//------------------------------// // Treasure Hunt // Story: Scipio the Thief Lord // by acendon demios //------------------------------// Night has filled the sky, the town is quiet, ponies have begun to settle in for the night until a shriek echoes throught the streets. Ponies rush outside to see guards running after a shrouded pony with a bag in his mouth. Everypony gathers around as the guards surround the pony. No pony can see his face since it is covered by his cowl. All they know is it looks like a small child. As the guards approched the young pony started laughing. He removed his cowl to show his dried blood red skin and glowing red eyes. His body had black stripes everywhere and black hair almost darker than the night. A silver key dangled around his neck. All the ponies knew this young mare for he was a legend. "I am Scipio the Theif Lord, master of the night. If you come closer you will suffer a great fright. The night air is cool, and the stars are bright. Stay in my way and feel my might. No cage can hold me, for I am a shadow. Now everypony watch, since here is the show." Before the guards could move Scipio slowly started to sink into the ground. Soon he was gone leaving the entire crowd shocked. The legend says Scipio is an earth pony with powers beyond belief. He does not age and can somehow use magic. All this because of a mystic key he said the Night Mother game him. Meanwhile under the streets, Scipio and Crypt start walking towards the Celestial Kingdom. "Why do you always speak in rhymes everytime you get cornered?" Scipio started laughing as he gave the bag to Crypt. "When I do that they stop to listen, giving you time to use your magic to get me out. Plus it adds more mystery to my already shrouded name." The two walked until they reached the end of the tunnel where there was a brick wall with a steel door. Scipio held up his key and it flew into the lock and opened the door. Inside was a giant castle made of stone, left by the ancient ponies who built it. Inside the two were greated by the three younglings. Raggamuffin was a little earth pony with dark blue fur. There was also her two older brothers, a pegasis named Swift Hoof and a unicorn named Pick, each as gray as ash. Scipio gave them the bag so they could get their food and see the new treasures he found. Scipio always remembered to grab a chocolate cupcake for Raggamuffin since they were her favorite. After dinner Scipio always regaled the three children with one of his many stories. Today's story gets to be chosen by Pick. "Well Scipio, I am great at using my magic to open doors and chest yet your key does it with ease. I want to hear the story of that key." Even Crypt had not heard the full story of that key. Scipio was overjoyed to tell his story. "Well this story takes place back when I was your age. Me and my mother was moving to a new kingdom called Ponyville when I noticed she had dropped her necklace. Before I could get it a guard had picked it up and put it in his bag. Back then I didnt know what stealing was yet so I reached into his bag and took it. Before I could even turn the guard had me and escorted me off to prison. I cried for days since I missed my mother so much. Then one night I looked up at the moon and wished for my mother to come save me. When I turned around I noticed a purple alicorn was outside my cell. I was so happy since I thought it was my mother, but it wasnt. I asked her her name but she wouldnt tell me. All she said was to take this key and run free. She said one day I would pay her back. I took the key and she was gone. Next thing I knew I was unlocking all the doors in my way and running through the night. I found this place and started living hear. Soon after I met Crypt here when he was a young boy and together we have been stealing all that we wantedd to get back at the kingdom for seperating me from my mother. Ever since then that alicorn has been my Night Mother and I love her as such. The end." "Wait Scipio," Raggamuffin couldnt let the story end there, "did you ever go look for your mother? Wasnt that the whole reason for escaping?" Scipio thought about it and couldnt think of any reason. "I asked Crypt and he said there was no place called Ponyville. He also said alicorns didnt exist but he is wrong about that and he is wrong about Ponyville. Hear that Crypt?" Crypt sat in his corner reading and caughing. "I will believe it when I see it. Until then we need to plan out next heist. we are running low on supplies. we can get them all at the same place but there is just too much to carry." "Cant you use your magic to make a portal to just dump the stuff into or something? Or mabey you can teleport it here." Raggamuffin came up with her own plan. "Scipio, I have a plan." Her brothers quickly stopped her. "You know me and Pick dont want you going outside. If you get caught we dont know what we would do. You are too young to start involving yourself with these things." Pick nodded his head in agreement. "Just listen, I can use my cuteness to lure the pony out of her home. Once that happens you four can sneak in and get the supplies. If somepony walks by and notices anything Scipio can just make a run for it to keep the guards distracted while you three get everything to a safe place so we can transport it here later on." Crypt arose