Grand Heist vs The Mysterious Mare Do Well

Chapters

Part 1: Grand Heist
Part 2: A Hero
Part 3: The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well
Part 4, Boom Goes the Dynamite

Part 1: Grand Heist

Captain Blueblood marched into Celestia’s throne room, a stern frown on his features.

“I don’t take this as a family matter...” Celestia sighed with a softer, more resigned frown of her own.

“I’m afraid not, Princess. I am concerned that you have not received my reports.”

“I can assure you I and several other high ranking ponies carefully read each and every report you send to us, Blueblood.”

“I would prefer to be called by my rank, Princess, I am here on duty and formal protocol must be maintained, regardless of our relation by blood.”

“I...I suppose I can do that, Captain, however I will admit I don’t enjoy talking to you like a stranger.” The Princess said quietly.

Blueblood continued, ignoring her statement. “Despite what you say, you seem to have made no attempt as to the potential situation regarding Grand Heist.”

“And I already made my statement about that. Grand Heist isn’t a threat to Equestria, and thus the involvement of the Royal Guard into his arrest is unnecessary.”

“Why do you say that?” Blueblood glared. “He is a criminal and it is our job to capture criminals.”

“He’s harmless!” Celestia splayed her hooves out in exasperation. “He has yet to steal anything of real value and has yet to harm anypony! I am positive that the more we ignore him, the sooner his crime spree will end.”

“SOME of his crimes seem like harmless pranks, but for all we know he could become more dangerous with time rather than less, and besides that, if we give ponies like him leeway, then that will just give others the excuse to abuse the system and think they can do as they please with no consequence!”

“That is not true and you know it! We punish those who break the law; however, I believe a firm hoof is needed to guide ponies. The moment we start arresting everypony for the smallest of offences, then we fall into tyranny and oppression!”

“I am not suggesting we declare martial law or anything of that nature.” Captain Blueblood said evenly. “However, you are being far too lenient here, and the more we leave Grand Heist to his devices, the likelihood of him escaping unpunished with his crimes will grow and the worse his actions and their consequences will become. We know he is in Ponyville, we just need your approval to set up a sting operation to capture him.”

“I don’t want to impact on the lives of the citizens of that small village more than they had been on the Summer Sun Celebration.” Celestia countered. “Mayor Mare herself assures me the town is perfectly safe and secure and has been for generations.”

“The town is right next to the Everfree! How is that ‘safe’!?” Blueblood sputtered. “They don’t even have a local law enforcement force there!”

“I trust the Mayor’s decisions; she didn’t get her position for no reason. And on the off chance a creature from the Everfree does wander into the town, an event that study has shown to be rare and unlikely at worst, the town does have the Element Bearers living among the populace and they can inform me of such an event, and then I can make a decision.”

Blueblood stood his ground. “What is Princess Luna’s opinion on this?”

“She is still recovering from her ordeals. Her...possession and years of banishment have not done her body any favours, and she still needs lots of time for rest and relaxation.”

“How convenient.” Blueblood growled and turned away. “You used to be a lot less lenient and forgiving.”

“The Sparkles crossed a line, nephew, they seriously hurt the people of Canterlot and betrayed the trust of hundreds, if not thousands, for their own personal gain. The Grand Heist and Ponyville situations are completely different.”

“So I take it you still refuse to believe Prosecutor Shining Armour’s theory that they were framed by Grand Heist?”

“You are correct in that assumption. Grand Heist wasn’t even active at that point or several years after, not to mention there is no evidence to support it, the prosecutor’s reputation does not give him reign for frivolous theories just so he can exonerate his family.”

“That’s my point, Princess.” Blueblood stated. “Noone, pony or otherwise, is above the law. Not me. Not Shining Armour. Not Grand Heist.” He then added with a cold growl, “nor you.” He turned and walked off in frustration.

Celestia sighed. Why couldn’t her nephew, or Shining Armour even, understand? She had been alive for a long time, fought many battles, and had grown to know the folly of absolutes and extremes. She saw real evil, real criminals, and knew that she had to take action only as a last resort. These days of peace and harmony, forgiveness and understanding were needed.

Grand Heist wasn’t a threat, he wasn’t like Discord or Tirek or Nightmare Moon even. He was just a harmless prankster, and her nephew’s zealousness spurred on by his friend’s arrogance would only lead to even worse outcomes.

She sighed, hoping somepony would understand, one day. Perhaps her sister, once she recovered properly...times like these, she wished she still had a faithful student guide and to learn from.

Mayor Mare massaged her temples with her hooves as Rainbow Dash, resident owner of what was once an old abandoned library, stood in front of her for what was possibly the fourth time in a row.

“Mayor Mare, what are you going to do about Grand Heist!?” The Pegasus exploded in frustration. “The past few days have been absolute mayhem with him around!”

“Rainbow Dash, we have been over this...”

“I thought I saw the last of him on that train, and that he’d be captured and imprisoned shortly, only to find that he is now here in Ponyville, stealing from ponies and causing a scene! First there was Bon Bon’s carpet, then he stole some rocks at Pinkie’s farm, two weeks ago he plastered portraits of himself on the wall of every house in Ponyville and to top it all off I’m pretty sure he’s the one who took all of Fluttershy’s animal books.”

“So he’s a minor nuisance, I’m sure you have much bigger problems to deal with than all that.” Mayor Mare said.

“How can you be so blasé about this!? You’re the Mayor for Celestia’s sake, shouldn’t you be more concerned about public safety!? Hay, why don’t we even have a branch of the royalguard or a police force or something here!?”

“We had a police force, a small one, several years ago, Miss Rainbow Dash,” Mayor Mare said testily, “however, the stress of living so close to the Everfree and the fear of a potential monster attack made them unable to work and eventually we found that the natural magical layout made ponyville the safest place from the forest, the creatures in it are naturally driven away from the town unless provoked or led here by outside forces, and thus it was determined that there wasn’t really any need for one.”

“But what if somepony decided to break the law?” Rainbow Dash pointed out. “What then? How would you enforce the law without the guard or a police force or even a Sherriff?”

Mayor Mare smiled, clasping her hooves together. “Because for generations, Ponyville has been named ‘the safest place in Equestria’, and everypony knows everypony else. If something does happen, I’ll be sure to inform the Princess to do something about it, but until that time, there is no need, we can take care of ourselves. Trust me, this place isn’t like Canterlot or Cloudsdale or wherever you’re used to, everyone is friendly here and would never think of breaking the law.”

“What about Grand Heist?”

“Forget Grand Heist, he’s harmless, he can never do any lasting harm to Ponyville, and eventually he’ll leave and be out of our hair and everything will be back to normal. Trust me. Now go home and do something more productive with your time.” Mayor Mare smiled, gesturing towards the door to her office.

Rainbow Dash grumbled, giving the mayor once last glare of frustration and giving a quick glance at the trophy on her desk before stomping off out of the building, face scrunched in annoyance. She was starting to get real sick of ponies telling her to forget about Grand Heist, as if it was none of her business. She just didn’t like the idea of somepony out there doing others wrong and going unpunished for it, and besides, when she spoke to the thief on the train she felt something...off about him, something...dangerous.

As she trotted back home to cool off and clear her head, her friend Rarity walked over to her....wearing a large double sided sign on her back.

“Do I want to know?” Rainbow asked with a raised brow.

