Canterlot was good for my singing career, but sweet Celestia, I hate it here. Manehatten had a nasty upper crust, but they were nothing compared to the hoighty toighty Canterlot elite. They didn't even allow cars in the Old City, something about cars 'not keeping with the traditional aesthetic'. I think they just don't want people getting the city's precious streets dirty.

The Old City is the part everypony knows, built on the side of Canterlot Mountain, with a skyline dominated by Canterlot Castle. Don't ask me which one was named first, that was long before even Celestia's time. Lower Canterlot, that's the proper city portion, down at the base of the mountain, connected by a rail line: skyscrapers, paved roads, and logical urban planning. Whoever planned out the streets of Old City Canterlot must have been high on something, a street map of the city looks more like magic runes than city blocks.

Now, I admit, I was already irritated when I arrived in Canterlot. I've never been able to sleep while traveling, so I had no rest.

"I say, just look at that one there, some kind of street rat by the looks of it."

My head snapped up at hearing those words, looking at the smarmy bastard who spoke them. He wasn't addressing me, rather a little colt with his 'provincial' family. I wasn't going to make a scene. No, I wasn't going to make~

"How about you mind your own fucking business, tightass." I snapped without thinking, my horn flaring to life. The rich bastard turned to me, looked me over, and rolled his eyes. He rolled his fucking eyes at me. It took a monumental effort to not buck him. I took a deep breath. It wasn't worth getting arrested. I didn't want to get a parking ticket back home, I didn't want to get an assault charge here... At least I now had his wallet. A few hundred bits fell into my saddlebags before I discreetly tossed the wallet down a storm drain. Yeah, he had credit cards, but those were almost never worth stealing, they were too easy to track when everything was going digital.

I hated Canterlot, but at least the pickings were good.

My venue for the night was relatively easy to find, Club Griff wasn't far from the train station, with a marquis bedecked with griffons. The clientele was... typical. Even now, in the mid-afternoon, the drunken sons of the Canterlot elite were scattered throughout the club, spending their parent's money with wild abandon.

I exchanged some basic pleasantries with the owner, a squat golden griffon named Amber Wing. I didn't like him, but he was doing Hypnos, and me, a huge favor by letting me perform here and paying well for the night on top of that, so I was at least polite. At least I'm pretty sure I was being polite. I only barely paid attention, even with his Commonwealth accent, past confirming when I was supposed to go on stage and where my dressing room was.

Setting my saddlebags down in my dressing room, I sat down at a large vanity, thinking about everything that had happened in the last week. The Elements of Harmony? I had stumbled upon one of the greatest magical artifacts in the entire kingdom and in doing so had roped two people into my heisting. Finding an artifact and having a crew. Neither was expected or particularly welcome. Both risked putting increased scrutiny on me, especially since neither Aftershow nor Escrow seemed particularly capable of heisting.

My phone rang.

"Yes ma'am?" I held the phone up with magic as I started to get ready for my performance.

"Just calling to make sure you got in and making sure you didn't get in trouble." Hypnos' sultry voice came over the line.

"If I got arrested, you would have been the first to know. Have a little faith in me." I laughed, rolling my eyes as I slipped into my dress, a shimmering sequin blue gown that I bought for the occasion.

"I know, but I also know that the typical ponies you run into in the Old City aren't the kind of ponies you like to be around, so I had concerns."

"You worry too much, it's fine," I assured her. She was right, but nothing serious had happened. A knock came at my door. Showtime. "Look, I gotta get onstage, Hypnos."

"Alright. Break a leg, Swan." Hypnos offered me luck before hanging up. I stepped out of the dressing room and was led to the stage in a far corner of the club. Amber gave out introductions.

"And now, my friends, our entertainment for the evening, coming all the way from Manehatten, please welcome Miss Dulcet Swan!"

The patrons clapped when I was introduced, there were a few wolf whistles, then a tiny hooffull of ponies paid attention as I started my set. There were some horny gazes, for sure, but next to no one was listening to the music. Ah well, I expected as much. My eyes scanned the crowd as I sang. Most of the patrons were pretty unimpressive. A mix of snooty noble scions and college age ponies from the college down in Lower Canterlot. A couple more mature stallions and mares were closer to the bar. One of them actually managed to catch my eye.

