Crowded and festive. Perfect!
A cardboard casually propped against the illuminated steps to the park.
Showtime!
My helmet slips out smoothly and my mane rustles in the cool evening wind. A chill went down my spine as my wings stretches to a satisfying pop, the neon yellow of the skeleton cybernetic flashes momentarily Yes, over here my fans!
"Gasp! It's the Washout!"
"Where?!"
"Pfft. That's just a good costume."
"Wind! That is the captain of the Washouts! Look at her cool mane and wing implant! That's definitely not a costume!"
"'One candy one autograph'?"
Flicking the latch on top of my right hoof, my favourite spring-loaded orange comb sprang forth. Whoops. I slotted it back in. "Yep!" Casually flipping a card with my likeness out of my hoof and catching it with a wing tip, "this could be all yours, kiddo."
"Woah!" The white vampony earth colt enthusiastically dug through his Nightmare Night basket.
"Banana lolipop, huh?" The card swirls gently onto his hoof as I easily wing swiped the offering. "Thanks, sport."
"I want one!" A red centurion pegasus filly presented a yellow candy. Followed by the squeaky chorus of little monsters, and few older ponies, offering their tribute.
Like taking candies from foals. Another autographed card expertly exchanged.
And another deftly traded card.
Urgh. This is so slow. Why am I doing this again? A blue maretos tube cleanly inserted into my hoof pocket. White fluorescent lights from a convenience store briefly shines between the trees and bushes. Ran out of treats, how convenient.
Time seemed to slow imperceptively, I occasionally looked at the Strip's runway to my right, the other bright fluorescent and magical lights of Las Pegasus. Maybe I should add some lights to our routines.
"Pegasus."
"What the hay...!" My head snapped to the left. He's so close. That's a good changeling costume. Wait, hold on...
There's no cybernetic or etching tells. This isn't a hardcore pony... "Don't raise the alarm."
T-that's a real changeling.
"Think of the foals."
The foals? The line of ponies in front of me looked uncertained. He can't be seriously... he's a changeling. He would. Play it cool. I cautiously hoofed over a card to the waiting colt, never leaving an eye off an enemy of the Equestria standing beside me. The foal trotted off happily. Come on, gotta get the foals out first. Then deal with him.
"Calm down, pony."
"And why should I, changeling?" Little foals aren't ready to see what I'm about to do.
"Because I have a team ready to drop your compatriots if you or those ponies do anything stupid. I do recommend keeping up appearances."
What!? "What do you want, punk?" The foal looks unsure about hoofing over a candy.
"They panic, your friend gets it."
"What. Do. You. Want?/i]" Pain in my jaws registering after a while. I stopped grinding my teeth out.
Silence... then, "I want answers."
"..." All changelings look the same. But...
"What is your purpose here, pony?"
"..." ... could this bug be related to him?
"Get the short one," a whisper I overheard. Who is he...? He's communicating remotely? The short one? Short Fuse?!
"Stop! I'll answer!" The changeling stares passively at the crowd. "I'm here to get a bunch of sweets-"
"No. The reason you are in Las Pegasus."
"Call off that attack!"
"Answers. Now."
Punk's so bucking dead! "Stunt team. We're here for a performance. Were."
Still staring impassively, "your friend yet lives. Where and what were you doing this afternoon." The younger fans make way for older ponies. Damn it. I can't jump him now.
"Performing." I can't believe it! I'm being interrogated. In broad da- night light! In front of my fans!
"After."
"I went straight to my hotel." I'll choke him. Yeah! I could get him before he even breathe a word!
"Wrong."
"I helped a friend." In fact, I think I can do it now!
"..." No, not while he has has eyes on me.
Another card exchanged for a candy. Strike when he's distracted!
"Why?"
I bit my lips, "D-don't know." But, can do I? Short Fuse's life is on my hooves.
"I don't have patience for this."
Huh?! "Really! I don't know why I wanted to help your friend!" I gotta do something soon! Short put his trust in me once! ... and it blew up in my face.
The changeling finally looks my way. "Lets go for a walk."
I looked back at my long line of fans. Then at my hoof pocket filled with some sugar treats. Not worth it. "Thanks for coming fellas, but I gotta go." The pocket latched shut. I just need to get closer.
Disappointed noises and indignant huffs was widespread amidst my fans. "Follow."
