Chapter 1: Vanhoover Atlantic standard bank Part 1: the beginner’s guide
Chapter 1: Vanhoover Atlantic standard bank Part 1: the beginner’s guide
“The monsters are not those who kill and steal from other ponies, the real monsters are those who think they can stop us from writing our own destiny.”
Vanhoover’s town center, twenty years later,
Black Berry growled with disappointment.
Why is she late again? How am I supposed to trust her with anything if we can’t even trust her to be here on time? She said.
Don’t worry, you got to trust her, if SHE wants to see us HERE, it means we got to be there. Answered Blue Jay.
She took a sip of her coffee, trying in vain to find a way to calm her friend. She couldn’t deny what Black Berry was saying though; it was true that Dust was an hour later than usual.
I’m sure everything is fine, she’s going to be there in a couple of minutes, you’ll see.
Good, because I’m going if she’s not here in five minutes.
Suddenly, a pale green mare with a pink and yellow mane put her right hoof on Black’s shoulder.
-Talking about me? Asked Dust
-It was about time you came. Said Black with exasperation.
-Sorry, but I had a lot to do this week. Answered Dust nonchalantly.
-So, said Blue Jay, why did you want to see us?
The question immediately caught Dust’s attention.
-Well, I’m in some trouble, and I need your help.
Blue Jay, skeptical, looked around to be sure no one was listening, but Black Berry was faster than her.
-if I may ask, what kind of trouble?
Dust quickly tried to find the appropriate words to answer the expected question.
-I’m out of money. She simply answered.
After almost an hour of discussion at the café, Dust, Blue Jay and Black Berry agreed on the fact that they all, for various reasons, all needed money. That’s when Dust decided to expose her plan.
-I think I know how to get our money. Said Dust
.
-Oh really? Answered Blue Jay, You got my attention.
The first time she proposed a bank robbery, it was a categorical “NO!” from both Blue Jay and Black Berry, but as they kept discussing and Dust kept reinsuring them that it was an easy load of bits, they ended in Black’s basement, planning the job.
-This is exciting! Said the green mare, our very first plan for our very first robbery!
-You seem to be over-confident in yourself, I don’t like this. Said Black Berry, obviously showing her worries and disagreement in Dust’s decisions.
-Listen! Said Dust loudly, for every action, there is a reaction, this is our reaction.
-And what is this supposed to mean?
-*sight* we are out of money because of this thief that is the governor, so we will take our money back right in his own pockets.
-The bank has a light security level...well...relatively light; there are three cameras: one in the main hall, one in the vault and one in the hallway to the vault. There should be two guards by the entrance and two other inside of the bank, that’s pretty much all for the security. She continued.
-And what exactly are we looking for? Asked Blue Jay.
-Good question, finally! Answered Dust with enthusiasm. What we are aiming for is the deposit box number 146, in it are some valuable goods being hidden from the Canterlot tax Ponies. All starting to make sense?
-Yeah...I guess.
-But before we actually do this, we have to do some shopping.
Prologue
Appleloosa city bank, 05-11-1980
Dust, a five years old filly, was with her parents at the bank. They told her they had to deposit money and asked her if she wanted to come. She accepted with enthusiasm, even if she didn’t yet know what a “money deposit” is supposed to be; just the fact of being with her parents was making her happy.
Dust was impressed, it was the first time she ever stepped a hoof inside of a bank. The first things that caught her when she was waiting with her parents in the line were the three stallions that entered the bank with military tuxedos and tactical masks. She poked her mother to get her attention and pointed her right hoof at the stallions.
-mommy, mommy, look! She said.
Her mom gasped as one of the three stallions, armed with an assault rifle, jumped on one of the counters, pointing his gun at the crowd.
-EVERYONE ON THE GROUND!!! He shouted.
Another one, wearing a green tuxedo, got in the middle of the crowd.
-EVERYBODY PAYS ATTENTION, NO ONE GETS HURT!!! Shouted the other one.
The robber on the counter jumped down and started speaking to the terrified costumers that were lying on the ground.
-Ladies and gentle colts, we are robbing this bank, not you.
The green tuxedo robber stood on his left.
-Obey, and you live. He calmly said.
Another one, wearing a blue tuxedo, got to the leader's right.
-Resist, and you die.
Dust felt something, not fear nor panic, she felt admiration for these three bank robbers. She felt like these ponies were heroes, like they were like her.
Suddenly, Dust heard distant sirens coming from outside. The robbers heard them as well, and decided to take a hostage before leaving the bank. A stallion wearing a red tuxedo came from the back of the bank with four bags full of money.
When the criminals tried to leave the bank, the police officers that were already there started shooting at them. They returned fire, and then got back in the bank.
-FUCK!!! Screamed the blue one, as a red circle appeared on his left front leg.
The leader of the gang turned around and grabbed Dust’s mother, a revolver pointed at her head.
-Be nice and gentle, no sudden movements, and everything will be fine. He whispered to her.
They tried to exit the bank again and no one shot at them. The cops, surprised by the sight of the hostage, called a negotiator.
But suddenly, as the bank robbers were leaving the area, a bullet, shot by a fresh new police officer, hit the leader through the head, and got through to his hostage.
Dust’s mother didn’t even feel anything; it was like a light that we turned off. She fell on the ground like a boulder, her legs not able to support her weight anymore.
Stomached to see their leader being killed this way, the rest of the gang tried to return fire, but the cops took them down faster.
The last thing that Dust remembered from this even was the sight of her mother’s blood and brain sprayed all over the end of the street.
