> Smooth Criminal
>  by dudenotactive
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> What He Does Best
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


“NEO!!!”


Roman Torchwick finds himself glaring at the color red on the atlesian airship, his knuckles whitened under his glove as he clenched his fist tighter around his cane, how did it come to this. He was at the top of it all watching the chaos brewing down below as grimms spreads like wild fire causing the public to scatter, he would have enjoyed the show too if it wasn’t for the red hooded girl ruining it all. She had to stick her nose at everything he do, ever since his first encounter with her in that dust shop she just kept showing up and being a complete thorn on his side.

The girl stood no chance against both him and Neo, his trusted companion, but taking her out of the picture was useless. “I don’t care what you say! We will stop them and I will stop you! BET ON THAT!” She shouts with that irritating voice of hers before using her semblance to cover the distance between them, how cute, she was quick but he was quicker. Holding his cane in both his hands with Roman’s left at the end barrel and his right pulling the trigger only to catch the burning red bullet with the handle hurling it towards the girl halting her attempt to strike knocking her away. Before she could stand properly, Roman, swung his cane up then ramming the end of his cane into her stomach pulling the trigger blasting her even further away.

“You got spirit, Red. But this is the real world!” Roman hits her with the end of his cane sending her a few feet back onto the ground. “The real world is cold!” He swung his cane hitting striking her on the floor of the airship, “The real world doesn’t care about spirit!” he raised his weapon above his but, Red kicks his knee throwing him unbalanced. “You wanna be a hero!?” He stands back up, “Then play the part and die like every other hunstman in history!” hitting her again with handle of his cane.

Roman has the upper hand and it seems that, Red can’t get her footing right, “As for me, I’ll do what I do best: lie, steal, cheat!” this was it, the moment where he rid himself of a nuisance in the color shade of red. He raises his cane with a smile on his face, “and SURVI-” he couldn’t even finish his words as he was envelope in darkness.

And that was it, Roman Torchwick the crime boss of Vale, eaten by a grimm. Maybe he shouldn’t have taken so long just to deliver an evil monologue to his would be arch nemesis, it was good too. But now that he thinks of it, no one but Red have had heard it, unless you count the grimms. So here he was in complete darkness.

“Hello!?” He calls out to nothing. If Roman had to guess this place is some kind of hell, not really what he expected, the silence was really starting to annoy him. When he was about to scream just to fill the void with sound, he drops onto the ground making a loud flop, groaning from the sudden fall he stood up dusting himself. “Well, now what?” He asked himself.

Looking around he only sees nothing but the abyss until he spotted a small light in the distance, deciding nowhere else to go he started to walk in the direction of the light. After some time he found the source, it was a screen door shining blindingly making him squint his eyes just to see the shape of it, pushing it lightly the door itself snaps open with an invisible force pulling him into the light before he could make any sound at all.




“Hey, you should wake up.” A femimine voice that was oddly familiar, sounds like a young girl that really reminds him of... RED!!!

Roman’s eyes snaps open, his body shoots up back flipping into a defensive stance, only to loose balance and falling onto his stomach. He grunts in pain as he lifts his head to look for the girl who told him to wake up finding his cane a few feet away and nothing else, he was alone in the middle of a grassy field. So where did that voice come from? 

On the plus side, he was no longer in the dark abyss. He stood back up still a bit unbalanced swaying side to side walking over to his cane like some drunkard, but soon he manage to walk normally as his body adjusts. As he got in arms reach with his cane he bends over to reach only to freeze just as his hand or the non-existent hand touches his cane, pulling his limb up to his face to reveal a white hoof he gasps as he pulls his other limb to find the same state. He dug through his jacket taking out his mirror and examined himself, he was a white donkey of some kind, checking himself even more he only wore his jacket as mentioned earlier, his lower arm or foreleg was wrapped in a black cloth held together by two straps with his white hooves peeking out. His hat was still on his head and his grey scarf around his neck.

He had no words, the wind was the only sound that plays in the empty field, finally he gathered himself together and spoke.

“What the hell.” He then proceeds to fall back on the dirt with his face staring at the sky. “Great, guess this is hell. For all my crimes, they see it fit for them to turn me into some kind of donkey.” He had no idea how long he had laid there, the clouds seemed as if they did not move at all which was strange, but still he didn’t feel like moving at all.

“You okay there buddy?” A voice cuts the silence and a blue mare with rainbow hair and magenta eyes staring at his green ones.

Roman eyes widen, rolls on the ground retrieving his cane as he shot up into his battle stance facing her with his weapon high above his head. Though, he did not know how he was holding his cane and not falling out of his hoof. Sensing the hostility the unknown mare raises her hooves in a mock surrender,“Woah dude, I’m not here to hurt you, just curious why you’re out here.” she sees him raise a brow.

“Who are you?” Not letting his guard down, who knows what this strangely colored donkey could do.

“You don’t know who I am?” She asked as if she was insulted, “Hello!? I’m the Rainbow Dash,” silence, “Element of Loyaty?” more silence, “Hero of Equestria?” he smirks at the word ‘hero’. “Doesn’t it ring any bell? Me and my friends practically saved everypony from everything that’s evil!”

Roman puts his cane down supporting him as he stood on his hind legs, “Honestly, ‘Dashie’, I couldn’t care less of who saved ‘Equestria’. All that matters to me is business, and right now I am a bit lost.” he chuckles lightly. “But where are my manners,” He took off his hat in his left hoof, even though he still doesn’t know how, he bows. “Roman Torchwick, soon to be famous, and soon to be hated.”

She tilts her head to side observing the dressed pony in front of her, “Soon to be hated? That’s a weird way for a pony to introduce themselves.” did she say ‘pony’? So he’s not a donkey, what a relief. “Well to be honest, when you said you didn’t care I kinda hated you a bit, so you have that going on.”

Placing his hat back on, Roman leans back on his cane with a smirk on his face, “Oh Dashie, being hated on is just a part of my ‘business’ and people don’t appreciate that.”

As if he wasn’t strange enough, the word ‘people’ isn’t really something she had heard before, adding more points to the board of ‘Weirdness’. “What kind of business are we even talking about here?” She asks but shook her head, “Never mind, probably boring anyways. Why don’t we just talk about me here?” she suggested a ‘better’ subject for the conversation.

“Yes we should, I want to learn more about you and your amazing achievements.” He nods.

She beams up in excitement, “R-really!?”

“No.” He says blatantly.

Rainbow Dash was glaring daggers at him, “Something tells me that I’m hating you so much already.”

Roman laughs loudly in the open field with an irritated mare,“But seriously, do you know the closes town? I am a bit lost”

Rainbow Dash didn’t want to help at all but she will anyways, pointing in a direction with a smirk, “Ponyville is just a few miles away. How about a race?” her wings opens challenging the stallion.

Wait, she has wings? “Race?” Roman asks her as he looks behind himself to find a pair of white wings folded on his back, like a newborn, he streches his wings for the first time makng a few pops as if he had never used them... oh wait. He started to flap his wings slowly before increasing his speed making hover above the ground, he chuckles to himself with the newfound skill, looking straight up at the sky he shoots into the air like a bullet holding his cane tightly in his forelegs, his chuckle turning into a full hearted laugh. “Hahaha! This is amazing!”

As for Rainbow Dash, she only watches him fly around the air, “Are we doing this or not!?” she calls out to him. “It’s like you never flew at all!”

Roman landed right next to her, his cane over his shoulder. “Let’s just say that I haven’t had wings before.” 

“You serious? Let me guess, some unicorn tried a spell on you?”

Taking advantage he nodded, “An old friend of mine didn’t really read the warning labels.” he added before standing on his hind legs and planting the cane firmly on the ground facing the direction of Ponyville. “But enough about that, let’s just start this race!” He says as he was eager to see himself on his full potential.

Rainbow Dash only grins, “You think you can win buddy?” she took her stance ready for flight. “On my mark, Ready!?” Roman matches her grin chuckling, “Set!” he hops onto his cane making it tilt slightly forward his hooves still holding the handle, Rainbow Dash gave him a strange look. “GO!”

Before she could move a loud thundering noise filled the air making her jump in fear, looking back at where her opponent was she found a smoking crater, then she looks forward to find him already flying in the distance. Glaring at his direction she dashes after him flying in an insane speed, as for Roman, he already covered so much ground with everything becoming a blur as he flew, its a wonder how his hat is still on his head.

Looking back he saw a familiar multi colored haired mare gaining on him very quickly, in matter of seconds she was already  right next to him, then she quickly got ahead of the stallion. Seeing that he was absolutely losing he beats his wings even harder reaching only the tip of her tail, but the mare was faster than him and he could only watch as she was now too far for him to catch up.

Rainbow Dash landed on her hooves at the outskirts of Ponyville, she turns back to her opponent with a cocky grin watching him catch up seconds later only to crash on the ground digging the dirt a few feet away from her with some kind of glass slab coming out of him due to the landing. Gasping, she rushes over to the downed stallion, “Hey, you okay!?” she asks with slight concern.

Pulling himself out of the ground coughing loudly, he turns and brush the dirt off his mane and clothes, “Just great, Dashie, just great.” he turns towards the town and back to her. “So this is Ponyville?” Noticing the object on the ground he went over to it.

She nodded confirming his question, “Yup, home of the elements of Harmony! If you like excitement in your life, this place is perfect, especially with me around!”

Roman had already picked his belonging off the ground, with his zippo lighter in his hoof he lit the cigar in his mouth, “You know,” snapping his lighter close before putting it into his jacket, “That was amazing back there, how fast you went.” blowing a puff of smoke into the air.

Rainbow Dash backs away slightly due to the smell of his cigar. “Oh thanks, I am the fastest flier in Equestria.”

“Thats right, and I could use someone with a talent like yours, for my business.” He offered her. “It will pay good.”

She shook her head no, “Nah, I already got a job. So thanks anyways.”

He nods his head, “I understand.”

Then her mind went back on something at the start of the race. “That crater back there... how did you do that? The explosion I mean.”

“Just a few tricks I have, with many more.” He gave her a wink, or blink since only one eye was visible. “You should be on your way now, I can take care of myself here.”

“Alright! See you later Roman!” Waving good bye, she dashes off making a rainbow trail behind her leaving Roman to his own thoughts. “What a weird pony.” She thought to herself as she goes back at what she was doing.

Turning towards the town he grins wildly, “Look out Equestria, Roman Torchwick is in town!” he laughs to himself as he walks into Ponyville with his hind legs and cane in hoof.
> A Simple Withdrawal
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Roman slowly made his way through Ponyville, with the locals staring at him curiously as he passes by due to how sharp he dressed and how strange he walked. But he didn’t care, he was just there to make a name for himself, not to make heads turn, unless it was from the police. He took a glance at a few of them and notices that a lot of them had pictures on their rear, curious he looks down on his right to inspect his own, and there he saw his personal version of a smiley face in the same color as his mane on his white coat.

He had absolutely no idea what it means, but whatever it is, everyone has it. As he walks by, he comes upon an empty bench which he decided to take a short rest, planting his back on the seat and stretching his hind legs forward he gave out a loud sigh. He was here, not just on the bench but in this world filled with sentient horse creatures with no idea of how to get back, leaving Neo to fight alone. He shouldn’t be worried, she can handle herself, she’s a tough cookie.

But that still didn’t feel right, he isn’t with her is the subject, he wanted to shout out his lungs in frustation. All he could think about was her crying thinking he was dead and it pained him so.

His train of thought was broken as a pony took seat right next to him, it was a pink colored mare with a poofy mane who was imitating his way of seating smiling at him. “Hi there!” She inches closer to him making him just a bit uncomfortable, “Can I ask why do you sit like that?” she asks him with an expectant look with her face almost touching.

He pulled his head away from the strange mare. “Because I feel comfortable, something you’re not making me.”

She only smiled, “I’m Pinkie Pie, welcome to Ponyville Mr.Torchwick!” she begins to rumage through her mane as if it was some kind of pocket.

At the mention of his name Roman’s eyes narrow at the mare, “How do you know my name.” she finally found what she was looking for and pulled out a half eaten cupcake, Roman stared at the pastry then at Pinkie.

“Woops, guess I was hungry and accidently ate it! That won’t do, not at all!” She excitedly spoke as she threw the rest of the cupcake into her moth and began chewing, after she finished she smiled widely at him. “Don’t worry Roman, there would be plenty more cupcakes at the party!”

“Party? What party are we talking about here?” He ignores the fact that she offered him a cupcake and just ate it since it was not good enough for him, this world was an oddity itself.

The mare hops on the bench with her hooves high in the air throwing confetti around. “The ‘Welcome to Ponyville and Good Luck to your New Life in Equestria’ party!”

“Again, how do you know me?”

She sat back down next to him. “Well duh! I know you because of RWBY.”

“Ruby... Is that some kind of magical gem that gives out informations about a person?”

She shook her head, “Not ruby silly, RWBY, with a ‘w’ instead of a ‘u’!” her words still didn’t make any sense at all, choosing not to ask anymore he changes the subject of the conversation.

“Can you tell me about...” His words were silent as he tried to think up a question, “The Elements of Harmony?” he gave her a grin.

She nodded to the request and began to give a long summary of the subject, “Well it all started with Twilight Sparkle...” after a few minutes the only thing he caught from her fast paced speech was who is who, even though he already knew Rainbow Dash. What interests him was what they defeated, ranging from great evil to petty riffraffs, they would be less of a problem without the elements. 

“And I was like, ‘oatmeal, are you crazy’!” He was unaware that she shifted to joke telling, “So what cake would you want for your party?” she asks as she started to list off different kinds of cakes.

“I’m sorry Pinkie, but I wont be attending it.” She stops completely turning towards him with her eyes open wide.

“B-but...” Tears started to fill the corners of her eyes.

He groans loudly, “ALRIGHT!” he exclaims as he places his hooves on his face. Pinkie regains her happy expression and she smiles once again. “But! You would need to do something for me first.”

She bobs her head up and down excitedly, “Uh-huh!?” a bit too excited if you ask Roman.

“What I want you to do is find me a place that would be a great spot for the party, somewhere you and your friends likes to come together a lot.” He explained clearly for her.

Pinkie thought of a few places until one came to mind, “What about Twilight’s place!?” she suggested.

Roman smirks at how easy it was to manipulate her, “Yes, that would be lovely. Why don’t you bring some of your closest friends together at the library then I’ll come by in a few minutes for you to introduce them all to me?”

“That’s a great idea!” Then she zips away in a speed that left him dumbfounded.

Returning to his senses he once again found himself alone on the bench, until a mint colored unicorn mare sat the same way as he did right next to him with a wide smile, his eyes met hers as time seem to slow down. “I’m leaving.” He declared as he marches on his two hooves away from the mare.

“Wait! I just wanted to talk about humans!” He heard her say as he gets further, something was odd about her, he could just feel it.



Applejack was enjoying her time at the apple stand, slow day as it may be she was still working, until a pink blur stole her away from the spot bringing her to Twilight’s home next to said unicorn “Twilight, what the hay is Pinkie up to now?”

Twilight was as confused as her, “I have no idea, but it is Pinkie we are talking about here.” the same pink blur passes by and left a blue pegasus and a white unicorn next to Twilight.

After gaining her bearings Rainbow Dash groans loudly, “Pinkie, what are you doing!?”

Said pony finally stops next to her with a shaking yellow pegasus, “Silly Rainbow Dash, you know what I’m doing.”

“No I don’t!” She shouts at Pinkie, who was hopping in place right in front of the door expecting her ‘guest’.

“A new pony is in town and he said he wanted to meet my closes friends!”

At first Rainbow Dash was confused but then she recalled the stallion he met earlier that day. “Are you talking about Roman Torchwick?”

“Yup!”

Twilight got up and walks over to her sugar fueled friend. “I’m sure he is as excited as you Pinkie, but you should relax a bit.”

She turns to face Twilight, “I am relaxed!” she said as she kept hopping in place.

“Who exactly is this Roman feller we talking about?” Applejack joined the conversation.

“Just a weird pony I met outside of Ponyville, nothing much, except that he dresses like he had a fancy party he was going to.” Rainbow Dash gave her own explanation.

Rarity’s ears perked at the mention of fancy clothing. “Well I would love to meet this pony, he sounds like an interesting stallion. When is he coming dear?” She turns toward Pinkie where she was now painting the banner for the welcoming party.

“He said a few minutes.” She gleefuly spoke.

“‘Good Luck to your New Life in Equestria’?” Twilight gave her a look of confusion, “Did he come from another country Pinkie?”

“Nope, he came from another universe silly.” Pinkie explained casually.

“WHAT!?” Everyone in the room especially Fluttershy jumped at the sudden outburst from their friend Twilight, “Pinkie, details!” she demanded from the party pony who was just finished decorating the banner.

“He came from another universe Twilight, thats not really hard to understand!” Pinkie giggles at how her friend could be so silly at times.

Rainbow Dash for once pieced together what she remembers from the odd stallion. “That actually explains how wierd he acted when I first met him: first he never used his wings before, second he hadn’t have heard of us before which is really crazy and third he had this wierd explosive ‘trick’ with him.”

“What about you Pinkie, what can you tell me about this guy?” Twilight ask for deeper information.

Said mare returned to waiting by the door, she turns to Twilight with a big smile. “He’s from Vale and he was eaten by a griffin!”

