//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: The Midnight Mares : Tall Tale Trouble! // by ThatOneVolcarona //------------------------------// As morning came and the sun rose above Tall Tale, showering the small beach town with Celestia’s embrace, a soft groan left the muzzle of a certain unicorn.   For once, Pockets had woken up early.   She rubbed her eyes to get rid of all the blurriness, extending her forelegs to get rid of all the sleepiness, she looked to her left to find the rather amusing sight of both Sphinx and Midnight on top of each other, snoring quietly in deep slumber. Carefully removing the thestral’s hooves from her chest, she got off the bed and stretched her back, a satisfying crack sound joining her joyful sigh. “That was one hell of a night.” She said to herself, before deciding it was a good time to check the kitchen. There was no sight of Quick Step on the bed so she was most likely getting their breakfast ready. “Good morning Quickie…” She yawned, giving her eyes one last rub before smiling at the two mares that were sitting on the dining table.   Wait what… two mares? Along with Quick Step, another mare sat at the table. A blue-coated unicorn with a silver mane and tail. She sat there eating breakfast like she owned the place and Quick Step didn’t seem to mind either. “Uhm… hello there?” Pockets quirked an eyebrow while slowly walking closer to the table, “Quick… is this your friend or?” “I am Starry Skies,” the mare responded without looking up before Quick could. “Hello Miss Pickett Midnight.” “Uh… hello.” This was really freaky, “How do you know my name again? And mind telling me what the heck you’re doing here?” “Ah, forgive me, I thought you knew.” She looked up and her eyes made Pocket’s heart skip a beat. They were the most beautiful teal eyes she had ever seen. “My name is Starry Skies, and I believe you are well acquainted with a friend of mine? A certain thestral?” “I- Ah… uhm…” Pockets couldn’t believe it. THIS was the nerdy astronomer? She was a freaking goddess when it came down to looks! Every single worry she had last night came back tenfolded, “You… you must be the astronomer. Yeah she did mention you.” Suddenly, a strange sensation began taking over her heart, something that seemed like a bad mixture of anger and worry. She narrowed her eyes and slowly walked towards the unicorn, “Well… good to meet you! To be honest, Midnight hasn’t really talked about you much. She didn’t really say your name last night, heck, she only referred to you as a ‘nerd’. So sorry if I don’t know much about you.” “A nerd?” Starry’s eye twitched for a moment before she regained her composure. “Well, perhaps a little. But yes, I am the Royal Astronomer, Starry Skies.” At the completion of her introduction, the unicorn found a bat wrapped around her, giggling happily. “Heyy, you made it,” she smiled and kissed her cheek. “Sup Starbutt?” Pockets felt her heart stop, a burning sensation climbing up to her cheeks while she tried her best to not roar and jump at the unicorn to fight for Midnight. She didn’t want to admit it, but she was jealous, oh boy she was so jealous. Grunting under her breath she angrily walked towards Quick Step, her eyes fixed on Starry Skies, “Freakin… royal astronomer my flank.” “Someone sounds jelly.” Quick giggled as she served Pockets some milk and cereal. “What!? Nah! Me, jealous? Pff…” She tried to play it cool, yet the anger that was building inside her made that an impossible task, “Why would I be jealous? We freaking shared the bed last night, I’m not the jealous kind of gal.” “That’s true,” Quick half-nodded with a small blush, “But you know this is different. Who knows how long they’ve known each other.” Pockets snorted, “Please. You’re just talking nonsense.” Yet those words began bouncing all over her head. She was right, Pockets had just met Midnight a few days ago. Who knew how long she and Starry Skies had known each other? “Just give me my cereal.” Quick quirked an eyebrow and pointed at the already served dish, “Get your head in the game, Miss Pickett, or else you will get an actual reason to get worried.” Pockets lowered her gaze with a quiet groan, her ears perked up to try and hear the conversation between the two mares. “You brought them!?’ Midnight exclaimed happily. “Oooh, I could just kiss you~” “Like that’s stopped you in the past,” Starry sighed. *CLASH* Both mares immediately turned to the origin of the sound to find a tomato-red Pockets with… was that smoke coming out of her ears? Below her, the remainings of a broken plate together with milk and cereal caused Quick Step to sigh, the mop already on her hooves. “S-sorry… still a bit sleepy. Silly me!” Pockets giggled, before cursing herself and Starry Skies under her breath. But mainly Starry Skies. “Uh… okay?” Midnight raised an eyebrow. “Well, we did have a lot of fun last night. Who knew Quickie looked so cute in that collar? Such an adorable little pet~” Quick Step fake-coughed loudly, a vibrant blush on her face, “I am afraid you must have been dreaming. Because that definitely did not happen.” She growled with a deathstare directed right at Midnight while she kept mopping the floor. “You haven’t changed a bit,” Starry sighed and put her hoof to her forehead. She looked up at Pockets and smiled. “Well, aside from a name, I don’t know much about you. What do you do for a living dear?” “I steal from snobby rich ponies who I hate with a burning passion so I can give that money to those who really need it.” She smiled innocently, “Oh, and as of late I’ve dedicated myself to repeatedly bucking a pretty thestral mare.” The sound of Quick’s facehoof was far too loud. Midnight’s followed suit as Starry stared at her, before turning to Midnight. “Moonlight, you make the strangest friends. Have I told you this?” “Moonlight!?” Pockets gasped inwardly. “Is that some sort of pet name or something? Oh buck me, and here I am calling her the most creative nickname ever, ‘batty’, geez good job with that creativity Pickett.” It then hit her. A faint memory came back to her. The locket… it had the picture of an unicorn that most definitely looked nerdy…  one would normally just try to think harder and realize that the two unicorns looked like completely different ponies. But Pockets wasn’t being the most rational of ponies at that moment. “Oh my freaking gosh! Of course they have something going on. I… I…” She couldn’t help it, the rage inside her mind was too much, she just had to do it, “GAH!” She stomped the ground. Looking at everyone’s faces, she realized she was probably looking like a complete idiot right now, not like she cared. “I… I need some air.” And with a flash of her horn, she was gone. Midnight blinked in confusion as Quick facehooved again. That mare was as transparent as the windows she cleaned. “GAH!” Pockets ran throughout the city as fast as she could, not caring for the ponies that greeted her, or the tourists she crashed into. She just wanted to run, she just wanted to hide from that mansion, from Midnight and Starry Skies, from herself and overall, from her own emotions. She even failed to notice the trail of tears coming from her eyes, she didn’t care, she just wanted to run away towards the only pony that would hopefully never leave her side. “Ayyy, Po- WOAH!” Pockets wanted to say sorry to the Chivarly member who she had just shoved away, yet the storm of emotions inside her didn’t allow it. She just wanted to get to Urban Spirit and fast. “Child?” The stallion narrowed his eyes as soon as he saw her coming closer and closer, “What’s goin’ o- WOAH!” Soon, he saw himself on the ground, hug-tackled by a sobbing unicorn. After realizing something was terribly wrong, he hugged her back and petted her mane, shushing her sobs lovingly and waiting