The Forsaken

Chapter 10 – An Unexpected Encounter

Midnight

The next week flowed with a routine that worked. Anon went to work and I dealt with my duties and responsibilities as a Lord; responsibilities that I was taking more seriously now that I had Anon to care for. We ate breakfast and dinner together every day, enjoying every moment together. I was most looking forward to her next day off, even if all we did was walk around the town together and talk. She seemed to be looking forward to it too.

When the day came, it was bright and beautiful, as if I myself had ordered the pegasi to give us prefect weather. Anon was definitely enjoying the perfect summer weather. A quiet walk through the town ended in the markets, as always.

Anon smiled at him. “So… what’s the plan?”

I shrugged. “I’ll admit that I don’t have a plan. I was hoping for a date that includes a good meal and dessert at home afterwards.”

Anon blushed, knowing exactly what he was talking about. “Well… let’s pick a restaurant then. I’m more excited about dessert than I am the meal.”

They both seemed to be considering their options when fate decided to intervene…

An Earth Pony mare with a pure white coat and a cyan mane walked into the town. Her cutie mark was a quill in an inkwell. Hardy any pony stopped to even look at the otherwise unmarkable mare. She got to the markets, looked around, and frowned.

“Hmm. Lord Midnight Stalker’s domain. It’s been a while since I’ve been here… Ponyville has the lowest unemployment rate and lowest crime rate in the entire kingdom, but I don’t see any guards anywhere. How is Ponyville the safest city in Equestria?”

She took her time to survey the market. She spoke to a few random ponies and asked a few innocent questions about what it was like to live in Ponyville. Was the mayor good? What was the local nobles like? Were there any houses for sale and any businesses hiring? She was a little surprised at how open the townsfolk were to a complete stranger, but she did take mental notes like she was supposed to. She quickly ran out of ponies to ask questions to and considered her next move.

I love going undercover to get answers that no one else can seemingly give me. Or is willing to give me. I probably should do this more often but there is so little time for me to sate my curiously.

Moving to phase two… testing the security of the town… she moved to the local apple stall operated by Granny Smith. Granny was busy with a customer, so the white coated mare had no issues hoofing an apple and walking away.

The mare snorted. “That was too easy…”

As she bit into the apple, the bite seemed to echo unnaturally loud, as if amplified with magic. As one, every pony in the market turned to look at her and her ears folded back.

Granny Smith was livid. “Apple Thief!!! Everypony git ‘er!”

The town surged to subdue the thief and she just barely dodged and weaved avoiding capture. She was fast… faster than any other pony in town, on foot anyways. Once she was sure that she was outpacing her pursuers, she turned to look forward only to see the lord of the province… Midnight Stalker. He had a feral grin on his face as he pulled two razor thin swords out of a magical storage portal and used his magic to raise them into a ready position. She put her hooves down to stop herself and slid very nearly right into his waiting blades. With only the slightest of adjustments, the blades were at her throat.

Midnight’s smile was as wide as his face. “Going somewhere, young lady?”

She gulped. “I guess not…”

Midnight’s smile faded into a stern expression. “Explain yourself!”

The entire market was as still as death as everypony waited for her to speak. She didn’t often get caught so she didn’t have a lot of excuses on standby for her to use. She swallowed.

“I was robbed by thieves on the road, and they stole all of my bits. I’m just hungry, my lord.”

She bowed her head fearfully prompting Midnight to sigh and put away his swords.

“Then why didn’t you say so? Ponyville would never let a poor mare starve. Follow us.”

The ponies around them all nodded in agreement, and a few seemed to show sympathy. More than a few seemed surprised at how lenient Midnight was being until they saw Anon walking beside him, all smiles at his charity. Her effect on him had been both noticed and appreciated. When they got back into the heart of the market, Midnight went back to Granny Smith’s stall with the mare and Anon in tow.

“How’s the farm doing, Granny?”

