Pip blinked at the stallion who stood at the doorway. It was odd to see a unicorn here, especially at this time. He wore tight black pants that seemed more stylish than comfortable in Pip’s opinion along with a silk like shirt that was left open so all could see his upper chest. With a long mane that went down to his shoulders, it was like he was looking at a stallion who looked like he belonged on the cover of one of those cheesy romance novels his mother liked to read. The only difference that Pip could make from that comparison was the way they held their heads. The stallions on the book covers always had their heads down to look at the smaller mare next to them. This stallion, however, even though Pip was much shorter than him had his nose slightly raised in the same manner as the Canterlot Elite. Or Spoiled Milk.

As the stallion began to look annoyed, Pip began to wonder something. How did he know Succubus was here, in this town. Everything he knew about his wife told him that she had lived in the Hanging City all her life until she came to Ponyville. And Pip had lived in Ponyville all his life so he would have remembered this guy. Perhaps he was a mail order husband Succubus had met when she went to see Ms. Match Marker, the mare who brought them together. But that still didn’t answer the question of how he knew she was here. True, there were a few ponies back home who knew that they were in this town, but not even Pip had known where he would be staying when he left.

“Is Succubus here?” the stallion asked again, tilting his head downwards a tad to look at Pp. Pip had seen ponies give him that look before. It was one that said ‘you are insignificant compared to me’. But there was something more behind it, like a timberwolf hiding as it waited for its prey to drop its guard. The smaller stallion could feel his hands begin to sweat slightly while at the same time feeling the beating of his heart increase.

“You’ll have to come back later,” was all Pip said as he closed the door. Or, at least, he tried to. The unicorn’s horn lit up green, freezing Pip on the spot before lifting him into the air. Before Pip could even comprehend what was happening to him he was flung backwards across the house until he hit the wall. He then fell to the floor with a thud as pictures crashed all around him, littering the floor with broken glass as the stallion strode into the house as if he owned it.

The stallion looked around, as if he were waiting for something to happen. “So she is not home,” he said softly as he turned around to close the door. Pip tried to stand, but the magic that surrounded his body refused to let him. “Well then, perhaps you would be kind enough to tell me where she is. I have traveled a long way to see her.”

“There’s no way I-” Pip said before he felt a powerful blow to his chest causing him to cough blood. He looked up at the intruder seeing his horn was still glowing, hands behind his back in an imperial sort of way.

“This is why I prefer mares,” he said. “So much easier for me to bend to my will while not wasting any of my precious time.” Pip felt a sudden blow to his left cheek, which quickly began to swell. “I hate having to become violent, so utterly unbecoming of a stallion such as myself. But, alas, you have nopony to blame this upon but yourself. Thankfully you are a powerless earth pony with no magic to make this more difficult for me.” Pip cried out as he felt a force roughly grabbing his mane, pulling it upwards as his follicles were strained. “So, this will continue until you tell me where Succubus is and, as a reward, I shall grant you a swift death. Or you can oppose me until she returns in which case…” The stallion left the threat hanging in the air as Pip’s head was slammed into the wall.

“Trolley, my Trolley,” wailed Old Flint into his hands as he sat there, his back against the train. Hands soaked with his tears which dripped down onto his pants, he laid there in the dirt as others shuffled around him. None of the passengers knew what to say, what they could say, to him at this moment to give him comfort. The crew of the train had done their best to help, taking his limp body out of the train once they had arrived while he cried out for what he had lost, hoping that being away from where she had passed would do some good.

As Old Flint let out another sob, he wondered the same thing over again: Why? Why had his Trolley killed herself like that? If something was wrong, why didn’t she come to him? Ever since she was a little filly Trolley had always known she could come to him with her problems. Even if he couldn’t fix things right away he would try. At the very least she would have known he was there for her, comforting her like he always did. So why?

“Should we talk to the locals?” came a voice off to his side. “Maybe they could up us figure out what happened to Trolley.” Old Flint lowered his hands as he looked over to see several stewardesses from the train huddled together.

“Doubtful these bat-freaks could help us,” said another, a scowl carried in her voice. “This place is so run down I doubt they even have a police station. Nothing but a damned tourist trap where all the ‘police’ do is help bring foals who wandered off back to their parents. Better off calling up Canterlot and waiting for some real police.”

“But…we know what happened to Trolley,” said a third voice. “Poor dear killed herself. In front of her own father too. Poor dear.”

“Come off it,” said the second voice again. “Use your damned head for a change! That’s the sort of lazy thinking I’d expect from those bat-freaks! Trolley was fine when we left Canterlot but then started acting all funny. Started spending time in the private cart in the back, with that Prince Charming or whatever his name was, more time than she should have and acting like some lovesick fool. In fact, I was going to give her a piece of my mind when we stopped because I covered for her three times.”

“Yeah, I noticed that too,” said the first mare. “The way she looked when she finally came back was so unlike her. Clothing all rumpled. That look on her face.”