for her to calm down, at least enough to have a talk. When she did, he lifted her head and gave her an extremely concerned look, a look Pockets understood all too well. She nodded, and he nodded back, before telling everyone to clear the area and go home for the meantime, they needed the park for themselves. Urban tried standing up, yet he was stopped by Pockets who would rather just lay on his torso. He sighed and lay down next to her, petting her head as she cuddled closer to him. “Papa Spirit… you were right.” Pockets sighed, closing her eyes as she tried her best to not break into tears again. “About what, ma child?” Pockets took a few minutes to answer, finally coming to terms with reality, “Remember the thestral I told you about? I… I think I’m actually in love with her.” Spirit remained silent. He knew this would happen sooner or later. “Listen, child… when I said that I didn’t want you hangin’ with that mare… I was just bustin’ random nonsense crap. I didn’t really mean it. I’m hella sure there are good ponies up dere in Canterlot.” “Well that’s just it, Papa Spirit… she may be too good for me.” She grumbled softly. “Oh hell naw!” Spirit grabbed her muzzle and locked eyes with her, “Now listen to me, child! You are on hell of a mare, y’hear? N’ any lady would be lucky to have you.” “Oh just stop, will you!?” She shook her head away, “I’m a street thief, she’s a royal guard. I have the looks of an angsty teen, she has the most amazing body ever… and then there’s her friend.” “Oh boy…” This was not looking good, and  Urban knew that. “That friend of hers looks refined, smart, and just stunning… and the two just looked so friendly, too friendly.” She said bitterly, looking away, “Meanwhile I’m just an emotional street thief who doesn’t know shit about the world, and thinks she‘s far more than what she really is.” As tears fell down from her cheek to the ground, the two noticed a soft glow coming from the ground watered by her tears, a white aura surrounding the damp spots,. Picket groaned and kicked the dirt, the glow disappearing in an instant, “And then there’s that. A freak with weird magic nobody understands.” “Hey now, calm down. There’s nothin wrong with yo magic, you are just different that’s all. And I dunno how many bucking times I gotta tell you this, but you’re more than what you give yourself credit fo’, you really need to start getin’ that through that damn thick as buck skull.” The stallion looked at her with sympathy, before chuckling, “Hey, did I ever tell ya the story of how I met Mama Spirit?” Pockets chuckled, something had told her he’d bring that up, “Yes Papa Spirit, you have told me like a bajillion times already.” “Thirty eight years ago,” Both he and Pockets said in unison, the unicorn doing so more to taunt him than anything. He looked at her with a quirked eyebrow, she looked back at him with her tongue out, causing him to chuckle, “Okay I get it, I get it, you know the story all too damn well. But you don’t know the prequel now do ya?” “The… prequel?” The unicorn quirked an eyebrow, “What are you talking about?” Urban Spirit chuckled, giving the unicorn a noogie, “I’ll tell ya in a motherbucking minute, just wait my little thief.” He hummed as he recalled the story, deciding on where to start, “Imma make it short for ya. Conquering Mama Spirit’s heart was not as easy as you may think y’see. I wasn’t da only fisherpony in the pond trying to catch that lady’s heart. There was this unicorn, Fine Perfume, one of the snobbiest most annoying motherbuckers in Manehattan. And as you know, Mamma Spirit, or Clean Jewel as she was known back then, she was also a fancy snobbie Pegasus just like him. Her motherbucking father loved that bastard, and hated me for being nothing but a street gangsta. I had everything against me, her family, her friends, her social status, everything my little thief, everything. But guess what I did and I didn’t do?” “What?” Pockets asked softly, actually interested in the story. “I kept trying, and never gave up.” He responded, raising her head so their eyes would be connected, “Ma child if you really like this mare then just keep tryi’, never give up. And if she’s the right one, then she will notice and no matter what surrounds her, no matter if bucking Princess Celestia is also flirting with her, she will choose you over anyone else, ya hear me? You are a motherbucking special pony, a dedicated, caring, and loyal friend, I can only imagine how good of a marefriend and even wife you’d be. So don’t give up ya small motherbucking gangsta, keep your ass in that fight and win!” He grinned at her. Pickett was silent for a few seconds, before smiling softly, shaking her head before hugging him tightly, “You old coot, you always know what to say.” “I’ve taken care of you since ya were a filly ma lil’ pony. I know how to deal with your weird-ass lady problems.” He smirked, hugging her back. “You’re the best dad I could have ever wished for.” Pockets whispered to him. “And you’re the best child I’ve ever had Pockets.” Urban replied, closing his eyes as he kept the unicorn close, the scene reminding him so much of years passed when she was nothing but a filly. “You know…” Pockets raised her head, clearing the tears, “I wish I could have known Mamma Spirit, she sounds like an awesome pony.” “Oh she was ma child, she was the bomb, a stunning free-spirited mare who inspired me to be who I am today.” Spirit nodded, “And you know, if she was still kickin’, I’m sure she would have loved to meet ya.” “Oh but ain’t this a heart warming scene.” Urban opened his eyes and looked back, only to be bucked away in the nose by an orange Pegasus. “Urban!” Pockets called out, trying to rush towards him yet failing as a magical grasp kept her in place, an unicorn chuckling coldly as he revealed himself from the shadows. Yet it wasn’t like if Pockets hadn’t been in similar situations before. With a flash of magic she was gone from the grasp, standing between the attackers and Spirit. She looked up and noticed the earth pony who was commanding the other two, smirking as she remembered that face all too well, “Ha! Really now Drop? I thought that by now you’d learned that amateurs can’t handle me. Maybe I gotta steal from you again and teach you another lesson huh?” The stallion chuckled as the two grunts stepped in front of him, “Ah lil’ brat I would say it’s a pleasure meeting yam again’, but ah’d be lyin’ and mah momma told me that lies are bad.” “Well what a nice lady.” The unicorn huffed, her horn glowing as she took aim, “Get out of here or I’ll take you down before you can say ‘ouch’.” “Ouch.” Dead Drop smirked. And before Pockets could shoot, she saw her world go black, a net covering her and sending powerful shocks of electricity that sent her to her knees, striking every nerve in her body with agonizing pain. “Pockets!” Urban called out, running to help her yet being stopped by another buck on the side this time, which he took with a heavy grunt. “Listen here ya stupid gangster, if ya want yer lil’ brat back, bring th’ thestral, ya know who I’m talkin bout don’t ya? Yes you do.” Dead explained as he raised his crossbow, pointing at Pockets, “If I don’t see a thestral in yer hooves by tonight, Imma kill this brat with a simple bolt through her skull, y’hear?” “Let her go you motherbucking fucker!” Urban growled. “Hey there pardner, watch yer language. Just grab the mare for me and you’ll get the unicorn. Easy as pie.” Dead smirked, tossing a small sphere which blew up and released a thick cloud of black smoke, filling the area with it. Once it died, Urban looked around and coughed, growling as he realized the mercenary was gone from sight. “I’m sorry Pockets, but I guess there’s no other choice…” Urban sighed as he collected his thoughts, before shouting in anger at his own foolishness, “Stupid motherbucking old idiot! Why the fuck did you not keep guard! Now she’s bucking gone and I-” He kept going for several minutes, anybody who lived in the nearby area covering the small fillies’ ears and just waiting for the storm of curses and anger to be over. “Miss Song, are you ready?” Sphinx asked as she got out of her room, a gorgeous floral dress adorning her body, “The reunion will start soon enough. You can be a bit late if you need to, but the sooner we crash this party, the better.” “Sounds good,” Midnight said and looked around. “Hey Sphinxy? Have you seen Pockets anywhere? She left over an hour ago, but I haven’t seen her.’ “Hm? I thought she was with you and our new guest.” Sphinx quirked an eyebrow while she took a good look at herself in the mirror, making sure she was looking as classy as always. “Didn’t she tell you where she went?” “No, she teleported away at breakfast and I haven’t seen her since,’ Midnight said, now starting to sound a little worried. “Well that’s weird... Did anything happen?” The griffon asked, a slight tone of concern growing up in her voice. “No, nothing,” Midnight said. “I was teasing Quickie cause she was so cute in that collar and that sexy lingerie. Then, Pockets got all huffy and ‘ported off.” “She did look pretty cute, didn’t she?” Sphinx giggled. “Can we stop speaking about last night?” A now red Quick huffed, “And she left because she’s a jealous doofus. She was feeling threatened by the presence of Miss Skies’ superior looks. Oh, and the fact that you two know each other for far more time than you know her.” Sphinx blinked, “Huh… I did not take her for the jealous type. But it does make sense she would see Miss Skies as a threat. Even I feel inferior next to her when it comes to looks.” “You do?” Quick asked in disbelief. Her mistress always seemed so confident about her looks. “Well… not precisely.” Sphinx shrugged, earning a roll from Quick's eyes, “But if I was a pony, I would most likely be. And Miss Song’s flirty personality probably did not help Miss Pickett’s nerves.” “Pocky’s… jealous?” Midnight tilted her head. “But, Starry’s just a friend and she's using a glamour spell to change her appearance. I asked her to disguise herself before coming here.” “So that’s what’s been messing with the security system!” Quick groaned, “What sort of magic are you even using? The whole house has been going nuts since you came here! To be honest I wasn’t sure of whether to ask or stab you. So thanks for not mentioning it before.” “Forgive her, aside from her multiple tasks, she’s also in charge of security.” Sphinx eyed Quick with a look of disapproval, who just huffed and went back to cleaning, “It doesn’t matter who you really are, what matters now is finding Miss Pickett’s whereabouts, or else I’m afraid you’ll have to do this without her.” “Nu-uh, she’s the reason I got into this,” Midnight said and shook her head. “I’m gonna go find her and make a scene while I’m at it!” “Wait!” Quick shouted, her ears… twitching? “Oh come on! I can’t… it looks like something is coming, but Miss Skies here is seriously messing with the spell. Freaking…” Sphinx narrowed her eyes. “Whatever it is, I’m not taking any chances. You two, hide, now!” She pointed at Midnight and Starry Skies. They nodded and headed up to the bedroom, Midnight had to change anyhow, and her hearing would let her in on whatever was going on anyway. Within moments, the two mares had vanished. “Quick, ready.” Sphinx signaled her, and in the blink of an eye the mare was gone, hidden from sight. Then came a loud banging from the main door. “Open up you filthy motherbucker!” That voice, “Oh gods…” She groaned as she walked towards the door, she had no time to deal with protesters. “Not now you fi-” But much to her surprise, she was forced to back-flip and hid behind her sofa to protect herself from the incoming projectile, a sharp metal tube flying across the room and landing on a wall. “Where… IS SHE!?” Urban Spirit was not happy. “Dear I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Sphinx said with her usual calm demeanor, yet she was already planning a dozen ways to take down the earth pony. “The bat… THE MOTHERBUCKING BAT. I KNOW SHE’S HERE!” He shouted, one of his fellow gang members giving him another metallic pole which he prepared to toss as soon as the griffon showed herself. “Dear, I am afraid to tell you that there is no ‘bat’ in here. Have you tried the caves east from here?” With amazing reflexes, she rolled towards yet another chair just before the metallic pole impaled the one she was previously hiding on. “Very bucking funny, Sphinx. But I ain’t resting until I get ma hooves on that bucking bat.” He groaned at the attempt at humor, slowly walking into the house with his eyes wide open, searching for the winged creature. Sphinx already had seen several ways in which she could have ended this, yet this whole deal was striking her as odd. It was a known fact that Urban Spirit and Pockets were extremely close, and yet he was hunting for Midnight… she needed to get to the bottom of this, “Ok then, I’ll play your game dear. Let’s pretend she’s here, why on Equestria would you need her for? Did you get in some trouble with the royal guard again?” Spirit jumped over the sofa and prepared to jab… yet the griffon was long gone. “Why do you bucking care, motherbucker? You ain’t never cared about anyone but yo senile flank!” “Well ain’t you a rude stallion?” Sphinx giggled from nowhere and everywhere at the same time. “Maybe if you tell me, I won’t hurt you too bad.” “Like hell you can put one of yo’ filthy claws on me.” He growled, before tossing yet another pole at the chandelier on the roof, which of course had no longer a griffon hidden in it. “I ain’t got all day! Show yo’self and fight like a mare!” He really wished he hadn’t said that. His entire world was turned around, literally, as from the roof Sphinx slammed into him, swiftly immobilizing him with what seemed to be some sort of martial arts-related lock. “D-dammit! Chivalry, attack!” “What Chivalry, dear?” Sphinx chuckled as she pointed at the door. An unamused Quick kept guard over a pile of tied up, almost-unconscious gang members. “Y-you… you motherbucker!” He hissed while at the same time trembling, “Let dem go, now! They acted under ma command, put me on lockdown fo’ they crimes!” Yet as much as he tried, he knew that no matter how rude or menacing he acted, it would be of no use. His gaze saddened, worried of what may happen to his children, ”Please, I beg of you, let dem go!” “Only if you tell me what you need the thestral for.” Sphinx grinned as she ran a claw over his cheek, “And don’t worry,  I keep my promises.” “I…” He didn’t know what to do. Trusting her was such a risky move, nopony could assure him she’d follow on her word. Yet all things considered, he had no better option, there was no denying. For Pockets, he’d risk it, “Pickett… she’s… she’s been gotten. They told me that if I brought the thestral to them, they’d give her back to me.” And that was when a blur of brown and blonde tackled him to the floor, a very pissed off Midnight standing over him. “WHERE. IS. SHE?!?” “I… I don’t know… the motherbucker who got her has dis straight up thick Appaloosa accent!  