> The Mysterious Mare Do Well
>  by Dalkrin-the-Wanderer
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> TMMDW # 1: Act I: "Moving Up!"
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The Mysterious Mare Do Well #1: The Mare Before the Mask

Act I: "Moving up!"

***

It's funny. I remember clearly, a time when a pony didn't have to fear the night. When a mare could walk the streets under Luna's vivid stars and feel safe in the knowledge that no harm would come to them. It wasn't even that long ago, really. The streets of Manehatten are the worst offenders now that the night holds real darkness. The rules have changed it appears. Crimes never before seen are now commonplace. The two rival gangs, The Hoods and  The Vandals swarm the alleys and byways. And the police? Don't make me laugh. Incompetent foals and soft headed lackeys.

I should know. I was one of them. My name is- was- Amber Lights, and this is the story of how I became Mare Do Well.

***

"Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Ponyville Police Unable to Apprehend 'Mare Do Well'! Fillydelphia Snowstorms Out of Control, Weather Pegasai Baffled! Canterlot Castle to Host First Lunar Solstice Festival! Read all about it!" The crier continued to pedal his papers on the busy Manehatten street corner as the city ponies went about their lives. One Pony, a brown Earth Pony mare stopped and took a paper, dropping a bit into a jar at the crier's feet. The crier nodded his thanks to the mare and turned his attention back to his task.

Amber Lights idly skimmed the cover-story on Mare Do Well, the mysterious masked vigilante that sprang up in Ponyville not a fortnight before, who had quickly caught national media attention. Regardless of her fame, Vigilantes were unlawful and so the local authorities had no recourse but to try to capture them. This, however proved to be quite difficult as Mare Do Well skillfully avoided capture at every turn vanishing without a trace. In her Youth, Amber had read the old Half-Bit funnies. She particularly liked the super hero strips that were published. She only stopped reading them because the publishers dropped the title. She still had the old back issues in a box in her closet.

The story continued on an inside page so she deftly rolled the paper and deposited it in her saddlebags and took off for Star Buck's for her morning fix. The Barrister nodded happily when she stepped in and just as she reached the counter, he nosed a cup across to her. Thanking him, she grabbed a muffin, paid and took a seat at the nearest table. The article continued, detailing the events as they had unfolded and quoted one 'Miss Rainbow Dash' as saying "Mare Do Well, eh? Well that mare would do well to stay out of my way! Ponyville's only got room for one hero, and that hero is me!" Amber chuckled at the quote, and read on. A week and a half had passed since the last reported sighting and authorities speculated that Mare Do Well had simply given in and hung up the cape and hat.

Before too long the door jingled and a grey Unicorn trotted through. Spotting Amber at her table reading, he ambled across and took a seat across from her, unnoticed.

"Hey gorgeous," He said with a wry smile. The edge of Amber's paper lowered to reveal a jokingly contemptuous glare.

"Easy there, Romeo, I'd hate to have to hit you with a harassment suit so early in the morning," The brown mare joked with her friend. "So, Stone. Any word on that promotion I've been hearing about?"

Stone Shifter ran a hoof through his dark brown mane and leaned back in thought. "Not much, but I know it's going to be in house, and word from the Scuttlebutt is a certain brown filly's been in the Chief's good graces for some time."

"Shame about Holmes though," Amber sighed, rolling her paper up and getting to her hooves. "I was sure that Colt could survive anything. I guess a runaway trolly's a bit much to ask though."

"Bad luck's what it was."

"Yeah." Amber drained the last of her coffee and dropped the cup in the trash as the two ponies left the shop. "Just gets me though. Best case record on The Force, a Mare and two fillies. That Stallion had it all right."

"Heh, You're tellin me!" Stone shook his head as they waited for the crossing guard to signal them pass the intersection. "I'm like a walkin example of why you don't do what he didn't do."

"Ah, You're not that bad," she joked, nudging the glum unicorn with an elbow. The guard waved the crowd onward and they followed it's flow for a time. "A little rough around the edges sure, but hey! No pony's perfect."

"I guess. Say, Where do ya' recon Chief's gonna put us today? I hope we get an uptown beat." 

"You're a really lazy sod you know." Amber sighed as they approached the precinct doors.

"Hey, I can't help that I'd rather not deal with the Hoods and Vandals during a turf war."

Amber could only nod to this, cause really, she felt the same. Downtown Manehatten recently began playing host to two rival gangs, the Hoods, and the Vandals. It had become even worse in the last few weeks as the two gangs began to push at each others borders. The Downtown beat had always seen it's share of crime and rowdiness, but now, it was at a whole new level. Scarcely a day went by without reports of street brawls, break-ins and even the occasional killing. The homicide department was once a single office. Now, it had it's own wing of the building.

Inside the lobby, the off duty officers gathered around The Chief, a portly blue Pegasus, with a mustache and a clipped left ear. He was speaking to the gathered ponies when he turned and spotted Amber and Stone walking in.

"Ah, Detective Lights! Just the mare we've been waiting for!" he shouted over the hubbub of the lobby.

"Morning Chief. How's ever..." She paused for a moment and replayed what had been said in her mind. "Did you say 'Detective Lights', Chief?"

The Chief's grin widened. "That I did! Congratulations on your new position within the Manehatten Police, Detective." He thrust a hoof forward towards her which she shook, a smile slowly spreading across her muzzle. "I've got your first case lined up and waiting on your desk!"

"Hold it! I have a desk too?"

"Comes with the badge, Filly." Clapping her on the back, he smiled even more broadly as he continued. "And since we go nowhere alone, I'll let you keep your pet!" At this, he glanced back to Stone shifter whose grin quickly faded into a pointed glare at the Chief. "Ah, lighten up Stone! We're celebratin!"

Stone continued his glare as the gathered ponies headed in for shift change. With the general announcement out of the way, the Chief began leading the two new promotees into his office behind the booking desks. Once inside, he fluttered across the room to a filing cabinet and withdrew two forms. "Just need your John Hancolts here, and it's official."

Amber quickly signed her name, and hooved the pen to Stone Shifter who grabbed it with his magic and followed suit. Badges were handed to the duo along with a case-file which Stone took. "Amber, Your new desk is just around the bend. The one in the corner, oh, and when you got time, look over the policy on desk decor. No sense in getting yourself in trouble over something like a paperweight."

"Will do Chief! Oh, and this case? Anything I need to know right off hoof?"

"Just a string of robberies. We think the Hoods may be involved." The Chief plodded up behind his desk and dropped to his haunches and began pulling papers across towards him. "You'll be downtown for all of this so watch your flank. Don't need you getting into any trouble the case don't throw your way. Also, we're supposed to give some speech or other about 'conduct befitting an officer of the Royal Equestrian Police' but I just can't be bothered, so here's the short and skinny. Read everypony their rights, don't rough em up too bad, and make sure you follow S.O.P. at all times. That's it, good luck and don't get lost on the way."

"Count on it," Amber said as she led Stone Shifter from the office and towards her new private workspace. "Detective Amber Lights," she mused idly, a wistful smile gracing her features. "Movin on up, eh Stone?"

"That's what I heard," He said, looking over the files as they approached the desk in the corner. A mat and name placard were all that adorned the surface. The placard read "Detective A. Lights" and the mat looked worn and well used. To Amber, it looked brand new. She plopped down behind her desk and ran her hooves over the polished wood surface, opened and shut drawers and adjusted her name plate for a moment, until apparently satisfied.

"So, what's the low down on our first assignment Partner?"

"Like the chief said, a string of robberies that fit the same M.O. All magi-tech appliance shops, and all at midnight right around Trottingham and Hundred-First. Right on the razors edge as it were. Hoods to the north, and Vandals to the south." He turned a page in the report, and magicked a map from the file to the desk with locales circled. "There are where they hit, in red. In blue are likely future targets and in green are priority." 

"It kinda looks like somepony's done all the detecting already." Amber said, slightly put out by all the work that's already been done for them.

"This was Holms' last case before the accident. He'd had it about two days before." The grey unicorn shuffled the papers again and a paper fell out as Amber was fiddling with a drawer again. It was a dossier picturing a Diamond Dog with red teeth and earrings Entitled 'Ruby Tooth'. Without drawing attention to it, he used his magic to slip the picture to the bottom of a full wastebasket nearby and shut the file with a snap, catching the brown mare's attention as she was slipping her newspaper into a drawer. "Well, no use in us wasting Celestia's sun. Let's hit the cobbles."

Amber nodded and with badge pinned to her coat, followed The Grey stallion from the building and out into the bustling city streets. As they moved towards their goal, Amber only became more excited, whereas Stone Shifter was becoming jumpy and antsy. With a shrug, she attributed his strange behavior to nerves over their first case and trotted merrily along, chatting with the unresponsive unicorn at her side. As they neared downtown, the buildings became taller and more brick appeared in the construction. The streets were worn and the ever present Manehatten crowd thinned to a few isolated gaggles of nervous ponies hurrying about their business.
> TMMDW # 1: Act II: "Betrayal and Comeuppance"
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Mysterious Mare Do Well #1: The Mare Before the Mask

Act II: "Betrayal and Comeuppance"

***

After that, It all really goes down hill. I don't hate him for what he did, but we both know, one day, he'll get his. I'll be sure of that. I should have seen coming it too, but I guess there's what they say about Hindsight. I just know, nothing's gonna change what happened next, no matter how much I wish for it to go away, for me to wake up in my bed and forget this, like any other nightmare. Heh... Nightmare... But pay attention this is where it all really begins. 

Cause you see... This is the part where I die.

***

"This is the place," Amber said at last. "Trottingham and a hundred-first. There's the first store that was hit. Let's start there." With and ever increasingly antsy Stone in tow, she led the way across the street to a small unassuming Magi-tech repair shop. The bell above the door rang merrily prompting a less than welcoming 'welcome' from the Unicorn mare at the counter who hardly even glanced up from her copy of 'EQ Music'. Amber approached the counter, glancing about the shop. "Excuse me miss," She began. The mare huffed and swung her head up in typical adolescent fashion.

"Yeah?" She drawled. Amber just gave her a look and pushed onward.

"Yes, My name is Detective Amber lights, and this is my Partner, Officer Stone Shifter. We're here about the break-in a week ago." They each flashed their badges. "Is the owner it?"

The mare rolled her eyes. "Yeah, let me get him," She sighed and pivoted to face a beaded curtain behind her into which she bellowed, "HEY GRANDAD! SOME COPS HERE TO SEE YOU!" Both Stone and Amber flinched as the mare let loose this shout.

"Comin', I'm a'comin!" An elderly unicorn clambered down the stairs and trotted through the beads. "Petunia, why don't ya go take a break, let me talk to these nice folk," he said to the young mare. 

"What ever," she huffed and slipped down a hall behind the same curtain. Seconds later a door snapped shut and muffled music began playing. Amber recognized it as one of DJ Pon-3's latest works of 'Dubtrot'. She was not a fan. Looking around, she spotted Stone peering out the window, watching the passers by. He seemed to have calmed himself down a bit. With a smile,she turned to the elderly stallion before her.

"Good Morning, Mr... it says 'Silver Watch'?" She looked to him for confirmation. He nodded and she continued. "yes, Mr. Watch. My name is Detective Amber Lights, and my associate here is Officer Stone Shifter. I would like to ask you some questions about the break-in a few nights ago, if you have the time."

"Oh! Sure, but didn't that one Stallion, eh what was his name? Oh yeah, Detective Holmes. I already spoke with Mr. Holmes."

"I'm sorry to have to inform you. See there was an accident. Detective Holmes didn't make it through. I'm his replacement."

"I'm sorry to hear about that. Please, ask what you need."

"Thank you, It won't take a minute. I just need to recheck his facts." Over the following minutes, she inquired about the specifics of the event, what he saw and heard and what all was taken. What she came out with matched almost letter for letter with what Holmes had found. It was one of the gangs. The owner suspects the Hoods because they were often causing trouble for him and most of what was stolen was cash from the safe and a few appliances that sat in the front of the shop. With a smile and thanks, Amber and Stone took their leave of the shop. Stone's nerves slowly returned to him as they ventured deeper into Downtown to the point that The brown mare couldn't help but think it was more than just jitters over the job.

"Hey Rocks for brains, what's got you all spooked today?" she asked, jabbing him in the ribs lightly.

"What? What do you mean? I'm fine!" Stone lied, trying to steady his nerves with limited success. Amber gave him a sidelong glance and shook her head.

"Nope," She stated flatly. "Not buyin' it. What's eatin ya'? C'mon. You can tell me. I'm your partner here. We're practically family!"

"Look, it's personal," Stone snapped. "Just leave it and let's get to work."

"Jeeze, alright, I hear ya'." The two made the rounds of the shops that were hit. Each M.O. Matched perfectly, and it all pointed to the hoods. The shops marked Priority targets were very similar to previous hits and the others seemed very unlikely. They stopped at a corner cafe' and grabbed lunch. Stone had managed to put his nerves in check and was munching happily on his hayfries and runny carrot soup while Amber ate a dandelion and daffodil sandwich. Outside, a street vendor was selling pears on the corner and a small group of Diamond Dogs were walking the streets decked out in leather jackets with chains and studs. Amber shuddered at the thought of wearing animal skins, but was determined to respect their culture.

Taking her eyes away from the scene on the street, she turned Stone who was lapping his soup contentedly. "Game plan time. We got three likely marks. We gotta catch them in the act so we're gonna have to stake them out."

"Are you sure? I mean, listen," Stone pushed his empty bowl away and gave her his most serious look. "I know you're excited to break that badge in, but it's your first night on the new job. You really wanna do somethin so risky right off the bat?"

