Blood Diamonds

Chapter 6: Friends

Rainbow Dash took a sip of coffee. “So, I’ve noticed you’ve been tailing me for the last few days.”

“Oh, r-really?” Golden Glory asked. They were both seated at the round, cloud-coloured table in Rainbow’s kitchen, a steaming mug in front of each of them. While Rainbow’s was already half empty, Glory’s was still untouched.

“Checking out my sweet moves, huh?” Rainbow winked at her. “You know, all you had to do was ask. I’d never let down a fan!”

Golden Glory exhaled. “Yes. I was afraid you’d find it strange or even creepy, or that you’d turn me away.”

“There’s nothing creepy about wanting to see Equestria’s best flyer in action. Stalking me kinda was, but, luckily for you, I figured it out.” Rainbow smiled at her, and took another sip. “Aren’t you gonna drink your coffee?”

“Oh yes, the coffee!” She grasped it in her hooves and took a large gulp of the still-steaming liquid, tears springing up into her eyes.

“Feeling nervous? You don’t have to; I don’t bite. In fact,” – Rainbow made a dramatic pause – “I might have an offer for you.”

Glory finally swallowed the coffee in her mouth. “An offer? For me?”

“Yeah, you deaf? First, I need to see you flying though.”

“What?”

“Come on, that’s why I invited you over here. Give me a lap!”

“But I...”

Rainbow grabbed a stopwatch from atop the table. “Once around the house. And try to look cool.”

“But...”

“Starting the time in three... two... one... go!”

“But...!”

Rainbow walked to the door. “The time’s running.”

Glory stood still for about a second longer, before running out of the house and shooting towards the skies. She zig-zagged around the clouds Rainbow had placed there earlier and got through all the loops without even a hint of a problem, making a tailspin.

Wow, she’s good.

She then proceeded to break through a cloud cluster without losing a fraction of her speed and flew down head-first towards Rainbow Dash, pulling up at the last moment and landing gracefully right next to her. “So, how was I?”

“W-wow–” Rainbow shook her head. “I mean... Not bad. But it could be better. You had a nice speed, but it was missing some radicalness. Your time is...” She checked the stopwatch, and her eyes widened. “What is your wing power exactly?”

“It was somewhere around eight the last time I measured it.”

There was no way that was eight wing power. More like thirteen! “Have you been training lately?”

“No.”

Rainbow squinted at her. “I know you want to sound cool, but don’t lie to me. Nopony is this fast without training! Apart from me, of course, but I’m a special case.”

Golden Glory gave out a shaky laugh. “I guess I was training then; you got me.”

“Good.” Rainbow smiled. “See? I can read you like a book. If I read books, of course. Do you read books, Goldy?”

“Yes.”

“Wrong answer! Books are for eggheads; you need to focus on your muscles, not your eyes!”

“But you just said–“

“I said that you’ve got a nice speed, but that doesn’t mean you should get complacent! I won’t let you train with me with that attitude!”

Glory furrowed her brow. “Train with you?”

Rainbow grinned at her. “Cor-rect. I mean if I ever want to become a Captain of the Wonderbolts, I need to be able to train recruits. And you look kinda promising.” Rainbow started circling her, prodding her wings. “Besides, you don’t look like you’d slow me down too much. I’ll train you to the best of your abilities, and when anypony – especially if that anypony is a Wonderbolt – asks you how you got so cool, you’ll tell them it was all thanks to me and my superior training skills. Deal?”

“Err... deal?”

Rainbow Dash nodded like she didn’t expect any different anyway. “Awesome. Now come back in again, we’ve got a lot to talk about.”

After twenty minutes of Rainbow talking about her training program and, chiefly, about how great it’ll be once she gets in the Wonderbolts, she felt a pressure in her bladder. “Uh... I might have drunk a bit too much coffee, so...” She pointed at her bathroom and trotted there.

This went better than I expected.

She sat on the bowl, doing her business. Golden Glory was much better than she had expected. How? She looked quite weak, frail even, and Rainbow didn’t remember seeing her in any competitions. I guess there’s just moreto her than she lets on.