That’s literally the only thing I know of him. I wasn’t even shizzle how he would come fo’ you!” The fear on his face turned into sadness and regret, his foolishness had gotten him and his gang in such a mess with whoever these mares were, “I… please don’t hurt them, I just wanted ma child to come back home. Pickett, she’s like a daughtah to me, I just wanna bring her back home!” “Appaloosa accent…” Sphinx growled, “Drop Dead!” “I will save Pockets,” Midnight said and stood up. Sphinx noticed she was clad in a full set of guard armour, the gold gleamed in the sunlight, as did the pair of razor-sharp wingblades sheathed on her sides. “And I will see to it that Dead Drop is brought to justice.” Sphinx shook her head no, what was going on was far too obvious, “We need to focus on the meeting. This is all part of his plan. He knows that if he has Pockets, you’ll go for him and ignore Grumble.” “Tch!” Midnight snorted, her previous plan had already been shot to hell. Then she looked at the stallion and smiled. “I have an idea!” “To save ma child?” Spirit’s face brightened, “Fo’ shizzle?” “Yup, because you see, I’ve just realised you have a lot of kids. And I bet they’re all used to doing things outside the law,” Midnight smiled and looked him over. “So, you’re gonna cause one motherbucker of a scene at this little party. Go nuts, do whatever you like. As long as it’s big, flashy and un-motherbucking-forgettable~” “I see…” Sphinx hummed with a smile, “Now this might actually work. But… Miss Midnight, dear, you do realize that you can’t possibly face Drop Dead, right?” “I can and I will,” Midnight nodded. “Gotta go and rescue my princess after all. And give her all kinds of hell for being kidnapped in the first place.” “No, no, no. You don’t understand.” She turned to Quick and nodded, a nod that the maid understood all too well, “You can’t possibly face Drop Dead by your own. That is why I’m coming with you. Screw my mission, I’ll risk everything to stop that bloody bastard once and for all.” “Are you sure?” Midnight asked her. “It might blow your cover, and we’ll lose our only insidemare with Grumblebutt.” “Eh, I was getting rather tired of his company anyways.” She smiled, extending her hoof to Urban to help him get up, “Now go, we’ll rescue Pickett. The reunion is at Grumble’s house. Ruin that reunion and I promise that you and your children will see your criminal records as clean as my floors before you rushed in here.” Urban took a few seconds to think on that. Pockets was in danger, and they wanted him to just go somewhere else entirely and ignore that little detail? “No.” He said firmly. “Dear, please don’t make this more complicated than it already is. I just need you to go to Grum-” “Ma children are good enough to take care of dat shiz. I’ll tell dem where to go and what to do, but after dat, I’m going with you.” He stood up and with a determined look, he nodded, “I’ll help you find Pickett. Whoever this motherbucker Drop Dead is, I can find him.” “I’m not sure about it… I’m not the type to bring civilians into danger.” Sphinx sighed, “What do you think, Midnight dear?” “Well, i suppose we could use a meat shield,” Midnight chuckled and waved a hoof when she saw the looks on their faces. “I’m kidding. No, it’s a good idea. I’m sure this charming gentlestallion knows the town better than either of us. We need to find Pockets as quickly as possible and Mr. Spirit here is our best bet.” “Yo bet your bat-ass I am!” He nodded, before turning to the door, “Chivalry of da Broken! Get yo motherbucking flanks ready cus we’re going with da Blastin’ Smashin’ strategy! You bring da party to Grumble and I’ll meet ya there.” A groan of confirmation from the still injured ponies was all he needed, as Quick untied them in the blink of an eye. They slowly stood up and made their ways towards the suburbs to warn the others, having no idea of what was going on at all. Sphinx closed the door and smiled, “Well then.  Quick Step is getting my equipment ready. That leaves us just you, me, and your dear friend.” She looked at the door which slowly opened to reveal Starry Skies’ figure, “Come on out, Starry my dear…if that even is your real name.”   “It is,” she replied as she walked out. “But, as from what I’ve seen you can’t be too careful in this town and I am close to the princesses. That leaves me in a vulnerable position should somepony find out, wouldn’t it?” “Of course not. That is why I’m asking you to stay here, if it isn’t much problem of course.” Sphinx smiled softly. Yet inside, she couldn’t help but wonder who this mare really was. An enigma she would solve later, “Quick, my suit?” “Ready Mistress.” The vanilla pegasus replied, “But… are you sure about this? Won’t your superiors be mad that you’re abandoning your position?” “Yes, they will.” She sighed, before smiling, “Now be a good mare and stay here with our new guest. Make her feel at home. And don’t worry, Miss Skies, my maid is the best at what she does, she should make you feel like royalty.” “Is that so?” Starry said and then smirked. “I’ve always wanted a pet~” Quick Step just gave up. This was her life now, and even though a good part of her hated it… another part was going crazy over all of this. She really hated that second part of her. Oh, and there was also the fact that she had to clean the huge mess Urban had caused. “Oh yeah, why don’t you accept the freaking job as the maid of a bucking spy! Yeah that’ll be fun.” She grumbled as she went to get the broom. Starry giggled at her antics and her horn flared. When Quick would come back to a perfectly clean room, the look on her face would be priceless. Pockets couldn’t believe it. She had screwed up, and bad. She simply lay on the small cage they had placed her in, hanging from the ceiling for everyone to see and laugh at. There lay the legend, the uncatchable thief, the hero of Tall Tale. “Who am I kidding…” She sighed, “I ain’t no hero. I’m just a street thief. And now, everything’s probably ruined… because of me.” “Damn right ya are.” Pockets’ ear perked when she heard Drop Dead calmly walk towards his cardboard throne of boxes, a cigar in his mouth and a brand new hat on his head. He sat down and looked at the cage with a victorious grin, chuckling in amusement at the thief’s such miserable position, “Look atcha, Pockets. Such wasted talent. Ya could be up here in th’ top with me if ya wanted to. I’ve always thought ya had th’ potential t’become one hell of a thief, ah reckon. Too bad ya choose to side with the good guys.” Pockets remained silent, not even bothering to turn around. “Now look where that gotcha.” Drop Dead sighed, “In ah filthy cage, like the rat ya’ve become, being used as bait for an angry bat.” With a malicious grin on his muzzle, he stood up and walked towards her, calmly running his crossbow throughout the outer part of the cage, the metallic clanking sending shivers down Pockets’ spine, “Tell me, Pockets. How does it feel? To know that because of you, that mare ya care so much ‘bout is gonna die.” Pockets jumped at him and growled, the air around them heating up as the cage waved all over the place. At this, Dead simply laughed. “You dare to do anything to her and I’ll.. I’ll!” “You’ll what? Can’t ya see? Yer trapped missy! And with Grumble’s lil’ reunion on the other side of town I doubt they even gonna care enough to come here and try to rescue ya.  