Silence envelopes the room after what Pinkie had just told them, “Sorry sugarcube, but did ya’ say that he was eaten bye a ‘griffon’?” the farm pony wanted confirmation, which the cotton candy nodded yes. “Now ya’ just pullin’ mah leg here, there is no way for a griffon to do such a thing, right girls?”

“But he was! You can ask him as soon as he comes.” She turns back to the door waiting for said pony, while her friends except Rainbow Dash, doubted the pink mare.

“Pinkie,” Rarity spoke up, “Does he even know how to get here?” her question hits Pinkie like a brick at the sudden realisation of not giving directions to Roman.

Just as she was about to run out the door, a cyan hoof held her shoulder. “Don’t worry Pinkie, I’ll look for him before you can even say ‘Rainbow Dash is awesome’.”

“Ah’ll help too,” Applejack volunteers, “Ah mean, how hard would it be to find him? He’ll stick right out like a zebra in a rainbow.” giving her friend a reasuring smile.

At that they both went off to find the stallion, after a few minutes they were long gone, happy that her friends would help, Pinkie went back to decorating. “Oh yeah!” She had just recalled something that she should mention. “He is also one of the most wanted criminal from his world!”

The room was once again silent, until a powerful voice came from Twilight. “WHAT!!!?”



One long walk had brought Roman to an oddly designed building, “Is this real sweets?” he asked himself as he taps said building with his cane, “Nope.” he simply declared causing a few bystanders to groan as a few of them had made bets if he would try to take a bite out of the building, ignoring the few ponies he proceeds to go inside.

Meanwhile somewhere close by, an orange mare was asking around for him, after a good lead on him she strided over to the same building he had just entered. Back with Roman, he was overwhelmed with the scent of sweets causing his stomach to growl, listening to his instinct he heads over to the counter where a yellow stallion was behind it.

“Greetings and salutations, Roman Torchwick here! I couldn’t help but noticed the delicious smell of these pastry.”

The stallion behind the counter nodded with pride. “Nice to meet you Roman Torchwick, I’m Carrot Cake. What would you like sir?”

Roman looks at the assorted pastries and came upon a familliar cupcake, “A pink pony with cotton candy like hair tried to offer me one those,” he pointed to said food, “but sadly, it was ruined enough for her to deem it unfit to give so she ate it herself.” his stomach growls again.

“You mean Pinkie? Tell you what,” Carrot Cake took out one of the cupcakes and handed it to Roman. “you can have one on the house, I think that’s what Pinkie would have wanted for a new pony in town.”

He thanked the stallion taking the cupcake and gladly eating it away, “I have to say, this is really good!” in seconds he had already finished slightly satisfying his hunger. “This kinda makes me feel bad for what I’m about to do.”

Confused, Carrot Cake scratched his head, “What do you mean sir?” he soon came to understand as the end of the cane was pointed right at him.

“Empty the cash register, do it and you wont come out of this in a body bag.” He demanded from him and the patrons of the store gasps at the robery that was occuring, “That goes with all of you, give me all of your currency or else!” a pony fainted in the background and the rest were doing what he said, except for one who stood up.

“Or else what!? That’s just a cane!” They tested Roman, who gladly played along, aiming the cane right next to Cake he pulled the trigger, and a loud thundering sound came from the cane creating a gaping hole on the wall behind Carrot Cake. The brave pony gladly sat back down to take out their bits.

After taking all of the bits from the register Carrot Cake placed it all into a pouch and pushing it over to his captor, the door burst open as an orange mare with a hat came in, “What was that explosion, is everypony alright in here!?” she then notice the pony she was looking for standing on two hooves pointing his cane at Carrot Cake and she stared into the ‘eye’ of the cane wielding stallion.

“Help Applejack, he is trying to rob us!” The same pony from before pleaded with the new pony in the establishment.

“You’re trying to rob Sugar Cube Corner?” The confused Applejack asks Roman.

Roman nods confirming it all, “While you’re here, would you kindly gather the rest of the money from the crowd and bring it to me?”

Seeing how he was a no good crook she gritted her teeth and narrowed her eyes. “Ah am very sorry, but Ah have to stop you there sugarcube, don’t want any more trouble especially from some random stallion.”

“Really?” He groans loudly, what did he expect from one of Equestria’s heroes, “Listen, I have already wasted a bullet teaching these ponies not to be a hero but looks like I still need to make an example,” he lifts his left hoof over the cash register before bringing it down on it crushing the metal device into scrap, her eyes widen at how easy he reduced the register into bits of metal. “I can break those bucking legs of yours Applejack, so unless you want to be bed ridden for months, I suggest that you do what I say.” She barely budge but with a simple wave of his cane the mare flinched, feeling as if she had no chance she complied to his demands, she turns her back to him and began walking.

Until she bucked him away and sending Roman into a wall, “No one threatens me and gets away with it you darn varmint!” what she heard next sent chills down her spine, it was Roman’s laughing as if he didn’t feel anything at all.

Rising back to his hooves he gave the cowpony a devilish smile, “I expected you to hit hard but not that hard!” in a swift motion he swatted Applejack with his cane knocking her away crashing into a table and giving the mare a bruise on her left cheek, “Well it has been fun, but I have places to go and money to steal, see ya’!” swiping the bag of bits from the counter leaving the patrons with their currencies he ran out of the building.

Regaining her stature she ran after him with a limp, as she exited the building she saw Rainbow Dash passing over, she called out her friend which she got the attention of. “Hey Applejack,” She landed landed right next to her. “You find him yet?”

Applejack was fuming with anger, “That darn Torchwick just robbed Sugar Cube Corner!” she informed her.

“He did what!?” Noticing the bruise Dash became tensed, “Did he do this to you!?” the orange mare nodded yes, “Now he’s gonna get it! AJ, you tell the others, I’m going after him!” without another word she flew away with determination to catch the one who attacked her friend, as for Applejack, she headed straight to the library.

After galloping in a fast pace she arrives and burst through the door of the building, “Twilight!” there she found Twilight being held in a head lock by Pinkie Pie.

“Hold on Applejack.” She threw Pinkie over head and onto the floor, “He shouldn’t be given a second chance, you said that he helped some great evil conquer his home!” she declares to the pink mare.

“But what if he wanted to be nice this time!?”

“No ‘buts’!” Twilight turns to Applejack. “What’s wrong AJ?”

“That Torchwick fella just robbed Sugar Cube Corner!” She explains to her friend.

“WHAT!?” Twilight turns to glare at the Pinkie who was still on the floor, “I knew he would be trouble! Alright girls, it’s up to us to catch him. Are you going to help us Pinkie or not?” Pinkie only nodded in silnce, “Does Dash know this?” she asked Applejack.

“She does and she’s finding him right now.”

Twilight started to walk out the door, “Fluttershy, go to sugarcube corner and make sure nopony is hurt, as for the rest of us, find Roman Torchwick and bring him to justice.” the mares then went on to find the run away criminal, Pinkie was hesitant but she followed anyways.
> Train Ride to Success
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“I wanted to ask him why he was sitting like me, but he ran away!” Lyra took a sip of her juice as she told one of her closes friends, Time Turner, the stallion was sipping from his morning coffee enjoying the company, as for Lyra who was telling him about a new pony in town and how she was about to greet him.

“It feels like he’s not looking for friends right now Lyra. But look at this way, you said that Pinkie was seated with him before you right?” Lyra nodded yes, giving her a smile he continiued, “Then that means a party will be thrown to welcome the pony, then you can meet them and talk about humans until you throw up with the sweets you’ve eaten.” then his face turn to a frown. “Just like my welcome party.”

Lyra laughs a bit scratching the back of her head, “So how is Fire Starter anywa-” just then a white pony who wore a white jacket carrying a sack in his hoof runs by, “Hey, that’s him Doc!” she pointed at the speeding pegasus.

Time Turner stared at the pony who was talking to another something about ‘trains’ before he rounded a corner of a building, “Roman Torchwick?” he mutters.

“You said something Turner?” His friend asked snapping him out of thought.

Shaking his head he turns back to Lyra, “This will have to be cut short Lyra,” he places some bits on the table, “I just remember something that needs to be dealt with quickly.” with that he runs into after the pegasus. Being left alone confused she continiues to drink her juice.



Rainbow Dash scans through the crowd of ponies below trying to find a well dressed stallion, her eyes comes upon a brown stallion who was waving at her with his right hoof, same hoof pointed to a direction that led towards the train station. Of course he went to the station, why didn’t she think of that, she turns back to the helpful pony only to find nothing, shrugging it off she went after a bigger fish.

As for her friends they were seperated around town looking for the criminal, Twilight skids to a halt as a brown stallion blocks her path, “Not now Time Turner, somepony had just robbed Sugar Cube Corner and is on the run!” she explained to him.

“Roman Torchwick.” Simply naming the pony she was looking for was enough to get her attention to be caught, before she could even asked Time Turner continiues, “He is heading to the train station last I saw him, Dash is already on route and you need all of your friends to handle Torchwick.” with that he walks away leaving Twilight to her own. Heeding his words she went to find the rest of her friends so she could get to Rainbow Dash as fast as possible.

Now Roman was not scared of his pursuer, it is just because he was trying to make a name for himself in Equestria, looking back he saw far in the sky a rainbow heading for him. Taking this as his cue he walks into the train station on all fours, with his cane tuck neatly in his left wing, he didn’t want to bring attention to him as he already have with his stylish clothing. Walking over to unaware mare he swipe her suitcase unbeknownst to them, he hid the bits into the bag and casually walks over to the station clerk to buy some tickets, one way to Canterlot.

Seeing the rainbow mare entering the crowd he hurriedly boarded the train without trouble from any pony there, finding a seat for him and his stolen items he sat down like a normal pony would and relax. Soon after, the train started to move, at first it was slow but then it picked up speed leaving Ponyville completely. “Off to a great start!” He thought to himself as he leans back.

“Excuse me!” A familliar voice spoke out from the front side of the cart, Roman shot up from his seat to glare at the blue mare, she was busy asking an occupant to notice him which he took the chanche of leaving to the back of the cart. “Stop, you!” Rainbow Dash caught sight of him as soon as he went through the door leaving the cart, she chased after him ignoring a few pony she bumps into, she reaches the door and as soon as she passes the frame of the door a pony was looking up with a confused look.

She follows where the pony was looking and deducted that the theif had escaped onto the roof, she flies over leaving the confused pony on their own, and there at the top of the caboose she saw Torchwick leaning on his cane grinning at her with a suitcase behind him.

“Took you long enough!” He mocks her as he inspects his left hoof, “I was just about to leave and go back to my seat, but the hero finally came to stop my evil deeds!” his voice cuts through the loud combination of wind and train engine.

Rainbow Dash walks closer until she was only a few feet away from him, “I showed you a bit of respect then you just went and robbed Sugar Cube Corner hurting my friend in the process!? You have no idea what you got yourself into!” she glared holes into him as she took a stance.

Chuckling to himself he flips his cane onto his shoulder, “Good enough reason, we can’t have a hero who would take down a villains just because he is evil!” he gave her a wink. “That would be bad story writing.”

With a battle cry she launched herself at him in blnding speed, Roman predicted it and simply side step from her attack. Twisting around she threw a left hook which he parried it pushing her away, using her right to jab just to be blocked by the cane again. “You are just easy Dashie!”  She once again resorted to launching herself again but this time she was swatted to the side with Torchwick’s weapon, she skidded to the side almost falling off, she manage to pull herself back up to face him flinching a bit from the pain where his cane had landed.

Torchwick wasn’t really into it, he could easily overpower her and move on but where was the fun in that? Plus, he doesn’t really want to hurt her, much. He watches her fly towards him pulling her hoof back, he raised his left forehoof to block it then using his cane to block a quick kick from the mare, throwing a few more hits only for Roman to block and parry her attacks.

“WHY.DO.YOU.KEEP.BLOCKING.” She attempted to land a hit with every word but Roman protected himself from the blows.

Roman ducks in time as she went for a direct strike with her foreleg over him. Using this chance he drove the curve end of the cane and tosses her over onto the suitcase, she glares at Roman before a clicking noise came from him. “This is where we end our one sided dance Dashie!” He held a strange glass slab in his off, he flips it to reveal a picture of herself glaring back at her. “Now whenever I feel sad, I can just laugh at your silly face!” He places the strange device back into his jacket.

“Just for that, you’re gonna get it Torchwick!” She yet again aim to tackle which doesn’t even work as Roman simply side step then slams his cane down on her back with a sickening crack, she gave out a painful scream as Dash felt her right wing break from the strike, he swung again and completely leaving her wings mangled. Tears filled at the corner of her eyes at the pain but she stayed resilient, she started shouting countless insults and threats, not waiting for her to quiet down Roman proceeds to crouch down next to her.

“Didn’t really want to do that Dashie, but you forced my hand with that constant attempt to tackle me. If your friends were here, maybe you would have lasted a bit longer.”

Glaring at the thief she swipe her hoof at him in a feeble attempt to even hit only to be pinned by his cane, “Shut up!” she demanded from him with tears running down on her face.

“You don’t want to hear my master plan?” Tilting his head slightly to the side, “It would really help finding me for our next encounter. You see, I’m going to a place that I can really stretch my limbs.” his right wing which was in good condition unlike her’s unfolds, “Can you tell me where?”

She contemplate for a few seconds until, “Cloudsdale.” she answered.

“Not even close.” He chuckles lightly at how easy it was to decieve her, technically she isn’t the brains in her group. “That’s right Dash, the next time you fly over, you should call first.” Standing back up he looks down at the injured mare.

She returns his gaze with an icy glare, “You won’t get away with this!” she declares to him trying to get up just to be pushed back down by the cane.

“I already have!” A bit cliche but he can work with it, lifting the cane away from her, he punts the mare off of the train as it speeds away. “So long Rainbow Crash, don’t forget to call! And never forget, Roman Torchwick, soon to be famous and soon to be hated!” Dash heard him as she tumbles in the air before landing right on her head losing consciousness.

Roman watches her grow smaller as the distance between them increased giving yet another laugh at how easy it was. But then again, she didn’t have arua like his enemies back home. Afterwards, he decided to go back to his seat and enjoy the rest of the trip to Canterlot. Day one and he has already made himself known to Ponyville, and hopefuly Twilight Sparkles will tell the authorities, soon they will know his name especially griffons. “Yes, griffons.”



“What do you mean he bought three tickets!?”

“That’s all I know ma’am, three tickets.” The station clerk told Twilight with the rest of her friends.

“What about my friend? She’s a cyan pegasus with a rainbow mane, have you seen her?”

The clerk nodded. “She was here earlier looking for the same stallion, she took off after the train and that’s about it.”

Twilight thanks him for the cooperation and went up to her friends. “It seems he got away girls.” Everyones looks down in defeat. “And we don’t know where he was going and where Rainbow Dash is. For all we know, he could have taken another train somewhere else!”

Applejack places a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder. “Don’t worry sugarcube, we can still bring that no good thief to justice once we catch him.”

“Applejack is right, dear.” Rarity chimes in. “That scoundrel, no matter where he is, he will be punished for his crimes.”

Twilight smiles at her friends, she felt a lot better. But right now, she needs to inform Celestia that a dangerous criminal is on the loose. “Can you stay here AJ and wait for Rainbow Dash? I need to find Spike and deliver a letter to the princess.” Appljack nodded before Twilight ran off. It was just passed lunch and there was already trouble.



The train stops at Canterlot and Roman steps off of it, the sun seems to be already setting. He was still on all fours trying to blend with the croud. Leaving the suitcase he walks through the streets passing by a few patrolling guards. First thing first, he needs a place to stay, and not everyone wants to keep a criminal. He doesn’t need a fancy room, he needs a hideout, one that seems so obvious that ponies would never even think about it. As he kept thinking about where he would live, he came upon a nightclub named ‘Scarlet’s Paradise’. 

“Perfect” He went inside and was greeted with silence, since the sun was still peeking out of the sky. The room was large with a dance floor at the middle, some booths near the walls, and a bar just far down. It kinda reminded him of Junior’s place. Roman notices a unicorn mare with a red coat and a white mane sitting behind the bar cleaning some glasses.

The tapping of his hooves that echoes in the silent room had caught the mare’s attention, she looks up and eyed him carefully before speaking. “Like I said to that dumb boss of yours, no deal. This place is mine and you can’t do anything about it!” She said with a trottingham accent as her horn started to flare up preparing to cast a magic bolt.

Roman chuckles slightly before sitting down on one of the stools. “Who ever this guy is, I don’t work for him.” His explanation stops the mare from firing her spell.

“Then what is a stallion as yourself doin’ here?” She returns to cleaning the glass. “A bit too early for a drink innit?”

He leans on one of his hooves smiling at her. “I’m looking for a room.”

She stops just as she was about to place the glass to the shelf, then stared at him as if he had grown a second head. “I’m sorry, but this isn’t a hotel. If you were blind when you came in, this is a nightclub sir.” She pointed around the room before saying. “See?”

He nodded completely understanding, but he wasn’t done yet. “I know, all I want is a place to hide.” The mare rasises a brow. “You see, miss...?”

“Scarlet Arrow.” She filled in her name.

“Miss Arrow, the name is Roman Torchwick. And I am about to be famous in Canterlot so I want to make sure that I would have some place where no one would find me. And I picked yours!” He raised his fore legs in the air with a big smile.

