This story is a sequel to Dodge Junction
Grand Heist. Equestria's most famous (and popular) criminal. Noone knows who he is. Noone knows why he does what he does. Noone even knows what kind of pony he is!
However, Rainbow Dash wants to solve the mystery once and for all and end their rivalry once and for all. She hopes to catch him at the biggest social event in Canterlot: the Grand Galloping Gala. But will she be able to succeed?
One must read Grand Heist on the Frienship Express, Grand Heist vs The Mysterious Mare Do Well and Dodge Junction before reading this story.
Chapters (4)
Hey there. Thanks very much for getting this story started. I really appreciate you going to the effort. Once again, excellent job on the exchanges, emotional content and future chapter set-up in all the right places. Still, it seems to me that Grand Heist is either nowhere near as smart as he thinks he is or is just letting boredom get in the way of common sense. I mean, trying to rob the most powerful pony in Equestria (both in terms of political influence AND in terms of actual physical and magical power) is a pretty good example of Bullying A Dragon.
Not much more I can say other than I will definitely be looking forward to more of this as soon as time and inspiration will allow.
7226736 he's at LEAST smarter than Bluegrass though.
7227589 True.
This is one of those rare times where I prefer an AU version of a character (or pair of characters) to the canon versions.
In this case, it's Jet Set and Upper Crust
Hey there. Thanks very much for getting the next chapter up. It might have taken a while, but it was well worth the wait. I really appreciate you going to the effort. As usual, splendid job on the exchanges, emotional content, humor, action and future chapter set-up in all the right places. I will definitely be looking forward to more of this as soon as time and inspiration will allow.
7342684 XD that was my intention (as well as to show that not all Nobles are jerks in this verse)
7343413 Well you definitely succeeded.
7343440 though conversely Fancy Pants is now a total jerk
7343819 True, but while I don't mind Fancypants in the actual show, I never really thought he was that great either, so it's not as significant, at least for me.
7343868 XD i was thinking that earlier actually, since all we really seen of him is he's at least polite and friendly enough.
7345145 Exactly.
Hey there. Thanks greatly for getting the second-to-last chapter up. I really appreciate you going to the effort. Once again, very good job on the exchanges, emotional content, action and epilogue set-up in all the right places. I have to admit I was caught completely by surprise as to your choice of Grand Heist's true identity, but it DOES make sense (at least in this universe). I'll definitely be looking forward to the final chapter as soon as time and inspiration will allow.
I like this chapter but I have some things to say:
1. Rainbow Dash didn't took advantage from her friends. She may use them as a some kind of cover/decoy but it didn't change fact, that they want to go at the Gala. Possibilities are that, She didn't want to couse a bad times for her friends at Gala when she can avoid them or She thinks that she did something bad when she didn't tell her friends why is she going there. But saving elements of harmony makes up that so I don't know why is she beating herself up.
(A good friend understands.)
2. Shining Armor, he is a class himself. I hate him already and it's only his what second? third? appearance. He got guts to show himself after all that years. From what it sounded, he didn't bother to visit or write a letter. Twilight can't forgive him right now. All I can predict It will take a really long time and it should not take a day.
(Everything takes time, it doesn't matter if it is build a house or heal a broken heart.)
3. That scene with Luna and Celestia. I like their reactions. "I failed, you failed, let's sulk in a corner and let Cadance deal with everything else." That part was ridiculous. I should feel bad for them but I think there are other things to do. I am not saying that part was bad, that part just showed that Luna and Celestia have feelings and emotions but sometimes bad priorities.
(We are learning everyday.)
4. After this display I really hope that Celestia along with others are going to "upgrate" level of protection of elements. I wouldn't be suprised if she give them to Rainbow or lock them under 14 (or more?)locks .But for element's sake (see what I did there?
) don't let it be like were at the Gala.
(Everything precious to us needs protection.)
Don't let this discourage you and keep up with your work. I enjoy your stories and I am waiting for more.
7463208 yeah about your first point, just because Rainbow belives she may have betrayed/used her friends does not mean she did nor that anyone thinks she did. THese are the first true friends rainbow has had in years, its a very real possibility she's scared of losing them in some way or form.
and yeah, shining armour and twilight's reconcialliation will take a long time to happen, if it at all.
My point in this AU regarding the princesses is that they are not infallible and prone to making mistakes, and beneath their power and eternal majesty are fillies who never got the chance to properly grow up or properly learn how to handle ruling an entire country. Celestia has lived a long time without her older sister to guide her and has worried about disappointing her for years, and Luna has just gotten through a bout possession induced madness that she has yet to break past any guilt she has regarding it and thus is still somewhat traumatised even after being blasted by the elements and spending a year recuperating.
I was gonna do something about the elements but didn't have any place to put such a scene without being forceful and contrived. The eventual discord story will address that though.
Hey there. Thanks greatly for getting the final chapter up. I really appreciate you going to the effort. Once again, the exchanges, emotional content and future adventure set-up were all well done in all the right places. And yeah, I can see all the points you made in your response to the other review. I'll definitely be looking forward to the next adventure as soon as time and inspiration will allow.
7345375 so since you recently finished reading through this one, I'm kinda curious what you think of it overall
Cutie rejection insanity interesting
And added to favorites
7956545 oh just occurred to me to answer: I actually have a headcanon that starlight glimmer suffers from cutie mark rejection insanity, as she displayys many behavioral patterns that Grand Heist has....and this was planned BEFORE the season 5 finale, keep in mind, so it was all accidental.
This was a pretty great story, and have to say it was a pretty good premise and the unexpected twist of who Grand Heist is threw me off.
8956473
oh hey! long time no see! also I'm glad you liked it : 3
8957977
No problem. I actually finished my one shot. Just haven't gotten the chance to show you it.
8958973
that's okay
There were clues with the character's consistent absence when Grand Heist was around, abuse of power to keep Celestia from realizing what was going on, and a vague mention of her connection to Twilight's family tying back to Shiny so it didn't feel totally out of nowhere, but there were two big problems that kept it from working right.
The first was gender. Grand Heist was male while the character under the mask was female, so we naturally ruled out female characters as candidates.
The second was lack of visibility. Readers naturally ignore non-characters, so the fact that she never really appeared beyond a few offhand mentions knocked her out of the list of potential candidates. Just making her more present with characters talking to her and/or someone mentioning that she doesn't really talk to Twilight's family after convincing them to move to Ponyville would have done the trick here.
9683225
yeah I totally agree with that. I really should've given her a bit more prominence before this point but I was SOOOO stuck on 'preserving the twist'...oh well, too late now.
9683708
Yeah, live and learn. Sure you could go back and add it if you wanted, but it's not worth the effort for fanfiction. You're better off moving forwards and using that knowledge to do better next time.
9683809
yeah, plus I like preserving what I uploaded as like...I dunno, I just think editing it and hcangign it heavilly would be kinda lame? I'd preserve what I created and not just change it like some revisionist jerk.
9684283
That's fair. I personally lean towards making minor to moderate changes where appropriate (with an appropriate note in the author's notes section), but I definitely see where you're coming from outside the "is it worth it?" perspective. My general rule is primarily based on if it substantially changes the story which this wouldn't, but there's a strong argument to be made for keeping the old version and uploading the new version as a separate story even though that's against the site's rules.
The one big exception to that is the occasional case where an author does something really stupid and immediately pulls down the chapter for serious rework, but that doesn't happen often.
9685489
either way, I hope you enjoy the later stories in this series : 3