Granny Smith smiled. “Just swell. Ah got the first batch of Apple Pie Moonshine ready fir sale. 200 jars in all. The first 100 jars are going ta the ten local cider houses that expressed interest in trying ta sell ‘em, one serving at a time, and another 50 jars is going ta Barnyard Bargains. Ah don’t reckon ah’ve ever seen Filthy Rich lookin’ so pleased with himself, as if it was his idea! Ah got the rest of ‘em here at the stall but ah haven’t sold any of them yet…”

She lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “…Ah think folks are a little surprised at me fir openly selling it. Ah mean… Ah’ve always had some fir friends and family but never fir sale.”

Midnight nodded seriously. “Well… I gave you the permits to produce and sell both Hard Apple Cider and the Moonshine commercially. I suspect that it’ll take the ponies a little time to get used to it but I’m sure it’ll make a profit, especially once the Cider Houses start selling it.”

Granny nodded. “Ah sure hope so… my grand youngins’ work too hard fir not enough profit. Ah’m not entirely sure that this will work but ah reckon its better than what we were doin’.”

Midnight smiled. “If you ever need anything, I hope that you’ll ask me. How much for a jar of moonshine, the apple that she took, that apple pie and maybe a pitcher of apple cider?”

Granny hummed to herself. “The moonshine is 10 bits per jar. The pie is 5 bits. A whole pitcher of apple cider is another 5 bits. Ah normally sell the apples for 5 apples per bit. Not much a way to price a single apple.”

Midnight nodded and put 21 gold bits on the counter. “I’ll take all of it. Keep the change.”

Midnight magicked over a jar of moonshine, the pie, and a pitcher of apple cider to a nearby table and motioned for the mare to join him. He cut a slice of pie and gave it to her while also pouring her a glass of cider. They began speaking in low tones while eating and drinking.

The mare asked an open question. “What can you tell me about the local area?”

Midnight frowned. “In what regards? The concerns of the common ponies are vastly different than what concerns nobles. What exactly do you wish to know?”

The mare stared openly at Midnight. “I want to know everything… everything that you personally feel is important. Indulge me as if I was an old friend and you just wanted to tell somepony the things you’ve been noticing…”

Anon

Anon was smiling, happy at the non-lethal outcome but she also noticed Granny staring at the bits on the counter. “What’s wrong, Granny? Did he short-change you?”

Granny shook her head. “The price was 20 copper bits, 21 copper bits if he wanted to be generous… he gave me 21 gold bits.”

Anon frowned. “I’m sorry… I’m afraid that I don’t understand the difference. I believe that I have only ever been paid in copper bits.”

Granny sighed. “Bits come in three types. Copper, Silver, an’ Gold. 1 silver bit is worth 10 copper bits. 1 gold bit is worth 10 silver bits. So… 1 gold bit is worth a 100 copper bits.”

Anon’s face paled. “He paid 21 gold bits… so that’s… what? 2100 copper bits?”

Granny nodded solemnly. “Ah know what he’s doin’. He’s tryin’ ta help the farm by overpaying fir our goods but we Apples are a proud bunch, and we don’t take charity. Heck… ah never liked borrowing money neither… Ah know he’s not as stupid as he reckons everypony thinks he is. As much as we need the money, Ah can’t take this…”

Anon bit her lip. “Well… I have 21 copper bits in my pocket. I could pay the regular price and return the gold bits to Midnight if you’d like.”

Granny squeezed her eyes shut. “He would be very upset if ya did that. He’s as stubborn as ah am. Ah don’t see a solution here…”

Anon snapped her fingers once. “Midnight has an Ale cellar and it’s nearly empty. Just sell us the next 208 jars of moonshine that you make and have Applejack deliver it to Midnight’s estate. That way you can be satisfied that it’s not charity.”

Granny Smith smiled. “That’s perfect. It doesn’t take all that long ta make a batch of Moonshine and ah doubt that the Cider Houses will sell the first 100 jars as fast as ah hope they will until it becomes popular… if it ever becomes popular. Ah reckon ah can make the next batch of 200 jars sooner than ah planned if Big Mac could buck the apples fir me and we can settle up. Thank ya kindly fir the solution.”

