Where the Angels Fall

Buh-dum tss, buh dm, buh, bu-dum, dm. Buh-dum tss, buh dm, buh, bu-dum, dm.

    Trixie watched, bemused, as Vandal was lightly rocking his head to the beat, smiling. Wubberz, after a day of recuperation, had gotten a new set of equipment for the blasting dubstep music. To Trixie's dismay, it was even louder and more obnoxious than the last one. To more of Trixie's dismay, her friend seemed to be enjoying the annoying sound low-lifes called "music."

    Vandal's smile remained on his face as the music shifted to the sound of what seemed like a metallic ball bouncing abnormally quickly on a wooden plate. At first, it seemed fast, but it slowed gradually.

    "The Vandalite told them our message yesterday," Vandal told casually, enjoying the beat of the dubstep.

    Trixie, after cringing as the loud music made her ears crack like Pop Rocks, asked him, "Why haven't they arrived?"

    Vandal held up a hoof for her to stop talking. "Mmh...!" the stallion drolled, a look of enthusiasm on his face. Trixie, after sighing, waited impatiently.

    The dubstep's ball-like sound slowed to three slow beeps, then shifted to two little ones, then to one solitary drop of the ball. Vandal grinned.

...BUH-DUM BUH DUM BUDDHA BUM BUDDHA BUM-DA..! z...z...z... BUH-DUM BUH DUM BUDDHA BUDDHA BUDDHA BU-DUM BUM, TSSS!

    The moment the music's bass went up by loads, the entire dance floor looked like they had a seizure. Vandal nodded to the beat happily while Trixie frowned at the dance pony's stupidity.

    "Why can't you just have fun for once?" Vandal chuckled abruptly, facing the crowd. Trixie, her face towards the colorful liquor bottles just beyond the table she was sitting at, glared at Vandal.

    "Maybe because there's enough explosives under my hooves to blow up a city?" Trixie signaled to the bartender. She needed another drink.

    Vandal shrugged. "Eh, just enough to detach it from the mountain." Trixie kicked him from under the table, earning a grunt of pain from the stallion.

    "Not only that, but I'm also your mind-whore now because you invaded my dreams," the bartender slid a shot of light-brownish liquid to Trixie, who responded with snatching it up, gulping it down, and giving a glare at nothing in particular as her nerves calmed. "Stronger." The bartender blinked, noting this was around her tenth shot of the night. However, he trotted off to retrieve a more alcoholic beverage to please the customer.

    "Don't say it like that," Vandal sighed as the first bass drop of the song ended, giving away to more techno-clicks. The second was coming. "Think of it as persistent employment."

    "Which is slavery?" Trixie spat, snatching the next drink with a hoof. Another gulp, another slam on the table. "Stronger, dammit..."

    "How many of those did you have?" Vandal questioned, concerned.

    Trixie's glare was his answer. Vandal sighed, turning his attention back to the dance floor. The unicorn had obviously been drinking since she arrived.

    It was then Vandal noticed four or five ponies headed their way, frowns on their faces. The sunglasses and suits could not hide their muscle bulk, labeling them as DJ Pon-3's bodyguards. When the significantly larger stallions arrived at the duo, their attention was on the turned away Trixie.

    "Ma'am," one of them, the bulkiest of the bunch, announced. He was a charcoal-colored unicorn with yellow eyes. Trixie turned to them mid-swig, before asking the bartender for something stronger. "We need you to come with us."

    Vandal was the first to respond, sparing the stallions the drunk mouth of Trixie Lulamoon. "Why so?" he responded casually.

    Meanwhile, the beeps and clicks of the dubstep song indicated an incoming bass drop.

    "Hey, buddy," the stallion next to the speaker snapped. He was a pegasus, snow white in color with orange eyes. "We weren't talking to you."

    "Well, you sure are now," Vandal smiled, awaiting the ponies' response. This was Trixie's and his location, and he wasn't going to let the guards stop him from getting what he wanted.

    He never did that back on Earth, and he wasn't planning on starting.

    "Those are some cute costumes," Vandal grinned, gesturing to their suits. "Did your coltfriends make them for you?"

    The song in the background was building up for a bass drop.

