The train stopped over at the city of Fillydelphia, releasing its passengers. Among them, Sunset, and Cosgrove walked out, strolling about the more urbanized streets. They do stop a few times, taking notice of a few family stores broken into and robbed. Community members from their respective districts looked on with sadness as police officers kept them at bay. Eventually, they reached the hotel, checking in and settling into their room. Cosgrove looked at a computer, opening up a Skype-style application and dialing up a frequency.
“Thanks for watching Dapplewood while I’m away.”
Much further away at Ponyville, recent renovations has restored the underground laboratory under the first library connecting to the Castle. It’s purpose became clear as Cogsworth tapped his hooves on several keyboards attached to a few computer monitors spanning a meter wide each. One such screen display Cosgrove’s yellow muzzle.
“Sure thing, bud. He seems to be warming up to me.” - the dinosaur came into view, took a sniffle at the computer screen before leaving - “So, what friendship problem have you two encountered so far?”
“Somewhat.” - Sunset came into view - “Several grocery stores have been robbed. So far the police are on the case.”
The mechanic placed a hoof on his muzzle, giving it a few taps. “Doesn’t seem to be much of a friendship problem then, is it?”
“Not if it discourages the local communities.” Cosgrove rebuttled “We’re about to talk it over with the owners.”
Indeed, the two sat down at a diners table with one such owner, wearing a bandage over his head.
“And we didn’t pay up, and then he attacked, robbed our store and ran off…” - the owner shakily took a sip of warm coffee.
“Can you recall what the robber looked like?” Sunset asked as she took a sip of tea.
The owner rubbed his chin, “No, he just wore a black mask. That’s all I know.”
Cosgrove placed his hoof on the owner’s, rubbing it tenderly. “We will handle this. Stay where it is safe.”
Sunset and Cosgrove walked along the sidewalk, planning their next move. “No doubt the pony responsible will take out the next store that hasn’t been robbed.” Said the former.
“And there are quite a few, if we choose one, the robber will choose another instead.” Cosgrove added.
“Trixie can help you with that.” The two visitors turned to find the Magician sitting at another dining chair, tilting her sunglasses to expose her violet eyes “Long time, no see.”
Though they just ate, reacquaintance with old friends does seem nice today. Not mentioning Trixie’s secret in public, the Unicorn and the Hipparion sat across from her.
“So, this Tirek destroyed the library” - the magician turned over to Cosgrove - “and you and Cogsworth fought in the lost city of Tambelon? Bridgette could have swore that there was a surge of magic in the mountains.”
“Yeah...” - Cosgrove turned his wrist, showing the partially healed alchemy symbol he used on Screwball at the near cost of his own life.
“I guess you travel a lot as well,” - Sunset waved a hoof - “being employed by a very wealthy business mare and all.”
“Indeed, Trixie has travelled from Blood Hayven to Manehattan,” - Trixie took a sip from her teacup - “Quite lovely sights, sans ennemis.”
Cosgrove and Sunset looked at each other. A lot of things have happened to Trixie, keeping her promise of being “Great and Apologetic.” In no way she is going back to being foolish. “When would you like us to meet?” Asked the former.
Trixie looked around before pointing to a spotlight on one of the buildings. “That building, eight o’clock tonight.” As soon as the two ponies turned around, Trixie was already gone without a trace, not even any smoke trail she used to do.
They returned to their hotel room again. As this will be a long night, Sunset and Cosgrove slept in their comfy beds throughout the rest of the day. It was around seven o’clock of a very warm evening when the Unicorn got up and went to the restroom, washing her muzzle with cold water. As she moved the towel away from her face, the reflection had one key difference that made her jump: purple swirls for eyes instead of the natural arrangement. The reflection “pulled” itself out of the the mirror, floating around the real Sunset like a balloon.
“Hello, Sunny!” - Screwball twisted herself, distorting the orange body into her “natural” light violet, though she did retain Sunset’s hair style - “It’s been a while too.”
