Chapter 2
Luna’s Tear
The thief kicked off the lid of her barrel, leapt out, and then landed on her feet on the wooden deck. She looked around to see and hear nothing. It had been two hours since launch and she cursed herself to have over slept. Loud noises usually wake her up, but since she didn’t have much sleep the past few days it seemed fitting to sleep in.
The thief pulled back her hood to reveal herself. She turned to a mirror on the wall, why would anypony put a mirror on the wall of a closet was anyponies guess. She can see her electric blue two tone mane, rosy magenta eyes, and dirty white fur. She sighed turning away from her reflection. She reached for her empty satchel bag to pull out a small microphone device. It was about the size of her thumb and easy to stow away. She pressed a nob on the side to hear static.
“Scoots? Are you there?”
She waited for a few moments then she heard a click from her microphone.
“Read you loud and clear, Captain,” the young voice of Scootaloo replied back.
“Good, are you close,” the unicorn asked looking out a porthole window to see the stars of space.
“Yeah, everything is ship shape here. The Fancy Flute is soaring like a dream.”
She groaned at the joke. “Alright, Scootaloo, listen to me, I woke up late and I need another couple of hours, at least before we make the drop, understand?”
“Aye-Aye,”
“Oh, did you make sure you blocked your signal?”
“Yep, did that before launch.”
“Good, very good, now remember, no talking to me understand? No talking, for anything. I’ll do the talking. I’ll let you know when I’m done and make sure you are at least two miles away.”
“Roger, Vinyl! Good luck. Oh and Spike said to get some gems. He’s out.”
Vinyl Scratch rolled her eyes at the last request. “I’ll see what I can do. Over and out,” Vinyl pressed the small nob again, to cancel the communication. She stuffed the microphone into her trousers pocket. She opened the door and peeked outside to see no one in the fancy hall. She could see the fancy wooden walls, with portraits of famous ponies on them that Vinyl couldn't give a care about. On the floor was a long blue carpet stretching throughout the hallway. There was a potted tree or bush every five feet against the wall.
Vinyl perked her ears up to listen if there was anypony walking towards her or not but there was no sound. Once that was over with, Vinyl closed the door then trots down the hall. She reached another door to find a small locker room. With a smirk, she slipped inside. The locker room was filled with wooden lockers and wooden benches, no doubt for the servants.
Vinyl placed her satchel on a bench and started opening lockers. She found some valuables like watches, rings, even some bags of coins. She stuffed these things in her satchel. "Geez, these Royals must have some fancy-rich ideas in their heads. I mean, come on, stalls for the bathroom?" Vinyl thought. "Where I came from the bathroom in a ship had no privacy, and everypony used them, mares and stallions alike."
She got out of her dirty clothes and stuffed them into her satchel, thinking that she would need to find another bag to carry the loot that she planned on stealing. Once she got dressed in the uniform she stepped out of the stall and in front of a mirror. There she fixed her crazy, shaggy blue mane under a servant’s cap that resembled a giant tea cup. She put on the tiny hat anyway and buttoned the white servant shirt that reminded her of a chef’s gown. She used a line of rope, what she used for her trousers belt, to keep the black trousers up on her waist. She grabbed a damp rag from the side to clean off her dirty face and hands. She pulled out the hem of her shirt to sniff into her shirt. She shrugged at the light odor, thinking that nopony will notice the smell.
Once she was done looking at herself, she went out the door, checking the hallway first. She blinked with a grin to see a covered cart meant for food to be put upon farther up the hall. She trotted to the cart then checked under the cart, to find nothing inside. She stuck her satchel inside on the bottom shelf, then fixed her shirt and hat one last time. She fixed her posture as she started to push the light weight cart down the hall with a mischievous smile growing on her face.
♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫
Octavia watched the stars out of her window, anticipating the arrival to Canterlot. She sighed softly, thinking about her dream of being a true princess and sitting by her aunt, the Queen of the Equestrian Galaxy. She just hoped that everypony will accept her, even though she was a Hybrid.
There was a knock at the door, interrupting her thoughts. “Come in,” she called back, standing up from her chair, fixing her mane and dress. Her father walked inside, dressed sharp in a new suit that matched Octavia’s dress. His suit and pants were a dark midnight blue with a lighter shade of blue handkerchief hanging from his pocket. His bow tie was pink, which made Octavia giggle behind her hand.
