Chapters Utopia: Complications (explicit)
"Hey! Hey new girl! Hey!"
Ambrosia smiled, watching from her perch above the VIP room as employee after employee rushed on over to Gilded Thread to welcome her to the family. Ambrosia had always enjoyed the Golden Star's method of welcome. She'd made it herself, specifically to enjoy the bewildered faces. She loved watching their confused reactions to each of the other employees' procedures.
It was standard practice in the Golden Star for each section to introduce themselves in different ways. Some of them had to do multiple parts to their introduction. Consorts had the simplest and possibly the most direct method of introduction. A full kiss on the mouth, although just how far they went on that action was left entirely to their discretion. Ambrosia's current favorite consort, A petite pegasus mare named Caress, was just about to introduce herself, and Ambrosia knew it was going to be good. The little purple mare, sure to Ambrosia's expectations, went all out, planting her lips over Thread's in an eager, and probably very intimate kiss. Beside her, Bubbles was reading off a clipboard. The moment Caress began her physical introduction to Thread, Ambrosia held her hoof up to silence Bubbles. Bubbles, curious as to what Ambrosia wanted silence for, looked out, following the red mare's gaze. As both of them watched, Caress didn't bother with any pretense of subtlety. It was quiet obvious her tongue was, by this time, very busy, and Thread looked very, very uncomfortable. But, true to Ambrosia's hopes, she didn't pull away. Slowly, Caress pulled away, her tongue sliding back into her mouth at the last second, a string of saliva breaking as Caress said something and bounded away.
"Continue," Ambrosia said quietly, as her head chef, a quiet pegasus mare with a white coat and purple mane named Valinor. As kitchen staff, Valinor was expected to present the new pony with a small item of food specific to them. Valinor had presented Thread with a small, elaborate looking canape.
"Yes mistress... Our friends in the Night Guard have passed us some information."
"Oh?" Ambrosia said, only partly listening, "What is it that Blits and Star have for us?"
Morning Star and Blits Brazier were frequent customers. Both members of Luna's Night Guards, and thus both Thestrals, they tended to come in during the daylight hours. In exchange for their VIP status, Ambrosia demanded information rather than money. They occasionally sent tidbits of non-classified info that might help her in business. They were married, but were rather open about their relationship and tended to come together, but leave separately.
Bubbles read the note quickly and frowned.
"Apparently, there's going to be a crackdown in health inspections in our industry, and the department of Commerce has apparently been petitioning Princess Celestia for tougher inspections of industry books. If that's true, we're going to have to double check our books for discrepancies. Any problems in them might cause us to be closed pending an investigation, and if they find something they don't like, they'll shut us down."
Bubbles paused momentarily, nervous. Below them, The two main bartenders for the Star, Twin brother and sister earth ponies Kai and Oil, were showing off, much to Thread's entertainment.
"Ma'am, we've already had ex customers accuse us of theft, if anypony in the Guard hear about that, it'll give them enough excuse for a warrant to search us."
"What would it matter?" Ambrosia asked indifferently, watching now as the staff all raised a toast to the newest member of the family, "What would they find? The back exit is hardly hidden and it comes out in an alley where we take out the trash. There's nothing here they could incriminate us for."
"You're forgetting some of the backgrounds of our girls. Caress is a pickpocket, convicted twice and sent to Juvenile detention once. Cherubim was tried by assosciation to a drug lord. The fact that she was found innocent won't mean anything to them if they're determined enough. Some of our clients demand special needs be met. Vinyl Scratch asks for some questionable aphrodisiacs and hallucinogens, some of them not legal. We have a small amount of them on storage here for her visits. Laurette Blackhoof takes a shot of a Cabergoline variation. Due to the dangerous potential nature of it, it's considered unethical and illegal in Equestria."
"Let me guess..." Ambrosia sighed softly, "We have a small supply on hoof."
"Yes," Bubbles responded, "But only small. That, at least, is a minor concern. That particular variation is incredibly popular on the streets. It gained popularity after a minor noble was caught using it two years ago. We might even make some money."
"Interesting..." Ambrosia replied. Despite this, she was still worried, "Worst case scenario?"
"Arrest pending investigation," Bubbles answered, "And if they find what they want, the worst they could do is lock us up."
"You and I?" Ambrosia asked softly. It was common knowledge in the Star that Ambrosia ran the bordello jointly with Bubbles. Or rather, with the help of Bubbles. The sole owner was still Ambrosia.
"No... All of us."
Ambrosia went silent. For a long time, the pair of mares watched from above as the rest of the employees celebrated the growth of their family. The festivities below no longer held any joy to them, and Ambrosia's eyes were sad.
"... Is it possible for me to take responsibility? To deny their knowledge of any sordid operations and take all responsibility for myself?"
Bubbles hesitated, thinking over the answer for a long moment.
"I... I don't know. I'm sure there'd be a way, I'm just not certain how well it would work."
"We move all the illicit drugs to my room," She said calmly, "And put them in a safe, hidden in the wall or the floorboards or something similar. When they find it, they won't be able to tie anything to do with the drugs to either my customers or the girls."
"And what of the stallions?" Bubbles asked curiously. Ambrosia snorted.
"They're regular joes," She answered, "You have to be careful when you're hiring males into a bordello Bubbles, so I ran background checks more thorough than the Princess' own security. None of them have so much as a misdemeanor."
Bubbles and Ambrosia fell silent again. The ponies below were gathered around a large bowl filled with potato wedges. Around that in separate bowls was Sour Cream, spicy salsa and guacamole. Neither of the two administrative staff members particularly felt like eating at that point.
"... We can start on that tomorrow. Do we have any clients that are in the construction business?"
"Ah..." Bubbles paused, thinking over the clients that she knew herself, trying to remember, "I'm... not certain. I will check the records first thing tomorrow morning."
"Do that. I want to know if I can get a discount. We're not exactly rich."
"Of course. I'll see what I can do."
Monday. Why was it always Mondays that she woke up in a foul mood? Ambrosia sat up, blinking blearily at the world. This was not her idea of a good wakeup.
"... Bub-BLES!" She called out, trying not to let herself sound really pissed off. Almost instantly, her door busted open and Bubbles rushed into the room, a tray on her back and a clipboard under one wing.
"I'm here Mistress!" She said quickly, "I brought you breakfast! Tomatoes and mushrooms fried quickly and scrambled eggs, along with three pieces of toast and a glass of orange juice!"
She picked the tray off from her back and settled it upon Ambrosia's lap before flipping the clipboard out into her hoof.
"I looked into the client list," she continued quickly, "And I found somepony who might be easily bought, or persuaded for silence about the safe. He's a little too clever to believe that it's simply for hiding legal documents and records, but I believe he won't mind the reason if we give him a little incentive to forget."
"How much?" Ambrosia sighed, tucking into her scrambled egg.
"Oh, it won't need to be monetary," She said with a smile, "We have plenty that could persuade him. He's a VIP, and he is a bit of a ladies Zebra so..."
"A Zebra huh?" Ambrosia asked, a wry smile on her face, "What's his name?"
"His name is Zirqon. He's a carpenter by trade. Shall I find him and make him an offer?"
Ambrosia thought about that for a moment before nodding.
"Certainly. Actually, bring him to me. I want to negotiate with him myself."
"Of course mistress," She agreed, looking back at the clipboard, "There's still three hours before we open, Valinor is already in and beginning preparations for cooking today's VIP lounge buffet. Rusty arrived a few minutes ago, ready to start his day early. I think he's worried about you mistress, or worried about the girls."
Ambrosia rolled her eyes, swallowing a mouthful of tomato.
"Rusty Nail is a sweetheart," She said dryly, "He's worried about all of us, and he thinks we can't defend ourselves."
"For the most part, he's right," Bubbles responded, "Most of us can't defend ourselves. Not very well."
Ambrosia sighed.
"I know... He does his job, and he doesn't expect extra pay for his hour or two extra work."
Silence. Ambrosia continued to eat her breakfast, sipping on her juice quietly.
"I need you to get the girls ready for the day, and tell the zebra when you find him that I want him to wait until I arrive. He can eat or drink what he wants, so long as he doesn't mind paying. Give him a discount while he's here. if he's here, I want to make sure he knows it's worth his while."
"Where are you going?" Bubbles asked, confused. Ambrosia swallowed her food.
"I'm going out. I need to find a few things, talk to a few ponies. I might be gone for a few hours. Take care of the Star whilst I'm gone, okay? And make sure the new girl is dressed well. You know where the clothes are kept."
"Yes mistress. I promise the Star will run perfectly while you're away."
"I know it will hun," Ambrosia replied quietly, "Keep her safe."
Ambrosia walked the streets of Canterlot as though she owned the place, uncaring. Ambrosia didn't care about the common pony. She had her girls, and that was her main concern. She had the Star, and that was her main concern. The common pony was irrelevant to Ambrosia, unless they were spending money in her bordello.
This walk was done with less than a goal in mind, but more to think. Ambrosia always thought better when she was around wide open spaces, so long as there was still buildings and ponies around. She hated the country. Hated it with a passion. It reminded her too much of her less than ambitious parents. That was something that had always bothered her about her folks. They ran a small farm out beyond the outskirts of Spur's Hollow. it was a small town where, typical to small towns, everypony knew everypony. Her parents sold their produce in the town, and Ambrosia had sulked her way through most of her childhood, when she wasn't breaking the hearts on every young stallion that came near her that was.
She's always been good at that. Manipulation, making ponies love her, making them do as she wanted. That's where her talent lay. The only ponies she couldn't deceive or trick or manipulate was her parents. And it had made her so mad all the time. So she'd left. When she'd turned old enough to leave, she had and she hadn't looked back.
Not until now.
Left with the idea of losing her home, and the home for several of her girls, Ambrosia was thinking back, wracking her brains to think of something that she could do in that worst case scenario. She doubted that it would happen of course. The guard had gotten lax under the leadership, or lack of, of the new Guard Captain. Since Shining Armour had left, Ambrosia had found more and more of the guards visiting her establishment, and them getting more and more lax over time. It made things a little easier. But she also knew that she wouldn't be defended by her clients. Anypony can start a bordello, and the girls might even be cheaper next time than this time.
As she walked, Ambrosia became aware that she was heading for a small cafe. She smiled wryly. Of course she'd come here. The little cafe, named after a dish of roasted vegetables, was a quaint little place with wrought iron street lamps and cute tables. It was where Ambrosia went to talk about things she couldn't talk about anywhere else, and to get the inside news on everything else.
After briefly considering the possible consequences, Ambrosia walked inside. A small, silver bell tinkled cutely as the door opened. The place was almost empty, a young couple seated in the far right of the back half of the place. With slow, deliberate steps, Ambrosia walked over to and seated herself at a specific table. On the left side, fourth from the right. This table was special. The owner of the cafe was a less than scrupulous unicorn stallion who knew his way around Canterlot even better than the entire guard roster. This particular table however was less known to the general populace. The owner's cafe wasn't terribly popular, but it didn't really matter. He didn't make his money off of his subpar food, or his store bought coffee.
"Ah, Ambrosia. It's so nice to see you again."
Ambrosia looked up at the sleezy unicorn. Lanky, none too clean and with a dirty mane. She smiled.
"Stitches," She answered pleasantly as he sat opposite her, "You look well."
"Don't lie Amber," He wheezed, "You can't stand the sight of me."
"Only the look of you," She answered sweetly, "Not you yourself."
"hmph," he harrumphed, "It's flattering, that you'd say that. But we both know what you're doing here. Now tell me... what is it you're after, and when can I get to my price?"
This was what Stitches specialised in. This was how he made his money. He supplied everything from information to physical items. But for each item, there was a price, and the price went up the more the item gained in rarity, or the more difficult the information became to acquire. And his prices always varied, and he demanded instant payment. Payment before anything is given.
"Information," She responded plainly, "I know there's talk of a crackdown on businesses, especially ones like mine. What I want to know is whether or not it's going to get serious. The chamber of commerce, I can handle. But if Gild has decided to crack down on us, and he's thorough..."
"You know," Stitches smiled creepily, "I had a feeling you'd come by here, looking for that information. You're lucky, I have the information you're looking for. All I need is my payment."
Ambrosia sighed. In her haste to leave, she hadn't taken her coin purse.
"How much?" She asked. The sleezy unicorn grinned.
"Oh... I'm not after money, this time Amber. I'm after something.... physical."
Ambrosia froze, and looked at him cautiously.
"... How physical?"
"This information wasn't easy to come by you know," He responded slyly, "Worth a little more than a little touchy feely."
Ambrosia remained silent, glaring at him, thinking hard. He chuckled at her look.
"Come now Ambrosia, you know that you won't get my information anywhere else. Nopony can see us."
That's where this table became special. The table and chairs had been enchanted by the very same unicorn seated in front of her. That was his true talent. He stitched his magic into objects, enchanted them to do whatever he wished. In this case, this chair and table combination prevented anypony around them from hearing them, or seeing them in the case of the table. There were, of course limits. One had to be underneath the table to be unseen, and one had to be seated on the chairs to remain unheard.
"You mean nopony can see me under the..." Ambrosia began before pausing, "Oh you've got to be kidding."
Stitches smirked, stretching his legs subtly under the table.
"How important is this information to you Amber?" He asked smugly.
Ambrosia, for a moment, considered turning him down. But the more she thought about it... Was it really that much of a price? Certainly, what Bubbles had told her was only a worst case scenario, but if it was true....
She sighed and, checking around the cafe to make sure she wasn't being watched first, she slid under the table. The young couple on the other side of the cafe didn't even notice.
Under the table was exactly as Ambrosia had expected. Dirty, cramped and the floor was hard. But a deal was a deal, and Stitches' price had to be met. She shuffled along the floor under the table to his side, sighing. The unicorn was already aroused by the look of it, his semi-soft shaft partly peeking out of its sheathe. There was a silver piercing through his sheathe. Experimentally, she sniffed him.
Surprisingly, he smelled clean. She blinked from between his legs in surprise and looked up at him. Being at the table himself, he smiled back.
"What, you thought because I look dishevelled that I'm not clean?"
Ambrosia shrugged, deciding to get on with it so she could go buy herself something or something similar with the money she saved on this. She licked the semi-solid shaft before her. It shivered under her touch and she smiled. She still had the touch. She started stroking him with her hooves, forgoing her tongue for a while. he shivered some more and sighed softly. He was growing under her hooves. He was almost at half mast now, and he was already quite large. Ambrosia was surprised, but didn't let him know. instead, she buried her muzzle in his scrotum, licking it a few times. he groaned as he reached full mast, quivering. Ambrosia couldn't help it. She giggled and glanced up at Stitches.
"It's been a while for you hasn't it Stitches?" She asked. He grunted irritably in reply. With a cruel smirk, she returned to work, now not hesitating to slather his cock in her saliva. He groaned as, ever so slowly, she dragged her tongue from the base of his shaft all the way up to the tip, and then closed her mouth over the top, suckling at the top with power enough to make him moan again. She felt his hoof tentatively touch the back of her head and she smiled around him, pulling away from him with enough suction to make a lewd pop.
"If you're lucky, I might actually let you do that."
He huffed, breathing heavily. it must have been some time since he'd had a mare, he felt close already. he was twitching like crazy. He had to be close. Without letting him answer, she returned to business, plunging back onto him. In response, he groaned lustily. Even his legs were trying to writhe under her ministrations, but he kept himself in check, stopping himself from moving around too much. His grip on the table and Ambrosia's head tightened and he grunted. Ambrosia immediately stopped, pulling herself off of him, ever so carefully stroking him to keep him excited, but not nearly enough to finish.
"Wh-what are you waiting for?" he asked her, struggling for breath and looking at her, annoyed that she stopped, "F-finish the job!"
"Give me my information~" she replied seductively, nuzzling the side of his saliva slathered cock with a smile, "And I will."
"Y-you know that's not how this works!" He hissed at her angrily, grabbing her head in both hooves. With sudden and almost clinical precision, Ambrosia had him by the balls.
Literally.
He froze, looking a little more afraid. Amazingly, his rock like erection didn't fade.
"N-now Amber..." He said cautiously, "Th-think about this for a moment..."
"Take your hooves off of my head," She said sweetly, a chilling note embedded in the words, "And give me my information. Do that, and then I will finish you off. Until then, I have all day here. Do you?"
Stitches hesitated, looking around as though his surroundings would provide the answer. He looked back down before yelping in pain as Ambrosia pushed on his jewels.
"Well?" She demanded. He whined.
"Alright, alright! Yes! Yes it's serious! Gild thinks he can run the guard as his personal police core! He's buying out as many votes as he can get to get his movements passed! If enough ponies vote for his movement, Celestia and Luna will have no choice but to allow him free reign! Now please! ple-he-he-hease.... let me cum...."
Ambrosia frowned, pausing for a moment much to Stitches' loud dismay. As an afterthought, she pushed his penis to point towards him, stroking him faster until, with a lustful groan, he climaxed, spraying himself with his own pearly white sperm.
Without so much as an afterthought, Ambrosia left, leaving the seedy owner of the cafe sprawled on his chair, covered in his own spunk.
Looks like I have work to do.
Author's Note
Oil and Kai belong to White Noize. Thank you for the use of your ponehs~♥
Valinor belongs to Kabuto315, otherwise known as Valinor and Psyga on here.
Blits and Star belong to Kaille! Thank you so much for your characters!
Laurette Blackhoof belongs to HarpoHooves. Thank you for the permission to use your character!
Zirqon belongs to Jay. Thanks buddy!
Spur's Hollow concept belongs to Sparky Sugar Junkie, creator and owner of Moondust and her friends over at askmoondust.
Oh, and Cabergoline is a drug that affects the body's dopamine levels. It's not actually illegal that I know of. In fact, I believe it's used medically as well. It has a lot of potential side effects though.
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Utopia: Raid (Explicit, possibly triggering)
[Warning: Contains scenes that may be triggering, considered bad taste or offensive. Viewer discretion is advised.]
Caress sighed and pushed the now comatose stallion off of her, letting his snoring head hit the bed. Her most recent client was a beefcake of a stallion that had more balls than anything else. He'd managed to get into the VIP lounge and had taken a shining to Caress. She'd played with him, played along with his boasting. It wasn't that he wasn't a nice enough boy, but he didn't have a clue what he was doing, and his pickup lines were horrible. If he'd had sense, he'd have started on one of the less expensive girls. Caress was one of the most expensive in the place, and it wasn't for no reason. She'd earned her spot. But sometimes even the best had to take one for the team.
This was her turn.
She looked at the stallion critically. He was still softening. That was one thing she'd give him, he'd lasted a while. Probably got his stamina from years of solo action practice. She looked over at the dresser in the corner. His few possessions he'd brought with him rested on it, along with it his wallet. With a smile, she rolled off the bed, careful not to make a mess. It was hard enough for her to clean up in a short period of time, let alone the poor maintenance and cleaning staff in the place. Making her way over to the dresser in question, she picked up the wallet with a thoughtful look. She threw it in the air and caught it a time or two and it made a delightful jingling sound. With a quick glance back at the snoring equine on the bed, she opened it quickly and peeked inside. He still had easily thirty, maybe forty bits in there. If she had to guess, she'd say he'd recently gotten paid, or got laid off and came here to relax. He'd had a few drinks down in the lounge before she'd met him, or so she assumed. He'd had alcohol on his breath.
With a sly giggle and the personal thrill that tingled all the way down her spine that she got everytime she took something that didn't belong to her, she took a few of the coins eagerly. It wasn't that she couldn't help herself, really! She just... it felt so damn good!
Along with the coinage, was a set of keys. Those she didn't give a second thought. You couldn't steal a house. Not really. She put the wallet back down on the dresser, making sure it was closed as it was. One thing that separated a professional from an amateur, the ability to make things look the same as they were before you were there. Caress prided herself in the knowledge that she could do that, and she liked to think she could do it relatively well. But then, she'd had a lot of practice.
"There's my tip~" she giggled happily, "I might even have enough for those shoes!"
Caress looked back at the stallion and sighed, walking back over to the bed. With a gentle hoof, she drew the sheets up and over his comatose form. She might resent his lack of skill, but she wasn't cruel. That done, Caress walked to the right side of the room and pressed at the middle of the wall. A camouflaged door opened up into a bathroom suite. It was a renovation that Ambrosia had spent a lot of her money on, since she didn't like the idea of a group shower. Sometimes the girls needed their privacy so...
Caress slipped out of the miniskirt she'd been wearing, taking the bow of her neck and her ear and shaking off the too-tight white formal school shirt. Normally, she'd have gone for something a lot more gothic, but she'd lost a bet to Valinor earlier that week and was wearing more atypical 'sexy' clothes for the week. With a quick movement, she turned on the shower's hot water and stripped the last bow out from the base of her tail before adjusting the steaming water and quickly stepping in and under the water's warm embrace. Her mane plastered itself to her head and shoulders, pale red and purple. Her feathers, as pegasi feathers were want to do, repelled the water rather nicely. She stood under the water for a while, letting it roll down her shoulders and back before picking up her favorite bottle of shampoo.
It smelled like raspberries.
"That's not how it works Amber. I warned you at the very start how risky a business like the Star was to run. There's nothing I can do."
Ambrosia shook her head with an irritated growl. It wasn't a good sound for her. Seated before her was an old stallion. Even his coat was graying he was that aged. The old boy's name was Tipstaff, and he'd worked in the chamber of commerce for almost forty years, and this is where they both were. Tipstaff in a chair behind his desk, Ambrosia pacing before the desk.
"There's got to be something you can do! Look, I know I owe you already, and believe me, I will pay you back somehow. But I really need your help right now. I can't do this on my own. By the time I can even try to solve my problems, I'm afraid it'll be too late. If his ideas are rejected by the Chamber of Commerce's ponies, then both of his requests will be denied."
Tipstaff sighed.
"How is it you figured this out?" He asked patiently.
"Simple," Ambrosia answered, "The Chamber has more members in parliament than any other organisation. More than half of parliament in fact. If you can persuade them to reject him..."
Parliament was a little known part of the government. Most ponies assumed it was all the Princesses that made decisions. But that wasn't necessarily true. The Princesses made big decisions, and held court on matters that the common pony needed help with. But the Parliament handled the day to day decisions. Patrol routes, how strict the chamber would be on books, the length of time for minor penalties and infractions.
"Amber, it was the Chamber of commerce that made the move to crack down on the books, not Gild," He responded slowly, as though he was talking to a child, "And it was Princess Luna who asked us to crack down on health concerns. Why would I turn on my own decision?"
Ambrosia paused. He had a point, and now that she thought on it, it made a lot of sense, and she remembered only now that Bubbles had said to her that the Chamber of Commerce was toughening up, but she hadn't mentioned who'd brought up the Health and Safety concerns. But then...what was it about Gild that she'd heard..?
"Right..." She said softly, embarrassed and thanking the Princesses that her coat was red enough to cover her blush, "But... Stitches! Stitches said something about Gild... it was um..."
"Will you give it a rest Amber?" Tipstaff asked pointedly, "Gild is a fool, but he's still guard captain. He has just as much, if not more, authority than I do."
"But Stitches said-"
"Stitches is a sleazebag Amber. He's a complete scoundrel and you shouldn't listen to everything he says."
"He's an information broker," She snapped back at him, "What good would it do him for business if he sold misinformation?"
"You can't blindly trust everypony you meet!"
"You think I don't know that!?" She demanded, "I came from nothing! I built my business out of nothing! I learned long ago not to trust everypony, but Stitches, scum that he is, has never told me a lie before. Why would he start now?"
To that, Tipstaff didn't have an answer. Instead, he reached into his draw, took out a silver flask, and took a swig out of it. Ambrosia groaned in frustration.
"Come on, work with me here. Please? Look, Stitches said Gild was running the guard like his own personal police force! He said um... something about his movements!"
Tipstaff frowned slowly as he listened.
"Movements?" He asked, confused, "What movements?"
Caress' ears flicked up. Her eyes were still closed, shampoo was running down her face and past her eyes. She thought she heard something, something from outside the room. She paused for a long moment, trying to hear anything else. When she didn't hear anything else, she went back to her soft singing as she shampooed her mane. She knew she was taking too long to clean herself and she should have been on the floor right now, looking for another client, but she didn't become the favorite by only cleaning herself quickly.
Bang
Caress snapped quiet again, her ears flicking back up on high alert. That she had definitely heard, and although she was sure it wasn't from her room, she heard something else. Voices, once of them with something that resembled panic, fear. With a flitter of fear herself, she started to scrub at her mane frantically, trying to get the suds out of her mane and out of her eyes.
"He... he said something about buying out parliament members... and that he was using the guard as his own personal police force. That he was using them and the money to get his movement's passed."
Tipstaff looked at Ambrosia, bewildered.
"Movements? Gild hasn't made any movements. Not that I know of anyhow. He's incompetent, a fool. But I'm in parliament, if he was making any move to do anything, I'd know about it."
Which was precisely when a young mare with a clipboard burst into the office.
"Mister Tipstaff! Mister Tipstaff! The Parliament!"
"Calm down girl," He said, surprised at her sudden entry, "What are you talking about? The Parliament is scheduled to meet in a few days, you kn-"
"They've convened!"
"What!?" Ambrosia demanded "What do you mean they've convened!?"
"Amber," Snapped the usually calm Tipstaff, "Calm down. When? Why? And why didn't I know about this?"
"I j-just got told!" The poor mare blubbered under Ambrosia's withering gaze, "O-one of th-the other s-s-secretaries! I swear! It's not my fault!"
"What is happening?" Ambrosia snarled, "Why are they meeting? Tipstaff?"
"I don't know Amber, and I don't appreciate your tone!" He snarled back, "If you'll excuse me, I have a parliament session to crash, and some questions that need serious answering!"
"In here! I've got this room!"
Caress heard it, the sound of a door busting open. The one right next to the room she was in. In a rush, she washed the last of the soap from her eyes and turned off the shower desperately, hearing whoever was in the next room hurling her client out of the room, and tossing his change purse after him. She heard another bang and a scream she recognised as coming from one of their more recent employees, a consort/singer named Midnight Drizzle. She'd been teaching the girl a thing or two, so she knew her voice.
And then the door to the bathroom busted open and a guard stepped through.
"Thank you ladies, gentlecolts."
Gild didn't cut a menacing figure. He was actually kind of scrawny for a pegasus, With raggedy feathers and one wing strapped to his body, He wouldn't usually command much respect from the average pegasus either. But, as he loved to remind ponies, he'd lost the use of his wing in a skirmish on the Dragon-Equestrian border, the same Skirmish that had left a ragged scar over his right eye. His maroon coat was offset by his startling golden mane and tail. He stood at a circular table, seated of which were thirteen council members.
"Thanks to your help and votes, my dream for a crime free Canterlot can begin! I must say, I'm grateful you could come to this earlier scheduling of our Parliament convening."
The doors opened, silencing the voice of Gild as Tipstaff and Ambrosia stormed into the room.
"Guard Captain Gild!" Tipstaff intoned thunderously, "What is the meaning of this? Why was I not informed of this rescheduling?"
The entire parliament turned to face the intrusion as Gild smiled slowly.
"Ah, Tipstaff," Gild said amiably, "You're late. I had wondered where you were."
"Stow it Gild," Tipstaff snarled, "Why was I not informed? What is going on?"
"I don't know what you mean, Tipstaff," Gild replied coldly, "I sent all the members of Parliament a memo about the rescheduling. If you didn't get it, it's not my problem."
"What happened?" Ambrosia demanded angrily, "What did you do?"
"This is not a matter to outsiders, Ambrosia," He responded coldly Amber snarled back.
"Just answer the question Gild you arrogant piece of-"
"Enough Amber," Tipstaff snapped. Gild barked out a laugh.
"Keep your pet on a leash Tip."
Ambrosia bit back an angry remark. and let Tipstaff speak.
"As a parliament member, I demand to know what has been decided by this parliament."
Gild burst out laughing before looking coldly at Ambrosia.
"The matters of Parliament aren't to be discussed with an outsider."
"Go suck an egg Gild," Ambrosia replied venomously. Tipstaff sighed, frustrated.
"What is said to me can be said to her, she will find out eventually anyway. What is it that has been decided in my absence?"
Gild smiled.
"The future," He said darkly, "The beginning of a crime free Canterlot. A Utopia."
"What. Was. Decided?" Tipstaff demanded angrily.
"I have received authorization," Gild said smugly, "To raid any business or house that houses or has knowingly hired more than one criminally convicted or accused pony without requirement for a warrant so long as I have received a complaint that implicates criminal offence concerning the place."
Ambrosia felt her heart stop.
"Why did you not wait my arrival!?" Tipstaff demanded. Gild shrugged.
"The Parliament is able to operate as though it had full members when ninety percent on the members are present. Sorry old boy, but you just missed it."
"When is this being implemented?" Tipstaff asked, his eye twitching in response to Gild's (truthful) explanation. Gild shrugged, looking too smug for Ambrosia's liking.
"Oh..." he said carelessly, "It already has."
He was big. Really big. He seemed like almost twice her size, in full armour.
What one must remember about the Royal Guard armour is the way it keeps the underbelly exposed. The chest is covered, but for the most part the belly is left exposed, only straps covering parts of it. So, that is to say, it leaves certain aspects of a pony uncovered and, to be frank, accessible. The stallion looked down at the petite little mare and a long, slow and creepy smile spread across his rocky features. A cruel glint flashed in his eye and Caress felt her heart drop.
"N-now wait a minute..." She whimpered fearfully, "W-wait a minute..."
The guard didn't listen, and he didn't seem interested in listening to her pleas further. He walked towards her, heedless of the cries muffled from the rooms. Before she knew it, The guard was standing over her, cowering under his sheer size in the corner of the shower.
And then she saw it.
He wasn't just massive in physical size. This was obviously one stallion that wasn't exercising to compensate for something. Caress opened her mouth, took a deep breath, and started to scream. But before she could get more than a second of sound in, Caress was silenced by his massive, armoured hoof crashing across her face. There was a yelp followed by a crack and Caress groaned as her jaw was at least dislocated and, obviously deciding he didn't want her to make any more noise, the big stallion reared up, leaned up on the wall on one hoof, and using the other one, aimed and thrust his oversized erection straight into Caress' mouth.
A pained groan from the semi-conscious Caress was the only answer he got to his actions and he smiled a cruel smile and thrust into her maw without remorse. Caress groaned as her dislocated, swelling jaw was stretched open further as he pushed himself into her, pushing a little further every time, just to test his limits. When he reached the back of her throat and she gagged on him, he chuckled darkly.
"Hope your throat is tight, whorse," He said, his voice heavily accented, "Or I'll make it tight."
He didn't give her pain addled brain a chance to respond. He thrust in, suddenly and violently, forcing his way in and down her throat. Her body reacted instantly, trying to reject the intruder and gagging. Blowjobs had never been Caress' forte, so her throat wasn't elastic, distended or stretched nearly enough to comfortably take his massive girth. He pulled back and thrust in again, gaining another inch depth. He grunted lustily and started pounding into her throat, heedless of the sound of choking beneath him. Already dizzy and semi-conscious from the pain of her dislocated, and what was now probably hyperextended jaw, the lack of oxygen made Caress' head spin as she tried, one last time, to desperately fight off her molester, pushing ineffectually at his thighs and legs. Her forelegs fell to the shower floor as he kept thrusting into her. Her throat had a noticeable bulge in it every time he threw himself back in now, going halfway down her throat. He felt her spasming muscles start to weaken and slow down, her gag reflex all but gone. Her eyes rolled to the top of her skull and...
He pulled back, all the way out of her mouth and throat.
Reflexively, Caress sucked in a painful lung of air, gasping and coughing as he let her catch some semblance of breath, his saliva dripping member plunging back in moments later and she started to thrash beneath him, trying to stay awake from the pain of her jaw and the dizziness of her brain's lack of oxygen.
"Don't you pass out on me," He growled darkly, "Not done with you yet."
He must have kept her upon the edge of consciousness for another ten minutes before he grunted again, louder this time.
"Danke, whorse," He grunted "For good time."
With one last explosive push, he hilted himself flush with her mouth. Caress' eyes wavered before, as she felt him pour his seed into her throat, they rolled to the back of her head and she saw black.
Author's Note
Midnight Drizzle belongs to Reggie the Gryphon. Thanks Reggie! Sorry she didn't get much of a feature >.< She might come back in later chapters.
I'm sorry about the whole rape scene in this chapter, and I understand a lot of you don't like that sort of thing, but it is part of the story.
"Sir. We found a few hundred dollars of illicit substances, including ecstasy, LSD, amphetamines and several questionable aphrodisiacs. We also found a small case full of Cabergoline. The illegal variation."
Lieutenant Sky Graphic stood outside the Golden Star, coordinating the raid upon the bordello. Sky was only recently promoted to his position, and was put in charge of this raid as his first command. Under guard was the staff of the Golden Star, or most of them. In his hooves was an employee list. Even those that hadn't been working that day were in the group of staff. However, there were a few missing staff members.
"Well, it'd be a disappointment if we hadn't found any," He answered, looking down at the list in his grasp and then back up to the set of staff members before him, "Gild sent us here to find these ponies and we suspected the possibility of illicit substances."
After his guards had formed rank, several of them standing around the staff members to keep them in check, Sky strolled over to the staff members, walking across the front of them and peering at them carefully.
"Listen up!" he called out so all could hear him, "My name is Lieutenant Sky Graphic, I'm in charge of this operation. We were sent here by Guard Captain Gild because we received complaints concerning possible criminal activity and this establishment."
He paused to let that sink in before speaking again.
"Now, what I have is an employee list. I am going to call you each by name, one by one. As you hear your name, call out to let me know that you are present and accounted for. We'll start with the obvious."
He looked at the clipboard in his hooves and cleared his throat.
"Ambrosia."
No answer. He sighed.
"No surprise," He muttered softly, "Bubbles?"
More silence. He rolled his eyes.
"Anypony know where Bubbles is?"
Gilded Thread hesitated momentarily and looked around at the other girls, who shot fearful looks back at her.
"She..." Thread began nervously, "She was doing things for Mistress Ambrosia... We don't know where she went."
Sky Graphic nodded with a gentle smile to Thread before looking back at the list.
"Caress."
Silence. At this, the girls looked around, confused. Sky noticed this and frowned.
"What?"
This time, it was Valinor who spoke.
"Caress was here... She shouldn't be missing."
Sky frowned and looked over at a pair of guards. One was a grey unicorn with stormcloud like mane, complete with lightning blue streaks.
"Arc. Take Gloss, go inside and search the premises. Take the blueprints with you. While you're at it, see if you can find Twinkletoes. He's been gone far too-"
"Sir, I thought we 'greed not t' call me that."
