Where the Angels Fall

    Trixie Lulamoon opened her eyes as she cringed, not fully knowing what to expect.

    However, after a moment of studying her surroundings, the unicorn was relieved to find out that she was not surrounded by dozens of dubstep-addicted, vengeful ponies wanting her blood. Instead, Trixie found herself in the outskirts of Ponyville, the peaceful town still busy with its occupants.

    The mare blinked as she saw her foreleg outstreched, the small purpureus-purple ball still lying on the hoof. Realization hitting home, Trixie pulled the ball close to her. "Okay..." Trixie recalled in her mind. "I just need to find a pony that matches the description, then throw the ball on the floor close to him, without being seen. Then, I'm home free... Let's see, jet black in color. Stallion. One cyan eye and one brown. Never heard of that..."

    Trixie started to make her way to the town, a plan underway. However, a new problem entered the unicorn's mind. "What if somepony recognizes me?" That thought bounced in her head as Trixie stopped mid-canter, blinking. "...What if Twilight Sparkle recognizes me?"

    The unicorn had second thoughts about Vandal's plan. Trixie backed away from Ponyville, fearful. A feeling of rebellion planted itself in her heart. "...Why should I even help Vandal? I'm out of that club, and completely safe from him! I should just stay away from Canterlot and continue on with my life.

"...Then again, he visits me in my *dreams.** It seems there is no escape from him. Plus, he controlled my magic back at Wubberz! How does anypony do that? Let alone an earth pony?! Vandal has some amount of special powers, that is for certain.*"

    Trixie growled under her breath, resisting the urge to throw the small ball as far as she could. "This is so unfair!" As the unicorn ground her teeth together, she wanted desperately to smash that smug stallion's head in. "He knows of my endeavors with Twilight Sparkle. Why would he send me here without a disguise? Surely he's not that stupid--?"

    Trixie's thoughts stopped abruptly as the hoof in front of her began to change color.

    For a moment, the unicorn only stared as her hoof slowly changed from a light shade of blue to plain blue. Then, it gradually continued to darken to a navy blue. Trixie gawked as her coat turned darker and darker, until it was a solid shade of jet black. Her mouth slowly opened to scream, but before any vocalized terror could escape Trixie's mouth, her reality shifted.

    Gone was the familiar town in the distance, replaced by pure whiteness. That whiteness slowly dissipated into what looked like the inside of a cabin, its walls and furniture outlined by a soft shade of gray. Trixie stumbled back, surprised, although that only succeeded in her rump bumping into a furry body. "Surprised?" a masculine voice said calmly behind her. Trixie jolted around to face the stallion, and came face-to-face with Vandal. The pony's blood red coat seemed out of place in the white surroundings, his unkept, yellow mane following suit. The stallion's rich purple eyes were narrowed as a smug smile was plastered on his face. Just like Trixie's first encounter with him, Vandal wore a black detective-like jacket. His hat, however, was nowhere to be found.

    Trixie's surprised demeanor was quickly replaced with rage as she advanced on the stallion. "What have you done to Trixie?!" she yelled.

    "Woah, calm down Ms. Third Person," Vandal defended sarcastically. "I just changed your body."

"MY ENTIRE BODY?!" Trixie screamed, her black hooves jutting up to her head out of shock. However, the mane they fell upon was not the unicorn's usual, calm style. Instead, it was tomboyish and unkept. "Oh, my Celestia..." She reverted her glare to Vandal. "Give Trixie a mirror!"

    The stallion in question, however, only smirked. "You're in an unknown mental condition which brought you into a different realm, and you're worried about how you look? Your priorities are really messed up." Trixie gave Vandal a death stare. "Alrighty, then...!"

    A mirror floated across the room to Trixie. It was white in color, its edges signified by soft shades of gray. The unicorn tried to snap it out of the air with her magic, although no glowing emitted from her horn. Surprised, Trixie looked at Vandal to find that his purple eyes were peering into hers. Something about them seemed to resist her casting any spells. However, Trixie's surprised stare did not last long. Frustrated, the unicorn instead used her hoof to hold the mirror to her face. What she saw mortified her.

