Chapter III: Economic horror

Part I: Everything can be bought..


Every time, before attempting anything, one should start with themselves. Especially when it is about something greater or difficult. And if many others need to look at the situation from a different angle, or go through painful experience, Sunshine only needs to sleep. Everything else is passed already.

Thinking on a sleepless head is almost impossible. Even the most simple task could not be solved, if one does not rest before doing so. Thankfully, friends ended up in the centre of this nation. And it had another settlement there, besides Canterlot and Galloppolis.

Opportunists already crossed through the biggest trading platform in the world. However, they could not thoroughly look over this corner, named Hub. Only gossip and guesses did suggest what friends could meet in the heart of the equestrian economy.

And even if the tales will confirm, it will not stop this mare. Desire to fall asleep simply paralysed the ability to think. All thoughts shifted into a reminder of one and only need, which could only be tackled there, in the town. Little pony should not sleep on the ground, should she?

No, it would be possible to rest on a glade, and no problems would arise, if not for the assassins following the company. There, changeling could only do so much; alone at least. And the mindless crowd, as well as walls of tallest homes, can actually help a lot.

A very grim sight awaited inside the city walls. As if everything bad was taken from Clopburg and Galloppolis, combined, and spiked with an almost inconceivable desire to sell something. And when there is nothing else to offer, to sell themselves.

Numbers of prostitutes on stony streets barely lost to amount of small stalls, and mediocre-sized houses, refurbished into various service establishments, have actually competed with already known ones to masses. Eyes wandered around without a stop at this much choice..

Who to trust? Where should one stay and sleep through the whole day? What if beds are filled with ticks and bugs everywhere? Only one resting house appealed to some kinds of standards, but the solar pony reacted quite radically to it in the past. But it did not get its reputation for nothing, did it?

Sleepy mare left all her resentment and assertion before walking into the vulgar bakery. And nobody would pay attention to her or say anything, if she would not rudely spit the only dime onto the table, before continuing her way towards the only free room.

It seemed quite logical for the pony to hide the money inside her mouth. In such a battered state, she could not stop pickpockets, and nobody thought of adding said pockets to the cloak. In any case, the task is almost finished - only thing left to do is lie down on a soft bed, embrace the unusual quiet, and forget about everything..

And she forgot. Forgot, that she would want to drink a lot after waking up. Forgot, that she sleeps not one day, but several. The pony had not thought at all about taking off her equipment, so that her body would not ache. And besides, how could one think on an empty stomach now?

How could one look into the eye of a buck, receiving guests? Unlikely for him to leave the indebted horse just like that - especially after such rude behaviour a few days ago. Which appeared true: should the pony appear before the entrance, when the horned deer immediately called her over:

Hey, you! Aye, you - one with red eyes! C'mere. - surprisingly, he continued with a calm voice - Do you knoe at least, how much ye slept?

..More than one day?

Four. For four days you kept the room. I envy your sleep, but not hoe much ye owe to the place.

But I don't have any more money! Is there any other way out of this?

The deer demonstratively sighed. Seems like this is not the first time something similar happens. Not surprising - with what mood goes around in the air, the same folk will prevail. However, the manager had matured a thought, that immediately returned his previous mood and voice back.

You knoe that this debt is stuck on me noe, reight? So what are we going to do with you noe? - the deer made such a short pause, as if he only tried to sound oblivious - Luckily, I knoe one pony who can get rid of our problems. - he quietly continued, almost talking to himself - Loony'll work on 'er..

What-what? - little one misheard.

Tellin', Loony'll give ye work, he will. Wait here, I'll be back in a moment.

The manager left his post for real and exited the brothel. Yet he returned back so quickly, as if this Loony was standing right at the corner, waiting for an opportunity just like this one. Although, contrary to expectations, this stallion was not some evil muscle, but a very common stallion.

So common, that he will blend into any crowd. However, even though this pony does look like the vast majority of the population, he seemed familiar to the orange mare. But where could she witness this common earth pony? Did the sight deceive the winged one?

This's Loony Swindler. Will lead where needed, show everything, tell everything and feed ye.

You'll get your money tomorrow. - he referred to the deer - ..So, les' go, the work won't wait for us.

..You have a very familiar voice. Wasn't it you who tried to sell liquid ice in Galloppolis?

Liquid ice, fungus lice, who cares? When we get there, I'll answer all your questions.

