Midnight Mishap

by Mane-Shaker

Rating: mature
Tags: Princess Celestia, Pinkie Pie, Princess Luna, Drama, Gore, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Alternate Universe, Thriller, Original Character
Length: 13767

Mane and Pinkamena get a contract for an assassination. And the final results almost leaded to his death...

After cleaning her mind, Mane now is living with the "Cupcake Killer", leading her into a more cleaner new life than the previous one. During the times, they receive a contract which the mare couldn't deny.

With her own objective of the reward, Mane agrees to help her, but the contract goes against his standards in all matters, let alone going to a complete forbidden place, where death only awaits him if he's not careful at all with them... and her... Celestia herself...

Published 2015-12-19 21:50:02 UTC
Last updated 2016-01-01 19:54:41 UTC

1 The Contract

Author's Note

I'm sorry about the "-" between speech, but that was how I was taught over 12 years as a portuguese!
I'm not an english native speaker, so I'm sorry if this bugs you.

1 The Contract

Everything changed down there...

The smell of rotting corpses took weeks to completely go, just like each division to be cleaned. Most of It done by Pinkamena, who was used to the smell, more than Mane, even if he passed a big time down there.

The room were they battled once was now a living room, with old fashioned sofas and other furniture, including electricity and other luxuries, work from Pinkamena's contacts from the underworld of crime.

The kitchen was now ready to be equipped with new equipment, except some of the sharp ones which Diane was too attached to, which gone through a bath of bleach and other chemicals until they were 100% cleaned of anything.
And for bonus, a sharpening work from Mane.

"Are you sure about this..?" - Asked Pinkamena, standing at the entrance of the hall.

"About what?"

"You know... about these... changes... I might have changed too, but I'll miss the creepy look of my original place."

"Don't worry, I don't plan to change EVERYTHING. I kinda like the old look too... except... the bodies extra presence..."

He made a disgusting face, after remembering the first time he saw them, and the fridge surprise moment, mostly from the severed disfigured head moment looking at him. Still haunting his sleep, and attending he was sleeping now at the place of a former psycho, which could still cause some trouble.

"MANE!!" - The scream from the other side made him jump, making him cut his magic and let the boxes fall on the floor.

He ran through the hall, to the entrance which was now a decoy to fool those who want to venture there, to find Pinkamena happy with a letter in her mouth, and in her face, a mix of happiness and worry.

"What? What? Something happened?"

"One of my contacts came here! Look!" - And she puts the piece of paper on a dusty old table part of the decoy.

"Dear "Cupcake Killer", I have a very specific job for you. It's an assassination.
By this point, you must be eager to hear the details, but don't be... Because this is out of what you are used to, but you are the best one who can make It. And I recently heard you have a partner in crime now...
Sincerely, I don't know since when you have a friend!
But continuing the contract...

The target: Fancy Pants (I'm also sending a picture)

This guy is a rich bastard, fashion critic, designer, and during the business, he has been trampling my money making plans for months, and knowing me, this must come to an end!

The details of the contract. He will attend to the Midnight Gala, and he won't be surrounded by his securities. And this seems the best time to strike.
The others I contracted failed miserably, but because I sent them on the wrong times.
And since you live in Ponyville, which is close enough, you seemed the nice one to do the job.
Sorry it must be a public execution and ruin such event, but business is business...

Your reward, 10 000 000 bits!

I'm dead serious... DON'T FUCK UP!
Sincerely,

-Lil Miss Rarity"

Finishing reading, Mane looked back to her.
"So... what now..?"

"I got a contract! I got work to do! AND LOOK AT THAT REWARD!!"

"That is quite a lot actually..."

"You don't seem surprised."

"What can I say... I don't care much about money honestly... because... I can't go around and spend It."

"I got another plans for It!"

He looked into her again, and her eyes were watering in happiness. - I can finally... send my family out of misery... - she whispered

Seeing her react that way towards such wealth made him more comfortable towards her, showing the psychological change was still intact and working well.
But her expression quickly changed to panic, making her grab him by his leather jacket, which he quickly shoved her hooves away from her abrupt move.
He stepped forward, with a savage expression in his eyes, and leaned towards her face.

"*What did we discussed days ago..?" - he whispered in an evil tone.

"*D-don't touch t-the ja-jacket..." - She was scared of him for a moment.

It was the second time she was seeing his evil side, and the first time was not nice either... where even his eye color changed of the amount of rage. Since then, it only built up mystery why Mane was THAT attached to his leather coat.
Maybe on the future she would know...

"Anyway." - He calmed down - This "Lil Miss" refers "out of your habits".

"Mane, you know my tactics. You know I'm not the kind of going out there. Besides, It's a VIP event! I don't have any experience in public relations!"

"Me neither! But if we work together, we can figure something out. I've seen these kind of events before..."

"From where?"

He froze. Revealing more from him could lead into trouble, and even if she changed, he didn't want to risk It.
"Well... you see... I had to make public works too... so I learned from observation."

"Are you sure about that..?"

"Yeah, but for somepony without any experience, I would say. Don't talk to anypony, just stay cool on your own. And we can't forget It's an assassination plan..."

They headed into the living room, which was still under renovation, and sat on the new sofa discussing details. They had 1 week to prepare themselves. And they would work together for the first time. It was a new weird thing for them, both never had something called "teamwork". It was out of their vocabularies. But the reward was too high to be ignored, and besides not caring for It, he wanted to help the mare in helping her family.
But something was troubling him...

*What should I do?! I'll be helping a family and giving her a relief in her life! But she must kill an innocent life, and worst of all, I agreed to help! What the fuck was wrong with me?? On the day I must do something! I can't let her do this! Besides! It's in fucking Canterlot! On the goddamn Royal Palace! CELESTIA, CANDACE, TWILIGHT and EVEN WORSE, SHINING ARMOR is there! I would be dead!*

He had to think of something...

2 The Plan

The more they discussed, more troubles would come.

None of them had any idea of how to do It. Mostly Mane, attending he could not be seen in public, even less in the palace.
To increase the confusion, he could not allow her to kill the target. It was against his standards. And It was too soon or even late to speak with her about them.
Being part "Not kill innocent lives, no matter the reason."

"Mane! Just... let's start from the beginning..."

"Ok..."

"First, what are we gonna need? Come on! You said you saw these things before."

She was confident on him. He couldn't screw up and say something out of the topic, but she never saw these, giving him opportunity to made up has a scapegoat.

"So... - he started nervous - I can't be seen there, that's not my kind of stuff..."

"I can tell that. - She muttered, looking at his jacket and messy red and black mane."

"Anyway. You'll be the one infiltrating, so you need a disguise. A dress in this case."

"I guess so..."

"But It must match with you. And since It's a royal gala, It can't be a simple thing. It must be a luxury."

"I can work on that... - She said with a smile, looking at the sender of the letter."

"Good. Next, the method. She didn't refer the method. You could poison him..."

"NO! That way she will kill him and I can't avoid It! And even if I had an antidote, getting in public would be a death risk..."

"...OR make a scene and stab him, and then run away! "Lil Miss" said to be a public execution, anyway..." - He said

"Seems reasonable."

"The weapon..."

Her eyes turned around in the kitchens direction with a glance.

"No! No big knifes!"

"A shiv?"

"Yes, small but discrete. Something you can blend in."

"A switchblade."

"Acceptable." - he agreed

Everything seemed alright, until Pinkamena snapped and pointed a hoof on him.

"What about you?! What are you gonna do to help this? I'm doing all the process here!"

"Hey, I just made part of the whole planning! We have six days! We still have time. If I was you,I would start writing to your contact and getting a dress, tell her It's part of the plan and you might receive a discount! And something that matches! I don't wanna see a beauty in an ugly thing!"

"What?!" - she blushed in surprise

His turn to snap back into reality, and Mane realized what he said.
"Erm... sorry... nothing..."

"Ok..." - She was still blushing, not being used to hear such things.

They stood there, facing each other in the sofa, in the awkward silence, like two owls next to each other.
Mane decided to break It.

"Whatever. Tomorrow we can begin the training..."

"Of what? I know how to kill! Better than you maybe!"

"I was not talking about that! I'm talking about public behavior!"

"How do you know that? You don't know that. You said yourself!"

