Chapter II: City of glass
Part II: Daily shame
Morning came quite unexpectedly. So much so, that the friends did not even understand how the streets managed to get full of ponies. All citizens of the upper region, as by some unheard order, suddenly woke up and began doing their things. Not work, but things: someone walked around, somebody argued..
..And someone finds dead bodies in their own house, which spreads gossip around all the Canterlot. Luckily, the adventurers were far from the accident at that time. However, Sunshine could not fall asleep or even nap at a place like this. But she managed to eat, and just as importantly, soothe most of the pain.
Since the fugitives have no choice at all - they have to hide further, because the glass city cannot be escaped from with common methods. All the fears and thoughts about advanced defences that appeared in friends' heads back in Clopburg, actually manifested here.
Amount of guards alone raised doubts about escaping from the city. Seems like the only way to leave this place - is to use a hidden scroll. But is it wise to open a portal somewhere, where adventurers are looked for so fiercely? What about the bug's explanation about weird, unseeable to the red-eyed mare things?
— I have an idea. Maybe, we should try finding the unicorn we stumbled with last night? - the horse quietly spoke, correcting her cloak - I know, it's a very strange idea, but we have no choice. We have to try negotiating.
However, friends had not a single clue where to look for this pony. Do they really need to search through the whole Canterlot? Is it even worth it? And if so, how to hide among the public, when orange hooves and a dark cape already hint that someone does not want to be seen?
If one has to try acting naturally, they also should occupy their mind with something, so that desperate attempts at hiding along with bad luck, would not do more harm. Some mysteries dissolved almost immediately - for example, the day appeared longer due to the mountain height, where the capital resided. But some questions, oppositely, worried even more.
What do the canterlotians do? How do they make a living? The horse wandered around in search for answers and the sapphire unicorn, but observations of the other folk only confused the solar mare. Not a single aristocrat had paid a single dime for any service.
They took everything for free. They received all the services without leaving a coin. The only payment they left - their aggressive opinion. Others, who did not have blue blood flowing in their veins, had to pay enormous sums. And canterlotians could be understood if they did something for the society, created something..
But they simply enjoyed the riches. Nobody even tried to, at the very least, impose or inspire deep philosophical thoughts, or help with an advice - nothing. Only the gossip, peasantly mayhem and ignorance elevated into absolute, clothed in gold and glass.
The only thing that stood out from this toxic wealth is music. Everything else around - food, barbers, jewellers - everything faded compared to the sound of professional violin performance. Someone actually put their emotions in their activity! Did someone care, indeed?
Sunshine simply could not miss such a concert. She came across the square, in the middle of which, on an elevated position, a small band of ponies played music. They were not much different from the city folk - capes made out of glass, coloured trinkets.. However, something truly charmed everyone around.
Even though other members of this troupe did add something of their own, only the white unicorn with a stringed instrument gave it her all, using both her horn and hooves, and also her mouth. Her voice especially excelled, even though the pony sang about something quite strange. Strangely familiar.
— ..Murder, murder! In the night air! - charismatic choir made others around sing along - Murder, murder! It's a nightmare..!
..And what if it is the owner of that house, where three thieves rummaged in? Far too familiar her instrument looked. And the lyrics? The group would unlikely sing about some random gossip or the latest news just for the sake of it. The cutiemark of an octave with garroted ends, did remind of that basement too..
— Envy! - the musician sharply abrupt her performance - That is the reason for deaths of those two guards! These dirty, poor ponies envy our wealth! Muckponies are not able to conduct a civilised conversation, they can only destroy! Yesterday, they already destroyed two respectable lives!
White one pointed at the little pony with her fiddle-bow. Other citizens condemnedly looked over the orange mare - as if those two soldiers died because of her. Of course, it is not that far from the truth, but nobody was interested in the details. Not to mention that excuses could only bring the trouble faster.
— You! You are petty, and you fear as well! Clothes for a pony are like an instrument for a musician, you are afraid to appear poor and defective! We are perfect, we walk in glass because we are not ashamed of our bodies! We are ready to show our beauty to others..!
Solar pony got surrounded from every angle. Even behind her, a wall decided to betray and block the way! A little more, and this pony would probably be harmed by insults and evil words. Or worse - the first stone already flew towards the little horse.
Where from? Could not be for cobblestones to lie around without a purpose, on the streets of such a city! Did someone really tear off the pavement, simply to harm the mare? At this rate it will lead to a murder! But the long-eared pony was not going to stand idle and become a victim.
She could push the hoodlums without a problem, or grab her sabre and answer the rudeness with rudeness. But why, when one has wings and strength to fly over the danger? Nobody expected that a pegasus would hide under the cloak, and the crowd remained in surprise. While the unicorn continued with despise:
— It's her! Catch her! - she continued moments later - ..Yes, the same one with sun and cloud cutiemark!
Yet the winged pony's trail already went cold. Rich folk's panic only rushed her swift escape. The time spent in Canterlot seemed enough to learn where another dark corner might be or how the crowd will appear. But not where the next patrol might reside.
Armoured stallions walked literally on every street. The moment that the horse managed to hide from one group of enforcers, another one already whistled and ran after the suspicious mare. Where can she run away from them? Is it even possible to evade them?
