Mare-Do-Well Strikes!

by Magenta Cat

Rating: teen
Tags: Raindrops, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Alternate Universe, Other, Trixie, Rarity, Adventure, Crossover, Mare Do Well
Length: 16904

A new Mare-Do-Well rises from the shadows, but who is under the mask? Just a lunatic running around in a costume? Or a truthful guardian angel protecting the innocent and punishing the guilty?

The new industrial revolution is a fact. Every town in Equestria from Manehattan to Appleloosa has changed for the best. Or do they?
As technology has made the lives of who can cost it more easier, its also brought back some notions from the past before harmony.
This is a story about apathy, greed, corruption, power.
This is a story about hope, courage, honor, justice.
This is the story of a crusader that will give everything to protect the innocents. Everything.

Constructive criticism is welcomed and if you dislike this at least have the politeness of commenting why you did it.

(Set in the same universe as The Doom Patrol and Lightspeed Rescue, but it's not necessary to read those to understand this, they are separate stories.)

Published 2014-03-13 03:50:07 UTC
Last updated 2015-01-31 00:48:39 UTC

Mare-Do-Well Strikes! #1. She's back!

-Cover concept:

Exterior, Ponyville's entrance, night and raining, there's a shot of Mare-Do-Well right side with her hat covering her face and holding the mask in one of her hooves standing in front of the sign 'Welcome to Ponyville'.

***

-Ponyville, right that moment in the night when you don't know if it's too late or too early to be awake.

It was a dark and stormy night.

Yeah right, I'm not gonna fall on that cliché. Okay here's the actual story and pay attention, this is gonna be one hell of a ride, now where was I?... Oh yeah, that night, okay here we go.

It was a dark and quiet night, new moon in the sky, perfect to go around without being noticed and it seemed that somepony decided to take advantage of that. Three stallions wearing full bodysuits with biker's helmets walked down the streets to the shopping district in complete silence. They stopped in front of a building with a sign that read 'Sparkling Stars' over a window that showed some elegant pieces of jewelry. One of the stallions drew from a pocket on his suit a glass cutter as the other two looked to both sides of the street to ensure that there were no witnesses, with the skill of experience the first one cut a perfect circle in the glass so they could retrieve the species from the counter and put them into a pair of bags. When the counter was finally empty, the three of them ran away with what easily was ten thousand bits in jewelry.

They climbed an apartment building through its fire escape to the rooftop so they could rest for a while and also count the profit of their crime, one of them took off his helmet and suit to show a dark brown coat and a light cream mane, the others did the same, one was orange with brown mane and the other gray with black respectively, the three of them were pegasi.

"Didn't I tell you?" The brown one said. "Now we fly back to Cloudsdale and we won't need to worry about money for a while."

"I still can't believe how easy it was." The orange one replied chuckling.

"Too bad for you that the easy part ends here."

***

FIMFiction (not so) proudly presents:
Welcome to modern-day Ponyville, where a mare believes in the right of society to be protected from those who want to break them, with no regard for restraint or the law. Now, the entire city wants to know who she is. Just a lunatic running around in a costume? Or a truthful guardian angel protecting the innocent and punishing the guilty? The only thing sure is that...

Mare-Do-Well Strikes!
in
The beginning of tomorrow.

Written by Wave 'finally starting this story' Blaster.
Proofread by 5thWriter 'being a good friend'.
Creative consult by JB 'how did I get here?' von Herb.
Edited by TheInvincibleIronBrony 'doesn't know how he was dragged here neither'.
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic created by Lauren Faust (and others I suppose).
High Hopes's name by Chad 'CR' Rocco and used with permission (I hope he likes it).
Based on concepts from DC, Marve-- who I'm kidding? Based on concepts from almost everywhere but mostly comics and movies.
Copyrights lololol.

***

The three of them turned to the left to see a figure standing in front of them, it was wearing a mauve suit with a purple cape, gloves and hat. The orange pony was the first to react, smiling in amusement as he approached the mystery pony.

"What are you supposed to be?" He asked as he pulled out a knife. "Go away and we won't hurt you." The other two finally snapped out of their confusion and walked next to their boss.

"It's funny." It said clearly sounding like a mare. "When I put on this costume I was sure that everypony in Ponyville already knew who I was." Not showing the slightest sign of fear she jumped at the pony in front of her, punching his knife out of his hoof and kicking him in the chest making him go back in pain coughing.

"*pant* get *coff* her." Immediately the other two ran to attack the mysterious pony.

"Wanna attack me, seriously?" The caped pony taunted as she dodged their hooves without moving from her spot. "At least try to put up a fight. It looks like you're not even trying." The grey pegasus took flight to charge at her from above. "Now that's a little better." She jumped using his brown companion as supporting point to deliver a devastating kick to the flying pony's face, knocking him out. "One less, two left." The orange one finally caught his breath just in time to witness how the mare landed on his companion's back forcing him to hit the floor and knocking him unconscious too. He grabbed one of the bags and flew as fast a he could.

"Trying to escape? Now that's smarter." The masked pony said as she reached for her belt drawing an object that looked like a modified crossbow and shot it at the stallion, the arrow was pointless, instead it had a sphere that opened in midair to spread a net that trapped the pegasus and made him fall back on the rooftop. When the trapped pony was back on reach the mare took him by the shoulders and forced him against a wall, glaring him. He tried to make out a face under that mask but the only thing he could see was a pair of goggles looking at him as if they could see his very soul behind his eyes.

"What do you want?" He asked terrified.

"I am every innocent you have ever hurt before." He could feel ice in his veins as she spoke. "I am that nightmare that awakes you in sheer terror."

"P-please, let me go." Tears started to flow from the stallions eyes and he was trembling with fear.

"I am." She raised her voice. "Quite convincing, don't you think?" She said in a more relaxed tone.

And there goes the atmosphere.

"Don't be so scared, I'm not gonna hurt ya." He dared to open his eyes again just to find those same goggles but this time they looked completely different, like 'Kind?'

"But I can't let you steal from an honest working pony neither, now can I? After all I'm a hero." The mask moved at the mouth level in what looked like a smile. "Now I'm gonna leave you and your friends here for the PPD's and you will pay your debt to society so maybe one day you can be productive members of it again."

But she was interrupted by a door being kicked open. "Freeze!" A yellow and cyan pegasus wearing a blue vest with a golden badge entered shouting followed by two other ponies. The three of them had their guns in their hooves and pointed to the pegasi and the masked pony in front of them.

"Nice to see some good timing." She nodded putting a hoof on her hat . "Detective Raindrops, officers, failed thieves." Her other hoof kicked the ground of the rooftop and a smokescreen covered the mare. When the smoke dissipated she was already gone leaving only a presentation card, Raindrops lifted the small card from the ground, it was white on one side and black on the other, on the white was written.

'Lightning can illuminate a hope for the innocent...'

And on the black side. ''...and can give the guilty something to fear."

A bulky white pegasus wearing the same vest and badge at her right asked. "What the hell was that?" Raindrops simply replied. "A lot of paperwork if you ask me."

***

-The next day in the morning.

SHE'S BACK!
Mysterious Mare-Do-Well strikes again.

Twilight and her friends were completely shocked when they came back from Canterlot just to see the name 'Mare-Do-Well' in almost every front page they saw. After buying a copy of The Beacon, Twilight went to the page of the full article to find out about various sightings of a pony using the Mare-Do-Well identity running around Ponyville last night.

"According to various witnesses last night a mysterious pony, presumably a mare, assaulted in various activities of questionable legality in different places around the commercial district of Ponyville. The police refused to confirm or deny the presence of a vigilante." Twilight read for her friends, all of them reacting with awe at the news, especially Rainbow Dash.

"Hold a sec, yer tellin' me that while we're outta town some crazy pony was doin' the Mare-Do-Well stuff again?" Applejack was surprised to say the least. Rarity, Fluttershy and Twilight seemed just as confused, however Rainbow showed a completely different expression. Anger.

"Who the buck is doing this?!." All of her friends looked back at her as well as other ponies nearby, she noticed this and calmed down as Pinkie put a hoof over her shoulder.

"Did I do something wrong?" Whispered the rainbow maned pegasus.

"Beg your pardon darling?"

"The last time you did that Mare-Do-Well thing, it was to teach me a lesson." They looked down, none of them liked to remember that situation again. "Did I make another mistake?" Some tears pouring from her cheeks, not sad or angry tears but tears of complete fear, the fear of letting down her friends.

Twilight walked next to her to offer comfort. "No Rainbow, we're the ones who made a huge mistake doing that. That very same night we all promised to never do something like this again." The cyan pony looked at her friends, they all nodded at the same time, Pinkie even doing the steps of the Pinkie Promise. That didn't calm her but gave her another focus to direct her anger.

"What kind of mad pony would be doing this anyways?" Twilight put a hoof under her chin to think before saying.

"I don't know, but I promise you that I will find out."

***

-Ponyville Gazette's offices, afternoon.

The Ponyville Gazette was one of the towns first buildings and also the first to be meant only for business. Since it's construction the newspaper survived almost unchanged through Ponyville's 'uncommon' history but that didn't concern only the physical place, every pony and the additional non equine employees worked hard not only to deliver the news to the ponies but also to keep them honest as true fighters for the truth. Sometimes the occasional businesspony tried to buy the Gazette to make it his own personal propaganda machinery or some amoral ponies tried to sell rumors without proof to gain easy money, but every time the different editors said the paper's motto. 'Veritas Prima.' "Truth first."

But one thing was to tell the truth and another completely different was to find it. In the meeting room a stallion was talking to the main news team.

"Well, let see what headline our distinguished competition has this morning..." While holding a copy of a newspaper in his grayish green coated hoof, it was The Beacon showing the headline 'SHE'S BACK!' with the subheading 'Mysterious Mare-Do-Well strikes again' followed by a hoofmade sketch of a pony wearing a set of cape, hat and mask, he put down the copy and raised another paper.