“Well you’ll have to wait a little longer, we have a long night ahead of us.” - Sunset exited the restroom, turning her head to find Cosgrove still in a deep sleep, whispering - “How has Cosgrove not awake after all that?”
Screwball walked out of Sunset’s mane, lowering her head to her vision. “Before you yelped I placed a little time displacement spell.” - Sunset placed her hoof on the Hipparion’s head, the limb phasing right through him - “By about a fourth of a second faster.”
“What do you want?” - Sunset furrowed her brows - “Because what happened at Tambelon doesn’t give you much leeway for a favor?”
“Oh no favor.” - Screwball wiggled her hoof - “I am just here to say that tonight's the night.”
“What is?”
“The sole remaining mystery that has been going on four years now.” - Screwball pointed over to the sleeping Cosgrove - “And like before, you can’t help him, should he accept the challenge.”
“What challenge?” - Before Sunset could get an answer, Screwball clopped her hooves, drifting away with the wind - “Hey!”
All that the Unicorn’s ears could pick up is the echo of her yell, the wind, and a nearby groan.
“What is all the yelling about?” Cosgrove sat up, rubbing his eyes before looking at the clock, Seven Thirty now.
Sunset, looking at the clock as well, began walking towards the door. “It’s time.”
True to Trixie’s word, they awaited the spotlight adorned tower. The cold wind blowing against their fur had them shake the discomfort off their bodies. The hour arrived, clock tower rung eight times, echoing the sleeping town with each chime. Sunset turned around, meeting face to face with Trixie, now adorned in a more high tech version of the Mare Do Well suit. The hat and cape still remain, though the former asset had a similar shape to that of her original hat.
“Just on time.” - Sunset watched as the silent avenger walked towards the edge of the building, looking down at an unrobbed dollar store - “So, what makes you think the next robbery is here?”
Trixie hopped on the rampart, kneeling as she stretched her neck down like a vulture. The masked thief looked at his surroundings before entering the store. Screams followed thereafter, prompting them to take action. Sunset teleported herself and Cosgrove into the store.
“Stop right there!” Cosgrove shouted, drawing out a tarot card.
The robber turned around, grabbing the store owner in a headlock. “Don’t move, or the pony gets it!”
It was a little stand off, one wrong move and the store owner would be severely injured, if not killed. No magic to be drawn forth. But fortunately, their third ally doesn’t need magic. From afar, Trixie leaped off the building, spreading her cape, swooping into the window to topple the burglar across the room.
“Oh, thank Celestia.” - The store owner sighed with relief - “I’ve heard about the other stores getting robbed. And when I didn’t pay up well…”
Cosgrove placed a hoof on the store owner’s chest, “Go home, the police will arrive soon.”
The owner left the store without a second question. Cosgrove turned around, joining with his older friend as she walked towards the bounded burglar.
“Now, let’s see who is underneath that mask.” - Sunset gripped the mask with her teeth, pulling it off before looking down at him. The burglar’s face was just like any other, with a few bruises on the cheeks. But the individual was hauntingly familiar, the same pony that she bumped into four years ago - “It can’t be…”
“Sunset, what is it?” Cosgrove looked up.
“This… Is the one… The one who… sabotaged...”
Cosgrove started to realize what she is saying. They have found the pony responsible for the sabotage that ended Night Dancer. He looked down at him with an increasing fury as his hoof reached his saddlebag. As quick as the Hipparion drew out a tarot card containing an electric spell, a small projectile batted the multi-fingered limb. Trixie still had a few questions to answer.
“I’m telling you! I don’t know what you are talking about!” - Blue Nickel, as his name was wrestled out, hung over from a large suspension wire several feet above ground.
“Four years ago, I bumped into you the evening Night Dancer was killed.” - Sunset looked up at the stallion - “And now it has come back to bite you.”
Trixie turned off her magic, sending Nickel a few feet down before grabbing the wire again. Nickel opened his eyes, meeting face to face with the victim’s son.
“Why did you do it?”
