Among Thieves: Chapter V (The Purge)

>This was all going to Tartarus.

>The damn walls.

>The damn walls wouldn't open again.

>Your fingers bled from scraping against the large stone slabs that were the doors to this tomb, your shoulder ached from slamming up against it, and your throat grew hoarse from screaming at the top of your lungs.

>The soft whimpering from your side came from the mare lying on the ground, Bruce Mane's dagger still lodged into her chest.

>"Anon-"

"No. No no no, shh shh it's fine! We're-"

>Your shoulder slams into the tomb's walls again.

"-going to be-"

>Another slam.

"Fine!"

>As you slam back into the walls, you break down and slump to the ground, your hands rubbing your face frantically as you try to think of a plan.

>A way to get out of this tomb.

>A way to get Amethyst Star some medical aid.

>You scramble back over to her, gently cradling her head in your hands as you attempt to reassure her.

"I'm getting us out of here. I promise, okay?"

>You bring a hand to her cheek, your body shivering.

>"Anon, I'm- I'm bleeding."

>She weakly brings a hoof to the hilt of the dagger, but you push it away.

"No no no, we take that out it just gets worse. I need to find-"

>You're cut off as the walls of the tomb begin to shift.

>They were opening.

>You can't help but give a relieved smile at that.

 

"It's opening... we're going to get you out of here."

>You turn back to Amethyst, relief on your face as you look into her eyes.

>She's not looking at you. Her gaze is locked onto the doors.

>"Anon!"

>Before you can realize that she was giving you a warning, your spine fires up in pain, and your jolted a few feet from her as you slam into the black casket.

>Smoke trailed from the leather of your armor, and you look up to meet the cocksure gave of the captain of the watch.

"Shining Armor."

>The white stallion, with his best men behind him, steps into the tomb. He casts a glance at Amethyst, and chuckles a bit.

>"I knew I'd catch one of you thief guild rats eventually, but two? And one's already dead on arrival? Seems my job gets easier and easier, now doesn't it?"

>Amethyst's eyes are wide as she attempts to drag herself away from Shining and his men. Instinctively you get to your feet and try to get over to her, but another shot of magic from Shining's horn slams into you and sends you back, this time your back impacting on the mural upon the wall.

>"So let's see here, I have aggravated assault on members of the city guard, trespassing on cemetary grounds after curfew, desecration of the royal tomb, and," he says as he looks back to Amethyst, "Murder. What, were you both squabbling over who gets the crowns and you decided to just cut your little partner out of the equation?"

 

>He let's out a laugh.

>"And here I thought there was honor among thieves. Suppose I was wrong, eh?"

"Shining, as much a I want to cut your smug snout from ear to ear, I would appreciate it if you got her," you point to Amethyst, "Some medical attention. NOW."

>He stares at you for a second, stifling a laugh.

>"And why would I do that?"

"Because the stallion that stabbed her is GONE and you need his book keeper alive."

>Now he stops laughing.

>Shining looks to Amethyst, then back to you.

>"...this unicorn is the one who keeps records of your guild master?.."

>Your mind was on overdrive. He needed to believe your lie, else Star was going to bleed out right then and there.

"Yes! You want info on him? Then get her healed up."

>"Oh HO! Look at you, making demands all of a sudden..."

>He looks back to Amethyst, still lying on the ground, whimpering as blood seeps from where the knife is buried in her chest.

>"...take him."

 

>With that, the guards behind him gallop towards you, readying metal binds, as you glare and rise up at Shining.

"HELP HER!"

>You'd say more, but the guards pin you to the wall, spears inches from your back as they bind your hands.

>No, god dammit, no.

>More guards enter this time, and heave Amethyst onto one stallion's back as they gallop away with her.

"Where are you taking her? Hey! HEY! Get your hooves off me, what abou-"

>Your body tenses up and your voice is cut off as Shining Armor hits you with more bolts of magic, your form crumpling to the ground as you breathe hard and in ragged breaths.

>One of your eyes cracks open, and you can see Shining standing in front of you, looking down upon you with a conviction filled gaze.

>"Cell 32, next to the other one."

>Other one? Does he mean Amethyst?

>Does he mean Bruce?

>But before you get a chance to ask, your vision cuts to black as Armor's hoof impacts with your forehead.

 

>The throbbing in your skull is the first things that hits you when you wake up.

>Then the throbbing through the rest of your body, of course.

>You push yourself off the cold ground you lay on, your body tired and weak, but lighter than normal, at least. Seems they've stripped you of your armor and tools.

