Chapter 3: Pinkie and the Mane
Twilight Sparkle circled the large table her brother had set up on the main floor of her library, watching as the unicorn colt circled it with a contemplative frown on his face.
“Don’t you find it just a little bit strange?” enquired Twilight.
“Find what strange, Twi?” he asked, looking up from the large map unfurled on the tabletop, the chart itself having been dotted with numerous pins.
“This,” she said, nodding down, “I mean first Princess Luna says to leave everything to her and now she’s marshaling every free guardspony in every town between here and the seas to search for the Midnight’s Heart.”
“It’s a very important stone, Twilight,” he said, still obviously distracted.
Twilight circled him, “I also recall you saying that she said to leave everything to us ponies down here and just enjoy your stay while you can.”
“I know, Twilight,” he grumbled, bending down to scribble a note, “but with Cadence still away in discussions with the Sea Ponies, there’s really nothing else for me to do just now. I feel…useful, doing this.”
She watched him drag aside some scrolls to read some reports from nearby towns and then double check them against his map. A wry, affectionate smile pulled at her face, “Look at you, playing detective. You’re really enjoying this, aren’t you?”
He flushed slightly, “Well I’ll admit it might have been a while since I got to actually do anything…guard-related.”
“You never were one for politics or studies, were you? Always out fooling around with the other colts playing soldier.”
He glanced sidelong at her, a smile pulling at his mouth, “I always had time for you though.”
She smiled, “Yes. Yes you did, big brother.”
He coughed and looked back at his map, “Besides, I can’t just leave things as they stand. I know I can be of more help if I stay here as opposed to finding a different way back to the Empire.”
She nudged him with her shoulder, “It’s not like I’m complaining.”
He smiled at her again and Twilight turned her attention to the map, “So each pin represents a theft?”
He nodded, “Every recorded theft of a magical artifact in the past six months. Luckily there aren’t much of those in Equestria so it’s been quite easy to track the patterns.”
Twilight was startled at how ordered her brother could be when it came to his duty. Each pin had a bit of string tying it to another pin, which in turn held open an individual scroll placed around the rim of the table. Each scroll held a printed news report of the incident in question.
Twilight beat her wings and, whilst still unsteady using them, she managed to gain some altitude in order to look down on the map from above, “What’s the difference between the red and yellow pins?” she asked, noticing the twin color distribution.
He stood back and nodded at them to indicate, “The red ones are high-profile artifacts or items that could be particularly dangerous. The yellow ones seem just be opportunistic thefts from a few colleges and libraries.”
Twilight took in the map from above. Her eyes narrowed as a suspicion came to her. She dropped down and ran her gaze over the summary sheet Shining Armor had drawn up with the dates and times of the incidents, “His pattern changed…” she suddenly murmured.
“Twilight?”
She pointed her hoof down at a small group of yellow pins that were mostly grouped together, “If you look back about six months ago, near the start: most of the thefts were all located in one area and were seemingly at random. Then suddenly…” her hoof drew out to the next one, which was a red pin on the outskirts of that area, “One high profile artifact, and from there on…” she moved her eyes from pin to pin, “They've all become spread out, and all high profile.”
“Nicely spotted, Twilight,” said the elder with a brief smile, “But It’s not just that,” his gaze turned serious once more, “In each of the high-profile cases he seemed to have foreknowledge of all the security involved as well as the routes in and out. It was the same with the palace.”
Twilight frowned, “Do you know how that might be possible?”
He paced around the table, “Somepony on the inside would be my first guess, except-“
“-Except that would be a lot of inside jobs…” finished Twilight with an understanding nod.
Shining Armor leaned forwards to rest his chin atop his hooves, regarding the map with a frown, “No, if I were to guess, I’d say he had to have had some kind of accomplice; somepony who’s been in a position to have access to all that information at some point and also the smarts to gather it together.”
“And have you found anypony who might have all that information?”
He shook his head, “That’s just it, Twilight: there isn’t anypony who should’ve had access to all that information at once. The only place in Equestria where all that information could be found together would be in the secure archives in Canterlot, and individual sections are restricted. The only ponies with access to all areas are the princesses themselves, or someone who’d been given full command of palace security for some reason.”
“And has anyone ever been given that?”
He shook his head, “Except for that time I was handling the defense of Canterlot from the Changelings, no…”
“Hmm, and I think I’m going to trust that you haven’t turned jewel thief in your spare time, big brother,” prodded the alicorn jokingly.
“Thanks, Twi, I'm so glad you’ve got my flank on this one.”
“Any time.”
It was at that moment that the door was thrown open and a small purple figure backed in whilst burdened with a pile of books far taller than he was, “Hi, Twilight,” said Spike as he reversed inside, kicking the door shut on reflex, “I got those books you were expecting from the delivery office. Sorry it took so long, apparently the delivery pony set half down on one side of the warehouse and then for some reason set half down on the other, took them over an hour to find them all. I did get a free sapphire-filled muffin out of it as an apology though. The muffin has since vanished under mysterious circumstances, sorry about that...”
“That's perfectly fine, Spike,” said Twilight with a smile, “and look: we have a guest.”
“A guest? Who would- whoa!” The baby dragon cried out in panic as he slipped on one of the many pieces of parchment littered about the floor and landed flat on his face.
