Cookie Crisp awoke abruptly in a cold sweat, heaving heavily. Her heavy breathing was the only sounds left in the room. She took a quick glance around her, seeing the hospital room as she had left it, white, clean, and safe. She exhaled a deep breath and rubbed her forehead.

Shit!

Cookie hated those nightmares. The memories never haunted her often, but when they did, they always sent shivers up her spine. The dreams of a past life that she never wanted to return too. But how could she forget that fateful night? The night where she lost the only pony she had. The only one who would take care of her.

She looked out the window trying to distract herself from the memories. She saw the sun rising over the mountain in a beautiful shimmer of light. She shook her head, not caring about the wonders of nature. Not like her best friend. The one she felt she had abandoned. After what happened recently, she disappeared.

Her broken leg had prevented her from the search, but today was the day she would finally be released from the hospital. Her leg was almost fully healed. The doctors had said if she didn’t practice any strenuous activity for a few days, the leg would be as good as new. She almost smiled at the notion. Almost.

She was still a long way from Hoofington. And what’s worse is she didn’t have a vehicle. A long walk no doubt was in her future. It was practically on the other side of Equestria. She sighed as her legs began to feel the effect of the ‘strenuous activity’ she was in for and she hadn’t even started yet.

A few hours passed as uneventful as the last, with the exception of Cookie trotting around the hospital, making sure her leg was still good. After taking advantage of one last meal, Cookie decided to check herself out of the hospital. She pulled herself out of her bed and ripped the hospital gown off her body. She made her way down to the main foyer to recover her jacket. As she approached the front desk, the nurse gave her a glare.

Not that it surprised her. She was nothing but a thug to these ponies. And the biker jacket didn’t convince them she wasn’t. Well… not anymore. That was another life… One that she wasn’t proud of. But she didn’t think anything of it back then. It was just the cards she was dealt. After stating what she wanted, the nurse finally turned around and headed straight for the backroom.

Cookie stood at the desk and waited as the nurse began to fetch her jacket. The few moments turned into minutes. The minutes caused her to pace back and forth, every so often turning her gaze to the doorway, expecting it to open any second.

What the buck is taking so long? It’s one bucking jacket! It’s probably the only one with a biker gang insignia!

She looked out of the corner of her eye to see two police stallions trotting into the hospital. However, she decided to ignore them. She rubbed her eyes in both weariness and frustration. The nurse was taking way too damn long, she thought. She thought it might be faster just to rush back there and do it herself. Faster, yes. But it would cause all kinds of problems with the hospital staff and security. No sense in pissing off any more ponies than she needed too.

The officers then approached Cookie. “Are you Cookie Crisp?” one of them asked.

Cookie raised her eyebrow as she examined the ponies in front of her. They were good size stallions. Very bulky. She looked up to see a smug look on their faces. They loved what they did, but what they did was the abuse of their authority. She only knew because she had seen it in her hometown, in a time where the police knew her very well. She took a deep breath.

“Yes. I am.”

One of the officers leaned forward. “You’re under arrest.” He placed his front hoof on Cookie’s, jerking it hard. Cookie grunted in pain as she was pulled forward. She knew exactly what they were doing. They were trying to make a scene. She had seen it before. She had fallen for it before. However, she did know her rights.

“Arrest? For what?!” Cookie shouted.

The officers placed the hoof cuffs over her hooves and dragged her to her feet. “Carjacking. Mr. Popcorn’s vehicle was stolen by you and your buddies.”

Shit… she thought to herself. She had completely forgotten about that. She allowed the officers to escort her out of the building. The patients, the staff and the other security officers just watched as she pressed forward, the hoof cuff restraining her movements. The cops shouted out that they’ve looked into her record. They’ve seen the type of shit she has been in before. They then decided to bellow out her list of crimes.

“Arson! Assault! Possession of drugs! You’ve got quite a record.”

