Among Thieves: Chapter II

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnZwiE5dG6k
Fifteen Years Ago
>”Come back here you little ingrates!”
>Tiny feet and small hooves raced across the cold cobblestones of Canterlot’s lower district, the voice of a fruit vendor echoing across the walls of the cramped alleyway you ran through.
>”I said come back here! You have to pay for those!”
>Through frantic breaths you can hear Amethyst giggle along with you as you ran further and further from the disgruntled vendor, cutting through another alley and clambering up the slick walls to an open window.
>As you pull Amethyst in with you, you can hear the clop of the vendor’s hooves as you enters the alley.
>You look to the lavender filly beside you, and press a finger to your lips.
>Now was the time for quiet.
>You dare not peek out the window to look at him. Better to duck underneath the windowsill, wait for him to get fed up, and go back to his fruit stall.
>The both of you can hear the angry snorts of the stallion, his hooves scuffing the ground in frustration as he fails to find you.
>After what feels like ages, you hear an angry curse as he finally gives up, the sound of his hoof steps growing fainter and fainter as he leaves.
>As fast as you can, you reach up to the window and slam it shut, locking it in place.
>And that’s when you and Amethyst Star break out into relieved laughter.
>”Did you see the look on his face?”
“Haha! Poor guy never even expected us! Oh man, that was close though.”
>Amethyst puffs a lock of hair out of her face, giving a smug grin your way.
>”Well, maybe if you were as fast as me, then it wouldn’t have been so close, eh?”
>You rub your face a tad, your nose and ears numb from the winter air.
“Oh please, you were the one keeping up with me that whole chase! I’m way faster.”
>”In your dreams, “two legs.” You were panting up a storm by the time we got back here.”
“Was not! Besides, I’m the one that had to help you in through the window, like always!”
>Amethyst sticks out her tongue and you do the same while grabbing your satchel from your other side.
>”Well at least I nabbed more food than you! Just look at this bag full of pears I got myself here!”
>With a flash of her horn, Amethyst lifts her small satchel up for display.
“Uh… Star? That’s empty.”
>The proud grin on Amethyst’s face reverts to a look of confusion before looking at her bag.
>Her eyes widen in horror as she snatches it out of the air and flips it open, staring back at you through the torn hole on the bottom of it.
>”B-but I-… how did it get-… oh no…”
“Must have got snagged on that fence we jumped along the way. Nothing in there anymore?”
>Amethyst gives a dejected sigh, slumping onto her haunches in disappointment as she pouts.
>”Nothing. Not a single pear…”
>She grits her teeth and slams a hoof into the floor.
>”It’s not fair! I stole those fair and square, and now they’re lying in the street somewhere! We can’t go get’m either cause that vendor probably found them by now…”
“Well gee that is a shame, now isn’t it? I mean, look what I got right here.”
>Amethyst’s gaze looks up to you, and her eyes grow in surprise at the jar in your hand.
>”Are… those-“
“-candied apples? Yes ma’am they are. While the old coot was busy barking at you, I managed to snag this from behind his stall. His own personal batch, I think.”
>”…wow…I haven’t had a candied apple in… well, years I think… not since I was a filly…”
“Amethyst you ARE a filly.”
>”You know what I mean! I haven’t had one in a real long time!”
>You give her a long stare, then shrug as you crack open the jar, the sweet scent of the apple slices filling the air of the rundown shack you and Amethyst call “home.”
>This place had been long abandoned by whoever lived in it prior to you finding it. You and Amethyst claimed it as your own a few months back. It was a lot better than the boxes you slept in beforehand…
>You undo the scarf on your neck and lay it down on the ground, setting some of the apple slices onto it and passing it off to Amethyst.
>”...really?”
“Well yeah. I’m not going to let you starve, star.”
>A smile is shot your way as she takes a slice and devours it, her face shifting to one of delight as she savors it.
“Good huh?”
>”Mmhmm! Thanks!”
>You pop a slice into your mouth as well, taking pleasure in the fruits of your labor, as it were.
>”Hey Anon?”
”Yeah?”
>”What do you want to do?”
”Hm… well it’s getting late, and we have this to hold us off until tomorrow, so I say we make fire in the fireplace and head to bed.”
>You pop another apple slice into your mouth.
>”No, Anon. I meant, what do you want to do? You know, when you grow up?”
>Your jaw stops chewing when you hear her ask that.
>What did you want to do?
>…
>You push yourself off of your butt, rising and walking across the dusty floor over to a window on the other side of the flat.
>Opening it and meeting more cold, winter air, you stick your head out the window and look skyward towards the mountain above Low Town.
>And there, perched into the very stone cliff, was Canterlot Castle.
“…what do I want to do when I grow up?”
>Amethyst softly steps beside you, looking out the window as best she can.
“When I grow up, I want to live in a castle. I want to have enough money in the world to make sure me, and every other kid around here never goes hungry.”