“Are you okay, Spike?” asked the alicorn, taking a hesitant step forwards.
“I’m fine,” he grumbled, dragging himself up and restacking the books he’d dropped all over the floor, “Man, Twilight, I really wish you wouldn’t leave your stuff lying around, I just cleaned this place up.”
“It’s...not my stuff,” said Twilight.
It was only then that the dragon noticed the state the library had been quite swiftly transformed into since he’d left earlier that morning, and also the unicorn standing on the opposite end of the table, “Shining Armor? W-what are you doing here?”
“I’m just here to see Twilight, and maybe for a little bit of business.”
“Business?”
“Shining Armor is here to try and catch a jewel thief. He thought my library might make a nice little headquarters to get his information together, and it has nothing whatsoever to do with all the trains being cancelled until further notice and him being stranded here with nothing else to do.”
“Jeez, Twi, you make it sound like I can’t sit still for five minutes.”
Spike sighed, “I wouldn’t worry, Twilight’s pretty much the same, unless you put a book in her hooves that is...”
“That’ll do, Spike...”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, stepping forwards, “but a jewel thief?” echoed the dragon.
Twilight cocked her head, “Jewels and magical artifacts. Basically nearly anything that’s been imbued with magical energies has been a target.”
“Wow, so it’s a master criminal? I’ve only read about those in stories.” said Spike with mild awe, “I didn’t think they even existed in real life.”
“They don’t, at least not normally,” said Shining Armor, “Crime in Equestria on any large scale is extremely rare. That’s why this is such a special case.”
Spike picked up the scroll he’d slipped on. Imposed on it was the image of a colt from one side, “is this the pony you’re looking for?”
The unicorn nodded in response.
Spike frowned, scrutinizing the image, “He doesn’t look like much, just a regular old earth pony.”
“I made the same mistake,” said Shining Armor, “He’s actually a unicorn, but it seems he keeps his horn hidden behind his mane.”
Twilight inclined her head, “Makes sense if you don’t want other ponies to know you can do magic. Makes you less of a suspect.”
“Alpha Spark...” read Spike from what was actually a wanted poster, “You know anything about him?”
“Now that I know his name, yes.”
Spike hopped up onto one of the wooden stools, paper still in claw, “Then who is he? Some down-on-his-luck pony who’s turned to a life of crime?”
Shining Armor frowned, “That’s just it: he’s not. Alpha Spark is the heir to the Vanas dynasty. His mother and father -Mural Impasto and Canvas Daybreak, are two of the most wealthy artists in all of Equestria. He disappeared five years ago from the coma wing of Fillydelphia Central Hospital and hasn’t been seen since. His parents put up quite a substantial reward for his return at the time.”
“Do they know he’s turned up again?” asked Twilight.
“If they don’t already, they will soon.”
“You mean he just got out of bed and wandered off one day?” asked Spike
Shining Armor shrugged “I don’t know. I don’t even know why he was in there to begin with. The file they teleported over to me didn’t have much in the way of detail. To be honest I think they just didn’t want somepony bringing up their losing of a VIP patient.”
“I don’t get it...” said Spike.
“Don’t get what, Spike?” asked Twilight.
He lifted up one of the nearby reports, “This says this has been going on months now, right?. Then how come everypony is only choosing to do something about it now?”
“Probably because nopony joined the dots before. Besides, it’s only with the theft of Luna’s Midnight’s Heart that things have become so serious.” Said the unicorn.
“Midnight’s Heart?” asked the dragon, “What’s that?”
There was a shimmering in the air as Twilight lifted a tome from her bookcase using her horn and set it down in front of Spike. The page showed the gem in question as the alicorn spoke, “The Midnight’s Heart was the stone used by Princess Celestia to let her control the night while Princess Luna was banished to the moon. And while Luna may be back and in control again, if somepony gets hold of that gem they could use it to throw the very balance of Equestria into chaos. That and the other stolen items paint a very nasty picture.”
“You mean there’s stuff he’s taken that’s worse than that?”
Shining Armor shook his head, “Not worse, no. But some of those artifacts held the templates for a lot of the fundamental magics that we take for granted. Mirith’s horn, for example, was used to help make the air magic that creates the currents used by pegasus ponies to move more swiftly between towns, those currents also help move the clouds about. In fact, most of the stones and gems taken are linked in some way with all of the basic forces that keep Equestria running. Alone, any one of those items could cause trouble if in the wrong hooves, but together...”
“It really could throw all of Equestria into chaos if someone with truly bad intent got hold of them,” said Twilight.
“I dunno,” said Spike, holding up the poster again, “He doesn’t look like some evil genius, looks kind of vacant if you ask me.”
“I’d have to agree with you, Spike,” said the unicorn, “I don’t think he’s doing this because he wants to. From what I heard he told Princess Luna, he’s doing it because he feels he has no choice. Said it was for a ‘good cause’.”
“You think someone’s manipulating him?” asked Twilight.
“Maybe. Guess we won’t really know until we find him...”
Spike leaned back, claws braced behind his head, “And he could be anywhere by now...”
-α-
A few moments earlier…
“I always wondered how they made trees into houses…” I lamented, weaving about what appeared to be a pile of books with purple legs as we passed the huge tree somepony had adapted into their home.
