Nightshade shouldnt rat her father out because if she does every single being in equestria will lock him in a cell throw banish him to the everfree banish the everfree to the moon and banish the moon to the sun
As Editor-in-Chief Diamond continues to rant about how popular her paper is (attention hog), Nightshade begins to think about whether or not she should expose her father,
I don't think ratting out Daddy is a good idea. I mean if I did that, then every single big meany who doesn't like my Daddy (for some reason) in Equestria will lock him in a cell, banish him to the Everfree, banish the Everfree to the moon...
Nightshade's eyes widen in horror as she thinks,
An-and then they would banish the moon to the sun! There's no way I can squeal on Daddy! What kind of daughter would I be if-
Just as she's about to finish her thought, Nightshade notices her friends' blank flanks and remembers,
Wait a minute, the whole reason we joined this bucking newspaper was to get our Cutie Marks!
With that thought in mind Nightshade thinks,
Nightshade, whatever you do, DO NOT sell out your father. The implications of doing so are so undeniably bad, I won't even BEGIN to describe them! Actually I will, just to make a point!
Pros - have awesome story, help friends get cutie marks and all that good stuff
Cons - father imprisoned, you'll probably never see your father again or all that delicious food that you crave so often!
Blood is thicker than water, Nightshade! Several times thicker, in fact!
The best thing to do here appears to be to compare the positives and negatives that each situation would entail. And so:
Negatives to betraying your father- He gets caught, thrown in jail, you get placed into a foster service, and you never see each other again
Positives to betraying your father- You get the biggest story of your lifetime, advance on a career in journalism, become rich and famous- maybe even rich enough to bail out your dad.
Results- The positives have a possibility to outweigh the negatives, but as its not a 100% chance, you probably shouldn't do it.
Seeing how me and my friends might get our cutie marks, I might want to make a pros and cons list to help me think this through. Like how Miss Sparkle was debating with herself over whether or not that famous playwright wrote his own plays... That or she was debating who'd win in a fight between a taco and a grilled cheese sandwich, Don't know, don't care.
Nightshade puts on her thinking face as she begins to mentally put together a pros and cons list of rating out her dad;
Pros: The newspaper gets a awesome story, I can help my friends get their cutie marks, I can advance on my career in journalism, and I can become rich and famous- maybe even rich enough to bail out my Daddy outta the sun!
Cons: Daddy goes to jail, never see Daddy again, could get placed into a orphanage run by a mean evil 'caretaker' who..."
Nightshade's eyes widen in horror as she thinks of the most horrible, terrible, and just plain awful thing that can happen to her if she rats out her dad,
Will force me to eat tiny healthy meals! That's it, I've made up my mind!
Nightshade's thinking face turns into a look of determination as she thinks,
I'm not gonna rat my Daddy out! Blood is thicker than water as they say. Plus while the pros might be more than the cons, it's not a 100% chance so I probably shouldn't do it. Now I'll I need to do is find the Mysterious Mare Do Well and-
But before Nightshade can finish her thought, she begins to think back and forth between the pros and cons again. So much so that she begins to think in panic,
Should I? Should I not? Yes? No? Yes? No? Yes? N- WHY ARE DECISIONS SO HARD TO MAKE?! Nightshade thought.
"Nightshade?" Applebloom asked.
"my name is Jeff!" Nightshade randomly shouted. "Who's Jeff?" Sweetie Belle asked curiously. "I don't know." Nightshade answered.
"Anyway I need you four to bring me the juiciest story of them all! That way I- er the Foal Free Press will become the most popular newspaper in Equestria!" Diamond Tiara ordered.
Should I? Should I not? Yes? No? Yes? No? Yes? N- WHY ARE DECISIONS SO HARD TO MAKE?!
"Nightshade?" Apple Bloom asks causing Nightshade to snap and randomly shout,
"My name is Earl!"
"Who's Earl?" Sweetie Belle asks.
"I have no bucking idea." Nightshade answers.
"Anyway, I need you four to bring me the juiciest story of them all! That way I- er the Foal Free Press will become the most popular newspaper in Equestria!" Diamond Tiara orders.
Before Nightshade has a chance to give a snarky swear-filled comeback,, Sweetie Belle says,
"Well we’ll try. Anything else?”
“Yes, we need more juicy stories to fluff out the paper, it can’t be all about Spider Do Well!” Diamond Tiara exclaims.
“Mare Do Well,” Scootaloo corrects.
“YES! Her! Whatever! Give me more! MORE!” Diamond says while twitching.
“Are... are you OK?” Apple Bloom asks in concern for Diamond's sanity.
“I’ve never been better. This newspaper is gonna propel me to the big leagues. Before you know it, I'll be a big media mogul. Then I'll use my influence to bankrupt my daddy and then absorb Barnyard Bargains, then he’ll be the one grounded for doing things I don’t like because I’ll have all the money!” she says with deranged Pinkie Pie-esque quickness.
“The heck is up with her?” Scootaloo asks Nightshade.
“I've been putting double espresso beans into her morning juice,” she smirks.
“Now get out there and get me a story! Who knows what daddy is saying behind my back as we speak...” Diamond says in a cryptic paranoid tone.
ELSEWHERE
Filthy Rich lies on a psychologist couch as he explains his woes to a pony in a labcoat.
“I love my daughter doc, but it just seems like she’s getting worse each day, are you sure your method is working?” asks a distraught Filthy.
“Of course, the only way to deal with Bratius Childreness is to simply ignore the problem until it goes away, preferably by covering your ears and going la la la la.” replies Dr. Quacksalver who is eating Fun Dip.
“And that’s what I have been doing, but she keeps calling other children names and abusing our butler.”
“You must ignore these events, they simply aren’t happening. You will see that once she is done being a teenager and moves out with her latest colt-toy, everything will be fine.”
“But she’s not even a teenager yet.” Filthy points out.
“Oh... oh my. Then I suggest booze, lots and lots of booze.”
“Way ahead of you there doc.” Filthy says as he takes out a flask and takes a swig.
"Anyway, that'll be 10 Bits or a bottle of Trottingham Highland whisky."
BACK TO THE SCHOOL
“Just plotting my demise I know it. For all I know he’s Spider-Mane...” she says with a sip of juice before suddenly jumping back up and exclaiming.
“Everypony! You’re all fired! Get out!”
“What?!” everypony in the room yells.
“Shut up! Quit yelling and get back to work!” she yells before slamming her head into the desk and then immediately lifting it back up.
“Now where was I? Oh yes, Spider Mane Do Well. She could be anypony, even one of my star journalists..."
She glares/stares at the Cutie Mark Crusaders before shaking her head and saying,
"No, that’s ridiculous, that’s what they’d want me to think...”
The CMC decide to just tiptoe back from the rambling Filly.
As Nightshade and the CMC sneak out the door to Diamond's 'office' and head towards the exit, suddenly Sweetie Belle facehoofs and says,
Nightshade was walking around, when suddenly Sweetie Belle stop
"Oh no... I forgot my saddlebag in the reunion with Diamond Tiara" Comment Sweetie Belle
"Crap, well, we can go later when Diamond Tiara is not here" Say Apple Bloom
"But I have my homework in there, I can't go later, not to say that if Rarity see me without the saddlebags she is going to be angry with me" Say Sweetie Belle
"Then let's go together, and if Diamond say something, she will have to go with me first" Say Nightshade
"And with me" Say Scootaloo and Apple Bloom at the same time
"Thank you girls, come on!!" Say Sweetie as they run
The CMC run to the room when they listen Diamond Tiara talking with Silver Spoon
"Oh no... I forgot my saddlebag in the reunion with Diamond Tiara!"
"Darn. Well, we can git it later when Diamond Tiara's not here." Apple Bloom responds.
"But my homework's in there! Not to mention that if Rarity sees me without the saddlebags she made for me, she is going to be angry at me" Sweetie Belle protests.
"Then let's go together, and if Diamond causes troublethen that hyped-up motherbucker will have to go through me first!" Nightshade says.