>A sad sort of smile creeps onto your face.
>That would never happen, of course. You were a street rat. You were born a street rat, and eventually, you were going to die a street rat.
>Such was life around here.
>”…I think you’d make a fine prince.”
>You look back down to the light lavender unicorn, a sweet grin on her face.
“Haha, right… a prince. Prince of thieves, more likely.”
>”I think you’d be a nice prince either way, Anonymous.”
>Your gaze goes back to the alabaster castle on the mountain.
>A prince, huh?
>That’d be something.
“Thanks Amethyst… what do you want to be when you grow up?”
>A tiny blush forms on her cheeks as she smiles back up at you.
>”A princess.”
>The two of you look at the castle on the mountain, your eyes shining from the reflection of stars and the moon.
“Here’s to hoping, then.”
The Present
>”I’m telling you Anon, this is out big break! Can you imagine it? One job. One last job and Bruce puts us on the team for his big heist! Oh Celestia I am so excited!”
>Amethyst goes on and on about Bruce’s proposal a few nights ago, barely touching her plate of food.
>The two of you sat at a table amidst dozens of other ponies in the dining hall, all of whom were members of Canterlot’s Thieves Guild.
>The rush of water could be heard from a few feet away, a maintenance pipe spilling forth the liquid into a large pool below.
>Ah the wonders of an abandoned water treatment area. Not smelly, but certainly dark.
>You nod back to Amethyst as you take a bite of the orange you’ve been peeling away at, not really meeting her gaze.
>”Aren’t you excited? What do you think the job could be? What if we have to steal secret plans, or a journal from the highest nobles?”
>You give a shrug and take a bite of bread, washing it down with the cup of wine you had.
>Amethyst puffs her cheeks at you and cocks her head.
>”Why are you not as giddy as I am about this?”
”Oh I am, trust me. I’m just kinda busy here. Eating food. While you don’t eat a thing.”
>She sighs and rolls her eyes at you, as she fiddles with a small plum on her plate.
>”This could be it, Anon. A way for us to get out of here eventually.”
”Thought you liked living in the sewers with bandits and thieves. We’re living in the lap of luxury as it were. Take this delicious meal of old fruit and stale bread, for instance. Truly, we are living the dream.”
>A glance in Star’s direction shows that your sarcastic charm is not working at this moment in time.
>Wonderful.
“I’m excited Amethyst. Trust me. But let’s not get too excited just yet. We have to pull one more job before Bruce lets us onto his scheme. And even then, we can’t get caught. No mistakes.”
>”Yeah yeah, I heard it the first time when Bruce told us. Now c’mon, we should go see him.”
“Right now?”
>”Yes, right now. I want to get our job and get it done!”
“Do you know anything about patience?”
>She glares at you dead pan for a second.
>”Anon, you and I once waited on a roof in Manehatten for three solid days so we could hijack an airship. I know patience.”
”Then how’s about we practice a little of it, hm?”
>Amethyst lets out a groan as she slumps back into her seat while you finish your breakfast.
>…
>”So.”
“So.”
>”You hear about what the captain of the guard did?”
>You look up from your plate to Amethyst.
>Captain of the royal guard.
>Shining Armor.
>The Thieves Guild was his personal boogey man. The guy had been trying to flush the group out of the city for years now, but with dwindling luck.
>”What now? More posters with the our faces on them? City wide decree of zero tolerance towards us? Wouldn’t be the first time.”
>”It’s Flitter.”
>You stop eating, staring back into Amethyst’s eyes.
“…what about her?”
>”Banishment. Into the badlands.”
“That’s-… no, he can’t do that. Banishment’s been normal, but the badlands? Exile into that place has only been reserved for murderers and traitors to the crown.”
>Amethyst shakes her head and fumbles with her plum once more.
>”Well he’s changed the rules.”
“…”
>”…”
“He’s getting desperate…”
>”He’s hoping for anyone with ties to us to step forward. Leniency for cooperation, you know?”
“If he’s hoping ponies tell him about us, then he’s got another thing coming. We keep Low Town safe and we give what we steal to the citizens. They turn on us, they turn on each other.”
>”Anon, you say that but he’s going to start putting pressure on the town. You know he will, and the first one he’ll be after is you.”
“Me? Why the hell me?”
>”Uh, Anon? You don’t really blend into the rest of society as well as me. Or Bruce. Or, hell, ANYP0NY else.”
“Oh haha, nice. You stand out pretty well yourself, trust me.”
>”Are you calling me fat?”
“…when in that sentence did I infer you were fat?”
>”Shut up. This is serious.”
“The fat thing or the captain of the royal guard putting pressure on us?”
>”The worse one, Anon.”
“Well if you ask me, maybe a little more jogging could do us both-“
>”I MEANT SHINING ARMOR YOU BASTARD.”
>She’s puffing her cheeks up at you again, and throws her plum right at your forehead. It bounces off your face and lands on your plate, and you give a small laugh.
“Alright, alright. What do you want me to do about it?”
>”Nothing, Anon. I was just warning you. Things are going to get harder for us around here.”
>You push your plate to the side, wiping your mouth with the back of your hand.
