Master Thief Dragon

It was Friday afternoon at Spike's penthouse, and Spike himself was suiting up, while Luna was at her computer keyboard surrounded by multiple monitors. After Spike donned his mask, he spoke to his technology servant, "All good, Luna?"

"Yes, master. It wasn't easy these last few days trying to hack Filthy Rich's security system, but I finally have the layout of the entire mansion." Luna answered.

"How much security are we talking?" Spike asked, as Luna showed him the layout of the mansion.

"There's guards stationed around every entrance and exit, security cameras in every room, and laser sensory alarms."

"Standard variety mansion security. Nothing the Dragon can't handle. What about the location of the amulet?" Luna pulled up one of the security cameras showing a room filled with antiques and priceless artwork. Spike looked at the collection feeling envious, "And I though I was a hoarder."

"Amazing out of all the stuff he has in there only one of them is property of your family." Luna said.

"Indeed. Well, it's just as good. I wouldn't be able to carry all that on my back and escape. I'd have to take the whole room from the mansion itself." Spike joked and Luna laughed with him.

"Just remember to keep your eyes peeled for any surprises, and keep the earpiece in you so I can walk you through."

"Thanks. Now where are Celly and Cadence?" Spike looked around.

"Right here, Master." Cadence answered, as she and Celestia walked into the room all dressed for the gala.

Celestia was wearing a open back yellow and peach gown, with a gold necklace around her neck. Cadence was wearing a silk pink dress with golden bracelets on her wrists. To top it off Celestia dyed her hair all pink while Cadence went with the blonde look. Spike took a good look at them and fanned himself, "You ladies look undeniably gorgeous."

The two giggled, as Celestia spoke, "Why thank you, Master. And you should know the Trojan Horse is ready for you."

"Excellent," Spike brought the three together, "Ok, girls, this is it. Tonight we're pulling off a big heist. I want you to know no matter what happens I love you three."

The three smiled, as Luna spoke, "And we love you too, Master."

The four embraced, as Spike spoke up, "All right. Let's get to work.

When nighttime rolled in, people were already showing up at Filthy Rich's mansion. When Celestia and Cadence arrived at the mansion, Cadence spoke, "We still need to present invites to the door."

"Then we'll just have to borrow someone else's," Celestia answered, as she eyed a lady stepping out of a car. She smirked, and casually approached her, and right when the woman was ready to pull out her ticket the spy bumped into her making the upper class woman drop her purse, "Oh! How clumsy of me! I'm so sorry ma'am."

"Well, I never." the woman crossed her arms.

"Here let me get that for you." Celestia picked up the lady's purse and gave it back to her, "Once again I am so sorry about this Ms..."

"Uppercrust," she answered before taking her purse back and responded with a rude tone, "And you should take classes on not being so clumsy!" she stuck her head up and walked on.

Celestia watched before smirking to herself and looked at her hand which was holding Uppercrust's ticket, "Yes. I'll work on that."

Cadence seeing her superior get her ticket knew she also had to purloin one herself. She looked for an easy target before her eyes fell on a man in a tux who had an athletic build, "Perfect," she said before she walked over and put her charm to work, "Excuse me. Aren't you Wind Rider, the Track and Field champion?"

"By name and reputation, my dear." Wind Rider answered proudly.

"I could tell it was you based off your physique," Cadence started leaning against him, while her hands roamed around his torso and down to his waist, "Mm, so well toned."

"Well, you know a good work out does a body good." Wind Rider boasted, and laughed.

Cadence laughed with him, before answering, "Well, I'm glad to have met you. I must be going now." She slipped away before Wind Rider could ask for her number or anything. Unknown to him, Cadence made off with his ticket which she snatched from his pants pocket.

The two spies met back up as Celestia spoke to her young partner, "You never cease to amaze me with your charm, Cadence."

"Thanks. Though he may be brawn I have a feeling his head is filled with nothing but sawdust." Cadence answered and the two giggled.

The two ladies blended in with the guests as they were permitted into the mansion upon reaching the guard at the doorway. When the two entered they lobby they saw hundreds of guests had been invited to the gala. They were walking about the lobby and into the other rooms enjoying champagne, eating hors d'oeuvres, and gossiping with each other. Celestia spoke quietly into a sun pin mini comlink on her dress, "Ok, Luna. Cadence and I are in."

