Hard Court Press

The Dark Side

The room was coal black in color in its center the ebony desk was a massive bureau with a dull shine of authority neatly

arranged with the tools of government and the force of tasks assigned to the leaders in power,

behind it was the seal of the Lunar Night Guard shrouded in the deep shadows the torches giving just enough light to navigate.

She sat behind the bureau the wire rimmed glasses in contrast to her elegant looks her mane flowing like a star filled night.

Papers scrolls and warrants scanned for errors each one laid out one by one stacked filed and signed for its execution

she sipped her drink and let out a breath sipped once more, setting the cup down she continued her duties .

In the shadows a mare lurked stepping silently along the walls stalking quietly her eyes looking at her target step by step she moved

the papers shuffled and collated the stalker stalked the more papers were shuffled the more the stalker stepped.

Luna picked up her cup blowing to cool the contents she spoke "I see you enjoy your services all too well".

"Not as well as your service to your princess your highness".

_________________OOO________________

Rarity was sobbing laying on her own sheets and comforters as her stay in the isolation ward was longer than

anypony had expected she dabbed her cheeks with a tissue her eye shadow running like mud in the rain.

"Awe come on it can't be all that bad" Spike handed her a new Kleenex "The Boutique is still going strong besides with Fluttershy

and Cocos help we're making the deadlines, even Twi is lending a hoof as long as Sweetie stays out of the kitchen I can't see any problems".

"Oh Spike it's not the Boutique".

"It's not?"

"Precious scales how could you ever understand the ways of the world and romance?"

"Try me you know the stuff I have to put up with on a daily basis in a town full of crazy mares ,specially with our own Princess of I'm too

busy studying for a coltfriend". Spike took a breath "Sparkle" He used his claws to air quote Sparkle.

"Rarity who wooed and won the heart of the most beautiful mare in Equestria who's talented smart and a hero in her own right?"

He balled his claws up and pointed his thumbs at his scaley puffed out chest giving an AJ style raised eyebrow.

"and who's carrying your foal". Rarity sniffed giving her dragon a half lidded ducky look "But what do males know about romance?"

"Like I said try me".

"You know about Prince Beefcakes affair with Lady Cleavage and how they were meeting in secret right under the muzzles of

Queen Crumpet and King Salmon who were dividing the kingdom because the Prince was betrothed to the wicked and mighty

Queen Hermaphroditey who only wanted use Prince Beefcake to take over the Palace and leave the Lady Cleavage hanging

taking her fortune and majority shares in the copper industry".

Spike just stifled a giggle She can't be serious ? Beefcake Lady Cleavage who really reads this stuff?

"Prince Beefcake should just set Crumpet down and convince her to support Lady Cleavage and dump the evil queen!"

Rarity ears were assaulted by the dragons unrestrained guffaws tears rolling out of his clinched eyelids as he added his two bits.

"And King Salmon was seventeen bits a package at the Never Eleven!" he went laughing right over the edge of the sheets.

Spike resurfaced holding his head still giggling gazing at her Rarity just returned a double stink eye and added a raspberry for

good measure. "Silly rascal what do you know?"

Spike crawled back to her on all fours getting muzzle to snout "Enough to know not to spoil the ending for you".

"Really Spikey is that a challenge?"

" I'm set are you ready?"

"Page one hundred seventy five middle of the page".'Try that Mr. Thee Dragon!'

Spike leaned in and whispered the romantic magical passages as they where written in her ear word for word.

Raritys eyes shot wide open and a deep blush covered her face pulling the covers up she let out a fan girl like squeal kicking her hooves.

"You forgot I did work in a library and all the free time I had when I was younger".

"How could you read it just came out this month?"

"I know the writer".

"No".

"You know her too".

"No who?"

"I ain't telling".

With the last words Spike gave Rarity a quick peck on the lips and bolted out of the room but not before she hit him with her

quickly thrown pillow.

I'll get you my precious scales it wont be tonight maybe tomorrow You will never see it till it's too late.' With a blue glow she returned

the pillow to its place and continued reading with a fresh box of Kleenexes by her side.

_________________OOO_______________

She exited the castle the name and address for the next assignment locked in her mind like all the rest they had never

been written down no paper trails no witnesses after all she had a license to kill not to get caught and drag the whole tangled web of the

monarchy and Nobilitys continuing war of conquest and power out of the shadows into the light of day.

'Princes Beefcake? Princess Cleavage? Could Fluttershy be so bold?'

She trotted to the village square stalls of food and sundries filled her eyes a nice bright day a complete contrast to

the assignments task at hoof, foals playing couples strolling along the warm cobble stone paths, life as they knew it.

She saw peace love family, a life she longed for. But today this hour this minute, right now it was an assignment cold dark deadly

a needful thing that had to be. It had to be quiet - it had to be sure - it had to draw no attention from the lower authorities.

'Rainbow Dash? She is a bold one but she's not quite the writer, reader yes, writer not so much'.

She continued on her way stopping briefly at a newspaper stand rummaging the stack of tabloid fish wrappings she saw

the Royal Scandal brewing, the new Princess her assistant and the dragons mistress a smile pierced through the printed page.

"The white unicorn mare" came from her lips she could see why her assignment was necessary, the name the location the need.

she rolled the paper up paid the bits and continued. This assignment needed to be timed to the second and had to have the trimmings of

a simple household accident.

'Pinkie could she be the scribe to Princess Cleavage? Cupcakes maybe. . .or an inspiration to. . .I digress so'.

Diner was simple a hay burger, fries and a water same routine for this agent, Same old stuff , Time to rest before the

coming storm... ironic how nice the weather is - calm cool not a cloud in the sky, No doubt Luna will be watching her charges tonight

peaceful dreams for all but the one who will dream for the last time. Sometimes I hate this business but if I quit who knows what

heartless horse would take my place at least Luna sheds a tear for the lost ones, They all had the warning some just won't take

a hint to straighten out and fly right. They all had their dreams of woe, That last warning before they call me.

