Rainbow Dash breathed into her clasped forehooves, rubbing them together to warm them up. The weather was chilly enough this time of year, worse so at night. Tugging her jacket around her she glanced down both sides of the alleyway she was in, hoping her partner would arrive soon and they could get their business underway. Soarin had advised her against going out that night, she had a meeting with the Mayor the next morning after all, but Rainbow wasn’t about to ease up on her work. How could she rest knowing her humble little town was tainted by the presence of organised crime?
Rainbow Dash gritted her teeth; suddenly the cold wasn’t bothering her as much. She was so distracted by the thoughts of her enemies that she almost didn’t see the shadow darting across her peripheral vision. Almost, but Rainbow Dash never let her guard down. Quick as a flash she tackled her would be assailant, her foreleg already whipping out the set of hoof cuffs she kept tucked away, latched to her belt.
“Rainbow Dash, it’s me!” the tiny figure squealed, instinctively raising her forelegs to shield her face as the older Pegasus bore down upon her.
Rainbow relaxed, taking in the orange coat and fuchsia mane of the teenage filly.
“Sorry Scoots,” she said in a low voice, helping her back onto her hooves. “But you should know not to creep up on me, especially when we’re in the middle of work.”
“Sorry Rainbow,” Scootaloo replied awkwardly, glancing down the alley to make sure she hadn’t drawn any unwanted attention with her shout. “I guess I’ve been a little distracted lately.”
“Well get your head in the game then,” Dash reprimanded firmly. “We can’t afford to slip up, not at this point.”
“I know,” Scootaloo murmured, looking away uncomfortably.
“Right,” Dash began again after checking her own end of the alley for eavesdroppers. “What news have you got for me?”
“I managed to overhear two of them,” Scootaloo said, brightening up slightly as she relayed her information. “They were talking about pinning something on Berry Punch, she must have done something to upset the family.”
“Were you able to get close enough to see who they were?” Dash asked eagerly.
“No,” Scootaloo admitted, shaking her head sadly. “And I couldn’t identify one of them from just hearing their voices.”
“One of them?” Dash repeated quirking an eyebrow.
“Yeah, the other was definitely Flim or Flam,” Scootaloo confirmed with an affirmative nod. “I’d recognise the way they talk anywhere.”
“Well it’s no secret Flim and Flam have been associates of the family for years,” Dash said, pondering the information. “Still, if we could catch which ever one it was in the act of framing Berry Punch… What else did you hear? Any details about the time of the framing?”
“Yeah, from the sounds of it they’re planning to…”
Scootaloo never got to finish that statement, as at that moment an extremely out of breath Soarin burst into the scene, causing them both to snap into self-defence mode.
“Soarin!” Dash snapped. “What are you doing here?! You’ll blow our cover!”
“Sorry Rainbow,” Soarin said in between pants. “But there’s something you ought to come see.”
Rainbow and Scootaloo shared a brief glance before both took to the skies after Soarin. He led them far from the alleyway, further still from the outskirts of Ponyville. They were just brushing Apple territory when he finally began his descent near the edge of the Everfree Forest. Rainbow Dash spotted the other Pegasus lookout, Thunderlane, examining a dark shape sprawled out on the ground.
Her eyes widening, Rainbow sped past Soarin and landed down beside the lookout and the body. She immediately took in the lavender coat, straight purple mane with its single pink streak, and six pointed star cutie mark.
“She’s alive,” was the first thing Thunderlane said upon seeing Rainbow Dash approaching. “Seems to have suffered some kind of head trauma.”
“Has a doctor been called yet?” Dash asked, crouching down to examine the body herself.
“Not yet,” Thunderlane replied.
“Go get Fluttershy,” Dash instructed. “She lives closest to here.”
With a single nod, Thunderlane took off in the direction of the caretaker’s cottage.
“Who is she?” Scootaloo asked, approaching from behind.
“Not a clue,” Dash admitted. “No townspony I’ve ever seen.”
It was at that moment the unicorns eyelids began to flicker open, revealing a glazed expression beneath. She groggily turned her head so she was looking straight up at Rainbow Dash, her mouth opened slightly but no sound came out, only a confused expression could be identified on her face.
“It’s okay,” Rainbow assured her, resting a hoof on her shoulder in case she tried to sit up. “You’ve had an accident, but help is coming now. Can you tell me your name?”
“I…” the unicorn croaked, a distressed look in her eyes. “I don’t remember.”
She sounded ready to cry, so Rainbow just began quietly shushing her and gently rubbing her back.
“It’s okay, it’s okay,” she repeated. “We can deal with that later; right now just take it easy while we wait for the doctor to arrive.”
The unicorn gave a small nod and Rainbow relaxed. She may be set back in her fight against the mafia, but the night wasn’t completely wasted. Tomorrow looked like it was going to be an interesting day for the town of Ponyville.