Among Thieves: Chapter VII (Measures to be Taken)

>You are Shining Armor, Captain of Equestria's Royal Guard

>And you are just about to end the latest briefing of events with Princesses Celestia and Luna.

>"And so it is with... my deepest regret, that I must inform you that we have yet to capture the culprits."

>You bow your head, taking off your helmet and offering your respect to the royals in front of you.

>Creeping resentment was roiling within your gut. You wanted these fools found, captured, hanged. But so far, they've done everything they could in order to evade you.

>It had been three days since you sent your small flight platoon out in search of the thieves. You had thought they would be successful.

>How wrong you were...

>This morning you received word from a scout near the edge of the kingdom that your platoon had been found, tied and gagged and left in the middle of a small cluster of trees.

>They had been dealt with by the thieves and dropped off from their airship.

>Your air ship.

>Ending your bow, you raise your head up to look to the princesses.

>Celestia... so beautiful and kind, her eyes steady as always, lets out a sigh as she closes her eyelids and thinks.

>Her sister, Luna, had a much sterner expression on her face.

>The bridge of her snout crinkled ever so slightly at your report, her eyes hard and fierce, unlike Celestia's.

 

>"You mean to say that you failed, Captain?" she asks, her voice lower than usual.

"I have not failed, your highness. The criminal scum -will- be brought to justice. We have simply had a delay, nothing more."

>"A... delay?" dark blue alicorn says, disbelief in her tone. "You call this a delay?"

"A delay, yes. We will have them in our custody soon, I assure y-"

>"No."

>Cut off, you look back up to Luna.

>The princess of the night rises from her throne beside her sister, walking with a steady and determined canter up to you.

>"No, no your efforts are no longer needed, Captain. Tell your men that they need not pursue the thieves."

"My lady I assure you that I can-"

>"This is NOT UP FOR DEBATE."

>Luna's voice rocks the throne room, the floor beneath you vibrating as her declaration pierces your ears.

>"If you, the Captain of the Royal Guard can do nothing to stop three, THREE fugitives from escaping the seat of Equestria's power, then what faith should I even hold for you? If you or your men cannot do this, then we shall seek them out OURSELF."

>"Luna," says Celestia, looking to her younger sister. "Shining Armor has done all he can. Do not let your temper get the best of you."

"But this is NOT all I can do, my ladies! If you would give me more time, I could gather more of my troops to track them down! They're sailing south by southwest, we have a headway, -I- can do this! Please!"

 

>"Captain Armor."

>You freeze again, turning back to Celestia as her eyes stay on the figure of Luna, before they travel back down to you.

"...my lady?"

>"I feel as though you are letting your... personal vendettas towards this supposed guild get the better of you. You have been trying to find these thieves well before they ransacked the tomb. Are you sure you are not letting this prideful hate get the better of you?"

"But-"

>"I am also worried that this is the case with my sister. Is that not right, Luna?"

>Luna whips her head back to her sister, eyes wide.

>"Celestia, they took them! The only things we have left of them! They went into their resting place and desecrated it! Defiled it! Yes, we are angry! Ever so much so, we are. How can you NOT be?"

>"Luna I am mad. I -am- angry. But I will not let that feeling get to my better judgement and twist it."

>Celestia rises, walking to Luna as she drapes a white, feathery wing over the back of her little sister.

>You opt to simply stay where you are, still at the foot of the stairs leading to their thrones.

>"Dearest Luna... we will find them. Fret not. For now, though, remain as steadfast and composed as I know you to be. Can you do this for me?"

>Luna's snout appears to crinkle, as she sighs in a heavy huff.

>"...So be it. We shall not go after them..."

>The princess of the sun nods to her sibling, this time turning to you.

 

"Captain. I would implore you to remain on your current course. Find them. Take your time. We will have them soon enough, and I trust in your abilities."

"I... thank you, Princess Celestia. I will not fail you."

>"Thank you. Now, see to it, shall you? We have more guests from the upper districts to see to tonight. Stability, Shining Armor, is important to maintain. Remember this."

