The door to Flash Sentry's bedroom locked with a click as he shut it behind him, caring not for the resulting slam. She had been there. Sunset Shimmer had been at the charity concert, and he hadn't even noticed her. He cursed under his breath, tossing his guitar onto his bed, before swearing again. He wouldn't have even known she was there if he didn't glance at Trixie's phone after her performance, as it had had a text from Sunset saying she was leaving, or something of the sort, Flash didn't exactly have all the time in the world to read it since Trixie had responded almost immediately. He looked over his room, trying to find something to motivate him, or just distract his attention. He was on winter break now, and he couldn't just stew on not talking to Sunset for the whole break, especially not after that. He paused at his notebook of newspaper clippings, the latest additions reporting that Andromalius had busted a changeling hive, complete with the computers besides them that clearly marked them as both criminals, and profitable ones.

Flash paused before his eyes moved to his mantle, focusing on a pair of old revolvers sat that there, worn from use over almost a hundred years. Heirlooms from his own family's history, consisting of a line of police officers that originated in the wild west, where they started as marshals. Both those pistols had been used to bring justice to outlaws for a century, and now were sitting in retirement, gathering metaphorical dust. His eyes went from them to the notebook, convincing himself again that he needed something to do regardless of recent events, plus it would help the community. He moved to his closet, opening it and moving his normal clothes aside. In the back, in a lone box was a collection of odd clothes he had received as gifts, or simply acquired for cheap to free from yard sales and the like. He opened it up and began sorting out the best ones.

***

The villa overlooking the nice side of Canterlot was a wonderful place, being fully staffed and recently made, and to top it all off, private. Chrysalis, ruler of the Changelings, liked the latter the most. From here, she could plan more easily, and keep a digital eye on her entire operation, which also happened the reason she was so angry right now.

She glared at the door, silently counting before it crashed open, a disheveled young man bursting into the room. He wore a suit which had not been made for the obvious run he had just taken, with the white dress shirt untucked. He gasped a few times to catch his breath before speaking. "Ma'am, I came as soon as I could."

She nodded, confident that at least one of her aides was both confident, and more importantly, loyal. "Thorax, I am sure you did. Have you seen the latest report from our smallest branch in Canterlot?"

Thorax started to straighten up, fixing his suit as he moved to the smaller seat beside his boss. "No ma'am, I've been dealing with the fallout from that botched police raid a few days ago."

Chrysalis's eye twitched. If only that damned demon hadn't ruined her plans for the good captain, then police raids would be a non-issue. "Of course, and I thank you for that. However, a serious issue occurred that I would like your opinion of."

Thorax's forehead instantly began to sheen with sweat. "Of course ma'am, what situation is that?"

Chrysalis rotated her computer monitor so Thorax could easily see the camera footage, before pressing play. Andromalius' whole raid on the place was displayed, the tinny speaker playing the audio. Thorax raised his eyebrows when the fight started, and softly cursed as Duplis was held at sword point. "That's not good."

Chrysalis pointed. "Watch." Thorax refocused on the screen, just in time to see the demon pour some unknown drink down Duplis' throat. He listened intently, before leaning back, cursing again. He watched as Duplis spilled everything he was asked, his face growing more fearful and confused at every word. Thorax stared as the demon seemed ready to cut him down, before bludgeoning over the head, grabbing his wallet, before dragging him outside.

Chrysalis turned off the video. "So, you see the problem I assume?"

Thorax nodded, staring at the young girl who was dragging another one of his co-workers out of a building like a sack of potatoes. "Yeah, and it's a doozy." He leaned in, trying to tease secrets from the grainy footage. "Honestly ma'am, Duplis was better at the more violent aspects of the job. I've long been our damage control."

Chrysalis let out a snort of laughter, causing Thorax to flinch away from the seductive purr she let out. "Ah, yes. You run our little PR division. If you hadn't proven it so useful I would have tossed it aside long ago. But enough on that, you knew Duplis well. What would he suggest?"

Thorax winced, trying desperately not to upset his boss while still barely thinking about long hours locked in a small building with Duplis as he worked over a 'project'. He began thinking through all of Duplis' planning sessions he had listened to over the years, pausing as one name came to mind. "Tirek. Duplis would say our own enforcers can't handle this many unknowns and request hiring Tirek to take care of the issue."

Chrysalis paused, before letting out a sigh. Thorax looked to his boss, but as quickly as the emotion surfaced it was gone. "Yes, sadly I came to the same conclusion. I shall begin the process in a few hours." There was another pause as Thorax tried to figure out if he was dismissed before Chrysalis turned to him. "Thorax, I have a new job for you." Without waiting for a response Chrysalis moved to her small hobby corner, filled with papers and paintbrushes. She pulled out a painting and looked at it, presenting it to Thorax. "Take this to the last safe house, and begin working directly under the supervisor there."

Thorax very nearly froze in place. The final safehouse was perhaps the most secure location in all of their various properties, with a hundred stories passed around about it, and none who could sort out fact from fiction. He swallowed deeply, hoping the horror stories were the ones that were wrong. "Of course, where is it?'

Chrysalis looked to him for a moment as he walked up to take the painting. "It is a penthouse on the northside. The complex is Second Life Housing, make haste and get there tonight. You may claim a room in it. At a later date, you can move any personal belongings you need or want to your new situation."

Thorax nodded so deeply it was almost a bow. "Of course ma'am. I'll leave right now."

As he reached the door there was a slight cough. He paused, looking back to his boss; the lady who had ordered death and torture without blinking an eye. She was... shuffling, as if unsure of what to say. Finally, she looked him in the eyes. "While your normal responsibilities will be done, I expect you to guard the person in the penthouse with you with your very life. She is far more important than even me." She took another breath. "And be careful Thorax, things are going to get chaotic soon, and you're one of perhaps two people I don't want to be swept up in the backblast."

Thorax managed to contain his surprise. This was when Chrysalis was at her scariest. When she was doing her work she was predictable, but now. Now she looked uncomfortable. And if Thorax had learned one thing from history, it's that an uncomfortable queen leads to an uncomfortable body count. "Of course, we shall be safe." Without another word between them, he left, into the fading light of day.

Author's Note

Edited by Kitkataddel posted 1/26/19