The convey slowly made our way out of the region known as Icily Hell. We saw old mining machines and drills, even mine cards covered in rust laying the tracks that had been rusted and buried under the blackened dirt surrounding them.

We reached the edge of the mine seeing a metal chain fence from the road heading to one of many exits and the one we’re heading to is one of the main gates with a forgotten security box at the entrance. The lights were on at the box thanks to the restored power to the facilities.

The gate was open seeing that it was rusted open with lights that still burned showing the coming and going of the mine.

The gravel road mixed with the blackened dirt grew slowly starting to get covered with snow the farther away from mine you got.

John leading the convey with me taken up the rear. “OK, stay close; But give yourself enough stopping distance just in case.” John tells us over the radio.

The sun has already gone over the horizon slowly turning the sky towards the night sky above them the night showing the dark blue awara lights dancing across the night sky with the gas giant and the other planets.

The dirt road gets a layer of ice building up the further we when. Tires beginning to slip from the icy road that lays before us.

I heard Pinky over the radio that nearly scared me. “James, I notice a needle reaching E.” This makes me look at my gas line seeing that it’s also getting low dropping below the quarter mark. “Damn, everyone check your fuel levels.” I ask them over the radio.

“My show a quarter mark a little above.” Applejack answers my question.

“My showing a little below the quarter mark.” Duke answers me.

“My shows a quarter mark.” Rarity answers.

“The needle showing close to E halfway between the mark above it.” Pinky answers me.

“I’m showing between the quarter and the half mark on my bike.” Rainbow answers me.

“The one on my bike showing nearly empty.” Spike answers me.

“My showing a little above the quarter.” Twilight answers me.

“Fluttershy, what about you?” I ask her. “My showing nearly on the quarter mark.” She finally answered my question.

“John, how many gallons does that truck of yours hold?” I ask him over the radio. “This truck can hold 300 gallons of diesel in both of my tanks, but I know there’s an old truck stop not too far from where we’re located at.” He answers my question.

“Question, is there any hydrogen there?” I ask him. “Yes, I think so. I know they have normal gas stations for gas and diesel, even charging stations for EVs.” He answers my question.

“Ok, how much further is it?” I ask him again. “Only 20 maybe 30 miles away from here.” He answered my question which made me see what the reach is, currently showing 75 miles.

“Ok, I have enough to get there.” I thought to myself.

We quickly made our way towards this station as fast we could and hopefully wouldn’t run out of fuel before reaching it.

Once we reach the station that looks a little rundown, I roll down the window letting the cold air come in, but see toxics is clear with us outside the toxic region now. I take a few deep breaths feeling the cold air going into my lungs.

“The air is cleared from the toxins.” I said out loud rolling up the window and letting the heater warm up the cab.

I see one of the fueling stations that is far from the main building with a few machines behind a wall. I pull the car up to the station and step out with the engine still on, to check the pump seeing that it still has power, and the nozzle has the hydrogen attachment that can work with my car.

So, I turned off the engine and started the refueling progress which only took nearly a minute. With the refueling complete and I pulled the car away from the pump to check on the others, seeing them refueling their vehicles.

Twilight leaning next to her car while refueling her car seeing me pulling up wanting to ask me something she gets on the radio and asks me what is on her mind.

“James, why didn’t we do this before?”

“Because there’s a holding tank of fuel back at the safe house and I refuel all cars at the end of the day which makes me take longer to refuel all cars before turning in for the night.” I answered her question.

“That’s why we were in a hurry to get back before the end of the day before we all ran out of fuel.” She tells me.

“Yes, we my face out there with the bounty on my head makes me be more careful going out. But I think it’s a little too late with all the activity we’ve been doing over the past few days now.” I responded to her statement.

“Damn.” John said over the radio making me realize that we said that over the radio.

“I know, I know.” I said in response.

Then a click from the nozzle seeing that it stopped pumping gas into her car. Soon everyone is fueled up and ready to go with only AJ’s truck being the last one to finish refueling.

“Rainbow, Spike we’re cleared from the toxics before we pulled into this station. So, you can take off those facemasks.” I tell them over the radio before seeing them without them on.

“Thanks James, but we already can tell when I pulled my facemask off before refueling my bike.” Rainbow tells me before putting on her helmet.

