Chapters He that first cries out "Stop thief!", is often he that has stolen the treasure.-
William Congreve
<><><>
Garret stalks through the halls of the mansion, stealing and dodging guards as he moves. The shadow is his friend, whilst the light is his nemesis. As a thief, he is pretty much stealing every thing worth of value, and if he can get his hooves on it. Though the real prize he is after is the fabled "Emerald Opal", the rarest of rare opals. He saw it being carted through the city, after a few hours of following and stalking, he is making his move as it is being dropped off at said mansion, but the mansion belongs to a certain rich pony. Goldie.
"Bah, her name is a play on bucking words, the bitch is a stuck up......bitch." Garret overhears from a nearby guard.
"I know, I share what you think, but don't let her hear you, she will behead you. Lets get back to our patrol, remember the pay?" The other guard says.
"Eheheh. Yeah, lets go."
Hoofsteps start to fade away as if they were ghosts.
"Dumb guards. Now lets see..." Garret mumbles as he watches a pony walk down the stairs....With the opal.
"Ah hah! There it is!" Garret says, a little louder than he could have.
He stalks the carrier downstairs, watching as he opens the treasury door. All the gems and gold and jewel encrusted everything sparkle in Garrets eyes. Walking up behind the carrier, Garret takes his Blackjack out of his pack. Holding the pummel of it firmly with his mouth, he strikes the carrier, knocking him out. The opal falls onto the ground, but doesn't dent or shatter. Garret looks into the treasury, guilt racks his consciousness.
"I wont be able to carry all of this." Garret mumbles guiltily.
Chapter 1: "Bloody Taffer!"
Time is a cruel thief to rob us of our former selves. We lose as much to life as we do to death. -
Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey
<><><>
Escaping the castle with as much loot as he could grab and fit in his pockets, Garret jumps from roof to roof, hearing the Intruder Alarm go off in the estate. With the Emerald Opal in hoof, Garret must find his gem cutter, Sharp Hooves, the guard will probably be on high alert.
"Mmmm, gotta get from here, to Stonemarket Plaza, a legion of The City guards stand in my way.... Lets go" Garret mumbles to himself.
Walking past a civilian, he looks back at the pony, who is shuffling through his pockets, realizing he is missing his bits pouch. Garret chuckles as he continues down the road, tossing and catching a bit pouch he found.
"Taff, where did I put my pouch?" The pony whined.
Garret continues to walk away, then begins into a slow trot, escaping into the dark night. He looks up.
"Day break, no time for Stonemarket. *yawn* I need some sleep." Garret mumbles as he trots down an allyway.
<><><>
Waking up from a long day of sleeping, Garret gets out of bed, and covers his grey fur with his signature thief robe and hood, tucked away inside the robe is the Emerald Opal and a few bits and gems. A realization hit him.
"Taff, I better stop by Heartless' Shop, get rid of my dirty bits and gems, Sharp Hooves tends to ask questions...." Garret mumbles. A realization hit him. He talks to himself.
"I must going insane hehehe." He joked to himself, proving his own point.
Garret trots down the stair, only to be greeted by a loud "Bloody Taffer!". Garret jumps at this and grabs his dagger.
"Woah, woah okay its just you Garret, sorry. No need for daggers." A pony says noticing Garrets fighting stance.
"Taff you dick. Trail Breeze you know better than to scare me." Garret says. Trail Breeze just happens to be The hired guard for the apartment Garret lives in. By the order of the law, he is suppose to report Garret to the nearest City guard, but they just happen to be friends.
"Scare you? Your the buck that scared me, coming down the stairs in your robe and hood, thought you were a breakin. Eh, whatever I have to make your rounds, get back to your...Muffin making or thieving or fountain diving or whatever it is you do." Trail Breeze said, walking off.
Garret sighs and walks out the building, the darkness of The City greets him. Few ponies are out at night, except for the Night Watch City Guard shift, and the occasional Pagan or Hammerite, or civilian. Perfect time for thieving and stalking through the streets. Garret looks around, a few ponies in South Quarter are out and about, Garret tucks away a part of his yellow mane as it begins to dangle in front of his face. A pony walks up to Garret.
"Hey Garret, done much Thieving lately" The pony asks. Garret remembers his old accomplice, Pick.
"I've been doing fine Pick, but slim pickings around South Quarter. How is the City Guard? They looking for me?" Garret asks the green stallion.
"Yeah, they knew it was you that broke into Goldies Estate, and they are PIIIIIISED ." Pick says. Use his hoof for emphasis.