"Ah. Let see what The Journal has this morning?" This time it was The Pony Journal with the letters. 'MASKED PRODIGY AMAZES TOWN.' With a black and white photo instead of subheading, it was long distance shot of a caped figure in a rooftop but completely covered in shadow leaving only the silhouette to be seen.

"And what did The Ponyville Gazette decided to publish this morning?" Asked the stallion with as he showed the ponies gathered in the room a copy of their own paper using both hooves, the paper had the headline. 'PONYVILLE, FROM TOWN TO CITY.' Accompanied by the subheading. 'Equestrian Urbanization Program include expanding the town into a full city.' Followed by a photo of the town hall. He took a whiff of a half-finished cigar before continuing.

"A lame story." A trail of smoke escaped from his mouth. "A lame story and we didn't even had a decent picture to put along with it." Taking a moment to look at the staff in front of him. "So my question is..." He threw the copy of the Gazette over his shoulder with his right hoof, smashed the table with the left one and shouted. "What is our front page today?!"

After a while, Green Loch calmed himself rubbing his dark blue mane with a hoof before talking again. "Very well everypony, listen. I want to know everything, quick." He pointed a hoof at one of the ponies near to him. "Action Shot, I want to see photos of her everywhere, no! I want a great photo. Society, how are ponies reacting to this? Fashion, is the cape and hat a new trend? Economy, will this affect the market? short and long term. Politics, does she stand for love, tolerance and harmony or something else." He stopped for a moment, everpony in the room was already taking notes or planning how to fill their boss's requests. "Ponies, Mare-Do-Well is back." Everypony went dead silent to look at him, his face showed a total disbelief of what he just said, he snapped out of it to shout again. "What are you waiting for? A raise? Go go go!" Everypony stormed out of the room to their respective workplaces, Loch calmly walked behind them exiting the office to the newsroom. "*Sniff sniff* Ahhh, I love the smell of fear in a newsroom."

***

-Somewhere else, near sunset.

Grey.

No, not the color, the feeling. That was how High Hopes was feeling recently.

She was always a filly well known for always looking on the bright side of life, as her name suggested, she usually had great expectations for the world around her and was common for the ponies around her to be in a better mood after finding her cheerful and bright personality, that was how most ponies saw her. Butthe filly, a few months younger than twelve, already knew a feeling that was mostly reserved for the older and wiser grown ups.

Disappointing.

It happened around a year ago, in the same day she learned what a hero was, how does it looks and finally that there's no such thing.

The first two things came from a pony who saved her without asking for anything back neither bragging about doing it. The rest of the day she witnessed more heroics actions from her savior. Rainbow Dash rousing personality and her heroism captivated the filly's mind. She wanted to know about more heroes. That thought made her went to the library, first looking for historical books in the search for more heroes but her ability to concentrate wasn't in the tone of searching for endless pages of text so it was easy to lose focus every one or two paragraphs.

Twilight was there discussing with her friends about Rainbow Dash. that name caught her ear, so she asked them how to be more like her.

"Ah don't know kid, but ya don't need to be like Dash to be a good pony." Was the first respond.

"Indeed, she's good but you can be as good as her by your own." Added that white unicorn that made that beautiful dress for her mother last month. Those answers made her rethink about being like Rainbow Dash but not about being a hero. After a while she finally asked the question that she really wanted to do.

"What does it takes to be a hero?" An innocent question from an innocent child who just wanted to reach an impossible dream.

The older mares looked at each other, then at her and finally answered. To be a hero one has to be honest, do always the right thing, stand for those who can't stand by themselves, to wear nice costumes? Well, that's what you get for asking Pinkie Pie. After that she went to her home, thinking very deep about what she was just told. In the road home she heard someone calling for help.

It was a pony falling from the sky in a balloon. At first it seemed like nopony was listening till the last second when Hopes could saw Rainbow Dash flying at full speed to save the falling mare but also in the last second somepony else did it.

The masked pony, later named Mare-Do-Well, captivated the filly as much as Rainbow Dash did. Where the rainbow flyer inspired her to be a better pony, the masked one ignited her imagination to a level only a full innocent and idealistic pony would ever go. The next day she even wrote a school report about growing up to be a super hero to help other just like Mare-Do-Well, also her room was now filled with posters and other stuff related to the masked pony. She was living the dream of having an ideal hero in the real world.

And then, it happened.

During the thank you parade for Mare-Do-Well she was in the very first row watching in awe for her hero to appear. But instead she saw how Rainbow Dash, her other hero, chased Mare-Do-Well out of the stage. Instead of just standing dumbfounded like the rest of the town, High Hopes ran behind her two heroines expecting to see how they just shrugged their differences and teamed up just like in those comic books she liked to read. When she finally catch up with them she saw something completely different.

It turned out that all that Mare-Do-Well thing was just a very complicated stunt to teach Rainbow Dash a lesson in humility. There was never a Mare-Do-Well, just different ponies taking a role for the show. She never felt so cheated in her short life, it was all a lie.

Now, one year later, she still couldn't forget that sensation. This has made her more quiet and less idealistic, making her friends not calling her Hopes anymore but instead using only her middle name, Aura. She never complained about it.

-Ponyville park, nightfall.

Aura and Dinky were walking back home after attending at Pinkie's "Cutie Mark Crusaders national heroes" party. These days only Dinky had enough patience to take Aura out of her usual quietness.

After crossing the main park they turned south to the building where they apartments were one next to the other when a group of young stallions started to walk behind them. At first it seemed just like a coincidence but Dinky felt that something was off so she nudged Aura to make her go faster, the same did they. The fillies started to run and they chased them. They tried to lose them turning at random direction in every corner but they were faster so it didn't took that much before they could catch with them and stopping right in front the fillies making both to stop dead in their tracks.

"Well, well, well, what have we here?" The one right in front of them said. "Say, what are couple of fillies doing out this late?" The rest of the group just laughed at that, they were five stallion no older than twenty, all of them were wearing the same leather jacket like being part of a gang. The one speaking had piercings on his ears and nose giving him a completely terrifying aspect for a couple of eleven years old fillies making them to cover their heads and shut down their eyes. He raised one hoof to step closer to them.

But he never made that step.

Instead, a figure covered in shadows tackled him to the ground and stomped a hoof on his head. The double impact of hoof-pavement was too much for the pony's head and he went unconscious. When his companions finally reacted the shadow was already gone.

"What-- What the hell was that?" Said one of them as all retrieved a gun from their jackets, the classic beretta 22, and pointed them in every direction. An arrow flew from nowhere and hit one of the 22's in the barrel, knocking it out of it's owner hooves.

"It should be obvious." Another arrow, another gun. "All the newspapers but one put my return to town on the front page after all." Two more shots could be heard as the last two guns felt far away from the group of ponies. The shadowy figure from before now landed in front of them

"Okay, I can stand some greedy robbers trying to make some easy money the wrong way." Everypony stood still by the surprise of seeing a pony silhouette raising from the shadows. "But attacking a pair of fillies? That's just asking for it." She throwed her cape aside letting the light of a nearby streetlight to reveal a mauve and purple costume.

The stallions simultaneously charged at her. The first one tried to tackle but she simply evaded him and kicked him in the side making him to trip and fall. "Wrong move." The next two tried to kick her at the same time but she ducked. "Heads up!" She used the momentum to take their hooves and forced them to follow the kick till losing their balance and falling too. The last one, instead of directly attacking her, took Aura in his forelegs with a butterfly knife near the filly's neck with Dinky petrified next to them. He didn't say anything but the message is clear.

"Whoa, calm down there." She stopped right where she was. "We don't want it to be worse than it already is."

"Shut up!" He barked. "I'm out of here, and if you even try to follow us the filly pays." Both ponies stood still.

"Okay, okay, you got me. Just let the fillies go and I will surrender." In the criminal's mind that was just a trick he wasn't going to fall for. The other raised from the floor, retrieved their guns and surrounded the caped crusader pointing three 22's at her stomach, chest and head. With the confidence that grants having a charged gun, the one holding Aura hostage released his grip on the filly and that was all the mare needed.

"That's it!" The sound of two hooves hitting the ground preceded a smokescreen that quickly expanded covering all the ponies present.Three guns fired at once but there wasn't any indication that they hit anything but the floor. From the cover that the smoke offered a gloved hoof appeared and knocked out on of the stallions, then one of them heard a whisper calling. "Here." He kicked with all his strength hitting something. He came closer to see what he hit only to discover his companion knocked down in the ground, he never saw the pair of hooves that smashed together against his ears. Finally, before the smoke could dissipate, the masked figure jumped at the pony holding the knife.

That was the last thing he could remember when he regained consciousness, jailed with his gang inside the police station.

Aura and Dinky finally opened their eyes to see something that they would remember the rest of their lives, because in front of them was a fantasy come true.

"Are you two alright?" The two of them nodded, still trying to understand what just happened. "Are you mute?" Again they responded at the same time without speaking but simply shaking their heads, Dinky had her mouth opened and Aura's eyes were threatening to pop out at any second. "So, what do you say if I take you home?" They both nodded. "Great, just wait for me to tie these guys for the police and we are leaving." She used her crossbow to shoot a net arrow that secured the knocked down ponies to the ground, then charged another one and shot it at the sky. The arrow exploded in mid air like a firework, casting an azure light that illuminated the night sky for a moments before dissipating. "Trick arrows, never leave home without them."

They walked through the empty streets of Ponyfille, after some minutes of complete silence, the masked pony broke it. "You never told me you names by the way." They looked at each other, both fillies felt like telling her savior their names.

"My-- My name is Dinky, Dinky Hooves miss." The young unicorn answered, she never expected the mare's reaction.

"So you're the daughter of Ditzy, don't you?" Dinky barely nodded. "You mother is a good mare, I hope that you are good filly with her." Dinky was too surprised that she knew about her mother to respond but the masked pony simply smirked at this. "And you little one?" Turning her head to Aura.

"I'm." She paused to think for a moment. "It's really you? Are you really her?"

Behind her mask the mystery mare raised an eyebrow, but also smiled. "Of course it's me sweetheart. Why else I would saved you if I wasn't me.?" They finally reached the apartment building where two mares were waiting outside it completely worried. When they finally stepped into the light Aura, instead of heading to her mother, hugged her savior.

