Utopia

A step in time saves nine, some say, and Ambrosia was not one to step nine times when she only needed one. No, She'd prefer to take that one step, cover all the ground and have a royal welcome awaiting her arrival, and this was no exception. With a spring to her step that neither Zubari nor Hoodlum had seen in some time, she was flitting around her apartment, followed by an almost panicking Bubbles as she frantically took notes from Ambrosia's unbroken monologue.

"I think we'll start with Prince Blueblood, he's never been very popular," She was saying cheerfully, "We'll need some dirt on him, and of course the more influential ponies in the city, and by influential and Canterlot that can only mean what Bubbles?"

Bubbles floundered for a moment, caught out on the spot as it were, before blurting out "Fashion?"

"Fashion indeed!" Ambrosia exclaimed, "Hoity Toity, Vogue, Any magazine worth its salt really, Photo Finish of course, that new up and coming designer too, what's her name? The white one, purple mane."

It wasn't Bubbles who spoke this time, but Hoodlum with the answer, "Rarity. De pony you are referring to's name is Rarity."

The room went silent as they all looked at Zukra. He shrugged, "What? She makes very good clothing. But her base of operations is also in Ponyville, and a bit out of our reach."

Three ponies stared at Hood, and he shrugged.

"What? I am not allowed to follow fashion lines?" he asked, "It is a hobby of mine."

The silence was broken when Ambrosia shrugged and continued.

"Anyhow," She said, now rummaging through drawers, "After that we'll have to go bigger. We'll need a lot of wallop to get to Gild, and that means going big. The designers have access to the Nobles, and the Nobles have access to everything. That's the plan. We get the noble's support, willing or otherwise, and take down Gild. Then, we wait, see who gets instated as the new Captain. If he suits, we leave things go and we turn the thieves in. If not, then we take steps to see them removed as well. With me so far?"

Bubbles and Zubari were staring at Ambrosia, both looking quite stricken.

"You're just going to dump them!?" Bubbles asked, shocked, "You're just going to leave them to the guard!? After using them like this?"

"It does seem cold Amber," Zubari said cautiously.

Ambrosia sniffed and shrugged.

"I understand how you'd see it that way," She replied, "But they're thieves and ruffians Bubbles, not respectable citizens."

"Begging your pardon mistress...." Bubbles ventured cautiously, "But... Are we so different now?"

Ambrosia froze, then turned slowly to look at Bubbles.

"We are not the same as them. We are using them, they're nothing but a means to an end. A way to get our home back, and be damned with them. They're thugs, thieves, ruffians."

Her voice, previously so full of life and joy, was now hideously dark and ice cold. Bubbles cringed away from her in fear, terrified of her loving mother figure, now so dark.

"I-I... M-Mistress..?"

Ambrosia stared down the younger blue mare, her glare sharper than any knife.

"You will remember well that we are above them, and perhaps next time you move to insult me, you'll hold your traitorous tongue, understand?"

Bubbles was silent, staring at Ambrosia in stunned terror. Even the two zebras were shocked. Tears formed in Bubble's eyes and, with a strangled sob she bolted. Her clipboard fell, hitting the floor with a clatter accompanied by the door slamming shut. Ambrosia didn't even flinch, though she did glare at the door. With a sudden jerk of her head, she was glaring at the other two.

"You have something to say?"

Zukra woodenly shook his head. Zubari didn't even move, though he didn't look impressed. Ambrosia glared at the pair for a short time, before huffing, and continuing on with her monologue.

Zubari looked at Hoodlum sadly, and the pair sighed.

Bubbles had her own apartment. Had done since Ambrosia had helped her get it when the star'd gone under. And it was sparse, not decorated, and currently housing a sobbing, broken Bubbles. The bed was hard, and the blanket thin. Her hooves were sore from hitting the bed, the walls and anything else she got close enough to to hit. Her eyes were bloodshot, and her tear ducts had dried up some time back.

She couldn't cry anymore, but still she sobbed.

Bubbles had known Ambrosia... Celestia, for longer than she could remember. She'd taken her in when nopony else would. A vagrant on the streets of Canterlot, left to fend for herself. She was nineteen now so... what, fifteen years?