    Instead of Trixie's light blue coat, her color was a jet black. The unicorn's eyes, usually radiating with a dark purple radiance, instead radiated with a crimson one. Her mane was tomboyish, its colors being black and white. Fortunately, her horn still adorned her head. "W... What have you done..?" Trixie stuttered, unbelieving as she stared at her reflection.

    "You were worried ponies would recognize you," Vandal reminded. "So, I made a few adjustments. Heh... you look kind of familiar, although I can't place my hoof on it..."

    "How did you..." Trixie started, but never finished.

    "When you accepted my job and took my hoof, many things happened at once," the red earth pony explained. "For one, your mind connected itself with me. I can hear your thoughts a mile away; that's how I knew you wanted a disguise."

    "How does that even..." Trixie whispered. Meanwhile, the mirror floated away from the mare, settling on a gray desk.

    "Secondly, it granted me magical access to you. I used that to change your appearance temporarily, lasting until the mission is done."

    "You're not a unicorn..."

    "Thirdly, it made it possible for me to bring you here." Vandal gestured to their surroundings. "I call it The Cabin." Trixie only stared at the pony, dumbfounded. "...I take it you have no idea how that's possible. Very well, I guess I'll start from the very beginning."

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    "...Colgate and I had a lot in common. We both knew how it felt to be thrust into unfamiliar land. She used to live in Canterlot when she was a filly. Lots of friends, good grades in school, and a joyful life. That is, until her parents were divorced and she was forced to live with her mother in Ponyville. You already know how I was put in Equestria. We were both forcefully brought here.

    "Colgate and I were in mid-conversation when the two Princesses showed up. They took me back to the castle without mercy. Furious, I went up to my room and locked the door. That was when I noticed something strange in the corner of my room.

    "It was an unusually dark shadow, which whispered to me quietly. It said to me, and these are its exact words, 'Why let them ruin your life? You've made it clear you don't want to go, yet they persist on sending you back. It's like they were never really your friend. Come to me, and I will show you the way to stay here. I will grant you power beyond imagination.' Curious, I walked to the corner.

    "Instantly afterwards, I disappeared. I wasn't teleported anywhere; I could still see, hear, and touch, and I was in the exact same spot as before. However, I was invisible. The shadow which made me into that state accompanied me, staying by my side. It... No, she, revealed herself as 'Nightmare.'

    "Nightmare told me to stay away from the Princesses and follow her instructions if I wanted to stay in Equestria. Later, I saw the Princesses enter my room to find me missing; although I was right there the entire time. That night, Princess Luna attempted to contact me through my dreams. Nightmare saw this, and sent me into the dream state to confront Luna. She told me to act like I teleported back to Earth, and be extremely angry. Nightmare also told me to not believe anything she said; the Princesses would send me back to Earth the first chance they get.

    "I complied with Nightmare, and Luna sent the Dream Rider to retrieve me." Vandal explained what the artifact was. "It was to be located in a cabin, guarded by three other ponies. Colgate was in the group. After I woke from my sleep, Nightmare took care of the rest..."

    A chair floated to Vandal, who responded with sitting on it. Trixie watched, positioned on her own seat. "On Earth, there is a thief named Garrett, AKA 'The Master Thief.' He's arguably the best of the best when it comes to stealth. I, myself, am a personal fan of him, as Nightmare told me all about him. Originally born as 'Nathaniel Bleu,' Garrett's first memories were in an orphanage." Vandal sighed sadly. "Truly is heart wrenching. What happened to his parents, I mean. However, what Garrett doesn't know won't hurt him." Trixie nodded slowly, sympathy pouring into her heart.

    "That poor man..." she muttered.

    "Poor?" Vandal chuckled. "That you have right. He ran from the orphanage when he was nine, absolutely penniless. Garrett survived by pick-pocketing and stealing, training himself to become a thief without any mentors or parents. At the tender age of ten, he even made a highly sophisticated compact bow. Nathaniel didn't use it for killing, mind you, instead using it for distracting people by using blunt arrows.

