//------------------------------// // 270. The Underdogged Caper - Part 3 // Story: Blaze the Pony Tale // by Wolven5 //------------------------------// Somewhere in Vanhoover... "Having the security guard killed was a mistake..." groaned a unicorn in a ritzy lounge setting. "Oh come now, Lucky, don't tell me you've found some misguided moral compass," wearily sighed a pegasus who was pouring some vodka. "Take it from one who knows - Morality is overrated." "Oh I could care less about that sad little nopony, Your Excellency," responded Lucky Finds as he accepted a glass from his mentor, "It's just that it's easier to rid one's self of a nopony who had no one around to miss him. The guard was a husband with kids, makes this situation unnecessarily more complicated." "Glad to see you remember my... private lectures from business school," chuckled the pegasus as he stepped into the muted light. He was a tall and well fit pegasus stallion with a coat of glass-bottle green, wine red mane done in an intricate style with nary a hair out of place, he wore a lapel and tie with an extremely expensive tie clip with a diamond in it, and his cutie-mark was an envelope with gold bits spilling out. "Out of all the students in your class, I could see that you alone had the ambition to make your fortune regardless of collateral damage." "Well, Duke Buck Cheap, I would never have risen to become the crime lord of Vanhoover were it not for your guidance," Lucky Finds chuckled while raising his glass to his mentor. "And while you can always count on my support, my good duke, it still begs the question why you asked for me to arrange this whole debacle. The gemstone I donated to the museum was valuable, yes, but certainly not one of a kind. Having a Diamond Dog steal it back just to have the museum compensate me for its theft, to be honest it strikes me as perhaps a little more trouble than its worth." "There is much you don't know about the Equestrian crime world, Lucky," Buck Cheap held his glass to his eye, studying the tiny bubbles of carbon drifting up to the surface, popping out with tiny little fizzes. “As of the moment, our dishonest living is under siege, my young friend... “What do you mean?” Lucky Finds quizzed. “That damned Thunderlane and his motley crew of honest cops, for starters,” the soon-to-be former Duke answered. “Once Celestia abolishes the Aristocracy, there goes my political clout! And then there're those hoodie sneaks screwing up the drug ring I had all nice and set here in Vanhoover, being just one of the occasions where their meddling ruined something lucrative for me. I tell ya, Lucky, we're losing our grip on the crime world of Equestria and unless we take action the rivers of money are going to start drying up!” That concerned both stallions. While Lucky Finds was a business pony with a shady background, he was never sufficiently linked to a number of crimes despite suspicion of his hoof in them. Buck Cheap however was another story - Everyone, even Princess Celestia herself, knew he was dirty, but the head of House Avarice had a surprisingly long reach and despite various occasions of evidence or accusations being held against him, the evidence in question or those who were brave enough to accuse him had an annoying habit of vanishing without a trace or the charges against him were dropped for some reason or other. He'd never been implicated in a crime severe enough that Celestia could subject him to royal trial, like she had with Aurora, because he was careful and knew when to draw the line and not push his luck. “You don't think you're overreaching now?” Lucky Finds asked, after considering his next words. “No,” Buck Cheap said. “I've been doing this for years. It's in my family blood.” Lucky Finds nodded. “Now, I want you to meet a contact who's going to help, now that Gem Cutter has screwed his simple job,” Buck Cheap snorted in vexation. Lock Keep died long before he made it to an operating table, leaving behind a wife and four children. Emblazon had gone to break the news to Lock's family and Thunderlane had gone with him, though Emblazon had insisted he hang back. He'd watched as Emblazon knocked on the door, a mare had answered, a few words were exchanged before the mare shook her head in response to the news, her eyes widening in vehement disbelief before she cried out in heartbroken despair, Emblazon holding her in his forelegs as she begged him to say it wasn't true between sobs. Even from a distance, the reaction cut into Thunderlane as it dug up memories he'd long tried to move on from, after he'd received word that his own parents died in a weather factory accident, and then had to break that terrible news to his little