“May I ask why you’re wearing that silly old thing?” She asked fixing the bowtie to make it look straighter.
“You’re mother adores it. She made me wear it,” Tick Tock made a scowl of worry. “Does it look awful with this suit?” He asked with concern. Octavia only giggled at his distress.
“I find it cute. I remember wearing this as a filly. I’m surprised you still have it. I haven’t seen you wear this since I was... thirteen?” Tick Tock chuckled, hugging her to him seeing the stars outside the window.
“I came to escort you to your party.”
“Now,” Octavia said with a tremor of worry in her voice, her ears went flat on her head.
“Well, not right now, of course. I actually came early to give you another gift.”
Octavia watched as Tick Tock took the chair she sat in before. “Papa, this dress is already a perfect gift. You don’t have to give me any more gifts,” she said while blushing. She twirled in her dress. Tick Tock grinned reaching into his pocket.
“Well actually, this was a gift I have been saving for you since you were born.” He said pulling out a small box from his pocket.
The box was as large as his hand and looked rather old by the dust. He motioned her over with his finger. Octavia nodded, sitting in the extra chair under the desk. Tick Tock opened the box to reveal a small oval pendant. The pendant glowed in a lilac light making Octavia gasp in awe. The pendant was clear white with what look to be an engraved hourglass in gold.
“What is it?”
“This pendant, my dear, is called Luna’s Tear.” Tick Tock said smiling at her. “This pendant is a priceless artifact that was given to our family by Princess Luna before her untimely demise.”
“This belonged to Princess Luna?” Octavia asked in wonder. Tick Tock nodded taking the thin gold chain and lifting the pendant out of the box. He set the box to the side, holding the pendant so Octavia can get a better look at it.
“Yes, my great-great grandmother was given this pedant. Then she passed it down to her daughter, then down to son, then daughter, again. Then my grandmother gave it to me before I left for the war. She promised me that this gem will protect me. And it did,” he paused to see Octavia’s awestruck face.
“Since you are starting your life changing adventure my dear, I feel like it’s time for me to give this to you,” he said softly smiling at her. Octavia opened her mouth trying to speak but couldn’t, she just stared into her father’s blue eyes to see happiness and worry all at once.
“You don’t have to give this to me, Papa.”
“I do, Octavia. Stand up and turn around,” he ordered softly, standing up. She nodded standing up, moving her long hair over her shoulder for her father to clamp the chain around her neck. Octavia looked down at the clear pedant, smiling in awe.
“It’s so warm. Why?”
Tick Tock opened his mouth to answer when the pendant suddenly went bright purple causing Octavia to yelp in shock. Once the light dissipated, Tick Tock opened his eyes and grinned, pointing at the pendant on her chest. Octavia rubbed her eyes then looked down and gasped in shock. The pendant changed color. It’s now a lilac-purple color with a treble cleft engraved in a shimmering dark purple. Octavia gasped again, placing her hand on her thigh where her cutie mark sat. Tick Tock can see the shock and confusion on her face. He took her hand in his and grinned at her.
“It’s magic my dear, Octavia. And now the pendant sensed a new pony to protect.”
“M-Magic,” Octavia sputtered not believing a word of this. “But I can’t use magic, Papa!”
“Of course you can, Octavia. You are more unicorn than earth pony, right? You have magic inside of you from our ancestors,” Tick Tock whispered excitedly. He reached down to hold up the pendant holding it before her eyes.
“This pendant is now enchanted for you. And its sole purpose is to guide you and protect you from harm,” he said before letting the pedant fall back to her chest. Octavia nodded, feeling the warmth intensify on her chest. She looked up at her father to see him now frowning.
“But I need you to promise me this, my daughter. Never, ever break this promise.”
“Okay,” Octavia nodded feeling her father’s hands on her shoulders.
“Never, ever take this pedant off. Not for anyone or anything. When you have a daughter or son of your own maybe, but not before understand?” He asked stroking her hair.
“I won’t take it off, Papa.”
“Thank you,” he whispered kissing her on the cheek seeing her blush. He blinked reaching for his watch to see the time.
“Oh, look at the time; I must escort you to your party. Let’s go,” he whispered kissing her on the head then rushed for the door. Octavia sighed, holding the warm pendant in her hand then followed her father out the door to be introduced to the guests.
♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫
It has been three hours since Vinyl started standing by the windows holding the stupid cheese tray. With a frown, she balanced the tray before the three royals who were picking the treats off. Most of them walked off laughing, loudly at how stupid she looked. Vinyl bit her cheek to keep back the insults. If she spoke out of turn, her cover would be blown and she won’t get the treasure or escape with her life.
Once the last of the treats were gone, Vinyl reached her assigned cart and levitated another tray with her magic, this one filled with blocks of cheese. She snuck a piece in her mouth before turning back to the Royals. She gulped it down as a colorful and well decorated pegasus guard walked up and snatched a piece of cheese. Vinyl blinked seeing the glazed white eye staring at her.
Vinyl turned away keeping the tray in her hand as the guard stood by her, watching everything like a one-eyed hawk. Vinyl started to sweat. “What if this bitch figures out I’m not a real servant?” Vinyl thought frantically.
Suddenly a fanfare of trumpets sounded loudly causing everypony to look up. Vinyl looked up as well to see the doors open from the top of the staircase to reveal two Royals. One was a veteran soldier by the three cornered hat on his head and the three medals on his chest. He must have been a spacer. Standing beside him holding his arm, was the most beautiful mare Vinyl has ever seen. But one thing caught her off guard. The spacer was a unicorn but the mare on his arm was an Earth pony mare! An Earth pony Royal?
She watched as the rainbow-mane pegasus guard started walking towards the staircase and stood at attention at the foot of the staircase. A herald tapped his staff three times.
“His Royal Highness, Prince Tick Tock and his daughter, her Royal Highness, Princess Octavia.”
The last of the cheese was taken away but Vinyl was too focused on the mare’s face to notice. The sensible side of her mind screams, “WHAT?!?!”
While the other half says, “Oh wow! Her eyes are gorgeous!”
Those purple eyes made Vinyl gush all over. Purple eyes were very rare where she was from, but the thought of an Earth pony mare as royalty...then again, Vinyl had heard stories about the princess. So this is the Earth Hybrid princess so many ponies hope for. She’s old for a young mare. Most Earth pony mares live as long as twelve to fifteen years old, then they were either killed in the slave pits or die from disease. So seeing a mare close to Vinyl’s age was a blessing and a shock.
The two Royals practically float down the stairs with many Royals clapping or sneering at the Earth pony no doubt. Vinyl took her chance, as the ponies were busy with watching the Royals. She placed the empty dish on the table top, then took her cart away toward a door to the hall. She stopped to watch the Princess again feeling her heart tighten.
Vinyl shook her head hard. She can’t have her mind filled with such fantasies! She’s a thief and must do what she was here to do, not hooking up with beautiful princesses. She walked down the hall then took a purpose left turn down a different hall. According to the servants she talked to, the hall where the treasury was at, was under heavy guard. She stopped and peeked around a corner to see the hall she was looking for. Standing guard were two unicorn guards dressed in the high uniforms of red and black. Vinyl sighed, stepping back preparing for what will happen next. She took in a deep breath then ran down the hall waving her arms in the air.
“Sirs, oh sirs, you must go quickly!” Vinyl screamed out in an accent she made up. The two unicorn guards stared at her.
“What is it servant?” The first guard asked glaring at her.
“There is a hoirribul fight up on decks! Many are getting hurt up d’ere! They might cause a ruckus down de stairs where de party is startin!”
The two guards nodded and left the hall, leaving Vinyl alone grinning.
“Suckers,” she muttered, running to the large doors licking her chops.
“Alright, my little friend, time to get to work,” Vinyl said reaching into her shirt where she had a necklace with a small laser. She aimed the laser into the keyhole and pressed a button. After a bit of moving around, she heard a click and then a clank. She didn’t bother with turning the nob as she pushed the door open. She looked on the other side to find melted gold where the tumblers and gears were. She trotted back over to her cart then pulled out her satchel and a potato sack that she had grabbed from the kitchen. She ran inside to see the large treasure room.
Vinyl smiled at the whole room of gold and silver. She can see gold coins in opened chests, jewels as big as her hand, statues of the Old Gods of Life, even priceless artifacts like books and stuff, though she hardly cared about those, but her client does. She started getting to work knowing the guards would rush back once they find out there was no fight.
Vinyl quickly filled her satchel with things she knew she’ll need for herself and her crew. Gold coins, small gold and silver blocks, small statuettes, and even gemstones. She actually found several small chests full of sapphires, rubies, garnets, and many other types of gems as she emptied the chests into her satchel bag. She had to move her clothing around to protect the glass statuettes she found.