    "Remarkable, what Garrett accomplished." Vandal smiled, briefly thinking about what he would do if he met the famous Master Thief. "Anyways, Nightmare wanted him in Equestria for purposes unknown. I trust her, though. She's my... friend." Vandal sighed at the last part. "...Nightmare knew he would go snooping around in that cabin, as he was infamously curious. So, when Princess Luna sent the Dream Rider, Nightmare inflicted the artifact with her own magic. She put it in a chest filled with supplies for Garrett, along with a note. It read: 'Everything you need, NB.'

    "'NB' stood for 'Nathaniel Bleu.' However, when Garrett read the note, Nightmare was surprised to find out no recognition were in his eyes. It was as if Garrett had no idea who his former self was.

    "Nightmare engulfed the Dream Rider as Garrett touched it, sending him to Equestria. You see, normally, somepony from Equestria would have to touch the Rider in order for it to teleport. Nightmare is from Equestria, so when Garrett touched the Dream Rider, she touched it at the same time. Nathaniel was teleported to Equestria, although something went wrong. Nathaniel was supposed to be teleported into the Everfree Forest, where Nightmare and I would confront him. He was instead teleported into the house of the Element of Generosity... Ironic, isn't it? The Master of Thieves' first meeting was with the Element of Generosity." Vandal chuckled. "Eventually, he befriended the Elements of Harmony. You remember them, don't you?"

    Trixie nodded bittersweetly. "How could I forget? They both ruined and fixed my life."

    Vandal smiled at that. The positivity was gone, however, after the earth pony started to continue his story. "Nightmare saw this, and was disgusted. She's had a history with those ponies, and wanted Garrett to have nothing to do with them. So, a creature from his world was sent.

    "You see, when Garrett was teleported to Equestria, it gave off massive waves of Primal energy; something you're not familiar with. Think of it as Earth's form of magic. Anyways, monsters from Garrett's world sensed it, and came to the cabin. I, along with Nightmare, saw this. The three guards were still at the location of Garrett's departure. Knowing Colgate was in that group, I begged Nightmare to let them survive. She complied, teleporting the monsters here whenever they came close to the guards. It was the only place they could be without causing any harm."

    "...Here?" Trixie asked, confused.

    "Yes. Here, in The Cabin. A tear in the fabric of reality. In your mind, but also in real life. Both real, and fake... Garrett has entered The Cabin many times in his life, which allowed him to speak with his Love, Erin."

    "Love?" Trixie asked.

    Vandal chuckled. "...Long and sad story. For another time, that is. Anyways, Garrett is familiar with this place. After Nightmare teleported the monsters to this realm, it acted as a prison for them. That is, until, Garrett had a vision, entering The Cabin. Erin was trying to speak to him through an alternate reality. It caused a hole in The Cabin as he entered, creating an exit for the monsters. Nightmare saw this, and cut off Erin's connection hurriedly. However, one of them escaped The Cabin, bringing it to Equestria.

    "The moment it passed through reality, its physical body was destroyed. Although, since it was not the only occupant in The Cabin, its spirit latched onto the nearest living thing: Nightmare. It became black in color, with glowing, purple eyes which cut off all forms of magic and Primal energy when looked at. It also became much smarter, learning how to speak.

    "However, the monster also became deranged. Nightmare and I were over the scene when the monster had called itself a 'Vandalite,' also implying Nightmare would 'rise again.' It was crazy and deranged, but it did start an idea in Nightmare's mind.

    "She made the monsters our minions, keeping the name 'Vandalite.'" Vandal held out a hoof. On it lay an exact replica of the small ball in Trixie's own hoof. "Nightmare brought them into the real world as these, because their physical forms are destroyed when exiting The Cabin. When these balls are thrown at the ground, the creature within is unleashed. I was to be the keeper of them, and Nightmare bestowed me with their power. However, since my physical body was destroyed when leaving The Cabin and entering Equestria, Nightmare gave me this new body." Vandal grinned. "I became the first earth pony to have control of magic. I can stop all magical activity by looking at the host, cast spells, and even enter a Ghost State. Become invisible... all thanks to Nightmare." His purple eyes flashed. "She gave me eyes to control magic."

    Trixie inspected Vandal's eyes, now knowing that was the source of his magic.

