Cover Image

A Thief's Tale: The Road to Redemption

by Ringtael
A Thief with a heart of a substance better left unsaid wakes up in Equestria after a unlucky turn of events. How will a jaded, world weary human get along with cheery, naive Ponies?

Life is seldom fair, though Kaid Gadai could hardly care less about whether Pauper Paul got the same meal as Wealthy Walter. He's got his own problems. Work is hard to find when you've been homeless for nearly half your life, and even then crime tends to pay just a little bit better.

Jaded, world-weary, and as sarcastic as any of his kinsmen, Kaid struggles to build the foundations of a better life, each day bringing him closer and closer to leaving thieving behind. However, a daylight run, a crooked cop, a nasty plot, and plain old bad luck change up Kaid's life, resulting in a jarring change of scenery.

Can a paranoid, bitter young man learn how to redeem himself in a near utopian society, or will he crumble in the face of a lifestyle he was unprepared for? It all depends on adaptation and not cursing up a storm while doing it.


Props To My Editors: AficionadoAvacado, Bantaris, Pit 'Boyo' Viper and Tenth.

Coverart by Joe Dunkin (PM for info <3)

(A/N: So this was the first story I ever tried writing for fun, and it turned into a therapy piece by and large. That being said, the first 1-73 chapters are all how I wrote when I was still finding my style and trying to get my groove as an author. I'd like to think I'm a little further along these days. Rewrites are posted after Chapter Seventy-Three starting from Re: Chapter One. The OG: Chapters are decent, but I'm actually pretty content with the Re: Chapters. Make of that what you will; the Re: Chapters aren't that close to being done as of 6/17/20, but Re: 25 is on the way.)

[Canon Update: Whichever path you choose is canon, but I consider the Rewrites the story I want to tell. If you choose the Originals, then MBK, PTP, and Redux are all canon. If not, then they in turn are not.]

Sequels to the OG (Originals) are: A Thief's Tale: The Path to Penance and My Brother's Keeper .
Alt-Universe Twilight Edition: Redux

[This story is also posted to Royal Road and Wattpad with all rewrites included, stroking every original chapter from those sites as I go along]

Incomplete
Profanity
Gore
Violence
Slice of Life
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Death
Alternate Universe
Human
Narcotics
Anthro
Romance
Comedy
Suicide / Self Harm
Sex
 