“A wizard probably did it...” said Mimica distractedly. I looked to her. She was staying even further within my personal space than normal. Her posture was sort of hunched together as her eyes flicked almost fearfully left and right.
I stopped in the shadow of the tree to look at her, “Mimi, what’s wrong?”
She shifted slightly, averting her eyes, “It’s nothing. I’m just not…good around lots of ponies.”
“A princess, and you’re not good around numbers?”
To my confusion, she actually shied away more, her mane briefly falling to obstruct her face, “I wasn’t what you would call paraded by my mother. I wasn’t exactly something she wanted to show off in public. I was tolerated, not celebrated…”
I regarded her in silence as she stood there. I sensed she was waiting for me to say something. When no words came, she arched herself away a bit more and carried on walking.
“My parents used to parade me around a lot,” it took me an instant to realise I’d actually spoken out loud, and that the words were still coming, “I hated it though. I was always in crowds, never good with them though. I don’t have much in the way of control with my magic, you see. I can barely handle basic levitation, not that my parents minded. If anything, my lack of control was…encouraged,” I paused to lower my voice, “right until I nearly died because of it.” I looked to the Changeling, “Don’t yearn for love, Mimi. That’s all the advice I can give you…”
Mimica had stopped and was looking back at me in surprise, “Spark?”
I smiled weakly and moved to walk on by, “tit for tat, Mimi. You tell me something, I tell you something. Come along…”
I looked around as Mimi followed me in silence. I only then realized that this was the first time I’d actually been in a populated place with her before. I spared a quick look about; Ponyville wasn’t what I’d call a large town, and it didn’t seem too heavily populated judging by the number of ponies milling about between buildings and at the market in the town square, but neither was it what you would call tiny or quiet.
“Don’t worry,” I said, walking ahead of her, “I’m sure you’ll be fine once we’re on the move and heading north.”
“You’re sadder than I am.” Her voice suddenly said from behind me.
I stopped and turned to look back at her, “Mimi?”
“I’ve been through some things, and I don’t pretend differently, but it’s different with you…you pretend you’re fine for my sake, but you’re really not. I see it occasionally, just when you think no one else is looking; you get this look in your eyes. You are so unhappy, why?”
I regarded her silently for a moment. She really was far too inquisitive “I’m happy I have you, Mimi…and I’m not pretending that.”
She smiled tiredly, “Avoiding the question?”
“Now you know how it feels. Come on, standing around acting glum amongst these…oddly happy-looking ponies will start to attract attention.”
I carried on walking and noticed Mimica walk briskly to catch up, standing at my side this time. I was startled when I felt her gently rub the side of her head against mine, and stayed close by me as we walked. As I looked back at her slightly, I suddenly got the strangest sense that she was trying to comfort me, which was an odd turnaround.
I found myself unable to complain.
-α-
I skidded to a halt behind the station ticket office, stopping Mimi with an extended hoof before she could turn the corner and onto the platform.
“W-what is it?”
“Back, stay back…” I murmured, looking slowly round the corner at the two guards standing halfway down the platform. They appeared to be in the process of waving away any approaching passengers from the stationary train.
“Trouble…” I murmured.
Mimi peeked out behind me, “What’s going on?”
“I’m not sure…” I looked to her, “They’re not looking for you. So why don’t you go over; pretend you’re a passenger trying to find out what’s going on.”
She had her forward hoof lifted nervously, but nodded after a brief hesitation and then walked out into full view and off down the station.
I watched with baited breath as the guards spotted her, their expressions going from stern and then, to my relief, polite smiles. That was when...
“You’re doing well…”
I nearly leaped out my hide at the sound of that voice. I spun about to find a familiar face standing not three meters away in the shadow of the building opposite.
The hooded pink alicorn looked at me with cool eyes and a smirk to match. I looked quickly at Mimica and back, “What are you doing here?” I hissed, glancing fearfully about.
My ‘benefactor’, as I’d come to call her, stepped forward, not looking at all worried, “Just coming to see how my favorite little unicorn is getting on. I hear you succeeded with your last little job.”
I looked away, shifting, “Yes…” I murmured.
“And what do we say?” she asked, her voice sickly sweet.
“…Thank you… for your help.”
“There, now that wasn’t so hard, was it?” Her expression hardened, “Did she absorb it’s power like the others?”
I frowned, “Of course she did, how else do you think Mimi is even walking around right now?”
“Mimi?” she echoed, her frown melting into a patronizing smile, “Oh isn’t that sweet, you two must be getting along so well.”
I scowled at her, “Enough. Why…” I cut myself off and lowered my head to regard her carefully, “Why is it you’re even helping me? I mean you pop up out of nowhere after the first few times I had to take some items and then start aiming me at all these other places. Not to mention giving me all those details on their weaknesses. I mean how did you even come by them, and why are you giving them to me?”
“I told you once before: with the way you were blundering about you’d have been caught within a week if not for my intervention. Is it so hard to believe that one pony might just want to help out another in their time of need?” her smile turned into a smirk as one side pulled slightly tighter than the other, “Why, don’t you trust me?”