brother. They'd held each other and cried for a long time afterwards. Thunderlane let Emblazon do all he could to console Lock Keep's wife-turned-widow, until finally they exchanged some parting words before the mare went back into her house, presumably to tell her children that their daddy was never coming back home. Seeing Thunderlane's grim expression as he came over to the young pegasus, Emblazon asked, "How are you doing?" "...We gotta get the guy behind all this, Emblazon," Thunderlane furrowed his brows, "We can't let him get away with all this." "I agree, but channel those feelings into focus, son," Emblazon put a hoof on Thunderlane's withers, "Our job is not about revenge, it's about justice. We'll get the bastards behind all this and hold them accountable. Ya hear me?" Thunderlane sighed and nodded. "Good. Go back to the bureau and report to Misty. I need to head back to my precinct and file my own reports. Once I've finished, I'll join you over there." "On it," Thunderlane saluted before taking off. Emblazon sat at his desk, finishing the report. Something, however, was bothering him. Something was missing, but he couldn't put his hoof on it. Standing up, he decided to walk down to the evidence locker to see if he could figure out what was missing. “Whoever investigated this didn't do a thorough job,” he thought. Walking into the evidence locker room, he saw the evidence out and on the table. Walking over, he saw something sticking out from under the “reports” and saw it was a radio call to the Room Service. Reading it, he saw that there were several things on that transcript that raised red flags and sent every kind of bell and whistle ringing and sounding off. “The flying hell?” he breathed. The record showed that Ralph was, as many Room Service Operators had a habit of of saying, here but not here, meaning he was standing physically in the room, but his mind was not fully firing on all cylinders. How could he commit the crime? Emblazon thought. He knew, from years of experience, that criminals that pull a job at midnight, they'd have adrenaline pumping through their systems, which makes it hard for them to sleep and thus, they'd sound wide awake, even when they're supposed to be tired. Reading on, he found that the room service trolley attendant had to knock three times to get Ralph's attention and when he did answer the door, he was as carefree as a bird in the park. Criminals would be uptight, cagey, always acting in a manner of suspicion towards any pony that passed them, or even the hotel staff. “This is interesting,” Emblazon furrowed his brows as pieces began to form a picture in his mind. “I'm going to have words with the arresting officers.” Storming out, he found them standing by the coffee machine in the rec room. “What is this I read about a Radio call to Room Service?” he demanded. “Well, it's nothing,” one said. “NOTHING?!” he roared. “THIS IS VITAL EVIDENCE AND YOU IGNORE IT?!” “Look, Shield, we have our guy and that's all there is to it. Interfere with our case, and we just might suspect you to be an accomplice to Ralph,” the other all but threatened. Emblazon glared, before his eyes widened. “You were deliberately ignoring evidence?!” he hissed. “Well, money's money and we need it,” they were giving Emblazon looks that troubled him. “And you don't really pay the bills. Now, we have to...” They lunged at him, but he jumped up and bolted through the door, evidence tucked away. He glanced back to see several officers perusing him. Glancing up, he saw something that made his blood boil over in rage - Lucky Finds pushing something over to the desk to the Police Chief. “Sonuvabitch!” Emblazon hissed. He knew Lucky Finds was dirty and seeing that sunk something into Emblazon's head that not only broke his aged heart, but offended him - Lucky Finds had his precinct in his pocket. Every one of these officers Emblazon served alongside, was dirty, including his chief! He turned back to his run and dove into an old and trash filled alley, losing the cops on his tail. I've got to get to the bureau with this evidence! he thought as he hurried off, the distant shouts of his former comrades far behind him. "...I see," Misty sighed, having just heard Thunderlane report what had happened last night. She sat at her desk in the bureau, Thunderlane standing before it, as she held leaned her forehead into her hoof, pondering on what to make of it all. "So Keep was bought into the heist and he paid the ultimate price for it." "And left his wife and kids without the stallion of their house," Thunderlane said without thinking and instantly felt bad for saying it. "Sorry, that- ...That was uncalled for." "Everyone makes mistakes, Thunderlane," Misty