//------------------------------// // Train Ride to Success // Story: Smooth Criminal // by dudenotactive //------------------------------// “I wanted to ask him why he was sitting like me, but he ran away!” Lyra took a sip of her juice as she told one of her closes friends, Time Turner, the stallion was sipping from his morning coffee enjoying the company, as for Lyra who was telling him about a new pony in town and how she was about to greet him. “It feels like he’s not looking for friends right now Lyra. But look at this way, you said that Pinkie was seated with him before you right?” Lyra nodded yes, giving her a smile he continiued, “Then that means a party will be thrown to welcome the pony, then you can meet them and talk about humans until you throw up with the sweets you’ve eaten.” then his face turn to a frown. “Just like my welcome party.” Lyra laughs a bit scratching the back of her head, “So how is Fire Starter anywa-” just then a white pony who wore a white jacket carrying a sack in his hoof runs by, “Hey, that’s him Doc!” she pointed at the speeding pegasus. Time Turner stared at the pony who was talking to another something about ‘trains’ before he rounded a corner of a building, “Roman Torchwick?” he mutters. “You said something Turner?” His friend asked snapping him out of thought. Shaking his head he turns back to Lyra, “This will have to be cut short Lyra,” he places some bits on the table, “I just remember something that needs to be dealt with quickly.” with that he runs into after the pegasus. Being left alone confused she continiues to drink her juice. Rainbow Dash scans through the crowd of ponies below trying to find a well dressed stallion, her eyes comes upon a brown stallion who was waving at her with his right hoof, same hoof pointed to a direction that led towards the train station. Of course he went to the station, why didn’t she think of that, she turns back to the helpful pony only to find nothing, shrugging it off she went after a bigger fish. As for her friends they were seperated around town looking for the criminal, Twilight skids to a halt as a brown stallion blocks her path, “Not now Time Turner, somepony had just robbed Sugar Cube Corner and is on the run!” she explained to him. “Roman Torchwick.” Simply naming the pony she was looking for was enough to get her attention to be caught, before she could even asked Time Turner continiues, “He is heading to the train station last I saw him, Dash is already on route and you need all of your friends to handle Torchwick.” with that he walks away leaving Twilight to her own. Heeding his words she went to find the rest of her friends so she could get to Rainbow Dash as fast as possible. Now Roman was not scared of his pursuer, it is just because he was trying to make a name for himself in Equestria, looking back he saw far in the sky a rainbow heading for him. Taking this as his cue he walks into the train station on all fours, with his cane tuck neatly in his left wing, he didn’t want to bring attention to him as he already have with his stylish clothing. Walking over to unaware mare he swipe her suitcase unbeknownst to them, he hid the bits into the bag and casually walks over to the station clerk to buy some tickets, one way to Canterlot. Seeing the rainbow mare entering the crowd he hurriedly boarded the train without trouble from any pony there, finding a seat for him and his stolen items he sat down like a normal pony would and relax. Soon after, the train started to move, at first it was slow but then it picked up speed leaving Ponyville completely. “Off to a great start!” He thought to himself as he leans back. “Excuse me!” A familliar voice spoke out from the front side of the cart, Roman shot up from his seat to glare at the blue mare, she was busy asking an occupant to notice him which he took the chanche of leaving to the back of the cart. “Stop, you!” Rainbow Dash caught sight of him as soon as he went through the door leaving the cart, she chased after him ignoring a few pony she bumps into, she reaches the door and as soon as she passes the frame of the door a pony was looking up with a confused look. She follows where the pony was looking and deducted that the theif had escaped onto the roof, she flies over leaving the confused pony on their own, and there at the top of the caboose she saw Torchwick leaning on his cane grinning at her with a suitcase behind him. “Took you long enough!” He mocks her as he inspects his left hoof, “I was just about to leave and go back to my seat, but the hero finally came to stop my evil deeds!” his voice cuts through the loud combination of wind and train engine. Rainbow Dash walks closer until she was only a few feet away from him, “I showed you a bit of respect then you just