She just rubs her hooves on her temple in frustation. “You some kind of dreamer? I doubt you would be famous at all, maybe a comedian but a terrible one.”

He sat back on his seat with a frown but smirks at her. “I wont be famous in good kind, you see, my business would not only make me rich but so will you.” Her ears twitch at the sound of getting even more money. “All you need to do is let me setup a hideout right somewhere in this nightclub and you will be a very rich mare. Deal?”

He raises his hoof ready to confirm his offer. “How do I know that you aren’t pullin’ my leg?” Still doubting the pegasus as she stared into his eyes.

He grins, while his free hoof pulls out his scroll and opens a recent picture. “Because I already dug my grave by assaultng the Element of Loyalty and Honesty.” Her eyes widens at the image of one of the Element bearers. Whether to believe it or not. Scarlet could tell that he was a dangerous pony.

She contemplated for a bit before reaching a conclusion, “Deal.” she said as her hoof shook his and the grin on Torchwick’s face grew into a smile. “But this better not bite me back, or I would personally drag you to the princess.” He only chuckled at her threat. 

“I have a secret room where I keep some imported whisky, don’t drink it. It also has a mattress there and don’t ask.” She pointed to a door on her left. Take that door down into the basement, then find the wonderbolts poster and turn the nob on the pipe by this sequence.” Scarlet handed him a piece of paper that had arrows written on it.

Nodding he went down to the basement with the smile still on his face. “Time for a well deserve rest.”
> Day Two in Ponyland
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rainbow Dash eyes snaps open, she looks around and found herself in a room filled with clocks ranging from ordinary ones to really strange looking and she was in a tidy bed. Then her eyes landed on a brown stallion who was holding a coffee mug, they both stared at each with the stallion taking a few sips.

“I see you’re awake miss Dash!” The stallion chipperly spoke. “In case you are wondering, my name is Time Turner, and I found you near the tracks sleeping.” He was slightly familliar to Dash but she couldn’t tell what. But something needs to be checked first. “You must be very glad that I was passing by and took you in to safety”

Rainbow Dash quickly turns her head to her right side and found her wing, which was wrapped in bandages. “My wing...” Tears started to form at the corner of her eyes, her encounter with Torchwick had given her a broken wing as a result.

“Yes, it was a bit of problem, bones shattered really badly. Though you might be stuck on the ground for a few months and it would have taken a miracle to recover quickly, but I manage to fix it all!” Time Turner said proudly before sipping his coffee.

Dash’s head snaps at him. “Y-you fixed it, how?”

“It wasn’t that hard really, I had a special training in first aid. I also used some company issued pain pills to keep the pain away, and even though I wouldn’t be getting some fresh batch this month, but I cannot just leave you in so much pain when you wake up, so I used it on you right on the spot.” He explained as he raised an empty bottle in front of her, it was only the size of his hoof. “Very convenient isn’t it?”

Time Turner drops the bottle making a thud on the floor when she suddenly wraps her legs around his neck before she breaks down crying. “T-thank you! This really me-means so much for me!”

Dash felt a hoof patting her lightly on her back, Time Turner tried to calm her down. “Now, now, miss Dash. Everything is going to be alright.” She pulls her head away to face him with a smile.

“Just call me Dash.” She said as she wipe her tears away

“Alright Dash,” Her hooves were still hanging onto him. “your friends are outside in the hallway waiting for you and they must be excited and happy to see that you are fine.” He pointed and Dash’s eyes followed, there at the doorway was her friends watching her and Time Turner, Dash’s face turned red.

She lets go of Turner quickly and sits properly on the bed. “Hey everypony, weird weather we’re havin’.” The mares rushes in and brought her into a group hug.

“I am so happy that you are fine Rainbow Dash!” Twilight said in the bundle. Pinkie was crying her eyes out saying things that sounded like gibberish.

“We thought Roman did something, but thanks to the Doctor, you are fine!” Fluttershy spoke, though it was not very audible, but everyone still heard it.

“I’m fine Fluttershy, nothing can bring me down!” She boasted to her friends.

“But you were crying like a little filly Dash, I think you aint fine at all.” Applejack spoke as she leaves the hug bundle.

“But Applejack dear, thanks to the Doctor, Rainbow Dash must feel like a real mare now.” Rarity teases her friend.

They all let got of the hug sans Pinkie and laughed at their friend, Time Turner just took a sip from his coffee, while Dash threw the covers over herself to cover her face. “Well since Dash is awake, why not have some coffee?” Time Turner suggested.

“Ah should actually go before Big Mac is worried thinkin’ where Ah am.” Applejack said before looking at one of the clocks in the room. “It is pass midnight.”

Fluttershy nodded in agreement. “Angel might be also. So...”

“I also need to go! I need to wake up early so I can bake enough pastries to make up for the stolen bits!” Pinkie claims before blurring away leaving the rest.

“And I also need to catch up with my beauty sleep, I am far too behind my schedule.” Rarity flicks her mane before leaving with Fluttershy and Applejack saying their seperate good byes.

As for Twilight, “Before I go,” she still needed some answers. “can you tell me what happened Dash?”

“I would also like to hear your story.” Turner agreed with the unicorn.

Looking at both of them, she sighed as the memories were so recent. “He and I fought on top of the train. He was... too fast.” Twilight took out a note pad and started writing down a few details. “He maybe slow when its about flying, but he is something else with that cane of his. I didn’t even land a hit on him!”

Twilight scribles down what she thinks was important. “Anything else?”

“Yes, he told me he was going to Cloudsdale.”

The unicorn nodded accepting the new information from her friend. “Doctor, can you watch Rainbow Dash for now? She still needs to rest.” She recieves a nod from Time Turner, she then turns to her friend. “Will you be ok Dash?”

Dash stammered a bit from the idea before just nodding with a blush. “Alright then, see you two later, I’m gonna send a letter to Celestia when I get home.” And with that, she left the two alone in the room.

The only sound coming was the ticks and tocks. Rainbow Dash watches the stallion closely, face still red. “So...” He started. “Would you like some coffee or would you like me to leave so you can catch some sleep? You do need a rest.”

She clears her throat before nodding. “Sleeping sounds nice, but-”

“Well sleep tight Dash and I’ll be down stairs working if you need me.” He cuts her off before turning off the lights and leaving her alone.

Dash didn’t noticed that the clocks had stopped ticking and she sat on the bed staring at the door. “But I... Ugh.” Deciding to just forget what had just happened, she drifted back to sleep.



Torchwick’s eyes snaps open, he looks around and found himself surrounded by whisky. Rolling off the mattress and onto his hooves, he leaves the secret room. Walking up the stairs into the nightclub, he finds Scarlet holding a mop with her magic cleaning up a green splotch off the floor. For the first time since they met last night, Roman saw her cutie mark. It was a bottle of whisky being spilled.

The mare looks up from her chore and noticed the now awake pegasus. “Mornin’ to you sunshine.” Torchwick tips his hat at her. “Now how about that rent?”

“You’ll get it later tonight, I promise that.” Roman checks the pockets of his jacket and found that he still has enough dust bullets to spare, but that is still a problem. “Say, is there someone-”

“‘Somepony’.” She corrected.

“Someone that can help me get more of this?” Roman holds up a single bullet infront of the mare.

Using her magic, Scarlet held the bullet and inspected it carefully. “If you want more of this thing-a-ma-bob. I guess you should talk to a friend of mine.” She returns the object to it’s owner. “Tell me, what is it?”

“This my dear,” He waves it around in his hoof. “is a bullet. It can be used in a long distance and reduce any unlucky person to hit by it into a lifeless piles of meat, that is if they were hit somewhere vital.”

“Like a magic bolt?”

“But it can be used by anyone that isn’t a unicorn and best of all, some bullets are like tiny exposives that can maim them completely!” Roman voice echoes in the room.

Scarlet was astounded, back then, ponies that were not unicorns relied with crossbows for range attacks. But this ‘boo-let’ was destructive. She thought about cutting the deal now with the risk of casualties, but he had the power to kill her if she tried anything. “Maybe I should... no. You reap what you sow, and when this mad pony start his crime spree, there is no going back.” Scarlet thought to herself.

“Now what’s the name of your friend?” His voice snaps her out.

Scarlet rubs a hoof on her head before speaking. “Just head south from here until you find a sign that says ‘Jolly Hammer’, tell him I sent you.”

“Will do.” And with the new information, he heads right out. The sun was just rising in the sky, though Roman couldn’t see it rise on the count of being surrounded by buildings, he could only tell by the changing colors of the sky.

The walk wasn’t long, and he has already arrive at the front of the store, the open aign hangs on the door. He pushes the front door open and inside was a blacksmith forge, with swords, hammers, and spears decorating the wall. Then at the right side was a grey unicorn stallion with no mane and only a raven black beard was using a wet stone to sharpen a sword. “Excuse me!” The unicorn stops and looks at Roman, then he walks up to Roman to reveal that he was a head taller that him, and Roman had to look up just to make eye contact.

“Welcome!” The stallion spoke and Torchwick swore that the shop shook. “The name is Jolly Hammer and this is my shop. What can I do for ya’?” 

Regaining himself, he took out a single dust bullet. “I asked Scarlet for someone to help me get more of these, and I hoping that you could make a substitute?”

Jolly looks closer at the bullet. “Why do ya’ want a substitute?”

“You see sir, this is what we call a dust bullet, and I am afraid that you lack dust crystal.” Roman explains to the stallion.

“Dust crystals? What in blazes is that?”

Roman coughs into a hoof. “Dust is a magical crystal that has amazing properties, such as the elements they make. For example, that dust bullet in your hands has a fire dust, it can cause a large explosion where ever it lands leaving a small sized crater.”

“A-a-amazing!” Jolly stutters. “Its like a magic bolt but non-unicorns could make use of it!” Then he shook his head clear. “I’m sorry lad, but this dust you been askin’? Never heard of it.”

“That is what I’m afraid about. But can you make a substitute?” He once again asked.

Jolly gave out a ‘jolly’ filled laughter. “Boy, I have been in Princess Celestia’s school for gifted unicorns!” He shuffles to show off his cutie mark, which was a silver silhouette of a sword with three golden rings around it. “In that school, I found out I can enchant things so they could do much more things! Give me a few hours so I can learn to make it.”

Roman gave him a smile of delight. “Great! When can I come back?”

“How much ye’ want?”

Roman thought to himself before deciding. “At least a hundred.”

Jolly started to calculate until he remembers something. “You know Scarlet, right? I’ll just leave it with her and she can find you later.” Then his expression hardened. “Now for the price, this work might cost ya’ a limb lad.”

Torchwick laughs in that serious moment. “Like I promised Scarlet Arrow, you and her, will be a very rich ponies.”

Jolly’s expression didn’t change, until it did. Laughing louder than Torchwick, he held out a hoof. “You are alright lad. And by the sound of it, you are going to make a lot of trouble.” Roman smirks and shook the hoof Jolly had offered.

With their business comes to a close, Roman walks out the door to get some breakfast.



Time turner looks up at the sun with a hoof over his head, it was already highnoon and he still haven’t done anything productive. All morning he was doing errands for the mare in his house, and now she wanted colt-a-cola, sadly he doesn’t have any. She wouldn’t stop whining for him to buy some, so here he was, just coming back from the nearest store carrying a plastic bag in his mouth.

“Hello Doctor.” A voice had greeted him, turning his head he discover that it belongs to one of his close friends, Octavia, the cellist. “That is a lot of snacks you have there. You should watch what you eat Doctor, or you would gain wieght. And we don’t want that now do we?”

Time Turner sets down the bag. “It’s not for me Octavia, it’s for Rainbow Dash. She got injured yesterday and now she wouldn’t leave even though she is in perfect shape!” He explained to her. “She is still recovering from her broken wing..”

The grey mare raises a brow and smirks. “My, my, Doctor. I never thought you would be interested for the tomboyish type.”

“That is not how it is.”

She giggles before walking up to him, she looks up and down with a stern expression, before her hooves straightened his tie with a smile. Satisfied, she turns to leave. “Good bye Doctor. Don’t let your fillyfriend wait too long.” She teases him, and just like that, she ran off leaving the stallion.

Time Turner gave a sigh and picks up his bag of goodies before going back home. He had just reached his house in two minutes. As Time Turner enters, Rainbow Dash was holding one of the wall clocks in her hooves shaking it. The clock started ticking with the other ones on the wall and she looks up seeing him by the doorway.

She furrowed her brows. “Why do these clocks stop when you leave the room?” He only shrugs at her question, then places the bag onto the coffee table. “Aw sweet!” Wasting no time, she digs through the bag and takes out a single can. With a satisfying ‘psst’ she drinks the soda.

“So Dash, how is your wing anyways?” Time Turner watches her pop open a bag of chips that he wanted to eat later.

“Same thing since this morning, duh!” She doesn’t even look back at him as she spoke.

He facehoof not daring to witness her eat the chips that belongs to him. “What about work? You cannot exactly fly right now.”

Rainbow Dash took another sip from her soda. “Thunderlane came by earlier, apparently Pinkie told everyone of how I bravely tried to stop a villain but got injured in the process, and he told me I got a free week! Hah!”

“But do you really have to spend it here, in my home? Fluttershy did offer you to stay with her earlier, until you could get back into the air.” The Doctor questioned the mare.

She was about to say something, but her mouth just hanged open then close then open again, she blushes slightly. “I uh... Umm...” She clears her throat before taking another sip. “Whats wrong with spending time with a new friend? It’s to really get to know each other Tame Tuner.”

“Time Turner.” He corrected.

“That’s what I said!” Rainbow Dash cheerfully claimed. “Besides, you should be extremely happy, cus’ you get to hang out with the most awesome pony in history!”

“Starswirl the Bearded?” He jokingly cuts her off.

Rainbow Dash glares at him, “No, me!” she then held her head high with a single hoof on her chest.

“Yay.” Time Turner said with no interested at the slightest.

She hops onto the coffee table pointing a hoof at Time Turner. “That’s the spirit! So why don’t we ditch this place and go to the movies!”

“But what was the point of buying you these!” The Doctor gestured towards the plastic bag.

Dash jumps and lands infront of him staring into his eyes. For a full minute, she stared, and Time Turner became uncomfortable. “Doc’.” Dash used the nickname everyone uses. “Like I said, I wanted to hang out with you because you know... you helped me, and I really appreciated that. If you say no, then I say no.”

“Alright,” He walks to the door and opens it. “let’s go watch a movie. And why don’t we-” Time Turner was cut off as a newspaper flops in front of him, a filly was tossing newspapers door to door on a wagon while a mare pulls it. The headlines written in bold letters were ‘Roman Torchwick Resist Arrest!’. He pulls it closer to him and began reading it loudly. “Roman Torchwick.” Time Turner could feel Rainbow Dash tense up at the mentioning of the thief’s name. “A pegasus stallion who had stolen money from a pastry shop in the town of Ponyville was spotted in the city of Canterlot!”

Dash groans loudly as she noticed the information she was given was just a stupid lie, never trust criminal. Time Turner just rubs the temples of his head. “This is really going to be a problem.” The Doctor said before leaving with Rainbow Dash.




Earlier this Morning in Canterlot



“You can take away meat from my diet but I would never ever eat hay!” Roman promises to himself as he eats a slice of cheese pizza, satisfied, he looks back at the empty plate then at the pegasus pony with a yellow coat and blue mane that was tied up in the corner. Roman bops him on the head knocking him out and undid the restraints. He left the pony after, with the bits Torchwick stole from the cash register.

He began his stroll in the city to find a good place to start his career, he scans the buildings looking for potential work, many looked good, but he wanted to make his first job in Canterlot to be a good one. Then his eyes spotted something, it was another nightclub which was bigger and better looking than Scarlet’s. He could tell with the few ponies in suits that they have something valuable inside. Finally deciding to come back later to begin his work, he took out his scroll to snap a picture, then Roman returns to walking.

Minutes pass with his scouting and he was about to go back to Scarlet’s, but three pony guards, a single unicorn among earth ponies, were sitting idly talking amongst themselves had caught his interest. “So where is Feather Storm?” The unicorn asked.

The grey earth pony looks up from what ever he was doing. “Didn’t you hear? A pegasus going by the name Roman Torchwick had stolen bits from one of the local business in Ponyville and assaulted two of the Elements of Harmony.”

“They got a tip that he was going to Cloudsdale, so princess Celestia sent most of the pegasus guards as well as a few unicorns to the city to catch him.” The other earth pony spoke.

“You know who would really be useful?” They shook their heads not knowing the answer. “Fire Starter! That pony could really help in taking down this crinimal.” The other two guards gave out an ‘oh’.

“Excuse me sirs!” Roman catched their attention and the guards turn to him. “Did you say that a pegasus criminal is on the loose?” They nodded. “If so, what does he look like?”

The grey guard thinks to himself before listing. “He has a white coat and an orange mane.”

“Like this?” Roman presented himself.

“Yes. He also wears a grey scarf, a white suit, and a bowler hat with a feather.”

“Like this?” The guard nodded. “Does he also have a cane like this?” Waving said cane around.

“Yes he does! Wow, you must be psychic.”

“Please, your too kind. Welp! If I ever see him, I would find a guard imediately. So long!” Torchwick got onto his hind hooves and walked away, twirling his cane in his fore hoof.

