Chapter 1 - Destiny’s kick in the pants or Meet the Thief
A smile lit up the young earth pony’s face as she brushed her short black mane out of her eyes. Her gaze wandered around the expensive, but rather nicely furbished, foyer in the Canterlot Music Hall. The atmosphere was light and airy, with numerous Canterlot nobility strutting the floor remarking at the entertainment yet to come in very typical upper-class excitement: very quietly and with a distinct lack of voiced enthusiasm.
The young mare tugged at her dress, a simple red number that hung down past her flanks, covering up the black square that faded away into her grey coat. She liked her cutie mark, but she had found out the hard way that it was an identifier and she hated being too recognizable.
Giving the dress a reassuring tug, her eyes skimmed the room, focusing on a middle aged mare and stallion that had their backs to her. The two were staring at a rather large painting of a mare, laying on her side on a bed, the stallion remarking candidly about the artists lack of ability.
Carefully she rose from the small marble seat she had been resting on and made her way over to the pair, stopping every so often to examine the instruments and paintings that adorned the walls. As she reached the painting she bumped lightly into the couple, a hoof knocking over the pink bag that matched in color to the mare’s sweater.
“Oh my dears! Are you alright? I am so sorry, let me get that for you! Oh, I am such a klutz, Mother is always saying.” The young mare continued nattering on as she picked up the bag, and turning it back upright. “Oh, do forgive me. Where are my manners? My name is Mouse, and might I add how lovely the two of you look this evening.”
“Oh, why thank you dear.” The older mare said proudly, looking down her nose at the new arrival. “You should try to be more careful however.”
“Oh, I am sorry. You are so very right. Mother did tell me, life in the big city could be a bit much for a simple mare like me.” Mouse smiled as warmly as she could, choosing to ignore the disgruntled look the two were giving her.
“It’s alright dear.” The mare said wearily. “My name is Upper Crust,” as with a quick wave of her hoof she pointed to the stallion beside her. He was rather thin, with a grey coat and a pair of small spectacles placed on the end of his nose. He was dressed far more formally then the mare: a black tuxedo top with a black tie and a nice cream undershirt. “This is my husband, Jet Set.”
Mouse bowed slightly. “Nice to make your acquaintance, both of you.”
“Say,” Jet Set started, “you said you were from out of the city? Might I inquire as to where you grew up? It’s always interesting to hear tales of the... less civilized ponies.”
Mouse forced another simpering smile. “Oh you know...out of town.” She widened her eyes as she quickly started to peer past the pair. “Is that him? The performer for tonight?”
“Where my dear?” Upper Crust asked as she and her husband turned. As they did so Mouse made a quick beeline for the exit, two newly-won bits bouncing in a concealed pouch tucked under her dress.
She smelled the air as she wandered through the garden to the rows of chairs set out for the night’s performance. Carefully, she took a seat, taking a deep breath to relax and to fight down the feeling of excitement that had come from her small bit of mischief. She started to count in her head, breathing slowly and staring around the area, searching for someone else who could donate a couple of bits to her. She first spotted a unicorn stallion, made noticeable by his light blue vest and brown Stetson hat that stood out from the more formal attire worn by the other guests. Her eyes travelled down to his flank, his cutie mark of three green leaves marked him as some form of garden pony, if the dirt on his tan coat and two-toned green mane and tail hadn’t already given it away.
He was wandering around the garden, stopping every so often to poke at the ground or inspect a tree or sapling. Mouse assumed he was inspecting them for the possible damages the rich snobs would inflict by brushing by them too brusquely.
She looked away, searching for something slightly more interesting than the local gardener, and spotted a shadow making its way around the path on the opposite side of her. As it came closer she noticed it was another unicorn with a coat as black as coal, contrasting with the white mane and tail that had been brushed and neatened. He wore no suit at all, something she found odd at a party like this, and his cutie mark was a full moon next to a blooming rose.
She frowned; she hated cutie marks like that, it was too hard to tell what a pony’s occupation was if it was ambiguous. She continued to look around, seeing nothing more of interest as the seats around her began to fill with patrons and the sky lost the last tinges of the sunset and gained the beauty of the stars.
Mouse turned her attention to the stage that had just been hastily assembled by several unicorn crafts-ponies, upon which a middle-aged stallion stood, horn aglow with magic that ensnared the microphone held before him. A backing band was situated surreptitiously to the side of the stage. The unicorn’s blue eyes shone as he smiled at the crowed and launched into his first number.
She tapped her hooves lightly on the grass as she listened, ol’ Blue Eyes (as he was known on the circuit) wasn’t her first choice of music, but he wasn’t bad. He finished the first song and was halfway through the second when the sound of heavy wing beats cut through the air, causing Mouse to look up in alarm. The three soaring figures were too big to be pegasi, but too small to be dragons, even the young versions.
“Griffons...” Mouse squeaked, her eyes widening as she glanced around for someplace, anyplace, to hide before settling on her decision. With a quick motion she ducked, squirming as quickly as she could under the chair in front of her. She could hear the sound of claws and hooves landing ruffly on the wooden planks of the stage, and a shout, most likely Blue Eyes, which was followed by a muffled thump, then a loud obnoxious voice.
“YOU ALL READY TO ROCK OUT?!” One of the Griffons called out as the strum of an electric guitar sounded around the area.
