//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 All That Glitters // Story: Who is Grand Heist? // by aceotaku //------------------------------// “Now it’s dark and you seem to have lost him But you are hopelessly lost yourself Stranded with a fugitive You creep silently through the woods Aha! In the distance, a castle shining light in the horizon Hope! You move stealthily towards it But your wing! It’s caught in a rope trap!” “Cutting off the rope! (quiet, quiet) Limping to the castle! (quiet, quiet) Once you enter Hiding inside It’s Grand Heist Opening a safe! (Grand Heist) But he doesn’t hear you enter! (Grand Heist) Sneaking up behind him Time to outsmart That smug Grand Heist!” Chapter Two: All That Glitters Captain of the Royal Guard, Prince Blueblood, looked over a map of Canterlot Castle, frowning in thought. “We cannot let anything to chance! ‘How Fantastic’ they cry in their excitement for this Gala night Ponies from all around are coming So we cannot allow their fun to be ruined I only hope that we can succeed.” He looked over the pictures of potential guests. ------------------------------ Applejack, flanked by Applebloom and Little Strongheart, got to the finishing touches to her dress as the song continues. “This young fashionista is hoping to leave her mark.” ---------------------------- PInkamena glanced at a clock disinterestedly as she took a bath. “The pink one is likely preparing at her own pace.” ---------------------------- Prosecutor Shining Armour frowned at a small stack of papers topped by a blurry image of a certain masked figure. “Shining has his own interests to deal with.” ------------------------ “And of course the star of the show will be on time!” Grand Heist called out as he stared over his own map and collection of pictures. --------------------------- “Inside that glittering castle,” Applejack and Grand Heist sang, “Lie all our dreams and fantasies A magnificent grand event to bring about our happiness.” “The security will be air tight.” Blueblood noted. “But I will disrupt it!” Grand Heist grinned. “At the Grand Galloping Gala Everything comes together!” “We’ll be ready.” Shining added resolutely. “Concealed in extravagant fakes The star of the hour takes the stage To perform the crime of the century All the players are set For the Grand climax and for the truth to finally be exposed!” ------------------------ Rainbow looked at her dress uncertainly. “The magician is feeling doubt Should she really be doing this? Is this a betrayal of their friendship?” ---------------------- Trixie and Zecora got on a train, Trixie walking timidly with her head low. “The pair from Iron Will For them this night has much meaning But at least their boss won’t be coming.” ---------------------- A moustached stallion walked to the local tailor haughtily. “The rich noble His arrogance well known He’ll surely be a problem.” ------------------- Rarity grinned as she stuffed a bag full of Wonderbolts posters. “The unicorn sees only stars.” ----------------------- Fluttershy giggles and dances around her room with her dress. “While the playful Pegasus think it will all be fun.” -------------------------- “So many different ponies of many different backgrounds All look forward to this grand night All for different reasons The highest of profile will be in attendance What could possibly go wrong?” “Oh I can’t wait to begin!” Grand Heist sang. “I am ready!” “Everypony thinks they’re safe! On this night to end all nights Truth, deceit, dreams and friends None of these things at this party All that matters is my fame soon none shall forget the name of Grand Heist!” --------------------- Shining Armour frowned in thought. “Guards in patrol all around a gated wall to block intrusion a cliffside at the back So how will he get in?” ------------------ “3, 2, 1, showtime!” Grand Heist exclaimed as he jumped out through his window. ------------------ Celestia looked over at her sister as she brushed her mane. “One princess seeks to prove herself, the other to make up for past mistakes.” ------------------ Twilight nodded to her family, wearing her dress as she turned and trotted off, her parents looking proud. “The farmer wants to reconnect to her heritage but not to reconcile.” ---------------------- Spike hopped onto Rainbow’s back as the pair leave the treehouse. “The magician and her assistant Have made their decision It’s time to finally end this and stop their enemy!” ---------------------- A trio of pegasi in tight fitting leotard uniforms fly across the sky to Canterlot. “The renowned flyers are making their way to greet their peers This