“Maybe she just had a crush,” suggested the meek one. “Maybe she confessed her feelings but got rejected real hard.”

“Shut it,” snapped the second voice. “Look, my guess is he was some sort of drug dealer or something. Makes sense I think. Probably got her hooked on something so bad she was willing to do anything. Took advantage of her, had his way, then cut her off dry. Makes sense he’s the only one not here, doesn’t it? Kills herself because of him and he doesn’t want the law asking too many questions.”

“You’ll have a hard time proving that,” said the meek one as she shook her head.

As the three continued to talk, Old Flint lowered his hands to his sides as a wave of pure, white hot anger overtook him. He remembered the state she was in as well as her last words that were forever carved into his memory. His Trolley would never take drugs. At least not willingly. That monster, Prince Charming or whatever, must have slipped or something to take advantage of her. Maybe he had charmed her, making promises in order to get her into bed with him and then tossing her out into the cold. Someway, somehow, that pony had done this to his Trolley and Old Flint was going to make him pay.

Scrambling to his hooves, Old Flint ran to the front of the train while startling everypony there. He paid them no mind as he went in to grab his shovel before heading out into the town. It was the only place that fiend could be. When Old Flint found him there would be blood to pay.

Blueblood was currently in the room Ghostly had provided for him, lying down on the bed as he stared up at the ceiling. His clothing was still in a state that had only ever existed in his most erotic dreams prior. Only he wished it had been because he had been with several sexually starved mares instead of being attacked by the largest spider creatures he had ever seen! At least then there would be a small smile on his face as he considered how he was going to explain his appearance to the Duke before they met. Thankfully, Ghostly was proving to be a most excellent hostess as she was right now searching through her father’s old possessions in search of a proper replacement.

Yet as he laid there, resting from using so much of his magic as well as from the hellishness of his journey, Blueblood wondered if he should be assisting his hostess in some small manner. He knew most nobles would scoff at the mere idea of helping a common in such a way, but he was a prince. A prince who had, at this moment, no access to his fortune and was still receiving kindness from the locals in this sleepy little town. It would be the sort of thing his aunt would appreciate him doing, even if Miss Ghostly refused to allow him to.

Gritting his teeth a bit, Blueblood pushed himself into a sitting position on the bed. As he did, Blueblood noticed a closet on the opposite side of the room. He looked at it for a long moment, thinking that it was possible that the mare of the house might have sorted some clothing in there that might have belonged to her father. If it did then Ghostly could stop looking…wherever she was currently looking. If it didn’t then he could just close the door and no real harm would be done.

So with his mind made up, Blueblood pushed himself off the bed and approached the closet. Slowly he opened it revealing it to be full of cardboard boxes, going up to his chest level. He could easily see that each one that had several areas that had been covered up by marker until there was a single phrase: best offer. This didn’t seem that odd to him. From what he knew thus far the town was struggling. Perhaps she had a yard sale or something like that recently to try and clear out some extra space while trying to earn a few bits. Thinking that there might be something to wear as well as being a bit curious, Blueblood opened one of the boxes.

What laid before him was something he never thought possible in this town. Plates made of pure silver! Or, at least, it looked like it in the low light the room provided. Slowly he reach in and picked one of them up, feeling the weight before bringing it up to his nose. It felt like silver and smelled like it as well. Bringing it away from his face, Blueblood could see that it was engraved with such meticulous detail that it should be a work of art rather than something you ate off of!

As Blueblood continued to examine the plate, a memory from not too long ago began to surface in his mind. He remembered he was at an auction hosted by a pair of unicorn brothers who might have had a history with one of Princess Twilight’s friends. The two held one of these auctions every so often and, normally, Prince Blueblood steered clear of them since most of what they sold was rubbish. But that night had been different for he had been told by a reliable source that they had been selling some higher quality items lately. Sure enough, not long into the auction Blueblood was seeing old fashioned hand crafted items made of pure silver. When asked to prove if it was silver or just silver plated, they allowed the use of magic to prove if it was genuine or not which it surprisingly was real. Seeing how elegant these items were, the nobles were tripping over themselves in order get their hands of them spending hundreds of thousands of bits.

At the time, Blueblood had only though it was odd that the two had come across such amazing items but never paid it much more mind than that. He knew the two had a reputation as con-artists so it was more than likely that they conned some poor fool. Or perhaps, standing here, he wondered if it had been somepony who was just that desperate.

“Prince Blueblood, the Duke is OH,” came the voice of Ghostly as she entered the room. By the time he had turned around, the thestral mare had a hand covering her mouth.

“These plates,” said Blueblood as he looked down at the art in his hands. “Where by chance did you come by these?”

“They belonged to my parents,” replied Ghostly after a moment, lowering her hand as she spoke. “They made them, right here in this house back before…they passed.” Blueblood saw out of the corner of his eye that she was looking away. “With times as tough as they are, I thought I’d sell some of them because I think that they’d want even somepony as ugly as me to be happy. Or at least a tad more secure. But I’ve only been able to sell six boxes at a bit per box.”