“YEAH! COME ON YOU PANSY LITTLE SNOBS! TIME TO HEAR SOME REAL MUSIC!”
The Griffons started to play and Mouse wished for it to end, and not just so she could get away from the creatures playing. The drums were off-beat, the guitars were off-chord, but they continued playing, one of them singing off-key into the microphone as they did so:
“Then the Griffons from the sky,
Steal the tears from your eyes
We hunt you like the pray you are
YOU WILL BE NOTHING BUT SUB-PAR!
Beware the monsters from the cliff
Our training, mastering our riffs
You have nothing left with which to fight
Your blood is ours, by need, by right!”
The song kept going on, each verse becoming more and more about domination and death. They began ticking off the names of races, everything from ponies, minotaurs, changelings, and even other griffons reveling in the horrible things they had done to each of them. Mouse started to shiver, screwing up her eyes and burying her face into the dirt as the song continued far past its best-by date, until finally she heard a voice shout out.
“ENOUGH!”
She stayed where she was, but the shivering slowed a touch and she peeked out enough to see the ponies who were so brave as to stand up to the monsters. The green-maned unicorn she had seen earlier was standing facing the three griffons, the black-coated one by his side.
“These people paid for entertainment, not spoiled brats. If they wanted that, they could have gone to the Griffon Kingdoms,” the white-maned pony snarked.
“Oh, don’t like it? Come up here and do something about it, food!” one of the griffons called. She guessed it was the singer, it sounded right anyway.
“Actually boss, we don't eat ponies...” A gruffer voice sounded from slightly further away. This one, she decided, was probably the drummer.
“Shut up, you idiot!” The singer replied. “Now come up here, you bone-headed weaklings, and try and take on a real fighter!”
“Now look, we don’t have to solve our problems with violence,” the Stetson-wearing pony replied in a drawling accent. “And Ah doubt you’d like it very much if we did.”
“Enough talk!” A third voice called out. “Time for some action, been itching for some excitement around this ‘peaceful’ little playpen you call home.”
“If you insist,” both the ponies said almost simultaneously, before taking the stage.
The stage was soon filled with heroic sounding cries from the two ponies as well as monstrous roars and snarls from the griffons, with small yelps of pain cutting in and out of the actions, then suddenly a new pony-sounding squeal and a large thump.
Mouse poked her head out fully from under the chair to see the stage. The ponies looked bruised and messed up. Jet Set, who had been sitting in the front row, had fallen over, probably fainted, with a large griffon at his feet. The two other griffons were lying on the stage, seemingly unconscious. It was then that Mouse knew two things: One, griffons were terrifying, a fact she had continued to tell herself since the last time she had to flee from them. Two, that these were ponies she had to stick close too.
The other guests, along with the musicians, had vanished during the fight, leaving the two unicorns remaining on the stage, occasionally giving the closest griffon a small kick to elicit a groan; Mouse just assumed it was to check that they were still alive.
It took a longer time than she expected for the Royal Guard to show. They were audible long before she could properly see them, accompanied by a clanging of armour and rhythmic hoof beats. Seeing as it was nighttime, she expected to finally catch a proper look at the Night Guard with their sleek grey coats and cool looking wings; however, her first look told her plainly that these were not those ponies
The stallions were all white-coated, big and bulky with golden armour that seemed to shimmer in the moonlight. Their leader stopped, raising a fore hoof which in turn stopped his four companions. With a few metallic clicks he removed his helmet, gaze steady and focused on the two unicorns on the stage.
“You two, did you do this?” He asked, his voice calm as the night air as he slowly signaled to the rest of his squad who moved forward to take the griffons into custody.
“It weren’t anythin’ special, they were gettin’ in the way of the good entertainment was all,” the Stetson wearing one replied.
“I see...” the guard said, shaking his head, blue mane drifting into his face as he did. While he was brushing it out, Mouse moved slowly closer to the stage and the other ponies, keeping low to the ground as she did.
“Well, I’m grateful for your actions. My squad was helping out at a tavern near here: a couple of patrons were getting ‘rowdy’...” The stallion spat out the R word like the plague.
Mouse giggled at the thought of any pony getting ‘rowdy’ in a Canterlot pub. Probably two rich stallions were having a vocal disagreement before calling the guards in to arrest the other for ‘Slurring my good name!’ Those ponies were so dense sometimes. It could make a good distraction though. She ate well on those nights.
She shook her head, trying to get the thoughts of the rather large salad she had eaten out of her head, and refocused on the pony who was speaking.
“...and that’s why I want to see you in my office after we’ve dealt with the mess. Come on by, tell them you want to see Shining Armour and don’t take any grief from the junior officers.”
Mouse’s eyes widened, and she gave a squeak. The noise however wasn’t for the recognition of the name, it was the fact someone had grabbed her back legs.
“Shining Armour Sir! I found a little sneak hiding down here!”
She struggled, but the pressure on her legs stopped her from fleeing the scene. Straining her neck, she turned and looked into the face of her attacker, one of the guards was sitting on her back legs looking stern. His polished golden helmet reflecting her rather startled expression. She shivered, she hoped he wouldn’t pat her down.
“Do you two know her?” Shining Armour asked. Mouse could see him giving her a quizzical look; she tried to return it as fearlessly as she could.