He was tall, and muscular, with a deep blue coat and a dirty blonde mane and tail. His eyes were the color of the sky and they locked with mine before I realized I was staring. I looked away, but I could have sworn I saw his lips curl into a smirk. One last thing about him stood out to me as I looked away. His right leg didn't end in a hoof. Rather, it ended in a scaley, clawed hand, like a dragon's.

My set continued, the songs I chose taking on a more and more leftist streak to them. I had already decided what I was going to sing to finish out. Sure, an old socialist labor song sung in the heart of the nobility was a risk, but why not? Tartarus be damned, I doubted I'd ever be coming back to Canterlot anyway. I don't think anyone even noticed when I sang it.

"Oh Princess, don't you call me, 'cause I can't go. I loaned my soul to the company store!" I trilled out the final notes, before bowing. I took a sip of water as I stepped down from the stage, giving my flank a little swish as I walked off. With all of that over, I could enjoy the perks of performing at high end clubs. The free booze.

I walked up to the bar, taking a seat that just so happened to be right beside that handsome stallion, though I at least pretended not to notice. I waved to the bartender.

"Wild Pegasus, on the rocks."

"Coming right up, Miss Dulcet." The bartender nodded, pulling out a glass and a bottle of the hard liquor.

"You have good taste, Miss Dulcet." The handsome stallion turned slightly on his barstool to look towards me. "Almost as good as your lovely voice."

"I'd thank you for just complimenting my voice, complimenting my drink just seems like flattery, mister...?" I asked, meeting the stallion's smirk with one of my own.

"Moonsaber and it isn't flattery if it is the truth." He took a sip from his drink as the bartender passed me my glass. "I don't think I've heard you singing here before. Is this your first time in Canterlot?"

"It is, yes. I was born and raised in Manehattan, but my employer managed to get me booked here tonight." I took an unladylike swig from my glass. "It paid well enough, though I don't think I fit in very well around here."

Moonsaber waved his hoof dismissively.

"I wouldn't worry about that too much. A good three quarters here are already inebriated right now and the rest have their eyes on other ponies."

"I noticed you had your eyes fixed on me the whole time I was on stage. Are you in that three quarters?"

"Oh no, I'm sober enough to enjoy the performance of a professional."

"Well, a professional curiosity then, what do you do for a living?"

"Oh, nothing too important. I work with the Crown. Anyway, isn't a bar the best place to get away from work?"

I suppressed a snort, ending up with something that sounded close enough to a giggle.

"It would be, but I work at bars and clubs. So, this is work."

"And you do an impressive job of it." Moonsaber held his drink up. "Here's to a successful night on the job."

"Here here." I smiled, clinking my glass against his, before we both downed our drinks.

"Well, if this is work, could I perhaps offer a bit of an escape?" Moonsaber asked

"Are all agents of the Crown this forward, or is it just you?" I countered, already knowing I was going home with him.

"I'm feeling daring tonight." Moonsaber offered an open claw.

"My, such daring deserves to be rewarded then. Let me go get my things, then we can head out."

The sunbeam fell right on my eyes through the window, stirring me from sleep. I turned over in bed, yawning. Something strong and warm was draped around my midsection. I felt amazing like I hadn't felt in... ok, I don't want to admit how long it's been since I've woken up in bed with a stallion, let's just say it's been too long.

Moonsaber was still asleep. His deep breaths pressed his chest into me with a delightful rhythm. Something about him seemed protective, it felt safe. I nuzzled deeper into his embrace and felt him stir. A clawed hand gripped my flank.

"Good morning, Dulcet." Moonsaber smiled.

"Mmmmph. Good morning, Saber. Already interested in another round?" I asked playfully, planting a kiss on his chest. He chuckled.

"Of course I'm interested, but we don't have time, I have to report for duty in an hour." Moonsaber shook his head, kissing me before he got up out of bed.