went and robbed Sugar Cube Corner hurting my friend in the process!? You have no idea what you got yourself into!” she glared holes into him as she took a stance. Chuckling to himself he flips his cane onto his shoulder, “Good enough reason, we can’t have a hero who would take down a villains just because he is evil!” he gave her a wink. “That would be bad story writing.” With a battle cry she launched herself at him in blnding speed, Roman predicted it and simply side step from her attack. Twisting around she threw a left hook which he parried it pushing her away, using her right to jab just to be blocked by the cane again. “You are just easy Dashie!” She once again resorted to launching herself again but this time she was swatted to the side with Torchwick’s weapon, she skidded to the side almost falling off, she manage to pull herself back up to face him flinching a bit from the pain where his cane had landed. Torchwick wasn’t really into it, he could easily overpower her and move on but where was the fun in that? Plus, he doesn’t really want to hurt her, much. He watches her fly towards him pulling her hoof back, he raised his left forehoof to block it then using his cane to block a quick kick from the mare, throwing a few more hits only for Roman to block and parry her attacks. “WHY.DO.YOU.KEEP.BLOCKING.” She attempted to land a hit with every word but Roman protected himself from the blows. Roman ducks in time as she went for a direct strike with her foreleg over him. Using this chance he drove the curve end of the cane and tosses her over onto the suitcase, she glares at Roman before a clicking noise came from him. “This is where we end our one sided dance Dashie!” He held a strange glass slab in his off, he flips it to reveal a picture of herself glaring back at her. “Now whenever I feel sad, I can just laugh at your silly face!” He places the strange device back into his jacket. “Just for that, you’re gonna get it Torchwick!” She yet again aim to tackle which doesn’t even work as Roman simply side step then slams his cane down on her back with a sickening crack, she gave out a painful scream as Dash felt her right wing break from the strike, he swung again and completely leaving her wings mangled. Tears filled at the corner of her eyes at the pain but she stayed resilient, she started shouting countless insults and threats, not waiting for her to quiet down Roman proceeds to crouch down next to her. “Didn’t really want to do that Dashie, but you forced my hand with that constant attempt to tackle me. If your friends were here, maybe you would have lasted a bit longer.” Glaring at the thief she swipe her hoof at him in a feeble attempt to even hit only to be pinned by his cane, “Shut up!” she demanded from him with tears running down on her face. “You don’t want to hear my master plan?” Tilting his head slightly to the side, “It would really help finding me for our next encounter. You see, I’m going to a place that I can really stretch my limbs.” his right wing which was in good condition unlike her’s unfolds, “Can you tell me where?” She contemplate for a few seconds until, “Cloudsdale.” she answered. “Not even close.” He chuckles lightly at how easy it was to decieve her, technically she isn’t the brains in her group. “That’s right Dash, the next time you fly over, you should call first.” Standing back up he looks down at the injured mare. She returns his gaze with an icy glare, “You won’t get away with this!” she declares to him trying to get up just to be pushed back down by the cane. “I already have!” A bit cliche but he can work with it, lifting the cane away from her, he punts the mare off of the train as it speeds away. “So long Rainbow Crash, don’t forget to call! And never forget, Roman Torchwick, soon to be famous and soon to be hated!” Dash heard him as she tumbles in the air before landing right on her head losing consciousness. Roman watches her grow smaller as the distance between them increased giving yet another laugh at how easy it was. But then again, she didn’t have arua like his enemies back home. Afterwards, he decided to go back to his seat and enjoy the rest of the trip to Canterlot. Day one and he has already made himself known to Ponyville, and hopefuly Twilight Sparkles will tell the authorities, soon they will know his name especially griffons. “Yes, griffons.” “What do you mean he bought three tickets!?” “That’s all I know ma’am, three tickets.” The station clerk told Twilight with the rest of her friends. “What about my friend? She’s a cyan pegasus with a rainbow mane, have you seen her?” The clerk nodded. “She was here earlier looking for the same stallion, she took off after the train and that’s about it.” Twilight thanks him for the cooperation and went up to