Buckshot stirred. Her head hurt. Her vision was a little foggy. She tried to massage her headache, but found she couldn't move her arms. She looked and saw her arms clasped to the chair she was in. Same with her feet. She looked around and saw she was in a dark room, lit only by a few green LED lights. She groaned in annoyance. "Gettin' real tired o' this, Luna."
"You and me both, Bucky." Buckshot didn't need to look to know it was Pinkie Pie. All six remaining members were strapped to their chairs. "But you know, when we get to Canterlot, I could show you around. I know some really nice, dark, tight places."
"Wait, aren't you both girls?" asked Ricochette. "Or am I missing something? Does one of you have a-"
"Well, it sure as hell ain't me," Buckshot stated.
"Meh, I'm bicurious," Pinkie stated obliviously. "I'm good with whatever if you can keep up with me, if you know what I mean."
"So..." Ricochette said, checking her out, "If I had something extra, what would you say?"
"Hmm, let's see. I say... Shake it at the dragon," Pinkie said, shooting Ricochette's proposal down without a second thought.
"Do it, and I'll bite it off," said Dragon King. Crystal laughed and smiled at Dragon, who smiled back.
"Yeah, well if that were the case, I wouldn't need anything extra." Ricochette's grin was replaced by shock when she felt something cold and sharp against her head. She looked left and saw Shadowbolt, out of her seat, holding a knife to her neck. "How did you-"
"Shut up, convict," she said. "I don't like you. Or trust you. Any of you. Your too indisciplined. Too wild. And you, especially, are too reckless. Slip up, even once, and I will make sure they never find your body." Without her mask, the dark scowl she wore made her twice as terrifying, not that Ricochette felt the same way. Ricochette groaned as she pulled the knife away and sat back down. The shackles came down and locked her arms and legs back in. Soon the whole room began to move.
"Think we're there yet?" Pinkie asked. As she spoke, they were all encased in metal boxes. "Never mind." After a few seconds, the floor opened up. The boxes separated and plummeted out of the plane they were in. They all screamed at the sudden realization that they were falling several thousand feet in steel traps.
"HOLY SHIT!!!" Ricochette had fallen further than this before, but she wasn't strapped to a chair in a steel box without a means of escape. "What the hell?!"
Pinkie seem to be the only one enjoying this as she cried, "WHEEEEEE!" all the way down.
Buckshot looked out the glass visor and saw the ground echoing towards them. "Damnit, Luna! That grounds coming in fast! Open the damn chutes!"
"I will. I just want you to remember this feeling; the fear, the helplessness. I hold your lives in my hands. Screw with me, and we'll see who shits on the sidewalk... or in this case, who has to be scrapped off it."
"For heavens sake, Luna!" As she spoke, the green lights in their boxes lit up and the whole thing fell apart. The six convicts were now plummeting at high speed towards the ground. He bags attached to their back popped open and released a parachute. Buckshot grabbed the straps of the bag. He looked around and saw Ricochette and Shadowbolt do the same. But there was a problem. Crystal's chute deployed, but then there was a rip.
"Oh, you've got to be joking." She screamed as the lines snapped and she began plummeting again, picking up speed as she dropped. Dragon looked up when he heard the scream. He shifted his weight and moved in front of her. Crystal slammed into him and they both fell at tremendous speed and crashed into a car in a back alley, the parachute covering them as it came down. As soon as Buckshot landed, she ran over to the bashed car and pulled off the parachute. Underneath, was a curled up Dragon, who uncurled to revealed a still alive and in one piece Crystal. She looked up at her purple hero and stroked his hair. "Good Dragon. Good boy." Dragon reveled in the attention like a little puppy.
Buckshot breathed a sigh of relief. If they lost anyone else, this mission would be even more suicidal. "Is everyone alright? Sound off."
"I'm good," said Ricochette.
"Still here," said Shadowbolt.
Buckshot looked around for the missing member. "Wait, where's Pinkie?"
"Over here." They all turned and saw her upside down on top of an overturned trash can. "Don't worry. I landed on my head," she said as the can rolled away and she hit the ground. Looks like the cotton candy hair was more than just a fashion statement.
