Faux Pas: The Bluebird's Song

Chapter 2

The Chase

Blood rained like a fountain as the representative’s head developed a hole the size of an apple on his forehead.  I almost found it amazing that a bullet like that could make an art so fascinating. It’s almost wonderful...but no time to muse over the wonders of a kill. I had to leave before someone decided to look up and find me on the rafters. But before I left, I spotted something undoubtedly unforgivable.One of the representatives was wearing pink stockings. Pink stockings with a black suit!! This is unforgivable! It would only take me three seconds to aim my rifle and line it up and fire, which I did. The bullet tore right through her neck, choking her with her own blood. The feeling of satisfaction engulfed me...then I realized I was still on the rafters, eyeing the dying horse when one of the senate members pointed up to me and shouted for help.I tried to run out and head for the vents when my leg slipped through the rafter and caused me to lose focus, dropping the bag and my gun down to the floor. I guess there goes one of the most expensive guns in history, shattered to pieces on the ground. I slipped through the vent and ran out of the maintenance closet, heading straight for the emergency exit on my left, ignoring the agents who shot a “Halt!” at me. I actually planned to leave the gun here in the staircase but I suppose dropping it there was fine too. Not that it made too much of a difference. But them spotting me was not part of the deal. I had to run out as fast as I could lest they catch me.I galloped up the stairs. I could already feel my lungs burning as I kept running higher. Hearing aggravated voices a few floors below though wasn’t reassuring either. But at least I had a bit of a head start. What’s the worst that could happen?“I just had to ask, didn’t I?”The door to the roof was locked. I clicked my tongue in agitation as I turned and bucked it as hard as I could. The door flew off its hinges but I winced at the thought that it might have put a few scratches on my hoof. But that thought instantly disappeared when a bullet tore through the air, hitting the doorsill and spraying powdered concrete around. I hurriedly turned and galloped as two unicorn agents each totting a fifty calibre pistol ran after me.Bullets shot past me and one tore a hole through the garb I was wearing. Wow, that’s a pretty big hole. I skidded to the emergency stairs leading down. But knowing they could just shoot right through the thin steel and seeing as I might have more than seven storeys to clear, I decided to do the unthinkable. I hopped off the ledge and twisted in midair, stretching my hooves out. I barely grab the handlebars that were made to protect you from falling off. Guess they’d serve my purpose of something to grab to now. Using my front hooves to grab them as I let go to drop to the next level, the agents start shooting but with the way I’m going and how the emergency staircase blocked their view, it was easy to get away. I landed hard on my rear hooves as I hit the ground. My joints screamed but I had to ignore it unless I wanted one of those bullets tearing through me. I galloped out to the front fence. More guards were pouring out of the front entrance. I guess I can’t hitch a ride right now then. I decided to go with plan C.KABOOM!!The classic fifty year old vintage blew to pieces in an amazing fireball, knocking some of the agents, charring the others, and simply ripping the others with shrapnel. Looks like random shrapnel killed the MP standing on post by the gate too. A piece of what I can only make out as the bumper buried into his face as I galloped past. The gate stood ajar from the explosion and my form merely slipped through the small gap that formed beside it. I could only feel proud of my perfect figure.More gunshots. Time to run!I galloped off away from the directions of the shots. I maybe lucky but I intend to live, thank you very much. This time, it’s the military on my tail. To make matters worse, they were in combat vehicles. Something in me felt that I should have tried to steal one of the vehicles but I guess it can’t be helped. There are other ways of outrunning armed vehicles. I quickly shuffled left, straight through a park’s forested areas. It may not have fazed my pursuers but I guess it slowed them down a bit at least.KRRRACK!Or maybe I spoke too soon as one pony in what looked like a buggy sprayed ammunition at me from her machinegun on the handlebar. This is starting to get irritating as I tried to constantly dodge. Trees splintered around me as I dashed past them and I swear I could have felt a few close shaves shooting past my fixed up mane. Deciding enough was enough, I whirled around soon as I dropped down a little embankment and ducked. The buggy flew past me and skidded on the road. With me now behind the driver, I pulled out one of my trusty pistols and took aim. The first two shots missed by a head but the third instantly landed a kill as the bulled ploughed through her visor and into her head. Her buggy rolled to a stop as she laid limp in her vehicle, lifeless. Using my levitation to pull her out with an “Excuse me”, I hopped in and jammed the accelerator just in time for the next menace to face me; a military APC bursting out of nowhere and swerving at my tail. Maybe it was out of fear but I could have sworn seeing everything in slow motion as a soldier popped from under the hatch and placed a long tube on his shoulder.You have GOT to be shitting me.A rocket propelled grenade suddenly erupted from the business end of the tube, flying straight for me. Given only a split second to react, I had to do what I could; I swerved the buggy hard to the left, tilting the vehicle and exposing its anti-mine flooring to the explosive projectile. In a flash of heat and light, the vehicle tumbled like crazy, shaking me up in the process. The buggy tumbled end on end as some other parts flew in all directions, leaving the chassis to hopefully survive somehow. My ears rang from the noise and could barely hear the crashes but I felt every given impact the trashed little thing went through, finally crashing into the barricade wall and plopping into a hoof-made river.I didn’t have enough time to catch a breath and all I could see around me was murky water. Disorientation was also there thanks to the tumble-ride I took landing me here. Wow. Interesting way to go if you ask me. At least it was fun while it lasted. Or was it...? I’ll think about it when I get out of here. If only that were possible at all. I pressed the seatbelt release button but the belts refused to let me off. Suddenly, I found myself struggling to get lose. And with my muscles hungry for oxygen and me wishing I could gasp for more air, I could feel panic starting to creep in. I can’t believe it. Five billion bits is what I exchanged for the lives of three stallions and now it’s come to bite me back. No! I can’t let that happen! I REFUSE!I tugged harder and harder but the belt would not budge. For the few times I have felt fear, this could be one of those times that I actually found myself yearning to find something I know I never could have; a hero.My body started to go limp, my mind was beginning to grow blank, and a flash finally found its way into my eyes. The picture of my memories.