No matter how friendly and smiley Swindler appeared, the changeling did not like him at all. Solar pony would certainly not notice it, but Gambit sensed right from the start, that his emotions are somehow wrong. That is totally not a shapeshifter, but his feelings are not emitting like from the rest. Is he lying?

Where is he leading the orange one, indeed? Why did she agree to such a questionable offer? Only time will tell, if the bug was right and if the pony did a grave mistake just now. After all, the horse's intuition also suddenly sparked.. Anyone in her place would.

How old are you?

Twenty one! Why?

Come now, you're lying. Yer small! ..Well, maybe 'tis for the best.

Why? Where are we going?

Earth pony pointed at a tall building with a very wide and extensive first floor. Considering the unusual architecture and a bunch of gates, the pony was led to a warehouse. "Carrying crates? I won't be able to!" - long-eared horse calmed herself down, knowing she was not led to trouble.

When suddenly, she heard something weird. Someone's masculine moans were heard from exactly this storage. These screams are certainly not close to how someone will ask for help after a crate falls on them. Of course, orange horse was simply sold into slavery!

Ah, if not for the hunger.. It distracted from the evil stallion's thoughts! That is why he behaved so weirdly! Alas, but it is too late to run - the mare stood too close to the main doors, and in front of this said stallion. The fears were confirmed the moment the doors opened.

Inside, the very real cutthroats awaited the company. Bandits on the way to Clopburg are not even close to those! They had arbalests, and bracelets, and even new spears! And horses' appearance vastly differed: some covered in scars, some had simply scary looks.. And one of them, for some reason, had thick hair.

What have a sheep with cream wool forgotten in their company? Stood without shackles, but nobody paid attention to her! Maybe, it is just a pony in a warm coat made out of someone else's wool? The pony-like folk do not have cutiemarks! This one had something on the spot..

Dalliant, she's yours. Prepare her, and we'll circulate her, ye know what I mean. - Loony and the band barely held their laughs.

That is a brand. Dalliant Repose looked just the same the last moments she saw the opportunists, except almost shorn and without horns! "Didn't agree with the Nameless." - winged one immediately understood everything - "Or did she?". The answer did not bother the solar pony one bit. She was bothered by what was happening.

The moment the gates closed, the pony kicked the young stallion in them, threw her animated cloak onto the nearest outlaw and grabbed her sabre, while getting up into a fighting stance. Nobody around expected such a twist. Especially the little mare's friend.

Now, the orange pony did not seem so little. Stallions immediately equipped themselves and already wanted to jump at her, when the changeling suddenly showed his true colours. He threatened the rest with his frightening looks, and they began to kick the wooden walls in panic.

O-oi, we've been made! Ma-ade! Operation's fucked!

Other outlaws came to the sound of trouble, and the stallion behind Sunny steadily came to his senses. Seems like the friends jumped the train too soon. While they digested their own mistakes and were successfully pushed into the corner, the minority in this fight was soon joined by the horned sheep, sliding through the legs of others.

Dal, fuck ye doin'?! Those 're 'quisi-

She did not simply remember her friends, but also decided to not leave them to their fates! But what can two hooved creatures do against tens of stallions with weapons in a tight spot? Not much. But if one of them, with horns, would manage to hide the friends with magic..

However, something had gone wrong. The spell was not a success - such short horns could not create something so grand and ambitious, as what the wooled one tried to do! But despite the idea failing, the real thought of the brown creature is still prevailing!

And albeit the horns started smoking, so did the brigands' mouths! The stallions immediately dropped their weapons, in an attempt to escape from the impending coughing and inability to breathe. And the adventurers escaped themselves, taking advantage of this confusion.

You will have to tell me everything later! - red-eyed mare hurryingly pulled her "cloak".

Running away from the pursuit appeared not that hard. But coming back to senses after such sudden physical exercises.. Only thing that winged one felt - head spinning. She did not even understand how she ended up in some enclosed space and whom it belonged to.

Yet the mare understood that the friends were safe, when she saw her white companion. Very soon, Dalliant also came by, and she was followed by elderly ram and sheep. No need to be a genius to see the connection between them. Gambit, in addition, confirmed those guesses:

Sun? - he shook his friend - Not sleeping? Can you hear me?

..Yea? Don't know. I want to eat so much..

Will eat soon. Someone wants to speak with you. - the bug stepped away - Those are Dalliant's parents.

