"Who the hell smells like strawberries?!" Four people sat on the roof, waiting for the clock to strike ten. The one who first spoke was a man, wearing the mismatched uniform of their little group. A black hoodie and gloves, with casual jeans and boots. The hood was up, and his mask covering his face. An image of Mojo Jojo plastered over his face, signaling their identity since everyone knew Brainwash always had a dumb cartoon as his choice of mask.

A girl beside him spoke up behind her mask. "Sorry, that's me. Found some gum I really liked earlier today." He looked over at her, noting Flanksy’s own gimmick, as she always wore a mythical beast as her mask. Today she wore a griffon mask, and it was, as always, done in the opposite style of her colorful and far out art, instead going for a more realistic approach. The scar crossing one eye having looked like it healed wrong, with individual hairs and feathers painted with minute detail.

A second man walked up and hooked an arm around Brainwash's neck. "Calm down Mojo, I doubt police have figured out how to track us from strawberry gum." He paused, stroking the simple smiley face mask he wore. "But if they have; we honor your sacrifice Flanksy." He did a fake salute as Flanksy flipped him off.

A girl’s voice spoke up. "Laugh it up Retna, you were the one who tried to get the cops off your back by saying please last week."

Retna visibly deflated. "Really Feint? That kinda worked. The cop paused, didn't he?"

Feint fixed her mask, the masquerade-style skull adorning her face moving to rest easier as she fiddled with the straps behind her. "Yeah, you got me there. Is the stream live?"

Flanksy moved to the milk crate that sat in the middle of them, raising her hood to cover her hair. "Not yet, we'll be live in five. Who's turn is it to take the laptop?"

Retna began looking through his backpack. "Technically it's Mouse's turn, but he can't make it this week. Something about his mom; I didn't pay attention to the email."

Flanksy sighed, setting the stream up and hooking it to her burner phone. "Fine, I'll take it tonight then. But if I get got because I get hacker-man'd, then I'm going to claim you all kidnapped me."

Brainwash let out a quick laugh. "Not cool Flanksy, that's been my plan since day one."

Laughs broke out through the rooftop but were silenced as Flanksy raised a hand. "Voice mods on, we're live in three."

She raised three fingers and dropped them one by one. As soon as the last finger dropped Faint spoke up, her voice distorted and sounding ridiculously cheery compared to her normal deadpan. "Hello, faithful watchers and friends. Tonight we’ve got a special show for all of you, since know there’s at least one new watcher for sure, thanks to one of our loyal runners letting someone else in on their little secret. So, to welcome the first new recruit of our little family, we're running a new route to hit places that lucky watcher knows."

Flanksy stood up, moving the camera strapped to her chest to view the sights from the rooftop they were on, looking over the Canterlot park. "Yep Feint, so as is our norm, each of us will share our route. All our loyal fans can vote on who did the best run. Remember when you vote to account for speed, the art, and possible escape from cops. Winner gets the biggest cut of profits." She squatted down, lifting the camera to look at the buildings beside the park. "I'm going to get the high flying route tonight. I'm running rooftop to rooftop from here all the way over to Canterlot High. That horse statue out front is going to get a nice new piece of topical art since some drama bullshit is going on."

Flanksy began sorting her pockets, getting the bag she had traded Brainwash for earlier. "And here's my donation today." She opened it up to reveal four spools of rope. "Rope for hanging, hauling and maybe even swinging if the need arises."

Brainwash moved up next, grabbing a spool of rope. "Nice, and my routes the wild world of nature today." He pointed his camera squarely at the park. "Out in that park was a big concert a little while ago. The stage that it was on has become a permanent installation, which I plan on giving a dazzling new piece too."

Flanksy snorted as Brainwash pulled out a small package. "And Flanksy can thank me tonight. I have her favorite tool this week. Smoke bombs, for the thrill of escape and evasion, that the normal rush of being a lawbreaker just can't scratch."

Flanksy grabbed one of the bombs before punching Brainwash lightly in the chest. "Asshole."