‘Not as far as I could buck you,’ I contemplated silently. I’m not sure what it was about the alicorn, from what features I could see she had a pleasant enough face, but there was something about that voice and the way her smile never quite reached her eyes that really unnerved me.
I got the strong feeling that before all this was over she would be trying to stick something sharp and pointy in my flank.
“Oh, I’m hurt…” she said, hoof over heart, obviously reading my expression. Her eyes suddenly narrowed, “but it doesn’t matter. Just get out of Equestria and out of range of those meddling princesses and these disgust- that is…these…other ponies, and-“
“-and you’ll do as you promised?”
She inclined her head, “Indeed. You have my word that by the time this is over, your friend will have gotten exactly what she needs....”
“And you’re really okay with me just sending all those things back to their owners?”
“Oh, I assure you,” she intoned, smirking again, “by then, those trinkets will be of little importance or value. Just do your job. And remember: do not let Mimica know I’m involved.”
I looked witheringly at her, “I heard you the first forty times you told me. And getting out of here may be a bit troublesome,” I leaned round the bend to look at where Mimi was chatting to what a appeared to be a very flirty guard, “I think they’ve stopped the trains. We might be stuck here for a while.”
“In Ponyville?” she growled, and I was startled as her composure vanished, “You incompetent fool! You can not stay in this town. The very fact you would even walk through it quite frankly staggers me.”
I took a step back, “I..that is…”
I watched her close her eyes and inhale a long breath. When she spoke again, her voice was calm and back under control, “Listen to me: there are ponies in this town who may make your task…difficult, if they should find out. Heaven help you if they actually offer help, but-“
Suddenly, she halted mid-sentence, mouth still open. And I cursed as I felt the tingle of magic through my horn. Her mouth closed into a wide smile as she slowly turned to look at me, “I just had an idea…”
“I was afraid you might…”
She took a slow, unnerving step toward me, “How would you feel if I were to tell you that here, in this…dismal little town, rested the object of your desires?”
I didn’t know why my survival instincts were flaring up, but something told me I wasn’t going to like what she was going to suggest, “What are you talking about. What desire?”
“Why, to save your friend, of course. Why, with what’s buried in this little dirt heap, bringing one simple Changeling back to full health will be a flash in the pan.”
I frowned, backing away, “What do you mean?”
The alicorn began pacing, “There exists in this town a certain pony who has recently been, shall we say…promoted. And because of that she is entrusted with a series of…objects. Each of them is an artefact of great power, but together they possess the capacity to change the fate of Equestria itself. They’re called-”
“-The Elements of Harmony,” I cut in, my voice low, “You want me to steal the Elements of Harmony from Princess Twilight.” I saw her bare her teeth and I knew I had it, “You think I’m that out of touch with current affairs that I wouldn’t know about the new princess or the elements she used to defeat Nightmare Moon?”
“Apparently you’re not as brainless as I’d first thought,” she grumbled, “but yes. That’s what I want you to do.”
“Forget it,” I snapped, “Don’t think I’m stupid enough not to realize you have an ulterior motive. If I take the Elements of Harmony it’ll put all of Equestria in danger!”
“You’ve already put all of Equestria in danger,” she snapped, “Besides, you’re bringing them back, aren’t you?”
“No.” I said simply, “I’m not going that far.”
“Not even to save your friend?” she prodded, drawing a hiss from me, “How far, Alpha Spark, would you really go for her? Are you saying there’s a limit? And here was me thinking friendship had no bounds. I suppose poor little Mimi will just have to make do with what you’ve scavenged so far then, won’t she?”
She had me trembling with anger, that was a new one, “I am not stealing the Elements of Harmony…”
“I’m not saying steal all of them, Sparky. Just take one. One little element for a little while and your friend is guaranteed to live happily ever after.”
I went silent, averting my gaze.
“Just…one…” she whispered into my ear, “Is that really so much to ask? It’s not like they’ll miss it. Do you really think some unspeakably devious evil will spring up the instant you lift one of those elements away for just a little bit?”
I looked back at where Mimi stood as she ended her conversation with the guards, “What must I do?”
I could practically feel the alicorn smirking behind me, “I’m afraid I can be of no help this time, but I’m sure you’ll come up with something. Just do what you do best: Improvise. See you soon…”
I was aware of a green flash on the edge of my peripheral vision and I glanced back to confirm the alicorn had indeed departed.
‘Why is it everytime I speak to her I feel like there are spiders creeping across every inch of my body?’
“Spark?” came Mimica’s voice from behind.
I blinked and shook my head, turning about to look at her, “Oh, Mimi…”
She frowned, “Is something wrong?”
I shook my head, “It’s nothing. So what’s the word?”
She turned to look at the guards, “The early trains have been cancelled while the guards do a sweep of the town. They’re looking for you…”
I nodded, “I thought they might.”
“I did manage to get out of them that they’d already finished searching the apple orchards. We should be able to hide out there until they’ve finished in the town. The only problem is that there’s only one direct train per day to the Crystal Empire, and that’s been cancelled.”
I nodded, “Meaning we’re stuck here until tomorrow. But you’ve come up with a good idea, and we’d best get moving. Nice work by the way.”
