hostage.” Pausing, she leaned against the opposite wall, casually inspecting her gun. “He doesn’t treat you right ya know.” “You think I don’t know that?” Sunset spat, crossing her arms defensively. “But he runs the best record company in the country, so I have to put up with it.” “Not for long he doesn’t,” Load chuckled. Holding a hand up as Sunset opened her mouth to speak, she continued. “Nevermind that, how’d you like to be one of the first to join the new revolution?” “R-revolution?” Sunset stammered. “W-what do you mean by that?” “I mean,” Load sighed. “Join my gang.” “What!?” Sunset demanded. “Gangs are the single worst thing to happen to this country, and you want me to join one!? No way!” “Whatever,” Load shrugged, once again pointing her gun at Sunset’s head and holding her hand out. “Keys.” “W-what?” “Car keys. I need a ride.” Swallowing nervously, Sunset reached into her jacket, pulling her motorcycle keys out and shakily handing them over. “Much obliged,” Load nodded as the elevator chimed. Stepping out, she tucked her gun into her jacket, giving Sunset a two-fingered salute as she backed out. “Have a good one, and look me up if you change your mind.” Turning, Load sprinted out of the building, Sunset watching her the whole time. Snapping out of her shock as the roar of her bike’s engine rang out, she ran to the building’s main doors, watching as Load rode away. “Welp,” Load said to herself, hair flowing in the breeze as she drove down the street. “That was fun.” Prologue Mission 2: Taking ChargePrologue Mission 2 Taking Charge Rain drummed against the apartment window, waking Lock from his slumber. “Ugh…” he muttered, sitting up on the old couch, raising a hand to his head and knocking his hat off in the process. “Someone turn the rain off…” “As much as I wish I could, I can’t,” Twilight huffed, making Lock jump. “Get up. I’d wished you’d be gone when I woke up, but I guess not.” “Oh, shut up, Sparklebutt,” Lock groaned, pushing himself to his feet. “I’ll be out of your hair soon enough, just need to find myself a place to set up shop.” “Shop?” Twilight echoed. “You run a shop?” “It’s an expression,” Lock shrugged. “I’m a gangbanger. I need a place to start my new gang.” Twilight took a quick, calming breath before speaking. “A new gang?” she asked again. “You, uh… you wouldn’t happen to be looking to…” “Rape and kill and stuff?” Lock finished, quirking a questioning brow. “Nah, not into that. Well, unless someone crosses me that is - gotta make examples, after all.” Nodding nervously, Twilight turned into her kitchen, Lock following close behind with hat in hand. “So where you plan to ‘set up shop’ then?” she asked. Lock paused, and when Twilight turned to him, she saw him looking around her apartment. “Oh no…” she breathed. “This place is nice,” Lock provided. “No.” “Plenty of space down in that library.” “No!” “Pretty sure there’s a basement too.” “For the love of God, no!” Twilight cried. “You are not starting a gang in my home!” “Why not?” Lock shot back calmly. “If you’re a part of my gang, you get protection.” “I…” Twilight began, blinking in shock. “...what?” “That guy yesterday, he was a gang member too,” Lock explained. “And when his buddies find out what happened… well, it may not have been you, but they’ll think it was. And they’ll want revenge.” “Th-they will?” Twilight stammered, suddenly very nervous. “Mmhmm,” Lock hummed. “I could tell from his clothes - he was flyin’ a flag. Probably one of the gangs lookin’ to expand their territory. But if you side with me - join the Saints - then I’ll offer you protection. I’ll even teach you to protect yourself.” Twilight stepped back, thinking the idea over. Lock watched her for a time before shrugging, brushing past her as he searched through the kitchen’s cabinets. “Or not,” he relented, grabbing a box of cereal from one of the cabinets and tearing it open. “It’s your choice in the end. Just givin’ you the option.” Twilight watched for a time, baffled, before Lock shrugged again and placed the box on the counter. “Think about it,” he said, stepping past her and leaving the apartment. Blinking, Twilight turned, watching him turn the corner and descend the stairwell into the library. “Join… the Saints?” she muttered to herself, thoughts and possibilities flying through her mind. ‘On the one hand,’ she thought. ‘Joining a gang might land me in prison, or worse. On the other…’ Moving to the window of her apartment, Twilight glanced out, catching sight of Lock as he carefully lifted the corpse of the gang member from the day before. ‘I might not live if I don’t.’ Sighing, Twilight followed after Lock, moving down the stairwell and through the library before stepping carefully through the shattered glass door. “What are you doing?” she asked in a bored tone. “Try’na get rid of this guy,” Lock replied easily. “Not sure how I’m gonna do it though.” “Would a car help?” the woman continued. “Sure, but I don’t have one.” “Ya do now,” Twilight shrugged, jangling her keys. Lock glanced up at her, confused for a moment, before a smirk crossed his face. “So you’re in then?” he asked, hoisting the body over his shoulder. He pulled a disgusted face at the splatter of blood that crossed his shirt. “Ah dammit…” “Yeah, I’m in,” Twilight sighed. “And fortunately for you, I know how to get stains like that out.” Pressing a button on her keys, her car chirped, and she moved past Lock to pull the trunk open. “You do?” Lock asked in shock, throwing the body into the storage space unceremoniously. “How?” “I lived in one of the most gang-heavy cities in the country,” Twilight shrugged. “One of them shot my pet owl.” “Those pricks!” Lock cried. “I don’t care how hardcore a gangbanger is, shooting animals is just wrong.” “Yeah…” Twilight sighed. “Unless it’s to save your own life.” “Well yeah, I guess that’s okay,” Lock muttered. “If it’s like ‘life-or-death’, anything can be excused.” Pausing for a moment, he sighed, slamming the car’s trunk shut. “So who’s drivin’, you or me?” Twilight shrugged, tossing the keys to him before moving to the passenger door. “You drive,” she said. “At least then if we’re stopped I can say you kidnapped me.” “You bitch,” Lock laughed, hopping into the driver’s seat. “I can tell I’m gonna like you.” Twilight just shrugged, climbing into the passenger seat, letting out a startled yelp as Lock sent the van rocketing down the street and pulling the door shut frantically. “What is wrong with you!?” she cried, eyes wide was she practically slammed her seatbelt in. Lock just shrugged. “Psyches would probably label me as a sociopathic freak,” he said calmly before shooting her a grin. “But I prefer puckish rogue.” Twilight stared at him for a moment before a smile tugged at her lips and she let out a chuckle. “You know,” she said, turning to watch the world fly by. “You’re not so bad.” “Knew you’d warm up to me,” Lock chuckled, letting out a bark of laughter as he sent the car skidding around a corner, making Twilight cry out again. “I just wish you’d have some more respect for my car!” she cried. “Eh,” Lock shrugged again. “I plan on replacing this clunker anyway. Might keep it around and upgrade it though.” Glancing out the window, he smirked. “Good to know there’s a Rim Jobs nearby.” “And just where are you gonna get the money for that?” Twilight questioned, flinching as Lock swerved around another driver. “Dunno,” he shrugged. “Might go hit the local bank.” “Are you crazy!?” Twilight screamed. “A little,” Lock allowed. “Why?” Sighing, Twilight began counting on her fingers as she responded. “Because one: there’s no way you can hit a bank as you are now, not with just that gun. Two: the way you’re driving clearly indicates you’re not right. And three: you shot a man in the mouth just yesterday.” Again, Lock shrugged. “If I’m wrong, I don’t ever wanna be right,” he started, taking a left. “But okay then miss brainiac, whadda I need to hit a bank?” “Experience, for one,” Twilight replied, ignoring his nickname for her. “Have you ever robbed a place before?” “Nope,” Lock answered readily. “But how hard can it be? Walk in, point your gun, maybe shoot a couple fools, then walk out with the cash. Easy!” Twilight sighed tiredly. “Please tell me you’re not really that stupid…” “Of course not!” Lock scoffed. “I know I’d need more people to help out. And I’d need to get the blueprints for the place, get some more guns n’ shit.” “Oh, good,” Twilight muttered, sighing with relief. “Oh, and just so you know, I’m not gonna go out ‘poppin a cap in some nigga’s ass’ or anything.” Lock glanced to her with a raised brow. “The hell did you hear that?” he asked incredulously. “You really think I’m that cliche? I’m not askin’ you to shoot someone straight away.” Pausing, he glanced at a sign before skidding around a corner. “And don’t say niggas, it’s racist.” Twilight let out a bark of laughter. “You’re telling me not to be racist!?” she cried. “That’s rich coming from a guy who has no