"My name is High Hopes. Welcome back, Mare-Do-Well."

Author's Note

Next issue, on Mare-DoWell Strikes!
"They call her a hero, don't they? Then you can call us the villains."

"I interviewed her like an hour ago. Everything is here. You really inspired me when I came here before, so I thought of giving the Gazette the premise."

Rainbow looked at her and said. "You!"

Mare-Do-Well Strikes! #2. The mask.

Thanks for reading, I would like to reiterate my thanks toward all those who helped me with this, from a simple commentary to a complete edition.
And don't forget to comment, questions will be answered as long as they aren't about MDW's identity, because I already told you who she is.

Mare-Do-Well Strikes! #2. The Mask. SPECIAL DOUBLE SIZED ISSUE!

-Cover concept:

Ponyville's black silhouette against a dark blue sky, no stars nor lights. The only contrasts for the general darkness is the moon hanging high and bright, outlining Mare-Do-Well's shadow jumping between rooftops (Frank Miller style).

***

-It was a dark and stormy nigh-- No! I'm not gonna do that 'dark and stormy night' thing and that's my last word. It's already bad that it's raining on the cover of the first issue! Yes, I know that Frank Miller's style demands at least one raining shot, but I'm done with it!. No! Rain!

Jesus.

...

Anyways... it was night time. That much I admit. But, the weather was peaceful and clear as the moon and stars prevented the night from being called dark. The calm and tranquilizing atmosphere kept this relaxing atmosphere for a while. This would prove to be one of the last nights to have this kind of peace for the foreseeable future.

After the first documented appearance of the Elements of Harmony since the legendary banishment of Nightmare Moon a millennia ago and the subsequent happenstances around the town, Ponyville gained quite the tidy sum of notoriety. It became such a popular place for ponies to move to that it grew from a small town, previously lost in obscurity within the shadow of nearby Canterlot, to something that was a city in everything but the official name. This was the main reason Celestia began her 'Equestrian Urbanization Program' which also included having its own Police Department.

But these changes also painted a very big target for ponies that wanted more than just a new home. She knew very well that Ponyville was what criminologists and criminals alike often called a 'virgin territory'. A place without the mark of any of the 'big fishes', which meant that any two-bit criminal and/or group of criminals could come in overnight and spread like a cancerous plague that would be hard to remove once it had found a stable place to settle down. Also, the police was still in the setting stage, not used to do more than some patrolling and the occasional isolated arrest.

In other words, Ponyville was the perfect target.

This point was illustrated when a lonely alarm went off in the commercial district that night. The frustrated theft from few weeks ago gave the shop owners a good scare. Most of them decided to install some newfangled security measures (safe boxes, alarms) in their businesses, which proved to be fairly effective.

Three familiar pegasi were being chased by two policeponies thanks to one of those new alarms. They ran from the commercial district to the west side of the town. Turning right and left randomly, avoiding flying since that would made them only easier to see for their prosecutors and being too tired to even take flight. Finally, after turning around a corner with its streetlights malfunctioning, they lost the cops and could rest in an alley till they were safe. Not a bad plan.

Or, that WOULD have been the plan if, without warning, a search light from somewhere above them did not turn on and did not illuminate the three soon to be arrested ponies. Dumb-Bell looked down to the ground to see that the light was casting a light blue 'M' over a purple circle. The dumbfounded stallion only managed to say. "Oh no, not again."

From above their heads, a soft mare voice that they knew too well replied. "Yep, again."

***

FIMFiction (not so) proudly presents:
Welcome to modern-day Ponyville, where a mare believes in the right of society to be protected from those who want to break them, with no regard for restraint or the law. Now, the entire city wants to know who she is. Just a lunatic running around in a costume? Or a truthful guardian angel protecting the innocent and punishing the guilty? The only thing sure is that...

Mare-Do-Well Strikes!
in
The Hunt (Part one). Chasing ghosts.

Written by Wave (dares you to solve MDW's identity) Blaster.
Preread by Diamond (already knows it) Dust.
Edited by VunderGuy (making an EPIC! job).
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic created by Lauren Faust (and others I suppose).
Based on the styles of Warren Ellis and Frank Miller. Dedicated to Bill Finger's memory.
Copyrights lololol.

***

Mare-Do-Well felt over the trio of criminal wannabes and started with her usual talking points she reserved only for these due to how ‘special’ she found them. ‘Special’ kind of chowder heads, that is.

"How many times this month Bell?" She landed behind Score who tried to buck her with no results as she simply ducked to avoid him. "Three? Four?" She continued, delivering a hoof over Score's head with each number she counted off. As he fell to the ground, she said. "If we keep up with this same song and dance, ponies will think that you're my only rogue gallery."

"Garrrgh!" Roared Hops, trying to intimidate her, charging in with the same kind of thoughtless rage that tended to precede her comments. Unsurprisingly enough, she jumped to the side and stuck her hoof out, tripping him head first into the asphalt.

"By the by, what do you think about the Do-Well signal? Is it too self-indulgent? Be honest." Dumb-Bell kicked a bag full of stolen things at the masked mare, but he misfired and instead hit a recovering Hops in the back of the head. “I mean, as ponies with a LOT of experience being arrested by, well, me, you must have some valuable insight to offer." Score managed to actually surprise Mare-Do-Well by silently approaching her from behind and holding her in full nelson. This, he though, would open her up to the ensuing charge from Dumb-Bell. However, at the last moment, Mare-Do-Well managed to break out of Score’s hold and jumped behind the surprised pony, leaving him uncovered against the incoming charge. The resulting collision left both ponies out of the game. The only one still in was Hops, who was tripping over himself trying to stand up straight and staring at Mare-Do-Well with a fire in his eyes.

"Say, what if you simply surrender and save yourself from this week's concussion?" She suggested in an honestly kind tone. His only response was attacking her with a knife. The fight continued as a lone pony was recording with a camera from the distance.

***

-Ponyville Central. The next day.

Another day, another bit, as Snowflake liked to say. Even if the town wasn't as peaceful as before, the daytime was more or less the same, and he was thankful for that small reminder of how things used to work. He was giving the new recruits an introductory tour around the building as paraphrasing his favorite quote from the only book he actually liked to read. "If fighting is sure to result in victory..." He said while showing them the gym.

Upstairs, Raindrops was sitting at her desk with her regular, by the second, punctuality. Usually, she would be bothered by another crime being added to the pile of recently growing criminal records. Not just because of the extra paperwork she had to file, like what she was grinding through right now, but because she tended to wonder just how much Ponyville has changed in the last year. These days though, she was in an atypically good mood, and there was a good reason for that. This morning for example, three pegasi criminals who had become common sights in Ponyville central, were found tied together with a rope at the steps leading into the building. They were also found with a calling card, printed in a style that was fast becoming familiar.

'Where laws end, tyranny begins.'

This wasn't just a randomly chosen phrase from a book as most of her co-workers thought. Even if her experience as detective was still near to nothing, she was inquisitive enough to understand that this was Mare-Do-Well's way to tell them that they were on the same side. That made her realize how much of a help was being this new masked vigilante as there were much less faces in the 'wanted' wall as this new Mare-Do-Well had managed to bring the elusive ones to justice.

But that was her opinion. Commissioner Barricade announced to press that Mare-Do-Well was operating as an outlaw and since then it was the Central's duty to find and arrest her. The yellow and blue pegasus knew that only a half of the force was actually with him on that, but orders where orders. All the other half could do was to keep finding something more important to do.

"Sunshower! Snowflake! To my office!" Barricade's battle cry resounded through the station, causing Raindrops to lift her head up from her forms in surprise.

***

"I still can't believe this." A blue pegasus with a rainbow mane confessed to her purple and white friends.

Since the Mare-Do-Well's return, Rainbow Dash had been a little in the edge. At first it was like seeing a taunting ghost of her mistakes mocking her from newspapers and magazines. Now it was like that ghost suddenly became a legend as practically everypony in town was talking about her in some way or another.

Just like before.

Noticing Rainbow's state, her friends had decided that spending the day taking her around town to distract her was the best course of action. After all, they did feel guilty considering that, without them, Mare-Do-Well would have never have been a thing in the first place. However, Pinkie, Fluttershy and Applejack where too busy to accompany them, so only Twilight and Rarity were with her at the Starbits for a drink at that moment.

"I mean, it’s not like we actually need some dumb pony running around playing 'big damn hero' in town! Or wear that stupid mask! I mean, who does she think she is!?" Being the energetic and narrow-minded mare that she was, Dash couldn't take her mind from how much she hated the appearance of this new Mare-Do-Well, even with Twilight and Rarity’s best attempts to. The waitress taking her sweet time didn't help either.

"Darling, you must simply take that matter out of your mind." Rarity replied. "It simply isn't healthy to keep bringing up the issue."

"Sorry Rares, it's just that... Is like seeing back to the past."

"Rainbow, please. We all are truly sorry for what we did. Can you just move out of it?" Twilight felt the guilt pressing agains her heart, the original Mare-Do-Well was her idea to being with.

"No, it’s not like that. It's not about you guys. Hell, it’s not even so much about my raging ego this time. It’s just that… every time I hear about her now is like a nonstop reminder of how dumb I acted that time." The pegasus hung her head low. Twilight reached for her friend but Rarity was closer. The white unicorn rubbed the rainbow mare's shoulder to calm her.

"There there. We all learned from our mistakes then and now we're a better ponies for that. Just try to hold onto the lesson that whole experience taught you, and--." But the moment was interrupted by the waitress finally stopping by their table. That in and off itself wasn't out of the ordinary. What was unusual was just how familiar the azure unicorn, seemed to be.

She was so focused on a notepad hovering before her that she didn't noticed who she was talking to. "Hello, my name is Tr--" Then she raised her gaze to see who was sitting at the table. Frozen for a while before she realized she was skipping one too many beats. "--rickster! That's it! Trickster!” Then, in a moment of super speedy speech that would have made Pinkie Pie proud (if not go into a fit of jealous envy), the waitress said, “Sorrybutthereisarecessionandweareclosing! Goodbye!"