"Ordinarily, I'd agree with ya, but if they keep with the pattern, tonight's when they pull the heist. It'll be our last chance to get eyes on these perps for a week."

Defeated with her logic, Stone leaned back and looked out the window. Amber's gaze followed. The Diamond dogs were lounging around the mouth of an alley having a lively debate while they munched on some pears. For the sake of her work, she assumed that they had paid for them and returned to the case file. Reading a bit, a sudden puzzled look crossed her face. "Huh?" rifling through the pages, her confusion grew. "That's weird. These papers here reference a dossier on some guy named 'Ruby Tooth', but the page is missing."

"Uh, yeah... that's weird all right," The grey unicorn was becoming antsy again and decided to derail the topic before it could go any further. "Say, you said we're gonna stake those places out. How's about I take the one on Lancaster, and you get the one on a hundred-sixth?"

"Sounds good, but what about the third one by the park here," she said, pointing to the map laid out on the table.

"I don't see another pony here so we just gotta choose our battles and hope we get lucky." Collecting the bill, he stood and trotted over to the counter to pay with the brown mare close behind. "Besides, that one's got that new Magi-tech alarm system according to the file so out of the three, it's the least likely to be hit."

Nodding knowingly, Amber readily agreed. "Makes sense. Glad I got such a savvy partner. So I guess we should get set up as soon as possible. I'll head to One-Oh-Sixth. Be sure to keep good notes if anything goes down and tonight we're observing. Not interfering."

"Gotcha boss-lady," Stone joked as they trotted off to their respective destinations. Just before he was out of earshot, the grey unicorn turned and shouted after her, "Oh, Amber!"

"Yeah? What is is?"

"See Ya, Gorgeous!"

"Ugh! Cram it before I cram it for ya, you pig!" She shouted back, laughing all the while. A contented smile on her face, Amber proceeded to her destination. The street was as busy as she might expect this time of day. As far as she could tell, the only entrances to the building were the front door and the fire escapes so after a bit of searching, she found a loft above the club across the street that had a clear view of both. The club was 'The Celestial Vibe'. Amber idly wondered if the princess had authorized the use of her title for such a place. Her smile broadened as she imagined the Princess of the sun dancing in a dark room with bright flashing lights like some raver. She found it odd that she did not consider the image outside the realm of possibility.

The crowd thickened slowly around the entrance to the club at around eight that evening. The rest of the day had passed uneventfully. She had watched the shop she was staking out close and the owner lock up and leave and was now anticipating some kind of activity, but then the music started playing, loud. Ponies began to swarm from either direction congregating at the door to the club and it quickly became apparent that there was some kind of event going on here. Hurriedly, she sought out a staffpony who told him that the one and only DJ Pon-3 was doing a live set that night. Looking out into the main body of the building, she saw the dance floor totally packed and up on her podium, a blue maned pony with ridiculous purple shades was working the turntables with deft hooves. She wound her way to the entrance and saw the party simply spilled out onto the street. The music was channeled out through speakers and the ponies were dancing with the same fervor as the ones inside.

It shortly became obvious that a criminal would be insane to try and hit that particular shop with so many witnesses around as many ponies were loitering around the very store in question. A moments pause to consult her map, and Amber Lights struck off towards the third likely target, thinking to herself about eggs and baskets. It was a short enough walk, and she rounded the corner. Putting away her map, she scanned the streets. It was dead quiet. No hoof traffic and in ten minutes, only one chariot passed by. She ducked into a nearby alley, uneasy of the prospect of keeping her back exposed but even more wary of being readily visible to anypony. Somewhere in the distance a clock struck ten.

Maybe an hour in, maybe less Amber spotted a pony trotting down the street from the opposite direction. A grey pony, but she couldn't make out any features in the poor light. The Pony ducked into the alley beside the Magi-tech shop and disappeared. After a moment to be sure he wasn't coming back out, Amber pursued the suspect individual. Once at the mouth of the alley, Amber hugged herself against the far wall which was a near shade to her coat and inched her way in. At the back of the alley, she saw the Grey pony standing with his back to her. She caught a glimpse of horn and her breath caught. 'couldn't be,' she assured herself, and continued to watch.

Before long a carriage trundled from out of sight, stopping in front of the Unicorn. The door opened and a tall Diamond dog climbed out wearing a white and brown jacket with inset red gems. He carried a walking stick and he smiled broadly revealing gleaming red teeth. "Ruby Tooth," Amber breathed inching across the alley for a closer look.

The Diamond dog, presumably 'Ruby Tooth' spoke first, "Ah, well. This is quite a surprise! I didn't expect to see you of all ponies here, mister 'I'll keep quiet but don't expect help'," the Diamond dog grunted as his cronies began inspecting the door. "What brings you down my alley?"

"I got good news and bad news Tooth," The pony spoke. Amber barely stopped herself from audibly gasping when she heard Stone Shifter's voice.  "Good news is that Holmes pony you've been worried about ain't gonna bother you no more."

"Ah. That is good news," Ruby Tooth said nodding. "I hope the bad news is nothing too bad, for both our sakes."

"The bad news... uh, yeah, the bad news is..."

"Come on, spit it out. I ain't got all night to sit in this festering ally listening to you yammer away," he said, jabbing Stone Shifter with his walking stick for emphasis.

"The Chief assigned a new Detective to the case and she's basically picked up where Holms left off. You should be in the clear for today but we'll need to run interference so she don't catch wise. I made sure to pull your Dossier from the file but that won't keep her long."

"Well, this is easily remedied. I'll just arrange another 'accident' and we'll be clear of her too."

"NO!" Stone shouted, catching himself he carried on, "I mean, isn't that just a bit drastic? We don't even know if she's a threat yet."

Ruby Tooth smiled even more broadly, revealing every one of his blood red teeth. "Does our little informant have a connection to this detective? Isn't that sweet boys?" He asked, turning to his cronies who were busily working the locks on the door with magic and lock-picks.

"Yeah, boss. Hi-Larious," One said thickly. The both laughed along with their boss stopping the moment he did.

"You know, I'm feeling a bit generous today," Ruby Tooth said, tapping his cane's ruby pommel against Stone Shifter's horn causing him to flinch back. "You got one day to get her off our backs or it's curtains for the filly."

"Thank you Ruby Tooth," Stone Said with great relief. "You won't regret it!"

"For your sake, and the sake of your little crush, I hope not."

Amber had seen enough. Cautiously as she could, she began to back away from the scene. When she was out of sight, she went to turn and smacked headlong into a garbage pale which made a loud crash and brought her to the floor.

"The quartz was that?" She heard Ruby Tooth say as she shot to her hooves. "Sic 'em Boys!" He shouted which was returned with a howl and the sound of quickly approaching paws. Before she could even make to run, the two flunkies were on top of her and dragging her towards their boss. Around the corner, she spotted both Stone Shifter and Ruby Tooth looking her way. She visibly saw Stone's heart sink as he recognized her.

"Amber, What the hay are you doing here?" He demanded in a defeated tone. "You were supposed to stake out the other store..."

"Oh. So this is our new Detective," Ruby Tooth said with a malicious grin. "Such a pretty thing. It's a shame we have to be rid of her." Stone shot a terrified glance towards Ruby Tooth. "But, I'm a dog of my word. I know you won't be able to but my offer stands. You've got one day to get her off my back for good, or I go feed the fish in the Hoofson." Ruby Tooth turned and faced his minions who quickly began working the door again. "Twenty-Four Celestia given hours, and not a minute more. Starting..." He waited a moment, then a moment more, and when the clock chimed the half hour, he spoke again. "Now! At Ten-Thirty tomorrow night..." He trailed off as the door opened and the two lackeys went in. And began gathering the loot.

Amber Lights glared daggers at Stone. The very thought of him made her stomach churn, and that cheeky 'Gorgeous' thing he did made her want to throw up. 

"How could you?" Was all she could manage to ask of him after a full five minutes. "We've been partners for two years Stone! HOW COULD YOU DO THIS?!"

"Oi! Shut that mare up before I cane her!" Ruby Tooth Shouted over his shoulder at the two. 

Stone could hardly breath. The gravity of his situation was weighing in on him. He was stuck now. His partner, or the notoriously violent crime boss behind him. 

"I'm sorry, but I'm not a good Colt like you thought," he said at last. "'Bout three years ago, before we even met, I was in a touch of trouble with the local bookies. Ruby Tooth was a 'Freelance Financier' as he put it, and he covered my debts. In exchange, I kept quiet and hid his dirty dealings where I could. After a while, I got in too deep. Now I can't get out. If I tried, I'd disappear or maybe get 'accidentally hit' by a trolley. It's not pretty and I don't expect you to understand or forgive me. But please... Please... Just this one thing... Drop this and forget about what you saw tonight. I'll get a transfer and you'll never have to look at my ugly mug again, but please. You don't know what this guy's capable of."

"You sicken me Stone. I used to respect you, to look up to you, but now? Now you're just as bad as any one of the scumbags we put behind bars. I won't forget what I saw here," Amber drew a deep breath and continued with deeper fervor. "I'll make sure somehow that all this gets out and I'll take you and your boss down. Just you wait."

"Should have know," Stone sighed. "I wish you would listen to reason. You can't get out of this Amber. Ruby Tooth's gonna kill you and maybe me too because of this. You may hate me, but you're my friend and I don't want to see you hurt."

Amber continued to glare at him, unwilling to speak any further on the topic. Her mind was made up and she wasn't going to budge. Ruby Tooth's cronies came out of the shop, the Unicorn carrying easily ten times what the Diamond dog was. Ruby Tooth ordered them to secure Amber and place her in the smuggler's boot. Amber struggled and fought to escape the binds they put around her but to no avail. Soon she was hog tied and laying in a compartment laid into the floor of the carriage, over which Ruby Tooth laid a plank of wood, which clicked snugly into place. The last thing she saw before darkness slid around her as Stone's sad face and the malicious grin of Ruby Tooth.

It felt like hours but it may have been minutes. The darkness was, if this was even possible, more oppressive than the ropes that bound her. Her mind was racing. Her first day on the job and she already uncovered police corruption, a theft ring and one of the key Local Hoods' Bosses. If she made it out of this alive, she'd be decorated for sure. That thought was marred in no small way by the betrayal of her once best friend. She tasted bilge and it was all she could do to keep from openly weeping. She could see nothing around her, but the walls were cramped and her mobility was nil in the tight space. The Carriage rattled and shook over the cobbles turning left right and left again. Over and over. She estimated that they had to be somewhere by the piers by now but she couldn't be sure.

All at once, the carriage stopped and the passengers disembarked. There was a shuffling noise and bright light flooded her vision with a loud snap as the panel was pried from it's place. Before her vision could adjusts, her head was covered in a burlap sack and she was roughly drug from the Smuggler's boot carried away and unceremoniously tossed to the floor, where she laid perfectly still listening for the sounds of movement, fear tearing at her insides. Ruby Tooth promised to let her live and nothing more. Her experience as a cop clued her into several quite horrible but entirely nonlethal things that could happen in the next day.

For a moment, nothing happened. Her ears cocked and swiveled wildly, seeking out any sound at all. All she heard was a single set of lungs working nearby. She lay still for a while longer, but the stiffness of her legs was becoming unbearable and her shoulder was pressed into something sharp and uncomfortable. With all due caution, she shifted herself and tried to stretch her legs. The ropes prohibited much movement so her discomfort remained but she felt secure enough to try and work the burlap sack from her head. With several grunts and shimmies, she got her head over the jutting object that had been pressing into her and used it to guide the sack from over her head.

Several seconds passed of this attempt and the sack finally came free. She was in some kind of  cellar. One window but it was painted white and one door, but it was guarded by a very intense looking gryphon who had watched the whole display with a disinterested air. The room was stark and barren, grey concrete on all sides even above. From the ceiling hung a single bare light bulb. The floor was scrubbed and the sharp thing she had been thrown on appeared to be the busted grating of a small drain in the center of the room.

"Where am I?" She ventured to ask of the Gryphon, who just looked at her and cocked an eyebrow in a look that clearly said 'If you think I'm gonna tell you, you're stupid'. The gryphon sat and watched her as she shimmied around to angle her binds against the grate. She saw a smile creep  to the flexible corners of the Gryphon's mouth as she worked the ropes. After a time, a chuckle escaped the Gryphon and Amber glared. "Just what, Pray tell, is so funny?"

"Nothin," said the Gryphon. It was female and the voice was surprisingly soft and gentle despite her position as the cell guard in a crime boss's lair. "Carry on, you'll get them eventually." she continued in a condescending tone.

Amber looked away pointedly and began working the ropes with renewed vigor. Her breath was ragged and she was sweating profusely when she finally gave into the Gryphon's taunting laughter which had escalated in the intervening time. "Enough! I guess you know something I don't?" she nearly shouted at the nearly hysterical gryphon, who sobered up enough to give response.

"The rope's enchanted. Won't break for anything less than a buzz-saw," She said pointing to the bindings with a talon. "I figured a cop would know about all that stuff, but I guess letting foals into the force, there's bound to be a learning curve."

Amber ignored the jibe and sighed, admitting defeat against the ropes. She just gazed at the whitewashed window for a bit longer, ordering her thoughts. "Hey, uh..."

"Call me Tamm."

"Tamm. Seeing as I'm probably being put to death sometime in the next twenty four hours, you mind giving me the time?"

"Sure... Why not," Tamm said, leaning back to see some clock in the other room. "Looks to be about two in the morning."

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it," Tamm leaned leisurely against the door jamb and looked down at the captive. "Say," she said at last. "What's a girl like you doin bein a cop anyway? Ain't it usually the muscle-heads and 'tough colt' types what go for that stuff?"

