Crime Pays Those Who Embrace it
A figure walked along the crowded streets of Manehattan, hardly discernible from the ponies who walked alongside him. He continued to walk, passing by many other ponies, whether they were walking, like him or begging or selling. He did not glance, did not waver from the path set in his mind. He had to get there, but he had time. Time he spent wandering around the city he called his home, and his pay check.
The others must be anxious to get under way, it has been quite awhile since we last worked our magic, He smiled at these thoughts, his good friends and allies had been busy resting after their last job, but now was not the time for relaxation, now was the time for something he dearly missed, as did his comrades.
He, still set on the path to nowhere he knew so well, mulled over the words his friend wrote in the note he had gotten that morning. He had written the words. Not just everyday words, the words that the team had heard back all those years when it began, the words that spoke more than any speech the Princess had ever given. The words that signaled the ultimate job.
His smile never faltered once as he walked, memories of the words, memories of his work with his friends were more than enough to fuel a smile to last into death itself. His smile though warm at first glanced carried a chilling essence, as though that smile had seen something beyond the gates of Tartarus itself. But, nopony so much as glanced at the figure, none of them saw the fires of untold emotions flicker in that pony's eyes. To them, it was just a normal day, wake up, go to work, laugh with friends, sleep. To him it was the day he would have the most fun of his life.
A single pony sat at a bar drinking all the booze he could want. He wasn't drinking because he was sad or alone, he was drinking to celebrate the note he had gotten from an old friend. The note told a tale of a thousand souls, at least to him it did. And that tale would mark the greatest moment of his life. A defining moment.
He chugged another cup and smiled, nothing could make him smile more, the day had come and his friends will be together again to have another round of fun. He glanced around at the tables near the back, a couple cute mares were laughing at some joke one of them told. To those mares it was just a normal day, to sit and laugh with friends, he would be laughing soon, as would his friends, laugh a laugh never laughed before in all of equestria. A laugh that had been long coming, because this time, the punchline would be killer.
A mare walked among the mechanical contraptions that had become the best form of transportation in the last ten years. Some of them were broken down and worthless, others seemed to be worth millions and they all belonged to her. Well, her and her friends. She looked fondly at some of the broken ones, smiling at the memories that seemed to radiate from the wrecks. Some seemed to have been crushed, others burnt, one even looks like it was almost eaten by a dragon. Fond memories.
She looked to the note that was stuck to one of the fancier vehicles, a note from a dear friend.
A bell chimed as a pony walked into the building at the front of the lot . A customer, she thought, turning away from the note, Here to buy a ride. She walked away from the wrecks and into the store to be greeted by an earth pony with a bow in her hair. To this mare it was a normal day, to her it was a day to think about tomorrow. To the the mare with fond memories of fires and wrecks, it was a day to make more.
A pony sat on a chair in a lonesome warehouse, a sword sending sparks from the circular stone it ground against. He pulled it back and looked it over, looking for any imperfections that would dare deface his blade. Finding none, he placed it on a rack that held other blades and arrows. All of them have to be in tippy top shape for the show, the dark stallion thought to himself, picking up another blade and placing it against the grindstone.
He laughed at nothing in particular and continued grinding the sword. He wondered what the day would bring, how his friends have been, what they've been up to. He wondered what kind of day it will be. He decided it will be a perfect day. Nothing but perfection for him and his friends. He glanced at the note he had found on the table that held a pile of unsharpened blades, arrows and bolts, a smile working its way onto his face. Nothing but perfection for a perfect day.
Ten Hours Prior
I sat in a lush leather chair, though frowned upon in Equestria none would dare question me. Manehattan was in my pocket, mine and my friends. I gazed out the window on the top floor of one of Manehattan's biggest towers. The stars twinkled as I stared, as if to dare me to wish upon them, I need not do that. I tried that once, forcing the world to grant your wishes is a much better method. I gently pat at my mustache and picked up a pen with my magic, placing its tip onto the parchment in front of me.
It was time to bring the gang back together for the biggest hoorah any of them could possibly hope for. More than any of them could wish a star for. I write neatly and gently, telling each of them what they needed to do. To do what they specialized in. And I'll do what I specialize in. Tomorrow will be a perfect day. A fun day.
I finish each letter, writing the words the resonate with us all, the words that made us who we were. I smile at my penmanship, "Starfeather!" I yell.
An orange Pegasus with a yellow mane entered my office. "Yes, sir? How may I be of assistance?"
I motioned to the five letters on my desk, "Take these to the respective address, please."
He did not question my orders, he was good boy, "At once, sir." He picked all of them up and trotted out of my office, politely closing the door on his way out.
I smiled once more, gazing out upon my city. The next day, to anypony else, would be a normal day, to me and my friends the next day would be quite a bit more. After all, the game only begins when somepony dies.