She turned around and tried to run the heck out of there as Rainbow looked at her and said. "You!"

Her mane was differently stylized into a ponytail, her purple ayes behind a pair of half moon glasses and her distinctive cape and hat where replaced by the green apron from the Staribts. But that couldn't fool Rainbow Dash. She could have picked her out of a lineup no matter what get-up she had on. The self proclaimed ‘Great and Powerful Trixie’ was back in town.

The unicorn was already racing between tables, trying to ran away. But even at top condition, the average unicorn could barely match the slowest of the pegasi. In this case, said unicorn was trying to run away from the fastest mare alive. It wasn't even a chase.

Rainbow, despite being angry and tired, thanked Celestia for answering her prayers by providing a fresh target to focus her frustrations on. She literally jumped at this opportunity to vent her rage. She could have sworn she heard the voices of Twilight and Rarity calling her but she never figured out what they tried to say. Such was the extent of her speed and her tunnel vision.

In a split of a second, the two ponies where a blue blur, rolling in the ground before coming to a stop after crashing against a wall. The two unicorns, barely registering what just happened, practically galloped out of their seats, fully intent on stopping their flying friend from doing something she would regret in the future. And if there was enough time, maybe they could save the show mare from a hellish beat down too.

"What the b*ck are you doing here?!" Her voice was more a roar than anything else as she was pressing the trapped mare in her hooves against the wall. "Answer me!" Rainbow Dash wasn't a pony know for having a good memory, as she put it 'it's egghead stuff'' but she remembered too well how they first meet, Trixie humiliated her in public, bragged about it and also did the same to two of her friends. The stunt flyer really didn't liked to be mocked or somepony doing it to her friends. Being in front of somepony who did both things that in front of half town wasn't helping the unicorn's case either.

"Isn't it obvious? I'm working. You know, earning my daily loaf of bread." She simply deadpanned as struggling against the pegasus grasp. Meanwhile, Twilight and Rarity caught up to their friend, and tried to pull Rainbow away.

"Rainbow, please!" Rarity called her. Sure, Trixie was , and when, but she didn't want to see any violence break out, even if the rude and annoying Trixie, who attempted against her beautiful mane, was on the receiving end.

"Please nothing! Don't you remember what she did to us the last time she was here?!" Rainbow felt how her grasp on the other pony loosen for a second as she whispered, "What she did to me?"

"Like it was yesterday, darling, but hurting her’s not going to erase it. And she has done nothing worth for you to outright assault her." Rarity spoke as calm as she could, knowing all too well how hardheaded Rainbow could be. The cyan pegasus seemed to think about it before letting out a sigh that she didn't knew was holding and let her prisoner free.

"Fine." She spoke, slow and firm as she looked at Trixie right in the eyes. "You got exactly one chance, you blow it and I'll be over you again."

"And maybe I won't be polite enough to not reply that next time." She replied with a clear spark of defiance in her tone. "But unfortunately, I'm still in the need of working here if I want to see a breakfast with tomorrow's dawn." Turning her gaze to the floor where her notebook and pencil felt, avoiding any eye contact with the three mares in front of her. She used her magic to straight her apron and levitate her things as she continued. "Now I will need to ask you for your order or to leave the place in favor for those who want a meal or a drink rather than a conflict." Showing a flat, professional expression the entire time that took her to speak, her tone neutral as the color grey. Rainbow had to be hold by Rarity at this statement but Trixie didn't seem to care. "Of course, if you need a less eloquent and more direct persuasion, it is in my attributions to call security in case that you want to cause more obstacles to the functioning of this establishment."

The three friends decided to leave the place, mostly Rarity and Twilight in regards of calming down Rainbow's mod before she jumped again at the azure unicorn. But before leaving, Twilight offered Trixie to go and meet them at the library to clear things up.

"It is not in my wishes to expose myself before you or your associates." Pausing for a moment to think about it. "But since I am already exposed, well I could also try to make peace." Twilight simply nodded in agreement before leaving the cafe.

***

-Golden Oak Library.

"Ah-Ha!" Rainbow shouted, raising a triumphant hoof.

"Ah-Ha?" A purple dragon asked more annoyed than surprised.

"That's what I say, Spike. And I hold it!" Since the encounter with Trixie, Twilight decided (mostly due to Rarity and Rainbow telling to everypony else) to talk about it with her friends. To say that they opinions didn't matched was the understatement of the year.

Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Rarity, being the ones who the showmare wronged that first time, were the most concerned and still in some grades of anger. Pinkie and Fluttershy had yet to meet the pony in question.

The pink party pony was just exited -as always- on finally having her chance to throw Trixie her 'welcome to Ponyville' party that she missed the last time. Fluttershy, on the other side, was scared of the evil mare that her friends described her.

Twilight wasn't really sure what to think about the whole situation. In one hoof, she was still upset for all the trouble the showpony caused to her friends and to the town. But on the other hoof, the image of a destroyed cart and a lonely pony running in the distance was keeping her from being actually angry.

"It's so obvious. She has to be!" The cyan pegasus snapped her from her thoughts.

"Who has to be, sugar cube?" Applejack asked, not sure to follow.

"Mare-Do-Well! It's obviously Trixie." Everypony in the room -yes, even Pinkie- stared at Dash with the clearest 'are you serious?' face they could.

"Now, darling. I'm not a fan of that rude showmare but I hardly see how she could be Mare-Do-Well."

"But she has to be. Who else would want to embarrass me -us- doing something like this?"

"I don't think so." Twilight finally spoke, partially thanking to have another subject to think about. Trixie was a touchy one. "With what I've collected from this Mare-Do-Well, she seems to have some reserves of money and knows how to hold a fight. Trixie was working at a Starbits and wasn't a very combatant pony when we meet her." Faithful to her promise, she had been compiling all the info she could on the masked pony. She even managed to get some commentaries from Raindrops. Everything pointed to a resourceful and skilled pony. Trixie wasn't fitting in either category.

"Exactly, it's all a cover to discredit us. Just like in that Daring Do book, the one from two months ago." She needed it to be true, she really needed to put a face on Mare-Do-Well. A face that she could punch for making her feel so bad.

Before anypony could come with a response, a knock was heard on the door. All the girls looked at each other, knowing exactly who it was but at the same time being unable to decide who should open the door. Except for Pinkie, she simply ~~walked~~ ~~trotted~~ ~~PINKIE STOP MESSING WITH MY SCRIPT!~~ bounced to the entrance and opened it.

"Hi Trixie!" She saluted without even looking. The azure unicorn stood silently in front of her pink interlocutor. As in the cafe, she had her hair suspended in a ponytail and wearing glasses but also she was wearing a midnight blue pace that covered most of her body, sans her head.

"Good afternoon misssss..." Riding the 's' as inspecting Pinkie from hooves to mane. "...Pink. Is this the house of miss Sparkle?" She looked over Pinkie's shoulder. "She wanted me to come here."

***

-Ponyville Central.

"You want us to do what?!" The scream of two pegasi came from Barricade's office. The black earth pony didn't seemed to react at this but instead he calmly looked down at his papers, not minding too much the two angry detectives.

"I want you to do your job." He replied in a dry tone. "This vigilante is a public danger and I want her out of my town."

"Boss, let’s be honest here. Mare-Do-Well is actually helping." Snowflake was trying to stay calm. "I mean, look at all those arrests she has made for us."

"Physical assault, unprovoked aggression, various levels of injuries." The commissioner listed. "And at least half of her 'arrests' were against harmless members of our community."

"Will all respect sir, that's a lot of crap." Snowflake interrupted. "Every one of those ponies was guilty of something, all of them caught in the act. Also, Drops and I are already working in real cases and--"

"And nothing!" As a hoof hit the desk with enough strength to almost break it. "Every damn time she goes and plays ´big damn hero´ I got to deal with tons of paperwork, and a sh*tload of calls from high places. Now your job." Pointing to Snowflake. "And your job." Pointing at Raindrops. "Is to catch that damn mad mare and bring me her flank here. No questions. Now get out of my sight before I send you to sky patrol for a month." With nothing more to add, Barricade pointed to the door. Snowflake was about to deliver another response but Raindrops was faster.

"Sir." While slowly raising from her seat but not walking to the door.

"Whatever it is Sunshower I don't want to hear it." He was concentrated at his desk again.

"Don't pretend that nopony knows from whose are those calls from 'high places'."

Barricade raised his sight to meet hers. "Are you implying something, Sunshower?"

"I'm not implying anything, sir. Just stating that is suspicious when those important calls only come when there's a big arrest." And she exited the office with Snowflake silently following her. Barricade waited for the two detectives to get out of his office before picking up the phone. Without even looking, he dialed a number he knew very well and waited for it to get answered. Just a few second after and he was saluted by a too familiar voice.

"What's on?"

He just sighed and replied. "We got a worm in the apple, maybe two."

***

-Some minutes later.

'This is literally the stupidest thing you have ever done!' Thought the azure unicorn. She was sitting in the library's main room, alone. After entering and exchanging the greetings that would make it into the top ten of the most awkward moments in Equestria's history, Twilight told her to wait a second as she and her friends were at the kitchen 'making some tea'. That was half an hour.

Inside the kitchen, six mares were trying to figure out what to do.

"What do we do?" Asked Pinkie, following that damn script for once.

"Well, at least one of us should go there. It's been a while since we came here to 'make some tea'." Rarity tried to hurry the conversation.

"Yeah, just let me go there and I'll deal with her!" Exclaimed Rainbow floating near the ceiling with her hooves crossed over her chest.

"What do ya mean by 'deal with her' sugar cube?" Asked Applejack. "For what ah heard, yer not in ta right mod to talk with her."

"But we don't wanna talk, we want her outta town." She replied. "Just let me do it and she will be out in ten seconds flat." Still boasting about being the fastest at everything.

"But she hasn't done anything bad." Fluttershy whispered from behind but yet loud enough to be heard by the stunt flyer.

