Chapters NEIGHSAY
A tall, lanky and wholesome stallion appears. He walks in the azotea looking at a tall building.
"My goal is...to tear down this building."
Suddenly, the whole building started to explode, piece by piece, one by one, until all was left was nothing. The stallion then slightly smirk, looking at the completely destroyed building.
--
72 hours ago in Trottingham where he lived after he was adopted, he was resting in his bed, until his phone alarm went off, and went to see what's the notification. He thought it was nonsense, so he ignored it and went back to resting...until he heard bells ringing from a distance. He exhaled sharply and went off from his comfort place. The curtains widened up, as the sunshine hits in his room, and sees the breathtaking view. He moves his head, so his neck won't be stiff.
He then got dressed up in a black tuxedo, trying to fix his black necktie. He goes by the name of Neighsay Cassano, the consigliere of the Cassano Family. He is a legal adviser/counselor of a European mafia's boss. He then walked out swiftly after dressing into the tuxedo with suitcase in his hands. He got out of his home as two bodyguards on his side were guarding an expensive black car.
He opened the door, as Neighsay carefully got in the back seat. The bodyguard then closed the car door shut. Then another gentlecolt entered the front seat to drive Neighsay to where he was going.
"To Fancy Pants's place." Neighsay commanded the driver.
"Yes, Mr. Consigliere." The driver responded. The driver started the engines, while Neighsay leans on his seat. The black car drove off going to Fancy Pants's place.
EPISODE 1
The car droved straight into the exquisite streets of Trottingham. Time has passed, and a flock of birds passed above the car, in which, a waiting consigliere is riding. He browses in his tablet a few things he needs, and then, an airplane passes by, following the exact direction to where Neighsay is going. Neighsay saw this, and looked up at the airplane. The driver did the exact same thing and saw the exact same thing.
Neighsay continued looking up and watching the airplane. He saw that he was nearly there at Fancy Pants's place, without any fear. The driver then got stopped by a stallion standing, holding a gun. The driver immediately opened the car window in his side, so the stallion will verify the the guest and the reason the guest came here. He then looked at the front seat and saw the driver.
"Why did you come here?" The stallion asked seriously to the driver. The stallion scanned the passenger in the back seat, and saw Neighsay Cassano, waiting to get inside. The stallion then signaled the other stallions that it was verified it was Neighsay Cassano. One of the guards opened the big, black, patterned gate. The driver slowly drove forward inside, as the gate closes and reveals to be "Grecco Vineyard".
After getting out of the car, Neighsay once again walked towards the entrance, carrying the suitcase he has been handling since he went inside the vehicle. He saw outside Fancy Pants eating and sitting in a table for two, with two bodyguards on his back.
Fancy Pants saw Neighsay and scoffed. "How can you do business even on the day of your boss' funeral?" He asked. He kindly lend Neighsay the seat in the table for two.
Neighsay lend an offer to Fancy Pants. "This was the last offer from my boss, Apple Strudel."
Fancy Pants immediately saw it and easily blurted. "An offer from his grave? Not interested. You can take it and leave." Neighsay then looked back at the offer from his tablet and released it from is hands.
"Killing Union President Igneous Rock Pie to take over the vineyard and the union...was a mistake on your part. He was like...a brother to Apple Strudel." Neighsay said politely.
"Whatever the offer is, I won't be accepting it." Fancy Pants denied.
"Does it sound like an offer to you?" Neighsay questioned, which made Fancy Pants stop slurping his food and looked at him in a confused expression.
"This is Apple Strudel's last act of mercy to a pony who killed his dear friend-"
"Ah!" Fancy Pants said in annoyance. "Are you here to make a deal...or to threaten me?"
Neighsay inhaled deeply and reminded: "If you sign this now...there won't be any problems-"
"Get lost!" Fancy Pants yelled. "Go back to your homeland, you arrogant yellow! I fought fair and square to take over! The Cassano Family has no shares in this place. Get out of here!" Fancy Pants commanded.
The same airplane flew by and watered some type of liquid in the plants. And it may have been one part of Neighsay's plans.
"You sure you won't regret this?" Neighsay askes him, and Fancy Pants started with a chuckle, and wiped of the food in his lip with a napkin.
"Regret? The Lucino Family is backing me up. I'm not scared to go to war." Fancy Pants added.
"Regret is the most painful thing you can experience in life." Neighsay said. Fancy Pants then nodded about his opinion. "Fancy Pants, I am here to give you a chance to redeem yourself, and not to start a war."
"Sure. Whatever" Fancy Pants said. "Arigatou, you uncivilized yellow." Fancy Pants read and answered the offer, leaving Neighsay with no visible fear shown as his expression. After answering the contract, Neighsay got out of his seat, and the two bodyguards prepared their guns.
"Fancy Pants..." Neighsay spoke. "You will pay for disrespecting my folks...You neanderthal" Neighsay said seriously and walked away very simply, smiling.
"Neighsay, did you curse at me? What did you say to me!?" Fancy Pants grew angry, but Neighsay didn't intend to turn back to Fancy Pants.
Fancy Pants and his bodyguards saw the same airplane that followed Neighsay earlier. "Why are they spraying the pesticides today? We sprayed them last week." He said to the guards. Then suddenly, the plane sprayed over them and they took cover, but still got caught.
"Damn it! What..." Fancy Pants carefully sniffed the liquid that the airplane sprayed and then suddenly know what was it.
"Shit. They're not spraying insecticides." Fancy Pants said.
Meanwhile, Neighsay walked away with a suitcase, and left simply. He was gonna take revenge on Fancy Pants himself like what he said. He pulled out a stylish, expensive lighter from his pocket, and clinks it open. He turned it on and tossed it behind him and in front of the vineyard, causing the place to spread fire very quick. He actually controlled the plane and sprayed gasoline on Fancy Pants and his bodyguards.
He immediately went back inside the car and slammed the door shut.
Fancy Pants ran over to the balcony to see the open area on fire and gasped. "Oh, no! It's all burning! Everything is burning!" he shouted. "Don't just stand there! Move it! Now!" he commanded his bodyguards. "Hurry!"
The bodyguards got help to stop the fire that one of the Cassanos caused. The fire was now spreading close to where Fancy Pants was located.
"That asshole, Neighsay! I'll get my revenge! I'll get back at everyone! You and the Cassano Family!" he shouted. "Hurry!" he roared.
Neighsay's car quickly drived back from Fancy Pants's burning vineyard. With the vineyard being burned, Neighsay was expressionless and knew he had to do it on purpose, and knew that Fancy Pants deserved it. The driver opened the car window in Neighsay's side as he saw the blazing fire spreading almost completely in the Grecco Vineyard. It continued spreading until the whole entrance of the place. Neighsay rests on his back and focus on going to his boss' funeral.
The car entered the location of the funeral and stopped by the entrance. One gentlecolt carefully opened the door in the backseat of Neighsay. He came out in timing of the church bells chiming. The gentlecolt shut the car door as Neighsay looked around at the inside. He then went inside of the church to see the dead beloved one.
As Neighsay entered, he saw the dead body of his boss, Apple Strudel. He did the sign of the cross correctly and looked down at Apple Strudel's dead body. One stallion saw him and simply walked away. Neighsay continued looking at Apple Strudel.
"Father..." he said. Neighsay happened to be Apple Strudel's adoptive son and his father's adviser.
The stallion who found Neighsay near his father's casket, who was Svengallop, chopped a tobacco while Neighsay clinks his lighter multiple times, and the smoking stallion sat in one table.
"You could have done that after the funeral." Svengallop said said.
"It was his last order." Neighsay replied. "He told me to take care of it as soon as possible."
"Even so, burning the entire vineyard was stupid."
"He said I could use any means necessary to get it done." said Neighsay.
"Right, my father always trusted your decisions, but never trusted mine." Svengallop added.
Neighsay raised an eyebrow for a second. "Because you were always careless when you took care of things." Neighsay reasoned. "You went against his word that no matter what happens, we do not harm females and children." Neighsay added.
Svengallop then started putting the tobacco in his mouth and every breathe he took to smoke, the tobacco sizzles, then Svengallop started to glare at Neighsay, while Svengallop clear up the fire in the tobacco.
"Neighsay. My friend. My brother. " Svengallop responded. "Now that I'm your boss, I'd like to, see you be more loyal."
"Svengallop. My brother." Neighsay responded. "I am always ready to show my loyalty to you..." Neighsay answered respectfully, and turned to him. "...As long as you deserve it."
Svengallop started to look and glare at Neighsay, but Neighsay simply left, which remained Svengallop sitting alone, intending to turn his head to Neighsay, who walked like a real gentlecolt. Svengallop went back facing to the table quickly, thinking...
As Neighsay got back home, he signed, and slowly took a cigarette and put it in his mouth. Then he turned to his lighter, and took out the cigarette from his mouth, and snapped it into half. He slouches in the couch, exhaling, and tucking his suit. Hours have passed until it was night in Trottingham, and suddenly, there were hitstallions breaking in his area, holding guns, and they were coming for Neighsay. They looked around in the dark room, looking for the stallion they are expecting.
They were holding prepared guns to take Neighsay down. Until they suspected something, they ran to where Neighsay could have been located. They busted into his room, gun shooting the furniture in case Neighsay hid under the bed or hide behind any furniture. They shot first his fluffy pillows, and what came out were the pillow feathers instead of Neighsay's flowing blood. One hitstallion lifted up the blanket and no Neighsay was seen.
Until, Neighsay suddenly appeared, in a fancy robe, holding a gun in his hands, shooting every, single one of the hitstallions. He still hold the gun, scanning if they are confirmed deceased. One hitstallion groaned, and Neighsay went near him and bend down as he sighs.
"Looking for me?" Neighsay said.
"Huh?" One of the hitstallions answered. Neighsay pointed the gun in his head and cocks it, and shots the hitstallion's head. Neighsay looked at him as the hitstallion was indeed confirmed dead.
Meanwhile, Svengallop's car drove by a nearby place and stopped there. His body guards opened the car door for him and Svengallop tossed something the bodyguard did catched, until he got a phone call from his brother. Svengallop accepted the call, and Neighsay asked him:
"Did you enjoy the party?"
"Neighsay." Svengallop responded. A dog barked giving Neighsay a clue.
"Hmm. I can hear Winona barking, You must heading towards the door." Neighsay said.
"How did you..." Svengallop was all about to ask.
"Oh, right. Let me apologize in advance." said Neighsay. "I know that it's your favorite car.". Then suddenly, the car that Svengallop drove exploded completely, and the party guests, including Svengallop got shocked. There were screams from the guests, fire in the car, and a shocked expression in Svengallop's face.
"I didn't kill you out of respect for Apple Strudel..." Neighsay responded. "...And this will be the last time." Neighsay added. "I'm leaving Trottingham and will never come back." Neighsay insisted. "Do not look for me." Neighsay said, as he slowly drinks his drink in the airplane. "The next time you try to find me, the car will explode before you even get off." Neighsay said.
"Svengallop...I knew you didn't deserve to be the boss." Neighsay offended as he drops the call, and put his drink away. He was going back to his homeland, Canterlot. He takes out the SIM card of his phone and snapped it half, and puts it in his drink, and reads some sheets, which are the Lists of Business in Counter Plaza, and took out a brown envelope, and opened it. Inside were the pictures of the building. He looked at them one by one.
And it was said that the Counter Plaza will be demolished due to conglomerate's tyranny. In the window, he saw the structures of his place, Trottingham. When it was morning in Canterlot, a supply truck dropped by a location, with a pile of boxes. A stallion who was Sandbar was lifting the boxes into the ground until he saw a tall, dark orchid mare with a rose pink mohawk along her head, wearing a blue suit and a few jewelry like earrings, and was holding a cake that says "You Only Live Once". That mare was Tempest Shadow, a lawyer, and since she's energetic, she can be overreacting sometimes.
"Ta-da!" the mare chuckle as she lifts one of her back hooves and holds the cake. The stallion seemed to be annoyed after. "Get your blood sugar up with this." she says as she walks to the stallion and carries the cake. "I bought this from the most popular bakery in Canterlot." she said proudly
Sandbar slams the box to the pile of boxes he carried earlier. "I'm good. Please go." he denied.
The mare slams the cake into the box, and leans in the box pile and glares at him. "Eating this tasty snack in the middle of a long day is a form of happiness." she said.
"I'm happy enough already."
"Hmm." Tempest wondered as Sandbar pushes the cake and the pile of boxes towards her.
"Oh. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!" she exclaimed as the stallion pushes it as she smiled and laugh.
"You're happy?" she asked. "Didn't you sign up as a test object at a pharmaceutical to pay back your student loan?" she objected. "You didn't have any side effects, but you were the only one who blew the whistle. How can you be happy right now?"
"I can. I believe my action meant something." Sandbar said as Tempest gasped.
"You are fearless.!" she responded. "But...will you still be happy when Babel Pharmaceuticals sues you?"
"What?" Sandbar said.
"They're livid right now." she said. "They ordered us to destroy your life, Sandbar." she responded. The stallion didn't care but still listened to her. "No one really cares about what happens to you. Why? Because your sob story won't make anyone sad." she waves her hands in her face as if she's the one crying. "It's not sad at all." she said and the stallion was still looking at her.
"I'm the only one who actually cares about your life, Sandbar. It's just me, Tempest Shadow." she said. Tempest clicks her tongue and points at the cake topper. "Pull the cake topper."
Sandbar sighs and Tempest gets his hands and leads it to the cake topper as she hums Fur Elise in a funny manner. Sandbar pulls the cake topper and saw something.
"Oh." Tempest said. Sandbar kept pulling the topper and saw a lot of paper money taped together inside a plastic into a sash. When Tempest saw it, she exclaimed in a joyful manner.
"Ohh! Whoa! Wow!" she exclaimed. "How much is that!?" she squeaks.
A few hours later, Tempest looked at her watch and was waiting for Flam. She was carrying a brown envelope while looking around. Then, she saw a pony riding electric scooter, heading towards to where she was. He stopped and accidentally let his scooter fall. Tempest sighed as she saw this.
"My goodness. What a mess." Tempest said to herself and grumbles. The stallion, Flam stopped by and run towards her and quickly removes his helmet. Tempest grunts and tries to leave, but Flam was a fast runner.
"Sorry, Tempest." Flam said.
"Where are your manners?" Tempest said harshly. "If you were late, you should've taken a taxi."
"That's faster than a taxi. Besides, that's the city's trend!" Flam said.
"Just tell me why you're late!" Tempest said angrily.
"Lawyer Mosely Orange told me to make 1,200 copies out of the blue." he said.
"Intern Flam. Tell me what kind of creature I hate the most." Tempest said. Flam said and snaps his clicks his tongue.
"Robotic creatures." Flam answered.
"Right. Creatures who work their ass off like robots, but always fall short in the end." Tempest said harshly as she walks away, but Flam chased her to get her attention.
"I might be lacking, but aren't I a good intern??" Flam asked nervously. Tempest listened to him and stopped walking. "A lovely intern at that?"
"If you start wearing different ties, I'll think about whether to like you or not." Tempest said as she continues to walk away.
"Huh?" Flam expressed as he runs towards Tempest. "But Sleeve Jobs wore the same turtlenecks." Flam said.
"I prefer sophisticated men to stubborn men. Got it?" Tempest asked.
"Got it." Flam responded.
An hour later, they went to the courthouse for an announcement.
"The 13 clinical cases conducted in the United Skates proved the safety of Coisanic, the main ingredient of RDU-90. The clinical study shows that Coisanic is highly effective in the treatment of severe pain with minimal risks to safety. It has successfully completed all clinical trials in Prance, Maremany, and the Manerlands in 2019. Tempest stands up for a statement.
"Claiming the victims died from the side effects of the drug is still preposterous. The plaintiff is provoking the press with unproven evidence." Tempest said.
"The victims all passed away from cardiac infraction and had no prior conditions." A stallion said.
"One of them had arrhythmia. Another had pulmonary edema and another had low blood pressure." Tempest said.
"She extracted these conditions from the victims' old medical histories. The paramedics on the scene stated that they showed typical signs of an overdose."
"Paramedics aren't licensed doctors. They only stated the external symptoms."
"Your Honor, I have the recording-based statement from one of the test subjects." he said as a stallion fetch his copy to the judge. "Babel coerced to make a false statement to silence the others This statement clearly states--"
"Your Honor." Tempest asked the judge. "The test subject who made the statement turned himself in for perjury an hour ago." Tempest said, which made almost everyone in Tempest's side in the room chuckle. "I submit the interrogation report as evidence." Tempest said, as someone got it and fetch it to the judge. "After perjuring himself the witness planned to extort money from Babel Pharm through the plaintiff's counsel. But as he was conscience-stricken, he decided to turn himself in."
"Your Honor. It's a one sided statement. His perjury charge hasn't been established. The recording should be admissible to the court-"
"We will rule once the witness' perjury charge has been established." the stallion in front along with the judge said.
"The next hearing will be held a week today in this courtroom." the judge said, as the stallion looked at his daughter, Tempest Shadow.
"That is all."
Time passed, and Caballeron grumbled about his daughter's words to prove her correct in the subject. His daughter, Tempest Shadow, enters to where he was sitting.
"Give me a cigarette." Caballeron said.
"I quit two years ago." Tempest said.
"Just leave, then." he said.
"At least wash your hair when you come to court." Tempest offended.
"I don't need that from you. Just go." Caballeron said to his daughter as he tries to walk away.
"We could have just settled out of court! How could you start this mess when you weren't even sure you could win?!" Tempest angrily said. Caballeron turned to her angrily.
""Start this mess"?". That's no way to talk to your father-"
"I thought you disowned me." Tempest responded.
"Right." He responded. "No daughter of mine would buy off a witness like that."
"Do you find peace when you criticize your daughter?" Tempest asked.
"You and Babel deserve it." he said. "You guys are like mafias. How could you be so proud of destroying the powerless?" he sighed as he walks away from her and grabs his things.
"Dad." Tempest responded. "Can't you stop?" Tempest said as she was almost in tears. "Even if you don't treat me like your daughter, I still worry so much about you." Tempest sadly responded. "I worry that this might be taking a toll on you physically and emotionally." she continued. "Dad. If you stop, I'll help you. I'm embarrassed to say this, but now that I'm older, I realized that family comes first." Tempest said, but Caballeron didn't care and scoffed.
"Tempest."
"Yes, Dad..."
"Why don't you quit and start anew as an actor..." he said. Tempest stopped the sad drama and looked at him angrily. "...that way, you won't ruin other people's lives. Tempest gave a scowled face.
"You'll never beat me!" Tempest shouted angrily.
"We'll find out when it ends. Also, I've made up my mind. I am really going to disown you."
"How will you do that?" Tempest said.
"I'm sure I'll find out." he said. "Bye." he turned and leave.
Meanwhile, in the airport, Neighsay was out of the plane and was now in Canterlot. Some officers turned and saw the familiar face of Neighsay, and they ran towards him.
"Excuse me." the officer said. "I need to do an inspection." He takes out his phone and gets a copy of the Wanted poster. Its name was different and the face was not that similar to Neighsay's. "May I see your verification?" the officer commanded. As Neighsay sighed, he reached out inside his coat his passport and gave it to the officer, and the officer opened the passport.
There were some words that were written in Italian, which are: Republica Italiana Neighsay Cassano , and with his picture and personal information.
"Huh?" the officer said. Until he looked again, he was now aware about how the stallion was familiar. "Oh!" he chuckled. "Gosh. You're Canterlite Trottinghamian." he said as he chuckles. "I'm so sorry. Gosh, my bad. The wanted stallion is Canterlite, you see. Gosh, I'm sorry." he wanted to give it back but he saw how cool the name was.
"Oh, my. You have such a cool name! Neigh Say? Which Say clan are you from?" he said as he cackles and covers his mouth. As the officer was laughing, Neighsay looked at him seriously, like the officer got cringe.
"Give me back my passport." Neighsay said.
"Okay." the officer lend Neighsay back his passport, and Neighsay quickly walked away.
"Yes, Mr. Blueblood, I got here safely." he said in his phone call. "I see. See you there, then." he said "It will take about an hour and a half. Okay." he said as he drops the call.
"Come on. How can I cancel when I just got here?." a chauffeur said in his phone. He saw Neighsay and run towards him. "Excuse me. Are you looking for a taxi?"
"Yes."
"I drive a limousine. My appointment just got canceled , so I am available. Where are you headed?" the stallion asked.
"Counter, Canterlot."
"Really? Then, I promise to give you a comfortable ride." the chauffeur said.
"I'm good."
"I'm good too. Please get in. All right."
The chauffeur opens the car door, carries his suitcase and Neighsay gets in. "Gosh, you're so handsome." the chauffeur complimented as he sighs.
Time passed, and he was driving Neighsay to the Counter Plaza. Neighsay was looking at the car window. He gets a plastic bottle and opens it with his hands. He did successfully opened it and drank from it.
"Did you enjoy your trip?" the chauffeur asked. "Where did you go?"
"I'd prefer not to talk." Neighsay said.
"Okay, I apologize." the chauffeur chuckled. The chauffeur prssed a button to play light, upbeat, music. Neighsay sighed as he heard the music.
"Turn on the news instead." Neighsay said.
"Okay."
He presses the button to play the news on radio.
...was apprehended by the police. In several fishing areas, Canterlot Coast Guard...
"I must finish everything in a month. Then I'll leave for Manelta right away."
There have also been reports of crimes against foreigners arriving at our airport. According to police, they pretend to be taxi drivers at the airport offer drinks after spiking them with sleeping pills and steal their valuables. Especially...
"Gosh, these assholes. How could they when celebrities and the Wonderbolts worked so hard for our image? Scumbags like them are ruining our reputation." the chauffeur said. "Don't you agree?"
Based on the victim's statement about the stolen valuables...
"A month from now, I'll be..."
"...the police are investigating if there are any accomplices."
...drinking a cold beer on Horseshoe Bay."
With all those imaginations, Neighsay fell asleep, leaning in the car seat, shutting his eyes, and snoring.
"The in-flight meal must've been salty. He chugged the whole bottle." the chauffeur said as he chuckles and go along with a sinister laugh.
Meanwhile, in the chattering Equestrian Security Intelligence Service...
"Mr. Stygian. They caught Agent Biff when he was tailing them in Ponyville and cut his hand off."
"What? Where is he now? Could they reattach it? Damn it."
"Ma'am, ten minutes ago, we have Rosy Thorn of the Equestrian Gang stabbed himself with a bread knife in Sugarcube Corner when our agents surrounded him."
"What? With a bread knife?"
"Uh-huh."
"Gosh, that's really long. Call for a helicopter and move out."
"Okay."
"So what? Do you have the details?"
"How the hell did he get here?"
Time passed, in the Trottignhamian Organized Crime Response area, there was a stallion, who was Stygian, slouching in his chair, listening to classical music in his headphones, until he got a security clearance notification. He immediately took of his headphones and opens the notification and saw everything, and saw a profile of Neighsay Cassano, and it made the stallion gasp.
"He's...He's a consigliere to a mafia. He's in Canterlot?!"
He went to his boss, Starswirl for some discussion about Neighsay, and why was he here in Canterlot, and what is he here for. Starswirl was looking at Neighsay's profile while he watched Stygian walking back and forth.
"When he came to Canterlot five years ago, he was just an ordinary lawyer. But now, he's no longer a small fry. He's the key member of the mafia. He came back to Canterlot as a consigliere!" he said as he breathes in and exhales.
"Hey, Mr. Stygian. Why would they come all the way to Canterlot? To achieve what?" Starswirl asked.
"There's a lot here in Canterlot. We're a global target-"
"Then, perhaps, he just came here on a holiday to have marshmallows, daffodils, daisy sandwiches, and hay fries. We should welcome him!" Starswirl seriously exclaimed.
"Sir, this isn't something you should've take lightly. The consigliere is a mafia's-"
"What about it? What the heck is that supposed to be? It's like your trying to get scolded!" Starswirl said.
"We have to track him, sir! The Trottinghamian mafia are a heinous bunch!"
"Just let him be. Don't you dare launch some operation."
"But he's the consigliere-"
"Why you..."
Stygian didn't want to start an argument, so he turned around and opened the door, making his way out, and glared at Starswirl before he shut the door close.
In the elevator, Tempest and Flam went out and went pass the hallway with different creatures chatting.
"Ms. Tempest, I heard you scored a big one today." One stallion said to her.
"Congratulations, Ms. Tempest." a mare said to her.
"You are indeed my role model." the stallion said. She heard the stallion and the mare, and for that, she blew them a kiss. Tempest went inside a room, and there was a glass window stating "Attorney Tempest Shadow". Tempest sighed and thought about what she have done today.
"Yes, I did it again today ." she says as she dances in a funny manner. waving her hands and her waist. "Go, Tempest Shadow, you're so cool, Tempest Shadow. I am so cool. Yes, yes, yes! " she got startled when someone knocked on her door.
"Tempest Shadow, Tempest, Tempest, Tempest Shadow." a stallion appeared, mocking and chanting her name in a fast manner, opening the door. "I should install blinds here. Everyone can see through." he said. Tempest smiled, and he said: "Come on, you should've take it easy on him. He's your dad!" he said as he clicks his tongue.
"He's not my dad. He's the counsel for the plaintiff." Tempest said. The stallion chuckles at Tempest's statement.
"Your dad still goes by his nickname the Tosa among the alumini." he said said.
"That's why he always takes things too far, not knowing when to stop. I'll end this in the next hearing." Tempest said as the stallion gently banged at the table.
"Yes. That's it." he said said, pointing at her. "A competent lawyer can end thing before things get out of hoof." Tempest banged at the table and turned around.
"I should've quashed this when he filled the petition. I'm sorry." Tempest responded.
"It's okay." the stallion laughed. "You should get off work early today and have some fun. Oh, right! Check your bank account. Surprise! It's a bonus." he said.
Tempest was about to make a scene. "You don't have to give me a bonus. You are already treating me well here." Tempest said as she put her hoof in her mouth and stared at him cutely.
"Hold on." the stallion said. "Gosh, I'm so touched. It's fine. Just take it and spend it all today!" he said. "Gosh, Tempest. Tempest, Tempest, Tempest Shadow ." he mocked as he chanted her name. Tempest bowed her head very low as she got embarrassed. "I'm so moved. I'm serious." he said as he went out and closes the door.
Tempest stopped and fixed her hair. She check her bank account on her phone. "Did he deduct taxes again?" she said. Checking her bank, she saw her money was...
"Come on."
Meanwhile, Neighsay was still asleep, but was leaning in the car's side.
"His meals must've been salty."
"I didn't even ask him to drink it! He just drank it on his own!" the chauffeur said and Neighsay was surrounded with laughs.
"Hey, didn't I tell you? When I saw him in the airport, I knew he was loaded."
"Gosh, this is a designer, too."
"Wait, what's this?" a robber saw something from Neighsay's stuff. It was an envelope full of bits and paper money.
"This must be over 4000 bits!" the chauffeur said. They cheered as they held the money.
"Holy shit."
"Hey. Look at his watch." one robber got his hand, looking at his expensive wrist watch, and took it off from his hand.
"If this is authentic, it'll cost over 100 000 000 bits."
"Hey. It can't be a knockoff, right?" the chauffeur said. They then looked at the sleeping Neighsay.
"Gosh, no way."
"Right? Right."
"Look at his style." one robber said, looking at Neighsay's attire. "He'd never wear a fake watch."
"Hey."
"Look at this." the robber sniffed his neck. "He even smells good, too."
"Really?"
"Find his cologne, too."
Suddenly, Neighsay opened his eyes and heard their chatter. He woke up! He coughed for a second.
"You're up." one robber said. Neighsay looked up at the guys and coughed. He moved his eyes, gazing at the unknown strangers.
"Who are you guys?" he responded.
"Us?" the chauffeur of the gang said. "We are what you think we are."
Neighsay then looked at another robber in front of him. "Seriously?" they laughed. "Gosh, that sounded so cool." they fistbumped in a unique style. "I told you you were talented."
"Drop the beat."
Neighsay didn't know what they we're doing. Suddenly, the robber kicked his face, which caused him to pass out.
Time passed, and Neighsay was coughing after getting kicked. He was lying in the same place the situation happened. He kept coughing and looked everywhere. He grunted after coughing, and was still lying. He saw his hoof and saw 50 000 bits in his hands.
He quickly removed it and thrown it. He grunted so much. He got up and looked at his surroundings, and it was him alone. He kept grunting and face palmed for a minute. Then suddenly he noticed his watch was not in his hoof.
He yelled in anger in his hooves.
"I swear I'm going to catch you assholes and kill you! I swear to Celestia I will!" Neighsay yelled in Italian. "Stupid Canterlot. Stupid Canterlot!" he yelled once more in Italian. There was dog barking at him, and Neighsay commanded him to silence. "Be quiet!" he yelled at the dog, and again, in Italian. "I told you to be quiet!" he yelled once more at the barking dog.
"Shit. Damn it." he watched the dog as he tried to walk away, but the dog kept barking at him. "Shut up!" he yelled again in Italian, and exhaled sharply. He took the 50 000 bits from the dirt in anger with the dog still barking. "Shut up!." he walked away furiously. "Damn it!" he shouted.
Time passed, and Neighsay was holding the 50 000 bits in his hands and began to crumple it in his hands and throw it. "Damn Canterlot! Damn it! Damn you, Canterlot!" he yelled in Italian. There were ponies and other creatures looking at him. When they knew how crazy angry he was, they walked away immediately in awkwardness. "You're dead! Damn it!" he kept yelling.
He sat down to chill himself out, but immediately stood up. "Damn it!" he said out loud in Italian
Time passed, and he was in the bus, looking at the window. Seems like he calmed down already.
"Look over there." someone said. "He seems like a nice pony now that I can get a closer look."
"He's so handsome."
"He is."
"He seems nice."
"Yes."
"She only likes handsome guys."
"Seriously?"
"Gosh."
One pony went closer to him to take a look at him. "Here. Like this. Go ahead." he said. Neighsay insisted to take it.
"It looks like he was beat up."
"Really?"
"He sure is handsome."
"That's all you care about."
He looked in the window and saw the bruise in where he got kicked. He took the towel that the stallion gave him and wiped his bruise and a bit of dirt in his cheek. While the bus was driving off, Neighsay looked at the windows, looking over the night horizon in the bridge. Time passed, and Neighsay finally arrived in a building. He stand there in front, facing the building, from bottom to top.
"My goal is...tearing down this building."
5 years ago in the Trottingham Cassano Family Study...
"What do you need advice with?" Neighsay, asked as he fiddles the expensive lighter.
"My friend, Apple Strudel told me that you knew a safe way to hide my gold." a Fillypino stallion said in Tagalog.
"He said his old friend, Fabio, told him that you would tell him how to safely hide his gold." Blueblood translated. Neighsay nodded at his statement.
"I want to hide my gold in Canterlot, not Fillypines." the stallion said in Tagalog. "And it must be kept safe to the point that no one can steal it." he said once again in Tagalog.
"He wants to hide it in Korea. And he wants it to be safe to the point that no one can steal it." Blueblood told. Neighsay nodded once more and opened his lighter.
"There is a method our family uses which has been passed down for 50 years. Buy an old building in Canterlot, buy the building under my friend, Mr. Blueblood's name so you don't raise any suspicions. Then make one of the lots look like either like a shop or a company, and hire technicians to create a secret room in the basement to store your gold. To avoid getting caught, transport the gold little by little. To open the secret room, the biometric system that recognizes only you should be utilized. It must only recognize you. Not even your family or friends. But there's more. That secret room...comes with a special feature."
Present...
Neighsay looked up at the Counter Plaza until somepony caught him.
"Sir." Somepony said. Neighsay turned around and saw Blueblood.
"Mr. Blueblood, have you been well?" Neighsay asked.
"Yes." They both shook hands. "What on Equestria happened to you?" Blueblood saw his crappy tie.
"It's nothing." Neighsay lied.
A stallion named Cheese Sandwich, saw Neighsay and Blueblood, and he hid behind some walls, and spy on them.
"What about my residence?" Neighsay asked.
"I heard you were coming, so I had it cleaned. And I also put away your items and clothes from Trottingham. Let's get going now." Blueblood said.
"Okay." They both walked towards where Cheese Sandwich was hiding, and he was still spying on them. "How are things going?"
"As you read it in the file, the Development Opposition Committee has been formed. I already told them that I wouldn't sell off the building, but they won't believe me."
Cheese Sandwich rolled to the other wall and kept spying on them.
"Oh, right. Babel E&C bought all the shops all around the plaza." Blueblood mentioned. Cheese Sandwich looked at him in suspicion.
"Any other pressure from Babel E&C?" Neighsay asked.
"Nothing, other than the team leader of Investment and Development coming here daily to make an offer." Blueblood mentioned. Cheese Sandwich bite off his treat from his stick and continued to follow them.
As they arrived, Neighsay heard a crying foal, but continued to look at his surroundings. Blueblood led him to Neighsay's door and he unlocked the door. Neighsay looked down from above his place while Blueblood opens the door. The door creaks as Blueblood opens it and he enters the dark room. Neighsay noticed something feeling sticky in the wall of the balcony he was leaning in. He pulled his hoof and noticed bird shit.
Neighsay looked at it with a slight upset face.
"Sir." Blueblood called him. Blueblood noticed some bird poop in Neighsay's hoof. "Uh...the bathroom."
"Damn it." Neighsay said. Neighsay entered his dark room with Blueblood in his back. Blueblood saw the bird poop in the part where Neighsay was leaning earlier and left for the room and closed the door. They went inside the dark room, and Blueblood tries to find the light switch. He found it and clicked it, revealing Neighsay's area and bed.
"I already set up the bed and blankets to you and I will schedule a meeting with the tenants tomorrow." Blueblood said. Neighsay nodded with his doing.
"Okay. Sure." Neighsay said.
"Once this project is done, are you interested in staying in Canterlot?" Blueblood asked. Neighsay stopped looking around his room and turned to Blueblood from the question.
"No." Neighsay said. Blueblood nodded at his answer.
"I see. I put your new cell phone, cash, and the things you asked for in the bedroom." Blueblood said.
Neighsay nodded. "Okay." Suddenly, he heard a weird noise in his ceiling. "What's that?" he asked.
"Oh, the previous tenants put them up." Blueblood said as he pointed at the ceiling. "Should I get them off?"
"That's fine. I won't be here long." Neighsay said as he walks away.
"Gosh, that's a lot." Blueblood said, looking up at the ceiling. There were many bird pecks in the ceiling, as if a bird was stuck in there or a bird entered Neighsay's room and pecked on the ceiling.
Meanwhile in the Lawist Law Firm...
"Really?" Caballeron asked.
"Yes." Cheese Sandwich answered. "I definitely saw a stallion with the building owner at the entrance. So I followed them. But it looks like he even rented out housing unit upstairs from us."
"A housing unit?" Caballeron questioned.
"Yes." Cheese Sandwich answered.
"When you saw him, what's the vibe you got from him?" Grubber asked. Cheese Sandwich took some time to think. He places a BBQ stick between his teeth while thinking for a valid answer.
"He kind of gave me an eerie vibe." Cheese Sandwich answered. "What was that movie called?" Cheese kept thinking. "He looked like a handsome movie villain."
Grubber sighed at his answer. "Did you know...? Handsome villains are scarier and more brutal."
Cheese Sandwich sighed next. "That must be why creatures are scared of me. Goodness."
"Creatures aren't scared of you, Mr. Cheese." Caballeron answered. Grubber nodded at Caballeron's statement. Cheese turned to Grubber next.
"Should I go scare him and get some information? Like who he is and why he's here?" Cheese asked. "Mr. Grubber, come closer. Come."
Grubber did get close to him, then suddenly, Cheese wringed his neck. "I'll grab his throat and twist it to the side. Then, he'll start talking. Name?" Cheese asked.
"Gruuuubbeeeeeeer." he said with pain.
"Where are you from?"
"Poooonyviiiiille." he said with pain again.
"Favorite food?"
"Spoooooongecaaaaaaaaake."
"Let go of his throat now." Caballeron said.
"Okay. Okay, you're good." Cheese let go of Grubber's throat.
"Tell the rest of the tenants. Hurry." Caballeron said.
"Okay."
Meanwhile in an elevator, Neighsay and Blueblood went out.
"Most of the existing tenants moved out." Blueblood said. "We have some tenants left in the third floor."
"Why is that?" Neighsay asked.
"The lawyer in the Opposition Committee is on the third floor. So that must have played a part in this." Blueblood spoke. Neighsay nodded at Blueblood's answer. He then looked around at the messy place, lights flickering, and Blueblood in his side. Neighsay looked at Blueblood, and Blueblood chuckled, letting him go with him in the hall way. In the hallway, with water dripping from the ceiling, lights flickering, and with the hallway messy, they saw a mare playing a piano, in a foal's classroom.
She then looked at them both, with her hair blocking almost every part of her face. Blueblood got startled as the mare faced them. Neighsay continued to look at the mare, playing the piano gracefully.
"The tenants in this building are very cautious of me." Blueblood said.
"This is interesting." Neighsay said.
Then in the dry cleaning area, Neighsay and Blueblood saw a stallion washing some dirty items. Blueblood waved at the stallion, but the stallion responded with an angry pout. Neighsay looked at him very well, and the stallion still has that face again.
"Well..." Neighsay chuckled.
"Gosh." Blueblood chuckled along. The stallion saw their expression, looking a bit furious at them, raising his dry cleaner.
Then in a restaurant, they saw a stallion dancing at Italian music.
"This is an Italian restaurant." Neighsay said.
"Yes." Blueblood responded. Neighsay smiled as he looked at the details of the resturant. Then they saw the stallion, trying to chop a raw chicken in half. The stallion looked at him with his eyebrow raised, and a serious face.
"Well...this is the usual routine." Blueblood told Neighsay. The chef looked at them, moving his knife in the neck, telling them he will slice their necks.
They proceeded to the next area of the tenants, and Blueblood led him in a dance place.
"This is a dance studio." Blueblood said. Neighsay looked at the weird position of a stallion.
"What's wrong with him? Is he sick?" Neighsay asked. The stallion then went in front of the closed door, acting like a zombie, which then scared Blueblood.
"He's definitely sick." Neighsay said.
"Don't eat it, then." a mare said from a distance.
"Give me that." a stallion said.
"You're basically telling me my food is awful!"
"It's just fishy."
Neighsay looked through the window, and saw a fighting duo.
"Your good looks won't save your ass."
"I'm dirt poor and have no connections! That's everything I've got!"
The mare pushed the stallion against an object, which made Blueblood gasp. They kept on wrestling in the room without stopping.
"Stop it!" the mare yelled. Her husband, Cheese Sandwich were fighting so hard, and the two stallions kept watching them.
"I tap it."
"What are you looking at?" the mare asked Neighsay. Neighsay bowed down his head and looked at Blueblood.
"I like fishy food!" Cheese said. There were crashing sounds in their area and Neighsay and Blueblood decided to leave the fighting couple. Neighsay passed by a snack bar and a stallion shocked him.
"Save me!" a stallion opened the door. Neighsay leaned at the window after getting shocked.
"My goodness." Neighsay said.
"You brat! How could you get 18 points on your Spanish test? Seriously?" the stallion's mother said. "Why you..." Neighsay saw everything she said to her son, and turned around to the actual argument. Blueblood so the whole thing, leaving him shocked at the stallion.
"I did my best."
"Are you a foreigner? Are you not from here?! Are you from the States?!" his mother asked. "Oh my, Celestia. Get your guard up. Do it, you brat." she said as she wanted to wrestle him. "Keep your guard up, you punk." Neighsay walked up and watched their argument. She started to pull his hair up and wrestle him. They kept wrestling until they saw Neighsay and Blueblood.
Blueblood waved at them in awkwardness.
"Please save me. She's going to kill me." the stallion cried.
"You don't deserve to be saved." his mother continued to wrestle him up. Neighsay sighed and slightly smiled.
"Mom, it really hurts." the stallion said. "Mom."
'You're a disgrace to this town." his mother said. Neighsay kept laughing quietly, looking at the two ponies and remove his coat and his suit remains. "I didn't gave birth to an idiot.
"They must be insane."
"Yes. This is supposed to hurt!"
"What?" Blueblood said.
"You punk."
"Mom. Come on!"
Neighsay left immediately with Blueblood still on his back. Blueblood looked at them and he followed Neighsay.
'You brat."
Neighsay went to the Lawist Law Firm. Once Neighsay and Blueblood reached the area, Neighsay leaned at the wall and took a few deep breaths. He looked at the details of the place in a quick speed.
"Well..." Neighsay said. "Let's go to the basement where the secret room is." he said as he patted Blueblood's shoulder.
"The business that used to be here went under, so I picked a more stable tenant." Blueblood said.
"Are you sure about that?" Neighsay asked.
"They are well-mannered." Blueblood said.
Then Blueblood led Neighsay in the Canterlot Temple. It was a small but respective place. They both looked up at the sign that states "Canterlot Temple".
"So, the tenants..." Neighsay said.
"It's a temple." Blueblood whisphered. Neighsay looked up in the sign again. He sighed, and saw a changeling in the place. Both the stallions looked closer at the changeling. Neighsay looked closer as the changeling was meditating.
"That monk it sitting on...15 tons of gold.
Like mentioned, there was a utilized biometric system in order to unlock the basement with a lot of gold. There were gold bricks and statues around the room. Neighsay slightly smiled at the changeling monk, and there might be a slight idea he will use. Then suddenly, another changeling monk jumped behind the door and it surprised Blueblood, causing him to leap in terror. The changeling monk looked at Neighsay, who turned around to the startled Blueblood.
The monk opened the door and look slightly at the stallions.
"You are the owner of the building." the changeling monk said to Blueblood, and the monk looked at Neighsay.
"Yes. Hello, sir." Blueblood greeted him.
"Hello." the monk greeted back. "I have joined the Development Opposition Committee. I plan to protect our temple." the changeling said. The stallions turned around, hearing the other monk chanting in presence of the Buddha.
"All right. He felt a strong presence of Buddha from beneath the temple." the monk said. "He's been fasting."
""From beneath"?" Neighsay asked.
"No." Blueblood responded.
"What about it?" Neighsay asked.
"He's fasting." the monk said.
"Yes." Blueblood agreed. "He's just fasting. He's not eating." Blueblood turned to Neighsay. Neighsay turned to the monk facing him and looked back at the other inside the temple.
"I don't know who you are, but you should clean your outfit before you clean out your mind." the changeling monk said. Blueblood then turned to Neighsay as the monk went back inside, and scoffed quietly. Neighsay looked at his attire and then inside his suit coat.
"Gosh." Blueblood said as Neighsay patted his shoulder as he left with the other stallion following him. Some time later, Neighsay removed his suit coat, changed into a new attire, and went to the dry cleaners area, the area where went before the other tenants. He saw the same stallion in the area, and decided to go in. The stallion heard Neighsay opened the door, and Neighsay looked at his progress. Neighsay sighed after.
"I want to get these dry cleaned." Neighsay said politely, holding his suit coat, as he closes the door. The dry cleaner sighed, and stand up, and took a look at Neighsay's suit. "This is a very rare suit you can't find in Canterlot. The material is different, too." he added.
The stallion dry cleaner looked at the inside of his coat, with a rare brand. "It's a vintage brand label!" the stallion said.
Neighsay chuckled. "No, you're not getting it. It's custom tailored in Trottingham by Testicoli-."
"As in "Testicles"?" the stallion said, as he looked at Neighsay's attire. "Stop lying. Everyone says their suit is expensive when they come here." he said.
"I'm serious. This was a limited edition of Testicoli's fall line." Neighsay said.
"What nasty name is "Testicles"? the stallion said, almost seething with anger. "I can tell this is cheap." he said. Neighsay looked up and sighed.
"I'm from unit 606. I want them by tomorrow." Neighsay said.
"You should've come yesterday! I can't finish them by tomorrow!" the stallion yelled. Neighsay looked around and sighed. When he turned around to the window, there were tenants watching him, but he didn't get that much shockness. Neighsay looked at the tenants, and three more guys along with them. Neighsay found it suspicious, and opened the door outside.
When he was walking to Caballeron, who was with the group, the tenants kept watching him.
"I heard you came with the building owner." Caballeron said.
"Yes." Neighsay answered.
"Nice to meet you." Caballeron said. "I'm the CEO and the senior lawyer of Lawist Law Firm and the chairman of the Development Opposition Committee. I'm Lawyer Caballeron."
Neighsay took a look in the piece of paper Caballeron gave him, stating Caballeron's name and affiliation.
"I see." Neighsay said, looking up at Caballeron. "Nice to meet you." he smiled. "I'm Lawyer Neighsay Cassano."
"What?" one of the tenants said.
"Is "Cassano" his last name?"
Neighsay and Caballeron both shook hooves while Neighsay turned around at the tenants.
"Right."
"Is he Italian?"
"He might be."
"What did he say?"
Neighsay kept watching at the confused tenants. He sighed with a smile on his face, and turned around to them.
"I don't know. What was that?"
"Just treat my name as an English name." Neighsay said. "Neighsay Cassano." he repeated his name.
"It was Casanova. Casanova."
"That was English."
"Neighsay Casanova?"
"Right."
"You must not be licensed to practice law here." Caballeron said.
"No. I'm from Trottingham." Neighsay said. One of the tenants, the mother of the son who failed his Spanish. subject, slapped the stomach of the chef.
"Mr. Joe, you've been to Trottingham."
"Yes, that's right"
"Right?"
"He studied to be a chef in Milan, Italy." one of the tenants said.
"Then, you two must have a lot to..." Grubber suddenly stopped when the two stallions stared at him. "...talk about!"
"We'll talk when an occasion organically arises. We'll talk then." Mr. Joe said.
"On what Milan did you stay?" Neighsay asked him.
"Well, I was in Milan, Italy!" Mr. Joe said. "I stayed in the heart of Milan."
"Uffizi?" Neighsay asked.
"Uffizi." Mr. Joe said, agreeing to his answer, pointing at him slightly while smirking, then chef kissed. Neighsay smiled at him and nodded at him.
"Nice to meet you." Neighsay said, shaking hooves with Mr. Joe. "I'll stop by later." Mr. Joe nervously smiled, and agreed in Italian.
"Yes." he answered in Italian. The tenants almost cheered, and Neighsay nodded.
"I guess he understood it. What did he say?"
"If you're licensed in Trottingham, you can't practice law here other than give advice." Caballeron said. Neighsay turned to him at his statement.
"That's correct. I'm not here to practice law here, anyways." Neighsay said politely. "I simply came to offer some advice."
"Is that so?" Caballeron said. "The owner told us he wouldn't sell the building. But we don't trust him." he added.
"We're different, Mr. Caballeron." Neighsay said as he smiles.
"Don't say stuff like that." one of the tenants said. "Who would turn down a big payout from a conglomerate?" the snack bar owner said.
'We will tell you the details at the meeting tomorrow afternoon." Neighsay said, he nodded as he turned to leave. Caballeron watched him from behind but didn't follow him.
"Neighsay Cassano." he whispered.
Meanwhile, Neighsay was in his bathroom, taking a bath, and he would make some whistles while bathing. He tried to turn on the water, but nothing came out.
"What's wrong with the water?" he said. He tried to open his eyes even though some soap was covering face. He banged his hand at the wall where the shower was. He tried different methods, but didn't attempt to work. "Damn it." he said, wiping of soap covering his eye.
He tried to opened the faucet again, and finally functioned properly again. "Good." he said, as he continued to bathe. The water was not exactly functioning properly. It would go weak and strong every second. "Damn it. There's no hot water? Damn it." he turned on the switch that changes the temperature of the water.
He turned it to a warm temperature. "There it is." he continued. As the water got to his neck he got shocked about the hot water. "It's hot!" he jumped back from the shower. The water kept getting weak and strong every second as Neighsay watches it.
"Are you kidding me?". The shower head moved like a chicken, and Neighsay copied its move like he was a chicken himself. He tried to get in the hot shower. "What's wrong with the hot water?" he said. "Look at me." he said to the non-living thingamajig shower, and fixed its shower head. "It's so hot." he said, rushing to take a bath.
"So hot! Hot!"
He was done taking a shower, dried his hair, and went straight to the bed. He sighed, the suddenly saw the glowing-in-the-dark stickers placed in his ceiling, like a child once lived in his unit before him. He tucked himself in a blanket and rest his head in the small but comfy pillows. He gently closed his eyes, and snuggled himself in the blanket. Suddenly, there was a pigeon, making sounds in his closed window.
It kept flapping its wings as it makes a loud sound. Neighsay couldn't sleep from the noise, and tried to cover himself in his blanket, but the bird kept making loud flapping sounds, and maybe might have Neighsay annoyed.
"Come on!" he said, as he uncovers himself from the blanket. He opened the curtain and saw the black, delicate pigeon. He sighed after seeing it. He knocked on the window to get rid of the bird, but it just stayed there. He knocked one more time, but still the pigeon wouldn't leave.
It would make cute, bird tweeting sounds from outside. He sighed one more time, and decided to open the window. He got his phone, and used it to shoo away the bird. The bird just stayed in the window, but got away from his phone. "Gosh." he said.
He tried to shew it one more time with his phone, and the bird just walked away to the corner of the window. He didn't saw the pigeon, and finally closed the door, and curtains. Then the pigeon moved back from its place before Neighsay showed up. Meanwhile, unable to sleep, Neighsay was in his desk, holding some necessary files and papers in his hands. He looked over the pages and saw a piece of paper that states "Canterlot Women's Correctional Institution." He thought of one flashback before.
One flashback that was...
--
"Defense, make your argument."
"The defense rests."
"Prosecution, question the defendant."
"Defendant Cloudy Quartz was often criticized by chairman Filthy Rich as his family for her improper behaviors as a housekeeper. On the day of the incident, when he said she she didn't do her job properly, she was livid and assaulted him which led to his death."
"The defense rests."
"Your Honor, Defendant Cloudy Quartz had abandoned her own child in the past. I'm submitting her affidavit of voluntary relinquishment of parental rights to an orphanage in Canterlot."
While discussing, Neighsay looked up at his biological mother, who was the defendant of the conflict. One member of the prosecution branch submitted her affidavit to the members in front.
"As she is a coldblooded mother who even abandoned her own child, it's highly likely that she does not value other people's lives. This proves the validity--"
"That's irrelevant to this case." the defendant said. "You're my lawyer. Say something. I was sexually harassed. His whole family is lying!"
"Don't say anything. This will work against you."
The defendant stood up. "Chairman Filthy Rich sexually harassed his previous housekeepers. He harassed every mare that came to work for him."
"Defendant. If you speak without permission again, you will be escorted out."
For that, she went back to sitting down. "Suit yourselves. You've already made your ruling."
--
Neighsay stopped thinking about the flashback. He read a paper stated that Caballeron of the Canterlot Law Firm was appointed as the new lawyer. He also saw that the retrial was refused by the inmate. He got his wallet after the files. He took something out of his wallet, which was the card Caballeron gave him.
He believed Caballeron has something to do with the trial years ago.
The next day, there was mare dancing in front of the TV while hearing the news.
"The statement given by the test subject who blew the whistle on the risk's of Babel Pharm's trials turned out to be false which deeply impacted the lawsuit. Caramel had been a participant of the clinical trial of RDU-90, a new drug developed by Babel Pharmaceuticals."
"Hey, look at that mare." a stallion said.
"He planned to extort money from the company."
"Is she mad?" another stallion said, while one of them laughed.
"...His intention..."
"Does she think she's Songbird Serenade?" the stallion said.
"...was exposed at the hearing."
The stallion chuckled while the other got his phone and took a video. "Goodness, look at her swinging her hip." he said.
"Their new drug, RDU-90, shows..."
"Does she not have a washing machine?" the stallion said. "Why is she dancing here?"
"This is a therapeutic place for me. So what?" the mare responded.
"...the market is expected to face some heat."
"I heard everything, you punks." the mare said as she turned to them, while dancing. "How dare you sexually harassed a mare in a public place?" she said. "Do you want the Ministry of Justice to lock you up? You rascals."
The stallions found themselves in loss of words. They looked at each other in confusion.
"Give me that." the mare said. "Give me your phone now!"
The stallion took at his phone and the mare harshly grabbed it in her hands.
"My gosh. Look at this. What..." she said. "I should smack you. Should I send you to prison for this? What's wrong with a little dancing, you punks?"
"I'm sorry."
"Sorry."
She heard the washing machine beeping and approach to it. Before that she turned back at the stallions. "You stay here." She said as she gave back the phone. She saw the stallions trying to leave, but that could not escape her eagle eyes. "Sit down. I'm not done with you yet. I have one more bag of blankets to wash." she said, as she approaches to the washing machine and opened it.
She grabbed blankets and put them inside.
Meanwhile, in Counter Plaza, Joe was singing happily as he was in the Italian restaurant. He was sweeping the floors in joy.
"♪You're my sun.
"You are beautiful." he said as he looked at his reflection in the vending machine. "You're so handsome."
"♪I love...AAAHH!" He got startled when he suddenly saw Neighsay was already in one of the seats. I wonder how did he not notice him. He quickly put away his dustpan and broom and quickly approached to him. Neighsay was holding the menu in his hooves that were found on the table. Joe gave him a bottle of water with a bit of sliced lemon inside.
"You're welcome." Joe said.
'What is your best dish?" Neighsay asked him while he was still holding the menu.
"Well, that would be my porcini dish." Joe said. "It's truffle porcini spaghetti."
"Everything on your menu sounds delicous." he complimented in Italian. "I'll have that."
"What?" Joe said. Neighsay nodded that he wanted the porcini dish. "Sì." Joe said. After cooking, he lend the dish to Neighsay. Neighsay rubbed his hands and gazed at the food in his plate.
"Ohhh." Neighsay smiled. Joe added some small servings beside him. Neighsay took a deep breath at his food. He looked up at Joe and smiled once more. They both chuckled, but to Joe, nervously did.
Neighsay grabbed a fork, and get strands of the noodles in his fork. He got some of them slowly got it into his mouth. He chewed slowly, enjoying the taste of the noodles. "Hmmm." he said. Joe immediately smiled after he heard Neighsay's tone.
Joe chuckled as Neighsay smiled cutely at him. Neighsay suddenly got disgusted and look off some noodles from his mouth. Joe's smile descended from his face. Neighsay grunted after, but suddenly chuckled.
"It tastes like you took this out from a trash can." he bluntly said. "But I'm glad...you removed the maggots." He threw the napkin straight to the floor beside Joe. Joe quickly got the napkin. "So you studied in Uffizi, Milan?" Neighsay said, sipping the lemonade.
"Yes, in Uffizi." Joe said nervously. Neighsay nodded after hearing this.
"I see. But Uffizi is in Florence, not Milan." he said.
"What?" Joe said. Neighsay smiled, and Joe was getting nervous. "I..." Joe said nervously as Neighsay chuckled. Neighsay got his wallet and gave him money.
"A con artist." Neighsay said, slamming the money into his table. Joe was already weeping after Neighsay's reaction to the food. Neighsay quickly left with only Joe in the restaurant. "He learned to cook at Uffizi Gallery?"
"Excuse me. I..." Joe said. "Come again." Joe said sadly.
Meanwhile in the Canterlot Women's Correctional Institution, Neighsay dropped off from the car and took a look at the place. He saw a mare come out from the place with a couple running up to her.
"You're out." the mare said.