“She was one of the guests, I saw her talking to two other ponies in the foyer.” the black-coated unicorn replied, the other just shaking his head.
“I see. So what is a young mare like you doing hiding on the ground around here?” Shining Armour walked over and stared down into her face. She gulped and did what she did best: lie.
“I was hiding from those two,” Mouse pointed quickly at the two unicorns who she had been watching earlier. “Brutes and ruffians.”
“In which case why did you not simply sneak away when they were distracted talking to me.” Shining Armour looked skeptical.
“Umm....”
“Let me answer for you. You go distracted and wanted to listen in to things that weren’t any of your business correct?”
“It’s my business if I’ve overheard it. If I wasn’t meant to know, I wouldn’t.” Mouse shrugged. “It’s what my Mother always used to tell me.”
Shining Armour face hoofed as one of the guards in her squad grinned.
“She also told me to find a bunch of strong ponies and stick with them.” Mouse said thoughtfully, eyeing the two victors as she did, she grinned and fluttered her eyelids at them. “You wouldn’t mind letting me stay with you would you? For my own safety obviously.”
“We don’t even know who you are.” The black coated stallion raised an eyebrow.
“And Ah’ thought we were brutes and ruffians.” The other gave a grin.
“Well, having the company of ruffians can be quite helpful. Especially if you're willing to stick your neck out against those-” she pointed dramatically as she could at the griffons from her position on the ground. “-evil beasts.”
“That still doesn’t explain who you are.” Shining Armour spoke.
“Mouse, I’m an-” She stopped, glancing at Shining Armour before carefully continuing. “-I’m an odd jobs pony, I can turn my hand to a lot of things most ponies consider, unimportant.”
“Midnight Moon, Doctor.” The black coated stallion nodded. His companion nodded socially before adding: “Ah’m Green Horn. Work at the royal gardens as a Gardener.”
“Charmed I’m sure.” Mouse said, putting on a snobbish Canterlot accent before looking back at Shining Armour with a grin. “Seeing as we’re all friends now. You said something about a job offer for us?” She pretended not to notice the receiving glare as she fussed with the officer who started to let her up.
___________________________________________________________________________
Mouse skipped quietly along, out of the gardens, listening to her two new companions mutter amongst themselves as they trotted steadily behind her.
“So, what do you think he wants with us?”
“Ah’m not entirely sure.”
“You must have some clue.”
“You’re the doctor, I’m just a gardener. But if I had to guess, he wants us to do something he can’t get the regular guards to do.”
“What can’t the regular guards do? Apart from...”
“Yeah. That.”
Mouse’s ear perked up and she stopped skipping long enough to turn around.
“Won’t do what?”
“You mean you don’t know?”
Mouse rolled her eyes.
“Would I be asking, if I knew?”
“Touche.” Midnight Moon nodded as Green Horn gave a more helpful answer.
“The Royal Guard is only allowed to enter a fight if someone else is actually being harmed, as-” He stopped as though considering his next words. “Free agents Ah’ guess. We wouldn’t have this issue.”
Mouse nodded, turning around again as the group fell silent. They continued on their way, passing the ancient buildings of Canterlot, until they reached one in particular.
It was two floors in all, the Sun burning brightly, adorned the left of the entrance doors, while a brightly shining Moon decorated the right. The roof was a bright yellow, which Mouse guessed was to make it easy to find either night or day, because it didn’t fit in with any of the other more muted colors in the area. She stopped her skipping, realizing exactly where she was about to walk into, somewhere she definitely didn’t want to go, especially with tonight's activities hidden in a money pouch tied around her stomach.
Mostly stallions, but a few mares could be seen through the windows. They were sitting at small wooden desks, filling out papers, or at the water tank in the back, where they seemed to be discussing something with a serious expression.
“Well, are we going in?” Mouse asked, warily watching the hustle and bustle inside.
“Ah guess,” Green Horn answered looking down at Mouse. “You alright?”
“Fine.” Mouse mumbled as Midnight Moon started towards the building. The two followed him in, Mouse trying to ignore what sounded like the very obvious clicking of two coins she carried. They stopped at one of the desks, Midnight Moon clearing his throat.
“Excuse me, officer...?”
The rather large stallion looked up and growled.
“Officer Shock Tazer. Go bother someone else, I have actual work to do.”
“I’m sure you do.” Midnight replied politely. “But we were wondering...”
“How to go away?”
“Now, look. Their isn’t any need for...” Green Horn cut in.
“No need for you to be interrupting my work either.”
Mouse watched the three argue for a while before wandering over to one of the other officers, blushing with nerves; the bits weighing heavily on her mind.
“Umm, excuse me officer.... sir. I was w-w-wondering if you could tell me where Shining Armour’s office is? I... I mean.. we were asked to see him earlier this evening.” Mouse stammered quietly hastily rearranged her face into what seemed like a shy smile, dipping her head so she had to look up at the Stallion she was addressing.
The stallion grinned widely. “You’re looking for the boss? Second floor, his name will be on the door. You sure I can’t help you out though?”
Mouse smiled and hoped she was still blushing, trying not to betray the burning feeling in her gut. “You already have, thank you officer.” With that she walked back over to the group.
“And you are just being unreasonable! We would have been out of your mane minutes ago if you had just answered the...”
