Master Thief Dragon

After Spike was unmasked and taken away by Tirek and his goons, Byakko left seeing his work was done.

“And just where do you think you're going?” Applejack asked him.

Byakko answered, “My task is done. Dragon didn't have to die, but I have a feeling Tirek will make him wish he was dead.”

“And what makes you think we're letting you go?” The country girl asked feeling ready to jump him.

“Because a hired hand is the least of your worries.” Byakko walks away.

Celestia, Luna, and Cadence knew despite their masters abduction this was no time grieve. They each pulled out a clicker and clicked on it. Suddenly two cars drove up, as Celestia and Luna commandeered one while Cadence took the other.

“Get in.” Celestia ordered the girls.

The girls still shaken by what happened couldn't help but follow orders with Rainbow, Twilight, and A.J getting in Celestia's car, while Rarity, Pinkie, and Fluttershy got in Cadence's. The two cars drove out of the cemetery and through the city.

Rainbow noticed they were driving out of the city and spoke to Celestia, “Hey, where are you taking us?” she received no answer from either sister but still insisted, “Hello! Where are we going!?” Meanwhile Applejack and Twilight were still too shocked to even question their driver.

The two vehicles drove through the forest before driving right into a tunnel. The girls looked out the windows seeing nothing but darkness until they saw a light up ahead. The cars came to a stop upon reaching the end of the tunnel.

They got out of the cars and saw they were in a garage with the walls decorated in various gadgets wielded by the master thief himself, “Whoa! Check out all the hardware.” Rainbow marveled.

“All these belong to Spike?” Fluttershy wondered.

Rarity noticed some display cases containing various other Dragon thief costumes worn by those who came before him, or ones made for certain situations like a camouflage one, a winter one, a diving one, a radiation resistance one, and many more.

“So it's all true,” Rarity said a she looked in awe at the costumes. "Our teacher...Dragon..."

“Come on, keep moving.” Luna escorted her and the others to an elevator.

They all piled inside the elevator and when the doors closed they went up. The girls were still loaded with questions but couldn't bring themselves to ask at the moment.

Finally they reached the floor and the doors opened up to reveal they were in Spike's apartment, “Whoa. I might have to consider becoming a teacher if this is what the salary gets you.” Rainbow looked around.

“And here I thought Spike had a dinky apartment and was too ashamed to show us.” Pinkie said.

“Wonder what else he hasn't told us?” Rainbow added.

Celestia turned to Luna and spoke, “Go and track our master's coordinates. We need to know where Tirek is taking him.”

“At once.” Luna confirmed.

Celestia turned to Cadence, “Gather as much weapons and gadgets as you can.”

“Right.” Cadence confirmed.

Before the two could carry out their orders, the six girls stopped them and erupted into questions.

“Time out!” Rainbow began, "Just what is all this?”

“Spike has been living a double life and I think you owe us an explanation!” Twilight asked, while freaking out.

“Our dear Spike...our teacher....how did we not realize it?” Rarity asked in shock.

“Girls, please!” Celestia stopped them, “You all need to calm down.”

“And why should we listen to you?” Twilight asked suspiciously.

“Because you can trust me.” Celestia removed his mask to reveal her face, which left the girls in more shock.

“Principal Equestrius?!” the cried.

“You mean to tell us that you worked for Spike this whole time?” Rarity asked in confusion.

Applejack gasped upon realization, “It was you. You were one of the three who got Spike away and out of the forest that night the Maulers attacked.”

“And how do you know about Spike, Applejack?” Rainbow wondered, as the the girls drew their attention towards Applejack.

“Enough! Right now, Master Spike needs help. So explanations will have to wait.” Celestia ordered, as she and Luna left the room.

The girls eventually got over their shock over Celestia's reveal, before turning their attention to Applejack again. Before the country girl could speak, Twilight angrily grabbed her by the collar and spoke, “How long? How long did you know about Spike?!”

“When Spike was navigating me through the Everfree Forest the night the Maulers attacked the farm," Applejack said, shocked that Twilight had grabbed her, "I figured out who he was using knowledge only Spike knew.”

“And why didn't you tell us?!” the brainy girl continued to lash out.

Applejack angrily pushed Twilight off her to answer, “Because I made a promise to Spike!! He promised me that he would tell us everything once this whole thing was over!!”

Twilight not looking satisfied by A.J's answer, continued, “I think you've know more than you're letting on! Like Spike and Cadence's relationship! All this time you've pretended to hate Dragon and giving us grief for supporting him, but you were secretly supporting him behind our backs? Why should I believe anything that comes out of your mouth, Applejack!?”

