Author's Note

A break from the "Student" mini-arc currently going on. For the foreseeable future, every chapter will be focusing on one of the three MC's instead of fully focusing on one POV at a time during this arc (meaning, next chapter will be Misty's POV, then back to Aphelion, then Sandstorm and Steady, etc).

Also a shorter chapter because my current job is draining me of all my motivation and creative juices, but I still wanted to post something in July.

36 - The Lead: Part 1

Her eyes wide open, Sandstorm gleefully stared at the scenery below her. With each passing moment, the earth pony was lifted further up in the air by the massive hot air balloon headed upwards. She was unable to keep her excitement under control as she grabbed Steady’s head and forcefully made him stare at the ground beneath. “Look,” Sandstorm said while pointing a hoof at a building becoming increasingly smaller as time went on, “we can barely see the station! So cool…”

Steady grumbled before being released from Sandstorm’s grasp. He glanced at the other passengers around them and thanked his stars that they were all in similar levels of awe at the view in front of them, thus oblivious to Sandstorm’s incessant giggles. While he did understand how these sort of trips might be exciting for the non-flying tribes, Steady still hoped his traveling companion’s excitement would soon vanish as they reached the city above so that they could focus on their mission.

However, knowing Sandstorm, Steady dreaded landing at the Las Pegasus station.

Suppressing a sigh, he stared at the young mare to his side. “Once we arrive, we’ll go to the hotel first. No stopping on the way for anything, got it?”

“Yeah, yeah,” Sandstorm absentmindedly replied. “Hotel, then meet your friend, then whatever else you said earlier. Hey, you think the crown would give us some bits to hit the casino if we ask’em?”

Steady slammed his hoof against his forehead, the loud smacking sound causing a few nearby ponies to glance at him. “No,” he groaned, “we’re not here to fucking gamble.”

“To what?” Sandstorm asked, tilting her head to the side.

“To fu… To bucking gamble. Sorry, old habit.”

Her interest in the city right above her at once dissipating at the opportunity to learn more about Steady, Sandstorm bounced right in front of him. “An old habit? From where? Is it like some sort of dialect?”

The pegasus sighed. “I spent a few years living with griffons. I s’pose I picked up a few things while living with them.”

“Is that why you’re so grouchy all the time?”

“Shut the buck up.”

“Heh. You said it right, this time.”

“Sandstorm, I swear to Celestia, I will—”

Steady was cut off by the somewhat concerned earth pony operating the air balloon. “Welp, everypony, we’re about to reach Las Pegasus. Mind the gap when you step out of the cabin and have a wonderful day!”

Deciding to drop the matter, Steady grabbed his bag with his mouth before wordlessly stepping near the exit. The cabin was just then going through one final cloud before reaching the city and, as he glanced at the other ponies around, knew just what to expect. As soon as the balloon finally pierced the last bit of the huge clouds, most stood in awe at the sight in front of them. A massive city held high above the ground by nothing but clouds revealed itself, with massive buildings spreading as far as the eye could see.

All around, they saw casinos, hotels, resorts and other such classics from the richest city in Equestria. As much as Steady hated these sort of over the top, frivolous places, seeing non-flying ponies’ reactions to pegasi cities always brought a smile to his face. He would also lie if, during these moments, his pride as a pegasus wasn’t growing just a little bit… But that’s why he always took the lift instead of flying to these cities.

That, and the growing aches in his wing’s joints whenever he attempted longer flight sessions.

An hour later, after the pair finally managed to reach their hotel rooms and drop their luggage, the two ponies stood in the hotel’s massive lobby. Surrounded by large marble fountains and standing atop perfectly clean tiles, Sandstorm grimaced as she placed her face close to the floor, having fun with her reflection. “Crap, Steady, this floor’s even freaking better than the mirrors I had in my room when working under Mud! Can you believe that?”

Repressing a groan, Steady glanced at an intricate clock on the wall, just above the receptionist’s desk. “Stop goofing off, you’re embarrassing yourself.”