With refueling done and out of the way seeing the night sky above us with the streetlights at the station glowing bright from having its own power supply built right in.

The wind is calm only going a few miles right now, but the temperature begins to drop slowly at first, but this is normal for the spring months now. All that I know is this road is going to be busy with the ice roads destroyed yesterday after we got here.

The convey slowly made our way from the station and onto the open road that lay ahead before us.

75 miles later.

The convey made our way to a nearby mountain reach with over case of clouds hanging overhead; The winds picks up through these mountains making the cold air around us making it colder cause of it.

“Celestia, this is cold.” Rainbow said out loud over the radio with the suit working as hard it could try to keep her warm, but with the speed she was going and the wind itself cutting through her like hot knives causing her some discomfort making her to slow her speed right down to find some relief; But the wind keeps picking up speed the further the convey when through these mountains.

Spike feels the same effects but handing the cold better having a larger profile than her and having been used to the cold used to be a dragon before turning human, even after only being here only a day so far on the planet.

He looks up at the night sky above us seeing the Lava nearly taking up the skyline, the dark blue lights still lighting up the sky with a few clouds hanging overhead being carried over the mountains.

His bike slips on a silk piece of ice getting him getting his focus on driving and getting control back from nearly falling the Icey Road in front of him. I see this and I get on the radio. “You alright?” I asked him. “I’m alright, just nearly slipped on some ice.” He answers my question once he gets control of his bike again.

“Stay focused Spike, these will quickly make you lose control on these roads.” I told him. “Noted.” He responded to that.

The road twists and swines around through these mountains even some areas have built up layers of ice on them. But that wasn’t the only thing we were traveling these roads at the dead end of night and no streetlights only going by the headlights coming off our cars heading the way for us.

Twilight nearly spins out of control during one of turns sending herself over the edge of a what looks like a thousand-foot drop into a black abbess below. John, having trouble getting around some of the tight cures with the size of his truck, still carrying that trailer too. Rarity even with the all-wheel drive system on her supercar makes it very troublesome trying to find grip on these roads.

As for me never been on this road before but having dealt with these kinds of roads before is making a cakewalk for me to go at slow speeds and let the all-wheel drive find the best grip without having to push the car too hard making it slip.

Duke had driven on these roads before but was used to hot, dry, and sandy conditions coming from Australia and California, and his brother too.

John growing up here knows these roads, but one slip-up can bring you towards your very end with no one for miles to help you out of a bind.

The road keeps climbing through these mountains nearly reaching the clouds above us only maybe 3000 ft from reaching them. As for us, we’re trying to get through without any problems hopefully.

I thought to myself seeing those clouds and how close we are to them. “A fog bank would be troublesome for anyone who gets caught driving through it on this road.” I thought to myself.

Then I catch something in my driver-side rear-view mirror, a fog bank coming behind us quickly covering the mountains behind us and coming fast.

Before I could get on the radio to warn the others the fog reached us, and the winds really picked up speed now.

“Damn, where did all this fog come from?” Duke asks out loud over the radio which made seeing the radio near next to impossible with the headlight having the high beams on now.

“We’re going to have to stop for now. Driving through this at night will be far too dangerous, even for me.” I tell the others over the radio.

“There is a log cabin, not too far from here maybe 20 to 30 mins away.” John answers me over the radio.

“Good, I can’t see a damn thing in this stuff.” Duke said out loud over the radio.

45 mins later.

The convey slowly made our way towards this log cabin on the other side of the next rigg.

John led the convey off the main on a dirt road covered with blackened dirt with loose white snow on the edges.

“How much longer is it going to take, I’m freezing my butt off being on this bike.” Rainbow said over the radio letting loose of what was on her mind.

Just then after she said that the outline of the building’s roof with the snow covering it. “We’re here.” John said over the radio as we got closer and closer towards the building. But the size of the building looks more like a hotel than a normal log cabin.

“This is a log cabin, looks more like a hotel than anything else.” AJ said out loud seeing the building.

We reach the main entrance moments later.

Seeing the lights were off throughout the building thinking that it was abandoned but it looks like been well maintained over the years, either it just when under or it was shut down for the night with it being very late at night.

“I know the owner of this place; we can stay here for the night.” John tells us over the radio.

