My Little Convicts - Crime is Magic

Chapter 3 - The Red Carpet

“All right everypony, I want to thank you again for choosing RBI touring services,” The pilot jokingly announced to her passengers as she flew her helicopter across the night sky. “Please remember to fasten your seatbelts and please refrain from overreacting to any slight turbulence that might occur, like this,” She said as she made a sharp left turn.

“AHHHHHHHHHH!” Rarity screamed as she grabbed Applejack, the smuggler winced as she felt the tightness of her grip.

“Cut that shit out, Lightning Dust!” Flash ordered as he checked the buckle of his seatbelt.

“Just giving them a taste of what’s about to come Flashy,” Lightning Dust chuckled. “I wouldn’t really expect Nightmare Moon to roll the red carpet on us.”

“Just keep us flying and we’re good,” Flash replied. “Also, stop calling me Flashy, its fucking annoying.”

“Will do Captain Flashy!”

Rainbow Dash giggled. “Flashy huh, that’s a cute nickname.”

“Quit it!” Flash shouted causing both Dash and Dust to giggle harder. “Uhhh, this is gonna be long ride.”

“Oh yeah!” Dust remembered something. “Hey Flash,” Lightning Dust said as she turned her head around.

“What is it?” Flash grumbled.

“Are you uhhh…” Dust paused. “…free this weekend?”

“Eyes front Dust, this isn’t exactly the time for that.”

“Alright!” Dust replied as she went back to piloting. “But if you are, feel free to see me. I got two tickets to Countess Coloratura’s concert in Canterlot this weekend. I think you’re the kind of pony who could use a break.”

“I’ll think about it,” The field agent replied as he looked at Twilight who was busy reading the file that Blueblood gave her. ‘What’s the deal between the director and her anyway,’ He wondered “Hey Twilight! Hey!” He called her attention.

The purple unicorn didn’t respond and continued reading. Flash called again but he got the same reaction. ‘Well looks like I have to resort to name calling,’ He thought to himself. “Hey Grapeface!” Flash shouted at the purple unicorn.

“What the fuck did you just call me?” Twilight asked as her eyes twitched.

“Great! Now that I have your attention, I want to ask you something,” Flash said as he leaned closer. “Is there anything between you and Director Blueblood.”

“If your implying a romantic relation between us, you’re terribly mistaken,” Twilight answered him. “Though we were friends when we were in Celestia’s school for gifted unicorns,” Twilight began to chuckle as memories of her time in Celestia’s school began to flood her mind.

“Seems like you two had a lot of fun back then,” Flash said as he tried to recall his own school days in Cloudsdale.

“I just remembered how he used to turn down some of our gold-digging classmates,” She sighed as she went on a trip to memory lane. “He used to play it nice at first, then he puts on his trademark pompous façade and he begins to make said gold-digger’s life a living hell,” She smiled as she leaned on her seat.

“Hey Dust, remember that time when we stole the principal’s wig?” Flash asked the pilot.

“Yeah, the look on his face makes the one-week detention worth it,” Dust sighed. “Thing were a lot simpler back then.”

Flash turned to inspect the rest of the team. Most of them were dozing off with the exception of Twilight and Applejack. ‘Can we really do this?’ He thought to himself. ‘What chance do we have against a God?’ He looked at Twilight and asked her a question. “Are you sure the uh… Elements of Harmony can defeat Nightmare Moon?”

“It sent her to the moon once, it could probably do so again. All we have to do is to get there grab the elements and blast that bitch to smithereens,” Twilight answered. “If we make it there before our idiot of a pilot crashes us.”

“What the fuck did you just say about me…” Dust turned her head to face Twilight and looked her in the eyes. “… you motherfucking pinhe-”

“Enough!” Flash silenced Dust. “I know where this is going Dust, we talked about this.”

“She started it,” Dust reasoned.

“I know,” Flash replied. “But there’s no need to make an ass of yourself because of it.”

“Fine!” Dust said as she turned her focus on piloting the helicopter.

“Twilight was criticizing Dust’s piloting skills necessary?” Flash asked.

“Not really,” Twilight answered. “But she doesn’t really look like RBI material.” Dust can be heard grumbling from her cockpit.

“Don’t worry Twilight, Dust over here’s the best helicopter pilot a PJ can ask for,” Flash proudly proclaimed.

“Aww shucks Flash!” Dust said. “Stop it, you’re making me blush.”

