Chapter one: The adventure begins
Scarlet turned away from the wanted posters on the wall of the bar. Sometimes just a description of her old gang members made her feel lonely, and even though she was a “hardened criminal” maybe a tiny bit sad. She shook her head, closing her eye briefly. A bar in the slums of canterlot was a dangerous place to shed a tear. If anypony found out they would beat the stuffing out of her. Not that they could, she thought a cruel smile curling her lip. She tightened her grip on her soft cider and wandered out into the flickering lamplight of the filthy bar. Two mares walked past, arguing about nothing. Two teenage colts hoofwrestled in the opposite corner, and at the nearest table two stallions conversed in low voices. Scarlet took a sip of her cider and inched closer, pricking her ears. “…Not there, he’s a tough guy. Know him personally.” Said the green one.
“Yeah, What about Prancer’s? We both know that he’s a….” the red one stopped suddenly. He tapped his partner on the shoulder and jerked his head behind them. Poo thought Scarlet. The two stallions turned quickly, giving her no time to slip away.
“Well, well, well. What do we have here?” The red one asked. Now that she could see their faces scarlet recognized them. Honey and Cream Cake, cousins of Carrot Cake. They definitely were cakes. But they saw their names as to girly so they preferred to go by Boom and Snag.
“Say girly, ya’ll didn’t hear anything we was sayin’? Did ya?” The green one (snag) asked her, trying to see through the quarter inch gap between her hat and the high collar of her trench coat.
“And if I did?” she answered coolly. By now a small crowd had gathered, all eager to see a fight. Seeing this, Boom pulled a switchblade out of his saddle bags.
“If you did we might have to, let’s say, shut you up.” He said. Scarlet chuckled slightly.
“And you think that you could? Do you even know who I am?” Boom just shrugged.
“Probably just some backyard, teenybopper, sideline squatter.” he said.
Scarlet smiled evilly. “Think again.” And she threw off her coat, tipping up her hat. A small yellow puddle began to grow from where Snag’s back leg was firmly planted.
“B-but, Your S-slick. Aren’t you supposed to be in prison?” he whimpered.
Scarlet took her hat off her head and stroked the brim, smiling. “Let’s just say that I can be very persuasive.” Then without warning she flung her hat at them. A razor sharp blade slid out along the brim. Boom and Snag ducked just in time. The deadly hat sailed behind them and, Scarlet holding her hoof out, caught it deftly.
Suddenly a muffled cry sounded from the street. Everypony froze. It was the royal guard. Some of the mares looked suspiciously at each other, each wondering, who was the snitch? This place was full of wanted criminals and nopony, and I mean Nopony, rats out another criminal. Because, they will get even.
Scarlet picked her coat of off the floor and tugged it on. She strode across the bar and pulled open the heavy wooden door. Outside there was a very interesting scene. Six unicorn guards chased a cloaked pony down the deserted street. One of the guards shot a jet of green magic at the cloaked pony. They dodged it and flew up into the crisp night air. An overhanging branch caught hold of the edge of the fabric and tore it off the pony’s back, to reveal a pure white Thestral with a ragged black mane. A small tear in the webbing of her wing stood out to Scarlet, as did the cutie mark. A dark green python wrapped around a depiction of the sun. Scarlet would know that mark anywhere. Monty.
Scarlet’s lip curled into a sneer and she narrowed her eye. Then she closed it and stamped her front hooved hard on the ground, loose dirt clouding up and around her hooves as she sent a spike of magic digging through the earth.
She willed the magic to flow towards Monty’s dirt covered hooves. Small specs of earth floated up and into Monty’s bulging saddle bags, from which a strong magical aura was emanating. She then sent an image of the contents into her mind. In the bags two sets of regalia gleamed. One gold and one black, both inlayed with colorful gemstones. Shocked, Scarlet stumbled and the connection broke. Well that explains the guards. She thought as she watched Monty fly away.
“Having fun?” She asked the wheezing guards.
“Buzz of scum.” One of them panted. Scarlet raised an eyebrow.
“There’s no need for that! Besides, I might be able to help you. See, I know the pony who stole the Elements of harmony.” The guards head snapped up at these words.
“How did you...”
“Know that the Elements were stolen? I have my ways.” Scarlet cut across.
“Who was it?” Another asked.
“A Thestral by the name of Monty.” They all shuddered. Scarlet cocked an eyebrow.
“I see that you’ve heard of her.” One of them began to nod.
“That crazy broad killed a lot of decent ponies. One of them was my pa. I was only 12 when it happened.”
Scarlet let a seed of sympathy grow inside her. “I know how ya feel. Killed my parents to. Almost killed me.”
A gleam of rage flashed in the guard’s eye. “I wish that I could be the one to get her, but, last time the Princess said that she already had somepony on the job. Looks like we’ll need them again.” He said.
Scarlet grinned behind her collar. “Well you better take me to Tia then.”
“What?! You mean…you…What?” He stammered.
“Yup.” Scarlet said, tipping her hat slightly. He squinted at her suspiciously for a moment, then he sighed.
“Ya’ll seem like a good pony so I guess I can let you see the princesses. Would ya mind showin’ us who ya are?” he asked.
“I’d rather stay anonymous.”
“Ok fine.” He said a slightly annoyed tinge to his voice.” He kicked one of his comrades in the side. They all reluctantly began to lift themselves to their hooves. When none of them were on the dusty ground, they began to trot up towards the castle.