>As you shakily stand to your feet, you take notice of your surroundings.

>A cell in the royal dungeon.

>Terrific.

"Ugh... my head... Amethyst, how are y-"

>Your eyes open wide and you spin back around in your cell.

>Amethyst.

>She wasn't in here with you.

>Your heart begins to thump faster and faster beneath your chest as fear starts to set in.

>Where was she? Why wasn't she in here? Is she in the other cell?

>...

>The other cell.

>You go over to the right side wall of your prison and press your ear to it, knocking in a repeating pattern. It was a simple little rhythm that you and she developed, sort of as a way to signal each other.

>You knock a few times, then wait quietly with your ear pressed to the wall.

"c'mon... please..."

>You repeat the pattern

"Please..."

>"You're knocking on the wrong wall, idiot."

>The voice makes you spin around, and you see that a few bricks in the opposite wall are gone, and that a pair of purple eyes are staring back at you though the gap.

"Star? Is that-"

>"You're confusing Trixie for that underling? Wonderful. You're just as idiotic as Trixie assumed you were."

>Oh.

>Trixie.

>Great.

 

>You sidle up to the wall, putting your back to it as you fold your arms and sigh.

"So."

>"So."

"How did they get you?"

>"Me? Oh no, how did they get -you-? You were with Bruce, after all."

>You rubs the bridge of your nose.

"The job was a bust. It was botched from the get-go."

>"Oooh, good cover. Don't want to take the blame for your own incompetence, so you just blame it on everyp0ny it seems. How -humble- of you."

"It was a goddamn double cross. We broke into that tomb and then before we knew it Bruce had sealed us in after taking... something, from the caskets."

>Trixie gives a quick scoff.

>"Please, you expect me to believe that?"

"It's the truth."

>"Right. Of course it is, after all you're a senior member of the Guild. Oh! Wait! That's wrong, because Trixie's been with the Guild for over a decade now! Funny how the whole loyalty thing get's stronger with time, hm?"

>You get off the wall, instead getting to a knee and staring through the small hole and into her eyes.

"Loyalty? I've been with this group for years now, same as Amethyst! It's our life, our fucking family!... our way OUT of this city!"

>Your hands shake. All you want to do is reach through that small gap in the wall and strangle the life out of her. Strangle the life out of Shining Armor... out of Bruce.

>Bruce Mane.

>Bruce. Mane.

>The teeth inside your maw clench down on themselves as you remember just what he did.

>To you.

>To Amethyst.

 

"I don't expect you to believe me, Trixie. You're too far deep. I won't even bother."

>With that you turn and slump down on the wall, resting your head on it as your stare at the ceiling.

"...so...when's the trial? Can't wait to be hauled before the princesses and have them sentence me..."

>"Trial?"

>Trixie lets out a quick, dry laugh.

>"Those idiot guards got a tip off. They know about how Trixie was involved with the heist. You -really- think they're going to hold a trial for us? We broke into the the royal sarcophagus, Anonymous, they're not putting us on trial."

"Royal-... oh stars... those things, those bodies I found... those were the old King and Queen? But.."

>"You mean you didn't know?"

"No!"

>Your hands clutch at your hair, your mind lost yet racing all the same.

"Bruce never told us it was-.. but that explains the mural and... Trixie?.."

>No sound comes from the other side of the wall.. but you know she's still there, listening.

"...What's going to happen to us?"

>...

>"We're going to hang."

>You sit there, for a time... thinking long and hard about what she said.

>Hanging.

>No trial, just the noose.

>...

>You crawl to the corner of your cell, and wretch.

 

Meanwhile...

 

>You are Bruce Mane.

>And things could not have gone any better.

>The rest of the guild was watching you, listening to every word you spoke.

>Some had sadness in their eyes.

>Most though, had anger.

>Good.

"And it is with great sadness, that I am sorry to report that a traitor was found amongst us. A traitor that wanted only to further his own gains, and not that of the guild. A traitor who was serving those that would see us destroyed."

>You bow your head to them, taking a deep breath as you regain your gaze with the group.

"The saddest part is that we not only lost a member to greed and avarice... but another was taken from us violently, without remorse. Amethyst Star, my brothers and sisters, is dead. Killed by the one being she trusted most in this world."

>Murmurs and whispers cascade amongst the guild. Words of doubt, of unbelief... of sad acceptance.

>Very Good.

"It is with a heavy heart and a troubled soul that I must say that Anonymous, one who has helped the growth and rise of our guild, if the one responsible for all this. Long did he harbor ill will towards us, ALL of us, and last night he saw his goals come to fruition. My brothers and sister, Anonymous was a traitor through and through, working and feeding information to the royals who sit high and mighty in High Town and above!"