"Ahh alright, well im heading to StoneMarket Plaza, see my stone cutter." Garret says.
"Alright, but be carful, the entire City guard are after you now, if they weren't before that is. And the Hammerites are more pissed than usual than they normally are at us "sinners"." Pick says.
Garret watches Pick trot away. He realizes something, if he runs into Pick, then he is gonna run into that mare, Gem, his competition for Best Thief in The City. 'Is it even a competition?' Garret thinks. Garret trots towards his Black Market dealer to sell some of his hot goods.
"Oh surprise surprise." Garret said, seeing the City guard patrolling through the streets. More than usual.
Garret jumps from shadow to shadow, never making a noise. He sees the Red hoof mark, he is near the Black Market now. An idea fires in his head. Readying a Noisemaker arrow, which was really a big sparkler on a stick, he fires it into the opposite direction from the Black Market sign.
"Shitballs!" One guard exclaims.
"The taff was that?" Another shouts.
"Could be Garret, lets check it out." The lead of the two order, drawing swords, they advance towards the source of the noise. Garret slips by them unnoticed.
"Idiots." Garret Scoffs.
Garret notices a door close over where his Black Market Fence usually hangs out at. Wary as it could be.....her. He opens the door slowly, and whatdoyouknow? Its Gem. And his fence who is all black and blue.
"What the taff? Gem what the buck did you do?" Garret asks, a little enraged.
"Easy babe. I didn't do this, but I certainly wanna find out who did, and he wont tell me sweetie." Gem says looking seductive, as she always does when she see Garret.
"Get out...Get the buck out now before I get pissed." Garret demands, pointing towards the exit.
"Fine honey, I will just find out another way. Bye" Gem says, opening the door and closing it behind her.
"At least she listens to you." The Fence says.
"Hmph, it will never happen between us.....ever." Garret informs.
"Yeah well, if your here, you must want some fencing. But I must warn you, Goldies daughter is after you with a few thugs....Its why I look the way I look. I think im blind in both eyes now." The Fence says.
"Shit, thanks. Anyways here Is what ive got." Garret says, opening his pouch.
<><><>
Garret watches Goldies Daughter, Jade, and her thugs. They are looking for him, they know he will come through to StoneMarket, they know who Garret is. He listens in, intent on killing the one that ruffed up his fence, he was like family.
"I wanna go back there and get some more information. He squealed like a pig when started." One thug says.
"No, we cant, I need the money, and besides if anypony was going to ruff up that fence, it will be me.....next..... uhhhh." The other says.
"Both of you shut up and keep an eye out for Garret, I want that opal!" A mare who looks like "Jade" says.
"Bitch." The thugs say at the same time quietly, but for some reason Garret can hear it.
"The sonofabitch is gonna pay. No one messes with my fence." Garret says, tossing a flashbomb at the thugs.
Blinded, the thugs walk around screaming as their eyesight is gone, Garret takes out his dagger and stabs the thug that mentioned ruffing up The Fence, he stabs him again, and again, and again, and again. Until the thug is dead. He puts the dagger away and runs in the direction they were guarding.
"Shit! Garret must've walked by!" Garret heard behind him.
Chapter 2: The Emerald Opal
Sleep, that sometimes shuts up sorrow's eye, steal me awhile from mine own company.-
William Shakespeare
<><><>
Garret rustles in the bush as Jade and her thug walks by. Trying not to hurt a mare, as he believes its unethical, even in a thief, he intends to wait out her hide and seek method.
"Come out you damn thief, I got gems and jewels and bits!" Jade says, trying to lure out Garret.
Garret finds a Moss Arrow Tip discarded on the ground. An idea plucks into his head.
"Hmm, haven't seen this type of arrow in a while." Garret says, picking it up and placing it in his bow.
Garret lines up his shot, knowing that a Moss Arrow wont kill Jade, but clog her throat, choking her for a few seconds and rendering her unable to chase and allows Garret to walk by like he is The Baron, Goldie. He lets go of the bow string, sending the arrow flying, it hits its mark.
"Mmmm! MMMMM!" Jade screams, muffled. She falls over holding her throat, as does the Thug.
Garret kicks the thug as he chokes and continues on his way, he is able to make out some muffled words as he walks by.
"I will find you." Jade says, while choking, although it is wearing off.
<><><>
Garret drags the body of an unconscious guard into a dark corner in Stonemarket Plaza. Garret looks ahead to see a prison cell.