There was some ruckus coming from the kitchen. “Goldy?” Rainbow cleaned herself up with a piece of toilet paper and opened the door. “Goldy, what are y–” Rainbow’s mouth went agape.

Golden Glory was wrestling on the floor with some hooded stallion – apparently a burglar. While that was quite surprising in and of itself, it wasn’t what made Rainbow’s jaw hit the floor. It was the fact that Glory was winning.

She was on top of him, diverting his punches away while landing her own. Just... how? The guy was jacked, for Celestia’s sake! Well, at least in comparison.

“Uh... good work, Goldy. Just... uh... hold him down while I go fetch some gu–”

What Rainbow saw next would forever remain burned into her mind. Without a moment of hesitation, she galloped back into the bathroom and locked door behind herself. There, she curled in a corner, staring in front of herself and trembling, while the air carried the agonised screams of the unfortunate criminal.

She... she... she...

Rainbow had never seen anything like it, not even remotely. While she probably could have during the last few weeks, she just stayed together with Fluttershy in and around her cottage. Asking the timid pegasus to stay at home alone in a time like that was, after all, like asking Twilight to add a smiley face at the end of her letters to the Princess. Rainbow was basically stuck there the entire time, bored to tears, and even when they made the rare trip to the town, neither of them had any desire to see their friends’ mutilated remains.

She... she...

Her reaction was quite natural, considering she lived her entire life in a practically violence free environment, where the most blood she ever saw came from a particularly nasty bruise. And now this.

She tore his freaking leg off!

The scene kept replaying itself in her mind over and over – Golden Glory kept beating him, which was fine, but then she grabbed his leg for some reason. Rainbow didn’t understand why until she heard a crack as the joints gave way, and the meat, together with the skin, separated from its owner, sending a bloody splash on a nearby wall.

Was this just a nightmare? It had to be. These things didn’t happen, not to her! And Glory... not just Glory, but nopony should be able to tear a leg off somepony else! Rainbow wasn’t a biologist, but she was pretty sure those things held together quite firmly. Yes, a dream would explain the masterful flying skills too... but not what she just saw. She wouldn’t even be able to imagine such a thing before, let alone dream about it!

The blood-freezing shrieks suddenly stopped.

Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no! She’s after me, no...

Rainbow choked back a sob and stared at the door. The only escape route in the room – no other doors or windows. But there had to be some other way out of there! Rainbow could still outfly her, of that she was sure... she just had to get out.

Think, Rainbow, think!

She heard hoofsteps approaching from the kitchen, each one sending an icy jolt through her spine.

If you don’t have an entrance, you have to make one!

The walls were, just like pretty much everything else in Cloudsdale, made of super-thickened clouds. And she was a pro when it came to breaking clouds to pieces. Rainbow positioned her flank in front of a particularly weak-looking part of the wall and bucked with all the strength she had. And then again. And again. The wall was slowly, but surely giving way.

The door handle rattled. “Open up, Rainbow Dash.”

“Go away! Leave me alone!” Rainbow was still sobbing, in fact even more than before, and her bucking became more fervent. She was getting close, she could feel it!

“I’m afraid that’s not possible. How about you just come out and we’ll discuss what happened over a nice, hot mug of coffee.”

“I’m not an idiot!”

“Fine.” Golden Glory sighed, and the door shook as she attempted to ram it.

Comeoncomeoncomeon!

With one last mighty kick, her legs got through the solidified vapors and met the open air.

Yes! Take that, ‘Goldy’!

The hole was quite small, but looked large enough for Rainbow to squeeze through.

To hay with this!

Or maybe not. Rainbow’s head was already enjoying the sunshine when her wings reached the narrowest part and just wouldn’t pass. Meanwhile, the door hinges screamed in protest as more and more attempts at breaking them came. Rainbow was giving the door about five more seconds.

Come on, Rainbow, what did they teach you in flight training? ‘If you get stuck inside a cloud, just retreat and try again.’

Rainbow crawled back a little and lunged forward, her wings bursting through the little part blocking them. Right after she finally got out and breathed in the air of freedom, however, she heard the bathroom door give way.

