Commercial District, Inner City, Coltenhagen
2 Years Before the Shadowbolt/Wonderbolt War

Coltenhagen: For being the crime capital of the world, it certainly found ways to subvert expectations. The street was relatively clean, but considering this was the “upper class” district, it made sense. Crime was still rampant, but it lurked behind meeting room doors and offices. The only things that separated this from any Equestrian city were the vendors of illegal narcotics and weapons, the shady mercenaries carrying all sorts of weapons, and the Companions.

Young and beautiful mares of all kinds smiled and flirted with passing strangers, promising nights of bliss and passion. Skilled in various therapeutic and tantric arts, the Companions were the most elite purveyors of the world’s oldest profession. Rat could feel their admiring gaze on him and his team as they walked past. Rumors were that the Companions tended to prefer the company of hired blades and all varieties of mercenaries, which didn’t seem too far from the truth.

*******

“Dad!” gasped Tradewind, mortified.

“Oh for pity’s sake! They aren’t newborns, dammit!” grumbled Cloak. “Besides, I wasn’t going to go into any detail on the matter!”

*******

Rat shook his head in an attempt to clear the enchanting gazes from the back of his neck. As he did so, a well-dressed stallion could be seen in an open-air cafe, speaking quickly with a dirty blonde Companion, sharing a friendly embrace before he moved toward the Pack. The black suit covered most of the stallion’s light blue coat, contrasting with it brilliantly. Cloak moved to embrace the stallion that was clearly their contact.

“Hey ya Quack! About time we found you!” snarked Cloak as he approached the stallion. “Get stuck in a Companion or three?”

“It’s been a long time, Cloak,” smiled the stallion as he embraced Cloak in greeting. “Glad to see you well, friend.”

“It’s been no picnic, these past few years, Bane…” sighed Cloak, a little weariness slipping into his tone. “Thankfully, Boss has been looking out for us in the ‘Pack.”

“And this must be the infamous leader of your merry little band,” observed Bane as he glanced at Rat. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, friend. Hoxton and Cloak have spoken quite well of you.”

“All exaggeration and prevarication, I’m sure,” smirked Rat. “Still, our business here is urgent, and we can ill-afford delays. I’m sure you read the briefing.”

“Yes, and it’s a disturbing supposition, to be sure,” grimaced Bane. “I had my suspicions on the matter before, but there was never anything besides suspicions until now. Hekate has been shockingly tidy in regards to their interference. We’ll need to gather the information we need ourselves.”

“Come on, chucklenuts,” grumbled Hawk. “Surely there’s an easier way than that.”

“This might be the crime capital of the world, but even here there are rules,” protested Bane. “The Olympia keeps the city in line, but stepping on tails is strongly discouraged.”

“Define ‘strongly discouraged’,” pressed Rat.

“At the tip of a blade, crossbow bolt, spear, and all manner of pointy objects,” chuckled Bane.

“So we don’t have any idea what HTB is up to, then?” asked Rat. “Or even what might be motivating them?”

“General motivation is quite simply power and prestige,” scoffed Bane. “As to their more specific goals, that’s the question of the day. Hekate has become more reclusive as of late, seeming to pull away from a lot of major players here in Coltenhagen, including the Olympia…”

“Speaking of the venerated lady herself…” chuckled Cloak as the pack moved through the mirrored glass doors of the Olympia.

The Olympia continued Coltenhagen’s theme of innocent appearances, seeming to be yet another luxurious hotel like the Sunbeam in Canterlot or the Sky Needle in Seaddle. Marble and dark granite mingled in stark contrast to each other in the open entry hall as the stonework screamed of opulence. It was, in fact, an upscale retreat for wealthy patrons, but said patrons were thieves, assassins, mercenaries, counterfeiters and forgers. An old stallion with a greying mane and sharp suit was chatting with a Zebra at the front desk before he noticed the group approach.

“Charon, I see that you have brought guests,” the older stallion smirked. “Welcome to The Olympia, mares and gentlestallions. You may call me Zeus, and I am the proprietor of this establishment.”

“Rat,” greeted the young stallion coolly. “We’ll be requiring two suites for the next few days.”

“Of course, of course,” nodded Zeus before motioning with a hoof. “Athena will show you to your rooms right away.”

A pure white pegasus mare with grey accents around her hooves and face moved forward, her brown-eyed gaze betraying no emotion. Rat momentarily felt a twinge of deja vu as he looked at this mare, trying to place where he’d seen her before. Her midnight blue mane flowed behind her as she turned to gold-plated elevator doors.