Cookie growled under her breath, but she knew fighting wouldn’t do her any good. She learned that the hard way a long time ago. She took a deep breath and tried to ignore it as best she could. But that didn’t stop her from thinking of cruel words and gestures she could conjure. She turned around to see the nurse, finally leaving the backroom, with her jacket in hoof. Son of a bitch! She shook her head in irritation. Of all the Celestia-damned bucking luck!

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Cookie sat in the interrogation cell for what seemed like a half-hour. The surroundings didn’t provide her with much of a distraction. The dull stone walls with a one way mirror to the wall directly in front of her. The table sat before her as still as before. The chair she sat in was still as uncomfortable as the moment she sat in it. It squeaked when she rocked in it, which was irritating. She looked to the doorway, wondering when it would open and the interrogation would start. Every time, she was disappointed.

She sighed, shaking her head. She didn’t know what she was going to do. In the past, when she was sent to prison, there was always one pony who bailed her out. But she was a long ways away. There was no way she would be able to help her out now. She thought back to her old biker gang. The gang that was her surrogate family. Or so she was led to believe. But real family doesn’t let you take the fall for something you had no involvement in. That’s what her real family taught her.

The door finally creaked open. A stallion trotted through the door. He looked at Cookie with a stern look and sat down in the seat in front of her.

He took a deep breath as he placed the folder on the table. “Are you aware of what you are here for?”

Cookie simply turned away, not even bothering to look at the folder in front of her. She knew why she was here. She didn’t need to be reminded.

“I’ve gone through the files,” he stated. He opened the file, pulling out a series of pictures. “I’ve seen your record.”

Cookie couldn’t help but roll her eyes as she took a deep breath.

“I’ve also seen that you’ve served your time.”

This caused Cookie’s ears to perk up. She turned slowly to him raising an eyebrow. She looked shocked that a police officer would acknowledge her as a pony, not a thug. She never received that in her hometown.

“I’ve seen you’ve cleaned your slate. Started a life for yourself.” He pulled out a sheet of paper from the folder and set it on the desk.

Cookie looked at the images before her, seeing the auto repair shop she was employed at. Stan and Jack’s. She saw what appeared to be security footage of the thief who stole Mr. Popcorn’s vehicle. A green Pegasus stallion with ebony hair.

The officer quickly caught on to where Cookie’s eyes were stationed. “You know this stallion? Crumble Bristle?”

Cookie looked up at him, but didn’t say a word. She simply took a deep breath and looked away.

“He was the one who stole the vehicle,” he reminded her. “Stan told us that you had said it was ready for pick up.”

He then picked up the folder again, scanning through it. “We would have just gone for him, but then we found this.”

He tossed a photo to her. She wanted to reach for it, but the chains on her hooves prevented that. Instead, she was forced to lean forward and merely look at it. It was a photograph of the entrance to Las Pegasus State College. There she was, leaning on a long staff. Her leg was still wrapped in green leaves, allowing the juices to soak into her skin. To the right was Crumble, the son of a famous general. And a yellow Pegasus mare with long pink hair in-between the two. She was as nervous as ever. Even from the photograph, Cookie could see the fear in her eyes. Not that she blamed her. After all, the whole bucking world was out to get her.

“We know about Crumble.” He pointed at the picture with his hoof, pointing straight to the yellow Pegasus. “Do you know this one?”

Cookie raised her head and turned away with a sigh. She knew her. How could she forget her? After everything that she had done for her, it was impossible. She was a victim. So, Cookie kept her mouth shut. She only stared at the dull wall beside her, trying not to make eye contact with the cop across from her.

The cop continued to stare. “Is she a friend? A family member?”

Cookie didn’t bother to come up with a lie nor an explanation. Her friend just wanted to be left alone. And after the shit she had been through, nopony deserved it more.

“I can’t help you unless you help me,” the officer stated. “The vehicle is being returned, but you still played a part in the theft. You drove it all the way to Las Pegasus State College.” He motioned to a photo of the three of them. “And left it there. The car wasn’t damaged and it isn’t likely you will face much jail time and I will ask the judge to go easier on you if you cooperate.” He pointed to the yellow Pegasus once more. ”Who is she?”