The guards smiled at the stallion. “What a helpful pony. Sure wish nothing bad happens to him.”

Then something dawned on the unicorn, something he would hit himself for. “WAIT! THAT’S THE PEGASUS!!!” The other guards came to a realization facehoofing before they all went after him.
> Night Two in Ponyland
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dash quietly stare at the soda can that she was holding, the cold tin surface chilled her hooves but not enough to be a danger.

“Are you alright Rainbow Dash?” Her head quickly looks up to find golden eyes staring into her’s, well one eye was, the other was more interested on something else.

“Gah!” She recoils back away from the pair of eyes, now that she was distant from them she found out that it belongs to the local mailmare. “Derpy!?”

“Did I scare you? Sorry Rainbow Dash.” The grey mare sits down on the floor. “Is Time Turner here?”

Dash returns to her seat and took a sip from her soda can. “He’s down in the basement.”

Derpy nodded before taking a seat next to Dash. The two sat silently for a few minutes, with the sound of Dash sipping from her soda. Another minute passes, it was starting to get irritating. Rainbow tried to keep her mind off it by looking out the window to see if anything interesting is there, she saw only darkness indicating night time, but she didn’t need to look out the window to know because there was a digital clock on a table nearby.

“So...” Derpy breaks the silence. “What’cha doin’ here Rainbow Dash?”

“Dash is fine, and as for why, Doc’ found me by the train tracks and decided to help me and thanks to him my wing is fine, though it still need time to heal.” Dash finishes her explanation and took a sip from her soda.

“Why aren’t you the hospital then? Or do you want to be here?”  The blue mare chokes back her drink. “A-are you okay!?”

“Im fine!” Dash quickly regains her composure “See?”

“Alright...”

“As for why I’m here? Because uhh... Hospital food! Yeah that’s right, hospital food doesn’t taste good and I rather spend a few days here than there.”

“Guess that does sound like a great idea, I for one hate hospital food.” Dash nodded, but soon realized that the origin of the voice did not belong to derpy, right in front of them was Lyra with Bon Bon. “Right Bon Bon? Home meals are way better!”

Bon Bon rolls her eyes at the unicorn. “You would think that wouldn’t you Lyra?”

“Excuse me but, why are you all here? Not to be rude but just curious.” Said Dash.

Instead of anyone in the room a different voice spoke. “Well it’s game night and we’re holding it in Doc’s house!” Just entering was both Vinyl and Octavia. “This her?” She whispers to the cellist, and recieves a nod.

“Game night?”

Lyra nods enthusiastically. “Yeah! We play all sort of games like Ogres and Oubliettes, or strip poker! Even though we are mostly naked all the time...”

“Vinyl’s ideas aren’t really that interesting anyways.” Time Turner’s voice joins in the group’s conversation. He had also recieved a ‘Hey!’ from the dj pony.

“Hello Doctor, a pleasant evening isn’t it?” Octavia greets the stallion.

“It is as lovely as princess Luna herself.”

“So what game should we play today?” Lyra excitedly waits for him to answer.

“Well...”



Torchwick and Jolly laughs as they read the newspaper that was published just hours ago in Scarlet’s nightclub. He couldn’t believe at how ridiculous it was. Roman flew from his pursuers and they couldn’t catch him without a pegasus’ help, and he escaped them so easily.

“I knew ye were trouble!” Jolly said as he pats the criminal on the back. “Guess we’re gonna see more of ya’ in the papers!”

Scarlet rolled her eyes. “But did anyone see you come in here?”

“Of course not miss Arrow, I wouldn’t want to compromise my hideout.” Torchwick assured her. “But I’m not here to laze around, I just came back to inform you of my first job in Canterlot.”

The mare nodded, Roman takes out his scroll and showed her a picture of another nightclub. “The name of the club is ‘The Cherry’, it is owned by Sweet Cherry. She is a wealthy mare who owns six restaurants around the nightclub.” She looks up at the thief. “You plannin’ to rob her?”

“I wanna start big, and I want my name plastered in every tabloid!” Roman laughs and Jolly joined him.

After the laughter died down, Scarlet spoke. “Careful Torchwick, that place has her personal guards watching it. But I don’t know why.”

“Because she’s hiding somehing in there, and what ever it is, it’s mine.” He declaires to the both of them.

“Whatever it is, I might know a few ponies who would gladly help us.”

“Wait boy!” Jolly called out to him. “I manage to make three bullets for you to use, why don’t ya’ try em out? I even took the liberty to make some rubber bullets just in case ye felt merciful.” He levitated the objects to him, and with a smirk Roman gladly took it.

Torchwick hops off the stool and began walking towards the exit. “I’ll be back when ever I can, so don’t wait up for me!” He called out as he exit the building.

Roman silently makes his way through the streets, walking on his hind legs and twirling his cane in his hoof. Catching a few stares, but he ignores them, though he was in the papers none seems to recognize him. It was getting dark and the stores around that weren’t open at night closes. He reaches a familiar pizza parlor, as much as it was tempting, he needed to focus right now. It’s not like he could slip up, he just wanted the whole heist to go smoothly.

After walking for minutes, he had finally reached the nightclub. At the entrance were stallions in black shirts presumably were the bouncers, with a long line of ponies by the walls. He went back on all fours with his cane in his wing and strides up to the bouncers and gave them a smirk. Thanks to how great he dressed himself, they both part and allowed Torchwick entry.

Inside was a bustling picture, as ponies drink and danced to the music. Roman scanned the room and noticed a few ponies in suits were standing by the walls and watched the crowd of ponies. He moves over to the club’s bar and sat on one of the stools.

“Bartender, your stongest drink please!” He rquested, and the unicorn stallion pulled out a bottle named ‘Tears of the Queen’ and pours into a glass with two cubes of ice, before handing it over to the pegasus. Roman took a sip and savours the taste of the drink, it was slightly bitter but he didn’t mind, and as much as he wanted to finish it he still had work to do. “This is great! When I get the chance, I’m buying a bottle.” He said as he places his cigar on an ash tray and setting the glass aside.

“Glad you enjoyed yourself sir, the bottle came straight from the same place where the minotaurs live. They made an astounding drink yet, worth every last bit.”

“Could you tell me how much does a bottle cause?”

“Three... no... 6k for a bottle and there are a total of fifteen bottles from one crate.”

The ears in his bowler hat twitches with interest. “But surely a drink as fine as this is better off displayed than to be sold.”

“Well yeah, boss only wanted to buy a single bottle but she accidently bought a whole crate of them. So here we are.” This was an important detail, if she manage to buy a crate

Roman looks around as if he just noticed something. “Say, why are there so many guys in suit watching the club?” He questioned.

“Well last year, a dj from Ponyville started a fight with one of the patrons, it didn’t end well.”

“One more question.” Roman took another sip. “Is the owner of this place here?”

The bartender nodded trustingly. “She went up to her office on the second floor.”

Roman nodded. “I see...” He gets off the stool, “I’ll be right back.” he told the stallion and left to start working.

First he needed is to take out the gaurds who got eyes on his path to the office, then he would need to get whatever is in there before the rest could find out.

His first target was a stallion who was busy with straightening his tie near the comfort room than to notice the approaching danger, when he finally fixed his problem, it was far too late for Roman had deliver a hoof chop on the back of his neck. Roman then moves the body to lean on the wall as if he was just relaxing there, thank goodness it looked convincing, aside from his eyes being closed, who would even notice.

Roman stalked and snuck behind a guard that had a view of the others and placed a hoof over his mouth pulling him into the shadows. From the darkness he started running towards a mare in a suit, she turn to notice him and was about to call out but it was too late as Roman slammed his hoof on her face, the muffled noise of the mare was completely masked by the loud blarring music as she falls onto the floor. He went into a hallway where two guards by the stairs leading to the second floor.

He casually walks over catching the attention of the club guards. “Excuse me sir, but you shouldn’t be here.” One warned him as the other crosses their forelegs. Wasting no time, Torchwick swung his cane on the guard and kicking the other right on the face holding them against the wall. He lets the guard go and Torchwick watches as the they slid down being unconsious against the wall.

He made his way up the stairs and found more guards at least 6 of them, they noticed him and took his pressence in hostility. Roman barrels towards them, when he was close enough he spins on his heel and bashes one with his cane. He jabs the other right on the throat and swatted another with his weapon knocking them out. One guard tried to stomp his hooves at Torchwick, but was thrown away by an uppercut from Roman.

Another guard pulled out a dagger and held it in her mouth, she swung her blade and it colided with the cane, she took another swing at him but the criminal parried the dagger away sending it into a wall. With no weapon to defend herself, Torchwick punches her in the face and she slumps down to the floor. The last one rushes towards him, and with a grin, Torchwick caught the guard’s head with his hoof and slammed them into the wall knocking out the guard.

Satisfied that he took care of the club guards that were watching the hallway, he lights up a cigar and marches over to a door that had the name ‘Sweet Cherry’. He kicks the door open and found the mare lying on her back against the desk with a stallion straddled over her.

They both stop as the door slammed onto the wall as it opens and turn to look at the intruder, it was Roman Torchwick from the newspapers. Frozen, they watch Torchwick strides over to a chair where he sat down on. “Oh don’t stop on my account, go on...” The stallion quickly got off of her and tried to run away, but Roman hooked his cane around their neck and pulled him back right into the desk, and with enough force the stallion was out cold. “A gentleman would never ditch a lady behind, guess he is more of a coward than I thought.

Sweet Cherry scrambles onto the floor and backs up against the wall. Torchwick eyed the white coated and pjnk maned mare. “P-please, don’t hurt me!” She pleaded with him.

He chuckles lightly. “I’m not here to hurt you, I just wanted something from you.”

“What do you want!?”

Roman pointed to a portrait of an old mare. “I want whatever is inside that safe.”

Her eyes widens and she crawls up to him. “D-don’t be silly, theres no safe there!” Cherry tried to convince him, but Roman knew better.

Torchwick took off his hat and threw it at the painting, it bounces off and back to his hoof while the portrait falls over revealing a safe. Roman didn’t even need to get off the chair to find out a safe was there. Then she started crying, “Please don’t take it! I-its the only thing I have left from my mother!” she begged him as she held her hooves on his knees.

“Open it.” He demanded from the mare, but she only shook her head no, tears still falling from her eyes.

Torchwick pushes her off and walks over to the safe, with his cane raised towards it. It was time for him to test the ‘jolly bullets’, pulling the trigger, a red flare exits the end of the cane with a sharp whistle and landed next the safe with a loud explosion, the nightclub shooked. Roman was satisfied with how the test go, he inspected the damage he had made. The door of the safe was hanging open while there was a large hole next to the metal box.

He peeks in excitedly like a young boy waking up on christmas day. “HUH!?”  But to his own disappointment, the safe was empty aside from a piece of note. Before he could even curse the stars, a pillow bounces on his head and lands on the floor.

He slowly turn his head and glared at the mare. “Leave now or... or...” She stammers as she tried to think of a threat while crying.

“Or what?” He calmly questioned her.

She colapses back onto the ground crying helplessly. “Please, I’ll do anything! Just don’t take it!” She pleaded once more. “I-I can make you a rich pony!” He wasn’t amused. “I...” With no option left she cried onto her hooves.

“It’s empty anyways!”

She quickly looks up, face stained wih tears. “W-wha?!”

Roman then reaches in and pick up the piece of paper before reading it loudly.


Dear Sweet Cherry,
I regret to inform you that your precious blue diamond has been confiscated
for research purposes, such as my personal objectives that shall not be named.
Please understand that I did not commit this crime for riches, or personal grudges.
You were just another name that came onto my list and now you have been crossed out.
So please forgive me.

From C.T.


“You have got to be kidding me!” A vain on Roman’s head felt like it was about to pop. “Someone had already got here before me!”

“The... diamond...” Sweet cherry spoke before bawling herself away, she colapses on the floor and moans in anguish for losing the one thing that was important to her.

This was also terrible for Roman, no reward for his efforts.

And with that, he casually strided out the door leaving the crying mare to herself. He closed the door as he exits the room and was met with a group of guards who just arrived. They witness what happened to club guards that encountered him before and were slightly doubtful if they could stand against him.

Roman was not interested so he lifts his cane and fired another round into the ground, the guard jumps back at what they just witnessed, a hole that was large enough for a pony to go through. And that was what Roman did, he jumped into the hole and landed on the dance floor as a few regular ponies kept their distance, their emotions were both surprised and worried which soon turned to fear as they recognize who he was.

“It’s Roman Torchwick!” Said a mare in the crowd.

“Take my bits, don’t hurt me please!” A stallion threw a pouch filled with bits infront of Roman who gladly took the offering.

“Somepony get the royal guards!” Another stallion requested.

“I have no idea who he is but I’m still scared!” One stallion cowers under his hooves.

“I don’t wanna feel pain! Pain is bad!” A mare ran away from the nightclub.

Roman looks around with a grin, guess there is some reward. “People of Canterlot! Surrender your bits like that fine fellow over there,” He pointed to the stallion who wanted to be spared earlier. “and give me your money so no one has to get hurt!” Ponies started to toss pouches of bits onto the floor and Roman gathered them up.

Leaving a few sacks since he shouldn’t carry too much, a total of ten pouches, he runs towards the doors reaching it just in time as the club guards finally got to the first floor. Roman tumbles out the door and then runs into a random direction leaving a few ponies and the bouncers confused.

Roman manages to get far enough and hides in an alley where he giggles like a school girl. He had just made his second work in Equestria and he bets his life that it would make him know. But he stops as soon as he noticed something odd. His head slowly looks up and he marveled at the sight in the sky. Roman never thought of looking up the stars before and he never thought to look at the moon in this world. He was mesmerized at it, the moon was whole.

Roman wanted to bask longer at the light it made, but he still needed to get back to the nightclub. 

After moving in the street unnoticed, he arrived at the ‘Scarlet’s Paradise’ and found only a blue mare in a hat and blanket sboth colored purple sleeping outside clutching a sign that said ‘close’, there was even an empty botle next to her.

Ignoring the mare, even though he had a few questions about it, Roman went inside double checking if anyone saw him. Inside the nightclub was Jolly and Scarlet herself. Both were waiting for him patiently.

“You’re earlier than I thought!” Scarlet cuts the silence.

“So lad, how did it go?” Jolly Hammer asked the pegasus.

Smirking, Roman took out a single pouch and drops it onto he bar counter. “I don’t know, you tell me.” He said before showing the rest of his bounties.

“HAHA! I knew ye would be trouble!” The large unicorn laughs.

Scarlet swipes three pouch and counted it’s ammount before hiding it under the counter. “That’ll last you two months, I expect you to bring more.”

Roman nodded to the red mare. “This night wasn’t a total blunder.”

The blacksmith picks up three pouches as well before leaning closer to Roman. “So lad, how were ye new bullets?”

“They were just right.”




Meanwhile at Ponyville



“And turns out he was at Canterlot! He lied to me!” Rainbow Dash complains as she drank more soda. With, was of course, Time Turner since it was his home, along with Derpy, Lyra, Bon Bon, Vinyl and Octavia. It was a scheduled game night and it was being hosted in the Doctor’s home, which sadly has a rainbow headed mare.

“Man he should get eaten alive.” Vinyl gave out her opinion.

“Vinyl! That is not very nice thing to say.” Octavia scolded her roommate.

The white unicorn only shrugged. “Maybe we should teach him a lesson!” Lyra suggested accompanied with a ‘YEAH’ from Dash and Vinyl, Octavia only rolled her eyes.

“Maybe!” Time Turner chimed in. “Just a thought everypony. Just a thought. Maybe we should... you know... play the game?” He gestured towards the game of monoply. Which he was losing. He was too poor to buy a land and most of it were owned by Derpy. He was running the risk of bankruptcy. Time Turner proceeds to roll a dice which made him count up to a chance card. “Oh no! ‘You have elected chairman of the board. Pay each player $50 each’!” He looks down and found he only had $125. He loses all of his money as he gave it away.

Time Turner grumbles to himself as the mares continues the game. “Sure am glad you lost Doc’.” Said Vinyl as she got passed the start tile and colected more money.

“He’s never that good in boardgames, yet he is good enough to teach us everything!” Lyra spoke before landing on a ‘Go Straight to Jail’ tile. “Drats!”

Dash cocks her eyebrow. “Teach you what?” She questioned.

Lyra spotted her mistake and started to think of an excuse. “Just a few things.” Octavia asssited Lyra. “Like self defence, who knows what could happen!” The musician said proudly.

Dash nodded accepting the answer. Just then, Pinkie Pie bursts through the door and twirls two times in the air before landing perfectly on the tip of her hooves, a single dice even fell from her mane and onto the board. “Six!” She said before moving a piece that was never there before onto an unowned lot.

“Pinkie!?” Said mare turned to Dash with a wide smile.

Before anyone could continiue, another voice spoke up. “Not just her dear!” From the open doorway was the fashonista herself, Rarity.

“Hey Rarity, what’s up?”

The unicorn places a hoof on her forehead as if she was in distress. “Oh it is terrible Rainbow Dash! Simply terrible!”

The pegasus’ mind quickly clicks knowing too well. “What did he do this time!?” Dash stood on her hooves.

“That dreadful, yet stylish, hooligan had stolen a mare’s valuable daimond!” Rarity informed the pegasus.