After all… why would anyone choose saving th’ life of a filthy murderer over the life of thousands?” Pockets lowered her gaze, going back to her little corner and returning to doing what she had been doing ever since she was kidnapped, cry quietly. She hated him, she hated all of this… and overall, she hated herself for being so foolish. Her only comfort being imagining Midnight’s warm embrace, an embrace she was sure she would never get to feel again. He was right, why would anyone choose her over thousands others? According to what Urban Spirit had managed to gather through his contacts, some claim they had seen Angel Wings himself go inside a shady warehouse on the suburbs twice now, and that several thugs that were definitely not from around town would frequent the site. So just putting two and two together, they took the risk and decided to use a carriage Sphinx had rented to travel there. “Ya know…” Urban sighed, breaking the silence, “Before she got kidnapped, she came to me. Won’t go into details but…. she began talking bout you.” “Hooboy,’ midnight said and fanned herself with a wing. “Good things I hope?” “Much to my surprise, yes.” He chuckled, “She usually comes to me whenever she wants to rant about some motherbucker but… this time she came here to rant ‘bout herself. Took me by surprise. Dunno how but you really made quite the impression on that lil’ thief.” “I have that effect on ponies,” Midnight smiled proudly, before that smile faltered a little. “And now… she’s in trouble because of me…” Urban nodded solemnly, “But ya know… I’ve known that lil’ pimp since she was barely a filly stealin’ apples to survive. And let me tell ya somethin’, if she’s blaming anyone, that’s probably herself.” He looked out the window and sighed, “Ya know… it always hurts me to see her sufferin’. Most of the times she’s just so friggin happy and positive, that quirky smirk on her muzzle… that in those rare occasions she does get down, it hurts, y’know?” “It’s like a kicked puppy and a sad kitten had a baby and then somepony kicked that!” Midnight chuckled and wiped her eyes. “I promise, I’m going to get that smile back.” Urban smiled, “That ain’t gonna be hard. From what she told me, just looking at cha should do the trick.” With a loud sigh, he looked back at Midnight and grinned, “Hey. This mood ain’t done good to anyone. So I know, why don’t I tell ya one of my favorite stories about the lil’ pimp, huh? To pump you up so ya can kick the butt of that motherbucker even harder.” “Like I need any more reasons,” Midnight smiled and looked at her swords. “But go ahead. I could use the blackmail material against her.” The stallion chuckled and shoko his head, before humming in thought as he easily recalled that fateful night, “It all started… I don’t remember how long it’s been. Me and ma gang were just this small group of troublemakers trying to make a difference by like graffiting some good ol’ messages across the city. Well, one day we had just hit this big fat cash of money we got from… a certain place, and we were planning to blow it all up in some bar or some shizz. Well while we were making our way down town, we encountered this dusty-looking lil filly. She seemed lost, afraid, shaking like a wet pup, and overall just so frigging hungry. Now, we were ‘bout to just give her some bits and then go to th’bar, but then… for Celestia’s sunny ass I swear, she shot us these irresistible puppy eyes, we were paralyzed from sheer cuteness! And motherbucker,  you will not guess what happened next.” “I’d like to say something cute,” Midnight said and shook her head. “But… I’d place my bits on her robbing you blind.” “Damn right!” He nodded, “That lil’ rascal kicked me in da nuts and left me on da floor, before running the heck away with all da bits! All tha members of ma crew were fully grown motherbucking adults and yet they couldn’t catch her to save dem lives!” He chuckled, “That motherbucker kicked me in da nuts! Dirty rascal.” “Ouch,” Midnight winced. “That must have been embarrassing.” “It was, oh motherbucker you have no idea.” He nodded, a smile across his face, “We tracked her down to an old orphanage, Miss Wide Heart I believe the place was called. I went in dere alone to ‘adopt’ a kiddo. So they showed me where she usually hid, and… there she was. As dusty as the moment we met, yet… with a wide smirk on her muzzle. She didn’t run or hide or some shit like that. She just began talkin’ about the good chase she had and gave me half ma bits. Told me she only did it for fun and to get some sweets for her orphan pals.” He took a moment to laugh softly, before nodding, “After seeing dat, I took her under ma hoof, taught her all I knew, and even though they didn’t let me adopt her, she became like ma daughter. Always telling me that when she had enough money, she would go to Canterlot and learn some magic to make me proud and get us off the streets.” “Well, I know that Teleportation and Illusions aren’t easy,” Midnight nodded as her ears twitched. “I’m guessing that didn’t happen though.” He nodded, “For reason I don’t get to dis day, she failed the test to get into Celestia’s fancy school. Tried reasoning with dem snobbies, told them she had learned to teleport all by herself. But those motherbuckers…. So what if she couldn’t do shit about some stupid egg!? She was good!” Sighing to try and calm himself down, he grinned when the memory of what happened afterwards came to him, “Yet even if I was hella pissed, she came to me and told me that it was no biggie. That she could still save some bucking money to get into another school. Of course, when you give all dat money to those who need it, saving it ain’t easy. But… even after she got her Cutie Mark, she didn’t give up on having a better life. One day she’d tell me she wanted to be a doctor, another day she wanted to be a wizard, another day a g-” He chuckled softly and shook his head, “I ain’t telling you that one, she’ll kill my butt if I do. In any case… she always kept a smile on her muzzle, and I know this may be a tall order but…” He looked at the thestral with pleading eyes, “Please, I know we didn’t start with da right hoof but I beg of you… try to keep that smile going, for as long as you can.” Midnight blinked. She certainly wasn’t expecting this from somepony like him. “Looks, all things aside, I barely know her. But…” Midnight smiled and placed a hoof on his shoulder. “I like her, and… I wanna see if I can make things work. I can’t promise they will, and I am far from the easiest pony to get along with but…” She nodded and smiled. “As long as I’m around, that smile will never fade!” “Damn right!” He grinned, “Yo, driver! Stop right here will ya?” “Huh? We are not quite there yet, dear. What do you think you’re doing?” Sphinx spoke for the first time in a while, having heard the entire conversation yet deciding to not interrupt the moment. Urban chuckled as he kicked the door open, “I see this motherbucker right here cares about ma child. So I’m sure as heck she will kick the flank of that bucking Dead-guy. Ma children may need ma help crashing the party so.” He saluted at Midnight with a half-grin, “Yo butt-kicking better make me proud. Bring ma lil’ thief back home, will ya?” “Like you even have to ask,” Midnight said and then swept a wing in front of her. “I swear on my Wings that I’ll bring Pockets back.” A vow like that, it was one of the highest a winged species could offer, like a regular unicorn swearing on their magic, or Pockets swearing on her butt. “That’s what I like to hear.” He nodded, before rushing of towards the distance. “Dear,” Sphinx caught her attention, “You do know what this means, right? The only creature that was unable to fly is now gone… and we will probably get there sooner by air.” “Finally!” Midnight exclaimed and spread her wings. “Let’s fly kittybird!” And without thinking it twice, the two took off towards the bright blue sky, leaving two confused ponies who were driving the chariot very confused. “This seems to be the place.” The sun shone strongly above both Sphinx and Midnight, who calmly flapped their wings to keep attitude over the old abandoned warehouse. “Are you ready, dear?” Midnight’s gaze narrowed and she checked her blades, the sharp metal glinting in the sunlight. “Dead Drop will wish he dropped dead,” Midnight said with a low growl. “I’m liking your style more, and more.” Sphinx giggled. Usually she would try to go for a more stealthy approach, trying to take down the mercenaries from the shadows. But this was different. She was acting by herself now, breaking the rules of her own organization. Eh, it wasn’t like if this was the first time she went rogue. Letting out a mighty screech, she