Where the Angels Fall

    The Vandalite never stood a chance.

    Pinkie Pie was a raging, pink machine with a vengeance for her fallen cupcake comrades. Yes, it did get a few good hits in (kicking Twilight Sparkle across the block, slashing Applejack on her side, throwing Garrett through a glass door, etc.) but nothing could prepare it for the pastry-loving rage monster. She was a blur, set on breaking every bone in its body.

    Pinkie Pie dodged another of the Vandalite's swipes, the sharp claws slashing harmlessly through her bubbly mane. She grabbed the fleshy hand with her hair immediately, using its momentum to swing her up on the Vandalite's back. Pinkie wrapped her arms around its neck, squeezing its airway with enough pressure to put a locomotive to shame. If, you know, locomotives squeezed stuff instead of powering it.

"YOU SHALL NOT ESCAPE MY WRATH ALIVE," Pinkie was screaming as she shook the Vandalite vigorously. "YOU HAVE KILLED MY COMRADES WITH AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE: YOU CAN THINK! MY POOR FRIENDS ARE NOT CAPABLE OF SUCH ABILITIES, BUT I CAN MAKE EXTRA SURE YOU'LL JOIN THEM IN THEIR NON-BRAININESS GLORY! YOU ARE A COTTON-HEADED NINNY MUFFIN!"

    The Vandalite screeched as it tried to slam its back to the wall. Pinkie knew its intentions instantly, crawling on to its front side with abnormal speed. She grabbed its shoulders as she became a machine, kicking its stomach over and over so fast her bottom hooves were a blur.

"I WILL EVISCERATE YOU AND HANG ALL OF YOUR VITAL ORGANS ON MY CEILING," Pinkie yelled. "YOUR HEART WILL BE RIGHT ABOVE MY BED, SO I CAN LOOK UP AND DREAM HAPPILY, KNOWING THERE IS NO WAY THAT YOU'LL EVER HURT ANY OF MY CREAMY, CUSTARD-FILLED FRIENDS AGAIN, YOU SON OF A SPRINKLE-BRAINED, FART MOUTH!"

    The Vandalite threw Pinkie off its chest, wheezing as it staggered back. One of its ribs were obviously broken, although that didn't stop the equine-shaped machine of vengeance. Pinkie ran up from behind the Vandalite, holding a long, wooden board which read "Get your cupcakes right here~." The board swooped down on the Vandalite's head, reducing it to a twitching, barely conscious being on the floor. Pinkie trotted to the Vandalite's head, bending down to whisper in its ear.

"I do not care if you are a nearly invinsible, zombie-like humanoid which represents the past sins of Garrett in symbolism," she said menacingly. "You do *not** destroy another cupcake store, pastry shop, or even an apple stand as long as my heart's still beating, you brain-dead, cactus smooching, cupcake killing, piece of pure, unadulterated humanoid cheese cake. Do you understand?"*

    The Vandalite let out a small whimper.

"I said DO YOU UNDERSTAND?" Pinkie shook with rage.

    The Vandalite muttered a pathetic 'yes...'

    "Good!" Pinkie hummed as she cantered off the plank, a grin planted on her features as she passed her friends. "He's alllll yours!"

    And from that moment on, Pinkie Pie was Garrett's new Waifu.

    Twilight shook out of her mini trance, staggering to the Vandalite. "Uhhh... Okay. So..." Another shaking of her head. "...Okay. That was some serious Pinkie language. Ugh! Not that mindset!" Another shaking of her head. "There we go!" She glared at the Vandalite. "Pinkie Pie just kicked your fleshy, nightmare-inducing ass! Dammit! I'm so sorry--"

    "I got this," Garrett said confidently as he passed Twilight. He smirked at the Vandalite. "I was just lip-raped by a unicorn."

    "Garrett, I think we all might need some time to recover from that," Twilight wheezed, glancing Pinkie's way. "To... get back in the right mindset."

    "Oh, I was in the right mindset alright," Garrett informed, just before having a plank whack him across the head. "...Oh." Garrett collapsed.

    The floating wood retreated back to its owner, Rarity glaring as it neared. "I've waited long enough to do that. If only he used those lips for better things..."

    Twilight, too frazzled to get after the couple, tried her interragation methods again. She trotted to the immobile ex-Freak, glaring down at the monster. "...My name is Twilight Sparkle, and I order you to talk."