"I may don't know to myself, but i know from others! I have eyes you see?" - He pulled his down eyelid from his right eye.

"Yes! You have eyes!"

"And I use them, so trust me!"

"Fine. Just keep telling your plans!"

"Anyway. I can tell you have public anxiety, so you may need to control yourself and not panic. The place will be filled with many ponies, all dressed to impress, and there will also be food and drinks. "

"Ohhh, more like It!"

"But you can't eat how you usually do It!"

"Whaaat? That's so boring..."

"I know, but if you wanna succeed, you must change a bit!"

"What if I don't!?"

"For Tirek's sake!! Aren't you a stubborn!"

"WHAT DID YOU CALL ME?!! - She screamed posing to jump at him."

*BING BONG*

The clock started to sing It's bells interrupting the discussion, making them look at It's face. Midnight...

"We have five days..." - he said calmly - "you better write that letter quick... if you want your family out of their situation... and this is your job, not mine. I only agreed to help."

3 Beauty in Black

2 days

The previous days and nights were a challenge to Mane's short fuse, along with Pinkamena's stubbornness.
Teaching a psychotic mare to behave in public was like convincing a foal to eat the veggies at dinner, let alone how to behave in a gala.

From walking coordination to how to speak with high class figures. Mane's youth came helpful in that phase, considering his days on the Crystal Empire and great part of It in Canterlot, with enough galas seen to teach her the basics.
She started to accept It, bit by bit, considering she had an objective ahead of her, which she decided herself.

"Again. How do you greet an high class mare?"

"Goodnight Miss..." - She said in ha smooth tone, such smoothness that made the colt shiver in a positive way.

"You're going well, Diane... good job. Next! How do eat and drink in a high society event?"

She grabbed the apple and gave a small byte, and chewing it slowly, letting the sweet flavor empathize with her mouth. And then, grabbing the glass of water, and with the same procedure, taking a small sip.

Mane smiled, showing her she was doing great with her training, filling her with confidence.
Pinkamena diverted her eyes to the switchblade at the end of the table, and the colt could read her thoughts.

"I know, I know... we will get there eventually. The only thing we need is the dress, to check a way to hide It. Then we can train the method."

Moments later between the the session, a bang on a wooden surface was heard.

"I'll go check." - She stood up from the chair, and in the way out of the room, she gets possession of a cleaver.

That kind of behavior, Mane couldn't decide if It was sick or normal. Giving the circumstances he started living with a psychopath with a lust for blood, even if he changed her, that lust was still there and he knew It. The only thing keeping him safe from her was her gratitude and self-control of her new self.

She returns with a package, and drops It on the table.
"It arrived!" - She said loudly in her happy mood.

"Speaking of the devil, I guess..."

"Can I try It? Please! Please! I never tried or saw a dress before!"

"I'm not blocking you."

She took the package to her new renovated bedroom, now with a better bed and furniture, and the scribbles erased from the walls. The gasping and giggles could be heard from behind the door, leaving Mane in wonder.
Times like these, he starts meditating about his decisions and thoughts.

*Did I do the right thing..? I could have redeem the others too... and instead, I choose her. Maybe It's my destiny. Just like the task They gave me. Clean this world, but the methods were not discussed... Would this make Celestia happy, and maybe be forgiven..?*

The bedroom door opened, and she walked out slowly blushing, not being used to those things, let alone It was her first time in such clothes.

It was long, crafted by a master. The black tone matched with her nature, and along with It, leather boots that resembled Mane's jacket material, tied by a yellow bright rope, reminding gold treads from Celestia's dress.
The dress was simple, black silk covering her dark pink color along her slim body, showing her head which part covered by a black lace veil, decorated by a silk red rose by the left side of her forehead.
It was beautiful...

"Well... how do I look..?" - Pinkamena asked in a low voice, covering her blush.

Mane Shaker was completely stunned in his place with his jaw dropped.
He always had a weak spot for gothic mares, and seeing Pinkamena in a dress like that, he was lost in words.
It was like a wending dress at his eyes.
The more he looked into her, the more he couldn't resist in saying some words.

"I look awful, I know..."

"NO! No!... I just... ah... I can't..."

"What?"

"You look... gorgeous..."

One word was enough to make her smile slowly. She walked more to the middle of the room, and stood on her bipedal pose. The dress was really made for her. Lil Miss Rarity had everything in mind. Her nature, color, including what she could do.

"And Mane! Look at this!" - She grabbed the switchblade and putted inside the silk rose in her forehead, the weapon was completely hidden

"She really though of everything, eh?"

"Looks like It. I like the boots too... It's weird but then you get used to."

"It's like wearing a jacket all the time, considering we don't need these clothes all the time..."

"Indeed." - She agreed - "But I never use clothes all the time, like you."

"Hey, It's a leather jacket, don't compare to a full dress."

"Well...this is also different from a skin apron..."

"I guess..."

They stood there gazing the beauty of the dress, until they noticed the clock. Three hours to midnight, and then the gala would be twenty four hours away.

"I think we should hurry..." - He notified in a paused tone

"I agree..."

4 To Canterlot!

Ponyville's central square.

The big night was about to begin.
Almost everypony from the town was there, each one in their clothing. Mares in dresses and colts on tuxedos.
There wasn't a single dress equable to each other. Colors, decorations, details.

Excitement could be felt in the air, for obvious reasons, and Pinkamena wasn't an exception.
Mane had to go ahead by himself, for personal reasons, leaving the pink mare in her own with instructions from the colt.
The switchblade was hidden on the silk rose in her head, and inside her purse, the forged ticket to the gala, along with some bits to buy something nice.

*Alright... my... carriage, whatever that is, must be somewhere...

She found It. It was like a box on wheels, decorated with gold and silver, along with precious jewels, pushed by four colts. It seemed strange for her, such task could be a job. Being on a basement all those years with rare comings to the outside world, really lived up to Mane's words in the last weeks. She truly missed a lot.

A colt opened the door and while entering the strange transport, she noticed a shady brown colt inside, with a top hat and a black tuxedo.

Following Mane's rules, she simply entered and sited on the comfortable tiny sofas inside. The shadows were hiding the mysterious presence, while she kept her eyes to the window, observing the movement outside.

The wagon started moving, heading to Canterlot, and in the middle of the noise of the wheels on dirt, the colt started to speak.

"Hey miss..." - he whispered.

She didn't answer, the training was only to be used inside the gala, and Diane was not in the mood to take risks.

"Don't you know how to greet an old friend..?"

Her eyes quickly shoved to him, the word did the effect the colt was hoping for. She started to shiver, with a urge to grab the hidden blade, but she managed to control herself.

"If you don't wanna speak... then It's alright. I know how you are..."

The colt leaned forward, and she quickly recognized him. It was one of her connections. This one was one of Lil Miss Rarity's henchman.
Pinkamena blew the air on her lungs to the outside in relief.

"It seems your new partner prepared you well... and the dress, seems my boss outdid herself in such short period of time." - He said.

"Why are you here?" - She asked in a hurry. She was not pleased with his presence at all.

"Don't worry. I'm not here to interfere. Just to give you some advice. Friendly ones..."

The pink mare readjusted her position on the carriage's bench, ready to listen to him.

"First of all... I'm not here to help you..." - he started - "You see, the guys pulling the carriage, they are also contacts of mine. Just to make you sure you wouldn't escape or try something stupid."

"I don't care. Just get on the topic." - She interrupted

"Straight to the discussion? I like that!" - He arranged the top hat and continued. - "You will be seen... every step you walk, every action you perform, during the gala. Why? Because my boss doesn't trust you, much less in your partner. Besides, since when you work with somepony..?"

The question made her chill in her spine. They have been under watch since they left the basement, and she had to answer It quickly.

"I... um... I changed..." - she tried.

"I'm not buying that!" - He punched the carriage walls - "Everypony we used to send! You killed them all! Everypony who stepped in your territory! Dead! Every week! Gone by your own hoofs! And you don't dare lie to me! Our Organization knows all of your deeds!"

The violence of his voice and movements made her retract against the other side of the carriage.
That colt was well know in the "Organization" for his violence against others. Mainly to extract answers. He knew her too well. He knew she could kill him fast and silent, and she was not even threatening or mad at him.

He settled down.
"That guy did a number on you, didn't he..?"

She nodded in agreement, with an expression of fear.