Retna laughed as he walked up. "Calm down children. Anyways, I took the urban warfare route this time, at a construction site near downtown. I don't know why it's on the list tonight, but I plan on putting up a magical display for anybody lucky enough to work in the strip mall across the street. All that gray is just way too boring." He moved to the milk crate and threw down a few sports bottles. "And my donation is a party trick. That's something one of my buddies cooked up, pour it out and it's an oil slick on the ground, should keep away cops, fans, and serial killers." He paused. "Or make a hilarious Youtube video. Plans for later."

Feint rolled her head to express her displeasure as she angled the camera to the city center. "And tonight I get the fun job. In an attempt to one-up our glorious founder, I'm going to be hitting up a local bank. We're gonna give those penny-pinchers a show when they walk up." She threw down four small bags at the table. "And here's my little gift. In those bags is a hook. Since I knew we were getting ropes tonight I figured a way to grapple would be good."

Flanksy grabbed one and moved back, letting everyone grab their gear and set it up as she did so herself, speaking into her camera. "Set your timers folks. One minute and we're gone. And for our lovely viewers, if one of us falls remember to call an ambulance for us. We'd all prefer to be alive and in jail than dead and free. Other reminders. Any uploads for the next seven days is strictly against the rules, so please don't." She paused, before unhooking the camera to get a view of her mask. "And before we go out, here's my style for the night. I call it Galahad."

Feint sighed, tapping Flanksy on the head. "You're such a show-off Flanksy, they probably saw it while we were doing our pre-run setup."

Flanksy looked to Feint with a tilted head, faking confusion. "Well I am our glorious founder, I have to show-off, that way I keep my brand up."

Brainwash interrupted them. "That's time boys and girls. Time to go to work." With that he ran to the edge of the roof, spinning as he jumped and grabbing onto a pipe, sliding out of sight.

Retna scoffed before getting into a sprinters stance. "Gods, I love my job." He ran forward, jumping from their rooftop to the next, before spinning around while keeping up his speed, giving Faint and Flanksy a cheeky wave as he took off.

Feint giggled a little before looking to Flanksy. "Me next?" Flanksy nodded, causing Feint to turn to City center. "Alright then, the hospital has a crossover so..." She took the rope on her shoulder and hooked it around her like a bandolier. "Wish me luck!" She ran forward, jumping down to a balcony Flanksy already knew was there.

Flanksy stood still for a minute, taking a deep breath. "And for all of you focusing on me, we're going to be going dark tonight, so keep the Changelings outta those alleys for me." She ran to the street side of the building, jumping down with bent knees. The building was only a few stories tall and had a stone overhang. She landed hard, rolling forward off of the overhang before falling the remaining distance to the ground to roll again. She was very glad that the camera only saw in front of her because the slight glow of magic around her feet might have raised questions. "Don't try this at home kiddies, I'm an untrained professional."

She ran hard as soon as she landed, glad of the featherfall spell she forced out on the jump. It would mean no spells in order to be ready for tomorrow, but the spell lasted a few hours, so it was perfect for a late night parkour run. Flanksy ran across the street, ducking into an alley between two buildings. She knew that Canterlot High was only a few blocks away, and that with a rope and hook she could clear the next street with style. And danger, but that just made it more fun in her opinion.

She jumped on top of a dumpster, before using the dumpster to jump higher, grasping onto a fire escape and hauling herself up. "I really need to thank whoever designed these alleys, they're really good for gaining altitude." She rolled over the safety rail and began running up the fire escape. "Okay folks, let me fill you in on what I know about this bullshit going on at state-funded re-education station #42." The street artist spun onto the roof and took a moment to get her bearings. Seeing her jump over point was a few buildings away, she began running, jumping over alleyways without the slightest worry for life and limb.

"Apparently some stupid teenagers are getting there panties in a bunch because of some rumor account. They're blaming this girl who used to rule the place." She jumped another alleyway, before reaching a billboard stationed above the street. It was too high to jump to, but perfect for a hook and swing, so she took the rope off her shoulder and began spinning the hook. "Now, she apparently turned over a new leaf. They think she's relapsing. Let me go on record saying I have no clue what's going on, I'm just some stupid street artist with an adrenaline problem." She released the hook, watching it sail through the air before cleanly landing on the metal scaffold around the billboard.