Neighsay looked down and took a deep breath. He wanted to turn around and leave, the suddenly, another car that was near Neighsay's, came out a busy Caballeron. The car left as soon as he got off. He went inside and wanted to talk to one of the prisoners in the place. The prisoner he went to see was the defendant years ago, Neighsay's biological mother.
Cloudy Quarts sighed, looking at Caballeron.
"The look on your face tells me you're losing again." she said. Caballeron smiled as he heard her.
"Did you become a psychic? How can you tell?" he said, smiling. Cloudy Quarts chuckled at him.
"It's been five years since I first met you." she said. "I can tell by just looking at you." she said as she smiles.
"Has it been that long?" he asked. "You're being treated, right?" he asked. Cloudy Quartz nodded.
"Thanks to you." she said. "To be less of a burden to you, I should die soon." she said.
"Gosh. Come on. Don't say stuff like that." he said. "Hearing that drains my energy." he said as Cloudy Quartz chuckled and exhaled. "You don't have to visit me every month now." she said. "Creatures might think that you're my secret husband." she said.
"You can tell them That I am." Caballeron said. "It will be nice for Tempest to have a mom."
"Gosh. Goodness." Cloudy Quartz blushed. They both chuckled.
"Anyway, Ms. Quartz, for one last time--"
"Don't even bring up the retrial." she said. Caballeron's smile descended from his face. "I really don't need it. Just leave me be. I've done a lot of bad things in life." she said. Saying this, Caballeron looked down in disappointment.
Meanwhile, outside of Counter Plaza, Blueblood was standing, holding a suitcase in his aura. Then Neighsay appeared in one of the paths. Blueblood saw him as he went by.
"Did you have a nice trip?" Blueblood asked.
"Yes." Neighsay said.
"The team leader of Babel's Investment and Development is on his way." Blueblood said.
'I'll go and meet him." Neighsay said. "Where should we meet?"
"There's a cafe across the street." Blueblood pointed out with his hoof.
"How about my office?" a stallion said. Both Neighsay and Blueblood turned to the stallion, and saw Caballeron. "It concerns our plaza. Would it be better to do it in my office?" Caballeron asked. Neighsay took time to think and turned to Blueblood. They both nodded at Caballeron's suggestion afterwards.
Meanwhile in the office...
"How many times must I repeat myself?" Neighsay said. 'My client will demolish the building and build a new one. and the previous tenants will have their lots back."
The stallion in front of him chuckled, then somepony lend them some drinks.
"Thank you." the stallion said. "All right." the stallion took down some notes. "This is our last offer." he said as he slams his ballpen into the table. "It's a much better offer from two days ago. It's the best we can do." he exhaled.
Neighsay looked at him after. Then Grubber spied on what they were doing. The team leader quickly gave them the complete offer. He tried to put the paper in front of Neighsay's face, but it felt like Neighsay's head was in the clouds. He then pointed it to Blueblood's face, but Blueblood turned his face into his shoulder.
The team leader chuckled and placed it back at the table.
"Do you not understand me?" Neighsay said.
"I hear you just fine." the team leader said. "You know what?" he said. "I wanted to wrap things up nicely." he said as he slams his hoof in the table. Grubber and Caballeron clearly saw it. "If you keep this up, things will get ugly." he said.
Neighsay just stared at him like nothing was wrong. "I'm here on behalf the Babel E&C. If you keep rejecting our offer, you'll regret it later." Neighsay looked down from the stallion.
"Are you threatening me?" Neighsay said.
"Just a little?" the team leader said. Blueblood looked at the team leader.
"Don't ever threaten me again." Neighsay said. "It's my first and last advice to you."
Meanwhile, the tenants went to Counter Plaza's dance studio.
"What?" the mother said. "No one's here yet?"
"No." the dance adviser said.
"Did you eat?"
"Hey."
"Gosh."
They removed their hoofwear and went to the center of the studio.
"Hey, do you have more?"
"Gosh what?"
One tenants accidentally went to the near center with his hoofwear on.
"Mr. Joe, take of your shoes when you come in!" the dance adviser said.
"Sorry about that. Are you upset?" Joe said.
"You always forget that."
"Sorry."
"Mr. Cheese, do you have a wet rag attached to your hooves?" the dance adviser said. "Either wash your hooves or put on some socks."
"Sorry!" Cheese yelled. "My sweat glands are clustered at the bottom of my hooves." he said as he patted the dance adviser's shoulder. "It's an illness."
"Come on!" the dance adviser said. "Everyone, don't touch the glass when you open the door. Do you know how hard it is to wipe this? There's a handle here!" he said. Suddenly, he heard the mother sneezing in front of the mirror in the walls. The dance adviser laughed. "Gosh, my mirror." he said.
"Sorry." she said politely, and the dance adviser doesn't seem to be mad at her.
"I closed the curtains for a reason." he said.
Suddenly, the three stallions, Blueblood, Caballeron, and Neighsay entered the dance studio.
"All right. Is everyone here?" Caballeron asked. He slammed the door, not knowing Grubber was gonna come in. Grubber slightly bumped into the door after Caballeron slammed it. Neighsay saw he was in a platform. He slightly stomped his hoof against it, and it made the dance adviser annoyed.
Caballeron saw the adviser and looked like he was asking why he was upset. The dancer was about to crack up after this.
"As tenants, we want your promise." Caballeron said.
"That's why we plan to draw up on agreement by tomorrow. And you can sign it by the end of this week." Neighsay said.
"I know what you said yesterday, but are you really a lawyer in Trottingham?" one tenant said. Neighsay and Blueblood turned to each other and chucked.
"Yes." Neighsay said. The tenant nodded at his response.
"Then how will you handle it when you don't know our law?" the dry cleaner said.
"I don't think my legal qualification matters here." Neighsay said. "Our promise to you and your signatures do."
"I will guarantee that you will have your lots back once I rebuild this place." Blueblood said.
"You promise, right?" one of the tenants said. Neighsay smiled.
"We never lie." Neighsay said.
"What do you think?" Cheese Sandwich said to the other tenants.
"Well, they seem very genuine. Why don't we trust them?" the monk said.
"I'm also going to trust you, Mr. Neighsay Cassanova." the piano player said sweetly.
"Yes. Me, too, Mr. Cassanova." one tenant said. Cheese looked up at them and stood up.
"Let me inform you in advance." Cheese said. He leaped into one bar and slammed his knee. "I know martial arts." he said. Caballeron seemed to be somewhat annoyed. "If you are deceiving us, I'm going to put you in in a guillotine choke for six days straight." he said, as he tries to carry the bar.
Neighsay then quietly chuckled.
"Don't do stuff like that! No one cares! You're embarrassing and so tacky!" one of the tenants said.
"Let's sum it up." Caballeron said. "Who agrees to trust them?" Caballeron raised his hand. Then Joe, then the piano player, then Cheese's wife, then Cheese himself, then one of the monks raised their hands.
"My gosh. That annoying Neighsay. this doesn't feel right." the dry cleaner whispered. "We have no choice." he said, as he raises his hand.
"Right. Damn it." the mother said. "This is driving me crazy. Darn it." she said. She then raised her hand along with the other tenant.
"Let's give him the benefit of the doubt and go with the flow." the dry cleaner said.
"Merciful Buddha." the monk said. Caballeron looked at him. Since all the tenants agreed, they have made the decision. After the meeting, Neighsay went out of the dance studio and suddenly stopped by with Caballeron.
"Mr. Caballeron." Neighsay called.
"The tenants have nothing but your word to go on." Caballeron said. "But I find this unfortunate because it looks like you're toying us." Neighsay chuckled at this statement.
"Is it that hard for you to trust me?" Neighsay said.
"I pretended to trust you earlier to assure the other tenants." he said as he turned to Neighsay. "But I never trust anyone like you."
Neighsay exhaled after. He looked in the window and thought about what he had said. "I am a lawyer, and so are you." he said.
"But we clearly have different jobs." Caballeron said. "You represent money, but I represent ponies and creatures.". This statement caused Neighsay to smile. Neighsay then turned to him.
"I also represent ponies and creatures." Neighsay said.
"Oh, yes." Caballeron said. "Rich ponies and creatures.". This then made Neighsay laugh a bit. "I know Babel E&C will buy this building so I prepared myself for everything. So don't pretend to be a mediator in front of me. Just proceed with your plan." he said. Neighsay the smiled as always, and Caballeron smiled back. Caballeron then left, leaving Neighsay behind him.
Meanwhile, in Blueblood's area, he went inside his dark room, and suddenly opened shined bright. He went looking for his wife and child. "Where's everyone? Honey? Limestone Pie?". Suddenly, one robber hit him in the head. "My goodness!" he yelled. "Honey! Limestone Pie!". He yelled as the robbers grabbed his front hooves. "Who are you ponies?!"
"We don't have time to chitchat." one robber said. The robber told them to bring Blueblood to him.
"Limestone Pie." Blueblood said once more. The robber blew something in the paper. He then showed it to Blueblood the Counter Plaza Contract of Sales.
"All right." the robber said.
"You..." Blueblood said.
"Stamp your seal on it." he said. "I have a show to catch on TV."
Blueblood looked around him. He felt frightened for his life.
The next day, in Tempest's attorney office, she was walking and humming to her table, holding a cup of coffee in her hands. She put her bag in the table and saw an envelope on her desk. She took it and read the outer cover. It was stated it was from the Lawist Law Firm, and from her father, Caballeron. And there saw the name "Recipient Tempest Shadow."
"What is it this time? Come on." Tempest said. She opened the envelope and saw there the Relinquishment of Parental Rights. She read it carefully. "My goodness. Jeez.". She quickly get her phone from her bag.
She dialed her dad's number, and quickly leaned it close to her ear. Caballeron's phone began to ring while he was spraying his plants. He agreed to call and talked to her.
"I'm good." Caballeron said. He quickly dropped the call. Tempest got annoyed by his drop.
"What do you mean?!" Tempest said angrily. She dialed again her dad's number.
"I'm not interested." he said as he dropped the call again. Tempest slammed her phone into her desk.
"I'm so sick of him!" Tempest said angrily as she seats in her expensive looking chair and sighed. She quickly got off with her things and rushed off outside her office.
Meanwhile at Blueblood's place...
"Do you think I'd be a good actor?" the robber said.
"Of course, sir!" another robber said.
"Gosh, that's a no-brainer!"
"Come over here."
Blueblood look devastated as he looked at his wife and child. The robber's phone rang and he answered it.
"Yes. Okay, I got it." he said as he drops the call. "Check your bank account. It's over." he told Blueblood. "Hey, let's go."
"Yes, sir!" they said.
"Gosh. Let's go."
With now Blueblood and his family left behind, Blueblood feels frightened for what will happen to him and his family. Especially their lives.
Meanwhile, Tempest barges into her father's office with the envelope she received from him.
"It says by nature of clinical trials." Grubber said. He noticed Tempest coming in. "Hello, Ms. Shadow."
Tempest slammed her bag against one of the tables in her father's desk.
"Who are you to barge into my office? That's some nasty manners you have?" Caballeron said. Tempest then showed him the envelope he sent her.
'What's this?" Tempest asked with an overreacting tone.
"Oh, that?" Caballeron said. "I mailed that to remove you from my family registry." he said.
"You can't do that anymore." Tempest said as she smirks. "The family registration system was abolished ages ago." Tempest said with a raised voice. "You're a lawyer."
"I can still try, can't I?" Caballeron said. 'Hey." he called Grubber.
"Yes." Grubber picked up the file Caballeron gave him.
"And I look at this. This is ridiculous." Tempest said. ""The petitioner rejects the following words and any similar word from the recipient. The following words are, appa, abuji, papa, daddy, otosang, bàba, and pére."" Tempest said in a raised angry voice. "This is just outright ridiculous!" she wickedly laughed. "It's so inmature." she said as she wickedly laughed again. Caballeron stood up as Grubber wasn't listening.
Tempest shrieked in shock.
"Mr. Grubber!" Tempest yelled.
"Yes?"
"I'm talking here!" she yelled angrily.
"Go ahead." Grubber said.
Meanwhile in the dry cleaners area, Neighsay yelled in anger.
"Damn it. How is this even possible?!" Neighsay yelled in Italian. He turned around at the dry cleaner in outrage. "You Canterlite. Damn you! Get out of my sight!" he yelled one more in Italian. "Damn it."
"Sì." the dry cleaner said.
"What happened to my suit?" Neighsay said.
"It's because your suit was made from cheap fabric. It doesn't happen to good fabric." the dry cleaner simply answered.
"Cheap?!" Neighsay said. "Do you know how much is this?!
"How much?"
"This is a limited edition to Testicoli's line.." Neighsay said angrily as he sighed. "There's no point in talking to him."
"By the way, you have a nice build." the dry cleaner said. "You know? You still look cool with that tight suit." he complimented. "This might catch on!"
"Did you do this on purpose?!" Neighsay said.
"What are you talking about?! I'm a laundry master!" He said as he show his pictures of him involving laundry.
'Then you shouldn't have messed up!" Neighsay said angrily. Neighsay sighed and tried to cool down. "You will have to pay for what you did to my suit." Neighsay said angrily as he pointed his hoof to the dry cleaner. "You will!" he said in Italian.
Suddenly, the speakers turned on. "Tenants of Counter Plaza, come out of the building now."
"Somepony's looking for me. Pay before you go." the cleaner said.
"'Damn it!" Neighsay said in Italian. Then, his phone rang in his pocket. "Yes, Mr. Blueblood?"
"My wife and daughter were taken hostage. I had no choice." Blueblood said. "I'm sorry. I'll fix this no matter what. Yes. i will...". Suddenly while he was driving, he bump himself into a supply truck, and got t-boned.
"Mr. Blueblood? Mr. Blueblood. Mr. Blueblood? Mr. Blueblood!" Neighsay called him multiple times.
Meanwhile, in Caballeron's office...
"Fine. I can overlook everything you wrote here! I can live with that!" Tempest said angrily. "But this one. Look. "All the photos that the recipient took with the petitioner as a minor and photos that remind the recipient of the petitioner as the parent will be donated for the exhibition, Counter Plaza's History, held at the Canterlot District Office for public interest." Who are you to donate my photos?! They're the epitome of my embarrassing past!" Tempest yelled. Grubber entered and paused as they saw them.
"It's up to me." Caballeron said. "I raised you."
"And does that give you the right to abandon me?!" Tempest yelled. "This is embarrassing!"
""Embarrassing?"" He stood up angrily in front of his daughter. "It's because what you do is less than human!" he yelled. "You're a lawyer. How could you not have sense of duty or justice?"
"Your sense of duty just makes you the noisiest lawyer in Equestria!" Tempest yelled angrily, her hands were like blowing up as she indicated the word "noisiest". "And you sense of justice is just groundless hostility against the rich! This is called mechanical justice!" she yelled.
""Mechanical justice"? Then us following money "rational justice"!?"
"Yes! Money is justice in Canterlot and power means justice!" Tempest yelled.
"Then, keep living your life like that!" Caballeron said. They didn't notice Grubber holding some mugs during the argument. He kept watching them in the corner of the entrance. "But do not show your face around me. Okay?"
"Okay. Let's cut off all ties!" Tempest yelled.
"Yes. Let's do that!" Caballeron said.
"Don't." Grubber said in the corner.
"Let's never call each other!" Tempest yelled.
"I won't!" Caballeron yelled back.
"Don't you dare call me!" Tempest shouted.
"I won't!" He said once more.
"Mr. Caballeron!" Cheese shouted as he went into the entrance, rushing.
"Never call me!" Tempest shouted.
"Mr. Caballeron." Cheese responded as he took many deep breaths as he can. "You have to come outside now." he panicked.
Meanwhile, a car drove by in front of the Counter Plaza. Somepony got the car door open and then appeared a suited stallion.
"Hello." the stallion who opened the car greeted.
"My gosh. You're a bunch of lazy bums." the stallion said. "Why haven't you put up the signs. Do it now." he said. "Aren't you cold? Let's go!" he said.
"Yes, sir!" they responded.
They put up as many signs as they can. They put it everywhere in Counter Plaza's closed doors. They put up a notice that Blueblood will be selling it to Babel E&C.
"What happened?" one of the tenants said.
"What?"
"But he promised."
"What happened?"
"What do we do, then?"
Caballeron saw the notice in one of the walls of the plaza.
"Put it up. Just do it."
"Okay."
Many stallions, except for Caballeron, Neighsay, or any male tenant put up the notice in everywhere where they haven't put up the signs.
"Cover up the signs." one of them said. He said as the stallion walked in in front of Caballeron and the tenants.
"Hello, sir." one of them said. Caballeron turned to the stallions as they walked up to them.
"Nice to meet you." he said. "I'm Starstreak, the CEO of Ant company and the chairman of the Development Committee for Babel Tower." he said, while he heard his stallions clapping behind him. He seemed to be annoyed and then his stallions stopped.
Tempest appeared behind her "father"'s back and faced him from the side of his shoulder. "What kind of company is that?" she asked him.
"It's a shady company that performs dirty jobs like high interest loans and beating ponies and creatures up." he said, facing at StarStreak.
"I see." Tempest said, as she rolled her eyes on Starstreak.
"Oh, right. As of today, this building belongs to Babel E&C. Starting today, the Compensation team will visit you." he said. "Let's handle this peacefully.
"I knew it. Damn it." the mother tenant said. "This was their plan. But what? They'll let us move back in?"
"That lousy Neighsay or whatever. I should've shrunk his suit even more!" the dry cleaner said. "Where is he!?"
"Right." one of the tenants said.
"If any of the tenants give us a hard time, one uncompromising stallions will tire you out physically and mentally." Starstreak said.
"Hey." Cheese said.
"Are you crazy? one of the tenants said ."What are you doing!?"
"Why?" Cheese said.
"Who are you?" one of Starstreak's stallions said. Cheese then walked up in front of them.
"You can't do this." Cheese said.
"Why not?" the stallion said. The stallion started to try and wrestle him, but Cheese then got scared and went back.
"Are you okay?" one of the tenants said.
"You startled me." Cheese replied.
"I thought I hit you!" the stallion said.
Cheese then fixed his jacket and walk a few steps in front of them. "You can't block the path to the restroom." he said. "What about the creatures who need to go?!"
"You got me excited for a second!" Starstreak said. "Goodness. Guys, step aside. Gosh. It's urgent.
"Okay." one of them said. They stepped aside away from the center.
"I don't want him to do his business here. Hurry." Star Streak said. "Go. Go ahead."
"Thank you." Cheese said as he quickly ran over to the restroom.
"My goodness, that idiot. He's so embarrassing." one of the tenants said.
"Leave now." Caballeron said. "You're violating the law by threatening us like this."
"Why don't you stop already? We will compensate you handsomely." Startstreak said.
"You say you'll compenstae us, but you'll just beat us up and kick us out!" Caballeron said.
"This is a good occasion. Why are you ruining the mood?" Starstreak's stallion said, as he punches Caballeron in the shoulder. The tenants gathered around Caballeron to see if he was alright.
"Gosh."
"Hey!" Tempest shouted at Starstreak's stallion.
"Who are you!?" the stallion said.
"I'm his only daughter!" Tempest said. "And I'm Lawyer Tempest Shadow of Law Firm Wingtip."
Caballeron went near her and whispered: "You're not my daughter."
Tempest turned to him and said: "Come on. Be quiet." Tempest said.
"What is a lawyer from Wingtip doing here?" Starstreak said.
Tempest turned around to Starstreak and said: "It's none of your business. This isn't the way to go about your business. Do you know the era we live in?" Tempest said. "It's not like we're in some '90s ganster movie!"
"Hey, miss." the stallion in Starstreak's right said. "Do you want to get beaten up like the movies in the 90s?!" He said as he got his finger and pushes her face in the forehead.
"My goodness!" one tenant said.
"Hey!"
Tempest touched her forehead due to the pain the push caused. She fixed her mane and expression and suddenly chuckled at him. "If you touch me again, I'll make you pay for what you did!" Tempest shouted as he pulled him many times by his collar.
"Sure. Okay. Let's see how much money I have to pay to settle with you!" the stallion said.
"Stop!" a familiar voice echoed and shouted in Italian before the stallion could even punch Tempest. Starstreak and his stallions saw him in the hallway, while Caballeron, Tempest and the tenants saw the pony in the hallway. It was none other than the stallion himself, Neighsay. The tenants were in shock, and Tempest stared at him. Neighsay was holding a suitcase along with him in his hands, and was wearing a black coat.
The stallion who tried to attack Tempest removed his hands from her. Neighsay then walks in with a slight mischievous grin. Tempest then pushes Starstreak's stallion aside as Neighsay walks in.
"What did he say?" one of Starstreak's stallions said.
"Where's my tape measure!?" the dry cleaner said. He didn't even notice Neighsay pulled it off him when walked in during the conflict. Tempest looked at him from hooves to mane, since she was not familiar with him.
"Do you also need to use the bathroom? Is it urgent? Go ahead. Go on." Starstreak mocked. "Go."
"Let's talk." Neighsay said.
"Who the heck are you!?" Starstreak's stallion said.
"Neighsay Cassano." Neighsay answered. "I respect the owner of Counter Plaza, Blueblood."
""Neighgay Quazzano"?" Tempest mocked.
"This is ridiculous." Starstreak's stallion said.
Neighsay then turned to Tempest after mocking him.
"There's no talking your way out of this!" Starstreak's stallion said. Just before he could punch Neighsay, Neighsay grabbed his hand and twisted it. Neighsay then kicked the stallion on his back hooves, which caused him to grunt in pain and fell on the floor.
"Hey. Hold on."
"Goodness." Starstreak said. "I'm not that curious, but I'll listen." He then walked towrds Neighsay. "So what is it?" he asked.
Neighsay faced him, then looked down, then all of a sudden, Neighsay punched him in the snout out of the blue.
"Sir!" Starstreak's stallions reacted. Starstreak touched his snout and when it came out, there was blood in his hands. This made the stallions gasped at Starstreak.
"My nose is bleeding!" Starstreak shouted.
"A nosebleed!?" one of his stallions said. Neighsay then slashed the tape measure in front of him.
"Gosh! Come on! Seriously!" Starstreak shouted. Neighsay got the tape measure and wrapped some inches around his hand.
"You jerk." Starstreak said. He was about to make a stampede between him and Neighsay. Just before he could attack, Neighsay quickly tied his hands and pulled him outside of the window, causing the window to shatter into pieces.
"Oh no!" Starstreak's stallions said
"Boss!" one of them said.
"If you take one more step..." Neighsay said. He then let go a few inches of the tape measure, causing the hanged Starstreak to go down a bit but didn't fell.
"...your boss will fall." Neighsay said.
"Don't move, you dimwits!" Starstreak shouted. "Just stay still!"
"Everyone, stay still." Starstreak's stallions said at the fact that their lead would fall if they were stubborn to not move a single muscle.
Neighsay then grabbed tightly at the tape measure, and said: "Given the height of the building, you won't die. You'll just break your hoof. But if you're unlucky and fall-head first, I will be the last pony you see from Equestria. Right?"
"Shouldn't we stop him?" Grubber asked.
"He said he won't die. Leave him." Tempest said.
"Pull me up, you asshole. Pull me up!" Starstreak said. Neighsay then slightly grinned at him and said:
"Babel E&C bought this building through illegal means. And I will not forgive their artocity." Neighsay said.
"Unless you want to die, pull me up." Starstreak said. "Now!"
"I'll get this building back no matter what." Neighsay whispered to him. "And I will make all of you pay for what you did." Neighsay then said something in Italian. "This building...is mine." he said in Italian as he waves his hand in a fancy gesture.
"That was Italian, right? What did he say?" one of the tenants asked Joe.
"What?"
"What did he say?"
"He said..." he was nervous since he remembered Neighsay learned his secret back in his restaurant. Not knowing what it means, he just clapped his hooves on joy.
"E mio!" the dry cleaner said, even though he never learned the English translation. Every tenant then started clapping. Tempest just rolled her eyes, and Caballeron just stood there and watch. Cheese was seen in the window at the other side, clapping along with the tenants. Neighsay then smirked at the scared hanging Starstreak.
He had the right to attack Starstreak and his men in the perfect timing, besides, he's not into dudes who mess with women and children, remember?
NEIGHSAY
Author's Note
To watch the actual episode, click here
NEIGHSAY
"You jerk." Starstreak said. He was about to make a stampede between him and Neighsay. Just before he could attack, Neighsay quickly tied his hands and pulled him outside of the window.
"Oh no!" Starstreak's stallions said
"Boss!" one of them said.
"If you take one more step..." Neighsay said. He then let go a few inches of the tape measure, causing the hanged Starstreak to go down a bit but didn't fell.
"...your boss will fall." Neighsay said.
"Don't move, you dimwits!" Starstreak shouted. "Just stay still!"
"Everyone, stay still." Starstreak's stallions said at the fact that their lead would fall if they were stubborn to not move a single muscle.
"Babel E&C bought this building through illegal means. And I will not forgive their artocity." Neighsay said.
"Unless you want to die, pull me up." Starstreak said. "Now!"
"I'll get this building back no matter what." Neighsay whispered to him. "And I will make all of you pay for what you did." Neighsay then said something in Italian. "This building...is mine."
"That was Italian, right? What did he say?" one of the tenants asked Joe.
"What?"
"What did he say?"
"He said..." he was nervous since he remembered Neighsay learned his secret back in his restaurant. Not knowing what it means, he just clapped his hooves on joy.
"E mio!" the dry cleaner said, even though he never learned the English translation. Every tenant then started clapping. Tempest just rolled her eyes. Cheese was seen in the window at the other side, clapping along with the tenants.
"Take your stallions and get lost. Then, I'll help you back up." Neighsay said.
"I'll get lost. Help me up." Starstreak said.
"What?" Neighsay said.
"I'll leave, so help me."
"Promise me."
"Seriously. I promise." Starstreak said as he tries to reach Neighsay's pinky. "Do I really need to? Okay. I can't straighten my finger!" Starstreak said. "This hurts. Oh, my hoof."
"Stamp it." Neighsay said. Tempest was watching Neighsay in suspicion. She felt like this was a dumb plan for Neighsay to do. She stroke her chin looking at the stallions.
"You cruel bastard." Starstreak said. "Come on. I stamped it." he said as both of their pinkies touched. "Help me up. Hurry!" Starstreak exclaimed.
"Go on. Help him." Neighsay said to Starstreak's stallions. Then, the stallions came rushing to save their boss. They grabbed the tape measure along with Neighsay.
"Bring me up! Hurry up!" he exclaimed. Neighsay pulled him up easily and Starstreak got back on the floor.
"Boss!" one of them said.
"Be careful." one of his stallions said as Starstreak was rolling like a running sushi.
"Goodness!"
"It hurts!" Starstreak said. Neighsay then approach to Tempest, and faced her, and she returned with raised eyebrows.
"Boss, are you okay?"
"Hey." one of them said. Neighsay looked at Tempest in confusion.
"Boss, are you all right?"
"Oh no! You're bleeding!" one of them said.
"This could leave a scar!" Starstreak cried. "This could leave a scar! Damn it!". He then looked at Neighsay and pointed at him. "Kill that bastard."
"Grab your weapons." one of them said.
"I know you're a lowlife punk, but aren't you breaking your promise way too soon?" Neighsay said, as he fiddles with the measuring tape. He then raised his own hand, and gestured it to go make a stampede towards him.
"Let's go!" the stallions shouted, as they prepared baseball bats, and the tenants, Caballeron and Tempest, screamed in fear and ran away from them.
"Hey! Stop it! Stop right there!" the guards came rushing between the tenants and the lawyers.
"What?"
"Seriously?"
"Mr. Starstreak, you should leave." one of the guards said. "There are reporters outside."
"Reporters? Why?" Starstreak asked.
"How should I know?!" Alright...Let's quickly disperse."
"Leave."
"What?"
"Get lost." Startstreak said. "Hey. Hey!" Starstreak exclaimed in front of Neighsay. "Stay right there. I'll hand you in this very plaza soon."
Neighsay just nodded and walked away from him with Starstreak walking at the opposite direction.
"Damn it!" Starstreak shouted."Damn it, this scar!" Starstreak cried.
"Goodness."
"Those bastards." one of the tenants said.
"What was that?"
Caballeron went near Neighsay and whispered: "We should talk.". Caballeron then proceeded to walk over to his office
Neighsay then proceeded to follow him to his office, the office in where Tempest barged in.
"Gosh. Didn't I tell you not to fool around?" Caballeron said.
"I wasn't fooling around. I told you Mr. Blueblood was threatened to sign the contract." Neighsay said angrily.
""Threatened"? Gosh." Caballeron chuckled. "That was quite a stunt you put up here. You guys are amazing." he said, smiling. "Why are you so childish?!" he asked angrily. Tempest and Grubber were also there with them too. They were listening to their discussion.
"Why won't you..." Neighsay said furiously. He then turned around to Grubber. "Why he trust me?!"
Tempest smirked at him , while she was sipping some cultured milk in her cup. "Seeing now you're speaking Italian ,you must feel guilty." she mocked. Neighsay seethed with anger and turned to Tempest.
"Shut up!" Neighsay shouted angrliy in Italian at her.
"It sounds like you're cursing." Tempest said. She then blinked both of her eyes to Neighsay cutely. Neighsay then sighed then turned to Caballeron.
"Think about it. Why would I still be here if I sold this building, I'd take the money and go abroad!" Neighsay said.
"That's true." Tempest said.
"Be quiet!" Caballeron shouted at her. Tempest just continued to sip her milk. He then turned to Neighsay. "Go back to your country and stop inconveniencing us." he said. "Babel E&C Pharmaceuticals, and Law Firm Wingtip are all garbage. Leave. all of you."
"Somehow, I got caught in a crossfire. Unbelievable." Tempest said.
"I don't expect you to believe me. I'm going to get this building back." Neighsay said, which caused Caballeron to turn back at him. Neighsay then smiled and walked out of the office, leaving Tempest and Grubber, who were watching him leave.
"That's impossible! The contract has been signed already!" Tempest said to Neighsay. She then scoffed and took her bag with her. Before Grubber and Tempest could leave, a group of ponies entered the office.
"How may I help you?" Grubber said.
"I'm a reporter from CN. I'd like to meet with..." he said, as he got his phone and checked his name again. "Neighsay Cassano. He gave us a tip. Is he here?"
Caballeron then approach to them. "He called you here?"
Meanwhile, Neighsay went down out of the plaza. He sighed after the talk
"Sir!" a familiar, overreacting, voiced called him. Tempest then approach to him. "What a surprise. You even called the reporter." she said.
EPISODE 2
"However, there's something I can't just wrap my head around." she added. Neighsay tried to walk away, but Tempest kept following behind him. "Why would you get worked up even more so than your client?." Tempest shouted at him, trying to get his attention. "The building was sold at a high price so you'll be getting a hefty sum."
"Putting aside the money, would this upset anyone?" Neighsay said.
"Not at all!" Tempest exclaimed. "Lawyer don't usually involve themselves in matters like this. European lawyers are quite strict about these things."
"What are you trying to say?" Neighsay said. They then both stopped walking and faced each other.
"My experience tells me that there's more to this. A reason enough to make them act this way." Tempest said.
"So..." He then walked up to her even nearer. "What could that be?"
"Beats me." she said as she walked up to him even nearer . Neighsay tries to walk back, and Tempest keeps walking to him as he goes to the opposite direction. "But it must be something that's more valuable than the building." She then walked to the way but then turned to him and went to the opposite direction. Neighsay felt like this was getting awkward. He then went to the direction that Tempest first went before she turned.
Meanwhile with some of the tenants...
"I saw this coming! Those show-offs with flashy suits are all the same!" Cheese said. Somepony pointed at the sweat Cheese maid with his hooves. "Six days is nowhere enough." Cheese said. 'I ought him to put him in a guillotine choke for 11 days straight!"
"Can you please sit down and talk?" one of the tenants said.
"Sit down." one of the tenants pulled his hoof.
"He robbed us blind, didn't he?" one of the tenants said.
"I said we shouldn't trust him and his good looks!" a tenant shouted.
"I knew it when he badmouthed my food. It's obvious that I'm taller than him, but he spoke casually at me." Joe said.
"This Testicoli or Neighsay stallion is more heinous than the building owner." the dry cleaner said.
"You're right. He totally deceived us."
"Should I go teach him a lesson?" Cheese Sandwich asked. "How about I slam that face of his on the ground? Should I fling him to the ground?"
"Gosh. I get that you're upset, but you shouldn't hurt his face." the piano player said.
"You should stop high-fiving the ground whenever you're drunk." the tenant said.
"Why are we always the ones to get robbed blind? We're not that stupid!" the mother said.
"But we're not that smart, either. You still don't know the times table!" the tenant said
"I can't believe you."
"I even got a knew stamp to seal the agreement." the piano player said. She then turned at Joe. "Aren't Trottignhamian stallions supposed to be gentlecolts?"
"Not at all. They slack off and are terrible liars. They distract ponies and creatures with hand gestures." Joe said.
"What should we do?" the monk said.
"You can..." one of them said. "You can just move to another temple." he said.
"Not at all. We will stay by your side until the end." the monk said.
"I'll need to verify if he has trily deceived us or not." Caballeron said.
"Look what happened. What's the point of that? We already lost our building!" one tenant said.
"He was the one who called the reporters." Caballeron mentioned.
"What's his plan? Why is he confusing us?" the dry cleaner said.
"I'll make a thorough evaluation on whether he's in our side or not." Caballeron said.
Meanwhile, in the zumba class, there was that mare again, following the dance moves of the instructor. She was the mare in the laundromat place.
"Higher. Okay, get ready. Good."
"Four. Turn your waist. One, two, three."
"That's it." she said
"All right. Two."
But, hey, she isn't just a zumba student. Her name is Harshwhinny, and she's the prosecutor of Babel E&C.
"Our dear Deputy Minister Zephyr Breeze..." She said, approaching to another worker with files. She placed them on the table, and sat down. "All right.". She opened the files, and a stallion saw her scratching her barehoof. "So...just to say that you, Minister Shining Armor, and President Gladmane of JT Investment..." she read the files for the note. "The three of you had bevzilla at a resturaunt in Tasty Treats. That's all I need from you."
"What kind of story will you concoct with the reporters this time around?" Shining Armor said.
"Gosh. That's hurtful to hear." Harshwhinny scoffed. "I'm here to protect you. I am not going to reveal this to the public or call any reporters.
"You're planning to use JT Investment to get to the top." Shining Armor said. "I can't let you do that."
"Sir. Do you know what my specialty is? I can't turn the most heartfelt stories into most heinous ones." Harshwhinny said.
Shining armor chuckled. "Is that so?. They then started to chuckle.
"You don't believe me." Harshwhinny said. "Minister Discord from Chaosville who had 1.07 billion bits in debt and no house to his name. Who do you think accused him of illegally accumulating two billion bits and made him end up killing himself?"
"Look here, Ms. Harshwhinny!" he yelled in anger.
"Sir, you see, I'm the pony who can find faults in the most innocent ponies and creatures. Wait and see." Harshwhinny said.
Meanwhile in the hospital, Neighsay was standing in front of the bed, who lied there was Blueblood after he was t-boned.
"I'm sorry, sir." Blueblood said weakly.
"Don't say that. I'm glad your family is safe." Neighsay sighed.
"The plaza..." Blueblood said. Neighsay moved this accessory that keeps his neck still, and it was covering his mouth. "The plaza building. If Babel E&C demolishes it, they'll find out. You have to demolish it before they do." he said. Neighsay looked down at him in pity.
"But there's more. That secret room comes with a special feature."
3 years ago...
"What is it?" Blueblood said.
"It has to do with the structure of the room." Neighsay said. "The room will be touching the building's columns and the beams and will be equipped with a device that amplifies impact. When the room is put under a considerable impact, the impact will cause the columns and the beams to crack, and the building will collapse. If anyone tries to break in to steal the gold, the building itself will be their graveyard. And there is one more important thing. You must get rid of everyone who has built that room or is aware of its existence. Except for Mr. Blueblood and me, of course. From anyone apart from you to get that gold, the building..." he said as he put the tobacco in his cup. "...will be demolished.". The Fillypino stallion then smirked at him. "The family will gift you the blueprint as proof of our friendship."
1 year ago..
The black car drove from the vineyard with Neighsay in the backseat. He saw the news that Rogue, the same stallion 2 years ago, a Fillypino tycoon dies of cardiac arrest after a swim. He might have been shocked about the news, and he kept scrolling for more information. He had a shocked face after reading from his tablet.
10 months ago...
"Does his family know about the secret room?" Neighsay asked.
"No. It's just the three of us who know." Blueblood said. Neighsay sipped from his cup and looked at him. "Given his nature, I'm certain he didn't tell anyone." Blueblood said, as Neighsay nodded.
Neighsay took a deep breath. "Mr. Blueblood. Care to take some retirement money with me?"
3 months ago...
Neighsay was still in Trottingham at this time. He had the TV on if the news, and Neighsay was in his fancy night robe, scrolling his tablet about Babel E&C.
"Babel E&C has begun purchasing the shops and residences around the area."
Meanwhile...
"They contacted me. What should I do?" Blueblood asked through his phone call.
"Tell them you're going to rebuild it. We only need two days after the construction begins." Neighsay replied. "Two days to move the gold."
Present...
Neighsay looked through the door of the Canterlot Temple, looking at the changeling monk.
"I need to kick him out and demolish this building. I have to retrieve the gold."
"When should I tell the workers to come?" Cheese asked the monk from a distance. Neighsay turned from the coming tenants.
"Please tell your friend to come three days later." the monk said.
"That'll do. Okay, I got it" Cheese said. They both saw Neighsay and he greeted them.
"Are you going to fix something in here?" Neighsay chuckled.
"Yes. We're going to fix the boiler." Cheese said. Neighsay wondered. "By the way, why are you here?". Neighsay thought he might have been caught.
"I liked the text." Neighsay pointed at one poster with a simple and formal font.
"I see." Cheese said.
""Do not expect to get rich through illegal means."" Neighsay read.
"Yes, you shouldn't do that." Cheese said to Neighsay."Sir." he said to the monk.
""Don't be greedy for wealth or land. Do what's right."" Neighsay said out loud as he clutches his chest.
"Let's go inside." Cheese said to the monk.
"Thank you." the monk said.
As they went inside, they met the other monk that Neighsay saw before the other. "Praying on the cold floor gave me hemorrhoids." the monk said.
"Oh, dear." Cheese said.
"I know."
Meanwhile, Neighsay decided to sneak, so he went down on his knees and crawled to the door. He slighly opened the door and leaned his ear.
"That sharp and heavy pain." Cheese said. "Let's install a boiler this weekend."
"No!" Neighsay accidentally shouted from the door. He realized what he had done, and closed the door. The monk and Cheese looked around very confused. He then stood up in front of the door, and turned around to enter. He reached the handle of the door, and nervously smiled.
"I mean...Why waste money when they'll be demolishing this place anyway? I'll buy you an electric pad that can cover this size and pay for the electricity."
"That's okay! Don't worry about it!" the monk said.
"I said no!" Neighsay shouted in anger. The monk felt like he was deaf.
"Sir." Cheese Sandwich said. Neighsay sighed and turned back at them.
"Please don't refuse my goodwill." Neighsay said. "I'd like to show my appreciation for you all.". Then, they heard the other monk chanting again.
"He must've felt Buddha's presence from beneath again." the monk said.
"I see." Cheese bowed.
"Gosh."
"Are you okay?"
"Gosh."
"Okay."
Neighsay then looked at the monk's seat. Like mentioned, he was sitting above a room with tons of gold.
Meanwhile in the Wingtip Law Firm...
"The witness of the recording confessed to perjury." the stallion said, while Tempest was sipping on her drink. "Even if the second trial takes place, it'll be dismissed due to lack of evidence. It's over then."
"Yes." Tempest said. "My dad has no cards up his sleeve." she said and the stallion groaned.
"Caballeron must be getting old." he said as he pat himself with a short ball pen with a toy pighead. "He's out of moves." he then looked at Tempest and smiled. "Good luck wrapping things up!"
"Yes, sir." Tempest said. Just before the stallion would go out, Flam entered Tempest's office in a rush.
"Tempest!" Flam shouted before the stallion would even hold the doorknob.
"You startled me! You...Damn it! Gosh." he yelled furiously. "You have no class and no manners. Look at you wearing sneakers at work." he said, pointing the ball pen to Flam's face and hooves. "Why did you pick him of all creatures?!" he yelled at Tempest.
"It was you who picked me, sir." Flam said.
"I did?" the stallion asked, as Flam happily nodded. "I should quit drinking." he said. He then slapped Flam's chest with the ball pen.
"Sorry boss!" Flam said. He then turned to Tempest. "Tempest." he called as he quickly closed the door.
"Quiet down!" Tempest said. Flam then rushed to her.
"Tempest. You see...-"
"What? What is it?" Tempest said in annoyance as she went to her desk.
"Babel Pharmaceutical's Drug Development Division called. Qua...what was it?"
"Quarantine?"
"Right! One of the researchers who was quarantined went missing."
"What!?" Tempest exclaimed in shock.
Meanwhile in the Equestrian Security Intelligence Service, Stygian walked up to the desk, holding files, and that stallion in the desk was marked "Director Starswirl".
"The Trottinghamian Intelligence Service sent this." Stygian said.
"Okay." Starswirl grabbed the files, and gazed from line to line.
"After their boos died, Neighsay Cassano, the successor in line, was targeted by the mob. I believe...I believe he fled here to avoid getting killed." Stygian said.
What does a member of the Mafia coming to Canterlot have to do with our security?" Starswirl said.
"What do you mean? The most wicked gang in the world advanced into--"
""Advanced"? Is that what you think this is?" Starswirl said. "Then, if the two of them flew in, it might as well be an invasion." Starswirl said.
"What if Neighsay creates a new gang in Canterlot?" Stygian said.
"He needs money to do that." Starswirl said. "How much could he have bought before fleeing?"
"He could have secretly stashed a fortune in Canterlot." Stygian replied.
"Why would a member of the Mafia hide money here? There are plenty of places better suited for that!" Starswirl said.
"Please authorize this mission first. I'll get to the bottom of this." Stygian said.
"You'd better not spend any of our money." Starswirl said. "For every 10,000 bits, I'll deduct 100,000 bits!"
"Sir!"
"Enough! What was that? Yes. Go help the yakuza division. A yakuza dreaded himself with a stab knife yesterday...No. He stabbed the bread with a knife. Damn it. I can't even say it right." he then turned to Stygian. "Get out!"
Stygian turned in to leave, but turned his head a bit. "But they're the Mafia. Like the movie, The Godfather."
"Hey." Starswirl said. The that time was where Stygian left.
Stygian rushed to another working area, and sat down. He took a look at his bank account, containing 1,198,345 bits. "This is enough." he said. "Just you wait, Neighsay Cassano. I'll pay for the for the mission out of my own pocket." he then grinned at he spent 756,456 bits, and only had 441,889 bits left. He was left speechless.
He then nervously giggled. "It's okay." he nervously said. "It's alright. I can do it. O sole mio ~" he then cried because of his remaining balance.
Meanwhile in Caballeron's office...
"You said that you told the truth for the victims of Babel. Was everything a lie?"
"Yes. I'm sorry."
"Why did you lie?"
"I told you that you would regret it..." Caballeron said in front of the TV.
"I'm sorry."
"...one day"
"I felt guilty."
"You sold your conscience for money..."
"Any words to the victims?"
"...and broke the hearts of the bereaved."
"I'm sorry for causing confusion. I'm truly sorry to everyone I've hurt. I'm sorry."
Caballeron then turned off the TV, and turned to Grubber, who was piling up files.
"What are you doing?" Caballeron said.
"Getting rid of Babel lawsuit documents. It's really over now." Grubber said as he looked at one piece of paper.
"Don't be absurd." Caballeron said. 'It's not over--"
"Until it's over. But it is really over now." Grubber said.
"We still have hope. Trials are full of twists and turns." Caballeron said.
"And they always work against us."
"Maybe not this time around." Caballeron said. He then looked up and said: "Celestia help us."
"Oh, Celestia~"
"You little.." He rushed over to argue with Grubber, but then he heard the door open. Neighsay walked in, carrying the suit case and approached to Caballeron.
"Back for more tricks, are you?" Caballeron said.
Neighsay smiled and said: "I have a favor.". Caballeron then smiled and nodded. "Please share with me the document you have on Babel E&C."
"What for?" Caballeron said. "I see. You want to study your enemy before defeating them?". He asked, and Neighsay nodded. "Gosh. Are you still pulling this stunt?"
"Yes." Neighsay answered. "I will blow both you and the tenants with this stunt."
"You should leave." Caballeron said. He then turned back from Neighsay.
"The one who helps out the losing team in a war isn’t an enemy but--"
"An ally. Right?" Grubber said to Neighsay.
"You little..." Caballeron shutted Grubber. He then slammed the TV remote on his files, and turned to Neighsay. "That ally..." he pauesd when he stared at Neighsay. Neighsay was waiting for his reply. Caballeron kept thinking of words, while Neighsay raised an eyebrow on him.
Caballeron got to his desk and sighed. Neighsay approached to him.
"Sir. There are things that can only be verified through trust." Neighsay said. Caballeron heard and turned to him. "If you want to win, give me a chance instead of doubting me."
Caballeron looked at him seriously, and kept thinking like he always does. "Grubber."
"Yes?" Grubber said.
"Hand him all the documents..." he then turned to Neighsay. "...we have on Babel E&C."
"Yes, sir." Grubber said. Neighsay looked at Caballeron and smiled.
Meanwhile in the Babel E&C building...
Flam showed two fingers on the fingers in anger.
"It's been two days! Why didn't you tell us sooner?!" Flam yelled at the Babel workers. "Look at her. She is so upset!" he pointed at Tempest, who was stressfully reading some documents.
"I'm sorry." one of the workers said. Flam crossed his arms and scoffed.
"Celestia...Seriously." Flam said. Tempest glared at the two workers and said:
"I told you to keep a close eye on all the newly employed researchers." Tempest said, as she slowly seethed with anger. "I didn't want them to complain, so I got them to stay at the chairman's villa!" she angrily shouted as she stood up from her chair. "If that researcher...talks nonsense, we'll lose this suit."
"And it'll be be the end for that new drugs as well!" Flam mused.
"I'm truly sorry." one of them said.
"Do the higher-ups know?" Tempest said.
"No, ma'am. They don't."
"Let's keep it that way." she said. "Don't you dare tell them."
Flam then went beside her, glaring at the workers. "Never."
"Okay.". Tempest then felt annoyed by the two workers.
When Tempest and Flam went out from the building, they had a little snack while walking by. "This is driving me nuts." she said. "No matter how hard we cover it up, one whistleblower will end everything."
"What if they go to your dad?"
"Gosh!" she exclaimed. "Didn't say it out loud because I didn't want to jink it." she said.
"Sorry, Tempest." he said.
"They can go to the police, the prosecution, or the reporters. Just not my dad." she said as she walked away, but Flam followed her.
"Seeing how we haven't heard anything, I don't think they're there yet." Flam said.
"If they knew anything, they wouldn't go to an incompetent lawyer." Tempest said. She got shocked when she turned at the right side of Flam.
'Who is that?" Flam asked.
"Chairman Farnum Flim Skim of Babel."
"What?" Flam asked. She didn't listen and then ran over to him with his members. Flam followed her to the crowd.
"Hello, sir!" she waved.
"Who are you?" Flim said.
"I'm Lawyer Tempest Shadow from Law Firm Wingtip, in charge of the Babel lawsuit." she said. She spanked Flam's back, forcing him to greet the pony.
"I heard about you. Didn't she ask to borrow my villa?" Flim said. One of his workers nodded.
"That's right. I had to because it was the safest place." she said, holding one of his hands. He then dragged his hoof away from hers.
"It's fine. I rarely go there. Tell me if you need anything. I don't like dragging things on, so cut it short." Flim said.
"Yes, sir." she said as the crowd walked behind Flim.
"I get that he's a chairman, but how can he talk down to us on our first encounter? And he's young too!" Flam said, as Tempest fixed her mohawk. He was about to run into Flim, until Tempest grabbed his hand. Flam looked at her in confusion.
"Anyone who's rich and powerful...can do so even if they're younger than me." Tempest said, and Flam nodded.
"I see."
"Hold on." Tempest said, as she stopped walking out of the blue. She then turned and faced to Flam. "Thanks to you, I have a bad feeling." she said, and Flam asked is she was referring to him. "I'm going home." she said as she walked away.
"Already?!" Flam said. He rushed and ran in front of her and faced her. "Want some steak? I got paid yesterday."
"No, thanks. I have somewhere to go." Tempest said kindly. She then walked away, leaving Flam alone. Flam sighed and said:
"She always leaves without me. Tempest! Your car's over there!" he called her. Tempest turned to him. "The other way!' he pointed at his right. Tempest rushed to the other side carefully, since she's wearing heels.
Meanwhile in Caballeron's office, there was Caballeron, sleeping in his chair in his desk, and there was Neighsay, sitting in the table, with bunch of papers. Neighsay took down some notes, and got a newspaper that says Babel Pharmaceuticals was sued after a test subject died. Neighsay underlined some lines, under the news topic.
"Mr. Grubber." Neighsay said. "May I see the documents regarding the lawsuit please?" Neighsay asked kindly.
"Why?"
"I'm just curious."
"Well..." Grubber nervously said, as he looked at the sleeping Caballeron. "...I need his permission."
"Hand them over to him. Every single one of them." Caballeron, out of the blue, said.
Grubber was shock, but followed his orders. "Yes, sir." he said as he was rushing. "Here are your documents." he said to Caballeron. Neighsay looked at the sleeping Caballeron at some point.
During night, Harshwhinny and two stallions went out for dinner, and ordered in a big table.
"You did well dealing with Zephyr Breeze. Good work." the stallion said to Harshwhinny.
"He was quick-witted, so we coould wrap it up quickly." Harshwhinny said. "Who's next?"
"That's it for now. He's going to hand it over to Prosecutor Corriander Cumin." the stallion said, referring to the stallion beside him.
"Prosecutor Corriander Cumin? Harshwhinny said. "Mr. Cumin, this isn't your nephew's specialty."
"All the more reason to hire him. That's how he'll learn." Corriander Cumin said, as Harshwhinny scoffed. "Also, there's something you must do right now." he added. The stallion turned to Corriander and nodded at him. "It's about my colleague, Chief Trenderhoof's scandal. Can you wrap that up for us?" he asked.
Harshwhinny took time calmed down and returned to her answer. She then sighed. "The sexually assaulted victim testified against him. Another mare who was at the scene also testified and the footage of the villa was found which which is more than enough evidence." she said.
"Exactly. That's why I want you to touch it up, so it looks less serious." Corriander said.
"This matter doesn't only pertain to Mr. Trenderhoof. The honor at our office is a stake." the stallion said.
"Sir, let me pour you a glass." Corriander said. They continued eating, and Harshwhinny looked down and whispered: "Damn it."
Meanwhile in Counter Plaza, Tempest was walking in the hallway, going to her father's office. She then twirled around and leaned at the closed entrance dramatically. "How many times has it been today?" she said dramatically. She then whimpered awkwardly, running behind a pole near the entrance. "How do I sound him out?".
She then looked around and her expression shifted. "Tempest, you can do this. Let's get it. " she said as she clutches her chest. Before she could open, she howled like wolf, and plus, she moved awkwardly to her sound. She then opened the door, leading to the office. She then glared at the two stallions, Neighsay, and the sleeping Caballeron.
"He's sleeping soundly. I guess there's nothing going on."
She then walked inside, seeing one of the documents that Neighsay was using, stating Babel E&C, Babel Pharmaceuticals. She then looked at the files. "What are you doing?" she asked Neighsay. Neighsay looked up at her as if that just his first time meeting her.
"Why are you back? Answer me." Caballeron said annoyingly, when out of the blue, he woke up.
"Did you see my wallet? I lost it." she asked.
"It's not here." Grubber said behind her. "I cleaned the entire office today."
Tempest then faced at him angrily, growling like an angry dog. "Where could it be?"
"I can guarantee it's not here." Grubber said. She then angrily sat on a chair, which is in front of Neighsay. She then wondered through the files Neighsay's looking.
"Why is he reading these?" Tempest asked.
"Because he wanted to."Know your enemy if you want to beat them."" Caballeron said.
"What?" Tempest said.
"Babel Group is..." Neighsay said. He then turned to Caballeron. "...Would you mind me being vulgar?"
"Knock yourself out." Caballeron said. Tempest raised an eyebrow at him, looking suspicious.
"They're assholes." Neighsay said. Tempest scoffed and turned to him.
""Assholes"?" Tempest said annoyingly.
"They do everything the yakuza and the Mafia do." Neighsay said.
"Everyone knows that." Caballeron said. "But some lawyers help them stay out of jail."
Tempest then turned to Neighsay. "Mr. "Neighgay Quazzano.". Why are you doing this?" Tempest said seriously.
"They're really out of line. They're just like the Mafia." And Law Firm Wingtip, their partner, is no exception." Neighsay said, as he looked up at Tempest.
"To be clear, Law Firm Wusang is a parasite that mooches off those assholes." Caballeron said. Tempest then looked at him in an angry scowl.
"Correct. Assholes like them should be made to pay." Neighsay said.
""Pay." I like the sound of that." Caballeron said as he claps his hands at Neighsay's statement." They ought to." he said as he stood up and went to Neighsay.
"You stallions click very well! How about you ywo start streaming online?" Tempest said annoyingly. "Call it" Shadow-Neigh TV." or" Shadow-Qua TV. ". That's sounds nice." she said childishly, patting her hands on her lap.
"I should get going now." Neighsay said as he stood up.
"I'll be glad to help you if you need anything else." Caballeron said. "Do you have more?"
"Yes, we do. We have plenty." Grubber said. Tempest looked at the guys seriously.
"No, thank you. This is suffice." Neighsay said.
"Sir, your tie." Caballeron pointed out to Neighsay's tie. Neighsay noticed it and fixed it up.
"Thank you." Neighsay said.
"Goodbye."
"Thank you for your help." Neighsay said. Tempest then rushly got out of the office, and followed Neighsay.
"Goodness, look at her." Caballeron said.
Meanwhile, Neighsay walking down the hallway, looking at his tablet for information, and then, Tempest rushed to him and said:
"Was this your plan B? Provoking my dad to conitnue fighting against Babel while you make a profit off the lawsuit?!" Tempest said.
"I'm going to eat. Please leave." Neighsay said. He went to the Italian restaurant, where he went before. Joe noticed him and opened the door.
"Unfortunately, we're closed for the day since we ran out of ingredients." Joe lied. "You can go to Canterlot Snack Bar. They have the best hayburgers in this neighborhood." Joe said. Joe quickly went back to the restaurant and Neighsay watched him, and turned the sign from "Open" to "Close". Neighsay sighed and walked away. Since Tempest thought they weren't finished, she rushed to him in speed.
Neighsay then opened the door of the snack bar.
"Welcome!" the mare said in the counter. "I won't sell anything to you.
"But I want to eat."
"I said no food for you." She said. Gosh, can you just let this poor stallion eat!?
"Then, I'll buy it!" Tempest said as she entered the snack bar, and waved at the mare. When she was about to sit in the chair in front of Neighsay, he attempted to stop her.
"I never said you could sit there." Neighsay said. The chair creaked before Tempest would sit.
"Do you not want to eat?" Tempest said. Neighsay then looked at the mare at the counter. The tenant made a serious look at him and Neighsay faced to Tempest.
"Sit down." Neighsay said. Tempest rolled her eyes and sat down as Neighsay said.
