Will To Survive

Chapter Six: Pandora’s Box

“In other news, a shootout at a local bar called Siamese happened late last night as an armed pony killed three Unity gang members. Police have no leads on who had caused the murders, but they are continuing their search to find who is responsible. In other news…”

This played on the news station on the radio this morning. To be honest, it was a relief to hear. Just knowing I’m in the clear let me have a moment of security. However, and unfortunately, the news channels have been known for fabricating their stories. Not to say you can’t trust them completely, but be wary on some things they say.

When the economy failed here in Manehattan, they were spewing lies all over the place. They were saying more shit then the sewer system contained. They blamed everypony for the cause, and they did so with no evidence. It didn’t matter, people ate it up, and they began attacking who they thought was responsible. Celestia had put a stop to it quick when she heard about the newscaster’s slander.

I’m not ready to move yet, but I have to. Passing out on the table made my body stiff and unwilling to cooperate when attempting to move; specifically my shoulders. Alone, as I sat upright at the kitchen table trying to regain my strength, I peered over at the envelope containing the check. It’s a bit nerve racking to be in possession of that much money, especially how it was obtained.

With the rhythmic bumping in my head beginning to die down, I head out the door with the check to the Eastern Equestian Bank. Never in my life have I heard of The EEB, but I bet I know where it’s at. They most likely bought out the open lot near the city square, so I’ll have to see. What is getting to me is who I have to meet with, this Rhinestone Ruby. The envelope contained no picture showing what she looked like.

The bank was where I guessed it to be; they did buy the open lot and placed a new bank there. The bank was a new brick building on the corner of the street.  Just last week they opened up and ponies were flooding the place opening up accounts. Ever since the economy collapsed ponies have been looking for other places to safely put their money. What is making this bank different is beyond me.

The inside was crowded with a wave of ponies of all colors swarming the front desks wanting to get their accounts open. It seemed pointless to be here, there was no way of pushing my way through the crowd. Just as I was about to head out the door there was a tap on my shoulder. When I looked to my right, I see an employee of the bank looking at me.

“Are you Blue Sparks?” The light blue mare asked pulling me aside trying to get me to an open spot.

“Uh, yes, I’m here looking for Rhinestone Ruby.” I responded with an eyebrow up. I don’t know this mare, but she might.

“Yep, follow me.” She grabs me and helps push my way through the crowded room and into the hallway with glass windows looking into the offices. We went all the way to the end to room 8. She opens the door and lets me inside a small white room barren from any decorations besides a fake potted plant in the corner.

“Here is Blue Sparks for you ma’am.” She gives to Rhinestone with a satisfied look and tone.

“Thanks,” She responded, unsatisfied, without looking up from her work.

The door closed behind me, the noise of the chatting outside fades away to a quite mumble. I stood there looking at Rhinestone. She sat there working on her papers before looking back up at me. Our eyes were locked before she spoke up.

“Well, take a seat.” She waved her hoof over to the grey seat across from her desk.

As I sit down she pulls out a tan folder from inside her desk drawer. “So, Blue Sparks, you killed Spearmint correct?”

I look around the room with my eyes for a brief second before responding; making sure nopony was listening in. “Yes,”

“Good, good, he died nice I heard. Knife through the heart, what an honorable way to die.”

“If you say so.”

She puts on a small smirk as she hands the folder to me. “That’s for your friend Cosmic Joy, don’t read it.”

I give her a small glance as I examined the outside of the folder he gave to me. “What’s inside it?”

“None of your business, but she needs to get it and I’m trusting you with this. Don’t look inside, or I will kill you.” She wasn’t lying; you can tell by the way she looked at me. Eyes locked on with no emotion behind her.

“Fine, what about my paycheck for killing Spearmint?”

She leans back and looks at me, “You think you deserve that money?”

“I killed a pony in a bar along with two of his bodyguards in plain view.” My voice without my control raises as I get angry by her response. “So yes I think I deserve that fuckin’ money.”

Rhinestone gets a large smile, “I like your attitude, quick to anger, love it.” She leans back forward and crosses her hooves on the table. “There is a briefcase in an alleyway near where you lived before working with us, in those old apartments. It’s across the street near the old dry cleaners.”

My eyes grow wide when she mentioned my old apartment. “H-How do you where I lived?”

“Your friends told me. Anyway, take the folder to Cosmic, get your money.” She waves her hoof to get me to leave as she returns to her work.

I stumble a little out the door and back into the noisy crowded room to take the folder to Cosmic.

===

When entering the through the creaky door to Sparky’s Den I got a different greeting than usual. Sparky grabs me and pushes me up to the walls holding a dull butter knife in her mouth pointing it to my throat.

“What are you, a shpy?” Her eyes were blood shot with her pupils dilated, squinting while staring at me. There wasn’t a long time to respond before Cosmic Joy pulls her away from me and throws her over to the couch.

“Sparky! Mellow the fuck out!” Cosmic says while pinning Sparky down to the couch. While holding Sparky down Cosmic looks back up at me. “Is that my folder?”