closed her wings and took the lead, descending at incredible speeds towards the falling-down roof. Thankfully, the poor thug in whom she landed on made for a soft crashmat. Of course, the sound of the alarm was soon heard, not like she cared. Two thugs charged at her, knives on their mouth and not a single hint of fear. Dodging both swings with incredible easy, she retaliated by extending her now metallic-tipped wings, pushing the two thugs into a wall with several cuts all over their body. “Go for Pockets, dear. I’ll keep these brutish oafs distracted.” She winked at Midnight who had landed not far from her, another thug now between her legs while he fought to break free from the strangling. With a screech that shattered the glass of the uppermost windows, Midnight dove inside, her wingblades slashing out as she flew past. They cut through the beams along the roof like a spell laser through butter, dropping the heavy wood onto two thugs sneaking up behind Sphinx. She flew deeper into the warehouse, ignoring any guards she passed as she made her way towards Pockets. Her ears could hear the mare’s heartbeat. Her nose could pick up that spicy perfume she liked. And her eyes were tinted red, with the rage against the one that stole her little thief away!! Her speed, strength, and reflexes had been tenfolded. And because of this she was able to dodge the incoming bolt that flew right past her, inches away from her cheek. She rolled out of the way just in time as a second whizzed by her head. Pausing in the air, her wing moved and her blade deflected a third. “Get out here!” Midnight screeched. “Face me you bucking coward!” A soft chuckle resonated through the walls accompanied by the click his once again charged crossbow made, “Kinda funny you call me a coward, missy. Effn’ ah recall correctly, ya’re th’ one that got th’buck away from mah sight when thet bolt hit ya all them years ago.” And then, another bolt flew towards her, aiming for her heart. Midnight bat it away with her wing again. “You shot me from behind, while I was off-duty,” she snapped back. “This time… I’ll return that favour tenfold Droppy. You’re never going to see outside a dungeon wall again once I’m done with you.” “What can ah say missy?” He chuckled, “Ya got so many of mah fellas in jail, ah reckon. ah had t'do sumpin about it. But let’s forget ‘bout th’ past, eh? Let’s focus on how ya’re planning t’git me in jail, when ya probably will drop dead in like… five minutes.” With yet another cold chuckle, Drop Dead got out of his hiding place, and Midnight’s eyes widened at what she saw. On his right frontal leg, a strange looking device shined with the sunlight. It looked like a crossbow, yet at the same time it was so different. A long trail of what seemed to be bolts hanged from the device, several strings were attached to different parts of his body while what seemed to be half a binocular was firmly attached to the top. “Ya like mah noo toy? Got this built not too long ago just for ya. So ya better feel special.” He then raised the hoof that held the machine, and aimed at her. “Now say yer prayers, Midnight.” He pulled a string, and the sound of mechanism was heard, before a non-stop barrage of bolts were shot at high speeds towards her, the mechanism automatically recharging the crossbow with all the jointed bolts that hanged from it. “Bucking hell!” Midnight rolled to the side and dove behind some boxes as she heard the bolts impact the wood with rapid, repeated thunks. “Hah! Your little toy is useless if you can’t hit shit Dead Head!” Pulling another string, the firing stopped. He didn’t want to waste all his ammunition after all, as plentiful as it was. “Come out, come out, wherever ya are little bat.” He grinned as he walked around the set of boxes and pillars spread throughout the warehouse, until on the corner of his eye he spotted a particularly strange brown spot, “Found ya!” A new strife of bolts went for Midnight, forcing her to get out of her hiding spot. She bucked the box, sending it flying towards him as one of the bolts scraped her armour in a shower of sparks. “I just bucking polished that,” she swore as she beat her wings to get some speed. She needed to go on the offensive, but getting close was a deathwish. Instead, she angled and then unleashed another of her screams at him. Dead Drop flinched, his eyes instinctively closing as he covered his ears, and by the time he managed to open them, she was gone. He huffed as he once more stopped firing and looked around, checking every corner and every hole, “Ya know. Ah still don’t get it. Why are ya helpin’ this gal? You’re a royal guard for crying out loud! Ain’t you supposed to detain that lil’ bitch?” “Not that I’d expect a flaccid little mudcrawler like yourself to understand,” Midnight said from the shadows. “But what the sunfucking hell are you talking about? She’s just a pickpocketer. A murderer is much bigger prey.” “Curious ya say that, missy.” He chuckled, trying to pin-point where her voice was coming from, “Ya really bought her dumb’ story, didn’t ya? Th’ whole ‘street thief’ deal? Ahm sorry to break it up for ya, but that’s jest a facade.” “Oh yes, because the word of a stallion trying to kill me is sooo trustworthy,” Midnight snarked as she moved about, not staying in the same place twice. Her wingbeats were silent, and her gaze never left him. “Don’t believe me if you don’t wanna. But let me ask ya somethin’. Have ya run a backgroun’ check on her?” He didn’t wait for an answer, he just needed to keep the conversation going until he could find out where she was, “She ain’t no mere pickpocketer. Why do ya reckon she lef’ Manehattan? She was runnin’ from th’ guard! Missy, ah got news for ya. Yer friend is a killer, jest like me.” And then he saw it on the corner of his improvised scope, the brown blur he was looking for. The barrage of bolts was shot again, following Midnight as she searched for a new place to hide. “You’re so full of crap!” She yelled, her blades deflecting some of them. Truth was, she had done that… “Five years ago, downtown Manehattan. Officer Hard Time of th’ royal guard, stabbed repeatedly while off-duty. Gonna guess the name rings a bell, doesn’t it?” He half-shouted as he lost track of the thestral, searching for her once more. “Do ya know why he died?” Her silence was all the answers he needed. He still couldn’t see her though. The bat was a slippery one. “He was going after a criminal. A street thief who had tried to rob him of his saddlebag. Yer friend got so buckin’ scared when she was caught, that she stabbed him just to not go to dem Canterlot Jails. Ah dunno ‘bout you but… ah saw the evidence mahself, and let me tell ya, when ya find a dead body in her home… it’s kinda hard to not believe she did it.” With a cold chuckle, he walked towards a small box covered by an old, dirty blanket, a grim smile on his face, “So why don’t ya ask her yerself, Missy?” And then, the cover was gone, revealing a miserably-looking, gagged Pockets with tears running down her cheeks, on her neck, one of Green Lead’s ‘special’ collars that kept her from doing anything. “Rise n’ shine, mah little killer.” More silence… then, he felt the temperature drop a few degrees. A fun fact about ponies. They were a herd species and a predator, and the feelings of one was still ingrained into their very being. Dead Shot swore he could feel the murderous intent of the Thestral in the room. And from the darkness of, a pair of crimson eyes shone, staring into his own. “You say… she’s a killer?” Midnight walked forwards as her wingblades dragged along the ground, sending up a shower of sparks. “Well, I have some news for you… little morsel~” “So ya finally come out and play.” He chuckled, pulling the right strings to activate his weapon, before firing