//------------------------------//
// A New Direction 
// Story: The Kingpin 
// by ocalhoun 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 8 – A New Direction


Twilight rushed, as quick and quiet as a summer breeze, hurrying to catch up to Rainbow. “Now, Pinkie,” she whispered, “if we're going to find out where she's headed, stealth is going to be–”

“Hey, Rainbow Dash, wait up!”

Twilight stopped just long enough to slap a hoof into her face. This was not the way to conduct surveillance! Shaking her head, she flared her horn and vanished in a flash of light.

Skidding to a halt when Twilight burst into existence in front of her, Rainbow dodged to the left, down an alley between the spa and the joke shop.

Twilight took off after her, determined to not let her get away. She rushed into the alley, only to skid to a stop herself when she saw Pinkie already at the other end.

Pinkie smiled. “Hi, Rainbow.”

Slowly, with drooping wings, Rainbow trotted to a halt as her two friends closed in on her.

Twilight sidled up alongside her. “So, Rainbow, where are you headed?”

“I was just going to Filthy Ri–”

Twilight's brows rose. Pinkie's eyes suddenly focused on Rainbow with a startling intensity.

“I... I, er...” Rainbow flinched away from the two of them. “I've really gotta go, see ya!” Leaving a rainbow trail in her wake, she shot up straight into the sky.

“Come on, Twilight! We've got to catch her before she–”

“No need.” Twilight smiled. “She was obviously delivering cash to Filthy Rich.”

“Isn't that kind of jumping to conclus–”

“But that's not where we're headed next.” Twilight's grin grew wider.

Pinkie stopped in her tracks, already halfway out of the alley. “Huh? It's not?”

“No, it's not.” Twilight casually trotted toward the other end of the alley. “We're too exposed for that, and we don't have any proof yet. No, it's time I made use of some old contacts.” She stopped, turning back to glance at Pinkie. “It's time we talked to the rival gang in Ponyville, don't you think?”