“Well then I guess we better go see Bruce about that job then, huh?”
>Her suddenly serious demeanor disappears and her eyes light up with drive. She truly wanted to do her absolute best on this job. Then again, so did you.
>”Now you’re talking! Let’s hit it.”
>With that you leave your plates and head out of the waterworks, twisting and turning through the sewer, eventually coming to a dark door underneath a wall of running water.
>You stick your hand into the water, tilting it and creating a gap for Amethyst to walk through, and you follow suit.
>And there, sitting in a black chair behind a stone desk, was Bruce Mane. A small ruby tumbled in his hooves as he inspected it nonchalantly as he nods for you to enter his “office.”
>”Amethyst, Anonymous. Good morning. What brings you to my chambers this early in the day?”
>Amethyst bows her head, along with you, before looking to him with a smile.
>”We’re here for the job.”
>A grin creeps onto your mentor’s snout, as his eyes make their way to yours.
>”Very good. You know you must get it done without anyone knowing you were responsible, correct?
“Yes.”
>”You have three days. If you are caught, or do not return with your prize in the time allotted, then you will be punished and barred from my future plans. Do I make myself clear?”
>”Yes.”
“Yes.”
>”Good. Here are your orders.”
>Bruce reaches for a piece of parchment and hands it to you and Amethyst.
>You unfold it, and already you can tell that this will not be easy.
>Not easy in the slightest.
“Bruce… this is nothing we’ve ever done before.”
>”How-… how do you expect us to get a hold it? How in the world are we supposed-“
>The two of you are silenced as Bruce holds up a hoof to you.
>”How you retrieve the item is up to you. The restriction of killing is to be held at all costs, as always. I need to know you two can think on your hooves, and feet, and overcome the challenge I have presented to you.”
>You swallow air and look back to the parchment.
>There, in black ink, is written your orders. “You are to retrieve the crest of Commander Wind Sheer of the Nightguard.”
“Bruce, how will we-“
>”Can I trust the two of you in doing this?”
“But what’s so special about her crest? It’s just sapphire on her breastplate, what’s the impor-“
>”If I wanted you to question my orders, I would have ask you two. Now I’ll repeat myself. Can I trust the two of you in doing this?”
>…
“Yes, Bruce.”
>”You can count on us, sir.”
>Bruce smiles, his dark eyes twinkling in the candle light.
>”Good. Now, get prepared and set out. No delays.”
>And with that, you’re gone.
>A few minutes later, and you and Amethyst are in the armory of the Guild, suiting up.
>Amethyst won’t stop freaking out.
>”A Nightguard. He wants us to steal from a NIGHT. GUARD. That’s Luna’s personal force, how in Tartarus does he expect us to track her down, let alone steal something that’s attached to her armor? I mean… does he want us to die?”
“Well now where did all that eager giddiness that I saw earlier run off too?”
>The buckles on your leather armor strap into place, and you move onto your boots. Getting this stuff wasn’t easy. You had to import it from Griffon territory. They were the only ones willing to make leather goods, seeing as how it had to be made form dead animals.
>”That was before I knew we had to steal from a commander of the guard!.. we are so dead.”
“Amethyst, do me a favor and stop freaking the hell out, alright? You’re not helping.”
>”Then how do you want me to help?!”
>You spin around and kneel before her, placing your hands on either side of her face.
“Calm down. We’ve pulled off plenty of jobs in our day. This is no different.”
>You squeeze her ear a tad and she shakes her head free, blushing.
>”Don’t do that. You know I don’t like it when you tweak my ears.”
“I know you DO like it, if that’s what you mean.”
>”Shut up. We need to focus.”
>A grin spreads on your face. Her head was back in the game, good. The ear trick usually sorted all that out.
“If you ask me, I say we stick to the roofs of High Town at dark. We’re sure to catch a glimpse of her there, and hopefully we can see where she spends her off time.”
>”Then we tail her, somehow nab the crest, and we’re set. Sounds easy enough.”
>You sling a large loop of wire around your back, and Amethyst loads up a crossbow with bolts, and she tosses it to you.
>Grabbing two daggers, you fling them over to Amethyst who in turn fixes them to her suit.
“It’s going to take at least a day to get through the system up to High Town.”
>”That’ll leave us two days to get the crest… hold on.”
>Amethyst walks over to one of the alchemist cupboards, rifling through it.
“What are you getting?”
>”Just a little something that could help us out. Here.”
>She floats over a small white caplet, a black mark etched in its side.
“The hell is this?”
>”A little concoction from a zebra friend of mine. That stuff will knock out anyone that eats it. Mimics intoxication, as well. Just something we could end up needing, is all.”
>Giving her a nod, you slip the pill into a pouch on your hip.
“Ready?”
>Amethyst looks back to you, her eyes serious.
>”Ready.”
>The climb through the High Town waterworks would be a hard, steep climb. Then hiding out on the roofs would be a challenge in of itself.
>Hopefully, you could get this job done well before the third night arrived.
END