    The stallions seemed taken aback at this smaller, orange pony's raw courage/stupidity. It was the white pegasus which spoke up first. "Ohh, I'm gonna wipe the floor with you--"

    "We're not trying to be hostile," the biggest one inturrupted, shutting the smaller, reluctant one up. "But, by order of Vinyl Scratch, this mare is banned from Wubberz for life. Courtesy of yesterday's... accident with the equipment."

    Vandal chuckled. "Yeah, good times."

    The unicorn glared at the last remark, but insisted on keeping his cool. "You're still golden, Bud. Best to not defend the... lower-privileged." Vandal could sense the bodyguard's horn glowing as he attempted to lift Trixie from her seat. With a smile, Vandal's eyes glowed as the magic dissipated. The unicorn's eyes widened as he tried again.

    "Having trouble?" Vandal droned, enjoying egging the bodyguards on. Behind his back, the stallion signaled for a beer to the bartender. This was going to be fun.

    Especially since the dubstep was really picking up now, a bass drop immenent. The ponies on the dance floor waited for their chance to have an epileptic seizure for others' entertainment.

    "Hey, asshole, quit with the protective coltfriend shit," the white pegasus threatened, taking a step toward Vandal. "Trust me, getting laid by some unicorn bitch ain't worth facing me in a fight. Back the buck off before I make that pretty face of yours a new hole."

    "I'll have to thank you for the compliment on my looks," Vandal smiled as both him and Trixie were handed their drinks. "But my barn door doesn't swing that way."

    The pegasus was fuming with anger. "Permission to shove a cactus up this guy's asshole?" he asked his boss.

    Vandal held his hooves up. "Woah, that's a weird fetish." Both Trixie and Vandal reached back and retreived their beers simultaneously. While Trixie leaned back to drink it, Vandal did something quite different. He held it up for the stallions in front of him to see. "...Wanna drink?" he asked.

    The song played four metallic beeps before all Hell broke lose. Vandal threw the shot's contents at the pegasus' face just as the bass was dropped.

zBUH-DUMz zBUHz zDUMz zBUDDHAz zBUMz zBUDDHAz zBUM-DAz..! zBUH-DUMz zBUHz zDUMz zBUDDHAz zBUDDHAz zBUDDHAz zBU-DUMz zBUMz!

    The bodyguards were caught by surprise as Vandal grabbed the stunned pegasus' head, slamming his face on the table. The victim yelped out of pain, just before the smaller pony brought his forehead crashing down to his knee. The pegasus groaned, drooping to the floor.

zBUHz zDUH-BUHz zDUHz, zBUHz zDUBBHAz zDUDDHAz! BUH DUM BUH DUM BUH-BUDUM, BUDUM BAH!

    The charcoal unicorn grabbed Vandal from under the arms, throwing the pony down on his back. He attempted to knock the pony out with a powerful hit, but Vandal was too quick. He dodged the blow, bucking up afterwards. The surprisingly strong kick sent the bigger pony sprawling away smacking his head on the chair next to Trixie.

    The mare simply gawked at Vandal.

MMH-SS, MMH-S, MMH-S, MMH-S, BUH DUM BUH DUM BUH DA BUDDHA BUH!

    The two remaining guards, after seeing their friends' defeat, merely glanced at each other, worryful. That was enough time for Vandal to jump on the first one's back, swinging the relatively gigantic pony around by the neck. The last one un-scathed by Vandal tried to knock the stallion off, but was cut off with a buck to the jaw. Trixie's breath hitched as it was not Vandal who threw the hit, but something else. It was something seemingly unreal-- a shadow with no true physical form, protecting Vandal. Even though Wubberz was dark on the inside, the flashing strobe lights and blazing dance floor gave it a sillhouette. Trixie, at first, thought it was her drunk mind playing tricks on her eyes. Her assumptions were proven wrong as the pegasus Vandal first attacked was staring. He saw it, too.

    Vandal, meanwhile, continued the fight. The stallion swung himself downwards. With the help of Nightmare, Vandal was able to flip the bulky stallion on his back. Before he could get back up, Nightmare threw a chair to Vandal, who smashed it on the bodyguard's head. He was out cold instantly.