>Yells of dissent.

>Hate.

>Loathing for the one they called "brother."

 

"And I fear, brothers and sisters! I fear that now, now that he is found out, he will bring down the entire Canterlot armada down upon us, to burn us out of our very homes! We shall not stand for this! We shall not let them take us!"

>"NO!"

>The roar from them all cries out.

"Now is the time for discretion. Now is the time for us to disappear into the shadows of the night. To leave, without allowing them a shred of evidence against us. We are not safe, brothers and sisters. We are all in danger of being found and subjected to heinous persecution."

>The crowd roars again with you, rallying behind your cause.

"And so it is my decision, that we purge the tunnels! We erase our existence from this wretched city, so that NONE may come after us! Are you with me?!"

>"YES!"

>So... this was it. The guild, at least in this hole of a city, is to be finished.

>The reservoir tanks and flood gates are to be readied, and the members of the guild are to prepare to flee.

>Shining Armor, the Nightwings, the Royal Sisters... they would not find you.

>It would be as if a great flood had wiped the slate clean from their precious sewers.

>And you?... You had the crowns of the former rulers. The old ones. The King and Queen themselves.

>And absolutely none were aware.

>And best of all, that low breed, his pet, and the magician were gone, rid of your guild.

>It was times like these where smiling really did make the whole experience that more enjoyable.

 

Three Days Later

 

>There is no bed or cot in this cell. Just cold, hard stone and a lone bucket.

>Your nerves are at their end. You've not even seen a guard in the time you've been imprisoned so far.

>No word of Amethyst, either. It drives you mad, not knowing that she's either safe or in danger.

>The creeping thought in your mind at all times is that they never helped her. That they simply dragged her away, and threw her in some ditch to choke and die.

>But you can't keep thinking that. You just can't. You were getting out of here... you just needed to know she was alright.

>Just needed to know she was safe.

>But sitting here... sitting here wasn't going to change anything. You needed out.

>You needed to find her.

>You're about to crawl back to the corner where you threw up, when the sound of hooves echoes through the dungeon.

>They're softer than normal hoof steps, and are taken in longer strides. Whoever it was, was tall in stature.

>You rise, walking to the cell door and looking out through the old, iron bars.

>What steps into view throws you off.

>Them? Why would they come to see-

>"You."

>Your feet step back a bit on their own, as the two alicorns stand in front of your cell.

>The Princesses Celestia and Luna, here in front of you.

>You'd feel honored... but right now all you feel is fear, really.

>Out of instinct, you go to bow your head to them.

 

"Your highness."

>"Thou art not fit to bow to us, whelp!"

>Luna cracks a hoof on the dungeon floor, her face already filled with anger.

>"Sister, now is not the time for anger."

>"Not the- Celestia, this THING stole from the tomb of our father and mother, and you proclaim that now is NOT the time for anger?!"

>"I wish to know why, little sister. I want to know why they stole from the us."

"Your highness, please, I did not rob your parents' tomb. It was-"

>"LIES AND SLANDER."

>Another crack against the cobblestone rings out as Luna snarls at you in disgust.

>"You... you were FOUND in there, sealed within and lying amongst the diamonds that once adorned the walls! You.. you... VAGABOND. You traitorous little APE."

>"Luna."

>Celestia gives the dark alicorn a tempered gaze, and Luna reluctantly takes a step away from your cell, glaring at the ground.

>The princess of the sun looks to you as you come back up to the bars of the cell, meeting her eyes.

>"That place you entered was sacred ground. You entered and defiled it, you know this, don't you?"

"I know this -now-, yes."

>She cocks her head slightly as she peers into your eyes.

>"You mean to say you didn't know you were in the resting place of my mother and father? Truly?"

"Yes."

>"Then I pity you even further. Your ignorance isn't an excuse for your actions, and you will pay for them accordingly. Whatever fate the Captain of the Guard has for you, you shall receive it in full."

 

>Trixie's now instantly at the bars of her cell, wide eyed at the princess.

>"Please! Let Trixie out of here! She isn't involved with this scruffy ruffian! She was simply performing a show of might and magic for the wonderful ponies of Canterlot! Surely you'll allow her to leave, and to not-"

>Celestia whips her head towards Trixie, her eyes hard.

>"This fate is the same for you, Trixie Lulamoon. As a pony who helped this... thing, rob the tomb of my parents, you shall share in his fate."

