The Clockwork Angels

The group walked down the streets of Canterlot, pondering what would happen with the loss of their friend for a while.

“What are we going to do without Dash?” asked Twilight.

“She’s a natural leader in battle. When she fights, you just want to get behind her. Plus, when somepony tries to attack her, she kicks their ass. I don’t know, sugarcube, but we’ll have to improvise.” said Applejack.

“Improvise? She was our only chance, darling. I don’t know what we’re going to do without her.” replied Rarity.

“We’ll have to carry on. The Angels are still on the loose and still going to “save” ponies! It’s only a matter of time before they get so famous they can bathe in their cash.” said Applejack.

“...Somepony is following us.”

“We just don’t get a break, do we? Dear Celestia, this is ridiculous!” said Applejack.

“I bet you wish you never moved here, don’t you Twilight?” said Rarity,

“...are you kidding me? This is the most fun I’ve had in my life! I ain’t movin’!” said Twilight with a smile on her face.

“Very funny. So, what do we do about it?” said Applejack.

“The pony is a grey mare with black fur and a purple treble as her cutie mark.” said Twilight.

“Oh. That’s Octavia, she plays cello. Let’s approach her.”

The group walked up to Octavia. She had a blank expression on her face.

“You guys familiar with the Clockwork Angels?” asked Octavia, still carrying the blank expression on her face.

“Trust me; we know them very well.” said Twilight.

“So you have come to the same accusation that I have? That the Clockwork Angels are nothing more than fakes?”

“Indeed we have.” said Applejack.

“I...confronted them about the issue. In response, when I was sleeping, they broke into my house and stole my beloved cello.”

“...why should we care?” asked Rarity.

Octavia smiled.

“You’re going to get it back for me.”

The response that came out of the three ponies mouths sounded something like ‘Nouhuhwaycrazy”.

“Trust me. You’re going to do it. Why? Because I got them back.”

“W-wha?” said Rarity.

“I broke into where they were all staying and I stole a map. Apparently, they have a base under Dodge City. They have hoarded tons of information and various other things that may be useful...including details about their whole operation.”

“Wow! Tha-wait a minute.” said Twilight.

“Yes?” replied Octavia.

“Couldn’t you have done this yourself?” asked Twilight Sparkle.

“Hmm...who are you?”

“I’m Twilight. Twilight Sparkle. Just moved here from Ponyville.”

“And that is the reason I refuse to go.” said Octavia.

“Huh?” replied AJ.

“Twilight, you had to get past the Patrol to get here, right?” said Octavia.

“Yes. The point?”

“This place is guarded by a highly upgraded Patrol called the “BU2B’s” They are highly advanced, and I cannot take them on on my own. That is your job. You get me the cello, I give you the map. Deal?”

“...”

“...Deal.” said Applejack.

Outside the Angel’s base

“So...how the hell do we do this?” asked Applejack.

“Rarity. You will stand by the door and look out for the Angels. I doubt they will come, but if they do, tell us immediately. Applejack, you will take one half of the place while I take the other half. That way, we’ll find it much quicker. Again, Rarity. If you see ANYTHING, tell us.”

“I got you, Twilight.”

“Alright...time to commit our first crime, girls-”

“This is my fifth.” said Applejack.

The mares stared at her.

“...what?”

“Nevermind. Let me pick the lock.”

Twilight cast a magic spell that broke the lock immediately.

‘Okay! Let’s go!”

They searched around the house for a bit, looking everywhere that could possibly be looked. Nothing.

On Applejack’s side, she had been rummaging through really unimportant things when she slumped over, giving up.

“Twilight better have something...I don’t think I’ll be able to find anything.”

On Twilight’s side, she too was rummaging through useless crap. fortunately, unlike Applejack, he found a lever buried beneath some clothes. She pulled it and the wall behind her sank into the ground.

Inside it was many different things. Yo-yo’s, books, guitars, dance shoes, regular shoes, a gun, another gun, a robot part, and a knife among other things. Some of them had initials, leading Twilight to believe that these objects all belonged to other ponies, Sure enough, among this pile was a cello; Octavia engraved into the wood.

“Gotcha.”

She grabbed the cello and began to head to the door when she heard the dreaded words that she thought she wouldn’t hear in this whole heist.

“They’re here! The Angels are here!” screamed Rarity.

What was she going to do?...she only had one choice.

She ran back inside the false wall and took a yo-yo lying on the ground. She threw it at the lever, closing the wall in front of her.

She had no problem with this. She could teleport out at any time. What she was worried about was the timing. How would she know when the Angels had left? That was a problem that needed to be solved, but at the moment she couldn’t think of anything. Maybe Applejack and Rarity would call for her?

Hopefully.

Back on Applejack’s side, she had heard Rarity’s alarm. She didn’t see any place where she could hide, but then she spotted a pile of clothes that she had been rummaging through earlier. She quickly dove into them, trying to create a whole where she could breathe.

Rarity quickly ran around the house, looking for someplace to find shelter. she looked around frantically and found a window on the second floor. Rarity shrugged and dove through the window, forgetting that she was on the second floor of the house. She quickly fell down and hit the concrete with a thud, knocking her out on impact.

Limelight entered the house, followed by Red Barchetta, Radio Spirit, Headlong Flight and Freewill.

“We are climbing the ladder to fame very quickly, boys!” said Red as he entered the home.

“Yea! Rigging a rescue is easier than actually finding a crime! Great idea, Freewill!” said Limelight.

“Mhmm...something doesn’t seem right.” said Red.

“What do you mean?” asked Radio Spirit, frowning.

“Guys...I think somepony broke into our house.” he replied.

“Why would you think that?” asked Headlong.

“...there’s an eyelash planted on the wall...orange fur all over our clothes...and a white scarf is hanging out of our trapdoor wall.”