"And me!" Scootaloo and Apple Bloom say at the same time.
"Thanks girls, come on!!" Sweetie Belle says as they head back into the office and are about to enter when they hear Diamond Tiara talking with Silver Spoon
"Come on Diamond Tiara, you gotta stop harping on the Spider-Mane thing, it's not healthy." Silver Spoon says in concern.
"It all comes back to him, he's already getting his third reboot and it's only been a year!" Diamond says in a rapid caffeine-high.
"I'm just saying, focus on something else."
"Oh alright, other ponies might not be what they claim... Maybe Nightshade is an Alicorn!"
"Ok-Wait, What?!"
"Think about it, the vest, ALL SIGNS POINT TO IT!" she declares deliriously.
"Diamond... please try and get some sleep..." Silver Spoon says in concern before leaving.
"Note to self, best friend might secretly be a Bat Pony, why else would she need glasses?" Diamond says in a paranoid rapid tone, "But anyway..."
"I need proof! This is bigger then the Mare Do Well, The Hooded Offender and Spider-Mare all together! With this, everypony is going to know the name Diamond Tiara!" Diamond declares with a deranged grin.
Meanwhile the CMC look at each other on the other side of the door before they turn to look at Nightshade as Sweetie Belle asks,
"Wow, are you a Alicorn? Like a actual one?"
Scootaloo gives Sweetie a deadpanned look as she says,
"What? Are you actually going to believe Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon? Of course it's a lie! We've all seen Nightshade without her vest on before and she didn't any wings on her, remember?"
Apple Bloom nods her head at this as she says,
"Yeah, Nightshade is our friend and she wouldn't hide anything from us... Right Nightshade?"
Nightshade looks around nervously before she says,
"Uh? Ah... Err... Of course"
Sweetie shakes her head as she says,
"Maybe Mr. Tennant is an Alicorn?"
Nightshade's eyes widen in panic as she shouts,
"What? No!"
Sweetie doesn't seem to notice the annoyed deadpanned look she's getting from Apple Bloom, but Scootaloo buys into this crackpot theory as she says in a excited tone,
"Of course, how could I not see! It's because that Rainbow Dash seems to act strange around him... The Awesomeness of an Alicorn is in conflict with Rainbow Dash's awesomeness, even when Mr. Tennant is hidden under those bandages! Which is because it could be too awesome; Tennant's Alicorn Awesomeness and the Awesomeness of Rainbow Dash could create a Awesome bomb that will destroy Ponyville!"
Apple Bloom gets an exasperated look on her face as she says,
"Are ya'll even listening to yourselves? We've MET him a couple of times without the bandages, and he looks just like a normal unicorn, and we've also seen Nightshade without her vest and she's just a regular unicorn too. If thems alicorns, then where thar wings?"
Scootaloo and Sweetie just get a blank faces as they say,
"Magic"
"But what about-" Says Apple Bloom.
"More Magic"
"And wha-"
"Even more magic!"
Apple Bloom just rolls her eyes and looks over to Nightshade as she asks,
"Is there something you don't wanna tell us?"
Before Nightshade can say anything, Diamond yells from her office,
"WHAT ARE YOU FOUR SLACKERS DOING? IF YOU DON'T GET YOUR FLANKS IN GEAR AND A JUICY STORY ON MY DESK BY THE END OF THE DAY THEN YOU'RE ALL FIRED! AND I'LL MAKE SURE YOU BLANK-FLANKS MAKE THE FRONT LINES OF BEING THE LAMEST PONIES IN TOWN!"
Nightshade and the CMC bolt out of the press room as fast as they can. As they do, Nightshade can't help but think,
Oh no! What the buck am I gonna do now!? If I don't rat out my dad, then we'll all get fired and be called the biggest dumbflanks in town! Even though I'll just sic Pumpkin and Poundcake on Diamond for doing that, it might ruin my friends! I can't let that happen! Oh... what would Daddy do in this situation?
As soon as she thinks this, Nightshade suddenly images in a thought bubble,
"Ahhhhhhhhhhh*whack*!!!", An Imaginary Bugze running in circles screaming in panic before stepping on a rake.
After shaking off the gardening instrument, Imaginary Bugze says,
"Okay... Bugze, calm down... what would Grandbuggy do in this situation?"
A imaginary bubble opens within the Imaginary bubble but it's empty.
"Hey, why is that bubble empty?" Nightshade asks.
"Sorry, I'm just a piece of your imagination, you never met Grandbuggy so you have no idea what he looks like." Imaginary Bugze responds.
"Shoot." Nightshade groans as the Imaginary Bugze and the imaginary bubbles disappear.
That didn't help at all! Maybe I should just turn him i-
Nightshade's thought is suddenly ended as a burst of determination hits her from outta nowhere,
Your unbreaking loyalty to your father quickly overcomes any thoughts of betraying him. A quick deduction of the situation and past experience proves that any chance of your friends getting their Cutie Marks from this is sadly none. With this in mind, you decide to just go along and watch the fireworks.
Burn that thought.
Burn it with fire.
You will never rat out your father.
You're better than that, Nightshade.
You know what, buck it! I'm never gonna rat out my Daddy! He's the best Daddy in the world, and there's nothing that's gonna make me want to give him up. So I'm just gonna burn the thought of betraying my Daddy outta my head. Besides...
Nightshade looks sadly at her friends (as they are now walking out of the school) as she thinks,
Knowing our history, we're probably not gonna earn our Cutie Marks anyway. I might as well just go along and watch the fireworks. It's not like anything bad is gonna happ-what the buck?
Nightshade stares at the scene before her in complete confusion as she sees,
That the playground seems divided into three groups wearing different costumes and they appear to be arguing with each other. Some are wearing Rainbow Wigs, others Mare Do Well Hats and suits, and yet some are wearing long scarves, trench coats, and even panama hats.
“What’s this all about?” Nightshade asks.
“Oh, it’s the new turf war” Scootaloo says.
“Huh?”
“Well, ever since Mare Do Well showed up, the Rainbow Dash fan club has been split down the middle, and the two factions don’t get along” says Scootaloo.
“And then there are the fans of your dad who are growing in numbers, they call themselves The Tennants” says Sweetie.
Nightshade notices that most of her dad's fanclub consist of the Colt Army from the Heart’s and Hooves Day incident, though there are a few fillies here and there.
“Yeah, they try to keep the peace between the two sides, but somehow or another there’s always a fight.” says Apple Bloom.
“Sounds familiar,” Nightshade comments, “But I can’t believe there's a fan club to my daddy and I’m not the leader of it! I was his first fan before it was cool!... Not that I’m a hippie-ster or anything,” she says with a shiver.
“Well I personally don’t want to be a part of any of it, I like Rainbow Dash, Mare Do Well, and Mr. Tennant equally,” Scootaloo says sadly. “Can’t we all just get along?”
Suddenly there's a flashbulb and everypony sees Featherweight.
“Oooo, that sounds like the headline for this story.” he says.
“Good thinkin Featherweight,” comments Apple Bloom, “Now let’s get out of here before they all start fighting again."
"Can't we just beat up everypony... for peace?" Nightshade says,
"But if we do that, we'll all get detentions and groundings and thus we'll never get our Journalism Cutie Marks." Apple Bloom comments.
"Oh." Nightshade comments.
“Anyway girls, you’ll never guess what I just got on camera at the spa!” Featherweight chimes in.
“What?” the fillies all ask.
“Follow me.”
He leads the CMC to his Dark Room where Photos are processed and shows you a picture of... Rainbow Dash at the Spa getting a Hooficure.
“Whoah... I didn't know she was such a softie.” comments Sweetie.
“Hey! She’s still cool, she’s just... relaxing,” stammers Scootaloo.
“I don’t know Scoots, this right here is the perfect story,” says Apple Bloom.
“Yeah, the warring factions will eat it up." Nightshade agrees.