“Oh it’s just some advertising for a new store I was hired to help promote.” Rarity replied with a smirk. “It’s pretty easy, tell the truth. I just need to stand around and talk to ponies, plus this sign is giving me some ideas for my next flight attempt. Anyway, how’d it go with the mayor?”

“What do you think? She blew me off and said that Grand Heist is harmless and I shouldn’t worry about it.”

“Well he’s a nuisance sure, but he hasn’t hurt anypony yet.” Rarity pointed. “I mean, yeah, he did ruin Mrs Cake’s chances at winning, but I think we can all agree seeing Mayor Mare smile like that when she won was a nice consolation! I didn’t even know she had entered, let alone baked!”

“yeah it was a pleasant surprise, but it’s still not fair that nopony else got to compete...” Rainbow sighed. “Mayor Mare really only won cause she entered at the last second and all the remaining contestants had FAR WORSE entries than a simple cupcake like hers.”

Rarity frowned before smirking mischievously. “Alright, let’s forget about all that before you get grumpy again, how about those tickets? Pretty exciting huh?”

Rainbow facehoofed. “Please don’t bring those up again, I have no intention of using those tickets at all.”

Rarity pouted testily. “Why not? It’ll be fun, and I can meet the wonderbolts in person!”

“The Gran Galloping Gala is NOT what you’re imaging it will be let me assure you.” The Pegasus replied matter-of-factly. “I know you girls will not enjoy it and I wanna spare you some disappointment.”

“Oh what would you know?”

Rainbow raised a brow with an even expression. “Apart from living in Canterlot for a large portion of my life and attending the thing a couple times because, just like recently, Princess Cadence invited me? Whearas you have never set foot outside of ponyville since you were a filly?”

Rarity blinked, thinking for a minute. “Yes.”

Rainbow chuckled. “Look, if you girls REALLY want to go, I’ll think about it, but seriously, I know none of you will enjoy it. It’s not exactly a ‘lower-to-middle class’ event, after all.”

Ah yes, the tickets. After helping Princess Cadence with a play for Hearth’s Warming, the Princess had given Rainbow and her friends tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala. It was a nice gesture and very much appreciated, but Rainbow and Spike had never been interested in going, it was not their scene. The girls were excited of course, but they never lived in Canterlot, they didn’t know what Rainbow knew, and knowing her friends, Rainbow knew they would not enjoy themselves, especially since they were hyping up the event to such big extremes in their minds.

Rarity shrugged. “At the very least, it’ll help ya relax, especially with all this worrying about Grand Heist. Trust me, you really need a breather or something, you’ll end up stressing out and having a breakdown if you keep this up.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah...” Rainbow waved her wing flippantly, but smiling wryly, her home just in sight. “Anyway, this is my stop, I gotta see how Spike’s doing.”

“Oh right see ya around Rainbow Dash I gotta get back to work!” Rarity smirked and ran off back to her post.

Rainbow Dash chuckled softly and began to open the door to her home when..bursts of green flame shot out through each window in turn and she could hear Spike yelling loudly.

“Spike!” Rainbow gasped and rushed in. “What happend!? Are you okay!? You better not have teleported that copy of Starswirl the Bearded’s biography like last time! I know when a book is missing, I have a sixth sense about it!”

However, Spike was too busy chasing after a pony garbed in garish gold, white and red to respond, blasting flames at the intruder. “get out of here you creep!”

“Blast!” Grand Heist exclaimed, jumping out through the window at Rainbow’s left. “I’ll be back! Grand Heist always get what he wants!” the thief quickly vanished before their eyes in a blink of light.

“Was...” Rainbow dash said numbly, face pale. “Was Grand Heist....in our tree!?”

“Yeah.” Spike admitted with an angry frown. “Not sure what he was after, though.”

“Grand Heist...was in our home...” Rainbow Dash gripped Spike’s head, face pressed to his. “What did he steal? The Daring Do collection? Our books on thaumaturgical phsyics and effects!? OUR CUPCAKE RECIPES!??!?”

Spike merely sighed and slapped her on the face. “Calm down Dash, I caught him in our room and chased him off before he could grab anything.”

The Pegasus nodded, rubbing her cheek. “Our....room...there’s nothing worth stealing except...the tickets...”

Spike raised a brow. “The tickets Cadence gave us? But why?”

“I don’t know but...I...Don’t really wanna think about it right now...this has kinda left me freaked out and I kinda wanna just go curl up with a book...”

Spike nodded sagely, patting the mare on the back reassuringly. “Do you want me to read with you?”

Rainbow nodded with a soft smile. “I’d like that...”

Grand heist fumed, throwing his hat onto a stand, stomping over to his desk, looking over the newspaper. He took a complete risk, going about it differently from normal, and that damn dragon had to get in his way. Why did that Pegasus have to have a pet dragon!? Is she insane!?

His grip tightened around the newspaper as he fumed. He needed those tickets. Time was getting tight, and those tickets would be vital to his biggest heist yet, one that’ll make his name known throughout Equestria for years to come! Everything he always wanted is in his grasp, he just needed to secure it.

He sighed, calming himself down. No, he didn’t need to get too hasty, there was still plenty of time until the Gala. He could wait, spend some time spreading his name in Ponyville, using the trains to get to his next crime. He just needed to be patient.

The problem was Rainbow Dash. That girl was obsessed with him, and for what? One little theft on a train and suddenly he’s on some winged jerk’s list!? No, he had to do something about that mare, who totally didn’t deserve those tickets anyhow! A cruel smile formed on his lips as he came up with a plan.

Author's Note

Okay so, I am unsure about this chapter, mainly cause there’s too many exposition and stuff that apparently happened offscreen, but still, I NEEDED to get this done, and the main reason is that this is mainly set up. I’m also worried I tired a bit too hard to drive home that everypony doesn’t see Grand heist as a big deal...oh well. If there’s anything you folks can suggest to improve this, I’m all ears.

Also I changed the ending to this at the last second due to having a better on idea on how to progress. So...if Rainbow is out of character here...that's why.

Part 2: A Hero

It had been hours till Rainbow had read through several books before finally falling asleep, Spike covering her in a blanket and leaving her to rest. Rainbow now snored peacefully, sleeping a dreamless sleep.

Her sleeping became disturbed as felt something heavy over her. She tossed and turned, but the heavy thing only pressed down on her more, so she pushed her hooves up against it to move it, opening her eyes as the disturbance woke her...

And stared directly into the face of Grand Heist, who immediately shoved his hoof against her mouth just as she was about to scream.
“Now, now, now, none of that.” Grand Heist said with a smirk. “We’re gonna discuss things like civilised ponies, without that...pet of yours interfering. Agreed?”

Rainbow Dash responded by kicking Grand Heist off of her, and opened her mouth to call for Spike...but no sound came.
Grand Heist dusted himself as he got up and walked towards her, chuckling. “Don’t worry, it’s not permanent, just something in my bag of tricks to help make my heists easier. Now, let’s chat shall we? I feel we got off on the wrong hoof, so how about we clear the air.”

Rainbow Dash snarled, her wings glowing.

“Ah, right, your famous magic, well another of my tricks is a complete immunity to magic. Of course, I could be lying, but we both know how easily you can prove that and we both know I’m not stupid enough to assume you won’t blast me.” He grinned charmingly.

Rainbow Dash lowered her wings, glaring.

