Earlier that year.
Detective First Class Rosamund glided gently through the air as she approached Trottingham. Despite the freezing winds and morose fog that always seemed to surround Trottingham, it was by far one of the most pleasurable flights that she had ever had. Not because of the journey of course, that was by far one of the worst, but the destination more than made up for it.
For the last six months, she and the two other members of her agency, Brain Storm and Brow Beat, had been on the trail of one of the world’s most elusive thieves. Normally, this would be no trouble. After all, the title of ‘World’s Most Elusive Thief’ gets banded about a lot in the criminal underworld of Equestria. It probably had something to do with cutie marks, the griffoness reckoned. Any two bit pocket picker with a theft-related cutie mark on his rear would proclaim himself to be the ‘World’s Greatest Thief’ at the drop of a hat. Ponies have a lot of good points, but subtlety was not one of them.
But this one was a bit of an oddity. For one thing, he wasn't a pony, meaning he had no ego-inflating cutie mark to blame for his complete lack of subtlety regarding his profession. Another problem was that everyone she talked to had no idea what he was exactly. The best answer she had managed to get was ‘some sort of wimpy, half-naked minotaur maybe?’ It was distressing times indeed if one of Canterlot’s best detective agencies had to go on a ‘maybe’.
Still, despite the difficulty he had posed, despite the dead ends and complete lack of leads, despite the humiliation of that one time that she had been deliberately led into the middle of a young foal’s birthday party dressed as a clown, she had managed to track him down. Well, to be specific, Brain Storm had managed to track him down, but she would be the one to capture him.
Which was why she had flown ahead of the other two, leaving them to trundle across country in a cart. Brain Storm might be a genius but he was no fighter and, despite being a pegasus, was about as graceful in the air as a rock that had somehow been bestowed the power of flight. As for Brow Beat, well the old earth pony stallion might be experienced but there was no way that he could match a young griffoness in a fight, not to mention that he was getting a bit slow in his old age, no matter what he insisted.
So she’d gone on ahead. A smile pulled at her beak as she imagined how, by the time her two colleagues got to Trottingham, she would have the perpetrator in chains and ready to be carted off to Canterlot.
Grin still plastered over her beak, she flexed her talons and began to dive down towards the city, where a Guard informant had recently spotted the easily recognized figure of Ace, trickster, magician and known thief.
Many people, and ponies for that matter, did not take the time out of their lives to enjoy the little things in life. They considered themselves far too important and busy to breath in the flowers, hear the laughter of small children and bask in the warmth of a burning warehouse.
It was the last little activity that the satyr thief known as Ace, former human and recently revealed demigod, was now enjoying. Not that his full attention was on the warehouse though. Only a few months prior he had made the agonizing decision to leave his friends, Summer Storm and Iron Will, in Manehatten so that they could enjoy their lives whilst he went on alone. This decision came just after finding out that the goddess Fortuna, also known as Lady Luck and the being who had brought him to this world, was actually his mother. Hence the whole ‘demigod’ thing. Not that the universe had seen fit to grant him any awesome demigod powers or anything, freaking cheapskate universe. No, Hercules gets super strength and the ability to punch stuff really well and what does he get? Being lucky.
Oh, and goat’s legs. Couldn't forget about the goat’s legs.
He had tried a couple of times to see if any other powers had manifested themselves whilst he hadn’t been paying attention. The confusion on his opponents face when he tried to breath ice over them was almost worth the near ass kicking he received when it turned out his didn’t have frost breath but instead regular old air breath. That fight sucked.
Still life wasn’t all bad. The last couple of months, despite being lonely, had definitely not been dull. Ever since Manehatten he had been on the trail of a group of ponies that he called the Black Brew Smugglers. Because they were smugglers. Who dealt in Black Brew. The name was appropriate, if a little unimaginative. He had hit operations in Stalliongrad and Maneapolis so far, making this particular burning warehouse his third. He couldn’t help but feel slightly overwhelmed at the sheer scale of the operation he had encountered. Though all three of his attacks so far had been complete successes, he still felt like he was barely scratching the surface of a very big iceburg. It was obvious that this operation wasn’t just big, but highly competent as well. They were very accomplished at hiding themselves from regular law enforcement, sometimes even existing right next door to them, such as they had in Maneapolis. It was only through sheer strokes of luck that Ace had managed to catch the trail of each one that he had so far.