And it would be not much if they were only on the ground - yet the air was full of them as well! And even with such an amount of pursuers, long-eared pony managed to stop the chasing horses and slide through the impossible gaps. How lucky that the pony is so small!
Despite the success in dropping the awning supports and crates under the sentries' legs, the horse needed to urgently hide and catch her breath. Red-eyed mare is too weak for such prolonged fights for life, especially after all the turture. Albeit she still prevailed.
But where to go, when all the streets and alleys are not closed in any way? Eyes lost at the variety and count of mansions and cafes, but even they were not enough - every house could be looked over from the road without any problem. Every house, except a library, standing further down the road.
Only this building had no windows! And it had more space to manoeuvre, one could also hide behind the books. An almost ideal place to lose the tail! Sunshine ran inside immediately when she had the moment to. And already had time to regret her decision.
Eyes of red-eyed pony crossed ones of a dimly-sapphire unicorn. Nightly thief suddenly turned out to be a humble librarian. Humble by local standards - the accessories have not gone anywhere, and they were further complemented by a glassweave bowtie and goggles. Followed by a deep surprise.
— You..? - the mare could not believe her eyes - Should have guessed.
— Listen, I-
— Crawl there. - unicorn knocked on the table - And keep quiet.
Despite the expectations, the murderer locked the doors and covered the escapee with tablecloth, as if nothing ever happened. Soldier squads tried to break through the gates, but they could not succeed - thanks to magic, the doors have not moved by a single centimetre. Only some sorcerer managed to get inside the bookhouse, with magic.
Ah, if only the winged horse could witness what happened in the lobby.. Two unicorns totally know and dislike each other. If not for the circumstances, they would certainly bite each other. But now, unfortunately for both sides, they could resort only to diplomacy.
— Nightingale. - a voice sounded much like of that white pony.
— Resonance. - the librarian answered with the same amount of contempt - What do you want?
— Why, you're smart, couldn't guess? Your head is too tight? A ginger horse went here, and she ran through you. I need her. You, as a government servant, are obliged-
— And what if I don't want to?
The unicorn simply quietly laughed at the threat. But why does she help the orange pony? Did the rogue fear the revelations of that loud night, and tried to defend herself by concealing the witness? Or are there other motives in play, that guide this mare?
— Then you'll be executed along with-
— Oh, why so? - she shook her head - You would allow all the canterlotecy to learn about your double life? That you're an inquisitor, for instance..
— I don't even want to hear this drivel.
— An affaire with your husband - also a drivel?
Dark-blue horse took a letter out of the table. The same very letter that she stole that night. One look at the envelope was enough for the table to feel the wrath of this white mare. Despite the musician's desire to make the blackmailer suffer, she could not do anything.
— No-no. - Nightingale calmly teased her with the paper - Garrote Resonance, as a government servant, will not behave so aggress-
— Don't call me that!
— But it is your real name. My, are you ashamed of it? ..Fine, then I will call you an intriguant, or a courtesa-
— And you are only a librarian! Give me one reason why I canno-
— I am only a librarian, but I can do more than you. If anything happens to me, then all the Canterlot will hear about your fake marriage disloyalty schemes. - suddenly, the blackmailer immediately burned the evidence - I am forgiving you, and I.. will forget about some ticklish details of yours. All you have to do, is turn around, and leave this library in peace. Otherwise, you understand, the copies will find their receivers.
Resonance left the unicorn without an answer. She mutely traversed away, and very soon, the doors were left alone as well. "Finally, could exhale in peace!" - thought Sunshine, when all the good attitude and help vanished. Aristocracy stood before the pony without embellishment.
— Are you what, trying to end my life? - Nightingale stinged - Did your parents what, have not taught you how to behave before elders? ..Ah, right, you don't have them. Left alone with your brother-
— How do you know that? - pony seriously worried.
— How can you not know about Sunshine, when you work for Moonrise? My name doesn't tell you anything? Has he not told you about how he personally asked for my help few years ago?
— Wait a minute.. You are, that Nightingale?
Sunny pony's mood immediately flew away. Capricious pony remembered, with how much contempt and resentment she was told about the horse, whose audacity surpassed that of a winged one. Nightingale had all the filth, all the tricks and all the features of local societal tops inside her.
The fact that she helps the dark unicorn, has not at all pleased the heirs of the house of Sunrise. The librarian took this dangerous job simply because he offered something to her. Something probably so tempting, which would make her risk everything; indescribable and incontestable aught.
— How did you guess that I am, well, me? Why did you react like that yesterday?
— Oh.. Darling, are you really interested in ins and outs? - she carelessly battered white-haired mare's mane - ..At first, I truly didn't understand who dared to get into a verbal fight with me. But today, in peace and quiet, I realised that it was you. Or rather, when you burst into my domain a second time and interrupted my thoughts. So little, so loud.. Ugh, and how does he put up with you?
— He doesn't put up, I..! Why are you helping me? You are-
— You really wish to know? Moon is a too attractive stallion. I will get what's promised in any case, but if I put some effort and help you, I would get even more.