problems taking a person’s life!” “Hey,” Lock shot back. “Ending a life and ruining one are two entirely different things. Even killers have morals.” Pulling the handbrake, he sent the car into a spin, the whole thing tilting onto two wheels before landing perfectly in a parking space. “And shut up, we’re here.” Twilight took a moment to catch her breath before looking out the window. “How’d you know where the dump was?” she asked. “Followed the signs,” Lock shrugged. “Now c’mon, we need to find a rug or somethin’ before we deal with him. Can’t have anyone knowin’ about it.” “Pretty sure that doesn’t matter,” Twilight muttered as she climbed out, looking around. Spotting a rolled-up carpet stood against one of the skips, she pointed it out, calling out over her shoulder. “Would that work?” “Perfect!” Lock replied, running over and grabbing it. “Open the trunk!” he instructed as he ran back, Twilight instantly doing as instructed. Searching the area briefly, Lock nodded before rolling the carpet out on the floor behind the car. “Put’im in there,” he instructed, waiting for Twilight to do so before rolling the carpet back up, the body inside. “Now, let’s find the incinerator.” “Why?” Twilight asked. “Just throw him in the car compactor, it’d be easier, and police’ll probably think he was a homeless guy that chose the wrong place to sleep if they find him.” Blinking in shock, Lock nodded slowly before chuckling. “You really are better at this than anyone would think, aren’t you?” Twilight shrugged. “Science books can get boring sometimes, so I read crime dramas. Gang novels just come up once in awhile.” Looking around, she spotted a wrecked car, noting the crane dropping another one in a nearby compactor. “Put him in there, the crane will get him then.” “Good idea,” Lock agreed, jogging over and placing the rug across the back seat. “C’mon, let’s get outta here before anyone starts askin’ questions.” “Yeah,” Twilight nodded, leading the way back to the car. “I’m driving though. If you do the police might stop us anyway.” Lock chuckled, rolling his eyes. “Fine, whatever.” Climbing into the passenger side as Twilight tuned the key, he turned the radio on, a news broadcast filling the air. “Reports indicate that the perpetrator was a female, though no other details about her appearance are known. Pop sensation Sunset Shimmer is supposedly outraged at the theft of her motorcycle, a black-” “Sunset Shimmer!?” Twilight cried, eyes wide. “You know her?” Lock asked. Twilight nodded as she pulled the car out, calmly driving away from the dump. “Yeah,” she said. “We went to school together, but she moved to Manehatten to become a professional singer. I wonder who stole her bike?” Staying quiet for a moment as he listened to the supposed carnage the thief had caused in her getaway, Lock let out a low chuckle. “Gotta say,” he admitted, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a black, rectangular phone. “She sounds familiar. I wonder…” Twilight watched as Lock tapped away at his screen. After a moment, he placed the phone on his knee, tapping his foot impatiently before smirking when it let out a brief ‘ping’. Picking it up again, he let out a bark of laughter. “What’s so funny?” Twilight asked, pulling up at a red light. “It’s my sister!” Lock cried, still gasping with laughter. “What is?” the purple-skinned woman questioned, shooting him a confused look. “The one who stole your friend’s bike, it’s my sister!” Falling into another fit of laughter at Twilight’s shocked face. “Oh god, I can’t believe she’s here too! I gotta bring her here!” Twilight sighed, shaking her head as the light turned green and she pulled away. “Alright fine, tell her to find the Golden Oaks library in Ponyville.” Lock nodded, tapping at his phone again until he paused. “...really?” he asked. “This town’s called Ponyville?” Twilight shrugged again. “The founders were supposedly really into horses.” “Eh, whatever. Name’s just a little weird.” Load smiled warmly as her phone buzzed again, glancing down at it as she sped down the empty highway. “...Ponyville?” she asked with a chuckle. “That sounds dumb.” Tapping the screen with her thumb, she simply replied with ‘on my way’ before shoving the phone into her jacket pocket again. Revving the bike’s engine, she sped up, laughing loudly as she reared the bike onto it’s back wheel for a few miles before dropping it heavily again. Prologue Mission 3: ReunitingPrologue Mission 3 Reuniting Twilight sighed boredly, drumming her fingers on the desk she sat at with a book open in front of her. “I’ve read this one…” she muttered to herself. Sitting up, she glanced around, irritation crossing her face. “Where the heck did Lock go!?” Almost as soon as she said that, the sound of a motorcycle engine filled her ears, cutting off as it seemed to slow down. Not even a minute later, a woman stepped through the door, pausing as she looked to the still-broken glass. “What happened?” she asked, looking around before she spotted Twilight and walked over. “Hello,” Twilight greeted pleasantly. “How can I help you?” “Cut the act, bookworm,” the woman spat, glaring at her. “Lauchlan told me about you, where is he?” Twilight sighed, rolling her eyes. “I’m being nice because that’s how I have to work. You must be Lock’s sister.” Pausing, Twilight stood, stepping out of the desk’s booth. “I don’t actually know where he is, but it’s nice to meet you. I’m Twilight.” “I know,” Load replied. “Name’s Loa-” She cut herself off as the sound of another engine filled the air, cutting off before Lock stepped through the door. “Hey Twilight, I got myself-” he started before spotting Load, a wide grin splitting his face. “Lora! Ya made it!” “Lock,” ‘Lora’ groaned, turning to her brother with a smile. “I’ve already told you a thousand times to call me Load!” “Right, right,” Lock chuckled, waving her off as he moved closer to them. “Sorry. Just got excited.” “Lock…” Twilight muttered, watching as the siblings embraced each other happily. “And Load… really?” “That’s right!” Lock cried suddenly, pulling his gun and posing. “The infamous duo!” Load chimed, pulling her own gun and standing back-to-back with Lock. “Lock n’ Load!” Twilight stood silent for a moment before bringing her hand to her forehead with a resounding *smack*. “I am surrounded by idiots…” “Pfft, whatever,” Load chuckled. “At least we have fun.” “I can have fun!” Twilight shrieked. “Just this morning I helped to dump a body!” “Meh, okay,” Load shrugged. “I’ll give ya that. So, Lock,” she continued, turning to her brother with a grin. “Where were you?” “I took it upon myself to upgrade my cruiser!” Lock bragged, sweeping his arm out towards the doors. “Come, fair ladies, and I shall introduce thee to mine new chariot!” “Oh shut up ya dork!” Load chuckled, shaking her head as she strolled out. Twilight shrugged and followed after her, blinking in shock at the sight. Parked on the street before them was what seemed to be a brand new Venom Classic, it’s body painted a deep royal purple. “Nice find!” Load praised, nodding approvingly. “Where’d ya get it?” “Saw someone drivin’ it down the street,” Lock shrugged. “Got the guy in the head and dumped his body in some kid’s treehouse. Went for a drive and left the license plates in the nearby woods, I’m gonna go get some replacements later.” Twilight stared at the car for a moment before sighing. “I’m just gonna try and get used to it and not question your actions anymore.” “That sounds like a good idea,” Load chuckled. “But… I dunno, I don’t like having our rides just sat outside the library. You got a garage or something Sparky?” Twilight froze, her eye twitching slightly before she took a deep breath. “I think there was one around back. You’d have to drive around the block.” “Not a problem,” Lock shrugged, running at his car. Leaping at it, he twisted his body, flying feet-first into the driver’s-side seat. “Oh god, I didn’t know if that would work!” “Wha-” Twilight spluttered, eyes wide in disbelief. “How!?” Load shrugged. “Dunno Sparky,” she said, sprinting at her stolen bike and launching herself into the seat. “I did it when I grabbed this baby. No idea how.” Twilight’s mouth worked for a time, but no words came out. Eventually she just groaned in defeat, turning and heading into the library again. “Whatever, I’m going to take a look at this garage. Meet me out back.” Lock and Load nodded in response before speeding away, the roars of their engines piercing the air. Twilight rolled her eyes, moving through the library until she reached a door in the back. Opening that, Twilight noted the stairwell leading to the supposed basement before stepping through a second door, coming out in what looked to be a large parking lot, with a two-door garage just to her left. Moving to the garage, she pulled her keys from her pocket, chuckling when she saw a tiny remote hanging from them. “How’d I miss that?” she asked herself, pushing the button and watching as both