"See? Was It too hard..?"

They were halfway to reach Canterlot, most of the trip, they remained silent, while she kept her eyes fixed on the windows again, amazed by the outside world. All those years, she was more focused in doing her jobs and arts, non stop to take a look, and for the first time, she had a moment to gaze the world she missed. The landscapes illuminated by Luna's moon was a beauty to be remembered.

"Hey!"

Diane looked at him.

"What are you gonna do with the money, if you succeed..?" - He asked.

She remained silent, with an expressionless face.

"It's alright... I respect your private matters..."

"I'm gonna send It to my family." - She simply replied.

"What?!" - The colt's face changed, between disgust and intrigue.

"I don't think I need to repeat myself, do I?" - She tried to input some respect.

"You don't need indeed! Since when you care about them? That grey guy really did something to you!"

"Yes, so what? You have problems with that?"

It was clear at his eyes. She really changed, and It was Mane's work. He had three conclusions on his brain. If she didn't change, she wouldn't be there, she would have killed her friend, and she would be stabbing him on that precise moment after all those threats.

Canterlot's lights started to illuminate the landscape.
The other carriages were already there, and some were still arriving, making a waiting line towards the palace.
Pinkamena's first time in Canterlot was like a fairy tale. The vibrant colors of the buildings, the residents happiness, the shops selling their belongings. She remained stunned at the window.

Moments later, It was about time she could set her hooves back in land.
Her carriage was four carriages away of being open so she could leave.

"Hey, "Cupcake Killer"" - He called

"What?!" - She controlled herself to not take her hooves at his neck.

"Just a reminder... you are being watched, many of us are scattered around the palace and you can't tell which one is who... and depending in your performance, the boss will be quickly notified."

Their carriage was about to be the next.

-"We should not be seen together." - He prescribed - "I'll go ahead, you go next..."

The door was opened, and the lights illuminated the inside of the carriage, making her cover her eyes.

"Good luck..." - He whispered and leaved the transport, faking a smile.

Diane was nervous to go out. The lights were strong, and the public presence was not helping.
A white young colt peeked inside, looking at her.

"Come on, Miss... the others are waiting! You don't wanna miss the the night, do you?" - He asked nicely.

She stepped out slowly, taking two steps away from the carriage, which door was shut close, and heading to the parking place along with the others, while other carriage gets into It's place.

In front of her, a huge gate which way was followed by guards posing like statues, looking to the front, only blinking their eyes.
No wonder Mane couldn't be there, whatever was his reason.

Crossing the gate, the palace's square was decorated by a small garden with a fountain in the middle.
Flowers, trees, bushes. All looking alive, along with the other guests. Their clothes were overwhelming decorated, compared to her dress.
The dress!
She stood out between them all. Diane could see colors everywhere. Pink, blue, yellow, white. All happy colors, and she was wearing black.
It made her nervous, while all the eyes were looking at her.
Who was she?
Where is she from?
Why is she dressed that simple?

The judging looks made her walk away from that place, more inside the party.

*Ok... let's see... garden... the royal garden... I must find my way there. We should encounter there.

She walked slowly among the guests, without an expression. And she had her reasons.
Alone in a place like that, most of the them looking at her for some reason. She noticed a door guarded by four guards, which outside was showing a garden. It should be there.

She heads outside, at the lights of the moon along with the lamps.
She walked away from everypony else, without giving notice, to the far back of the Royal Garden.

Behind the bushes, a grey colt in red and black mane appeared.

"Good, you're here." - Greeted Mane, while stepping out. - "Getting here without be notice was hard..."

"I don't like this..." - She muttered.

"What, why?"

"Everypony is looking at me, with funny looks..."

He checked the pink mare, there was nothing wrong with her. Only thing making him nervous towards her.

"You look... good."

"I guess... on the outside."

"Pinkamena, just follow what I taught you. Don't speak with anypony unless they speak with you. Enjoy yourself, eat, drink."

"Yeah... enjoy..." - She muttered in a nervous way.

"Something else wrong..?"

She remembered of the company on the carriage and his warnings. And explaining It to Mane could lead to some troubles.
Attending she was being watched without his knowledge.

"No, all good! I'll head inside! Hehe..." - She giggled with a fake smile

"If you say so." - He bought It.

"What about you? What are you gonna do?"

"I have other business to do in this place. Just go ahead and do your job. Just... don't kill the guy as soon you see him... remember what we trained!"

"Yes, see you around, I guess..."

And she headed back to the gala.
He returned to his hiding spot.

*I must think of something, I can't ruin this and be seen. She can't kill him, that's for sure, but I need to think of something!

He looked into the moon and the stars, and his mind lighten up with something.

*I have time for that...* - Mane thought.

And he headed to the palace, hiding in the shadows

5 Infiltration

*Oh why... why..?!*

She barely stepped inside back in the giant room, everypony looked at her again.

*What's so funny?! Stop staring at me!*

A white unicorn in a light purple stepped outside the crew, deciding to break the silence.

"Hello darling! You seem nervous."

*Somepony talking to me! Remain calm! Just answer! Talk like you talk with Mane! - She thought.

"Darling, are you ok..?" - The white mare asked.

"This sucks!" - She shouted angrily.

The indignity in her words only attracted more attention. The guests started to whisper to each other, judging her, and yet the looks multiplied.

*The hell did I just said?! Am I retarded?!

"Erm... what..?"

"I mean... why everypony is looking at me?" - Asked Diane.

The guests returned to their original groups, returning to their business, leaving the two mares alone in the carpet leading to the gardens.
Maybe they got disturbed, and didn't want to cause trouble on the poor mare.

"I'm sorry about It." - The white mare apologized - "My name is Rarity, fashion designer. What about you, my dear..?"

"I'm... Cupcake... Flavor..." - Hiding her true name was a smart move. Saying It could lead to trouble, considering her infamy. But there was a chance of nopony believe her. Stealth was the key in her case.

"That's a nice name... I can provide you why many look at you in such way..."

"Please do!"

"Your dress... It's unique! Look around you." - Asked Rarity

Pinkamena looked around as requested. Then she looked at herself. It was clear...

"Sometimes, simple is the best, you see." - Said Rarity - "And yet, you look beautiful. Not even knowing you, It easily fits on you, as if your fashionista knew you personally."

"I guess..."

"I like your rose. It looks like a true flower, I can see from here It's made of thick silk, but that is my specialty. I think the other guests would never know." - Rarity giggled, while Pinkamena didn't understand what was so funny.

"Oh sorry... fashion things..." - Excused Rarity - "Say, did you come with any friends or family?"

"Alone..." - Simple answers to simple questions.

"You're a very reserved one, aren't you?" - Asked Rarity taking a look at her.

"You can say that."

They stood silent, when something caught the attention of the mare in purple.
She apologized, wishing enjoyment to Pinkamena and headed to a group.
Diane took a turn and her mouth opened slightly.
She pulled her purse, opened and took a quick look inside.

*It's him...*

Another with unicorn, expensive tuxedo, blue mane and mustache. Fancy Pants.
Standing there in the company of a very light pink unicorn, probably his wife.

*No sudden moves, just keep an eye on him...*

She stayed there, and a maid offers her a cup of champagne from the silver tray, full of cups all half filled.
*Enjoy the food...*

Took her a while to react and gracefully takes a cup. The maid smiles, thanks her with a curtsy and walks away to a group.
The mare in black looks back and Fancy Pants was right in front of her, along with his company. She shivered, controlling her urge to grab the weapon and take it to the colt's neck.

"Pardon me, Miss Cupcake. But Miss Rarity there called my attention about your taste in fashion."

"Um... Hi! Nice to meet you too..."

"Sorry my abrupt approach. I'm Fancy Pants, fashion critic, celebrity. And this is my friend, Fleur Dis Lee, supermodel and my partner."

"It's a pleasure meeting you..." - greeted Fleur.

"I like your dress. The gothic feeling sure is a unique one, must say." - he stated - "And yet, you sure caught everypony's attention, for the simplicity yet beauty, of you and the dress along."

"Thank... you?" - Pinkamena was blushing with the compliment, yet nervous with the proximity of her objective.

Somewhere in the Castle

Hide.
Wait.
Look.
Move on.