“Actually, this isn't the photo I wanted to show you, but here you go,” he says as he hoofs over the Dash Photo, “this is what I wanted to show you.” he says as he pulls out a picture of... Bugze as a changeling (Luckily his scarred eye is not shown and the angle is low enough to not show off your orange spiky hair).
Nightshade gulps nervously at this, but all the other girls don't notice as they're surprised at this.
“How did you get this?” Nightshade asks.
“I was at the spa trying to get a good angle for when my big brother pummels Nightshade’s dad-”
“Wait, what?” Nightshade says, but is ignored.
“But he was already gone, instead I see this Changeling run into a closet and not come out. When I went inside, he was gone.”
“Oh wow, I wonder who he could be?” asks Sweetie.
“Should we report this to the guards?” asks Scootaloo. "This could be the start of another changeling invasion!"
"Wait, another changeling invasion?" Nightshade asks in confusion.
"Yeah. Around almost a year ago, Queen Chrysalis attacked and replaced everypony in Ponyville and kidnapped us, but our sisters and friends were able to beat them back and save us." Sweetie Belle says.
Scootaloo then adds,
"Yeah you should have been there! There was fighting, and giant spiders, and comets, and Twilight going all TASTE THE FRIENDSHIP MOTHERBU-"(*)
“I don’t know, this sounds like a fantastic story!” Apple Bloom interrupts.
“Um... maybe we shouldn’t run it?” Nightshade hesitantly says.
“Oh come on, this is way bigger than Mare Do Well, if we bust this story open, we’re sure to get our cutie marks” Sweetie comments.
Nightshade thinks for a moment,
True they don’t know it’s Daddy, so it technically wouldn't count as ratting him out. It’s just a random Changeling running around...
“OK, let’s do it... but we should probably try and look for other stories as well as... we got a whole issue to fill!” she says.
The Cutie Mark Crusaders and Featherwight nod their heads at Nightshade's idea. After that she says,
"Okay, me and Apple Bloom will go check out the apple's attic for anything good. Scoot's, Sweetie, and Feather will go into a bush near the mares side of hot spring in town and take pictures of any Peeping Toms!"
With the roles decided, the CMC and Featherwieght head out...
LATER, SWEET APPLE ACRES
We see Apple Bloom and Nightshade rummaging around in the attic.
“What exactly are we looking for again?” asks Nightshade.
“Something from my Granny’s time, if we find some gossip from the olden days, the old folks will love it,” says Apple Bloom.
As she searches through a crate, a photo album falls out. Nightshade picks it up and see Granny Smith as a young mare posing for pictures.
“Hey Bloom, check this out,” she says.
“Oh hey, it’s Granny during her traveling days... the hay?”
The thing is, some of the pictures appear to be out in space, or with creatures that she has never seen before. A few of the photos even show a stallion with a long scarf and frizzy hair standing in front of a Big Blue Box.
“It couldn't be...” Nightshade comments.
“That there looks like yer dad’s scarf Shade,” Apple Bloom comments.
A few more photos show Granny Smith with a stallion in a bowler hat. He seems familiar, and he looks an awfully lot like Bugze...
“Huh, wonder who those stallions are, and... why is he kissing my Granny?!” cries Apple Bloom,
They both see one last picture of young Granny Smith sharing a passionate kiss with the stallion in the bowler hat.
“That sure as heck ain't my Grand Pappy!”
“Must have been an old coltfriend,” Nightshade comments.
“Alright, I’m done, I don’t want to see anymore,” she says rubbing her eyes as she walks down the stairs.
“OK, something’s up with this picture,” Nightshade says, “I better hold onto it.”
"Granny Smith/Doctor photo"
"Granny Smith/Bowler Hat Pony photo"
Added to Saddle Bag
As Nightshade and Apple Bloom head down the stairs, Nightshade lets out a loud yawn and smacks her lips tiredly as she says,
"Hey Bloom, why don't you go back to the press room with what we got. I'm gonna hit the hay early."
Apple Bloom nods her head as she says,
"Alright, see ya later!"
With that said Nightshade and Apple Bloom head their separate ways from the bottom of the stairs and Nightshade heads towards the shack...
THE DREAMSCAPE
We see Nightshade chatting with her mother about the many stories they've uncovered, (conveniently excluding the Changeling one)
“Very good honey, and how have your lessons with the False Goddess’s Pupil gone?” Selena asks.
“Awesomely. She's teaching me a replication spell, but I can levitate objects easily now and also, I can make my horn or wings disappear too.”
“Transformative spells this early?” she asks.
“Oh no, I just figured it out one day when I was looking in the mirror. My wings were kind of itchy, and I made them disappear with green fire.”
“I see, that must be the changeling blood within you. I never thought your father would imbue you with that,” Selena comments.
“Ooohhh, does that mean I can change into other ponies too?” Nightshade asks excitedly.
“I’m not too sure, but I would suggest you don’t openly try while others are looking, understood?”
Nightshade sighs because she really wanted to show her friends,
“Yes Mommy...”
“Do not fret my precious, when you are ready, I shall teach you techniques that that puppet can’t even begin to dream about.”
“Oh, Alicorn powers?”
“To an extent, but within you lies the power of Shadow and Nightmare, I will teach you how to use it when the time is right.”
“Awesome!” Nightshade exclaims.
Suddenly a taco and a grilled cheese burst through a celestial cloud and start brawling. Selena looks at this in surprise and exclaims,
"What in the name of me-"
"Oh, that's just something I think Miss Twilight was talking about. Anyway, Finish him! FINISH HIM! Yes, taco!" Nightshade cheers as the taco starts beating the grilled cheese sandwich with a chair.
Selena can only facehoof as she mutters,
"What has that fool done to my daughter now..."
P.O.V CHANGE: BUGZE (YOU)
As expected, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and even Fluttershy were hanging around you the most during your spa day and while you didn't exactly not like their presence (their spa treatments made them look really pretty and bring out their- NO! BAD BUG!), they were always next to you the whole time you where at the spa. Luckily you managed to give them the slip before the transformation potion prematurely wore off, but you had to make a run to the closet where your clothes were before anypony found you, but you don't think anyling saw you.
Right now you've finished your workload for the day and ate dinner (1/2 a Box of Whole-What crackers, 1 Can of Creamy Tomato Soup, and 1 Instant Noodle Bowl)and are currently heading back to the shack for some good decent sleep. You've had a long day and you'd really like to just relax. Now as long as nothing tries to interrupt you while you head home everything will be fi-
"Huh-*poke* AHHHH MY EYE!"
You hold your non-scared eye in pain as you look down to see...
Cadance replies that she is NOT moonlighting as a vigilante
The Instant Mail Transfer Container. You sigh at the fact that Cadence somehow almost always manages to send this thing to you in a painful way. Sighing, you open it up and read the letter inside;
Dear Bugze,
I don't know why you would think it's me, or an Alicorn to begin with. There's only three in existence; me, Luna, and Celestia. Besides, I'm too busy dealing with reports and rumors of possible evidence of a new... structure possibly near the Crystal Mountains in northern Equestria. Nothing to worry about, nope nothing at all.
From,
Cadence
P.S. If you can come up here and visit that would be grand
P.P.S Bring your uh... Power Glove
Well, at least I know she's not the Mysterious Mare Do Well, but who could that leave...ah whatever, I'm going to go to the shack and get some bucking sleep!
With that thought in mind you put the Instant Mail Transfer Container back into The Inventory and you head home...
THE NEXT NOON
Eat breakfast with Nightshade (1 Box of "Lucky Oats" remaining) and collect your pay for yesterday's work.
You already ate breakfast with Nightshade (1 Box of "Lucky Oats" remaining), packed Nightshade's lunch (Jar of Chocolate Peanut Butter, Box of Whole-wheat crackers, 2 Apples, 2 Bags of Gummy Fruits, 2 Bottles of cotton-candy flavored Ramune), and collected your pay (41 Bits remaining) so now you're in the middle of patching a section of the barn wall when...