"Of course, my lady."

>Bowing once more, you place your helmet back onto your head, pushing back your mane slightly, and turn to leave.

>Stay the course, she said.

>Yes. Yes, you could do that.

>But the more you thought of those street rats flying off into the night with your own ship, laughing at their villainy, the more you wished them dead.

>No capture.

>Just an execution.

>But... you had orders. You had to carry them out.

>And carry them out you would.

>Remaining in the throne room are Luna and Celestia, the latter going back to her seat as an attendant comes in with a bundle of scrolls.

>"Luna? Will you stay here and help me with this guest list?"

>"Nay, sister. This entire affair has drained us. We shall go for a walk in the gardens, we think. To clear our head of this."

>"Of course, Luna," says Celestia, signing away a scroll with a swish of a quill. "Do send this to Bruce Mane, will you?"

>The attendant nods then trots out of the throne room, as Luna walks away and out as well.

 

>The dark alicorn princess walked through the castle halls, the only sound around her being that of her hooves clacking against the marble floors.

>Moonlight shone through the windows that lined the hallway's walls, each star in the sky twinkling, matching that of Luna's mane.

>Night air met her fur as she stepped out into the royal gardens, the harsh tap of hoof to marble now muted under the softness of grass.

>Fireflies slowly danced around her as she made her way to a small gazebo, sitting on a decorative wicker chair as she stared out into the night sky.

>A few minutes pass, when Luna's eyes flash white for a split second.

>She then sits.

>Sits and waits.

>After some time, the sound of leathery wings on cold night air meets Luna's ears, which swivel too and fro in an attempt to hear where they're coming from.

>A shadowy figure lands delicately on her hooves, trotting up to the princess before kneeling before her.

>"My lady."

>"Commander, good evening." Says Luna, looking to Wind Sheer with a small nod. "We take it you are well?"

>"Indeed, Princess Luna, I am. You summoned me?" Wind Sheer asks, sitting upright and at attention.

>"We did, yes. You know of Captain Shining Armor, yes? And his efforts to capture the thieves who sacked the royal tomb?"

>"I have, my lady... the captain's efforts seem to have been in vain for the most part, or so it seems. Word travels quickly among the guards."

 

>"So it seems... we have spoken with our sister. She does not wish us to go after the culprits ourself."

>"My lady you are needed here, among the ponies of your kingdom. None would wish you leave and put your life at risk."

>"As... bothersome as that is, Commander, We will have to do as my sibling wishes. For now, at least. In the meantime, We have an assignment for you."

>Wind Sheer's ears perk up, her wings shuffling in anticipation.

>"Shining Armor is to continue looking for those... vandals... but we have no confidence in his abilities. We want you to search for them yourself. We need you to use as much caution as one can bring forth. The Captain would strike at them with a fury like thunder. Take this upon yourself. All gear for your strike shall be provided. You shall have all you require to hunt them down. Do we make ourself clear?"

>"As clear as the night sky, my lady. It shall be done."

>Luna nods, still looking up at the moon from her seat in the gazebo.

>"Good... good. I await your inevitable success, Commander."

>Wind Sheer bows to Luna, flourishing her wings as she readies herself to take off into the night.

>"Oh, and Commander?"

>"...my lady?"

>"Make sure to dispose of their ship, first."

>The Night Guard Commander smiles, fangs glinting in the moonlight.

>"As you wish, my lady."

 

Meanwhile...

 

>This clearing you had found was a good enough place to land for now.

>Your airship hovers above the clearing of the sprawling forests as the thud of two anchoring weights hits the forest floor.

"Alright, ready the lift. We can get down and scavenge for some water before heading out again."

>From across the deck of the ship you can see Amethyst nodding as she kicks a lever,  a wooden slab jutting out of the side of the ship as it attaches to an elevator-like system.

>Slinging a pack over your shoulder, you and Amethyst step onto the lift.

>Trixie, on the other hand, opts to stay aboard.

>"Someone has to keep an eye on the sky, after all, no?" she says, levitating a spyglass to her eyes as she looks out past the ship.