    Trixie saw the unicorn who addressed her lift a tazer above his head with his magic, poised to put Vandal down. Nightmare must have gestured a warning to the stallion, who responded with turning to the unicorn. All magical capabilities in the unicorn vanishing, the tazer dropped from his grip, landing right on his own body. Instantly afterwards, the unicorn was a mess of spasming and foaming.

    With a menacing growl, Vandal walked to the tazered bodyguard and snatched the tazer from him. The unicorn sunk to the ground, twitching and steaming. Vandal, meanwhile, turned to the other three bodyguards. All were cowering before him, pathetic shadows of their former, bulkier pasts.

    "Tell Vinyl Scratch Trixie will keep coming here," Vandal snapped, turning the tazer off with the flick of his hoof. "...Regularly."

    The bodyguards nodded fearfully, not wanting to confront Vandal again.

    "...And ask her what song that was. Because that was awesome." Trixie almost chuckled as the old Vandal returned. The four bodyguards nodded, hurriedly making their way away from the bar. The unicorn had to be carried away, although Vandal didn't seem to care as he made his way back to his seat.

    When he sat by Trixie, the unicorn was at a lost for words. "You're welcome," Vandal droned, returning to his previous position, smiling at the party like nothing had happened.

    Trixie, her eyes wide as platters, looked at the fleeing bodyguards, disappearing behind a corner as they were surely making their way to DJ Pon-3. "Am I seeing things?" Trixie murmered, holding her head. "...Or did you just protect me?"

    "You're vision is as good as it'll ever be, even if you are drunk," Vandal confirmed. After glancing Trixie's way, he smiled. "...And that's what friends are for."

    At that moment, the light blue unicorn felt something... alien. It was a warmth traveling outwards from her heart, engulfing all of her body. Looking at Vandal's face, the stallion which had single-hoofedly ruined her life, she did not see an evil grin, or the fire of hatred behind his eyes. The purple irises were just those of a stallion, wanting to stay in his new found home. Trixie almost stuttered, hating how the new feelings came pouring into her system, blaming it on the alcohol.

    However, the more Trixie tried to ignore it, the more brutal it became. It was as if her brain was punishing her for trying to ignore it. Trixie soon became unable to stop glancing at Vandal, who had turned his attention to the DJ above the dance floor. Each time her eyes met his turned-away face, her cheeks became redder. Was it the alcohol making her think wrong? Or was it the alcohol making her think straight?

    "Don't forget, I always know what you're thinking," Vandal chuckled, a blush of his own forming.

    "Then you know more than I do." Trixie blinked, asking the question she was currently asking herself: "...What am I thinking?"

    Vandal, instead of responding with an answer, only looked back up to the stage. "I really liked that song..."

    It was at that time the four beaten bodyguards confronted DJ Pon-3. They had to yell over the music, which seemed to hurt them even more. Vinyl Scratch, ever the lady, listened to them with wide eyes. They pointed at Vandal, Vinyl looking at him in return. Vandal smiled, giving a small wave.

"Uhh... okay.. So, because of popular demand, I'm just gonna go right ahead and say that last song was Nightmare, by Timmy Trumpet.. So yeah."

    Vandal nodded slowly, before turning back to Trixie. "...Oh, and you were thinking about your feelings for me."

"What?!" the unicorn squeaked angrily, her stare of death and unhappiness aimed directly at Vandal. Despite herself, Trixie homed a huge blush on her cheeks. What made her so angry was not that she hated how he would suggest something like that, but also because it was perfectly true. Trixie didn't know if it was the fact he had just protected her, or if it was the major realization which had come just moment before...

"...Wait," Trixie thought suddenly, looking at Vandal's face. "...Were his eyes always that pretty?"

    Vandal chuckled, his cheeks reddening. "I heard that."

    It was at that time Trixie felt like she was going to vomit.

——————————

"BRBR--WAGHHA!""

    The Elements of Harmony cringed in-turn at Garrett's third upchuck of the hour. The peaches and cream-like residue fell for about ten feet before dissolving in the rushing air below, spreading out in various chunks and spray. The Master Thief sniffed, wiped his mouth with a furry arm, then turned around to sit back down in the flying carriage.

    "...I think I just figured out why I never eat anymore," Garrett coughed, his cyan and brown eyes narrowed as the wind whipped into his face.