John gets out of his truck leaving the engine running, heading inside the building.

I get out of my car and quickly head inside behind him and hearing him calling a name into the darkness.

“Peter, I know your still here running the place.” He said out loud.

Then the light in a room behind the reception desk comes on. “John, what the hell are you doing here.” An old man with white hair and a short beard walks out wearing his PJs. “I closed this place down after no one comes down here anymore with the ice roads opened up five months ago.” He said out loud finishing what going through his mind.

“You may get more business now with the ice roads currently down.” I said out loud from that statement making his attention towards me still looking tired from being waking up in the middle of the night.

“I don’t want smart-ass remarks.” He tells me. “Sorry, I didn’t think you knew.” I quickly apologize. “I heard about it on the news last night.” He tells me in a piss-off tone in his voice.

“Listen Peter, we need some rooms for the night.” John tells him. “Like how many rooms do you need?” The old man asks.

“At least 12 rooms.” I answer out loud nearly shocking the old man. Once he quickly recovered from the shock and saw all the headlights at the front of the building seeing everyone waiting outside on the cameras.

“I was fixing to ask why, but I’ve seen everything now. Just give me a moment to get the keys.” He said out loud before going to the back and to get them.

He turns on a set of lights seeing rows of keys with keyrings on them and each one has a number on them.

He grabbed 12 keys from the second row before returning to the counter, putting them down on the countertop. “Ok, the rooms are on the second-floor east side of the building overlooking the indoor pool.” He tells us as I grab 11 of them while John grabs the 12^th key.

“And Mr. Cribb, it’s a pressure to have you and your friends here.” He tells me leaving a spooky vibe from him after grabbing the keys.

“How did he know my last name?” I thought to myself heading back outside and seeing the others waiting on me.

“Well, James do we have a place to stay for the night?” Rainbow asks me rubbing her arms trying to stay warm with the suit working on overtime for many hours now.

“We do, I have a room key for everyone.” I answer her question handing the keys out. “The rooms are on the second floor on the east side; there should be signs to help you out.” I tell them.

I look over and see somewhere to park the cars but no above or underground parking lot. This means parking the cars out in the cold, even with mods done to both bikes will be very difficult to start them up in the morning.

So, I went back inside to the front desk seeing Peter standing behind the desk. Before I could ask, he put another key on the desk with a different key ring on it with the number S1 on it.

“For the bikes, Mr. Cribb and yes they are heated.” He tells me.

I grab the key and head back outside where Rainbow and Spike are waiting on me. “I was beginning to think you were going to let the bikes freeze up for the night.” Rainbow tells me.

“Rainbow, get inside and get yourself a warm shower to warm yourself up. I’ll park your bike for you.” I tell her making her get off the bike and head in

Both me and Spike take the bikes to the storage unit near the back of the building seeing a small row of units with their unit number on them.

I open the unit marked with S1 feeling the warm air coming out. We put them inside and locked the unit back up.

“Get inside Spike and get yourself warm while you still can.” I tell him heading back towards the main entrance where my car is the only car that hasn’t let been parked.

I quickly parked the car where the others were and grabbed a few things from the trunk before heading inside with the young pup.

Once inside I see Pinky sitting in one of the chairs in the lobby and I can feel something is off with her. “Something wrong?” I ask her.

“Yes, there is something bothering me.” She answers my question making quickly asks another question.

“What is it?”

“What will happen after all of this is overdone with? Because I can feel somepony else back home feeling the same thing.” She answers my question.

“I can feel it too Pinky.” I tell her holding her hand feeling the pain she is going through.

“Thanks for listening James, I’m to get a warm shower and some rest.” She tells me getting up and heading towards the second floor.

I take a deep breath grabbing the crystal ball that had been given to Fluttershy back when the previous Guardian of the Forest World.

I made my way to 12^th room on the second floor with the young pup following close behind I looked over at out the window and saw the indoor pool with blue light coming from the rim of it.

I unlock the door opening the door turn on the light and see a queen-sized bed with a couch and a 55-inch flat-screen TV, there was also a kitchen with a table. I see a small bathroom with tows on the rack.

I removed my jacket and put the crystal ball on the table. After a quick shower, lying in bed with the pup lying next to me quickly fell asleep.