Crap!

She had to fly and she had to do it fast. But where? From what she had heard, the Guard wasn’t of much help the last time something like this had happened, and its bulwark was based in Ponyville, not Cloudsdale. Rainbow wasn’t about to risk a trip all the way there with this sicko at her tail; who knows what other surprises that freak had prepared. She had to hide. And what hiding place was better than the one that had already worked once? Rainbow nose-dived towards Fluttershy’s cottage, taking the most cloud-filled route possible.

Almost there...

She risked a glance behind her, and didn’t see Golden Glory anywhere. That meant she either lost her, or... Rainbow gulped. Or she’s hiding among the clouds too.

Glory shouldn’t be able to catch her – Rainbow was the fastest and greatest flyer Equestria had ever seen and she was well aware of the fact – but after what she’d seen earlier, anything seemed possible.

Just the home stretch now!

She was just leaving the cloud field and took another peek behind. Golden Glory was still nowhere to be seen. She must have really lost her then!

With a grunt, she landed at Fluttershy’s doorstep and smiled. No matter what this psychotic hotshot had hidden in her sleeves, she was still the undisputed ruler of the skies. The smile, however, didn’t last long as the gruesome scene pushed its way to the front of her mind again.

Without even bothering to knock, Rainbow quickly opened the door and walked in, leaning against a wall with a sigh. She made it.

“W-who’s there?” a shaky, almost inaudible voice asked.

“Fluttershy? It’s me, Rainbow Dash. You wouldn’t believe me if I told you what just happened! We need to go to the town and... Is there something wrong, Fluttershy?”

Perhaps she did just flee from a murderous maniac and perhaps she was in possible danger even now, but that didn’t mean she was about to turn her back on a friend, especially a friend in this state. Fluttershy was lying in the centre of the main room, huddled together into a little, yellow ball, and quietly sobbed.

“Fluttershy?” Rainbow took a step forward. “Fluttershy, what happened?” Fluttershy wasn’t merely curled together like Rainbow had thought, she could see that now. No, she was wrapped around something. Something white. “What do you have there?”

Fluttershy took the thing in her hooves like one would take a precious jewel and, without even turning to face her, she slowly laid it in front of herself. It was that annoying bunny of hers, Angel, his head twisted in an unnatural angle and his snow-white fur stained by shades of red.

Rainbow did a double take and her gaze jumped from one corner of the cottage to another. Chances were the one responsible was still somewhere around. “F–Fluttershy? Who... who did this? Tell me what happened!”

Fluttershy choked back a sob. “I’m so sorry, Rainbow Dash. I’m so... so sorry.”

“Sorry for what?”

Fluttershy turned around, showing a blood-smeared muzzle and mouth with two, long fangs. Without a moment to spare, she lunged at Rainbow and dug her teeth deep into the side of her neck.

Rainbow’s consciousness began rapidly fading away. “Flut– Fluttershy...?”

Why?

———

Rarity woke to the sound of chirping birds and rays of sunlight shining on her bed through the window. She smiled, yawned, and stretched, careful not to disturb the little filly lying next to her.

What a wonderful morning.

Soon, she’ll walk downstairs and make Sweetie and herself a nice cup of hot cocoa like every Saturday, and... Her eyes fell on Twilight, and she suddenly realised it wasn’t her bed she was lying in, and that while the house greeted her with familiarity, it still wasn’t home. The events of yesterday night – or rather of today’s morning – hit her brain with the force of a train, and even the ‘wonderful morning’ suddenly seemed to lose some of its hearty colour.

And I have a feeling there won’t be any cocoa for us either.

What should she do? Rarity pondered the question as she watched Twilight’s sleeping form. Wait for her to wake up and suffer through the unavoidable storm of accusations and demands for an explanation? Or she could just tip-toe outside and avoid it altogether.

She shook her head. That would only delay the inevitable. But to be shouted at yet again, especially in front of Sweetie Belle...

No, Twilight won’t shout. She’ll pry instead, cross-examining every word I say. Hard to decide whether that’s any better.