“Ah yes, well, I was hoping we could become friends, Miss Dash. You have been looking into my affairs for some time now, trying the past few weeks to convince ponies to crackdown on Ponyville and lessen my activities. But see, I bring something to Equestria desperately needed: harmless excitement! Reports of my exploits are known far and wide across Equestria, and they are quite popular! Everypony knows my name and loves to speak it and hear it! I am the talk of Equestria! And unlike an Ursa or a Manticore or even Nightmare Moon, I do it all without a shred of property damage or injury, so what’s the harm in letting me continue?”

He gripped her cheek with his hoof, a little more harshly than needed, pulling her close to his face.

“Just cooperate with me and who knows, maybe I’ll give you a cut on the more monetary portions of my heists, I don’t care for riches after all.” He twirled his hoof in the air. “We don’t NEED to be enemies here Rainbow Dash, and that is all I wanted to speak about when I came here earlier. Bygones?” he blinked in realisation. “Oh, you can speak now.”

Rainbow fumed, and did the only logical thing in this situation. “Spike! Grand Heist came back!”

A dark look spread across his features before quickly taking on a more disappointed look. “I see. Enemies it is then. See you around, Rainbow Dash.” A green glow surrounded him as he vanished just as Spike entered the room.

“Where is he!?” The tiny dragon said, his eyes burning in righteous anger.

“He just left. Again.” Rainbow sighed, slumping. “Twice. He invaded my home TWICE.”

Spike walked over to her, petting her back. “Don’t worry, I’ll stand guard all night from now on.”

“That’s not it Spike!” Rainbow snapped. “He didn’t just sneak in when your back was turned! I covered this house in so many alarm spells and wards that there is no way he could’ve gotten in uninvited without either of us knowing, but still he got in anyway! That...that at the very least should be difficult to do! And they are still up so he didn’t dispel them!”

Spike gripped her muzzle and pulled her face down to his, looking serious. “Calm down Rainbow. You’re stronger than this, and smarter. You just need to figure it out. Don’t let this jerk intimidate you.”

“But how can we even begin to deal with him!? We have no idea who he is or even where to find him, all we can do is wait for him to come and find us, and I do NOT want to be at that guy’s mercy!”

“Then make a plan. DON’T become a victim, fight him, if no one else can or will.” He gave her a smile. “You’re a hero Rainbow Dash, you faced worse than some loser in a stupid costume.”

Rainbow sighed, visibly calming down. “Right...you’re right....let’s stand watch for the night, make sure he didn’t steal anything, and then we’ll think of something in the morning.”

Spike nodded and the two of them scoured the room and the rest of the house for any signs of theft or damage. They found nothing amiss. Rainbow Dash wasn’t sure whether that was reassuring or disturbing.

As they searched, Rainbow saw an old comic book of Spike’s lying on the floor. As she picked it up and glanced at the cover sporting a costumed hero, and something tugged at the back of her mind, some key piece to the puzzle was just on the edge of her periphery, she just needed to figure it out...

Days passed, and with no further sign of Grand Heist, Rainbow Dash relaxed, but was still on edge. Today she had decided to check on Applejack and see if she needed any help with anything; this was mainly to give something for Rainbow Dash to do to get her mind off things.

“Ah’m sorry Rainbow, but between Applebloom and Strong Heart, Ah really don’t need any help, and it’s not like Ah have any outstandin’ orders, really most of my is spent standing here and waiting.” Applejack explained, smiling sheepishly.

“Oh, that’s fine Applejack, I’m just looking out for my friends, that’s all.” The Pegasus replied hastily, flashing a reassuring smile. “I’ll...just get out of your hair then...”

“Oh darling, don’t worry about it! Ah’m always glad to speak to a friend, especially one as photogenic as yourself! Not that Ah’m implying Ah only like you because you look good!”

Rainbow shook her wing. “Nah, it’s cool Applejack, as long as you’re sure you’re fine.”

There was a noise behind them, the two mares blinking in surprise. Rainbow Dash held up her wing, gesturing at the other mare to stay put as she stepped into the back room, where Applejack kept her spare supplies.

Rainbow saw Grand Heist, the room more of a mess than it usually is (mainly cause Applejack is a stickler for tidiness), and a familiar, golden figure searching through everything, several fabric rolls tucked under his forelegs.

Rainbow Dash’s vision went red as she charged at the thief. There was no way she was going to let this creep get away now, not after last night, and certainly not when he was trying to rob her friend.

Grand Heist expertly feel flat, ruining the pegasus’ momentum as she tripped over his prone body, unable to move her wings fast enough before crashing into some fabric and getting entangled. She grunted and struggled as she tried to get free, Grand Heist chuckling.

“Oh do calm down, Rainbow Dash, Madame Applejack shan’t be missing these any time soon, you really are becoming QUITE obsessed with me.” The thief laughed jovially before his expression turned sour. “I am serious, stay out of my way, it’s not like you can catch me anyway, I’m too quick for you!”

Once again he vanished in a green flash, Rainbow fuming as Applejack stepped into the room. “Darling, whatever happened in here? Are you alright?”

“Yeah...just...fine.” Rainbow panted, giving up as her friend stepped forward to help, the Pegasus herself ruminating on her failure. Grand Heist WAS too quick for her, seemingly able to do impossible things, and she needed a way to catch on HER terms rather than his, get him to come to HER rather than happen onto him by convenience. It was no longer a matter of simply doing the ethical thing; Grand Heist had made it personal.

As Applejack removed the fabric, Rainbow dimly noting the fashionista was trying to coax an explanation out of her, the Pegasus saw herself in a spare mirror to her left. She saw herself, the fabric over her face in JUST the right way, and thoughts whirled through her mind.

The comic book. Grand Heist. How he reacted when they interacted on the train. His presence in Ponyville. His outrageous thefts. His own description of himself.

It all fell into place. Not just Grand Heist’s motives, but also the method she could use to catch him, since nopony else seemed to care.
“Applejack,” Rainbow began, “I will explain everything, but first, I want you to help me with something.”

Applejack gave her a half-lidded gaze. “Oh, and what would that be, and WHAT does it have to do with the STATE this room is in? Ah mean, it almost looks like a good deal of my backup stock is MISSING!”

“Yeah, and there’s a reason for that, and don’t worry I DO intend to pay you.”

The fashionista’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Pay me for what.”

Rainbow smirked. “I am ordering a new outfit, designed by scratch, though the design itself may be a little...unoriginal.”

A stallion roof fixer stood on top of Sugarcube Corner, affixing the tiling when his hooves slipped. Dropping his hammer he tried to get his footing back but that only caused him to tumble further until there was no longer a building, let alone a roof, separating him from the hard ground.

He screamed in fear, covering his face with his forelegs as he fell....only for him to feel a pair of hooves grab him and a rush of air as the figure leapt to the ground with him and set him down gently on the ground. The stallion blinked and looked up at his saviour, smiling gratefully.
“Th...thank you! Thank you so much for saving me!”

The hero nodded curtly, clad in an outfit similar to Grand Heist’s except with dark blue and purple colouration, and then flew up into the sky.

“look up in the sky! It’s a bird!” a townspony cried out.

“No it’s a cloud!” another argued.

“It’s a well!” Snails proclaimed.

“A well!?” Everypony around him exclaimed in exasperation.

The costumed figure chuckled and spoke to the populace below her. “Neither bird nor cloud nor even well, just a friendly mare to do well.” The figure seemed to flinch at the clumsy rhyme, but the populace accepted it eagerly as she vanished into the day.

“Does anypony know who that was?” A stallion asked a mare.

“I think they said they’re called ‘Mare-Do-Well’.”