I close my eyes for only a second before hearing something like a phone ringtone. I answered the phone next to the bed before hearing the ringing somewhere else in the room I checked my mobile seeing that it wasn’t the source.

I got up to see the crystal ball lighting up with blue pluses and they lined up with the ringtones I was hearing.

“Ok, I am going to answer this.” I thought to myself before touching making the ball glow blue and hearing a voice on the other end.

Elsewhere.

Pinky was in the shower letting the warm water hit her skin, before hearing a knock on her door getting her attention.

“Coming!” She shuts from the shower turning off the water and grabbing a tow heading to the door.

“Who is it?” She asks whoever is on the other side of the door before opening it.

“Pinky, it's me.” Hearing Fluttershy’s voice.

“Fluttershy.” She responded opening the door seeing she wasn’t alone. Rainbow and Applejack standing next to her.

“Can we come in?” Rainbow asks her. “Sure.” Pinky answers her friend letting them in.

Grabbing one of the other tows to dry her now wet pink hair before giving her attention to them, as they get themselves comfortable on the couch and a nearby chair.

AJ took the chair while the others were sitting on the couch. “Ok girls, I know their something troubling your minds?” She asks them.

“Pinky, we all noticed a change in you ever scent we came here.” Applejack said out loud before Rainbow cut in.

“What gives, you acting this way?” Rainbow asks her making AJ too angry stare at her for that.

“Girls, what we are trying to say is that you have been getting close to James a lot the past few days.” Fluttershy said out loud.

“Your right, I’ve been getting close to James the past few days even with me being pregnant. But there is something more to it.” Pinky tells them.

“Then what is it?” Rainbow asks her.

“Well, even before coming here I start having these dreams of me meeting somepony that looks a lot like James now, but it looks more like a ghost than anything else.” She answers her question busy trying to dry her hair.

“Hun, that’s interesting sugar cubed.” Applejack said out loud hearing that.

“Now, girls let me put some clothes on really quick.” Pinky said out loud heading back to the bathroom.

Fluttershy noticed off about their friend but didn’t bring it up right now.

Minutes later.

Pinky walks out of the bathroom only wearing her pants and shirt, when Fluttershy gets her attention. “Pinky, are you feeling alright?” She asks her.

“It's just the past few days of me not having a lot of sugar, scent we got here, and James doesn’t use a lot of sugar in his drinks or have sweets at his home.” She answers her question.

“And I tell you girls it does affect you after a few days.” She finishes what’s on her mind.

“She isn’t lying I said some of his tea when we got here, and it wasn’t sweet but it sure is strong.” AJ said out loud. “I know, I was acting like you after only a cup of it.” Rainbow quickly responded to that response.

“All I can say is James knows how to make some good tea.” Fluttershy said out loud.

“I wonder what would happen if Celestia had some of it?” Pinky asks out loud. “I don’t know, knowing she does drink a lot of it back home.” Fluttershy answers her question the best she can.

“Ok, best for us to get some rest.” AJ said out loud getting up from where she was sitting.

“Yes, it is getting late; and going to be a long road ahead for us in the morning.” Fluttershy said out loud.

Once everyone leaves, leaving Pinky in an empty room with nothing but her thoughts of her own. Before hearing a fate voice in the room.

“Pinky.” The voice called out her name making her to turn around to see if there was anyone else still in the room, but no one was there.

“Pinky.” It calls out again before seeing a quick flash of light before seeing a young girl standing before her dress in blue flare pants and black high heel boots, a ski blue shirt showing off her midriff, and topping it off is a purple trench coat.

She’s shocked about seeing this nearly making her fall backward on the bed. “Who are you?” She asks this person.

“Nice to see you too Mom.” She said out loud. “Wait, Mom.” Pinky said out loud.

“Yes, it's me; Destiny. I’m just using my powers to do this. Don’t be mad at me for doing this and try not to take long.” Destiny tells her sitting down next to her on the bed.

Pinky takes a deep breath before saying what is on her mind. “Why are you here?” She asks her daughter.

“Well, there is something I’ve been wanting to ask your older self, but she not doing too good right now seeing her home in ruin and knowing what will happen later down; and I want to ask you because you’re going through the same thing right now.” Destiny answers her younger self.

“What do you mean?” Pink asks her again confused about what she is saying.

