The Black Mask Brothers

by Alex Rite

Chapter 7: New Recruits

"Man, this is sweet! I can't wait to show Goldie!" I said.

"Yeah, it is pretty righteous." replied Baws. "Still need to come up with a name for it, though."

"Gentlecolts, I believe we have more pressing matters to deal with." said Sparks. "Now, I've created a presentation for phase one on my computer-"

"Stop right there, Sparks." said Baws. "If you got a presentation, we should go to the screening room."

A few moments later we found ourselves in the screening room; a small room with a big TV screen on one wall, and a bunch of chairs on the other. Soon, Sparks had his computer plugged in, and the rest of us sat in the chairs. The lights went dark, and the screen showed a picture of a dark, gothic style castle.

"This is Rose Manor," Sparks explained, "home of our recent adversary, Scarlet Rose. It may seem normal, but I'm telling you, the place is a death trap. There's security systems and gaurds all over the place, so we'll need to deal with that at some point."

The image changed to one of a large shack.

"This shack lies a small way away from the mansion, enough so that nopony really notices it. This will be our safehouse during preparation for the heist. Now, in order for us all to be there, Alex will have to convince Inspector Heart to give him a few days off to recover from his 'injury'. As for Baws and Dash, Cloudsdale will luckily be only a short distance away from the mansion."

The image changed again, now being that of an air vent on the side of a wall.

"We need to learn more about what we're up against, so Alex, you'll use your Shadow Slide ability to go through this vent, and into the mansion. Once inside, you'll need to sneak your way to a back door and let in Baws and me."

With the push of a button, the image changed to a picture of a computer.

"Once inside, Baws and I will make our way to this computer. I plan on hacking into it and finding out what I can about the castle's security. Baws, meanwhile, will be there to to take care of any... trouble... we might come across."

Another image, this time of Scarlet Rose herself.

"While we're doing this, Alex will travel through the vents to Scarlet Rose's room, where he'll observe her current state, then plant a bug so we can listen in on her. After that, we all meet back at the safehouse to plan phase two."

"Your batshit crazy." I said out loud. The two looked at me funny. "What do you mean?" Spark asked.

"I mean, guards? Cameras?! We'll get caught before we even step hoof inside! Their's flaws in this plans like holes in cheese!" I tell them.

"Really? Like what?" Alex asked.

"For one, the Alicorn Amulet. If it doesn't detect you the first time, it will the second time. Two, if theirs guards, theirs pegasus guards. They'll detect us from above! Not only that, unicorns have magic. They'll do magical sensors once in a while to check for any out-of-place-ponies. Three: the computer. Don't think you'll be able to get on it hunky-dory, theirs gotta be a password. A password that will take even you--" I pointed at Spark. "--too long to figure out. We won't be able to do this in the morning, nor at night. Theirs only, what? Five of us? We won't be able to set hoof in there."

The two sat silent, but I heard Alex sigh. "Can't believe, but he's right. Theirs to many things that can go wrong. We have to wait it out." He says.

"What?! But--!!"

"We can't!! We can't do anything. We need a bigger team." He says. We all sat silent, but I had to blurt it out. "Or we can get an inside source to find their routine." I said.

They all sat quietly, a look of thought into their eyes.

"Hmm... you know what, Baws is right. I've been thinking about it all wrong! I only thought of ways to get in from the air or the ground, but clearly, we're gonna need to get in from underneath!" said Sparks.

"Are you saying what I think you're saying?" I asked.

"Yes! We need to enlist a tunneler into our gang!"

"Well if we're talking digging, no better expert can be found than a Diamond Dog." Baws added.

"Agreed. I'll see what I can find."

"As will I." I said.

"Okay, while we're doing that, we'll need some way to get inside information. Perhaps a spy?"

"But who? The Vendettas already know who we are, and everypony knows Rainbow Dash! Who could be our spy?"
We all thought about it, and an idea popped into our heads. We all looked over at the same pony.

"...What?" asked Paz, confused by our stares.

I may be slow, but even I was able to detect what their thinking of. "Oh no!" I objected. "Hell no! You are not using Pastel as our spy!"