doors slowly slid open. “Huh, neat.” Lock and Load pulled up behind her, and Load hopped off the bike, walking up to Twilight’s side. “Wow,” she muttered, nodding approvingly. “Nice find here Sparky, real nice.” The two women stepped aside as Lock drove his car into the garage, stepping out a second later. “Uh, guys,” he said unsurely as he walked over to them. “There, um… there’s an elevator in the garage.” “There’s a what?” Twilight and Load cried in unison, rushing into the garage where, sure enough, they saw that Lock’s car was on what looked like a regular floor, but the rectangular outline separating the space from the rest of the floor. “How peculiar…” Twilight muttered, kneeling down to examine the mechanism. “It seems that the whole floor would descend with the vehicle. Whoever built this was likely a mechanical genius.” “Or had too much time,” Load shrugged. “Either way, who wants to see where it goes?” “I’m in!” Lock chuckled. “I must say, I am curious,” Twilight muttered. “Why not?” “All aboard!” Load cried as Lock hopped back into the car, Twilight rushing to the passenger door. The female twin jumped onto the hood, looking around the garage before spotting a remote in a small dish fastened to the wall. Running over, she examined the many buttons before leaning on the hood again and pushing one. “Going down!” All three watched in silent awe as the floor beneath them slowly lowered, bright orange lights illuminating the passage down. Passing one floor after another, they marvelled at the size of what seemed to be an entire underground compound, though their spirits were dashed as each floor they came to was blocked off, either from the doors refusing to open or from rubble. Eventually, the elevator ground to a halt, large hangar-like doors sliding open to reveal what appeared to be a gigantic garage, complete with mechanic’s equipment and what looked to be a huge fuel tanker in the back. “Wow…” Lock breathed, slowly driving his car in after Load had stood up. “How the hell…” “All this…” Twilight muttered, eyes wide. “Was under the library?” “Wonder how long it’s been here,” Load mused. “Gear looks fairly new.” “How many cars could we get down here!?” Lock cried as Twilight stepped out before moving to park off to the side. The purple-skinned woman looked around, muttering quietly to herself until Lock walked over to them. “I’d say roughly thirty average-sized cars and twenty motorcycles in this room, or twenty large cars, ten average and five motorcycles.” “How’d you figure that?” Load asked. Twilight just shrugged. “I’m good with numbers.” “It doesn’t matter,” Lock said dismissively as he turned to the elevators again. “Let’s head back up and get the other car and the bike down here.” “Wait, what?” Twilight cried, quickly following after him. “Why is my car coming down here too!?” “Do you want it to get stolen?” Load asked sarcastically. “‘Cause if ya do, we’ll leave it there.” Twilight sighed. “Fine…” she muttered. “But I’m driving it!” “Fine by me,” Lock shrugged. “I’m heading inside anyway. You two can handle this.” One hour later, Twilight and Load walked up the stairs from the library’s basement, the purple woman blinking in bafflement. “I can’t believe there’s a secret door in my basement…” she muttered. “Honestly?” Load said, shrugging. “After what’s happened to me, that’s not the weirdest thing in the world.” “Sparks, Load?” Lock called from the apartment, his voice carrying a tone of unsurity down the stairwell. “You may wanna see this!” Twilight glanced at Load, who slowly reached for her gun inside her jacket, pulling a second one out and handing it to the purple woman. Twilight swallowed nervously and steeled herself, following Load up the stairs and through the apartment door, where they saw Lock pointing his own gun at a tall, distinctly female figure. The woman wore a tight, black latex corset with deep purple lacing, black leather pants and a pair of black, leather, thigh-high heeled boots, the soles of which were purple. A gold chain hung around her neck, with a fleur-de-lis hanging from it and resting upon her ample bosom. Long, flowing pink hair cascaded down her back as she smiled sweetly at them all. “Now now,” the woman tutted playfully. “Is that any way to treat the one who gave you freedom? My name is Patty, and I believe you two are Lock and Load, correct?” she asked, gesturing to each twin as she named them before turning to Twilight. “Ah, and I do believe you are Miss Twilight Velvet Sparkle, correct?” Lock pulled back the hammer on his revolver. “Who are you?” he demanded, holding his free hand up as Patty raised her brow. “Yeah, you told us your name. But who are you?” Patty chuckled, shaking her head. “I’m an interdimensional cross-species of a vampire, a succubus, and a witch who found you two running from the police and gave you a chance to use your skills for the greater good,” she replies easily, smirking at them. “Problem?” The twins were silent for a moment before shrugging, dropping their guns. “Nah,” they replied in unison as Load reached over and took her second gun back from Twilight. “What’re you doing here though?” Load asked, tucking the second gun into her jacket, ignoring Twilight’s flustered arguments. “Oh, I came to introduce you to the fabulous world of the Displaced!” Patty cried, holding her hand out. Electricity arced between her fingers before growing into a ball in her palm, clearing in the centre to show a woman with large purple draconic wings breathing a plume of fire. The image then shifted to a short, stocky skeleton in a blue hoodie, then a bearded man with an omnitrix on his wrist stood in a swirling blizzard, then a tall man in a red duster with spiky blonde hair, then a black-skinned woman in armour with glowing yellow eyes. “Okay, I think we get it,” Lock muttered, rubbing his eyes. “So you… what? Kidnapped those people?” “Me?” Patty asked in shock. “Oh, heavens no. Only two of those Displaced were mine, and I took them away from lives that they had no reason to live anymore.” “Fair enough,” Load allowed, shrugging again. “So, whaddya want with us?” “Oh, I just thought I’d see if you two wanted to meet some of these Displaced,” Patty replied casually, inspecting her nails. “All you’d have to do is make a Token.” “A what?” Lock asked, scratching his head in confusion. “You mean like a badge or somethin’?” “Kind of,” Patty shrugged. “It’s more like the symbol or item you’ll be known by, kinda like your gang sign.” She smirked, tapping her pendant. “By the way, huge Saints fan.” “Thanks,” the twins chuckled simultaneously. Lock paused after a second, frowning in thought before reaching into his pocket and pulling out his phone. “Yo, interdimensional space lady,” he called, making Patty chuckle. “Patty, Lock. My name is Patty.” “Right, Patty,” he continued, holding his phone up. “Could I use this and just have them call me?” Patty shrugged. “I don’t see why not,” she allowed, taking the phone and surrounding it in a ball of pink lightning. Splitting the ball in two, she dismissed the lightning, a perfect copy of Lock’s phone in now in one hand with the original in the other, which she tossed back to him. “There you go, one Token Phone.” Nodding in thanks, Lock tucked his phone into his pocket before taking the copy and tapping at the screen. He smirked as he altered the settings, changing the background into a glowing purple Saints fleur-de-lis. “There we go,” he said, flipping the phone in his hands. “Should be sorted. Even set up a text thing to ping up whenever it’s opened.” “Nice going bro,” Load praised, smirking. “I think we’ll share a token too, if that’s alright.” Lock shrugged. “No arguments here.” “Then it’s settled!” Patty cried. “Hand me the token and I’ll send it out through the Multiverse.” Pausing as Lock did just that, Patty smirked, sauntering past them all. A large, black-stone door appeared before her, steam rising from it’s surface as it swung open, revealing a swirling expanse of space that seemed to contain both nothing and everything at once. “I’ll be seeing you two around!” she cried over her shoulder. “Oh, and you might wanna wake Twilight up.” Lock and Load looked back to see Twilight sprawled across the floor, twitching slightly with what looked to be fear. When they looked up again, Patty and her door were gone. “Well,” Load muttered as Lock stooped down, picking Twilight up bridal-style. “That was definitely something.” “Yep,” he brother agreed as he carried Twilight to her bed. “Most definitely a thing that happened.”