"Anything?" Turning around to face the butter pegasus. "Anything?!" Coming closer to her. "She humiliated us, then bragged about it and then lied about herself. Isn't that enough?"

They continued with that line for a while. Meanwhile, at the other room, the azure pony was hearing everything since Applejack forgot to close the door. Sure, it was rude to overhear a conversation but she simply reasoned that, since they were talking about her, it would make it 'less rude' to hear it. A moment later, a purple dragon walked from downstairs and looked at Trixie, then at the door and after face-palming he shut the door and walked in front of the unicorn.

"They don't trust me, don't they?"

"Well." He put a claw behind his head. "Is not that you made a good impression the last time." She just responded by smirking making him raising an eyebrow. "Did I say something funny?"

"Ironic." She corrected him. "After you pass through I have passed you start to appreciate it."

"You know, the last time you were here you were shouting your name at the four winds and making sure that everybody around knew where you were."

"I'm perfectly capable of remembering my own life, thank you very much. Are you trying to make a point or only pointing a mare her own mistakes so you can feel morally higher?" The question came without malice or aggression, just plain and dull curiosity. That didn't prevented Spike from feeling uneasy with it.

"It's just that..." He trailed off. "For how long have you been here?"

"I'm not sure, the pass of time becomes monotone when you only work. Two months?"

"Well, there's my point." He replied. "Nobody knew you were here, why?"

"Maybe it was my intention to avoid being assaulted by angered pegasi and curious dragons?"

"Please stop it."

"Stop what?" She asked slightly smiling.

"That!" Holding an accusatory claw at her. "Every time I say something you answer with another question. Can you be direct please?"

She seemed to think about it. Sure, poking at his nerves was funny but she was there to make peace with the mares that were still in the kitchen chatting. 'Did one of them said oatmeal? That's crazy.' Casting a glance to the clock at the wall, Trixie decided that she needed to get out of this if she wanted to find a new job.

The owner of the Starbits didn't took to kindly that one of the Elements was at bad terms with her, which meant bad publicity. Making the logic step, she was fired before attracting more bad looks. She understood him, one simple incident could be more than enough to ruin a business.

"Alright young one. At least you have enough spine to stand and ask what you want. I can appreciate that. Here's my story for you to tell it to those who ask." Every word accompanied by a gesture of her right hoof. "Just remember, I offer only the truth and nothing else, if you want to tell it to others I only ask that you don't change what I tell you for veracity's sake." One last wave of her hoof and she took of her glasses, cape and hair band to undo her ponytail. She regained the appearance she had when they first meet. "Now, listen to the real tale of how the once Great and Powerful Trixie ended her days."

Another half an hour passed before the girls finally decided how to deal with Trixie (the plan included Applejack being ready to hold Dash at any moment) so they finally exited from the kitchen with the delayed tea in a silver plate. When Twilight looked at the living room there was no azure unicorn mare waiting for them. Instead, there was a purple baby dragon seated at Twilight's desk with his head resting in a claw, thoughtful. Twilight came closer to him, worried about what happened.

"Spike, what happened? did Trixie..." He turned his head immediately, surprising her.

"Twilight." He said. "I think we owe her a very sincere apologize."

"What?!" Rainbow, Rarity and Applejack shouted (scaring Fluttershy in the process).

"Trust me, she has a very valid point. But first." She looked at the pink mare in front of him. "Pinkie, could you tell me a joke? I really need to heard something that isn't depressing as tartarus."

***

-Golden Dawn Hotel, Ponyville's North side.

Crime was a forgotten evil from the distant past. That was only a misguided notion that most of the ponies believed but only very few really thought about. Crime still existed to these days, but it was highly covered for its own sake. Every meeting, every talk, every single word spoken from those who have something to hide were made in the most hermetic of secrets. It was an unspoken war between the forces of order against the selfish and evil.

Because of this secrecy that a powerful pony had arranged this meeting by asking to one of his friends for the safest room on Ponyville. Said friend was the actual owner of the Golden Dawn Hotel, also he owed that pony for being with him when he needed it the most. So, because of that, a unicorn named Tempus Fugit was waiting in a desk with a radio speaker in the best and safest suite that favors could get him.

Just as the clock struck the appointed hour, three small but sure knock were heard at the door. When the brown unicorn opened the door, two stallions -a unicorn and an earth pony- and a unicorn mare entered. The earth stallion was purple with a gray and silver mane, both cut in military fashion, as his flank showed a white spider web. The unicorn was navy blue with pitch black mane with a goatee and a red arrow for cutie mark. To conclude, the mare was a deep red with a long golden mane that made her stand out from her companions, her cutie mark had two swords over a round shield.

"Gentlecolts, lady." A voice from the speaker greeted them as the pony went back to his position behind desk. "I'm a pony of few word so I'm going to be clear." Pausing for a moment. "My business has been having some troubles recently. Not the lone policepony whose opinion is not to consider, but instead a mayor one." Tempus went to a TV that was in a near table. The ponies in the room looked at the screen as the stallion put to play a videotape.

The images in the screen showed three pegasi being smacked around by a single pony without a single difficulty and at the same time mocking at them, repeatedly. The three standing ponies looked at it in silence, studying every second of the recording. When the tape was finished radio spoke again.

"I believe that you understand where this is going. You three are well known for having a special talent in solving a working pony's problem. What can you say about it?"

The red mare spoke first. "Whoever she is, she has a terrible taste for clotting." After smirking in amusement. "And barely knows how to attack. Defensive training at least but nothing too aggressive."

"Not a bad shooter, maybe a natural one." The unicorn followed her, stroking his goatee. "But slow in the timing." Frowning with some disappointing.

The purple pony was the last to speak. "Agile and fast, if not a pegasi then she trained very hard." He took a moment to think about it. "Definitely an athlete or an acrobat. Must be around her twenties."

"So, I assume that this is not a problem beyond your skills."

The purple one looked down at the speaker and replied. "No, it isn't."

"They call her a hero, don't they? Then you can call us the villains." Added the red mare.

"Good, good. When will you do the job?"

"Tonight."

***

-The Black Berry, Ponyville's number one tavern.

It was pass five o'clock in the afternoon when Trixie finally opened the door of her room in the second store of the tavern. After looking for a job around half of the now bigger town, she finally gave up for today and simply went back indoors before the equestrian winter made her catch a cold. She entered, walked to the bar and saluted Berry, who was kind enough to give her an extended time to pay for her room and daily breakfast for some days. She thanked her for the gesture, assuring her that at the first opportunity she would pay with the highest of interest.

Dumping herself in the bed she let the theater glasses and the hairband over the nightstand, letting the mask off and letting her real face to appear once more. After several minutes of not doing nothing more than just transforming oxygen into carbon dioxide she rose from her bed to look through the window, trying to distract herself from the reality of no having a job and no money left.

"It's came to this, isn't it?" She told to herself. "No money, no job and no place for you. All because you lied exactly one time!" *beat* "And repeated it various times." Lowering her head, unable to handle it anymore she punched the wall next to the window. "All because it really doesn't matter how hard you try, if you fall and nopony gives you a chance you're screwed." Another sight left her muzzle. She gazed into the window again, but not looking at the town behind it but to her own reflection. "What are you going to do?"

Then, she saw that her reflection had something wrong. She could see a pony face, like hers, and two eyes. But the rest of the face was missing...

Two hours later.

"I can't believe it." A green stallion said while inspecting the photos on his desk. There were five of them, all portraying a costumed pony jumping from a rooftop, fighting a group of mobsters. "These photos are... I have no words to describe this... They're amazing." Green Loch managed to say.

"Gee, thanks boss." Replied Action Shot, blushing a little.

"I can hardly believe that you took them."

"I withdraw my thanks."

He just ignored her and continued. "Every other paper only has long distances and out of focus at its best but this. This is..."

"Wait to see the last one." She smiled with pride. Green Loch found the photo at the bottom of the pile. A clear shot of Mare-Do-Well looking at the camera while tipping her hat!

"You got her."

"We got her." Correcting him.

"We got her!"

"Don't you tell us to avoid redundancy when a reporter is--"

"WE GOT HER!" The green stallion threw all the papers on his desk to the air triumphantly. "I have been checking the others, no one has an image this clear. Nopony but us! The Gazette is back in the game." He lightened a cigar as offering another to Action Shot who politely refused it. "Now." Throwing smoke at the ceiling. "We only need a good article to put with that photo."

"Maybe an interview?" A third voice joined them. Green Loch and Action Shot looked at the door, opened, as an azure unicorn with silver hair entered the office. "Hello, my name is Trixie Lulamoon. I was here early."

"Lulamoon... Right..." Loch motioned her to enter and sit at his desk. "Rose, do you have Lulamoon's resume?"

From outside a voice responded. "In your desk."

"In my desk." He started to search between the multiple papers in his desk. "There's also the seventh Element, Discord's daughter, a couple of changelings and everything else that nopony has ever found." After that, a pale mare with raspberry mane entered at the office, reached for Loch's desk and, without even looking, took with a hoof a paper that she held in front of her boss. He took it as she left the office. "I would kill her if it wasn't for, without her, I would never find the number of the forensic and her body would stay decomposing here." He told to Trixie as Action Shot nodded. "Okay, let’s see. Basic and secondary education, Celestial’s School, traveling showmareship and then a series of small time jobs I'm not interested in reading. Alas, nothing in the lines of journalism."

"Actually, my last job before coming here was as assistant of reporter in Manehattan."

The editor pony didn't seemed very convinced, the Manehattan newspapers were very fussy about their employees, even the minor ones. He went back to read the unicorn's resume, searching line by line till the job popped almost at the end, accompanied by the signature of the Manehattan Word's editor. He thought about it while taking an unhealthy whiff from his cigar. "Well miss, it seems you're telling the truth. But this interview of yours, when did it happened."

"I interviewed her like an hour ago. Everything is here. You really inspired me when I came here before, so I thought of giving the Gazette the premise." She rose from her seat and trotted to the door. "But of course, if you have that covered I can go..."