"She's our ticket in. We have no choice!" Alex said.

"She is not a choice! If they figure out that Pastel is our spy, she'll be held hostage! And for Celestia's sake she's only 12!! What are you guys thinking?!" I tell them.

"Well then who else, smart guy?" Spark asked.

I gave him a disapproving nod. "Don't know. Don't care. Y'all should be ashamed for thinking about using Pastel as spy material. She's only good for combat situations like me. Spy is not her forte. Not like she can keep a secret anyway." I said.

I didn't turn back, but I knew Pastel agreed with me since it was silent for the past few seconds. "I wouldn't care if she was a changeling, you guys are not using her as a spy." I said.

"Wait! Say that again!" Pastel interrupted. Shocking, but I responded anyway.

"A spy?" I asked.

"No! Go back a little!" She said.

"A...changeling?" I asked. She clapped her hoofs together.

"We can just use a changeling! At least...I think so. I don't know where they are, but Mom says that maybe the guards know where the hive is." She said.

I sat there like a astounded. How did I not think of that?!

"Uh...will...that work?" Spark asked.

"Maybe... if we could find some way to befriend a changeling without it trying to feed off of us," I said.

"I'll put that in the 'maybe' category." said Sparks.

"Well, it's better than nothing! Let's see what we can find!" said Baws.

Spark raises a brow. "And where do we look?" He asked.

"...Diamond Dog territory. Spark and Pastel, you guys stay here, we can go check it out. I'm sure we can find a way to get one of the dogs on our side. Or...a changeling." I said.

"K, don't forget about the waffles!" She said randomly. But in our language, which you guys will never understand, my eyes shrank.

"Crap!!" I blurted out.

"Waffles?" Alex asked. I waved a hoof. "Something you'll never understand. You wanna check out the territory tomorrow?" I asked Alex.

He pondered at the thought, and whatever answer he says, I don't give a crap.

"Y'know, I don't know why, but I feel like looking now would be our best chance. Call it an instinct." I said.

"Instinct, huh?" replied Baws. "Well, your instincts have never been wrong before. Guess we'll be going out."

"Keep your coms on, I'd feel better knowing you're in quick communication." said Sparks.

"Will do, 'mom'." I said, earning some giggles from the others.

"Just stay safe. You guys are basically my only friends."

"That explains so much." replied Baws.

"Just go!!" He yelled. Me and Alex gave a laugh, and headed out.

"Well...here we are, the Diamond Dogs territory." I stuck a hoof out for him to see...dirt.

Lots, and lots, of dirt.

"Their's no one here..." He said.

"Try looking underground." My sarcastic voice left.

I was about to make a snappy remark, when a sound caught my attention. I did not like what I heard.

"Quick! This way!" I exclaimed, running off with my confused brother following behind.

We soon found a circle of angry ponies, and as we came close I saw what was in the center of said circle: a young female diamond dog and male changeling, both probably no more than twelve years old. The ponies surrounding them were yelling at them, calling them 'freaks', 'unwanted', 'weirdos', and other harsh things. The diamond dog and changeling just cowered in the center of it, holding on to eachother as though they might be forced apart. My guts began to boil with rage. This had gone on long enough.

I jumped infront of the young pair protectively, my brother right by my side, clearly pissed.

"That's enough!" I shouted, rage practically emminating off of me. "These two have done nothing to you!"

"Maybe, but we don't like'em." said one of the ponies.

"And that gives you the right to terrify them?! I think not!"

"Oh yeah? Well what are you gonna do about it?"

I didn't even respond, my fist flying like lightning into his jaw. He fell to the ground, out cold, and I could smell the fear in the rest of his associates. All it took was one glare in their direction, and they ran off with their tails between their legs. I turned to the young ones.

"Are you alright?" I asked, my voice full of concern.

"Y-yes... thank you..." The diamond dog replied, her voice sweet and small. Her tan fur was dirty and messy. I looked to her changeling friend and saw he was in a simmilar state. His green eyes looked up at me in wonder.