from his corner and started applouding the young filly. "That is quite a wonderful plan. It covers all angles of capture and even has a plan B in case we fail at first. How did you come up with something like that?" "Well I listen to you and Scipio everytime you make a plan. I have learned a lot." She looked to her brothers and they reluctantly agreed. That night they comensed the plan and it went off without a hitch. Raggamuffin led the store clerk to the entrance to the Celestial Kingdom while Swift Hoof stayed in the sky to monitor for guards. They got all the supplies they needed and then some. Once they arrived back at the Celestial Kingdom they noticed a small envelope on their dining table. This scared them all since Scipio was the only one with a way into the kingdom. Scipio picked up the letter and noticed it had a picture of a key on it. "This is clearly ment for me. Im just scared by the fact that some pony found an entrance into this place without my key." Scipio opened the letter and quickly read it. He suddenly dropped the letter and stood motionless. "Crypt... that was a letter from the Night Mother. She wishes for me to return the favor for the key. The Night Mother finally contacts me again." Crypt grabbed the letter and read over it. "This says she will be here tommarow night to discuss our next mark. This cant be possible since alicorns arent real. This is clearly a trap." "How about this Crypt, if it is not the Night Mother then she wont be able to get in. If she is then she will prove it herself. We shall wait and see." The two seperated and Raggamuffin fallowed Scipio. Her, Scipio, and the brothers all share the same room. Crypt finds another place to sleep for some reason. "Scipio, can you tell me about the Night Mother again?" Scipio put her on her bed and tried to remember that wonderful night. "Well her hair seemed to flow with the stars in the sky. Her eyes were bright purple and full of wisdom. She spoke with kindness and compassion like my mother once did. She had on a dazzling outfit that seemed to have been made by the gods themselves. The best part was how she glowed in the moonlight and put light in the darkness of my cell. She was the most beautiful creature I have ever seen. Is that good en..." Raggamuffin had fallen asleep, a big smile on her face as she slept. When Pick and Swift Hoof walked in Scipio made sure they didnt disturd Raggamuffin. Scipio was so excited to see his Night Mother once again. He found it hard to sleep but knew he should so that tomarrow could come faster. The next morning Scipio had an early run to the bakery so he could pick up some hot fresh pasturies and a chocolate cupcake for Raggamuffin. On the way there he heard some commotion on the city streats. It seems like they were hanging new wanted posters. Scipio loved to collect his wanted poster everytime a new one came out. Once everypony cleared out he jumped down to see his new poster, except his wasnt new. Evidently that night some pony saw him and his friends pull off their heist and gave a descrition to the guards. Swift Hoof, Pick, Crypt, but worst of all was the poster of Raggamuffin. Scipio took them all and continued on to the bakery. One of Scipio's secrets was that he was friends with the bakery owner ever since he stole back his necklace. Since then Scipio has been paying for his baked goods and enjoyed some chit-chat with Cupcake the shop owner. "You really do make the best pasturies in the kingdom. It makes me almost glad that I dont have to steal them." Cupcake always thought Scipio was adorable, even as children growing up in the streat. "Well I am glad you dont steal them since you are my most valuable customer. No a single pony buys as many as you do. Also I remember you telling me that Raggamuffin has a birthday coming up right?" "Yeup, she is going to be six. I havnt figured out what to get her yet though." Cupcake motioned for Scipio to enter the back of the shop. Inside her back room Scipio found a giant chocolate cake. "You made this for Raggamuffin? I dont believe this." It stood taller than Scipio and Cupcake put together. "Its not done yet but when it is I will tell you so you and Crypt can take it back safely." "Well for this I am going to give you that amulet I told you about. Heck I might even let you meet the Night Mother." Scipio stopped since he forgot to keep that a secret. "Wait, you said the Night Mother was the alicorn that gave you that key, does that mean she is coming to visit?" Scipio nodded as he collected his bag. "I will be back with payment in a day or two, dont have enough for everything. Scipio darted out and made his way back to his home. Inside he noticed that the others hd already gathered at the door. "Whats wrong guys? Did you get locked out?" Crypt pulled Scipio to the side. "I said I wouldnt believe it until I saw it, well I saw it. Not only are alicorns real but there is one inside right now. She has to be the Night Mother since she managed to let herself in." Scipio quickly ran past them all and opened the giant iron door. It didnt take him long to find the alicorn and he instantly hugged her. "Oh Night Mother, you dont know how happy I am to know that it is really you." The alicorn hugged him back and wiped the tears from his eyes. "Dont cry anymore young one, your mother has returned."