“But who is she? And why is she dressed like that?”

“Who knows?”

A frightened filly stood in a shallow area of the Everfree Forest, answering a dare for some friends. She shivered, cold and frightened, then yelped as she saw a pair of scary looking eyes. She turned and fled, as a small reptilian thing chased after her.

It hissed and snarled at her, only to be knocked aside as a blast of magic struck it and rendered it uncoconcious. The child froze, perplexed as a figure clad in purple stood in front of her.

“Do not worry you are safe now, no harm has come to your face.” Mare-Do-Well said warmly and reassuringly. “Take my hoof and I’ll lead you out of this dangerous place.”

The filly sniffed and took the pony’s hoof. “Th-thank you...”

“It is no problem, I am here to help.”

Grand Heist sat in his study, smirking as he unfolded the paper. He had laid low for a while, but if his recent theft of Applejack’s unused items didn’t garner any attention, his theft of the Saddle Arabian princess’ jewels should be causing a stir about now. Though he was mildly disappointed Applejack didn’t seem to have what he was looking for, at least the fabric would prove useful for his greatest heist.

He frowned as he spied the front page. Instead of yet more news of his exploits adorning the front page as usual, instead the title read “WHO IS THE MYSTERIOUS MARE DO WELL?” with a photo of a figure in the distant horizon underneath. He raised a brow but paid it no mind. He turned the page, frowning further as more news of this ‘mare-do-well’ filled the page. With each flip of the pages, he became more and more irritated. FOUR ARTICLES, all about some upstart super hero! The jewel theft was reduced to the back page, and no mention of Carousel Boutique anywhere!

He threw the paper aside and picked up another. Then another, and another. Each and everyone, Mare-Do-Well dominated the headlines!
After more careful reading, he managed to find an article sporting the upstart’s visage, standing beside a filly outside the everfree forest. His vision turned red: this fool dared to steal everypony’s attention, but his costume too!? He spent weeks designing that look!

He threw the papers down in disgust, breathing deeply as he calmed. It’s okay, he told himself, this is only some idiot’s five minutes of fames. In about a week everypony will forget this ‘Mare-Do-Well’ and focus on what truly mattered, the great thief Grand Heist. Perhaps a couple more trips to Prance and Canterlot will help cement his status, just in case....

Author's Note

Originally I was gonna have Grand Heist directly attack Rainbow Dash, but I felt that was rushing things a bit too much and not really grand Heist's style for the moment.

Part 3: The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well

As the days went by, rumours spread among the townsfolk regarding the mysterious costumed hero.

“I heard she’s a Pegasus who lost her parents to crime.”

“She’s obviously a unicorn! There are flight spells you know.”

“I heard she took down a forger last week.”

“No, it was a gang of kidnappers!”

“No, it was an army of Nightmare Moon worshippers!”

“I heard it was an ursa and a hydra she defeated using only her bare hooves and a tree!”

A little filly named Diamond Tiara heard all these rumours, collecting every picture of Mare-Do-Well she could find and stuck them on her bedroom wall, eyes glimmering with wonder and excitement. She couldn’t wait for school next week, she had something very special cooked up for the class.

Miss Spitfire stood in front of her class, smiling in an easygoing manner. “Today, Class, we are going to be discussing heroes of legend, both past and present. We’ll be reviewing notable figures from history as well as from the myths and legends found all around Equestria.”

“Ooh!” Diamond Tiara held her hoof aloft. “Ooh ooh oooh!”

Spitfire chuckled. “Yes Diamond Tiara, have something to share with the class?”

“You bet! Me and my friends made something special about the coolest hero around!”

“Oh? Do go on.” The teacher smiled.

Diamond nodded to her two friends, Twist and Sweetie Belle, sitting near her, the two nodding back. The three of them stood up and started humming, music rising as they began to sing.

“When criminals in this world appear
And frighten all who see and hear
The cry goes out both far and near
For Mare-Do-Well! Mare-Do-Well!
Mare-Do-Well! Mare-Do-Well!
Speed of lightning!
Roar of thunder!
Fighting those who rob and plunder!
Oh, Mare-Do-Well, MARE-DO-WELL!!”

Grand Heist threw a newspaper out through his window, the headline reading ‘Mare-Do-Well takes down pickpocket!’

A pair of nobles were chatting together as they read through a newspaper.

“When Berry Punch began to fall
From a building 7 stories tall
She knew upon who whom she could call
Whose ears prick up when Berry hollers
MARE-DO-WELL! Mare-Do well!”

“Mare-Do-Well! Mare-Do-Well!”

“There is no need to fear, or quaver.” A passing member of the royal guard joined the pair, tipping his helmet to them with a smile. “Mare-Do-Well was there to save her.”

“Mare-Do-Well!” The trio sang together. “Oh, Mare-Do-Well!”

Grand Heist threw a newspaper into his fireplace, the headline reading ‘Mare-Do-Well the hero of Ponyville’ as it burned to ash.

The trio of fillies ran through the town after school, the townsponies joining in as they sang.

“And when our woeful monologue
Is how by evil we’ve been flogged
Then breaking through the clouds and fog
Not cloud nor bird nor even bell
COMES MARE-DO-WELL!”

“Mare-Do-Well!” The crowd cried out as they saw the hero in question fly across the rooftops, pointing to her. “Mare-Do-Well!”

Grand Heist tore another newspaper apart, gritting his teeth in rage, slamming his window shut to drown out the townsponies’ cries.

“Who cares about this mare of wonder
Tearing evil spawns asunder?
That Mare-Do-Well
‘Oh what a wonder mare’,” he sang sarcastically,
“I will end her tale
Mare-Do-Well
MARE-DO-WELL!!!!!”

Grand Heist panted, body shivering in anger and rage, surrounded by the remains of countless discarded, ruined and destroyed newspapers.
“That knock-off thinks she can steal MY outfit, steal MY fame, the attention I deserve!? She has another think coming!” The thief ranted. “I’ll show her! I’ll show her who deserves the fame, the glory!”

He charged out of his room, glaring in determination.

Applejack stood with Rarity and Twilight at Sugarcube Corner, the latter two there on business. Twilight was delivering some supplies for the bakery while Rarity was helping man the counter.

“So that Mare-Do-Well has been the talk of the town, hasn’t she?” Rarity wondered aloud.

Applejack smiled a twinkle in her eyes. “I think she has been doing an admirable job, especially since we don’t have any royal guards or official law enforcement in this town. Not to mention just how DASHING she looks in that outfit.”

Twilight shrugged dismissively. “Sadly, I don’t have much interest in that sort of stuff. As long as she doesn’t bother the farm, I’m alright with it, and I do appreciate that she’s helped a lot of ponies, but I’m not going to actively follow her or talk about her like some ponies.”

“Well you must admit that she’s certainly a better role model than that Gand Heist!” Applejack said huffily.

“I wouldn’t call him a role model, but I suppose he and Mare Do-Well do share some similarities, particularly the outfit.” The farmer shrugged. “Though I have even less interest in the exploits of a thief than a ‘superhero’.”

“Well, I certainly feel that Grand Heist has outstayed his welcome, and I hope Mare-Do-Well sends him a proper message that he has outstayed his welcome.” Applejack huffed irritably.

Rarity looked at her friend in concern. “You alright there, Jackie? I know Grand Heist is kind of annoying and a bit of jerk, but he’s not that big of a deal.”

