It was 5:30 pm in the afternoon and Lyra was just clocking out of work. Her mind had been restless all day, and now that the time was approaching, her heart began to beat faster. Chills ran down her spine with each step she took closer to home. The sky over Ponyville was starting to blend from turquoise to pink to orange. Upon reaching her house, Lyra hesitated for a brief moment. There was no going back. She opened the door and went inside.

The door to the planning room opened as Lyra entered. Bon-Bon, Derpy, and Discord where waiting on her arrival as they where gathered around the table. Dropping her saddlebag by the door entrance, Lyra proceeded to the board to prep the gang. Laid out across the table where the disguises, bandanas, and the chloroform; all set and ready to go. Spread out across the white board was the map of Fillydelphia, which took up half the area, a crudely sketched layout of the store towards the top left corner and a checklist of things to get and do just below that.

“Alright girls, this is it. Let’s go over the plan one more time.” Derpy and Bon-Bon nodded with serious expressions, showing that they were listening. “We will leave for Fillydelphia shortly. As we draw close to the city limits, we will put on our disguises. Once we arrive, we'll need to enter in at separate times as to not draw attention to ourselves. As it gets close to 11:00, we will make our way towards the camping and outdoors section of the store. I will be near the counter. Bon-Bon, you will be down the aisle right across the register. Derpy will be on look out by the corner of the main aisle. You and me will quickly subdue the employees with the chloroform doused rags. Once they’re out, we will load the cash into a duffle bag; we’ll just use one from the store. Once that’s done, we make our escape.”

Lyra moved to the city map and pointed towards a big red circle that was drawn on it. “We will exit through the fire escape and make our way to this drainage canal right here by the store. Using the large culverts we can easily move under the streets undetected. The drains will lead out to this pond right here. Once outside of the city, we destroy all the evidence and make our way back to ponyville. We pull this off and we save our home!”

Bon-Bon gulped as reality started to sink in for her. Derpy on the other hand was primed and ready to go. The three packed their stuff and prepared to set out. Discord, appearing at the top of the stairs, opened the basement door to let the ponies out. “Why I do wish you the best of luck my little criminals. Go and make daddy Discord proud!”

“Daddy Discord?” Lyra asked in confusion, stopping half way up the stairs as she comprehended what she just heard.

“Ah you know what I mean, be on your way, you got a store to rob!” Discord exclaimed, teleporting behind her and kicking her up the stairs and out the door.

“You touch me and I’ll break your leg!” Bon-Bon growled as she made her way up the stairs, glaring aggressively towards Discord. He just threw his paws up in the air and back away with a smirk.

Derpy hovered behind with a smile. “Good-bye daddy Discord, we won’t let you down!” Derpy exclaimed happily. She flew up to Discord and gave him a warming embrace. Shocked by this, Discord stood there in awe, unsure as to what was going on. Derpy released Discord and darted out of the basement as the door closed behind her.

Discord stood there for a moment, mesmerized by what just happen. He chuckled, “Wow… I never had a daughter before…”

Several hours passed as the team made their way to Fillydelphia. The city lights where becoming visible through the thick tree line. Tall skyscrapers illuminated the night sky as a crescent moon hung above. The wind rustled through the forest as Lyra brought the party to a halt.

“Alright, we’re close enough. Let’s get changed into our outfits before we get any closer to the city.” Lyra dropped her saddlebag and motioned the others to do the same.

“Uh, I really don’t want to wear something like this,” Bon-Bon groaned as she trotted off to the side of the road.

Derpy batted an eyebrow, insulted by Bon-Bon’s comment. “Hey, what do you have against gothic lolita?”

“Yeah Bon-Bon, it’s not all that bad. I’m actually starting to like this look,” Lyra inputted sarcastically as she changed into the black laced dress.

“But mine looks like some sort of maid dress…”

“Bon-Bon, that is a maids dress,” Lyra chuckled. “Look, it covers up our cutie marks and these hats hide our manes. That’s the important thing; no pony will be able to identify us with these on.”