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnZwiE5dG6k

Fifteen Years Ago

>”Come back here you little ingrates!”
>Tiny feet and small hooves raced across the cold cobblestones of Canterlot’s lower district, the voice of a fruit vendor echoing across the walls of the cramped alleyway you ran through.
>”I said come back here! You have to pay for those!”
>Through frantic breaths you can hear Amethyst giggle along with you as you ran further and further from the disgruntled vendor, cutting through another alley and clambering up the slick walls to an open window.
>As you pull Amethyst in with you, you can hear the clop of the vendor’s hooves as you enters the alley.
>You look to the lavender filly beside you, and press a finger to your lips.
>Now was the time for quiet.
>You dare not peek out the window to look at him. Better to duck underneath the windowsill, wait for him to get fed up, and go back to his fruit stall.
>The both of you can hear the angry snorts of the stallion, his hooves scuffing the ground in frustration as he fails to find you.
>After what feels like ages, you hear an angry curse as he finally gives up, the sound of his hoof steps growing fainter and fainter as he leaves.
>As fast as you can, you reach up to the window and slam it shut, locking it in place.
>And that’s when you and Amethyst Star break out into relieved laughter.

>”Did you see the look on his face?”
“Haha! Poor guy never even expected us! Oh man, that was close though.”
>Amethyst puffs a lock of hair out of her face, giving a smug grin your way.
>”Well, maybe if you were as fast as me, then it wouldn’t have been so close, eh?”
>You rub your face a tad, your nose and ears numb from the winter air.
“Oh please, you were the one keeping up with me that whole chase! I’m way faster.”
>”In your dreams, “two legs.” You were panting up a storm by the time we got back here.”
“Was not! Besides, I’m the one that had to help you in through the window, like always!”
>Amethyst sticks out her tongue and you do the same while grabbing your satchel from your other side.
>”Well at least I nabbed more food than you! Just look at this bag full of pears I got myself here!”
>With a flash of her horn, Amethyst lifts her small satchel up for display.
“Uh… Star? That’s empty.”
>The proud grin on Amethyst’s face reverts to a look of confusion before looking at her bag.
>Her eyes widen in horror as she snatches it out of the air and flips it open, staring back at you through the torn hole on the bottom of it.
>”B-but I-… how did it get-… oh no…”
“Must have got snagged on that fence we jumped along the way. Nothing in there anymore?”
>Amethyst gives a dejected sigh, slumping onto her haunches in disappointment as she pouts.
>”Nothing. Not a single pear…”

