Thief of Memories

Chapter 2 - Memory

Twilight strolled calmly through the town market. The day was in full swing, stall-owners were bartering with customers and children were rushing back and forth between different confectionery stalls. The pleasant scent of fresh-made cakes, cookies, bread, pies, tarts, buns and more drifted through the air to Twilight and promptly invaded her senses. Every single thing about Ponyville's market was familiar. Everything except for the raven haired boy beside her. Riley's eyes were open in wonder as he absorbed every single detail of the market. His cloak billowed open as he spun, revealing his weaponry to the shoppers on numerous occasions. Twilight no longer cared to try and stop Riley from flashing his blade as it was clear the boy would never listen to her words. She tried to block him from her mind and continued to search for a gift to get Spike. The boy was fairly easy to please. The only things he ever needed were gemstones and clothes, however Twilight wanted to get him something special for his fifteenth. So she continued to trawl the stalls looking for a gift suiting a adolescent Draco. Riley wasn't helping.

"Look at that." He cooed. "I've never seen that kind of design on a blanket before. That too! Who knew that talented artists could be found anywhere in this world?"

Twilight tried to strike up a conversation. "Sooooo, Riley was it? What brings you to Ponyville?"

"Work."

"What?" Twilight said, feeling a little hacked off at Riley's short answer.

"Work." Riley repeated. "I'm in a line of work that involves a lot of moving around the country, sometimes the world!"

Twilight became skeptical. "What could you possibly do that requires so much movement?"

Riley gave her a hearty grin. "I'm a thief!"

"What did you just say?" Twilight giggled. So this guy was a clown after all.

"I am a thief, look I've stolen your money." Twilight's hand snapped to her leg, her money pouch was gone, Riley was spinning it on the end of his finger. Twilight nearly called for help when Riley threw it into her chest. "Don't worry your little cotton socks about it, I'm not here to rob people. I just needed to get away for a little while, the big city is killer on your nerves." Twilight could barely comprehend what this boy was saying to her. What kind of thief tells their marks who they are? Furthermore what kind of thief gives back what they stole?

"Riley." She said quietly. "Why are you in this town?"

"Like I said I needed a break from the big city. Canterlot was too much work and the gang violence was just awful. But from what I here the Wesley brothers got a taste of their own medicine." Riley flashed a dangerous smile. "The bastards had it coming,"

Twilight's pulse stepped up a beat, Riley had a scary smile. She slowly chewed at her bottom lip as she tried to bring the outing back around to the original objective. Finding a teenager's birthday present. She has joked with herself about getting Spike a massive stack of pornography for his fifteenth. Now that most of the gift stalls had been cleared out and what was left had no value to somebody like Spike, she was seriously considering the idea. Riley began to eye a small trinket on one of the stalls. He pointed it out to Twilight and her eyes shone. It was a small gold band with two sapphires and one ruby, the perfect gift for Spike. She happily skipped over to the stall and asked the owner how much.

"One hundred bits. What's it for?" The woman behind the stall simpered, she gave Riley an ogle. "Or who is it for?"

"Its for my friend, its his fifteenth birthday in two days." Twilight said rummaging through her pouch for money.

"A birthday eh? Then how about you give me a hundred fifty?"

Twilight looked up, shocked. "I'm sorry?"

"A hundred fifty or the band goes nowhere."

"B-But you can't do that!"

The crooked shop-keeper chuckled. "My stock, my rules."

"Excuse me Tabitha, is this woman giving you grief?" Riley asked, a hint of irritation is his voice.

"I ain't giving her nothing unless she pays up!"

Riley walked forwards and placed his hands on the counter. "Now why would you be acting so high and mighty all of a sudden? Do you feel powerful by extorting your customers in their times of need? Does the thought of ill-gotten gains make you sleep better at night?" Riley's eyes became subtly darker. "Or do you see every lie you weave as foolproof ever since you made your husband believe that you staying behind to work late; was your way of saying I'm fucking the blacksmith's assistant behind your back?" The stall-owners face dropped from smug to terrified in an instant.

"How did you..!" She started.

"Irrelevant, either you cut the price down to eighty bits or your husband finds out you don't like commitment." Riley smiled. "Your call bitch."

"Fine, fine! Just don't tell him until my divorce comes through!" Twilight stayed gawping like a rabbit in the path of an oncoming car. Riley took her money and counted out the appropriate level of coin. He then snatched the band from the stall.

"A pleasure." He mocked. Twilight's brain was no longer functioning at normal levels. In a matter of seconds Riley had spun the entire situation around. Causing a person who's very profession was to get the best deal for them, to lose face to an adversary. A person who was dumb enough to say he was a thief in public had proven to be a master of coercion. The same idiot thief tapped Twilight on the shoulder. "We best head home now." Twilight tried to say something. "We had better head home before she notices her sudden change in stock."

