What's Yours Is Mine

Chapter 2- The Staggering Stallion

Golden Shine strolled through the damp, backwater slums of Canterlot. Luna's bright orb illuminating the narrow street, on each side of the street was littered with many a Pony who looked downtrodden and broken, either poor or drunk or both. Golden passed by one such poor sod on his way, the poster-child for the Equestrian proletariat reached out towards the dark yellow Unicorn.

"Please sir... Spare a bit" Golden Shine pulled his hoof away before the cretin could touch the sleeve of his white shirt, the Unicorn sneered at the pathetic being before him and simply continued on his way. It wasn't long until Shine reached bus destination; The Staggering Stallion, a place of drink and squalor if he ever saw one but one that he unfortunately had to visit quite often these days.

The stallion passed under the inns sign, which depicted an image of a drunken staggering colt holding a mug, and entered through the door. A wave of smells assaulted Golden's nostrils, a smell of stale cider, unwashed bodies, and woodsmoke. Coughing slightly the stallion made his way through the door frame, closing the door behind him Shine scanned the main room, it was filled to the brim with late-night drinkers, all around him the sound of talking, laughing, and occasionally raised voiced were all around him. As Golden Shine observed them, the patrons paid nay a lick of attention to the newcomer, despite the fact that he stood out slightly, what with the majority of Ponies present being dressed in dark, dirty clothing and looking rough and hardened and Golden Shine looking superior in his white collared shirt and brown vest, his golden brown mane slicked back as was the style for

the modern-day capitalist, Golden Shine was a common visitor to the inn.

One occupant who did notice the newcomer was the innkeeper himself, standing behind the counter and wiping a mug with a magicked cloth, the two stallions locked eyes and the innkeeper subtly jerked his head towards the far corner of the room. Golden followed the stallions gesture and spotted a cloaked, hooded figure sitting alone at a small table in the corner, strangely with two mugs in front of him, as if he were dining with somepony. Golden shine slipped through the crowd of patrons to approach the cloaked Pony, sitting down across from him and pulling the second mug towards him.

"I trust it went well then?" Golden asked, before taking a generous swig from the mug, scrunching his muzzle in disgust at the cheap liquor, the cloaked figure nodded and reached inside his cloak, revealing the leather gear and pair of wings under the garment, after a bit of rummaging the Pegasus revealed a sizeable bag that clinked and rattled with the sound of coin as Swift Hoof placed it in front of the yellow Unicorn.

Without another word Golden Shine activated his magic, levitating the bag off the table and emptying the contents onto the table itself, after discarding the bag Golden took hold of the bits themselves and began piling them in neat piles of ten, coming up with about a hundred of said piles. Shine took hold of ten of the stacks and pushed them towards Swift Hoof, who immediately swiped them up and hid them away in his satchel.

Golden Shine levitated the remaining gold into his own satchel, picking up the mug of cider with his yellow-coloured power.

"To a job well done" he said and the two scoundrels knocked their mugs together and downed the remaining cider, Golden Shine came up coughing and scowling in disgust.

"Remind me to hand Clean Cup some funds, we need some better quality cider in this place." Swift chuckled.

"Heard there's a popular new brand on the market, Apple Family Cider, problem is that you can only get it in Ponyville." The yellow Unicorn shrugged.

"Perhaps I can work something out with the manufacturers, anyway let's head downstairs, I need to talk to everypony." And with that they got up and headed over to the far corner adjacent to the counter, Golden nodded towards Clean Cup as he and his roguish companion headed through the kitchen door.

Calling it a 'kitchen door' wasn't entirely accurate, rather than a generic kitchen as most would assume, it was a short hallway made of stone that came to a solid brick wall. Golden Shine walked forward towards the brick wall, the Unicorn reached a hoof out and tapped a seemingly random sequence of bricks before stepping back. There was the sound of stone scraping on stone and the wall split in two, opening to reveal a dark stairway that spilled out of view and was lite only by a single torch.

The pair headed down the spiral staircase with Golden in the lead, turning dramatically as they headed into the deep. The light from the torch eventually fading and the two Ponies being shrouded in darkness, Golden Shine activated his horn and their way was illuminated by a pale yellow light. Eventually the two scoundrels came to a old-looking mouldy door in which they entered through.

The other side revealed a darker, damper version of the Staggering Stallion. The floor was old stone covered in thriving moss, a wooden counter of similar status and several round tables were set up. Besides that there was a small stone bridge that lead to a large stone circle that was illuminated by moonlight beaming from a hole in the ceiling, supposedly from a well in the middle of Canterlot.