"Right, right, Mr. Agent of the Crown." I rolled my eyes. My gaze drifted over to a clock on his nightstand. 0630? Weird, it was a 24 hour clock. Those weren't supposed to be the norm in Canterlot, save for soldiers and train conduct~... Oh no... "It's barely dawn though, what possible assignment requires you to be up right after dawn?"

"Well... I suppose you should know. I'm in the Royal Guard." Moonsaber admitted. He pulled a suit of Royal Guard armor, the ceremonial armor they wore around the Royal Palace anyway, out of his closet and began to fit it on his body.

"Oh wow... But, why didn't you say something before?" I asked. This wasn't bad, he was a great guy, and by Celestia, he was good in bed. The Royal Guard weren't cops, their only job was to protect the Princesses and the Castle. I didn't rob the castle. There was no reason that this was bad, right?

"I didn't want you to be attracted to my position more than you were to me." He placed his helmet on and my eyes widened further. That was a Captain's plume... Still fine, still no reason to worry. I was a bankrobber in Manehattan, there was no reason to worry about ever having to confront this uncomfortable situation.

"I guess that's fair, but you don't have to worry, Saber. I'm into you for you." And despite me being a bankrobber of course, he didn't need to know about that. He smiled.

"I'm happy to hear that, Dulcet. May I escort you anywhere on my way to the palace?" He offered a hoof. I slipped out of bed, sliding my saddlebags on.

"Well, if you know any cafes nearby, I wouldn't mind a nice coffee before I have to catch a train back to Manehattan." I smiled, taking his hoof.

I let my worries drift away as we walked down the streets of Canterlot. For the first time in as long as I could remember, I didn't even keep an eye out for anything to steal. No eyeing exposed displays or looking for wallets. Just a nice walk with a nice guy. We shared a kiss at a little corner cafe before he had to bid farewell.

"I'll call you as soon as I'm off duty," Moonsaber promised.

"I look forward to it." I smiled. I sat down at a table, waving to him until he rounded a street corner. I already felt lonely again.

"Ah, there you are, lass." Amber Wing seemed to appear out of nowhere, sliding into the chair beside me at my table. "You wandered off last night, I didn't get to pay you. I was on my way to mail your check to Hypnos and here you are."

"Oh, yeah, sorry Amber. I, uh, got distracted." I offered sheepishly as an excuse.

"That's one word for it." He laughed, then leaned in close. "I got a job for you. You hit First City in Manehattan last week, right?"

My blood froze in my veins.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." I tried not to look nervous.

"Of course, of course. Well, I know what was kept in there by a certain politician, and 'whoever' stole it will certainly be looking for the others." Amber said nonchalantly, idly tapping a talon against the table. "I happen to know where one of them is, provided said pony grabs something for me while she's there."

"Alright, for the sake of argument, what exactly would you be wanting?" I asked, keeping my voice even.

"There's some cargo moving through, a very special container holding something I want. You'll know it when you see it."

I gulped, then took a deep breath.

"Where is it?"

"It will be arriving in Bronclyn tomorrow aboard the Merry Voyager, along with my cargo. Get my cargo to a train I'll have ready at the docks, I'll pay handsomely. Plus, you'll already be there getting the trinket." Amber held out a claw. "Deal?"

I nodded, shaking his claw.

"Deal."

I waited for Amber to leave before pulling out my phone. I couldn't wait for the train. I needed to leave Canterlot now if I wanted to get the Element and Amber's... property.

"Swan, I swear you never fucking call me at good times." Kilo's voice came over the line.

"Yeah yeah, shut up for a sec, Kilo. I need to call in a favor. You know some movers here in Canterlot right?" I asked quickly, though I kept my voice low.

"Yeah, I know some people. What do you need?" Kilo's tone changed instantly, it was business now.

"I need to get to Bronclyn, preferably now," I said. Kilo was quiet for a moment. "I'll need guns too."

"You're in luck, I got a cache in Bronclyn that I get people to teleport weapons to. Easy money, no prints on them or anything. You owe me for whatever you take though."