She could still remember a few of the days too. The first day she set hoof in the star, broken down as it was. She was so excited. The first home she'd ever really had. A home with her mother, her new mother. Ambrosia. Ambrosia couldn't have been much past twenty years old. A young mare, in a big city, on her own, took in a helpless filly from the street. She'd fed her, clothed her and put a roof over her head. She'd protected her when nopony else would. And now she's kicked her to the curb and out on the street.

There was banging on her door, and a yell from some crabby pony to 'keep it down', something about breaking things and paying. She ignored them, thinking of Ambrosia the whole time.

"Why..." She whimpered softly "I don't.... I don't understand..."

She'd called her a traitor. Traitorous tongue.

You'll hold your traitorous tongue! Understand me?

The love she had for her mother figure went well past where it should have. She'd known that for years. But at this point, all Bubbles wanted was to forget. Forget her, and leave her past behind. Again. Fifteen years with this pony, and now she's turned on her, calling her a traitor. She hadn't meant...

Her grief stricken face hardened, and a snarl took its place, her eyes glinting with steel.

"You want a traitor..." She whispered to herself softly, "... Then you've got one."

Bubbles ignored the first knocking on her door. She was busy. Very busy. But the second set of knocking came with a voice. A familiar one.

"Bubbles? I know dat Ambrosia was harsh on you... Please, let me in. I would like to talk to you abou-"

"Go away Hoodlum!" She shouted back, ignoring the stunned silence on the other end, "I don't need your help, and I don't need Ambrosia's. Get lost, and don't come back."

Meanwhile, at a nice restaurant that Ambrosia had suggested, Ambrosia was sitting opposite Sky Graphic, who was dressed very nicely in a black suit. There was a bottle of wine between them, and a glass before each of them. They were both half filled with the red liquid. A closed menu sat before them.

"You know this place well Miss Ambrosia?" Sky began hesitantly, "You seemed rather eager to..?"

"Oh, I'm a regular here darling. I know the place, and the dishes, like the back of my hoof~"

As they were approached by their waitress, Bubbles was leaving her apartment. Shoes on, simple dress. She had a destination in mind. A very big one.

Biggest in Canterlot.

"Gild will see you now Miss... Bubbles?"

Bubbles, wings puffed up in agitation, looked up from her seat quickly and nodded, putting the magazine she'd been reading down. A weird place this was, a waiting room outside of the Guard Captain's office. Magazines, chairs, it was like a hospital waiting room.

"Oh, thank you," She said hesitantly, standing up, her wings twitching, "I'll be right in."

The guard nodded at her, then resumed his spot. After a brief moment to smooth her dress, then walked on in.

His desk was at ground level, which she thought was rather clever. Gave the impression that the pony in question was equal to the captain. A clever idea.

Behind it was the grizzled captain himself, glaring coldly at Bubbles.

"Bubbles. The missing employee of the Golden Star. You're under arrest."

"I'd like to make a deal," She replied back nervously. Gild's brow raised.

"A deal?" he asked quietly, "You're a criminal."

"But," she countered, still nervous, "Anypony is capable of making a deal with the guard and justice department in order to reduce or remove one's sentence. I'm here to make a deal such as that."

"... What is it?" he asked darkly. Bubbles screwed up her courage.

"I'd like to make a deal. My story, condeming my former employer Ambrosia, for my freedom and a new job."

Gild's eyes narrowed, suspicions raised.

"Records say Ambrosia adopted you a decade and a half ago. Mother figure. Tell me. Why would you turn on her now?"

At this, it was Bubbles who turned icy.

"That's my business. The point is, I can give you the truth about the Star, and you have nothing else to go on right now, because you won't let the case go to court until you have evidence. True?"

Gild considered this carefully.

On the other side of Canterlot, Ambrosia laughed at Sky's joke as her bowl of mushroom Tagliatelle, or rather what once held it, was taken away by a well dressed waitress.

"I must say, for somepony who says he doesn't date much, you're not too bad at it."

Sky flushed and smiled timidly.

"Thank you Ambrosia, it means more thank you think to hear you say that. And you were right, it's really a very pleasant restaurant."

The waitress returned with a smile.

"Are you ready for your dessert menu?" She asked pleasantly. Ambrosia nodded.

