//------------------------------// // Between Lightning and Maud (Part 5 of 5) // Story: The Rainboom Thieves // by KingJoltik //------------------------------// Twilight had then made it to the police station. There she found Pinkie sitting outside the station, waving her hoof at Twilight. “Dazzling! Over here!” yelled Pinkie. “Who's that?” asked Spike as she looked over Twilight's mane. “Pinkie Pie.” said Twilight. “She's the friend I was talking about.” “She's really pink.” “Yeah...she's always like that.” Twilight then approached Pinkie Pie and the two began exchanging information. The three then found a place to sit down and looked at a map. “Okay Pinkie, according to what you told me, Maud was caught by Lightning Dust at the four way on 28th...” said Twilight as she scratched her chin. “Hmm...if my hypothesis is correct...” Spike and Pinkie looked at Twilight as she began writing on the map, scribbling lines and marking locations. Spike then turned to Pinkie and asked, “Is she always like this?” “What do you mean?” “Well...you know, this focused and...uh...” “Crazy?” “Yeah.” “All the time.” “I can hear you two, you know.” said Twilight in an annoyed tone. “Oh we know Dazzling.” said Pinkie with a smile. “Right...” said Twilight as she skimmed the paper again and then looked at the two. “Okay...I think I might have an idea of what is happening here.” “Okay.” said Spike. “What's happening?” “Based on what I've looked at thanks to what Maud told Pinkie, I believe I found a few locations that Lighting could be at.” “Really?!” “Yeah. Before I went to your apartment, I looked up Lightning Dust's apartment. It's about two blocks away from where Lightning Dust arrested Maud. Not only that, most beat cops hang go through 3rd, 8th, and 28th.” “You think she's got Sunset and Trixie on one of these streets?” asked Spike. “Based on my assumption, yes.” “Wow, you're good.” said Spike as he looked at Twilight with disbelief. “When do we start?” Meanwhile... POW! POW! POW! Lightning continued to hit Trixie over and over, screaming and yelling at Trixie at the same time. “TELL ME!” yelled Lightning. Trixie just looked at Lightning, not saying a word. “SAY SOMETHING!” Trixie still just sat there. Lightning just stood there, with anger filling her eyes. Lightning finally sat down and looked at Sunset Shimmer. She just sat there, she still hadn't woken up. Lightning then walked over to her and poked her. “How about you? Are you awake?” Lightning then sighed, seeing that Sunset didn't respond. “Ugh...can't believe this is happening...” However, Sunset was awake. She had been awake for quite a while in fact. Sunset had made sure not to show any movement. She had been trying to use magic through her horn despite the anti-magic braces. Sunset had closed her eyes, concentrating all her mind into her magic. The braces resisted any attempt of magic however. 'Great...how are me and Trixie going to get out of this one...' thought Sunset. 'Trixie...you're taking a beating and I'm just sitting here...what do I do?' Lightning Dust sat down in her chair and slumped over. “You have got be kidding me...I can't believe I'm so close and this happens...” Trixie, who's face was badly beaten and bruised, slowly said, “Trixie thinks you deserve every bit of this.” “Shut up!” yelled Lightning, “I'm so tired of your garbage that I'm going to...” “Do what?” asked Trixie, trying to look smug. Lightning raised her hoof in anger but then put it down. She then slumped down in her chair again. Sunset just watched the scene, trying not to laugh. 'Wow.' thought Sunset, 'Trixie easily got under Lightning Dust's skin...well done Trixie.' WHAM! Suddenly the door to the room the three were in flew off its hinges and hit the other side of the room. There, where the door used to be, was Twilight with Spike on her back. “What the-” “Well well, look what we have here...” said Twilight with a face filled with anger. “Sunset! Trixie!” said Spike as he jumped off Twilight in a panic after he saw the two ponies tied up. However, Lightning Dust then appeared right in front of him. She was angry and she then yelled. “WHO ARE YOU TWO?!” Twilight then calmly said, “We're the ones that are going to rescue them.” “OVER MY DEAD BODY!” said Lightning as her hoof slammed Spike in the stomach, sending him flying. POW! “Augh!” “Spike! Okay, you asked for it!” said Twilight as her horn started to glow. She began shooting magic beams everywhere. BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! Lightning Dust quickly dodged each beam, flying around the run at breakneck speed. “Go ahead, keep dodging. I can do this all day.” said Twilight as she shot beam after beam at Lightning. Lightning continued to dodge easily as Sunset watched the fight display in front of her. She then began to think, 'Something's not right here...the way Dazzling is shooting these beams...it's like she's not trying...why?' However, Lightning thought differently, 'This is annoying...' Lightning thought. 