At that, Blueblood nearly dropped the plate. He spun around to look at the mare who seemed surprised. “A bit per box?” he repeated. “For such high quality wares?”

Ghostly tilted her head in confusion. “That’s, er, not what I was told,” she said. “I tried to sell them for more, but nopony around here has the bits I was asking for. It was only until the tourist season a year or so back when these two brothers approached me and explained that they were really low quality. That was apparently the reason nopony who visited during the tourist season ever bought anything from me. So I asked them how much they were willing to spend.”

“I,” began Blueblood but stopped himself. He couldn’t believe it! He simply couldn’t believe it. This mare was probably sitting on a fortune. Even if these items were low quality she could probably sell them for the going rate of silver and collect far much more than a single bit per box.

“Oh, right,” she said quickly. “Please forgive me, but Duke Dark Bargain is here and would like to see you now. If you don’t mind.” Blueblood nodded dumbly, not even caring if he wasn’t well dressed anymore as Ghostly left the doorway and was quickly replaced with the stallion he had come here to see.

Blueblood had seen the recently appointed Duke a few times before but had never actually spoken to him. If he were being completely honest, the first time Blueblood saw him he assumed that the stallion was a mob boss. With that scar on his grey coated face, just missing his eye, and that ridiculously long mane tied up in the back along with his dark suit it was hard not to see how anypony could not come to such a conclusion. But today, however, was a different story. Blueblood’s keen eye could make out the signs of fatigue in the other stallion’s coat and his suit looked less sharp than it normally did. The stallion probably hid all this well from those around him, but for a pony like Blueblood he could see the signs of stress and fatigue as clear as day. Thankfully, he did not look like the description of Merry Day.

Despite this, Dark Bargain still held himself like a member of the nobility should as he eyed Blueblood carefully. Once he had finished, the Duke approached the Prince calmly and once he was close enough looked down at the plate Blueblood held. Blueblood watched him as Dark Bargain’s eyes took in the craftsmanship before nodding slowly.

“Such fine work,” murmured Dark Bargain softly. “Wouldn’t you agree Prince Blueblood?”

Blueblood felt a bit more relieved to see that the Duke could tell he was a real prince unlike the fool from the hotel. “Indeed it is truly exquisite. Fewer and fewer items of such skill can be found these days.” The Prince’s hand moved over the plates before gently sliding across it. “Such treasures sold at such cheap prices. I do not wish to speak ill of my hostess, but she was foolish for trusting whoever offered her a bit per box! She should have tried taking something like this to Canterlot. Anyone of the shops there would have paid her something far more reasonable.”

“Perhaps,” said Dark Bargain with a nod as he strode over to the curtained off window. “But it can hardly be surprising that somepony with a past like Ms. Ghostly Stitch’s would feel less inclined to traveling. I do not say this because I know her well, quite the contrary to be honest, but I have seen plenty of mares who have suffered like she has. Sometimes they leave in the hopes that they might find happiness in the world beyond while others are far less lucky. These walls might be the only refuge that Ms. Ghostly has ever known making it harder for her to willingly leave where she might face equal or worse torment for her unsightly appearance. Or, equally likely, she could simply not afford the price to have her parents wares shipped to a place like Canterlot or Manehatten.”

“Unsightly…” began Blueblood, putting the plate away as he looked at the Duke in surprise. What was he on about? Ghostly was a very attractive mare! Blueblood was burning to give the other stallion a piece of his mind, but managed to stop himself. While defending his hostesses was important Blueblood knew he had a duty to uphold. Now was not the time to tell Dark Bargain that he was categorically wrong. So he cleared his throat before speaking. “You seemed to arrive here quickly.”

“Yes,” sighed the Duke sadly. “Bit of trouble going on with the town after the accident at the mines. It appears that the residents here have reached a snapping point and its extent is so great that the mayor contacted the Countess for assistance calming down the rioting. Right now a small number of guards are right now doing their best to help bring order back into the town while I assist in my own way. It was while I was trying to calm down several drunks that Miss Erotic spotted me and proceeded to discreetly inform me that a unicorn claiming to be in service to the crown wished to speak with me.” The Duke paused as he gave Prince Charming a once over again. “I had heard a rumor that a stallion claiming to Prince Blueblood had tried to get a free room for himself and Batibat. At the time, I had assumed that it was just another pony trying to pull a ‘fast one’ if I’m using the term correctly. But I sincerely doubt that any con-pony would adorn himself in clothing of Prench silk made by Fancy Thread of Canterlot.”

Blueblood touched his ruined shirt. “You have a good eye,” commented Blueblood with a half smile. “Good to see you can recognize his work.”