At the penthouse, Luna was at her control board keeping an eye on her numerous monitors that displayed every nook and cranny of the mansion, "Good job, girls. I've hacked into the security camera footage already." her voice came to them through the ear transceivers they had on them.

"And what of the master's position?" Cadence whispered into a comlink that was disguised as a ring on her finger.

Luna looked at one of her monitors seeing a red blinking dot moving up to the mansion, "The master has been delivered," she explained, as the two sighed in relief, "It's up to master to get to the amulet. In the meantime you two keep a low profile and be careful."

"You can count on us." Cadence assured her.

"Come on, Cadence. Let's go mingle with the upper class folk." Celestia suggested, as they each took a glass of champagne from a tray held out by one of the bus boys and went to mingle.

Meanwhile Filthy Rich was in his office fixing his tie while looking in a mirror. He was about to join the guests, until his wife spoke, "Honey, what were you thinking during that interview?!"

"Whatever do you mean, Spoiled?" Filthy Rich asked.

"That talk you said about challenging Dragon to steal from you. You're practically sending him an invitation!" Spoiled chewed him out.

"Spoiled-Spoiled, have you forgotten I have best security here? Even if Dragon does come my security will catch him red handed."

"How can you be so confident when Dragon has evaded our very own police force?" Spoiled questioned.

"Because they're all incompetent deadbeats who can't do their job," Filthy was interrupted by a knock at the door, "Come in."

Opening the door was a deliveryman, "Beg your pardon, Mr. Rich, but you have a late night delivery from the good people of the Red Heart Children's Hospital."

"Delivery at this hour?" Spoiled asked suspiciously.

"What have they sent me?" Filthy Rich asked, as he stepped out of the room seeing something tall on top of a moving dolly covered in a sheet.

"This, sir." the deliveryman pulled the sheet off to reveal a tall wooden crafted sculpture of Filthy Rich himself.

"The people sent a totem pole of my husband as a gift?" Spoiled asked before speaking in a dry tone, "How mediocre."

"I think it's sweet really," Filthy answered, "After all, I did save the hospital from closing down."

"Where should I put it sir?" the deliveryman asked.

"Just wheel it into room on the right with the other gifts my employers have given me." Filthy instructed.

"Yes, sir." the deliveryman left, as Filthy turned to his wife.

"Come, dear. Let's go meet our guests." Spoiled rolled her eyes and followed her husbands lead.

The deliveryman wheeled the wooden statue of Filthy Rich into a storage room loaded with many past tributes to Filthy. Many included other statues erected of him made of bronze and gold. The deliveryman sat the statue down and spoke, "For a hunk of wood this thing's heavier than it looks." he took the dolly and closed the door upon his departure.

Luna who had the room on one of her monitors spoke into a mic, "I've just disabled the camera in the room, Master. You can come out." She watched the screen seeing the wooden statue of Filthy Rich open up to reveal Spike had been hiding inside the whole time.

Spike came out of the fake statue and stretched, "Almost got a cramp in there," Spike looked at all the statue tributes, "Huh, so this is what he does with all his tributes? Sounds like someone who really cares." he said in sarcasm.

"Master, I wouldn't recommend going out the door of the room. There are two guards on patrol in the hall."

"What do you suggest?"

"There's a vent in the ceiling above. Crawl through the duct and I can lead you to the room where the amulet is."

"Thanks, Luna." Spike said, as he pulled a table over and stood on top. After removing the vent cover he climbed up and into the duct.

"Better check in on Celly and Cadence." Luna looked into one of the monitors seeing the ballroom where the guests had gathered in.

Inside the ballroom, Filthy Rich and his wife entered and the philanthropist announced, "Welcome-welcome, one and all to my gala!" the guests turned their attention towards Filthy, "I am so glad to see so many of you have accepted my invites. Some of you I recognize from previous functions and events, others I'm seeing for the first time," he suddenly spotted Celestia and Cadence and smiled lecherously which his wife took no notice of, "I certainly hope I can make use of this opportunity to get to know you all. But for now enjoy yourselves." And so the guests resumed their activities, while Celestia and Cadence kept a close eye on Filthy Rich.

