Chapter 1

Rainbow Dash looks out over the market square. Several dozen shops and stalls line the roundabout-square, selling a multitude of different types of wares and food. She scans them over, seeing which one catches her fancy. Eyeing a pastry stall near the end of the market she reads its price-listing hanging from a nail on the right wooden beam of the stall's awning. Smiling, she ducks behind the tattered crates and trash bins.

Rummaging through her saddlebag, she pulls out a cloth sack and shakes it. Soft metallic clings and clanks ring out from within. Opening the sack, dumping the coins in her hand, she begins counting them. "Five shekels and eleven knicks." She squeals, clutching them to her chest. Jumping out of the alleyway, she makes her way to the stall.

Walking along the cobblestone street of the ancient city, her magenta eyes scan over the architectural achievements of her home city of Cloudsdale, the capital of the Withington Empire. In the middle of the square, a rather large mushroom-shaped fountain sits about fifteen feet tall and eight in diameter. Around the basin of the fountain stand four white marble statues to two nude pegasus mares and two nude pegasus stallions. The stallions chase the mares, their prize. The water of the fountain amuses Rainbow Dash more than its beauty or what moral the statures are conveying. Watching for a good minute, listing to the water splashing about, she breaks her haze and continues on her mission.

…

A pastry chef stands behind her stall. Head in her hand, her gaze watching the sun dip behind the horizon of the cityscape. She sighs and turns her gaze towards the crowd of pegasi mulling around the square. Her eyes dart around until a small filly catches her attention. A smile comes to her face. 'Another customer.' She thinks, but the longer she stares, the quicker her smile fades.

The filly's appearance is a tattered one, her prism colored mane is short, wild, and oily. The end of her yellow dress is covered in filth. Her black cotton jacket is slightly larger than her, but it's her wings that causes the mare's frown.

Finally getting to the stall, Rainbow Dash stands in front of the mare, her eyes gazing wide at the pastries on display. Feeling the mare's gaze, she quickly pours out her money. "Uh…" She mumbles. "Hello ma'am, how are you this evening?" She gives a smile.

The mare raises her brow. "Hello dear." Amusement washes over her, she's impressed by her manners. "I'm good, how are you?" She decides to entertain her.

"I'm good ma'am." Rainbow Dash looks at the pastries. "Can I have a loaf of wheat bread and two strawberry tarts?" She points to the items.

The mare pulls out a large paper-bag and places the loaf within along with the tarts in a smaller one. "Are you able to pay for this little one?"

"I sure can, see!" Rainbow Dash holds out the correct number of shekels and knicks. "I've been saving up enough for your stall. Your pastries always look yummy!"

The mare hums at the filly's words. Putting on her glasses, she looks at the coins. "Let's see," She counts them. "You're short." Her eyes look dully at the filly.

Rainbow Dash feels her heart stop "What!"

The mare chuckles. "Yes, you're short by two shekels and five knicks." She takes the items out of the bag.

Rainbow Dash's cheeks begin to redden with anger. "No, I'm not!" She stomps her hoof against the cobblestone.

The mare rolls her eyes. "Yes, you are, for pegasi like you, there's a tax!" She paces the bread back onto the display.

Her anger falters slightly. "Pegasi like me?"

"Are you that dense sweetie?" The mare huffs. "Look," She leans over the countertop of her stall. "You are a cripple." She points to the filly's wings. Rainbow Dash looks over her shoulders and stares at them. "Cripples like you don't deserve to shop around in Upper Cloudsdale."

Anger floods back over Rainbow Dash's heart. "I'm not a cripple!" She flaps her wings.

The mare watches them flap out of synch. "Yes, yes you are." She places the tarts back with the others.

Rainbow Dash growls. "I want to buy them at a price listed!" She points her finger at the sign. "You have them listed at two shekels and six knicks!"

The mare stares wide-eyed at the filly and her sign. "How…" She wonders. "Err… Leave my stall, or I'll call the police!" She shouts at her, placing both hands on her stall's countertop.