“Hey, it’s true you know,” Flash replied.

“PJ?” Twilight asked.

“Equestrian Air Force Pararescue. I used to be one of em, Dust here was my heli pilot,” Flash explained. “I jump in the shithole known as the combat zone and pull someponies unlucky ass out of it. Saved a lot of lives back in the middle east before we decided to join the RBI.”

“You’re a soldier?” Twilight asked.

“Was a soldier,” Flash answered. He reflected on what happened during his time as a PJ. All the missions he took, the lives he saved, the friends he lost. He began to shake the troubling memories from his head. He looked around the chopper for a distraction and saw Applejack sitting quietly staring at the window. “Yo Applejack!” He called. “Why the long face.”

“I’m just thinking about stuff,” The city mare answered.

“Wanna talk about it?”Twilight asked.

“Yeah,” Applejack answered as he faced Flash. “It’s just… you see I grew up in Ponyville but I moved to Manehattan when I was eight. And well… I didn’t really expect I’d return at a time like this. When… when Ponyville burns.”

“Do you have a family there?” Flash asked.

“Yeah… I got a brother, a little sister and I’m not sure if granny’s still alive,” Applejack answered. “I just hope they’re sa-”

“Holy shit!” Dust shouted. “It really is on fire. Look at this shit guys wake up,” Dust woke the others she began to fly closer to the smoldering ruins of Ponyville.”

“Sweet Celestia,” Twilight said as she gazed on the town.

“Those bastards!” Applejack shouted.

“Why Ponyville?” Rarity asked as tears began to fall from her eyes. “The ponies here didn’t do anything wrong.”

“That’s life Rarity,” Dr. Pinkie said as she placed a comforting hoof at the mare’s shoulder. “Sometimes the fucker decides to squeeze the lemon instead of handing it out.”

“Why does my chest feel heavy?” Rainbow Dash asked as she gripped her aching chest.

“Ohhhh, prettyyyy!” The drug induced Fluttershy said as her eyes dilated at the sight of the burning town.

Flash felt raw untainted anger at what he saw. This wasn’t the first time he saw something like this but it always felt the same every time he did. He can still hear their screams. “That bastards will pay… I’ll make her pay,” He muttered under his breath.

“She has an army of delusional cultists Flash,” Twilight said. “You sure you can take them all on by yourself?”

“…”

“Listen everypony!” Twilight addressed her crew. “To some of you this job’s personal and while the rest consider this a ticket to freedom. But remember we’re in this together and so stick to the plan and don’t be a hero, do we have that clear?”

“Yes ma’am!” They all shouted.

“RPG!” Dust shouted as she made a hard right turn and narrowly avoided the projectile.

“We’re gonna die!” Rarity screamed.

“Oh fuck, OH FUCK, OH FUCK!” Applejack shouted as she closed her eyes.

“Aw fuck they have stingers!” Dust said as she looked at the flashing dials. “Hold on everypony!” She said as she waited for the right time before- “Releasing flares!” She shouted as she released the choppers countermeasure making the stinger’s missile miss.

“RPG salvo at 9 o-clock!” Flash shouted.

“I’m on it,” She said as she leaned the chopper backward evading the RPG’s which were inched away from the cockpits windshield.

“Hold on, we got another stinger!” Dust once again released another salvo of flares to ward off the stingers. “Where the fuck are they coming from?”

“They’re coming from the forest below Twilight said as she leaned towards the window.”

“We got another stinger,” Dust released the flares once more but this time none was released. “Oh fuck.” She looked back to the passenger’s cabin. “I’m out of flares. Brace yourselves, she’s gonna hit.”

The missile slammed into the helicopters side near the cockpit, tearing a hole and most of the sending glass and metal shard flying towards the pilot. Twilight’s seatbelt broke and she was about to be sucked out when Flash grabbed her hoof. “I got you!” He shouted.

‘You can do this Dust,’ Dust thought while she wiped blood away from the windshield as blood began to trickle from her forehead. She scanned the area for a site to land the chopper. They were currently above the Everfree so there wasn’t much room for a landing and her vision has begun to blur. ‘There…’ She thought as she spotted a small clearing nearby. ‘Just a little more… need to make… it safely…’ She was able to land the chopper down gently in the forest clearing despite the damage it had taken.

“We made it!” Twilight shouted as she stood up. “I can’t believe it! We’re alive,” She gleefully shouted as she slithered out of the hole on the choppers side and hugged the ground. The others passengers hastily exited the damaged aircraft and while most of them were in a state of shock they were all miraculously unharmed.

