Somewhere...
In a low-lying prefecture bordering mountains and bubbling springs...
An angry mare fought against a line of uniformed stallions who stood guard beside a set of warehouses.
“Dammit! I wanna speak to somepony in charge!” She bit and bucked at the stallions pushing her back. “Your boss owes me! He owes me big time!”
“Lady, I've no friggin' clue what you're talking about,” a stallion stood with two clerks beside a stack of wooden delivery crates. “You came here claiming to know whereabouts of the Rainbow Rogue, but now you're nothing more than a raving lunatic.”
“And you're just an ignorant motherbucker!” She spat. “Just how much do your higher-ups tell you, huh?!”
The stallion glared at her. “The Shoreline Trade Consortium does not associate with riff-raff. We are a legitimate distributor of dredge coal.”
“Ohhhhhhh ho ho ho how little that you know, buddy boy!” She gnashed her teeth. “I'd watch myself tonight while sleeping, if I were you!”
“Ma'am, is that a threat?!”
“Sir, is that a brain?!”
“That's it.” The stallion pointed at several of his uniformed associates. “Toss her outside the compound! She can scream and holler at the rice fields, for all I care.”
“Verlaxion dammit!” The mare kicked and fought as the ponies attempted to drag her away. “I did not hoof it all the way from Stone Prefecture to be treated like garbage!”
“Madame, garbage is as garbage does. Now, for the last time—” His words were interrupted by a shrill whistling sound, followed by three more in swift order. He froze in place upon hearing the signal. “... … ...an arriving executive?”
“Huh?!” The mare suddenly gasped, eyes flicking to the sky. “Is... is that him?” She gulped. “Is that your big cheese Chandler?”
“Shut it!” The stallion spun and barked at his clerks. “Places! Prepare for an impromptu inspection!”
A column of steam rose from the south. Chugging along a set of iron rails was an onyx black, streamlined locomotive, dragging three thick metal supply cars. Workers of the Consortium galloped up and stood at the ready, looking prim and proper. Within minutes, the locomotive came to an icy stop alongside the loading docks. Steam vented as a pair of doors behind the engine slid open. A blonde unicorn hopped out, flanked by security guards.
The lead stallion at the platform blinked in surprise. “Miss... Miss Longaze?”
“She's out of dredge coal,” Longaze droned, marching up to the pony. “I need a refill, pronto. Chandler's orders.”
“But... b-but...” The stallion fidgeted in place. “All of our dredge coal here is bound for Frostknife and parts b-beyond.” He gulped. “They've already been signed for and... and...” He squinted at the cars trailing behind the locomotive. “Did you actually use up two cars worth of fuel to get here? Verlaxion's sleet, ma'am, you must be in a hurry!”
“I am.” Longaze tugged a specially-sealed scroll out of her suit's vest. “Chandler's orders. I must head north as soon as possible—to cut off the Rainbow Rogue.”
“Rainbow Rogue?!” Sputtered the mad mare from beneath the platforms. “You wanna find her?! I've got the guts to spill for ya, lady!”
Longaze squinted down at the frazzled equine. “Who is this... creature?”
The stallion before her sighed. “One of the local waifs, Miss Longaze.” He gulped. “She claims to be from Stone Prefecture, having seen the Rainbow Rogue—”
“Blue coated mare?! Scar on her brow?!” The mare rambled. “Rainbow stubble?!”
Longaze raised an eyebrow. “Stubble?”
“Well, is that her or isn't it?!” The mare smirked. “It didn't occur to me until hours after she ran me and all of my buddies out of the Petrispines. She found us out, blew up our hideout, and made off with a bunch of punk ponies to Kunmane!”
The stallion grumbled. “She's an absolute mad mare. I was just about to expel her from the compound, ma'am—”
Longaze silenced him with a raised hoof. She descended the platform until she stood before the once-thug. “Did you say the Petrispines?”
“Hah!” The mare's dirty teeth showed beneath her smile. “I figured one of the higher brass would know a thing or two about that shiny nugget.” She then frowned. “Why's Chandler been holding back, huh?! Something in the seven seas must be really distracting him if he's cut off all our explosives!”
“Explosives?!” the stallion stammered.
“Shhhh...” Longaze stared at the mare. “Chandler has been... very preoccupied as of late.”
“Like Hell he's been!” the mare spat. “You see the bastard a lot, don't ya?! Well, you tell him that if he wants to keep the Talon busy in the granite mountains, he's gonna have to step up his game and stop chasing rainbow phantoms!” She leaned back. “And, confidentially, if he really needs to get that blue fuzzy bitch, then I'm the mare who can help you do it!” Her nostrils flared. “But I want my pay in advance!”
“Your pay...”
“Seven hundred thousand bits ain't nothin' to sneeze at, sister! A girl can retire early on that shit! And once I've got the mare Chandler wants in your hooves, I expect nothing less!”
“Indeed.” Longaze trotted close to her, leaning an ear in. “You say that the Rainbow Rogue headed to Kunmane?”
“That's right. Rumor is, the Talon's hot on her tail, too!”
“How long ago was this?”
“Pfft! I tangled with her in the Petrispines yesterday! What's it to you?”
“Thank you for the information, my little pony,” Longaze droned, her horn glowing. “You've been most helpful.”
The bandit leader blinked, her body twinkling all over with magic. “Eh?” WHOOOOOSH! “Aaaaaaaa—” She shrieked as she was flung back into a series of wooden crates. WHAM! WHUD! TH-THWACK! Her bloody, battered body rattled with each impact. At last, Longaze tossed her into the cold dirty with a THWUMP! “Unnnnnghhh...” She twitched, spasmed, and fell unconscious.
The workers of the Consortium stood at a distance, muzzles dropped in shock.
Adjusting her mane and the collar of her suit, Longaze calmly turned towards the lead stallion. “If you and your subordinates wish to keep your jobs and feed your families through the Month of Thawing, you will swiftly forget everything you've seen and heard just now.”
“Uhhhhhh...” The stallion jolted in place. “Huh?”
Longaze's brown eyes narrowed as her horn glowed even brighter. “Is that clear...?”
“Ahem.” The stallion stood straight and tall. “Ma'am! Yes, m-ma'am!”
“Good pony. Now, do refill this train's supply of dredge coal as requested. Do not worry about our shipment to Frostknife. Chandler shall reimburse the central prefectures in due time. If not...” She glanced down at the beaten body of the bandit. “...there are plenty of parties to blame the shortage on.” She waved a hoof.
Nodding, a pair of stallions swiftly dragged the mare's body away, leaving a trail of blood.
“Erm... where are you headed, Ma'am?” The stallion asked, still jittery. “To pursue the Rainbow Rogue?”
“If she's truly headed to Kunmane, then she's out of my grasp... for now.” Longaze took a deep breath. “I'll be heading to Steamfall.”
“Steamfall?”
“From there, I'll be able to pursue her to all corners of Rohbredden, wherever she chooses to go.” Longaze made to trot away, but paused. “By the way...” She turned towards the workers. “The bounty for her has increased. The southern Consortium stations know, but now I'm telling you.” Her brow furrowed. “The reward for catching her is now one million four hundred thousand bits.”
“What... what...?”
“You heard me. Adjust the posters accordingly.” Longaze marched back to the locomotive. “And tell the artist to make an adjustment. Apparently the mare has shaved her mane now. Cute... but futile.”