“He’s on the second floor. Let’s go.” Mouse said brashly, her smile from before vanished as she spotted the ugly look on Shock Tazers face. “Leave him, we have more important people to see.”
She turned, heading for the stairs at the back of the room, the other two following in her wake. They climbed the stairs, finding the correct door; the only one with anything written on it, they wandered in.
The room was small and fairly unfurnished with nothing but a small desk and a single old chair, in which a familiar looking unicorn sat.
“Ahh, you made it. I was hoping you’d show, I’d offer you a seat but...” Shining Armour trailed off with a slow gesture. “Anyway, down to business. What I’m about to offer you is a one-time only deal, and you have to Pinkie Swear to secrecy.”
Mouse gave him an odd look before glancing over at her traveling companions, who had much the same type of expression.
“Heh...” Shining Armour looked a little sheepish. “Something I learned from Twiley... my sister I mean. One of her friends...” He trailed off with another nervous laugh before shaking his head and his features became stern. “Look, it’s a job and you have to swear to secrecy. Otherwise the conversation ends here.”
“Ah’m in.” Green Horn piped up first. “Ah’m always willing to be a help and do my part for Equestria.” This statement was affirmed almost immediately by Midnight Moon.
Mouse, however, wasn’t so sure. On the one hoof, she had other plans and she didn’t know how those were going to interfere. She moved slightly, feeling the leather strap move against her stomach. She kind of liked the job she did already, and didn’t particularly want the police, of all organizations, trying to find out more about her.
On the other hoof however, she would get to stick to two rather interesting ponies and possibly travel around the country if she played her cards right, and being able to say she was operating as an Equestrian law enforcer did fill her with perverse glee.
“What’s the catch?” Mouse asked quietly, feeling all eyes in the room focus on her.
“I can’t tell you unless you promise,” Shining Armour stated softly. She frowned, the look on her face neutral until she sighed.
“Can we at least back out afterwards if we don’t like what we’re hearing?”
The atmosphere grew tenser.
“What do you think?’
“That questions answers nothing?”
“Heh.” Midnight Moon said softly. Shining Armour shook his head and gave a half smile.
“Fine. Yes, you can back out. All of you.”
“In that case, you have a deal.”
“On?”
Mouse looked at him and laughed.
“On my dedication to the Equestrian Throne. What else?”
Shining Armour gave a satisfied look, and the atmosphere relaxed considerably.
Shining Armour nodded, looking at each of them, and, Mouse was certain, making his mind up if he really wanted to do this. He cleared his throat and began.
“I want you as a form of...” He paused, seemingly searching for the correct term before he nodded. “Elite team I guess. Someone I can send out to do the things that would make the Royal Guard look bad if they participated in it. You operate off everypony’s records except mine, and of course the Princess’s. You get paid a decent wage, but note that we will be denying you exist if you get caught doing anything that could possibly harm Equestria. You’ll be traveling a lot, so if any of you have families, feel free to walk out now.
Mouse smirked, she had family of course, everyone did. But she knew full well her mother would be more than fine with it.
“Do we get to keep anything we manage to acquire on our travels?”
Shining Armour nodded, Mouse smirked.
“In which case, which place first, boss?”
Shining Armour flipped open a small manilla folder and read quickly from a sheet before looking up at the group.
“It’s an escort Mission to Stalliongrad. You’ll be receiving a map of Equestria, some spending money and–” Shining Armour glanced at the document again. “–apparently some additional security to go along with you.”
Green Horn nodded before slowly asking. “So, what’re we called exactly?”
“Well, why don't you decide on that?”
Mouse looked at the other two. Midnight Moon looked puzzled, but Green Horn looked confident.
“How about Pony Team Bravo? PTB for short.”
Mouse nodded in approval. “I like it, easy to remember and we can always bluff there's an Alpha Team causing havoc if we get caught.”
Shining Armour nodded, pulling out a small bit of paper and scrawling something on top of it. “Pony Team Bravo it is, I’ll have badges made up for you tomorrow. Be here tomorrow afternoon at two on the dot. The pony you're guarding hates traveling in the mornings if he can avoid it.”
He smiled.
“Best of luck team.”
__________________________________________________________________________
Author's Note
Welp, there you go. The first session(mostly) of the Pony Team Bravo Pony Tales campaign all up and done, I guess. MLP is obviously the Property of it’s respective owners. I just own Mouse. Green Horn and Midnight Moon are owned by Philadelphus(As of the Pony Tales Forums:GH) and Charles(MM). This particular World created by Demonu our DM, I’m just writing it up and putting my own flair on things, while trying to make it make sense. Hopefully it worked.
Hope you had fun reading it, I enjoyed writing it. Until next time, good day/night to you all.
Cuteless~
Chapter 2 - The “Escort” mission
Mouse awoke to two things she found very wrong: for one, the bed was comfortable, unlike the last one she had slept in, the other, voices.
“So what do you think we’ll need?” With the cultured and rather posh accent, it had to be Midnight Moon.
“Don’t rightly know. Ah’m bettin’ they’ll give us most of what we’ll need when we get there.” There was Green Horn. She grinned inwardly. He sounded more like what somepony would hear in the country. She idly wondered if it grated on the nerves of the posh ponies who populated the city.
Mouse snuggled deeper into the plush pillow and covers as she listened to them talk. They were arguing about what supplies they would need, if they were going to be expected to camp somewhere, how nice/mean the escortee was going to be. All in all, sensible helpful talk, if the two ever managed to agree on anything.