A big, hulking stallion strode out of the building. His armour could have probably been melted down to make a solid statue of gold. His Amber coat under his armour blended quite nicely with his golden armour, but the purple pegasus on his back was certainly not as difficult to see. She was unconscious and her jaw was swollen shut. Tear streaks on her face and her feathers were bedraggled and limp.
"Caress!" came a voice from the crowd of girls. Despite this, none of them moved.
"Shatter!" Sky yelled, "What happened?"
"Found like this," He answered, his accent thick, "Client got violent. Got rid of him."
Sky Graphic looked over back at the unicorn named Arc and he nodded, running over to the bigger pony.
"I understand you're all worried," Sky addressed the staff sympathetically, "And I know the last thing you want to do is sit through me calling names out. But I need to get this done. We will take your friend to the Canterlot Main Hospice where she will receive the best care we in the guard can afford to give, which should be the best she can get, I promise. Arc is taking her now. But I need you all to calm down and help me through this."
Sky's wings ruffled, agitated, before he looked down at his clipboard again.
"Cabaret?"
"Ambrosia, please. Calm down.There's nothing I can do about it here, and certainly not now."
Ambrosia whirled upon the hapless Tipstaff.
"Don't you fucking tell me to calm down!" She snarled, "I was just told, in no uncertain terms, that my bordello, My Star, was raided by that bastard and his personal army of loyal attack dogs! I don't know what they've done, I don't know how far they went!"
Tipstaff and Ambrosia were back in his office. It had been long since the attendants for Tip had left, running for the hills as Ambrosia had stormed into the office, face like a thundercloud and hooves like the wrath of god. After the meeting for parliament had adjourned, after being told without doubt that there was no way the new movement was going to be revoked or changed, not even re-held for re-consideration. No, the new law was there to stay, and there was nothing they could do to prevent that.
Ambrosia, understandably, was livid.
"Amber..."
"Don't you 'Amber' me Tipstaff!" She growled, "That bastard is after me, and he's after my girls. If he's hurt one..."
"Calm down, please!" Tipstaff said desperately, "Gild might be a devious bastard and a scumbag, but I swear, not all the guards are the same as Gild! I promise, most of them are very nice, gentle stallions and mares."
"And those that aren't?" She growled darkly, "What about them? You and I both know that they aren't all like that."
"Amber... It's not that simple and you know it. Ponies go through intense psych evaluations before being allowed to even train in the guard, it's not..."
Ambrosia groaned in frustration. She'd been pacing the length of the office for some time now and, if Tip didn't know better, he'd have sworn that there was a rut being walked into his floor.
Which is when, for the second time that day, the door burst open and an assistant ran in. But this time it wasn't one of Tip's.
"Mistress!"
"Bubbles!"
Ambrosia's sour disposition seemed to vanish as Bubbles practically flew into her forelegs, hugging her tightly.
"Mistress! They've taken away the Star! Guards came and..."
"I know..." Ambrosia said softly, stroking the hysterical mare's back slowly, managing to keep the iron from her voice, "I know dear."
She looked at Tipstaff over Bubble's shoulder.
"Is there any way I can get it back?" She asked him. Tip hesitated before answering.
"You... could take it to GIld's superiors. The Princesses have been known to take audience on the matters of the citizens, especially those she thought was unfair."
Ambrosia nodded slowly, stroking Bubble's mane gently.
"Could you give us a moment Tip?" She asked quietly over Bubble's shoulder. Tip nodded before walking out slowly.
"They found the drugs..." Bubbles said softly, "They've taken the girls to the barracks... And they've taken the Star away from us..."
"I'll figure something out," Ambrosia replied, "I'll talk to a princess as soon as I can... in the meantime, I want you to find someplace to hole up, stay out of sight. There's no reason you should be imprisoned for no reason as well."
"B-but... w-what if they lock you up?" Bubbles blubbered, "W-what'll happen to us?"
Ambrosia didn't answer, setting her jaw grimly as Bubbles cried into her shoulder.
"Let me out!"
"You can't keep us here!"
"I haven't done anything wrong!"
Canterlot barracks hadn't seen this much action for years. The cell block also hadn't seen so many mares for ages. Well, not since Sky had brought a girl down here back as a private when he was drunk. But nopony brought that up anymore. Now however there were twenty-two ponies in lockup. Not all of them were mares, admittedly, but most of them were. The block was in a row, with almost all of the employees of the Golden Star Bordello shouting and calling. Some of them were cussing, some of them simply crying.
Despite this, everypony that Shatter passed as he patrolled the cellblock went silent, too scared of the immense stallion to actually say anything. A few of them drew back from their restraints.
All except one.
Gilded Thread was one of the few ponies that had been put in a cell on her own. And although the others were put on their own due to necessity given their past activities, Thread was on her own because, put simply, there was too many in the other cells. Cells only held up to four ponies, and policy dictated no more than four per cell regardless how full the cells became. And instead of panicking, yelling or screaming like the other ponies, Thread had been silent the whole time. Her mind clicked and whirred as she thought about her predicament.
So when Shatter passed the cell, seated calmly, she called out to him.
"Excuse me, I'd like to speak to the guard who arrested us, Lieutenant Sky something rather I believe it was?"
Shatter paused in his rounds and turned to face the bold mare who decided to dare calling to him.
"Silence, whorse," he drawled, heavily accented, "You see nopony unless called."
Thread barely flinched.
"It's my right to request an audience with our jailers," She replied coolly, "In the case that there's an important matter to be spoken of. And there is."
By this time, the jail was becoming quiet as hushed voices went around, telling the rest of the staff what was happening. Shatter snorted.
"I'm not stupid," He said smugly, "You not coming out."
"That's funny," She replied coldly as he began to walk away, flicking her mane theatrically and somehow managing to make the golden inhibitor ring on her horn look good, "You could have fooled me."
What noise had been left in the block vanished and, if one listened hard enough, one could have heard a pin drop, or a fly sneeze. Shatter turned back to Thread with a dark, angry look on his face.
"I must have heard wrong," He snarled darkly, "You say something whorse?"
"Are you deaf as well as stupid?" She shot back icily in return.
Shatter's amber face turned red with rage and he put his forehead against the bars of Thread's cell.
"You're treading on thin ice," He growled "Shut your mouth, or I shut it for you."
"You don't have the balls," She snarled back, standing, her old blood unicorn tail sweeping through the space, whipping through the air menacingly. Shatter roared, his temper flaring and his massive hoof crashed into the bars of her cell. A few of the girls screamed and most of them fell back. Thread held her ground as he scrabbled for the keys at his waist.
CLANG
With a thunderous clap of metal on metal, Shatter's head snapped to the side and his eyes glazed over as he was thrown off his hooves, hitting the floor with a resounding crash of metal on concrete. The clearer sound of metal hitting concrete that came soon after as the hammer that dented the helm of the massive guard was just as attention grabbing.
"What is going on?"
The voice rumbled through the barracks jail like an avalanche down a mountain, gravelly and rough. Thread tore her eyes from the unconscious Shatter to the origin of the voice as it stooped down to pick up the big hammer. The stallion was gargantuan, larger even than Shatter. He had to stand at least head and shoulders taller, and he was broader as well. His crimson coat hung down over his hooves, his fetlocks unshorn. Tightly folded on his sides were a pair of leathery wings. His golden eyes stared intently at Thread.
"You making that ruckus?"
Thread swallowed heavily and nodded. Shatter hadn't scared her. Not really. But for some reason, this massive thestral before her scared her almost witless. She wasn't sure if it was the way he'd so easily knocked out Shatter, or his seemingly perfectly calm demeanor after such a violent reaction to Shatter's actions. The big stallion hummed for a long moment before rumbling quietly.
"My name is Forge," He rumbled quietly, "What is it you want?"
Thread hesitated. But, figuring he couldn't be worse than Shatter, she decided to speak to him.
"M-my name is Gilded Thread," She began, "I... I wanted to speak to Lieutenant Sky... The pony who had us detained? There's an important matter I must take up with him."
Forge hummed again. It sounded more like the earth quaking than a pony humming.
"Mm. I shall talk to him."
Thread blinked. That was easier than she thought.
"I... thank you."
Forge nodded to her slowly and turned away, walking away from the cell and out of the jail.
The room was clean, if nothing else. A little run down perhaps, but not completely derelict. The room was free of dust, and the floor was vacuumed, the wall was papered. It was a nice, neat, cheap hotel room.
And Ambrosia had bought it out for a month. Just in case.
"Alright. This should be relatively comfortable. Don't let yourself be seen, don't do anything memorable, don't do anything stupid. if anypony asks, use a fake name. I don't want to hear about you cropping up being arrested, you understand me?"
"Y-yes mistress, I understand. I already told you, I'll be alright."
Ambrosia turned to face Bubbles, a worried look on her face. Bubbles was smiling weakly.
"You taught me everything I know about everything I know. My skill with clients, lockpicking, hiding..."
"And none of this is to come to light," Ambrosia replied sternly, "I taught you that in case you ever were in trouble, but not this kind of trouble. Stay away from any guards, shop infrequently."
"We've been through this," Bubbles sighed, "I know. I promise, I won't do anything stupid or illegal. I know what I'm doing."
"Good," She replied shortly, "I am going to seek council with the Princess. Any of them will suffice if needed, although I would prefer to speak with the one whose guard arrested my girls. Then, perhaps I will visit the Barracks and tan Gild's hide so I can make it into a rug."
Without waiting for a response, the seething mare turned on her hoof and stormed out, slamming the door behind her.
"So, Miss Thread. You asked for my council, so here I am. I trust I don't need to cuff you?"
Gilded Thread smiled at Sky Graphic. The pair were in his office in the Barracks. A relatively well furnished place with a small desk, a comfortable chair and a few other odds and ends. Thread was seated on one side of the desk, Sky on the other.
"No sir, cuffs will not be necessary. I simply wanted to talk. There are things that I must discuss, it's of the utmost importance."
Sky sighed and wriggled a little in his chair.
"Alright then," He replied, "I'm listening."
"There's a few things to speak of," She said primly in reply, "First and foremost is that I cannot remain incarcerated unless somepony looks after my sons."
Sky frowned and straightened a little in his chair.
"Sons?" He asked seriously, "The manifest didn't say anything about sons."
"Well, I didn't exactly wanting them knowing that their ex-model mother is now an employee that exchanges sexual favours for money," She shot back, "So no, I didn't bring up my sons even to my employer. If she'd known, there's a possibility the other girls would want to meet them and if one of them let anything slip... I'd lost the respect of my offspring, which is a horrible thing."
"I... alright," He mused quietly, "I'll... find somepony to take ca-"
"No," Thread cut him off sternly, "My sons will be cared for by my choice in pony, not yours. I think I've seen quite enough of your choices, and the lump of metal and muscle on the floor in front of my cell is quite enough to last me a lifetime."
Sky winced. He couldn't deny that.
"Alright... name your pony."
Thread smiled and replied quickly, "Fleur-De-Lis. If I remember correctly, she's currently bunking with the esteemed Fancy Pants. If you would please ask her on my behalf, or send for her immediately so I may ask her myself, that would be wonderful."
"Fluer-De-Lis?" Sky blinked, stunned, "How in Equestria do you know her?"
"Model darling," She smirked sweetly, "We all knew each other. Now if you don't mind?"
He stared at her for a moment, as if trying to process what she'd said before nodding.
"Y-yes, of course. I'll send Arc and his partner. Those two are trustworthy, I promise. I don't think Arc would even take a jellybean without permission from his superiors."
"Good. I will write the letter, but there are a few other things."
Sky groaned internally. This was going to be a long meeting, he could tell.
"First and foremost, the girls require some sense of privacy, so I'd like to..."
Yep, very long meeting.
"What do you mean I need an appointment!? There are three princesses! How difficult could it be to get me in there to talk to one of them?"
"I'm sorry ma'am, but an appointment must be made. Princess Celestia is booked for at least a few months. Princess Luna is not taking council appointments right now, business with the Gryphon empire."
"And Twilight?" Ambrosia demanded angrily, "What of Princess Sparkle?"
The guard sighed. Ambrosia had already been here, arguing with him, for the past half hour. She didn't seem to care that she'd wasted half an hour of his life and he wasn't about to get that back.
"Look, ma'am, Princess Sparkle has barely held her crown for six months. She hasn't deemed herself as ready for council, and until she says so, she won't be taking visitors. Is it really that difficult to understand?"
Ambrosia rolled her eyes and groaned, frustrated.
"It's annoying! I can't wait a few months to see one of the Princesses! It's a matter of utmost importance! It simply cannot wait!"
"Well I'm sorry, it's going to have to. If you'd like to make an appointment, you'll have to talk to one of the senior guards or manage to catch Princess Celestia on her own, which is highly unlikely."
Ambrosia bristled indignantly and opened her mouth to shoot something back and he held his hoof up.
"Look lady, you think I like playing gatekeeper between the desperate masses and the politicians? It's not my job to babysit them, and I'm not here to hold your hoof. I'm just a guard who stands outside a set of doors all day and sends ponies just like yourself in one at a time. There's nothing I can do."
"Then stop wasting my time then and tell me who the hell I have to talk to to get anything done!"
The guard rolled his eyes and sighed. Again.
"Did you try Guard Captain Gild?" He drawled slowly. Ambrosia snarled.
"Oh, right. That's smart. Go to the pony you're about to slam. You're a fucking genius, you know that?"
"Well, I'm not a mind reader," He replied tiredly, "Look, just take it to somepony else will you please? I'm going to get a hiding if you keep yelling at me."
"If you told me who-"
"Look, lady, it's either you go take your problems to somepony else, or I lock you up for public disturbance. Now are you leaving, or am I walking you away in chains?"
Ambrosia fumed, glaring at the guard for a long minute before groaning and stomping away. This had not ended as she'd planned.
Meanwhile, in Canterlot General, A petite purple pegasus woke up again from her painful nap with a groan. Her jaw was wrapped, secured to her head via bandages. This didn't allow her to speak, nor did it allow her to move her jaw in any way. Another groan and she heard something.
"Hey, Ressy, you're awake!"
Caress blinked slowly and turned her head. She'd have smiled if it didn't hurt so much. Before her sat her favorite client. A Night Guard named Blitz Brazier. A unicorn stallion that hadn't yet decided whether or not to go through the transformation into a Thestral, Blitz had a dark red, almost maroon coat with steely hair and ice blue eyes. Emblazoned upon his flank was a fiery shield known through magic circles as a 'bubble shield'. There was a chunk missing from his left ear and, Caress' personal favorite asset, pierced genitalia. There weren't many ponies that opted to get a Frenum Ladder on their penis after all.
"Hey... I wanted to be here earlier, but I got caught up. When I heard what happened I came down as fast as I could. Star wanted to come with, but she had other things to do that were important, so I told her you'd understand."
Caress nodded, a tear coming to her eyes. Blitz, ever the gentlecolt, wiped the tears away as they fell.
"Come on.. no need to cry Ress. S'alright. We'll find out who did this to you, I promise... and when I do..."
The gentle look in his eyes gave way to cold, black fury and his teeth clenched.
"I'm gunna make him wish he'd never been born, you mark my words."
There was a pregnant pause as Blitz sat there for a moment, letting himself fume in his anger and Caress just sort of stared at him. This wasn't the usual proceedings of their visits, even when they met outside of work.
"Ahem... in any case, you need to be more careful," He finally said, looking back at her, "Official report says you were raped by a client. You have to be more careful. I thought you kept a knife in your room?"
Caress rolled her eyes. She DID keep a knife in her room, and not in an easily found place. But if you opened the second draw of her nightstand and hit the draw correctly in the right place, a butterfly knife would fall from its hiding place. It was Blitz's idea to begin with. He was worried that she'd be attacked, or something damn close.
"Well, why didn't you use it then? If you have a weapon, use it. Take advantage... I only wanted you safe."
Caress rolled her eyes again.
"I'd rather hear about you going to jail for assault with a deadly weapon than be here after... after..."
Caress sighed through her nose, resigned to the idea that Blitz was going to be talking like this for a long time. It was going to be a long afternoon.
Ambrosia didn't like it when she didn't get her own way. Most times, this resulted in her pouting a whole lot and making an adorable face until she got what she wanted. Sometimes it was more serious and she punished one of the girls for a stuff up. This time, she didn't bother to yell at anypony, or anything of the sort. No, this time she walked through the city streets, trying desperately to calm herself so she could think.
It was a clear night. Evidently, Luna wanted her night to be appreciated tonight. The moon was full, and the stars were twinkling gently. Not a cloud in the sky from what Ambrosia could see. The cool night air was a welcome addition to her attempts to calm herself, and the gentle chirps of cicadas helped too. It reminded her of her old home with her parents in the country. She may not have really enjoyed it with her parents, living by their rules, but she had liked the country itself... although not as much as the city.
Feeling the grass under her hooves, the faint smell of the oncoming rain, no doubt in preparation for tomorrow fresh from the Cloudsdale factory. She took her time walking through the unrestricting space. It felt like freedom, like she, for a little while at least, didn't have to worry about her problems. Didn't have to worry that she hadn't been able to fit in a schedule with Celestia that didn't make her wait for a month and a half, despite the pony behind her that managed to get in an appointment in the next week. No worries that her girls were in jail, and one in the hospital. She'd only found out THAT gem after her attempts at getting an audience with a princess. She tried to get in to see her, but visiting hours had closed almost two hours ago.
She hadn't had a good day.
Just as she thought she was the only pony that had to be out here, and she began to think it was later than she thought, she saw a light just by a tree. Curious as to who would be out this late (aside from her of course, she knew why she was out this late), she approached the light slowly. The source of the light, as it became clear, was a group of candles set at the foot of a picnic blanket. Laying above them was two equines. One, the mare, a blue mare with flaxen mane and an eye shrouded in purple mist for a cutie mark, had her head resting upon a Zebra stallion's shoulder.
"Zirqon?" Ambrosia asked quietly, "Is that you?"
The Zebra started and turned his head to face Ambrosia before breaking out in a smile. However, instead of speaking as she thought he would, he held a hoof to his lips and gestured carefully, avoiding waking the mare on his shoulder. It took a bit of gesturing before Amber understood that he wanted to meet her in a few minutes. She nodded silently and pointed over behind the tree. He nodded and winked. Ambrosia sighed and trotted away, waiting a little away from the tree for Zirqon.
Zirqon was a young, handsome zebra stallion with a lot going for him. A craftszebra of considerable skill, Zirqon was one of her best customers. He often came in with his older brother, Zubari. She knew him by name, but of course, hadn't known of his skill until Bubbles had told her so. She had heard from her girls that he was quite skilled in bed, and very charming. But he was always willing to pay good bits, so she didn't mind so much his idiosyncrasies.
A few minutes later, the zebra appeared from around the tree, trotting up to Ambrosia.
"Long time no see Amby... Not really, but y'know," He said with a smug smile as he approached. Ambrosia rolled her eyes.
"Zirqon. I was looking for you."
"For me? Amby, 'm flattered."
"Not in the way you seem to believe," She said tiredly, "Bubbles was looking for you to do some work for me."
"Really?" Zirqon asked, interested, "n' wha' could tha' be?"
"Nothing now," she sighed, "There's no need for your work. The Star has been taken away from me."
"What?" Zir replied, obviously shocked, "How? Why?"
"Seized by the guard," She snarled, "Because they got a 'complaint' that somepony in my establishment was partaking in criminal past times in my house."
"Were they?" Zirqon asked shamelessly. Amber hesitated and sighed.
"I... I'd scolded Caress a time or two... but she's Kleptomaniacal, it's nothing I can fix."
"Aye, tha's true," he replied, "Bu' tha' ain't enough t' take th' star from ya is it?"
"No... Some of our clients were.... Had very specific requests," She said softly, "Illicit drugs. Not much of course... Our clients bring their own, we just store it. That... makes things more serious of course."
"Hmmmh... Ah see..."
"I... I was just trying to give them a home," She said softly, "Most of my girls have nowhere else to go."
"Cept fer th' star," he finished for her. She merely nodded. Zirqon put a reassuring hoof on her shoulder.
"S'alright Amby. Ya seen th' princess 'bout it?"
"You forget. The guard control the appointments, and Gild, the captain, has it in for me. That's why I've lost the star."
"Oh."
There was a long silence.
"Zubari's going t' be very dissappointed," Zirqon finally remarked, "Y' were his fav'rite spot here 'n Canterlot."
"The only spot," She corrected, "In Canterlot."
Zirqon chuckled.
"Aye, th' only spot," He amended. He thought for a moment before speaking again.
"Ah may not be th' best zebra t' tell ya this," he said, "But Ah'll say it anyway. Yer an honest mare for the most part Amby, an' Ah respect that 'bout ya, and yer cute t' boot. If there was somethin' Ah could do t' help, ya know Ah would. But really, there isn't. So, instead, Ah'm goin' t' say this. Sometimes ya got to walk ye own path. Some ponies'll hate ya for it, some'll love ya. Ye just got t' go for what ya want, no matter what."
".... That's surprisingly deep Zirqon," Ambrosia said slyly, "You come up with that all by yourself?"
"Honestly? I think he did~"
The pair started at the new voice and turned. Facing them at the tree was the young mare. Her eyes were closed and she had a soft smile on her face.
"Spell?" Zirqon asked, his ears pinning back, "Did we wake y' up?"
The young mare giggled and shook her head gently.
"No dear, you didn't. Stop worrying."
Now that she was up and standing, Amber noticed she was almost dangerously thin. She wasn't supermodel thin, but she almost looked malnourished. She was remarkably clean though, Amber noticed idly. Normally there was some semblance of smudge or dirt on a pony's coat, but not on this mare.
"Heh, Can't help it princess," he smirked back, "Ya bring out th' soft side o' me."
"Liar~" She teased back with a flush, "You're a rogue and a scoundrel. You're lucky it works in your favour."
All this was said with a smile and Ambrosia was starting to feel a bit like a third wheel as it were. She didn't really want to be anywhere near Zirqon when he was getting his game on, since she was likely to ruin it. Not because she couldn't sweet talk, but simply because she knew she could out sweet talk Zirqon with a paper bag over her head.
"I should... I should go," Ambrosia said abruptly, "You know... don't want to intrude or anything..."
"Nonsense," The mare named Spell countered politely, "Come. I think we still have some wine left, if Zirqon hasn't drank it all whilst I was asleep."
Zirqon smiled sheepishly at that and looked to Ambrosia for her answer. Not quite knowing what else to do, nor could she bring herself to refuse such a polite invitation, Amber sighed and accepted. At least the night would be spent with ponies who weren't trying to put her out of business.
"Alright, alright. I get it, beds as well. Jeez. Can I send for Fleur now or should I just sit here whilst you ask more of me?"
"No, you can send for her now."
"Thank you! I trust you don't need directions back to your cell?"
"No, I know my way back. Tell Fleur I'd consider it a personal favour."
"No problem. Goodbye, Miss Thread."
"Till next time Sky~"
"......... Ugh, women."
Author's Note
Zirqon and brothers/sister belong to Jay, who is reading this, I know it >.> Spell is my poneh of course. Did I miss anyone?
Caress was fed up with this hospital gig. She'd only been in there for two days. Two days and she was going crazy. She had her jaw bandaged still to make sure the break wasn't aggravated. The pain from the dislocation was gone by now. It had only lasted a few hours to be honest, although the pain from the bone being reset had lasted for ages. It still pained her occasionally. Blits had visited almost every day, but Caress could see it was tiring him. She tried to tell him to go home, but she couldn't voice what she wanted to say. She had tried to ask for quill and parchment, but the nurses couldn't understand her enough to oblige her. It was so frustrating! At least she could move around her hospital room. The nurses seemed to trust her enough for that thankfully.
"Miss Caress? You have a visitor."
Caress, looking out a window at the time, frowned. It couldn't be Blits again. He'd already visited, and he'd be asleep right now anyway. Slowly, she turned around to face the door and, had her jaw not hurt so much, she'd have smiled. Instead, she waved and Ambrosia waved back.
"Hey Caress," She said softly, "I'm sorry I couldn't visit earlier... I've been a bit preoccupied."
Caress shrugged and waved it off. Ambrosia smiled feebly.
"I'm glad to see you're okay... It doesn't hurt too much does it?"
Caress's eyes scrunched up a little and she moved her head in a weaving motion, holding her hoof up and shaking it slightly. So-so. Ambrosia nodded sadly.
"I see... Look, Caress..."
Caress sat down and patted the floor in front of her. Ambrosia obliged her, approaching her and seating herself.
"Caress," She began again, "I'm sorry... I'm sorry I wasn't there. I never meant for any of this to happen..."
The purple pegasus put a hoof to Ambrosia's lips, silencing the older mare and pulled her into a hug. Ambrosia swallowed heavily, holding back a sniff before returning the hug, tightly, and pushing her head into the hollow between Caress' shoulder and neck.
"I should have been there... I'm so sorry..."
The pair stayed as they were for a while before Ambrosia sniffed, pulling back, her hooves moving to rest on Caress' shoulder, a determined glint in her eye.
"But I'm going to make this right. I'm going to get the Star back, and nothing on Celestia or Luna's green Equestria is going to stop me, I swear. I'll make this right Caress, and I'll hunt down whoever did this to you and make them pay."
Caress sighed and, just barely, did smile, rolling her eyes. She'd been with Ambrosia long enough to know that glint in her eye.
"You were an art graduate weren't you?" Ambrosia asked seriously. Caress' eyes lit up and she nodded quickly. This was a little known piece of Caress' life. She'd taken, and passed, advanced art classes before her time as a petty thief and pickpocket, and subsequently, her time with Ambrosia. Amber nodded seriously.
"I'm going to get you some paper and a pencil," She said calmly, "And you can draw your... molester... on it. I'll pass it around anywhere I can to find out who it is. I'm not sure what I'll do to him yet... but I'm sure I'll think up something."
Ambrosia left the hospital fifteen minutes later, trying not to cry. This was not a situation she saw herself in. No, the hospital is not the place she saw herself visiting, especially not for one of her girls, and not for a rape. At least she had an appointment. With that appointment came an agreement from Gild himself. She was not to be touched by the guard. No arrests, nothing.
"What are you doing Amber..?" she mumbled softly, "What are you going to say..? How do you even make an argument like that? 'I'm sorry Princess, I know had drugs, but don't take it out on my girls?'... No, I don't think that'd work."
She sighed despondently and started walking, barely watching where she was going.
"Hello Princess, my name is Ambrosia, and my girls aren't responsible for any of the stuff your guards found. Please let them go."
"Your Highness, if I might beg of you your time? My girls aren't guilty of anything, the drugs you found were mine. Take me, but please let them go."
"Princess, you let my girls go now! It's me you want!... No... not that either."
"Princess-"
And she promptly ran into a cart.
Head first.
It took the beleaguered mare a moment to realise that she had her head stuck in the cart. Better yet, she had her head stuck in a cart stuck in a poster. Ever better because the universe seems to love messing with ponies, she had her head stuck in a cart, stuck in a poster and buried in somepony elses hay. It was sticking in her mane. She had made sure that mane was perfect that morning. And now it was not only covered in straw, but there was straw all through it as well.
Great. Juuuuuuust beautiful.
After being snapped at and yelled at for a few minutes by the hellishly overreacting owner of said cart, Ambrosia snapped, yelled at the insolent stallion, and stormed away. She may have questioned his breeding and his mother's loyalties once or twice which would explain why she left him in a state of almost apoplectic rage. As it was, she had other things to do, and this was not the time to waste scolding some random pony with a cart in the street.
No, she had to get to the market. Get some parchment and a quill and ink for Caress, get back to the hospital.
She ignored the straw in her mane. Some things were more important than appearances. The market was still at least a fifteen minute walk. She didn't want to rush too much in case she crashed into something else. So she took a more measured pace as she walked, keeping her eye out for other wayward carts or ponies, making sure to avoid them. She had a small bitbag on her of course, this for getting parchment and quills, ink. The stall she had in mind was a little one that sold stationary and small trinkets such as paperweights. It was run by a bookish stallion with large glasses and a shy disposition. At her measured pace, it took her twenty minutes to reach the market, and five more to reach the store. The manager of the stall was only too pleased to get her the items she asked for, and tried to offer her a discount as well. She managed to dissuade him from that, paying him the full amount. Now with parchment and quill in hoof, she started making her way back to the hospital.
Again, it wasn't a long walk. Twenty odd minutes. She managed to get into Caress' room again and gave her the parchment, quill and ink. Caress' eyes shone at the implements and she sat herself down at the closest table, organising her workspace to suit her needs and, quickly, began to draw. Ambrosia sat quietly, watching Caress work. She was like a demon, or at least a pony possessed, as she worked. The quill flew over the parchment like fire through a dry grassland. Scritching, scratching and painting a picture of something that Ambrosia couldn't see. Not yet, anyhow.
Then suddenly, Caress groaned, scrunched up the first sheet, and threw it aside, starting on the second sheet. Ambrosia felt a stab of fear. She'd only bought five sheets. Hopefully that was enough. Caress had gone back to scribbling wildly with her quill, drawing her way to clarity. It wasn't the first time she'd done something like this, making a drawing of somepony. Wouldn't be the last either, she was sure of that. Was the first time drawing her assailant, but...
Three sheets were thrown away before Caress decided she was happy with what she'd depicted and handed it to Ambrosia. Three sheets of ink covered paper now thrown carelessly into a waste paper basket. But the picture was made, and now Ambrosia knew what the bastard who raped her girl looked like.
Now she could get justice.
"Hey. You been here for a while Ambrosia?"
Amber started and spun around. In the doorway was Blits Brazier, a worried smile on his face.
"Hey Ressy. You good?"
Caress rolled her eyes and nodded her head yes. Blits noticed then the parchment in Ambrosia's hoof.
"Hey. What's that?"
Ambrosia looked at Caress, who nodded. She looked back at Blits and offered him the paper. He took it and looked at the picture, a dark frown sweeping over his face.
"Caress... Is this..?"
She nodded slowly, deliberately. His face darkened further. Ambrosia frowned.
"You know him?" She asked, surprised. He nodded slowly.
"Yeah. His name is Shatter. He's a sun guard."
"Then I can nail his dick to the wall," Ambrosia snarled. Blits shook his head and handed the paper back.
"No. Not with Gild. He won't defend him openly, but at worst he might spend a few days in jail before he's let out and stuffed back under Gild's hoof."
He looked very seriously at Ambrosia, and she felt a shiver down her spine. His eyes were filled with a black rage that she couldn't bear to look at for long.
"Let me and Star handle this. We'll see that he doesn't do this again."
Ambrosia hesitated.
"Blits... I really think I should at least try-"
"Ambrosia, I mean you no offense," He replied, cutting her off, "But that would be useless. Sometimes you have to take the law into your own hooves, and sometimes that means doing things most ponies would consider unethical. Just stay out of it Ambrosia. We will handle this."
Ambrosia arrived at her apartment late that night. She'd decided that, if she lived in the same spot as Bubbles, she risked getting her arrested, so instead she'd rented her own apartment separate from Bubbles', in a completely different building. She didn't even bother having something to eat.
She just let herself fall and hit the bed, falling asleep almost the moment she hit the pillow, having wandered through her troubles, unable to sleep until then.
Shatter, on the other hoof, was not having such a peaceful night. After waking up with a monster headache, and being told to leave the jail on threat of dismissal, He'd spent the next hour an a half being yelled at by his superiors before being told finally to go home. He was taking a shortcut through an alley. He took it every night. It never bothered him before. Nopony in Canterlot had the balls to take him on anyway, so he didn't really worry.
So you can imagine his surprise when, at the end of the alley, under a streetlight, stood a silhouette. The big stallion scowled.
"Who goes there?" He called powerfully, flexing his muscles, "In name of the law, reveal yourself."
The silhouette huffed.
"Don't flatter yourself Shatter. Name of the Law? I think not."
The shadowy figure took a step, and the distinct sound of metal on cement clinked through the alley.
"You're a lot of things, Shatter, but a lawpony you're not."
Shatter's eyes narrowed as he tried to discern the identity of the pony in his way.
"Who are you, to dare insult me?"
"Insult you?" Came the pony back "Shatter, you insult yourself."
The silhouette started trotting faster. Shatter stood his ground.
"You insult your uniform, you insult the city, you insult the law, you insult the very ground you walk upon."
Shatter felt his face turn red, his anger rising.
"And who you to accuse me?" He growled darkly. The silhouette barked with laughter.
"Somepony who knows what you've done."
The pony stepped out into the light, revealing Blits Brazier. On his hooves were a set of atypical Nightguard weaponry. Wickedly shaped claws, designed to tear and maim.
"Caress is a friend of mine Shatter," He growled darkly, "And you did the unthinkable. And now, it's time to pay for your crime."
Shatter looked down at the smaller stallion and chortled.
"What, small pony?" He asked tauntingly, "You? You and what army?"
Blits smiled darkly.
"Mine."
With a satisfying 'thunk' of metal on flesh, Shatter went down for the second time that day, crying out in pain as a round ball smashed into his face, breaking a cheekbone and probably dislocating his jaw. Behind him, holding the handle of the flail that struck him, was another pony. An earth mare with a light grey coat and a silvery white mane reaching her ankles, her green eyes were lit up with fire. On her flank was a morning star, spikes and all, emblazoned as her cutie mark.
"My wife and I," He said slowly, standing over the fallen Shatter, "We know what you did. You fucked with the wrong girl Shatter."
Shatter spat something at them in another language, something dark and guttural. Blits snarled and, as Shatter tried stand up again, he landed a powerful punch right on Shatter's busted cheek. Shatter roared and fell again, his hoof coming up to protect himself.
"You showed Caress no mercy. And now, we're not showing you any."
Blits nodded to Star, and she lifted the flail high, bringing it down on Shatter's hind leg. There was a gruesome, sickening crack as the bone broke and, before Shatter could scream, Blits punched him in the throat, leaving the big stallion gasping for breath, choking on his own lungfuls of air. Another foul crack as the flail landed on the other leg, then one of his forelegs. Crippled, Blits nodded to his wife, who nodded back, a silent snarl on her face, and left.
This wasn't her fight.
"I'm going to show you true pain Shatter," Blits growled darkly, drawing one of the sharp points of the flanged claw across Shatter's brow, "And when you beg me finally to let you die... I just might listen."
With an angry thrust, Blits drove the point of the claw into Shatter's brow. Short of breath, Shatter couldn't even yelp as blood started streaming from the wound. A pained, soft groan came from the helpless Shatter.
"Don't fall unconscious on me now tough guy... I'm only warming up."
It was early morning when Ambrosia was woken from her slumber by a knock on the door. Bleary with sleep, she stumbled over to the door and opened it aggressively. Outside was a solar guard, and he didn't look happy.
"Ambrosia," He stated arrogantly. It grated on Amber's nerves.
"What?" She grumbled back.
"You're wanted immediately by Guard Captain Gild. I'm to escort you to his office."
Ambrosia glared at the stallion for a few seconds, before slamming the door in his face. There was a moment of silence before another knock on the door. Ambrosia opened the door again.