“Yeah, Grand Heist is pretty much harmless.” Twilight added. “He has yet to hurt anypony, and he’s been largely quiet in Ponyville lately.”
“Ah know it’s just...” The fashionista bit her lip. “Well, Ah promised Rainbow Ah wouldn’t talk about it yet...”

Twilight raised a brow. “Talk about what? And where HAS Rainbow been lately? I haven’t seen her for a while.”

“Oh she’s just in her library, ruminating on what to do with the tickets the Princess gave her.” Applejack replied, looking around nervously.
Rarity put a hoof to her chin in thought. “Hmmm come to think of it Rainbow hasn’t been coming around since...”

The door to Sugarcube Corner slammed open, the gold-clad figure of Grand heist silhouetted in the sunlight. The thief ran in, placing his forelegs over Twilight and Rarity’s shoulders.

“Ah, nothing like some morning gossip to start the day.” The superstar criminal said casually. “Now, you girls know where I can talk to that OH SO POPULAR Mare-Do-Well?”

Rarity blinked. “And...why would we know anything about that?”

Grand Heist chuckled affably. “Oh, I’m not trying to imply anything, it’s just well, I have some words for that mare and...well, let’s call it a hunch, but I have reason to believe you may know her very well.” He turned to Applejack, who was glaring at him. “You wouldn’t happen to know anything, would you, miss clothes designer?”

“What I design for my clients and the accuracy of any connection to a local vigilante I may or may not have is no concern of yours.” Applejack said evenly, giving the thief a half-lidded stare. “And why are you so active today? You aren’t exactly known to be personable.”

“Ah, but you see, ma Cherie, I’m looking to reinvigorate my image, perhaps allow my fans a chance to see the greatest thief in all of Equestria in person!”

Applejack raised a brow. “And Ah assume that also includes the Royal Guard?”

“Oh, Miss Applejack, such a wit! It’s not like those obsessive justice zealots can catch, especially not all the way in Canterlot.” Grand Heist smiled, his voice dropping a couple octaves. “Now, do tell me where I can find that Mare-Do-Well, I think we’re both intelligent adults, we all know who she is.”

“Is it Spitfire?” Rarity interjected. “Because she IS a former wonderbolt and she CAN fly...”

Grand Heist jerked to her, eyes wide in anger. “No it’s not the school teacher you ninny! It’s obviously”

“Somepony help!” a pony yelled outside.

“There’s no need to fear, Mare-Do-Well is here!”

Grand Heist blinked, looking between the three mares and then to the still open door, then smiled pleasantly. “I think we shall continue this discussion later. Ariva derci, ladies.”

He ran outside, leaving Twilight and Rarity to look perplexed, Applejack taking the opportunity to leave the building as well.

Mare-Do-Well leapt from rooftop to rooftop, leaping to the ground when she spotted a very gaudy individual running towards her.

Grand Heist screeched to a halt in front of his quarry, panting for breath. “Listen, you’re new to this and all, but let me reiterate something: this little...cry for attention is cute and all, but we both know you’re nothing. I am the star of this town, the pony who puts it on the map, so why don’t you just throw that stupid, ridiculous outfit away and go home and do...whatever it is you do, and we can both forget this whole ordeal right now before I get mad. Deal?”

Mare-Do-Well moved to reach for him until the cry came again. “HEEELLLP!” Mare-Do-Well froze for just a fraction before turning to run in the direction of the cry.

“Hey don’t ignore me!” Grand Heist exclaimed, running down the street after the hero. “I am not done talking to you!”

He reappeared in front her with a green flash, Mare-Do-Well blinking surprise before jumping over him, leaping across the rooftops. Grand Heist growled and teleported after the vigilante repeatedly from rooftop to rooftop before Mare-Do-Well decided to simply take flight into the air. Grand Heist grumbled and teleported into the air in front of her.

“Stop running away from me you coward!” The thief yelled into the hero’s face, blinking as he suddenly began to descend to the ground away from her. Mare-Do-Well shook her head and flew over towards the person in need as Grand Heist fell.

Grand Heist glared at her, a green glow surrounding him as he began to start a teleport again...only for the glow to disappear with a loud ‘PARP’ sound, a silver ring under his mask disintegrating harmlessly. Grand Heist yelped as he fell into a pond, a frog leaping onto his head as he rose up, outfit soaked though.

“She’s despicable.” Grand Heist grumbled.

The stallion brightened as Mare-Do-Well landed in front of him.

“There’s no need to fear, Mare-Do-Well is here!”

“Oh thank you so much!” The stallion smiled gratefully, holding up a jar of jam. “I could really use some help opening this!”
Mare-Do-Well facehoofed.

Grand Heist paced in his room, deep in thought.

“Negotiating didn’t work, so what will? I suppose being a superhero, the only thing she cna understand is violence! That in mind...perhaps...perhaps I shall turn her into a flea, a harmless little flea, and then I’ll put that flea in a box, then that box into another box and mail to myself and once it arrives....I’LL SMASH IT WITH A HAMMER!” He slammed his hooves together in emphasis. “It’s brilliant I tell you, genius I say!”

He was brought out of his ramblings by the buzzing of a small, blue gem flashing on his desk.

“On the other hoof, to save on postage, I suppose I could ask for some help from my cohort.” He grinned darkly. “Surely he can get me something...”

Grand Heist sat some distance outside of town, binoculars held up to his eyes as he surveyed Ponyville, a massive catapult holding a large boulder behind him.

“Hey.” A voice said irritably behind him. “You’re on my property.”

“Oh go away, I’m trying to find Mare-Do-Well.” Grand Heist replied, waving his hoof dismissively at the pink pony. “I don’t have time for fans right now, unusual as it may be.”

Pinkamena glared at him. “Ordinarily, I wouldn’t give anypony the time of day, especially not a weirdo dressed like a Hearth’s Warming tree, except you a) happen to be on my property and b) seem to be using one of my stock for...whatever it is you’re doing.”

“It’s just a rock, anypony can find those lying around out here.”

“Exactly why I moved up here, but aside from that, that BOULDER contains a very rich vein of copper that Iron Will Industries ordered, so, if you don’t mind, I’ll take it back.” Pinkamena spoke through gritted teeth.

Grand Heist bopped her on the head with his binoculars. “If you don’t even want an autograph, then please GO AWAY, I am BUSY!”

Pinkamena glared, stepping back away from him. Grand Heist chuckled arrogantly, turning back to ponyville. His eyes widened as he spied Mare-Do-Well flying around and the thief quickly pulled on a rope to activate the catapult behind him.

In his haste to strike and his focus entirely on Ponyville, he did not notice that Pinkamena had taken the boulder and in fact several small but key parts of the catapult, so instead of hefting a massive boulder at his nemesis, it instead collapsed midswing, the arm of the catapult falling on top of him, crushing his body.

A hoof reached out limply from under the catapult arm and rose weakly. “I’m alright...” Grand Heist spoke with a slur from underneath.

Twilight was whistling to herself as she walked through Ponyville.

“STAMPEDE!” somepony cried.

Twilight blinked looked to the distance to see a large cloud of dust as a stampede of cows ran into town...and were almost upon her!

In a split second, Mare-Do-Well ran over and grabbed the farmer as Grand Heist leapt from a nearby rooftop, hammer held aloft. Mare-Do-Well disappeared in a flash, with Twilight in tow, leaving Grand Heist to fall to the ground, his face falling. The thief slowly sat up, ears pulling back as he spied the stampede near him...and then rush over him, trampling him under hoof.