"Nonsense, nonsense." Loch almost tackled Action Shot by trying to follow Trixie. "There's always room for more coverage. There must be a free desk here.." Catching up with the unicorn and putting a hoof over her shoulder.

"We discuss an initial salary or..."

"Roseluck will have the legal thing tomorrow at first hour." Guiding them around the newsroom till finding a free desk inside a very small cubicle. "Here you got. Can you give us a twenty inch column for tomorrow’s edition?"

Trixie sat at the chair and looked at a writing machine that was buried in rust. "I think so."

"Good, and one more thing..." He tossed his finished cigar to a side and approached her until they were nose to nose. "Everything here is one hundred percent legitimate and veracious, this is a lifetime opportunity for the Gazette. If one single word of what you write is a lie, if you make up anything." *pause* "I will make you pay. Your head, my wall. Are we clear?"

"Crystal clear." Trixie saluted with a hoof as she was a soldier. "Boss?" He turned around and walked away while saying.

"Then start writing Lullaby, and don't call me boss!" As walking back to his office.

"It's Lulamoon, sir." She corrected before sitting down at the desk and retrieving a notebook from her saddlebag with her magic. The notepad levitated and landed next to the old writing machine. "And thank you, my masked friend." She finally had that chance she so much needed.

***

-That night.

The capped figure of Mare-Do-Well was watching the town from the highest rooftop she could find. She used her crossbow to shot a rope to the next building and head to the west-south zone. Recently, some gangs have been marking territory with graffiti tags around there and the police wasn't really present. Just one or two cops to fill the orders from town hall, never in big numbers. Those were reserved to the center and north sides, inhabited by ponies with social notoriety or sh*tloads of money. Or both.

Being on patrol was becoming relaxing for her, it gave her time to think about things. For example, she still wasn't sure about that interview. Sure it would help her public image to be something more recognizable for the townsponies than just a mask walking around smacking criminals, and it had the added bonus to help a pony that really needed it. But on the other hoof, it brought some lights over her figure, which meant that the dark image of an unknown threat was more away from the mind of her enemies, making her less dreaded. Damn, this 'being a symbol' thing sure was complicated.

She landed over a four stories building, waiting for anything out of ordinary. The waiting game, somepony should commercialize it. For every age and any number of players. Just stay still and wait for the next 'badflank' wannabe to try and make something stupid, any second now. Aaaaaaaaaaaany second now.

A clod breeze ran around her. Her suit, being made out of breathable fabric to avoid overheating by exercise, was a terrible cover against cold. Shaking a little she made a mental note to make a new one adapted for the incoming winter. Maybe if she was less trigger happy with the crossbow and less of a show off with the disappearing thing, she would spent less in arrows and smoke bombs and save enough money to make it.

That line of thought was interrupted when a lone pegasus stallion with a blue head kerchief and a white and blue shirt walked down the street. She saw that he wasn't very old, maybe sixteen at much, as he walked right into a near alley. Smelling something fishy in that and recognizing the head kerchief from one of the small gangs that was lurking around this part of town, she jumped to the next building and followed him with the look. The darkness remembered her to save some money for those night vision goggles she saw the other day, she sure needed them now.

The colt produced a paint can and proceeded to paint the logo of the 'Vultures' on the wall. She considered to use the signal first but she was bored so she descended with a rope, silent as a ghost, and used the night shadows of the alley to get closer to him without being noticed. "You shouldn't be doing that."

"Eek!"

Faust, she loved when they jumped out of their socks after she does that.

Stepping out to the small light that the crescent moon was casting over them she continued. "You know, the working ponies that live in that building don't like having to repaint every time you guys do that..." But she realized she was speaking alone when she saw the colt running like a bat outta hell from her. "Finally." She commented. "One pony with two brain cells." She thought of letting him go but she needed the exercise to avoid coldness. Galloping behind him, she jumped and tackled the pony just outside the alley.

Where two groups of ponies were waiting for them. With guns.

At one side where only earth ponies, dressed in red and black as the colt she tackled ran with the other group composed entirely of pegasi with blue and white. Apparently the Salamanders and the Vultures decided that she was worth the truce. The masked crusader couldn't help but feel sad when she noticed that they were all teenagers. Then a more primal instinct kicked in when she also noticed the insane amount of guns pointed at her, not only the street beretta and the occasional desert eagle but also three SMG's and one assault rifle. Strictly military equipment. Well, there goes the less arrow and bombs economy.

"Heyyyy." She talked veeeeery slowly and very careful, raising her front hooves to show them unarmed. "Now, let’s not do something that we will all regret." Nopony moved an inch.

"What are we waiting for? She can't have enough of those arrows for us!" One of the Salamanders yelled. "And I bet my flank that we have more than enough bullets for her." As cocking his gun. *chock* She smiled under her mask 'Gotcha.'.

"Did you just cocked your gun?" She asked in a trained deadpan voice.

"What?"

"Your gun. When you were all 'we have more than enough bullets for her' you stopped pointing and cocked your gun. What kind of idiot goes to a gunfight with an un-cocked gun?" Her question set the domino effect as every pony with a gun on his hooves looked at it Almost a half-second distraction and that was all she needed.

"Bombs away!" She leaped back like a gymnast, her body moving like silk at the wind, as at least five explosions were heard in rapid succession followed by a thick smokescreen that covered the street. 'Big guns first.' She thought, pointing her crossbow and firing a net arrow to where she remembered was the assault rifle. The pony with the weapon felt with a loud thump. 'Shoot.' She dragged him from there just in time as a rain of bullets hit the direction of the thump. When he was at reach she took the weapon and disarmed it.

The glint from the guns gave her an approximate of their positions. Running around, she grabbed the first one at hoof and kicked his gun away, then another one to his stomach and finally to his head. She repeated a similar process around with the rest of the gang. Occasionally some of them would try to fire but their vision was blurry for the smoke so the guns only served to tell their positions.

After the smoke was away only two ponies -a stallion pegasus and an earth mare- were still conscious. The rest of both gangs were scattered unconscious around the street. Some trapped inside a net and two or three nailed to the floor with arrows holding their manes and tails. The most were punched into submission and left at the concrete. They were scared.

Two arrows later and they were disarmed too.

From abode, they heard the whisper of a cape right between them. Then, a hit in their heads. Both felt but only the stallion was knocked out as he received the kick right in the head. The mare wasn't that lucky. A pair of gloved hooves dragged her on the pavement and lifted her against a wall. Scared wasn't a fit description for her anymore, she just saw a single mare taking down two groups of armed ponies with nothing more than arrows and her bare hooves. And now she had her, her yellowish with coat and black mane became very very pale. She was terrified.

"Calm down lady, I'm not the one with guns here." She tried to calm her down. Sure, gun carrying gang ponies were one of her buttons but she needed to know where do they got four military range weapons. She left her at the floor and dragged from her belt a small spray that she put near the nostrils of the shaking mare and pressed. The pulverized chloroform was enough to take the average pony down but in her frightened state, the adrenaline countered the effect from sleeping to stop her from shaking.

"There, there." Mare-Do-Well put a hoof over her shoulder to calm her nerves. "What's your name?"

"S- Sw- Swan Song." In that moment, she noticed Swan's cutie mark, a festively adorned green skull accompanied with a purple musical note.

"That's it, you see? I don't wanna hurt you."

"I--"

"But I still wanna know where did you got those weapons." Letting her go. The gang pony was still afraid of what was going to happen. If she told her and the boss discovered, it was going to be hell for her and her family. But on the other hoof, even if the analgesic calmed her nerves, she was still scared from this pony in front of her.

A black arrow cut the air from behind them and stuck in Swan Song's shoulder, making her shriek in pain as Mare-Dow-Well turned around. Behind them were two unicorns over a rooftop, a mare and a stallion. The stallion was navy blue with jet black mane, tail and goatee, wearing three quivers strapped to his hind legs and back respectively. He was holding a black longbow in a bronze yellow aura. The mare was red and wearing a half-face withe mask with red lenses. and various yellow straps holding a bundi dagger, a scimitar, a katana, a cutlass sword and two revolver holsters. A bloody arsenal.

"Well, look at you." The mare said as jumping from the rooftop to the street. "I still can't believe you actually go out in that thing." Drawing the bundi dagger with her magic and putting it in her left foreleg. "En garde." A she charged at her.

Author's Note

Boy, it took me long enough to publish this one, didn't it?

Next issue on Mare-Do-Well Strikes!
She talks like Princess Platinum, and fights like Commander Hurricane.
He has a perfect aim and a heart that only beats for money.
Will Mare-Do-Well survive fighting Lady Vic and Merlyn?
(of course she does, her name's on the tittle... right?)

Mare-Do-Well Strikes! #3. Brawl.

A little clue, one of these scenes wasn't going to happen till I read the comments on the first chapter.

As always, thanks for reading and please comment.

Mare-Do-Well Strikes! #3. Brawl

-Cover concept:

Brick wall. Mare-Do-Well's hat nailed in the middle by a black arrow, shredded.

***

It was a quiet and clear sunrise. Birds were singing and ponies began to fill the streets that were recently getting used to be full of activity in contrast to it's old times. All was peaceful while Celestia's sun graced the new day with its light, leaving the darkness of the night to retreat once again.

But in the Everfree forest, that light was being eclipsed. A black mass of clouds filled with thunder and lightning was forming over the indomitable place. Like a black flag of death, the mass was moving over the enchanted forest, slowly going in Ponyville's direction. Darkness was coming.

The storm was coming.

***

FIMFiction presents:

Mare-Do-Well Strikes!
in
The Hunt (Part two). Wounded

Written by Wave Blaster
Preread and Edited by Diamond Dust
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic created by Lauren Faust
Based on the styles of Warren Ellis and Frank Miller. Dedicated to Bob Kane's memory
All rights reserved or ignored accordingly

***

Ponyville's Gazette
"M" is for...
(Ponyville's Gazette photo by Action Shot)

...Mare-Do-Well.At least that's how she identified herself when acceded to tis exclusive interview with the Ponyville's Gazette.