She sighed. She’d just have to endure it somehow. At least Pinkie Pie wasn’t there – she was livid the last time Rarity saw her. Worse yet, Rarity knew why. It was in part because of her letting that vampony out, of course, but also because she’d lied to her. She promised she wouldn’t lie to her ever again right before they took care of Lyra, yet here she was, making up tales about strolls.

She must think my word isn’t worth a broken bit. And maybe she’s right. It feels like I’ve been saying more lies than truths ever since I was bound.

She couldn’t do otherwise, of course, but Pinkie didn’t know that. Nopony she cared about knew that. Was this how it would all end? Her becoming a chronic liar in everypony’s eyes, losing all her friends in the process? The likeliness of that seemed to increase by the day. After all, she’d have to do it for several centuries unless she figured this whole thing out, and she just let her only solid clue leave through the front door!

With another sigh, she collapsed back onto her pillow. What the hay was she supposed to do now? Wait and pray for Twilight’s research, provided she’d even continue in it, to yield something useful? It was a reasonable course of action, but with those attacks... She had to go out there and do something!

But what?

She could go apologise to Pinkie. But what for? She’d probably be forced to lie to her again at some point, and then things would become even worse.

Rarity frowned. It seemed like having the fall out with Twilight was really her only option at the moment. She silently slipped out of the bed and snuck down the stairs. A breakfast could relieve at least some of the tension.

Half an hour later, the smell of fried asparagus filled the air, and Rarity could hear the first yawns. Sweetie came down first, immediately taking her place at the table and looking at Rarity with a grin. Or rather at the steaming pile of food she was levitating towards her.

Spike came down second, giving her a smile that only grew wider when she pushed a plate of emeralds towards him.

Then Twilight appeared, her eyes squinting as if she had just been confronted with a hard logical puzzle. “I don’t remember having any...” She yawned. “...any asparagus here yesterday.”

Rarity smiled at her. “Good morning to you. I went and bought some. It was the least I could do.”

“Thanks.” Twilight sat down and levitated several stalks to her plate. “I presume this is meant as an apology for yesterday?”

The smile froze on Rarity’s face. “Perhaps?” She would have probably done it anyway, but now it looked like an act of cold pragmatism rather than that of genuine friendship.

Twilight nodded. “Don’t dwell on it. What’s past is past.” She then took a bite. “This is really good!”

“Thank you, Darling, but ‘past is past?’ You mean you forgive me?”

“Yes.”

Rarity’s heart began racing. This was great! Better than her most optimistic of expectations. “So you will continue helping me in that matter I told you about?”

“It’s the first thing on my to-do list,” Twilight replied, taking another chomp.

Unbelievable! Her worries – poof! Gone! The ones concerning Twilight, at least.

“You got off real easy, sis!” Sweetie whispered to her. “You should’ve seen her when she found out we got one of the book covers dirty.”

Rarity’s heart slowed down as her brain began to kick in. Sweetie had a point. It was very unlike Twilight to just accept things as they came. No, she should be making a fuss and trying to figure it all out, to understand why Rarity did what she did. “Are you sure it’s alright, Twilight? Won’t you try asking me about my reasons yesterday?”

“And would you tell me?”

“Well... No.” Rarity bowed her head.

“Then I see no reason to waste my time with it.” Twilight didn’t even lift her head from her plate, saying it all in an absolutely calm, everything’s-fine tone.

“Uh-huh,” Rarity said with a raised eyebrow. “You won’t mind if I go to check up on my boutique, will you?”

When Twilight shook her head, Rarity made her exit.

This was weird. No, worse than weird. It was downright unnatural! Twilight doesn’t act this way. Last time she couldn’t figure things out, she strapped Pinkie to some weird machine! But now she just seems like she... resigned?

Could it be? Could Twilight really just give up? Why would she do that?

She must be thinking about Lyra again, now that it seems like things can repeat themselves.

Of course. Lyra would explain everything. Rarity knew that Twilight never got over that it was she herself who landed the killing blow. But Twilight breaking down, of all ponies? She seemed fine just a day ago! Perhaps it was all this secrecy.