Fearing another drop, Nickel sputtered a few words before answering. “Gold Nugget wouldn’t pay, and when he does, it was only a quarter of what he owned. The boss didn’t like that-”
“Who are you working for?” Cosgrove inched his snout towards Nickel’s
“I-I don’t know!” - Not the right answer to make. Cosgrove grabbed a tarot card with a flame drawn on it, flinging it at the cable and softening the metal - “Stucco! Tangy Stucco! She’s the one you want!”
Cosgrove bared his teeth before turning around. Blue sighed with relief before Trixie let go of the rope. The stallion screamed as the floor fast approached him. At the last minute, a knot at the other end stuck to a fence post, sparing him from most certain death.
As they walked down the stairs, Sunset couldn’t help to notice Cosgrove’s bitter look on his face. Perhaps this was the challenge? Had he passed it? Either account was met with the Hipparion stopping to punch the wall. When they got back on the road, Trixie tapped a few buttons on her gauntlet. A few seconds after, the streets echoed with screeching tires as a newly made Mare Mobile zoomed toward them, spinning to the side to parallel park with the sidewalk. As she hopped in, Trixie pointed to their cutie marks, drawing their attention.
“They’re not glowing.” Sunset pondered on what could be more to do.
“Because the mission, isn’t over.” - Cosgrove hopped into the car, ready for the next fight. This was the big test Screwball had talked about. Before Sunset could get a chance to stop him, a pair of swirls appeared to the left of the car, closing down and shaking them - “You coming?”
Sunset drew her ears back, there won’t be going back from here, defeatedly saying, “I… have business elsewhere. Be careful.”
Beneath that angered look, the Hipparion curled a smile as the car door slid over them. The car screeched forward, speeding down the road to the destination of the challenge. Back at the hotel, this was met with a bitter response.
“So you just let him go?” - Cogsworth flailed his left hoof - “He’ll just get himself killed!”
“He won’t go alone.” - Sunset looked out of the window - “Trixie will make sure of that.”
“You’re not bothering to help him like you always have? Sunset, you’re like a sister to him.”
“I know… But this is his fight.”
“As well as yours!” He lashed out.
“Not anymore!” - Typical of her power, the computer screens next to the skype chat screen displayed Screwball’s crazed face - “As part of the bet, Sunny cannot help him this time.” - She watched Cogsworth lift himself with his upper body, looking furious - “You see, if Cosgrove doesn’t make the move, I let him go and things go like boring old normal. But if he does… well, let’s just say he isn’t the goody two shoes colt anymore.”
Cogsworth placed a hoof on his head as the laboratory echoed with Screwball’s laughter.
Standing on a cliffside outside Fillydelphia was an elaborate mansion. Made with the extorted money of several civilians, and a financial portfolio to match, the mistress looked out. This was her town, no officer would dare harm her. From behind a butler walked up to her. “Phone call for you, m’am.”
Stucco grabbed the phone. “Have you gotten the job done?”
“Boss! We have a problem!” - from the other side of the line, Nickel talked from a prison payphone - “Mare Do Well is coming over, and remember that botch up we did at the circus four years ago? The mare that got bagged in that, her son is coming for revenge!”
“A colt?” - Stucco raised an eyebrow as she looked outside, where some of the most trained guards a private citizen could afford watched - “What could a masked vigilante and a kid do with me?”
The “masked vigilante” had that covered when the Mare Mobile crashed through the gates, launched her into the air and colliding with the crime boss. Being knocked out, all Stucco could hear was the rapid fire that gradually died down. When she awoke, she only saw darkness aside from the light of outside world.
“Tangy Stucco.”
Stucco looked around, lighting up her horn to illuminate the dark room. Up above her dangled the unconscious, but still breathing, bodies of her soldiers. When her ear turned to a crashing noise, she drew her attention away from the window, firing a blast at nothing.
“Four years ago, you ordered a sabotage on a circus performance.”
Stucco raised a brow, her memory beginning to jog from the unusual young voice. “That was a lifetime ago. You got the wrong-” A tarot card flew out of the shadows fast, lodging into the enamel of her horn.