“For starters, there is a boy we have known each other for some time now and I trust him with my heart with him never knowing his father like there is something more between us. I have a picture of him.” She answers her question before pulling a photo of the person she’s talking about.

Destiny hands her mother the photo, making her to hold it close to get a better look.

She sees a young man no older than her daughter, pale skin with a little tan. Seeing his eyes have a yellow shade to them and his hair is short only no more than an inch in length and the color is mostly red with orange highlights in it.

The clothes he is wearing give him a bad-boy vibe. A white shirt with a black necklace with a red stone in the middle. Black leather pants and jacket, topping it off with black biker boots.

“When did you first meet?” Pinky asks her.

“It was after the Ponyville Derby when we first met. He and his mother were in town from their home on these worlds and over the years of him moving to Manehattan. Our paths crossed again in one of the coffee shops and started hitting off and asked why he was here to try and find his father and try to help him but we didn’t find anything after the link between worlds was permanently open. All that we know is that he lives in Manehattan was our only lead and he sent money every month to help.” She answers her question before having to stop.

Pinky wonders why she stopped. “Why did you stop?” She asks her. “Something to do messing with the timestream that haven’t already done.” She answers her question.

“And the real reason is to ask you because you’re feeling the same thing about Dad during this time.” Destiny finishes what is going through her mind.

“Destiny, with me still being young and not having much experience. But all I can say is trust your heart is telling you.” Pinky answers her question the best she can.

“Mom, thanks for listening. I need to get back before Dad finds out what I’m doing.” She said out loud before disappearing into a flash of white light.

“Destiny.” Pinky calls out her name before realizing she is alone in the room again.

She rubbed her eyes from a long day she just climbing into bed.

Elsewhere.

I just hung up with whoever was on the other end of the crystal ball, thinking about what was just said.

“I can’t let them win in the end.” I thought to myself.

Once I turn in for the night.

Hours later.

The room phone begins to ring.

I woke up realizing the phone was ringing and I answered the phone, I rubbed my eyes to get the tiredness from my eyes before responding. “Hello.”

“Mr. Cribb, I have a message from the owner.” The receptionist tells me.

“Then what is the message?” I asked him.

“The owner likes to meet you before you and your friends leave.” He tells me.

“Where?” I asked him.

“At the hotel bar.” He tells me.

“I’ll be there in an hour.” I tell him before hanging up.

I look over at the clock seeing that it’s a quarter after seven in the morning seeing the morning sun slowly coming over the event horizon outside the room window.

I get up hearing the bones in my back creaking and popping along the way feeling the stiffness of the steel rods.

After using the bathroom, looking in the mirror showing the tired green eyes staring back at me, remembering what happened last night and knowing what needed to be done.

I turn on the water letting the warm water fill the sink, rubbing my eyes before splashing my face with the water.

Once I feel like I’m fully awake and turn off the tap. I left the bathroom and threw on the clothes I had been wearing scent yesterday.

Grabbing the sunglasses and my hat left, heading towards the bar.

After nearly an hour later and trying to find the bar.

The place looks empty with only one person sitting a one of the back tables having some breakfast with some coffee.

The owner is an older man looking the same age as the person I met last night. “James, nice to finally meet you in person, and I can say the legends don’t lie.” He tells me.

“I was told you wanted to meet me.” I response.

“Yes, I did and it’s about that bounty that is on your head.” He tells me.

“Let me guess, it has grown?” I asked him.

“It did to nearly a billion dollars now. But this place is safe for now with this place for those who have contracts on them or those who does any kind of business for the underworld.” He tells me.

“What do mean?” I asked him.

“So, you can relax with no one knowing you’re here.” He tells me before taking a sip of his coffee.

“I’m guessing you heard about my driving skill for the underground back in Queen City?” I asked him.

“I did, and I know you’re a Guardian now.” He response.

“How?” I asked him.

“I saw a story on the news two days ago about a group of bounty hunters who were killed trying to capture a bounty that showed up in St. Peterburg. They showed a picture of your face then told the killed bounty hunter was killed by a series of lightning strikes, and I put two and two together.” He answers my question.

“Now if you excuse me James, I have to get this place up and running for not just are regulars that come here, but ones will be coming for much-needed rest until the ice roads are refrozen during the winter months, which will be six months from now.” He tells me after he finishes up his meal.