Green Horn was easily the more laid back of the two, happy to go with a minimum of supplies and was arguing for the cheaper methods, obviously someone who was used to saving. Meanwhile, Midnight Moon was wanting everything he could get packed into his saddlebags and high quality stuff ‘just in case’.
The debate rambled on; Mouse yawned, carefully sitting up and studying the room happily unnoticed by her acquaintances. It was very much a standard hotel room, and (she remembered) inexpensive. Three small beds were tucked against one wall, with a small four-seater table bolted down on the floor. There was a large wardrobe tucked up against the wall nearest to her bed in which she knew her red dress from the night before was hung along with her coin purse and her... two emergency defensive measures.
She yawned again, rolling herself out of bed and towards the dresser. She checked behind her to make sure her companions were still distracted before grabbing up her coin purse and strapping it around her stomach. The two straps of her emergency defensive measures went flat along her left and right sides, easily within hoof-reach, which she checked with a quick touch test. She slipped the dress over them, then used the full length mirror in the door to check herself out.
Her black mane was showing off to all who could see that she had just woken up, her blue eyes were half lidded and her grey coat was mussed. She moved herself to the side and hitched up her dress, admiring her cutie mark quickly before letting it fall back down. She smiled again, loving the fact that when the dress fell you couldn’t even tell there was anything under it except her.
“Morning Mouse.”
She turned slightly, nodding to the two. “Bathroom?”
“Down the hall.”
Another nod and she trundled slowly towards it, making sure to lock the door as securely as she could; you could never trust someone not to rob you nowadays, ‘specially in hotels.
Shower complete, and feeling exceptionally more awake, she smiled as she re-entered the room they shared. The two were exactly where she had left them at the small table in the center of the room. Her smile widened as she realised that one of them had had the forethought to get room service, which included pancakes.
At a swift trot she cleared the distance and loaded up a plate.
“Hungry, Ah take it?” Green Horn asked. Mouse shrugged and swallowed before replying.
“Well, who can pass up free food?”
She looked up to see the two giving her a concerned look.
“What exactly did you say you did again?” Midnight Moon asked, leaning forward slightly.
Mouse looked him in the eyes, keeping her expression as neutral as she could. “Odd jobs. I travel a lot, and you never know when the bits will run dry.”
“Of course.” Midnight Moon smiled, “I know a bit about traveling without a stable job myself.”
“You’re a hobo doctor?”
“No! Well, I was homeless for a while but–” He shook his head. “–not the point. What I meant was I did some traveling before I got my degree.”
“So you didn’t go to an official school?”
“I trained under a professional!”
“I once spent a few days with a stallion repairing odds and ends, I don’t call myself a repairpony.” Mouse grinned as she watched Midnight Moon frown, lip curling back slightly.
“Enough you two, this conversation is gettin’ us nowhere.” Green Horn butted in. Mouse laughed and returned to her pancakes, pleased at her successful teasing.
“Yes. Of course.” Midnight Moon said sourly. “Back to the matter at hand, this job. Are we going to take it?”
“I thought we’d already agreed to take it.” Green Horn sighed, Mouse narrowed her eyes before understanding. They were talking about supplies while she was waking up, who knows what else they were discussing without her.
“Yes, but we don’t know our third member’s opinions on it.”
Confirmation. They had been talking behind her back, and she bit back a grin. Maybe these two were going to be useful for more than some slight physical prowess and what sounded like fairly shaky medical knowledge.
“I’m happy to go along if you two are. As long as I get a cut of what we find.”
“So, Ah’m sensin’ a certain monetary desire out of all this.” Green Horn muttered as Mouse examined a hoof.
“Yep.” she agreed casually.
Green Horn nodded. “It’s a deal then. What about you Doc, goin’ t’ back out?”
“No.” Midnight Moon almost looked affronted at the question. “I’m an Equestrian citizen and thus I’m happy to do my duty for the throne.”
“It’s decided.”
“Good.” Mouse said happily as she cleaned off her plate. “When are we going?’
The answer to that was just before the meeting time. Thankfully, their hotel wasn’t far away from the station. After gathering their stuff, Midnight Moon picking up his saddlebags carrying unknown items, Mouse and Green Horn leaving without any visible signs of equipment. Her two companions walked ahead confidently, heads held high, Mouse stayed behind low to the ground with none of the skipping of the night before. She was on the clock now, which meant she had to be alert and attentive and above all focus and...
“Oh that’s a fancy carriage... I wonder if we can borrow it?” Mouse mused out loud as she looked at the new object of her desires. The first thing she noted was that the enclosed carriage part was made of an expensive-looking wood, ornately carved. A picture of a bag of money was painted on the door and it was big enough for four full-grown ponies to sit inside comfortably. She approached it, noting the driver’s seat with its worn-looking cushion and the twin shafts protruding from the front, obviously designed for two ponies to pull it.
She wandered up to have a look inside and caught a glimpse of what looked like red velvet seats when she felt something catch her tail. Turning her head she noticed Green Horn looking at her with an eyebrow raised.
“Slow down there little missy. What exactly do you mean by ‘borrow’?”
“I mean, borrow. To use to get around in, you two can pull and I can travel in comfort. It’s a win in my favour.”