    The Vandalite, a confused look on its beaten face, talked. "...Hello."

    Twilight frowned. "Gyh! Not in that context!"

    "You should really be more clear, Book Horse."

WHAP!

    Garrett collapsed, again.

    Twilight rubbed her temples as the plank of wood retreated back to its owner, again. She really wished that her horn was responsible for the deeds done. After a moment of recuperating, she glared back down at the Vandalite. "...Tell us about who is commanding you."

    The Vandalite, this time, understood her command. It sneered up at the alicorn, its violet orbs cancelling any magical abilities from the powerful mare. A bruise was starting to form on its head, courtesy of Pinkie's outburst. "...His name is Vandal."

    The Elements of Harmony all gasped.

    "Wow! Can you be any more blunt, Captain Obvious? The dude is in your name, for crying out loud! Seriously, was I the only one who saw that coming--?"

WHAP!

    Pinkie Pie went down-- wait, Pinkie Pie?

    "Hmph. So the two are more like each other than I previously thought." Rarity's horn kept glowing as the plank of wood levitated to her side.

    Twilight, meanwhile, turned away at the Vandalite's answer. She pondered this. "Vandal... The other human. But he's on Earth. How could he..." Twilight looked back to the Vandalite. "Is Vandal here, in Equestria?"

    The monster laughed. "Sometimes he is. Sometimes he's between demensions, in the Cabin. The place where we all reside, where Nightmare's true plan will come true."

    "And who is Nightmare?" Twilight implored.

    "A friend of a friend," the Vandalite sneered. "...She is a dark entity which has given us this chance, to be part of something bigger than us. Bigger than you. It's not just about letting Vandal stay in Equestria, it's about so much more. The bombs under Canterlot are just the beginning... She is Nightmare Night."

    The Elements of Harmony all gasped.

    "Honestly? How do you guys not see this coming? Nightmare? Nightmare Night? Dark entity? Seriously, it's like the author doesn't even try.--"

WHAP!

    Both Pinkie and Garrett went down, although nopony truly knew who was talking.

    The Vandalite, snickering, glared up at the ponies. "You cannot stop this. Our cause is just. His cause is just."

    To the ponies' horror, the Vandalite started to melt. It was just like the first two they had encountered. A black, bubbly puddle started to form under the monster as it wheezed, falling limp. "All of you pathetic ponies... and your human companion... Will die. Unless if Garrett joins us."

    Twilight staggered back. The rest of the ponies' eyes widened. Rarity dropped the plank of wood.

    "Tell your bodyguard to meet Vandal and his two companions at the dubstep club, named 'Wubberz.' At midnight. If he brings anyone along with him, they will be punished."

    Twilight stammered with her words as the Vandalite slowly melted. She was running out of time-- she needed to get more information. "What do you mean Vandal's two companions? And why must Garrett come alone?"

    The Vandalite was almost done seeping into the cement below, twitching occasionally as it spoke. "Vandal has two companions. Nightmare... and Trixie Lulamoon.."

    The Elements of Harmony all gasped.

    "I... actually did not see that coming. Carry on. And please don't whack me with that board, again? I'll be a good little pony--."

WHAP!

    The Vandalite answered Twilight's second question. "He must come alone because we have unfinished business. About Erin, and how we came to be like this. How she did this to us, and how she continues to torture us beyond the grave."

    "What do you mean?" Twilight asked quietly.

    The Vandalite was close to being a puddle on the floor. With a long breath in, it spoke. "...Garrett will tell you."

    The monster was finally put to rest, sighing as it was reduced to a puddle on the floor. The ponies stayed still for what felt like hours, unknowing of what to think of the new information. Rainbow Dash and Applejack both staggered, while Rarity put a hoof up to her head. Twilight, meanwhile, narrowed her eyes.

    "Erin has something to do with this," she said sternly. "I think Garrett will have to keep explaining himself, when he wakes up."

    The Elements of Harmony all nodded, turning to the unconscious stallion and mare.

    "...So, who's carrying them back to his apartment?"

——————————

    The night sky was beautiful.

    The black blanket above was speckled with holes, giving away to a lamp shining just upwards of the fabric. Its light twinkled through, waving to the thief as if he was their friend. Meanwhile, a gentle breeze carrased his long hair and beard, encouraging his dark brown eyes to water, yet he insisted on keeping them open. He had always liked night, preferring it to day. It let his mind fly up to greet the waving lights above, shaking hands and making friends with the stars.