"Okay. So we're in Canterlot," said Ricochette. "How do we get to our informant without the Mare seeing us?" She was answered by Shadowbolt taking off a manhole cover leading to the sewers. "Oh... Fan-flipping-tanstic."
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They had walked for almost half an hour... well, most of them anyway. Dragon had offered to carry Crystal through the the sewer. Of course she gratefully accepted, especially since the boots were brand new. As they approached a turn, Shadowbolt announced, "We're almost there. Another ten minutes, tops."
"Good. Keep moving," said Buckshot.
As they walked though, Ricochette stepped in something unpleasant: a large dead rat the size of her foot. She looked down to see what the odd bump was and saw a mixture of red and black and globs of grey fur rise to the surface. She jumped in disgust. "Gah! That's it. This is flipping nuts! Wading through crap so some bitch in a fedora doesn't see us? Are you kidding me?"
"Can it, Rainbow," said Buckshot. "We're trying to get there without drawing attention from the one "bitch" that'll throw a monkey wrench into this whole operation. But if ya got a death wish or some reason to go back to jail, bah all means, the next ladder up is a few feet from here."
Ricochette thought about it for a moment. She hated this, but she wasn't looking forward to dancing with Mare Do Well either. She calmed down and said, "Whatever. We're practically there."
Buckshot grinned. "Good call."
Soon enough, they reached the end of the pipe and climbed out. Right in front of the, was a tall building with neon lights that lit up the sign. "The Ocean Lounge," Crystal read. "Allow me." They walked over to the door and Crystal knocked. A slot slid open and a pair of eyes stared out.
"We're closed. Private party."
"Darling, were the guests of honor," she said.
She stared at the eyes for a while before the slot shut, locks clicked, and the door opened. They made their way up the stairs and down the bridge that stood over the lounge. The entire room was decorated with an ocean theme and had stylized dolphin decor at almost every turn. At the end of the hall sat a woman, fit as a model, wearing a white button-up shirt, purple pantsuit with gold accents, and a white feathered hat with a dolphin stitched into the front. In front of her was a ten course meal, five of which had been finished, and she was now settling down to a prime cut smoked salmon with mashed potatoes and gravy.
"Come in, come in," she said. "I'm just finishing dinner." She picked up a chunk of salmon in her fork and took it all in one bite. The one question that went through the room but never left their mouths was, "How can she eat like this and had the body of a supermodel?" It was as odd a mystery as how Gutter Gator was the King of Aurora and not Titan.
"Good evening, Miss Shores," Crystal greeted.
Sapphire Shores, widely known as Dolphin, looked up from her meal and smiled at the sight of Crystal. "Oh my stars, Rarity Belle? Or, I believe it's Crystal Cold, now? How have you been? Wait, scratch that. Rhetorical question." She looked between the six individuals. "Well, you've always been generous enough to offer your help to others."
"Things are tough all over, Miss Shores. How's that fur coat I made you last month?"
"Absolutely brilliant! Never been so comfortable in something so warm in years! Honestly, when this is done, I'll personally bail you out and buy out every boutique in the city for you."
"That would be nice."
"Good to see you two," Buckshot cut in.
"My, my. Buckshot? My favorite killer seamstress and my best assassin? Best day ever!" She looked back at the guards behind her. "This girl is the best assassin I've ever hired. And I only hire the best. And Crystal? Best heist planner ever!" There was a grunt and Dolphin turned to see a purple crystal sticking out of one of the guards chests as he slump down, blood pooling around him. "Uh, Crystal?"
"My apologies," she said. "He's one of the idiots that was supposed to help me get away on my last heist."
"Ah. So that's where he was three weeks ago." Dolphin looked down at the body. "You're fired." She looked up and all form of kindness left her. "What the hell?" She had caught sight of Pinkie, who was cowering behind Buckshot. "What is she doing here?!" Dolphin picked up her blue cane and pointed it at Pinkie, the front opening to reveal a gun barrel. The guards behind her aimed their weapons as well.
"Hiya, Dolphin," Pinkie said, smiling sheepishly. "You're not still mad at me, are ya?"
"Wait, did she do?" asked Buckshot.