:D:

“I’m...” The voice in my memory garbled, as if I didn’t want to remember that part. Heh, why should I? Waste of time remembering who you were. “...and I was born in Perche. But mommy and daddy were gone and they said I had to move here.”“Oh, is that so? Well...” An old mare. Wow. It’s the hag. I remember her. That witch. She took my clothes. “...If you are going to stay here, you have to wear these. You cannot wear any more schmancy fancy clothes, you understand?”I remember just nodding to her, confused as to why she would do that. Those clothes were the only things left that reminded me of papa and mama. Wow, come to think of it, when was the last time I last saw their graves? I think I never did, did I? Funny enough.“Why are you burning them!?” Wow, this is the hard time. The hag was burning my clothes. My ‘fancy schmancy’ clothes. Some of those were haute couture. I can tell as a child. I loved clothes. I loved style. And this witch took them all away.“Come, I’ll show you something cool!” Who’s this? I don’t remember him. He’s a young unicorn like me. A blue unicorn with an orange mane. I think I’m starting to remember those amber eyes too. They gave me warmth. But, where was he..? Where is he? Why doesn’t he save me?“You can never stay with colts!” The hag again, giving me those... lectures. I was crying, confused as to why I couldn’t stay with my friend. “All colts want from you is your money and your beauty! And fame!”Really? Well, isn’t that a fact? Why else would they...? Are they all....? Surely not everyone is...“All they will do is use you! So if you want to survive in this world, use THEM! And don’t you EVER forget that!”Use them... Yes, better than being abused. I’m happy the way I am now.  I don’t need some hero. I don’t need some chump stallion! I’ll get out of this on my own!!My eyes shot open and everything flew crystal clear. I could almost feel the last ounce of adrenaline coursing through me as I instantly tugged hard on the belts, snapping them off the buckles and releasing me from death’s grip. On instinct, I just began to swim, hoping it was the right way up. My muscles began to cramp and scream at me as I came closer and closer to the light, rewarding me with the light of day and fresh air filling my lungs once more.

:D:

“Grove!” I yelled as I walked into the room where all the crates once were, I was still dripping wet from my little swim. This time though, the room was all empty, abandoned. Figures as the beggar outside was already shot dead and the door was left ajar. In the middle of the room, a solitary steel case shone in the grey of the streetlights and on it, a yellow sticky note. I slowly approached the case, making sure it was neither booby trapped nor being observed by anyone in the vicinity. Using my levitation, I skidded the case next to me and read the note.Not bad and good show. Time to go.Heh. He does have a sort of humor in him, doesn’t he? Crumpling the note, I proceeded to open the case. Inside were notes, neatly stacked. A smile flashed on my face as I finally carried my five billion bits out of the room.As I reached the alley outside, I instantly ripped off the uniform I was wearing, tossing it to the beggar’s corpse. I peeled off the stick-on cutie mark off my flank and sloshed the inner side in water, trampling it a bit, dissolving the twin pistol mark on it and leaving behind nothing but a clear film. Then finally, I pulled out the ID card. A bullet hole torn through it, rendering it useless now. Guess it’s better off in the trash anyway- Whoa. A picture. A family picture of Fideles and... His two daughters?I wondered why I never saw it before. Looks like I made two more girls just like me, huh? I smiled.“Fly away, dearies. At least you have each other.”I trotted off into the night as rain began to pour on this city of regret.

We have come to terms.