Amber considered not answering but figured, why be totally bored while waiting for your death? She put on a thoughtful expression before giving answer. "I guess it started back in elementary... I was a bit of a trouble maker, always getting into fights and stuff. The teachers thought I needed some direction so they made me Hall Monitor. Couldn't stand it at first but it grew on me. I actually got my cutie mark during the huge rainstorm a few years back. Everyone was panicking but I stayed cool and helped the teachers direct the students into the safe-rooms. Sure it didn't do any real good, but it calmed them down enough that the teachers could deal with the problems that arose. After everything cleared up, A teacher pulled me aside and congratulated me. I thought is was for helping, but he pointed to my flank and My silver star had appeared. I almost passed out from the excitement. I realized I liked to help keep order so I decided to join the Manehatten Police after that, and the rest is history."

"Well, that's cool I guess," Tamm said. "Not my bag but hey! To each their own."

Amber nodded and sighed. Dread was creeping in on her as the seconds moved onward. To distract herself she decided to keep talking with Tamm.

"So, I told mine, so what's your story? What's a bird like you doin in a place like this?"

Tamm laughed and nodded. "Fair's fair I guess. Hmm... where to start?" She scratched the bottom of her beak with a claw. "I guess it was back at the old nest. With my folks. Dad didn't really care what I got up to, and mom was so far down the neck of a bottle she didn't know what clean air smelled like." She looked a bit sad, but carried on. "Well, when mom passed after trying to fly on a full binge, Dad just kinda shut down. I'd been in trouble before that, but it snowballed after that. I was working with some shady characters when I met up with ol' Ruby up there. Oh, and don't call him 'Ruby'. He messed the last guy that did that up pretty bad." She shook her head at the thought and moved on. "But I met Ruby Tooth and he took me under his wing. I guess I'm what you'd call his second or something like that. That was about five years ago, before all this 'Hoods and Vandals' business. Been working together ever since."

"I guess we all have reasons for what we do," Amber mused. "You know. All things considered Tamm, I'm glad we met. If it were different circumstances I guess I would be trying to arrest you or pin you to a crime or some such."

"heh, Don't get too attached kid, Ruby Tooth's not too happy with ya. Me? I got nothing against ya." The two continued to chat, Amber occasionally asking the time. They ended up getting to know each other pretty well and Amber was genuinely glad that she had met the Gryphon. For a while, Amber dozed on the hard floor. Tamm had pulled a blanket over her so she could try to get comfortable. The dread hour fast approached. It was nine the next evening before anything of interest happened.

Tamm ruffled her wings and yawned as a door nearby screeched on it's hinges and snapped shut with a metallic ring. Turning around, she nodded. "Heya Stone. Your girl's doin fine. Just been chatin with her. Nice kid. Shame what's gonna happen."

"Thanks Tamm," He put a hoof on her shoulder and she returned the gesture. "Boss sent me to collect her."

"Alright," Tamm squeezed his shoulder reassuringly. "And I really am sorry about all of this. But the Phaytes won't be denied so you just gotta roll with the punches."

Stone nodded and lifted Amber into the air with his magic. "You sure you won't reconsider Amber?"

She looked pointedly away from him. Tamm approached and placed a taloned and over her hoof. "I really am sorry." Amber smiled at the kindly Gryphon.

"Not your fault Tamm."

"Good luck on the other side, little pony."

Amber just nodded and was led away by Stone Shifter. Outside the cell, she saw a desk separating a small office room from a large storage building. The carriage sat in the center of the larger room. She was led away from there and through a large metal door that led to loading docks. The late night moon cast a heavy shadow over them both. There was another similar door on the far end of the docks which she expected to be led to, Stone stopped. He looked up at her for a moment, with apprehension clear in his eyes.

"The hay you think you're looking at," She demanded, swinging her bound hooves at him. A moment longer he stared and then the magic aura flared causing the ropes to fall away. Amber was totally confused. He set her down gently and turned to look her right in the eye.

"Get out of here. According to the papers and as far as the police know, you're already dead, and Ruby made sure to frame you for the robberies."

A strained "What?" was all she could manage.

"Amber, I'm saving your life here. Disappear, get out of town. Amber lights is Dead and even if she wasn't, she's a wanted fugitive. Just run."

"Wait, won't you get in trouble?"

"I got it all worked out. I'll say you knocked me down flailing trying to escape and fell into the water, still bound. The current is so strong, your body'd be way out to sea before anyone even noticed you're gone." Stone looked away towards the sea. "It's not perfect but it's all I could manage. But you gotta vanish, or it all comes back to me."

"Okay... Thank you, but don't go thinkin this changes anything." 

"I understand. Good luck."

Amber turned to leave and made her way down the docks intent on taking a dingy and rowing away.

"Oh, Amber!" Stone Called.

Amber looked back, "What is is?"

"See ya, Gorgeous."

Despite herself, Amber grinned, and dropped herself down into a boat and began rowing away.
> TMMDW # 1: Act III: "Finding Mare Do Well"
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The Mysterious Mare Do Well #1: The Mare Before the Mask

Act III: "Finding Mare Do Well"

***

So now I'm dead. Dead to the world and even if I wasn't my life is basically over. So I decide then that something needs to be done. I'm in no position to do anything but there's somepony out there who may be able to put an end to this. I decided that night that I was going to find the Mysterious Mare Do Well and try to enlist her aid in putting a stop to all of this. It's a lot harder to find your way around Equestria when your face is on the front page of Equestria Daily, The Royal Tribune, New Yoke Times and even The Tabloid papers.

I did run into some unexpected help along the way, as well as some serious stumbling blocks. One pony ended up being a bit of both. I am, of course talking about 'The Pink Lady' but I'm getting ahead of myself here.

***

Not a bit to her name, Amber trudged down the deserted stretch of road out in the east Equestrian Countryside. She had brought her boat a few miles along the coast and took to land on the outskirts of the city. As far as she could tell it was still late in the night. Maybe just reaching one in the morning so she hardly met a soul. All she knew of where she was going was that it was near Canterlot. Almost clear on the other side of Equestria. She'd plodded through the suburbs and eventually found herself beyond the city limits in the weak predawn light. The road she was on was a secondary highway, rout 53 which, if she remembered right, would take her as far as hoofington before heading towards Fillydelphia, and their monstrous snowstorm.

She spotted a copy of yesterday's Equestria Daily laying at the side of the road, sporting a rather unflattering picture of herself and a massive headline, 'Police Mare Accused of Grand Theft Presumed Dead After Magi-tech Meltdown'. A sick feeling in the pit of her stomach prevailed as she read the passage. It was strange. She knew that she was supposed to be dead, but seeing it in a paper really drove the message home. She could never go back. Every step forward was a step into a new life. A new identity and a new past. She couldn't safely be Amber lights anymore and the thought hurt.

Dropping the paper and stepping on it pointedly, She continued on her way. Days of solitary travel ahead of her and a life cut short behind she soldiered on, a goal set firmly in her mind. Find Mare Do Well. She passed nopony for hours as the sun began it's morning rise. A small village passed into view from behind a copse of trees and the smell of a baker's oven reached her nose, causing her empty stomach to make itself known. She had no money and was for all intents and purposes, dead. How was she to feed herself? An idea pushed itself into her mind but she quashed it as quickly as it was thought. She would never stoop so low. The star on her flank forbade it. Walking on, she passed the bakery, and only gave it a passing glance of longing before she moved on. The village was small and she was through it before the sun reached zenith. She resolved to forget about her hunger and just focus on the journey ahead. The law forbade grazing on the highways so all the green grass she passed was off limits.

Try as she might, the hunger stayed with her. The day faded into evening and evening into night. She stopped by a stream that passed under the roadway and took as long a drink as she could, desperately trying to fill her empty stomach with something. She walked on into the night, the hunger returning in short order but she slowly grew accustomed to it's hollow bite. Hoofington loomed in the distance. She knew the road she was on would lead her through and onward to Fillydelphia so she struck off to the west, aiming for her best approximation of Canterlot's direction. She found rest in a small clearing and woke again a few hours later with the rising of the sun. Continuing on her trek she found a back road and decided to follow it to the Main roads.

Almost three days with no food and little sleep were wearing heavy on Amber as she slumped along the road, hooves dragging, head hung low and mane matted and dirty. The last thing she had eaten was a snack bar while she waited in the loft above the club. Hours more since her last proper meal. She had forgotten the hunger in favor of the bone weariness of malnourishment. It was not so bad that she couldn't keep going but she knew if she didn't eat something soon, she could very well starve to death.

The solitude was strange as well. In her two days traveling, she could count on her hooves the ponies she had seen. In the city, she could barely drop a hoof without treading on somepony. A sea of faces, Stone had called it. Her mind slowly ground to a halt at the thought of Stone Shifter. In her state, she didn't remember why immediately but that name was no good anymore. Then she remembered and the anger returned. Then she remember the risk he took for her and the anger cooled... it was still there but tempered and redirected slightly.

Now she was angry at Ruby Tooth. Now she had a plan, but her mind was working so slowly she could hardly remember what it was. She sat and leaned against post on the roadside and thought. She had to find somepony. Somepony that could help fix all this. Her thoughts were interrupted by a loud gravelly cough.

"Pardn' me Miss," A tan Earth Pony Stallion with wearing a black hat was standing over her looking concerned. "Are you alright?"

"Who me?" Amber said weakly. The words felt weird after not having spoken for two days. "I think so. I'm looking for somepony..."

"Why don't you come up to the homestead?" He said. "The wife is preparing lunch, you look famished."

"Wha... Oh, okay?" She said, and just followed the Stallion. Bleary eyed, she gazed around. She had leaned against his male box. It read "The Pie's". She saw a newspaper and that made her nervous, but for the life of her, she couldn't remember why. Shaking her head, she looked around the rest of the property. A mineral farm. Flat barren earth spread wide, with rocks of various types laid all around. Farms like this provided the mineral mud that spas used to treat their customers. Amber wasn't even sure why she knew that but she paid it no mind as they approached the house on the property.

Two adolescent Fillies were cleaning their hooves off in a small trough in front of the house and from the door the smell of cooking. Broccoli and cheese soup. Amber's stomach gave a painful lurching rumble as they approached. She winced at the sensation as the Stallion spoke to the two fillies.

"Inkamena, Blinkamena, go tell mother to set a place for one more. I've brought a guest," The Stallion said, motioning to Amber who had stumbled and was now sitting on her haunches looking slightly dazed.

"Yes Papa," the sisters chorused as one and they trotted into the house. The screen door swung shut behind them and their voices carried out onto the patio as the spoke to their mother.

"My name's Clyde, by the by," He said extending a hoof politely.

Taking it in his, Amber spoke. "Nice to meet you. My name's Am-" She faltered. That name was no good. Had to think of a better one. "Am... Ambrosia. Ambrosia Stars," she decided.

"A pleasure. Well, Miss Stars, why don't you come on in and grab a seat at the table, and I'll introduce you to the family."

Amber nodded and followed Clyde through the door into the quaint little house. Few photos adorn the walls. The one she can spot readily was hung across from the door. It showed the two sisters and a third bubblegum pink pony with darker pink hair working together to push a rock. From the drag mark, they had made some decent headway. One wall sported five black silhouettes,  two larger, the parents and a three smaller, their foals. The kitchen was as sparsely decorated. The sisters were sitting quietly at the table waiting for dinner to begin and an older grey mare was standing at the stove, tending a pot. They all looked when he entered and all eyes fell on Amber.

"Everypony," Clyde said, drawing their attention. "This is Ambrosia Stars. She's going to be joining us for lunch. Miss Stars, I'd like you to meet the family. The sisters are Inkamena, and Blinkamena. And that there's my Wife Lilly."

"It's a pleasure to meet you all," Amber said. "If you don't mind my asking, Isn't there a third sister?"

"You mean Pinkamena? She moved out a few years ago," Clyde said, taking his seat at the head of the table. "Life on the old 'Rock Farm' wasn't to her tastes."

"Oh, well if she's happy then, right?"

"To be sure." Clyde glanced around the table. The sisters were quietly waiting for the food to be served and Lilly was just lifting the pot from the fire and ladling the food into six bowls. Amber's mouth began to water as the smell of the soup nearly overpowered her. When the bowls were passed out, she was halfway to the spoon when she noticed nopony else making a move for theirs. She set her hooves at her sides and waited

Lilly Cleared her throat and began speaking. "We thank you Celestia for the warmth of your sun and for the food it helps to provide. In your name we take our meal. Amen."

The family chorused in turn and dug in. Amber ate with a passion belying her weakened state, but she tried to remember herself and curb her enthusiasm. She hear the family beginning to speak freely. The sisters were gabbing to their mother about school and other young filly stuff. Clyde was listening happily to his daughter's story but occasionally glanced at Amber who was eating her second helping of the broccoli and cheese soup with an enraptured look on her face.

"Mighty hungry were we?" He asked good-naturedly as she leaned back and pushed the cleaned bowl away with a sigh.

"Understatement of the year, Mr Pie." The brown Mare relaxed for the first time in days. The stress of her encounter and subsequent flight evident on her face.

"Now, I'm not one to pry, but if you don't mind my saying, Miss Stars. You look like you've been to the moon and back."

"You could say that," Amber said, looking at Clyde. "I'll manage though. I'm actually on my way to see somepony who might be able to help me out."

"Well that's a relief. I'd hate to see you out with nowhere to turn Miss Stars." Clyde turned to Lilly. "Is pinkie's old bed still sitting in the attic?" he asked her.

"It should be, I could send the girls up to clean it off," Lilly said, turning to Inkamena and Blinkamena who dutifully stood and looked expectantly at their father.

"Get it ready. Our guest needs a good night sleep."