will be a good day for them to relax.” ---------------------- Blueblood nods at his troops. “Everypony knows their duty we must make sure nothing happens No matter if it’s Grand Heist or a dragon Or Ursa Major or a Windigo Nopony shall ruin this night!” ---------------------- Shiniing frowned down at a picture held in his hooves, eyes glaring in contempt. “You will pay.” ------------------------- Rainbow walked along with her friends, Spike on her back, as they sang, trotting onto the train. “Oh this night holds such promise, All our dreams WILL come true! This will be the best night ever This can be guaranteed! The Grand Galloping Gala All the way in great Canterlot is the foundation of our dreams!” --------------------------------- Shining got up, trotting out of his office. “And as day falls and the night begins I believe this will be the night Of the greatest crime All players are on stage The curtain will fall on our finale We’ll have a front row seat to Grand Heist’s fall!” -------------------------------- The train pulled up in front of Canterlot, six mares and one dragon disembarking and walking through the city, five of them staring in awe at the beautiful, majestic architecture. Rainbow Dash and Spike were less impressed, having spent most of their lives here. Soon, the group were approaching the castle, a stallion in a suit standing at the front entrance, a guard on each side of the gate for security. The suited stallion looked at the mares as they approached. “Tickets.” Rainbow dash unfolded her wing, handing over six golden tickets. The stallion looked them over, then looked towards the dragon on her back. Spike gave him a glare. “Think of me as luggage.” The suited stallion shrugged and stepped aside, letting the group enter. The mares gazed in awe at the interior architecture of the castle as they another suited stallion lead them down a stately hall into a large foyer filled with ponies wearing spectacular dresses and suits, a large staircase sitting near the centre of the room and tables set up in convenient places lined with food and punchbowls. In a far corner, a small orchestra played music, a blue-maned white unicorn mare acting as conductor. Hanging from the ceiling above most of the room was a massive, intricately crafted and shimmering chandelier. It was, in a word, breathtaking. “Oh it’s even lovelier than Ah imagined!” Applejack squeeled, then gasped and shouted like an excited filly. “Oh! IT’S CAPTAIN BLUEBLOOOOD!” Indeed, as the earth mare squeeled, the blonde captain of the royal guard walked down the staircase, wearing a fabulously pristine white military suit, tasselled epaulets on his shoulders and a fair number of medals on his chest. The stallion smiled as he addressed the assembled guests. “My apologies, but the guests of honour are still preparing themselves, so you are all welcomed to enjoy yourselves in the meantime. Mingle, catch up with friends and family, relax and enjoy our finest cuisine, this is a night for all ponies to remember; let’s make it a good memory, together, my fellow ponies.” Applejack melted to the ground with shivering sigh, Rainbow Dash rolling her eyes at her friend’s antics. Blueblood spotted the group and trotted towards them, smiling winsomely. “Ah, Rainbow Dash, it is good to see you again, may I escort you?” “Yeah.” Rainbow turned to her friends, most of whom looked confused. “I gotta go do something important girls, you don’t have to worry about it, just enjoy yourselves; this is the night you’ve been dreaming about.” Applejack and Twilight raised their brows as the earth pony spoke. “Darling, whatever are you doing?” Rainbow chuckled. “Oh nothing, don’t worry, just gotta pick up some stuff I left in my old room here I forgot to bring to Ponyville, I thought I might as well deal with it here...” Pinkamena joined Twilight and Applejack in squinting suspiciously at the Pegasus as Rarity interjected. “Ah! Well that sucks, hope you don’t miss the party! It’s gonna be a BLAST!” “Hehe yeah probably.” Rainbow smiled. “Don’t worry guys, I’ll be back in a jiff, you won’t even notice.” She turned and trotted off beside Captain Blueblood. Applejack frowned enviously. “Ohh if only I could trot side-by-side with the most illegible bachelor in Equestria....” Pinkamena wordless plonked herself at the dining table, looking at a few nobles. “Anypony interested in discussing gemstone and metal trading, I’ll be here.” She then began to stoically eat some of the entrees. Rarity grinned and began to trot around, trying to catch the Wonderbolts. Fluttershy giggled and glided a feet in the air, looking at each of