>She grits her teeth and slams a hoof into the floor.
>”It’s not fair! I stole those fair and square, and now they’re lying in the street somewhere! We can’t go get’m either cause that vendor probably found them by now…”
“Well gee that is a shame, now isn’t it? I mean, look what I got right here.”
>Amethyst’s gaze looks up to you, and her eyes grow in surprise at the jar in your hand.
>”Are… those-“
“-candied apples? Yes ma’am they are. While the old coot was busy barking at you, I managed to snag this from behind his stall. His own personal batch, I think.”
>”…wow…I haven’t had a candied apple in… well, years I think… not since I was a filly…”
“Amethyst you ARE a filly.”
>”You know what I mean! I haven’t had one in a real long time!”
>You give her a long stare, then shrug as you crack open the jar, the sweet scent of the apple slices filling the air of the rundown shack you and Amethyst call “home.”
>This place had been long abandoned by whoever lived in it prior to you finding it. You and Amethyst claimed it as your own a few months back. It was a lot better than the boxes you slept in beforehand…
>You undo the scarf on your neck and lay it down on the ground, setting some of the apple slices onto it and passing it off to Amethyst.
>”...really?”
“Well yeah. I’m not going to let you starve, star.”
>A smile is shot your way as she takes a slice and devours it, her face shifting to one of delight as she savors it.
“Good huh?”
>”Mmhmm! Thanks!”

>You pop a slice into your mouth as well, taking pleasure in the fruits of your labor, as it were.
>”Hey Anon?”
”Yeah?”
>”What do you want to do?”
”Hm… well it’s getting late, and we have this to hold us off until tomorrow, so I say we make fire in the fireplace and head to bed.”
>You pop another apple slice into your mouth.
>”No, Anon. I meant, what do you want to do? You know, when you grow up?”
>Your jaw stops chewing when you hear her ask that.
>What did you want to do?
>…	
>You push yourself off of your butt, rising and walking across the dusty floor over to a window on the other side of the flat.
>Opening it and meeting more cold, winter air, you stick your head out the window and look skyward towards the mountain above Low Town.
>And there, perched into the very stone cliff, was Canterlot Castle.
“…what do I want to do when I grow up?”
>Amethyst softly steps beside you, looking out the window as best she can.
“When I grow up, I want to live in a castle. I want to have enough money in the world to make sure me, and every other kid around here never goes hungry.”
>A sad sort of smile creeps onto your face.
>That would never happen, of course. You were a street rat. You were born a street rat, and eventually, you were going to die a street rat.
>Such was life around here.

>”…I think you’d make a fine prince.”
>You look back down to the light lavender unicorn, a sweet grin on her face.
“Haha, right… a prince. Prince of thieves, more likely.”
>”I think you’d be a nice prince either way, Anonymous.”
>Your gaze goes back to the alabaster castle on the mountain.
>A prince, huh?
>That’d be something.
“Thanks Amethyst… what do you want to be when you grow up?”
>A tiny blush forms on her cheeks as she smiles back up at you.
>”A princess.”
>The two of you look at the castle on the mountain, your eyes shining from the reflection of stars and the moon.
“Here’s to hoping, then.”

The Present

>”I’m telling you Anon, this is out big break! Can you imagine it? One job. One last job and Bruce puts us on the team for his big heist! Oh Celestia I am so excited!”
>Amethyst goes on and on about Bruce’s proposal a few nights ago, barely touching her plate of food.
>The two of you sat at a table amidst dozens of other ponies in the dining hall, all of whom were members of Canterlot’s Thieves Guild.
>The rush of water could be heard from a few feet away, a maintenance pipe spilling forth the liquid into a large pool below.
>Ah the wonders of an abandoned water treatment area. Not smelly, but certainly dark.
>You nod back to Amethyst as you take a bite of the orange you’ve been peeling away at, not really meeting her gaze.
>”Aren’t you excited? What do you think the job could be? What if we have to steal secret plans, or a journal from the highest nobles?”
>You give a shrug and take a bite of bread, washing it down with the cup of wine you had.
>Amethyst puffs her cheeks at you and cocks her head.
>”Why are you not as giddy as I am about this?”
”Oh I am, trust me. I’m just kinda busy here. Eating food. While you don’t eat a thing.”
>She sighs and rolls her eyes at you, as she fiddles with a small plum on her plate.
>”This could be it, Anon. A way for us to get out of here eventually.”