It was the pattern he established during the last half hour. Patrols of four walking around, most of times, in places where there was barely any place to hide, and he had to stick in the shadows at all cost.
His dark coloring was a risk in such place, full of white marble, full illuminated by chandeliers and indoor lamps.
But that was nothing compared with his problems...

*I hope she doesn't stab at him at first sight... I need to do something. I can't talk to her, appear in public, or interrupt her.

He finally reached his destination, strangely, no guards around. Attending most of the army was signed to patrol and pose in the gala.
Dark big doors, decorated with night related ornaments, making them the material, and the doors the canvas.
Beautiful.

He entered there silent, everything was dark, and the familiar perfume filled his nose and lungs. Closed the door behind me and stayed there, waiting...

6 Surprise!

The party seemed going well. The two sisters stood on the stairs observing.
Princess Celestia happily looking around, appreciating the enjoyment of the guests, while Princess Luna seemed bored, even if the name of It was "Midnight Gala".
Her sister noticed her mood, and with a slight bump, getting her attention, she expanded her smile, but no effect on Luna.

"Something wrong, my sister?"

"Uhm... no... I'm fine..." - she whispered.

"Having those memories again? It's been ages since that. You can't live in the past!"

"It's not that! I'm just not feeling well..."

In a slip second, Captain Shining Armor approached, stopped and with a curtsy, he began to speak.

"No reports of any kind, everything is going well around the castle, Princess..."

"Thank you, Shining... you can take a break then. But keep your soldiers on the watch. Did you announced their shifts? I don't want them to just watch, but also enjoy the gala."

"Every group has their own shifts, I organized the schedule myself with Lieutenant Silver Shield's help. There are enough soldiers, making each group have half hour of break every two hours."

"And this is why I selected you to Captain..." - Said Celestia with a kind smile - "The organization, leadership and care for your soldiers..."

"T-Thank you, my Princess..." - He said blushing from the noble compliment.

Something caught her attention in the far distance, and smiled at the soldier.

"Tell me, Captain, is that Princess Cadence arriving to the gala right now..?" - She teased, while pointing at the entrance of the event room.

He quickly looked over his shoulder, and there she was. No denying Shining always had a soft spot on Celestia's adopted niece. The princesses always knew from his reactions and how his behavior used to change at her presence, and It used to be a matter gossip among them and the guards.

"Erm... Pardon me, our highness!" - And he rushed down the steps towards his love.

Not even that scene made Luna giggle. The Sun Princess looked at her, and starting to walk slowly down the steps, she turns to her sister.

"Do whatever you want. Maybe go take a rest, It will make you feel better later. Just don't miss the gala. I'm gonna join the guests..."

"Sure, whatever..." - As she turned around, up the stairs, walking alone on the halls towards her room.

She enters and closes the door, letting a loud sigh escape.
The princess turns on the lights with her magic, and looking into her bedroom, then the window showing her spacial entity, along with the stars. Silence...
All she was wishing for. Silence, and finally found It, more used to the loneliness, unlike her older sister.
Heading to her bed, opening her wings wide and yawing.

"These galas are a bore, uh..?"

"A bore indee-..." - She stopped in her tracks. - "Who is this?! Where are you?!"

Silence. The voice had no source. She looked around confused.
With her horn glowing, she gets possession of her trusty Half-Moon Sickle, the weapon she once used in a certain battle. Big, powerful, and well decorated, with sapphires and aquamarine jewels. Too decorated to be used as a weapon.

"Come on... I know my voice changed in these years, but you may know me..."

"I don't know what are you talking about..."

The lights went out. Only the moon illuminating the room. Luna started to turning around, with her weapon crossed in front of her. Ready for a battle if It was needed. And looking back to the window, the figure stood there waiting.
She quickly jumped to the light switch, and the lights quickly went back on. The princess turned around and dropped her weapon, while her eyes contracted, starting to form tears.

"It's been a while, I know... but you were not planning to attack me with the same weapon you battled my uncle, do you..?" - Finishing is sentence, his green eyes started to cry.

"Mane... you're alive..."

"And even more, from seeing you..."

The stallion runs to her, while she opened her arms, grabbing him in a huge warming hug, closing her wings around him. Both were smiling more than ever. Sharing tears of joy, relieving how much they missed each other.
Nine years since last time.

"Mane! Wha- What are you doing here!? Did somepony saw you?"

"Don't worry, like a ghost..."

"It's been so long... Look at you! You grew up so much! And strong! I can sense your magic level is way up than last time! Close to Twilight Sparkle!"

"Well, thank you." - He replied, while ending the hug of his long lost friend.

"What are you doing here? If my sister catches you here, you will be sent to the catacombs!"

"I'm here to ask your help! I really need your help, like... URGENT!" - he begged

"What is It about? Tell me!"

"Wait then... I must check something..."

He stepped back, and he whispers "Clairvoyance", making his eyes bright in white.
Pinkamena was still talking to Fancy Pants, while being surrounded by more and more guests, observing her dress and listening to their conversation. It was perfect. She couldn't kill him like that, buying lots of time.

"Mane, is something wrong?" - Asked the princess in a hurry of worry.

"It's a long story, trust me. I think we only have some hours before something bad happens!"

"I'll listen to you, but also be quick! Guards may come, or even my sister!"

2 hours and Half Later

Non stop story telling.
From what he done since the day he got kicked out of Canterlot, jumping most of the story, to tell the fight he had with Pinkamena Diane Pie herself, how he changed her, and now, to what It was about to happen.

Casting the clairvoyance spell again, Pinkamena was now alone and nervous, observing the target which was surrounded by guests, talking non stop of various topics. There was still time. Tons of It.
The dark blue princess remained in her bed amazed by the story. He gone through a lot for a living, risking his life across the region, facing death at different levels, and attending he converted the infamous "Cupcake Killer", which was now his friend.

Mane looked into the clock.
1:21AM.

"Well... I'm done..." - He looks back at his powerful friend.

She stayed there looking at him.
It all came to sense now to her. The strange reports of criminals inside bloody bags at the doors of many Royal Guard outposts in random days, to criminal status decreasing, from Apple Loosa to Baltimare.
It was all his work, even if he jumped great part of his story, It was enough to the warrior princess.

"Luna, I know I did the wrong thing, I shouldn't be going aro-"

He got interrupted with a huge hug from her. A really strong one who started to hurt his back. Followed by a kiss in his cheek, making him blush like never before. Beyond unexpected...

"Finally! - She shouted happily. - "Somepony understands my sense of justice! They don't deserve any mercy for their crimes... sending them to jail only leads them live more, enjoying what they have done. And most times, they manage to escape and stay even more hidden and thirsty for blood..."

Luna released him from the hold. His back hurt. No wonder she was also knew for "Warrior Princess", her strength speaks for It.
She started to feel strange, going back to the bed, she calls Mane, who looks at her.

"I appreciate what you did for Equestria..."

"Eh... It's how I roll now... Concerning the fame of my family..."

Her expression changed, with a smile and eyes fixed on his, she rolls on her back without taking her gaze out of him.
Mane started to feel weird.

"You've gone through a lot..." - She said in a relaxed way - "You could use a rest..."

"Um... Luna?"

"Mane, my dear... remember those years, when you were twelve years old..?"

"How could I forget those years..." - He muttered angrily, with his memories flashing through his head. Mostly bad ones...

"Don't you remember something good..?"

"No!"

"Neither when you used to peek at me during my bath..?"

Panic. He looks at her, nervous like when he fought Pinkamena. She knew It...
Luna knew he had a soft spot on her at such young age. For him, she was the mother he never had, but more than that, the only one who cared about him back in those years, and now there he was, hearing what was supposed to be only his memory.

"Come on, Mane... you're not the only one who knows the clairvoyance spell..."

"I-uhm... err... I... I think s-so..." - He missed his words.

The princess giggled at his situation.
"Come on... you did a lot for Equestria... come rest, my hero..."

He tried to resist. No way he would be having It with Princess Luna herself. No way in the world.
But his brain went back in THOSE memories... the water washing her blue slim athletic body after training, smoothing her mane, while blushing to the temperature of the water.

He started to step forward. There was nothing to miss, and she was right.
He gone through a lot and he never had or asked for a reward, and that one was the grand prize.
The princess rolled on her back, while tapping the spot next to her on the bed.
He gets on It slowly, while the beautiful alicorn pets his hair, taking her hoof to his chin, scratching It slowly and sensually.
She rolls in her back, and he gets on top of her. Approaching his head, while she closes her eyes, ready to receive the platonic kiss.

