//------------------------------//
// Smooth Criminal 
// Story: Smooth Criminal 
// by CaleMcManus21 
//------------------------------//

I was walking down the streets of Ponyville thinking of nothing in particular.  The moonlight shining down on my body helps me relax and relives me of stress.  I was so lost in thought that when the clock tolled midnight, I was jolted into reality.  Jeez that scared me.  Suddenly, a figure ran across the rooftop.  I quickly glanced up and saw a glimpse of the figure.  I began running down the street, keeping my focus on the figure running and jumping from rooftop to rooftop.  I turned a corner, still keeping my focus on it.  Just then, I saw it jump into an open window.  I ran over to the building and began to scale the walls.  I don't how long it took me to reach the top, but I estimated to be 2 minutes.  When I climbed into the apartment, I saw an unpleasant sight.  Lying on the carpet was a mare.  I've never seen her before and I doubt she saw me around.  Her throat has been slit and there were bloodstains on the carpet.  I looked around the room and saw a piece of paper lying on a desk.  I approached said desk and picked up the piece of paper.  When I unfolded it, I saw that only one word was written.  

'Annie'

That's odd.  I've never encountered an Annie in Ponyville.  Could this mare be Annie though?  I approached the body to examine it, but I heard a scream outside.  I hurried over to the window and saw the same figure I saw earlier.  It was wandering around as if it's injured.  I scaled down the house again and when I reached the figure, I tackled it against the wall.  I thought I heard a soft moan coming from behind the mask.  I grasped the hat and mask, but when I removed them, my eyes widened.  Twilight was looking at me fearfully.  There was a strip of duct tape across her mouth, and when I looked down, I saw that the boots of the costume were duct taped to all four of her hooves.   I felt a hoof tap me on the back.  When I spun around, the real figure punched me to the ground, and ran off.  Now I was stuck in a predicament.  Go after the criminal, or help Twilight.  Shit.  As I got up, the unicorn was moaning a muffled plea.  I turned to her and slowly removed the tape.

"The Mare-Do-Well has been committing crimes" she said.  "You must stop her!"  

"What about you?" I asked.

"I'll find help, go!" She cried.  I nodded and went to find this Mare-Do-Well.


I continued to run through the streets with no luck of finding this Mare-Do-Well.  I looked around in search of this vigilante until I saw it emerge from an alleyway.  I ran over to it and tackled it.  From under the mask was a muffled plea.  I looked down at the boots it was wearing, and sure enough, duct tape.  I removed the mask and saw Applejack.   

"Hold on" I said over her muffled warning.  "What?" I asked when Applejack's moan became louder.  I was tackled from the side by the real Mare-Do-Well.  After skidding across the dirt, it bounded off.  I got to my feet and hurried over to Applejack.  "I'm going after that scoundrel" I said as I slowly peeled the duct tape off.

"Good! Because that mare is cousin' all kinds of problems!" She shouted.  "Have you seen Twilight? We were together finding the Mare-Do-Well until we got separated."

"Yeah" I answered.  "But I don't know where she went though."   We bid each other farewell and I hurried off to hunt the criminal down unaware that it was watching me from atop a building.  After eyeing me for a moment, it ran across the building.


I continued to run until I reached the park.  Looking around, I saw that I was the only one here.  No sign of anypony nor that Mare-Do-Well.   Suddenly, I was tackled from behind.  I felt hooves grab me and flip me on my back.  I stared at the boots and wouldn't you believe it? Duct tape.  I reached for the mask and pulled it off.  Pinkie Pie.  I took note that her hair was down instead of puffy.  "Where did Mare-Do-Well go?"  I asked after slowly removing the tape from her mouth.  

"I don't know" she said.  I was just walking around Ponyville until it just grabbed me from behind and dressed me up as if I'm the real culprit."

"Ok then... Head over to Twilight's library because I believe that's where she is.  I'm going to find this Mare-Do-Well."  We bid goodbye and went our separate ways.  


My run lead me to the center of town.  Again, no sign of anypony around.  I'm the only one here.  Not only that, Mare-Do-Well isn't even around.  As I looked around, Mare-Do-Well emerged from an alley and quietly approached me from behind.   While I was still looking around, not bothering to see what was behind me, Mare-Do-Well reached into her cloak and pulled out a freshly clean knife and raised it up, the blade shining in the moonlight.  She then brought down her hoof, and slashed me in the back.  I opened my mouth and screamed in pain.  My scream was so loud, it drained out the sound of the knife hitting the floor.  Mare-Do-Well stood on her hind legs and wrapped her hooves around my neck.  I closed my eyes and waited for a snapping sound.  But it never came.  I steadily opened my eyes and felt myself being lowered to the ground.  I felt my assailant press her face against my back.  I winced when I felt the sting.  I slowly turned around and faced the masked assailant.  I slowly reached for the mask and pulled it off.  

"Fluttershy..." I gasped.  The yellow timid Pegasus stared at me with watered eyes and a duct taped mouth.  I heard her whimper and sob behind the tape.  I reached over and slowly pulled the tape off.   Fluttershy buried her face into my shirt and cried bitterly while she tightened her grip around my body.  I returned the hug and stroke her mane.  "It's ok" I whispered.  "It's ok..." Fluttershy and I remained in each other's embrace throughout the night.

Watching from above on a rooftop was the real Mare-Do-Well.  The one I've been meaning to catch, the one that killed the mare called Annie.  The one that caused this hell tonight.  She stared at the scene before her and without a word, she ran across the rooftop, unaware that I was watching from below.  One night, I'm going to catch her, and justice will be dealt.

The End