Prologue Mission 1-A: From Third Street He Comes!Prologue Mission 1-A From Third Street He Comes! Twilight sighed for what felt like the twentieth time that day, loading the last of her boxes into her parent’s Voyage - a boxy red “soccer-mom” car that had been gifted to her when they upgraded to a different model. “Typical Mom…” Twilight muttered. “Dad gets a new job with that stupid ‘Syndicate’ and suddenly I get the crappy old car shoved on me…” Pausing as she slid the last box into place, she sighed again, wiping the sweat from her brow. “At least it’s got enough space for the important stuff. Anything else I think I can buy when I’m there.” Glancing across the street, Twilight winced when she saw a group of people passing, all of them dressed in flak jackets and wrestling gear with colourful luchadore masks covering their faces. “How have the Guard not stopped them?” she demanded quietly, quickly slamming the trunk shut and hurrying to the library’s main door. The group would likely be back for her soon, to collect her keys. “Stupid gangs driving me out of Canterlot… Can’t wait to get to this new town. No gangs whatsoever.” Sighing again as she stepped up to the driver-side door of the van, she casually dropped the library’s keys on the driveway for her apartment before climbing in. “Yet…” Pulling out of the drive, Twilight shifted the stiff gear stick, driving away from her long-time home as law-abidingly as she could. She panicked whenever, on the long drive to the city limits, she would pull up beside a clearly gang-owned vehicle - whether it be the green Luchadores, the blue Deckers, or the red Morning Star. Breathing a sigh of relief as she passed under a sign reading “You are now leaving Canterlot, have a nice day!”, Twilight focused her gaze on the highway, quietly anticipating her own arrival at her new home. “Ponyville, here I come.” Pulling up at the side of a calm-looking street, Twilight let out a quiet yawn, turning the key and cutting the engine. “Finally…” she muttered, smiling tiredly. “Hopefully I’ve at least got a couch or something to sleep on tonight…” Stepping out of the car, Twilight yawned again, moving to the back to at least start moving her stuff inside. Grabbing a box at random, she turned to her new home, taking in the features for the first time. It looked much like a generic apartment building, though the front had - for some reason - been painted to look like a large oak tree. ‘Probably because of the library downstairs…’ Twilight thought to herself, passing the sign reading “Golden Oaks Library”. ‘Can’t believe that’s mine now too… wonder what happened to the old librarian?” As she approached the large double-doors to the library’s main room, Twilight paused again as a large yawn escaped her lips. Balancing the box on her knee, she pulled her light blue hoodie closed around her, shivering a little at the cold night air. “Hey baby,” a deep, gravelly voice purred, making Twilight freeze and sending a sickened chill down her spin. “How’s about you an I head down that alley and you show me what you can give for the ‘community’?” “U-um…” Twilight stammered, sweating profusely. “I, uh… I don’t think that’s a g-good idea. I-i’m, um… not very good?” she offered lamely, frantically searching in her pocket for her keys before realizing with horror that they were still in her car. “Oh, don’t worry about that~” the man - easily a good head taller than Twilight, with much more muscle under his bright blue shirt. “You look like a fast learner~” Twilight gulped again, backing into the door. The man clearly would not take “no” for an answer, and the path to her car was blocked. “O-oh… O-okay…” she relented, tears building in her eyes even as she attempted to memorise as many of his features as she could. The man grinned widely - and act that in itself made Twilight want to vomit - showing off the row of fake, golden teeth in his mouth. “That’s a good little girl,” he chuckled, placing his huge hand on her shoulder and gripping it tightly, making Twilight wince. “Now c’mon, let’s go have some-” he stopped as a quiet tapping sounded out, almost like someone was tapping on glass. Twilight perked up at the sound, looking around for her saviour, though her resolve failed when she saw no one. “Ha!” the man barked, turning back to Twilight with a lecherous grin. “Your cheap tricks won’t help you now!” “W-what tricks!” Twilight cried desperately, holding her hands up in defence. “Th-that wasn’t me!” “Of course not,” the man sneered. “Now let’s go. You got a lot of giving to do.” Twilight whimpered quietly, blinking as the tapping started again. “I told you that wouldn’t work!” “I-I swear, it’s not me!” Twilight insisted. The tapping continued, and both spun to the library’s doors - which Twilight realised were glass - to see a strange-looking man in purple pants, a long-sleeved grey shirt with a single purple stripe down the arms, purple sneakers, and a purple driving cap. He tapped on the glass with the barrel of a small, silver-glinting revolver. “The fuck…?” the man muttered, frowning at the second man behind the door. “She doesn’t want to,” the newcomer called through the glass, his voice - surprisingly pleasant, Twilight realised. Slightly deep, with a bit of a ‘puckish rogue’ vibe to it - muffled slightly. The man in blue blinked for a moment, his mouth moving uselessly, before he seemed to snap out of his trance and glared at the newcomer. “Hey man, fuck you!” he snapped. “This ain’t non’a your business!” The man in purple frowned, nodding before stepping back. Twilight’s eyes widened in fear as the man holding her turned back to her, smirking maliciously, before the sound of smashing glass rang out and a pale cream fist impacted into the man’s dark blue face. Twilight fell to the ground, dropping her box - and silently thanking a higher power it was only clothes - as the man in blue was thrown back from the force. “Are you okay, Miss?” the stranger in purple asked, smiling gently as he held a hand out to her. Twilight nodded silently, accepting his help and allowing him to pull her to her feet. “He didn’t hurt you, did he?” Again, Twilight was quiet, simply shaking her head in denial. “Good.” “Hey, Asshat!” the man in blue barked, stumbling to his feet. The stranger sighed, turning to the man and walking slowly towards him. Twilight gasped as she saw him reach behind his back, taking hold of the same gun he had used to tap on the glass door. “I’mma fuck you up! I told you to-” he was cut off as the stranger whipped his hand forward, jamming the barrel of his gun into the man’s mouth. “This is my good friend, the Commander,” he said calmly, smiling at the man. “Commander Shepherd. He’d like you to apologise to this fine lady.” The man glared, doing what he could to spit at the stranger. Frowning, the stranger pulled the trigger, spraying the man’s blood and brains across the pavement. “Commander Shepherd chose to end you.” Twilight watched in horror as the stranger pulled the gun from the man’s mouth, pulled a disgusted face, and wiped the barrel off on the man’s shirt. Turning to her, he tucked the weapon into his back pocket, once again donning his calm smile. “Sorry about that,” he offered, stooping down to pick up her dropped box. He winced when he looked back to the door he had smashed. “And about that… I’ll work it off if ya want.” “You…” Twilight muttered, still baffled by the stranger’s actions. “You…” “Hm?” the stranger asked, frowning and kicking the broken pieces of glass from the door. “I what?” “You just killed that man!” “Yeah, and?” the stranger shrugged. “He was about to rape you. I had to do something.” He paused, glancing back to the body. “I guess I can’t leave him there though, cops’ll be all over my ass. I’ll get rid of’im later. Where do you want this?” he asked, hefting the box. Twilight blinked again before looking in through the broken door and simply pointing to a set of stairs behind a desk enclosed in glass walls. The stranger nodded and headed in, walking casually up the stairs. ‘What is going on!?’ Twilight asked herself, watching as the stranger went up and down the stairs, casually carrying her boxes to the upstairs apartment for her. ‘This man comes out of nowhere, shoots someone in the mouth, then starts moving me in!? That is not normal!’ “You okay?” the stranger asked, making Twilight jump. “Oh, sorry. I, uh, got all the boxes, but the door was locked. Didn’t wanna break that one too, so I left them outside.” “Oh, um…” Twilight muttered, shaking her head. “Thank you, mister…” “Oh, right, names,” the stranger chuckled. “Name’s Lauchlan, but most call me Lock.” “Right,” Twilight said, nodding nervously. “Well, thank you, mister Lock. Now, if you don’t mind, I need to go to bed and hope this was all a bad dream.” With that, she spun around, hurrying up the stairs and unlocking her apartment door. “Hey, wait!” Lock called after her, making Twilight freeze. “I, uh… is it cool if I crash here tonight?” he asked. “What!?” Twilight demanded, rounding on him. “You shoot a man in the face and now you want to sleep in my home!? NO!” “Hey, I saved you!” Lock shot back, frowning at her. “And I moved your shit up here for ya! I’d say you owe me!” Twilight froze. On the one hand, he had saved her, so the least she could do would be to give him a place to stay for the night. On the other hand… “You are a murderer, no!” “Bitch, let me sleep!” Lock cried. “I’ll fix the door! I’ll work in the damn library! Just let me fucking sleep!” “I do need to fix the door…” Twilight muttered, glaring at Lock out of the corner of her eye before sighing in defeat. “...Ugh, fine. You can sleep on the floor.” “Thanks,” Lock muttered, hoisting two boxes onto his shoulders before stepping inside. “Where do you want these, oh gracious host?” he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “In the kitchen, my valiant knight,” Twilight shot back, sneering at him as she began bringing boxes in herself. They went on like this for a time, shooting back-handed insults at each other as they moved Twilight’s belongings into the apartment before eventually collapsing onto a cheap-looking fabric couch that exploded with a cloud of dust from their weight. “I need a new couch,” Twilight wheezed, desperately trying to wave the dust cloud away. “No shit,” Lock coughed, fanning the air with his hat. “Fuck, that was a lot of dust. How old is this place?” “About twenty five years old,” Twilight shrugged. “Old as me. Not sure how old the couch itself is though.” “You’re twenty five?” Lock demanded in shock, Twilight nodding in response. “Huh. I’d have only placed you at about twenty, to be honest.” “R-really?” Twilight stammered, blushing. “You think I look that young?” Lock just shrugged, leaning back and staring at the ceiling. “...You know what this apartment needs?” he asked aloud suddenly. “A plasma TV, a decent sound system… and a stripper pole.” “What?!” Twilight demanded angrily. “I am not having a stripper pole in my home!” “Aww, come on!” Lock whined. “Every crib needs a stripper pole!” “Well when you get your own ‘crib’,” Twilight spat. “You can put one in, can’t you? But this is my home, so what I say goes!” “Spoilsport…” Lock muttered. Twilight just sighed in exasperation, running a hand down her face. “Whatever…” she muttered. “I’m going to bed. It’s been a long day.” “Yeah, you do that,” Lock replied, laying across the couch and kicking his feet up. “Later lady.” Twilight paused. “...You don’t even know my name.” “You never told me it,” Lock replied casually. “So? What is it?” Pausing for a moment, Twilight considered if she even wanted this man to know her name before realising it was pointless to hide it from him. He already knew where she lived, after all. “Twilight Sparkle.” “Weird name,” Lock laughed, and Twilight was about to yell at him again before he cut her off. “Though there was once a girl named Kinzie Kenzington, so… meh, can’t say much. Nice to actually know ya, Twilight.” “...you too,” Twilight replied unsurely before she turned away, moving towards her bedroom. “Well, goodnight Lock.” “Night Sparklebutt!” Lock called back. Twilight just sighed, letting the name slide for the night in favour of finally getting some sleep.
Prologue Mission 1-B: Ain't She A Saint?Prologue Mission 1-B Ain’t She A Saint? The roar of a motorcycle disrupted the peace of Manehatten’s streets, people’s heads turning to watch as a black Sabertooth rolled by, the rider’s gold and crimson hair billowed from below her helmet. The bike pulled up on the side of the street not long after, slowing to a stop in from on a tall building. The rider stepped off, stretching out for a moment before reaching up to remove her helmet. “Jeez…” Sunset Shimmer muttered, placing her helmet on the bike’s seat. “I swear, I need a new helmet. That one’s just a little tight.” Shrugging, Sunset smiled, shoving her hands into her pockets as she walked casually into the building before her - the large sign above the doors marking it a King Records. “Good morning, Miss Shimmer,” a mansat at the front desk called as Sunset stepped through the doors, his yellow suit standing out against the black marble wall behind him. “Mister King has asked to see you.” “H-he has?” Sunset stammered, suddenly nervous. “I-I thought he was out of town?” “He was,” the man replied simply. “He got back yesterday and would like to know why you have not recorded any songs in the last week.” “And did you tell him I’ve been sick?” Sunset demanded. “Did you tell him I had food poisoning!?” “I did,” the man replied simply. “He was not pleased with your excuses.” Sunset sighed, hanging her head in defeat. “Okay…” she relented. “Where do I go then?” “Mister King is awaiting you in his penthouse,” the man provided, returning to his paperwork. Sunset sighed again, turning and walking away from the desk and up to a nearby elevator. Stepping inside, she reached out a pressed the button for the top floor, inscribed with a small yellow crown. Sunset was silent as she rode upwards, ignoring the world around her. Reaching into her jacket, she rested her hand on a small notebook, biting her lip nervously. ‘If push comes to shove…’ she thought. ‘I’ll have to give him this. I don’t want to end up like the last singer to disappoint Mister King…’ Shuddering suddenly, Sunset thought back to the woman who had made her feel welcome in the professional world - the pop sensation Sapphire Shores. One day, though, Sapphire had just… vanished, and the last person to see her was Mister King. The sound of the elevator’s bell chiming made Sunset jump. Looking up, she gulped as the doors slid open, revealing a long, oak table surrounded by a plethora of chairs. At the end of the table sat a dark-skinned man in a black suit with a yellow shirt, casually reading that day’s newspaper. “Please Miss Shimmer, take a seat,” Mr. King said, not looking up at her. Sunset swallowed nervously, moving to sit in the closest chair to her. “Do you know why I have called you here?” “Y-yes, Mister King,” Sunset stammered. “B-but I can explain! You see-” “I don’t want to hear your excuses, Miss Shimmer,” Mr. King said, cutting her off. “I want to know if, in your absence, you have made any progress towards any new singles.” Sunset nodded frantically, pulling the notebook from her jacket. “Y-yes sir, I have.” “Good,” he said, nodding. “Do make me proud, Sunset.” “O-of course, Mister King,” Sunset stammered, moving to stand. She paused when the man glanced at her. “Um… w-was there anything else, sir?” Mr. King stood up with a tired sigh, turning and walking over to an antique brandy cabinet. “I’m getting tired of your attitude, Miss Shimmer,” he said, pouring himself a small glass of the amber liquid. “You are constantly late, you neglect your duties, and you are giving King Records a bad name.” “B-but Mister King,” Sunset tried, flinching as he turned to her with a raised brow. “I-I’m trying, sir. I can only give so much-” “Are you defying me?” Mr. King asked abruptly, frowning at her. Sunset gulped before taking a steadying breath. “I’m afraid I am sir,” she replied. “I just can’t give you anymore of my time than I have.” Sunset jumped as King slammed his hands down on the table, fury in his eyes. “I AM BENJAMIN MOTHERFUCKING KING!” he roared. “AND YOU WILL DO WHATEVER THE FUCK I SAY!” Sunset flinched under the verbal onslaught, preparing her retort before something happened that made them both pause. The glass that King had left on his antique cabinet exploded in a shower of glass and alcohol. “Excuse me sir,” a tomboyish, but still distinctly female, voice called, making Sunset and King whip around. Sat in an armchair, Desert Eagle in one hand and an open book in the other, dressed in an odd outfit consisting of purple plaid pants, purple turtleneck, black leather jacket with flared collar an black leather knee-length high heeled boots, was a woman, her dark auburn hair held back in a simple ponytail. “But I think you owe the lady an apology.” “How dare you…” King growled before catching himself, taking a calming breath. “Ahem, excuse me. Who might you be miss…” “Call me Load,” the woman provided boredly, tossing the book over her shoulder. “You know, if I’m gonna wake up somewhere completely random, I’d at least expect a decent book to read. Not that books are my thing, but still.” She shrugged, standing and turning to them, keeping her gun trained on King. “So, ‘Benjamin Motherfucking King’, do you know who I am now?” King took a moment to look over Load before quirking his brow. “A Saint?” he asked incredulously. “Interesting. I never expected the Saints to appear in this world, though I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised.” “Ah, so that’s what happened,” Load mused, smirking. “Well then, Benny-boy, you know what to expect don’t you?” Walking over to Sunset, Load placed a hand on the golden-skinned woman’s shoulder, almost instantly switching her aim to Sunset’s neck. “Do me a favour and tell security to back down, will ya Benny? I’d hate to mess up this pretty face.” “Um…” Sunset whimpered, sweating nervously. “M-Mister King?” King watched Load for a moment before nodding. “It will be done. Have a lovely day, Miss Load,” he said sweetly, a pleasant smile on his face. “You too, King,” Load replied, smirking as she backed into the elevator, pulling