I take a deep breath before realizing what he said moments ago. “Wait, you mean other bounty hunters can come here?” I asked him.

“Yes, including others from the underground like traffickers, hitmen, and even others that I’m not going to name here.” He answers my question.

“You said this place is safe, right?” I asked him again.

“Yes, I did. There is one rule for not just here. But other places like this place throughout these worlds. Never do business on these hollow grounds or else suffer the consequences.” He answers my question.

“Sorry for keeping you waiting.” I told him. “Don’t be, I just get you up to speed with what this place is.” He tells me before getting up from the table, getting the dishes together, and heading to the kitchen.

Not knowing what would happen next, I left the bar not hungry right now heading towards the heated indoor pool to think about what to do next.

It was still early for everyone betting some were still asleep as far I can tell, so I decided to wait on them.

I reached the pool seeing the calm water waiting for someone to jump in I walked over to a set of chairs next to a table and cooled my heels a bit.

Elsewhere.

Rarity starts to wake up feeling a little off after what happened yesterday and not having a dream like the others had before.

“I guess it will come later.” She thought to herself getting up and feeling some pain coming from her feet having been wearing those 2 in heel boots all day yesterday and the day before.

“James was right about them.” She thought to herself looking at them.

She gets up and walks over to the bathroom seeing her face with no makeup on and hair amess.

She takes a deep breath before getting herself ready for the day ahead.

Applejack was already up and walking out of her room when she noticed something off about this place and over to the wall that looked a little off.

She walks over to the part of the wall to get a better look seeing that there is what looks like a doorknob. She twisted it confirming that it was a doorknob hearing something unlocking itself before trying to push on the wall.

The door was only open enough to make herself walk through, seeing a dark room covered with cobwebs in the doorway.

She wipes them away before entering the dark room.

Once she walks in seeing nothing but darkness. “Ok, there must be a light switch or something.” She told herself trying to feel the wall before something tapped her head.

“What was that?” She asks out loud before seeing what tapped her head seeing a string and quickly pulls on it making the light above her turn on showing what the darkness is hiding.

She saw a row of lights above her with their own string waiting to be pulled. “Well then, what is going on with this place?” She asks out loud quickly walking up to the next light and turning it on showing an old painting of what looks like a man in his mid to late 40’s wearing a gray suit. There is a pack at the bottom of the frame.

The Founder.

But the name underneath but it was no longer there being faded away with time.

She tries to rub it to get something only the year. 1927

“Who are you, really?” She asks out loud before hearing something in the distance.

The sounded pipe rumbled with build-up pressure within the pipe making her look upward seeing metal pipes leading to other parts of the of the floor and throughout the building.

“There must be a good-sized boiler keeping this place warm?” She asks out loud before realizing she is alone in this place.

While looking around in the dark noticed something that looked like a button. “Ok, what do you do?” She asks before pushing it not knowing what will happen.

She hears something moving and unlocking themselves before seeing the wall moving in front her revealing it to be a window looking into one of the rooms.

“Interesting, who’s room is this?” She thought to herself before hearing the shower going inside the room.

She sees another button with pipes overhead. She pushes the button showing the bathroom where she is looking at seeing someone in the shower, but having a hard time seeing who’s in the shower thanks to the steam around the person.

Rarity feels the hot water hitting her skin. “Hun, I needed this.” She said out loud not knowing that she was being watched.

“Rare.” AJ said out loud seeing her friend making her reach for the button before stopping in her tracks when she heard her friend starting to be humming to a song that she hasn’t heard in years.

“I know this song.” She thought to herself remembering the first time when she heard it.

It was not long after I came back to Ponyville after spending some time in Manehattan. I saw Rarity and told me she had gotten her cutie mark the same day I did after that rainbow ring showed up out of nowhere the other day.

When we heard something over the radio at one of the stores about a contest coming to town and we had an idea of doing this with another friend of mine who has a great singing voice I met at camp.

We got up in touch with her and made a song that wasn’t good at first and asked help from a starting-up artist from our class with a blue mane and white coat like Rare.

After nearly a week with her help, we got something that would blow away the competition.