“Follow me,” nodded Athena as she led the group to the elevators.

Thankfully, the luxuriantly larger-than-life feel of the Olympia applied just as much to the elevators as well, allowing the Pack to go up in a single elevator ride. The mare moved swiftly upon exiting to the seventeenth floor and led the group to room 1704.

“You are invited to join the Management for dinner this evening at six sharp at the Rooftop Lounge,” advised Athena. “If you need anything else, please ring for a member of the staff.”

Cloak dived for the enormous bed in one of the adjoining rooms and began jumping on it like a foal.

“We’ll ask Zeus this evening his take on the matter, but I doubt that will get anywhere,” planned Rat as he began to unpack. “Arc and Dagger, I want you to stick around the Olympia and keep your eyes open for anything suspicious. The rest of us will split into teams, hitting up bars, taverns, and other local businesses for anything we can find. A move like what happened last night is going to leave sizable ripples, and we should be able to track down the evidence fairly well.”

“What’re we gonna be lookin’ for, chief?” asked Clover, aggressively fiddling with a breaching charge as Hawk eyed her nervously.

“Anything that ties HTB to big moves in the Underworld, and whoever was responsible for such moves on HTB’s side,” explained Rat. “We’ll then put the screws to them and dig up who their contact was for the Cirrus.”

“Well, I’ve got a great source of intel that we can use, but we’ll have to see them tomorrow evening,” mused Bane. “I’ll lead you there and make the necessary introductions.”

“You mean the Companions?” clarified Phantasm.

“No offense, but what would a bunch of floozies in an overblown whorehouse know about HTB?” scoffed Clover.

“The Companions are known to serve soldiers and mercenaries in particular, so HTB members of all ranks would certainly take advantage of their services,” argued Bane. “And while they may use their bodies for the pleasure of others, they are not the vapid, bubble-headed trollops you find in red-light districts.”

“Mare in the Moon, Bane, take it easy!” flinched Clover. “I’m sure they’re perfectly nice mares, but it’s hard to remember shite when you’re getting your pipes swabbed, even if the swabber is shite at it!”

“Cut the chatter,” interjected Rat. “Bane, we’ll definitely follow up on that lead, but right now, we’ve got to keep up appearances…”

Rooftop Lounge “Mytikas”, Olympia, Coltenhagen
2 Years Before the Shadowbolt/Wonderbolt War

“I think we’re either underdressed or overdressed, and I am not sure which…” whispered Cloak.

The Rooftop Lounge was certainly in line with the rest of the Olympia, with masterful stonework taking influence from the Ancient Istallian coastal regions. In many ways, it was as if the architects had recreated the legendary home of the mythical gods for which their hosts were named after. However, instead of togas and robes of linen, most guests were wearing formalwear of the modern era, barring one group.

“You mean as far as the formalwear or the armor in the formalwear?” smirked Dagger.

“Yes,” deadpanned Cloak, staring straight at a group of rough-looking Griffin sailors. “Tweet tweet, muthafuckas.”

“What, you mean Jacopo?” asked Bane, naming the leader of the Griffin group. “He may be the Pirate King of the West, but he’s pretty harmless, all things considered.”

“Yeah, well, you weren’t at Il Corvo with a bunch of those birdy fucks screeching for your nuts for earrings, were ya?” hissed Hawk under his breath.

“Griffins don’t have ears…” replied Bane.

“EXACTLY!” exclaimed Cloak. “So why did they need my nuts for earrings?!”

“Hey pal? Can ya stop screamin’ about ya nuts for a second?” yelled a short Istallian pegasus with a curly brown mane. “I’m tryin’ to enjoy the braciole here, and the image of another stallion’s junk danglin’ from somebody’s earlobes is more than a little unappetizin’...”

“Le mie scuse, Don…” apologised Bane for Cloak. “My friend has some rather traumatic memories from a job he ran a few years back.”

“No fuckin’ shit?” the Don shot back. “I’ll let it slide, but that muddafuck spoils the cannoli for me, he’ll wish the birdies took his junk…”

“Duly noted, signore,” nodded Rat respectfully as Cloak made a noise somewhere between a squeal and a gasp.

“Yes, well, passing over your friend’s unmentionables, I must admit that your group does… intrigue me…” interjected a dark blue unicorn stallion in a pristinely white uniform.

As Rat looked up, he met the polite blue stallion’s calculating blood-red gaze evenly. A dark green stallion with a blonde crew cut stood at the unicorn’s right, and of the two of them, Rat found the earth pony more unnerving.