"SISTER! Are you feeling better?!"

Author's Note

Oh Shit...

7 Uproar

"BORING!"

The word Pinkamena could use for those hours. Fancy Pants never leaved the palace, and followed by Fleur Dis Lee, along with guests, always talking about fame and fashion, and Rarity, the mare who greeted Pinkamena was no exception in the group.
The mare in black remained silent all the time, occasionally accepting the food and drinks from the servants. Sticking to her way of work, stealthy, and remaining with Mane's instructions.

All she wanted was him to go somewhere isolated, so she could finish the job. It was 10 000 000 bits right there, meters away from her.
Every hour was adding more to her bad temper, let alone her presence in public which she's an alien to It, while everypony had no single idea of who she was.

Fancy Pants and his group of fans returned to the main event room, when Pinkamena behind all of them, recognized a colt in a tuxedo and top hat. He simply made eye contact with her, with a mean look and made a line in the hair across his neck, then looking at the celebrity.
It was clear. She had to get the job done, and looking around, few colts were looking at her in the same way.

*Damn bastards...*- she thought, almost losing grip of the champagne glass due to the nerves. - *There's no way I'm do gonna this on the open! There's like, six heavy armored guards in every hall, and almost thirty in this giant room! I would be killed!*

She grew worried, the gala would end and she didn't do her job. Losing her reputation and money. The so desired wealth she would use for her family, letting them do whatever they desire with It.
For a moment, she snapped.

*Where is that idiot?* - She thought, referring to Mane - *He did nothing besides helping with the plan! What was his reason to infiltrate anyway?!*

And suddenly, a blast was heard in all the palace. Shaking the tables, along with the drinks inside the glasses. Chandeliers dancing on the ceiling, and the fire of the candles of some lamps even almost gone off.
Silence...
Then broke by a blood freezing scream that echoed through the whole place.

"GUAAAAAAAARDS!!!"

Everypony looked to the inside balconies, while a trotting sound started to be heard, followed by a crash. The guests started to question what was happening, and Pinkamena had a good guess of what It could be.

*Please don't tell me...*

And then, a grey colt appeared on the left balcony on the second floor running at full speed, followed by seven guards, and Princess Celestia herself, with the most furious expression that nopony in Equestria never saw before from her.
Every guest started to talk about the moment, while some mares started to scream in panic.

"I'LL GET YOU, MANE! I'LL NOT FORGIVE YOU FOR THIS!" - Screamed Celestia, while charging a magic attack, which shot in the colt's direction.

He noticed and dodged to the right, making the beam hit the wall. By the middle of the run, three more guards show up on the end of the balcony, posing their shields on a wall he couldn't pass through. His heart was racing, pumping adrenaline on his legs to keep him going and going.
Noticing the iron wall in front of him, he stopped running, while Celestia and her troops kept running for him, some meters away from him.
He had to do something. Analyzing the situation, only one thing crossed his mind.

Charging his legs, he jumped out the balcony, making everypony present scream in terror.

*Is that guy crazy?!!* - Pinkamena thought, who remained stunned on the ground floor by his recklessness.

Waving his legs on the air, he casts a spell under his body making the fall speed decrease sightly, but not avoiding of crashing in a table full of food and drinks, throwing all the edible stuff at the guests, creating even more panic.

Pinkamena stood there just watching with her jaw dropped and her face of shock.
Mane got up, with his back hurting from the fall, while every guard on the room getting into position to surround him, scanning the guests and making eye contact with Pinkamena.

She looked at him, then at Fancy Pants, which reaction was the same.
Stunned in place and shocked, looking at the scene just like everypony in the room.

*Oh I see... well done, Mane.*

She dropped her glass of champagne, and slowly takes her hoof to the rose on her head, searching for the switchblade.
Finding It, she starts pulling It out with the same slow motion, to avoid unwanted attention.

While taking cake and fruits pieces out of his face, Mane noticed her doing, and fear took possession of his mind.
She was gonna do It no matter what, and he would be caught by the Royal Guard.
Among the guards, a certain identity scared him even more than Princess Celestia's wrath. A white unicorn with blue hair, strong appearance, in a red formal militaristic uniform looking at him straight in the eyes, holding fiercely his fencing sword with his magic.

"You?!" - Said Shining Armor, recognizing Mane like if It was yesterday.

"Surprised?" - He mocked.

"Not at all! After all the scum I battled on the Crystal Empire!"

Fueled by adrenaline and his reckless nature, he took his next action.

*NOT ON MY WATCH!* - With this thought on his head, he casted a hasting spell on his legs, and in half second, he started to run super fast in their direction, just before the Royal Guard could close the circle, and also getting hide by the captain's weapon, who nearly hit Mane's body, just to strike the marble floor, chipping It

She putted the steel end of her weapon out, and covering Fancy Pant's mouth with one hoof and leaning the blade on his neck, making the colt flinch, who quickly noticed what she was about to do. Just like the other times, he was about to be killed, and this time was for sure.
His companion Fleur Dee Lis noticed the situation, and stepped back in panic, who led her to faint.

"*Life is a party..." - She whispered on his ear.

He tried to scream, but muffled by her hoofs, only sounds came out, unheard due to the disorder of guards around the room.
In a second, Mane tackled the victim, making him bump on Pinkamena, who lost grip of the switchblade, letting it fall on the marble floor.

"What is wrong with you?!" - She screamed at him, while trying to get up.

"No time for that!" - Shouted Mane, while grabbing her and for his last move, he jumped out of the window, crashing into pieces what was once the royal glass work representing the Sun Princess and all her glory...

"MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANE!!!" - She screamed while rolling down the hill, constantly being stopped by bushes and small trees. Hurting her back and arms, legs alike. Same situation to Mane, who was still being drive by his rush.

They finally landed on the end of the hill, with the palace on top showing a beam of light from the window where they jumped.
Her dress was all torn, and their bodies full of bruises from the trip downwards.

"P-Pinka..." - He tried to speak with his hurt neck - "Are y-you alright..?"

"Fuck you..." - Was her only answer, taking some tree branches out of her pink hair.

Metal noises started to be heard in the distance, along with some lights. Clearly the Royal Guard in search. A magic flashlight from the opposite side spotted the two ponies, followed by a scream revealing their position.

All the other battalions changed their tracks to the source of the help call.

But It was not over yet... Even with his legs hurt from the fall and haste spell, he again grabbed the girl and this time, he drove themselves to a river, which stream was too strong to be battled against.
Panicking by the speed, the two fugitives struggled to stay on the surface, while the water kept washing them away, when yet, another noise started to be heard in the distance. Turning around, the river revealed Equestria's biggest waterfall.
The waterfall that provides water to one of Equestria's river, starting from Canterlot, falling the mountain and passing through Ponyville and Everfree Forest, and ending close to Los Pegasus, on the sea.

The pink mare's head rushed into panic, making her swim horizontally in Mane's direction.
And hugging each other tightly, they fell down river, screaming on top of their lungs in terror...

Author's Note

What a night...

And he didn't get his first kiss... :fluttercry:

8 Judgement

Ponyville.
Town of the three races, closest city/town to the Canterlot Capital, and House for the Elements of Harmony.
Close to the creepy Everfree Forest, and the center of Equestria.
At night can still be a beautiful place like Canterlot, thanks to the charismatic residents, but not that night since great part of them went to the Midnight Gala. It was away of being over, which dramatically ended up without even reaching to the middle of the night.

Canterlot's Castle started to get empty, with their guests shocked and the topic was what just happened, from the starting from the exploding sound from one of Celestia's magic blasts, to when the party crashers jumped to their supposed death.

Somewhere in the outskirts of Ponyville close to the river, the two responsible end their watery cold trip, being washed away on the wet dirt, half unconscious, exhausted and hurt in every part of their bodies.
They luckily survived the fall, being the end end of the waterfall the deepest last on Equestria due to the continuous huge fall of the water for centuries digging the ground. But didn't avoid the almost death by drowning, result of the huge fall and lake's depth.

The pink mare dragged with difficulties Mane away from the water, who was barely waking up, coughing water and battling his headache from the excessive adrenaline rush back in Canterlot.