"This crazy brat and her loony boyfriend drove a truck with over five hundred million Bits worth of pipes and illegally produced gems into the river. MY TRUCK! Precious income I'll never get back! And I'm not selling my A-grade material. Do you know how expensive it is to get the materials and equipment? Not to mention the cost of labour! WHY IS SHE IN MY BUILDING?!"
"If it's any consolation, we broke up months ago. And I'd gladly help you-"
"Can it!" Pinkie squeaked at Dolphin's command.
"Miss Shores, if I may," Crystal said, stepping forward. "She ruined your transaction. Money and effort thrown out the window. It's bad for business."
"You're damn right," said Dolphin, not lowering her cane-gun.
"In fact, you should kill her." Everyone looked at Crystal. "Hell, I'll kill her for you."
"Hey! I'm right here!"
"But you know what else is bad for business? Taking your clients money, then killing their operatives. Trust me, I know. And I also know that Miss Sapphire Shores is not the kind of employer that takes your money and kills your workers. And I'd hate for such a rumor to spread about the city's top smuggler and Princess of Pop."
Dolphin stared for a while, killing intent still burning in her eyes. But after a second thought, she lowered her cane and signaled to her guards to do the same. She reached under her chair and pulled out a file. "This is everything you need to know. Memorize the contents, get your gear, and get some rest. You leave at 0200 hours, sharp. And when you go, I don't ever want to see ah of you here again! Crystal, I'll call you."
Buckshot took the folder and as they walked, Ricochette walked up to Pinkie. "You're all kinds of popular, huh?"
"Bite me, Ricky."
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Soon, they were in the weapons room. They split up and looked through the room for their equipment. Ricochette picked up a pair of gloves, put them on, and flicked her wrists, activating it an bringing up a pair of energy knives. Crystal retrieved her long gloves as Dragon King picked up a fairly large heart-shaped Ruby and ate it, causing green spikes to grow out of his back and down his tail, sharpen his teeth and claws, and added a sort of sheen to his skin. Shadowbolt grabbed a utility belt, a mask, and and a pair of combat knives. Pinkie found a pair of metal juggling pins. Finally, Buckshot found her gauntlet guns and a pack of rubber bullets. However, her eyes drifted to a pack of high-velocity shells. She grinned as she loaded her gauntlets and took some extra cartridges.
Once stocked up, Ricochette decided to have a drink before work that night. As she and the other bar staff drank, she noticed Buckshot passing through the bar. "Hey, AJ," she called out. "Come join us."
"Can't," she replied. "It's a school night."
"Oh, come on, AJ. Just one?"
"No, Dash."
Ricochette sighed and stepped forward to block her path. "Okay, fine. How about a game of darts?"
Buckshot thought for a while. "One game." As she spoke, a dagger of light flew passed her head, bounced off a bottle of beer in the bar, off the chandelier, and hit the bullseye.
As the thugs in the room cheered, Ricochette shrugged. "Sorry it came close. But try to top that!"
Buckshot picked up a dagger from the table and threw it to ther right. It bounced off a table, the cieling, a thug's mug, and scratched Ricochette's butt before hitting the bullseye and breaking her dagger. As she walked away, Buckshot punched Ricochette in the face. "Good game," said Buckshot, walking away. Ricochette smiled.
In her room, Applejack had stripped to nothing but her underwear and lay down to sleep. But something wasn't right. "I caught your hint." She turn in her bed and saw a naked Rainbow Dash laying next to her. "Didn't think I wouldn't?" she added with a smirk.
"Not now, Dash," Applejack said. But Rainbow wasn't paying attention. She shifted and lay on top of Applejack, who, out of annoyance, flipped over so she was now on top of Rainbow and pinned her arms to the bed.
"Oh? Not your first rodeo, huh?" Rainbow said, grinning madly.
Applejack sighed and said, "Meh. What the hell?" She dove in for a passionate kiss.
"Mind if I get in on this?" They both looked shocked to see Pinkie Pie, standing at the door, stark naked.
"No," said Applejack.
"Yes," said Rainbow, motioning to her with her head.
"I like Ricky's reply better," said Pinkie.
Applejack sighed. "Screw it. Get in here."
Everyone else was both disturbed by the noise coming from the room next to and opposite them. Either they didn't want to know, or, if they did, they didn't want to think about it.