TPMPO

1009246 words: Estimated 4 days to read
Download:textHTMLePUB

114 Chapters:

  1. OG:) Chapter One 2020-01-12 07:31:22 UTC
    3720
  2. OG:) Chapter Two: Life in Technicolor 2020-01-12 07:36:54 UTC
  3. OG: Chapter Three: Hitting On Princesses 2020-01-12 07:41:00 UTC
  4. Chapter Four: Hot Sparkles 2015-02-26 20:19:50 UTC
  5. Chapter Five: Tasty Grapes and Introspection 2015-03-02 23:38:06 UTC
    4026
  6. Chapter Six: Giving Hugs and The Feels 2015-03-12 02:03:44 UTC
    3832
  7. Chapter Seven: #Rekt And Secrets Of The Past 2015-03-23 22:41:44 UTC
    4052
  8. Chapter Eight: Confessions 2016-12-26 05:54:12 UTC
    3486
  9. Chapter Nine: All Patched Up 2016-12-27 11:06:37 UTC
    3329
  10. Chapter Ten: Complications and Conundrums 2017-01-07 00:50:35 UTC
    4726
  11. Chapter Eleven: Sit! Stay! Speak! Good Boy! 2017-01-08 03:48:35 UTC
    3676
  12. Chapter Twelve: I've Earned an Express Ticket to Hell 2017-01-12 05:40:49 UTC
    7846
  13. Chapter Thirteen: Third Time's The Charm 2017-01-15 18:33:58 UTC
    12068
  14. Chapter Fourteen: I Hate Being Mr. Nice Guy 2017-01-22 23:01:07 UTC
    25025
  15. Chapter Fifteen: Natural Botany 2017-01-31 12:50:29 UTC
  16. Chapter Sixteen: Rocky Road 2017-02-02 02:30:39 UTC
    21224
  17. Chapter Seventeen: Viewer Discretion is Advised 2017-02-07 13:44:01 UTC
    22616
  18. Chapter Eighteen: Capital G 2017-02-20 11:25:57 UTC
  19. Chapter Nineteen: A Lesson Well Learned 2017-02-27 22:03:33 UTC
    19682
  20. Chapter Twenty: Is It Me You're Looking For? 2017-03-12 12:45:02 UTC
    22083
  21. Chapter Twenty-One: A Task From The Past 2017-03-16 14:22:04 UTC
    17141
  22. Chapter Twenty-Two: Not The Same 2017-03-21 23:24:52 UTC
    19153
  23. Chapter Twenty-Three: Put On The Red Light 2017-03-30 00:22:27 UTC
    38636
  24. Chapter Twenty-Four: In The Big House 2017-04-07 23:16:44 UTC
    24092
  25. Chapter Twenty Five: A Missing Friend And A Canterlot Tale 2017-04-18 01:00:20 UTC
    24634
  26. Chapter Twenty-Six: No One Shuts Up 2017-04-20 23:18:26 UTC
    26508
  27. Chapter Twenty-Seven: Fun With 'Evil' 2017-04-23 13:23:03 UTC
  28. Chapter Twenty-Eight: Copacetic 2017-04-29 20:31:02 UTC
    30666
  29. Chapter Twenty-Nine: What Is It Good For? 2017-05-02 11:21:42 UTC
    24539
  30. Chapter Thirty: Not Again! 2017-05-06 00:04:40 UTC
    29164
  31. Chapter Thirty-One: Baron Of The Rings 2017-05-09 17:42:23 UTC
    23397
  32. Chapter Thirty-Two: Paying Attention Helps 2017-05-12 10:42:34 UTC
    25908
  33. Chapter Thirty-Three: Briddish Bullshit 2017-05-16 11:57:24 UTC
    23325
  34. Chapter Thirty-Four: She's Back! 2017-05-19 23:38:38 UTC
  35. Chapter Thirty-Five: Don't Fucking Do That. 2017-05-23 14:58:20 UTC
    20244
  36. Chapter Thirty-Six: The Crystal Empire 2017-05-28 00:29:55 UTC
    24495
  37. Chapter Thirty-Seven: Making Mares Mad 2017-05-31 15:31:22 UTC
    26577
  38. Chapter Thirty-Eight: It's Nice To See You 2017-06-04 22:27:42 UTC
  39. Chapter Thirty-Nine: Righting Wrongs 2017-06-08 12:38:42 UTC
    25358
  40. Chapter Forty: Welcome Home 2017-06-12 10:40:41 UTC
    29824
  41. Chapter Forty-One: It's About Fucking Time! 2017-06-19 05:27:06 UTC
    27286
  42. Chapter Forty-Two: Pauper Turned Prince 2017-06-26 12:46:23 UTC
    34352
  43. Chapter Forty-Three: "Preferential Treatment" 2017-07-03 22:18:24 UTC
    33335
  44. Chapter Forty-Four: Does Anyone STAY Dead? 2017-07-10 13:56:55 UTC
    20775
  45. Chapter Forty-Five: Getting Things Settled 2017-07-17 05:26:28 UTC
    27700
  46. Chapter Forty-Six: Neverfree Of The Everfree 2017-07-24 02:50:31 UTC
    29590
  47. Chapter Forty-Seven: A Little Too Far 2017-07-31 12:19:20 UTC
    26921
  48. Chapter Forty-Eight: Friends From All Walks 2017-08-14 17:56:00 UTC
    28286
  49. Chapter Forty-Nine: Games To Remember 2017-08-28 16:10:15 UTC
    35630
  50. Chapter Fifty: The Covenant 2017-09-11 18:37:36 UTC
    29316
  51. Chapter Fifty-One: Fuck Me (Not In The Nice Way) 2017-09-25 04:07:15 UTC
    35134
  52. Chapter Fifty-Two: Distant Memories 2017-10-08 22:37:23 UTC
    24281
  53. Chapter Fifty-Three: Sacrificial 'Lamb' 2017-10-23 17:43:54 UTC
    20817
  54. Chapter Fifty-Four: Stay Cool 2017-11-06 04:52:29 UTC
    19719
  55. Chapter Fifty-Five: T'was But A Prank, Bro 2017-11-09 00:55:10 UTC