"Remember it's our job to make sure he doesn't try to sneak away if Master is discovered." Celestia reminded Cadence.

"We may also have to keep a close eye on his wife too. She looks a little cautious, doesn't she?" Cadence noticed.

"Indeed so." Celestia agreed.

Back in the ducts, Spike was crawling through it as Luna was guiding him, "I'm coming up to a fork, Luna. Which way."

"Go down the right," Spike made the right turn, "Now keep crawling until you hit the left open path, the next vent you see is above Filthy Rich's antique room."

Spike nodded, as he made the left turn and came up to a vent below him. He looked through the vent seeing various antiques set up. He removed the vent lid and spoke into his mic, "I found it."

"Be careful master, this is where the laser sensors are."

"Let me see," Spike pressed a small button on the side of his mask and his lenses revealed to him laser sensors in the room, "This is sure gonna be a stretch."

"You can do it, Master." Luna encouraged him.

Spike smirked, as dropped out of the vent while holding onto the opening. He looked around seeing the room was neatly organized looking like a museum wing.

"Oh, man. Look all the stuff Filthy has here," He looked around the place while holding onto the duct, "Old tomes, ancient scrolls, a giant olmec head, paintings, precious jewels, golden armor..." He turned to a wall seeing a bunch of comics framed, "Oh, no way! He's got some old golden age comics framed on the wall! Sleuth Case Files #21! Star Studded Comics #10! Excite Comics #1, the first appearance of Alpha-Max! This is..." he was cut off by hearing Luna giggling through the mic, "And just what is so funny, Lulu?" he asked while frowning.

"I'm sorry, master," she pulled herself together, "I keep forgetting what a boy you can be sometimes."

Spike answered flatly, "After this is over, I'll remind you how much of man I can be."

Luna eyes lit up and purred "You promise?"

Spike realizing what he said slapped his forehead, and muttered, "Walked right into that one." letting it go he started swinging himself forward a few times making sure he'd gain enough distance.

He finally swung himself forward and let go of the duct. He flew forward and landed in an opening where the lasers weren't crossing. He sighed in relief for making it before seeing he was close enough to the glass container containing the amulet he desired. He reached into his coat and pulled out a mechanical glass cutting tool. He placed it against the glass case and it began cutting a perfect circular cut in the glass. He pulled on the tool which removed the circular piece of glass giving him an opening, "Oh, yeah. Come to papa," he grabbed the amulet and pocketed it before speaking into his mic, "I got the amulet. Time for me to go."

"Good job, Master." Luna's voice came through his earpiece.

Spike reached into one of his coat pockets and pulled out a little mirror which he placed on the floor which bounced one of the lasers off giving him an opening. He slipped through the opening and jumped back up into the duct.

In the ballroom, Celestia and Cadence continued to play it casually, until Filthy approached with his wife, "Pardon me, my dears. But I don't think we've had the pleasure of meeting." he began.

"Why no we haven't, Filthy." Celestia answered.

"Please call me Mr. Rich. And this is my wife Spoiled Rich."

"Charmed." Spoiled answered flatly.

Celestia and Cadence weren't fond of Spoiled's attitude but remained in character, "Well, Mr and Mrs. Rich, my name is Solar and this is my friend Lilith." Celestia introduced herself and Cadence.

The younger girl spoke, "You certainly know how to host a Gala, Mr. Rich."

"Thank you, Lilith. I only do the best for my friends and my employees." Filthy boasted.

"That must be why you're so well respected by the public." Celestia noted.

"Very true, Ms. Solar."

"Yes, though personally I feel that my husband has been giving too much back to the community instead of investing on things that actually have a monetary value." Spoiled voiced her disapproval.

"Now, honey. There's nothing better than giving back to the community." Spoiled rolled her eyes.

Suddenly Filthy's cellphone rang, and he spoke to the ladies, "Pardon me, I better take this," he answered his phone, "Hello? I see, tell them I'll be right there," he hung up, "Sorry, ladies, but I need to check something right now. Spoiled will you be so kind and entertain our new friends?"