“And he robbed from the innocent bystanders! What a meanie.” Pinkie Pie added.

Rarity nodded. “And Twilight is planning to leave for Canterlot right before dawn. A bit too early don’t you think Dash?”

Dash hops right next to her. “I’m going too!”

“But Rainbow Dash!” Pinkie tackles the cyan pegasus. “Your wing is still healing!”

Dash struggles below her, the pink mare seemed to have gained some weight. “I can still fight!” She pushed Pinkie aside before standing right up. “You think this broken wing can slow me down? Hah!”

“If we cannot stop you, very well then Dash.” Rarity finally agrees to let her join. “But you still have the others to convince.”

“And we can help!” Lyra jumps onto her hind hooves with her fore hoof raised in the air.

Rarity shook her head. “Afraid not darling. This might be dangerous for the rest of you and we don’t want anything to happen to anypony.”

This time, Vinyl slams her hoof onto the table causing the game pieces to fall over. “But we can help!”

Before any mare got a word in, Time Turner speaks up. “Now now girls. Let the Elements handle this, they have seen and fought many troubles in their life since Nightmare Moon.” He nodded to Rainbow Dash. “All I ask is to take care of yourself.”

Dash blushed slightly before nodding back. “You wont have to worry about us Doc’. Come on girls!” She quickly runs through the door leaving the rest before Pinkie and Rarity followed.

“But doc’!” The white unicorn said as she glared at the stallion. “We can help, so why aren’t we!?”

“Because Vinyl, I’m still busy.” He answered as he drinks from a mug.
> Cops and Robbers.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was early in the morning, the guards only just started investigating the nightclub after a whole night of searching for the criminal, sadly they couldn't find any trace of him. As for Sweet Cherry, she cried into her hooves, losing the last gift she received from her mother before she died had destroyed her. She couldn’t even keep a promise. The guards questioned her for more details, which she had nothing more to say. The club guards gave their own testimony as well as some civilians who was in the same place.

Feather Storm, a pegasus royal guard who was also sent to Cloudsdale from a false source was head of the investigation, began checking the damages of the club. “Are you sure that this pony is a pegasus? Then how would he make these big holes then?” He doubted the reports.

“Sir,” A single guard spoke. “the witnesses explained that he had a magical staff disguised as a cane and it could reduce things to rubble.” He explained to his superior as they both exited the building, greeted by new arrivals of guards to help them.

“Then we got ourselves a real problem!” The fact that the culprit was slippery as an eel was tough enough, now Feather Storm had to deal with a criminal that has magic!

He started to bark orders to his unit giving them seperate jobs to do. As for Feather Storm, he needed more clues.

Unbeknownst to the royal guards, a certain bowler hat wearing pegasus was silently watching them work. He had snuck amongst the crowd to spy on the ponies in charge of taking him in, and for no apparent reason, he was some how completely invisible. He chuckled to himself and was about to leave until a familliar group of ponies just arrived.

The heroes themselves, if Roman could laugh he would but that would attract attention to himself and blow his cover, alerting the law.

“She healed up fast.” Roman commented on Rainbow Dash's wing he swore he shattered as she and her friends began aproaching the guard.

"Excuse me sir," The purple one, Twilight Sparkle he recalls, spoke to the pegasus in charge. "I'm Twilight Sp-"

"Twilight Sparkle, I know." The guard cuts her off quick. "What do you need, can't you see that I'm busy here?"

Twilight was lightly taken back by his tone and she didn't need to look behind her to see Applejack holding back Rainbow Dash. "Well sir, we are here to help the guards in search for Roman Torchwick, I promise that we won't leave no stone unturned."

“Just because you saved Equestria, don’t think that I would let you in on this case!” Roman heard Feather Storm told the main six.

“But we almost caught him! That's closer than how far you’ve gone!” Dash argued with him.

He taps a hoof on her. “Then why did you let him escape!?”

“We didn’t let him escape, he got away! Big difference.” She countered.

Applejack cuts in just in case it got messy. “Easy now, we don’t want no ruckus now do we?” 

It barely help at all but Twilight quickly stood between her friend and the guard. "Listen sir..."

"Feather Storm."

"Sir Storm, we may not have the same training as you but we are still capable of catching somepony like Torchwick, if you don't let us help at all then we can do it on our own." The stallion liked that idea, as long as it keeps them somewhere else but she didn't stop there. "Or~"

"Or?" He mimicked with only a hint of fear.

"Or I could send a letter to the princess Celestial."  He nearly trips on nothing at the mention of his and everyone else's leader.

Feather Storm straightened himself. “Alright fine, you all are on the case. Don’t buck up.” He began to leave, grumbling to himself about having Celestia on speed dial, Feather Storm didn't really want them to be involved.

“Alright girls, find some clues and meet back here after. We wont let him get away with this.” Said Twilight Sparkle before they all went inside.

Roman shook his head smiling at himself. “I already did.” He told no one but himself as he leaves the crowd to do something else.

Feeling hungry again, he returned to the pizza parlor that he robbed last time, he couldn't really blame anyone for coming back, the pizza was better than the one's he had back home. Entering the building, it rung the bell by the door and the clerk noticed him immediately. He cowered behind the counter and shouted. “Help! Somepony help!” Even though no one else was there.

“Easy there, I’m not here to rob or hurt ya’, just here to buy some pizza.” Roman made his motive clear.

"A-as if I'd even take your order! Now g-get out before I call the guards!"

Roman rolled his eyes on the pony's threat. "Alright, I know when I'm not wanted, but maybe this will change your mind." Roman drops a hoof full of bits, at least half amount of what he stole last time. "This is just a tip, for great service."

The sound of bouncing bits made the stallion peeks over the counter. “W-what will it be?” He asked the criminal for his order.

Roman looked up at the choices and decided a very delicious option. “I’ll have three plates of spaghetti, four pizza fries, and two boxes of cheese and garlic pizza.”

The pony nodded fearfully and was about to run into the kitchen, but was held still by Roman’s cane around his neck. “Do you need something else sir?” He asked him, praying to Celestia that he would be spared.

“Listen,” Torchwick began. “I know what I did to you was wrong, and I would have leave and forget you ever existed. But, I liked that pizza of yours.” He felt the pony in his cane relaxed a bit, honestly, these ponies are too friendly. “You already know my name, Roman Torchwick! Care to introduce yourself?” He took away the cane and held a hoof over to the stallion.

Straightening himself and hesitantly took his hoof to shake it, he introduced himself. “Brie Ch-cheese sir. Ahem. And the cheese here is from my families farm sir, that’s why it taste like the best pizza you ever had.” Brie completely forgot that the stallion he was speaking to was a crinimal.

“You are right, and I will come back here when I want some pasta or pizza. Just promise me this.”

“Anything mister Torchwick.” Brie said as he nodded his head.

“Don’t backstab me.” Roman warned the stallion, a scowl on his face and a hint of murder in his eyes.

Brie gulps down a lump in his throat. “I promised by my name sir.”

Roman became cheerful as he began to walk out. “Bring my order to Scarlet’s Paradise, the nightclub west from here!”

“Will do!” Brie answered back before rushing into the kitchen to prepare the order.

Roman leaves the pizza parlor, and began to look for future victims. He spotted a bank nearby, but that he crossed it out. Another was a jewelry shop, sadly, it was a small business. Then he got to an art museum, it was perfect. Though he needed to strike at night, satisfied with the plan for his next work, he decided to make his way back to the nightclub.

He didn’t know that an hour has already passed when he got back. Inside he found Jolly and Cheese chatting along with Scarlet of course. He walked over and pick up a slice, not before wiping his hooves clean. “Well if it isn’t the trouble maker! What were ye up to lad?” Jolly Hammer asked him with a big smile.

“Just scouting for possible jobs, and maybe a quick one.” He said before handing Brie a pouch of bits paying for his order and taking a bite of the pizza.

“More bits eh? Then count me interested!"

Roman swallowed his food before speaking. “Of course you are."

“Are you sure you should discuss this with me?” Brie Cheese spoke up.

“Yeah, why is this bloke here anyways?” Scarlet questioned as she eats her spaghetti.

“More friends in this mess might be great!” Jolly added his opinion.

Roman only shook his head. “I trust him guys, so don’t worry.” He said as he had just finished another slice.

“I promise, not to tell.” Brie added.

“See?” Roman begins to leave towards his room with a box piece of pizza fries. “I’m going to hit an art museum in a few days, so phone up some buyers Scarlet!”

"What makes you think I know ponies?" Scarlet questions but Roman's answer was taking a bite out of his pizza fry.

With that, Torchwick exited, leaving his buddies be. “You know, you are the biggest unicorn I have ever seen.” Brie told Jolly.

“Why thank ye.”



Pinkie Pie was cheerfully bouncing away from the crime scene as she followed a trail she believed it belonged to Torchwick. After a few minutes of tracking, she comes accross a discarded cigar that was tossed carelessly onto the ground. She frowned as she threw it right into the garbage can, Pinkie will have a nice long talk with who ever owned that.

Smiling to herself, she looked around and found that she was in front of an art museum. Thinking nothing of it, she started to bounce back to her friends. Pinkie Pie arrives a minute later to find that her friend Rainbow Dash was arguing loudly with the royal guard, again.

“Pinkie, where have you been?” Her friend Twilight asked her as she was standing next to Fluttershy and the others.

“Looking for clues!” She gleefully told the unicorn.

"Did you find anything?"

"Nope!" The unicorn facehoof from her friend's answer. "Anyways, why is Rainbow Dash arguing with the guard?"

"Dash found something then tried to show it to Feather Storm asking if it was anything important, but he quickly told her it wasn't and what started as an ordinary argument turned into a really long shouting competition about who is the better pony to catch Torchwick." Twilight said, informing the earth mare.

"Rainbow Dash is the fastest pony..." Rarity tried to join the conversation, but couldn't really say anything else as she was too focused with her friend and the guard.

"S-should we stop them?" The timid pony of the group spoke right next of Twilight.

"Let's see where this is going." Applejack answered.

All five of them continue to watch their friend arguing, it would have lasted longer, but Rainbow Dash decided to let her hooves speak for her. The mares cringes back as a loud clang filled the air and the stallion's helmet flew right off as he fell down onto the ground.

"This is going to be a really long week." Twilight mumbled to herself before the cyan Pegasus was tackled to the ground by a group of guards.
> Why Are We Here?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scarlet Arrow enjoyed her work, but not her customers, especially if they get too drunk. If the mare could get a bit for every time a stallion would try to flirt with her in gibberish, she could afford some extra hooves around, but sadly her debts are not even fully paid so that wouldn't do anything at all. Heck, just a few days ago her competitor who is just down the street, had the nerve to try and buy her nightclub.

"You'll crash and burn before this place could rake in any bits!" The voice of her opponent echoed in her head as she stocks up her drinks, she then proceed to insult his mother and throw slurs at him, he was appalled by her choice of words and Scarlet agrees that she was kinda acting foalish. But the mare wouldn't admit it.

After they left Scarlet in a sour mood, that was the moment when a certain pegasus to come around, her train of thought was cut off as the nightclub was engulfed in complete darkness. Giving out an annoyed groan she made her way to the stairs that led to the roof, this has been such a recurrence that she could map out her nightclub in the dark.

As she emerges out to the rooftop under the night sky she grumpily marches to the fuse box, using her magic to pull the panel open with a little bit too much force. Doing what she countlessly do, she fixes the problem by replacing a blown fuse with an old one, Scarlet once again reminded herself to hire someone who can fix this.

Satisfied, she went for the door but stops in her tracks after catching a certain pegasus sitting on the edge staring at the sky, she could faintly smell tobacco from him. The mare silently approaches, curious of what the pegasus's intentions.

"Hey," Scarlet reels back with surprised that the stallion noticed her, just inches away. "you ever wonder why we're here?"

"Huh?" Was all she could say.

Roman chuckles at the confused mare. "Sorry, that was a strange thing to say." He turns to smile at her, a lit cigar in his lips, before returning to gaze into the sky. "You look tired, why don't you take a break?" He said while patting the spot next to him with his left hoof.

"No thanks, I rather not fall towards my death." Scarlet said, sitting on the spot right behind him. "I can't really rest now, the club is about to open."

"I don't really see anyone waiting, do you?"

"It's still early, they'll come around."

"Then you got time to rest, especially talk." Though Roman wasn't facing her, Scarlet knows that the stallion was smirking.

The two sat in silence only for a minute, before Scarlet speaks again. "You  want to talk Roman? Then let's start with 'why'." The stallion looks back with a single brow raised. "I just want to know, why did you bring Brie Cheese into this?"

Roman turns back to gaze at the sky, a smirk returning on his face. "Oh Scarlet, here I thought you had an idea of what I was planning."

"What does that suppose to mean?" She said, frowning at him.

"You see Scar," Torchwick started to explain his master plan. "I can't always walk around in broad daylight, that's why I needed someone to be my eyes and ears on the streets. So I chose Brie Cheese because of the same reason I chose you."

She was too afraid to ask, but the words 'And that is?' just slips out.

"You both need money." Four simple words was all it took to take Scarlet by surprise again, she couldn't even have a word in as he continued. "The first day we met, you mentioned about a guy trying to buy this place, that was clue number one. Next was when you mentioned the imported whiskey, after seeing and tasted it myself, I can tell you the exact price for a single bottle, it was really easy to piece together actually. Heck, even Brie might have noticed you're situation if he knows all the clues."

Scarlet grits her teeth, her temper slowly rising. "Then what about Brie, huh? How did you find out?" She said with a growl, but it didn't bother Roman.

"The thing you two have in common is location." Torchwick exhaled out a puff of smoke before speaking again, his back still facing towards Scarlet. "His place of business is located between two different but bigger pizza franchises, this puts him in a tight spot as the competition tries to one up each other which is destroying Brie's business very slowly. The first time we met, I robbed him a few slices of pizza and 72 bits, guess I'm also to blame."

"How is my nightclub's location relates to his problem? I only hav-"

"One rival, you could barely even call him that, and that's your biggest problem beside your debt. You see Scar, unlike Brie, your enemy has only one eye on someone and that. Is. You."

Scarlet wasn't really surprised by this, but the thought still angered her. She always knew that the reason as to why she barely get any ponies in her nightclub for the past weeks was because of him, she felt her anger rising even higher and an urge to smash something was filling her mind. She would have did, but Scarlet began counting up to ten in an attempt to calm herself, it was slightly working.

"Is that all you know about me?" She asked, glaring at the back of Roman's head.

The pegasus only nodded not giving her an answer, still gazing into the night sky.

Scarlet stood up nonchalantly and attempts to leave, she had enough from him. The unicorn is already getting a headache because of him, plus her loyal customers are gonna give her even more headaches.

"But that's why I'm here," She pauses half way and looks back at the stallion with a single brow raised, forgetting her headache just for a second. "to help you both succeed. With your share of my earnings and me paying Brie for his work, well if he accepts joining us, you both will hold your heads high in defiance of defeat. Your debt is paid, extra hands helping around the place, better drinks than imported whiskey, and best of all, your competitor will be given a run for his money if he sees you still standing. Even the fact that he tried to buy this place shows that he's afraid."

The mare followed his gaze which led towards the moon shining brightly to those under it's light, his words still in her head. He was right, that was the reason she decided to house the criminal, the promise of money and the chance to fight back her rival.

Scarlet glares at the moon and mentally vows that she will reach for the stars, no matter the trial. With a new objective in mind, she marches back towards the door, ready for what comes next. Just as her magic took hold of the door, she glances back to the pony on the edge.

"Have pleasant evening Scar."

She was surprised once more but quickly recovers, of course he would wish her a good night. "Enjoy yours too Roman." With their conversation over, they both return to what they were doing before.





"This blows!" A certain rainbow maned pony exclaimed. The mane six were currently in one of the castle's many guest rooms, courtesy of the princess herself, as for why the element of loyalty is displeased, it is because her friend Twilight was checking all the reports from the guard and also the witnesses.

Why would she be displease by that? Well, it is because there were hundreds of them, and Twilight wants everything reviewed.

"I know how you feel Rainbow Dash, but these could help us by giving clues that could lead to Torchwick." Twilight said, picking up another report.

The cyan pegasus falls onto the floor, groaning loudly. "Twilight, some of these don't even make sense!" She picks one up and reads it. "I mean look at this one, 'So there I was on the dancefloor with my friends, we were all enjoying our time until this handsome stallion' -Oh barf!- 'descended from the heavens, his pumpkin colored mane and tail flutters in the wind as his hooves delicately touches the ground. The ponies were silenced by his sudden appearance, and his eyes met-"

"Alright sugar cube, we get it." Applejack would rather not listen to anymore of that. "Almost sounds exactly like Rarity as a matter of fact."

"I resent that comment." Rarity said to the southern speaking pony.

"The thing is Twilight, these things are useless, we should be out there looking for him!" Said Dash, flailing her hooves in the air in frustration.

Twilight shook her head no. "We can't just go around the city at night Dash, he could be anywhere. So gathering from eye witnesses reports, we can narrow down a location. Though you are kinda right, some of these are extremely exaggerating."

"Maybe-eep!-" Just when Fluttershy started speaking, all eyes snaps at her direction, startling the pegasus mare.

"Its okay Fluttershy, you can tell us." Said Twilight, ushering for the butter colored mare to give out her suggestion.

