The Gang's First Big Heist (1/5)

14 Year Old Morgue's POV (three years ago)

"Not good. Not good! Not! Good!" I kept repeating again and again as I rode an electric scooter down the dirt road. While I wish I could drive that El Camino that was at the house, even I had to admit I wouldn't get far with how young I was. I guess my great looks and personality weren't about to convince any cop that I was able to drive just yet.

So that left me with the electric scooter. Which wasn't so bad considering that me and the others rigged it so it would go just as fast as a car would normally go in the suburbs. Still, on the dirt road that was completely out of the way from any normal roads, it got a little challenging.

You see, our home is out in the middle of nowhere. An acre or two big, fenced in, and secluded in the middle of the woods away from civilization. But sadly, it wasn't too far from school, which was a fifteen minute drive from here. And even though Big Mike wasn't old enough, he drove just as well as any adult could. And his size wouldn't make any officer try to pull us over for being under aged.

Of course, he didn't drive the El Camino. The second that baby came into The Homeland, what we called our giant space of land, I claimed that it would only be driven by me unless there was an emergency. So Big Mike drove a van instead.

None of that really mattered right now though. What did matter was getting to The Homeland so I could tell Joe and Big Mike just what was about to happen. It was so messed up, that we had to put a stop to it. Immediately.

So not wasting any time, I went up the small ramp that was set up besides the electric gate and landed inside the fence. And after going a little further, I stopped in front of the barn. It came with The Homeland, as did two small sheds, a large deck big enough to hold a big party, and the house obviously enough.

I didn't even give a second glance when I let the scooter fall to the ground as I opened the door and bust in. Spotting Big Mike and Joe playing our custom video game. And yes, it was our own video game.

Thanks to Joe's brain in computers and other tech stuff, he was able ta sake the best parts of the best video games and combine them into one game. The characters were made to look like us thanks to 'editing the original skins and avatars' as Joe put it. It was a four player game that worked in multiple ways.

There we're three story modes. One worked like dynasty warriors, where there was thousands of weak bad guys that would go down from just one combo, and bosses that required some skill. Not to mention, a pretty awesome storyline.

The other was a simple adventure game style that Joe created from Heavy Rain, Uncharted, Sly Cooper, and Assassin's Creed. It was single player, but used all three of our characters. Focused more on simple puzzles and action mixed together.

The third story mode style was a simple fight only game. It worked kind of like the Dragon Ball Z games where it was just a fight with some scripted parts, and small story bits in between.

Besides those, there were normal exhibition fights. Which is what we normally did.

"Amigos! Stop playing for a second!" I told them, walking over so I wasn't yelling the entire time. "We got a problem."

"What is it?" Big Mike asked, jumping up the instant I was done talking. Whenever either me or Joe started sounding worried, Big Mike made it his job to find a way to help.

"It's the rest stop," I told them, both of them looking to each other to see what the other was thinking. "They plan on taking it down!"

"They what?!" They both asked in complete shock. Big Mike looking terrified while Joe took out a phone from his pocket and started looking around the local news about the rest stop.

You see, exactly forty-eight miles from us was a rest stop. The very same rest stop where we all met exactly four years back. And since this short story is three years in the past, that makes it eight years from when the really story's taking place.

They were coming back from a trip with their dad, Klaus Frei, when they stopped at that very same rest stop. Mr. Frei went to the bathroom while Joe and Big Mike stayed at the vending machines. The same vending machines that cheating them out of a chocolate bar Joe tried getting Big Mike.

That's where they met me. That machine cheated me out of three Reese's Cups. So finding me, I convinced them to help me get our well-earned candy from the machine. I was able to pick the lock that held a metal gate in place. Those things had specially made holes so you could punch in the code and get your candy, but kept people from breaking into the machines.

Joe then used a screwdriver to get into the wires and cut them so the machine wasn't lit up or making any sounds. And finally, Big Mike used his brawn and the screwdriver to get through the glass without busting it open too loud.

All of us together got the candy, and an understanding. And when their Dad got back, I explained what happened and told him my parents weren't...With me, anymore. But instead of doing what I thought he would, he actually did the nicest thing he could've possibly done. No, not pay for the machine, he drove us clear away from that rest stop in an instant. But what he did do was so nice that I knew I could never thank him enough.

That rest stop was where we pulled our first small time heist. Where we first met up, and where we became a gang. And now it was about to become a new site for a movie theater if no one did anything about it.

"According to this entry by it's too expensive to continue funding anymore. The state is having it taken down since it's not that useful anymore." Joe said, giving us a full analysis of the situation. "The deadline for this demolition to become official is five days. There's a fundraiser in effect to try and bring the funds to keep it open and in use, but they're still very far from their goal. Around twenty-five thousand short of their goal to be, in fact."

"So...They need more money?" Big Mike asked, hoping he was getting it himself.

"Yes. They need twenty-five thousand dollars. A lot of money." Joe informed the big guy, then turned towards me. And upon seeing the small smirk on my face, he sighed. "Oh no. Morgue, please tell me that you don't-"

"Don't worry amigos! I have a plan!" I yelled out, purposefully interrupting Joe to make them pay even more attention. Plus it was a little fun to do stuff like that.

"Whenever you come up with a plan by yourself, it always ends badly." He said, facepalming in annoyance. Then after slowly, sliding his hand off his face he frowned at me. "Well, I know you're just dying to tell us. So out with it."

"Okay then. My plan..." I said, building a few seconds of suspense. Which was working on Big Mike, who was getting excited to hear what it was. "Is to save the rest stop."

"Woah! That's a great plan Morgue!" Big Mike praised, beaming with joy at my awesome plan. Of course Joe wasn't as amused.

"Really? I thought we were going to take a trip to McDonalds." He told me sarcastically. "What's your plan to save the rest stop?" He asked, knowing that I had more to my plan then that.