"Ambrosia, I must insis-"
Again, she slammed the door in his arrogant face. Another pause. A series of angry knocks. She opened the door again before he could finish knocking. His mouth opened to speak and, once again, she slammed the door in his face. She opened it as he went to knock again and held up a hoof.
"Shut. Up," She said bluntly, "You are not 'escorting' me anyplace. You will shut up, follow me, and not do anything stupid."
With that, she pushed her way past the stunned guard and, ignoring his existence, walked away.
Gild's office was a decent walk. The Castle wasn't close to her motel, so she had to walk for a good thirty minutes, occasionally telling the guard to shut up. Upon arriving at the Castle, and being shown to a foyer outside Gild's office, she was told to wait.
"You want me to wait," She said bluntly. It wasn't even a question. The guard looked at her as though she were stupid.
"That's it," She snarled, "It's early, you woke me up and dragged me halfway across the city to see this joker, and now you're telling me to wait?"
She pushed past the guard again, ignoring his sudden and very angry series of protests as she busted open the door to Gild's office. Gild looked at her from his desk. He didn't look impressed.
"What are you doing?" He asked angrily, "you're meant to wait until you're called!"
"I'm not going to wait like a common pony until I'm summoned by you, Gild," She snarled, "Tell me what you want."
Gild growled darkly, but spoke.
"Last night, one of my guards was killed. Slaughtered in an alley and left to bleed to death. His corpse was hung from a fire escape with 'No Mercy to sinners' carved into his flesh. Care to explain that to me?"
Ambrosia frowned and shrugged.
"What makes you think I could do it?" She asked irritably. Gild barked a laugh.
"Don't be stupid. I know you couldn't do it," He replied angrily, "Shatter was much too large to be taken down by a mere mare like you."
Ambrosia felt a stab of irritation. A mere mare? A mere mare!?
"So," She said, trying to force her anger down, "What does this have to do with me?"
"Shatter is one of the guards I sent to your little whorehouse," He snarled back, the feathers on his wing that could still be used bristling, "So it makes sense that you'd have something to do with this!"
"I know nothing about this!" She snarled back, "You've had me under observation ever since I crashed your party with the pansy brigade! You'd KNOW if I had something to do with it!"
"Don't lie to me Ambrosia!" He yelled at her, "I will not be taken for some fool!"
"And I will not be taken for a murderer!" She yelled back, stamping a hoof defiantly, "These are MY girls! I will NOT jeopardize their safety for some sick, twisted crime that, to be blunt, sounds like some religious extremist doing a number on a giant dick!"
Silence. Ambrosia glared at Gild, and Gild glared back. The tension in the room was so thick it was suffocating, but both ponies held their ground, one from behind his desk, with all the power of the Canterlot Guard behind him, and the other with nothing but a few hundred bits to her name. For two minutes, they glared at each other, until finally, Gild growled and looked at his desk.
"That will be all, Ambrosia. Leave."
Ambrosia huffed, turning on her heel. Just as she exited the office, he called.
"Oh, and Ambrosia."
Her head turned to glare at him again.
"There's been a change in the schedule," He said casually, a smirk on his lips, "Celestia is meeting with the Gryphon ambassador on the day you booked, so I'm afraid your appointment has been relocated from next week to three months hence, bearing the time required. Have a pleasant day."
And, without letting her answer, the guards slammed the door in her face, leaving her wide eyed, furious, but most of all, losing hope.
Author's Note
For those of you wondering which accent I think of in terms of Shatter, if you've ever played Skyrim, I'm thinking of the Nordic accent. You know, that kind of gravelly, scandinavian type deal. Nordic. Mmmmm. Speaking of which, I just made a Nord character and beat the heck out of the Imperials for a change of pace instead of killing Ulfric (With great pleasure I might add). I must say, I greatly enjoy the Battle Cry power, although I accidentally activated it in town and got a bit of a bounty on my head... >.<
Ahem. So, what's your favorite Skyrim Race? Not counting Mods/custom races. And are you a Stormcloak supporter, an Imperial supporter, or are you Neutral? Just curious.
Ambrosia sat, helplessly, staring at the wall. After Gild's shattering revelation, she'd visited Bubbles, cried some, and ever since then had sat, motionless, staring at the featureless wall. Bubbles had tried to speak to her, to reason with her, to shake her out of it, she'd even slapped her twice. But no, nothing, No response, no anger, nothing. It was starting to scare poor Bubbles who, out of desperation, had just sat a large plate in front of Ambrosia with a selection of little foods that she'd manage to scrounge up from her kitchen.
But whilst Bubbles worried, Ambrosia's stunned mind never stopped her subconscious, reliving random memories from her past.
A bright field, filled with golden wheat. She remembered she had been told never to play in it. She was told she'd be lost because she was too short to see over the top. She'd laughed. She remembered laughing and telling her daddy that he was too short too. She couldn't remember what he said... Back then, the white area on her underside reaching to her throat had only been a patch of white fur on her chest. She remembered. She remembered cutting herself on one of her daddy's tools. A big, sharp blade. A scythe.
A clean, tidy house. A big table. Her mama and daddy seated either side of her. Another family was there. They were eating turnip and walnut soup. She remembered. She remembered her mama had spent all day making it just right. She remembered because she'd been there the whole time, learning. She still remembered the recipe, if she thought about it hard enough. It was an interesting flavour. Mama had once told her it was a staple meal. She didn't know what that was at the time.
A School room, filled with desks. Fillies and colts around her, being silly. Fifth grade. She remembered. She remembered because that was the year she got her cutie mark. She remembered. She remembered because that was the year she was hit on. She remembered because she'd spoken the colt down. She remembered sending him away, crying like a little baby. She remembered that because she didn't get in trouble. A silky white glove engulfed in a cracked Halo had marked her rump ever since.
Untidy room. Pizza boxes everywhere. College, all girls school. She remembered. She remembered this room well. She'd had her first homosexual experience there. She remembered. She remembered because the young mare was really, really sweet. She remembered because she basked in the other girls' envy. Her side of the room was clean. Remnants of parental influence. She remembered. She remembered because her parents made sure to remind her.
The road. She remembered. Dusty, dirty, and without mercy. She remembered. She remembered the way it tore her hooves up. She remembered the rocks in her hooves. She remembered the rough goings of the ground as she tried to sleep. She remembered. She remembered learning about illusions and simple tricks by watching a stage magician perform. She remembered her name was Trixie. She remembered because the mare wouldn't stop shouting her name.
Canterlot. Dark, hard cobblestones. The scent of the city, the sounds of clopping hooves. She remembered. She remembered because that was the night she'd met Bubbles. There she was now, sitting in the alley. she remembered. She remembered because she'd felt sad too, felt lonely too.
The Star. She remembered it well. Her room, with fourposter bed and lovely wallpaper. Her velvet covers. Her girls, looking at her each day happily, glad she gave them a home.
Gild. Gild's face. The memory darkened.
Zirqon, meeting in the dark. She remembered. She remembered because he'd had a marefriend. She remembered that because he never committed. She remembered. She remembered his caring look to the mare. She remembered his smile. Such trivial sounding matters...
"Yer an honest mare for the most part Amby, an' Ah respect that 'bout ya, and yer cute t' boot. If there was somethin' Ah could do t' help, ya know Ah would. But really, there isn't. So, instead, Ah'm goin' t' say this. Sometimes ya got to walk ye own path. Some ponies'll hate ya for it, some'll love ya. Ye just got t' go for what ya want, no matter what."
Her mind stopped, latching onto that. That one piece of a memory. A fragment really. But it latched onto it all the same.
Sometimes ya got to walk ye own path.
The words resounded in Ambrosia's head.
Some ponies'll love ya. Some Ponies'll hate ya for it.
Again, it repeated itself. Ever so slowly, her eyes moved, the dark fog lifted. The room was pitch black, and there was the sound of quiet snoring from the direction of the couch three feet from her. Her eyes alighted down upon the barely visible white plate, and the collection of goodies upon it.
Ever so slowly, she reached over, picked up a piece of fruitcake, and, regarding it for a moment, took a bite.
When Bubbles woke up the next morning, Ambrosia was gone. In her place, where the plate had once sat filled with various snacks, was a plate of steaming hot scrambled eggs and a note. Two pieces of toast held on a toast rack also caught Bubbles' attention.
Dear Bubbles.
I am not going to lie. Gild's blatant reschedule of our appointment took my by surprise. No, more like it put me in shock. I knew Gild had it out for me, for us, but I didn't realise he was so desperate. This is why I'm not here.
Gild is going to keep doing this. Every single time the appointment draws near, he'll postpone it, reschedule it, and eventually outright cancel it. You know it, I know it, and I think Caress knows it too. She's not here to see me how I was, and I'd prefer to keep it that way. My emotional state as of last night is now our secret. You can't tell anypony. Not Caress, not Thread, not Oil, hell, not even your pet cat three times removed on her mother's side. It's our secret, and it will stay that way. I've gone to search for an answer, and muster up enough knowledge and force if necessary to take down Gild.
He took away our home. If he doesn't reconsider, and soon, I'll take away everything he has left.
Make sure you eat well dear~
Ambrosia
Bubbles smiled wryly and looked at the food. It looked delicious. With a roll of her eyes, she sat down and began to tuck into the food Ambrosia had made for her.
There were a lot of bad sorts in Canterlot City. You just had to know where to look. Rumours of cut throats and gangs littered the streets, only to fall silent around the guards. Canterlot was not a perfect city, and everypony knew it. But moving away from the common thug and pickpocket, there were also sounds concerning ponies that were specialists in their field. There were rumours about a thief so good, he'd stolen away a set of Celestia's golden shoes and hidden them away. Rumour had it he was still looking for the right buyer. Another could swear he knew of an assassin so good, he made the kills look natural, even around other ponies.
And then there were bounty hunters, hunters, mages, shamans, black magic purveyors, fortune tellers...
Ambrosia hated fortune tellers. She hated the idea of being incapable of controlling her future, her life. So she avoided them. She knew there were a few that had the gift of sight. There had to be, in a place as magical as Equestria. So she avoided them. Bounty Hunters were cold and dangerous, even to their employers, and Hunters were paranoid.
But all of that was irrelevant, paling in comparison to who she was looking for. She'd come all the way to the shabbier parts of town to find him. That is to say, the parts of town not shown on the brochure. In a dingy tavern called 'Ragged Flagon', she sat silently at the bar whilst the other patrons ogled her, especially the ones beside her, who were trying unsuccessfully to chat her up. She watched a lone Zebra in the corner of the room. He appeared to be sewing. Her eyes narrowed as she felt a pinch on her rump and she turned to face the perpetrator, a drunken stallion who didn't even seem to know where he was, and knocked him flat. He was asleep before he hit the floor. The barkeep looked at the now unconscious stallion, looked up at Ambrosia, and wordlessly (However with a wide smile,) He poured her a drink that, apparently, was from his own private reserve. She thanked him after he insisted it on the house, and made her way through the room to the clear space around the zebra.
"You are brave, to come dis close to me," The Zebra said as Ambrosia approached, not looking up from his work as his lilting voice rolled over her ears, "Many here do not. Dey insist I'm dangerous, and rightly so."
His eyes flicked up to look at her and she felt a momentary shiver down her spine. He had no colour to them. Aside from the dark pupils, his eyes were utterly white.
"So why is it," He continued, staring at her as she sat down cautiously across the table from him, "Dat a pretty mare like yourself would sit here, wit da cursed medicine man?"
Ambrosia swallowed, sipping her strong drink before screwing up her courage and flicking her mane out of her eyes, deliberately making the movement provocative.
"I heard that you offered your services," She said simply, smiling at him, "And thought I'd make an offer."
"Ah," He replied, setting his bone needle down gently, "I see. You wish to make a deal wit de devil, and hope you come out alive."
"No," She said sweetly, "I wish to make a deal with you, and make it good."
He looked back down at his work, nodding sagely.
"Then I am all ears," He said, sounding a little amused, "I always have time to listen to business."
"And I have always got time to speak business," She said back to him, "I hear you offer your unique services to the highest bidder. A mercenary, if you will."
"I like to think of myself as a opportunist," He said, going back to working on his... whatever it was.
"Of course. Well, I'm offering you a once in a lifetime opportunity to work for me."
The zebra nodded sagely, still looking at his project.
"I want you to come and work for me. In return for your services, I offer you protection from your enemies, and sanctuary once I have achieved my goal."
"Do tell," He replied calmly.
"I'm getting my home back," She replied darkly, "No matter what it takes."
He paused for a long time before sighing and looking up, his hooves never stopping their work.
"You know, I was once a respectable shaman in my tribe. As shaman, I studied da healing arts of my kind. Eventually, when ya do da same thing over and over again, you decide da best way to keep doing it, is to practice or dabble in something else. I chose Voodoo."
Finally, he held up his project. A small, miniaturized version of Ambrosia looked back at her, a long piece of her mane sewed into the top part of her neck. Ambrosia frowned.
"Is that..?" She asked slowly.
"Yes," He replied, "It is a voodoo doll of you. I was not sure if you were meaning me harm."
A look of dread fell over Amber's face and he smiled, and began to laugh.
"Do not worry," He said coolly, "There is no enchantment on it yet. You are not bound to dis doll. It is merely decorative at dis time."
He looked at the doll, then back at her seriously.
"I will tell you what," He said calmly, "You cannot guarantee my safety, and you cannot tell me how long it will be until you have finished dis campaign of yours. So, I will make you a counter offer."
"Shoot," She replied.
"I will keep dis doll," He replied, "For the time spent in your service. I will not use de power contained within it unless I believe you are going to betray me. At the time I believe you complete your mission, I shall give you de doll, and you may do wit it what you will."
He held up a hoof, silencing her before she could speak.
"I also expect payment in some form."
"My home is the Golden Star Brothel," She replied quickly, "When we get it back, you can have free reign of the house, my girls and free food and drinks so long as the meal is under twenty bits."
He considered this for a while before smiling.
"I find dis acceptable. I agree to your offer. I trust you have a contract?"
"Not yet," She replied, "I wanted to be sure you'd agree."
He smirked and stored the doll in a bag under his chair.
"Then let us go. We have a few things to do."
Utopia: Call for Desperate Measures
Sky Graphic sighed as he walked through the jail. He had, by personal request of Gild, taken over the late Shatter's job, patrolling. It didn't really look much like a jail anymore. The beds that once took up the smallest amount of room possible had been replaced with nice beds with sheets and blankets large enough to hold several of the ponies incarcerated. The cells had several places sectioned off with curtains for their privacy, and one of them even had a small couch and bookshelf, all prepared and ready for the occupant, Valinor, to seat herself quietly and read her days away.
He came to Gilded Thread's cell and sat down, looking in at her. She was languishing on her own bed, half covered in her blanket.
"Comfortable?" He asked, unimpressed, "Or should I get you a goblet of wine to go with your accommodation?"
Thread looked over at him blearily and stretched slowly.
"Mmmm... If you're offering~" She replied teasingly. Sky rolled his eyes.
"No, I was being sarcastic. Remind me again how you convinced me to do this?"
She smiled sweetly at him in return.
"I appealed to your good nature sweetie~" She said gently, "And you're such a nice stallion~"
"Too nice, apparently," He replied bluntly, "I don't know how the hell I managed to get Gild to agree to this either."
"Gild is too busy to really read what's on the sheets put on his desk," She said with a bored sigh, "You know, trying to keep my employer out of a home."
"Captain Gild is just doing his job Miss Thread," He responded. Thread laughed softly.
"Darling, your naivety is adorable. Have you seen him close any more stores or establishments?"
Sky hesitated before shrugging.
"He hasn't found evidence on them yet is all," He said, "He will eventually."
Thread smirked and rolled her eyes.
"You keep believing that dear. Have fun serving in corruption sweetheart."
Sky frowned, storing her words away in his mind for later consideration as he turned and, slowly, began his rounds again.
"You are going to need a lot of other ponies working for you to pull off what you want."
Hoodlum sat at a small table in Ambrosia's small apartment, shuffling a deck of cards idly. Ambrosia was making tea in the kitchen.
"I know. I figured you, being a zebra of fortune yourself, could point me in the right direction."
Hoodlum looked up from his cards, shamelessly eyeing the mare up. She was attractive, there was no doubt. She had put on weight since she'd come to Canterlot, given her manager status. However, some of that weight had dropped since she'd lost the star. She still had the appeal she always had.
"Listen princess," He replied, "If you dink for a moment dat you are going to overthrow de guards with simply mercs, you are wrong."
Ambrosia turned to face him, a pair of mugs in her hooves.
"Do tell," She said neutrally, "I'd like to hear your take."
Hoodlum lowered a brow, amused.
"What? No 'I call de shots around here' or, 'who do you dink you are?'"
Ambrosia shrugged.
"There's no shame in seeking help in areas you're not familiar with."
Hoodlum grinned.
"Very true. Many ponies do not dink so anymore." He said, "It's not as simple as you dink. You see, hiring mercenaries or 'opportunists' as you called dem, is risky. A merc's first loyalty is to his pay. Should his pay be threatened, or he offered better money, he will turn on his employer in a moment."
"Oh. That's a fair point."
"Yes. What you need, is a stable base. What you're doing is treason, so you may as well go de whole way."
Ambrosia's eyes narrowed.
"Go on."
"What I am proposing is an extreme. But by de sounds of it, you've tried de more legal aspect. De problem with legal side is your opponent. He is captain of de guard, yes?"
"That's right," She said in reply.
"Den you have a serious problem. Your opponent is setting the scene and de rules of your game, Ambrosia. It is a dangerous game you are playing, and you do not want your enemy making all of de rules."
Ambrosia almost corrected him. He'd pronounced her name like 'Ambro-see-a', and it felt strange, but she let it go, figuring it simply his accent.
"You had my curiosity before, Hoodlum," She said, leaning forward in her chair as she sat down, "But now you have my attention."
Hoodlum smiled wryly.
"Glad to know I'm not useless den. What I'm saying is start making de rules yourself, set the battlefield."
"This isn't a war though?" She said, confused. Hoodlum rolled his eyes.
"That is where you're wrong. This is war, simply on de streets of the City. You, and de guard. More specifically, you, and Gild. Gild already has his army, and power, and that puts you at a disadvantage."
"The guard," She said softly to herself. Hood nodded.
"Yes. De guard are his army. Whether dey know dis or not, every soldier is in his service. I would be careful where you tread. Now. Your army needs to grow. I have been generous, agreeing to your offer. But mercs will not take physical temptation like I will. They will want money, power."
"Then what do you suggest?"
"Gangs," He responded bluntly, "Do what you must to achieve what you must. Create a new mob to take on the guard."
"A mob?" She asked, wide eyed, "Are you serious?"
"Yes," He responded, "As your newest employee, I will help you."
"But don't they ask for the same thing?" She asked, hopelessly confused again, "Money and Power?"
"Well, yes," He answered with a shrug, "But dey also know it's not going to be instant. Dey expect de money and power after time."
"And that's better?" She asked incredulously, "Look, I appreciate your attempts to help but-"
"Let me finish and perhaps you will not be so overwhelmed!" He scolded, making her fall silent, "You may not like it, but de threat of force, on in dis case, magical intervention, will make you many potential allies. I promise you, I will help you. We had a deal, no?"
Ambrosia hesitated for a long moment before sighing.
"Alright... but listen. I set the rules, okay? No force unless I deem it necessary for starters."
"No problem," He replied with a smile.
"And also, where do we get muscle from that isn't going to cost me my left hoof?"
Hoodlum's smile widened and he tapped his hooves together.
"Leave dat one to me."
It was dark. But then, it was to be expected that it was dark, considering how late it was. Almost midnight it was, when the two zebras met. One was much taller, and much bigger than the other. The smaller, was Hoodlum.
"Dank you for meeting me on such short notice," Hood said quietly, "I know you are busy."
"That's nice, Zukra," The other zebra said coolly, "Get to the point and give me a reason not to take you back to Zebrica."
Hood felt a muscle twitch under his eye.
"I don't go by dat name any longer," Hood replied coldly, "I go by Hoodlum now."
"Fitting."
"I have a proposition for you."
"I don't work for criminals, Zukra," The other replied, deliberately using his old name.
"You would not be working for me," came Hoodlum's reply, "But for my employer."
"They hired you?"
"Not exactly," He said with a shrug, "She made me an offer I could not refuse."
"A wealth of dead bodies?" The larger zebra spat. Hoodlum sighed.
"I don't know what the tribes have told you," He lamented, "But I did not, nor do I plan, on practicing Necromancy. No, she offered me services through my life."
"Enough. Just tell me what you want."
"Simple. We, being my employer, wishes you to be our muscle. I do not expect you to accept straight away, but I do wish you to give me reason to believe you will answer, and not ditch us."
"You take me for a common cutthroat?" The zebra snarled, "That I would abandon a contract for the contractor's enemy?"
"Not at all," Hood responded, "Just being prudent."
Silence. For a long time, silence.
"... What is the pay?"
"Negotiable," He said quickly, "But I am willing to offer my bounty, after the job is done."
The larger zebra frowned down at Hood, and Hood glared right back.
"... What about your services through life?" he asked darkly, "Does that include sanctuary?"
"No. Sanctuary was not a part of the bargain. Do we have a deal? Will you meet my employer, Zubari?"
The big Zebra let out a breath, his eyes not straying from Hood's white ones for a long second before nodding.
"I will meet her."
Gild was looking at the calender on his desk, smiling. Upon it, several times, was 'Ambrosia's visit', crossed out at each time, 'rescheduled' as it were. Standing before his desk, waiting to be acknowledged, was Sky Graphic. He stood for a long, uncomfortable few minutes. When Gild didn't say anything, nor acknowledge his presence, Sky cleared his throat.
"Sir?"
"What is it Graphic?" Gild asked with a smirk, not looking away from his calendar. Graphic cleared his throat again.
"Well... no disrespect intended sir, but are you sure keeping Shatter's death from the rest of the guard is wise? If it is religious extremists, like you theorise, then shouldn't we let them know about it? You know, to let them prepare?"
Gild paused, then looked up at Sky.
"No. If I tell the others, there'll be open revolt, trying to find the culprits. Shatter had a lot of enemies, and quite a few religions would see him as a sinner. So no, we won't."
Sky hesitated before speaking again.
"But how will they prepare for possible attacks on themselves then?" He asked hesitantly. Gild, who had gone back to looking at the calendar, sighed and looked up.
"If Shatter had been vigilant, like he was trained, he wouldn't be dead now would he? Shatter was an irreplaceable member of the guard, but now he's dead. There's no point causing panic or thoughts of vengeance in the core. It's a dangerous line we're toeing with this Graphic. A lot of the others would want revenge on principle. They may not have liked him, but you know how some of the guard are."
"I..." Sky started, thinking about it, before nodding. What Gild was saying made a lot of sense, "I get it, yes. Thanks for that sir."
He paused again, thinking before he asked again, slowly.
"Sir... How is it we've seized the star, but not any other stores or establishments?"
Gild looked up sharply, but held his emotions in check.
"Because," he said in a controlled voice, "We have yet to receive any relevant evidence to suggest that they're inciting or had anything to do with crime or criminal activity. Until we have evidence, we cannot arrest nor trial the suspects. Get the picture?"
"And what of Ambrosia's trial?" he asked in response, "Is that ever going to happen?"
"I can only do what I can do on the time given to me, Graphic. Nothing more. I don't make the rules, I just follow them. Now stop questioning my orders."
"Yes sir..." Sky said quietly, "Sorry sir. it won't happen again."
"See that it doesn't, Graphic. Dismissed."
Sky bowed his head in deference, and left the office, ruminating on the new 'evidence' he'd uncovered in his mind.
Author's Note
Zubari belongs to the same person behind the inequitable Zirqon, Jay. Great guy. Good with kids. I think. Maybe. He might be.
"We will start small. Our first meet is wid de leader of a small gang of t'ieves based here in lowtown. Dey are only small, not a large group, but dey are rising fast in de criminal circles. Best to snap up de talent whilst it is unclaimed, yes?"
Ambrosia followed Hoodlum through the streets of lowtown. This was another part of Canterlot unknown to most, but well known to the Guard, and to all criminals. It looked like any other part of Canterlot, but if one had a sharp eye, it was obvious how it was different. Ambrosia could feel it, and it was tickling something inside her, and she couldn't stop the butterflies in her stomach from flitting around, although with nerves or eagerness she couldn't tell.
"I agree," She said with a nod, "But what am I going to do with thieves?"
"Ah, you must start to dink like a criminal," Hoodlum chuckled, "T'ieves have the best way of getting money for a new player."
"Ah," Ambrosia said, starting to see his point, "Pickpockets, burglars... Money making."
"For now, yes," Hood said with a smile, "It is good. You are picking up on de workings very quickly. De question is, can you negotiate your way around?"
That was what really worried Ambrosia. Could she do this? Could she talk this small criminal fold into working for her? Working with her if need be? She was going to find out soon enough, and it only lent to the tickling of the butterflies. She hated Butterflies. She didn't normally hate butterflies, but right now they were annoying her. She knew it was irrational, but she couldn't help it.
"We'll see," She replied softly, "Where's the muscle you said you'd take care of?"
"At de moment, away on a job," Hood answered calmly, "But he will join us tomorrow. He is a Zebra of his word, dis, I promise."
"Could have used him by my side right now..." She mumbled to herself softly. But if Hood heard her, he didn't show it, continuing as though nothing was wrong.
"De leader's name is Swift. He is a pegasus, and small for his kind. Do not dink this is something you can use against him. His size is a benefit for his chosen profession. Remember dat. He is arrogant, proud of his skill, and he has a right to be. He is, if rumour serves, very good."
"I'll keep that in mind... Is this the place?"
The pair stopped outside a warehouse. A big building, with a lot of vantage points. Up high were a set of windows, there were holes in the walls in places big enough for an arrow or a bolt to streak through, and the doors appeared to be quite hefty. Hood nodded.
"Yes, dis is de place. Swift is expecting us. I shall simply convey de passcode, and you shall speak."
"Not you?" She asked, a pit of nerves growing in her stomach. Hood shook his head, a look of distaste on his features.
"No. He does not trust me in his abode," He replied, his normally calm face to everything seeming a bit rattled, "He does not trust de darker magicks. Voodoo especially."
"Why not?" She asked, curious. The Shaman had kept the better part of his abilities a secret from Amber, and she wanted to know more, even if it meant pressing him whenever she had the chance.
"Voodoo magick's worst reputations come from the ability to control a pony's actions," He replied, "Voodoo dolls are excellent for dis, and curses and hexes are common as well. Now, if you would stand in de open, I shall speak to de keeper."
Ambrosia just frowned and watched as Hoodlum walked forward, and a hidden slide opened, revealing a pair of eyes. Try as she might, she couldn't hear what was said however.
At the door, Hood was conversing with the Keeper, confident and without a hint of confusion.
"Wonderful weather we're having," The keeper said, peering out at the zebra. Hood smiled and looked at the sky.
"I don't know," He answered, "Looks like brush to me."
The keeper raised a brow, and looked up himself.
"Certainly, but you don't think the changelings care for carrots do you?"
"Only if de dogs search for chocolate," Hood said back with a shrug. There was a pause, then the Keeper laughed.
"Sorry t' keep ya waiting," He said, his whole persona shifting, "Policy yeah? Givvus a sec, I'mma unlock the door."
Hood smiled, not falling for the bait.
"Thirty seconds as de dragon flies," He replied back. The keeper sighed.
"Well... this sucks. reckon you could uh... tell the boys I almost had ya?"
Hood chuckled and nodded.
"Certainly," He said, amused, "You almost had me stumped dere. I have my Employer wid me. She's here to see Swift."
"Yeah mate, gimme a sec, gunna unlock the door."
The plate slid shut and the sound of chains rattled from behind the big doors, then the sound of dead bolts, latches and several standard key locks unlocking reverberated in quick succession and the door opened slightly, the keeper peering out of it.
"Oi, go get ya sheila will ya? Don't wanna stay in the open any longer than I have to."
"One moment," Hood said politely, trotting back to Ambrosia.
"Dey are expecting you."
Ambrosia swallowed, the butterflies returning as she nodded to Hood and, putting on her best face, strode forth, towards the lair of thieves.
"Thread?"
Gilded Thread cracked open an eye slowly. Before her, on the other side of the bars, was Sky Graphic. Thread yawned slowly and stretched.
"What is it?" She asked, her old blood tail swishing slowly through the air, "How can I help?"
"What does Gild have against Ambrosia?"
Thread shrugged, honestly puzzled.
"I don't know. I was only employed a few days before things went to hell. I don't even know what Gild looks like."
Sky frowned, looking around the jail.
"Who would know?" He asked bluntly. Again, Thread shrugged.
"I don't know. You'd have to ask the girls. But honestly? I don't think any of them even know who Gild is. Well, not till now."
Sky sighed in frustration. He just couldn't get lucky today.
"I spoke to Gild yesterday. He's got something against Ambrosia, that's for damn sure. He didn't like me asking him about Ambrosia's trial, told me to basically mind my own business. Something's up, and I want to know what."
Thread hesitated and shrugged.
"I'm sorry, I'm... I can't help you with that. Did you contact Fleur?"
Sky nodded.
"Yes. Miss De-lis agreed to watch your foals without hesitation. She has taken up temporary residence in your home. She's paying your bills as well, despite us telling her we were taking care of it."
Thread nodded.
"That sounds like Fleur. Look, I'm sorry I can't help you. I really am. You'll have to find somepony else here who might know, or find Bubbles. She'd definitely know. She's been with Ambrosia from the start."
Sky nodded again.
"Alright... thank you anyway miss Thread. Sorry to take up your time."
"It's no problem," She said with a smile, "I have all the time in Equestria."
The warehouse was dingy, dimly lit, and surprisingly clean. Ambrosia had been lead through the place without hesitation from the members of the little band of thieves. After leading her to a flight of stairs hidden under a false trapdoor (Which Ambrosia didn't even see, it looked like part of the floor even to close inspection), her escort informed her she was on her own from there on out, and left her to find her own way down in the darkness.
Her heart thumping in her chest, Ambrosia carefully made her way down the stairs, her caution helping her not to slip on a wet patch of floor. She didn't really give much to thought to how the liquid got there. Thankfully, she got past the leaky pipe before it could drip on her, not noticing the leak anyway.
What she arrived in at the bottom of the stairs was a well lit, comfortable office like room. The furniture was sparse, but obviously expensive. A high backed chair sat with its back to her. She felt a little amusement as she saw a tuft of tail sticking from the side, just from under the mahogany desk, theorizing that Swift has a flair for the dramatic. She noticed on the left wall was a massive, golden framed mirror, and the front (Back? she was facing it anyhow) had a massive picture of Celestia on it, offset from center by a significant amount, also framed in gold.
"I'm saving it for a picture of Luna," Came a crafty voice from in front of Ambrosia, "Once we find a frame worthy of her beauty, that is. Do you know how difficult it is to find a frame of those exact dimensions in Nightsteel?"
The chair slowly turned, revealing a small pegasus, his wings retracting as he stopped using them to turn himself.
"Ambrosia, yes?" He asked, his hooves falling to rest upon his desk, "Hoodlum had spoken of your beauty, but he hardly did you any justice sweet cheeks~"
Ambrosia felt her cheek twitch at the nickname. She hated that nickname. She always had.
"Thank you," She said, instead of admonishing him as she wanted to, "It's gracious of you to invite me into your home."
"Well, helps I have one doesn't it darling?" He asked slyly. Ambrosia forced her anger down and sighed.
"Indeed," She said instead, "That's my ultimate goal at this moment. I'm fighting for my home. After that, I'm not certain."
Swift snorted and turned a little in his chair, facing the western wall.
"What should I care?" He asked indifferently, "What should it matter to me? Another place I can't rob for money? If I combine my little family with, let's face it, you and a Voodoo bastard, I stand to lose more than I gain."
Ambrosia felt her heart drop, but kept up a brave face.
"Except that you would have my resources available to you as well in the long run."
"And what could the owner of a brothel possibly offer me and my ponies?" He asked scornfully, "Hmm? Please, don't make me laugh."
Ambrosia fell quiet. Swift kept going.
"Look, you're a pretty enough mare and all," He said, turning back to face her, a smug grin on his face, "But unless you can give me good reason, then my ponies are staying here, under me. If that's all you can offer, you can leave now."
Ambrosia felt her heart break and she sighed. She nodded gently to the little pegasus, and turned to leave.
"Figures. I told Hood it's useless."
Ambrosia tried to ignore him, walking away towards the doorway.
"Nothing but the owner of a big house full of two bit whores."
Ambrosia stopped, half a hooffall away from the doorway and, try as she might, she felt something in her crack.
"Just a bunch of small minded mares that didn't have enough talent to anythin' but get fucked their whooole lives~"
Ambrosia would never be truly able to describe what came over her in that little office. Something inside her snapped that day, and another side of her was brought to the surface. A side that even she didn't know she had. A cold fury settled over her and she turned back around slowly, a deathly calm betraying the rage within her. Swift sat at his desk, a smug look on his face.
"Two bit whores you said..." She said quietly. He nodded.
"Yeah, tha's right."
"Fucked their whole lives..." She said again. His grin widened and he sat back in his chair.
"Right on the money."
She started slowly walking towards him again, her hips swaying behind her. Swift might have talked big, but he was still a stallion. All stallions had to answer to their carnal nature, it was just a matter of willpower. And by the look of it, Swift didn't have much.
"I've been called a lot in my time..." She said calmly, staring at the little stallion, "And I have to admit... I've earned almost every single name."
"That so love?" He asked, watching her approach him still with the smarmy grin on his face. Ambrosia nodded slowly.
"Oh yes..." She sneered, "Want to hear a couple of them?"
"Sure~" He smirked back at her. His smirk faltered as she got closer, then walked around the desk, grabbed his chair and turned it to face her, the fury burning in her eyes as his smile dropped and he cringed back.
"I've been called bitch, lover, child, mother, I've been called a sinner, and a saint. And you know what?"
She leaned closer to him, glaring at him with a look that could freeze molten magma, and seemed to freeze him up pretty good too.
"I'm not ashamed of any of them," She continued, her voice deathly calm, "Now you listen to me. I am going to get my home back. And you are going to help me. Because if you don't, I'm going to dedicate my immediate future to making yours a living hell, do you understand me?"
The small set stallion quivered under her furious gaze and nodded quickly. Very quickly. Ambrosia humphed and stood straight, brushing a piece of imaginary dirt from her shoulder.
"And I will start by demanding a gift to show loyalty," She drawled, "You can choose either that chair, or your desk. Take your pick."
His eyes widened and he looked at his desk, then at the chair he was seated in.
"But..." He stammered, "W-Without the desk, there's no point in having the chair!"
