//------------------------------// // The Night Before the Storm // Story: Smiles at Night // by Kingsley //------------------------------// Chapter 1 *Glass shattering* "HELP! SOMEPONY! THOSE THIEVES JUST MADE OFF WITH MOST OF MY JEWELRY!" The Merchant Pony yelled. It was late at night in Canterlot and things were usually docile and in order at the time, but there is always the occasional "incident" from time to time. It turns out that this time a few petty thieves ransacked and looted a local jewelry store in the Market District. "See guys? I told you it would be an easy one." The First Thief said, as all three of them ran quickly through the alley ways. "All we have to do now is make our grand escape." "Yea you're right! I expected at least a little resistance of some sort, but that was too easy!" The Second Thief said. "Yea... a little bit too easy..." The Third Thief said. "Aren't you guys worried that we'll get caught by... her?" "Pfft please, we did this so quick we'll be out of here before she even realizes what happened!" The First Thief said. The three thieves raced to end of each corridor until they reached the end, but all three of them stopped dead in their tracks when they saw what was waiting for them on the other side. "It's about time you got here, I was getting pretty bored waiting for you three." Lilith said, leaning against a lamp post. "H-How did you know we were- "I know every inch of this city and what goes on through it, I wouldn't let something like this slip past me so easily." Lilith said, as she started to walk towards the thieves. "Now it's pretty late so let's make this quick, I have to go home and start making dinner." "If you think we're gonna surrender so easily you've got another thing coming!" The Second Thief said. "I was never asking you to begin with." Lilith said, as she suddenly appeared behind them and forced all of them to the ground, cuffing each one. "I told you guys it was too easy..." The Third Thief said. Shortly after, a few members of the Royal Guard appeared from around the corner and noticed Lilith with the captured thieves. "You sure made quick work of them." The Guard said. "But I guess that's to be expected from you." "These were only petty thieves, it's nothing to really celebrate about." Lilith said. "True, but you did save the livelihood of that jeweler so that's something." The Guard said. "I suppose so." Lilith said. "Here, you and the others take these three to the castle for containment. I have to go and return these bags to the jeweler." "Understood." The Guard said, saluting. Lilith picked up the bags and put them on her back as she proceeded to walk back to the Market District. "There she is!" A Townspony exclaimed. "I knew she'd be the one to stop them!" A crowd of happy ponies cheered as Lilith brought all of the stolen jewelry back to the shopkeeper. "Oh thank you so much! I can't express how happy I am that you caught those thieves!" The Shopkeeper said. "You don't need to thank me, I'm just doing my job after all." Lilith said, setting the bags down. "Even so I really appreciate everything you've done!" The Shopkeeper said, with the townsponies nodding in agreement. "Thank you, however I am sorry about the broken window and the state of your shop." Lilith said. "Oh, it's alright. I might have to close down for a bit while I scrape the money together to get this all fixed up, but it could have been a lot worse." The Shopkeeper said. "No I'm sorry, It's my duty to safeguard you all and even this counts as a failure for me." Lilith said, taking out a piece of paper and a pen. "Here, take this letter to either one of the princesses when you get the chance, it should be more than enough to cover the damages your store has suffered." "R-Really? Are you sure? T-This is a lot of money I don't know if I-" "It's alright, it's the least I could do for you. It has my signature and seal of approval so you should have no trouble getting it. " Lilith said, as she turned around and walked back to the castle. "T-Thank you Commander Lilith! Thank you so much!" The Shopkeeper said, wiping the tears from her face. "...That's a lot of zeros..." - Back at Canterlot Castle - "Hey Lilith!" Shining Armor said, noticing her walk in. "That was fast, guess you really didn't need any help!" "Yea, cases like that are just child's play." Lilith said, walking up to her office. "True, but then again you are a lot different from the rest of us