Twilight's brain began to function once again and she gave Riley a look that said 'what?' The red-eyed boy pointed at the stall. Most of what had been there previously had vanished, replaced by a single rose. Riley jangled a bag in front of Twilight's nose. "I told you I was a thief, race you back to the tree-house!" Before Twilight could interject Riley bolted with his bag of loot. As she saw the stall-owner begin to search for her goods, she decided to join Riley in his haste.

*

He sat opposite Twilight with the bag of stolen goods on his lap. Twilight would be sure to hex everything in the library when she got the chance. The young thief had stolen everything from the stall that wasn't nailed down. Twilight was worried that her prediction about his talents had been false. So she had let the boy, who steals everything in sight, into her home and was now finalizing the deal to let him rent the spare room. Her famed intellect was clearly shining through as a beacon to everybody around her. But the boy that sat opposite would no no doubt get himself killed if he we're to be allowed to walk the streets. He may be quick-fingered but the town-guard all had training in combat arts, a thief had no chance against them. Now that he was in a relaxed environment Riley had taken off his cloak. Underneath was a simple white button up shirt and black trousers, the most out of place thing were his large black leather hiking boots. Twilight allowed herself to partake in a private joke, if Elizabeth saw Riley's clothing she would go nuts. Something along the lines of 'an offence to fashion' would be  her wording no doubt. But Rare wasn't here, Tabitha Sparx was and she saw no immediate problems with her new lodger's attire.

Riley still refused to remove the sword and gun from his person. He claimed that it was to be ready for anything. Twilight was one of the Unikai, a Unicorn. A human being born with the ability to manipulate the force of magic that was in the world, so she felt certain that she could trump Riley in combat. For many years however the Unikai had ruled over Equestria with their magic. It wasn't until the revolt of the first age that they were toppled from their unjust throne. Ever since then a government made from all three of the sub-races of humanity (Earth-dwellers, Pegasi and Unikai) ruled Equestria with the immortal sisters, Marilyn Celestia and Sophia Luna, keeping the eldest laws in place. The system had been in place since the start of the second age. Even now in the fourth age, over a thousand years since the revolt, the Equestrian government had ruled fairly and justly. But even in the light of such a rule certain undesirables - such as murderers, rapists, racists and thieves - still held sway even in the grand capital of Canterlot. The world outside of Equestria faced similar problems even among their governments. So despite all of the worries that Twilight had about the recent killings she was assured (strangely) by the knowledge that in another land they have it worse.

Riley marked the final bit of legislation with an enthusiastic signature. His smile was still leaking through despite how close he was to be hauled away by the law. What was it that was fueling his emotions? Twilight was as curious as she was mildly frightened. One moment Riley has been prancing about the market with his head in the clouds. The very next he had pushed somebody into a corner with obviously delicate information. Such a mercurial mood was most unfitting to someone such as Riley. His entire attitude was just too relaxed for him to make sense when he was angry. Twilight had a hard time imagining him using the weapons he carried. Even his gemstone ruby eyes were far too kind for the colour that was most linked to violence and death. Twilight flattened her skirt (a dark purple knee length) and tried to look normal. But as painful as it was to admit it, Riley was highly attractive to her. His red eyes were tucked perfectly behind the shroud that his black hair created as it fell softly past his eye-line. His face was practically spotless, ruined slightly by the long scar that ran beneath his right eye. That scar might be the only evidence that Riley's blade had ever been used. If Twilight allowed her eyes to drift further down she was greeted by a shirt that was missing the top two buttons to reveal the perfect little peephole into Riley's shirt. A finely toned chest beneath the fabric was the reward, a small dusting of hair across the upper-half. Better yet, Riley's body didn't look like he was an airbrushed model with heavily sculptured muscles. It was not perfect, but in its imperfection it was better than what was normally seen as the best. Twilight stopped her eyes from exploring the rest of Riley's body as to decrease the odds of being caught staring, not that she would care that much if she was.

Having lost the cloak it was clear that Riley was not a Pegasi as he lacked the wings. Picking up the form on the table, Twilight scanned down to the box marked 'race.'  In bold pen was Human, Earth-Dweller. So Riley wasn't able to use magic, a fact that Twilight tucked away into her mind for future reference. The magicless being in question started to fidget in his seat.

"Hey Tabitha, not to complain but I feel really uncomfortable." Riley muttered.

Twilight gave him a dismissive wave. "I have to file this stuff away, so go ahead and check out the room while I get dinner ready."

"I get fed too? I guess I can put up with that." Riley bounded away once again as Twilight rolled her eyes. He was the most air-headed person she had ever met. Except maybe for Diane, she was like a balloon for the amount of air in her head.