“I apologize, but I’m afraid you have us at a disadvantage, sir…?”

“Artistic Strategy, Chief Science Officer of Janus Security Solutions,” bowed the unicorn. “To my left is Major-General Firebrand of the Hekate Torch Bearers.”

“You may call me… Descent…” replied Rat, ignoring the squeaking sound of Cloak attempting to hide a laugh as a sneeze. “Independent contractor, same with the rest of my team.”

“Independent, eh?” smirked Firebrand. “Don’t suppose I’d know any of your work?”

“It’s possible, I suppose,” evaded Rat. “Really, we’re just a group of pegasi trying to make our way in the world.”

“Ever made your way as far as Sireberia?” asked Firebrand with a veneer of joviality.

“Once or twice.”

“Recently?” pressed Firebrand.

“... Possibly…”

“... Still colder than a Windego’s teat, that’s for certain,” laughed Firebrand. “Strats, didn’t Janus use to have a couple facilities up there?”

“We did, but they were lost several years ago,” noted Strategy. “A rogue element brought them low with assistance from an Equestrian Navy vessel.”

“No foolin’?” chuckled Firebrand. “Ever catch up with them again?”

“Not the direct team, but we tracked the progress of the Equestrian Navy vessel as it made its way home,” replied Strategy. “Considering that a member of the assault team matched the physical profile of a Jaeger Project subject and none of the crew of the HMS Voyager match such a description, we’ve attributed the attack itself to a separate team of specialists.”

“Well, I’ll be damned…” chuckled Firebrand. “I don’t suppose you’d know anything about that, eh Descent?”

“I’d have to be a ballsy idiot to speak with the two of you if I did,” quipped Rat lightly.

The General stared at Rat for a long moment before breaking out into jovial laughter. “That you would, boy, that you would!” laughed Firebrand. “Ah… Well, I best grab a quick refill before this shindig picks up. Why don’t ya bring your crew around the Hekate Recruitment Office sometime? I’m sure we’ll make an offer you can’t refuse…”

And with that, the older stallion turned away to speak with the leaders of the Vietmane Triads. Rat fought back his sigh of relief, clearing his throat. The odd blue stallion took the opportunity to speak his mind.

“A most interesting conversation, Mr. Descent…” mused Strategy. “Quite enlightening.”

“Forgive me, Mr. Strategy,” apologized Rat. “It was not my intention to-”

“On the contrary, I must thank you, sir,” bowed Strategy. “In five minutes of conversation with you, I have gleaned more from that pompous windbag than in hours of mindless prattle. But I wonder if I might have a closer look at the blade you wear around your neck.”

Rat blinked for a moment, stunned by the request as the stallion took his most precious possession into his hooves and examined the blade carefully, his blood-red gaze staring unnervingly into the reflection of the blade.

“This is high carbon steel, grade 22A; the same grade as Royal Guard armor from the Griffon-Drake War,” stated Strategy, before lowering his voice to a whisper. “Firebrand is not after just the organization that you represent, a goal I would normally not begrudge, but I fear his ambition reaches into matters that must not be interfered with, so for the moment you may consider me an ally. The General is a quite passionate individual. Such passions would need to be quenched regularly. With one Companion in particular, an angel, if you will, it’s said that he found salvation. Enjoy your evening, Descent…”

“Wait, but how-” asked Rat.

“You will know her when you meet her, Descent,” chuckled Strategy. “She is… unique. I daresay she is the most uniquely talented mare I have ever met.”

And with that, the strange unicorn vanished into the crowd, reappearing in deep conversation with Don Vito.

“Yeesh, I’ve heard that eyes are windows into the soul, but I doubt that a stallion’s soul could be that bloodsoaked, even for JSS…” shuddered Cloak, before taking a large bite out of a cannoli. “You all good, Boss? No Bad Touch from the Blue Meanie?”

“He’s actually helping us quite a bit,” frowned Rat, ignoring the chill down his spine. “HTB is up to something big, and it’s centered with Firebrand. We’ll need more evidence before we can act on it, but if anyone knows who the traitor is, it’ll be Firebrand.”

“Yeah, that’s great, boss, but how exactly are we going to handle this?” asked Hawk. “HTB is a big organization in an even bigger city. Even if Red Eyes Blue Stallion gave you a lead, who’s to say it’s any good to begin with, or has the info we need to tag the traitor?”

“We can always ask Athena, if you want,” interjected Bane.