As was becoming increasingly obvious to him, this was far more than a one man operation. He would need a team of trained professionals. The best of the best that the criminal underworld had to offer. But where in the world could he find such a team? It’s not like he had access to the same connections he had back on Earth. Back in jolly old London it would only take him a few phone calls to get a few good people together for a job. But here? It would take months to find the right people, maybe even years.
“Freeze! Put your…limbs? Yeah, that works. Put your limbs in the air!” A voice sounded from behind him, clearly unsure but desperately trying to be commanding.
The satyr span round, arms flung in the air and a wide grin on his face as he beheld the young Guardspony that was pointing a spear at him.
“I assure you officer I had absolutely nothing to do with this here conflagration.”
The stallion’s eyes strayed to the matches that were clearly visible in his hand.
“Really?”
“Absolutely. These matches? Merely circumstantial evidence. I heard a disturbance and went out to investigate and I required these matches to light my way. It was then that I found this warehouse ablaze.”
The Guard looked around at the neighborhood, which was so brightly lit by the fire that it could well have been used to signal passing aliens.
“Really?!”
“Of course. And there isn’t a witness around who could tell you otherwise.” He had made sure of that beforehand.
Suddenly a screaming stallion ran past, his mane ablaze as he galloped past the duo. It appeared to be one of the gangsters Ace had knocked out and moved outside before setting the warehouse ablaze. Evidently he had chosen to go back inside, probably to try and rescue some of their product. As he passed the two, he was screaming at the top of his lungs:
“IT WAS HIM! IT WAS ALL THAT GUY’S FAULT! THE ONE WHO LOOKS LIKE A WIMPY, HALF-NAKED MINOTAUR!”
“Now that was just rude.” Ace commented before looking back at the Guardspony, who had adopted a distinctly more aggressive stance. “Oh, right yes. How does this go? I surrender?” He announced, dropping the matches to the ground before getting on to his knees, his hands in the air and his head bowed.
This was not at all how he had imagined his night going.
4756447
ARGLBLARGVTHBBBT
Ace is back, and I had no notification of such a thing! I must fix this grievous error, and then read!
Oh man been waiting for this forever!!! :D
It's nice to see this getting a dusting off, even if the start, is well.. Certainly eye catching.
Has anyone told you that you're fan-fuckin'-tabulous lately? No? Good, 'cause I got ya covered there!
4756731 Why thank you friend. That makes me feel all warm in my heart or at least, warm in the marble substitute that I have in place of a heart. Same thing really.
Well... That was interesting
4756743
It's great to see that you're the same silly 'ole Barrel-of-Fun after all this time.
Also ten bits says that the griffin and her crew end up helping Ace out in some way, shape, or form in regards to the Black Brew Smugglers' ring.yay, ace is back. i sorta hope he gets some random op power
you have no idea how much this has made my day!
ACE
IS
BACK
B##TCHES!!!!
my excitement rizes
YESSSSSSSSsssssss
4756948
Good question. I've sent it off to the regulators asking to be part of canon but, since I don't keep up that much with the goings on of the the chessverse, I might switch that to Deutero-'I-do-what-I-like-try-and-stop-me'-canon.
4757007 Well right now there ARE no Regulators.
The 'canon' has Split into 'Canon Zero', which would be Grififn, Io, and Myself, and 'Canon Beta' spearheaded by Cheyenne, but the first meeting is tomorrow and Cheyenne was clear 'no connections ot the old chessverse'[of whcih Canon Zero IS the old chessverse]
So canon Beta is already a no-go, and Canon Zero is exceedingly roomy, already well-defines, and you'd be workign alongside three of the most over-the-top awesome authors around which really wouldn't be much different than the 'bitch-I-do-what-I-wat' canon but with the added benefit of, if you wish, potential crossovers and some guys to pester if you run out of ideas or need to know something about someplace somewhere.