"Perhaps," She responded blankly.
"A-a-and without the chair," He continued blubbering, "Th-there's no need for the desk!"
"Oh, what an excellent suggestion!" She said with a delighted gasp, "You're right, both the chair and the desk would look splendid in the Star. I'll need some of your delightful rapscallions to handle it for me. You will look after that won't you dear?"
Swift spluttered and fought to find words to voice his displeasure for the mare's demands, but every time he went to speak, he remembered her furious glare and, eventually, gulped, sighed in defeat and nodded, running his hoof once more over the desk.
"Yes... of course Ambrosia," He mumbled despondently, "As you wish..."
You can imagine Hoodlum's surprise when Ambrosia walked out of the warehouse, head held high and followed by three large stallions, hauling with them a mahogany desk and a stunning burgundy chair on wheels.
"I.... do not want to know how you got dis, do I?" he asked, more than a little surprised. Ambrosia smirked at him, batting his nose with her tail as she walked by.
"Perhaps... but will you come with me, or are you going to stare at me all day? Come now, we have lots more to do!"
Hood watched the mare in genuine disbelief, his eyes drawn eventually to her swaying rump and tail and rolled his eyes.
"I had better watch out..." He said with a small smile, "Or she won't need me anymore."
Author's Note
Due to the irritating event of needing to do some serious catchup on my work, I've posted this chapter a week early, so don't expect another update for at least two weeks. I need to catch up with this 3D modelling stuff, it's hard work. Well, not really. I just really need to force myself to do it, so I'm going to spend at least a week working on this. This is the last chapter I've written so far, so it might take a little while to write up the next chapter. Two weeks, three absolute tops, I promise.
"Gild. The weekly report is in."
"Do tell."
"Crime seems to be falling in some areas of Canterlot, but..."
"But?"
"Theft has hit an all time high. Seems the thieves of Canterlot have formed a guild. Perhaps. It's the theory around the guards. They leave little trinkets behind at each place."
"What trinkets are those?"
"They vary, but they all seem to have a piece of fruit in their hooves."
"So... They're figurines?"
"Yes Captain. We've got the tracker's on it now. Hopefully we can find them by the end of the fortnight."
"Good... Bring me one of these figurines. I want to see one."
"Of course Captain."
"Dismissed."
"Swift! Status report."
Swift rushed into the room, seating himself before Ambrosia. The pair were in a small warehouse not far from Swift's own base of operations, although he'd found himself here more than anywhere else recently. He'd been taking valuables left and right with the help of his team, and their coffers were growing.
"Yes!" He said, trying very hard not to use his affectionate mannerisms, "Theft of the Medium Class ponies is going as planned," he continued, "We're steadily filling the coffers with gold. However, I still maintain it would go much faster if we go after the Nobles and Royalty rather than the working class. They're a little harder, but they're much more rewarding."
"And if we do that," She replied sternly, "We risk bringing the guard down upon our heads like a tonne of bricks. No, we start small. How's recruitment going?"
At this, swift hesitated.
"That is a bit more of a problem. My people are trying Amber, but it's hard to get thieves that aren't entirely paranoid and don't believe us. Informants, on the other hoof, are much easier."
"How's the informants going then?"
"Very well!" Swift said proudly, "We haven't gotten the best eyes yet, but we have a few. Prostitutes around Canterlot have agreed to help us for a fee per piece of information, and several of my ponies have figured out a few secrets, as per your orders. We haven't started on the possible workers just yet, but we do have some dirt on a few nobles,collected from their own servants, that we could use as leverage."
"Nobles?" Ambrosia asked sharply. Swift flinched back, "Nobles? Didn't I say we start with workers? Not Nobles?"
"Workers are almost impossible to blackmail!" Swift replied heatedly, "Ain't no way workers'll get any info either! Nobles have influence, Nobles have power. This ain't my first Rodeo love, and it won't be my last. Might be the first of this size, but still."
Ambrosia glared at Swift for a long moment, thinking about his words. He had a point, she surmised. Most of the most influential ponies in Canterlot were bound to have some dirt on them they could use for blackmail.
"Alright then," She said demurely, raising a brow at him, "You may proceed to blackmail the nobles, but don't mention my name. Blackmail them, but keep it simple. Make sure you get some workers though, especially employees in Economics and construction. I want to know what's going where and when, and I want to know how Canterlot ticks. Understood?"
Swift looked quite pleased with himself and was almost smiling.
"Yes Amber, we'll get right on it. I'll write the letters myself!"
"Do so. And hurry about it."
Swift nodded swiftly and ran out, Ambrosia was only alone for a few seconds before Hood walked slowly in from a hidden room on the lefthand side.
"He's going to try and betray you you know," He said in his lilting accent. Ambrosia nodded.
"I know."
"It will most likely be soon after you have given him more informants. 'E likes his information, it makes theft easier."
"I know... I just need to outsmart him," She replied simply, "He simply must remember, you can't outfox a fox, and certainly not a vixen."
Hood chuckled under his breath.
"Be careful your confidence does not escalate into arrogance, Amber," He said with a smile. Ambrosia laughed gently.
"Don't be absurd. Now, when is this muscle of yours coming? You promised him ages ago you know."
Hood swallowed a little.
"Yes... He should be coming round about now, actually. He had a few drawbacks in his hunt, so things took longer than planned."
"I'm starting to think I won't even need him," Ambrosia said with a shrug, "I've started without, why bother now?"
Hood seemed about to answer, but a voice echoed through the room and made them both look to the door.
"Because sometimes threat of force is the only thing that will move a pony."
In through the door walked one of the biggest equines Ambrosia had ever met.
His name was Zubari. Covering his body were scars of past encounters. As a seeker for the Shadowstripe tribe, he had a lot of free time. So in this free time, he took the time as a Bounty Hunter. He stood easily head and shoulders taller than anypony else in the room, and twice as broad. Around his neck was a tribal necklace, with a crescent pendant in the center of the other decorations. He was big, he was imposing, he was powerful.
"Zubari?"
He was also a frequent patron of Ambrosia's Golden Star Brothel.
Zubari blinked in confusion and looked closer.
"Amber? Well I'll be damned."
"Zubari! When did you get back in town?"
"A few hours ago," He answered with a grin, trotting over to the seated pony and letting her hug him, hugging her back, "Had a bit of trouble with a few larger than life lizards, had to take care of it for a payday. What're you doing here? What about the star?"
Hoodlum, who'd been watching the entire thing in utter, utter confusion, finally found his voice.
"You two... know each other?"
Ambrosia and Zubari both looked at Hood, Ambrosia in mild amusement, Zubari in obvious disgust.
"Who, Zubari and me? Of course!" Ambrosia said with a giggle, "He's one of my best patrons. Every job he does, he comes back here and spent some of his money at the star, a new girl almost every time and sometimes a meal. He's always welcome in my house~"
"Unlike certain bastards," Zubari spat venomously, "I am actually welcome wherever I go, Zukra."
"Zukra?" Ambrosia asked, her turn now to look confused, "Zukra? No, that's Hoodlum."
"His name is Zukra," Zubari continued, ignoring Hood's sigh, "He's a fugitive from the Zebra tribes, accused of practice of Necromancy and high level forbidden Voodoo magics."
"I am not a Necromancer," Hood muttered quietly. Ambrosia didn't hear him, but her face had paled.
"Necromancy?" She asked, obviously scared, "Like, real Necromancy? Bringing dead ponies to life type stuff?"
"I'm not a Necromancer," He uttered again, once more ignored as Zubari spoke over him.
"Yeah. He was ratted out by his apprentice. Stupid if you ask me, trying to bring your apprentice into Necromancy."
"I am not. A Necromancer."
"But... that means he's a fugitive here as well!"
"I AM NOT A BLASTED NECROMANCER! "
The pair of equines, previously ignoring the slowly steaming Hoodlum/Zukra, turned and looked at him in shock, Zubari actually turning his whole body and settling into a defensive stance. Hoodlum glared at Zubari and Ambrosia both, a dark power in his eye that was not to be ignored.
"I never practiced the foul art of Necromancy," He spat angrily, "I will not touch it, nor would I condone my apprentice touch it. I will not deny the use of Voodoo arts considered forbidden, but never would I stoop to such a level as necromancy. My former apprentice is a liar, a fool, and a charlatan. Dis conversation is over! I will not allow my already tarnished name from Zebrica be fouled further by an ignorant bounty hunter with a fetish for liars!"
Zubari's face went flat and he shifted in his stance whilst Ambrosia looked at Hood, stunned and silent. Dead eyes stared soullessly at Hoodlum as Zubari readied to attack.
"You speak one word, Shaman," He said, "And you will be dead before you hit the floor."
"Inhlupho phezu kwakho, Zubari," Hoodlum spat, "Everything special about you came out of a bottle!"
There was a split second of silence before Zubari blurred into a black and white line of movement, racing towards Hoodlum. Hoodlum, it appears, had anticipated this and threw himself to the side as Zubari threw a punch at his face, glancing off of his cheek and Hood rolled and stood, body beginning to swirl with energy as he started to speak. Zubari, however, wouldn't have it, and hurled himself again. Hood tried to dodge, but Zubari caught him full in the chest and left Hood gasping for breath Zubari went for a second strike to the face, but this one Hood blocked, catching the big zebra. That too, however, ended up being a mistake, and Zubari made an advantage of being countered, throwing the other zebra over his shoulder. Hood hit the floor hard, but seemed to be mostly okay, a miracle for one so much slighter, and he barely dodged a hoof thundering towards his face.
"Gwthiwch galetach na'r byd yn gwthio yn ôl. Ysbryd!"
Zubari had barely any time to react as, with the completed incantation, Hood blasted out an impression of himself, hitting Zubari full in the chest, neck and head and sending him through the air, crashing into the ceiling, and falling back down. This, however, only seemed to focus him further, and he lunged again, this time seeming much more aware of Hood's swift incantations. But Hood was already halfway into his next incantation.
"Troelli'r fagl o fil llinyn-"
"ENOUGH!"
The powerful, authoritative voice of Ambrosia burst through the halls, destroying Hood's focus and making Zubari pause. Both of them looked back at Ambrosia.
"You will not fight in my house!" She snarled, stomping her hoof with a note of finality, "It is my house! And you WILL follow my rules! Combat is to remain strictly outside of any safehouse, and what's more, any combat hence forth, even if it's somepony slapping somepony else, with the exception of my girls when I get them back, Punishment will be swift and severe."
Zubari frowned, and looked back at Hoodlum. Hood glared back at Zubari, but did slowly sit down, clamping his mouth shut. He still looked pissed, but he didn't speak. Following his example, Zubari backed down from his target reluctantly. Ambrosia glared at them both for a long moment, making sure they had the point, and weren't going to keep fighting. When they were silent and unmoving for a while, she huffed.
"That's better. We have a bigger threat to fight, and his name is Gild. It's name is the Royal Guard. It's name is corruption. We are a criminal organisation, I won't deny that. But we have a reason to fight, and that's to get back my home. A home for my girls. Do you understand me?"
Both stallions nodded. Ambrosia huffed again, as though she didn't believe them, or was unimpressed.
"You'd better. The moment you start questioning my authority again, I'll have you both thrown out and given up to the Royal Guard, you understand me?"
This made them both pause and look at each other. Give them up? to the guard? That was new. Hood shrugged. He hadn't seen such aggression in her before.
"I understand," He said in his lilting accent, "But I do not approve."
"Duly noted, Zukra," She snapped harshly, making him flinch. She turned her red hot gaze upon Zubari, and even he shied back.
"Do you accept employment, Zubari?" She snarled, "Or am I throwing you out now?"
"No Princess," he finally chuckled, raising a brow through her newfound respect for her, "I accept."
"Good," She snapped, "Then you're now my escort. You and Hood better learn to get along, because you're both with me. Whenever I leave this place, you will be with me. You will learn to be unnoticed, you will learn to be ready at a moment's notice. Do you understand me?"
"Naturally," Zubari said, "Anything else?"
"Yes, actually," She responded, "You will do as I say, when I say. If I tell you to threaten somepony, you threaten them. If I tell you to beat them, you do so. If I tell you," She paused to glare at Hood, "To curse somepony, you will damn well curse them. Do you both understand me?"
They both accepted, although Hood a bit grudgingly.
"Good. Now fall in. Our first raid on Gild's forces start tonight. We'll either destroy his reputation, or destroy him."
~*~
"Sir, I got you one of the trinkets, as you requested."
"Excellent. Let me see it guardspony."
There was a quiet clinking sound as something hard met Gild's desk and a moment of silence.
"Hmm. Cheap little thing, isn't it?"
"Yes Captain, it is. We assume it's so they can be purchased in bulk. As a result, we have come to the conclusion that whomsoever has been stealing these things must have a large amount of them stashed somewhere in their home, or safehouse."
Gild looked at the soldier skeptically.
"And you think ponies capable of stealing what these ponies have been stealing are simply going to leave these things lying around the house?"
The guard shifted uncomfortably.
"W-well no sir... We just surmised it'd be easier to find our mark if we got warrants to search warehouses, derelict buildings and other popular hideout like buildings. If we can look through the buildings most likely to hold up thieves, it might make our search easier, and use less of our forces."
Gild glared at the soldier for a long moment, before setting the figurine, which he'd just picked up, back on the desk. It was a little black model of a mare holding a piece of fruit in her hoof.
"It's Ambrosia, I know it. Nopony else has an ego big enough to leave a calling card behind after theft. 'Cept that bloody Dark Fox. We caught that bastard yet?"
"No sir. He keeps evading us."
"Damn... Well, when he pokes his head up again, I want him found and locked up. I won't have another thief running around Canterlot if we've got a guild to handle. You understand?"
"Yes Captain, clear as crystal."
"Good. Dismissed."
"Yes Captain."
Author's Note
Rough Translations (I say rough because it WAS made with Google Translate)
Inhlupho phezu kwakho, Zubari! = A plague upon you, Zubari!
Gwthiwch galetach na'r byd yn gwthio yn ôl. Ysbryd! = Push harder than the world can push back, Spirit!
Troelli'r fagl o fil llinyn = was leading into roughly 'Spin a trap of a thousand strands'
Anything I missed? Zubari belongs to Jay, as I think I've already said.
There aren't many ponies in the world who can boast almost universal fame. In fact, very few could. Naturally, the Princesses of Equestria, Princesses Luna, Celestia and Twilight Sparkle, could boast this. Princess Mi Amore Cadenza could almost boast this. But Royalty almost guaranteed a lack of anonymity. Even Prince Blueblood was well known, so it wasn't exactly a challenge to be famous when you were or were related to Royalty.
But when one was a criminal, it was hard to gain fame. And rightly so. No criminal truly wants fame. No true criminal, in any case. Or, so Ambrosia believed. To be famous was to be known, and to be known was a criminal's worst nightmare. So, Ambrosia had decided it best to work from the shadows. She'd been operating her little band of thieves for just past a week since she hired Zubari, and her coffers were growing, as were her informants. With Hood's seeming endless expertise, and Zubari's imposing figure, she'd gained more than a few new allies. Despite this, she still hadn't managed to get much larger. Although whether this was from a lack of trying, bad luck, or simply nopony willing to help her was unknown.
Well, almost unknown.
"I can't just go around, parading my face for everypony to see," She complained to Zubari one night, as she was looking over a report from Swift. As good as his little group was, his skills concerning writing a report were severely lacking and it was highly disorganised. With her was, as always, both Hoodlum and Zubari. Although Hood had started to wonder whether or not Ambrosia wanted to call him Hood or Zukra, since she seemed to use either one liberally as she felt necessary, but mostly switching to his true name when she was upset with him.
"No, you can't," Zubari answered, "that's a quick way to get yourself found out."
Hood kept quiet. Ambrosia groaned.
"I need something to keep me safe, a name to help conceal me, and something that disguises me. I don't know what I'm doing with this. I can't just shade my face with a hat all the time."
"That's true."
"I know it's true, Zubari, you aren't helping," She grumbled at him, "It's an open conversation here, help me out."
"I'm not sure Amber," the bounty hunter replied, "I'm not generally in the criminal game. And even then, I'm only here till you get the star back. No longer."
"I know," She said with a roll of her eyes, "Again, not helping. I've been doing this for just shy of a month now, I need to do this now, it's already overdue."
She groaned again and let her head hit the table.
"This is so stressful," She muttered, "I thought I could handle this. I take care of a Bordello for Celestia's sake, why can't I do this?"
"A bordello is much different from a criminal syndicate," Zubari said offhand, "Micromanagement to the extreme is required, since you are managing a lot more ponies on a lot more areas. Plus, it's illegal, which makes it even harder."
"Thanks," She said flatly, "For nothing. You really didn't just make me more stressed. Really."
"If I may, Ambrosia," Hood finally spoke up, "Dere is a performance coming to Canterlot soon. Within the week, in fact. De performer is well known through Equestria."
"What are you getting at, Hoodlum," She asked archly. Hood shrugged.
"I'm suggesting you take a day off," He said nonchalantly, "Go and see dis show, refresh yourself. Afterwards, you can return to work."
"I shouldn't rest," She replied quickly, almost angrily, "Not when my girls are counting on me to get things done."
"You will do dem no good if you burn out now," He replied sternly, "Your usefulness to dem will cease, and dat we cannot have. Go, see dis show. Let yourself become whole again, and den you will be more capable of getting your charges out of deir prison."
She looked at him harshly, but Hood stood tall. Then, Ambrosia looked to Zubari, who shrugged and nodded.
He has a point
That was the vibe she got from Zubari. She sighed and rolled her eyes.
"Fine. Fine, I'll go to the stupid show. When can I get the tickets?"
"Dey are already purchased," Hood replied, a little smugly, "Dey are for the top row seats in da theater. Three tickets for de three of us."
"Good to see you listen to something," She shot back venomously. Hood simply shrugged.
"Of course. I listen more den you tink."
"Don't push your luck Zukra," She responded irritably. Hood winced and shot a glare at Zubari, who merely smirked back.
"Did you have to say my name out loud?" He grumbled to the bigger zebra, who shrugged and pretended to think about this for a moment as Ambrosia got back to work.
"Yes~" Zubari answered smugly.
~*~
The theater was enormous. The pure size alone of the theater was awe inspiring to the average pony. But... Ambrosia was not an average pony. In fact, she seemed a little tense as she entered, Zubari and Hoodlum following behind her. The floor beneath their hooves was thick carpet of almost velvety consistency. Ambrosia couldn't help but think how much it would help making ponies purchase things in the Star, which made her stress further considering her predicament.
"I shouldn't be here..." She grumbled, barely audible, "I should be back planning. My girls need me."
"And dis is de best option to help dem at dis point," Hood said back softly, "Trust me, you will dink much clearer after de show."
"Don't push your luck Zukra," She growled and he flinched, shooting a glare at Zubari, who just smirked smugly. The trio were showed to their seats, up in top seats, VIP box. Of course, they weren't the best seats. Those were reserved for the Princesses, of which two seemed to be present. White coat, and multihued mane, Celestia's imposing figure absorbed a lot of space. Next to her, dwarfed by her size, the newest Princess of Equestria, Twilight Sparkle. The seats were amazing, covered in velvet with cushy hoof rests in case you sat in strange positions. The stage, all the way down, was massive. Ambrosia lifted a brow as she sat down and looked down at the stage.
"So, this performer," She said, "He works on his own you said?"
"Yes Ambrosia," Hood replied, "I don't know about his work, so asking would be useless."
"You'd best hope so," She said archly, "I assumed you knew, given how insistent you were."
"Trust him on this one," Zubari said with a small smile, "I've seen him before. His name's Prosopeio, and he's quite the performance, no matter his stage."
"I hope so," Ambrosia sighed, "I'm only here because you told me it would help. If you're wrong..."
A sudden spotlight fell upon the stage, the closed curtain hiding whomever was behind it. A well dressed stallion walked out from the left side of stage and approached a microphone that raised from a hidden platform. He cleared his throat a time or two before looking over the sea of ponies that made up the audience.
"Ladies and Gentlecolts," He began, "It is my esteemed pleasure to welcome two of our Princesses to our humble theatre, Princesses Celestia and Twilight Sparkle!"
There was a moment as the audience burst into rapt applause, twisting to see their monarchs, who waved, one a bit more sheepishly than the other.
"And now," He drew the crowd's attention back to him, "Without further ado, I give you your performer for the evening, who needs no introduction, The masked performer, Prosopeio the Masked!"
Author's Note
Yeah, I know, it's a horrible cliffhanger. I'm sorry. But I need time to work on this next part.
"Twas not so long ago, that this tale did make its course through the throes of history's binding pages, but a tale to be told none the less. A tale of daring adventure, of courage and loyalty, and generous sacrifice. For tis the tale of ponies six, who made their dreaded way through the dark and dangerous Everfree, to save their beloved home."
The voice from the stallion was enrapturing, and even as he spoke his horn was lit, and ghostly apparitions floated around him, six in all and each of a different colour. With a pulse of softer white light, he set a scene in a park not too far from where they were in Canterlot.
"Our adventure dear friends begins here, in Canterlot, on a balmy summer's eve, with the young but brilliant Twilight, the Princess we know today. Studying, as she was wont to do, in her times as beloved student of our fairest Princess of day, studying however the elements, that would lead only to dismay. Refusing a young lass' offer to join in rapturous glee, Young Twilight rushed homewards to find a something she thought she knew."
As he spoke, the illusions danced with his words, making the scene as he told it in his silvery voice, gesturing with his arms and swishing his cape.
"To her room within a tower she went, and called for her best assistant!"
"Spike!" called the illusion, calling another to the stage, a little purple dragon, with sharp looking spines down his back.
"The pair did search for hours for the book she knew she had, but when they found it Spike did pause, and asked in confusion of her meaning. For twas but an old pony's tale, of Nightmare Moon's return, did she find mention of the Elements she had found mentioned in her other tome. But a sense of foreboding grew in young Twilight, as she read the frightening tale, that in one thousand years since her sealing, the mighty dark queen would return, and the stars would aid in her vengeance, and release her from the moon."
"Through dragonfire she sent an urgent message to her mentor, proud and true, but no response she received was expected, and nor did she believe was due. For Celestia, in her benevolence, told her to stop reading dusty old books, and sent her instead posthaste to Ponyville, to prepare for the Solstice day."
The scene showed a disgruntled looking Twilight flying through the air in a chariot made of pure gold, and two burly pegasi carrying her. The little dragon was with her.
"The little townstead was quaint, and nothing like the city. Twilight had no time for it all, and wanted nothing but to study, to prepare for what she knew was coming. But no, she had to make sure everything was as it should be, and with checklist in hoof, she and her little dragon toured around the town."
"She met first a Pink mare, who merely gasped and ran away. Confused and not very happy, Twilight continued on her way, for she had to check on the food for that most frabjous day. So on she went to the fabled and loved Sweet Apple Acres! The beginnings of the town, to meet with dear honest Applejack, and see what was done. But despite her pleas, a gentle question..."
A little illusory filly, looking up with big sad eyes, questioned Twilight Sparkle, "Aren'tcha gunna stay for brunch?"
"Twilight was helpless to the little filly's plea, and let herself be dragged into the massive family. A Brunch so big, her belly was overfull! But beyond the uncomfortable feeling, her need to study grew, so she decided to continue on quickly, to find her next stop. Luck that be, her stop found her instead, as a rainbow struck her, finally becoming a pony on impact. She introduced herself, Rainbow Dash! Fastest pegasus in Equestria! A Challenge, made in anger about the lack of work, led to Twilight's embarrassment, and she left for the hall upon which her mentor's celebration would take place."
"Upon her arrival, did she find the most beautiful of unicorns to ever grace fair Equestria, the ever generous Rarity, decorating the delightful hall to match even her in beauty. And though she made many an offer to help Twilight in her image, the panicked unicorn declined, insisting she had too much to do. And thus she continued onwards, to face her final task. Tracking down the trainer of the choir, traditionally of birds. And thus, she met the ever kind hearted Fluttershy, and her beautifully voiced birds. Be that as it was, she seemed much more interested in our hero's faithful assistant, and thus they spoke, till Twilight and her assistant reached their new abode, temporary though she knew it to be."
"But what she would find there would not be the peace and quiet she had expected. Nay dear friends, peace and quiet is not what our heroine would find that night, for the stranger of a pink pony from the start of her adventure had set up the last of which Twilight would ever want as the end to her exciting day. Her entry was met with a shout of Surprise and a blast of confetti as she unwittingly set off the surprise party that had awaited her arrival for the better part of half the day. Tired and not in the mood to humor the laughing Pinkamina Diane Pie, Twilight tried for a beverage, only to realize the liquid she drank was instead sauce of the hottest degree, scalding her mouth as she drank instead of the punch bowl before leaving, proclaiming that all of the ponies, all of them, that resided within the boundaries of the townstead were insane, deserving of an asylum perhaps.
"But late that night... As the poor Twilight Sparkle tried vainly to sleep, she witnessed the single most terrifying moment of her life. As the stars themselves began to move, spinning around the mare branded moon that had inhabited Equestria's skies for a thousand years, getting faster and faster until, like a bolt from the blue, they shot to the moon, releasing a blinding flash of light as, to Twilight's astonishment, the moon itself changed, becoming a blank slate, where once there were a bust. And in that instant she knew... She knew that trouble was Brewing.
The stage went dark, a red light filtering through the fog now conjured upon the stage as the masked performer smiled.
"The Nightmare was coming... Coming to lay waste upon Equestria, and bring with it night eternal, never to allow the sun to grace her land again."
"Hurry it up will you? The show doesn't go forever, and if the Princess and the off duty guards get back, we're screwed!"
Swift rolled his eyes as the slower member of the thieves group followed to catch up. The side entrance to the Castle Canterlot was not very well known, but Swift had been in before, and these boys were his personal retinue. Perfectly capable, and absolutely loyal.
To him.
"Tch. Don't worry so much Silt," he replied slyly, "After we rob the guard captain blind, we'll be certain to leave enough evidence to get the bitch imprisoned."
Silt, a brown earth pony huffed as their lockpick started working the complex lock, "Please. If she was any kind of smart, she would have picked the team herself, or sent one of those guards of hers with her."
"Good thing she's not then..." their lockpick, a unicorn of Trottingham descent said idly, ear to the door, "or she'd have sent Hoodlum with us, I guarantee it. The big one doesn't look... suited..." he frowned before he continued, "To stealth."
"Something wrong Gin?" Swift asked quietly. Gin shook his head.
"Nah, just caught the pick on somethin'. Got it now, let's go."
The door clicked and swung open. Swift grinned and patted Gin on the shoulder as Silt lead.
"Irreplaceable mate, that's you," Swift complimented Gin. Gin simply shrugged.
"It's what I do," Was his simple answer.
The trio swept into the castle. Silt and Swift neutralizing the few guards that were present in the castle halls with non-lethal force. The best thieves never killed, and that was a creed all thieves save the worst lived by. The halls were mostly deserted however, and the trio easily found their way cleared most times. As they passed through one hall however...
"Dude... that's Princess Celestia's room, " Silt whispered, stopping the other two, "Can you imagine the prestige we'd get if we stole something of hers? Shoes, jewelry, anything? Damn, even a hoofmirror..."
"Later," Swift said with a wicked grin, "After we've set up Ambrosia. Come on, let's go."
They set off through the halls again, hoofsteps silenced by their felt shoes as they rushed through the hallways, their hearts set upon the esteemed office of the Guard Captain, who had taken personal responsibility for both Princesses visiting the great show today, leaving the castle virtually unattended. So set were they on their target, they became oblivious to the flash of a long, sky blue tail vanishing behind them.
"The darkest nights could not have brought the sleep that Twilight Sparkle so required that night, and the day could not come swifter. For that day was the day her mentor came from her lofty heights atop the Canterlot castle's throne to perform her ritual to raise upon Equestria the sun in all his glory. The soonest time she could contact her in the flesh, that she would have to hear what she had to say. She was due to arrive at sunrise, and a half hour before sunrise did Twilight let herself into the town's quaint hall. Of course, she had to wait, and even then there was no guarantee she'd see her straight away, but the return of the Queen of Darkness was not something to be ignored, and she wouldn't allow her mentor to ignore such a threat to national security.
"But, as the hall filled slowly with the denizens of the town, her worry began to waver. What if her mentor was right? What if Nightmare Moon was an old pony's tale? The mayor took her stage and announced the beginning to the greatest festival of the year. But as she introduced the mighty sun monarch, the curtains were pulled back to reveal an empty space, and stunned gasps filled the hall. And through a darkness and cackling evil, the dark queen made herself known! Darker than the night itself, with mane and tail shimmering like the stars, there was an alien and dangerous beauty to her. 'I bring the reign of the moon,' she spake, 'that cast down the sun forever!' and all despaired.
All save for one. The young prodigy stood up to the Nightmare, and spake of righteous fire to smite the creature. But the Nightmare laughed and was away, gone perhaps to torture the illustrious matriarch of the sun. 'I seek companions,' she did call, 'to aid me upon mine quest! Glory to all who assist me, and safety to all who do not.'
Ah, but the village was scared, and but few did volunteer. The brave and loyal Rainbow Dash, fierce proud and strong. Honest and Virtuous Applejack, whose strength could not be matched. The stunning and Modest Rarity, of whom's mane was beyond compare. Ever joyous Pinkamena, boundless energy in spades, and the quiet and faithful Fluttershy, nature's commandant. 'Within thine homes, thou shalt stay, and safe thou shalt be. We go forth to vanquish the evil, and bring back the light of day.'
And they did set off, a group of six, to the dark and dangerous Everfree, where dangers roamed and creatures wrought terrible and ghastly pain. But not a one was afeared, and they dove in with zeal.
"Shutup and hurry up will you?"
Silt cursed as he picked himself up off the floor, squeezing out from under the guard unconscious on the floor.
"Dammit, good thing he didn't see my face," Silt grumbled, "We're there though, right?"
Swift sighed and nodded.
"Yeah, Gild's office is right there. Should find ourselves all his files in here. All the information about Canterlot over the past several years, and estimations on what'll happen in the next year or two."
Swift grinned as Gin took his tools out again and got to picking the lock.
"Pretty soon, we'll be in the big time boys. Forget small timers and little shops, we'll be stealing from the big businesses. Ponies'll be so scared when they see it's us, they'll just give us the bits. And that bitch who thought she could take over us'll be in jail, being used like the whore she is."
Silt chuckled and the door clicked as Gin picked the lock.
"Right, we're in. C'mon, we've got maybe a few minutes before the next patrol is set to come through the other side of that wall."
He pointed at the wall directly through the doorway.
"At that point, they'll hear our voices through the chinks in the mortar. Let's go."
The trio slipped into the room and started searching. They never saw the flash of light blue as something left the room through a small hidden passageway that closed after it.
The illusions danced gleefully around the performer, even as he sang to his audience. Ambrosia was on the edge of her seat as the tale continued on, and Hood couldn't help but be smug. This had been his idea after all.
"Be it now they came upon a river of mighty swell and dangerous ebbings, and did find a mighty serpent, writhing in his anguish. His mighty purple scales rippled with scattered particles. His mighty coils left the river as distressed as he, and the six were forced to stop and take stock of their situation."
"O mighty river serpent," did Twilight cry, "What fury hath thou wrought that thou wouldst deny us passage?"
Ah, but the creature looked upon our heroes and anger was all they saw and he roared mightily at them but, as they did prepare for fight, the great serpent burst he into tears.
"My moustache," The great purple creature explained, "Be it half gone from my face, and forsooth, without mine stache, Woulds thou ever go out in public to face the ire of thine fellows?"
Feeling great pity for the creature, did Rarity spake aloud, "Be ye still for a moment, and bring thine head closer." With but a thought, a generous boon she gave, for her tail now sat where his once proud moustache did, completing his face. And he did roil with glee, and agreed to allow the six companions cross, making a mighty bridge of his coils."
And thus, did the fellowship cross mighty river, and be but one step closer, and one step away, from their goal"
Ambrosia giggled a little as she watched the illusions of six little ponies dancing across the coils of a sea serpent. Beside her, Zubari had fallen asleep, but Hood was still wide awake, only half paying attention to the show, more watching the area. She'd insisted on bringing him and Zubari along, so he'd do his duty. Even if he didn't really need to at a place as fiercely guarded as this.
After all, that's what he was getting paid for, no?
"Here it is! All the files we'll need are in here. Thank Celestia for stupid ponies."
The other two turned to look at their leader, who had a big grin on his face as he extracted the files from the cabinet, "Idiot kept everything ship shape and sorted, and it was all here."
The other two grinned for about a half second before...
"This idiot, " The voice from behind them spoke coldly, making the trio freeze, "Has a reason to keep his office secure at all times, and to have his documents in order. Unfortunately, since you've broken into my office, inviting yourself into my space without my permission, I'm afraid I'm going to have to relocate you, all three of you, to the barracks to be held pending trial."
On of the four guards beside the grizzled old Gild, of whom it was blocking the trio of thieve's path, cleared his throat.
"Uh, sir? The barracks is currently full to capacity with the ladies and gentlecolts from the Golden Star."
"Oh?" Gild asked, seemingly uncaring, "Isn't that a pity. I suppose we'll have to skip the barracks entirely, and simply put you all in the dungeon."
"Uh.. sir?" the same guard spoke again, "the Princess requests that her guard request her permission before-"
"What Celestia doesn't know, won't hurt her. I'll explain the situation myself if she asks. Until then, detain these rodents."
Swift held up his hooves and smiled.
"Hold up! Captain, I'm sure we can come to a favourable agreement for all of us."
Gild looked at the little pony, obviously unimpressed.
"You have fifteen seconds to tell me precisely why I should bargain with thieves, runt."
Swift, for once, let the insult roll off his shoulder, though the smug look that came to Gild's eye told him he had reacted somehow.
"I can tell you who sent us," He replied smugly, "And I'm sure you and I both would love to see them in chains."
Gild narrowed his eyes at the tiny pegasus, then looked at the guards at his side and jerked his head, signalling them to leave. As they left, the pegasus closed the door with one wing, leaving his mangled wing at one side.
"I'm listening," He said slowly, dangerously, "This had better be worth it, Runt."
"Did you see the way he moved? Oh my, like liquid sweetheart! Like mercury, or silk bedsheets~"
Zubari and Hoodlum were both seated before the gushingly happy Ambrosia as she... well... gushed. Mostly about the performance, although both stallions expected it had more to do with the performer than the performance.
"Silk bedsheets?" Hood asked of Zubari with a frown. Zubari just nodded solemnly.
"Silk bedsheets," he replied very seriously. Neither of them were really listening to Amber at this point, and she was just sort of prattling on, yammering about one piece or another, and then, suddenly, there came a knock at the door. Ambrosia stilled very suddenly.
"... Gild," She whispered, then looked at her entourage, "You two. Don't do or say anything. The last thing I want right now is for Gild to decide locking us up is a brilliant idea."