She shrugged, “I was always good at sweet talking the guards back home, but then when you’ve got no one else to talk to, you sort of get a knack for it…”
I didn’t question her further as we turned to walk away, circling around the outskirts to avoid the guard patrols, “So you… like a pony in uniform, do you?”
I caught the barest of smiles on her face, “That would be telling…”
-α-
As we walked, I suddenly caught the vaguest of sweet scents in the air as we cut between buildings. It came and went at random, and I couldn’t help but look about for the source. It was like being pursued by the subtle but oddly pleasant smell of freshly baked cupcakes.
“Mimi, I don’t want to panic you, but I think we’re being-“
“-followed?” cut in Mimica calmly, “We are.”
I tensed, my eyes going to her, “A guard?” I whispered.
She shook her head, obviously she’d been trying not to let whomever was following us know they’d been noticed, “No. Earth pony: Young; quite nimble too. She started following us about five minutes ago, and don’t ask me how, but it’s almost as if she keeps vanishing and reappearing at random.”
“How can you tell?” I whispered.
“Let’s just say I know when I’m being watched…”
I stole a glance over my shoulder. There was nothing there.
Then I looked ahead once more.
I let out what can only be described as an overly girlish shriek in perfect time with Mimica’s gasp as I found a pink earth pony with wide blue eyes looking back at me from less than two feet away.
I took a heaving breath and found myself glancing at Mimi, “Why did you seem so shocked, didn’t you see her coming?”
Mimica shook her head, still looking stunned, “I didn’t. I swear, I just blinked my eyes and suddenly she was there.”
The pink pony hummed, frowning slightly as she leaned in to examine me. I took a few steps back to keep her out of my personal space.
There was silence for a long moment.
The pony said nothing.
I leaned in to whisper to Mimica, “Okay, maybe if we just stand still and be quiet she’ll get bored and-“
“Hi there!” chimed the pony suddenly, cutting me off, “I’m Pinkie.”
“Yes, yes you are,” I found myself responding.
The pink pony let out a shrill giggle, “No, silly, that’s my name. I’m Pinkie Pie.”
“And is there a reason you’ve been following us for the past five minutes?” asked Mimica.
“Oh, she’s goood,” intoned Pinkie, extending the vowel sound.
“Well?” demanded Mimica in a level tone.
“I was just curious,” admitted Pinkie with a smile, “You see; there I was, minding my own business, when I see you two, acting all suspicious and shifty. I just had to know: what are they up to? Maybe they’re just off to buy some apples from Sweet Apple Acres-
“Nope…” I muttered.
“Or maybe they’re a secret couple eloping and on the run from their wealthy families who’ve been mortal enemies for generations and don’t approve of their forbidden union-”
“-No,“ I cut in with a sigh, but she just carried right on as if not hearing.
“-or maybe he’s a jewel thief on the run from the law with his mysterious friend who needs the magical energy of all the stuff he stole to survive and now they’re trying to escape on a train but can’t because they’ve all been cancelled because everyone’s out to get him and now they’re going off to hide until the guards leave so they can sneak away afterwards!” she exclaimed, stabbing a hoof into my face. I was momentarily stunned she’d managed to say that in one breath.
“Umm, Yee-“ My brain began to articulate in it’s stunned state and I looked to Mimica for help, who shook her head sharply, “I mean no! No…no is what I meant. Yes, and by that I mean no.”
Mimica leaned into my ear to whisper, “Look, I know you can’t control your power, but really...“
“That wasn’t me!” I hissed back, “Don’t ask me how but she guessed all that herself!”
Pinkie Pie narrowed her eyes at me, suspicion laced on her features as she leaned right into my face. I tried my best to smile innocently. I’m quite sure I failed miserably.
“Umm….” I said nervously, unable to lean back any further from her than I already was.
In a flash, Pinkie was all smiles again, “Or you could’ve just been stranded after missing your train.”
“Yes,” said Mimica pointedly and evenly, holding my eyes as she spoke, “That is exactly why we are here. And for no other reason.”
“What she said,” I droned.
“Okie-dokie,” beamed Pinkie, who looked about to leave, only to stop herself, “Wait! I almost forgot the other reason I came to talk to you, silly Pinkie...”
“Which was?” I asked carefully.
“To invite you to the party, of course!”
“W-what party?”
“The ‘sorry-we’ve-stranded-you-in-our-town-please-don’t-be-mad-enjoy-this-party’ party,” said Pinkie.
There was a pause as Mimi and I glanced at each other.
“I thought up the name myself,” said the pony enthusiastically.
“This much I guessed,” I responded, “L-look, Ms Pie-“
“-Just Pinkie,” she cut in happily.
“-Pinkie,” I corrected carefully, “We’d love to come, b-“
“-Great!” She cut in, hopping once on the spot, “Let’s go, the afternoon party is just about to start. You don’t want to have to wait for the evening one!”
“There are multiple parties?” I asked.
“Yup! One for each cancelled train up until tomorrow morning, all hosted by yours truly.”
“Won’t you get tired?” asked Mimica.
“Nope! Plus, it’s my sworn civic duty to help out.”
“W-well that’s very noble of you Ms…Ms Pinkie,” I said, “B-but we really won’t be able to make it.”
Her expression became crestfallen for the first time, “How come?” she whined.
