Cloaked Ponies are Always the Thieves

Flurry Heart bit down on her warm bread, savoring the texture spreading over her mouth as she watched Golden Wheat go about her job. The crystalline mare was situated next to her ever-so-radiant stand, which read BREAD FOR SALE, and was shouting out the occasion.

"Come on up, everypon— oh, yes, yes, Arctic Lily. Two, right? Four bi— right there, sir, let me just... Preparing yours, Ms. Shard!"

Sighing, Flurry Heart filtered out the clamor as she toyed with her levitated piece. It was common knowledge that Wheat needed co-workers for her havoc, but the hardworking, independent owner would never admit it. She'd eavesdropped on a conversation oriented around this the other day, and Wheat had denied help in a sugary, frenzied manner.

Well, she can keep dealing with this if she wants. Flurry Heart began rising to her hooves, her oversized wings tucked tightly underneath the piece of cloth she'd stolen from a maid's closet. Looks like waiting out here and hoping Wheat would accept her offer was for nothing.

Okay, okay, she didn't even try, but she knew what the obvious answer was. It wasn't like she was scared of confronting Wheat or anything. She didn't want trouble.

But trouble seemed to find her anyway.

As she was about to take the first hoofstep out of the crowded area, two burly figures—stallions, by their build—hurled themselves past her. An almost-instantaneous shriek followed their tracks. "Thief, thief right there!"

Flurry Heart's ears pricked in alert, and she watched the shadowed stallions depart full-pelt with wide eyes. "You're mine!" She hollered, about to echo their route, but a heavy weight crashed down upon her.

"Stop!" Wheat's hooves dug deep into her back, and the mare titled her neck so that she was eye-level with a flattened Flurry Heart. "What do you think you're doing, stealing my products?"

Flurry Heart remained silent, shocked a moment too long, but her voice rushed back into her mouth. "It wasn't me!" She snapped, trying to wriggle out of Wheat's hawk-like grasp. "It wasn't me, I swear to you!"

"Cloaked ponies are always the thieves!" Wheat's voice was acidic. "A hooded pony, one I don't remember approaching my stand. Do you know how long it takes for these to get harvested? Show yourself!"

Before Flurry Heart knew it, the furious owner was nosing her up, revealing hundreds of ponies in her wake. They all stared, wide-eyed, some disgusted, at the unfolding scene. But that wasn't what worried Flurry Heart the most.

My wings! My wings are getting exposed! Panic welled up in her throat, robbing her of her reflexives once again, and she curled into a tight, panicked ball. Would all of it really end right here, right now, at a stand congregation?

Wheat inched closer and closer, jaws agape to tug at her cloak. She slowly lifted the hem up, and with it came her pastel-colored hindquarters…

"Wait! Wait up, everypony! I found the actual thieves!"

Safety slowed down Flurry Heart's racing heartbeat. Sunburst!

Ahead of her stood her mentor, his horn glowing the brightest of skies, its mesmerizing yet powerful aura clutching the two stallions she'd attempted chasing. The larger one, bearded and stocky, was writhing at his shimmering prison, while the smaller one, concealed by a cloak still, sat in dejection. "It was a pure coincidence, but I could tell them out by the way they were running." He then motioned to her, still enclosed by Wheat's baffled clutch. "She's innocent, Ms. Wheat."

Flurry Heart closed her eyes, weak with security, and she only stirred when a hoof poked at cheek. "Come on, Princess!" Sunburst's anxious, disembodied whisper said. "We need to get you out of here before the king arrives!"

Groaning, Flurry Heart pushed her might up-straight, every limb screaming a protest, and scanned her surroundings. The crowd seemed to shift its attention, for they stared at Wheat as she stalked up to the thieves and gave each one of them a clout around the ears. Her moving mouth pantomimed a never-ending lecture.

"Right, right." Trying to go steady proved to be a hard job with all the trembling going on, but she eventually managed to rise and follow Sunburst behind an outcrop of crystal a little ways off.

"What were you you thinking!" Sunburst snarled the nanosecond they were shielded by the boulder.

Flurry Heart unleashed a grown, while her hoof slipped under her cloak to massage her feathers. "Don't even start with me."

But, of course, Sunburst was adamant on giving her a head migraine. "This is simply unacceptable, Your Highness! I—"

"You know," Flurry Heart interrupted, "you don't have to call me that."

Her request was ignored. "Sneaking off castle grounds like that is going to get you in severe trouble! How long do you think I can cover up for you in front of King Shining Armor?"

"Pops is too busy for that." Adjusting the hem of her cloak, she stiffly stood up. "Besides, Teach, I know you wouldn't rat me out."

Sunburst threw his head back and let out a prolonged sigh. "How much do I fear for you, Princess!"

For the next few minutes, they trotted in silence—more like trudged in the princess' case—out of eyesight. The rest of the Crystal Empire's grandeur swam into view, shiny, transfixing, and utterly beautiful. Flurry Heart's home towered it, reflecting the dancing rays of the sun. A few more steps and they could spot the Crystal Heart.

Sunburst was soundless. Her mentor kept looking back and forth, utterly anxious. Quite honestly, the murmur of the wind was too much on Flurry Heart's ears.

"You don't need to." Hasty pause. "I'm grown-up and capable."

"Not grown-up and capable enough to follow my orders, it seems."

"Yes, I am! It's just that—" but she broke off. This comment had harder octaves, and Sunburst's jaws weren't even moving; he was glued to his spot, light and dark clashing in his horrified glance.

Flurry Heart gulped.

"Father."