The two stallions had mirrored injury on their faces as she walked swiftly to the door and opened it. True to her word, there were guards outside. Three of them. One of them, obviously the higher rank, had gone wide eyed upon seeing Ambrosia, and seemed to be currently trying (repeatedly) to find his voice. Ambrosia just looked at him, much less impressed it seems.
"Yes?" she asked, not unpleasantly. Her mood was simply too good to be mean to the poor, gobsmacked pony.
"I..." He began wordlessly, before he shook his head and cleared his throat.
"I'm Lieutenant Sky Graphic, serving under Captain Gild of the Solar Guard," He began confidently, but a flush was slowly growing over his features, "I've come with a summons from him, and I was told... I was told to say I have a w-warrant for your... arrest..."
"Oh, that won't be necessary," She said lightly, "We can go right now, no problems. Let's go."
Much to Sky's shock, Ambrosia simply pushed past him, and his guard accompaniment. Sky looked into the room, saw the two zebras, and couldn't help himself.
"Is she always like that?" He asked helplessly. Hoodlum and Zubari looked at each other, then back to Sky and they shrugged.
"If she's in a good mood," Hood said vaguely. Zubari just nodded to agree with him. Sky looked back at his leaving charge, and sighed, following after her, and following him were the others. Hood looked at Zubari.
"He is completely smitten," He said smugly. Zubari shrugged, though he knew Hood wasn't too far off.
Gild's feathers were bothering him. Again. The nurse inspecting the appendage was very critical of his wing.
"I already know you can't fix it nurse," he said sourly, "I've known that for a long time, but I just want to know if you can stop it hurting."
The nurse in question, a mare more his age in fact, was not known in the medical profession for her bedside manner, but she was very gifted at healing magicks, which was exceedingly rare in pony society. Her name was Purity.
"This is aggressive Gild," She said patiently, "Your wing is just the start, and has been for some time. I warned you when you first came to me that it would spread, Gild. I told you very firmly that-"
The doors opened tentatively, and Gild's wing, previously spread so the nurse could look at it, snapped closed, tight against his body. A stone faced guard peeked his head in.
"A lieutenant Sky Graphic has brought one Miss Ambrosia to see you sir, on your orders?"
Gild glared at the guard.
"The next time you fail to knock upon my office door, recruit," he said icily, "I will personally see to it that you are scrubbing toilets and bathrooms for so long, your own mother wouldn't recognise you when next you see her, do you understand me?"
The guard gulped visibly and nodded frantically, unable to form a sentence. Gild huffed.
"Good. Keep it that way. Now, please tell Lieutenant Graphic to give me a few minutes before he enters with his charge."
The now terrified guard nodded again, and the door slammed closed. Gild glared at the closed door for a long time before sighing.
"How long?"
"Still some time, Gild," Purity replied glumly, restrapping the wing quickly, "But not so much that you should take things easy. If you have any last goals, I'd work on them very quickly."
"Understood," he grumbled irritably, "Use the back entrance Purity."
"I know dear," She said bluntly, "I've been doing this for some time now, I'm not insulted."
"One day, I'll repay you for all of this. Thank you."
"Don't thank me Gild," She said bluntly, "I haven't helped as much as I'd like to."
And she left, through a small door in the back of his office. A useful thing he'd found within his first week of Captain, and he couldn't help but wonder if the old captain, Shining Armour, knew of it. In fact, he had, and he'd used it quite often to sneak Cadance in and out of his office. Though nopony knew that, save for Celestia, who seemed to know everything.
As to what happened in there, I'll leave you, dear reader, to imagine that.
No sooner had Purity left, than there came a very nervous knock at the door.
"Enter," Gild said stiffly, sitting up straight once more behind his desk. The door opened, and a familiar lieutenant walked in, Ambrosia behind him.
"Ah, thank you lieutenant," Gild said formally, "you may wait outside."
Sky Graphic nodded, and left smartly, trying not to glance at Ambrosia again. Ambrosia seated herself before the desk of her current rival.
"You summoned me, old stallion?" she asked sweetly. A muscle in Gild's cheek twitched.
"Yes. There's been a development."
"Do tell~" Ambrosia purred. Gild's brow rose.
"....."
There was a long, long pause between the pair. Ambrosia was in much too much of a good mood to not be smiling, and Gild was in much too much of a foul mood to not be frowning. The pair simply stared at each other. Eventually, however, a cold smile spread over Gild's face.
"As it turns out, they did exactly what you said."
Ambrosia's smile, if possible, became sunnier.
"I told you they would. And..?"
"Obviously, we caught them," He said stiffly, "Though, they insisted it was you who sent them."
"Oh?" She asked sweetly, "And do tell when they had time to see me and receive orders?"
Gild raised a brow again.
"Two days ago," He said coldly, eyes narrowing suspiciously, "According to them, you took over their group of thieves, and ordered them break into my office."
"Now, why," She began sweetly, "Would I take over a band of thieves, and then turn them in? Seems counterproductive to me."
"Indeed," Gild responded.
"However, that's far from the truth," She began again, "Most of my time has been spent wondering if I'll ever see Celestia, and if there's any point in waiting."
Gild was silent.
"But I decided to take a break in planning to clear my girls," She continued sweetly, "And I went to a performance in the Royal Canterlot Theatre. Have you had the pleasure of seeing the masked on? Prosopeio, I believe they call him?"
"No," Gild replied coldly.
"Oh, you should. You'd be so much happier after seeing him."
"Somehow, I doubt that." He replied stonily. She shrugged.
"Your loss," She said casually, "In any case, I have an alibi, and several ponies to back it up."
Gild did not look convinced, but sourly, he sniffed.
"I'll need the paperwork," He growled irritably. She shrugged.
"Go ahead. I'll do that. Give it all to me, and I'll fill it all out~"
Silence. For a long time, Gild and Ambrosia stared at each other. Gild was pissed, and Ambrosia merely smiled at him. For almost a solid five minutes, nopony moved.
"I don't know how you've done it, Ambrosia," Gild said slowly, poisonously, "But I know you've got these miscreants wrapped around your hoof. We know for a fact there are more than simply three members to his gang."
He leaned forward slightly, narrowing his eyes at her.
"All I'm missing is the evidence. So when I find it, which I can, and I will, I will drag you personally down into the dungeons, to await judgement in the courts of Equestrian law. Do you understand me, or should I repeat myself in smaller words?"
Ambrosia's smile didn't budge, though a steely glint came to her beautiful eyes.
"Dear Gild," She said, her voice dripping honey, "Are you suggesting I'm a criminal?"
"I'm not suggesting shit, Ambrosia," He snapped, "I know you are, and when I get enough evidence, I'm going to put you away for life."
Ambrosia seemed to consider this for a second, before shrugging.
"Oh, that's fine. I was just considering what to do with my future anyway. I suppose this will do."
She turned on her heel and went to leave, head held high, and tail swishing happily, when Gild called to her.
"What will do?"
She stopped, and turned her head to face him sideways, her smile taking on a sadistic hue.
"Dedicating my immediate future," She replied venomously, "To ruining yours~"
And she left his office. Gild's face fell as soon as the door closed, and he looked at his wing sadly.
"I don't need your help for that..."
Ambrosia was escorted back to her apartment by Sky Graphic. He followed her around, unable to tear his eyes from her the whole time. As a guard, Sky prided himself on his self control, and his immense discipline. But this mare...
She's more beautiful than Princess Luna herself...
The moment the thought crossed his mind, Sky tried to shove it away, and ended up bright red. His sky blue coat turned red at his cheeks, and he blew his long golden mane from his face. He'd taken his helmet off before they'd left, and had forgotten to replace it much to his chagrin. He'd even dismissed the other guards, afraid they'd tease him, or try to steal her away from him.
"S-so um..." He said nervously, tearing his eyes away from her supple rump and shapely flanks finally, "You um... you haven't had too much trouble?"
"Well, other than your captain stealing my home and my girls away from me, no, not too much~"
Shame filled him and he looked at his hooves.
"I... I headed that operation..." He said sadly, "I... I didn't mean for anypony to get hurt I mean... If I'd known Miss Caress' client would be so violent..."
"Client?" Ambrosia asked suddenly, "Is that what Gild told you happened?"
Sky frowned, looking at her curiously.
"Gild? No, that's what Shatter told me."
"Oh, you mean that big pony that looked like he belonged in a circus?"
Sky wasn't sure where she was going, but it did sound like him.
"I... yes?"
"Oh yeah, he raped her," She said casually. Sky felt his heart stop.
"Wait, what!?" He demanded, shocked both at the accusation, and the casual nature of her statement, "What do you mean?"
"Oh, don't worry, he got what he deserved," She said slyly, "I heard they found his body quite... well written "
Sky's heart dropped.
"Wait... That was you?" He asked hesitantly. To his both relief and shock, she laughed. It was a beautiful sound, just like her.
"Oh goodness no," She chuckled, leading him into her apartment building now, "I just heard it on the grapevine."
"But.. that information wasn't released to the public?" He said helplessly. She giggled again. That was adorable.
"Honey," She said, turning around at a door on the third floor, "I ran a brothel. Every kind of pony ever visits my establishment, or visited in any case. I have a lot of contacts that tell me everything~"
Sky blinked, then cursed himself. Of course. She smiled at him, and he was completely disarmed.
"I..." He began nervously, then swallowed.
"Miss Ambrosia... I know... you may not want to know me right now... But I was... I was wondering..."
She looked at him curiously.
"Mmm?"
"I... I have a night off, this Friday..." he continued, talking through the lump in his throat as he tried desperately not to check out the mare before him, "And... w-well there's this restaurant see, and it's um... It's kind of..."
He stopped. It took him a moment to realise why he'd stopped, and he realised it was at an unfamiliar feeling. It took him a moment more to realise that it was a hoof over his lips, and he went bright red.
"You can pick me up at eight," She said primly, a sly little grin on her face, "And dress well. If I'm going on a date with a stallion younger than me, I'm going with a young stallion that dresses well."
With that, she slipped back inside, leaving the red faced guardspony to swallow and process her words.
Inside, Hood and Zubari looked at the silly smile growing on Ambrosia's face.
"He asked you out didn't he?" Zubari asked dully. Ambrosia simply smirked and swished past them into her room, the door slamming shut. With a sigh, Zubari extracted a small pouch of bits from his person and handed it over to a smug looking Hoodlum.
"Told you he would," He smirked.
"Shut up Zukra."
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..."
When Sky Graphic woke up, for a moment he was dreadfully confused. He'd never been the type of pony to wake up slowly, bleary eyed and brain filled with sawdust. Never. Not even when he was a foal. He always woke up quickly. So when he woke up and saw only pink, and could only smell sweat, with a gentle wiff of cherries, he almost panicked. He turned quickly, wildly, and looked up at the roof, eyes wide.
A plain roof. A very plain roof that could have required a repainting. It confused him even more. He could only feel three of his limbs. His left foreleg was dead, he couldn't feel it. It took a moment for his almost wildly panicking brain to realise where he was. And then it took him a moment longer to turn back to the pink mass and saw it for what it was. A mass of pink mane, no longer done up, belonging to one of the most beautiful mares he'd ever laid eyes upon.
And he smiled. He couldn't feel his foreleg because it was under her, he'd hitched it up under her leg to hold her against his chest the previous night, same as he'd done with her rump to his hips, which is what guaranteed them to be so close together in the morning. With his smile not diminishing for a moment he turned back over, replacing his free foreleg bcak to her rump and pulling her close again, nuzzling closely into her neck through her mane, sniffing at the same time to sample her scent. Again, the smell of sweat, sex and cherries. Delicious, and a reminder of what they'd done last night.
"Sweeter than all the sugar in the world..." He whispered quietly to himself, rubbing her inner thigh with his hoof. She felt as sweet as her lips had tasted the night before, moist from their impassioned kisses, "My sweet, sweet Ambrosia..."
"Yours..?" came Ambrosia's groggy voice, "Am I yours now?"
"Would it be so terrible?" he poked back, actually a little nervous now, and it showed in his voice, "I mean... We can pretend that I never said it I mean..."
"Shhh..." She whispered back softly, turning over slowly and smiling groggily at Sky, "I never said it was bad... but weren't you the one saying we shouldn't move so quickly?"
"I.." He protested weakly, "I... I don't mean to be rude... but you are the one who pushed us into having sex last night."
"I didn't see you complain when we got started..." She mumbled with a soft giggle, "In fact, I remember you getting quite eager with it... Your wings were so stiff, I was afraid of breaking them when you had me against the wall."
Sky blushed brightly, all the way to the tips of his ears and broke eye contact. Ambrosia giggled again rather brightly.
"You're so cute when you blush Sky," She teased him playfully, "It's okay. I'm sure the neighbours got at least some sleep. You know, when we finally stopped."
"Oh dear..." He mumbled quietly, "I... Should we apologise? I mean..."
"Oh rubbish," She grumbled good-naturedly, stretching a little and giving him his foreleg back, to his mixed feelings of anguish and relief, "If I sent a fruit basket to everypony I offended with lovemaking, I'm sure there wouldn't be enough fruit in Equestria..."
She paused as he looked at her, flabbergasted, before flushing red.
"Oh darling," She said quickly, "I ran a brothel, remember? I made money off of sex."
Sky's face relaxed and he sighed in relief. Ambrosia laughed a little and kissed him sweetly.
"Contrary to belief," She assured him, "I don't mess around with my clientèle, I let my girls swindle them out of every penny they can for me. Figuratively speaking anyway..."
Before Sky could respond, there was the crash of metal shod hooves on wood as something banged on the door once, twice, three times.
"Ambrosia! You are to open this door and surrender yourself in the name of her Majesty Princess Celestia, Lady of the Sunlit Skies, Daughter of the Heavenly Flame and Sunlit Mistress of Canterlot on order of Guard Captain Gild! We have a warrant for your arrest!"
The pair of ponies froze, eyes wide in disbelief.
"A warrant?" She asked, shocked, "For what? On what charge?"
"I... I don't know..." Sky said nervously, "Ambrosia... If they catch me here..."
"The only thing he can do is take you off my case, that's all," She replied, "Quickly, out of bed."
The crashing on the door came again.
"Ambrosia! Open this door, or I'll have it broken down!"
This time, it was the sound of Gild's voice, not a random guard, that shot through the door. Amber was on the ground and walking in moments, straightening out her mane and shaking her tail along with Sky as best she could as the pair of them approached the door.
"I'm coming! Celestia's teats Gild, I'm coming!"
She flung open the door. Outside were three guards, and one of them was Gild, clad strangely enough in full armour, like his two subordinates. On one side was a grey unicorn stallion, the fibres from the top of his helmet were blue enough, but poking out in a place or two were a few stormcloud grey hairs. To his left was another stallion, this one stark white. He didn't seem to speak much.
"What do you want Gild? And what's this about a warrant?"
Gild didn't twitch, remaining stone faced. He looked a little agitated actually.
"Ambrosia, by the authority granted in me by Celestia, You're under arrest for the possession of and suspicion of distributing illegal drugs from your place of business. Given that it is your place of business, your charges also include petty theft on behalf of your employee, a miss Caress I believe. Any claims otherwise?"
Ambrosia just stared at him stupidly, blinking. "I'm sorry... what's that? How'd you pin all this..?"
Gild sniffed, and moved slightly to his left. Behind him, looking at the floor to her right was Bubbles. Ambrosia felt her heart drop into her stomach. And then, Bubbles looked at her, an icy look to them she'd never seen before.
"Ambrosia," She said icily. Ambrosia swallowed, her words dying in her throat, almost choking her. Behind her, She heard Sky Graphic gasp.
"B...Bubbles?" he asked incredulously, "That's... That's Bubbles right?"
"Lieutenant," Gild spoke coldly, "I was warned you might be here. As Captain, I can't control who you see... or who you fuck during your spare time."
Sky gulped, feeling his gut twist in consternation.
"C-captain..?" He said nervously. Gild sniffed.
"I am, however, rather disappointed in your choices. Fraternizing with a common criminal. Lieutenant, you're henceforth removed from this case, and your authority to act within the bounds of the law in regards to Ambrosia, or any aspect afforded thereto, is rescinded. You will be reassigned to a new area of the castle with new duties upon your return to work tomorrow. Until then, I suggest you return to your own lodgings... possibly after washing the stench of sex from yourself."
"Bubbles..." Amber whispered softly, heartbroken, "How could you..?"
"Oh, don't you start with me," Bubbles snapped back, "Perhaps I should have held my traitorous tongue , but I decided not to, and that you took far too long."
That made Amber falter for a moment, but Gild capitalised on it anyhow.
"Guards. Arrest her, we move her to the castle."
Without waiting for anyone to reply or argue further, Ambrosia was marched away, followed quickly by Gild and Bubbles, leaving Sky to watch helplessly as she was marched away, trying to keep a brave face despite her predicament.
Gilded Thread sighed softly. Another day in paradise, she supposed. Upon her bed, stretched as she was, curtains drawn across her cell. She still couldn't believe that she'd managed to convince Sky Graphic to give her and the rest of the girls all this. To keep them happy? He wasn't like the other guards. He seemed... she wasn't certain. More gentlecoltly than the rest. He seemed to care for them, or at least their needs. It was strange.
The clank of metal on stone alerted her to someone coming, and she lifted her chest up, using her forelegs as props, but leaving her hindquarters on the bed. The curtains glowed, and were opened with magic, revealing the grey guard from Ambrosia's apartment, flushed as always when he spoke to Thread.
"Your compatriots are to be released immediately, courtesy of Guard Captain Gild, on clearance of all charges."
"Well, it's about time," She smiled at him, twisting her torso a little, just to tease him. She liked the way he squirmed and blushed whenever she did so, "You going to let me out of this cell now Arc, or are your plans a bit more... risque?"
His blush blossomed to his neck, and he cleared his throat.
"I... Your compatriots are already released. Upon looking up records on all employees however, we... We've discovered possible past crimes. Petty theft and one instance of aggravated assault."
Thread frowned.
"I thought that was closed. I didn't assault the mare, she fabricated the lie to tarnish my reputation. It worked too. I lost my job because of her."
"Which is grounds for further investigation apparently..." Arc replied, looking quite ashamed of himself, "I... I'm sorry, but you'll be here a little longer. I'm sure it's nothing."
Thread sighed softly, and nodded.
"Alright... Thank you for the news dear. Is Lieutenant Graphic there?"
"Lieutenant Graphic's been reassigned," he admitted freely, "Conflict of interest in concerns to this case. He... appears to be in a relationship with Miss Ambrosia."
Thread blinked, a little surprised.
"What, Sky Graphic? And Ambrosia?" She asked, "I hadn't even been aware they'd met."
"They met recently, and apparently went on a date last night," Arc admitted, "We caught them together in the same apartment."
"Oh."
Sky had asked a favour. A big one. One last thing to do on this case before being shoved off of it. And he planned on taking care of it. Which was why he was at the hospital, where Caress had been being kept for her own protection. Now that she was healed, and cleared it was time she was released, and she was being very vocal about it. Sky was not in armour when he approached the loud mouthed pegasus mare, and she was no longer in a hospital gown either.
"No! I'm not leaving until Ambrosia is here and I can tell her myself that I'm okay! Hey, I went through ages of psychologists rantings after the incident! I won't go anywhere without her!"
Sky smiled, sadly, but smiled none the less. Ambrosia had explained her operation to him. The Bordello, and the girls behind it. She'd helped hundreds of ponies, mostly mares. Impoverished, homeless mares and fillies that couldn't help themselves. Giving them a home, a place to stay and offering the girls jobs when they came of age, or helping them find and secure one in their chosen field. The young mare in the restaurant was one such mare. She also told him of a few she'd helped into the modelling business, a few that'd gone into hospitals as doctors or nurses, she'd even put one through university. An advanced magical theory course that went for three years, and costed almost as much as her Bordello. Expensive, and according to her, totally worth it for the smile on her face, and the happy tears that had coursed down her cheeks the day she'd found out, and the picture she'd taken of the young mare the day she'd graduated with honours was worth more to her than she'd been able to accurately describe.
"Miss Caress was it?" he asked quietly, tapping her on the shoulder, "I'm... Here to collect you I suppose?"
Caress spun and glared at him, suddenly very defensive.
"Who're you?" She demanded heatedly. Sky sighed.
"My name is Lieutenant Sky Graphic. I was in charge of the raid on the Golden Star Bordello... where Ambrosia told me you were... sexually assaulted, but one of my subordinates. I... I wanted to say I'm sorry. He spun a tale that seemed plausible. He had an impeccable record, I... I didn't know."
The horrified look on her face made his heart wilt under her gaze.
"Where's Ambrosia..?" She asked softly, barely a whisper. Sky couldn't face her, and turned away.
"She's.... been taken into custody. Your record's been cleared. You're... You're to report to the housing we've provided as soon as possible, with the rest of your colleagues. I... I'm sorry."
It was all he could do to stand stoic, as Caress began crying on his shoulder.
Bubbles swallowed heavily as she stood behind and slightly to the left of Gild, seated at his desk. He was looking through the Princess' books, trying to find a spot for Ambrosia's trial, to little success.
"Dammit... There's got to be something soon," He finally snapped, throwing the book aside, closer to Bubbles. She couldn't help herself, and looked over at the book.
"You kept moving her appointments around before..." She ventured cautiously, "Why is it so hard now?"
Gild paused, and looked back at Bubbles, looking a little confused.
"Moved around?" He demanded, "What do you mean..."
He stopped mid sentence, and grimaced.
"Ah. I see. You're referring to the constant rescheduling. I understand how you came to that conclusion."
He moved the book, and gestured her closer. Warily, Bubbles did so, the clipboard under her wing moving as she adjusted them a little. He flipped the pages back a few months, and began pointing it all out.
"This was her first appointment she made," He explained, "You can see the appointment written in. Pencilled in, actually. And that must be noted. Now, Miss Bubbles, I can understand, and I didn't hide I wasn't pleased her pleas had gone unheard, but hear me out."
He turned to look her in the eye, and began to speak.
"It's not so simple to get an appointment of this manner. Protocol, a protocol I can't change, it was set in place long before my time as Captain. Anyway, it mandates that I must pencil in appointments like these that have to be placed after any important events that cannot wait. Now, here's why it kept being pushed back."
He pointed to another entry, same day, penned in this time in ink.
Griffon Ambassador, urgent business.
"The Griffon Ambassador was involved in a mugging, and being as aggressive as they are, demanded compensation. Turns out, he wanted a trial by combat of the unicorn he caught, or near beat to death anyway. Celestia denied him, and there was almost an international incident. That's why these..."
He pointed to the next three positions pencilled in for Ambrosia, all inked in with 'Griffon Incident'.
"Are here, and I was honestly forced to push her appointment back."
"For three months?" Bubbles asked, sounding a little unsure of herself. Gild nodded slowly, skipping to the next month.
"Alright, fair enough. Look, Dragon envoy. Another protocol. The Pony and Dragon nations have a tenuous relationship at best. Due to the agreed terms, the dragons need Royal permission to fly through our airspace. They've determined that their people's migration is across the sea, through Equestrian skies. Dragons are notoriously difficult to handle, and Luna handled this one, she's an old friend of the envoy apparently. It took almost a month to figure that mess out, much to the princess' disgust. The closest opening was next month, so I pencilled it in."
He flipped again to the next month. This one was a total clusterfuck of ink, written and rewritten again and again.
"This month... I'm not going to lie, it was a complete clusterfuck."
He sighed, and Bubbles actually felt... guilty? She felt sorry for him for a moment. The stress he must have gone through...
"See, we suddenly had diplomatic messages from almost everyone. Zebras demanding aid to help in the drought conditions they're experiencing now, had to meet with several different envoys at the same time from all the major tribes in Zebrica. That had to be rescheduled about seven times. We had another complaint, this time about Equestrian pirates in the Empyrean Ocean, Equestrian coastline. the Griffons demanded we condemn he action and endeavour to catch the pirates, or we were at war. That took forever to simmer down, thus the whole... yes. Also, again, things got more complicated. The Crystal Empire came down for a summit, as did Princess Sparkle from Ponyville. Things were... tense for some time. The queen of the Changelings came down for peace talks. It was complicated."
"My goddess..." Bubbles whispered softly, "And all this time we thought..."
"You thought I was trying to stop her from seeing Celestia?" he asked with a grim smile, "I understand why you'd think that. I didn't exactly hide my pleasure at her not seeing Celestia, but... I suppose it does make me seem the villain."
"What about your obsession?" She demanded suddenly, "You've focused everything on Ambrosia, everything on the Star... why?"
"Obsession?" he asked incredulously, "Honestly my dear, how do you get these accusations? The star was simply part of a small step!"
"A... a step?" She asked nervously. Gild looked around, then seemed to think for a moment. With a sigh, he pressed a hidden button on the underside of his desk. There was a flicker around the room, and he took a deep breath.
"Alright. If you're going to be by my side at all times, I suppose there's no way I can't stop you finding out, so I'll tell you now. The Golden Star was a haven for criminals according to my sources. Whilst she may not have knowingly done so, your adoptive mother sheltered several criminal sources for sometimes days at a time, and your colleagues were unknowingly keeping them out of our reach. Plus, the drug charges were rumoured for some time, but she'd never had the chance to be searched. The Golden Star Brothel was a symbol."
He looked Bubbles in the eye, his unbound wing rotating subtly in its sockets to loosen the muscles, "The first step is small, but it's critical. By taking out the Star, I could prove nopony's untouchable. But I had to build up the power I needed first to get my new idea passed. My movement made it all possible. After taking the Star, I could move on other locations. Others that I knew were criminal hideouts but I had no proof of. There's a small cafe, run by a greasy stallion. Name of-"
"Stitches," Bubbles finished, her face crinkled in disgust, "I know of him. He's rather eager to press for sex, and he's been banned from the Star. Amber's been forced to use his services before, to keep us safe from would-be attackers. Don't worry, she never did anything illegal with the info."
"You know what he does?" he asked suddenly, wide eyed, "For certain?"
"Of course," She said with a shrug, "He deals in information. In all honesty, in exchange for safety, you'd be better off using him to catch other, nastier criminals. You can arrest him after the rest."
Gild stared at her in shock, his mouth almost brushing the floor in his surprise. Bubbles blinked. Gild's eyes narrowed, and his face grew grim again. He turned to his table, reached out, and began to speak again, picking up a pad of paper in the process.
"My plan was the gradual elimination of all criminal organisations in Canterlot, starting with the weakest, all the way to the strongest. Ambrosia did me a favour at one point, handing three small timers over to me by convincing them to break into my office, and tipping me off. I don't think she knew, but two of them weren't just accused of theft, but of assault, one of them on an officer."
He reached for a quill, and placed them both before Bubbles, then looked at her seriously.
"I want the names of all the ponies Ambrosia has ever had contact with that are criminals, and what they do. Every name you give me can be attributed to her, and from there can reduce her sentence."
Bubble's eyes went hard, and cold, and she sniffed, feathers fluffing up.
"What makes you think I care about her?" She demanded angrily, "She called me a traitor."
"And that gave you an idea, didn't it?" He said wryly, "Don't lie, it's not so easy to deceive me my dear. You did what you did to help your friends, and to get back at her at the same time. By doing what you've done, you've guaranteed their safety and release. it's admirable. I wish I had ten guards like you."
"Is that a job offer?" She asked, partially in jest. He smirked.
"If you wish to take it," He joked dryly back, "But I wouldn't recommend it. Better benefits as a PA, especially to me."
Bubbles had to physically stop herself from laughing, and frowned suddenly, concerned. Gild seemed to catch himself as well, and cleared his throat.
"Write. You wouldn't have turned her in if you hadn't cared for her. Now prove it. Mistakes or not, she's still your adoptive mother. And sometimes, family is all we have."
Bubbles looked at the paper, and licked her lips nervously.
"You're looking into the charges against Gilded Thread?" She asked slowly. Gild nodded.
"Yes."
Bubbles swallowed heavily, picked up the quill and began to write.
Looking out from the barracks, Ambrosia could see the procession. She watched the guard ponies pushing the homeless and the impoverished out of the way, none too gently either. She watched a few pushed physically out of the way, and others slinking away in fear. It took ninety minutes. it was early morning, two days after her arrest. They were clearing the streets. The Princess was to make an appearance, to raise the sun. The lamps were the only light in the darkness, but she watched anyway.
She watched well into the morning. She watched ponies gather, and then watched the parade, the procession of Princess Celestia, walking her way from Canterlot Castle to her custom built podium. Watched as the impoverished, homeless and weak watched fearfully from the shadows.
And her heart went cold.
Bubbles watched the Summer Sun Celebration from beside the watchful wing of Gild, his guards around the area, watching closely. It made her sad, to make ponies think that they needed to watch their Princess to keep her safe. She understood the possible threats to security. There were always ponies out there who disagreed. She knew of the New Lunar Republic, and the Solar Empire. Both religious/political fanatics who believed their preferred princess was the only one they needed. Multiple of them believed this so much, they were willing to attempt assassinations on the opposing princess.
Oh, she understood. She just thought it was... She thought it shouldn't be needed. Such danger for either Princess shouldn't be needed. They were just as important as each other.
"I want you to document everything said," Gild told her quietly under his breath, "If anything seems out of place, tell me. Quietly. I don't want anypony else to know. Threats dealt with silently in times like this are essential."
"Yes sir," She whispered back quietly, "I understand."
As it turned out, there was no trouble that ceremony. Bubbles was alert through the whole thing, but there was not much to watch. Only one thing caught her eye. The discomfort her new employer was experiencing. Something was troubling him, and she saw the bandages covering his wing straining as he shifted the wing under them. Surprising even herself, she felt a stab of concern. A feeling she shoved back down angrily. This pony exiled her friends. Alienated her of her mother. No, she wouldn't be concerned for him...
"I don't mean to be invasive sir," She asked later in the privacy of his office, "But you seem agitated today. Is something paining you?"
Gild, who was still searching for a date in the diary that wasn't seven months down the track, stopped looking, put down his quill, and sighed, turning slowly to face his new PA.
"Not much escapes you, does it Bubbles?"
"I pride myself in my diligence sir," She said softly, feeling slightly warm for the compliment, forcing herself to remember who she was talking to, "Never missed a digit in the books sir... and reading clients is an important skill to have. I... I may not have the talent for it but..."
"Regardless, it's impressive. You're right, I'm not having... the best day. In fact, I made an appointment with a dear friend of mine. I was going to get you to wait outside whilst she visited, but I suppose..."
Bubbles frowned, confused, and her gaze flicked to his wing, and then back to his face. His grim look broke as he smiled a little.
"Like I said," he said dryly, turning back to his work, "Not much escapes you."
Bubbles, fighting her concern and her conscious, let him get back to work, making sure to help him as needed. It was her job, after all. By the approaching midday, he'd given her his record books and asked her to find any mistakes, and to fix them as needed. It was a job that'd take at least a week.
But when midday arrived, and the customary knock at his door to alert him to the guard change happened, Gild sighed, and pressed the hidden button on his desk.
"Right... Anytime now Purity."
Bubbles looked up in surprise, confused. Even more so when a hidden door in the back of the office opened in the door and an older mare stepped through. Like most nurses, she was white, but her mane was hidden under a hat, which is what gave her away as a nurse. She froze when she saw Bubbles, and looked at Gild in alarm. Gild smiled and raise a hoof slowly.
"Don't worry. She's privy. New PA."
Purity eyed Bubbles suspiciously for a moment, but moved to Gild's side anyway, and began unstrapping his wing.
"Who is she Gild?" She said quietly enough for Bubbles, who was straining to hear, to miss entirely, "And what's she doing here?"
"Her name's Bubbles," He said simply, also quietly, "She's my criminal's adopted daughter, and PA. Now she's mine."
"And you keep her in the office?" Purity demanded bluntly, "A foolish move I would say."
Gild laughed a droll laugh at that and smiled at Purity fondly.
"My dear, the old saying, how does it go? Keep your friends close..."
"Your enemies closer?" She finished skeptically, "You've always kept both at arm's length Gild, and don't bother trying to lie about it."
The bandages fell away, and Purity grimaced. It was a gruesome sight. A very gruesome one. The feathers were falling away rather quickly, and underneath was a blistered, scarred mess of flesh. Worse still, it was spreading up his wing, and was now encroaching on his back and side. Purity poked the fresh looking burns on his side and he hissed in pain and winced.
"Dammit Purity," He hissed, this time Bubbles did hear, and she was seeing his outspread wing too, and her eyes were wide with horror. Gild caught her staring and grimaced at her.
"Take a picture, it'll last longer," He grunted. Bubbles winced, and looked away guiltily. Purity sighed and shook her head.
"This... this is beyond even my skill now Gild," She said regretfully, "I'm not even sure I could ease your pain anymore. You've gotten good at hiding it... but the pain's going to get worse."
"Then I'd best finish soon, huh?" He said softly, and Purity nodded, beginning to bandage his wing with fresh bandages.
"Yes... I've reapplied the poultice to the bandages anyway, I can only pray that it helps."
She finished applying the bandages in short order, and leaned in close to whisper to him.
"I hope you're not letting your emotions get the better of you with this girl Gild," She muttered softly, "She's almost half your age."
"Don't be absurd," He snapped back quietly, "And don't make the assumption you can poke into any aspect of my life and expect me to be nice about it."
Purity frowned, but nodded.
"Fair enough," She said, pulling away and speaking normally, "I'll take my leave now Gild. I'm sorry I can't help more."
"As usual," He said quietly, "It's fine. There's nothing you can do anymore but alleviate the pain. Thank you again Purity. I'll-"
"Make it up to me someday, I know dear. I'll see you next week, same time."
And she left. Just like that. She was just gone. Bubbles didn't notice her gone. Her eyes were burning with guilty tears, and she was trying vainly to read the book before her. It wasn't working well. It was almost a minute before the book before her was, gently rather, closed. She pulled back, and looked up to see Gild's sombre face looking at her.
"There are creatures on the borders between Equestria and the Dragon lands that anything outside the Everfree forest cannot match for danger. One especially nasty creature is... very closely related to the dragons themselves. They possess limited intelligence themselves, and grow as big as our houses. A fraction of the size of their cousins, but bad enough as it is."
Bubbles swallowed heavily, and looked away. Gild sighed softly.
"Look at me, Bubbles," he commanded gently. Despite her growing guilt, for reasons she didn't even understand, she looked at him. From close, the ragged scar down his face was truly horrifying, deep and ugly. But all Bubbles could think was how much it must have hurt him.
"These creature's venom is caustic. But not of the normal kind of Caustic."
He looked at his wing sadly, and a depressed smile formed on his face.
"I used to have such beautiful wings," He said quietly, "And I loved to fly. But when you get bitten by one of these creatures it... It burns you, from the inside out it feels like. It's painful, and it doesn't stop. It acts slow, and... It eats at your mind, the pain. I was bitter for a long time, and went to a few psychology sessions. Over time, I came to terms with it, and worked hard."