I looked desperately to Mimica and back, “Uhm…” I thought fast, “W-we’ve got to go and check in at the hotel,” I said, nodding ahead.
Pinkie frowned in confusion and looked down the path ahead of us, “At Sweet Apple Acres?” she asked, cocking her head.
“Umm, yes?” I offered, “G-gotta go freshen up and whatnot.”
“There’s a hotel in Sweet Apple Acres?”
“Th-they just built it.”
Pinkie was silent for a moment and just looked at me, analyzing me with a mind I could only hope to never understand. Then she smiled once more, “Okie-dokie!”
“H-how about we come to the one tomorrow morning. That way you’ll be nice and rested and we can enjoy it together,” I said, smiling as convincingly as possible.
Pinkie regarded me suspiciously again, “You’re really going to be there?”
“Uh-huh,” I replied, grinning nervously and nodding.
“You promise?” she pushed.
I glanced at Mimica who just shrugged, a rare show of indecision on her part.
I looked back to Pinkie Pie, “Y-yes?”
The pony took another step closer, her nose practically touching mine, “You cross your heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in your eye?” she asked, prodding her eye with her hoof for emphasis.
“I…I sure do.”
Pinkie just scowled and prodded her eye twice more.
I glanced nervously left and right before raising my own hoof up and tapping it once against my eye.
Like a switch was flipped, Pinkie was all smiles once more, “Okie-dokie-lokie,” she chimed, leaping back and proceeding to bounce up and down on the spot, “Wait,” she said, landing back on her hooves, “I need to put your names on the guest list.”
“I’m Mimica,” said Mimi, obviously not caring about using her own real name since she really hadn’t done anything wrong, except perhaps receiving stolen goods in a manner of speaking.
“Mimica,” enunciated Pinkie, as if tasting the name, “How about you?” she asked, once more leaning in uncomfortably close.
My mind stalled for a second. I kicked it back into gear.
‘Think of a fake name, think of a fake name…’
“Shining…Armor?”
‘Stupid brain!’
Pinkie’s face scrunched slightly in confusion, only for her to shrug, “Okay. See you then! It’s at the Town hall. Be there bright and early for pre-party games!”
“We’ll see you there,” I said with faux enthusiasm as Pinkie left with the most literal bounce in her step that I’d ever seen.
My shoulders sagged as the tension left me. Even Mimica let out a relieved sigh.
“And I thought Princess Luna was scary…” I said, exhaling a deep breath as I watched Pinkie bounce off.
Mimica kept her gaze ahead also as she spoke, “Just to be sure: We’re not really going to a party tomorrow, right?”
“Of course not,” I sighed, “I was just saying that to make her go away. We get up early tomorrow and slip onto the first train north from here and hopefully there’ll be nothing more we need to do.”
“You did promise her though.”
I rolled my eyes, “A small white lie. Plus, there’ll be other ponies there. She won’t even miss us.”
“If you say so…” she murmured.
“Trust me Mimi: I foresee absolutely no negative repercussions coming from this.”
-α-
A little while later…
Twilight looked up from the book on the desk in front of her as Pinkie bounced into the library.
“Hey, Pinkie,” she said, going back to her book, “How are the parties going?”
“They’re awesometastic!” she called, bouncing gleefully round the table, “It’s fun followed by more fun, followed by a pause and then the fun starts again. I wish the trains would stop running forever!”
“Sure, grind the economy to a halt, but at least Pinkie will be happy,” sighed Twilight.
“You're gonna come later on, right Twilight?” she asked, stopping by the alicorn.
“I promise I’ll come along to the evening bash, Pinkie. I just want to get some reading done first.”
“Hi, Shining Armor One,” waved Pinkie to the unicorn as she bounced on on three hooves.
Shining Armor looked up from his scroll, “Hi, Pinkie. How are- wait…Shining Armor One?” He blinked and shook his head, “How are you doing?”
“Grreat!” she beamed, “You coming with Twilight tonight, Shining Armor One?”
“I…” he frowned at the title once more, but just dismissed it as randomness again, “I’ll do my best, Pinkie.”
Pinkie grinned and walked over to the table, pausing as she noticed the scroll with the headshot of a pony on it, “Ooh, you did personalised invitations!” she chimed, picking the paper up, “You even did a theme! I like the wanted poster look! Impressive that you got pictures of the guests before you even knew they were guests, Twilight. That’s using your noodle!”
Twilight looked at Pinkie in bewilderment, “Pinkie, I didn’t draw up any...” she trailed off as her eyes were drawn up to Shining Armor who was looking right back at her, “Pinkie...” she said carefully, approaching the earth pony and pointing a hoof at the picture, “are you trying to tell me you’ve seen this Pony somewhere?”
“Of course!” she responded as enthusiastically as ever before going back to look at the scroll with a frown, “Though you did get the name wrong, but nopony’s perfect, I guess.”
“Pinkie,” said Twilight, using her hoof to tilt the earth pony’s head round to look at her, “This is very important. Are you saying you’ve seen this pony, here, in Ponyville?”
Pinkie nodded, “Yup, that’s Shining Armor Two.”
Twilight was unable to resist the urge to facehoof herself, “Pinkie, that wasn’t his real name...”
“Are you sure?” she asked with a frown.