“Does she do fieldwork? Because I swear I’ve seen her before…” asked Hawk. “I think the Boss might’ve chatted her up one time… or wait, was she in Seaddle? Might have been the same mare, actually...”

“If you’re talking about the mare I passed First Lieutenant Fleetfoot to at the Lone Digger, I wasn’t chatting her up,” argued Rat. “Besides, this mare is older, maybe even old enough to be the other mare’s mother…”

“What, Athena? Being a mother?” scoffed Bane. “The mare is an ice cube with legs. Trust me, Descent has a better chance of spawning…”

“Shut it!” hissed Rat, elbowing Bane in the gut. “I’m running under the alias of Descent tonight!”

“Well, you certainly have a better chance of making spawn…” mused Cloak.

“Stuff it, or you’ll lose your chance excruciatingly slowly…” growled Rat.

“It’s a wonder he hasn’t already…” snickered Hawk, delicately moving outside of Rat’s reach.

“Put another fifty against ‘Rat’s Miss Adventure’, and then all of you pay attention,” smirked Dagger. “Zeus is about to speak.”

“Welcome again, my friends and compatriots,” greeted Zeus from his seat at the table. “We find ourselves at this conference yet again to discuss matters of interest to each of our organizations in this treacherous and volatile world. And yes, it is treacherous and volatile, despite the insistence of a certain Equestrian Princess to the contrary…”

A few dry laughs rose up from the crowd at Celestia’s expense. The Griffon captain rose from his seat, raising an unsteady glass of wine.

“Hear, hear, my friend!” laughed Jacopo. “That cake-flanked nag could do absolutely nothing about the debacle at Il Corvo, no? A toast to the Olympia and their shadowy contractors for stabilizing my home nation!”

“Well, that answers one topic for discussion,” chuckled Zeus. “So the Griffon Kingdom is stabilizing well after the fact?”

“Aye, they are,” squawked a stout griffon with a shiny bald head. “The Falchi are scattered like chicken feed and the Sky Wings are pecking them up!”

“Yes, yes we are!” chuckled a griffon with a wooden eye. “Tell ‘em, Pintel! Tell ‘em how we’s privateers are fillin’ in the cracks, we is-”

“I’M TELLIN’ THE STORY!” bellowed Pintel at his companion, before clearing his throat and resuming his tale. “But aye, we privateers have made a shiny little nest egg for ourselves in the ensuing chaos, as Raghetti just said…”

“A toast to my most charming associates, yes?” grinned Jacopo as he chugged down another glass of wine and opened another bottle.

“In a way, it is a shame, though,” mused Firebrand. “War is good for business, as we all know...”

“But y’know, Peace is good for business too,” countered Don Vito. “Ya can’t sell to a dead schmuck regardless of where he is…”

“It is said that a little instability is sufficient for our needs,” a young kirin replied. “And with the situation growing in the east, we have more than enough instability as it is for all of us.”

“Yes, Xiōngtídǎo, thank you for leading into our next topic,” nodded Zeus. “I’m sure that all of you are aware of the situation in Neighpon. With the kirin’s clever exploitation of the Wyvern Empire’s attempt to source them as sex slaves, the Wyverns are cracking down on the kirin populace harder than ever, which will disrupt illegal and even legal business of all kinds down there. Lord Zhu, have you any comments on the matter?”

“His Imperial Majesty is most unreasonable, I’m afraid,” sighed Zhu. “His greed is outweighed by his vindictive desires. It is even rumoured that one of his sons was nearly castrated by one of the Kirin courtesan assassins, making the matter a personal one. No amount of gold may sway him, and anyone who isn’t making Neighpon suffer is an obstacle.”

“Saigo harbor is a major hub for the arms and narcotics trade,” stated Hera with a frown. “Even with employing a sea route, the losses we’ll incur will completely destabilize the market here in Coltenhagen. We simply don’t have enough ships-”

At this, Jacopo burst into laughter, pounding his clawed fist against the table. The entire table looked at the feathered brigand as his chuckles died down and he poured himself another drink.

“I beg your pardon, Jacopo, but would you mind explaining why our lack of ships amuses you?” asked Hera sweetly, even as her eyes killed the griffon captain twice over.

“Come now, my dear Hera, is it not impolite to not laugh at the jokes of the lady of the house?” chuckled Jacopo, raising a glass to drink before freezing. “Oh… Oh you weren’t joking? You actually believe there are no ships that can be used?”

“That is the general implication of her statement, yes…” fumed Athena.