responded, "But sometimes the real mistakes is not considering those who are affected by the consequences of our own choices. Don't worry about Lock Keep's family. The city will take care of his funeral service, and his wife will gain her husband's life insurance. It should help her." Sighing, Thunderlane asked, "So now what? We're no further in solving this case and clearing Ralph's name." "Hard Case and Emblazon Shield are still out there, searching for answers," assured Misty, "and my officers are here to protect Ralph and his son. No matter who's behind this crime, I am not going to let them get away with framing an innocent." For a few moments, the young pegasus let what Misty has said to him sink in. She spoke with deep assurance and moral conviction, that it struck a chord within him that Thunderlane was of the same mind, when the sound of a banging door being thrown open made everyone in the bureau jump! Thunderlane turned to see Emblazon panting and red in the face, looking like he'd run a marathon. Hard Case grabbed him a glass of water and the elder officer downed it with a greedy gulp. “What in the name of Celestia has you running at your top speed?” Hard Case asked. “Lucky Finds happened,” Emblazon growled. “I saw him pushing a bag over to the police chief and I was chased after I found crucial evidence that would clear Ralph.” “You don't mean...” Thunderlane interrupted, his eyes bulging. “The bastard's paid off my entire precinct,” Hard Case said, his ire now rising. "My chief, my fellow officers- They've gone dirty!" Thunderlane nodded. Hard Case walked over and took the evidence from Emblazon and placed it on the desk and began reading it. His brows furrowed together in a sign of agitation, before he said aloud, “Go and find me something to end this prick..." “Something interesting?” Hot Trail asked, walking in. He'd been keeping little Wags company and came over to see what the commotion was, hoping it wasn't a Pinkie Party. “Something interesting alright,” Hard Case affirmed. “Lucky Finds has bought off Emblazon's precinct. This evidence was hidden away to insure Ralph Brador would lose any chance of being proven innocent of a crime he didn't commit. "Come to think of it, this sounds like the MO of one other sleazeball I know about - Buck Cheap!" "Huh? Buck Cheap? I feel like I've heard that name from somewhere before," Thunderlane spoke up. “No surprise, seeing as how he's the Duke of Commerce and Business on the Princess's Aristocratic Council," Hard Case explained, "A position he and his family have used for generations to build up the biggest criminal empire in all of Equestria. "The problem is, even though we all know he's dirty, every time we get close to nailing that dirtbag and his slimy House of Avarice, evidence and witnesses disappear and his lawyers always get him off on some kind of technicality.” “That, and his House has made more enemies then we care to even catalogue,” Misty added. “The only real players who are still out for blood and his head on a pike are Prince Midnight's House Obsidian and Duke Brass Scales's House Candor.” “Damn, a guy like that should know not to press his luck,” Thunderlane commented. “I wouldn't be surprised if any other houses are after him.” “If there were, we'd know of it,” Hard Case said. “That bag of horseapples has it coming.” "We've got to stop him one way or another!” Thunderlane vowed. “That's just what we're gonna do,” Hot Trail assured as he showed them all a map he'd laid on a table. “Lucky Finds is Buck Cheap's operative here in Van Hoover; basically Finds is a crime lord Cheap appointed here to run all of Vanhoover's major crimes. I know a few casino owners down this way, who, while somewhat crooked, have a moral compass and no love for being under the hoof of Cheap or anyone who works for him.” “Figures,” Hard Case chuckled bitterly, “But we aren't gambling here.” “No, he's gambling against the house,” Misty remarked. Thunderlane chuckled and turned to the window. The view of the ocean was peaceful and helped not only to calm but clear one's mind. All sorts of dogs, ponies, griffons, and drakes were busily loading carts, railway wagons and even airships with freight, tourists were coming and going, and Lucky Finds was making his way to his yacht... Wait, Lucky Finds was making his way to his yacht?! "GUYS!" Thunderlane signaled them over and pointed down. “Hot Trail, stay here. Thunderlane, Emblazon, Hard Case, with me!” Misty called, grabbing her baton and collapsible crossbow. The others followed her out, with Thunderlane checking his crystal. It seemed to be acting very strangely, bobbing about excitedly and buzzing with a strange sort of electricity. The four exited