the party goers. Twilight and Applejack shared a glance and shrugged, going their separate ways as they both went off to socialise. ---------------------- One of the guards patrolled along the Canterlot Gardens, home to not only a maze and several statues, but also to many exotic animals from all across Equestria, this later point being the most famous piece of information regarding the gardens. Fortunately, the likelyhood of anyone sneaking in through the gardens is small, due to the gardens being rather close to the cliff Canterlot was built upon. The guard turned his head a sound, frowning warily as he spotted something moving in the bushes. It could be one of the animals, of course, but still... As he approached the bushes, a strange pink gas blasted him in the eyes, momentarily blinding him. He rubbed at his eyes and looked around; paling as seemingly every animal in the Gardens ran (and in the case of the birds, flew) towards him. In a blind panic, the poor guard ran as fast as his hooves would allow, pursued by numerous exotic animals. Grand Heist chuckled as he watched from behind a large tree, looking up at the castle walls as he trotted forth jauntily. --------------------- Applejack trotted around the rather crowded scene of the Gala, trying her best to look sophisticated and polite while nonchalantly flaunting her soft yellow, brown and red frilled dress. Unfortunately, the Canterlot nobility seemed to be paying her no mind, too wrapped up in their own conversations to even notice her. She frowned in annoyance, brightening up as she spied a familiar (to her) face. Applejack quickly trotted up to the stallion who was drinking at the punch bowl table. “P-pardon me, but you are Hoity Toity, the fashion critic correct?” He responded merely with an upturned brow, his gaze hidden by his large, dark sunglasses. “Oh how rude of me!” Applejack blushed, flustered. “My name is Applejack and Ah own a small business in Ponyville, and I have some lovely designs I would love to share with an experienced, cultured stallion” He frowned. “My apologies, madam, but this is the one time of the year I can just settle peacefully and enjoy myself. I would, however, be welcome to discuss this matter with you further at a more opportune moment. But now? Now is NOT the time.” He gave her a curt nod and trotted off. Applejack blushed in shame as a mare walked over, flanked by a study looking stallion with an eyepatch over his eye. “Oh look at this silly little thing!” the mare chuckled, a pink unicorn with a curly, bob-cut yellow mane. “Imagine, an EARTH PONY, attending one of the biggest events of the year. And from Ponyville, of all places! I’m surprised to see anypony from such a worthless little town come here! Why, isn’t that just HILARIOUS, Large?” “Humorous, Miss Charge.” Applejack frowned, narrowing her eyes. “What do you mean?” The mare laughed. “Oh of course YOU wouldn’t understand! I mean, how could you? You’re from Ponyville, one of the least important, smallest towns in Equestria! Why, it’s only famous for being built next to the Everfree Forest, at least for those who have even HEARD of it! Naturally, anypony from there are stupid, in-bred noponies who will NEVER amount to anything in their lives!” Applejack gritted her teeth, hooves shaking. “Madame, I assure you that Ponyville is a lovely place populated by many nice, friendly ponies.” “Oh please!” The mare rolled her eyes with a dismissive wave of her hoof. “I can’t believe you even DARED to talk back to me! You’re even MORE pathetic: at least most ponies ACCEPT their shortcoming of birth, but you? The audacity of pretending to be cultured when you hail from such a backwater town, and in THAT hideous thing? Dear, where DID you get that cheap thing?” Applejack’s face turned red, eyes pinpricks. “Ah made this dress mahself. All of my dresses and suits are hoof-stitched and woven, made with careful consideration and thought.” “Ugh. MY dress was imported direct from the biggest clothes maker in Prance, ordered MONTHS in advance for this very day, kept locked tight in a special container until just now, and cost a pretty bit. Nopony came here wearing some dirty, cheaply made piece of TISSUE made by the sweaty hooves of some low-class, unrefined, uneducated country bumpkin!” Applejack responded by decking the mare in the face. --------------------------- The conductor of the orchestra, a mare named Vinyl Record, careful directed her troupe into segueing to a new piece, waving her rod in the air via her magic. She closed her eyes in concentration. “Hey!” Vinyl Record ignored the yellow Pegasus shouting in her