The sisters hurried off and Clyde smiled after them. He stood and gathered the dishes and brought them to the sink. "When the girls get done, you can head on up and get some shuteye. You look like you ain't seen a bed in an Alicorn's age."

Amber sighed, her weary body growing heavy as she stood. "Thank you so much for your hospitality."

"Think nothing of it," Clyde said with a smile. "Momma Pie would have my cutie mark for her quilts if she'd heard I'd left you out there like that."

Amber idly thought that she would like to meet this Momma Pie. A yawn derailed her thoughts and she followed the sisters up the stairs into the attic. They were giggling and chatting between themselves as they dusted the old straw mattress and blankets when Amber crested the landing. As one, they turned and gave her a warm smile.

"We don't get many guests hereabouts, Miss," One said. The other nodded in affirmative.

"Most we see of the town is goin to school or market. Not a lot of time to meet new pony folk." The second continued for her sister.

"So!" The first began. "What brings you by our way anyway? You said you were looking for somepony."

"Oh! Maybe we can help! I know lots of ponies from the school!"

Amber smiled her thanks, but shook her head. "The pony I'm looking for is in Ponyville last I heard."

The sisters gasped in unison and as one said "Ohmigosh! Our sister Pinkamina lives in Ponyville!"

"She'll totally help you find the pony you're lookin for!"

"Yeah! She knows everypony in ponyville! Said so in her letters. I think she named them all in one..."

"She helps run the bakery! She's a confectioner and Party planner."

"Inky, isn't big sister so cool?!"

"You bet Blinky! Oh, and her parties are so much fun! I can't wait for our birthday this year!"

"Girls," Amber interrupted as politely as she could. Her head was starting to spin at their rapid fire conversation. The both looked at her, cutting the conversation off abruptly as if this were a common thing with them. "Thank you, really. Thank you so much, but I'm very tired and really use the rest. Can we pick this up after I've had some shuteye?"

The one to the left, apparently Blinkamena spoke up first. "Oh, the bed! We're sorry!"

"Yeah! Let's get it all fixed up quick as you please."

The sisters chatted between one another as they finished making the bed. Amber quite enjoyed watching the sisters laugh and talk but she attributed that self destructive thought to her lack of sleep. When they finished the, again as one gave Amber a crushing hug and left. As they went down the stairs they Chorused "Sleep tight Miss Stars!" and then they left.

Amber was asleep before her head hit the pillow. The bed wasn't particularly comfortable but it sure beat concrete and dirt. When she awoke hours later, her head was abuzz with the events of the last few days. She desperately tried to get back to sleep but the uncomfortable heat in the attic coupled with all the nervous energy of her racing thoughts conspired to keep her from further rest. After a few moments of futile tossing and turning she resolved to get up and be on her way. Downstairs, at the base of the landing, the Sisters were again chatting between themselves and giggling. The spotted her, and giggled all the more fiercely. This was rather disconcerting but she thought little of it and approached.

"What are you two laughing at then?" she asked half jokingly.

"Oh nothing," Inkamena said innocently only to dissolve into another fit of giggles. Blinkamena, however was not so reserved.

"So..." She began, and glanced conspiratorially at her sister. "Who's 'Stone Shifter'?"

"He your coltfriend?" At this they both giggled some more.

"How do you two know that name?"

It was then that Clyde stepped in from the front. "We heard you sayin it in your sleep. And for shame girls, nosin where you don't belong. I raised you better."

"Sorry Papa," the sisters chorused but it couldn't have been less sincere if they had added 'not really'.

Clyde just shook his head and took a seat by the fireplace. "So, now you've got some food in ya and a bit of rest behind ya, mind explaining what you were doin wandering the countryside with no supplies?"

"I can't. I'm sorry but I just can't really talk about it. But if you've heard anything about Mare Do Well, that's who I'm looking for."

"Mare Do Well? That's that super Neato' Superhero they were writing about in the papers last week!" Inkamena blurted out.

"They say she vanished a few days ago, less than a week after she first appeared."

"Yeah! Pinkamena sent us a letter telling us all about it"

"OH! Oh oh oh! Maybe Pinkie can help you find Mare Do Well! She does know every pony in ponyville so if Mare Do Well's a pony, then Pinkie has got to know her!"

"Now there's an idea," Clyde interrupted, stalling the sisters and their rapid fire back and fourth. "I'll write up a letter for Pinkamena and ask her if she can give you a helping hoof. What do you say, Miss Stars?"

"I don't know..." Amber was grateful to be sure, but the more people knew about her, even with a nom de plum increased the chance that she'd be found out.

"It'll be fine. Pinkamena's a sweet girl, and contrary to what you would think, she can be discrete when the need arises." Clyde stood and moved over to a writing desk in the corner. "The mail mare should arrive in a few hours so I'll give the letter to you to give to her."

With several slow deliberate strokes of the pen, Clyde wrote out a missive for his daughter in Ponyville. While he was writing, Lilly Pie stepped into the sitting room from the kitchen and called everyone in for supper. Clyde stayed at the desk, instructing the family to start without him. Obediently, the sisters rose and followed Lilly into the kitchen where dinner awaited. Amber followed, and took her seat. Lilly turned to her.

"Would you like to say grace dear?" she asked in a motherly voice. The sisters looked to her eagerly. Amber nodded and bowed her head.

"Dearest Celestia thank you for the sun and the warmth it give, the light it brings and the life it nurtures. May that warmth keep us safe, may that light, show us the way and may the life it gives be not put to waste. Amen."

"That was lovely dear. Is that a family prayer?"

"Yes. My mother used to say it before we went to sleep. It's the only one I know." Amber shifted uncomfortably under the looks the sisters were giving her. They wern't bad, but they were strange because the mirrored each other in all but color. She shook her head, and smiled. "I don't know about you, but I could eat a dragon!"

The sisters laughed and gabbed and stopped once to say in chorus, "Good Evenign papa," as Clyde trotted in and took his place. He hoofed a sealed envelope across to Amber who took it and read the address. Pinkamena Dianne Pie, Sugar Cube Corner, Ponyville Equestria. Dinner was delicious and the conversation lively. With the meal wrapped up, everypony gathered in the sitting room and relaxed, letting the hearty meal settle. There was a loud clopping of hooves on the front porch and a rap on the door. A sweet female voice called through the door.

"Mail Mare. I have a package marked 'Hoof Deliver' for the Pie residence."

Clide stood and motioned for Amber to do the same. "You wanna give that letter to the Mail mare?" he asked. A moment of uncertainty passed but she nodded and took the letter in her teeth. Outside a blond maned grey Pegasus stood, with a package set at her feet and a clip board in her mouth. Clyde signed it and passed it back and amber stepped forward.

"Coud ooo deiver dis le'er?" She asked from around the sealed envelope.

"You bet!" The Mail mare chirped and took the letter. With it tucked in her bag, she turned back to them and Smiled, one golden eye slowly wandering off course between blinks. "I'll have it there by tomorrow!" With a smart salute and a flap of her wings, she was off.

Clide turned and spoke with a serious tone when the Mail Mare was out of earshot. "I know you say you can't Tell us what's troubling you that you have to nearly kill yourself to fix it, but if Pinkamena's going to help you, she'll need to know a fair bit more than what you've told us."

Amber looked at him with what she hoped was an innocent lack of understanding but he pressed on. 

"For starters" Grunted the tan earth farmer. "She'll want to know your real name. She probably won't call you by it, but she'll want to know."

Amber was taken aback by how astute the Earth pony beside her was. "How long have you known?"

"Since I first called you 'Miss Stars'. You don't respond right away. When you deal with ponies like the ones I do, you gotta read between the lines." Amber thought he would make a good detective with that kind of pony reading. "I got nothin against you wanting to remain secretive and what not, but I hope you're not bringing any trouble along after you."

"No sir. That trouble doesn't even know I'm alive right now," I hope... She added as an afterward in her mind. If Stone was found out, then there's sure to be somepony after her. "That said, I do need to be on my way as soon as I can."

"I understand. Well, let me and the missus pack you some food so you don't starve yourself between here and there. It's not far but you seem determined to meet your end on the way." Clide led her back into the house and pulled some old saddlebags from a closet. "And when you've got all this sorted out, stop on by. The sisters really seem to like you. They could use a responsible older friend."

"Count on it," Amber said as she rejoined the family in the sitting room. The sisters had brought out a board game and invited Amber to play, which she happily obliged. Tomorrow she would hit the road again, but for now, she was determined to relax.

Clyde opened the parcel that the Mail Mare had delivered. It was a batch of cupcakes. Even slightly stale as they were, they were delicious.
> TMMDW # 2: Act I: "The Truth"
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The Mysterious Mare Do Well #2: The Truth of the Matter

Act I: "The Truth"

***

It was like stepping into a different world when I left Manehatten. I was used to ponies being constantly suspicious and on the verge of a fit of rage. It was strange to see ponies so happy and care free like the Pies were. They worked their mineral farm and they lived happy productive lives. In the city you worked a job like the Barrister at a Starbucks or a Diner waitress and you just muddled through life.

I learned that even if you have noting left, these ponies out here want to help...

***

Amber Lights stepped through the old roadside gate with Clyde and the rest of the family seeing her off. Clyde gave her a warm smile and stepped forward, extending a hoof.

"Don't be a stranger now," He said as Amber took his hoof in hers. "And be sure to tell dear Pinkamena that we miss her, and look forward to her visits very much."

The sisters took up positions to his side. Inkamena, to the left spoke first.

"Also, be sure to attend one of her super awesome parties while you're there," She said, her grin widening as she thought about the celebrations her sister could throw. Her sister stepped forward and continued.

"Yeah! You won't regret it!"

Both sisters leaped forward and wrapped Amber in a breath stealing hug that they only broke when she began wheeze, tapping them emphatically on the shoulders. With ther release, Amber fell to her hooves, gasping for air.

Lilly Pie was the last to say her fare well. They hadn't spoken much but there was a kindness between them. "Be safe dear, and try not to starve yourself again," She said, inclining her head towards Amber. She turned and lifted a saddlebag from the ground behind her and laid it on Amber's back. "Clyde thought it would be a good idea to send you off with some decent supplies so I packed this bag with food and water enough to take you to Ponyville at the least."

"Thank you Lilly," Amber said, hugging the older mare. "Thank you everypony. I honestly didn't expect this much Hospitality after all I've been through. I still can't tell you everything, but I can at least give you my real name. My real name is Amber Lights."

Blinkamena piped up before anyone else could react.

"Oh, what a pretty name!"

"Yeah!" Inkamena said, agreeing with her sister. "Why would you want to hide such a nice name?"

Blinkamena let loose a gasp like a bellows. "Maybe she's a spy! Out searching for some mysterious pony with some sensitive government secrets!"

"Oh, OH! Maybe... She's a mercenary pony! Whoever she's looking for must be her mark!"

Amber just laughed. "You two must read the Half-bit Funnies," She joked, but got gasps from the sisters and a chorused 'How did you know!' and a singular 'See! A spy! What did I tell you?'

"Now girls, that's enough," Lilly intoned. Turning back to Amber, she smiled. "I do hope you find what you're looking for Miss. Lights," She said, ushering the girls back towards the house.

Clyde remained for a moment, considering Amber with a serious face. "I can read ponies. I told you that already, so believe me when I say, you're going to do great things Miss. Lights."

"Hopefully I'll get the Chance. Thank you Clyde. And Next time, just call me Amber?"

"Sure thing. Be save now, and don't forget yourself wherever you end up."

Amber smiled and shook Clyde's hoof once again. As the two parted ways, she gave a smirk.

"Count on it."

The old country roads were deserted this early in the morning. Amber considered herself lucky, even considering the circumstances. She would never in a million years have met such nice ponies in Manehatten. They were willing to help and expected nothing in return. 

She trudged on, taking the miles at a brisk trot. Her legs burned but it was a familiar feeling, harking back to her days and nights spent pounding the cobbles of Manehatten. It was a feeling she could relate to, and appreciate. It helped her mind work the tough problems but today, the only problem was finding Mare Do Well, and that required only one thing. The Third Pie sister, Pinkamena Pie. Such being the case, her mind was allowed to wander over the less consequential thoughts that plagued her.

Stone Shifter, for all his deceit had gone quite a way towards redeeming himself in her eyes. If Ruby Tooth ever found out that he had let her go, there's not telling what horrors that beast would inflict on him, which was why she couldn't do anything herself to try to thwart the gem toothed Diamond Dog. She was banking her freedom and the Freedom of one of her closest friends on the willingness of a superhero to be found, and to help a stranger that's not even from her town. It was a long shot and Amber knew it.

She was snapped from her reverie by the sound of cart wheels behind her. Turning, she spied a cart laden with large bulging burlap bags being pulled by a Emerald Earth Pony with a short scruffy mane.

"Howdy!" He called. "Headed my way?"

"Ponyville?" Amber questioned as the Farm pony pulled even.

"Sure as my name's Emerald Sand!" The pony replied, thumping his chest, obviously exceedingly proud of his title. "Need a lift?"

"Sure!" Amber said, gratefully climbing onto the seat of the cart. "I really appreciate this Mr. Sand."

"Think nothing of it," He said, pulling the cart into motion again. "And please, Call me Emerald. Mr. Sand is my father!"

Amber laughed, at the lighthearted joke. "Well then Emerald, Thanks. My Name's Ambrosia by they way. Ambrosia Stars."

"Mighty fine name ya got! So, Ambrosia, You don't mind if I call you Ambrosia? What's takin you to Ponyville this time o' year?"

"I'm actually looking for somepony," Amber said, scanning the horizon for any indications of how long she'd been traveling.

"Oh! How interestin! Let me guess! Visitin distant Family? No, that ain't it... Uh... Oh! Seekin a lost love! Yeah, that's more the ticket! Just like one of those old novels mah wife reads!"