"It was my pleasure. I know what it's like to be labled a freak..." pushing those thoughts out of my mind, I returned focus on the two. "What are you two doing out here so late? Where are your parents?"

"We... we don't have any." said the changeling, his voice small as well.

"We're orphans." added the diamond dog. "I'm Amethyst, and this is my brother, Shift. We're all the family we've got."

I felt my heart give a tug, and a tear rolled down my face. I looked to my brother, and I could see in his face he thought the same thing I did. He nodded. I turned back to the two, a small, warm smile on my face.

"Well... you have a family now."

As the three were talking, I took a look around. Such a long, yet quick day. My mansion is finally built, in less than a day, we were able to find two things we needed. A disguise, and a pathway.

Other than watching the ponies with fire wood and pitch forks running away (bunch of pansies), I was looking for any activity. My job is to look out, but not much happening. A tap on the shoulder distracted me, but I turned anyway to see the changeling tug on my leg. "What's your name?" He...she...whatever-the-heck-it-was asked.

I was paying no Faust damn attention, okay? Shut up.

"Uh, Winter Frost. You are...?" I trailed off.

"My names Shift." It said.

I swear, I'm not being disrespectful. I just have no idea what it is.

"Ready to go?" Alex gave a knock on my head.

"Yeah," I said, rubbing the top of my head. "But what about them? I don't think theirs no room for them." I said.
Before Alex said anything, I put my hoof up. "No, not Pastel's. They can visit, but she gets cranky with visitors she doesn't know living in her room. My room is a one-stallion, your room is to much for them, and Spark needs his to finish his work. You know he hates being disrupted." I explained.

His mouth slowly closed from the idea I shot down.

I thought about it, and realized he was right. Thinking on it some more, I came up with an idea.

"Until they have their own rooms, I'll sleep with them in the living room on the couches or something."

"You sure you wanna do that?" Baws asked.

"Well, yeah! We need them. Besides, can you really say no to those faces?"

A glance at Shift and Amethyst, who were making big, sad eyes at Baws, and his hard expression softened. Baws was not easily manipulated, but the looks of these two young orphans clearly got to him.

"Fine. Have it your way." He said. "Just make sure they don't eat my hay burgers."

"You have hay burgers?!"

"I want some!!"

Those two were already on my 'food hit-list'. Though, we were able to find our way back to Ponyville. The reason I say that is because Amythest has a habit of getting distracted. No, not like 'Something moved, I wanna see it' kind of distracting, its one of those 'What's this? I wanna stare at this for hours!' kinds of distracting. Good grief...

"What's this?"

"It's a leaf, Amy." I replied.

"What's this?"

"That's a spider, Amy." Me becoming slightly more annoyed.

"...Hey Winter,"

"What?" The words were just barely able to leave through my teeth

"How come you don't like me?"

That got me there. Though, instead of stopping, I gave a long sigh. "I don't. Its just...stuff is moving to fast for me to catch up. It really is. Literally three days when my house burned down, we have an enemy, Gala was destroyed, this...this is to much for an old man like me." I, hopefully, joked to make them giggle at most.

Sudden struggle was felt on my back, but it quickly ended when a bunch of fingers wrapped around my neck. "...I don't think your old..." She says.

...Fuck you guys, I'm not soft...

...Shut up...

"...Yeah, thanks." I replied. I turned to see Alex giving me the 'you like Amythest, don't you Winter?' look. I replied by blowing a raspberry. A chuckle came out of him, but that also got one from me as well.

I swear, I'm not soft, I just...hate to make ponies sad.

"Mr. Alex?" said Shift, catching my attention. "What do you and Mr. Winter do?"

I smiled. "Well officially, Winter is a weather pony and I'm the assistant to a police officer. But really, we're the two unknown faces of the Black Mask Brothers thief gang."

"So, you're a thief, but you work for the police?"

"Yep. See, we Black Masks, unlike most thieves, steal only from other criminals."

"We're at the top of the thieving food chain," input Baws.

"Yeah, so working with Inspector Gold Heart is a good way to find leads."

"Who's Inspector Gold Heart?" asked Amethyst, her interest peaked at the mention of my favorite mare.