    "...When you accepted my job, I gained access to you through The Cabin. Nightmare made it all possible. That's how I changed your appearance. That's how I can read your thoughts. And, if you follow me, that's how I can change your life forever." To Trixie's surprise, Vandal's purple irises glowed faintly as a dark shadow came from behind him. The earth pony smiled as Nightmare arose from behind him, her dark tentacle-like appendages licking his coat. Trixie saw a grin form from within its dark body, its host virtually nonexistent as it neared her best friend. "...For the better."

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    "What are you, some kind of Spider-Mane Wannabe?"

    Garrett glanced up to see the Elements of Harmony, all gazing at him, amused. He couldn't tell if they were smiling or frowning, however, as he was upside down, hanging onto a rope. Said rope was attached to a branch overhead, which belonged to one of the many trees of Sweet Apple Acres.

Apparently Purple doesn't like it when I shoot a harmless arrow at her wall, but she's fine with me Clawing my way up her friend's stuff.

Heh. See what I did there?

    "No, but I'm a huge fan," Garrett responded. The stallion then dropped from the rope, pulling the Claw down with a flick of his wrist.

    Twilight gawked at the device in Garrett's hoof, examining it with raw intent. "...What is this beacon of light in this most untechnologically advanced cave of magic?"

    The other five mares around Twilight chuckled at that, Garrett answering her question meanwhile. "It's a little contraction a... friend of mine made; she called it 'The Claw.' It acts as a grapple, with expendable spikes for grip." Garrett pressed a button on the small, cylinder-like grapple. Instantly afterwards, four sharp metal spikes jutted out from its top. Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie all said their "ooh"s and "ah"s while Fluttershy flinched at the sudden movement. Twilight, meanwhile, was staring at the Claw with a wolf-like, predatory gaze. "It's attached to a thin but strong cable, which runs through my suit, to my back." Garrett turned and stood on his hind legs, showing the mares his backside. The thief traced his hoof over the three small buckles on his harness, all of which the small cable ran through. They zigzagged across his suit. "These guys help attach me to the cable, so I have some extra friction when holding on."

    Twilight grinned, reaching forward tentatively to the Claw with a gaze which suggested she would use it for World Domination.

    "...Anyways, that's that." Garrett clicked his late friend's gadget back into its place: just under his waist. Twilight visibly deflated at the Claw's departure, while the rest of the Elements of Harmony chuckled.

    "What about all them fancy arrows of yours?" Applejack chimed in.

    Garrett reached back, retrieving the quiver on his back. "I use these guys for a lot of stuff." He pulled out a slender arrow, its arrowhead a glass globe with a green, glowing substance inside. Twilight's eyes filled with wander again. "This is a Choke Arrow. It has two purposes, one being to release a green gas which temporarily blinds and chokes everyone in its vicinity... Don't touch that, Twilight." The purple alicorn in question sheepishly pulled her hoof back, away from the glowing arrowhead.

    "What else can ya use it for?" Rainbow Dash asked, tilting her head.

    "Punishing a large group of deranged technicolor horses for thinking I was some sort of hero. Next arrow!" Garrett put the arrow back in his quiver. It was replaced with another, this one with a buckle-like arrowhead, its sides retractable. A rope was attached to its nock. "This one's a Rope Arrow. It's also used as a grapple, only you can swing with it, too. Once again, with retractable spikes on its sides." Garrett gave the arrowhead a hard hit, and immediately after two spikes jutted out from it. Twilight and Fluttershy both yelped, although the former's face was a lot closer to the item of disturbance. "Hey Purple, I understand you're interested in science and everything, but is it really worth getting stabbed in the face?"

"Yes," the mare replied almost instantly. Garrett gave her a look. "...Although I'm willing to make this one tiny exception. Even if, you know... it's from a different world."

    "...Next arrow. This one's a Water Arrow. After its arrowhead hits a surface, boiling water shoots out in a one-foot vicinity. I use it for putting out open-flame light sources."

    "Why would you wanna do that?" Rainbow Dash questioned. "...In fact, now that we're on the subject, why do you have all these arrows?" The Elements of Harmony all gazed at Garrett, agreeing with Dash's question.

    "...Would you believe me if I told you I was a Spy?" Garrett offered.