"Taff it all, im at the guard house." Garret mumbles to himself. He walks towards the Jail Cell, whats in there makes him jump back.
"Pony free Gavin! Sneaky One, free Gavin so Gavin can return to family in sewers!" A fish like equine thing calling itself "Gavin" asks.
"Uhhh." Garret stutters.
"Free Gavin Sneaky One, me repay favor in future!" Gavin says.
Taking his dagger out just incase, Garret begins to pick the lock to the jail cell. Finding every "sweet spot" in a matter of seconds. The jail cell opens and Gavin trots out.
"I thank Sneaky One. I return favor to you one day, but now Gavin returns to sewer. I see you again Sneaky One." Gavin thanks. Gavin runs around the corner, a struggle is heard before a stallion screams in agony. Garret is left speechless.
"What... Taff.....Fuck....What?" Garret stutters. He looks inside the jail cell, only to find a map.
Garret leaves the cell and goes around the corner to find a dead guard with his head separated from his body. The map falls out of Garrets mouth, Garret has seen blood before, and gore, but never a giant pool of blood with a stallions throat 3 meters from its owner. Garret holds back the urge to throw up and picks up the map, and places it in his pack. He walks down some stairs, finding the Red Hoof Print.
"The Black Market. Now where is she?" Garret mumbles to himself.
Garret spies the stone cutters office, he opens the door to find Sharp Hooves standing behind the counter, counting bits. She sees Garret and immediately puts the bits away.
"Ahh Garret, I didn't expect you. You got a gem for me? Speaking of gems.... Gem was here earlier, said she got this mysterious note that was addressed to you." Sharp Hooves says, handing over the note.
"A stallion in dark robes, and this is what she told me, approached her after she left Heartless' Shop, said to give the note to you." Sharp Hooves continues.
"Mmm, I will read it later. Here... Check this out." Garret says, chuckling as he pulls out the Emerald Opal.
"Woah shit! Is that.......Is that an Emerald Opal?" Sharp Hooves asked, with worry in her voice.
"Uhh, yeah is something wrong with that?" Garret asks, sensing worry.
"Yeah! I have heard those things are cursed. I mean have you heard of the Legend?" Sharp Hooves inquires.
"Bah, that's just an ol' foals tale. Will you cut it? Because im getting tired of lugging it around." Garret says.
"Shit no! Find some other asshole to-" Sharp Hooves starts.
"I will give you a diamond." Garret cuts off Sharp.
"Give me the damn thing, I will have it ready by tomorrow. This time." Sharp Hooves says, snatching the opal.
<><><>
Garret leaves the shop, chuckling.
"Money is what makes the world go 'round." Garret laughs.
Taking out the note, Garret begins to wonder who wrote it. He unfolds it. The first thing that catches his eye is the Keeper symbol. Garret swears under his breath. He thought he was done with those traitorous asses. The note reads:
Garret,
It has come to our attention that you acquired a certain Opal from a certain Baron. And we have noticed strange things happening in The City since it arrived. We need you to meet us in Stonemarket Plaza in two days. See you there.
Until then,
Keeper Star
"Taffit."
<><><>
Garret looks around, expecting a Keeper to appear out of thin air. But all that he has seen was a Hammerite who passed by him and said:" Sinner, the Hammer wilt strike thou in time.", Garret punched him in the face after that was said. Other than that though, no violence. Garret begins to walk off when the air gets cold, the wind gets stronger, Garrets hood blows back, revealing his bedraggled yellow mane, fog begins to appear out of nowhere. Garret begins to shiver as the cold gets worse, the winds get stronger, and the fog thicker. Then, it all stops. The wind ends, and cold gets warm, and the fog dissipates, Garret puts his hood back on. Then a voice pipes up.
"Garret, its time to talk."
Chapter 3: The Hammerites Chalice
Alas! must it ever be so?
Do we stand in our own light, wherever we go,
And fight our own shadows forever?-
Edward Bulwer-Lytton
<><><>
"Keeper Star, why am I not surprised, you always loved making an entrance." Garret started.
"Garret, shut up. We need a serious talk. Now before anything else, you have the Opal yes?" The white coated mare asks.
"Garret does have it." Garret says, pulling out of a bag of the cut stone.
"Its cut up.....You know what whatever it doesn't matter, doesn't matter. The Keepers have been watching you for a long time, even since you left us." The Keeper begins.
"Paid a diamond for this." Garret mutters, not trying to listen.