“I honestly don’t see what the big deal is. Ponies wear outfits like these all the time at conventions and such… or if you're emo then you might wear this as well.” Derpy commented as she pulled the stockings up her hind leg. Derpy finished first in putting on her dress. Lyra and Bon-Bon took a bit long but eventually got in disguise.

Lyra’s disguise consisted of a large frilly dress with a black veil. She wore a black wig that was proved with the outfit to cover her mane. Derpy’s outfit resembled a black ballerina style skirt. The sleeves and leggings where striped with black and white alternating. She too wore a black wig with a small top hat nestled to the side. Bon-Bon sported a maid dress with long black stockings. The look was completed with a blonde wig and a ruffled maid headpiece.

Their sights set on each other, Lyra and Derpy busted into laughter. Bon-Bon however, refused to partake in their humor. Wiping her eye, Lyra brought herself back on track. “Ok, remember that we need to enter at separate times. We don’t want to draw attention as a group.”

“How are we not going to draw attention? Just look at us,” Bon-Bon stated, questioning the absurdity of their getups.

“Well like Derpy said, we’ll just pretend we’re cosplaying for some convention. Once all of us are inside, we need to stay close. When they start emptying the registers, we’ll make our way to the camping supplies and prepare the chloroform. Alright then, best of luck to all of us.”

The three made their way into the store, entering within ten minutes of each other. With thirty more minutes left till eleven, the girls bided their time, browsing through the store. While some ponies gave them a strange look or two, Lyra and the others were mostly ignored. Being a big city meant that cosplay and other oddities was more or less a common sight from time to time.

“Hey, that’s a nice maid outfit you got there. You cosplay a lot?” asked a strange stallion, glancing over Bon-Bon’s dress.

Her heart began to pick up pace, unprepared to deal with somepony questioning her like this. Bon-Bon knew that if she didn’t play along, their cover would be blown. “Why yes, I never say no to a good cosplay opportunity.”

“You pull of a good Sakura Hauriri cosplay. Yeah ‘Sakura no meido-tastic ga boken’ is one of my favorite ecchi comedies, though you should really watch ‘Pegasasu koko pajamapati’. I find it to be one the better story driven anime of that genre, though it is a bit heavy on the fan service at times. So what other shows are you in to?” The strange stallion asked a completely clueless Bon-Bon.

Bon-Bon hesitated for a moment, unable to think of a response. She looks around for anything that could get her out of this corner. She noticed Lyra down the aisle, “Yeah uh, I like the one with the humans in it. I know, I’m weird like that and you probably don’t want to hear about it.” Bon-Bon tried to escape yet her worst fear was met.

“Well there are quite a few with humans in them, I personally like ‘Grolthor: The Grand Wizard of Frenz’. It’s one of my all-time favorites. Have you seen it? Its fantastic fantasy adventure about a human wizard named Grolthor who can turn into a dragon and…” Before the stallion could continue, Bon-Bon held her hoof up to stop his rambling.

“Yes well, that definitely sound like one worth watching… I have somepony I have to meet up with. So I bid you farewell,” Bon-Bon replied, unable to take much more of his conversation. She quickly trotted off towards Lyra as the stallion stood there in confusion.

Lyra was combing through some magazines while Derpy was within earshot away. Bon-Bon let out a sigh as she approached Lyra. “I swear I can’t take much more of this!”

“What’s wrong?” Lyra asked worryingly about her friend’s issue.

“Some strange stallion just came up and started talk all sorts of nonsense!” Bon-Bon took a few short breaths as she vented her anxiety.

“What kind of nonsense?”

“I don’t know! Something about Sakura Hauriri and pegasasu koko... something…”

“Pegasasu koko Pajamapati?” Derpy question intriguingly. “I love that show, so funny!”

Derpy sat there with a grin on her face, Bon-Bon just glared at her angrily.