Once she filled her satchel, Vinyl started stuffing anything she can find into the potato sack. She grabbed the boring artifacts that her client suggested. She ignored the books since they would be a pain to carry. The weapons section made her blink. She grinned at a ruby handled dagger and took it for the rubies of course. Once she was happy with what she snatched she quickly trotted out the treasure room with many chests and shelves empty. She ran across the hall to stuff her satchel and potato sack under the sheet in the cart shelves.
Vinyl fixed her mane and shirt as she was sweating from the rush. Once she regained her composure, she pushed her cart back down the hall. After turning the second corner, she heard voices and stopped, perking her ears up. She can hear them walking down her way. She kneeled down to hide behind her cart as a stallion walked past her. She looked up only to see his back, he stopped by the corner to pull out a hologram communicator. He was dressed in a pearl white suit, and his golden mane in a ponytail. The way this guy spoke into his special communicator, made Vinyl wish to hear a horrible opera singer sing instead. His accent revealed that he was a true Royal.
“Remember the plan. I want you and your pirates here soon, and I can care less what you do to my brother, understand? Just remember to kill the Princess.” Vinyl’s ears perked up hearing another voice coming from the communicator the Royal was holding.
“Just remember your part of the bargain or I will kill you myself. Just make sure that nopony sees us coming,” the voice said in a strange and creepy female voice.
Vinyl can hear the Royal chuckle evilly. “Yes, and at long last that Hybrid bastard will be killed for good. But I will warn you, watch out for that meddlesome Captain Rainbow Dash. She stopped my last five attempts, but this time she won’t see this coming,” the royal said, chuckling.
Suddenly there were pounding of feet from the other hall and Vinyl blushed knowing that the source of the feet were from those two guards from earlier. Vinyl knew that if they came around that corner, they’ll see her and hell will break loose.
“I have to go, but remember your part of the bargain and I’ll remember mine. Ta-ta,” the royal said waving to the hologram before shutting it off. The communicator beeped and a flash as the Royal ran past Vinyl’s cart towards the hall, where the shouts were coming from. Vinyl let out a sigh. But she can’t slack off now, if she heard the conversation right then pirates were coming and this will make her escape that much harder. She started to trot with the cart down the hall to get as far from the treasure room as possible.
She reached into her pocket for her communicator as she hid in a small alcove to talk in private. She thumbed the nob hearing static.
“Scootaloo, I need to talk to you,” she whispered loudly looking around.
There was no response.
“Dammit, Scootaloo! You answer me now!”
Another few seconds later, there was a beep. “Sorry, Vinyl,”
“Sorry! When I call you better answer you little-”
“Sorry, sorry! What’s up? Are you done?”
“Yes, I’m done. But hurry up and get me, I just heard a royal paying pirates to come and crash the party. I need you here ASAP!”
“Uh about that...” Scootaloo chuckled nervously from the other line
Vinyl groaned slapping her hand across her eyes. “What is it now?”
“Vinyl, the engines are dead... again,” Vinyl’s ears perked up.
“What? Now of all the times, I thought you said the engines were fine!”
“They were! I swear! I’m fixing them right now, can you hold tight for a few?”
Vinyl groaned. “No! There are pirates coming here and they are coming for a killing spree. I need to get out now,” Vinyl yelled out. She’s already freaking out. Her plan will be in shambles and she’ll probably get eaten up by space pirates!
“Look, we’re trying to find the problem,” Scootaloo said. Another sound of a crash and a young male voice was screaming about his foot interrupted the younger mare.
“Uh, it’ll take a little while, but I swear we’ll be there soon,”
Another sound of a crash and a young male voice was screaming about his foot interrupted the younger mare.
“Very soon,” Scootaloo finished with a wince. Vinyl groans leaning back and hitting her head against the wall.
“Scootaloo,” Vinyl began calmly. “If I die tonight, I’ll haunt you in your sleep if you don’t fix that damn engine!” Vinyl screamed out before flipping off the microphone, rubbing her eyes tiredly.
“One of these days, I’m getting a new ship,” She said with a tired sigh. She stuck her communicator back in her pocket and pushed her cart forward heading for the stairs to the decks above. She had to be ready to run and jump overboard if need be.