Where the Angels Fall

by Pree Spunky

Rating: teen
Tags: Random, Adventure, Crossover, Human, Romance, Comedy
Length: 69431

Garrett, AKA "The Master Thief," must act as a bodyguard to the Mane Six as they save Equestria yet again. Hilarity, romance, action, and drama issues when he leans more toward criminal than hero

First Thief crossover, yay~

CONTAINS STUPIDLY GOOFY COMEDY, FOURTH WALL BREAKING, TWILIGHT SPARKLE HAVING MENTAL BREAK DOWNS, AND IMMINENT RAGE COMING FROM THE READERS WHO WANT SOMETHING SERIOUS.

Garrett, AKA "The Master Thief," has had a life full of thieving, betrayal, shadows, and secrecy. But what happens when he is thrown into the world of Equestria, the world of giving, friendship, light, and sharing?
Hilarity insues, that's what happens.
However, when a new threat approaches Equestria, the Master Thief is forced to act as a bodyguard for the Elements of Harmony as they save Equestria yet again. Armed with a ruby that has the power to turn him into a pony at will, the experience, and a certain group of three fillies that will buck your teeth in if you mess with him, it should be a walk in the park.
…Right?
Wrong. Unwilling to call himself a hero, Garrett has as much difficulty trusting himself to do the right thing as he does the familiar enemy. Can he survive the constant attacks from the enemy he has known so well, and has hated so much? Will he survive all the brightness in Equestria, when all he's ever known was the shadows? What happens when a certain relationship starts to form within his responsibilities? Will he cope with his altered personality, which turns him into a joke-cracking, 4th Wall breaking psychopath that loves cupcakes? Will I ever stop asking the reader rhetorical questions as if it's building suspense?
All answers are unknown. Especially that last one.
Friendships will spawn, blood will be shed, and Garrett's dark past will be put to light. Even if he doesn't remember it himself.
Even if it will damage him beyond recognition.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2014-12-28 03:52:25 UTC

2. Where the Thieves Fall

    Rarity had two choices.

    For one, she could leave the... individual there, to the mercy of the endless downpour as it showered upon its face and uniform. It was a thief, after all. Plus, that was a much more merciful consequence than the Canterlot Jail.

    Or, Rarity could bring it into her house, feed it, care for it, and let it go in whatever habitat it lives in. Maybe it could talk? Oh, what was she thinking? Fluttershy could easily communicate with the creature. Although, that would not only mean putting her dear friend to the mercy of this... Thief. It would also mean risking herself between the time of dragging the creature in her house to safely restraining it; the creature could wake up at any time.

    The restraining was more than rude, as their first impressions were already grotesque. But safety precautions had to be followed.

    Rarity, still recovering from the initial shock, shakily backed away from the window.

"It would be easy," she reassured herself. "Just grab him, pull him inside, and tie him to a chair as quickly as possible."

    Her mind made up, Rarity slowly walked down the hall, and almost tripped down the stairs out of nervousness. Using her magic, she pulled an umbrella from the little container by the door. The profusely large, purple umbrella seemed completely out of place in the current, somber situation. It shook nervously as Rarity opened the door.

    The gentle pitter patter heard from within her abode instantly heightened to the sound of endless beads falling to the ground, bouncing off the cement sidewalks and grass. Rarity gulped, shifting the now open umbrella above her head. As the unicorn walked outside and closed the door behind her, Rarity's head was spinning with thoughts of the dark figure which she will inevitably meet up close soon. She remembered the way his right eye had the same glowing, cyan look like the handsome stallion of her dreams, literally. The black cloak which shadowed the creature's features represented the same one she had seen in her dreams.

"Is he really the apparition from my dreams?" Rarity whispered to herself multiple times. As the unicorn rounded the corner, the unmoving, black shape on the ground became an outlining on the shiny, wet floor. The black-laden individual was lying pencil-style, facing the raining sky above. The downpour showered its face with rain droplets, the tiny water drops splashing and bouncing off the hooded face. Rarity walked towards the thief, her very first good look at the creature presenting itself.

    It was dressed in the same black uniform as the pony in her dreams, definitely, but it was modified so it could fit the individual's slender body. Just like the apparition's apparel, various gadgets and safety ropes were clinging to the tight suit. A cape made from some thick fabric spread out underneath its body. Below the hooded head lay some sort of face mask covering the lower portion of it; the one he always put up when chased.

    Rarity shifted the umbrella overhead so it covered both her and the creature underneath. The mask did not conceal the upper face, however. It was almost as white as Rarity herself, with weird, thick, black eyebrows only about a centimeter from the actual eyes.

    Rarity looked over her shoulder, then the other one to see if anypony was watching. Content with the fact she was alone, the mare bent down to the creature's level. She did not know much about the subject of medical situations, but the unicorn knew a couple things. One of them: pulses indicate life, and the most profound are located on the wrists and neck.

    Rarity took one look at the heavily plated wrists, then instantly decided on the neck. There was no way she was getting through those thickly-plated hands. The mare bent down, close to its neck, and gently pulled the black mask back. Rarity was met with a young looking face with heavy, black stubble around the small lips; both above and under. The cheekbones were defined, and the face was complete with a smallish chin. All things considered, quite the handsome specimen.

    "You are just getting closer and closer to that stallion, hm?" Rarity whispered to herself as much as to him. She slid her hoof down the individual's neck, feeling for any sign of a pulse. After about five seconds of searching the unusual neck, Rarity found the repeated beating she knew was a pulse.

    "Well, at least you're alive," the unicorn remarked, pulling the face mask back up out of respect. Rarity looked around again, then proceeded to use her magic to pick up the bipedal. He was unusually light, only about one hundred fifty pounds. Still, her magical abilities were used to wielding scissors and fabric. He was on the heavier side for her.

    As Rarity levitated both him and the umbrella back to the house (which proved to be difficult. She wondered how Twilight could ever do this), she spotted a compacted bow and arrow attached to his back. It was lithe and jet black, dripping wet just like its owner. She briefly wondered if he would mind a wet bow. It was somehow clipped, or attracted to the cape in some way. It kept the top of the hanging cape stationary, which she guessed moving would be highly irritable if without.

    Rarity started to become fatigued as she used her magic to open the door to her house. Her magical abilities straining to hold the creature, umbrella, and (briefly) the door handle, she almost stumbled inside. After hanging the umbrella up and closing the door, Rarity set the knocked out creature by the door, right inside.

"No way you're wetting up my house," she thought to herself. "Unconscious and unknown species or not."

    Rarity panted lightly as her horn took a well earned rest, trotting up the stairs, retrieving a towel, and coming back down. After an awkward drying process (thanks to all the gadgets being rustled, falling off, and even some setting off after the towel jostling them side to side), she then removed all things remotely related to a weapon, including the bow and arrows. (Turns out the bow was clipped on.) Rarity also came across a bag clipped to his side, which, after some handling, she discovered was filled with money. After some quick thinking, Rarity hid the weapons and money bag with an invisibility spell on the floor beside the entrance.

    Then came the safety precautions.

    Rarity wheezed as she dragged the bipedal to the kitchen, not wanting to test the limits of her magic. The individual's damp suit only dripped a couple or so droplets, but also left a thin layer of water coating the carpet. Rarity told herself she would clean that up. Heaving the figure onto a kitchen chair (which proved to be small compared to the taller individual), she wiped a lone line of sweat off her forehead.

    "My apologies," Rarity whispered as she levitated some heavy fabric over to her, and magically tied the intruder up to the chair. Even though he certainly couldn't hear her, she had the honor of at least saying it to him at one point. "Surely you must know why I'm doing this?"

    Silence was her answer, obviously.

    As Rarity restyled her mane to look presentable, she thought about what she would say to him when he woke. "Hello, my name is Rarity. Do you mind telling me what you are? Oh, and don't mind about being tied up. It's late at night and I'm simply too tired to set up proper safety precautions. And what might your name be?

"...Eh."

    No, maybe she should mention why he's tied up first? Or should she tell him her name? Her his name? What about asking what he is?

    Rarity rubbed her temples with her hooves. This was harder than she thought.

    She did not want to act as if she was interrogating him, but the unicorn needed to be firm. Or, maybe she should leave the entire "tying up" idea to rot and take a more friendly approach? That would treat him well, as he was probably just as scared as her. Or more, considering she has had a lot more time together while conscious.

    Speaking of conscious, the fall which landed him in this stage looked pretty bad; was he mortally wounded? In a coma? Will he be paralyzed? That crack was loud, is his skull damaged?

"I am terribly sorry about that fall; it seemed dreadful. My name is Rarity, and you are...? ...Oh, don't worry about being tied up, it's for safety. Now, your name, Darling?"

    No. That wouldn't work either. She tried another approach.

    And another.

    ...And another.

    But soon, all the worry, adrenaline, and shock could not drown out the overpowering tiredness as it finally washed in. Just this afternoon Rarity had one of the most bizarre and difficult tasks in her entire dress-making career, via Princess Celestia herself. After the entire day restlessly sowing the unheard of pattern and style of the rather Steampunk dresses, tiredness got the best of her that night.

    Now that she thought about it, the uniforms could fit his species perfectly. She would question the Princess about the matter later.

    Rarity needed rest, badly. Waking up in the middle of the night, being briefly scared out of her mind, going outside in the rain, and having to heave and tie some unknown creature to a chair was not helping one bit.

"Hello, I know you may be scared out of your mind right now," Rarity recited in her head, yawning widely. The drunk-like effects tiredness had on everypony was seeping into her thoughts. Her non-verbal conversations slowly became more random. "And being tied up by some unknown equine probably does not help. But be reminded I am also scared, therefore having to commit safety procedures. My name is Rarity. And you must be Handsome Rouge Number One."

    Now Rarity's mind was giving in to the overwhelming sleepiness, coming up with the most bizarre first oral impressions. The unicorn's iconic ladylikeness was replaced with simple, non congregating phrases worthy of a foreign 4th Grader learning Equestrian.

"Hello. I'm Rarity. You are tied to a chair because I think you are dangerous. You must be hurt."

     Rarity shook her head awake, but her cheek was almost immediately leaning on her hoof. "I am truly going to think back to this ruefully," she muttered.

    Then, Rarity's eyes slowly closed. Her body, still in the sitting position with her hoof supporting her head, started to breath lightly and deep.

    For a few minutes, the atmosphere was thick with a much-needed quiet, not counting the very unladylike snoring of Rarity. It would be a peculiar sight to anypony who would walk in at that very moment: Rarity sleeping in a sitting position, facing an unknown, bipedal species in a hooded, black suit.

    But that is exactly what happened as the clopping sound of Sweetie Belle trotting down the stairs echoed through the house.

    "Sis'," she said rather shakily, yawning. As the filly stepped down from the last step of the staircase, Sweetie turned the corner. "Why were you just outside? It's late..."

    Her little hooves immediately ceased their tired walking, instead resorting to freezing totally in place. Sweetie Belle's mouth opened, but said nothing as her eyes followed suit. Now, many fillies would have reacted far more profusely than Sweetie Belle did in this situation. But, being the only sister of an Element of Harmony, encountering a handful of horrendous creatures in the Everfree Forest, and being part of the most adventurous trio in all of Ponyville (possibly Equestria), she reacted with a much more minuscule velocity.

    Sweetie Belle fainted.

——————————

"Ahem."

    Garret's eyes slowly opened at the simple, yet stern statement. Instantly afterwards, his blurry vision was a mix of purple, blue, and black. A pain was evident on the top of the back of his skull which easily dimmed out any other injury he sustained. However, that was not his first concern. For a few seconds he lay there, closing and trying to refocus his eyes. Soon, the scenery presented itself: a dark, purplish sky with stars sprinkling the entire canvas, the black bottoms of trees and blue vines covering most of sky above. It was like a night restyled by Van Gogh himself.

"Sit up."

    The Master Thief's attention snapped back to the rather demanding voice. Curiosity overcoming him for the millionth time, he slowly sat up, rubbing the top of the back of his head, which seemed to be an island of excruciating pain. Garrett's fingers abruptly shied away as he felt a crack under his skin. Some sort of crack in his skull?

"Pay attention to me. Please."

    "Yes, Mom," Garrett replied sarcastically. With a pleasant, easy voice or not, it obviously came from authority. And he hated authority.

And pears. I hate pears.

Heh. I just made two references in the first two chapters that any Brony worth their salt would know.

Serious Readers must hate me.

    "Please. Do not be rude," the feminine voice said patiently.

    Garrett cringed as the valley of pain in his skull pitched in volume. Looking up to his intruder, Garrett was surprised to find himself completely alone, in the middle of the forest. "Would be easier to talk to you if I could see you," Garrett muttered to the darkness as he reached over his shoulder and retrieved the compact bow. It clicked into its prime form.

    The only answer was a rustle in the bushes.

    In a mere second, Garrett was in the brush, completely blended in with his surroundings. "Oh, no," he whispered to himself, the black bow now strung with a Choke Arrow and ready. "You do not sneak up and scare people. That's my job." A sting from his head gave him another non-hearable idea. "...And giving people blunt-force trauma is also a hobby. I know some guards that will agree with that."

"You have an obscure sense of humor."

    A hoof landed on his shoulder.

    Instantly his entire body froze, all control leaving him. It was as if he was under some kind of spell. Garrett dropped his bow, the release on the draw string sending the Choke Arrow a good ten feet, then exploding in a green haze, the coughing gas spreading out like a fan. The bow bounced on the floor briefly, before settling. "I mean you no harm," came from behind him.

    Garrett was slowly turned around by the hoof, and was briefly surprised to find a dark blue pony, only a couple inches smaller than him. Her blackish-blue mane and tail flowed with a nonexistent wind, and her massive wings and horn were both extended. "I am Princess Luna," she said pleasantly, removing her hoof. Her voice was sweet, almost gentle.

    Garrett's eye twitched slightly as he tilted his head. "You're... some sort of.. unicorn-pegasus mix...?"

    "I believe the correct term is alicorn," she said calmly. "I am Princess Luna, as I said, and the Bringer of the Night. It is my duty to come into ponies' dreams in times of great despair." Luna looked him over before continuing. "It seems no different in your case. I could feel the distress in your system strongly. What troubles you so?"

    Garrett, not one for trusting strangers— or anyone for that matter— only looked at her coldly. "How am I to believe that? You can't just... invade my dreams as some Princess and say you watch over me like that."

    Luna only looked slightly aggravated, as if she was used to others not trusting her. If her authoritive figure was maintaining itself, it was doing a good job. "Well, for one, I can tell you where you are."

    All distrust left Garrett in an instant as he suddenly felt giddy. The thief, still looking in the Princess' eyes, gave her a thoughtful look. "...That'd be nice to know. I don't know any place with talking, technicolor horses as part of their population. Except, maybe, Las Vegas on a Friday night."

    Luna smiled, ignoring his unknown reference. "Of course, that information comes at a price."

Of freakin'-frackin'-tastic course.

Garrett folded his arms across his chest. "What is it?"

"Your trust."

The answer came a little too early, although the meaning was all the same. For the first time, although their acquaintance was young, Garrett sensed a hint of sadness in the Princess of the Night's voice. It was as if she was actually in pain when the words came from her mouth. All the more amplification to her request. Garrett sensed there was much more truth to her need of trust, but he would question her about it later.

He could tell, even if her face was stoic, she wanted a friend.

Garrett scratched the back of his head, once again the pain acting up. The human cringed as the agony resurfaced. He looked at Luna steadily before saying, "...Okay. You have my trust."

The Princess seemed to almost grin in delight, although her expected demeanor caught up with herself. After the stoic gaze returning to the tall mare, she replied, *"Very well. I thank you for that... But before I give you this information—"*

*There's always a catch. Garrett braced himself...*

"...I must know your name."

Garrett was once again dumbfounded by Luna's request. Yet, he had trouble just telling her his name.

Wow, are my trust issues really this bad? Just tell her your name.

The human coughed, as if trying to get something out of his throat. *Come on! It's not that hard! Just say "Garrett!"*

Garrett made a face, trying to digest the weird predicament he was in. After more hesitation, however, he finally replied with, "Garrett."

Luna smiled and nodded. *"Very well. I will now tell you the location you currently reside in...*

"You are, as of right now, in the small town known as Ponyville—"

*"Schk-ch.."*

Luna gave the human a confused look as he snickered. *"Is there something you find amusing?"*

Garrett was chuckling to himself profusely when he replied, "Ponyville?"

The Princess nodded slowly, inspecting the human. *"...Yes," she said. "...As I was saying, you currently reside in the town of Ponyville, which is in the continent of Equestria."*

*"Schk-ch..!"*

The Princess felt anger rise in her chest as she was interrupted yet again. *"If there is something funny about this then I must insist on knowing!" Luna fumed.*

The human smiled. "It's just..." Garrett was snickering profusely now, his eyes closed. "The *names... trés amusant."*

Luna tilted her head slightly before continuing. *"...As I was saying, you are in the town of Ponyville, in the continent Equestria. Although... I get the feeling you are not from Equestria, considering your species."*

"My species?" Garrett asked, still shaking off the comedic spasms.

"Yes. You look a little like a... clothed Diamond Dog. Only skinnier. And more intelligent."

I know, right? And they said not attending school would make me dumb.

Garrett scratched the back of his head again. Same as before, his reward was more pain. He cringed before replying. "I... really don't know what 'Diamond Dogs' are, but I'm going to trust you. Kinda have to now, anyways."

Princess Luna looked him up and down, as if inspecting him thoroughly. Garrett shifted uncomfortably in her gaze. *"You are a peculiar individual... If you are not from Equestria, how did you stumble upon this place?"*

Garrett suspected she would ask where he was from rather than how he got there. It was his turn to tilt his head slightly as he continued. "I, uh... I actually don't know."

The Princess raised an eyebrow, inspecting the human. An idea came to mind. "...What was the last thing you remember?"

Last thing I remembered? Luna knows something.

"I remember..." Garrett started, intending to lie. But, then again, he promised her his trust. Still, the fact she was most likely keeping secrets was suspicious. "...Being in a cabin."

Luna instantly took notice, her eyes widening as she took a step forward. Garrett resisted the urge to take a step back. *"...Was there a glowing ball involved? Did you touch it?"*

Garrett was dumbfounded. He never told her that! Now, he was sure she knew something.

He look at her suspiciously—

Oh, right, Trust. Can't do that.

"...Yes," he said calmly. "Yes, I held it for a couple seconds, then it just got really hot and I passed out. Woke up here."

The Princess looked horrified at this point. Garrett was about to question Luna when she shook her head, closing her eyes. *"This is bad..."*

"What? What's bad?" Garrett pressed forward.

"I... You must leave. This was a terrible mistake; I'm so sorry! We must send you back to Earth as soon as we can."

"Wait, what do you mean?! How do you know where I come from?" Garrett questioned, confused.

Luna spread her wings, and a massive wind whipped at the human's figure. The dark pony flew above, leaving the confused thief behind. Reality shifted as she did, rocks and trees around Garrett following her, and a huge ringing was evident in his ears. The whiteness shifted into blackness.

*"LUNA!" he yelled, before all went numb.*

——————————

Garrett's body jerked awake, but his limbs didn't go far. Something was restraining him.

The thief's mind gave a start, instantly flashing the worst possible conclusions throughout his vision.

He was quickly aware that he was tied up, unarmed, and restrained to a chair. No matter where Garrett looked, darkness loomed around it. There was a quiet snoring positioned right in front of him. That was all the regular human eye could see, however.

With a nervous blink as Garrett calmed his nerves, his right eye glowed with Focus.

The human could easily make out the details of the small kitchen in a bluish haze. A tile floor was underneath him, supporting the only furniture in the room, cabinets and drawers on the walls, secluding a lone wooden table in front of him.

On the other side lay the same white unicorn he saw earlier snoring, which gave him yet another start.

After looking down, Garrett's suspicions were correct: he was indeed tied up, sitting on a wooden chair.

After another blink, the blue room transformed back into black.

Garrett wasted no time as he grunted, hopping in his seat, not planning on staying tied up for long. The ropes were strong, but able to be cut through. He'd need something sharp. The Master Thief blinked back into Focus, thinking of a knife. He searched the kitchen until he came across a drawer with glowing hoofprints on it, just to his left.

Knowing that was where he had to go, he deactivated Focus. Garrett jerked to the side, scooting the chair noisily to the left. The pony gave a disturbed snort, but didn't wake up.

Cringing, Garrett took a stealthier approach. He jumped in his seat, moving the chair a little but making a loud *'Clack!' when it landed. When no sign of defiance came from the equine, Garrett continued his tactic. Soon, he was inches from the wanted drawer. Garrett hopped, rotating himself so his hands could easily reach the handle. Wrapping around the handle with his fingers, Garrett leaned forward, pulling the cabinet open. After some more fiddling with his fingers, Garrett finally grabbed hold of the handle of a kitchen knife.*

Turning it with his nimble fingers, Garrett cut through the rope quickly, and in an instant was up and in the kitchen window, poised to make a run for it. However, that was his only victory, as Garrett suddenly became aware of something that, in the future, would change his life forever.

His bow and arrows were missing.

3. When Luck Runs Out

    It was beautiful.

    Not considering the fatal consequences which came along with it, of course, but this scenario was definitely one of Berry Punch's favorites. A long, wooden sidewalk made completely from planks, bolted into the stone cliff surrounding them supported their weight. A cyan-colored, mineral water river flowing down rocks and moss a hundred feet below definitely added to the atmosphere, complete with a black sky above. The cabin behind Berry fit the mood perfectly, completing the "Rocky Lifestyle."

    Really, the only thing that ruined the moment was the occasional "I cannot believe this happened!" and "How could I miss him!" Not to mention the constant groaning from Colgate, who was currently rubbing the back of her head, which supported a bruise. Actually, the scenario was beautiful everywhere but near them. Nature had a way to avoid obnoxiously loud people.

    "This cannot be real!" her younger sister, Piña Colada, wailed. Berry had to admit, seeing her sibling as a human man was pretty hilarious. "We-- we were right here! How could he have gotten into the cabin?!"

    "He snuck past?" Berry suggested with a lazy shrug.

    "I know that!" yelped Piña. "Don't you see, Berry?! We're stuck here! All thanks to that Thief! To make things worse, he's somewhere in Equestria right now, most likely stealing something valuable." She groaned. "This is all our fault; Princess Celestia sent us to this world to meet up with another. Human. This is a big mess."

    Berry Punch looked up at her sister, which she presumed was going crazy. "...Princess Celestia trusted us to do what...?"

    "Oh, well of course you don't remember!" barked Piña. "You were drunk! As always!" Berry blinked, used to her sister becoming an angry she-devil filly when she was worried. In fact, Piña Colada was almost put in therapy after freaking out on a salestallion who was having trouble getting pills for one of Berry Punch's more stressful hangovers.

    Her sister's knowful gaze attracted an exasperated groan from Piña. "Do you even know what I'm talking about?" the filly freaked suddenly, staring at Berry. The latter blinked again. "I have to explain it to you again, don't I?!" she cried.

    Her older sister hiccuped. "You already told me what we were doing..?"

    A sound escaped Piña which could only be compared to a boar's charge warning.

    "Okay.." the man breathed, eye twitching. "Since you are obviously not going to remember anything tomorrow, I'll make it short to save my breath. I think it's obvious to both of us you don't remember." Berry leaned forward, attentive as her younger sister started her tale. Berry started to rest her chin on her fist, although her head missed, turning her face downwards.

    "We were in Canterlot for your 'Wine Tasting' thing." Piña explained everything slowly, reaching over and pulling Berry's head back up, so she was facing her. "Colgate came to us, asking if we could help her out with something. Since we're best friends, and you were too drunk after downing a dozen shots of Applejack Daniel's Apple Cider, I accepted for you. With me so far?"

    Berry Punch blinked. "Colgate and I are best friends?"

    "You two were together for only your entire childhood. You even hit on her a couple times when drunk. Yes, you two are friends." Piña Colada continued, "Colgate brought us to the Princess, much to my surprise. You definitely weren't; you were too busy trying to hook up with some Royal Guard."

    Berry sighed, remembering her encounter with that guard. "Oh, those eyes..."

    "As for the princess, she said she had sent Colgate out to fetch somepony she trusted, because of a multiple-pony job for us. With me so far?" Another distracted nod. "Princess Celestia said a dear friend of hers was accidentally teleported to this universe. His name is Vandal... weird name. Apparently, he was transformed into the dominant species of this world; something all ponies went through during inter dimensional travel--"

    "What's 'Inturr demenshunul travul'?" Berry's drunk voice rang.

    "Traveling between different dimensions, or galaxies."

    "That exists?"

    "Yes. It only took about one thousand years for Ponykind to perfect. You would know if you weren't busy being hungover." Piña sighed.

    "I wasn't drunk that long," Berry Punch countered.

    Piña only sighed off the false comment. She was sure that if her sister did live that long, she would have been hungover for at least 982 years. "Princess Celestia contacted this... friend with tactics she would, regretfully, not share with us. Although I'm sure she has her reasons. Princess Celestia always does.

    "They set up a location and time to meet and send Vandal back to Equestria, and we were the ponies to deliver him to Celestia. The cabin was specially made, courtesy of magic, to not let anyone but us and Vandal to go in." Piña scratched her head, looking back at the cabin. "But then how was that thief able to get in...?" A feeling of foreboding gripped her heart.

     After shaking the haunting feeling off, Piña continued. "There was a catch though: we would also be transformed into... 'humans.' And, to lower suspicions completely, we had to become..." She shuddered at the mere thought of the reality. "Male guards."

    Berry looked curiously at the trousers she wore, and before any could ask, the top of the pants were lifted, her eyes peering in. "Yep. Male."

    The next few seconds consisted of Piña and Colgate both staring at Berry Punch, who was utterly confused at the action. According to the mare herself, Berry only did a logical thing. Obviously that was not the case with her two companions.

    "...I'll just pretend I didn't see that," Colada said, her cheeks turning a shade darker. She would never look at stallions the same again. "...Anyways, back to the story; we accepted. Or, more so, I accepted for your sorry plot. I thought if such a plan was worthy of Princess Celestia, it could be flawless. You would have thanked me later for letting you be a part of something big." She gave Colgate a sympathetic look, who's hand was still covering the back of her head. "Obviously, I was wrong." After a sigh, she continued. "Poor Colgate probably didn't see him coming. Hopefully Princess Celestia notices we're gone..."

    "Wait.. but why were we chosen for the job? Why not the Elements of Harmony or something?" posed Berry Punch, one of the first sensible things to come from her mouth.

    Piña Colada sighed. "I don't know. Hopefully the Princess will tell us when we get back." She could only hope they got back.

    After a few seconds of silence, her mood shifted back to irritated. "I can't believe you just made me explain the entire thing to you again, even after the Princess herself telling you. It's like we're in some amateur-author's fanfic who doesn't know how to tell a story cleverly—"

    "Wait a minute," Colgate interrupted. After a few seconds of reluctant silence from Piña, Colgate's eyes narrowed slightly. "I hear somepony coming."

    True to her statement, quiet footsteps were heard coming from the darkness beyond. "It must be Vandal," Colgate suggested.

    Piña reverted to whispering. "Great. Now we get to explain this whole mess to him."

    While the former mares prepared themselves for the inevitable, the once distant footsteps matured into louder, more powerful stomps. "Uhh, hello?" Piña implored, hoping for a response. None was given. The sound of claws mixed in with the now animal-like thumps was evident.

    "I don't think that's Vandal," Piña whispered to her friend and sister. They both nodded fearfully. "Let's hide in the cabin. It's too risky out here. Maybe whatever it is will just pass through?"

    As Piña Colada herded Berry Punch and Colgate in the safety of the cabin, a bright cyan light emitted from the dark entrance to their space. It wasn't one from a flashlight or lantern, but, in fact a cluster of them all from different sources. Members of a certain, very distraught, pale, and clawed species of white bipedals owned them. One such species with a grudge against the Master Thief.

    They sensed Garrett's departure into another world, courtesy of the massive amounts of energy exploding from it. They were determined to find him.

    And they were determined to kill him.

——————————

    Rarity's slumber was interrupted by the light infiltrating the external redness of her eyelids, indicating sunlight was touching down on her face. When the comforting darkness moments ago dissipated, the unicorn yawned widely, rubbing her eyes awake as a small smile formed on her lips, awaiting for the happiness of the day.

    Suddenly, the memory of last night's bizarre encounter caught up with her like a tidal wave.

    Rarity's hoof immediately stopped the motion of rubbing her eyes as they snapped open. Her mouth instantly went to a crude, thin line. She found herself still in her kitchen, the sunlight of the new morning shining through her clear window. Everything was clean, nothing being out of place. As a plus, she was still on the chair she accidentally snoozed on. Breathing out a sigh of relief, Rarity noted everything was in place.

    Excluding the fact her "prisoner's" chair was by the table to her right, the rope now cut and lying on the floor.

    "Oh, no..." Rarity whimpered.

    "You're awake," a masculine voice exclaimed from behind. Rarity gave a startled cry. She was instantly out of her chair, whipping around to meet the bipedal creature from last night. He was currently standing with all his height, a full six feet tall, with his arms crossed in front of his chest. The creature looked more intimidating, and more dangerous than ever. His face mask only amplified the caustic eyes piercing daggers into her.

    Rarity was struck dumbfounded as she gawked at the pale, cyan right eye which both haunted and aroused her in her dreams for weeks. The thick, jet black eyebrows were furrowed. "...You.." Rarity started, suddenly feeling puny compared to the massive former "prisoner." She could feel her throat tighten as tears watered her eyes. "Can talk..?"

    "No, I can't," he replied sarcastically, all the while maintaining his negative demeanor. It was as if he knew he was in control, and was enjoying it, frankly.

    Rarity noted the kitchen knife on the table without looking at it. Just in case. She focused on the way his eyes were always stationary, always attentive. Unlike her own species, who moved their irises steadily and calmly, his eyes always jolted this way and that immensely quick, focusing on everything their vision latched on to. It was like a bug, or an animal.

    A very tall, alluring, and threatening bug or animal

    "What.. are you..?" Rarity peeped.

    The being glared at her.

    "I am your future self," he said mysteriously. "I come to deliver a message for myself... Stop being a complete bitch and pulling knives on strangers!"

    Rarity gawked. "And he knows slang," she thought, flabbergasted.

    "You took something from me," he declared, leaving her amazement unnoticed. "Don't make this hard for yourself; I have all the time in the world. Just hand it over."

    Rarity felt her body heat rising. Sweat oozed down her forehead as she glanced at the spot of the invisible supplies. She looked back at him, shaking. "But... you stole that.."

    "No, I made the bow myself," the bipedal retorted. "Took a good portion of my ten year old life, too. As for the arrows? I buy them." Rarity seemed to relax just a little at that. "But the money?" his jet black eyebrows furrowed even more as he walked to her. Rarity's eyes instantly widened. He bent down to her level, a mischievous, but honest, glint in his eyes. "I stole that. Every single penny. And what right do you have to say that's wrong?"

    "I..." Rarity gulped. She had thought of what she was going to say to him last night. What she was going to say when she was already awake, not him. But now, with the creature standing at his full height, in complete control, and not fazed at all by the sight of her, all that reciting went down the drain.

    "I want everything you've confiscated. My bow, my arrows, and my money included."

    Rarity tried her best to not glance at the knife on the kitchen table. "...Will you.. hurt anypony..?" she sniffed.

    "Only if it boils down to it. Now get me my supplies." He leaned close to her face. Rarity's nostrils filled with the scent of wet pavement and smoke, emitting from the bipedal, no doubt. With a now-glowing cyan eye he added, "Now." She wasn't sure if the lighted iris was needed or used just for intimidation, but if its intentions were the latter, it certainly worked. Not needing any more encouragement, Rarity zipped to the spot where the unseen supplies were lying untouched. She could sense the creature's eyes staring daggers into her. After a gulp and a quick spell, the jet black bow, assortment of special arrows, and bag of uncountable money was once again visible. She was levitating it back to the human when a very familiar, very... unwanted voice came from upstairs.

    "Rarity?" Sweetie Belle called. "What's happening down there? Are you having trouble with the kitchen again?"

    Rarity's ears flopped down to the sides of her head. "No..." she thought gloomily. "No, please don't... Don't involve Sweetie Belle."

    The bipedal's attention was also momentarily shifted, but it was back in an instant; too quick for Rarity to make a move.

    The unicorn suddenly had an idea. Rarity quickly overwhelmed her actions and thoughts with the best of her acting skills. With a quick intake of air, she put on her most desperate attitude.

"Here!" Rarity almost yelled as she magically shoved the bipedal's belongings back to its owner.

"He has to go. He will *not** lay a hoof... or hand, on my sister."* That was the mindset, and sentence Rarity kept in her head. It amplified her emotions, even far enough to have a tear slide down her cheek. "Take them! Please, please just leave! Leave her alone."

    Rarity thought she saw a flash of something in the bipedal's eye as he staggered back, astonished. She may have succeeded in surprising him. She may have imagined it. But there was definitely a flash of something in his eyes.

    He looked at her calmly while attaching the bag to his side. After clipping his bow back into place, along with the arrows, he quipped: "That was never my intention." Then, in the matter of a second, he was out a newly-opened window.

    Rarity stood there for a couple seconds, pondering over what had just happened. The shock, confusion, and worry that had built up throughout last night and this morning all worked together to make her freeze in place.

"What was that thing?" she pondered. "That... *being?***

"It... no, *he** openly admitted hurting me or my sister was never his intention. All he wanted was his bow and supplies. But if he needed that, he must have hurt others in the past. Why not me? Why hadn't he taken a more violent approach?*

"Why had he appeared in my dreams for the last couple weeks? Were they a sign from Luna?

"...He's a mystery: half villain, half the stallion I admire in my dreams. Is he some kind of anti hero?"

    "Rari-ty!" Sweetie Belle bleated. "What's happening? I'm reaaaaaly tired."

    Rarity, acknowledging her sister, snapped out of her little day dream.

    "Sweetie Belle, get ready," Rarity quavered. "We're paying our dear friend Twilight a visit."

    The only response was a very frustrated, very immature: "UGHHHHH!"

    Rarity started her way upstairs, but froze mid-way. Her ears flopped down to her skull in realization. Her belly filled with the hot feeling of rage.

"Wait... Did that *brute** REALLY call me a BITCH?!"*

——————————

    Garrett ran.

    He ran as fast as he could, only semi trying to keep to the shadows. The boutique behind him slowly, but surely, shrank as more distance was gained. Good.

    He had to get out of here. The thief knew those types of women; the ones with siblings. They were usually the first to become defensive, to fight back as he stole their belongings. To ring alarms. Garrett never understood how it felt to be a sibling of another; to have someone to care for so much he would die for them, just like that pony "Rarity" had selflessly done. To be defensive, willing to fight for their sibling's well-being. He didn't understand it, and didn't want to. It, in a sick way, scared him to think of what he would do if he owned a brother. Or even a sister. What they would think of him.

"They would most likely just be immensely disappointed."

    However, the thoughts about siblings, or Rarity's impending alarm-sounding was not the reason he ran. He wasn't running simply to steal another day, either. Garret was running because he wanted to clear his head; to get everything sorted out, to figure out where he was. Why he was there.

    Only he needed a place to do just that. And that dark forest, just out of the crazy, pony filled town looked the most appealing.

    After about a minute of restlessly running, Garrett finally swooped into the shadows of the forest. An instant of pure, calm solitude overcame Garrett as he sat down on the grass, panting lightly. The sound of a gentle breeze, an assortment of calm animal calls, and locusts all around replaced the chaotic, noisy sounds of that pony filled society.

    Garrett took a deep breath, then exhaled. It was peaceful here. Much more so than in that... unicorn's house.

    Garret was never really a fan of animals or nature, however. Really the only relationships he had with them were birds and dogs giving his position away, and rats eating rotting corpses on the sides of the streets back home.