“My dear ladies of the Olympia!” proclaimed Jacopo as he made to stand. “I am left appalled and speechless- Yes speechless I say! - that you truly believe that I, Jacopo of Ohnaka, would not lend aid to my good friends of the Olympia!”

“How do you mean, Captain Jacopo?” asked Zeus as he attempted to hide his amusement at the bemused looks that Hera and Athena were giving the griffon.

“You see, my friends, my good fortune is your good fortune!” boasted the griffon as he stood up on his chair, placing a foot upon the table as he stood to full height. “In our bountiful success, my fleet has found itself with more sailors and ships that we know what to do with! I, Jacopo, pledge to offer my ships in the service of the Olympia for a thirty percent-”

“Fifteen, Jacopo,” chuckled Zeus. “Don’t try Hera’s patience…”

“Fifteen percent shipping fee,” continued Jacopo with only the briefest of pauses to acknowledge the change, “and we shall all prosper for the better, yes? Of course, so many ships will need protection, and while my crew are a tenacious group, Wyvern Raiders are… rather unforgiving adversaries… Perhaps some help from Hekate or Janus-”

“Forgive me, Mister Zeus, but I’m afraid that Hekate does not work with washed-up relics of a bygone era…” sneered Firebrand at Jacopo.

“Come now, let’s leave your wife out of this,” replied Jacopo with a charming smile. “There’s no need for such impropriety among rogues and brigands, yes?”

“Is it wrong for me to say I’m liking the beaky bastards a lot more now?” muttered Hawk.

“I find myself agreeing with the esteemed Captain on the matter,” proclaimed Lord Zhu. “Such a fleet would be able to make up for the loss of the land route through Wyvern territory, and we can finally stop paying the disgusting little newt to further recoup any losses.”

“And Janus Security would be honored to provide protection from the impending Wyvern threat,” bowed Artistic Strategy.

“We shall hammer out the details over the next few days, then,” concluded Zeus. “In the meantime, let us enjoy the meal.”

Chez Madrassa, Middle City, Coltenhagen
2 Years Before the Shadowbolt/Wonderbolt War

Chez Madrassa; home of the Companions. On its face, it was a shining example of Prench Neoclassical architecture, aside from the eight plate glass windows behind which young mares performed seductive dances and acts of debauchery for the crowds on the streets. Upon conclusion of such acts, curtains of crimson velvet would close as the stage and mare were cleaned up, ready to entertain the crowd outside or service the next stallion or two-

*******

“DAD!” shouted Tradewind.

“DAMMIT, I DIDN’T GO INTO DETAIL!” shouted Cloak. “PUT THE ROLLING PIN DOWN!”

*******

Rat attempted to ignore the acts in the windows as he made his way up the staircase with Bane. He knew that the sounds would only get worse as he went in, the gasps and sighs of a mare’s pleasure like a siren’s song to him, and while he couldn’t deny that he was tempted, they had a job to do here. He needed to keep a clear head.

The interior shared the Neoclassical design of the exterior but a house of noble propriety, this was not. Lithe mares of all shapes and sizes danced on tables, on chairs next to their customers, around poles set on smaller stages around the room, and on the runway-esque stage at the back. The air was filled with the scent of smokeweed, alcohol, and mares in heat. In many ways, Rat was reminded of the gaudy nightclub in Seaddle all those years before. At least this venue was honest with its intentions.

The Companion with the dirty blonde mane that Bane was speaking with upon their arrival to the city approached the two of them. She was a tan Earth pony with grey eyes that seemed to have hints of blue and green in them, but that could have been a trick of the light. Her figure was most certainly not a trick, as her crimson corset gave way to the most perfect set of hips Rat had ever seen. The mare ran up to Bane and caught him in a warm hug, as though greeting an old friend rather than a lover.

“So who’s your friend, Charon?” asked the Companion, her gaze friendly, but not flirty.

“Charger, ma’am,” bowed Rat respectfully.

“So polite,” laughed the mare. “You may call me Terra. Charon’s an old friend of mine.”

“Terra is a dancer here, and a damn good one,” explained Bane as the group set up at a table. “That being said, she doesn’t do the horizontal tango, if you catch my meaning.”

“I see,” replied Rat blankly, trying to keep from staring at a particularly lithe unicorn as she moved up and down one of the nearby poles.

“My husband and I don’t share, you see,” explained Terra before grinning and elbowing Rat in the side. “It’s okay to look, you know. Ivy takes pride in her polework, and she’d take it as a compliment.”

“Oh, I see…” coughed Rat, taking a drink from one of the water glasses that a waitress had brought to their table.