“Pinkie...Shining Armor is my brother’s name! And you know as well as I do that no two ponies have the same name,” she snapped, stabbing a hoof at said brother.
“You know, I thought that was weird...” mused the earth pony, “But why would he lie?”
Twilight groaned, “Oh, I don’t know, maybe because he’s a wanted criminal?” she said, using her magic to snap open the wanted poster in front of Pinkie’s face.
Pinkie could be heard murmuring as she read off the poster before inhaling a shocked gasp, “Well I never. And he seemed like such a trustworthy pony.”
“If it is him,” said Shining Armor, “he must’ve slipped through the guard patrols.”
“And they’ve already left on the last train to Canterlot...” said Twilight.
“Don’t worry, Twilight. I’ll have them summoned back and-”
“-No,” cut in the alicorn, “We can handle this. Besides, if guards start pouring into Ponyville it’ll only serve to scare him off.”
“Why do you suppose he’s here though?” asked Shining Armor.
Twilight’s eyes widened and she swung about towards the bookcase. Her horn glowed as she dispelled an enchantment hiding a section of supposedly empty air behind some of her books. A gilded red and gold chest was revealed.
The box floated gently down to the surface of the table and flipped open. Resting inside, gleaming in the soft light, were the Six Elements of Harmony.
“You really think he’d go that far, big brother?” she asked, regarding the objects.
He approached and looked down into the box by her side, “He seemed desperate. So who knows, he might...”
Twilight nodded and turned to Pinkie, “Pinkie Pie?”
“Yes, Twilight?”
“I need to go and gather the others. I’m calling an emergency meeting...”
-α-
The yellow and rainbow forms of Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash hovered silently in the library as Twilight talked. Applejack sat patiently in one of the chairs, her hoof idly playing with the rim of her stetson as she listened.
Rarity seemed on edge, the white unicorn shifting slightly as Twilight summed up, “So that’s basically it, girls.”
“Do I have anything to worry about?” asked Rarity, “I’m just saying-”
“Your shop will be fine, Rarity,” said twilight reassuringly, “from what we know, Alpha Spark has only been stealing magically imbued objects. He’d have no reason to steal any of your jewels.”
“Well that’s a slight relief, I suppose,” replied the Unicorn, “But what can we all do about it?”
“I’ll tell you what we’re going to do,” cut in Rainbow Dash, “We’re going to go out there, we’re going to find this guy, and we’re going to make him give back all the stuff he took. I mean come on, including Shining Armor there are seven of us and only two of them!”
Fluttershy made a slight whimpering noise.
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes, “Alright, six of us, one Fluttershy and still only two of them.”
“Ahem!” came a cough from below,
Dash sighed, “Six of us, one Fluttershy, and one Spike.”
“Thank you,” responded said dragon curtly.
“Calm your jets, Rainbow Dash, “ said Twilight, “right now there’s only one thing we need to be doing...” She then proceeded to lift the Elements out of their case and present them in the air to their respective wielders.
Each of the ponies took the hint and took the neck adornments from the air, putting them on as Twilight’s crown settled down atop her head, “Until we’re sure this has been taken care of, I want you all to keep your Elements with you everywhere you go. Do not turn your tails on them even for a moment.”
Rainbow Dash adjusted the Element of Loyalty about her neck, “But wouldn’t they all be safer in the case?”
Twilight shook her head, “Alpha Spark has already broken into the Royal Vault and gotten away with it. No, I’d rather the Elements be spread out and with the ponies I trust most of all rather than be together in just one place.”
“So,” said Pinkie Pie, “You’re saying that he wasn’t just out for a walk?”
“For the last time: No, Pinkie,” sighed Twilight.
“And that he wasn’t just one of the ponies who missed their train?”
“No, Pinkie…”
“And that he was actually a jewel thief on the run from the law with his mysterious friend and was trying to escape on a train but couldn’t because they’d all been cancelled because everypony was out to get him and so had to hide until the guards left so he could sneak away?”
“Yes, Pinkie…”
She smacked her hooves together, “That dastardly fiend! I’ve got a good mind to march right over to the Sweet Apple Acres Hotel and make an official complaint to the management about the ponies they’re letting stay there!”
“There ain’t no Sweet Apple Acres Hotel, Pinkie Pie,” frowned Applejack.
“Y-you mean you…didn’t recently build one?”
“Not since you visited this mornin’, sugar cube, no…”
Pinkie gasped, “Another lie! Why, if this get’s any worse I’ve got a good mind to...to revoke his invitation!”
“You know he’s a thief and he’s still invited to your shindig?” asked Applejack.
“Well duh, it’s not like I could tell him he can’t come after making him promise to. That would be rude.”
“It’s so nice you have your priorities in order, Pinkie,” muttered Twilight, “Everypony, you know what to do: just keep your eyes peeled and your Elements safe. And if you do happen to run into Alpha Spark, I expect you to all use your best judgement on how to handle the situation.”
“Right, but what I want to know is why he’s doin’ it.” asked Applejack with momentary curiosity.
“Does it really matter?” asked Rainbow Dash.
“It might be very important, Rainbow Dash, “ said Twilight, “Knowing why a pony is doing something may be far more important than you might think.”