Chapter two: Reforging ties
Chapter 2: Reforming Ties
Scarlet stood outside the throne room with her guard escort. “You can go now.” She said. The lead guard, who had identified himself as Spark, shook his head.
“I Wanna’ see how this plays out.”
“Oh come on Spark, its late.” One of Spark’s comrades said impatiently, already walking away.
“No.” The other guard rolled his eyes and lit his horn, dragging the struggling Spark away towards the barracks Scarlet took a deep breath and pushed open the doors. To find Princess Celestia sitting on her throne and Princess Luna pacing back and forth muttering under her breath. Something was wrong with them. Luna’s mane was short and baby blue. Celestia’s was still long and wavy, but it was a pale pink and had stopped flowing. Scarlet tapped on the door with a hoof.
“Come in.” Celestia said, not even looking up to see who it was. Scarlet took a small step in and, gaining confidence strode halfway across the room before stopping again.
“You don’t look so good Tia.” She said. Celestia finally looked up.
“Hello Scarlet. You took your time.” Said Celestia, feigning annoyance. Luna looked back and forth between her sister and the pony in the trench coat.
“Sister, who is this pony?” she asked sharply. Celestia sighed.
“Scarlet, would you please remove your coat?” Scarlet turned and eyed Luna.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.” Scarlet shrugged and pulled off her coat. Luna stared at her for a second. Scarlet was used to this. No doubt she thought that she looked rather bizarre, with her short mane, missing eye, and long scar.
“I know you!” Luna shouted accusingly. “You’re that thief! During my research of recent equestrian history I looked through all the old wanted posters and criminal trial records. You were one of the most infamous criminal in equestria!”
“Were?” Scarlet asked, a touch of mock hurt in her voice.
“Calm down lulu.” Celestia said wearily. “Scarlet has been wrongly marked by society. Yes she is a criminal, but she and her gang protected all of us from ponies much worse. Like the pony our guards chased down tonight.”
“Actually Tia, the guards didn’t catch her.” Said Scarlet.
“What!” Celestia Shouted, her eyes blazing. Scarlet didn’t even flinch.
“Nope she got away. But then again she always does. And then I’m blamed for her messes.” Scarlet rolled her eye.
“So it was HER.” Celestia said, her eyes narrowing.
“Yup. And you know what she’s capable of normally. Imagine what she could do with all of that power. Our world would be thrown into chaos! Torn apart by her insanity!”
“Wait I’m so confused, who are we talking about?” Luna asked.
“Well then,” Celestia said, completely ignoring her sister “it’s a good thing that you’re here.”
“Think it’s time for a little reunion?” Scarlet asked grinning widely.
“Yes.” Celestia agreed. “Go and find your gang. Equestria needs you once again.” Scarlet nodded, pulled on her coat, and walked out of the throne room.
Luna rounded on Celestia. “Okay Tia, spill.”
Scarlet wondered how she was going to reunite her gang as she walked through the castle. The closest was Peepers, who was here in canterlot. But most of them were station in and around ponyville. Well, all of them would know to travel to ponyville when she sent out the signal. She looked up from her thoughts and saw that she had reached the exit. As she walked out into the cool night she looked out over the vast city. “This,” she thought “Is what it’s all about. Protecting them.” Smiling warmly, she closed her eye. When she opened it, it was glowing a brilliant white. Her smile growing, she lifted her front hooves off the ground, and smashed them down on the earth. This time instead of sending the magic spiking down through the ground, she sent the magic out in a massive shockwave of pure energy. Calling them home for a little reunion. Once the flare died down, Scarlet started off for Ponyville.
It was about 8:30 am when Scarlet got off the 3:00 am train to Ponyville. She walked through already bustling market as she made her way toward the center of town. Ponies gave her strange looks as she passed. “They must not be as used to disguised ponies as others in canterlot are.” Scarlet thought as she reached town square. Across the small street was something that demanded her attention. A large tree. That was an understatement. It was huge! But that wasn’t what was strange. Sticking out of the tree were windows, a door and a balcony. As Scarlet drew closer she saw a gold plaque reading,
Golden Oaks Library
Head Librarian:
Miss Twilight Sparkle
“Looks like I came to the right place.” Scarlet muttered and she pushed open the door. A small bell tinkled. Scarlet looked around. It was a fairly standard library, except for several doors. A second later one of these doors opened and out walked a purple baby dragon with green spines. He was wearing a pink ruffled apron and holding a teetering stack of waffles. Scarlet fell to the floor laughing hysterically.
“Yeah, yeah, yuck it up.” He grumbled, placing his plate on the table. “What do you want?” he asked harshly.
“Hey Spike. It’s been a long time.” Scarlet said.
“Do I know you?” He squinted at her. She pulled off her coat. “SCARLET!” He shouted as he ran to hug her. She patted him on the head. When she touched him, his spines changed. Every other one began to darken to black.
“There.” She said satisfied.
“Huh?” Spike turned and saw his tail spines changing. He grinned at her. “And so it begins.”
“Yeah. Spike I have a job for you. When the others make their way here, tell them to meet me in the castle in the forest. Okay?” Spike saluted.
Scarlet smiled, picked up her coat, and walked the door.
Spike pulled off his apron and hung it on a peg in the kitchen. A scream and a sound of something shattering rang through the library.
“SPIKE!” Spike rolled his eyes.
“Here we go.” He muttered.