The changeling trots towards the Gemini hotel. His back is turn! My whole body is tight with tension. No. Get closer. But I'm faster! My hoof slam-folded the cardboard, donned my helmet, and flew.
"Ground," he had turned back. "My command is faster than you. I won't repeat."
My wings still flared after landing, neon lights uncharacteristically overpowering the festive orange candles. Damn it! Is he really? An unbareable tightness grips my wings. I should get closer. "What. Do. You. Want?"
"..."
He turned. This... punk threaten my Wingpony! My future will not. Be ruined. Again! "Punk."
"Y-" Thonk! Clop!
Fwoo!
Headbutt and uppercut! That should buy me time! The air put up a strong wall as I round two sharp corners of the Gemini hotel and the eighth floor window rapidly enlarges. Lights are on! Oh hors- huh? He pinned one!
I hovered there. "Nice job, hothead!"
A muffled surprise followed by a short silhouette scrambling out of bed. What? Hay! The changeling's free!
Wham! The window misses me by an inch and rattles when it hit the wall. The cool air from the one room bedroom assults me.
"What did you just say?!"
"What the hay, Short! You let it go!" I cut through the room and dove.
"... what's- AHH!"
"Silence bug!" Ha! Her back's still exposed.
"HEY!" Bang!
"What the hay?! Fuse! What the buck are you doing?!" I thrashed against the wardrobe.
"WHAT THE BUCK ARE YOU DOING?!" OW! He actually bit me! "THAT'S THUNDER!"
"That's not her! It's a changeling! I saw you pinned her!"
"THAT'S ROLLING THUNDER, CAPTAIN!" My ear drums can't take more of him! "I DIDN'T PINNED HER! THAT WAS A MASSAGE!"
"I-it h-hurts...!" It... does sounds like her.
Knock knock knock.
I slid my visor. That scar. Left eye. 'X'. Tears...
"Is everything okay in there?"
"I-I c-can't...! It hurts...!"
I let Short Fuse go. "Y-you should call for emergency."
Short Fuse snapped at me. "What's going on, Captain?"
"I don't know. But I'll get some answers." I hovered over Thunder.
"Tartarus. Thunder... I..." that spine doesn't look good. "Sorry..." He started this. "I'll be back..."
I flew. Worry later, I can't lose his trail.
I flew around the hotel, towards orange glow of the park.
There's a crowd. Monsters of all kinds are forming a circle around something equine and black. Did I actually knock him out? Damn, I have a strong head. The open helmet let the wind stings my eyes as I descent.
I landed on the inner circle. A white robo-pony looks to be guarding him. I've met cyber ponies. But only a fleshy head? Yikes. "I said stand back, ruffian!" The pompous voice almost felt like it shoved me back as strong as she physcially did.
"Hey! What the hay was that for?" I shoved back against pure metal. "I know that punk over there!" She didn't budge.
Something small rotated out from her shoulder blade. That's a crossbow! And it's not single loading! The crowd yelps. Some scatter. Great. Another life threatening pony tonight. Creature. "Back away, avian! I shan't have you touching this changeling." She paused. That's an ugly look. She waved her pistol closer, "I inisist, you have to sit here, missy. The police aught to see you and your friend." You're really asking for a headbutt.
"Is that a threat?" Wings flashed. More stomps fade away from my hearing. What am I doing? I am suppose to interrogate the changeling by now! Not challenge the pony who can launch tiny bolts rapidly!
"Hmph! Threats are so beneath me. But I can't say the same thing about your kind."
A pomp and a tribalist. Of course. A male spoke behind me, "you take that back, hornhead!"
"Sheathe your weapon immediately, miss. The authorities will find you more interesting than a drunk pony there." A white maned Wonderbolt mare to the left of me stepped forward. They all think punk's a pony. Have I seen her before?
"I'm a unicorn and I know that is too far! Such tibalism! In this day and age! Hmph." A pretty green masquerading mare behind the robo-police wannabe lit her horn softly.
The robo-pony flashes her pistol all around her. What the actual hay! Talk about weapon disipline! A quick look around revealed that not all ponies have completely retreated. Some have even returned ticked off despite the danger. "Stand back you ruffians! I say stand back!"
"Hey-hey! Put your pistol away," You're really pointing it between my eyes! I dropped the visor. "There's a lotta ponies around." Neon yellow lights pulses with my heartbeat. Somepony's gonna get real hurt if she keeps up.