Cookie continued silently staring at the wall, refusing to turn. Suddenly, the door began to screech open. The cop and Cookie turned their heads to see another officer. He whispered something in the officer’s ear. The first officer gave the other a shocked expression, raising his eyebrow, his jaw dropping.

He then picked himself off the chair and regained his stern and cool manner. “Will you excuse me?”

Cookie rolled her eyes. Like I get a choice.

The door closed as the two officers once again left Cookie in the room, alone. Cookie sat in the room for several minutes, with nothing but the photos in front of her to entertain her thoughts. She exhaled deeply as she sunk into the chair, which released an irritating squeak.

The silent room caused her to think of Crumble and why he wasn’t arrested. After all, he was the one who actually stole the car. True it was because she told him too. She also didn’t tell him that it wasn’t her car to take in the first place. But he drove off with it, posing as Mr. Popcorn. She thought that maybe his father, General Thunderbolt, had something to do with it. He probably made up some bullshit story about how Crumble was just a victim being held captive.

She stared around the room for what seemed like hours. The officers were sure taking their sweet ass time. It pissed Cookie off sitting in that small interrogation room with nothing but old photos of her past to occupy her time. She didn’t want to see the photos, but her hooves were still chained to the chair and turning her head around only distracted her for so long.

Time rolled by even still and Cookie was getting annoyed. She struggled against her bonds and shouted, “Hey!” Her voice bounced off the walls, echoing through the small room. “I’m still in here!” She struggled again, but there was no response to her words. She continued to scream for several minutes, but nothing came of it all. She heaved a heavy sigh, forcing herself to sit and wait for the officer to come back in.

A few moments later, the officer finally re entered the room. He and another officer appeared before Cookie. The second officer came to Cookie’s side and started to unlock the cuffs that held her in the chair. “Mr. Wood will escort you out of the building. You are free to leave.”

Cookie moved her head back, raising her eyebrow. She felt the restraints around her hooves loosen and finally release. Cookie looked at the officer across from him. “Why? Did somepony post bail?”

The officer came to table and started to gather the photos and files, putting them together neatly. “No, Mrs. Popcorn decided not to press charges.”

Cookie’s ears shot straight up, her eyes widened immensely. All she could do is look at the officer with her mouth hung down. She couldn’t believe what she had just heard. She took a minute to think about what she had heard. Mrs. Popcorn? Maybe she had simply heard wrong. But she had to be sure. “I’m sorry… Did you say … Mrs. Popcorn?”

The officer gave her a confused look. “Yes. I did. Mrs. Popcorn is not pressing charges for the theft of her vehicle.”

Cookie’s mind was warped into a frenzy of thoughts. Why did Mrs. Popcorn not press charges? Why wasn’t Mr. Popcorn pressing charges? It was his bucking vehicle! And why would the officer say it was her car? It was Mr. Popcorn’s car. She had seen the paperwork for it when she was repairing it. It made no sense.

However, she had hit a lucky break. She would most likely be let off the hook and she would be free to leave. Despite the strangeness of the circumstances, she got up off the chair and smirked. “Just… making sure I heard right.”

She followed the bulky officer out the doorway and into the hallway. She looked into the police station where several ponies either waited to be interviewed or transferred to a holding cell. The sounds of crying came to her ears as she looked upon a mare who was weeping for her young colt. He was being escorted into a deeper part of the station.

The sounds were an eerie reminder of what Cookie had been through in her life. The mistakes she had made and the price she had paid.

She looked out to the front desk where she saw something that caught her eye. Standing there, looking straight at her with a smirk and leering eyes, was a mare with a bright pink coat and a dark purple mane. She eyed the mysterious mare, examining her closely. She looked extremely familiar, but Cookie couldn't put her hoof on it. After a moment, the mysterious mare trotted to the doorway, leaving the police building.