Dark Bargain allowed himself a brief smile as well. “I simply recognized the logo, nothing more my Prince,” he replied before the tired expression returned in fullest. “Your appearance here is unexpected. I had assumed that Princess Celestia was going to wait to hear back from the Countess before making her decision about my position. That as well as having some random errand colt deliver the news of my dismissal.”

Blueblood looked at Dark Bargain with confusion. He knew, of course, what was going on with him as part of his mission. However, the idea that Princess Celestia wouldn’t wait for all the information before making a decision like this was just downright insulting to the crown. Normally the Prince would have made a rude comment at this in order to shame his fellow noble, but he bit his tongue. Given everything he had seen and heard since he first arrived in the forest of webs to this point, it was clear that these ponies were suffering. Had his aunt known about this, she would have done something by now. It was a hard truth that when one rules over such a large land, some areas’ problems can slip through the cracks.

Blueblood paused to consider how to respond to Dark Bargain. Whether or not it was intended, the Prince felt like there was a bit of a threat behind the Duke’s words. Not too long ago he had mentioned riots. Would Dark Bargain throw him to the angry mob outside if he thought his position were in trouble? Or perhaps he would he be given to the spiders that lived in the forest? Neither of those options sounded pleasant to the Prince nor did he believe he could handle either of them.

“Be at ease,” said Dark Bargain as he crossed his arms. “I am sure that Princess Celestia sent you here herself. Should any harm befall you, it would only make things worse on me. To be honest, I’m rather offended that you think me so petty.”

Blueblood blinked as he realized that some of his fear must have shown on his face. So he straightened himself up a bit before taking a calming breath. “It was never my intent to insult you. The journey here has been less than pleasant. A fantastic story to be sure, but I am sadly not the type who goes on life or death excursions. The mind can run away from you so much more easily when one is tired.” Dark Bargain gave him a short nod. “As for my Aunt, I know that she regrets having to put you through all of this. Still she will wait to hear from the Countess before coming to a decision that will be fair. You have my word on that.”

Dark Bargain closed his eyes. “I wish I could believe that,” he said softly. “I truly do.” Dark Bargain slowly opened his eyes. “Yet it has been many years since the Countess has been made welcome in Canterlot thus leaving my tribe without any representation. Few ponies can even remember when Princess Celestia last visited Hollow Shades or the Hanging City, but I do know for a fact that she has visited the surrounding areas on multiple occasions over the years. I have watched as families starve while, on the same day, reading in the papers about a Cake Tasting event that Princess Celestia participated in. Then there is the Mining Safety Committee. With all this, it is hard to believe that any fairness can come from Canterlot.”

Blueblood felt the desire to defend his aunt yet the words could not form in his mind. After being in this town, seeing what they ate to survive, how could he justify or excuse Canterlot’s absence? To allow two towns to ‘slip through the cracks’ as it were. No, there was no excuse. But, he knew that if his aunt knew about this she would be furious. So why didn’t she…

Blueblood’s eyes widened as a horrifying realization came over him. He remembered the mare who had sent him here from Canterlot. Instead of appearing in the Hanging City or even Hollow Shades, he appeared in the middle of a death forest. He might have been able to accept that it had been an honest mistake, that is until he took into account the dead body close to where he appeared. A dead mining inspector that the Mining Committee had failed to report missing. Had that been some new pony that they couldn’t bribe or threaten into going along with whatever was going on? Or was it somepony who had been complicit until his or her conscience finally got the better? Maybe…

“May I pose a question?” asked Blueblood as he felt cold sweat appear on the back of his neck.

“You may,” was the simple reply.

“Let’s say there was somepony trying to keep a secret from the crown,” began Blueblood as he began to pace back and forth. “Perhaps even a group of ponies, and that secret has to do with Hollow Shades. Perhaps even the Hanging City. These ponies have done everything in their power to ensure that Princess Celestia never finds out how bad things are getting. Even going so far as to commit murder.” Blueblood’s hand moved towards his head so that he could run his fingers through his mane. “This has been going on for years without anypony catching on. Then, one night out of the blue, a member of the royal family is sent to this town on official business. Except, he never makes it there. That pony is killed in order to help maintain the secret. But why? How does this help them?” Blueblood turned to look at Dark Bargain who was giving him an uncertain look.

“…Why, may I ask, are you posing me this question?” Dark Bargain asked softly.

Blueblood launched into the tale of his journey. From the moment he left the castle to arriving at Ghostly’s home, Blueblood left no detail out from his exciting tale. Well, mostly. He did neglect to inform Dark Bargain for the reason he was sent here. He did not suspect that the fiend had gotten his hands on Dark Bargain since, while they had been talking, he seemed to be of sound mind. Nor did he appear to have lost the amount of weight described to him by Princess Celestia. There was, however, the chance that Blueblood had arrived before the fiend had. For that reason, Blueblood decided it was best to withhold that small piece of information least it somehow reach his targets ears. It was not like withholding that information bothered the Duke. No, he sat there listening to the story quietly so as to take everything in.