"Ma'am, she's right," the oddly familiar Wonderbolt took to the air. "Please holster your weapon. You are endangering everypony and yourself."
"You think you can shoot all of us, hornhead?" The male voice, full labcoat, protective equipment, goggles, and crazy frazzle mane hovered directly over the robo-tribalist "That dinky toy isn't going to scare me!" What are you doing?!
"This is your last warning, you plebians! Stay back!"
A blue glow surround the weapon. She's gonna...! No, that doesn't seem like her aura. Somepony's trying to disarm her!
"Huh?"
I gotta distract her! "What'chu say meathead?" I stepped forward.
"S-stay back! Right this instant!" ... helmet don't fail me now. Slick, the world goes darker.
Another step, "why? You really gonna shoot me?" Damn, what's taking them this long to disarm her? At least remove the bolt!
A blinding blue flash came from the pistol. Here we go!
Crack! Thud.
... Argh... d-did I die? My eyelids opened slowly. Nope. ...what's this?
"Ma'am, are you alright?" A probably brown hoof tapped my shoulders. "You're hit. Somepony help! That maniac shot her!"
"No. I'm fine." I pushed off the ground. "See?" I pushed the visor up, only to get caught by the bolt jutting out. I blinked and something sharp brushed my eyelids. A chill rose from my spine. Very carefully, I lifted my helmet off.
The brown stallion gasped. "It almost pierced through" He turned and faced the crowd behind him, "that hornhead crossbow'd a Washout member!"What's the Washout name go to do...?
The crowd is aflame with anger, rushing into the circle. They must really like us.
Nevermind. The changeling first. I stepped around the stallion and there the metal mare was: pinned and dirtied. The Wonderbolt is pressing down on her back and head while the masked mare levitates the crossbow pistol above her while covering the pinned mare's horn with lots of dirt.
I shook my head and made my move. Holding a helmet with one hoof and the oddly light changeling on the other. Time to get some questions.
I looked at my helmet mid flight. Tartarus. It's just a pistol. Just how powerful would the rifle be?
The window is still open and the only pony is slouched on the bed. I need to visit Rolling Thunder later. I flew in.
"Captain." Short fuse squinted, "who is that?" Shock then replaced his features, "captain, there's a bolt in your helmet! What happened?"
The changeling thuds on the one-room tile alongside my helmet. "Nevermind that. Help tie this changeling down." The wind caresses my back, better lock the window.
"Wait, changeling?!"
"Restraints first, questions later!"
"Yes, cap!" Short Fuse whipped around and flew to his bed. "All we got is this blanket."
"Restraint him already; I think he's waking!"
"... wah?"
I pushed the changeling on the ground pinning him as Short Fuse got to work. I held on his sharp horn for good measure. "There. This is as tight as it gets."
"Hold his horn. That should stop any spells."
"Yes, cap!" Short Fuse sat beside our captive, a hoof over his horn.
"Good job, Wingpony," my wing reaches out to pat his back. "Now, time to get some answers at last." What should I ask? Right, lets see who we're dealing with. "What's your name, punk?"
The glare is all he replied.
"Quiet like an insect. I'll call you Insect. You threatened my Wingmates; where is your team?"
"..."
Come on brain, what sort of techniques are there in interrogations? A loud smack of the changeling's... armour resounded, "you better talk, insect!" Short Fuse jabbed at Insect's sides, causing him to wince silently.
I guess that might do. "I'll say again, why did you threaten my friends?"
Insect just glared harder.
What now? Should we just hit him until he talks? No, wait. How did he get me to talk? My wings caught Short Fuse's hoof as he readies another jab. I shook my head. "Then I guess you won't mind if I take a little visit to your friend now, Insect?"
Something flashed across his face for a moment. He twitched. I hit something.
"He has a friend?"
"Oh? You seem to know him. Who is he to you? Your friend? Family? Your boss?"
Insect thrashed about in his cacoon- heh -attempting to shred the blanket with his fangs. Short Fuse reined his horns tight.
"You know what? I won't need to visit him." I flicked my right hoof and my comb springs forth from the hatch. I should install another pocket. I clicked the comb back inside and pulled out my signed card. "I should contact the local guards instead."
Insect stopped thrashing and growled, "you will not!"