"What do you want?" the tenant said.
"Take your pick." Tempest said politely to Neighsay.
"Hayburger." Neighsay said. "Daffodils, traditional cider and a bit of artificial--"
"Two servings of hayburgers!" Tempest said before Neighsay could finish.
"Okay!" the tenant said.
"You're pretty basic."
""Basic"?" Neighsay said.
"You know "asshole" but not "basic"?" Tempest mocked." It means "common"."
Neighsay then looked down to his phone and said: "Let's make this clear. I have no reason to provoke your dad. I'm preparing myself for war."
Tempest smirked at him and said: "Your enemy has tanks and armored vehicles. What use would 200 stones be?"
"Do you think that's all I have?" Neighsay said.
"Yes. The weak usually resort to throwing stones or butting heads when they are out of options." Tempest said.
Neighsay nodded and said: "I didn't think of head-butting." he said as he smiled.
"Go back to Trottingham and fight against those you're used to. This place doesn't suit you." Tempest said.
"Why not?" asked Neighsay.
"In Trottingham, only the Mafia perform such heinous deeds. But everyone here runs their own gangs and cartels. The National Assembly, prosecution police, public offices, and companies. All of them." Tempest said." It doesn't matter who you're up against. It'll be a grueling ordeal for you. Why? Because that's Canterlot." she said as she shrugged.
Neighsay slowly smiled at Tempest. "Thanks for the advice."
"Your hayburger is ready." the tenant said, as she brought the snack in their table.
"May I have a glass of water?" Neighsay asked.
"You can get it yourself." the tenant said. "That is a water filter dispenser." she said as she pointed to the dispenser. "Thank you."
Tempest smirked in laughter at him. The tenant walked away after. Neighsay just gasped in shock after what the tenant have said to him.
"Let's eat!" Tempest said in joy.
"Thanks..." Neighsay said. He thought she was giving him a hayburger, but Tempest got one for herself. She hummed and when she took her first bite, she hummed loudly in joy.
"Happiness isn't far away!" Tempest said.
"Do you like it?" the tenant asked.
"Yes!" Tempest said.
Meanwhile, the tenant's son came home. "I'm home. I'm hungry." he said as he rushed into the seat, putting his bag in the table. When Neighsay took some bites, he looked at him suspiciously. All of a sudden, the tenant started sniffing his son's body.
"What are you doing!?" the son said. The tenant grabbed her glove and slapped it in her son's head. "What!?"
"Didn't I tell you not to smoke!?" the tenant said in anger.
"I didn't! I was just standing next to him."
"I told you I'd give you a good beating if you lied." the tenant said as she started beating her son like a boxing player.
"Snap out of it! Don't hurt your son!"
"If you don't want to die, put your guard up!"
"Mom! Come on, it hurts!"
"One! Two!"
The son went rushing, and it caused Neighsay's hayburger to toss up and ruined his suit. Neighsay frozed for a moment.
"You little brat!" the tenant shouted. Tempest gasped while watching the tenants beating.
"Does she have a black belt?" Tempest said. She looked at Neighsay, who was in a mess. "Goodness." she said while looking at the mess. It got splattered in his coat, hoof, and watch. She could see his hand clenched into a ball. "Oh, dear."
Meanwhile, after the conversation of Corriander Cumin, Harshwhinny and another stallion, they got into a car. Harshwhinny looked at them.
"You want me to cover for a filthy bastard and. take all the blame?" Harshwhinny said. She smiled, and the stallions in the car mischievously smirked, giving her a nod. A stallion patted the driver's shoulder.
"Let's go." he said. Harshwhinny looked up at the leaving car.
"I'll destroy each and every last one of you, you assholes." Harshwhiiny said. Before she could turn and leave, the stallion, who was working with Tempest, noticed her in his car.
"Hello, there!" he said as he waved. They both went to a nearby place to eat.
"I'll just cut to the chase. Ms. Catherine, I mean, Ms. Harshwhinny." he said. She was shooking her head while biting her hoof. The stallion chuckled at her and continued. "Hey! Join my law firm. Okay?"
"You impudent brat. Explain yourself." Harshwhinny said.
"Prosecutor General Jet Set and Mr. Cumin. Everyone know they're trying to form a cartel of sorts at the Canterlot Prosecutors' Office. One that's impenetrable bt even the Reform Committee. Do you think they'll let you in? No way! They'll use and discard you like they did today!"
"Enough already!" Harshwhinny said, slamming her utensil in her plate. "Just drink and stop nagging me."
"I'm not nagging. If you join us, I'll let you bring down that prosecution."
"Have you gone insane?"
"You know I'm helping out Babel Group, okay? They'll back us up no matter what."
"They are just a company."
"In three years, they'll be one of the twenty richest companies. Their drugs are second to none. Also, their chairman has a few loose screws and is easy to handle." he said. Harshwhinny wandered and tilted her head.
"You must have a good reason to be cleaning up after their messes."
"Exactly! Even though I'm cleaning up their shit, I keep getting richer." he said as he laughed, and Harshwhinny joined the laugh as well.
"Unbelievable." she said smiling. "So you want us to act like their bidets?"
"I'll do all the trivial work. You just need to leave them a solid expression. "
"Have you been working as a salesstallion instead?" Harshwhinny said.
"Just choose me like you choose your clothes. I heard it takes you ten minutes to for clothes." he mocked. Harshwhinny sighed.
"The alcohol is getting the better of me." she said. She then paused for a second. "Exactly how crazy is this chairman?"
Meanwhile, in the ice rink, Flim was standing there in a disappointed face, and the lights brightened and illuminated his figure. Then, an unknown stallion skated to the ice rink, prepared in a hockey uniform and a hockey stick.
"It's all my fault. I should've kept an eye on the researchers, but I failed. I'll take care of it as soon as-" he said. Before he could finish, the stallion hit Flim by dodging a hockey puck on his chest. Flim felt it and put his hoof on the target.
"I'm sorry for the delay in the Babel Tower construction. There were issues with the building owner. I'lll also take care of-" he said, and then the stallion hit him with another hocley puck again. Due to the pain, Flim dropped to the icy ground.
"I promise...to be thorough from now on...I promise I won't disappoint you again!" he said, while the unknown skater surrounded him with a hockey stick in Flim's neck. "Please give me one more chance. I promise I'll do better." he said. The stallion in front of him then started to hit his back with the hockey stick. Flim grunted and tried to stand up, but the slippery ground and painful beating stopped him.
Meanwhile, in Counter Plaza, Neighsay dreamt where he is haunted by all of his dirty deeds as a consigliere. Such as hideous quotes like "Look at me" would have been an example, and also assassination, explosions, and attacks. He then woke up from the dream. He opened his eyes, but his head was still in his pillow. He sighed and turned around to the other side of the bed.
He kept sighing as he looked up at the ceiling.
He then got ready, and went to the Italian restaurant, in where a scared Joe works. Neighsay was holding the menu in his hooves.
"Don't tell me you've already ran out of ingredients." he said.
"No." Joe said.
"If it wasn't Italy, where did you learn to cook?" Neighsay asked.
"Bales, Canterlot. At a place called Mom's Touch Cooking Academy." he said nervously.
"Mom's Touch"?" Neighsay said." Serve me food until I can finally get a taste of a mom's touch."
"But I'm not a mom." Joe said.
"If not, then I'll have no choice but to expose you." Neighsay said.
"Sorry?"
"Risotto allo zafferano." Neighsay said. Joe just stared at him in nervousness. Neighsay laughed and enunciate what he wanted. He pronounced it in every syllable. "Sa-ffron ri-so-tto." he said as he smiled.
"Okay, I'll get it ready." Joe said nervously, and Neighsay nodded. He took his time, and when he finished, he put it in Neighsay's table. Neighsay rubbed his hands while Joe was putting up some utensils. Before he gets a bite, clench his hooves first and looked at the food. Joe nervously looked at him.
Neighsay looked at him, with a smile and got a spoonful of the food. When he put the food in his mouth, he just slouched at the chair. Joe knew what he tasted. Neighsay tool a fresh napkin and wiped oit the food from his mouth. He made a sound that sound like Neighsay was going to puke, and of course, that was Joe's fear.
Neighsay chuckled.
"It taste like vomited baby food...How should I put it? Yes. And it's been mixed with wine and broth." Neighsay said. He then got money in his hoof out of nowhere, and put it in front of Joe. "You have a knack for making awful food.". Joe then sat down on the floor disappointed after Neighsay left. He just sat there and sobbed.
Neighsay then went to Caballeron's office. "If you look over here..." Caballeron said. Grubber and Caballeron noticed Neighsay coming in, and they turned around to him.
"Sir." Neighsay called.
"Yes?" Caballeron answered.
"We need to go somewhere." Neighsay said. Caballeron then looked at him.
"Where?" he asked.
Where they are going exactly? They went to the Babel E&C building. They walked in in the glass doors.
"They won't see you without an appointment." Caballeron said, rushing to Neighsay.
"Let's ask."
"What?" They went to a nearby mare, who worked in the building.
"How may I help you?" she asked.
"I'm here to see Mr. Mane Moon of Investment and Development." Neighsay said.
"Have you called beforehand?"
"No." Neighsay said. Caballeron looked at him with a smile.
"I'm afraid you can't meet him." she said. Neighsay then pulled out a satchel, and dugged through it. He showed her an empty envelope, that was labeled "BILL OF INDICTMENT".
"Tell him he has a bill of indictment for threatening and abetting an abduction." Neighsay said. Caballeron looked speechless at him, including the mare. She quickly grab something in the drawers.
"When did you get that?" Caballeron whispered at Neighsay. Caballeron was stunned at his slick move. They then left, going to Mr. Mane Moon's office. They eventually meet up with Mane Moon in his office. Mr. Mane Moon looked at them, sitting in front of his desk.
Mane Moon then scoffed at their unexpected appearance.
"Goah, this is unbelievable." Mane Moon chuckled. "Let me see the bill. Let's read it."
Neighsay then got the envelope from his satchel, and placed on the table. Mane Moon told Caballeron to give it to him. Caballeron chuckled and lend it to him. He saw not only the label, but there was a text there stated "THREAT AND ABETTING AN ABDUCTION". He opened the file, but he saw nothing.
Nothing at all. No paper. No file. No document, or etc.
Nothing.
"It's empty" Mane Moon said. Caballeron got surprised and looked at Neighsay.
"I lied, so we could meet." Neighsay said.
"We've paid you enough already. Why.." Mane Moon said. He then turned to Caballeron and Neighsay. "But why are you so clingy?"
"We're not clingy!" Caballeron said. "We just want to correct what's wrong!"
"Sure, then, feel free to sue or report me." Mane Moon mocked. "Do as you please. Or demonstrate in front of the Blue House and shave your head."
"No." Neighsay said. "I thought I'd do the same as you did." he said, as he stood up from the chair and walked around the table to the window. "We'll kidnap your family and force you to cancel the contract."
"Are you a die-fan of The Godfather? Are you mimicking the Mafia since you're from Trottingham!?" Mane Moon yelled as he stood up and turned to Neighsay. Unfortunately, before Opulence would make his move, Neighsay kicked him back to his seat. Neighsay held on his shoulder really tight, and Mane Moon kept grunting, struggling to get Neighsay's hand out of his shoulder. Neighsay then looked down.
"I'm glad you asked." Neighsay said. Caballeron then looked up at him. "If we were in Trottingham, you would've become a fertilizer for the vineyards." he said, as he held his shoulder even tighter. "You would have become some cheap wine being sold on a buy-one-get-one-free deal." he said, and he then tightened his fists, in which was holding his shoulder. Neighsay then looked at him. "I'm not here to negotiate but to warn you. We're not going to take it anymore." he said, tightening his fists.
"Okay..." Mane Moon said, trembling with fear. Caballeron looked up at Neighsay with a smile.
Neighsay and Caballeron then walked out of his office, making their way out of the building.
"Was that how you did things in Trottingham?" Caballeron curiously asked.
"At times." Neighsay said.
"I loved what you said." Caballeron said. ""Vineyard fertilizer. Buy-one-get-one-free". "Hey. You're buy-two-get-one-free.". I should use it sometime." he said as he walked and laughed. Neighsay then looked at him walking out with a smile." Let's eat. It's one me. Two meals for the price of one." Caballeron said as he laughed.
Meanwhile, in an office, Harshwhinny, Jet Set, and Corriander Cumin sat down in a table. Harshwhinny gave them a resignation letter in an envelope.
"Some comapny must've given you an offer. Law Firm Wingtip? Wingflee? Ko and Gu?" Corriander Cumin said.
"No." Harshwhinny said. "I just want to rest."
"Don't sugarcoat it." Jet Set said as he turned slowly to Harshwhinny. "What's the real reason?"
"I just..." Harshwhinny said. "...I'm sick of being your hound."
"That's a bit harsh." Corriander said.
"I'm sorry to break it to you, but wherever you go, you'll always be a hound on a leash." Jet Set chuckled.
"Probably." Harshwhinny said. "However, my leash will probably be longer..." she said as she gets her ID in the meck and pulls an elastic band until it went back to its shape again. "...and they'll feed me better." she said as she wickedly chuckled. "Goodbye, guys." she said as she got up from the couch.
"Whaere do you think you're going? Hey, Ms. Harshwhinny. Hey!" Corriander said.
She went out to throw her former stuff in the trash can. She saw her name stand still peeking in her sight. She held it with her hands delicately. "Prosecutor or not, I'm going to destroy all of you before I leave." she said. She whooping it and yells as she releases it, and didn't realize it was going to hit a window. "Oh, boy." Harshwhinny almost freaked out, so she rushed with her purse in her hooves.
Meanwhile, the whole Law Firm Wingtip, along with the head, who talked with Harshwhinny for a favor, and of course, one of the lawyers of the firm, Tempest Shadow, gathered for a meeting.
"What's with the meeting?"
"Good afternoon!" the head of the firm greeted. Every lawyer in the table stood up. "This way, please." he said, as he welcomed a guest in. It was the mare he talked to moments ago. It was Harshwhinny.
"You splurged, didn't you?" she said.
"Isn't that Prosecutor Harshwhinny?" one of the lawyers said.
"Sit down." the head said, and every lawyer followed his order. "I'm sorry to gather you all so suddenly. We have an important guest. I'm sure you all know her. It's Prosecutor Catherine Harshwhinny." Tempest then looked at her suspiciously. "From this day on, she will be a senior lawyer at Wingtip." the head said, laughing, and none of the lawyers respond. "Soon, she will represent us on my behalf." he said again chuckling, and again, no one responded. He then started clapping, and every lawyer in the table started clapping.
Tempest then looked at her. She was clapping her hooves fast. I think she isn't ready to be behind with everyone who is behond of who was to deal with a situation. "I knew you'd be happy. Wingtip will be invincible! Please say a word or two."
"I have two things to say. Number one. One who achieves small victories will eventually achieve big ones." she said. Tempest kept looking at her with a negative look, as if she was jealous. "Number two. I beg you. Let's not work hard if it can't be appreciated. That's all." she said, as she quickly left to the other way.
"Clap, will you?" the head said. Everyone clapped except for Tempest. As everyone walked out of the meeting and were going back to their offices, Tempest then let it all out.
"Look at her acting all tough from the get-go." Tempest said.
"She just got here. How could she represent our law firm. She's a mere rookie." another lawyer said to her behind her. "Well, she was the best prosecutor there. Ms. Tempest should be the one to represent us. She achieved most out of all of us."
Tempest then stopped walking, causing all the lawyers to stop behind her. "You're not consoling or bashing me. What is this?"
"Bash you? We're just upset by the unfair treatment."
"But I can see you grinning." Tempest said, and he walked out, following the lawyer line in front of her.
"She's so quick to notice."
"How did she know we were happy?"
"I knew it ever since he deducted the withholding taxes. Gosh. " Tempest said while walking. She did overheard their talk.
Meanwhile in the Counter Plaza's dance studio, the tenant, which was the dancer, dropped from the chair and started acting like a zombie. He made flexible moves and making weird zombie noises, like most of the zombies do. He then yelled a roar, and how were the other tenants? They looked at him awkwardly. He wanted to continue a roar, until a tenant spoke.
"I get it, but you don't have soul." Cheese's wife said.
"You look more like a patient than a zombie." the piano player said.
"I could do just as much." the snack bar owner said. She then stood up and walked to the tenant. "Like this." she said, as she put his handup to the back of her head and walked crazily towards the dancer, and making zombie noises.
"You're so good. I can do it too." Cheese's wife said as she followed the mares moves.
"I'm a pretty zombie." the piano player said, as she stood up, and did it exactly like a zombie.
"Goodness, you're terrifying!"
"Go away!"
"That's not how you do it."
"Try that again, Soarin." the snack bar owner said to the dancer.
"Not like this. Do this!" Soarin said as he imitates a zombie pony. "That's it."
"No, try harder. Put you back into it." the piano player said.
"That's it." one tenant said. They kept acting and gagging like zombies, and Soarin was crawling crazily in the ground like a zombie. They didn't notice that Neighsay and Caballeron were watching from the dance studio's door. They watched it awkwardly until the tenants noticed them. The tenants stopped, especially the piano player, since she's the one who has a crush on Neighsay.
"Goodness."
"Wait."
"I heard some gagging noises." said Caballeron with a slight smile. "What were you doing?"
"I was chosen to choach the zombies for the the upcoming Train to Hoofsan Part Two. I was practicing." Soarin said.
"We were helpin him out." Cheese's wife said.
"I see. Zombies." Caballeron said as he imitated a zombie growl and him and the tenants chuckled. He then turned to Neighsay. "Let's go."
"Okay." Neighsay said, and two of those stallions left.
"Darn it." Soarin said.
"How humiliating."
"Oh, no. His cold gaze. He probably saw the roof of my mouth." the piano player said. "What should I do?...What should I do?" she said as she walked out of the studio. The other tenants felt bad for her.
"Let us know if you need extras for the movie. I'll do my best." the snack bar owner said as she started imitating as a zombie.
"Me too. I'm serious." Cheese's wife said as she followed the same move as the snack bar owner and they both approached Soarin in the creepiest.
"No, you can't."
"Please."
"No, I need to ask them for permission!"
Meanwhile, Neighsay and Caballeron were in the Lawist Law Firm office, which was Caballeron office.
"From what I've seen of Babel E&C, they forcibly evict the residents one week after the notice." Neighsay said.
"Yes, they've always done that." Caballeron said. "They demolsigh the non-residential areas, and instill fear in the remaining residents. It's downright illegal, but Law Firm Wingtip has their back."
"Isn't there a law that protects the tenants?" Neighsay said, as Caballeron looked at him in wonder. "I heard they need to pay a premium compensation to the tenants and negotiate the demolition date with an officer. That's what I read."
"You've studied a lot." Caballeron said.
"They were being too ridiculous that I had to read up on it." Neighsay said.
"I see." Caballeron said. "Those ruls exist, but they force the tenants out with a small sum. Others can get hurt or die too." Caballeron said, while Neighsay listened while fiddling with his lighter. "They'll probably carry out the eviction suit first. We should get ready." Caballeron said.
"Isn't the biggest issue here..." Neighsay said, as he closes the lid of his lighter. "...the forced illegal demolition."
"Yes. They'll make a move in a day or two. But there's nothing we can do. Gosh." he said, as he got a tiny box of cigarettes. He lend Neighsay one with his hand. "Here. Do you want one?"
"No, thank you." Neighsay told politely.
"Then, why..." Caballeron said, pointing at Neighsay's lighter, but Neighsay then shrugged it off. "Do you drink?"
They went to a restaurant and drank alchohol and ate. When Neighsay drank his cough, he suddenly coughed.
"Oh. You've never smirnoff before?" Caballeron asked.
"No."
"I see. It only gives a mild hangover, so drink up. Here. Bottoms up." he said as he took a bottle of alchohol and poured it in Neighsay's glass, and then to his glass. "Here you go."
They drank up every drop in just one slurp. Neighsay then exhaled after he put his glass back down. "I can finally taste it now now that I've had my second glass."
"In that case, drink up." Caballeron chuckled. "Here you go." he said as he poured another for Neighsay's glass and his. "Cheers." he said, and Neighsay and him clanked their glasses, and drank up every drop. Later, they finally had their ordered food in their table. They even ordered a few bottles of them.
Gosh. "By the way, should I congratulate you for diving headfirst into hell?" he said as he chuckled and Neighsay smiled. "I am fighting against Babel because I'm stupid. But not you."
"By the way, are you also a public defenser?" Neighsay asked.
"I am. For one person. I truly pity her. She was falsely charged with murder. And yet, she accepted it and made peace with her pancreatic cancer." he said sadly.
Neighsay then looked down. "Why...would she do that?"
"She believes she's being punished for abandoning her son in the past. She says feeling guilty isn't enough. There are creatures who readily accept their punishment and there are those who are shameless even after committing crimes. In any case, only the kindhearted and the weak suffer. I know you won't get it."
Neighsay then sighed and spoke: "For the past two days, I experienced firsthand how the weak suffered. I couldn't do anything. So I became even more furious."
"Those who are truly weak endure the feeling of helplessness and rage until the day they die." Caballeron said, as he got a bottle of alchohol and and poured some in his own cup.
"I have a question." Neighsay said. "What's the story behind your law firm's name?"
Caballeron then looked down and sighed. "I don't defend my clients. I became their pony who was well versed in law, lawist. When they don't have anyone to lean on, they can still grab onto me. I am their well-versed pony." Caballeron said as he clenched his hoof. Neighsay stared at him, while Caballeron chuckled. Out of the blue, his phone went ringing. "Excuse me." he said to Neighsay. "Hello. Caballeron speaking."
Meanwhile, the one who called him was in harbor, with many boats in front of him. "Hello, I'm listening. Hello?" Caballeron said. The caller looked at his phone and stopped the call. Caballeron was confused. "Was that a prank call?" he said as he sighed, and put his phone back in his pocket.
Neighsay then got a bottle of Smirnoff, and opened it.
"I heard this is how you pour drinks in here." Neighsay said as he poured some in Caballeron's glass.
"You seem quite genuine today. Or have I become dull?" Caballeron said, and Neighsay smiled.
"Cheer."
"Cheers." Caballeron said as they clanked their glasses. "You need to turn around and drink." Caballeron said, since it was their way in Canterlot. Neighsay then turned almost in a reflex angle in his chair. He began to sip while Caballeron gave some demonstrations. "Yes." Caballeron chuckled. "Just turn halfway. Halfway." he said, then Neighsay then turned in a straight angle and sip the rest remaining in his glass, and Caballeron laughed. Neighsay did enjoyed the taste.
Meanwhile, every lawyer of Law Firm Wingtip gathered for a meeting. Again. Now, along with the new senior lawyer, Harshwhinny. "We've pretty much won the Babel Pharmaceuticals case. Ms. Tempest just needs to finish up." the head said. Tempest the know he was talking about her.
"Babel E&C is the problem here. We need to demoslish a plaza in Counter, Canterlot. Barce yourselves."
"Why do they need to brace themselves?" Harshwhinny said.
"It's quite sly." the head said, smiling. "Demolishing it right away would be illegal, so we bring in heavy equipment for a so-called cleanup and accidentally damage the building. The tenants move out in fear, and Babel claims it's a mistake.The building becomes vacant in a few days. Legal or not, we'll get the job done because they trust us." he said as he chuckled.
"Lawyers are better than prosecutors at making creatures shit their pants. Such assholes." Harshwhinny said with a snicker, and the head laughed.
"She says that all the time." the head said, laughing. "And...Oh, dear. Your dad is once again leading the Development Opposition Committee." he said to Tempest.
"What a fun life he's living." Harshwhinny said.
"Shouldn't we estimate the scale of damage?" Tempest said.
"Thankfully, it'll be smaller than the redevelopment in Rainbow Falls." one of the lawyers said.
"I believe four ponies still died there." Tempest said.
"That's not bad. Twelve ponies died during Rainbow Falls's redevelopment." one of the lawyers said.
"It's fine. They'll crawl out when push comes to shove." the head said. "Right. Don't forget your dad." he said to Tempest. She seemed to be annoyed, so she took a her glass, and drink the water inside it.
"Let's see."
Meanwhile, after, Tempest then walked in, and Flam was seen sitting on the table in front of her desk.
"I heard they're demolishing it." Flam said. Tempest then slammed some files in her desk. "They're so cruel. There are creatures--"
"It's not cruel!" Tempest yelled angrily. "It wouldn't be so rude if they moved out willingly." she said as she sat down on her chair and sighed. "What's with those creatures? How can they be so dense?" she said.
"It's easier said than done." Flam said. Tempest then turned to him with a serious face.
"Their lawyer is the one who's the worst. If he's a lawyer, he should be more levelheaded."
Meanwhile, in the morning, Neighsay was sleeping in the gound with scattered pillows and a blanket on him as if he fell of his bed after getting drunk. He kept grunting, trying to get back up. Then he heard his phone ringing. He was crawling to his bed as if he was a colt. When he grabbed his phone, he saw that someone was calling him.
He then accepted the call. "Hello." he answered.
It was Caballeron who called. "Doesn't it feel like your head's been split open?" he asked while he was preparing for breakfast. "Mine's already smashed."
"Yes. I'm having a pretty bad hangover." Neighsay said. Caballeron chuckled.
"Come here. Let's eat something. I'll text tou my address."
"But I..." Neighsay said in a tired voice.
Neighsay prepared himself, dressed in a suit, and did knew the address Caballeron sent him. He was then welcomed in front of his door.
"Come in." Caballeron said. "It's a mess, isn't it? The soup just needs to boil, so please sit down. There's nothing worth looking at. All right."
Neighsay was about to walk in, and something caught his attention in Caballeron's living room. He saw pictures with a familiar looking mare in the picture frames.
"You must have another daughter." Neighsay said.
"What? No. That's Tempest." Caballeron said.
"What?" Neighsay said. He then looked back at the pictures. There were two pictures of young Tempest, and she was different. Her hair was down, and was in a color type from reddish brown. One picture was her holding a bouquet, and a certificate, and the other was her posing in a travel attire.
"I see." Neighsay said. He then looked at the other picture of young Tempest. This time, it was a little long, and was colored in an ombre type from hot pink to dark blue. She was posing in a nearby sakura looking tree. She's now different now that she's energetic, overreacting, and was in a hot pink mohawk with lighter edges and streaks like the mare Neighsay known for just days.
Meanwhile, in the head's office, the head was calling someone in the phone.
"Hello, Chairman Caramel." the caller said.
"They already informed me that they're ready for the demolition. We'll be ready by tomorrow as well." Caramel said.
"Yes, sir."
"Don't worry. This is our job. I believe they'll start working around 11 p.m. tomorrow." Caramel said. He didn't notice that Flam was listening to the whole call in shock. He was behind Caramel organizing some documents. "Yes. sir. Goodbye."
As soon as Caramel's call ended, Flam immediately went to Tempest's office. "Tempest! Tempest! Tempest!" he called her multiple times, clapping his hooves to get her attention.
"What is it this time?" Tempest said.
"They're--"
"What!? What is it!?" she said, patting him hard with a pen with an animal head at the tip.
"Tomorrow at 11 p.m.." Flam said, panicking. "That's when they'll demolish the building. I heard Mr. Caramel speaking with that impudent chairman. They're ready, and they'll do it tomorrow."
"What!?" Tempest said in complete shock.
Meanwhile, at Caballeron's home, the two stallions prepared soup, as their breakfast. When Neighsay took a first taste at the soup, Caballeron wondered.
"How is it? Don't you feel so much better?" Caballeron said. "Right?"
"Yes." Neighsay said as Caballeron chuckled.
"I make the best--" before Caballeron would finish, Tempest suddenly barged in.
"Can you please pick up!? I called you more than 30 times!" Tempest said.
"You're so noisy." Caballeron said. "What is it this time?" Caballeron said. When Tempest turned to her right, seeing the pictures of her in her youth she got furious.
"Why do you still have this hanging!? You're going to donate them!?" Tempest said as she took them off the wall. Neighsay looked at her, and yep. She was totally different now.
"Eat while you're here. Come." Caballeron said. Tempest got furious, dropped her pictures in the table, and walked towards her father in an angry manner.
"There's a serious problem. This isn't a time to be eating." Tempest said.
"What is it?" Caballeron said. Then Caballeron's phone started ringing. Neighsay and Tempest turned to each other, with Tempest in a mild angry face.
"Hello. Caballeron speaking." he said.
"See? You screen my calls." Tempest said. Caballeron then shushed her. "Why do you ignore my calls!? Why!?"she said, growling like a cat.
"Sorry?" Caballeron said in his phone. "I see. One moment, please." he then proceeded walking between Neighsay and Tempest. "Hang on." he said, walking out to his working room. Tempest then groaned in anger.
Once Caballeron was now at peace, he proceeded to the call.
"I'd like to tell you what they did to their test subjects." the escaped Babel researcher said in the phone.
"So there were problems, weren't there?" Caballeron said.
"Yes. I can't tell you the details over the phone. I'd like to meet soon." the caller said.
"Of course." Caballeron said. "Go ahead. All right." he said, taking notes in a piece of paper. "I'll, head over there right now. Goodbye." he said as he ended the call. As he walked out, Tempest wanted him to hear the news.
"Babel E&C is--"
"This is urgent. Speak with him, okay?" Caballeron said, referring to Neighsay.
"Dad! Mr. Caballeron!" Tempest angrily called for his attention, but Caballeron kept going and minding his own business. Tempest then angrily moved almost like a zombie, but she only moved her chest and limbs angrily, and in a cranky manner. Leaning against the wall, she furiously howled.
"What is it?" Neighsay asked. Tempest then tried to calm herself down. She then walked to the eating Neighsay, in front of him.
"They'll demolish the bulding at 11 p.m. tomorrow. Evacuate the tenants right now. They say they'll avoid the resjdential area, but who knows what'll happen?"
"I've only met you three days ago, but this is the first time you seemed worried." Neighsay said. Tempest then smiled, hiding the anger behind her.
"I'm worried about none other than myself. If my dad gets hurt during the demolition, it'll do me no good." Tempest said. "Think about it. What will my colleagues think of me?"
"I see." Neighsay said, as he continued eating.
"What is this place? A crime scene?" Tempest said. Then she grabbed Neighsay's bowl. "Darn it. You're done, right?" she then snatched it fron him, and there was only amount of food left in the bowl. Neighsay just frozed looking at her and his spoon. "I told him many times not to pile up the dirty dishes." she said. Before she knew, she was frantically cleaning before Neighsay could finish.
I guess there's another mare who should let the poor stallion eat.
Meanwhile, after a lot of hours, and it got dark, a car drove by, and Caballeron came out from the back seat. He schecked if it was the right address. And yes, he was in a motel. He walked over the hall, finding the right door. Once he found it, he gave it a knock. Then, a stallion opened the door to check the visitor.
"Hello, Mr. Final Countdown." Caballeron said. When Final Countdown saw him, he then closed the door. Caballeron was so confused. So, he just opened the door himself.
Meanwhile, Neighsay was in his room, turning the lights with the light switch he was pressing with his back hoof, while pondering for his next move, and also thought about what Tempest said to him this morning.
"They'll demolish the building at 11 p.m. tomorrow. Evacuate the tenants right now."
He then looked up to the ceiling of his room, thinking of possible stunts, and sighed.
"How can I stop them? How?"
He then looked at his lighter. I think we all know where is this going.
The next morning, when Grubber gathered the tenants, he told the the situation.
"What? Tonight?" the snack bar owner said.
"Yes, at 11 p.m." Grubber said.
"How could you tell us now? You're unbelievable." the dry cleaner said.
"When they come, I could grab and nail them to the ground. Since I know martial arts, I'm afraid I might kill them." Cheese said. Neighsay was also in the meeting, but what was he doing? Scrolling down on his phone at something.
"Nail them, my foot." Cheese's wife said. "We should evacuate. Do you want to die!?"
"Goodness. Babel, those assholes. I hope they all go under!" the dry cleaner said.
"Is there a solution?" Soarin said.
"Mr. Caballeron is busily--" Grubber said before someone interrupted.
"Busily doing what!? Tell us. I didn't see him all day." the dry cleaner said.
"This is where we live and work." the snack bar owner said. "If we evacuate, we'll be leaving everything behind." she said, crying. The dry cleaner tries to comfort her.
"I bought all my utensils new last month." Joe said emotionally.
"Me too." the piano player said. "I got a loan two months ago and bought a new piano."
"Mamma mia..." Joe said.
"Mr. Cassano." the snack bar owner called Neighsay. "Say something, will you?" she said. Looks like Neighsay was busy...with something.
"Goodness, that damn stallion. What the hell is he doing!?" the dry cleaner said.
"Who cares? Let's go pack our things." Cheese's wife said.
"I'll protest outside and distract them." one of the tenants said.
"What the hell are you doing?"
Grubber was approaching to Neighsay, and went behind his chair. Neighsay was busy...browsing Ponygram. "Sir, you don't have time to be liking photos online."
"What?"
"What is he liking?"
"Come up with a solution, will you?!" Cheese said. Grubber saw a post of someone he might've followed in Ponygram. He touched Neighsay's screen, to like. Cheese knew what he did, and slapped his paw. Neighsay turned to him and smiled.
Meanwhile, in one of the International Security Intelligence Service's office, Stygian was sitting at a table in front of a laptop. He was sleeping until he got a notification. It was stated that there were images matching Neighsay Cassano that were searched in 13:11. He excitedly opened the notification and browsed many pictures of stallions.
"Isn't anyone in here?" someone said.
"Hold on." Stygian said, quickly clicking his mouse.
"Who locked the door?"
"Damn it. Hey, open up!"
Stygian was busy trying to browse every stallion until a picture of Neighsay appeared. The computer detected his appearance and the computer stated as a 99.99% match!
"Neighsay Cassano..." Stygian smirked, lifting up the laptop. "Neighsay Cassano~!" he vocalized. "O sole mio~!"
Meanwhile in the Counter Plaza...
"Pack everything!"
"Goodness!"
Caballeron just entered the plaza, and he already saw panicking tenants. He opened the window about to say...
"Hey..." he paused when he saw the tenants carrying some stuff. He then closed the door. He then called Neighsay for a talk.
"Is that true?" Caballeron asked.
"Yes." Neighsay said. "I called you yesterday, but you weren't picking up."
"I'm sorry. Something urgent came up." Caballeron said. "What time is it?" he said, checking his watch. "Let me think. What should I do? What should I do?"
Meanwhile, at Tempest's office at the law firm, she was with filed up documents until she watched the clock in her office. She just went back to her computer, but the clock still got her attention. At the meantime, the clock was still the one she was anxiously watching at. She couldn't hold her ball pen straight. And then she looked away...but, do you think she's still in her office, watching the clock anxiously?
Meanwhile, at night, Caramel and Harshwhinny went somewhere to eat dinner.
"I'll call you back." Caramel said on the phone. He then ended the call and sighed. "Nothing is easy these days. Evrything requires so much work. It's such a headache."
"All notable paintings have several layers of paint." Harshwhinny said.
"But then again, it's our job to paint over without leaving a trace." Caramel chuckled.
"When will I get to see the chairman?" Harshwhinny asked.
"Right. In two days." Caramel smirked. "He has great expectations for you." he said, as they both clanked their glasses.
"I need to see for myself how crazy he is." Harshwhinny said.
"Sir." A stallion approached to Caramel.
"Why are you here?" Caramel asked.
"I have something urgent to report."
"What is it?"
"I caught wind of something at the Babel headquarters. One of the researchers of Babel Pharmaceuticals ran away during the quarantine."
Harshwhinny gasped and Caramel was stunned to speak. "What?"
"Damn it." Harshwhinny said. "They've dropped a giant bomb on us."
"Let's go."
"Okay."
Meanwhile, at an office, there sat Tempest, looking at necessary documents, and she was with Flam.
"Shouldn't you go?" Flam asked.
"There's nothing I can do." Tempest said. She then got a book, and didn't notice she was reading it upside-down. Flam grabbed the book, and turned it right side-up. She then got annoyed all of a audden, got her phone and called her dad.
"Where are you, Dad?" she asked. "Why are you still there!?"
"Don't worry. I won't die." Caballeron said.
"Cut that nonsense and get out of there." Tempest said.
"I'm turning my phone off again. You're distracting me." Caballeron said.
"Dad!" Tempest yelled. Before she would say something, Caballeron ended the call. "Dad! Dad! Oh, come on!" Tempest yelled angrily. She then rushed to go out.
"Wait!" Flam said. He then tossed her purse to her, and she successfully got it.
"Oh! Thank you!" Tempest said as she rushed to the door.
She rushed inside her vehicle and grunted in anger "The stress is killing me." she then got a call from Caramel.
"Hello, sir."
"Hey! Where are you?" Caramel said.
"I'm sorry, but I'm busy right now." she said as she immediately ended the call. She then turned on the engine and rushed.
Meanwhile, Starstreak and his stallions had a heavy machinery to get Counter Plaza.
"Come over here."
"Okay."
"All right. Sir, we're ready." one of Starstreak's stallion said. Starstreak then told him to proceed. "All right! Let's go!"
"Yes, sir!"
They then got into their vehicles. Some were in their cars, and someof them were in construction vehicles like excavators.
Meanwhile with Tempest...
"Come on." she said in worry. She then saw the same construction vehicles up ahead. They belonged to Starstreak's stallions. She honked, but they couldn't seem to stop. She seethe with anger and rushed her car to them.
She dodged other vehicles and the construction vehicles. Meanwhile they stopped, Tempest got out and rushed, running. But something stopped her. A cloud of smoke.
"What is this?" Tempest said, in the smoke. When she got into the plaza, she was welcomed with...a traditional sicilian wine party for insiders!? A maskot greeted her with a bow.
"What is this?" she said.
Starstreak's stallion also arrived, at the same spot.
"What?"
"What is that?"
"A party?"
European music was playing in the speakers, and a lot of creatures danced, including the tenants. They were waving a Trottinghamian flag and a Canterlot flag.
"We're at the Traditional Sicilian Wine Party for Insiders. I've finally arrived. Make sure to subscribe and like my video." a streamer said.
"Cheers!" somepony said. Tempest then saw Neighsay in a distance.
"Mr. Grubber."
"Sir." Grubber said. These stallions love this party. They've been complimenting."
"Hello. Thank you for coming." Neighsay greeted a guest.
"Cheers."
"How nice."
"We still have a lot of time, so please enjoy the party." Neighsay added.
Stygian was also there, and the reason was Neighsay.
When they ended the countdown, confetti strted to spread. They were stunned and happy, including Neighsay. He then looked over to Caballeron, who was above the party. They smiled at each other. The party and everything was Neighsay's plan.
On a flashback, Neighsay was seen, sitting in his couch and fiddling with his lighter. He was on his laptop, watching European party examples. Remember the time he was browsing in Ponygram while the tenants and Mr. Nam had a meeting about the plaza's demoltion?
"Let's leave him here. Let's go."
"Let's go."
"Gosh."
"We don't need him."
"Wait." Neighsay spoke. Good thing it caught the tenants' attention. He stood up and exhaled. "How about...we have a party tonight?"
His invitations were sent via Ponygram. Every creature saw the invitation online. Almost everyone in Equestria saw it. This caught everyone's attention because of Neighsay's attire and appearance. At present, Neighsay looked at Caballeron and they drank their drinks at the same time.
Unaware of her father's gaze, Tempest was watching Neighsay across the plaza. She smiled as she browses Ponygram in Neighsay's account. She found pictures of him on Trottingham and the last post of him was the invitation.
"Excuse me for a second, sir." Grubber said to Neighsay, and Neighsay nodded. "Hello, sir. He's the owner of the shop next door." he said to Neighsay.
"I see." Neighsay replied. "Hello. Thank you for coming." he said as he shook hands.
"The spaghetti is good."
"Please escort them." Neighsay said.
"This way."
When Neighsay turned around while he drank, he stopped as he spotted Tempest smirking at him. He then looked down at his drink. Before he could drink, he thought of something. Tempest and Neighsay kept looking at each other across the plaza. He then lifted his glass in front of Tempest, and raised an eyebrow, smiling.
Tempest was also smiling. Neighsay's gesture was meant as a cheers.
They were starting to be friends, or are they?
NEIGHSAY
Author's Note
to watch the actual episode, click here
NEIGHSAY
Neighsay then raised a glass, in front of Tempest. Tempest smiled, and took a few steps forward to him.
"Enjoy the party, mademoiselle." Neighsay said in Italian with a smile.
"Let's talk." Tempest said. Before she could turn around and leave, Neighsay spoke.
"This way." Neighsay said, sipping his wine, and left.
Tempest scoffed. "Hey!" she said as she rushed to him.
Meanwhile, Starstreak's stallion were waiting outside of the party. One of Starstreak's stallion apotted a group of stallions. "Stop, stop, stop. Wait there. Damn it." he sighed.
"Let's go." he said, as the other stallions followed him, but they were stopped by another stallion in the party entrance.
"What? What do you want?"
"I need to take your temperature." he said, and Starstreak's stallions burst into a goon laugh. Wait, why do they need a temperature check, exactly?
"That's funny."
"Go on." he said. The stallion took a thermometer from his pocket, and forward it to the stallion's forehead. In just one press, the temperature was at 36.5.
"Go in."
"Damn it." he said, as he walked in, he saw a familiar officer dancing.
"Officer Spearhead, why are you here?" he said.
"What?"
"You know you can't be here today."
"Gosh, it wasn't my choice. I'm on security detail today." Spearhead said.
"Security detail?"
"Yes."
"For who?"
Spearhead annoyingly exhaled, and pointed to a dragon. He goes by the name of Spike, the Trottingham Ambassador to Canterlot.
"Cheers!"
"Señor Spike!"
"Oh, come on!"
"Damn it. What the..."
EPISODE 3
Tempest and Neighsay were both in the plaza's rooftop, watching the party from above.
"You paid for this big party out of your own pocket, so you could stop them from tearing this place down." Tempest said to Neighsay. "This isn't goodwill or bravado. So what's your angle? Why are you doing this? For what? You wear a different Testicoli suit everyday. It makes me wonder what you could possibly want to do with the plaza."
Neighsay then turned to her with smile "You know Testicoli?"
Tempest then got his hand and saw Testicoli's label on his coat. "Doesn't everyone? Testicoli is Trottingham's master tailor!"
"Wow..." Neighsay said.
"So tell me why are you doing this." Tempest said. Neighsay then looked down at the party and exhaled.
"I fell in love with this place."
"Why?" Tempest said in a sneaky face.
"Love has no reason."
"It should." Tempest said. "Everyone pretends there's no reason, but there always is."
Neighsay then turned to her. "I prefer love that has no reason."
Tempest then gazed at him. "What is this? You're trying to make this sound romantic when we both know it isn't."
Neighsay nodded, and drank his glass.
"Neighsay! Come here!" Spike called him in Italian.
"Sure. I'll be down there in a second, Mr. Ambassador!" Neighsay said in Italian.
"It's a great party." Spike said in Italian. Neighsay chuckled then turned to Tempest. He leaned into her ear and whispered:
"Relax." he said in a calm voice, and it made Tempest catched off guard. She covered her ears after his whisper. He smiled and walked away.
"Why did he suddenly whisper like that?" Tempest said.
Meanwhile, the tenants spotted Starstreak's stallions.
"My goodness! Hey!"
"Oh, my. It's been a while, guys."
"Hello."
"Take one."
"My goodness. What brings you all the way here?"
"It's free. You're doing your job."
"Drink up."
"Gosh, you look scary."
"Say "Ho, ho!""
"Food is the most important aspect of living~"
The tenants jeep whooping with the other stallions, while the other who led the pack, was disappointed.
Meanwhile in an office, there sat Starstreak in the couch, getting a pedicure. He got a call from someone.
"Yes?" Starstreak said. As soon as he heard the news, he was stunned. "What? The Ambassador of Trottingham? Why is he there? Hey, just bulldose..." he said. "Wrap it up."
Meanwhile, in the Wingtip Law Firm's office...
"Tempest! You!" Caramel scolded. "Gosh, this is driving me nuts! This is a major problem! You should've told me! Were you even thinking or what!? How will you fix this!?".
"What is the researcher talks to the press or the victim's family." Harshwhinny said.
"Right!"
"He won't be able to make a move right away." Tempest said.
"What?"
"How can you be so sure?"
"Right."
"I've been a lawyer for eight years now. I assure you I have the best hunches."
Harshwhinny mockingly laughed. "Hunches? I've been a prosecutor for 20 years. I don't think you should be talking about hunches before me."
"Right." Caramel said.
"You've been a prosecutor for 20 years, but it's your first year as a lawyer." Tempest said.
"What?" Harshwhinny said.
"I'll make myself clear. I didn't tell you not because I'm scared, but because I knew I could fix it and didn't want to worry you."
"Goodness. She thought about how her bosses would feel!" Harshwhinny said. "Gosh, Ms. Tempest with eight years of experience is such a generous lawyer."
Tempest couldn't stand it. Her angry issues were about to blow. She angrily stood up in front of them.
"Sir. Ms. Harshwhinny."
"There she goes again."
"If you trust me, give me your confidence, not your criticism." Tempest said.
"Goodness, it scares me when she does this." Caramel said.
"Let's trust her, then." Harshwhinny said. "But if you fail to handle this, we will no longer trust you..." she said as she clicls her tongue. "...and you'll be fired. Okay?"
"Thank you for your understanding." Tempest said, as she bowed. She suddenly got down and kept bowing. What a drama mare.
Meanwhile in Tempest's office with Flam...
"Don't think about going home today. Get a list of Final Countdown' family, relatives, friends and colleagues." Tempest said as she pasted Final Countdown's picture with her pen. "And..." she said as she sat with Flam. She got a pen and wrote thing down in a piece of paper. "...get the expenses ready in cash in the morning." she said as she the notebook to Flam.
"Okay." he answered. He opened the notebook to see how much. His eyes widened open and he gasped as he saw how much money Tempest requested. "Why do you need this much money?"
"So I can give the money to anyone that gives me a clue where he might be." Tempest said.
"You're not hosting some TV show here. Why give out money?" Flam said.
"If a problem can be solved using money, we should make use of it. That way, no one gets hurt, and everyone is happy." Tempest said.
Flam looked at her in shock and clapped his hands. "Amazing. Brilliant. I love it!"
Meanwhile, at Neighsay's party, the excavators and other construction vehicles of Starstreak's stallions left, including the others who were at the party who saw Neighsay's invitation. The tenants waved them goodbye. They then danced back to the party, cheering with joy, including Caballeron.
"We did it!" one of them said.
"Yes!" another said, gathering for a group hug
"I'll get going now." Caballeron said.
"We did it!"
"No, join us!"
"Mr. Caballeron!"
"You should join us!"
"Bye." Caballeron said.
"Everyone, over there!"
"Let's go."
"You know..."
"Let's do this!"
"Plaza!"
"Plaza!"
Caballeron saw Neighsay in the balcony, and Neighsay noticed him. They then both smiled.
"I'm good with anything."
"Go!"
"Let's go!"
"Go!"
"My gosh."
"Let's go!"
"Alright..."
"Counter..."
"Plaza!"
"Plaza!"
"We are the tenants!"
"Yes, we are!"
"We will win!"
"Win!"
"Counter!"
"Counter. Let's go!"
"Go, Counter!"
"Go!"
While Neighsay and Caballeron were smiling, Caballeron walked away.
"Good work!"
"Yes!"
"Come here!"
"My gosh."
The next morning, the tenants had breakfast at the snack bar. Cheese prepared drinks for the tenants.
"It's nice and warm here."
"It's from yesterday. It didn't go bad. Try some." the snack bar owner said. "Is it good?"
"It's hayburger."
"I bet the party must have cost at least 10 million bits." Cheese Sandwich said.
"No! It must have cost at least 20 to 30 million bits. On top of that, Mr. Cassano paid for everything." Cheese's wife said.
"Yeah. Until yesterday, you called him all kinds of names. But today, he's Mr. Cassano?" Cheese said.
"Gosh, you punk."
"I didn't trust him at first. But seeing what he did for the plaza, maybe, he's sincere." the snack bar owner said.
"If he had an ulterior motive, he wouldn't spend a fortune." the piano player said.
"She's right."
"If they don't give up, he'll keep throwing parties." the dry cleaner said, clapping his hands.
"He'll spend 100 million bits in no time!" one of them said, while the dry cleaner kept clapping his hooves.
"Listen. I don't trust him 100 percent." Cheese said.
"But?"
"But for now, I do believe he is on our side." Cheese responded.
"Right."
"Yes."
"Lately, Mr. Cassano and I have been communicating like creatures in Trottinggam do." Joe said, as he nervously chuckled.
"Actually, I think you're hiding from him." the snack bar owner said.
"I'm not hiding from him. It's a game we play." Joe nervously said. "In Trottingham, we hide from creatures we click with. It's like the Trottinghamian Mafia Game." Joe said, and the other tenants started chuckling.
"If he continues to help us like this, he may be the savior our merciful Buddha has sent for us." the monk said. "Amen."
""Amen"? That's not the one."
"Now that I think about it, don't you think the lawyer from Trottingham is handsome?" the piano player said, and it caught the wife of Cheese's attention. "He has such great skin. And his cologne smells good too." she said as she blushed and cover her mouth in joy.
"Right, you noticed it, too?" Cheese's wife said.
"Yes."
"It smells great."
"I'll be completely honest." the snack bar owner said. "He has such a great figure."
"But I thought he wasn't your type at all." Soarin said.
"What kind of mare wouldn't like a stallion like him?" she said.
Meanwhile, at nighttime, Neighsay went to his chair and took off his necktie. He buttons off the top part of his coat and exhaled. He then scanned over his bulletin board in front of him. One piece of paper was a list, and one of its items needed were labeled "CANTERLOT TEMPLE BOILER CONSTRUCTION DEMOLITION COUNTERMEASURE".
"Parties won't be enough to stop the demolition. I need a better plan."
He then got a file from his table, labeled "RDU-90, Key Characteristics". Then he looked at his bulletin board again at the same piece of paper. Another item is labeled "Babel Pharm Lawsuit - Danger".
Meanwhile, In Wingtip Law Firm...
"Please keep a closer eye on your researchers." Tempest said on the phone. "Of course not. They can't go out even for an hour." she said. "Yes. Please, I really need your help here." she said. As she was walking, she ended the call. She spotted her colleagues looking at Harshwhinny's window.
"No way." one of her colleagues said.
"Gosh. What's going on here?"
Tempest walked up to them, and like them, she looked at her window.
"Come here."
"Gosh, what she's doing?"
"She's unbelievable."
"Gosh."
They saw from Harhswhinny's window, she was dancing zumba, like she always does. She had her TV on.
"Awesome. Awesome!" Harhswhinny said.
"No, no no." one of the lawyers said.
"Isn't that so weird?" one of them said. All the lawyers except Tempest left, and Tempest was still watching her from the window.
"What she's doing?" Tempest said.
"Awesome!" Harshwhinny said.
"Yuuuuuuck." Tempest said in disgust.
"Awesome."
"Unbelievable. So this is how she made it to the top." Tempest said. Then, Flam walked by and went towards Tempest.
"Nice bracelet." Flam said.
Tempest then looked at her hand with the bracelet in it, and looked back at Flam. "What do you know about it?"
"Isn't that the new Prancimo bracelet? It's the most popular one." Flam said.
"Okay, Mr. Trivia." Tempest said, and pointed at Harshwhinny.
"What is it?" Flam said, looking at Harshwhinny. They walked away together after watching Harshwhinny's "cringe" dancing. They were going to Tempest's area.
"Since I'm Mr. Trivia, let me end my internship, so I can be your partner." Flam said, opening Tempest office door, going in, and closes as she went in.
"Why would I do that?" Tempest asked.
"Well, we can work together, go watch baseball together, and have fried chicken and beer. How nice is that?" Flam said.
"That's not working. It's dating." Tempest said.
"Even better." Flam said, clicking his tongue and smirking. "We'll work hard...and rely on each other. It's a dream come true."
"I don't date people from work because it's exhausting and immature." Tempest said, clicking keys on her keyboard. "Quit dreaming." she said, clapping her hands.
"Okay." Flam said, smiling and looking from his side.
"And the thing I asked for?" Tempest said.
"Oh, right." Flam said. He gave her the file about what she requested. When Tempest saw the file, she saw Neighsay's name in the file, and his picture. "I got it from the Trottignhamian Lawyer Association. He's a real lawyer."
Tempest then looked over at the other information under his picture and name. "Any criminal records?"
"He's clean." Flam said. He placed his front hooves on Tempest's desk. "He's very handsome. Are you interested in him?"
""Interested"?" Tempest said.
"Right? Was it love at first sight?" Flam said. "That's why you turned me down."
"Hey!" Tempest yelled, slapping his hand with the file. "Don't talk about my life like that!" she said, tossing the file to him.
Meanwhile, Neighsay was back again at Joe's restaurant. This time, Joe was serious. Joe was glaring at him, stroking his chin.
"Why are you glaring at me like that?" Neighsay said.
"You know what? You made me think that I was an awful cook all this time. But you were wrong. Did you see yesterday? Everyone at the party enjoyed my margherita pizza. Did you see that or not?" Joe said. "The Trottinghamian ambassador is from Trottingham. The couple tasted my pizza, and gave me a thumbs up. That's all I need."
"Well, the thing with drunk creatures is..." Neighsay said, pouring a drink in his glass. "...What's that Trottinghamian expression? Oh, right. Creatures can't tell between poop and gold."
"No, my food is good! You're the only one who says otherwise! Everyone likes it!" Joe yelled.
"Make me the same pizza, then." Neighsay said.
"Okay. Fine. Wait here." Joe said. Neighsay was just sitting there, taking a sip of his drink. After Joe was done, he lended the plate to Neighsay. Although it was a small pizza, it was the same margherita pizza. "Taste it." Joe said.
Neighsay took a slice and stopped to look at Joe. "I know it taste good.". Neighsay then took a bite, and looked at him. "Doesn't it taste amazing!?"
Neighsay then looked at him, took a tissue and...oh no...we know what happens. He spit out the food in the tissue, and coughed.
"What? What is it this time? Why!?" Joe said.
Neighsay chuckled and said: "I guess the basil and cheese are practicing social distancing. They don't mix at all." Neighsay said. So...he just spit out and didn't like the food because of the "orientation" of the toppings? "And are the tomatoes on quarantine or something? I can't taste them at all." Neighsay said, putting the money in his table. He stood up to leave. "Thanks for showing me...what a piece of garbage that looks like pizza taste like. You know?" Neighsay said, opening the door and left.
Wait, does Neighsay know that virus?
"Damn it!" Joe said, and he took a bite of the margherita pizza.
While Neighsay was walking out of the restaurant, he accidentally bumped into a passing by stallion. It was Stygian.
"Hey, it's Neighsay!" Stygian said, pointing his finger at Neighsay. Neighsay was confused, and looked at him from hoof to horn.
"Have we met?" Neighsay asked.
"We met at the party last night." Stygian mentioned.
"The party." Neighsay said. "Is that where we met?"
"No-, Yes, that was our first time meeting there." Stygian said. Neighsay then walked towards him, inspecting his face.
"Are you sure about that?" Neighsay said, and Stygian nodded.
"Mr. Cassano!" Grubber called, opening the Law Firm's office. "Mr. Caballeron is here."
"Okay." Neighsay said, as he turned back to Stygian. They kept looking at each other until Neighsay left to the office. Since Stygian was curious he hid in one of the walls of the plaza.
