Act I: Heist

War In The Dark

*** Heist ***

***

Manehatten, a city caught huddled between the dense forests and the curdling cold waves of the Marelantic Ocean. A humble and ever-changing city stands tall in this region of Equestria. The thin lazy clouds dot the immense blue sky, casting translucent shadows on the towering skyscrapers that loomed over the avenues and city squares. A city with numerous personalities, ponies from all walks of life reside here.

Somewhere in downtown Manehatten, the heart of the city, the authorities had received news of a bank heist underway.

The loud blaring sound of sirens reverberated through the district. Several patrol vehicles rolled through the streets as ponies going about their usual day looked on with great curiosity. For during this exact moment, they knew something big was going down.

Manehatten has the reputation for being controlled by the big Mafia families, although crime rates were lower than what other cities in Equestria have to say for themselves. The better side of the Mafia resides here, and everypony is contented with life in this bustling city. Crime and violence was an all time low. It was rare to see more than three patrol cars rushing to a certain location with sirens and lights flashing.

The patrol cars skidded to a slow halt as the police tape was lifted from the side of the district. The whole strip of the financial district was cordoned off with blue and white tape. A whole mob of passers-by and onlookers stopped to have a gander at the situation. They were controlled by a couple police officers armed with shotguns.

Three police cars and a mobile control unit was already on scene, their lights still flashing wildly. In one of the unmarked vehicles that arrived at the scene later, a young mare steps out of the door as several officers rushed to receive her.

"Mam, the suspects are still in the bank with several hostages. The chief is waiting for you in the mobile control unit." One of the officer called out and pointed towards the enforcer. The mare merely nodded and cantered into the control unit, the officers hurried after her.

"Chief Lyra, good day." She clambered onto the seat and greeted the unicorn beside her. "How's the situation looking?"

"Suspects have shot out the surveillance cameras, we can't see what's going on inside." The chief started, glancing towards the building. The officers had been instructed to stay away until further instructions. "The number of suspects or hostages remains a mystery."

"Has the negotiations gone underway?"

"Yes. About ten minutes ago." Lyra said and looked at the blue unicorn beside her, unable to fathom what was she getting at.

"What? It was you who conducted the negotiation?" Minuette sat up from her comfortable position, her face somewhere between shock and disbelief. "You must've said that your name was Lyra Heartstrings from the Central Equestrian Investigations Bureau, and that you'll give them three minutes to surrender. Right?"

Lyra gaped at the unicorn and nonchalantly nodded, avoiding Minuette's eye.

Minuette slapped her own forehead. "Let's just listen to the tape." She sighed and shook her head. The officer on the recording device clicked the machine and it whirred to life.

"Who's this?" A gruff voice rang out.

"I am Lyra Heartstrings from the Central Equestrian Investigations Bureau-"

"You're the negotiator?" The same voice grunted.

"Looks like he's wearing a mask." Minuette commented, turning the the chief, who was sulking away.

"I'm the one in charge of this case. You have been utterly surrounded and I will not repeat again. You have three minutes to drop your weapons and surrender the hostages!" Lyra's voice rattled from the recorder.

Minuette forced herself not to punch the door, and just shook her head even more intensely.

"Careful of what you say to me. These words of yours can kill a hostage."

Some screams could be heard from the background as a feminine voice gasped. The suspect must have grabbed a hostage, Minuette thought to herself, squinting her eyes as though visualizing the scene mentally. Lyra just shirked and listened on.

"Go on! Tell her your name and your position here!" The suspect yelled as the female voice cried out.

"M- May Velvet. Re- receptionist! Help! Hel-"

"What do you want?" Lyra asked in exasperation, her voice had given her fear away.

"Disperse the snipers from the roofs! Push the cops further down the block and prepare a bulletproof vehicle with a full tank!" The suspect ordered. "I want it in half an hour!"

"Why didn't you ask for a helicopter instead?" Lyra inquired.

Minuette eyes almost popped out from their sockets. She stomped the floor of the command unit and shook her seat. "Why would you even say that!?" She hissed, anger seething from her teeth.

"You said it! Get us a helicopter!" The suspect sniffed deeply. "And make it quick, don't try to stall!" He roared.

Lyra said nothing, just looking between the convulsing mare beside her and the recorder. She wasn't angry or embarrassed, just staring blankly into space.

"Wait! I didn't really mean-"

The recording ended there.

"Hold on." Minuette leaned foward and held down the reverse button on the recording device. It whirred and made a rapid swirling noise, like somepony's voice being fast-forwarded.

Click, click.

"You said it! Get us a helicopter!" *sniff sniff* "And make it quick, don-"

"Hang on..." Minuette reversed the tape again. Lyra said nothing, just staring at the blue unicorn, really confused as of what she was trying to work out.

Click, click.

"You said it! Get us a helicopter!" *sniff sniff* "And make it qui-"

"Let's go, c'mon." Minuette pulled the door and landed on the road. The chief scrambled out after her, trying to keep up.

"That guy's crazy! He wants a helicopter? There's no point in talking him out of it." Lyra cried, cantering after Minuette.

Minuette stopped and turned towards Lyra. "I think that he's very collected, a professional." She continued her way towards the entrance of the bank, where several officers had already positioned themselves with their weapons ready.

"Hey, when you're inside. Please turn on your transceiver, I'd like to hear everything." Lyra stated, pointing to Minuette's transceiver, which was strapped to her coat.

Not like you could help anyway. Minuette thought to herself. "Alright, but do not interrupt." She trotted off towards the building, leaving the chief to glare at her. Lyra watched the unicorn carefully as she ambled further from her and closer to the building. She positioned herself behind a patrol vehicle, with the transceiver floating close to her ear.

The other officers peered on, their eyes trailing the blue mare as she stopped herself beside the entrance of the bank.

Minuette froze, leaving the other officers in question. Lyra rose from her cover and put the transceiver to her mouth. "What's wrong?"

Minuette put hers up, "Nothing. Just daydreaming."

Lyra shook the transceiver in a fit of annoyance and gave a irate grunt as Minuette cantered into the building and out of sight.

---

Minuette trotted into the main bank as the sliding doors swiveled to the side.

Before the suspects could say anything, Minuette explained the situation. "My name is Minuette from the CEIB. There are traffic lights and buildings outside and a helicopter could not possibly be perched there. I could arrange a vehicle for your escape, but I need to know if the hostages are safe."

"Get out! If we don't see the helicopter in five minutes, I'll kill the hostages." A stallion wearing a mask and black apparel pointed his gun at the hostages, who were cowering on the floor. An occasional whimper and shuffling could be heard from them. The hostages were sprawled on the floor, afraid that their sudden movements may alert the suspects.

Minuette was unfazed, "I'm here to help. My job is to help you settle this peacefully. And, I'm not armed." She stretched out her coat to reveal the inner pockets, and true enough, there were no weapons.

Minuette quickly scanned the entirety of the bank. She could see that there were at least twenty hostages and two suspects. The one who had a gun pointing at her was evidently the mastermind. Another suspect huddled behind a hostage, his gun pressed against his meat shield.

"Get out!" The suspect yelled and pulled the trigger.

BAM!

The bullet splintered off the marble floor, inches from Minuette. But she did not flinch. Somewhere out on the road, the officers perked up their ears as the gunshot rang out.

"Oi! Mallory! You've already killed one hostage!" The other masked suspect shrieked.

"How many times must I tell you? Don't tell them our names! You know what? If it's not for your cowardly brother, we'll be out of here a long time ago! So shut the hell up!" The hostages let out a scream as they trembled in fear.

Minuette knew she had to improvise. She knew that the suspects will not yield unless they got what they wanted. A helicopter and safe passage out. Ridiculous. There was a hostage directly in front of her, she was bleeding and was still breathing, miraculously. The part about already having killed a hostage was a sign of poor insight, Minuette gathered as much.

"Look here, mate. Why not I take the injured mare outside. She needs immediate medical attention or she will die." She knelt down beside the unconscious mare and checked her pulse. She was indeed still hanging on, barely.

"No one's going anywhere!" Mallory was final about that.

"If any of the hostages were to potentially die, this would be more serious. This wouldn't just be any robbery, it will be murder. During that kind of situation, the police won't compromise. 'They've killed someone, surely they won't let them go.' They wouldn't care how many hostages you've got, they won't let you off."

"Shut up!"

Minuette turned to the suspect kneeling behind a hostage. "You don't look like the kind of pony who would kill another. Surrender and you could testify in court. Don't be naive, you're getting taken advantaged of. Even should the judge give you a five year sentence, I assure you'll be released on parole in two."

The two suspects exchanged glances.

"If another round is fired, the special forces will storm the place. Then, prepare to beg to Celestia that they'll spare you." Minuette gave a wary gaze. "And besides, they can hear every word I say." She raised the transceiver into the air.

"Time's up! If you don't leave this instant I'll shoot her!" He pulled a worker off her hooves and trained his pistol on her head. She let out a yelp for help and tried not to cry. "You'll be the cause of her death!"

Minuette let out a sigh and her horn glowed gently. She had been trained to conceal her magical envelope for this exact purpose. The world around her faded away as she focused her magic. The world was outlined in strands of tiny lines, akin to a blueprint. She had to buy herself some time. And her perceptive filter would allow that.

Contrarily to what others may believe, she can't really slow down time. All she could do is merely speed up the distention field around her, and that would make it look as if the world around her was crawling at a snail's pace. The process was draining, but it allowed her to see things that most ponies can't.

Minuette let her magical envelope diffuse into the air. The suspects haven't a clue of what she did. From what she gathered in the duration of her time spell, Minuette managed to hear a silent clicking amidst the bunch of hostages lying on the floor. She could also sense a sharp frequency emitting from the same group, similar to a phone or another transceiver.

Minuette shut off her own transceiver surreptitiously and slotted it in her belt.

"Celestia damned it! What did I tell her!?" Lyra yelled as the line on her transceiver went dead with a constant buzzing. She adjusted the frequency but could not catch it.

"Mallory! Don't do it!"

"Stop calling my name!"

"If you insist on killing the hostages, you should kill me instead!" Minuette yelled out in a condescending tone. She meant to aggravate the two quarreling suspects, hoping that her instincts had not failed her.

"You'll doom us all!" The meeker robber stood up from his position behind a hostage and faced his friend.

"You'll actually listen to a cop?"

"If you hurt that hostage, prepare to die!" Minuette chided and marched towards the two suspects. All her professionalism was gone now, for all she wanted to do was to just talk and let the situation take care of itself.

"Shut up, you scumbag!"

"Mallory, you are one selfish bastard!" Minuette continued trotting towards the enraged criminal, who was jerking his hostage dangerously. "You'll rather pull your accomplice down to die with you!"

"You'll be the one that dies first!" Mallory threatened.

"If you dare, come on then!" Minuette challenged further.

BAM! BAM!

A stallion in a suit sprung out from the clustered group of hostages. He fired two shots at the robber with his revolver. Mallory barely had time to react when the gun fired again.

BAM! BAM!

Lyra quickly galloped over the the side of the bank entrance together with a team of special forces as soon as she heard the gunshots.

Back in the bank, the hostages began to run for their lives, screaming and yelling as they scrambled for the exits. Several tripped over but quickly crawled onto their hooves.

Minuette turned on her transceiver, "Hostages are coming out, I repeat, hostages are making their way out!"

"About time you called!" Lyra shrieked into the transceiver as several officers rushed to receive the hostages. They all galloped out as fast as their legs could carry. The hostages were scared out of their wits and they can't wait to get out.

Police officers rushed to get the traumatized ponies out of the scene.

"Mam, I am detective Lance from the southern division. I'm off duty today." The stallion in the suit floated his identification out of his pocket. He shook his head and sniffed deeply.

Minuette slowly raised her head to look at the detective. It took a while, but she finally gathered the pieces together. It all made sense now.

"Well... This is a bother." Lance commented, limping slightly and taking another wet suck through his nose.

"Down with a cold?" Minuette asked acquiescently.

"Yeah, yeah. I'll make my way out." Lance trotted slowly towards the door.

"Hold up." Minuette gestured him to stay and scampered over to the fallen suspect. He didn't get a chance, and that made her angry. Lance evidently had this all planned out, but he failed to cover up his tracks, and he will pay for what he had done. Minuette thought to herself. She knelt down beside the fallen robber and began whispering to him.

Lance knew that something was off. He was certain that his cover had been blown, and he did not like the chances of another mare meddling with his only chance of escape.

"The one on the line was you." It was more of a statement than a question, but Minuette was confident of her deduction.

Lance did not say anything, he raised his gun to aim at Minuette, who was glaring at him.

"You want to silence me. Or him." She stated again. Lance pulled the hammer of his revolver. Minuette tugged at the collar of the fallen robber, "But you're too dumb to realize that he had not said anything to me. Dead ponies can't talk, silly." Minuette got up onto her hooves and brushed the dust off her coat.

"You'll have a lot of explaining to do if you shoot me with your gun, c'mon, you can't escape. Let's go." Minuette said and trotted past the detective and towards the exit. Lance hesitated and stood rooted to the spot. He watched as the mare ran out of the bank.

"This is Lyra speaking, what the hell is going on?" Lyra spoke into the transceiver as Minuette rushed over to her side, backed up against the wall of the building. "Why did you turn off comms?" Lyra asked, determined to get an answer.

"I almost died!" Minuette cried out and Lyra immediately shut herself up. "There are three suspects inside, two of them were shot by a fellow detective. The detective is the main culprit."

"What are you saying?" Lyra looked up in astonishment. Minuette facehooved.

BAM!

A gunshot rang out as the officers flinched instinctively.

"What happened?" Lyra spat.

Minuette rolled her eyes, "Suicide." She stated, then trotted off as though nothing happened. Lyra kept her gaze at the unicorn as she went off.

"You'll need to write a report!" Lyra yelled and followed the officers into the bank.

Minuette let out a long sigh and set her transceiver on the roof of her car. She caught sight of a vendor selling some light snacks and quickly cantered to get something to eat. The mare behind the counter was dumbstruck at the whole situation, but she was well enough to sell a customer some snacks.

Minuette munched on her daisy sandwich as she peered into the crowd of bystanders behind the police line. "That was dramatic." She said to herself and took another bite.

But unbeknownst to Minuette, there was a mysterious stallion behind the line, and he was taking pictures. Not at the crime scene, but at her.

It wasn't long before she saw what he was doing. Minuette took another bite and nodded in approval. She didn't mind somepony taking photos of her eating, but that was weird. The old stallion smiled and also nodded.

Minuette pondered about what happened, but after interrupting her own thoughts for a moment, she just shrugged and carried on with her meal.

Act II: Plans for Action

View Online

War In The Dark

*** Plans for Action ***

***

"You've grown out of your uniform and coat already?" Violet asked, somewhere between vexation and annoyance.

"The tailor doesn't measure in inches, mam."

"Did your buttons once fell off when you're on patrol? You look like you're gonna wet yourself."

Minuette strutted into the department, placing a file on a desk, "Who's wet themselves? Let me have a look." She went over to the officers and received the measuring tape from Violet. Minuette stretched the tape around the officer and tightened it around his waist.

The officer sucked in a deep breath and straightened his posture.

Minuette removed the tape and said, "That's... fine. It should fit you perfectly, if not, feel free to punch me in the face."

"Thanks captain!" He beamed and gave a respectful bow.

"You're welcome." Minuette turned to look at the young mare, who was pulling the tape with intent. "You should know my size."

"Yeah, I do." Violet promptly put down the tape.

Minuette trotted over to the pegasus behind her desk and leaned against the divider. "Lightning Bolt, you'll come with me. We need to go over the case on that stallion who lives just downtown, he'd been avoiding his fines since last month."

"You arrested him last week!" The pegasus cried in dismay.

"Oh, I did?" Minuette rubbed her cheek, trying hard to recall. That stallion was indeed a pain in the flank to deal with. "Nevermind then."

She cantered over to the main billboard, "Alright everypony! Let's clean up this place, it's so dusty!" Minuette clopped her hooves together, trying to get her team's attention.

"We cleaned up last week, mam." Lightning Bolt replied.

"Who asked you to do that?" Minuette asked in displeasure.

"You did." Lightning Bolt answered innocently.

Minuette stared at the pegasus and realized that she did order a cleanup a week before. She said nothing. At this very moment, the telephone started ringing.

Violet picked up the phone. "Hello, this is Violet from CEIB. Hmm...? Really? I've already told you before, Florence took a day off today and won't be back till tomorrow. I'll tell her to clean up when she's back. Yes... I know-"

"Hey, Violet. I'll do it, what's wrong?" Minuette went over to Violet, eager to hear the issue.

Violet hung up and sighed, "There's an odd senile dude who lives opposite the block. He apparently took a shit in the corridor and wants somepony to clean it up."

Lightning Bolt furled her brows in disgust.

"Lightning Bolt, you'll go." Minuette waved dismissively and cantered into her office. Violet shrugged and gave a comical smirk. Lightning Bolt glared at her and flew over to Raindrops behind the brown desk.

"We'll go together, okay?" She pleaded.

Minuette took a seat behind her own desk and fumbled around her files littering the expanse of the massive desk. "The belt that I ordered last week, is it here yet?" She yelled.

"It's in the storeroom!" Violet hollered back.

"Hm." Minuette gave a grunt of acknowledgment and buried herself in the files.

---

"Minuette, Equestrian Special Forces, CIEB." Amethyst leaned back on her armchair, scrutinizing the photographs pinned onto the board she had created. She had been studying this particular mare in the police force. She had pictures of her from the heist several days ago, including several from the press conferences. She also had pictures from the interviews after the drug bust a few months back.

Amethyst had been eyeing her for a long time, for on this very same day, her plans will be put to fruition. And that mare will aid her in that endeavour.

A small smirk pulled from the side of her face as Amethyst muttered to herself, "We'll meet again very soon."

With that, she got up and pulled a dufflebag from the sofa. Putting on her shades, Amethyst fleetly trotted out of her apartment door.

---

"Would you like anything else?" The barkeep asked, wiping a glass with a piece of cloth.