"AAAAND we noticed your breakin' to the estate. We know you knocked out that stallion and we know you stole that Opal. You see where im going?" Keeper Star asks.
"No."
"*sigh* You always were difficult. Well, in any case, here is a note, the Grand Keeper wrote it." Star says, using her magic to levitate the note to Garret.
Garret catches the note with his mouth, being an earth pony and not a unicorn, he cant catch it with any magic. Garret walks off before Keeper Star can notice or continue talking.
"Garret, We- Garret? Garret!" Keeper Star said, realizing Garret is gone.
<><><>
Garret looks over the note a second time, keeping an eye around his surroundings incase of Gem, Jade or a Watchstallion.
Garret,
The Opal. We know you stole it, and we know you had it cut. From what Keeper Star told you, you should realize this is very serious.
Garret stops reading and remembers Star didn't say anything about the Opal. He continues.
The signs are very clear. But to see if the Legend is coming fruition, we must first study a few more objects said to be involved with the Legend. And to get these objects we need to make use of your.......profession. Here is the list of objects you need to steal:
The Hammerites Chalice: A holy relic among the Hammerites Knighthood. They will defend this relic to the death, so be wary.
The Pagans Hand: A disgusting mummified hand...claw....thing that the Pagans worship. As with the Hammerites, they will defend this fiercely.
Steal these objects and return to the statue that you met Keeper Star at.
Knowledge is power,
Grand Keeper Comet
"Ahhh my thieving skills being put to the test now eh?" Garret Mutters to himself. He puts the note in one of his many pockets. Time to go steal.
<><><>
Garret drags the lifeless body of a Hammerite Knight. During his break-in of the Hammer Cathedral, a Hammerite noticed him an attacked him, having no choice but to kill. He drags the corpse into a small dark corner, stealthily avoiding other Hammerites and Priests.
"Dammit I hope nopony finds this body, im not interested in seeing the form of Hammerite Torture." He mutters a little louder than he should have.
Continuing in the shadows, he avoids more Knights, the occasional priest and Hammer Believer. As he passes by a few pews, he catches something in his peripheral. A shiny golden goblet, being used by a Hammerite Priest.
"Sir, should thou only use thine goblet on thous day of celebration, when thou returnests to the Holy Hammer?" A Knight asks.
"No, The Chalice of Hammer is deserved to be drank from us priests Sir Knight, even if it is just wine." A Priest says, the Priest looks high-ranking.
"Now to figure out how get that without getting noticed... Hrmmmmmm." Garret murmers.
Sticking to the shadows, Garret dodges the light from a torch carried by a Knight. Getting closer to the chalice, he hears a bell go off.
"What the? Somepony foundeth a dead body, we hath a murderer in here! Find him or her!" The High-Ranking Priest orders.
"Dammit!" Garret shouts as a sword comes across his neck.
"Foundeth Him!" A Knight yells behind Garret. Garret bucks the Knight and dashes for the Chalice of Hammer.
Magic and Arrows passes Garrets head as the Hammerites try to kill him, but a scream is heard from outside, Garret, the Priest, and the other Knight stop attacking and listen. A fish-like Pony comes running, with 4 or 5 more Hammerites chasing after him.
"Gavin returns favor Sneaky One! Run! Me save your life, you get to live!" The creature yells.
'Gavin?' Garret remembers the creature he freed, he said that he would return the favor.
"Never look a gift fish in the mouth I guess." He mutters as he grabs the Chalice.
"KILL THE FISH!" The Priest yells as another Knights head gets twisted off.
Garret bursts through the double doors and knocks down 2 more Knights who were coming in. Bursting through another set of doors, an arrows pierces his Leather armor and into his coat, blood runs down the leg as he looks at the attacker. A Hammerite Archer...
"Damn you!" Garret yells as he continues towards the exit, pulling out the arrow before running.
He dodges more arrows and continues to hear more screams coming from inside the cathedral. Another arrow pierces his armor and flesh, more blood gushes out of his wounds. Knowing he is not going to last much longer, Garret covers his eyes and throws down a Flashbomb, it explodes, blinding the Archer. Garret pulls out the arrow and in screams in agony. Blood continues to gush as he struggles to open the doors. With one last push, he opens up 1 door and limps out, leaving Gavin to his fate. As he continues to trot away in the darkness of The City, he looks at his wounds. He is losing a lot a bloody, he wont survive another 5 minutes.
"Health....Potion..." He weakly mutters.