"By the way, what's that cologne he's wearing?" Stygian asked himself. He then sniffed the same area where Neighsay and he bumped in. He walked to the Italian restaurant, seeing Joe looking at a pizza slice of the margherita pizza he served Neighsay. Stygian opened the door and greeted him.
"Hello."
"Hi." Joe responded.
"I'm not here as a customer. When I tasted your pizza at the party yesterday, I was incredibly loved." Stygian said. "So I came here, wishing to become your culinary apprentice."
Joe's eyes widened of Stygian's words. "Right? Wasn't it really good?!"
"Yes."
"Damn it. But I'm not looking for an assistant. Please, leave." Joe said.
"Just give me a corner to sleep in!" Stygian said. "You don't have to pay me or feed me. I'll assist you, clean, wait tables, and do menial jobs. Master."
"What?"
"As soon as I had a bite of your pizza yesterday, I heard the tolling of the Florence's Duomo Bell. And when I had my second bite, the boat horn from a harbor in Maples resonated through my body." Stygian said, as he imitated the boats sound, and Joe stopped him by grabbing his hands. Joe was touched by his words.
"Oh. Oh, Napoli. Oh." Joe said.
"I want to create my own little Italy with your guidance." Stygian said.
"But you really don't need me to for your labor or food?" Joe said.
"No. I just need a place to sleep!" Stygian said. "And...I just need you, Master."
"So, what's your name?"
Meanwhile, in the Lawist Law Firm office, Caballeron and Grubber were scanning files, which were scattered in the table. The files were involving the Babel E&C, Pharmaceuticals, and possibly their law firm partner. Neighsay approach to them, putting more files into the table.
"I'm sure you know about Babel Pharmaceuticals' new drug, RDU-90's main component." Neighsay said, as he sat down in front of Grubber.
"Yes. It's a substance called coisanic." Caballeron responded.
"Are you also aware..." Neighsay answered. "...that coisanic is considered narcotic?"
"A narcotic?" Caballeron asked, and Neighsay responded with a nod. Neighsay then turned to Grubber, who had a shocked expression pasted in his face. "That's new to me."
"According to our experts's opinion, it just relieves pain." Grubber said, reading in the documents at the table.
"Babel Pharmaceuticals deceived you and everyone was in on it." Neighsay said.
"Gosh. I had no idea." Caballeron said. "So if this drug hits the market, aren't they basically selling narcotics?"
"Yes. Officially, more creature will be addicted to painkillers. What's more dangerous is, because of narcotic pain meds, more creatures will become drug addicts like in the States." Neighsay said, and Caballeron noded.
"Then, this drug might open up the doors to mass-distribution of narcotics in Canterlot." Grubber said.
"Perhaps, like the States, South Amarica, and Trottingham, huge drug cartels might spring up." Neighsay said.
"It hasn't happened yet, but drugs will spread like wildfire in this small country." Caballeron said.
"I don't even want to think about it, but if this goes through, even young ones will be able to buy drugs like you see in movies. It'll be around their homes and schools. Neighsay said.
"Jeez. How could they make something like this!?" Caballeron said. "I don't care if I go to prison. I want to burn them down! All of the drugs!" he said angrily. "We must stop them. We must do whatever it takes to stop them."
Suddenly, something was vibrating in Neighsay's coat. He saw that someone was calling him. He took it from his pocket and pressed the accept button. He stood up and moved somewhere else to keep the conversation private.
"Yes?" he said in the phone. "Right away." he said as he stops the call.
Meanwhile, Stygian was cleaning the doors of Joe's restaurant. Like he promised, he wanted a place to sleep in. Through the window, he saw Neighsay walking by. When Neighsay was going past the restaurant, Stygian hid his face so Neighsay won't notice him. Stygian noticed that Joe was sleeping, so he decided to go out and stalk Neighsay.
Neighsay was running to the Canterlot Temple. Unaware of Stygian, Stygian sneaked in and appeared in the wall. He then followed him at his back, and stopped.
"When you install it, be careful with the--"
"There's no need for that." Neighsay spoke. He then carried a rolled electric heating pad. It was bigger that Neighsay, and the monk. Although it might be heavy, Neighsay was strong enough to carry it to the inside of the temple.
"What is all this!?" The monk said, as he threw his head back before the electric heating pad roll Neighsay was carrying hit his head. Stygian kept watching them, with serious looking eagle eyes.
The monk and Neighsay went inside, and the other monk was still sitting there. Neighsay took of his coat jacket, and remained with his pants and long sleeve coat.
"Mr. Cassano, you cannot do this. We didn't agree to this." the monk said.
"Save the money for the boiler for your temple." Neighsay said. He was about to get the boiler, but the monk's hands were blocking it.
"Can you move your hands?" Neighsay said.
"No."
As Neighsay carried the boiler to the area, he said: "And I will foot the bill for your monthly electicity."
"Gosh, no! You cannot do that!" the monk said.
"Can you get that side?"
"This side?"
Stygian then secretly spied on them from the temple's window.
"But..."
"I can put one here."
"Oh..."
Neighsay placed one boiler in the floor, but couldn't fit because of the other monk and his seat. He crawled to the meditating monk.
"Sir, can you lift the right side of your bottom?" Neighsay asked. The monk was silent for a bit, but then tilted to the side and made some weird sounds like he always do. Neighsay then quickly moved the big boiler pad into the bottom of the monk's seat. Neighsay then crawled back to the monk and said: "It's all set.". When the monk heard Neighsay, he then tilted back into his normal position.
"Thank you." Neighsay said politely. "Can you get that one? Put it right here." he said to the other monk.
"This one?" the other monk said.
Neighsay and the monk quickly got the boiler pad and moved into the other side of where the monk was sitting.
"A member of the Mafia who is Catholic is putting electric pads for the monks. What is happening?"
Stygian saw Neighsay telling the monk to tilt the other side.
"Two. Three." the monk said, and they both quickly move the pad under the seat.
"Is this the union of religions? This stallion is so generous."
Stygian was touched by what Neighsay did, but then his looks then turned to sneaky ones.
When Neighsay was done, he walked to the exit of the temple. While he was walking, he heard a familiar voice.
"Give me a cigarette."
"Just one?"
"If you have one, hurry up."
Neighsay took a look and saw it was the son of the snack bar owner. Of course his mother will not be happy when he returns from his friends.
"How come you never have your own?"
"Hey, give me one, too."
"I want two."
"Give me one!"
"Come on. Be quiet."
"Give me a lighter."
"You don't have one?"
"Of course, I do."
"Just give it to me already."
"Yes."
"Give me the lighter."
Neighsay then walked in and stood in front of the snack bar owner's son.
"Didn't your mom tell you not to smoke?" Neighsay said.
The stallions looked at him with confusion. The son spoke: "Don't bring her up now. It's embarrassing. Beat it."
"Haven't you heard? If you smoke at an early age--"
"That our bones will rot?" the son said. "They're already rotten."
"Give me some money before you go, mister." one of his friends said to Neighsay. Neighsay slightly smiled and tucked his necktie. One of his friends gasped and grabbed his hand.
"Look at him. He's got a nice watch." one of his friends said.
Neighsay then dragged away his hand and said: "If you promise me that you will never smoke again, I'll give you some money."
"You have no idea how scary young ones are these days." one of his friends said.
"We go after everyone that pisses us off." the son said.
"All right." Neighsay said. "Toss all of your cigarettes in this trash can here."
"Guess what the scariest kind of drunk is." one of his friends said.
"Hmmm..." Neighsay hummed. For them, they didn't know that Neighsay was holding a piece of hard wood behind him. "If you say "punch drunk", I'll be disappointed." Neighsay said.
"Bingo." one of his friend said. As he was about to punch Neighsay, Neighsay suddenly grabbed his hand by his, and beat his hand very hard with the wood he was holding.
"My hand!!!" his friend shouted.
Neighsay continued to beat the rest of the son's friends in the back, the side of their stomach, and somewhere else where they can be in pain. They were panicking and yelling in pain.
"Damn it!!!" one of them shouted.
Neighsay then grabbed two of them and beat them both. What was weird is that Neighsay was doing it calmly. He threw them both at one of his friends that was down from his beating.
"You little punks! Lousy brats!" Neighsay said in Italian, beating them on their hands and heads.
"Stop it!"
"Damn it!"
"Let's go." they said. Neighsay then slapped one of them in the flank with the hand while they were running away. The son was shock, and he might know what will happen next. While Neighsay was patting the wood in his hooves, he slowly turned and approached to the snack bar owner's son.
"Come here." Neighsay said. Out of the blue, he grabbed his ear and the son was moaning in pain. "Toss it now."
"Damn it." he said. Neighsay pressed his ear harder and beat him two times in his shoulder. "Fine, I'll throw it out!" he said. He got his remaining cigarettes, snap them into two pieces and threw them in the trash can.
"I'll check every time I see you. Got it?" Neighsay said.
"Damn it. What the heck?" he said. He then went running out.
Neighsay was unaware that Stygian followed him, and spied on him.
"A Mafia member who disciplines delinquents? Is this a way of repenting for his dark past? The more I observe him, the harder it is to figure him out."
Neighsay went back to his house unit, and sat down on the couch, and took out some files from a brown envelope. He read it carefully, one by one. Then he remembered what he said to the stallion about demolishing the plaza.
-At flashback-
"It's my first and last advice to you." Neighsay said. As the stallion picks up his bag to leave, he suddenly stopped before going to the exit.
"Wait." Opulence said. "You can threathen me, but you're in no position to give me advice!" he said as he slams his bag in the table. He then turned to Caballeron. "We'll see...which one of us will be...begging the other. This will be fun." he said. When he was about to leave, he slams Grubber's bike to the ground.
"Cheetah!!!" Grubber said, rushing to his bike. "Cheetah, are you okay!?" he said, trying to fix parts of his bike.
"Mr. Blueblood." Neighsay spoke. "Can you look into him?"
-Present-
Neighsay then took three pieces of index paper. Looking into its text, he then smirked. "We'll soon find out...who'll end up on their knees."
Meanwhile, Tempest and Flam were in the the medicine store, and Tempest was armed with her best crocodile tears. She only put this act so she won't be fired because of a lost researcher.
"My youngest brother also majored in pharmacology." Tempest said in a crying act, and Flam nodded. "He works late everyday in his lab. Then he comes home all exhausted. And he worries about his career." she said as she sobbed. And with the best act, she cried coming along with tears for the act.
"Tempest." Flam spoke, as he lend a handkerchief.
"No. Let me be." Tempest sobbed.
"Tempest." Flam spoke again, as he lend the handkerchief.
"Thank you..." Tempest cried. She took the handkerchief and wiped of her "tears". "That's why Final Countdown reminds me of my brother. I'm sure things have been tough. I'm worried that he might do something he'll regret if he's alone."
"It's been a few months since I talked to Final Countdown." the stallion in the cashier said.
"Please. If he did contact you, tell me." Tempest said. "I'll compensate you handsomely for your information." she added and Flam nodded.
"I have enough money." the cashier stallion said.
Tempest then took her purse and showed him the money. "It's a hefty sum.". Flam then covered the money and turned to him.
"We're really trying to help Final Countdown." Flam said, and Tempest nodded. "If he contacted you--"
"If you don't leave, I'll call the police." the cashier offended.
"He'll call the police. Let's go." Tempest said.
When they went out, Tempest waited for Flam since he was buying popsicles. Flam came back with two popsicles in his hands. He teared one pack and gave it to Tempest.
"Here." Flam spoke, giving her a popsicle.
"How could he not fall for my tears? I feel hotter because I cried." Tempest said.
"No matter how hard I think about it. If I were Final Countdown, your dad would be the only person I would go to. Lawist." Flam said. "Try to talk to your dad. You're his daughter. You two can have an honest conversation."
"I would've done if it'd work." Tempest said. Flam then sighed heavily.
"If he decides to blow the whistle, you'll be in big trouble." Flam said.
"Hey, you're from Neigh York. Why are you so nosy? Why worry about other creatures?" Tempest said.
"No. I only worry about you, Tempest." Flam said. "Without me, who's going to play along with your skit? Without me, how will you find you car?"
"Oh, right. Where did I park my car?" Tempest said.
"Near Exit B in Basement 2."
"Okay."
"Tempest, doesn't working for Wingtip give you a lot of headaches?" Flam said. "Want to jump ship?"
Tempest then turned to him.
"My friend in Hoston is starting a law firm in Canterlot."
"A new law firm won't be enough able to afford my salary." Tempest said. Suddenly, something was buzzing in Tempest's coat. It was her phone ringing. She accepted the phone call and leaned it against her ear. "Yes, Mr. Rider."
"Ms. Choi invites lawyers with experience of more than five years for dinner today." Wind Rider said in the phone.
"Tell her I can't go. I have work." Tempest said.
"She told me you have to be there even if other lawyers can't make it." Wind Rider said.
"Fine." Tempest said as she ended the call. "Damn it. She cares about me way too much."
Meanwhile, Caballeron was in his office with a phone call.
"It's not hard at all. I have a knack for turning tables. Gosh. Please trust me on this. I can win this." Caballeron said on the phone and he cancels it. He took out a brown envelope from the table and opened it. What it was stated that it was a hearing notification from the Canterlot District Court. Later on, he went to the plaza's rooftop, looking at Canterlot's beautiful view. Though, something was kept in his mind.
in flashback
"I know this is a tough decision. May I ask why?" Caballeron said.
"I realized it when I watched the trial..." Final Countdown said. "...that if I stay silent, a lot of creatures will be wronged."
Caballeron nodded. "Yes. I'm glad you made up your mind. Thank you so much. Then, what is their biggest lie that they have been spreading?"
"The clinical trial of the new drug was basically murder." Final Countdown said.
"Pardon?"
"The higher-ups gave the order. We were ordered to inject the new drug, RDU-90, to five test subject infinitely. They told to see how much they could endure." Final Countdown added.
"How could they do that?" Caballeron said.
"And RDU-90 is not just a painkiller. It's a narcotic painkiller. Babel Pharm didn't care about the test subjects' lives from the start. I tried to drop out the experiment, but they threatened to hurt my family." Final Countdown said.
"Will you appear in court as witness and testify what you just told me?" Caballeron said.
"You will guarantee the safety of me and my family, right?" Final Countdown said.
"I can't guarantee it now, but I'll do whatever it takes." Caballeron said.
"What do you mean!? How can I testify with out that guarantee!? Besides...there's no guarantee that you will not expose me."
"No, Mr. Countdown. No one will find out about our meeting today, and I will take all the risks. Please trust me."
"No. Unless my family's safety is guaranteed, I cannot testify in court. I'm sorry."
Present
Caballeron's eyes were still transfixed in Canterlot's view. Though that meeting was still in mind, he knew he had lied to Neighsay.
Mr. Cassano, I already knew what kind of drug it was. I pretended to be clueless, so I could take all the risks. I will make sure to stop them.
"Mr. Caballeron." a familiar voice called him. Caballeron turned around to see Neighsay.
"Mr. Cassano. Do you have...Right, you don't smoke." Caballeron chuckled.
As Neighsay walked beside Caballeron at the edge of the rooftop, he said: "Have you grasped the core problem of this lawsuit?"
"The core problem?"
"Babel Pharmaceuticals, the release of narcotic pain medication, political lobbyists under the radar, a huge rebate, and a fabrication of a lawsuit. The ordeal is run like a cartel." Neighsay said.
"I know that much." Caballeron said.
"If you do, shouldn't you back off?" Neighsay said. Caballeron turned to him in shock and confusion. "They're not businessponies. They're monsters. They couldn't care less about the lives of others."
"If I keep fighting, I will win one day." Caballeron said.
"Mr. Caballeron, you can't defeat these monsters." Neighsay said.
"Anyone can defeat monsters." Caballeron said.
"No. That's only possible in myths." Neighsay said harshly.
"You sound pessimistic today." Caballeron said.
"You've come to a dead end now. You can't go further!"
"I'll do whatever it takes to break through even if it breaks my hooves."
Neighsay sighed and took a few steps in front of Caballeron. "When you reach a dead end, the wisest thing you can do is turn back."
Caballeron was about to be hot under the collar when a call disturbbed him. He turned back from Neighsay to answer the call. "Hello? Yes. When? Which hospital? Okay, I'll be right there. Okay." he said. As he ended the call, he turned to Neighsay. "You need to come with me."
"Where?" Neighsay asked.
"You'll see." Caballeron said as he held Neighsay's hand.
They went for a run as they rushed to the hospital. Caballeron said to himself: "Why did she have to go to work? She shouldn't have. Goodness. Being a public defender is so hard."
He stopped as he look both left and right at the hallways of the hospital. "Okay. Yes, over there. Let's go." he said to Neighsay. Neighsay followed him to the corrections. As they stopped at the door. Caballeron said: "Let's go in."
"Go ahead. I'll wait for you outside." Neighsay said. As Neighsay was about to move out, Caballeron quickly grabbed his hand.
"You're here, anyways. Say a few nice things to her." Caballeron said.
"But..." Before Neighsay could finish, Caballeron went in. So, Neighsay had to follow him. As Caballeron walked in he saw a mare who is a worker in the hospital.
"Hello. I'm her attorney." Caballeron greeted the mare. When Neighsay walked in, the mare pointed to where the patient was. "Okay.". Caballeron hurriedly opened the curtains that surrounded her bed. Neighsay saw the patient, revealing Cloudy Quartz, his birth mother, and Neighsay did knew her at first.
"I was right. Aren't you glad you were close to a big hospital?" Caballeron said beside her bed.
"Yes." Cloudy Quartz weakly spoke with a smile. Neighsay took a peek of the patient in the bed as Caballeron was talking to her.
"Gosh, how can you be smiling now!? You almost died!" Caballeron said.
"Let's just say...this was a rehearsal for my funeral." Cloudy Quartz said. Then, she suddenly saw the light azureish gray unicorn behind the clear curtains. "By the way, who is he?" she spoke, reffering to Neighsay.
Neighsay then kept hiding behind the curtains. Caballeron turned to him and pulled him inside. "This is...He's a lawyer who's been helping me with my recent case. Isn't he handsome?"
"Yes. He is indeed handsome." Cloudy Quartz said. Neighsay gazed at her, and noticed a tight handcuff in her hoof and the other half of it was clanked in the bed.
"I need to make a phone call. I'll give you some privacy." Neighsay said. Neighsay then stopped beside the curtains where they can't see him. Neighsay overheard their conversation.
"I'm going to file for a retrial." Caballeron said.
"You can't do anything about it without my consent. Suit yourself." Cloudy Quartz said.
"If you die like this, you're only making life easier for those criminals." Caballeron said.
"I stopped caring about justice a long time ago. Don't complicate things." Cloudy Quartz said, shooking her head.
As Neighsay heard their talk, he exhaled sharply and left the corrections area. He waited at the entrance of the hospital. In there, he looked down, looking at the window. He exhaled once more and grabbed his phone from his pocket.
"Yes." Neighsay said through the phone.
"This is Opulence from Babel E&C. You texted me this morning." Opulence said.
Meanwhile, at Harshwhinny's dinner with Tempest and other lawyers, one male lawyer flipped some glasses on top of another batch. He flipped them like dominos, making the empty batch fill with drinks. Harshwhinny and the lawyers except Tempest cheered for the stunt.
"Bottoms up."
"Thank you."
"Thank you."
"Thank you."
"Bottoms up!" one said, as they raised their glasses.
"Thank you."
"This is expensive."
"Thank you."
As they drank theur glasses happily, Tempest drank hers with a glare on both the lawyers and Harshwhinny.
"All right." Harshwhinny said, putting her glass back in the table and getting a bite. "Today...we'll forget that we're lawyers and have some fun!"
"Yes!"
"Okay!"
All shouted except Tempest, and all of them sat down.
"Ms. Harshwhinny, what is your idea of fun?" one lawyer asked.
"Does anyone her have a special talent or something?" Harshwhinny said.
"Mr. Rider is the best impersonator. He does one heck of an impression." one of the lawyers said.
"Let's see it, then. Do it." Harshwhinny said.
"Okay." Wind Rider said.
"Do it! Do it! Do it!"
Wind Rider stood up and acted. "I'm Gladmane. Jim asked me to come here! He's very busy with work right now. So he asked me to back you up! It's a small company, you see! It's a small apartment!"
Harshwhinny and the lawyers around Tempest's surroundings laughed out loud at Wind Rider's impression.
"This is it!"
"He's good!"
"He's good."
"Yes, he's good." Tempest murmured.
"It's Buck Withers this time." Wind Rider said.
"Go ahead."
"Stop. Are you cheating? You gave Madam Coloratura and me the bottom cards. Do you think I'm a joke?" Wind Rider acted.
"Check the cards!" Caramel woke up, joining the act.
"Don't touch the cards, or you'll lose a hand. Bring me the hammer." Wind Rider said.
"I shouldn't have done that." Caramel joined the act in a deep voice. He then leaned in at Harshwhinny's hand in the couch.
"Go to sleep. No, not here. Go sleep over there." Harshwhinny said, pushing Caramel up. Caramel then leaned to the other side.
"Good job. Give it up for him!" Harshwhinny said, and all the lawyers clapped their hooves, and Wind Rider bowed to them and went back to his seat.
"Good job."
"You're good."
"Who's next? Anyone else?" Harshwhinny said. The eloquence stayed silent. "Is that it? All right, then. Ms. Tempest, Wingtip's top dog. You're up." Harshwhinny said.
Tempest stared at her then looked back down.
Harshwhinny called her one more time. "Ms. Tempest."
"Tempest Shadow!" one lawyer cheered.
"Tempest Shadow! Tempest Shadow!" the lawyers cheered.
"I don't do stuff like that." Tempest replied.
"Of course, you do. Just do it!" Harshwhinny said.
"This kind of thing makes me uncomfortable." Tempest said. The lawyers went silent for a while.
"I'm not making you do this to reward you, you know? You've made a huge mistake. I'm making you do it, so you can make up for it and redeem yourself." Harshwhinny said.
Tempest knows she has nowhere to run, but she has to do it. "Then, I'll impersonate someone as well."
"Great. Let's give it up!" Harshwhinny said. The lawyers jeered with 'ooooooohhhhh' and Tempest felt embarrassed. Tempest then went in front and removed her horseshoes. She fixed her mohawk next, looking at the transfixed lawyers. She then started dancing zumba in front of them, and was impersonating Harshwhinny.
"Awesome!" Tempest shouted. "Awesome!"
Harshwhinny stared at her, as Tempest had a joyful face impersonating her. And eventually, Tempest's energetic voice and moves suddenly made Caramel wake up.
"Awesome! Awesome!" Tempest shouted. "Awesome!"
Harshwhinny then started wheezing in laughter as Tempest kept dancing.
"Awesome!" she shouted one more time. "Awesome!"
Harshwhinny then started laughing out louder than she laughed at Wind Rider's act.
"Awesome!"
Meanwhile, Neighsay then arrived for Opulence. He waited there, drinking coffee. Opulence walked in, seeing Neighsay holding a mug in his aura.
"You're drinking coffee." Opulence said. "Why did you want to meet? I'm a busy stallion, you know." he said as he sat down in front of Neighsay.
"Do these two things I tell you to do." Neighsay said. Opulence then chuckled.
"You're ordering around now." Opulence chuckled.
"First. Make sure Counter Plaza doesn't get demolished for two months. Second. When we demolish the plaza, my folks will take care of it." Neighsay said.
Opulence chuckled once again. "Have you gone mad or something? What are you babbling on about?"
Neighsay then took out a brown envelope and gave it to Opulence.
"Now I'm curious." Opulence said. He then opened the envelope, revealing more documents. As Opulence read it, he saw the names: "Big Macintosh and Bow Hothoof".
"Didn't I tell you? That I'm not going to take it anymore?" Neighsay said. "It's the list of real estate agents you secretly took bribes from. The transcripts of the recording in which Starstreak threatened the store owners under your order."
"How..." Opulence said. Neighsay then took out a pieces of paper underneath his coat and gave it to Opulence. Opulence saw pictures of him with a mare. Opulence then yelped and bowed his head.
"Photos of you at Canterlot Hotel with Silver Waves of Management Team Two, your mistress. In broad daylight and--" Neighsay said.
"Hey." Opulence stuttered. "Can you stop, please?"
Neighsay nodded. "This will be enough to bury you professionally."
"Yes. It's more than enough, so I'm begging you. These photos can never be revealed." Opulence said.
"As long as you follow my orders, they'll never see the light of day. But..." Neighsay said. "...you should end things with Ms. Waves fast and go back to your family. You're married, for Celestia's sake."
"But I don't have any power to postpone the demolition for two months." Opulence said. "A month is hard enough. And I don't have much power at work. I'm a mere employee there."
"That's not my concern. Get it done." Neighsay said. "If you fail, I'll make sure you'll be condemned for the rest of your life."
Opulence yelped and clenched his hooves while Neighsay got up and and stood besude Opulence.
"And let me warn you. Don't try anything funny. You'll be dead if anything happens to me." Neighsay said. As Neighsay is about to leave, Opulence tried to call him.
"Wait, sir!" Opulence said. "This is bad. Goodness. I'm in big trouble."
Meanwhile, the lawyers were done with their dinner and were sent back home.
"One more round!" Caramel said inside the of the car's back seat, in the open window.
"Good night."
"Good night."
"Wait, you're sending me home!?" Caramel said.
"Good night."
Harshwhinny was in the back seat of another car. When a stallion got in the driver's seat, Harshwhinny opened the car window, and peeked out, and she called for Tempest.
"Come here, Ms. Tempest." Harshwhinny said. Tempest got nearer to her, and the moment she came, Harshwhinny grabbed the back of her neck. "Tempest Shadow. If you mess with me again, that will be the end of you, you brat."
"Do let me know when you get the chance. I wouldn't mind a near-death experience." Tempest said, with a smiling face.
"Seriously. You're one big nutjob. The tree-strike rule doesn't apply to you. One strike, and you are done." Harshwhinny said.
"I'm sorry to bring this up..." Tempest said, grabbing Harshwhinny's hoof in her neck. "...but you should cut your nails. I think you just scratched my neck." Tempest squeaked.
Harshwhinny chuckled and let go of her neck."Let's go." Harshwhinny said to the driver.
"Good night."
"Good night."
"Gosh, she could've infected me with germs from her nails." Tempest said. Suddenly, her phone rang from a notification. She saw a message from her father.
Caballeron said in text: "Come home right now."
"What? What is it this time? Gosh. Why does he keep calling me?" Tempest said.
Meanwhile, Starstreak and her stallions were surrounded by their construction vehicles such as excavators.
"Tear down everything even if there's a party tonight." Starstreak commanded.
"Yes, sir!"
"Yes, sir!"
"What if there are creatures like the Trottinghamian Ambassador?" one of his stallions said.
"All right. Tear down everything after you escort them somewhere else!" Starstreak said.
"Yes, sir!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Get in!"
"Let's go!"
Suddenly, Starstreak received a phone call. He grabbed his phone and started the call.
"Hey!"
"Yes, Mr. Opulence." Starstreak said.
"Hey. Leave Counter Plaza alone...for the next two months." Opulence said in the phone.
"Why?" Starstreak said.
"Just do as I say!" Opulence shouted in the phone. "If the plaza gets destroyed, we'll be destroyed, too." he said as Opulence ended the call. Opulence took an ice cube and quickly put it in his mouth.
"Damn it. What is this?" Starstreak said.
"Hey, let's go!" one of his stallions said. "Destroy it!"
"No, don't. Stop it!" Starstreak said. "Hey, stop! Wait! I told you to stop! Why is that forklift going so fast!? I SAID STOP! I SAID STOP! I SAID STOP!"
"Turn off the engines!" one of his stallions said.
"Stop! Turn off the engine! Gosh, the fumes!" Starstreak shouted.
Meanwhile, Neighsay was taking a walk on a bridge. It was unique because inside the bridge has decorative flowers in it. Suddenly, Neighsay got a message from Caballeron.
Caballeron said in text: "How could you leave without telling me? Come to my house. Let's drink carling."
Neighsay read his message and walked back to the familiar address. What he didn't know is that Tempest was also in Caballeron's home.
Meanwhile at Caballeron's house...
"So the narcotic pain meds of Babel Pharmaceuticals will turn creatures into drug addicts. And drug cartels will spring up in Canterlot. So you want me to stop them? At the expense of my lawsuit?" Tempest said.
"The lawsuit isn't what matters right now. The core problem is narcotics." Caballeron said.
"Who fed you such nonsense?" Tempest said. "Was it Neighsay Cassano!? Are you stallions on some kind of debate team?"
"He's from Trottingham. He knows the severity of danger and drug cartels." Caballeron said, as he sat down on the couch along with Tempest.
"Other pharmaceutical companies produce narcotic pain meds too. Why are you coming after Babel?" Tempest said.
"They're different. They'll use lobbyists to make the drug accessible and mass-produce the drug like it's a digestive pill. Then, a lot of creatures will--"
"I guess it's true that no matter how smart, creatures will cling to conspiracies once they're concerned." Tempest said.
"Tempest, thus isn't a conspiracy theory. This is the truth and our future." Caballeron said. The doorbell suddenly rang while Tempest and Caballeron were having the conversation.
"That must be your fellow debater. Enjoy your debate, then." Tempest mocked, as she stood up, and went out to the other exit.
When Tempest was outside, she saw Neighsay getting out as well. When their eyes meet, she walked a few steps forward to him in a serious expression, and Neighsay did the same. Neighsay went in front of the door Tempest got out earlier.
"Please stop telling my dad nonsense." Tempest said. They then both turned to each other in the same expression. "Drugs? Cartels? Do you think this is some Amarican TV show?"
"Does it sound that asburd?" Neighsay said with a slight smile.
"Yes. At this rate, Babel Pharmaceuticals will rule Equestria or something." Tempest said.
"When you continously turn lies into the truth, you become blinded to the truth." Neighsay said.
"Now, you are diminishing my honor as an attorney." Tempest said.
Neighsay then took a few step forward to her.
"There's no honor among thieves." Neighsay said in Italian.
Tempest then hummed sweetly. "Care to translate?" she said with a smile.
"There's no honor among thieves." Neighsay repeated, but in English.
Tempest chuckled. "One day, when you're exposed as someone who has no right to be saying such things, I will mock you every second I see you...to the point you want to kill me." Tempest said, and before she could turn away, Neighsay spoke.
"Let me say one more thing before you do that." Neighsay said with a smirk.
Tempest then turned to him, and Neighsay took a few steps towards her.
"Stupid. Idiot." Neighsay said in Italian. The moment he go for the word "idiot", tiny droplets of his saliva spatted on Tempest's closed mouth. Tempest got disgusted and wiped her mouth. Neighsay smiled and walked to the door.
"Translate!" Tempest said angrily.
"No translation for that." Neighsay said, going through the door, and shutting it behind him.
"My gut tells me they weren't good words. I bet he was cursing at me. He's so annoying." Tempest said. "I'm so enraged that I'm feeling cathartic." Tempest wickedly chuckled.
Meanwhile with Flim...
"It's all my fault. Yes, I'll fix it as soon as possible, so it doesn't harm you. Yes. No. Whenever you scold me like this, I can tell I'm growing. Yes. The villa? No. Please do as you please." Flim said. "Yes. Okay. Have a good night. Bye.".
As the phone call ended, he quickly got into his couch a quickly tugged his necktie. He also drank all the drink in his glass in just a chug. Flim sighed.
"What the hell does he want?" Flim said.
Meanwhile, Caballeron and Neighsay clanked their glasses and drank at the house.
"Mr. Caballeron." Neighsay spoke. "That lady earlier...was her name Cloudy Quartz? Is she okay?"
Caballeron sighed. "She's not. She only has six months to live."
Neighsay stayed silent for a moment, then he poured the drink in Caballeron's glass. "If she's in the final stage, she must be in a lot of pain, right?"
Caballeron also poured the drink in Neighsay's glass. "If you were curious, you should've ask your mom yourself. Why don't you go visit her and ask her yourself next time?"
Neighsay then looked down. "How did you know?"
"I've been a lawyer for 30 years. I've got quite a hunch." Caballeron said. "And why do you think I dragged you to the hospital? You're so slow. When you asked me if I was a public defender, I already figured it out. No. Actually, it was that day.
In flashback...
"Defender Cloudy Quartz was often criticized by Chairman Filthy Rich and his famoly for her improper behaviors as a housekeeper."
Neighsay turned to see a dark grayish orange stallion with very dark grayish cyan hair with dark grayish cyan streaks.
"On the day of the incident, when he said she didn't do her job properly, she aas livid and assaulted him which led to his death."
"The defense rests."
Caballeron turned to his left and saw the light grayish blue unicorn, with very dark grayish blue hair with a lighter shade of very dark grayish blue stripes. Caballeron saw he was clenching his hooves, and patting his hoof on his hind hooves.
"Defendant Cloudy Quartz has abandoned her own child in the past. I'm submitting her affidavit of voluntary of relinquishment of parental rights to an orphanage in Canterlot.
"That's irrelevant in this case." Cludy Quartz spoke.
"Defendant. Be quiet."
"You're my lawyer. Say something." Cloudy Quartz said. "I, was sexually harassed. His whole family is lying!"
"Don't say anything."
"That day, five years ago..."
"This will work against you."
"I saw a young stallion in a rage. And I could feel the rage as I was sitting next to him. No one would get so mad over some case unless their family is involved."
Neighsay left with his suitcase in anger, but he was silent.
Caballeron got his suspicions later on, when Neighsay was in front of the jail his biological mom was stuck in.
"And this confirmed my suspicion. "
Present...
"Do you really not want to visit your mother?" Caballeron said. "I won't force you. And I won't ask you to forgive your mother lightly. But you shouldn't let your yearning turn into regret."
Meanwhile, that night...in the quarantine, a mysterious stallion went in, and cut the tube of some kind of gas and put a 60 second bomb inside, and quickly rushed back up before he dies from the explosion.
1 Babel employee was sleeping and and woke up with a cough because of the gas.
"What's this?" one of the researchers said.
"What is this smell?"
All the 14 researchers went down to the same place.
"What is this?"
"What?"
They noticed the 1 minute was now 6 seconds. One stallion was about to touch it when it reach three. As the timer hit zero, the shelter then got caught on an explosion and a big fire.
In the morning...
"Around 3:30 a.m. today, there was an incident, believed to be gas explosion, at a villa in Canterlot. Employees of Babel Pharmaceuticals' Drug Development Division were at a villa for a company getaway and were caught in explosion, which took the lives of the 14 researchers." the news reporter said in TV.
"No..." Caballeron said as he watched along with Grubber and Neighsay. "This isn't right!" Caballeron shouted in anger, slamming the documents he was holding in the table.
"The fire authority confirmed 12 researchers were dead at the scene and two survivors' entire bodies were burned and were transported to the hospital." the news reporter on TV said.
Caballeron quickly ran around the office, packing his bag.
"Mr. Caballeron." Neighsay spoke. Caballeron looked at him, but pushed Neighsay aside.
"But they died during treatment. The police suspect the gas was..."
Neighsay followed Caballeron then.
At Wingtip...
Tempest and Flam heard the news.
"Tempest." Flam spoke. "Can you not represent Babel Pharmaceuticals?"
"How dare you ask me that." Tempest said.
"So many creatures involved died." Flam said. "Creatures related to the case are dropping like files! I don't want anything to hapoen to you."
"I'm not going to die!" Tempest shouted in anger. "Besides, I represent Babel Pharmaceuticals."
Flam then stood up from his seat. "Creatures who today were their employees. So that doesn't matter!"
"Why are you so sensitive lately!? Are you emotionally unstable or something!?" Tempest said.
"Can you listen!?" Flam shouted angrily. "It's not--"
Tempest then smacked her hooves to get Flam's attention.
"Yell at me in a formal way. " Tempest said.
"In a formal way..." Flam repeated. "Do you think I'm worried just for kicks? Is that what you think? I've been thinking about this, and I have a bad feeling about it!"
Tempest exhaled and looked at him. "Intern Flam. Why are you suddenly so protective of me?" she sais as she stood up. "Don't cross the line. And I told you not to speak in an informal way when we're working. Do you think we're in the States?"
Flam quickly went to the documents in the table. Tempest saw him. Her face went nearer to his.
"The briefing didn't even start yet." Tempest said.
"I'm going out to pretend that I'm in the States. I won't talk to you in a formal way. Bye."
"That punk..." Tempest said. "Hey! Intern!"
Before she says something else, Flam left.
"Do you wanna die!? You're dead meat today!" Tempest shouted.
Meanwhile, in Caramel's office...
"Jeez. This was way to big." Caramel said. "Gosh, this...How can he get rid of everyone?"
"Don't you think he's sending us a message?" Harshwhinny said. ""Get things sorted ruthlessly like this." Or, "If you don't sort things out, you'll end up like them.""
"Gosh. No way. That's ridiculous." Caramel said. "Come on, you're jumping into conclusions. You're scaring me." Caramel said as he sat down of the couch.
"I'm not jumping into conclusions. I think Chairman Flim will give us a scolding." Harshwhinny said.
"It's not in his nature to think--" Caramel then got a phone call and in just seconds, he said: "It's Chairman Flim."
Harshwhinny gestured her hand to him to call Flim. Caramel was nervous, but immediately accepted the call.
"Yes, sir." Caramel spoke. "We'll file a claim for compensation. Yes, pardon? Yes. I see. Then, I'll be there in by noon with Ms. Harshwhinny. Yes--" he paused when the call ended. "He hung up."
"And I finally meeting him? I should get ready." Harshwhinny said.
"Get what ready?" Caramel said.
"My "secret crystal ball" that gives me all .the answers" she said, holdinga grape in her fingers. She put the grape in Caramel's mouth. She left for the door, and Caramel couldn't help but blush.
Caramel chuckled. "What was that? Harshwhinny, I mean, Ms. Harshwhinny! That was hot!"
Meanwhile, Neighsay ans Caballeron went to somewhere near where the incident had taken place.
"I'm on my way."
"The fire's investigation is not over yet!" Caballeron said, rushing to the investigators. "How can the case be closed?"
"Gosh." one of the investigators said.
"We found enough evidence at our initial inspection." one of the investigators said.
"You must check if this was arson with the NFS!" Caballeron yelled.
"We have no evidence that it was. Stop getting in our way." one of the investigators said.
"I'm not getting in your way!"
"I warned you."
"Warned me what?" Caballeron said. "I'm asking about the protocol!"
"Come on. Stop it!"
"Let go of me!"
Neighsay was watching the argument, then he turned to his left, and there were two stallions in the highway.
"Hey!" Neighsay yelled, rushing to them. "Don't lay a finger on him."
"Who are you?" the investigator asked.
Caballeron slammed his suitcase to the ground. "If you don't follow the protocol, I'll camp out here."
"Let's go." Neighsay said.
"Suit yourself." the investigator said.
"Let go of me!" Caballeron said to Neighsay.
"Let's go." Neighsay repeated. "Wait. No"
"Suit yourself."
"Damn it!" Caballeron said.
"Let's go." Neighsay said.
As they were leaving, they suddenly stopped. Neighsay turned to Caballeron.
"Why won't you take my advice?" Neighsay said.
"That I should back off this case?" Caballeron said. "How can you say that when 14 creatures were burned alive!?"
"The only thing you can do now is to be angry and mourn for them. But that's not a lawyer's job." Neighsay said.
"It is for me. I will not cave in without a fight." Caballeron said.
"If you don't, you'll pay the price of it. I know that more than anyone!" Neighsay said angrily.
"As long as I can punish Babel Pharmaceuticals, I can give my life." Caballeron said, as he quickly took the suitcase Neighsay was holding. Neighsay rushed to him furiously.
"Why are you being so reckless!?" Neighsay shouted in anger.
"Because I was destined for this." Caballeron said. "Even though I know that the game has been rigged, I must give it my all to beat them. That's my fate. Smart people may rule the world, but reckless and and stubborn creatures lile me protect this world."
Caballeron then left with the suitcase. Neighsay knew he took his anger too far. He just stood there, with his anger descending from his face.
At noon, Harshwhinny, Caramel, and Flim meet up in a restaurant. As they were eating, Harshwhinny saw that Flim was taking off the toppings he didn't want from his ordered food. Harshwhinny then took a sip in her drink.
"Don't worry about the money. Make sure the bereaved families are compensated." Flim said
"Yes, sir. We will." Caramel said.
"Gosh, my villa." Flim said. "I used a lot of good materials for the villa. Come on!" Look at the trouble we're in because of one researcher."
"I'm sorry. We'll work harder." Caramel said. "Oh, right. Thank you for giving us a scolding with the villa incident."
"What? That wasn't a scolding. I was just blowing off steam." Flim said. "Anyway, can't you really find the researcher that ran away?"
"We'll find him in a few hours." Harshwhinny said.
"Apparently, Ms. Harshwhinny has a magic crystal ball." Caramel chuckled
"A magic crystal ball? A magic crystal ball!?" Flim said in confusuion.
"It's just something I have." Harshwhinny said.
"Ms. Harshwhinny, I recruited you to Wingtip, so tell me anything you want. I'll get it for you." Flim said.
"In that case, buy me the Canterlot Prosecutors' Office." Harshwhinny said.
Flim stopped drinking when he heard what she want. "Buy you what? What's that?"
Caramel was about to answer when Harshwhinny got first.
"I'm talking about the Canterlot Prosecution Office." Harshwhinny said.
"I see." Flim saud with a smile. "That's...How can I buy that for you? Is that on the market?"
Harshwhinny and Caramel sat silent for a moment and when Flim turned to Caramel, Caramel started wheezing a laughing.
"Gosh, isn't he so funny!?" Caramel laughed. "He asked if that was on the market!" he laughed once more, and the other two started smiling. "Is the listing based on rent or deposit!?"
Later on, Harshwhinny and Caramel stood upstairs, seeing Flim go.
"Mr. Caramel, you're such a bad judge of character." Harshwhinny said.
"What do you mean?" Caramel said.
"Do you really believe that punk's the head of Babel Group?" Harshwhinny said.
Caramel chuckled. "He's young and wild. So he's not the typical chairman we're used to."
"He's slow, can't grasp the situations, and act pretentious." Harshwhinny said.
"Gosh, what is it this time? What's the problem now." Caramel said.
"Never mind. It's nothing." Harshwhinny said, as she turned around.
"Goodness." Caramel said, walking with her. As they were walking, Harshwhinny heard a ring inside her coat.
"Damn it." Harshwhinny said, looking at her phone. "It's my magic crystal ball. We found the runaway researcher." Harshwhinny said. Caramel then shrieked very loud, that one of the workers in the area jumped in surprise.
"I knew you could do it! Ms. Harshwhinny! No, Harshwhinny!" Caramel said in happiness. He then hugged her.
"Get off me!" Harshwhinny said with a smile. "But this is too bad. The researcher and Caballeron have already talked."
"What?" Caramel said in shock.
Meanwhile, Caballeron was sitting in seat in the rooftop. He throws a cigarette into the trash can. He then got a call, and it was labeled "RDU". He accepted the call. "Yes, Mr. Countdown."
"I will...testify." Final Countdown said in the phone. Caballeron got shocked at his answer. "When I saw how my colleagues got murdered at the villa, it made me think that I could end up like them. So, I've decided to reveal the truth before that happens to me."
Caballeron then stood up. "I'm glad to hear that. Yes. I will go and get you tomorrow morning. Yes. See you tomorrow. Okay.". As soon as the call ended, Caballeron had a great smile in his face.
Meanwhile, Neighsay just went in the plaza. He heard familiar voices again.
"See? It worked."
"That was legendary."
"Exactly!"
"I'm your boss now."
"Of course."
"Go ahead."
"All right."
"Don't move. Bring it closer."
"Come on."
"Should I teach it to the guys?"
"Of course. We can't be the only ones."
"Let me see. It worked before.
Neighsay got down and saw the same stallions who smoked. The snack bar owner will not be happy to see this.
In just one stomp, the two delinquents ran away.
"What am I doing here? This is stupid. Why am I doing this?"
He then got into the plaza, and went in front of thw window.
"Yes. I shouldn't be distracted anymore."
"Let's wrap this up quickly and leave. Well, we bought some time, but we can't keep delaying the demolition with parties." Neighsay said, in front of the tenants in the dance studio.
"Right."
"That's right." Cheese said, slamming his hoof to the ground. He stood up next to Neighsay. "Now, it's time for us to duke it out with them. There must be blood from both--"
"It won't involve blood." Neighsay said, moving to the side from behind him. "I would like to make a better suggestion for you."
Cheese then politely sat back down.
"I'm planning to purchase a mall in the neighborhood area. And I will relocate you guys there." Neighsay said.
"What?"
"What?"
"What do you mean? You'll relocate us?" the dry cleaner said.
"I will give you the mall free of charge." Neighsay said.
"What?" Joe said in shock.
"For free?" Cheese's wife said.
"Yes." Neighsay said.
"I don't believe it." the snack bar owner said. "Why would you do that for us?"
"Because that's the best way." Neighsay said.
"Wait." Soarin spoke, raising his wing. "There's a Western proverb that goes: "The only free cheese is in the mouse trap."
"He does have a point."
"Free things in life can be dangerous." the snack bar owner said.
"No, it's not dangerous at all. Once I purchase the building, you can just move there." Neighsay said.
"I see. Then, we don't have to do a thing. That's amazing!" Stygian said.
The tenants looked at him in a speechless expression.
"But who are you?" the piano player said.
"Right. Who are you?" Cheese's wife said.
"He's my apprentice." Joe said. "He has so much respect for my food. He's my pupil."
"I see."
"I see."
"Nice to meet you."
"Hi."
"Mr. Cassano sounds pretty genuine. Why don't we trust him?" the piano player said.
"We just met him. How do we know if he's genuine?" Soarin said.
"I think I do." the piano player said.
"Think about it." the dry cleaner said.
"Okay."
"Why would he try to con us? We have nothing." the dry cleaner said.
"We got nothing."
"Right."
"You can never see through a creature's mind." Soarin said.
"Soarin." the piano player called.
"Yes?" Soarin said.
"You keep getting dumped because you're a bad judge of character." the piano player said, and it cause one of the tenants to laugh, and Soarin laughed along, and stood up.
"I've never been dumped in my life!" Soarin exclaimed. "Because I've never dated anyone."
"Everyone." the monk called, and went in front with Neighsay. "Faith and trust are the beginning of good deeds and the path to Nirvana. Let's take this chance to execute good deeds by trusting him."
"Yes." the tenants responded.
"Thank you, sir." Neighsay said, and the monk responded with a bow, and Neighsay bowed back. "Everyone. Then, I'll take it that you accepted my offer."
Meanwhule, Harshwhinny was dancing Zumba in Caramel's office.
"One, two."
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in." Harshwhinny said. As the door opened, there walked in Tempest. Tempest saw Harshwhinny was still dancing.
"Did you ask to see me?" Tempest said.
"Yes. One, two. Sit down." Harshwhinny said, dancing to the couch, and Tempest followed with an annoyed expression. "All right." Harshwhinny said, taking a bottle of water, and sipping it. "As of today, you are off any cases that involve Babel Group."
"I can't do that." Tempest said. Harshwhinny then looked straight at her.
"This isn't coming from me. It's coming from Mr. Caramel."
"Even so, I cannot do that." Tempest responded.
"Who do you think you are? Do you think you run this law firm!?"
"I cannot comply with it because this is an order without any explanation." Tempest said, rotating her head, mocking Harshwhinny.
"Of course, there is an explanation! You're going easy on your dad!"
"I've never gone easy on him. He's my opposing counsel, not my dad." Tempest said.
Harshwhinny scoffed, massaging her hind hooves. "Of course, you say that. But family comes first, not your job. You failed to beat him in your first hearing. That's all."
Meanwhile, Caballeron had a call in the Lawist office.
"Yes. I'm telling you the truth. We have hope now." Caballeron said on the phone. "Yes. Just trust me." he chuckled. While calling, Neighsay entered his office. "Sure."
As Neighsay sat down with Grubber in the table, Grubber spoke.
"I have no idea what's going on with him. But he's in a good mood all of a sudden." Grubber said.
"All of a sudden?" Neighsay asked.
"Yes."
"I'll call you again tomorrow night. Okay. Okay." Caballeron said. As he ended the call, he approached to Neighsay.
"Mr. Cassano. Did you have lunch yet?" Caballeron said.
"Not yet." Neighsay responded.
"Order him something." Caballeron told Grubber.
"Shall I!?" Grubber said as he got off his seat.
"How about we order super food salad and some drinks?" Caballeron said.
"Do you mean that!? That's a first!" Grubber exclaimed.
"Of course!"
"Hold on." Grubber said. Then, Tempest barged in from the door.
She slammed her purse in Grubber's bike and the first thing Tempest said was: "You and I need to talk, Mr. Caballeron."
"She said "Mr. Caballeron". It's a red alert, so I'll evacuate." Grubber said, removing his coat, and going out to the door. Neighsay just stayed along with Caballeron and Tempest.
Grubber tried gesture his claw to tell Neighsay something.
"I can understand that you don't want to help me. Then at least, don't ruin my future." Tempest said.
"When did I ruin your future?" Caballeron said. Meanwhile, Grubber opened a window that was beside the entrance, and Neighsay noticed it him. Grubber gestured him to sneak out, and Neighsay nodded.
"Thanks to you, I'm about to lose my ground at work." Tempest said. "I'm going from being a top dog to a mutt!"
Neighsay was about to use the door he always use, but it got blocked when Caballeron moved.
"Right. You got what you deserved." Caballeron said.
"You're a stallion of conscience!" Tempest said. "Wht won't you accept our values are different?"
Neighsay was going to his direction, until he banged and stubbed his hind leg in one of the furniture. Neighsay hopped with his other a in pain as he seethed.
"It's not about being different. It's about what's right and wrong." Caballeron said. Caballeron nearly approached to Neighsay. That moment, Tempest grunted loudly, which made Neighsay's shoulders rose up. Grubber quickly closed the window knowing how upset and disappointed Tempest is.
Caballeron turned to her.
"As I always have..." Tempest said. "...I'll say some hurtful things.". She then turned to Caballeron in a serious face. "If you lived a righteous life, why did you let Mom die like that!?"
Caballeron then approached to her angrily.
"You were so busy taking care of others, you let her die alone on the table!" Tempest said.
"I told you to stop bringing it up." Caballeron said.
"No. I will bring this up as long as I'm alive! The fact that you made Mom and my life miserable. " Tempest said.
Caballeron pushed her and shout: "Get out!". It shocked Neighsay, and he kept hopping on one of his hooves.
"Do you even feel guilty when I bring her up?" Tempest said. "You'd jump into fire to save others, but why did you neglect her like that!?"
"I don't want to hear it." Caballeron said. "Leave."
"You can save a lot of creatures from injustice. But you will never be forgiven for letting her die like that." Tempest said, as she grabbed her purse. Caballeron tried to get her attention, but she left.
Neighsay kept hopping from pain, and accidentally bumped into a pole and knocked over a metal vase. Caballeron turned to him.
"I'm sorry." Neighsay said.
"It's okay." Caballeron responded. "Sorry about that. You saw the ugly side of my family."
"No, I'm sorry-" Neighsay said, massaging his hind hoof.
"It's okay." Caballeron said. Neighsay then yelped from the pain. Well, sounds like sobbing.
Meanwhile, that night, Tempest was comfort drinking ina convenience store outside. She grunted so much because of her father.
"Damn it! How can he not apologize!?" she said. She sighed and kept drinking. Neighsay was taking a walk and noticed Tempest sitting in the table. Tempest also noticed him, but didn't bother him. Neighsay then entered the convenience store.
That moment when Neighsay entered, Tempest noticed that it was raining. As Neighsay was in the cashier, he noticed Tempest comfort eating and her expression. He went out and approached Tempest. As he put his drink next to her, that was the time.
"What is it?" Tempest said in annoyance.
"Couldn't you have been more mature?" Neighsay said.
"What!?"
"Earlier, you didn't sound like a hotshot lawyer, but a spoiled brat like the mare in the photos." Neighsay said.
"Don't play dirty. Why bring up my humiliating past!?" Tempest said.
"All the criticisms children give their parents will come as regrets." Neighsay said, as he looked down at her. "Don't do something you'll regret. Regret is the most painful thing in life."
That moment, Tempest realized something.
"He and I will drink at his regular spot. Come if you want to." Neighsay said. Tempest then looked at him. "You don't have to apologize. You can just join us." Neighsay said as he walked out in the rain.
"Gosh. "Apologize"?" Tempest said. "As if."
Meanwhile, Harshwhinny is eating her dinner inside Caramel's office all by herself as thunder crashes. She got her phone and called somone labeled "CRYSTAL BALL".
"Hey." she said in the phone. "You can start now.". When the phone responded, she said with wicked eyes: "No. Both of them.". Who is she referring to as "both of them"?
Meanwhile, Neighsay and Caballeron were at a restaurant. As Neighsay out food in their table, Caballeron respond.
"I'd stay strong, but days like this get to me. I mean, when these jerks torture my girl. No matter how much I scold her, she's my precious little girl. How could they?" Caballeron said.
"She'll get through it. Ms. Tempest is strong." Neighsay said, pouring the drink into Caballeron's glass.
"Aren't you truly the strong one?" Caballeron said. Neighsay looked at him in confusuion.
"I'm not that strong or good, for that matter." Neighsay said.
"Weak creatures don't go to their moms' trials if they were abandoned." Caballeron said.
"I only went to see how miserable she was." Neighsay said.
"Do you mean that?" Caballeron said.
Neighsay turned to him after drinking from his glass. "Yes. Don't give Ms. Tempest a reason to check how miserable you are."
"You're telling me to stop fighting Babel because I'll be miserable. I will keep fighting them. And I have more power to fight." Caballeron said.
"And that power will put you in more danger, won't it?" Neighsay said. "I don't like that you're the only one exposed to all those risks. I want you to take the coward's way out this time."
"For me, running away isn't the coward's way out. It's putting other people in danger. Okay?" Caballeron said.
Meanwhile, Tempest was still comfort eating in the table outside of the convenience store.
"I'm not going there to see my dad. I'm going to the restaurant to eat tofu with sauce and an assortment of daisy sandwiches." Tempest said. She then stood up and grabbed her jacket. As she was putting it on, the convenience store clerk came out from the door.
"Excuse me." the clerk said, holding an umbrella. "It's for you."
"What's that?" Tempest asked.
"The stallion you talked to earlier told me to give this to you." the clerk answered.
Tempest then slowly tooked the umbrella and thnaked the clerk.
"What?" Tempest said with curiosity. And that moment, her face slowly brightened. Her face even brightened more when the umbrella opened. She then walked with the umbrella swirling above her head.
Meanwhile, Final Countdown was in his computer, and writing down notes in his notebook. Then suddenly, there was a knock in the door. Final Countdown gulped nervously.
"Who is it?" he said. The door did not respond, so he had to call again. "Who is it?"
"We're from the police." someone responded.
"What's this about?" Final Countdown said.
"We're doing an inspection. A murder suspect was seen around here. We just need to check your identification." someone responded.
Final Countdown was nervous. Who would come there in that time at night? Final Countdown then went towards the door, and carefully opened it with the sliding chain lock still attached.
"I ask for your cooperation. Could you open the door?" the stallion said.
"You don't have a Canterlot accent." Final Countdown said.
"Right. I'm from Manehattan." the stallion said.
"I see. Hold on." Final Countdown said. As he closed the door, he quickly ran to his bag and packed his things.
"Open it quickly! I'm busy today!" the stallion said from the door.