"Just don't go taking off without us, alright?"

>"Please, Trixie would never dream of it."

>Amethyst gives you a wary look before pulling the lift's lever, descending to the ground below.

>"Well we WOULD think of it if it was tempting, of course."

>The two of you look back up to Trixie who simply gives a sly smile and shakes her head before walking off along the ship's deck.

>"...I still don't like her," says Amethyst as the lift finally reaches the forest floor. "She has this whole... superiority thing that just rubs me the wrong way."

"Add in the fact that she hated your plan, and yeah I could see why you don't like her."

>"Pheh, you didn't like it all too much either."

"No, no I didn't. I'd rather find Bruce and be done with this, honestly."

 

>"Anon, please. We go to one of the other guild chapters and we tell them what happened. They have to listen to us."

"What makes you think they will?" you ask her as you both make your way to a small pond in the clearing.

>Setting your pack to the ground as you kneel, you pull out a small brass flask and begin filling it with water. Amethyst does the same, all while giving you a frustrated stare.

>"Because he's probably told everyone we're dead! If they think we're dead, and then we show up, won't that raise a few questions? They'd have doubts, Anon, and we can use that."

"Or, just bare with me hear, or they'll think Bruce was simply wrong and then they'll have a chance to kill us. Or capture us and then send us to Bruce so HE can kill us."

>Star gives a groan, shoving you with her hooves.

>"I'm serious! We HAVE to have friends out there, Anon. Ponies that we can trust."

"You say this, but all I keep hearing is a wild goose chase. The longer we stay out here, the more time we're giving Bruce to up and leave the city. He could be anywhere at this point."

>"Yeah," she says, "And if we have contacts in the Guild that trust us, then we can find him. Are you not following me on this?"

"I just want him dead and gone."

>You cap your flask and place it back into your pack before cupping some of the pond's water into your hands and splash it onto your face.

 

>"...I'm more interested in what he took from that tomb. He roped us into a job then leaves us for dead? And for what? THAT is what's eating at me, not the betrayal, not the stabbing, the GOAL. What does he need with whatever he took?"

"I'm going to take a wild guess and say... money and power. Power derived from the money, of course."

>"You -really- think this was all for some profit?"

"Star what do we DO for a living? We steal things, we sell them off for profit. It's what we DO. So... you know... yeah. Yeah I think this was for profit."

>"Then there's the guards! They keep sending out royal guards and legionaries to catch us!"

"And we dealt with the ones they sent after us!"

>"You KNOW they're going to send more, Anon. You told me the princesses came to see you and Trixie in your cells, that they were... livid, Anon. You made them -mad-. That... that cannot be a good sign."

"Gee, really? I thought that would have meant we'd be invited to the royal ball or something."

>"Anon! Will you quit being such an ass! This-"

>Amethyst is cut off as she winces, cringing slightly as she brings a hoof to her bandaged chest.

"Star?"

>"I'm fine... I'm okay. It just stings when I yell at you."

"Maybe stop yelling at me then?"

>"Can't ask for the impossible, Anon."

>She gives you a small smile, but still winces slightly as she feels the wound on her chest.

>The bandage that you applied to her was at least two days old, and from the looks of it needed to be changed.

 

"Here, let's get that cleaned."

>"Ugh, really?"

>She's protesting, but you're already pulling out a few fresh linen wraps from your pack. By the time you've cut an adequate length of it, she's relented and is already undoing the old bandage from her chest.

>Moving closer to her, you see that her wound is indeed healing, but the stitch job the medics at the castle did is beginning to loosen.

"Okay... good and bad news."

>"Wha?"

"Good news? It's healing. Bad news? Those stitches are coming loose."

>"...ugh. Yeah, I can see why that's bad news..."

"I'm going to have to tighten it up, you know that right?"

>"Yeah. Yeah, just...*sighs* just do it quick alright?"

>Giving a nod, you reach out to the thin thread keeping her stab wound closed as you take one end of the stitching in between your fingers.

"Okay, on three?"

>Amethyst nods.