her friends. “It seems he got away girls.” Everyones looks down in defeat. “And we don’t know where he was going and where Rainbow Dash is. For all we know, he could have taken another train somewhere else!” Applejack places a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder. “Don’t worry sugarcube, we can still bring that no good thief to justice once we catch him.” “Applejack is right, dear.” Rarity chimes in. “That scoundrel, no matter where he is, he will be punished for his crimes.” Twilight smiles at her friends, she felt a lot better. But right now, she needs to inform Celestia that a dangerous criminal is on the loose. “Can you stay here AJ and wait for Rainbow Dash? I need to find Spike and deliver a letter to the princess.” Appljack nodded before Twilight ran off. It was just passed lunch and there was already trouble. The train stops at Canterlot and Roman steps off of it, the sun seems to be already setting. He was still on all fours trying to blend with the croud. Leaving the suitcase he walks through the streets passing by a few patrolling guards. First thing first, he needs a place to stay, and not everyone wants to keep a criminal. He doesn’t need a fancy room, he needs a hideout, one that seems so obvious that ponies would never even think about it. As he kept thinking about where he would live, he came upon a nightclub named ‘Scarlet’s Paradise’. “Perfect” He went inside and was greeted with silence, since the sun was still peeking out of the sky. The room was large with a dance floor at the middle, some booths near the walls, and a bar just far down. It kinda reminded him of Junior’s place. Roman notices a unicorn mare with a red coat and a white mane sitting behind the bar cleaning some glasses. The tapping of his hooves that echoes in the silent room had caught the mare’s attention, she looks up and eyed him carefully before speaking. “Like I said to that dumb boss of yours, no deal. This place is mine and you can’t do anything about it!” She said with a trottingham accent as her horn started to flare up preparing to cast a magic bolt. Roman chuckles slightly before sitting down on one of the stools. “Who ever this guy is, I don’t work for him.” His explanation stops the mare from firing her spell. “Then what is a stallion as yourself doin’ here?” She returns to cleaning the glass. “A bit too early for a drink innit?” He leans on one of his hooves smiling at her. “I’m looking for a room.” She stops just as she was about to place the glass to the shelf, then stared at him as if he had grown a second head. “I’m sorry, but this isn’t a hotel. If you were blind when you came in, this is a nightclub sir.” She pointed around the room before saying. “See?” He nodded completely understanding, but he wasn’t done yet. “I know, all I want is a place to hide.” The mare rasises a brow. “You see, miss...?” “Scarlet Arrow.” She filled in her name. “Miss Arrow, the name is Roman Torchwick. And I am about to be famous in Canterlot so I want to make sure that I would have some place where no one would find me. And I picked yours!” He raised his fore legs in the air with a big smile. She just rubs her hooves on her temple in frustation. “You some kind of dreamer? I doubt you would be famous at all, maybe a comedian but a terrible one.” He sat back on his seat with a frown but smirks at her. “I wont be famous in good kind, you see, my business would not only make me rich but so will you.” Her ears twitch at the sound of getting even more money. “All you need to do is let me setup a hideout right somewhere in this nightclub and you will be a very rich mare. Deal?” He raises his hoof ready to confirm his offer. “How do I know that you aren’t pullin’ my leg?” Still doubting the pegasus as she stared into his eyes. He grins, while his free hoof pulls out his scroll and opens a recent picture. “Because I already dug my grave by assaultng the Element of Loyalty and Honesty.” Her eyes widens at the image of one of the Element bearers. Whether to believe it or not. Scarlet could tell that he was a dangerous pony. She contemplated for a bit before reaching a conclusion, “Deal.” she said as her hoof shook his and the grin on Torchwick’s face grew into a smile. “But this better not bite me back, or I would personally drag you to the princess.” He only chuckled at her threat. “I have a secret room where I keep some imported whisky, don’t drink it. It also has a mattress there and don’t ask.” She pointed to a door on her left. Take that door down into the basement, then find the wonderbolts poster and turn the nob on the pipe by this sequence.” Scarlet handed him a piece of paper that had arrows written on it. Nodding he went down to the basement with the smile still on his face. “Time for a well deserve rest.”