"Easy." I then got serious. Frowning to Joe to show him that I actually did put thought into this. As much thought as I could to make this hard choice. "We help pay the rest of the fundraiser by taking an assignment from...Them." I told Joe with a complete straight face.

"T-Them..." Joe repeated fearfully, taking a single step back while trying to stay calm.

They weren't the type of people that you wanted to disappoint. They worked under the radar, and only those who they deemed 'good enough' knew about them at all. It was a silent honor to know about them, and it was pretty much death if you ever mentioned them.

Because of our skills, they came in contact with us. Getting into The Homeland, past the dog, and inside our house to leave a single phone number taped to my bedroom door. After that came some instructions to meet up with them. I only took Joe since they said that if anyone else found out, it was game over. Big Mike would try to protect us and end up getting us killed by accident.

So me and Joe met up with them. There were five, and they all had guns trained on us when we talked. They had no name. All they told us was that they would give us a map and a verbal decipher to find the locations. In each state, they had two bases. Only a certain code they also said verbally could get you in and not killed.

They would give you major heists where all you had to do was name your price. They'd give you the job, and all you have to do is get it done without telling the authorities about their operation. No due date, no method of operation, no trace. Do the job, don't give them away.

Do three jobs, and you went from 'good enough' to 'family' You asked for a loan of money, tools, and/or information, you'd get it. No questions asked. They knew that all three of us were a group, and we could come in anytime.

This. Right now. Was anytime.

"So..." Big Mike said, breaking our long silence. "Are we going to McDonalds or not?"

Disclaimer: I do not own MLP or anything relating to Hasbro. All I own is Blitz, this story, and the ideas that come forward.

---

Lyra's POV

Shopping District of Ponyville

"Lyra's Log, Hour 1 of Operation: Professor Scouting. After looking around the Shopping District of Ponyville for...Well, an hour...I've finally located who I'm sure is Professor Electric Blitz. The very obscure description of him seems to match up. Only...It doesn't look like he's a Professor at all. But nonetheless, he apparently knows something about humans. Will continue to spy on-I-I mean...Observe, possible teacher of human mythology."

Closing my journal, I moved a single branch of the bush so I could see out of it. Spotting Electric Blitz buying some nails and other stuff from a sales pony that was named Hard Sell. The two of them were arguing a little, but I guess were finally coming to a decision about the sale.

Only, this was the thing which made me question the whole 'Professor' thing. I mean, what professor bought so much building stuff?! It wasn't just nails either! He took those few boxes of nails to a cart full of other building materials and tools! Seriously, professors were supposed to teach stuff, not renovate their entire house three times over!

This made me raise an eyebrow at everything I learned. He was definitely a Cypony, so that had to be Electric Blitz. Maybe I needed a bit more backstory about him though. All I knew was that he was friends with Spike, Twilight, and the rest of their group. That, and that there was something about him and humans.

Looking around to make sure no pony noticed, I quickly put my journal away and slipped out of the bush without any pony noticing. I didn't know enough to walk right up to him, but maybe I could learn something from some pony else.

"Excuse me." I said in my deep, stallion-sounding voice to Hard Sell. No pony else was coming near his hardware stall, so I didn't have to worry about wasting any time. "By any chance could you tell me about the stallion that just left, Electric Blitz?"

"Why should I tell you about one a my best customers?" He asked with a frown. It looked like he wasn't about ready to tell me anything. Luckily, I picked up a few tips for dealing with ponies like this from Moss Cow.

"Because of my friend here." I told him calmly as I levitated an emerald out of my saddlebag and onto the counter. And not just a small one either. One the size of a pony's eye. And with how big our eyes were, it was worth something. Even if Equestria rested on a giant gem mine.

He went wide-eyed at the sight of it before looked to the sides to see if any pony was looking towards us. And not seeing any pony in view, he slowly reached over to get it. Only for me to quickly levitate it just out of reach.

"Woah, hold on a second." I told him, keeping my voice deep voice calm and level. It was times like this where I wish I learned that 'Voice Change By Choice' spell. "You think I'm just gonna give you this without some answers?" I asked him, my throat killing me because of how hard this voice was to keep using.

"Ugh...Fine." He told me, gesturing me to lean forwards a bit. He didn't want any pony else knowing that he was giving away his customer's info to random ponies with gems. "Blitz is a regular of mine. Works for the Construction Crew here in Ponyville, and is good friends with that group of girls and the dragon...Lucky guy..." He said with a jealous frown.

I just rolled my eyes at that last part, but focused on something else. "A construction pony? So he's not a professor?" I asked him confusedly.

"...Wait a second, how's come your voice is different now?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Wha-Dang it!" I said in a silent whisper. "Well, so much for the whole anonymous thing..." I admitted, dropping the fake voice and just talking normally. "Still, so he's not a professor?"

"That guy? Ha! The moment Blitz becomes a professor, is the moment I start wearing a ballerina outfit to work everyday." He said sarcastically. Honestly, I don't know whether to start laughing or be disturbed about the image of this stallion in a tutu.

"Well, that doesn't make any sense. Spike said he had something to do with humans..." I muttered to myself almost inaudibly. In which Hard Sell didn't really care and ignored. "Well, is there anything else about him you can tell me? Besides being a Cypony, anyway?"

"Sounds like you already know him a bit...But I don't get why you care. Unless...Are you trying to ask him out or something?" He asked bluntly.

"What-No!" I said, shaking my head frantically. Geez, what is this guy's problem?! Can he at least be subtle about these dumb questions?! "I'm hoping he can help me with some research I've been doing."

"Sure. Research." He said, sounding not convinced at all. Okay, he's going from blunt to annoying in a real quick second.

"Okay, do you want this gem or not?" I asked him with a frown that he could barely see through the shadow of my hood. It was enough to make him get a little concerned that he was about to lose it.

