1. In the Blink of an Eye
Seven thirty in the afternoon in the deepest sections of the Sun district. Much like everywhere else in the mega-city of New Canterlot business was booming. Ponies came and went paying for a cheap pick-me-ups before the long train ride back to their apartments. Life in the city didn't offer up much flavor on the end of variety. You wake up work then sleep. They say it keeps the cogs in the great economic machine running. Gainer didn't particularly enjoy this way of life but he had to pay the bills somehow.
“Excuse me sir?” a white mare with big beautiful blue eyes tapped on his shoulder.
“How can I help you?” Gainer asked, trying to sound at least half interested.
“You look like you can use a change in style. I have this red and black suit I believe would look amazing on you,” she presented. Gainer looked at his bright yellow fur.
“I don’t think that’s my color. Besides I have to get going.”
“If you change your mind we’ll be here until midnight!” The mare called as he walked away. It was nice to see someone fighting the big bad government one pair of slacks at a time. Either way he hoped that she didn't get caught. Law enforcement here is… aggressive. Two gray bars wouldn't look good on someone with such nice fur.
He lived in a crowded part of town. Sure it has it’s problems but most ponies had their own place to stay and weren't out on the street begging for scraps. As he climbed the stairs he thought about what he should eat for dinner. Maybe he would order a supreme pizza or something. Good food was hard to come by in this place, especially this deep in the city. Traffic jams weren't an unfortunate circumstance; they were just a part of life.
“Finally home…” he sighed as he kicked off his uncomfortable dress shoes. He collapsed on the couch with a heavy yawn. It was quiet. Outside there was a slight hum of music coming from a shop across the street. Sonic RainBoom was always playing whatever new songs came out. They were all the same tempo the same pitch and just the same.
Gainer loved music, or rather what music could be. He imagined something pulling at your soul with highs and lows; pulse pounding speed lethargic areas where you could feel the sound itself penetrate your very being. Or maybe he romanticized over a world that cannot be. One thing was certain though, he was tired.
He sat up and looked around for the remote to his T.V. He turned to the nearest news station since that was the only thing he could bear. Other shows were so blatant in pushing harmony and equality, it would be no different than forcing it down someone’s throat.
“In latest news,” the news anchor started. “Queen Glimmer has ejected former Constituent Twilight Sparkle from her seat for what reports say was high treason. Twilight spoke out openly against private matters. She was removed this time yesterday and no other reports have been filed as of yet. In South Cadenza the mysterious group known only as ‘they’ to the locals, held up a convoy of mysterious cargo. Officials say that they made away with approximately ninety percent of what was being transported.”
“They most likely made away with food and water for the Ponies starving in Discordia,” a female anchor commented.
“Food and water…” Gainer groaned skeptically as he rolled over. That's all the news was. These stuffy puppets reading from a teleprompter instead of actually going out there and getting the story for themselves. He wondered who those people were that hit that convoy. They've been becoming more and more active over the last year. Whoever they are, he needn't worry himself about it. He had a long day at work and he was much too exhausted to think about it.
It was about five or six in the morning when he pried himself off that uncomfortable sofa. “Oh my Celestia!” he yawned as he stretched, cracking a few bones as he did so. He realized that he didn't eat before passing out. His refrigerator was empty and he had been eating dried noodles for ages. Luckily though he knew a few places that were open around this time of day.
He got up and changed out of his work clothes putting on a more comfortable jean and polo combo. He looked in the mirror at his brown bloodshot eyes, touched up his silver mane and smiled. “Eh it'll be dark anyways,” he mumbled as he headed out of the door.
And dark it was. Another thing to love and hate about this city was that the sun would only ever shine on you if you were directly below it or in a park somewhere. He used to see in books as a kid pictures of mountains and lakes where the sun would gracefully rise above the horizon, and set peacefully in the afternoon. Thinking about the outside world wasn't anything illegal but it was frowned upon. Whenever he asked where that was they’d always ask ‘'Why would you want to go there? You have everything you need here.”. Then he’d make a retort and spend a better half of the semester in remediation.
He walked down the street that he uses to get to the train station every day. He liked how empty it seemed at this time of day. The air was still crisp and moist, there were at least two to three cars as compared to the thousands. It was nice only he wasn't alone. Down the street he saw a shady figure walking past an alley. Before he could make any assessment on who it was they were snatched. Gainer froze. Sure crime wasn't uncommon but he just saw somebody possibly get mugged or worse. He snapped out of his state and called the cops.
“Equestria Harmony Guard, what is your emergency?”
“I just saw someone get taken into an alley!” Gainer spoke like frightened lightening.
“Calm down sir. Where did you see this person get foalnapped?” the dispatcher asked.
“Uh…” he looked around for a street sign. “South Golden Oaks Boulevard!”
“Okay sir, one of our guards will be there shortly.” And with a click they were gone leaving him there wondering what he could do. They always say don't be a hero, but him taking action right now could mean the difference between life and death. “Oh Celestia help me…” he took off down the sidewalk towards where the person was grabbed.
He ran into the alley searching frantically for any signs of life. As he went in deeper he began to hear voices. A deep grungy voice and one that sounded oddly familiar.
“Gentlemen really you don't have to do this. We can end this peacefully…” the familiar voice spoke.
“We are trying to but you and your little freedom fighters keep stepping on our toes!” the deeper voice growled.
“I’ll have a talk with my leader, you just focus on pinpointing any more prison transports for now okay?”
“Alright, but if we get caught you’re going down with us.”
