//------------------------------// // Chapter Three: The Crime of the Century // Story: Piraka Don't Play Fair // by The Warmaster //------------------------------// Thok's  POV      "Of all the Piraka to get stuck with in the middle of nowhere, why did it have to be Reidak?" I asked myself for the twentieth time.    "Because the universe hates you. Shut up and let me concentrate." The black armored Piraka replied, before continuing to dig the earth with his drill.  After a few minutes, I had to ask.    "Why are we underground again?" I asked. Reidak  glared at me, before sighing.     "Apparently,  there's a large amount of super rare  crystals hidden under some city.  This guy we met a bit ago, a 'diamond  dog' said he would give us a reward for bringing him some of it." He explained. I scratched my head.    "And you trust him?" I asked.    "Not in the slightest. He's  the greedy type, probably won't  give us a reward. So that's  why the rare crystal will be our reward." Reidak grinned. I stared at him.     "That's... actually pretty decent of an idea. Especially since it's  Reidak   who thought of it." I muttered.     "Oh shut up." Reidak snarled, before his drill bit into crystal. He stared at it, before continuing to dig, eventually carving out a hole big enough for a Piraka to fit in. We clambered inside of the Crystal room, and stared.    "Halt! You are trespassing in a restricted area! Leave at once!" A pony, whose fur shined like a crystal, declared, pointing his spear at us. I stared at him, and used my  Spellbinder Vision, leaving him dazed and confused. Reidak simply broke his spear in half.     "Let's  go find these crystals and get out of here before he snaps out of it and sounds the alarm." I told Reidak , and we both ran towards the end of the hall.    "Say, Reidak?" I asked.  "Did this 'diamond  dog' tell you what crystal we are looking for? Reidak stopped in his tracks, before smashing his hand into the wall.    "SON OF A MAUKA!" He yelled, and we were immediately  swarmed by guards. I glared at him.    "Great job, Einstein." I snarled, before using my Ice Gun to freeze the whole lot of them in front of us. We charged forward, most of the guards staying behind to unfreeze their comrades.    "They probably want us as a distraction until they can steal the real crystal. Which means we have to go back and confront them." I told Reidak, and he nodded. We simultaneously  stopped, and turned around, before charging the remaining guards. I let Reidak go first, and he barreled right through them. We went back to the hole we entered in, and sure enough, a bunch of dog looking Creeps with spears were standing around, looking at the place in awe.    "Hey, Diamond Mutt!" Reidak roared, snapping them out of their stupor.    "You? You is supposed to be leading guards away!" The lead one hollered.    "Yeah, and it was so fun, I decided to let you join in on it! Now, you better tell us where the Crystal is, or Mata Nui himself won't  be able to stop me." Reidak growled, unslinging his  buzzsaw. I stood next to him, my  Ice Pick   at the ready.    "Bah! Take care of black and white spikeys! I find crystal!" The leader barked, and the other dogs charged forward. Needless to say we tore them apart. Then, with Reidak's  hunting skill, we managed to track down  the leader.    "Alright, Mutt. We can do this the easy way, or the hard way. You choice." Reidak snarled. The diamond dog looked at the Crystal in his paws,  which looked like a heart, then to Reidak's  Buzzsaw. He tossed us the crystal, before running through the  rooms. I laughed.    "Coward! Well, Reidak, mission success. Let's head back and see what this gem is." I hefted the slightly heavy crystal in one hand. Reidak snorted, before following me back to the tunnel.    Later     "Alright. Let's go see who's  willing to buy. I doubt anybody here will hesitate to call the officials on us once this gets out, so we should take our  business elsewhere. Agreed?" I asked Reidak. He nodded.    ÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷ Cadence's  POV    "WHAT?! WHAT DO YOU MEAN THE CRYSTAL HEART WAS STOLEN?!" I screeched, barely able to hold back my anger.    "I - I meant what I said, your highness. These two creatures that fit the description  of the creatures Celestia warned us to look out for, except with different colors, broke in, fought some Diamond Dogs following them, and stole the Crystal Heart. We are terribly sorry for this failure." The captain replied, head down.    "Cadence, it's  not his fault. The guard was clearly outmatched.  What we should be worried about is how to get it back. These 'Piraka' could be on the other side of Equestria by now!" Shining said, putting his hoof on my shoulder. Meanwhile..... ÷÷÷÷÷ Thok's POV    "Hello there, Griffon! Might I interest you in a sale?" I asked a random griffon. He looked up at me.    "What kind of sale?" He asked.    "Well, me and my friend here have recently 'acquired' a rare crystal,  and are willing to sell it." I told him. He stared at me.    "What kind of crystal?" He asked after a few minutes. I smiled.    "Follow me." I told him,  before turning and walking  towards where Reidak had hidden the crystal. When the Griffon saw the crystal, his eyes widened to the size of dinner plates.    "Holy bird feathers! That's  the Crystal Heart! How the buck did you manage to get that?" He yelped, staring at me.    "Well, we have some... influence in high places. So, let's start estimating. How much do you think this is worth?" I asked him. He looked at me.    "About 1000 bits. Lucky for you, I've got just that many." The griffon pulled out a large bag seemingly out of nowhere, before setting it down.  I looked inside, nodded, and gave him the Crystal. He dashed away,  out of sight.    "Hey, Reidak. I've got a proposal." I said. Reidak looked at me.   "What is it?" He asked.    "I bet you he is going to return that bad boy to the equines. But, I could see the greed in his eye. This thing is worth more than a thousand to the Equines.  I bet you he scammed us." I told Reidak.      "Get to the point." He growled.    "I suggest, that when the Crystal is returned, we steal it again, except this time  selling it to the Equines for a whole lotta gold coins. What do you think?" I finished.    "Sounds like a wonderful idea." Reidak replied, grinning savagely.    ÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷ Zaktan's  POV      I was just reading a newspaper I stole when I noticed a certain heading.    The Piraka strike!    A few days ago, the Crystal Kingdom was robbed  of its  most prized possession, the Crystal Heart. Witnesses  reports show that the culprits behind such an atrocious act were two never before seen  members of the species  named 'Piraka'.   They describe them as a white and black creature, with a weapon that can freeze ponies solid, as well as a strange spinning blade that can do serious damage. Authorities are on the lookout for any more of these 'Piraka', and ask for you to report any sightings of these monsters.     "Hey, Hakann!" I yelled over my shoulder.    "What?" Came the reply.    "I think I know where  Thok and Reidak are!" I shouted back.    "Really?" He came over. I showed him the newspaper. After glancing at it, he looked at me.    "That shows where they've been. Not where they are."  He grumbled.    "Ah, but think. This thing is priceless to the Equestrians. How much  do you think they would be willing to give in return for it?" I asked. He thought about it, then shrugged.    "Any price, really." He replied, and I sighed.    "Yes, and if we thought of it, how long do you think it will be until Thok realizes it?" I asked.    "He would've  already figured it out.... ah, now I get it." Hakann grinned.    "Pack your stuff. We are heading to the Crystal Kingdom." I  ordered, and he nodded, before rushing about the camp. ÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷ Avak's  POV     "Ah, Thok. I should've  guessed you would have shown up eventually. Welp, I guess it's  time to head to the Crystal Kingdom." I muttered, throwing away the paper.    "Hey, Avak! What's  up?" My boss,  Flying Feather, asked.    "I'm gonna take a small vacation. I'll be back soon enough to keep the prisoners in line, so don't  worry about it." I told him, before walking out the door.    ÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷ Vezok's  POV     I smiled.    "Well, then, I guess I should meet up with them as well. Changelings! Bring me my equipment!" I ordered. Two changelings stepped forward, presenting my Weapons. I picked them up, and double checked them.   "Okay. Silver Armor, you're in charge until I get back. That doesn't mean try to overthrow me either." I ordered, before walking out of the Changeling Hive and into the Desert.