'Twilight? She's so . . . so bookish and innocent, I remember her blush after she found Spikeys little magazine stash!'

'Surely he hasn't a need for those anymore?'

________________OOO________________

"Howdy Rarity! It's been a while, How ya doing gal ?"

Rarity laid her novel down dabbed her eyes "Why Apple Jack what a pleasant surprise".

"Brought you some treats and some other. . . Lamb sakes Rarity you look like you raided the melon patch, You're huge!"

"You most of all know how things grow after all you do have a farm to manage".

"Talking about growin Twilight and Zacora had me bring this for you and your little one, It's a special brew for the ...the ".

Apple Jack just looked lost "Ah Rarity that do they call the little one? No offense here".

"No offense taken dear, Twilight calls her a dracony and Spike likes pongon I just don't know what is more fashionable a pony with shiny talismanic scales or a sleek dragon with luxurious fur".

"Besides the getting down and sweaty part I can't see how you two got so lucky".

"Twilight thinks it's because of her that he's part unicorn, being he was hatched with her out of control magic, His scales do match her

furs complexion in the most delectable way, I do need to get Twilight out of that castle of hers and to the spa more often".

The two mares gabbed through the evening catching up with lost time weaving tales and memories till

the end of visitors time drew near "Apple Jack you wouldn't know the writer of The Adventures of Prince Beefcake would you?"

"Who would want to read let alone pay for that pig manure?' A J spouted "It's bad enough Big Mac's hooked on that rubbish".

"It's an acquired taste my dear" Rarity rolled her eyes "Spikey said he knows the author and it just so annoying that he would

keep such a tidbit from his little Rarity, Me of all ponies".

"Well you know what Rares? Sometimes all the guy folks here if you pardon my phrench are just a bunch of PLOT-HOLES!"

"Spikey's a plot hole!" Rarity giggle holding her hooves over her muzzle as Apple Jack just laughed out loud.

_____________OOO____________

A moonless night enveloped the land with Canterlot settling into the late evening where Nobels and ponies called it

quits for the day, after the drinks had gone dry and cigars snuffed out exhausted by workers and those who caused the moving

and shaking of business one set of hooves started off.

Rarity faded off to sleep waiting for her precious scales wondering if Beefcake would prevail in her unfinished novel the halls and rooms in the royal ward quietly dim.

She maneuvered in the shadows without the mar of malice the warrant soon to be carried out, Through the door she crept silently

hooves sliding coldly along in the dark.

A pair of eyes watched Rarity sleeping with her eye shades on. A light snore escaped her mouth showing the dragon fangs her excess drool seeping out her petit claws twitching clutching a damp tissue.

In the dark she waited for the time where no pony would interrupt the final blow.

Spike nuzzled his lady love and she whispered "OK who's that author?"

A lone pony wandered into his darkened room an empty whisky glass at the ready a lamp flickers to life.

"How did you get in here?"

"I took a crash course in tripping burglar alarms".

"My butler might interfere with your plans".

"You dismissed him a half hour ago so we shan't be interrupted".

"I thought you were still in Zebraca after the Crumpet affair".

"After that ordeal it was a matter of pulling a few strings but I won't bore you with the details I'll be putting them into my memoirs".

"If it's the money I can pay you whatever you want". He reached for a hidden safe behind a wall portrait.

"Go ahead as I tripped all of the alarms including the one in the frame".

A briefcase stuffed with bits is laid out for the assassin Big 'O' sweats as he nurses the empty whiskey glass.

"The money is just one thing it's more about all those good ponies , Those good dead ponies and their families you left hanging.

I was going into the philosophical implications of a mercenary and his or her employer and the whole ideal of doing good for the

world as a whole , But to look back at all those you betrayed and to see you trying to buy your own life after all those you

wasted , Well I find that quite revolting".

"Well you're here so you must be a resourceful earth pony mare" He fired up his horn to attack only to find a fizzled sputter.

"You're resourceful yourself Mr. 'O' so I guess I'll finish here"

"Yes I suppose you should".

"Yes".

"WAIT!"

The weapon hit hard quiet and with little mess the Big 'O' was done. The morning sun returned to the sky greeting all

but a few that were held in the palace dungeons. Luna came to comfort Raritys would be kidnappers and offer them

the afforded rights under Equestria law.

"It seems that your defense barrister has withdrawn his support" Luna continued "You shall be assigned a public defender

on your next appearance before the night court fair thee well my little misguided ponies".

She tossed a few newspapers and tabloids for the prisoners to pass the time the headlines sent a shiver through their spines.

The newspapers all announced the passing of Overdraft the leading business organizer in Canterlot.

The details were well written in the script of the day about a powerful stallion who shaped the history of Zebraca and the vast

fortunes in copper before settling in Canterlots high society the rest of the customary drivel was only fit for the one off

badly written romance novel or a F.U.B.A.R. fan fiction piece.

His printed obituary on the other hoof had a tale of his freak accident involving an automatic spit at a late night barbecue

and how he was such a family stallion with three mistresses and such a great asset to the causes of nobility .

Spike dozed off cuddling his lady his answer to her sleepy quiz was given "The author Twilight's ghost writing
for is Bonbon something about her memoirs".

Raritys sleepy response was "Oh Spikey you've got to be kidding me our cute quiet little Bonbon?"

An orderly poked his head in the room "Mr. Spike what are you doing here so early this morning?"

"Yeah yeah I know it's before visiting hours cut me some slack here".

In the dungeon faint weeping filtered out of the cells and into the cold empty halls.

For some ponies Lunas tears will not be shed.