“What I am failing to understand is why they would try to kill me as well,” finished Blueblood. “A common worker pony’s death or disappearance is far easier to cover up. Surely they would know that Princess Celestia would look into my disappearance.”

“Perhaps that is what they want,” said Dark Bargain. He then gestured to Blueblood. “You were to be sent to me by one of Princess Celestia’s trusted mages. Meaning that Princess Celestia would have to believe that she had sent you here. I believe those in Canterlot who wish to take both my mines and status would be quick to accuse me of any wrongdoing. After all, I would be the last pony who was supposed to see you. Imagine how easy it would be for them to say that in my desperation I killed you and hid the body. There are plenty of places to hide a body here. Even if your body was eventually found in the forest, I doubt there would be any evidence left to point away from me. Again, it would be easy to claim that I tossed your body to the wolf-spiders in the hopes that they would leave nothing but your bones.” Dark Bargain paused to rub his chin. “Maybe they could even use your ‘death’ to get rid of the Countess. Once Princess Celestia sees the state Hollow Shades is in, the other nobles could clamor on about how she’s not doing her duty. Perhaps in her angered state, she would believe them.”

“That…” began Blueblood as his voice trailed off. His eyes shot downwards for a brief moment as he collected his thoughts. “That plan seems overly complicated and requires plenty of assumption on how Princess Celestia would react.”

“True,” agreed Dark Bargain with a sigh. “But I am trying my best to give your murders some credit as to how this might benefit them. It does sound better than just blindly killing anypony from Canterlot and trying to cover it up.” Dark Bargain paused for a moment before a smile appeared on his face. “Then again, we are working under the assumption that there is a massive conspiracy at hoof. Maybe your planned death was a bit more personal. By any chance did you break that mare’s heart?”

For a moment, Blueblood stared at the Duke as his mind processed the comment. Soon he too was smiling as well as laughing. It felt good to laugh again after everything that had happened to him. Made him feel like things were going to be alright. He knew that sooner or later he would have to stop, return to the situation at hand, and figure out who might be behind his attempted murder. He would also need to know just how bad things were in this town. After all, if they were eating grounded up cockroaches then there had to be more things wrong. Yet that would have to wait a few more minutes. Blueblood wanted to let this brief moment of happiness last a bit longer.

“How are you feeling?”

Dragonfly opened her eyes a bit, groaning as the pounding in her head was intensified by the light of the morning sun shining into her orbs. She flinched, averting her gaze instantly to see where she was. Or at least as much as she could without moving her head which was currently laying on top of a table. Dragonfly could see that they were across the street from the local hardware store and that the tablecloth that her head was laying on was black with a white coffin pattern to it. As far as she knew there was only one place in Hollow Shades she could be: The Darkest Corner Café. Out of all the places in the town that catered to the tourists looking for a spooky experience this place was the best (AKA the place that had sold out the most). Coming here was like stopping at an all year round Nightmare Night store where you could get food with names like Frightening Fritters or Spinechiller Latté. Dragonfly was glad to see that she couldn’t see any of the staff walking around in those ridiculous outfits that reminded her of something a vampony would wear in one of those cheap after-school movies or plays.

What she did see, however, was Succubus. The large breasted thestral’s eyes were looking down at her full of concern as she sipped something from a plastic glass shaped like a skull. Slowly, Dragonfly lifted herself off the table.

“What happened?” murmured Dragonfly slowly.

Succubus shrugged as she finished sipping her drink. “I have no idea,” she said after removing the straw from her mouth. “I heard a noise outside and found you lying on the ground. You were sort of acting like this one guy who came to the club and had way, way too much salt and cider.” She paused and took another sip of her drink. “Thought about taking you to a doctor, but then I remembered you’re, well, a you-know-what. So instead I began looking for your father until I got tired.”

“Thanks,” groaned Dragonfly as she rubbed her temples. “Not really sure what happened. It felt similar to what it’s like when I’m around newlyweds only times a thousand. I guess,” Dragonfly paused and glanced around before talking, “Changelings get drunk or high or whatever on love when they have too much of it. Or maybe if their bodies can’t handle it. I DON’T KNOW!” Dragonfly suddenly slammed her fist against the table as the pain in her head had a sudden sharp increase before dying down.

If this bothered Succubus, she didn’t show it. She just kept watching Dragonfly looking a little confused. “What do you mean you don’t know? I mean, you are one of them so shouldn’t you know how your body works?”

“No,” breathed Dragonfly. “I have no memories of before Hollow Shades. Everything I know comes from instinct plus a lot of trial and error. Just glad you came by. Don’t want to think what might have happened if any other pony showed up. I might have revealed my secret.” As she gave the large breasted thestral a smile, a thought occurred to her. “Hey, what were you doing in the house before I showed up?”

Succubus smiled and Dragonfly felt a bit of the love she had felt before the world turned upside down emanating from her. “Oh, me and my Pip were finally making love.” Dragonfly stared at Succubus with her mouth hanging open.