On the day of the contest, there must have been nearly 100 ponies signed up for this. We were the ones near the end to perform.

Everypony was scared out of their minds not knowing what would happen. But once it was over and done with.

We gave it our all and from the shock of the crowd left them speechless. We thought they didn’t like us made us nearly walk off stage before hearing the sound of clapping and cheers even those who were already when on were cheering for us too.

We didn’t care if we won or not by that point, but we did.

AJ breaks away from her flashback-down memory when hears the water being shut off and Rarity getting out of the shower dripping wet. AJ quickly pushes the button closing the wall.

“Damn, I need to calm down a little before things get too hot.” She thought to herself.

Quickly making her way out of there, reaching the door where she found it moments ago. Looking for the knob seeing nothing there. “Ok, there must be something else here.” She thought to herself still trying to find the mechanism to unlock the door.

Then she found something to unlock the door and quickly made her way towards the other side.

“Ok, I least I was able to get out of that before Rare found out.” She thought to herself pulling the now open door closed.

Elsewhere

Spike is still sounded asleep when he hears a knock on his door, waking him up.

“Ung.” He growled after being woken up before hearing a voice on the other side of the door.

“Spike, you up?” Twilight asks him. “I am now.” He responded after getting up from bed.

“Well hurry up I think the others are waiting on us.” She tells him through the door.

“Alright just let me get dressed first.” He responded only wearing his underwear before seeing the jumpsuit he had been wearing back on.

“I’ll wait for you downstairs.” She tells them before leaving.

Meanwhile, I had been in a chair for what felt like forever now after what happened last night. Still feeling chill going up the rods in my back feeling pins and needles being stick into me.

I reach into my coat pocket grabbing a bottle of painkillers I have on hand for minor pain such as this. I opened the bottle and took two 800 milligrams pills and quickly took them.

I take a deep breath after taking them before thinking to myself. “That will take some time.”

I get up putting the bottle back into my coat pocket before heading back inside. Seeing the small number of staff working like bees getting things ready for the day. I see them setting up a breakfast buffet for both the staff and guests.

I can feel my stomach finally waking up. I see the owner and receptionist talking about something that I can’t hear.

I see John is already up heading to where I met the owner earlier this morning.

“Hey James.” He calls out to me getting my attention.

“Hey John.” I response.

“How long you been up?” He asks me. “I've been up scent 7 in the morning.” I quickly respond answering his question.

“Heading towards the breakfast buffet?” He asks me. “I guess so.” I answer him.

“Good looks like they are finishing setting up the buffet.” He tells me seeing the staff working like busy bees trying to finish up.

“What time do they start serving?” I ask him. “They normally start around 8.” He quickly answers my question making to look at my watch seeing that only 5 mins after 8.

“Must be running late.” I said out loud. “Yeah, they are sometimes late, but that's rare.” He response.

“I’m guessing you already met the owner?” He asks me. “Yes, we met earlier.” I answer him.

“He told you what this place really is?” he asks me. “Yes, he told me.” I quickly answer his question.

“Good, he told me when I first came here, like you I sometimes work for the underworld.” He tells me has we head towards the buffet where I met the owner earlier.

“The buffet is included with the price with the room the lunch and dinner buffet are the only times they charge you. But came in late last night that we missed the dinner buffet.” He has grabs a plate from a stack of plates.

He starts loading up with some scribble eggs. I grab a plate from the stack and grab some eggs seeing some beacon grabbing a few strips, grabbing two pieces of toast. Before finishing getting some hashbrowns.

But what I need most right now is coffee. Seeing a coffee and tea bar at the end. I grab the biggest cup that they have and fill it with some coffee. I look seeing some half-half cream and pour some in before grabbing the sugar and pouring in then mixing it up.

I tasted some of it before making sure it was right. “Yap, pure Columbian.” I said out loud feeling the taste was just right and how I liked it.

With the coffee made and my plate loaded up, I made my way towards a nearby table before seeing some of the others coming.

Pinky, Fluttershy, and Rainbow see me heading towards one of the tables with a plate loaded up with breakfast.

“Wonder what kind of pancakes they have?” Pinky said out loud grabbing a plate with Flutters and Dashy close behind.

Pinky made a beeline towards the pancakes grabbing like six of them and the syrup packets while Fluttershy grabbed some fruit and a few pancakes.