“But it’s not ours. It–” He stopped to read a name written on the wooden door. “–belongs to someone named Money Bags.”
“And?” Mouse raised an eyebrow. “He’s probably rich. He won't miss it.”
“Why do I have a feeling I know what you mean by odd jobs now?” Midnight Moon said as he tapped a hoof on the ground.
“Oh look, we’re here.” Mouse said nervously, wandering into the building while wondering exactly what was going to be in store for them.
Mouse walked towards the second floor, ignoring the wandering eye of the officer she had spoken to the night before. In fact, she wondered why he was still there. Surely he had to sleep, right? This thought kept her occupied till she was at the second floor.
Soon enough she was back in the barely furnished office. Behind the desk Shining Armour sat, eyes on the team as they entered. Her attention however was drawn immediately to The Box that sat unassumingly in front of her new boss. It was long and rectangular, a deep red in color, with what looked like gold trimming, a cheap looking lock and the letters P.T.B engraved on the top.
“Welcome.”
The sound of Shining Armour’s greeting snapped her out of her careful scrutiny of The Box and back to the real world allowing her to look around the place again properly. She heard her team enter before what sounded like a coughing fit brought her attention to the old pony at the back of the office.
He stood slightly behind the Captain of the Guard adjusting his glasses and stroking his well waxed mustache.
“Are these the fine young guards who will be assisting me today, Armour my boy?”
Shining Armour nodded. “Pony Team Bravo, this is Money Bags. An old family friend from Stalliongrad and your short term employer.”
“Glad to meet you. Ah’m Green Horn.” Green horn said with a grin.
“It’s an honour to meet you sir. My name is Midnight Moon.”
“That’s a really expensive looking watch.” Mouse muttered out loud, staring at the golden chained time piece that was wrapped around the old ponies right fore hoof.
The room went dead silent as Mouse continued to look over the stallion. Cutie mark of a bag of money? Evidently the owner of the carriage outdoors, so check, top hat and well-cut vest? Check, black-and-white patched coat that made him look like a cow? Unusual and probably fancy. Check, check and check. Target set!
“You do know we can all hear you my young mare?” Money bags asked with a grandfatherly smile as Mouse face-hoofed.
“Ummm... I meant target that we will be guarding?” Mouse coughed before quickly changing the subject.
“Speaking of guarding. Why can’t the normal force do this?” Midnight Moon asked curiously.
Shining Armour nodded. “Fair question. I want to test your skills with something easy.”
The two stallion nodded but Mouse’s attention was back on the box.
“What’s in the box, Boss?”
Shining Armour was not amused. “Introductions first.”
“Yes sir! My name is Mouse, I’m an odd jobs pony.”
Green Horn and Midnight Moon face-hoofed as Money Bags looked on with interest.
“An odd jobs pony hmm? How do you plan on guarding me exactly?”
Mouse thought about the two straps on her side before she reared up, kicking out with her forehooves at the air before settling back down. “I’ll think of something.”
“Wonderful! Wonderful!” Moneybags cried in obvious delight, much to Mouse’s (and she was sure everyone else’s) confusion. He placed a hoof on Shining Armour’s shoulder before continuing. “You sure know how to keep an old stallion entertained. I do hope they will get on with your other choice.”
“Other choice?” Midnight Moon asked looking around the room as though he expected someone to just pop out.
“Yes.” Shining Armour nodded. “I just hope he’s going to be awake at least when I introduce you.”
“Umm, excuse me. But did you say ‘awake’?” Green Horn looked confused.
“Yes, you’ll see what I mean. In fact, Night Owl! We’re ready for you!”
Mouse turned to face the door and waited, doubting somehow that anything was going to smash through one of the walls. Seconds turned to a minute, which turned into minutes before there was a small thunk at the door, followed by another. Eventually Moneybags sighed and strolled over to the door and opened it, stepping aside to show off the pony behind it.
Behind the door stood a unicorn, Mouse looked him over trying to discern what help he was going to be. He was moderate sized, with an electric-blue mane and tail that stood out against his dull brown coat. She winced as she noticed the tattoo of an owl on his chest, knowing that it was going to make him – and by extension the rest of them – easier to identify.Though she understood why he had it when she saw his cutie mark.
The mark, like Midnight Moon’s, was fairly ambiguous.A bright yellow circle behind the silhouette of an owl, she was unsure the exact type, sitting on a branch. His only other identifying features were the grey-rimmed glasses that adorned his face and the small grey-strapped watch that fitted snugly over his left forehoof. Mouse shook her head, feeling quite bemused by the whole thing.
It was Green Horn that broke the silence first.
“Well howdy there Mr. Night Owl, pleased ta meetcha!”
The unicorn whom Mouse was confident was Night Owl held up a hoof and started to wave it in Green Horn’s direction, who grabbed it and shook back. “Stallion of few words, Ah see. We’ll get along just fine!”
Midnight Moon took a slightly different approach. Dodging the hoof that was still pumping up and down even though Green Horn had released it, he waved a hoof in front of the waving pony’s face.
“Umm, hello? Hello?” He frowned, raising the hoof he was using to his chin. “An unusual case. I would prescribe a good dose of smelling salts, or maybe a skunk to wake him.”