“See! I told you Dust could get us-” Flash sentry paused when he saw blood splattered at the windshield of the cockpit. “Dust!” He rushed towards the cockpit’s door and opened him. He saw Lighting Dust’s limp body covered in blood and slumped on the controls. She had injuries all over her neck, temple and side as well as a nasty cut on her left front hoof, but despite the damage she had taken she was still breathing.

“No, no, no, no, NO!” Flash dragged her out of the cockpit and laid her on the ground as he removed her shattered helmet used his wings to place pressure on the cut in her leg. “What are you all standing there for!? Do something!” He shouted at the rest of the ponies. Applejack rushed to the chopper to search for a first aid kit.

Rarity was about to do the same until Twilight stopped her with a hoof. “We need to go.”

“I’m not going anywhere. Not without her,” Flash said as he checked Dust’s pulse. “I need bandages,” That was when flash got an idea from an earlier conversation. “Twilight, you went to magic school right? Do you now any healing spells?”

“Flash we need to go, the cultists know we’re here and they’re probably on their way,” Twilight argued.

“I’m siding with Twilight on this one.” Dr. Pie said as she walked over to Flash. “We need to go.”

“I found it.” Applejack shouted as she came running back with a med kit on her hooves.

“She just saved your asses,” Flash said as he pointed a free hoof at the wrecked chopper. “Do you know any pilot that could fly a chopper in that condition while badly injured and still land it safely,” Flash faced Twilight and looked her straight in the eye. “If so, then I’ll gladly leave her here to die.”

Twilight was about to turn around in annoyance when Rainbow Dash’s hoof stopped her. “He has a point Twilight.”

Twilight looked at the chopper and then at Dust’s unconscious body. ‘Yeah I guess I do owe her one,’ He trotted towards Flash and looked at him straight in the eye with a blank expression on her face. “Fine, I know a set of spells that can help.”

Flash’s expression of anger and worry was replaced by a childlike face of joy as he jumped and hugged Twilight. “Thank you!”

“All right,” Twilight grunted as she pushed Flash away. “Step aside I’ll handle this,” She immediately set to work on removing the shard buried inside the poor mare. The others watched in awe as she skillfully took out the pieces using her telekinesis while she keept the blood from flowing out with a blood vessel sealing spell. She then took out a needle and thread from the kit and began swiftly stitching the cut’s. After it was done she applied the antiseptics and ordered Rarity and Applejack to bandage up Dust. “She’s gonna make it. I just hope w-”

“SHhh,” Flash shushed Twilight and everypony stopped except for AJ and Rarity. “Someone’s coming.”

Hoofsteps can be heard from the bushes in the side of the clearing. Flash drew his revolver and pointed it at the bush. “RBI step out of the bush with your hooves in the air!”

“Hold it right there partner,” A big red stallion roughly twice as big as any of them stepped out of the Bush. “I didn’t mean you no harm.”

Applejack looked at the stallion and thought to herself. ‘Could it be? No it can’t be.’

“Identify yourself,” Flash ordered.

“Big Macintosh, Ponyville Town Watch,” The stallion replied with a deep western accent. “I say your chopper get shot down, thought I’d find some survivors to bring back to the farm.”

“Big Mac!” Applejack shouted as she stood up. “It is you!”

“Applejack?” Big Mac said as he looked in shock. “Applejack!” He shouted as they rushed and hugged each other.

“Is Granny and Apple Bloom safe?” Applejack asked as she pulled away.

“They’re safe Applejack. They’re in the farm with the rest of survivors from the attack,” He answered. “And what happened to your voice, you sound like a city slicker.”

“Probably because I am one,” Applejack answered.

“Ahem!” Twilight coughed. “Care to explain?”

“This fella right over here is my older brother, he runs the family farm, Sweet Apple Acres,” Applejack explained.

“Eeyup!” Big Mac said.

“There! All done,” Rarity said as she finished bandaging Dust. “Like I actually needed your help Applejack!” She said sarcastically.

“Did you say survivors?” Flash asked.

“Eeyup!” Big Mac answered. “Those who weren’t killed when Nightmare Moon and her gang attacked. They’re taking shelter in our farm.”

