//------------------------------// // Caught In The Jaws Of The Beast // Story: Criminally Stupendous // by dudenotactive //------------------------------// "Why do you even like Roman?" Fuchsia asked as she and Lavender set up some training dummies.  "What don't I like? He's as great as Trixie, he helped me back on my hooves. Trained me to be powerful." Trixie paused as she thought of more things to list. "He is also kinda cute now that I think of it." Her cheeks became red as she imagined Roman holding her hoof.  "Gross," Fuchsia would've barfed if it wasn't for her strong will.  "So how are you gonna confess to him?" Lavender asked.  Trixie froze just as she raised her cane to strike the dummy. Her cheeks grew even redder. She shifted on the spot and her eyes darted around. "I w-was thinking about waiting for him t-to make the first move." Fuchsia placed a hoof on her face and felt a little discouraged for Trixie. "But what if he doesn't like you." "You don't know that!" Trixie snapped at her.  "Calm down Miss Trixie," Lavender placed a hoof on Trixie's shoulder. "just focus on the dummy and clear out your mind." Fuchsia clicked her tongue. "But still, Roman might not feel the same way as you." She received a glare from Lavender.  "He might not?" The unicorn turned to face Fuchsia with her bottom lip quivering.  "Yeah, so that's why you gotta make the first move." Lavender rolled her eyes. "Oh, what would you know? Have you ever dated before?" "Yes," Fuchsia answered honestly. "my last date is the reason why I have a gambling addiction. I mean, who brings their date to a casino?" "That's what Trixie's father did once," Sunflower suddenly chimed in, the three younger mares were taken by surprise. "Now, what's this about dating?" She asked, a glimmer of curiosity in her eyes.  "Oh, n-nothing!" Trixie giggled awkwardly. The last thing she wanted right now is her mother finding out about her little thing for Roman, the man she currently despises the most.  "Yeah, Lavender is just asking me tips on how to ask a guy out." Fuchsia lied.  "Oh, that's great!" Sunflower smiled. "Oh Lavender, don't be afraid to ask me. I got some advice that I'm sure would work." This gave Fuchsia an idea actually, she smirked as she pushed Lavender towards the older mare. "Really? Then would you kindly help us, ma'am?" "Of course!" She smiled. "But, where is Roman anyway? I have not seen that ruffian since yesterday." Trixie sighed a sorrowful sigh. "Sadly Roman has somewhere to be, something about seeking out answers and finding some Grimm. I don't understand him sometimes, to be honest." "I see..." Sunflower hummed as she stared at her daughter.  It was raining heavily, a stallion was caught in the storm and was forced to seek shelter. He ran through the open road, lights could be seen just ahead, a beacon of hope just a few feet away. He hurried, his body was soaking and the mud under his hooves stained his already brown coat.  He reached the light and behold, an inn located in the middle of nowhere. He smiled widely as he rushed inside. A mare greeted him from behind the counter, there were only a few ponies around as well as a couple of griffons. Everyone was inside and away from the storm that raged outside. A few sang some songs to drown out the hard rain that pelted the roof.  A pegasus even offered to buy everyone in the building a few drinks, such a kind gesture. Must've been celebrating something.  The owner was kind enough to offer a towel to help the stallion dry off. And seeing that it was raining too hard and he'd be stuck in the inn for the whole night, the stallion asked for a room. And what luck he had, it was the remaining room available. He thanked the owner and made his way to his room, he would need to freshen up before coming back to try the owner's cooking, the mare had some mouth-watering meals that he was sure to enjoy.  But just as he entered the room, his eyes widened. Someone sat on the end of his bed next to some folded towels, a pegasus in stylish clothing. But what caught his attention was the cane that was pointed right at him.  "Please, come in. Do close the door also." It was then the stallion recognized who this was. Roman Torchwick, the thief of Manehattan. The stallion did as he was told and closed the door behind him. He sighed as he approached Roman, he tried not to run or panic. That isn't what he does.  "What do you want, Mr. Torchwick?" The stallion demanded to know.  "Straight to the point, aren't we?" Roman chuckled but then he bared his teeth at the stallion, an ill intent flashed in his eye. "Oh, you know what I want. Who are you?" The stallion was unfazed, he only stared at the thief with an unreadable look. There was a short moment of silence between the two.  Roman continued. "See, I know who you are and what you did. Wonder child, born with a cutie mark of unknown purpose. A miracle to many believers. You were a graduate of the University of Canterlot, a straight-A student. And plus, you are an independent inventor who sells his patent to several businesses. For example, you sold a hay-powered engine to the Iron Legion to help carry their cargo with cheaper fuel. Kinda silly if I'm being honest, but this world is really bizarre." Roman aimed his cane right between the stallion's eyes.  "But what I want to know is how you know about Remnant. Now tell me this," The muzzle pressed against the stallion's head, Roman glared into his eyes. "Who the buck are you, Time Turner!?" Thunder cracked outside and illuminated the room just for a second.  The rain tapped against the window, they could even hear the patrons below singing their hearts out. The stallion, who is now known as Time Tuner, sighed.  "Put that thing away," He bumped the cane away with his hoof, Roman stared at him, slack-jawed. Turner did it so casually that it stunned Roman. "you'll surely poke your own eye out with that cane of yours. Now if you excuse me, I have to dry myself." And just like that, Turner walked over to some towels that laid on the bed.  "Hey, I asked you a question!" He once again raised his cane towards Time Turner.  "You did," Turner hummed. "but I am busy for the moment, I'll get to you as soon as I finish." Roman was tempted to pull the trigger now and be done with it. But he wanted answers, and he'll get it one way or another. Roman scowled as stomped towards the stallion with the idea of smacking some sense into the pony. But much to Roman's shock, the stallion ducked under his cane and dodged the first swing. Frustrated and peeved off, the thief decided to throw away common decency and just break some bones.   Sadly, no matter how quickly Roman acted or how swift his moves were, Time Turner simply dodged every attack. To make things even worse as it already is, Turner was using the fresh towel to dry himself off. It was as if Roman was a measly little fly to Time Turner.  "Unless your plan is for me to catch a cold, I suggest blowing a hole on the roof instead." Turner chuckled. "That would certainly be much more effective than what you're doing right now." "Why you," Roman took a step back, he did not expect such agility from someone like him. That was Roman's first mistake, he underestimated Time Turner, the one thing he should've avoided the most.  "This weather is quite awful," He commented as he stared at Roman with the same expression as before, just blank. "The pegasi downstairs are from the weather team on this side of Equestria.  Interestingly enough, they seem to be celebrating something. Perhaps it is about the weather?" Roman flinched, his eye widened as he glared at the Equestrian. Time Turner hummed. "A storm where it is supposed to be only cloudy. Pegasi are also known for their strict weather schedules. So the fact that they are downstairs buying everyone a drink just means that someone had paid them a hefty sum of bits just to bring in a storm. Am I right?" "You talk too much." Roman had enough, the answer isn't worth it anymore.  The stallion in front of him was far above intelligent, he was like a computer containing every bit of information in the world. Time Turner managed to figure out Roman's tricks in just one mistake. The day before this fateful meeting, Roman had intercepted a letter for Turner and discovered that he was leaving Ponyville to visit a farm just nearby.  Roman did everything right, he checked the distance between the train station and the farm he's visiting. That's how he discovered the inn, it was on the same road as Turner's destination. Then he paid the pegasi below to make a storm. Thus forcing Turner to seek shelter in the inn. Yet the whole thing proved useless since he couldn't even land a single hit on the pony. So he was left with no choice but to dispose of him in a much louder way.  But just as his cane moved up to aim at Turner, Roman felt the sharp edge of a dagger pressed against his throat. "Don't move." A mare behind him spoke. Roman was furious, he was caught off guard because he focused on Turner. How did he let his guard down? And where did she even come from? Those were just two of a dozen questions he was asking himself. Another thunder boomed, and with it, the cane blasted Roman's attacker. But he missed completely and only managed to separate him and the mare. Now there was a hole in the roof and the rain was pouring through. He backed away from his new opponent, walked right onto some broken shards of glass. That's when he realized where she came from, and to support his conclusion, another thunder flashed across the sky.  He glared at the mare, she wore a black bodysuit along with a black mask and a pair of red goggles. It was like a Grimm was staring at him, it sent a chill down his spine.  "Who are you?" Roman asked as he took on a battle stance.  "She isn't gonna answer that," Turner said. He was done and ready to go down to have a warm meal among the creatures below. "Though you've come here with the intent to hurt me, I am actually glad that we have met once again Mr. Torchwick." Roman arched a brow. "We met?" "Of course!" He chuckled as walked over to the mare's side. "Beacon academy, you were quite an extraordinary student if I recall correctly. You had the highest score in Grimm study which is a feat one should be proud of." "Who are you really?" Roman was calm on the outside, but inside, he was in full panic mode. He was sure that he never met Turner before. He would've remembered a face easily, especially someone from Beacon. He inched towards the window, it would seem he was at a disadvantage right now. To fight would be a death wish, especially when the God of Darkness said that this Time Turner was the strongest agent he had sent for Roman. This stallion could've killed Roman back at Manehattan, that is for sure. But before Roman could even prepare for his escape, Turner cleared the gap between them just in a matter of seconds. The thief couldn't do anything as he was tossed towards the floor where the mare would then kept him pinned.  "I'm sorry for that, but you were always a slippery chap. Hard to catch and all that hullabaloo." He chuckled.  Roman felt his heart beat faster, he was stuck, somehow caught by two ponies within his well-thought-out plan. "Who the hell are you?"  Turner picked up Roman's cane and examined it closely. "Time Turner, but some call me the Doctor. As for you? You may call me Ozpin." There was a moment of silence, nothing but the storm could be heard, Roman eyed the pony before him. Unsure what to say at the moment. But one thing was running through his mind right now, and it was the name, Ozpin. This guy is claiming to be the headmaster of Beacon. This pony who is currently in his early twenties is claiming to be some old man with a caffeine addiction. There were another few seconds before Roman finally uttered a word. "WHAT!!!???"