    Garrett chuckled. Life had turned out well for him in the past years. Sure, he had a rough start, and there were a few kinks along the way, but the 23 years he had spent on this Earth had proven fruitful. He had become a successful thief, becoming so skilled he could now steal three meals a day, without any problems. Even with the new gadgets the Baron had installed on the new streets (like sentry guns, crossbows for the guards, and cameras), he could still steal in peace; Basso had equipped him with not only different tools, but also an expansive array of skills.

    Garrett now had his fair share of knowledge in parkour, acrobatics, combat, defense, and Psycology. Basso had even taught him how to read and write (although his penmanship wasn't the best), speak noticeably better English, and even improved on his birth language. He could catch a guard in a lie instantly, block just about any attack (sword or fist), paralyze a guard with slapping his pressure points, jump down from roof tops and roll to a non-injured stop, and run across said roof tops with ease.

    Basso had even replaced his Black Jack, and had even made some improvements. Instead of cement, the new melee weapon sported a heavy form of leather, covering a metal cylinder. Its purpose was to knock a guard out without further damage, and it succeeded noticeably better than his old, cement counterpart. Basso had even inscripted the name "Blackjack" in its metal handle. At first, Garrett chided the man for forgetting the space, but soon the name stuck.

    His bow had improvements, too, although it wasn't replaced completely. It was larger, obviously, to fit his new 6' height (Although considered on the shorter end, he managed just fine). Not only that, but it was sleeker, stronger, and was much more efficient when it came to clicking open. A quiver was also holstered on his back, containing an assortment of different arrows, and even different types of arrows. The Broadheads were accompanied with Sawtooths, Waters, Fires, Blasts, Ropes, and Mosses.

    Garrett had even found a new home: the clock tower just South of Basso's new hideout, the Crippled Burrick. It wasn't roomy, but he made it work. He had installed a bed, and... well, that was it. He washed himself and his clothes in the river (in the Winter, he usually used someone else's shower and washer, or Basso's), ate at the restaurants scattered around town (uninvited, obviously), and when it rained through the holes in the roof, he slept at Basso's.

    Garrett put his hands on his hips, sighing. He turned out alright for someone who was abandoned, beaten, and starved at Ville Orphelinat. Speaking of Ville Orphelinat, that place had closed down after several reported "assaults" aimed at the employees. Garrett smiled, recalling how he made them squeal like the pigs they were.

    In all honesty, he was happy! Garrett didn't think about his parents often, had fun being a thief, and enjoyed the chases the guards gave, when he let them, of course. He could die happy like this. Nothing and no one was nagging at him, and he had no intention to make it so.

    ...And that's when he heard a click on his belt.

    The peacefulness of the night instantly vanished as Garrett's hand whipped back, grabbing hold of the one which had tried to make due with his money pouch. The other thief let out a girlish grunt, trying her best to pull away. When Garrett's grip held firm, she changed tactics, and bit him. Garrett grunted as he leaped back, crouching in a defensive pose, seeing his foe head on.

    It was a girl, looking just around his age. She had a deathly white tone to her skin, wearing a loose, black hoodie along with baggy shorts. Garrett knew she was inexperienced, due to her clothes (she obviously wasn't going to last through Winter).

    Her green eyes glowed with fear as she scrambled back on the wet roof, staring at Garrett with fear. Garrett, meanwhile, stood up and examined his hand. Her teeth had actually made indents in his fingerless gloves.

    A scream brought him back to the real world. His head jerked up just in time to see the girl rolling down the steep and wet roof, trying desperately to claw at any hand hold to avoid the three story drop below. Garrett reacted instantly, running forward before throwing his grapple (courtesy of Basso) at the young thief. He saw it whip around her leg in the darkness, before the girl plummeted off the edge.

    Garrett leaned over the edge of the building just as the cable straightened. With some amusement, Garrett heard the girl squeak as she halted in mid-air. The two thieves stayed like that, suspended.

...Guess she doesn't have access to any good tools--

    Garrett's line snapped back at him, the weight on the other side gone. He lurched backwards, off the building, before grabbing the balcony quickly. Aggravated, Garrett pulled himself up, before flicking his wrist. The cable retreated back into its holster, although to the thief's annoyed surprise, it was missing the grapple.

    The girl had cut it off.