you know, that might also give you a big advantage." Shining Armor said. "I guess, but I'm pretty sure you could have handled that case just as quickly as I did. "Lilith said, as she entered her office. "Heh, you're probably right." Shining Armor said. "Either way, you've sure made quite a name for yourself around here since you joined, and a lot ponies have taken a real liking to you." "I've noticed... and it's a good feeling." Lilith said. "It's definitely much different than how I used to be... thankfully, most of that is all behind me." Shining Armor smiled and looked at the clock. "Whoa, it's really late. I think I'm gonna start heading on upstairs to bed." Shining Armor said. "You coming?" "Not yet, I just have to write a quick case report about this little incident and then I'll be done for the day." Lilith said. "Besides I don't have a room in the castle remember?" "Oh yea that's right I always forget!" Shining Armor said. "Why is that again?" "Grimm doesn't like the environment, too many ponies around in the castle, more than she's comfortable with." Lilith said, writing her report. "It's alright though, it doesn't bother me in the slightest, she's my best friend so I'm happy wherever she is." "That's a side of you I don't see very often." Shining Armor said, laughing and taking a crumpled piece of paper to the face. "Hey!" "Wasn't me." Lilith said. "Heh heh sure it wasn't." Shining Armor said. "Well, I'll see you tomorrow Lilith." "Hey wait!" Lilith said. "Yes?" Shining Armor said. "...I lied it was me." Lilith said, continuing to write her report. "Boy you sure had me fooled." Shining Armor said, laughing some more. "Night Lilith." "Night." Lilith said. "There we go, finished. Now I can finally go home... it's really late, Grimm's got to be really hungry by now... I've really got to start taking off a bit earlier so that doesn't happen." Lilith locked up her office and head outside, closing the gate behind her and making her way towards the largest house in the Residential Area. - Lilith and Grimm's House - Lilith unlocked the door and started to hear moaning coming from the living room. "Grimm? Is tha-" "LILIIIIIIIIITH" Grimm said. "LILITH WHERE ARE YOOOOOOOOUUUUUU!" Lilith ran to the living room only to see Grimm sprawled out all over the couch. "LILITH! YOU'RE FINALLY HOME!" Grimm exclaimed, getting up and running to hug her. "CAN YOU PLEASE START MAKING DINNER! I'M SO HUNGRY!" "Don't worry Grimm I'll start right away." Lilith said, taking off her Commander Armor and tossing it aside. "Is there anything specific that you want?" "As long as there's meat in it I really don't mind whatever it is HeHe!" Grimm said. "So what did you do today Lilith? Catch anymore baddies HeHe?" "Just one case today, a few petty thieves tried to rob a jewelry store but it was very unsuccessful for them." Lilith said, frying up a large amount of assorted animal meats. "Buck yea! That's my girl! Showing them who's in charge!" Grimm said. "You've sure become pretty well known around here HeHe." "Yea, I've noticed that and it's pretty nice I have to say, having a title and everything." Lilith said, pouring all the meat onto multiple plates on the table. "Dinner's ready by the way Grimm." "Yes! Food!" Grimm yelled, as she rushed over to the kitchen table and started devouring the meat. Lilith watched and smiled as her friend ate at alarming speeds. She walked over to the pantry and took a granola bar to munch on as she sat at the table with her friend. "So did you do anything interesting today Grimm?" Lilith said. "Not really, I've honestly been getting pretty bored lately." Grimm said, swallowing her food. "There aren't really any animals to hunt because it's a city and there's usually a lot of ponies outside, so I've just been inside a lot recently HeHe." "Oh I'm sorry to heat that." Lilith said, finishing up her granola bar. "I'll try to think of something to help you out." "Thanks Lilith! You're the best!" Grimm said, burping and finishing her food. "That hit the spot! You're a really good cook too HeHe!" "Heh Thanks Grimm." Lilith said, looking at the time. "I think it's time for me to head to bed now, I've got another long day ahead of me tomorrow." "I'll come too!" Grimm said. "I'm not that tired but I just wanna be with you and stuff." Lilith smiled and walked with Grimm to their room. Grimm jumped on the bed and laid down on her side, cuddling next to Lilith as they laid down together.