a massive barrage of bolts at the incoming thestral. She stepped from side to side, until one bolt struck her dead center in the chest, knocking the bat off of her hooves. Seeing this, Pockets’ eyes shot open, struggling to break free from her cage, attempting to teleport only to get an extremely painful charge of electricity downloaded unto her, causing her to scream in agonizing pain, yet that didn’t stop her from trying over, and over again. She had to break free, she had to save Midnight, she couldn’t let her die because of her fault, she had to save her no matter what. Dead grinned maliciously, slowly walking towards the now prone mare with a bloodthirsty look on his eyes, “Tsk, tsk, tsk…. Ah gotta say, Missy, this was far easier than what ah had expected. Like mah momma always told me, just press th’ right triggers, and yer victim will come to yer ho-” Midnight rolled back to her hooves, a wide, fanged smile on her face. The bolt was sticking out of her armour, it clearly penetrated it, yet… She reached up and pulled it out, tossing it aside. “Tsk Tsk!” She waved a hoof and her eyes practically glowed red now. “Why is it? That ponies always seem to think a bolt to the heart is any way to deal with a vampire?” Dead Drop jumped back, growling at the mare who he was sure would be bleeding to death already, “Ya demon scum! Just stay down an’ let me finish mah job!” He pulled another string from his machine, which this time shot one individual bolt aimed right at her head. Then she moved, impossibly fast as one wing lashed out, the blade detached and severed the chain of bolts that fed his weapon. When he pulled the string, all he got was a series of empty clicks. “Wanna know that she’s not a killer?” Midnight said as she advanced. “Her eyes. Those aren’t the eyes of a killer. Not like yours little morsel. And not like mine!” She raced forward, so fast she looked like a moving shadow as she pinned the stallion against a large box. The cracking sound was either the wood of said box… or several of his ribs. Maybe both. She held him there with her forehooves as she licked her glinting fangs. “I’m going to enjoy draining you dry!” “N-no! You… yer pretending game won’t scare me! Ya… ya work for th’ law, ya don’t have th’ guts to kill me!” He stuttered, trying to sound though and rude, yet the rest of his body betrayed him. The pain her hooves were inflicting on his body, the tone in which she spoke, and those eyes… those deadly eyes. He knew it too well, he had been in the business for far too long. The bloodthirst the mare held at that moment was far greater than any other he had ever seen before, even greater than his own, and that frightened him. “Silly. Little. Morsel.” Midnight said as her fangs drew near to his exposed neck. “Do you think anypony is going to miss you?” “N-no… don’t!” He begged, fear taking over the heartless killer, “P-please! Ah, ah’m sorry! PLEASE!” That killing instinct grew more potent and Midnight chuckled, a cold, dark laugh that chilled any who heard it to the bone. “You’re going to die now. Tell me, how does it feel? Knowing after causing so much death. Are you ready to meet the Reaper?” Her fangs grazed his neck, he struggled, but the thestral’s strength was intense, he couldn’t move… he couldn’t answer… he was frozen in fear. He was not ready to die, he didn’t want to die, not like this. “But!” Midnight said in that cold, dead tone she’d been using. “I won’t decide your fate…” Her wing flicked and Pockets found her gag removed, falling away in tatters. “She will. The mare ‘you’ accused of murder. The mare ‘you’ were going to kill after me. She will decide if you live or die.” Midnight leaned in close and smiled. “So Dead Drop. Are you feeling lucky? Is my Little Thief the murderer you think she is? Let’s. Find. Out~” Pockets lowered her gaze, before coldly deciding that it was not worth it, “Don’t…. I… I just want to go home.” Both Midnight and Dead could hear the pain in her voice, yet even after suffering so much at his hooves she knew better. She would be no better criminal than him if she killed him, besides, she wouldn’t give him the pleasure of being right. “Do you hear that?” Midnight said with a smug smile. “She’s a better pony than you will ever be. Better than I will ever be.” She drew back a hoof and smacked him across the head, knocking him out cold. With a deep shudder, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, before opening them to reveal her usual green ones. “Gods I hate pretending like that.” She turned towards the unicorn, yet much to her surprise she had once again gone back to her corner, not even sparing her savior a look or a thanks. “Little thief?” Midnight took a hesitant step closer. “Pickett? Are you okay?” “Just leave…” Came her weak, almost-broken voice, “You heard him… I’m a murderer. Hard Time died because of me… and I almost got you killed as well. Who says I won’t screw up and get you in trouble again? Just… please leave.” Midnight paused. Then her eyes narrowed and she snarled. “You… you bucking selfish bitch!” Midnight stormed forward and grabbed the unicorn. “I don’t think so. You do not get to worry me half to bucking death, then tell me to buck off!” Pockets at first wanted to push her away and once again tell her to leave. Yet… she would be lying if she said she didn’t miss feeling Midnight’s body. For the final time that night, she broke into tears, hugging Midnight tightly while ignoring the extreme pain her body had suffered, “I… I’m so sorry. I was being childish and a complete idiot and… I just didn’t want to be replaced, I just… didn’t want to lose you. I’ve lost so many friends and I-” She was shut up as Midnight pressed her lips to hers, tears running down her face as she gave her not a lust-fueled kiss, but one filled with blossoming love. Pockets gasped at first, yet soon, she returned the kiss with just as much care and tenderness, the trail of tears that was falling down her eyes stopping completely as one emotion finally won the eternal war inside her head, love. After what seemed like a delightful eternity, the lack of air forced Pockets to break the kiss, losing herself on those beautiful emerald eyes she loved so much. She had no words, not like she needed them, as her face spoke a thousand words of love and gratitude.   “Okay,” Midnight said and licked her lips, relishing the taste of the little mare. She reached out and booped her nose. “First. What the fuck Pockets? How does an ‘uncatchable’ thief get caught by these idiots?” The unicorn giggled and rolled her eyes, “Hey, it’s kinda hard to run away when you have this thing on your neck while also surrounded by like a bajillion thugs,” She poked at the metallic collar, “And I was a bucking mess of a mare, don’t judge me ya badass bat-butt.” “Ergh, that thing does not suit you,” Midnight replied and her wing blurred. A second later, the collar fell off after she cleanly cut it in two. “There, much cuter.” She pulled Pockets into a hug and rubbed her spiky mane. “Okay, so item number two. What do you mean replaced? Are you upset at Sphinx and Quicky? Cause, they’re just a little fun is all.” “No, no.They’re cool and, to be honest, I would have never learned there were that many ways to buck a mare if it wasn’t for Sphinx. But… your friend. She just seemed so… perfect and... “ Her sigh told Midnight everything she needed to know. “You-You mean… Starry?” Midnight blinked and when Pockets nodded slightly… the thestral burst out laughing. “Aahhahaha! Oh my gosh, you are so jealous and it is the cutest thing ever. Oh my Little Thief, you are so adorable it should be illegal.” “Sh-shush, I’m not that cute,” She blushed furiously, “And can you blame me? She’s like super smart and has the body of a freakin goddess for butt’s sake!” “You know