4757007 on a side note, do you has a steam?
4757039
4757037
Well that complicates things a wee bit. Ah well, at least the Chessverse is progressing in its mission to have more canons than a pirate ship.
Ha, puns.
Anyways, I guess I'll go with Canon Zero Seems the simplest and I actually know the people involved.
4757064
At the moment, that would be a no
4757068 Awesome! Welcome to the fold.
As for why I asked about steam, that's how we get in touch the most, usually va text and/or voice chat, whether for planning,g abbing, idea-sharing, or just for some fun.
4757091
Cool, I'll make sure to sort out steam soon. As for the group, once you've got the Canon Zero folder sorted out I'll add this story and Wild Card to it.
4757120 It'll take a bit of time ebcause the entire forum will be undergoign a HUGE overhaul. though techncially Canon-Zero already has a folder, jsut not under that name,
Yes, more Ace for me to have before I get around to him fighting Ivan, which reminds me that I probably should start researching Knightmare, that seems more important at the moment.
Can't lie, I don't comment often, but this... THIS demanded one.
You my good sir, had my attention with Ace as a character in Wild Card, you obtained my curiosity as you developed and fleshed out his world... You DEMANDED my appreciation with where Wild Card left off.
And now? Now, NOW YOU HAVE MY AX!
Seriously though, all random bits of thought aside. You are very talented, and if this story takes longer to produce than before I'll be overjoyed that the quality remained the same.
4757245
Well thank you my fellow good sir, for your time and appreciation. I hope that you enjoy this story as much as you enjoyed Wild Card
welcome back to writing my friend! i cannot wait for some more of Ace's shenanigans, its just unfortunate that he won't have Summer and Iron to pull him out of the firing line, although, i guess he gets a new group *shrug*
anyways, watching and waiting!
"Hence the while ‘demigod’ thing."
I think you mean "whole".
And it's nice to see you back. I've been looking forward to this story picking back up.
4757309
Thank ye fixed now
The world's only satirical satyr is back, kicking bottom or what!
Woot
Holy sh8 its back get yur popcorn and soda and ride da wild ride of luck and fate!!!
It's back and it's as bloody brilliant as ever. I almost feel like Ace has gotten funnier since we saw him last.
Well, to be fair last we saw him he had killed someone, learned who his mum was and left his friends, but you get the idea.
"so that they could enjoy their lives whist he went on alone."
Whilst.
Praise the Mighty TALOS you know someone has to do it to day
aww yis
Oh my god. I though I'd never see the day...
// Sphex
THE GODDAMN BATMAN should do a read of Wild Card and this.
An excellent start to another excellent story!
I look forward to seeing what rambunctious adventures Ace will go on throughout this riveting tale!
Rambunctious means wild basically. Just a heads up there.
4758591
Fixed thank ye
it looks like you coming back to this series makes this my lucky day
i literally posted a comment asking for the sequel like 2 days ago....you sir are a god
Yes.
You know what should happen? That filly he helped in the last story should track him down and cause shenanigans while trying to join him. Cuz why not?
A sequel!
...Ok maybe that was a little over the top
Oh thank god, Ace is back. Now to prepare myself to be horrendously entertained.
*Grabs a bucket of Chex Mix* There we go. My body is ready!
4756743
You, sir, are a gentleman and a scholar in my eyes.
What I wouldn't give to pick at the grey-matter of your brain to see how you think, and therefore, how you write.
'Wild Card' is one of my top 10 favorite books I've read. Yes, 'book'. It's got quality to match any published novel.
It's your story that inspires me every day whilst I'm editing other stories, or going about my life, thinking of new ideas.
Damn. I didn't know I had all that in me.
Another trip to the therapist for me, maybe?
He still hasn't spoken to Luna about that favour...
This song comes to mind when I read about Ace:
Long story short, I freaking love you.
Hehehe, I'm drunk on happiness.