"Yeah yeah, I'll pay you when I have what I need. Where are these friends of yours?"

"You won't see them. Just go to Levantine Street and Crown Avenue, there's a stair alleyway leading down. Wait by the red door." Kilo said quickly. "I gotta call them, they'll teleport you to the cache. Good luck."

Kilo hung up. I left the cafe in a hurry, careful to not look too rushed, as that could attract attention. Levantine Street was right up against the mountain of Canterlot, as close to a 'rough neighborhood' as the Old City had. It was comparatively poorer, with the buildings made of granite hewn from the mountain itself rather than the imported marble which made up the rest of the city. Legend held that Caramel Marks, the author of 'On Harmony' and 'The Communist Manifesto' was born on Levantine Street.

It was thanks to that little rumor that I didn't need street signs to tell me when I had reached Levantine Street. A hammer, sickle, and sword were spray painted onto the side of a house, facing towards me as I turned onto the street. I looked around, catching the eye of a faded purple earth pony standing on a street corner, wearing a trenchcoat and beret. She raised a brow. I raised my hoof straight up, my expression one of defiance. She nodded and I hurried past at a brisk trot. The Canterlot Police didn't come down here often, the Red Guards looked after their own.

Crown Avenue was the busiest street in Canterlot, running from the mountain to the Royal Castle, and even here on Levantine, carts and pedestrians milled about. Crowds made me feel at ease. Made it very easy to make my way to an unmarked red door, nestled in a quiet alleyway

Now... I was going to have to talk to Kilo about his friends. They didn't even say a word to me through the door. One moment, I was standing in front of their door in Canterlot.

Next, I was in a poorly lit room, looking at a red stallion with a pink and white striped mane.

"Aftershow?! What the fuck are you doing here?!" I stared in awe at the candy-striped stallion in front of me, already picking through the cache of guns.

"Escrow drove me, I had a feeling in my gut where we had to be, you need help?" Aftershow asked as he fished out a shotgun, his face lighting up with an ecstatic smile. "Oooooh yes, this is nice."

"I... You... Yeah, I need help. I, um, got a tipoff on where an Element is. Are you sure you want in?" I asked, looking him in the eye. "Once you're in, there's no telling where you'll be able to come out."

"I already offered you my help, Swan." Aftershow nodded, then perked up, looking into a bag over by the door. "Oh! Almost forgot, since I agreed to this, I decided to make something for us to commemorate our first heist."

"Aftershow, this isn't something to celebr~" I started, before Aftershow pulled out a pair of rather well made harlequin masks, with what looked like gas mask straps on the back. "What the hell are those?"

"Well, I know from movies that no good thief ever shows their face, and I got to thinking 'Now how could I go about hiding my face and yours?' And, well, I made these last night! Yours is the chequerboard pattern. Do you like it?" Aftershow practically bounced as he gave me the mask. I ran my hoof over it, a smile growing on my face. This gave me ideas, especially if we were going after the other Elements.

"I love it, Aftershow. You seriously made this just last night? This is really well done." I said, testing the straps on the back.

"Yes ma'am, I did! My talent's being a circus performer after all, clown masks just come to me." Aftershow said as he slung his newly acquired shotgun. "So, where are we hitting?"

"Bronclyn Docks, a ship called the 'Merry Voyager' has what we're after. The Element and some kind of cargo the person who tipped me off wants us to stash on a train nearby." I explained, now starting to fish through the weapons myself. My hooves brushed over a heavier rifle, lifting it out of the crate, and looking at the twin-headed eagle emblazoned on the side. "Imperial, good. We're less than a block away from the docks, right?"

"Yep, the loading gate is right outside." Aftershow nodded.

"Perfect. Follow me, put your mask on when I tell you, alright?" I slung my rifle, letting it settle against my breast as I walked over to the door. The streets around here weren't busy. Perfect.

I led Aftershow quickly down the street, ducking into an alley right in front of the loading gate. I pulled on my mask, nodding.

The loading gate was padlocked. Perfect. I waited just long enough to hear a horn sound before bashing the lock off with the butt of my rifle and just like that Aftershow and I were in. I love padlocks, they truly are the 'polite suggestions' of security.