The Doctor replies back to you repeating what he had Derpy tell you on Nightmare Night:
'Don't hurt the Vigilante, it isn't what they appear to be'
He also said that during his adventures, he befriended a terminally ill filly named Sydney Moffat and entertained her with tales of her adventures, but that filly would beat her disease and would adapted his tales into the serial, Doctor Whooves/Hooves (spelling depends on location). Naturally the serial is ALOT different than the Doctor's true adventures due to stuido mandates, different writers, and even the Doctor omitting and exaggerating details when telling his tales to her.
You feel the Inter-Dimensional Notebook vibrate within the Inventory. You take it out and it reads,
Dear Bugze,
As I'm sure I told Derpy to tell you during Nightmare Night;
'Don't hurt the Vigilante, it isn't what they appear to be'
Also to answer your question; during my adventures, I befriended a terminally ill filly named "Moffie" and entertained her with tales of my adventures, but that filly would beat her disease and would adapt my tales into the serial, Doctor Whooves/Hooves (the spelling of which depends on location). Overall, it was a blast to see it on the silver screen, even if it's ALOT different than the my true adventures due to studio mandates, changing writers, and even I myself omitted and exaggerated details when telling little Moffie my tales.
Your eyes widen as you think,
Whoa whoa whoa... The Doctor indirectly created his own show? That certainly explains alo-
"Hi daddy."
You jump a little in shock before seeing your daughter and ask her,
"Nightshade? Shouldn't you be in school?"
"I'm on lunch break. Plus because I'm a journalist for the Foal Free Press and the fact that Cheerilee seems to have other things on her mind, she doesn't care when me and my friends spend more time out of the classroom. Anyway, I need more bits for The Hayburger Joint."
"What about that lunch I packed you thi- Wait, nevermind." you responds as you remember Nightshade's appetite and hoof her a few Bits (36 Bits remaining. Nightshade has 9 Bits).
As Nightshade is about to head off and you're about to finish removing the last rusty nail with the vise-grips...
"SUGARCUBE!"
You and Nightshade turn to see Applejack running towards you in worry.
"Sugarcu- Ah mean Mr. Tennant, did y'all happen ta' see a Changeling runnin' around lately?" She asks.
How could they know? you think in a panic before quickly saying,
"No! Of course not. Certainty no changelings anywhere near here. Hahahaha Why'd you ask?"
Applejack immediately (and quite literally) shoves a newspaper in your face as she exclaims,
"READ!"
You take the paper out of your face and began to read aloud,
"Changeling found in Ponyville Day Spa! Yesterday while one of our associates was walking past the Ponyvile's spa, he noticed a Changeling in one of the empty hallways. he was only able to take this photograph of the Changeling before it ran away. 'It was terrifying.' he said. 'To think that such a creature is hiding within our very Town.' This has caused quite an uproar among the Foal Free Press as we continue to figure out how this bug managed to enter Ponyville unnoticed. If you see any sign of Changeling activity, contact the Royal Guard immediately. Is this the prelude to another invasion! Buy the next issue to find out!"
Not noticing a guilty look appear across Nightshade's face, you're about to hoof the paper back to Applejack, when you notice the Gabby Gums column...
-Fluttershy driven to tears by "tail extensions" accusation makes you upset *snap*
"Hey Applejack, there's a column on you."
"What?!" Applejack exclaims as she grabs the paper back. She reads it and suddenly gets an angry look on her face as she yells,
"Applejack Asleep on the Job! I was taking my normal 5-minute nap break, but this makes me look like a lazy bum! Who the hay does this Gabby Gums think she is?!"
Nightshade looks more guilty and you're about to say something when Applejack exclaims,
"Fluttershy Has Tail Extensions!"
*snap* "The buck was that!?" You yell.
That is NOT cool! Knowing how sensitive Fluttershy is, she's probably having a breakdown or something. Also, Fluttershy's tail is perfectly natural like the rest of her supermodel bo- NO! BAD BUG!
"I better go check on Fluttershy." Applejack says, "Knowing her, she could use some comferting right now. Anyway, seeing how yer daughter's already here, feel free to take a lunch break."
"Oh, thanks boss." you say.
"Also, if ya' see a Changeling around here, y'all know what ta' do."
"Don't worry we'll tell ya if we see anything suspicious." you answer.
"Well, just letting ya know. See ya latter Mr. Tennant." Applejack says before she nods her head at you in thanks and trots off.
You had to tempt Lady Luck did you? Selena said.
This is gonna to be a long day...
With that, you and Nightshade head out to find something to eat...
SOMETIME LATER
Now we see that your idea to just eat out with your daughter turned into you hanging out with Flash, Twilight, and (strangely) Octavia at a taco cart near a construction site while Nightshade and her friends are eating at The Hayburger Joint across the street for free. You can't help but smile at this as you think,
Finally, for once a restaurant that, when they put the words 'free food' in a advertisement (the "Behemoth Challenge" to be exact) they actually mean it. And it looks like she's having fun, if only it wasn't so awkward over here...
It's not that you don't mind the three ponies who are with you company (Flash is your bro after all, Twilight can be considered your female nerd best frenemy, and Octavia is classy company in general. Not to mention she's easy on the ey- NO! BAD BUG!), it's just they keep giving you worried glances. You can't help but stare at them in confusion as you think,
Just what are they so worried about?
EARLIER THAT DAY, WITH FLASH AND TWILIGHT
We now find ourselves at the Ponyville market, where Flash just ran into Twilight,
"Oh, good morning Twi-"
"What' so good about it?" Twilight snaps causing Flash to recoils with a,
"Oh, I'm sorry Miss Twilight."
After that, Twilight takes a few calming breaths and says,
"No, I'm sorry Flash. It's just that Gabby Gums said that I'm a prissy snob who thinks Ponyville is nothing but muddy roads and low-class rubes! I talked to Spike and he swears that Gabby Gums made it up! She just prints whatever lies she wants! She doesn't care whose reputation she destroys!"
"Actually... that paper may be right about there being a changeling in town." Flash says.
Twilight looks at Flash in concerned confusion as she asks,
"Why do you think that?"
Flash sighs as he says,
"Think about it. Sabotages with green slime at the crime scenes, ponies claiming to be at different places when the sabotages happened yet other ponies claim they saw them there. It all points to changelings."
Twilight nods her head at this information as she contemplates,
"Hmmmm, you make several good points, but until we know for certain, we should keep this to ourselves to prevent a widespread panic. Anyway, for more positive news, why did you drag Tennant to the spa yesterday?"
Flash sighs sadly as he says,
"Actually, the reason I took Baker to the spa yesterday was I found out that three apple trees almost crushed him."
Twilight gasp in shock as she asks (a bit too loudly),
"Was it sabotage!?"
Flash nods his head grimly as he says,
"It was. I went back to the apple field after the spa and found that the trees in question were sawed to the point that just the tiniest amount of pressure would cause them to collapse on the pony who caused the pressure. It was unnoticeable, the cuts I mean. So whoever did it knew what they were doing."
Twilight shakes her head in worry as she asks,
"Does that mean that Mister Tennant is..."
Flash nods his head grimly again as he says,
"Sadly yes. Tennant has somepony or ponies or even somelings after him. And it angers me to say that this means that my best frie- no my bro is in danger. Somepony is trying to kill Mister Tennant!"
"WHAT!"
Both Flash and Twilight jump in shock as they look over to where the shout came from to see...
A worried and terrified Octavia.
BACK TO THE PRESENT
Eh, given my usual clumsy antics, it's probably nothing...
With that thought in mind you start to get into a conversation with Octavia about music as you wait for your food orders. What you don't notice is a shady figure entering the construction site...
P.O.V. CHANGE: NIGHTSHADE
We see Nightshade, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo at a window-side booth in The Hayburger Joint eating their meals(*).
"Ow... My tummy is starting to sting..." Nightshade groans.
"I'm not surprised." Sweetie Belle says.