"Please. Are you adjusting to the job?"

The waitress smiled and looked around quickly before smiling a lot more genuinely.

"Yes I am, thank you. I'll always be in your debt for my new life."

With that, she dropped off the menus, and graciously walked away. Ambrosia turned back to her date to see him staring at her, jaw open. She smiled brightly.

"I knew her. Took her off the streets, helped her get a job. As much as I love the attention, you're drawing attention to us."

Sky shook his head, blinking to clear his head, and filing that away for later use.

"I... sorry, I just... I didn't expect it."

"Nopony ever does," She replied gently, "Dessert?"

"You're turning on your employer, what makes you think I can trust you now?"

Gild looked rather triumphant in his question, thinking he had her. But Bubbles was getting frustrated, and impatience won out over any pretence of civility.

"Ex Employer Captain," She snapped irritably, "She's not my employer anymore. She doesn't need me, and she doesn't deserve my loyalty. Now do you want this or not?"

Gild glared at her, outraged by her impudence. But he didn't snap, he didn't yell. No, he sighed slowly, trying to calm himself.

"Alright. What job were you after?"

"Something here," She said quickly, "Ambrosia had me doing office work. Finances, records, anything that was written down and managed."

"Secretarial work?" he asked suspiciously, "You think I'd trust-"

"You agreed to the deal," She cut him off rudely, "the job, or you have no evidence."

Fuming, Gild growled in his throat.

"Fine. But you'll be my personal assistant. You will follow me at all times, unless I tell you otherwise. Understand?"

"Works for me," She shot back, "Guaranteed?"

"I'll do the paperwork the moment I have the story," He shot back, "Now. talk."

Bubbles smiled. And began to speak.

An hour later, and Sky Graphic was at the entrance to Ambrosia's apartment, preparing to say his goodbyes.

"I... I had a great time tonight Ambrosia," He said honestly, "I... I was kinda hoping you and I could um..."

Ambrosia merely looked at him with a funny little smile. He was stammering, tripping over himself in his attempts to ask her out again. They'd polished off a whole bottle of wine together, and here he was, tripping over himself to ask her out again.

How adorable.

"You're quite cute you know," She said softly, cheekily, making him blush, "You're a dear, but if you think I'm going to let a cute little thing like you simply walk away now, when the night is so young, you are sorely mistaken."

"I... what?" he asked weakly, a moment before Ambrosia opened her door and, with a wink, walked on in, inviting him in after her. With a gulp, and a shudder of anticipation (No Graphic... don't get ahead of yourself!), he followed her in. It was sparse, but he didn't really get much time to admire the simple decor. The door shut behind him quickly, and Ambrosia lead him away again, bumping and nudging him with nuzzles and giggles as he blushed hotly to the tips of his ears. She steered him into her room, a small cubicle really, with a simple bed, simple sheets. But he didn't complain, though he did hesitate.

"What's wrong?" She whispered into his ear from behind him, nibbling the tip of his ear afterwards, "Getting cold hooves?"

"I-I just..." he stammered, gasping as she breathed a hot breath on his neck, following up with a hungry kiss to the same area, "Is... Isn't this a bit Nngh!... Fast?"

She stopped, and looked him over again in a little surprise. His wings were agitated, fluffy and half open, partially she supposed to support her weight. Her chest was on his back, and she had been nipping at his ears and throat... And here he was, afraid it was too fast?

"Is that a problem for you?" She asked curiously. He fidgeted under her, still bright red in the face.

"W-W-well no..." he replied honestly, "Truthfully I... I couldn't turn you down if you asked.... it's just..."

Ambrosia was hit by a touch of surprise. She'd thought he'd asked her out on a whim of lust, but here he was being the perfect gentlecolt about it all!

"It's rare you find a stallion like yourself then," She said softly, breathing into his ear again and enjoying the shudder it caused him, "Such a sweet gentlecolt..."

"It's only fitting for a beautiful mare..." he mumbled, embarrassed. On his back, Ambrosia laughed.

"Oh sugar," She said with an honest smile, hopping off his back and sliding her way under his chin to press at his neck in an affectionate nuzzle, "You're such a cute boy. Tell me, how did you see this turning out?"