Sunset with her. Jabbing the button for the ground floor with the butt of her gun, she waited for the doors to slide shut before letting sunset go, rolling her shoulder. “There we go…” Sunset stumbled back, pressing herself against the side of the elevator. “Wh-what…” she stammered, trembling with fear. “What are you gonna do to me?” “Hmm?” Load hummed. “Oh, nothing. But you seemed important to King, so you made a decent hostage.” Pausing, she leaned against the opposite wall, casually inspecting her gun. “He doesn’t treat you right ya know.” “You think I don’t know that?” Sunset spat, crossing her arms defensively. “But he runs the best record company in the country, so I have to put up with it.” “Not for long he doesn’t,” Load chuckled. Holding a hand up as Sunset opened her mouth to speak, she continued. “Nevermind that, how’d you like to be one of the first to join the new revolution?” “R-revolution?” Sunset stammered. “W-what do you mean by that?” “I mean,” Load sighed. “Join my gang.” “What!?” Sunset demanded. “Gangs are the single worst thing to happen to this country, and you want me to join one!? No way!” “Whatever,” Load shrugged, once again pointing her gun at Sunset’s head and holding her hand out. “Keys.” “W-what?” “Car keys. I need a ride.” Swallowing nervously, Sunset reached into her jacket, pulling her motorcycle keys out and shakily handing them over. “Much obliged,” Load nodded as the elevator chimed. Stepping out, she tucked her gun into her jacket, giving Sunset a two-fingered salute as she backed out. “Have a good one, and look me up if you change your mind.” Turning, Load sprinted out of the building, Sunset watching her the whole time. Snapping out of her shock as the roar of her bike’s engine rang out, she ran to the building’s main doors, watching as Load rode away. “Welp,” Load said to herself, hair flowing in the breeze as she drove down the street. “That was fun.”
Prologue Mission 2: Taking ChargePrologue Mission 2 Taking Charge Rain drummed against the apartment window, waking Lock from his slumber. “Ugh…” he muttered, sitting up on the old couch, raising a hand to his head and knocking his hat off in the process. “Someone turn the rain off…” “As much as I wish I could, I can’t,” Twilight huffed, making Lock jump. “Get up. I’d wished you’d be gone when I woke up, but I guess not.” “Oh, shut up, Sparklebutt,” Lock groaned, pushing himself to his feet. “I’ll be out of your hair soon enough, just need to find myself a place to set up shop.” “Shop?” Twilight echoed. “You run a shop?” “It’s an expression,” Lock shrugged. “I’m a gangbanger. I need a place to start my new gang.” Twilight took a quick, calming breath before speaking. “A new gang?” she asked again. “You, uh… you wouldn’t happen to be looking to…” “Rape and kill and stuff?” Lock finished, quirking a questioning brow. “Nah, not into that. Well, unless someone crosses me that is - gotta make examples, after all.” Nodding nervously, Twilight turned into her kitchen, Lock following close behind with hat in hand. “So where you plan to ‘set up shop’ then?” she asked. Lock paused, and when Twilight turned to him, she saw him looking around her apartment. “Oh no…” she breathed. “This place is nice,” Lock provided. “No.” “Plenty of space down in that library.” “No!” “Pretty sure there’s a basement too.” “For the love of God, no!” Twilight cried. “You are not starting a gang in my home!” “Why not?” Lock shot back calmly. “If you’re a part of my gang, you get protection.” “I…” Twilight began, blinking in shock. “...what?” “That guy yesterday, he was a gang member too,” Lock explained. “And when his buddies find out what happened… well, it may not have been you, but they’ll think it was. And they’ll want revenge.” “Th-they will?” Twilight stammered, suddenly very nervous. “Mmhmm,” Lock hummed. “I could tell from his clothes - he was flyin’ a flag. Probably one of the gangs lookin’ to expand their territory. But if you side with me - join the Saints - then I’ll offer you protection. I’ll even teach you to protect yourself.” Twilight stepped back, thinking the idea over. Lock watched her for a time before shrugging, brushing past her as he searched through the kitchen’s cabinets. “Or not,” he relented, grabbing a box of cereal from one of the cabinets and tearing it open. “It’s your choice in the end. Just givin’ you the option.” Twilight watched for a time, baffled, before Lock shrugged again and placed the box on the counter. “Think about it,” he said, stepping past her and leaving the apartment. Blinking, Twilight turned, watching him turn the corner and descend the stairwell into the library. “Join… the Saints?” she muttered to herself, thoughts and possibilities flying through her mind. ‘On the one hand,’ she thought. ‘Joining a gang might land me in prison, or worse. On the other…’ Moving to the window of her apartment, Twilight glanced out, catching sight of Lock as he carefully lifted the corpse of the gang member from the day before. ‘I might not live if I don’t.’ Sighing, Twilight followed after Lock, moving down the stairwell and through the library before stepping carefully through the shattered glass door. “What are you doing?” she asked in a bored tone. “Try’na get rid of this guy,” Lock replied easily. “Not sure how I’m gonna do it though.” “Would a car help?” the woman continued. “Sure, but I don’t have one.” “Ya do now,” Twilight shrugged, jangling her keys. Lock glanced up at her, confused for a moment, before a smirk crossed his face. “So you’re in then?” he asked, hoisting the body over his shoulder. He pulled a disgusted face at the splatter of blood that crossed his shirt. “Ah dammit…” “Yeah, I’m in,” Twilight sighed. “And fortunately for you, I know how to get stains like that out.” Pressing a button on her keys, her car chirped, and she moved past Lock to pull the trunk open. “You do?” Lock asked in shock, throwing the body into the storage space unceremoniously. “How?” “I lived in one of the most gang-heavy cities in the country,” Twilight shrugged. “One of them shot my pet owl.” “Those pricks!” Lock cried. “I don’t care how hardcore a gangbanger is, shooting animals is just wrong.” “Yeah…” Twilight sighed. “Unless it’s to save your own life.” “Well yeah, I guess that’s okay,” Lock muttered. “If it’s like ‘life-or-death’, anything can be excused.” Pausing for a moment, he sighed, slamming the car’s trunk shut. “So who’s drivin’, you or me?” Twilight shrugged, tossing the keys to him before moving to the passenger door. “You drive,” she said. “At least then if we’re stopped I can say you kidnapped me.” “You bitch,” Lock laughed, hopping into the driver’s seat. “I can tell I’m gonna like you.” Twilight just shrugged, climbing into the passenger seat, letting out a startled yelp as Lock sent the van rocketing down the street and pulling the door shut frantically. “What is wrong with you!?” she cried, eyes wide was she practically slammed her seatbelt in. Lock just shrugged. “Psyches would probably label me as a sociopathic freak,” he said calmly before shooting her a grin. “But I prefer puckish rogue.” Twilight stared at him for a moment before a smile tugged at her lips and she let out a chuckle. “You know,” she said, turning to watch the world fly by. “You’re not so bad.” “Knew you’d warm up to me,” Lock chuckled, letting out a bark of laughter as he sent the car skidding around a corner, making Twilight cry out again. “I just wish you’d have some more respect for my car!” she cried. “Eh,” Lock shrugged again. “I plan on replacing this clunker anyway. Might keep it around and upgrade it though.” Glancing out the window, he smirked. “Good to know there’s a Rim Jobs nearby.” “And just where are you gonna get the money for that?” Twilight questioned, flinching as Lock swerved around another driver. “Dunno,” he shrugged. “Might go hit the local bank.” “Are you crazy!?” Twilight screamed. “A little,” Lock allowed. “Why?” Sighing, Twilight began counting on her fingers as she responded. “Because one: there’s no way you can hit a bank as you are now, not with just that gun. Two: the way you’re driving clearly indicates you’re not right. And three: you shot a man in the mouth just yesterday.” Again, Lock shrugged. “If I’m wrong, I don’t ever wanna be right,” he started, taking a left. “But okay then miss brainiac, whadda I need to hit a bank?” “Experience, for one,” Twilight replied, ignoring his nickname for her. “Have you ever robbed a place before?” “Nope,” Lock answered readily. “But how hard can it be? Walk in, point your gun, maybe shoot a couple fools, then walk out with the cash. Easy!” Twilight sighed tiredly. “Please tell me you’re not really that stupid…” “Of course not!” Lock scoffed. “I know I’d need more people to help out. And I’d need to get the blueprints for the place, get some more guns n’ shit.” “Oh, good,” Twilight muttered, sighing with relief. “Oh, and just so you know, I’m not gonna go out ‘poppin a cap in some nigga’s ass’ or anything.” Lock glanced to her with a raised brow. “The hell did you hear that?” he asked incredulously. “You really think I’m that cliche? I’m not askin’ you to shoot someone straight away.” Pausing, he glanced at a sign before skidding around a corner. “And don’t say niggas, it’s racist.” Twilight let out a bark of laughter. “You’re telling me not to be racist!?” she cried. “That’s rich coming from a guy who has no problems taking a person’s life!” “Hey,” Lock shot back. “Ending a life and ruining one are two entirely different things. Even killers have morals.” Pulling the handbrake, he sent the car into a spin, the whole thing tilting onto two wheels before landing perfectly in a parking space. “And shut up, we’re here.” Twilight took a moment to catch her breath before looking out the window. “How’d you know where the dump was?” she asked. “Followed the signs,” Lock shrugged. “Now c’mon, we need to find a rug or somethin’ before we deal with him. Can’t have anyone knowin’ about it.” “Pretty sure that doesn’t matter,” Twilight muttered as she climbed out, looking around. Spotting a rolled-up carpet stood against one of the skips, she pointed it out, calling out over her shoulder. “Would that work?” “Perfect!” Lock replied, running over and grabbing it. “Open the trunk!” he instructed as he ran back, Twilight instantly doing as instructed. Searching the area briefly, Lock nodded before rolling the carpet out on the floor behind the car. “Put’im in there,” he instructed, waiting for Twilight to do so before rolling the carpet back up, the body inside. “Now, let’s find the incinerator.” “Why?” Twilight asked. “Just throw him in the car compactor, it’d be easier, and police’ll probably think he was a homeless guy that chose the wrong place to sleep if they find him.” Blinking in shock, Lock nodded slowly before chuckling. “You really are better at this than anyone would think, aren’t you?” Twilight shrugged. “Science books can get boring sometimes, so I read crime dramas. Gang novels just come up once in awhile.” Looking around, she spotted a wrecked car, noting the crane dropping another one in a nearby compactor. “Put him in there, the crane will get him then.” “Good idea,” Lock agreed, jogging over and placing the rug across the back seat. “C’mon, let’s get outta here before anyone starts askin’ questions.” “Yeah,” Twilight nodded, leading the way back to the car. “I’m driving though. If you do the police might stop us anyway.” Lock chuckled, rolling his eyes. “Fine, whatever.” Climbing into the passenger side as Twilight tuned the key, he turned the radio on, a news broadcast filling the air. “Reports indicate that the perpetrator was a female, though no other details about her appearance are known. Pop sensation Sunset Shimmer is supposedly outraged at the theft of her motorcycle, a black-” “Sunset Shimmer!?” Twilight cried, eyes wide. “You know her?” Lock asked. Twilight nodded as she pulled the car out, calmly driving away from the dump. “Yeah,” she said. “We went to school together, but she moved to Manehatten to become a professional singer. I wonder who stole her bike?” Staying quiet for a moment as he listened to the supposed carnage the thief had caused in her getaway, Lock let out a low chuckle. “Gotta say,” he admitted, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a black, rectangular phone. “She sounds familiar. I wonder…” Twilight watched as Lock tapped away at his screen. After a moment, he placed the phone on his knee, tapping his foot impatiently before smirking when it let out a brief ‘ping’. Picking it up again, he let out a bark of laughter. “What’s so funny?” Twilight asked, pulling up at a red light. “It’s my sister!” Lock cried, still gasping with laughter. “What is?” the purple-skinned woman questioned, shooting him a confused look. “The one who stole your friend’s bike, it’s my sister!” Falling into another fit of laughter at Twilight’s shocked face. “Oh god, I can’t believe she’s here too! I gotta bring her here!” Twilight sighed, shaking her head as the light turned green and she pulled away. “Alright fine, tell her to find the Golden Oaks library in Ponyville.” Lock nodded, tapping at his phone again until he paused. “...really?” he asked. “This town’s called Ponyville?” Twilight shrugged again. “The founders were supposedly really into horses.” “Eh, whatever. Name’s just a little weird.” Load smiled warmly as her phone buzzed again, glancing down at it as she sped down the empty highway. “...Ponyville?” she asked with a chuckle. “That sounds dumb.” Tapping the screen with her thumb, she simply replied with ‘on my way’ before shoving the phone into her jacket pocket again. Revving the bike’s engine, she sped up, laughing loudly as she reared the bike onto it’s back wheel for a few miles before dropping it heavily again.
Prologue Mission 3: ReunitingPrologue Mission 3 Reuniting Twilight sighed boredly, drumming her fingers on the desk she sat at with a book open in front of her. “I’ve read this one…” she muttered to herself. Sitting up, she glanced around, irritation crossing her face. “Where the heck did Lock go!?” Almost as soon as she said that, the sound of a motorcycle engine filled her ears, cutting off as it seemed to slow down. Not even a minute later, a woman stepped through the door, pausing as she looked to the still-broken glass. “What happened?” she asked, looking around before she spotted Twilight and walked over. “Hello,” Twilight greeted pleasantly. “How can I help you?” “Cut the act, bookworm,” the woman spat, glaring at her. “Lauchlan told me about you, where is he?” Twilight sighed, rolling her eyes. “I’m being nice because that’s how I have to work. You must be Lock’s sister.” Pausing, Twilight stood, stepping out of the desk’s booth. “I don’t actually know where he is, but it’s nice to meet you. I’m Twilight.” “I know,” Load replied. “Name’s Loa-” She cut herself off as the sound of another engine filled the air, cutting off before Lock stepped through the door. “Hey Twilight, I got myself-” he started before spotting Load, a wide grin splitting his face. “Lora! Ya made it!” “Lock,” ‘Lora’ groaned, turning to her brother with a smile. “I’ve already told you a thousand times to call me Load!” “Right, right,” Lock chuckled, waving her off as he moved closer to them. “Sorry. Just got excited.” “Lock…” Twilight muttered, watching as the siblings embraced each other happily. “And Load… really?” “That’s right!” Lock cried suddenly, pulling his gun and posing. “The infamous duo!” Load chimed, pulling her own gun and standing back-to-back with Lock. “Lock n’ Load!” Twilight stood silent for a moment before bringing her hand to her forehead with a resounding *smack*. “I am surrounded by idiots…” “Pfft, whatever,” Load chuckled. “At least we have fun.” “I can have fun!” Twilight shrieked. “Just this morning I helped to dump a body!” “Meh, okay,” Load shrugged. “I’ll give ya that. So, Lock,” she continued, turning to her brother with a grin. “Where were you?” “I took it upon myself to upgrade my cruiser!” Lock bragged, sweeping his arm out towards the doors. “Come, fair ladies, and I shall introduce thee to mine new chariot!” “Oh shut up ya dork!” Load chuckled, shaking her head as she strolled out. Twilight shrugged and followed after her, blinking in shock at the sight. Parked on the street before them was what seemed to be a brand new Venom Classic, it’s body painted a deep royal purple. “Nice find!” Load praised, nodding approvingly. “Where’d ya get it?” “Saw someone drivin’ it down the street,” Lock shrugged. “Got the guy in the head and dumped his body in some kid’s treehouse. Went for a drive and left the license plates in the nearby woods, I’m gonna go get some replacements later.” Twilight stared at the car for a moment before sighing. “I’m just gonna try and get used to it and not question your actions anymore.” “That sounds like a good idea,” Load chuckled. “But… I dunno, I don’t like having our rides just sat outside the library. You got a garage or something Sparky?” Twilight froze, her eye twitching slightly before she took a deep breath. “I think there was one around back. You’d have to drive around the block.” “Not a problem,” Lock shrugged, running at his car. Leaping at it, he twisted his body, flying feet-first into the driver’s-side seat. “Oh god, I didn’t know if that would work!” “Wha-” Twilight spluttered, eyes wide in disbelief. “How!?” Load shrugged. “Dunno Sparky,” she said, sprinting at her stolen bike and launching herself into the seat. “I did it when I grabbed this baby. No idea how.” Twilight’s mouth worked for a time, but no words came out. Eventually she just groaned in defeat, turning and heading into the library again. “Whatever, I’m going to take a look at this garage. Meet me out back.” Lock and Load nodded in response before speeding away, the roars of their engines piercing the air. Twilight rolled her eyes, moving through the library until she reached