"Alright, fine, fine." He said in a defeated tone. Looks like I got past him. Thank you Minotaur training! "The thing is, no pony really knows much about him. He just kinda...Came outta nowhere and started living here. No pony's ever heard of him anywhere else. And since he's probably the only Cypony ever, you'd think his name would've come up somewhere. But no. Like a ghost, he just...Appeared..."

"That's...Kind of creepy." I admitted with an unsure voice. Hard Sell had a point, a pony like that would have been noticed before. He was definitely Equestrian by the look of him. No one-half Griffon or Saddle Arabian, so who was he?

"There is one other thing." Hard Sell said, earning my attention. "He was kind of off when he first started ordering lumber. First time he came, he said he needed some 2X4s that were ten feet."

"..."

"..."

Silence. Neither of us said anything as he watched as I sat there completely shocked from what he had told me. It was hard for me to even respond, and he didn't want to make me jump or anything from trying to get my attention, so he waited it out some more until I finally started forming words again.

"...F...F-Feet?..." I managed to say, stunned by what he told me. "Did you just say that this 'Electric Blitz' stallion asked for 2X4s, whatever those are, in...Feet?" I asked again. That is what this guy just said, right?

"Well 2X4s are the measurements of a usual plank of wood, but yeah. I asked him what feet were, and he just sighed and facehoofed before telling me the length in hooves. It's not much, but it just was weird to me. He told me he was a natural at building, but he didn't remember measurements? It was a bit suspicious, don't you th-"

I didn't bother hearing the rest of his story. I just levitated the emerald on top of his head and ran off to try and figure out where Electric Blitz went. It was all so clear to me now!

No pony knowing him before coming here last year. Being close friends with those six. Spike freaking out over me talking about humans. Saying 'feet' instead of hooves the first time he ever tried ordering building materials. He wasn't a professor or some pony that knew anything about human mythology.

He was a human!

---

Blitz's POV

"Alright, so you only wanted me to fix a few rotted boards on the stage right?" I asked her, going over what had to be done. The stage, which had taken some wear and tear over the past few weeks, needed to be repaired. The curtains were ripped apart as if Opal went to town on them, the podium was still water-logged and stained with scars from the boat race, and finally the stage floor had rotted boards that needed to be replaced.

The third one was my problem to fix, while Rarity was either going to come by later for thee curtains or was just making a new set rom scratch, and some pony else was going to try to build a new identical podium.

"Yes, just the floor boards." She agreed, letting me focus on what had to be done. Luckily, I had already stopped by somewhere to get the supplies for all my projects that were important today. I just had three, and I wanted to go at a regular pace with them. I had a lot to think about.

"Well, it'll only take me a good ten minutes to get these replaced." I told her with a nod as I went back to my cart. She told me before that it was only a small amount of boards that were rotted out, so I was able to just order more than enough of them.

"Good. But, you never told me...How much will this cost?" She asked me as I pried out the first rotted board. Using my tail as crowbar to do so. "I never got around to asking for that price."

"Oh. Well...With the price of the materials I need to use, plus labor for installing all of this..." Even though the Mayor was a good friend of mine, it turned out that there were tax laws about charging ponies for labor expenses. Even if it was your friend, if you were getting paid at all, you needed to be paid for your work too. I might've been good at math, but Equestrian accountants did not play around! Honestly, if you mess up one payment, they treat it like a murder!

Luckily, the Mayor knew that and understood that when tax came around. Which is why I was actually a good friend of hers. That's a story for another time though. "I'd say it's only going to be ten bits." I told her after going over the numbers.

Projects like this paid pretty good actually. Compared to what the others did, I was the fourth most successful in our group. With Rarity at the top, then Twilight, and...Pinkie Pie, surprisingly. Of course, because of more tax laws about how she gets paid for parties, and that no pony charges her for party supplies, it was really surprising.

"Only ten? I was expecting fifteen at the least. Alright then, I'll be right back." She said as she went inside to her office to get what I was owed. Yeah, ten bits was actually a cheap amount for personal projects like this. Usually it could range from fifteen to thirty bits for jobs as small as this.

Luckily, Fluttershy had me covered on food for RJ. Applejack and me made a deal for me to get paid in a months worth of apples each month as long as I was ready to repair or build anything on the farm. Twilight was able to help with any nerd stuff I couldn't handle on my own, and the others had their own ways of helping me.

Still, none of that really mattered for me. Because as I pulled the last rotten board from the stage out, I was left going back to that annoying letter Princess Celestia sent me. It told me what this trip was, and why we were all coming.

While the reason for it all was annoying me to no end, there was one part that was even more confusing to me. What did Spike have to do with anything about this?

One with similar instructions about a secret he will need to reveal to all of you at once.

That was the line that made me confused. And while I read it the first time when the others were still there with me, I looked up and saw Spike's expression. He looked like he was sorry for keeping this secret to himself. But the others didn't pay him any mind about it, so I guess they didn't even know that he got a letter. I decided that I'd leave him be unless he brought it up.

As I thought to myself about how this all of this was going to play out, I heard something off towards the side of the stage. Normally I would have thought it was nothing, but the Mayor cleared out the area so no pony could just come in and watch the reconstruction of the stage. Animals never came near the town center unless they were a pet, or companion in RJ's case, so it couldn't be a rabbit or anything.

"Hello?" I asked, stopping my work to fly over and check it out. As I got near the bush though, I heard some almost silent mumbling. I might've been paranoid, but I knew something was there. "Is some pony there?" I asked again, landing besides the bush.

Sadly, all I got for an answer was a bright flash of light directly to the face. Blinding me temporarily and making me flinch backwards as I yelled out in surprise. I then tripped to the ground behind me and was left discombobulated.

Unable to look as whoever was in the bush jumped out and ran away before I could even get a good look at them. To make it even more frustrating, the flash of light had distorted the colors around me. So I couldn't even see what color their coat or mane was.