    Garrett brushed aside the thick, dark green leaves covering his vision to look at the colorful town, now just waking up. He was slightly surprised to find more ponies, unicorns, and even pegasi come out from their homes to start work.

"...Obviously things here are different."

    A smile slowly formed on his covered mouth as he examined the scenery further. He closed the brush window, turning around to meet his new abode.

"Yep," Garrett thought. "This could definitely serve as a thinking place. Hopefully the wildlife is as peaceful as it sounds."

ROOOOOAAAAARRRRRR!!!

Then again, I've been wrong before.

    Garrett could feel the ground shake gently from underneath his feet as the trees around him vibrated with a violent hum. Garrett could feel his small frame rattle with the sound waves as about two other young, girlish yells also filled the air around him. "Can't I have just one minute of silence?" Garrett thought begrudgingly.

    Of course, he could just stay here to his thoughts and recollect himself, seeing if any damages had been inflicted on his beloved bow. But then again, he's never said no to two little girls screaming and running away from an unknown beast, deep in the forest of an unknown place. (Mostly because that's never happened.)

Ah, to Hell with safety; I'm  curious.

    With that, Garrett slunked off deeper into the woods, leaving the colorful village behind, and with it, its technicolor pony inhabitants.

    He was headed straight for the last known location of the ear-deafening yowl when the same yell came much, much, closer than before. Hesitant but curious at the same time, Garrett crouched low to the ground, listening to the oncoming thumps of what sounded like... wood?

    Garrett sniffed, and immediately regretted that decision. His nostrils, although masked, filled with the scent of decay, rotten apples, and... yep, definitely wood.

    It was at that moment two small ponies, one yellow and one orange, bolted from the overgrowth right in front of him. With both the duo and lone human too confused to react in time, they crashed into each other. The thief's world instantly became one of pain, blurry vision, and soft fur.

Not a very common combination.

Unless if you're attacked by a killer chinchilla daily.

    Garrett could feel himself rolling cartoon-like for about two seconds before tumbling to a complete stop. The human groaned, holding the back of his head, which began to act up again. It stung profusely, although with a brief shake of his head, it soon diminished to a dull throbbing. A light weight was evident on his chest, disrupting his breathing. When Garrett opened his eyes, he was met by two large grayish purple irises staring into his own. A boyish, purple mane and dark orange coat completed the young pony, and upon further inspection, two little wings adorned her sides. After turning his head, he was met with another young pony, this one yellow with a somewhat curly red mane and tail. They were both staring at him.

...And both the *cutest** fillies I have ever seen in my life!! Oh,* mercredi, look at their *manes*!! I must obtain my pony snuggles immediately, while they're helpless—.

ROOOOAAAAAAARRRRRR!!!

    The fillies' irises instantly went as small as needle pricks. The one on top of Garrett fell off his chest, as stiff as a rock, revealing the monsters beyond.

     Right in front of him were three, evil-looking, angry, smelly wolves which looked like they were made from...  wood? Definitely made from wood. Leaves served as their eyebrows, adorning their glowing, green eyes. Sharp, thin claws and teeth, all made from wood, jutted out from their head and feet.

What are you guys..?

"TIMBERWOLVES!" came from the two fillies to his left.

Huh. Clever name.

    Before he could react any further, the Timberwolves charged, screaming their terrible cry.

    Now, in a situation like this, Garrett could just run and hide as fast as he could, escape most certainly following. He could then have enough time to equip his bow with a Blast or Fire arrow, ready for any deadly wolves following him. That was the smarter decision. Or, Garrett could carry the two REDICULOUSLY CUTE fillies and bolt to the forest's edge, escape having a much thinner chance of becoming reality.

    The latter would be stupid, slowing him down, and bringing out his inner anti-sprinter. The Blast and Fire arrows wouldn't see themselves strung up and ready until... well, he didn't know when. The only pro of this was that he got to hold two ridiculously cute fillies as he met his demise.

    ...But could the answer be any more obvious?

    Garrett picked the two frozen fillies up, and started to sprint as fast as he could, giving a long scream of his own as he ran for dear life. The Timberwolves instantly gave chase.

4. Dark Woods, Darker Man

    Three rather quick knocks on the door brought Princess Twilight Sparkle out of her reading stupor. She waited a few seconds, briefly wondering if she could find a way to avoid interruption on her book, like faking absence or telling the knocker she wished to be alone. But, that would not be wise, as the alicorn's wings reminded her she had Princess duties now, and the subject required her attention. Giving a rather irritated, but knowing sigh, she put down the copy of "Blofigans: a New War Enemy?" After bookmarking the page, she trotted to the door of her tree house/library.

    After opening the wood entree, Twilight was met by a familiar white unicorn, along with the said unicorn's little sister. The latter responded with a cheery, "Hi Twilight!"

    "Oh! Hello, Sweetie Belle. How's your Magic coming?" Twilight asked with a warm smile.

    "Pretty good!" she replied excitedly. "I levitated a whole beach ball for a couple seconds just yesterday!"

    "That's great," the Princess congratulated friendlily. She turned back to the older unicorn "Hello, Rarity! What can I do for you today?"

    Rarity, who previously had her usual, pleasant demeanor on, looked behind her, inspecting her settings. Sweetie Belle, however, was giving a quick hug to the older alicorn, who gladly returned it. After turning back to the purple Princess, Rarity's demeanor changed to anxiety. "Twilight," she said urgently. "I need to talk to you... inside."

    "Oh! Okay..." The Princess exclaimed, rather confused. After stepping aside, she motioned with her head indoors. "Sure; come on in."

    "Thank you," Rarity exclaimed quietly, motioning her sibling to enter before she followed suit.

    After they were both inside, the alicorn closed the door behind her friend. As Twilight started to turn to the unicorn duo, however, something warm grabbed her from behind, burying another warm, slightly wet, muzzle in her shoulder. The alicorn instinctively flinched, before realizing Drama had once again taken over her friend's system.

    "Oh, Twilight!" Rarity wailed, openly crying in her shoulder. "It was awful! Completely horrifying! Oh, why did this have to happen to us?! Just look at my poor sister! She's traumatized for life! That beast must have done something to her when I was asleep! Oh, it was so dreadful! WHUAAAAAAH!!!"

    Twilight sighed, stealing a glance at the younger unicorn. Sweetie Belle was promptly rolling her eyes at the pathetic state of her older sister. Twilight, assuming this was yet another everyday problem the unicorn somehow made sound like the end of the world, patted her friend's back sympathetically, although her eyes were rolling. "Rarity, should we sit down and talk about it?"

    After cleaning up her act miraculously quick, Rarity resorted to the common sniffling and teary-eyedness. "Y-...yes, I suppose we should..."

    Twilight Sparkle smiled down at her friend before gently removing the unicorn from her shoulder. The Princess walked to the living room of her treehouse, levitating a purple sofa and plain chair in the room. She nodded at the sofa, sitting herself on the chair. After a down-trotten Rarity and an exasperated Sweetie Belle took their seats on the sofa, Twilight started. "So," she began. "What is it you need to talk about?"

    Rarity, after squeezing her uncomfortable sister to her chest protectively, started with a sniff. "Well... I suppose I should start at the beginning: I was having one of those Nightmares again last night. Do you know what I'm talking about?"

    "The one with the black stallion with the glowing eye," Twilight concluded. "Yes. You've been reporting those to me for quite some time now."

    Rarity nodded slowly, sniffling. As her sister tried in vain to escape the unicorn's death grip, she continued. "I think I may have met him. In real life."

    Twilight was suddenly visibly interested, leaning forward in her chair. "Go on," she motioned.

    A muffled 'MMPH!' escaped from Sweetie Belle as she once again tried to claw her way out from her sister's white arms. With a tug, Sweetie freed herself, and was gasping for air.

    "I woke up to something thumping on the floor last night," Rarity continued, barely noticing her younger sister's departure. "At first, I thought it was my imagination, telling me to wake up."

    "That does happen, sometimes," Twilight added, thankful she never once lacked in her study of dreams.

    Rarity nodded, her dramatic outburst from earlier finally fading from her face. After wiping her hoof across it, cleaning the dampness from her complexion, Rarity spoke again. "After just a few more seconds, another thump sounded, this time from downstairs. I thought it was Sweetie Belle in the kitchen, so I went to chide her back to bed."

    "I'm always in bed at that time!" Sweetie protested.

    Rarity, however, would have none of it, and pulled her sister in another hug. Not for protectiveness, but for the sole reason to make her shut up. Twilight giggled at that, although her attention was on the story being told.

    "As I was saying, I fully thought it was Sweetie Belle disobeying the 'sleeping arrangement,' but as soon as I entered the kitchen..." More tears started to well up in Rarity's azure eyes as she paused. Then, she burst out, "...Everything was wrecked! Cabinets were tipped over, dishes were spilt on the floor, tables were overturned! It was *horrible!***" Twilight merely nodded, understanding her friend's over reacting nature. For all she knew, it could have been a couple plates spilt on the ground.

    Sweetie Belle, for the second time of the day, released herself from possible death by suffocation. This time, a silent vow was made to not open her mouth again.

    "Continue," Twilight insisted, acknowledging the brief pause in her story.

    Rarity nodded, adjusting her mane. "I was horrified. After a quick look around to spot any intruders, to no avail might I say, I started to put everything back in place. Until..." Rarity had to put a hoof on her chest to keep from showing too much emotion. She sniffed before continuing. "There was an explosion of hoofsteps behind me. I quickly turned to find that there was, in fact, an intruder in my house!" Twilight's interest heightened as she seemed to scoot a little closer to her friend. Sweetie Belle, though she would not admit it, was also legitimately interested. "After a brief chase up the stairs, the brute was vulnerable. Somehow the bafoon got himself twisted in one of my prized fabrics on the wall."

    "You keep fabrics hanging on your wall?" Sweetie interrupted. Twilight was about to shush the filly when Rarity held up a hoof.

    "No, no," the white unicorn insisted. "It is quite fine to be curious." Rarity turned to her sister and prepared to answer the innocent question.

    Mainly because she wanted to delay the mentioning of that eye. Her mind seemed to numb at even the thought of the unnaturally bright iris, although Rarity quickly reverted herself back to pleasantness. "I keep my most prized awards hanging in the halls; most of them from dresses from our misadventures." The Princess and filly chuckled at that, although the true meaning was lost on the latter.

    Rarity's demeanor quickly changed to melancholy again as she looked at her dear friend in the eyes. "But, after struggling, the fabric was ripped off." Rarity shifted her eyes between her friend and sibling. "...and right before me was one of the tallest. Creatures. I have ever seen in my entire life. A full six feet! He was bipedal, so definitely not pony... Too skinny for a Diamond Dog, too."

    With every syllable coming from the unicorn's mouth, Twilight's inner scientist squee'd. "A new species?" she implored, scooting even closer on her chair.

    Rarity shrugged. "I do not know." After Twilight stopped visibly vibrating with excitement, the unicorn continued. "But, what surprised me the most was his right eye." Rarity shuddered at the thought, although she was not sure if it was one of disgust or arousal. "It was staring at me. Both with fear and curiosity. Twilight... its color was a glowing cyan."

    The mentioned princess was practically beaming with excitement. "That explains the pony in your dreams!" Twilight exclaimed, raising a hoof in realization. "It's completely logical; Precognitive Dreams are ones that have the ability to tell what is to come; they are mostly unrelated to any existing knowledge acquired through normal means. They are common for a pony under heavy emotion, and with you, I think it's a surprise it hasn't come earlier."

    Rarity gave a disapproving, "Hmmph" at the implication that she was "emotional." Twilight, realizing her unintentional insult, suddenly had a flourish of red in her face.

    "No offense, Rarity! Sorry, it's just... it's true." Twilight lowered her head at the last sentence, giving a sheepish grin towards her white friend.

    Rarity gave her sister a look that said, "Is this true?"

    However, Sweetie Belle was currently looking in oblivion, whistling as if nothing was asked.

    Another "Hmmph" sounded from the unicorn as the true meaning of that action was not lost on her. With a slight glare, she continued her story. "Well, I appreciate you answering one question about this predicament. But alas, I have not finished yet." Rarity gave the two occupants of the room an equally hard glare before she continued. "Surprised as I was, a flash of lightning revealed that the creature might have been even more surprised to see me. Scared, even. That's when the clumsy oaf accidentally fell out of the window I left open."

    "Wow," Twilight remarked quietly.

    "Why do you keep our windows open on rainy days?" Sweetie Belle also remarked.

    "It helps me think," the unicorn said cryptically. "When it's windy, however, that's when the window stays shut. We don't want any rain in the house, do we?" Rarity straightened her sitting position before her story progressed. "As I was saying, the creature fell out of the window, onto the rainy pavement. As he landed, I heard a loud crack!" Rarity slapped the sides of her horseshoes together for visible effect, making an audible "clack!"

    Twilight covered her mouth with her hoof. "Was he alright?" she questioned.

    "I thought he was dead, actually," Rarity offered sheepishly. "But, after a brief investigation, I discovered he was very much alive. I levitated him inside— he's quite light for such a tall one, may I say— and decided to take safety precautions...

    "I, um, ...tied him to a chair." A light blush formed on her cheeks.

    Sweetie Belle giggled. "Way to go, Sis." Twilight gave the filly a warning, but gentle, glare. She turned back to Rarity and comforted her.

    "Although what you did seems... questionable, it was for safety nevertheless."

    Rarity nodded her thanks, before realizing the embarrassment wasn't done yet. "I planned to be hospitable for when he woke up. But..." Another blush fell on her cheeks as she avoided eye contact with everypony. "I... fell asleep while waiting."

    Rarity could see Twilight visibly trying to hold back a laugh. After a brief "sorry," however, the unicorn found she had a hard time staying mad at the alicorn.

"So that explains what I saw.." Sweetie Belle reasoned in her mind. "I must have sleep walked back to my bed... Although that's extremely unlikely."

    "However," Rarity said. "When I woke up from that most... uncalled for nap, I noticed the creature was gone."

"And...?" Twilight pressed.

    Rarity continued her story.

——————————

I'll give an award to the next event which can make my dignity go any lower than this.

    Garrett's feet pounded through the thin overgrowth, easily carving a path down the green surroundings, screaming duo of ridiculously adorable fillies in arms. There were constant roars and a hunting call of some sort right behind him at all times, encouraging the speedy human to put more effort into his exertion. The forest which had just briefly been his sanctuary was now a blur of various shades of green.

    Garrett hurriedly picked up his speed when a 'SNAP!' sounded directly behind his rump; the very location where the next bite attempt would have succeeded. It was almost cartoonish.

    "What is this thing?!" Garrett heard from one of the fillies in his arms; the orange, tomboyish-looking pegasus.

Her voice is just as cute as herself!

    "Ah' have no idea!" came from the yellow one, a Southern accent occupying her voice.

Cuteness intensifies.

    "Is it evil?!" the orange one questioned as Garrett continued his adrenaline-filled sprint away from the Timberwolves. In fact, the human had almost forgotten he was running for his life. Garrett quickly put more effort into it. "Is it taking us to its secret liar, where it will violently and cruelly eat us?!"

    Garrett jumped over a few low-hanging vines as his pursuers waisted no time following suit; to the expense of the smallest one. The Timberwolf tried with all his might to lob over the rope/vegetation, but its foot snagged. After giving a startled yelp, it crashed to the floor, the twigs and logs making it up scattering everywhere. Its two companions kept jogging after the troublesome trio.

    The Master Thief risked talking to the fillies, oblivious to the death behind him. "I am not!" he argued over the sounds of rushing over plants and dirt. "Excruciatingly adorable small technicolor horses are not on my diet."

    The two fillies in his arms looked at each other with wide eyes. They looked back at him. "YOU CAN TALK?!" they both screamed at the same time.

    One of the Timberwolves behind Garrett let out a blood-churning howl before diving at the human, attempting to knock him down. It swatted at his legs, and hit home. However, the thief's perfected escape methods payed off as he neatly regained balance by side-stepping on a tree beside him, continuing his running as if nothing happened. The Timberwolf fell to the floor, scattering into various sticks and timber parts. Only one was left, which was now giving off a chorus of unsure cries.

    Garrett, meanwhile, kept pounding away from the canine. His breaths grew deep and short, fatigue taking over the human as he kept running. He was still completely oblivious to his now-existent strength in numbers.

    "What are you?!" the orange one questioned, her tiny wings flapping as if to get away.

    "Your Friendly... huff, Neighborhood Thief!" Garrett responded, stumbling a little, but quickly recovering as he sprinted on. "And, lemme guess.. puff.. you are Ridiculously Adorable Horse Number One.. wheeze and Ridiculously Adorable Horse Number Two! pant.."

    The two fillies shared a half-confused, half-this guy is a nut job-look.

    Garrett was panting hard now, while sweating.

    It was at that moment they broke into a clearing from the forest. Much to the dismay of Garrett, the Devil Pony-filled town was straight ahead. The two fillies seemed joyous, though. "We're home!" they both shouted, jumping out of Garrett's arms as he slowed down to a light jog, then stopped and bent over, panting hard. The orange, tomboyish one instantly turned back at the forest, sticking her tongue out at it.

    "HA! We're still alive!" She started to dance in place, singing. "Uh-huh! Oh yeah! Stayin' alive! Staying alive! Ah-ah-ah, ha!"

    The yellow one started to kiss the ground repeatedly. "Mwah! Mwah! Ah'm home..! No more Everfree Forest!" The human only groaned, looking at the town.

I should have known they were going to betray me like this, leading me to this Torture Chamber of a Town. Nothing this cute can be trusted.

Ha! Looks like you're not the only one, Erin!

    A deep sense of guilt suddenly filled his system.

Aw... putain. ...Shouldn't have thought about that...

    The back of Garrett's head sung with pain again from the output of emotion. He reached his hand under his hood, gliding over his jet black hair, and felt the offending spot, only to pull away painfully and awkwardly.

Yep. There's definitely a crack back there.

According to my amazingly splenderifous medical abilities, I can conclude that I am hurt in some way or another.

CASE CLOSED; WHERE'S MY AWARD!

RRROOOOOOAAAAAAAAARRRR!!!

    Garrett's splenderifous thoughts were interrupted as another roar exploded from behind him. Every ounce of the human's instincts were instantly screaming at him: "SAVE THE CUTE ONES FIRST!"

No problem.

    His instincts were satisfied as Garrett dived, taking the two previously kissing the ground ponies in his arms, just in time to miss a log being thrown at his head's previous location. Garrett quickly turned to the location of the thrower, and was surprised to see the Timberwolf, standing on its hind legs while growling at the group profusely.

Did that dog just throw that log?

Guess they're a lot better at this than I thought.

    The Timberwolf charged. The fillies immediately screamed, scrambling away from Garrett and running, helplessly slow, to the little town which suddenly looked a lot further away than before.

YOU SCARED RIDICULOUSLY ADORABLE HORSE NUMBER ONE AND TWO!

PREPARE TO *DIE!***

    Garrett's bow was out in a 'click!', a Fire Arrow immediately loaded. As the Timberwolf charged the duo, the human took aim, steadied himself, and let go of the string. The Fire Arrow speedily whizzed through the air, before stabbing the Timberwolf. Instantly, gas squirted and sparks shot from the arrowhead, igniting the beast.

    "You do not make Ridiculously Adorable Horse Numbers One and Two scream!" Garrett yelled. The two fillies had ceased their efforts of escape by now and were observing the scene with confused eyes. The Timberwolf, although burning, only looked at Garrett, equally confused at his "victory."

    The confusion only lasted a second as the wolf suddenly felt a rush of rage. It howled at the human, charging the bipedal. Garrett, realizing his faulty victory, quickly reached back to retrieve a Blast Arrow. It was for naught. The Timberwolf was closing in fast, swinging back a wooden paw above its head for momentum. The claws looked sharper when they were closer.

    And they looked really sharp.

    Garrett was bracing himself for death by being eaten by a wooden dog when a rock flew from behind him, connecting with the Timberwolf's glowing eye. The dog howled and almost slipped, but quickly regained control as it shakily stopped running, staring daggers at something behind Garrett. Yellow, thick sap was now drooling from its injured eye.

    "Take that, you big jerk!"

    Garrett looked behind him to see the adorable orange filly, adorably crouching down with her tiny, adorable, wings spread out to show a non-existent, but adorable, threat.

Did I mention she was adorable?

    The Timberwolf growled. Quickly realizing her fateful error, the pegasus' eyes widened. "Uh-oh..." she muttered. Her yellow companion cringed at her friend's vain attempt of courage. Adorably, of course.

    The Timberwolf, sensing Garrett quickly moving his hand back to retrieve an arrow, quickly swatted the bothersome human away. Said human howled with pain as the claws cut through his outfit, drawing blood as it sent him a good couple yards away. He hit the ground with a 'Thud!' Again, the back of his skull vibrated painfully with the impact. Garrett's vision grew blurry as he groaned, sitting up and massaging his injured head.

    The thief's hearing, however, was just fine. And he heard the Timberwolf roaring, while the Ridiculously Adorable Horses screamed in reply.

What part of "They're cute" doesn't he understand? Of course they're not going to die!

    Garrett quickly activated Focus, his right eye erupting in light, illuminating his dark features. Life seemed to go in slow motion as Garrett's vision instantly cleared, better than before it was blurry. The entire scene before him was illuminated in a cyan scheme. The thief could see the Timberwolf in mid sprint, just a mere yard or two from the fillies. They were both on the verge of tears, hugging each other tightly.

Oh, putain ça!

    Garrett's arm whipped back and grabbed a Blast Arrow, strung it, aimed at the Timberwolf's torso, and let go all in about half a second. The moment the Blast Arrow impacted with the wooden body of the Timberwolf, it exploded with a radius of a mere foot, although it was enough to scatter the Timberwolf's limbs and wooden parts in all directions. The fillies only stared at the sudden flourish of fire, smoke, and wood all exploding. When the small explosion's smoke cleared, the Timberwolf was gone.

    Or, rather, divided among the grass in various places.

    "Ha!" they heard the human say, throwing a fist up in the air. "Told you the adorable ones never die!"

    Garrett stood, and deactivated his Focus. The moment after, his head rang with the same pain which was evident not a minute ago, his eye returned to normal, and...

Oh, great. I forgot about that.

    The four, deep gashes on his stomach blistered with pain as blood oozed out of his attire. The human moaned, staggering himself up, clutching his stomach. However, the human's attitude wasn't injured in the least. Garrett pointed at the two ponies. "I saved your life~!" he sang almost cheerfully, as if he was not just poisoned by Timberwolf claws. "I saved your life~! Now you have to hug m--~"

    He never got to finish his victory hug request, however, as the yellow one dived in to him, doing just that to him fiercely. "THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU!!" she cried in his chest, her hooves wrapped around his torso, squeezing. Garrett cringed as fresh blood dribbled down his suit. However, his dream had come true; he had obtained a hug from the most adorable thing in the universe.

Plus I had to wait a whole three minutes! I'm lucky I didn't quit by now; that's a long time...

    "That... was... EPIC!" the orange one yelled, flapping her wings until she was floating a few inches from the ground before settling back on to it. The non-pegasus one just kept blubbering in Garrett's chest, telling him her thanks. "DID YOU SEE THE WAY HE SHOT THAT ARROW?! It went," the pony put a hoof in the air and shot it to the right, quick as a whip. "'FSHOOOOO!' Then the Timberwolf went like," her hoofs went away from each other at high speed, signifying an explosion. "'BOOM!' And his sticks flew everywhere! And I got sap all over me.." The equine looked down at her coat, indeed covered with the sticky substance trees spat out. The crying one in Garrett's chest was also slick with sap. "...I.. I got sap all over me..! Sap! YAY! THE BLOOD OF MY ENEMIES COVERS MY FRAME! *MUAHAHAHAHA!***"

    Garrett had to chuckle at that, but the movement jarred his insides, his four-lined gash stinging profusely. He suddenly felt very woozy as he almost collapsed under the yellow filly. Mind numbing rapidly, the human put a hand on his forehead, which Garrett discovered to be lathered in cold sweat. "I don't... feel so good," he uttered, just before the sudden feeling of his gums going numb took over. Then, the feeling of something coming up his throat, then his mouth yawning open...

    Garrett had just enough time to turn away from the sobbing pony on him to vomit. The human hacked and coughed afterwards, trying his best to get the foul taste out of his mouth. But, it stayed. The feeling of his puke slickly traveling down his neck reminded him his face mask was still up.

    "OUGH, GROSS! Damnit!" Garrett sputtered as he hurriedly bent over and opened the leather layer covering his mouth. Upchuck began to easily flow through the opening as the human spat a few chunks of last night's dinner on the ground. His stubble-filled chin was lathered in the orangish-white substance. The two ponies merely stared at Garrett.

"Did you just..." the orange one started, but didn't finish as her eyes came across the four crimson lines on his belly. "...You're poisoned," the filly muttered sadly. A sniff sounded from her. The equine turned to the Southern pony, who was on the verge of tears. "Applebloom, we have to get him to a hospital."

    "That's on the other side of Ponyville!" 'Applebloom' said, looking at Garrett sympathetically. "Plus, they might capture him and dissect him for Scientific purposes... He shall be ours now."

    "...Or we could go to Princess Twilight's!"

    Applebloom perked up at that. "Good idea!"

Great. More big ponies.

    "I need another hug," Garrett said, blinking unsynchronized

———————————

    "...And, with just a 'that was never my intentions,' the thief left. I instantly got Sweetie Belle and rushed over here, and... here we are."

    The other five mares in the room were left speechless at the end. Rarity looked at all of her friends in turn, hoping to see any spark of knowledge in their irises. Twilight Sparkle was stoic; that was expected, as this was her second time hearing the story. Pinkie Pie was locked in place, her bottom jaw literally lying on the ground below. Applejack was in deep thought, tapping a hoof on her chin as she muttered, "hmmm..." Fluttershy's eyes were as wide as Pinkie's, although there was the same excitement Twilight had experienced. "A new species! One that can talk, too!" was basically playing itself in repeat in her eyes.

    Rainbow Dash was utterly confused. Spike straight up fainted mid-way through the story, and was now lying in his bed upstairs, courtesy of Twilight's magic.

    Pinkie Pie, not surprisingly, was the first to speak. "...WAT."

    Then, the entire room erupted into a chaos of opinions and conflicts. After a brief order from Twilight, however, they had to all speak one by one.

    "Sounds like somepony needs a beat-down!" Rainbow Dash declared, angrily bumping her hooves together. "If anypony thinks it's okay to mess with Rares, they need to be taught a serious lesson! Courtesy of moi!"

    "Oh, but we don't actually know why he did it," Fluttershy peacefully added. "He could have been so scared...! Poor thing. He's probably so far from home..."

    "Ah'll have t' go with RD on this one, Flutters," Applejack rejoined. "Ah' know everypony does stupid things when they're scared. Trust me on that one. But he sounded mighty calm in the story, dontcha think? Ah' trust you, Fluttershy, but Ah' can't trust your theory."

    Fluttershy visibly shrunk at this, although she did mutter a weak, "You said the same thing with the Bats that one day.."

"STOP YELLING!" Pinkie Pie suddenly screamed, looking at each of her friends frantically.

    "Pinkie, nopony was yelling," Twilight reassured.

    "They're getting REEEEAAAAAAALLLLYYYY close to it!" the pink pony said, eyeballing Rainbow Dash. "Go ahead, Dashie! Yell for me; make my day, Bub."

    "Well, I don't know about you guys, but I'm goin' out to find this 'Thief,'" Rainbow Dash declared, avoiding the pink mare as she walked over to the door.

    "I knew you didn't have the guts," Pinkie said with a smirk.

    "Trust me, Darling," Rarity stopped her cyan friend. "You won't. He's brilliant when it comes to hiding."

    Rainbow Dash grunted. "Well, we're not going to get anywhere just standing here, are we? C'mon, let's go! It's not like he'll just show up at our doorstep!"

    It was at that moment the door to the library was knocked on, mere moments before Dash was going to slam it open. Sheepish, Rainbow Dash scratched the back of her head before opening the door to be met by Scootaloo and Applebloom, both covered in...

    ...Sap?

    "Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo exclaimed. "Where's Twilight?" The question came suddenly, hurting the cyan pegasus a little to know her friend was more interested in Twi than to just say 'Hi, Dashie!'

    "Right here," Twilight called from inside the treehouse. The purple alicorn was by Rainbow Dash in a matter of seconds. "What do you need?"

    "Lots and lots of medical magic!" the filly said. "A lot of stuff just happened."

    Twilight's eyes filled with concern. "What's wrong? Are you hurt?"

    Scootaloo sighed. "No," she said, before scooting out of the way to reveal Applebloom struggling to drag the very bipedal in Rarity's tale with her to the door. "But he is." The entire room's occupants were all at the door now, staring at the scene before them.

"...Buh!" was all Rarity said before dropping to the floor, unconscious.

    The human only looked them all in the eye, now completely limp from the neck down. He had a look on his face which said: "I hate my life."

    "Heh... boy, do we have a story for you guys," Scootaloo offered, chuckling.

5. Wolf Poison

    This was, by far, the most bizarre the Master Thief has ever felt in his life.

    For a while, all Garrett did was lay there, paralyzed from the waist down. His entire body felt tingly, the raw feeling spawning from the four lines through his abdomen. Garrett could feel a liquid, although it felt more like a gas, traveling through his body from the Timberwolf mark: its poison. It was unique, however, as no pain was present. If anything, he felt cold. Not as in the "cheesy line they say in the movies when they're about to die" cold, but more like the "just took a dip in the Arctic Ocean" cold. The cold which light breezes of wind which passed over Garrett amplified his condition.

    The human could hear Scootaloo talking to the six other ponies in the library as his vision swam, blurry images making up his world. He could see the hazy vision of a large tree, and some type of orange opening to it. Probably the inside. Six blurs of purple, cyan, pink, white, orange, and yellow inhabited the tree. As Scootaloo talked to the big, purple one, her words sounded muffled and distant, as if it was a hushed voice from behind a door.

    Garrett could feel every grass stem underneath his fingers (the only bare part of his body which was touching the ground) in a tingly way, like they were all individual, sand paper like needles. The numb feeling in his gums was always surfacing, as if he was going to throw up at any time. But alas, the ground was spared Garrett's vomit every time.

    The human felt the back of his collar get snagged by something, which started to pull. Instinct instantly taking hold, Garrett's hand whipped to his waist, aiming to retrieve his Blackjack (a club he uses to knock people's skulls in). However, his arm instantly lost control mid way, instead landing uselessly on his waist.

Alright, guess there's no sudden movements.. What if I activate Focus?

    Garrett blinked and concentrated, the juices in his eye flowing. He opened them, fully expecting to see his surroundings in a cyan haze. His eyes only returned to the same, blurry vision.

Wait... WHAT?!

    The Thief tried again to activate Focus. He was met with the same reward.

What the Hell is this?! No Focus?!

...Kill me now. No, scratch that, kill the entire Timberwolf population now. If anything can take that away from me, it's automatically on The List.

The list which I put everything on it in a wood chipper. Just like every one of those creepy wooden dolls that look like Chucky. Blegh.

    Garrett, through frustrated eyes, could see the orange and yellow blurs of his friends following him as he was dragged. He could see the white of their eyes, their eyelids tilted in a sympathetic state.

I'm getting massive Pony Snuggles after this.

...Not that I'm complaining.

    Garrett's blurry vision of the bright sky above soon changed to a shade of brown and orange. The air all of a sudden seemed a lot warmer and humid. Blurry, feminine voices gathered all around him as...

...Oh, no.

    ...It became obvious he was, again, in a pony's house.

...Merde.

    Garrett felt himself being laid on a soft couch of some sort. There was more muffled talking, followed by a faint glow from the purple one.

Huh.. more magic, I suppose—

    Garrett's thoughts were cut off as his senses instantly came back.

    He laid there, dumbfounded, as his vision instantly cleared, the blurry haze pushed to the edges of his vision. Garrett could see a yellowish roof above him, made from wood. His hearing was also replenished, being filled with Scootaloo's voice: "So, after me and Applebloom gathered the berries, we were headed back to Ponyville, when the Timberwolves attacked—" Scootaloo continued, but was interrupted by a "shush!" from a...

...Purple unicorn-pegasus mix..?

Wasn't it called an "alicorn" by Luna?

Still confused as to why she reacted that way... Hurry up and explain that to us, author!

    The alicorn turned her face from Scoots to Garrett, a look of mixed emotions on it. She inspected him, before suddenly smiling. "Hello— I mean-- Greetings, Mr. Garrett!" she said cheerfully, smiling. "My name is Princess Twilight Sparkle. I mean you no harm. Do not be alarmed of your current state; it is but a temporary spell I have cast. I, uh... understand that you have helped two of my loyal subjects in some way. Although the details of this endeavor are currently being explained to me.."

    "You suck at sounding like a Princess, Twilight," a cyan mare with a rainbow mane remarked—

Bon Dieu, is that a chick?! Her hair is WAYYYY to short. ...Eh, can't be too hard on her. Erin also had short hair—

    Guilt, sadness, and nostalgia suddenly engulfed Garrett's heart, causing the back of his head to once again hum with pain from the output of emotion.

...Stop thinking about her, Garrett...

    Coming back to reality, 'Twilight' sighed, bringing a hoof to her face. "I'm new at this, okay? Now... Garrett, I sincerely thank you for your services including the Cutie Mark Crusaders. But, I must question you about your doings involving my friend Rarity. Which... isn't conscious at the moment.

    "Anyways, I have used my magic to give you your senses back temporarily. You are still paralyzed from the waist down, unfortunately, and there are a few other shortcomings that are still intact. Do not fret, though; I am trying my best to find something that will get you back on your feet in no time!"

Ugh.. I can't listen to her with that color scheme. It's infecting my brain just looking at her.

    Scootaloo hopped in front of Twilight, however, and interrupted her explaining. "But wait! I'm not finished yet! Please listen to the rest! This is when he saves us for the first time; the best part! Pleasepleasepleaseplease pleeeeeeaaaaaasseee???"

    Twilight rolled her eyes, but smiled. It seemed she was used to the filly's eager anticts. "My apologies, Garrett. I'll have to finish listening to Scootaloo. Meanwhile, take a look around, examine your surroundings. And don't try anything. I can easily let that poison go back to full gear." The last part came out as more of a threat than a suggestion as she turned back to the orange filly.

Eh. I'll give it a 4/10 on the Threatening Scale. This one guy threatened to staple my tongue to a ceiling fan with jumper cables.

    The thief took this calm as a chance to put the spell to the test, testing his muscles. He did a quick jab in the air with his right arm to see he still could not execute sudden movements, evident by it stopping mid way and flopping back down. Garrett grumbled, but curiosity once again took over as he decided to inspect his surroundings.

Wow, so many books... Okay, so apparently I'm either in some library or a book-crazy psychopath. Well, to be fair, it actually seems pretty cozy...

...Oh, great, more big ponies! Judging Time!

...Too many rainbows.

...Too purple.

...Pfft..! Is that a cowboy hat?! *AHAHAHAHA!!** I've got to see this..! ...Aww, no boots. Killjoy.*

...I can see my good friend Rarity is having a fun time. Not the first time one of us was unconscious after seeing each other.

...ANOTHER FILLY?! HNNNNGGGG, WHY ARE YOU GUYS SO ADORABLE?! WHY CAN'T THE BIGGER ONES BE AS CUTE AS YOU?! ...Okay, New life goal: save that one's life to obtain Pony Snuggles. Why not all three fillies...

FOURSOME HUG—!

    Garrett's Snuggle-Filled thoughts were interrupted as a set of large, blue eyes engulfed his vision. Before he could react, they almost instantly spoke. "HI!"

    Instinct kicked in instantly, and Garrett dashed away. Or, more so he tried. In normal circumstances, Garrett would be in the darkest corners of the library in about a second. But, including the fact he was paralyzed from the waist down, could not run at all, and sudden movements were impossible, he promptly fell on his face after his first attempted step off the couch.

"G-awgh~!" he yelped, putting a hand on the ringing on the back of his skull.