"What are we looking for exactly?" Aftershow whispered, his head fidgeting around as he tried to scan the area.

"I... don't know for sure. The client said we'll 'know it when we see it'. Whatever that means." I say, trying not to curse myself out for not pressing Amber for details. "It'll be important looking."

"Um... Like that one with the armed guards?" Aftershow said, pointing towards where a large cargo container was being unloaded off the 'Merry Voyager' with a dozen ponies in body armor with rifles in tow.

"Yeah... Like that. Fuck." I groan. "If you want to back out now, I won't stop you."

"Are you still going in?" Aftershow asked. I nodded. "Then I'm coming too. Nothing's ever hit me before, nothing's going to hit me now."

Aftershow's giddiness was clear even behind the smiling clown mask he wore and it was starting to creep me out a bit.

"What are you... What are you doing?" I asked, my eyes widening in horror as he racked his shotgun.

"I'll be fine, you get the stuff and the Element." He told me before taking off and running towards the container. Was... Was that music playing? Where the hell was that music coming from? It sounded like a heavy beat made entirely from record scratches.

Aftershow's shotgun roared as he bolted past the guards, one of them getting thrown back by the sudden blast. Eleven automatic rifles answered, but not a single one of them could hit him. It was frustrating the guards, especially when Aftershow made another pass, blasting point blank into another guard. They gave chase this time, seven of them running off after the clown as he... Oh, Celestia, Aftershow was cartwheeling away and still somehow not getting hit.

I took a deep breath before running up out of cover, squeezing the trigger on my rifle. The rapid cracks dropped one of the remaining guards before they could even react, and the other two dove for cover of their own. One was too slow, taking a shot right in the helmet that made even me wince. At least a shot like that was quick. A lucky burst dropped the last guard as he attempted to line up a shot of his own.

I've gotten into shootouts before, I've killed before. I never liked it. Especially when it wasn't pigs, just working ponies like these. No one goes into a career as an armed guard if they were in a good place in life. If they were a bully, that's when they became a cop. I didn't touch the bodies. I did my best to ignore them entirely as I ran up to the container door, shooting its padlock off.

I have never been more terrified of anything in my entire life.

There were three cases in the container, barely larger than briefcases. One contained the Element, or at least I sure fucking hope it's the Element. A gold necklace, just like the first one, but with a ruby inlay, in the shape of a lightning bolt. The other two cases though...

Each one held four crystals, shaped like giant 12-sided dice. The crystals were the size of hoofballs and held a baleful swirling light that kept trying to pull my gaze into them. How the hell was I supposed to get these to the train? If a bullet hit one, half the city would be reduced to rubble.

"Hey, you! Freeze!" My attention snapped away from the 8 superweapons I shared the container with. One of the guards chasing Aftershow had come back and was walking towards the container entrance with his rifle raised. "Drop the~"

A white sprinter van plowed into the guard mid-sentence, throwing him like a ragdoll. An older pegasus mare sat in the driver's seat. She looked familiar.

Then the side door swung open, revealing Aftershow of all people.

"I made a new friend! Grab the stuff and come on! She's gonna get us out of here!"

"How did... Nevermind. Trainyard first! We ditch the cases there!" I shouted, scrambling to safely close the cases and rushing into the van with them. The pegasus floored it as soon as the door closed.

"I'm Thunder Rush." The pegasus introduced herself gruffly, not looking away from the windshield as she tore through the dockyard.

"Swan Song... Wait... You're Thunder? You're a regular at the Midnight Escape." I 'did' know this mare.

"You're a bit young for my tastes, sweetie." Thunder laughed. I was briefly thankful for the mask to hide my blush. Nevermind that. I was just going to ensure that I got far away from the megaspells.

Author's Note

Earned 1,690,000 bits for completing the contract. Made it out with eight warhead(s) for a total value of 12,335,875 bits

Sent to Offshore Account: 9,868,700 bits
Change in available spending cash: 2,467,175

Picked up "Element of Loyalty"
4 Elements Remain