ear. It was difficult, but she managed. “Wow you need to do something about your hearing, if you can’t hear me now and all the other times I shouted!” Fluttershy yelled out. “I just want to help you guys liven this party up! Come on, play something fun!” She was pushed aside with a forceful shove of magic, the conductor only momentarily stopping to do so without even acknowledging the pegasus’ presence. Fluttershy put her hooves on her hips, tilting her head. “Well!” She turned to the crowd around her. “Hey who wants to play pin the tail on the pony? That’s always fun!” “Maybe if you’re 3.” A stallion muttered, earning a chuckled from more than a few other nobles. Fluttershy gasped, ignoring the comment. “I just had the perfect idea to kick this party up a notch! Be right back!” She quickly flew out a window, the conductor simply rolling her eyes in relief. ------------------ Twilight Sparkle trotted unsuredly, looking around as she bit her lip. There were so many ponies she didn’t recognise and the atmosphere was so different from Ponyville and her farm it was frankly overwhelming. She could FEEL quite a few ponies staring at her for some reason, it felt wrong...like she was being judged for something... “What’s wrong?” Twilight turned to a pair of unicorns. One was a light grey stallion with a slicked black mane, wearing a green sports polo and a white sports jacket tied loosely over it around his neck, with small glasses on the end of his muzzle. The other was a cream coloured mare with a wavy white-and-grey striped mane wearing a similar outfit to the stallion’s except pink in colour. The both smiled warmly, kindly. “U-umm who are you...?” Twilight asked, raising a brow. “Oh do forgive us!” The mare exclaimed, looking ashamed. “I’m Upper Crust, and this is my husband Jet Set! We couldn’t help noticing you seemed a little nervous and we wanted to see if you were alright?” “We don’t want to assume things, but well, it’s hard not to notice somepony looking unhappy at the Gala.” Jet Set added. Twilight blushed. “O-oh I don’t want to take up your time, especially during such a prestigious event....” “Oh it’s no problem, isn’t that right honey bunch?” jet Set looked to his wife, who nodded in reply. “While we do enjoy the Gala, we couldn’t live with ourselves if we let some poor mare alone with her troubles.” Twilight smiled sheepishly. “That’s very kind of you...” She sighed. “I’m just....it feels so unfamiliar to me, even though it shouldn’t...I can’t remember it too well but I was born here...I was even going to attend Canterlot’s Magic School...But...I just don’t feel comfortable here...it’s too stifling...” Upper Crust nodded sagely, placing a hoof gently on Twilight’s shoulders. “It’s quite alright, the Gala and Canterlot life in general isn’t for everypony.” “But why!?” Twilight’s eyes brimmed with tears. “I heard so many wonderful things about the Gala...about Canterlot...so why do I feel like a stranger? I wanted to reconnect with a part of my heritage by coming here...so then why do I feel like I don’t belong!? Why are so many ponies I never even MET staring at me like a criminal” Upper Crust and Jet Set both frowned and gently rubbed their hooves on her shoulders reassuringly. “It’ll be alright dear...You’re just in an unfamiliar place, you’ll feel better, trust us.” Jet Set said softly, soothingly. “That’s right, me and my husband have been travelling around Equestria for YEARS on our honeymoons! And while we felt uneasy at first, we ended up having so much fun it stopped bothering us!” Upper Crust added. “Honeymoons...plural?” Twilight raised a brow. “Of course!” Jet Set added excitedly. “We had such a blast on our first we decided that just one was not enough!” “Admittedly, it can be difficult sometimes since we donate to charity so often,” Upper Crust said, “but it’s better than resting on our finances like SOME ponies!” Twilight smiled at the kindness and generosity of these two strangers, but frowned. “W-what about the...stares?” “Oh like you don’t know!” Twilight blinked and turned, seeing a blue maned stallion with a matching blue moustache, wearing an expensive tuxedo. “Jet Set! Upper Crust! What are you doing with that...that...that criminal, and without proper Gala attire!?” Upper Crust smiled simply. “Well, we did want to get some nice outfits, but every store we tried was either too expensive or too gaudy.” “Yeah, why must everything be so...extravagant around here?” Jet Set wondered. “So we decided we should just come at our most comfortable, it’s not like there’s a law that states we must dress” “ENOUGH!” The stallion snapped. “Ugh! It’s