"Mane! Speak with me!" - begged Pinkamena, while shaking his head - "Are you with me?"

"I've b-been better..." - He simply said

"I bet you have... can you move?"

"Barely..."

He tried to get on his hooves, but quickly goes down with the brushes and overwhelming pains on his legs.
She proceed to helping him by getting him on his hooves and getting one of them over her shoulders, they began walking slowly to the streets, both shivering from the cold water alike the cold night, with the only sounds of their steps, crickets and the wind.

The streets were empty, with the residents inside their houses, while in the distance some carriages with returning guests from the gala coming back, they decided to hurry up, with fear the Royal Guard would come with them too.
They opened the trapdoor leading to the hideout with some difficulties, and passed the secret door in the decoy.
Basement sweet basement...

"C-come with me..." - Pinkamena said.

Mane followed her silent, and she showed a first aid box. There weren't enough for both, and they ended up sharing, with Mane giving most of his part to her, being used to be injured and fatigued due to his past adventures. She didn't thank, instead retrieving a deadly look in his eyes.

"I'm gonna rest..." - He said after finishing rolling a bandage round one of his legs, covering majority of the bruises.

"Go and don't show up in front of me." - She said angrily.

He headed to his small room with a small mattress on the floor, the bed frame was still to be built. He closes the door and lays painfully on the comfortable mattress and let the dizziness take care of the fall asleep part.

In the next morning, he start waking up, but expecting a comfortable feeling of his unfinished bed, he felt a hard surface.
He starts opening his eyes and recognizes a certain scenario. He's on a table with his belly to the surface, with his legs tied by ropes to the table's legs, and a magic ring on his horn. Pinkamena, with two of her legs bandaged and band-aids all over her body, enters with a letter, a journal "Equestria Press" and something that made him flinch, a large wooden board.

She closes the door and stands in place with a serious look in her eyes. They stood there looking at each other on the eyes, and she advanced towards the tied stallion. She opens the journal in front of him, and the headline reads:
- "Midnight Gala Crash. Infiltration, Attempt of Murder and Royal Fury."

He diverts his look into the pink mare, now showing a unpleasing grin of rage. She opens the journal and starts reading:

"Midnight Gala, one of Equestria's yearly event, last night, was abruptly interrupted when one unicorn well know among the Royal Guard know as Mane Shaker infiltrated on the Royal Castle and was found by our highness Princess Celestia herself, hiding on her sister Princess Luna's bedroom, with an unknown purpose. Escaping an attack of the princess and chased by the Royal Guard and the our highness herself, who even called him by his name, the stallion proceeded to crash the party by jumping to the table, throwing food all over the place and guests alike. Escaping again with an unusual spell, he crashes against the guests, grabbing a mare and jumping out the window, crashing the glass work with the figure of Princess Celestia..."

Mane stood silent, without a clear expression because he lived the experience himself, sweating a bit from remembering having Shining Armor in front of him. And his thoughts got interrupted when Pinkamena landed the board on his back with a slamming noise of wood in body, making him scream from the impact plus his injuries from his reckless escape.

"D-Diane! Please! L-Let me speak!" - He begged with tears on his eyes.

"Shut the fuck up! I'm not done yet!" - Pinkamena shouted at him, delivering a punch on his left cheek. - "I'm also a loser..."

"Wha-what..?"

She opened the journal, and started reading a different article:

"Fancy Pants escapes murder!

"The fashion critic and celebrity, Fancy Pants from Manehatten, last night was also a target from the event, when further investigation from the Royal Guard, revealed the abducted mare by the infiltrator was actually the murder, who seemed contracted by an underground crime organization, took chance of the distraction to try murder Fancy Pants from the back, when Mane Shaker crashed into the celebrity, avoiding the murder. According to Fancy Pants later at night, he reported something that made the Royal Guard Captain, Shining Armor shiver in his spine, but also the whole force happy.
According to the celebrity and his report, she whispered at him "Life is a Party", giving away her supposed entity, which according to reports, is no pony else but the infamous "Cupcake Killer", also know as Pinkamena Diane Pie, clue given by the message she used to leave in her crime scenes written on the walls or floor next to her victims. A happy event for the Royal Guard for finally having a report from many guests describing her appearance. Pink dark color, mane of same color but darker, with three balloons for cutie mark, one yellow and two blue. Royal Guard will start a investigation apart to the element of Laughter, Pinkie Pie, attending "Cupcake Killer" shares some of her characteristics. Giving the circumstances she got taken with the infiltrator Mane Shaker, leads to question if they are working togheter.
Even with the huge fall covering their escape, squads revealed they were still alive, and took the river as a escaping way, leading to Equestria's biggest waterfall. Investigation is being conducted in the lake, hills, and futures ones in Ponyville and Everfree Forest."

This time, she didn't take time to bash the board on his bandaged legs, making the stallion screech in overwhelming pain, as if his bones were being smashed. She ended the punishment, breathing heavily, while he kept crying and attempting to break the ropes holding him.
She walks back to his front, and her face gets more enraged, and for last, she unfolds the letter.

"Dear Cupcake Killer.
Seems you couldn't perform a task without blowing your cover. Your name is all over the newspapers, and the streets, everypony speaking of the events and your name, alike your partner, Mane Shaker, am I right..?
My contacts said he sure was a party crasher, just like he interrupted the throat slicing move...
And of course, you're not receiving the 10 000 000 bits.

You better "talk" with him about this...

Best Regards.
- Lil Miss Rarity"

Pinkamena crunches the letter and throws it on the floor, and unleashing her nerves, she assumes her bipedal pose and starts spanking Mane all over his body, not minding the most hurt spots, from his legs to his head, and a slam almost broke his horn.
He screamed and screeched, in hoping a miracle would come to save him.

After five minutes of non-stop punishement, he was all marked, red and purple over his body, some spots bleeding, including a black eye.
Diane gets on his side, and smashes the board on his rear, breaking It, delivering wooden splints all over the floor. She cuts the ropes and Mane was too tired to move. Then she rolls a bandage around his neck, and drags him by the hall, suffocating him while he struggled to get some space between his neck the blood stained bandage.
She throws him inside his room, in the dark, slams the door shut with a bang, and locks the door.

"STARVE TO DEATH! MOTHERUCKER!!!" - She yelled on the other side.

9 Alone(?) in the Dark

Total darkness, he never liked. Always terrified him, which ironically battles his origins.
It has been two days since Pinkamena furiously threw him inside his room, locked from the rest of the world. Adding to his injuries, his stomach didn't stop making noises from hunger, and his whole body was still hurt from her thrashing.

He could barely move, and from his attempt to move, he could tell he had some broken bones, let alone using his magic to heal himself. She was smart during the night before the beating, and this time, disabling his body to not move and glue strongly the magic ring on his horn so he couldn't take It off. Physically and magically disabled, all he could do was mumble his pains from moving in the dark, touching the walls, roll on his mattress trying to find a comfortable way to sleep, which was rare for obvious reasons.

The hunger and injuries were driving him crazy, and to had more, Pinkamena occasionally would bang strongly on the door during the night, making him panic while trying to sleep, showing off her cruelty.

*What have I done to deserve this... why... why..?* - Mane thought.

"You simply ruined a psychopath's work..."

He raised his head, making his neck and spine hurt a lot, and even in the dark, he painfully looked around trying to hear where the voice was coming from.

"Come on... don't you recognize my voice?" - Somepony mocked. - "Did your sanity got so low that you don't even recognize me?"

He stopped to think, fighting against the headaches of sleep deprivation, but he managed to recognize:
"S-Sombra..?"

"Ugh! Finally!" - The ghost revealed his green and red eyes, along with familiar the purple flames. - "Ahhh... darkness... home sweet home..."

"P-please... help me..." - Mane begged.

"Mane, Mane... I thought we discussed the rules before... I can't help you directly in real life. I'm DEAD! And It's one of my down sides as your Guardian Demon..."

Mane stood silent, trembling from fear, pains and cold. Just listening to his supposed "guardian".

"Seems the change you made on her doesn't help when she gets mad, uh?"

"I-It seems... I'm so c-cold..."

"Well, knowing you, you don't mind the cold temperatures, but that yesterday on the river was beyond your limits. And wow! What a trip down, am I right?!"