The girls gasped at Twilight's bomb dropping, while A.J got so mad at Twilight she just slapped Twilight across the face, “Get over yourself, girl!”

Twilight growled and tried to launch herself at Applejack, only for Rarity and Pinkie to hold her back, while Rainbow restrained A.J from engaging in any further direct conflict, “Stop this at once, both of you!” Rarity ordered.

“You're such a liar!” Twilight accused Applejack.

“At least I'm not a petty spiteful little brat!” Applejack retorted.

All the name calling they were exchanging was bringing Fluttershy to tears, while the others couldn't believe how quickly the two were becoming enemies. Suddenly Cadence came back and saw the fighting. She quickly threw off her mask and shouted, “STOP IT! THE BOTH OF YOU JUST STOP IT!!” the girls froze and looked over seeing who yelled at them.

Once again the group was in shock, but none so much as Twilight, “Cadence?!”

“Yes, Twilight.” she confirmed.

“I think this might explain your relationship with Spike now.” Pinkie noted.

Cadence spoke to them, “Look, you're all still stressed over what happened and what you just witnessed. And you have every right to feel this way. But fighting each other is not going to help Spike. We have every intention to rescue him and when we do, everything will be explained.”

So the girls backed off, but Twilight was lost in confusion while staring at Cadence once again wondering about her and Spike's relationship. Suddenly Luna came back speaking in shock, “Something's wrong. I can't trace master anywhere.”

“What're you talking about?” Celestia asked.

“Something's jamming my signal.” Luna explained.

“But that means he could be anywhere.” Cadence said in worry.

Meanwhile Tirek's men dragged Spike down to a basement with his head covered by a hood. The guards brought the thief into a room where they sat him down and tied him to the chair. They left him alone with a close of the door.

Spike sat bound to the chair before hearing the door open again. Footsteps approached him and suddenly the bag was pulled off his head allowing him to see Tirek.

The mobster spoke, “Well, here we are, Dragon...or should I say Spike Lupin? To think that some little boy would cause me so much trouble and cost me so much.” he sneered.

Spike frowned and muttered, “Untie these knots and I'll show you how much of a man I can be.”

Tirek grabbed Spike by the throat and spoke to him face to face, “No doubt you can, Lupin. But I think you've caused me enough pain. But like I told Byakko, I have something special planned for you.”

Walking in was a man wearing glasses, a leather coat, and a black fedora. He looked over at Spike and spoke to Tirek, “This is the subject?”

“Yes. The infamous thief himself,” Tirek confirmed, “Did you bring all you needed?”

“I brought everything.” the man put a briefcase on a table and opened it up. He reached into it and pulled out a roll pouch. He opened it to reveal an assortment of torture tools.

Spike looked at the tools and gulped knowing this was going to hurt like hell. The torturer came up to Spike with a tool, “Prepare yourself, my boy. Because this is really going to hurt.” and with that he got started by using a blade to carve into his flesh.

“I'll leave you two to get acquainted.” Tirek said, as he left the room and closed the door behind him.

Meanwhile at Crystal Prep, Byakko was practicing his swordsman moves in the gymnasium. The doors opened and entering was on of Tirek's men, “Mr. Byakko.”

Byakko stopped and looked over at him, “Yes?”

“I got a special delivery for you.” the man placed a briefcase on the floor and kicked it across the floor.

It slid up to Byakko who stopped it with his foot. He opened the case seeing bundles of hundred dollar bills, “It's all here?” he asked.

“Of course.”

“Good. Now that I upheld my end of the bargain, so you best be on your way.” Byakko said.

The man was about to leave before he turned around and said, "Oh, one more thing, Byakko. My employer wanted to make sure that there were no loose ends. You understand, right?” as if on cue, a bunch of men with guns entered from all entrances of the gymnasium.

Byakko seeing he was surrounded answered, “I understand completely.” The gunmen started opening fire, but Byakko deflected the bullets and started cutting down the goons. In the confusion, Tirek's man slipped out.

When Byakko cut down the last gunman, he looked around at all the bodies before grabbing his money and exited the gym. As he walked down the hall, he saw the janitor coming. As they passed each other, Byakko slipped him one of his stacks and whispered, “Keep quiet about what happened in there and just do your job. And sorry about the mess.” when he left, the janitor looked inside the gym and saw all the bodies and blood stains.

“I need to get more mops for this.” he said to himself.

Back at Spike's apartment, as Celestia, Luna, and Cadence were discussing their plan to find their master. While at the same time, the girls sat around in uncomfortable silence not knowing what to say to each other, especially after Twilight and Applejack's blow up.