"Yeah Shade, that's your 4th Mammoth in a row." Scootaloo adds.
"Guess that 'Graveyard' soda is living up to its name." Apple Bloom comments.
"Blargh..." Nightshade responds when she starts to remember what her Daddy taught her a week ago,
"Nightshade, when your tummy ain't feeling too good, just drink some ginger ale and you'll feel all better. Now watch this sweetie, I'm gonna prank Applejack so-"
*fling splot* "AIIEEEEEE!"
"Dang it Caramel! That wasn't meant for you!"
As Nightshade chuckles at the memory, she says,
"Waiter! Refill please, but with ginger ale this time! Extra ice!"
P.O.V CHANGE: BUGZE (YOU)
We now see you taking the food you just ordered (3 "Flambe" tacos (extra-spicy crunchy tacos with Habanero hot sauce, shredded carrots, shredded cheese, lettuce, pico de gallo, and sliced jalapenos), 3 sides of cheesy nachos, and 3 empty tortilla wraps. 30 Bits remaining) to the table where the others are (Flash and Twilight are sharing the Grande Loaded Nachos while Octavia settled for the Taco Salad).
Subconsciously, you start to empty the taco fillings onto the nachos, crunch the shells and add them to the mixture, mix them together, pour the mixtures onto the tortillas, and lift up the sides of the tortillas with your horn magic to form 3 bag-like shapes. You smile at your hoofy work as you are about to eat one, when you hear Flash ask,
"Uh Baker... what did you make?"
You sigh in sadness at not getting to eat the deliciousness you just created as you look over to Flash, Twilight, and Octavia to answer when you see...
All three of them are staring at your creations in confusion while Twilight is... drooling? You ignore the strange sight as you say,
"These, my dear friend; is the Naco. A beautiful combination of the taco, nachos, and burrito."
You hold the Naco in in the air as if it's the grand prize in a race. Flash just stares at it some more before he asks,
"Huh... that's cool. Where'd you learn to make it?"
You open your mouth to answer,
"Well-Argh!"
But before you do you clench your teeth and hold your head in pain as it suddenly starts to sting. Your group of friends gasp in shock as Octavia exclaims in concern,
"Mr. Tennant! Are you okay?"
You shake your head as the pain goes down and you say,
"Yeah I'm fine, it's just that whenever I try to remember how I learned to make it, I get a pain in my head and I get this image of a older chan-stallion. It's probably nothing, but ya I don't remember how I learned to make them, it's just subconscious instinct in me is all. Anyway I"m gonna-HEY!"
You look back over to your Nacos only to see one is missing! You look around for whoever dared to steal your Naco, when you see Twilight...
Having a look of pure pleasure on her face as she eats your Naco. She stops chewing when she sees the strange looks she's getting from you, Flash, and Octavia. She swallows the Naco in her mouth as she blushes in embarrassment before saying,
"Sorry... it's just that nachos are my favorite food and seeing you make a Naco reminded me of how Spike makes his hoof-licking good nachos. Plus this is really good!"
You glare slightly at Twilight as you say,
"While I am humbled that you think it tastes good, please ask next time before you take my Nac-*crunch*!"
You turn around and see that Flash is eating another one of your Nacos! You glare at him as he chuckles nervously before saying,
"Heh heh... sorry Baker. *gulp* But Twilight wasn't kidding, these are really good! Plus, I'm paying you back for that Hayburger talk..." he mutters the last part under his breath.
Twilight giggles as Octavia rolls her eyes and says,
"Don't worry Mr. Tennant. I'm content with my dish."
You continue to glare at the two Naco-stealers as you grab the last Naco and are about to eat it when...
*creeeeeeeek*
Nightshade, you, and the others look around in confusion at the noise. It's not till you look at the construction site and see...
The construction site begin to fall apart! You see Rainbow Dash try and help, but only succeed in saving one pony. Before you and Flash can rush in and help, the Mysterious Mare Do Well shows up and saves the others, without even taking a scratch. When everything is over, you try to speak to the masked vigilante when she's already gone. Cursing your luck, you begin to walk away back to your uneaten naco when you're suddenly pulled into an alleyway.
“Hey, what the-“ you begin but are shushed by a hoof.
“Shh, keep it down before someone hears you.” Rainbow Dash says as she leans in close to you.
You blush nervously and hold your mask firmly in place as you say,
“Come on Rainbow, I thought you were finally respecting my boundaries!”
“What?” she asks.
“Not that you’re a bad kisser or anything, like how do you always taste so spicy and...”
She shoves her hoof in your mouth again.
“N-no, I’m not gonna...” she mumbles while blushing before shaking her head, “Look, I’m not here for... that, maybe later, but not right now.”
You raise an eyebrow at that since her hoof is currently still in your mouth,
“Look, I need your help, and you’re like the only pony I can come to...” she says with a sad look.
You can see she is being sincere so you take her hoof out of your mouth and ask,
“OK, what do you need help with?”
“I need you to help me take down the Mysterious Mare Do Well by dressing up as the Offender and letting me beat you up in public.”
You stare at the Rainbow-maned pegasus in shock as all you can do is say...
"You want me to do WHAT!"
What do you do?
Before you can answer, one thought runs through your head.
DANGER, WILL ROBINSON! DANGER! DANGER!
There is a Royal Guard chilling in town right now. A skirmish with Mare Do Well in the night is one thing, but a public brawl with Rainbow Dash will send so many warning flags up the pole, Bowser would think Mario cloned himself dozens of times over.
You can’t risk that, especially when Applejack is already looking out for a changeling. Two of your identities being revealed is just too much. It’s like your grandbuggy said...
”Boy, what you need to remember is that a plan that relies on chance is no plan at all.”
“But you put all your bits on red!”
The roulette wheel stops, and the stallion calls out, “Eleven, black!” He then pulls all of grandbuggy’s coins away.
Grandbuggy walks away in silence, and you follow him, looking up at him in worry.
“Boy, the next thing you have to remember is that you never gamble with what you aren’t willing to lose.”
You nod your head solemnly. “Those bits didn’t mean much to you, did they? That’s why you risked them.”
“What? No! It’s these &%^$**# that cheated me! They shouldn’t have gambled with more than they’re willing to lose. We’re burning this place to the ground.”
“But we couldn’t buy any gasoline, so all we had were sticks to rub together,” you say, coming out of the flashback. “But the temple of greed still burned. Burned, I say! That’ll teach them to use magnetic balls!”
Rainbow Dash looks at you blankly. “Did I mention that I saw Mare Do Well cheat at a game of cards the other day?”
“She what?”
“Oh yes.” Rainbow grins. “She cheated good ponies out of their bits. Foals, actually.”
“She cheated foals?!”
“I know, right? Is that the kind of pony this town needs as a hero?”
“No!”
“Is that the kind of pony we’re going to let get their own comic book someday?”
“No!”
“So you’ll help me take her down?”
“No!”
Rainbow blinks. “What? Why?”
“Huh? Oh, sorry, I was... uh, caught up in the pattern. Yes!”
You both hoof bump and say, “Let’s do it!”
Rainbow Dash says the Gabby Gums article is making her desperate to restore her reputation.
"Wait, how am I supposed to be the Hooded Offender? I don't even have a hooded coat." you ask
"Well, uh..."
Rainbow Dash looks around in contemplation before spotting something,
"I got it!"
With that, she zips away, but a second later you feel a peace of cloth stuffed on you and all you can see is black.
"There!" RD says.
You look at yourself and see you're wearing a Horde Cloak so you ask Rainbow Dash,
"Where did you get this cloak?"
"In the trash." Rainbow Dash responds.
"Okay... But how am I suppsed to get the Mysterious Mare Do Well's attention? I don't even know where she is!"
"I got that planned out." Rainbow Dash responds, "The Mayor's holding some special ceremony for her so just commit some crimes while wearing your cloak, she'll show up, and I clobber you before I can. The plan is flawless!"