“I never get caught dear,” the familiar voice chuckled. “I haven't the slightest where you got that idea from.” As they finished up their conversation, several engines could be heard approaching and surrounding them.
“Do you hear that?” the deeper voice asked. Then the sound of car doors closing came echoing through the alleyway.
“E.H.G! We have you surrounded!” a stallion called out over their P.A. system
“Shit! We need to go now!” the deep voice yelled. As the group dispersed one of them ran into Gainer, knocking him to the ground.
“What? Who are you!” Of course the voice sounded familiar. It was the mare who true to sell him the suit yesterday.
“Oh… oh my. I think there’s been some sort of misunderstanding,” gainer chuckled nervously. She was about to speak when footsteps came echoing through the alley. “Guard! Look, there’s been a mistake.”
“Hands in the air!” the unicorn demanded.
“No, wait you see-”
“I said put your damn hands were I can see them!” he pulled out a weapon that was connected to his horn. Suddenly a flash of blue illuminated the alley as the guard fe to the ground. Gainer looked back to the mare who was taking off down alley. He dropped his gaze to the guard and froze when more came funneling into the alley. He would either be tried for accessory to murder or he could run and make an attempt to get out of this nightmare.
He hesitated as they closed in on him. Then with no direction he took off in the same direction that the mare had. He ran like he had never ran before. All while thinking that he should have let this a go. He should have minded his own business. Now he was going to go to tartarus for fleeing a crime scene.
He took a left turn down what looked like a way out. Just as the hopes he has for escaping were in his grasp he was kicked in the stomach. “Why are you following me!” the mare asked. She lifted him off the ground with her magic and slammed him against a wall. “I don't like getting my hands dirty, but I will if you don't tell me why you were following me!” she growled.
“I was just out trying to get something to eat and I saw those stallions grab you!” Gainer cried. He had never been more terrified in his life.
“So you're the reason the guard is here…” she let him go and started walking towards the end open to another street.
“Wait, who are you?” Gainer asked as he got to his feet.
“That is none of your concern. Now run along before they catch you.”
“Hold on lady! What was that about ‘freedom fighters’ and ‘prisoners’?” she froze and walked back towards him with her horn glowing.
“What all did you hear?” she asked with a cold unforgiving scowl.
“A lot…?” Gainer gulped.
“A.J. bring the car around and tell R.D. to get airborne. We might have some unexpected company,” she said quietly glancing at Gainer every so often. “So you thought that I was in trouble and caused this whole- wait…” she ducked behind some garbage cans pulling Gainer down with her. A couple of guards ran directly by them and out into the street.
“Have you got anything?” Simone asked through a walkie talkie.
“Nothing yet. We’ll keep looking,” the guard answered as he scanned the alley. At this point Gainer was about to lose it. All he wanted was something to eat now he’s running the risk of being brought up on criminal charges with this crazy mare. “Nothing here… Send for the sniffers. I know they can't have gone far.” They waited until the guard’s footsteps could no longer be heard.
“That was close…” Gainer sighed.
“Indeed,” the mare agreed.
“I’m sorry. Look if your friend could give me a ride home that’d be greatly appreciated.”
“What was that dear? Oh no no no no no. I can't let you go after you heard all of that information.”
“What information?” Gainer began to panic.
“Well, you said you heard my conversation with those gentlemen,” she rummaged through the bag she was carrying with her. “I can't let you go with crucial information like that…” She held out a pair of handcuffs.
“What? No, I'm not wearing those!”
“Your compliance isn't a factor. Now turn around or you'll end up like that guard back in the alley.” Gainer didn't want to gamble. Whoever this mare was, she meant fold hearted business. Just as she slapped the cuffs on him a guard patrol car pulled up to them. The window rolled down revealing a orange mare with blonde hair. “You're late A.J.,” the mare huffed.
“Sorry, this thing wasn't easy to take. Who’s he?”
“This is a certain someone who sniffed around where he shouldn't have!” the mare said as she threw him in the back of the patrol car. The mare got in and they drove off. Gainer was in the back seat trying to position himself in a way so he could unlock the door and maybe get away from this whole situation.
“My apologies darling. I didn't get your name.”
“Excuse me?” Gainer asked, annoyance woven into his inquiry.
“I was asking your name. You do have one don't you?”
“Yeah, but you just handcuffed me, threatened to kill me and, threw me in the back of a squad car.”
“We’ll have to call you something right?” the orange mare spoke up.
“I’ll start. My name is Rarity and this is Applejack. See? Absolutely nothing to it dear. Now your name?”
“Gainer…” he said reluctantly.
“What an odd name…” Rarity puzzled.
“So what now? You girls gonna stab me and throw me to the curb?” Gainer tried to exude some control.
“Good heavens no! We aren't savages…” Rarity said with great offense.
“But you killed an Equestria Guard back there!”
“Hardly even. All I did was stun him. He should be fine by now.”
“What are you going to do with me then?”
“Keep you as a ‘guest’ until we get our situation sorted out,” Rarity chirped. “Applejack, have you heard anything from Rainbow?”
“Yeah, she's on her way back to base. You're lucky I showed up when I did. They were sending dogs down there to find ya.”
“Base? Where are you taking me?” Gainer whined.
“You’ll see…” Rarity said. “It’ll be a long ride so maybe you should rest up.”
“I don't need rest! I just want to go ho-” Rarity shot him in the head with a beam from her horn rendering him unconscious in an instant.
“Why are we bringing him?” Applejack asked. “Really so what if he knows anything. Poor boy doesn't look like a squealer.”
“I have a feeling me might be useful to us…”