"No thank you." Amethyst replied, setting her glass down on the counter. "Here, I'll take the tab for that mare in three." She said, slapping down a few more bits than her usual. Turning, Amethyst took a quick glance at her and got up from her seat. She trotted close beside the mare before pushing the door out of the bar, the duffle bag strapped to her torso.

"Miss!" Minuette quickly stuffed her file into her saddlebag before calling out to the barmare.

"What's up, detective?" She drifted over to her side, with a few empty glass floating beside her.

"I'll like to pay for my drink." Minuette said cheerfully, fumbling her pockets for her bits.

"Somepony has already paid for you, mam." She added.

"Who is it?"

"No idea. But she left a note." The barmare placed a round slip of paper on the table, which had nothing but a number on it: nine.

Minuette furrowed her brows as she took a closer look at the note. Nothing special, just a number. She could not figure anything from that.

"Where?"

"She was sitting on the counter before, but she left."

Minuette glanced over to the counter, then back at the note. How odd, Minuette thought to herself. It could've just been anypony, knowing that she had admirers before. She could have just told her.

"Thank you." Minuette nodded in trepidation and the barmare went back to her work.

Nine.

Nine? Why the number nine? Minuette spent a good five minutes staring at the single digit on the note before shoving it into her coat pocket. It could've just been a seat number.

---

Amethyst pushed the swiveling doors aside and entered the lobby of an office building. It was a typical building in the middle of the financial district, but Amethyst had a plan all thought out. She knew exactly how to execute it, there would be no mistakes. Amethyst entered the elevator and pushed the button.

The elevator took her up to the maintenance level, somewhere on the tenth floor. Amethyst quickly shuffled to a washroom and took a glance around. There were metal cabinets and lockers. It was more of a changing room than a toilet.

She leaned against the translucent glass at the end of the room and tapped on it. Hollow. Amethyst thought to herself. She floated out a chisel and proceeded to scrape two diagonal incisions across each other, leaving two faint markings on the glass.

When she was done, Amethyst walked out of the changing room and went back to the elevator. This time, she got out on the twentieth floor, into a bustling corridor filled with office workers going about their jobs. Amethyst shoved herself past several of them and made her way into the offices of a financial company.

She ambled over to the receptionist. "How may I help you?" The mare behind the counter greeted with a warm smile.

Amethyst browsed the offices for a moment before answering, "I have an appointment with Miss Daisy."

"Ah yes, she's waiting for you in her office." The receptionist checked the appointment list and pointed towards the glass-walled office.

"Thank you." Amethyst flicked her tail to the side and trotted towards the office.

Daisy was busy behind her computer, rapidly tapping at the keyboard while frowning at the monitor. Her expression lightened as Amethyst came into her office.

Amethyst made herself comfortable on a chair and squinted at the manager.

"Did you bring the files?" Daisy leaned forward and rested her elbows on the desk.

"It's all in here." Amethyst pushed a red file towards the manager, leaning back after she did so.

"Thank you." Daisy gave a little smile and received the file, "It won't take long, unless there's a problem, of course." She proceed to flip through the folder.

Daisy deadpanned when she saw what was inside. It wasn't the files needed for the business, it was more of a joke. Inside the folder were several Mare-do-well comic books, the latest edition too.

Daisy chuckled and put down the file. "Mam, is this some kind of joke?" She presented the comics to Amethyst, who was still reclining on the seat. She wasn't laughing, or smiling for that matter.

"You're laughing at me?" Amethyst said, unamused. Daisy shook her head, still trying to control her laughter.

Amethyst pulled out her pistol and directed it on the manager, whose expression changed rather drastically after peering into the bore of the gun. Some of the workers outside screamed when they caught sight of their manager being held at gunpoint.

Amethyst opened the officer door, "Go on, all of you are dismissed for the day." She raised her voice, gun still trained on Daisy, who froze behind the desk. The ponies immediately dropped whatever they're doing and galloped for the exit.

When the offices emptied out, Amethyst beckoned the manager to get out into the main department.

Out in the corridor, the fleeing ponies were crying out for help while frantically cramming into the elevator. They wanted to get out before they get dragged into a potential murder.

"She's got a gun! Help!" One old pony squealed out to the other oblivious ponies.

"Lock up." Amethyst swiveled her pistol between the manager and the exit. She wanted all the time she could buy for herself, and she wouldn't want any interference to what she was about to do next.

Daisy complied without question, desperately trying to shove the key into the lock as quickly as she could with her hooves.

"The safe. Open it." Amethyst ordered, her eyes glinting behind her shades. She pointed the pistol at Daisy and gestured her towards the safe in her office.

Daisy trotted briskly and rushed to open the metal box. It unlocked with a click shortly after, revealing several stacks of notes among other important ledgers and files. There was also a suspicious looking pouch amidst the cash.

"You can rest for now. Hooves behind your back, on the ground." Amethyst commanded. Daisy did as she was told and curled up on the floor. Amethyst bound her hooves and legs with plastic strips and left her in the office.

She stepped out into the main department, gazing at the ventilation grates on the ceiling. Amethyst promptly shoved the books and files off a small table and pulled it under one particular grate. She climbed onto the table and reached for the grates.

Somewhere in the lobby, the ponies were still screaming about a gunmare in their offices. They were all yelling at the security guard to do something. Some of them called the police while others ran out of the building.

Amethyst crawled into the vents, a flashlight hovering just beside her face. She removed her shades and proceeded to crawl through the dark tunnel. She pawed through the vent and turned a corner. Amethyst knew where she was going, and she knew exactly what she had in mind.

After crawling through the more dusty passages, she peered down into one of the grates. Amethyst could see more ponies evacuating the building, they were galloping and hollering at the top of their lungs.

She pressed on, delving deeper down the corner. Amethyst peered down another grate, "Bingo." She muttered to herself. Down the room below, was a vault of some sort with a three key combination lock. That's where the treasure will be kept, and she needed to keep track of it. No, she wasn't going to break into the vault. More rather, she had plans in the long run. This was merely the preparation stage.

Amethyst got out her tools and began her work.

Down on the first floor, the first police unit had arrived. Chief Lyra was first on scene, with a group of officers tailing behind her.

"From what the workers told us, there is only one suspect and one hostage." An officer explained as Lyra walked past the first reception counter. "She is armed and the manager is being held in the finances department."

After pondering for a brief moment, Lyra said, "Call in the special forces."

"Yes, mam." The officer turned to leave, but Lyra stopped him.

Her face was hesitant and she hated to admit, but Lyra knew it would be for the better. "Call in the negotiator."

"Affirmative."

Lyra knew it was going to be a long day, again.

In the finances department, Amethyst was long done with her work. She lowered herself onto the table and swiftly put back the grate. Amethyst positioned the table to where it was previously, and neatly set the books and files that she shoved off back as it were.

She went over to the safe and opened the black pouch. Amethyst wet her lips as soon as she saw what was inside; filled to the brim with sparkling diamonds. It was cut perfectly. She pocketed the pouch.

Amethyst floated the stacks of money from the safe and pushed them into the manager's coat pockets. Daisy looked at her captor, confused as to what she was doing. Amethyst did not take the notes for herself.

She went ahead and cut the straps binding Daisy. "Get up, it's almost done." Amethyst pulled her up onto her hooves and shoved her out into the office area.

Somewhere outside, a voice could be heard. Amethyst perked up her ears and pushed the managed towards the exit.

"Hey, please calm down! I am the negotiator and I'm here to help!" A merry voice called out from outside. "I'm unarmed, so rest assured."

A mare appeared in front of her and the manager, separated by only a glass door. She was wearing a black suit and her hair was a crazy brown ruffled style.

When the negotiator saw Amethyst, she raised her hoof. "The building is surrounded by the police, there's no escape. Just let her go, alright?"

"What are you doing here?" Amethyst asked, keeping her hostage a close distance from her.

"I'm here to listen to your needs." The mare answered, her smile beaming wider.

"You're here to listen? Open up." Amethyst pressed her pistol against Daisy, who knelt down immediately to unlock the door. "What's your name?"

"I'm Crovia."

"Miss Crovia, I'm not too fond of your voice. Please get somepony else to talk." Amethyst pushed her hostage out of the door. Crovia stepped back, keeping her distance from the two ponies.

Further down the corridor, Lyra and a huge group of enforcers stood their ground, weapons at the ready. Amethyst took one look past her shades and shook her pistol to the side. "Go on, tell them to leave."

"Okay, hold o-"

"Now." Amethyst ordered.

Crovia hastily retreated to Lyra's side. "You heard her, she won't talk to me."

Lyra shoved her aside and stepped forward. She was having none of this. "My name is Lyra Heartstrings from the Central Equestrian Investigations Bureau-"

"C'mon, run off." Amethyst interrupted. She pulled her hostage into the emergency exit.

"I'm in charge of this case. You can talk to me."

"Move along. Unless you want me to kill her, get me another negotiator." Amethyst finalized her decision and nudged her captive up the stairs. Lyra just stood there, blinking.

"Up the stairs, move it." Amethyst trotted behind Daisy as she frantically clopped up the staircase. There was no need to restrain her, there wasn't anywhere she could run anyway.

---

Back on the ground floor...

"The suspect has the hostage up on the roof. Take three teams of snipers up on the nearby buildings. I want to know the exact position of both of them." Lyra commanded a team of special forces as they just arrived on scene.

"Yes mam!" The captain of the team saluted and hurriedly cantered towards the exit. Lyra nodded and hastily galloped up the stairs, a group of officers followed her.

Meanwhile, a certain blue unicorn sauntered into the building, escorted by two officers.

"Captain!" The captain of the ESF greeted her ardently.

"Captain? We're in different departments now. Carry on with your work, gentleponies." Minuette said with a bright smile on her face.

"Yes mam!" The team brushed past her and out of the building.

"Where's the culprit?" Minuette asked her officer.

"Oh, both suspect and hostage are on the roof-"

"Of course they both are. Which way?" Minuette cut her off, pointing to the lifts.

"Over there."

Minuette and her officers strided towards the elevator, which was blocked by several other police officers.

She tapped on the buttons.

"Mam, the crime scene is being sealed. The elevators are off limits." The young officer guarding the lift held out her hoof.

"Of course I know that. Do you know many floors this building has?" Minuette asked, gazing at the buttons.

"Twenty eight, mam."

"It would take me eight minutes to gallop up twenty eight floors, if anything happens during this eight minutes, should I hold you responsible? Or rather, do you want to be held responsible?" Minuette chided succinctly.

"But mam-" The officer held out a hoof to block the lift entrance, "If you stay here, I won't be held responsible. If you take the lift, I'll be held responsible."

Minuette stared at the officer, blinking. "I'm not wasting my time here, somepony settle her please. Look here, I have lives to save, do you understand?"

"Please have the initiative to do the right thing, not just follow orders blindly." Minuette continued, tapping the buttons furiously. The officer stood at the door of the lift, speechless.

"Did you lock the elevator?" Minuette said in annoyance after her assault on the buttons had no effect on the elevator.

"No."

"Do you have the key?"

"No."

"Are you holding on to the button?"

"Um, no?"

Minuette threw her head up in a fit of rage, "You're blocking the sensor, you idiot! Move back!" The officer looked at her hooves and backed off.

"Sorry."

"What a joke." Minuette shook her head. Sure enough, the lift door slid shut after the officer retreated a few metres back. The elevator swiftly shot upwards.

Minuette alighted on the last floor; that's as far as the lift would take her. She cantered down the corridor and into the emergency exit.

"Chief Lyra is already here, mam." The officer held the emergency exit door open as Minuette went up the stairs.

"Give me the transceiver." She said, holding out her hoof. The officer adhered and passed it to her. Minuette cantered up the stairs, where several officers and members of the ESF was already backed up against the wall. The door leading to the roof was right there.

"Where's chief Lyra?" Minuette glanced about after searching for the mint pony had proved futile.

"There." An officer pointed down the stairs. Minuette turned her head to look.

"Who called for me?" An exhausted Lyra limped up the flight of stairs, panting and sweating through her coat.

Minuette gaped at her in amusement, "You do know that there's an elevator, right?"

"Funny."

"And why have you called the ESF for such a small case? Do they have nothing better to do?"

"That felon doesn't wish to speak to Crovia, so we had to call for a switch." Lyra huffed and leaned against the wall, out of breath.

Minuette went over to the door and peered out of the small glass circle, her transceiver floating close beside her.

"That mare must be trying to stall." Lyra added.

"Did you talk to her?" Minuette scowled at the chief, who was still trying to get her bearings.

"Yeah, not much though."

Minuette threw her head back in distress and yelled, "Why do you have such a big mouth?" Minuette pressed her horn against the door with a pained look on her face.

Lyra lost it then and there, "Do you expect me to keep quiet when we're face to face then?" She shouted.

"Never mind that." Minuette hooked her hoof onto the handle and pushed herself onto the roof. She trotted cautiously out of the door and into the open.

Amethyst was sitting on her haunches behind a pillar, using Daisy as her shield. Amethyst gave her hostage a light tap that made her jump a little, and moved into sight.

"I've been waiting for quite some time." She said, tilting her shades slightly.

"Don't worry about it, I got into a traffic jam." Minuette answered, stepping forward ever-so-slightly. "Um, it's not really practical having to shout. Can I get a little closer?" She hooted. "I promise I'm not armed."

Amethyst gave her a little wave with her pistol, signally approval with her request. Minuette heaved a sigh of relieve and went closer. Just then, the transceiver buzzed alive.

"This is team one reporting, we're in position." Minuette gazed over to the distant buildings, where several teams are expected to take up positions.

"Team two reporting! We're already waiting."

"Team one reporting, the suspect is hiding behind a pillar, we've got no clear sight on her, over."

"Team two reporting, suspect's using the hostage as a shield, no clear sight, over."

Minuette trotted daringly, until she was at least five metres from the two ponies. "I'm Minuette from CEIB, is there anything I can do to help?" She repeated the usual dribble. "I believe you know very well what you want. Some ponies want money, others want a car or maybe a chance to see their loved ones. Do you have a marefriend?"

"That's fine. I don't want any of those." Amethyst replied, eyeing the building directly behind Minuette. She knew that a team of snipers was to be positioned there, and Minuette was blocking them from their line of sight.

Minuette knew what she was looking at, and surreptitiously cocked her head to the side.

"Stop." Amethyst warned. Minuette nodded and complied, shifting her head to its original posture.

"Team three reporting, we can't get a clear line of sight, Madam Minuette is obstructing our sights, over."

Amethyst gave a little smile and brushed her mane to the side, her purple eyes piercing through her shades, "Isn't that clever?" She remarked.

"Yeah, it is. How do I address you?" Minuette asked politely.

"All you have to do is check."

"What do you want?" Minuette questioned, her patience was running out slowly, but she couldn't help but admire her composure.

"Not much, I just wanna play a game with you. A game of three days." Amethyst licked her lips.

"Shit, that's when an idiot comes across another idiot." Lyra muttered under her breath. She was still leaning against the wall with her transceiver pressed against her face.

"You go through all this trouble, just to play a game with me?" Minuette was unconvinced, but she was willing to listen to what the mysterious mare had to say. "Whatever's the case, the hostage is innocent, let her go. I can take her place."

Amethyst didn't say anything. Pulling the trigger, she fired a shot at the manager, who collapsed onto the ground lifelessly.

Everypony sprung into action at once. Amethyst vaulted over a vent and ran into the cover of the cooling units and vents. Lyra commanded the special forces to storm the roof. Minuette gave chase immediately, running after the the unicorn. Lyra was trembling, but she followed the ESF onto the roof as they advanced.

Once Minuette turned the corner into a maintenance section, Amethyst was standing beside a ventilation grate. She had a detonator of some sort floating in front of her. Minuette froze, exchanging gazes between the device and the unicorn.

The special forces unit, including Lyra, moved in but stopped to a halt behind Minuette, who gave them a quick glance before focusing her attention on Amethyst once more. Lyra almost fell when she saw the detonator.

"Hold it. This detonator activates on pressure. If I drop this, the bomb will explode." She was emphatic on the word 'will'. "Chief Lyra, look below you."

Lyra stepped back and peered into the wire grates below her hooves. To her horror, there were not just one, but at least four pieces of explosives strapped onto the foundations. Lyra gulped and inspected Minuette's face, which was flat and expressionless.

Minuette looked back at the unicorn, her mind racing as of what she was going to do next. The bomb may be a fake, she could be just playing a game. Yes, that's right. The risk was too much but she had to try, even if it meant blowing up everypony on this roof.

"You hold up a random device and you expect me to believe that that's a real detonator?" Minuette placed her words carefully, but careful was something that she took for granted many a time.

"You don't think so? You can try me." Amethyst floated the device higher, her magically envelope faltering and flickering on purpose.

"Nah, you can let go." Minuette said. Lyra was about to pounce on her after hearing what she said, but she just shot daggers at the blue unicorn.

Amethyst did nothing, just a tiny smile crept up her face.

"C'mon, drop it then!"

"I believe her, don't drop that!" Lyra yelled over the two mares. Minuette turned to glower at her chief. Minuette looked like she was going to strangle her. Amethyst chuckled.

"The bomb is a fake." Minuette hissed.

"How would you know?" Lyra yapped back.

Minuette looked at the detonator again and back to the chief, giving her a excruciating expression. "Can you just trust me for once?"

"Why should I believe you and not her?" Lyra rebutted, her queasiness was evident in her tone. "If the bomb explodes, I'll have to take responsibility! If it doesn't blow up, that's none of my business!"

"As a member of the police force, shouldn't you be more brave when dealing with this kind of crap?" Minuette admonished.

"You wouldn't know if the bomb is real or not!"

Minuette rolled her eyes in frustration. But there was nothing she could do, it seems. She let out a theatrical sigh and shook her head. The sound of the grates popping off caught her attention once more.

Amethyst was still holding on to the detonator. She threw the cover off and said, "Don't move, there's not just two bombs. Don't hold me responsible if it blows."

"Stand your ground, everypony." Lyra threw out a directive.

"Well, I guess you can all watch as I escape." Amethyst threw herself into the shaft and disappeared. Minuette squeezed her eyes shut and punched herself in the face. The special forces rushed to check the vents.

Lyra was on her transceiver when Minuette trotted towards her, her face blank and unentertained by this whole situation.