"No, it's nothing like that," Amber said with a chuckle. "I just have some unfinished business that this pony may be well equipped to help me deal with."

"Oh, well that's still intriguing, but it sounds personal so I'll not pry any further..."

The two companions continued to chat as the day wore on. When Emerald became tired, Amber offered to pull the cart and let him rest up which he steadfastly refused siting, "A gentlecolt never let's a lady exert herself if it can be helped," to which she stated simply, "it can't be helped," and stepped into the harness. Still moonbent on being chivalrous, Emerald walked alongside the cart instead of riding in it and resting like Amber had intended.

The latter-day sun was shining bright but the chill winds that cut over the fields countered it's warmth at every turn. They reached the crossroads around nightfall and the winds were picking up steam along the road. The signage that directed travelers was pristine. This was one of her highness's grand highways. They were a network of roads that connected every major city with Canterlot. Celestia had once been quoted as saying 'they say, "All roads lead to Canterlot", well I've decided to make it true.' Amber chuckled at the strange memory as Emerald pulled a tent from his wagon and pitched it on the wayland.

"I wasn't expecting any company so I only brought the one tent," Emerald said, by way of apology. "We could share, or I could bundle up with the spuds."

Had this been Manehatten, Amber would have sent him to sleep with the tubers without a second thought, but this Wasn't Manehatten was it? This was a rural stretch between Canterlot and Appleoosa. She looked at the Colt, who was industriously driving stakes into the loam with a hoof. She didn't feel any hostility or ill will, and as a cop, she was used to spending hours on end in cramped quarters with members of the opposite sex. Stakeouts were no Pick-nick.

"Don't worry about it," She said. "We can share the tent. Just keep your hooves to yourself and I won't have to buck your block off," She said jokingly, but she could tell Emerald spotted that little hit of truth to her words.

They both clambered into the tent and wrapped themselves in the thick woolen blankets that Emerald had brought. The tent was small but there was just enough room for them to lay curled up, back to back. Amber allowed herself to relax when she heard Emerald's soft snoring and she drifted off to sleep.

Morning came quickly, but Amber was thankful for that. She didn't wish to waste any more time in finding Mare Do Well. Outside in the pale predawn light, her breath hung in the air and the grass crunched loudly under her hooves, enthralled as it was in the winter frosts. In the new light, Amber spotted a dark foreboding treeline in the distance that was previously hidden by the night. The Everfree, it was called. An unnatural place where pony magic had little sway. The thought sent a shiver up her spine.

Emerald was collapsing the tent when Amber turned around again. Smiling up at her, he tossed a bread roll to her from a pack at his feet, which she ate readily. 

"Mite bit cold this morning," he said, as the tent fell to the ground and he began to roll it. "Might keep the blankets out till it warms a bit, ya think?"

Amber nodded, and finished her roll. "How far till Ponyville?" she asked, looking down the path.

"About another three or four hours. We'll be there in time for market. Thinkin about it, that'll probably be your best time to be lookin for anypony."

Amber smiled at the green pony and helped him to secure the tent. With all the supplies stowed again, Emerald began pulling and Amber walked alongside him. They continued their banter and that really helped to speed time along. Before she knew it, the duo crested a hill and there laying in the pit of a valley was Ponyville. It wasn't overly large but it was a trade hub for the area so on market day it held enough ponies to be a small city.

They entered the town and went their separate ways. Amber was sad at the thought that she may never see the amiable green stallion again but she just squared her shoulders and moved on. Her first stop, Sugar Cube Corner. The sisters had said that Pinkie was a Confectioner there and lived in the loft above the store.

Despite the fact that she had never been to Ponyville before, and only knew of it's existence because of the media coverage of Mare Do Well, she found Sugar Cube Corner almost as soon as she started looking. There before her was a large two story store decorated to look like a massive gingerbread house with a cupcake on top. It this wasn't the place, she was a gryphon.

The door gave a merry ring as she stepped through and almost immediately, she was assaulted by the aroma of baked goods, chocolate and for some reason that she decided didn't bare thinking about, hot sauce. As the chime sounded with the door closing, a pink pony with poofy bubblegum hair came bounding from the back room and took up a position behind the sales counter.

"Welcome to Sugar Cube Corner!" She Chirped, beaming like her dream stallion had just proposed to her. "How can I help you?"

"Are you Pinkie Pie?" Amber asked, already sure of the answer.

"Yup! Sure am!" Pinkie replied, her grin somehow widening to an alarming degree. "Do I know you? I don't think so... I know everypony in Ponyville and I don't know you, so that means you must be new, and if you're new that means," There was a pause, and then a gasp like a bellows... she was definitely one of the Pie sisters. No question. "THIS CALLS FOR A PARTY!"

"What? No! Pinkie Pie!" Amber all but shouted trying to derail the rambling pink pony before she started tacking up streamers. "My name's Ambrosia. Your father, Clyde sent a letter about me?"

"OOOHHH! Okie Dokie Lokie," She said, pausing mid bounce and drifting to the floor. 

Amber stared for a second before shaking her head and pressing on. "The sisters said you could help me find somepony," she stated, trying to keep the whole situation from degrading as it seemed was it's wont to do. "But you can't tell a soul about me."

Pinkie nodded vigorously, but Amber wasn't about to take the eccentric pony at her word so easily.

"Pinkie Pie, promise me you won't tell anypony about what we talk about today."

"Cross-my-heart-and-hope-to-fly, stick-a-cupcake-in-my-eye!" Pinkie Pie ticked off, performing hoof motions for each part, ending with jabbing her hoof into her eye. Amber was totally dumbfounded.

"Pinkie Pie... What... was that?" She finally managed to ask, almost afraid of what the answer might be.

"Well that was a Pinkie Pie Promise! Duh!"

"A what?"

"A Pinkie Pie Promise! You said, 'Pinkie Pie Promise me,' so I did!" Pinkie was sitting on her haunches looking at the increasingly confused look on Amber's face.

Amber put a hoof to her temple and rubbed in small circles. She decided that for the sake of her sanity, she would just accept this pony's strange ways and move on. It was for the best.

"Okay, so, I'm looking for Mare Do Well. Your Sisters, Inkamena and Blinkamena said that you were to go-to pony for finding ponies in Ponyville," Amber said, looking up at Pinkie, who for her part had remained quiet while Amber spoke.

"Why do you need to find Mare Do Well?" She asked, looking genuinely interested in what Amber had to say.

"Okay, what I'm about to tell you, cannot leave this bakery. Remember, your promise thingy," amber said, looking Pinkie Square in the eye.

"I won't tell a soul. I made you a promise, and breaking a friends trust is the fastest way to lose a friend... for-EV-er!"

Amber just shook her head. With only a brief hesitation, Amber recounted the events that led to her decision to seek out Mare Do Well. Pinkie listened in rapt silence, nodding occasionally. When Amber finished, she remained quiet. Waiting for a response, Amber just looked at her. When it became clear that she wasn't going to say anything, Amber spoke.

"So Pinkie," she said, eying the mare hopefully. "Can you help me find Mare Do Well?"

Pinkie glanced down at the floor guiltily. "I'm sorry Amber," she said, the usual pep gone from her voice, now replaced with genuine remorse. "I can't help you, even though I really really really really want to. I promised. All I can tell you is that If you want to find Mare Do Well, you need to find Dashie. She's the only one who can help you with this."

Amber deflated a bit at the Pink Pony's words but she understood. Pinkie Pie was loyal to her friends, and Amber could respect that. She thought for a second before she spoke again.

"Thanks Pinkie, I understand. So since you can't help me find Mare Do Well, can you help me find Dashie?" Amber thought the name was a bit odd, but for all she knew, Dashie was a zebra or something.

"Oh! Yeah!" Pinkie immediately perked back up and began hopping in a tight circle around Amber. "But I can't right now, I've gotta watch the shop for the Cakes! Oh! I know, meet me at the library, it's the big tree right over there!" She said, pointing out the window across the town plaza. Sure enough, there on the far side was a large oak tree with it's leaves still lush and green despite the season. Windows and balconies jutted from it's sides and there was a door at it's base. "I'm off in three hours, so just Hold tight, and You're Auntie Pinkie Pie will take care of the rest!"

"We're not related..." Amber said before she could catch herself. "Anyway, I'll see you then, Later!"

"Bye Bye!"

Amber left the bakery fairly excited by the events of the day thus far. If this Dashie would be able to help her find Mare Do Well then she could finally be able to get the help she so desperately desired. She hoped Mare Do Well would be willing to see her let alone help her. She walked over to the library and nosed the door open. The inside was a large open room with shelves lining the walls covered in books.

Standing off to the side, a lavender unicorn was reordering books along a shelf. She was humming tunelessly to herself and didn't seem to notice the door opening behind her.

"Uh, Hello?" Amber called. The Unicorn gave a squeak of fright and dropped several books to the floor, as she turned to face the door.

"Oh, uh, Hi! Welcome to the Ponyville Library," The unicorn said, using her magic to lift the fallen books and stack them on a table. "My name is Twilight Sparkle, I'm the Librarian. If you need any help please don't hesitate to ask me or my assistant Spike. And before you meet him, you should know, Spike's a baby dragon so don't be alarmed when you see him."

As if on cue, a door near the staircase swung outward and a stack of books rose out, apparently supported by a pare of stumpy purple legs. The Books dropped to the floor and what could only be Spike, stepped around the stack. 

"That's the last of them, Twilight. Can  I take a break now? My arms are killing me," the Dragon bemoaned, stretching his arms in front of him.

"Sure, just make sure our guest here doesn't need anything first," Twilight said, returning to her sorting.

Spike approached Amber with a smile. "Can I help you find anything Miss?" he said, motioning to the library at large.

Amber thought for a moment before an Idea popped into her head. If she was going to be waiting for three hours, she may as well entertain herself in the meantime.

"Yeah, can you take me to your periodical Archives?" She asked. Spike promptly motioned for her to follow him and he led her up the stairs and around the perimeter of the main room until they came to shelves with cabinets built into the bottoms. He opened one and pulled out a drawer. Inside, marked and dated were old magazines, newspapers and various other periodical publications. Going back a few years, Amber let out a bark of triumphant laughter as she pulled a slim paper book from the drawer. The cover was old and faded but it read clearly at the top 'Half-Bit Funnies' and images of various characters were printed beneath that header.

"What's that?" Spike asked, looking at the old comic book curiously. "I've never even seen those around here before."

"I grew up on these comics," Amber explained, opening the issue to a random page and setting it on the table. The pictures were all hoof drawn cartoons. One such caught Spike's attention. A muscular stallion with a costume the colors of the Equestia flag and a shield with the royal insignia emblazoned across was in pitched battle with a legion of Gryphons bearing strange weapons that were shown casting little stones that would ricochet off of the Stallion's shield.

"Who's that?"

Amber smiled down at the young dragon. "That's Captain Equestria, a magically enhanced super-soldier developed during the Gryphon Wars to battle alongside our troops. These comics are  based off of him, and they're so much fun to read. He was a real hero. One of my Idols."

"Woah," Spike looked overawed. He hurried to the archives and pulled another issue of Half-Bit Funnies and turned to the Captain Equestria story. They sat in silence for about an hour when Twilight called spike back to work. Not fifteen minutes later, the door banged open and a brash voice echoed through the library.

"Heya, Egghead, How's it goin?" the voice inquired. Twilight sighed and looked pointedly out the door at the speaker.

"Hi, Dash. What brings you to the Library?" She asked, motioning for the speaker to enter and shutting the door behind her when she did. The speaker was a Pegasus with a Cyan blue coat and an outrageous rainbow mane and tail.

"I was just at Sugar Cube Corner, and Pinkie Pie told me someone came in lookin for me. Said they're waiting here. You know who she's talking about?"

so 'Dashie' was a nickname, she thought as she watched the Pegasus talk with the Unicorn.

"The only pony here is up there," Twilight said, pointing towards Amber. Rainbow Dash turned to look she was directed. "You can see if she's the one." The Cyan Pegasus took to the air and was in front of Amber in a flash.

"Name's Rainbow Dash, Fastest flier in Equestria and future member of the Wonderbolts!" The tomcoltish mare proclaimed with an arrogant smirk, thrusting a hoof forward which Amber shook politely.

"Ambrosia Stars," She said, with a smile. "A pleasure to meet you Rainbow Dash."

"Likewise," Rainbow said, landing on her hooves with a thud and folding her wings with a flourish. "So, what brings you all the way out to Ponyville to see me? I mean besides the obvious. I am pretty awesome after all."

It was all Amber could do not to facehoof at Rainbow Dash's overly cocky demeanor. She swallowed her snide remarks and cut right to the chase.

"Rainbow Dash, I need your help finding somepony. I was told Pinkie Pie could help but she was unable to. She did tell me that you would likely be the only one who could."

"Well? Who're you trying to find?" Rainbow asked, becoming impatient.

"I'm looking for Mare Do Well," Amber said. Rainbow's eyes betrayed a bit of anger at the mention of the name, but she buried it.

"Sorry to be the one to tell you this, but Mare Do Well's long gone," Dash said, with a severe look in her eye. "I happen to know she won't be coming back to bother me or anypony else ever again." She looked across the table at Amber, whose face was locked in a shocked expression.

"G-Gone?" Amber repeated dully. "Mare Do Well's... gone?"

"Uh, yeah," Rainbow Dash said, suddenly feeling ashamed of herself. Amber just stared down at the table a hoof resting on a page of one of the comics, showing Captain Equestria standing tall and proud, shield held high as a Gryphon war-machine barreled down on him. "Hey... Um... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."

"How do you know?" Amber asked quietly.