    "Nope."

    "Well then think of something you do believe, and stick with that." The thief put the Water Arrow back in his quiver, searching for the next one.

    "Huh... I'm thinking you're some kind of stealthy dude," Rainbow Dash remarked. After a moment of thinking, the cyan pegasus raised a hoof with a grin on her face. "Probably a spy!"

    Garrett's hoof met his forehead.

    "Ah'll have t' agree with Rainbow," Applejack agreed.

"You're a Scientist," Twilight gasped, squee'ing with realization.

    Rarity tapped her chin with her hoof. "...I'll have to guess Mechanic, considering you made that bow yourself."

    "A male model!" Pinkie Pie chippered. Fluttershy and Rarity inadvertently gave a tiny nod at that.

    "Skittles is the closest," Garrett remarked. "Now, next arrow."

"Aheh... 'Skittles,'" Applejack chuckled. "...I have no idea what that is."

    The Master Thief revealed an arrow to the group which had an arrowhead unlike the others. It was a hard leather cylinder. "This one's a Blunt Arrow. It basically acts as a punch when it hits you." Garrett replaced that with an arrow which had a greenish ball as the arrowhead. The ball was steaming, as if it was boiling. "I call this a Moss Arrow. I shoot it at floors to make a more silent approach. Also handy for shooting at faces to shut them up."

    Garrett then explained what a Fire and Blast Arrow were, detailing how and when they detonated themselves. During the explanation of the Blast Arrow, the thief decided against showing them the Sawtooth and Broadhead.

    "...Hey, what's that thing?" Rainbow Dash asked, gesturing to the club clipped on Garrett's side. The Master Thief responded by pulling the Blackjack from its holster, holding it up for all to see.

    "This one's called the Blackjack. Pretty self explanatory, considering it's a club." Garrett twirled the Blackjack in his hoof expertly, as years of practice paid off with his hand-held tricks. The six mares examined the thief's handling skills fan-like.

    It was at that time Garrett noticed an ominous stranger looking at them in the distance. Or, rather, just him. She was partly hidden by an apple tree, although that could not mask her jet black features, black and white mane, and crimson irises. Pinkie caught onto what Garrett was peering at, and turned to the mare.

    "Hi, Ominous Stranger!" she called out, waving cheerfully. The rest of the Elements of Harmony noticed, and looked back to see the mare. The pony, noticing this, scowled and raised something above her head. Before anypony could react, her hoof jutted down, and dark purple smoke erupted from the ground in front of her. The Elements of Harmony gasped as a horrible screech erupted from the ghost-like being, the gas dancing and twirling as it took its physical form.

    When the dark purple gas subsided, the mare was replaced with a pitch black, bipedal being. Its sharp claws were extended as its glowing, purple eyes stared daggers at the group. Garrett instantly felt all Focus ability drain from his system as its gaze fell upon him.

    Princess Twilight Sparkle slowly stood up, her eyes not leaving from the Vandalite. Rainbow Dash and Applejack also stood, crouching in a defensive stance in front of the rest of the Elements. Garrett, meanwhile, glared at the former Freak with his cyan and brown eye.

I can't fight in this pony form...

    "We mean you no harm!" Twilight announced lamely. The Vandalite reverted its maddened stare to the Princess of Friendship. "Please, stay calm. We would like to ask you some questions."

    Garrett reached over his back, the thief's hoof coming back with the satchel in his grip, the Soul Ruby inside. The Vandalite took notice of the sudden movement, and charged. Twilight Sparkle aimed at the creature with her horn, but no magic came from it. Confused, Twilight was too late to defend herself as the Vandalite kicked her viciously. She flew for about two seconds before skitting to a halt on a tree. Rainbow Dash and Applejack stood their ground, but were thrown aside with ease. They both crashed into an apple tree. Pinkie Pie and Rarity both stood up and tried to defend themselves, but they were no match for the Vandalite. Rarity was thrown aside as Pinkie was trampled, yelping as she was stepped over.

    For a moment, it seemed Garrett was done for. As he prepared himself for death by evisceration, however, the Vandalite's vision was cut off by two large, furious blue irises.