"Control unit, please send a bomb disposal squad up the roof, over." Lyra mumbled into the device. Minuette peered over her shoulder, only to see a flustered manager pawing her way through the obstacles on the roof.

Minuette was furious and irked, she gesticulated wildly at Daisy, who was still alive. Her face was splashed by a paintball. Lyra turned to look at where her friend was pointing at.

"Would you look at that shit." Minuette left Lyra to gape at the manager and went prone to check the bomb.

"Help... I'm not dead yet." Daisy cried, feeling the surrounding with her hooves as she tripped blindly. Lyra was appalled, she could not believe her eyes. "Help, anypony?"

Minuette picked up a bomb with her magic and floated it up to Lyra's face, "What does this say?" Several officers were trying to get a glimpse too.

"What does what say?" Lyra asked in confusion, staring at the box which was supposed to be the thing that would blow you up. It was pretty convincing, with all the wires and digital interface and all, but alas it was a fake.

"Joe's cookies, you numbskull!" Minuette yelled and the officers scattered immediately, laughing under their breaths. Lyra quickly followed them, avoiding eye contact with the sullen unicorn.

Minuette pulled the chief by her bulletproof vest and pressed her face against her own. "Get somepony to find out where this vent leads! Or is that too hard for you?" She let out another irate puff of air.

Lyra put up her transceiver, "Get the management up here immediately, over!"

---

Amethyst bucked the wire plating off the ceiling and they clattered onto the floor below. She landed herself into the room and took a gander around. The room was filled with whirring machines with lights that flicker every now and then. Amethyst dropped herself onto the main level.

She delved deeper into the maintenance level. Further down the room, she could see the glass that she had incised before. Her careful calculations have proven worthwhile after all. Hovering a pipe beside her, she swung at the already fragile glass. It shattered instantly, leaving several sharp edges around the sides. Amethyst began clearing out the remaining shards until it was big enough for her to fit through without cutting herself.

Dropping the pipe, Amethyst emerged into the changing room once more. She quickly began picking away at the locks in one of the lockers, for she had hidden away a set of clothes a few days earlier. That would grant her a way out of this place.

Back on the roof...

"You actually let her go via that route." The head of the management department remarked.

"That's none of your business. I just want to know where that vent leads!" Lyra pressed. Minuette followed behind, her face was miles away.

"All the vents here lead to the utility level and control room. Don't worry, she can't escape." The manager seem pretty confident.

"Let's just have a look at the blueprints." Minuette said and walked ahead of the two ponies.

Amethyst sauntered out of the changing room, donned in a neat officer's attire. The corridor was empty. She cantered down the utility level and pushed her way into the filthy emergency exit. The door creaked open as flakes of paint rained from the ceiling. The walls are in urgent need of repainting and rust was leaking from the edges of the metal doors.

There was an officer standing guard down the corridor, he took no notice at a fellow officer, but he did sense something was wrong. Amethyst trotted past the officer as he craned his neck, trying to get a better look at her face.

Unfortunately, he got a little too close and ended up with a strong buck on the side of his face. The officer fell onto the floor in a lifeless heap. Amethyst took one look back and continued into the utility stairs.

The officer got up as the door closed behind him. He wasn't really knocked out, he was just feigning it, and that buck to the face was painful! He thought as he cradled the afflicted wound gently.

After snapping himself from his daze, he quickly radioed for help.

---

"This is the golden moment, please stop spouting nonsense." Minuette said in an indignant tone as Lyra followed her down the stairs. "You said something that you shouldn't have said, something that is not what you should say, and something that is not for you to say. Now, she's gone. How are we going to get her now?"

"This building is swarmed with officers, how on Tartarus would she escape?"

"Simply just by disguising herself as one of our own. She could be out on the streets now, wagging her tail as she disappears into the crowd." Minuette continued, picking up her pace down the stairs.

"Are you shooting a film?" Lyra asked.

Somewhere on the fourth floor, a group of officers had gotten the news of a fellow officer being attacked by the suspect, and are now rushing up to the tenth floor to help.

"What's going on?" An officer on standby leaned against the wall as the team rushed upstairs.

"One of us was attacked, stay here! The suspect may be coming down any moment now!" One of them yelled as they hurried along. The officer on standby merely chuckled as the group disappeared up the stairs. Amethyst strolled down the stairs, having avoided detection; her disguised had not failed her.

Lyra's transceiver buzzed online again. "Chief, we're on the tenth storey, one of our ponies was attacked by a mare disguised as one of the officers, be on the lookout for suspicious characters, over."

"I'm coming over!" Lyra affirmed.

Minuette galloped downstairs immediately after she heard what happened, while Lyra bounded in the opposite direction. She stopped after realizing that Minuette had long disappeared below her.

"Hey! Tenth floor is up this way!" She shouted.

"I know that upstairs is the way up to the tenth floor! You go on! She may have long evaded the officers! I'll just head down and blah blah blah blah..." Minuette's voice was lost in the incessant ringing echo that reverberated throughout the shaft. "Then I'll blah blah blah if blah blah just go!"

"What the hell are you saying?" Lyra yelled down the stairs while making her way upwards.

---

Amethyst trashed her disguise into a trash bin and promptly put on her jacket. She was out of the building, and was trotting down the loading bay. Nopony knew that she was out yet, the officers in the building were still frantically trying to look for her.

Minuette ran out of the entrance with her transceiver floating beside her, she glanced both ways down the street. But the suspect was no where to be seen. "Loading area to the left, nothing to the right. Where would I go?" She muttered to herself, then turned to gallop towards the left side. But she stopped herself.

She will be long gone if she escapes via the loading bay. Minuette thought to herself, then turned towards the opposite direction.

Minuette skidded to a halt in the middle of the street. It was barren, nopony or car could be seen for miles. She was determined to catch up. If she could catch up. Where will she go? Maybe hail a taxi? A bus?

Minuette shook herself from her thoughts and continued down the street. At the other end, she peered down the road. This was a back area, so vehicles were scarce, except for a taxi parked a few metres from the actual taxi stand. This gave her an idea. Surely the owner of this taxi wouldn't mind. Of course he or she wouldn't mind. It'll be alright.

Minuette unlocked the vehicle from the inside and made herself comfortable. "Ooo... A cap. Perfect. That'll make me look like a legit taxi driver." All she had to do now was wait. Hopefully, the wind will blow in her favour.

Amethyst emerged from the dark alleyways, she spotted a cab by the side of the road, waiting for potential customers. She sensed nothing wrong, and proceeded to enter the back seat of the taxi. Amethyst shut the door after her and heaved a contented sigh. She took one look back to make sure nopony was following.

"Where in Manehatten, miss?" The driver rasped, coughing with a little squeak.

"Just by the harbour, thank you." Amethyst sat back and stretched her limbs. The taxi rode off, turning into a busy city square. The taxi seemed to turn deeper and deeper into the city. Amethyst noticed. This wasn't the way to the harbour. Amethyst studied the driver, although she should not make out her face, she recognized the blue and white mane of a familiar pony. As the cab turned the corner from an apartment block, Amethyst covertly unzipped her jacket and reached in to pull out a gun. This time, it was a real pistol, not the paintball gun she had used.

"Where are you going?" Amethyst asked, setting the pistol on the seat.

"To the nearest police station, miss." The driver replied, casting her a gaze from the rear view mirror. Amethyst smiled, and pulled a suppressor from her pockets. She screwed the long tube onto the barrel and leaned on the front seats.

"Minuette, right?" Amethyst asked. "Alone?"

"Just me is enough."

"You don't have a weapon." Amethyst stated. "Aren't you afraid that I might kill you?"

Minuette turned to the purple unicorn, "If you shoot me now, the car will flip."

"Yeah, that's dangerous." Amethyst nodded. Then her tone changed into a whisper, "If you manage to take me to the police station, you win the game." She smirked, then continued to roll the windows down. Minuette smiled, for she was confident that she had no escape now. Amethyst rested her gun on the window, pointing into the streets.

Minuette noticed what Amethyst was trying to do and turned a worried eye onto the streets outside. There was a massive crowd of ponies on the streets, all waiting to cross the busy road. If Amethyst fires, she will most likely hit some unlucky pony. She did not know what to do.

A muffled gunshot rang out, making Minuette jump and training her eyes towards the pavements again. Somewhere out there, a cardboard box that an innocent delivery pony was carrying explodes into a shower of foam and paper.

"I'm not always that accurate." Amethyst said, shifting herself to the window on the other side of the vehicle. She rolled down the window and took aim.

Another metallic crack sounded as a filly's balloon popped out of existence. Minuette wanted to stop her, but she was powerless. She could use her magic, but focusing on two things is harder than it sounds.

Amethyst fired another shot, this time, sparking off a lamppost.

Amethyst floated her weapon out of the moving taxi and positioned it so that it points forwards. Minuette glanced over to her window and sure enough, the pistol was just hovering there, waiting to be fired. Amethyst rested a hoof on Minuette's shoulder.

She whispered, "I'll count to three, then I'll shoot." Amethyst closed her eyes, her horn still glowing brilliantly. Minuette was sweating, she focused on the road, her mind reeling. There was a pedestrian-crossing in front. And ponies were just crossing it.

"One."

Minuette stiffened when Amethyst pressed her hoof down on her shoulder.

"Two."

She hesitated.

"Three."

"No!" Minuette yelled, slamming her hoof on the brakes. The silenced pistol went off, punching through the shutters of a truck. Minuette regained her composure as the taxi stopped abruptly. She peered down the road, making sure nopony got hurt. The ponies crossing the road had no idea what just happened, and nopony seemed to be injured.

Minuette heaved a sigh of relieve before turning to face Amethyst.

She was gone. The door was wide open and there wasn't any trace of the purple mare in the streets outside. Minuette let out a irritated grunt and leaned back in defeat. It was too much for her.

The culprit had fled, for now. But Minuette was more determined than ever to bring her in.

The next time, she wasn't just going to let her go so easily. Amethyst was cunning, and Minuette knew that she had underestimated her foe. There was more to this mare, and she wanted to pursue her. Where could she start? Minuette sat in the taxi, more driven to know more about this mysterious unicorn.

Act III: Divergent

View Online

War In The Dark

*** Divergent ***

***

Amethyst sat in the back of the minibus. Escaping from that mare was one thing, evading the police was another. She was sure that the police had set up roadblocks in the vicinity. Amethyst peered out of the window to make sure no one in particular was following, gazing at the streets through her shades as if it was not suspicious at all.

The bus turned the corner of a street, revealing an active roadblock in the middle of the road. Several vehicles up front were getting checked by the officers operating the roadblock. They were cautious and well armed.

Amethyst knew she would be recognized off the bat if she didn't do something right away. There was no worrying about her cutie mark because Amethyst had concealed it with the long coat she was wearing. The only thing that could give her away was her duffle bag; a pistol and that bag of diamonds does come off as a questionable combination.

After glancing about the bus for a moment, Amethyst caught sight of somepony who might grant her a way out of this.

Seated two rows ahead was Roseluck, the florist living a few blocks down. She had just moved to Manehatten two weeks ago to expand her little business. Back in Ponyville, Lily had taken over her old shop. Amethyst recognized her with her long luscious mane, and she had been past Roseluck's shop before.

Amethyst hesitated, for she knew that the mare probably recognizes her as well. Roseluck was a frequent visitor in her father's jewelers store which she was due to take over soon, as a result of some complications. Amethyst had seen her browsing the store, but never buying anything.

As she sat behind the counter, Amethyst would usually see her staring at a particular diamond necklace, or a diamond band, looking on dejectedly; almost heartbroken. Then, she would trot out of the store without a word. Many a time, Amethyst wished she could just talk to her, not like this. Not now. What would she think?

Rose peered out of the window, at the officers checking the vehicles whilst the bus slowly rolled closer to the barricade. She was surprised to see Amethyst take a seat beside her. Roseluck took one look at the unicorn and glanced at the half-opened duffle bag on her lap. Her expression remained somewhere between curiosity and shock as she gaped at the pistol sticking out of the bag.

Amethyst's cold gaze met hers but she said nothing. Sliding the bag and pushing it under Rose, Amethyst squeezed the bag under the inner seat and out of sight. Roseluck glanced furtively at the officer's a few cars ahead and back at Amethyst, she wasn't breaking a single sweat. Although deep down, she was feeling a little scared, just a little.

Amethyst curled her hoof around the earth pony as she jumped a little. "You'll be fine as long as you keep quiet." Amethyst hated to say those words, but it had to be done, for she didn't know if she could trust Roseluck yet.

Rose didn't utter a single word, just made herself comfortable, her gaze still as distant as it always were. Amethyst removed her shades and gently slid it on Rose's face. Amethyst pulled out a music player and put an earbud to her ears, then the other to her own.

Outside, the officers were cautiously approaching the minibus, casting sharp glances into the windows. They were certainly determined to find Amethyst, although most of them haven't a clue of what she looked like. Only the description of a duffle-bag carrying and semi-long maned pony. And she was certainly alone, that's for sure.

Amethyst tugged on Roseluck's shoulder, nudging her towards herself. "Lean on me." She whispered. Roseluck watched her captor with uneasiness, but she complied nonetheless. She leaned in and laid her head on Amethyst's chest, brushing her cheek lightly against the warm fur.

The bus came to stop and the swinging doors flapped open. The officer trotted up the steps carefully, casting a cold eyeball at the commuters. The air around him was tense and serious, as though everypony in the bus was a suspect. The officer's partner stood by the door, eyes flashing about, trying to spot out any suspicious behaviour.

"What's this?" The officer furthest away asked a young mare with a duffle bag placed on the seat beside her.

"Old clothes." She said, with no intention of hiding anything.

"Open up." Amethyst nuzzled the earth pony lovingly, watching as the mare unlocked her bag. "Who's it for?" Roseluck just laid there contently, returning the nuzzle. She seemed to not mind a single bit.

"I'm donating it, sir."

The officer ambled past the pair, smiling slightly at the affection that unfolded before him. He took a quick glance at the back before returning down the aisle. Amethyst rubbed her partner's shoulder, prompting Roseluck to relax.

The officer gave another squint at the entirety of the bus and alighted after sensing nothing suspicious. "Drive on." He waved at the driver, who simply nodded. The doors swung closed and the minibus continued past the barricade.

Amethyst looked on as the roadblock slid further and further away. When the bus turned a corner, Roseluck involuntarily lifted her head and extracted the earpiece.

"Sorry, thank you." Amethyst stuffed the music player into her pocket and pulled the duffle bag from underneath the seats, leaving Roseluck to stared at her as she got up. "Drop off at the intersection!" She yelled to the driver.

Amethyst alighted down the road as the bus turned right on the intersection. She slung the bag over her shoulder and crossed the road ahead.

Roseluck shook herself from her daze and took off the shades, calling out to the driver. "Please stop by the side of the road." She got up and trotted briskly to the door.

The bus stopped by the pavement and Roseluck rushed down the steps, eyes darting about for the light purple mare. Amethyst was cantering down the street, paying no attention to Roseluck, who was padding across the road slowly.

Roseluck trotted down the street, keeping her distance from Amethyst, who was peering up at the apartment buildings ahead.

Amethyst could hear hoofsteps behind her, she pressed her lips together and smiled. Rose was studying the unicorn closely, scanning her from head to tail. She combed Amethyst like a filly seeing the world for the first time.

Roseluck looked down and Amethyst suddenly turned around purposefully. Roseluck jumped and let out a little squeak, blinking.

"Why are you following me?" Amethyst asked, swiping her tail with intent.

"I- I live here." Roseluck pointed to the apartment block and started cantering towards it. Amethyst took one last look back and continued her way down the street.

"Hey, um. This is yours." Roseluck loped over and pressed the shades onto the unicorn's hoof, trying very hard to avoid her gaze. Amethyst received the shades and watched as Rose disappeared into the apartment block. Her heart sank.

---

"No no no. You must first get one thing straight. Solving a case isn't like mathematics, one plus one doesn't always add up to two. I can assure all of you, she will not leave the city." Minuette cantered up and down the case board whilst her team stood by, listening.

Violet was carrying a crate containing the attire found in the trash on site, it looked like she had set up a clothes store in the department. Lightning Bolt was leaning against the desk. "Stay in Manehatten so that she could get caught?" She asked in deep question.

"No, you should take a deep look inside the fundamentals of this case, the process and thought. Then you will notice that this mare isn't just any robber." Minuette gesticulated frantically with her hooves as Lightning danced her eyes about, trying to keep up with her random jerking. "What motives do she harbour? What was she trying to achieve? Surely, this is worth racking your brains to understand."

Lyra sat in her office, studying Minuette as she flailed about, trying her hardest to incite thought from her team. "I get it, you're the one who promoted her to the Serious Crime department. I understand completely. But, she disregarded orders and even carried out her own command without notifying her superiors first; the suspect fled because of this." Lyra hesitated, the phone floating against her ear as she stood up, casting a hard gaze at the blue unicorn. "I've tolerated her more than I usually would, but this isn't the first time - it's the same story with the case of the bank robbery-"

Lyra frowned, and shook her head, "No, no. That's not what I meant. I'm not trying to implicate you or anything. I understand that you two have been friends for quite some time..." She sighed, and squinted her eyes in a painful look. "Yes, I get it, mam. Goodbye." Lyra set the telephone down and trotted out of her office.

The crew had all gathered around the conference table as Minuette went on, pointing between several pieces of information at once. "We must enter the suspect's mind to get a grasp of what she was thinking. But of course, we would need to be clever and insightful to catch the little details. Chief Lyra." The team also turned to greet the chief, who was still glowering.

"Scrutinize the pieces of evidence." She stated, ambling over the Minuette. "Quite a few military-based stores sell police uniforms, go through them and check their recent sales." Lyra pointed out.

"Blueberry had already gone to check, mam." Raindrops mentioned.

Lyra tapped the box that Violet was carrying earlier, "Bring these to the arms specialist for inspection."

"I already did. He said that those uniforms are sold almost everywhere. How do we investigate?" Violet said, waving her hoof at the box. Minuette kept silent and tried not to fidget. She was feeling very lively today, after all that happened.

"Check for hoofprints."