    "Hehe... Sorry, GarBear!" Pinkie giggled from beside the stallion. "But you knew that we had to fight fire with fire! Conquer the diabetes! Vivre la resistance!"

    "We never say that," Garrett sighed, rubbing his temples. "Where does that even come from..?"

Think I'd know if they hadn't destroyed all the history books decades ago. Or if I had any education whatsoever.

...Eh, doesn't matter-- I consider myself a scholar in the Physiology Department. "Whack on head means no wakey wakey."

    "We need to focus, Ponies," Twilight announced, determined. "...and Garrett. This isn't a vacation to Canterlot-- we're working." The alicorn gave a stern look to the only stallion in the carriage. "...All of us."

    Garrett sulked, pulling his face mask back up. Rarity, meanwhile, felt a sense of pride at the sight of the stallion's uniform still being worn. If only he hadn't insisted on bringing his human outfit, which lay in the corner of the airborne carriage.

    It was now the home of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, who rumaged through Garrett's larger, human outfit. Scootaloo was sticking her orange head out of the hood, the color out of place when surrounded by the dark leather.

"I am Garrett," the small pegasus was sneering. "Slayer of Timberwolves. Savior of Fillies. Bather of Sap." Pinkie Pie zoned out for a second, the images coming like a tornado.

    Sweetie Belle, meanwhile, was a stationary lump in the middle of the suit. The filly breathed slowly and contently as scents filled her nostrils. "He smells of rain on the pavement and the smoke of campfires... This is where the angels fall."

    "So that's why he named it that..." Pinkie whispered, leaning back with wide eyes.

    "Nah, there's better symbolism later," Garrett corrected her. Pinkie nodded, before leaning on his shoulder, taking a big sniff. She shuddered pleasurably, before the source of the scent slowly pushed her away.

    Applebloom, while all of this was happening, sat beside Garrett's human suit. Her eyes were rolled, unwanting to take part in her friends' exploration. Pinkie, however, would have joined them if she wasn't so big.

    "Almost there!" one of the cart pullers called back.

    It was at that time Garrett caught his first glimpse of Canterlot. Garrett nearly dropped his jaw at the sight of a city, even homing a castle, emplanted firmly on the side of a mountain.

    Garrett had spent two decades and an extra five years on Earth, full of thieving and traveling. He had seen crossbows and guns pointed at his face from inches away, man-eating monsters charging directly at a trapped him, Steam Punk design and technological advancements right at his doorstep, and had even been teleported to a world full of technicolor/marshmallow ponies and magic. But this was one of the most incredible sights he had ever seen.

    "Uhh, I think Canterlot broke Garrett," Rainbow Dash commented, noticing the stallion's daze-like state.

    "...That city is on a mountain," Garrett stated sophisticatedly.

    Twilight only gazed forward, eyeing the important castle. "All the more reason to save it. If there really are bombs under Canterlot, it'll fall..."

No, really? I thought it'd fly away.

...Woah, hello again, thinking to myself with italics! I haven't seen you since Chapter 11! How have you been?

...

...Good to hear!

Can I think with you, Garrett?

Pinkie Pie! How are you..?!

*giggle* I'm Pinkie Pie!

*sigh* Oh, right... So, shall we begin thinking about the meaning of life?

Well, actually, I'm here to share a message with the readers!

...D'accord. Go right ahead.

*waves* Hi, Reader! How about that impending TrixDal? Didn't see that coming, did'ja? Wait, I gotta better name for it. VanXie? No, not that... VanTri? TriVal? Y U MAKE SHIPPING COMPLICATED, AUTHOR!

Anywho, I'm just here to share a message to you from the author! He originally wanted to put this in the Author's Notes, but who uses that anyways? Plus, this is a great way to get larger word counts!

Mr. Pree Spunky is truly sorry about the long wait. He's been caught in the tornado of real life, and is having problems with school. Particularly English. How ironic, considering he writes three stories-- oops! I mean *two!** ...Aww, horseapples. I ruined the surprise. Yes, he's working on a new story that'll be the first crossover of its kind, just like the rest of the ones he's writing! It'll be a crossover with Chro--*

*quickly puts an imaginary hoof over Pinkie's mouth* Don't tell them! Just get to the important, non-spoiler part!