Sitting around the counter and one behind it, were the filthiest band of scoundrels that could have ever united. They were dressed similarly to Swift, a few with cloaks a few without, Golden walked into the middle of them and spoke to the shadowy group.

"Come to the centre everypony, I got something to say." The shadows shifted and followed Swift and Golden to the centre of their den. As they moved into the light the lot of them pulled back their hoods and let their features be bathed in moonlight.

There was Secret Script, a rather quiet dark blue Pegasus, he was the guilds primary spy and intelligence gatherer, if you want dirt on somepony or the whereabouts of some buried treasure? He was your Pony.

Then there was Silver Lock, their infiltrator, this silver-coloured Unicorn could break into the Princesses bedchambers, steal their tiaras, escape, and have his crime not noticed for the following three days, or so he bragged.

After them was Dream Charmer, the guilds head courtesan. To put it bluntly, the Prench mare was a whore, a mistress of seduction and late-night sins, the light purple Unicorn was very beautiful and affections were sought by just about every male in Canterlot, unfortunately for them she preferred to put her brothel skills to more profitable ventures.

Treasure Runner was also there, a slick, practical, brown Earth Pony that was a master pickpocket, he brought in the consistent income, never failing to fish the heaviest of bit purses from the everyday street-users.

Finally there was Brass Hoof, a monster of a Earth Pony that was a former Royal Guard, he watched the streets for the guild, spotting outsiders and providing muscle when it was needed.

Once the merry band of thieves was assembled in the centre, Golden Shine spoke up.

"I want to start off by saying that so far this year has been one of the most profitable yet" he said "You have all performed perfectly mad racked in sone serious coin, that being said our escapades have attracted the attention of some... Peculiar clients, I have nothing solid yet, but I think soon we'll be offered some high-grade jobs" there were quite a few raised eyebrows and exchanged glances, but Golden wasn't done yet.

"Until I get it confirmed though, we won't be letting up, I want you all to continue doing your jobs, Swift" the Unicorn turned to the grey stallion "I'll have something for you soon, just help out and or take some jobs from the board until then alright?" Swift Hoof grinned and nodded.

"Sure thing Goldy, find me some big game won't you?" Golden Shine scowled slightly.

"I will and don't call me Goldy" and with that his horn lit up and the guild master disappeared in a flash of gold, leaving his band of scoundrels behind.

"Dramatic as always 'E iz" Dream Charmer said with a slight toss of her mane "I 'Op that these new jobs of 'iz will be worth it."

"I'm sure they will" Swift said through a yawn "He never fails to deliver" Dream smiled her alluring smile at the Pegasus.

"Aw, you must be so very tired from your latest adventure Swiftest" she said "Script told me the word on the street iz that a certain aristocrat was found drunk in a waiters closet, mumbling about somepony called 'Serving Hoof'" Swift looked at Secret Script who with a completely straight face, winked at him. The grey Pegasus chuckled a bit before looking back at Dream.

"Oh yes, I heard some tales about a dashing waiter in the Theatre" Swift Hooves stifled another yawn "I think I'll get some sleep... Maybe you can help me with that Dreamy?" Swift moved his eyebrows up and down to make his meaning clear. Dream Charmer caught in to him and smiled.

"Regrettably, I 'ave a previous engagement, another time perhaps" the courtesan winked and walked away, swaying her hips for all colts to see.

"Bloody tease that one" Treasure Runner said gruffly, in his northern Trottingham accent "I swear if I had a bit for every time she played a stallion.... Well I wouldn't be here would I?" Silver Lock shrugged.

"Bah, let her be, what I'm interested is Goldy's new jobs, wonder if I'll get to work my magic on a vault or 'somethin" Swift yawned again.

"Guess we'll find out soon enough, for now gents, I have some sleep to catch up on. Silver, Treasure, Script, goodnight." They all said their farewells and headed off, Swift turned to a separate walkway that lead off the centre platform, it came to a wooden door in which, when pushed open, revealed a small bedroom with a sloppily made bed, a empty bookstand, and a coat-hook.

Swift Hoof removed his cloak and hung it on the hook, then made no time of unstrapping his gear, revealing the Pegasus's rough grey coat and brown mane, along with his cutie mark: the image of a bit bag spilling it's golden condense to any who wish to claim it. After carefully placing his gear on the stone floor, taking extra care not to bump the satchel bombs on anything, Swift climbed into the bed, stretching his wings before pulling the blanket over him and falling into a deep, slightly tipsy, sleep. Full of dreams of coin and treasure awaiting his eager hooves and of precious little else, he was thief after all, he didn't not care for much else than riches.