>The blue mare in the cell next to you tries poking her snout through the bars, and you can faintly make out the binding cloth latched to her horn, preventing any use of magic.

>"Please! You can't do this! Trixie is innocent!"

>"ENOUGH."

>It's Celestia this time who slams a hoof to the ground, causing both Trixie and yourself to flinch backwards.

>"We know of your ties, Lulamoon. And we know of yours, Anonymous. You are members of the thieves guild, and you WILL be dealt with as the captain sees fit. Sister, let us away."

>The two of them turn to leave, but you rush to the bars of your cell, calling out to them.

"Wait! Wait, just... the mare that was found with me in the tomb. Is... I need to know if she's..."

>Luna turns to you, her gaze still angry, but her tone softer now.

>"She lives. She will we healed, and shall serve in your sentence as well."

>You know that means she's as good as dead in the future, but for now you slump to your knees, sighing in relief.

"Thank you.."

 

>They don't answer you, instead choosing to exit the dungeon, leaving you and Trixie to wallow alone.

>Trixie, of course, is frantic.

>"Trixie is done! Finished! Good as dead! Oh you little ingrate how on earth could you let this happen?! AAGH."

>You hear her, but you can't listen. You're in the clear. Amethyst was alive.

>She was ALIVE.

>And now... now you could work on getting out of this prison.

>As Trixie continues to spout on and on at you, you rise to your feet and walk back to the corner you wretched into the night before.

>"Hey! Hey, no, Trixie is speaking to you! What are you-"

>She goes and peers at you through the hole in the wall.

>"Oh, Celestia preserve me, are you digging through your own bile?"

"Hush."

>You peck through the vile sick on the ground with your fingers.

>"Eugh, it's only been three days, you can't possibly tell Trixie that you've already gone mad, can you?"

"I said hush, I'm- Ha! Yes!"

>"What?"

>You pull what you've been searching for out of the bile, and show it to Trixie.

>A single lockpick.

>"You... you ate a lockpick?"

"Be prepared. Always be prepared, Trixie."

>You go to the cell's bars, fiddling with the lock from the other side of the gate.

>Careful.. patience was needed now, no mistakes.

>Trixie stares at you with wide eyes, holding her breath the entire time.

>Almost...

>Just-

>YES!

>The Cell door opens an inch with a quick clicking sound, and you slide through and quickly go to Trixie's cell, doing the same to her door.

 

>"Hurry!" she says in a hushed whisper.

"I am, be quiet!"

>A second later, and Trixie too is free.

"Now, you need to help me."

>"Trixie begs your pardon? I'm getting clear out of here, there's no way-"

"Listen, you have nowhere to go. You think Bruce is just going to sit in the guild, not a care in the world? He's probably purged it by now."

>"What? You're insane, there's no way he would-"

"Trixie. Shut. Up. I need to get Amethyst out of here, out of the city. We need to lie low."

>"And Trixie should help you why?"

"Because Trixie has a bind on her horn that won't let her do magic, you idiot. Help me, and I'll remove it for you. Deal?"

>She eyes you warily, shifting uncomfortably on her hooves.

>"Fine. Trixie will assist you, but once we're all out of this city she will leave you."

"I can live with that. Now come on, she should be in a medical ward."

>The two of you creep through the dungeon, making your way to the southern most exit, and slipping past the doors.

>The moon shone through the windows of the castle, casting shadows throughout the halls. Good, you'd need the cover of night.

>Quickly and swiftly, you and Trixie make your way through the palace, slinking behind walls and waiting as guards make their nightly rounds.

>Speed was of importance. Sooner or later, one of them would find your empty cells and give out a city-wide alert. You needed to be gone before any of that happened.

 

>Sliding past two guards chatting, the two of you make it to the medical ward.

>It's dark and cold in here, various beds and cots laid out on the sterile, white floors.

>And that's when you see her, laying on her side and curled in a ball, a bind on her horn like Trixie's.

>Amethyst Star.

>She was alive. The princesses weren't lying, she was there.

>Before you know it, you're at her side, a hand on her cheek and the other trailing gently over the wound on her chest.

>White stitching laced over the stab wound, sealed in what seemed to be a bit of healing magic.

>You take your hands and bring them to the binding cloth on her horn, unraveling it and casting it aside.

>Slowly, the lavender unicorn stirs in her sleep, cracking her eyes open and giving a small wheeze.

>"Who.."

"Star. Star, it's me. It's okay. I'm getting you out of here."

>"Anon?"