"Ohmygosh, did I scare you?! I'msosorry!" Garrett turned his head as the owner of the voice, a pink pony with a bubbly mane and tail, gripped him under his arms and sat him on his rump like a child. She started to speak at the speeds of a motorboat engine. "It's just that you're so new and I'm always the one to greet new ponies around here and I figured you could use some welcoming— but hey, you're not a pony! I should have mentioned that earlier; I'm so silly! But that's not the point, the point is that you're not a pony, you look more like some sort of skinny, clothed Diamond Dog with a reeeaaaaallyy cool suit! Hey, can I try that on sometime— oh wait, that won't fit me, because you're so tall! See, what'd I say? Silly! Hehe~!" Garrett blankly stared up at the incredibly cute (about time one of the grown ups got adorable), pink, bubbly pony of every little girl's dreams as she babbled on. Although, he wasn't looking at her face...

...I want to stroke your mane aggressively until there is nothing else to stroke.

    "Um... Pinkie Pie, I don't think he likes that," a tentative voice said from behind.

    "Oh!" 'Pinkie Pie,' said with realization. "So THAT explains the weird look he's giving me! Teehee, sorry, Mister!" She hopped off with a toothy grin to make way for Garrett's vision to fall across the owner of the voice.

    "Thank you," a yellow pegasus with a pink mane said with a smile. She flew over to Garrett, hovering over his spot. "Why hello, Little Guy..! Oh, but I don't think it's 'little' for you... Hello, 'Tall, and Handsome, and.. Misunderstood' creature.. It's okay, I won't hurt you. And I'm sure you don't want to hurt us. Because that's what all.. Tall, Handsome, Misunderstood Creatures do, right?— Oh—MMPH?!"

    The pony's words were interrupted as Garrett snapped up, wrapped his arms around her, and gave the most adorable pony of all time the hug of her life. Blood seeped through his stomach, but the pain was dull compared to the utter joy he was feeling. "WHERE WERE YOU ALL OF MY LIFE!" Garrett cried in her shoulder, squeezing tightly. "I love you! Iloveyou Iloveyou Iloveyou! You're so adorable! What's your name?! I demand to know the name of my Waifu!"

...Okay, let's be honest here. I would never had reacted like this, at all. Ever. To save mankind and all things holy I would never hug someone with others watching. I guess it's the poison... yeah, that'll be my excuse.

And the author being an asshole.

    The yellow pony's entire face was beet red as she stuttered uselessly with her words, hanging limply from the human's grip. "Wa— wait a-- WHAT? Wah?!?!"

    "You've got an admirer, Fluttershy~!" Pinkie Pie cheered, by the hugging duo's side in an instant. "Yay! GROUP HUG!" She then wrapped her arms around the love-struck human and excruciatingly blushing pony, lifting them a foot off the ground with incredible strength, giggling all the time.

Why are you acting like this, Garrett?! C'mon, snap out of it!

Okay... Since I am trying to maintain what little dignity I have left, I'm going to do all my fangirling in my mind. Absolutely *no** squealing in real life...*

    Meanwhile, back in the so-called real life, if Garrett smiled any wider, he would have squee'd. "I demand to brush your mane— is it soft?" he squealed. Without waiting for permission, Garrett raised his fingerless gloved hand and gave Fluttershy's mane a stroke. She squeaked and looked around rapidly, her face and ears burning.

DAMNIT MY REAL SELF!

    "Oui! Atrocement mignon!! Je vous aime!" the human yelled, before giving a sigh and falling unconscious in Pinkie's grasp. A smile was cemented under his face mask as he peacefully fainted.

    "Aww~! Isn't that cute?" Pinkie Pie chippered. "He fell asleep! —Oh, the Hay with it, I never got his name! We must wait for his awakening, right Fluttershy? ....Fluttershy?" The yellow pony in question was taking huge breaths, still sandwiched against two bodies. Her eyes were as wide as saucers, her wings twitching profusely. It seemed all the blood in her entire frame was right below the fur of her face.

    Pinkie Pie put the two individuals on the floor, Garrett slumping into a limp heap on the wood. Fluttershy remained as stiff as a tree, staring at nothing as she laid on the floor. "Fluttershy?" Pinkie Pie asked, poking her friend. The only response was an eye twitch. "Fluttershy! Snap outta it!" Pinkie pulled her friend to a sitting position before giving the pegasus a firm smack across the face.

    Fluttershy instantly shook her head vigorously, giving a quiet "Brbrbrbrh!" as she did. After her face wasn't a moving blur anymore, the pegasus' eyes instantly focused on Pinkie. "A stranger just physically assaulted me!" she panicked, her voice shrill.

    Pinkie Pie giggled. "No, he just wanted a hug!"

    "I don't even know him!" Fluttershy gasped.

    "Well, you didn't act like that when you talked to him! Gee, Flutters, I thought you were shy!"

    "I thought he was some sort of animal! I only talk to animals that... unshyly." Fluttershy shrieked, her voice's volume just above a whisper. "I didn't know he could talk like us— or think like us, or even hug like us!"

    Pinkie giggled. "Rarity said he talked in her story!"

    "BUT JUST LOOK AT HIM! HE LOOKS JUST LIKE A GORRILA/MONKEY MIX! BOTH ANIMALS! Oh my Celestia..." Fluttershy looked down at her stomach to find the human's blood plastered on it. "THAT IS BLOOD! THAT'SBLOOD! I think I'm hyperventilating...!" Fluttershy began to breath deeply and quickly, her eyes wide. "Iwasjusthuggedbyastranger!!!"

    Meanwhile, Scootaloo was finishing her story with Twilight. "...and that's when Applebloom and I brought him here!" Scootaloo finished her story with a grin. "But you have to heal him! And quickly! He was throwing up and couldn't walk here— he didn't even respond after I asked him if he was okay! You've got to help him!"

    Twilight Sparkle nodded. "Thank you for your information," she said with a smile. "I suppose your friend Garrett deserves to be healed. He must need some healing magic, though. We're lucky you brought him here instead of the hospital. He needs to be cured magically; there is no medicine for Timberwolf poison. It is highly toxic, and has many side effects." She levitated a book to her face, titled, "Healing Spells". "Alright..." Twilight mumbled as she turned to Garrett direction.

    ...only to see Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy around him, who was unconscious on the floor, fresh blood escaping his poisoned wound. Twilight gasped, assuming the worst. "Pinkie Pie! Fluttershy! What happened—!"

    "I WAS JUST ASSAULTED BY A STRANGER!" Fluttershy instantly yelled at Twilight, staring at her with huge eyes.

    "HE JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A HUG!" Pinkie Pie yelled, too. "There is nothing wrong with complete strangers giving you a free hug! I just did it the other day with some burly-looking stallion!"

    "You have BLOOD on you, Fluttershy!" Twilight was panicking now, looking at her friends with wide, questioning eyes. "Rainbow Dash! Applejack! Did you see what happened?!"

    Rainbow Dash looked up from giving Rarity's mane a new 'style.' "Huh?" she said lamely. Applejack looked up from helping Rainbow Dash, currently giving her friend a pineapple to help with the thickness.

    "Say what, now?" AJ asked.

    Twilight shifted her gaze between her friends, unbelieving at their state. She looked at Rainbow Dash, who was currently hiding the top of Rarity's head from Twilight's view with her body, grinning sheepishly. She stared at Applejack, who was doing the same as Rainbow. Twilight gawked at Pinkie Pie, who was currently holding a pair of sunglasses, saying: "Looks like that hug was a real..." She put the sunglasses on. "...Knock-out!"

    Twilight stared, flabbergasted at Fluttershy, who was currently in a ball, shaking profusely. She was muttering, "I was just hugged by a stranger... and his blood is on me... *His blood is on my body.*"

    Twilight had the sudden urge to staple her tongue to a ceiling fan with jumper cables. Something inside her snapped.

"AM I THE ONLY PONY HERE WHO IS TRYING TO HELP THIS POISONED INDIVIDUAL?!" Twilight screamed, her eye twitching.

    "Nope!"

    "Ah'm tryin' to help!"

"WHY IS EVERYPONY YELLING?!"

    The Princess gave a death glare to the three filles who answered her question. Before any mortal injuries could be made, however, she took a deep breath, reminding herself about the last time she basically went insane. She was a Princess now. She should act like one.

    Twilight quietly, and calmly, said, "Alright... I am going to look through this book and find how I can help him. Meanwhile, get him conscious for Celestia's sake! Same with Sleeping Marshmallow! And Fluttershy, please quit blubbering and wash the blood off already! You know where the shower is."

    Rainbow Dash and Applejack burst out laughing at Rarity's new nickname, which was certainly going to be used profusely in the future. Twilight can be a jerk when paranoid, but her name-calling was absolutely hilarious. Fluttershy nodded numbly at Twilight's command, staggering from her canon ball position. "Right... wash it off.." she whispered hauntingly as she slowly made her way up the stairs, to Twilight's shower. "It's just blood... from a stranger... who hugged me."

    Twilight gave herself a proud nod before searching the contents of the book in her magical hold. After about a minute or two of pacing back and forth, intently scanning the pages for something on "Timberwolves," she found what she was looking for. "Here it is!" she declared happily. The princess turned back to Garrett to see Pinkie Pie holding him up, shaking him profusely.

"WAKE UP!" she yelled at the unconscious human.

    "Pinkie!" Twilight yelled, anger once again resurfacing. "That is not how you wake somepony—"

    "OW!" Garrett suddenly yelled, his hand bolting for the back of his head. However, the sudden movement was rewarded with a temporarily limp arm. "Okay! Okay, I am awake! Stop shaking me!" Pinkie's shaking instantly ceased as the human's legs hung uselessly under him.

    "Oh! Okay, sorry! Teehee!" Pinkie Pie put Garrett on the floor, who promptly rubbed the back of his head slowly. "Twilight wanted me to wake you up, so I did! Only, after I tried banging on some drums as loudly as I could a couple times, and that didn't work, I resorted to shaking you! I figured it wouldn't hurt, because I do it to Gummy all the time!"

    Twilight blinked at her friend. "I didn't hear you use drums... you know what? Doesn't matter. I can only hope Rarity's awakening is more peaceful—"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!"

    Twilight whipped to face her white friend's direction to see Rainbow Dash and Applejack both bursting out laughing, to the expense of Rarity's freakishly tall, disheveled new mane. After recovering from her initial shock, she gave both of her friends a glare that could chew through metal. "YOU BEASTS!" Rarity yelled as if she witnessed a murder. "YOU DID THIS. I WILL STAPLE BOTH OF YOUR TONGUES TO A CEILING FAN WITH JUMPER CABLES!!" She glanced at Garrett. "...AND YOU!! YOU... VILE... THIEF!!" Rarity started to become wobbly, teetering on her hooves left and right. "That Thief..! My mane...! D-... BUH... Ughhhh..." Rarity slumped on the floor, once again unconscious.

    Twilight gave her two friends a glare. A hint of insanity was evident in her eyes. "Fix her mane. Right. Now." Applejack and Rainbow Dash, seeing the fury of a thousand dying souls in those violet irises, gulped and instantly set to work on Rarity's mane. "Good..." Twilight snarled. "We'll explain this to her the second time she wakes up."

    "The main anti-hero protagonist saving the Cutie Mark Crusaders and getting mortally injured, Rarity having a sissy fit, Fluttershy having a mental break down, Fourth Wall Breaking, and Twilight Sparkle almost going insane on her friends, all in the first five chapters?" Pinkie exclaimed with wide, wondrous eyes. "This fanfic is gonna be AWESOME!"

    "What..?!" The alicorn asked, bewildered, but chose to not pay that [true] comment any heed. "Uh... Nevermind. It doesn't matter. To think I'd get used to Pinkie Pie by now..." Twilight turned to Garrett. "Garrett, I need you to lie down, perfectly still."

    The human sighed before complying when a memory suddenly infected his mind. "Wait a minute... Where is my Love? I must see my Waifu!"

    Twilight's eye twitched. "Garrett, Fluttershy is upstairs taking a shower. Please stop interrupting before I destroy everything you love." Actually, that last part was not spoken verbally, more rather screaming itself in her head. "Listen, I know about Timberwolf Poison. It causes paralyzing, numbness to all senses, increased feeling, and, what I think may be the biggest factor in your case, extreme personality shifting. From what I've read, you probably would not have even thought of hugging Fluttershy in front of somepony, let alone doing it in front of all of us."

Listen to her, Garrett. You're being an idiot.

    "How could a man resist such pure... Beauty?" Garrett questioned, looking at the ceiling, unfocused.

Mercredi you're as dumb as a rock right now.

    Twilight Sparkle rolled her eyes, then looked down at the words in her book. "Just lie there and try not to move." Garrett blinked as Twilight's horn glowed a purple light, the four gashes on his stomach following suit. A feeling shot throughout his system like someone was tickling him; it felt like the branches of the sensation spawned from the wound and shot out everywhere into his body. Twilight closed her eyes in concentration, Scootaloo and Applebloom gazing at Garrett hopefully.

    A few sensation-filled seconds passed as the thief felt feeling return to his legs, followed by energy coursing throughout his system. Garrett's mind slowly regained itself, his thoughts becoming clear and sane once again.

Mind rebooting... Okay, better check myself.

Suit on? ...Check.

Bow and Arrows? ...Check.

Room full of technicolor talking ponies and ridiculously adorable horses numbers one, two, and the new recruit? ...Check.

Sarcastic attitude? ...Let me check.. Oh, yep. It's intact.

    Garrett sat up, cringing as pain once again hummed on the back of his skull.

    "Hey, uh, What'sYourFace. Purple," he remarked, rubbing the offending spot as his mask hid his pained expression. "Do you think your magic can heal cranial damage?" After no immediate answer was given, the human looked up to see the entire room, excluding Fluttershy (missing) and Rarity (unconscious), staring at him with mixed emotions of alarm. Even the bubbly Pinkie Pie was silent, although the fact her jaw was literally lying on the floor below made up for the lacking insanity.

    Confusion was replaced by realization. It was then he noticed the entire room looked a lot bluer than usual.

...Oh, p'tain. I forgot to turn Focus off after trying that first time...

    Garrett momentarily thought of deactivating his Focus, but that would only quicken the distrust with dishonesty.

...The poor girls are probably scared out of their mind. I use this thing to find what I want, see in the dark, quicken my reflexes, and scare the hell out of the toughest people. Not to look pretty. I hope the fact I saved Scootaloo and Applebloom helps them know I'm not a monster..

Damn it, Garret... you really screwed up this time.

    Pinkie Pie was the first to speak up. Unexpectedly, it was not in a terrified tone, but one of admiration. "OHMYGOSH OHMYGOSH OHMYGOSH!! WHAT IS THAT?! THAT IS JUST AWESOME! It looks like some kind of mystical glowing entity got put in your eye and now it's glowing!"

Wait a... That's the closest anyone's ever gotten to the truth, actually.

    As Pinkie started the engine, put it in full throttle, and drove an Indy 500 with her verbal speed racer of a voice, Twilight Sparkle was the next to react. Her flabbergasted expression transformed into the most half-childish, half-insane smile Garrett had ever seen. She quickly whipped out a notepad and levitated a pencil to it, inches from Garrett's face in an instant.

    "You must tell me the secrets of that glowing, beautiful piece of pure opportunity." Her wings were twitching slightly as she put the pencil on the notepad. A pair of nerdy glasses levitated over her eyes. "I must know. FOR SCIENCE!"

    "Okay, Purple," Garrett chuckled, a little uncomfortable. "I'll tell you about it later. I need to see everyone else's reaction, though! The Readers must not be disappointed."

    Twilight's smile turned into a confused, raised eyebrow, but she was instantly pushed aside by Pinkie. "You know about the Them, too?!" she questioned, shocked.

    "Who doesn't? They're right there, just behind the Fourth Wall." Garrett pushed Pinkie aside. "Now, move. They want to see the others' reactions."

    Rainbow Dash and Applejack took a little longer to recover from their stupors, but soon, they stopped staring. The cyan pegasus was the first to speak. "...Dude, How the Hay do you have two different colored eyes?! I want two different colored eyes! Were you born with them or something?!" Her mood shifted rather suddenly, however, and she hovered as she crossed her forearms over her chest. She smirked. "I mean, uh... Cyan, huh? Good choice."

    Applejack shook her head vigorously, as if it was a vision. After another look at the glowing eye, it was evident the illumination was true. "..How the— Who...? What?!" She blinked as another vain attempt to see through the non-existent mirage. "How! In the Hay! Are one of your eyes some glowin' sky-blue color?!"

    Rainbow Dash hovered upside down in front of her friend's face. "It's called, 'Cyan'." She repeated the word, this time slower as if speaking to a fourth grader learning Equestrian. "SSSIIIYYAAAANNNuh.~"

    Garrett shifted his eyes to the last of the bigger ponies in the room, who was... still unconscious.

    It was then he noticed Scootaloo, Applebloom, and That One Filly He Needed To Get The Name Of all staring at him, the last to finish escaping from their horrified stupor. He instantly felt his heart fill with the bitter feeling of guilt to see their horrified little faces—

    "THAT IS TOTALLY AWESOME!!" Scootaloo suddenly jumped up, her wings holding her in the air for a few seconds before dropping her back on the floor.

    "Ah've never seen anything like that...!" Applebloom rejoined, a huge smile intact. "Garrett, why didn't ya tell us you can do that?! That is just... beautiful! What do you think, Sweetie Belle?"

    'Sweetie Belle' also had a huge smile on her face. "Amazing!" she remarked.

    Garrett felt something warm in his chest as he examined the three fillies; the first kids who hadn't ran in fear after seeing him like this. He saw Pinkie Pie, Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack. All with smiles on their faces and wonder in their eyes.

Wow... this is the first time someone has ever not been horrified when they saw me with Focus. Honestly, though. They had every right to see me as some monster.

I think I may have found something everyone else had but I never did. I... think we're friends.

...I wonder if they think the same for me, though?

    He looked at Scootaloo and Applebloom.

Yep, definitely. No doubt about it.

    He looked at Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rarity, Sweetie Belle, and Rainbow Dash.

Could use some work... especially Sleeping Marshmallow over there. But I think we'll get there.

    He looked at Pinkie and thought of Fluttershy—

Abso-freakin'-lutely. Pinks and I'll go on many adventures, no doubt about it. We'll even pull pranks and have a dramatic scene and— ...Oh! Sorry, we're not that far in the story, yet.

As for Fluttershy? ...If she'll forgive me for being one of the most cuteness-adoring, pony-loving idiots out there. In fact, I think those guys have a name...

...What would a man who loves ponies name himself? Boyny? Pony-man?

...Bro-Pony?

I dunno. Definitely not "Brony," though. That's just sounds dumb.

...Hey, Author, this joke has dragged on long enough; wanna end the chapter, already?

6. Woman in the Mist

"Twilight?"

    Twilight Sparkle's sleep was interrupted by the young, familiar voice of a filly. She blinked a few times, rubbing the sleep from her eyes while her blurry vision returned to normal. Still extremely tired, the Princess' violet irises lazily focused on Scootaloo, who was sitting by her bedside.

    Twilight yawned before replying, "What is it, Scootaloo?" The alicorn noticed that the young filly looked slightly scared, evident by her fidgeting and wide eyes.

    "It's Garrett," Scootaloo whispered. "He's not here!"

    Twilight yawned again, this time wider. "AAAAaaahhhh~... Check in the corners or something. He's good at hiding."

    "That's the thing," Scootaloo panicked quietly. Twilight could see tears in her eyes. "I checked the entire house! He's not here!"

    The alicorn's attention sharpened at the sight of Scootaloo's strong emotion. Twilight levitated the covers off of her, and stepped out of the bed. "I'll go look for him." Twilight started to trot down the stairs of her library when Scootaloo grabbed her hind leg.

    "I'm coming, too!" Scootaloo insisted, holding fast.

    Twilight smiled down at the filly. "Scootaloo, it's not a big deal." She gently pulled the pony from her leg using her magic, putting her on the floor behind.

    "What if he's in danger?!" Scootaloo cried, flapping her wings furiously as she dashed in front of Twilight. "He saved my life and I am not going to let anything happen to him!"

    "For somepony who just met Garrett earlier today, you sure are attached to him..." Twilight sighed, looking down at the orange pegasus. Scootaloo gave her the Puppy Eyes look, scooting closer to the princess while whimpering. "Huhhh... Alright, you can come."

    "Yay--!" Scootaloo started to cheer, but was quickly shushed by Twilight's hoof.

    "Let's not wake everypony up," Twilight suggested, keeping her voice quiet as she inspected the room, sleeping ponies on the floor and furniture. "I'd like to do this quiet— Why is there an arrow in the wall?!" Twilight's horn glowed, and a steel arrow was pulled from her library wall to her face.

    "Scootaloo, why aren't ya asleep?" came the irritated voice of Applebloom, now rubbing her eyes awake. She looked up with her brilliant gamboge eyes, now narrowed.

    "We're goin' to find Garrett!" Scootaloo chippered back, a smile on her face. "Twilight's gonna help me!"

    Said alicorn gave a confused "Huh?"

    Applebloom's sleep-deprived eyes were wide in an instant, a smile cemented on her face. "Ooh! Ooh! Can Ah' come? Ah' wanna see Garrett again! Ah' wonder how much he's changed?"

    "You just saw him earlier today..." Twilight started, but soon trailed off as she looked at the Sawtooth Arrow. "...Well, I'll need two helpers to hold me back from killing him for shooting an arrow at my wall. Honestly, what was he trying to do? Alright... I guess two ponies won't be that bad—"

    "Can I come, too?"

    Twilight rolled her eyes and turned to see Sweetie Belle yawning and trotting over to them.

    "Ugh... Okay, but you are the last one comin—"

    "Ooh! Ooh! Is Garrett missing?! I can help! Him and I have a super secret connection; I can always tell where he is! All I have to do is scan ahead on the chapters, and the author will tell me where he is!" Twilight's eye twitched as she turned, seeing Pinkie Pie inches from her face with a (literal) ear-to-ear grin.

    "...Fine, but only because you two— wait, author of what? Okay, I swear, I am going to yell at the next pony who wants to come."

    "Are you going to find Garrett?" came the tentative voice of Fluttershy, now hovering near Pinkie Pie. "Because I think I can help..!"

    Before Twilight could respond, Pinkie was to the side of her. "Don't yell at Fluttershy!" she whispered shrilly in her ear. "You'll instantly become the Reader's least favorite character! Remember what happened to Gilda? She's out of the series now!"

"What are you talking about?!" Twilight yelled, before covering her mouth with a frantic expression.

    "Oh my, did that poor bafoon get lost? I suppose I'd better come, too."

    Twilight turned to her unicorn friend. "Rarity! You can't—"

    "Did that idiot really get himself lost? I guess I'd better come with."

    "WHAT?! No, Rainbow Dash—" Twilight started, but never finished.

    "Ah' think Ah'll need t' come too if my sis' is goin'."

"FINE! LET'S JUST ALL GO, AT THE SAME TIME, AND WASTE OUR TIME WHEN WE FIGURE OUT IT WAS NEVER A BIG DEAL, GARRETT WAS FINE, TWILIGHT WAS RIGHT, AND WE CAN ALL GO TO SLEEP, HOPEFULLY FORGETTING THIS INCREDIBLY USELESS EVENT!" Twilight yelled, a crazed look on her face. The rest of the Mane Six all looked at the Princess, shocked at the sudden outburst. The alicorn glared at each one of them in turn. Applejack was the one who approached the alicorn, putting a hoof on her shoulder.

    "Twilight, you've been tirelessly studying an' observing Garrett all day. Get some rest. We'll find him." The farm pony patted her friend on the back.

    Twilight sighed. "...I suppose you're right." She looked up at her friends. "I'm sorry for yelling at you."

    "Hey! At least it wasn't just at Fluttershy!" Pinkie cheered, raising said pegasus in the air. The latter looked around, confused as the room erupted in giggles and laughter, although completely at loss of Pinkie's joke.

    "I'll get some rest," Twilight reassured with a small smile. "Please bring Garrett back... I need him. For Science."

    The rest of the room reassured her before opening the door, exiting into the starry night. The Princess sighed, slowly trotting up the stairs and into her bed. Before she could fall asleep, however, the sound of boyish giggling brought her out of her slumber.

    "What is it, Spike?" Twilight asked, rather irritated.

    Her assistant chuckled before saying, "I just think it's funny that the original plan was for just you to go, and it turned out everypony but you went!" He snickered.

    Twilight groaned, putting a pillow over her head. That was when a sudden surge of anger passed over her, and the pillow was thrown across the room. "Who's idea was it for all of us to sleep in the Library?!" she said angrily.

    "Yours? You suggested that because you thought Garrett would need extra supervision?"

    "Go to sleep, Spike."

——————————

    Outside the library, Rarity trotted along with the rest of her friends. They stopped their walking about a couple yards from the house, examining their surroundings. They were, in fact, in the middle of Ponyville, so having a plan would be logical.

    "Well, I think we should split up," Rainbow Dash suggested, hovering above the group. "I call overhead!"

    "I think that's a good idea," Rarity replied, thinking it over. "Garrett can blend into the shadows better than anypony I know, trust me I've seen it, but he's a lot more clumsy than you'd guess. Most likely because everything is so small compared to him."

    "So, we should split up and basically listen for any crashes?" Dash pointed out lamely, itching to fly up into the night sky. "...Well, where do we start?"

    "We should all go down to our places and work our way out from there," Fluttershy suggested. "Poor thing doesn't know where anything is. We should start where we know best."

    "That makes sense," Rarity worked out. "The Boutique was the first place Garrett has been to. I'll check there."

    "I agree!" Pinkie chippered. "Garrett and I have a special connection! After we hugged super hard earlier today, his blood and mine are mixed." She rubbed her hooves together with an evil grin. Fluttershy choked back a gag at the memory.

    "Alright, Ponies, we have a plan! We meet back here in twenty minutes!" Rainbow Dash declared. "Let's move out!"

    Rarity nodded and started trotting to her Boutique, Sweetie Belle in tow, as the rest of the gang went in different directions. She saw Rainbow Dash fly into the sky, patrolling below as Fluttershy glided to her cavern. Pinkie Pie bounded toward her shop while Applejack ran to her farm. Applebloom followed her big sister whereas Scootaloo ran in a separate direction. Rarity was about to call out to the orange filly, but Sweetie Belle bounded in place. "Let's hurry! Ponyville's a lot spookier at night," she whispered.

    The bigger sister only sighed and smiled, her intentions concerning Scootaloo forgotten. Rarity continued to trot to the Boutique as she spoke. "It's not as 'evil' as you'd think, Sweetie Belle."

    However, try as she might, Rarity could not hide the creeping feeling of vulnerability as she made her way to her house. Whereas in the day it would be colorful and gorgeous, now Ponyville was not to be. The streets and houses she trotted by echoed her hoof steps. In fact, this night was a lot... darker than usual. The black clouds above blocked all hope of Luna's moonlight touching Rarity's fur, and she itched with uneasiness as she silently begged for it. A light breeze was evident as Rarity neared her destination. It blew across her mane and tail lightly, dragging them with its currents. The unicorn opened the door to the Boutique and let Sweetie Belle in, all the while wondering who was in charge of the moving air.

    After Sweetie Belle was safely inside, Rarity also entered. "Okay, Sweetie, let us waist no time!" she started, already scanning the house's interior with her eyes. "You check the upstairs, and I will check the downstairs. Yell if you find Garrett."

    Sweetie Belle obeyed her sister as the latter inspected the main floor. They searched the darkest corners, under all the furniture, and even on the rafters above. After no avail was present, the duo met back to the entrance. "I guess he's not in here," Rarity concluded, pulling the door open. "We should search in a circular fashion, traveling outward until we meet up with the others."

    Sweetie Belle trotted out of the house, talking over her shoulder. "Right! You'll go left, and I'll go right!"

    "What? No, no no no, no," Rarity countered, following her sister closely. "We are staying together."

    "Who says?" Sweetie Belle retorted, already starting her way in the desired direction. "It'll be quicker. Not only that, but I think I've proven myself worthy of looking out for myself! Plus, Garrett's harmless. If anything, he'll show up at the latest possible second to save me from impending death."

    "Duh...! Buh!" Rarity made out, putting a hoof on her forehead to steady herself. "Garrett is not harmless! Remember our first encounter? He terrorized us, vandalizing our property, too!"

    "Remember the Cutie Mark Crusader's first encounter?" her sister sang, trotting away. "Don't worry! I'll be okay!"

"Grrr..." Rarity grinded her teeth. "Garrett is not harmless." She sighed, starting to trot the other direction from her sister. Rarity knew, however, that her sister would be fine, as she has proved it a number of times with her adventures concerning the Cutie Mark Crusaders. The unicorn figured it was the fact she said Garrett was harmless that angered her. Rarity looked up at the unusually dark night sky, briefly wandering how it could be so black as she trotted away.

"Honestly, Luna's night is usually so beautiful!" she thought. "I wonder what happened... Hopefully nothing too tragic.

    It was at that time Rarity saw the shape of a bipedal, directly in front of her. He was turned around, his head lowered. At first she started, but realization took over quickly. The unicorn groaned. "Garrett, we've been looking for you!" Rarity chided, walking up to the tall bipedal. "Why did you come out here?! Oh, what have you gotten yourself into? And why are you—"

    Rarity's words were cut off as Garrett turned towards her. Her eyes widened as she realized that not only was his face mask down, his hood was also removed, giving away to medium-length jet black hair that was now slicked back. But what surprised her most was not the full reveal of his face. It was his right eye. It burned with a bright light, brighter than usual. Whereas his Focused version shown with a cyan glow that gently illuminated his features, this one worked as a flashlight. A white, flaming flashlight that was completely focused on her.

    Rarity's examining was cut short as Garrett fell to his knees in front of Rarity, a genuine smile on his face. The unicorn looked around, unsure of what to expect.

    He scooted a little closer. She took a step back, now creeped out.

"Erin..." Garrett cooed, tears now visible on his cheeks. "Please... don't leave me again."

    Rarity blinked, utterly confused. "...Garrett, are you crying?"

"What's gotten into him?" she thought, concerned for the human's well being.

    As a response, the human swooped forward and hugged her fiercely. Rarity let out a surprised "Oof!" as he embraced her.

    "I've been crying for eleven months," Garrett shakily informed, a grin on his face that no Birthday Child could outmatch. "Every. Damn. *Night.***"

    "Garrett I have no idea what your talking about!" Rarity exclaimed. "Please, will you let me go?"

    "I will never let you go again," he grinned, Rarity's coat stained with tears. "Every night since your departure... I have dreaded ever letting you go again." He sniffed. "The last time I did... it cost you your life."

    Rarity tried to pull away, deeply confused and sympathetic with the deranged human. It was obvious there was something deeply wrong with his perception. Garrett only pulled away just enough for their faces to be inches apart from each other. Rarity stared at the magnificent fire of an eye Garrett possessed.

    Suddenly, her mood shifted from confused to aroused as the temperatureless flames of his eye licked her face. It felt as if Rarity's mind was being replaced by someone else's; someone who was very attracted to Garrett. Rarity gawked at the way his one cyan eye burned with a passion. The meaning of uniqueness itself. Rarity shivered involuntarily at the sight of his hair, falling over his eyes and face so perfectly while not under the hood he always wore. That hood. The way he covered himself so much, the way he was so misunderstood. And so deserving of a way out of the pain. His face, so handsome it was, her legs almost buckled from underneath.

    "Never again… I will never lose you again." Garrett smiled that smile that could kill every girl in a mile radius. His shining white teeth was bare. His sexy stubble was parted. The voice of a misunderstood man who lost everything, but yet found a way to be amazing. She loved him fiercely, and she was not embarrassed to say so. "I love you, Erin," Garrett whispered.

    Then, the Master Thief leaned forward and pressed his lips against Rarity's. They stayed like that for a moment, enjoying their kiss. The kiss that had to wait for so long to happen. The kiss between the man who just wanted it all to end, and the woman who wanted him to stay.

    ...and the woman...

    ...the woman...

    ...woman.

...Woman?

    Garrett and Rarity's eyes shot open. The former's eye was instantly back to its small glow. The latter's attitude banished all arousal. For a second, they both stayed like that, lips locked, expressions one of horror.

    Then, Rarity slapped the human with a forehoof, thrusting Garrett's head to the side.

"Pluckh! EGHK! GARRETT!" Rarity screeched, glaring at him with furious eyes. "You BEAST! HOW COULD YOU? Why would you just do that?!"

    Garrett cringed from the newly opened cut on his cheek, holding it as he looked around frantically. "I was... I should have... Wait, where am I?!" He looked around when his gaze landed on Rarity. His gaze narrowed. "AND WHY THE HELL WERE YOU KISSING ME?!"

    "WHAT?!" Rarity screamed, her eyes wide with shock. "YOU kissed ME, you blubbering OAF!"

    "Why would I kiss some Marshmallow-Unicorn Pony?!" He said, spitting on the ground. "EUGH! I got fur in my mouth! Way to go."

    "ARE YOU BUCKING SERIOUS?!" Rarity full-out screamed, advancing towards the human. "Do you even REMEMBER what happened a minute ago?! Do these words ring a bell?" Rarity glared hard at the unhooded Garrett. "'I'll never let you go again!' 'I love you!' 'I've been crying every night since your departure, Erin!'"

    Rarity's eyes widened as, suddenly, Garrett put a hand on his head and yelled out in pain. She hesitated for a few seconds, wondering if she should help the deranged human. He drew shaky breaths, eyes focusing on anything but her.

    "...Um, Garrett, I—" Rarity started.

    "...Erin..." Garrett repeated, cringing at an unknown pain.

Five minutes earlier, back at Twilight's Library

    Garrett paced back and forth in the library, carefully avoiding the sleeping mares around him. A frown was placed on his half-covered face, the look of boredom on his features. He let out a grunt. "Stupid Primal..." he muttered. "Taking away the need to sleep, eat, or even go to the bathroom. Not even allowed to grow any more hair anywhere... Making my life boring on the normal days." Garrett sighed, crossing his arms across his chest. "I guess I have to thank it for Focus, though... and basically everything else."

But you also have it to blame for my death.

    Garrett was instantly in the darkest corners of the treehouse, bow strung and ready with a Sawtooth Arrow in the matter of two seconds. He aimed at anything that moved, ready to defend himself from the feminine voice. He heard a chuckle from his intruder as her voice bounced off the walls.

You always were one for the shadows, Garrett. Even before you became the infamous "Master Thief."

    Garrett shifted his position, swooping ten feet towards the door. He wasn't much for talking with the enemy. He only liked to find them unaware and bash their head in.

...You're still just as handsome as before.

Okay, I did *not** expect her to say that...*

How long has it been? Eleven months?

    Garrett's blood ran cold at that statement. He dropped his bow, the released tension causing the Sawtooth to fly across the room, pinning itself to the wall with a 'Thwonk!'

    Garrett knew who it was.

"...Erin," the man whispered, eyes wide.

Yes, Garrett... It's me. Come and find me. I'm somewhere in Ponyville.

    "Wait-- Erin!" Garrett started, but never finished as he saw a white apparition leave the library. Without thinking twice, the Master Thief bolted out the door.

Come find me, Garrett~! My handsome mentor!

    "Please..!" Garrett whimpered. "Just stay... I don't want to wait to see you again!" But knowing his request was without avail, he thought hard of Erin and activated Focus, knowing a trail was soon to follow. Although, the moment he activated his power, the world did not show up in a bright blue haze. This time, it showed up as white and gray. That was the least of his concerns, however. Garrett ran as fast as he could down the glowing path he knew would take him to Erin.

    The human didn't know how long he ran. He just did. He ran around corners, houses, parks, everything that merged with the path he so desperately wanted to see the end of. He knew one thing as he sprinted blindly through the dark town of Ponyville, and that was Erin was at the end of this line.

    And that was more than enough of a reason to keep sprinting his hardest.