"Okay! Wait!" Final Countdown responded. Suddenly the door got cracked by a sharp object. It kept cracking by the police. To Final's surprise, the criminal was along with the police, helping him. As the door is cracked open for the two stallions, Final Countdown rushed to the window and jumped out.
"Damn it!" the police said. They both jumped out as well, chasin Final Countdown. Final Countdown kept running in the rain and wet road. Final Countdown rushed to a boat nearby, and hid inside it. He got his phone and dialed Caballeron's number.
Meanwhile, Neighsay was in the table while Caballeron approached to him with drinks.
"Here's a thing. Jackie Chan." Caballeron said, putting the drinks in their table. "I love his movies. Why?" he said, as he imitate his punches and moves. "He wins not because he's a master of martial arts, but because he never gives up. Even if he messes up, he tries again for 10 or 100 times. He keeps trying until he gets it right!" he said as he makes noises in his punching, and laughed after.
Neighsay smiled at his moves.
"I'm going for a smoke." Caballeron said. Then kept punching and laughing. "Goodness. It's pouring." he said, as he walked out with his cigarette.
While inside, Neighsay saw that Caballeron's phone was ringing, and the call was labeled "RDU". Neighsay paused when he saw the call. He then slowly turned to Caballeron, who is smoking outside. He recognized RDU, because it was named from one of Babel's drugs, RDU-90, and he still remember the document he read "RDU-90, KEY CHARACTERISTICS".
Meanwhile, outside, Caballeron was looking at the raining sky, and a stallion approached to him.
"Sir, can I have a cigarette?" the stallion asked.
"Sure." Caballeron said, reaching at his pocket. "Here you go."
As the stallion put it in his mouth, he asked for the light.
"The light? Here." Caballeron said.
The stallion looked up at Caballeron.
"Enjoy." Caballeron said.
"Thank you." the stallion said. Then the stallion turned to him without Caballeron noticing. This might mean something...
Meanwhile, Neighsay was curious about the call. He sneaked and grabbed the phone. He tried to press the calling button, but nothing occured. Neighsay then put Caballeron's phone back in the right place, in the same orientation.
Meanwhile, Final Countdown has his hind hoof bleeding. He tried to call Caballeron, and the phone responded: "The number you dialed dialed is..."
Final Countdown panicked and kept calling him. Suddenly, there was a knock in the boat's window. Final Countdown nervously turned and saw the same police, and they went in to harm Final Countdown. Later on, Final Countdown's phone landed on the ground...with blood. Someone stopped the call to avoid getting caught.
Meanwhile, Caballeron entered back inside. "Goodness. It's pouring.".
"Mr. Caballeron." Neighsay responded. "Are you hiding something from me?"
"I am." Caballeron said. "My sincerity which no one knows about." he said. Then he spoke something in Italian. Then he translated it in English.
""It takes a devil to drive out another devil."" Caballeron translated. "That the only Italian proverb I know." he chuckled. "Remember what I told you? Only monsters can beat monsters. But I can't be a monster. I wish a real monster would appear and deal with all these evil creatures, whether it's legal or not. But that's not possible in life."
He then turned to Neighsay. "Mr. Cassano. You can't be that monster, right?"
Neighsay just stared at him without any expression. "Someone has been calling you." Neighsay said.
"What? Who?" Caballeron said.
"RDU." Neighsay responded. "RDU-90. Isn't that the researcher?"
Caballeron then tried calling him again. Suddenly a supply truck plows through the restaurant entrance. It was sudden sequence, and Neighsay and Caballeron went crashing to the floor.
Neighsay was bleeding in his head since he bumped his head very hard against the floor. He saw Caballeron far away, near the supply truck. Caballeron was bleeding a lot more than Neighsay. Neighsay kept looking at Caballeron, took his breath out and looked at him with squinting eyes, until they were shut.
Things are not looking good for the two.
NEIGHSAY
Author's Note
To watch the actual episode, click here
NEIGHSAY
"Somone has been calling you." Neighsay said.
"What? Who?" Caballeron asked. As Caballeron got his phone, Neighsay responded.
"RDU. RDU-90." Neighsay said. "Isn't that the researcher?"
Caballeron started to panic and immediately called Final Countdown. While he was calling, a supply truck plow through the entrance that Neighsay and Caballeron were in. It all happened so fast, that they didn't noticed. The glass shattered as they both crash to the ground. Neighsay went landing along with the glass, hitting his head very hard, causing him to bleed.
Neighsay still had enough consciousness to see Caballeron. Caballeron was near the suplly truck and was bleeding harder than Neighsay. Neighsay slowly squinted his eyes until they were shut. A lot of ponies and creatures gathered around the accident, and one of them was Tempest. Tempest passed through the crowd, and her confusion turned into shock.
Tempest saw one of the bodies lying on the floor, bleeding. The driver of the supply truck was revealed to be the stallion who asked Caballeron for cigarette. Tempest dropped the umbrella Neighsay gave her, and looked at the stallions in shock. Though it was raining, Tempest slowly walked inside of the restaurant. She was too shocked for tears, seeing her father bleeding.
Neighsay and Caballeron were immediately rushed to the hospital. Neighsay's blood stained the hospital bed's pillow. As he was rushed, one of the doctors put and oxygen mask in his face, hoping he would survive. Neighsay was bleeding from head, also staining his neck. Neighsay was not moving, eyes are completely shut, and no movements detected.
And for Caballeron, he was dead on arival. He was rushed to the morgue immediately. That night was the last time he had his last drink. Tempest went to him in a black attire, sobbing.
"Dad." Tempest sobbed. "Dad!". She continued crying in front of his deathbed. Neighsay was right. Regret is the painful thing in life. "Dad! No..." she continued. "Dad...".
Meanwhile, Neighsay was in the ICU, in a coma. An oxygen was once again placed, and monitor beside him, detecting his heart beat.
Later on, Tempest codly walked in the hallway. She then saw a crowd of creatures gathering in front a screen, showing the news, and it was showing the late Caballeron's Lawist Office in the Counter Plaza.
"Caballeron, a civil rights lawyer, passed away due to an accident in Canterlot. He was revealed to have violated the attorneys-at-law act and of committing subornation of perjury, shocking the public. Caballeron was a civil rights lawyer who had defended the Babel Pharmaceuticals' victims and had given voice for the weak. Due to this accident, however, his true face was revealed. While undergoing the recent trial, Caballeron demanded money and bribed those who were involved. He also convinced Desert Wind, a delivery pony, to commit perjury." the news reporter said live.
Tempest was too shocked for tears.
"He had been under investigation after violatiing the attorneys-at-law act. This news has shocked the victims and many others who revered him as a civil rights activist."
Meanwhile, Harshwhinny celebrated Caballeron's death by more Zumba dancing, and the tenants of Counter Plaza mourned him in front of the Lawist Law Firm's entrance. Most of the tenants silently cried while the rest looked dead inside. Grubber passed by with a blue face, and leans his head at the entrance, as he cries.
"Mr. Caballeron, I forgot...I forgot my keys." Grubber said weakly.
The Lawist Law Firm was now quiet without Caballeron. Files still piled up everytime Caballeron, Grubber and Neighsay has a discussion, and still has the desk where Caballeron's name and occupation was labeled. The table still had its pens and one thing...cigarettes. His plants sit their quietly, and his slippers were not touched. There were even a lot of notes pasted in the bulletin board.
There was a note written: "To Lawyer Caballeron, thank you for your counsel."
Two lawyers in the firm sobbed. They walked in front of the entrance and one of them even put a bouquet of flowers in the entrance.
One note in the entrance pasted says: "Thank you for being the last straw I could grab onto 10 years ago."
Meanwhile, Tempest mourned in his grave, and Flam came along to comfort her. It haw a label "Deceased Caballeron, we will cherish your memories."
Flam looked at the sad Tempest Shadow, and slowly rests his hooves in her shoulders, if she doesn't mind.
A lot more of the Lawist Law Firm's lawyers pasted notes and left bouquets in front of the firm's entrance. One of the notes their were labeled:
"I'm sorry. I love you."
"I could protect my family thanks to you."
"I will never forget you. You've taught me what hope is."
And of course, we could never forget about Neighsay. Neighsay was still alive, however, remains in a coma. Tempest watched the doctors leave after cleaning up and repairing things Neighsay needed while he was in bed.
"This is the medical report. Babel Pharmaceuticals' new drug, RDU-90, has been approved and will be released soon. RDU-90 is considered a perfect painkiller due to its lack of side effects and lasting effects. A lawsuit regarding the death of one of its test subjects had been filed, but it has been confirmed that it wasn't directly related to the drug." the news reporter said.
More notes were pasted in the Lawist Law Firm, such as:
"Thank you. I won't forget about you."
"I don't believe what they're saying about you."
"The rice soup you bought me was the best meal I had."
"Rest in peace."
"You were my one and only family and friend."
"Thank you for helping. Your death will not be in vain."
"I could get out of that long dark tunnel thanks to you."
EPISODE 4
While Tempest was cleaning up Caballeron's place, she saw some pictures tucked in the mirror. She got them with her hands, and what she was seeing is what she called her "embarrassing past". One photo was her toddler self playing on the swings and Caballeron was beside her, smiling in the photo, and the photos might be taken by someone or her parents. Another was her toddler self again, and her late parents, carrying her in an azotea.
Another photo was her as toddler again, carrying possibly her previous toys or treats. Another was her in high school, and the same photo Neighsay saw as he walked in one time. Another was her fishing. She was holding the fish she caught as stated in the photo. When she flipped the photo, there was Caballeron's handwriting, stated: "Tempest's first time fishing. She was good but never wanted to do it again."
Tempest started to cry, looking at the photos. She then took another one. This was a photo from her high school days. She was weating a tuxedo-like clothing and was holding a bouquet. She flipped the photo, seeing Caballeron's writing, written: "High school graduation. She didn't want flowers. Had four servings of ribs by herself. February 20, 2008."
Another photo she took out was her adult self and Caballeron one ruler apart from her. There was a banner behing them, printed: "4th Judicial Trainees' Graduation Ceremony.". One tear slowly came out, and moved down from her cheeks. She flipped the photo, seeing once again Caballeron's writing. It was written: "January 12, 2014. Graduated from the training institute. My dear beloved daughter, Tempest. I hope you won't become an awful lawyer like me. I love you, Tempest."
That writing proved he was sincere, hitting Tempest's chest. She cried harder, reading the message. She flipped the photo again, to look at her father. Caressing his cheek in the photo just made her sob harder.
Later on, Final Countdown's body swifted in the waves. Was he moving or are just the waves pushing him? Two stallions saw him and immediately ran to the body.
Meanwhile in the closed Law Firm Lawist, Tempest was sitting at Caballeron's spot, cleaning his desk, whuie Grubber got a water spray, watering Caballeron's plant friends.
"Blossom." Grubber spoke, as he sprayed water on Blossom's soil. "Bud." he responded, spraying its soil. "Fern. Flora. This is my first time watering you. I'll be your new dad from today on. Let's go to my..." Grubber stopped, looking at Tempest.
"Water has been leaking from an apartment in Canterlot although it has been built less than a year ago. Poor construction has been suspected as the cause." the news reported in the TV said.
"You're really closing down..." Grubber said to Tempest. Tempest turned to him. "...this law firm, right?"
"There had been issues..." the news reporter on TV said.
"Yes." Tempest said with a slight smile.
"The residents are preparing to file a lawsuit against the constructor and the company due to the water leakage, cracks on walls, and the frequent malfunctioning of the elevator."
While Tempest was cleaning up the drawers, she saw a photo of her in her trainee graduation along with her dad, and it was the same picture she saw back at his home. She slowly touched him in the photo with her bare hand.
"There has been an increasing number of complaints regarding apartments, and people have asked the government to come up with an effective solution. Next news..."
Tempest then sadly put aside the picture.
"...this morning, an unidentified male body was found in the costal waters of Canterlot."
Tempest then turned to the TV.
"The police are currently trying to identify the stallion..."
Meanwhile, Cheese walked in with a slight blue face in Soarin's dance studio, and the other tenants were inside as well.
"They've decided...to close the law firm." Cheese said, walking in to the side.
"You seem quite despondent." the dry cleaner said.
"Damn it. I haven't done anything for him." Cheese said, sitting along with his wife.
"What could you have done!?" his wife said. "Were you going to beat up those bastards!?"
"Why not? I could have if I wanted!" Cheese said.
"Then who will take care of our plaza's issue?" the snack bar owner said.
"Didn't Mr. Cassano say he'd buy a building and let us move there?" the dry cleaner said.
"Do you actually believe him?" Cheese's wife responded.
"I wonder how he's doing." the piano player said. "They said he'd wake up in a week."
"He has been unconscious for 9 days and 13 hours." Stygian spoked.
"Mr. Stygian." Joe spoke. "Why would you count the days he's been hospitalized?"
"I just enjoy counting time. One hour, two hours..." Stygian said.
"I also don't believe that he'll move us to another building. I think he was just bluffing." Soarin said.
"Bluffing?" the piano player said. "He's not the type to bluff."
"You're wrong. He bluffs quite a bit." Joe said. "He criticizes my dishes as if he was a connoisseur."
"He's been in an huge accident. He must hate this area now. So he'll probably return to Trottingham." the snack bar owner said.
"You're right-" Soarin said, flexing at bending in the bars. "He has no time to think about other creatures like us."
"Did you know!?" Stygian yelled, as he stood up from his seat. "Mr. Cassano installed electric pads at the temple for the monks!"
The dry cleaner looked shock, and turned to the monk, who nodded at him.
"He also taught some boys who were smoking around here a lesson!" Stygian spoke.
"Goodness! Really!?" the piano player said.
"I believe you're making him out to be more selfish than he is." Stygian said.
"That's how I feel."
Meanwhile, Tempest was in Neighsay's hospital room, sitting beside his body.
"It's been ten days..." Tempest spoke. "...since dad passed away...". Would Neighsay even listen to her voice? "The media has painted him as a crooked lawyer. I've closed down law firm Lawist today. But I have yet to find closure. I don't believe it was a mere freak accident. So I wanted to do something about this. But I have no evidence. I don't know where to start." She said, wiping her tears with an upset face and sniffed.
"I must be crazy." Tempest said. "I said I wouldn't cry. Don't be an idiot." she said to herself. "Get up, and say something already...I'm so frustrated!" Tempest said to the sleeping Neighsay. "I'm paying for this private room and your hospital bills just to hear your story." she said as she sobbed in front of Neighsay. "Do you even know how much it costs!?"
"Then let's go to the bank first." Neighsay spoke, lying down with his eyes still shut.
"Just wire it to me." Tempest said. Then Tempest realized something. Did Neighsay just spoke? Did he listened to the crack of her sadness and drama? Neighsay then slowly opened his eyes, and quickly rose up his head and chest, and moved his head, as he removed the wires detecting his heartbeat, as if he woke up from a short nap.
"You woke up so randomly." Tempest said. "What is going on?"
He then streched his arms and turned to her. "Let's go." he said, as he almost got off in bed, but Tempest stopped him.
"Where do you think you're going? We need to see if you're alright!" Tempest said, sitting her hands in his shoulders. "Let's check for any numbness or cognitive disorder." she said, moving her hand to his forehead, and the other, gently patting his cheek. Neighsay then dragged her hands away with his.
"The numbness subsided last night." Neighsay said.
"You woke up last night!?"
"I remembered everything." Neighsay said, then got his face close to hers. "And I recognize you, so I'm fine, aren't I?" he said as he walked to the exit normally. Tempest then gasped.
"Then did you hear me cry just now!?" Tempest said.
"You didn't sound like an idiot at all,..." he said as he turned to her. "...so don't worry." he said with a smile. He walked off, near to the exit.
"Hey!" Tempest shouted, rushing to him. "Why didn't he tell me that he was awake?"
Later on, they went to the grave site. Tempest sat far away from Neighsay, who was holding a bouquet of flowers and wearing a black attire. He stood there, in front of Caballeron's stone and put the bouquet near it. Neighsay noticed that Tempest had put a picture of her and Caballeron at her trainee graduation. He then looked at Caballeron's smiling picture, that was printed beside his name.
Neighsay remembered that one time before Caballeron passed away...
In flashback
"What are you looking at?" asked Neighsay.
"I sent this to my daughter recently as a wake-up call." Caballeron said, lending the piece of paper to Neighsay. It was the file of relinquishment of parental rights, meaning that one time when Caballeron disowned her. "She'd become an incredible lawyer if only she could think straight." Caballeron chuckled, and Neighsay did as well.
"Times have changed." Caballeron said. "Earnest, upright, and old-fashioned lawyers like me can never beat the creatures who are corrupt. You need someone...who's strong and brazen. Tempest fits that criteria perfectly." he chuckled.
"Then you shouldn've told her so yourself." Neighsay said.
"She would never listen to me. Maybe later, when the time's right." Caballeron said. "If I don't get the chance to tell her, you should do it for me."
Present...
Neighsay remembered that time. He then turned to Tempest, who was sitting alone in a row of graves
Later on as they leave, they trot in the hallway, and as always, Neighsay got his lighter and fiddles it, opening and closing it, causing a bling sound.
"Why do you carry around that lighter when you don't smoke?" Tempest said to Neighsay, who was trotting along with her.
"Because the sound helps me focus and calm down." Neighsay replied. "What's your plan?"
"Something smells fishy." Tempest said. "I'm going to look into the accident and the driver again."
"It's all over." Neighsay said.
"I'm aware of that." Tempest said. "I just want to double check." she said as she continued walking, leaving Neighsay.
"Why?" Neighsay said. This word caused Tempest to stop. "Is this your way of paying your father back?"
Tempest then turned to him. "That's not it. I may discover something new." she calmly said.
"Until two weeks ago, you were his enemy. But not anymore?" Neighsay said, walking towards her. "You should've done that sooner."
"Are head injuries known...to make people rude?" Tempest said.
"Anyway, don't do anything. Nothing will change." Neighsay said.
"How can you say that to a bereaved family member?" Tempest said.
"I've always wanted to tell you this." Neighsay said. "Goodbye." he said as he trotted, leaving Tempest behind this time.
Later on, Tempest was driving her car.
"I'm so dumbfounded." she said. "How dare he make me out to be a horrible daughter?"
"...a countmeasure is said to be in the works. Next news, the unidentified body found in Canterlot this morning turned out to be a researcher from a pharmaceutical company. The police have notified the family members of his death and..."
Hearing the news, Tempest then stopped her car and immediately grabbed her phone, turning on the news.
"Final Countdown, a researcher, sent his will to his company through a scheduled email. The police believed it was suicide. The company has been interrogating him for siphoning pharmaceutical ingredients, putting the victime under stress. The police believed he committed suicide due to the pressure. The police will hand over his will to his family, and investigate the incident more throughly. It's Pearl Shine from CN News."
After hearing the news, she dialed someone's number. "Detective Braeburn. There's a pressing matter you must look into right now."
Meanwhile, the tenants gathered along with Grubber.
"Mr. Grubber. I'll be your bodyguard and do chores around the office for you." Cheese said. "Please don't close it down."
"We can't the place for long. Our registration will expire soon." Grubber said.
"If this is about money, sell everything you have to my pawnshop." Cheese said. "I'll give you a good price."
"Don't be ridiculous. We have no money." Cheese's wife said, patting his shoulder.
"Well..."
"Gosh..."
As Neighsay took the stairs and wanted to walk to them, the piano player noticed him.
"Sir!" the piano player shouted.
"What!?"
"Sir! You're back!" Grubber said.
"Mr. Cassano!"
"Sir!"
Suddenly, the snack bar owner blocked his way. "I was worried." she said with a smile.
"Thank you." Neighsay said.
"You look better than I thought you'd be." Cheese said.
"Well, then." Neighsay muttered.
"Wait." Cheese's wife spoke. "About what you said about helping us move to another building..."
"Let's talk about it next time." Neighsay said. "I need some rest."
"But..." Cheese's wife said.
"By "talk about it next time"..." Soarin said, before Neighsay could trot. "...do you mean you'll reconsider it?"
Neighsay sighed. "I mean we should talk about it again next time." before Neighsay could leave, the dry cleaner responded.
"Did you change your mind?" the dry cleaner said.
"Aren't Trottinghamians known for being punctual and keeping their promises?" Joe trembled. "Aren't they?"
"You can't do that. We've put our trust in you." the snack bar owner said.
"We have nothing." Cheese's wife said. "You shouldn't confuse creatures like us."
"You're right."
"Right."
"Come on, now."
"Let's go in."
"We need food on our table!"
"I told you, didn't I?"
"This can't be."
"This is unfair."
"I knew it."
"Why won't he tell us!?"
"He can't do that."
Because of the noise the tenants made, Neighsay snapped.
"Listen!" Neighsay shouted angrily, causing the tenants to pause. "Don't you think you're being rude!? You're receiving free help from me, and all you can do is suspect me and complain!?"
"Is it because we didn't pay him?" the dry cleaner said.
"What I mean is, you should at least have an ounce of faith!" Neighsay yelled.
"Since we've been betrayed so many times, it's not easy for us to trust anyone." the snack bar owner said.
"You should walk in our shoes for once." Soarin said.
"Keep this up, and I'll have no desire to keep my promise." Neighsay said.
"So you're going back on your words." Cheese's wife said in anger.
"That's not what he meant!" Cheese said. "Damn it! I'm so frustrated!"
"If you keep being wishy-washy, we won't be able to trust you!" the snack bar owner said.
Neighsay then turned to them. "Fine. If you can't trust me, you should look for another lawyer."
"But..."
"What a wonderful sight!" Starstreak said, who came out unexpectedly with his henchstallions. Grubber and the tenants were shocked to see them.
"It is, isn't it?"
Grubber and the tenants went further away and back from Neighsay.
"Goodness. I came here you could be making Molotov cocktails together." Starstreak said. "I love how you've fallen apart." Starstreak said as he wickedly cackled along with his henchstallions. "This was exactly what I was hoping to see. Let's see. That geezer of a lawyer is dead now. And they've ousted the Trottinghamian lawyer. All right, then. Let's talk compensation, shall we? I'll be generous." Starstreak said, clapping his hands.
"Generous, my foot. He's not running a charity." Cheese said.
"I can hear you!" one of Starstreak's stallions said. "Isn't it too hot for a beanie? Your face is like a heat wave. Your face suffocates me." he said as the henchstallions cackled.
"Then is your face the rainy season!? It's so dark and gloomy." Cheese said.
"What!? What did you just say!?" one of Starstreak's stallions said. Before he was gonna rush and beat him, Neighsay stopped him by his strong arm.
"Cut the nonsense and leave." Neighsay said, pushing the stallion back.
"How obnoxious. This doesn't involve you. Stop trying to act cool." Starstreak said.
"How do we negotiate with you?" Soarin said, raising his wing.
"Soarin?"
"We should at least discuss it." Soarin said.
"Come to my office with your seal, and we'll get it all sorted out at once." Starstreak cackled.
Neighsay sighed and passed through their side, simply, with a smirk.
"Hey, Mr. Trottinghamian Lawyer." Starstreak said. This caused Neighsay to pause. "What did you do to Mr. Opulence that he's acting all scared?"
"What's it to you?" Neighsay said.
"You little bastard!" one of his henchstallions said. "Your bluffing is on another level!"
"Shut up. Adults are trying to talk here." Starstreak said.
"He's being way obnoxious. I couldn't help it." Starstreak's henchstallion said. "I'm sorry."
Starstreak then turned to Neighsay. "Listen carefully."
Neighsay then turned to him.
"The day we demolish this place and pour our first cement, you will be under it." Starstreak said.
Neighsay then turned to the tenants then back to Starstreak, with a smirk. "Then you'll be there with me, since I enjoy creature's company." he said, giving Starstreak the tiniest little slap as he leaves.
Instead of pain, Starstreak and his henchstallions just cackled like hyenas.
"Why you..." Starstreak cackled.
Though it was the lightest slap, the tenants look amused.
"He hit him!"
"He got hit!"
"He hit him!"
"He slapped his face!"
"I swear he has a few screws loose. He's not scared of anything." Starstreak said to the tenants as he cackled. "It's all over now. I'm not this generous usually." he said as he walked towards the tenants.
"Hurry up and go!"
"Let's go."
The tenants scattered, but Soarin and Cheese were caught by Starstreak.
"All right. You first, Soarin." Starstreak said, grabbing him. "You can use your handprint as well."
"Well..."
"Let's go right away."
"What about an unofficial seal?"
"That's fine too."
Later on, Tempest went to the Wingtip Law Firm, with letter in her bag.
"Your guess was correct. It was Final Countdown the researcher of Babel, who died."
The lawyers saw Tempest and were shocked to see her.
"Tempest..."
"Tempest!" Flam called, but Tempest ignored it and continued going to Caramel's office.
As she went in to his office without a knock, Caramel turned to her.
"Hey, Tempest." Caramel said. "Weren't you coming back tomorrow?"
Tempest then grabbed the letter from her bag and slammed it into his desk. It was labeled: "LETTER OF RESIGNATION". She won't be Wingtip's top dog?
As Caramel saw those words, he turned to her in shock. "Why?"
"Mr. Final Countdown, the researcher, and my father passed away. Was it a coincidence?" Tempest said.
"What do you mean?" Caramel said.
"Did Babel Pharmaceuticals scheme this along with Wingtip? Without my knowing." Tempest said. When she went to the word "without", her smiling face turned into a serious one.
"I know you're not really yourself right now, but such a conjecture is inexcusable." Caramel said. "Come back first."
"Please process my resignation!" Tempest said.
"Come on, Tempest, what's with you!?" Caramel yelled.
"Let her do what she wants. Let her resign." Harshwhinny said, entering the room. "There's no use keeping a hound that bites the hand that feeds." Harshwhinny said, putting some documents in Caramel's table.
"There are no bad dogs to begin with. It's mostly their owners' fault." Tempest said.
"Be honest. You planned to double-cross us, but things are awry, right?" Harshwhinny said.
Instead of a guilty face, Tempest just laughed wickedly.
"That's such a lousy story you have." Tempest chuckled.
"I was going easy on you until now, since we were a family." Harshwhinny said. "But not anyomore."
"Thank you for the encouragement." Tempest said. As she left, Caramel stood up.
"Tempest! Are you seriously leaving!? You have to return everything!" Caramel said. "Your car keys, and what about your studio apartment?"
Tempest then angrily walked up to him and slammed her car keys in his table. "Here are my car keys. I'll give you my house key after I move out." she said as she trotted off.
"Tempest..."
"Know your place." Harshwhinny said. This caused Tempest to stand still.
Harshwhinny then approached in front of Tempest and grabbed her neck. "I don't even have to lift a hand to snap your neck like a twig."
Tempest then grabbed her hand and dragged it away from her neck. "Thank you for motivating me." Tempest said, quickly trotting off. Harshwhinny just looked at her with a grin on her face.
Tempest went to her office and grabbed a box, packing up her stuff around her office. Flam then ran up to her.
"This isn't right! Hey, you're overreacting. This isn't right." Flam said.
"You're being awfully casual today." Tempest said. She walked off but Flam managed to stop her.
"That's not the issue here. Tempest!" Flam said. "No. I won't let you go." he said, streching his fore hooves, blocking the way. Tempest chuckled.
"Tell the boss..." he said, grabbing the box from her hands, and putting it in the table. "...that you made a mistake because you were grieving. And beg." he said, kneeling and his hands pressed together in front of Tempest. "Canterlites forgive you when they beg, right?"
Tempest then held his hands. "If you're too out of the line, even begging doesn't work." she said, getting the box.
"No. Still, don't go." Flam said, grabbing the box. "I'll help you with everything!" he said, raising the box with his hands, and Tempest tried to grab it.
"I..." Flam said. "I can be your spy. Like James Bond."
"Flam." Tempest responded.
"Tempest." Flam replied.
They were looking at each other for seconds. Flam did thought it was something, but Tempest immediately got the box.
"You're like glue. Move. I need to move out of my house." Tempest said, trying to push him, and leaving with the box. But Flam still blocks her way.
"No." Flam said. "Tempest. If you leave like this, I'll never see you again. Never." he said. He then stretched his arms really wide, as if he's really getting hugged. Tempest went towards his side, and limbos underneath his arms and went out of the door. That's one flexible mare.
"Tempest!" Flam shouted. "It's over for us! Over!" he angrily said.
Despite his protests, mostly to himself, he helps her move out of her Wingtip-owned studio. Tempest was in the front seat, while Flam was in an unamused face in the back of the truck, hugging a huge bag since he was in a huge pile of bags.
Both Tempest and Flam got out of the truck, and Tempest got the keys and unlocked the gate. As she entered she stood in front of the big studio apartment. Then, Flam came out and saw her. Did she need to do this?
Meanwhile, Neighsay had the radio on, listening to the news of Babel's drug approval, while drinking a glass of wine.
"The public has shown great interest in Babel Pharmaceuticals' new drug, RDU-90. Thanks to its lasting effects and the lack of side effects, it was known to be an innovative drug since it was under clinical trial. After learning about its upcoming release, many countries such as Amarica and Maremany have shown interest. Babel Pharmaceuticals is willing to do any thing with open arms, if it's pertaining to the creatures' health."
Neighsay scoffed as he went to the table and poured some wine in his empty glass and slowly sipped it.
"During the testing period, the company was involved in a lawsuit. However, after the illegal activities of the righteous civial rights lawyer were exposed, the manufacturing of RDU-90 was resumed once again. Through this incident, we were able to see clearly who was in the wrong."
After hearing the report slandering Caballeron, Neighsay's anger rose up, and he furiously throws his wine glass to the radio, turning it off and the glass breaks into tiny pieces.
He quickly went to the accident scene, and he passed by the Do-not-cross line. The sound of his shoes stepping in the shattered glass produced. He looked around, as he was Caballeron's blood in the floor, and Neighsay also saw his own blood. He summarize the scene in his thoughts. Everything happening in the scene.
The supply truck hits the entrance, which sent Caballeron and Neighsay landing on the floor brutally, and whoever drove that might be a drunk person or someone who brutally wanted to kill them both.
"How dare you...How..." he said in his thoughts in Italian.
He then kneeled in front of the blood, and called someone in his phone. "I need to ask you a favor. I keep asking you for favors."
"Goodness, don't say that." Blueblood said on the phone. "If it wasn't for you, I would have been compost in a vineyard in Trottingham. Tell me what you need."
Meanwhile, Flim walked into his bedroom. He removed his coat jacket and carried it. When he looked at his bed, he stood there frozen in terror. There was a big lump in his bed. Despite his trembling chest, Flim slowly grabbed the blanket and seeing what's unde rit, he immediately panicked and and screamed.
"Damn it! What the hell is that!?" Flim screamed.
It was a pillow, but it wasn't any normal pillow. There were many syringes poked into the pillow, and there was red liquid in it, staining his mattress.
The next day, after Harshwhinny and Caramel heard the news, they were shocked.
"Who the hell could've done that?" Harshwhinny said.
"What is certain is that it wasn't the work of some small fry." Caramel said.
"I agree." Harshwhinny said. "It's Chairman Farnum's house for Pete's sake! It's not easy to break into his room with the security system and the guards!"
Caramel then respnded. "I really don't know any opponent of ours who'd hire such experts."
"What are you doing here?" Harshwhinny turned to Flam, who was sitting in Caramel's seat.
"What?"
"Sorry."
"Oh, I'm formatting and reinstalling." Flam responded.
"The computer was damaged by a virus." Caramel said.
"Why not call the tech team?" Harshwhinny said.
"He's not good at his job, but quite tech-savvy." Caramel said.
"Right." Flam chuckled.
"Get it done and leave already!" Caramel said.
"Okay, boss." Flam nodded and went back to the business.
"My goodness." Caramel said, going back to the topic. "We nees to give Chairman Farnum something if we want to placate him."
Harshwhinny kept thinking then something came to her mind. She then smacked her hands. "How about her for the time being?"
"Who?"
"Someone who has a motive." Harshwhinny said.
Caramel might be thinking of the same thing. "Her!? Come on, that's not right. How could you?! God, you're really evil."
Later on, they called Flim and told him their beliefs.
"We believe Ms. Tempest Shadow is the most ideal suspect." Caramel responded in the phone.
"I knew it was that lawyer!" Flim yelled. "She's blaming my company for her father's death! Whatever. Pute her behind bars this instant."
Meanwhile, at the evening, Tempest was sitting in Caballeron's table alone with a plate and a glass in front of her. There was also a magazine, with Flim's picture on the page.
"All right. Keep smiling." Tempest said, getting a stick with sauce dip and drawing it in Flim's eyes as if they were tears. "Pretty soon, you'll be shedding tears of blood.". She then got her glass and made a spiral movement above his picture like a ritual and she immediately drank her glass. She filled her empty glass again and turned to a picture of her father.
"Dad." she responded. "I don't think I can be a wonderful lawyer like you. But, instead, I'll be one hell of a tenacious lawyer." she said, drinking her glass in one chug.
The next day, Grubber, Tempest and the tenants gathered in front of the Lawist Law Firm.
"I hope we get along." she said to one tenant.
"I hope we get along." Tempest said, passing the Lawist card to Joe.
"Hello." Joe responded in Italian.
She moved to the dry cleaner. "Sir, I hope we get along."
She then proceeded with the piano player. "I hope we get along. You're so beautiful."
The tenants of the other side looked confused.
Tempest moved to the next tenant. "I hope we get along."
"Okay." Cheese's wife responded.
"You're also beautiful." Tempest said.
Tempest then walked in front of the Lawist Law Firm's entrance, greeting Grubber.
"Law Firm Lawist has come back to life!" Tempest said streching her front hooves in glee.
No tenant responded, but Grubber was the only one clapping.
"Feel free to ask me to help." Tempest said.
"Does this mean we'll resume what we've been working on?" Cheese said.
"Yes. I will continue my dad's work regarding the lawsuit related to this building's tenants." Tempest said.
"Then what about Mr. Cassano?" the piano player said.
"Forget about him. He can do whatever he likes." the snack bar owner said. "We have her now. I hope we get along." she chuckled at Tempest. "Congratulations!"
Then the tenants started clapping at Tempest.
"In any case, I'll help you guys from now on."
"Word has it that you were working in opposition to your father." the dry cleaner said.
"That's all in the past. I've been born again!" Tempest said. "I will fight against corruption and injustice while obeying the rules. With warmth and benevolence! I will embrace you--"
"Ms. Tempest Shadow." a stallion responded, walking in the hallway beside Tempest.
"Hello, sir. How may I help you?" Tempest said.
"You're under arrest for trespassing and blackmail." he said, showing his police I.D..
"Let's make this easy." another stallion said, holding handcuffs.
"What do you mean!?" Tempest jumped.
"Stay still."
"Ms. Tempest!"
"What are you doing!?" Tempest said.
"Come on."
"Don't make a scene."
"No!" Tempest shouted.
"Stop."
Later on, they went on investigation.
"I've been home since 7 p.m. last night." Tempest said.
"For now, we can't verify that you went home and stayed there." the stallion said.
"Then check my phone's location during the time of incident. Then you'll be able to verify that." Tempest said.
"You could've left your phone at home and gone out." he said.
Tempest then placed an innocent smile on her face. "Are you saying I singlehandedly penetrated Chairman Farnum's security, broke into his bedroom, and put 50 syringes in his pillow? Do you think I'm Black Widow?"
Later on, Grubber went to Neighsay's house unit and told him everything.
"She was arrested?" Neighsay said.
"Yes." Grubber said. "They suddenly came and took her."
"Did she break into someone's house and threatened them?" Neighsay said.
"She did." Grubber said. Grubber's eyes then widened in shock. "How did you know that?"
"I didn't. I was just guessing." Neighsay said. He's really hiding something...
"I can't get her out. So, if you could help." Grubber said.
"She's competent enough to get out there before evening. Don't worry." Neighsay said. As he closes the door, Grubber dragged the door, using his hedgehog strength to pull.
"Wait, sir!" Grubber said. "We'd appreciate a bit of help! Please?!"
As Neighsay tried to pull his door close, he responded: "I...I have an opera to watch." he weakly said, trying to get Grubber's claws out of the door.
"What? An opera?" Grubber said.
Neighsay then succeeded closing the door, leaving Grubber behind. Grubber then banged on the door.
Neighsay was in the dark room with his TV open, and he always, was drinking a glass of wine.
"I don't need to worry about her. She'll get out on her own."
When he heard the the man singing in the lyrics "AM I EVIL" Neighsay thought...
"If I am indeed evil, it's because...of you." he said in though in Italian.
Then the next day, Tempest wasn't out. Neighsay laid down in the floor, fiddling with his lighter.
"I called the police station and things aren't looking good."
"Why can't she get out of there?" Neighsay said. "Jeez."
Then, there were two birds making some noise in his balcony. Neighsay then got up furiously, turning to the birds.
"Come on!" Neighsay yelled. "Can you please be quiet? Please?"
Meanwhile, Tempest was lying her head on the table, sleeping.
"Her records are clean, and her alibi checks out." a police officer said. "Her second-floor neighbor confirmed seeing her through the window."
"This is driving me crazy." another police said. "Wingtip already paid us. First, let's order some breakfast for her."
"Okay."
Flam got inside of the police station, looking for Tempest. He found her on the same spot. Lying her head on the table, with her eyes shut closed. He went to her area, and slowly patted her back.
"Tempest." Flam spoke.
"What?" Tempest responded. As she opened her eyes, she saw the recognizable face. "Hey."
"You should've called sooner. Wasn't I your only hope?" Flam said.
"No, you were the 57th pony I called." Tempest yawned.
"What?" Flam said.
The police officer came in, and saw Flam beside the "culprit".
"Who are you?" the police spoke.
"I'm from Law Firm Wingtip." Flam responded. "I'm Lawyer Flam."
"Why did you come here, sir?"
"I'll sue you if you've broken any rules..." Flam said, pointing his finger on him. "...while investigating."
"Stop embarrassing me." Tempest said.
"Show me the evidence. Do you have any proof? You don't, right!? Right!?" Flam said with a furious face.
"That's enough." Tempest said.
"So why is she still here?" Flam said. "I want to see your commanding officer. This instant. Right now!"
"You should know better than to throw a tantrum like this!" the police said.
""A tantrum""?" Flam said. He then turnes to Tempest. "Did he just curse at me?"
Tempest then whispered: "Yes, he did. He pretty much said, "You're a son of a..."
Flam the turned to the police. "How dare you!? You son of a...!"
"Here's your proof." a familiar voice said. Every police officer turned to the pony. Flam and Tempest did the same thing, and Tempest saw the familiar stallion. It was Neighsay.
"This is a CCTV footage take from a convenience store in front of her house." Neighsay spoke, holding a USB, and walking over to Tempest's spot. "It shows that she came home from work at 6:27 p.m. two nights ago and stayed home until 8:12 a.m. yesterday morning."
"And who are you?" the police said.
"I'm a lawyer and her legal representative." Neighsay said. Flam eyes then widened in confusuion.
"What's gotten into him?" Tempest said.
"Now, show me an irrefutable proof that she had an accomplice." Neighsay said.
The police then turned to each other.
"If you don't have anything, she has every right to be released." Neighsay said.
"I was going to get you out of here, right?" Flam said. Tempest then just shrugged him off.
"Do you have any proof?" Neighsay turned to the police. "Do you!?"
The police then started to fear Neighsay. Neighsay then slammed the USB in the desk, and immediately went away, but didn't leave the station.
"Gosh, I knew it." Tempest said, as she stood up in front of the police, and removing her jacket, as it fall down to the floor. Flam saw her jacket in the floor and immediately got it. "I'm hungry now that I feel better! Order me some food before I go!"
"Who ordered the hayburgers in BurgerCanterlot?" a delivery pony spoke.
"Here!" the police said. The deliver pony came to him and gave him the bag.
He got the burger and gave it to Tempest. "Please calm down...and have some food."
"You should've ordered some daffodil sandwiches." Tempest said. "Did you only bring one ketchup?"
"Enhoy your meal." the delivery pony said, leaving the station.
Tempest took out one burger, and gave it to Flam. Flam was confused but took it from her hands anyways. She then got another for herself.
"Thanks." Flam said.
Neighsay then turned around and looked at Tempest.
"I was going to have that." one police said.
"Never mind, go ahead." another said.
"Order some more burgers."
"Isn't it to greasy?"
"No."
Neighsay then snapped out and pushed the door, exiting the station.
Some time later, Tempest and Flam were finally out of the police station.
"I just can't have fries without ketchup." Tempest said. "It's so greasy."
"Why didn't I think of that convenience store?" Flam said. "Stupid, you know? It's like 24 hours, so they always have their--"
While Flam was speaking, Tempest rushed to Neighsay, who was talking on the phone.
"Yes, we're done here." Neighsay said on the phone while looking at Tempest awkwardly. Tempest was trying to make eye contact with him, but he turns around, dodging her glance. "Okay, I'll leave as soon as I'm done here.". Tempest noticed he stopped turning, so he went in front of him. "It's fine. Yes. I'll see you later. All right."
Flam was looking at her in the distance. Neighsay turned to Tempest, who had a serious face on her.
"Tell me the truth. It was you, isn't it?" Tempest said. "You only came out of guilt because they arrested me. Right? You felt guilty!"
"What are you talking about?" Neighsay said.
Flam then walked towards them both. "Lawyer Neighsay Cassano?"
Neighsay then turned to him. "You're the first Canterlite to pronounce my name correctly."
Flam chuckled. "I used to be her assistant back in Wingtip. I'm Flam." he said, with his hand upward in front of him, and Neighsay shook hands with him.
"How do you know me?" Neighsay said.
"Ahhh. Because I did a background check on you for Tempest." Flam responded.
With that, Tempest then kicked Flam's hind legs, causing him to seeth in pain.
"I was relieved to see you have no priors." Flam said, seething and hopping on one hoof.
"I should get going." Neighsay said. Flam nodded, and Neighsay left.
"Go. I'm leaving too." Tempest said.
"What?" Flam said.
"Wait up!" Tempest shouted at Neighsay, rushing to him.
"But I just got here!" Flam shouted. "You can't just leave. Gosh, it hurts." Flam seethed, rubbing his kicked hoof. "I should get to work." he said as he rushes with his backpack.
Later on, Neighsay and Tempest went to a nearby coffee shop.
"Welcome." the mare said in the counter.
"A double-shot of espresso to have here." Neighsay said.
"Just have cool, iced Americano." Tempest said.
"In Trottingham, Americano is no better than sewage waste." Neighsay said.
"One iced sewage waste for me." Tempest said. Neighsay turned to her awkwardly.
They drank their orders outside, and Tempest turned to Neighsay, who was drinking.
"I'm the most-witted pony in Canterlot, so come clean already." Tempest said. Neighsay was just looking at his right, ignoring the words. "You must be the best at feigning ignorance. Don't you think this is a bit harsh after what you put me through!?" Tempest furiously said, throwing her straw, and just sipped her glass.
"I though you'd find your way out." Neighsay responded. Shocked with the words, Tempest spit-taked at her right, spitting her drink. At least Neighsay was in front of her and not of her right. She then coughed after. Neighsay then took at a tissue and gave it to her.
"I apologize. I'm sorry for the inconvenience." Neighsay said.
"Are you really?" Tempest said, slamming the tissue in the table. "It's as if you're apologizing for canceling my song at a karaoke!"
"I get pretty upset when someone does that to me." Neighsay said.
"Why the hell did you do it!?" Tempest said.
"Because I was furious."
"What?" Tempest said.
"That's how I operate. "An eye for an eye"." Neighsay said.
Tempest leaned forward. "Who do you think you are? Hammurabi? "An eyes for an eye," my hand. I had to suffer because of you." she said, clutching her chest.
"I'll be careful from now on." Neighsay said.
"There's more?" Tempest said as she tilted her head.
"Close down your law firm." Neighsay said.
Tempest put an innocent smile on her face and crossed her front hooves. "Who are you to tell me to do that?"
"Don't involve yourself with Wingtip or the Babel Group." Neighsay said.
"I refuse to accept a stupid advice." Tempest said. Neighsay then slowly put his coffee mug in the table.
"Do you know who called your father before he died?" Neighsay said. Tempest then turned to him with one of her eyebrows raised.
"The caller ID was RDU." Neighsay responded. "It was Mr. Final Countdown. That's when I knew...that he and your father were connected."
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Tempest said in a calm voice. "That's such important information! I could've brought down Babel and--"
"Nothing will change." Neighsay said. "You may be able to prove that that Mr. Caballeron and and Mr. Final Countdown were connected. But the fact that someone intentionally killed them off? You can't prove that."
"It will take time, but it's possible if I gather the evidence." Tempest said.
Neighsay then leaned forward in the table. "You should know best...that Wingtip and Babel are invincible. Giving up on a hopeless war will give you...a new opportunity."
Tempest gently sighed at his answer and glanced at him.
At night, Tempest sat down on the couch at Caballeron's place, and sighed once more.
"Yes. If I can't do this alone, I'm sure someone will help me."
She then crossed her hind legs and put her front ones on her pillow.
"I've helped out so many creatures."
She then got her phone and called one of her clients. She called one, and it responded:
"What's this? Gosh, I'm sorry." the caller responded as the call ended.
She called another one.
"Put your faith in Celestia. She will show you the way."
She called another one, but this time, the phone responded:
"The caller you have called is unavailable, so please leave a voicemail. Your call will be charged after the beep."
Tempest seethed furiously and she called another one.
"Tempest. A rumor's been going around that you were in Harshwhinny's blacklist. Who do you think is going to help you? I don't want to cut my career short."
As the call ended, Tempest seethed more in anger.
"Gosh!" Tempest shouted, throwing her phone in the couch. Soon enough, she knew the right stallion for the job.
The next morning, Tempest and Neighsay were in the café. Tempest looked at him seriously with a cracker stick in her mouth. Neighsay got his coffee and looked at Tempest.
The first thing Neighsay said was: "What is this about?". He then took a sip of his coffee.
Tempest then put a brown portfolio labeled: "Law Firm Lawist".
Neighsay put back his coffee and took the portfolio, and slowly opened it, while looking at Tempest in confusuion. He then looked at the files and pieces of paper that were written.
"They're all similar lawsuits that I've won." Tempest spoke. "Real estate redemption for small businesses that have lost their ownership due to large companies. I did it without Wingtip's knowledge. I got a hefty sum for them." she sau
Neighsay continued looking at each paper, one by one, then turned to Tempest.
"I'll help you get back Counter Plaza. I don't care why you want it, but I just know that you need it desperately. No, you need it at all costs." Tempest said. "You're the real owner, right?"
Neighsay then put back the pile of sheets in the table. "Why are you giving me this offer?"
"Let me in or whatever you're scheming." Tempest said.
"Why should I?"
"Shouldn't I be the one who's upset the most? It was my dad who died wrongfully." Tempest said.
Neighsay kept looking at her. "Even still, I can't let you. It's not something a lawyer should do."
Tempest then stopped leaning into the table and slouched in her chair. "Right now, I'm not speaking to you as a lawyer, but as Caballeron's undutiful daughter."
Neighsay and Tempest kept looking at each other for seconds, then those seconds became a moment. Neighsay broke their silence with a sigh.
"Promise me you'll quit if you cause a hindrance." Neighsay said.
"Okay!" Tempest said. "Deal!"
Neighsay then slouched and drank his coffee.
"Grab one." Tempest said, giving a small plate of cracker sticks.
"Why?"
"We clink these instead of glasses." Tempest said.
"No, thanks." Neighsay with a slight curious smile.
"Hurry up! Don't you want Counter Plaza back?" Tempest said.
Neighsay annoyingly looked at her and to the plate. Neighsay slowly grabbed one stick, and as they were about to clink, Tempest clinked them multiple times like fencing swords and made sword sounds.
"Are you ready to turn the tables on them?" Tempest said.
Later on, together, they went in prison to pay the supply truck driver a visit. They both have passes around their necks, that touched their suit, like what they always wear. As they walked, one stallion opened the door to where the prisoners were. Neighsay noticed Tempest was nervous. In a sudden her, her nervous face turned into a glaring one.
Neighsay looked at her and followed her. The police brought the prisoner in another cell, same as the ordinary, but the cell had bars and in the outside, it had tempered glass. Tempest and Neighsay looked at the prisoner with same glaring faces.
"Gosh, had those breaks not malfunctioned, he wouldn't have died and you wouldn't have gotten injured." he turned to Neighsay sarcastically. "They should do a better job assembling cars.
"You're just as insincere as you were when you were interrogated." Tempest said with a serious face.
The prisoner chuckled. "I'm here to serve my time, aren't I?"
"Isn't that because you made a circulated videos that sexually exploited minors?" Neighsay said.
"Why would you bring that up right now?" the prisoner said.
"Did they promise to reduce your sentence if you killed him and disguised it as an accident?" Neighsay said.
"What?" the prisoner sajd as if he wasn't the suspect. "That's ridiculous!"
"But then again, Wingtip could give you a sentence of two years or less...thanks to Canterlot's lousy and ludicrous sentencing guidelines." Neighsay said.
"I have no idea what you're on about! I'm going to stand trial for what I did!" the prisoner said.
Neighsay and Tempest couldn't take his nonsense. Neighsay got his notebook and banged on the cell to snap him out, and after, he slammed it back.
Neighsay leaned in the table and said: "Shut up and listen carefully. Tell me the truth from now on. If you dont, you'll die tonight just by brushing shoulders with someone."
The prisoner turned to Tempest, and she still yet didn't take off the glare. He then turned Neighsay, who has the same expression as Tempest.
"What?" the prisoner said. "Did you think I'd be intimated?"
"Who ordered you...to kill him with the truck?" Neighsay said.
The prisoner felt nervous, and kept clenching his hands and massaging his knees.
"This is your last chance." Neighsay said. "Who ordered you?"
The prisoner sat silent.
"Spill it, you asshole." Tempest said.
The prisoner still sat there silently.
Neighsay then stood up. "Let's go." he told Tempest. Tempest then turned to the prisoner and gave him one last glare. She then stood up to trot along with Neighsay.
"Wait!" the prisoner said. This caused Neighsay and Tempest to stop, and they both turned to him. The prisoner sighed as he says the name. "Mr. Truck. I don't know his full name."
Tempest and Neighsay both walked towards the prisoner. Tempest sat back down but Neighsay remained standing.
"Mr. Truck? Just him?" Neighsay said.
"There was someone who looked like his boss, but I only know his number." the prisoner said.
"What does he do?" Tempest coldly said.
"I don't know. He came to the police station where I was at and promised me that Wingtip would reduce my sentence if I did as told."
"I'm going to kill you all." Tempest said coldly.
"I'm sorry." the prisoner said. "I'm truly sorry."
"What's the number?" Neighsay said.
"Sorry?" the prisoner said. They both got their phones, and as the prisoner told them the number, Tempest immediately got the pen and wrote it down.
Neighsay went beside Tempest. He lowered his head and said in her ears: "That's enough. Let's go.". He went to the door. As he was about to speak, Tempest spoke.
"He's the one who did it." Tempest said. "But I can't do anything to him."
Neighsay then turned to both of them.
"I can't leave here empty-handed." Tempest softly said.
Neighsay then thought of something. He immediately closed the door and went to the prisoner. He suddenly banged a hand at his cell and out of the blue, he went psycho. He suddenly got Tempest's overreacting, but in his way.
"Mr. Zoom!" Neighsay shouted in a psycho way. "Thank you so much for your cooperation! I'm very relieved to hear that you'll side with us!" he continued as he banged on the cell.
"What are you doing!?" Silver Zoom said. Suddenly, an officer barged into his cell.
"We'll re-investigate the incident according to your testimony and get to the bottom of this!" he shouted.
"Why are you doing this!?" he said as he turned to the officer. "That's not true! He's lying!"
"Mr. Zoom!" Neighsay shouted. The prisoner nervously turned to Neighsay. "Your sense of justice will prevail! Thank you so much!" he continued.
"What!?" Silver Zoom said.
"Let's go." Neighsay said to Tempest. As they both walked to the door, Neighsay put his hand in Tempest's back.
"Wait!" Silver Zoom said.
"Thank you!" Neighsay shouted one more time, as he and Tempest both walked off.
"Wait! Hey!" Silver Zoom shouted. He was too late. Both Tempest and Neighsay were gone. "Damn it!"
Later on, Tempest and Neighsay's passes were both removed. One police officer opened the door to the exit. As Tempest and Neighsay both passed out of the prison, Tempest spoke as they trot.
"Is this how lawyers in Trottingham get their jobs done?" Tempest said.
"There are more heinous criminals there than here." Neighsay answered.
"Hmmm~. I'm very satisfied right now. I think we have great teamwork as well." Tempest said.
"You didn't chip in at all." Neighsay said.
"What do you mean!?" Tempest said as she turned to Neighsay. "I stayed emotional and maintained the tension."
"I said all the lines." Neighsay said as she turned to her.
"Talking is important, but setting the mood is also important. How could you not know that?" Tempest added as she clicked her tongue. "Anyways, I loved the noir vibe as well."
"That wasn't even a tip on the iceberg." Neighsay said.
Tempest suddenly stopped trotting with Neighsay. "Don't tell me...you'll shoot someone."
"You can't own guns in Canterlot. That won't happen." Neighsay said.
"Good. We're not filming movie." Tempest said. "Let's go find Mr. Truck." she said as she trotted off. For the first time, Neighsay then smiled on how she took this task seriously. He then rushed to her and continued trotting.
Meanwhile, Harshwhinny was in the phone at her office.
"What do you mean? An unexpected situation?" Harshwhinny said.
"Yes. It looks like the truck driver is going to jump ship." a stallion said.
"Elaborate." Harshwhinny said.
"Tempest Shadow and that Trottinghamian lawyer stopped by. It seems like they were colluding." he said.
"Damn it!" Harshwhinny said. She ended the call, slammed her phone into the desk, and slouched in her chair as she wat annoyed.
Meanwhile at night, a group of prisoners, along with Silver Zoom, pollowed the officers. Out of the blue, Silver Zoom hardly brushed shoulders with one prisoner. The prisoner turned to Silver Zoom with an angry psycho face.
"I'm sorry." Silver Zoom said.
The prisoner then grabbed him by the shoulder. "Sorry doesn't cut it. You've dislocated my shoulder."
Silver Zoom then remembered Neighsay's words.
"You'll die tonight...just by brushing shoulders with someone."
"How dare you ignore me when I'm talking?" the prisoner said.
Suddenly, the prisoner punched Silver Zoom in the face, and it caused Silver Zoom to lose balance. He leaned to a wall while the prisoner's gang gathered to harm. One kicked him in the face, and the rest did the same moves.
"Get him!"
"Come here!"
The officer were glaring and watching them from a distance. They blowed their whistles and the alarm went off.
"Run!"
"Run! Hurry!"
As the gang left, Silver Zoom was left behind, choking, coughing, and spitting a lot of blood. His blood left the floor stained.
Tempest heard about the situation via phone call. "Okay. I see. Thank you for telling me."
As she ended the phone call, she sighed and slowly turned to Neighsay. Neighsay was watching her during the call while he was drinking coffee. Neighsay watched her as she walked towards him in the table.
"Silver Zoom...got himself into a fight and was stabbed to death." Tempest said.
Neighsay was shocked with the words, and he slowly did the sign of the cross. His hands started to his forehead, then to the bottom of his chest, and in the sides of his shoulders.
"Are you glad?" Neighsay asked, as he sipped his coffee.
Tempest sighed and turned away from him.