"Uh... What happens after I get captu-"
"Thanks Tennant!" Rainbow Dash calls as she zips off.
You stand there and think in annoyance,
Welp, might as well finish my lunch firs-
"Ooo... Abandoned food. *crunch*"
"...Dang it."
"Uppercut! Downer-cut! Bowl of PUNCH!"
After your pathetic attempts at "crimes" like jaywalking and littering fail without getting any attention. You're about to give up when you spots a fat snobbish earth pony with a ponytail with a box of Orange-Frosted Buffo-Bombs (your favorite all-time cereal with crunchy orange frosted shells with chewy vanilla cream centers with accompanying tomahawk-shaped marshmallows that turn milk orange and make it taste like orange-cream, but was banned by Celestia for the advertising being species-ist against Buffalo and having artificial sweetners that cause horn and wing cancer in ponies) leading to this exchange;
"I must has it!!!"
"Deluded phony, Orange-Frosted Buffo-Bombs are for-"*Falcon Punch*
"MINE!!!" you yell as you grab the cereal before stroking the box, "My precious..."
1 Box of "Orange-Frosted Buffo-Bombs" cereal added to Inventory
=====================
The plasmids and vigoors don't need nicknames cause;
1. They're fine the way they are
2. Bugze uses puns and expressions during his "Would you kindly..." Power Glove moments anyway
3. The flashback to the Mad Scientist confirms they are a Bioshock reference (the mad scientist was the college roommate of Equestria's version of Ken Levine and thus ripped off his designs and names from the notes of his video game idea)
NO!
You mustn't let EVERYPONY know who you are!
It's bad enough Rainbow Dash knows who you are!
Now all you have to do is say no and...
"Yes." you say.
You hate yourself sometimes.
-----Next evening-----
Rainbow Dash flies directly at you, and you sidestep.
She crashes into a building, end of battle.
------------------------------------
Did I miss how RD figured it out?
5768227
I don't think she knows who you are. She just picked you because, well, who else would help her? The other mane 6 are teasing her about Mare Do Well.
5768236 Na, Bugze doesn't know that... hihi...
You have a better idea.
Pretend to say that the offender owes you a debt (hint) and do an interesting ritual to summon him
I don't think the plasmids need a nickname
--------------
You begin to think about the offer Rainbow say
"But Rainbow, what if someone catch me, I don't like to hurt other ponies, also anypony is going to see that I'm not the true offender when I don't use his power, damn... He fight in the gala in front of ponies, don't you think they are going to think is strange that you alone defeat him?" Comment Bugzee
Just then Bugzee listen a voice, in his head but it's not Selena voice, even if it's familiar
"Just accept, use all your power to kill that stupid hero and later tell the Rainbow Mare that someone replaced you, you win and the hero die, it's perfect"
'What? Selena, that it's a little drastic, don't you think?' Ask Bugzee in his head
'Ehhh... Sorry, it was not me... Are you sure it was not you?' Say Selena
'How it's possible... Is my head going to become a hotel for spirits?' Ask Bugzee confused
Bugzee shock his head as he try to center himself
"Tennat, Did you listen to me?" Ask Rainbow
"Eh, what? Yeah, Yes..." Say Bugzee as he just remember that he was talking with RD
"Great, Let's go to your house to plan" Say Rainbow
"What? why my house?" Ask Bugzee
"Duh, I live in a cloud and unless you are a Alicorn or a Changeling disguised, you can't walk in clouds" Say Rainbow laughing
"Me? A changeling? Uhh, of course not he... he... he..." Bugzee make a little forced laugh
"Great, then let's run!" Say RD as they run
......
Meanwhile with Nightshade
.......
"We already make good stories, but Diamond Tiara want more, and more each time... What could we do about the next story?" Ask Nightshade
"MMM.... What about Rarity being Spider-Mare" Ask Sweetie Belle
"You think anyone is going to believe that? Is like telling My granny was Bat-Mare, no one is going to believe it" Comment Apple Bloom
......
Meanwhile in Sweet Apple Acrees, Granny Smith open her wardrobe and after opening two drawer a secret door is open that have a tunnel and a suit of Bat-Mare
"That was a good time..." Say Granny Smith looking the Bat-Mare suit
After that, she close the drawers and the secret door close
...,
"Too bad we can't have a interview with RD or the Hooded Offender, or some super-hero" Say Scootaloo
"Yeah... If only we could contact the hooded offender, we could get a great story and maybe our cutie marks" Say Sweetie Belle
Just then a candle light itself above Nightshade
"Ideeeaaaa...." Say Nightshade happy
"Nightshade, are you okay? you worry me, you have the same look that have my sister sometimes and then ignore everything around her" Say Sweetie Belle
"Ummm, yeah, just that I need to do something, let's meet in the club in half a hour..." Say Nightshad as she begin to run
'Now I need to search Daddy, this is going to be great, not only daddy is going to win good fame, we can even get a cutie mark, or even more' Think Nightshade as she run to Sweet Apple Acres
----------
Yes, the blue voice is Shadow Bugzee
hmm you know what if the former horde members help out Bugze???
5768559 Then is going to be War... Just like in Fillydelphia with the false hooded offender and the guards, now it's going to be Ponyville...
Royal Guards Vs The Offender Vs Rainbow Vs Rainbow Fans Vs Hooded Offender Fans Vs MMDW Vs Fans of MMDW... A big war around Ponyville
5769162 hmmm I'd be down with that.
Make sure that whatever you wear does not overly resemble your outfit. Otherwise, you could end up in jail. Whatever you do, don't let yourself get caught, and explain that you were doing what you did to help Rainbow afterward.
Now, for the battle.
1. No killing, near-killing, or permanent injury. Also, don't destroy anything (that would be cool, but you could be fined or jailed for destroying property.
2. Use different moves than what you would normally use. Don't use the no shadow kick, for example, or the Falcon Punch. Just stick with usual punches and kicks.
3. Don't hit kids. Other than that, anyone fighting is a target.
Umm, RD, I really don't think that would be a good idea.
Why not? It's a foolproof plan.
... no, just no, it's not at all.
She flutters her eyelashes and says,
C'mon, can you do it for me?" she says standing inches away from your face.
Just say no.
Okay!
GOSH DARN IT TO HECK!
“I need you to dress up like the Hooded Offender to take down Mare Do Well” she says again.
“Ya I heard the first time, but I’m still not getting it,” you say.
“What’s not to get?” she asks.
“Well for starters, how about WHY?” you say exasperated.
“To show up Mare Do Well and to show everypony I’m not a bucking Softy!” she shouts.
“OK, I need some context here, start from the beginning and bring me up to speed.”
She sighs before putting her head down, “Ever since Mare Do Well showed up, everyone has been ignoring me. She keeps showing up to these accidents and solving them in no time, and somehow she always makes me look like a fool.”
“Ya I’ve heard this part before, you talked about it in the spa yesterday.”
“I know…but now ponies are starting to think that I’m not cool anymore, and this stupid article from Gabby Gums made it worse!” she says angrily as she tosses down a copy of the Foal Free Press in front of you.
You read the article aloud, “Flash Sentry, Musician, Speciest, and Waffle Thief,” and you see an article of Flash stealing Waffles off of somepony’s plate and stuffing them in his mouth.
“What? No not that one!” she says as she turns the page over revealing a picture of her in the spa chair from yesterday, although it looks like she’s enjoying the hooficure and the article calls her a softie.
“I grabbed as many copies as I could, but still ponies as far away as Cloudsdale read them. MY IMAGE IS RUINED!” she laments.
“Well it looks like Gabby Gums has gone downhill, first the lies about AJ being lazy and Fluttershy having tail extensions, and now this!”
“Wait, Fluttershy does have tail extensions,” Rainbow points out.
“Wait, seriously?” you ask.
“Yeah she wanted her tail to be longer to carry her animals or something, so she gets extensions, I thought everypony knew that.”
“Oh, well it’s still distasteful tabloid journalism,” you counter.