"Behind Con Mane Casino, Pegasus street two. The Solitzer. Two-oh-one."
"Isn't that a redlight district? Wait, you were there this afternoon?"
"You wouldn't dare!"
"Where do you keep the ink, Short?"
"It's in the bedside drawer, cap."
I flew over and retrieved said ink. Then I ruffled my wings and dug at a secondary feather. Using my wing tips, I dipped my blue quill and anounciate as I wingstoke it on the back of my card, "To: Las Pegasus Guardhouse. I request an emergency."
"Stop!"
"There is a changeling threat at the Solitzer, room two zero one."
"No!"
"I have captured a changeling in The Gemini Hotel, Tower 1, room 808. Signed, yours truly."
"I'll tell, just stop! I'm Thorax! And he is my brother!"
So, he and this punk are related. Hm. I dropped my quill on the tile. "I find that hard to believe, Thorax." I pulled a tiny crystal out of my hollowed hoof. The shiny and charged dragonfire spell glistened.
"I'm not lying! Please, don't send that!"
Oh, this really worked! "Alright Thorax, answer our questions. Where is your team?"
"There isn't one."
"Do you expect me to believe that?"
"I'm not lying! I just had to make sure you wouldn't run to the guards."
Thunder's really hurt for nothing. "What's your purpose for meeting me?"
"I..." Thorax mumbled.
"Ahem." I rolled the crystal on my hoof.
"I-I wanted- needed to make you forget." Thorax slumped, defeated.
"Why?"
"... I don't want to lose him."
Damn. Punk's looking out for his bro. What do I do now? Report him? But it'll leave Thorax's brother vulnerable again. Let him go? But he's an enemy of Equestria. "You could have approached me casually."
"But you're a pony. You are all so easily freighten." Thorax stared at me.
Nothing tonight has shown me that statement is true. "Do you know what night is tonight?"
"Friday?"
"Nightmare Night. It's celebrating about a real monster from thousands of moons ago. And she's still alive today. There're monsters everywhere tonight." Some real. "You already fit right in."
"But..." Thorax furrows his brow. Just how soft is his 'armour'? He can express just fine. "... at the wedding..."
'The wedding'? "That was years ago. And!" A hoof pointed in his direction, "you guys were an invading army. An unknown one at that. Of course ponies will panic then." Wait. This could be an act to lower my guard. "Back to the question. Are you two alone?"
"Yes. Absolutely."
"I don't believe you. For all I know, the whole Solitzers are changelings."
"Please, you got to believe me! Don't send that letter! I-I'll... send me to the guards instead! Don't get Pharynx involved, please!"
Tartarus. He's actually begging! What happened to his demeanor? I can't believe I broke him already! And Pharynx huh? "How do I verify this?"
"I-I don't know... I could... take you to him...?"
"What are you trying to pull, insect?" My wing implant took the brunt of Short Fuse's punch. I flashed it in warning and shook my head. Short Fuse frowned lowered his hoof.
... and what is this timid respose? Is... is this changeling seriously crying? Really? "You know my friends. Who's to say you all won't make them forget when our backs are turned?"
"... please... I-I don't know how else...!"
"I'm not like you." Thorax shattered. "I'll do it the 'pony' way. I'll go."
"You can't be serious, captain! If you go, we will never see you again, captain!" Still attached to the horn, Short Fuse shot up.
"That is why you wait at the guards. If I don't show up at the station within... ten minutes, tell them."
"But cap-"
"Don't tell the guards before. Do I have your trust, Wingpony?"
Short Fuse bit his lips, "... yes, captain."
"Let me take over." I slot the crystal and locked the pocket. My left hoof cups around Thorax's horn as Short Fuse let go. "Go. If I don't see you by ten fiften, you know what to do."
"Yes captain!" Short turned around when he reached a window, "stay safe leadpony," and took off.
I took in Thorax. Really see him for the first time. He's so skinny. And full of holes. How CAN he walk? His wings! It's almost see through... and tattered. Real messy. "Can you even fly?"
"N-no." Thorax lifted his wings. It's even worst. It's just thin cloth with a giant 'U' hole in the middle, held up by his... 'wingbones'.
My wings subconsciously ruffled. "I'll carry you." I went around Thorax and wrapped my free hoof around the barrel. "Try anything funny and..." I'll drop you. No, use the same threat he did, "...your brother gets it."