Apparently on her twenties, could be mistaken with a mid grade pony from academy in her way to spring vacations except for the mauve and purple uniform and the fact she entered through my window... at the fourth floor.

"Obviously, Mare-Do-Well isn't your real name."

She smirks "Well, it was better than the other ideas in my mind at the moment."

"Aren't you worried about it? that name has quite some history here in Ponyville."

"I don't know, we'll have to see." She says. "But I took it for what it means. If you read it, it says exactly who I am; a simple mare who just wants to help."

"A simple mare, armed with a crossbow." We both laugh.

"Yeah." She scratches the back of her head. I notice how she avoid touching the hat, like hiding something under it. "Well, when I decided to jump around in a Nightmare Night costume, I said 'hey, I may need something to defend myself' and I'm rather good with it, so..." Barely even touching her cape, she produces from her back the aforementioned crossbow. It's the Royal Guard's model, modified for hooves instead of magic.

She politely refuses to reveal her real name and where she is from; but by her tone of voice and mannerisms, one can say Canterlot. But her previous location is not important right now, it's where is she now that matters.

"Why Ponyville? What does Ponyville has that you came here?"

She looks around the room before answering. "I suppose it was the closest town around. I was just going to pass it when I decided to check it up."

"Are you staying?"

"As long as I'm needed here? Yeah, you can count on me."

I'm about to ask her if she doesn't believe in the system to take care of things, but suddenly my room is flooded in a tick gray smoke. I reach to open the window but it's already opened. I can see a caped silhouette jumping so quickly over the rooftops that it seems like flying.

By T.S. Lulamoon of the news team of the Ponyville's Gazette.

***

I will admit it, it wasn't my best moment.

Okay, okay. It was actually one of my worst moments, I totally screwed it up, and I'm not a stranger with the concept. But who I'm talking to? You've already seen how bad I can screw things up, after all, you where there too. But that's not the point now, isn't it. No, you want to know how I screwed it up THIS time. Well, take a seat, I know it's a cliché, but it's a longs story...

***

-The night.

Mare-Do-Well has only twenty minutes left to live.

"Do you have a preferred fighting style?" asked the red mare.

"I don't think that verbal debate counts, right?" Mare-Do-Well replied.

"No answer? Well, I'll take that as a permission to use my favorite." The red mare began the assault with one of her weapons, the bundi dagger. Her first slice was quickly evaded by Mare-Do-Well performing a quadruple backflip, putting all the possible distance between them.

"Not a bad move, I can recognize some experience on it." The red mare said. "But amusing as they are, your parlor tricks will not save you for I've been trained to kill everything on my path." Using her magic, the red unicorn drawn another dagger, placing it on her free fore hoof and leaning on her back ones. "Gaze and cower in fear for your killer." Smashing the blades together. "And tell the devil that Lady Vic sends you."

"Nah, I don't take messages."

The fight was unique, Lady Vic was quick and strong. Her skill with the bundi daggers was clear as she assaulted the capped pony with a tenacity that would have killed even the bests from the Royal Guard. On her side, Mare-Do-Well was doing all she could to dodge the sharp weapons. After facing two major gangs some minutes ago, she was out of smoke bombs and arrows, so she had only her own skill to avoid being amputated by Lady Vic.

Not wanting to only dodge forever, Mare-Do-Well used her only weapon at hand. Her big mouth.

"That's all you got?" she said with a not-so-sure tone in her voice. "A long speech and a poor dance with knifes, oh I'm so scared." Finally seeing a window when one of the daggers got stuck in the ground. Mare-Do-Well used it to hit Lady Vic with a direct hoof to her white mask. She immediately regretted it as she tried to get back while rubbing her pained hoof.

"HA! Did you really think that my mask was for show only?" Lady Vic asked with her own mockery tone. "I'm a professional, not some madpony in a costume, learn the difference. please. I would hate to get money for killing a dumb pony."

Since the mask had a muzzle window, Mare-Do-Well could see clearly how Lady Vic was smiling at her.

"Oh yeah?" Mare-Do-Well replied. "Well you're..." Pausing to think for something to say. "...naked. You're naked."

"Oh, ouch." Vic faked a pain tone. "I'll have to surrender to such an impressive mind." Lady Vic tossed her daggers from her hooves and took a combat pose. "Or, I could kill you for such a bad joke."

Mare-Do-Well swallowed hard, this was going to suck. Both mares started to walk in circles, searching for any weaknesses to exploit from their opponent. But before any of them managed to do anything a third voice interrupted them.

"Time's up dear, now is my turn," the dark blue stallion said from the rooftop behind them. Lady Vic lowered her front hooves, going back to using the four ones to stand, and simply walked to a side of the street.

"I suppose it's my fault," she resigned herself. "We are still dividing the earnings." Mare-Do-Well was about to use the distraction to get the hell out of there. Too bad that a black tipped arrow pinned her down to the ground by her cape before she could even move.

"Ah-ah miss, you're not getting out of this that easily." The archer pony descended to the street. "Name's Merlyn and arrow's the trick. But instead of Lady Vic over here I'll give you a chance. You got one free shot before I try to finish you." The masked pony didn't seem to be paying attention, staying still with her head low and covering under her cape. "Did you heard me miss?" Merlyn asked, getting closer to her. She didn't say a word. "I'm giving you a free shot!" Still nothing. He got even closer, no more than three or four hooves from her. "Can you hear me?!"

"Very clear." Two gloved hooves pointed a crossbow at Merlyn's face, point blank. He didn't had time to express any surprise as an arrow exited the crossbow directly to his face, hitting it with an iron ball instead of a tip. The impact got the mercenary confused and angry.

"Cheater!" He said as reaching with his magic for his own bow and arrows. Tensing the string he looked everywhere, but there was nobody in the street with him besides Lady Vic laughing. "Will you stop laughing and help me!"

"Ha-ha-ha-ha oh come on, that was gold comedy." She replied holding her stomach. "You went all high and formal, only to fall on a kid's trick-ha-ha-ha-ha!" She stooped to take a breath. "She's behind you by the way." She pointed at him. Merlyn didn't managed to turn around before two hooves smashed his ears and knocked him down.

"Not a bad move girl, if I wasn't being paid for killing you..." Lady Vic congratulated her while clapping her hooves. "Too bad I'm being paid to kill you." Mare-Do-Well tried to charge at her, but Lady Vic was faster.

The red mare took Mare-Do-Well's right hoof and used it to force the pony to the ground. After that, Mare-Do-Well didn't stood a chance; Every attempt to attack was countered, every defense was ignored. Unlike before, Lady Vic seemed way more focused on harming her target. Head, joints, neck, diaphragm, the mercenary knew exactly where to hit with a fearful precision. It only took one minute, or maybe less, for the masked pony to be unable to stand still, much less fight.

"Just to be clear, this is not personal." Lady Vic told her before drawing the revolver from her belt. "But somepony really expects you to die, so..." But before she could take the killing shot, Mare-Do-Well collapsed on the ground. "Hmm." She muttered to herself, leaning closer to the beaten up mare and putting a hoof over her neck to check for a pulse. Nothing.

"Well I suppose that's it. Damn I really expected a more interesting fight." She unceremoniously awoke Merlyn by slapping his face with her magic. "Come on you jester, we have a good paycheck to collect."

Merlyn rose slowly from the ground, tenderly rubbing his head. He looked down at the motionless figure of Mare-Do-Well and anger overtook him. Lighting up his horn, the archer pony took Mare-Do-Well in his magic and carried her till they were about to cross the bridge across the river.

"See you in hell, you cheating witch." Without saying anything else, Merlyn was about to toss Mare-Do-Well's body into the cold water.

"Wait!" Lady Vic stopped the fall with her own magic. "What the hell are you doing?"

"The bounty was to make an example of her." Merlyn replied. "We throw this into the river and tomorrow ponies find a body inside a Mare-Do-Well costume. The message should be clear enough."

But Lady Vic didn't seem too convinced as she was still holding the costumed pony. "Are you sure this is enough?"

"Ha!" Merlyn said. "Sure as hell it will, because if it's not and she comes back singing 'Dream On' I'll give her whatever she wants." They stood in silence for a moment. "Unless of course, you want to carry it around town."

Lady Vic must have decided he had a point, because she turned off her magic, letting the river to drive Mare-Do-Well downstream.

***

-Next morning, Golden Oak Library.

"You can't be serious," Twilight said to her friend. "I mean, it's not that I'm defending Trixie, but going to her home for more? Come on, Rainbow, just let it go."

"No!" Rainbow replied, inadvertently extending her wings. "Twilight, you saw how she lied her flank off last time. Now she comes back, and what does she do? Lie again to put Spike on her side!"

"But we don't know if she lied." Twilight rolled her eyes back, thinking about Trixie's story. If what she told Spike was even half the true, then the poor girl really deserved to be left in peace. Though, even if that was true, telling it to Spike wasn't the best thing to do either.

Since Trixie's visit last night, Spike has been too distracted for Twilight's taste. After their friends left the house, Spike seemed to be saddened, even remorseful. Twilight asked him what was happening and Spike only replied by telling her what Trixie told him.

"Come! On! Twilight!" Rainbow interrupted her train of thought. "You really think she is even able to tell the truth? I bet bit against doughnuts that she's lying." *beat* "Again."

"Well." Twilight put a hoof over her chin. "It would be good to clarify things, after all, I invited her to do that and we pretty much left her hanging alone." There was some tones of regret in Twilight's voice.

"Good, let's go!" Rainbow exited the library with her usual speed, leaving Twilight alone. The purple unicorn walked calmly to the door and, with a bored expression, waited for Rainbow to realize the obvious. A cyan blur came back to her side.

"Come on Twilight, what are you waiting for?"

"Rainbow, where does Trixie live?" Twilight asked in a complete deadpan voice, waiting for Rainbow's respond.

"That's easy, she's staying in Berry's tavern."

"Wait," Twilight raised an eyebrow. "How do you know that?"

"Easy, I asked Derpy where she was staying."

"How does Ditzy knows?"