"Yes, of course, dear." Spoiled agreed, as he husband left them.

Both Celestia and Cadence were nervous hoping that their master hadn't been caught, and with Spoiled Rich watching them now they couldn't slip away to contact him.

Spike was crawling through the duct to find the closest exit, until he stopped hearing Filthy Rich's voice, "Just what do you fools think you're doing here at my home of all nights?"

Spike curiously crawled to the nearest vent and looked down seeing Filthy Rich conversing with two thugs, "Our boss has been growing impatient and is waiting for his cut." one of them explained.

The other continued, "We held our part of the bargain, and now we're waiting for you to hold up your end."

"And I shall. I am a man of my word." Filthy promised them.

Spike squinted before whispering into his Mic, "Luna, you recording this?"

"Yes, Master." Luna answered, as she had the scene on her monitor.

Spike continued to watch the scene play out, as one of the thugs spoke back, "You better be. Our boss poured a lot of his good money into helping you with your little jobs of saving both the children's hospital and community center."

"While you didn't use a penny of your own earned money." the second put in.

"Why pay to do something when I can just pay you to fund for me?" Filthy questioned.

"Just remember to pay up, because we're already still waiting for your other payment for keeping the little one away. Don't double cross us or your ass belongs to our boss." the second thug warned him.

"Do not threaten me in my own home," Filthy squinted his eyes, "Leave at once." The thugs left, and Filthy headed back to join the party.

Spike having seen the whole thing play out spoke to Luna, "This just got interesting hasn't it, Lulu?"

"Indeed, Master. Seems your suspicions of Mr. Rich were spot on."

"I think maybe I can use this to my advantage. But I'll need more proof. And where better to find it than his very own office. Guide me to it, Lulu."

"Yes, Master." Luna answered, as Spike started taking a detour.

Back at the party, Filthy Rich returned to his wife, Celestia, and Cadence, "Sorry about that, ladies. I just had some things to take care of. No worries. Anything happen while I was away?"

"These two were just going on about how they thought your purchase of that amulet was a good choice." Spoiled explained.

"That's right. You, Mr. Rich, have fine choices in antiquities." Cadence said.

"I only collect the best, Ms. Lilith." Filthy boasted.

"If you'll excuse me, I'm going to get more champagne," Celestia said, as she walked away. As she had her back turned to everyone, she spoke into her mic, "Luna, what's master's status?"

Luna's voice came back, "The master is fine. He's just taking a little detour."

"Detour? That wasn't part of the plan, Luna!" Celestia said, feeling nervous about Spike.

"Change in plans. Master may have discovered something more behind Filthy Rich. Just keep the man busy some more."

"Roger that." Celestia reluctantly answered, before taking a glass of champagne.

Meanwhile, Spike continued to crawl through the ducts before Luna spoke to him, "Master, you're right above his office."

"Anything in there to be wary of?" he inquired.

"Actually, no. There are no traps, motion sensors, or anything."

"Odd," Spike said with suspicion. He undid the vent cover and dropped into the office seeing it looked like a standard office with a big desk, rotating chair, a portrait of himself with his wife including a little girl, "Looks like he's a father too. Surprised his daughter's never been seen with him and his wife."

Luna spoke, "His daughter Diamond Tiara was sent to a boarding school for girls. She hardly comes home at all."

"By choice or do her parents not want her?" Spike wondered, as he approached the desk.

"By choice, actually."

"Guess she's not one for her pop's publicity," Spike looked at the drawers of Filthy's desk and began opening each of them hoping to find something more to use against Filthy. He suddenly found a folder in one drawer. He opened it and saw documents and contracts to a boarding school. He saw a name in the document was Filthy's daughter's name, "Luna, the school Diamond Tiara was sent to wouldn't happen to be Everton Hall?"

Luna answered in surprise, "Yes. That place while to the public may be a normal boarding school, but through our resources is more like a prison. But how did you..."

"Because I overheard Rich and those goons talking about keeping a little one away. I think Rich wants his daughter confined to that school for a reason. A reason I'm guessing is she saw him in a compromising position." Spike theorized.

"Compromising. You don't think she saw him..."