Mane begged him to stop, but he didn't listen.

"Also, the fact you're cold, It's because I can see the amount of blood you just lost... don't worry, your bone marrows... from what is left of them... they can still produce more of your blood type."

"S-Sombra please... shut up..."

"Alright I will..." - And the ghost assumed a more serious voice - "Tell me Mane... did you expect her to forgive you?"

"What d-do you think-k... of course no-not..." - Mane answered somewhat angry.

"I guess this is what would happen to me, if Celestia had more pity on me..."

"I-I'll ask you the s-same... did you expect-t her to-" - He got interrupted, starting to cough and he could feel the metallic flavor from his blood. - "...did you expect her... to f-forgive you, after what y-you have done..?"

"You know Mane... after all these year in Tirek's Hell, I've managed to feel what I've done to all those in the Crystal Empire. And I somewhat learned my lesson." - Said Sombra in a sad tone.

In the short silence, Mane started to hear Pinkamena walking around the hall, and suddenly stopped.
Mane remained silent, as well Sombra even if she couldn't hear him. And from surprise, she loudly banged the door three times, stronger than the other nights, making the injured stallion flinch on the mattress resulting in some slight pains on his back. Then, she walked away mumbling something.
The ghost of King Sombra didn't move, and looked at Mane in the dark, and he was crying from fear of her, expecting one day she would bash the door down with an axe to finish him down just to get It over with.

-Hey... um..." - Even if he was the demon ghost from the past, he tried to find some words that could comfort him from his situation.

"Wha-what..?" - Mane whispered, looking at the direction of his voice.

"She's beautiful." - He tried.

"I don't k-know how such beauty can b-be this cruel..."

"You know... someponies can hide many things that others wouldn't expect from them. But seems she never hid them."

"It looks so... except on the gala..."

"We Five saw her all the time, she did a really good job... And this reminds me... YOU! You almost got in bed with Princess Luna!"

"Al-almost..."

"Needless to say, you two had a very happy past when you were younger."

"She was like the mother I n-never had..."

"Hey Mane... despise your situation, but I hope this helps. Your mother was just beautiful... just like Luna and Pinkamena."

"R-Really..?"

"Really..."

The words from his death familiar made him cry, not from sadness, but for the rare occasion, of happiness. He never got to meet his parents, being his uncle who took the parental role. His tears touched some bruises on his face, making them hurt but he didn't mind.

"Sorry I can't do anything..." - Sombra apologized.

"It's o-okay... It seems my time arrived..."

"Last thing you can't lose is hope."

"Well, I-I lost mine last night..."

"Then you're pretty much death."

"I just wish It-t could be f-faster."

"I guess... I would be passing the same if I was on Canterlot's catacombs. But instead, Celestia executed me right there on my own palace. With the holy Solar Flare at everyponies eyes."

"I remember I-It... as if It was y-yesterday..."

"I'm sorry again you had to watch It. You could have just turned your eyes away..."

"You know how suspense situations a-are..."

"Just like the battle I had with them..." - Sombra looked around the small room, he could see in the dark except Mane, who could have done his night vision spell, but the ring was glued firmly to his horn. - "Mane, I must go now... I'm sorry..."

"Just go then... m-maybe in some days, or hours... we will be together again..."

"Bye, just don't lose your hope..." - And with this last words, Sombra vanished.

He was alone again, in the hated dark. Pinkamena passed by the door, without doing nothing. He meditated on his hurt head the last words from Sombra. He curled on his mattress, making several parts of his body hurt, finally getting a position It wouldn't hurt anywhere.
He was right, he couldn't lose his hope. He didn't come that far to die there, but in his situation, all he could do was wait for a miracle, or the creepy mare to forgive him.

Waiting was the key. But time passes way slower when you are hungry, and his stomach returned with the noises.
Mane Shaker slowly turns his head and opening his mouth, he tries to bite the mattress. No use, his skull was too hurt, plus the taste of cloth was not the most pleasing even if starving.
He gave up on the attempt and rested his head back on the pillow.

"P-Pinka..?" - He called.

No answer. All he could do was wait...

10 Miracle

In front of the mirror, Pinkamena stood, taking out the last band-aids from her body, struggling against their glue pulling her coat.
Finishing that job, she walked out to the hall in the living room direction.

*Why couldn't that idiot wait?*

She spent those last days wishing death and torments to everypony on Equestria. Since that day of punishement against Mane, she never felt like that, like her former evil self. Pinkamena knew she could have finished the stallion right there in his sleep with one cold stab, but instead, she decided to go through a torture session and leaving him to his slow fate.

On her way, she stopped by his door and putted her ear against the door. Death silence. The enraged mare turned around and kicked the door, showing her cruelty, making Mane scream from the other side in horror. He was probably sleeping, and interrupting It made her feel somewhat better,

Diane entered the room, and stopped, gazing the table under the light bulb, with rope parts still tied to It's legs, and some blood splits on the floor along with wooden splints. In the corner of the room, the broken wooden plank she used on her doing.
The really dark blood from Mane made her think, as if It was hypnotizing her. It was darker than normal, which made her question between some details she read between the lines.

A knock on a door broke her concentration. She walked fast to Mane's door and waited, but nothing...
Then she walked down the hall, and in It's end, she activated the mechanisms opening the secret door. She peeked, and nopony to be found besides herself, and in the floor, a small box and a letter.
Pinkamena picked a crowbar from behind the door, and putting It between the wooden boards, she opened It without any difficulties, and the content made her drop her jaw in surprise and random factor.

Bits! Loads of them!
She rushed to open the letter demanding answers, there was too much going on in her head.

"Dear "Cupcake Killer"

Seems the unexpected happened and I just got notice two days ago!
According to my contacts on the gala, your partner rammed against Fancy Pants (with a speed spell, they said) and he ended up with broken ribs, and your partner is pretty creative, stabbing the guy in the neck with his horn.

The bastard is in Manehatten's Hospital in the emergencies! Half unconscious and connected to the machines. It sure damaged his career and reputation, and my sales went up high two days after It and I was wondering why...
The press didn't talk about his, under demand of Celestia herself, and according to my contacts in Canterlot, Mane's reward on his head raised up higher than before! (Yes, we knew about him way before he meets you.)

Anyway... I said 10 000 000 before, but since he managed to stay alive, I've reduced to 400 000 bits.
Enjoy your "accidental" reward.

Best Regards.
- Lil Miss Rarity"

Pinkamena couldn't hardly believe in just what she just read. Looked into the box full of money to check if she wasn't hallucinating.
She took a second read to the letter, and this time noticing something she didn't read:

- "PS: I think you should talk with your partner... if you "talked" with him..."

Suddenly, Diane snapped and ran inside the basement, shocking against Mane's door in a huge try to open It.
No use, she needed the key. She ran back and forth around the underground house throwing everything in the air in a desperate hope to find It quick. Not in the bedroom, nor the living room, much less in the bathroom or the other divisions.

*Think Diane! Think! Where the fuck you put the key?!* - She stopped to think, and the kitchen was nor searched.

She rushed to the kitchen in panic, opening shelves and throwing the cutlery in the air. Opening shelves and shoving the pots and other stuff away making them fall. And in the end, she found the key in the most convenient place, on top of the new fridge.
She smiled, and running back to Mane's door, she unlocked, opened the room and turned the lights on in hopes of finding him alive, which luckily he was, but she stumbled in a scenario that almost made her disgorge her lunch, even though she was used to those scenes, that one was beyond her level.

The room was stinking so bad that a fly would not even survive. There were pools of dry blood on the walls and floor, so dark just like the blood she saw on the other room, and in a corner, piss stains on the walls and excrement.
In the corner facing the door curled against the wall, Mane seated on the blood stained mattress, covering his eyes from the light due to It's deprivation in those days and nights, where the sleep suppression made the damage to his sanity.
Mane's hair and tail was even messier, and his jacket covered in dust. His healthy body was now skeletal from starving, even to the point where he lost some of his grey color making him more light, and all covered in bloody bandages, and wounds. Some were closed in a scar, and some were moist and open, probably infected.

"P-please... do I-It quick-k..." - He begged dragging his raspy voice.

"I'm not here for that!" - She exploded into tears in her blue eyes.