— ..You sound as if you're trying to have s-
— My, why? He is obviously very powerful, and quite mighty on the outside.. But I'm afraid he won't outlast me in that regard. And I need him alive, because then I will learn the secrets that even Luna couldn't dream of. - sapphire pony forgot herself for a moment, as if she spoke inside her head - ..Politics. They appear along with otherworldly boredom. We are all bored, and I want to have fun, play with other lives on a new level. My second activity doesn't bring the former emotions.. Ahem, be a good girl and help your brother in what he so tries to achieve. Come now, off you go..
And even though both ponies wished to get away from each other, the sunny horse could not exit the bookhouse. She took herself as hostage the very same moment she ran into the library. That is why Sunshine looked for the unicorn in the first place - she could not escape on her own! That librarian is not that smart it seems..
— ..Well? Why are you still standing here? - Nightingale moved the pony's face away with her front leg - Can't see you much more..
— I need your help, I-
— I helped you already, got rid of this lackey. What else do you suddenly need?
— ..Just move me somewhere outside the city! - the mare barely masked her resentment - You know a lot, you surely know how to teleport!
The unicorn granted pegasus' wish without any delays. No matter how those ponies condemned each other, the common goals united them a little. Oh, but the motives.. With such allies, one would always expect to get stabbed in their back. Or to underreceive help.
Sunshine found herself almost side by side to Canterlot. More correctly, right under it, not that far from the Fillish mountain. Anyone who likes to look below and observe the common life, would find an orange spot without a problem. But nobody reacted to it.
How was she so easily missed? News spread faster than wind, and the most dangerous enemy to princesses is so quickly dismissed? Even when the pony left all the attempts to get under a tree and laid on the grass, nobody paid attention to her. Nobody, except her snowwhite friend.
The pony had no strength left. She wanted to simply lie down and fall asleep, forget everything for a few seconds, but.. She could not. She thought too hard about what happened for the past few days. The shapeshifter simply could not stay idle at the sight of such strange emotions:
— Sun? - changeling stopped pretending to be a cloak - What bothers you?
— ..Everything. They are not learning at all. Remember what that fool said back at the deers?
— Everyone aligns to their patrons?
— It is true. Princesses are just impossibly silly, and those around them aren't any different! You heard how Nightingale talked to me - no difference at all! If they would let that jerk finish talking, back then in the throne hall, I wouldn't be alive, can you realise that? We could have been caught so many times..!
Suddenly, the orange pony showed herself from the most native side - an unpredictable one. For a brief moment, all sorrow and resentment switched to laugh and amusement. And Gambit even dwelt in happiness a bit - habit returns hinted at his companion's healing. Only if it was not another hysterical attack.
— ..Silly! - the horse crossed her hooves at her chest - They aren't evolving or developing, they are not even thinking about it! If this is their elite, then.. - pony wearily exhaled - ..We already know what happens under Canterlot. I can't live like this. Can't believe this! This isn't right!
— Strange. I guess why this might bother you, but.. What are we going to do? We, two of us. What about our home?
— Exactly! Here is our home, this..! - red-eyed mare spread her hooves around - ..This! Everyone, all around us suffer! Nobody except those castle duffers decide on anything or get anything! And they are the rulers only because they have horns and wings at the same time? Why everyone considers this a norm?
— They got used to it. This somehow became the norm, but it is not normal.
The bug cuddled up to the troubled pony. Everything pointed at her forthcoming rage. And hugging helped in the past times, but despite all the plated insect's efforts, the anger has not subsided and continued to accumulate. Did all those events throw the horse off the rhythm so hard?
— ..We are endlessly hiding - and my parents were also hiding! Two hundred years they stood at one spot and hoped for some silliness, that everything would go back to normal! - winged pony gradually raised her voice - There it is, the normal! Lived off of artefacts and then quietly perished! Gave birth to me and Moon, and that's it! Nothing!
— ..Sun, you do not think-
— Who, if not me? Moon isn't much different from my parents, he's not hurrying! They all prepared for something, but nothing differs anyway! While they did nothing, those two maggots brainwashed each and every head! ..I am tired of fearing, and I don't want to ignore more of this, this.. insanity!
— You are not alone. I am with you. Our friends are with you. We are not alone.
Here, the changeling understood, what the orange pony lacked so much - hope. Support did affect the horse - the insect perfectly felt the change in emotions. But the biggest effect had a simple reminder about something good. About what closed behind something bad.
— ..We are not alone. We can do it. If we gather together, we can change something! We already changed many things, only the two of us! We met so many good ponies - and not only ponies! Only thing needed is a wish..!
— Sunshine. I wish for you to think of yourself now. How do you feel?
— I feel, loved.
— ..You, what?
— I am better. Thank you.
The shapeshifter quietly thought about the winged mare's words, and everything made sense soon enough: "Not like with me. Not literally. Not literally - differently. Differently - actions. Love - action. To do - to love. Princesses do nothing. They love nothing.". Even though Sunshine meant friendship..
Everything appeared as how winged pony explained things to the bug much earlier. Not only between these two, but in the whole world. And how could they not change something for the best? Precisely. However, there are things more important than showing ambition.