"I... I didn't..." Bubbles mumbled. The look on Gild's face morphed from depression to gentle humour.
"There's no way you could have," He told her quietly, "I became captain. I wanted to be known. And not for having an incurable malady. This wing's not useful anymore, and moving it accelerates the effects of the poison, but I can still make my life worth something. I can make it worth something by making this city a Utopia, Paradise for the working pony. A fair city where nothing's going wrong... Crime at an all time low."
Bubbles was struck suddenly by the similarity.
"That's... it's strange," She said softly. Gild cocked his head.
"What's strange?" he asked. She was jerked back to reality and looked at him.
"Hmm? Oh... it's nothing. I promise."
He looked at her, looking a little concerned, but nodded a little.
"Alright then... Back to work. I think there's been enough sentimentality for today. Find those mistakes kiddo, we've a lot of work to do."
"And the trial?" She asked, trying to keep the nerves out of her voice, and the blush off her face. Gild grumbled.
"I don't care, I'll pen it in sometime soon. I'm over fitting it in with their schedule."
Bubbles nodded, and breathed a sigh of relief as he walked away, feeling his oppressive presence lifted from her.
But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake the guilt, nor the striking similarities she'd taken note of that day.
That... and the horrible scarring on his wing.
She buried herself back in her work, hoping to find solace in the mental strain.
Ambrosia watched the sun set from inside her cell. Beside her sat an untouched tray of food, and her mind was still ticking relentlessly forth. The cell was cold, the bed was hard and the sheets were scratchy and floral. She was fairly certain she'd seen the sheets in the dollar store she used to shop at when she first opened the Star, in fact.
Figures she'd be cheap. Cheap Princess with Cheap Guards.
She sighed, finally looking away from the window to the meal beside her. It was simple. A slice of bread, a bowl of stew. it was normal. It was time for them to bring her dinner. Right on time, the door was opened behind her and she turned to meet the guard this time. She kept getting new ones, and she knew it was so she didn't affect the guards overly much to convince them to spring her out. Gild was clever. This time it was...
Her eyes widened at the size of the giant before her. Strangely, he didn't have armour on, and he had batlike wings. A Thestral...
"My name is Forge," He rumbled quietly, "I was sent by Sky Graphic."
"Sky?" She asked cautiously, "Is he alright?"
Forge rumbled softly, and took something from his back, and placed it before her. A tray of food, but not one like normal. There was a plate containing freshly roasted vegetables, and a freshly buttered piece of toast. And to top it off, a bar of chocolate and a glass of wine. Her heart melted and she smiled.
"Oh... I see," She said softly, her icy armour that had formed over her emotions thawing considerably, "Thank you, Forge. And tell Sky I said thank you to him as well."
Forge rumbled quietly, and nodded.
"I will be guarding your cell," His voice was like an avalanche, a quiet avalanche, "Let me know when you're finished."
And then he left, closing the cell door behind him, and for the first time in days, Ambrosia smiled.
Bubbles had thought herself confused before, when Ambrosia had begun building her little criminal group. Confusion was starting to become a daily part of her life, in fact. Gild had finally, after swearing and almost throwing the book across the room, penned in a trial date for Ambrosia's case, a month from now. That meant Bubbles had a month until a day she dreaded. The day she'd have to stand and provide testimony to her mother's...
Don't say crimes. It's not... It's not that bad.
She wished that was so. Even as she pored over the record book for Guard's pay, the ledger was blurring before her eyes as she thought about it. Forcing tears back, she shook her head and forced herself to keep reading, to keep making sure the numbers were in order and nothing was wrong. She was more confused now than she'd ever been under Ambrosia's care. Maybe that was why it was so confusing. Maybe it was because she was under a new boss now, a new 'master' she supposed. She glanced up from her little desk Gild had had brought in for her at him. He too looked intensely busy, reading guard reports he'd received from the morning shifts. A large stack stood over his head on his left. The reports he'd read. It'd astonished her, how quickly this scarred stallion read through the reports, and how quickly he could judge their quality, and even how the guard was feeling from simply the way it was written.
He'd even demonstrated, showing her a few details that'd given things away. Subtle hints that betrayed the tired hoof or frustrated unicorn. She remembered being amazed, and that he'd laughed.
Genuinely laughed.
And she'd had to turn away to avoid showing him her blush, embarrassed at her show of enthusiasm for such an interesting field. She just... She couldn't let him know she's... not unhappy where she is.
Then there were the plethora of misconceptions she'd had, ever since she'd heard of Ambrosia's meetings with the grizzled veteran. She'd said he was cold, angry and disrespectful, an intimidating stallion hell bent on destroying Ambrosia's life. But...
But that's not the stallion I see before me. That I share an office with...
No, contrary to what she thought it would be like, after his initial suspicion about her betrayal, he'd been hospitable at the least, polite and gentle at his best. She'd seen him comfort a homeless teenager. He'd hugged the poor colt, and even gave him a mid-sized bag of bits, suggesting that he go and buy some food. She'd seen the look that came over the colt's face before, the same light that brightened the eyes of the orphans and homeless that Ambrosia brought back to the Star, the little fillies and young mares finally with a home.
She tried to imagine him as the dark, villainous tyrant that clearly her mother saw but, she just couldn't.
"Something on your mind?" His voice came suddenly, and she jolted, blinking quickly and blushing, looking down at her book again.
"N-no sir!" She stammered weakly, "It's nothing..."
"I'd believe you," He replied with a hint of his dry humour in his voice, still not looking up from his reports, "If you hadn't been staring at me for almost twenty minutes."
Bubbles felt her blush spread to the tips of her ears and she searched vainly for words to explain her sudden apparent interest in his face rationally, but came up empty. She fumbled around for a while, and it took her a few seconds to realise he was now looking at her, the twinkle of amusement in his eyes very real, and very embarrassing.
"I'm sorry..." She mumbled quietly, ashamed of herself. He laughed again, a genuine sound and not unpleasant.
"My dear, it's alright," He quipped with a smirk, "I know you're uncomfortable, but you can talk to me. We'll be spending a lot of time together, so you might as well say what's on your mind. I'm almost finished these reports anyway, so you might as well tell, it'd give me something to do. And you've been poring over that bloody thing for almost a week. It's your third week working for me, and since your first week, where you were quite talkative, if I remember, you've barely said a word."
She swallowed heavily, and forced herself to close the book, running a nervous hoof over her face to catch a few stray bits of her mane and tucking them behind her ear before looking at him.
"Come on now, we might as well trust each other. I've trusted you with my plans, my secrets... why not reciprocate? If nothing else, it'll be something to lighten my day."
Bubbles flushed a little again, and cleared her throat.
"I... It's... You probably don't want to hear it."
"No, please," He countered, "relieve an old stallion of his boredom."
She didn't bother to say he wasn't that old. At forty, he was... middle aged, but not old yet.
"I... It's just... You're nothing like Mother described..." She explained weakly. Gild's brow raised, and he reclined back in his chair, spinning it to face his new conversational partner.
"Do tell," He practically purred. Bubbles swallowed.
"W-well... she always said you seemed so cold and heartless whenever she spoke to you," Bubbles continued nervously, her voice shaking a little, "She'd come home angry or in tears... one time she came home and just... just didn't eat. She didn't talk, didn't even drink anything. She was like a statue for hours."
Gild hadn't said anything yet, but his light expression had soured slightly, his brows creasing into a light frown, but not in anger.
"And... After I heard what happened to Caress and then all the things I'd heard about you from the few ponies who'd still talk to me... It was... Terrifying."
"A dark, angry tyrant using the guard as his own personal army," Gild finished for her softly. Bubbles nodded wordlessly, and Gild nodded slowly, "I understand their perspective, but I assure you, I've been cold before, and yes I can be cruel, but I've never been heartless. Only determined."
"I... I've noticed that," Bubbles eyes locked onto Gild's for a moment, and she looked away quickly, "It's just... I've seen you comfort guards who've been forced to do something they hated, I've seen you feed a homeless colt with your own money, and you hugged him too. I've... You've got this big plan to make the city a better place... and I just..."
She felt tears coming to her eyes, and she didn't even hear him move, but suddenly Gild was there, though he seemed hesitant to touch her. His good wing was partially opened, but he wasn't touching her, more sort of hovering over her.
"It's alright," He tried to soothe her gently, "It's common, and to be honest, the more fearsome my reputation, the easier my job is. Dangerous ponies make ponies do things they normally wouldn't faster... so I haven't exactly..."
"But... I..." She stumbled along again, wiping away tears before they could fall on her desk, or the book, "I just... I feel so..."
"There's no guilt on your part," He said softly, smiling a little awkwardly, "Look, I haven't... real-oh! okay..."
He stopped suddenly as Bubbles pressed her face to his chest, a little nervously admittedly, but if she was right...
She felt his hoof sweep around her shoulders as he held her, letting her cry. His voice constantly telling her it was okay whenever she managed to choke out an apology so heartfelt, it even began to catch at his throat, and he wasn't even the one apologising. By the time she'd managed to get control of herself, she was dimly aware of another limb having been draped over her shoulders, and his other forehoof resting gently against the back of her head. She felt...
safe.
"I...I always thought you were this... this horrible creature," She whispered tearfully, "This... Dark monster that just wanted to destroy us, our dreams, our hopes..."
"It wasn't like that," He tried to explain, "I knew it was... It wasn't easy, getting to this point, but... But we're here, now, and mostly unscathed."
"Caress doesn't think so..." She mumbled softly. Gild was struck with a profound sense of guilt, and he hugged her a little tighter.
"I know... and I'm sorry. I did what I could..."
Bubbles shook her head.
"N-no... It's alright it... I mean, he's dead right? I heard..."
Gild paused, growing still and Bubbles froze too, stiff in his arms as he pulled back enough to look her in the eye.
"Who's dead?" he asked quietly, "What have you heard?"
She quivered under his steady gaze, but swallowed.
"I... It's just... I heard the guard who r... assaulted her w-was caught in an alley or something and killed... I... I can't say I'm sorry I just..."
Gild frowned, his gaze piercing and dark.
"What do you mean 'guard' who assaulted her?" He demanded, "The reports state it was a client in the brothel, not one of my guards."
Bubbles shrank under his gaze, and he forced himself to relax, just a little. He had to remind himself, she was barely out of her teens. Technically, she wasn't even that yet. He took a deep breath, and sighed.
"Bubbles... if you know something..."
"Caress drew a picture of her attacker!" Bubbles blurted out fearfully, "Sh-She wasn't able to tell us so Ambrosia got her a piece of paper and she drew a picture of the pony who r-r-... raped her..." She was crying again at this point, "It-It was a b-b-b-big pony, Ambrosia was going to follow up on it but..."
"But she never made it to this office to do so..." Gild said quietly, the gears in his head turning, "Did she have arrangements made for him to be..?"
Bubbles stared up at Gild in absolute horror.
"NO!" She practically screamed it in his face, "M-Mother would never! She wanted to talk to you about it! Then we heard he was dead! That's it alright, that's all! There was no point following up on sentencing or accusing a dead guard for something, because he was already dead!"
Gild drew back at her sudden tirade, actually going so far as to stand to take a step back, to give her room. She was breathing heavily, and new tears were in her eyes, these ones certainly not tears of sorrow. These ones were angry, and frustrated. Gild sighed.
"I understand," He said gently, "I had thought it a far stretch from her usual MO, but I had to be sure... And you haven't lied to me yet so..."
He sat down again, still a step away from the still upset pegasus mare before him and sighed again.
"Shatter was always a bit of a long shot," He began, "But he was incredibly strong. Made rescue and protection detail perfect for him. Who'd mess with somepony that big, right?"
His eyes narrowed.
"To be honest, I never liked him. Too many complaints about his conduct that were rescinded the next day, normally by the same pony who made them. Stank of threats. Couldn't do anything without evidence though, and his death caused more complications. I had to cover the circumstances up. It looked like some sort of ritual killing or something. Gruesome."
Silence. For a long time. Neither of them moved. Bubble's breaths became less laboured and more measured over time, and Gild's melancholy seemed to slowly dissipate too. Then, ever so slightly, he smiled.
"Hey, buck up," He told her, "This time next month it'll all be behind us. Let's get back to work. I still have one or two reports to read, and I'm sure you're itching to get back to boring old numbers again."
Bubbles swallowed back a small giggle, and nodded, suddenly feeling enormously guilty all over again. But, as he turned to return to his desk, she sat back at hers, and opened the number ridden book once more to go over it's last few pages of contents, feeling worse and worse the longer time went by.
It was just past two in the morning when Bubbles stopped momentarily in her journey to mail a few letters. She had a cloak on with the hood up over her head, and a book wrapped in heavy cloth on her back. A familiar book. And so it should be, she'd been reading up on it for the past week. The payment records for the guard. But there was something else too, something under her wing she'd kept to herself for almost a fortnight as she deliberated. But she'd made up her mind now, and she had no intention of letting the item go to waste.
So, through the darkened Canterlot streets she ran, huffing in the cold air. She hadn't realised it'd be so cold, or she'd have worn a different cloak. A heavier one, perhaps.
She, for once, didn't fear the night guard patrols that saw her, for they knew who she was by now. And if Guard Captain Gild trusted her, they did too. She even waved to one of them, and they briefly inclined their head to her, much to her thrill. But, she was only brief about it, and hurried on her way. She had a destination, and she wanted discretion.
So when she arrived in the nobles sector before some of the biggest doors she'd ever seen, she paused and swallowed heavily. Braziers outside the door burned brightly and hotly, and there was evidence that someone had laid near one until recently. With a deep breath, she knocked on the door heavily, hoping it would travel through the home to where the occupant resided, probably deep in sleep. And she waited. Turns out, she didn't have to wait long. Bleary eyed and grumbling, the owner of the establishment opened his doors...
And looked at his guest in confusion.
"Bubbles?" Gild mumbled tiredly, "What is it?"
"I have to speak with you," She whispered quickly, pushing past him and into his home, brushing her hood back as she went much to his surprise, "And it simply couldn't wait any longer. It's of utmost import."
He stared at her, his ears and head full of stuffing, and shook his head, sighing heavily.
"You know," He mumbled, his head starting to clear, "When I said 'never leave my side', this isn't what I had in mind."
"Actually, you said 'follow me at all times," She corrected him vaguely, looking through the house until she found a study, and thus a desk, to put her book down upon, "And, I know... but this was critical."
"What could it be," He asked exasperatedly, "That's so critical as to wake the Captain of the Canterlot Guard up at... Three o'clock in the morning by banging on his front door?"
Bubbles paused, and regarded him carefully. He didn't really seem angry, just a little annoyed.
"Alright... first of all then, your representative at the chamber of Commerce is skimming bits off of your guard's wages. only a tiny bit, and not enough to be noticed easily. A bit here and there from each guard's salary, but I thought you'd like to know as soon as possible."
Gild looked at her, and then slowly and tiredly sighed.
"Bubbles..."
"I also wanted to formally apologise," She barrelled on quickly, "I've... been feeling guilty about what I thought of you for a while now... All baseless ideals set on the words of others, and it wasn't fair. I treated you like dirt when we first met, because I thought you were a monstrous pony out to destroy everything my mother had worked so very, very hard for... but I was wrong."
Gild rolled his eyes, but sat down to listen to her tale.
"I've come to realise you're anything but," She'd sat down too by this point, "You're kind hearted, but guarded stallion, who honestly doesn't care what others think of him, so long as it gets the job done. You're fair to your guards, you're gentle to the public, and you chase down your goals with a single minded determination I... Haven't seen in a long time."
She paused, trying to order her chaotic thoughts. Gild had shifted position. His bandages on his wing were coming loose. It'd make her next task easier, at least.
"I... I wanted to start over," She continued, a little less sure of herself now, "I wanted to reintroduce myself, make myself forget everything I'd heard about you and my new perspective but... I find myself unable to. I can't forget it, because it makes what you are, I mean who you are, really who you are, that much more special, that others misunderstand. And you've given me, of all ponies, the daughter of your first target, a chance to get to know you the way you are. Not as the facade, the cold hearted Captain so many know you as, or the angry pegasus others think you are, but as the wonderful.. Wonderful, kind hearted pony you are. And... I wanted to thank you for that and... I just... I..."
She paused, trying to figure out how to frame this without sounding like she'd gone behind his back, which technically she had. it took her a moment to see him moving in her direction, and she stopped, hesitating, backing away slowly to match his gait, panicking just a little. The look in his eye was intense, and she wasn't sure if that was a good thing...
"I... I don't mean to sound like I've gone behind y-your back I... please.. S-stop..."
Her rump hit the wall, and she sat, pressing her back to the wall in an attempt to stay away from his intense gaze. He didn't stop, until he was right there, and then he was hugging her. Not gently, firmly. It didn't feel the same as the last time. It didn't make her feel safe so much as...
"It's alright..." He whispered to her quietly, "I misjudged you as well. I... had thought you as arrogant and self centred as I think of Ambrosia... but I was sorely mistaken myself. You... You're inquisitive, incredibly clever, quick to catch on to things and more observant than almost any of my guards... And I was serious when I said I wish I had ten more like you under my wing."
Nervously, Bubbles swallowed and tried for a joke, "Is... Is that a job offer?" She whispered, her voice trembling. He looked down at her, and he smiled.
"If you wish to take it," He whispered back warmly, "But I wouldn't recommend it..."
"Better benefits as a PA?" She quipped back with a little giggle. Gild smirked.
"Especially to me," He finished, before, rather tentatively, leaning down and pressing a chaste kiss to the corner of her mouth, much to her surprise, "And there... there are others on the table, if you're willing to take my offer."
"Captain..." She breathed shyly, "Are you planning on taking advantage of your young Personal Assistant?"
"I might be considering it," he answered dryly, "But never without her agreeing to it first... the benefits of the job position are good... but the benefits of loving the Captain could be much more lucrative."
Bubbles swallowed, blushing lightly. It occurred vaguely to her that she should be blushing a lot more than she was from his, frankly rather scandalous, proposition. But she left it behind and smiled.
"You know... Ambrosia once told me I should only kiss those I knew for certain I could honestly say I loved..." She whispered in a matter of fact voice, her forehooves coming to rest on Gild's chest, "Which would mean that if I kissed you..."
"You'd have to be able to say for certain you love me..." He finished quietly, looking a little downtrodden. In that moment, he almost looked adorable, and Bubbles couldn't help herself. She leaned forward, and planted a kiss of her own, this one squarely on his lips, and pulled away slowly, her blush now seeming a bit more appropriately proportioned.
"I suppose I love you then Gild," She whispered shyly, "And... I might just take that promotion."
Ambrosia's cell had become well known to her. Very well known. The same nicks and scrapes in the stone floor, the same old scratchy floral bedsheets, probably picked out by some old crotchety mare who didn't care for thread count. Same old meals, day after day. Although sometimes it was a little better. Sky Graphic had managed to send her down a meal that was different at least twice a week, and it had made this a little more bearable.
She was still seething over Bubbles' betrayal. At first, she was almost inarticulate because of it, first from sorrow, then from rage. She took to swearing and damning the young pegasus she'd taken in under her breath for hours at a time, inventing new swear words whenever she felt so inclined. It was a filthy past time, and one not fit for a lady, but one she did anyway. It helped her harden her heart towards her adoptive daughter. She'd thrown her lot in with Gild, and she'd never forgive her for it.
But, over time, that rage waned, and she slowly began to despair. She never got any visits from anypony outside, and was convinced Gild had left her to rot down here. He had had the decency at least to release her girls at least, save for young Golden Thread, who was the only visitor she did get. Ambrosia remembered when Thread had been leaving, she'd told Ambrosia that she was being released, and her records cleared. She could work hard, become a model again if she wanted.
Ambrosia had told her to go for it, and follow the dream.
Thread had asked about Ambrosia's, and then left.
Zukra and Zubari had forsaken her. Her budding Guild of Thieves had forsaken her. Her Girls had forsaken her. And worse, Bubbles had forsaken her. This was when the Despair gave way to grief, and grief to contemplation. Her bitterness never faded, but she began to think. And think hard. And, when she considered her actions over the past year or so, she couldn't blame Bubbles for leaving, or betraying her. She'd grown cold, and had spoken low about her people. Dropping them like that... like they were nothing? That was low, even for her. Worse, accusing Bubbles of betrayal, when all she'd done is voice her opinion on how Ambrosia had changed. She began to hate herself, and began to eat less. She was thinner now, and she hated that too.
Then, she got a visit from Sky Graphic. He looked tired, ragged. She didn't hear him, at first, but the sound of the door opening and the hushed whisper of 'five minutes, or it's your ass!' tipped her off, and she turned from the barred window. Graphic was in his armour, without his helmet or spear, looking reproachful.
"I'm sorry it took me so long," He apologised quietly, "I've been bogged down with work... Princess' have me running errands and messages from here to halfway to Hammer Rock."
Ambrosia didn't speak, at first. She just walked over to him, slowly (And rather guiltily enjoying the look of fear on his face as she did so) and, after a moment's regard, nuzzled up under his chin, and pressed herself against him firmly.
"It's okay..." She mumbled sadly, "Nopony's found time to visit me. I'm sure Gild's seen to that."
Sky paused, then sighed.
"It's getting to you, isn't it?" he asked, "The walls, the cage. The food."
"The worst thing, honestly, is the bedsheets," She replied blandly, "Whoever picked them out has horrible choices in linen."
Sky laughed, honestly laughed, and Ambrosia was heartened at the way it took the stress and age away from his face. He nuzzled her affectionately, "I did miss your wit," He admitted, "And I'll be sure to tell the Princess that."
"Good, she can hire a new linen picker then," Ambrosia giggled. Sky snorted.
"Not likely," He replied, "She picked them herself."
Ambrosia paused, then shuddered.
"Oh my... I'd hate to sleep on her bed."
Sky laughed again, and for a few minutes, life seemed bearable again. But it wasn't to last.
"Amber," He said softly, "About the trial..."
She sighed, "Oh, you had to ruin your visit with talking about the wretched thing, didn't you dear?"
Sky flinched, but swallowed his indignant reply, and continued, "It's soon. Amber, do you have a defence? An attorney perhaps? There's a good one the guard know well, used to work here in Canterlot. He lives down in Ponyville now but, if I send him a letter-"
"No decent defence attorney would take my case willingly Sky," Ambrosia's morose voice interrupted, "It's fairly cut and dry. I'm pleading guilty to the drug charges, claiming they were my little collection. An amount of illicit and non-illicit drugs, including anything from hallucinogens to Aphrodisiacs, available in the case that my Star faced crippling debt, and I'm forced to sell them to keep it running. To save my girls from the street."
She smiled sadly, and looked out the barred window, drawing Sky to look out as well, "No... No defence attorney in their right mind would allow such a straining of the truth. I will defend myself my dear, and whilst I know I will go away for some time, I'm hoping that, for the good of the girls, I can have the star remanded into the custody of somepony I think I can trust with their safety and livelihood. Princess Luna, Perhaps. It's rumoured she has a soft spot for the poor and outcast."
"Down in her Garden of Shadows? " Sky laughed softly, "I've heard the song. It's a lullaby for foals, nothing more."
"Sung by the lady of the night herself," Ambrosia corrected gently, "Worry not. I may take the fall, but I won't drag you, or my girls, down here with me. That, I can promise you."
~*~
Bubbles would be lying, if she said she was looking forward to returning to Gild's home. And it's not like she could avoid it either. The medicine, according to the note she'd received, had to be administered daily for a week at least, maybe longer. If it even worked. For all she knew, Bubbles could have killed him. If she had, she'd have some very stern words with Zubari, that much was certain.
As it was, standing at the threshold of the manor house, hesitating before the door, Bubbles did admittedly entertain the thought of running away. Perhaps not the best idea, but it might save her being hanged for treason, right?
Maybe. Maybe not.
Regardless, it was too soon for her liking when she arrived at his less than humble home, and she swallowed her panic, or tried to. it didn't work too well.
Well, you're already here...
She pushed the door open and crept her way inside. It wasn't her normal mode of transportation, creeping, but it seemed a bit appropriate given the circumstances. She was noticed by a few of the servants as she skirted through the halls to Gild's room, but if they had any questions, they didn't voice them, although she was sure she could feel some rather nasty looks following her rump as she went, burning into the back of her head and neck. Arriving at the doorway, she wasn't surprised in the slightest to see it wreathed in blue light, the unicorn guardsman, Arc she remembered his name as, casting some form of magic over it. On the opposite side of the exhausted looking unicorn, Velveteen stood at attention, wing blades clasped solidly over her beautiful wings, giving her a fearsome warrior princess-esque look. Bubbles fought down another wave of irrational jealousy.
"Guardsponies," She said tiredly. Arc started, the field flickering for a moment, before standing up straighter. Velveteen merely turned to face Bubbles.
"Ma'am," She said shortly, Arc swallowing and adding his own greeting afterwards in a small voice. Bubbles smiled at both of them.
"I want to thank you for doing this," Bubbles told them, trying to keep the nerves from her voice, "You've both gone above and beyond the call of duty."
Arc swallowed, and spoke. His voice was hoarse, tired, "It's my pleasure. The food was excellent as well."
Velveteen's face barely twitched, but after a moment, "Permission to speak freely, Ma'am?"
Bubbles felt her heart fall, and she nodded in response. Velveteen took her helmet off, shook her mane free, and sat down, turning he fierce gaze upon Bubbles.
"I'm not sure one unicorn will be enough to hold the captain should he require more days off," She said bluntly, "Arc is one of our best, and he's struggling by himself. I would suggest a shift change, or swapping me out for another unicorn."
Arc flushed, and suddenly was very interested in the wall. Bubbles though relished the wave of relief.
"I will consider a lunch break," She replied, "One hour, where Butler takes over guard duty. Will that be acceptable? I don't want anyone knowing of Gild's weakness that doesn't need to."
Velveteen looked a bit sceptical, but nodded her assent. Bubbles smiled.
"In that case, you're both dismissed. I'll let you know if we need your help tomorrow. Thank you both for your trust, and your time."
"Thank you for the extra pay," Arc laughed, letting his magic field fade, "It's welcome, and a bit needed."
"With all due respect sir," Velveteen replied acidly, "Perhaps less money spent on books would see you live with more food."
Arc flinched, but didn't reply. Bubble's eyes narrowed.
"I don't suppose the pair of you are a couple, are you?" She asked slowly. Arc's eyes shot open wide, and he shook his head emphatically. Velveteen looked as though Bubbles had just slapped her.
"N-no Ma'am!" Arc told her emphatically, "There's no fraternization between the guards, it's a rule that's been in place and enforced for almost three centuries!"
"Besides," Velveteen grumbled, "He has his heart set elsewhere. Like his books."
Bubbles, rather astonished, watched the pair left. Arc definitely didn't seem to be terribly capable of standing up for himself. How he became a Guard First Class was beyond her. Whereas Velveteen was walking all over him.
Strange. Shouldn't she be in his position?
Shaking her head, Bubbles reminded herself that that didn't matter at this point, although she'd bring up the possibility of investigating the pair of them later, and talk to him about the rules concerning fraternization between the guards. Didn't seem fair to her. But that would all come after she opened this door, and confronted the horror that was going to be Gild's wrath.
Unsurprisingly, Gild was wide awake, and sitting at his desk. His brow and mane were sweat soaked. Even the feathers of his unbandaged wing was soaked, the feathers bedraggled. He looked up slowly as Bubbles entered the room nervously.
"Bubbles," he said slowly, painfully. Bubbles winced.
"Gild..." She replied guiltily.
"You locked me in my room, and somehow convinced Butler to keep me in here, and then posted two of my own guards to my door to keep me in, one of them a unicorn. Clever. I could expect nothing less from Ambrosia's daughter."
Another wince from Bubbles, and she looked at her hooves, shame faced. But she didn't speak.
"Before I have you violently ejected from my home," He continued, "Care to tell me what manner of horrible poison you tried to kill me with?"
"It... wasn't a poison," She mumbled. Gild narrowed his eyes.
"Speak up," He commanded angrily, "I want to hear your guilt."
"It wasn't poison," She repeated, a little louder this time, falling on her haunches and still looking resolutely at her hooves, "It wasn't poison at all. It wasn't even dangerous."
"It burned my flesh from the inside out!" Gild yelled suddenly, angrily, "I was in agony for hours! All day, all I could feel was horrifying pain, the likes of which you could never begin to comprehend!"
"It was an ointment!" She cried, tears flowing down her face as she looked at him, "It's... It was meant to help your wing, to stop it spreading, maybe even help it recover! I didn't know how much it was going to hurt, you have to believe me!"
"There is no cure!" Gild roared back, leaping over his desk (Keep note, this isn't the desk in his study, which was quite a bit heavier and larger) and advancing on Bubbles, "You think I didn't look? You think I never searched? It doesn't exist! "
"But it could!" She insisted, teary eyed still, "It could be made! I called in a few favours, begged and paid through my nostrils, everything I had, to get the jar of this ointment! I wanted you to be better! I don't want..."
She fell silent, and Gild still seethed with rage.
"What Wench?" He demanded angrily, "Don't want what!?"
"I don't want you to die," She choked out, and the wind was knocked right out of his sails, "I don't want the stallion I love, the first I've ever really loved, to die because of a deed he should have been rewarded for. If that means paying for your medicine with my life, I'll do it. And I made Butler help me... Please don't punish him. I... I never wanted to hurt you... but the poison is fire, and... I didn't know how bad it'd be."
Gild's rage had fled, leaving him empty, and feeling utterly, utterly horrid. This pit of despair lent way to guilty horror, and then affection as he sniffed, stepped forward and hugged Bubbles gently. Bubbles didn't complain, sobbing into his shoulder uncontrollably as he, quietly, apologised over and over again, promising her he'd never get that angry again. Not at her, and kissing her neck every so often as a gentle touch of loving attention to help her along. He'd made her cry once.
He'd never do so again.
~*~
Two week of agony later, and Gild was back at work, just in time for the trial, the next day. Bubbles at his side as he looked over the work she'd done over the past fortnight. The guard rostering was identical to what he'd done, because she wasn't confident enough to do so herself. Nothing bad seemed to have happened though, and the few complications she had been forced to deal with seemed to have worked out quite well.
"It appears that you've kept my guards well in hand," Gild congratulated Bubbles warmly, "Well done. It looks like I'm lucky, that I decided to hire you huh?"
"I tried my best, that's all I can say sir," She replied formally. She was at work after all, and her relationship with Gild had to be downplayed in the work environment. Technically, she wasn't a guard, which meant that technically she could very well date Gild without repercussion. But for the sake of professionalism and such, they'd decided that they'd keep their love life out of work environments.
"Your best is adequate enough," He admitted, "Given a little training and time, you'd make quite a warrant officer, or captain in fact."
Red faced, Bubbles accepted the praise silently. Gild still had the bandage around his wing, and the ointment was still on his wing, but he had insisted it no longer hurt enough to constitute not returning to work. After his praise, the pair of them returned to work as usual, with Bubbles sitting at her cheap desk in the corner of his office. Hours passed, and the silence between the pair got oppressive as the next day's consequences, or potential ones, started weighing on both of their minds.
"... I won't be holding any facts we've dug up back Bubbles," Gild said quietly after turning down a request for a raise from one of his guards, "I know you still care for her, and I know you don't want to see her in prison but..."
"She's brought this on herself," Bubbles replied shortly, "I don't agree with your methods perhaps, but I don't think she deserves too much leniency. That said, I do want to talk to you about that. Later, at home. Away from prying ears. It's... It's important."
"I hope it's not to make me be nice," He mumbled to himself, "She's a criminal."
"We'll see," Bubbles' acidic reply made him look up at her in surprise, "When we get home."
Gild frowned, but didn't argue with her. Some things just weren't worth arguing over.
~*~
SIX HOURS BEFORE TRIAL
Ambrosia watched the goings on outside her cell with passive interest. The morning was just broaching, and the faint movements of life, save for the intoxicated or still partying, were stirring. She could see the odd lights turning on in the streets, a few doors opening quietly and closing just as quietly as stallions and mares went to start their early, and no doubt essential, jobs. She even watched in mild amusement as a stallion kissed his wife goodbye, and then turned the corner into the forelegs of another mare. That'd be an interesting conversation to have when she found out.
All the while, she considered her position. What she would do when the time came. The Trial was only a few hours away. She had no concept of time in this place. Minutes blurred into hours, into days, into weeks. Well, that's how it felt anyway. With a sneer, she took note of a guard scolding a starving looking pony in the entrance to an alleyway.
"Heartless fool," She muttered to herself. And he was. She'd seen him do this several times, and it had disgusted her each time. Despite this, she'd never seen the Night Guard do so. In fact, she hadn't seen the Night Guard do anything foolish or selfish. Perhaps it was because they were new to the game. Perhaps Luna was sterner with their actions' consequences. Perhaps they were just better ponies. Amber didn't really know. Not that it mattered. She knew, as a point of fact, she was being judged under the watchful eye of Princess Celestia, and not her sister.
~*~
The courtroom was immaculate. But that didn't mean it was pretty. The seat in the middle of the room could swivel, so the accused could see the pony talking to them at any given time from any given position in the room. Around said chair was a desk, save for the back of the chair, which was open so one could enter the chair. All around the centre was a crowd of seats. The Jury's seating. It was here the multitude of ponies deemed 'of peer' to the accused would be seated to assist in judgement of the accused.
Bubbles hated it all. Most of all, she hated the dais at the front of the room, hated the chair that sat above them all, complete with mahogany desk to match the plush monstrosity. This was Celestia's chair. The chair of the judge. Beside her would sit the official archivist, who would record the entire ordeal on the typewriter situated on the desk. On the other side was where the Evidence keeper, normally a junior archivist, would seat themselves, with all the evidence under their hooves. This time, however, Gild had decided to be that pony, to prevent the possible tampering with of evidence. He didn't want his case ruined, even after Bubble's had a chat to him at home. A talk that would remain behind closed doors.
It was also the reason she couldn't sleep, and had found herself here.
As an official member of staff, Bubbles was given clearance to most of the castle. The fact that she was, essentially, Gild's second hoof ensured she was also treated with the utmost respect. She'd come far in the short time since she'd turned her surrogate mother in to face her fate. Started to enact her plan, as it were.
She hadn't realised how stressful this whole situation would be. She knew it'd be hard, knew things might not turn out how she wanted them to. But maybe, if she could just figure the last part of this out...
"Most ponies prefer not to linger in this place," Came a quite voice behind her, making her jump and spin around. Princess Luna, the Dark Princess of Night, stood in the doorway, looking around the abnormally golden room, "Tis a face of Justice, and fear. What brings thee here, little Skyborn one?"
Bubbles sank instantly into a bow, her knees shaking. She'd just been greeted by royalty.