Mane slowly lowered his arm, revealing his tired green bloodshot eyes surrounded in eye bags from the sleepless nights, in fear of expecting a final blow from Pinkamena.

"I'm so sorry Mane!" - She screamed.

"Urghh..." - He moaned.

"What?!"

His only answer was another raspy moan, and she realized. Pinkamena ran and came back with a glass of water.
But by the time she came back, Mane was with his head on the red floor, and moments later she noticed he wasn't breathing or emitting any sound. She poked him, no reaction.

"Mane..?"
...

"Mane!" - She grabbed him by his jacket and started shaking him frenetically - "MANE! WAKE UP! PLEASE! I'M SORRY! I'M REALLY SORRY!"

His head followed the moves while she was wagging him back and forth in hopes, and no response from the colt.
She dropped him, with her mind going one thousands miles per hour, she ran away through the hall yelling her lungs out.

"FUCK!!! FUCK! FUck! Fuck... fuck... fuck... fuck..."

And her voice faded through the hall...

Author's Note

Miracles can happen. You make them happen, or by a freak accident...

11 Questions

Pinkamena couldn't stop walking around the bed, constantly begging a miracle to wake Mane up.
Her skills in dissecting the dead corpses paid off knowledge of anatomy, and in the black market of organs, some smuggled medicine books increased her wisdom even more.
What was once the room where she used to pile the bodies turned into a makeshift operational room, equipped with a bed, a "do-It-yourself" defibrillator with two wires and huge battery from some machine, a light bulb right above the bed on the center, and of course, the classic surgery tools.

After hours of intense stress, opening and sewing a half dead stallion, Pinkamena plugged a bag of serum and another of blood in her friend, and feeding to his mouth while he was on a coma. Constantly checking the serum and his state, like if he was still breathing and if the sewed zones didn't open. It was a chore she spent doing in the last days.

The operation wasn't easy at all, attending Mane's state that day when she returned to give him water, just to find him at the gates of death. Along with that, her panic attack didn't make things easy but the rush made her fast enough to act in preparing the things to save him. Broken bones, weaken muscles, internal bleeding, she sure made a number on him in that day after the gala.

"Wake up, dammit!" - Pinkamena shout, but there was no answer. - "I'm sorry! I'm sick of screaming you this! I'M SORRY! Please! Wake up!!!"

Diane didn't sleep for days, always watching him in his coma.
Keep on watch.
Feed him.
Check the serum.
Check the blood.
Keep on watch.
Repeat...

*What have I done to you..? Yet, you saved me now I'm saving you from my doing... You gave me an order that day. Control myself, but I didn't manage to... I'm so sorry I failed you... In these last two months, you were my only friend in this world... you didn't kill me but you saw potential instead, and gave me a new life... and this is how I paid you...*

Pinkamena started to cry a little on her thoughts, she killed so many innocents and almost killed her only friend in her new self, failing part of her promise. But she snapped and questions started raising.
She went to the living room and grabbed the last week's journal, and took a reading of the big topic.

"Escaping an attack of the princess and chased by the Royal Guard and the our highness herself, who even called him by his name."

*By his name... as if... she knew him?*

-Who is he? What is his past? What is with the jacket I can't touch..? Even is blood in not normal, darker than others, as if It got stained by a flask of ink and red!*

The pink mare stopped, and her mind started swirling in memories. And she see's herself in the gala, behind Fancy Pants watching the whole scene when Mane was getting surrounded by the Royal Guards. And a particular moment caught her attention, when the captain Shining Armor confronted Mane, not only recognizing him, but mentioning the far lands from the Crystal Empire and a certain war.

Back into reality, she approached the bed and looked at the sleeping stallion involved in bandages. Diane couldn't believe she operated on a crystal pony, unique for their ability to turn into crystal and other minerals, and the capacity to cannot be replicated by the infamous race of changelings. That alone made her respect for him grow a bit more, but there was still more to know about...

A strange feeling filled the room, making Mane's open mouth slightly move, while his breathing started to sound louder.
He coughed heavily and opened his eyes slowly, but quickly closed them again. Pinkamena jumped from the chair in surprise and started saying his name again and again.

"P-please..." - he whispered.

"What Mane! Just say!"

"The light... k-kill It..." - His eyes got really tired from the lack of light. From the prisoner days in his bedroom, to the coma days.

The mare quickly obeyed and turned off the light, and lit a candle. The poor light of the little flame was enough for his eyes, and they had the same appearance from the day she opened the door. Dark circled and bloodshot, but somewhat alive.
His expression towards her was blank. He didn't knew how to react or say. Beaten, imprisoned, and now saved by the same responsible.

Unlike him, Pinka's expression turned from worry to guilt. She started crying and buried her face on the bed sheets, sobbing and washing her tears, while saying muffled apologies to her friend.

"Mane... I'm really sorry! But after this, I doubt you will look at me the same way before. I lost all my control that day! I didn't meant to!"

He didn't answer, just stayed there listening her sayings. Taking a look at the serum bags, the dishes with food bits, and the surgical equipment on the end of the room, barely visible by the weak light of the candle.

"You can leave me! I understand... I'm not a good pony, and I just showed that the worst way possible... I don't deserve your friendship!"

"Pinka..."

"Just say It... I won't show my face to you. I'll get out of the room, if you want to!"

"Diane, sweetie..." - he gently puts his hoof on her head and starts petting her - "I'm not angry..."

"Wha- what?!"

"It's alright, girl... you're forgiven..."

"I... I don't understand! After all I did, you still forgive me?!"

"Diane... please... let's forget this... no hard feelings..."

"N-no! It can't be! I can't go like this!"

"PINKAMENA DIANE PIE!!!" - He screamed at top of his lungs with all his strength, making him cough heavily for some seconds. Pinkamena could feel the fury on his voice, so strong It made her shiver. Even recovering from near death, there was still energy inside of him, as if something else was making him alive.

"S-sorry..." - She whispered in fear.

"You recognized your deeds and feel guilty, that's a huge step in your new self. Be the responsible of your acts and live with their consequences, good or bad ones. So now, let's forget what happened.. shall we..?"

"Okay..." - she accepted.

Mane opened his arms, and she delivered a gentle warm hug. He closed slowly and taking the opportunity to discreetly sniff her pink hair, and driving him comfortable with the same feeling when they made friendship. By surprise, she delivered a small kiss in his cheek and continued to hug him. He blushed deeply and she giggled on him, and ending the cute act she looked at him in the eyes.

"Please... who are you..?" - She asked.

"Um... what do you mean?"

"Mane, please. Princess Celestia herself screamed your name! Damn, even the Royal Guard captain recognized you! And I recall he mention the Crystal Empire!"

"Yeah, I'm from there... far away I know..."

"Mane, please. As a friend... are you hiding something from me..?"

He remained silent, thinking of an answer.
*This girl knows too much... not that I have a problem with that, but another time...*

"Mane?"

"Perhaps another time, let me recover."

"Please! I just wanna know, I won't react badly, I promise!"

"Listen cutie..." - he said making her blush - "... how bad you wanna know?"

"Hum... really bad?"

"Then save that wish for another day in another month... I will tell you one day, I promise, and the wait will make It more satisfying..."

She cleaned her tears and smiled. A promise was a promise, and she could wait. Mane should recover from the injuries, and with her accepting her lesson of recognition, made him more comfortable towards her. There was still hope on her.

For the rest of the day, It was passed with her explaining what happened regarding the contract, to the surgery she performed and her diagnosis. With Mane occasionally coughing and needing her help. His treatment nearly ended after some weeks, with him walking slowly around the basement, sometimes rambling about the pains on his chest from the broken ribs in recovery.
Pinkamena continued her chores around the place, and getting the new habit to walk outside the basement at night to get some food, always checking her back since the Royal Guard now knew her appearance.
And to make things worse, the troops had settled an outpost in Ponyville, as if they knew they were there.

In the end, she remembered something she forgot in those days.
Grabbing the woode box full of golden bits, she wrote in a paper and putted It on wood cube, with the fake address she used many times, and for the next night, she would go outside and deliver It on the post office.

To: Maud Pie
San Palomino Desert, Rock Farm.
Equestria

Author's Note

I know, kind of a crappy ending, but I was too tired and I didn't update the story for days. and I had to end It somehow... I'll do better, I promise.