Even in thinking, he smells of rain on asphalt... Oops! Forgot I was thinking aloud. Anyways, Spunky has some stuff going on, and is truly sorry for how late this chapter is. He's also sorry for the last, >3,000 word chapter on Operation Horseback, in case any of you are reading that.

Aaaaand, that's all! *hugs the Reader* thank you for sticking with us! *kisses Garrett on the cheek* *Mmmwah!!***

Uhh... Pinkie?

Yes, GarBear?

You did that in real life.

    Garrett, his cheeks and ears burning, watched as Pinkie opened her eyes suddenly. She recovered quickly from the mind-conversation with Garrett, snapping back to her sitting place. The other mares blinked, although Rarity and Sweetie Belle made a small 'Hmmph!' in unison.

    Garrett looked forward, seeing that the majestic mountain-city's castle was increasingly close. So close, in fact, that the pegasi who were carrying the carriage were getting ready to land. After touching down on the street below, the chariot ponies galloped to lose momentum before slowing to a trot. They stopped in front of the door to the castle, huge, royal doors opening to reveal Princess Celestia and...

Oh, look! It's my dear friend Woona!

That's a cute name!

...It was funny once, Pinkie.

    Standing by Princess Celestia was Princess Luna, although she looked slightly tired. Her flowing mane was slightly disheveled, bags hanging from her eyes. She was a shadow of her former self.

    One by one, the five remaining Elements of Harmony, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, and the Stallion Who Needs a Cool Group Name stepped off the carriage.

I'll be in your cool group!

PINKIE PIE!

    All the mares bowed respectively to the Princesses, while the fillies nearly squeed out of fangirlish delight. Rarity, meanwhile, levitated Garrett's human costume over her head.

    The two Princesses smiled to the group, Princess Celestia stepping forward. "Thank you for coming, my little ponies," the alicorn greeted as the Elements of Harmony raised their heads back up. "As you all know, your presence is as much needed as it is appreciated. Please, come in. We must discuss urgent matters."

    Princess Celestia led the way into her castle, her sister by her side. As the ponies followed, Garrett saw a glimpse of something in Luna's eyes as she whispered to her sister. Curiosity taking the better side of him, Garrett's right eye glowed with a cyan haze. All senses, including hearing, instantly became clear.

"...gave out free trust, just like that," Luna finished.

"Is that so?" Celestia whispered back. It seemed to occur to her that they had an audience. Princess Celestia gave a small smile to the ponies behind her, before turning back to her sister. "We'll continue this conversation later. Garrett might be in danger." At that, their talking ended, followed by Garrett's Focus.

...Giving out free trust? What does Luna mean by that? I must've...

...Wait. Our first encounter. I gave her my trust suspiciously fast... It took the Marshmallow Power Rangers a healing spell, saving of a life, and a day or two to get even my partial trust.

Something's going on here... Detective Garrett is on the case--

Fils d'une pute sur un vélo, that's a lot of gold!

    It seemed as if Garrett had been so focused on eavesdropping he had completely overlooked the royal corridor he was in. The tall walls, painted with exquisite precession and beauty, seemed to go up for miles before meeting with a cyan-colored ceiling. The long corridor he was walking through was lined with rows of doors, half as tall as the opening gates of the castle, but still impressive. The floor was tiled with a rich marble, but what had really caught Garrett's attention were the treasures.

    Necklaces with gems. Rubies decorated with gold dots. Turquoise stones shaped like ponies. Countless treasures. All lined up between the doors, their soul purpose being to be shown off on a small pillar. Garrett's hooves twitched. He wanted those. Every single one of them.

    Garrett slunk to the back of the group, a huge grin forming behind his facemask. When he was certain nopony was watching, the Master Thief snatched a gold necklace from one of the small pillars. It found a new home in one of his many pockets.

    Garrett sneaked a glance to the princesses. They weren't looking. Gleefully, the thief grabbed two of the treasures at the same time: a crown with some foreign inscriptions on the pillar holding it, and a cyan ruby. The moment he touched the ruby, it glowed with a menacing haze. Garrett only smirked as he filled the pockets on his suit.

Vous êtes tous à moi maintenant... Tous des vous!!