“Ahh, no. That won’t be necessary.” Shining Armour intervened just as Midnight Moon started to unzip his saddlebags. “He suffers from a strange form of narcolepsy, but he’s in an almost permanent sleepwalking state. He’ll be accompanying you with a possibility of joining.”
Mouse looked at the new arrival unimpressed. “Because our team isn’t dysfunctional enough?”
“That’s the spirit!” Money Bags cried. “Now we do need to be going, I have a costume party tonight and I do need to be home.”
“Wait.” Shining Armour said with a smile. “One more thing.” With deft movements of his hooves he opened The Box, Revealing the treasured contents within. Four badges, bearing a golden carving of the Sun and the Moon – the symbol of Equestria – and below, the names of each member, stuck to a flexible black material.
Mouse whistled softly as they were slowly unveiled, moving forward and taking the one with her name.
“Now you’re only getting one of these each. So if you lose them, too bad. Now, to some ponies these badges will mean the world and will allow you to access information you normally wouldn’t get. But, please-” Shining Armour paused and looked at all of them insistently. “-you are an undercover group. These won’t mean much to most normal folk so don’t go flashing them around unless you have no choice.
Mouse nodded along with the rest of the group, picking up her badge and placing it into the saddlebags Midnight Moon carried. Green Horn did the same. Midnight looked disgruntled.
“Well, if you’re going to be the only one in the group with saddlebags, you’re going to be the pack mule.” Mouse said innocently, before turning back to Money Bags. “So, New Boss. After you?”
Money Bags smiled before pushing past Night Owl and heading down the stairs. Mouse was the last to follow him out, giving a parting glance to Shining Armour who was staring with a small glare down at the paperwork that had apparently just teleported onto his desk.
Joining the group outside she noticed the small argument that has escalated between Green Horn and Midnight Moon, this one apparently over who exactly was pulling. Night Owl was standing next to the carriage still (somehow) asleep, while Money Bags looked on with a bemused expression. She watched for a while, before Green Horn eventually offered to pull and Midnight agreed to drive. To everyone’s surprise Night Owl quietly hitched himself to the carriage, quite willing to pull alongside Green Horn thus leaving Mouse to travel in comfort next to the older stallion.
“So.” Midnight Moon called in from his seat. “How fast do we need to get to Stalliongrad?”
“As soon as possible old boy. I have some things to get down in the city.”
“Can do sir.” Midnight called in. “You heard him stallions. Start pulling!” With that the two pullers began to strain against the stays they were hitched to. The carriage moved slowly at first, before gradually picking up speed. Very soon the group was traveling at a steady pace along the road to Stalliongrad. The trip was smooth, and Mouse laughed as Money Bags told stories about his home. He was in the middle of a tale about his wife’s baking when suddenly the carriage began slowing to a stop.
With a hoof, Mouse motioned him to stay down as she poked her head out of the window looking to see what had caused the delay. The cause, it seemed, was a brown-maned and -coated stallion with an hourglass cutie mark standing at the side of the road and waving at the carriage while looking concerned.
“What seems t’ be the problem?” Green Horn asked, panting lightly.
“Yes. Well, I’m looking for a pony. Have you seen one?”
Mouse couldn’t see Green Horn’s exact expression, but she could imagine it was fairly confused.
“Yes. Lots, as in everypony. Can you be more specific?”
“Ahh, right. Right. Specifics, yes.” The brown stallion seemed to be deep in thought. “Well, she’s grey. Has a blonde mane, tail and a picture of seven bubbles on her butt.” He paused before adding. “Oh and she has wings.”
“So, a grey pegasus with a seven bubble cutie mark?”
“Yes!” The stallion cried exuberantly. “That’s it! Have you seen her?”
“No.” The answer came as a chorus from everypony on board the carriage.
The stallion’s face fell.
“Well. If you do see her. Can you tell her the Doctor’s looking for her and she needs to return to the Tardis? Thanks.” Without another word he wandered away from the road, shaking his head. Mouse shook her head as well as the others waved him off, Night Owl waving in what seemed to be the opposite direction.
Mouse face hoofed before she returned to her seat.
“False alarm boss, nothing to worry yourself over.”
“Worried?” Money Bags smiled. “With you all here I feel as safe as houses. I mean, Shining Armour wouldn’t send anyone untrained to look after me.”
Mouse stifled a laugh and didn’t say anything. The next stop however was no laughing matter. The carriage was cruising along, pulled by the two stallions, when suddenly there was a rustle of bushes along the path. Mouse’s ears perked up as she heard a shout. Leaning out the window she noticed six masked ponies on the path, standing around them menacingly.
“My good ponies,” Mouse began but was interrupted when two of the ponies jumped onto the carriage and started attacking the door, the other four assuming combat positions.
Mouse could hear shots of magic and the sound of various more physical strikes occurring but she was a little bit more concerned with the two trying to get into the carriage proper.
Reaching out, she lashed out into the face of one, being rewarded with the sounds of a crunch as the attacker’s nose broke, but strangely no signs of blood.
“Mouse, my good mare,” Money Bags said, his voice wavering somewhat. “What in the dickens is going on?”
“Attack sir. Don’t worry, just sit there, you’ll be right as rain. Promise.” She pushed them back again before realizing simple punches and kicks weren’t going to work. Evidently they were spelled or something, the one with the broken nose barely seemed to notice it had been injured. With a sigh she began to slip out of her dress.