——————————

"There aren't many knives that can cut my lines.

"Obviously, she had access to the good stuff. But, she was inexperienced by the way she reacted once I saw her. So, she had either stolen the knife or Basso had equipped her. But if that was the truth, she would know what to do in that situation. Basso likes to teach his students after equipping them.

"I decided to ignore the girl and her antics. I needed a new grapple, so I went back to Basso's. And who else would be there except...?"

——————————

    Garrett pulled the window open, before hoisting himself in to the Crippled Burrick. It was dark, as usual, and the thief didn't think about turning the lights on.

    "Basso," Garrett called out, walking in the house after pushing the window shut. He looked around the hideout, seeing the familiar setting of the kitchen in the corner, the chest in another, the chair and picture on the wall, and the rooms to his right. "Basso, I need some repairs. Where are you?"

    The cabin's stillness was inturrupted as footsteps and muffled talking was heard from just outside the entrance. Garrett readied himself by casually walking to the center of the room, pressing a button on his wrist before pulling the broken cable from his suit. It slipped out easily, before the long line was in Garrett's hands. The door opened.

    "Hey," Garrett said, holding the cable up as Basso walked in. "Some girl did this--."

    Garrett's words caught in his throat as the same girl from earlier peeked from behind Basso's shoulder. Those same green eyes stared at the thief fearfully, just like before. Basso, meanwhile, folded his arms. "I know," he said. "She told me."

    Garrett, after taking a moment to recover, leaned on the table of the kitchen. "Whelp, if you're here, you can fix this yourself."

    The girl glared. Basso, meanwhile, stepped forward. His dark brown eyes also narrowed. "She doesn't have to fix anything."

    "Woah," Garrett held his hands up. "Who farted on your pillow?"

    "Garrett, you're lucky I don't give you away right now," Basso almost yelled. Garrett's eyes widened as he took a step back, keeping the table between him and his mentor. The girl, meanwhile, looked around. "What were you thinking?"

    "What are you talking about?" Garrett snapped. "I didn't do anything wrong! I just came back for some repairs--"

    Basso made a move, dashing to his left. Garrett responded by skipping to his right, his hands scraping on the table between them.

    "And just why do you need repairs?" Basso barked.

    "Because she broke my grapple," Garrett sounded out, gritting his teeth. "What the Hell has gotten into you?"

    "She broke your grapple why?" Basso made another move, running to his right. Garrett shimmied to his left, his eyes never leaving his mad mentor.

    "To get away, you dumbass," Garrett growled. "She tried to rob me, I grabbed her hand, I scared her off the edge of a roof, so I caught her! She cut it afterwards!"

    Basso flipped the table, marching over the furniture. Garrett jumped back, kicking off the wall to land behind his mentor. Basso looked around, confused, before spotting his student.

    "That is bullshit and you know it," Basso said. "You tried to rape her!"

    "What?!" Garrett yelled, taking his Blackjack out. "I would never do that! I'm not that screwed up, you dirty fatass."

    Basso glared. "She told me that she was walking down an alley, before you assaulted her. She said you wrapped your grapple around her body to keep her still, before you--"

"Nah-na-na-na-na! No details!" Garrett jeered, waving his hands in the air. "She lied to you, Basso. You raised me-- you know I'm not a criminal! Well, besides the thieving part, but I am not a rapist!"

    Basso glared at the girl. "Is this true--?" The girl was sneaking out the door, her sack full. For a moment, the three occupants all stood still, staring at one another. Then, the girl ran.

    "You're a dumbass," Garrett smacked Basso upside the head, before giving chase. It was raining now, and Garrett's padded feet sent water flying away with each step as he ran through the pouring water. The girl, up ahead, was a black blur in the gray world.

    The girl ran through an ally way straight ahead. Garrett pushed forward, his feet thumping on the concrete as his face mask was pulled up, shielding his identity to any people who might be out for a midnight stroll. He passed in between the two walls, before seeing the girl turn left, dissappearing around a corner. Garrett followed suit, only to see the girl kick a barrel stand, before sprinting away.

"Petite espiègle!" Garrett grunted, before jumping the first barrel. He looked up just in time to see two barrels rolling his way, before kicking off the wall to launch over the wooden cylinders. After one last hop, he was out in the open.