"Its just that, m-maybe we should let Rainbow Dash to stretch out her legs w-while we work, I mean, if that's okay to everypony."

The others turns to each other then nodded, before turning to Rainbow Dash. "Ah think she's right sugar cube, we can handle this without you." Said the farm pony.

"Nah, what kind of friend I'll be if I just let everypony else do the work?" Rainbow Dash asked everyone. "I mean, I can get some snacks first from the vending machine I saw down the hall earlier, but I would just never leave you guys just because I'm bored."

"Aww!" Said Pinkie, quickly embracing Rainbow Dash in a hug.

Dash chuckles lightly, breaking away from the bubbly mare. "So what do you guys want anyway? I can make a quick run right now."

"Wait a second Dash," Twilight called for the speedster's attention. "Before I could forget, what was that thing you found, you know, the one back at the nightclub?"

"Oh, this?" Rainbow Dash took out the object, it was red thin cylinder the size of a finger, one side had a round end, while the other side had the imprint that read 'J. Hammer'. To the ponies of the room, it was just a strange piece of metal, but to all of us, it was a bullet.

"I found it on the ground up on the second floor." Dash explains herself. "Do you know what it is Twilight?"

The unicorn shook her head. "I'm afraid not Rainbow Dash, but maybe the castle's library has something. I'll look for it first thing tomorrow."





Meanwhile, back in Ponyville, Time Turner was in his living room, tinkering with a wall clock, his mug of coffee which is still warm was on the table in front of him. His attention focused solely on the object I'm his hooves, the clocks on his walls of the room was the only ones making a sound.

Tick tock, tick tock, it goes.

His mind started to drift somewhere else, while his hooves worked and thanks to years of practice, he had gained a muscle memory for his occupation.

He started to think about Equestria's newest addition, Roman's sudden appearance wasn't really strange, the world itself was an anomaly. But him to be here was going to make tons of problem, Time Turner was already busy as he is. 

Roman already robbed two places, and Time Turner doubted that the criminal would stop there, though he wishes he did. He unconsciously stops working to reach out for his mug of coffee and takes a sip, before returning to the task at hand.

His eye brows furrowed trying to link up as to why the thief was even here, but try as he might, Time Turner could not think of an answer at all.

-Ding dong!-

The stallion looks away from his work after hearing his door bell ring. "Strange, who could that be in the middle of the night?" Before he could get up, a red envelope slips out from the mail slot of his door and slowly falls towards the floor.
> The Night, She Calls Me
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Roman stared, his eyes transfixed on the shattered moon in the night sky, his hands firmly grasping the railing of a balcony. He let's out a somber sigh as the cool evening air hits his face, Roman didn't always look up at the sky at night, though it was a an amazing sight, his work always had come first.

"Hey Neo," A small petite woman appears and stood right next to him. "is it just me or does something really feels... off."

Neo did not say a word, only held up a sign that read 'Is it that hat of yours?'

"Oh har dee har har Neo, the hat is fine. But is it just me, or does the moon look a little bit... wrong?" 

'It's the same as always.'

Roman shook his head. "Yes, but I have this feeling that it's different somehow." He lifts a hand to point, but what was supposed to be a human hand was replaced by a white hoof. "Gah!" He stumbles back and glances at his other hand, it too was turned into a hoof, even the rest of himself had transformed, he turns to his partner in crime to find that she was replaced by a tall blue  mare with flowing mane.

His eyes widens, the balcony itself had disappeared, leaving the two on a grassy field under the broken moon.

What felt like seconds turned to minutes of silence as the two only stared at each other, Roman sat up, staring at the eyes of the mare.

He was obviously dreaming.

"We have finally meet, Roman Torchwick." At first it was strange for Roman to meet a pony in his dream, but there was something familiar about her.

After thinking about it long enough, it clicked. "You wouldn't be princess Luna are you?"

"We are surprised that thou has heard of us."

"Well, a certain pink pony liked to tell stories, especially about an 'alicorn' princess visiting during nightmare night." Roman said, giving Luna his answer, but it was his turn to ask a question. "Wait, why am I dreaming about you?"

"Nay, we are not part of your dream, it is truly I, princess Luna!" She rose to her hind legs for dramatic affect, her wings opens wide and a crack of lightning behind her.

Roman wasn't at all convinced, he still thinks that she isn't real.

"Does thou wishes support for our claims?" She leans forward to the sitting pony before her.

"Nah, I rather not." Having an understanding that he was in the dream realm of his mind, Roman snaps his non existent fingers, giving him a hammock tied on two coconut trees and a golden bowler hat replacing his old one.

Luna for one, was surprised of how the pony in front of her had a strong grip of his own dream world, some ponies couldn't even stop their teeth from falling even though she tried to tell them that it was just a dream.

"Thou is quite handling the situation well, yet thou is skeptical of our existence."

"Well thats because it's pretty impossible for someone to be in other people's dreams." Roman tells Luna without even looking at her, rocking back and fort on his hammock. "Pinkie didn't really mentioned that you could."

Speak of the devil and she will come,  or pony in this case because Pinkie Pie herself was now standing next to Roman holding a silver tray on her hopf with the finest apple cider in Roman's dream world. "That's because it isn't mentioned til season 3 silly, and that hasn't happen yet."

"Even in my dreams you still don't make any sense at all."

The two ponies with dream Pinkie were silent once more, the wind whispers as it passes them, the warm breeze felt nice to Roman as he relaxes back into the hammock. And all that was just a dream. 

His eyes then returned to the implied intruder in his mind. "Why are you still here?"

"We wanted to meet the criminal, before you are brought to justice." She said while taking a glass of apple cider offered by dream Pinkie in her magic.

"As if, the clowns you call royal guards could barely touch me!" Roman said, also accepting the glass of cider.

"It is not from the guards your downfall would come," Luna tells the over confident stallion. "it is from some pony you have already met."

A single brow was raised by Roman. "Who, Rainbow Crash?" He asked the princess, but she did not answer.

"Don't you listen to her Roman." A familiar voice spoke, he turns to the source and found the alluring but deadly Cinder standing next to pinkie, but she wasn't human. Instead of a drop dead gorgeous woman, it was an ash gray unicorn mare in a red dress, her long raven black hair flowing in the wind. Roman groans loudly, complaining about how the pony world was infecting his mind.

"Nopony could ever catch a handsome and clever stallion such as you." Dream Cinder proceeds to move even closer to him.

"Thank you Cindy." He thanks his former and probably dead boss before turning back to Luna with smug expression. "See, even she agrees."

Luna kept a stoic look, not bothered by anything at all. "Tell us, has the moon in your world always been shattered?"

Roman looks up at the sky, though it was a memory from his world, the shattered moon did not look right to him anymore after witnessing it as a whole. So now both moons are just a reminder for him, that he is no longer in Remnant and that this planet is his new home, like it or not.

He turns back to Luna to answer but she was no longer there, replaced by a certain red hooded girl, not a pony but a human. Roman tried to voice his confusion, sadly no sound came out, he tried again but nothing happened. Roman's hooves started to scratch his throat as he started suffocating, his face was getting warmer and everything was going dark.

His panic let his grip on the dream world slip, losing control of everything.

The stallion falls off the hammock and onto the ground, struggling to breath forgetting about the girl near him, and as the darkness consumes him, he woke up.

Roman snaps into a sitting position, launching an unknown object from his face away. After collecting himself, Roman turns to inspect what it was that tried to kill him in his sleep, it was a cat, yes a fricken cat and it hisses at him before scurrying off to who knows where.

Looking around he found himself still on the roof of the nightclub, he had apparently fallen asleep and now he was forcefully awakened just in time for dawn.

"Roman!" The door was kicked open by Scarlet Arrow, a mug of steaming hot coffee floating beside her. "Jolly is looking for you!"

Torchwick gave her a nod, stretching his limbs giving a satisfying pops before walking over to her. "You know, I had a really strange dream just now."

The mare raised a hoof. "Not now, I'm having a killer headache and you nonsense would make it worse."

They both descend the stairs after closing the door to the rooftop, unbeknownst to both of them, they were spied on through the lenses of a binoculars. The hooded pony puts the tool away to reveal a white mask with a pair of round glasses on it.

The mysterious pony lifts his hoof with a familiar device near his face. "This is Connecticut to L.T., I have located Locus. Should I make first contact?"

"Negative," A deep voice answered. "Red leader is high on our priority list, return quickly with those medical supplies."

"Copy that."
> What's Better Than Art? Pizza
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Canterlot's art museum, a place where every ponies could enjoy the works of famous artists throughout history of Equestria, even a few from other countries as well. Nothing shows unity more than sharing the artistic views with each other.

But Brie Cheese isn't really interested in all that, all he cares about are his family and friends, also cheese. So why is he flying with a bag filled with three boxes of pizza to the museum? Well, when he was visiting the nightclub this morning, Roman quickly ropes Brie into his schemes to rob said museum. 

At first he wanted to decline and keep his hooves clean of any crime, but Roman promised to pay a large amount of bits, and that wasn't the icing on the cake. The criminal knew about Brie's problem, Roman told him that he could keep Brie's business afloat with a few advise, seeing an opportunity to not only earn some bits, but to get his business back in action, he gladly accepted.

So that was his story, being tempted by money, the root of all evil. He chuckles lightly as he reaches the entrance, he had to admit that the architecture was nice, it seem to be inspired by Cloudsdale's history with the arches. There were also marble columns along the front walls, at the large arch way were two large marble statue of a pegasus and an earth pony, they stand opposite of each other as if they were ready to clash.

Brie Cheese was so focused on the design of the museum that he didn't notice that he was about to bump into one of the security guards. "Hey, watch it!"

"Oh, sorry!" He quickly steps back.

The guard notices the thing Brie was carrying. "Sir, food and drinks are not allowed in the museum." The guard warns him.

Brie nervously shuffled on the spot. "B-but a pony ordered three boxes of hay pizza a few hours ago, said to deliver it here, sir." He swallows down the lump in his throat, his acting skills aren't as good as the criminal he had become acquainted to, but thank the heavens that the guard bought it.

The guard placed a hoof on his face, groaning loudly. "That idiot, this has their name written all over it. Alright, but we can't go through the front, so follow me."

'Roman was right, we are a bit too trusting.' Brie thinks to himself while following the guard around the back of the museum. He was soon led to the back where a large metal door was, it could fit three wagons through it, there was also an ordinary metal door next to it which was also what the guard was going for.

He gave the metal door a few knocks before a mare answered from behind it. "Who is it?"

"It's me, the pizza you ordered is here you dunce."

"Pizza? I didn't order pizza."

"Then why is the pizza pony here!?"

"I don't know, maybe you ordered it!" The pony behind the door argues back, this goes on for a few minutes, going back and fort on who to blame.

Meanwhile, Brie secretly takes out Roman's scroll and tucks it in his wing, but not before taking a picture of the back entrance. 

Roman had taught him on how to use it before he left, his mission was to gather enough information about the museum, at first he had a hard time getting used to holding the device with his wing, but after a few practice he could finally hold it long enough to take a picture.

Brie also had manage to take a peak of his 'gallery', he decided not to continue further after seeing the most recent picture.

He returns his attention to the arguing ponies, they were still at it. "How about you pay for it!" The guard he was with shouted to the mare behind the door once more.

"You know what!? Fine!!" The metal door swings out revealing an angry mare. "I'll pay for the stupid pizza!" She said before going deeper inside the building.

"Ugh, that idiot sometimes." He turns to Brie who was awkwardly staring at the pavement. "Just-just follow her..."

Wasting no time, Brie quickly chase after the mare, ready to gather everything Roman needs. The mare was obviously leading him to their staff room, this was all going well.

After a few minutes of awkward silence they both arrived in the staff room, it was just a simple room with lockers at one side, a table at the middle, and a row of kitchen countertops on the opposite side of the lockers. But what really catch Brie's interest was a blackboard with names and schedule, just across the table.

"Yeah, just place it right on the table there, I'll go get your money." The mare said before walking over to one of the lockers.

Doing as he was told, Brie approaches the table and place the three boxes as so, the mare was still busy trying to open her locker so Brie Cheese took the chance to get closer to the board. Wasting no time he quickly took a pic of the guard shifts.

"What are you doing?"

His head snaps back at the other pony in the room, keeping the device in his wing as hidden as possible.

"N-nothing!" A strange smile was on his face, trying hard not to crumble under pressure.

The staff rolled her eyes. "Okay, how much for the pizzas?"

Brie was going to say '224 bits' the voice of Roman echoes in his mind. "If they ask how much it cost, try and milk the situation."

"Ahem. It's 448 bits ma'am."

"Wait, I only have 300 bits!" The guard slaps a hoof on her face. "That idiot, if he wanted pizza so much he could have just bought one box!"

Well so much for trying to milk the situation, but another idea came to his mind. "Well, how about I let you have these," He motions his hoof towards the boxes. "if you let me in the art museum for free."

The mare gave him a look of confusion. "You would give away pizza just to be in an art museum?" Wow, it even sounds absurd when she says it.

"W-well, I always wanted to visit this place, but I was always too busy." A forced smile was now on his face, his cheeks aches a little from it.

A few seconds passes before she shrugs her shoulders. "I'm not really suppose to do something like that, but alright, as long as you don't tell anypony."

"Lips are sealed." The mare then leaves the room with Brie Cheese following her. 

Both of them were quiet along the way, he didn't really want to strike up a conversation, and he still needed to focus on the task he was given.

After minutes of silence between the two, they both exited the staff only area and entered the art gallery. Giving the mare a nod, Brie continues alone to enjoy the exhibits, he could still feel the mare's eyes focusing on him as if she was trying to figure something out.

The pressure on Brie grew stronger, he has to be even more discreet as he could. 

There were many things that could be sold for a lot of bits, but Brie isn't browsing, he was looking for a crack in the metaphorical fortress. There just right above him was a dome skylight, that was definitely an information. Isn't it?

Looking around even more, he notices that there were monkeys on some corners of the building, honestly, he has no idea what they are for.

"Why are there monkeys here?" He quietly said to himself, sadly there was a pony nearby who had heard him. Seeing his mistake, he slowly turn his head to the pony, and when his red eyes meet brown ones, Brie loudly exhaled as if he was screaming.

The earth pony, a tall gray mare with black slick back mane, a few gray spots, she wore a fitting black suit with a white buttoned shirt and a yellow polka dotted blue tie. But what really stands out was her blank behind, it was rare to find anyone like that in their age.

The older pony, Brie was sure she was at least fifty, clears her throat ceasing Brie Cheese's silent screaming.

"Are you done?" Brie nodded, his cheeks slightly red from embarrassment. "Very well then, if you were curious, these animals are an experiment of a new form of security."

"Excuse me if I come off as rude, but what can monkeys do?"

"These particular species are called howler monkeys, and as their name suggested, they howl extremely loud to alert the nearest guard post. And believe me when I say they are loud, sadly this is still an experiment to see if it is effective."

Now Brie was impressed, who would have thought that teaching some monkeys could help society. But this would seriously affect Roman's plan, he sure does hope he has something to counter this.

"Thanks for the information, do you work here?"

"No, I was just here to see a painting that I have always loved. Would you like to see also?" The old mare asked, the corner of her mouth slightly twitches up at the mention of the painting.

Seeing that there was nothing wrong with that, Brie accepted her offer. He followed her, on their way, Brie had given a few of the exhibits a look. Some of it were impressive, like a large statue of a pegasus in ancient armor holding a shield, though they were moving away he had managed to read the plaque, Flash Magnus.

He mentally noted to himself to go back later to see if there was more about the pony. They both soon stand in front of the painting the mare wanted to show, the painting depicted a unicorn with a curved red horn standing menacingly on a black crystal as his red cape flow with the wind.

Brie Cheese felt a shiver going along his spine, the painting radiates with complete fear and the eyes alone, those hatred filled eyes that was glaring at him were enough to paralyze the pony. Only when the old mare beside him spoke that broke him out of the trance.

"What do you think?" She asks the shivering stallion.

"W-what do I think?" He mimic her question. "Don't wanna be rude, but that is the most terrifying thing I have ever seen."

If she was offended, it did not show. "That is what everypony expresses after they have seen my painting. Fear."

Now Brie felt even more fear, he was scared that he accidentally insulted an artist's work. "Well it's still impressive, like the way you uh... made this so realistic! I mean, being frightened by painting alone is awesome, but the way you painted it looks like a regular picture."

"No need to do that, but I am thankful for your words." Brie gave out a sigh of relied, but sucks it back in his lungs after what she says next. "Now that is out of the way, may I ask that you tell your boss to take this one aswell when he begins his work."

Now the stallion was really panicking, from out of nowhere she just started talking about Roman even though he didn't mention him at all, and thank god there were nobody nearby to hear their conversation.

Brie looks around before leaning closer to whisper. "How did you know!?"

"I shall tell your boss when he brings  the painting and the rest of his bounty to me at this address,-" She hands him a card with the name 'Lucky Spice' and an address. "-also tell him not to disappoint me, I would love to read about him on tomorrow's papers."

With that, the pony that is now named Lucky Spice made her leave for the exit and leaving a nervous and confused Brie.

After she had left, Brie quickly but discreetly head for the exit, he passes by both the museum guards he had met, good thing they were too busy arguing to notice him. After hitting the streets he flared his wings and flew to the nightclub as fast he can, but unlike his sister Cheddar Blaze, he was far slower than her.