“I know, so now the only way to get my image of being completely awesome is to unmask that stupid cowardly Vigilante in front of everyone at her own award ceremony! Then they won’t think I’m a softie!” she shouts.
“She’s getting an award ceremony? That is so unfair!” you say thinking about how you’ve never gotten one.
“I know right? Where the buck is my parade?” Rainbow Dash says.
“OK, public humiliation to hide your own sounds good, but why do you need my help?” you ask.
“Well, like I said, you’re the only one I can turn to for help” she says as she blushes.
“Why?”
“Because you’re the only one who took my side. All my friends think Mare Do Well is the greatest and won’t listen to me. Except for you Baker. I saw you scowling at her that day, and you backed me up in thinking she was a menace. You’re the only one who is even capable of helping me capture her.”
“I am?” you ask dumbfounded.
“Heck ya you are. Twilight told me about how you were able to zap Princess Luna with your lightning magic and make her fall to her knees. Mare Do Well is an Alicorn too, I saw that back at the dam. You are the strongest pony I know that is on my side…please help me” she begs giving you pleading puppy dog eyes.
“Well…OK ya, I do want to capture and unmask her and to get her to stop her vigilante ways” you admit after looking at the puppy eyes for too long.
“That’s the ticket, I knew you would agree,” she says as she hugs you.
You push her off when you start thinking about how nice she feels against you and stutter.
“Y-yeah, alright then, but still, why do I have to dress up like the Hooded Offender? I still don’t get that part.”
“Because think about it, just unmasking her is one thing, if I show up and kick the butt of the Hooded Offender in front of everypony, then my reputation will skyrocket again.”
“I don’t know…I got some bad memories of him,” you say as you rub your eye.
“Ya…me too. Personally, I don’t know what to make of the jerk anymore. He’s too complicated…”
“Yeah he is…So you want me to show up and let you beat me up?” you ask.
“Not for real, just pretend fighting, I’ll go easy on you.”
“But what’s to stop her from helping you and actually beating me up?”
“That’s the beauty of it, we are going to get her to follow you into a trap! You show up, interrupting her ceromony and pretend to be all super villainy like how the Offender usually sounds, then she will chase after you. You lead her down the alley behind Quils and Sofas, and then I’ll capture her! Then once she is captured, I will heroically step forward and “Save” her from you in front of everypony. Then once you run away from my awesomeness, I will unmask her!” she says excitedly.
“So you want me to dress up like the most wanted being in Equestria to draw her into a trap and then pretend to get beaten up because of your self-conscious issues?” you ask in deadpan.
“Yes, exactly!” she nods.
“Alright, sounds good to me,” you say cheerfully, “the only thing is, I uh…don’t have a cloak.”
“Oh right…” she ponders. “Wait here, Be Right Back,” she Dashes off (pun intended) and returns with a Horde Member cloak.
“Where did you get that?” you ask.
“Thunderlane’s trashcan, I know he used to be a member and quit soooo….yeah,” she says as she hands you the cloak, which has bits of garbage on it.
“Thanks…but just to let you know, if this gets out of control, or if the guards show up I am going to ditch, no ifs ands or buts”
“Don’t worry, my plan is too awesome to fail,”
"But wait, what if I..."
“Thanks, you’re the best! Remember, it’s the alley behind Quils and Sofas! See you at the ceremony,” she says as she swoops into the air.
“Whelp, time to go pretend to be myself…this is gonna turn bad isn’t it?”
“Of course it does you idiot! Why do you always fall for the Puppy Eye trick from Mares?” Selena scolds you.
“I can’t help it” you pout.
As you dress in Thunderlane’s stinky cloak, (You put the cloak on over your Doctor clothes) you walk up to the middle of the ceremony and try to get everypony’s attention, but they ignore you and focus on the mayor. Eventually you realize the only way to get their attention while they wait for MDW to show up…is through Song!
After your impromptu Musical Number you see everypony in the audience looking behind you on a roof top.
“She’s behind me isn’t she?”
They all nod.
You turn around and see her scowling at you. You turn back to the audience and shout.
“Whelp, that’s all folks, be sure to tip your waiters!” before you run off stage and through the streets.
MDW follows you, somehow ending up blocking your path a few times, “Yeesh she’s ridiculously fast,” you pant.
But eventually you lead her to the Quills and Sofa’s alleyway when all of a sudden A TINY NET falls on top of MDW. It only barely covers her head and shoulders.“Really?” you think, “That’s the best she could come up with?”Although as soon as you think that, you see Mare Do Well squirming around and panting heavily as if the net is somehow suffocating her.
“Don’t Worry Mare Do Well!” shouts Dash, “I Will…save…you?” she asks in confusion as she sees the Vigilante squirming around on the ground with the net barely covering her disguised head. She squirms around for a few more seconds before seemingly passing out.
“Um….” Dash starts.
“What just happened here?” you ask.
“I have no clue man…”
“And what was up with the tiny net?”
“Hey, it’s all I could afford on such short notice! Cut me some slack! It worked didn’t it?”
Before anyone can answer, the crowd from the audience shows up and Dash starts getting into character.
“Oh No! The Hooded Offender captured Mare Do Well in a tiny net!”
“NO!” the audience shouts, Not a Tiny Net!”
“Yes!” you reply, “A Tiny Net! It is a net and it is Tiny!”
“You Monster!” the audience shouts.
“But don’t worry, the most awesome pony in the world will stop him!” shouts Rainbow Dash.
“But Mare Do Well is captured!” shouts a Filly in a Mare Do Well costume.
“I MEANT ME!” shouts Dash.
“Muhahahaha!” you badly laugh, “you will never stop me, I will…”
As you two badly say dialogue, Mare Do Well regains consciousness.
“I will not be stopped by a tiny net!” she thinks as her body reverses the movements it made before she passed out. “I’ll just reverse the capture method and…” suddenly the net is thrown off of Mare Do Well as she runs backward through the crowd. “Yeah! Free” she screams.
You and Dash pause to look at this development before you are suddenly dive bombed from above by Mare Do Well, which propels you both out into the streets.
Even with your enhanced damage reduction…that one hurt.
“Owwwww…” you groan as you look up and see her about to slam a hoof into your face.
“NOOOOO!!!” Dash shouts as she tackles Mare Do Well off of you.
The crowd sees this and jumps to conclusions.
“She’s been brainwashed by the Hooded Offender!”
“What? No I…”
But the crowd has made up its mind, and so has Mare Do Well it seems as she tackles Dash.
You go to help her and punch MDW off of her, and in doing so, arguments break out in the crowd over who to support, and a Brawl begins.
Fans of Mare Do Well try to stomp you and Dash, but both Kids and Adults of the Rainbow Dash fan club show up to begin battle and try to get Mare Do Well.
Through the haze of battle you also see a bunch of Colts in doctor clothes running around fighting everypony while shouting for everyone to get along.
Eventually you overhear Flash, after you were forced to kick him through a window, saying how he is going to get back up.
You try to stop him, but you are blasted back by Mare Do Well into a park. When you shake your head clear, you look up and see 5 Mare Do Wells staring down at you. Dash lands beside you and helps you up.
“Five Mare Do Wells?” she stutters.
“Which means Five Alicorns,” you respond as you both go back to back as the Mare Do Wells surround you.
You both scream to the heavens “BUCK YOU LADY LUCK!!!”
Flash follows the "in case of Hooded Offender" procedure laid out by Princess Celestia and tries to start evacuating civilians, but ultimately he ends up using a hidden emergency flare tube (either in his jacket or guitar case) to call in a squad (or 3) of Royal Guards...
5770505
When the 4 other "Mysterious Mare Do Well"s show up, somepony (maybe Rainbow) thinks that they're the changelings that The Foal Free Press were talking about thus causing even more confusion and chaos.
5772104
5770505
5768025
You guys got any ideas for hilarious ways for Bugze to fail at minor crimes (jaywalking, littering, loitering, etc.) that still won't attract attention (slapstick optional but encouraged)?
