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.
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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.”
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