"No. Some other reason," Spike replied, before finding another folder labeled 'Confidential', "Hold on. I found something else," he opened the folder and saw insurance documents and forms. To Spike's surprise he saw each document had a small picture of something from his collection, including a picture of the Amulet of Astaroth. Suddenly Spike made a realization about it all and suddenly looked angry, "That son of a bitch!"

Luna hearing her master's curse spoke, "Master, what's wrong?"

"Change in plans again, Luna. I'm gonna need you to pay extra close attention."

Luna once again surprised by her master's sudden orders played along, "Ok, talk."

"First off send a phone signal to the cops. Chief Iron Will needs to be here." Spike smirked.

"Master, bringing the chief here is suicide!" Luna warned him.

"Trust me, Lulu. I have a plan."

Luna bound by her master's orders answered, "Very well, master."

Back in the ballroom, Cadence and Celestia were watching Rich from a distance, until Luna's voice came from their comlinks, "Celly, Cadence, come in."

Cadence spoke into her mic, "Luna, what's the situation?"

"Master's got a new plan, but you two need to get close the nearest exit."

"What for?" Celestia asked.

"Just get close to the nearest exit, and above all lay low." Luna instructed. The two obeyed the order and went to the nearest exit.

Suddenly to everyone's surprise the police force piled into the ballroom taking everyone by surprise. Filthy Rich seeing all the ruckus stormed up to the chief, "Chief Iron Will, what is the meaning of this breaking and entering during a private gala?!"

"What're you talking about, Rich? We got a phone call from you saying Dragon was here." the chief answered.

"I made no such call to you!" Filthy Rich responded.

"Well, if you didn't call us then who did?" Iron Will asked in confusion.

"That would be me, Chief!" came a familiar voice.

Everyone looked up and saw hanging from a rafter above was Dragon. The sight of him put the guests in shock, while Celestia and Cadence made sure to keep back, "It's Dragon!" a female guest cried.

"He's gonna rob us!"

"Dragon!" Iron Will called, as he and his squad aimed their guns up at him, "Give yourself up now."

"Of course, chief. But before you take me in I have something very important to share with you all," Dragon answered, as he dropped the amulet of Astaroth to the ballroom floor, "You can have it. It's worthless. Along with anything else in that vault of yours," the crowd of guests were confused, as the thief continued, "There's a reason you made that obvious challenge to me, Rich. And why you were so smug about it. You wanted me to steal from you. I didn't know why until I found these in your office." he threw the folder containing the insurance forms to the floor.

Chief Iron Will and his squad looked at them all, as Dragon continued, "If I stole anything you'd collect the insurance money."

"Just a safety precaution in case you were going to steal. Which you were going to." Filthy Rich called him out.

"Oh, it wasn't just a safety precaution. It was to hide the fact you're so cheap you don't want to spend your own money on anything."

The guests and cops were still curious as to what Dragon meant, while the philanthropist replied, "I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh, I think you do," he whispered to his mic, "Luna, show time."

Luna smirked, as she pressed a key on her control board. Suddenly all the guests cellphones started to go off. Even the ones owned by the cops. They opened their phones and saw each of them had a video mail. They opened it and saw the footage of Filthy Rich talking to the mob goons. When they heard him mention about using them to actually fund all his projects and restorations left them all in shock.

"Mr. Rich. You've been making deals with the mob?" a guest asked in shock, as all eyes fell on him.

"This is obviously a trick set up by Dragon to frame me!" Filthy accused the thief.

"Oh, it's no trick, Filthy," Dragon continued, "You wanted me to steal from you that way you can pay off those jokers with the insurance money. Basically they're the ones to be credited for all your work, when you didn't spend a single dime of your own money."

"Shut up!" Filthy screamed at Dragon, while feeling the pressure.

"Oh, I'm not finished, Rich. I also made another discovery concerning your daughter, or as those guys call 'little one'," everyone awaited for what he had to say, while Spoiled looked at her husband knowing he did have something to hide, "She caught you negotiating with the mob some time, and you decided to cover your tracks and avoid her spilling that secret to your wife or anyone else by sending her off to Everton Hall boarding school. And pay off the headmistress to keep here there, while making it seem like she never wanted to come home."