By the time I jumped back up to my hooves and flew up into the air to go after them, they had already rounded the corner and was gone. I had no idea what they looked like, so there was no point in trying to go after them.

In all honesty, the only thing I had for a clue was that they had some book with them. That clue alone narrowed it down to pretty much any pony who could read, so that wasn't going to help me.

"What was that all about anyway?" I asked, landing back on the ground as I kept looking towards the turn I saw them go by. As if they were about to come right back and introduce themselves to me.

Seeing as how no pony was really that stupid though, I simply turned around and made my way back over to the stage to finish fixing it. After all, all that was left was to nail two or three boards in place.

"Here we are Blitz. I think that this should cover the fee just right." Mayor Mare told me as she came back outside from her office with a small bag of bits. Knowing that I couldn't take them right then however, she just put it in my cart that still had the tools to do the last two projects of the day.

She then turned back towards me. "While you're finishing up, I was wondering if you could work on something else. You see, the office besides mine needs to be renewed for a new pony that will need there own office. I think you're aware if just how expensive the Construction Crew would be for this job. So, would you be able to renew the office yourself?"

As I went over to the last plank and quickly nailed it in with my metal hoof, I gave her a straight face. "Yeah, I'd be able to do that. Just not anytime in the next few weeks. I'm taking a trip, and something that'd big would take massive planning."

"I see...Well, I guess I'll look for some pony else to help until you have a free schedule to help. Thank you anyway Blitz, and thank you for fixing the stage." Mayor Mare said with a smile.

"Don't mention it. I gotta get going though. Still have a few more projects I need to finish today." I told her, flying in front of my wagon and mounting myself to the front. " Bye Mayor." I told her, walking off to my next stop.

---

Spike's POV

"Spike? Are you sure that you packed everything you'll need for the trip? Maybe you should triple-check the packing list again." She told me from her room. Still packing everything she thought she would need for the mission Celestia was summoning us all for.

"No, I'm good Twilight. Besides, I got something else I need to take care of anyways. I'll be back later." I told her casually, as I walked out the door and shut it behind me. Taking a breath of relief as I made my way for the marketplace.

Seriously though, what all did Twilight think I would forget? All I really needed was my fangbrush and gem-flavored toothpaste, and I could survive without anything else. I always kept a spare pencil and some paper with me in case I needed to send an emergency letter to Celestia. And Twilight of all ponies knew I didn't really have anything else with me.

Still, I brought my small backpack Rarity made along with me as I went into the marketplace. It had the few things I packed for the trip, some lunch, and the letter Celestia had sent to me for my eyes only.

The letter said that the secret I've been hiding from every pony would have to be brought up. That secret was something pretty big that had to do with all the Friendship Letters. Something that I wasn't sure was a good or bad. Still, I always tried to stay quiet about it like Princess Celestia asked of me.

And when Blitz came here from Earth, it was all already over with. So I just thought it was a funny coincidence or something. Now the letter comes along, and it's eating at me all over again. Celestia told me that if I wanted to get this off my chest, then I should go to Blitz and tell him the truth.

After all, he along with the others were all going to know the truth sooner or later.

So knowing that I needed to find Blitz, I chose to start looking at where I knew he was going today. And coming up to it, I tried to peer over the counter of the stall. Most of these stalls were just a little too tall for me to be noticed except for the top scale on my head. And they didn't like it when I just jumped onto their counter, so I was left trying to look over it like some kind of weirdo at a window.

"Hey, Hard Sell? You there?" I called out, hoping he was. His stall was set-up right in front of a decent-sized tent that had most of the building stuff he sold. And I couldn't see it from this side of the counter.

"What, who's there?" He asked, coming out just like I'd hoped. Sadly, his counter was just a little higher than the other ones I was already to small for. So he didn't see me as he looked forwards, and side to side. "Those dumb colts. First they knock on my door at home and run away, and now they're making me look like an idiot at my own stall. When I get my hooves on them..."

"Uh...Hard Sell?" I asked, trying to get his attention. "Down here." I instructed him, a little upset that he didn't even think to look down.

"Huh? Oh, hey Spike! Sorry, I didn't see you there. Here let me help you out..." He said, reaching under his counter and bringing out a small stepstool for me to stand on so I didn't have to look up.

"Thanks." I said, putting the stepstool in place and jumping on top of it.

"So, what brings you here? Your sis need a new shelf put in or something?" He asked, wondering if that's why I came alone. Usually, I only came here when I was helping Blitz build stuff. Which I really just did when I didn't have to help Twilight or Rarity with something.

"No, nothing like that. I'm looking for Blitz. There's some pony that's looking for him and I wanted to tell him before she found him first. Any ideas?" I asked him, hoping that I might have somewhere to go from here.

Since Blitz was his best costumer, and I was Blitz's friend, Hard Sell was a little nicer to me than most others that came around here. So he didn't yell at me and tell me to leave whenever I didn't buy anything.

"Oh, uh, crazy mare huh? Well...That sounds pretty rough..." He said, now getting really nervous for some reason. Something I knew the feeling of all too well. "Anyway, I don't really have much to tell you. He ordered some planks, support braces, countertops he ordered two weeks ago, and the usual stuff like nails and whatever."

"Any idea about what it was for?" I asked, hoping he had a better answer.

"Wish I did, but I don't know what else to say. After he got all the materials, and that cra-err-that second customer came by, I took a lunch break to try and get something taken care of." And almost as if waiting for its queue, his stomach started growling like a full grown dragon. "Too bad I missed lunch because of it."

"You took a lunch break, but didn't actually eat anything? Why?" Who misses lunch on a lunch break? I know I would never do something that stupid. Lunch is the most important part of the day!

"Well...I might as well tell you." He told me with a sigh as he reached under his counter again. This time pulling out a-

"A-A-A giant Emera-mmf!" Before I could yell it out to the whole marketplace, he covered my mouth fearfully. I got what he meant and when he let me go, I chuckled nervously. "Oops. Sorry." I told him with a just as nervous smile. "Still, what were you doing with that?"