"Know what?"

"How do you know she's gone? She won't be coming back?" Amber said, looking up at Dash, a look of hopelessness washing across her face.

"Let's leave it at 'I have it on good authority'," Rainbow Dash said, rising into the air again.  "I really am sorry," She said before flying somberly towards the door and leaving.

Amber felt all the drive that had kept her going over the last few days leave her. Mare Do Well was gone. She couldn't think of why, but the way the Pegasus spoke was with an air of truth that was hard to shake. She wanted to think that Rainbow Dash had lied to her, but her cop mind was screaming that it was the truth, or at least close enough to it for the courts.

After a time, who knows how long, Amber stood and left the library, ignoring the librarian's questioning gaze.  It was late afternoon and with no real place to go, Amber just wandered the streets. Aimlessly she walked, not really paying any attention to where she was going. Night was approaching when she ambled into a park. She found a soft patch of earth under a tree and settled in. Thinking idly to herself that maybe she would head for Appleoosa. They were always looking for strong able bodied Earth Ponies to work there.

She drifted off to sleep but for how long, she didn't know. She was shook awake by a hoof and when she opened her eyes, she saw Rainbow Dash hanging over her, a serious look on her face.

"Finally found you" She said, pulling Amber to her hooves. "Been looking all evening. C'mon, follow me. I've got something you need to see." She led Amber back towards town, flying slowly ahead so that she could keep up. Amber made a few attempts to ask where they were going but Rainbow either said she'd see when they got there or would ignore her outright.

Most businesses in the area had long since closed up shop for the night so the one building that was still lit was like a beacon in the night. It was a two story building built to look like a carousel. Rainbow went to the door and motioned her through. Inside five other ponies sat and chatted idly amongst themselves. Pinkie Pie was there, as was Twilight. The other she didn't recognize but she did remember seeing the orang earth pony in the stetson when she arrived in town with Emerald. She had been tending an apple cart in the market. The other two, she had never seen before. One was a white unicorn with heavily styled purple hair and the other was a timid looking yellow Pegasus with long pink hair.

"Oh good! You found her!" Twilight said, standing to meet Dash and Amber.

"Yeah, she was sleeping by that big tree in the park," Rainbow Dash siad. "Everypony, this is Ambrosia Stars, the pony I told you about."

"Howdy," the behatted earth pony said in a southern accent. "Name's Applejack, Pleased to meet ya!" She said, shaking Amber's hoof rather violently.

"A pleasure dear," said the White unicorn chimed in, shooing Applejack away. "I am Rarity, owner and proprietor of Carrousel Boutique, and my I say you have a simply wonderful figure. You must come and model some of my designs."

Amber looked to the yellow Pegasus who was doing her level best to vanish behind her bangs. After a moment Rarity spoke up. "Please do forgive her," she said, smiling at the Pegasus. "She's quite shy around new ponies but once she warms up to you, you'll be hard pressed to find a nicer pony or better friend." The Pegasus, Fluttershy blushed and sank further into her mane at the compliment from her friend.

Just then Rainbow Dash spoke up again, catching the room's attention.

"Now listen up everypony. This is kinda important," She cleared her throat and continued. "I know we all agreed to keep quiet about 'you know who' but from what I saw this is all a pretty big deal for Ambrosia and she had a lot riding on it." The others nodded, none more so than Pinkie Pie who had the advantage of knowing the whole story. "So, I think we should tell her. I think we owe her that much."

"Ah don't know Dash," Applejack said. "How do we know she won't go blabbin?"

"We don't AJ, and that's not the issue anyway." Rainbow Dash landed with a thud, and furled her wings. "What we did brought her all the way from where ever she came from lookin for help from something that couldn't give it. It's our fault she came all this way."

"Ah recon you're right," she said, "But I still don't like it. We need some insurance. If she goes and tells anypony, the media would come down on us harder than hail on a hen house."

"Oh!" Pinkie shouted suddenly, making eveypony jump. "A secret for a secret?"

Everypony looked at her, and then at Amber, suddenly aware that the pink pony knew quite a bit more about their guest than she was letting on.

Amber's curiosity was burning for her to know what they were talking about. She knew it had to do with Mare Do Well and that this was why Pinkie couldn't help her before, but to give away her secret to so many didn't seem like a good idea. What if one of them talked? What if they didn't believe her and decided to turn her into the authorities? Not only would she more than likely be sent to prison, but Stone Shifter would be found out and who knows what Ruby Tooth would do to him.

But then, what if this was her ticket to finding Mare Do Well. These six obviously were tied deeply in the whole business but how deeply? If Mare Do Well was simply in hiding, maybe she could convince her to return. The thoughts battled it out in her head, until finally she heard herself speak.

"A secret for a secret then," She said, and she told them her story. How she was cast into this situation, and how she hoped for Mare Do Well to help her put a stop to Ruby Tooth. She even told them of her time spent with the Pies and Emerald Sand. She explained her conversation with Pinkie and Rainbow Dash and stopped only when she reached the point where Rainbow had woken her under the tree.

The story had taken several minutes but eveypony had been listening raptly save for Pinkie Pie who had already heard the story before. They all looked between one another, and then to Applejack. Applejack was eying her with deep suspicion, seemingly contemplating her very existence. Finally she spoke.

"I believe her... Don't trust her none, but Ah believe her," She said, matter-of-factly. "Alright RD, we cn' tell her."

Rainbow Dash nodded and turned to Rarity. "You still got 'em Rare?" she asked the alabaster unicorn.

"Of course, if you'll all just follow me, I keep them in the basement." She stood and led the gathered ponies from the main room into the hall and opened a door leading off to the right. The group went down, with Amber taking the rear. Once at the bottom, Rarity moved forward to three tarped figures. With her magic, she removed the cloth coverings.

Amber gasped aloud. There before her were three Mare Do Well costumes. One cut for an Earth Pony, one for a Pegasus and the Third for a Unicorn. They looked like bad movie props.
> TMMDW # 2: Act II: "The Choice"
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Mysterious Mare Do Well #2: The Truth of the Matter

Act II: "The Choice"

***

I wasn't always eager to put on the mask and traipse around the cityscape, attacking criminals and thwarting villains. It was a process. One that began in Ponyville when my friends decided that they wanted to help me become a better mare, even if I didn't become Mare Do Well. I could have left the suit in it's case and just went about my life but that's not what happened. 

But my friends, they decided I was worth the time...

***

Amber stood silently staring at the three 'Mare Do Wells' before her.

"So..." She began, but trailed off, taking a step towards the costumes and inspecting them more closely. "So there's three Mare Do Wells?" Her mind was having trouble processing what was happening around her. The six mares were all watching her inspect the suits. "How are there three?"

"Well, it ain't exactly what you thought it was," Applejack said, approaching Amber. "See, if you wanna get right down to it, there never really was a Mare Do Well in the first place."

"What?" Amber said, dumbfounded. "Of course there was."

"No Amber," Rainbow Dash said. "There really wasn't. It was a hoax. I was getting a big head doin all my hero stuff around town, so my friends pulled these costumes together and started showing me up left and right."

"We didn't mean to bring the media in on it but they got wind of the situation really quickly," Twilight said. "As soon as we were sure Rainbow had learned her lesson, we put the costumes away."

Rarity chimed in next. "The only issue was, the Media was here and they wanted a story. We had to hide the truth even from the Princess. Not only was what we did bringing unwanted attention to Ponyville, it was also Illegal, though we didn't know that at the time."

"Basically," Twilight said. "If we let it out that we were behind Mare Do Well, we would be the center of a media circus and some of us would probably end up with a criminal record. We decided to bury Mare Do Well for good. We all Pinkie Pie swore not to mention it to anypony outside of the group. You're the only pony we've told any of this to and only because you're in a tough spot too, and like Rainbow said, it's kind of our fault you're here at all."

Amber turned her gaze between the ponyquins and the collected mares. Her mind was blank now as all thought fled her. This wasn't right. It was better when Mare Do Well was just gone. Now she knew that Mare Do Well never really was. Sure, she existed in that people saw her but the idea was never really there. Mare Do Well was never anything more than a tool that these ponies used to play a prank on a friend that blew up out of control. A sham. A joke.

"If it were me under that mask, I would have kept going," she whispered to no pony in particular. "I would have kept going and made a difference. Done some real good..." with that, she stood and left leaving six dumbstruck mares in her wake. Outside, the unseasonably warm night had given way to a chill wind that sapped the heat from the flesh of anypony foalish enough to be outside. Amber didn't care. 

Why should she? Her one hope at returning to her life was gone. She couldn't go back now and she was sure of it. Appleoosa it was. No other options presented themselves. She trudged off into the night, following the highway she came in on. She was almost out of view of town some thirty minutes later when the sound of rapid hoofsteps met her ears. She cocked an ear but did not turn when Applejack came cantering alongside her.

The two earth ponies walked in a terse quiet for some time before Applejack finally spoke.

"Did ya really mean it?" She asked. 

"Mean what?" Amber replied mechanically, not actually listening to herself.

"What you said, about makin a difference an doin some real good. Did you mean what you said?"

Amber's brain kicked in just then and clued her into what was being asked of her.

"Of course I meant it, every word."

"That's what Ah was afraid of," Applejack said with a smirk.

"What do you mean?"

"Ah mean, y'all cn stay in my barn tonight while we get a room squared away for ya in tha farm house. I'll see ya bright an early tomorra morn." Applejack turned to leave. When she was a fair distance away, she called back. "Remember, Bright an Early!"

Amber nodded dumbly, as she watched the orange earth pony take to a swift lope down towards town. On the far side of town was an apple orchard that stretched across several hills. She could just make out the gleaming weathercock on the roof of the barn in the dim moon light. What was Applejack driving at with that question? Every cop bone in her body told her to sprint after Applejack and demand explanation but she held her position and calmed her racing thoughts.

Even if she was over-thinking it all, at the very least this would save her a week long hike to Appleoosa. She passed through town and on to Sweet Apple Acres, meeting no pony the entire way. It was strange to see no pony moving about. Even at the latest hour in the harshest weather, Manehatten was alive and buzzing with energy. Sure it lessened and waned at night but it was there. You could not go five minutes in that city without seeing another pony. Here she was almost an hour on her own outside and the only soul she had seen was Applejack. It really was a different world outside of the city.

She crawled into the hayloft and settled on the cot that Applejack had left there. Sleep took her instantly. Her mind worn as her body from all her travels and the emotions of the day. She did not, however, sleep peacefully. Images of her life in Manehatten assaulted her in her dreams. Her past that was seemingly forever lost to her. The six mares appeared, laughing at her for falling for their trick. Ruby Tooth bore down on her, clawed hand outstretched to seize her, only to sail past and drag Stone Shifter kicking and screaming from behind her. 

She awoke with a start as the barn door groaned loudly on it's rusted hinges. Bright sunlight poured in. Applejack trotted through the doors with a large red stallion following her in.

"Rise an Shine!" She called up to Amber who groaned in protest to the rude awakening. "We got work ta do missy, so hop to!"

"Work?" Amber moaned. "What kind of work?"

"Well, Hard work of course! This here's a Farm, not a day spa!"

Amber rolled off the cot and hopped down from the loft, giving her head a shake to clear the sleep. She followed Applejack out into the orchard, the red stallion plodding along silently beside them. 

"Well, Ah guess some introductions are in order. Amber, This here's Big McIntosh, but y'all can call em Big Mac. Big Mac, This here's Amber. She'll be helpin round the farm every once in a while."

Big McIntosh shifted a chaff of wheat in his mouth before he spoke, in a deep drawling voice that Amber found strangely pleasant.

"Howdy, marm," he said, dipping his head in greeting. "Pleasure to Meetcha."

"Right back at ya," Amber replied. They crested a hill and before them was a row of about twenty felled trees lined up in a row. Applejack lifted a harness from the ground beside the nearest tree and set it in front of Amber. For her part, she just stared at the collection of leather and metal. Her mind suddenly drug up images of the Diamond Dogs outside the cafe she and Stone had eaten at before their stakeout wearing their leather jackets. 

Applejack saw the disgusted look that crossed the brown earth pony's face and she laughed. "Don't worry, we didn't kill nothin to get that leather. It was a gift from a dyin buffalo to my grandpappy. They're an odd bunch. Only thing in all of Equestria that uses their own dead fer tools. It's supposed to be a great honor, somethin like being able to help the family even after yer gone or some such." 

Amber was still a bit loath to let the harness over her, but under the circumstances it wasn't as bad as she had thought. With the straps secured, Applejack turned to her with a smile.

"Now then," She said. "All them trees need to be moved outta this field so we can do our planting. This here's gonna be the new Sweet Apple Acres tomato plot."

"All of them?" Amber said, dejectedly, looking at the score of huge trees.

"Eeeyup," Big Mac said, simply hooking a rope to his yoke and beginning to heave one of the trees away from the hill. Amber began hooking one to her harness when Applejack spoke up

"Well, y'all two keep at it, I'm gonna go finish takin care of  the mornin applebuckin afore Big Mac takes it out ta market," Applejack said, turning to leave. "Y'all come an find me when Big Mac lets ya leave, ya hear?"

"You got it AJ," Amber called after the orange Earth Pony. With Applejack gone, Amber threw herself into her harness, pulling with herculean effort to get the log moving. Once it shifted, the going became easier, but still quite difficult. "So, Big Mac," She said, coming up behind the red stallion. "You been workin on the farm a long time?"

"Eeeyup," Big Mac replied.

"It shows," She said, pausing for a moment to think of something to get a conversation going. "You lived in Ponyville your whole life?"

"Eeeyup," Big Mac replied.

"You don't say much do ya?"

"Nnnope," Big Mac replied.