“You…were…I…what?”

“Yeah,” sighed Succubus in a longing sort of way. “We hadn’t had any sex since we got on the train. Every time we started it seemed like there was somepony to stop us. So when we FINALLY got a moment I made sure to remind my darling Pip how much I love him.” She let out a small laugh. “Well, and then some.”

“You flooded my family’s house with that much lust?” demanded Dragonfly.

Succubus waved her hand at that. “Well, my Pip is the sexiest stallion I have ever met. Not one of those naughty colts who fools around with just any mare or filly. And the way he looks at me when we make love, seeing all of me! So how could I not lust over such a hunk?” She then gave Dragonfly a sly look. “But this couldn’t be the first time two ponies have made such passion in the sheets at that place. Hasn’t your sister or your father-” Succubus couldn’t say another word, taken aback as Dragonfly quickly covered her ears.

“I’m not hearing this!” shouted the changeling even while her head pounded like mad. “I’m not going to let you put the image of my papa doing…that into my head!”

Succubus sighed. “I’ll take that as a no,” she said sadly as she frowned. “Too bad.”

“Well, we’re waiting for our arranged marriages before we have our first time,” replied Dragonfly, lowering her hands as her face turned red. Slowly she looked away from Succubus. “Or, at least Dragon Fang will be. I’m probably never going to do…that.”

“What?” said Succubus as she stood up. “Why not? Is it because you really have big boobs? If-” Succubus got no further as Dragonfly had launched herself across the table to place a hand over the other’s mouth.

“No you idiot,” hissed Dragonfly as she glared dangerously at Succubus. “It’s not because I have these disgusting large breasts. What happens when my future husband finds out I’m a changeling? My illusion might vanish while having sex or when I’m asleep. If anypony here finds out…” Dragonfly pulled away from Succubus, moving back to her seat with her head hanging.

“Oh, is that all?” asked Succubus in an innocent sounding tone. Dragonfly looked up giving the other mare a death glare while Succubus let her cup down. “Look, if you want that kind of happiness then you won’t find it here where you have to hide who you really are. Trust me on this, I’ve been there. Leaving the Hanging City allowed me to show the world my true sexy self. I know that you’ll find plenty of ponies out there who would love to get to know you and make love with you. They are out there, in the rest of Equestria. Trust me; I’ve heard that there are plenty of stallions and mares out there who are always fantasizing what it would be like have sex with a changeling. Not to mention the bonus of you being able to turn into any other pony you want.”

“Great, turn me into a prostitute who makes my clients dirty wishes come true,” growled Dragonfly as she held her head with both her hands. “Yeah, that’s just what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.”

“Well, actually I was thinking you could just strip in both your true form and then maybe shake it up from time to time,” replied Succubus. “Just imagine dancing nude before a crowd, turning into each member of the Elements of Harmony while doing so. Or perhaps some other famous ponies like Songbird or Sapphire Shores.”

“…What happens when word gets back here that I’m doing that?” asked Dragonfly. “I’m not like you. I actually love my papa. If word gets back here that I’m a you-know-what then the thestrals around here will be angry with him. They might lock him up or worse! My sister, what about her!?! She’ll be kicked out of the local guard because she grew up with me and never reported it. They’ll never trust her! And I can’t just leave my home when its struggling like this! I care about my home! I’d-”

“Fine, fine,” interrupted Succubus as she leaned back in her seat. “All I am trying to do is help you in the only way I know that works. But if you’re that worried, I might have another idea that could help.”

Dragonfly raised an eyebrow at that while leaning back in her seat. Everything she knew about this childish mare told her that Succubus would probably bring up something erotic. Perhaps Succubus was going to suggest that she do some nude modeling for painters or magazines. It was almost humorous to think about that. Dragonfly could become any mare, any shape, any coloration that was needed and the magazine would only have to pay one mare. That might work out if she could convince them to make up several fake names in order to keep her name out of those books. However, there was still the chance that some angry model would find out about her and do everything in her power to ruin her. Maybe Succubus’ suggestion was that she simply date for money. Great, she might not be a hooker but she could still run the chance of being a homewrecker! What else was there?

“See, I was talking to Pip and we came up with this great idea for everypony to get what they want,” continued Succubus when Dragonfly hadn’t said anything for a while. “If my brother loses his title, I was wondering if you could be the family steward until Banshee became of age!”

Dragonfly felt her brain shut down as she gaped with open mouth at Succubus. She had to have misheard her. There was no way that she was suggesting that she become a steward! It was just…insane!

“Please tell me you’re joking,” muttered Dragonfly. However, one look at Succubus told her that she was not. Not giving the mare a chance to answer, Dragonfly slammed a palm onto the table. “Do you have any idea how bad of an idea that is?”