"She delivers the mail, she has to know," the pegasus said as taking flight again. "Come on, let's go for Rarity too." Twilight couldn't reply as Rainbow raced towards Carousel Boutique. Without too much options, Twilight followed her.

***

-Golden Dawn Hotel, Ponyville's North side.

"So, can I trust you that Mare-Do-Well is no more?" the voice from the speaker over the desk asked.

"Pff, easier than killing time." Merlyn rested an elbow over the table while smiling smugly. "We tracked, we caught and killed her flank."

"Good, then Tempus can handle you your payment." As the speaker said that, the brown unicorn with the pocket watch cutie mark walked next to a painting in the wall. He removed it, revealing a safe inside the wall from where he produced a briefcase. Closing the safe, Tempus Fugit put the briefcase over the table.

Merlyn was about to reach for it, but his hoof was stopped by a purple one. He looked angrily at the owner of the hoof, the pony of the spider cutie mark. Reluctantly, Merlyn retired his hoof as the purple earth pony opened the briefcase. He stared in silence at the money papers, counting them twice to be sure.

"Mister," he said staring at Tempus, "there's a mistake here." His tone didn't betray any emotion, but his whole facial expression was actually aggressive. Tempus gulped loudly as his hooves started to shake. He opened his mouth to say something but was cut off by Lady Vic.

"Don't be mean with the right hove pony, Spider." She walked between the two of them. "But I'm curious too, why is there more money than the one we agreed?"

"No way, let me see it!" Merlyn struggled to see over Spider's shoulder to take a peek. It truly amazed him when the double of money he was expecting greeted his eyes. "Beautiful."

"Gentlecolts, lady," the radio spoke again, "I do believe you would like to stay in Ponyville for a little longer if the payment is enough."

"Who is the target?" Spider asked.

"Tempus, give our collaborators their new reason to take my money."

Tempus nervously opened a drawer behind the desk. From there he handed a folder to Spider, who took it between his hooves. Both, Lady Vic and Merlyn, looked over their boss' shoulders to see the photos of a jasmine and a white pegasi with the PPD's uniform.

"I took the liberty to arrange you a good window. In a week, they'll be alone in the station." The radio stopped for a moment. "I want it to be a mess, this town needs to know to not disturb important ponies' business."

***

-Some minutes later, Carousel Boutique.

*knock, knock, knock, knock*

Rainbow Dash literally smacked her head against the door out of hastiness for Rarity to open it. Although Twilight tried to calm down the hotblooded pegasus, her efforts where in vain.

Reasoning that she needed help, Twilight convinced Rainbow that Rarity should go with them by telling her that the unicorn may side with Rainbow against Trixie. Twilight expected for Rarity to be more reasonable than that and help her to hold Rainbow from doing something she could regret.

*knock! knock! knock!* Rainbow hit the door harder this time.

Right when Twilight caught up with Rainbow, the Boutique's door opened, but not by the expected white unicorn. Instead, a filly made of metal was looking up to Rainbow from the door's frame.

"Oh, hi miss Rainbow Dash," Sweetie Belle said in her now usual mechanical voice. "Are you looking for Rarity?"

"Yeah, hurry and bring her here quick." Rainbow was scratching the ground under her right foreleg without noticing by this point. The image of the 'about to charge' pegasus was intimidating enough to scare the bullet-proof robot.

(If you're wondering why Sweetie Belle is a kryptonite powered robot in this scene, go and check out The Doom Patrol. Shameless self-promotion is shameless.)

"I'm Sorry, but Rarity can't come out right now." Sweetie looked down, drawing circles in the ground with her right hoof.

"What?!"

"Rainbow! Calm down." Twilight put a hoof over the pegasus shoulder. "Sweetie Belle, what wrong?"

"Nothing, nothing at all," Swetie replied hastily. "It's just that... Rarity is.... hum....." Each word coming quieter as she took longer pauses between each one.

"Sick! Yeah, she's sick." The metallic filly raised a triumphant hoof to the skies.

"Oh no." Twilight tried to cross the door but was stopped by Sweetie Belle's hoof. "Sweetie, let us in to check on her."

"No, you can't!" The filly screamed again, pausing after seeing the quizzical looks on the elder mares. "Because... Rarity.... and you..... she's......" *insert comical time skip here* "Sleeping! Yeah, that's good too. She's sleeping and she wanted to rest the rest of the morning."

"Fine," Said Rainbow as taking fly again in Berry's Tavern's direction. Although Twilight wasn't buying anything of that, Rainbow was too focused to notice if it was the truth or not.

"Wait, Rainbow!" Twilight groaned. "Tell Rarity I'll come to visit her later, when she's awake." Sweetie Belle nodded as Twilight chased after Rainbow Dash. when the two ponies were out of sight, Sweetie Belle sighed in relief.

Upwards, on Rarity's bedroom, the curtains were closed as silence reigned the room. Scattered around the floor were various pieces of purple and mauve cloth. Sitting in the bed's corner, a white unicorn mare was looking down at the object between her hooves. A purple mask of the side of a regular mare, with two broken goggles over the eyes' level. Rarity sighed, thinking of all what happened since she first sewed that same mask.

She thought of how much things have changed since she became the Element of Generosity.

She thought how the calm and simple Ponyville had become one of the next boomtowns. In fact, after Discord's defeat, Ponyville became the boomtown of this generation. Celestia saw it that way too and responded accordingly.

Due to the masses of ponies deciding to live in the town that made it into the cover of the Equestria Daily almost as much as Canterlot, the Princess decided to expand the little place into something that could offer a proper place to live for those ponies. In the last year, Ponyville was changing.

Rarity remembered how she saw the first negative sign of that change and what it was presaging. It was a small sign, almost imperceptible. But Rarity was a pony with a good eye for detail, so naturally she saw it. It was something a simple as a graffiti on a wall.

For Twilight, that was nothing new, Canterlot has its own problems with young ponies too, so it was nothing out of this world. The same went for Rainbow, Fluttershy and Pinkie, they all were used to see them in the periphery of Cloudsdale and Fillydelphia respectively. Applejack for her part didn't care too much, reducing it into something to be cleaned and forgotten.

At the end of the day, it was just another mundane occurrence, overshadowed by all the other spectacular events happening in town.

Only Rarity saw it under a different light.

Of the six Elements, only she and Applejack were raised in Ponyville. But where Applejack was more focused on her family and job at the far, Rarity took more time to be part of her hometown.

She knew a lot of Ponyville that her friends ignored. She knew that Ponyville was the first town to be settled near a place as dangerous as the Everfree forest. She also knew that Ponyville was the first town to have a mayor since its foundation, instead of adopting one after it. Rarity knew and remembered how even the styles of the houses have changed through time.

Because of that attention to detail, Rarity knew that the graffiti was, in fact, the first one in Ponyville since it foundation.

And it didn't stop there. From that day, Rarity saw how much things began to change around her. With the population growing by the month, there were way too many faces to know who was doing what. Small things first. A lost wallet, a missing crate of fruit, an unpaid bill.

Then, the big ones began. Shoplifting, bank robberies, small street gangs. Rarity was annoyed but not surprised when it was enough for the mayor to order the creation of the first police department in Ponyville.

Rarity understood that Ponyville needed somepony.

Somepony who could make a stand against the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil ponies. Somepony who was willing to do what's right. Somepony who could give something to believe in for the innocents, and something to fear for the guilty.

Rarity knew that.

*sigh*

Rarity looked again at the mask between her hooves, remembering how she shaped each detail of it. She wasn't looking for nothing in particular that time, just a reminiscent of the icons in some of Sweetie Belle's comics. She never thought that her offhoofed reprise of a child's magazine would become something like this.

"Ugh-- uuh..." The bathroom's door opened as the mare who has been using the mask for the last two months stepped out of it. "Mare, I really needed that shower."

"I suppose you're feeling better." Rarity left the mask over the bed and walked next to a pony about her size and age.

"If by 'better' you mean 'less like dirt and more like a maggot', yeah." Rarity offered her shoulder for support. Both her and the mare walked at the bed and sat down as Rarity took a medical kit from her nightstand and opened it. "So, you know who I am, you heard what happened and now I'm in no shape to resist against anything. What know?"

Rarity looked at the other mare. She saw her covered in various bruises of different sizes, her left shoulder had still hematoma for being dislocated and her breathing was slowed by the pain of one broken rib.

"Well, I'm not a nurse but I'd say you need rest--"

"No, not that, " the mare interrupted her. "I'm talking about you."

"Me, darling?" Rarity tilted her head in confusion. "I'm not sure to follow."

"I can't do anything right now without help, even recovering means asking you for that." The mare looked at the floor in defeat. "What a great defender I was." She looked at Rarity again. "What I'm saying is that, whatever happens now, it all depends on you."

"I..." Rarity took a moment to think about it, about what she was thinking the last minutes while the mare was taking a bath.

Rarity thought again of how much Ponyville have changed in the last year for the worse, and how much better it got in the last two months.

"I want to help." Rarity said with a determined voice. "I don't know why you're doing this but I've seen how much good you have made. I believe in what you're doing and I want to help."

"Hmm, thanks," the mare answered. "Well, I suppose I should take that rest you're talking about."

"Good, I'll take Sweetie to the park so you can be at peace."

"I don't think you're following me here." The mare rose from the bed and started to walk to the door. "Unlike some romance books, under that mask there's not an idea, there's a pony. A pony with an identity and friends who would pretty much suspect if I'm not at the tavern, soon."

Author's Note

I'm truly sorry for the hiatus and the development time. But, hey, we got us a chapter, hope you like it.

Oh, also. Next time, on Mare-Do-Well Strikes!
Fell but not broken, Mare-Do-Well is recovering while Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle finally find her unmasked. Will they recognize her, or the caped pony will keep her secret identity, well, secret.
Also featuring Raindrops and Snowflake vs Lady Vic and Merlyn. Can Ponyville's finest prevail where the masked hero couldn't?
With lyrics by Aerosmith.

Mare-Do-Well Strikes! #4. Back to action.

Thanks for reading, don't forget to comment because I don't give half of a damn about rates or favs, but the comments? Those make all of this worth of doing.