“Ok, let’s just stay calm, no need to get worked up over a show. Besides if you're going to watch anything, it should be 'Grolthor: The Wizard that Time Forgot', its the best one in the series," Lyra commented with a smug look on her face, her grin growing as Bon-Bon grew more frustrated.

"Why did I even bother bringing this up with you two," Bon-Bon sighed, "Look, if anymore weirdos show up then you're going to deal with them, understood!"

"Don't worry, it shouldn't be much longer now. We'll be out of here soon. Just keep calm until it that time, ok," Lyra assured with a smile.

Twenty minutes later and the store began to shut down. There were few employees and even fewer customers. Lyra, Bon-Bon, and Derpy made their way to the ambush point in the back of the store, waiting in the aisle across from the register. The ponies covered their faces with black laced bandanas. Lyra levitated the brown glass bottle and began to drench the chloroform onto a pair of wash rags. The cloth grew dark as it soaked up the chloroform. Lyra held her head back while she did this.

“Be very careful, this stuff is highly dangerous. Hold it to their muzzles long enough for them to stop struggling, any longer and we put their health at risk. We don’t want to hurt them.” Lyra slowly levitated a rag to Bon-Bon. “We have to take them out at the exact same time. If one of them screams; its game over for us.”
Lyra motioned to Derpy, “Take this; the moment they’re knocked out, bring us this duffle bag so we can start moving the money.” Derpy nodded as she took hold of the bag. “Ok girls, I don’t need to remind you what happens if we fail.”

“We know, Lyra, we wouldn’t be here if we didn’t.”

“Ok then, positions everypony!” Lyra cantered across the aisle, pretending to browse the wares, making sure not to reveal her mask. Derpy snuck around to her spot in the tool aisle and did the same. Bon-Bon followed suit. It wasn’t long until the collection crew made their way to the last register.

Lyra glanced up, waiting for the two mares to open the cash draw and begin adding the money to the collection box. She nodded to Bon-Bon who waited across the aisle. Using her unicorn magic, Lyra teleported behind the first mare and muffled her with the cloth. At the same time, Bon-Bon galloped across the aisle and grasped the second mare off gaurd, covering her face with the rag. Within a minute, the two mares ceased all struggling and collapsed to the floor.

That was Derpy’s cue. Dashing across the aisle to the counter, Derpy handed over the duffle bag to Bon-Bon. Without wasting a second, Lyra and Bon-Bon began scooping the money out of the cash box into the bag. Their hearts beating faster than ever, blood and adrenaline rushing through their veins. With each toss, bits and bills began to fill the brown duffle bag, increasing their payout.

“This is really happening!”

“No time to talk, focus on filling the bag!”

As Lyra and Bon-Bon rushed to empty the cash box, a customer came strolling out of a center aisle. It took her a moment but she soon took noticed as to what was happening. Lyra and Bon-Bon froze in fear.

“Quick, TAKE HER OUT!” Lyra ordered shifting her focus to Derpy.

Derpy snatched up one of the chloroform cloths and hurled it at the unsuspecting mare. She let out a scream as the rag landed on her face. Panicking, she tried to flee only to run into and trip on her basket. Derpy rushed over and subdued her, muffling her mouth until the drug started to kick in. She retrieved the rag darted back towards Lyra and Bon-Bon.

“Somepony’s bound to have heard that! Derpy, help Bon-Bon get the rest of the money in the bag!” Lyra immediately ran off towards the tool section.

“Lyra, where are you going?!” Bon-Bon shouted but quickly refocused on getting the last of the money.

Lyra scanned the tool aisle and rushed to grab a large wood splitting axe. As Derpy and Bon-Bon finished transferring the last of the bits, Lyra motioned them to the fire exit. Using all of her strength, Lyra swung the large axe right at a tube that ran up the side of the wall and into the alarm. There was a loud clink as the axe cut through the metal pipe. Sparing not even a second, Lyra yanked the axe loose and slammed the door open. To her relief, the fire alarm did not sound.

