//------------------------------// // 5 - The Calm Before the Storm // Story: Chasing Thieves // by Yukito //------------------------------// Trixie huffed indignantly and rested against the tree standing behind her. “You’re still on about that? Just because we both wear star-patterned clothing-” “I’m working with the FBI right now, helping them to capture Kaitou Moon,” Sunset Shimmer said. “The Alicorn Amulet… You’ve got to be kidding me! Do you have any idea how valuable a target that is?!” “How would I know? I’ve got better things to do than study some amulet I’ve never heard of,” Trixie said, checking her fingernails casually. “They’ve been given permission to kill you!” Trixie froze. “If it’s to protect the jewel, that’s how far the FBI are willing to go! You have to pull out of this one, for your own sake!” “… The Great and Powerful Trixie… has no idea what you are talking about. If you’re so concerned about Kaitou Moon’s safety, why don’t you call her?” With that, Trixie pulled her phone away and hung it up. She then stared vacantly into the space before her for several seconds, before throwing her phone aside angrily and stomping it with her foot, huffing and sweating as she stared at the destroyed device beneath her boot. The sounds of a bell nearby told Trixie that it had struck the hour, and that it was time to begin the preparations for her heist. “… The Great and Powerful Trixie does not fail,” Trixie said, regaining her composure and standing up straight. “The Great and Powerful Trixie, will not die tonight!” Trixie took off down the hill, running towards the museum in the distance. “How did it go?” Chrysalis asked. “Will your ‘friend’ be able to help us?” Sunset shook her head. “I thought that since she practices magic tricks herself, she’d be able to offer an expert opinion, but she wasn’t interested.” “I see…” Sunset Shimmer noticed Shining Armor and Gilda escorting Sombra and his two guards through the museum, several officers swarming past them to join the local police in surrounding the jewel. “So what’s the plan?” “Sombra will be on watch duty with Gilda, since he can’t use his arms the way he is,” Shining Armor reported. “Gilda’s got much better eyes then either myself or Chrysalis.” “Like a hawk,” Gilda boasted, her chest puffed out with pride. “More like an eagle,” Chrysalis retorted. “Always attentive, and you catch on to weak prey from anywhere.” “Chrysalis will secure this room, and the two of us will be monitoring everything from my car outside.” “So we can pursue the thief if she escapes?” Sunset Shimmer asked. “How fast is your driving?” “It doesn’t matter. You’re the one who’ll be driving me.” Sunset Shimmer raised an eyebrow. “Back when we were monitoring you, we noticed that you practiced driving many times, and you were actually pretty good at it.” Sunset frowned. “Of course. I forgot you guys were spying on my every move,” she said, with venom in her voice. “I’ll take the shot while you’re driving. By ‘shot’, I mean a transceiver that will allow us to track Kaitou Moon to her hideout.” “If we can successfully plant a transceiver on her, the Bureau will back off and allow us to take her in alive,” Chrysalis explained. “That’s why we need to be ready to chase her the moment she tries to get away.” “You don’t think she’ll feel the transceiver?” Sombra asked. “She wears the same outfit to every heist, including a pair of very thick boots. I’ll aim for one of those,” Shining Armor said. Chrysalis checked her watch before saying, “I’ll try to keep these guys from killing her as best I can. I’m counting on Sombra and Gilda to be my eyes.” “Sir!” An officer approached the group, stopping for a moment to glance at Sunset Shimmer with a confused look, before saluting to Shining Armor. “Sir, all sweeps have been completed!” “Did you find any bugs?” Shining Armor asked. “Yes, sir! Would you like to see them?” “Later. Send them to the lab for analysis right away.” “Yes, sir!” “That seems… odd,” Chrysalis said as she watched the officer running away. “If she went through the effort of planting bugs throughout the museum, don’t you think she would have made them harder to detect?” “Maybe she’s nervous,” Sombra suggested. “I would be.” “In any case, it’s almost time,” Shining Armor announced. “Let’s get to our positions and stay in touch via radio. We’ll use a frequency only Chrysalis, Sombra and I know.” “Ooh. A blast from the past,” Sombra said with a laugh. The group split up into its assigned teams and spread out, Shining Armor and Sunset Shimmer leaving the museum together as the time of Kaitou Moon’s heist announced in her notice drew near.