“Oh thank God,” Flash sighed with relief ‘At least it didn’t end like last time,’ He thought to himself. “Can you bring our pilot to the farm, she’s badly hurt,” Flash said as he pointed a bloodstained wing at Dust’s unconscious body.

“Eeyup!” Big Mac said as he walked over to the mare and settled her in his back. “Let’s get going then,” He was about to trot back to the farm when he turned around and asked them. “You coming?” He asked.

“We’ll pass,” Flash said as he checked the cylinder of his revolver. “We got business to take care of.”

“Good luck then,” Big Mac said as he trotted away. “Oh and by the way,” He said as he tossed a rolled up lasso to Applejack. “I think you’ll be needing this.”

“Fuck yeah!” She shouted as she caught the lasso. “Say hi to Apple Bloom and Granny for me?” Applejack shouted as his brother disappeared in the treeline.

Flash walked back into the chopper and went inside the cockpit.

“What are you doing?” Twilight asked.

“Searching for stuff that could help us,” Flash answered as he found a lever and used it to open a compartment below the pilot seat. “Dust likes to hide stuff in her… holy shit!” he said as he smiled pulled out an M14 rifle from the hidden compartment.

“Whoa!” Dash said as she looked at the gun. “Cool gun.”

“Flash… no,” Twilight said. “We talked about guns an-” She stopped when she saw Flash pull out a hand gun from the compartment ‘Great!’ She thought. ‘Just great, more guns!’

“We’re gonna need all the firepower we can get,” He said as he pocketed several other items from the stash. “And I got an M14 with and extra mag as well as this Five-Seven pistol.”

“Don’t forget your revolver,” Twilight grunted.

“We should get going,” He said as he exited the cockpit and cocked his rifle. “It won’t be long before they find us.”

“But first.” Twilight said. “Where the buck are we.”

“Hold on a sec,” Dash said as she began to search the chopper for something. “Found it!” She said as she walked out holding a bundle of maps, a compass, markers and a notebook. She set took the map of the Everfree and tossed out the rest as she began using the instruments to search for their exact location. She began to measure stuff and noted other things in her notebook. “I got it!” Dash shouted gleefully.

“Where are we then?” Twilight asked.

“We’re lost.” Dash answered as she threw away her stuff.

“You don’t know what you were doing don’t you?”

“Yeah.”

“Actually…” Flash said. “We’re not lost, there’s a trail that heads straight to the ruins not far from here.”

“How’d you know?” Applejack asked.

“GPS.” Flash answered as he showed them his GPS.

“Why didn’t you say you had one?” Dash asked.

“You interrupted me before I did.”

“Wait!” Dr. Pie interrupted. “Has anypony seen Fluttershy?”

“Uhhh…. No.” Twilight answered.

“I have no idea.” Rarity answered.

“Hey guys!” Fluttershy greeted them gleefully as she approached them riding a manticore that had a frizzled mane and bloodshot eyes. The mares screamed as they ran and hid behind Flash’s back as he pointed his gun at the beast.

“Back off beast!” Flash shouted as he pointed his rifle as the creature.

“Chill out guys, Henry’s not gonna hurt you isn’t that right Henry,” She said as she rubbed the manticore’s back.

“Henry?” They all asked as the same time.

“I sensed that some creature was having a nasty case of withdrawal when we landed so I followed the trail, found Henry and eased his pain with some ‘sugar’,” Fluttershy explained.

“Wait, what withdrawal?” Twilight asked. “Did you give that Manticore drugs.”

“Of course!” Fluttershy answered. “I gave him Meth because he was suffering from its withdrawal effects.”

“Now that I remember it,” Flash said as he looked at Twilight. “I heard from a fellow agent that they lost a lot of good ponies fighting off Miss Fluttershy’s drug crazed animals when they set out to arrest her.”

“Oh dear!” Applejack commented.

“Anyway, Henry said we can take a ride on his back,” Fluttershy smiled

“He won’t bite us right?” Dash asked as she approached the manticore slowly.

“Don’t worry he knows you’re friends,” Fluttershy said as the manticore let out a groan that clearly showed how much it was suffering from its addiction. The creature sniffed and roared at Flash who whimpered in fear like a little colt.

“Bad Henry!” Fluttershy slapped the manticore’s head. “Flash is a friend,” Shee turned to flash and apologized. “Sorry, he really dislikes the RBI.”

“OK….” Flash replied.

“Beats walking,” Twilight said as she hopped in the creature’s back.

“This is going to be a ‘very’ long walk,” Flash said.