Honor of Thieves

A Second Chance

"Really Celly," Crimson said as guards held spears to his neck, "Must this always happen every time we see each other. Sorry but I'm not here for you I have a delivery for Luna, besides I'm already taken."

"Luna, the thief is here with a delivery." Celestia said

"Well nice to see you Crimson Star." Luna said, "He's fine you can lower your guard. Did you bring what I asked for?"

"Well I have two things one is a mask, if you wear it you can see past illusions, and the other is a white sword that we found at the end of the ruins."

"Keep them, they're not what I'm looking for." She said with a disappointed look

"Well don't blame me, you're the one who sent me to some unknown ruin to find something you were looking for." Crimson said, "And if I'm going to be working under you two, why don't put me in my old place in the guard."

"What do you think sister?" Luna asked, "Do you think we can trust him?"

"I'll let you join under several conditions." Celestia said to the crimson haired pony.

"Okay then, shoot."

"You will not steal again, and you have to fight one our best captains." The solar princess said, "And if you win you'll be part of the guard again."
"Fine by me! Bring it on! I'll take on any one of your captains!" He said smiling
///

"You sure you can do this Crimson?" Rose asked as they walked out of the castle garden, "Do you even want to be a part of it again?"

"Aye, it'll make things simpler on getting assignments from the princesses."

"So who are ya gonna fight?" Pinkie asked

"Some captain named Shining Armor." He replied

"You're fighting my brother?!" Twilight yelled, "Better kiss that second chance goodbye."

"You forget I was part of the guard awhile back." Crimson said,

"How do you know Twilight's brother Crimson?" Rainbow Dash asked

"I don't know him personally, only through the info broker." He said, "Even after a century my family still has good connections."

"Just don't get hurt to bad sweetie." Rose said leaning against him as they walked

"I'll try, but it is a fight so I can't make any promises." He said, "At least we can use our own weapons on the field."

"What are ya going to use?" Applejack asked, "Those blowdarts won't help because he may be wearing armor."

"You're right 'bout that but I have a multitude of weapons," said Crimson, "that sword that was in the ruins, smoke bombs, flash grenades, and a pair of digging claws I got from some diamond dogs I worked with."

"How could you work with such animals?" Rarity asked

"They're not really that bad, well that was a century ago, we were good friends until I was a statue." He answered, "So I don't know how or what they do nowadays. Well, I'm going to nap for tomorrow so see ya then."

"See you tomorrow." Rose said following him toward the nearest hotel

"Shouldn't we have told him there open rooms at the castle?" Applejack asked as the couple walked away.

"Well there is the problem between him and Princess Celestia." Twilight responded, "But I can't wait to see him and Cadence again. It seems like yesterday since their wedding."
///

The next day Crimson walked into the training grounds which they train the rookies. At the other side his friends, the princesses, and two ponies he didn't recognize, a white unicorn who kept glaring at him and a pink alicorn. Only Rose stood next to him.

"Crimson this is my niece Princess Cadence, and her husband Captain Shining Armor." Celestia said

"It's a pleasure." He replied only earning glares from Shining Armor, "I'm Crimson Star and this my marefriend Blue Rose."

"Its nice to meet you too Crimson Star, and you as well Blue Rose." Cadence answered

"Well you must be Shining Armor." Crimson said turning his head toward the glaring unicorn, "So you're the colt who ended up being just like me when I was in the guard."

"Insolence!" Shining yelled, "I am nothing like you, you arrogant thief!"

"Well then let's start our little duel shall we?" Crimson said setting his bag down and brought out a pair of metal claws, put them on and moved each claw, "I'm ready how about you foal?"

Shining replied by putting on his helmet and drawing his sword, "We'll see who's the foal when this is over."

"Princess are you sure about putting those two against each other?" Twilight asked

"I put them against each other because Crimson was the highest ranking soldier in his time." Celestia replied, "He had a special talent of getting into ponies minds."

"What do you mean by that?" Rainbow Dash asked

"When he was training he would always size up his opponents, if was able to predict the way his enemy thinks, his victory was assured." Celestia explained

"That's why he was the boss of our group." Rose added

"Let's begin." Crimson said, "The battle will end when either side cannot continue."

"Sounds fair." Shining replied

To "3...2...1...begin!" The two just stood there waiting for the other to attack. Shining Armor stood preparing to attack, and Crimson sat down digging through his bag

"Are you even taking this seriously?" Shining Armor asked

"I only take things seriously if they're worth my time." Crimson replied still digging through the bag, "You however proved to me, by doing nothing, that you aren't worth my time."

"How can you say I'm not worth it if I haven't done anything?"

"Because you aren't attacking." Crimson replied, "Prove to me that you are worth my time, and I will take it seriously, foal."

Cadence seemed to get angry at Crimson every time he called her husband a foal, "Why does he call him such names?!"

"Crimson and Rose are older than any of us here, save Celestia and Luna." Twilight explained, "He views Shining Armor as an infant even though the two seems to be as old as my friends and I."

"That doesn't excuse his rudeness towards him." Rarity said

"They both know the first hit decides who wins." Rose added, "This is how Crimson gets into other ponies heads." Then after Crimson threw some more insults at Shining Armor he stopped going through his bag he had gotten out an egg shaped object then Rose said, "As soon as he throws that down cover your eyes."

"You what truly separates us Shiny?" Crimson asked smiling mischievously

"Don't call me that you naive colt." Shining growled still standing in the same place

"What separates us is our way of thinking, and I have already won. Now you should cover eyes." Then Crimson threw down the object and a bright light blinded them, and when it ceased There was a hole where Crimson stood.

"Where are you coward?!" Shining yelled, as the fight had already gained a crowd of trainees and soldiers who wanted to see their captain beat this thief.

Crimson popped up behind him, covered in dirt and said, "Like I said I've already won." Then he dug back into the ground before Shining had a chance to strike him. Then Crimson dug in the area under the captains nose and before Shining had time to react Crimson had the tips of the left claw at his throat.

"You cheater!" Shining yelled

"That is the way I think, do anything it takes to win and do it quickly." Crimson said getting out of the hole he made, "I see that you are worth my time and will enjoy working with you."

"I will beat you next time." Shining said then he turned to the soldiers and said, "Everyone this our newest captain, Crimson Star. He will be the Ponyville captain and there will be a list where you can volunteer to work under him."