I just stand there a bit stunned before nodding my head slowly watching her hold down Sparky as she squirms to get free.

“Good, put it on the kitchen table, I got to sort this one out first.” She sits there struggling to control Sparky as she kicked around screaming profanities.

“What’s wrong with her?” I asked while walking into the kitchen. The table had been flipped upside down with all the items that were on it spilled onto the floor.

“She mixed up some of the batch with sugar. So she’s quite messed up right now.”

“I see,” I slowly back out the door and head off into the streets.

===

Once on the street of my old neighborhood, I walked over to my old apartment building. It still stands there in all its pitiful glory. Hopefully it will be taken down someday.

I get in front of my apartment and see the entrance to the alleyway where my money was supposed to be stashed.

Inside the dark dirty alleyway, the little bit of light from the sun illuminated it enough to depict what was back here. Piles of garbage bags, stacks of cardboard, greasy dumpsters, and other worthless junk. There didn’t seem to be anything in here that would be containing the money I was searching for. Just as I was giving up, I turn my head and a flash of light hit my eyes. The light from the sun had reflected off the polished brass of a brand new briefcase, sitting in the corner between a stone wall and a dumpster.

I walked over to the briefcase and pulled it out, it was heavy. I place it on its side and with a quick click of the locks opening up; the case opened up and revealed a large stack of money on the inside. Each bit, aligned neatly and perfectly on the inside, shining in the little bit of light with all of its glory. My heart skips a beat as I stare at the cleanest thing in this appalling alleyway.

After a few minutes of uninterrupted staring, I pack the case back up, pick it up with my mouth, and head off back to Sparky’s Den.

Outside the front door, the lightning emblem that usually hangs on the front of the door had been knocked off and was lying on the concrete ground. I stared at it for a brief second before hearing screaming and banging of a door on the inside.

I open up the door and place the suitcase next to the sofa near the door. I look forward to see Cosmic on her hind legs leaning her back against a closet door with her fore hooves spread across. She gives a worried smile as I walk in.

“Hey there Blue, what’s up?” Right after she says that, a yellow hoof punches through wooden door near her head and begins searching for Cosmic. Bizarre screeches come from the door as the hoof feels its way across.

“Having fun with Sparky?” giving her a sarcastic tone as I walked into the kitchen.

“Oh, a blast,” The house was littered and damaged with things knocked over, broken, or turned over in some way. Everything was except the drug lab. “As you can see, we’ve been having a peaceful day.”

I look around and see the trashed basement. A few more muffled screams from Sparky finally got me thinking.

“Hey, why don’t you use the tranquilizer in the cupboard?”

There was a small silence before Cosmic snapped, “WE HAVE A FUCKING TRANQUILIZER?”

“Yeah, in the cupboard.”

You could faintly hear the sounds of sadness from Cosmic before she spoke up again. “Son of a bitch, Can you please get it for me?” There was another smash against the door from Sparky.

I laughed as I walk back into the living room and get the tranquilizer that was shoved in between some books in a brown cupboard. Once it was in my hoof, Cosmic used her magic to levitate the pill over to her.

“Okay, I’m going to open this door. Once it’s open, help me pin her down while I get the pill down her damn throat.” She says through her teeth.

I nodded my head. Cosmic flings open the door and Sparky blasts out at intense speeds. She gets up and picks up a nearby newspaper and rolls it up. She stands on her hind legs holding the newspaper next to the front door.

“Back demons, I command you!” Sparky at this point was a bit delusional, which is sort of common with her... she, was more delusional.

Cosmic sighs as she uses her magic to open the door she was standing nearby. Sparky gets slammed between the door and the wall. She was unable to move, but she continued to struggle to break free. Cosmic takes the pill and open Sparky’s mouth with her hooves. With her magic, Cosmic drops the pill in Sparky’s mouth. With no retaliation, Sparky swallows the tranquilizer.

Cosmic lets her out from her temporary prison. Sparky pick up her newspaper again before stumbling and falling to the ground.

I pick up Sparky and place her on the sofa. I trot over to the recliner and lie down.

“Cheers,” She says handing over a glass of water and sitting down on the couch across from Sparky. “Were out of beer, Sparky smashed them all.”

I sit on my recliner and look back at Cosmic. “You have fun with her?”

Cosmic just shakes her head back at fourth. “It was crazy, I’m glad I can rest for a minute.” There was a brief moment of silence before Cosmic speaks up again. “Where’s the folder you got for me?”

“Kitchen table,” I said while pointing my hoof over to the archway leading into the kitchen.

Cosmic stands up and walks over to kitchen and back in with the folder.

“Thanks for getting me this.”

I lay back in the recliner and close my eyes. It was quiet besides the heavy breathing from Sparky, almost near snoring.

The front door gets unlocked and Mercurial walks in the door holding in his mouth a 24-pack of beer. He drops the case as he looks at the wrecked room.

Cosmic puts her folder down and looks at him with a smile. “What’s up?”

Mercurial was still in a state of shock as he looks around the room. “Uhh….”

Neither Cosmic or I could resist, we looked at each other and busted out laughing.

