[DAY 381]
I'm Nyemic Inferno, nerdy earth human of Equestria.
I work as an artist, but my whole life, I've always wanted to write and draw comics, specifically superhero comics. But my biggest problem was I couldn't come up with my first great hero. I just couldn't quite figure out what I wanted him to be or what he looked like.
Limestone had been witnessing my frustration for the entire year that we were dating.
"You still struggling on that thing?" she grunted.
"I-I just need to come up with something GREAT, ya know?" I sighed.
She moved in with me after only three months of being together because she.....kinda got into a lot of debt. But she'd never let her financial problems affect us, even though she had to work a night shift at the diner to help pay off her balance.
Which she absolutely HATED.
"I think you should put down your pencils, and take me out tonight." Limestone nodded. "Let's go to the movies, I'll even see that new 'Pretenders' film."
"........you mean the 'Revengers'?"
Keep in mind Limestone knew literally nothing about the comic book world and she couldn't have cared less, really. But, I'm convinced that that trip to the theater was fate.
"I know you're not big into comic book movies, but you have to admit that was pretty awesome." I chuckled.
"It was fun." Limestone shrugged.
After two hours of action and explosions, we were walking in the alley behind the movie theater, taking a shortcut to the house when-
"GIVE ME THE POUCH, LADY!"
Now, all I saw was a knife and my life flashing before my eyes. But, out of nowhere-
"BACK OFF!!!" Limestone barked.
POW!
SMACK!
CRASH!!!
Limestone went full on Amazon warrior. She beat the guy unconscious with her pouch.
"W-What was that?" I wheezed.
"I........I-I don't know." she panted. "Just happened, I can't explain it."
"That was the most amazing thing I've seen in my whole life!"
For the first time, I had been waiting for inspiration. And in that crazy moment, I finally found it.
[DAY 382]
When we got home from the movie, Limestone went to sleep, but I never made it to bed.
"Hey, you worked all night?"
"Limey, I would like to introduce you to..........'Double DANGER Mare'!!!" I exclaimed.
I had created a female superhero.
Based on my marefriend.
"Is this me?" she asked.
"Yeah."
I was excited. Female superheroes were becoming popular. I figured I had just struck comic gold.
If only I knew how crazy it was gonna make Limey.
[DAY 432]
Six weeks later, I had the first issue ready to go. Shortly after, I got some good news: a big comic book publisher had agreed to distribute 'Double Danger Mare' and wanted me to do a publicity tour. The catch?
They wanted Limestone to be involved.
She was less than enthusiastic, but a few days later, we had our first signing at my pal, Whooves's comic shop. From across the room, I noticed Limey actually checking out some comics.
"Whatcha looking at?"
"Artwork on this one looks pretty cool." Limestone nodded. "Although, I think it's labeled wrong. The sticker says it's 50 bits."
"Uh, that's the correct price there." Whooves stated.
"50 bits for a comic?"
"Ha, that's nothing. The really rare ones sell for a 1,000."
"What?! That's crazy. Who'd pay that much?"
"The fans." I stated. "You see that group of ponies out there? They're all here for you."
The moment I said that to her, EVERYTHING about her attitude changed.
She was RAKED with the fans and they loved her. She even seemed excited to show of the shirt I got her. It was like seeing some dormant alter ego come bubbling to the surface, and she was really working it. She set up a fan club AND hosted chat rooms for Double Danger Mare fans.
In the days that followed, she became completely committed to the comic series.
"What the buck?!"
"Limey, what is it?"
"Some big jerkwad said Double Danger Mare would get her ass kicked by Wonder Windigo!" she huffed. "I gotta set that guy STRAIGHT!"
REALLY committed.
"Dear, how about you tear yourself away from your fans for a moment, I could show you the pages for my next issue." I said.
"Buck yeah, lemme see that!"
"So, what do you think?"
"........no. No, no, this is ALL wrong."
But, slowly, I started noticing something.
"The Skull Cracker knocks me unconscious and throws me in a DUNGEON?"
"Yeah, it's a cliffhanger. It's explained in another issue."
"Yeah, but until it comes out, everypony's gonna think I'm weak!"
The line between Limestone and her comic character seemed to be blurring. She even started slipping into the character's voice.
It was cute......sort of. But I was concerned that she was getting a little carried away.