With every passing second, Rainbow Dash gets angrier and angrier.

…...

"STOP, THIEF!" A police officer yells, clad in black slacks and polo-long-sleeved shirt, flying towards Rainbow Dash, billy-club in hand.

"Get her now!" The pastry stall owner screams, trying to keep up with the filly and the officers, but she tires and lands on the ground, catching her breath.

Rainbow Dash looks over her shoulders in fear. In her arms is her saddle bag, full of bread and pastries. Her little legs propel her forward as fast as they can. Her wings flutter giving her a bit more speed, but not much.

"Stop in the name of the divine Emperor!" The other police officer yells, his younger voice piercing her ears.

Slipping into an alleyway, she ducks and jumps over pipes and trash bins. The guards fly over the obstacles soaring above her. Looking up, she sees one of the guards diving down upon her. Her heart pounding, she turns sharply to the left down another smaller alley. One of the officers tries to slow his speed, but he crashes into a pile of boxes instead. "Get up Night Wing! She's getting away!" His fellow comrade yells. With a grunt, Night Wing rockets into the air, resuming the chase.

Feeling herself getting worn out, Rainbow Dash looks for a rain chute. Seeing an entryway for one a few feet away, she picks up her pace. Arriving at the chute, she opens its hatch, the heavy metal door squeaking as it swings down, hitting the cobblestone cloud road with a loud poof. Seeing their target slipping away, the guards pump their wings harder. Watching them get closer, Rainbow Dash stands on the rim of the chute, giving them the middle finger, she smiles, jumping in.

Arriving at the entrance, the guards look down into the large pipe. "Shit, I'm not going down that!" Night Wing growls. "You got any ideas, Samson?"

Samson focuses his gaze on the filly sliding down the chute. "I know where it leads. Come let's go."

...

An older pegasus stallion sits on a worn rocking chair. His clothes are tattered, and his fur is coarse. Chewing on the bit of his pipe, he wiggles down into his seat with a sigh.

Bang!

Cling!

Clang!

The stallion's eyes open with a fright, lifting his head he looks around in confusion. Again, the stallion hears the noises, this time he finds where it's coming from. A manhole built into the wall of a large brick warehouse two feet from him. "What is making that noise…!"

Rainbow Dash pops out of the manhole, the cover flying off and crashing into the wall of a dilapidated home. The stallion stares wide-eyed at the filly. Getting her bearings Rainbow Dash looks back at the stallion. "Oh, hey Wind Breeze!" She waves.

The stallion holds onto his pipe. "What the hell did you get yourself into this time Dash?"

"Well I… I gotta go!" She takes off down the street.

The stallion looks back at where she was looking and sees two Imperial Officers flying down towards his location. They fly on past him at twenty miles an hour. Wind Breeze leans forward in his chair and watches them fly down an alley. "That filly is going to get herself killed one day."

…

Seeing a pub in the distance Rainbow Dash smiles, picking up her pace. "Gotcha!" A hand grabs the back of her jacket, yanking her backward, sending her saddlebag flying out of her arms. "We'll lookie here, the brat has been caught!" Night Wing chuckles looking at her with a mischievous grin. Rainbow Dash wiggles, trying to break his hold. "Where do you think you're…!" Rainbow Dash backward kicks him in the testicles, forcing him to let her go. Landing on her hooves she spins around, punching him in the face for good measure. Seeing the other police officer approaching, she picks up her saddlebag and runs into the pub.

Samson catches up to his downed comrade. "Hell! Are you serious? She's a filly Night! Get your ass up and walk it off!" He pulls up the hurt stallion, dragging him to the pub.

…...

Steel Bit stands behind the bar of the pub, washing glassware mindlessly. The thirteen patrons of the establishment sit around, drinking and gambling the night away. A mare plays the piano off in the corner by the door. Her tunes setting a calming mood.

The bar doors of the pub swing open, violently smacking against the cloud like stucco of the inner walls. Rainbow Dash tumbles across the wooden-floor, each roll of her body kicking up small amounts of dust.