the bureau and took the ramp near the door down onto the dock and charged across the harbor, dodging cranes, carts, and all sorts of workers. “STOP! POLICE!!” Hard Case thundered, as they drew close to where Lucky Finds was. Taking notice of his pursuers, Lucky dove behind some crates. The four stopped and scanned the large warehouse, where the yacht sat. “He can't have gotten too far,” Misty said aloud while looking here and there “He'd want to stay close to his means of escape. Spread out!” They nodded and searched the warehouse. There was no way Lucky Finds was going to leave this port. Thunderlane had turned a corner and saw Lucky Finds hiding behind a few metal drums. “HE'S OVER HERE!” Thunderlane shouted, drawing his four companions' attention. They charged over as Lucky Finds jumped up and took aim at Thunderlane with a crossbow. To Thunderlane's horror, it was the same crossbow that Gem Cutter used to kill Lock Keep. Lucky Finds smirked. “Time to die,” he said and pulled the trigger. Thunderlane braced for the end, but it didn't come. He opened an eye and saw that Hard Case had taken the arrow in his leg. The pegasus moved to help the cop, but Hard Case gave him a hard look. “We have a case to crack. It's a just a flesh wound. Get the bastard!” Hard Case urged. Thunderlane nodded and turned, but Lucky Finds was on the boat. “Dammit,” Misty growled. “We can't get at him now.” “And why not?” Thunderlane looked to her. “He has a Flight Ward on his yacht,” she said. “Flight Ward?” Thunderlane was unfamiliar with the term. “A magical ward that prevents any flying creature from getting close," she explained while looking on at Lucky with bitter eyes, "and with that crossbow, if we try following he'll shoot us." “Dammit!" Thunderlane swore. He couldn't let this scumbag get away. He couldn't let down everyone who'd been hurt in some way or other by Finds's schemes. He couldn't just stand by and let him run off like a colt who just stole candy from a candy store. There had to be something he could do! That familiar feeling came back and Thunderlane held up his hoof and saw his sword manifest But what good could a sword do in this situation?! He needed something to stop Lucky Finds from making his escape, to bring him to justice! Something that could stop his yacht without setting off the Flight Ward or put anyone at risk of Finds's crossbow. As if responding to Thunderlane's thoughts, the sword's magic resonated with Thunderlane's own magic and somewhere deep inside, he found realization. He pointed his sword straight for Lucky Finds, Misty looking at him confused, Emblazon, with Hard Case leaning on him as they came up from behind, looking on, as Thunderlane spoke: "Pierce the heavens... Skystrike!" The sword gave off a blinding flash as everyone but Thunderlane shielded their eyes and he saw his sword change from a blade and hilt to a mighty storm-black bow with pattern of golden lightning encircling its length, and each end shaped like a pegasus wing yet oddly it was lacking a bowstring. Although his comrades were stumped as to what this strange bow could do without a string, Thunderlane felt no doubts as something guided his actions. He positioned his free hoof just so, and everypony watched in awe as electrical energy sparked and gathered around Thunderlane before it all concentrated as Thunderlane pulled his hoof back, the energy forming a line of crackling energy along with an arrow of lightning! He took aim at the engine compartment as Lucky Finds turned his yacht to make for his private island off the coast of Van Hoover. Following the yacht until the right moment, Thunderlane released his hold and the energy arrow flew straight and true as it hit the engine compartment and the engine spluttered before a muffled explosion took center stage. “What the hell?! Lucky Finds snarled as police boats drew up alongside his vessel, earth pony and unicorn officers boarding the yacht with a form that read 'arrest warrant' and an inhibitor ring. The team headed to the hospital to have Hard Case's injury tended to. Thankfully, the injury wasn't too bad and after a minor bit of surgery, the arrow was removed, the wound cleaned in case of infection, and his wounds stitched up. Thunderlane was a bit sad that it was over and almost time for him to go, as he'd felt his cutie-mark glow as it did after he and his friends had put an end to Starlight's manipulations. He also confirmed that his sword, which could transform into a bow, Skystrike, had literally become a part of him, because after the arrest the bow had reverted to sword form and appeared to have been... absorbed into Thunder's body. He got freaked out until he realized he could summon Skystrike