*

The boy stroked his cloak softly, assessing the fabric for any damage that he may have missed. He placed his sword and gun on the desk, a small pot of ink and a quill already prepared for him. He smiled jovially at the now setting sun, the orb of flame that hung like a fattened pig in the sky. As the orb dropped below his line of perception in the distance the pig's blood spilled across the land in a burst of reds and oranges. His smile broadened at his uncommon link. The pig in the sky would bleed.

She would bleed until her veins ran dry.

The boy looked out of the window into the town he had arrived in this day. A quaint little place. A town made famous, and then named for, its use of horses in work and entertainment.

Ponyville.

The boy was happy that his journey had brought him here. He picked up the sword and launched a few stabs at the wall, an unknown man was holding a young girl in his arms in the freeze-frame of memory. No doubt a small bit of memorabilia that belonged to the owner of the establishment he found himself residing in. He slashed the blade as close to the picture frame as he dared. Memories were precious things. Even the bad ones held great significance to the person who's head contains them. The boy loved memories. His own were not as happy as he would like them to be. So he liked other people's memories, they were always fun to delve into and even more fun to use against them. Nothing was secret to the boy. You can hide anything as well as you can. He was able to defeat any mental barriers a person would raise. To find a memory no matter how repressed it was. He could find it, and destroy you with it.

He placed the sword back in its scabbard and holstered his pistol. His cloak was draped over his right shoulder keeping his weaponry in full view. He didn't care what he had been told, he would stay alert at all times. Ready for the first sign of aggression from the denizens of Ponyville. He hoped that it wouldn't turn to violence, but if it did he would try to minimize the fatalities of the innocents. His ears twitched, his hostess was calling him.

"Alexander, dinner is ready!" She called. The boy allowed another grin to split on his face. At least he could get a good meal in him before he went out to revoke life from those who did not deserve the gift that it was.

*

Twilight finished arranging the plates on the table, with Spike helping her get everything in position. The timer in the kitchen buzzed.

"Spike could you get that? I need to call Riley." Twilight asked. Spike gave a quick nod to let Twilight know he was. Leaving her assistant to prepare what food remained, Twilight stood at the bottom of the stairs. "Alexander!" She called. "Dinner is ready!" She then hurriedly made her way back to the kitchen to stop Spike from destroying what they were going to be eating. The Draco boy had never been good with food. When she reentered the dining room with two plates she found Riley, leaning back on his chair with his gun drawn. He pretended to take shots at the books that lined that walls of Twilight's house and library. Twilight coughed loudly to get his attention.

Riley didn't stop aiming his gun. "So what's for dinner then Tabitha?" He asked.

"Well you don't mix your words do you?" Twilight huffed. "A please would have been nice!"

"PLEASE, may you tell me what is for dinner Tabitha?"

"Sausages and chips."

"Creative, but I doubt I could do better." Twilight ignored his half-insult and set the plate down in front of Riley. He had picked up his cutlery and began to eat before Twilight had fully placed the plate on the table. Twilight gave his barbarism a small tut as she sat down with her own food. Spike was slightly late to enter; having stopped off to fill one side of his plate with amethysts. By the time the Draco had sat down, Riley was finished with his food and on his feet.

Twilight felt a little huffy. "I spent time making that and you didn't even give it a chance."

"I gave it a chance, I liked it, I ate it." Riley said with a lazy flick of his wrist.

"Your a real charmer you know that? I'm surprised you didn't turn up here with your girlfriend, its obvious that you have women leaping at you in admiration."

Riley laughed heartily. "I find it so cute that girls always assume that a man is straight, its really funny that they never think about the other possibility." Twilight flushed. "I'm just pulling yer chain Tabitha. I'm straight." Riley gave Spike a quick glance. "Who's your friend?"

"Names Patrick Sikes mate." Spike said through a mouthful of amethyst dust. "I'mma Draco before you ask."

"Nice to meet you Patrick, I am Riley Alexander, traveler and thief. But rest assured that your possessions are safe from me, I only rob challenging marks."

Spike grunted. "As if you could rob me without we noticing." Riley shook his head and smiled. He then walked across the room to the door.

"If you don't mind I'm going to go for a walk, to clear my head."

Okay then Riley, just be back before nine." Twilight said, still a little peeved that Riley had left the table so quickly.

"I will Tabitha." Riley reached into his pocket. "Patrick might want this back by the way." Riley threw a small wallet across the room where it landed with a 'thud' on the table. Spike's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "I knew I could rob you Patrick, and Tabitha." Twilight looked up at Riley. "Based on what I said beforehand about guys, Patrick there has something he wants to tell you. I just thought I would give a boost and tell him that you would support him no matter what. Ta-Ta!"

The door snapped shut behind Riley as he left, with Patrick nearly choking on his gemstones. Twilight could feel her cheek muscles becoming tighter.

"Patrick." She said trying to suppress a giggle. "What do you have to tell me?"

Spike clenched his fists from both relief and anger. "That son of a bitch....."