"Minuette examined the clothes already, there were no hoofprints." Violet added. "The suspect must've had some sort of gel on her hooves at the time."

Lyra was not satisfied although Minuette seems to have everything covered, or that she had had everything covered. There wasn't a good excuse to reprimand the blue unicorn. "Sketch up a drawing board for the case, I want all pieces of information on it." She scowled at the mare.

"It's here, we've also set several divisions on high alert for the suspect and sent out an arrest warrant." Minuette stepped aside to reveal the board, scribbled with pen and sticky notes.

Lyra was caught somewhere shock and the refusal to give in just yet. "What else haven't you done?" She asked in exasperation, as if she really wanted Minuette to do something wrong so that she could just enjoy giving her a scolding.

Minuette stared blankly into the chief and suddenly slammed the table with both her hooves, making the chief jump a little. She sprung awake, jabbing her hoof at Lyra. "That's it. Stupid, I'm really stupid - I almost forgot about the most important clue! The financial company! How audacious of me to overlook this vital piece of the puzzle! We could go and check right now."

Lyra gaped at the enlightened mare and kept her muzzle shut for a moment before replying, "The lights in the corridor are flickering. Go get somepony to fix them!" Lyra stormed off, flicking her tail dangerously as the rest watched her.

---

* Five days ago *

"Such a long time... I almost thought you were dead." A grey pegasus donned in a black blazer and tie approached an old pony sitting in his recliner. He had a briefcase with him, which he set on a small table.

The old stallion just smiled, and promptly put his voice-output communication aid to his neck. "Don't assume I would just help you." He said in a robotic voice. "I only wanted to see the diamond."

The younger stallion glanced about the dark ambient room, the air hung like stale bread and the scent of smoke was stifling. He unlocked the case to reveal a glimmering necklace with a beautiful blue diamond embedded at the end. "Go on, Mr Quarat." He said with a grunt.

Quarat took off his glasses delicately, a pale pink aura enveloping the diamond necklace. He reached out to have a feel of the blue gem, which sparkled under the dim light above.

"You're still short of five million, sir." A mare sitting beside the counter glared at the grey stallion. Hooven glanced over at the briefcase filled to the brim with money as a smile pulled from the side of his muzzle.

"Each pony gets two point five million, but the other two didn't come." He said calmly, not breaking his composure.

The briefcase was slammed shut as the mare stood up, a deadly expression rose from her face, "They are dead, and the Berletto Mafia is still after our heads." She shouted and stomped a hoof.

Quarat was peering though a magnifier with a satisfied look on his face. He paid no attention to the ongoing argument.

"That's your problem, not mine. I just wanted to know if the diamond is real, after that, you are free to leave." Hooven waved off. He took a quick glimpse at the two ponies by the counter and reached for his pocket. He pulled out a gun and directed it on Quarat, who was not bothered with the fact that he could potentially die.

The two ponies with the money immediately pointed their pistols at the grey pegasus upon the first draw. They kept quiet, but if he fires, all hell will be unleashed. "Is it real?" Hooven said, his voice not louder than a whisper.

"Isss real." Quarat tried to say without his vocal aid, but only managed to let out a sharp hissing flow of air. It was clear enough for Hooven to discern what he meant. The pistol lowered from his head.

"I'd say it's a crude fake." Hooven snapped.

Quarat looked up at the arrogant pegasus, pressing his vocal aid on his neck once more. "My word is that it's real." His voice flickered and buzzed, like a candle flame being blown by strong winds.

Hooven raised both his eyebrows, "Nah, that's fake."

The two ponies by the counter were losing their patience, the mare reached for a pistol and rasped, "What are you playing at? Stop wasting our time, give us the rest of the money and let us get the hell out of here!"

Hooven turned quickly and raised his pistol. Before the two ponies could react, he fired multiple shots at both of them. They dropped their weapons and flopped onto the floor in a lifeless heap. Quarat got up from the sofa slowly ambled towards the exit, "Need a new buyer? Call me."

Hooven holstered his pistol and took over the sofa, "Clean up." He ordered his ponies, who stood around during the 'exchange'.

"Clean bills only." Quarat added before trotting out of the door.

Hooven chuckled, eyeing the coruscating blue diamond like it were a precious thing to him. It was a very valuable artifact, after all. Contented after knowing that it was indeed the real deal, he shut the case and hauled it off the table.

---

"I've already told you everything! There's nothing else I can say." Daisy let out a groan as Minuette followed her out of her office. She had been sticking around for an hour now, and she has business that needs to be sorted out. "You've been asking since you got here!"

"Indeed I have."

Daisy griped again, "I have work to do, I'm not a free pony like you are, mam."

"Yes, yes. I understand, it's okay. Listen, it doesn't matter if the details are small; be it an expression, a brush of the mane, a smile, or a small harmless sentence - actually an abstract one is fine too! You must call me if you remember!" Minuette shook the manager, who was trying to reply, but was always cut off when she wanted to say something.

"I will call you, goodbye!" Daisy swiftly cantered off.

"Anytime is fine!" Minuette watched as the manager went back into her department. But somewhere down on the other end of the level, she could see several ponies wearing suits escorting another suit-wearing pony. They all look the same. Minuette shrugged at the silly thought.

Minuette cast a deeper gaze, her eyes training on a briefcase that a stallion was carrying on his back. Her eyes then rolled up in deep brooding. Minuette shook her head infinitesimally and followed cautiously.

"Put in the passcode." Hooven beckoned a smartly dressed mare as he and his ponies approached a glass door.

The mare blinked and stared at the security lock. She obviously didn't know the code, but was too afraid to ask. She randomly punched in a few numbers as the lock beeped with every input. The door remained shut.

"It's three two five eight, Maya." Clover, the pegasus beside her whispered.

Maya stared between the pegasus and the lock, chuckling. She punched in the correct code and smiled gleefully as it clicked open. Hooven shook his head. The two mares stood back and held the glass door open as the procession went by.

The department was a huge empty room, with countless cardboard boxes backed in the corners and walls. There were utility stairs leading to an upper level. A long row of glass windows separated the department from the corridor. If one were to look in, they would see crates piled up high.

Hooven went up the stairs and further into the upper rooms. "The diamond is worth a few ten millions, keep it under twenty-four hour surveillance." He instructed the ponies following him.

Minuette trotted leisurely past the long row of windows looking into the department, peering intently. Upon reaching the glass entrance, Maya came by to see her standing there and smiling like an idiot.

Maya opened the door, but blocking the doorway with her body. "What is it?" She asked, perplexed as to why Minuette was looking so keenly into the department.

"Oh! I'm just perusing." Minuette replied succinctly. "Um, your company..." She stepped forward, meaning to push past Maya, but was stopped when she put a hoof across the door.

"Hold up." Maya gave her a wary look.

"Oh, that's nothing. I just feel that your department was gorgeously decorated." Minuette praised. "What does your company do?"

Maya looked away, racking her brains to come up with an answer. Honestly, she had no idea. She paused for an eternity before replying, "Why'd ya ask?" Maya rubbed her cheek nervously.

Minuette pulled out her identification card from her pocket and displayed it for the mare to see. "I'm from the police."

"Transport and delivery." Maya replied snappily.

"Ah..." Minuette threw her head up slightly. Then pointed to the financial department across the level, "There was a robbery over there, did you see any suspicious ponies loitering about?"

"Your colleagues have already been here. Six thousand times!" Maya hastily came up with an excuse to shoo the persistent mare away.

"Oh, I see. I'm sorry to bother you. Six thousand?" Minuette said apologetically, turning away.

"Yes, six thousand!" Maya snapped, shutting the door. Minuette backed up into the corridor, eyes still fixated on the glass door. In the corridor, she swiveled her head upon hearing rapid shuffling of hooves.

Down the hallway, Daisy was shifting along in an uncomfortable position. She stopped abruptly when she saw the detective. "I'm just going to the washroom." She said. Minuette did not budge, her eyes staring lazily at the manager. For a few seconds both mares stood still, not moving, until Daisy broke the silence. "Fine, I'll pass." Then quickly scrambled back to her office.

Minuette looked between the manager and the glass door, furrowing her brows. Something was wrong, she could sense it.

---

It was about time. The diamond had been secured, locked up in the three key combination vault. Amethyst knew because she was looking right at the entire process. She smiled to herself, knowing that the next step can now be carried out, with the help of a particular inquisitive mare.

Amethyst continued staring at the monitor, which displayed full angle of the vault door opening and the briefcase being locked up inside. The snake-cam she installed in the vents above provided her full visual of the vault.

She shifted her attention onto a bolt which she had taken from the company earlier. The bolt was supposed to be fastened onto the grate, but she took it, knowing that a message needs to be sent, more importantly, received. Otherwise, her plan would not work.

Amethyst floated the bolt and laid it gently onto a padded case which she had taken from her own jeweler's store. She placed it on the table, nodding in satiety.

---

"There are two problems that we need to iron out." Minuette rested her forehooves on a table lamp. "That is, why did she rob the financial company? In the same building, there are several antique and jeweler stores; if she wanted money, she could have easily targeted those. Am I right?"

She turned to Violet, who was nodding in agreement. "That's why, I've come to an obvious conclusion that her motive is not for cash. Next off, why did she choose me? Why, why, why me?" Minuette shook her hooves in the air. "And why all the trouble on the rooftop? Therefore, I've come to the conclusion that she wanted something from me, or out of me. I beseech all of you here to help me think, thank you." Minuette ended her oration.

"Um, Minuette?" Lightning raised her wing in question.

The blue unicorn sprung up, "Any ideas?"

Lightning Bolt hesitated, glancing at the clock. "It's... five sharp already."

Minuette let out a sudden smile. "Yeah, it is." She pointed to the white pegasus. "You need to fetch your roommate from her piano class. Florence has a game of cards with her friends. Raindrops, your roommate made dinner for you. Blueberry has a train to catch. What about you, Violet?" She turned to face the mare.

Violet glanced around at her colleagues, "I- I have a date." With myself, Violet thought with a lonely smile.

"Good luck for that. Alright then, I guess it's time to knock off." Minuette sat down on the chair, the table lamp being the only source of light shining at her. The rest of her team scrambled to pack their things.

"Goodbye, mam!" Lightning Bolt flew out of the office. The rest of the crew said their goodbyes and left the department.

"Minuette, somepony dropped this off earlier, it's for you." Violet passed the unicorn a bulky package and went off.

Minuette unpacked the package as curiosity furrowed over her brows. She pulled out the black box that was stuffed inside the cardboard package. Minuette studied the exterior of the box before flipping the cover.

Using her magic, Minuette floated out a bolt of some sort, feeling more astonished than ever.

Act IV: Coming into Place

View Online

War In The Dark

*** Coming into Place ***

***

"I have what you're looking for." Cloudchaser pushed the files over to Minuette, her other hoof taking motor control on the wheel.

The convertible raced along the highway as the billowing winds blew against the two ponies. Minuette received the file and opened it. "Impressive, with this kind of capability it's no wonder you got promoted so quickly." She browsed through the files containing information pertaining to several mafia big-shots, including Hooven Stone and Quarat Quartz.

Luna's moon hung high above the skies as thin clouds tumbled past the stars that spread out all over the tranquil night.

"You've been all over the police force. You've seen your share of crime and drama." The pegasus said, slowing down the vehicle. She turned into a street.

"You're right, but I'm not the bragging type." Minuette scanned the photographs taken the mafia characters, taken via security cameras. She took notice of a particular old stallion that she remembered seeing after the bank heist incident. Minuette squinted at the photos and floated them to Cloudchaser.

"Who's this guy on the right?" She tapped on the photograph.

"Oh, his name is Quarat Quartz, renowned gem cutter. He owns a chain called the Coruscadia. He had affiliations with the Northern Manehatten Mafia, but do not participate in their businesses. Honest guy, really. Too bad he has lung cancer, at its last stage too, which explains the vocal aid he carries with him."

"Intriguing. You've done more work than the chief's ever gonna do in a month." Minuette quipped, licking the side of her mouth.

"Where would you like to eat tonight?" Cloudchaser asked, turning the car down a corner.

"I'm on a diet. I reckon hardworking ponies like yourself will stay in during lunch to work, you look the type anyways. You should go carry on your business, call me if you've found anything." Minuette put down the files on her lap and rested a hoof on the door.

"You don't have a marefriend, or coltfriend for that matter. And you're not looking for a partner. You do know that a lot of your colleagues think that you're the reclusive-gay kind." Cloudchaser sneakily gave a leering glance at the unicorn, who was engrossed with the files again. "Are you?"

Minuette seemed to not catch anything she said then, she jabbed Cloudchaser on her forehoof. "That's right, hows the situation with the financial company?"

Cloudchaser cleared her throat. She really is quite clueless, Cloud thought to herself. "Everything's fine, they run a legitimate business and there's nothing suspicious on their side."

"Then why did that lass decide to hit them?" Minuette asked no one in particular, burying herself in the files. "Oh, what did you ask me just now?" She turned to the pegasus, who was occupied with staying on the road.

Before she could answer, Minuette cut her off snappily. "Never mind that, could you just drop me off by my car? That'll be nice. And remember, call me if anything crops up."

Cloudchaser blew out a long gasp of breath and nodded.

---

Amethyst stopped her vehicle a distance away from the building, waiting, pondering. The time to take action still waits, for she wasn't sure if the mare will come. No, Amethyst was confident she would.

The lights in the building still shone, meaning that there will be guards stationed for night duty. The intersection ahead was barren; no cars, no ponies. It felt like a ghost city. The traffic lights flickered green, yellow, then red.

Amethyst rubbed her mane, coughing a little. If anything does hitch off, she has a plan, also the product of her insight. She felt her coat pockets and hovered out a bottle of pills - Abraxane. Seemingly, those pills will make anypony's heart sink. Not literally, anyways.

Amethyst heard a rumbling and turned to look at the intersection; a car had just pulled up in front of the building. This will go seamlessly, Amethyst chuckled and shook her head. She locked her eyes onto the blue unicorn as she cantered up the steps.

"You're reporting to CEIB, who's this? Oh, you're looking for the chief? Hold on..." The officer behind the counter said. "Chief Lyra, third line!"

Lyra trotted over and floated up the telephone, puzzled at who could be calling so late in the night. "Hello?"

"You've got somepony named Minuette who's here to check the crime scene." The security guard on duty explained, trying to pull the lid off a chocolate powder tin. She had the telephone floating beside her ear. "Our superior instructed us to call in for these kinds of situations." She spoke in her monotone voice, still attempting to brew herself some hot chocolate.

"Don't care about her, she's not in charge of this case anyway. If she comes again, please inform me." Lyra said, her expression turning sour as soon as she heard that Minuette was trying to be funny again. She hung up and trotted off. "I'm not that easy to go picking on, hmpf." Lyra grunted and stormed off.

Minuette laid both her hooves on the marble desk, watching the guard as she messed about the flask. She was waiting for her approval, which was obviously not the case.

"Your chief says that you're not in charge of this case, if you're unsatisfied, please call her to clarify." The guard spoke dryly, flipping the lid of the flask. She closed it upon realizing that she already added the hot water. "I'm gonna lock up, you should go already." The guard said, cantering up towards the main entrance.

Minuette followed her, but not before sneaking the packet of milk powder into her pockets. The telephone rang again, and the guard turned her tail to pick it up. "Sorry, please see yourself out."

Minuette trotted towards the door, but she did not open it. Instead, she pulled the handles with her magic and focused her magical energy. It took a few milliseconds too long, but she managed to obscure herself with the cloaking spell. Minuette disappeared from view and quietly snuck towards the outer corridor.

"Hello? Hello?" The guardsmare glanced over to the doors, only to see them swinging shut. That detective must've gone. She thought to herself and pressed the phone to her ear. Strange, nopony was on the other side. Somepony must have called the wrong number.

Minuette appeared again as her magic diffused. "Hello? Hello?" Minuette swiftly hung up. That was the first time she'd ever tried something like this, but it worked! Minuette tried not to grin like a madpony as she trotted down the hallway, her thoughts still on the phone trick.

"What the flying feathery fiddlesticks?" The guard stepped back, her eyes darting over between her hot chocolate making ingredients. There was something missing, the vital piece of the puzzle to this delicious steamy chocolate. "Where the clopping Luna's crap is my milk powder?" She glanced about, still befuddled by her disappearing ingredients.

---

Minuette's horn flickered dimly under the blanket of darkness that surrounded the hallway. She placed her hooves carefully, stepping towards the financial department block. Minuette peered through the glass door, it was locked, of course.

Minuette went over to the number pad security lock, staring at the buttons intently.

Amethyst was observing from her car, from a small monitor she had brought along for this purpose. She had the entire level covered with security cameras. She saw Minuette staring at the keypad lock, and facehoofed immediately.

"Damn it, I forgot to tell her the password." Amethyst muttered to herself as she kept her irises fixated on the unicorn. She was probably more nervous than the detective herself.

Meanwhile, Minuette tore apart the packet of milk powder and gently blew it over the buttons. After the dust had settled, only a few buttons had the powder stuck to it, indicating that it had been used recently.

"How many combinations?" Minuette asked herself and counted the possible sequences in her head. "I always hated this, choosing four from ten... I should've brought my calculator." Minuette mumbled to herself, jabbing away at the buttons.

"Argh, nine three five one girl... you can do it..." Amethyst leaned on her hoof, muttering to herself over and over again, as if Minuette could hear her if she tried hard enough.

Beepbeepbeepbeep, beepbeepbeepbeep...

The beeping rang throughout the corridor, making every second past more tense than the last. Minuette was furiously jabbing away at the keypad, beads of sweat trickling down her mane. She stuck out her tongue and continued her assault on the buttons.

Click!

Minuette's ear perked up as her eyes trained onto the lock status, it was green. The door snapped open invitingly, it was surprisingly satisfying.

She stepped into the pitch-dark offices, blinking to adjust her night vision better. Minuette trotted past the desks and tables, shining her horn around the room. She trotted into the next section, gazing deeper into the rooms. Minuette was just going to turn her head when she paused, her eyes trailed onto the grates above.