"Well, I spent my lunch break trying to get it appraised. That way, I could sell it and make some real money. Only, it looks like the price of emeralds went down a week back, so they're not worth much at all. So I tried going to that dressmaker since she always uses gems in her dresses, so I thought maybe she'd buy it. Only, her cat was right in front of the door."

"Wait, so you're allergic of Opal?" I asked him with a confused look. I didn't know he was allergic to cats.

"No, I'm allergic to getting my face scratched off by that crazy thing." He corrected me. Well, I can't blame him there. If not for my thick scales, I'd be worse off than a scratching post right now. "Still, by that time all of that was over, I didn't have any time for some lunch. So I'm starving."

"Starving huh?" I asked, suddenly getting an idea. "I think I can help with that." I told him as I reached into the side of my backpack. Pulling out a ripe Golden Delicious. "I'll trade you this apple for the emerald."

"You got yourself a deal!" He told me, swiping away the apple and passing me the emerald. And after taking a big bite of the apple, his stomach rumbled for a second before being silenced immediately. "Oh that hit the spot. The only thing that could make this better is if I could take another break and just take a-wait a second, I remembered something!"

"What, what is it?!" I asked, putting the gem away for later. That was probably the best trade I've ever made.

"I just remembered one of the things Blitz was gonna do." He told me before taking another bite of the apple. "He said the support braces were for the Ponyville Retirement Home. I bet that if you go there, you'll see him eventually."

"Okay, great!" I told him, jumping off of the stepstool and walking off to go there. "Thanks for the help Hard Sell. And thanks for the tasty emerald!" I waved to him as I ran off. Glad that I made some progress in finding Blitz.

"Hey, thank you for the apple. Good luck in getting to Blitz before the...Wait a second, tasty?" He asked himself with a confused look. But as his stomach rumbled a little in hopes of getting some more food, he shrugged. "Oh whatever. It's not my problem anymore. Down the hatch." He said, taking another bite of the apple.

---

Blitz's POV

Outside Shopping District

Okay, the Town Stage was all done. Now I only have two other projects to do and I can start packing for the trip. Thankfully I had these jobs to do, or else the others might have tried to question me about it all. Something I still couldn't talk to them about yet.

Did Princess Celestia really need us all to go back? Scratch that, did she really need us to go and help them? As far as that letter goes, she got one thing right without a doubt:

I know what they have done to you in the past, and I understand that this is more than questionable to you. Which is why I'm hoping you'll understand. And if you still don't want to, then at least consider what this quest may mean to Rainbow Dash and the others.

Just that excerpt of her letter, and it was enough to keep me from downright denying this whole idea. This entire trip. If Celestia didn't leave out the part that we were going to my world, then they would be even more excited than they already are. And in the end, I'm glad she left that out to them. The pressure of letting them down would be so much worse then the pressure I already have.

I knew in the end, I didn't really have much of a choice. And I couldn't be mad at Celestia either. This was under some kind of 'short-notice' after all. It wasn't like she was trying to pin me against a wall. Besides, there was one more important thing. One that was bigger than me, bigger than them, and something that neither me or Celestia knew how it was gonna end.

The girls and Spike.

If they were going to my world, than that means that I'm either going to have to blindfold them the entire time, or let them find out. And something told me that blindfolding just wasn't going to be an option. But that's not exactly going to stop me from trying.

Could you blame me?

Still, I shook the thought away from my head. I came up to the next place I had to work on for a project. The Quill and Sofas store. The sales pony that worked here wasn't at the entrance, but instead there was a sign at his door. One that said that he was out to lunch, but for me to go ahead and come inside if I got here before he did.

I shrugged to myself and just parked my cart of building materials outside the place and unloaded the stuff I needed. Two countertops and the tools and other materials that I would have to use to install them. The check out area had two counters, and one of them were cracked. So he wanted me to go ahead and replace both of them so it wouldn't look like two completely different ones.

It was simple enough, and after the cost of the countertops I was getting ten bits out of this for myself. That was the great thing about doing small jobs like these on the side. It actually paid well, and I was my own boss. And since I built my own house, that meant that I didn't have to pay any rent since it wasn't built by Ponyville themselves.

While I got paid on the Construction Crew plus the extra bits from these projects, I was far from the richest one in our group. Rarity was the most successful with her orders of dresses for fancy parties, followed by Twilight who got paid from Ponyville taxes or something to run the library. After that was, shockingly enough, Pinkie Pie who never has to pay for her party decorations.

Still, I did pretty well for myself. And after this, I only had one other job and then I could start packing. Only, how's come the blinds on the windows weren't closed? If the Quills and Sofas sales pony wasn't here, than why would he just leave them open?

I didn't really look around as I carried the countertops inside. Putting them besides the check-out counter and inspecting it silently. Cracked, right down the middle. "No wonder he wanted to get these fixed. This thing looks about ready to fall apart as it I-" "HELLO SIR!"

Quickly turning around, I came face to face with some pony else who was giving me a grin so wide, it could rival Pinkie's usual grin. "How may I help you?!" He asked with a slightly deep voice, not backing up at all.

Even though it was hard to see him when he was so up close, I was able to make out most of what he looked like. He was a pony with a mint-colored coat with a cyan and white colored tail. He also had on a fedora that kept me from seeing his mane, and had a moustache too. One that kind of reminded me of the one Pinkie always kept.

"Uh...I'm good, thanks?" I said, not sure how else to respond. I mean, how do you respond to some pony who's smiling in your face without sounding like a jerk?

"Well I'm sorry sir, but I'm afraid that you're wrong." He said taking a small step back so he could shake his head. Wait, how am I wrong about not wanting- "You see, I can look right at you and tell that you are a very pitiful hu-pony."

"Excuse me?" I asked in a deadpanned tone.