Rarity bit her lip. Secrecy she’d forced her into. Had she just avoided her and Pinkie after coming back, they probably wouldn’t have ever gotten into this situation. Good thing at least her other friends were spared.

Suddenly, she could feel a trickle of cold running through her body, like an icicle hitting her heart. How long was it since she saw her other friends? Two days? Three? She wasn’t sure; it all felt like one large slab of eternity. It wouldn’t feel like so long normally, but with the things as they were... Were they really safe? What if they got to them as well, and she just thought she was protecting them, while she was actually just avoiding them when they needed her the most?

I missed the spa appointment yesterday...

The thought came to her out of nowhere. Spa... it was the last thing on her mind; of course she forgot. But Fluttershy certainly didn’t. She was probably there for hours, waiting for her. Even if she was spared the horrors of vampony assault, how did that make her feel? For her, it was a perfectly ordinary afternoon which she was supposed to spend with her friend, who she knew wasn’t busy, as the boutique was closed on weekends. And if she heard Rarity was at Twilight’s at the time...

It must have seemed like I simply preferred Twilight over her, without even bothering to apologise.

She shook her head. Nonsense! Fluttershy wouldn’t make such a wild assumption!

...would she?

Things certainly could be interpreted that way. And Applejack... Rarity’s been avoiding her stand every time she passed the town square. What if she noticed? As for Rainbow Dash, Rarity couldn’t remember when the last time she saw her clearing up the clouds was. Was she off-duty, or did something else happen to her?

Rarity shook her head once again. She was just being paranoid and didn’t look at the sky often enough. But paranoia could be correct at times, couldn’t it?

I need to see them. But I can’t!

If she went there now, then all her secrecy was for naught. On the other hoof, what if they didn’t follow her after all? They could have just asked somepony about her friends, and that somepony would tell them.

But if they had my friends, why not take advantage of it? They could extort me into... into what?

The ritual. Even if they managed to capture all her friends, they would still offer them no advantage as she just physically couldn’t agree to their demands. Rarity could now see the geniality of the whole thing – the servant really wasn’t a danger for her master, unless she was stolen. And with this kind of theft being punished by immediate execution, as she’d found out in the vampony law brochure, it was no wonder vamponies relied on it so much.

But then why attack Pinkie?

It made no sense. The attacker clearly had no idea Pinkie was a vampony, and why wouldn’t they tell him?

Or did they?

It ended up nicely for them, after all. He got out and now they all knew where she was hiding.

But that would mean they predicted the whole thing!

How could they? Rarity herself didn’t know she was about to do something so foolish until the very last second. Was she really this predictable, or did they somehow influence her mind? She groaned. Once again, she was left with absolutely nothing and only had a vast amount of speculations.

I should still check up on my friends, at least.

After she riled herself up about them like this, there really was no other option. Still, the possibility that they did follow her was there, and they could have some strange plan to use her friends against her.

There’s a neat spot near Applejack’s where I can hide for a while.

It was settled. She smiled and began trotting towards the Sweet Apple Acres.

———

So I was being followed after all!

Rarity stared from behind a fallen tree as a hooded figure passed on the road, turning his head in every direction.

Lost me, didn’t you? I knew this was a great spot to hide.

He loitered there for a few minutes, scratched his head, and turned back to wherever he came from. After five more minutes or so, after he vanished from view, Rarity stepped out from behind the log and started sneaking towards the orchard. Just because she lost her pursuer didn’t mean she’d throw all caution out of the window – she was there to check up on Applejack and nothing more.

Soon, the orange mare came into view, bucking apple trees as usual. Applebloom was helping her, putting stray apples into a bucket.

How does she keep up with this boring routine every single day without going insane? Kick, pick up apples, kick, pick up apples... I wouldn’t last a week.

“But sis!” Applebloom called out, and Rarity drew closer, hiding behind the tree trunks.

“I’m done hearin’ ‘bout this, Applebloom! Twilight doesn’t have a pony captured in her basement!”

“But we saw him!”