Applejack was currently looking out the window feeling mad at herself for not being able to help Spike, while still trying to get over what Twilight said to her. Rarity looking back and forth between Twilight and Applejack knew they were suffering the most. She looked over at Applejack and decided to do something.

She got up and went over to her, “Applejack, darling?” she asked, but got no response, “You know you're not the only one with secrets concerning Spike. That night when Dragon tried to steal my inherited dress and ended up saving me from that mercenary I foolishly hired? I actually kissed him. I mean I had no idea who he was back then, but looking back now I'm surprised I actually kissed the one boy I've had nothing but admiration for.” she chuckled nervously, but Applejack still didn't respond.

Realizing trying to make jokes out of a bad situation wasn't the way to go, she laid a hand on her shoulder and spoke, “Darling, call me pushing my luck, but I have the feeling everything's going to be all right.”

Applejack sighed, and finally answered her, “I should've done something for Spike. But I just stood there like a deer in headlights.”

“Applejack, be reasonable. There was nothing any of us could've done against a swordsman, a mobster, and his group of elite guards. But you did stop Byakko from killing Spike, and that counts for plenty.”

“It still doesn't matter,” Applejack said miserably, “Every second that passes Tirek could be doing who knows what to Spike. And I can't stand waiting around here for that to happen!”

“I share you pain, Applejack,” Rarity assured her, “But Spike is strong. Whatever happens to him he can take it. Like I said, everything's going to be all right.”

Fluttershy seeing Rarity's attempt to calm Applejack down, decided to do the same for Twilight. She walked over and spoke to her, “Twilight, it's going to be ok. Spike will be all right.”

“He lied to us, Fluttershy,” she answered coldly. Twilight continued her anger rising, “All this time, every day since we were younger, he's been lying to us.”

“Twilight, don't be like that. He's been trying to protect us.”

“And what about before he was protecting us?” Twilight questioned her. Fluttershy wasn't sure how to answer that, and the genius continued, “All this time I thought we knew Spike, but we didn't know a thing. The Spike we've known all this time was just a lie. Well, I hope Spike survives what he's going through right now. Because when he gets back he better have a good explanation for all this.” she tightened her eyes, while Fluttershy shivered at how serious Twilight sounded.

Suddenly Celestia and Cadence came over all suited up, “Alright, girls. The two of us are moving out.”

“Did you find Spike?” Pinkie wondered.

“I'm afraid not,” Celestia confessed, “All we can do is go to the last spot Spike's signal was before we lost it.”

“We'll have to search for clues from there.” Cadence added.

“You girls stay here and don't go anywhere.” Celestia ordered.

“You're benching us when our buddy is out there in the clutches a mobster?” Rainbow asked.

“This is what we were trained for,” Celestia explained, “And Luna will be here to monitor us.”

The girls knew they had no time to further argue with Spike's life hanging in the balance. Fluttershy spoke up, “Bring our friend home.”

“We'll do that, Fluttershy.” Cadence promised, as she and her aunt headed out.

Back with Spike, he was still tied to a chair with his torso covered in scars from the torturing. His torturer was sticking a cigarette lighter onto several points of his stomach leaving burn marks. But Spike didn't respond to the pain, much to the torturer's shock.

“I am impressed, Mr. Lupin. I have tortured many people in my years, but none of them lasted as long as you,” he admitted, “But even the toughest nuts eventually crack. And eventually you will too.” he continued to burn Spike's body, as the teen held it together.

Meanwhile, Celestia and Cadence had arrived at the industrial park looking around for clues on their master's whereabouts, “This is where his signal was lost.” Celestia told her niece.

“Yes, but there doesn't seem to be any sign to give us a lead.” Cadence noted.

Hope looked lost for the two, until Celestia looked over down the street, and saw one of Tirek's men that took Spike away. She motioned Cadence to hide with her, “Let's get the jump on him. No doubt he'll know where they took Master.” Celestia whispered.

The two trailed the man to a large building. Cadence looked up and read the sign, “Tartarus Industries?”

“Why would he come here?” Celestia wondered.

“Guess, we'll have to find out.” Cadence said, as the continued to shadow the man.

As the two got close to the building's entrance, Tirek's security appeared armed and ready. The man they were tailing spun around smirking, “Really? You think I'd let you waltz right into the boss' place? Boys, waste 'em.”

The security goons opened fire, as Celestia and Cadence dodged the bullets while fighting them off disarming them and knocking them out. Unfortunately, more kept showing up.

“At this rate we'll never find Master.” Cadence said, as she grabbed one of the guards guns and rammed the back of it into his gut.