"Do not worry sir, it's not too obvious. I'm just a professional, is all." He explained to me. Only making me more ticked off at him. "I mean, you look so tense it's clear you don't have a comfortable sofa. Just look at your shoulders, and you'll see it." He instructed, pointing towards my metal shoulder.

"Well maybe that's because this shoulder is artificial." I told him, un-amused in every way. "Now if you don't mind sir, I need to fix those countertops like your boss had asked of me." I said, trying to stay as calm as I could.

Before I could even get started on taking the cracked countertop off however, I was pulled away from the counters and over towards a couch by this annoying sales pony. "Wha-hey! Let go!" I told him, getting away from him. For a sales pony, this guy was strong enough to stand against a freaking Minotaur.

"Sorry, but it's obvious that you're only lying to yourself and me." He told me, putting a smile back on his face near instantly. "But if you at least try out this couch, I'm sure that you'll be completely satisfied!"

Okay, fine. If this guy wants me to sit on a couch so badly, than fine. Besides, if it'll get him out of my way hopefully so I can just do my job and get out. "Alright, I'll sit on the couch." I told him, getting up on the couch and sitting on it with a bored look on my face.

I always sat sideways on couches or other seats like this because of my tail. Because as any pony could probably guess, a metal tail kind of gets in the way of sitting down normally on anything but stools or the ground.

That's why I sat in a bubble chair in my house instead of the couches. I was able to turn my tail to its side or upside down, but never change the angle of it. So with the extra space to the sides of me, I could simply rotate my tail to the left or right and sit down that way. But for a couch, sitting up against a wall, or whatever, I either needed to sit sideways or take out my tail completely.

Metal tails. Awesome for showing off and cutting stuff whenever I feel like it. Horrible for sitting down or blending into a crowd.

"There. I tried the couch. The one I have at home is a good seven times comfier. Can I get back to work now?" I asked him, not wanting to waste anymore time sitting on the job. Literally.

"Are you sure that's the best position?" He asked with a raised eyebrow. Seriously? I mean, seriously? " Maybe if you sat up...And ditched the tail. Yep, definitely." He told me with a nod.

"Okay, why does it..." He wasn't going to give up trying to get me to buy this couch. Unless... "Sorry sir, but I just remembered that I don't have any bits. I'm broke." There. Now he'll leave me alone, right?

"Oh, that's alright. You don't need any bits anyway." He informed me...Wait, huh? Don't need bits? Okay then. Either he has no idea how a business works, or he's giving me a free couch. Still don't want to figure out which one's the answer though.

"Well, I guess that proves it then. You're just making me sit here for no reason, aren't you?" I asked with a frowned, un-amused expression.

"Of course not sir! I'm just trying to help you be as comfortable as you can possibly be! And I think you'd be more comfortable if you sat up. Facing towards me." He explained further as he stood in front of me. And now it just got more confusing and creepy in an instant.

And because of just how creepy this was getting, that meant that it was time to get away from this guy. Now. "Well, maybe I'd be comfortable if you weren't eyeballing me like a creeper." I told him, getting up and going back over to the counters.

"No, wait!" He told me, his voice instantly going from deep-ish to feminine instantly. "I just want to see you sit down how you normally would, and show that you're really a-"

"What's going on here?" A new voice asked from the entrance of the store. The owner of the store himself. He saw me and the new countertops he ordered and recognized who I was immediately. But as for the other pony, he gave a questioning look towards. "Who are you?!"

"Oh! M-me?!" He...No, she, asked with her normal voice. Making me facehoof at how I didn't notice that sooner. Seriously, I couldn't realize that the voice and moustache were fake? And-Wait. She tried to get a good look at me while I was sitting...Oh dear Celestia, please tell me that she isn't friends with one of those annoying mares like Rose or Daisy.

"I was just..." She started, not sure how to finish. Luckily, the owner of the store helped her out.

"Leaving. We're closed right now, and we're in the middle of renovating. Out." He commanded, pointing a hoof towards the door. To which the mare in disguise silently sulked out.

Once she was gone, he turned towards me. "I'm sorry about that. She didn't ruin anything, did she?" He asked, being apologetic for some mare coming to bother me.

"No, she started talking to me when I just got here." I told him, getting ready to take out the cracked countertops. "Thank you for the help though. She was really heart-set on bothering me for some reason."

---

Lyra's POV

"Ugh! I was so close to getting him to sit down too! If only the sales pony didn't come back at that moment. Then I'd have just a little more proof."

I kept on rambling to myself in a secluded bush. Going over all my plans to try and get him to be tricked into showing that he was human. Obviously if no pony knew about him being a human, he wasn't about to just tell me if I asked. But tricking him into proving it was going to be harder than I thought it would be.

After all my studying at Moss Cow, I found out four clear ways to tell humans from ponies. Even if they were in the form of a pony somehow. First, was how they talk. Which when he used 'feet' instead of hooves to measure some wood, that already convinced me enough. But it wasn't enough for some pony like Bonbon to believe me.

The second way was how they sat down. And with how that went...Well, the jury was still out. Because of that metal tail, it was hard for him to sit down like a normal human would. Even sitting like a normal pony would've been a problem. So that was out of the question.

So that meant it was on to the third sign. This one being how they acted. As far as I could tell from the history books, humans were very violent creatures. Ones that fought over everything, even land and food, to the death.

It surprised me at first, but it was okay. Besides, they made up for it with all the amazing ideas they came up with. I mean, they only lasted for a while, but they invented so much stuff! The wheel, the spear, bow, arrows, fire, tons of stuff! That's why I loved humans so much.

That was another reason why I thought he was a human. He was a Cypony. Something so advanced was only in stories, and yet here he was. Out of nowhere like that Sales Pony told me.

Still, if he was here for a year then that wouldn't help to prove anything since every pony was used to him by now. So I needed a plan to prove that he was a human by using the violent side of humans. And I knew just how to do it to.