"It's annoying, and I feel like shit." Tempest said, as she turned back to Neighsay. "This isn't what I imagined."
"You can quit now if you want." Neighsay said.
"No." Tempest said. "I stand by my decision." she said. She slowly walked towards Neighsay. "Let's promise one thing."
Neighsay then nodded and put back his coffee mug.
"We'll do whatever it takes, but let's not do anything that takes creatures' lives." Tempest said.
Neighsay then looked at her with slight reflecting eyes and a slight smile. Tempest looked at him seriously, waiting for his response. Neighsay kept looking at her as he sipped his coffee. Instead, he got his phone.
"Mr. Truck's full name is Hayseed Turnip Truck. I've located his whereabouts. See you." Neighsay said, as he got his coat's jacket.
"Let me come with you." Tempest said.
"Stay here. He may be dangerous." Neighsay said.
"Victory and quantity go hand in hand. There's no harm in me coming." Tempest said as she walk towards him.
"Sir." a familiar voice said.
Tempest screamed in shock, as she turned to the voice, while Neighsay turned to him like he heard nothing.
They saw a small table with small bottles of alchohol, and suddenly, a figure rosed his body up, revealing a drunk Grubber.
"Let me come with you." Grubber said.
Tempest sighed as she saw Grubber.
"I've finally learned about your plan." Grubber said, rubbing his eyes.
Neighsay and Tempest turned to him.
"What are you doing here!?" Tempest said.
"I drank during the day and fell asleep here. You two woke me up." Grubber responded.
"You heard everything!?" Tempest said.
"Yes, but I didn't mean to eavesdrop." Grubber said. "Anyway, I'd like to avenge Mr. Caballeron. I'll do anything." he said.
Neighsay and Tempest looked at him in confusuion.
Grubber then tried to stand up. He then walked to a cabinet l and opened it. He then grabbed a bag.
"I've kept my skills hidden for a long time." Grubber said with a serious look. "Just tell me if you need them."
Neighsay and Tempest stood next to each other and looked at Grubber with shocked and confused faces.
"Skills?" Tempest responded.
Later on, the trio found Mr. Truck in a gambling hall. Neighsay watched him carefully in the distance. He put coffee powder in his mug, and warm water. He stirred it carefully as he watched him. He saw Mr. Truck going to the bathroom.
At the bathroom, Grubber walked out, and Neighsay walked in. He then walked towards a mirror and fixed his necktie. He ended up seeing Hayseed.
"When you make dirty money, you're bound to lose then gambling." Neighsay responded.
Hayseed then turned to him. "Hey. Were you talking to me?"
Neighsay then turned back to Hayseed.
"You're the only one here who abetted murder." Neighsay said.
Hayseed then slowly got something from his pocket. A taser.
"Who are you?" Hayseed said.
Neighsay then got a clothing hanger nearby. "I hate to admit it, but I'm someone who needs you."
Hayseed then ran towards him with the taser. Neighsay managed to dodge his attack. He chokes and renders him with the coat hanger. He then pushed him in the bathroom's corner, and all over. Neighsay tries to hold him tight, but Hayseed was like a wild animal.
Neighsay then pushed him to one side of the bathroom. He held the hanger even tighter and Hayseed slowly became unconscious and fell to the ground.
Tempest and Grubber walked in and Grubber was holding a broom in his claws.
"Ahh, what!?" Grubber said, looking at the floor. "The floor is filthy! My claws will get dirty moving him."
Tempest looked at the floor in disgust. "You two take care of this."
"Please hold his arms and I'll hold his legs." Grubber told Neighsay.
Neighsay went to a sink and washed his hands. "I don't think I've recovered fully from my head injury." he said, stroking his mane as he looked in the mirror.
"Right, you need to recuperate." Grubber said, holding Hayseed's hind hooves.
Neighsay then left, and Tempest followed him. Grubber was left alone with Hayseed's body. Grubber then sat there in disappointment.
Later on, a stallion came out of a restaurant. Suddenly, he got a call.
"Yes?"
"Hello, sir. You should come here right now." Hayseed said.
"What's wrong?"
"The prison guard who tipped us off is demanding more money. I've tried talking to him, but he just won't listen."
"Damn it. Where are you right now?"
The stallion then drove to his location. He got off his car and looked through the car window. The car window then opened, revealing the stallion he called.
"Hey, where's that guard?"
"We're in huge trouble."
"What do you mean!?"
Hayseed looked at the small but creepy figure behind the other, and the stallion saw his friend's hands were tied in the car wheel inside. The stallion outside of the car turned around, and suddenly, he passed out from a taser in his neck. And it was Grubber. Tempest and Neighsay also went to Grubber and stared at the body. Grubber and Tempest looked at the body nervously.
"He's not dead, is he?" Tempest said.
Neighsay then leaned closer. "His stomach is moving."
Tempest then exhaled in relief. "He has a bit of abdominal fat."
Grubber then shrieked when the taser suddenly turned on. This made Tempest shrieked as well, and she fell down in fear. Tempest stood back up.
"Come on!" Tempest said, punching Grubber's back.
The stallion who passed out was tied into a chair in the middle of an abandoned building. As soon as he woke up, Neighsay's hand wringed his neck along with a gun in his hand.
"This is a Roanssian pistol. Tokarev TT-33." Neighsay said. "Neither the military nor the NIS uses this model. So how did a civilian obtain this gun?" he said as he cocks the gun. "Then again, you both served in the military's intelligence division. It must be a cakewalk to obtain a gun illegally." he said as he and Tempest circled around one tied stallion, and Tempest was carrying a shovel. "Hurry up and answer me. Who ordered you to kill Mr. Caballeron and Mr. Countdown?" he said to the Hayseed, who was also tied. Hayseed just shooked his head. He then turned away from him.
"I hate wasting time as I hate...uncooked macaroni." Neighsay said.
"If you refuse to spill, you'll end up just like Silver Zoom did!" Tempest shouted in Canterlot voice.
"Nod your head if you're willing to talk..." Neighsay said, cocking the gun once more. "...and I'll spare you."
But the stallion shooked his head like the other.
"If you don't talk, I'll ram this into your head!" Tempest shouted, swinging the shovel. "Talk!"
At that moment, Neighsay fired the pistol into the floor, making the stallions and Tempest at surprise. All of them looked at Neighsay in shock.
He then pointed the gun in the stallion's knee. "This is your last chance." he said, as he looked up at the stallion's face. "Who was it?"
The stallion kept shooking his head.
"Tell us! Hurry!" Tempest shouted worriedly.
Then, when Tempest turned to Neighsay, she saw him slowly lifting the gun into the stallion's head.
"Sir. Be careful...with that gun." Tempest said with a worried voice.
Neighsay then turned to Tempest and gazed at her with a cold look.
"You have to talk now! This isn't a joke! Hurry!" Tempest shouted.
Before the two tied stallions would say a word, Neighsay then pointed the gun at Hayseed and he pulled the trigger as the bullet went aiming the chest. Tempest covered her ears at the sound, and the other stallion was shocked. Tempest turned to Neighsay in complete shock. The stallion the looked at him with shocked eyes.
"Did you think I wouldn't shoot?" Neighsay said. "A gun is a murder weapon."
"Why did you do that!?" Tempest said in a concerned voice. "We agreed not to kill anyone!"
Neighsay then turned to Tempest.
"What if...he tells everyone about this?" Tempest said.
Neighsay then looked at the stallion then turned to Tempest. He walked towards her as he cocks the gun.
"In that case, we should kill him." Neighsay said, immediately pointing the gun at Hayseed's boss.
The stallion began to panic. And there...was a gunshot.
Meanwhile that night, Harshwhinny was dancing Zumba through her ear pods in the laundromat. She didn't notice a pony coming in with a basket of clothes. The pony immediately left. When Harshwhinny turned around, she found the basket in the table. She then walked towards the basket curiously.
As she removed the clean cloth over the basket, she gasped as she saw bloody clothes. She then checked her phone and a notification was labeled "RESTRICTED NUMBER". When she saw the message, she saw photos of Hayseed and his boss shot. She looked at the clothes and they were the same ones on the picture.
"Who the hell..."
Before she could complete her sentence, the power of the laundromat then stopped functioning. Harshwhinny kept banging on the laundromat's exit. She then got a call from the restricted number.
"Yes?"
"There's only one way ponies are born, but there are countless ways to die." Neighsay spoke, as he looked at a jenga tower in front of him in a desk.
"Who are you?" Harshwhinny said. "Do you even know who I am!?"
"Ms. Harshwhinny, I wonder which may would suit you the best." Neighsay said.
"Who the hell are you!?" Harshwhinny said.
"Someone you should fear." Neighsay said.
Harshwhinny then noticed an active supply truck parked near the laundromat. Harshwhinny's heart started to beat fast.
"It looks familiar, doesn't it?" Neighsay responded. Neighsay's location was near the laundromat, but his was a floor or two, higher than the laundromat.
"Why are you doing this? At least tell me the reason." Harshwhinny said.
"The owners of those bloody clothes told me that you ordered them to kill Mr. Caballeron and Mr. Countdown." Neighsay said as he picked a piece of the jenga tower.
"That's ludicrous." Harshwhinny said. "Who'd believe them?"
"I don't care about what creatures believe." Neighsay said. "All that matters is that I do."
"It really has nothing to do with me!" Harshwhinny said. Suddenly, the supply truck started making motor noises.
"I'm a patient stallion, but I'm afraid I can't say the same for that driver." Neighsay said. As he tried to pick another piece of the jenga tower, it fell into pieces. At the same time, the supply truck activated and drove directly into the laundromat. Before it could happen like the accident about a week ago, Harshwhinny screamed.
"What do you want from me!?" Harshwhinny shouted. At that moment, the supply truck stopped.
"Why is negotiating so difficult?" Neighsay said.
"What do you want?" Harshwhinny said in a nervous voice.
"Restire your victim Mr. Caballeron's honor and those of the late test subjects by tomorrow." Neighsay said. "To do that, you'll have to come clean about what you did first."
Harshwhinny scoffed. "Just kill me instead."
"Restoring their honor matters much more than your worthless lives." Neighsay said.
"Do you think I'll listen to you?" Harshwhinny said.
Neighsay then leaned against the table. "That's up to you. But you should remember that freedom comes with a prize." he said as he ended the call.
As the call was ended, the supply truck came back from where it started. Then it drove to the entrance of laundromat, and Harshwhinny screamed. The supply truck the drove the other way and it didn't crash into any place. Harshwhinny then slowly walked into the exit and checked the surroundings.
"That darn punk..." Harshwhinny said. "You better stay well hidden. The moment I find you, you're as good as dead."
Later on, Neighsay watched the sunrise above the building, while he was fiddling with his lighter.
Many hours later, at night, the supply truck and a car drove to the Babel Pharmaceuticals' Supply Warehouse.
The workers inside were doing some business about the new drug.
"Store today's RDU-90 raw materials at 7C." a worker said.
"Yes, I've read the manual." another worker said.
Suddenly, a group of creatures came in with masks, and protective suits.
"What is this?" the worker said.
"We're here to disinfect the area."
"Gosh, has it already been that long?" the worker said. "Vacate the room."
"Okay."
"Vacate the premises for disinfection."
"Okay."
"Okay."
As soon as the workers left, the group started disinfecting the area. Every single corner of the warehouse was disinfected, and never left a spot. Soon, they opened the storage of the raw materials for the drug. The masked group then got out and went in the car. Two masked and covered creatures appeared and opened the supply truck. One was a tall, lanky pony, standing on two hooves and the other was shorter, and reaches shoulder length.
They both wear black jackets, black caps, black shoes and black facemasks. A lot got in the car, but one was driving in the front along with the two masked ones at the truck. The masked one on the right then opened a lighter and started fiddling it. The two masked men were revealed to be Neighsay and Grubber . The white masked mare between them removed her hood and mask, and came out a long, think, hot rose pink mohawk.
It was Tempest .
"Gosh, it was scorching hot!" Tempest said, stroking her mohawk.
Seconds later, Neighsay turned on his lighter, and then a few more seconds, he drops it to the ground, and the place immediately got on fire.
Ka. Boom.
He looked at the burning trail of fire going in the warehouse, and so did Tempest. The supply truck immediately left with Grubber driving, leaving the place in flames. When the fire reached the raw materials storage, the area went immediately on fire when it exploded. The exit opened, and the supply truck, the car, and trio got out with mischievous smirks in their faces.
"There's a fire!"
"Call 911!"
"Hurry!"
"Get out of there!"
"Put out the fire!"
"Hurry up and call 911!"
Neighsay looked at the the yelling creatures, and put his eyes back on the road.
In flashback...
The trio looked down at Hayseed's body. Grubber gave his body lift. Suddenly, Hayseed woke up.
"Do you mind giving a hoof?" Grubber said.
Neighsay and Tempest looked at each other, and Tempest gestured to Neighsay that he should help Grubber. Neighsay clicked his tongue and got down.
"One, two..."
In three seconds, Hayseed was back up. Grubber then removed something from Hayseed's coat.
"You were almost late. You should've pulled him faster!" Tempest said.
"It's not easy to grab on a piano string!" Grubber said.
"Grubber's former profession paid off." Tempest said. "Who, knew he used to be a special effects makeup artist?"
Neighsay nodded as he turned to Hayseed. Grubber got to the ground and cleaned the materials he used for the death effects. Neighsay turned to Hayseed and harshly pulled out the tape covering his mouth, causing him to seeth and gasp in pain. Neighsay then knelt down and looked at Hayseed.
"I'll spare you, but you have to do as I say from now on." Neighsay said.
"Okay." Hayseed said.
"We need information on Babel Pharmaceuticalss Supply Warehouse." Neighsay said.
Present...
The other masked creatures were revealed to be lawyers in the Lawist Law Firm. One remembered Caballeron's words, the time they lost a case, and their last straw's death.
"It's not hard at all. I have knack for turning tables. Please trust me on this. I can win this."
Neighsay and Grubber then took of their black masks, and went back to driving.
Soon, Flim drove to the flaming warehouse.
"Sir! We're in trouble! There's been a fire at our warehouse!" Flim said. Wait, so Flim isn't the actual Babel CEO?
"Move it!"
"Hey!"
"Watch out!"
"Over here!"
"What are you doing?"
Flim got out of his car and looked at the warehouse in shock.
"You should get out of here, sir! There may be toxic gases!" a worker told Flim.
"Did you call 911?" Flim said.
"They're on there way!"
"What!? What about the sprinklers!? Why is the fire spreading so much!?"
"Well..."
An hour ago, two masked creatures came in the system and turned off the sprinklers.
At present, there was a sudden explosion, which left the workers and Flim shocked.
"Run!"
"Run!"
"Let's get out of here!"
"Let's go!"
Another explosion occured, and it was wolder than the previous, that it made Flim trip. When Flim tried to stand up, another car drove by. The car door opened l, and out came out the real CEO but...
It was a blurry figure at first, but in Flim's vision saw the clear figure. Somepony with the same colors as Flim. It was Flam. He is the real CEO of Babel and he doesn't look happy.
"Sir." Flim said.
Flam looked at the warehouse in anger.
"I saw this coming!" Flim said. "I'm certain that the bastards who broke into my room did this! Damn it! I'll catch them myself and make them kneel before you!"
"Shut up." Flam said.
The supply truck and car drove in the mountains near the warehouse. the trio watched the warehouse burn.
"Wow. That's incredible." Tempest said. Neighsay turned to her with a slight smile. The lawyers watched it in amazement and their driver honked in happiness.
"Goodbye!" The lawyer shouted, looking at the ware house.
There was this one time when Caballeron said: "How could they make something like this!? I don't care if I go to prison! I want to burn them down! All of the drugs!"
Neighsay then looked over the warehouse. In Italian, Neighsay murmurs the aria, Nessum Dorma's last words. "Set, stars...At dawn, I will win...I will win...I will win..." he murmured. He then looked at the warehouse with a mischievous smirk.
Feels good to be a villain.
NEIGHSAY
Author's Note
To watch the actual episode, click here
NEIGHSAY
Grubber took off the sticker from the supply truck while the Lawist lawyers bid Tempest and Neighsay a goodbye. Some lawyers went in the car and one mare hugged Tempest. She also bid good bye to Neighsay, and Neighsay responded back. Neighsay glanced at the blank faced Tempest while the lawyers got in. Grubber drove the supply truck and they all left Tempest and Neighsay.
As Grubber drove the truck, he turned to the pair and gave them a thumbs up and Tempest responded with the same gesture.
In the laundromat, Harshwhinny was in the phone looking terrified.
"Who the hell would do that!?" Harshwhinny said.
"They are investigating now. So we should wait." Caramel answered on the phone.
"It must have done some damage to Babel." Harshwhinny said.
"That's an understatement. It's as bad as getting by a tsunami. What are we going to do?" Caramel said.
"Okay. I got it. See you tomorrow." Harshwhinny said. She drops the phone call and looked down. "What the hell is this?"
Meanwhile, Flam brought Flim back home. Flam didn't have a shirt on and only had a towel in his shoulder and some pants.
"Please give me one more chance to get even." Flim said. "I'll find them and destroy them to pieces!"
"Hey, hey!" Flam shouted. "And just how will you find them? Hmm?" Flam said as he took off the towel. "Don't get ahead of yourself." he said, fixing Flim's suit. "Just do what I tell you to do. Okay?" Flam said, rudding the towel in Flim's cheek very hard.
"I know I can do something here!" Flim shouted.
"Don't raise your voice." Flam said. "You startled me."
"I mean..." Flim sighed.
"Flim." Flam said, putting the towel around Flim's neck.
"Sir-" Flim said. He stopped short after Flam strangled him and held the towel tight.
"Have you lost your mind...now that creatures call you the chairman?" Flam said.
"No, that's not it. Sir..." Flim said in a weak voice.
Flam then pinned him to the couch.
"Sir..." Flim responded.
"You're nothing but a puppet of mine." Flam said.
"Yes-" Flim said.
"So don't you dare think for yourself. Got it?" Flam said.
"Yes, I got it. Yes, sir." Flim said.
Flim seethed in pain until Flam let go of the towel. Flim coughed for a moment.
"The cause today's fire will be electrical overheating, not arson. But it will still affect the stock prices, so get the board members to for an emergency meeting." Flam said. Flim looked up at him. "Oh, right. And tell Wingtip what I told you earlier. Okay?"
Flim nodded. "Yes, sir."
"Flim, go home now." Flam said. Flam walked off and continued drinking.
Flim went down to the elevator to the basement parking. He got into his blue car and went into the driver seat.
"I'm glad I'm just a puppet." Flim said. "I can just cut off the strings."
EPISODE 5
The words "Lavina" lit up beside Neighsay, Tempest, and their table, but the L, two As, and V lit up only, spelling "Lava". Tempest and Neighsay were in the plaza's rooftop with drinks in their table like what Caballeron and Neighsay do.
"Cheers." Tempest sqeaked as they both clanked their glass. Tempest sighed after drinking and she turned to Neighsay. "I'm glad that you're getting started. They'll catch us if we keep blasting fireworks like we did today."
"That's why we need to change our approach." Neighsay said. "We'll use the law and the court, the two things we know best."
"They'll be better at that better than we are." Tempest said.
"We need to beat them at their own game to make victory taste sweeter." Neighsay said. Tempest nodded, but something went in mind. She leaned her arms in the table as she looked at him.
"But Mr. Cassano, you can't practice law in Canterlot." Tempest said.
"But I have you." Neighsay said. Tempest gasped and chuckled.
"Are you trying to make me take the heat in your place?" Tempest said. "So that I go down alone!?"
"I'll be the one putting the heat on them." Neighsay said. "Let's focus on our next step for now."
Neighsay and Tempest both drank their glass, and Tempest looked at him serious eyes.
"Shall I guess what your next step is?" Tempest said. Neighsay stopped drinkinng for a moment, as he turned to Tempest. He leaned in closer to Tempest in the same method.
"Since when could you read my mind?" Neighsay said.
"I can't do that. I'm not a psychic." Tempest said. "I'm the pony who knows Babel's dirty little secrets more than anyone else in Canterlot."
Neighsay cleared his throat. "Well, then..." he spoke. "...let's see what you've got."
Tempest then got out of her seat as she stretches her legs.
"Babel's most vulnerable subsidiary. The subsidiary that rigs the stock prices the most. And the subsidiary whose ethics will be damaged at the greatest degree." Tempest proudly said.
"Which subsidiary is it?" Neighsay said. Tempest then pointed with her finger, which was in a gun gesture, and made a bang noise to a building labeled "The Alchemists of Future Science, Babel Chemicals.". Neighsay then got up from his seat and went beside Tempest.
In the morning, a Babel Chemicals employee went to the temple. The same monk sat on his same position, while the other was with the employee.
"Hey." the employee said.
The monk stopped sipping his soup. "What?"
"Be honest. You don't do all 108 bows, right?" he said. The monk kept chewing. "I bet you skip a few."
"I don't skip anything." the monk said. "What do you take me for? Seriously!?"
"I bet you eat sausages behind his back. Right?" the employee said. "Pork belly and green onions too." he chuckled.
"Shut your mouth, jerk." the monk said. "Shut ut, man. Help me, merciful Buddha."
"Can't we eat out next time?" the employee said. "We always eat vegetables."
The monk then noticed something in his face. "Hey, your nose is bleeding."
"Darn it." the employee said, cleabing his nice lightly with a handkerchief.
"Hey, are you okay?" the monk said. "You've lost a lot of weight and even gave nosebleeds."
"Hey, I'm good." the employee said. "Seriously. We used to run all over the place 15 years ago, right?"
"Right." the monk said. "Back then, you were no match for me. Look how far you've come."
"Stop kidding me! You couldn't even look me in the eye!"
"Look at you. I should teach you a lesson."
"You're brining out the old me."
"You're ridiculous, come on."
All of a sudden, the monk in the seat made the same chanting noises again.
"I ought to...Don't swear." the monk seethed.
Meanwhile, Flim was in the gym. He did physical activities and he seemed to be stressed. Next, he lied down, and carefully lifeted the barbell. It was very heavy, that he grunted and seethed. Then, a stallion passed by and saw him.
The stallion had a black inverted cap in his head, a blue jacket, and a red shirt underneath. He also wore black pants. He was carrying around a maroon scarf. He had short hippie hair. As he passed by him, he immediately went to Flim.
"Watch it. It's heavy."
It appears that the stallion with such an attire was Neighsay. He lifted the barbell and put it back on the spot.
"You should be careful."
When Neighsay gazed at Flim, he gasped and looked at him in shock.
"Aren't you...Mr. Farnum Flim!?" Neighsay said.
"Yes." Flim responded.
"Wow." Neighsay said. As Flim was about to get one part of the dumbell, Neighsay stopped him.
"No, let me do that for you." Neighsay said with a sweet inncoent smile. How come he's acting like he isn't in his own side? "This is incredible. Amazing! I'm a huge fan of yours." Neighsay said in "excitement". "Can I get a handshake!?" he said.
"Sure." Flim said as he lifted his hand and Neighsay shook it softly.
"Thank you." Neighsay said. He then got a plastic water bottle he was carrying along with him. "Here. Have this." he said as he opened it.
"Thank you."
"Sure."
"You work out here." Neighsay said. "In one of your interviews, you said nothing was impossible for Babel." he said, as he sat along with Flim in a seat. "I became a fan after reading how daring your corpate philosophy is." he added as he lightly punches Flim's knee. "Sorry about that."
"Innovation and business go hand in hand." Flim said, giving the bottle to Neighsay.
""Creative destruction. Innovation is the driving force of economic growth." Were you influenced by George Sorrows?" Neighsay said.
"What?"
They had a long silence, and it broke when Flim said in a smile: "Sorrows. I have so much respect for him."
"I knew it. When I studied your investments in your subsidiaries, you seemed flexible dealing with them. You were influences by Jostep Schumpeter?" Neighsay said.
"Right. Jostep...That's right. I read his books. You know a lot." Flim said.
"Gosh, you're so smart." Neighsay said.
Flim back to the barbell bench and fixed some equipment.
"Oh, right...Yesterday...Let me help you." Neighsay said, carrying a weight plate for Flim. "I saw the news about the fire at Babel Pharmaceuticals yesterday. How could that happen? I'm so sorry."
"It was just a minor accident." Flim said. He then lied down in the barbell bench and held the barbell's pole.
"By the way..." Neighsay said, leaning his arms and head on the pole. "...,I'm not sure if I should say this." Neighsay said. Flim was bothered by the towel Neighsay was holding. The maroon towel was covering slight half of his face. "I read in the tabloid that it was actually arson."
Flim's eyes widen in shock as he rose up from his bench. "Who said that!? Don't believe what you read in tabloids!"
"I guess you don't know about these tabloids." Neighsay said. "Sometimes, they are right."
"Hey!"
"By the way..." Neighsay said. Before he could say anything, he looked over his surroundings. He turned back to Flim after. "I own Babel Pharmaceuticals' shares." he whispered.
"Leave!" Flim said. When Neighsay heard this, his fake smile faded from his face. "Please. Please go if you're done. I need to work out."
"Right. Sorry I got in the way." Neighsay said. "Then I will go and sell my shares to Babel. They're worth nothing. Awful."
"Hey!" Flim called.
Bedore Neighsay could leave, he grabbed the water bottle. "This is mine." he said as he walked off.
"What was that!?" Flim said. "Come on. Why are they writing on that tabloid!?" he said as he got his phone.
"You're not the boss." Neighsay muttered in Italian, drinking water bottle.
At Flam's place, he was running in a treadmill, a tablet on in the new in front of him, and call in his ear pods , as he was chatting with Tempest.
"The stock price of Babel Pharmaceuticals took another sharp dive. Amid speculations that the fire last night at the storage room was in fact an arson, the stocks plummeted." the news reporter said.
"Aren't you happy now that I'm gone? No one is nagging you now." Tempest responded in the call. It appears she was also doing some physical activity. She was doing aerial yoga with other mares.
"I've missed you sinced the day you left the firm. I even missed your nagging." Flim said.
Tempest tries to wrap the fabric into her hind leg and using both of her hands to hold each fabric. "Wait until you make partner. You won't have time for this." she said.
"Did you watch the news about the fire at Babel Pharmaceuticals?" Flim said.
"Of course, I did. My goodness." Tempest said. "All the materials burnt down. Maybe they had it coming. They did all sorts of evil things." she said with a sneaky grin.
"Ah, I think so, too." Flam said. "It's like retributive justice, right?"
"That's right." Tempest chuckled. She grunted as she tried to hold the fabric tight. "I'm having muscle spasm-, My gosh. I'll call you back." she said as she falls off the fabric, with the fabric unwrapping her hind hoof, and her arms holding the fabric tight.
"Okay. Tempest. Bye!" Flim said as he ended the call. His smile then turned into a frown. He slowly turned off the treadmill and removed hus right ear pod. "So you were the one who punished me..."
Tempest and Neighsay meet up at a coffee area, but even brighter than the other they have been to at the tenth day aince the death of Caballeron. Neighsay puts a sugar cube in his espresso. It would probably be his first time, since he didn't have a small serving of sugar cubes along with Tempest.
"I told you where Chairman Farnum would be, so you're buying." Tempest said.
"That's the perfect reward for the quality of your intel." Neighsay said as he lifted his coffee mug and took a long sip.
"Why did you go see him?" Tempest said.
"Facing the boss of the enemy before starting a fight puts me at ease." Neighsay said.
"That's a weird way to find peace with yourself." Tempest said, as Neighsay shrugged with his shoulders. "So what did you think?"
"Chairman Farnum...might not be the real boss." Neighsay spoke. "I switch quotes from George Sorrows and Josteph Schumpeter, but he didn't catch it."
"No wonder. He did look like an airhead." Tempest said. "If he isn't, then who could be the real chairman?"
"Usually, when there's war between the Mafia, it's customary to let each other know who the boss is to resolve things diplomatically. And the surest way to draw out the real boss behind the puppet is..." Neighsay said. All of a sudden, Tempest harshly stabbed her sponge cake with the fork in the plate.
"To destroy the puppet." Tempest answered.
"You know a lot about the Mafia." Neighsay responded.
"I told you. Creatures here are just as bad as the Mafia." Tempest said. She then crossed her arms. "Anyway, to find out is Chairman Farnum is a puppet or not, I'll make him dry up...like a wet wipe out in the open."
At Wingtip, Harshwhinny believed she knew who threatened her at the laundromat, and who wanted to plan to "kill her" and end up like Caballeron.
"Do you think I'll listen to you?"
"That's up to you. But you should remember that freedom comes with a price."
Then, Caramel came in from the door of her office.
"He's clean. He's very clean." Caramel said. "You know the lawyer from Trottingham? The one with Tempest? Neighsay Cassano."
"His name is Neighsay Cassano?" Harshwhinny asked.
"Yes. I talked to someone from the Trottinghamian Lawyer Association. His record is perfectly clean." Caramel said, sitting on a sofa.
"Is this your first rodeo? A spotless record means something is up." Harshwhinny said.
"I knew you'd say that." Caramel said as he got up. "So I already talked to my guy at the CIS to take a look at his background." he said as he sat in front of Harshwhinny.
"No...Something is iffy about him." Harshwhinny said.
"No, I said he's clean." Caramel said. "Just because he's from Trottingham, he's a member of the Mafia or something? I bet he was just a regular lawyer."
That moment, Harshwhinny quickly got up from her seat and grabbed her purse.
"Where are you going?" Caramel said.
"To see what this Neighsay Cassano creature looks like." Harshwhinny scoffed.
"Goodness..." Caramel said. "You can never be at ease unti l you see them in person, do you?"
Harshwhinny later on got inside Lawist Law Firm. She saw a man sitting in one desk, though, he was facing the window instead of the front.
"Is anyone here?" Harshwhinny said, carrying a plant with a ribbon in it. Looks like a gift for Neighsay. That moment, the man started singing, still sitting in his seat. Harshwhinny continued to walk towards the man slowly.
"Is Ms. Tempest Shadow here?" Harshwhinny said?
"I'm sorry. She's not here right now." the man spoke.
"Are you Mr. Neighsay Cassano?" Harshwhinny said.
"Yes." the man said in Italian. Suddenly, he turned around with is seat, and it WAS NOT NEIGHSAY! The man had a white mohawk with gray details in it. He had dark gray complexion. It was Grubber.
Grubber put in his "best" Neighsay Cassano impression with a neat suit and a cheap plastic lighter, though Neighsay's lighter, the one he always carries around, is gold with some fancy details, and can't be turned on with a press like the plastic, but are opened like a small Tic Tac candy box.
"Who am I speaking to?" "Neighsay" said.
"Oh, right. I am...My name is Harshwhinny from Law Firm Wingtip." she responded.
"Ahhh..." Grubber said, as he got up from his seat and walked towards her. "I heard a lot about you. I'm Neighsay..." he said as he fiddles the lighter like Neighsay always does with his. "...Cassano! That's my name."
Harshwhinny looked at him in confusuion and awkwardness.
"What is this? He sounds like a drunk. What an ugly face. Greasy hair and aimless eyes. Gray skin...and the awkwardly protruding mouth."
"You're not Neighsay." Harshwhinny blurted.
"Yes, I am." Grubber said. As he fiddles the lighter, the lighter accidentally touched his face in intense heat. He then shrieked with his hedgehog voice, while Harshwhinny got startled.
"How dare you lie to me!?" Harshwhinny said. "Take this!" she said, handing the plant to "Neighsay".
"No. It's obvious that I'm Neighsay Cassano." Grubber said. He then sang an opera song, and Harshwhinny snapped.
Harshwhinny pointed a finger in his mouth. "Do that again or I'll rip your mouth in every direction, you asshole!" she responded. She then turned around and left.
"How creative of them, those assholes." Harshwhinny said as she walked in the hallway. Suddenly, she paused as she saw two people coming out from the hallway. One mare and one stallion. Harshwhinny easily recognized the mare was Tempest. She then saw a stallion next to her, chatting with her.
The stallion did not have such "ugly" face. Just like the creatures in the bus with him at his first day in his motherland as an adult, they marveled how handsome he was. He didn't have greasy hair but a smooth looking, slick hair all the way to the back of his neck. His eyes was in a slight flaming glow. He had a light gray complexion and a mouth that would spit out English and Italian swearing. With these kind of characteristics, he wouldn't sound like a drunk to her.
"He must be Neighsay..." Harshwhinny thought with smirk.
"Seriously." Tempest said as she chatted with Neighsay. Neighsay then patted her back, signaling Tempest that Harshwhinny is present. They continued walking, facing Harshwhinny.
"When you threatened her, did you alter your voice?" Tempest whispered to Neighsay.
"No." Neighsay responded.
"It's been a while." Harshwhinny said.
"What brings you to this humble building?" Tempest said.
"I was in the neighborhood." Harshwhinny spoked, with her eyes on Neighsay. "Is this...Mr. Neighsay Cassano?"
Neighsay just looked at her with the corners of his mouth raised, but no word came out.
"This is Mr. Neighsay Cassano." Tempest said. "He can't speak today because his tonsils are swollen."
Neighsay then turned to her with a blank face, and Tempest turned back at him. Then, he knew exactly what she did and what he needs to do.
"I'm Harshwhinny from Wingtip." Harshwhinny said, lifting her hand for a hand shake. Neighsay responded by holding her hand with two of his, and slightly bowed to her. "This is our first time meeting, right?"
Neighsay tried to let go of Harshwhinny's tight grip. He looked up at her and nodded. There, he finally got his hand out of hers.
"Tell us why you're here." Tempest said.
"Come on." Harshwhinny said. "That's no way to treat your guest. Offer me some tea and we'll talk.". She then walked off, going back to the office. Neighsay and Tempest turned to each other. In sign language, Neighsay pointed at his Adam's apple then gestured his hand along with his mouth.
Tempest then gestured her hands to her mouth as if there was a zipper. Neighsay just gave her an OK sign as they followed Harshwhinny.
Later on, three of the ponies were sitting at the Lawist office. Grubber then got a tray with three mugs. He put one mug for each pony.
"Do you think you could fool me?!" Harshwhinny yelled at Grubber. "Why would you impersonate him?!"
"I actually enjoy cosplays. Today, I dressed up as Neighsay Cassano." Grubber said. Neighsay nodded with a small innocent smile.
"Never do that again." Harshwhinny said.
"Please spare me some time...~" Grubber sang, as he turned on his lighter and blew the fire out.
"Is he serious? What's your name?" Harshwhinny said. Grubber turned to her with a serious look.
"Neighsay." Grubber said. Tempest and Neighsay looked like they were going to giggle, but Neighsay has to keep silent if he doesn't want to disclose such a white lie.
"Now that we served you some warm tea, tell us why you're here." Tempest said with a serious look. Harshwhinny sipped her tea.
"This hits the spot." Harshwhinny said. "You run your own law firm now. I'm here to share a few words of blessing." she said. She then pointed to the plant she carried a while ago. "I got a plant over there." she said. Tempest and Neighsay turned back to see the plant.
"That's called a "stuckyi". I hear it survives well no matter what. You don't have to water it often. Won't that be easy?" she said. Neighsay then nodded with a bright, childish smile. "Anyway, I wanted your law firm to last long like that plant. And what should you do to last long? You shouldn't act recklessly or foolishly. Just lie low and be silent as the grave."
Tempest innocently nodded while Neighsay still had the child smile in his face. "Thank you for your tip on survival." Tempest said. Harshwhinny then turned to Neighsay.
"You, too, Mr. Neighsay Cassano." Harshwhinny said. "Do you understand that?". Neighsay nodded with the same smile in his face. "I'm still older than you! Shouldn't you at least answer me!?". Neighsay then said in sign language, rubbing his Adam's apple with the same cute smile in his face once again.
"All right. Enough of that. Let's have a brief conversation! Okay?" Harshwhinny said. Neighsay took a silent deep breath.
"Okay." Neighsay said in an altered, weak voice.
"I couldn't hear you. Say that again." Harshwhinny said. Neighsay then leaned closer to her ear.
"Okay." he said in a weird voice. His voice was somehow like squeaky boy. He tried to hide his accent. Harshwhinny's reaction was awkward.
"All right, then. I won't see you off. Goodbye." Tempest stood up. Neighsay kept making his squeaky voice as he clears his throat.
"Sure. I should leave when I'm asked to leave." Harshwhinny said as she stood up and looked at the duo. "I'm off.". As she walked off, she heard Neighsay's weird voice again."
"Gosh, it's hot!" Neighsay said with his altered voice. Harshwhinny turned to him with confusion and awkwardness. He sounded like a whimpering kid. "Mr. Grubber! I need some napkins! It's hot."
Harshwhinny immediately left the awkward scenario and the office. "This is very confusing. There's no way he's a bozo like that." she said as she walked off.
Meanwhile, Flam was reading a book in a common office at Wingtip. He watched over the other lawyers with a glare. Caramel and Flim were chatting near an elevator.
"I will try to handle what you asked as soon as possible." Caramel said.
"Okay. Have a good day." Flim said as he walked into the elevator.
"Thank you. Bye."
"Farewell, Sir."
Flam then stood up with a smirk and got up to leave until Caramel called him.
"Flam!" Caramel called.
"What's up, boss?" Flam said.
"I told you to stop calling me that!" Caramel said with a hand that looks like he was about to slap him.
"When did you..."
Caramel sighed. "Your boss needs to see you in his office."
Later on, both Caramel and Flam were alone in the office. Flam stopped looking down and turned his eyes to Caramel. He then raised the corners of his mouth with his teeth shown as an innocent smile.
"This so frustrating!" Caramel said as he got down to a couch. "As of today, you are officially...". Flam kept looking at Caramel, waiting for the answer. "...a partner at Wingtip."
"What?! Me?!"
"Yes! You! That's right! You!" Caramel said. "Gosh. But why you!? Who the heck are you?!"
"Pardon?"
"Never mind. We should negotiate your annual salary." Caramel said. "Do that with the director. Do you need your own office? You should get one. You like Tempest. Take her office."
"What?! How could I..."
"You find it weird too, right?! I'm very unhappy right now." Caramel said. "But I've got no choice. He..."
Flam just responded with a nod.
"Just work hard." Caramel said. Flam looked down.
"Okay."
"Back to work."
"Okay."
"Get out!" Caramel shouted.
"Okay! I'm leaving!" Flam said as he rushed out of the office.
"That fool..." Caramel said. "Why does Chairman Flim want me to promote a fool like him?! Is Flam a relative of his...?"
As Flam walked to Tempest's former office, he stopped short and started happy dancing to her former office.
At the Lawist Law firm, a projector was being used and it was a PowerPoint about "Bringing Destruction to Babel Chemicals". The power point may have a lot of colors, but it almost looked old-fashioned or childish. Tempest was in front in the board while Neighsay and Grubber sat down, looking at the slide.
"Let me begin." Tempest said. "There are 42 victims in total. And nine of them are dead. They all had blood-related diseases. All the victims died from leukemia."
"The report said it was caused by BLSD. What is that?" Neighsay said.
"Well, that's..." Tempest responded. As grubber moved to the next slide, a bling childish sound was produced. "Damn it." she said. The slides were blocked by Tempest when she literally went to the center and turned to Grubber. "Why did you make it look so tacky?"
"I'm sorry. I just like vivid colors." Grubber said. Tempest sighed as she turned back to the slide to explain Neighsay's question.
"It's a chemical expected to revolutionize the next-gen display panels. But its manufacture was banned in the US because of its toxicity." Tempest said.
"It's just like RDU-90. It shouldn't be used on creatures." Neighsay added.
"That proves how heinous they are." Tempest said. "Next, it's the lawyer representing the victims in the Babel lawsuit." she spoke. Grubber then went to the next slide, and it revealed a big picture of a stallion making a weird smile.
"What the heck!?" Tempest shrieked. "I thought he was a ghost!"
"Sorry." Grubber said. "I'm not particularly good at taking screenshots of the interview." he said, and Tempest turned back to the PowerPoint with a visible eye roll.
"This is Flash Magnus, who represents the victims. Also known as "Stinking Magnus". He's one dirty lawyer."
"Let me tell you this...as a lawyer who specializes in industrial accidents suits. You must settle with the company! When you file an industrial accident lawsuit against a conglomerate, the more you waste, you will receive less settlement...!"
"They filed the lawsuit two months ago. The first hearing is in five days, but he keeps recommending them to settle." Grubber added.
"Recommending to settle isn't against the law." Neighsay said.
"Of course not." Tempest said. "But what if he is already in on it with Wingtip in trying to persuade the victims' families?"
"Where's your proof?" Neighsay said.
"It came from my informant, so I can't tell you." Tempest said, as clutched her chest with her ballpen.
"I bet it's not that reliable." Neighsay said.
"You seem to occasionally look down on me. That's your thing, right?" Tempest said.
"But you will..." Grubber spoke. "...tell me, right?"
"No." Tempest said, wagging her ball pen with a fluffy bunny head on top. Grubber just responded with a nod.
"And the hospital?" Neighsay responded. Tempest turned to him. "It says here that the hospital belongs to Babel."
"That's right. Before Haernum became Babel, Farnum Flim Skim's father, Hondo Flanks, founded it. Director Claude of Haernum Medical Center. He's also the chief of the Hemato-oncology Department.
"Are you sure you have nothing to do with Babel Chemicals."
"We have nothing to do with them!"
"He fabricated the diagnosis is quash the insurance lawsuit. He's a quack who doesn't give a shit about the oath he made." Tempest added.
"And the press?" Neighsay asked.
"Make sure Babel stands out in the articles!"
"Director September of Equestria Daily. He sucks up to Babel to get more advertisers on his paper. They're trashy reporters." Tempest added.
"Make it look believable!"
"When researchers cough up blood and collapse, they publish articles like this. They are quite the assholes, aren't they?"
The slide now shows 4 stallions.
"Evil conglomerate, quack doctors, trashy reporters, and lowlife lawyers!" Tempest said, pointing to each stallion. She then turned to the Grubber and Neighsay. "They're the whole package. No one can beat them. Of course, except for me." Tempest said proudly, pointing her ball pen right at her self.
"We should represent the victims." Neighsay responded.
"Oh..." Grubber responded. "There are only five days left until the trial." he said, while Tempest sat in a chair. "Even if we represent them, the trial will be tough."
"He has a point. If we go to trial unprepared like this, we'll be crushed." Tempest said. "I bet whatever evidence that crooked submitted would be insufficient."
"We'll think about that later." Neighsay said.
"Even if you try to persuade him, I'll doubt he'll give in that easily." Tempest said.
As Neighsay fiddles with his lighter once more, he answered: "I don't need to do that."
"Then, what?" Tempest asked. Neighsay continued to fiddle with his lighter as he looked at Flash Magnus's weird face. What was his plan? Tempest and Neighsay went to his office. Tempest sat in front of Flash while Neighsay stayed walking around the small room.
"So you're saying...that I should resign from representing my clients?" Flash said. "Why would I?"
"I heard the only thing you're doing is recommending them to settle." Tempest said.
"That's because the victims' families are in bad shape." Flash said.
"Beware of the first pony who recommends to settle." Neighsay spoke, while he spray some plants with water. "That pony is..."
"A traitor." Tempest answered. She then leaned to the desk, looking at Flash with serious eyes. "A traitor who offers to settle is strangled to death in movies. Attacked from behind!" she hissed wildly.
"Well..." Flash responded. "I wanted to fight at first. But I realized it'd be in vain."
"You should have at least pretended to throw a punch before recommending them to settle! You have no conscience." Tempest said.
"Only a vulgar law broker would do something like this, not a lawyer." Neighsay said, as he patted Tempest's shoulder once.
"Or a piece of trash." Tempest added.
Flash scoffed and turned to the duo. "Let me explain. Okay?". Neighsay was walking around when he ended up facing a shelf full of documents. "I have to grasp the situation quickly so I can get a better deal for the victims.". Neighsay reached out a document and propped it in his hands. Before Flash could stop the stallion, Tempest spoke.
"Didn't you make that decision to help yourself, not to help the victim?" Tempest said.
"To help myself? My goodness. What do you take me for?" Flash said. While Neighsay was looking around, he turned to a painting that was hung in the wall behind Flash. A sudden, Neighsay notices something strange about the artwork in the office. "Hey, here's a thing about me. I always fight for my clients! I fight on their behalf only thinking about how to do what's best for them!" Flash said. Flash didn't notice Neighsay slightly behind him.
Neighsay saw a corner of the frame was loose. "That's all I have in mind! I haven't slept since I took the case!" Flash shouted. Neighsay then faced in front of the painting, and looked at it from top to bottom. "Look at all the medicine I take! How can you...!"
"Do you know what the only evil thing I can't condone?" Neighsay spoke behind him. The soft orange pegasus turned to Neighsay. "It's hypocrisy. When a hypocrite repents, even that is a lie."
"I can't believe this!" Flash shouted.
"Let's make this simple. Send us a document that says you will resign from this case by tomorrow." Tempest said.
"Let's say I do that." Flash said. Tempest then leaned over his desk with her hands. "Do you think my clients will accept that? You have no idea how much the families trust me."
"That's none of my business. Just send the document. And make sure to pay the courier." Tempest squeaked. As she got up and grabbed her purse, Flash got up as well and slammed his desk.
"What if I can't do that?!" Flash said.
"I plan to send you to a deserted place." Neighsay said, walking towards Flash with eerie. "A place where creatures can't hear you whatever you yap about."
"Go ahead! Do it!" Flash said. Neighsay slightly face-palmed that moment. "Don't you think I can see right through you? Look at these assholes." Flash chuckled. "You're threatening me to steal my case and make some money!" he said.
Tempest then slammed her desk and glared at Flash. "Yes, we are threatening you, but that's not why. Our goal is to keep fighting."
"And to win, of course." Neighsay added. Tempest walked to the exit while Neighsay turned to Flash. "You should clean your office." he said. Flash sighed as they both walked out. Neighsay then turned to him with an innocent smile before he rushed to Tempest.
Meanwhile, Flim and the Babel executives were in the Babel boardroom. Chairman Flim is treating the executives to a very spicy bowl of Frutta Di Mare All’acqua Pazza. Flim did really handle the heat. The executives even heard him slurping.
"Why aren't you eating?" Flim said. With just a few words, the executives when went for the bowl and ate what's in it. "If you don't want to eat it, give me a plan. The stocks are plummeting and the tabloids are saying it was arson." he mentioned. The executives just took a deep breath in and out from how spicy it was. "How come you creatures still haven't come up with a plan? Why is that!?" Flim shouted.
"Hey, give me water!" one of the executives said.
"Not until he finishes the bowl!" Flim shouted.
"Water, my ass." one of them said.
Suddenly, somethings buzzed in the table. Flim took a look at his side and saw someone was calling him. The creature who was calling Flam was labeled "HIM". With the executives busy with the soup's extreme spiciness, Flim took of his napkin, got his phone, and hurriedly left the room.
"Yes, sir." Flim answered.
"Are you torturing them with spicy food again?" Flam said through the phone. Flam was organizing Tempest's former desk.
"No, I'm not." Flim nervously said.
"Is a high tolerance of spicy food something to brag about?" Flam said.
"I wasn't bragging. I was just teaching them a lesson. All they do is talk." Flim said.
"Stop fooling around and listen carefully." Flam said. "Go to Babel Chemicals with a reporter from Equestria Daily today. And make it sound as if BLSD is ready to hit the market. Got it?"
"What? But it's not ready yet. Can we do that?"
"Hey! Hey! Chairman Skim!" Flam said. "These conglomerates in Canterlot are just like body builders in steroids. Whether it's a lie or an exaggeration, a good appearance is all they care about. Got it?"
"Yes, sir. I got it." Flim said. "Okay. Bye.". As soon as the call ended, Flim started to twitch his body. He then leaned against the wall in a concerned, panic face. His body couldn't help but just twitch.
"Damn it. This is so humiliating." Flim said.
Meanwhile, Neighsay and Tempest were outside, and a food truck was parked outside. They sat on a single table with drinks and a hotdog.
"I told her to hold the ketchup." Neighsay sighed, as he looked at the food truck driver. He used a plastic knife to scoop out the ketchup from his treat, and put them on the tissue. "There's too much."
"You know, persuading the families into firing Mr. Magnus would've been easier." Tempest said.
"That would be harder. That's why I didn't go for it." Neighsay said.
"I've persuaded hundreds of clients like them. I only need 5 minutes." Tempest said.
"Asking them to fight is like...dragging them to the pits of hell." Neighsay said.
"I wouldn't ask them to fight like some soldiers!" Tempest exclaimed. "I have my ways." she said with a smirk. Neighsay didn't bothered her, even with a single word. "I can do it." she said. Neighsay tilted his head in confusion.
"You want to bet on it?" Tempest said.
"Sure. Let's do that." Neighsay said.
Tempest hummed. "What should we bet?". Suddenly, she saw four high school colts. She watched them very closely.
"Ready or not, rock-paper-scissors!". The one who lost got his bangs raised and flicked in the forehead.
"A finger flick!" Tempest exclaimed, as she turned to Neighsay.
"A finger flick?" Neighsay spoke. As he imitated a finger flick, he turned to her. "Like this?"
"Yes. That. A single finger flick with all your might!" she hissed.
"We're not foals." Neighsay said. "I don't hit females even if it's a game."
"This isn't like that. It's a simple punishment for losing the bet." Tempest said as she took a bite. "If I lose, I'll let you hit me."
"No." Neighsay said. "I plan to live by my principles." he said as he took a bite from his hotdog.
"Anyway, watch and learn." Tempest said. And yes, Neighsay did watched.
They now went to the boardroom of Mr. Magnus's client. Tempest did told him to watch and learn, but what did Neighsay saw? Tempest was dramatically shedding crocodile tears in front of the client. Neighsay watched her with a mix of awkwardness, shock, and confusion. As Neighsay prepared cups of coffee, Tempest spoke with emotion:
"Everyone here...The victims..." Tempest said. Neighsay bought the tray, placed each cup to the client members on the table, as he turned to Tempest. "I'm only saying this because you are like my family. I will be your family and fight with you. You cannot give up!"
"I'm sorry." one of them said. "But we will see this through with Mr. Magnus."
"Please, listen to me." Tempest whimpered. "Sister. My brothers." she said, then she turned to the other side. "Big sister. Can't you see I'm genuine?"
"Why do you keep telling us to start a fight that we can't win?" one of them said.
"After the babel Pharmaceuticals' lawsuit, we made up our decision for good." another said. "We will not fight them."
Neighsay continued walking around behind Tempest.
"Babel could've lost if the victims' families held out longer." Tempest cried.
"We heard their lawyer died because he coerced witness to perjure in exchange for money." one of them said. As Tempest heard those words, her dramatic expression changed to a serious one. Neighsay turned to her while he was reading a few files.
Tempest turned to them in a glare. "What did you just say?"
"It was on the news. Didn't you see it?" one of them said. Tempest scoffed, looking at her.
"You know firsthand how the news is full of lies, and you still believe the news?" Tempest said.
"Why are you taking it out on us?" one of them said.
"The lawyer who died fighting Babel Pharmaceuticals...is my father." Tempest said. The client members looked at Tempest in shock. "Lawyer Caballeron.". The client members looked at each other in confusion. "Since my father couldn't beat them, I shouldn't fight them, right? Because I'll lose anyway. But do you know why I want to fight? Because we might be able to beat them in a few punches. I can see that. That's why."
"Gosh, I'm sorry to say this, but it doesn't look that way on us." one of the members said.
"Please trust me! We can beat them!" Tempest said.
"We're signing the settlement papers tomorrow. We already made our decision." one of them said. "Please, stop confusing us and leave."
"I'm not confusing you! I'm giving you hope!" Tempest said. "Why won't you trust me?! I can win this.". All of a sudden, a megaphone in Neighsay's hands started alarming a very loud sound. Neighsay tried to switch the sound off, then he turned to the surprised creatures with a slight smile. He grabbed a small microphone connected to the megaphone.
"Testing..." Neighsay said through the megaphone. "It's working now.". He then went in front beside Tempest, still holding the megaphone. "Do you know why you can't win?" Neighsay said. "Because you didn't have...lawyers like us." he said as he glanced at Tempest.
Tempest glanced back at him. All she knew was Neighsay looking down on her, but what he did was very unexpected. She thought he would disappoint her with such words. He would treat her like she is a lowlife lawyer, but instead, he stood up for her. Is it because they slandered Caballeron, or to break the tension and get the client's attention?
"Lawyers like us are used to winning, don't get tired, and never have any doubts. If you turn us down, you're basically throwing away the chance to win." Neighsay said through the megaphone.
At Babel Chemicals, Flim was in the car's backseat, with his driver driving hurriedly to the place.
"There he is!" one guest shouted.
Flim immediately got out of the car and was quickly gathered by reporters. The reporters kept their cameras on Flim as he walked inside. The banner outside was labeled: "Babel Chemicals has succeeded in developing BLSD.". Two stallions opened the door for Flim's way in. The executives were standing in the right while the Babel Chemicals's employees were in the opposite side.
Flim then went in front of the executives, looking at the employees. "Babel's BLSD will finally get to see the light of day. It's..." he said. At that moment, cameras started flashing as Flim chuckled. "It's a dream come true. Now, the display panel market in Canterlot will undergo a rapid change thanks to our BLSD. I thank our dear researchers. Thank you so much for your hard work." he said as he and the creatures at the back clapped. Flim then went to the employees and shook hooves, claws, wings, and et cetera, but something was wrong with the last employee at the first row.
It was the monk's friend, and he looks like he was twitching. He held his chest very hard from the pain. As Flim was about to shake hands with him, the employee cough out some blood, staining Flim's suit and closed mouth.
"Hey!"
"What's going on!?"
"What happened?!"
"What the hell?!" Flim shouted, wiping blood from his mouth.
"To the hospital, now!"
"Call 911 now and move him!"
"No, not him! I'm talking about me, asshole!" Flim shouted.
"Let's go!"
"Blood!"
"Take me to the hospital!"
"What happened?!"
"He's bleeding."
"What's going on!?"
"Hey, call 911 now!"
"Damn it." one of the employees said.
"Come on, we have to help him!"
"Sign the paper or we won't take you to the hospital. Okay?" the employee whispered at the the monk's friend.
"What happened?! Golden Gavel!"
"Come on..."
Later on, Soarin, the piano player and the Ant Company were having lunch at Donut Joe's resto.
"Gosh, come on."
"What?"
"What's this?"
"I mean, why would thugs like them have a meal at a place like this?" the piano player whispered at Soarin.
"I know, right?" Soarin whispered back. "It's not like they're the Mafia.". As they returned eating, Starstreak's right hand stallion shrieked from pain, and he pulled out a rusty nail from his mouth!
"What...?" Starstreak said, looking at the nail in shock.
"Why is that in there?!" Joe exclaimed. The other henchstallions looked at Stygian and Joe.
"Unbelievable." Starstreak said. "How did a nail get mixed up in the spaghetti? We should upload this to all the social media pages." Starstreak said while Joe and stygian looked in great terror.
While his right hand stallion yelped, he spoke: "I think it pierced my mouth-."
"And it's rusty, too." Starstreak said. "This is bad. You never got the DPT vaccine."
"No." his stallion spoke.
"What if you get tetanus? Do you have any pencilin?!"
"Come on!" Stygian yelled, hanging his fist on a table. As he walked towards them, he said: "I see that you've decided to play dirty. Trying to drive us out, are you?"
Angry, Starstreak's right hand stallion flips one of the table full of dishes and food. "You're asking for a beating, aren't you?! Why you...!". Before he could beat up Stygian, a pair walked in. It was Neighsay and Tempest.
