Jump!

Story 3

Chapter 1: It's Different Here

By: FluttersIsAwesome

It took about fifteen hours, includin' a few stops t' rest, but as Ah continued down the road, I could see the skyscrapers of Manehattan ahead. If Ah hadn't been so tired, Ah woulda ran. Ah was gittin' close when a big brown stallion with a hard hat stopped me.

"Sorry, ma'am, this road's closed for reconstruction." He pointed to a road to the left. "If you need to get into the city, the detour will take you there. It's only about an extra half hour, sorry if it's an inconvenience."

It was a slight irritation, but Ah smiled. "Thank ya kindly!" Ah started down the road but he ran up to me.

"Excuse me ma'am! I just wanted to tell you to be careful. That road takes you through a... not-so-kind part of the city. I would go with you, but these numbskulls can't tell their asses from their elbows."

We both laughed, n' Ah turned t' leave again. "Don' worry, Ah can handle m'self." Ah never thought Ah would eat those words almost as soon as Ah en'ered through the gates.

Ah looked around. "So this is Lower Manehattan." There were tons o' ruined buildin's, n’ it seemed like each structure had at least one broken window. The sidewalks were covered in trash n' the roads were littered with cracks n' potholes. There was only one streetlight fer every four corners Ah turned, and it smelled worse than a pile o' cow pies. Not only that, but the whole time Ah was walkin', Ah felt like Ah was bein' watched. Then a chill ran up my spine as Ah heard hoofsteps around me.

Ah turned behind me t' see if Ah had been followed, but nopony was there. "H-hey! Quit horsin' around, this ain't funny!" Ah wish Ahdda just kept walkin'.

Ah was grabbed n' pulled into an alley by two colts. Ah couldn't see 'em very well, but Ah freaked. One of 'em gagged me n' pinned me t' the wall, holdin' my arms behind me.

"Hoo, we raked in today, Lead!" Ah heard one of 'em say. "Looks like a country girl too. Tasty."

Ah shuddered as Ah felt a tongue slide up my ear. The one called Lead grabbed him and pulled him back.

"Idiot! We're here for her money!"

Ah gasp agained as he held me down. "Ya got me, right? Yo' gonna hand over every bit ya got, or there will be consequences."

"Haven't you heard the phrase 'Don't hit a lady'? Mighty rude of ya, bro."

Ah opened my eyes when Ah felt the pressure on my hooves lift. At the bright end o' the alley, there was a light grey colt with a blue armband on 'is right foreleg. Both thugs got up offa me n' took out knives.

"Don't mess with us, Specter!"

----------------------------------------------------------------------

I got there just in time. Had I been a second later, them thugs woulda had their way with that mare. When I saw 'em pull out their knives, I pulled down the brim of my cap; it was my usual sign that I was ready fo' a fight. But I need to get the chick outta here. I figured the best thing to do would be to get the mare out first since I had two officers hidin' up on the roof.

I glared at one of 'em an’ stood up on my hind legs, raisin' up my front ones halfway: the sign to subdue when the thugs moved. "Heh. I don' even know where to start wit you. I mean, do you even know who ya talkin' to?" I walked over to Lead and got up in ‘is face. "I’m not the kind of pony ya wanna go messin’ wit."

He took a swing at me an’ I jumped over 'im, landin' right beside the young ladeh. Both my officers jumped on Lead an’ Dom, so I picked 'er up an’ untied the gag.. "How fast can ya run?"

She looked at me blankly.

I grunted. Great, an airhead. "I'm here to get ya outta here. How fast can you run?"

She turned to the alley openin'. "How fast do ya need?"

From 'er accent, I could tell she was from some country town in the boonies. "Nevermind... there are sure to be mo' guys comin', let's go." I got on my hind legs again an’ lifted 'er in my arms. "Hold on."

Despite 'er rather loud "Put me down!", I took off outta the alley. She put 'er arms around my neck, an’ that let me drop the hammer an’ go full speed now that I knew she wouldn't fall. As I came up to a fire escape, I jumped on the ladder. It was easy to use the windowsills as platforms an’ I made my way higher and higher 'til I got to the roof. Never breaking stride an’ never slowin’ down, I jumped from rooftop to rooftop. "So, where ya headed, brah?"

'Er response was the best thing I heard all day. "Orange Manor."

"So I'm guessin' you're from the Apple family, then?"

She nodded. "Applejack."

I assumed it was 'er name, so I thought it only polite to respond wit my own. "Rush. Jet Rush."

She smiled at me. "Pleasure to meet yer acquaintance, Jet."

I couldn't help but smile back to 'er, she sho' was pretty. "Same to you, Applejack." I stopped on a roof about two thirds of a mile away from where I got 'er and set her down. "So, you mind tellin' me what a good-lookin' cowgirl like yourself is doin' here in the bad side of Manehattan?"

"Ah came t' see my relatives. One of 'em's comin' home from the army, and Ah got invited t' come t' the welcome home celebration."

I nodded. "Alright." I held out my hoof to 'er. "I know a quick way to Upper Manehattan. I'll take ya there, sweet cheeks."

'Er cheeks turned pink at my comment, an’ I had to suppress a laugh. She took my hoof an’ I lifted her up again. "Sorry 'bout the rude welcome, things are different here in the city."

Next Chapter: Chapter 2: Change of View Estimated time remaining: 35 Minutes