Shining Armor frowned as he thought back, “Well he did say something about it being a life or death situation. And since he comes from a wealthy background there’s no reason for him to steal for money.”
“Then he’s an idiot,” snapped Rainbow Dash, “If you need help then you ask for it, you don’t go robbing vaults and getting yourself labelled a criminal.”
Applejack’s brow furrowed briefly, “Some ponies have trouble asking others for help.”
“You would know,” jibed Rainbow Dash with a chuckle.
She smiled reluctantly, “That’s certainly true. Sometimes it’s pride, and sometimes there really might be something stopping them, but either way: it ain’t right, and there’s no good reason to go round stealin’ other pony’s stuff like that.”
“Well I don’t know about you guys, but I’m not worried,” said Rainbow Dash as confidently as ever.
“Why’s that, Dashie?” asked Pinkie, looking up.
“Hello?” she droned sarcastically, spreading her wings, “I’m a Pegasus. He’s a unicorn. Never mind getting up to my condo, how’s he supposed to even walk around and swipe this off me?” she asked, pointing to her Element.
“It’s a good point, Rainbow Dash, but that still doesn’t mean he might not have a way,” said Shining Armor, “Be careful either way.”
“Yeah, yeah…” she said, waving it off.
“And remember,” said Twilight, “if something happens, don’t chase after him. Call immediately for help and we’ll deal with him together if that’s what it comes down to.”
They nodded their understanding and went their separate ways, all too aware of their Elements upon them as they went.
-α-
“I like this place…” said Mimica tiredly as she rested in the shadows of the orchard. The scent of apple and blossom was heavy in the autumn evening, “It’s almost a shame we have to leave so quickly…”
I stood deeper in the tree’s shadow as I looked down across the fields and at the farm not far off, “Perhaps we’ll have a chance to settle down once all this is over…”
“Yes,” said Mimica, “Once it’s…” she trailed off and I looked over to her. She was laying curled up under a tree, head resting on her hooves.
“Mimica, are you okay?” I asked, turning and walking over to her.
She looked up at me and smiled weakly, “Sorry, just...been a long day. Getting late…”
It was starting again, I realised. It was early stages yet, but there was no mistaking it. Normally Mimica would’ve been fine for days or more, but then she’d never traveled since she’d been with me, nor indulged in any other strenuous activity.
“I’m sorry, Mimi,” I said quietly, resting my hoof atop her mane, “Looks like I tired you out.”
“Hmmfine,” she objected sleepily, trying to push herself up.
“It’s fine,” I said, “it’s probably best you get yourself some sleep.”
A cold wind suddenly blew out through the gaps in the trees, chilling me slightly.
I knew I had to keep her warm. I also knew that keeping Mimica out in the cold would only make her condition worse. I looked up at the quickly gathering clouds. I’d forgotten the Pegasus Ponies had a storm scheduled for that night.
The sun was quickly setting behind the black clouds, and I found the column of trees being plunged swiftly into darkness.
I crouched down over the Changeling, “Mimi, I know you’re tired, but I need you to listen…”
“Hmm?”
“I’m going to go find some firewood. I’m going to have to leave you alone again, but only for a while,” this was also a slight mistruth. I had to go and get some firewood, but I remembered the words of my ‘benefactor’.
I also had to go hunting…
I felt my heart sink. I always felt low when it came to this. One would’ve thought I might have gotten used to it, but no: I still felt as terrible as ever.
I knew depressingly well that my talent would no doubt offer inspiration and pointers in the right direction, and that by morning I might very well have taken one of the symbols of Equestria’s salvation in my hooves.
If mother could see me now…
“Spark?” murmured Mimi, and I detected a note of fear in her voice, the only way she ever really allowed herself to express it. For some reason she’d become afraid of being alone not long after coming to live with me. That was one of the reasons I always waited for her to be asleep before I went out to…acquire things.
I crouched low, briefly blocking the wind from her as I reached around into my bag for a blanket, “I’ll be back as soon as I can. I promise I will be back for you.”
Those words were the only thing that soothed her. For some reason I knew it wasn’t so much the fear of being alone, but the fear that I might not be coming back.
While Mimica tried to make out that I should stop going to all this trouble for her, the truth was she was simply terrified of being abandoned. And that’s why I knew I would never leave her to whatever it was that fate had planned for her. That was the only thing that gave me the strength to keep on doing the things I had to do, even though I knew as plain as day that I was being manipulated by my ‘benevolent’ guardian alicorn.
I suddenly noticed how dark it had become as another gust blew through. I bundled up Mimi tighter and turned away.
I made it a few steps before a crackle of lightning lit up the darkness. I let out a shocked gasp as a figure was briefly illuminated against the trunk of a nearby tree.
I staggered back a few steps.
The silhouetted figure was leaning almost casually back, her hooves folded as she peered out at me from under the rim of her hat with cool, green eyes that seemed to glint in the dark. I had no idea how long she might have been there, observing me from the shadows.
Another flash of light illuminated the blonde pony fully. She lowered her head, narrowing her gaze directly at me as thunder crashed once more.
There was a brief break in the wind and noise. She took that opportunity to let her voice sound out. It was quiet, calm and cordial, but at the same time held a very strong undercurrent of warning.
“Evenin’, partner...”
-α-
To be continued…