Succubus shrugged. “Not really,” she answered calmly. “I think it works out for everypony. You want to help Hollow Shades and I want to leave but I also don’t want my family to be homeless. As far as I know, you’re the only pony who would gladly surrender this power since the longer you stay in the Hanging City the greater the chance will be of you being caught. You said it yourself, you can’t get married to another thestral because your illusion might drop in the heat of the moment. Well, that and you might give birth to a thestral changeling hybrid which might turn out to be sexy like you.”

Dragonfly felt her eyes narrow. “Let me guess, if I say no you’ll blab my secret?”

“Nope!” replied Succubus cheerfully, surprising Dragonfly. “Look, I know that if I force you to do this you’ll snap sooner or later. Being in charge of something as big as this puts a lot of pressure on a pony. Believe me, I’ve seen it in my parents. With all that on you plus the knowledge that you are there because I forced you to won’t make you do the job any better. You might just lunge at somepony or have a mental breakdown. Maybe you’ll even decide to try and sell the mine just to get back at me before you realize what you’ve done. I just think it’ll be better if you choose to do this on your own.” Succubus then reached over to touch Dragonfly. “I won’t lie and say that you being what you are doesn’t have something to do with my decision. And I know that this is a big risk for you. But it’s the best I can come up with right now. You’re the only pony I really know who could do this.”

Dragonfly looked away from Succubus. This was a chance of a lifetime. She might not be able to fix every problem or even one. But the thestrals around Hollow Shades knew her and they would probably calm down. They, like Succubus, knew she would never sell the mines to anypony and all of the ponies who worked in the mines would keep their jobs. The tension that was building in Hollow Shades would most certainly lessen to the point where thestrals would stop talking about leaving their homeland. Or burning the rest of Equestria to the ground. Protecting their home as well as their way of life was what mattered. However, Succubus was right about something else: this was a big risk. The thestrals in the Hanging City were more alert for Changelings seeing how easy it was nowadays to go through the tunnels. New security methods of detecting them were always a high priority. If she did anything to stop or stall them, then her position would most certainly be called into question. If she were ever discovered…

Was it worth the risk?

“I…I need some time to think about this,” said Dragonfly at last, pulling away a bit from Succubus.

“Well, hopefully it won’t come to that,” replied Succubus. “I mean, it’ll only happen if-”

“Succubus!” came a loud squealing voice. Both mares turned to see Banshee standing at the now opened door to the café looking positively thrilled. Before anypony could say or do anything, the filly had leapt into the air and flown towards her older sister so as to wrap her small arms around the mare’s neck.

“Banshee,” said a startled Succubus before hugging the younger thestral. “What are you doing here? Isn’t it past your bedtime?”

“I’m not a foal,” said the young filly gently as she hugged her older sister. “I can stay up late if I want to. Besides, Dark said it was ok this time. He had to come up here to deal with something important and I bugged him until he said I could come. Said that you could deal with me for a while until he was done with him business.”

“Ok, but how did you find us?” asked Dragonfly curiously. Banshee didn’t say a word, only pointing to the window near them. Dragonfly took this to mean she must have spotted them through the window as she was traveling by. It was probably easy since Succubus’ attire stood out like a spot light and that they were the only ones in the café.

“Well, how about we make things a bit easier on Dark and head to Steal Fang’s house,” said Succubus as she stood up. “The last thing we want to do is worry him. And I’m sure by now my Pip is fully rested. Or at least rested enough for now.”

As Dragonfly stood up as well, rolling her eyes at the comment, she noticed Banshee giving her sister an odd look. “Why? What happened?”

Succubus grinned like the cat who got the canary. “Oh, I’ll tell you one day,” she said. “Trust me, there is no way I’m going to let Dark handle that talk.” Rolling her eyes, Dragonfly also began to stand. As she turned around her eyes widened in both shock and horror at what she saw. Both Succubus and Banshee had their backs towards her, with Banshee having been let go so she could walk next to her sister while holding her hand. And, tied to her back, was a new doll.

“You are truly trying my patience,” sighed Prince Charming as he looked in the refrigerator for some fancy bottled water. However, like most of the cabinets, there was scarcely anything that he would deem edible for even the lowest class of pony. The few things he saw were bowls a quarter full of what looked like mush the color of vomit. Green vomit. Brown vomit. Yellow vomit. Nostrils flared in annoyance, he closed the door to turn back to look at his very unwilling host.

The small, pathetic stallion before him looked like he had seen better days. Both of his eyes had dark rings around them and seemed almost closed tightly due to the swelling. Blood was trickling down his lips while both cheeks had swelled as well. Magic was holding both palms of his hands against the ground as his fingers were pulled upwards as far as they could normally go. All it would take was a thought and Charming could have them touching the back of his hands like he had done so not too long ago. The false prince knew without needing to look that welts and bruises covered his victims torso.

“Won’t…tell…anything,” breathed the pathetic stallion in labored breaths. This caused Prince Charming to frown deeply.

