//------------------------------// // Once a Thief // Story: Sonic: Friendship is Eternal // by VGFanatic20 //------------------------------// "Rouge darling, are you sure nopony has offered you a modeling contract before?" Rarity asked as she took photos of Rouge for the next magazine. Rouge laughed a bit, a smile on her face. "No they never did, I've always been so busy that I never really had the time like I do now" she said. Rarity smiled as she took the last of the pictures. "There, you're all done for the day" she said. Before a knock came at the door. "Big darling, could you get that?" she asked. Big nodded before answering the door, Knuckles walked in. "Rouge…I need your help" he said. "themasteremeraldisinthehandsofarichguyandineedtogetitbackanditsinpiecesand" Rouge put a hand over his mouth. "slow down Knuckles. Now what's the problem?" she asked. "some pony named Filthy Rich has the Master Emerald, and worse he's shattered it and his daughter is wearing a shard of it like jewelry" he said. Rouge just blinked before laughing. "Hey! It's not funny!" he shouted. Rouge calmed down after a bit before looking at him. "and what do you want me to do about it? You never let me touch that emerald to begin with." She said, crossing her arms and turning her head away. Knuckles sighed. "please Rouge…I need you to steal those shards back for me so I can restore it" he said. She was surprised he was saying this. But not as surprised as Rarity. "you're a thief?" she asked Rouge. "technically I'm a government spy slash jewel thief" she said with a smile before turning back to Knuckles. "alright Knuckles, I'll help you on one condition" she said "and that is?" "you let me keep the restored emerald for a day" she said. "forget it!" he shouted. "it's either that or no emerald at all" she said. Knuckles sighed before admitting defeat. "alright fine" he said. "then we are in agreement. I'll get it back tonight. To tell the truth I've been itching for some thieving" Knuckles just nodded, but began to think of a way to get there before she did. He thought as he walked before noticing the Cake Shop and immediately he began to get an idea. Cake Shop Vector Espio and Charmy were helping out the Cake's with Amy and Cream, the business booming since Vector decided to temporarily make the Chaotix a catering company. Which did have a nice ring to it. Chaotix Catering. And with the help of Pinkie Pie, they really made the Cake's business boom. "head's up everyone! Got a big one to fill out today!" Vector said as he finished writing down a big order. "what's up?" Pinkie Pie asked, getting excited. "seems a guy named Filthy Rich is planning a big party for his daughter's birthday. And has asked us to cater it" he said. The Cake's were very happy from hearing that "so let's get our chefs hats and fancy pants on. time to make this party one they won't soon forget" he said excitedly. Rich Estate (later that night) Rouge looked at her target from a distance, somewhere in that building was the Emerald she was after. Her new spy suit made by Rarity to help increase her stealth capabilities by making her suit breathe so it was easier to stay cool. Only Rouge's eyes were visible with the suit completely on. She smiled under her mask as she caught a glimpse of some of the shards. Inside the estate "good night Diamond Tiara" Filthy said before turning off his daughter's bedroom lights. "good night father" she said, holding the shard close. Outside "so when do we sneak in?" Rarity asked from behind Rouge, wearing the same suit as her. Rouge mentally sighed. Having been unable to convince Rarity to let her go alone, but when Rarity pointed out her magic would be invaluable to hauling out all those shards Rouge had no choice but to agree. "just keep as quiet as possible and follow my lead" she said before starting towards the estate with Rarity behind her. Two guards stood in front of the main gate, making sure no one got in or out. Rouge thought for a moment before seeing lights in the distance getting closer, she was surprised to see that it was Vector, Espio and Pinkie delivering what looked like a cake and many other party favors. The guards let them in, Rouge smiled and quickly followed them in, careful to not be seen. Rarity also managed this feat, since she was right behind Rouge. "why deliver a cake in the middle of the night?" Rarity asked in a whisper. "must be the girls birthday tomorrow, and you know how rich people are sometimes" Rouge said just as quietly before following the carts into the estate before splitting from them with Rarity to get the Master Emerald shards. "now if I were a rich snob, where would I hide something as valuable as a shattered Master Emerald?" she wondered. "simple my dear Rouge" Rarity said before looking at a picture on the wall and tilting it, opening a passage in the wall. "I'd have a corridor built with a hidden mechanism behind a picture that no one would really suspect" she said, proud of herself. Rouge smiled at Rarity before entering the corridor with her. "nice work, maybe you should be a thief" she said. Rarity laughed, flattered at that. At the end of the corridor they found a door, sealed by a multitude of locks. "I got this" she said before taking out her satchel charges and sticking them at strategic points on the door before getting down on the ground with Rarity and pulling the trigger. The explosions destroyed the locks and opened the door. "hurry, 5 bits says that triggered a silent alarm" Rouge said as she got up and entered the room. Rarity followed her in and gazed a wondrous sight. the Master Emerald, still in pieces. "jackpot" Rouge said before she could hear the guards coming. "any ideas on another way out of the vault?" she asked. Rarity thought for a moment before going to one of the walls and bucking it, causing a door panel to open. "easy" she said before using her magic to lift the shards and escape through there with Rouge. "sir, the gem is gone. Whoever blew the door open has taken them" a guard said to Filthy who was behind them. He growled at that. "I know where they are, deploy your men to sector C5, they'll be there soon" he said. The guards saluted him and did as instructed. Rouge and Rarity were still running, trying to get to the outside. That is until the guards showed up and surrounded them. "damn" Rouge said. "Rarity, cover your eyes" Rarity did so before Rouge tossed a flashbang and ran with her, avoiding the stunned guards. They made it back to the main entrance hall before Rouge realized they were one shard short. "you go. I'll get the last shard" Rouge said. Rarity tried to protest, but Rouge had already left to get it. She sighed before something struck her in the back of the head, knocking her out. The shards dropping to the floor. The guard laughed. "you're not going anywhere" Rouge went to Diamond Tiara's room, seeing the emerald shard within reach. Carefully and slowly she reached over to grab it that is until something zapped her and knocked her out. "I must commend you for getting this far little thief. But I'm afraid you never had a chance" Filthy Rich said as he dropped the spy grade knock out zapper. Dawn Rouge awoke slowly and groggily, Rarity woke as well, both finding out they were tied to each other in two chairs that were back to back. "dammit" Rouge said. "should've figured that rich bastard had something up his sleeve" she said, watching through the barred window as the sun rose. "This is the first time that Rouge the Bat, government spy and expert jewel thief….has failed her mission" she said sadly as the rays entered the holding cell they were in.