She pulled the rope slowly, waiting until the hook got a bite before testing it. "Case in point, if we just take a quick look down..." She looked at the street, with cars speeding below her in a stream. "Yep, I'm stupid. Nobody smart would swing over a busy street when there are buses in the world." She took a few steps back, before running forward, holding onto the rope and swinging over the street to the building across the street.

She heard a few honks and screams from below her as people took notice of the young girl doing her best Spider-mare impression on city streets. She reached forward with a foot, lightly landing on her target roof before shaking the hook loose, pulling it up behind her. "Definitely dumb, but this whole scenario has some really simple math." She began running again, going on lower and lower roofs trying to find a safe jump down. "Either that girl betrayed her school, or the school betrayed her."

Flanksy found a one-story building and moved to it, jumping down to street level and peeking out of an alley. She was on the wrong side of the block, but after she went through the alleys behind her the school was only a street behind her. "Add that and the recent 'demon' trying to clean up our streets..." She turned and ran through the alleyway before continuing. "Well, fallen angels are the theme for me tonight. Demons and betrayals fit perfectly, right?"

She turned to a separate alley, before freezing. "Ah, shit." Two people stood in the alley before her. She could clearly see the Wondercolt statue past the opening of the alley, but the neon green spray paint told her who was in the alley tagging. She whispered into the microphone in her mask. "Okaaay, boys, and girls, get your phones on. Call the cops if I get the shit kicked out of me, sound nice?" She moved to take a step before pausing again. "But not before that, if I can get past these two, let's not make me rush my work, right?"

She began walking forward, as the two taggers paused their efforts to look at her. They looked her up and down before the tall one with the spray paint can looked to her. He looked to his partner, who Flanksy was starting to make out as a shorter woman. She nodded to him and he threw the can to the side. "Well looky here. Lost little artist in our alley."

Flanksy stood her ground. "Yep, just passing through. So artist-to-artist here, mind letting me through?"

The tall one laughed a cackle that would have fit better in a hyena pack. "No no no. You're marking our turf. And everybody knows what happens when you mark on Changeling turf."

Flanksy took a step back and debated what to do with the situation. She could do a small spell to get out of this without a fight, but that would show up on camera. The Changelings started to advance, but she ignored them in favour of thinking. She was Celestia's former student. A student who actively hunted beasts of myth to prove her worth. She had to have a plan. She glanced down and saw the soft glow of her featherfall spell, and smiled.

Featherfall was a really simple spell, and it did one very simple thing - it made gravity affect you slightly less. It wouldn't let you jump off a skyscraper without harm, but it made any fall so much less painful. Most mages wouldn't think of it any other way. It was a simple, but reliable safety net. But Flanksy had been forced to be creative with small spells for years. Lighter gravity was normally annoying if you weren't running and jumping. But to win a street fight, she could think of a few ways to use it. She cracked her knuckles, accompanying the pops as she rolled her neck. "Well, if you're really set on doing this the changeling way..."

The thugs paused a moment, trying to figure out what she meant. And in that moment of doubt, she ran forward. They went into a stance, ready for her charge as soon as she did. Which was precisely why her second surprise shocked them more. Her feet pounded on the pavement as she ran at an angle. Only, when she would have run into the wall, she instead ran up it as if she wasn’t human. With the featherfall spell up, she easily was running the wall at head level when she reached the pair of thugs, who watched in awe as she ran by nearly out of reach.

They really didn't expect the jump as Flanksy canceled the spell. Gravity returned as she spun from her jump, catching the tall thug in the crook of her knee. She fell further down and grabbed the woman in a headlock, as everyone suddenly found themselves hitting the ground. The sound of two skulls hitting the ground in chorus flooded Flanksy's ears, but neither struggled as she caught her breath for a moment. She checked their pulses and was satisfied as she found they were snoring away. Checking to make sure the camera was pointed towards tall thug, she reached in the short girl's pockets. Grabbing the wallet she found as well a small envelope in her jacket, she jammed them both in her own jacket.