"I-I-I," She stammered hopelessly, "I-I was just..."
The clip-clop of metal shod shoes silenced her again, but the gentle touch of said hoof on her shoulder made her stop, though whether in fear or in ease, Bubbles was unsure.
"Relax thyself," Luna spoke again, "Thy reasons art thou own, We would not presume to force thee to speak upon that which brings such sorrow to thy guise. Rise, and seat thee at mine side."
Bubbles swallowed heavily, and straightened up, looking fearfully at the princess and... You know, she's not so scary. She had a kind smile on her face, one that spoke of understanding. With another gulp, Bubbles straightened fully and, slowly, turned and seated herself beside the Lunar Princess, much to Luna's delight.
"Thou art the first to do thusly," Luna told her brightly, "We thank thee. Thy respect is most appreciated."
"One would think ponies would rush to do as you ask my Princess," Bubbles replied slightly nervously, "To please royalty, perhaps to get in your good graces."
"Nay," She responded, looking languidly around the room again, "Many insist their company doth not suit those of my sister or I's status. Tis unfortunate indeed that I doth find it difficult to refute them after such fawning."
Bubbles smiled a little and looked at the floor, kicking a hoof.
"I understand. Being treated like you're above the reach of anypony else..."
"Others react with fear," Luna continued as Bubbles paused, "And seek retreat, afraid I will punish them simply for being within mine presence, like I still channel the dark spirit that once controlled me."
"They are fools," Bubbles replied darkly, "To judge you for things beyond your control, and a millenia past."
"Thy words comfort me skyborn, pray tell, what is thy name?"
"Bubbles," Bubbles replied, "Daughter of Ambrosia, personal assistant of Gild."
"Ah, the daughter of she in the dungeons," Luna said softly, "She who dreams of pain in the world, and doth work to help those she can."
"That's her, yes," Bubbles said hesitantly, "She's to be judged here, in a few hours."
"I hath read the reports," Luna admitted, "Possession of illicit substances. Tis unfortunate thy mother is to be judged upon the current system."
"The current system?" Bubbles looked at Luna, confused. Luna was looking at her sister's chair in distaste, the emotion curling the corners of her mouth and narrowing her eyes ever so slightly.
"In our time," Luna explained, "Those addicted to substance were not sentenced as criminals, but as those who need help. Thy mother would have been given options towards psychological assistance."
"Oh, Ambrosia didn't use them herself," Bubbles admitted, "She wouldn't touch the stuff if her life depended on it."
Luna returned Bubbles' gaze suspiciously, and Bubbles flushed and looked away.
"Pray, what use doth thy mother have for them then?" Luna asked forcefully. Bubbles swallowed.
"They were a contingency plan," She said, "For if we fell into hard times financially. They can sell for a lot."
Luna's frown was oppressive in it's weight upon Bubbles' head and shoulders. For a long moment, Bubbles thought she was going to call out her lie. Bubbles was good at misleading ponies. She'd been lying for Ambrosia for years. Not in the books, those were all accurate, but she had lied about so many other things. The Drugs had just been one of them.
"A curious backup plan, but I suppose that thy mother is prisoner in modern society."
"Aren't we all."
~*~
The morning was chilly. The draft through the castle was even colder, and the marble floor was so cold it hurt Ambrosia's hooves as she was marched through the castle, a pair of guards flanking her and an unhappy Sky Graphic leading them. She'd been made 'presentable' by a young maid of sorts, who had been sent down to the cell with warm water, shampoo, conditioner and a myriad of other care products, including a brush and small pair of scissors to trim off split ends. She'd been nice enough to Ambrosia, if not a bit nervous, and she'd done a good job.
Ambrosia walked with her head held high, walking with confidence and a quiet dignity that someone in her position simply shouldn't have had. She didn't let anyone know how her hooves were hurting her. The armour clad guards wouldn't be merciful about it. Most likely, other than Sky, they wouldn't care. Their stonewall attitudes had been a point of pride of their order for generations. They weren't about to change now. And she wouldn't give them the satisfaction.
The court room was silent as she was escorted inside, the majority of those required for the trial already within. She saw several familiar faces, none of which made her feel particularly reassured. But, regardless, she kept her head high. They would not see her break down. The little rock of fury she'd kept in her stomach during her time in the cell gave he discipline enough to not break, and she seated herself in the centre chair, surrounded by the jury of 'her peers', which she noticed were mostly older stallions and mares who had probably never set hoof in a brothel in their lives, believing it to be heretical or some nonsense.
A cleared throat brought the entire court's attention to the figure of a skinny looking Ochre unicorn stallion, sitting in the chair of the official archivist meant to record the entire goings on of the court. His name was Fore Sight, and he was a guard that, for some reason, never rose above the rank of lieutenant and had instead gone to try and advance his career as an archivist. It hadn't worked, but now he had the reason to brag he was at the Princess' side quite often.
"If I might have you attention please," He called imperiously over the silence, "I welcome to the court Captain Gild, Head of the House Guard, City Guard and second in Command of the Celestial Armies of Equis, and his assistant, Bubbles, Civilian ranking."
Sure enough, Gild, clad in full dress armour, entered the immense room from a side door, and took a seat where the junior archivist in charge of evidence normally sat. This spread a bit of a murmur, but it was silence once again by Fore Sight, who cleared his throat.
"And, welcoming her back to her court room, I introduce Princess Celestia, Guardian of the Midday Sun, and one Half of Equestria's Eminent Diarchy. All rise in the presence"
All the time he was speaking, a quill was scribbling furiously but neatly away at a stack of parchment he had before him on his desk, recording his every word, and every event. At the conclusion of his introduction, a pair of doors behind the dais opened and, clad in full golden regalia, Princess Celestia strode into the room in all her glory. Everyone in the court rose. Save for Ambrosia, who remained firmly and rebelliously seated. Techincally, this was an extreme breach of protocol, and considered incredibly disrespectful, however Celestia, after looking at Ambrosia, dismissed it, and stopped Fore Sight from issuing strangled orders. The doors to the court room slammed shut with a boom, and now, Celestia spoke.
"This court is now in Session," She declared, "Let naught but the truth be spoken, lest our guiding principles of love, tolerance and harmony be disrupted by heinous misdeeds."
Ambrosia tried not to laugh, successfully.
"The accused, one Miss Ambrosia, has the right to have her charges read to her. Lieutenant Sky Graphic, Please read the charges."
Next to her, Sky swallowed, and reached into his armour to pull out a sheet of paper.
"Your honor," He began, "The accused is charged of possession of illicit narcotics of various natures, three counts, and one count of refusal to cooperate with law enforcement. Anything else we found within the accused's place of business and residence, the 'Golden Star' brothel, was legal."
"Thank you." Celestia settled back into her plush seat, "Miss Ambrosia. At this time, I have been alerted that you wish to represent yourself, am I correct?"
"Yes, you are," Ambrosia replied coldly, "I have decided to represent myself in this legal dispute."
"Thank you for the clarification. I would like to ask, at this time, how do you plead to three counts of Drug Possession and one count of Refusal to cooperate?"
"Guilty," Ambrosia replied stonily, much to the interest of the court, most who reclined back in their seats before looking back up as she continued, "To the drug charges. Refusal to cooperate with law enforcement is not something I am guilty for. In fact, I'd like to reply with the simple answer of 'There are no true laws under your City Guard.'"
The court room, previously murmuring in quiet interest, went dead silent, and Celestia's previously neutral gaze turned stony.
"Do you have anything else to say?" Celestia asked darkly. Beside her, Gild swallowed, and beside him, Bubbles shook her head imperceptibly at her mother. Ambrosia ignored them all, and stood from her chair.
"Too much," She replied as icily as Celestia had, "To be had in a short conversation. Let me share a few stories with you, your majesty , that you should better understand your failures."
Beside Celestia, Gild hid his face in his hooves, and Bubbles stared, mortified. The Jury, and those attending, started to speak, but were silenced by the loud bang of Celestia's hammer on the gavel.
"I will have order in my court!" She called, and they went silent. Celestia's gaze returned to Ambrosia, who stood defiant, "Continue, if it has relevance to this case."
"This has relevance to every case!" Ambrosia insisted, "Do you know what prompted the raid on my establishment, Celestia?"
The courtroom's outraged mumbles at her blatant lack of respect underlied the tense moment shared between business owner and monarch.
"Nothing," She continued to the unanswered question, "Nothing prompted it. Save the whim of your Guard captain. Fine. So be it. However, the lack of warning I received which, according to equestrian law, must be at least twenty-four hours in advance, was absolutely appalling, and absolutely illegal."
It was at this point that Gild spoke up, "Your honour, in light of her statement, I would like to add my own in defence of my outfit."
"You may speak."
"We had, earlier that day, agreed in parliament, as according to law, that a new movement to pass raids on businesses that had more than one recorded case of complaint concerning criminal activity could be raided without warning in order to catch them unawares, so as to not allow them the time to conceal their criminal actions. This was built on the basis that the business must first have knowingly taken in a pony with a criminal record, of which Miss Ambrosia has countless of-"
"To get them off the streets, and into a home where they can learn how to survive without stealing!" Ambrosia snapped, only to be silenced by the sound of the gavel again and a glare from Celestia.
"Continue, Gild."
"As I was saying, Ambrosia has hired countless ponies, mares in particular, off the streets, and many have criminal records. The only reason we raided it in the first place was because of complaints of money missing from their purses, leading to a possible mare named Caress, whom was arrested a few times for theft and is, according to her medical records, a Kleptomaniac, so whilst she may not have been able to help herself, theft is theft."
"Thank you Gild," Celestia smiled at him warmly, "For the clarification of this fact for the court. We acknowledge this as fact and record it for the basis of this hearing."
Ambrosia tried not to grit her teeth, "Fine. But did he tell you he authorized the raid before the movement was passed?"
Gild froze, so did Bubbles, and the court buzzed with intrigue again, much to Celestia's annoyance, but it wasn't the gavel slamming down this time that silenced them, but Ambrosia's powerful voice, "He authorized the raid upon my home, my Star, fourteen minutes before the law was passed in which he was allowed to authorize it! He broke his own law with his own impatience!"
Celestia turned to Gild, who swallowed. Heavily.
"Is this true, Captain?" She asked slowly. Gild nodded slowly.
"It is true I set up the raid beforehand," he admitted, "But I had strict orders for them to wait for my signal. Lieutenant Sky Graphic was in charge of the raid, if he moved beforehand, it was not on my orders."
The court turned it's scrutiny upon Sky, who swallowed this time, almost feeling his heart in his throat.
"I... I was told by one of the ponies under my command, Shatter Shield," He spoke clearly, but nervously, "He had received a missive from Gild, a go ahead on the raid. Shatter had never lied about such things before..."
"Mistake though it may have been," Ambrosia said coldly, "The fact is, he broke his own law-"
"Through no fault of his own," Celestia spoke over Ambrosia, "You are correct, it was before the time, however there was a raid, and they found your substances, and that leaves you in a bind because this would have happened regardless. Due to the practicality of the new policy, I will overlook this once. Does the court agree?"
There was a general murmur of consensus, and Ambrosia bristled.
"What about when one of his ponies sexually assaulted one of my girls?" She growled, "What justice is there for this act? What justice for Caress, the little pegasus, who was raped in her own bathroom, by one of your guards ?"
"It was only recently I was made aware of this action," Gild answered her softly, speaking into his little microphone, "And when I was made aware it was Shatter who did this, I made a report to the Princess. Shatter Shield himself was found dead two nights after the raid, we suspect it was a religious murder of some semblance and we, the Princess and I, have elected to pay both for Miss Caress' hospital bills, and release the pony we took into custody concerning the believed rape along with a formal pardon and apology from the crown and myself."
Ambrosia was silent, for a long time. And when she began to speak again, her voice was quiet, but angry, "I sat in that cell for more than a month," her words silenced everyone, slipping like burning silk threads into their ears and searing into their minds, "In that time, Princess Celestia, you had four major addresses to your precious Canterlot. Each time, I watched as, an hour before you were to arrive, all glorious in your gold and gemstones, your guards cleared the way. I was disgusted."
She raised her voice, and her head, to face Celestia directly, in terrifying defiance, "Your guards, if you can call them that, are less than equine. The homeless, the ponies you ignore and step around to avoid dirtying your pretty little hooves, are yelled at, intimidated, or assaulted, to remove them from your glorious presence , to get rid of them before you arrive so all you see is a pretty, perfect little painting of your precious little Equestria, and your pretty little Canterlot, all picture perfect and full of happy ponies."
"I watched as one of your armoured brutes pulled a scythe on a poor stallion who was digging for food in a garbage can outside of a sweet shop," She continued, voice rising, "I watched another pull a little filly out of a cardboard box, a filly without a home who was making do with the best she could, and throw her out of the alley before demanding she leave the area. I watched as your legion of hired thugs threatened to beat a mare to death if she didn't remove herself from the shadow of your dais. And you have the gall, you All have the gall, to call me a criminal?"
"Ambrosia," Celestia began, "I'm going to give you one warning-"
"No!" Ambrosia snapped, pointing at Celestia, "I will give YOU a warning, Princess ! Eventually, the poor will Rise up against these injustices! They will not stand your posturing, your pride or your brutality against those too weak and frail to stand up for themselves against their brutish captors! Your regime is segregating the populace, and breeding hatred in the lower income society, and it's breeding hatred in those ponies towards you because Your Guards represent Your authority !"
Celestia jerked back as though struck, outraged by the accusations, but Ambrosia wasn't finished.
"I have seen a few diamonds in the rough of your horrible clan of tyrants," She snarled, "And, though I hate to say it, Gild was one of them! Lieutenant Sky Graphic was one of them! Another one, a grey unicorns with a dark mane, stopped the scythe wielder from threatening any more ponies. Gild bought three of them lunch before moving them! Nicely!"
She pointed now at Gild.
"My hatred for this excuse for a pegasus runs deeper than I can ever hope you to comprehend," Her voice rang off the golden vaults of the ceiling like a bell, "But my respect for his acceptance for those less fortunate of him makes me respect him," She looked back at Celestia, "More than I could ever respect a ruler who doesn't bother to pay attention to the crimes her own employees are committing, the atrocities in her own city. I take the poor, the outcast and the criminals who fight and steal for a living off the streets, give them a job, a home! I have put more fillies and colts through school than any of your orphanages have in probably their lifetimes, and it's all because I care ! I take pride in my work, and yes, perhaps I did have illicit substances, but if the Star began to sink, could I rely on your system? The one that's now backstabbed me for doing what I thought was right? What I thought had to be done? To keep my girls safe, to give them a home and a place to come back to, somewhere to sleep at night when it's too cold to sleep outside with nothing but a newspaper blanket anymore?"
"If this is justice," She finished darkly, "Then I no longer stand as an Equestrian citizen."
The court room dedicated to Princess Celestia had seen many things over its many years of service. Murderers, mobsters, thieves of the highest degree, tax evaders, merchants who'd gone bad, everything from bullets to bandages found in evidence. It had seen an attempted shooting, a magical explosion, an accidental discharge of magical energy in its purest form, and the shining magic of Celestia's protective spells.
But not once in its lifetime did they have even one pony outright reject the very concept of being part of the Equestrian society.
Absolute pandemonium.
Ponies were standing, yelling and waving their hooves. Unicorns flashed their disapproval in the form of bright lights that reflected everywhere off the vaulted ceilings. Even Bubbles, who'd lived with and was raised by Ambrosia for almost her entire life, was caught utterly off guard, and was left speechless. The gavel meant nothing. Fore Sight simply couldn't keep up with all the jabber in the court room. Ambrosia sat back down, glaring impudently at Princess Celestia. The whole place was in a place of chaos and disarray.
And Celestia had enough. The gavel broke under the weight of the strike upon her desk and a piercing light burst forth from her form as her voice exploded into the powerful Royal Canterlot Voice.
" SILENCE! "
The sheer volume alone was enough to at least shock the court room into absolute silence. Ambrosia could even feel the wind through her mane as the voice washed over and through the room, and even as it ricocheted off of the walls and vaulted ceilings.
"Miss Ambrosia," Celestia was only half-way through toning down her voice, "If you do so wish to be tried as a member from a foreign nation, I must disappoint you. If you wish to cancel your equestrian citizenship, you'll have to wait until such a time as this particular trial is finished. Until then, you will be tried as an equestrian citizen. You should consider yourself lucky I don't have you held in contempt of the court for your behaviour. The only reason I have allowed this to go on so long, is because I was foolish enough to tell you you could continue your absurd soliloquy if you believed it had relevance to your case, which it did not."
"Of course it didn't," Ambrosia's answer was venomous and sarcastic, "I suppose anything that might potentially slander your name, with you as the judge, would be 'irrelevant'."
Silence this time, as all the ponies around the room took a moment to try not to gulp in shock and fear at the piercing gaze Celestia levelled at Ambrosia.
"I am choosing to ignore that, as well," Celestia growled, "But one more outburst, and you'll be held in contempt of the court, and be charged an extra sentence on top of the one you're already receiving, compliant or otherwise."
Ambrosia, wisely, remained silent.
"Now, unless there's other factors or evidence relevant to the case, I believe-"
"Your majesty," Gild spoke up this time, drawing a strangled gasp from Fore Sight at his audacity, "It is my belief, and that of the guard, that Ambrosia's past deeds should be brought to light as evidence interred to her well meaning to this city and society as a whole."
Celestia looked at Gild like he was stupid.
"Do tell," She said quietly. Gild didn't hesitate, to his credit.
"Ambrosia has taken countless homeless off the streets, and used the money she earned through her business, putting herself out of pocket, to put them through school," Gild explained, "Several of the girls she had working for her previously were vagabonds or orphans without homes she took in, nurtured, and then offered a job, and they took it. Several ponies over the city also vouch for her generosity and kindness in getting them a job or career of their own, including several influential fashion models and one journalist, several baristas and waitstaff of varying companies. Given that Kindness and Generosity are both elements of our society we treasure and see as critically important to our nation's core principles, it would not be fair to not take into account the overwhelmingly positive stories and recountings of the former employees or foster foals of Ambrosia and her daughter in concern to her sentence for proportionately mild drug charges."
"Proportionately mild?" Celestia asked, "These are illegal drugs, and they carry more weight than appears."
"Be that as it may," Gild retorted, "The amount is almost inconsequential. The mandatory minimum falls under more than fifteen grams, and the illegal drugs here fell just short of fourteen. So, yes, I would like to point out that, even disregarding proportions, the charges are mild. Given that she's pleaded innocent to all other charges, and given there is little to no evidence concerning any of the other charges, We, as a court, are only capable of pinning said drug charges onto the defendant, and therefore her charges are relatively mild. "
Ambrosia could barely believe what she was hearing. The captain of the guard, defending her? He'd wasted so much of his resources combing the Star and trying to get her to this trial, and now he was defending her? For what reason?
Bubbles.
The only possible answer. The little blue pegasus she'd once called daughter had left her, and had gone to Gild's side. But... what if she'd never left her side at all?
What if she'd had a plan of her own?
"Fine," A gavel cracking against the desk shook Ambrosia from her train of thought and she looked back up at Celestia, blinking quickly, "Do we have testimonies? Do you have proof of any of these savings?"
"Bubbles is the first," Gild admitted, much to Bubble's chagrin, "Without Ambrosia, Bubbles would probably be dead today on the streets of Canterlot."
"Bubbles is too biased for this court to consider," Celestia huffed, "She lived with Ambrosia since her adoption."
"I thought you might say that," Gild grumbled, "So I took the liberty of inviting a scant few of the mares here today for the trial. All those in the audience relating to this position, please stand."
Shuffling behind her, and Ambrosia swallowed, forcing back tears at her eyes as she spun her chair slowly to face the audience. Thirty-three ponies had stood up. Thirty-three, and several of them well respected members of the community. Behind her now, Celestia sighed.
"Where do we start?" She questioned, sounding tired of this already. Ambrosia couldn't help but smile.
Thirty-three testimonies later, and a rather stunned looking Bubbles, pleased looking Gild, and content Ambrosia, Celestia sighed.
"Ambrosia," She sighed tiredly, "After, possibly the longest, trial in this court, we've observed all of the relevant evidence to your... It's time for the jury, and myself, to come to a verdict. And, on this note, I would invite you all to a fifteen minute interlude, whereas we shall decide this mare's fate. You will be recalled as witnesses in precisely that time."
The gavel hit the bench again, and ponies began filing out. Ambrosia, however, was escorted out by armed escort, again lead by Sky Graphic.
What in Luna's name do I say?
He had no words. And Ambrosia still seemed too distracted to talk to him either. So, with naught else left to do, he brushed his wing comfortingly up her side. She shivered, and looked at him in surprise, and he offered the smallest of smiles. She smiled back at him gratefully. More guards showed up, and the pair were forced back into their previous roles, quiet, introspective.
And then it was time to return.
And she was marched back into the court room, with Celestia looking as she'd always had outside of the room. Composed, serene, and utterly perfect. She even had a little smile. Gild sat where he'd sat the whole time, Bubbles by his side as usual. The ochre stallion Fore Sight was opposite Gild, and Ambrosia dimly heard him calling her name as she entered. She was escorted back to her chair, upon which she sat. Now she felt tired, and she couldn't help but consider the irony. After a short break, it was her that felt thousands of years old, whilst Celestia sat upon her heinous throne looking for all the world like she was in the prime of her youth. Irrational stabs of jealousy flittered through Ambrosia, but she shoved them aside. Being jealous of an immortal was a waste of time.
"Ambrosia, welcome back," Celestia spoke calmly, as though the last session had never happened, "The jury and myself have come to a decision concerning verdict and sentence. Unless you have any further words to add, I'd like to inform you of our decision."
"I have no further words nor questions, your highness," Ambrosia replied with a sigh, "I will hear you."
"Then, it is both my duty and privilege to inform you the jury and I have determined you guilty of minor drug possession charges," She continued warmly, "Such sentences constitute a minimum three weeks imprisonment."
Ambrosia hung her head with a sigh as the witnesses buzzed.
It's alright, she thought to herself with a bittersweet smile, My girls are alright, I knew this was the outcome from the beginning. At least it's only a short time. Perhaps.... perhaps I'll open a spice shop when I finally leave...
"However."
The voice was Celestia's, and it brought silence. It wasn't a dangerous tone. It was warm, and Ambrosia looked up, feeling her heart sink.
"The jury, and myself, have decided that, given your immense contribution to Canterlot society," Celestia continued, "Your sentence shall be reduced by one day per pony you have helped and have spoken for you. As this transcends the minimum time, which is what your sentence was to be, we have instead given you one week's public service duty, between the hours of eight am, and five pm. This week of service will be overseen by one Lieutenant Sky Graphic," Ambrosia shot a glance at Sky, who was as shocked as she was, wide eyed and a flush on his cheeks, "And will be recorded and sent to Guard Captain Gild, who will oversee and decide whether your contributions are worth the time you have been given."
This caught at her nerves, and she shot a glare at Gild, who just smirked mysteriously. Bubbles, beside him, nodded and smiled at Ambrosia. A surge of guilt caught her, and she looked away.
"Unless anypony here has any reason to dispute this," Celestia asked, leaving the offer hanging for ten... fifteen seconds, "Then the sentence will commence upon the next Monday of our calendar, in three days time. Sky Graphic, I will leave her in your capable hooves. Court dismissed."
A new gavel slammed, and the rumble of the witnesses and jury leaving almost didn't register to Ambrosia. A week? Community Service? That's it? That's all?
The guards that had escorted her there left, and Ambrosia, shaken for a moment, regained her composure and approached the bench, Sky Graphic behind her, who looked equally shocked.
"Princess!" Ambrosia called, and Celestia look down. She had been leaving her chair at the time, "Princess, why in Equestria were you so lenient?"
Celestia raised a brow, but didn't answer immediately. Instead, she descended the steps leading to her desk, and stood before Ambrosia instead.
"Madame Ambrosia," Celestia chuckled softly, "Do not think I was lenient. Think of it more as a reward for your actions."
"B-but the way I acted," Ambrosia demanded, "The insults, the barging an-and-"
"Hush," Celestia smiled, "I do not like judging ponies as guilty, much as many would think I do when I am seated upon this chair."
One of her white wings settled over Ambrosia's shoulder, and she wasn't sure whether to feel intimidated or reassured.
"See, I must judge fairly," She continued, "And that means I must not take sides. Your crimes were just that. Crimes. Possession of illicit substances, regardless what they are, is a mounting issue in Equestria, and here in Canterlot especially. I had to take this seriously. However, as Gild reminded me after you, perhaps rightfully, told me of my flaws, it was a minor offence, something I should have seen through my outrage at your outbursts."
Celestia looked at the ceiling, repositioning herself to sit beside Ambrosia, wing still wrapped comfortingly around the red mare's shoulders.
"Contrary to popular belief," She began, "I am not perfect, nor am I a goddess. I am a pony, like yourself, who came into immortality at a young age, and tried to make Equestria a better place. I like to think that, to a degree, I succeeded. But I did not do so alone. My sister was there as well. And she is not perfect either. We alicorns still have emotions, nerves that can be plucked and emotions that can cloud our judgement. You may have stepped on a few of them during the time you had in my court room, but they were nerves that had to be plucked. Gild has alerted me to the occasional report of misuse of force in his ranks, and I have authorised him to take steps to eliminate that, whether it include instant dismissal, or disciplinary actions. And perhaps you're right. I have not seen Canterlot clearly as I should. But... that's not what you were asking, was it?"
"N-no," Ambrosia fumbled for words. Who knew Celestia was prone to such rambling? But, despite what she spoke of, she did not speak with any real pride, or arrogance. But like a mother speaking to her foal, explaining something complex.
"I wasn't lenient," She said softly, now nuzzling between Ambrosia's ears, "I was fair. You did commit a crime. But, in the eyes of the jury and myself, once I calmed myself, your past actions and contributions outweigh, far outweigh, the minor charges you're accused of. So, we are giving you a one-time slap on the fetlock, so to speak. Please, don't make your way here again though. I would hate to go up against you once more. You're quite persuasive."
Ambrosia felt her face grow hot, and she mumbled something under her breath, much to Celestia's apparent amusement.
"Now, if you'll excuse me," She withdrew her wing, "I am an hour late for a meeting with my dear sister, and must find her before she gets huffy at me. Honestly, the poor dear needs to relax more."
And she left. Just like that. Sky didn't even get to ask her any questions. The almost empty court room echoed with the click-clack of hoofsteps as Bubbles and Gild Approached. Sky had already draped his wing around Ambrosia again, and was trying to coax a sound out of her. She seemed to be in shock.
"Well, I'm glad this is over then," Gild said with a huff, sitting down a respectful distance behind Ambrosia, "You threw me for a loop Ambrosia, I must admit."
Bubbles seated herself behind him, appearing professional. She didn't want Ambrosia to know about her and Gild... it might make things messy. Ambrosia, slowly, turned herself around. She looked wary. Sky turned with her, retracting one wing, and extending the other, again over her shoulders.
"Why did you help me?" She asked warily, "You could have destroyed me."
"Believe me, had I continued to think you were what I thought you were, I would have," He replied smoothly, "But there's been a few discrepancies between information we've been receiving Madam Ambrosia, and that was cleared up, quite neatly I might add, by my new assistant."
Bubbles waved nervously. Ambrosia couldn't look at her without another wave of guilt crashing at her heart.
"I see..."
"Perhaps it's easier if I explain myself," Gild began again, "I have a goal, for Canterlot. And you stood to get in the way of that goal. Or, so I thought. See, your... establishment, was becoming a haven for criminals and ne'erdowells. I thought this was deliberate. Bubbles here cleared that up. Your establishment was popular with anypony that happened to have the money to afford your establishments services, and after getting a warrant, I received your personnel files, and your client list. Now, I might be mistaken, but I don't believe those were your drugs at all."
Ambrosia eyed him warily.
"DJ P0N-3," He began with a smirk, "History of minor drug charges. Nothing serious. Minor hallucinogens that barely scrape the illegal list, couple of aphrodisiacs she likes to use. She's had a few slaps on the fetlock, nothing more. Laurette Blackhoof was convicted of use of Cabergoline. You know which one I mean. Money made the problem go away, but it's still a stain we have on record. Both were on your client list as 'VIP' members. I'm betting there's a few more there we don't know about."
"Possibly, but if you're going after them," She warned, "You've got nothing to-"
"Relax, I'm not interested in a DJ who likes her sex or a stuck up noble," Gild shrugged, "I wanted to make a Utopia. I thought eliminating you and your establishment, from a legal perspective, would drive home a message. But, I don't think it will anymore. Besides, you're doing too much good for me to shut you down."
"Go on," Ambrosia was clearly suspicious, and Sky looked uncomfortable.
"I propose we work together," Gild offered with a smile, "I know we've started on a rocky slope, and you hate me. I have received a detailed report on your opinion and reasons concerning it, and I cannot blame you. However, I do not hate you. I hated what I thought you stood for. Now that I know it is quite the opposite, I'm willing to apologise, let bygones be bygones, and talk to you about possibly doing some real good. Bubbles has," He hesitated, looking back at her. She smiled and nodded, "Opened my eyes. About a lot of things. I can't do this on my own, Ambrosia, and having a source or a partner out where they can easily get a hold of information would be the biggest boon to my work I could possibly have. So what do you say? Shall we make my goal our goal?"
He held out his hoof in tentative friendship. Ambrosia eyed it darkly.
"Bubbles seems to trust you," She said cautiously, "But I don't. However... I have... misjudged, Bubbles' advice before, and ignored it. I... I have never done something so truly stupid in my life, and I will not allow it to happen again," Bubbles flushed, and had to stop herself crying at this admission, "But... if we do this," Ambrosia looked up at Gild, straight in the eye, and there was a spark there, between the both of them, "I do it my way. And you turn a blind eye. I won't commit crime without reason, and you won't stop me. If I think there's something wrong with something-"
"No killing, no theft of funding," Gild replied instantly, "Death will be met with swift justice, and theft will be as well. Coercion, information gathering and finding the truth. If that means breaking into a house to get proper documentation, fine. But no assassinations."
"I wouldn't be so crude," Ambrosia said. After a moment, a twisted smile came to her face, "You're more corrupt than I thought."
"It's not corruption, Ambrosia," he replied, "I am a stallion who will do anything to realise his dream. A dream of a Canterlot free of corrupt politicians, nobles and crime lords. I will not be bribed, I will not be corrupted. But if it gets me what I need, I will turn a blind eye, and so will my guards. Do we have an agreement?"
Ambrosia looked at Sky, who looked shellshocked. He'd never seen this side to his captain. He'd thought he hated her too. But now..?
"Are you alright?" She whispered to him quietly. he jolted, and looked at her, wide eyed.
"I... I'll be fine," He replied just as softly, touching his brow to hers, "I just... I've not seen Gild so dedicated to something before he'd do this. If it's the right thing though... I'm with you."
She glanced at Bubbles, who had tears in her eyes. Bubbles smiled and nodded. Ambrosia sighed.
"Then, you have a deal, Guard Captain Gild," Ambrosia agreed, clapping her hoof against his, "Partnership. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to rest back at my home. The Star is sorely missed, and I want my nice, warm bed back."
"Er... yes, about that..." Gild replied hesitantly.
"It was WHAT?"
"Sold at auction," Gild repeated. The quartet of ponies were moving quickly through the city of Canterlot, Gild under the pretense of making sure Ambrosia got home safely, "When it became clear you couldn't financially support the Golden Star anymore, it was repossessed to the crown, and sold at auction."
"Well how much did it go for!?" Ambrosia demanded almost hysterically. This was her life's work down the drain!
"Two and a half million bits," He replied to her bewildered face, "Yeah, shocked me too. I think most of the bidders assumed the girls came with it. They didn't, of course, that was just for the building. But they paid a lot of money."
"Well, who was it sold to?" She demanded. Bubbles smirked.
"Oh, when you find out," She chuckled. Ambrosia looked at her like she was insane. What was so funny!?
And then, they rounded the last corner to the star, and she realised.
Before the Star stood a pair of brothers. Both in vests, both with shoulder length manes, and both very much Zebras.
Zirqon and his brother, Zubari, with giant, shit-eating grins on their faces. Behind them, and slightly to the left, was Hoodlum, looking rather uncomfortable really.
"Ah, Ambrosia," Zubari spoke first. He was a giant of a Zebra. As first born, Zubari was tasked with the protection of his younger siblings, and as a result he'd been trained for a long time, since foalhood, as a fighter. He fought without weapons, and was incredibly proficient at it, "Welcome back. Have you seen my brother and I's newest acquisition?"
He gestured jokingly at the Golden Star.
"We think it needs a bit of a makeover to be honest," Zirqon continued slyly, "A few stripes here and there, y'know, the Zebrican touch."
"You two..." Ambrosia giggled, and hugged them both tightly, "You beautiful stallions!"
"Hey, don't get all mushy on us now," Zubari laughed, "You still need to pay us for the place!"
That made Ambrosia freeze, and back up, looking nervous, "L-look, boys, I don't exactly have a lot of money right now..."
"Ah'm thinkin'.... Free service for life?" Zirqon asked his brother with a barely concealed smirk. Zubari barked a laugh, "Yeah, sounds pretty good to me. And free reign on the food. I'm a big stallion, need a lot of food to maintain my figure."
Ambrosia stared at them, then teared up, and hugged them both again.
"O-of course," She managed to choke out, "Anything you want... Anytime you want. My doors are always open to you."
"Aw jeez Amby," Zirqon flushed, "No need ta cry."
She just hugged tighter. When she pulled away, much to the delight of the brothers, who bounced their way inside, Hoodlum approached quietly.
"I am sorry," He said simply, "I could not protect you as promised."
"There was nothing you could have done," Ambrosia replied simply, wiping away her tears, and trying to stop sniffling, "Your service was invaluable. Your reward still stands."
"I... will have to take a raincheck on dat," He replied hesitantly. Ambrosia's brows knitted in confusion and concern.
"Hood?"
"... Part of de deal wit' Zubari was dat he could claim my bounty, when dis was all over," He admitted, "When he has finished wit' de services you promised today, he is departing for his homeland. And I will go wit' him."
"Oh..." Ambrosia hesitated. What does one say to that? "I... don't suppose he'll change his mind?"
"Deal is struck. I won't go back on my word."
"I... I understand," She said softly, "Be careful, won't you?"
He smiled weakly, "I will try. But first..."
He took her hoof in his, turned it up, and placed something into it. Something soft.
"I may be a Hoodlum," He joked weakly, "But like I said, I keep my word."
Ambrosia looked down, and sniffed. It was the voodoo doll he'd made of her when they'd first met. The one he'd promised to give to her once he left her employ, "I am glad I did not have to use it. Now go, be at home wit' your ponies. Dey have missed you sometink fierce."