“...And she does ‘horizontal tango’... if you say ‘please’...” whispered Terra conspiratorially.

“Terra, please don’t tease the stallion,” snickered Bane as Rat turned into a living fountain while the mare cackled. “Poor soul has been without for a very long time, so to tease him like this is rather cruel…”

“Longer than you, Charon?” snorted Terra, but then the mare flinched. “...Sorry, I didn’t mean-”

“We’re looking for any signs of Major General Firebrand of HTB,” interjected Rat between coughs. “We have reason to believe that he’s a regular here.”

Terra frowned, her expression contemplative. “I mean, it’s possible,” mused Terra. “We see a lot of clients from HTB and JSS, but most of them keep a low profile, staying out of recognizable uniforms…”

“We were told that he ‘found salvation’ with an ‘angel’ here,” pressed Rat.

“...That’s the tip he gave you?” deadpanned Bane. “Luna’s Ass, Charger, that’s fuck all useless here…”

“He did also say that she was ‘unique’-” began Rat.

“Not helping your case, buddy…” snorted Bane.

“Charon’s right,” sighed Terra. “We’ve got so many ‘angels’ here that we’d be here all day to try and find the right one.”

Suddenly, the music changed in the room, and Bane seemed to turn rigid as he heard a distinctive piano solo begin. Terra sighed and placed a hoof on her face and muttered something Rat could not hear. Rat was able to recognize the song instantly. It was a popular song back in Equestria, by a Cubrayn pop star named Marina. It stayed in the top ten songs on the Charts week after week. A song of true love separated by circumstance, it had been the song that had gotten the Pack and their fellow clan the Outsiders hooked on the artist.

“I-... I think I'll freshen up a bit,” coughed Bane. “Excuse me a moment…”

“... Fuck’s sake, he needs to get his head out of his ass…” sighed Terra.

“Why would-” began Rat before he put the pieces together in his mind. “He fell in love with someone and that song reminds him of her…”

“Worse…” sighed Terra. “He fell in love with the songwriter, and that song reminds him… it was written because of him...”

“Wait, what?!” exclaimed Rat. “How-”

“Not my story to tell, but long story short, he’s being a stubborn idiot about it,” growled Terra in frustration before sighing. “I’ll go ask the other girls here to see if I can find any leads. Go ahead and take some time to unwind. You look like you could use some fun….”

Rat’s choked protest fell on deaf ears as Terra slipped away with a wink. It was no use, honestly. With the mission now at a standstill, there was little to block out the siren calls of the mares in heat around him. He could feel their eyes on him, silently appraising him and judging his worth. It had been far too long since he’d last held Daring. It wasn’t as though he held any sort of hope that she was still waiting for him, nor did he feel that they were destined for each other, but he did miss her touch, her laughs, her warmth… Maybe-

“Sharp as a knife, I see,” mused a gentle voice from Rat’s right shoulder. “And with a steely glint to match. How many mares’ hearts have you pierced with it?”

Rat turned to see a beautiful ivory Kirin mare wrapped in form-flattering jade green silk. Her aquamarine gaze carried a note of teasing woven seamlessly into its inviting warmth, captivating any caught within. Her sky-blue mane seemed to shine in the dim light, tempting him to run his hooves through it. Were it not for her curious words, Rat would have found himself unable to speak.

“Excuse me?” inquired Rat, raising a single brow at the mare’s statement.

“Your focus, your mind, your gaze, and your stride; you are a Blade,” smiled the mare enigmatically. “Furthermore, you are a Blade with purpose. Still, even the sharpest blades can dull without proper care.”

“And I suppose you offer such care?” replied Rat with an amused smirk to this truly unique mare.

“If asked nicely,” countered the mare with a coy smile. “I am Tenshi.”

At this, Rat froze briefly, trying to dismiss his gut instinct with logic and reasoning. It couldn’t be that simple: Sure, her name was literally the Kirin word for “angel” and the first word that Rat would use to describe her would be “unique”, but it could not be that easy! Rat’s mind was clearly being muddled by the intoxicating fumes surrounding him. That was the only explanation because it could not be that easy! And yet, for all the excuses he made as to why it could not, his gut instinct screamed that it was.

And it could very well have been. Artistic Strategy had met the mare, and he knew that “Charon” was a frequent regular of the Companions. Strategy had known that “Charon” was a close associate of “Descent”, so it would have been easy to tell the mare to approach “Charon” or anypony that “Charon” brought with him! Still, in spite of this, Rat’s experience screamed at him that this was far too easy. He had to tread carefully.