After recieving no response, I spread my wings and took off. I lightly bucked the window shut and dropped. The wind whipping my mane and dragging my passenger's binding blankets.
My nosedive swiftly converts into altitude and speed. Within the minute, distinct neon red and pink lights from the redlight district came into view. I hovered there. "Where?"
"It's... over there?"
"No, where were you when Pharynx was alone?"
"Oh. I was trying to get love."
"You what?! You left him to fend for himself while you were getting love?!"
"No-I... I was getting our... food. We eat love..."
My nostrails flared. "Lets get this over with."
I dove towards the Solitzer. Even the solicit areas are into Nightmare Night. If you call leather straps and bindings as costumes. At least none of them are doing it outside. ...And the window is still open.
I spread my wings, neon yellow over powering the neon reds briefly as I aerobrake. The carpeted floor feels rough as I remembered. And fuzzy. Lots of fuzz everywhere.
The dark soliciting livingroom greeted us. I let go of Thorax and his horn. "Lets go meet him."
"Y-you're letting me go?"
I loomed over his rolled up body. "Nope. Just carrying you and your horn is slowing me down. Don't forget about Short Fuse now."
"Hrn...?"
I spun around, bracing myself against the darkness. I'm still fine, a brief sigh. Dim ambient red illuminates a prone red outline on a couch. I raised one wing and pulsed magic through my cybernetics.
The whole room flushed neon yellow. And a sprawled out figure is visible on the couch.
"Pharynx?"
"Hrn..."
"It's me, your glorious hero have returned!" I candidly trot over. His injuries still look bad.
The red eye and finned changeling smiled innocently under the neon light. Pharynx tried lifting his head, "hrh-ust."
"Yes. Dust. Lightning Dust. Hey, it's Nightmare Night tonight. It's a time where everypony wears costumes and get candies from strangers," I flipped open my hoof, the comb didn't spring. "And I got some for you." I held a hoof over the pocket, the hole faced down, stopping the few leftover cards from releasing along the candy.
Pharynx struggled to lift his hoof. But his eyes are functioning.
"The lolipop? It taste like banana. Here, let me unwrap it." I stuffed the wrapper in my pocket and gently placed the candy in his mouth.
Pharynx just laying there, white stick sticking out of his mouth, seemingly savoring the moment. My hoof rubbing between the head and fin, an enemy of Equestria and a quadriplegic. "You ever get into trouble again, your brother knows where to find me. Okay, Pharynx?"
"Why are you doing this?"
I turned to face an unrestraint Thorax. "Like I said before: I don't know." Behind him lays the blanket, ripped and shredded. I looked back at Pharynx. Head on the cushion, eye closed, sucking on the lolipop. "You left the window open."
"I know." Thorax sat beside me and grasp his brother's hooves. "You saved my brother, Lightning Dust."
"That crack. It's not healing."
"We need love to do everything."
We sat in silence. Tartarus, I should get going. "Hey Pharynx, I got to go now. I got something else for you: a Washout memorabillia." I expertly flipped a card and caught it with my wingtips, the room moving with my lights. He eyes the card in front of him. I ran a hoof one last time over his fins. "Take care, my number one fan!"
I turned around and hovered, just behind Thorax, "lock the windows when you're not home. Or at least close the blinds. Lots of drunk flyers in this side of the city. 'Panicky' ones who knew of the attack but weren't there. Here's your card too, friend. Our address is on it."
The neon lights softened and I took off.
"... there's love in the candy."
Author's Note
This is my first fiction in years. Almost exactly a decade ago.
You don't have to check out my earlier fiction. They're very amateurish. This story, on the other hand, is a culmination of tiny experience I've picked up from... *checks library* ...definitely more than six hundreds of stories.
Writing this hasn't exactly been easy. I got some specific writing style per se, that I have acquired from critiquing a good number of stories that I want to apply. The issue is, I have not written stuff for a long, as you can probably see above.
So if you have any constructive critisicm you wanna share, I wanna hear it!
Thanks to Robipony and his Waiving Wanderer, Wonderous World and The Heroes of Bite Apple, I found out about Cyberpunk Equestria in his blogpost. An inspirational one too.
Inspired by Nameless Narrator's Hard To Find The Right Words experimental writing style.
Writing only dialogues is much harder than you think! I'll need more practice before I can fully attempt something like that.