“I…” Mercurial pauses, “Never mind, I don’t want to know.” He picks the case back up as he takes it into the kitchen and places it on the table and walks back out. Mercurial looks at me before walking out the door, “Hey Blue, DimLight says he needs to see you at his place.”

DimLight? I haven’t seen him since we attacked the warehouse.

“He said it’s important.” His eyes drop halfway and smiles, “which coming from him doesn’t mean much.”

I just get up and walk out of the demolished basement as Mercurial asked Cosmic what had happened.

===

It was early afternoon by the time I got to DimLight fancy neighborhood. The place hasn’t changed much, but it definitely has kept its pizazz over the course of two months. The sun reflecting off of the dew on the thriving green grass proves that some places in the city are still being looked after.

I bang on DimLights door to find out what was going on, why he needed me so badly. There was no response. I try again, still nothing.

Growing impatient, I open the door and head inside. It was dark besides the light coming through the windows and hitting the cigar smoke on the inside. It wasn’t clean like it was before, books filled the tables and were falling off the edge, mice scurried around picking up loose crumbs on the floor, and the wooden cabinets were covered in a fine dust, so fine walking past made enough disturbance in the air flow it made dust fling everywhere.

After walking around, I spot DimLight siting on a fancy red leather wingback chair near a window overlooking a park. I sit on the chair next to him with no words. DimLight didn’t even look up at me; he stared emotionlessly at a group of young kids down in the park who were all wearing a red coat with a blue emblem with a yellow pony on the side.

This didn’t seem like him, so I decided to break the silence. “You needed to see me?”

He doesn’t look at me, “Yes, I need you to deliver a special package.” He continued to observe to kids down below, which bothered me.

I stare at him with concern for a few moments before speaking up. “Why are you staring at those kids?”

He points to one of them, a young filly with a white coat and curly light green hair. “She’s my niece; her parents dropped her off for me to look after her while they’re on their vacation.”

“How long ago was that?”

“Week ago, they’re coming back next week.” He looks at me, “I haven’t been around or helping because I don’t want her to get hurt.” He picks up the package and places it in front of me. His face grows with concern, “Then Black Mail assigned me this damn job even when I told him I couldn’t because of my niece.”

“What do you need me to do?”

He leans back into his chair, “First, let me ask you, are you up for this?”

“I’ll do anything as long as I get paid.”

DimLight nods his head a few times, “Alright, deliver this package to Pandora’s Box, a tobacco shop near downtown, near Anevail. Walk in, act like a delivery pony, give them the package. Walk across the street and head to the rooftop. Up there you’ll see another lever, pull it.”

“Alright, can do.” I put the box on my back and look out the window once more to see DimLight’s niece getting her own red coat from the other in the group. “What’s going on there?”

DimLight smiles and lets out a warm hearted chuckle. “Something called the Cutie Mark Crusaders.”

I nod my head off and walk out the door. Before heading out the front one question enters my mind.

“Hey, what does the lever do?”

He’s sighs, “What do you think?”

===

Downtown was more relaxed tonight than usual. The city streets are many times filled with ponies walking all over the streets, entering and exiting buildings, or trying to sprint across the busy traffic. Today was different, it was relaxed, calm, and it seemed as if it was a weekday when everypony was a work.

Down the littered city streets I come across a building, Pandora’s Box with a stack of apartments on top of it. I head inside to find a mare working at the counter, we was purple with a violet hair covered by head bandana she wore. Inside the shop was a large number of ever pipe, hookah, or bong known to pony kind.

“Hey, can I help ya?” The mare asks sounding almost irritated by my presence.

“I have this package to deliver.” I place the box on the counter.

She stared emotionless with her eyes half dropped and mouth open. After a few seconds she looks up at me with the same expression. “Uh, cool okay.” She picks it up with her mouth at takes it into the backroom. I head out of the store before she came out.

The street was almost barren, with only a few pedestrians in the street. I head across and get inside the stairwell leading to the rooftops of the ten story building. I got to the roof and spot the lever on the side of the building facing Pandora’s Box. I look at the rooms of the apartments on the inside, seeing all the ponies who lived inside. Just normal people who were living their daily lives, some gathered around tables talking, other were walking around doing work, some cooking their dinner. I snap out of my brief moment of lost focus and was unhesitant and pulled the lever.

I look down at Pandora’s Box to see a bright flash. Soon, the entire shop was consumed into a large fireball. The windows were blasted out flinging bits of shattered glass filling the streets. The fire rose and smoke rose up into the air. Within a few moments a second explosion took place as it went straight upwards into the apartments. The ground shook as the apartments were engulfed like the pipe shop, filled with fire and smoke. The building didn’t stand much longer until it lost its foundation and collapsed under its own weight.

The ponies on the street fled for their lives as the dust from the brick building fell to the ground damaging nearby buildings as well. I headed back downstairs as quick as possible and ran as fast as I could out of the area and back to Sparky’s Den.

It took a moment before the realization hit me, all the innocent people inside, maybe some with families, all gone.

All because of me.

===