"Oh Celestia, here it comes." groaned Baws.

I got all dreamy. "Gold Heart is the officer I work with, and one of the most amazing mare I've ever met. She's smart, strong, brave, independent, sweet, kind, beautiful- she's just... perfect."

"Ooh, sounds like you like her," said Amy.

"Yeah. Yeah I do."

"Yeah, well you'll never see me go all gaga over some chick," said Baws.

"Do you like anypony, Mr. Winter?" asked Shift.

The look on my brother's face was priceless.

Where the hell did that question come from?! "Don't...question it. Haven't liked anyone since I was in fillies school." I said.

"Yeah? What about Dash?" Alex asked.

I gave him a smirk. "Hah hah; nice try. Soarin is already calling his shots on her. I'd get myself thrown in jail if I do anything." I explain.

"You know she rejected him. Why keep denying?" He continued.

"You don't know Soarin at all. He's stubborn, though he may sound like a rad dude. He will not stop until he gets what he wants. How do you think he obtained the Wonderbolts job?" I say.

Other than a jumble of noises coming from Ponyville, silence filled the air. "So, what? He won't stop until he gets Dash?" Alex asked.

"Pretty much. It's actually becoming rather annoying than being angry at him all the time. Literally every time I hang with Dash, he shows up. Flipping Batmare, or something." I muttered the last part.

"Well, he may be batmare, but ain't nopony can match my Shadow Stealth abilities. He comes near you and Dash, and I'll be on him like fire on a match!" I said.

"Heh. I like that image. Thanks, bro."

"Anytime. Now lets go introduce our new guests to Spark."

We walk into the mansion, a look of awes on their face. "Hey, Spark, Pastel, we got new family members!!" I yelled out.

I heard a female groan in one room, and a bunch of steps from another. Alex chuckled, but kept looking at the upstairs hall. "You were really serious about Pastel with strangers, huh?" He asked.

"Yup. She'll grow on them." I say.

"How long does it usually take?"

"Couple weeks."

"And by that you mean...?"

"Five weeks max."

I heard a hoof come in contact with something, and it didn't sound pleasant. Spark came down the hall, a pair of mechanical googles resting on his head. "Ah! Alex, Winter, you were actually able to find them!" He said.

"We stumbled upon the changeling, but the diamond dog was already in her territory. A bunch of A-holes try to club them, too. So, we went over there and scared them off until they looked like the bathroom was just a short distance away from release." I say.

He gave a good laugh, and slid down the stairs. He did a frontflip, and landed on his hooves. "Wow, Spark, never seen you this happy before." Alex said.

"It's because of the equipment! We have the latest technology, and I was able to find a new lead!" Spark said. This caught our attention quickly.

"Really? What it is?" I asked.

"Well, its--" he was cut short when he saw the two children. "U-um...should I...?" He trailed off, pointing his hoof at the fillies.
Shit is rushing fast...

"Oh! Right!" I played off. Amythest slowly got off my back, and Shift stood side of her. "You kids go play with Pastel. She's in the pink room." I say.

I look upwards to the stairs. "PASTEL!!" I shout. "BE NICE TO THEM!!"

"....WHAT?"

"I SAID BE NICE TO THE KIDS!! WE GOT TWO NEW FAMILY MEMBERS THAT WOULD LOVE TO PLAY WITH YOU!!"

"...DON'T THEY HAVE ANOTHER ROOM TO PLAY IN? THIS IS A MANSION!!"

"PASTEL!!"

"...fine..."

"WHAT?"

"TELL THEM TO HURRY UP!!"

"OKAY!!" I look down to see Amythest covering her ears...as well as every pony else. "U-uh...sorry." My voice squeaked.

Best day ever bros...best day ever...

Before they went upstairs, Amethyst and Shift ran over to hug me.

"Thank you, Mr. Alex!" exclaimed Amy.

"You're the best!" added Shift.

That got me. I squeezed them like a snake.

"No, you two are the best! Now go play with Paz!" I let them go, and they ran off. "Such nice kids."

"Yeah." agreed Baws. "Hope we can train them enough in time."