Cookie’s feet took over her body in mad rush to follow that mare. She was familiar. Cookie didn’t know why, but she knew she had seen her before. She burst through the doorway and examined her surroundings. She saw several ponies going about their business, whether they were trotting, driving, or flying, they all seemed to intent on their own issues to see one earth mare.

Cookie scanned the area again, taking careful note of all the ponies around the area. However, the mysterious mare was gone. Cookie scoffed, unable to come up with words to describe what she felt. She did, however, feel confused and angry. What did that mare want? Who was she? Why was she looking at me?

As Cookie’s stomach roared, she forgot all about the mare. Her mind raced with what she was going to do. It was still a long march to Hoofington and she was already starving. She started down the road, her thoughts filled with how she would make it back to her apartment with no money and no food.

She started to travel down what seemed to be the slums of Las Pegasus. Homeless ponies were stacked up against a burning barrel, desperate to keep warm against the coming cold. The buildings around her looked like they were under constant repair. Wooden planks barred the doors on a few, stating plainly ‘Keep out’.

Her stomach kept reminding her of her current situation. It bellowed with anger as Cookie continued to walk the streets. She needed food and soon.

As she trotted, something caught her eye. She looked to her right to see a mare walking down the street with her child. The child laughed playfully as she darted in front of her mother. Cookie tried to smile, but couldn’t. Her hunger made sure of that. She shook her head and continued on her way.

She then heard the scream of the mare. Her head quickly turned in her direction and saw a stallion rushing off with the mare’s purse. “Stop him, please!” the mare shouted.

Like a bullet, Cookie gave chase after him. The stallion looked behind him and took note of the pony only a few feet behind him. He pushed himself even faster, sporting a frightened look. However, Cookie pushed herself even harder as well. Her leg started to tingle, but she ignored it as best she could.

So much for no strenuous activity, she thought. Within a split second, Cookie had almost appeared even with him. She leaped towards him, wrapping her hooves around his hind legs. The two fell to the ground. The impact forced the purse out of the thief’s hooves, sending it down the street a few feet.

Cookie stood over the criminal and slammed her front hoof into his jaw. Before he had a chance to react, she smashed her hoof into his face again. She then grabbed his head and forced his eyes to look into hers. His mouth and his nose were bleeding. His eyes widened as they stared deeply into Cookie’s narrowed brow.

“Get out of here,” Cookie growled. The stallion brushed away Cookie’s hooves and scurried to his feet. He ran as fast as he could, completely disregarding the bag.

Cookie made her way to the purse and picked it up. She examined it for a moment, looking inside.

A voice then came from behind her. “Oh, thank you.” Cookie turned back to the mare, who was taking in deep breaths. She raised her head with a smile. “You got my purse back.”

Cookie gave a grin as she turned around. She extended her hoof with the purse. “Just doing what I need to.” The mother took it with a smile as she wrapped it around her body.

The little filly came up from behind her mother and leaped with glee. “You’re my hero!”

Cookie almost laughed, but instead gave a frown. She turned her gaze away as the little filly came up to her. “When I grow up, I want to be just like you.”

Cookie felt her heart drop. She turned towards the filly and smiled. She patted her on the head. “Grow up to be better.”

The mother called to her child as she continued down the road. The filly skipped along, asking her mother if she had seen what Cookie had done and how fast she had moved.

Cookie turned back down the road and looked down at her hoof. There lied a small bag of bits. Bits that had come from that mare’s purse. Grow up to be better than me, kid.

She held the bag close to her chest and continued down the road, knowing that what she did was wrong. But in the end, what choice did she have? As she wandered through the city, desperate for a bite to eat, she started to wonder if she had really left her past behind her.

Author's Notes:

Hey, guys. Thank you for reading Chapter 2 of Ghost Rider.

A big, huge thank you to SilverScope. Lunar Avenger and The Invincible Iron Brony They were so awesome to help me out with the proof reading for this chapter. If you haven't check them out yet, please do. They are great guys and I know you will enjoy their work.

Stay turned for more updates soon. Until then take care.