As Celestia was facing two guards, one was coming up from behind her, until a blade pierced his back. He fell over to reveal Byakko, who plucked the blade from the guard, “A brawl and I wasn't invited? You people can be so rude.”

“Byakko?” the ladies gasped.

“What're you doing here?” Cadence asked with a frown.

“Taking care of business.” Byakko answered, as he joined the fight taking out the rest of Tirek's guards.

When one was left, he tried to get away, only for Celestia to throw a bolo tying his legs up and making him fall face first into the ground. She went over and pulled him to his feet, “Where is our master?”

“Hell if I know, bitch” he answered with a smirk.

“We know you do,” Cadence replied angrily, “We saw you were there when he was taken by Tirek. So either you tell us now, or things are going to get nasty for you.”

“Just try it.”

Byakko approached, and held a blade to the guy's neck, “If you don't answer the nice ladies, then I'm gonna have to make you answer myself.”

“Go ahead, slit my throat. Kill me and you'll really get nothing out of me.” he mocked the swordsman.

Celestia frowned and grabbed the man by the collar. She spoke severely to him, “I'm usually a very patient woman, but you're going to regret pissing me off!” She proceeded to break every bone in his body horribly resulting in him screaming in pain. Cadence and Byakko watched, with Cadence shocked at how ruthless her aunt really was, while Byakko smirked enjoying the display.

“Ready now?!” Celestia growled at the man who couldn't move a muscle.

“Alright, I'll talk!” he cried, “I don't know where the boss is holding Dragon."

Celestia got close to his face and spoke threateningly, “Not helping your situation!”

“But I know how you can find him!”

“Talk!” she ordered.

“The two towers behind the building are dampening all signals in this area. Take them out and you'll find him easier.” he cried.

“For your sake you better be telling the truth.” Celestia warned him, before turning to Cadence motioning her to follow.

Cadence followed her aunt as they went to the towers and stuck explosives on them. Celestia pulled out the trigger and with a press of a button the towers blew, “That should do it.” Celestia said, as she and Cadence returned to the entrance.

“Aunt Luna, we took out the dampening towers,” Cadence spoke to her aunt through her communicator, “Think you can track Master's whereabouts?”

In Luna's room, Luna was at her monitors while the girls were hovering around her wanting to observe. The hacker woman spoke, “I'm getting something but it's failing.”

“Where is it?” Celestia inquired.

“I'm picking up a signal at the Saddle Sore Beer Factory.”

“Saddle Sore Beer?” Cadence asked, “That beer's been out of business for years.”

“You both need to get over there pronto.”

“We're on it.” Celestia said, as she and Cadence were about to go, until Byakko spoke up.

“I'll take you there myself.”

Celestia got into Byakko's face with a knife to his torso, “I should gut you here and now for helping that monster kidnap our master!”

“Do that and you'd only be wasting your time,” Byakko noted, "Your master needs you and fighting me will only shorten his life."

“Why would you even wanna help us?” Cadence asked suspiciously.

“Well, as it turns out Tirek planned to double cross me after giving me my pay. So I figured what better way to get even then by foiling his scheme?”

“So how did you know to come here?” Celestia asked.

“Tartarus Industries is owned by Tirek. It may look like an honest to goodness company, but it's all just a front. It's also where me and the other mercenaries first gathered when Tirek hired us all. I doubt he's actually here though, the rotten luck.”

“So basically you're in this for revenge and not because you feel guilty for what you did?” Cadence inquired.

“I pride myself in a job well done, Cadence,” he confirmed. "Besides, Tirek trying to kill me...expected. A shame he didn't send more competent men for the job."

The ladies sighed, but knew they had no time to argue, “Alright. You may join us. But one wrong move and we'll make sure both you and Tirek suffer for what you did to our master.”

Byakko smirked, “Believe it or not, Celestia, your loyalty to that boy touches me. Let's go.” the three headed off.

Back with Spike, the torturer had pulled out all his tools to make Spike crack, but the thief remained silent. He just sat strapped to the chair covered in cuts, bruises, and wounds while looking like he was clinging to his life.

“How can you still resist?!” the torturer snapped, “Look at yourself. Strapped, alone, and looking worse than roadkill! Why bother resisting!? Your friends will never find you. You'll end up staying in here until you die! Face it, thief! There is no hope for you at all!” he shouted.

Spike's reaction was not what the torturer expected as the young man began to laugh, “You think all this is going to break me?” he looked up at his tormentor with a bruised lip, cheeks covered in cuts, eyes black and a wild smile, “Buddy, this doesn't even come to close to the shit I've had to endure during my training to become the thief I am today. Hell, I've been through shit that will turn your skin paler than it already is! Do your worst because I can do this all day!” he sneered. The torturer growled, as he continued to torture Spike with more tools, but the thief remained strong.