"Hold it!" Tempest shouted, as she walked towards the three stallions.
"Just pay up and leave." Neighsay said.
"Oh, look. I'm done." Starstreak said. "How much is it?"
"How about this!? How about this nail?!" Starstreak's stallion said, showing the nail in front of Neighsay's face. "It was in my food!"
"What are you doing with that, Dumb-Bell?! Don't do that." Starstreak said. Without Dumb-Bell paying attention to the stallion in front of him, Neighsay slapped Dumb-Bell's face downward, causing him to loose balance. Stygian, Joe, Soarin, the piano player, and Starstreak's other stallions , and of course, Tempest gasped.
"Sit down! Stay calm and sit down!" Starstreak panicked.
"Let's go!" Starstreak's stallions shouted.
"Damn it!" Starstreak said. Neighsay then hardly kicked a chair toward them in an active manner, causing two stallion's to trip.
"You asshole!" one of the stallions said, as he was about to punch Neighsay, but then Neighsay held his fist, kicked the stallion in the crotch, and slapped his face, causing him to yelp in pain and fall to the ground. Another then punched Neighsay on the side of his chest. Neighsay returned the move by punching his face, stomach and head. Another stallion then threw a glass at Neighsay, but Neighsay simply grabbed the glass as if it was a simple pass. The piano player cheered after Neighsay's stunt.
The piano player, Stygian, and Joe clapped their hands while Tempest looked at Neighsay, amazed. Neighsay then put the glass in the table.
"I told you to stop! How will you get through life with no self-control?!" Starstreak shouted. The stallion who tried to throw the glass at Neighsay grabbed a knife. Neighsay grabbed a table cloth.
"Hey, stop that!". Before the henchstallion can even harm or stab Neighsay, Neighsay slapped him across his face with cloth. The stallion tried to kick Neighsay, but Neighsay slapped his leg. Neighsay then wringed his neck with the table cloth, and hardly shoved him aside.
"Disruptive customers may face maximum fine of 15 million bits fine or a five-year prison sentence depending on the offense. You'd better watch it." Tempest said. Starstreak just got up and walked toward one of his stallions. Neighsay took breath ins and outs as he stroke his mane.
"Are you happy now? You idiot." Starstreak said. "You're embarrassing, so just get up.". He then turned to Stygian and Joe. "Keep your restaurant clean! Let's go!". The stallions then tried to walk out. "Go. Hurry. Go.".
"Did you pay?" Neighsay spoke. Starstreak then harshly turned to Neighsay.
"I was going to do that next." Starstreak said. "Here goes my hand to my back pocket~" he hummed. "Goodness. What's the rush!?" he said, as the corners of Neighsay's lips slightly raised. He then pick paper money in his pocket. "Here you go."
"It's 95,000 bits." Joe nervously said. "You need to pay more.". Starstreak then got more in his wallet.
"Here." Starstreak said, as Joe nervously grabbed the money.
"Sir! Sir!" Dumb-Bell called. "I can't open my eyes! I can't see anything! Where are you, sir?!"
"This way." Starstreak spoke.
"Okay. Make some sounds. Clap."
"Hurry."
"This way."
"Be careful. One, two."
"Oh, my babies!" Joe cried, kneeling in front of the crashed dishes.
"One, two."
"My plates! What do I do?" Joe cried. "My goodness."
Neighsay then reached for his wallet in his jacket's pocket. "I'm sorry. I'll pay for the plates."
"What?" Joe said. Neighsay give him paper money, and Joe can't believe his eyes.
"That's a lot of money." Tempest said. Neighsay simply walked off, and Tempest gave Joe's shoulder pat as she looked at him. She then followed Neighsay, and Stygian comforted Joe. Joe kept his eyes on the money, while the piano player looked at Neighsay with wingding eyes.
"He's not even hiding it now." the piano player said, as she blushed. "He's just outright hot."
In the Lawist office, Grubber looked very clean in hair and suit. His hair was fixed and he wore a simple but neat suit.
"Jeez. I'm so sick of those thugs." Tempest said as she and Neighsay walked in.
"Excuse me." Grubber said rushing towards them. "I'm sorry. I need to leave early today."
"Is something wrong?" Tempest said.
"What should I do? I have a blind date. It's been three years." Grubber said. Tempest gasped and chuckled, while Neighsay smiled.
"You should go! Hurry! Good luck!" Tempest cheered.
"I can do it!" Grubber said, making a heart sign above his forehead.
"Don't talk too much!" Tempest said.
"Okay!" Grubber said, rushing out.
"And one more thing!" Tempest called as she opened the window to see Grubber. "And don't play any weird games!"
"Got it!" Grubber said. As Tempest closed the window, she realized something.
"Oh, right." Tempest whispered to herself. "The finger flick.". She then turned to Neighsay. "Should we go for dinner?". When she turned to him, he had a weird gesture in his hands.
"What are you doing?" Tempest said. Neighsay exhaled as he took of his coat jacket.
"We made a bet earlier." Neighsay said.
"You said you didn't hit females even if it was a game." Tempest said. Neighsay then took of his wristwatch.
"You said it was okay." Neighsay said, putting his wristwatch aside.
"Yes, I did say that." Tempest said. Neighsay then rotated and stretched his arms. "Do you need to warm up just for a finger flick?". Neighsay the shook his hands as fast as he could.
"Shall we proceed?"
""Proceed"? Am I being sentenced?!" Tempest said. Neighsay just gestured his fingers at Tempest to come closer . "Okay. What's all the fuss?" she said. Neighsay just stood patiently. Tempest just nervously walked closer to Neighsay.
"It's against your principles." Tempest said, coming closer to Neighsay. "Fine. Do it!" she said as she cutely close her eyes. Neighsay kept glaring at her. He can't focus because of her slight twitching. He even checked if she was looking or not.
Tempest slowly opened one eyes, then the other. "Get it over with.". Neighsay the got even closer to Tempest. For a sudden, he felt something strange. His face soften with caring eyes.
And for the first time, he actually started blushing very light. She looked cute with squinting, closed eyes. He even started smiling along with his blush. She looked very babyish. He went too close to comfort. To snap him out, he flicked Tempest's forehead, but it was very light. Tempest lightly grunted, touching her forehead.
"What was that? Do it again." Tempest spoke in a cute voice. Neighsay just went for his wristwatch and put in around his wrist.
"I tried, but I missed." Neighsay said. "Until next time, then.". He put a suitcase in the table, and he went looking for something. "Right. It's over here.". Suddenly, Flam sneaked in to the entrance.
Seeing Tempest, Flam went behind her. "Tempest!" Flam exclaimed as he surprised her.
"Jeez!" Tempest shrieked. As she punched Flam's shoulder, she said: "Don't sneak up on me like that!". Flam saw Neighsay in the document shelf.
"Hi." Flam waved. Neighsay turned to him and waved back. "Do you want to guess what happened today!?". Tempest raised an eyebrow at him. Flam then started dancing, and he slipped as he kneel in front of Tempest.
"Can you feel my heartbeat!?" Flam exclaimed and Tempest looked at him with awkwardness. "I...became an official partner. I'm no longer an intern. I'm a partner of Wingtip! Yeah!". Tempest just walked away.
"Right. Good for you." Tempest said.
"Wait." Flam walked towards Tempest. "You don't seem happy. I'm a partner now. Partner. Hello~".
"Yes. Good for you." Tempest said, lightly patting her bunny head ball pen topper against her neck.
"Congratulations." Neighsay spoke.
"You're so mean." Flam said to Tempest.
"It was only natural! Did you want to be an intern forever?" Tempest said. Flam turned to her.
"You didn't congratulate me properly." Flam said as he sat down.
"To make up for that, I'll buy you something delicious." Tempest said. "Let's have roasted poblano soup. The spiciest there is."
Flam looked down then turned to her. "Can't we get something else?"
"Forget it." Tempest said. "I'm buying, so it's up to me."
"Okay! Fine! I'll eat. Let's go." Flam said.
"I'm good. Enjoy your meal!" Neighsay said. Flam suddenly laughed.
"Creatures from Trottingham can't eat spicy food." Flam said. "Let's go."
"I guess he can't handle it." Tempest blurted as she walked off with Flam. Within a few seconds, Neighsay banged the documents on the table, catching Flam and Tempest's attention.
"Trottinghamian creatures love spicy chilis! They even carry pepperoni with them. And I do too." Neighsay said furiously, walking toward Flam. "They're 20,000 on the Scoville scale."
"I love bird's eye chilis from Thighland. That's 100,000 Scoville." Flam said with a smile.
"I love Red Savina haberanos in Mexicolt. They're 300,000 Scoville.". Tempest was busy watching them chat in the center.
"Do you know ghost peppers from Hindia? They are 800,000 Scoville." Flam said.
"You can eat 800,000-Scoville chilis?" Neighsay asked.
"Yes."
"I guess you can handle some spicy food." Neighsay said.
"Yes."
"Shall we go for poblano soup?"
"Sure."
"Let's go."
"Let's go."
"There's no chili that's 800,000 Scoville." Neighsay spoke, as he trotted along with Flam.
"What's up with them?" Tempest said awkwardly, as she rushed to the two stallions.
When they arrived and the food was served, Neighsay and Flam looked at each other with competitive looks. Neighsay already started eating while Flam and Tempest had a chat.
"Thank you." Tempest said. "Did you get any cases?"
"Yes. The elks filed a lawsuit." Flam said.
"The elks?" Tempest said.
"An environmental organization filed a lawsuit on behalf of the elks against TQ E&C for building a tunnel. How absurd." Flam said.
"That's common in the US and Europa. I guess you didn't know." Neighsay said.
"I see. I guess I didn't know that much." Flam said as he started eating. Neighsay could hear their slurping.
"This hits the spot." Tempest said. Flam sharply exhaled from the heat.
"What kind of lawsuits do you handle in Trottingham?" Flam said.
"Company disputes and mediation." Neighsay answered.
"That must've been a tough job. And there's the Mafia in Trottingham." Flam said. Neighsay stopped slurping, hearing the word "Mafia".
"Actually, the Mafia don't meddle in the lives of regular creatures and businesses. They do businesses amongst themselves. They don't cross the line." Neighsay added.
""The line"." Flam repeated.
"No more shoptalk." Tempest said. "This won't do. Want more chili oil?"
"What?". Before they could say anything, Tempest already had pour the oil in their bowls.
"I'm actually good." Flam said nervously. Neighsay just looked at his bowl and continued eating. Without anyone looking, Flam poured water into his glass, and before he could grab the glass, Neighsay got it and drank it all up. Flam then got another glass.
"It's too spicy for you. Have something else." Flam said.
"This is delicious." Neighsay said.
"Is that so?" Flam said as he drank his glass. "Then, are you guys working together?". Neighsay nodded, but Tempest had a different answer.
"Well, for now." Tempest said.
"Don't make Tempest's life difficult." Flam said as his hiccupped. "You look a little hard-boiled."
"Do I?" Neighsay asked.
"It's just a feeling I got!" Flam said. "You seem gentle on the outside, but you might be cold and cruel on the inside." Flam said, licking a lemon.
"I'm not like that. Just eat." Neighsay said. Flam just continued chewing the lemon, chuckling at him. Without Tempest looking, Neighsay poured half of the bottle's water into his soup. Then, Flam poured all the chili oil in Neighsay's bowl as well.
"Enjoy your meal, Mr. C." Flam said.
"You sure can eat spicy food." Tempest said.
Later on, the monk heard what happened to Golden Gavel. He rushed into the emergency ward of a hospital.
"Golden Gavel..." the monk trembled. He rushed to a bed, and there lies Golden Gavel.
"Hey, what did they say? Did I cough up too much blood? This is embarrassing." Golden Gavel said.
"That's not the problem! Look at you!" the monk trembled.
"Hey, if I die, go to the mountain and pray for me. So I can go peacefully." Golden Gavel said as he coughed.
"Stop talking nonsense." the monk cried.
"Damn it. When the others collapsed, I never thought it would happen to me." Gavel said. "Anyway, I can't believe that chairman. How can he make a fuss...because my blood got on him when I was the one who collapsed?"
"Don't get too worked up." the monk cried.
"Yes."
"Focus on your breathing." he said. "Okay?"
"Hey." Gavel spoke. "I'm okay. I'm Golden Gavel from Bales. Golden Gavel." he said as he clutches his fist against the monk's chest. The monk continued crying as Golden Gavel took a rest.
The monk was now at the waiting room, holding a rosary. Claude came towards him.
"Are you the guardian?"
"Yes." he answered. "My friend is an orphan. He doesn't have anyone but me. So I'm...But what does he have?"
"It's chronic myelogenous leukemia." he answered. The monk was shocked and saddened. "It's a hematologic malignancy from a genetic mutation. Did he smoke or work a lot?"
"Well, yes. But he only smoked a little. He did seem to be swamped with work. Is that the cause?" the monk said.
"The cause hasn't been identified yet, but it could have been a factor."
"My friend works at Babel Chemicals. Does it have anything to do with his job?" he said.
"Babel Chemicals takes their protocol very seriously." Claude said. "If there was a problem at work, your friend probably failed to follow the protocol."
Later, Neighsay and Flam were out of the resto they ate. Because of the spiciness, Flam drank one small carton while Neighsay had 4 times the milk cartons than what Flam drank.
"Goodness..." Tempest said as she got out of the restaurant. "You two look like hell from trying to show off.". Flam then got off the bench he and Neighsay were sitting in.
"We should go for round two." Flam said.
"Thus isn't the time for that!" Tempest said. "Go get ready for trial."
"I can do that tomorrow." Flam said. "Right, Mr. Cassano?"
"Listen to her." Neighsay said, in a weak voice. He almost looked like he got drunk.
"Come on." Flam said, as Neighsay sharply exhaled. Suddenly, Tempest's phone started buzzing in her coat jacket.
"Tempest Shadow speaking." she responded. "Hello Monk Pharynx."
"Is she a Buddhist now?" Flam said to Neighsay.
"Don't talk to me." Neighsay said.
"Okay. See you soon." Tempest said as the call ended. She then walked towards Neighsay and Flam.
"You can't handle spicy food at all." Flam said.
"We should head back to the plaza now." Tempest said.
"What is it?"
"Go home. Call me if you need help." Tempest said. She then turned to Neighsay and gently put her hands in his shoulders. "Let's go. Heave ho. Heave ho.". Neighsay grunted as he tried to get back up. "You'll be okay. Heave ho." Tempest said.
"Heave ho. Heave ho. Heave ho." Tempest chanted, still clinging into Neighsay's shoulders.
"Tempest!" Flam called.
"One, two." Tempest spoke. As both Tempest and Neighsay were leaving, Flam looked at the duo with anger...and jealousy.
All members were gathered at the Canterlot Temple and it looks like Neighsay is now feeling conscious after a spice.
"Was I being lied then?" Pharynx said.
"Yes. The director lied to you." Tempest said. "Haenum Medical Center is owned by Babel."
"Anyone related to Babel is a scumbag!" the dry cleaner said.
"How could this happen?!" Cheese said. "He used to be so healthy!"
"His diagnosis was-" Pharynx said.
"Chronic myelogenous leukemia." Grubber answered.
"Yes, that's it." Pharynx said.
"He got it from working with a toxic substance called BLSD. Of course, the hospital said it was his fault." Neighsay said.
"Then isn't this an industrial accident?" Pharynx said.
"Yes, it is. There are many victims." Neighsay added.
"Shouldn't he fight Babel?" the dry cleaner said.
"No one wants to fight them." Tempest said.
"Why the hell not?!" the snack bar owner said. "I would've sued them already!"
"Is it because they offered a lot of settlement money?" Cheese's wife said.
"Not really." Tempest said. "They want to settle it quietly because they know they'll lose."
"But they didn't even try fighting them. They ought to at least try something!" Cheese said.
"Stop it." his wife whispered.
"This is frustrating." Cheese said.
"Poor thing. All he did was work." Pharynx said.
"Please help Golden Gavel." the snack bar owner said. "He was such a decent stallion."
--In flashback--
One time, Golden Gavel repaired the dry cleaner stallion's washing machine.
"Mr. Shy, the cause of the water leakage was the trap gasket." Gavel said.
"What's that?" Mr. Shy said.
"It'll be done. I need ten minutes." Gavel chuckled.
"Okay."
There was also a time when Golden Gavel helped the snack bar owner with making and cooking snacks, dishes, and food.
"Goodness. Thank you so much for your help!" the snack bar owner exclaimed.
"Gosh."
"He helped fix our problems like his own."
"Thanks!"
"He was good-natured and polite. He was so nice."
Another time was when he helped Cheese Sandwich and his wife with their pawn shop.
"Why are you guys fighting?!" Gavel exclaimed.
"We're not fighting." Cheese's wife responded.
"Look."
"It's working. Do it."
"It's working?!"
"He was like family to us."
"It's working!"
"Why did you call him then!?"
"Hey!"
--At present--
"We'll do everything we can, so he's not wronged." Tempest said. Neighsay got a plastic bottle of water. Before he could drink it, he heard weird sounds from the monk who was fasting. Everyone turned to the monk as they heard it. Suddenly, the monk grunted as he made weird hand gestures and movements and at last had his hands clapped together.
"Sir. Are you finally done?" Pharynx said.
"I know this is sudden, but I've completed my training." the monk said. "I can help now."
"Sir." Grubber said. "Gosh.". The monk then walked towards Neighsay.
"Help us, merciful Buddha." Pharynx said.
"Congratulations."
Neighsay then stood up, then turned to Tempest. "We should get started."
"Okay." Tempest nodded. As Neighsay trotted off, Tempest followed him from behind.
The next day, Flash Magnus was just trotting down the hallway with a suit case in his hands, grooving to the music played in the area. He grooved as he tries to go to the office.
"I love this sound." Flash said, snapping his fingers. As he was in the door, he saw a sign. "What's this? "Flash Magnus not allowed"? What's this!?" he said. As he entered, he heard the monks chanting and singing. His officemates and the monks were bowing in front a sash labeled: "PRAYER FOR MR. CASSANO AND MS. TEMPEST'S VICTORY".
"What's going on?" Flash said. "Sir! Excuse me!" he called Pharynx. "What are you doing here?!"
Pharynx got up and turned to him. The rest turned to Flash with serious faces.
"Didn't you see you're not allowed here?" one client said.
"You have no shame!"
Flash chuckled. "What's going on?"
"That evil stallion!" the monk shouted.
""Evil"?" Flash said.
"You covered their eyes and ears by your lies. You are evil!" Pharynx said as he walked towards him.
""Evil"?!"
"Get out of here, evil-doer!" the monk shouted.
""Evil"?!"
"Evil stallion!"
"Why are you here?!" Flash said.
"Get out of here! Out!" the monk yelled, angrily marching towards him, while banging on his instrument. Pharynx followed the monk, while Flash hurriedly got out the room with fear.
"My gosh!" Flash yelled.
To his surprise, he found Tempest and Neighsay leaning against the walls of the hallway, and Tempest looked at him with a mischievous smirk. Tempest then took out something from her bag and showed it to Flash.
"The notice of your dismissal by the victims' families." Tempest spoke. Flash tried to grab it, but Tempest put it back inside her bag.
"What did you do to them?!" Flash said.
"You're the one who started this." Neighsay spoke. "Wingtip bribed you to urge them to settle."
"Do you have proof?!" Flash angrily yelled.
"What if we do?" Tempest said. "Don't you know where I used to work?"
"Wingtip...?" Flash said.
"A junior of mine at Wingtip..." Tempest said, stroking his shoulder. "...is in charge of buying off small crooked law firms like yours."
--In flashback--
Turns out she had a drink with the junior lawyer last night. A lot of drinks and food were in the table.
"Hey, listen." Tempest said in a "tired" voice.
"Yes?"
"I'm about to go broke." Tempest said.
"What?"
"I lost all of my money on stock investment." Tempest said. "Damn it! So I decided to throw in the white towel and took an interview for a job opening at a law firm. Was it Dharma and Blue Vault?"
"Dharma and Blue Vault?" he said, as Tempest nodded. "They work for us. Besides, that guy, Mr. Magnus, is just a bottom feeder." he said as Tempest looked at him with babydoll eyes. Tempest then turned to something beside the table. It was her phone, and it was recording their talk. The recording was then sent to the Attorney Magnus's former client.
The clients, and Neighsay listened to the recording in Tempest's phone. The clients were even more shocked throughout the recording.
"Does he only care about money?"
"Don't even get me started. He whines for more money even when we give him enough. He's so annoying."
While Neighsay was listening, he turned to Tempest, who had a smirk in her face once again.
"Unbelievable." one of the members said.
"Seriously?"
--Present--
"They never gave me money! They're lying!" Flash said. He tried to get through between the duo, Tempest and Neighsay blocked his way by moving a step to their opposite direction.
"Did you think we wouldn't be able to track the money since it was cash?" Tempest said.
"When creatures hide money, they keep it close to them. At home or their frequent spot, because...they need easy access." Neighsay said.
--In flashback--
While Tempest was recording the conversation in one of the Wingtip junior lawyers, Neighsay actually break in to Flash Magnus's office. He was dressed in an expensive black coat with gold details, somehow like a detective. He went behind the chair and turned on the flashlight, pointing to the painting. It was recalled that he found something suspicious about the canvas. He then put the flashlight between his teeth as he put his hands on the side of the painting.
"You shouldn't have left a trace if you hid it in the office. Or you could have cleaned better."
As he pulled the canvas, he found a safe.
"If you leave prints..."
He then pointed the flashlight on the keypad. As he followed Flash's fingerprints, it finally unlocked.
"Just like that?" Neighsay said. As he twisted the knob, what did he find? It was a stockpile full of thin, solid, gold. Neighsay took one from the safe, looking at its label.
--Present--
"Of course, we told the families what you were up to." Tempest said with a mischievous smirk.
"My money..." Flash said.
"Oh, right." Neighsay said as he snapped his finger and glanced at Tempest. "What did we do with the money?"
"What did we do?" Tempest responded. Flash's eyes widened. He then pushed them aside, causing them to bump against the wall. Flash quickly rushed to his office.
"Please-!" Flash nervously squeaked. As he arrived, he hurriedly opened to painting, and quickly typed in his keypad, but what he saw left him shook. No trace of gold and cash was in the safe.
Flash started sobbing, touching the inside surface of the safe, and suddenly, he felt a piece of paper. He quickly grabbed it and its header was labeled: "DONATION RECEIPT". It was also labeled it was a certificate of donation, and was donated by Flash Magnus, though it has been done as Neighsay and Tempest's plan. In the receipt, it was stated that 613,000,000 bits were donated in total. Flash yelled in agony before he fell from Neighsay's punch.
Tempest and Neighsay's next stop was Tempest's former law firm, Wingtip."
"Hi! Why don't you say hi?" Tempest said. As she entered a room of lawyers, she finally exclaimed.
"Hi, hi~!!!" Tempest vocalized as she walked in with Neighsay.
"Tempest!" Flam said.
"Yes?"
"What brings you here?" Flam said.
"You'll find out soon enough!" Tempest said. Seeing Tempest very joyful, Neighsay kept on smiling though he felt like he wanted to laugh, just even a bit.
"Hello." he spoked to Flam. Neighsay and Tempest both went on the office, leaving Flam confused.
Tempest and Neighsay sat on seperate couches, and Caramrl and Harshwhinny were doing the same. Tempest placed a beige envelope on the table. Caramrl then grabbed and opened it.
"The attorney representing the victims' families resigned from the case. With the consent from the victims' families, Lawist Law Firm to take on this case." Tempest said.
Harshwhinny scoffed as she streched her arms really wide.
"You brat. Tempest. You can't throw a grenade on my lap like this." Caramel said. He turned to Neighsay, who was "playing" and fiddling with the justice scale that was placed in a table between him and Tempest. "Leave that alone. It's expensive."
"We need to make a bang on order for creatures to notice us." Neighsay said. As Harshwhinny heard the voice, she went through a recap of her having the call with Neighsay.
"There's only one way creatures were born, but there are countless ways to die."
"I take it that you tonsils are fine now." Harshwhinny said.
"Right. Thanks to you." Neighsay said as he took a sip of tea from a mug.
"I get that you don't know how it's done in Canterlot, but you can't be this reckless. You'll be in big trouble." Caramel said.
Neighsay just showed an innocent smile. "You can't be this reckless just because you don't know me. You'll be in big trouble."
"You have some guts." Caramel laughed.
"I'll ask out of courtesy. Do you have any terms for settlement or advice for us?" Harshwhinny said.
"If Babel Chemicals admits their wrongdoings, apologize sincerely, and sufficiently compensates the victims, we'll drop the lawsuit." Tempest said.
"And cease the manufacture of BLSD and correst the lies they spread." Neighsay added as he drank his tea.
"Goodness. Forget it!" Harshwhinny said.
"You're practically asking me to shut down my law firm." Caramel said.
"I am very sorry...to hear that you think that way." Tempest said.
"It's up to you whether to accept or not. But...you should remember that freedom comes with a price." Neighsay said. "Let's go, Ms. Tempest."
"Sure." Tempest said.
"I won't see you off." Caramel said.
"Please don't!" Tempest squeaked. Neighsay opened the door for Tempest as she went through, and he followed her.
"So that stallion, Neighsay, stabbed Chairman Flim's pillow with syringes, killed your crystal balls, threatened you on the phone, and burnt down the Babel Pharmaceuticals warehouse!?"
"Why bring up my crystal balls? You're breaking my heart.", Harshwhinny said.
"Oh. But now that I've met him, it all seems to make sense. By the way, I kind of want him."
"From this point on, I'll take all the cases related to the Babel Group. Leave them all to me." Harshwhinny said.
"Exactly!" Caramel exclaimed, slamming his hands together. "Harshwhinny, that's what I wanted all along! Goodness!"
"Tell everyone in Bales." Harshwhinny said, taking off her shoes and lying down on the couch. "I'm done warming up. And I'm about to get in the ring."
"Okay. I'll post a photo." Caramel said, grabbing his phone. "Hashtag, here we come."
Tempest and Neighsay went back to the room full of lawyers.
"Why the long faces? What's the problem!?" Tempest shouted at them.
"Mr. Cassano!" Flam rushed. "You have to stop her. Babel is dangerous!"
"I'm sorry, but I don't plan to do that." Neighsay said, pressing a button for the elevator.
"You both know that. You saw what happened!"
"That's why we're doing this. We can win." Tempest said.
"Tempest. Please!"
"Let's go, Ms. Tempest." Neighsay said, as the duo walked in to the elevator. "Oh, right. Good luck with the elks."
"Good luck! Bye, Flam!" Tempest said, blowing a kiss and waving at him, while Neighsay is having that cute smile in his face, as the elevator door closes. After they were gone, Falm started to feel the same feeling ever since he found out they were working together. Anger and jealousy.
"Tempest. I can't keep going easy on you."
Time passed, when it was nighttime, Tempest watched from the plaza's rooftop, seeing busy lights and vehicles. Neighsay came towards her and went beside her.
"I didn't expect Ms. Harshwhinny to get involved herself." Tempest said. "It all worked out. I had to take her down eventually."
"Do you think you can win?" Neighsay said.
"She's just a rookie who just joined the firm, but it won't be easy." Tempest said.
"It's more than that. There's a 90-percent chance you'll lose." Neighsay blurted. Tempest turned to him.
"No! The chance is always 50-50." Tempest said. Neighsay turned to her took a few steps near her.
"Before you fight, you must consider three things first. Their skill, their greed,...and their cunning." Neighsay said.
"I'm not a pushover either." Tempest said. "I am skilled and I'm also greedy."
"Your skill and your greed don't allow you to harm others. Don't work yourself up. Winning the first hearing isn't our goal." Neighsay said.
"But that'll make the second hearing more difficult." Tempest said.
"If we can't win, we have to make sure no one can win or lose. You have to follow my advice this time. " Neighsay said.
"I've been a lawyer for eight years. I don't need any advice." Tempest said.
"I'm not trying to downplay your experience. I'm going to give you advice on how to become a real villain." Neighsay said. It took seconds for Tempest to think, she crossed her arms and turned to Neighsay.
"Fine." Tempest said. "I'll take your advice just this once. But...when it's my turn to give you advice, you have to do as I say."
Neighsay nodded. "Sure."
"Right. I remembered about Mr. Magnus." Tempest chuckled. "I hope he's doing well."
"Of course." Neighsay said. He checked his watch. "He should be up by now."
At the shore, a green, some sort of body bag, kept moving and grunting like a worm. The pony tried to break the zipper, and it finally broke free. Just like a chrysalis, the pony came out, and it was Flash himself. He kept gasping for breath. All he had was his strapless undershirt, and shorts.
"Where am I!? What!?" Flash said. "Where am I!? What's this!?"
He then found a flashlught nearby. Good thing the batteries still work. He turned on to see nearby equipment beside him. He found some green onion and carrot seed packs.
"Carrot seeds and perilla seeds!? Damn it! What's this!?"
That's not all the things he have found. There was a camping stove, a makeshift fishing pole with a gummy worm for bait, and a paper boat adorned with Canterlite and Trottinghamian flags.
"Gosh. It must be a dream!" Flash said. ""Only for Mr. Magnus"? What is this?". Knowing about the previous situation, he just realized. Neighsay might have some sedative, and the moment he punched him, the sedative was present. Another hint would be the flags in the paper boat.
"What the hell!? It's not a dream! What's going on!?" Flash exclaimed. He then looks at his surroundings. "Where am I!? It's cold!" he then pointed the flashlight at a familiar building. "That's my apartment! Honey! Honey! Honey!"
His wife was in a call with someone while Flash kept shouting louder.
"Honey!"
"Yes." his wife said. "The name's Flash Magnus."
"Honey!"
"He's a lawyer. He hasn't come home in two days. Yes. What do I do...?"
"I'm right here!" Flash shouted. "Honey!"
At the Lawist Law Firm office, Neighsay quickly grabbed a whiteboard marker and took down some notes at the board. He even pasted bond paper and sticky notes in addition.
"Once in a while, professional gamblers Mafia-run gambling joints." Neighsay said.
"Like Chow Yun-fat in God of Gamblers!" Grubber said.
"Don't get worked up. Quiet." Tempest said, as Grubber nodded.
"Right before he was about to win an astronomical sum, do you know what they did?" Neighsay said.
"They take him outside, break both of his hands, and tell him to never come back." Grubber said.
"The Mafia these days don't intimidate creatures as the times are hard." Neighsay said.
"Gosh."
"I see."
"Then they would try to void the game one way or another." Tempest added.
"Bingo. They nullify the game without raising any suspicions to make him leave." Neighsay said as he sat down.
"I know what this is." Grubber said. "When we play cards with our family on holidays, the dads who lose would turn over the table to void the game."
"So you want to invalidate the trial." Tempest said. Neighsay responded with a nod. "We can't postpone the trial or drop the case at the moment."
"That's not what I had in mind." Neighsay said, tapping the table. "We'll do it during the trial."
"What!?" Tempest scoffed. "Ruining a game of cards is easy because the Mafia owns the gambling joint, but we have no power or the means to do that." Tempest said. Uh, hello, your partner is a mafiosi!
"We can make that happen..." Neighsay said as his face got close to Tempest. "...in our own way." he continued as he patted Tempest's shoulder and went back on the whiteboard.
"Wow. I can't wait." Grubber said. "I'm getting an adrenaline rush! Goodness! What do I do!?"
That night, lawyers were piling up some files in the table of Harshwhinny's office.
"This is driving me nuts. Where is it?"
Harshwhinny was in her table, taking down notes in some documents and in her laptop, while eating her dinner. Looks like she is prepares for the trial.
The sun rises beautifully, probably shining at Counter Plaza. Both Tempest and Neighsay were in the office. Tempest was in a table with documents while Neighsay's in a phone call with Blueblood.
"Yes. Please do that, Mr. Blueblood. Okay. Bye." Neighsay said as the call ended. He then sat on the chair and turned to Tempest.
"We're about ready." Neighsay said. Tempest just smiled at him and went back to reading the documents.
"Once the lawsuit is over, what's your next plan?" Tempest said.
"This is the last one." Neighsay said. "I'll leave after taking care of the plaza."
"Without watching Babel Group crumble down?" Tempest said. Tempest and Neighsay kept looking at each other, until Neighsay answered.
"I think this will be enough...to pacify my anger." Neighsay said.
"I was wondering if you were planning to stay in Canterlot." Tempest said. Neighsay of course can't stay in Canterlot because of his Mafia business.
"I don't have much attachment to this place." Neighsay said. "I want to leave soon."
Tempest kept starring at him, then snapped. "Sure. You should leave. You have your own life to live.". They then continued drinking their bottles. Mr. Shy then entered the room, and knocked on the wall, making Grubber wake up in surprise.
"Mr. Shy. What brings you here this early?" Tempest said.
"Give me your clothes you're wearing to the trial." Mr. Shy said.
"Our clothes?"
"Yes."
Mr. Shy started ironing Neighsay's pants. Though he seemed to get the ironing wrong, he kept trying until it was straight. It would be worse if his pants shrunked like his coat jacket.
Tempest and Neighsay were having a chat as they walked in the plaza's hallway.
"I'll do that."
Suddenly Joe came out of nowhere and blocked the duo's direction. "This way.". Neighsay proceeded to the opposite direction, but Joe just convinced him. "Just this once. Come this way.".
As Tempest and Neighsay went in, Tempest gasped as she found a lot of food in the table. Neighsay found something odd about the food. Though it was and Italian restaurant, all of the meals at the table were not from Italy. Stygian then brought a plate of rolled eggs.
"Well, since you don't like my food, I prepared this for you instead." Joe said. "My mother cooked everything herself. I'm sure it tastes great. I promise."
Neighsay then turned to Tempest, who nodded. Neighsay then levitated a rolled egg. As he took a bite, he glanced at Joe.
"My mom's touch." Joe spoke. As Neighsay put it in his mouth in whole, he felt something different. It was something that he never tried coming from the resto. He then gave Joe a thumbs up.
"Oh, Napoli!" Joe said, holding Stygian's hands.
"You did it.". Suddenly, Joe pushed Stygian away. "I'm sorry."
The monks kept chanting and singing in their temple.
As Tempest and Neighsay arrived, they tried on their clothing. Neighsay glanced at himself at the mirror. The duo gave Mr. Shy a thumbs up and he returned with the same gesture. Mr. Shy then got a teapot and drank it from the spout as Tempest and Neighsay clapped.
Tempest and Neighsay then went to the exit of Counter Plaza. They were carrying brown bags or suitcases in their hands as they walked out. Neighsay was wearing a dark blue suit, and he has a necktie in which has the color combination of red velvet and purple, and black shoes, of course. Tempest was wearing a lavender or pink suit with lose pant sleeve, white heels, and gold ear piercings. Wingtip is in for a big shock.
As they were going to get in Tempest's car, Tempest opened her purse, and realized something.
"My car keys. I left them at home!" Tempest said. "I always do this on an important day!"
"Let's take my car." Neighsay said. Tempest then turned to in shock.
"You have a car?" Tempest exclaimed.
"Yes. It's parked on the way to the courthouse." Neighsay said. Neighsay turned around and left and Tempest rushed to him.
"That's a hassle. Let's call a cab." Tempest said.
"You need a sleek when you're headed to the battlefield." Neighsay said. Before Tempest tapped for a cab, she immediately rushed to Neighsay and went beside him.
Outside of the courthous, there were many reporters holding microphones and cameras. A black car arrived, and the resporters gathered around it.
"They're here!"
Some guards then blocked the car so the passengers can have enough space.
"Hold on. Stop pushing!"
"Stop pushing!"
Who came out of the car, you say? At the front seat, the car door opened and out came Flam.
"Why are you pushing me!?"
"Gosh!"
"Sir!"
"Excuse me."
Flam opened the passengers' seat, and out came Caramel and Harshwhinny.
"How will you compensate them?"
"What about the toxic substance?"
"Please, move out of the way."
Some reporters were following Caramel up.
"Sir!"
"Just a comment, sir!"
"I'm not leading the trial."
"The plaintiffs said they will demand maximum compensation."
"She's leading it. Talk to her."
"They're claiming it's due to a toxic chemical called BLSD."
"Is this true?"
"There are 40 victims in total. Nine creatures have died from it. Is this true?"
"My dear reporters, you cannot ask me such questions based on some online tabloids. Please ask me some questions based on facts." Harshwhinny said.
"Are you saying the plaintiffs' claims are false?"
"Just because they're weak, you believe them without question. Why don't you check the facts?"
"So you're saying the plaintiffs are lying."
"Not all weak creatures are just." Harshwhinny said. The reporters who were following Caramel then went to Harshwhinny. "The plaintiffs are using their position as the weak to paint all the rich creatures evil. Therefore, I urge you not to believe them when the plaintiffs claim they are weak and that we are the ones lying. The same goes for the opportunistic lawyers representing the plaintiff."
"The claims are groundless?"
"So they're only putting on an act."
"Hey, the plaitiff lawyers are here!" a reporter shouted.
"What!? Where!?"
"Where!?"
"Move it!"
"Excuse me."
"What are they?"
It was a cheap car. Would Neighsay ride that? The reporters gathered around the car.
"A comment, please!"
"Excuse me."
"The windows are tinted."
"Hey!"
"I can't see anything."
"Say something!"
When the car door opened, a mare came out of the car, looking furious at the reporters. She wouldn't be Tempest.
"What!?" The mare said. "Why are you blocking the road!? You're pissing me off! I'm so pissed of as it is because I lost the lawsuit! Get away from my car!" she said. When no one asnwered, she shouted once more. "Step back! Now! You assholes! Step back!"
"What was that?"
"Why curse at us?"
The mare beeped her car to get everyone's attention.
"Stop honking. Just go!"
"It wasn't them!"
"Come on!"
"What was that?"
"Goodness."
Suddenly, Flam spotted something. It was a car, but it looked very expensive, and almost looked like a Lamborghini. It caught everyone's attention as they starred at it. The guards blocked everyone's way, but it was easy for them because of the car. The car doors at the front rose up instead to the side.
And who came out? It was Tempest and Neighsay. They were still wearing their suits, but they were wearing sunshades. Neighsay came out from the driver's seat, looking at the reporters, and Tempest came out from the front seat, stroking her mohawk. One Wingtip lawyer looked at them in shock. Neighsay dropped his car keys to a guard's hand, leaving the guard shook.
"Who are you?"
"I'm representing the plaintiffs, Tempest Shadow of Lawist Law Firm!" Tempest said, as she make hot poses in front of the reporters, and Neighsay opens the front trunk of his car.
"Don't push me!"
"Step back!"
"Move aside!"
"Stop pushing!"
"Come on, stop pushing me!" a wild stallion said.
"What if you scratch it!? Your annual salart can't cover that!"
With Tempest busy, Neighsay was just keeping his car clean from the wil reporters with blows and not so dirty smudges.
"Excuse me, Babel Chemicals said that your claims were all false." a reporter said. Tempest then blew a kiss, and Flam can't help but smile and just blush. Neighsay then got an envelope and gave it a blow. That envelope then was given to Tempest. They both went to the stairs, nearly to the entrance, and almost all of the reporters followed them.
"Hold on a second. Come on, stop pushing me!" a wild stallion said.
"Are you also a lawyer?" a reporter said.
"I'm an advisor of Lawist Law Firm!" Neighsay said.
"What!? Hey, it's dangerous on the steps!"
"What's going on?"
The Wingtip representatives and lawyers went up to see the commotion.
"The public wants answers!"
"Care to comment?"
"Say something for them."
"Don't push me!"
"What do you think about the case?"
Neighsay and Tempest nodded at each other then turned to the reporters, who immediately stopped. Neighsay removed his sunglasses, and looked down at the reporters.
"Only evil can punish...evil." Neighsay said in Italian.
"What? Is it English or French?"
"What?"
"What did he say? "Diavolo"?"
""Diablo"?"
"He's talking about the game, right?"
"A game?"
"Is a game company involved in this case?"
"A comment, please!"
Suddenly, they heard a whistle blown from a distance. They were holding sign posts with threats against the pharmaceutical.
"The heinous Babel Chemicals must repent!"
"Repent!"
"Repent!"
They were the Counter Plaza tenants and members. One of them were holding the sign "OUT WITH BABEL CHEMICALS". Soarin was making stunts and the monks were just banging on their instruments. Then, they brought at a sash that says "BABEL CHEMICALS MUST BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. THE TRUTH WILL BE REVEALED".
"I can't live my life coughing up blood!" a tenant shouted.
"What's that now?" Caramel said.
"Babel Chemucals must repent!" one tenant shouted. "This performance shows the painful struggle of the victims, everyone!". Some reporters then come down to the tenants. Grubber was even wearing a headdress saying "BRING DESTRUCTION TO BABEL CHEMICALS".
"We should take a video of this." Cheese said. Soarin was the one imitating the victims with his flexible limbs and wings.
"Put more soul in it."
"Hold it up! Come on!"
"You, too."
"You should repent! You're killing us!" Mr. Shy said. From a distance, Neighsay then raised his arm, and gave a thimbs up. Tempest copied the same gesture.
"What are those assholes doing!?" Harshwhinny said.
"Let's go." Caramel said.
"Unbelievable." Harshwhinny said.
Neighsay then patted Tempest's waist, then their thumbs lowered. Neighsay put back on his glasses, and he and Tempest both looked at their opponents. Harshwhinny tapped a finger on the side of her head, looking at Tempest.
In return, Tempest slightly took of her shades, looking at her with her atlantic eyes. Tempest sticked out the tip of her tongue and winked at her. Tempest smiled as she put them back on. She then slowly walled up, many steps before her to the entrance. Neighsay gave them the innocent smile, in which they learned that it was not inncoent.
Neighsay then went beside Tempest, going to the entrance with smirks.
Lawist would win because they need not one, but two hot and tenacious lawyers in well-tailored suits. Neighsay and Tempest are the clear winners.
NEIGHSAY
Author's Note
To watch the actual episode, click here
NEIGHSAY
A whistle was heard, getting the attention of everyone outside.
"The heinous babel Chemicals must repent!" Cheese shouted from the megaphone.
"Repent!"
"Repent!"
The reporters quickly went to the tenants as Neighsay and Tempest continued watching.
"I can't live my life coughing up blood!" Cheese's wife shouted. "Babel Chemicals must repent! This performance shows the painful struggle of the victims, everyone!" she shouted, as Soarin started dancing, imitating one of the victims, and the monks playing music. Neighsay and Tempest raised their arms and gestured a thumbs up.
"What are those assholes doing!?" Harshwhinny said.
"Let's go." Caramel said.
"Unbelievable." Harshwhinny said.
Neighsay patted Tempest's waist, and they dropped down their arms. They then both turn to their rivals with serious faces. Harshwhinny patted her finger in her head, looking at Tempest. Tempest just slightly removed her sunglasses, stick out the tip of her tongue and winked at her. Tempest smiled as she continued walking up.
Neighsay turned to the lawyers and showed that "innocent" smile, as he followed Tempest up. Caramel, Harshwhinny and the lawyers in Wingtip just walked up going to the entrance.
Meanwhile, the judge and two stallions just went out of the elevator, going to the courthouse.
"Their dishes don't taste as good as they once did." The judge said. "Their broth is terrible! Let's go elsewhere, okay?"
"Yes, sir." a stallion said. Cheese's wife came out of nowhere.
"This is tasty. " she said, hding her drink. Without noticing, she accidentally bumped in to judge, soaking his suit. "My gosh. Goodness. I'm so sorry!" she said, rubbing his face.
"Come on!"
"You're all drenched! I lost my contact lenses!" Cheese's wife said.
"Damn it!"
"Hold on. You got some here."
"Watch where you're going!" the judge yelled.
"I'm truly sorry! Let me pay for the laundry!" Cheese's wife said.
"Forget it!" the judge yelled.
"Okay..." Cheese's wife said.
"Damn it."
"I'm sorry...I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry. Did you leave?" Cheese's wife said.
When they were in the courthouse, Harshwhinny, Caramel, and the judge eventually bumped into each other in the hallway.
"You can't see the judge before trial." the judge chuckled.
"I still had to say hi to you, sir." Caramel said.
"Did you quit so you could work with him?" the judge said.
"He said he'd treat me well." Harshwhinny said.
"You should do the same for me." the judge said. "I always clean up after Babel Group's trials."
"I promise to repay you and our association handsomely." Caramel said.
"Do that under the table, okay?" the judge said.
"Do it secretly."
They said as they chuckled.
"Yes, sir. Please help us out today, as always." Caramel said. "Secretly, that is."
"Well, I don't think today's trial will be that hard." the judge said. "The plaintiff's evidence is not concrete at all. Anyway, I hope your first trial as a lawyer goes well."
"I hope so too." Harshwhinny said. "Thank you, sir."
At the courtroom, there was a loud chatter. It was strange that water was leaking from the room's ceiling. Flam, Caramel and Harshwhinny entered the the door, already with the chatter.
"What? What's going on?" Caramel said.
"Water has been leaking from the ceiling and the walls. We're looking into it." a stallion said.
"Then move us to another room." Caramel said.
"All the rooms are occupied." the stallion said. "I'm sorry, sir."
"I guess this building was poorly constructed." Caramel said. "Who the hell built it anyway?"
"Babel E&C." Flam said.
"What?"
"To be exact, it's Haenum E&C. It's their former name. They have it engraved out here. This is nothing." Harshwhinny said. "Every six months, the toilets leak too."
"Damn Haenum. It's a government facility. How could they do such a poor job?" Caramel said.
"Tell me about it. They should've done a proper job, right?" Flam said. Neighsay watched them was he checked his watch. "I bet Babel E&C is much better than Haenum E&C."
"Are you excited, you fool?" Caramel said.
"Yes." Flam said, nodding.
"Having fun? Happy?"
"Yes."
"Are you here to have fun? Go inside. You little..."
"Sorry, boss." Flam said, immediately going to his seat. Cheese and his wife immediately went in the courtroom and sat some benches behind Tempest. Neighsay looked around, glaring at Wingtip, and as he turned to Tempest, he noticed something odd. She was taking multiple inhales and exhales as she browses through the files at her desk. She kept sighing until she drank from nearby plastic water bottle.
A stallion then closed the courtroom's door. The trial shall commence.
EPISODE 6
"Mr. Grubber. I have a question." Cheese said.
"Sure, what is it?"
"We're told to rise when the judge enters."
"Yes." Grubber said.
"But...what happens if you don't?" Cheese said.
"Right. I've been quite curious about that as well." Mr. Shy said.
"A maximum of 5 years in jail or a fine of 50 million bits." Grubber said, as the tenants gasped.
"Really?" Soarin said. "They charge you that much for simply not standing?"
"I was kidding. Nothing happens if you don't rise." Grubber said.
"Damn it. I fell for it."
"Goodness."
"Anyway, why do they tell you to rise? It's not like we know the judge." Cheese's wife said.
"It's not for the judge, but...How do I put it?" Grubber said. "To show respect for the law and his ruling."
""Respect"?"
"Yes."
"They always give such ridiculous rulings. Right?" Cheese said.
"Yes."
"They always side with the wealthy."
"How absurd."
"Right."
"I won't stand up." Cheese said. The tenants looked at Cheese Sandwich confhses. As Cheese zipped in hia jacket, he said: "I'll show them mt determination as a martial artist."
"Me too."
"I'll show them my conscience and resistance as an artist." Soarin said, zipping his jacket.
"With the spirits of all the fomer monks, we won't stand up either." the monk said.
"Let's all not stand up as a show of defiance." the piano player said.
"Okay."
"It's okay to do so, right?"
"Of course. They won't arrest you!" Grubber said.
"Okay."
"Let's show our solidarity by doing this." Mr. Shy said.
"Sure."
"All right, then."
"Here comes the judge. All rise." a stallion said. Instead of staying tp be seated, they chickened out and stood up.
"So much for solidarity. Salute!" Mr. Shy said. As the judge went in front, he stepped on wet plastic and he accidentally slipped as he yelped and fell on his back. Wingtip gasped as soon as the judge fell.
"Goodness."
"Oh, dear."
"Are you okay!?"
"Goodness."
Two stallion then grabbed the judge's arms and helped him back up.
"Goodness."
"Why did you cover the floor with plastic wraps!?" the judge said.
"Water was leaking from the walls as well." a stallion said.
"How could water leak in the sacred court of law!?" the judge said. "Goodness, my back."
"Are you okay?"
"Goodness." the judge said. A few mintues later after the trial started, Harshwhinny went in front and faced the judge.
"Based on the submitted materials, the researchers neglected the safety regulations that were written on the manual and were exposed to toxic agents." she spoke. As she turnes to Tempest, she noticed her hand clenched in her chest as she took some breaths." However, they decides to blame the company for it and are arguing that it was an industrial accident.". The jidge nodded and turned to Tempest.
"Will the plaintiff's attorney refute this claim?"
Well, this is where a setup begins.
STEP 1: REMOVE THE DEALER FROM THE TABLE
"Yes, Your Honor." Tempest said in a weak voice, as she stood up. "We have enough evidence...". The crowd at the back then noticed how her head was slightly tilted down and her hair covered almost 2/3 of her face.
"What's wrong with her?"
"What is going on?"
"...to refute." Tempest said.
"What's wrong?" the judge said.
"Your Honor." Tempest said weakly. "Lately, I've been suffering from a panic disorder.". Saying that, Wingtip laughed, and Caramel looked at Tempest with a chuckling face.
"Goodness."
"Panic disorder?"
"Oh, no."
"Did you know?"
"I had no idea."
"Your Honor." Tempest said. "May I take some medication?"
"Yes, hurry up! Go on!" the judge said. Tempest quickly took some pills in her desk. She swallowed one up and drank water.
"You may continue."
"Your Honor..." Tempest said. Beofre her sentence was finished, she lost balance and fainted unconsciously on the floor. Everyone stood up in shock.
"Goodness!"
"Ms. Tempest!"
"Are you okay!?"
Harshwhinny looked like she didn't care. She just glanced at her as if she just fell asleep.
"Oh, dear!"
"What should we do!?"
Neighsay looked at her with blank eyes.
"Hey, call 911 now!"
"Help her!"
Well...as recalled...
-In flashback-
"At this one gambling joint, the Mafia does this first when someone is about to win big." Neighsay said. "They remove the dealer from the table."
"The dealer?" Tempest said. "The "dealer" at the court is...". When she realized, she pointed at her. Neighsay nodded and pointed at her.
-Present-
A stallion rushed to Tempest's body and kneeled beside her.
"Are you okay!?"
"Are you okay!?"
"What's going on!?"
"What should we do!?"
Flam rushes to Tempest and kneeled beaide her.
"Tempest!" Flam said. "Open your eyes!"
"Someone call 911!"
"Oh, no! I heard a loud thump! You heard it, right!?" Cheese's wife said.
"Oh, dear."
"I heard it."
"Call 911."
"Did you hear the loud thump?"
"Silence!" the judge said. "Goodness. Lieutenant. Call 911 right now."
"Yes, Your Honor." he said. Flam turned to Tempest.
"Tempest." he said.
"Generally speaking, in the absence of the plaintiff's lawyer, it is impossible to go on with the trial." the judge said. Neighsay continued looking at Tempest. "However, due to the geavity of today's issue, we cannot postpone this trial. During recess, we will ask the doctor to check up on the lawyer's condition. After that, we will resume the trial later in the day."
"What if it doesn't work?"
"What do you think? Get up right away."
Just like what Neighsay told her, Tempest immediately opened her eyes and popped back up. Everyone looked at her in shock.
"Goodness!" Flam shrieked.
"Gosh!"
"She's up!"
"Goodness!"
"She got up!"
"She's okay."
"Really?"
"She just took a nap."
"I see."
"You're up. Are you all right?" the judge said.
"Yes, Your Honor. I feel better once I regain consciousness." Tempest said. Flam looked at her confused, while Tempest stroke some strands of her hair back, went to her desk. Flam looked at Neighsay and back to Tempest. Flam awkwardly walked back to the defendant's table.
"Why did you rush over there? She was obviously putting on a show." Harshwhinny said.
"I see." Flam chuckled.
"Then let's resume." the judge said. Wait, that wasn't the end of the Lawist trio's plan...
STEP 2: BLOCK OUT THE ENTIRE GAMBLING HOUSE
"The plaintiff's lawyer may refute."
"Since the materials weren't submitted, I will explain them in words. The evidence is..." Tempest spoke.
Before they typed in what Tempest said, the room suddenly went dark. Everyone gasped in time.
"Goodness!"
"What's going on!?"
"Gosh."
"My goodness."
"Oh, dear."
"Goodness."
"What should we do?"
The tenants, Neighsay and Tempest did not react. They just looked around at the slightly dark surroundings. For a second Tempest smirked at Wingtip.
-In flashback-
"What if the game resumes without the dealer?" Tempest said.
"If that happens,..." Neighsay said, getting a gas lamp. "...they black out the entire gambling house..." he said, twisting the knob as the light goes off. "...so no one can play.". That day, technicians immediately went to a black car, and who was driving it? it was Blueblood.
-Present-
"Come on."
"Silence!" the judge said.
"Oh, my." Tempest said. "Why is there a blackout?". Neighsay looked at her as he smirked. "Your Honor. We cannot continue with stenography."
"One minute. Let me evaluate the situation." the judge said.
"What did you say!?" Cheese said.
"Right!"
"Your Honor..."
"We can't hear you because of your microphone!" the piano player said.
"Me neither."
"I can't hear you."
"Gosh, I'm so embarrassed for them." Caramel said. The judge turned to Harshwhinny and back to an employee.
"You can use your laptop, right?" the judge said.
"Yes, Your Honor. One minute." she said.
"It's impossible to record quickly or accurately on a laptop." Tempest said.
"It doesn't matter. She just needs to record the core matters." the judge said.
"Goodness. This isn't right."
"This won't do."
"She should jot down everything."
"That's right."
Flam looked at Neighsay suspiciously.
"Can they do that?"
"Come on."
Tempest grabbed her bottle and drank water.
"Shouldn't she record everything?"
"She should."
Tempest turned to Neighsay, and Neighsay gave her a thumbs up.
"Are they allowed to do that?"
'Does that even make sense?"
"I don't know either."
"Is she forgets the details..."
Tempest then turned away from him and smirked.
-In flashback-
"What if the player insists on gambling no matter what?" Tempest said.
Neighsay squinted his eyes, then one thought came in mind. "Then as a last resort, they kick out everyone else...and create chaos."
-Present-
The employee then got down and put the laptop in the table. Tempest turned to Cheese Sandwich and his wife, and there hands were put in their closed jackets. Time for another setup.
STEP 3: KICK EVERYONE ELSE OUT AND CREATE CHAOS
"She's back." Flam said.
"I can see that." Harshwhinny said. Flam nodded and cleared his throat.
"Not yet." Cheese said, patting his chest.
"Calm down." his wife said, doing the same gesture. There's a living thing in their jackets?
"The plaintiff's lawyer may continue." the judge shouted. She stood up and walked in front.
"The defense lawyer's claim that the researchers neglected the safety regulations is shameless, cunning and evil." Tempest said. "It's a big, fat lie!" Tempest chanted, spreading her arms. The judge looked at her awkwardly.
"Your Honor. That remark is unrelated to this case. It's meaningless and a personal attack at that." Harshwhinny said.
"Acknowledged. Please be careful." the judge said.
"Yes, Your Honor."
"Now."
"Yes."
"Now."
From the jacket of Cheese's wife, a buzzing insect was released. Cheese then zipped down his jacket and another one came out.