After another moment to catch her breath, Flanksy stood tall. "Kids, REALLY, don't try that at home. Mostly because that hurt like a bitch." She paused, looking at the sleeping thugs. "Hope no one called the cops for me though, I've got a mural to paint."

She checked the road before running across the street and smiling at the statue in front of her. She pulled out her bag, and grabbed a can of white spray paint, starting work on her mural.

***

Ten minutes. She cursed as she put the finishing touches on her artwork. She should have been done in five. "Damn my perfectionist streak here. Shouldn't have spent so long on the freakin' wings. Story of my life." She sprayed a streak of red to finish up the last detail, smiling she stepped back. "Alright kiddies, no time to appreciate this, so come by tomorrow before they paint it over if you want a picture.

She turned around and ran, knowing she stashed her bike nearby. She ran across the street and looked at the two thugs she dealt with as the groaned and rolled over on the ground. She smiled as she ran past 'em. "Move quick 'shifters, by now the cops will have definitely gotten a call about me!"

She turned the corner to see a blue uniform. A rumbling male voice spoke up. "Well, you got it in one."

Flanksy stared at the officer in front of her, cursing her luck. Luckily, she couldn't see sirens, so he was probably on a walking patrol of this area. Which also meant she had a few seconds before he could do much. "Well, that's awkward." The officer nodded and moved a hand to his taser, going to aim it at Flanksy.

The now active Changelings apparently hadn't heard their exchange though, and turned the corner at a dead sprint. "OH FUCK!" Immediately, they tried to escape by running back the other way, and as the cop focused on them, Flanksy made her move. She didn't sprint away from the officer, favoring the direct approach instead. Reaching into a pocket she grabbed a smoke bomb and tossed it right at his feet. Blue smoke and glitter exploded around him, blinding him. She grabbed the sports bottle she had hooked to her belt loop and popped the cap. She dumped it behind her as she ran through the smoke. She never paused before turning the corner into the street. Her bike was in an alley a few blocks away, but she had to get the law off her back first - it would be dumb to show her bike on stream after all. She took one second to look over her surroundings, before noticing a store about thirty feet away. It had a balcony above the entrance, and she was confident in her ability to jump up to it.

She ran hard, clearing the distance in seconds before leaping up and grabbing onto the balcony with her fingertips. She heard a crash and loud cursing from behind her. She glanced back before attempting the speed record for world's fastest pullup. She scrambled up, climbing the safety rail by will and grit. Rolling over the rail, she stayed laying down, using the small privacy wall to hide her body. She moved the camera to focus on her mask.

"And that, ladies and gents, is how you escape the cops. That's all for my run. I'll be at the post stream in about forty minutes, so stay tuned in for the final vote. Focus on one of my buddies if you need to, knowing how slow Brainwash is I bet money he's still working on his piece."

She flicked the camera's power switch and laid low, and after a few more seconds, she heard a voice coming from the alleyway. "Yeah, dispatch. That tag group was here again. Nah, they're long gone by now. Look, I got hit with a smoke and glitter bomb, so I'm gonna duck into the station house for a minute." She listened for a bit longer, unmoving in her hiding spot. "Yeah, roger. I'll be there in ten."

Flanksy smiled under her mask as she peeked over the privacy wall. Indeed, the cop was walking down the street towards the local station house. She waited until he was far enough away for her landing to be missed before hopping over the rails. She dashed forward until she hit a side alley, and ducked inside. As soon as she knew she was clear of cameras she pulled off her mask and jacket. She shoved the mask in her backpack and tied her jacket around her waist. She glanced at her shirt and grimaced. Of course, she wore her 'I'm not Flanksy' shirt today. Then again, she wasn't Flanksy anymore. Now she was back to being Sunset Shimmer, doormat of Canterlot High. Ignoring that, she reached into her bag and pulled out a cap, throwing it over her hair as she moved out the other side of the alley and towards a parking lot.

With deliberate slowness, she walked to her bike, before grabbing her helmet from the saddlebags and starting it up. With no heat on her tail, she pulled out slowly and made her way to tonight's post-stream location. She smiled as she imagined the look on Trixie's face right now. Celestia knows she'd hear all about it tomorrow.

Author's Note

Edited 1/21.19 by Kitkataddel