The music stops as the patrons and Steel Bit stare at her in confusion, pondering her scared expression. Quickly Rainbow Dash bolts towards Steel Bit and hides behind the bar next to him. "What the?" Steel Bit's thoughts are interrupted as the doors swivel open once more, revealing pissed off officers. "Oh…" He mumbles. With a crack of his neck he returns to cleaning his glassware. The officers walk up slowly to the bar, their faces red, sweat soaking their fur. "Hello officers, what brings you to Lower Cloudsdale?" He smiles mockingly.

"Watch your tone lowlife!" Night Wings spits, leaning aggressively towards the gray colored pegasus.

"Calm Night Wing, you don't want to hurt yourself." Samson places a hand on his comrade's shoulder.

"Yes, we don't want that to happen now do we?" Steel Bit tilts his head to the side, a shit eating grin plasters itself across his face.

Samson gives the stallion a calm smile as he leans on the bar's countertop. "We were chasing a filly, about yay tall, with a prism colored mane and tail, have you seen her?"

Steel Bit shrugs, placing a cleaned glass next to several other cleaned glassware. "No, I can't say that I have." He leans on the countertop. One of his hands rustling Rainbow Dash's mane. She quietly giggles at his touch, playfully pushing his hand away.

Night Wing growls. "We saw her run into this establishment!" He slams his hand on the bar's countertop, causing it to shake, scaring Rainbow Dash. She wraps her arms around Steel Bit's legs.

Steel Bit leans back. Looking at the stallions, he huffs and goes back to his cleaning. "Like I said, I haven't seen the filly you seek, but I did see the Emperor. Saw him high off his ass, fucking a couple of hookers down on Maple Avenue." He chuckles, pointing a glass cup at them. The patrons and Rainbow Dash laugh at his words.

The officers are close to losing their temper. With a long, drawn-out breath, Samson leans closer to Steel Bit. "Look, we know she's here and so do you. Maybe we can cut you a deal." Steel Bit's ears perk up. "Give her up, and we can make you a pardon of sorts, a free pass to shop at your leisure in Upper Cloudsdale. You can buy, eat, drink… Even fuck the best prostitutes Upper has to offer." He extends his arms in a friendly manner, a seller's smile forming across his face.

Steel Bit taps his fingers against the rim of the glass cup in his hands. "Well… Thanks for the offer, but no thanks." He sets the glass down next to a stack of others.

Samson frowns. "Well then, it looks like we'll have to arrest you and your customers, so my men can come into your pub and tear it apart until they find the brat!" He spits with venom.

Steel laughs. "Are you sure about that?" An array of metallic clicks rings out in the pub. Frozen with fear, the officers turn around to see all the patrons aiming pistols in their direction. "I have an offer for you, want to listen?" The guards look back at him with a nod. "You leave, go home to your shit homes and never come back to my pub ever again and if you don't… Well, we'll shoot you. Sounds good?" He smiles, giving a thumb's up.

Samson steps away from the bar. "We'll take you up on your offer… Come, Night Wing, let's go." Night Wing follows him out of the pub, both stallions leaving in a hurry.

With them gone the Patrons put their pistols back in their holsters and look over at the bar. Steel Bit sighs as he looks down at Rainbow Dash, who's hugging her saddle bag, her magenta eyes staring up at him innocently. He chuckles. "The coast is clear squirt."

Rainbow Dash breathes a sigh of relief and crawls out from under the bar, setting her saddlebag on the countertop. "You saved me again."

"You need to stop doing that?" Lilly Drops sighs from the piano.

"Naw I find it hilarious!" One of the pegasi, an older stallion, beard long and his face showing his age. "That made my day little one, seeing those officers pissing their pants!"

"Yes," Steel Bit gives the filly a smile. "Very hilarious."

"Give the little one a drink!" Another pegasi calls out.

Rainbow Dash stands on a stool, giving Steel Bit a smirk. "A drink for me… Please?" She puts her hands on her hips.