The three rushed to the edge of the driveway where a tall chain link fence stood between them and the canal. Lyra swung the axe overhead and brought it crashing down. The metal links rattled as the axe sliced a large gap in the fence. Pushing through, Lyra used the head of the axe to hook and pull open a large enough gap for Derpy and Bon-Bon to enter. Derpy hopped through the hole while Bon-Bon slid down the sides of the canal. She stumbled into the water but was quick to get back on her hooves. With the duffle bag slung over Bon-Bon’s back, the three ran into the large, dark culvert. Water splashed under their hooves as they galloped though the drain. City lights flashed as they exited one culvert out into the open and straight into another.

As they made their way several blocks down, the sound of police sirens echoed from the city, headed in the direction of the Mare-Mart. “Let’s keep moving. It won’t be long until they realize where we went,” Lyra shouted, picking up speed as they neared the city limits. “We’re almost there!” A light grew at the end of the tunnel where the storm drain emptied out into the lake. The moment of truth, Lyra’s mind was running rampant. Would they make it or would there be a squad of cops awaiting their arrival? The darkness vanished as they leapt from the storm drain, their hooves sliding in the water as the came to a hault.

The sound of frogs and crickets sang as the moon light reflected off the surface of the pond. The sirens were distant, still far back in the city. The ponies were panting, their dresses soaked from running through the canal. Lyra fought to catch her breath. “Cu… Come on! We need to leave here before the police track us here.” Fighting off their exhaustion, Lyra, Derpy, and Bon-Bon pushed forward, trekking through the shallows until they reached the woods.

Deep into the forest, the ponies entered a small clearing to stop and take a breather. The three collapsed to the ground, the leaves cushioning their fall. Lyra started to undress herself while Derpy and Bon-Bon laid flat on the ground, breathless and tired. “We need to… we need to get out of these clothes…” Lyra said as she fell backwards after pulling off the last stocking. Moments later both Derpy and Bon-Bon removed their clothes as well. Tossing the clothing into a pile, Lyra uncorked the bottle of chloroform and poured the remaining liquid onto the dresses.

“I’m sorry about this Derpy, but we can’t leave any evidence,” Lyra apologized as she threw the bottle into the pile.

“I… understand… I’ll just… buy new ones,” Derpy replied, still out of breath as she fell back onto the leaves.

With a spark of her magic, Lyra set the evidence ablaze. The flames crackled as the dresses were engulfed by the fire. Lyra stoked the flames with a stick until the dresses where nothing but ashes. With the evidence destroyed and the fire extinguished, Lyra, Bon-Bon, and Derpy made their way back to Ponyville.

It was early in the morning, the moon was past its peak and all of Ponyville was dead quiet. Lyra scanned the streets, dark circles under her eyes as she fought to make it back home. Battling fatigue and and sleep, the three snuck through town and made their way back to their house. Once inside, Lyra motioned them to the basement door. Not even bothering to turn on the lights, the three crept down into cellar. Being below ground and with no windows to alert the neighbors, Lyra turned on the basement lights and entered the planning room.

Bon-Bon, dead tired from carrying the duffle bag all the way back to Ponyville, tossed it up onto the table. The table rattled with a loud thud as Bon-Bon let out a winded sigh. The ponies gathered around as Lyra unzipped the bag. Their eyes lit up at what they saw. Lyra began to chuckle maniacally.

“Did… did we just pull that off? Did we just get away with that?!” Bon-Bon questioned in disbelief.

Lyra drew her laughter to a close. She lifted her head, the dark circles under her eyes contrasted against her bright amber irises as a grin ran across her face.

“Yes... yes we did!”

Author's Note

Heist Payout: 12,730 Bits

Bank Payment: 1,113 Bits
Lyra's Cut: 40%: 4,647 Bits
Bon-Bon's Cut: 25%: 2,904 Bits
Derpy's Cut: 25%: 2,904 Bits
Discords's Cut: 10%: 1,162 Bits