Twilight spied the scene as she stood on a rooftop, Mare-Do-Well’s body glowing beside her as as the cows were corralled towards the Sparkle farm by several planks of wood floating through the air. The cows mooed in confsion and distress as a they were lead into a circle, the wood being sued to erect a sturdy fence to hold them until they calmed down, no matter hwo they struggled they couldn’t knock it down.
Twilight blinked, turning to her saviour. “Oh, thank you very much! I just hope those cows are”

She stopped in mid-sentence. The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well had mysteriously vanished without her looking.

“I suppose that’s kinda rude...but she did help stop a stampede from hurting a lot of ponies, including myself.” The farmer smiled as she leapt from the roof to the ground. “She’s much nicer than she looks.” She hummed to herself as she walked back home to speak with the cows.
Grand Heist’s twisted, injured body twitched occasionally as he was left on the ground, grunting in pain as he slowly dragged himself to his hideout.

Grand Heist held onto a baby carriage, disguised in a cloak. He figured that all he needed to do was draw Mare-Do-Well himself rather than wait for her. He chuckled as he thought the plan through in his head again: he would push the carriage towards a large pit he had dug up earlier. The moment Mare-Do-Well would grab it, hoping to save it, only to active the several small rockets that would send it, and her, hurtling into the pit filled with ravenous dogs, wasp nests and a porcupine. Then she would see who gets the last laugh!

It would be Grand Heist. He’d get the last laugh.

He shoved the cart violently towards the pit. “Oh no! My poor, helpless child is about to fall into that mysteriously freshly dug hole! Is there no one who can save it!?”

Fluttershy gently pushed the carriage back, pushing it into the thief’s hooves. “Here you go miss! Be sure to keep a strong grip okay?” She flew out of the way, leaving a bewildered Grand Heist behind.

The gaudily dressed thief’s eyes widened as the rockets fired and he was sent flying, managing to let go just as it flew over the pit...and thus falling in, his screams of pain filling the area.

Fluttershy giggled at his antics. “You’re so silly, miss!”

Grand Heist gritted his teeth in rage, ignoring the buzzing of his accomplice. He chuckled darkly as he drew up what was in his mind the perfect, foolproof plan to getting his revenge on Mare-Do-Well and thus securing his fame in the backwater town.

“Boom boom boom.” He muttered quietly to himself with a wicked cackle.

Part 4, Boom Goes the Dynamite

Applejack woke up, rising from her bed gracefully and trotting over to her vanity, scrutinising her appearance in the mirror as she applies makeup to her face. She walked to her wardrobe and chose an appropriate dress, a simple black number.

As she excited her bedroom and trotted downstairs she sniffed something in the air...a smell that was vulgar and vile and did not belong in her home. She marched downstairs and pulled up a floorboard, noting that it wasn’t nailed in for some odd reason...then her face blanched.
Under her floor were several sticks with long, thin fuses connected to a red gem, smelling strongly of gunpowder to her sensitive nostrils.
She lowered the board and hurriedly grabbed a special package she ahd planned to show her friends anyway before running out of her house fast as she could, thanking the heavens that neither Applebloom or Strongheart lived with her.

Grand Heist stood in the centre of Ponyville, humming to himself, before pressing a small switch he held in his hoof.

This caused the town well to explode with quite a large amount of volume, causing ponies to wake.

When four abandoned houses exploded at different points in the town, that was when the town went into full panic mode, ponies running out of their homes, carrying friends, family and precious items with them as they began to evacuate the town while more buildings proceeded to explode.

Grand Heist frowned, the notion that this may not work starting to crawl into his mind....

Suddenly a figure clad in dark purple and deep violet glided down from above in front of the thief, causing him to smile affably.

“Ah, I’m so glad you could finall show yourself, I was beginning to think my attempt to draw you out had fallen flat.” He brough his hoof up to his chest with a light chuckle. “I’m glad you have proven me wrong.”

“Draw me out?” Mare-Do-Well spoke, her voice rather deep and forced sounding. “I have been trying to draw you out!”

“Au contraire, I went to a lot of trouble setting this all up to get your attention, after all, you only ever show up if something’s happening or if somepony calls out for you!” He spread his hooves wide as the townsponies had halted in their escape to watch. “And now we have a grand audience for I, Grand heist, to grandly reveal the sham you are to all in a suitably grand gesture!” He set off another bomb for emphasis, reminded the populace to escape, the crowds rushing away out of the city limits, several buildings now caught on fire bathing the square in red light.

“Grand Heist...did you seriously admit to planting and triggering bombs in a small town...just to get my attention!?” Mare-Do-Well growled, glaring at her adversary.

“Well nothing else seemed to work.” Grand Heist shrugged.

Mare-Do-Well charged at him. “How many!?”

The thief leapt over the Mare, drawing her towards the Town Hall. “Why, every building has between one to seven bombs planted in them. Sounds like a lot of work, I know, but I had to make sure I would get your attention.”

“Forget the property damage, did you think about how many ponies you could hurt, or even kill, with this stunt!?” She shot a blast of magic at him from under her cape, but the blast fizzled out harmlessly the moment it connected.

Grand Heist blinked, looking puzzled. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about the ponies who live in the town you psycho!!”

Grand Heist simply titled his head, further perplexed. “Why does that matter?” he answered with complete nonchalance and honesty. “They’re nobodies, who cares what happens to them?”

“You can’t be...” Mare-Do-Well stared in disbelief, and then glared hatefully. “They’re ponies just like you and me! Of course they matter!” She rushed at him, attempting to grab him with her bare hooves.

Grand Heist ducked beneath her, tutting as he twirled his hoof, a large net of ropes rushing from behind him and ensnaring Mare-Do-Well, causing ehr to be pushed through into Town Hall, where the entire building had been piled inside with bombs, the hero struggling against her bonds as she fell to the floor.

The thief skipped merrily into the building, music building.

“Time for the Main Attraction
The story must be told
Time for a chain reaction
It never gets old
Some ponies get satisfaction
Break
king
The
mold
Some Ponies are just distractions
But I am just Grand!”

He took Mare-Do-Well’s face in hooves, smirking mockingly as she glared at him.

“Oh you did a good job
Saving these worthless things
It warms my heart and my flank
To see such noble scenes.”

He flourished to her side, looking reproachful.

“Oh, don’t get me wrong
You were very brave
When faced with opening pickle jars
You never caved!”

He leapt to the middle of the building gesturing his hooves as he danced.

“I’ve finished trying!
Done with begging!
No facts are left remaining!
I got the gist of it
It’s a perfect fit.”

He shoved his face into hers, glaring.

“I am done with your complaining!”

He moved back as she tried to headbutt him, smiling amusedly.

“I am taking this golden opportunity
protect myself from obscurity
you hurt my pride
now enjoy the ride
You’ll never be a part of this community!”

He got close to her ears, stroking her cheeks.

“You may say it’s all in my mind~”

He moved to the opposite side.

“But in the end I think you will fiiiiind!”

He lifted her up, dancing around with her.

“You are the main attraction!
You story must be told!
You are a new sensation!
But it got old!
You thought you’d get satisfaction
Break
king
the
mold!
But you are just a distraction
From something just Grand!”

He laughed as he threw her onto the largest pile of bombs, leaning over her prone form, reaching to her neck. “But, before the climax, The Reveal!” He grabbed her mask, ripping it off...revealing the face of Rainbow Dash.