”Thought you liked living in the sewers with bandits and thieves. We’re living in the lap of luxury as it were. Take this delicious meal of old fruit and stale bread, for instance. Truly, we are living the dream.”
>A glance in Star’s direction shows that your sarcastic charm is not working at this moment in time.
>Wonderful.
“I’m excited Amethyst. Trust me. But let’s not get too excited just yet. We have to pull one more job before Bruce lets us onto his scheme. And even then, we can’t get caught. No mistakes.”
>”Yeah yeah, I heard it the first time when Bruce told us. Now c’mon, we should go see him.”
“Right now?”
>”Yes, right now. I want to get our job and get it done!”
“Do you know anything about patience?”
>She glares at you dead pan for a second.
>”Anon, you and I once waited on a roof in Manehatten for three solid days so we could hijack an airship. I know patience.”
”Then how’s about we practice a little of it, hm?”
>Amethyst lets out a groan as she slumps back into her seat while you finish your breakfast.
>…
>”So.”
“So.”
>”You hear about what the captain of the guard did?”
>You look up from your plate to Amethyst.
>Captain of the royal guard.
>Shining Armor.

>The Thieves Guild was his personal boogey man. The guy had been trying to flush the group out of the city for years now, but with dwindling luck.
>”What now? More posters with the our faces on them? City wide decree of zero tolerance towards us? Wouldn’t be the first time.”
>”It’s Flitter.”
>You stop eating, staring back into Amethyst’s eyes.
“…what about her?”
>”Banishment. Into the badlands.”
“That’s-… no, he can’t do that. Banishment’s been normal, but the badlands? Exile into that place has only been reserved for murderers and traitors to the crown.”
>Amethyst shakes her head and fumbles with her plum once more.
>”Well he’s changed the rules.”
“…”
>”…”
“He’s getting desperate…”
>”He’s hoping for anyone with ties to us to step forward. Leniency for cooperation, you know?”
“If he’s hoping ponies tell him about us, then he’s got another thing coming. We keep Low Town safe and we give what we steal to the citizens. They turn on us, they turn on each other.”
>”Anon, you say that but he’s going to start putting pressure on the town. You know he will, and the first one he’ll be after is you.”
“Me? Why the hell me?”
>”Uh, Anon? You don’t really blend into the rest of society as well as me. Or Bruce. Or, hell, ANYP0NY else.”

“Oh haha, nice. You stand out pretty well yourself, trust me.”
>”Are you calling me fat?”
“…when in that sentence did I infer you were fat?”
>”Shut up. This is serious.”
“The fat thing or the captain of the royal guard putting pressure on us?”
>”The worse one, Anon.”
“Well if you ask me, maybe a little more jogging could do us both-“
>”I MEANT SHINING ARMOR YOU BASTARD.”
>She’s puffing her cheeks up at you again, and throws her plum right at your forehead. It bounces off your face and lands on your plate, and you give a small laugh.
“Alright, alright. What do you want me to do about it?”
>”Nothing, Anon. I was just warning you. Things are going to get harder for us around here.”
>You push your plate to the side, wiping your mouth with the back of your hand.
“Well then I guess we better go see Bruce about that job then, huh?”
>Her suddenly serious demeanor disappears and her eyes light up with drive. She truly wanted to do her absolute best on this job. Then again, so did you.
>”Now you’re talking! Let’s hit it.”
>With that you leave your plates and head out of the waterworks, twisting and turning through the sewer, eventually coming to a dark door underneath a wall of running water.
>You stick your hand into the water, tilting it and creating a gap for Amethyst to walk through, and you follow suit.
>And there, sitting in a black chair behind a stone desk, was Bruce Mane. A small ruby tumbled in his hooves as he inspected it nonchalantly as he nods for you to enter his “office.”