“Buzzkill,” she whispered before standing back up. “So, what do we do first?”

“Our first step is to meet up with an old contact in town. If there’s anypony in town that would know of the Pact’s activities here, it’s him,” Steady replied. “I’ve already arranged a meeting, so let’s go. We’re already running late.”

“Hm. And where’re we meeting him? Some fancy restaurant? Or in a private room in a casino?”

“... Something like that,” Steady said before walking away. Sandstorm followed him, wondering where the two of them would be going. She hoped it would be someplace nice, but given the faint smirk on Steady’s face, she felt oddly worried.

Making their way out of the hotel and through the streets of Las Pegasus, Sandstorm watched the massive buildings surrounding them, the glowing neon lights lighting up all around as the sun began making its way down. Everywhere she looked, she saw the promise of exciting ways to spend her stay: shops, night clubs, casinos and even a massive Ferris wheel, somehow floating on a cloud. “How do they do that,” she asked Steady by pointing a hoof at the wheel.

“Hrm?”

“How do they make things float on the clouds?” she clarified. “Are the clouds, like, magic?”

Steady shrugged. “No idea. Never really cared enough to know the how.”

“Aren’t you at least a little bit curious?”

“Not really.”

“... I wish Misty was here.”

“Oh, stop whining,” the pegasus replied while rolling his eyes. “When we get back, I’m sure you’ll have all the time in the world to pester her about that kind of stuff.”

“Geez, chill, dude. It was just a question.”

“An irrelevant one. Let’s stay focused on the task at hoof, okay?” he replied as he grabbed a cigarette from his pouch. Sandstorm opened her mouth, thinking about some witty reply before shutting up. With a soft groan, she resigned herself to silence for the time being.

The rest of their trip through the streets of Las Pegasus happened without as much as a single syllable being uttered, the only sounds coming from the duo being Steady’s long, deep inhales as he smoked. Eventually making their way through increasingly sketchier parts of the city, Sandstorm felt a growing unease as she noticed from the corner of her eyes the nearby blinds being pulled shut and the wary ponies peeking through their windows while the duo trotted onwards to one specific residence deeper in the street.

It was a typical pegasus house, made mostly out of clouds though this specific building looked run-down. The typical white fluffy clouds were much grayer and flatter, reminding Sandstorm of a piece of cotton candy that had been abandoned on the ground on a rainy day. She was also surprised to discover that the house in front of them smelled odd, a mixture of dank, rotten wood. Worriedly glancing at Steady, she whispered. “...Is this the place?”

The pegasus stared at the house before letting out a long sigh. He grabbed what remained of his cigarette and threw it on the floor before solemnly replying. “Yup. Looks even worse than I remembered,” Steady muttered before stepping on what remained of his cigarette and approaching the door. “Anyhow, we’re finally there. I’m gonna have a word with my contact inside. I need you to stay outside and keep an eye out on the streets.”

“Wait, I’m not going in?”

“Nah. My contact only lets in those he knows. Besides, I need a lookout. That’s your role for tonight.”

With a raised eyebrow, Sandstorm glanced at the empty street behind her. “Are we expecting company, or… ?”

“Anypony approaches this house, or even makes a move in this general direction, you knock’em out. And silently, too. Don’t wanna disturb the neighbors too much. Got it?”

Sandstorm saluted with a wide, exaggerated movement. “Yes, boss,” she replied before turning around, ready to keep watch. “... Though I’m expecting to know what’s going to happen inside.”

The pegasus scoffed. “Yeah, as soon as we’re certain there’s nopony eavesdroppin’ on us. See you in a bit… oh, and don’t fuck this up, Sandstorm.”

“Hey, you’re speaking griffon again!”

Groaning, Steady pushed the entry door open and walked in with the casual demeanor of a pony entering his own home.

Sandstorm glanced one last time at the house, just in time to see the door slam shut, before going back to her post. She stood motionless for a little while before hearing her stomach rumble.

“... Should’ve brought snacks,” she whined.