she’s using a glamour spell right?” Midnight deadpanned. “And trust me, I couldn’t tap that flank if I tried. And believe me, I have tried!” “Waitwat. A spell? You mean, like the one I used on you?” And now, she felt like a complete idiot. Facehoofing hard, she couldn’t help but chuckle at her own shenanigans, “Oh my bucking gosh I’m so dumb! Of freaking course! Geez, good job recognizing your own butt-magic, Pickett.” “You, you’re a dumbbutt,” Midnight nodded and noggied the mare. “Seriously Pickett. You think Sphinx and I would risk our flanks to save your sorry ass if I didn’t like you?” “Well I mean, there was the whole reun-” Then that last part reached her brain, blinking in surprise, shock, and excitement, she once more locked eyes with Midnight, “Y-you like me? Do you mean like as a fuckbuddy, a friend or… like like me?” “W-Well,” Midnight blushed and looked away. “I guess… it started as the second, then the first… now…” She winced as she took of her breastplate, the peice that the crossbow bolt had pierced and Pocket’s saw why the thestral wasn’t dead. She’d been wearing her locket underneath, the pure platinum piece of jewelry had stopped the bolt from giving her lungs a new breathing hole. The locket was destroyed though, crumbling in the bats hooves. “I’ve been so concerned about the past, that I ignored the future. So I guess…” Okay, so meek and bashful Midnight was a new one. She fidgeted with her forehooves and looked at Pockets. “After all this crap is done… you… um…” She blushed as she looked up from a downwards gaze. “You wanna go on a date?” Pockets blinked, before giggling softly, a giggle that soon grew into a loud, childish laugh that caused Midnight’s blush to intensify even further, “Oh my bucking Celestia, and ya said I was the cute one?” She grabbed Midnight’s muzzle and pressed their lips together in yet another loving kiss, both to stop Pockets’ laughter, and to give Midnight an answer, breaking it up, she nodded her approval, “How could I say no to the sexiest, cutest, and most amazing mare in Equestria?” “Oh... well, of course,” Midnight nodded and coughed into her hoof. “I’m awesome and sexy. Duh.” “And cute,” Pockets booped her nose, before smirking playfully, “I will totally tell everyone about this side of you. And there’s nothing you can do to stop me~” “You wouldn’t dare!” Midnight exclaimed with a huff. “You do that… And I won’t do that tongue thing you like so much!” “But I like the tongue thing!” She pouted like a filly, before failing to keep her laughter at check as a titter left her muzzle. She placed her forelegs around Midnight’s neck, and gave her a warm, honest smile, “Hey, thanks, for everything. You have no idea how happy you make me, and… if I gotta tell you a secret, I may kinda like like you as well.” She winked jokingly. “May?” Midnight said and sighed dramatically. “Maybe Quickie wants a batty marefriend instead then?” “Oh hell naw! I’m not letting that mare run off with you. Besides, I’ve seen her in action, she can’t keep up you at all~” “Hmm, well that’s true,’ Midnight nodded and then grinned salaciously. “But, that means I can stop holding back then. We’ll see what you’re really made of smol thief.” “Oh bring it on, batty.” She smirked tauntingly, “I’m as good at drinking as I am in bed. A Canterlot snobbie like you trying to outmatch an urban Manehattan master like me? Now that I wanna see.” “Oh little smol pony, you have no idea who you’re dealing with,” Midnight smiled and kissed her one more time. “Now, let’s go and see if that sexy griffon is still alive, then we have a party to crash.” Yet there was no need of that. As soon as they stood up and prepared to leave, Sphinx made herself known, rushing towards the duo with an excited, yet tired smile and bit of dust and some liquid they seriously hoped wasn’t blood on her suit, “Dearies! I am glad I found you. Just in time for our exciting escape from death.” “Uh…. what?” Pockets blinked. “Uh…. what?” Midnight Song echoed. “Oh don’t worry about it dearies.” She giggled, “It’s just a small little magical explosive that will blow this entire building to pieces in about… one minute? No, less than that.” Still not being able to believe this, Pockets once again blinked in confusion, “... no bucking way.” “Oh yes dear. You see, it has been such a long while since I’ve gone rogue and… well my superiors for some reason prohibited the use of any sorts of explosions when it comes to me. I just needed to end our little adventure with a grand finale!” She swung her fist in front of her like she was talking about throwing afternoon tea. “Pockets?” Midnight said as she put her hooves around the mare. “You recall how you said you didn’t like me flying fast? How quickly can you change your mind?” “Oh would you look at that, fifteen seconds remaining!”  Sphinx said excitedly. Pockets nodded, this went from a hundred to zero to two hundred real fast. “Yup, way less than that. Beam me up, Batty.” Midnight flared her wings and shot off like a bullet. The scenery around Pocket’s blurred as the sudden and extreme acceleration left her stomach behind the the building that suddenly became a giant fireball. “Well… guess that would be our flashy distraction,” Midnight yelled to Sphinx. “Also, you are bucking insane!” “Oh yes indeed!” She laughed, doing several unnecessary pirouettes on the air, “Oh it feels so good to be rogue. I could probably run as an independent spy if I wanted to, what do you think dearies?” “I think the same as her,” Pockets yelled as well, “That was bucking insane, and also kinda amazing!” “That it was,” Midnight said as she slowed down a little. “Hey, we should go check on that guy from earlier. The motherbucker stallion.” “Motherbuc- oh please don’t tell me you met Urban Spirit.” Pockets rolled her eyes, “I swear, whatever he may said about me when I was a filly, don’t believe one bit! I did not dream with becoming a royal guard when I was little!” Midnight just gave her a wide grin. That information was getting stored away for later use. And for blackmail purposes~ But first they had a job to do, and one of them was take down a mayor and stop him for making hundreds of ponies homeless to house criminals. Urban Spirit had been a little… too successful. The town center was chaos given form. The town's guards were involved in an all out war with Urban’s gang, while most of the town's citizens had taken to hiding in their homes… and… Whhyyyy was the fight timed perfectly with loud, blaring hip trot music? “I… am so bucking confused right now,” Midnight admitted as she hovered in the air, holding Pocket’s close. “I mean… just… wow.” “Ok. I’m gonna put two and two together and say you guys put him in charge of the reunion-thing, right?” Pockets asked unamused. “Indeed… and I am starting to see why this was such a bad idea.” Sphinx scratched her head. Pockets facehooved, “You guys want to know what’s the only real crime he has committed? Public Disturbance for placing five dozens of speakers all over Downtown Manehatten to play his favorite song at max volume! He was sent to jail five entire years because of how bad it was, and the song wasn’t even that good either!” “I… words fail me,” Midnight sighed, wishing she could facehoof, but she’d drop her marefriend if she did. “Well, shall we pay a visit to Town Hall? I’d like to see what Grumble thinks of all this.” Pockets grinned like a madmare, “Damn right we should! I just can’t wait to see Grumble’s face. Oh! He’s gonna be so pissed and I love ‘et!” “Ten bits says he’s steaming from the ears,” Sphinx giggled, causing Midnight to smile as well. That said, she wondered how her boss would respond to the thestral guard inciting a riot, blowing up a factory and generally causing so much chaos it’d make Discord look tame in comparison.