“Yes, my lifetime.” - In a quick motion, Stucco was punched to the for - “You took her from me and in cold blood, Stucco.”
The Unicorn tried to light up her horn, but the card was dug so deep into it that it cut out all changes of magic. “Kid, how do you know all this?”
“I know because I watched it happen.” - A quick blur knocked her onto her office desk, feeling four additional hooves on her body - “I know because I am the son of the mare you murdered!” - The figure drew his neck forward, revealing the stripey face of Cosgrove, looking down with a venomous glare - “I am Cosgrove!”
Rather than be afraid of this child she knew very little about, the crime boss was still indifferent. “Pony, you come a bit of a stretch just for a little payback.” - Stucco grabbed a small crowbar, thwacking him off of her - “I like that in a grunt. Sadly,” - She flipped the crowbar to the hooked end - “the only position I have available for you is whipping boy.”
Cosgrove dodged the strike, lodging the crowbar onto the boards. The Hipparion took out a tarot card with a bomb drawn on it and slammed it on the floor. With a large ring of fire, a hole was burned, sending both the Hipparion and the crime boss falling over to the next floor. Cosgrove slowly awoke, finding Stucco groaning in pain. Her back broken and limbs immobile, this was the opportunity of a lifetime. Cosgrove looked down at the immobile crime boss, ready to decide his action. In his psyche, two apparitions appeared from his left and right.
“She is beaten.” - Sunset laid a hoof on him - “Let your devotion to friendship heel your rage.”
“She took your mother, ruined everything,” - Screwball drew her snout up to his ear - “fulfill your destiny, become what I have planned you to be: an agent of vengeance. She knows who you are, if you let this mare live, more will die.”
“Well, kid?” - Stucco scowled at him, gritting her bloodied teeth - “Are you going to do it or leave me here in a body cast for six months?”
Cosgrove narrowed his eyes, raising a hoof right at her face, curling it back for a punch.
“C’mon, be a stallion!” Stucco’s jeering made him readied the punch even further. He prepared for the final blow, but was it really worth it?
Cosgrove lowered his hoof, “That would be the easy way out, you don’t deserve it…”
Stucco heard a click as Trixie cuffed her. The blair of the police cars had them make a hasty leave, escaping out the backdoor. The Mare Mobile arrived on cue, opened the doors, allowed the Unicorn and Hipparion in and drive off. Screwball watched the Hipparion up above, curling a demented smile. “Such a strong willed pony.”
Back at the dark hotel, Sunset noticed her cutie mark glowing. “Thank… Celestia…” She said, closing her eyes as a small tear dripped from her eye.
A few days after, Cosgrove sat on a chair in the library of the Castle of Friendship, reading the newspaper regarding the aftermath of the visit, including new light on the murder of Night Dancer. The silence of the room became broken by a series of hoofsteps, becoming louder and louder as Sunset Shimmer approached the chair, holding a photograph in an aura. The Hipparion held the photo between his fingers, looking at the family photo of Twilight, Shining Armor, Cadance, and the new arrival who strangely enough is another Alicorn.
“They named her Flurry Heart.” - Sunset turned her head over to him, giving him a hug - “You did the right thing.”
Cosgrove looked at the photo again, his eyes focused on the baby. “Whatever life the new princess has… I pray she will be much happier than I am.”
The moment was ruined again when the portal to the human world glowed, “upchucking” out two bound up Changelings. The two occupants walked over to the beasts, not so close as to be bitten by their gnashing teeth.
Cosgrove waved a hoof at them, “What would Changelings be doing in the human world?”
Sunset looked at the portal. Having visited there once already gave her a very good hint of what’s going on. “If your counterpart and his friends are any indication, evolution is becoming revolution.”
Cosgrove began walking towards the door, “I’ll get Hooflock to help out with the trash.”
Sunset watched him open and close the door before looking at the portal again. “Where did Twilight place the journal?”