    Garrett leaped over obstacles, bounded through unmanned carts, and swooped into cover when the mere sight of another pony entered his peripheral vision. He recognized the ponies he saw as Fluttershy, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie. Rainbow Dash was flying above, and the human swooped into cover whenever he spotted her overhead. But even then, Garrett crawled his fastest. The further he went, the whiter his environment got. His surroundings became hazier and hazier as he went through his vision.

    Nothing was going to stop him from reaching his apprentice. The girl he spent so long teaching, and so long growing closer to. The thief he loved.

    After a few minutes of tirelessly running, Garrett came to the end of the glowing white trail. His legs almost buckled from underneath him as he stared at the white, glowing apparition of Erin. Now, his location was completely unknown. The setting was pure whiteness.

I want to see your face, Garrett. Let me see you for who are you... Not the Master Thief. Just Garrett.

    Garrett obeyed, nearly ripping his hood and face mask off as he pulled them back quickly. Erin was just a few feet away, now. So close, but that distance was in desperate need of shrinking. Her back was turned, but the sound of Garrett's footsteps toward her was enough for the woman to turn around. The man fell to his knees as his eyes fell across Erin's face.

It's been so long since I last saw that face...

    Garrett grinned wholeheartedly, scooting a little closer to his long lost companion. To his horror, she scooted back. "Erin..." he cooed, feeling tears in his eyes. "Please don't leave me again."

    Erin blinked, as if she was utterly confused. "Garrett, are you crying?" she asked. Her voice sounded strangely realistic, no longer an apparitional one in his head.

What is she saying? She was just talking to me...

...Whatever. It doesn't matter. I can't take it anymore...

    Garrett swooped forward and wrapped Erin's slender figure in his arms. She let out an "Oof!" as he did, although that only encouraged him to continue. She always did like it rough.

Yes, I was crying...

    "I've been crying for eleven months," Garrett said, a huge smile on his face. He was never letting her go again. "Every. Damn. *Night.***"

    "Garrett, I have no idea what you're talking about!" Erin cried, trying to pull free. "Can you please let me go?"

    "I will never let you go again" Garrett let the tears, building up for what seemed like an eternity, fall on Erin's shoulder. "Every night since your departure... I have dreaded ever letting you go again." He smiled and sniffed. "The last time I did... it cost you your life." The image of his long-lost love falling to her death entered his mind, although it was shoved out almost immediately.

    Garrett leaned back just enough so their faces were inches apart. It's been so long since he was this close to her.

    "Never again... I will never lose you again." Garrett smiled again, showing teeth. This was the woman who saw him as more than just a Thief; more than just a Teacher. She was definitely the only human being alive that thought of him in a positive light; ever since that very first training day. He loved her fiercely, and was not embarrassed to say so. "I love you, Erin."

    Then, he did something he thought could only be done in his dreams: he kissed Erin.

    ...only to have a mouthful of fur on his lips.

——————————

    "...Erin..." Garrett repeated, cringing at the thought of both her and the fiery feeling on the back of his skull. The new cut on his cheek wasn't helping to dull pain.

Wait... what just happened?

I used to have these visions before, but never after Erin died...

...It felt so real. Is this real life? Or is it just fantasy?

    "Garrett, I think you'll have to be straight with me," Rarity growled, her horn glowing. "We were all scared because we couldn't find you, and when I do your eye is glowing brighter than a flashlight, which basically hypnotized me by the way, you called me 'Erin,', while crying, and you flat out KISSED me! Don't take this the wrong way, but I think of you as a friend."

    "Well don't take this the wrong way, but I think of you as a marshmallow, and that's less than a friend," Garrett remarked. "I think we're both agreeing on the no-Romance thing."

    Rarity gave an offended 'GHUH!' before her face turned beat red, fuming. "Well, I would never date somepony with such... dirty fingers!"

    Garrett lifted the offending appendages, wiggling them simultaneously. "Jealous because I don't have to break the laws of physics to grab things?"

    "No!" Rarity shot back.

    "Now that I think of it, you Ponies break the laws of physics way too much."

    "And I suppose you don't?" Rarity subjected with narrowed eyes.

    "PPFT. I respect the great laws of physics which made me the man I am today. The Readers would agree with that."

    Rarity put her hooves on her forehead, rubbing her temples. "You are excruciating to deal with."

    "I've been called that before."

    Rarity and Garrett both stood in silence for a while, a stubborn look planted on the mare's face while a content one accompanied the human's. They both knew they should apologize for the words spoken, although nothing was said concerning their hostility toward each other. Instead, they reverted to small compliments.

    "...You're not a horribly bad kisser," Rarity said stoical.

    Garrett put his hood back up. "Thanks." He looked away. "Your horse face isn't as disgusting as it seemed."

    "You're an idiot."

    Another awkward silence made itself known, although this one was not to end with insults. It ended with a filly's scream in the distance. Rarity quickly recognized that the voice belonged to Sweetie Belle, and it was one hundred percent genuine.

    She barely had time to react as Garrett rushed past her, face mask now up and bow drawn.

"When he gets back, we're going to have a long talk."

8. Equines' Bodyguard

    "Now, before we start, I would just like to say: if you do not keep the Peace, you will be punished. Understand?"

    Piña Colada growled, nodding slowly as she glared at Garrett. Colgate mirrored Piña's action, only this time with a hoof holding an ice bag on her head. She muttered a "Yes, Princess." Berry Punch nodded, rubbing her cranium as her hangover stayed.

    "Good," Princess Celestia said with a smile, turning to the trio of mares. "Now, I suppose I owe you all..." She turned to each of the Elements of Harmony, Garrett included. "...an apology. I have been keeping secrets from you." The ponies in the room all gasped at the admittance, staring at the princess in shock.

    "...Princess Celestia..." Twilight began, but soon failed to continue her sentence.

    "Please, accept my apology," the white alicorn pleaded, looking down shamefully. "...But I believe if you know the truth, you will understand.

    "Twilight Sparkle. After you became a Princess, your transformation sent energy waves and magic spiraling out in all directions, at massively high speeds. After inspection, it showed that it was actually a Super Sonic Teleprithian Spell. What that means is that the raw magic which resulted from your transformation will span out of this universe, traveling light years away. It will then teleport the nearest organism with high intelligence to our world."

    Garrett leaned forward. "Uh, not to be a thief to your atmospheric story-telling, but how does that even work?"

    "I have a theory," Twilight said rather suddenly, looking at the human. "Somepony's transformation into another species causes a dramatic rising in the animal population around that location. The Princesses are the only ones who can transform a pony, but it uses so much magical energy they have to spend almost all of theirs. When that much magic is released in one spot, it causes a Teleprithian Spell. That causes the animal population rising because it's actually teleporting animals all around the world to the spot it commenced at. Not much is known about Teleprithian Spells, but they can only happen when the Princesses use tremendous amounts of magic.

    "I've heard theories about a Super Sonic Teleprithian Spell, which matches her description perfectly. When even more energy than a transformation spell is emitted, namely a Princess being created, it will extend to other worlds to collect more advanced creatures."

"En Anglais, Génie," Garrett muttered quietly, tapping his head.

    Princess Celestia, ignoring the Master Thief's comment, instead smiled at her former apprentice. "Very impressive, Twilight Sparkle. Now, as I was saying, a Super Sonic Teleprithian Spell emitted from your transformation into a Princess. Princess Luna and I were both worried that the spell would bring a dangerous creature to Equestria. Or worse, a harmless one in a dangerous place. For weeks, Luna and I checked for any signs of an energy disturbance in the atmosphere. After none were found each time, we presumed the best: a Super Sonic Teleprithian Spell didn't exist.

    "However, our assumptions were proved wrong as, one day, a human appeared in the Galloping Gorge; miles from Canterlot. We sensed the disturbance and quickly went to him... you should have seen the look on his face." Celestia chuckled quietly, memories flooding her mind. "We took him under our wings until we could find a way for him to return home. He later told us his name was Vandal. After the initial mental breakdown of being in a different world, of course.

    "But soon, Vandal warmed up to us. We became friends, even giving him a room in the castle. But we had to keep him a secret. We did not know how our ponies would react to a creature like him. Not only that, but we feared he would become attached to Equestria and want to stay. The reason we let ourselves become attached to him is because of Luna's power over dreams; where we could visit him even after he was back home. But we did not want Vandal to stay. A life of secrecy is a hard one."

    Garrett gave a small, discreet smile.

Having a life of secrecy can be a Bugger at times.

    Princess Celestia continued. "We had plans for Vandal. Our friendship was strong, but our duties took priority overall. We were to teleport him back to his world once Luna located where he was taken from. Then, we would continue to see him through dreams. Maybe even bring him back for a little while now and then.

    "We told Vandal our plan. He..." Princess Celestia trailed off, pulling a regretful face. "...he didn't take it very well. He said nothing else was waiting for him on his world." Garrett sighed quietly at that.

I wonder who in this room could possibly relate...

    The white alicorn looked at each of the room's inhabitants in the eye. "When we insisted, Vandal stormed out of the room. We figured he needed time, so we let him go. It wasn't until the next day we discovered he left the castle.

    "We were both terrified at the thought that he would have been spotted. Without the choice of having our guards look for him, we set out by ourselves."

    Princess Celestia glanced at Colgate, still holding an ice bag to her head. "...We found Vandal down in the Castle Gardens. He was sitting at the edge of the lake. Colgate was by his side, speaking to him."

    The room's occupants all stared at the blue unicorn, Piña Colada and Berry Punch especially.

    "...You never told us?" Piña asked, somewhat betrayed aquamarine eyes looking up at Colgate. Berry Punch was also peering at her childhood friend, her eyes mirroring Piña's. Colgate looked down guiltily.

    "Do not be too quick to judge," Princess Celestia inserted, hushing the two with a look of authority. "Luna and I rushed to Vandal, pleading Colgate to not tell anypony of her discovery. She reluctantly agreed.

    "We got Vandal back to the castle afterwards, but not before asking Colgate what they were conversing about. Turns out the two were having a little... heart-to-heart."

    Colgate's cheeks reddened at that as. Suddenly, her hooves became the most interesting thing in the world. Perfect for staring at intently. "We both knew how it felt like to be thrust into unfamiliar land."

    Berry Punch leaned over to her friend, patting her back sympathetically. The blue unicorn smiled her thanks, before turning her attention back to the princess.

    "We put trust in Colgate to not tell anypony. But we could both see she had a dear friend she wanted to talk to." Princess Celestia winked at Colgate, knowing she had just saved her from friendship problems. "...Anyways, we took Vandal back to the castle. He was angry at us for the rest of the day, going back in his room for privacy.

    "Luna and I spoke to each other overnight. We both knew Vandal was not happy back on his world, but we did not want to keep him a secret. Although, the cons of teleporting him back outweighed the pros. We made our decision to let him stay, slowly and steadily introducing Equestria to him.

    "We were about to have a talk with him that night, explaining our plans." Princess Celestia closed her eyes for a moment, as if to hold back emotion. "...He was not there. We thought he had ran away again, but after a brief scan of the castle, we were proven wrong.

    "Luna attempted to speak with Vandal through his dreams, as it was late at night and he was most surely asleep. When Luna returned from subconsciousness, she informed me Vandal was somehow teleported back to Earth. He suspected it was us who had done it, and some... very colorful statements were used.

    "But Luna explained to him we had not done it. She then told him our plan for him to stay in Equestria, gradually showing him to the world. Vandal was given a place and a time for us to meet on his world, so we could bring him back.

    "Although we were worried that, even if we would be gone for a few minutes, the guards would notice we would be missing. After we come back with an unknown being, one thing would lead to another. We knew we could not send ourselves, although we could send an object that could bring him to us..."

    Princess Celestia's horn glowed, and a glowing sphere was levitated in the room. Garrett recognized it as the same one which he had earlier, its shining brilliance still just as smooth as before.

    "This is an ancient relic called the 'Dream Rider.' It has the ability to travel across universes in the subconscious realm, returning to its owner in the conscious one afterwards. How it works is that whoever and whatever is in contact with the Dream Rider, when given to somepony in a dream, will wake up with it in their world. The exact location can be debated by whoever lends it, although it cannot be within a mile of the receiver. It will then teleport back to its original world after a pony from there touches it."

    "Wait," Garrett interrupted, leaning forward. Piña Colada glared at the human. "You just said the Dream Rider will teleport back to its original world when someone from there makes contact with it. It teleported after I touched it, and I've never been here before."

    Princess Celestia's attention shifted to Garrett. An eyebrow was raised. "You surely must've mistaken. That's impossible."

    The Master Thief crossed his arms, looking at the ground. "Huh... I'm pretty sure I know what happened."

    Princess Celestia looked at the two mares and one filly by her side. "Did you touch the Dream Rider?" When all shook their head no, the princess rubbed her chin. "This is... unheard of... No. I'm sure there was something you all missed. Do not pay this matter any heed; I know it was, somehow, working correctly." She held up her hoof as the four individuals attempted to reason. "Not another word concerning this matter. There is simply no way Garrett could have done it alone. The Dream Rider must have messed with your memories upon teleporting..."

    "I think I know what universe I come from," Garrett muttered quietly.

    Princess Twilight Sparkle spoke up from her seat. "No disrespect intended Princess Celestia, but what does all of this have to do with us having to be here?"

    Celestia nodded. "I am getting to that. I need to be completely honest with you all first, though." She cleared her throat. "As I was saying, Princess Luna and I intended on bringing Vandal back to Equestria using the Dream Rider, but since Vandal was not born in this world, he couldn't use it himself. We needed somepony else to aid us, but we also wanted to keep knowledge of Vandal to a minimal." She turned to Colgate. "That is why we wanted you to go to Earth, meet up with Vandal in that cabin, and come back. You were the only other one to know about him."

    Colgate nodded slowly, staring at the floor in understanding. "...and why did I get to bring a friend or two with me?"

    "Earth is a dangerous, dark, and bleak place. Ponies should need others' help in order to make it."

    The Mane Six all glanced at Garrett sympathetically, wondering how it felt like to live in such a world. Pinkie Pie discreetly scooted a little closer to the human, leaning on his shoulder.

    Rarity suddenly found her cheeks burning with jealousy, and quickly washed the feeling out.

    "...But there's one thing I don't get," Piña Colada inserted. "You said that cabin was enchanted. Only us and Vandal could enter it."

    Princess Celestia sighed. "I overestimated Luna and I's power. I thought we could use magic across worlds... If we had succeeded, Vandal would already be with us. We had to teleport the Dream Rider back to us and use it again to get you back here."

    Twilight Sparkle leaned forward. "Please don't take this offensively, but you still haven't explained why you gathered us all here."

    "Ah," Celestia nodded gratefully. "Thank you for reminding me. When Garrett was brought here by the Dream Rider, evil beings followed him. They are pitch black in color, and have glowing purple eyes that cease all magic of an exotic stature when stared at.--"

That explains my Focus disappearing earlier...

    "--They are humanoid, skinny, and extremely aggressive. I understand, from what Sweetie Belle has told me, it called itself a 'Vandalite' when it was communing with Garrett."

    Fluttershy was hiding under her mane at the description of a Vandalite, shivering at its image.

    "We have encountered one at the castle... it..." Princess Celestia held her hoof to her chest, holding back emotions. It took a while, but her feelings remained in check. Still, her voice cracked a tiny bit. "...attacked our guards. It killed one of us."

    The entire room, excluding Garrett, went dead silent at that statement. All eyes, again excluding Garrett, were on Princess Celestia as she closed her own, thinking of the horrific memories of the attack. Everyone's eyes, you guess it: excluding Garrett's, turned to the floor as a moment of silence was given.

Imagine if I gave a moment of silence to every dead guy I don't even know. I might as well cut my tongue off to keep from talking my entire life.

    Princess Celestia closed her eyes mournfully before continuing. "We tried to use peace to calm it down, but it was in a lust for blood. We had to use both of our magic to just keep the Vandalite still. Before we had to put it down, it said to us: 'Our intentions are just. His cause is just.' I believe it was being commanded by somepony. Worst case scenario, somepony who has a plan. Surely, no good can come of this." Princess Celestia gazed at each of the Elements of Harmony in turn. "This is where you come in. I would like you, the Elements of Harmony, to investigate each Vandalite sighting until you find it, then question it for more clues on who is in charge of them. With each of these clues, we will work our way closer to him until we can stop him. I know it is a lot to ask for, and it is completely your choice."

    Twilight Sparkle puffed out her chest, giving a determined smile. The rest of the Elements of Harmony followed suit. "Princess Celestia, we would be honored to help. Just give us a location, and we'll get you your villain."

    Princess Celestia closed her eyes, smiling. "I knew I could count on you," she said. "Thank you so much for your loyalty to Equestria. Now, as for you, Garrett..."

    Celestia stood up, towering over the sitting human. She looked as if she was trying to intimidate him. This would not be a question if he wanted to do something. Garrett, not one for giving in to authority, only steadily gazed back.

    "It took both of the Princesses of Equestrias' magic to defeat a Vandalite. You've dealt with one without any magic whatsoever. You've already proven yourself worthy to defeat them. I want you to go with the Elements of Harmony, acting as a bodyguard. You will protect them in any means necessary, even to the extend of giving your safety for theirs. You will defeat any Vandalites who they are not able to handle, or are too rampant to cooperate with."

    Garrett steadily looked back at the white alicorn. "...and why should I help?"

    "Because you're skilled at defeating Freaks. Because they're here because of you. Because these three mares will most likely pummel you if you stay in Ponyville."

    Garrett's defensive resistance faltered as he gulped, glancing at Berry Punch, Colgate, and Piña Colada. The filly was giving him an evil grin.

That light pink pony will be the death of me, I'm sure of it.

    "Bodyguard it is," Garrett sighed, crossing his arms. "...Although wouldn't ponies notice if they see me walking down the street with the Elements of Harmony?"

    Princess Celestia smiled, taking her seat again. Her friendly demeanor returned. "From what I've heard, you're very good at hiding. I'm sure you can follow unspotted. But, just in case..." Princess Celestia's horn once again glowed as she levitated a red ruby to Garrett. The human, instinct of seeing such a rare jewel taking over, snatched it out of the air lightning quick. He examined it greedily.

    Princess Celestia raised her brow at this, examining Garrett's thievish ways. "...That is a Soul Ruby. Squeeze it with both hands to lower suspicion when you travel outdoors."

    Garrett brought it up to his eyes, the crimson brilliance illuminating his features. "What do you mean?" he asked, rotating the ruby left and right. "Will it make me invisible or something?"

    Princess Celestia smiled at that. "No, Garrett. It will make you a pony."

    At that statement, Rarity's ears perked up.

    Garrett looked at Princess Celestia blankly, shifting his gaze between her and the ruby. "...A pony?" he asked lamely. The princess nodded. "...Like, one of you?" Celestia nodded again. "...What will I look like?"

    Princess Celestia examined the human thoroughly. "Your equine persona will match your personality and appearance. You'll look exactly like you do in human form, although in pony standards. ...My guess is that you'll be dark. Probably black." She straightened herself. "You'll need to be rid of any clothing when you transform. It'll be too tight, suffocating you. Put this on to carry the Soul Ruby as a pony." Her horn glowed, and a satchel fit for a horse levitated into Garrett's grasp. It was black in color, having two bags on either side of its latch. It was made with a softer version of leather.

    Princess Celestia nodded once Garrett stored the Soul Ruby in one of the many pockets of his suit. "Excellent... So, I understand we are all clear on what to do?"

    The Elements of Harmony and Garrett nodded, although it was the Cutie Mark Crusaders who interrupted.

    "Can we help Garrett, too?" they all asked in unison.

    Princess Celestia shook her head slowly. "No. It will be too dangerous."

    Scootaloo looked up to the princess with puppy eyes. "But he can't just go out there alonnnee~! We can kick flank too when we need to, you know!"

    The Princess of the Sun turned to the orange filly. "Scootaloo, it is quite alright."

    Applebloom joined in the large eyedness. "But maybe we'll get our Cutie Marks this way! Plus, Garrett needs us! And he saved each of our lives; we have to repay the favor!"

    Celestia faltered at Applebloom's words, but stood only slightly firm. "Cutie Mark Crusaders, I have made my choice, and I implore you to respect it."

    Sweetie Belle joined her two friends, looking up at the princess with plead. "We'll be good! We promise we won't get in the way of anything! We'll be helping the entire time! Not only that, but what if they go and nopony could look out for us?"

    The princess chewed over the filly's words. "...Well, you've got that last part right."

    Garrett joined the three other fillies, trying his best to imitate the three others' puppy eyes. "And I promise I'll be good if they come! Plus, it's a pretty big part of my character development in the future!"

    "Garrett, what are you talking about? This isn't a story."

    The Master Thief sighed, returning to his seat near Pinkie. "Guess you and I are alone on this forbidden knowledge, Pinks..."

    "Alright, fine," Princess Celestia admitted defeat, sighing. "Cutie Mark Crusaders, you may come with the Elements of Harmony on their endeavors. Garrett, you are going to have to protect them as well."

    Garrett nodded vigorously. "Done."

    Princess Celestia lowered her gaze. "Well, everything is now in order... I am sorry I have kept Vandal, and all of this a secret to you. Especially you." She turned to Colgate, Berry Punch, and Piña Colada. They all nodded solemnly in reply. "...Well, I guess the only thing we can do is wait for the next Vandalite Sighting. I wish you all good luck. Oh, and Garrett?"

    The man looked up at the princess.

    "...Your right eye..."

    Garrett sighed, already guessing her description.

Disgusting?

Horrific?

Horrifying?

Makes me want to gouge it out?

    "...is unique. I wish you good luck on handling the rest of the mares that will agree with me, once you transform." She winked playfully. Garrett only blinked. "Now, I will be off. Once again, good luck." Princess Celestia nodded to each of the room's inhabitants in turn, before standing out of her seat and trotting out the door of the tree house.

...Once again, my ridiculously disturbing eye is attracting the attention of someone in a positive light. Equestria truly is a weird place...

...Oh yeah, that pink filly giving me a death glare just reminded me I have to get on her good side. Along with Colgate... and Berry Punch.

...Merde, I don't think she knows about her bar yet...

9. Red Over Black

    "Garrett, would you please stop being a nervous wreak and come out?! I have confidence it is not that bad! You're reminding me of myself... --On a very, very bad day, mind you!"

    "Go away! I look like the Headless Horseman's Black Steed of Death and Unhappiness! Scratch that, I'm the Headless Horseman's Horse and Toothless from How to Train Your Dragon's baby. And my putain d'eye is extremely noticeable! Why are your guys' eyes so big?!"

    Rarity put a hoof on her chest to steady herself from barging through the door. "Such LANGUAGE!"

    Sweetie Belle looked up at her big sister at her side. "What does 'putai'- MMPH?!"

    Rarity shut her sister up with a hoof on her mouth. "Do you see what you just started?" she growled. "Garrett, come now! There is simply no way it will look as bad as you think. Come out, before you teach Sweetie Belle an entire vocabulary lesson on French swears."

"Why the Hell is there a cyan streak in my hair?!"

"Equestrian swears are worse!! Garrett, come out here this instant! Or I'll..." Rarity thought for a moment, thinking of what dirt she had on her stubborn friend. Then, it occurred to her Garrett wanted his uniform remade so it could fit his pony self. Black hood and all. A perfect opportunity to up the style, considering how revolting it was in her dreams.

    Also a perfect opportunity to make him cooperate.

    "...I'll make your pony uniform pink!"

    The door opened a smudge, just enough to let a cyan eye to peek out. Rarity examined its sharp, narrowed shape as it glared at her.

"You wouldn't dare," he growled.

    Rarity pulled an exasperated face, levitating a spool of pink thread near her face. "As much as I'm disgusted with the fact I would ever create a monstrosity like that... Yes, I would."

    Garrett's already sharp eye narrowed. "Vous êtes la Diableé."

    Rarity rotated the spool of thread near her face. "I'll make sure it has extra pockets, ma petite chou fleur~!"

    "I hate you. I hope you know that. And FYI, making references is my job." Garrett's cyan eye disappeared from behind the bathroom door for about two seconds before the door slowly opened. Rarity's and Sweetie Belle's eyes both widened. There, standing about one inch lower than Rarity, was not the Garrett they knew before. He was replaced with a jet black earth pony stallion, with a slicked back mane and tail of the same color. A cyan streak was evident on both, matching his glowing-enabled iris.

    He had narrow eyes, almost shaped like right-angled triangles. True to Garrett's human form, his left eye was a dark shade of brown. With a significantly larger eye than before, the two mares could see that it was speckled with lighter brown in some spots. The right eye looked the same as before: the pupil glazed over, the rest a brilliant cyan. Unlike its speckled partner, this eye color was completely smooth and only two shades.

    His body had an athletic form, toned shoulders and triceps being the highlight of his muscles. He was slightly shorter than Rarity, which almost amused the white unicorn. A red ruby adorned his flank, which was his new Cutie Mark. All in all, Garrett had the perfect look for a shadowy, nimble, and stealthy pony. Which was exactly who he was.

    The stallion scowled at Rarity, his detailed cyan and brown eyes unamused.

    Sweetie Belle decided to break the silence with an innocent, "Are you single?"

    "Sweetie Belle!" Rarity whispered, turning to her younger sister.

    "My pony body has infected the poor, innocent Sweetie Belle!" Garrett exclaimed, turning back to the bathroom. "Guess I need to turn back into a human-- OW!"

    Rarity frowned as she pulled Garrett back by his tail, courtesy of her magic. "Garrett, you know you aren't getting out of this."

    The black stallion grumbled, flicking his tail close to his side, away from any offending magic. He massaged the poor fur, defending it from the Witch of Marshmallow Land.

    "You promised Pinkie Pie you'd let her give you a tour of Ponyville before the first Vandalite Encounter." Rarity used her hoof to scoot Sweetie Belle away, who had strayed a little too close to Garrett. Sweetie had a dreamy look in her eyes. "She's very excited to see you as a pony."

    Garrett growled, staring daggers at the floor. "Fine... But only because it's Pinkie Pie."

    Rarity nodded approvingly, trotting over to the shorter pony. "She's waiting outside as we argue. Come now, let us meet her."

    As the white unicorn led the way downstairs to the front door, Garrett followed reluctantly. Sweetie Belle followed too, staying a little too close to Garrett's side. "So~" Sweetie cooed, a light blush forming on her cheeks as she neared Garrett's toned forelegs. Her heart burning, she continued. "How's it like being the same species as me~?"

    "Honestly?" Garrett grumbled, looking down at his hooves. Rarity, meanwhile, was trotting down the stairs to the main floor. "I can barely walk, my color scheme looks like Toothless from How to Train Your Dragon, and I have a tail." He wiggled the medium-sized, bushy offender. "Seriously, how am I supposed to get used to-- FUUWAH?!"

    Garrett's hooves tripped over each other once they started their decent down the stairs, reeling him into a tumbling mess.

    "No!" Sweetie Belle yelped, reaching out for the stallion in vain. "My Waifu!"

    Garrett grunted as he landed at the base of the stairs, right in front of Rarity. The back of his head stung with pain, making him cover it with a hoof.

Great... still have Mr. Cranial Trauma as a friend. I wonder how he's been, me transforming into a horse and all.

    Sweetie Belle rushed down the stairs as Rarity bent over, attempting to help Garrett. "My goodness, how hard is it to walk down stairs?" Rarity exclaimed, reaching her hoof out. However, before she could make contact, Sweetie Belle rushed in front of her sister.

"Allow me~" she cooed, holding her hoof out to the downed earth pony. Garrett graciously accepted, although he almost pulled Sweetie down with him.

    "Thanks, Sweetie Belle," Garrett said, scowling at his hooves. Sweetie beamed, blushing at his praise. "First time I ever tripped down a set of stairs..."

    "Are you hurt?" Rarity asked, examining his new body. "That looked like quite the fall."

    "I think I chipped a nail," Garrett whimpered sarcastically. "Can you kiss it better? ...Oh look, being the same species as you makes me act like you."

    "I see your personality hasn't changed one bit. Alright, come on. Pinkie Pie must be waiting outside--!"

"Wow, Garrett! Your pony form is awesome! But why are you so short?! You know what? It doesn't matter. I'm just gonna say it right now, YOU'RE A CUTIE! Imagine how many mares you're gonna get with that cyan streak of your mane, or that awesome color scheme! I wonder what Rainbow Dash will think of that tail; it looks really adventurous! Just like her! And I'm not saying that just to let the Readers get a better view of you for the fan art! Or maybe I am. GET CRACKING, ARTISTS! But if you don't want to, that's alright, the author loves you all the same! <3"

    "Pinkie Pie, how did you get in my house?"

    The pink mare looked around herself, noting the surrounding boutique which had suddenly appeared around her.

    "...I have no idea!" Pinkie Pie replied cheerfully.

    "...Alright," Rarity sighed, knowing better than to question her friend's antics. She ushered Garrett to Pinkie Pie's side, much to the disappointment of Sweetie Belle. "Have fun, and for the love of Celestia, don't get into any trouble. I've known you for little over a day, Garrett, and I'm already getting a 'destructive' vibe from you. Destroying a building and all."

"Pfft," Garrett scoffed. "Being destructive is for amateurs, and Micheal Bay. Get in, get what you're looking for, get out." The room tilted their heads at that. "Oueigh... Forgot you don't know what I do for a living. I'll explain later, okay?" The room nodded graciously.

    "Whelp, what are we waiting for, Cutie Pie?" Pinkie giggled, scooting close to Garrett. "Let's go see Ponyville!"

    Garrett nodded. "Let us... Au revoir, Rarity. Sweetie Belle."

    The two sisters waved and said their good bye's and good luck's as Garrett and Pinkie Pie exited the room.

    The bigger unicorn sighed as she saw her friends leave, thoughts of the jet black stallion on her mind. Rarity's heart blossomed with warmth at the image of Garrett, his face the exact same as what she saw in her dreams before he came to Equestria. The weeks of having those vision-like dreams were all paying off now.

    "He's hot," Sweetie Belle chippered. "How much of a chance do you think I have with him?"

    Rarity rolled her eyes. "Sweetie Belle, you're probably less than half his age. And we do not use the term 'hot' in this household. We say words like 'handsome,' or 'good-looking.'"

    Sweetie Belle giggled. "But it is true, you've got to admit." Rarity rolled her eyes, trotting to her sowing table. Her horn glowed, and Garrett's human uniform levitated from out of the bathroom to in front of her. She would use that for the details.

    "I need to focus on making him a suit," the mare dictated, already levitating black leather to her table, scissors in toe. "Now please leave me in peace-- What are you doing?" Sweetie Belle was pulling the smuggest look of her life, leaning at an impossible angle by Rarity's side to be in front of her face.

"You know it's truuue~" she cooed.

    "...Okay, yes. I suppose he is very good-looking," Rarity quipped. Sweetie Belle raised her eyebrows, that knowing smile still plastered on her face. "...And has an extremely handsome face, dreamy eyes, a great mane style, and a..." Rarity sighed, knowing Sweetie would not leave her alone until she admitted this last part. "...a nice body."

    "I didn't ask for so much information, Love Bird," Sweetie Belle crowed, happily skipping away.

    Rarity rolled her eyes, a light blush forming on her cheeks. "Just leave me in peace while I get this ready..."

——————————

    "Where you just came from is the Carousel Boutique, Rarity and Sweetie Belle's house! Well, actually, Sweetie Belle doesn't technically live with Rarity, her parents dropped her off there one day, and have yet to come back. Anyways, that's where Ponyville gets all of their dresses and clothes. Rarity makes them all! Isn't that neat?"

    Garrett nodded as he followed Pinkie Pie, who was hopping past the building. He shifted uncomfortably as the sun beat down upon him, not used to being outside during daytime. The satchel on Garrett's back, the Soul Ruby in the left pocket, proved to be uncomfortably warming.

     The occasional group of ponies walking past them also made Garrett instinctively cover himself. It was considerably difficult, as it seemed the entire population of Ponyville stopped to say hi to Pinkie, who replied with a hearty repeat of the word.

    "Neat indeed," he conceded.

    Pinkie Pie continued to hop through Ponyville, pointing out every building she came across. She seemed to know the entire population of Ponyville, too. "That's Carrot Top's shop! It's closed for now, because she always takes breaks on Saturdays. Fun fact: her shop has been burned down! Twice!"

    "Heartwarming."

Buh-dum, tsss...

    "This is the Ponyville Day Spa, ran by Aloe and Lotus Blossom! Rarity loves this place; she goes here pretty much all the time! I went here once, but my mane got all straight and booooooring! They're open 24/7. Maybe she'll take you here someday!"

    "I would rather staple my tongue to a ceiling fan with jumper cables."

    "No, don't do that! Then you wouldn't be such a Cutie Pie! Ooh! This is where I live with Mr. and Mrs. Cake: Sugar Cube Corner! We sell all kinds of goodies here. Like cakes, breads, frostings, and my favorite: CUPCAKES!"

    Garrett instantly froze, his eyes wide. Then, slowly, a grin formed on his face. "...Did you say 'cupcakes?'"

    "Yeppers!" Pinkie chippered. "The best of the best, too! We have every flavor imaginable! Strawberry, Blueberry, Cheesecake, and our specialty: The Fruit Combo Swirl!" Garrett's mouth watered, his eyes softening into a state of pure nostalgic deliciousness. Pinkie Pie giggled at his state. "You're cute when you're in a state of pure nostalgic deliciousness! Oh, and why do you ask? Do you like cupcakes?"

    "Like them?" Garrett asked preposterously, taken aback. "I love--- oops, almost said a completely overused, cliché statement. Lemme try that again. I EXCRUCIATINGLY ADORE THEM TO NO END!"

    "That's not the usual excitement for a cupcake," Pinkie remarked. "You're acting like you've had a history with them! That, and the wording specifically said 'nostalgic.'"

    The stallion sighed, memories flooding his mind.

Ten years earlier

"Les Pâtisseries gratuits! Venir ici pour obtainer von pâtisseries gratuits! J'ai tous! Du pain, du petit pain rond, des gâteaux, des muffins de maïs! Vous l'appelez, je l'ai!"

    Garrett eyed the small pastry shop, a four foot tall, four foot wide man in a white chef outfit manning the shop. True to his advertising, an assortment of pastries and treats were displayed on the shelves of the little wooden stand, located for all to see. A handmade sign above the shop read "Pâtisserie."

    Garrett's stomach growled as he eyed the bread, his last meal being yesterday's breakfast. The boy put a hand on it as his two dark brown eyes narrowed, already thinking up a plan to steal.

Step one, I've got to create a distraction...

The fat ones always go for a good coin. I'll oblige him.

    After reaching over and pulling his handmade hood over his face, Garrett put a hand in one of the pockets from his dirty, tattered pants. The thief pulled out a folly gold coin, tossing it up and catching it for good measure. The young orphan then made his way to the side of the stand, "accidentally" dropping the coin on the dark, gravel street.

Step two. Improvise.

    The fat Frenchman took instant notice, as the fake coin glinted in the night sky. He reached his hand out tentatively and opened his mouth, as if to call the 15 year old boy back. However, his natural greed soon took over as that open mouth turned into a grin. "Qu'est-ce que nous avons ici?" the cook sneered, waddling his way over to the coin. Leaving the pastry shop unmanned and unguarded.

    Garrett, seeing this, slipped from out of his hiding spot with a smirk.

It's not like some homeless teenage boy is gonna steal something, go right ahead. And I'm sure that gold is real...

    The boy swooped to the pastry shop, picking off a baguette and a muffin. He was about to leave, when a certain pastry caught his eye. Garrett plucked the oddly pink pastry with frosting on top. It was softer than the muffin in hand, although held the same shape as it. The thief sniffed it, and what entered his nostrils made his mouth water. Garrett let out a small, ecstatic sigh.

    The sign above the rest of the same weird muffins read: "Les petits gâteaux".

"Petits gâteaux" ..."Little cakes?" It doesn't look like a cake.