at will and re-absorb it back into his body. Standing outside the bureau, he was bidding his new friends farewell, as Emblazon said, “We'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when, but I know we'll meet again some sunny day." Thunderlane chuckled at that, having once caught Sweetie Belle sing that line to a couple classmates. Wags and Ralph caught up with them just as a police wagon rolled passed with Gem Cutter in it. “So happy endings do exist,” Ralph chuckled, glad that Diamond Dog was caught and his name cleared. “They do,” said a voice. “Just have a little faith that things will work out.” They turned to see Parchment Warrant. He was wearing a big smile and had a few papers in his saddle bag. “First thing's first, I need to do this - Emblazon, it's time to promote you to the head of your precinct. You're just the pony for the job of taking proper command and turning that precinct around. I know you'll clear out those sorry excuses of the uniform and fill that place up with good and dedicated officers." "I won't let you down, sir," Emblazon gave a salute to the commissioner, and Parchment Warrant then turned to Hard Case. “Next, your turn, detective. You're getting promoted to Captain. It's time for a massive change back to the way things were before Buck Cheap landed his crony down here." Hard Case nodded. Once he was done, he gave Hard Case a saddle bag, then headed back to tend to the paperwork. Misty smiled, “Congrats, can't think of a better pony for the job." “Now, I think Ralph and Wags have some matters to attend to,” Hot Trail said, Searchlight nodding in agreement. “After that, Hard Case needs to tend to something that he has arranged for you, then we'll see you to the airship depot.” Thunderlane nodded, before being tackled and licked happily by Wags. The pegasus laughed and sputtered, "Hey, cut that out!" "I'm sorry, I just wanna thank you," Wags got down, his tail madly going back and forth as he gave the gray pegasus a big smile, "Because of your help, my daddy's free, so thank you lots, Mister Thunderlane!" “You're welcome,” Thunderlane said, feeling accomplished by that little pup's smile. Wags was over the moon, as was Ralph. “Next time your in town, I'll treat you to lunch- Scratch that, I'll treat allof you to lunch, including your friends, Mr. Thunderlane.” “Don't go and spoil them,” Hard Case teased. “They need to be at their best and spoiling them may make them a bit....incapacitated.” “Like you and your five wagon garage?” Ralph asked. “Remind me to do things to you later,” Hard Case growled, while subconsciously rubbing his belly, "And... it's two wagons, at most." They chuckled as Hard Case held up to Thunderlane a junior detective badge. “Take it, shut up and don't make this more awkward then it has to be. And not awordof this or I will end you.” Thunderlane chuckled. “I don't think you can end him,” Misty said. “He's more fit then you.” Hard Case gave them all dirty looks before he cracked a grin. “Finally! We got him to take it in stride!” Emblazon chuckled with a faux cheer. “I think this calls for a celebratory nothing.” They just stared at the new Police Chief, wondering if the factory had missed a bolt. “Before this gets more awkward,” Searchlight spoke up, “We need to send Thunderlane off. After all, we can't keep Prince Midnight waiting. You know how he is about things like this.” They nodded and saw Thunderlane to the Vanhoover airfield, and gave him a warm send-off. Thunderlane boarded his airship home and sat down. Deciding a nap was in order, he leaned back and closed his eyes. The world around him passed by with shopping and the other daily activities going on. In the airship and in the land of napping, Thunderlane could easily control his own little world. The air ship touched down and Thunderlane groggily looked around to see he was in Ponyville. “Time to go and report,” he decided. He exited the air ship and headed down to the Castle of Friendship. He was pleased to be home at last. Upon entering, he saw Twilight and Cheese Sandwich in the foyer of the castle, ready to go out. “Oh, Thunderlane, how was it?” Twilight asked. “It was great,” Thunderlane smiled, "Justice was served and an innocent father was cleared of a crime he didn't commit." Midnight, coming back from the market (after he managed to somehow blow up the fridge while trying a new spell, ticking Twilight off) saw Thunderlane and smiled. “Good to see you back, friend,” the Prince welcomed him. “Same. Now I have something interesting to tell you,” he announced. “Really?” Midnight said, shutting the door after making sure he was inside. "Yes, I do," Thunderlane smiled excitably as he held up his hoof... and summoned Skystrike.