She smiled weakly in return, "I will."
Entering the star was like entering a crowd. Ambrosia was jostled, hugged, kissed and all manner of things, and in a moment of silence, she spoke.
"Th-thank you girls... for sticking around. It's good to be home."
It should be said, later that very week, Ambrosia got a letter from Zubari saying that Hoodlum had escaped. She had her doubts on how legitimate that 'escape' had actually been, and had been happier the whole day. Her community service went quickly, and she quickly found out that Star Graphic's version of 'Community Service' often meant finding a quiet place to themselves, and often making the place not so quiet. The Golden Star flourished, and Ambrosia found herself often receiving payments from 'anonymous sources'.
She had no doubt it was Gild, looking after his priceless source. They came after every delivery of information, after all. She also remade her budding Cartel. After a while, she opted to name it 'Fruit of the Gods'. Ostentatious, she knew, but it had a nice ring to it. They also focused efforts on collecting information and infiltration. She took money from here and there, and explained to Gild she was getting into the criminal group's good books to dig up more information on them.
Now, a year later, sitting on the outdoor balcony of her new bedroom in her new and improved Golden Star, Ambrosia smiled. This was her City now. She would help as much as she could, to keep it safe.
To turn it into a Utopia.
So many ponies saw Canterlot as the mountain City of Equestria. And they’d be right. Most saw it as a utopia, a place where nothing was wrong and ponies were looked after and always had friends.
They were wrong.
Canterlot was a city like any other. Orphanages, cults, religions, money and crime. Crime happened on a daily basis, it just sometimes wasn’t caught. Cartels run the streets, drugs were pedalled in backalleys and dark corners of the biggest pubs and clubs. It was known by some of the more dedicated ponies where the next illegal rave would be, and if it was worth risking.
In the darker alleys and in the dark of the night, prostitutes prowled, looking for their next client illegally.
Crime was a daily thing.
And for the young mare Ambrosia, it was what she was good at. She’d always been the bad influence in her hometown, warned of by the parents so their foals would stay well away from her. But unlike her mother and father, Ambrosia hadn’t been satisfied with the simple life of a farmer. Instead she had decided to go her own way, making her way inevitably to the capitol. She’d spent the last few days working at a bar as a waitress. But she’d decided she’d had quite enough of that and was off with the money, her inheritance, to start her own work.
Problem was she had no idea what it’d be yet.
As it was, as she was walking along the darkened streets, she heard a soft sniffle and a sob. Her ears pricked up. Ambrosia was a very attractive mare. With a luscious red coat and white underbelly, she cut a mean figure, putting even most supermodels to shame. Her green eyes were bright and inquisitive and her multi-hued pink mane and tail were her favourite aspect of her body, and she made sure to keep them meticulously clean and well groomed.
Ambrosia listened closely, the quiet sounds reaching her ears only just from a nearby alley. Out of sheer curiosity and fighting down the feeling it was a trap, she ventured into the narrow avenue, looking around. What she found after a short search and listen was a box. The front was barely open, but the sound was definitely coming from there. With a cautious hoof, Ambrosia opened the box flaps carefully and peered inside. Looking back at her, an expression that could only be described as sheer terror on her face, was a pale blue filly with a darker blue colour to her mane. She was filthy and smelled a little, and her bright eyes glittered with fear.
Ambrosia felt her heart melt.
“What’s your name little one?” She asked as gently as she could. The filly seemed to immediately calm and again Ambrosia found herself thanking Celestia for her talented silver tongue.
“I-I don’t know,” The filly responded fearfully, “I-I c-c-can’t remember.”
She couldn’t have been any older than four or five, but she was stuck on the streets on her own! Ambrosia was a lot of things, but she wasn’t completely heartless. She held out a hoof and the filly shied away from it.
“It’s alright dear one,” She said reassuringly, “I promise I won’t hurt you.”
The filly hesitated for a moment before letting Ambrosia touch her, the earth mare running her hoof through the little pegasus’ mane.
“There you go… you have nowhere to go? Where’s your mother?”
The filly sniffled and merely shook her head in response. Ambrosia sighed.
“You can stay with me,” She offered, “I’m going to buy someplace to live tomorrow. If you have nowhere to go, come with me.”
The little filly looked at her in suspicion. A healthy outlook to have.
“What do you get from me?” She asked, obviously still scared. Ambrosia giggled.
“Company,” She replied with the first genuine smile she’d worn in some time, “I wouldn’t be alone. I don’t do well on my own. I don’t do well in crowds of ponies I can’t read either.”
The little one was silent for a moment, glaring at Ambrosia suspiciously before apparently deciding she could trust her and stepping hesitantly out of the box. Ambrosia swept the darling into a hug, which she positively melted into.
“We’ll go to my hotel room now,” Ambrosia said gently, “And you can have a shower with me, then we’ll go to bed, okay?”
“Thank you mummy…”
Ambrosia smiled, trying not to cry, and nuzzled the now sleeping filly, falling in stride and swiftly slipping into the dream realm.
"That's our new home little one. Isn't it grand?"
Ambrosia stood before the ancient building, deep within the working caste's zone. Just off of a main road, the two story building was big, both area and height wise, and was remarkably mostly intact. the little pegasus filly squealed in delight and rushed forward, prompting Ambrosia to giggle and follow her.
"Calm down now, it's just a house. At the moment, it won't even pay for itself. I'm going to need a job to keep us with food and to pay the bills."
The little filly didn't seem to mind as she ran into the house as soon as the door creaked open. The place was covered in dust but, as the real estate agent had told her, it was mostly in one piece. It needed work, but it would serve as a viable home, and perhaps one day place of business.
"Little one? Where'd you go?"
Ambrosia looked around the empty foyer and at the old, cobweb ridden stairs. Looks like it needed a lot of work. The little blue pegasus tore down the steps and into Ambrosia's arms, babbling about thank yous and such. Ambrosia shook her head.
"Hehe... that's alright. I'm going to have to give you a name. I can't go around calling you 'little one' all the time now can I?"
The filly shrugged in response.
"I dunno. It's not the worst I've been called," She replied quietly. Ambrosia sighed.
"Sweetheart, you need a name. I'm not going to call you 'little one' or 'hey you' all your life. If you're going to live with me, you need a name."
"Fine," the filly grumbled, sitting down grumpily. Ambrosia felt a flicker of irritation.
"Don't you get cranky at me young mare," She scolded, "A name is very important. A name makes the pony you know! If I didn't have my name, nopony would have a clue who I was."
"I thought the cutie mark made the pony," the little filly shot back rebelliously. Ambrosia could almost feel the steam coming out of her ears as she glared at the impudent child.
"The Cutie mark is just an expression of talent!" Ambrosia growled, "Something you haven't earned yet! Until then, I expect you, from now on, to answer to a name!"
"Fine!" the filly yelled back, "You can call me Princess Bubbles and I'll only come out of my room if you make me a feast fit for a princess!"
Ambrosia snorted and pointed at the stairs angrily.
"Go to your room!" She yelled, "And don't come out again until I say so!"
"And what if I don't want to?" the filly demanded just as piercingly.
"Then you can go to bed without supper!" Ambrosia answered instantly. The pair glared at each other, neither willing to budge on their position. The bright eyes of the filly, and the forest green of Ambrosia's facing off, almost sparking in their intensity.
Then, after a moment, Ambrosia's thunderous face cracked, and the filly giggled. Fairly soon, the pair were on the floor, laughing at each other till they physically couldn't laugh anymore. Coming down from their unexpected yet amusing high, Ambrosia swept the little girl into her hooves.
"I'll call you Bubbles," Ambrosia giggled, tickling the pegasus' nose, "And I'll be sure to set forth the biggest feast I can muster. How's that princess?"
Bubbles giggled, squealing a little as Ambrosia briefly ticked her stomach, and buried her head in Ambrosia's white chest fur.
"Sounds good mummy," She answered happily, "Promise you won't leave?"
Ambrosia paused, rolling onto her stomach and looking around at the old building before smiling, running a hoof through Bubble's now mussed mane.
"I promise. By the time I'm finished here, I'll have built us both a Utopia~"
Author's Note
And thus it starts. As I go through the story, the characters you, my dear readers, graciously offered to me for use will transition in. Remember, just because you don't see them in the first chapter, or in a later chapter, doesn't mean they won't be in the story. I fully plan, in the author's notes of each chapter, to add the credit each person deserves for their amazing characters.
Thank you all for this opportunity, I'll try not to let you down.
Oh, and I'm still willing to hear some more characters to see if I can fit them in. But only with your permissions. Comments and opinions are appreciated!
Utopia: Welcome to the Golden Star
"Alright then miss... Thread then?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Alright then. Miss Thread. Tell me, in twenty-five words or less, why should I hire you?"
Ambrosia sat, very seriously watching the stunning mare before her. Miss thread, Gilded Thread to be thorough, was visually a very pleasing mare. A unicorn with a beautifully cared for horn and a thin, but not too thin figure. She had long, slender legs that Ambrosia had trouble taking her eyes off of. Apparently, or so Ambrosia would be willing to guess, the lovely lady had pure unicorn blood in her, She had a slender, long tail that swayed across the floor, the beautiful tuft of hair at the end that glittered like pure honey, matching her flowing mane that cascaded down her shoulders and framed her equally stunning face. And of course, equally as stunning, her cutie mark adorning either side of her rump. A fan of deep red rose petals held together by a glittering string of pure gold.
Ambrosia would not deny that she liked this mare.
"I'm visually appealing," Gilded began simply. Even her voice was angelic, "I'm easy to get along with, I get along well with almost everypony, I'm not afraid to do what the client wants."
Ambrosia smiled. Strong character as well.
"I see," She said softly, looking down at the paperwork she'd been given by her potential employee, "It says here that you were a model for a short time in Manehatten. Is that true?"
"Yes. I... I didn't quite make the cut so..."
"That's quite alright. I know how difficult it is for models to make it in the industry. One of my girls from a few years back wanted desperately to be a model, so I gave her a bit of a uh... a nudge... in the right direction."
Thread forced down her jealousy as she nodded slowly.
"I left to try to get in the industry from Canterlot but..."
"It didn't work out. I understand. It's a tough industry. Personally, I think they were crazy not to let you in. You're beautiful hun."
Thread flushed and looked at her hooves.
"Thank you..." She replied softly. This wasn't the sort of reception she'd been expecting. Ambrosia's smile faded however as she looked back down at the file before her.
"However, your criminal record is curious. Pickpocketing? Manipulation with intent to harm, deception? That interests me greatly."
Thread, although composed on the outside, cursed her bad luck. It always came down to that.
"Well," She responded, a cold note in her voice, "I'm legally obliged to tell you about that."
"Oh," Ambrosia purred eagerly, "but's it's what makes you so interesting!"
Gilded Thread stared at Ambrosia.
"Uh... excuse me?" She asked, thinking she must have misheard. Amber stepped out from behind her desk and walked around to Thread.
"Deception..." She whispered huskily, starting to circle around Thread slowly, "How easily can you manipulate other ponies my dear girl? How easy is it for you?"
Thread hesitated visibly. Ambrosia was halfway around her now, and was rubbing very deliberately up against the notably thinner mare. She felt good against Thread's coat.
"I... I suppose it depends on the pony," She stammered, not quite understanding the direction of Ambrosia's questioning, "I-I-I guess it's a b-b-bit of a skill, like anything else."
"And, how badly do you need this job?" Ambrosia purred almost hungrily as she came to a stop in front of Thread. The unicorn mare's tail swished nervously.
"I... really need this job," she managed to admit past the warmth growing in her cheeks and chest.
"And I really need your revenue hun~" She purred, laying a hoof upon the taller mare's chest, "That, and I like you. You're a strong mare, and I like strong mares. But I have a stipulation to my offer."
"W-what is that?" Thread asked, breathing a little heavier as Amber brought her muzzle closer to Thread's.
"I want you," Ambrosia breathed, "To make your more sordid set of skills available for my use if I feel it necessary as well. To protect my girls, I might find myself in need of your particular set of skills. So if I ask you to infiltrate somewhere, or to gather information on somepony..?"
Thread didn't even hesitate. She answered instantly.
"I'll do everything I can to help," She nearly whimpered, reaching forward for Amber's muzzle as Ambrosia kept her distance teasing.
"Good girl..♥" She answered smugly, "Then welcome to the Golden Star Gilded Thread. We're happy to have you."
"Our business hours are fairly straight forward. We open at ten-thirty in the morning, and close at the same time at night."
Gilded Thread followed Ambrosia, keeping up with her swift pace with ease given her long legs, listening intently as Ambrosia explained how things worked around here. Her son was currently being taken care of by a young mare that Ambrosia had called Bubbles and had told Thread she implicitly trusted.
"Clients can pay for an all night service, but it costs significantly more, so we don't get many takers. We're open each day, not counting Sundays. Five of my girls live here, as do I. The upstairs rooms are not reserved at any time, and our girls are free to refuse a customer's advances if they believe they're being too forward or they seem dangerous."
The pair walked down a flight of stairs that led to the foyer and the pair sat in the middle of the foyer. It had improved a lot in the fourteen years that her and Bubbles had lived there. The polished wooden floors shone under their hooves, and the bannisters on the twin flights of stairs leading up to the second floor were made of a darker wood that contrasted well against the brighter floorboards and the red carpet on the steps. There were several couches around the area and a few tables.
"This is the foyer. This is where the girls gather when I want to address them. You'll meet them after I've showed you the layout of the floor. Now, to your left..."
Ambrosia took her newest employee over to the doorway on the left, pushing it open and holding it for her.
"This is our standard area. Most of my girls work out of this room."
The room was sparsely decorated, if not comfortably. Comfortable couches and a small bar over on the far side, complete with a little salad bar with a few snack foods. There were four young, pretty mares seated there, chatting whilst nibbling at the leftovers from the day before.
"Basic amenities. You don't pay to come in this room. Customers pay for the snacks, their drinks, and their choice of girl. The girls work as waitresses of sorts when they're not servicing a client."
Thread frowned.
"When does a customer go from being a customer to a client?" She asked, confused. Ambrosia smiled.
"Happy you picked up on that," She said happily, "A customer becomes a client when they choose the girl they want. Remember, the further they want to go, the more they have to pay in preliminary. And they have a choice to do it in here, or in a room upstairs. The rooms cost more of course. Remember, you take the money in advance. Payment is always done in advance. They pay for the service before they get it, and if you do well they'll tip you. This way please."
The pair of mares left the room and re-entered the foyer, walking now to the right side of the room to a larger, ornate door. There was a large, elaborate looking golden lock on it. Without a care, Ambrosia pushed it open, obviously having not locked it.
"This, is the VIP room."
Thread gasped. This place was easily three times the size of the other room, and it was stunning. Booths with flimsy looking curtains lined the walls, and the bar was set on the right side of the massive room, the only place without booths. In the center rested what could only be described as a salad bar, a massive square shape with dozens of metal dishes and trays, empty now, but most likely resembled more closely a feast or banquet when full. The carpeted floor was soft to the touch and gave nicely, and there was a chandelier above the salad bar. Otherwise, the room was lit around by lamps on tables and small, dim lights in the booths. On the walls were pictures of poster girls and pinups. There was even one of Spitfire up on the wall. At the very back of the room was a raised stage with a single microphone stand upon it. Held within the confines of the stand was a golden, old style microphone.
"VIPs pay a monthly bid to be able to enter here. The girls still cost them money, the drinks still cost them money and the food still costs them money. But, since the monthly fee isn't actually that much, they're only too happy to oblige us. We have a show every night, but sometimes our vocalist isn't well or has a bad day, so we have our backups. Personally, I prefer our singer, but our backup musicians are lovely entertainment as well of course. There are eighteen booths in the room, all along the left wall. The curtain can be pulled across the booths in case a client is interested in spending money right there."
Thread nodded slowly. A curious innovation, and no doubt a popular one, she surmised. Ambrosia looked slyly across at her newest employee.
"This is where you will work."
Thread started in shock and looked at Ambrosia.
"I'm going to start here? In the VIP room? I had thought..."
"Yes, normally I'd start somepony off in the regular room, and if they became popular enough, or worked really well, I'd up them to the VIP room. But you my dear..."
Ambrosia smiled at Thread.
"I know you're going to be a hit. Do you want to know how I know?"
Gilded thought about it for a moment. Having not answer, she nodded, wanting to know.
"Simple. I'm attracted to you. And if I'm attracted to you, they'll be unable to even resist you. And that means I can make them pay premium."
Gilded Thread flushed, embarrassed. Ambrosia gave her a few minutes to let everything settle into her newest consort's mind before speaking again.
"Now, given that it's a Sunday, I think it's time you met the rest of your workmates. Are you ready?"
Thread nodded quickly, her blush starting to fade by now.
"Excellent. Back to the foyer then!"
Within half an hour, Ambrosia had called her staff to call, and now they were seated before the red mare and the newest member of their little family, who was looking at each member passively, memorizing the faces of her new workmates.
"Alright then girls. I know some of you are wondering why I called you away from your homes or from lunch. This is my reason. Today, we welcome a new girl to the family."
There was a delighted murmur throughout the crowd and Ambrosia shot a happy look at Thread, who seemed a little nervous.
"Now, as due to tradition, we will celebrate her entry into our home in regular style, which is why you haven't seen any of the kitchen staff around. Now, before we begin, there's a few things I'd like to say."
A young mare came down the stairs behind the assembled ponies, looking harried and a little overworked. In one hoof was a tray with a crystal decanter filled with a deep red liquid and two beautiful wine glasses. Ambrosia smiled warmly at the rushed mare.
"Ah, perfect timing Bubbles. I almost thought you wouldn't make it."
"I'd never miss an appointment for you Mistress," Bubbles replied breathlessly, seating herself beside Ambrosia on the opposite side of Thread. Ambrosia nodded to her as she began pouring the two older mares a drink, passing one almost reverently to Ambrosia and one carefully to Thread, who took it in an aura of gold, not sure how to proceed with it. Bubbles noted her confusion and shot her a friendly wink which, for some reason, set Thread's mind at ease.
"Thank you dear. Now, as tradition, the new member of our family will share a drink of only the finest wine, for what ages better than a fine wine and family bonds?"
Ambrosia lifted her glass to the crowd of eager looking mares and (the few that there were) stallions. She then turned to Thread and whispered softly, "Only take little sips, drink deep when I do, and you'll be fine."
Thread barely nodded before Ambrosia lifted her glass to her lips, the taller mare before her copying her movement with her magic.
"A taste of wine, for an equally sweet friendship."
The pair sipped their wine and the other ponies said something quietly that Thread didn't catch.
"A sip of alcohol, for long lived bonds."
Again a sip, and again the others murmured something quietly. Thread glanced at them nervously before looking back to Ambrosia.
"A cup of fragrance, that our family stay strong."
Ambrosia tipped the rest of her cup of wine down her throat, and Thread followed suit, already feeling the alcohol work into her system. It was strong, and damn was it good.
"And the heat of our cheeks," Ambrosia said lastly, licking her red stained lips, "That our inner fires burn forever,"
She lunged forward suddenly, grabbing the taller unicorn's cheeks and pulling her forward, her shocked yelp cut off as her lips met her benefactor's, her eyes wide. Ambrosia's lips were a little taste of heaven itself, and she couldn't help herself. Thread had never seen herself as attracted to mares, and had never found herself aroused at the sight of nor scent of a mare. But Ambrosia brought out something primal in her that she had difficulty understanding or quelling. Unable to resist, Thread leaned into the risque activity, even as she felt Ambrosia's tongue tease her bottom lip, and her teeth brush against the same spot as she pulled away, her eyes half closed and her breath heavy.
The pair sat there for a moment, both panting before Ambrosia smiled slowly.
"Welcome to the family, Gilded Thread."
The group of ponies before them let out a delighted shout and surged forward, breaking Thread's reverie as she looked around at the sea of ponies closing in on her. There was a cacaphony of sound and colours, the feeling of woolen garments and silk before Ambrosia's lovely laugh carried over it all.
"Everypony to the VIP room! It's time to celebrate!"
Author's Note
Gilded Thread: A unicorn mare graciously offered by Basalisk120 , who writes his own stories on this site in fact! He's a wonderful guy with great stories. Thank you so much for your lovely unicorn.
Utopia: The Lady of the House
Bubbles woke up slowly. She was on her back, something hard under her. Her rump was sore, her wings were ragged, and there was something heavy on her chest. She mumbled and sniffed. It wasn't so bad, she supposed. Whatever was on her was warm. It was heavy, but warm. There was something under her poking at her spine though, and that wasn't pleasant. She grumbled and wriggled, trying to dislodge it to little avail. However, whatever was on her did move, shifting. Her eyes opened blearily at a foreign noise above her, and it took a moment to recognise what she was looking at.
A wooden beamed ceiling.
She smiled slowly, memories of the night previous filtering back into her mind, and she looked down at the sleeping Captain on her chest. He'd even had the decency to not drool all over her. A kiss to his forehead and a few gentle strokes of his mane left him with a little smile on his muzzle too, and she felt even better than she was before.
And then somepony cleared their throat behind her, and she froze. Slowly, she tilted her head enough to look at the doorway with mounting dread. What she saw wasn't what she expected. It wasn't a guard, or Celestia looking for her Captain. It was a young stallion, probably six or seven years older than herself, dressed sharply in a black suit, white undershirt and red tie, trying desperately not to smile.
"Would you like some help Madam?" he asked, unable to keep the mirth from his voice, "I don't mean to be rude or intrude, but Breakfast is almost ready, and the master is terribly heavy."
She gulped, and wordlessly nodded. He inclined his head professionally, and the horn upon his brow, a detail that'd escaped Bubbles at the time, woke up in orange light, matching his eyes. Gild, without shifting position, was lifted from her, and she managed to roll over quickly and land shakily on all four hooves, wings snapping closed, as the young stallion levitated his master closer to himself.
"If you'll follow me young Miss," He said jovially, "There's a shower and bathroom adjoining the master's bedchambers. I'm sure you'll wish to utilise these amenities before making your way down to the dining room for your morning meal."
Wordlessly, Bubbles followed the pony. He walked in a sure manner, like he'd lived here all his life. But he hadn't been here when she'd arrived, or he'd have answered the door, right?
"I don't live in the estate," He answered her unasked question like he'd heard her think it, "My Master thinks it essential I have my own lodgings that I might learn responsibility. The master is wise like that."
He brought them before a heavyset door, and nosed it open, carrying Gild in after him, followed by Bubbles. Gild's chambers were... surprisingly sparse. In the corner was a shiny set of Golden Armour, Gilds' armour. In the opposite corner was a set of burnished black armour with golden trim, remarkably well cared for. Bubbles filed this away for later questioning of her new coltfriend.
"The bathroom's over there young Madam," the butler pointed out a door on the far side of the room as he settled his master into bed, covering him with the covers tenderly, "I wouldn't dream of hurrying a guest, but your breakfast may get cold if you're not prompt."
With a nod, and the ghost of a smirk on his face, the young stallion left without even so much as an introduction. Bubbles didn't pay it no mind, but did remember to turn to face him head on at all times. She didn't know what state her rump was in right now, but she knew damn well she didn't want the servant to see it. If he was a servant. To distract herself, she rushed into the bathroom, and closed the door carefully only as she remembered Gild was asleep. The shower was accompanied by a bath tub, a toilet and a sink, complete with medicine cabinet above it. Curious, she opened it, and felt her heart hurt at how many bottles of pain killers took up the space in the small cabinet. A small piece of it was reserved for a cup, toothbrush and toothpaste, accompanied by a small feather care kit. Suddenly guilty, she closed the cabinet quickly, and decided to run herself a shower instead. The water blasted out hot, and she turned it down quickly. Hot showers were for after long days on the grind, not after a sexually active night.
She blushed, and made sure the water was cool before stepping into the stream, and almost squeaking at the blast of cold. The water washed away remnants of sweat easily enough, but she needed shampoo and conditioner to really clean herself. A look around saw her looking at a small stand in the corner of the shower with a small selection of shampoos, some with conditioner in them as well. After selecting a combination shampoo-conditioner that apparently was scented with 'ocean spray', She began the arduous task of washing her tail, coat and mane. She worked as fast as she could, scrubbing hard, and when she stepped out, she felt much better.
And then, she considered brushing her teeth, looking at his toothbrush in concern. Apparently, it was potentially dangerous to use someone else's toothbrush, something about germs on them or something...
"Screw it," She muttered, uncapping the toothpaste and squeezing some onto the toothbrush, "I've had his dick in my mouth, doesn't get much more unhygienic..."
After a brisk brushing of her teeth, and feeling quite happy with herself, she pranced out of the bathroom, planting a gentle kiss on Gild's forehead again as she passed, which made him smile sleepily, and left the room, looking around. She needed a hair brush for her mane and tail...
Where she ended up, however, saw the young stallion smile at her.
"Ah, Young Madam," He said primly, "Excellent, your breakfast is ready."
He indicated with his head towards a table made of mahogany. Four plates waited for her, much to her surprise, and she was seated rather quickly. The first plate was filled with toast with a variety of spreads. Some had jam, others peanut butter. There was one that looked like it was spread with chocolate.
"It's a hazlenut spread," The suited pony told her upon her asking of it, "The cook keeps the recipe rather secret I'm afraid."
The next plate was filled with a variety of accompaniment foods. Hash browns, scrambled eggs and baked beans. On the last was a stack of pancakes, which the suited pony admitted was his idea.
"I thought that, should we miss out on all of the above, pancakes were a safe bet Madam," He admitted a little sheepishly, "You need not eat all of it, but I'm afraid our cook didn't know what you liked."
"I'm glad I don't need to eat it all," She admitted, "There's so much of it..."
"I'm sure the master wouldn't mind if you were rounder miss," He replied, a hint of amusement in his voice. She glared at him acidly, and he went blank.
"And, what would your name be?" She asked archly. He nodded.
"Butler," He replied. Her brows knitted in confusion.
"A butler named Butler?" She asked, confused. He nodded seriously.
"Yes madam. No jokes."
"Really?"
"I'm a butler madam, it's a prerequisite to not have a sense of humour."
She didn't bother talking to him anymore after that, she just ate what she could, and drank a bit of orange juice, before excusing herself, and making her way back to Gild's study. Her cloak was on the floor, and she felt a stab of fear for a moment, but after a quick examination, sighed in relief. The little glass bottle she'd left in there was unbroken. It was filled with a strange smelling oily blue ointment of some semblance, and it was a hell of a relief to know it was still there and usable.
Which meant there was no time like the present.
"Butler!" She called, walking out of the study, the ointment under her wing, "Butler!"
The stallion just seemed to appear out of thin air, right beside her. She didn't even notice until he spoke.
"You called young madam?" He asked. She took a moment to breathe. He'd scared the breath right out of her.
"Don't do that," She muttered, "I need your help."
"Technically Madam," He said reproachfully, "The only one who may give me orders is the Master, or his Mistress. As it hasn't been made official yet-"
"Then make it official, and follow me," She snapped irritably, "I have to do something, and I can't do it on my own. Let's go."
Shocked into silence, Butler followed the feisty little blue pegasus through the halls again, following a familiar, if not the same, path they'd taken to get to Gild's room in the first place. She nosed the door open herself this time, and sighed in relief. Gild lay on his stomach on the bed, as they'd left him. Bubbles took a moment to psych herself up, before bustling over to his side, Butler in tow.
"Bedclothes, off," She ordered. Butler's mouth was set in a firm line, but he did as she told him to. He was still matted with old sweat and whatnot, which was to be expected. His bandaged wing was, as usual, tight to his body. She took a deep breath.
"Right. Bandages, off," She ordered. Butler froze at this, and even looked a little fearful.
"Young Madam, I'm not sure that's the best idea," He ventured cautiously, "The Master is very particular about-"
"He'll forgive you, Move it," She interrupted him rudely, cringing inside and promising to herself she'd apologise later. Butler sighed, but did as she asked, his horn lighting up. Slowly, and carefully, he undid, then peeled away the bandages. Even Bubbles winced at the damage to the limb, and the slow spread from his wing joint. The skin was bubbled and blistered, just as before. But this time, Bubbles thought, "This time I can help..."
"I hope so Madam," Butler added, "Because otherwise, I'm so fired."
"Hush. Can you restrain him, and open his wing at the same time?" She took the bottle out from under her wing and began unscrewing the cap. Butler swallowed.
"Of course Madam," He affirmed, "Please Celestia, don't let him be angry with me..."
Again, his horn lit up, brightly this time. The light made Gild grumble, but what came next woke him up in good order. He was restrained magically, and then his wing was slowly and carefully opened. Gild's eyes shot open, and he screamed in pain. Bubbles felt a stab of guilt, and she could see Butler wavering already.
"Keep him steady," She ordered, "No matter what he says!"
"Bubbles!?" Gild growled through the pain, "I swear, if I survive this-"
"Oh hush," She muttered, getting some of the ointment onto her hoof, "And stay still. This might hurt, I don't know."
Her hoof touched his wing joint, and he howled in agony. Bubbles could feel tears coming to her own eyes, but she forced them back. She had to be strong now. Gently, she rubbed the ointment into the wing joint, then began moving upwards. Within Butler's magical grasp, Gild's entire body clenched and tried to writhe in pain. Gild was swearing sulferously, cursing out Butler, Bubbles and anything else he could think of. When he ran out of Equish, he began on other languages. Bubbles felt a little surprised he was so well learned in languages. Griffish was the first he switched to, followed by Saddle Arabian. She began on the underside of his wing. His feathers were coated in the oily ointment, soaking into his skin. He swore again, tears in his eyes, as he complained...
And then it was done. Bubbles pulled back, looking at her handiwork. His wing was covered in the blue stuff, and Gild was whimpering in pain. Butler was close to doing so too, by the looks of it. A cursory check in his side table found a fresh roll of bandages, and she re-bound his wing, as according the the instructions she'd received from the same pony she'd obtained the ointment from.
"I hope this works.." She mumbled under her breath, before looking at Butler and nodding. Instantly, he released Gild, who strangely, didn't move. For a moment, Bubbles panicked, before realising he'd just passed out from the pain, and was sleeping again. She sighed softly.
"Come on," She whispered to Butler, and lead him from the room. The door boomed shut, and she looked at him seriously.
"This door is not to open," She instructed, "Gild needs rest. I want you to stand guard here until I send a two-pony team to relieve you, understand? They'll take over from there, with explicit instructions."
Butler nodded, white faced. Bubbles smiled, and kissed his cheek sweetly.
"You did good in there Butler," She told him with a smile, "Gild will thank you one day, I promise."
"I hope so Madam," He quavered, "I happen to like my job."
Bubbles smirked, and left him there, to guard the door.
The guard were a little uncertain when Bubbles walked into the assembly hall. She took small notice of the whispers among the ranks, the curiosity from the Nox Ponies, or Thestrals as they were more commonly called, and the general disgruntled feel around the room, and took the captain's position behind the podium.
"Mares and Stallions of the Canterlot Guard," She spoke strongly, enough to hide her mounting nerves, "The Esteemed Captain Gild has taken ill today, and it's been decided that for today, he must rest."
A murmur went around the room, and Bubbles cleared her throat. Instantly, it went silent.
"Captain Gild has appointed me his stand in today," She continued, "I know many of you don't know me. More of you don't trust me, because I used to work for Ambrosia, whose trial is very close at hoof," The silence was deafening, but she went on anyway, "But remember. I'm the one who turned her in. I'm the one who betrayed her in the interest of Just action. I've worked closely with Captain Gild for some time now, and I will not take well to insurrection. Whilst he is away, you will treat my word as law. I speak with all the authority of the Canterlot Guard Captain, and you will respect that. Anypony who does not, will find themselves demoted or devoid of a job, do we understand each other?"
Had she sharp enough ears, she'd have heard some of the more junior members swallowing heavily. Other than that, there was nothing.
"Good. The first order of business is this; I need two guards, preferably one of you a unicorn, to stand guard outside the Captain's room. He has many enemies, and some might attempt to take advantage of his condition to take him out. I'm looking for volunteers. If none can be found, I will be instead Volunteering you for you. Anypony willing, step forward."
There was a lull of silence, before a stallion stepped forward. Bubbles recognized him as Arc, a unicorn stallion Celestia seemed to have taken an interest in personally.
"Guard first Class Arc, volunteering for duty Captain," He said loudly. Bubbles almost corrected him, but kept her mouth shut on the subject, reminding herself she was technically the interim captain.
"Thank you, Arc," She said warmly, "And another?"
A pegasus mare stepped forward, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw Arc blanch. She was very, very pretty, even under her armour. Her navy coat was clearly well cared for.
"Guard second Class, Velveteen, reporting for duty Captain!" She said, louder than Arc, and stronger. Bubbles already felt better about her choice, and she smiled gratefully at Velveteen.
"Thank you, Velveteen. The rest of you, business as usual. I expect reports in at regular times. Any late reports or reports not submitted will be faced with penalties. Dismissed. Arc, Velveteen, stay here."
The guards, no longer held in check by duty, left in a bustle of conversation. When they were gone, Bubbles dropped down to the floor, to join Velveteen and Arc.
"At ease, please," She instructed. Arc sighed, and slumped a little. Velveteen merely took of her helmet, placed it before her, and sat down at attention. Bubbles smiled at them both, "Alright. You two are to guard Captain Gild's door today. I'll arrange for overtime, and meals to be brought to you. It's going to be a tough day. Gild isn't well, and may be in a lot of pain. No matter what he asks, or what he does, I don't want you opening the door."
Arc faltered, and swallowed.
"Miss... With all due respect, why would he speak out against us?" He asked tentatively. Bubbles looked to him.
"Because he doesn't want to take the day off... and as his PA, I didn't give him a choice," She stated firmly, "The truth is, I needed a unicorn to hold him at bay if he tries to break down the door. I left Butler in charge until I had him relieved. I have a note for the both of you to take to him instructing him to feed you and give you both refreshments. He's trustworthy, so don't worry."
"Captain," It was Velveteen who spoke this time, and Bubbles had to fight off a wave of jealousy as she got a good look at her. She was gorgeous, and Bubbles felt vastly inferior. She was also wearing the armour of Princess Luna's House guard, "The Captain never takes a day off. What's really going on?"
Bubbles frowned, but sighed.
"I suppose you deserve an explanation," She admitted, "But it does not leave this room. I'll have your oath on this!"
Velveteen inclined her head, Arc made a motion over his heart to cross it. She nodded.
"Gild's been sick for a while," She said bluntly, "His wing is killing him. Something about a poison from the border. I'm trying a new ointment, and the pony I got it from told me the first day would be the hardest, and he should not try to work whilst the ointment does its job. So, I applied the medicine, and now I'm here to take his place for the day. Any more questions?"
Neither spoke, but neither looked happy with the answer either. Bubbles nodded again.
"Good. Dismissed Guardsponies. Make me proud."