    He examined the way how its wrapper looked like a cup.

...Huh. Kinda looks like a cupcake. That's weird, I've only seen these guys in pictures and advertisements in Great Britain. Tattered remains of signs in the ruins of Great Britain, that is.

"Un Voleur?!" Garrett heard from behind him. He turned just in time to see a butcher knife whip past his face, skittering to a halt on the gravel below. Garrett instantly went into a sprint into the other direction of the thrower, his youth giving him the advantage. The pastry shop owner, realizing this, shouted out in French. "TOI PETIT MERDE! JE VAIS TE TUER QUAND JE TE TROUVE! *VIOLEMMENT!***"

    Garrett let a small chuckle escape his lips as he rounded a corner, skidding to a halt. That small chuckle escalated to a continuous giggle, then into laughing. "Quelle une vache," he snorted, happily sitting down, bread, muffin, and cupcake in hand.

    After Garrett finished his fits of laughter and sighing, he held the baguette up to his open mouth, ready to munch down on his well-earned dinner. However, a look to his side peeked his infamously high curiosity. The cupcake, its unusual pink color scheme beckoning him, looked oh-so delicious. He blinked at the small pastry, setting the baguette down on his lap.

    Garrett picked the cupcake up, inspecting it. Pink, fluffy, and sprinkled. Nothing that inviting could be too nasty.

    With a shrug, Garrett opened his mouth and took a bite out of the cupcake.

Back in the present

    The black stallion let a small chuckle erupt from his mouth, the same thing which had given him so much joy in his childhood. "The very first pastry which I had that had some actual taste to it back home. Plus, the only food which made me go into a deliciousness-induced coma." He coughed. "Andgetmecaughtandarrestedafterwards."

    "What was that?" Pinkie asked lightheartedly.

    "Just the author giving me stupid dialogue," Garrett pointed out.

    Pinkie giggled. "He does that a lot. So, wanna eat there sometime? I'll make sure your cupcakes are extra special! Because you're special!"

    Garrett was about to accept, when a thought came to mind. The Primal in his blood, a tale he knew would come out soon, made sleeping and eating irrelevant. He had never actually eaten anything after his "transformation," and was not sure about finding out what happened when he did. "I'm allergic to deliciousness," Garrett stated.

    Pinkie Pie gasped, her eyes as wide as saucers. "You're alergic to deliciousness?!"

    "Yep."

    It seemed as if Pinkie was about to break down into tears, her large and teary eyes proof of that. She took a few slow steps towards Garrett, before hugging him tightly and tenderly. The stallion rolled his eyes as he heard a few mares nearby giggling to themselves. "Garrett..." Pinkie sniffed in his shoulder, which was slowly dampening. "I cannot imagine the pain you must go through each day, looking at all those... sniff... scrumptious treats and not being able to touch them...!"

    Garrett patted Pinkie Pie's back, rolling his eyes.

Maybe this wasn't the best idea ever. I should probably just tell her I can't eat, period. Or, rather, don't have to and am too scared to see what happens.

And people say I'm "infamously curious."

    "It's okay," Garrett reassured, glancing occasionally at the ponies around the pair. He knew they were staring when he wasn't looking.

    "But it's not!" Pinkie Pie sputtered. "You can't have any treats! Or yummy foods! Your stomach must be so depressed!" Without warning, Pinkie flipped Garrett over on his back. The stallion gave out a startled yelp, flailing out of instinct. Pinkie, however, held him down with super strength. "See?!" she whispered shrilly. Her hoof tapped his bare stomach. Heat came to Garrett's cheeks. "Your belly is depressed, and is in desperate need of baked, sprinkled happiness in a cup! But you can't have any!!" Garrett moved Pinkie's forearms from his belly. He got a firm punch in the stomach for his betrayal. "See! Your abs are lonely because there's no fat to accompany them!"

    "Excuse me?"

    Pinkie Pie held Garrett up in the air. "Well, I will have none of it! Your smoking hot abs must have a friend! We will cure your deliciousness allergy with deliciousness! Fight fire with fire! Conquer the Diabetes!" Pinkie's voice suddenly got a lot lower and sinister, a Spanish accent evident. "Yess," she quipped. Her voice returned to normal. "Our tour of Ponyville can wait. We must attack the suppressing, dystopian ruler known as allergies! Using frosted and sprinkled goods! Now come, Garrett, my Frenchie, ripped, insanely cute friend! POUR LA VICTOIRE! *VIVRE LA RESISTANCE!***"

    Pinkie Pie then threw Garrett into the doors of Sugar Cube Corner, her own body following suit afterwards.

10. Les Baisers Français

"Enough chit-chat! Time is candy!"

WUBWUB-WAHWAHWAHWAH WAAAAH! WAH-WAH-- WUBWUB-WAHWAHWAHWAH WAH-WAH- BRBRBRBRB.. WEIGHWUB, D-D-D-D- WAH-WAHWAH BUMBUHDUMBAHDUMBAHDEE!

    The moment the bass dropped, all chaos erupted in the club house. The dark interior transformed into a tornado of neon lights and dancing ponies, their movements relatable to an epileptic seizure. The dance floor, home to the moving equines, exploded in a flourish of blue, cyan, and black underground lights. Most of the ponies that were not dancing, or drop-dead drunk, were headbanging to the rhythm. While all of this was going on, the DJ of the club, DJ Pon-3, headbanged like there was no tomorrow.

    Trixie Lulamoon, however, was not dancing or headbanging. Not even drop-dead drunk, in fact. The light blue unicorn sat at the bar, her back turned to the assortment of alcoholic beverages as her elbows rested on the table. Her long mane cascaded down the right side of her face, resulting in a don't-talk-to-me look.

    Trixie's purple eyes scanned the interior of Wubberz. Lights, dubstep, and ponies all around were going crazy. Her ears were plastered to her skull, not wanting to hear the offending music. She did not come here to dance to an idiotic song, no matter how much the bass drop shredded its pure, unadulterated, wubby magic. She was here for a reason.

    Trixie's ears went up as she felt the presence of somepony else nearbye. That feeling was answered by a cloaked pony taking a seat near her, unusually close. It was a stallion based on his build, and had a blood red coat, although that was all she could make out. He wore a black jacket and detective hat, as if to hide his features.

    Trixie pouted. "Trixie did not request the company for a stallion tonight, so be off! She is here for a reason."

    The stallion didn't budge, a hint of a smile crossing his face. Trixie fumed at that, wondering how stupidly desperate this pony could be. "Trixie is not afraid to call for help," the unicorn stated boldly, although a sense of forbidding crossed her heart. Something about that smile haunted her.

    "I thought you referred to yourself as 'Great and Powerful,'" the red pony smirked. "Whatever happened to that nickname?"

    "Trixie has grown more modest after her last encounter with Princess Twilight Sparkle," Trixie admitted. "But that is none of your concern! Now, be off! Before I defend myself."

    The stallion glanced to her, revealing richly purple eyes. "Try me," he sneered, gleaming white teeth showing as he smiled devilishly.

    Trixie narrowed her eyes. "It is very loud in here, nopony would hear you cry for mercy. Now is your last chance to exit."

    The stallion's smile only grew. "Nopony would notice you even tried to use magic. It's really not that powerful." Something inside Trixie snapped, evident by the twitching of her eyelid. She only stared at the stallion, completely stoic, wondering how he could be so stupid.

"...What did you just say?" Trixie snarled.

    The stallion leaned back in his chair, still smirking. He gazed steadily at Trixie. "Now, I could repeat what I just said to you, but I'm sure that small brain of yours couldn't comprehend what I was implying. So let me make it simple." The stallion leaned close to her cheek, whispering in her ear. "Your magic... is *weak*."

    Trixie instantly pushed the stallion away, so much that he fell off his seat. Rage showing in her eyes, she rose her head, channeling an explosion spell.

    ...only to not feel anything respond.

    Trixie stood there, wide-eyed and facial features contorted into one of pure rage. She tried again to channel magic, but was rewarded the same result. Her horn didn't even glow. The stallion grinned as he pushed himself off of the floor, all the while maintaining eye contact with Trixie. It seemed as if those two violet irises were glowing, but she couldn't be sure with all the lights around them.

    "Confused?" the stallion muttered. Through the blaring speakers, dancing ponies, and rocketing dubstep, Trixie could hear him just fine. It was as if, suddenly, every other sound but his voice was blotted out. "Why don't you think about the last couple nights? The dreams you had?"

    Trixie's mouth fell agape, all anger draining from her system immediately. She gawked at the stallion with new eyes, filled with wonder. "...You're the stallion from my dreams."

    Said pony grinned. "Looks like somepony's catching on... I see you listened to my request."

    Trixie nodded numbly. "You told me last night. 'Go to the dubstep club called Wubberz, located in Canterlot. 1:00pm, on the dot.'"

    "Nice memory." The stallion's smile disappeared after the applause of the crowd, his face turning serious. "I have a mission for you, Trixie Lulamoon."

"Alright everypony! That song's called 'Everypony's Bangin',' just in case you wanna go home and show your family, friends, and noise-sensitive elders you hate. ANYWAYS! Let's get onto this next one!"

    Trixie barely noticed as the tune changed into a series of beeps, mixed with wubs in the background. Everypony in the room could tell it was building up, no doubt, to a massive bass drop. "I want you..." the stallion held out a small, circular ball to the unicorn. It was completely smooth, and was dark purple in color. "...to take this to Ponyville. Keep it hidden with you. Find a stallion who's pitch black in color, and has one cyan and one brown eye. He also has a cyan streak in his mane and tail, if that helps. Smash this ball into the ground as hard as you can around the corner of a building nearby. Anywhere you can't be seen, but near him. Then, teleport back to this exact spot." He looked around the club. "...Yes, this place is perfect. Loud. Crowded. We'll be unnoticed."

    Trixie scooted away from the stallion, a deep sense of fear planting itself in her heart. "Trixie does not think this is for the best... Trixie has given up her antagonistic ways and does not trust that you will help her keep that goal."

    The stallion did not seem the least astrayed, if anything persistent. "And yet you still talk about yourself in third person, 'Great and Powerful Trixie'."

    Trixie lowered her head. "That is not who Trixie is anymore..."

    The stallion only smirked. It became apparent that the other ponies in the room were getting ready for a bass drop, evident by their increasingly jerky movements and the speeding beeps and wubs of the music. The stallion abruptly reached over to Trixie's cheek, turning her entire head to face the dance floor. Before she could tell him off, she suddenly felt a rush of energy circulate to her horn. Unable to stop due to a sudden fidget, Trixie let loose a destruction spell.

    The violet beam of energy shot out of Trixie's horn before she could do anything about it. It bolted over the dance floor, smashing straight into the turn tables.

    ...right as the bass drop was about to start.

    Trixie stared as the electrical system smoked profusely, the sound of distorted, quiet wubs squeaking out pathetically. DJ Pon-3 gawked at the state of her beloved instrument, before taking off her glasses and giving Trixie a deathstare.

    "Destroying the DJ set when the bass drop is about to hit," the red pony beside her remarked. "That's low... I'm sure everypony else here would agree." Trixie stared at the stallion, before turning back to the dance floor. It was now filled with a crowd of angry looking ponies, all focusing their glares on the unicorn.

    "N-no! Wait, it wasn't me! It was him!" Trixie pointed at the stallion desperately.

    The red pony took off his hat to reveal a hornless noggin. A blonde, wild mane also accompanied his head. "Who? Me? A magicless earth pony? So you're a Party Pooper AND a Liar!"

    DJ Pon-3 slammed her hooves down on her machine. "She busted my machine! What the Hell, man?!"

    "Seriously, what's your problem?" a voice called out from the crowd.

"N-no! Wait!" Trixie tried to call out, but not before another voice interrupted.

    "What kind of a Party Pooper are you? And right before the bass drop? That should be a crime!"

    "STOP IT! Let me explain--!"

    "Hey, aren't you that one mare who got shown up by Twilight Sparkle? Twice?"

    Trixie covered her ears, slamming her eyes shut. "Stop it..!"

    "You know, I could get you out of here," the stallion whispered, smirking. "All you have to do is accept my job offer~!"

    Trixie took one glance at the crowd of ponies, some of the unicorns levitating planks of wood over their heads. "...This is so unfair!"

    "Trust me," the stallion muttered. "I know what unfairness is. This is a dream come true for you. You just don't know yet... Do you accept?" He held the small purple ball in his hoof to her, a sneer on his face. The stallion's deep purple eyes peered into hers, promoting her to ask one more question.

    "...What's your name?" Trixie asked, taking the purple orb from the pony's hoof.

    The stallion, still smiling as he put a hoof on hers, mumbled in her ear: "Call me Vandal."

    Then, Trixie's world became one full of tumbling, magic, and blackness.

——————————

    Garrett's cyan and brown eyes both stared into Pinkie Pie's ocean blue ones, their faces inches apart. Sweat dribbled down their reddened faces as their mouths both remained puffed out, unwilling to spit out the liquid rainbow which occupied them. Rainbow Dash inspected the match closely, amused at their states of pure, excruciating pain.

    It burnt like an orphanage on fire, but both ponies kept at it, unwilling to lose the bet of the century. Garrett's right ear kept twitching involuntarily, his eyes watering and red-rimmed as they bore into Pinkie. The latter was not handling the situation any better. Steam spewed from her ears as her cheeks were puffed out, unwilling to release the Technicolor Water of Deathly Spiciness.

    Rainbow Dash's smirk grew as she watched the two ponies' effort, particularly Garrett's. His right eye flashed with Focus repeatedly, the glowing-like effects acting like a semi-working light bulb. The fact his eyes were more slender than most ponies added to his desperate glare.

    Pinkie Pie put her hooves up to her head, massaging her temples quickly. Garrett followed suit, kicking the ground repeatedly with his hind legs as he sat. Pinkie shook her head furiously, the spicy liquid jiggling inside. Garrett punched the side of his head repeatedly, although instantly stopped and rubbed the back of his cranium due to the agony.

COME ON GARRETT, COME ON! You can beat this mare, you did the Cinnamon Challenge with Erin that one time...

Hey, I thought of Erin and didn't feel internal despair! Character Development, here I come--

PUTAIN D'UNE VACHE DANS L'ESPACE THIS IS HOT!

    The Rainbow in Garrett's mouth slowly leaked into his throat, bringing a new definition of pain to the dictionary. The same thing happened to Pinkie, who responded with lying down and slapping the ground repeatedly, eyes watering.

    Then, when all hope of either of these two ponies ever seeing the sun rise again seemingly vanished, a most unexpected thing happened. Applejack trotted up to the three ponies, a smile on her face.

    "Howdy Rainbow Dash! Pink--"

"PFPFOOOOOOUUUGHH!!!"

"PFPFOOOOOOUUUGHH!!!"

    Rainbow Dash only sighed as her coat replicated the color scheme of her mane and tale. After a glance to the two exhausted ponies in front of her, she wiped most of the rainbow off her face with a hoof, turning to her best friend. "Hey."

    AJ chuckled at Garrett and Pinkie Pie's state. "Ah' see Princess Celestia did a fine job on Garrett's pony form, hehe~ So what was it this time? A bet? Contest?"

    "That's actually exactly right," Dash replied, turning to the two ponies. Garrett was lying on the floor, cyan and brown eyes barely open as Pinkie Pie did the same. "Turns out Garrett said he was allergic to deliciousness, so Pinkie Pie did the only thing reasonable to her: throw him in Sugar Cube Corner and make him eat some sweets." Rainbow Dash glanced at the jet black pony, who was shakily getting up, tongue lolling out of his mouth. "I dunno if he was lying or something, but nothing really happened after he ate a few cupcakes. Pinkie called him a liar, and that the only way to 'repent of his sinful ways' was to make a friendly bet."

    Pinkie spoke up from her spot on the ground, breathing heavily. "Whoever can keep rainbow in their mouth the longest, without swallowing, wins. If Garrett won, I had to give a big smooch to the next stallion I saw, besides Garrett."

    "That's a little harsh," Dash commented.

    "Well not as harsh as the fact I had to give Pinkie a kiss if I lost!" Garrett whined, crossing his forearms.

    "You walked right into that one and you know it, Buster!" Pinkie gave Garrett a stink eye as rainbow slowly dribbled down her chin.

    Applejack chuckled. "Well, Ah' couldn't help but notice y'all were doin' this right in the middle of Sweet Apple Acres. It bein' in my backyard and all..."

    "Only place away from the thieving eyes of witnesses that's not the Everfree Forest," Garrett defended himself, using his teeth to scrape the last remnants of Rainbow off his tongue. "Timberwolves live there. Did I ever mention I hate Timberwolves? Cause I do."

    "You've made it pretty clear," Applejack said, making her way over to the threesome. "So, on an unrelated note, who won the bet?"

    Garrett and Pinkie Pie shrugged, at a loss. "They both spat their entire mouthful of rainbow at me at the same time," Dash answered. "So, no idea."

    Applejack grinned. "Well, Ah' guess that means one thing: a rematch! And this time, if Garrett loses, he has to give everypony here a big ol' smooch!"

"What?!" Garrett sputtered, staring at the farm pony in disbelief. To his dismay, the other mares didn't look like they had the slightest problem with it.

    "Yeah!" Rainbow Dash agreed. "Along with the rest of us: Rarity, Twilight, and Fluttershy!"

"I would never disrespect my Waifu in such a way!" Garrett yelled. "And don't I get a say in this?!"

    "Ooh! Ooh!" Pinkie piped up. "And it has to be at least three seconds!"

    The mares all nodded simultaneously, devilish grins on their faces. They all turned to Garrett expectantly. The stallion, knowing he was not going to win this one, crossed his forelegs over his chest. "Fine... But if I win, Pinkie has to kiss the next stallion she sees... and you two!"

    The devilish grin on Pinkie's face vanished instantly. She spat out some more, seemingly nonexistent rainbow onto Rainbow Dash. "WHAT?!"

    Applejack's face, however, stayed the same as before: devilishly smug. "Yeah... and for at least three seconds."

    "I would never disrespect the next stallion I see like that!" Pinkie yelled desperately. "And don't I get a say in this?! This is not Equestria Daily, I should not have to make out with my best friends!"

    Rainbow Dash shook her coat rapidly, showering the rainbow off. "Let's make it a French Kiss. That way they'll both try their hardest to not lose!" The group all looked at the pink mare expectantly.

    "...Fine." Pinkie crossed her forelegs over her chest, knowing she would not win this one. Rainbow Dash, a grin on her face, picked up the bucket near her and flew back to Cloudsdale to retrieve more rainbow.

——————————

One...

How the Hell did I get dragged into this?

...Two...

More importantly, how did I lose? I didn't throw up after the Cinnamon Challenge! I'm a professional at Food Challenges!

...Three.

Finally! And three seconds too long, too.

    Garrett's lips parted from Pinkie Pie's, the latter's eyes not focusing on anything as a pleasurable sigh escaped. She blinked unceremoniously, eyes crossed afterwards. Rainbow Dash waited nearby, a huge grin on her face.

    Garrett waisted no time to get this over with, quickly turning to the cyan mare and locking lips.

One...

Huh. I still taste rainbow. Spicy. Kind of fitting for Rainbow Dash.

...Two...

Does the color of these ponies' coats determine their flavor? ...Oh mon dieu I just thought of what that meant. THE IMAGES!**

...Three.

Alright, Skittles, who's next on the Kiss Booth?

    Garrett pulled away to the mare who entered the state of Pinkie Pie, a goofy grin on her face. "Woah..." she muttered. "Guess Frenchies do give the best kisses..."

    Garrett only turned to Applejack, mentally begging himself to get this over with quickly. The farm mare chuckled, removing her cowboy hat. "Guess it's mah' turn."

    "Yep," he remarked, before stepping forward and placing his lips over hers.

One...

A Frenchman kissing a Texan. Don't see that everyday.

...Two...

I spent twenty five years on Earth, and kissed a total of one other human being. I spend a few days on Equestria and I'm already adding three horses to the list. ...Hey, it's not weird, they have human personalities, human thoughts, human intelligence, and are of legal human age. Think about that next time when you try to bag on some poor Clopper!

...Three.

By the way, the author's not a Clopper. He's just nice to them.

    Garrett pulled away to an almost cross-eyed earth pony, who had to shake her head abruptly to get back into focus. "Woo-wee! Now that was a French kiss."

    "Yeah, yeah," Garrett mumbled. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to run into town to physically assault three other mares"

    As Garrett ran to the town in the distance, Pinkie Pie called after him:

"I LOVE YOUR BODY!"

——————————

    "Oh! Hello, Garrett. I see the Soul Ruby worked--?"

"I'mdoingthisbecauseofabetpleasedon'tkillme!"

    "**MMPH?!"

One...

...Tastes like blueberry.

...Two...

Why is her horn glowing all of a sudden? And why do I suddenly have the feeling I'm about to be incinerated maliciously?

...Three.

    "Sorry Twilight!"

    The alicorn almost had time to release the magical energy into Garrett's hindquarters, but he was out the door before she could knock him out. A blush planted on her cheeks, Twilight Sparkle grunted out in frustration.

"Garrett, you have some *serious** explaining to do!"* she yelled after him.

——————————

    "...Oh! Um, hi Garrett! Is that really you? Wow, you look great..! You don't really like knocking first, do you..? Please, come in."

    "It'sabetIswear!"

"MMPH?!"

One...

...Think happy thoughts think happy thoughts think happy thoughts! Maybe she won't hate you for all eternity after this!

...Two...

Please please PLEEEEAAASE don't hate me! You're too adorable to not love me...! ...Wait a minute, this doesn't feel half bad.

...Three...

...huh...

...Four.

....

    ...Five?

.....

Garrett, quit it. It's already been six seconds.

    Garrett pulled away to see Fluttershy's eyes half closed, an ecstatic sigh escaping her surprised features as she nearly lost her balance.

    "...Aren't you French?" she muttered, swaying left and right.

    "You're adorable and I'm sorry," Garrett quipped, before charging out of the house.

——————————

    "Garrett! Oh, you've come just in time. I just finished a few details on your suit... why are you looking at me like that?"

    "Just so you know, I hate this as much as you do."

"MMPH?!"

One...

Why am I not surprised she tastes like a marshmallow?

...Two...

...The author ran out of sarcastic comments to put here. So, you know, think about how Equestria could be real based off of the Mormon religion or something.

...Three.

    Garrett pulled away abruptly to a fuming Rarity. She reached her hoof back, ready to strike the stallion's cheek, but soon thought better of it. She put it back down, although her metal-eating glare stayed. "Garrett," she snapped. "What in Celestia's royal plot was that?"

    "A bet," the thief answered defensively. "Pinkie, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash can vouch for me. By the way, you taste like marshmallow."

    Rarity, redness evident in her cheeks, almost had steam spew out of her ears. "My lips do not have a flavor, you idiot!"

    "You have no hope of escaping that nickname now, Marshmallow."

"GARRETT!"

    "Tu fâché?"

    Rarity clenched her hoof, horn begging to let out an explosive spell on the shorter stallion. "You're lucky you're employed by Princess Celestia..." Rarity rubbed her temples, knowing Garrett would drive her crazy to no end. Hopefully her business with him will be over soon.

    ...Well, Rarity wasn't sure she actually wanted him to be out of her life completely. He could be a brute at times, but Garrett was amusing to be around. His sarcasm definitely needed some work, though. And he could develop some form of respect for once.

    "...Anyways, your suit is ready," Rarity informed, her horn glowing as her magic grasped his equine-fit uniform. Breathing deeply to diminish any stray feelings of wanting to rip Garrett limb from limb, she turned to the suit. "I made a few adjustments, hope you don't mind..." The very attire which Rarity had put her blood, sweat, and tears in levitated in front of Garrett. The stallion's eyes went wide as his pupils dilated, staring at the familiarly designed uniform.

    The hood, obviously being redesigned to fit a pony's head, was made from an ultra thin soft used cow leather. It was dark gray in color, a couple shades lighter than Garrett's pony self. The face mask was made by the same material, although holes were provided for more ventilation. Medium tough leather was used for the harness, brown and black pieces doubled, sandwiched, and stitched together for holsters, for the various tools Garrett used. The body, located under the harness, was made by denim and a soft leather trim. Pieces of the same leather of the hood was used on his hind legs, reinforcing the knees with brown protection.

    Soft black leather covered the forelegs, complete with tough brown leather to reinforce the elbows. Pads of the same material were provided on the hooves, both front and back, for silent hoofsteps.

    Rarity gave a proud smile, loving how the final product came out to be. Garrett simply stared at the suit, gawking at the amount of detail put into it. "...You got it spot-on," he muttered, taking a step toward the suit.

    "Well, it is yours, Garrett. You may try it on when you feel fit!"

    "Rarity, I can't..."

    "No, I insist! Please, take it--"

    "Okay it's mine now!"

    Garrett grabbed the suit with wickedly fast hooves, already undoing the harness to gain access to the zipper underneath. "...You already know how to put it on?" Rarity questioned.

    "I've been wearing the same suit for eight years," Garrett said, easily slipping into the uniform. "You'd expect me to know how to get it on by now."

    "That's disgusting," Rarity stated.

    "I don't stink," Garrett quipped. After reaching back with his hooves (with freakishly good flexibility), he zipped himself in and did the harness back up.

    Rarity nodded slowly as she examined her work. "...Well, not to pat myself on the back, but I think this might be one of my biggest achievements!"

    "Indeed," Garrett muttered, admiring the suit's fit. "...I remember my suit being a huge pain to get out of, though. That's gonna be fun..."

11. Vandal

    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."

——————————

    "...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."

——————————

    "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."

——————————

    "--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.

12. Playing in the Dark

    Garrett flicked his Sawtooth Arrow side to side with his nimble fingers, mentally daring the Vandalite to make a move. It twisted and rotated speedily in his hands, years of experience proving to aid his tricks. The pale bipedal regarded this with amusement, knowing something like that wouldn't hurt it.

    "Garrett..." Twilight coughed, her horn glowing as it levitated the unconscious bodies of Pinkie, Fluttershy, and Rarity to safety. "...Remember, we need to speak to it. We need it alive."

    "Just how 'alive' are we talking about?" Garrett sneered, the Claw hanging from his other hand by a cable.

    Pinkie Pie's head jerked up. "That was a Deadpool reference!" she cheered, before falling unconscious again.

    The Vandalite made the first move, screeching as it charged Garrett. The Master Thief smiled before vanishing into the Sweet Apple Acres, completely invisible. "Show yourself, coward!" the Vandalite screeched as it haulted its progress. Its claws were extended and at the ready. No response was given except a rustle of the branches overhead. The Vandalite roared, jumping up and destroying the apple tree to get to Garrett, apples flying everywhere. It was to no avail.

     Applejack's eyes widened as a destroyed apple rolled to her hooves. Rage boiled in her system as she eyed the mangled fruit her family was named after.

    The Vandalite screeched as another tree rustled, and was momentarily destroyed by the bipedal's claws. "Come out, Master Thief!" it screeched.

    Applejack stood up from her position, snorting as another of her beloved family trees were ripped to shreds. Her green irises were edged with rage.

    Meanwhile, a flicker of Primal energy sent the ex-Freak into a frenzy. It yelled out horribly, jumping straight up and ripping off a branch. This time, besides the leaves and apples falling, the naked body of Garrett thumped on the floor. Focus flickered away from his eyes as he yelled out in pain, holding the back of his head. The human's lack of attention allowed the Vandalite to grab him by the neck, hoisting the Master Thief up.

    Applejack had enough. She let out a battle cry as she charged, the bruises on her body not being paid any heed. She stopped right in front of the Vandalite, turned around, and bucked it in the groin with all her might.

    The pale bipedal flew across the orchard, before crashing into a tree hardly. "DON'T YA *EVER** EVEN THINK ABOUT DESTROYING MY FAMILY WORK AGAIN, YA PALE, PSYCHOTIC FREAK OF NATURE!!"* AJ yelled at the top of her lungs, her equine figure shaking with rage.

    The two conscious ponies behind Applejack stared. Garrett, meanwhile, was chuckling. "Remind me to never touch your apple trees."

"Ah' will," she muttered angrily, snorting at the Vandalite. The ex-freak shook its head woozily, before turning its head back up to the duo. Garrett crouched in a low stance, glaring at the monster as Applejack followed suit. The former human growled, standing up to its full height before charging again. AJ also charged while Garrett slipped into the shadows.

    The Vandalite and Applejack collided with brute force, although the former flew back from it. AJ bucked it in the chin before the biped staggered back, stunned. The mare quickly continued her onslaught, punching the ex-Freak in the face. It yelped, leaping back before spreading its claws defensively. The Vandalite growled as the farm pony charged again, yelling a battle cry. The moment Applejack was in range, however, the ex-Freak retaliated with inhumane speed as it grabbed her neck. She gasped and sputtered in its grasp as the Vandalite prepared itself for the killing blow.

    Before it could eviscerate the mare, however, Garrett jumped down from a branch above. The Vandalite yelled out in surprise before Garrett stabbed its head with his Sawtooth. It screeched, dropping the mare. Applejack scrambled away from its gripping distance, although readied herself for another fight afterwards. Meanwhile, Garrett pulled the Sawtooth Arrow out before stabbing its neck with the Claw. Instantly afterwards, the four spikes jutted out and shredded its windpipe.

    The Vandalite gurgled out black blood, although it didn't require its windpipe for survival. Garrett knew this, and figured that wasn't enough. The Master Thief jumped up onto a branch, intending to strangle the ex-Freak with the cable. However, before the deed could be done, the Vandalite detached the Claw, the cable shooting it back at its owner. With a glow of his eye, Garrett easily dodged the Claw as it shot at his face, and caught it mid-air. The four spikes retracted immediately.

    The Vandalite roared as it jumped up for Garrett, blood gushing from its neck. However, it didn't get far. A cyan blur shot into its belly, carrying it into another tree. Rainbow Dash stood, snorting angrily as she eyed the Vandalite. "Nopony messes with my friends," she snarled, crouching intimidatingly. The ex-Freak shook its head yet again as it regained itself, quickly standing up again. The Vandalite charged, although it wasn't fast enough for Dash. The mare shot across the orchard to the Vandalite, catching it in her hooves. She flew straight up into a clearing of the sky, before throwing the Vandalite down. The ex-Freak barely had time to yelp as it crashed into the trees, only partially slowing its decent before smacking into the grassy ground below.

    The Vandalite groaned, before sitting up woozily. In front of the ex-Freak were its three enemies: Garrett, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash. They were all crouching defensively, glaring at the Vandalite.

    The ex-Freak charged yet again, quicker than anyone could have depicted. It easily threw Garrett and Applejack aside, barreling into Rainbow Dash. The two rolled for about two seconds before tumbling into an apple tree. The Vandalite was on top. It grabbed Dash by the neck, throwing her to the ground roughly. She yelled as she felt bones bruise. The Vandalite, learning from its past mistake, waisted no time to finish her o--

PPFFFTTOOOOUUUUU!!!

    The ex-Freak was blasted away from Rainbow Dash with confetti, balloons, and party supplies. Meanwhile, the cyan pegasus groaned out of pain, rolling up to her hooves.

"Hi Garrett!" Pinkie Pie chippered, waving her hoof vigorously from behind a cyan colored cannon with pink wheels. "I'm not unconscious anymore! Oh, but you probably don't know why I actually fainted, but I can tell you right now! After I was almost knocked unconscious by that Meanie-Pants Vandalite, I looked up and saw you in all your super sexy, naked, and ripped glory! I couldn't take your glorious coltfriend material so I fainted and woke up at the last possible moment before Rainbow Dash fans everywhere dislike this story and hate the author andthenthisstorywillobliterateitselfwithallthehate!!!"

    "That would be disastrous!" Garrett called. "...Wait, I'm naked?" He looked down. Instantly afterwards, a hard blush formed on his cheeks. The thief swooped into the darkness of the apple orchard.

    "Wait!" Pinkie Pie yelled out. "Come back! I promise I won't stare-- OOF!"

    The Vandalite tackled Pinkie, screeching as its glowing eyes bored into the mare. It threw her into an apple tree, drawing a yelp from the pink mare. Before the ex-Freak could charge again, Applejack dived in front of the Vandalite, using its momentum to buck it in the stomach. It flew back into the arms of Rainbow Dash, who threw it in the air. Garrett jumped from a branch overhead, and using his Focus for maximum accuracy, threw his Claw to the monster's neck. It instantly locked on, and the Master Thief twisted his body, throwing his arms down. The Vandalite was launched into the ground, and landed with a hard thud.

    Its world became blurry as the Vandalite groaned out of pain, its neck spurting the dark black liquid known as its blood. Before it could regain its bearings, Garrett hoisted the biped up from behind, holding a Blast Arrow to its chest. The ex-Freak knew exactly what it was, and whimpered.

    Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Princess Twilight Sparkle approached the helpless Vandalite. It sputtered fearfully as the alicorn's horn glowed, pointing at it.

     "Let's have a chat," she growled.

——————————

    Trixie sputtered as her world once again shifted reality, coming to the inside of a dark, decorated building. She blinked, confused, as she looked down to realize her body was back to normal. When Trixie looked back up, Vandal was sitting beside her.

    "Welcome back," he chuckled, looking at her intently.

    "...What just happened?" Trixie asked ludicrously, peering at her scenario. "Where are we?"

    "What just happened is that you did what I asked of you," Vandal smiled, patting Trixie on the shoulder. To the mare's surprise, she didn't instinctively recoil at his touch. Instead, she felt calmed by it. "...Where we are is Wubberz. You don't recognize the place?"

    Trixie looked at her position again. Now that she thought of it, it did look quite like the interior of her first meeting place with Vandal. The dance floor in front of them was there, although unpopulated and quiet. The stool she was sitting on was indeed a stool to the bar behind her, and the DJ machine and turn tables were on the same position as last time. However, a sign which read "Out of order" was hung over the instrument.

    "It's closed," Vandal explained. "Having the main attraction destroyed does take a club out of business. You should think about that next time." Trixie glared at him. "Just kidding around!"

    The unicorn only sighed, exasperated. "...So, what happens now?"

    Vandal smiled proudly. "Nightmare helped encourage the Vandalite to go easy on Garrett... Then, to share some information with him when its helpless."

    "What information?" Trixie questioned.

    Vandal smirked.

——————————

    "...We have to stay in Canterlot?!" the five mares and three fillies all gasped, shocked.

    Princess Celestia nodded slowly, sighing. Nurse Redheart was beside her, currently working on a broken and unconscious Fluttershy, lying on a hospital bed. Garrett was on the next bed, although he was currently in a argument with Rarity about how he didn't have to lie down. "I am sorry, but it is the only way. Fluttershy must stay here, at least until she feels better. Cutie Mark Crusaders, it is your choice to come with us to Canterlot. It is far from Ponyville."

    "There's no way I'm letting you guys have all the fun!" Scootaloo announced, puffing out her chest. "I missed one Vandalite fight, and I'm not gonna miss another!"

    "Garrett saved our lives," Applebloom agreed. "We have to return the favor sooner or later!"

"I missed Sexy Garrett..." Sweetie Belle mumbled.

    "What?" the other two fillies asked.

    "I said I won't let him do this without me!" Sweetie announced. "Plus, my sister is going, so I have to!"

    Princess Celestia sighed. "It is dangerous, my little ponies," she warned, gazing at the three fillies intently. However, a smile formed on her face as she remembered one fact, which would make all the difference. "...But Garrett is committed to your safety. He has already proven himself more than once, although this time he has shown he is willing to put himself in harm's way in order to save you."

    Garrett looked up from his position, sitting up on his bed while Rarity chided him. He was now in pony form, although his right arm was covered in gauze. "It was instinct, I was no hero," he commented. "After the Vandalite regained its wits and tried to fight back, I merely jerked my arm down." He shuttered. "...Still burns."

    "Yeah, but it looked super cool," Pinkie chippered. "...Before we saw your fleshy and burnt arm, I mean. And your reaction."