>”Amethyst, Anonymous. Good morning. What brings you to my chambers this early in the day?”
>Amethyst bows her head, along with you, before looking to him with a smile.
>”We’re here for the job.”
>A grin creeps onto your mentor’s snout, as his eyes make their way to yours.
>”Very good. You know you must get it done without anyone knowing you were responsible, correct?
“Yes.”
>”You have three days. If you are caught, or do not return with your prize in the time allotted, then you will be punished and barred from my future plans. Do I make myself clear?”
>”Yes.”
“Yes.”
>”Good. Here are your orders.”
>Bruce reaches for a piece of parchment and hands it to you and Amethyst.
>You unfold it, and already you can tell that this will not be easy.
>Not easy in the slightest.

“Bruce… this is nothing we’ve ever done before.”
>”How-… how do you expect us to get a hold it? How in the world are we supposed-“
>The two of you are silenced as Bruce holds up a hoof to you.
>”How you retrieve the item is up to you. The restriction of killing is to be held at all costs, as always. I need to know you two can think on your hooves, and feet, and overcome the challenge I have presented to you.”
>You swallow air and look back to the parchment.
>There, in black ink, is written your orders. “You are to retrieve the crest of Commander Wind Sheer of the Nightguard.”
“Bruce, how will we-“
>”Can I trust the two of you in doing this?”
“But what’s so special about her crest? It’s just sapphire on her breastplate, what’s the impor-“
>”If I wanted you to question my orders, I would have ask you two. Now I’ll repeat myself. Can I trust the two of you in doing this?”
>…
“Yes, Bruce.”
>”You can count on us, sir.”
>Bruce smiles, his dark eyes twinkling in the candle light.
>”Good. Now, get prepared and set out. No delays.”
>And with that, you’re gone.
>A few minutes later, and you and Amethyst are in the armory of the Guild, suiting up.
>Amethyst won’t stop freaking out.
>”A Nightguard. He wants us to steal from a NIGHT. GUARD. That’s Luna’s personal force, how in Tartarus does he expect us to track her down, let alone steal something that’s attached to her armor? I mean… does he want us to die?”

“Well now where did all that eager giddiness that I saw earlier run off too?”
>The buckles on your leather armor strap into place, and you move onto your boots. Getting this stuff wasn’t easy. You had to import it from Griffon territory. They were the only ones willing to make leather goods, seeing as how it had to be made form dead animals.
>”That was before I knew we had to steal from a commander of the guard!.. we are so dead.”
“Amethyst, do me a favor and stop freaking the hell out, alright? You’re not helping.”
>”Then how do you want me to help?!”
>You spin around and kneel before her, placing your hands on either side of her face.
“Calm down. We’ve pulled off plenty of jobs in our day. This is no different.”
>You squeeze her ear a tad and she shakes her head free, blushing.
>”Don’t do that. You know I don’t like it when you tweak my ears.”
“I know you DO like it, if that’s what you mean.”
>”Shut up. We need to focus.”
>A grin spreads on your face. Her head was back in the game, good. The ear trick usually sorted all that out.
“If you ask me, I say we stick to the roofs of High Town at dark. We’re sure to catch a glimpse of her there, and hopefully we can see where she spends her off time.”
>”Then we tail her, somehow nab the crest, and we’re set. Sounds easy enough.”

>You sling a large loop of wire around your back, and Amethyst loads up a crossbow with bolts, and she tosses it to you.
>Grabbing two daggers, you fling them over to Amethyst who in turn fixes them to her suit.
“It’s going to take at least a day to get through the system up to High Town.”
>”That’ll leave us two days to get the crest… hold on.”
>Amethyst walks over to one of the alchemist cupboards, rifling through it.
“What are you getting?”
>”Just a little something that could help us out. Here.”
>She floats over a small white caplet, a black mark etched in its side.
“The hell is this?”
>”A little concoction from a zebra friend of mine. That stuff will knock out anyone that eats it. Mimics intoxication, as well. Just something we could end up needing, is all.”
>Giving her a nod, you slip the pill into a pouch on your hip.
“Ready?”
>Amethyst looks back to you, her eyes serious.
>”Ready.”
>The climb through the High Town waterworks would be a hard, steep climb. Then hiding out on the roofs would be a challenge in of itself.
>Hopefully, you could get this job done well before the third night arrived.

END

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