"Okay. One-"

>You tug the stitching with a swift motion, the wound sealing shut further as you tighten it.

>Amethyst gives a sharp hiss followed by a gasp, as she clocks you over the head with her hoof.

>"You said on THREE."

"You would have flinched! S'better this way!"

>Amethyst gives a snarl, but sighs and shakes her head instead.

>"Thanks. For that. Am I okay now?"

"Just have to wash and wrap it up again is all. Almost done."

>Drenching a rag in pond water, you tenderly clean the fur around Amethy's wound, dabbing away a few red stains that still linger on the lavender of her body.

 

>Shuddering, Amethyst looks down to your hand and brings one of her hooves up to it, pressing your palm to her chest.

>"...look. I... just don't want anything like last time to happen again. I don't want us getting captured during some vain attempt at revenge, Anon."

"Star, I-"

>"No, no you get to listen to me now. We... you and me, have been through so much. Too much, for us to just risk it all like this. We NEED to go to the chapters. We NEED to warn them..."

>Amethyst locks eyes with you, a look of pleading on her face.

>"Please, Anon."

>...

"...fine. Fine, we're doing it. Where's the nearest group?"

>Star smiles, reaching out and nuzzling your cheek with her own.

>"Thanks... Ponyville. We have one agent in Ponyville that can help us.

"They have a name?"

>"Don't know it. All I know is that's she's good, Anon. She's really, really good at what she does. She's been able to get good with Celestia's apprentice, too."

"...you mean one of the elements?"

>"Exactly."

"...Okay, yeah, that sounds like it would come in handy."

>"See? My plans sound a lot better when I get into detail, right?"

"Hahaha, alright, so maybe you're not crazy. How was I supposed to know?"

>Wrapping the linen strips around Amethyst's body, you finally finish dressing her wound.

>Your hands move from the bandages on her chest to her head, tussling her mane softly while tweaking her left ear.

"We're getting through this, Sparkler. I promise."

 

>"Hmhm... haven't called me that since we were just kids...s'nice to hear again."

>The two of you sit there, staring at each other for the longest time. Crickets from the pond's edge chirp softly in the night, and a few fireflies dance about above the surface of the water.

>Your hand continues to stroke Amethyst's mane, both of you sharing soft, simple smiles.

>Then, slowly... you can feel your head begin to crane down to hers.

>You don't know why you're doing it, you just are.

>Amethyst blinks, but begins lifting hers to you as well.

>The both of you are inches away from one another, and you can feel her breath on your lips.

>Just... one last step...

>But before your lips can meet hers, all of Tartarus breaks loose.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ayMp6K8pwg

 

>With a sound like thunder and heat like hell, you're swept off of the ground as your airship, blimp and all, is ignited and destroyed.

>A plume of fire, glowing like a small sun in the night of the forest rocks the air around you, the ship exploding, sending splintering wood everywhere around its remains.

>Your body splashes into the pond, a few frogs leaping out of the way in a panic.

>Amethyst crashes beside you, spluttering as water gets up her snout.

>"What in- What was-"

"The ship. Gods above the ship, it-"

>"Trixie! Did she do this? What in blazes is-"

>No. No no no this wasn't good.

>In the fog of war that was the smoke of your vessel, the silhouette of a winged creature begins to emerge.

 

>"Oh! Dreadfully sorry about that. Was that your ship? Oh no, wait, that was Shining Armor's ship. Either way, I apologize for that. How... clumsy of me."

>Passing through the smoke walks... a Night Guard?

>Luna was sending her personal forces out to find you now? Tartarus... this -was- bad...

>"Anon..." says Amethyst slowly, "I think that's your girlfriend."

"What?"

>You squint your eyes and... oh balls...

>"Allow me to introduce myself," says the bat mare, as she attaches a pair of blades to her hooves. "My name is Night Commander Wind Sheer. I'm here to bring you in."

>Amethyst sneers at her, "Dead or alive, I take it?"

>"No," says Wind Sheer, the blades on her hooves crackling to life with small, lancing blue sparks.

>"Just dead."

 

To Be Continued