    Garrett's eyes narrowed. "Like you wouldn't run screaming like a maniac to the nearest water hole. You try having a Blast Arrow explode mere inches from your hoof."

    Princess Celestia looked at all her subjects in turn, silencing their conversations. "...Once again, I am sorry you have to leave so suddenly. I will give you all ten minutes to pack, but after that we must leave. I will be waiting by Twilight Sparkle's library with my cart-pegasi awaiting your arrival. I can only hope Fluttershy will wake by then..." She gazed sorrowfully to the said pegasus, her breathing slow and shallow. She was still unconscious. "...I will give you time to say your goodbyes to Fluttershy if she does. If not, we will have to leave."

    The Elements of Harmony all looked down sadly. Garrett also glanced at Fluttershy, the ever so familiar feeling of guilt filling his system.

    Princess Celestia gave her subjects a reassuring smile. "...My little ponies, Canterlot needs you now more than ever. I have no doubt you will make me proud, as you always have. I have already established apartments for you all, as you must keep a low profile. Same as before, keep watch for Vandalites. And under no circumstances, no matter what, do NOT tell ANYPONY that there are bombs under Canterlot."

    The Elements of Harmony all nodded.

    "...Hey," Applejack commented, holding a ice sack to her head. "...Ah' think we should all make something for Flutters. Ya know, if she doesn't wake up in time."

——————————

    Fluttershy's eyes slowly opened, expecting to see green overgrowth above. However, that was not to pass. Her vision gave away to a white ceiling above, decorated with tiles. Confused, Flutter started to sit up, but intense pain in her abdomen stopped the pegasus. She whimpered quietly, looking down to find that she was in a medical bed, inside a hospital room.

    Fluttershy lifted the covers from the bed, and gasped out of shock. Heavy gauze covered her abdomen, squeezing her body tenderly. She glanced up, fearful tears in her eyes. The pegasus was completely alone.

    She started to whimper out of fear, but a glance to her side stopped all negativity. On the table beside her was a pink paper, folded hamburger-style. On it was a note which read: "Read me."

    Curious, Fluttershy reached over and grabbed the paper, turning on the desk lamp while she was at it. When the mare opened the folded paper, her eyes widened as notes fell out. They were all on little Stick-It's, each a different color.

    Fluttershy, figuring she would read the actual paper later, picked up a cyan colored one, reading it in her mind.

"Sup, Flutters? I just wanna say that, what you did back there? That was really awesome. You're a great mare, an amazing friend, and I'm pretty sure Garrett likes you. Speaking of which, you're extremely lucky, too!

"Stay cool! -Dashie"

    Shy smiled, her heart warming with the overwhelming feeling of acceptance. "You're an amazing friend, too," Fluttershy whispered. She set the note tenderly to her side, picking up the next one. It was purple in color.

"Dear Fluttershy. I would like you to know that I think the way you defended your friends back in Sweet Apple Acres was very brave. You deserve better than to have a broken rib, and to be hospitalized, but what's done is done.

"Get well, soon! -Princess Twilight Sparkle"

    Fluttershy's smile widened, tears of happiness coming to her eyes. "You deserve the best, Twilight," she hinted. After setting that one aside, she picked up the next one. It was pink in color. All of the I's were dotted with a heart, and it was also bombarded with glitter.

"What you did back there was AWESOME! Fluttershy, I think you are AMAZING! I love everything about you! Your shy attitude, your kind personality, your love for animals! EVERYTHING!! <3

"No homo! -Pinkie Pie, XOXOXO"

    Fluttershy laughed quietly, a single tear escaping from her eye. She touched the note tenderly, as if it was a bunny. "I think you're amazing too, Pinkie," she chuckled. Fluttershy picked another note from the pile. It was black in color, and had white writing on it. The letters seemed uneducated and uneven, as if the author had just learned to write.

"DEAr wAifu: i LiKE your spunk. whEn You comE ovEr to cantErLand or whatEvEr it is You're gEtting the huG of your LifE. -Garrett"

    Fluttershy blushed, smiling warmly. She kissed the note tenderly. "Oh, Garrett," she whispered before replacing it with another note. It was white.

"Dear Fluttershy...

"What you did back in Sweet Apple Acres was very heroic. I can't wait to see you again to tell you how grateful I am. You truly are an amazing pony, and you deserve the best.

"With Love, Rarity.

"P.S. The Cutie Mark Crusaders say-- *HY FLUTTERSHY! WE LUV YU! WE HOP YU GET BETTER SOON!***

"Terribly sorry, Fluttershy! Scootaloo took the pencil from me..."

    Fluttershy laughed, letting tears trail down her cheeks. "Classic Scootaloo," she kidded, before switching to the last one. It was orange in color.

"Fluttershy--

"What you did back there was absolutely amazing. I am telling the honest truth when I say I am proud to call you a friend. Anypony in Equestria would be proud. You're kind, brave, and adorable. I hope you get better soon.

"--Applejack

"P.S. Garrett made me put 'adorable' on that list, otherwise he would have never given my hat back. If you see any blood on this note, it's his. Nopony touches my hat."

Fluttershy's cheeks were tear stained as she smiled, closing her eyes. The kind words from all of her friends were bombarding her heart with happiness. She gently set the last note aside, finally peering inside the pink paper.

It was a photo of nine ponies. It held Rainbow Dash, who was currently wearing Applejack's hat while smiling to the camera. The latter was giving Dash a look which said: *"I am going to eviscerate you and bake you into cupcakes." The photo also had Twilight and Rarity, who were trying their best to strike a sophisticated pose as their friends remained crazy. Scootaloo and Applebloom were wrestling on the ground playfully. Pinkie Pie was giving Garrett, in pony form, the hug of his life. He was looking at the camera wide-eyed and confused, as if the human didn't know what it was. Sweetie Belle, meanwhile, was at Garrett's feet, pulling him away from Pinkie.*

All of Fluttershy's friends, being themselves, and having fun. All loving her, all hoping she would get better soon. The pegasus hugged the paper, smiling contently. Tears trailed down her face.

*"...Friendship is Magic," Fluttershy sighed happily.*

13. Dark Questions

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?"

14. C'est la Vie (Part 1: Childhood)

"My first memories were in an orphanage, but not like anything you would think up. It didn't have sympathetic employees, colorful halls, tasty food, or even a solid education. Instead, it consisted of employees who put an afternoon snack before you. The corridors were long, narrow, and gray. The food looked and tasted like mush, and the extend of our knowledge reached out to ten devided by two equals five, and amateur English. The doctors and the nurses were the worst, though. If you even gave them a bad look, they wouldn't treat you for cancer if you had it. If they really didn't like you, they'd inject you with a 'bad-boy-drug.' Which basically means STD's.

"I could only stand that place until I was nine years old."

——————————

"Ne le laissez pas passer!" [Don't let him go!]

    The feisty young man in the employees' arms was trying his best. He kicked, screamed, and punched his heart out until the employees had to shove him to the hard metal floor, his forehead bouncing off the ground with a clank. Dazed but determined, the boy struggled harder as he barked out French taunts, yelling that he'll tell the world what he saw.

    His fist shot into an employee's face who had gotten a little too close to his arms. She stumbled back, her nose bleeding. After seeing the blood, she turned to her comrades. "Où est l'infirmière? L'obtenissez-vous!" [Where is the Nurse? Get her over here!]

    The boy heard that. "Non!!" He bit a hand which had strayed a little too close to his face. The host screamed, but he wasn't done yet. He held on, biting deeper, drawing blood. Finally, the hand snapped back as the employee panted out of pain, stumbling back.

    One of the employees pinned the boy's arm to the floor by pressing her knees down on it. Instantly after her weight was applied, a faint snap was heard, the arm shifting suddenly. The boy screamed out of pain, encouraging the employee to back off, suddenly worried.

    The released tension gave him a burst of strength. The boy kicked, punched (with his left arm), and screamed his way up to a crouching position, the employees trying their hardest to push him back down. "Laissez-moi partir!" [Let me go!] he screeched, elbowing one of the employees in the rib cage. She released her grip, gasping in precious air as the troublesome orphan kept fighting.

    The boy would have knocked the last employee off his back and made a run for it if another hadn't shown up. The boy barely had time to react as a huge, meaty hand latched on to his shoulder, knocking him to the ground painfully. His right arm landed uselessly on the floor, bouncing a little. He hissed out of pain, but the powerful apendage clamped his arm in a headlock position. The boy tried to bite, but no arm was in reach. Instead, he spat.

    That was when a woman clad in a white lab coat walked into his view. The boy snarled, recognizing the Nurse of Ville Orphelinat. She crouched to his position, her ugly face as still as a stone, a syringe in her skinny fingers. She nodded to the man holding him, who responded with roughly jolting the boy's head to the side, revealing a bare neck. He tried to bite his way out, but his captor's beefy forearms were just out of reach.

"Tch, tch, tch..." the Nurse sighed, shaking her head slowly. Her voice sounded like wind through a broken pipe. "C'est le troisième fois cette moins pour toi." [That's the third time this month for you.] She took a cloth from her lab coat, dabbed it in some ointment, and rubbed it on his neck. It stung instantly. "Tu ne partis jamais d'ici. Tu pourries aussi bien arrêter d'essayer." [You're not going to get out of here. You might as well be a good boy and stop trying.] The syringe in her hand closed in on the isolated spot of his neck.

    The boy smiled devilishly, despite the pain. "Si je cessé d'essayer, mon nom ne serait pas Garrett." [If I stopped trying, my name wouldn't be Garrett.]

    The boy jerked his hand up which had previously been thought to be broken. He slapped the syringe, centimeters from his neck, into the forearm of his captor. The captor grunted out of pain, but that grunt instantly turned into a tired moan. The Nurse barely had time to react as Garrett kicked her stomach, sending her gasping for breath. Meanwhile, the man holding Garrett still tried his best to get a grip on the boy, but his strength was failing as the shot did its job. Garrett struggled, at first no escape possible, then a hint of hope, then the man fainted. Garrett, seizing his chance, ran forward and did something only the other children of Ville Orphelinat dreamt of doing.

    He pulled his knee back, took a bracing step forward with his other leg, and using the strength all those nights of running in place which led up to this moment, Garrett kicked the Nurse right in the teeth.

    Her head snapped back as she was instantly knocked out, blood spurting from her mouth as not one, not two, but four teeth flew out. She dropped the syringe in-hand, and with a dazed expression, fell backward and collapsed on the metal floor.

    Garrett took a moment to lavish in his victory, avenging all of those unnecessary exams to quench her perverted fetish, all those stings of the cheek when she backhanded him on a daily basis, and all of his friends' deaths via a disease she refused to treat because "it was their time." Garrett's foot stung, and he realized he might have broken a toe. But that was irrelevant.

    Garrett dashed over the unconscious body of the Nurse, barging through the doors of Ville Orphelinat. That was when something extraordinary happened. For the first time in his young life, Garrett didn't view the outside world longingly or on recess. He didn't have to endure a slap to the cheek for hoping, and he didn't have to be ordered back in his room after the fifteen minutes of longing for freedom known as recess. Garrett realized that, finally, he was truly outside. Fresh, cool air blew gently in his face, encouraging him to close his eyes. The rain gently showered his jet black hair, pastering it to his forehead. Garrett's brown eyes opened slowly as new scents rushed to his nostrils, replacing the smell of metal and blood. In front of him lay just ten more feet of pavement, before giving off to an open fence, formerly guarding the city.

    The city. It was just as it was the many times Garrett peeked from out of the window in the cafeteria, but this time was different. Dark, tall buildings stood on both sides of a long sidewalk, lit vaguely by streetfires and the occasional light.

    It was like Heaven.

"Hey! Toi!" [Hey! You!] a masculine voice rang out. Garrett snapped out of his joyous trance to see two guards heading his way. "Aucun orphelin ici à cette heur!" [No orphans are allowed out here this late!]

    The other guard turned to his comrade. "Crétin! Aucun orphelins sont autorisés ici, tout simplement!" [Dumbass! No orphan is allowed out here, period!]

    The guards, both knowing the boy's intentions, walked calmly to Garrett. They both unclipped a slender rod from their sides, and with a flick, set it ablaze with electricity. Garrett crouched into a defensive stance, his dark brown irises glaring intimidation. The guards were smart enough for one to stay behind in case Garrett made a run for it, the other casually holding the electric rod in front of him.

"Ecoutes ici, écume. Tu es notre chienne. Tu es un orphelin. Nous pouvons faire ce que bon nous avec toi. La loi ne se soucie pas." [Listen here, scum. You're our bitch. You're an orphan. We can do whatever we want with you. The law doesn't care.] The guard pointed the rod at Garrett. "Je peux comprendre pourquoi tu veux partir. Croyes-moi, je le fais. Mais qui est juste ne va pas arriver." [I understand why you'd want to leave. Trust me, I do. But that just isn't gonna happen.]

    That sort of abusive language was enough to widen any other boy's eyes, but Garrett was used to it.

"Faites-on une faveur et transformer ton âne désolé arrière autour avant je te choque avec suffisamment d'électricité pour tu mettre dans le coma." [Now do us both a favor and get your sorry ass back in there before I shock you with enough electricity to put you in a coma.] He was now standing in front of Garrett, towering over the teen. "...Saleté."

    Garrett peered up at the bahemoth of a man, smirking. "C'est une bonne chose tu n'est pas un orphelin," [Good thing you're not an orphan] he taunted, whipping out a club which he had fashioned from concrete, metal, and cloth. It was an early prototype, but one he grew attached to, evident by its name: Black Jack. "...Parce que tu as un visage seulement une mere puet aimer." [...Because you have a face only a mother can love.]

    The guard snickered, although a hint of anger was evident in his features. "Si tu était habile assez penser ça, tu series intelligent assez n'àpporter pas un gode pour un lutte au corps à corps." [If you were clever enough to think that one up, one would believe you would be smart enough to not bring a dildo to a melee fight.]

    The guard was the first to attack, swinging the electric rod over his head to come crashing down on Garrett's skull. The young man had his youth on his side, and easily dodged the blow as the glowing rod swung past his head. Garrett instantly took advantage of the moment. Not making the same mistake as the man, Garrett didn't take the time to raise Black Jack above his head. Instead, he gripped it with both hands, swinging it upward right into the outstreched elbow.

    A crack was heard, instantly followed by a scream as the guard dropped the rod, it clattering to the wet floor afterwards. Garrett kicked the man out of the way just in time for the puddle he was standing in to be set aflame with electricity, although that was the extent of his kindness. Garrett wasted no time to jump on the man, sitting on his chest. He raised Black Jack above his head, ready to knock the guard unconscious, when the cyan reflection in a puddle caught his attention.

    With moments to spare, Garrett flung himself off the man, staying low to the ground. The electric rod of the second guard stopped centimeters from the groaning man's chest. The uninjured guard quickly helped his comrade up, who stumbled, holding his now broken arm with pain.

    This guard had less of a big mouth, charging at Garrett with the tazer-like weapon. He swung horizontally, Garrett dodging it by lurching back. He continued his onslaught, slicing with the rod like it was a sword. Every time a rain droplet landed on the rod, sparks flew. One of which bounced from the rod onto Garrett's face, who stumbled back at the stinging sensation. The guard took advantage of this, stabbing through the air with the rod.

    Garrett caught it by the guard's hands, safe from the electricity which the rod danced with. The man snarled, kicking Garrett to the floor. The boy was instantly rolling away, barely missing the guard's rod as it sploshed in a puddle, immediately setting it aflame with blue sparks. The guard was relentless, not giving Garrett a chance for rest as he kept slapping the floor, the teen just barely escaping the electric shock coming from the rod each time. The guard continued to attack until a particularly large rain droplet landed on his rod, sparks jumping onto his hand. He gasped, taking a step back from the pain. That was enough time for Garrett to scramble up, twirling Black Jack in his fingers momentarily before charging.

    The guard barked out an incoherant insult, whacking Garrett in the side with his rod. This time, he didn't miss.

    It felt as if a fire of insane pain traveled up Garrett's body, sparks flying from the point of contact. Garrett howled out of pain, dropping Black Jack. Tears were in his eyes. The guard, seeing his chance, swung the electric weapon at Garrett yet again. The boy side-stepped, but the agony made him lose his balance as he tumbled to the floor. Black Jack was just within his reach, but his mind was too groggy to act upon it.

    The guard knelt down to Garrett, shoving an elbow on his throat, restricting any movement. He held the electric rod high, intending on knocking the teenager out cold. Miraculously, a large rain drop splattered on the rod, sending sparks showering on the guard's hand. He yelped out of pain, throwing the rod instinctively to the floor.

    That was enough time for Garrett's mind to clear. He quickly reached out, grabbed Black Jack, and brought it crashing onto the guard's skull.

    He might as well hit the man with a brick. For a moment, the sillhouette of the guard stayed stationary, as if nothing had happened. Then, he started swaying. After a few seconds of his physical uncertainty, the guard toppled over to the side of Garrett, landing in a steaming puddle.

    Garrett's eyes widened as he was instantly set aflame with electricity. The guard spasmed vigorously, blue lines of electricity shooting from his body. He had landed in the most unlucky puddle in the vicinity, the electric rod beside his head.

    He kept spasming, smoking, and foaming until the electric rod died. The guard settled, laying motionless on the ground, steam rising from his wide eyes. Garrett stared at the way his chest was motionless, no breathing present. When the obvious happened and the guard did not get up, Garrett shakily stood, took a few steps, then bent over and vomited.

"Tu l'as tué," [You killed him] Garrett heard from behind. He woozily turned to see the other guard, his arm bent at an impossible angle from the elbow. The atmosphere between them was empty, besides the falling rain from above. The guard clenched his fist. "...Tueur." [Killer.]

    Garrett ran.

——————————

"And that was the day I was finally free, but at a cost. I had the blood of someone on my hands, a guard at that. At least, that's how the city and law saw it. His buddy told them everything from his point of view. I was a murderer who killed a noble guard of the Ville Orphelinat. And I had to be put to justice. I just learned to live with the consiquences, dismissing them as another cost for freedom. Plus, who was I to defy a guard? A misplaced little orphan is all.

"The teen portion of my life earned me a new label, besides 'Le Diable Orphelin.' 'The Master Thief.' After I checked out of that god-forsaken orphanage, I was alone. No friends, nowhere to run, and most importantly, starving to death. So, I stole from people.

"I stole, stole, and stole some more. I started off stealing the tips from the tables of restaurants. Then, I stole from the cashier. Then, I stole from their own pockets. I got so good at stealing, soon I started to steal each of my three meals of the day, if it be pocket-sized rolls for a snack or a roasted turkey for dinner. I slept with the homeless on the docks of the city, using their warmth as my blanket. I bathed in the showers of other peoples' homes when they were out. In the winter, I stole my coat. In the summer, I cut off the sleeves.

"I constructed my bow when I was ten. I used, you guessed it, stolen supplies to make it extend into full form and contract into a mobile, smaller form with the flick of the wrist. At first, I used homemade arrows for distracting the rich pigs before stealing their stuff. But my life turned around when I was sixteen."

——————————

    Another night, another full stomach.

    Garrett strode casually through the alley, enjoying the way the now familiar sound of jingling cash echoed through the empty corridor. It was satisfying, knowing he could buy his own dinner for the third night in a row. Wednesday through Friday seemed to be his lucky days in the food department. At least, he presumed it was Friday. The calender on that expensive restaurant he stole from would agree.

    At the end of the alley, illuminated by a lone street fire, a plump gentleman with a generic-looking hat stepped in front of the alley. He stopped to warm his hands on the fireplace, rubbing them as he sighed. Garrett acknowledged the full wallet, strapped to his belt. It hung like a golden medallion, which also resembled it to the young thief. Garrett haulted his casual stroll, his hands twitching with sudden excitement.

    Normally, someone who stole stole for survival. They stole enough for themselves to live, nothing more. But to Garrett, it was the thing he was good at. And when you were good at something, you didn't just do it enough to survive, you do it enough to become a professional at it.

    Garrett smiled, pulling up his homemade mask, a mere cloth (stolen, obviously) covering his lower face. Garrett was instantly low to the ground, a stance which he had grown accostumed to. He slinked through the alley, light on his feet, to the wealthy looking man.

    The man noticed something, evident by the raise of his turned head. It acted as a button which froze Garrett entirely. Instead of turning around, however, the man crouched down to the ground, his money bag scraping the floor. He held out a piece of red meat, extending his arm to a dark corner. Garrett squinted his eyes, spotting a cowering black cat. At the extend of the man's hand, however, it raised its head.

    Garrett smiled. This would be challenging, but a huge accomplishment if he could pull it off. He was going to steal with an animal nearbye, watching, and if he moved slow enough, not alerting his target.

    Garrett took a couple steps forward, his bare feet completely silent on the stone road. The man didn't notice as he came closer, his eyes never leaving the wallet.

"C'mere, little guy..." the man cooed, gently wiggling the piece of meat. The cat meowed, pawing the ground in front of itself before taking a step forward. "There ya go," he chuckled, reaching forward with the meat.

    The cat's curious eyes momentarily glanced over the man's shoulder, but saw nothing but the statue of a crouching human, and moved along. Said statue smiled at his skills, slowly taking another step forward.

    "Come on, petit chat. I won't hurt you," the man whispered. The cat was now inches away from the food, smelling it tenderly. When it figured the man wasn't a threat, it stepped over and took the meat from the man's hand. It then started to munch on its prize.

    The man chuckled, reaching forward and tentatively rubbing the cat's head. "Bon chat."

    That was when the feline hissed at something behind the man's back.

    Garrett instantly turned to run, his prize in hand, but was stopped by his collar. His momentum swung his legs upward, making the teenager land on his back. Garrett instantly whipped out Black Jack, trying to whack the man in the head.

    Surprisingly, the gentleman was quicker. He caught Garrett's weapon, snatching it out of his hand before breaking the handle over his knee. Garrett stared in despair at the sight of his source of defense's destruction, but didn't ponder over it. He was too busy turning around and biting the man's hand, encouraging him to let go in pain. Garrett ran.

    He didn't get far. It felt as if something sharp and cold grabbed his back, pulling him off his feet back to the man.

    This couldn't be happening! Seven years of stealing, and he never got caught! Now, he was helpless, in this man's grasp. All those years of training himself for what he'd do in this scenario? Down the drain.

    Garrett attempted to scramble up. The man flicked his arm to the side, and it felt as if a cable wrapped around the young thief, leaving him immobile. He tried to struggle, to break the cable, but it tightened around his body, pinning his arms to the side. He wasn't going anywhere.

    The fire behind the man outlined his sillhouette like black ink on orange paper. He knelt down, his face close to Garrett, but just out of sight. Garrett bore his teeth.

    "...Impressive," the man chuckled suddenly. Garrett closed his mouth, eyes widening. "I didn't hear you at all! And you had bare feet. You must have experience." The man looked to his side, clicking his mouth. The cat from earlier came from the shadows, and strolled over to his side casually. The shadowy man rubbed the cat's head, scratching its chin at the same time. It purred in response. "Bien fait, mon ami."

    Garrett stared at the backstabbing feline, thinking of how much he suddenly hated cats.

    The man's attention shifted to Garrett. "What's your name, little thief?" he asked.

    Garrett glared, silent.

    The man tilted his head slightly, before realization hit. "Oh! How rude of me." He took off his hat, revealing a set of frazzled hair. The way he bowed revealed his face. His face was aged, but not enough for his jet black beard to host any gray hairs. He had grayish eyes, a bushy mustache, and a mole on his cheek which Garrett wanted desperately to pop. "Je m'appelle Basso Pierrée. Your humble, yet exeptionally handsome, underworld caretaker." Basso put the hat back on his head. "And what might your name be?"

    Garrett glared, silent.

    Basso stayed silent for a little while, confused, until more realization hit. He gestured to the cat, who blinked in response. "And this is Bette, the thief-baiting cat. She's my personal assistant in thief-natching. A natural actress in blood. So, now that we all know each other, what's your name, boy?"

    Garrett glared, silent.

    Basso sighed, shaking his head. "Listen, kid. If we're gonna spend some time together, we better start trusting each other."

    "I don't trust anyone," Garrett snarled, struggling some more. The cable held. "And what do you mean by 'if we're gonna spend some time together'?"

    Basso nodded his head, knowing just what the teen was talking about. "I'll answer both your questions."

    "I only asked one-- Hey! L'ârretter!" Garrett suddenly yelped as the man picked him up, hoisting him over his shoulder. Garrett would have fought back if his limbs weren't constricted completely, unable to move via the tight cable around his body.

    Basso only clicked his lips to Bette, who followed as he started to walk. Garrett stared in despair as Black Jack lay, broken, on the floor just a couple yards away. He struggled, but couldn't achieve much. The street fire seemed to slowly shrink as Garrett was carried away into the shadows of the city.

    "First question," Basso announced to Garrett as he turned a corner. "'I don't trust anyone.'"

    "That was a statement, crétin," Garrett spat, struggling as he was carried away.

    "Well, you were implying your uncertainty, so it's a question in my book." Garrett was suddenly picked up from Basso's shoulder, and put on a seat. He instantly tried to hop away, but Basso held on to his cable. To his despair, Garrett realized he was now on the wooden seat of a chariot, two horses in front of it. Basso winked as he reached down to retrieve a whip, snapping the horses' backs with it afterward. "Allez-vous!" The horses whinnied before trotting, Basso holding their ropes in his hands. Bette hurriedly hopped from out of the carriage, landing on Basso's lap. He smiled down at her, stroking her head. "As I was saying--"

    "What the Hell is this?!" Garrett spat, looking around frantically. "This is kidnapping!"

    "Not really. In fact, most would consider it justice, Diable Orphelin."

    Garrett felt a stone drop in his body. Seven years of never being seen, and he was still wanted for a crime he never commited. "...Are you a cop?"

    Basso chuckled. "Moi, non. The exact opposite, actually."

    "Bounty Hunter?"

    "Caretaker of the Underworld, my good friend."

    Garrett looked away. "You're not my friend."

    Basso shook his head slightly. "Back to your question."

    "Statement."

    "Implied uncertainty." Basso cleared his throat, looking off in the distance. Garrett felt numb anger as the buildings around him kept moving. "...Times are changing, kid. The Watch is getting stronger. Increased theft reports mean increased guards. That doesn't mean you can't steal, though. It just means you have to get better."

    Garrett tilted his head.

    "You need friends, mon copain." Garrett turned away scoffing. "Friends that have things you'd want."

    "Besides money or food, what could you have that I'd possibly want?"

    "For one, I can give you a clean slate," Basso smiled, slapping the horses again with his ropes. They turned a corner, into a part of town Garrett had never seen before. "For another, I can give you some decent clothes. I'll keep the thiefy look for you, though: black. Thirdly, I can teach you some new skills you thought you'd never need for stealing. Lastly, I can give you some fancy gadgets I think you'd like. The contraption you're tangled in? That's the Cable Snare."

    Garrett looked down at the cables around his body, squeezing him. Basso gave the sharp, metal hook on Garrett's back a slap, which instantly loosened the cables. With a flick of the wrist, the cable zipped from under Garrett into Basso's right sleeve, followed by the metal thing. Turns out it was a grapple, which extended so it could properly attach itself to its victim.

    "I was there when that batard told the court everything you'd done, seven years ago. He made you sound like a villain. Said you held his buddy in the puddle, shocking him while laughing like a maniac." Basso smiled. "I have a lot of practice in Psycology and Phisiology. I knew he was lying the second he looked at me. His eyes were basically screaming, 'I'm a pathetic, lying excuse of a human being.' It takes a lot of guts to just throw a kid's life away like that, especially if he was just an orphan."

    "You'd be surprised at how many gutsy people there are in this world, then," Garrett muttered.

    "Believe me, I know," Basso responded, continuing his story. "I told you earlier I was the Caretaker of the Underworld. That means I'm instantly your best friend. I take care of convicted thieves, murderers, and gamblers. Give them food, training, supplies, and gadgets to carry out my missions for them. Their reward isn't only a get-out-of-jail-free card, but also money." Garrett perked up at that. "You see, the way I see it, criminals aren't bad people. Hell, half the time they're wrongfully accused. The ones who aren't are the people who were just trying to survive. It happens so much nowadays, I just assume every criminal did what they did just to stay alive. So, I take care of them."

    Basso looked at Garrett. "Let's face it. With your reputation, you need to let me in. You need to trust me, kid. I'm your only hope." Basso rubbed his mustache. "Now, for your second question, we're gonna spend a lot of time together because I'm taking you to my place."

    "What, are you adopting me now?" Garrett sneered.

    "No, I'm saving your life. In fact, I'm enriching it. I have a job for you, boy."

    "I don't trust--"

    "I'll pay you five thousand Ğ."

    That shut Garrett up. Basso smirked, knowing he had his next helper. "It's just a little job. Perfect for a thief of your talent. Do it, and there's plenty more where five thou' came from. Not only that, but I'll train you." Garrett simply gawked at the man who had, in the spam of five minutes, shifted from the host of his next prize to his savior. "...So there ya go. Both questions-- err, excuse me. Question and implied uncertainty answered. So, can I know your name now?"

    Garrett looked ahead as the horses rounded another corner of the street before trotting to a stop. To his left was a dark alley, blocked off by a gate. "...My name is Garrett."

    "Garrett...?" Basso implied, leaning in.

    "...Just Garrett."

    "No last name?"

    "I named myself," Garrett grunted.

    "Ah. I understand." Basso jumped out of the chariot, walking to the gate. Bette followed. Garrett hopped out and followed suit, tailing the cat. Basso opened the gate door casually, walking in before holding it open for Bette and Garrett. The teen grumbled under his breath, following Basso in the dark alley.

    After a few more seconds of walking in the dark, Basso stopped Garrett near a staircase. "Here we are." He stepped down the staircase, his big belly bouncing as he did. Garrett followed him to the bottom, before coming across a wooden door.

    Basso turned the door nob, walking inside. Garrett tailed behind, entering a new atmosphere as he stepped in the room. After Basso flicked the switch by the doorway, it was shrouded in light.

"Bienvenue," Basso grinned, walking in. "À mon chez. It could use some work, but it's home."

    Garrett took it all in. It was about the size of a big, square room, two wooden doors on the far side. In the left corner closest to Garrett, he noticed a sofa sitting in front of two bookshelves, each on a separate side of the converging walls. They were full of books. In the right corner hung a portrait of a woman on the wall, a solitary chair facing it. On the far left corner was a wordrobe and chest, instantly teasing Garrett's curiosity, who figured he'd steal from it later. The far right corner had a wooden table with two chairs on it. Basso walked further in, followed by Bette.

    "The door on the left is the shitting hole," he informed. Garrett recoiled. "Don't worry about the smell, I got plumbing. A shower, too. The door on the right's your new bedroom."

    Garrett peered at the door. "A real bed?"

    "Yep. Nothing like the nasty, cum-and-blood stained matresses in Ville Orphelinat. And judging from your appearance, it's a lot more comfy than between a drunk and a whore, lying on a wooden dock."

    "How did you..?"

    "Like I said, mon nouveau ami. Psycology. I'll teach you later." Basso smiled, waving his hand slightly as he made his way to the wardrobe in the room. Garrett crossed his arms, walking slowly around the room.

    "À voila." Basso backed up from the wardrobe, a pile of something black and leathery in hand. He walked to Garrett, before reaching out with it.

    Garrett peered down at the clothing, before looking back up. "...I still don't trust you."

    "I don't expect you to. Seven years with no friends can really do something to a kid." Basso gestured to the clothes. "But this'll be a start. After all, if you're gonna act like a thief, might as well look the part."

    Garrett snatched the outfit from Basso's hand.

    "It's for tomorrow," the man informed. "You'll need a good night's rest for the job." Basso walked past Garrett to the lone sofa, yawning. He took off his hat and set it at the foot of the couch before lying on it. "Whelp, bon nuit."

    Garrett briefly inspected the empty beer bottles by Basso's new bed before walking to his room. When he opened the door, he was astonished to see a real bed. It was modest, about two feet off the ground and hosting curtains from the ceiling. But it was real. The teen barely noticed the rest of the room as he glided to the bed, a grin on his face. He put a hand on its covered matress, pressing down to test the softness. His hand sunk right in. Garrett gleefully dropped the outfit, hopping on board. He bounced back up a full inch before settling in the soft cushions. Instantly, his eyelids grew heavy.

    That was when a sudden wave of anger attacked Garrett with a vengeance. He didn't know where it came from, or why he was having it, but he was angry as Hell. Before he knew it, he was thrown into a mental rage.

    Just ten minutes ago, he was just fine! He had a full stomach, a rare luxury for him. Then, this fatso comes and claims him as his property? Quoi?!

    Garrett clenched his fists.

"This guy doesn't deserve to just come in from nowhere with some actress pet, thinking he can just kidnap me and get away with it! He can't honestly think he's scott-free to do this just because I'm wanted! And that bitch Bette! Je veux juste la déchirer, membre par membre!"

    Garrett punched his bed, sitting up instantly. He was moments away from retrieving his bow and teaching Basso a lesson when realization hit. He was having his nightly mood-swings again.

    Garrett grunted angrily, staring at the floor with a death stare. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder seriously had its effects.

    Garrett closed his eyes, taking a deep sigh before opening them. One would think seven years was enough time to get used to it. But one would be wrong.

    That was when the young man spotted the outfit from earlier, now unfolded and on the floor. It looked like a black morph suit, but with a hood, various pockets and loopholes, and, to his delight, a facemask. Two fingerless gloves were spread out on the floor beside it, along with a pair of thin-looking, featureless shoes which had dark brown pads on their soles. It was all black.

    Curiosity got the better of Garrett as he hopped out of his new bed, kneeling down to his suit. He held it up by the shoulders, and was surprised to see a cape droop from behind the cloth.

"...Huh," was all he said, before dropping the uniform, undressing, and lying in a bed which he would soon become very familiar with.

——————————

    Garrett, at first, didn't recognize himself in the mirror. He had to wipe a circle in the foggy glass, only revealing his upper body, but it was enough of a shock to make his eyes widen. It was the first time he had done this in his memory.

    Basso had insisted he take a shower, even if Garrett hadn't the slightest idea how it worked. When in the unusually warm (yet incredibly comfortable) waters, there were three things he presumed were to wash himself with. Something called "Shampoo," "Conditioner," and a block of something green that said "Colombe" [Dove] on it.

    He guessed the Shampoo went on his body, the Colombe went in his hair, and the Conditioner also went in his hair. He didn't know what it did, but the jet black streaks on his noggin were frazzled and soft, his skin smelling of strawberries. He must've done something right.

    Garrett turned to pick up his usual, tattered and baggy clothes, but stopped. His head slowly turned to the outfit on the floor.

    It was sitting there, still as ever, but at the same time inviting. Garrett's hand shifted away from over his clothes to the outfit, holding it up for inspection. Oddly enough, it appealed to him. He turned the outfit around to find a zipper running from the top to bottom of the suit's torso.

    Garrett, after sliding into his undergarments, unzipped the entrance and stepped in. After that, he pulled the pants up to his waist, the soft leather fitting perfectly around his well-toned legs. Garrett wiggled his way in, before sitting down to pull the shoes on. He did just that, and was standing up to fit his arms in the sleeves afterwards. Once again, a perfect fit. Garrett wondered if Basso had been watching him for quite some time to get the exact measurements.

    Garrett reached back and zipped his outfit up, admiring how the cape fell over his shoulders and nearly scraped the floor. Garrett adjusted the hood on his head, pulling the face mask up above his lower face, which was a tight and comfortable fit. It wasn't necessary, it just felt natural. Garrett slid the fingerless gloves on.

    A knock on the door attracted Garrett's attention.

    "I got you some breakfast," Basso informed simply. "You're gonna need the energy for today's job, boy."

    Garrett uh-huh'ed a reply, turning to leave the bathroom. However, his reflection stopped him dead.

    Garrett slowly turned to the mirror. It was clearer now, the fog having died down from time. It showed himself in his full body, now clad in thief-uniform. Garrett reached a hand up, drawing the face mask down to reveal his face. A small smirk appeared on his features.