Filthy saw everyone bore a look of anger and disappointment for his deception, "Who're you all going to believe? Me or a thief?!"

Dragon let go of the rafter and landed on the ground, "I bet your daughter is willing testify against you, Rich," he looked over at Iron Will who he and the others still had their guns aimed at him, "But now you gotta ask yourself, Chief. Who's the real crook here right now? Me or him?"

Iron Will's gaze shifted from Dragon to Filthy Rich a few times with both his disdain for Dragon and righteous duty as a cop trying to outweigh each other, until he came to a decision. He shifted his gun's aim onto Filthy and announced, "Filthy Rich, you're under arrest!" The rest of the cops were confused by their chief's action, but trusted in his judgment and aimed their guns at him too.

Filthy was in shock that the chief was going to arrest him, until he answered, "Not yet!" he clicked a button located on his belt. Some of the ballroom walls opened up and out came many security guards armed with their own guns.

"So this was where your security's been all this time instead of patrolling the mansion." Dragon realized.

The security and police force went at it with either shooting or self defense. The guests panicked and took cover, while Celestia and Cadence took it as a chance to slip out. Iron Will spoke, "Don't let Filthy Rich escape!"

Filthy Rich bolted from the ballroom, "Got to get to my chopper on the roof." he ran, only for Dragon to pursue him.

"Hey, Rich, go long!" the thief threw a bolo he pulled out from his coat. He threw it at Filthy who got his legs tangled and fell flat on his face. He lifted his face up to see Dragon standing above him triumphantly, "Game's over, Rich. Or should I say 'Poor'?" he laughed. Running into the hall was Iron Will and Flash Sentry who saw Dragon and Filthy Rich caught. Dragon gave Iron Will a salute before throwing down a smoke bomb providing him a chance to escape.

Flash Sentry looked surprised, and spoke, "Sir, we could've captured Dragon and Rich."

"Sentry. We can catch Dragon any time, but for now let's just do our job and bring this one in." Iron Will answered, s he picked Rich up and cuffed him.

Outside the mansion, the guests were being checked for any wounds they might've received in the shoot out. Coming out of the mansion was Iron Will and Flash Sentry escorting Filthy Rich to their car, while another squad was escorting Spoiled, "Why're you arresting me? I had nothing to do with my husbands crime!" the woman protested.

"We'll see about that." the cop replied, as both the Rich's were put in the back of a car.

Iron Will looked back at the two, "Once we take care of you two, we'll be putting a word out to Everton Hall and have your daughter released to testify. Then we're gonna find her a real family who'll take care of her."

The Rich's frowned at what fate befell them until they looked and saw taped in the back of the front seats was Dragon's calling card reading Checkmate. Filthy let his head drop knowing his reputation was all downhill from here, while his wife knew no man would ever date her now should she avoid prison.

Later that night at Spike's penthouse, the boy and his servants were partying on their big success, "Well, girls. We may not have gotten the amulet, but at least we did a good thing putting that scumball behind bars." Spike said, as he drank from a soda can.

"But it's a shame though. The Amulet of Astaroth is your family heirloom." Luna reminded him.

"I guess it'll remain forever lost," Spike shrugged, "Besides, there's still more heirlooms out there to steal. But for now let's use this time to celebrate."

"Yes, master!" the three cheered, as they threw themselves at their master, much to Spike's surprise.

Meanwhile, the two thugs who met with Filthy Rich entered a room where a man in a red and black suit sat at his desk, "Boss, Filthy Rich has been arrested."

"Meaning we're not getting our money." the second added.

Their boss growled, "Dammit!" he pounded his desk, "It's because of that Dragon thief! His act cost us over a hundred million!"

"So what we do now, boss?"

"When Rich's daughter is released she will testify and use our names. Then the fuzz will be all over looking for us."

"Right now only one thing is on my mind. We're gonna hunt down that Dragon and make him pay for what he's done."

"Sir, the cops are looking for him too. If we get caught up in their path then we'll be the ones paying." one of the goons warned him.

"Don't worry. I happen to know plenty of people who can be bought and paid for their services," he got up and went to a window to look out it, "Dragon, you may be a famous criminal, but compared to me Tirek, you're just a bug waiting for the inevitable squash."