-Four Hours Later-

"So, you stole some bread and pastries… You're moving up the ladder Dash, soon you'll be robbing a candy shop." Steel Bit states in mocking sadness, playfully sinking into his seat, behind the bar.

"Don't tempt me." Rainbow Dash takes a gulp of beer from her cup. The foam around her lips giving her a mustache. She giggles and licks it clean. "So, how was your day?" She looks at the stallion.

"Good…" Steel Bit gets up and walks up to the backside of the bar. "The drug run went well, got half of our drop-offs done." He pours himself a shot of bourbon. "Could've used your help." He swigs it down, slightly choking as the alcohol burns his throat on the way down.

"Well, I was busy playing with my friends by the rainbow falls." Rainbow Dash defends herself, holding her mug of beer close to her chest.

"Yeah… yeah." He pours another shot. She snickers at his words.

Drinking the last of her beer, she stares at the empty cup with a frown. Looking towards her friend, she holds out her cup. "Can I have another refill, please!" Steel Bit takes the cup and refills it. With a smile, Rainbow Dash takes a large gulp. Her eyes go wide, swallowing, she looks at Steel Bit with a frown. "Water! I wanted beer!"

"You already had two mugs. I think it's time to call it a night." He puts away some cups and bottles.

"I can handle it!" She huffs, crossing her arms laying down on the bar's countertop.

"A nine-year-old like yourself can't, besides you need to be sober enough to make it home." Steel Bit walks towards the door with lock and key in hand.

"I can stay here, like last time." She gives him her biggest puppy eyes.

"You have a home squirt, besides I'm sure your mother will be worried if you don't show up." Locking the door, he walks back behind the bar.

Rainbow Dash sighs as she swings her legs. Sighing again, she gets up and walks over to Steel Bit, giving him a hug. "Goodnight."

Steel Bit smiles. "Goodnight squirt. I'll see you in the morning." He pats her on the back sending her on her way.

…

After ascending the hill to her home, she walks up the steps to her home's porch. Before entering the house, she looks out over the cityscape of Lower Cloudsdale. Dilapidated buildings can be seen for miles around creating one of the most complex favelas, Withington or the worlds has ever seen. The clouds overhead that hold up Upper Cloudsdale cast a depressing mood upon the ambiance of her home district.

Stepping into her home, she sees that hot coals are burning calmly in the cast-iron furnace and the lights in the kitchen are on, dully lighting the living room in a white glow. Her home is a small cramped space. The living room and kitchen occupy an area that is twenty feet in length and twenty feet in width, with two bedrooms and one bathroom connecting to the back hall.

Setting her saddlebag on the countertop in the kitchen. She carefully walks around the trash littering the floor to the couch in front of the cast-iron furnace. Looking over the back of the sofa, she sees her mother sleeping the night away, a used needle sticking her right shoulder.

Rainbow Dash frowns as she gently pulls out the needle, tossing it in the trash bin next to the couch, she heads into her mother's room. Carrying a blanket from the room, she places it over her mother. Looking over her mother, she stares at her sunken eyes, the dark rings under them making her look old and brittle. Her mother's breaths are slow and shallow. "Goodnight mommy…" Her mother moans as she rolls over.

With a sigh, Rainbow Dash walks away from the couch and up to the kitchen. Opening the fridge, she pulls out a bottle of dark beer. Walking to the counter, she takes half a loaf of bread and a single pastry, and heads to her room.

Entering her room, she tip-toes around her dirty clothes up to her bed. Crawling into her bed she opens the bottle and takes a long swig of the bitter liquid. She coughs as she fights back the burning sensation. Smacking her lips, she takes a bite of bread enjoying its natural, earthy flavors. Humming a tune, she opens her drawer, pulling out a newspaper-like magazine about Withington's military special forces 'The Wonder Bolts.' Moving her lamp closer to her, she stares longingly at the sepia photographs and drawn illustrations of the Wonder Bolts. Her wings flap instinctively as her mind wanders into imagination.