She shone her light on it, specifically the corners. Sure enough, there was a missing bolt. Minuette shifted her sights towards the other corners; the bolts were tightly fastened and there was no reason that one bolt was suspiciously missing. Unless...

"She's leading me on her trail..." Minuette floated out the bolt she had received earlier and examined it. It looks like a good fit. Even if it wasn't a fit, she'll check it out anyway.

Minuette quickly unscrewed the plates and clambered into the vents above. Once her torso was halfway up, Minuette shot a glance down both sides of the vent. It was clean. Clean and dusty at the same time. She closed her eyes and mentally mapped the layout of the level. There was something wrong about the department on the other side of the floor, surely there must be something there.

With that, Minuette pushed herself up and crawled down the cold metallic vents. She turned the only corner, then another, and another. After what seemed like forever, Minuette reached the other department. She knew because there were voices coming from below.

In the department below, there were a group of ponies sitting around a square table. It seemed as though they were playing cards. Minuette shone the light down the corner, and she was shocked to see several tools lying over a grate. There were wires and all sorts of equipment including a branded chisel and some sort of fuse.

Minuette creeped over to the cover and peered down into the room below. It was the same vault that Amethyst had discovered the day before, but Minuette didn't know that. She tugged at the wire to reveal a small camera at the end.

Minuette shone her light at the camera and peered into it. Unbeknownst to her however, Amethyst could see her clearly.

"Hmm, pretty face." Amethyst smiled as Minuette made funny faces at the camera. She shook her head and pulled out a the detonator from her pocket. It was the same detonator from the day before. The only thing different was that it was wired up to something. Poor Minuette, Amethyst thought to herself, chuckling. The detective have no idea what was about to happen.

Amethyst pushed the only button on the detonator.

Somewhere in the vent, the grates sparked brilliantly, showering smoke into the vault room below. The ponies turned as soon the sparking began, the burnt smell of metal filled the air. One of the ponies, clearly the leader of the bunch, threw down his cards and cantered up the utility stairs.

Minuette coughed as smoke erupted in her face, and quickly crawled backwards the way she came. The door burst open, and the stallion looked up at the grate to see the fuse still burning away. The smoke had shrouded the entire room.

When he climbed to remove the plating, Minuette was long gone. He did manage to find the camera, which he quickly ran out to warn the others of a potential intrusion. He sent his friends out into the hallway to search while he picked up a transceiver, "Maya, over!"

Down in the carpark, Maya was taking a nap in the back seat of a SUV. She lazily dragged her transceiver and put the whole device in her mouth. "Copy..." The two ponies in the front seat shrugged.

"Intrusion detected! I repeat-"

"Got it." Maya sprung awake and so did the front passengers. "There's an intrusion, right?" She slumped back onto the seat, exhausted and close to dozing off again. "There's an intrusion..." She spoke to the two ponies. They were staring at her dead in the eye, as though waiting for some sort of inspirational speech from the mare. Maya gaped between the two ponies with a tired expression.

She forced her eyelids open and hissed, "There's an intrusion!" They two ponies are still staring at her. Maya took a deep breath and jerked one of them, "Intrusion, go!" She hopped off her seat and shut the door behind her. The two ponies, including one that was leaning against a concrete pillar followed her.

Maya dropped her transceiver as the others ran towards the carpark exit, they hesitated when they saw the mare stumbling to pick up the device. "For the love of - just go! I'll enter from the other exit." She waved off and scooped up the transceiver, now galloping towards the other direction.

Minuette cantered down the hallway but slid to a stop when she heard the door from the other department clicking open. She flailed her hooves about and turned an immediate corner just as several ponies wielding pistols entered the main hallway.

Hooven sat on the back seat while his chauffeur drove him down the freeway, everything was going accordingly. The blue diamond will stay locked up until the next deal. Hopefully, he could sell it for a much lucrative price, given the number of ponies that have died just to get their hooves on the gem.

Just this moment, his cellphone started to ring.

"Hello?"

"Boss, there's something going on in the company." A voice on the other side disclosed.

Hooven furrowed his brows. That could mean anything. The diamond could have been stolen. "Is the diamond still there?" He asked with a worried expression.

"Yes, but somepony installed a camera in the vents, they could be in the building right now."

Hooven paused, his mind was racing. The diamond must not fall into another pony's hooves! He quickly gave an order, "Stalker, Take the case, meet me in the car park within fifteen minutes. Protect the diamond at all costs!"

"Got it." Stalker nodded.

The group of ponies rushed down the hallway, their pistols drawn. They were determined to flush out the intruder and secure the diamond. As they disappeared down the end of the corridor, Minuette painfully pushed the hose reel cabinet open.

She hissed out a breath and plucked herself free from the small cabinet. Minuette had to squeeze herself between the hose and metal walls, which was not a pleasant experience. She stepped out of the cabinet, tripping on the main hose.

As Minuette fell onto the cold floor, the coiled hose plummeted on top of her. "Ow, never squeezing myself in tight spaces again, holy Celestia..." She muttered, pushing herself from the ground and untangling herself from the coil. Minuette peeked around the corner of the wall, making sure that no one had seen her or heard her.

She chose the hallway leading to the delivery department and began to trot down it cautiously, looking over her head every now and then.

Ring! Ring!

"Holy wholesome holy balls!" Minuette sibilated, throwing up her coat and frantically digging for her cellphone. What a horrible time to be calling! Minuette rounded a corner and backed herself against the wall. She quickly hung up; this was simply not the time to be answering a call!

The door swung open with a slam, as Hooven's ponies returned to the source of the noise with pistols aiming down the hallway. They evidently heard the loud ringing of the phone, and had turned around to check.

Minuette galloped the other direction, making her way to the emergency exit. There were two emergency passages in the building, one on every side of the level. When the ponies entered the corridor from the emergency exit, Minuette plunged into the other exit and down the stairs.

Minuette tried to keep calm, but her rapid clopping down the stairs eventually got the attention of Hooven's squad. They gave chase down the same stairway.

Minuette ran down the stairs, every hard step pulsating through her hooves painfully. She stopped for a second upon hearing hoofsteps coming from the top. Minuette was certain that they were hot on her hooves. She had to throw them off.

She jumped down the flight of stairs, skipping about five steps. Minuette purposely tried to stomp as hard as she could; to simulate a sound of somepony stopping abruptly. Minuette swung the access door wide open with a loud bang and held it there. With that, she continued down the stairs, trying to reduce her noise level and not just slamming her hooves randomly.

The group of ponies clambered down the stairs, only to see the access door swing close. Somepony had obviously ran through there. They quickly raced through in hot pursuit.

Minuette pushed herself into the lobby of the fifth floor, confident that she had shaken off her company. She sneakily peeked past the wall and down the hallway. It was empty and dark, just like all the other corridors.

Ring! Ring!

Minuette slid over the corner and backed herself against the wall. She fumbled for the cellphone, trying to refrain herself from swearing. "Hello!?" She drew a sharp breath and twitched restlessly.

"Why did you hang up?" A monotone voice, almost bored, sounded through the line.

"Who is this?" Minuette asked, peering down the hallway.

"It's me, detective Minuette." Amethyst said, still lying on her seat, her eyes half closed in weariness.

Realization struck Minuette like a hammer to the head as she trotted down the corridor casually. "Ah... Do you have any idea how much trouble that bolt have costed me? I almost died! This game... it's very entertaining, isn't it?" Minuette proceeded to push the elevator button.

"Don't bother taking the lift, go for a little trot." Amethyst chuckled. She was enjoying herself, moreover, she could see the detective right now.

Minuette glanced around, puzzled, eyes looking for a hidden camera somewhere in her sights. She squinted at one of the small alcove near the ceiling, and sure enough, there was a small camera propped up with a tiny tripod.

"You can stop looking, somepony's coming up."

Minuette gaped at the elevator controls; it has stopped on the first floor. The ponies might be coming up right now. It was a risk, but Amethyst could be right. She'll be no use to Amethyst if she was killed, so why should she be lying?

Minuette floated up a trash bin and braced herself, taking her position behind the wall. Amethyst's voice cackled through again, "There are three ponies with three guns." She sighed. "What do you have? A bin?" Her voiced sounded almost comical.

Minuette wasn't convinced. She stood her ground, her metallic weapon hovering beside her. "I abhor ponies who try to deceive me."

"Me too."

"Fine, I'll play along." Minuette gently dropped the bin and shuffled down the corridor. "Now what?"

"Go down through the other emergency exit." Amethyst requested.

Minuette quietly shut the access door behind her, treading carefully. "Do I go down?" She asked, forcing her words between her teeth.

"Yes. What time is it?" Amethyst continued.

Minuette stared at her cellphone for a moment before answering, "Ten twenty-nine, do you not have a phone or watch?" She hissed.

"I do, in fact." Amethyst whispered. "What floor are you on?"

"Fifth floor."

"Ah, how many floors can you make within a minute?" Amethyst asked intently.

Minuette furrowed her brows and swiped her tail impatiently, "What are you trying to do?"

"Nothin', I just wanted to inform you that there's an emergency access door that closes automatically at ten thirty sharp." Amethyst glanced at the display on the dashboard. "You've got thirty seconds - no, twenty eight..."

Minuette froze for a split second before scrambling down the flight of stairs wildly.

"Twenty seven... twenty six..."

Minuette hopped down the stairs. She must make it, that's her only way out and she can't afford to get caught. Minuette slipped and lost her balance but managed to keep herself on all four hooves. Ignoring that, she continued her climb down the endless stairs.

---

Minuette was sweating and panting for air, but she made it. By how much she doesn't know, but she knew that the creamed-coloured security door was right in front of her. Minuette caught her breath and placed her phone against her ear.

"Ten... nine... eight..." Amethyst was still counting.

"Hey, there's an alarm system!" Minuette's eyes darted around the lock and alarm. There was a handle extending across the width of the door, it was attached to the system.

Amethyst didn't tell her how to open it, and maintained her countdown, "Six... five... four..." Minuette wasn't going to ask any more questions. She slammed her hooves onto the handle and attempted to push it open, but she was rewarded with a shrill alarm that reverberated throughout the shaft. It was loud and sharp and unpleasant to her ears.

Minuette tried pushing the door to no avail, it won't budge. Defeated once more, she took a step back and sighed in utter frustration. The alarm continued to blare incessantly; everypony will be cramming themselves into the shaft now.

Minuette looked back up the last flight of stairs, her sight caught on another camera peeking past the septic pipe in the corner of the wall. Revelation hit her again, this time, like a punch to the gut.

Minuette stomped in annoyance at the thought of being tricked again. She understood everything now, everything that happened the day before. As much as she wanted to commend the cunning unicorn, she was struck down by her own naivety.

"You used me to lure the guards away!" Minuette said in spite, "You little sh-"

Amethyst smiled to herself, for her plan worked. For the most part, she knew that Minuette had a way of extricating herself from the situation. "You should stop swearing and focus on finding a way out." She quipped, hanging up.

The next part of the plan can now commence.

Act V: Perception

View Online

War In The Dark

*** Perception ***

***

Amethyst swiftly started up her vehicle and drove down the street. She took a left and rounded another corner to the car park. Amethyst tore through the tunnel and swerved into the main parking area. She made a hard U-turn and stopped the car in front of an exit.

Amethyst got out of her car and trotted towards the vehicle that she had prepared the day before. It was draped with a crude cover but upon revealing the car, it was a beautiful sedan. The special thing was that this was the same model as the one Hooven uses. It'll do for some switcheroo. Amethyst marveled at the beauty and licked her lips, she'll miss this car.

Stalker had just retrieved the diamond from the vault and was making his way to the car park to meet his boss.

Somewhere in the streets, Hooven's car was just making a turn and now fast approaching the car park. There will be an interesting clash, but Amethyst has a back-up solution.

"Arghhhhh, stop this riiiiiiinging..." Minuette grumbled while trying to jimmy the lock with a bobby pin and tension wrench. She focused her magic and randomly jabbed at the lock. Minuette hadn't picked a lock before, but she had seen ponies do it in movies. She herself knew that she would be here for a very long time, unless somepony were to catch her first.

Minuette stabbed the lock aimlessly and was starting to give up when the door clicked open. She stared between the lock and her tools, blinking. Minuette wasn't expecting it to work! Or did it?

The door swung open to reveal a very flustered mare, she stumbled through the doorway and right into Minuette. Both mares gaped at each other, not moving a muscle. "You, you you you..." Maya pointed at the unicorn, her muzzle wide with shock.

Minuette did not hesitate, she lifted her hoof and delivered a punch to the side of her face. The strong impact rendered Maya on the floor and unconscious. Minuette hissed and shook her hoof. That hurt more then it should! Minuette thought to herself before leaving the knocked out mare.

Stalker had just exited the elevator, the case rested on his back. All he needs to do is to keep the diamond safe and to deliver it to the boss, where he'll keep it more safe, right? That was simple, probably not.

He trotted towards a familiar sedan in the middle of the driveway, peering over to see a shadow in the dark vehicle. That was it, he was going to pass the case to Hooven and all would be fine.

He cantered briskly and got to the side of the car. Without hesitation, he unlocked the car door only to see Amethyst sitting casually, waiting for him.

"Thank you." She reached our her hoof to receive the case. Stalker glared at the mare and yelled, shirking the case away.

"Who are you?"

Amethyst lunged forward and grabbed Stalker by his collar. She pushed herself from the vehicle and slammed him onto a concrete pillar, but Stalker wasn't giving up without a fight. He swung his hoof as Amethyst blocked it, with a twist, she slid under the thrusting hoof and bucked her foe in the side.

Stalker collapsed on the hard floor, clutching his side and gasping for air. Amethyst sauntered forward and brought her hoof down on the fallen stallion.

That could be smoother, Amethyst thought as she floated the briefcase to her side.

---

Hooven's car tore through the car park, rumbling over a few speed bumps. The car was thundering along when the wheels exploded with a gust of air. There were spikes on the road and the chauffeur hadn't realized until it was too late.

The car slid to a stop as the tires went flat. Clover got out from the front seat to check the tire. "How did that happen?" She looked at the punctured tire and rasped.

Hooven instantly knew something was wrong, after pondering for a moment, he ordered the chauffeur to drive immediately. The car was still mobile, but it skidded uncontrollable and slowly.

Amethyst set the case on the front seat and got in the driver's side. She switched on the ignition and rode back towards the exit. Amethyst knew that she wasn't clear, yet. The diamond was so close to being in her possession, she only needed to drive away quickly and unnoticed.

Amethyst turned a corner, only to see another car skidding along. As the two cars passed, Hooven and Amethyst exchanged a glance as the vehicles went their separate ways. Amethyst blew a short breath of air as she remained calm under the pressure.

Hooven got out of the car, only to see Stalker lying on the middle of the driveway, unconscious. Clover flew over to him and knelt down. "Wake up, hey!" She shook the body. Hooven rested his hooves on the car door as he caught sight of the rest of his guards scampering into the car park.

"Go after her, now!" He ordered, slipping into the vehicle. The others complied with a unanimous bark and scrambled to their vehicles.

---

Amethyst's car swerved the corner and thundered out of the car park. She drove the car down the street, leaving a gust of wind behind it.

Minuette was waiting for her. She saw the car rolling at high speeds; as if trying to escape somepony, and concluded that that must be Amethyst. And she was determined to hunt her down if that's the last thing she'll ever do.

Minuette revved up her vehicle and gave chase.

Amethyst rested her hoof on the wheel, relaxing and peering down the streets nonchalantly, as if on a cruise. She shot a quick look at the silver case and made a 'too bad' expression.

For about five minutes, Minuette followed behind her closely. She tapped on the wheel impatiently, frowning in spite at the thought of this sly mare getting away. "Deceiving me and then getting away? Nuh-uh, not a chance." She spat.

Amethyst noticed she was being followed rather closely too, and peered through the rear-view mirror. She saw Minuette shaking her hoof behind the wheel with malice and smiled. Amethyst slowed down the car, causing Minuette to do so too.

"That's for deceiving me!" Minuette hissed and stepped on the pedal. The car shot forward and rear-ended the other vehicle. Amethyst was jerked forward. She looked back and frowned.

Further down the street, a van stopped in the middle of the road as the back door flapped open. Several ponies armed with pistols scrambled out, guns aimed down the road.

Amethyst flinched and swerved her car out of the way. Minuette stared down right at the group of ponies as they appeared into sight. Gunfire showered her vehicle as she yanked the wheel to the other side, ducking under the dashboard.

Amethyst and Minuette backed their cars so that they are positioned parallel to each other, perpendicular to the road. The gunshots rang out relentlessly, sparking off both vehicles in a cacophony of loud cracks.

Another van pulled up from where the two cars came from, blocking off both ends of the street. Ponies emerged and too began firing upon the two mares. Miraculously, the position of the two cars provided a shield between both sides of the fray.

Amethyst and Minuette clambered out and into the gap between both their vehicles. Both mares brushed their fur against each other as they jumped into the other vehicle. Minuette dived into Amethyst's car while Amethyst squirmed into Minuette's.

Amethyst tossed the briefcase onto the passenger's side and pulled out her pistol, blindly firing a few shots down the road. Gunfire continued to hail as Minuette kept her head low.

"You're good, I'll give you that. I fall into your trap time after time." Minuette gave the purple unicorn a patronizing look and said.

"I could say the same for you. You actually managed to follow me. But we're both in deep trouble this time." Amethyst gave the other mare a quick look before firing off her gun again.

"You must have a way out of this." Minuette asserted.

"Play on and we'll see."

Minuette sprawled on the seat, peering into the underside of her vehicle (not her own vehicle). She spotted something that may either be useful in a sense but can also potentially kill the both of them.

She tried to get Amethyst's attention on her proposed plan. "Psst, psst." Amethyst was too busy trying to pick off the attackers to hear. "Eh! I have a plan!" Minuette finally yelled.

Amethyst turned around and flopped herself so that half her body dangles out of the car. Her eyes trained onto what Minuette was pointing at. There was gas leaking from the bottom of the vehicle, dripping into a puddle on the asphalt.

Both mares knew exactly what was going down. They nodded in unison and closed their respective vehicle doors. Amethyst reversed her vehicle and lined it up on the road as Minuette pulled forward, driving her car towards the attacking ponies.