"W-well," He mumbled, moving into a sitting position at her rather insistent nuzzles to his chin... not even able to look at her properly for her closeness, "I... I figured there'd be a few more dates at least... M-Maybe the theatre, or another fancy restaurant... Th-then I... I guess I was hoping..."

"For a kiss?" She teased him, her heart melting a little for him, "You're too good for me dear. How would you kiss me then?"

At this question, he stiffened, looking a little more afraid. Amber giggled a little, and pulled her head away long enough to pull his head down to face her. At this point, his wings had opened fully, and they were rather pretty. At least, Amber liked them. The feathers were very well maintained.

"Would you kiss me quickly?" She asked, "Like a nervous colt in the schoolyard?"

She kissed him, but it was over far too soon for Sky's liking and he caught a whimper before it escaped his throat. Ambrosia continued her questioning heedlessly.

"Would you kiss me hard?" She queried, "Like a lover in a lust filled tryst..?"

"I would kiss you gently," He said quickly, A hoof on her chest stopping her from kissing him like she had said, and her eyes opened a fraction wider, "A kiss to show you I care... That I hoped for more than sex..."

And now it was his turn to kiss her, and he meant to enjoy this one. He kissed her gently, just like he said he would, pressing his lips to hers with only an ever-so-slight tilt of his head. Her mane made the perfect thing to hold onto, and hold he did with one hoof, the other cupping her cheek as he kissed her. He felt his wingtips touch her back, and realised he'd curled them around himself to reach her, and she shivered. He smiled a little. Her lips were soft and tasted of wine and chocolate, her dessert and post dinner drink, he noted hazily.

He felt her hoof find a hold of his mane, like his had hers, and suddenly she was pressing herself to him harder, trying to deepen his kiss, but he held his ground, taking a deep breath through his nose to steady himself as he pulled his head back enough that her attempt was softened, then foiled completely. She whimpered, and he felt a little burst of pride in himself.

And then she pushed further, and the pair of them fell. The kiss was broken, and Sky was suddenly on the floor, and he'd hit his head on the floorboards. A shot of pain hit him and he cried out, and a waterfall of pink fell over his face. Opening his eyes, he saw a flushed, panting Ambrosia hovering over him, looking concerned.

"Are you okay?" she asked softly. Just seeing her face, and the concern, made him feel better, and he smiled.

"Never better," He whispered back, "Sorry to ruin the moment..."

"The moment never left, it's just changed," She whispered back, before pressing her advantage over him, pressing a kiss onto his lips. She tried to hold back, to keep the kiss from before, but she couldn't help herself. She pushed her chest to his, felt his hooves on her back, one on her flank. She was vaguely aware her hind legs were over the last one, and she knew he could throw her off if he wanted to. But he didn't. She opened her mouth to him, but he didn't press on. He held back, showing more restraint than she had...

Or was he?

Curiously, and more than a little impatiently, she did instead, probing at his mouth with her tongue. She heard a sharp intake of breath, and pulled back, opening her eyes to look at him. He looked a little alarmed, surprised.

"What?" She asked softly, "Never done that before?"

"I... no, you.... you were my first..." He replied, his bright blush from before returning in full force. Amber frowned, a little confused.

"Your first kiss?" She asked. He stammered before clearing his throat.

"W-well... the first one I meant..." he clarified awkwardly, "I... did practice... a few times... W-with um... somepony I knew..."

"No tongue huh?" She teased, now smiling. He shook his head awkwardly, and she laughed.

"Well then... let me teach you~"

She leaned down to kiss him again, and there came a knock at the front door. She froze. So did he.

"Oh... shit."

"Room service?" came a voice. Ambrosia sighed in relief.

"Come back later!" She called, a little more irritably than she intended. The voice called back an affirmative and, in the silence that followed, they heard hoofsteps as the mare left. Ambrosia sighed, thinking the moment ruined.

"Well... that was... Sky?"

She stopped, questioning him when she started feeling butterfly kisses on her neck. She didn't pull away. But rather, simply looked down at him, a little surprised. He kept kissing her neck, 'mming' in reply.

"You still want to..?"

"Mmph..." he grunted back softly in affirmative. Sky didn't stop his affections, placing a final kiss at the top of her throat before continuing, "I've never wanted somepony more..."