“IIIIII KNNNEEWWW IIIIIT!!!” Grand Heist cackled in triumphed. “Iknewitiknewitiknewit I kneeewwww iiiit! What other pony is so obsessed with me, so obviously jealous of my talents and good looks and showmanship!? Nopony but YOU, RAINBOW DASH!”

Rainbow huffed at him. “For your information, I went to all this trouble cause I knew it’d be the only chance I’d get at catching you would be to challenge that ego of yours!”

“because you’re jealous!”

“NO! It is NOT about YOU!” Rainbow shouted indignantly. “Well, partly so at any rate, but not the way you think! I wanted to catch you cause I knew you were trouble but also because somepony asked me to, somepony who told me how you hurt one of my friends in the past, AND then you have the audacity to hurt another friend, Applejack! This was about making you pay for hurting my friends, and hurting all the ponies you have, AND FOR WHAT!? To prove you can, that you’re better than everypony!?”

Grand Heist shrugged. “Eh, part of it, but really, I’m doing this for one reason only: FAME! I figured that the best way to get my name across Equestria and everywhere else, I had to put on a grand persona, and perform only the flashiest, most unique crimes! Because really, there is no way I can become Celestia’s student or become a Princess, and besides,” he winked at Rainbow Dash knowingly, “everypony knows bad guys are more popular.”

Rainbow struggled, ehr wings glowing under bonds. “Dangit why isn’t it working...?”

The thief tutted, shaking his head. “Silly Rainbow Dash, you think I went to the trouble of binding you without taking into account your legendary magical prowess? Those are ropes are lined Orihalcum shavings. You know, the anti-magic metal? Sure you’ve heard of it. Anyway yeah, no magic while bounde under those ropes, and let me tell you, that cost a LOT of bits, but seeing you here, now, at my mercy, about to be blown to smithereens, it was all worth it.”

He turned, heading towards the door with a mocking wave. “Farewell Rainbow Dash, I will see you in the papers. Specifically the obituaries. Because you’ll be dead. While I’ll be on the front page. Because I’ll be the most famous pony in Equestria and beyond. You got that?”

“Just shut your gloating!” Rainbow cried out. “Spike’ll save me!”

Grand Heist shrugged. “How? He’s back in your house is he not? After all, it’d be obvious who you were if you had a little pet dragon follow you around when you went around ‘saving’ ponies. And I doubt he’ll be able to get past the crowds fast enough to save you. Face it, you’re finished!”

Rainbow paled, slumping. He was right, there was no realistic way anypony could get through to save her without pushing past ponies or risking being burned or blown up. She thought of Spike. Who would take care of him if she was gone? And her friends, how would they deal with this?

She looked up at Grand Heist, a part of her hoping to beg him for mercy, to spare her life for the sake of her friends, but her pride shot that thought down. No matter what, she would never give that monster the satisfaction. Instead, she spat at him, though she couldn’t even get it a centimetre from her body.

“Even with me gone, somepony will stop you.”

“Oh?” Grand Heist chuckled. “And who will that be, Mare-Do-Well?”

And then they heard somepony start singing. Several ponies.

“There is no
Need to fear
When the Mare of Might is here
where she comes
is unknown
perhaps a super ancient hill?
Trouble comes
She’s not slow
It’s hip, hip, hip
And away
We
go!”

Rainbow stared in confusion as Grand heist started to look around in panic, pointing at Rainbow Dash. “W-what!? B-but SHE’S Mare-Do-Well!”

“When criminals in this world appear”

“No!” Grand Heist denied.

“And break the laws that they should fear”

“Stop singing!” the thief begged.

“And frighten all that see or hear”

Grand Heist glared at Rainbow Dash, holding up the switch, only for somepony to take it from him...a pony clad in a dark purple.

“The cry goes out both far and near,” The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well sang, crushing the device in her hoof. “For Mare-Do-Well!”

“Mare-Do-Well!?” Rainbow Dash parroted incredulously.

“Mare-Do-Well!!” Grand Heist eclaimed, turning away from her...only to face a second Mare-Do-Well.

“Speed of lightning!” The Mare-Do-Well sang, racing towards Rainbow Dash and grabbing her in her forelegs, jumping out the window with her.

“Roar of thunder!” The first Mare-Do-Well punched Grand Heist in the jaw, knocking him spinning in the air.

“Fighting all who rob and plunder!” A third Mare-Do-Well jumped down, dodging a kick from Grand Heist’s backlegs before grabbing them and spinning him around and around, throwing him in the air.

“I-It can’t be!” Grand heist yelled out. “How can there be THREE Mare-Do-Wells!? And what does that make Rainbow Dash!?”

The second (Fourth!?) Mare-Do-Well leapt back inside through the window, striking Grand Heist with a spinning kick, knocking him into the pile of bombs, his head spinning in a daze as the three heroes stood over him.

“When in this world
When headlines read,” They point to Grand Heist.
“Of those whose hearts
Are filled with greed
Who rob and steal
From those in need!”
“Shut up!” Grand Heist spat.
“Who rights this wrong
With blinding speed?”

“Mare-Do-Well!” The townspeople cheered from outside, Grand Heist shaking in fear. “Mare-Do-Well! Mare-Do-Well!”

“Speed of lightning!” Two leapt out the windows as the third flew out of the door and into a large, black storm cloud.

“Roar of thunder!” The hero kicked at the cloud sending a bolt of lightning into the building where Grand Heist sat among a massive pile of bombs. “Fighting those who rob and plunder!”

“Mare-Do-Well!” The townsponies cheered as Rainbow Dash looked around in a confused daze.

“Mare-Do-Well?” The Pegasus asked.

“Mare-Do-Well.” Grand Heist whimpered as the bombs exploded, destroying town hall and sending him flying seemingly into the stratosphere.

Rainbow Dash facehoofed as she walked over to the three heroes who had ran into an alley. They turned to her as she looked between them all. “Alright, who are you really?”

The trio removed their masks, revealing...Applejack, Twilight and Fluttershy.

“Applejack, do you realise how dangerous this was?” Rainbow Dash asked, unamused.

“Darling, Ah know and it was frightfully scary even compared to all we’ve been through before, but Ah needed to tell them anyway, it would’ve been unfair.” The fashionista smiled sheepishly. “Besides, Ah needed an excuse to use these spares and when Ah found several bombs in mah house, Ah knew you would’ve needed help saving the town.”

“Applejack managed to speak to us before Grand Heist detonatedthe bombs, so we were able to minimise the damage.” Twilight continued. “Spike saw Grand Heist fighting you and managed to send us a quick note asking for help and so we rushed over as fast as we could.”

Rainbow smiled proudly. “Well, thanks, I really appreciate the save...though I think you could’ve done that without blowing up town hall. Mayor Mare is gonna be pretty peeved.”

Fluttershy bopped herself on the head, sticking out a tongue. “Oopsie doodle. It’s fiiine! Everypony knows a superhero can’t beat up a super bad guy without breaking a building or two!”

Rainbow Dash glared at her....before breaking out into laughter. “I suppose so!....sorry for lying to you all and keeping this a secret, but I felt I had to do it myself...”

“We understand Rainbow...” Twilight said sheepishly. “I speak on behalf of the entire town when I saw we should’ve taken your concerns more seriously.” She looked around at the burned wreckage strewn around. “Otherwise we could’ve avoided this.”

Rainbow shook her head. “Yeah but...I didn’t think Grand Heist would go so far as endanger an entire town just cause he was feeling threatened....”