As he came out of the Quills and Sofas' store, I got to work. I put on a pair of fake glasses, got a bit of dirt on my and coat, and ruffled up my mane and tail. That way, he wouldn't have an easy time figuring out that it was me again. For good measure, I tested my voice a bit to make it sound a little nazzley. Kind of like a nerdy mare's voice, but not too obvious.

I jogged in place behind the bush and waited for him to get in a place where no pony else was around. Once the last pony on the path was gone, I jumped into action and ran towards him. Pretending to be out of breath and scared out of my coat. "HELP!" I yelled out, jumping into Blitz and nearly knocking him down. I then held him by his neck and started shaking him like crazy to keep him from getting a good look at me. "Please, you need to help! It's a matter of life or death!"

"Woah! Stop! Shaking! Me!" He said in between shakes before pushing me off. "Calm down! What's going on?!" he asked me, a little surprised that I had come out of nowhere and starting going nuts.

"There's some pony in trouble! I went into Everfree Forest, when all of a sudden something came out and attacked this other pony that was ahead of me!" I told him, playing completely unrehearsed. And they said that Rarity was a good drama queen! Ha!

"What?!" He asked, quickly kicking away his cart to put it in the corner. "When and where?!" He asked, coming right to attention. Which was just what I was hoping for.

"A few minutes ago! We were about ten minutes deep from the path when something got to her! Please, find her before something happens!" I asked, giving him a look of desperation to save my friend who didn't exist at all.

Not even trying to think it over, he snapped into action. "Alright, fine! Stay here and watch the cart, I'll be right back after I go help this other pony!" Not even waiting for my response, he took off towards the Forest by flying.

Not wanting to be too inconsiderate, I pulled looked around and pulled all the bushes from the path out and over towards the small spot where the cart was. Hiding it with multiple bushes before running off after Blitz. Making sure I had a camera and my journal with me to get some proof that he was fighting whatever was in that crazy forest.

---

Blitz's POV

"I can't believe this! Why does any pony ever go into Everfree Forest?! Honestly, what is so appealing about that place anyway?!" I asked myself as I flew to the entrance and landed on the pathway. Running from then on. She said it was ten minutes into the Forest, but that could've meant anything. They could've ran, walked, jogged, stopped several times, anything like that! Ten minutes could've been a five or seven minute walk for all I knew!

Not only that, but what got to them anyway?! It could've ranged from a Cragadile, to a Manitcore! I wasn't going to run away from anything that was attacking that pony, but I wasn't prepared if I didn't know what to expect. If it was a . If it was a dragon, then I'd know to be ready for a flame to try and shoot me down.

"I said get back you foul creature! Or else you'll be bucked into the near future!" An accented voice rhymed out from off to the side of the path. One that sounded all too familiar.

"Zecora!" I called out, jumping over a root and down in that direction. And seeing the clearing just ahead of me, I saw something that just made me completely at a loss for words.

Zecora was standing in the middle of the clearing. Surrounded by what had to be a the weirdest group of monsters I had ever seen. There were three dog looking freaks with collars and dusty jackets, with two Timberwolves each on leashes. And if that wasn't enough, the third bigger dog had one Timberwolf and a Cockatrice!

"No way are we letting you get away! You probably know that same pony that made fools of us!" The slimmer one said with a growl.

"Maybe if we take you as our prisoner, then Rarity'll have no other choice then to come with her friends and fall into our trap!" The smaller of the three added. Wait, Rarity? How does she know whoever these three are?

"I'm afraid you are mistaken, you dogs of three. For being a slave I do not agree. So take your hounds back home. Less I turn you into loam." She told them, not backing down even an inch.

"We didn't want to have to do this, but fine! I guess we don't have a choice." The thin one said, as he let the Timberwolves go. As did the other two along with the Cockatrice.

"No!" I said in a hushed whisper, getting ready to pounce on the Cockatrice to help Zecora out. Only, as I got close to the three dogs, I stopped as I heard the sound of wood breaking apart.

Zecora then jumped just high enough to land on the first Timberwolf and she smashed its head underneath her own weight. The next two, who went around to try and get her from behind, tried to get her together. But Zecora was quicker as she reached into her saddle bag and took out a small patch of dust and blew it at the wolves. Stopping them in place as the green eerie looking magic disappeared from around them. Leaving them as just a pile of non-magical wood,and made them fall to the ground in pieces.

The last one, who was actually about to get the jump on her, had the worst luck of them all though. The leash that was still connected to him. So when the handle snagged on a root, he was jerked back and landed on a rock breaking apart because of his own bad luck.

Quickly, Zecora pulled out a vial of liquid and splashed it on each of the Timberwolves. Making green magic evaporate from them for good. Probably to keep them from reanimating.

Finally, the Cockatrice rose out from the bushes opposite of me and slithered up in front of Zecora. Taking her by surprise and catching her glance. Already having her back legs turn to stone, she knew it was impossible to escape. So instead she thought of something else and reached into her saddlebags one more time.

Before the saddlebags and lower body turned to stone too, she took something out and quickly swallowed it before she was covered completely in the stone prison. "Ha! I knew bringing a Cockatrice would be a good idea." The slim one said with a laugh, joined by the other two as they let the Cockatrice slither away. "Now, Fido! Get her into the gem cart. It's going to be hard carrying around a pony when they're this heavy.

"Uh...Rover?" Fido asked, backing up a step. "I think we have another problem..." He pointed back towards Zecora with a slightly nervous look.

"Oh, what is it now-huh?" Rover asked, seeing just what Fido was talking about.

Zecora's rock suit was starting to crack and fall apart around her. Pieces coming off in small chunks to reveal that Zecora was still alive in there. And without much trouble, she kicked out of the thin layer of rock and shook off any bits that were still on her back.