"Awesome..."

The work was grueling and the cool air of early winter did little to abate the heat that poured from Amber's core. When the last of the felled trees were finally removed from the hill, Big McIntosh simply nodded to her and began his slow plodding towards the farm house. Amber shrugged out of the leather harness, which had rubbed her raw across the shoulders and barrel. 

With the leather straps slung over her back, she wandered towards the nearest stand of apple trees. Listening closely, Amber tracked Applejack to the far edge of the stand, following the crack of hooves against solid wood and the myriad thumps that followed without fail. Amber saw ten trees with baskets of apples laid around them. Applejack was emptying an eleventh tree of it's bounty when Amber arrived.

"How'd it go?" Applejack asked, grunting as she struck the tree with force, dislodging every apple from it's branches.

"I only got six. Big Mac's a real work horse if I ever saw one," Amber said, smiling. Even if she was tired, she felt better than she had the previous day. "Got anything else you need me to do?"

"Nah, that's about it," The orange farmpony drawled, hoisting a basket of apples onto her back and heading for a wagon. "Rarity said she had something fer ya at the Boutique. Iffin, yer interested ya might head on up there and see what she's got. Don't gecher hopes up though. It's prolly some fancy schmancy dress or some such."

"Well, whatever it is, I'll be glad to have it," Amber said. "All I got right now's the saddlebags the Pies lent me. I'll have to give them to Pinkie to return to them."

"Alright, see ya later then," Applejack said. Amber struck off for Ponyville with a strange spring in her step. A bit of work, a bit of purpose, that's what she needed and Applejack had given her that. Her mind hadn't wandered too much as she'd hauled the trees down from their hill. For that she was thankful.

The day was cool and after the work she'd put in at Applejack's farm, it felt wonderful. The town was now awake and ponies were going about their business. Many nodded and greeted her with genuine smiles. In Manehatten or any of the New Yoke area, you'd be avoided if you acted that friendly to strangers. That city was so dark compared to the rest of Equestria. It was beginning to irk Amber. She remembered when it wasn't nearly so bad. But that was years ago and her mind probably romanticized the memories to some extent.

Carousel Boutique was empty when Amber arrived. Rarity was working near the back of the sales floor, dressing ponyquins in some new designs of hers and humming a merry tune. The bell above the door chimed and she carefully set the dress she was working with aside,

"Welcome To Carousel Boutique, whee everything is Chic, Unique and Magnifique! OH! Amber, welcome darling!" Rarity beamed at her new friend and motioned for her to follow. "I assume Applejack told you?"

"She said you have something for me," Amber said, smiling back at the alabaster unicorn.

"Did she say anything else?" Rarity inquired further as they passed through the hall and into a sitting room on the other end.

"Noting too specific," she replied, deciding to keep Applejack's rib about dresses to herself. "Why? Was she supposed to have?"

"No, I suppose not. I guess this will be coming as a bit of a shock for you then," Rarity said, opening a closet and removing a dress box and a hat box which she set on the coffee table. "So, now for the big reveal. Last night, after you left, we were all talking about how we could help you. We batted around some ideas until finally Pinkie Pie said something that took us all by surprise. Not because it was absurd, but because for the life of us, it seemed the only recourse to help us all."

"What did she suggest then?" Amber asked, working her brain to come to some kind of answer.

"Well, she suggested that you become the 'Real' Mare Do Well..."

Amber stared blankly at Rarity for a moment before a bark of laughter escaped her. "You're joking!"

"I most assuredly am not," Rarity insisted, using her magic to open the boxes on the table.

Amber's laughter died on her lips as she looked down and saw the open boxes before her. In one, neatly folded was a full body jump suit of dark maroon. In the other was a wide brimmed hat, colored Dark blue with a binding to match the suit. Rarity used her magic to lift the costume from it's case. It was decidedly more well crafted than the three party costume looking versions down in the basement. 

"You're serious aren't you?" Amber breathed, looking at the costume floating before her.

"We are," Rarity said, placing the costume back in it's box. "And we want to help you fix your problem. That 'Ruby Tooth' while a dog of good taste, is not one I feel comfortable leaving to his own devices. He should be stopped. You deserve your life back and since Mare Do Well can't give it to you, we'll give you Mare Do Well. Though this also serves a purpose for us. If Mare Do Well suddenly moves to Manehatten, then the media will leave Ponyville alone and there will be much less chance of it coming back to us."

"Even still, are you sure that it's a good idea?"

"I am not, but you know what they say. Nothing ventured?" Rarity said with a smirk.

"I guess, but I hardly think I'm cut out to be a superhero, I mean I was a street cop sure, but it's a whole different game when you go throwing yourself into the situations."

"Well, didn't you wonder why Applejack had you hauling those trees when they could have easily rolled them down the hill?" Rarity asked, earning a confused look from Amber. "We're not going to send you off totally unprepared Dear. That was strength training."

"Training? Really?" Amber was finding all this hard to swallow but something in her was burning with excitement at the prospect. Her, a superhero! Imagine! But her logical 'Cop Brain' was fighting the idea. "What other training am I going to be doing?" she asked, still skeptical of the whole idea but willing to play along for the time being.

"Well, you'll have hoof to hoof combat and weapons training with yours truly, Agility training with Rainbow Dash and field medicine with Fluttershy. Also Twilight said she found something that may interest you in one of her musty old books. I'd stop by the Library soon and see what she wants."

"That's assuming I decide to go along with this," Amber said, making it clear that she wasn't totally sold on the whole idea.

"Well, we can't force anything on you but these are all skills that could very well come in handy anyway, so while you make up your mind, why not take us up on our offers?"

"Well, I guess I could," Amber admitted. "and I'm not gonna lie. It would be beyond awesome to be an actual super hero, but I'm just thinking logically here."

"I understand dear. It's a lot to even consider, so take your time. No sense in jumping into brash decisions."

Amber and Rarity left the topic of Mare Do Well at that and conversed for some time before Amber decided she'd best go see what Twilight had found before she forgot. Back in the streets of Ponyville, the energy of the town had risen again as market opened up. Ponies all but swarmed around the stalls and stands buying and trading goods. The library was just as she remembered it, at least on the outside. Inside was a different story. Books sat stacked in piles all around with papers covered in tightly written notes littered about. In the middle of it all in a clear spot was Twilight Sparkle, magically manipulating several assorted books and papers.

"Oh! Amber! Just the pony I wanted to see!" Twilight exclaimed excitedly.

"Good to see you again too Twilight," Amber said. "What's this all about?" Amber gestured to the myriad scattered books and papers around the library.

"Research, Amber. Research!"

Amber was almost afraid to ask when she caught the manic edge to Twilights voice.

"I've uncovered some old papers written by a Theoretical Thaumaturgasist from Cloudsdale University of Arcane Studies. Needless to say, an Arcana research lab in a city full of Pegasai didn't last but this was one of it's more promising products." She levitated a stack of seemingly random papers and trotted over to a table which she cleared off with a sweep of magic. Setting the papers down, she began again, shifting almost visibly into 'lecture mode'. "Theoretical Thaumaturgy is the study of Magical theory, as you already knew of course."

"Of course," Amber agreed, not knowing what she was agreeing to.

"The doctoral thesis written by Sir Weather Wary was a culminate essay regarding his studies on Earth Pony magic. His thesis that he sought to prove was that while it is true that Earth Ponies cannot perform magic in the same way as Unicorns or Pegasai, their own magics are more powerful than given credit for. He theorized that with proper mental preparation and practice an Earth Pony could in fact affect the magical energies around them to some degree, albeit far lesser a degree than either Unicorns or Pegasai. He went on to say that this may be manifested in several ways. The ability to sense when magic is being used and where. The ability to identify specific spells. The ability to disrupt spells cast on the pony in question, and maybe more."

All of this, Twilight ticked off at blazing speed with Amber only just managing to keep up thanks in no small part to living in a city where fast talk was the norm. When Twilight finally stopped for breath Amber took the opportunity and spoke up.

"That's all real interesting Twilight, but what's that got to do with me?" She was looking pointedly at the purple unicorn who was smiling like a filly in a candy store.

"I want to test his theories. Sir Weather Wary died before he could publish this paper. I only found it because I'm the princess's personal student. And I still lucked into it. The records department at Cloudsdale accidentally mixed it in with my requisitions."

"So what do you need me for? Can't you have Applejack help?"

"I asked her, but she doesn't want me using magic on her," Twilight explained, a look of hopeful pleading on her face. "So please, will you help me Amber?"

"I don't know, Twi,"

"Pleasepleaseplease!" The look on Twilight's face could give Pinkie's sad puppy stare a run for it's money. After a few seconds of resistance, Amber finally caved in, eliciting a squeal of girlish glee from Twilight.

"Okay, so what do you need me to do?" Amber asked, as Twilight industriously cleared the books away from the middle of the room.

"First we're going to see if you can sense magic. Sir Wary says in his paper that when magic is used, Earth Pony magic reacts to it. If you can get in touch with your magic, you will likely be able to guage this interaction."

"So, how do I do it? Before all this, I worked for two years with a Unicorn and I never felt anything when he'd use magic around me." Amber thought back to all the times Stone had used his magic and could not pick one out where she felt any indication aside from the visual.

"That's probably because you're not paying attention to it. He says it's a feeling. His test groups described it differently each time so it must be unique to the individual." The lavender unicorn was pouring over the collected papers trying to seek an answer. "Says that some described it as a tug, others a tingle. Some said it felt like a breeze. Even a few said it hurt a bit."

"So, I guess I'll know it when I feel it then, huh?"

"Seems like it."

"Well let's get to work. Throw some magic my way," Amber said, deciding that it would be best just to dive in rather than over think it all. Over the next several hours, Twilight cast various spells of varying strength and Amber attempted to focus on them and to feel them. The experiment wasn't going too well and Twilight was beginning to tire, which was impressive in it's own right. Stone Shifter would have collapsed thirty spells before.

"It's no good," Twilight said, dejectedly. "I guess his theories were just that after all."

Amber was almost sure she was close to sensing the spells. Her mind just wouldn't let it happen. Her skepticism was likely affecting the whole experiment. Shaking her head, and reigning in her inner skeptic, she turned to Twilight, determination in her eyes.

"One more, Twi, and give it your all."

"Are you sure," Twilight asked, pondering the Earth Pony before her.

"Just do it, We'll see if this is a load of horseapples or not after this," Amber stood in the center of the room and lowered her head, eyes closed in concentration.she strained all other senses seeking to detect the buildup of energy that Twilight was currently channeling into her horn. Twilight's horn flared a bright white light, like a floodlight that washed away the colors of the room.

Then Amber felt it. A light pulse from Twilight's direction, but she didn't feel it with her body. It somehow circumvented the nerves and manifested itself as an awareness of having felt it. Only a memory of a feeling, but it was there, however indistinct. Then it was gone. A thud resounded from the direction of Twilight, and when Amber opened her eyes, she saw a bleary eyed unicorn staring back at her.

"Did... Did it work?" Twilight mumbled through the exhaustion.

"Yeah. I felt it that time. This guy really knew his stuff after all."
> TMMDW # 2: Act III: "So It Begins"
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Mysterious Mare Do Well #2: The Truth of the Matter

Act III: "So It Begins"

***

I continued working with my friends for the following weeks, getting stronger and faster and improving my new skills. I had yet to have made my choice but each day I felt I was getting closer and closer. All it took was a gentle nudge, or maybe a ham hoofed shove in the right direction to get my mind made up.

Here's how it happened...

***

The training was hard but rewarding. Over the last three weeks Amber Lights had subjected herself to hours of physical and mental training. She was stronger now, faster and more agile. She was becoming more and more skilled a healer thanks to Fluttershy and she was able to readily sense the use of magic nearby after exhaustive training with Twilight Sparkle.

She was on her way back into town from a morning workout with AJ and Dash, for strength and agility respectively when she sensed a light pressure beside her. Knowing what was coming, she shut her eyes and a bright flash shown red through her eyelids.

"Morning Twilight," She said, opening her eyes to see the Lavender Unicorn smiling at her.

"You're getting good at that," Said Twilight Sparkle, taking a leisurely pace beside Amber. "Pretty soon you'll be able to do more than just sense the magic."

"That's assuming the pegasus really did know what he was yammering about and didn't just get lucky," Amber deadpanned, having had this conversation several times over with the bookworm. "So what brings you to my neck of the woods so early Twi?"

"Pinkie Pie says she's got a big announcement and wants us all to meet her at Sugar Cube Corner," Twilight said. "She seemed more excited than usual about this one so it's gotta be something big."

"That, or she found a bit under the counter," Amber joked getting a laugh from Twilight.

"I try to give her more credit than that, cause when she's right, it's in a big way."

"You don't say?" Amber said, thinking back to stories she'd been told about the party pony's 'Pinkie Sense' and various other hard to swallow tales. "Well, I'll be there. RD and AJ are back in the training fields. Last I saw, I think Dash was about to bludgeon Applejack with a log."

"Hah, sounds about right. Okay, I'll see you there. She says to meet up around lunch."

"Lunch, got it." 

With that, Twilight's horn flared, and Amber sensed the light pressure as she dropped out of the world and teleported to wherever AJ and Dash were brawling. Amber smiled and continued on her way. Since she started staying in Ponyville, her spirits had lifted considerably. Aside from the occasional bouts of depression, she was a new pony. She had made several more friends in town, doing odd jobs and helping around the market. Everypony called her Amber but most assumed it was short for Ambrosia. No pony made the connection between their Amber and the Amber from the paper weeks before and that suited her just fine.

Now though, none of her new acquaintances were out and about. The sun was still low in the sky and the town had yet to fully awaken. She decided she would stop in Sugar Cube Corner for some breakfast. The craving for a cinnamon roll had struck when Twilight mentioned meeting up there later. 