“I said enough!” Applejack delivered a particularly strong buck to the tree behind her. “ I’ve spent the last hour tryin’ to bring you back to your senses. You three just have too much of an imagination; Celestia knows what you’ve seen.”

“But–”

“Applebloom, one more word and you’ll be without dinner! I won’t hear this kind of talk ‘bout my friends.”

“Fine!” Applebloom harrumphed and continued her chores with a scowl.

Rarity smiled. Apart from Applebloom being too much of a chatterbox, everything seems fine over here.

Even if Applejack came to take a look a Twilight’s basement, everything’s been cleaned and repaired already. Rarity slowly retreated out of the orchard and set her course towards Fluttershy’s, while keeping her eyes on the sky. Rainbow Dash lived in Cloudsdale’s outskirts, so Rarity couldn’t visit her without asking Twilight for a special enchantment and buying a balloon ride.

Not the best way to stay unnoticed. I’m sure she’s napping on some cloud anyway.

Not today, it seemed, as Fluttershy’s cottage came into view without any sign of the cyan pegasus. Rarity peeked in through the window, crouching behind the flower pots outside. Nothing. The house was awfully quiet, even the animals being silent and their bowls empty.

Fluttershy wouldn’t leave the house without feeding them first. Perhaps she just took a toilet break?

After fifteen minutes, it became apparent that either Fluttershy suffered from a very severe case of bowel difficulties, or she wasn’t using the little fillies’ room. Rarity moved forward, first peeking in from below the window sill, and then pressing her face to the glass. Still nothing, still so quiet.

She tip-toed towards the door and slowly pressed the handle. It was unlocked. The door led straight into the main room, which was littered with pillows, perches, pigeon holes, and other places for the animals to rest. The inhabitants stared at her with their big, bulged out eyes, their pupils copying her every move without a blink. Still not a peep.

Rarity proceeded towards the staircase, droplets of cold sweat forming on her back. When she ascended the final step, her ears picked up something. It was quiet, almost inaudible, but it was there. Sobbing. Rarity slowly walked towards the bathroom, from which the sound carried, until she stopped at the door. It was definitely Fluttershy crying.

To hay with caution!

She knocked. “Fluttershy?”

“R–Rarity?” The sobbing stopped. “What are you doing here?”

“I was around and, well... thought I might drop by.”

“You weren’t at the spa yesterday.” It didn’t sound sad or hurt. Rather like a plain fact.

“I know and I’m terribly–”

The sobbing started anew, this time with much more vigour.

“Fluttershy, Darling, what has happened?”

No answer, just more crying. Rarity slowly opened the door, peeking in. Fluttershy was sitting there on the ground, holding a motionless white bunny in her hooves.

Oh no...

“Fluttershy, I’m so sorry. What happened?” Rarity moved in for a hug, but Fluttershy leaned away.

“Go... go away, please. I–if you don’t mind. I’d... I’d like to be alone.”

“Are you sure?” Rarity cocked her brow. “I could stay and help...”

Fluttershy shook her head, more and more tears running down her coat.

Rarity bit her lip. Leaving Fluttershy like this sent a wave of cold pain throughout her body. But what could she do? Just force her way in, wrestling the poor pegasus down and hugging her? Like that would help. “As you wish. If you need anything...” Fluttershy nodded and closed the door.

Oh dear...

Fluttershy must have been devastated; much more than she let on the outside. That spoiled brat of a bunny meant the world to her.

Of all the animals she could lose, it had to be him.

Despite it all, it was a good thing she came here. Even if Fluttershy sent her away, she must have felt better now, knowing her friends cared.

The animals still observed her in complete silence, some of them looking on their empty bowls and then back at her.

Oh well, it’s the least I can do, I suppose.

She shrugged and poured the contents of the nearby bags to their appropriate places. Then she left the cottage, this time without a hint of secrecy, and casually walked back to town.

———

“Rarityohmygoshwherewereyou? Iwaslookingalloverforyousomethingterriblehashappened!” Words flew out of Twilight’s mouth like a swarm of parasprites. She nearly knocked Rarity down as she literally ran into her, eyes wide and panting.