    The Master Thief simply gawked at the scene of Fluttershy hovering eye-to-eye with the Vandalite, giving it a stare which could chew through steel. "...How dare you?" she muttered angrily. As if the Vandalite couldn't make itself move, it stayed put. Its purple eyes turned fearful. "...How DARE YOU?!"

    Garrett took this oppritunity to sneak off, away from the rising Tsunami of Anger known as Fluttershy. After he was safely behind an apple tree, Garrett pulled out the Soul Ruby.

Okay, squeeze it with both palms to change...

...I have no palms.

    Realization hit Garrett like a wrecking ball. "...Merde."

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    "--I understand that you are probably scared and confused! Trust me, I do! I would be, too, if I just spawned from dark purple smoke and was confronted by seven strangers! But that is NO REASON to bully innocent ponies around you! We've already said we mean you no harm, yet you *still** attack us! Now you turn your ass around right now* and APOLOGIZE to EVERYPONY!"

    The Vandalite blinked at Fluttershy's words, utterly dumbstruck. For a few seconds, its purple eyes stared deeply into the pegasus'. Then, it started to growl.

——————————

    Garrett grunted out of frustration, his efforts strengthening. He kept squeezing the Soul Ruby with both hooves, hoping for some feeling of change to travel up his body. However, no change was present, and the thief changed his tactics. Instead of squeezing, he converted to pushing it on the floor with all his might. The result was the same as before. Garrett switched to hitting. Then throwing it at a tree. Then banging it on his head.

    "Putain de rubis!" Garrett swore, glaring at it with a death stare. That was when something caught his eye. It was a button on the side of the Soul Ruby. Under it was an engraved text which read: "Garrett, press this to turn back into a human."

    Garrett's hoof met his face. However, a scream cut off his actions. Looking back at the Elements of Harmony, the thief discovered that all were on the floor, groaning in pain. Fluttershy was the only exception, but instead of lying on the grass, she was suspended in the air by the Vandalite. The pegasus kept trying to gasp in breath, but it was for not. Her neck was held firmly, her legs dangling below.

    Something inside Garrett snapped. His right iris glowed with a brilliant cyan haze as Focus filled his system, the Vandalite's attention not being on the human. Time seemed to go in slow motion as Garrett completely undressed himself, his bow and arrows laying on the ground beside his outfit.

    The Master Thief, his jet black coat bare, pressed the button on the Soul Ruby, and an ear deafening "FLASH!" exploded from Garrett's position. It was enough of a distraction for the Vandalite to loosen its grip on Fluttershy's neck, who responded with flapping her wings furiously, freeing her from the Vandalite's cold grip. However, before she could fly away, the former Freak grabbed her tail and slammed the pegasus to the ground. Fluttershy screamed as she felt a rib break.

"Fluttershy...!" Twilight whispered hoarsely, trying desperately to emit magic. The Vandalite gave her a death stare, and all magical ability vanished. The rest of the Elements all stared, traumatized.

    Fluttershy let out a sob of pain as the Vandalite pressed a foot on her chest, blocking out any movement. It became hard to breath for the pegasus as the broken rib felt like a cold void of pain on her abdomen. The Vandalite raised its clawed hand, ready for the killing blow.

    Before a move could be made, though, the Vandalite stopped all progression.

    Nopony saw him coming. Nopony could have, because he simply did not want to be seen. His entire life spent thieving and sneaking, there was simply no chance of the Elements of Harmony or the Vandalite to see the Master Thief prior to falling from above, plunging a Sawtooth Arrow into the former Freak's head.

    Black, gooey blood spurted from the wound as its host screamed, reaching back with its claws to eviscerate its attacker. Although, Garrett was too quick. His right eye glowing with a cyan light, the thief back flipped off the Vandalite's back, landing perfectly into a defensive, crouching stance. Equipped with his quiver of arrows strapped on his back, his compact bow clicked into its prime form, and a glare that could kill, one would expect Garrett to be excruciatingly intimidating.

    However, he was one flaw short of pure intimidation. Garrett was butt-naked.

    Fluttershy fainted from the unbearable pain. Rarity and Pinkie Pie, however, both fainted with huge grins on their faces.