What's Yours Is Mine

Chapter 11- Faces revealed

Guards burst through the hall doors, running past Celestia and aiming their spears at the semi-circle of thieves.

"Orders ma'am?" One asked, looking at Celestia, who sighed and looked at the six cloaked ponies who stood around grumbling about how 'Goldy' had left them behind, in the back of her mind she wondered if there was a calculated reason behind it, her unlikely new ally seemed like the type to make subtle chess-like moves.

"Lower your weapons," Celestia ordered, the guards all looked at her in astonishment.

"Ma'am?" The same Guard asked incredulously.

"Lower your weapons," Celestia repeated "we are ally's now, and I will not go back on a deal." She looked at the thieves again, they had congested into a small group now, their expressions hidden under deep hoods "I trust you will all do they same?"

As the guards reluctantly backed off one of the thieves- the one holding the Element of Loyalty -stepped forward.

"The Thieves Guild always keeps it's deals," he said with suave charisma.

"As will I," Celestia said back "and because of that, I would request two things if you."

"And what may they be?"

"First," Celestia listed "return the Elements to their bearers."

"Done," Swift said "take them." Each of the Guildmembers head out the element they carried, with Secret Script picking up the Element of Magic. Celestia sparked her golden magic and took the Elements and floated them over to the Mane Six who accepted them gratefully.

"Now," Celestia continued "I would like you all to lower your hoods, show me your faces."

There was hesitation, the rogue's all exchanged glances.

"If we are going to trust each other, it makes sense to know each other's faces don't you agree?" They still seemed unsure before Celestia played a trump card "Besides, we cannot erase your criminal record without knowing who you are."

That worked.

"Ah bugger it all, fine." Treasure Runner growled, and pulled his hood down, revealing his bearded grumpy face.

Shining Armour gasped sharply "Your Treasure Runner! The Trottingham Pickpocket! Seven hundred accounts of petty thievery, sixty accounts of burglary, and four accounts of breaking and entering."

"This is the famed Trottingham Pickpocket?" Luna asked with a hint of doubt, looking at the old Pony.

Shining Armour nodded "I've memorized the high profile criminal records, he matches the description perfectly," Shining glared at the Earth Pony Pickpocket "I'm right aren't I?"

Treasure smiled "Right you are soldier boy," the Pickpocket glared at his companions "get on with it 'ya wankers."

Swift chuckled and lowered his hood, on cue, Shining Armpur spoke up.

"Swift Hoof, The Shadow of Canterlot, two hundred accounts of petty thievery, eight-hundred  and twenty-three accounts of burglary, four hundred accounts of breaking and entering, and you have been pinned with over five hundred heists."

Swift smiled, in the back of his mind he felt something nagging at him, a sense of familiarity, particularly towards the Captain and Twilight Sparkle. He ignored the feeling.

"Suck it Treasure," he taunted as Dream Charmer lowered her hood, before Shining Armour could run off the charges Rainbow Dash interrupted.

"You!" She exclaimed, pointing at Dream Charmer "You sedu-led me on!"

Dream giggled "it is all part of the job, belle jument, you should not hold a grudge."

Rainbow Dash looked furious but Shining Armour continued undeterred.

"Dream Charmer, The Lustful Lady, four hundred accounts of illegal prostitution, two hundred and forty seven accounts of sexual harassment and forty accounts of sexual assault and rape."

The other thieves all slowly looked at the Prench mare who giggled and faked embarrassment "Sometimes I must be a little.... Forceful."

"You have no shame, lass," Treasure said, shaking his head slowly.

Silver Lock lowered his hood, smirking at Dream Charmer, Shining Armour was right on top of it.

"Silver Lock, The Silver Phantom, nine hundred accounts of breaking and entering, pinned for about six hundred and twenty two heists."

"Ha! Take it Swift!" Silver boasted, puffing out his chest.

"Yes, you got seen more than I have, congrats," Swift retorted, which got a bark of laughter out of Treasure. Brass Hoof revealed himself and Shining growled.

"Brass Hoof, I remember you, I discharged you myself, what you did to that poor mare... I let you go free out of good will, it appears I was mistaken." He said.

Brass Hoof sneered "Go on then, list my charges, Captain, sir," he spat.

Shining Armour was furious, he growled out the charges "Seventy accounts of assault and eighty three accounts of third degree murder." Swift and Silver whistled and congratulated Brass on a respectable record, eventually they were all staring at the last one left, Secret Script.

"Go on then, show your ugly face," Treasure barked, Secret didn't move and the Pickpocket sighed heavily. Silver- who was closest to Secret Script -scoffed and trotted over to the Pegasus.

"Oh come off it," Silver said, and he grabbed Secret's hood with his magic and pulled the garment away from Secret's face.

Secret pushed Silver away ruffly, anger and panic going across his usually blank face. Shining stemmed to have no record of their outlaw, Luna, on the other hand, gasped slightly.

"Secret Script.." She breathed, causing the dark Pegasus to start, he was facing away from her now. Slowly, guiltily, Secret turned to face Princess Luna.

"An honour to see you again... My Princess," Secret said quietly.

"Sister?" Celestia said "Do you know him?"

Luna nodded, not taking her eyes off Secret "he was one of my Nightguard's, one of the best, he was my top agent when rooting out conspirators and gathering intel... All until I sent him on a mission to the Gryphon Kingdom, he never returned, I pronounced him dead and erased his files for security reasons," Luna shook her head "What happened to you? Why are you with these.... Rogue's?"

Secret Script smiled lightly "Some secrets are meant to be kept, my Princess." Luna didn't look satisfied but Celestia cut off any responses she had lined up.

"Six Ponies," Celestia mused sadly "Six very talented Ponies, you could all serve your country so well and yet you choose to break and slander the law put up to protect my little Ponies... And a I can ask is why?"

The thieves all exchanged glances.

"There... Ain't no rest for the wicked?" Swift offered.

"Money doesn't grow on trees," Silver added.

"We've got bills to pay," Brass grunted.

"Mouths ta feed," Treasure said.

"Nothing in this world is for free," Secret said softly.

"We can't slow down," Swift said.

"We can't hold back," Treasure added.

"Although we wish we could," Dream Charmer finally said, there was a pause before Celestia

spoke.

"No rest for the wicked..." She repeated, thinking.

"Until we close our eyes for good," Swift concluded for her, there was another pause as everypony present let the message sink in.

"I think it is best we all retire for this day," Luna suggested "we can think of our next move the next day."

"I think that is best," Celestia said "until then?"

Swift nodded "send your messages to the Staggering Stallion, it's our... Refuge, we'll be in touch." With that Silver and Dream sparked their horns and the thieves disappeared into a flash of silver and pink.

There was silence until Shining Armour broke it.

"They're base is a bar?" He asked incredulously.