"What is that?"
"What's this sound?"
"What's going on?"
"Where's this sound coming from?"
"It's so noisy."
"What's happening?"
Caramel looked down from his coat jacket.
"My gosh."
"What is this sound?"
"Is someone flying a drone here?" the judge said. "Who is it?! Which reporter is secretly flying a drone?!"
"Look at that!" Mr. Shy pointed to one of the insects.
"What!?"
"What is that?!"
"Goodness!"
Everyone and Tempest turned and looked above. Tempest passed as she saw the insect couple.
"It's a giant hornet!" the snack bar owner shouted. Wingtip then gasped and screamed as they looked at the hornets. Harshwhinny and Flam looked at the hornets in shock.
"You'll certainly die if you get stung by it!" Cheese shouted. "Everyone, run!"
"Get out, everyone!" Tempest shouted.
Wingtip continued panicking and shrieking, going to the exit, and the Laws side got some acting. Neighsay just stayed in his seat watching the creatures flock.
"Get out of here! Go! Hurry!" Tempest shouted as she ran to the defendant's table where Harswhinny and Flam sat. She continued slapping Flam's back while Flam kept yelp from the pain.
"You should get out of here!" Flam said. "Those hornets are notorious even in the States!" Flam hissed.
"Why should I get out?!" Harshwhinny yelled angrily. "I can't believe this!". When she turned around, she was shock that Neighsay was still in his seat with a smirk. Neighsay looked at them, then turned up to the hornets. He wagged his finger, imitating how the hornets fly around, then only he turned to them while whistling.
Harshwhinny scoffed while everyone panicked.
"My goodness!"
"Move out of the way!"
The judge angrily stood up. "Silence, everyone! If you keep this up, I'll have to ask you all to leave the court!"
Tempest turned to the panicking creatures with a sneaky smirk. Everything is according to plan.
-In flashback-
"How can we cause a scene and teach the judge a lesson?" Tempest said.
"We'll have to think about that a bit more." Neighsay said, as he continued writing in the whiteboard.
"Ma'am" Cheese called as he walked in.
"Oh. Hello, Mr. Cheese."
"Hello." Cheese said, as he carried a vase in his hands. "My uncle made this hornet drink himself. You should try it." he said as he put it in the table.
"Hornet drink!? Goodness!" Tempest shrieked. Neighsay slowly turned to the hornet drink in the table. He put back the whiteboard marker and walked to the table. He grabbed the vase, and just with a look, he had a plan. He turned to Cheese with a satisfied smile.
That day, Cheese and his wife went to the bee farm. A stallion gave them two pockets, which had one hornet each.
"Here."
"Thank you."
"Be careful. They're unconscious right now. Be careful when you take them out. They can be deadly."
The couple thanked them, and they turned to each other with mischievous grins. They went back, having honey, water, and a plastic cup in their hands.
"We should add the honey first."
"No. Water first."
"No, water."
"It's honey first."
"No, it's water."
"The honey should float on top."
"Right."
"Great idea."
"Pour it in."
"Pour it in"
"Now the honey."
Cheese's wife sipped honey from the honey tube while mixing the honey and water on the cup. The cup was used when Cheese's wife "accidentally" bumped on the judge and eventually got spilled in his face.
-Present-
"Silence, everyone!" the judge shouted. One hornet flew nearly towards Tempest, and she dodged the attack. The hornet quickly flew into the judge when it detected some honey in the face. The hornet eventually stung him, and the judge yelped in pain.
"Goodness!"
"Your Honor!"
"That hurts! What was that!?"
"Goodness!"
The hornet flew to the crowd, and detected some honey spots in Cheese's flank. The hornet quickly flew to to his ass and stung him. Later on, everyone settled. Everyone was on their seats, and it could be the end of the plan, right?
"Did you get stung here?" Cheese's wife said, slapping the stung area. Cheese yelled from the pain. "I'm sorry."
"You won't die." Grubber said.
"I won't?" Cheese said.
"You'll be fine." Mr. Shy said.
"That's right."
"It hurts a lot, doesn't it?"
"Goodness."
"All rise." a stallion said. As everyone rised and looked at the judge, two stallion accompanied him, and they shocked to see his face. Tempest gasped as she covered her mouth with her sleeves.
"Oh, my."
"Unbelievable."
"Goodness."
Cheese and his wife wanted to laugh, but it would be obvious if they did.
"Oh, dear."
"His mouth is swollen."
"That's even better than special effects." Grubber said.
"That's so terrifying."
"What the..." Flam said.
"Sit down, please." a stallion said.
"It's just marvelous." Harshwhinny said.
"Help us, merciful Buddha." the monk said. Neighsay turned to Pharnyx, Mr. Shy, Sparin, and the monk, and they quietly laughed.
"I can..." the judge said. "...no longer go on with this trial today." he said in a muffled voice. Wingtip lawyers couldn't understand what he told. Tempest quietly laughed as she covered her mouth. Lawist, the tenants, and Neighsay did the same. "Due to the gravity of this case, we will..."
"What is he saying?"
"We will continue..."
"What?"
"I can't understand him."
"...the trial...a week from now on." the judge said before he fainted at his seat.
"Your Honor!"
"Are you okay!?"
"You Honor! Wake up!"
Wingtip stood up in shock.
"Are you okay!?"
"Your Honor!"
Harshwhinny heavily sighed and leaned on her seat. Everyone stood up in shock except for Neighsay.
"Be careful." One of the stallions said, as he carried one of the judge's arms.
"Can we go now?"
"Be careful."
"Goodness."
"We should leave."
"Let's go."
"Good work, everyone."
"I can't believe this."
"Goodness."
"Can we leave now?"
Neighsay and Tempest stood up. Tempest turned to Flam and waved at him with her tongue tip sticking out. Harshwhinny just looked dead inside, looking at the ceiling. Caramel just looked in shock. Caramel turned to Neighsay with a serious look.
Neighsay walked towards him, as Tempest walked between them. She stopped and stood beside Neighsay. Seconds after, Tempest left with her bad and portfolio. Neighsay followed her. Caramel heavily breathed with a grin.
Evryone walked out, including Tempest.
"You should be ashamed." Harshwhinny said. Tempest stopped and turned to her. "How could you insult the sacred court just to buy a week?"
"Insult what?" Tempest said.
"You also practice the law." Harshwhinny said. "But this is too cheap, immature, and lowly!"
"What are you talking about?" Tempest said. "Wasn't it like a musical? It had a well-organized narrative, and the climax was just wonderful." Tempest said. Harshwhinny scoffed heavily. "And what did you say? I insulted the sacred court?" Tempest said. "The judge who was bribed by the Babel Group, Wingtip who colluded with him, and us, who planned the scheme, are all in the same boat."
"Since when did you become a hero of justice?" Harshwhinny said. Tempest silently gasped as one hand covered her mouth.
"How can you be so cheesy? I don't care about justice." Tempest said.
"Then why are you fighting back!?" Harshwhinny said.
"Because you're despicable. Both Wingtip and Babel Group are despicable." Tempest said.
"What did you say?" Harshwhinny said.
"Isn't it just creature instinct to have the urge to slap those who are despicable?" Tempest said. "See you in a week." she said as she hummed, walking out.
"That damn girl really must have a few screws loose." Harshwhinny said.
Tempest continued walking down the stairs towards Neighsay and Grubber. Both of them looked at her with a smile, while the tenants had a strong chit-chat.
"Are you okay?"
"Only I can take this."
"It stung your butt."
"I was touched."
"Me too."
"She's here!"
"Where?"
One tenant pointed to Tempest, and all of the tenants turned to her.
"Goodness!" one of them cheered. As Tempest gestured flexed biceps, all the tenants cheered wildly.
"My gosh!"
Tempest then blew a kiss to them
"You were awesome!"
"Let's go!"
"Goodbye!"
"I'm famished."
"Let's go."
As tenants marched, Cheese's wife pulled her husband by his hand after he tripped. She continued pulling him as she cackled.
"Hurry up!"
Tempest chuckled as she turned to Neighsay and Grubber. "Zumba Snake is more furious than I expected."
""Zumba Snake"?" Grubber said.
"Harshwhinny. She's a snake that dances to Zumba. She went on about how cheap, immature, and lowly we are." she said as she chuckled.
"This is one of the Mafia families' motto. "The strongest punch comes from behind."" Neighsay chucked.
"That's right. You need to fight dirty if you want to win!" Tempest laughed.
"And if you win, it's more effective because your opponent is humiliated." Neighsay added, as Tempest nodded.
"I'll make sure I'm well-prepared for next week's trial." Grubber said.
"Wonderful!" Tempest cheered. Suddenly she felt a small rumble and pain in her stomach. "Before anything else, let's go eat. I'm famished. My blood sugar levels have dropped.". Grubber walked towards Tempest, and continued walking.
"Go without me. I have to be somewhere." Neighsay said. Tempest and Grubber stopped as they turned to him.
"Why don't you come and eat first?" Tempest said.
"No, I need to go right now." Neighsay said as he walked off.
"Where is he going?" Tempest said.
"Right. Today is..." Grubber said as he grabbed his phone from his pocket. "Tuesday. Is he going there?"
"Where?" Tempest said.
Meanwhile, Flam was driving Caramel and Harshwhinny back to the firm. Both of them sat in the back seat.
"Since the day the Equestrian constitution was established on June 14 1948, giant hornets have never appeared in court." Caramel said in a deep voice. "Okay? Not even once!" he said as he kicks the back of the seat of Flam while he is driving. Flam just grunt. "Gosh, in my 25 years as a lawyer, I've never experienced such chaos in a court before. It's my first time, okay!?" he said as he kicked Flam's seat again.
"That hurts!" Flam squealed.
"Does it hurt?"
"Yes."
"Well, suck it up! Suck it up!" Caramel said as he continued kicking Flam's seat.
"Yes, sir!" Flam said in pain.
"On top of that, my first trial as a lawyer was a flop." Harshwhinny said as she chuckled sarcastically.
"Celestia, those dirty bastards. Of all those things, how could they think of bringing in those hornets!?" he said as wheezed. "What should we do?"
"Aren't we the best in Equestria when it comes to playing dirty?" Harshwhinny said.
"We don't play dirty. We're...What's it called again?" Caramel said. "Strategic? Yes, we're strategic."
"Shut up." Harshwhinny said. "We're all dirty here. You have such a double standard."
"But since the trial has been postponed, there is no winner just yet." Flam said.
"Of course, there is. They beat us."
"Yes, they did." Caramel said. Suddenly, there was a supply truck honking in their adjacent lane. Harshwhinny opens the car window and turned to the truck.
"You damn assholes! I will gouge every single one of your eyes!" Harshwhinny shouted. Flam and Caramel looked at Harshwhinny in shock.
And where was Neighsay going? He was going to the prison where his birth mother was locked up. He wore his ID as he walked in.
-At flashback-
"What should I do?" Grubber said.
"What?" Neighsay said. "What's the matter?" he said as he put on his coat jacket.
"Well...Mr. Caballeron was a public defender for a mare named Ms. Cloudy Quartz. She's currently incarcerated. He took such great care of her. He'd visit her the last Tuesday of every month. But now that he's gone, that won't happen anymore."
-Present-
The reason why Neighsay came is that Caballeron couldn't make it. Caballeron won't be coming to her for the rest of Cloudy Quartz's life now that he's dead. A police companied Cloudy Quartz as she entered a cell that was similar to Silver Zoom's.
"Hello." Cloudy Quartz waved, and Neighsay waved back.
"Please sit down." Neighsay said. As they both sat, Neighsay spoke. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm doing okay. The pain has subsided." Cloudy Quartz said, as Neighsay nodded. "Since Mr. Caballeron passed away, I thought no one would come see me anymore. Thank you so much for coming."
"Don't thank me." Neighsay said. "I only came to tell you that no one will be visiting anymore.". When Cloudy heard those words, she felt her lips wobble. "You should ask your friends or family members for help instead."
"I have no one." Cloudy Quartz said. For a few seconds, Neighsay kept thinking.
"What about your husband?" Neighsay said. Cloudy Quartz slowly shook her head. Another few seconds was given to Neighsay.
"What about your children?" Neighsay said. Cloudy Quartz then looked at him.
"I have none." Cloudy Quartz said.
"I see." Neighsay said. "You don't have any family." he said. "I get that you were wrongly accused, but how did you live your life that you have no one who could help you."
"Life...isn't always rosy for anyone." Cloudy Quartz said. "No mater how hard you try, you rarely get your way."
"It's probably because you're...so full of excuses." Neighsay said.
"Yes." Cloudy Quartz said. "My life was full of excuses. I'm sorry for living this way, sir."
"Don't apologize to me. Spend the rest of your life thinking about the ones who deserve it the most. Goodbye, then." as he stood up to leave, Cloudy Quartz spoke.
"We won't...ever meet again, will we?" Cloudy Quartz said.
"I'm leaving Canterlot." Neighsay said. "This isn't my place." before he could turn to leave, she spoke again.
"Sir." Cloudy Quartz said. "Goodbye.". Neighsay kept looking her with pity, then seconds later, he opened the door and left. With him not around, Cloudy Quartz couldn't hold back her tears. Does she know him?
Neighsay then walked over a bridge and suddenly stopped short. He leaned his arms in the bridge. Now was the time he caves to his need for a cigarette. He got a box of cigarettes and stick one between his teeth. He got his lighter and lit it up.
This time, he didn't snap it in half. Why did Cloudy Quartz say she didn't have any children...when her only child talked to her.
-At flashback-
"Are you Vladimir?" a stallion said in Italian.
"Vladimir, we are going to be a family." a mare said in Italian, holding Vladimir's hands.
A little colt, which is Vladimir, looked at the mare, then to the nun.
"Ma'am. My mom." Vladimir said. "My mom said she'd come for me." the poor colt cried. "She said to wait and she'd come back for me!" he sobbed. "I need to wait...for her to come back." he sniffed. He let go of the mare's hands and held his own.
And who was that little colt named Vladimir? That was a young Neighsay.
-Present-
Neighsay tearfully recalled to himself that day he got adopted. He was still holding his cigarette and lighter. Hopefully someday, she'll know.
Meanwhile in Jeo's resto, an influencer couple who was seen in Neighsay's Sicilian wine party about three nights since he came, were taking pictures of the food served in their table. Joe hummed as he held a plate and went towards the guests.
"Here's your pepperoni pizza." Joe said.
"Once I post about your restaurant on my blog, it'll flourish in just three days." the stallion said.
"Thank you in advance." Joe said.
"In that party photo, everyone complimented your pizza. But it's not that special." the mare said.
"Sorry? Well--"
"If you want us to put in a good word, you can just give us this food for free." she said.
"I see. For free." Joe said. The couple smiled at him. "That puts me in a pickle. Try to savor it, and you'll be able to see how our pizza is different from the rest.". The mare looked at him with a confused expression. Joe nervously smiled as he walked away.
"Try this one."
"It's too strong."
Joe walked over to Stygian who was cutting onions.
"Hey, if they asked for some jalapeños, say we're out of them. Okay?" Joe said, as Stygian nodded. "And don't give them any freebies. They're terrible customers."
"Yes, sir." Stygian said.
"Why are you teary-eyed by the way?" Joe said. Joe took of his apron and covered the possible jalapeños and other servings. Stygian's phone started ringing in his pocket. He saw it was Director Starswirl. He accepted the call.
"Hello?" Stygian said in a sobbing voice.
"Are you crying?"
"No, I'm not, sir."
"Are you drunk and feeling sorry for yourself?!"
"No, sir."
"Where are you?"
"I'm running errands." Stygian said.
"Come back right now! It's an emergency!"
"Yes, sir."
As the call ended, he wiped his tears and continued sobbing. "I'm sorry." he cried, as he continued cutting onions.
Currently, Neighsay was on his way back to the plaza. As he walked, he stopped as he noticed the familiar monk carrying a big cross. He ran to him immediately.
"Sir."
"Hello, sir." the monk said. He got down as Neighsay held the top part of the cross. "Thank you for today."
"My pleasure. I'd like to thank you as well." Neighsay said. "Why are you carrying this cross?"
"Oh, this? There's an abandoned church that the Babel E&C's men took over. And for over a month, this cross has been lying on the ground." he said.
"But what will you do with it?" Neighsay asked.
"I'm going to donate it to Canterlot Church. They will value this cross." he said. "Goodbye, then." as he tried to carry it, he turned to Neighsay. "Sir. Would you like to help me?"
"Sure." Neighsay reluctantly agreed. The monk grabbed one side, and Neighsay grabbed the other. It was heavy to take it to the church. They soon arrived the church. How much time it took to carry it, though?
"Goodness. Thank you for helping me carry the cross." the monk chuckled.
"Sir. I have a question." Neighsay said.
"Ask away." the monk said.
"If I go live somewhere far away like in the middle of the ocean, will the anger inside me disappear?" Neighsay said.
"It doesn't matter where you live. What matter is whether you still have the anger inside you or not." the monk said.
"Does that mean...that I need to achieve enlightenment?" Neighsay said.
"The only way to get rid of your anger is by fighting it. Stand your ground and fight back. Enlightenment is what you get when you win that battle."
Neighsay slowly sighed as he continued sitting beside the monk and watching the weak leaves fall from the tall trees.
Meanwhile, Caramel and Harshwhinny arrived at their office.
"Should I hire someone to tail Neighsay and Tempest?" Caramel said.
"There's no need." Harshwhinny said. "No matter what they do, they can never outwit me."
"What is this?" Caramel said. "Did you make your move already without telling me!?" Caramel said, as Harshwhinny smirked. "Goodness. You're just amazing."
"Call the tech team." Harshwhinny said,
"The tech team?" Caramel said. "The tech team!". He immediately got his telephone. "Get me the tech team. The tech team." Caramel said. "The tech team!".
Looks like the caller doesn't understand much. Soon, a member of the tech team arrived with a computer and antennas.
"It's done." the tech team member said.
"Over there. That plant is from me. Raise the volume. It's a luve broadcast." Harshwhinny said. Looks like the stuckyi she gave to Neighsay and Tempest had a listening device.
"But if creatures cath us doing this, we'll be in big trouble." Caramel said.
"Didn't you hire me to do big things?" Harshwhinny said.
"That's exactly why we shouldn't get caught!" Caramel said. "All right." he saud as he types on the laptop.
"I don't get them. Two days ago, all I heard were footsteps and music." Harshwhinny said.
"We' re bound to get something if we keep listening." Caramel said. As he raised the volume, very weird zombie sounds occured, which made him jump out of his seat in fear.
"What is that sound!?" Harshwhinny said. Actually, Neighsay, and probably Tempest, has known about the stuckyi having the device, so the plant has been relocated to Soarin's dance video, explaining why there were footsteps and music. For seconds, Harshwhinny started to cackle out loud, creeping Caramel.
"What is it? You're scaring me." Caramel said. Harshwhinny didn't answer and kept her wicked laughing. "Stop it! You're giving me goosebumps!"
Meanwhile, at the Lawist office...
"How did you know the plant was tapped?" Tempest said. Neighsay softly sighed as he water sprayed the plants.
"Stuckyis grow well even when they're not watered for a month. It's the perfect spot for electrical devices such as wiretaps. In the past, intelligence services often used them for wiretapping." Neighsay said.
"My gosh. Even her dirty tricks are old-fashioned." Tempest said. "By tthe way, you sound like an expert in this area.". Neighsay then turned to her.
"Isn't this just common sense?" Neighsay said, as he slightly spryaed water that rarely got her. Tempest scoffed as she listened.
"I see. "Common sense". Then I must seriously lack common sense." Tempest said. Tempest then made a face as if she's a dog. Well, the biting detail, though.
"Ignorance isn't a sin, but refusing to learn is." Neighsay said. Tempest scoffed and slouched in her chair.
"I choose to sin and remain ignorant. I can't be bothered." Tempest said.
"Right. I asked Mr. Grubber...to look for a good shopping district in Canterlot." Neighsay said.
"Are yoy really going to get them a new place?" Tempest said. Neighsay puts down the spray and walked towards her.
"Yes." he answered. "I'm planning to pay for everything as well."
"But..." Tempest said. "...is that really necessary?"
As Neighsay continued to look at some files, he spoke: "I want to wrap everything up quickly and leave.". From Tempest's looks, she looked a bit disappointed. She slowly smiled and turned to him.
"Then you should hurry." Tempest said. "Thanks to that, the creatures here have hit the jackpot."
"I have to study for the next hearing. I'll get going first." Neighsay said, grabbing his suitcase. Before he walked out, Tempest spoke.
"Wait." Tempest said. Tempest slowly walked to him. She was speechless the moment she looked at him. She kept phasing on of her handlers, while Neighsay waited for her answer. Suddenly, Grubber slipped to the side, surprising Tempest.
He had a groomed hair once again, and is in a nice attire.
"What is this? Are you a wizard? Did you just get back from Hogwarts?" Tempest said.
"My blind date wants to see me again." Grubber said, clapping his claws.
"That's great, but this is wrong. She'll want to flee." Tempest said.
""Flee"?!" Grubber said. "She can flee into my heart." he said, clapping once again.
"Well, then..." Neighsay said. He patted Grubber's shoulder as he went out.
"Are you fleeing too?" Grubber said as Neighsay got out. Tempest looked down unhappy, then rushed out of the office. Neighsay still walked in the hallway, until he heard her voice.
"Mr. Cassano!" Tempest said. She rushed towards him, and he turned to her. "If you're not too busy, we should have a few drinks. Something more proper than beer."
"Do you have something to tell me?" Neighsay said.
"Do you only drink when you have something to say?" Tempest said. "It'll help us work better together. It'll be nice."
"You don't have drinking habits, do you?" Neighsay said.
Meanwhile, Stygian has arrived at his intelligence service. And his boss was not happy.
"Hey! I told you not to look into that consigliere!" Starswirl yelled. "How dare you ignore my orders and disguise yourself as an assistant chef!?"
"How did you know, sir?" Stygian said.
"Do you think this is some ordinary company!?" Starswirl said. "Ten minutes is all I need to find out what you're doing!"
"Right, that's true." Stygian said.
"You have no respect for your boss. Gosh." Starswirl said. He felt some pain at the back of his neck. He massage it as he went to his desk. "My blood pressure is rising."
"I'm sorry, sir." Stygian said.
"Damn it." he said. He gave two folders to Stygian. "Take a look.". Stygian grabbed the folders. "Two parties have requested a background check on Neighsay Cassano. One is Law Firm Wingtip and the other one is the Babel Group. What the heel is he doing for them to take interest in him? Is he really forming his own gang? Or is he gathering some money?"
"I haven't found anything strange so far." Stygian said.
"Then what's going on?" Starswirl said.
"I'll write up a report and submit it." Stygian said. "And as for the requests...I'll reply to them myself."
Starswirl nodded. "Okay.". Stygian exhaled in such a relief. "And don't use money from your own pocket. Charge the company. You're dirt poor."
"No, I'm not."
"As if. I know you still haven't paid off your loan due to your mother's hospital bills." Starswirl said.
"Okay, then." Stygian said. "Thank you, sir."
"You may leave." Starswirl said. Stygian turned around to leave, but he then turned to hiss boss, trying to make a heart with his arms.
"I..."
"Gosh, that crybaby."
Stygian turned around and wiped a bit of his tears, and there, he left.
Meanwhile, Neighsay and Tempest chose a place to drink and have a chitchat. They clanked their glasses and drank it til empty.
"I burst out laughing when I saw the judge's face!" Tempest laughed. "It looked like there was playdough on his face!" she said. Neighsay chuckled as he glanced at her, while pouring more of the drink in his glass. "And his speech was muffled like this!" she said, imitating his muffle, as she continued laughing. She grabbed her glass and took a long gulp. "Right. You visited Ms. Cloudy Quartz this afternoon, didn't you?" she said.
Neighsay nodded. "How did you know?"
"Mr. Grubber told me." Tempest said. "Isn't she the one who was falsely accused of murder?". Neighsay nodded once again. "I read it in my dad's files. He even flagged it as important."
"I see." Neighsay said, as he drank his glass.
"Thank you...for visiting her on his behalf. I should've gone instead." Tempest said. "You're better than his own daughter."
"I just told her that nobody would be coming anymore." Neighsay said.
"What?"
"You don't need to take over all of his duties. You should focus on your own work now." Neighsay said.
"I thought she was ill."
"Enough about her." Neighsay said. "Now, help me get Counter Plaza back.". Tempest rest her arms in the armrests and looked at him.
"How can I when you're refusing to tell me why?" Tempest said.
"Do you have to know that?" Neighsay said.
"Of course!" Tempest said. "Only then can I come up with a plan.". Neighsay had seconds to think about it, and Tempest was already curious. He leaned against the table and looked at her once more.
"Promise me you'll keep this a secret." Neighsay said, wagging his finger. "You must never tell anyone.". Tempest leaned against the table and got closer.
"What is it?" Tempest whispered. Neighsay snapped his finger, and they both arranged their chairs next to each other. Before telling, Neighsay gulped down his glass. "Do you want drumrolls?" Tempest said. Tempest then lightly knocked the table multiple times, while Neighsay gulped his drink.
When Neighsay's glass was empty, he quickly grabbed Tempest's hands tightly and kept holding it as they got closer.
"Underneath Counter Plaza...there are 1,5 tons of gold." Neighsay whispered.
"Really? 1,5 tons? How much is that exactly?"
"That's about 110 million in Trottinghamian bits, and 150 billion in Canterlite bits."
Tempest gasped as she covered her mouth. "A hundred fifty billion bits!?" she whispered.
"But there's a problem." Neighsay said. "The gold is--". Before he continued, Tempest shushed him. Tempest got closer as she whispered.
"Underneath my house..." Tempest said. Neighsay got closer as Tempest went to his ear. "...there are 100 golden calves.". Neighsay almost looked awkward as Tempest kept laughing and slapping his shoulder. "That's hilarious!" Tempest said, stroking her mohawk.
"You know how to toy creatures!" Tempest said.
"Do you think I'm lying?" Neighsay said, tucking his necktie.
"So this is your drinking habit." Tempest said. "You bluff with a straight face."
""Bluff"?" Neighsay said.
"It's about time we left."
""Bluff"?"
"Let's go." Tempest said as she got up.
""Bluff"? Wait!" Neighsay said. "What does "bluffing" mean!?" Neighsay said.
"It's a good thing!" Tempest said as she slapped his chest multiple times. "You even sound like you're really upset. I'll get this.". She walked in the counter, paying for what they got. She gave the stallion the expected pay, and she turned to Neighsay. "Let's go, Mr. Mansour Cassano~!" she chanted as she shook her body, looking at Neighsay, and somehow, Neighsay's annoyed.
"Monsieur Mansour, Monsieur Mansour~" Tempest chanted as she prance into the exit. Neighsay scoffed, watching her.
"I'm not lying." Neighsay told himself. Typical Tempest. Suddenly, his phone was buzzing underneath his jacket. It was Blueblood. He went to his calls and called him.
"Yes, Mr. Blueblood. It's me."
"I left the equipment you requested at your house." Blueblood said.
Neighsay immediately rushed to his unit. There he found a medium black box. He placed his suitcase in a nearby chair. He slowly opened the box to find electric equipment in the box. He slowly grabbed a voltmeter, that came a long inside the box.
-At flashback-
Both Blueblood and Neighsay where in the car; Blueblood on the driver's seat, and Neighsay on the front seat.
"We need to hurry...and also think of another way to retrieve the gold." Neighsay said.
"I'll hire some more experts and look into it again." Blueblood said.
"Right." Neighsay said as he snapped his finger. "Just in case, check if the explosion system is still working. It uses electricity, so you'll be able to detect it."
"But, why do you want to know that?" Blueblood said.
"If the system has malfunctioned and been turned off, then we could just dig in the ground without demolishing it." Neighsay said.
"All right. I'll seek the device of some experts and get you a detector." Blueblood said.
-Present-
Neighsay put back the voltmeter and immediately closed the box. He went out and walked in the plaza's halls, and heard the chatter of the tenants in Joe's restaurant. Since the tenants enjoyed too much, Neighsay ignored them and walked back. He went on a nearby elevator and pressed one of its buttons. There was something he didn't know...
Stygian is watching him. He looked at him with intense eagle eyes. He was hiding in the boys' bathroom. Neighsay felt something strange just a lot of inches away from his back. Neighsay slowly turned around, but that moment, Stygian immediately hid behind the wall, holding one of the toilets tight. No one was seen.
He turned to the elevator, that has been sitting there for a long time. When he kept pressing the buttons, nothing worked. Stygian felt something wet in the toilet. He immediately let it go, thinking it was disgusting.
"Damn it." Neighsay said. He then went to the stairs, and Stygian popped out of the bathroom, spraying alcohol. Whatever was in his fingers was pathetic. Neighsay immediately went downstairs and he is many meters away from the Canterlot Temple. As he walked through the dark hallway, he felt the strange feeling again.
Stygian was following him all the way down there. He makes this perfectly by quickly but carefully run and follow him. When he noticed Neighsay turning around, he immediately jumped to the other side, landing on the floor without a thump. Neighsay noticed something was suspicious. He slowly walked back, and was almost at another hallway Stygian walked in.
Noticing Neighsay's shadow just made Stygian terrified. Stygian made quiet puppy noises as he bite his clenched fist. He took some steps away. Neighsay glanced at his watch and quickly ran to the temple. Was he terrified as well?
He quickly opened the door, and immediately prepared what was inside the box. He held the connected voltmeter and a remote.
"Why is it so hot here?" Neighsay said. He quickly took his dark blue coat jacket, and placed it in the floor. He continued pressing, pushing, and pulling some of the equipment. "Why do they keep this on?". He placed the voltmeter along with the wires.
He rotated one the controls of the remote. He then leaned his face close to the voltmeter. Stygian then came out, and peeked in the glass door. He noticed Neighsay somehow "bowing" in front of the statue.
"Why is a Trottinghamian mobster bowing so respectfully?"
Since it was a very warm room, he began sweating. A droplet of his sweat lands on the voltmeter. That moment, a tiny spark occurred and hit his face. Neighsay grunted and ducked his head.
"He's crying. Could those be tears of repentance? The consigliere of the Mafia...is bowing and shedding tears in front of Buddha. What is going on?! Does this mean he flew in...to repent?"
Stygian looked at him for a second, then he ran away. Neighsay continued grunting on the floor. He took many deep breaths as he got up.
"The system is doing just fine. It's perfect. It is." Neighsay said, as he banged his fist on the hard floor. Neighsay grunted once more and shook his hand.
The tenants were still in Joe's resto. All sat in one table that night, except for Stygian.
"The mission was a success!"
"It really was."
"It was absolutely perfect!"
"It was."
""It's a giant hornet!""
""It's a giant hornet!""
"I'd like to say something." Pharynx said. "Thank you very much for helping Gavel out so willingly."
"Gosh, it's nothing." the snack bar owner said. "He's pretty much our family. Right?"
"Your compassion and willingness to help others reminds me of Buddha." the monk said.
"Goodness."
"Don't mention it."
Cheese stood up and spoke. "Who in Equestria could possibly sneak a giant hornet into a courtroom?! Right! Even James Bond wouldn't be able to!" Cheese shouted as everyone chuckled.
"Gosh, your butt is still swollen, honey." his wife responded, lightly slapping his flank.
"I can withstand the venom because of my background in martial arts." Cheese said. "Remember that judge? He was knocked out!" he said, as everyone laughed.. As he tried to sit, he felt some pain in his ass. "Goodness! I don't think I can sit yet."
"Be careful."
"By the way, how is Gavel doing?" the snack bar owner said.
"He needs to receive chemotherapy first, then we'll see how things do." Pharynx said.
"He still has hope." Mr. Shy said.
"Yes."
"Gavel will pull through just fine!" Mr. Shy said, as he turned to the piano player and Soarin.
"Of course."
"You bet."
"By the way, you truly put on a marvelous show today." the piano player said.
Soarin drank his glass until empty. "The empathy I had for the victims helped me do a great job."
Joe clapped his hands as he carried some dishes. "Your salami, cheese, and spaghetti vongole are here. Enjoy!"
"It looks scrumptious!"
"Eat up."
Joe sat down next to the snack bar owner.
"Isn't this expensive?"
"It is. "
"I'm truly sorry that I couldn't go to the trial today." Joe said. "I had to serve food to some popular influencers."
"You totally missed out!" Mr. Shy said.
"By the way, what should we do?" the piano player said. "Do we need to move out or not?"
"Oh, right! Mr. Grubber told me this." Cheese said as he clapped his hands. "Mr. Cassano asked him to look for a shopping district in Canterlot where we could move into."
"Is that true?" the monk said.
"Not only that, but he's also going to pay for everything!" CHeese's wife said.
"Then we should ask him to build our temple over the ground!" Pharynx said.
"You know what? I felt the sincerity in his gaze from the very beginning." the piano player said.
"I'm still a bit dubious." Soarin said.
"Okay. What's your plan?" the snack bar owner said.
"It's obvious. Whether it's here, there, or anywhere else..." Mr. Shy said. "Gosh, that was a killer line. We should definitely move."
"Yes, we must!" Cheese said. "I'd love to continue my fight with Starstreak, but we need to put the bread on the table."
"Is this an unanimous decision?" the snack bar owner said. "I'm down."
"Me too." Cheese said.
"Me too."
"Me..." the monk spoke but paused for a moment. "Have mercy, Buddha."
"Have mercy, Buddha."
"I'm down too." Joe said, raising his hand.
"Me too." the piano player raised her hand.
"Fine. I'm down." Soarin said. When the piano player turned to the door, she screamed seeing a lone figure.
"What is it!?"
"What's going on!?"
When everyone turned to the door, they saw a homeless man with a black hat and jacket.
"Isn't he that homeless man by the station!?" Mr. Shy said.
"You're right. He rambles on when it's a bout to rain." Cheese's wife said.
"I think his name is Davenport."
"Why is his name Davenport?"
"I don't know. That's what he said."
When Joe was about to open the door, Davenport barged himself in himself.
"Why did he come inside!? Goodness."
"I'd like a bottle of beer and one of those." Davenport said.
"Get out." Joe said.
"Come on!" the tenants said.
"Okay. It's a good day. We can share some food." Cheese said.
"He's right."
"Yes. He must be famished." Mr. Shy said.
"No, hold on! You're not allowed to sit anywhere!." Joe said. "Wait. You look very familiar. Am I wrong?"
Davenport turned to the tenants. "If you give me some food, I'll tell you something important. It could totally change your life."
"Sure! Let's hear it!" the snack bar owner said. "It's never too late to change my life!"
"You're all extremely lucky." Davenport said as he slowly smirked.
Time passed, and the restaurant was now dark and empty. The only source of light inside was Stygian's laptop. He was typing a report on Neighsay Cassano, consigliere to the Cassano family. The template was placed, and his profile picture is pasted.
"It's a secret agent's duty to deliver accurate Information."
He typed below that he was handsome and has hunter eyes.
However...
He recalled Neighsay's "repentant behavior" in the temple.
"Yes. I need more time to observe him. It's not time yet. Not yet." Stygian said as he deleted his recently typed descriptions on him.
In the morning, every tenant, except Stygian, was in a bridge, looking at their building emotionally. Grubber noticed them from below.
"Hello! Good morning!" Grubber shouted. Grubber suspected that they were ignoring him.
"Let us go inside if you're all at peace."
"What? What's gotten into them so early in the morning?" Grubber said.
What did that homeless interloper tell them?
Meanwhile, Flam enjoyed Tempest's former office. Recently, he did one more background check on him. He really feels and looks clean. His following activities and awards were clean to. Nothing involved the Mafia.
He volunteered as a teacher in Trotzania, and he did mention he would live with his principles. He is a member in the Trottingham Philanthropists' Club, and there was a picture of him in the year-end anniversary along with the other members. He also pet a pope in a church and took pictures with him along with other people inside. He also attended the fashion magazine of Vogo's charity event. Clean .
"What a perfect stallion. Perfetto ." Flam said, doing the Italian hand gesture.
Haarshwhinny and Caramel did the same in their office.
"He's a famous Equestrian rights lawyers in Trottingham, a celebrity, and a philanthropist." Caramel said. "He also defended the Mafia's victims and has received numerous death threats."
Harshwhinny kept scrolling and nothing suspicious was found. "Is this really true?"
"That was from the one in charge of Trottingham's mob crimes." Caramel said.
"I'm a bit dubious." Harshwhinny said. Caramel's phone started ringing. He immediately answered the call.
"Hello, Mr. Farnum. Yes."
Harshwhinny turned to him as she heard the name.
"Chairman Farnum of Babel." Caramel whispered to her. "No, sir. Sorry? Today?"
In the meantime, the plaintiffs that were formerly working with Flash Magnus gathered with Neighsay and Tempest.
"We need you to testify during our second trial." Tempest said. "You also need to be prepared for questioning from the defense and myself."
"Do you think we can manage?" one of them said.
"Don't worry." Neighsay said. "We'll tell you our questions in advance and share the defense expected questions.". He then turned to Grubber. "Mr. Grubber.". Grubber immediately passed the papers to the plaintiffs.
"You should brace yourselves. Our opponent's lawyers are extremely malicious." Tempest said.
Meanwhile, Flam was driving both Harshwhinny and Caramel to the Babel offices.
"I'm so busy as it is. Why does he want me to brief him all of a sudden?" Caramel said. "Why does he need me!? All the Babel companies must know how things are going!"
"I'm sure he called you for a reason." Harshwhinny said. "We'll find out soon."
"Flam, you better do a proper job." Caramel said. "Don't you stutter."
"Sorry?" Flam said as he turned to Caramel. "Right. Okay."
"See? He's already stuttering!" Caramel said. ""Sorry? Right. Okay." You little...Is this all fun and games to you?"
"No."
"What should I do with about foolish partner of mine!?" Caramel said.
""Foolish partner"? Okay." Flam said.
"Is it funny? It is, isn't it?"
"Be quiet." Harshwhinny said.
"He doesn't take his job seriously." Caramel said.
"Enough, already."
Well, they're in for a big surprise.
Meanwhile, Tempest and Grubber were browsing files in the table while Neighsay watched them and the files while fiddling with his lighter.
"What is our chance of winning this trial?" Tempest said, as she turned to Neighsay.
"If our witnesses testify well, then I'd say it's 40 percent." Neighsay said.
"Oooh. It's much higher than that of the first trial." Tempest said, as Neighsay replied with a smile. She then turned to grubber. "Have you filed in the request?"
"Yes, I have. They're probably looking over them right now." Grubber said.
"If Director Claude of Haernum Medical Center testifies, it'll be difficult for us." Neighsay said.
Tempest sighed. "We also need a reliable doctor on our side.". She then turned to Grubber. "Any news?"
"Until last night, we were rejected by a total of 56 doctors." Grubber said.
"It's always difficult to find a medical adviser for industrial accident cases." Neighsay said.
"They won't buy off our witnesses, right?" Tempest said.
"It's highly unlikely since they're very hostile toward Babel." Neighsay said. "However..."
"However?"
"...they may provoke them in other ways." Neighsay said.
"Then we should do the same." Tempest said.
"At times like this, we must know find out who their enemies are." Neighsay said. "Because the enemy of my enemy is a friend."
Tempest slowly smiled as she leaned in the table.
"Wow. I'm having butterflies." Grubber said, touching his chest. "Never in my wildest dreams did I consider provoking Babel's witnesses."
"Then let's find out who their enemies are." Tempest said proudly.
Meanwhile, Flam was in front of a TV, facing Flim, Harshwhinny, and Caramel. Once the three were done with their small chat, they turned to Flam.
"Begin." Caramel whispered. "I said, start."
Flam cleared his throat and held the microphone."All right, then. I will begin the briefing.". He then pressed the TV's remote, and it started playing. It was like some sort os space movie-esque. "I will now reveal the secret of the Babel Group. WOW! The secret of Babel~"
Caramel nervously chuckled, and turned to Flim. "We came up with a fun briefing.". The television showed the text "51 YEARS AGO FROM NOW".
"Chairman Hondo Flanks, the founder of Haernum Group, now known as Babel Group,...had two sons." Fla. said, as Flim nervously watched, while Caramel and Harshwhinny looked awkward. "He and his wife, Juniper Montage, had their eldest son. As for the second son, he was birthed by Mane Goodall, a young secretary. Instead of focusing on the company, he cheated."
Caramel burst out laughing. "Hey, Flam! What are you saying!? Flam, come back here!". Suddenly, he was cut off by Film's table tap.
"Stop that." Flim said.
"Stop?" Caramel said.
"Sit."
"Sit?"
"Quickly."
"Quickly?"
Flam then took a breath. "First...who is this second son? It's none other than Chairman Farnum Flim fi Skim! What a surprise!" he cheered, as a laser pointed to Flim, who had his arms up in the air and smiling nervously. Caramel clapped, while Harshwhinny stared at them. "Now, who's the eldest son?" Flam said. Caramel and Harshwhinny looked at him and the TV nervously.
"He was always smart and active. He was always the top student. He didn't graduate from Stanherd Law School the top student, but he got good grades. On top of that, God has made him perfect and charismatic!" Flam said, while the three ponies looked at him. "So who is it?" he said as he put his hand in his ear. "Who?" he asked, but they were quiet. Then, a picture of a stallion in a throne with a crown was shown. Who is that stallion?
It was Flam.
Flam leaned against their long table and looked at them. "It's me. Flam.".
"What's going on?" Caramel said.
"The real owner of Babel Group is...Flam!" Flam said as he spread his arms. "Flim, you ready!?" he cheered.
"Tonight the star is me~!"
"The star is me~"
"Babel Group is actually mine~!" Flam said.
"It's his!"
"It's mine!"
"Surprise!"
"Babel Group is actually mine~!"
"It's actually mine~!"
Suddenly, Caramel joined their happy dancing, singing, and cheering.
"It's mine!"
"It's mine~!"
"You didn't know, didn't you!?" Flam said. "You had no idea!"
"It's mine~!"
Harshwhinny looked at the stallions awkwardly.
"I fooled you all!"
"Babel Group is actually mine!" Flam cheered, as he got on the ground and doing the worm dance.
"It's mine!"
"It's mine!"
"It's mine!"
"It's mine!"
"It's mine!"
Harshwhinny slowly clapped her hands, looking down at the floor.
Later on, their partying was over. Caramel stood beside Flim with a concerned face, looking at Flam, who is beside Harshwhinny.
"I'm sorry, sir. Please forgive me for my transgressions." Caramel said. Flam drank his glass as Caramel continued.
"It's okay. I had fun." Flam said. He then turned to his half-brother, and put his hand behind him. "Didn't you?"
"Of course. It felt like I was on a rollercoaster everyday." Flim chuckled. Flam then turned to Harshwhinny. "Sit down."
"Okay."
Three of the ponies immediately sat in their chairs, well, as the boss said so.
"Aren't we...like robot vacuums?" Flam said. "We do our best, but we always fall short."
"Not at all, sir!" Caramel said as he quickly got up. "I'm proud of both of...No. I'm amazed by your wisdom! I mean, you both have endless talents!"
Flam smiled but he knows what's up. "Come on. Just be yourself." he said as he kicked the table twice. "My foolish boss."
""Foolish"? Right!" Caramel laughed. "I can be quite the fool. I have so much room for improvement. It's a shame." Caramel chuckled as he got down on his seat.
"From now on, give him the respect he deserves as the chairman. And keep it a secret." Flim said, as Harshwhinny nodded.
"Yes, sir." Caramel said.
"Don't be like that." Flam said. "It doesn't matter who the chairman is."
"No, sir. Now that we know, we should treat you with proper respect." Harshwhinny said.
"Right, Ms. Harshwhinny." Flam said. "I heard you wanted the prosecution service."
"Yes, sir." Harshwhinny said.
"Give me a list...of people I need to buy off and how much they will cost me." Flam said. "I'll purchase them for you after reviewing it."
"Yes, sir. I'll submit it to you." Harshwhinny said.
"Enough about that." he said as he sipped his mug. "Yesterday's trial was disappointing. You barely did anything."
"You guys at Wingtip aren't doing a proper job these days. Can't you see how patient he is?" Flim said.
"I'm sorry, sir." Harshwhinny said. "We won't let them have their way again."
"I heard you were dubbed "the butcher" at your former workplace." Flam said. "But in my eyes, Neighsay seemed to be the one wielding the sword."
"Do you know about him?" Harshwhinny said.
"How could I not? He was the one who blew up my warehouse." Flam said, as he turned to Harshwhinny with a slight smirk.
"He's the one who put 50 syringes in my pillow, isn't he?" Flim said.
"If you can't beat him, just get rid of him like like you did with Mr. Caballeron...and the researchers." Flam said. "Nice and simple."
"Please have trust in us, sir." Harshwhinny said.
"Okay." Flam said. "All right. Fine." he said as he stood up, and walked towards Flim. "Take good care of my brother as well. DOn't ignore him just because he's fake." he said as he pinched his brother's cheek.
"Yes, sir." Caramel said.
"Right?" Flam said, still pinching his cheek.
"Right." Flim chuckled. Flam patted him in the back. Flam then slowly walked to the exit.
"Goodbye, sir." Caramel said.
Time passed, and that one mare, Harshwhinny, immediately went to her office. She quickly removed her heels and replaced it with rubber shoes. She threw her heels in the floor furiously. She was angry that she threw a mild tantrum. She kicked the chair in front of the desk and it fall over.
[color=#EFEA8]"I heard you were dubbed "the butcher". But in my eyes, Neighsay seemed to be the one wielding the sword."
Harswhinny grabbed her phone and immediately called someone. "In the next five hours, we'll come up with an entirely new plan.
That night, a stallion carried a suitcase, as he walked toward the door.
"Excuse me." A stallion spoke, as he walked towards him.
"Yes?"
"Hello. Are you the treasurer of the Babel E&C victims' group?"
"Yes, I am. Why?"
Suddenly, another stallion came from behind, and hit the treasurer's head with a metal post. Next off, two masked stallions planted cash all over their office. Each stack was placed in a some sort of safe at the ceiling. Then, Claude went to Gavel's hospital room and I sects a substance in his IV. Lastly, an employee of Equestria Daily started typing a news article.
"And lastly, report it on 6 a.m. morning news."
In the morning, as Tempest was sleeping comfortably in her bed, her phone started to buzz beside her, causing her to get startled.
"Mr. Grubber, why are you calling me so early in the morning?" Tempest said in a tired voice.
"Ms. Tempest! Turn on the news right now!" Grubber exclaimed.
Later on, the TV was on.
"According to an exclusive by Equestria Daily, the delegate of the Babel E&C victims' group had been embezzling donations for the past two years."
"What the hell is that!?" Tempest said.
Time passed, and Neighsay drove her to the police station and stopped in a screech. Tempest immediately got out and rushed inside.
"Detective, if you look closely..."
"Detective."
The plaintiffs were in delight when they noticed Tempest rushing inside.
"Ms. Tempest! Ms. Tempest, what should we do!? Help us!"
"What's going on?" Tempest said. Neighsay then rushed inside.
"Are you their lawyer?" A detective said.
"Yes. Did you arrest them because you have solid proof?" Tempest said.
"Proof...?" the detective said. He slowly stood up and placed half a dozen of pictures in front of Neighsay and Tempest. Each of them had a bunch of paper money and bits. "We've been bombarded with too much. We found cash everywhere from their cars and houses to the ceiling of their office."
Tempest picked up the pictures as she looked with a straight face. Neighsay then grabbed the pictures from her and took a look.
"They embezzled the donations." the detective said.
"Do you have proof of that?" Neighsay said.
"Him." the detective said, pointing at a stallion. It was the Babel E&C's treasurer. "The treasurer of the group confessed." he added as one of the plaintiffs gasped. "He said he was coerced into tampering with the book and had no choice."
"That's not true." one plaintiff said. "We're being falsely accused. We have nothing to do with this, okay?"
"We're innocent."
"We have absolutely nothing to do with this!?"
"You know us. We're innocent..." a plaintiff said, holding Tempest's hands. "Please help us. Please....We're being falsely accused. We're truly innocent..."
Time passed, and Tempest seemed weary as she sat down in the station's hallway. The same goes to Neighsay.
"Harshwhinny should work in the movie industry. SHe's an excellent screenwriter and a director." Tempest blurted in a serious tone. "And how could they blindly believe her lies?"
"Because the power of their lies grow with his powerful the person lying is." Neighsay said. Tempest heavily sighed as she looked up the ceiling. She then turned to Neighsay, stood up and walked towards him.
"They need to testify, but they won't be allowed to now." Tempest said.
"Even if they're allowed to testify, she'll just pray on them. That'll do us no good." Neighsay said.
"I guess the last witness we have is Mr. Golden Gavel who's hospitalized." Tempest said, and Neighsay responded with a nod. Suddenly, Tempest's phone started buzzing in her bag. She responded to the call, and it seems it's Grubber who is calling her. "Yes, Mr. Grubber."
"The court called just now." Grubber said.
"Our witnesses were denied?" Tempest said.
"Yes, that too. And Mr. Golden Gavel was denied as well." Grubber said.
"Mr. Gavel? Why?" Tempest asked. She then turned to Neighsay and turned on the call's speaker.
"They tested him for drugs and found small traces of meth. They need to investigate him." Grubber said.
"Methamphetamines?" Tempest said. Suddenly, the duo slightly smiled. "Talk to you later, Mr. Grubber." she said as she ended the call. She heavily sighed as she clapped joyfully. "Unbelievable! She made sure to put an end to everything. She must be part of the Mafia or something." she said.
"Even the Mafia don't do things like this these days." Neighsay said.
"Tempest." a familiar voice called. It was Flam. He waved at the as he walked towards them. Tempest looked at them in an unamused face.
"What? Are you here to gloat?" Tempest said.
"Come on. Don't be so harsh. I'm here to prepare for my briefing." Flam said.
"Then go do your job." Tempest said as she picked up her bag, and walked along with Neighsay.
"Tempest." Flam said. Tempest and Neighsay stopped and then turned to him. "Come back to Wingtip."
"Are you the boss?" Tempest said.
"I'm just relaying his message. He said you'll be given the same treatment as Ms. Harshwhinny." Flam said.
"I guess those giant hornets made him want me back." Tempest said. "Tell him no thanks.". As Tempest and Neighsay continued, Flam grabbed Tempest by her arm.
"Why do you waste your talents on such grueling cases? Why is Babel so important?"
"Why so serious?" Tempest said. "Why are you suddenly so serious?"
"Watching you suffer for no good reason is making me upset." Flam said as Tempest scoffed. "And...I don't appreciate the way you do things after you two joined hands."
"Flam. Remember what I told you before about crossing the line?" Tempest said.
"I'm just worried. Can't I do that?" Flam said.
"No, you can't. Just focus on your job." Tempest said, as she turned away from him and walk towards Neighsay. "Let's go back and look for a solution." she said as she walked off.
"Sir." Flam called. Neighsay stopped and turned to him. Flam slowly walked towards him. "I'd like to share...this one memorable saying. "Don't dig...your own grave."" Flam said, while Neighsay simply nodded. "I don't wanter her to be six feet under. And I don't appreciate you digging it for her. I believe you're a very smart person." Flam said as he brushed Neighsay's shoulders.
"And those who are smart know when to give up." Flam said. Neighsay simply smiled at him.
"Two things." Neighsay said as Flam nodded. "First, we are digging a grave. But it’s not for us. Second, it’s not about knowing when to give up. A smart person knows when their opponent is weak." Neighsay said as he started patting on Flam's shoulder. "Wingtip is teaching you well. You'll become a promising lawyer." Neighsay chuckled. "I'll see you next time." he said. Flam looked down and then back to him.
Neighsay smiled and immediately walked off. Flam's grinning look faded into a serious one.
Time passed, and both of them were out of the station.
"They murdered my dad, and now what? They want me back!?" Tempest said. "Those brazen bastards!"
"One is is easily humiliated when concerned." Neighsay said. Tempest slowly turned to Neighsay with a serious face.
"Hey. Can't you share some encouraging or hopeful words at times like this?" Tempest said.
"Hopeful words?" Neighsay said. "Right. "Giving up on a hopeless war will give you a new opportunity.""
In just a few milliseconds, Tempest bursted. "How is that hopeful!? Damn it. I'm so annoyed!" she said. "Whatever. I won't summon any witnesses. That's right. Everyone is alone in life." she said. Tempest then turned to him. "I was going to walk back and blow some steam. Get a cab or something." Tempest said as she suddenly cackled. She then walked off.
"All I need to do now is ramble by myself in court!" Tempest said. "What should I wear?"
--5 days later--
The day has finally come. The second hearing is going to commence. Caramel and Flam walked in the courtroom from the entrance. Flim noticed them, but something's weird. He seems to be sitting on the plaintiff's side of the courtroom. As they both walked down the aisle, Caramel made some space for Flam to enter in front and going to the defendant's table.
"Thanks, Boss." Flam said.
Caramel smiled. 'This can open in both ways."
"Hi, Tempest." Flam greeted. Tempest reluctantly waved at him and went back to her browsing.
"Are they summoning any witnesses?" Caramel said.
"Of course not." Harshwhinny said. "They were all denied."
"Okay." Caramel chuckled. When he turned top the other side, he gasped. There is a stallion covered in nets, holding a net. "My Celestia. What's that fishnet? Is it see-through?"
"The judge called in a bee expert just in case. He's been traumatized." Harshwhinny said.
Caramel chuckles, and suddenly notices Flim. "Chairman Farnum. Hello, sir."
"Go." Flam said.
"I'll sit here." Caramel said. "Okay."
"Once again, thank you in advance." Flam said.
"Well, Director Claude from Haernum will put an end to the hearing today...Sir." Harshwhinny said.
Flam nodded. "Good luck."
"Thank you." Harshwhinny said.
"All rise." a stallion spoke. Everyone rises up and looked at the judge. He seems to be in a good condition now. But something's strange...Neighsay and the tenants aren't present. The judge looked at the courtroom, trying to find something suspicious.
None was there and he immediately sat down.
"You may be seated."
Time passed, and Director Claude was in the witness stand.
"Therefore, the claims made by the plaintiff are absurd. None of them were healthy. They enjoyed smoking and drinking." he said. "And the other workers at Babel Chemicals were no different."
"That'll be all." Harshwhinny said, as she walked back to the defendant's table. Tempest silently drank the last drop of her water.
"All of your witnesses were denied. You don't have any additional witnesses to summon, do you?" the judge said.
Tempest turned to the judge and stood up. "Your Honor. I'd like to summon a special witness ."
"A surprise witness?" the judge said.
"What is going on?" Harshwhinny said. The Wingtip side looked confused.
"Well...Do they have any information regarding the case?"
"Yes, Your Honor. He has concrete Information." Tempest said with a smirk.
"Then...First...Bring them in." the judge said.
"Come inside, my surprise witness. " Tempest said. As the gates opened, everyone turned to the door and who they saw shock them. There were two stallions. One was releasing the handcuffs of the second stallion. Who was that second stallion?
It was Neighsay himself.
The Wingtip's side looked shock, and the Lawist's side had no idea of the witness. Neighsay walked in the aisle, and the judge might have never seen him before. Neighsay turned to Caramel and smirked at him as he stroke his mane. As he turned to Tempest, he looked like he tasted something bitter. The handcuffs might've been tight.
"This is Neighsay Cassano, my surprise witness." Tempest said. Neighsay shook his hand and blew his wrist. He then slowly raised his chin up, looking at the judge as he smirked.
What happened in the past few days?
NEIGHSAY
Author's Note
To watch the actual episode, click here