“Oh buck up silly!” Fluttershy interjected. “You didn’t know Grand heist was like super duper mean-bad, and it’s his problem if he decided to blow up the town! You can’t blame yourself for something a bad guy does!”

“Ah think what she’s trying to say is...you are not responsible for the actions of an apparently violent sociopath.” Applejack smiled. “Besides, nopony was hurt thankfully, and we can rebuild. It...wouldn’t be the first time, admittedly...and all of I sudden I have just wondered why I haven’t moved out...”

Rainbow Dash chuckled. “Well, at least we got Grand Heist out of here, even though I was AIMING to capture him...”

“Sorry.” Fluttershy giggled.

“But still, I’m glad you guys helped...” The blue Pegasus turned towards the crowd of townsponies cheered for their hero. “Though...now I guess we’ll have to tell everypony the truth and tell them their hero only existed to teach a jerk a lesson.”

Fluttershy put a hoof on Rainbow’s shoulder, smiling conspiratorially. “Oh don’t worry, Auntie Shy has an idea...”

“The idea doesn’t involve blowing up town hall again right?” Rainbow asked.

“Nope! I’m saving that for next year.”

Rainbow hoped that was a joke.

Everypony was chattering amongst themselves, gossiping how they each witnessed Mare-Do-Well save the town, seemingly everywhere at once, putting out fires, removing bombs and evacuating ponies in case things went south, and had gotten everypony to help each other and work together despite their fear and confusion, even Spike helped by teleporting the bombs to a safe location, though he didn’t elaborate on where that was.

Diamond Tiara looked up, and saw Mare-Do-Well fly into the air. “Look ther she is!”

“You saved us!”

“Thank you!”

“huh...Where is she going?”

Diamond Tiara blinked and started to tear up. “What....but...but you can’t leave! We love you!”

“Stay here Mare-Do-Well! We need you!”

“Who will protect us with you gone!?”

Rainbow chuckled, walking to the crowd. “Sorry everypony, but Mare-Do-Well told me that she had to go home, she says there are a lot of ponies who need help, and she’s the only one who can.”

“B-but!” Diamond Tiara stuttered tearily. “She’s our hero!”

“I know,” The Pegasus nodded, “but...everypony needs a hero. Heroes inspire us, give us hope for the future, as well as rekindle our imaginations and inspire us. However, Mare-Do-Well told me...she told me that heroes are everywhere, no, that anypony and everypony can be heroes. Being a hero doesn’t involve special powers, a memorable name or costume or catch phrase or even epic fights, being a hero means only one thing...doing the right thing, and doing what you can when you can. Mare-Do-Well was here...cause she wanted to teach us that....that we can ALL be Mare-Do-Well.”

“We...we can?” the filly sniffled as the other ponies looked at the Pegasus in thought.

Rainbow Dash nodded. “Heck, the royal guard are heroes every day and they’re jsut doing their job protecting ponies from people like Grand Heist.”

“But we don’t got the royal guard or anything like that here!”

“I know, and that’s why I say we petition the Mayor Mare to get ourselves a proper law enforcement for the town, because we can’t rely on heroes like Mare-Do-Well all the time, we need to ensure we can protect ourselves, even if it means asking the government to provide the means for that protection.”

“yeah!” the ponies cheered. “We don;t want this to happen again when Mare-Do-Well’s gone!”

“Then go! Go to your homes, write a letter to the mayor or even the princess if you’re brave enough! Go and spread the word, go and be heroes like Mare-Do-Well knows you can be!” Rainbow Dash spread her wings, grinning.

The townsponies cheered and ran to their hoems, or at least the ones that had homes still.

“But first!” They stopped, turning to Rainbow Dash, “I think we should fix up the town as a first step!”

They paused...then cheered even louder, marching off to find what supplies they could to clean up and repair the town.

The cyan Pegasus chuckled...and turned to Applejack as the fashionista walked to her side.

“Nice little Aesop, if Ah do say so myself.” Applejack said wrly.

“Heh, thanks, I do admit it sounded a little clumsy...”

“Oh hush! It was lovely and you know it!”

“Um, I was wondering...” Rainbow turned to her loyal friend. “ Why did you agree to help me, when I explained myself better?”

“What apart from being your friend?” Applejack scoffed in mock offense. “well...Ah do have another reason...you remember the fabric Grand Heist stole? Well, I wanted to pay him back for those...I was saving those for a very special occasion...”

Rainbow raised a brow. “How special?”

“They were for our Gala dresses.” The earth mare replied with a blush.

“You do remember me saying hwo I have no interest in going to the Gala and how much I think you girls will hate it?”

“Ah know but still...Ah think it would’ve been lovely to see what it would be like...even if it doesn’t match what we imagine, Ah think it would be just lovely to just go to the Gala and unwind after everything we have been through...as friends.”

The Pegasus smiled. “I’ll think about it...though, I suppose you can’t make the dresses now...”

Applejack scoffed. “Darling, even without those simply wonderful samples of expesive fabric, Ah can make the best dresses imaginable!”

“Is that a challenge?” Rainbow asked with a smirk.

“No, it is a promise! What kind of dressmaker would Ah be if Ah relied only on specialised materials?”

The Pegasus chuckled. “Alright, let’s help clean up the town.”

“On mah darling outfit, and with this makeup!?”

“it’s either that, or double check for bombs with Rarity and Spike.”

Applejack paled. “OH no...Ah’d rather deal with mess and ruined make up than the possibility of being blown up.”

“Thought so.” Rainbow Dash chuckled.

Dear Rainbow Dash,

I have received your report on Ponyville, and I find myself unsurprised. After I what I told you of my suspicions regarding Grand Heist, I felt I might have underscored just how devastating that action was, and so you were unprepared for the vile criminal’s true nature. However, I am glad you and your friends were able to deal with the matter yourselves, though I regret that you could not apprehend Grand Heist, I find the outcome acceptable regarding the circumstances.

Grand Heist appears to have given up on Ponyville. I suppose he is scared, most likely justifying it as too ‘small’ to be worthy of his presence. I assume he was there just to spread his fame further, though I have suspicions he may have been after something else there too...The Gala tickets I suspect. Even here in Canterlot, they’re fairly sought after and considered valuable, since even merely being invited can cause a Noble’s standing to become greater and their name to become better known. Not to mention that the Princess always attend every year....

On that note, Celestia seems to have taken the town’s petition seriously, and is assigning a special branch of the guard as a field run of sorts, to see how they’ll deal with other ponies and vice verse. In fact, I believe you’ll be familiar with them yourself.

The princess however is still adamant that Grand heist is harmless, and in fact she seems disappointed in you harassing him enough to drive him to extreme action. I suspect she may have deeper reasons for this behaviour of hers, it is peculiar...

I shall continue to investigate Grand Heist in the mean time with the assistance of Blueblood and the Guard, and...I appreciate you keeping our correspondence to yourself, I am in enough trouble as it is for my theories, and I doubt your friendship with Twilight would last very long if she knew you spoke to me. It is...complicated.

I hope our endeavours bear fruit in the future.

Sincerely,

Shining Armour, Prosecutor

Author's Note

Well here it is. overall, the final product is close to what I envisioned originally for this chapter, though i did want to do the unmasking to the tune of 'Prince Ali' but I felt three songs back to back was too much.

I was gonna have another scene with blueblood and celestia, as well as elaborate more on Grand heist after being blown out of ponyville, but it got too late and i felt that having several epilogues would've been too messy and bloated.