Orange pony managed to understand only so much from those monologues. But something still got through to her - someone is very angry at her due to many different reasons. After finally eating some food, however, it all came together, and the winged horse understood something: her friend barely walked. Because she had to carry Sunshine on her back.

And, as it so happened, the fleeing folk attracted unnecessary attention to a whole borough, where such minorities lived. A cherry on top was, of course, a changeling, that nobody expects to see anywhere. And who, among other things, tried to defend his blamed for everything friend:

Do you even understand what she had to go through? Look at her eyes - she is not even noticing you!

Even more so! - resented the old sheep - My daughter's suffering, and all this stupidity because of some half-dead horse? She'll kick her hooves at any moment!

This someone - is our friend. If not for her, Dalliant would continue to spoil in that brothel.

This way, some rogue spoils her! And you are! My Dalliant's barely walked before all this, and you..!

The house was full of sounds all evening. Everyone endlessly argued, who did more harm - Sunshine, who gave an opportunity for wooled creatures to live another life, or everyone else, because of whom the slums and pressure are considered normal. Only the young sheep kept silent.

Not only because she could not speak by common means, but because her actions said everything for her. Dalliant helped the little one come to her senses and cared after her. Severe malnourishment due to torture and harsh food ration during all the adventure, exhausted the big-eared pony.

Everyone saw this, but not the former prostitute's mother. Even the horned creature's father often walked into the room with weakened beings, probably hoping for a swift improvement in the well-being of both of them. He understood, that ponies like Sunshine are not any different from any of them.

You live without a job. - pressured the insect - You are not stopping your daughter from decisions that you get angry at. You are using her, and-

Shut, ye cur! Why the bugling needs a mouth, other than to lie?

But you yourself sa-

So what? Ye be no judge! 'Tis her choice!

..And the ram managed to stop the fight at its climax. He could not evade the further screams towards him though, but that is not that important. What is important, is that nobody attracts that much attention to their home anymore. After all, the rebels were still looked for. This time, not only by canterlotians.

Smell of burning planks carried through the whole city. It could have been any building, but if one connects the dots, then it all will fall into place. What else can burn so hard, other than a scene of a crime? There is almost no other way for clearing tracks of this size.

Sunshine you're called, right? - horned ram finally decided to speak with the guest of honour.

Yes. And you..?

I want to say thank you. Long time ago, we had to leave Hub, so we wouldn't die of hunger. I am ashamed to speak of what we've done, but we had no other choice. And now.. we have no choice but to run away again, and flee our real home. All together.

Hoofgrad. You need to go to Hoofgrad.

It is unclear for the orange one, why Dalliant's relatives had not escaped with others on the train, on that cherished night. The pony did not pay much needed attention to the last quarrel and brown creature's face expression, when the talk shifted to painful for her topics. But the horse knew, that she could help even now.

We? You mean..

We have to deal with this, very, what's his name..

But why? We can flee together. He'll do the same to you!

..One day, Dalliant shared one important thought with me. And I want to stick to it. We have to try, we-

Sunshine tried to get up from the bed, but only took the flimsy table with bowls to the floor with her. However, the ram understood what she meant and who she wanted to continue the adventure with. He uncertainly smiled and helped the weak pony get up, before speaking his thoughts out loud:

I have to stop you, but I will not. Three of you know the price of idea, you fight for it, and it will not look like nightly brawl under the tavern. I have one thing to ask for, before I wish luck to you.

What is it?

Keep my daughter safe. I want her to live the life she wishes others. - wooled creature wiped tears from his face - I will help you leave. But be quiet..

Friends left the house in the middle of the night, and only the Moon's reflection illuminated their path. In such darkness and strong fog, snowwhite bug would be hard to notice, and he walked beside the fugitives, carrying the solar pony on his carapace. Friends were sure nobody saw them.

Since the two old creatures walked out first, noisily heading towards the Dragon Peaks. If anyone would observe and spy on the companions, then Gambit would have noticed it already. Not much to his extraordinary sight, but because of knowledge about potions.

Moonrise seemingly knew what he should talk about, albeit he did not explain such obvious things like indigestion. Dark unicorn understood that friends might be looked for in the night, and a side effect in the form of glowing eyes - a very important detail, that he actually mentioned.

Keeping this simple thought in his head, the changeling guided his small team in the opposite of sheeps' direction - to the two fishing villages, farther from Canterlot. Far enough from the pursuit, and not that far to not make it there before the sunrise..