“A part of me can understand why you’d want to fight this much,” replied Charming as he walked over to whatever his name was, stopping so that his hoof was right on the tiny stallion’s leg. “I’m sure a mare like that is fun for you to have your way with. Fucking her like the one bit whore that she is. Don’t try to deny it; I can smell what the two of you were up to as soon as I entered this barn. I bet even somepony as amazing as me wouldn’t tire of her so quickly. But let’s face facts; I will get her in the end. So why not make it easier on yourself and just tell me where she is.” Charming watched as whatever that stallion was called slowly looked up at him. For a moment, Charming believed he had come to his senses and was ready to tell him everything.

“I…won’t…betray…her,” breathed the pathetic stallion, causing Charming’s eyes to narrow. “And…she…won’t…betray…me.”

Rolling his eyes at this, Charming put all his weight on the stallion’s leg. He heard a crack right before the insane stallion beneath him cried out in pain. The whole thing was simply too annoying, this fool actually believed in the absurd concept of love. There was, after all, no such thing. Love was nothing more than an illusion created by idiots. A greater form of lust and just as shallow, based solely on how attractive both parties found each other. If it were real, however, it had to be the weakest thing Prince Charming had ever seen. So many ‘romantics’ believed it to be a powerful force yet he knew better. How many times he had turned a daughter against her boyfriend and parents because she ‘loved’ him more? So easily did he turn a fiancée against her husband to be, leaving that sad sap for him until he grew bored. Heck, he had even done the same thing with his own mother, turning a once upstanding mare in the community into his own personal cock warmer because she ‘loved’ him more than her husband. It’s not like he ever did anything wrong, these things would have happened sooner or later. All he had ever done was speed up the process and direct their ‘love’ towards him. Anything else that happened could hardly be considered his fault. How could it be when they choose to end their lives because they lusted after him so badly that they could not live without him?

Prince Charming’s horn lit up, sending a powerful blow into what’s his name’s gut to silence him. Sneering at the pitiful creature at his mercy, Prince Charming pondered what to do with this wretch. Perhaps he should start pulling teeth as well as bending his fingers? Hmm, that might get some blood on him which he didn’t want. Blood stained so easily. Perhaps he could use his magic to hold his lungs still? That might be a challenge. He could just-

“Pip,” came a sing song voice from the other side of the front door. Slowly, Charming turned to look at the door knob to see it turn but not open. He had locked before he started in earnest as he did not want to be interrupted torturing this fool. “Pip dear, I think I locked the door before I left. I know you’re tired from that marathon we had but could you please open the door?”

“Please Succubus, shut up,” groaned another mare’s voice. “I have a key.”

The Prince did not wait for her to unlock the door. Upon hearing the mare’s name, Prince Charming strode over to the door, unlocked it himself, and opened it. He then smiled as he saw her, in the flesh, for the first time. Her eyes widened before looking confused, most likely because she had never before laid eyes on a more attractive and perfect specimen. That was, after all, the reason he had gotten his surgery, so that he would look like every mare’s dream stallion.

“Greetings,” he said as he reached out a hand to touch her cheek, his horn glowing green. He only just registered the two other mares with her, but they would be of little concern. All he had to do was employ the same magic on them and all of his troubles would be gone. Time seemed to crawl by, allowing Prince Charming to better savor this single moment where all of his dreams would come true. First things first, he would make sure that Succubus would become single again by getting her to murder her former ‘love’. Yes, that would be a fitting punishment for the annoyance that tiny colt caused him. Charming would relish his attempts to plead with her as she killed him in a way to prove herself. Then, he would marry Succubus which should go smoothly. After all, everypony who saw him would know instantly that this mare had traded up! Once that was finished he could move on to phase two. All he had to do was wait for Canterlot to remove Duke whatever his name is so that Succubus and he became the new Duke and Duchess. If, for some reason, Canterlot began to lean in the former Duke’s favor he could always frame him for murder or make him vanish. Just find some stupid mare and get her to do all the dirty work for him. Nothing he hadn’t done before.

From there, it would be a waiting game. He didn’t care about this shit hole or anything like that. No, everything here could rot for he had grander plans for himself. Sooner or later, he would be invited to the castle by Princess Celestia herself to have breakfast where it would be just the three of them. Then he would have her. He would do to her the same he had done with so many, only difference was he would never let that one go. Charming would make himself her entire world so that she would want to marry him followed by doing everything in her power to make him immortal as well. Perhaps he would keep Succubus around as his personal fuck toy as well as her little sister when she was old enough. That is if she grew to be as attractive as her sister for, if not, he would simply get rid of her for good. With Celestia under his sway, he would move on to the other Princess’. One by one he would make them his, having them kill their husbands (except for Twilight’s wife Sunset, he would test her out to see if she was worthy enough to be allowed to live as his sex slave). Until the end of time, he would live in the lap of luxury while his stupid mares did all the hard work.

Smiling, Prince Charming’s hand made contact with Succubus’ cheek. He had won.

Author's Note

Next chapter: The Fall

(lightning flashes in the background)