At the thought of his family member, he comes to a slow, now that he think about it more he could see the disappointed look his family will have if they find out about his connection with the thief of Canterlot. Fear, he was frightened by the possibility and the painting that haunted his thoughts returned, but his mind became clear as the weather today when he remembered the promise Roman had made.

With his mind on one thing only, he flew faster, racing against himself to reach Roman. Nearing the nightclub, Brie choose not to slow down but to crash through the doors, he bounces up from the floor once and rolled straight into the bar counter making the drinks shake slightly.

"Scarlet, Scarlet, Scarlet!" He calls out to the mare. "Where's Roman!!?"
> A Dash of Paint
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the Castle's library, Twilight Sparkle was currently surround by dozens and dozens of books trying to find a single clue on what the object that her friend Rainbow Dash had found back at the nightclub.

She skims through page by page on anything that could match it, the only thing that came close was an old book that was unreadable because the pages were in tatters, that itself was just another dead end.

It was currently ten in the evening, most ponies would sleeping right now. But not her, the unicorn needed to understand what this thing was.

Twilight places her hooves on her temples, she had spent the whole day trying to find anything about it, but she was left with nothing. Twilight looks to her left as something had caught her attention, a freshly made coffee was settled right next to her, and the one who prepared it was the doctor himself.

"If you plan to stay up late, you'll need a little boost." Time Turner gave her his words of coffee wisdom.

Twilight gave him a smile and a nod before taking the mug for a sip. "Thanks Time Turner, I really needed this."

"You're very much welcome Twilight." His eyes landed on the subject of Twilight's interest. "What pray tell would this be?" He asks the owner of the strange object while examining it.

"Honestly? I have no idea." Twilight sinks into her pile of books.

Time Turner places back the bullet where he had picked up, he then picks up a book, it was titled 'Metals and More'. "Well it seems to me that you aren't looking at the right perspective."

She raises a brow towards the stallion. "Speaking of perspective, why are you here? Not to be rude and all."

Time Turner peaks over the book he was reading to meet her eyes with his. "It is a library, is it not?" Before she could answer he continues speaking. "I was simply visiting to meet with the princesses to speak about some private matters. After I was done I had heard that you and your friends were staying here for the time being, so I decided to see how Rainbow Dash is doing."

Twilight took another sip from her coffee. "I'm sorry to tell you this, but Dash isn't here right now, she went out with Applejack to look for more leads on Roman."

The stallion sets down the book and nodded to Twilight. "I see, then I should take my leave, have a pleasant evening miss Sparkle." He got on all four hooves and walks in the direction of the exit.

Now Twilight was once again alone with the only company being is books, books, books and a mug of hot black coffee. She let out a tired sigh, wishing that Time Turner had stayed a little longer or maybe have someone she could at least talk to. But no matter, there is still so much to do, Twilight picks up another book and began flipping through the pages for anything useful.

"I sure do hope Rainbow Dash and Applejack are doing well on their end."





Brie was having a great time in the kitchen of his pizza parlor, Roman gave him some bits in advance to help his business, and right now he is making a few flyers with his parlor's address and few pictures of his delicious pizza. Roman had told him that he needed to advertise his business before he could get some help from the thief, so making flyers was a start, first thing tomorrow he is going to hang it around Canterlot in hopes to attract customers.

He also needed to get in touch with the newspaper company to put in his ad. Before he could  think about it more, the bell out front rang, he had remembered that he had forgotten to turn the sign at his door to close but at least now he could set some extra bits for tonight. Wasting no time he walks out of the kitchen to find two mares waiting by the register, the rainbow headed one was looking at the menus while the other mare was leaning over the counter with a bored expression.

Now Brie knows who they are since of their fame, but what made his heart pounding was the fact that Roman's enemies were at Brie's doorstep, too close for comfort. Especially the one who's wing was wrapped in bandages, nothing much worse than a pony that wants you dead. He nervously walks up to his late night customers to take their order.

"Evening ma'am, what can I get you?"

Rainbow Dash turns away from the menu above to look at the owner of the establishment. "Yeah, can we get a medium sized hay-waiian pizza?"

"S-sure!" He said as he quickly jotted it down on his notepad before looking up to ask a question. "Would you like some drinks?"

"Colt-a-cola, how about you AJ?"

"Well," Applejack taps a hoof on her chin. "do ya' sell any coffee, preferably black?"

Brie nodded and 'dashes' into the kitchen, while he worked, Dash and Applejack took one of the many vacant tables in the building.

"You know, I'm glad that this place is open so late, I was literally starving to death!" Said Rainbow Dash.

"Now you're just exaggerating, and it was your own fault that ya' missed dinner."

"It isn't my fault, when Twilight asked us both to go around and ask for leads tonight, I needed to take a nap to keep myself well rested." She gave out her reason to the cowgirl.

"Excuses, excuses. She didn't tell ya' about it before your nap."

"Excuse me ladies?" Both mares faces the pizza pony, with him was a tray holding a basket of garlic bread and a pitcher of water, he sets down both items on their table. "Your order is in the oven, would you like anything else?"

"No, we're fine." Brie nodded, but he still stood there. "Do you need something sugarcube?"

"Y-yeah, just wanted to ask if I could take a picture of both of you so I can hang it on the wall, I'm a big fan. So may I?"

Applejack looks towards her friend and sees that she held a smirk on her face. "Of course we'll let you, anything for a fan! Right AJ?"

"Yes, anything for a fan." She said with a monotonous tone.

"Great!" Brie said and pulls out a polaroid camera. "Now can you please get a little but closer?"

Applejack did as she was asked and smile genuinely, while Rainbow Dash showed off her pearly whites and closes her right eye as if she was winking, her free wing spreads open and a single garlic bread balances on her right hoof. And just as Brie snaps a picture, a strange howl had filled the quiet night, all three ponies tenses up.

"What in the hay is that noise?" The farm pony asks.

"That sounds like a howler monkey." Rainbow Dash answered. "I remember seeing some with Fluttershy back then. Is it coming from some zoo?"

Brie's eyes open wider than before. "If the monkeys are making that noise, then that means something went wrong at the art museum!" He quickly slaps a hoof on his own mouth, sadly it was too late because he had said it out loud.

"Wait, art museum? Then that's probably Torchwick!" Rainbow Dash turns to her friend. "Let's go Applejack!"

Before she could stop the speedster, Rainbow Dash had already left the building and ran towards the noise of the howling monkeys. "Dag nabbit!" She turns over to Brie who still held a hoof on his own mouth, she places down a handful of bits before chasing after her friend. "Sorry for the trouble!"

And once she was gone, Brie puts down his hoof and sighed. "Hope Roman doesn't find out."




Canterlot Art Museum,
9:32 P.M.

Roman was on  the edge of the museum, looking down at the back entrance, waiting for an opening. He looks behind himself to see a pony in an all black clothing that covers their head to their hooves, their mask only showed their eyes, and revealed a red horn on top.

"I look ridiculous." Scarlet spoke from under the mask.

"Yes you do, but we're not here for a fashion show, so focus on the task at hand." Just then, the metal door swung open and out came a pony who had an unlit cigarette in his lips. "Show time, get ready 'Junior'."

The mare rolled her eyes before her horn was covered with a silver aura as Roman glides silently down, after his hooves touches the ground, he walked over to the pony who was trying to light the cigarette he had with a lighter.

"Here, let me help you there." Roman casually said as he brought out his lighter to help the troubled pony.

The pony smiled and was about to thank him, but he met the face of a wanted criminal, and before he could do anything he was struck by Roman's cane, knocking out the pony as he falls onto the ground. Roman smirks before heading inside through the back door, which was carelessly left open by the security guard.

Roman took out his phone to open his gallery, he inpects one of the pictures that Brie took during his scouting, the staff shift says that there are nine ponies on duty tonight. This made it easier on what to expect, his part of the plan that he made was to clear out the guards which was going to be much easier. A few steps later he just slaps his hoof on his face, he pushes himself onto his hind hooves and continued towards the gallery, grumbling about how the pony world was getting to him.

Up ahead he sees a pony guard walking out of the staff room, he quickly but silently rushes towards them and gave the guard a swift punch, knocking them out cold. Roman then peeks inside the staff room to see three ponies around a table, he loudly taps his cane on the floor attracting their attention, one of them got up to investigate, as soon as they got close enough, Roman came in and took the pony into a choke hold with his cane pointed to the rest.

"Down on the ground." He demanded from the two, before pointing the cane to his hostage. "If you don't do as I say, then I'll have to sully my hands."

Seeing that he had their fellow staff member at gunpoint, they did as they were told, and while they were on the ground, Roman got closer and gave each a swift kick to knock them out. Satisfied, Roman then bops his hostage on the head before leaving the room. He had to admit, its really a walk at the park, now he had to deal with the rest of the guards. Seconds later, the thief had reached the entrance of the gallery, two ponies were currently walking side by side towards him, he looks up to find the monkeys sleeping. Roman smirks as he spotted Scarlet above, she had noticed him as well, and with a nod from Roman the whole room became dead silent as she casted her spell. The guards at first doesn't notice, but when one of them did, they could not warn the other, especially when Torchwick came in and swung his cane and hitting them both.

Roman looks up at the mare who descended from the roof with a long rope, he uses his scroll to communicate with the mare, telling her to execute the next step of his plan. Scarlet gave him a nod before heading towards the painting that a certain someone had asked for, as for Roman, he went off to look for the other two guards. He searches high and low, even outside the gallery and back into the staff only area, yet he could not find a trace. Just as he walks by, a muffled sound had came from the janitor's closet, he used his right wing to pinch the bridge of his nose before walking over to the door. But what he discovers was not what he had expected, inside was a single monkey who was eating a half a slice of pizza, they both stared at each other. And before he could do anything, the monkey howled loudly, Roman was taken back by how loud it was and stumbled back with his hooves on both his ears, the monkey took the chance and ran towards the gallery.

Roman chases after it, but he was too late, the monkey had climbed up to the rest of it's kind and woke them all up before climbing out the skylight to howl outside, now it surprised Roman how well they have trained it. Then the silent room spell had died off, leaving Roman in a front row seat at the howler monkey concert. He ran outside through the front door to save his sense of hearing, and just to make the situation worse, he saw Rainbow Dash just down the street running towards him at full speed with Applejack at her tail.

"Oh for Pete's sake, can't I just have something good happen to me tonight!?"

"ROMAN!!!"

He steps aside just in time to dodge a very angry pegasus. "It's great to see you too Rainbow Crash."

"Ah'm here too you varmint!" Applejack said before turning around to give the thief a hard buck, which he simply dodges as well.

"Great, two earth ponies and a pegasus, we would make a great sitcom." He said while slowly stepping away from our heroes, eyes focused on both of them.

"What did you call me!?" Dash mimics Roman's stance and held her hooves up, ready to fight.

"Well on the account that I could just fly out of here and you couldn't do anything about it, I can classify you as such, a dirt horse." This causes smoke to rise out of the mare's head in anger.

She rushes in to jab at him but Roman dodges with a smirk, sadly that smirk on his face vanishes as he had jumped into Applejack's attack, he was sent straight onto the ground wincing from the pain a bit as he had felt it land on his chest. He quickly got up right before Dash stomps the spot he was on before, he hooks his cane around her neck and flung her towards the farm pony, Applejack dives down letting the cyan pony fly over. Not losing her momentum, Applejack ran in and headbutted the stallion right on same spot she had bucked him. 

Roman stood firmly on his hooves as he attempted to swat her away but she took a step back before getting closer again to send a right haymaker, he ducks down and rolls back creating distance from her, Dash came back and swung both her hooves down only to hit the concrete as Roman hovers just right above them. He held his cane like a baton and pulled the trigger, propelling his arm towards Dash as a deadly punch. Applejack quickly jumps in to intercept his attack with her own punch, but she soon regretted her choice when their hooves made contact, she stumbles back with pain in her hoof. 

Roman then spun on his heel to strike her side but Dash came from behind to pull down his hat over his eyes, she then used his disadvantage to deliver a series of punches, he could barely catch a break as Applejack wraps her front legs around his waist to perform a suplex but she could not finish as Roman instinctively shifted his weight to the side causing both ponies to fall on their side.

Roman rolls away and fixes his hat, he glares at the two. "I have really expected less from someone in a peaceful world like this."

"You won't get away this time Roman, might as well give up!" Dash said, inching closer to him, ready to start another clash.

He chuckled loudly before raising his cane at Applejack, they both froze on spot since they know the destructive power the cane holds. "That's what they all say, but here I am."

"Ah just don't get it," Roman turned to the element of Honesty with a single brow raised. "how could a pony just throw away their second chance in life just like that? You could've been so much more."

"Let me guess, Pinkie told everyone all about me?" His grip on his cane slightly loosens but it tightens much more when he notices Rainbow Dash getting much closer than she should be.

Applejack shook her head. "She only told us that you were a wanted criminal, there were many questions but she couldn't answer, she says that's all she know about you."

"Well there's not much to say, Beacon drop out turns to a life of crime." His jokster personality was gone, replaced by a much serious one. "Did she tell you how I ended up here?" Applejack nodded somberly. "Then we are done here."

Rainbow Dash's instincts flared as Roman pulls the trigger. "Applejack!" She cried out, the bandages around her wing loosened as both wings spread open, and she launches herself right in front of her friend. The bullet explodes as it hit Dash and sent Applejack tumbling back, she looks up to see a cloud of smoke on the spot where she was.

"R-Rainbow Dash?" She calls out to the speedster and her answer from her friend came as a form of coughing, Dash wobbles out of the smoke surrounded by a cyan colored aura, this causes both Roman and Applejack to stare at her with confusion and awe.

Dash opens her eyes to see them both staring, she looks down at herself to notice that she was glowing brightly before it faded. "Woah what?!"

"Aura..." They both hear Roman muttered. "You have aura!?" He said slightly amused.

"Sugarcube, y-you took that shot like it was nothing!" Applejack pointed it out for the confused pegasus.

"I did!? Woah, I have super powers!" Dash and AJ turns back to Roman, his mad cackle had attracted their attention. "What's so funny, huh!?"

Roman slowed to a chuckle, gasping slightly for air. "Its just that, I find it hilarious that you of all people would get aura, and you barely even know anything about it!" His smile fell, now adopting a more serious expression. "But I still need to know, how did you unlock it?"

"That would be my doing." Applejack and Dash turns around to see Time Turner behind them before he walked past.

"Doc'?" Dash said, equally confused like the other two.

"You truly are a sight for sore eyes Torchwick."

"Have we met?" Roman said, feeling a bit of fear in his stomach.

Time Turner frowns a little. "Yes we have, they may know me as Time Turner, the clock smith, but you would know me for the man who made more mistakes than anyone."

Torchwick's eyes bulges out and threatens to fall off his skull, he wasted no time as he quickly flew away, knowing he could not stand a chance against the the two mares with the newcomer. He did not even say a single word.

"Hey, get back here!" Dash calls out to him, but was held back by Timer Turner.

"You just recovered from the fight, you were lucky he underestimated you." He said eyes still staring at the shrinking form of Roman.

"Hey Doc'," He turns towards Applejack. "how did you and Roman know each other?"

"Time Turner, what's going on?" Dash asked him for answers to questions she does not quite understand.

He gave out a sigh as royal guards had just arrived to the scene a little bit late. "All will be revealed soon enough, I promise. But for now," He faces them both with a smile. "what is your favorite fairytale?"



A normally naked Scarlet stood outside of what seems to be an antique store with a cart that has a tarp covering it's contents, with her was Jolly Hammer who keeping an eye on their surrounding, both of them were currently waiting for Roman. Ever since the alarm had went off, Scarlet had decided to run from the crime scene, she chose not to be caught.

Now she was here at the address Lucky Spice had given, slightly worried that they had caught Roman. But that myth was soon busted as Roman drops down from the sky, a blank expression on his face.

"Oi lad, you look tired, do ya' need to lie down?" The oversized unicorn offered.

"Later," He sternly said, this surprises the two unicorns. "let's get some answers first." He nodded towards Jolly who nodded back, the unicorn walked up the steps and knocks on the wooden door shaped like a salt shaker.

The door opens to reveal Lucky Spice who was smiling like a child, she quickly pulls Roman inside where no one could witness their interaction. "Roman Torchwick!" She cheerfully said while shaking his hoof up and down. "I have heard a lot about you, and now we finally meet!"

"Yes yes, now on to business. Why did you ask for us to bring you what we stole and how did you know who my colleagues are."

As they speak, Scarlet brought in the paintings she had stolen while Jolly was still outside making sure no one sees anything. "Roman, I could only bag fifteen paintings, but I don't know if any of these are good." The unicorn said before going outside to retrieve the rest.

"That is why they are here!" Lucky Spice said excitedly. "You see mister Torchwick, I am an auctioneer for the local underground trading, I can earn us a good sum of bits."

"Thirty percent." Roman said nonchalantly as Scarlet brought in the requested painting.

Lucky Spice smirked. "Forty-five."

"Thirty-five, I have to split my share with the rest so there's no room for negotiations." He said with a hoof raised in the air.

