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Story 3

Chapter 3: Meet The Crew

By: FluttersIsAwesome

The sewer smelled worse than the city itself. Ah covered my nose with my hat n' followed Jet. He took me down to tunnel a ways n' pushed me against the wall.

"Stay still." Ah tried my best t' keep from movin' as he slid his hoof along a groove in the walkway. When he reached the end, the wall rotated n' now the two o' us were in a long hallway.

"Final stretch, brah." He told me.

Ah looked at him n’ walked behind him cautiously. We approached a large door n’ he knocked on it; no password or secret switch this time, the door just opened.

"Uh... why no security?"

Jet grinned. "Look behind ya."

Ah did so, and t' my surprised there were two colts Ah didn't even notice standin' on either side o' the hall. "Oh... alright then."

We walked through the door, n' it was like Ah was in a whole ‘nother world. The room looked like some kinda science movie. There were monitors n' keyboards everywhere, with multiple ponies monitorin' wherever the cameras connected t' their monitors were.

"What in sam hill is this place?"

Jet laughed. "There's a reason I trust ya so heavily. See, the Orange Family's the only bunch of Corporates that bothers to help us. They can't give us money or nothin', that would be too noticeable."

He led me through the rooms as he talked.

"They make their money wit this stuff. They make electronics, an' a simple boost in production won't attract no attention." He turned t' me when he saw my confused look. "See, the Oranges can't do nothin' if they get bumped down to our level. They gotta be careful so that they don't make it obvious they're helpin' us. If they get found out, they'll probably lose all their money. They're also not powerful enough on they own to try an' stand up to the rest of the Corporates. Instead, they supply us wit this technology. See, if the Oranges send us money, they profits drop. The Corporates will take notice of that. If they send us this stuff, however, all it takes is a little boost in production. That kinda stuff is a common moneymaking method, so they send the extra stuff to us."

"Wow..." Ah looked around, n' he had led me into a smaller room with three other ponies in it.

"Alright, guys, line up!"

The three o' 'em jumped up n' lined up in front o' him sideways. He nodded at me n' introduced each one o' 'em. The first was a big, muscly-lookin' blue colt with a lighter blue mane n' tail.

"Applejack, this is Steele. 'E's responsible fo' trainin' all the new ponies. I used to do it myself, but things started gettin' busy."

He nodded at me n' held out his hoof. "Pleasure, ma'am." Ah shook it kindly, but he didn't say another word.

"'E's not much fo' talkin'. Now, this is Marigold." He motioned t' a light green mare that looked about his age. Ah shook her hoof n' noticed her cutie mark, or rather her lack o' one.

She looked like she was slightly offended. "I was stabbed about a year ago... right in my flank. The scar it left covers my mark..."

Ah blushed. Ah didn't realize Ah was starin', so Ah bowed t' her. "Ah'm mighty sorry. Didn't mean t' stare."

She smiled at me. "It's fine, don't worry 'bout it."

Jet smiled, too. "Marigold here is in charge of maintenance. If it's broke, take it to 'er. She knows mo' 'bout this stuff then I think most ponies here know combined!"

Ah chuckled a bit t' myself. However, the humor was killed instantly he introduced the last o' the three. It was the little filly from earlier.

Jet picked her up. "An' this is-"

She shot me a salute. Her voice was squeaky, n' combined with her homeless-but-hopeful appearance, she was down right adorable.

"Sprint Rush, at your service!" Everypony started laughin'. She was so dang cute. She smiled at me n' put her arm down. "Big Brother calls me the 'Head of High Spirits'!"

Jet nodded. "Little Sprint here is in charge of keepin' everypony from gettin' depressed."

Sprint grinned proudly. Ah thought t' myself. Well o' course, how can ya be sad when somethin' that cute is starin' at ya?

Ah patted her head. "Heh, you remind me o' my little sister, Applebloom." Ah looked around at all the friendly faces, n' Jet turned to me.

"I know it's sudden, but you've seen what we gotta deal wit. Applejack, this is what we fightin' fo'."

Steele chimed in. "I'd hate to see Sprint have to grow up in a place where she got no future."

Jet had his hoof over mine now. "Applejack... will ya help us?"

Ah looked around again n' thought about it. All the pain, the fear, the lack o' hope that Ah saw on the streets.

Ah remembered what happened earlier, how Jet cried when he told Sprint there won't no food.

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We all stood there, waitin' fo' Applejack's reply. She hung 'er head, an' after 'bout three minutes she looked at us again.

"Ah will."

I felt the grin cross my face fast than a bullet. Witout thinkin', I jumped on 'er an' wrapped 'er in a hug. "Yo' awesome, Applejack! Thank you!" When I didn't get smacked, I opened my eyes to look up at 'er. She was blushin', but she was smilin' too.

Then she pushed me ova' an' got on me to return the hug. Everypony started laughin' again, except me an' Applejack. She was too busy starin' at me, an' fo' some reason I couldn't help but stare back. Every time our eyes met, it felt like I found somethin' new 'bout 'er that I liked.

"Well, if yo' gonna be one of us, we gotta train ya."

Steele stepped forward an' saluted, but I dismissed 'im. "Naw, man, I'll do it myself this time."

I saw Marigold's face twist into a sly grin. "I think somepony may have ulterior motives for letting Applejack join."

We both turned to 'er, an' were both blushin'. Applejack opened 'er mouth to say somethin', but I decided to humor Marigold. I grabbed Applejack an' pulled 'er close to me.

"Aw, I've been found out. Yeah, yeah, it's all true." I rubbed 'er back gently, an' I saw 'er blush heavily. I was too, but we both thought it was funny.

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Ah shivered a bit as he rubbed my back. Ah couldn't tell if her was jokin' or not, but Ah put my arms back around him n' we both laughed.

The entire group was busy laughin', but Ah finished early n’ looked at Jet, lost in my own thoughts. Ah was embarrassed at myself... Jet, how can you be so friendly to a pony you just met?

Next Chapter: Chapter 4: Trainin' Day Estimated time remaining: 26 Minutes