"Toi beau coquin," he jeered.

15. Mal Amour

    "Garrett! You put that back this instant!"

    Garrett gave Rarity an indifferent look as the golden spoon found its new home in his money bag, becoming the first inhabitant of the newly repaired fabric. Even if the other Elements of Harmony were focusing on their food, the white unicorn still had Garrett in her focus. The thief, after certainly not putting the spoon back, faced Rarity full-on. "You bring a thief to an expensive, outdoor restaurant, and he'll do his job."

    Rarity narrowed her eyes, ears lowering. "I didn't bring you here to steal, Garrett. I thought you could use some fresh air. You made that quite clear after you started stealing things from that dusty old apartment, mid-story!"

    Garrett shrugged. "Everything has a price. And that lamp on the cabinet had a relatively beafy one."

    "That was an antique. The only one in your room! If you would have just been honest with us before, we could have helped you with your thieving, before you screwed up your chance to stay in the Canterlot castle."

    Rainbow Dash looked up from her lettuce-tomatoe-(no)bacon sandwich, eying Rarity with a smirk. "Rarity, did you just use the term 'screwed up?'"

    "Being with his pea-brained face is infecting me with his stupidity!" Rarity groaned. It was then she realized what she had just said, evident by her suddenly sick expression.

    "Ouch," Garrett mumbled, before turning his head to see a waitress retrieving the dirty plates from a table nearbye. He looked around, seeing the many witnesses, before yawning wide, reaching his hooves above his head.

    "Garrett, we know you can't be tired," Rarity deadpanned, before his motives became clear. Garrett smoothly grabbed two glass cups without so much as a flick of the wrist, before returning to his natural position. Rarity's eye twitched. "Even if you're used to it, Garrett, it is illegal to steal. I'll call the guards if you try to grab one more thing.

"Mon Dieu, contrôler ton effronterie!" Garrett chuckled.

    "I can understand you," Rarity shot back. "And I am not being sassy. I'm being practical."

    "Wow, do you guys ever stop fighting?" Rainbow Dash groaned from beside Rarity. "So what if he steals a few spoons? It's not like he was trying to take an ancient relic that has the power to destroy all life on Equestria."

    "Depends on how shiny it is."

    Rarity's forehead had the wondrous privelege of meeting the table top. "Oh, my Celestia..."

    Pinkie Pie grinned. "That'd be a cool sequel idea! Where the Angels Fall, Part Duex: Garrett Steals an Ancient Relic Which Has the Power to Destroy All Life on Equestria~. Kinda has a ring to it, doesn't it?"

    Garrett was contemplating the endless possibilities when Applejack injected her say. "Say, Garrett? You've been tellin' us about yer childhood an' how ya became a thief and all, but ya haven't gotten to this 'Erin' character. Who is she?"

"She is a character that Rarity shouldn't have said anything about." Garrett gave a glare to the culprit. Rarity wouldn't raise her head from the table. Her forehead was making good friends with it. "And I will explain what my affiliations with She is, after you guys quit badgering me about my talent."

    Rainbow Dash chuckled. "You guys are acting like a couple."

    That was enough to send Rarity's head upright in a bolting action. "Him?! Are you insane?! He's just as uncivilized as he is rude, unpolite, dirty, and selfish! For Celestia's sake, he steals for a living! Not only that, but he also has no respect for his authorities, is super secretive about himself, won't shut up with his stupid, immature and sarcastic retorts; has no sense of personal hygiene, takes stupid and dangerous risks for the fun of it, makes references nopony gets, talks about our lives as if it's some story that he's the hero of, and most of all, he is an ALIEN!"

    The entire table was dead silent as all eyes were on Rarity. The unicorn took a while to figure out she was leaning over the table top, pointing at Garrett with a shaking hoof. She shakily returned to her spot, before giving Garrett a glare, although considerably less hostile. "...I thought you'd start naming reasons to hate me, too. So they'd hear both of us and... not understand either..."

    "That only happens in the movies," Garrett deadpanned. He leaned back in his seat, bringing his hooves to his lips in a mannerly fashion. "Okay... I have a lot of things to say about that statement. First of all, a little dirt on someone's hooves never hurt anyone. Secondly, stealing is actually quite fun. You should try it some time." Rarity was eying the decor-cactus in the corner of the restaurant. How many whacks would it take to make Garrett shut up...?

    "And I'm not sarcastic, just have a dry wit. I also have a sense of hygiene. Pinkie Pie gets my references. I'm not the hero, I'm the anti-hero. But that alien thing? Ouch. C'était jeuste grossier."

    Rarity was covering her ears now, groaning as her forehead was reunited with the tabletop. The two had a joyous, happy reunion.

    Rainbow Dash thought she ought to put her say in. She sat up straight, looking at each of the ponies in turn. "I think the rest of Garrett's childhood can wait a little longer. Let's go shopping, Rarity!"

    The table simply gawked at Rainbow Dash.

    In fact, it seemed as if the entire restaurant quieted instantly. Everypony simply froze, dozens of pairs of wide eyes and dropped jaws turning her way. Somewhere, in an alternate reality, the Bronies of the world suddenly felt a pain in their stomach for some reason.

    The cyan pegasus instantly realized what she had said, and her body froze into an ice cube. The original plan was to separate Rarity from the group to keep her busy, hopefully destroying the tension between her and Garrett. Instead, she might as well have stabbed a box of kittens repeatedly to get the same effect.

    Rarity smiled up at her friend, unknowing of the mental chaos around her. "You would do such a thing for me...? Oh, Rainbow, you are truly a great friend!" She gave the pegasus a quick hug, before turning back to the group. "If you excuse me, Rainbow Dash and I have some business to do. Tah-tah!" She gave Garrett a glare that could chew through metal, before grabbing Rainbow Dash and trotting out of the restaurant. "La, la-la, la-la..."

    The restaurant took a while, but it soon recovered. The inhabitants dismissed the mares' antics, but a certain four ponies could not get the image of the athletic, tomboyish pegasus shopping out of their minds.

    Garrett was the first to recover, having not known Dash for as long as the others. "Wow. She ever said that before?" He turned to his friends, but none were responsive. They were in a trance of sorts, Pinkie Pie's jaw laying on the floor. Garrett shrugged, turned, and spotted another waitress cleaning used utinsels from the table. "Hey, those look expensive..."

    His eyes glowed with excitement, although one was glowing with something quite different.

——————————

    "Oh! This fabric will go perfect with the dress I have in mind! Stylish, robust, and... violently red... It'll be a masterpiece! Just imagine what it'll look like."

    Another colored spool of thread floated its way to Rainbow Dash's cart. Said pegasus was trying to imagine up a noose so she could end this humiliation. She had expected Rarity to instantly get over her vengeance for Garrett the moment they entered the colorful store, but she had just kept switching between talking about how stupidly bad of a pony He was, and what this fabric would look like on a new design she had in mind.

    Without warning, Rarity stomped her hoof. "I just can't BELIEVE him! His stubborn attitude?! His sarcastic nature?! And that STUPID, HIDEOUS, *AND YET SOMEWHAT AROUSING** GLOWING EYE?!* How can he sleep at night knowing how selfish he is?!" Rarity spotted a new spool of thread. "Oh, Rainbow Dash, what do you think of this one? Too flamboyant? Too pink?"

    The pegasus peered up at the hot pink thread, and shrugged her shoulders. "I don't even know what you have in mind... how would I know?"

    "Oh, I can answer that easily! I'm going to make a shirt that shows a certain stubborn, stupid, short, and dissembowled stallion, who has his guts spilt on the floor as Pinkie Pie eats them, thinking of how bad he tastes physically, when she thought he tasted bad mentally!"

    Rainbow Dash flinched. Rarity was either madly in love with Garrett, just afraid to admit it, or she really did hate him with a gory passion. The latter was growing more evident by the second.

    "Did I ever tell you that he actually kissed me?! It was right before he saved Sweetie Belle from that Vandalite. He thought I was Erin, and he was most likely hallucinating, but I know the truth. He's messed up in that small brain of his, *that's what!*** And now we know why! Because of his screwed up childhood!" Rarity suddenly seemed to know what she had just said. "Oh, my Celestia, I just blamed him for that horrible childhood of his! Now I just feel terrible about myself-- why did he have to be abused? Why did he have to go homeless for years?! WHY DID HE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT?!" Rarity burst into tears, draping her arms around Rainbow Dash. "Celestia-dammit, Rainbow, I'm a bad pony!" And with that, she was gone. A stream started to fall from Rarity's eyes, onto Dash's shoulder.

    Rainbow Dash, meanwhile, stood dumbfounded at her friend's attitude. She wondered just how much Rarity truly cared for Garrett, even if he was all the things she called him. She slowly lifted a hoof, awkwardly patting Rarity's back. "Uh... There, there."

    Rarity jerked back to stare her friend in the eyes. "There, there is right, my friend! He's from there there, that horrible, awful place which is the home of Vandal, and we're from just there, down this mountain and up the hill! He must be terribly homesick! Oh, my Celestia, Rarity, why did you let me say such things to him?! Why, why, oh *WHY?!"***

    Rainbow Dash sighed. She could only hope her three friends were consulting Garrett as best they could.

——————————

    Garrett was walking through the streets of Canterlot, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Twilight Sparkle behind him. The alicorn princess was attracting a lot of attention from the ponies around, some even coming up to have autographs. Garrett didn't seem to mind, that is, until he spotted some of the mares walking down the street giving him a strange look. When they passed, they giggled, and he instantly assumed the worst. He was now hiding in an alley way, peering back at the suspicious ponies.

    "Gee, Garrett, you're more jumpy than a cockroach in a kitchen!" Applejack examined, tilting her head. "What's gotten into you?

    "It's not about what's in me, its about what's going to be in me," Garrett responded, glaring at the passing ponies. "A knife in the back is what's going to be in me if I'm not cautious."

    Twilight turned from a colt who wanted a autograph (who was now jumping for joy with his new, signed picture) to Garrett, sighing as she shook her head. "Garrett, nopony here is against you."

    "Besides Ms. Marshmallow," the thief retorted.

    "Oh! Now I see what's happening!" Pinkie walked into view from behind Garrett. "You're just grumpy because Rarity absolutely WRECKED you with insults earlier!"

    Garrett gave Pinkie a look. "What? No. I'm just thinking about--"

    "How much you'd like to get back at her?" Pinkie smirked.

    Garrett looked away, hiding a smile. "No. Just how dangerous those bombs under this place are."

    That shut Pinkie up as her eyes instantly widened.

    "Garrett!" Applejack scolded, frowning. "Ya know she doesn't wanna be reminded of that!"

    "To be fair, that is the only reason we're here," Twilight put in. After signing another autograph, of course. "Find some Vandalites, ask them questions, and ultimately get to Vandal."

    "What then?" Garrett asked, coming back into the light. "Do we ask him politely? 'Excuse me, sir, but we realize that you have the detanator to the extremely dangerous bombs placed under the most important city in all of Equestria. Can you please hand it over so we can arrest you without a major fight scene which lasts for 3/4 of the chapter?"

    "We'll do what we can," Twilight asserted confidently. "If all else fails, we'll use the Elements of Harmony."

    "With one of the hosts back in Ponyville, injured?"

    "We-- gyh!!" Twilight glared at Garrett. "She'll be back in a week or so! This'll work out, just you watch."

    The ponies' conversation was inturrupted as screams erupted from the crowd. In front of them, a wave of ponies scrambled away from behind a corner, a frantic look in their eyes. Some of them started to scream out understandable statements.

"Oh, my Celestia! What is that thing?!"

"Everypony, get out of here! It's a monster!

"MY LEG!"

    "I liked the last one," Garrett commented.

    Twilight gave the three ponies behind her a concerned look, although determined for victory. "Ponies and Garrett, this is our first time confronting a Vandalite in public. Make sure no civilians are harmed. Garrett, only shift to violence for defense."

    "Sure thing, Nick Fury. We'll take down Loki and his alien minions if it's the last thing we'll do!"

    "Are we role playing now? Ooh! I wanna be Thor!" Pinkie raised her hoof with a grin.

    With a glow of her horn, Twilight picked up the two role-playing ponies, charging into the fray, Applejack on her tail.

——————————

    "Honestly, I think I just might love the idiot! Can you believe that? The Element of Generosity has a school-filly crush on the Master of Thieves! Me! And the Element of Selfish Acts of Self Desire! Honestly, it's like my brain is playing tricks on me, Rainbow! I can't stop thinking about him and his stupid face! That stupid, extremely sexy face of his!"

    Rainbow Dash, meanwhile, was staring at the events which were unfolding just outside of the fabric store's glass doors. Twilight, AJ, Pinkie, and the (in Rarity's words) stupid, yet extremely handsome rouge was confronting a Vandalite who had just destroyed a pastry shop. Her friends were smart, and had Garrett hold his hooves over Pinkie Pie's eyes so she couldn't see the destroyed cake-haven. Twilight started to talk to the enraged Vandalite.

    "But I mean I can't be in love with him! He's the polar opposite of me! He's selfish, sarcastic, rude, and extremely handsome-- oh, Rainbow Dash, do you think I look handsome? --I mean pretty?"

    Rainbow Dash was staring as the Vandalite screeched at her friends, the noise muffled by the glass door between her and the inevitable chaos. Pinkie Pie looked as if she thought Garrett's antics was a game, evident by her muted giggling and slapping his hooves playfully. Garrett, being shorter than Pinkie, had trouble holding on. When she slapped his hoof, he fell to the floor. She got a full view of the destroyed pastry shop.

    "Uhh.. Rarity?" Dash started.

    "You hesitated! Oh, I knew it! I knew it, I knew it, I knew it! I'm a hideous cow! I guess I knew it for my entire life, but now he shed the light on the subject, bringing it out from the darkest corners of my self-loathing mind! I'm no good for Garrett, and he's no good for me, so how could we possibly be together?! Oh, Rainbow Dash, why is this happening to me?! Why couldn't I fall in love with somepony much simpler?!"

    Pinkie Pie was roaring like a lion, her hooves a blur in the air as Garrett held her up. Her deadly eyes were glued on the Vandalite as she yelled vicious insults, drowned out by the glass in front of Rainbow Dash. She kicked, squirmed, and even did a death-roll in mid-air, somehow, to get the thief off of her. Garrett was straining as the cake-avenger in his arms put up the biggest fight he's ever seen in his life. The Vandalite, meanwhile, was scratching his head as Garrett had to pin Pinkie Pie to the floor. She started to crawl towards the monster. Garrett forced himself on top of the mare. Pinkie emerged from under his body like a cat. And this cat had claws that could cut through metal.

    Rainbow Dash shuttered at the thoughts of what that mare would do if Garrett let go. "Rarity, Pinkie Pie is having a mental breakdown."

    "...But NO! I don't want to fall in love with somepony else! I like complicated things-- wait! No I don't! Celestia-dammit, Rainbow, what's wrong with me?! And you know what's crazy?! The fact that just weeks ago, I was perfectly content with the way I looked. Now that he's here, I'm not sure of anything anymore! Am I wearing enough makeup for him?! Should I wear a necklace made of jewels so he'll notice me?! Oh, Celestia, how does my flank look?! Does he like it? Why is love so complicated?!"

    Pinkie Pie was a shark out of water. She was literally jumping off the ground repeatedly, the smaller but determined body of Garrett latched onto her, legs flailing as he was launched around like a magnet. Twilight facehooved, excruciatingly embarrassed. It seemed as if she mouthed the words "I am so sorry" to the Vandalite. The skinny, humanoid creature crossed its arms, raising a nonexistent eyebrow.

    Rainbow Dash stood up. "Rarity, I think Garrett needs some help."

    Rarity, meanwhile, stood up. "You know what? You're right! Garrett does need my help! You're a genuis, Dashie! Oh, I already have a plan coming to light! I'll save his life! Then he'll have to love me back! But when is he in danger..? Oh, Rainbow Dash, do you know where I can find some Vandalites?"

    "Right there," Dash pointed to the events outside. Rarity turned to see the chaos which was Pinkie Pie escaping Garrett's grasp, and the Vandalite wrecking havoc on her friends.

    "Not one in mid-fight, Rainbow Dash! I need to find one who's willing to negotiate with me--!" Rarity's ears flattened to her skull. "Wait--."

    The glass shattered as Garrett was thrown into the store, tumbling into Rarity. The two were in a black-and-white, grunting ball of dazed pain for half a second before banging into a wall. The two ponies groaned, saw each other, stopped groaning, and reacted in two very different ways.

    "...Salut," Garrett chuckled.

    Rarity narrowed her eyes. "Shut up and kiss me, crétin."

    "What--? MMMPH?!"

    Rainbow Dash, meanwhile, blinked. "...What the buck is happening?"

16. C'est la Vie (Part 2: Adulthood)

    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."

1. A Thief in the Night

    The Grand Galloping Gala.

    Hosted in Canterlot itself, it is rumored as the most exquisite party in both properness and class. It is said the ponies invited are so high in stature, they are personal friends of Princess Celestia herself. The food is explained to be the most favorable in Equestria, the events held being the most classy, and the stallions…

    Said to be the most handsome, most desirable, and most gentlecoltly males in all of Equestria, they rank at number one of a lot of the mares' interests. Sure, the average Ponyvillian "modest and cheerful" stallion was great, but a gentlecolt was always better in so many other ways. Equipped with good personalities, handsome features, and unmatched manners, the "Gala Stallions" were a force to befriend.

    No wonder the Grand Galloping Gala could only afford to be hosted once every year. The instruments, buildings, and talented ponies must be paid one way or another, after all. With so many positive sides to it, one could only imagine the GGG not being holiday-like.

    It would seem like the perfect party for the sophisticated white unicorn, Rarity. Everything was in her league, and everything seemed so amazing. That was true, at first. She started to enjoy herself, meeting new ponies with the same interests, and overall enjoying the celebration. After meeting a ridiculously handsome stallion, named Prince Blueblood, Rarity was sure it was true love. Her stomach filled with butterflies when she glanced at him, the unicorn often found herself lost in his deep, ocean blue eyes, and she treated him with the utmost respect.

    That is, until he turned out to be a spoiled, self-promoting pony who made a dreadful excuse of a gentlecolt. Now, instead of following her ex-interest, she was currently sulking near the fruit juice table. An empty cup was being held by her magic, the contents having been drunk fifteen minutes ago.

    "How can stallions be so... ignorant?" she whispered to herself, peering into the two-inch cup. A wide, glass interior yawned back at her, the reflection of her troubled features reflecting on the bottom. She knew she was being irrational, but it was always easy to put the blame on the other sex. "I can't possibly be the only mare who's dealt with this. There are so many scums in Equestria, I'm just sure of it. I mean... how could he even treat me like that?"

    Hoof steps coming from behind caught Rarity's attention, although the mare did not look up. She was not in the mood for company. To ward off the pursuer, she flicked her tail to show annoyance. Still, the hoof steps continued on their way to her side.

    Was it Rainbow Dash? No, she would have most certainly said something by now. Same goes with Pinkie Pie and Applejack. As for Twilight Sparkle, the last time she was seen, she was chatting with Princess Celestia. It must be Fluttershy.

    As the hooves settled by her, she made her move to tell Fluttershy off as politely and friendly as possible. When she glanced to her side, however, the sight of the hooves on the table caught her offguard.

    They were jet black, a color she rarely ever saw on the ponies invited to the Grand Galloping Galla. Under the dark color lay durable hooves, patting on the table lightly as if waiting for something. She dared to look further to the pony next to her when her breathe almost stopped. On the pony's back was one of the most horrifying and grotesque tight hoodies she has ever seen. On the wrists lay various attachments and buckles, as if used for quickly using the gadgets attached without preparation. The sleeves were exceptional, the same jet black color which made up the pony's hooves. Then, came the body, which was basically just more belts and accessories, as if the wearer was some sort of Bat Pony-wannabe. A leather hood covered the pony's head. The thing which caught her attention was the slick, black bow strapped across the pony's back. The arrows were also in their respectable place right beside it.

    Rarity gulped, hesitantly looking at the weapons.

    Before adressing the stranger, she cleared her throat. "Ahem," she coughed as politely as she could. The pony beside her turned a little, not enough to reveal its face, but enough to show its broad chin.

    He was a stallion.

"Oh, great," she thought to herself grudgingly, before continuing her statement. "Excuse me, gentlecolt, but you seem to have a weapon strapped to your back... I don't suppose they let those in through security..?" Her face had a smile on, although her eyes did not return the polite gesture.

    The black pony didn't speak for a moment, then, with a dark and sarcastic tone, he said, "Do you really think I came in through security?" He sounded young, about Rarity's age.

    Rarity could feel her heart rate rising as she gulped. "Is he saying he's a... criminal?" she thought. The pony beside her showed no emotion, although all she could see was his snout. "I should call the guards! He has a weapon, and he's right next to a keeper of an Element of Harmony! He could have already done something horrible!"

    A commotion in the crowd started up. As if answering Rarity's thoughts, the Royal Guard was making their way through the bustling ponies, asking them questions and showing them pictures. Even if the ponies were stuck-up, they knew the Royal Guard was not to be trifled with. From this distance, Rarity couldn't tell what they were so stressed about.

    "They're looking for me," the stallion said rather steadily, without turning his head. "And they think they can catch me... On a completely unrelated note, they're also dumbasses."

    Rarity started to sweat, looking around for any sort of protection she may use. Besides that glass pitcher full of Punch, nothing came to her mind. "...Do you mind telling me what exactly happened?" she asked.

    The stallion didn't respond, instead just patting a sack on his hip. When his hoof made contact with the small cloth container, the high pitched sound of money being jostled erupted from it. Rarity's eyes widened. "You... stole from them?"

    "I didn't steal from them," the stallion said as he looked to his left, making sure nopony was eavesdropping. "I just took a couple bits from a stuck-up white stallion, so called 'Prince.' I heard his name was Blueblood or something. If you ask me, the idiot shouldn't have left his wallet hanging on his side."

    Rarity almost chuckled at the payback, but felt guilty at the same time. Yes, Blueblood was a bafoon who deserved it, but a crime was a crime.

    As the guards neared, the stallion exhaled slowly, but did not move. He almost seemed at ease. Not wanting to get involved furthermore with the criminal, Rarity became uneasy. She had to find a way to get away from this stallion. "Aren't you going to run?"

    He glanced at the guards' location, revealing his face, full on to Rarity.

    The mare's eyes widened for a moment as she studied the stallion's face. He was noticeably handsome, true, as he homed chocolate colored eyes and black features, but the thing which caught her attention was his right eye. Instead of following suit with its brother's eye color, it was cyan. A very faintly glowing cyan. The pupil was almost nonexistent, just a couple shades darker than its surroundings.

    "J'aime les défis," he said almost playfully. "It's fun to have someone on your tail when you escape."

    Before she could inspect further, the stallion pulled a black cloth up over his lower face, covering half of his looks. "Have a pleasant evening, Ms. Rarity," he said through the mouth piece. Then, he turned around and seemed to vanish into the crowd.

    Rarity wasn't paying attention as the guards rushed past her, yelling to everypony to move as they gave chase to the mysterious stallion. She was thinking about that eye. Something was mysterious about it. As if it was blind, its pupil was faded beyond recognition, and it occasionally twinkled even when its left brother didn't. It was creepy, but at the same time... sexy. It was like one eye was calm and pleasant, and the other was wild and adventurous.

"Wait, how did he know my name?" Rarity suddenly thought. With shock, she checked her waist to make sure her wallet was still there. She found none. A sinking feeling came to mind, but it was quickly replaced with mischievousness when she remembered who did such a thing.

    "Oh... you little Thief."

Thump.

    Rarity's eyes slowly opened from her dream to find herself in her bed, staring up at the ceiling. For a moment, she was tempted to reach for her wallet yet again, when it occured to her she didn't even have a wallet. At least, it was never on her waist.

     A normal pony would have been spooked by the suspiciously realistic dream, instead used to the average "the Bologna doesn't go in the shirt pocket," dream. Unrealistically weird things like that. But the oddity of the average dream's absence did not have an effect on Rarity. She has been having dreams like that for multiple nights now, and it has almost earned a spot on her regular agenda.

    A thunder clap from the outdoors made itself known as Rarity remembered there was a storm scheduled for that night. It was nothing major, just something that the princess ordered for all the pegasi to make happen. That was peculiar, at the least, but the Princess always had her reasons.

    Rarity's thoughts drifted back to her repetitive dreams. It would start with a normal experience which already commenced, either with her friends, or alone. Then, that same hooded pony would show up, stealing something, then leaving. In every dream nopony could catch him, and instead of the typical thief, the stallion acted almost proud in his profession, as if it was just another job. Before she could get too nervous around him, however, he would always look at her, making her uneasiness vanish instantly. The handsome features on the stallion would have made any mare in her right mind blush, and his body wasn't the typical, stallion-like buff type. Instead, his body looked as if he was made for running, and was skinny, his muscles toned naturally. Not from weight lifting or working out (again, average stallion), but from always using them.

    It wasn't his features which caught her attention, however. It was his right eye; the cyan one. His right eye did something to Rarity; it mellowed her. Made her calm. That was not normal, as most mares preferred a stallion with the same eye color in each. Heck, all of Equestria preferred symmetrical eyes. Then again, "all of Equestria" preferred a stallion who wasn't a criminal.

    There was some type of aura about the eye, she was sure of it. It wasn't part of her imagination; it glowed. Not like she was emphasizing some handsome stallion's gorgeous eyes, but it was literally glowing. Faint light was coming from it, slightly radiating his hooded features.

Thump.

    Rarity's ears perked at the unusual sound, coming from downstairs in her shop. Her pet cat lay on her bed, peacefully dreaming. It must be Sweetie Belle who made the nuisance.

    Annoyance creeping at the back of her mind, Rarity sat up, her beloved pet meowing in recognition. She stroked the soft fur of her feline friend before hopping down from the bed, not even wanting to think how her mane must look.

    "Sweetie Belle?" Rarity called as she drowsily trotted down the stairs, yawning and tired. "It's time to go to bed."

    Not two seconds passed when a crash was heard downstairs. The sound of plates clattering across the floor popped the silence like a bubble. Rarity gasped, immediately worried.

    "Sweetie! Are you okay?" The white unicorn hurried her way down the stairs, all tiredness vanishing from her system. As she neared the base of the stairs, and there was no sight of her little sister, it was evident there was somepony else in the house.

    The other hoof steps echoed across the house as they hurriedly scrambled somewhere, most likely for coverage.

    When Rarity's hooves clopped down on the base of the stairs, she hurried to the kitchen to find plates scattered all across the floor, broken or shattered altogether. The mare's eyes were as wide as the only unbroken plate on the ground as she quietly stepped into the clearing. The dishes were obviously dropped onto the ground, as the tall, solitary cabinet which stored them was wide open and tipped over. It gave her heart grief to find such a masterpiece of craftsmanship in its downfall.

    Rarity sighed, using her magic to gently put the cabinet in its rightful place. "What happened here?" she thought aloud.

    Hoofsteps exploded behind her, sprinting up the stairs. Rarity gasped out of surprised, spinning around just in time to see a dark shape speeding upstairs.

    "Th-THIEF!" she yelled, her heart rate racing as she ran after the criminal.

    As she ran with haste, Rarity quickly nabbed a kitchen knife from the table. Safety was always a priority.

    Her mind was racing. "This has never happened before! How could Ponyville hold a Thief within its boundaries?! It's one of the most peaceful places in Equestria."

    As Rarity ended her travels up the stairs and clopped on the height of the stair case, the unicorn spotted an enormously tall figure, struggling and yelping under some kind of coverage, or blanket. It was dangerously close to a window—unfortunately the only one open in the entire house. The intruder was helpless, and the knife in her telekinesis grip suddenly felt a lot heavier.

"Could I truly injure, or even maim, a defenseless pony?"

    It didn't matter. Her eyes moist with fearful tears, Rarity raised the knife, poised to strike the brute. There was nothing else she knew to do in this situation. Besides, he was a thief...

    ...Right?

    The tall creature abruptly ripped the blanket off itself, and a flash of lightning lit its features. If it was possible for Rarity's eyes to get any wider, they would have. Her heart skipped a beat as her magic instantly failed, dropping the knife onto the ground. Rarity faltered back, gasping at the being in front of her.

    It wasn't the fact that it was some weird, bipedal creature with the exact same hood as the mysterious stallion in her dreams. It wasn't the fact that it had the exact build of the apparition in her dreams. It wasn't because it looked peculiarly familiar, but...

    It was the right eye. It was glowing a bright cyan.

——————————

Five minutes earlier, in an alternate dimension

    The unconscious guard dropped soundlessly to the floor, in the shadows of the big impression of the rock wall.

    Garrett quickly snatched every gold piece he could find on the unconscious body in the matter of a second. Satisfied with his newly "found" prizes, the thief patted the guard's cheek with mock sympathy. His mind, the infamously beautiful and magnificent piece of artwork, sang cheerfully:

There, there... everyone has a first time getting mugged.

Well, at least when I'm around.

    The Thief crouch-walked back to the opening. The catwalk, about twenty feet long, was lit by a torch, illuminating the wooden planks' details. Beyond the straight path was a turn, which extended beyond Garrett's vision.

    At least, the vision in his left eye.

    Garrett blinked, concentrating. After a split second of closed eyelids, his right eye was glowing faintly in the dark cover. He could instantly see as the cyan-and-blue tinted path extended to yet another wall, which turned into the interior of a cave. Next to the path lay a cabin, which a drunken guard, mumbling something about chinchillas as he leaned back on his wooden chair, was currently standing guard. A younger guard, younger than Garrett, manned the balcony above his drunk companion.

    The thief briefly wondered what secrets lied within the cabin. It was relatively big, but with a pair of guards like that, obviously not worth his time.

    Garrett peered closer at the awake guard. He looked tired and annoyed, as it was in the middle of the night and his comrade was currently dozing.

That must be annoying. But not as annoying as getting all your gold stolen. Let's see if his buddy can become the second worst thing which happened to him today.

...Heh. That was a Team Fortress 2 reference.

    Garrett snapped his eyes shut as the right one began to sting. It felt like staring into the sun when he went into Focus (what he called his ability), and to do it for more than thirty seconds before each Poppy meant excruciating pain. Garrett had already used about twenty seven seconds, so he needed to refill: take a light, special, glowing cyan flower called a "Poppy," consume its leaves, and get more Focus.

    As Garrett opened his eyes after that short moment, he had a plan.

"Step one," Garrett thought as he reached his hand over his shoulder, coming back with his black, foldable bow. The thief quickly shifted his wrist, the trigger for his bow to expand, ready to shoot. It did just that with a soft click. "Get rid of the light."

    Garrett reached over yet again, shifting through his variously made arrows. Feeling the distinctive curve on the Water Arrow's shaft, Garrett drew.

    The Water Arrow glowed with a blue light, contained by a small glass ball. Steam rose from its exterior, as the contained water was boiling hot and pressurized to explode, showering its wet passenger at everything around its hit in a one foot radius. Of course, it was not an actual weapon as it was for stunning opponents, but perfect for putting out open-flame light sources.

    Garrett drew his bow, shifting the arrow to the string. Pulling it back, he steadied his gaze on the torch, his loaded bow following suit. Then, he let the string go.

    The arrow zipped into the torch's coal, exploding and showering water with a distinctive "thwip! sssssss.." The fire was replaced by a steaming stack of wet, useless coal.

"Step two," Garrett continued in his mind as he clicked his bow back into mobile form. "Improvise."

    The sober guard, noticing the light has extinguished itself, quickly drew his crossbow. Even from this distance, Garrett could sense he was anxious. After a few seconds of nothing, the guard sighed.

    "Stupid drafts," he muttered. Thinking it wasn't a threat, he holstered his crossbow. Meanwhile, Garrett was slipping through the newly-made shadows, not a noise being made. "Berry, come on, it's your turn."

    The mentioned guard responded with a mutter of sorts, concerning "chinchillas growing five feet and flying away."

Wonder what it's like in that bright mind... Sounds fun.

    The guard leaned over the ledge, noticing his friend's state. "You've got to be kidding me..." he muttered. Garrett slipped past the disgruntled guard as he went to investigate the light, giving his partner a slap upside the head while he was at it. The latter responded with a sound only relatable to a wild animal.

    Garrett was about to sneak around the cabin, continuing his mission, when he spotted a faint, greenish glow illuminating from inside the cabin window. He stopped dead in his tracks, looking curiously at the glow. Now he was interested.

"There are two choices here," Garrett thought to himself as he glided past the drunk guard to the cabin window, peering inside. "I could just continue on my mission, most likely succeeding in my endeavors and return home with some new gold in my wallet." His fingers twitched, the Thief side of him growing more excited the longer he stared at it. Actually, 'the thief side' was an understatement. More like 'Thief personality.' "Or, I could find a way into this cabin, steal whatever is glowing (Most likely something valuable) and carry it along for the remainder of my quest, risking being caught and failing the mission a lot easier, courtesy to the extra light."

   Now that the choices and consequences were laid out before him, the answer was obvious.

Then again, I never get caught.

    Garrett silently opened the window, slipped inside, and quickly closed his entree way. Excited, he turned around to spot the treasure. But instead, he was beheld with something peculiar. It was dark, but not dark enough for The Master Thief. He could see that the cabin was completely, utterly empty, besides a loan chest in the middle of the room. No decoration, no pictures on the walls, and not even any drawers were seen. The only form of light was the same green glare, shining brightly from inside the chest. It showed through the opening like a thin beam. Suspicious, Garrett's right eye glowed yet again as he activated Focus, thinking of traps and footprints. No traps were highlighted, and there were no footprints present. The cabin must have been abandoned for at least a day.

    But, if that was the case, why guard it?

    Garrett quickly closed his eye, saving the last two seconds for something important, just in case. The Focus drained from his system as he approached the suspicious crate, his excitement growing bigger and bigger. Surprisingly, there was no lock. There was no wiring. Not even a simple code pad.

    It could have been opened, just like that.

    Cautious and curious, the Thief pressed his hands on the lid. As Garrett felt the chest opening, he briefly thought how bright the light inside would be. Bright enough to attract the guard outside's attention?

    Maybe?

Ehh... most likely.

    All the more reason to do it. A good chase would definitely get his blood pumping.

    Garrett quietly lifted the lid, and was greeted by four or so Poppies, all gathered neatly in a corner. In another, ten of each of Garrett's arrows were stacked. Every type was there: Fire Arrows, Broadhead Arrows, Water Arrows, Gas Arrows, and about four which he didn't even know. The green light came from a smooth, profusely glowing, ball sitting in the middle, on top of countless coins.

    In any other circumstances, the Master Thief would have rejoiced; this was, by far, the most supplies he had ever seen in one place. They were in prime condition; the arrows were slender and shiny, the Poppies (although no longer planted in the ground) looked extremely enticing, and it seemed all the gold in the world was under that glowing ball. There was also a seemingly endless amount of cash under the weird green ball. He briefly wondered how much the sphere itself would be worth.

    That's when Garrett found a note in the opened chest. From cheating womens' journals to wild party invitations, he never knew what to expect from the various notes he discovered in chests and drawers. Excitedly but cautiously, he reached down and snatched the note, quick as a whip. The velocity of his gloved hand wasn't because he was in a hurry; quite the opposite, actually. It was pure instinct that made him act so fast.

    "Hmm.." he said out loud, his voice the only sound in the quiet interior. "What do we have here?"

    He opened the note with haste. Garrett was expecting something completely different than what he got, though. The note's interior was one, simple sentence in the center of the paper. It was written with Royal Cursive, as if a queen or a king had made the note.

    It read:

Everything you need, NB.

    NB?

A mystery? Not for long. Cracking secrets is my hobby.

That, and talking to myself.