Anon smiled at her. “It’s my pleasure. If you like… I could give you a mane cut for free… just come by the spa during business hours on a day that I’m working. Don’t think of it as charity but as a repayment for helping Midnight. I’m trying to guide him down a less lethal path and today was wonderful. I can’t express my gratitude enough.”

Granny patted her mane. “Ah reckon ah’m past due fir a mane cut, and ah would be honored ta help ya feel like the all the checkbooks are balanced. That reminds me… when Applejack brings the moonshine, she wanted Midnight ta try her new pie. Ah’ll make sure she brings it.”

Anon brightened at the idea. “Oh? What kind of pie is it?”

Granny scratched her chin. “Ah think she called it an ‘Apple Cream Pie’. She is sure that Midnight will like it.”

Anon turned as red as an apple. “I… umm. I’m sure he will like it. I won’t tell him though… I suppose it’ll be best to leave the whole thing as a surprise.”

Anon walked towards Midnight and the mare he was sitting with. She caught the tail end of the conversation they were having with Midnight speaking. “…and there is a new Orphanage being built in Ponyville as we speak. I was upset to hear how over-crowded the orphanages are in Canterlot and I wanted to help. I’m not sure how many orphans the town can absorb with the town being so small and there only being so many jobs and the like, but I would feel worse for not trying.”

The mare seemed pleased with his statement. “I haven’t heard much about the orphanage situation in Canterlot. I suppose it’s all hush-hush.”

Midnight nodded gravely. “100% of all of Equestria’s orphanages are paid for by royal taxes from the Princess herself or from the kingdom’s nobles. Nobles earn a tax break by operating orphanages but there aren’t many other incentives. We haven’t had a war or famine or any other real disaster in ages so I’m at a loss on how to explain why there are so many orphans in the first place. It is truly a mystery.”

The mare frowned but seemed to agree with his statement. She asked him plainly. “Are you looking into it?”

Midnight nodded. “Discreetly, yes. If there is something nefarious going on, I will find it, and I will end it. It is what I do best… when my marefriend will let me spill blood.”

The mare looked over at Anon. “You have tamed the evil lord? I’m impressed.”

Anon furrowed her brow. “He’s not evil… he’s…” She paused. “…bound by tradition.” She finished lamely.

The mare nodded. “Yes, he is. So… now that we have finished… what now?”

Midnight frowned. “Anon hasn’t eaten yet. It wouldn’t be right to leave town yet.”

Anon shook her head. “It’s okay, Midnight. I’ll give Granny Smith her empty Apple Cider pitcher back and we can just take the rest of the pie back to the estate. I’ll have a slice of pie and another one of your lovely salads when we get home.”

Midnight nodded and looked at the mare. “Well then. We will return to my estate where you can pay the price for having been caught stealing in my province… in private.”

The mare and Anon both stilled. Anon hedged cautiously. “Midnight? You will be kind, yes?”

Midnight shook his head. “Nope. She will pay for her mistake fully. And if I don’t like her performance… she will regret ever having been born…”

The mare and Anon both gulped in unison as they followed Midnight back to the estate.

Midnight

The conversation with the mare had been a little odd… as if she didn’t mind having been caught stealing. Her reaction to the possible punishment was to be expected but was also at odds with what actually happened as they started the journey to the estate. It didn’t take long to get back to the estate, despite the deliberately slow pace of the trot, which was designed to create a sense of dread. Anon was barely controlling herself despite not being the target. However… the mare, who never gave her name, was faring better than one would think she should be under the circumstances. The pieces of an old puzzle clicked into place, and I found myself smiling at the situation.

I guess that explains the pointed questions she asked in town, completely separate from the light teasing. I should have realized sooner. Hmm… how long has it been? 10 years? She is a little early for our usual meeting… Although… we have never had a witness. I guess that will be different… and fun. Hmm. I really want to have some fun with this… I guess it’s time to pull out the old book of bad puns.

My grin was nearly feral when the estate finally came into view…