"Oh for goodness sake! Let's just catch her and drag her there!" The smaller one told them as he got out a piece of rope and took a step towards her. The other two approving of the idea as they did the same.

Zecora checked her surroundings for the Cockatrice. Looking carefully at the bushes, and just smiling when she saw me there waiting to help. "Oh I wouldn't do that my mangy friends..." She told them with a look of warning.

"And why's that?" Fido asked with a small frown.

"Because I think he will likely bring you to your ends." She said as she nodded towards the bush. To which I smirked and stepped out as calmly as I could. Showing no fear as I stood up to them and glared them down.

"Who is that?" Rover asked as they all now turned to me. Obviously unnerved by what I looked like.

"I'm one of Rarity's best friends." I told them with an intimidating voice. Which seemed to do wonders on them as they took one step back. "And she's told me a lot about you three..."

"O-Oh, she has?" The small one asked, now scared for his life.

"What did she say?" Fido asked, just as scared. Rover wasn't as scared as the two, but didn't look ready to stand up to me either.

"Nothing good." I told them with a glare as I turned my tail towards the side. Doing that thing where I positioned it just right to let them see their faces on the sharp piece of metal. Making them all gulp. Terrified. "You have three seconds..."

Only now did Rover freak out. "Wait! I-I'm sure that we can-"

"One..." I started, taking one step forward. Flapping my wings once to let them know I could charge after them at any time.

"Wait! Please, don't! We only wanted to...T-talk with Miss Rarity, is all!" The small one tried to convince me. That was a lie, and he knew it.

"Two..." I said, sounding slightly more angry from the lie as I started to slowly walk towards them. Getting closer as I quickly spun my tail clockwise so it went from the left to the right in a slicing motion. The reflection of their heads resting on my metal tail once again.

"Please don't hurt us! We promise we won't hurt any pony else again!" Fido said as he dropped his rope and started to back up. As did the other two. Only, Zecora knew what I was up to and decided to make sure it sunk in. So she quickly tripped all three of them to the ground. Leaving them defenseless.

"THREE!" I shouted out, flying forward in one sudden burst of speed. Making them flinch as they tripped to forwards. Deciding to just forget about standing out all together as they just burrowed underground and filled up the holes behind them. Getting away as I landed back on the ground.

"Well, that was an unexpected surprise." I said, referring to the whole event. "Why were they after you anyway, Zecora?" I asked, looking up to see her shaking her head.

"They have been trying to find Rarity those three. And lately, they've been coming after me." She said, sighing at the annoyance. "But what brings you here, Blitz? Is there an ailment putting you on the fritz?"

"Ahehe...Nice one." I said with a nod, letting that little joke go over my head. "No, it's not that. Some pony told me that you were in trouble out here a few minutes ago and told me to come help."

"Is that truly so? Because that attack didn't happen that long ago." She asked me with a raised eyebrow. Telling me right away that something was wrong here.

"Wait, so you're saying that there was no way she could've known that..." Seeing her expression answered it all for me. She was lying, and it was convenient. "Oh perfect. Add one more messed up problem to add onto the list today."

"What is the matter? Your mood seems a bit sour." Zecora noted as she walked over with a straight face. Willing to help out with this problem.

"Well..." I looked towards her and thought it over. I could've simply told her how nearly everything since the projects for today have been getting in the way like that bright flash of light and the nerd mare that set me up. Probably getting ready to steal...Basically from the elderly, but I needed to get something else off my chest.

"I might as well tell you. You already know about how I'm not from around here. And I just got this letter from Princess Celestia talking about how me and the others need to go there and help these three other kids out. Ones that used to bully me as long as I could remember." I told her, giving the backstory.

"Mhm..." Zecora nodded in understanding. Telling me to go on.

"And those three were what made my life so horrible. Morgue especially." I said with a frown. Just thinking back to all the times he did everything to me, I hated him so much. It wasn't bad enough that so much was taken from me, but he just smacked me around so much to help it all set in that it was hopeless. And I was about to go and help him?

"Why? Why should I even consider trying to help him? That guy is the one reason I had such a horrible life in the first place. Aside from every po-one in that school, and I was the one and only kid he picked on. Him and his two lackeys too! They beat me up, stole my money, played cruel jokes in front of the school and in public, and made it so I was the one that took all the blame. He's the reason I-"

"Don't be mad for what Morgue may do." Zecora interrupted me as she started walking away. Looking to the ground as she started going back to her hut. "In the end, what's happened made a better you."

"I...I don't know..." I told her with some hesitation in my voice. Which made Zecora stop in her tracks as she stood there. Looking empty and defeated for some reason. "I'm sorry Zecora, but...You just don't understand how-"

"Don't you start that bit of woe!" She suddenly snapped at me, turning towards me with tears in her eyes. This being the very first time she looked about ready to break out crying. "All that's happened, and you say I don't know?! For some pony like Morgue, only I seem to care! It sounds like his way of 'bullying' is the only way to dare!"

"Wha...What do you..." I started, taking a step back in response to what was going on. What was she talking about? Way of bullying being the only way? Why was she defending them?

"You wouldn't know..." She said, shaking her head as she took a deep breath. "Sorry, I'll just go. I acting out of line, and I seem to just be wasting your time." She said emptily as she started walking. "Just please reconsider helping them. It means more than you know..."

As I watched her walk back to her hut, tearing up along the way, I stayed quiet. It was obvious that she didn't want to talk about it anymore. Every pony seemed to be high-strung today. At least around me, anyway. First me, then Spike, now Zecora. And if that wasn't weird enough...

She didn't rhyme that final part.

---

And this ends the second part. I hope you all enjoyed it, and I will see you all tomorrow for the final part.

Also a quick note I don't think I said last chapter. All the short stories are canon. Including the one last chapter and this one. All short stories will be canon. So look-out for those, because they will be referred to in the main story every once and a while!

QotC: How else do you think Lyra can figure out if Blitz is a human?