“Is this really the best time to get changed?” Money Bags asked, closing his eyes tight.
“I’d be worse off clothed. Trust me.” Mouse replied as she slid her hooves down to the straps on her sides. She learned shortly that while the attackers might be immune to most things a high speed knife-to-the-face was not one of them.
Money Bags looked at her in alarm.
“You, why, what?” He stuttered.
“Dangers of the road, mare has to be able to protect herself. Got the blades off an earth pony, um, friend of mine. Unicorn enchanted the straps, meaning double the steel in same amount of space. Cool right?”
Money Bags looked disturbed.
“But, but you just killed two ponies.”
Mouse shook her head and opened the door, pointing down. One the ground were two ash piles, the masks half buried in them.
“Those weren’t ponies sir, not that it’d have mattered. You’re more important. After all, pony life has never stopped me in the face of getting paid before.” Her voice was calm, almost joking but she knew her widened eyes and shaking was given away her shock.
“Now stay put.” Stepping carefully over the ash piles her two attackers had turned into, she lent down and sheathed the two knives before moving to the front of the carriage.
The first thing she noticed was another four piles of ash surrounding her teammates along with the unhappy frowns they wore, even Night Owl who still remained obstinately asleep. She then noticed the area surrounded them, overgrown plants were scattered around the ash piles, along with several rocks and a fair few scorch marks. From there her eyes drifted to the carriage, noting the fact that it was still on fire.
She face-hoofed.
“Unicorns.” She muttered. “Do one of you want to do something about that?”
The rest of the team turned, looking at the burning carriage. The three unicorns of the quartet hurriedly and with a good use of telekinesis shoveled enough dirt onto the flickering flames to snuff them out.
Mouse stared at the charred and blackened parts of their transport. “I see you all fared fine then? Unlike the poor carriage.”
“Yeah, we’re grand.” Midnight muttered, sounding a touch out of breath. “Absolutely peachy.”
“Good. Then get moving, we need to get to Stalliongrad A.S.A.P and hanging around here isn’t going to do us any good.”
“She’s right, you know,” Green Horn said. “Ah don’t know what those were, but they weren’t normal. Nothin’ gets it’s ear bitten off and doesn’t make a sound. And the way these things just turned to dust...”
Mouse blinked. “You, you bit off it’s ear?”
“No, I just got two of them to attack each other.”
“My respect for you has gone up.”
“Be that as it may.” Midnight Moon interrupted. “Is it safe to continue using the normal path?”
“You seriously want to go cross country with a broken carriage? Good plan, nothing can go wrong.” Mouse muttered moving to get back in. “Stick with the roads, and we’ll get there in no time.”
She slipped her dress back on, ignoring the fact that it was slightly crumpled, and spent the rest of the journey lost in thought about exactly what those ash-based creatures were. She decided to neglect mentioning the small fire to their employer, who seemed happily oblivious to it. This meant the rest of the trip was fairly quiet and punctuated only by the greetings that Money Bags called out to passersby after they had entered the city.
Soon enough the carriage pulled to a halt outside the headquarters of the First Equestrian Bank. It was huge, made of large stone blocks that came from the quarries around the area, with the letters “F.E.B” adorning the front of the building in gigantic gold letters. Mouse’s spirits lifted instantly, thoughts of dust creatures forgotten; she could almost smell the money littering the building.
Money Bags carefully got out, motioning them all to follow him inside. As Mouse passed the three stallions she wrinkled her nose at the smell of sweat and smoke that surrounded them before following Money Bags up and into the building.
She was in heaven, the rich kind. Just by looking she could tell that the statues and pictures that lined the walls were worth piles of bits each. She glanced around, frowning as she noticed the security measures that were placed strategically around the corridors and rooms in which they walked. No parting gift for her then.
Eventually, everypony settled down in Money Bags’ office, Mouse noting the name plank on his desk with amusement and wondering who decided to make all of those look the same everywhere. Money Bags removed his top hat before resting his hooves on his desk; he looked tired.
“My greatest thanks for escorting me home,” he chuckled. “Well, my office anyway.” He leaned back in his chair a small smile gracing his face.
“As I’ve said, I’m holding a party tonight. A costumed gala, as it were. I would be honoured if you would choose to attend.”
Mouse looked at the rest of the team who were looking at him wide-eyed, with the exception of Night Owl who was still fast asleep.
“Well?” he asked. Mouse nodded in time with the rest, wondering exactly what this was going to be like, and hoping against hope it wasn’t going to be as dull as most Canterlot parties she had been ‘invited’ to.
“Splendid. Here,” He reached into his desk and pulled out four bits of green paper. “Present these at the gate. You’ll be let in.” Sensing that he was tired and desired some privacy the team departed, after swiftly getting directions to where the party would be held.
Mouse wandered along at the back of the group, giggling to herself as her costume idea materialized in her mind. She watched the others move into the first fancy dress store they could find, a small place called “Heroes and Princesses – for all ages!”
She shook her head and slipped away, she was going to need a very different kind of shop for what she wanted.
Author's Note
Welp. There you go, another chapter for you to feast your eyes and comments on.
Yes that was a joke thank you for noticing,
Don't worry, we'll actually be meeting the plot next chapter, most likely.
Have a good morning/afternoon/night everypony
Cuteless.