[DAY 440]
A few nights later, I came home from the movies, but it looked like Limestone hadn't gone home from work yet.
"Limey, you home?" I called out.
"HIYAH!!!"
"Yikes!"
Turns out, she was just.......hiding.
"Yes, it worked!" she cheered.
"What the buck was that?!" I panted, riding to my hooves.
"It was the 'Throw of Shadows'! I learned it in my ninjutsu class."
"What are you talking about, what is ninjutsu?"
"It is a deadly art of the NINJA. Tonight was my first class and it was awesome, they teach you how to be invisible......and ATTACK!"
At that point, all I could think was:
Who is this mare? And what has she done to my Limey?
"Why on Equestria would you do that?" I grunted.
"I thought it'd be cool if I showed off some sweet moves at my next appearance. Show that Double Danger Mare really is a badass."
"Ughhh."
"Nye, what's the matter?"
"I think you hurt my shoulder."
I know this may sound crazy, but I was worried Limestone might be losing it a little. She was starting to act like she really believed she was Double Danger Mare.
[DAY 441]
The next day, I was doing some laundry when I noticed something.....odd.
In the closet was a Double Danger Mare costume.
"Pretty cool, right?"
"Limestone!" I gasped.
"Oh, did I scare you?" she snickered.
"I-I'm fine. Uh......where did you get this?"
"I made it, I thought I could wear it at signings and conventions."
- Talking in the voice of the character.
- Taking secret ninja classes.
- A superhero uniform in the closet.
Something was definitely up.
And then, I spotted it.
"The sleeve's ripped." I stated.
"I know, it got caught on a hook." she nodded. "I need to fix it."
Caught on a hook? Or slashed with a knife?
This all added up to one undeniable conclusion.
"You've concluded that your marefriend is roaming the streets as a costumed crime fighter?" Whooves ponders.
I knew it sounded nuts, but there was a crime wave in our neighborhood. And I wondered if that might have sparked it.
"A lot of weird stuff is has been going on Limestone." I sighed. "Do you know what this means?"
"That she's one free-spirited lass." Whooves utters.
"Don't play, I'm afraid she's gonna run into the wrong ponies and do something stupid."
"I'm pretty sure the possibility of that happening is extremely slim. If she was a guy, possibly, but mares are too sensible to do something so-"
"Insane?"
"Correct."
Whooves wasn't buying it, but I was convinced that Limestone was trying to be a superhero. So that night, I stopped by the diner to see if she was really going there every night.
But, they told me she hadn't been at work for over THREE weeks!
Now, I was positive.
My marefriend had officially lost it, and was roaming the streets fighting crime. So I quickly got Whooves to help me look for her.
"How much longer are we going to be searching, chap?" he sighs.
"Until we find her." I huffed. "I don't know how long this can take."
But just as we were heading into a bad neighborhood...
BEEP BEEP!!! BEEP BEEP!!! a device on Whooves goes off.
"Oh no." he winced.
"What is it?"
"There's been so many break ins, I've installed some sensors in the store. Somepony's breaking in right now!"
We raced right over to Whooves's store.
And there she was.
"Heyyyyyyy..." Limestone chuckled sheepishly, carrying a bag. "What are you guys doing out so late?"
And it all came together.
Once Limestone realized how much money there was in the comic world, she started gathering intel on all our followers through the promotional signings. She took advantage of a recent crime wave and started breaking into her fans' homes to steal as much comic swag as she could find.
And finally, she went for the motherload: Whooves's store. Limey figured if she could sell all that stuff, then she could pay off all her debt.
So she wouldn't have to work at that diner anymore.
"C-Can we just forget all of this had happened?" Limestone stutters.
"Uh, do you hear the sirens?" I said annoyed.
"Aww, just cover for me, please?"
"How are we even supposed to do that?"
"J-Just tell them that you actually stumbled into the REAL thief a-and he kicked your flanks and got away!"
"We don't even have any cuts or bruises."
POW!!!
"AH!"
And that's how Limestone Pie became the one that got away...
Almost.
The police eventually caught up to Limestone and she has a new secret identity:
Inmate #36A74.
Nyemic Inferno discontinued Double Danger Mare. His next comic was also a hit...
The Ninjutsu Princess.