    Garrett went into a small thieving-frenzy. A flutter in his step, the stallion activated Focus. In the spam of a second, the treasures of both sides of the corridor was snatched up by Garrett, shuddering as each of the gold pieces he touched sent a wave of arousal through his body. The Master Thief didn't know how many valuables he stole, but anything that looked remotely metallic yellow was taken.

Mine... all mine... Je suis le Maître des Voleurs, et tous de cette est *à moi!!***

    "And now, here are your rooms," Princess Celestia stated, a smile on her face as she motioned to a door to her left. She turned around. "Obviously, we had to pick a different room for Gar..."

    The Sun God instantly stopped talking, staring at something behind the mares. Princess Luna was also staring. Curious, the Elements of Harmony and CMC turned around, and instantly gasped.

    Behind them was Garrett, standing in a formerly magnificient hall. Formerly. The special artifacts which used to line the hall were gone. A painting or two was cut from their frame. Even a tile from the floor was missing.

    All eyes landed on Garrett, standing in the middle of it all. His pockets were bloating with the treasures, the money sack on his waist barely able to contain the raw amount of gold.

    "...Somepony stole that," Garrett said simply. His money bag broke, snapping from his waist and spilling its contents on the floor. Garrett, the Master Thief, renowned for never being caught, was found out for the first time in the past ten years. "...Baisez moi avec un--"

——————————

    "You STOLE from the PRINCESS' CASTLE?!"

    "…No?"

    Around Garrett, in his run-down apartment (A five-star apartment room in the castle was going to be given to the stallion, but after his recent escapade, he was forced to stay in one right below the castle, which was definitely not five-star.) he made eye contact with each of the Elements of Harmony (minus Fluttershy), and each of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. This was the moment his profession came out.

    Before Garrett could admit to his job, the entire room verbally exploded.

"YOU LITTLE THIEF!" Twilight shouted, overrun with rage. "YOU DARE DEFILE THE PRINCESSES LIKE THAT?! MY PERSONAL TEACHER?! MY SENPAI?!!"

    "That was mighty dishonest of you, Garrett!" Applejack accused. "Ah' expected better from you."

    "Garrett!" Rarity yelled, narrowing her eyes. "I am very dissapointed in you!"

    Despite the negative comments, some of the mares regarded his actions with respect.

"HE WAS LIKE A SHADOW," Pinkie Pie gasped. "Completely invisible..."

    "But nopony even SAW you!" Scootaloo shrieked. "You were like a NINJA! Stealing from the Big Two, Celestia and Luna themselves!"

    Applebloom and Sweetie Belle both stared at Garrett with starry eyes. "Woooaaah..."

    "Dude..." Rainbow Dash muttered at the same time. "...You've got some balls."

    Garrett, meanwhile, wished he could sink into the bed and never come out. Attention was attention, negative or positive. He briefly wished he had the heart to shoot every one of those ponies with a Moss Arrow.

    But that would just be waisting ammo.

    "Garrett, you haven't been very honest with us," Applejack said sternly. "If we're going to work together, we need to know who you are."

    "If we're going to work together? I'm offended. I thought we were frie--"

"GARRETT!!" Applejack, Rarity, and Twilight all yelled in unison.

    The thief seemed to shrink at that, the room completely silent. It seemed as if AJ was going to pummel the smaller stallion to death. Twilight had a look in her eyes that suggested she was going to disect him alive. Rarity, however, seemed to try her hardest to keep her temper in check. After a deep breath, Rarity drolled: "...Garrett. Who are you, truly?"

    The mentioned stallion's cyan and brown eyes looked up to her. "...I need some fresh air," he muttered, standing up.

    "No, ya don't!" Applejack wouldn't have any of it, and the bigger and stronger mare attempted to push Garrett back on his chair. The stallion, being more agile and having quicker reflexes, activated Focus and rolled over the mare's back. When the Applejack turned around, Garrett was crouching in a defensive stance, on two legs. He was backing up to the doorway, his Blackjack in hoof.

    It seemed as if Garrett was going to make a run for it, but Rarity stood behind him, blocking the doorway. She only gave a firm look at the stallion. Garrett scowled, his cyan eye's glow dying.

    "Garrett," Rarity repeated, gently hovering a chair to the stallion's side. It became clear that the entire room was examining him. Garrett clipped his Blackjack back into place, dropping back onto four hooves. "...Who were you?"