    The girl was running down the street. Garrett dashed after her, his years of training coming to light as his legs thumped forward. He was gaining on the younger thief when she turned a corner. When he followed suit, he barely had time to dodge a carriage driving the other way.

    As the driver yelled out various French insults, Garrett took a moment to look around, trying to spot the girl. He saw a black blur, and focused to find that it was the girl, climbing up the wall of the building to his left with some sort of claw-like grapple. She was obviously getting her tools from someone with experience.

    Garrett didn't waste any time, running to the building before grabbing the window frame. He hopped up to the balcony, pulling himself up before jumping to another window. He hoisted himself up again before jumping, to a wooden perch just below the roof. He pulled himself up, jumped up to the roof, and gave chase once again.

    For a clumsy girl, she certainly had balance. She ran across the wet, triangular-shaped roof with ease, the rain not meaning much to her. Garrett followed, his foot slipping, although he was instantly back up.

"ARRÊTEZ!" Garrett called out. She kept running.

    Garrett growled out loud as he gained speed, just before the girl slid down the roof, jumping at the edge to reach the window of another house. Garrett groaned, before staggering to a stop, taking a step back, ran forward, and jumped. He was in the air for what seemed like a full second before he landed in the same window frame. Garrett bounced off the wooden floor, sprinting through the house to follow the girl.

    She jumped through the window. Garrett yelled out as he followed suit, having to roll up into a ball to fit through the frame. Rain instantly splattered his already wet form as Garrett unexpectedly landed on a passing carriage, slipping off the roof to tumble to the floor. Pain exploded in his ankle as Garrett staggered up, continuing to run forward.

    The girl ran through an ally before turning a corner; she was going to escape. Garrett had to limp as he kept running forward, passing through the twin buildings.

    Garrett turned the corner, only to receive a fist to the face. He stumbled back, his nose already beginning to bleed. When he looked back, the girl was holding her fists up, glaring at him.

    That was her fatal flaw.

    Garrett, unable to help himself, chuckled. She might have been quicker when it came to running, but combat? She didn't stand a chance--

    The girl's leg launched upward, kicking the man in the chin. Garrett hissed as her boot cut skin, although just before more blows were dealt. Her fist was next, aimed at Garrett's cheek. The thief deflected it to smash into the wall, and cracks were heard.

    The girl yelled out in pain as she skipped back, holding her hand. Garrett took out his Blackjack, just before she jumped his way. Her foot swung at his face, although Garrett ducked. She continued her onslaught, swinging her leg down. Garrett jumped back, crouching low to the ground.

    The girl was relentless, launching herself forward before kicking Garrett in the stomach. He endured the blow, before blocking a fist to his face. Before she could pull her fist back, Garrett grabbed her arm, kicking her feet from below. As they swung up to the air, Garrett attempted to throw her arm to the ground, but the girl easily bounced off the floor, flipping back on to her feet.

Ooh, elle a des compétencez. [She got skeelz]

    The girl grabbed something from behind her back; it was the grapple she used earlier, although its claw-like spikes jut out menacingly. She intended to kill him.

    "All this to make some sexist comment about rape?" Garrett folded his arms. "Now I remember why I'm single."

    The girl threw the grapple at Garrett's face. He dodged it just in time so it whizzed past his face, but a cable pulled it back for another attack. It swung below Garrett, making him jump to avoid it. The girl twisted her body, using her momentum to launch the claw-like grapple at the man. Garrett dodged it again, grabbing the cable to pull it out. However, the girl was quick and flicked it back to her, making it cut Garrett's hand.

    The man hissed, taking a step back. The girl reacted instantly, leaping for his neck. She grabbed his neck as she stradled his body, squeezing tightly. Garrett pushed her off, but her body ricoched back courtesy of her legs' attached state, this time holding the grapple. She plunged it at Garrett's neck, but he caught it before redirecting it to her leg.

    The girl screamed as she hopped off, the grapple chewing off some of her leg. She ripped it out, but the damage was already done. She limped back a little, groaning.

    When the girl looked back up at her opponent, it was too late. Garrett's Blackjack crashed against her head. The girl shuttered a little, before collapsing on the wet floor.

    Garrett, meanwhile, panted as he holstered his Blackjack. "You got blood on my suit, petit chou fleur." He chuckled to himself a little, before sitting down. He examined his bleeding hand and his stinging ankle, before sighing. "Women are vicious."

——————————

"If only I knew just how vicious Erin could be."