Rarity pushed her aside a bit and swept off the sweat Twilight managed to get on her coat. “Calm down, Twilight, and tell me what happened.”

Sweetie probably messed up her books again. Oh well...

“Rarity, I... I...” Twilight seemed to be in the middle of a desperate battle with the desire to speak on one side and the desire to breathe on the other.

“Take your time, there’s no rush.”

“Sweetie is gone!”

“What?” Rarity leaned in, laying her hooves on the side of Twilight’s head. “What’s with Sweetie?” She started shaking with Twilight when she stayed silent. “Tell me!”

“I... I went grocery shopping and when I came back...”

“Yes?” Rarity leaned even closer, practically pressing her face against Twilight’s.

“I... I found Spike unconscious and Sweetie nowhere to be found.”

“Oh no.” The ball forming in her throat prevented her from saying any more. She should’ve been there, together with Sweetie! Why in the world did she go around stalking her friends, when her own family was in danger?

“That’s not all...” Twilight took a step back, as if afraid of Rarity.

“What?” What more could possibly happen? Were her parents missing too?

“The... the floor...” Tears appeared in Twilight’s eyes.

“What? What about the floor?”

“It... it was covered in blood.”

———

Broken Prism sat in his luxurious chair at his mahogany table, reading through the monthly financial reports.

Three hundred and fifty three bits for maintenance of the mountain lodge – Thirty for firewood, twelve for a new window...

It was not that he didn’t trust his accountants, secretaries, and groundskeepers; he just found it relaxing. Plus every time his gaze dropped to the earnings report, he felt a pleasing sting of pride that cast a small smile on his face. Those lands had been practically an untamed wilderness when he’d inherited them those centuries ago, and look at them now – some of the richest parts of the empire, revered for their beauty and opulence.

Of course, the regular ponies didn’t know that. He had to fake his death every sixty years or so, changing his looks a little and claiming to be his own son. When anypony asked how come he was so similar to his father, he claimed that the looks – along with the cutie mark – ran strong in the family. While complete nonsense, it was hard to dispute, considering the last dozen of his ‘ancestors’ looked almost exactly the same, cutie marks included. The largest bother was to remember to dye his mane white and cast an illusion spell or two on his face when he was ‘old,’ and to keep coming up with ideas for names.

And when somepony started having doubts? He’d just pull up that book those researchers – afterwards very rich researchers – produced about the so called ‘Prism anomaly’ that was supposed to be caused by some strange magic that allegedly affected one of his ancestors. The only ‘strange magic’ that had affected his father – the supposed original ancestor – was a fireball followed by a machete to the neck from a rather foolish minor noble. The rebellious idiot then received a long, first-hoof demonstration of the torturer’s craft; Prism made sure of that.

Not one pony found out about the whole thing so far, that’s how gullible they were if one used the words ‘magical anomaly’ and ‘researchers’ together. Perhaps Celestia could figure it out, if she actually cared about him. It was ‘I miss Luna’ one century, ‘The western steppes should be colonised’ the next... as long as his provinces profited, she seemed to ignore them along with him, and focused on something else. Just as he liked it.

...sixty bits to the groundskee–

“Milord?” Bentback asked, appearing as if out of nowhere.

“Bentback.” Some day, he’d find out how he did that. “Is there anything you wanted?”

“Yes, milord. I am to tell you that the preparations are complete.”

“Already?” Prism raised his brow.

“Yes, milord. The captain of the personal guard died prematurely, opening up a position for one of ours.”

Prism frowned. “Prematurely? An assassination will bring too much attention. I thought we agreed on simply discrediting him, making him lose his job.”

“Milord, you misunderstand.” Bentback bowed his head. “He died of pneumonia, we played no role in that.”

“Oh.” Prism’s frown vanished. “Wonderful, in that case. I suppose that with the preparations done, it’s time to move to the execution phase.”

“As you wish, milord.” Bentback bowed. “Others will attend in person. Do you wish to do so as well?”

Prism nodded. “Have the carriage prepared for tomorrow morning, we’ll leave at dawn.”

Bentback bowed again and left the room.

Well, well, well. It seems like someone’s in for a surprise.