ponies like you and that...that..OTHER thief that give Canterlot a bad name! Now get out of my sight, I have...GRIEVANCES I wish to discuss.” Upper Crust and Jet Set looked at Twilight in concern, looking back at the stallion and then back and forth, as if indecisive. Twilight smiled. “Don’t worry about me. Just go enjoy yourselves.” The unicorn gestured to the dining table where Pinkamena was STILL sitting alone. “She looks like she could use some company too, anyway.” Jet Set frowned, still unsure. “Are you sure you’ll be alright?” Twilight nodded. Upper Crust looked to her husband and the pair nodded, walking over to the dining table, sparing concerned glances back to Twilight. The purple unicorn sighed softly and looked at the new stallion. “Did I do something wrong?” Suddenly, a pair of ponies trotted out from behind the stallion. One was a white stallion with a dark grey mane, his cutie mark a large red X, while the other was a black mare with a light grey mane, her cutie mark a large red O. “Our client, one Fancy Pants, is far too important a pony to be spoken to with such disrespect, but our client is willing to overlook this breach of conduct...for now.” AT Twilight’s confused look, the pair nodded and gestured to themselves. “Cease.” The stallion said. “Desist.” The mare added. “Attorneys at law, currently acting as Fancy Pants’ legal team.” Twilight blinked in confusion. “W-what’s this about? Why did you call me...a criminal?” Cease and Desist looked at Fancy Pants, who nodded with a smug air. The twins turned back to Twilight, Desist speaking in a monotone. “You, one Twilight Sparkle, are the daughter of Night Light and Velvet, correct?” “Y-yes...?” she blinked in confusion. “Your father was in charge of most of every noble’s finances, even some in the castle kept their savings in his hooves.” Cease continued. “However, your father betrayed that trust and embezzled all of the money entrusted to him. And he didn’t even deign to seek our help in ensuring he was cleared!” Desist gave him a look before speaking. “In either case, your father made a lot of enemies, and that is why he and he his family were banished from Canterlot.” “My dad’s a good stallion, he wouldn’t steal from anypony!” Twilight argued. “Your father is a cheat and liar!” Fancy Pats snapped, pressing himself between Cease and Desist. “As his daughter, you’re a criminal too!” “That makes no sense!” “Your family stole from mine!” Fancy Pants shouted, Cease and Desist trying to drag him away. “As our client says, your family does not have a good reputation here, and thus are not welcome here.” Desist stated. “Princess Celestia herself only trusts Night Light’s son and even THAT is on a thin thread.” Suddenly, a displeased looking Shining Armour trotted over. “Cease. Desist. Is your client so listless he has to bother good ponies during the Gala, of all nights?” “We were merely informing your sister of her standing here.” Cease said. “And I am merely informing you that if you harass any more guests here, I doubt Celestia herself will be willing to listen to you.” The two attorneys glared but trotted off, forcefully pulling along an arguing Fancy Pants. Shining Armour watched them walk off before walking over to Twilight. “I don’t need you to protect me.” Twilight said curtly. “Yes, however I deal with Cease and Desist fairly often, they have a grudge against me for sending many of their clients to prison.” Twilight growled and turned away. “Of course the first thing you bring up is your work.” “Twilight, why did you want to come here?” Shining looked at his sister impassively. “Surely you were aware what would have happened?” “All I knew was that dad was caught in some kinda scandal!” the purple unicorn shouted. “I wanted to see what Mom’s home was like, and the Gala was so special to them and...I didn’t think anypony would be angry at me! Or-or believe these...these LIES!” “I have been working on that, actually...” “I don’t give a flying feather!” Twilight snapped, jabbing a hoof at her brother. “You never write! You never visit! All you care about is your work, about living with these...these snobs!” The prosecutor raised a brow. “I suppose Jet Set and Upper Crust are included among these ‘snobs’?” “what? No! Of course not!” Twilight argued. “Look, that’s not the point!” “Then what is?” “The point is I came here for a special night like mom and dad, and instead I get accused of being a criminal on top of having you show up to me out of the blue!” Shining sighed. “Twilight...” “No! Don’t you ‘Twilight’ me, as if your care, as if you’re still family!” She sniffed and trotted