Amethyst aimed her pistol out of the window and fired a few rounds at the trail of petrol. It lighted up immediately, flaring into a huge flame burning through the trail quickly.

Minuette peered back to see the path of fire licking hungrily towards her car. She pushed the pedal and accelerated slightly, carefully not to get too close or too far from the trail. "She could have waited for a second before lighting that!" Minuette kept her hoof on the gas.

Amethyst kept her head down, wary of the attackers behind her while treading on the reverse. Her car swerved erratically as the attacking squad dodged out of the incoming vehicle. Amethyst slammed her hoof on the accelerator and the car shot forward in a cloud of smoke.

As her car slowly approached the van, Minuette ducked under the dashboard with gunshots still hammering the metal machine. She fumbled one of the compartments and found a heavy wrench tucked deep inside. With a strong yank, Minuette pulled the tool free and proceeded to wedge the accelerator with it.

The car rolled forward as Minuette kicked the door open, falling onto the hard ground. The open door provided cover from an otherwise direct hit from the bullets. Minuette looked back frantically as bullets whizzed past her head. She was lucky to survive without taking any shots, yet.

Amethyst's vehicle pulled up beside the unicorn as she hastily dove into the back seat of the car. Amethyst followed the empty vehicle as it made its way towards the blockade, a trail of fire still dancing wildly in the cold wind. The empty vehicle served as a shield against the merciless firing.

Amethyst stopped her car abruptly when the empty car stopped suddenly, blocking their route. Minuette shook her tail impatiently and leaned towards the driving mare. "Give me your gun, I'm gonna fix that."

Amethyst stared at the blue unicorn in uncertainty, but in a situation like this, we gotta work together, right? She pulled out her gun and tossed it to Minuette, who quickly scurried out into the affray again.

Minuette rushed towards the empty vehicle, firing a few shots at the attackers. They dove to the back of the van, taking cover from the sudden assault. Minuette took this split second opportunity to lean into the driver's side, using her magic to readjust the wrench on the accelerator.

The car began moving again and the gunshots showered once more. Minuette scampered back to Amethyst and got back into the safety of the car. Amethyst smirked as the unicorn tumbled onto the seat, panting. "Nice work."

"Yeah, yeah. We make a good team, eh?" Minuette huffed, righting herself.

"Almost." Amethyst said, cocking her head.

The trail blazing vehicle rolled steadily towards the van as the ponies stared at each other, not knowing what to do. They knew that constant firing won't help and the car may blow up if they approached. The squad gaped at the car until it about ten metres from them.

As the ponies are still thinking about their next step, Amethyst made a hard turn and rounded the empty vehicle, the tires screeching loudly. The attackers returned fire immediately, but were only able to get a few shots off the side of the car before it drifted past a corner and down the far end of the street.

"We should run!" One of them yelled, pointing to the incoming vehicle. The others quickly holstered their guns and galloped away to the side of the street, taking cover behind walls.

"Has it gone off yet?"

"No idea, the trail is there, but-"

The car gently nudged the side of the van before coming to a stop. The fiery line of gas was evident that the car may explode, but after a while, it hasn't. One braver pegasus flew up into the air to check on the status.

She threw up her hooves and shouted down the block, "Celestia damn it! Not that I'm complaining or anything, but what the hell?" She signaled her squad to have a look after making sure it was safe.

The gas line was disconnected; doused when the car squashed over a can of soda. The contents of the can fizzed over the gas as flames continued to burn. The car won't blow up, but the two perpetrators have escaped with the diamond. They will have a lot to answer for, Hooven will be furious.

---

"Been a long time since you've had any real action, am I right?" Amethyst smiled, keeping her hooves on the wheel.

"Thanks to you." Minuette cracked, resting her hooves on Amethyst's seat. She pointed to the metal case on the front seat. "What did you steal?" Minuette tilted her head in curiosity.

"An artifact worth tens of millions, taken from that creepy mafia guy." Amethyst expounded.

Minuette nodded and lost herself in her thoughts for a moment before realizing that she could do something right now... She tugged on Amethyst's shoulder, saying. "Hmm, You know what? Our places seemed to be switched." A grin crept up the sides of her face. "I was driving..." Minuette rested the pistol on the unicorn's shoulder, "... and you had the gun."

Amethyst never broke her smile, but she was not expecting that. "Unappreciative, I see. Did you forget how you managed to escape the building?"

"Yeah, that's right. But without me then, you probably won't have survived that ambush." Minuette counteracted, feeling confident all of the sudden. "But you could say that we circumvented the situations pretty well, given our hooves."

"Well, you wouldn't survive out here unless you're on guard against those who would harm you." Amethyst sighed, her tone was casual and relaxed.

"Well said, anyways, would you happen to know where's the nearest police station?" Minuette quipped, keeping her pistol lounging on the unicorn's shoulder.

"Of course." Amethyst admitted calmly, her expression was flat and indifferent. "Old rules; you win the game if you manage to deliver me to the police station."

"Alright." Minuette raised both her brows, accepting the challenge wholeheartedly. She was certain that the mare had nowhere to run now.

Minuette wrapped her other hoof around Amethyst, for a locking embrace as she continued driving. Amethyst gladly accepted the hug, taking it as a sign of affection. Keeping both forehooves on the wheel, she put the pedal to the metal and sped up her car significantly.

The car thundered through the street in a blur as the dashboard flashed from the glaring lights.

"What the hell are you doing?" Minuette snapped, peering back as the streets hightailed past her in a flash.

Amethyst kept her poise and braced herself, swerving into a bus depot. Minuette hung onto the seat tightly, at a loss at what the crazy unicorn on the wheel is trying to do.

Amethyst swung the car directly in the path of a divider. Minuette's eyes went wide as she took cover behind the seat, shielding her face from imminent impact.

CRASH!

The car collided with the divider, shattering concrete and leaving a nasty dent in the hood. The airbags activated, absorbing much of the shock as Amethyst faceplanted into the soft pillow. Minuette was flung onto the seats, and she laid on her back, dazed.

Amethyst shook her head, trying to pull her limbs free of the wrecked metal. Her vision blurred and watered as smoke poured from the engine. Reaching for the metal case, she tossed it out of the side window, shattering it and landing on the hard ground.

Minuette blacked out from the sudden impact but regained consciousness quickly. She tried to pry herself free, but can't seem to feel her legs. She lifted her head lazily and tried to pull herself upright.

Amethyst took a quick glance at the unicorn and slumped on her seat, coughing. Minuette swiveled herself and bucked hard at the door. It flung open easily. Minuette rolled onto the asphalt, sputtering and reaching for the briefcase. She mustn't get it! Minuette thought as she forced her unwillinging body to budge.

Amethyst saw what she was trying to do and crawled out of the car from the passenger's side. Her cognitive abilities were declining, and her body protested. She felt blindly for the case and managed to lay a hoof on it, only to be swiped away by a swing of Minuette's leg. The case slid under the car and over to the other side.

Amethyst shook her head tersely and clambered back into the vehicle. Minuette did the same, following the mare, trying to keep herself awake.

Amethyst weakly nudged the driver's side door open and tumbled on the road once more. Minuette vaulted through the window, landing on the ground with a crunch. Ignoring the pain, she crawled after Amethyst, who had caught sight of the case and was now crawling towards it.

Amethyst painfully pushed herself onto all fours, legs still wobbling and shaking. Her head throbbed, pulsing like a dull hammer bludgeoning her forehead repeatedly. Her vision was flickering to and fro, and she was having a hard time keeping the case in her sight.

Minuette crawled towards her persistently, flinging herself upwards and pulling the purple unicorn by her coat. Amethyst fell backwards, plunging into the ground again. She pulled the bottle of pills from her pocket and rolled it on the road.

Amethyst tried to get up again, but her legs gave way suddenly and she slumped on the ground, panting. Minuette scampered to the case and hugged it protectively. But her possession was short-lived, Minuette blacked out and lay on the ground, unconscious, still hugging the case like a pillow.

Groaning in pain, Amethyst blinked and dragged herself towards the case. That was a horrible idea, she thought to herself. Never doing that again. She stretched herself and tried to shake the stars from her head. Amethyst managed to disperse the worst of her flailing and trotted towards the unconscious mare.

Amethyst plucked the case from the unicorn's hooves and limped away with it, leaving Minuette in the middle of the depot.

What a mess. Amethyst managed to force a smile as she walked away from the wreckage. The ambulance will be here shortly, for everypony in the immediate vicinity would be awoken from their slumber.

Act VI: Reasoning

View Online

War In The Dark

*** Reasoning ***

***

Manehatten General Hospital.

"Thankfully you made it out with only minor concussions, if you wanted to make sure, you can have another check-up." Nurse Redheart followed Minuette out of the examining room.

Minuette had her coat draped over her back, with a band-aid on her forehead. She was feeling a lot better now, although the pounding still hurt. "Thanks nurse." She said before heading down the ward. Minuette was very salty about the previous night. She can't believe that she had let Amethyst escape. Again! How embarrassing was that? She was very confident about capturing the mare too.

"Minuette, mam?" Minuette lifted her heavy head to see Lightning Bolt and Violet in the hallway. She gave a little wave and trotted pass them. "The chief wishes to speak with you." Violet added.

"Please, tell her that I've been waiting for a whole night. I'm tired and don't wish to stay any longer." Minuette dropped her head and turned to leave.

Lightning Bolt blocked the unicorn with her wing, preventing her from moving further. Minuette pushed past her wing and disregarded their protests. She was feeling really tired and has no time to deal with anypony. "But mam, we'll get into trouble if you go!" Lightning called but to no avail.

Minuette was about to turn down the exit when Lyra trotted past the corner. Both unicorns stared at each other for a few seconds before Lyra made her way towards the detective. "Come with me, Minuette." She ordered, ambling down the hallway which Minuette came from.

"Chief Lyra." Violet and Lightning greeted as they made their way after their captain.

"Wait for us in the lobby." She directed. The two mares complied and continued their way.

When they're out of sight, Lyra began once more, this time, her face was solemn but no trace of anger hung on it. "Right, you don't have to lie to me."

Minuette raised her head and replied, "I- I had a dinner appointment with a friend, and since I was on the way, I-"

Lyra promptly cut her off, "We found your car in a wreck, riddled with bullet holes."

"Someone tried to kill me, I had no idea... Somepony must have a grudge against me."

Lyra pushed Minuette and pinned her to the wall. "You're still not telling the truth." She hissed, hovering out a zip-lock bag. In the bag was a bottle of pills left behind by Amethyst.

Minuette had no idea what were those pills, nor has she seen them before. "What are those?" She cocked her head, trying to make out the label.

"We found it near your vehicle." Lyra said, her voice filled with anguish. Minuette received the bag and squinted at the pills, then back at the chief. Was she being dramatic again? Minuette looked at the chief comically. How nice of her to cheer her up. "I asked the doctor about these pills, he said that these pills are prescribed to patients suffering from the last stage of cancer."

Lyra leaned against the wall, beside the blue unicorn, shaking her head sadly. Minuette looked up and felt her heart sink. She didn't know that Amethyst was... And she was so bent on arresting her too. Minuette felt a surge of regret rising up her neck, and so did Lyra. For different reasons.

"You were so young..." Lyra rested a hoof on the detective. Minuette stared at the chief in astonishment. "It's my fault for always trying to pick on you, I- I try to find things to scold you for, even though you've already done your best..."

Minuette pressed her lips together, peering into the hard cold tiles on the floor. Lyra was not finished, "And then there's you, always patronizing and talking back to me. I'm still your chief, to say the least..."

Minuette floated up the bottle, "Heat-inducing pills, it makes me angry."

Lyra placed both her forehooves on Minuette's shoulders, giving her an assuring pat. "I'm really sorry..." Minuette nodded, rubbing her muzzle. "I'm really sorry, Minuette..." Lyra sniffed, trying hard to force back her tears. "Why didn't you tell me earlier? I could've helped."

"Detective Minuette?" A familiar voice sounded from behind her as she turned around. It was Cloudchaser, and she had come to visit the detective as soon as she heard the news. Lyra was still hugging Minuette, rubbing her face on her neck.

Minuette reached out her hooves to receive the files that Cloudchaser had brought with her, trying not to break the embrace at the same time.

Cloudchaser gaped at the two hugging mares and remarked, "How did you manage to end up like this in the span of a few hours?" Minuette let out a long sigh saying something like 'you have no idea', flipping the file to have a read. Lyra wrapped her hooves around her, also glancing at the files. To everypony else, they do look like a couple.

To Cloudchaser, they do look like a couple. She tried not to giggle at the sight, but it was adorable.

Minuette's eyes went wide as soon as she saw the file. "Quarat Quartz is dead?" She turned her head towards the pegasus.

"About four days ago, he passed away at ManeEagles' Hospital. I only received the data just now." Cloudchaser pointed out.

Minuette sighed, flipping the photographs one by one. She paused at one particular photo of Amethyst posed with Mr Quarat. They were smiling, and both ponies were younger. How are they related?

"Who is this?" Minuette asked, pointing to one of the photos.

"That's the mare who robbed the financial company." Lyra said, her hooves still locked around the detective.

"Her name is Amethyst Star, also known as Sparkler. She was Quarat's daughter. Amethyst was adopted by a family in Ponyville, but she came to Manehatten upon receiving news of her real father. She found him and has been staying here ever since, frequently helps out in the jewelers too." Cloudchaser read from the back of her head.

Lyra tightened her embrace on Minuette. The detective promptly pulled herself free from the hug and gasped, "You're gay, but I'm not!" She shrieked at the chief, who was taken aback by her sudden outburst. Cloudchaser chuckled. "Maybe I am, but... not gay for you, that is!" Minuette yelled again, blushing.

Lyra glanced between the detective and Cloudchaser, feeling a little embarrassed.

"Thanks, sorry to bother you." Minuette quickly apologized to the pegasus, closing the files.

"That's fine, there's nothing else I can help with?" Cloudchaser smiled, wagging her tail.

"Nope, but I do owe you a meal. I'll remember that." Minuette waved.

Cloudchaser nodded, "I guess I'll get going then, goodbye!" She said, centering down where she came from. Cloudchaser disappeared down the corner and Lyra slowly approached Minuette.

"Where did she get that much information?" Lyra pointed to the files.

"She's the head of Interpol, mam." Minuette casually answered.

Lyra stomped on the floor, "Why didn't you tell me earlier?" Then cantered off towards Cloudchaser, who was waiting for the elevator. "Madam, I'll see you out!"

"Um, thanks?" Cloudchaser nodded politely, entering the lift.

Lyra followed her and started introducing herself. "Mam, I am Lyra Heartstrings from the Central Equestrian Investigations Bureau-"

Minuette stood rooted to the spot, staring at the bottle of pills, eyes half-closed in deep thought.

---

Maya rushed up the stairs with a piece of paper in her mouth. She had a medical band on the side her face, shuffling along frantically to her boss's office.

"Boss! A courier sent this, you should have a look!" Maya passed the paper to Hooven, who was sitting behind his desk, an unpleasant look was plastered across his face. He took a look at the paper: it was a picture of the blue diamond with a phone number marked at the bottom. Beside the number was a name, Quarat Quartz.

Hooven did not hesitate to ring up the number, to listen to Quarat's possible offer on the diamond. He put the phone to his ears. "How can you come up with such a joke, Mr Quarat?"

On the other side, a robotic voice sounded through, "Retribution, Mr Hooven."

"I chased you off the last time, until this very day, you're still trying to spite me." Hooven stated.

"Then we have nothing much to say." The line went dead.

Amethyst sat back on her recliner, with a cup of tea by her side and her late father's vocal aid in her hoof. Hooven hadn't know of Quarat's passing. Although he'll be pleased if he did. That made Amethyst angry, she wanted vengeance.

"I promised you I'll expose their lies, I'm sorry that you won't be there to see it." Amethyst muttered, gazing into the framed photograph of her and her father, smiling and happy. A warm tear trickled down her cheek as her thoughts sank in her head. "I will fulfill your last wish..."

Just then, her cellphone rang again.

Amethyst wiped her tears hastily and took a deep breath, pressing the vocal aid to her neck. The sound output made no difference in voice qualities; it would still be that monotone robotic voice regardless of gender or age. She could easily conceal her voice through the device.

"What do you want?" Hooven's voice was cold and icy.

"Thirty million. No more, no less. I'm already very generous with the price."

"Why would you need so much bits? You won't be able to cram it all in your coffi-" Hooven was cut off as the line went dead again. He wasn't pleased, but he knew there wasn't any choice, unless he were to give up the diamond completely, which he wasn't prepared to do anyway.

Amethyst took a sip of her tea just as the phone rang again. Quickly swallowing, she put the device to her neck again and waited.

"Where? And when?" Hooven finally declared.

"I'll contact you again. Farewell." Amethyst said before hanging up once more.

---

"You sure you know where the seat is located?" Minuette asked Lyra, who had pulled up next to the bar.

"Yes, you can stop asking me every five minutes." Lyra hissed.

Minuette nodded, pulling out her transceiver, "Alright, I'm gonna go in now. But remember, never ever-"

"Call you through the transceiver, got it." Lyra mumbled in irritation. "You'll call me when the time to strike is nigh and your team will storm the place." Lyra added, pointing to the car behind hers.

"Smart filly." Minuette praised, patting the side of Lyra's face.

"Uh-huh." Lyra replied, returning the pat.

In the bar, Amethyst sat beside the counter, taking a little sip from her cola. She was watching a television display hung on the corner of the wall.

"Hey, detective! You're early today!" The barmare greeted Minuette as she trotted into the bar.

"Yeah, I'm meeting a friend." She casually said, sauntering towards the counter. Amethyst paid no attention, but she knew that Minuette will be arresting her now and then. But Amethyst has an offer that the detective won't refuse anytime, and she meant to convince her to help.

Amethyst smiled as the hoofsteps got closer. She had started to grow on the detective a little, but she knew that Minuette still treats her as a convict. Too bad their paths have to cross like this.

Minuette took a seat on the counter, beside Amethyst, slapping down the round slip of paper she had received two days ago. Number nine. The nine was significant as it marked the date of her father's passing: the ninth day of the ninth month.