Lucky Spice shook his hoof the second time this night. "Alright, fair enough, deal." She looks over to Scarlet and Jolly, both were looking at the painting she had made. "If you would be so kind, can you take that to my office at the door to your left!" The two nodded and did what they were asked to do.

"Now to the 'how'." He said as he massages his forehead with a hoof.

The mare clears her throat and digs into her suit pocket and pulls out a piece of paper with strange writing. "Eight days earlier, two strangely dressed ponies had asked around looking for somepony to secretly buy medical supplies and information, they found me, but they could not afford what I offer. A day after you had made yourself known, the two had returned with a fantastic blue diamond, then just before they left this morning, one of them had told me to make connections with you. He gave me names and your plan to help me established our relationship."

"C.T.? Connecticut! Oh how did I not see that!?" He quickly swipes the paper from her, the two unicorns had returned to see what was the commotion about. "This is old Valean, it reads 'Dear Roman Torchwick, if you are receiving this, then my plan has succeeded and now you know who I am, though the others would not like my decision,I will give you our location. We are currently hiding in the Everfree forest, come around at high noon, it is my time to be look out. From:Perry. P.S. Red leader is also here.'."

"Who's Perry?" Scarlet asks the thief.

And his answer was. "An extra hand for this mess, and he has a experienced friend."
> Roman's New Tricks
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"How about we wear moustaches?" Suggested Brie.

Both Roman and the pizza pony were currently in the hideout, which was the nightclub's basement. Torchwick had invited Brie to figure out how to sneak out of the city, with all the heat on him right now, it was not going well since Roman was paranoid after Ozpin's reveal. The thief was on edge, but thankfully there was a silver lining in the clouds, Perry is at Ponyville. So he and Brie needed a way out ASAP.

While this was happening, back at top with Scarlet, the mare was currently interviewing two ponies for security, it was going well-ish.

"You two used to work at an art museum?" Scarlet looks towards the two with a single brow raised.

The stallion nodded. "Yeah, but because somepony wanted to see a movie, which was meh, they got us both fired."

"Oh would you shut up with that!?" The mare snaps at him. "First of all, that was you who wanted to see the movie, not me!"

"Hey!" Scarlet slams her hoof against the bar top. "I'm looking for security guards, not two couples nagging each other's ears off!"

The two quickly looks away, embarrassed by their action.

"Back to the wages. Does 5k a week sound good to you?" Both ponies nearly snapped their neck at the speed they turned their head to just stare at her, dumbfounded by her offer, quickly they both nodded rapidly, the two of them could not form any words, too shock by the pay the bar pony had offered. "Good. But I don't really care for names, so I'm just gonna call you grunt A and B, is that okay?"

The stallion now known as A nods faster. "You can call me Celestia's donkey for all I care!"

Grunt B at least had much more dignity than her partner, she straighten her back to show a bit of professional picture. "It's fine. When do we start?"

"Tomorrow night, be here at six." Scarlet said as she took out two iconic uniforms from under her bar top, a black suit jacket with a black shirt, the next thing was a black fedora and red tie, right at the top of it was a pair of crimson red shades. Scarlet hands it over to them, they quickly took their uniforms with glee. "These were suggested by my business advisor, always wear these when you're about to come in for work. Got it?"

"Sure thing boss!" A saluted to her.

B quickly shoved her elbow into his ribs. "Yes boss."

Scarlet shook her head. "None of this 'boss' stuff, call me Scarlet... No, you two call me Junior. Now get lost!"

A and B stood up from their seats before heading towards the exit, Scarlet heard B mutter something but the stallion slaps the back of her head, this caused them to start arguing as they leave the nightclub. The unicorn let out a deep sigh as she leans against her bar top, the reason why those two were getting a large pay was because they were the only ones who had answered her ad, she looks towards the door where she keeps her drinks. She could faintly hear Roman and Brie giving out ideas on how to get out of the city, Scarlet smirks as she thought out an idea where she just ties the thief on a ballista, then shoot it directly at Ponyville. Before she could even go down to tell Roman her joke plan, the front doors suddenly swung open as a blue mare burst in, fireworks popping as she entered.

"It is I, the great and powerful Trixie!" The unicorn loudly introduced herself to the only occupant of the room, Scarlet.

"Trixie, what are you doing here? I'm not open yet." Scarlet plants her elbow on the bar top as she leans her head against her hoof, her face shifted from bored to much more bored. "Or are you finally gonna pay your tab? I really hope its the latter, it's racking up quite a bit."

Trixie walks over to the mare, head held high. "Nay, Trixie is here for this!" She presented an ad for a DJ, which was from Scarlet herself. "The great and powerful Trixie wishes to apply for this, she is very talented for this role, Trixie was even in that one event, you know, the one with that famous singer!"

"And that is?"

"Songbird Serenade! Trixie is one of her good friends you know?"

"You don't have friends." Scarlet said flatly.

Trixie stutters back. "W-wha!? Who says that Trixie does not have friends!? Trixie has plenty of friends, famous and amazing such as her, but not more amazing than Trixie!"

"Trixie," Scarlet began speaking with her trottingham accent as she started walling around her bar to face the other unicorn. "you drink here, like a lot. And every time you come here, you always drunkenly complain about Twilight, you always talk about how you are superior in every way, that you could easily defeat her in magic duels. You always start the same rant when you drink, and it always ends the same as well, you crying."

Scarlet leans forward to Trixie's face with a frown on her own, while Trixie glared at the bar mare. "T-Trixie does not cry! She is too emotionally strong to do such things!"

"Keep telling yourself that! The only reason why I even let you come here is because I had pity for you, but I'm tired, tired of your constant complaining and breakdowns! Right now, I'm trying to get this place and myself to the top, so I don't want you around here being a lonely nobody anymore!"

Scarlet breaths heavily as she glared at the blue unicorn, as for Trixie, she just stared at Scarlet, tears threatening to fall. "I-if you don't want me around, then maybe I should go." She took a few steps, but turns around to face Scarlet. "Trixie is leaving, but not because you told her so, it's because Trixie doesn't like this place anyways!"

"Then get lost you useless excuse for an insect!"

Before Trixie could shout back an insult, the two unicorns were interrupted by the sound of hooves clapping, both turn towards the door leading down below, there stood on two hooves was Roman Torchwick, a smirk on his face.

"Bravo, bravo!" He ceased his clapping and walked over to Trixie's side, the unicorn stared in disbelief. "What a fantastic performance! How spectacular, truly has me blown away with the emotion you both give out, it was enough to even bring me to tears!"

"Roman Torchwick!?" The show pony said, too shocked by the turn of events to say anything else.

"Roman!" Scarlet said through her clenched teeth. "What are you doing here!?"

Roman wraps an arm or leg around Trixie, who was still stunned by his sudden presence. "Well, I heard shouting from up here, so I was curious as to what was happening, and here I find you telling this random pony to get lost, that won't do at all." He turns towards Trixie. "I'm very sorry for what she did, though I feel like I've seen you before, could you perhaps introduce yourself?"

The mare could not believe her eyes, the thief of Canterlot was currently speaking with her, she wanted to run and inform the guards, but something was stopping her, and it wasn't the leg around her.

"I-I am the great and powerful Trixie Lulamoon, and Trixie d-demands that you let her go this instance!"

He gave out a chuckle as he motion Scarlet to the front doors, she reluctantly followed his request. "I'm sorry to say this Trixie, but your title is already taken." Roman lets her go as he took a seat on one of the stools. "Sit, let's have a nice long chat." He didn't wait for an answer as he uses his cane to hook and pull Trixie into the stool next to him. "Let us start, with you."

"W-what do you want?"

"To know your side of the story." She looks at him with confusion. "You see Trixie, I have heard a lot about you from a certain pink blabbermouth, and it wasn't nice, and that's why I wanted to know what had happened through your perspective."

Trixie's anger rose from the mentioning of a certain pink party pony, it was bad enough she was getting banned from the only place in Canterlot that serves her a drink, now she had to find out that Pinkie was insulting the mare behind her back, well that was actually what the unicorn understood from Roman.

"Those fools! It was their fault for Trixie's humiliation, if it weren't for them, then Trixie could have dealt with the beast!"

"But you didn't, care to explain why?" He rhetorically asked the mare. "The way I see it, Pinkie was right. You truly are as useless as they say, the fact that some random unicorn had bested you in something you claimed to have easily done, yet have been shown a fool to all, really embarrassing. That's my perspective, anything to add?"

"H-how dare you! Trixie will not take this from some lowlife criminal!"

"Well this lowlife is on every newspaper in the city, my name is known by almost everyone, and that took only a few days! Better than what Trixie had done."

"Trixie will not be insulted by you, she is far too great to even speak with a pony like you, Trixie shall now leave!" When she attempted to stand, Roman pressed the muzzle of his cane on her throat.

"Hold on now, it would be rude to leave when we just started our friendly chat, so stay in your seat." He nodded with satisfaction when the mare did not move an inch, frozen in fear by the weapon she had heard about. "Good. Now Trixie, I can't really let you go since you know about me and this nightclub, you could very much run straight to the royal guards and tell them my location."

"What are going to do to Trixie then?" She said as started sweating bullets.

"Well..." He leans uncomfortably close, a devilish smile on his face. "I was thinking about hiring help, and the job tends to be a hassle working alone."

Trixie could easily understand his plan, he is offering her a job opportunity as help, but since he would not let her leave, she was left with no other choice, so it was useless to think about it.

"Trixie... accepts..."

Roman stood up from his seat with a grin on his face, Scarlet who was listening to the whole conversation was glaring daggers at the thief. "Perfect! But before we start on a real project, hit me with this stool."

Trixie thought it was a strange request, but before she could do as he says, the one who did as the thief requested was Scarlet as she used the chance to release the anger inside her on Roman. But the stallion was barely fazed by her action as the stool shatters to dozens of pieces, Roman smirks as both unicorns were staring at him as if he had a second head on his shoulder, or because he was glowing orange.

"Not the woman I expected, but good enough. Now, you may be wondering how am I creating this glow, my answer is simple, aura." Roman said as he stops glowing. "What is aura? Well, it is an ability that anyone with a soul could use, and since no one is the same, everyone is unique be it by how they use it, or what their semblance are."

"Wait, w-what's a semblance?" The showmare said as she and Scarlet absorbed the new information.

"Ah, glad you asked, a semblance is a manifestation of one's personality or anything that could relate to your character, though haven't really discovered mine, I always thinked my semblance was luck. Back to the topic, aura could be used for many things such as self healing, to keep yourself from freezing, a ability to on a small radius around you to sense creatures watching you, or for defensive and offensive techniques."

"Excuse me, but why are suddenly telling us all this?" Scarlet demanded an answer from Roman, the stallion just smirked at her direction before facing Trixie.

"Because my good friend, I'm going to unlock Trixie's aura."

"Wait what!?" Both of them said at the same time, especially Trixie, she knows that her unicorn magic skill level is quite terrible, and now Roman is offering her a chance to be stronger than her weak self.

"That's right Trixie, as a job benefit for working under me, you my little pony are gonna be trained in the ways of my people!" He pressed a hoof on her chest causing the mare to yelp in surprise by the sudden action.

"W-what are you doing, you do not simply touch Trixie!"

"Easy there, I'm just gonna do the ritual to unlock your aura, so stay quiet, close your eyes and focus." He cleared his throat and when Trixie began glowing blue, Roman as well had began glowing again. "For it is in passing that we achieve immortality. Through this, we become a paragon of virtue and glory to rise above all, infinite in distance and unbound by death. I release your soul, and by my shoulder protect thee." 

He mentally chanted, and the glowing had ceased before Trixie opens her eyes to see a grinning Roman, and a shocked Scarlet. Trixie was about to speak but Roman hits her on the head with his cane, she falls onto her back as she writhed in agony with her hooves clutching the top her head, her hat had came off of her as she fell.

"By Celestia, why!?" Trixie asked the thief, tears that was held back now finally falls.

"Lesson one on aura training: Always be prepared." He said as he pulls her back onto her hooves. "Next lesson, focus your aura on where it hurts and let it ease your pain."

Trixie did as she was instructed, she focused on her soul deep within her and she glows again, the pain slowly dissipates giving her a sense of relief. When she no longer felt the pain, Trixie looks towards Roman, a different feeling inside her, it was the feeling of true success. Not the ones she felt back in the day of her travels, but a real one, she felt as if her failing in unicorn magic was just a simple mistake that aura now corrected.

"I-I did it!" She said with stars in her eyes.

"You did it." Said Roman, with a big smile on his face, he picks up her hat and fixes it on top of her head. "Congrats Trixie, you are on your way to be famous just like me! I'm going to teach you the ways of aura, but we have to get started with your first job today."

"C-can't we train today!? Trixie still has more to learn about this aura! How can I use my semblance!?"

"Easy there Trixie, I will teach you all I know, sadly, I need you to sneak me out of the city and into Ponyville first, I have a meeting there and I don't want to miss it."

"Trixie shall do as you requested, but do you promise to make Trixie a powerful mare?"

"Yes, so let's start. You can go now Brie, I don't need you for today."

The door to the basement slowly swings open and out came a pegasus. "W-well alright then, see you when you need me Roman." Said Brie before he left for the door.

"Alright, back to the subject. How are you going to sneak me out?" Roman said as he sat back down on the stool.

Trixie thought about it for a minute, trying to think of a full proof plan on how she'll get him to Ponyville, her eyes landed on his cutie mark which gave her an idea.

"Eyes up here Trixie."

"T-Trixie was not doing anything so crass, she was only getting an idea on how to get you to Ponyville!"

"Alright then, shoot."

"Well, a pony is usually identified by their cutie marks, so my idea is to make a simple disguise that will help you get out of the city!"

"Alright, but a simple disguise won't be good when the guards are looking for a white pegasus with an orange mane. How will we easily pass them?"

The showmare once again thinks about her plan, trying to make it full proof, she looks up and finds her great and powerful hat on top of her head. "What if you were my assistant? We could easily slip pass the guards since I'm a traveling showmare, no pony would bat an eye when they see us pass through."

Roman smirks, to be honest, he had already devised his own plan, it was perfect one too, but the thief wanted to see if Trixie was useful more than an extra pair of hands. With the plan now ready, it was just time to execute it, and it was only eight in the morning.

"Before we do anything else though, we still have something else, Scar', say sorry to Trixie." Roman watches Scarlet scowl at him, and glared with an intent to maim the thief.

"Wait what!? Why do I have to say sorry to her!?"

"Because, she'll be part of this whole thing and I can't let you two have a problem with each other."

"I will not-"

"Shhh, no back talking."

Scarlet groans loudly before facing Trixie, who had a smug look on her face as Roman favored her side instead of Scarlet.

"I. Am. Sorry." She said as she felt a blood vessel pop by her anger.

"Trixie accepts, you are lucky Trixie is as forgiving as she is powerful."

"Happy, you insufferable piece of bird meat!?" She directed her question to Roman who was holding his scroll on his hoof with a smile on his face.

"Very."




An hour had passed, the time was currently ten in the morning, Roman who now in disguised with his mane comb back to reveal his other eye, his cutie mark was concealed by a fake which was a jack o lantern, a single pink streak was also on Roman's mane to make sure no one would identify him, his whole attire and his cane was in Trixie's wagon leaving the man turned pony to feel completely naked, and it was already embarrassing that he had to pull the wagon. 

As for Trixie, she was walking close to his side as they both head towards the exit of the city, she kept asking Roman for more information about aura along the way, which started to irritate the stallion, but he can't regret it now, he needed to train her to stand against whatever Ozpin throws at him, and whatever else in this world, who knows what's out there. 

Soon they could see a small group of guards by the road, it was an obvious checkpoint to look for him, a few pegusus guards were also patrolling in the far distance. As Roman pulled the wagon, he notices three familiar faces, the guards he spoke to on his second day, he groans silently, hoping that these fools would not remember him.

"Halt!" The same unicorn stood in his way. "Feather Storm sir! We got another one."

"Alright then!" Feather Storm descend from above, a scowl on his face as he inspected the two. "Where you two heading?" He said as the two earth ponies went around to check inside the wagon, Trixie began sweating as they open the doors and peaks inside.

"Ahem." Roman clears his throat, catching the guard's attention. "We sir are traveling entertainers, talented in both magic and more. Isn't that correct boss?"

"Yes, t-that is correct, I am the great and powerful Trixie!" Just as she said her name, she launches a few fireworks into the sky, the two earth ponies looks away from the wagon to watch it fly before exploding and creating the mare's face in the sky above. A few pegasus guards made sure to stay away from the explosion. "We are currently leaving the city to show more lucky ponies of Trixie's magnificent talent, and Trixie cannot wait any longer! How long shall this be? Time is slipping out of Trixie's hooves."

Feather Storm turns towards the two earth ponies. "Anything?"

"Nope." One said before shutting the door.

"Alright, move on now, we got another pony behind you."

The unicorn watches as the traveling pony leaves, he stares mostly at the pegasus, something about him really was familiar, but the guard just shrugs off the feeling as the next wagon came to a stop.

"That was exciting!" Trixie said as they made good enough distance from the guards, they were now on their way to Ponyville.

"Yes it was, but be warned, things are about to get much more exciting." He said as they continue towards the town, Roman looks back to the city and grins at how it was all too easy, for now that is. The thief was preparing himself for what ever Ozpin had in stored for their next meeting, Roman had also hope that he would get an upper hand before the time they meet again.