a door in the back. Opening that, Twilight noted the stairwell leading to the supposed basement before stepping through a second door, coming out in what looked to be a large parking lot, with a two-door garage just to her left. Moving to the garage, she pulled her keys from her pocket, chuckling when she saw a tiny remote hanging from them. “How’d I miss that?” she asked herself, pushing the button and watching as both doors slowly slid open. “Huh, neat.” Lock and Load pulled up behind her, and Load hopped off the bike, walking up to Twilight’s side. “Wow,” she muttered, nodding approvingly. “Nice find here Sparky, real nice.” The two women stepped aside as Lock drove his car into the garage, stepping out a second later. “Uh, guys,” he said unsurely as he walked over to them. “There, um… there’s an elevator in the garage.” “There’s a what?” Twilight and Load cried in unison, rushing into the garage where, sure enough, they saw that Lock’s car was on what looked like a regular floor, but the rectangular outline separating the space from the rest of the floor. “How peculiar…” Twilight muttered, kneeling down to examine the mechanism. “It seems that the whole floor would descend with the vehicle. Whoever built this was likely a mechanical genius.” “Or had too much time,” Load shrugged. “Either way, who wants to see where it goes?” “I’m in!” Lock chuckled. “I must say, I am curious,” Twilight muttered. “Why not?” “All aboard!” Load cried as Lock hopped back into the car, Twilight rushing to the passenger door. The female twin jumped onto the hood, looking around the garage before spotting a remote in a small dish fastened to the wall. Running over, she examined the many buttons before leaning on the hood again and pushing one. “Going down!” All three watched in silent awe as the floor beneath them slowly lowered, bright orange lights illuminating the passage down. Passing one floor after another, they marvelled at the size of what seemed to be an entire underground compound, though their spirits were dashed as each floor they came to was blocked off, either from the doors refusing to open or from rubble. Eventually, the elevator ground to a halt, large hangar-like doors sliding open to reveal what appeared to be a gigantic garage, complete with mechanic’s equipment and what looked to be a huge fuel tanker in the back. “Wow…” Lock breathed, slowly driving his car in after Load had stood up. “How the hell…” “All this…” Twilight muttered, eyes wide. “Was under the library?” “Wonder how long it’s been here,” Load mused. “Gear looks fairly new.” “How many cars could we get down here!?” Lock cried as Twilight stepped out before moving to park off to the side. The purple-skinned woman looked around, muttering quietly to herself until Lock walked over to them. “I’d say roughly thirty average-sized cars and twenty motorcycles in this room, or twenty large cars, ten average and five motorcycles.” “How’d you figure that?” Load asked. Twilight just shrugged. “I’m good with numbers.” “It doesn’t matter,” Lock said dismissively as he turned to the elevators again. “Let’s head back up and get the other car and the bike down here.” “Wait, what?” Twilight cried, quickly following after him. “Why is my car coming down here too!?” “Do you want it to get stolen?” Load asked sarcastically. “‘Cause if ya do, we’ll leave it there.” Twilight sighed. “Fine…” she muttered. “But I’m driving it!” “Fine by me,” Lock shrugged. “I’m heading inside anyway. You two can handle this.” One hour later, Twilight and Load walked up the stairs from the library’s basement, the purple woman blinking in bafflement. “I can’t believe there’s a secret door in my basement…” she muttered. “Honestly?” Load said, shrugging. “After what’s happened to me, that’s not the weirdest thing in the world.” “Sparks, Load?” Lock called from the apartment, his voice carrying a tone of unsurity down the stairwell. “You may wanna see this!” Twilight glanced at Load, who slowly reached for her gun inside her jacket, pulling a second one out and handing it to the purple woman. Twilight swallowed nervously and steeled herself, following Load up the stairs and through the apartment door, where they saw Lock pointing his own gun at a tall, distinctly female figure. The woman wore a tight, black latex corset with deep purple lacing, black leather pants and a pair of black, leather, thigh-high heeled boots, the soles of which were purple. A gold chain hung around her neck, with a fleur-de-lis hanging from it and resting upon her ample bosom. Long, flowing pink hair cascaded down her back as she smiled sweetly at them all. “Now now,” the woman tutted playfully. “Is that any way to treat the one who gave you freedom? My name is Patty, and I believe you two are Lock and Load, correct?” she asked, gesturing to each twin as she named them before turning to Twilight. “Ah, and I do believe you are Miss Twilight Velvet Sparkle, correct?” Lock pulled back the hammer on his revolver. “Who are you?” he demanded, holding his free hand up as Patty raised her brow. “Yeah, you told us your name. But who are you?” Patty chuckled, shaking her head. “I’m an interdimensional cross-species of a vampire, a succubus, and a witch who found you two running from the police and gave you a chance to use your skills for the greater good,” she replies easily, smirking at them. “Problem?” The twins were silent for a moment before shrugging, dropping their guns. “Nah,” they replied in unison as Load reached over and took her second gun back from Twilight. “What’re you doing here though?” Load asked, tucking the second gun into her jacket, ignoring Twilight’s flustered arguments. “Oh, I came to introduce you to the fabulous world of the Displaced!” Patty cried, holding her hand out. Electricity arced between her fingers before growing into a ball in her palm, clearing in the centre to show a woman with large purple draconic wings breathing a plume of fire. The image then shifted to a short, stocky skeleton in a blue hoodie, then a bearded man with an omnitrix on his wrist stood in a swirling blizzard, then a tall man in a red duster with spiky blonde hair, then a black-skinned woman in armour with glowing yellow eyes. “Okay, I think we get it,” Lock muttered, rubbing his eyes. “So you… what? Kidnapped those people?” “Me?” Patty asked in shock. “Oh, heavens no. Only two of those Displaced were mine, and I took them away from lives that they had no reason to live anymore.” “Fair enough,” Load allowed, shrugging again. “So, whaddya want with us?” “Oh, I just thought I’d see if you two wanted to meet some of these Displaced,” Patty replied casually, inspecting her nails. “All you’d have to do is make a Token.” “A what?” Lock asked, scratching his head in confusion. “You mean like a badge or somethin’?” “Kind of,” Patty shrugged. “It’s more like the symbol or item you’ll be known by, kinda like your gang sign.” She smirked, tapping her pendant. “By the way, huge Saints fan.” “Thanks,” the twins chuckled simultaneously. Lock paused after a second, frowning in thought before reaching into his pocket and pulling out his phone. “Yo, interdimensional space lady,” he called, making Patty chuckle. “Patty, Lock. My name is Patty.” “Right, Patty,” he continued, holding his phone up. “Could I use this and just have them call me?” Patty shrugged. “I don’t see why not,” she allowed, taking the phone and surrounding it in a ball of pink lightning. Splitting the ball in two, she dismissed the lightning, a perfect copy of Lock’s phone in now in one hand with the original in the other, which she tossed back to him. “There you go, one Token Phone.” Nodding in thanks, Lock tucked his phone into his pocket before taking the copy and tapping at the screen. He smirked as he altered the settings, changing the background into a glowing purple Saints fleur-de-lis. “There we go,” he said, flipping the phone in his hands. “Should be sorted. Even set up a text thing to ping up whenever it’s opened.” “Nice going bro,” Load praised, smirking. “I think we’ll share a token too, if that’s alright.” Lock shrugged. “No arguments here.” “Then it’s settled!” Patty cried. “Hand me the token and I’ll send it out through the Multiverse.” Pausing as Lock did just that, Patty smirked, sauntering past them all. A large, black-stone door appeared before her, steam rising from it’s surface as it swung open, revealing a swirling expanse of space that seemed to contain both nothing and everything at once. “I’ll be seeing you two around!” she cried over her shoulder. “Oh, and you might wanna wake Twilight up.” Lock and Load looked back to see Twilight sprawled across the floor, twitching slightly with what looked to be fear. When they looked up again, Patty and her door were gone. “Well,” Load muttered as Lock stooped down, picking Twilight up bridal-style. “That was definitely something.” “Yep,” he brother agreed as he carried Twilight to her bed. “Most definitely a thing that happened.”