“And what would bring you to come over my way?” asked Rat with a roguish grin, careful to maintain the character of a hot blooded stallion flirting with a mare, which was easy enough given his current predicament.

“You interest me…” smiled Tenshi. “You have a very interesting story, my Stallion Blade…”

“Really?” asked Rat, forgetting his purpose for a moment. “What can you tell me of this ‘story’? And how can you see it?”

“It’s truly simple, my Silver Eyed Warrior… You wear your story on your skin…” giggled Tenshi as she traced an ivory feather along a scar on Rat’s chest. “You are skilled with a blade and have fought since you were very young, but the number and depth of your scars suggest you have avoided direct confrontation, and yet it has found you all the same a few times. The way your gaze sweeps the room suggests that you are a leader and a strategist, watching over a group you love and care for like family. You’ve lost one recently, and it weighs on your mind at times, late at night when you are alone with your thoughts. And you have known the pleasures of a mare, but just one, and it has been a long time since you have. The only thing that I cannot read from you is your name, but that matters not. If you’ll allow me, I shall call you Shirogane...”

“Oh…” articulated Rat, unsure of how to respond to being completely deconstructed verbally by a mare who had known him for less than five minutes, split between fear and arousal. He instead chose to compartmentalize it for later as he pressed on with the mission. “Sure, I don’t mind that name. You speak as though you’ve known many warriors…”

“Yes, although I have only known one as well-spoken and sharp as you. A unicorn with an unsettling gaze…” frowned Tenshi, shuddering lightly at the memory. “I much prefer yours, Shirogane. His was red, but cold as the northern wind. Yours is silver, yet warm as the summer breeze…”

“...you’re the Angel…” murmured Rat in shock. “...you’re the one he found Salvation with…”

At this, Tenshi’s eyes widened before frowning and cursing in Kirinese. “You’re the contact?” pouted Tenshi. “Dammit, why are you the contact?”

“Wait, you didn’t know I was the contact?!” hissed Rat. “Then why did you approach me?!”

“I told you, didn’t I?!” hissed Tenshi. “You were interesting! I mean, you still are, but business puts a damper on that… Still, maybe not enough that we can’t-”

Rat’s blood froze as the door to Chez Madrassa was kicked open, and two HTB Heavy Soldiers marched to the front desk. While he couldn’t hear what they demanded of the hostess, he could clearly see his own face in the bounty crystal they placed on the counter.

“...Shit, they’re on to me…” hissed Rat, sinking lower down the table.

Tenshi didn’t turn to follow Rat’s gaze, instead checking a nearby mirrored wall to view the scene, her eyes widening briefly. She quickly turned to the unicorn dancing nearby.

“Ivy, tell Terra to dance,” she ordered quickly. “It’s as she feared.”

The mare Ivy nodded once before gracefully tumbling off the stage and fast walking to the changing room. Tenshi quickly turned to Rat and stared him in the eyes.

“Trust me and follow my lead,” ordered Tenshi as she moved closer. “Be ready to move upstairs when I tell you.”

And with that, Rat felt himself pressed firmly in his chair as gentle lips met him in a slow yet passionate kiss. Rat soon found himself utterly unable to perceive anything besides the beautiful Kirin mare in his lap, not that he truly wanted to. He used his wings to pull her closer even as one hoof cradled her cheek and one caressed her beautiful sky-blue mane. All too soon, her lips broke from his as she whispered a single word in his ear.

“Run,” she hissed, grabbing his hoof and leading him away.

Rat kept low beneath the crowd as he was pulled along by the mare, but he stole a glance at what sort of distraction this incredible mare had cooked up. Terra was on the stage, spinning flaming fans made of torches as she moved in an erotic display of skill. Every eye in the room was on the spellbinding spectacle that was Terra as flame and dancer intertwined. It was only the tug of Tenshi’s hoof and the impending danger that kept Rat moving.

Rat was only vaguely aware of being pulled into a room and a door slamming before being dragged briskly toward a bed.

“You can’t leave out a window, since they have the building surrounded, and they’ll be searching room to room,” explained Tenshi briskly as she stripped off her jade dressing gown and began undressing Rat, haphazardly tossing the pieces of the suit around the room. “That means that you’ll have to hide in plain sight. Try to be convincing.”