"You finally figured it out." Amethyst said as Minuette pressed a photograph of her and her late father on the counter.

"Uh-huh, you've stolen the diamond, and avenged your father's death, so why did you call me here?" Minuette rested a hoof on the counter, looking intently at the purple mare, who was taking another sip from her drink.

"I've said it before, this game lasts for three days, have you forgotten?" Amethyst put down her drink, glancing over to the detective. "There's still one more day."

"Um, but that's not your call to make. I'm a detective, and you're wanted." Minuette pointed out, raising her hoof.

"Well, you're just sitting in your office, dusting up the place, changing the lights. You have a lot of time on your hooves. Aren't you bored?" Amethyst watched as Minuette smiled nonchalantly, feigning ignorance. "Or are you afraid of losing?" Minuette's eyes swiveled to look at the unicorn. "If you're afraid of losing, you could just cuff me and take me to the police station right now."

"Trying to tempt me has no effect on me whatsoever. More so, you're not afraid of being arrested, by me." Minuette spoke, her eyes glancing up at the television. "Do you want to get thrown in jail? You know what? You'll probably die before you even get on trial."

Amethyst smiled, more wider than her usual reserved smirk. Bingo, the plan did work. Amethyst remarked to herself. "Yeah, you're right. I have nothing to be afraid of."

"I apologize for being so straightforward." Minuette snickered, giving Amethyst a pat on her forehoof. "I should have been more euphemistic about that."

Amethyst took another drink, hiding her smile with the glass.

"Alright, I like you." Minuette admitted, still giggling. Then glanced over to her phone, "I'll give you a minute to persuade me. If you're able to do that, I won't call in my team." She set the phone on the counter.

Amethyst looked at the mare and simpered. "Fifty eight... fifty seven..." Minuette counted down sardonically, making faces as she did. Amethyst laid her hoof on the counter and chuckled.

"Hooven Stone of the Northern Mafia wants an exchange for the diamond. But I have it, so he'll pay me a large sum for it, I've already settled the time for the exchange to take place." Minuette nodded, listening with great interest. "He'll be there himself to inspect the diamond, and when that time comes, you can nab him. I'm merely giving you a hoof." Amethyst paused, beaming at the detective.

Minuette did not look at her, just staring down at the phone. "Thirty seconds." She stated. That was evidently not enough to convince her, Minuette wanted to hear more.

"The Interpol is investigating his case; if you arrest him, you'll do them a huge favour. Promotion will be up your sleeves then." Amethyst continued. While a promotion is tempting, Minuette wanted more information, and assurance that this was not another elaborate scheme to trick her again.

"Fifteen and counting."

A smirk pulled from the side of Amethyst's face as she admired the detective. "You seem to be having fun." She said, trying to lift the mood a little. "It's just one more day, you won't cross up the offer, will you?"

Minuette did not react. "Ten... nine... eight..."

"Do you know what you look like this past two days? A lapdog, that's what." Amethyst tried to agitate the mare, but the detective remained calm. "You do as you're said, like an obedient dog."

Minuette paused her countdown, nodding in agreement. Her face changed drastically, to a rather morose expression. She gazed at the mare in an 'are-you-kidding-me?' disposition, still nodding.

"I tricked you into coming today; surprise, surprise." Amethyst leaned towards her and whispered.

Minuette sighed, turning her head towards the back door. "The exit is right there." As much as she hated it, she knew she had to let her go. She did promise to play her game to the very end.

Amethyst drew a long breath of air, getting onto her hooves. "You're always welcome to be tricked by me anytime." She taunted, leaving Minuette to stare blankly into space.

Minuette turned to admire the purple unicorn as she went out through the back door. She just can't help but hold great approbation for Amethyst. The mare had made her question her morals not just once, but made her think about the deeper side of things, which really gained her respect. Behind her lighthearted nature, Amethyst was a professional and Minuette admitted to have underestimated her.

Minuette snatched the leftover drink and downed the remaining.

Just then, Lyra rushed over to her side. "She's not here yet? I'll go out and wait then." Lyra tapped Minuette on the back when she saw her alone and proceeded to retreat.

"She's long gone." Minuette waved and said.

Lyra lost herself again, "What in Equestria were you doing? You clearly knew I was out there, waiting for your cue!" She burst out in a fit of rage.

"I've had a dry throat when I woke up today." Minuette innocently replied.

Lyra stared at her, realizing what she just said. She stuttered and rested her hoof on the blue unicorn. "Sorry. Don't worry about it, that's just because of the heat." She sat down to comfort Minuette.

"I have a way to get you promoted." Minuette suddenly said, throwing the chief off balance.

Lyra chuckled, rubbing her cheek apologetically. "I'm really sorry for shouting at you, eh heh."

"Sit tight and we'll talk."

Act VII: Co-lateral

View Online

War In The Dark

*** Co-lateral ***

***

That night, Amethyst stood by the bus stop, reaching out a hoof as the minibus rolled onto the street. With a hiss and groan, the bus stopped in front of her and the doors swung open. Amethyst clambered into the vehicle as it pulled away from the stop.

Amethyst found a seat near the front and sat down, peering out of the window introspectively. The street lights seem to go by like a blur as she leaned against her hoof, watching the night lights flash about, their shadows flickering past every now and then.

Roseluck was pleasantly startled when she saw the mare, still gazing out the window, not paying attention to her. She riveted at the unicorn, feeling a smile rising from her muzzle. This was probably the first time she smiled since she last saw her.

Roseluck did not break her gaze with Amethyst, hoping that she would at least notice her. She didn't mind what Amethyst did a few days ago, in fact, she longed to just talk to her again.

At this very moment, a horn sounded from behind the minibus as flashes of red and blue lighted up radiantly. A loudspeaker blared, "Minibus with license plate EQM483, please pull over to the side of the road."

Amethyst glanced back to see a police van behind the bus. She kept her gaze locked on the vehicle as it overtook the bus, her vision brushed past a familiar mare. Amethyst felt her heart pounding painfully against her chest as Roseluck turned to look at her.

As the bus pulled up, Roseluck lifted her saddlebags from the seat next to hers, hinting the unicorn to sit next to her. Amethyst felt a flat smile forming as she made herself comfortable on her new seat.

Roseluck looked nervously at the officers that have alighted to check the minibus, wrapping her forehooves around Amethyst's. She leaned on the unicorn's neck instinctively, without being told.

Amethyst was surprised by her actions, but was not complaining. She gently nuzzled her mare, and the world around her laid in peace.

"What did I do, mam?" The driver innocently asked.

"What did you do? You rushed a red light, that's what you did." The officer leaned in through the driver's window.

"I didn't, I'll know if I did!"

"You didn't? Everypony in your bus knew that you've rushed traffic light and you don't? Pass over your ID and license." The officer demanded.

Roseluck glanced up at the unicorn, her eyes were sparkling with a hopeful expression. Amethyst smiled and shifted closer to the earth pony. Both mares relaxed and pulled away from the clasp and chuckled silently.

"Right, you'll be charged for running a red light, good night to you and drive safely." The officer presented the ticket to the driver and trotted off, back to police van.

"What an arse, giving me a ticket just for this?" The driver lamented as the minibus went on its way again.

The bus continued down its trail as the night went on. Roseluck was staring into space, deep in her thoughts. Amethyst sat there, watching as the buildings passed her by. She felt a hoof brush past hers as Roseluck jolted from her dazed state. Rose brushed her fringe to the side of her face, resting her head on Amethyst's shoulder.

The two mares said nothing on the whole journey, just enjoying the time together in silence.

As the night drew colder and darker, the bus grinded to a halt at its final stop. "We've reached the end of this trip, you two should alight." The driver said, glancing to his two remaining commuters.

Roseluck reluctantly lifted her head from the mare as they both smiled at each other. They quickly got up and hopped down the steps, watching as the bus drove off.

"Have you eaten yet?" Amethyst asked, breaking the silence for the first time.

Roseluck shook her head, "No." She admitted, not breaking her smile.

"There's a cafe still open over there, do you... want to go grab a bite?" Amethyst asked, trotting past the mare.

"I'd love to."

---

"I would like a glass of orange juice." Roseluck said to the waiter, who quickly jotted down her order.

"Same for me." Amethyst waved and the waiter was off. "We came to the cafe to eat something, and ended up just ordering drinks."

Roseluck nodded gleefully, glancing at the mare beside her. Amethyst put a hoof around Rose fondly, pulling the mare against her.

"What is your name?" Roseluck asked, leaning on Amethyst. "You can call me Roseluck, or just Rose..."

"Sparkler, but that won't make a difference."

"That's a nice name." Roseluck rubbed her muzzle against Amethyst's neck lovingly, receiving a warm brush of her partner's breath. "I've read about you in the newspaper. And... I'm sure you've seen me in your store."

"Yeah, you always seemed so... sad." Amethyst tugged on Roseluck's shoulder.

"I was." That was more of a statement. "I've been alone in this big city for a few weeks, I thought by escaping life in Ponyville, I would find happiness I truly desired here."

"You're lonely. You wanted somepony to hold you, somepony to love." Amethyst muttered just as the waiter came to their table with the drinks. Roseluck nodded, swabbing her face on Amethyst's fur.

"I first visited your store to have a look around; I've seen my friends wearing diamond bands and necklaces, and I was jealous. Not because I wanted the accessories... but because they had somepony special to care for them." Roseluck whispered, not breaking her embrace. Amethyst listened, her heart was heavy like lead.

"I came back just to see you." Roseluck said. "I was too shy to talk to you, I really liked you when I first saw you. You looked like the kind of mare I'd like to... um."

"Yeah?" Amethyst shut her eyes and took in a whiff of Roseluck's mane. It has a faint scent of roses, to be expected.

"...Be with." Roseluck whispered, her face flushing crimson red like her mane.

"But I'm wanted. You won't be with me for long." Amethyst pushed away gently, gazing into Rose's green eyes.

"No, at least we're together." Roseluck asserted. "I really didn't expect to run into you like that. I'm grateful nonetheless." She said, hugging Amethyst again.

"I- I'm sorry I had to do what I did under such circumstances." Amethyst lowered her head, glancing at the earth pony's hooves.

Roseluck raised a hoof and covered Amethyst's muzzle, whispering. "I'm glad you did that."

Removing her hoof, Rose leaned in and pressed her lips against Amethyst's. Amethyst was taken by surprise, but she returned the kiss, wrapping both her hooves around Roseluck and shutting her eyes. Rose breath hitched as she continued, the strong whiff of her partner drove her further. Amethyst felt a distinct warmth spreading all over her body and pushed her tongue across Roseluck's.

Roseluck felt Amethyst's tongue sliding over as it went deeper. She felt electrifying, she wanted more. Rose fought back, but to no avail as she opened her muzzle, allowing Amethyst to explore her mouth. It felt pleasant and warm. It was something she had wished for, to share her kiss with the mare she loves. Roseluck knew it was very sudden, but she had been alone for so long to care.

The feeling of her saliva mixing with Amethyst's felt very rousing to Roseluck. She enjoyed every last moment until Amethyst pulled away. Roseluck slowly opened her eyes, only to find them blurring. She was tearing.

Amethyst gently wiped the tears from her eyes, pulling her in for an embrace. "I love you, Sparkler." She uttered, tears trickling down her cheeks again.

"Rose." Amethyst pushed her partner away gently, running her hooves to her shoulders. Roseluck glanced at the mare, her fringe falling onto her face. "I promise you, I still need to do one last thing. After that, I'll stop. I won't let you date a wanted pony, even though that doesn't make a difference once we're done."

"I don't mind at all. I'll wait for you." Roseluck replied, giving Amethyst a small peck on her cheek. Amethyst smiled, nuzzling her mare.

Amethyst and Roseluck stayed in the cafe, talking and enjoying time together till it's time for the shop to close for the night. Amethyst trotted out of the cafe as Roseluck followed her, leaning against her neck lovingly.

"I'll see you home." Amethyst said, clasping Roseluck's forehoof. The red maned earth pony nodded cheerfully and continued down the pavement with her mare. Roseluck's heart was still palpitating rapidly, she was euphoric and thunderstruck, but these emotions assuaged to a more warm and amorous one.

She felt blissful, she felt happy for the first time in a very long time. Roseluck would hold on to this love, for this was all she had ever wanted.

Somepony to love, somepony to love her back.

She had found her.

Amethyst didn't want to hurt Roseluck, she wasn't even sure if she'll get out of this. Amethyst will have to be focused on the task before committing herself fully to her mare.

The game will continue in its last stretch.

Act VIII: Co-operation

View Online

War In The Dark

*** Co-operation ***

***

The next day...

Maya quickly rushed over as Hooven exited the elevator. "Boss." She acknowledged, gently rubbing her afflicted cheek.

"How is the venue?" Hooven asked, glancing around the bowling alley. His guards stood around him, trying to spot out anything that's out of place.

"Rest assured, I've checked. There's no suspicious activity going on." Maya beamed, nodding vigorously.

Hooven was not convinced, with a grunt, he ordered. "Seal the exits, remain vigilant until the diamond is in our hooves." Hooven canter down into the main bowling alleys, where a number of ponies were bowling away.

As Hooven and his guards trotted down the alley, Minuette's team were already stationed in the bowling alley. Some of them were sitting around, watching as the others bowl. Raindrops sat on a bench, hugging a bowling ball. She saw the mafia boss trot pass and quickly radioed to inform the team. "Chief Lyra, the target's in sight, waiting for the signal."

Lyra was about to roll the ball but she paused upon hearing the message.

the elevator doors opened again as Minuette trotted out into the bowling alley. She was gaping at the other side of the setup, her legs were trotting towards the other way.

Maya was trying to get herself a cup of water from the water cooler when Minuette knocked into her flank, making her jump and spilling the icy drink on her fur.

"Sorry!" Both Minuette and Maya apologized profusely, looking up at each other. Minuette was frantically trying to pat the pegasus when she realized who she was.

"You..." Maya jabbed her hoof at the detective, who also raised her hoof in recollection. Maya strained her eyes and her mind reeled. Where have she seen this unicorn before? She couldn't remember.

Minuette knew she couldn't risk detection. She promptly walked away, not breaking her gaze from the confused pegasus. Minuette disappeared behind a pillar and continued her way. Clover was watching this whole time, she ambled over to her friend and asked, "Who's she?"

"I 'unno." Maya replied, shaking her head.

Minuette trotted down the alley, catching sight of Violet checking the lockers, Raindrops lying on the bench, Lyra trying to bowl, only to fail at the get go, slipping and dropping the bowling ball immediately.

Minuette cringed and forced herself not to facehoof. Lyra also caught sight of the unicorn, looking down in embarrassment as she readied herself for another attempt. She tossed the ball down the alley, rolling a few metres before falling into the gutter.

Minuette sat down about three stations from Hooven and his guards. Her eyes brushed past the target as she peered down the stations. Hooven was feeling a little impatient, fidgeting a little as he sat down on a bench.

Minuette swiped her tail across her seat, pulling out her cellphone. Why isn't she here yet? Minuette thought nervously.

The detective was just getting drowsy when a mare suddenly sat down beside her. She was wearing shades, her mane tied into a ponytail. She was wearing an alluring dress coat complete with stockings and long hoof-boots. The mare also had an inviting scent of perfume.

"Hello." The mare spoke, removing her shades. Minuette turned around and flew out of her seat immediately, her mouth wide open. Minuette couldn't help but feel a distinct warmth spreading over her loins as she shut her mouth mechanically.

"I- I- uh, erm, what. I- you, Amethyst?" Minuette stuttered, flushing. She couldn't help but admit, Amethyst did look pretty attractive - no, sexy. Minuette hyperventilated, slumping into the seat again. Amethyst had pretty thick eyelashes on, rivaling those worn by the models on the magazines.

Amethyst pulled her own tail, stretching it on her lap. "I see you've gone all out for this operation. Even the chief's here."

"You are really full of surprises." Minuette said, wrapping her coat tighter around herself. She couldn't help but stare at the mare, however hard she tried.

"Right, the plan is, tell Hooven that you're sent by Mr Quarat." Amethyst began, pushing the metal briefcase to the detective's hooves. "If he decides to play dirty, tell him that the diamond is fake."

Minuette nodded, reaching to grab the case. Amethyst blocked her, "Before you go, at least give me a kiss. Make it convincing." She leered.

Minuette blinked at the mare, speechless. She couldn't believe her ears. Amethyst waited, smirking slightly. Even her smile is pretty inviting. Minuette admitted mentally. The detective sighed, wrapping both hooves around the purple unicorn. She gave Amethyst a soft kiss on her cheek, shuddering as her scent of perfume drilled into her senses.

Lyra sat at the far end, sulking away.

Minuette got up on all four hooves, the case floating closely beside her. She picked up her pace, threading each step intently. Hooven's guards stood up as soon as Minuette approached.

Lyra looked on nervously, glancing at Blueberry beside her. "Get ready." She asserted.

Minuette waved and greeted the ponies, "Good day to thee." Ignoring the intimidating guards, Minuette focused her sight on Hooven, stepping past the guards and taking a seat in front of the mafia leader. "Not playing?" She quipped.

The blue unicorn set the case on her lap, her light hearted disposition evaporated immediately as a stern look stretched across her face. "Mr Quarat ordered me to settle the deal."

Hooven looked on nonchalantly, raising a hoof and pointing to Amethyst, sitting a few columns down. Minuette turned to look as well, smiling. Amethyst paid no attention to the deal, watching the others bowl.

Minuette got up from the bench, lifting the case to turn it over to the leader.

On the other side of the bowling alley, Lyra jolted as soon as she saw the transfer taking place. "Go!" She yelled to Blueberry, who also sprung into action. Clover held out her hoof and prevented the case from reaching her boss.

Violet and Lightning Bolt took cover behind the pillar as soon as Lyra yelled another order through the comms. "Hold up, false alarm!" Violet frantically holstered her pistol and went back to her routine. Lightning Bolt stuffed her transceiver into her pocket. "Minuette told us specifically to take action only when Hooven receives the case!"

Clover and Minuette held on to the case. "Open up." The guard ordered. Minuette stared into Clover's eyes but the guard didn't flinch. The detective set the briefcase down on the table and clapped it open.

