Aftermath

You're probably wondering why I hate Princess Twilight so much. That's an easy question to answer: she's a bitch, simple as that. All her so called great changes would have ruined not only my life but my family's legacy that my father and his father before him fought so hard to build. You see, my fathers company was complicated. We were traders, worked with outside countries to import and export stuff into the country but we also worked in a bit of shady business. Nothing like kidnappings or sex trafficking. Just drugs and illegal weapons discreetly on the side. The cargo comes in on the boat, the weapons and drugs are placed in a false bottom of the crate, the guard does a quick sweep to make sure no ones in it and passes it off to our company to collect. We made a killing. And then came Twilight.

She wanted to regulate what companies like us brought into Equestria and give us very heavy taxes for getting caught bringing in illegal items. Somepony had given her and the guards a tip that illegal contraband was coming into the ports. So naturally, they stepped up their searches. It only got worse when a friend of my fathers got busted for sneaking in black tar heroin from Griffonia and a prototype weapon that would disable a unicorns magic. He was stupid for having them out so blatantly. He got lazy and assumed the guard he'd paid off wouldn't just go along with the searches and would bail him out of it.

The next day, my dad's friend just disappeared. Out of the blue. Nopony knows where he went, some say he booked it before the guards came and arrested him. Some say he committed suicide to avoid jail time and well others say he got killed by his dealer for being caught. Either way, his body was never discovered. He just vanished. Kinda hard for a earth pony to do that. We can't teleport or fly away.

We were smarter though. As soon as the guards started getting more thorough(and successful) in their searches, we temporarily halted our illegal dealings. Not many ponies knew about that side for obvious reasons. Not even my wife had known. My heart stings at thinking of my wife, Sassaflash. When she found out all that I'd said about the princess after her death, she threw me out. And then she had the nerve to keep my daughter from me. And then she started dating some unicorn named Sea Swirl. I tried to go to the courts but they all ruled in her favor. Rigged bullshit in my opinion but I went to the highest courts in Equestria and they all sided with her. It was right after that, I'd been thrown out of town. I spent the following weeks homeless on a bench. Not even Golden Harvest or Berry Punch would see me and they were my oldest friends. Bon Bon refused to sell to me at the market, Golden Harvest actually slapped me when I came close to her to try to buy carrots. Losing my friends hurt the most of all.

And don't even get me started on the beatdown Rainbow gave me in front of her fellow guards. Even White Lightning gave me a kick and she's usually the kindest pony. Redheart reluctantly fixed me up because of some oath she took to preserve life when she became a nurse then coldly told me to get out. I was surprised when she agreed to part time work for Twilights guard as a medic for them. She wasn't the violent or best pony I'd have used but meh. The only pony who somewhat talked to me was Spoiled Rich and that's because we used to have an affair. We only really got into it because she helped plan Twilight's death. Her families company did have a shady side like ours, except her father had less ethics and did everything: kidnappings, murder for hire, prostitution rings. I could go on but you get the point. I still am shocked she tricked the guards that she wasn't involved. She got an innocent pony killed for what she did. Put all the evidence in his house for all to see and let the guards loose with a tip about it. She always did have a special talent for manipulation. Not even the best could see through it somehow. I only know it happened because she told me.

I guess I could understand why ponies hate me with everything they have. If Twilight had agreed to back down and just let the families work their illegal dealings, she'd still be alive. But no, she had to be all moral and bullshit. I wish I wasn't so ethical some days. I'd never killed before except the occasional spider but it can't be that different to killing a pony. Except for maybe the blood, final words and gasping for air but eh. Hopefully my father will find me soon and take me away to a new city. I'm ready to join his side at the family business like he meant for me. I'll be damned if my cousin Cherry Fizzy takes my spot. I'm not sure if Cherry Berry knows about our family business, she always was too caring about other ponies. Pathetic. She spends almost all her bits making drug rehab facilities and homes for addicts.

Or that's my cover story at least. The truth is I'm a member of Luna's Royal Guard. I'm in deep undercover work right now. This mission is classified above top secret. My wife didn't even know. She confronted me about it after my first beating. Not even Rainbow Dash was allowed to know about mission. My dad actually did have a import export company but we didn't import anything illegal in. The best thing to do under cover is to keep a vague truth to your cover story.

The front door burst open. "Caramel! Tell me you actually aren't happy Twilight is dead!" Sassaflash demanded.
"Please tell me this is just a mission for the guard." She lowered her before she said that. "Please."

I thought about the conversation I had with Luna and the commanding officer.

"This is above top secret. We're sending you in to find all responsible for who killed Twilight. We may have been too late to save her, but we can at least prevent the war is coming. Especially since the changelings are responsible, and some nobles. We just need to find out who." My commanding officer, Night Wind ordered. "Cadences intelligence agency found papers on a changeling courier they killed after being involved in a fight with him confirming their involvement to destabilize the Equestrian government. The new queen wants vengeance."

I saluted. "Yes sir. But I thought all the changelings sided with us after Chrysalis was kicked out. What about Thorax?"

Night Wind held up his hoof. "We thought that too. And Thorax was killed in a fight for the throne."

"Not even your wife is allowed to know. We can't risk her or any civilians getting killed for you telling her." Princess Luna cut in.

I nodded. "Yes, Princess."

"If you complete this mission, there's a good promotion in your future and a decent command for you." Night Wind added.

"It's true. I'm against Twilight and happy she's dead." I shook my head.

"Get out." Sassaflash said quietly.

"What?" I asked, feigning shock.

"Get out!" She screamed.

A trotting sound came from the front of the cave. Me and my changeling contact agreed to meet here. I stood up.

"Hello Caramel."

"Hello, Shadow." I replied.

"Time to get to work. Twilight's murder was the beginning. If friendship leaves Equestria and pits pony against pony, we have an easier opportunity to win the coming war. There'll be plenty of bits and power in it for you."

"Power and money is good enough encouragement for me." I agreed.