Later on, Cadence, Celestia, and Byakko arrived outside the factory where Spike was being help prisoner, “This is it. The Saddle Sore Beer Factory.” Byakko said.

“We have to get in there.” Cadence told her aunt.

“I agree, but first we must get past them.” Celestia motioned to the guards patrolling out front.

“Not a problem,” Byakko answered, “Follow my lead.” he led the ladies down while sticking to the shadows.

As they got closer to the entrance, Celestia pulled out a taser and aimed it at one of the guards. The cables launched and attached to the guards back shocking him to the ground. The guards heard the scream of their comrade and turned to see him on the ground.

Suddenly Cadence launched a smoke bomb blinding the guards, allowing the three to jump in and knock the guards out. With the security down, Byakko led the two into the factory through a side entrance.

The ladies followed Byakko down some stairs, as Celestia spoke, “You're certain you know where you're going?”

“Trust me, I know this place like the back of my hand.” Byakko said, before stopping them and saw some guards around a corner.

Celestia pulled out a mirror to watch them from the corner. When they saw the guards leave, the continued forward.

Byakko led the two to a closed room, and spoke, “This is the room Tirek would send anybody who questioned him or stepped out of line to be tortured.”

“Oh, dear.” Cadence said fearing the worst.

They peaked through the window and to the ladies horror, they saw their master with clamps stuck to his nipples, and the torturer delivering electric shocks to him. Spike groaned, while trying to contain his need to scream.

“Master.” The two gasped.

Byakko frowned, “Well, ain't this a happy day? Tirek brought in Ivan to torture him.”

“You know that man?” Celestia asked.

“Oh, yeah. There was a time I had been captured by my enemies while working a job. He tortured me for three days straight before I finally managed to escape. Looks like I finally have a chance to return the pain.”

Celestia and Cadence put explosives on the doors hinges, and upon setting them off the door blew off much to Ivan's surprise.

Byakko entered with his sword drawn, “Hey, Ive, remember me?”

Ivan gasped and smirked, “Byakko, my old friend. How long has it been since Rio?”

“Too damn long, you sadist.” the swordsman answered.

“I’m a little busy at the moment with this patient. Could you come back in another hour or so?” Ivan asked clearly unamused.

Byakko frowned, “Your current appointment has just been canceled.” he attacked Ivan who in turn dodged, and was using a scalpel for a weapon.

As the men fought, Celestia and Cadence ran inside and to their master. Celestia freed Spike and spoke, “Master, are you alright? Can you hear me?” she pleaded.

Spike looked up and groaned, “Have I ever told you how much I love you?”

“Master!” Celestia cried, as she hugged him tightly.

“Easy, Tia. You'll break more of my ribs.” Spike groaned, until Celestia released him.

“Come on, let's get you up.” Cadence said, as she and Celestia got under his arms and lifted him off the chair.

“So where am I?” Spike wondered.

“Saddle Sore Beer Company. It's near the Tartarus Industries Factory where we followed one of Tirek's men.” Celestia explained.

“Why would his men be near that place?”

“Byakko says that it's a front company for Tirek.” Cadence answered.

Byakko and Ivan continued to fight, until the swordsman disarmed the torturer and bashed his head against the wall knocking him out. Byakko quickly strapped him to the chair as a precaution, “That felt good.” he told the three.

“Why're you here?” Spike demanded.

“It's a long story, Master. And we don't have time.” Cadence told him.

“She's right,” Byakko agreed, as he listened close, “More guards are one their way. You two take Spike out through the back exit. I'll stay and hold them off.”

“Ok.” Celestia answered, as the two ladies helped their master outside. And just in time as the guards arrived, with Byakko ready to take them down.

As the ladies helped Spike out, Cadence spoke, “Don't worry, Master we'll have you home soon.” she was about to call the car, until Spike spoke up.

“Not yet,” he turned to Celestia, “Ask Luna where the main offices of Tartarus Industries are.”

“What?” she asked.

“Without a doubt Tirek's gone back to his home base to wait for word of my demise.”

“We'll worry about where he is later. Right now you need to have your wounds treated.” Celestia told him.

Spike got off the ladies and spoke, “No. My wounds can wait. But finding Tirek cannot. I have to finish him once and for all.”

“Master, you're in no condition to be fighting.” Cadence warned him.

“Cadence, he's never going to stop. Tirek has caused enough trouble for me, Twilight, and the others. Had that torturer done me in, Tirek was going to go after you, Celestia, Luna, and the girls. This ends tonight and I'm gonna stop him one way or another.” he declared seriously.