    21052
  56. Chapter Fifty-Six: Karma Is A Kunt 2017-11-20 05:00:07 UTC
  57. Chapter Fifty-Seven: Well, I Started From The Bottom... 2017-12-04 05:52:02 UTC
  58. Chapter Fifty-Eight: The Grey Days 2017-12-13 10:08:38 UTC
  59. Chapter Fifty-Nine: TLC, Baby 2017-12-18 04:50:52 UTC
  60. Chapter Sixty: Crushin' 2017-12-25 19:25:00 UTC
  61. Chapter Sixty-One: It's Fucking KAID! 2017-12-12 08:02:38 UTC
  62. Chapter Sixty-Two: FIGHT THA POWA 2018-01-14 08:45:45 UTC
  63. Chapter Sixty-Three: Lost Time 2018-01-28 04:43:38 UTC
  64. Chapter Sixty-Four: Ponyland Part Two 2018-02-10 03:52:57 UTC
  65. Chapter Sixty-Five: Making 'New' Friends 2018-02-16 04:46:48 UTC
  66. Chapter Sixty-Six: Honeymoon? 2018-02-25 04:10:54 UTC
  67. Chapter Sixty-Seven: But Why Though? 2018-03-07 00:55:11 UTC
  68. Chapter Sixty-Eight: Rebel Yell 2018-03-10 04:58:01 UTC
  69. Chapter Sixty-Nine: 6.9 2018-03-21 04:26:54 UTC
  70. Chapter Seventy: Home At Last 2018-03-25 00:41:32 UTC
  71. Chapter Seventy-One: Blow The Cartridge. Try Again. 2018-03-29 03:49:32 UTC
  72. Chapter Seventy-Two: Separate the Yolk 2018-04-02 08:06:02 UTC
  73. Chapter Seventy-Three: The Dawn of Kaid Maximus 2018-04-07 01:11:21 UTC
  74. Re: Chapter One: An Untraveled Path 2015-02-24 16:07:36 UTC
  75. Re: Chapter Two: Wild Blue Ride 2015-02-25 05:53:24 UTC
  76. Re: Chapter Three: A Glimpse 2015-02-25 22:47:18 UTC
  77. Re: Chapter Four: Progress Lost and Progress Made 2020-01-12 07:27:19 UTC
  78. Re: Chapter Five: Wine And Wisdom 2020-01-12 07:26:10 UTC
  79. Re: Chapter Six: Hugs and Hullabaloo 2020-01-12 21:17:26 UTC
  80. Re: Chapter Seven: Beggars and Choosers 2020-01-12 23:55:53 UTC
  81. Re: Chapter Eight: Trust Fund 2020-01-15 22:35:03 UTC
  82. Re: Chapter Nine: Fixed for Fondling 2020-01-15 23:26:32 UTC
  83. Re: Chapter Ten: A Door Closes, Another Opens 2020-01-19 06:18:21 UTC
  84. Re: Chapter Eleven: A Certain Slap 2020-01-19 07:10:42 UTC
  85. Re: Chapter Twelve: First-Class Ticket to Hell 2020-01-19 10:26:23 UTC
  86. Re: Chapter Thirteen: Autumn Winds, Gentle Breeze 2020-01-20 22:14:25 UTC
  87. Re: Chapter Fourteen: Mr. Nice Chap 2020-01-20 23:01:50 UTC
  88. Re: Chapter Fifteen: Botanical Curatives 2020-01-25 00:42:18 UTC
  89. Re: Chapter Sixteen: The Truth Hurts 2020-01-30 21:11:31 UTC
  90. Re: Chapter Seventeen: Viewer Discretion Is Advised 2020-02-08 14:17:18 UTC
  91. Re: Chapter Eighteen: Capital G 2020-02-10 19:48:39 UTC
  92. Re: Chapter Nineteen: Return Soon, My Hoagie 2020-03-15 02:00:29 UTC
  93. Re: Chapter Twenty: Welcome Back, Kotter 2020-03-31 10:30:33 UTC
  94. Re: Chapter Twenty-One: Operation Forbidden Durian 2020-04-03 01:18:49 UTC
  95. Re: Chapter Twenty-Two: Pride, Perjury, and Perception 2020-04-11 02:16:36 UTC
  96. Re: Chapter Twenty-Three: Put On The Red Light 2020-05-23 00:56:26 UTC
  97. Re: Chapter Twenty-Four: Here Comes The Bribe 2020-06-09 15:14:56 UTC
  98. Re: Chapter Twenty-Five Part One: Comfortably Numb 2020-06-29 16:38:56 UTC
  99. Re: Chapter Twenty-Five Part Two: Echoing Emptiness 2020-07-02 14:29:04 UTC
  100. Re: Chapter Twenty-Six: Brick Wall Wake Up Call 2020-07-16 15:37:47 UTC
  101. Re: Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Night Begins To Shine 2020-08-16 23:48:29 UTC
  102. Re: Twenty-Eight: Clean Break, Dirty Politics 2020-08-28 22:28:45 UTC
  103. Re: Chapter Twenty-Nine: Untitled 2020-09-10 20:52:18 UTC
  104. Re: Chapter Thirty Part One: Problem Child 2020-10-03 18:15:20 UTC
  105. Re: Chapter Thirty Part Two: A Brother's Duty 2020-10-09 21:42:05 UTC
  106. Re: Chapter Thirty-One: The Bonds We Share 2020-10-27 21:56:29 UTC
  107. Re: Chapter Thirty-Two: Kith, Kin, & Connection 2020-12-27 23:38:27 UTC
  108. Re: Chapter Thirty-Three: What Is Love? 2021-03-13 23:35:22 UTC
  109. Re: Chapter Thirty-Four: Matching Homes to Hearts 2021-04-11 00:34:15 UTC
  110. Re: Chapter Thirty-Five: Sincerity or Subversion? 2021-06-24 21:01:40 UTC
  111. Re: Chapter Thirty-Six: Crystals and Clocks 2021-07-27 21:30:35 UTC
  112. Re: Chapter Thirty-Seven: Harassment and Sensitivity 2021-09-30 20:02:35 UTC
  113. Re: Chapter Thirty-Eight: Sprinting Through Sand 2022-01-01 17:38:33 UTC
  114. Re: Chapter Thirty-Nine: To Make An Omelet 2022-02-08 14:29:50 UTC