>She's smiling now, a small tear in her eye as she tries reaching out to you with a hoof. You take it in your hand, smiling back down at her.

"We can get sweet on each other later. Right now we need to leave. Fast."

>Star weakly smacks your shoulder with a hoof, still smiling.

>"Then what are we waiting for?"

>Cradling her in your arms, you lift her from the bed and turn back to Trixie, who's keeping watch at the door. She turns to you, frantic.

>"Okay love birds, NOW can we get the buck out of here? Trixie's had her fill of the castle's views, thank you."

 

>Star looks to her and then to you.

>"What is she-"

"I'll explain later, right now we need to MOVE."

>With that the three of you are on the run, slipping through the castle on quiet feet, but running towards the rear entrance of the palace.

>"Okay," Trixie starts, "What's the plan? Do we hide in high town? The sewers? Low town?"

"No. Out of the city, TONIGHT."

>"Anon," Amethyst wheezes out as you run with her in your arms, "They're going to hang us. Shining Armor, he was talking about it while I was-"

>"Thank you, Amethyst, we KNOW," Trixie hisses. "Anonymous, you better have an escape plan ready."

"I do. How good are you and spells and magic?"

>You all cut a corner, rushing down a hall as you leap and kick a guard square in the jaw, crumpling him to the ground.

>"The Great and Powerful Trixie is the most skilled unicorn in all the land! Why, she could-"

"Fantastic. Good. We're stealing an airship."

>Star and Trixie do a double take at you.

>"WHAT."

"Airship. Taking one. We're thieves, we take things. Hurry!"

>As the three of you rush out into the docks, you notice that there's only two ships in dock.

>And one of them happened to belong to the captain of the guard. Sometimes, the world had a good sense of humor.

>The guards patrolling the docks spot you, but you're already taking off the bind on Trixie's horn.

"Lulamoon you better be a good shot."

>She gives a quick scoff as her horn glows brightly.

>"Trixie's the best there is, Anonymous."

 

>Bright bolts of purple magic fire from Trixie's horn, all while you run alongside her towards the airship.

>Guards are at the ready, but the spears they have are knocked from their grasps as Trixie fires at them.

>Charging ahead, you leap over a guard as Trixie slides underneath the other, knocking them away with more blasts of magic.

>Before they have any time to react, you're already prepping the ship for launch, untying the ropes that keep it docked and firing up the propellers.

>A spear slams into the ground in front of you, and you see arches getting ready on a far wall.

"Trixie, keep those bows off us! I'm getting us in the air."

>Lulamoon flings a guard from the ramp of the airship, firing next at the wall where the arches are sat at, causing them to duck away.

>The ship lifts into the air, and you slam a lever down, causing it to lurch forward and away from the dock.

"Now then, one last parting gift."

>You race to a cannon on the port side of the ship, loading a cannonball into it and aiming it at the only other ship on the dock.

"Trixie, if you'd kindly."

>She spins and zaps the fuse, causing the cannon to blast with furious noise, the shell it fires crashing through the blimp of the airship. It spouts fire and air, and the hulking thing careens off the dock, breaking away from it and screeching to the earth below.

>Lucky for you, there weren't any guards on board yet.

 

>The further your stolen vessel gets away from the dock, the easier you're breathing now.

>You turn the wheel of the ship, heading it due southeast, and walk over to where Amethyst is laying.

"Hey."

>"Hey."

"You're alive."

>"You saved me."

>"Uhm," Trixie coughs, "Trixie helped. A lot, actually. Kind of couldn't have done it without her."

>Amethyst nods, and looks to Trixie.

>"Thank you."

>The blue unicorn turns her head and smiles widely, enjoying the praise.

>"Oh please, think nothing of it. Trixie is, after all, the most brilliant mare in all of Equestria. You're right to thank her."

>"Huh. Still bitchy huh?"

"Yep."

>The two of you laugh, while Trixie grimaces and trots off to the front of the ship.

"Sitting up on the rail of the ship, you bring Amethyst onto your lap and stroke her mane out of her face.

"I thought I had lost you, for a minute there."

>"Heh... same to you. They wouldn't tell me anything, they just told me to get rest and get ready for the noose."

>She buries her face into your chest, sighing.

>"Still... I'm glad you found me."

>The two of you sit there, just resting as the ship rolls along, far above the plains of Equestria.

>"...Anon?"

"Hm?"

>"What now? What are we going to do?"

>You think about it for a minute. What were you going to do, now that you were the most wanted criminals in the land?

>...

>The answer's surprisingly. simple.

"We're going to kill Bruce Mane."