“Convincing?” repeated Rat as he watched the mare hop up onto the bed and picked up a thick grey blanket. “What-”

But Rat’s vision suddenly turned grey before steadily turning to white…

Sergeant Flint tapped his hoof impatiently as he waited for his squad to finish searching the building. They’d received orders to apprehend a stallion named “Descent” and his compatriots for suspected ties to the “Darkbolts” they were hunting. It was imperative that they were stopped before they could interfere with Operation Ashfall. Failure would not be tolerated.

Two Privates bolted towards him, flushed in the face and breathing hard. Sloppy form and potentially out of shape, he noted. That would have to be reprimanded.

“So, did you find him?” barked Flint.

“No sir,” stammered Private Tag.

“No? Did you check every room?” asked Flint.

“...Well, yes…” coughed Private Blink.

“Well, did you or didn’t you, Private?” barked Flint.

“We did, but…”

“The only ‘but’ that is acceptable in this instance is the one attached to you, Private, and that is debatable!” snarled Flint. “What room did you not search?!”

“...Room 1313, sir… But-”

“I swear to the Gods, the next one of you that says ‘but’ is going to find my hoof so far up their butt that I could do a godsbedammed puppet show!” bellowed Flint. “Now march your ‘butts’ back in there and let me show you chucklebutts how to search a room!”

Flint grabbed the two privates by the collars and marched into the overblown whorehouse. The pair of them looked like blushing schoolfillies after secondary school sex ed classes. What did they expect to find?! Whatever was in that room would not stop Flint from scouring the room from top to bottom!

Flint cleared his throat and bellowed as loud as he could shout.

“HTB! OPEN UP!”

Flint kicked in the door.

He blinked once.

He blinked twice.

He slowly reached in the doorway and grabbed the doorknob.

He slowly closed the door.

He blinked a third time.

…

…

… Nope, still burned into the inside of his eyelids.

He turned to the privates.

“We’re leaving. If I hear you speak of this to anyone, you’ll scrub the latrines with your toothbrushes for the rest of your godsbedammed careers…” murmured Flint.

“Understood, sir…” murmured the Privates.

*******

“...There… Will you put the rolling pin down now?”

*******

Tenshi went quiet as she listened for the HTB soldiers to march away. Satisfied that she was safe at last with her “client”, she deftly unwrapped him from her lower half and proceeded to barricade the door.

“I told you to be convincing, you know…” quipped Tenshi as she moved the dresser in front of the door. “If it wasn’t for my performance, you’d have been clapped in irons and hauled away…”

“Well, forgive me for not wanting to take advantage of an honorable mare, dammit!” snapped Rat, face still flushed but not from the blanket.

“If I hadn’t wanted you to do it, I wouldn’t have put your head so close, would I?” teased the mare as Rat’s ears turned bright red.

“So, you were the one that Firebrand went to?” coughed Rat, attempting to change the subject.

“Yes, and the General is clumsy as he is stupid, and I have an eidetic memory…” sighed Tenshi. “HTB is intending to wipe out the leaders of the entire criminal underworld and seize control of the remnants in the chaos. They call it ‘Operation Ashfall’. The only group standing in their way is a group of pegasi they call ‘Darkbolts’. In fact, this plan was all made possible by a traitor to the Darkbolts selling them out.”

“And who is the traitor?” asked Rat.

Tenshi told Rat the traitor’s name.

“... And the General has proof of this?” asked Rat.

“Yes, he has an employment contract for the traitor in his safe…” replied Tenshi.

“Well, shit… at least this resolves the mission…” sighed Rat. “But now I gotta get back to my team-”

“HTB is going to stake out Chez Madrassa for several hours to try and wait you out,” protested Tenshi. “You’ll need to hide.”

“... With you, then…”

“If you truly do not want to, then I’ll accept your choice… But do you really not want to?”

“... I do want to… But I cannot compensate you-”

“Did I ask you to?”

“But this is your livelihood!”

Tenshi smiled and sighed at her Shirogane. “If you must insist on it, then I ask you to tell me your story, Shirogane… Let me hear it in your own words as we become one…”

******

“DAMMIT SON, PUT THAT ROLLING PIN BACK WHERE IT CAME FROM OR SO HELP ME-”

******

Author's Note

Good lord, did I have fun with this chapter. Out of everything in Arc 5, I think that this chapter is my favorite. So many references packed in this chapter. Can you spot them all?

Lots of World-Building for the Virtue-Verse here, especially the criminal elements. For those keeping score at home, we have:
The Vietmane Triads
The Istallian Mafia
The Griffon Privateers
The Olympia
More details on that first group will be in a future project, so don't touch that dial.
~~Patch's Origin will deal heavily with this...~~