Inside was just as it had always been. Mrs. Cake was tending the counter and gave a cheery hello when she saw Amber come in. From the kitchen drifted the aroma of baking sweets and the last few lines of an all too familiar song.

"Cupcakes! So sweet and tasty! Cupcakes! Don't be too hasty! Cupcakes! Cupcakes Cupcakes, CUPCAKES!" On the last word, the double doors leading into the kitchen were flung open and through them trotted Pinkie Pie laden with several trays covered with the delicious treats. Many of which were piled impossibly on her head.

"Oh! Hi Amber!" Pinkie chirped in her bubbly voice. "You're a bit early aren't you? Nopony's gonna be here for, like, hours!"

"I'm not here for the announcement," Amber replied with an indulgent smile. "I'm here for some of those delicious cinnamon rolls."

"Oh, I've got a batch nearly done now! You wait right here while I go get them frosted!" Pinkie then bounced away, pausing to deposit the cupcakes on a large rack behind the counter. 

Pinkie reappeared moments later and slid the tray of freshly glazed cinnamon rolls into the display on the counter. She hopped over to the register and rang up two. 

"Six bits," she said cheerily. Amber dropped the coins on the counter and passed the pastries across which amber took gratefully.

"Thanks Pinkie, I'm famished."

"You're welcome!" Pinkie said, smiling her manic smile. Suddenly she let loose another of her enormous gasps. "I just thought of something super slenderrific! You wanna come help me with my deliveries?"

"Uh, sure," Amber said as she bit into one of her rolls. "When do we leave?"

"Just let me get all the boxes and we'll be on our way!" With that, pinkie was off again, her bouncy gait taking her back into the kitchen. Amber ate her Cinnamon Rolls, relishing the sweet sharp taste as she waited. It was a few moments before Pinkie Pie returned, laden with several pink boxes of various shapes and sizes. She stayed in the kitchen doorway and motioned for Amber to follow her through. The kitchen was tidy and neat, which was surprising considering the pony that worked there.

Pinkie led the way through the kitchen and into the back alley. The cellar doors nearby were ajar and the excitable earth pony set the boxes she was carrying down. Flinging the doors open she leaped in. There was a clatter, the sound of a squeaking axle and then the strangest contraption Amber had ever laid eyes on emerged, being guided by Pinkie Pie.

It was tall, stylized like a candy cane but had something akin to fan blades on the top and pedals beneath a seat meant for a pony. Amber looked at it incredulously as Pinkie Pie loaded the boxes onto a rack attached to the back. The pedals appeared to be attached to the blades but she couldn't fathom as to why.

"Pinkie Pie, what the hay is this thing?" Amber hazarded.

"It's my Pinkie Copter," she said, as if this explained everything.

"That's nice... But what is it?"

"Oh, It's a flying machine! I made it myself!" Pinkie strapped the boxes down and hopped into the seat. It was large enough for two. "Well? Don't just stand there silly filly! Hop on!"

"Are you sure this is safe?" Amber said, her trepidation rising as she considered the unlikely contraption before her. Pinkie just smiled and nodded vigorously.

"Come on! Or I'm gonna leave without you!" Before she could react, Pinkie had yanked her onto the seat behind her and began pumping the pedals. The blades above their heads began to turn slowly at first but gaining speed until their downward force overcame the combined weight of the contraption, passengers and cargo.

Amber wouldn't have believed it if she weren't there herself. They were flying! Two Earth Ponies, not a Unicorn or Pegasus in sight and they were flying. Suspecting magic to be involved, Amber had employed her 'second sight' as she called it to try and detect a spell on the flying machine, but none presented itself.

The next several hours were some of the most exciting, terrifying and wonderful of Amber's life. They flew all over Ponyville, dropping off the deliveries and garnering stares as they lifted off into the sky. Pinkie was laughing and whooping riotously most of the way and Amber occasionally found herself laughing too. She was almost sad to see the Pink Earth pony put the flying machine away but decided not to press her luck with gravity. Knowing her luck it was now angry with her and had a potted plant somewhere aimed at her head. Although, she mused, the Pinkie Sense would probably warn her of such a thing if it were an issue.

“I'd say that was a successful maiden voyage! Wouldn't you?” Pinkie said as she led the way back into Sugar Cube Corner.

“Wait... Did you say, 'Maiden Voyage'?” Amber asked, looking slightly mortified at what had just transpired under her nose. “As in, first ever flight?”

“Well yeah!” The pink baker pony chirped happily. Amber could only face-hoof in response.

She bid her excitable friend good day, and assured her she would be there with the rest at lunch to hear her big announcement. As she left, Pinkie loaded her down with a few snacks as thanks for helping out.

As Amber wandered around town munching her sweets, she noticed many of the ponies were acting very peculiar. It was as if they were just waiting for the other hoof to fall, so to speak. As far as she knew, there was nothing special about that day in particular. They must know something she didn't.

The day carried on like this and Amber's natural curiosity began to eat at her. What could it be? Her mind sorted through everything she knew about that day. All she knew for certain was that the new moon was to be that night. 'Luna's resting days' as the week following the full waning of the moon had come to be called. But what about the new moon could have Ponyville so nervous?

The sun rose high in the air, nearing its peak as Amber aimlessly wandered the town proper. The atmosphere was so tense it was a wonder anypony was willing to leave their homes. When noon finally rolled around, Amber gave a silent prayer of thanks to Celestia for the distraction from the dread feeling. Minutes later, she found her way into Sugar Cube Corner.

Inside the bakery, the atmosphere took a decided turn for the cheery, much to Amber's relief. Already gathered around and chatting happily were the rest of the girls, with the notable exception of a certain chromatically maned pegasus. They all paused and motioned her over as she came in.

“Glad to see you're on time dear,” Rarity said, idly primping her mane in what was obviously a nervous habit. “Punctuality is key you know, not that some ponies seem to care.” the way she spoke the words left no doubt as to the source of her ire. Rainbow dash had at that very moment, lazily strolled in.

“Rainbow!” Pinkie Pie shouted, hopping to her hooves and rushing the unsuspecting but woefully unsurprised pegasus and engulfing her in a hug. “You're here! OHMIGOSH We can get started! I'm just so super excited to tell you all what great news I just got!”

“Well, I'm here now, so what is it?” Rainbow said, disentangling herself from her excitable friend and taking her seat at the table. Rarity shot her a somewhat annoyed look but said nothing more on the topic.

Pinkie's excitement was nearly palpable as she bounced in place. “Well, you all know about the winter ball coming up, right?” When everypony present nodded their affirmation, she continued. “And you know how it's the first official celebration in honor of Luna besides Nightmare Night?” Again, those gathered nodded. “Well... Guess who was just chosen to be the Winter Solstice Hostess!?” Before anypony could even think to guess, Pinkie shouted the answer in rapturous glee. “ME!!! Princess Luna herself asked me if I could host the Winter Solstice Ball, and after rearranging my schedule a bit to make room, I accepted!”

There was a pause before what Pinkie had said registered in everypony's mind. Once it had, they all began clamoring to congratulate the pink party pony on her new royal appointment.

“Oh, wow! This is really exciting!” Twilight said, as everypony began to calm down. “Hopefully this won't be a repeat of the Gala scandal.” she shivered slightly along with the other five. Amber had heard whispers of the Gala ever since the papers had run the day after. Some called it the most entertainment ever had at the Gala while others deemed it a travesty and called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the pony or ponies responsible. Granted, those 'others' were effectively, Blueblood and nopony else...

“Don't you worry about a thing! Pinkie Pie is on the case. Oh yeah! I just remembered. There's a theme. This year is 'Moonlight Masquerade' so everypony needs to get their costume ready by this weekend. It's gonna be great!”

“Can't wait,” Applejack exclaimed. “Ah'm gonna have ta find me a costume though...”

“Same here,” Said Rainbow Dash. “I could go as a Shadowbolt. What do you guys think?”

“Well, you girls talk about your costumes,” Pinkie said. “I'm gonna go get our lunch!” and with a quick little hop, she was out the door and into the kitchen.

“Rainbow, darling. It's a Masquerade Ball, not a Costume Party,” Rarity chided, as she ushered the chromatic pegasus away to explain the finer points of courtly attire, much to said pegasus' chagrin.

The conversation continued for some time, and about a half hour in, Pinkie returned with a trio of fully laden trays covered in sandwiches and beverages aplenty. While they ate, a commotion was brewing outside. Ponies were running towards the town square one after another. Before too long, one such pony burst into the store startling the gathered mares.

“Come quick!” Shouted the panicked stallion. “It's the Pink Lady! She's back again!”

“The Pink who?” Amber asked, but she received no answer as the six mares stood and made for the door. Quickly, she followed suit. The found themselves at the back of a swelling crowd of ponies all gathered around the fountain at the center of town. As the seven mares made their way towards the front, Amber became separated and quickly lost sight of them.

"Who is the Pink Lady?" Amber mumbled to herself, looking fully perplexed. A mint colored unicorn answered, startling her slightly.

"She's a master thief. Every new Moon, she announces her arrival and within the next week, four things go missing. The first three are supposedly clues that point to something incredibly rare or well guarded that gets stolen on the seventh day. It's always pretty high profile too."

"And no pony's managed to catch her?"

"No pony's ever seen her," The unicorn replied. "She could be anypony. Maybe not even a mare. Maybe not even a pony!"

"I guess that would make it tough. How long's this been going on?"

"I'd say a good three years."

"Woah... three years, and one theft every new moon?"

"Well not every new moon. But enough to put everypony on edge wen one rolls around, to be sure." The Unicorn was nodding as she spoke. "So around the New moon, if you've got anything that might be rare and valuable, keep it safe. I hide my Lyre every time. It's a one of a kind antique."

"Thanks, uhh..."

"My name's Lyra!"

"Yeah, Lyra, thinks."

Amber moved forward to inspect the scene more closely but was cut off as a whole flight of royal guards came swooping down on the crowd.

"BY ORDER OF HER ROYAL HIGHNESS, PRINCESS CELESTIA OF EQUESTIRA, PLEASE VACATE THE AREA."

Amber nearly fell to her rump at the volume of the voice. Pushing against the rush of ponies, Amber caught sight of the fountain. The water was bubblegum pink and on the figure of Princess Celestia was a pink party mask.

“PLEASE MOVE ALONG MA'AM!” a guard all but shouted. Amber felt the light pressure of a spell at work. It was obviously augmenting the voices of the guards.

“Yes sir,” she said. “Just curious is all.”

As Amber made her to leave, she spied all six of her friends gathered around what was unmistakably Princess Celestia and Luna. The seemed to be in heated discussion. Abruptly it ended with nods from everypony present. Amber was about to turn and leave but she caught Twilight's eye. The purple mare motioned her over.

“I guess I'll be going with the Princesses today up to Canterlot,” She said as Amber approached. “They want my help securing the festivities.” 

“Alright, Well have fun. And I guess I'll see you at the party?”

“You bet. Oh! There are some papers in the Library you may want to take a look at. They ought to help you out,” said Twilight. She then turned and bid farewell to the others before she and the Princesses winked out of existence. The power behind the spell felt less like a pressure and more like a weight applied to her back. Alicorn Magic.

With the commotion effectively put down, Amber's curiosity somewhat abated and very little left for her to do today, she decided now as as good a time as any to ask that all important question.

“Well,” she said, catching Rarity's attention. “Now what?”

“Now? Now we prepare for the Ball!” Rarity exclaimed, a wide grin spread across her face.
> Rogues Gallery #1: Ruby Tooth
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------





Status: At Large

Name: Ruby
Known Alias: Ruby Tooth
Race: Diamond Dog (Breed: Mutt)
Gender: Male
Age: 27
Modus Operandi: Never works alone, never gets his paws dirty, always seeking a way to move up the chain of command. Despite his aversion to doing so, Ruby Tooth is a dangerous and deadly fighter. Plans are never as simple as they seem from the beginning. Typical targets include Majitech repair shops, shipping centers and Jewelry stores.
Encounters: My first and so far only encounter with Ruby Tooth ended in disaster. I was captured and would have been murdered had it not been for Stone Shifter who released me and allowed Ruby Tooth to think me dead. I gathered at the time that Ruby Tooth's hideout was near Seapony's warf in the Port District of Manehatten. I also later discovered that he had me framed for several robberies and faked my death in a Magitech meltdown.
Notes: A devious bastard if I've ever met one. He's seen to the murder of at least two police officers and holds a third (Stone Shifter) in his employ. Ruby Tooth is very fond of the gem from which he takes his name. He's been involved in jewel heists and magitech robberies, several street brawls as well as breaking and entering, and assault with intent to kill. On a personal aside: This bastard's going down.


> Rogue's Gallery #2: The Pink Lady
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Status: At Large

Name: Unknown
Known Alias: “The Pink Lady”
Race: Unknown Presumably Pony
Gender: Presumably Female
Age: Unknown
Modus Operandi: She is a master thief who specializes in “Impossible” jobs. She only acts around the New Moon with zero activity at other times. She will leave a calling card when she first appears which is often some act of vandalism involving the color pink and then she begins her theft. She will steal four items, all low key and sometimes the thefts go unnoticed for some time but the four items stolen will be a clue to the fifth, her actual target. Some valuable object with heavy, nearly impenetrable security. Once the object is stolen, she will then disappear until another new moon. She does not appear every new moon and to date there have only been seven thefts in the last two years.

Encounters: I’ve yet to meet the Pink Lady. As of yet, I’ve only seen her Calling Card on the Celestia Fountain in Ponyville. The water dyed pink and a pink eye mask on the Statue.

Notes: N/A