'I can't charge her but I could dodge these beams all day...unless she wants me too...backup! She's waiting for backup!' After thinking that, Lightning then charged into Twilight slamming her body into the hallway. SLAM! “Whoa! Augh!” Lightning slowly got up and spread her wings, thinking, 'Gotta get out of here...quick!' Lightning flew down the hallway and cut the next corner only for what looked like in Lightning's eyes a pink blur slam into her. POW! BAM! “Ugh!” said Lightning as she fell to the floor. “What the...who are you?” “I'm Pinkie Pie, Maud Pie's sister!” yelled Pinkie with a rage filled face. “Maud Pie's sister huh?” said Lightning as she got up, “What's wrong, wanna beat me up cuz I arrested your horrible criminal sister?” “She's innocent and you know it!” “Whatever, you two are nothing but a bunch of earth pony scum. I'm Lightning Dust, the greatest pegasus pony ever! You should be glad your sister got arrested by me!” Pinkie then gritted her teeth as fire grew in her eyes. Meanwhile... Twilight got up and proceeded to wake up Spike. There, she asked him to burn the ropes that tied the two as began to break the anti-magi braces. Then Sunset said, “Wait, what about Lightning Dust?! You're not going to let her go, are you?!” Twilight gave Sunset a smile, “Don't worry, she's in good hooves.” Back to Pinkie... The two ponies had a standoff. Lightning had a smirk on her face, she felt confident she could beat Pinkie, believing that an earth pony is easier than a unicorn. Pinkie, on the other hand, was very very angry. “So...you think you can just arrest my sister huh?” “Of course.” said Lightning with a smug face. “WHY?!” Lightning then stuck her tongue out, “Cuz I'm the best! I'll do whatever it takes to be the best!” “Let me guess...” said Pinkie as her face showed more and more anger. “You're a pony who's only happy when you make other ponies sad...aren't you?!” “If it'll make me happy then yeah.” said Lightning as she shrugged her shoulders, “Why does that matter anyways?” “Ponies like you...they make me sick.” said Pinkie as she tightened her hooves, ready to attack Lightning. “All I want is to make ponies smile...yet ponies like you are always around.” “Tch...you want ponies to smile?!” said Lightning as she began to laugh. “HAHAHAHA!!! What a bunch of trash! Ponies are only happy when get what they want! That's all!” Pinkie's eyes lit on fire, she then flew into Lightning, but Lightning quickly dodged. “Gotta be faster than that!” said Lightning with a grin. “Why you little-” Lightning spread her wings, preparing to tackle and knock out Pinkie in a single turn. Lightning then dashed into Pinkie with all her might, but Pinkie was faster. Pinkie turned around quickly and immediately imitated Applejack's back kick. The kick slammed into Lightning's face, causing her to go flying into the ceiling. WHAM! THUD! Lightning fell to the floor, completely knocked out. Pinkie then stood over her and said, “As long as I live, I'll make sure everypony smiles, even if means beating ponies like you!” At that moment, a bright light shined in front of Pinkie and an object appeared in front of her. Pinkie the pinked it up, looking at it. Twilight then rushed down the hallway. “Pinkie?! Are you okay?!” Pinkie then turned to Twilight, “I'm fine!” Pinkie said as Twilight caught up to her and saw Lightning Dust unconscious. “Hey Twilight, what do you make of this?” Twilight then saw the object Pinkie was holding and then gasped. “Pinkie...where did you get that key?” “A bright light appeared after I beat her and then the key appeared.” Twilight then grabbed the key from Pinkie and began examining it. 'This is...' thought Twilight. 'This isn't good...if this is what I think it is...' “Something wrong?” asked Pinkie, confused. “I'm not sure...” sad Twilight. “Can I keep this for now Pinkie?” “Um...sure.” Twilight put the key in her saddlebag and then Sunset and the others came down the hallway. Trixie was slumped over as Sunset slowly dragged her to Twilight. “Are you all okay?” “We're fine.” said Twilight as she dragged Lightning's unconscious body to Sunset. “Hey Trixie, would you like to arrest this slimeball?” Trixie gave a small weak smile and said, “It would be Trixie's pleasure!” Then group soon left the building that Lightning had taken Trixie and Sunset too. There delivered her to the police department where she thoroughly confessed to everything. Several police officers were arrested over being bribed due to Lightning's confessions and revealing information over Smoking Brick. Then Maud Pie was released from custody. Pinkie then found herself hugging and crying over Maud. “I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE FREE MAUD!” said Pinkie as mountains of tears went down Pinkie's face. Maud hugged Pinkie back and said. “I'm fine Pinkie, you don't have to cry.” “WAAAAHHHHH!!!” Maud then hugged Twilight, Trixie and Sunset as well. “Thank you for helping me.” said Maud in her usual monotone voice. “It's fine.” “No problem.” “Trixie was just doing her job.” Maud then said goodbye to Pinkie, telling her she was going to leave Manehattan. Pinkie then joined her to the train station to see her off. Twilight then went and thanked Sunset and Trixie. “Sorry this happened to you two.” said Twilight. “It's fine Dazzling.” said Sunset. “We're fine. Trust me. Say, can we still meet up sometime?” “I'm going to have to get back to you on that one Sunset. Sorry.” “Oh okay, well, you do know my address now so just come by anytime.” Twilight nodded. “Okay.” Twilight soon departed and made her way back to the Rainboom hideout. Sunset and Trixie then parted ways and Sunset went back to her apartment. There she met Spike and signaled him, showing she wanted him to make a letter. “Um, okay Sunset. Do you want to tell Celestia about all that happened?” asked Spike, confused. “No.” “No?” “Spike, did you watch Dazzling Bubble attack Lightning Dust when you two came to rescue us?” “Yeah...why?” “Even though I had those braces on...thanks to my training with Princess Celestia I could sense the magic Dazzling possessed. I could feel the power she possessed. However, Dazzling Bubble wasn't trying to get Lightning Dust when she rescued us. She was barely trying.” “I don't get where you're going with this...” “Prepare a letter for Princess Celestia. Tell her...tell her I think I found Twilight Sparkle.”