off. “It’s not like I belong here like you do, anyway!” Shining closes his eyes, sighing to himself. His ear twitched as he heard a shout. “Hey! What are you doing with AJ!?” Shining just knew this meant the night was only going to get worse... ----------------------------- Rarity carefully stalked through the crowds, seeking her prey. As she pushed aside a pair of unicorns, she spotted her quarry. The Wonderbolts. The greatest professional flyers in Equestria. And Here they were. She could FINALLY speak to them and join their ranks. But she needed to do something SPECIAL. Something that would WOW them. She couldn’t just go up to them and ASK, that’s crazy. You’re crazy. Shut up. So instead, rarity jumped on the biggest ice sculpture of Celesita ever seen, leapt onto the chandelier and pressed a button hidden under her sky blue toga. Promptly, her dress was torn asunder to reveal a pair of stuff, mechanical wings she spent three days perfecting. She swung herself off the chandelier and went flying into the air. “Boo-yah! Hey Wonderbolts, get a load of me!” The trio of pegasi, the elite leaders of the Wonderbolts, stopped and looked up at the crazy unicorn gliding through the air...and crashing onto them, knocking them to the floor and sending a bowl of punch flying off a table. Rarity looked up, grinning proudly...and then growing sheepish at the glares directed to her by the Wonderbolts. “What were you thinking!?” Captain Flash Sentry, head of the Wonderbolts, scolded her. “You could’ve hurt yourself pulling that stunt!” “But how could I impress you and join you if I didn’t do something risky!?” Rarity countered. “Join...? Look, ma’am, if you want us to recruit you, you go through the proper channels, send us a letter of recommendation, not almost injure us pulling some wild stunt at the Gala, a time we’re supposed to be relaxing and NOT recruiting!” The unicorn frowned, eyes narrowing. “So you’re saying I’m NOT joining the Wonderbolts?” “What, a snobby little unicorn with no wings wants to join us?” Sub-Captain Blossomforth said, getting up with an amused smirk. “Yeah, not happening! Maybe when you grow wings, THEN we may be a little more interested!” “Blossomforth that is ENOUGH!” Flash Sentry glared, making Blossomforth turn away huffily. “The point is, this is not what the Gala is for, and putting your interests before those of ponies you don’t even know is selfish and arrogant. First thing about being a Wonderbolt: knowing the right time and place, and now is NOT the right time or place!” Rarity pulled back sheepishly, the weight of what she had done sinking in. “Oh...you’re right...” Flash Sentry sighed, pulling the unicorn up to her hooves. “Look, you don’t seem to be a bad pony, but I think you came here with some unrealistic expectations and” “Bear!” Rarity shouted, eyes wide in shock. The Wonderbolt blinked. “Bear?” He was knocked to the side by a giant, rampaging bear. ------------------------------ Applejack dodged the hoof of the large stallion, Large, who had started attacking her after she punched the mare, In Charge. “You shouldn’t insult a pony to the face and NOT expect some form of retribution!” Applejack insisted. “Please, this is HARDLY sophisticated!” Large simply fired a blast at her, which struck home, knocking the earth pony to the ground. Large growled, his horn glowing for another charge. “Hey!” Twilight shouted as she trotted near. “What are you doing with AJ!?” Large blinked as the purple unicorn’s horn glowed, lifting a table and slamming it hard against him, shattering it. Large fired a charge which struck a shield around Twilight’s body, redirecting the blast into another table and destroying it. By now several of the party goers were panicing and rshing the leave wjat was now the centre of a fight. Then the partygoers started running back into the room as dozens of animals of various sizes, sleeping patterns, breeds, genders and standing on the food chain started charging in, a grinning yellow pegasus hovering overhead with her forelegs spread wide above her. “What makes a party better than an...ANIMAAAAAAAL PARTYYYYY!!!” Fluttershy called out. Applejack, Twilight and even Large stared at the sight, the room filled with the screams of ponies as the animals caused havoc. “What in the name of harmony is GOING ON HERE!?” Everypony, as well as the animals, turned and froze in silence as the two Princesses stood at the top of the staircase, overlooking the now ruined party. Luna was glaring at her sister while her mane was soaked with a large glass bowl on top of her head. “What is so funny, dear sister!?” Luna roared in anger.