As for Rainbow when for some pancakes but also some cereal that looks like back in Equestria.

As for drinks, Pinky grabs some orange juice, and Fluttershy grabs some pineapple juice. Rainbow grabs some milk for her cereal and some coffee.

Once everyone got what they needed and made their way towards where I was sitting at, seeing that I’m putting the eggs and bacon on the toast making it into a sand switch leaving the hashbrowns as a side dish.

“Hay James, see that you’re already up.” Rainbow tells me sitting down at the same table with her friends.

“Where’s the pup?” Pinky asks me before putting some pancakes in her mouth.

“He’s back in the bedroom.” I quickly answered her question taking a bite of the sand switch.

“Before I leave here, I’ll get him some food.” I tell them before going for another bite.

While the others were enjoying their meal, but I could feel something was wrong. Even after what the owner told me earlier this morning.

Pinky notices this and asks me something getting my attention. “You alright?”

“I don’t know, but something feels off.” I answered her question.

Then I see one of the staff almost running towards the owner and whispering something into his ear.

“We shouldn’t worry too much. After what service we offered here.” He said out loud trying to calm his employee not knowing I could hear him from across the room.

“But Sir, it’s them.” The employee said out loud.

“Well then, it going to be a busy morning.” The owner said out loud before walking over towards I’m at.

“James, we need to talk.” He tells me.

“Excuse me.” I told the others before getting up and grabbing the cup of coffee I didn’t want to go to waste.

I followed him to the other side of the room.

“James, it looks like we’re going to have some community here soon.” He tells me.

“Your staff is aching like that is a bad thing from what I heard.” I quickly responded before taking another slip of my coffee.

“Anyway James. Things are bad around here with the Commission wanting to take away the safeguards here and that's what got him scared.” He tells me.

“Then what?” I ask him.

“What coming is a task force from the Reds being led by their second in command.” He tells me.

“Black Hand.” I quickly said out loud.

“I’m afraid so.” He response.

“They have been trying to find me for only God how long now.” I said taking another slip.

“There is still time James.” He tells me before finishing the last of my coffee.

“No, it’s time that I finished this; once and for all.” I said leaving him shocked by my response.

I begin to leave the room before grabbing some bacon from the buffet before heading back towards my room.

The young pup sees me with the bacon in my hand but feels something off about me. I was taking deep breaths feeling something in me awaking up anger, regret, fear, and something else power of a coming storm that lay ahead.

I hand the pup the bacon before heading to the bathroom to look in the mirror taking off my sunglasses and seeing that my eyes are changing color to a purple color, feeling creaking in my jolts and my back knowing what is about to happen.

KNOCK, KNOCK.

I hear a knock on the door. “James.” Hearing Pinky’s voice on the other side. I didn’t think to grab my sunglasses before answering, she got a good look into my eyes seeing the change in color showing something changed in me.

“Your eyes.” She tells me.

“I know they change.” I said before seeing that she was carrying a to-go plate with what was left of my breakfast.

“James, there is something wrong?” She asks me as she lets herself in.

“Do you remember when you and your friends came through that riff?” I ask her as she sits on the edge of the bed.

“Yes, I do.” She quickly responded to the question.

“And do you remember that I minted something about the Reds while I closed the riff?” I asked her to leave her a little confused, making her think a bit before answering.

“I think so. Why do you ask?” She response.

“Well, there is something about that. There is a task force heading here too, no doubt to arrest me or kill me; but all that I know is, not good to those I work or live here.” I told her.

“Do you mean those who been coming after us?” She asks me about what I just said.

“Maybe. But those who came after us lately could be from this task force.” I answer her question the best I can.

“Well, do you have a plan?” She asks me.

“I got something coming it going to take time to be ready.” I answer her.

“What about the others?” She asks me.

“I don’t know.” I quickly answered her question.

“Well James, you’ll find out a way.” She tells me getting up and leaving the room.

“I sure hope so this time.” I said out loud after she left.

Here is 58^th chapter in the series.

After working on some other project and working my day job is taking a lot of my time lately making the progress move at a snail's pace.

I've been working on my drawings and writing when I get a chance to, so the next chapter will take some time to be uploaded.

That is all for now.
This is James Cribb.
Signing Out.