    Garrett slipped the note into one of his many pockets on his uniform. It slipped in perfectly as the chest's inhabitants were snatched up by Garrett. He ate a Poppy with haste, the tingling feeling of repairing Focus evident in his body. Garrett stored the rest of the leaves in a sleeve pocket. The arrows, one by one, he placed on their new home, located on his back. He smiled as the pouch was filled with supplies, including ten Moss Arrows.

Haven't seen you in a while... Oh, dammit, you got dull. Then again, you were designed to.

    The greenish ball of moss on the arrowhead didn't respond.

    After storing the rest of the arrows in his pouch, Garrett started to stash the coins into his bag. He tried his best to avoid the green sphere, as he had no idea what it could be. But soon his infamous curiosity took over him.

    To be safe, the thief quickly poked the exterior of the ball to note its temperature. It was warm, but nothing burn worthy. He lifted the seemingly perfectly shaped sphere, examining it. Garrett searched for cracks, symbols, or anything that would give a hint of its origins. Surprisingly, however, it was perfectly round, not a line or curve out of place. It was the perfect definition of sphere.

    "How much are you worth?" Garrett whispered, as if it could hear him. "One thousand? Two thousand?"

    Utter stillness was his answer.

    Not surprised, Garrett stashed the glowing ball in his pouch. The light that emitted from the ball died down, but was still showing through the thin fabric. Perfect guard-magnet material.

    Garrett was almost finished, grabbing a few coins for the road, when the ball in his pouch started to glow brighter. Surprised, Garrett reached down to take it out, only to whip his hand back.

"Gah!" he grunted, massaging his burning fingers.

    The glowing extended from the cabin to its windows. To the Master Thief's horror, it attracted the guards outside.

    "Vandal!" he heard from outside. "Berry, it's Vandal!"

    The window was jerked open, revealing an excited guard's face. He was smiling through his clean-cut, almost feminine face. Garrett, confused more than anything, drew his bow.

    "Vandal, it's alright!" the guard chirped happily. "I'm a friend of Colgate, Piña-- MMPH!"

    "Piña" jerked back as a Moss Arrow was shot at his head. He held his cheeks, clawing desperately at the non-lethal fungus which engulfed his mouth and nose. It spread out like a fizz, covering Piña's face.

    Meanwhile, Garrett shuffled around as he desperately tried to get the ball out of his loot pouch. His supplies also started to glow, engulfing him in a bright green light.

"What is this?!" The Master Thief yelled, his normally quiet demeanor gone.

    Then, with a brilliant harlequin flash, Garrett vanished. Gone was the supplies, the human, and the chest. The cabin and the two guards, however, stayed put.

    When the moss on guard's face finally dissolved, he bent over and gasped in fresh air, panting hard. Berry blinked at his partner, took one look at the bottle currently in his hand, and considered the fact he had one too many. He dropped it on the floor, the bottle cracking in the process.

    Piña, after a few seconds of panting and feeling his face, sighed. "Berry..? I don't think that was Vandal." The mentioned guard only nodded drunkily as Piña pulled some green gunk off of his face. He studied it hard as it dissolved, bubbling and turning into a green liquid.

    "...Was that moss?"

——————————

    Garrett woke up on the ground.

    He couldn't tell where he was. All around him was pure blackness, a hard wood floor underneath him to go with it. The thief was expecting some sort of pain, or at least sourness, but there was none. In fact, pure nothing engulfed his nerves. It was like a dentist's numbing shot, only all over.

What just happened? Did it have something to do with that ball? Do I still have it with me?

    Garrett reached down to his side, feeling his loot pouch. Nothing except the small, gold coins were contained in it. The ball was gone.

    Garrett wasn't scared. If anything, he was caught offguard. He's had experience with the supernatural, including zombie-like pale creatures, magical beings, and psychotic dictator-wannabes. Being knocked out by some glowing ball? Just another walk in the park.

    A clap of thunder outside made itself known. The lightning illuminated the dark room he was in, the rain showering down outside. It looked like some sort of bedroom, with the occupant still in his/her slumber. It was very neat, not even one thing out of place in the room, so most likely it was a woman. A chinchilla cat was sleeping peacefully at her feet.

    Garrett, suddenly feeling ashamed in his predicament, quickly started to leave the room. That's when he accidentally bumped into the bed post.

Thump!

    The occupant shifted in her sleep, aroused by the sudden sound. Garrett, having experience with these circumstances, knew not to bolt for the exit; that would cause panic. Instead, he went for anything that could conceal him. He found nothing capable of supporting his height. That was weird; Garrett wasn't exactly the tallest person around, only a mere height of 6' 1".

Not my fault I'm short. I barely had enough food to keep me from starving as a kid.

    Garrett was about to leave quickly when something happened.

    It was when her head was revealed his jaw dropped. He had seen many weird and conspicuous things, but this was by far the winner of the "Jaw Droppers."

    It was a unicorn.

    Not one of those horses with horns on them, which came from myths, but it was actually a... pony. She had a long, navy blue mane and a white coat, along with the height to about his waist. It looked like it came straight from some kid's TV show. If TV still existed.

    If Garrett hadn't seen half the things he had already in his lifetime, he would have screamed. He was sure of it. But a lifetime full of mysteries, weird creatures, and even weirder encounters gave him the will to shut the agape mouth.

    Thinking quickly, Garrett swooped out of the room, the shadows playing as his best friend. He had done this many times, avoiding guards by the dozens with the quick tactic. It was, as always, soundless. But bumping into the banister, right by the stairs, was not.

Thump!

Honestly, I've seen workshops bigger than this house.

     "Sweetie Belle?" he heard from the room. She sounded slightly British.

How stereotypical. A British cartoon pony unicorn.

    "It's time to go to bed," the stranger called.

    Garrett's footsteps were as quiet as the wind outside, gliding down the stairs. He had to find the exit.

    He had to figure out where he was, why he was there, and how he got there.

    Did it have something to do with the glowing ball in his loot sack?

    Realization hit as Garrett almost slipped. In fact, he did. It was a good reminder that he had just wandered into the kitchen, knocking over a cabinet, the plates crashing on the floor around him.

    "Sweetie! Are you okay?"

    Garrett cursed at his (almost) non-existent clumsiness. He shrank into a shadowy corner.

    The thief, resuming his previous thoughts, hurriedly checked his left side, desperate to know if the ball was still in his pouch. Just like last time, nothing except the gold coins. The human suddenly felt really stupid.

    The pony came in, then gasped at the scenario.

That's alright, horse, it's not like you need plates anyway.

Then again, ponies didn't need a bed. Or a room. Or a house.

Or a freaking horn on their head.

    Garrett slunked off behind the

pony, who was sighing. "What happened here?" she asked to herself.

    The sound of the tipped over cabinet being pushed back into place echoed through the house.

Oh, this should be good.

    Garrett turned, expecting to see the hilarious sight of a white British unicorn trying to lift a cabinet off its fallen state.

    His jaw dropped.

    The cabinet was floating.

    Like magic. No strings, no tricks, but pure magic was the cause of it. The unicorn's horn was glowing with a steady purple aura, which he guessed was influencing the plate cabinet to float back into its place...

    Garrett's foot slipped on one of the tiny steps. Another "thump" exploded from him as he stopped his fall with bare hands.

    Not waiting for any recognition from the unicorn, Garrett bolted up the stairs, horrified by what he had seen.

    "Th-THIEF!" he heard from the unicorn behind him.

    He's been in the chasing scenario countless times, never once failing an escape. This should be a snap. Then again, never once did he become so scared by something he had witnessed he ran blindly towards the window, unprofessionally bumping into everything in his wake, finally tumbling into a thin curtain, unable to escape from it in his fear.

    By some miraculous event of luck, that's exactly what happened.

    Today was not Garrett's day. Each of those things played out, one by one, until he was struggling desperately to tear his way out from the weird fabric.

    After about five seconds of the excruciatingly embarrassing act, Garrett finally ripped free from the blanket-thing. In his disorientation, he activated his Focus.

    Garrett stopped moving immediately as he spotted the unicorn. She looked scared beyond relief, tears in her eyes and even a knife on the ground- no doubt being held by her telekinesis moments before. She staggered back, faulting as her eyes stared at the human.

    For a few moments, they stood there, staring into each others' eyes. Guilt flooded the human's system as he examined her horrified face, as if the situation was so traumatic she couldn't move an inch. The human backed away from the pony, holding his hands out slowly. He must look horrifying.

    It was then he noticed he was still in Focus.

Great. Now she's getting a full wiff of my glowing eye, the thing which could scare away the bravest people.

    He tried to deactivate the Focus, but his repeated steps backward soon betrayed him. The window behind him was wide open, revealing the stormy world outside. He never noticed the hellacious weather, however, as he accidentally bumped into the clearing of the window.

    Garrett's hands shot out instinctively to grab hold of the plank, but to no avail. He tumbled outside the window, his last sight of the pony being one of shock. For what seemed like a full second, Garrett was in midair, the rain immediately showering his face and splashing off his suit. He yelped out of surprise, but it was cut short.

    Suddenly, his sight was filled with the blackness from above. When the ground below smacked him from behind, it plundered him into unconsciousness. The last thing he felt was a crack in the back of his head.

7. An Evolved Freak

    Garrett's feet swiftly glided throughout the small town of Ponyville, the dark bricks and grass under his feet a blur. The thief's face mask hid his features, which were contorted into one of pure determination, laced with rotten confusion.

My long-lost companion just appeared to me in a vision; an interactive vision at that. I'm surprised I'm not a blubbering mess on the curb by now, utterly drowning in my persistent confusion and guilt. In fact, I very well should be. I can barely contain my feelings when I even think of Erin. I just interacted with her... Or rather, interacted with Miss Marshmallow.

Is it because one of my Pony Friends are in trouble I recovered so quickly? Wow. They seriously do have a positive effect on me...

Character Development, yay!

    As the Master Thief neared the location of the initial scream, it became evident it was now abandoned. He cursed under his breath for his slow arrival, but the frustration instantly diminished as another scream, this time further away, pierced the silence. Again, Garrett was dashing throughout Ponyville in the direction of the filly in distress.

    It was at that time he heard the familiar sound that would soon change his life forever. It was a high-pitched wail, the sound which he had learned to avoid throughout his experiences.

    Instinct ruled over morality, and Garrett's legs threw himself into the shadows, crouching stationary—

Wait, what the Hell am I doing? Why did I stop?! That's a filly in trouble...

...Oh. Right.

Freaks.

Eleven months earlier...

    Garrett narrowed his eyes as he regarded the silhouette of the skinny, humanoid figure slowly walking across the dark setting.

Freaks... Why do I always run into these guys?

    As the bipedal in the distance's hollow eyes scanned its surroundings, there was a mellow cyan glow erupting from the irises. They narrowed as they turned faintly yellow. It knew Garrett was there, it just didn't know where. The Freak's blind eyes focused hard on nothing as it stood deathly still, attempting to sense any type of movement or energy from the Primal being given off.

You're trying to see sense me... how cute.

As soon as you can be a gentleman and quit that, I'll just be on my way. I already have what I want.

    The gold medallion was his objective. It had a new home in his pocket.

    The Freak let out a guttural growl as it realized it was getting nowhere. It walked around the corner of the foggy wall, use of Garrett's Focus becoming available again.

    The Master Thief reached into one of the zippers on his suit, brought out a Poppy, and quickly devoured the flower. He could feel the tingly sensation of his Focus ability being refilled, and his right eye glowed with the energy after a quick blink. The gray fog in the room virtually vanished from sight, replaced by the cabin's interior. A cyan haze accompanied the room, although Garrett didn't mind much.

    He moved without trouble through the fog, checking each of his corners before turning them. The thief knew there was only one Freak in the cabin, but it was one who could sense sudden movements and his Focus ability. It was a good idea to be rid of the monster.

    Garrett came across a wooden door, and almost sighed out of relief. He deactivated his Focus, sneaking ahead quietly to the door. After a turn of the knob, he was home free—

"YYYEEEEERRRRRAAAUUGHHHH!!

    Garrett spun away from the door just in time for the Freak to charge into it, shattering it to pieces. Full of rage, it held the wood down as it savagely tore it to bits with its sharp claws. Within five seconds, the metal and wood workmanship was no more.

    Realizing the unfortunate entree way was not its initial target, the Freak's head snapped to the side to stare at Garrett. Its eyes were glowing a crimson red, signaling it was in Bloodlust.

    "...Fils de pute laid.." Garrett remarked snidely.

    The white humanoid's response was somewhere along the lines of a high pitched, "YYYEEEEERRRRRAAAUUGHHHH!!""

    The Freak charged at Garrett, claws extended, reaching to tear apart his skin. The sane human side-stepped the Freak's initial charge, but lost his footing while trying to avoid the outstretched claws. After a quick cyan glow of his eye, however, quick reflexes kicked in and he flipped backwards onto his feet.

    The Freak's adrenaline kicked in at the sense of Primal energy radiating from Garrett's eye, and it viscously screeched as it desperately tried to dive for the human. Before it could tear the eye out of the socket, a Sawtooth arrowhead was implanted into its head. The Freak screamed horribly, its eye burning a crimson red. The monster fell to its knees as Garrett calmly walked in front of it, knowing it wouldn't have a chance now. The Freak slowly reached a clawed hand out to Garrett, desperate to rip his throat out.

    Garrett, only mildly amused, responded with pointing at his blue eye. "Mine," he snapped, before pulling the Sawtooth from the Freak's head and shoving it in its glowing eye socket. "Yours."

    The Freak gurgled before dropping to the floor in a heap. Garrett, after deactivating his Focus, retrieved his arrowhead. He started to screw the sharp object back onto his arrow.

"YYYEEEEERRRRRAAAUUGHHHH!!

    The Thief let out a yelp as something slammed into his back with the force of a charging bull. Before Garrett knew what was happening, the Freak screeched again as it dug its claws into Garrett's stomach, pinning him to the wooden floor as they easily stabbed through his body. The human yelled out as blood spurted from his stomach, the Freak also yelling out as insanity clutched its brain.

    Garrett closed his eyes to activate Focus, and time seemed to slow down again. All in slow motion, the Freak's red-eyed attention shifted from Garrett's stomach to his eye. Driven by a shock of adrenaline, the Freak retracted its claws from Garrett's body, lunging to gouge out the Primal-giving eye. Fast reflexes kicking in, Garrett screamed as he flexed his stomach to bring up his legs, kicking the Freak off of him.

    The thief took short gasps of air as it seemed a cold void opened within his torso, surrounded by white hot pain. He stared up at the Freak, and recognized a stream of black blood oozing from the eye he had just stabbed. "Why won't you guys die?" Garrett muttered, quickly reaching back and retrieving a Blast Arrow.

    The sudden movement sent the Freak into a blind rage as it charged Garrett again. But this time, the Thief was ready. He activated Focus before almost inhumanly quickly sliding to the side to avoid its grasp.

    He strung the Blast Arrow, aimed at the Freak, and the arrow was in the air within the second. Garrett had just enough time to see the Freak turn around to see its oncoming death before the arrow exploded in a "BANG!"

    The man sat in utter silence as the smoke cleared, revealing the Freak with a new hole in its chest. It bled black goo profusely, the blood falling to the floor like a waterfall. After about two seconds of standing, the Freak fell on the ground, this time really into a lifeless heap.

Does it really take an explosion to kill these guys? I stabbed him in the head! Twice!

Ugh.... Guess I should avoid them for now on. They're a lot stronger than last time.

    The Master Thief cringed as his world swam, the wound suddenly taking top priority.

Aaaand, it's Bandage Time...

Back in the Present

    Garrett shook himself out of the fearful memory and furrowed his brow. He once again shot in the direction of the scream, running faster than ever. If a filly got in the path of a Freak, there was virtually no chance of survival. Unless if she had explosives. And he only knew one girl who walked around carrying those.

    Garrett unclipped the bow from his back, a Blast Arrow taking occupancy in its drawstring. He readied himself to shoot as he ran, thinking of a Freak and activating Focus. A trail made out of clawed, inhuman footsteps instantly appeared on the floor, and the Master Thief was on pursuit. That was when, from between the houses, Garrett saw the small white unicorn named Sweetie Belle run from one house to behind the next, still squealing in terror. Right behind her was a Freak with glowing red eyes; a Freak in Bloodlust. It had an unnaturally dark skin tone, almost black.

    Garrett was on pursuit instantly, aiming with his bow as Sweetie once again appeared from between the gaps of the houses, and a second later the Freak appeared. The cottages acted as obstacles for the Blast Arrow, and Garrett's target was running behind them. The only sight he got of the Freak was when it momentarily appeared from behind the houses, only to continue on its trail to behind another.

    Garrett's teeth gridded against each other in frustration as he lowered his bow. Once again, Sweetie Belle appeared, screaming, from behind a house only to proceed to behind the one next to it. The Freak followed. It was gaining on her.

    The thief needed to lure the Freak using Focus. Usually, the Primal energy released from his eye would need to be within a few feet of the Freak, and with no obstacles. But he was willing to take his chances, as his Focus was possibly the only Primal energy on the entire planet. Even a small dose would send a Freak shambling his direction.

    Garrett blinked. The moment before, his right iris was a non-glowing, milky cyan orb. The next, it was radiating in light blue brilliance.

    Once again time seemed to slow as Garrett dashed after the Freak, gaining on him quickly. Blast Arrow strung and ready, he kept running until the Freak slowly turned towards him, eyes shining a deep purple—

Wait... Purple?

    Time returned to normal the instant those eyes landed on him. The blue haze which was the world returned to normal, night taking over. For a second, Garrett stood dumbfounded and confused as no light came from his eye.

    The purple-eyed Freak screeched at the thief, already charging at him with claws extended. Garrett tried yet again to activate Focus, which only resulted in failure.

    Something was wrong.

    His attention snapped back to reality as the Freak barreled into him, knocking his bow away from grasping distance. Garrett tumbled with the screaming Freak as the latter tried its best at an attempt to dissect the human alive. Before it could cause any mortal wounds, the Master Thief kicked the Freak off him.

    He scrambled for his bow, but only got about a foot away when his leg was grabbed, and he was swung away from the slick weapon. Garrett's world became nothing but mixed colors and wind for about a second until he rolled to a stop into a hard wall.

    Pain once again exploded on his skull, and Garrett cringed as he rubbed the offending spot. He glared up at the Freak before him.

He's something different... I can't activate my Focus when he's looking at me. Does it have something to do with those purple eyes?

He's a lot smarter, too. Most Freaks just charge in for the kill, claws extended, minds no longer of use. This one knows how to disorientate its targets strategically.

    The Freak screeched and charged.

Still has a creepy as Hell scream, though.

    Garrett was quickly up, crouching in a defensive pose. When the Freak was within touching distance, he whipped to the side and heard a splintering crash beside him. A quick glance told him the Freak had barged through the wall of the building which stopped his barreling.

    Garrett leaned into the hole to see the Freak, dazed but alert, growling as it regained its senses. Apparently it had crashed straight into a bar, evident by the scattered stools and tables, alcoholic beverages spilling all over the monster. Garrett's eye twitched as an idea came to mind. He returned to his position out of the Freak's view, and activated Focus. This time, the world around him erupted into a cyan haze as his eye followed suit.

    Knowing he was acting quicker than usual, Garrett dashed to the location of his bow. However, when he was half-way the Focus drained from his system. A shiver ran down his spine; the Freak was looking at him from behind. The Master Thief ran as fast as he could to his bow, and dived for it as he heard a screech from behind. Hurriedly, Garrett whipped around with a Blast Arrow and shot it.

    The sleek, black arrow with a fiery globe at the end whizzed forward, barely missing the Freak as it charged to Garrett...

    ...and promptly flew into the open hole of the bar, explosive alcohol ready for it.

...Oh, Putain de mer--

BOOOOOOOOMMM!!!!

    Garrett's body was flung back as the building exploded in a fiery haze, the Freak following suit. The variously-used arrows were launched out of his quiver, scattering across the grassy floor. Garrett landed on his back as his head bonked on the grass, pain exploding in his skull. The Master Thief groaned as he tried to recover, putting his hands on his ringing ears as his world swam. The crack in his skull sung with pain while the numb feeling in his gums surfaced, most likely being followed by Garrett upchucking. He's done a lot of that lately.

    The Freak was a lot quicker to recover than Garrett. It snarled as it almost immediately staggered to its feet, and was above the Master Thief in a matter of seconds. Without the senses to react, Garrett was suspended uselessly as the Freak grabbed him by the neck, pulling him up.

    But, before it was too late, Garrett grabbed a Fire Arrow from the ground beside him. He hid it behind his back.

    The black Freak pulled Garrett close to its face, and gave a high pitched roar, filled with animal-like rage.

"Holy shit!" Garrett yelled. "My ears are already ringing, thank you very much!"

    The Freak's only response was to roar louder.

    "PUTAIN DE MERDE JE NE PEUX PAS ÉCOUTER RIEN!" Garrett covered his ears, eyes squinting. After about a few seconds of ears ringing even more, he opened his eyes. "I think I'm okay now. Continue."

    The Freak's purple eyes narrowed, but soon a smile was plastered on its face. "You act as if everything is good."

    Garrett's eyes snapped wide open as his hands retracted from his ears. He nearly dropped the Fire Arrow in hand. The sound of the surrounding chaos died down to nothing as the Master Thief's entire attention was on the Freak before him.

...Did... did that *Freak** just talk?*

    Garrett stared wordlessly at the supposedly-mindless being holding him by his neck, the fiery remains of the bar behind him. "I can sense your confusion, Master Thief," the Freak smiled wickedly, inhumanly sharp teeth glistening. "I can sense how you are thinking... Just wondering how a 'Freak,' like me could ever speak to you." Its voice sounded like its throat was just released from years of being tortured by a lawn mower. "...There is so much you do not know, Master Thief. So much is at stake. Things bigger and better than you... Unfortunately, I cannot be there to see your face when everything is revealed." The Freak's grip tightened.

    Garrett's eyes narrowed as he gurgled, still unbelieving of this Freak's mere intelligence. His grip also tightened, only his hand was holding a much thinner, much more metal object than a neck.

    "Any last words, Master Thief?" The Freak loosened the true human's neck just enough for Garrett to speak.

    "...Yeah, actually," Garrett wheezed, cringing as he felt his windpipe weaken.. "You actually did a pretty good job not explaining your 'devious plan' to me right before you killed me. That method is really overrated... But still, you spoke long enough for me to recover from shock." Garrett's hand whipped up, Fire Arrow in hand. The Freak's eyes widened in realization as it examined its own alcohol-soaked body. "So, just like every super villain ever, you talk too much. Bye-bye!" Garrett thrusted the arrow down, the glass globe on the tip shattering, fire igniting from within. The Freak's body instantly went up in flames as it screamed its horrible scream, purple eyes shining brightly. To Garrett's disgust, the Freak started to melt into a black mush onto the grass below as it shriveled almost immediately. It was as if the fire instantly incinerated the Freak. This specimen was definitely different than the ones he encountered before.

"THE NIGHTMARE WILL RISE AGAIN!" the Freak shrieked as it continued on its way to Eternal Rest. Or rather, the black puddle of goo on the ground. "YOU WILL DIE, MASTER THIEF! EVERYONE HERE WILL DIE..." By now, the Freak's torso and head were the only part of its body that wasn't liquid yet. "It doesn't matter if you kill me, or the next one!... but the Night will consume you, Master Thief...!" Its head was the only part showing, now. "For we are not Freaks anymore... We are the Vandalites... and our cause is just! *HE** is just...!"*

    "Yeah, yeah, foreshadow more plot in Hell." Garrett stomped on the Vandilite's head, and the violet eyes were crushed under his foot. There were a few seconds of peacefulness for Garrett after that, and he spent them glaring down at the goop which was just recently an evolved version of a Freak. It was interrupted by Sweetie Belle running into view, sobbing happily.

    Garrett, knowing better, knelt down for the filly as she rushed into his waiting arms. She tried her best to crush him by hugging as the Master Thief squeezed back, his face being tickled by her curly mane. Sweetie Belle spoke between sobs. "I thought... sob... you were lost..! choke"

    Garrett pulled his face mask down, giving away to his fully affectionate features. "I'm not lost anymore."

    Sweetie smiled as she cried. Garrett stood up, carrying the filly close to his chest as he did. "C'mon. Let's go find Sleeping Marshmallo--"

    The words evaporated out of Garrett's mouth as he turned his attention to the dozens of ponies staring at him from the windows and doorways of the surrounding houses. Sweetie Belle stopped her crying momentarily to gaze at the countless onlookers, and snuggled close to Garrett's chest as a sign of trust.

    Soon, ponies of all different sizes, species, and colors surrounded the fiery bar, pool of black ooze, and the human. Garrett looked at each of them in turn, unsure of how to react. He spotted Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Rarity in the group of starers. With a flash, Princess Twilight Sparkle appeared at the scene, only to gawk at the events before her.

    For a few seconds, utter silence gripped the ponies. Until a solitary voice spoke from the crowd.

"...He saved that kid!"

    Garrett, with a dumbfounded expression, had his attention shift to the speaker of the voice; a yellow earth pony mare with an orange coat and tail. Before anyone could react, she started to pound her hooves on the ground. Her clopping was soon joined by a few more, then a dozen more, then even more. Before anyone knew it, the entire crowd was yelling and stomping their hooves on the ground.

    The crowd was cheering. For him.

    Garrett felt something weird; something he had never felt before in his entire life. It was a warm feeling in his heart, which spread throughout his body. Slowly, a smile formed on his face. The very first smile he has ever commited, via helping someone else. He could feel Sweetie Belle reach up and give him a peck on the cheek, which resulted in a flourish of color in it.

    Garrett looked into the crowd and saw the looks of the ponies' faces. They didn't see him as a monster. As an abomination. As a Criminal.

    No. They saw him as something more than that. More than just a man who was trying to do the right thing.

     He saw Pinkie Pie jump a full six feet in the air, cheering, "I know that guy! I know that guy!" Again and again.

    He saw Rainbow Dash give an approving grin while Applejack did the same. Fluttershy was smiling too as she hovered with the pegasi, while Twilight Sparkle was cheering also. His eyes drifted to Rarity, who was looking at him with such strong emotion he didn't know which one she was feeling.

    ...No, they saw him more than all of that negativity. They saw him as a—

"He's a Hero!" a voice called out.

    —friend.

Wait, what?

    Garrett felt a cold rock drop in his stomach. All the joy felt just moments ago vanished completely.

Wait a... did she just call me a...

"He saved her!" another voice called out. "He's *is** a hero!"*

No! No, no, please don't think that! *No!!** I'm not the Hero! Please...!*

    "Garrett, what's wrong?" Sweetie Belle asked, concerned. "You don't seem good..."

    Garrett put Sweetie Belle down shakily, backing off from the crowd of ponies with horrified eyes. The group noticed this, and was shushed.

    "I'm not a Hero..." Garrett muttered, holding his hands out defensively. "Please don't think that-- ...I'm just a Thief..."

    "PPPFT! What are you talking about, Garrett?!" Pinkie Pie jumped in the air again before appearing at the front of the crowd with a huge grin. "You saved the day! Oh wait--! You're right, you're not just a 'hero!'" Pinkie bounded up in the air as an explosion effect happened behind her. "YOU'RE A SUPER-HERO!"

"NO!" Garrett yelled, drawing his bow at the crowd. The ponies all gasped at the Blast Arrow which was pointed directly at them. "I am NOT a hero! I lie, I cheat, I steal— You don't want me to help you! I'm pathetic at doing good! The last time I tried to save someone's life, they started a plague which killed thousands of people and I just had to lose them again..!" Garrett stopped talking suddenly, tears coming to his eyes as they widened. The ponies around him were all staring in utter shock.

    Suddenly angry they wouldn't get the hint, Garrett's eye shown with the same cyan glow as it did before so many times. The ponies in the crowd gawked at the glowing cyan. Garrett shifted his view to each of his friends, then back to the first mare to speak up. "This is not the look of a Hero," he said sternly.

    The yellow mare gulped before replying. "You're right," she remarked. "...It's the look of something beautiful."

"GRRAGHHH!!" Garrett yelled, throwing his hands up in the air. After putting his face mask up, he quickly replaced his Blast Arrow with a Choke Arrow, and shot the ground in front of the crowd with it. It instantly exploded into a green gas, which spread out among the group. They coughed and sputtered for what seemed like a few seconds before it evaporated, revealing the Master Thief had vanished.

    Sweetie Belle looked into the darkness, on the verge of tears. "...Garrett..?" she said softly. Whereas the crowd muttered amongst themselves concerning the mysterious bipedal, the yellow mare who spoke first, named Carrot Top, called out into the shadows.

    "Well it is true!" she yelled.

Thwip! sss...

    "MPH MPPHH MMMM?!" ["Is this moss?!"]

——————————

    "Garrett?"

    Rarity continued to trot around the unpopulated spot of Ponyville, looking around for any sign of the tall human. She called his name again, hoping for any sign of the him. The nothingness of the night was her only reply. The unicorn sighed angrily, her eyes narrowed by worried.

"It had been an hour since the recent.... turn of events, and we haven't heard from him since! He's not back at the library... Where is that bafoon?"

    Rarity looked around as she called out for him, hoping to find a glimpse of his form.

"Well, I'm certain he couldn't have gone far; the poor fool doesn't know anything about Ponyville. He's still around here. I'm sure he's not *that** good at hiding..."*

Thirty minutes later

    "Ugh! Fine, then. Be that way!" Rarity chided, turning around to trot back to the library. "I will never understand human stubbornness! Especially over something as silly as this! I just wanted to talk-- Oof!"

    Rarity reeled back, irritated that she should bump into something. The annoyance quickly washed away, however, as she saw it was Garrett who stood in front of her, glaring at her with a blank expression. "I'm, like, six feet tall, and you still don't see me in time to stop yourself?" the Master Thief snorted. "There is no way that wasn't intentional."

    Rarity was about to return with a snappy remark, but when she looked up at him emotion flooded her being. This was the man who had just saved her sister, and the man she (briefly and unintentionally) knew was in so much pain.

    ...Although, he's also the idiot who ran away twice in the same night.

    Rarity glared up at him, tried to say something angry, and utterly failed.

    "Don't you dare struggle," the unicorn grunted, before wrapping her arms around him, squeezing. Rarity did not see the human's reaction, as her face was looking to the left, her cheek rubbing against his stomach. She was slightly relieved as he didn't push her away, but only slightly. Her glare held as she looked up at him. "That's for saving my sister," she declared, angry eyes gazing at Garrett's face.

    "Well, she is adorable as Hell--" SMACK! "AUGH! You know, that hurts when you have a hoof--"

    "And THAT is for running away twice in the same night!"

    Garrett barely had time to explain himself as Rarity once again hugged him.

    "And THIS is for the pain I know you've experienced, although only briefly. And I'm sorry."

    The human crossed his arms, angled so they lied above Rarity's horn.

One second she's hugging me, the next she's slapping me, then she's hugging me again.

Women...

    Garrett sighed. "I suppose I'm gonna have to let you escort me back to the library?"

    "Well, the original plan was for me to whack you with a wooden board from the bar you just destroyed, but that sounds more peaceful." Rarity led the way back to the tree house as Garrett followed, cringing at the fact he just destroyed a building.

Did I really just *destroy** that bar...?*

Well, it's most likely being planned to be rebuilt by now, just after the smoking stops. But still...

Huh. Pinkie Pie would be disappointed. First building destroyed and I'm already having a Guilt Trip.

Good thing I'm no Super Hero. I don't think I'm ready to destroy an entire city to get one bad guy...

    "So, uh... who owned that bar?" Garrett asked sheepishly.

    "A mare named Berry Punch. She's been gone for a few days, though. She's on a 'Wine Tasting Adventure,' as she puts it."

    "Ah... I'll have to remember that name when I put it on my Apology List."

    "I imagine her name will have company?"

    "Nope. She's the only one."

    As the duo walked, an awkward silence fell upon them. Garrett would glance up at her occasionally, wondering if he should talk first. Rarity would do the same, glancing back at him from time to time. But, both would think better of it and keep on their way.

    It wasn't until they were at the very doorstep of the library Rarity spoke up.

    "I'd really like it if you could explain a thing or two to us," the unicorn stated. The human didn't answer. "Please, Garrett? Sometime in the future?"

    "...Sometime in the future," Garrett confirmed. Rarity, only half-satisfied with her answer sighed as she opened the door for him. However, as the orange glow of the interior hit his face, Garrett staggered back as his eyes went wide. His right eye glowed cyan as he quickly turned into the shadows, his freakishly good hiding skills showing themselves. Rarity, confused, also glanced into the room. Her expression mirrored Garrett's.

    "P-...Princess Celestia?" Rarity stuttered, taken aback.

    The white alicorn turned her head at the mention of her name, which was just recently facing the Elements of Harmony and the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Her celestial features turned into a smile as she saw Rarity's familiar figure.

    "Hello, My Little Pony," Princess Celestia smiled warmly. "You came just in time. I was about to send somepony out to fetch you. Please, come in and sit."

    Rarity glanced behind her. "...Um.."

    "Please, tell your friend Garrett that he is welcome in, too. I would love to talk to him."

    Rarity nodded thankfully and turned outside. "Garrett! It's okay; she just wants to talk. She's our Princess."

    Garrett appeared almost out of nowhere, blinking away Focus. Rarity whispered, "Be good," to him before leading him inside. Princess Celestia, much to the room's surprise, stood up at the arrival of Garrett. She extended a hoof.

    "Hello, Garrett," she declared. "I am Princess Celestia, Ruler of Equestria."

    Garrett looked at her hoof quizzically, briefly wondering how much that gold-crested hoof plate would cost. Celestia's clothing was not the only thing lost on the human, however. The color of her fur also made him blink. "Uh... Yeah. Hi, Princess Marshmallow."

    The entire room of nine ponies all gasped at once, the atmosphere transforming into one of shock.

    Princess Celestia only chuckled. "My, what a Jokester. And brave, too. Please, come in. Sit with us."

    Garrett was led to sit in a solitary chair in the middle of the room, but he instead chose to sit by Pinkie Pie on a purple sofa. The two shared a quick hoof-fist bump. Princess Celestia regarded this as an act of independence from authority. She liked that in a pony; as long as it wasn't disruptive. "Well, Garrett, I must say you have surprised me hugely from what these mares have told me. Not even twenty-four hours since your arrival and you manage to achieve two remarkable fleets.

    "Although, there is one endeavor I must question you about. One that..." she looked at each of the Elements of Harmony and Cutie Mark Crusaders in turn. "...you have committed back on your planet. My sister informed me of how you came here." The last part was said in a way that suggested it was a signal.

    Which it was.

    It was at that time two mares and one filly entered the room. The first was a female unicorn, sporting a light blue coat along with a dark blue mane and tail, accompanied with an ice blue streak on both. Her horn was currently glowing in a blue haze, holding an ice bag on her head to numb an injury. She had an hourglass as a Cutie Mark and ocean blue eyes. Garrett could tell their color because:

    Number One: they were ridiculously huge, just like every other one of these ponies.

    Number Two: they were glaring at him with a death sentence.

Well, excuse me, Toothpaste Pony. It's not like *I** caused that bruise on your head.*

    The second mare was a light grayish-purple earth pony with a darker purple mane and tail. Her cutie mark was a vine of berries, and she sported purple-pink eyes which sometimes blinked at different times than the other. Most likely recovering from a hangover.

    The last one was the filly...

WOW SHE'S ANGRY.

    ...who was currently inches away from Garrett's face. She had an extremely light gray-purple coat with a light pink and white mane and tail. She was an earth pony, and bore noticeable resemblance to the bigger, purple mare behind her. Her cyan eyes pierced Garrett's irises as she mentally dared him to look away.

    Princess Celestia chuckled. "Please, Piña Colada. Sit down and hear him out."

    Her horn glowed, and the small filly was levitated away from Garrett. As she was in mid-air, she motioned an "I'm watching you" gesture with her hoof.

    "Garrett," the Princess said, smiling. "I would like you to meet Piña Colada, Colgate, and Berry Punch. We have lots to discuss."