Sure enough, the sparkling blue diamond necklace was lying on the soft padding, still shining radiantly for all its worth. As soon as Clover concluded the diamond to be real, she reached out to take the necklace.

The case snapped shut and Minuette held out her hoof, disallowing the mare to proceed further. "What are you trying to do? Rob me?" She said condescendingly. "Where's the bits?"

Hooven shrugged, "How would I know if the diamond's real in the first place?"

"You let me see the real bits, I let you see the real deal."

Hooven pointed to Amethyst once more as she returned the gesture, blowing a little kiss. "Your marefriend?"

"Yes." Minuette forced the word through her teeth.

"Stay behind, Clover will show her the bits." Hooven said.

"She'll go?" Minuette asked, looking at Amethyst down the alley.

"Yes."

Minuette drew out a long breath and contemplated for a few moments. Without a word, she floated the briefcase and trotted back to Amethyst's side. Clover followed dully behind her. The detective sat down beside Amethyst, putting a hoof around the purple mare. "Honey, they want you to check the bits."

Amethyst nodded and swung herself from the seat. Minuette gave her a slap on her flank before calling out, "Careful, dear." Clover rolled her eyes and led the way.

Lyra fixed her gaze on the two mares as they went towards the lockers. "Get somepony to follow them." She whispered.

"Lightning Bolt, you'll go." Blueberry spoke into her radio.

Clover directed Amethyst deep into the lockers section, where another guard was waiting. Clover waved her hoof, beckoning the guard to open the locker. He complied and pulled a key from his pocket.

The guard pulled out a duffle-bag and unzipped it, revealing the contents. Bundles and bundles of notes stacked on top of each other. It was literally a bag filled with cash. Amethyst's eyes glinted as she stared at the money.

Minuette sat at her original seat, glancing over her head impatiently. Hooven and the rest of his guards remained vigilant, waiting for the two mares to return.

Lyra also shifted in frustration as she waited, her flank was getting numb and she needed to have a stretch. But alas, she was too nervous to even stand.

What seemed like an eternity later, the two ponies haven't returned yet. Hooven was getting restless, he evidently knew something might be wrong, and so did Minuette.

The detective gazed at the chief, who shrugged mellowly. Lyra took a quick glance over to the lockers and back at Minuette.

---

Amethyst bent down against the sink, coughing and cradling her left hoof delicately. She looked up at the mirror, straightening out her mane. Amethyst closed her eyes, splashing water on her face, trying to remove her make-up. She had dumped the provocative clothing into the bin, even her boots and stocking.

Amethyst stood upright and adjusted her blazer, checking out her face.

That was almost too close. Amethyst thought as she shook her wet face.

Hooven had had enough of the waiting, he promptly stood up and snatched a tranceiver from a guard. "Maya, go check out the situation."

"Got it, boss." Maya replied, rushing off towards the lockers. "Keep a close eye on the exits!" She reminded the guards and disappeared around the corner.

Lyra blinked at Minuette as she caught the detective staring at her with a deadly expression. She was hinting something, but Lyra did not know what she wanted. Minuette sighed, rubbing her hoof across her muzzle, surreptitiously pointing towards the lockers.

Lyra turned to Blueberry, "Go have a look."

"This is Berry to Lightning Bolt, over!" The mare spoke into the radio.

"Go have a look!" Lyra reiterated and the officer quickly scampered to check.

Maya slid past the corner only to see two of the guards lying on the floor, unconscious. She went over to the locker; it was wide open and the bag of cash was nowhere to be found. Maya knelt over Clover and shook her, "Clover, wake up!"

Blueberry entered the locker section from the other side, her eyes catching on an unconscious mare on the floor. It was Lightning! She quickly pulled the pegasus and placed her against the locker. "Lightning, wake up!"

"Clover, wake up!"

"Lightning, wake up!"

Both Maya and Blueberry perked up their ears upon hearing another voice. They pressed their ears on the section of lockers separating both ponies. They were about half a metre apart and yet they were totally oblivious.

"Clover, what happened?" Maya yelled.

"Lightning, what happened?" Blueberry cried.

Minuette was leaning on the bench, still waiting. What's taking them so long? It must be something Amethyst did, but she was starting to get a little worried. Two of Hooven's guard trotted over to her. One of them loomed over the detective, hissing, "Go over."

Minuette rolled her eyes towards the ceiling and stood up once more, dragging the metal case alongside her. Lyra was alarmed as she saw Minuette being whisked away towards the mafia leader again. But she could do nothing but watch.

"Rest assured, the diamond is still here. If you have any doubts, please take this case first." Minuette floated her briefcase, stretching it towards Hooven.

Hooven ascended, reaching out the grab the handle of the case.

Lyra's eyes widened as she radioed in again, "Action, now!" Violet and Raindrops immediately rushed over but quickly took cover behind the pillars again as Lyra apologized, "Sorry, false alarm. Second suspect on scene, keep close watch over her!"

Amethyst appeared beside the group of ponies. Her mane was lighter now, Minuette hadn't realized that she had changed the colour of her mane. Minuette mentally muttered a 'not-bad' as she studied the new Amethyst. She was wearing a smart blazer with a red tie around her neck. She wasn't wearing a uniform, so the tie looked a little off.

The Amethyst just now and the Amethyst now were two totally different ponies.

The mare strutted confidently, introducing, "Mr Hooven, Mr Quarat asked me to see to the deal." Amethyst said harmlessly.

Hooven stared between both mares, a surge of anger rising from his being. He squinted at Minuette, then over to the new dealer.

Minuette glared at Amethyst, pressing her lips together. "What the hell are you playing at, lass?"

Amethyst smiled, stretching out her bag. "Hers is fake, I have the real diamond here." Hooven rubbed his mane, cocking his head. Amethyst glanced over at Minuette, with the bag still outstretched. "You are a foolish mare. Playing a game you can't win. Don't think that that mare really likes you, because she doesn't. You've been cheated, silly."

Minuette was enjoying this little act. A smirk pulled from the side of her lips as she gave a theatrical sigh. "I'm not that gullible. I'll let you have a look for yourself." Minuette bent over and unlocked her case.

She floated out the blue diamond and began to study the gem using her magnifier. Hooven watched from the sides, unamused, as the mare scrutinized the gem with great concentration. Minuette had a panicked look on her face, her forehooves were shaking as she slowly lowered the diamond.

"Well? Is it real or a fake?" Amethyst said, flicking her tail.

Minuette dropped both the diamond and magnifier onto the soft padding of the briefcase, lost for words as she tried to regain composure. "Ho- how did this happen?" Her voice slurred, turning to Amethyst.

"Do you want to see the real diamond?" Amethyst asked smugly, unzipping her bag.

Minuette lost control of her emotions and bounded over to the purple unicorn, trying to snatch the bag from her. "You imbecile, you colluded with her!" She yelled, tugging at the bag. Amethyst struggled to secure possession of the bag but nopony seemed to get the upper hoof.

"Let go!" Amethyst roared.

"The bag's mine!" Minuette shrieked.

Hooven said nothing, just watching on as the two mares fought. Two of his guards went ahead and pressed their guns on both the unicorns, rendering them still on the spot.

"Should we go?" Violet asked over the radio upon witnessing the deal.

"No, none of us move until the bag is in Hooven's hooves!" Lyra asserted.

Both Minuette and Amethyst took a step back from each other as the guards pulled them away. Minuette had the bag in her hooves, having triumphed over possession.

Hooven stared at the detective, inclining her to turn over the bag.

Amethyst froze on the spot as Minuette slowly ambled towards the leader, hugging the bag in reluctance.

Blueberry rushed over frantically to Lyra, her tone worried and hasted. "Mam, Lightning passed out in the lockers section." Lyra frowned but said nothing, for she was engrossed in the deal.

Maya flew over to her boss, sweating all over. She leaned into Hooven's ear and whispered, "Boss, both Clover and a random guard were knocked out and the money is gone." Maya turned to Minuette as she approached Hooven.

"You... you..." Maya jabbed her hoof at Minuette. The detective froze, trying to feign ignorance. The air hung dry and she was unable to breath. It was tense.

Hooven waited for a split second before snatching the bag from Minuette's hooves.

"Action, go go!" Lyra yelled, jumping from her seat, pistol floating. The rest of the team sprung into action, galloping towards the deal with guns drawn.

"One of you dressing up like a slut, the other is trying to be funny." Hooven yelled, his eyes tinting with rage. He emptied the bag and held out a bowling ball. The bag fell flat onto the ground. "You take me for a fool? Trying to cheat me with a bowling ball?!" He held out the ball for all to see.

"Bowling ball?" Minuette stared wide-eyed at the black ball. Hooven's guards stood by him, eyes flashing between the detective and the ball.

With a heave, Hooven lifted the bowling ball upwards and threw it on the floor. The ball cracked open as pieces flew apart. But something inside caught the attention and surprise of everypony.

Lying amongst the debris, there were numerous shiny stones. Sparkling radiantly, it spread all over the ground, reflecting brilliant light onto its dazed onlookers. Hooven gaped at the small diamonds that littered the expanse, shocked and at a loss for words.

"Police! Everypony, stay where you are!" A loud voice boomed as several officers rushed into view, pistols trained onto their targets. Officers from Lyra's division had also emerged from their hiding. Soon, the bowling alley was filled with officers. There was no chance of escape whatsoever.

The guards were appalled but they stood their ground, staring at the officers as they swiftly approached. Maya was still jabbing her hoof at Minuette, her words caught in her own confusion.

She finally managed to remember, after a long ponder. "You are a policemare!" Maya glared at the detective, her hoof trembling with fury.

"That's right, I am Lyra Heartstrings from the Central Equestrian Investigation Bureau! Looks like I've got everypony in the net. Mr Hooven Stone, I have reason to suspect that these diamonds were allegedly stolen from a financial company. On the ground now, and put your hooves on your heads!"

Minuette glanced over to the purple unicorn, but she was no where to be found. On the floor lay an unconscious guard, his pistol flung several metres away from the body. The detective pulled the side of the metal briefcase into view. The Blue Diamond was also gone. Minuette squeezed her eyes shut and reeled on the floor.

She couldn't believe it! She was tricked by Amethyst again! Minuette cowered on the floor, pressing her head on the ground with her hooves. She was more ready to surrender that any of Hooven's gang.

---

Amethyst ran a hoof on the magnificent Blue Diamond, as it casted a warm reflection on her. She slid the necklace into the black pouch and dropped it into the bag of money. Amethyst zipped up the bag and shut the trunk of her convertible.

She was about to open the door when a sound of a car screeching to a stop caught her attention. Slowly, Amethyst trotted to the front of her car as red and blue lights flashed wildly in the streets further down. Nothing.

Amethyst looked back at her own car. In the driver's seat, Minuette was seated there, leaning on her hoof with an unamused expression. Amethyst found herself smiling when she saw the detective. Inside, she was impressed at how she was able to track her time and time again.

Minuette magically opened the passenger's side door, meaning for the unicorn to enter. Amethyst had no choice, for her loot was in the trunk. She gladly accepted the challenge and decided to play along once more.

Amethyst got in and made herself comfortable. She sucked in a deep breath and turned to face Minuette. "Did I choose the wrong pony?" She asked.

"I win the game if I deliver you to the police station." Minuette merely said and sighed.

"That is without a doubt." Amethyst replied, coughing.

"To be honest, it was a pleasure to be working with you." Minuette admitted, stretching out her forehoof.

Amethyst looked between the detective and her hoof as a warm feeling rose in her chest. She promptly shook her hoof. It was a sign of battle well fought and honour between two opponents.

Amethyst's thoughts were cut off abruptly when Minuette clapped a hoofcuff on her forehoof, locking the other end to a metal bar below the dashboard.

"You call this a pleasure to be working with?" Amethyst's face remained flat, gazing at the detective.

"you wouldn't survive out here unless you're on guard against those who would harm you." Minuette replied smugly. "I remembered what you said."

Amethyst chuckled in amusement. "It would only take you about five minutes to take me to the nearest police department."

"Uhm, just down the road. I can drive you there whilst blindfolded." Minuette reared up the vehicle and it shot forward. The convertible rolled along at a considerable pace.

Just as it passed through an intersection, the flashing of red and blue lights intensified. On both sides of the intersection were several police vehicles blocking the road. Numerous officers looked on as the convertible drove on track.

Amethyst's mane flew back wildly as she leaned on the seat. She had no idea. Amethyst thought to herself as she scanned the determined unicorn on the wheel.

The vehicle continued down the straight stretch of road as a troop of police vehicles followed behind, escorting the convertible to the police department. There were several unmarked cars and a police van tagging along. It almost looked like a parade. The night air was filled with the relentless flashing of lights.

Lyra sat in one of the unmarked vehicles, smiling confidently. "Let's see if you can escape this one."

Minuette kept her hoof on the pedal, driving past another intersection again. Just like the previous roadblock, groups of police units galloped along to see the car through.

"We're almost there, why don't you take action now?" Minuette slowed the car down, turning to the purple mare.

"I've done everything I need to..." Amethyst said weakly, glancing at the detective with half-closed eyes.

"I'm not done yet though." Minuette said, keeping her eyes on the road. "If I'm unable to take you to the police department tonight, I think I'll regret it all my life."

"Only with this regret will you remember me." Amethyst stated.

"Don't worry, I will remember you."

Amethyst coughed and leaned forward painfully, her body trembling with every hack. She quickly pulled out a napkin and violently coughed into it. Minuette glanced at her with concern.

"You okay?"

"No... I- I think this may be it..." Amethyst looked up and her napkin flew against the windscreen of the vehicle.

Minuette felt her heart pounding up to her throat as she saw the blood-stained napkin, fluttering and flapping, held up by the wind. The detective was faced with a crushing truth. Amethyst will not last long, and yet, she can't help but feel a mixed emotion of empathy and emptiness.

"I'm sorry about that." Amethyst quickly retrieved the napkin and threw it out of the window. Leaning towards the detective, Amethyst took off her coat and also threw it onto the road.

Minuette gaped at the device strapped onto the purple unicorn's barrel. It was a bomb of some sort, with a digital interface locked at one minute. "Surely not this trick again?" Minuette felt her words shaking even before it left her muzzle.

Amethyst held up a detonater. "It is real." Her tone was emphatic.

Minuette shook her head and laughed. Amethyst coughed again, stretching out the detonator. She looked as if she was about to pass out any moment, her hoof was trembling as she held out the detonator.

"If you're not convinced, you could activate it yourself." Amethyst nodded once.

Minuette felt a surge of anger rising from her being. She was determined not to fall for a trick again. Minuette raised her forehoof whilst keeping her other hoof on the wheel. She forcefully slapped down the button and the detonator lit up.

Minuette's face was in horror when she saw the bomb ticking down before her eyes. She clamped her mouth shut and silently berated herself. "It's not really real, right?"

"You're the one who pressed it." Amethyst said.

Minuette looked at the weak mare and quickly put the transceiver to her muzzle, "Everypony, please don't get to close to us. We have a bomb in here." She said calmly.

Lyra stared at the convertible in disbelief, "Bomb? Everypony, back off from the target vehicle!"

"Are you scared?" Amethyst asked with a faint smile. Minuette said nothing, just looking on blankly. "I'm not... How or where I die isn't important. As long as I don't die in the police department..."

Minuette slowly riveted her head towards the mare, hit by the strength of her words. Her face was forlorn and filled with guilt. Amethyst laid lifelessly on the seat, her head drooping to the side of the car. For a brief moment, the air went silent and cold at the same time.

As the car tore down the road, the timer on the bomb ticked down.

Minuette cast a broken look at the mare, hoping with all her might that it was just a trick. But alas, she had to accept the truth that she had failed. Amethyst's death hit her more than her pride did, and Minuette couldn't help but feeling a sense of remorse.

Minuette drove on peacefully, passing through another intersection. With a slam of the brakes, Minuette brought the convertible to a halt.

"Don't get too close, stop!" Lyra yelled through her radio.

Minuette took one last look at Amethyst, who was still slumped on the seat, still and spiritless, and got out of the car. She trotted back towards the police escorts morosely. For once, Minuette was convinced that she was defeated. And she gladly accepted it.

She was convinced.

"This is chief Lyra speaking! The target vehicle is rigged with a bomb and it may go off anytime! Proceed carefully!"

The bomb continued to tick down to its last ten seconds as Minuette ambled down the asphalt, her face was miles away.

Lyra knelt down beside her car, together with the other officers with pistols drawn. They kept their eyes locked at the detective, wandering towards them. Minuette raised her head and smiled slightly. It was a fake smile and she herself knows it.

The bomb ticked down to zero.

The engine of the convertible started up once more as the lights lit up. The engine rumbled and the car carried on down the road. Minuette ignored it, and continued to her friends. There was no point. Amethyst had won.

Minuette laughed when she suddenly realized she'd been tricked not once, but twice. Again.

Lyra was livid, she quickly stomped towards the detective and yelled out a directive, "Go after her! Now!" The officers scrambled off.

Amethyst sighed and shifted herself into the driver's seat. A smirk pulled from the side of her muzzle. She shook her head, thinking about how Minuette must have felt when she drove off. Her emotions were probably reeling right now. Amethyst felt sorry for the detective.

"Why did you let her go?!" Lyra yelled at the detective.

Minuette continued past the chief, her face sullen and smile broken. "She said that there was a bomb..." She waved Lyra off.

"A bomb? You believed her when you're not supposed to, and you refused to believe her when you're supposed to!" Lyra chided in annoyance. Minuette said nothing, trotting by and shutting the car doors as she passed them. "You've been fooled, you fool!"

Minuette proceeded to canter off further past Lyra, her chief's words bouncing off her ears. Lyra was obviously miffed to the core, unable to fathom what the detective was doing. "Where are you going?!" She shrieked down the road.

"I'm hungry!" Minuette wailed back. Lyra let out a displeased huff of air and quickly scampered towards her colleagues.

War In The Dark

by Lyraah

Act I: Heist

Act II: Plans for Action

Act III: Divergent

Act IV: Coming into Place

Act V: Perception

Act VI: Reasoning

Act VII: Co-lateral

Act VIII: Co-operation

Act IX: Epilogue