5773918
For some failed minor crimes.
1. You slap a food tray out of the hooves of a waiter at a fancy restaurant before it gets to a rich older pony.
"Ha ha! Your meal is now ruined!" you shout.
"Oh Dear Luna, there was horse radish in that dish, I'm alergic" says the older pony.
"Oh I am so sorry sir," the waiter apologizes, "I must of mixed them up with that gentleman's order" he says as he points to the next table over.
"Well no harm no foul, thanks to this young man here, thank you sir, here have some money" the older pony says to you as everyone starts clapping for you and he hands you 500 bits in a bag.
"OH COME ON!" you shout. You then pocket the bits and say, "and thank you."
2. You take some Filly Scout cookies from a stand and start eating them in front of them while trying to laugh evily...until you see the sad eyes of the little filly you just stole from.
"Oh...don't cry, I'm sorry," her eyes begin to water more. "No, I...was just enjoying them so much , here, have money, have all the money!" you shout as you throw the five hundred bit bag into her lap.
She seems shocked at first, but then perks right up. "Thanks mister, here, you've more than bought the stands worth," she says as she pushes all the boxes of cookies towards you, about 250 boxes of Filly scout cookies are added to your inventory.
She then runs off with the money. "Be sure to spend it fruitlessly on junk food and videogames" you yell to her.
"Don't worry, I will!" she shouts back.
"What a nice young filly...anyway, back to being evil."
3. You get frustrated and just burn a bunch of weeds in a vacant lot and watch the pretty fire. A landscaper says to you, "Thanks Friend, that was going to take all day with a shovel, now I can go get some lunch." As he walks away you wonder, "How come when I try to be act evil I end up somehow being the good guy, and vice versa?"
"Because you continually berate and tempt the avatars of cosmic chance" adds Selena.
"Oh ya..."
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Also, I still think it would be Five Mare Do Wells because Thunderlane's cloak is obviously not the Hooded Offender's, and Fluttershy wouldn't believe that Bugze would be so stupid as to risk dressing up as him in broad daylight (which he is) so she would think he was an imposter or something.
And no, Plasmids and Vigors sound awesome enough already, plus they are already around in the MLP universe
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"You realize this plan is terrible, right?" Selena tells you in your head "Remember the last time you and a showboating mare made up a scheme?"
*Snap* Your eyes glow orange as you remember how Trixie betrayed you, AND nearly got Nightshade killed. "That greedy, conniving backstabber can choke on my hatred!" you yell, startling Rainbow quite a bit.
"Uhh... Tennent?" Rainbow asks nervously "You a'ight?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Just some... angry memories..." you say as a shadow crosses your face "Anyway, I don't think this is such a good idea."
"Are you kidding? Of course it is! You go to the award ceremony dressed up like the Offender, make a mess of the place, when Mare Do Well tries to stop you, you beat the snot out of her." Rainbow says with a little too much enjoyment at the thought "And then, I'll swoop in as you're about to deal the finishing blow, and "save" her. Then, thanks to this underhanded staged fight, everypony will know I'm a way more awesome hero than she is!" you can see a bit of drool coming from Rainbow's mouth.
"I won't even begin to say what's wrong with all this." Selena face-hoofs.
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It's obvious you can't talk Rainbow out of this; her wounded ego is pushing her forward. But you can take a few precautions before you head into the heat.
Firstly, you don't want to risk your Identity being compromised, so before you don your cloak, you roll a couple strips of duct tape and put them inside the hood so that it sticks to your head. That will make it harder to pull off. In fact, you're surprised no one has ever tried to unmask you in any of your fights before.
Next, you'll need an escape route or two for when you eventually need to flee, and something that doesn't rely on magic in case that isn't an option. Knowing this, you find out where the ceremony will take place, and a find a couple passageways you can easily slip through to avoid pursuers. (Ducking into a hat shop and then into the back allies, or diving into the sewers are a couple options open to you)
And finally, you'll need to hone your attacks to only do minimal damage for your fight with Rainbow; she's tough, but any direct hit from your power glove might be too much. This is when you notice a panel on the side of your power glove, with a small dial underneath that reads [Low on the left, and [High] on the right.
"Huh, a power level adjuster... neat? But why would you want to use less power? I mean, for situations other than this."
"Perhaps you can use it to roast marshmallows."
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As for getting Mare Do Well's attention:
During the award ceremony, the Mayor is busy praising their hero and unveiling a banner with a big picture of Mare Do Well's masked face. This gives you an idea. You suddenly drop to the stage from a nearby rooftop, and there are gasps from the crowd as all eyes are on you now. You grab a bucket of black paint that was so conveniently placed nearby, and with a masterful stroke of artistic genius, you paint over the image of Mare Do Well, giving her a pirate look (Skull and crossbones hat, eyepatch, and swirly mustache).
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Also, when the other four Mare Do Well's show up,
"What? There's five of them?!" Rainbow yells in shock.
"Kage bunshin no jutsu?" Bugzy says, remembering one of his favorite anime "I can't... believe it."
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I... think we have enough for one chapter by now.
I love SnapDrakeGames's idea with the song. It would be a perfect way to handle the beginning of the fight. (plus I always loved that song). I do not feel like the Plasmids and Vigors need any new names. Bugze does that anyway when he uses them.
Now for the fight scene....
Continuing where SnapDrakeGames left off...
Bugze: Opps...Sorry Vinyl. I should have asked.
Vinyl: How do you know my name?
Bugze: What do you mean? I've se- Oh right...no more Horde...Buck. I guessed. Anyway I'm sorry. I don't like to harass beautiful musicians such as yourself but I needed an entrance. Anyway.
Bugze lookes at the defeated Mare Do Wells. Let us see who is under these masks *You grab them in your magic.* I warned you what would become of you if you did not stop the vigilante work. You could have had a quiet happy life, but you chose to ignore me. Well there is only room for one vigilante in Equestria, and it will be m-
Rainbow Dash tackles you, causing all of the Mare Do Wells to drop to the ground, and brings you to Sweet Apple Acres on the other side of town.
RD: What are you doing?! You were just supposed to cause a little panic and let me defeat you!
Bugze: I guess I got carried away. ok so I guess now that you DID just save them from me, now is a good time to sound the retreat. (in ROYAL CANTERLOT VOICE) CURSE YOU RAINBOW DASH! YOU HAVE DEFEATED ME! I WILL LEAVE THIS TIME, BUT KNOW THAT I WILL RETURN! Good luck with all the fame and attention you will be getting.
As you begin to walk away, you hear
Unknown voice: HALT CRIMINAL SCUM!
Bugze and Rainbow look over to see Flash Sentry in his armor and two brigades of guards.
Bugz (to Selena): How did he get back up?
Selena: He probably called for help when you were singing.
Bugze: Ah.
About that time, Rainbow looks towards town.
RD: Buck! Look over there.
You turn to see the Mare Do Wells approaching with the MDW Fanfillies behind them. Over to the side you can see the Rainbow Dash Fan Club standing to one side glaring at you and the Tennants looking at all the other groups looking sad for the upcoming fight. The CMC are running towards the group as Featherweight is being carried overhead by Bulk Biceps taking pictures of all the groups and waiting for a chance to record the fight.
Bugze: Well, this will complicate things a bit.
Selena/Rainbow/Shadow: You think?!
Found the first story. One week later. Read that and this one. Damn gonna have to wait for updates now
You suddenly have a short case of déjà vu... You remembered Trixie. Crud.
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With a stand worths of cookies, you threw them at random ponies by an alley way. It turns out they were hungry, poor folks, and you were apparently "donating" free food.
Maybe you should learn how to use the Hadouken. Maybe it could prove useful for the fake fight, plus any other fights in the future.
Okay so whenever these parts come up I think: "Isn't Nightshade a Cuite Mark Crusader?"
Somebrony kind to explain? Well you don't have to, just curious is all.